Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images(LONDON) -- Todays global celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day is unlike any before.



This year, the fight to end the stigma around menstruation and make menstrual supplies accessible to all has been amplified by the voice of Meghan Markle.



Meghan, now the Duchess of Sussex, may be the first member of Britains royal family to highlight menstrual hygiene on her royal biography.



She took on the cause while she was an actress on Suits, traveling to India and penning an article on period shaming last year that was published on International Womens Day.



"Beyond India, in communities all over the globe, young girls' potential is being squandered because we are too shy to talk about the most natural thing in the world," Markle wrote. We need to push the conversation, mobilize policy making surrounding menstrual health initiatives, support organizations who foster girls' education from the ground up, and within our own homes.



She continued, We need to rise above our puritanical bashfulness when it comes to talking about menstruation.



When Meghan, a self-described feminist, wed Prince Harry on May 19, one of the seven organizations the couple asked well-wishers to donate to in lieu of gifts was the Myna Mahila Foundation, a womens empowerment organization in India founded by Suhani Jalota, a 23-year-old Duke University graduate.



When Meghan, a self-described feminist, wed Prince Harry on May 19, one of the seven organizations the couple asked well-wishers to donate to in lieu of gifts was the Myna Mahila Foundation, a womens empowerment organization in India founded by Suhani Jalota, a 23-year-old Duke University graduate.



"She really knew coming in what the specifics were and why it was such an important problem," said Jalota, who traveled with Meghan in India last year. " Her conversations and questions to us were more nuanced and she definitely knew her stuff coming in."



'Meghan effect' on menstrual hygiene



The Meghan effect is felt in the fashion world  everything she wears sells out  and now it is also being felt by people on the ground educating women about menstruation.



Jalota, who attended Meghan and Harry's wedding at St. George's Chapel, called Meghan's attention to menstrual hygiene a "huge, huge support" and said she has made the issue "more credible.'



"We need more ambassadors for causes that are not just trendy, but ones that are really critical and important for us to understand," she said. "The fact that Meghan Markle is involved is absolutely amazing."



Ina Jurga, international coordinator for Menstrual Hygiene Day, said advocates noticed a "really positive uptick" in attention thanks to Meghan.



"[Meghan] is such a strong and articulate champion for menstrual hygiene," she told "GMA."



Meghans own words -- "We need to rise above our puritanical bashfulness when it comes to talking about menstruation" -- are precisely the purpose of Menstrual Hygiene Day, its organizers say.



"We want to break the silence around menstruation and menstrual hygiene and catalyze awareness, education and advocacy for the issue," said Thorsten Kiefer, co-initiator of Menstrual Hygiene Day and founder and CEO of WASH United, a Berlin-based organization that tackles the global sanitation and hygiene crisis.



"By not facing it, we are putting women and girls into situations where they feel embarrassed or ashamed or insecure, and they shouldn't," he said. "It's something we need to take on if we want to promote a society where women and men are equal."



Here is why Menstrual Hygiene Day should matter to you, and your co-worker, husband, sister, mother, brother, friend, wife and children too.



'Menstruation is normal. Period.'

Menstruation (periods) and the menstrual cycles begin as girls go through puberty, typically between the ages of 12 and 13.



During the menstrual flow, eggs that have not been fertilized leave a woman's body. The process begins again with a new cycle, a new period and new eggs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



"The period is a good sign of whats going on in a woman's reproductive system," explained Dr. Taraneh Shirazian, a board-certified gynecologist at NYU Langone Health. "There definitely is a purpose to it biologically."



She added, "It helps us stay healthy and helps us get pregnant and is a part of the great joys of being a woman. It's something we should embrace."



The reality of 'period poverty' around the globe

In India, where Meghan met with young girls and women, 80 percent of girls face restrictions during their periods, according to WASH United.



Even in parts of Europe, close to 20 percent of girls dont know what menstruation is, Kiefer noted.



The result, statistics show, is that the young girls miss school because of their periods and risk health issues due to a lack of supplies.



In India, adolescent girls miss school an average of five days per month when they are menstruating, according to the United Nations.



Even in a developed country like the U.S., think about the last time you felt comfortable discussing menstrual cramps in the office, or faced panic because of bleeding in public during your period.



"All women and girls menstruate around the world," said Jurga. "We are working to guarantee that all women can manage it with dignity and safety."



The health risks that can come from not having access to supplies include toxic shock and uterine infection, according to Shirazian. Most women around the world use cloths instead of pads or tampons, which are not as sanitary and need to be cleaned frequently, taking away from time they could be in school or at work, she noted.



Part of the work of Menstrual Hygiene Day is getting menstrual supplies to women. Procter & Gamble, one of more than 400 organizations that support the day, is donating one million products from its feminine brand Always to women in the U.S. this year.



Nearly 220,000 women were estimated to be homeless in the U.S. in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).



In the United Kingdom, where Meghan Markle now lives, 10 percent of girls are unable to afford menstrual supplies, according to a report by Plan International, a girls' rights organization.



The term period poverty has come to describe the lack of funding for even the most basic of period supplies like pads and tampons.



And if they are lucky enough to have supplies, millions of women around the world also lack clean places to privately, and with dignity, manage their menstruation.



At least 500 million women and girls globally lack facilities for managing their periods, according to a 2015 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.



"Its not just about pads," said Jalota. "Its about washing your hands with soap, having trash cans near toilets, having toilets in schools and women having underwear."



Even before the supplies, though, comes the need for education, according to Kiefer.



"It has to start with educating girls," he said, recalling one girl in India who said she had been told her menstruation was a curse and should be hidden.



"After our training, she understood that menstruation was a normal process," he noted. "She was now confident to speak with her friends and peers about it and knew what was going to happen to her body and was not afraid anymore."



Menstrual hygiene is also an issue of gender equality, experts say.



The taboo of periods makes women seem inferior to men in some cultures, and when women and girls miss school and work, they lose out on opportunities to put themselves on equal footing with men.



When girls and women know what is happening inside their bodies, it translates to empowerment in many aspects of their lives, noted Shirazian.



"No one can make us ashamed about something that we accept and we feel empowered by," she said. "We should be empowering women to feel comfortable with their bodies."



What you can do

In its fifth year, Menstrual Hygiene Day has grown into a global movement of more than 400 partner organizations and 350 events in 54 countries. Last year's events reached 160 million people through social media alone, according to Kiefer.



In the U.S., at least 20 events are being held today from Kentucky to New York to Hawaii. People can also join the conversation on social media.



The real work, both Kiefer and Jurga note, is what anyone can do anywhere, anytime: Talk open to your friends, family and doctor about menstruation.



"That's the work 365 days of the year," Jurga said. "Don't shy away. Talk very positively about the issue because simply by talking about it, it gets into the conversation."



And while menstrual hygiene helps women, it is not a women's issue.



"Men really do play an important role," Kiefer said. "It's often men's attitudes that hold women back."



Keifer's advice to men is this: "Never make a stupid PMS joke. Get over it and buy [women's] supplies from the pharmacy and don't ever joke about it again unless you yourself have a menstrual cramp."



In Bhutan, the country's prime minister delivered a poignant message to men in the country for this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day.



"Lets raise our sons well rather than suppressing our daughters," said Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay. "If men learn to accept the changes that our women go through in a respectful manner, we automatically create an environment that is free and supportive for our girls."
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.
The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information.

These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community.

They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth.

In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind!
Clockwork Media has won the 2018 Africa Consultancy of the Year at the EMEA SABRE Awards.

Clockwork Media was named Africa Consultancy of the Year at this years EMEA SABRE Awards, held in Amsterdam last week. The worlds most prestigious PR awards programme recognised Clockwork Media for its outstanding performance in revenue growth and client portfolio.The agencys win comes off the back of a rigorous judging process and fierce competition, with an average of 200 entries submitted from agencies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.Learning of the wins and honourable mentions we received earlier in the year, and, now, the highly coveted Africa Consultancy of the Year award, creates a deep sense of gratitude. Its been a tough year for the South African PR industry across the board, so being recognised in this space is testament to the hard work of the employees of Clockwork Media, said agency co-founder, Tom Manners.Clockwork Media is continuing a strong winning streak, following six Prism Award wins in May, including Best Large Agency of the Year for the second time in a row.
Do you want to make a meaningful contribution to the media and advertising industry? Do you feel that you can make a positive impact by contributing to the current state and future of our industry?

Manage a dedicated portfolio within the committee and assist wherever needed on other portfolios



Attendance at monthly committee meetings and forums is also required



Continue the passion, selflessness and energy of the current committee



Apply forward thinking strategies to help Amasa evolve, so it remains a relevant and significant association for the industry.

Its time to form the Amasa (Advertising Media Association of South Africa) Committee for 2018/2019. If you answered yes, to both the questions above, then Amasa would like you to join its Committee!Members of the communications, media or advertising industry who wish to stand as committee members may nominate themselves or anyone who is willing to stand.Amasas core focus is on ensuring that we improve the education levels of those with an interest in the media, marketing and advertising industry, with a view to improving knowledge and skills in media decision making techniques and their use.The chairperson of Amasa Committee 2017/18, Wayne Bishop, extends an invitation to all eligible media and advertising players to join the AGM taking place Wednesday, 13 June 2018, at Vega School, 444 Jan Smuts Ave, Bordeaux, Randburg, 2194.If you aspire to elevate our industry to new heights, then you would serve well being a part of the Amasa Committee, we are looking forward to the nominations for the 2018/19 Amasa Joburg Committee and expect that we will get energetic committee members who will bring with them passion and educated opinions over the next 12 months.It is important to our industry that the Amasa Joburg committee is a well-balanced and representative committee, of media owners and agency representatives, as well as marketers. So, the nominations are open to all sectors of the advertising media and include all marketing and media professionals.Even though the Committee members serve as volunteers, it is rewarding, both professionally and personally, to be a part of elevating our industry to new heights. And its also a lot of fun! I welcome all to apply now!Should you wish to nominate yourself or a colleague to stand for the Amasa 2018/2019 Committee election, please send a short motivation and picture of yourself (or nominated person) to Wayne Bishop ( az.oc.krowtendhp@pohsib.enyaw ) and Andrew Maluleka ( az.oc.lni@akelulam.werdnA ). Please ensure that the person you have nominated has agreed to stand for election.
Sub-Saharan Africa's manufacturing professionals are set to assemble at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 19 and 20 June for the fifth annual Manufacturing Indaba.

Jozef Polc via 123RF

Liz Hart

Now in its fifth year, how has the Manufacturing Indaba evolved since its inception?

The Manufacturing Indaba has expanded its focus from South Africa to the broader southern African region. Explain the strategy behind this.

Our aim is to industrialise Africa and the move supports the development of more intra-Africa trade opportunities.

Why is it important for African manufacturing professionals to attend this event?

What would you say are the main opportunities and challenges facing the industry at present?

The opportunities to understand the implementation and benefits of Industry 4.0 provide ample scope for manufacturers to develop into world-class manufacturing companies capable of competing on a global scale.

Can you share some of the highlights visitors can expect from this years event, including some of the top speakers?

Industry has the potential to unlock Africas massive economic potential!

This year's event promises to be bigger and more innovative than ever before, providing the broader manufacturing industry - from energy and automotive, to agro-processing and mining - with a roadmap and the connections to unlock their potential and contribute towards accelerated GDP growth and employment opportunities.Here, Manufacturing Indaba MD Liz Hart lets us in on the evolution of the conference and expo, its importance for the industry and this year's highlights.What is new this year at the 5th Manufacturing Indaba? We have moved the Manufacturing Indaba from Emperors Palace to the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton to allow for the event to expand as we were limited with space at the former venue. We have grown our focus to explore intra-Africa trade which will allow our manufacturers to meet with our neighbouring country representatives, to explore selling into new markets and to establish new distribution nodes, depots across the continent, etc. The Manufacturing Indaba will launch our aligned and increasingly relevant Industry 4.0/Internet of Things Conference as a side event to the Indaba. The conference will host focused discussions specific to the energy, mining, agro-processing and automotive industry sectors. The exhibition has doubled in size allowing for more companies and service providers to exhibit their products and services. The conference will unpack and explore how Industry 4.0 will change manufacturing and what this will mean to companies. Will it result in growth, optimised efficiency, and how to implement it, etc.This move will significantly aid the growth and development of the Manufacturing Indaba to become truly representative of the sub-Saharan African region. The aim is to bring in African and other country pavilions and the move provides the event with ample space to allow this to happen.For economic growth, Africa is still relying on agriculture and the export of raw commodities. Although industrialisation is growing, Africas share of global manufacturing is less than 1%, putting the continent at the bottom of the global value chain. Consequently, economic growth has not been creating enough jobs for the growing number of youth.Africa has many of the ingredients of industrial success. To unleash this potential, African countries must embark on a bold agenda driven by private sector-led investments in industrial transformation. There is a real opportunity for Africa to create jobs and promote inclusive economic transformation through domestic manufacturing and a commodity-based industrialisation process.Greater understanding is needed to develop intra-Africa trade and the Manufacturing Indaba will place a lot of focus on this to help companies learn and meet the key people to accelerate their growth into the continent.Manufacturing accounts for almost 20% of the worlds GDP. However with the emergence of global competition and the rise of new markets, these factors can influence and be viewed as challenges for sub-Saharan manufacturers. South African manufacturers face a number of constraints which are often unique, including labour unrest, lack of security of power supply, regulatory compliance issues and ensuring that they keep products relevant and competitive, amongst others. With the changing face of technology and the implementation of IoT and Industry 4.0, many of these challenges can be overcome.This years event is the manufacturing flagship event that has tailored discussions specific to Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things that will help manufacturing companies learn and understand the business opportunity relating to IoT and Industry 4.0, and what this can mean for them.The exhibition has more than doubled in size, providing visitors with even more companies to meet and engage with. In addition, the exhibition will host free technical workshops in the exhibition hall at no cost, offering interesting presentations to visitors to hear about the latest trends and business opportunities, how to finance their businesses, etc.The conference will play host to four international speakers and many expert manufacturing CEOs, including Thomas Schaefer, group chairman of Volkswagen South Africa; Ally Angula, managing director of Leap Holdings Namibia; Neli Magubane, chairperson of Matleng Energy Solutions and a board member of Eskom, Garth Strachan, deputy director general of manufacturing at the dti, and more.The content for the conference is broken down into three key discussion areas: Africa, Industry 4.0 and the industry sectors comprising energy, automotive, agro-processing and mining.
#FairnessFirst: "Diversity and inclusion are the future of creativity" - Susan Credle

It's time to celebrate the fact that The One Club for Creativity has just appointed its first ever female chairperson, Susan Credle. She lets us in on her responsibility she has to the industry as a woman taking over the chair position, especially when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

The One Club for Creativity's new chairperson, Susan Credle.



Credle, impressively serving as global CCO for the FCB group as her day job, has long been one of my personal favourite creatives to interview. Shes a supporter of diversity in all its forms and striving to balance out inequalities where they exist.



As a result, its fitting that Credles appointment as chairperson has been called a natural selection due to her high engagement as a One Club board member, particularly in their education, inclusion and diversity and gender equality efforts  two dozen specific events are held annually.



The One Club names FCB's Susan Credle chairwoman

In sharing her favourite moments from One Clubs Creative Week 2018 overall, Credle elaborates on the need for the industry to celebrate passion projects as well as work done for clients. Shes pleased to see that the creative currently being awarded is less precious and more powerful than ever before as consumers are holding brands accountable.



Credle also elaborates on her plans to work with the industry to continue to support and expand the human and economic value of creativity in marketing, while further encouraging diversity and inclusiveness in that work.



Lets start with the basics: Explain your new role, as from at the One Clubs Creative Week 2018. Lets start with the basics: Explain your new role, as from at the One Clubs Creative Week 2018. Credle, impressively serving as global CCO for the FCB group as her day job, has long been one of my personal favourite creatives to interview. Shes a supporter of diversity in all its forms and striving to balance out inequalities where they exist.As a result, its fitting that Credles appointment as chairperson has been called a natural selection due to her high engagement as a One Club board member, particularly in their education, inclusion and diversity and gender equality efforts  two dozen specific events are held annually.In sharing her favourite moments from One Clubs Creative Week 2018 overall, Credle elaborates on the need for the industry to celebrate passion projects as well as work done for clients. Shes pleased to see that the creative currently being awarded is less precious and more powerful than ever before as consumers are holding brands accountable.Credle also elaborates on her plans to work with the industry to continue to support and expand the human and economic value of creativity in marketing, while further encouraging diversity and inclusiveness in that work.

I hope that, as leaders, we can use these experiences to create an industry in which honest, open conversations are both the expectation and the norm.

Were so happy for you, in taking on the role as first ever female chair! Share what this means for the One Show going forward. Were so happy for you, in taking on the role as first ever female chair! Share what this means for the One Show going forward.

As a woman taking over the chair position, Im conscious of the responsibility I have to the industry, when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

Talk us through any trends that came up in this year's summits/workshop sessions, as well as the current global state of creativity. Talk us through any trends that came up in this year's summits/workshop sessions, as well as the current global state of creativity.

Work that feels on-brand and that is meaningful makes us feel something, provides a service, fixes a problem or starts a conversation is being recognised not only by juries, but by the public. As a result, the creative that is being awarded is less precious and more powerful.

What was your favourite winning work this year, and why? What was your favourite winning work this year, and why?

How has attending Creative Week inspired you for the year ahead? Describe the One Show 2018 experience in a nutshell. How has attending Creative Week inspired you for the year ahead? Describe the One Show 2018 experience in a nutshell.

Leigh Andrews' articles About Leigh Andrews Leigh Andrews AKA the



Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen , is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews

This year, The One Club Creative Week was very special for me. Jose Molla, the chairman of The One Club for Creativity board of directors, announced I would be the incoming chairperson.Im incredibly honoured to take on the role. I enjoyed attending the Wednesday-night One Show and celebrating outstanding colleagues.On the Thursday, I participated in the Executive Leaders Session. Its an outstanding day-long programme, now in its second year. What stands out most to me is the generosity and vulnerability that the attendees bring with them.Throughout the day, group leaders each ask a challenging question of the group, and the conversation that follows is full of helpful advice and observations, regardless of where we work. The question I posed to the group was titled: Is your agency starting to look like a high school where the seniors never graduate? We discussed the tension between autonomy and leadership. I learned so much, thanks to the positive energy and spirit in the room.I also sat on a panel where we discussed Project Meddle, a case study entered into social on behalf of Russia. Out of that conversation, I realised that our industry needs a way for passion projects to be celebrated, along with work done for clients.I will focus on working with the industry to continue to support and expand the human and economic value of creativity in marketing.Molla has done an incredible job these last four years, and my goal is to use the platform he is handing over to me to further encourage diversity and inclusiveness in the work that our companies create. This is The One Club for Creativity, and diversity and inclusion for creativity are the future.The interesting thing about this years award winners is that there are no major trends. This is good news, because it means people are solving for real business problems and brand opportunities, instead of jumping on a trend.I believe this is because authenticity has been stressed over and over, the past few years, and thanks to social media, consumers are holding brands to that.This year I have seen an emphasis on juries recognising famous work for big brands. Great creative work must be done on big brands if we are to make a strong case for the value of creativity in our business.My favourite work this year is, Its a Tide Ad. The Tide brand has been famous for stain stories for years. To go stainless strategically was a great twist, while remaining on-brand.I also think the idea respected the viewers intelligence. They didnt dumb down this meta idea. People like to use their brains. They like to get the joke. And finally, to hijack all the other Super Bowl ads is a marketers dream and a competitors nightmare, and it proved that even with the most traditional media, you can still bring untraditional thinking.Curating great work and celebrating that work with your peers is incredibly inspiring. It is important to remind ourselves of the bar we must continually set for ourselves. I genuinely believe that great creative ideas, brilliantly executed, will not only grow our industry but will also make the world better.
The growth and transformation plans Ethiopia designed to push its economy into lower middle income status by 2025 bear in them a transition from an agrarian economy to an industrial one. In line with that goal, the country has been striving to draw in foreign investment to boost the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Addis Ababa  Dereje Belachew 123rf.com

Political stability

Labour costs

Those efforts seem to bear fruit as Ethiopia has been ranked the seventh most attractive African country to investors by Africa Investment Index (AII) 2018. With a rapidly growing economy, a huge population of over hundred million, proximity to major international markets, conducive policy environment and a rapidly improving infrastructure, Ethiopia has increasingly become a favorable destination for FDI.Numerous companies have relocated their manufacturing plants from countries such as Turkey, India and China to Ethiopia over the past decade.European and American companies are also increasingly flocking to the rising investment magnet in East Africa. Internationally recognised apparel, textile and shoe brands have also established manufacturing plants in Ethiopia.With an 8.5% rate of economic growth forecasted for the next year by the IMF, Ethiopia is expected to retake its position as the fastest growing economy in Africa. According to IMF figures, the country also had an average of 10% economic growth over the past dozen years. The sustained rapid economic growth complemented by strong performance in the coming years, gives Ethiopia a positive outlook going forward.The challenge over the past three years has been the political unrest in different parts of the country. However, that also seems to have abated with the election of the new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. The popularity he receives and the sense of unity he has galvanised among the people seem to have convinced the Ethiopian people that he deserves their cooperation and support. Therefore, the political stability that has been the whole mark of the past quarter of a century is assumed to have been reinstated.Such suitable conditions are expected to bolster Ethiopia's stature as an investment hub considerably over the foreseeable future. However, there are those who take this potential to unchartered territory through claims that it might be the new China. In a recent report by CNN entitled:, Vijaya Ramachandran, an economist at the American think tank, Center for Global Development (CGD), attributes Ethiopia's growth to governmental effort to boost industrial production and manufacturing. A report released by Ramachandran and three other academics argues that "Ethiopia can follow in China's footsteps, and become a destination for low-wage manufacturing jobs.The report by the group of economists categorises African states into three in terms of their income levels. The first group consists of solidly middle-income countries. This group includes South Africa and Botswana, which are characterised by very high labour costs and capital intensive industries. The second group includes leading low and lower-middle lower-income African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal - coastal, relatively stable, and with a strong business sector. These countries have relatively costly labour compared to countries like Bangladesh. "The third group consists of countries at the very low end of the income spectrum, so poor that there are almost no real comparators." The report cites the DRC, Ethiopia and, to a lesser degree, Malawi, as countries that appear to fit the bill.The report dismisses the prospects of the DRC and Malawi as investment hubs as implausible citing the "governance failings" in these countries. It goes on to assert that Ethiopia is the ideal country with all the traits to become the new China in Africa. The report states:Though landlocked, it (Ethiopia) hasbeen moving towards easing logistics constraints through road and rail connections; it also has good air connections. It benefits from a stable administration that sees the manufacturing as a central part of its growth strategy. It also benefits from generally low costs. As measured by Purchasing-Power Parity, the general level of prices in Ethiopia is below the level in India and comparable to that of in Bangladesh. The firm surveys also suggest comparable levels of labour costs and a similar WEF Global Competitiveness ranking despite its far lower income level.The report further cites a McKinsey Survey administered to chief procurement officers of large apparel companies on which countries would become the top manufacturing destinations in the next five years. The result, it states, ranks Ethiopia as the seventh in the world and the first among African countries. With such lofty perceptions about the country, the flow of FDI to Ethiopia should pick up even more momentum in the coming years.The report also states that higher labour prices and the reputational problem of poor working conditions in Asian industrial locations are deriving investors away from the region to other destinations such as Africa. The rising wages of workers and the general cost companies incur in China are also forcing companies to relocate to alternative destinations. In other countries, it is restrictive labour and business laws that are raised as constraints for more foreign direct investment.Ethiopia, on the other hand, offers lower labour wages and better working conditions than the countries with reputation for poor working conditions. The report states that some sources claim manufacturing working conditions in Ethiopia - though far from ideal - are better than in Bangladesh and Cambodia. In the International Trade Union Global Rights Index, goes on the report, Ethiopia fared better than Mexico and Malaysia. There have, however, been health and safety concerns in some instances. Although not vividly put, the report implies that there are no restrictive labour laws in Ethiopia, which is meant to show that companies have relatively bigger room to manipulate labour. These conditions need to be improved.The report concludes that though it is hard to project what the future will bring, it is safe to determine that Ethiopia is better positioned to embark on a manufacturing-led take off than other African countries. It, therefore, has the potential to become the China of Africa.
Canada NewsWire

OTTAWA, May 28, 2018

OTTAWA, May 28, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) spoke up today as part of the Modernization of the Official Languages Act.

"The Act is a lifeline for English-speaking Quebec," QCGN President Jim Shea told a hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages. "The Act is the only language rights legislation that protects the interests of English-speaking Quebecers as a community. It sets out quasi-constitutional rights for English-speaking Quebecers, including the right to access federal services in English, the representation of English-speakers in the federal public service, and those workers' right to work in English.

"Further, it provides the framework for much-needed financial support for the community's institutions and networks."

However, QCGN Vice-President Geoffrey Chambers added, "as an official language minority, the English-speaking community faces similar challenges to those faced by the French-speaking minority communities." In 2011, Chambers recalled, the Standing Committee recognized the English-speaking community of Quebec as part of a "unique social, political, economic and cultural context" deserving of recognition. "This unique context must be taken into account in any discussion on the modernization of the Act," Chambers said.

English-speaking Quebecers face a degree of economic exclusion not faced by French-speakers outside Quebec, he said. English-speakers have a lower median income and a higher unemployment rate than their French-speaking counterparts in Quebec. Aside from New Brunswick, Quebec is the sole province where the linguistic minority has a lower median income than the majority.

QCGN Board Member Eva Ludvig told the committee that specific measures are required to build capacity within the English-speaking community in Quebec to speak and act with a full and influential voice at the national level. Members of the English-speaking community within Quebec currently constitute more than half the minority-language population across Canada.

However, she said, English-speaking Quebec "is not currently resourced to equally participate in national level official languages' discussions." Ludvig's background includes two decades as the Quebec Representative of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

The Quebec Community Groups Network is a not-for-profit organization bringing together 56 English-language community organizations across Quebec. As a centre of evidence-based expertise and collective action it identifies, explores and addresses strategic issues affecting the development and vitality of the English-speaking community of Quebec and encourages dialogue and collaboration among its member organizations, individuals, community groups, institutions and leaders.

SOURCE Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)




NEW DELHI (PTI): India has concluded price negotiations with Russia for a nearly Rs 40,000 crore deal to procure S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for the Indian Air Force, officials said.



They said the two countries are now trying to find a way out to evade the provisions of a US law that seeks to punish countries and entities engaged in transactions with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.



"The negotiations for the missile deal have been concluded. The financial component has been finalised," a top official involved in the negotiations for the deal with Russia told PTI.



The official said both Russia and India are likely to announce the deal before an annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October.



Two other officials said both sides are now looking at ways to insulate the deal from the sanctions announced by the US against Russia under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).



The issue is understood to have figured during Modi's informal talks with Putin in Sochi last week.



There has been mounting concerns in India over the US sanctions against Russian defence majors including Rosoboronexport as billions of dollars of military purchases may be impacted because of the punitive measure.



The US had announced sanctions against Russia under the stringent law for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016.



CAATSA, which came into effect in January, mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.



US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis last month appealed to the Congress to urgently provide India the national security waiver, saying imposing sanctions under CAATSA for the S-400 air defence missile deal would only hit the US.



India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.



In 2016, India and Russia had signed an agreement on the 'Triumf' interceptor-based missile system which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.



China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of unknown number of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing.



The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, has been in service in Russia since 2007.


NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> Strada is taking it to the street with its edgy line of every day wear for men and women. Located at 28 South State Street, Newtown Boroughs newest retail store features a full line of casual wear for the guys, ages 30 and up, as well as a smaller selection of womens wear, jewelry and accessories. The...
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
Even as the Dalmia Bharat-led consortium has moved the Supreme Court asking UltraTech Cement be disqualified to bid for the stressed assets of Binani Cement, the Rs 79.60 billion proposal will be put to vote on Monday by Binani Cements Committee of Creditors (CoC). The NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) has to be apprised about its order on June 4 and by then we need to select the successful bidder and issue a Letter of Intent.

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 nearly three years of stagnation, paper prices have started firming up. After a good FY18, companies have again raised prices by 2-3 per cent in the current financial year due to increase in raw material costs.

Industry official said global players have taken a price hike of 6-8 per cent in the past one and a half months and the rupee has also depreciated during the same period, which gives Indian companies room to hike prices. Manufacturers have said that in 2019-20, the price is expected to head northward as raw material cost is likely to continue its rising ...
In a new television ad, Ubers chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, pledges to move the ride-hailing giant beyond its bad-boy past. One of our core values as a company is to always do the right thing, declares Mr. Khosrowshahi, who joined the business nine months ago. But in Southeast Asia, the right thing is a matter of interpretation. Ubers abrupt exit on March 25 from eight countries  a month after Mr. Khosrowshahi publicly promised to continue to invest very aggressively in the region  has left regulators, ...
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the countrys official weather forecaster, in its 8.15 am bulletin, said monsoon would hit Kerala in the next 24 hours. There are monsoon-like conditions over Kerala and we can say that the annual rainfall season has arrived, Skymet Chief Executive Officer Jatin Singh told PTI. The Skymet, in its forecast, said that monsoon would hit the Kerala coast on May 28, while the ...

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
India on Monday said it has not abided by the US sanctions on Iran or Venezuela in the past, neither will it this time. Addressing her ministrys annual press conference here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj indicated India-Iran trade will continue, as it did the last time the US imposed sanctions on Tehran, and that India will also continue to trade with Venezuela.

She said a mechanism for India-Iran trade will soon be worked out, but it will not be in cryptocurrency since the Reserve Bank of India has banned the currency. Amid the US plan to scrap a rule ...
The prices of medicine and medical products may be capped soon in Delhi according to a proposal by the Delhi government, announced by Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday.

In a move that is expected to especially help patients of private hospitals, the Delhi government has proposed in a draft advisory that the price of medicines and consumables could be upto a maximum of 50 per cent more than the purchase price, or it could be the MRP, whichever is lower. Since last year, a string of cases in Delhi whereby private hospitals have handed out inflated medical bills with ballooning ...
With just four days to go for the deadline to submit an expression of interest (EoI) for Air India, the government is waiting to hear from likely suitors. The last leg has been action-filled with top executives of consultancy firm EY, the transaction advisor for Air India disinvestment, flying across the world over the past three weeks to generate interest among the big aviation players in Europe and Asia.

The government is yet to receive a single formal EoI for the airline. The window closes on May 31, unless the government extends the date once more. The date was extended once ...
The new state-of-the-art cloud-enabled national centre, inaugurated by the Union minister for electronics and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad, is an addition to the ones at Delhi, Pune and Hyderabad. Built at a cost of about Rs two billion, it has about 275 racks and can host 35,000 virtual servers. "Governments, both centre and the state, district and panchayats can host their websites at the new cloud based data centre. ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
The new European data privacy legislation is so stringent that it could kill off data-driven online services and chill innovations like driverless cars, tech industry groups warn. The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union called the legislation "overly strict." The Developers Alliance, a trade group representing Facebook, Google, Intel and dozens of app makers, said it could cost businesses in Europe more than 550 billion euros, or about $640 billion, in annual lost revenue. And DigitalEurope, another tech trade group, said the legislation's prohibitive ...
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said former premier Nawaz Sharif is ready to get imprisoned for the sake of his principles.

Abbasi made his remarks during an interview to anchor person Talat Hussain on Geo News' programme 'Naya Pakistan'.

The Prime Minister also maintained that he did not expect Sharif to be given justice by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court.

Sharif is currently embroiled in several political and corruption cases.

Earlier in the month, during an interview with the Dawn, Sharif had stated that "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 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.

He faced a massive backlash at home for his statement.

In April, he was disqualified by the Pakistan's Supreme Court from standing for elections for the rest of his life.

A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar, gave the unanimous verdict on several identical petitions pertaining to the duration of disqualification of a politician under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan Constitution.

In July last year, country's apex court disqualified Sharif from holding the office of the prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against the Sharif family in connection with corruption cases against them.

The Sharifs are facing multiple corruption references in the accountability court.

Meanwhile, Abbasi has expressed hope that a consensus would be achieved on the interim Prime Minister's name by Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Afghan National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar on Sunday called on Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss bilateral relations, border security and the Afghan peace process.

"The two sides agreed to fast-track the formulation of working groups, especially on bilateral security cooperation and to undertake measures that would assist both sides in the reduction of violence at the hands of terrorists," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement, issued on Sunday night.

Atmar was accompanied by Interior Minister Waris Barmak and the head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Masum Stankzai.

According to the Express Tribune, the Afghan delegation held talks at the Prime Minister's Office with National Security Adviser Lt.Gen. (retired) Nasser Khan Janjua and later at the General Headquarters with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

This comes after Afghanistan and Pakistan finalised a joint action plan on peace.

The plan, known as the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), was agreed following Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's visit to Afghanistan last month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The last rites of Army jawan, NG Chopde, was held at his village Babhulgaon Bk on Sunday. The wife of Army jawan, who went missing in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, cried foul play and said that her complaint was not taken seriously.

"My complaint was not taken seriously. When I informed the Army unit, they thought I'm lying and did not do anything for three to four days. They thought this is all being done to extend his leave. I want justice," Chopde's wife told ANI.

Another relative said that the family did not receive any information for ten days.

"Filed missing complaint in Jabalpur on May 20 and on same day he was found dead by another police station 12 km away. We again went to Jabalpur 10 days later but they didn't inform anything to us as such. We later went to Army unit and somehow got to know of this," a relative told ANI.

NG Chopde went missing from the Jabalpur station on May 17, while he was on leave.

He was found dead on May 20 and the family was not formed for 10 days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former NASA astronaut and Apollo 12 lunar module pilot Alan Bean died on Saturday night at a Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Bean's passing was announced by NASA in a press release this weekend. He became suddenly ill while travelling in Indiana two weeks ago.

Bean earned an engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and was commissioned in the US Navy. NASA selected him as a member of its third class of astronauts in 1963.

Following his astronaut training and a few runs as a backup crew member, Bean received his assignment as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 12, which, in November 1969 became NASA's second mission the Moon's surface. He was the fourth man to walk on the moon, making him one of twelve people to do so.

He also commanded the second crew to live and work on board the Skylab orbital workshop. During the then-record-setting 59-day, 24.4 million-mile flight, Bean and his two crewmates generated 18 miles of computer tape during surveys of Earth's resources and 76,000 photographs of the Sun to help scientists better understand its effects on the solar system.

He retired from NASA in 1981 and dedicated his life to painting. Inspired by his own experiences as an astronaut, Bean spent the past four decades creating art themed around space exploration. He created Apollo-based paintings that would include moon dust and parts of his mission patches.

Taking to twitter, NASA commemorated him by posting a video highlighting all the important moments of his life.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aafreen Shaikh, the daughter of an autorickshaw driver from Ahmedabad made him proud by scoring 98.31 percentile in the GSEB SSC exams.

Shaikh credited her success to her hard work while saying that she wanted to fulfill her parent's dream.

"I studied regularly. I want to pursue MBBS in future. My parents always dreamt of making me a doctor and I will surely fulfill their dreams," Aafreen told ANI.

Her father, Shaik Mohammad Hamza revelled in his daughter's success and said that he had always wanted her to become a doctor and serve the nation.

"My family and I have always encouraged her to study. I always wanted to make her a doctor and now I expect her to serve the nation," he said.

The Gujarat SSC exams were conducted from March 12 to 23, 2018.

A total of 11,03,854 students had appeared for the exams, out of which a lowly 51.47 percent students managed to clear.

Savani Hil Ishwarbhai was the exam topper, scoring 99 percent (594 out of 600).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday cited the increase in the cost of crude oil in the international market and the rupee-dollar exchange rate as the primary reason for the recent hike in fuel prices.

"The increase in the price of crude oil and the difference in the rates of rupees and dollars have brought this condition (fuel price hike). Crude oil prices in international markets are beyond our control. We are making a long-term plan in this regard," he said.

Pradhan further said the Centre had reduced the tax rates it levied on the commodity, claiming that the state governments did not follow suit.

"The tax had been reduced a few days back but the states did not reduce them in those proportions. We cannot force them to do so but can only request," he said.

He said his government is concerned for the common people and are working towards a solution for this problem.

"We are sensitive towards poor and middle-class people's problem. We will find the way out," said Pradhan.

Petrol and diesel prices continued to soar for the 15th consecutive day on Monday.

The revised petrol prices in metropolitan cities are- Delhi: Rs 78.27 per litre; Mumbai: 86.08; Kolkata: 80.76 and Chennai: 81.11.

Meanwhile, the cost of diesel per liter has also been increased and the revised prices in Delhi are - Rs 69.17 and Mumbai Rs 73.64 per litre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday that Congress' allegations that the relations with Russia have deteriorated are "far from truth".

"Recently PM Modi and President Putin held a successful informal summit," said Swaraj, while addressing the media on the completion of four years of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Sochi in Russia for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prime Minister Modi held one-one talks with President Putin, in which he reiterated the strong bilateral relations between two countries.

He further termed the Indo-Russian bilateral relations as a special privileged partnership.

India and Russia expressed their concern over terrorism and radicalization during the informal Summit.

The two leaders also expressed their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The two sides also "noted with satisfaction" the expanding cooperation in the energy sector.

Prime Minister has invited President Putin for the 19th Annual Summit in India later in the year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the progress of Department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs at a high-level meeting in the Ministry of Home Affairs here today.

The Union Home Minister expressed satisfaction that there has been a significant drop in stone-pelting incidents since the government announced the suspension of operations during Ramzan.

In view of 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan during the current year, the Home Minister called for expediting construction of bunkers along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) to protect the border residents.

The MHA has approved Rs.415 crores for construction of more than 14,000 bunkers in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Work on construction of 1,431 community and more than 13,000 individual bunkers will commence from July.

The Home Minister was informed that compensation to victims of cross-border firing has been approved at NDRF rates and the limit of three milch animals removed for losses incurred upon livestock. The minister directed that compensation for live-stock may be increased to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 30,000 presently.

Rajnath Singh directed to expedite the raising of two New Border Battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

He said the recruitment should be completed by March, 2019. MHA has approved Rs.105 crores in March, 2018. These two battalions would be raised from the people living within 0 - 10 kms of IB/LoC. Besides, 5 India Reserve Battalions (IRB) are also being raised. 4,690 youth have been recruited for this, who will start joining next month. Also, 6,689 SPOs have been appointed out of a total of 10,000 new posts sanctioned. The possibility of filling up of the vacancies of SPOs from Border living community may be explored.

The Home Minister was informed that 1,079 youth have been selected during a Special recruitment drive for CAPFs and Assam Rifles in 2016-17 while 7,302 youth were inducted into the Army during the period 2014-2017.

The Home Minister was also informed about the progress of relief and rehabilitation programmes related to various sections of Migrants and Displaced Persons. 12,763 beneficiaries of Displaced persons of PoJK have been disbursed Rs. 578 crs. Rajnath Singh directed holding special camps and publicity in regional newspapers for disbursing assistance of Rs.5.5 lakhs per family to Displaced People of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb, for which MHA has provided Rs.2,000 crores.

Reviewing the Prime Minister's Development Package worth Rs.80,068 crores, it was informed that nearly 63,000 crores have been sanctioned for 63 projects pertaining to 15 Central Ministries. Out of which more than Rs.24,000 crores (31%) have been released and over Rs.20,000 crores (26%) utilized. 13 projects have been completed/substantially completed. Home Minister directed to accelerate the implementation of these projects.

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba were present during today's review meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After a long wait of six years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy went to the league's most consistent team - the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

While the CSK won the Cup and our hearts too, it was Delhi Daredevils (DD), the team which ended eighth on the points table, that dominated the closing ceremony by winning three of the eight awards.

DD's Rishabh Pant was named the Emerging Player of IPL 2018.

Pant, who ended as the second highest run-getter in the tournament with 684 runs from 14 games, also won the most Stylish Player award.

Meanwhile, DD's Trent Boult won the Perfect Catch award for his stunning one-handed catch of Royal Challenges Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), who could not make it to the play offs also this season, were given the Fairplay Award.

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Sunil Narine struck twice as he grabbed the Super Striker and Valuable Player award.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Kane Williamson (735 runs) got the Orange Cap (Most Runs) while Kings XI pacer Andrew Tye (24 wickets) got the Purple Cap (Most Wickets).

Shane Watson, who helped the CSK chase down the 179-run target in 18.3 overs won the Player of the Match.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif, who arrived here on Monday on a one-day visit, stressed upon the idea of strengthening relations shared by the two countries.

"We (India and Iran) have had very good relations in the past and we expect to continue these relations. We will have a number of meetings today and we will work on expanding the very good relations that we have with India," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told ANI in Delhi.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Zarif will call upon Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhawan.

Both the leaders are expected to hold discussions on several bilateral issues.

This comes after the United States President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal officially known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionm, which limited Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

The Ministry of External Affairs later issued a statement on May 10 saying it will take necessary steps to safeguard India's interest with respect to Iran's nuclear deal.

"We will take necessary measures to safeguard our interest. It is too early to come to a conclusion on implications of US withdrawing from JCPOA," MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Foreign Minister Zarif has been visiting leaders of several countries to discuss the future of Iran nuclear deal including meeting the European Union, British, French, and German counterparts in Brussels.

The European Union had been trying to salvage the nuclear deal.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, the US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

Further among the key issues between India and Iran is the development of Chabahar port.

Earlier on March 15, India issued a statement saying that Iran is free to choose partners for developing Chabahar Port.

It came after Iran invited China and Pakistan to participate in the development of the strategic Chabahar Port and extended support to the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newly elected Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in the capital.

Kumaraswamy will meet the Prime Minister for the first time after taking over as the Chief Minister of the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka.

He will also visit Raj Ghat in the afternoon to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

After returning to Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy is expected to extend his Cabinet ministry.

Congress' Karnataka in-charge KC Venugopal while talking to ANI said a bilateral discussion is going on between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) and added that within one or two days it will be finalised.

"It will be sorted out within one or two days. After finalisation of the portfolio, immediately we will go for expansion," Venugopal said.

When asked about party president Rahul Gandhi's absence from India, Venugopal said it would not affect the cabinet expansion much as he is continuously available over the phone.

"Karnataka leaders and I are discussing with Janata Dal (Secular). When it will be finalised from our side, then only it will reach the leadership. That is the procedure. Rahul Gandhi is available on phone," he said.

Earlier on Sunday, taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rahul Gandhi urged social media trollers not to get "worked up" as he is going to accompany his mother Sonia Gandhi abroad for an annual medical check-up and will be back soon.

The Congress president, who will be leaving tonight along with her mother, took to Twitter and said, "Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia Ji to her annual medical checkup. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don't get too worked up...I'll be back soon!"

On the other hand, Kumaraswamy quoted controversy on Sunday after he asserted that he became the chief minister due to Congress party and not because of the people's mandate.

Kumaraswamy, while talking to media here, said he had asked for a clear mandate from the people but was now indebted to the Congress leaders.

"It is not my independent government. I asked the people of Karnataka for a clear mandate to do their bidding. But now, I am here indebted to the Congress leaders. I am not here because of mandate from state's 6 crore population," Kumaraswamy said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewed lava on Sunday (local time) that flowed on to the Big Island and is crossing into a geothermal property posing greater disaster.

As reported by the Fox News, lava crossed onto the Puna Geothermal Venture and continued advancing east on the property.

As per officials, they are constantly looking for the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide, but no traces of the same have been found till now.

The residents are concerned about the possibility of poisonous gases being emitted from the volcano.

Further, the molten lava and heat could rupture the wells at the plant.

The geothermal plant has been already shut down and 60,000 gallons of flammable liquid at the start of the volcanic activity has been removed. The wells have also been deactivated.

The volcano erupted three weeks ago, due to which 82 structures, including dozens of homes have been destroyed as 2,000 people have abandoned their houses.

Further, the highway around the volcano is developing cracks in it, hence it has been covered with heat-resistant plates.

The police may have to resort to air evacuations in case the lava traps more residential area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Myanmar President U Win Myint has forgiven 58 displaced Rohingyas detained for attempting to re-enter the country from Bangladesh.

A total of 62 returnees were arrested by Myanmar local authorities for illegally crossing the border, as per The Daily Star.

The group was attempting to return to strife-torn northern Rakhine State's Maungdaw Township from a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

It is believed that they were traveling independently, and not according to the refugee repatriation agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh which was signed on November 23, 2017.

The cases against four of the detainees have been dropped.

According to the daily, not a single person had been officially repatriated, despite the bilateral agreement.

Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar, who are considered as illegal immigrants as opposed to citizens of the country.

Due to a surge in violence in western Myanmar last year, over 700,000 Rohingyas fled the country to escape the military's action. Presently, they are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Opposition party Federal Socialist Forum- Nepal (FSF-N) will be joining the Central Government, led by the Communist Party of Nepal, to ink two agreements.

"As per the agreement inked in the presence of the two sitting chairman of the newly-merged parties, the Communist Party of Nepal; KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the issues pertaining the amendment in the constitution will be addressed on basis of mutual understanding," the Prime Minister's Personal Secretariat informed.

Prime Minister Oli has been constantly making promise to amend the constitution on the basis of importance and mutuality.

FSF-N was previously with a long-time disgruntled party alliance known as the Federal Alliance, but later it was differed as the FSF-N Chairman and the then co-coordinator of the alliance Upendra Yadav was ousted from the same.

Though the FSF-N differs from the Rashtriya Janata Party- Nepal (RJP-N) they still have a common demand to amend the constitution.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nepal will unveil the budget for financial year 2018-19 on Tuesday.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the bicameral federal parliament of Nepal Krishna Bahadur Mahara informed the lawmakers about the same in a meeting on Sunday.

Nepal's Finance Minister Yubraj Khatiwada will unveil the budget in the joint meeting of the Parliament at about 4p.m., reported the Kathmandu Post.

The Constitution of Nepal mandates government to unveil budget in joint meeting of federal parliaments on 15 Jestha.

Jestha is the second month in Bikram Samwat, the official Nepali calendar.

This month starts with May 15 to 14 June of the Western calendar and is 30 days long. The Bikram Sambat originated from the Vikram Samwat.

This month was initially identical to second of Indian calendar month Jyeshta, however, due to regional pronunciation it differed later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said there is no change in Doklam and status quo position with regard to China and Bhutan continues to exist as before.

"There has been no change in the situation at the Doklam faceoff site. Status quo is continuing," Swaraj said during an interaction with the media on the occasion of the completion of four years of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

In 2017, Indian and Chinese troops were mired in a long-standing face off in the Doklam area of Bhutan. The standoff was started when the Chinese side tried to alter the status quo by building a road in the area in violation of its understandings with both the countries.

On 16 June 2017, Chinese troops with construction vehicles and road-building equipment began extending an existing road southward in Doklam, a territory which is claimed by both China and India's ally Bhutan.

On August 28, both India and China announced that they had withdrawn all their troops from Doklam.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To meet the rising demand for trainers and assessors in India's skill development ecosystem, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) aims to establish state- of-the-art Trainer and Assessor Academies in the country.

To complement this development, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and Temasek Foundation International are partnering NSDC on a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme to build capabilities of 300 education leaders and specialists who will establish and manage these academies across India. This programme is supported by Temasek Foundation International with a grant of S$502,955.

To formalise this programme, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NSDC and SP is expected to be signed during India Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore from 31 May to 2 June 2018.

Speaking on the partnership Mr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC said, "There is an urgent need for quality trainers and assessors across different sectors in India. To fulfill this requirement, we are happy to collaborate with Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Foundation International. This will help us develop best in class framework for vocational training and quality assurance in India and will further help in scaling-up various initiatives under Skill India mission."

The above engagement is in line with the larger collaboration between India and Singapore on skill development.

National Skill Development Corporation, under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is one of its kind public-private-partnership which aims to catalyze creation of quality vocational training in India across different sector. Since inception in 2010, NSDC has trained more than 15 million people and has created a robust training infrastructure through 350+ training partners and 39 Sector Skill Councils. Today NSDC partners operates through 7000+ training centers spread over 550 districts across the country. NSDC is also the implementing partners for several flagships programs under Government of India, including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kasuahl Kendra, Udaan, among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi on Sunday attacked the Congress party and said that the Opposition is scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Congress can't live without power. It once ruled the nation but is now confined to three to four states. They want to reach the Centre by holding onto the tail of regional parties. Oppositions, scared of Narendra Modi, went down to 78 from 140 in Karnataka, but are celebrating as if they won," Modi said, on the occasion of the four year celebrations of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre.

The swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy marked a rare occasion where Opposition parties from all over the country set aside their differences to join hands in a show of might against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre.

Notable opposition leaders included Congress' Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Sitaram Yechury, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar. The rival-turned-allies in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)'s Mayawati were also present.

Sushil Modi hit out at the Opposition for the same, and criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and TDP for switching sides when it suits them.

"During the swearing in ceremony in Karnataka, those who attempted to show unity are trying to build a castle on sand floor," he said.

"DMK, AIADMK, TDP and others who were in power with BJP at some point of time...when they come with BJP they say they're forming government with the BJP in the interest of the nation. When they have to oppose BJP they say they are opposing in the name of secularism," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad also criticised the Opposition and said that they cannot stop the 'caravan of Narendra Modi'.

"People who are defeated and tired cannot stop the caravan of Narendra Modi. People constantly rejected by public...This is not the India of the 90s. This is a new India," Prasad said.

He also praised former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his grit and determination.

"It takes strength to enhance nation's capability. It was shown by Vajpayee ji. World didn't realise when Pokhran tests were done and India became a power. Surgical strike was executed. Modi Ji said, before telling media tell Pak 'your men are dead, go collect their bodies'," Prasad added.

The BJP-led government at the Centre came to power with a brute majority in 2014 on May 26.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Monday said Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018 is laughable.

Addressing the media on the occasion of completion of four years of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, she said, "They tried to teach us history. Pakistan always distorts history and doesn't believe in law."

On Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Pakistan's Deputy High commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a protest against Pakistan's so-called "Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018".

"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the EAM said, in an official statement.

The ministry further said that the action could not "hide the illegal occupation of the part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades."

Several political leaders and general public in Gilgit-Baltistan had earlier raised concern over the promulgation of Gilgit Baltistan Order, 2018 replacing the Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009.

Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018, which essentially seizes the powers of Gilgit Baltistan Council and entrusts Prime Minister of Pakistan with indisputable authorities vis-a-vis Gilgit- Baltistan, was officially promulgated on May 21.

The Gilgit-Baltistan government has promulgated the Gilgit-Baltistan Order-2018, replacing the Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009.

The new order has been approved by Pakistan's cabinet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Monday flagged the security challenges posed by terrorism and extremism imposed from beyond the borders of Afghanistan at SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group Meeting here.

Additional Secretary (Multilateral Diplomacy), Gitesh Sarma led the Indian delegation to the second meeting of SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group Meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

This was the second meeting of the Contact Group following the expansion of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in June 2017 with India becoming its full member.

The Indian delegation discussed issues on three agendas, namely the current situation of Afghanistan and its neighbouring regions, the reconciliation process in Afghanistan and role of SCO and measures for cooperation between SCO and Afghanistan

"India also shared its perspectives on the security situation in Afghanistan, including security challenges posed by terrorism and extremism imposed from beyond its borders, extended support to the peace offer made by the President of Afghanistan to the armed opposition for talks in February 2018, need for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation in an environment free of terror and violence," the MEA said.

The Indian delegation also underlined continued assistance for socio-economic development based on priorities of the people of Afghanistan and ensuring greater connectivity and regional integration for Afghanistan.

India reiterated its support to the membership of Afghanistan in the SCO.

India also conveyed its readiness to work closely with the SCO member States in efforts to bring peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan.

On the sidelines of the Contact Group meeting, the Indian delegation held bilateral consultations with the delegations of China, Afghanistan, Russia and Tajikistan..

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SuperStartUps Asia, a platform to recognise the most loved start-ups in Asia, today announced its second edition of Awards to be held in the capital city on 30th May 2018 at India Habitat Centre. SuperStarUps Asia 2018 is a badge of honor to recognize excellence in the Asian start-up world.

The initiative is the second edition of the SuperStartUps Awards that debuted in 2016 with a vision of providing something of incredible value to its winners that would differentiate it from other start-ups competitions.

In the words of Shivjeet Kullar, Council Leader of SuperStartUps Awards - "We are glad to be presenting the second edition of SuperStartUps Awards. We have gone bigger and have increased our horizons this time. We have extended this property by increasing the scale of this initiative; the startups which are being chosen for award categories are not just from India but abroad as well. India, as you know, holds a very important place in the global startup scenario, hence an award like this holds a lot of value. Also this time, we plan to take SuperStartUps beyond awards and into workshops and knowledge sessions. People will get a taste of this at the award ceremony."

It is an award chosen by netizens of the world - for at the end of the day, the success of a startup depends on how resonant its product is among the masses. With this vision, SuperStartUps Asia undertook extensive research to as certain the array of companies that were creating buzz and making an impact. In 2017, the SuperStartUps India Awards celebrated companies changing the Indian startup landscape - Byju's, Zivame, PropTiger, Bluestone and Milkbasket were among some of the many winners. This year, the same awards are going global, recognising excellence across Asia.

In an unprecedented online election comprising over 15,000 reviews from across Asia with 1,00,000 questions answered on different parameters, the SuperStartUps Asia finalists have been decided. SuperStartUps Asia recognizes and felicitates deserving companies in the segments like Fantasy gaming, artificial intelligence, fintech amongst others.

Being a SuperStartUp provides its winners with the ultimate validation - it shows companies how the public is reacting to their idea. Accompanied by a research report, they get a holistic understanding of what aspects of their are working and what needs to be tweaked to provide a product that is universally lauded. Furthermore, they get access to the who's who of the investor board from across Asia to secure funding for expanding their operations.

The SuperStartUp label is the highest form of recognition - a certification of entrepreneurial excellence and the ultimate seal that the company is customer-approved. Any start-up that has an online model and is operating in India, Dubai, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia, is eligible to enter for acceptance in the SuperStartUps program. SuperStartUp allows the start-up to be classified as one of a kind startup, receive a top of the line research report with all relevant success parameters, and receive the trophy at a high profile function; winners are guaranteed access to opening doors of conversations with investors and fundraisers in India, China and Southeast Asia.

The monitoring council of the project is led by Shivjeet Kullar and includes Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge; Deep Kalra, founder and CEO of MakeMyTrip; ad-man Prahlad Kakkar; and Valerie Pinto, CEO of Weber Shandwick.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Shiv Sena on Monday blamed the Election Commission of India (ECI) responsible for the fault in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

Raising concern on the issue, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai called for using ballot papers for conducting elections.

"Technical problems in EVMs and VVPATs clearly indicate the failure of the Election Commission. If this is the situation in by-polls, think about upcoming Lok Sabha Elections," Desai told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel backed Shiv Sena's stand on using ballot papers.

"In many big European nations, election commissions have rejected the EVMs and have gone back to ballot paper system. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav just called me up, he also said 300 EVMs not working in Kairana by-poll," Patel said.

As the polling in 14 Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies in ten states of India is underway, faults in EVMs have been reported from many booths.

11 faulty EVMs were reported across polling booths in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra.

Four VVPATs at booth numbers 27, 28, 132 and 45 were replaced during polling in Punjab's Shahkot.

Last year, the Election Commission of India held its EVM hacking challenge, after the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed a PIL against the move.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Motherhood exposes women to many challenges and these challenges are more ominous for single mothers, who have to sift through every issue solo. But when it comes to relocating to a new place an additional stress on the family comes all over. Not only do they have to pack all their belongings and worry about getting across but have to start from the scratch when it comes to various things about the new city

Here are the four stages which each and every mother ought to be companion with in order to ease out their moving out exercises:

UrbanClap

In a new house, chances are that there'll be something that needs to get fixed, cleaned or changed to suit your requirements. That's where app like UrbanClap proves useful. The largest marketplace for home services provides plumber, electrician, and repair serviceman at home. It helps one to get settled in the new city, without even getting worried for day-to-day chores. It connects the individual with handymen for housekeeping, cleaning and car washing, plus the usual suspects like an electrician, plumber and carpenter etc.

Shift Karado

Shift Karado provides seamless shifting with its Insta pricing feature, it helps people in shifting across any major 20 cities, more so even corporate are doing a tie-up with these companies to provide hassle free shifting to their employees. Shift Karado is creating a disruption through its transparent and real-time solutions for the domestic packing and moving industry. Shift Karado gives customers the option of doing a site survey themselves over their laptop or mobile in their spare time, reducing the overall time taken to get a quote and book a move to under ten minutes.

NoBroker

Looking for a rented house in a new city becomes another toughest job where NoBroker.com, which is a brokerage free real estate portal that connects customers directly with each other by eliminating the middleman. Renting out a flat, apartment, house, home and flat-mate without a broker was never so easy. Owners of flats and tenants looking for flats can talk directly thus saving on brokerage.

BigBasket

For the first few days after moving, one might be too busy setting up their own place -- cooking food at the end of a hard day of work proves to be a task. Apart from cooking, arranging groceries and products for daily use is similar to a mission. Finding vendors with quality groceries and other daily needs is not easy so in such a situation platform like BigBasket comes to rescue. Bigbasket.com (Innovative Retail Concepts Private Limited) is India's largest online food and grocery store where one can order everything right from fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Rice and Dals, Spices and Seasonings to Packaged products, Beverages, Personal care products, Meats.

Furlenco

Furlenco is a furniture rental company, which not only offers furniture but also provide decor, accessories and appliances as well. So, with a simple click, a mom can furnish her entire home, room or corner without traversing multiple stores or websites at a fraction of the time, effort and cost. All decor that this site provide is brand new, and never reused for hygiene reasons. It comes with a host of complimentary benefits like swapping of furniture when needs change, relocation across cities, pausing of subscriptions and deep cleaning services as a part of the subscription.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A special court, designated to try lawmakers in regard to Sunanda Pushkar death case, will on Monday consider Delhi Police's charge sheet against MP and Pushkar's husband

The police has sought that Tharoor be summoned as an accused, claiming there was sufficient evidence against him.

Earlier on May 24, a Delhi Court, which was hearing the Sunanda Pushkar death case, transferred the matter to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Samar Vishal.

"Since he (Tharoor) is a sitting Member of Parliament, the matter is being sent to the special designated court for politicians, that is ACMM Samar Vishal. Matter will be taken up on May 28," the court said.

The had on May 14 filed a charge sheet in the court, in which they named Tharoor as an accused, under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Tharoor, however, dismissed the charge sheet filed by as "preposterous".

Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.

(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.)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Monday urged all parties involved in the Iran nuclear deal to engage constructively for peaceful resolution of the issues that have arisen following the US pulled out of the agreement.

Swaraj's statement comes in the backdrop of meeting with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is on a day-long visit to India.

On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced the Washington withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Iran nuclear deal which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

"FM Zarif briefed about the discussions that Iran has undertaken with parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following the US decision to withdraw from the Agreement. EAM conveyed that all parties to the Agreement should engage constructively for peaceful resolution of the issues that have arisen with respect to the Agreement," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.

Besides JCPOA, the two leaders also discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

"The two sides positively assessed the implementation of decisions taken during the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to India," the MEA stated.

It included bilateral cooperation in the areas of connectivity, energy, trade and promotion of people to people contacts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the birth anniversary of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder, late NT Rama Rao (NTR), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said his party will put forth a demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on him.

Naidu said this on the sidelines of a three-day Mahanadu (big festival) that marked the 95th birth anniversary of N.T. Rama Rao.

In his speech he said that a resolution seeking Bharat Ratna for NTR will be sent to the center.

Naidu told TDP cadres, "Construction of the NTR memorial in Amaravati will start soon."

He also said NTR's biography should be included in the state's academic syllabus.

A biopic on NTR is slated for release in January 2019.

"The film would be memorable for his fans," said Naidu.

Naidu paid floral tribute to the party founder at NTR Circle in Vijayawada before leaving the Mahanadu venue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that 'terror and talks cannot go together.'

Addressing the media on the completion of four years of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Swaraj, in a stern message to Pakistan said, "We never said we aren't ready for talks with Pakistan, but there is a caveat. Terror and talks cannot go together."

Referring to the Indian security personnel who had lost their lives in cross border firing, she said, "When our jawans are killed by Pakistanis on the border, dialogue (between India and Pakistan) makes no sense."

Her address to the media came even as the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Chief Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman arrived in India for bilateral talks with the Indian counterpart director general Rear Admiral Rajendra Singh.

Swaraj along with Minister of States V.K. Singh and M.J. Akbar released a book on the achievements of the MEA in the last four years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to leave for Indonesia on Tuesday for a two-day visit, Indian Ambassador to the country on Monday said both countries are looking for joint-cooperation to counter terrorism.

Speaking to ANI, Pradeep Kumar Rawat said, "Both India and Indonesia face similar challenges. Our position against the scourge of terrorism is clear. We believe in both softer and harder approaches in tackling this issue."

The envoy further said the Prime Minister Modi's maiden visit to Indonesia assumes significance as Indonesia is one of India's closest maritime neighbours and shares a deep historical and cultural connection.

"It (Indonesia) is our largest trading partner and the largest economy in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We have invested 15 billion US dollars in Indonesia's economy. So, Prime Minister Modi's first ever visit to the country assumes much greater significance," Rawat said.

Talking about the Act East policy, the envoy explained, "The government's Act East Policy acquires a very important place. Bilateral relations have multiple dimensions. The Act East Policy focuses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region."

Speaking of the high number of Indians visiting Indonesia, Rawat said the number of tourists coming to Indonesia touched over 4,000 last year and in 2018, it is expected to touch at least 7,000 people.

Prime Minister Modi's maiden visit to the country comes after Indonesia's President Joko Widodo visited New Delhi in December 2016 and was among the 10 ASEAN heads of state to come to New Delhi as the chief guest for India's Republic Day parade earlier this year. Their personnel rapport can help in bringing the two countries together."

Delving into the schedule of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Indonesia, the envoy said the Prime Minister will arrive in Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

Prime Minister Modi and President Widodo will have a number of engagements, where they are expected to hold discussions on wide-ranging issues of mutual interests. The two leaders will also participate in a public activity.

President Widodo will also host a banquet for Prime Minister Modi as well.

The Prime Minister will leave Indonesia for Singapore on May 31, which will be his second official visit.

He will deliver the key note address at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of the Harvey Weinstein accusers, Annabella Sciorra, said that the movie mogul should be behind the bars instead of being out on bail.

Expressing her disappointment over the same, the Emmy-nominated actress tweeted, "The law finally caught up with Harvey Weinstein on Friday and charged him with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. But nothing about that felt celebratory to me."

In a thread of tweet, she wrote, "If there was truly 'equal justice under the law', Harvey Weinstein would be behind bars in Rikers today, waiting for his own day in court, not free to roam New York, his other hunting ground, wearing an ankle bracelet."

Citing the case of New York man Kalief Browder, who was arrested in 2010 for robbery, she added, "Compare that to the case of Kalief Browder, who was denied bail after being accused of a misdemeanor, then spent four years in Rikers, over half of it in solitary confinement, awaiting a trial that never occurred."

For the unversed, then 16, Kalief spent three years in Rikers Jail waiting for trial. Prosecutors reportedly dropped his case due to lack of evidence.

Weinstein was arrested on Friday after he turned himself in to the New York Police Department (NYPD) to face the charges against him. He was charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct from encounters with two different women.

However, he was later released on one million dollar bail, with constant electronic monitoring and a ban on travelling beyond New York and Connecticut.

Sciorra went on to tweet, "And I got no relief from seeing this monster walk into court, then sneak out the back door after posting a million dollar bond. All that says is, money buys VIP treatment in the justice system no matter how serious or violent the crimes."

Irked by the smile on Weinstein's face as he walked away from the court, she wrote, "The smirk on his face as he was led out of the police station in cuffs made me physically sick. The public statement from his lawyer was intended only to denigrate all the brave women who came forward and spoke out against him."

According to Deadline, Sciorra claimed that Weinstein raped her in the 1990s and sexually harassed her for years after that.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The internet facility was restored in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu where 13 people were killed during a violent protest against the construction of copper unit by the Sterlite mining industries.

"The internet facility; we are restoring it from tonight, the people can avail the facility without any problem," TK Rajendran, DGP, Tamil Nadu said.

"We assessed the existing situation and the officers and strength deployment, accordingly we are withdrawing some officer and strength but we are keeping adequate strength to take care of peace in entire district. I request people to cooperate in bringing back normalcy in entire district," he added.

Meanwhile, the fishermen from Thoothukudi are demanding the closure of Sterlite Industries.

They alleged that chemical waste from the industry has affected the river and ponds nearby this area because of which their production has gone down.

The people of Thoothukudi have been protesting against Sterlite industries for months. The protesters were demanding a ban on the Sterlite Industries, alleging it was polluting groundwater and various environmental hazards.

The protests took a violent turn on May 22 when police opened fire on the protesters, which has killed 13 people and left 102 injured so far. 67 people have been arrested for indulging in violence.

Left-Wing organisations also held a protest against the deaths and in solidarity with anti-Sterlite protests on May 23.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General (retired) Asad Durrani will be meeting senior officers of the Pakistan Army at the General Headquarters (GHQ) here to give an explanation for co-authoring a book with former Indian external intelligence chief A S Dulat.

On Friday, Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted about the summons.

"Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani, Retired being called in GHQ on 28th May 18. Will be asked to explain his position on views attributed to him in book 'Spy Chronicles'. Attribution taken as violation of Military Code of Conduct applicable on all serving and retired military personnel," Major General Asif Ghafoor posted.

Lt Gen Asad Durrani, Retired being called in GHQ on 28th May 18. Will be asked to explain his position on views attributed to him in book 'Spy Chronicles'. Attribution taken as violation of Military Code of Conduct applicable on all serving and retired military personnel.  Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 25, 2018

Durrani and Dulat co-authored a book named 'Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace' which has recently been published.

In the book, Lt. Gen. Durrani made certain observations, including a claim that then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani was aware of the US Navy Seals operation against Osama Bin Ladin in Abbottabad and that a special deal was struck between the US and Pakistani governments in this regard.

Post the book release, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Durrani was asked to clarify his position in the context of the military code of conduct that bars any serving or retired military official from making remarks that compromise the country's national security.

The Spy Chronicles which has been a maiden effort by two former chiefs of rival agencies had been all over the news even before the book was published.

Earlier, Lt. Gen. Durrani defended himself saying the literary collaboration was simply a case of two people with experience in Indo-Pak affairs joining hands to discuss their respective perspectives.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a strong retort to his British counterpart Theresa May on Vijay Mallya's extradition case, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed on Monday.

"Prime Minister Modi told British Prime Minister that UK courts asking about the condition of Indian jails is not right, as these are the same prisons where they had jailed our leaders like Gandhi and Nehru," Swaraj said while addressing the media on the completion of 4 years of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Prime Minister Modi's stern message to the British PM was conveyed when the two leaders met in London in April, during the meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and discussed Mallya's extradition, wherein he had complained to the UK courts about the conditions of Indian jails.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is absconding and currently living in the United Kingdom.

His assests in India have been seized by the Indian authorities as he faces money laundering charges to the tune of more than Rs 9000 crores.

Swaraj also added, "We have sent out Mallya's extradition request. One of the cases in teh court is by the State Bank of India (SBI) consortium, which involves 12 banks. They have won the case and the money can now be recovered."

In April last year, Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant.

Apart from this case, the High Court of London on February 12 ordered Mallya to pay an estimated USD 90 million to a Singapore-based aircraft leasing company in claims.

The case involves a number of aircraft leased by Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines from BOC Aviation in 2014.

Mallya is among 53 persons, who are facing prosecution complaints from the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and they are absconding, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in July last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rajkumar Thukral on Monday questioned as to why the Muslim man, who was attacked by a mob in Uttarakhand, entered temple.

The Muslim man, who was saved by a Sikh cop from being attacked by a group of people, was allegedly found with a Hindu girl at the Garjiya temple in Ramnagar town.

"We don't go to mosques or madrasas because we don't have the right to go. Why did they go to temple with an intention to destroy Hindu Sabhyata?," Thukral said.

The BJP MLA's remark comes barely days after Gagandeep Singh, the Sikh police officer rescued the youth from mob attack.

The incident came to light after the video of the incident went viral on social media, with people praising the cop for his bravery.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The stock is quoting at Rs 5832.85, up 0.09% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. Britannia Industries Ltd is up 70.63% in last one year as compared to a 11.31% spurt in NIFTY and a 11.27% spurt in the Nifty FMCG.

Britannia Industries Ltd gained for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 5832.85, up 0.09% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.81% on the day, quoting at 10691.2. The Sensex is at 35182.7, up 0.74%. Britannia Industries Ltd has risen around 5.8% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty FMCG index of which Britannia Industries Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 0.34% in last one month and is currently quoting at 28595.8, up 0.96% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 42524 shares today, compared to the daily average of 1.08 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark May futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 5828.95, down 0.06% on the day. Britannia Industries Ltd is up 70.63% in last one year as compared to a 11.31% spurt in NIFTY and a 11.27% spurt in the Nifty FMCG index.

The PE of the stock is 73.64 based on TTM earnings ending March 18.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The stock is quoting at Rs 577, up 1.54% on the day as on 12:59 IST on the NSE. Tata Steel Ltd is up 19.29% in last one year as compared to a 11.33% gain in NIFTY and a 20.71% gain in the Nifty Metal index.

Tata Steel Ltd rose for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 577, up 1.54% on the day as on 12:59 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.83% on the day, quoting at 10693.2. The Sensex is at 35173.74, up 0.71%. Tata Steel Ltd has dropped around 3.02% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has dropped around 4.43% in last one month and is currently quoting at 3567.4, up 1.13% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 33.5 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 74.9 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark May futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 578.2, up 1.71% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd is up 19.29% in last one year as compared to a 11.33% gain in NIFTY and a 20.71% gain in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 10.17 based on TTM earnings ending March 18.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said it has approved Rs 415 crore for construction of more than 14,000 bunkers along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) to protect the border residents in Jammu and

"In view of 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan during the current year, the Home Minister called for expediting construction of bunkers along the International Border and Line of Control to protect the border residents," the ministry said in a statement.

The bunkers are to be constructed in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Work on construction of 1,431 community and more than 13,000 individual bunkers will commence from July, the official statement said.

The announcement came after Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the progress of Jammu and Affairs at a high level meeting here.

It noted that there was a significant drop in stone-pelting incidents in J&K since the government announced suspension of operations during the month of Ramadan.

On compensation to victims of cross-border firing, the limit of three milch animals have been removed for losses incurred upon livestock. The minister directed that compensation for live-stock may be increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 30,000 presently.

Rajnath Singh also directed expediting the raising of two new border battalions of state police, for which Rs 105 crore was approved last March, by completing the recruitment by March 2019. These would be raised from people living within 10 kms of the IB/LoC.

Besides, five India Reserve Battalions (IRB) are being raised for which 4,690 youth have been recruited. Also, 6,689 Special Police Officers (SPOs) have been appointed out of a total of 10,000 new posts sanctioned. The possibility of filling up of the vacancies of SPOs from border living community may be explored, the statement said.

On relief and rehabilitation programmes for migrants and displaced persons, the minister was informed that 12,763 beneficiaries of displaced persons of Pakistan-administered Jammu and have been disbursed Rs 578 crore.

Rajnath Singh directed holding special camps and publicity in regional newspapers for disbursing assistance of Rs 5.5 lakh per family to such displaced people, for which MHA has provided Rs 2,000 crore, the ministry said.

Reviewing the Prime Minister's Development Package worth Rs 80,068 crore, it was informed that nearly Rs 63,000 crore was sanctioned for 63 projects pertaining to 15 central ministries.

--IANS

mgu/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three astronauts aboard the International Space Station are set to return to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spaceship on June 3, NASA has said.

When the three crewmates land in Kazakhstan, about three-and-a-half hours after undocking, the trio will have spent 168 days in space and conducted one spacewalk each, the US space agency said in a blog post.

The three homebound station crew member are NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai and Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov.

They will be replaced by three new Expedition 56-57 crew members who are scheduled to launch to space on June 6.

NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst of European Space Agency (ESA) will take a two-day ride to the space station with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev inside the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft for a six-month mission aboard the orbital laboratory, the US space agency said.

The home-bound Japanese astronaut earlier this year sparked a row when he declared on Twitter that he had grown 9cm while in space, the media reported.

He also said that the increase in height made him a little worried that he might not be able to fit in the Soyuz seats for his return to Earth.

He, however, later apologised for the "terrible fake news" which resulted from a "mis-measurement".

More than a day after his original tweet, he said that he had stretched only 2cm which will not make him unfit for his return.

"It appears I can fit on the Soyuz, so I'm relieved," he tweeted.

Most astronauts "grow" during protracted space missions because their spines extend in the absence of gravity, but the gains are usually limited to a couple of centimetres and disappear once they are back on the ground, the Guardian reported on January 10.

--IANS

gb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six contract workers of integrated lignite mining company NLC India Ltd attempted suicide consuming poison in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district on Monday pressing for various demands, said police.

The contract workers were protesting outside a lignite mine in Neyveli.

Speaking to IANS a police officer in Cuddalore said the contract workers mixed pesticide in water and drank it. They have been admitted to hospital and their condition was stable.

According to the police, the contract workers were opposing their transfer to a different section.

NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) formerly, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, a Navaratna enterprise of the central government is an existing, profit making, public sector enterprise engaged in mining of lignite and generation of power through lignite based thermal power plants.

--IANS

vj/in

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the wake of the gang rape of a 20-year-old woman by three tourists at a popular beach in South Goa last week, the state NSUI on Monday demanded that all beaches and tourist places in the coastal state be adequately lit and CCTVs installed there.

In a representation to Director General of Police Muktesh Chander, National Students Union of India state President Ahraz Mulla demanded that police control room vehicles should be manned by women police to deal with cases involving crime against women.

"Ensure CCTVs and lights at all beaches and tourist locations... increase the number of PCR vehicles in Goa for patrolling every isolated place and ensure that police vehicles are manned by female police personnel," Mulla said in his representation.

Chander assured the delegation of the NSUI -- affiliated to the Congress -- which met him on Monday that their demands will be looked into.

--IANS

maya/tsb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actress Parineeti Chopra, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film "Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar", says Australia is a perfect international location for Indian producers to explore for shooting Bollywood movies.

Asked how she sees Australia as a shooting location, Parineeti told IANS: "Some of the cult Bollywood films like 'Salaam Namaste', 'Bachna Ae Haseeno', 'Chak De! India' are some of the films that has been shot in the continent and with the wealth of beauty Australia has, it definitely is one of the most perfect locations for all the producers to explore."

The actress, 29, added Australia is a "unique country that has some of the most incredible beaches, cities, wildlife, mountains, food and culture".

Indian visitor arrivals to Australia had grown at an average of 21 per cent since the appointment of Parineeti as a (Friend of Australia) FoA in September 2017, compared to the 15 per cent average growth experienced during the prior six months, according to Tourism Australia's Country Manager for India and Gulf Nishant Kashikar.

--IANS

dc/nn/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of Bihar farmers on Monday protested against falling pulses and wheat prices and failure of the BJP-led Central government to provide them Minimum Support Price (MSP) as promised four years ago.

Protesting farmers in Barahia of Lakhisarai district, and Mokama, Barh and Bakhtiarpur of Patna district disrupted train services and roads traffic and demanded MSP for their produce, police said.

Farmers of low-lying areas spread over nearly 2,000 acre -- locally known as "Taal" which remains submerged during most part of the year -- farmers only manage to grow rabi crops, mainly pulses and wheat.

Angry over falling prices of their produce and no hope for MSP, the farmers took to streets and threatened to intensify their agitation if the government failed to provide them the minimum prices.

"We are forced to sell pulses like 'masur' at Rs 3,000 per quintal and gram at Rs 3,500, which are below the MSP. Similarly, we are selling wheat at Rs 1,400 per quintal, but government is doing nothing to help us," said Munna Singh, a protesting farmer in Mokama -- about 100km from Patna.

--IANS

ik/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As part of India's efforts to boost ties with Southeast Asia under its Act East Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from May 29 to June 2.

"Prime Minister's official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership, delegation level talks, meetings with the business and Indian communities," the External Affairs M inistry said in a statement on Monday.

It said Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries of the Asssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, are Strategic Partners of India.

"India attaches high importance to its relations with the Asean region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual Asean member states, within the framework of the government's Act East Policy," the statement said.

"The visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest."

While Indonesia hosts the Asean Secretariat, Singapore is the current Chair of the regional bloc.

Modi will reach Indonesia on May 29 and and hold a summit with the country's President Joko Widodo the next day in Jakarta. This will be his first official visit to that southeast Asian nation.

The two leaders will then inaugurate a kite festival jointly organised by Museum Layang Layang of Jakarta and the Kite Museum of Ahmedabad.

Modi will also address a CEOs forum and the Indian community in the southeast Asia's largest nation. There are around 100,000 people of Indian origin and around 7,000 NRIs in Indonesia.

Indonesia is India's largest trading partner within the Asean with bilateral trade standing at around $18 billion. Around 250,000 jobs have been created by Indian companies in Indonesia.

On May 31, Modi will make a brief stopover in Malaysia on his way from Indonesia to Singapore.

Modi will meet newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, who governed for more than two decades became, at the age of 92, the world's oldest elected leader earlier thius month.

From Malaysia, Modi will reach Singapore on May 31 and will begin his engagements by visiting an India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibition.

He will then participate in a business and community event where he will talk about India's economic engagement with Asean. Modi will also participate in a CEOs Round Table with the top 20 CEOs of Singapore.

On June 1, Modi will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob and then hold a summit with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He will also visit Nanyang Technological University, regarded as the top technological university in Asia and the 11th best in the world.

Later, he will deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do do in the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.

On June 2, he will unveil a plaque of Mahatma Gandhi and visit some cultural sites connecting India and Singapore.

Thereafter, he will visit the Indian Heritage Centre where he will inaugurate a special exhibition on Indian symbols, scripts and handicrafts.

Before departure for India, Modi will go to the Changi naval base where he will visit an Indian naval ship and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and the Royal Singapore Navy.

Singapore is an important partner for India in terms of security, economy and technology and plays an important role New Delhi's ties with Asean.

There are around 8,000 Indian companies registered in Singapore and the city state is also home to around 800,000 people of Indian origin.

--IANS

ab/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday revealed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told his British counterpart Theresa May that her country's courts were wrong in questioning condition of Indian jails in the case of fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya when then British rulers had kept big Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi in the same jails.

"I need to say that these are the same jails where you had kept Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and India's big leaders. So, it's not right for your courts to raise questions about those jails," she quoted Modi telling May at the recent Commonwealth Summit.

Addressing a press conference on the achievements of the Modi government in the last four years, Sushma Swaraj, on the Indian government's efforts to bring back the liquor baron, said: "We have sent the extradition request to the UK. Among the cases going on against him in the courts, one case by SBI-led consortium that had 12 Indian banks has been won. It has been told that all banks can go ahead and do their recoveries."

Earlier this month, Mallya, who is facing an extradition trial in Britain over fraud and money laundering charges by Indian authorities, lost the lawsuit filed by the consortium of 13 state-owned banks to which the former Chairman of UB Group owed more than Rs 9,000 crore.

Extradition of Mallya has been difficult due to the British courts ruling that the condition of Indian jails are appalling and it would like to see the condition before deciding on the case. The courts have expressed concerns about violence in Indian jails, being overcrowded and having poor hygiene.

--IANS

mgu/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China has invited the Iranian President to participate in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit next month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang said President Hassan Rouhani is set to join his Russian, Kazakhstani and Kyrgyzstani counterparts at the summit, which will be held from June 9 to 10 in Qingdao and presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Efe news reported.

The invitation to Rouhani at a crucial time after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran, the European Union and the P5+1 group (five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany), of which China is a member.

China's Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui said that Beijing hoped the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) would continue to be implemented and said China was in contact with European countries involved in the agreement, as well as with Russia.

"If the JCPoA cannot be further implemented, the normal economic cooperation between the relevant countries will be affected... We hope China and Iran avoid major disruption to the cooperation projects between the two sides," Hanhui added.

The summit will be the first after the inclusion of India and Pakistan as members of the organisation in 2017, which made the SCO a bloc whose member countries account for almost half of the world's population.

The organisation, formed in 2001, aims to boost cooperation in economic and security matters between China, Pakistan, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, while Iran, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Belarus have been granted observer status.

--IANS

and/ksk/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A civilian was killed and a soldier injured late on Sunday evening, when militants attacked an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

Militants fired at a camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles in Kakapor area which was returned, triggering a brief encounter. An army soldier and a civilian were injured in the firing exchanges, police said.

The civilian identified as Bilal Ahmad Ganai, taxi driver by profession, later succumbed to critical injuries, it added. Taking advantage of darkness, the militants escaped.

--IANS

sq/ahm/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coca-Cola launched its first alcoholic drink, a lemon flavoured alcopop, in Japan on Monday in an attempt to tap new markets and consumers.

In a global first for the US drinks giant, three new "Lemon-Do" drinks -- containing three, five and seven per cent alcohol -- went on sale. The drinks are modelled on the country's popular "Chu-Hi" drinks, usually a mix of local spirit and a range of fruit flavours.

Described by Coca-Cola as "unique" in the company's 125-year history, the product aims at a growing market of young drinkers -- especially women, the BBC reported.

Chu-Hi -- an abbreviation for shochu highball -- has been marketed as an alternative to beer, proving especially popular with female drinkers.

Coca-Cola said there were no plans to bring the new drinks range to markets outside Japan.

Alcopop drinks boomed in Europe and the UK in the 1990s with the likes of Smirnoff Ice and Bacardi Breezer becoming hugely popular. However, they were controversial, with concerns that they encouraged young people to drink more alcohol because of a soft drink-like taste.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government has asked Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra to hold additional charge of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after its head S. Christopher's tenure ended on Monday.

"The competent authority has approved assignment of additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development to Sanjay Mitra, Defence Secretary, for a period of three months with effect from May 29, 2018 and until further orders," an official statement said.

Christopher was given one year's extension beyond the prescribed age last year. Though he had been gunning for another extension but the government had dropped hints it was not very keen on retaining him.

According to defence sources, two scientists - G. Satheesh Reddy, scientific advisor to the Defence Minister, and Sudhir Mishra, head of BrahMos Aerospace, - were in the fray to replace Christopher.

Christopher took over as the head of DRDO in May 2015.

The premier defence research organisation has often been criticised for delayed projects with most of its ventures -- be it Tejas light combat aircraft or long-range surface-to-air missile systems -- have repeatedly missed deadlines, causing huge cost overruns.

--IANS

sar/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hospitals and nursing homes in the city cannot withhold the bodies of patients who die during treatment on the ground of unpaid medical bills, as per a draft advisory prepared by the Delhi government.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain told the media here on Monday that the draft advisory will be put in the public domain to invite objections/suggestions within 30 days.

The Minister said that the Delhi Nursing Home Act would be changed to incorporate the final advisory chalked out on the basis of objections/suggestions/directions received.

He warned that violations of the said provisions could lead to cancellation of the clinic/hospital's licence.

"If a patient dies, hospitals cannot refuse to hand over the body to relatives, saying that bills have not been paid," Jain said.

The Minister said that in case a bill remains unpaid and has not been waived, a hospital can follow the legal route to get the family to pay up.

--IANS

nkh/tsb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The profit per cent on medicines, consumables at city private hospitals and nursing homes has been proposed to be capped at 50 in a draft advisory, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said here on Monday.

Addressing the media, Jain said the draft advisory would now be put in the public domain for objections and suggestions for 30 days.

According to the draft advisory, the price of medicines and consumables could be a maximum of 50 per cent more than the purchase price, or it could be the MRP, whichever is lower.

In December, the Delhi government formed a nine-member committee to put a cap on the profit on medicines and consumables in private hospitals and nursing homes.

The committee had experts including members from the Indian Medical Association and the Delhi Medical Council among others.

Setting up the committee, Jain had said hospitals make profits of upto 500 and 1,000 per cent which was not acceptable.

--IANS

nkh/him/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The profits on medicines and consumables at private hospitals and nursing homes here is proposed to be capped at 50 per cent, according to a draft advisory of the Delhi government.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain told the media here on Monday that the draft advisory will now be put in the public domain to invite objections and suggestions within 30 days. A final advisory will then be crafted on the basis of inputs.

According to the draft advisory, the prices of medicines and consumables could maximum cost 50 per cent more than the purchase price or equal to the MRP, whichever is lower.

The Minister said that the Delhi Nursing Home Act would be changed to incorporate this and other directions in the advisory and violations can lead to cancellation of the hospital's licence.

In December, the Delhi government had formed a nine-member committee to put a cap on the profits on medicines and consumables in the private hospitals and nursing homes.

The committee had experts, including members from the Indian Medical Association and the Delhi Medical Council, among others.

Forming the committee, Jain had said that hospitals deriving profits of 500 and 1,000 per cent was unacceptable.

On Monday, Jain said that the cost of services like doctors' fees has not been capped.

Asked whether the changes would require Lt Governor Anil Baijal's approval, Jain said: "It doesn't look so till now."

The Delhi government has locked horns with the Lt Governor in the past, as most of the schemes and programmes need Baijal's approval.

--IANS

nkh/tsb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister on Monday said that her ministry's economic diplomacy attracted $209.83 billion for India's flagship development programmes.

"Diplomacy for development was never there in our foreign policy," said while addressing her annual press conference here.

"We not only adopted this but took on our shoulder the responsibility of all our Prime Minister's flagship programmes - Clean India, Skill India, Digital India, Start-up India, Smart Cities - and are working with those countries which have not only the necessary techniques in the respective areas but can also contribute funds for these," she stated.

"Today, I am happy to inform you that from May 2014 to February 2018, funds worth $209.83 billion have come to this country."

She also said that the also created two new divisions for this - Department of Economic Diplomacy and Department of States - and merged both of them.

"This is because these funds will at the end only go to our states," she said.

"So there can be a who can maintain ties with the states as well as look after economic diplomacy."
The Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday decided to extend sanctions against Syria by one year.

The sanctions will be extended till June 1, 2019. They were put in place in 2011 and included an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments as well as a freeze on the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU.

At least 259 persons and 67 entities were also subjected to a travel ban and an asset freeze, Efe news reported.

The Council reiterated the EU's commitment to "finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria".

The ongoing Syrian civil war broke out in 2011 between the government forces, along with its allies, and various forces opposing the government, including the Islamic State militants.

During the seven-year turmoil and military confrontations, Syria has witnessed large-scale devastation in various parts of its territories, with many foreign countries intervening in the crisis.

The Syrian government's troops have liberated most of the cities, towns and villages captured by rebels and Islamist terrorists.

Since its eruption in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has claimed the lives of about half a million people and displaced and wounded over 14 million.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A retired English teacher found many errors in a White House letter bearing President Donald Trumps signature and mailed it back after making corrections, a media report said.

The letter, dated May 3 and printed on White House stationery, was addressed to Yvonne Mason, 61, who retired in 2017. After she made the corrections, she snapped a picture, posted the letter on Facebook and mailed it back to the White House.

"It was a poorly worded missive," she told The New York Times on Sunday.

"Poor writing is not something I abide. If someone is capable of doing better, then they should do better."

Mason, a Democrat who lives in Atlanta, had written to Trump to ask that he visit each family of those who died in the shooting that killed 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida, in February.

"I had written to them in anger, to tell you the truth," she said. "I thought he owed it to these grieving families."

According to the former teacher, the letter she received did not address her concerns.

Instead, it listed a series of actions taken after the shooting, like listening sessions, meetings with lawmakers and the STOP School Violence Act, a bill that would authorise $500 million over 10 years for safety improvements at schools but had no provisions related to guns.

Some of the things Mason wrote in the letter were: "Have y'all tried grammar & style check?"

"Federal is capitalised only when used as part of a proper noun."

There was more, but she did not correct everything.

"I did not mention the dangling modifier... I focused mainly on mechanics," Mason told The New York Times.

"Nation" was capitalised, so was "states". She circled both the words.

The letter stood in contrast to other letters she has received from politicians, Mason said.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, sent "beautiful" letters that struck a tone that "makes me more important than him", she said.

--IANS

ksk/in

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rome, May 28 (IANS/AKI) Italy's President Sergio Mattarella on Monday asked economist and former International Monetary Fund director Carlo Cottarelli to form a government after populist nominee premier Giuseppe Conte give up his bid.

Cottarelli, 63, a former IMF executive director known as "Mr Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in Italy, will try to form a cabinet of unelected technocrats. He will however struggle to get approval for his government from the parliament where populist forces have a majority in both houses.

The pro-austerity economist pledged to "do my utmost" to form a technocrat government after accepting Sergio Mattarella's invitation.

"I will do my utmost. The President has asked me to present to parliament a programme that will lead the country to elections," Cottarelli told reporters, adding he planned to "rapidly" put forward a list of ministers for Mattarella's endorsement.

"I will submit to parliament a programme that - if it wins a confidence vote - will include the 2019 budget. In this case the parliament will be dissolved and elections will take place in early 2019," he said.

If it doesn't, "the government will resign immediately and its chief task will be to administer fresh polls straight after the month of August," he said.

Cottarelli's planned government will be "wholly neutral" and he will not stand as a candidate in the next elections, he said.

"I will demand the same pledge from all ministers in the government," he added.

Cottarelli's government will manage Italy's public accounts prudently, he vowed.

"Despite the increased market tensions in recent days, the Italian economy is still growing and state finances are under control," he said.

Cottarelli was tapped by the pro-European Mattarella on Monday after Conte gave up his bid to form a cabinet when Mattarella rejected his choice of a prominent Eurosceptic as Economy Minister.

Mattarella said he could not appoint 81-year-old Paolo Savona to the post, citing concern from investors at home and abroad.

Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the anti-migrant League - the biggest winners from Italy's inconclusive March 4 vote - are furious at Mattarella's veto of Savona and say they will block Cottarelli's nomination in parliament.

Conte, a law professor and political novice was their pick for Premier and the far-right League party's leader Matteo Salvini insisted on Savona's appointment.

Mattarella's move could trigger constitutional crisis, according to some observers. Italy is now expected to go to the polls again in autumn.

Meanwhile, Cottarelli also underlined the importance of dialogue between the European Union and Italy - a founder member - and of Italy's continued membership of the euro.

"Dialogue with the European Union to defend our interests is essential and we can do better than in the past.

"But there must constructive dialogue that fully recognises that as a founder of the EU, our role remains essential as does our participation in the euro," he told reporters after meeting Matterella.

--IANS/AKI

vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a maiden effort, researchers have mapped the plant diversity of the Sikkim Himalayas on the basis of geography and climate data, to create a 'geodiversity index that can serve as a tool for biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction.

The 'geodiversity index map' of flora of Sikkim in the eastern Himalayas would also enable resource managers and conservationists to assess the number of species according to altitude, to understand the nature of environmental change in the region and how the plant species are adapting to the change.

"Geodiversity data acts as a surrogate for overall biodiversity. If you conserve high geodiversity areas, then you are conserving high biodiversity areas as well. Areas of high geodiversity and environmental heterogeneity tend to support high biological diversity," Raunaq Jahan, the lead author of the study (and creators of the index), told Mongabay-India. The study is published as part of the 'Sustainable Development Goals Series' book series.

Culling data from published flora of Bhutan and Sikkim, the researchers produced a database of 5,417 plant species. This database incorporates information on family, habitat, location according to altitude, district and community affiliations.

"If you know the spatial distribution (spread) of high geodiversity areas then you can plan the extent of your conservation areas," Jahan who is associated with the Institute of Geography, University of Hamburg, Germany, and the department of geography and environment, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh explained, referring to the importance of Sikkim's location and biodiversity.

Given that healthy and well-managed ecosystems reduce disaster risk by acting as natural buffers or protective barriers, preserving and managing sites that have a rich biodiversity (high geodiversity area) may diminish disaster risks, particularly for locations such as Sikkim.

Noting that natural hazards threaten geoconservation in Sikkim, the study suggests that high geodiversity areas could be taken as high priority areas in terms of reducing disaster risk.

"Deforestation can create a constant risk of landslides or other disasters in hilly regions and this should be banned for high biodiversity areas in Sikkim," the study said.

Nestled in the Himalayas, the thumb-shaped state of Sikkim is bound by Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the southeast. Mt. Khangchendzonga (also spelled Kanchenjunga), world's third highest peak, is located along Sikkim's border with Nepal.

It is India's least populous state, covering just 0.2 percent of the geographical area of India but is home to significant biodiversity.

Identified as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the eastern Himalayas, the state is endowed with rich floral and faunal diversity. The state is a repository of over 5,000 species of plants including 557 species of orchids and 11 oak species as also 28 bamboo species.

At the same time, Sikkim is situated in a high-risk area with regards to earthquakes and landslides and is considered one of the most disaster prone regions of India, according to Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority.

The study shows that highest species diversity at 5,581 is recorded at a height between 500 metres and 2000 metres. Beyond 2000 metres, number of species starts to dip as the altitude goes up in the Sikkim Himalayas. Between 5500 metres and 6000 metres, only 24 species are found.

The variation in flora with altitude ties in nicely with the geodiversity range observed across Sikkim.

For example, in the geodiversity index, the Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 'mixed' category, is placed at the bottom, signifying low geodiversity.

It has an elevation spanning 1,829 metres to over 8550 metres. Mt. Khangchendzonga towers over the landscape with its peak at 8,586 metres.

The altitudinal range of the national park reflects the plunge in floral varieties.

The low geodiversity rank is attributed to the 17 glaciers, snowfields, 19 mountains and peaks and rocky wastes dotting the park. "Very high altitude, slope, temperature, precipitation are not in favour of high geodiversity index," Jahan explained.

However, the forest of western and northern part of Mangan city (in North District) at an elevation of around 956 meters shows higher biological richness and ranks higher in the geodiversity index.

"If we compare these areas with the elevation, we can see that the elevation range from 1,700 metres to 3000 metres has high geodiversity as well as high biological richness. This high biological richness area consists of forest cover, alpine scrub, grass and scrub, glacial moraines and screes," the study states.

The capital city of Gangtok, which is located in the middle of the East District and is the main urban settlement surrounded by agricultural fields, shows low to moderate geodiversity.

In the West District, the northern areas have high to very high biological diversity as also high geodiversity.

The geodiversity calculation for Sikkim was satisfactory because its distribution almost matches the spatial distribution of biological richness mapped by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, the study said.

To integrate geodiversity with biodiversity, the researchers recommend combining the map with disaster-prone areas of Sikkim and take proper management action to reduce the risk of disaster for biologically rich areas.

In addition to enhancing knowledge on the areas of high-risk areas and high geodiversity areas, the study advises scientifically identifying the main causes of vulnerability to natural and manmade disasters in Sikkim. Further, it recommends raising awareness among local communities on geodiversity and biodiversity to protect from potential natural disasters.

"Kanchenjungha is already a protected area, so the design and management of the conservation of geodiverse, heterogeneous landscapes should therefore enhance biodiversity resilience and sustain abiotic and ecological processes," Jahan said.

(IANS will be carrying occasional articles in arrangement with Mongabay.com, a source for environmental news reporting and analysis. The name Mongabay comes from an island in Madagascar. The views expressed in the article are those of Mongabay.com. Feedback: gopi@mongabay.com)

--IANS

Mongabay/hs/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former US President George H.W. Bush was hospitalised to be treated for low blood pressure and fatigue, a family spokesman said.

"The former President is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort," spokesman Jim McGrath tweeted on Sunday, adding that the 93-year-old will likely remain at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, Maine, "for a few days for observation".

Bush was released from Houston Methodist Hospital this month after being admitted for a virus just a few hours after attending the funeral of his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, who died on April 17, reports Efe news.

Bush suffers from a type of Parkinson's that hampers his ability to walk and has been hospitalised several times over the last few years for a variety of health conditions.

Last year, he was admitted in January and April for respiratory complications and had to undergo surgery.

In 2015, he fractured a neck vertebrae and in 2012 he spent Christmas at Houston Methodist Hospital due to bronchitis and a viral infection.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Google India on Monday announced a fun, yet educational summer campaign that will help children across the country spend more time learning and making new discoveries, as well as teaching them how to become responsible explorers of the web.

As part of the campaign, named #SummerWithGoogle, Google assigned an activity to the kids. They will release one assignment every week for four weeks, the tech giant said in a blogpost.

The assignment ranges from exploring the country that is home to all the Pandas in the world on Google Earth, to saying 'Gracias' and 'Por Favor' as they learn phrases in Spanish and other languages on Google Translate, to taking dramatic virtual tours of museums to make their own gallery on Google Arts & Culture; and ultimately building their very own app to share their summer experience.

Each assignment will also carry questions on the four fundamental codes of being Internet Awesome and teach the young internet explorers a lesson or two on how to be -- Internet Smart, Internet Alert, Internet Strong, Internet Kind and Internet Brave, the blogpost said.

Google has also partnered with "Kidzania" to set-up a "Summer with Google" experience zone where kids will be encouraged to take a virtual tour and learn about the essentials of being safe on the Internet.

"As a parent myself, it has always been a challenge for me to engage my kids meaningfully, summer after summer. And the struggle is real for many more parents," said Sunita Mohanty, Director, Trust and Safety, Google India.

"Therefore, we partnered with our product leaders to bring parents, a series of activities they can do along with their kids to make this a memorable summer," she added.

On completing the tasks, upto 100 kids and their parents/ guardians, from across the country will get the opportunity to attend the summer camp with Google at Google Gurgaon or Hyderabad office, where they will get the first-hand experience of Google technology, indulge in fun activities and participate in quizzes.

"The entire campaign will combine real world projects with virtual learning experiences and will equip kids with the right digital skills so when they return to school post this summer, they are Internet Awesome," Mohanty noted.

The assignments can be accessed on #SummerWithGoogle website and Google's social media, the statement said.

--IANS

rt/in/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday that the Afghanistan government has given the assurance that the six Indians who were abducted earlier this month in that country are safe.

"Afghan Foreign Minister (Salahuddin Rabbani) assured me that they will be safe," Sushma Swaraj said in response to a question at a press conference here, adding that negotiations were going on with the abductors.

Militants abducted seven people, including six Indians, on May 6 in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, officials said, adding that talks were on to get them freed.

The kidnapping took place in Bagh-e-Shamal village.

Baghlan Governor Abdulhai Nemati said that those abducted worked for an Indian company KEC. The seventh person who was seized was an Afghan.

Sushma Swaraj said that she had written a letter when nothing happened for five-six days.

Thereafter, she said, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also assured Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar of the Indians' safety.

"Confidentiality is need for such negotiations to bear fruit," she said, adding that she has also been continuously talking with the company's owner.

--IANS

ab/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fortis Healthcare (FHL) on Monday said that the consortium of Hero Enterprise Investment Office-Burman Family Office has given its consent "to reopen the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction".

The offer made by the consortium was selected for the sale of the healthcare major's business on May 10.

According to BSE, FHL received the consortium's consent letter on Monday.

"While we continue to be of the firm view that our offer is the best offer received by the company till date, we believe that this situation may have arisen largely on account of the lack of information available to the stakeholders," said Sunil Kant Munjal and Anand C. Burman in a joint letter sent to the company.

"... and keeping in mind the dilemma of the company, if any, we provide our consent for the company to reopen a bidding process in order to facilitate the company to expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the company's business does not suffer any further, thus ensuring that the larger interest of the company are served."

Fortis' board had received offers from suitors such as Hero Enterprise Investment Office-Burman Family Office, Fosun Health Holdings, Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Berhad, Manipal Hospital Enterprises and Radiant Life Care for infusion of funds.

However, the company's Board on May 10 decided to recommend the offer of the Munjal-Burman consortium for sale of its business to the shareholders for their approval.

The deal envisaged an infusion of Rs 800 crore via a "Preferential Allotment of Equity Shares at Rs 167 per share or as per SEBI ICDR guidelines whichever is higher...".

It also encapsulates a "Preferential Issue of Warrants of Rs 1,000 crore at Rs 176 per share or as per SEBI ICDR guidelines whichever is higher."

Since then, three of the company's board members resigned and another one was ousted by the shareholders during a recently held Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).

Besides, the consortium of Manipal Health Enterprises (MHEPL) and private equity (PE) firm TPG made a "modified" new offer which values the company at Rs 9,403 crore at a share price of Rs 180 per share.

In addition, Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Berhad made an "Enhanced Revised Offer" to invest directly into the company at Rs 175 per share cost.

--IANS

rv/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of his five-day three-nation tour of southeast Asia starting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed the hope that the visit will further boost India's Act East policy.

In a pre-departure statement, Modi said that he will reach Jakarta on May 29 on the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, in his first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister.

"I am looking forward to my discussions with President Widodo on May 30 as also to our joint interaction with the India-Indonesia CEOs Forum."

Stating that he will also address the Indian community in Indonesia, he said that India and Indonesia enjoy strong and friendly ties and share deep historical and civilizational linkages, being "multi-ethnic, multi-religious, plural and open societies".

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia will create greater synergy between Asia's two largest democracies and further elevate our bilateral ties."

The Prime Minister said that on May 31, on his way to Singapore from Indonesia he will briefly halt at in Malaysia to congratulate the new Malaysian leadership.

"I look forward to meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad," he said.

Mahathir, who governed for more than two decades became, at the age of 92, the world's oldest elected leader earlier this month.

Modi said that in Singapore he will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence.

"Singapore entities have become major partners with India in areas like urban development, planning, smart cities and infrastructure development," he said.

"My visit in Singapore presents an opportunity for both countries to engage further."

He said that on May 31, he will visit an India-Singapore enterprise and innovation exhibition and also address a business and community event followed by a roundtable meeting with select top CEOs of Singapore to discuss business and investment opportunities.

On June 1, Modi said he will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob and also hold delegation-level talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon.

He also said that he looked forward to his visit to the Nanyang Technological University where he would interact with young students.

"That evening, I will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue.

"This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address. It would be an opportunity to articulate India's point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region."

Shangri-La Dialogue is a premier Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.

Modi said that on June 2, he will unveil a plaque at Clifford Pier in Singapore, where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in sea on March 27, 1948.

"I would also visit some places of worship that have civilizational linkages with India," he said.

He said that before leaving for India he will go to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore where he will visit the Indian Naval Ship INS Satpura and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy.

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will provide a further boost to our Act East Policy and enhance our relations and engagements with all the three countries," Modi said.

--IANS

ab/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taking the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV4) vaccination is not linked with increased risk of autoimmune disorders in girls, according to researchers.

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide, affecting 50 per cent to 75 per cent of sexually active people.

The HPV4 vaccine is effective at protecting against 90 per cent of the strains that cause cervical and anal cancer.

While several studies have indicated the safety of the vaccine, there have been concerns about a possible link to autoimmune disorders as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

"Despite demonstrated effectiveness in real-world settings, concerns continue to persist regarding the safety of the HPV4 vaccine. In light of these concerns, we wanted to study the HPV4 vaccination," said Jeffrey Kwong, senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES)- Canada-based non-profit.

For the study, published in the journal in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), the team looked at data on 290,939 girls aged 12 to 17 years in Ontario.

Of the total 180,819 girls who received the HPV4 vaccination in school-based clinics, there were 681 diagnosed cases of autoimmune disorders between one week and two months after vaccination.

This rate is consistent with the general rate of diagnosed cases in this age group and adds to the body of evidence for the safety of the vaccine.

"These findings add to the body of evidence on the safety of the HPV4 vaccine and should reassure parents and health care providers," noted Linda Levesque, from the University of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada.

--IANS

rt/and/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the US pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal creating uncertainty over dealings with Tehran, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made it clear that India does not recognise country-specific sanctions.

"Our foreign policy is not made under pressure from other countries," she said at a press conference here.

Stating that she will hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif who is in India now, Sushma Swaraj said: "We recognise UN sanctions and not country-specific sanctions."

US President Donald Trump, earlier this month, announced his country's withdrawal from the nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran, the European Union and the P5+1 group (five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany).

India and Iran have friendly relations and significant trade ties in many areas, particularly in crude oil imports into India and diesel exports to Iran.

Iran is the second largest supplier of crude oil to India, supplying more than 425,000 barrels of oil per day, and India is one of the biggest foreign investors in Iran's oil and gas industry.

--IANS

ab/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India is not mediating between the US and North Korea for talks between those two countries, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.

Answering a question at her annual press conference, Sushma Swaraj said that ongoing negotiations with North Korea started with a summit level meeting between North Korea and South Korea.

"After that there was talk of a meeting with the US," she said.

"Then US felt that China can play some role in this. Nobody has asked us to play any role and nor are we playing a role here."

A summit-level meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader was scheduled to be held in Singapore next month.

Last week, Trump sent a letter to Kim cancelling the historic meeting, but over the weekend he said in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office that his administration was continuing to work to ensure that the summit occurs as originally planned on June 12 in Singapore.

Regarding Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh's visit to North Korea earlier this month, Sushma Swaraj said that when she went to Baku, Azerbaijan, last month to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting, the North Korean Foreign Minister told her that the India-North Korea Joint Commission Meeting has not been held for over a year and the foreign office consultations have also not been held.

"He told me that if I cannot come to North Korea, at least I should send the Minister of State, but the visit should take place," she said. "V.K. Singh's visit came out of that."

--IANS

ab/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said that India is ready to hold a dialogue with anyone, including Pakistan, provided the initiative is reciprocated.

Addressing scientists at the Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine (IIIM) here, the Vice President said: "We want good relations with all, including Pakistan. We don't have problem in talking with India's neighbours, including our immediate neighbour, but they also have to reciprocate."

His comments came on a day when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the media in Delhi that India is ready for talks with Pakistan if it stopped aiding terrorism.

"We are always ready for talks with Pakistan. We have never said we are not ready for talks. But there is a caveat -- terror and talks don't go together," she said.

Vice President Naidu also reminded his audience that peace was a prerequisite for progress and development anywhere in the world.

"In the growing world of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, nobody can afford to remain isolated. If other parts of the country are progressing, why should Jammu and Kashmir lag behind. We should put this question to ourselves to find the answer."

"Health and wealth are interlinked. A healthy state leads to a wealthy state. Here, health means peace, law and order, harmony, and overall development.

"It is up to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide whether they want to live in the present situation or want to live in peace," Naidu said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too has said that the Centre is ready to speak to everyone, including separatist Hurriyat leaders.

--IANS

sq/tsb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's planned Rs 40,000-crore deal to buy the sophisticated, long-range S-400 air defence system from Russia would "complicate" building inter-operability between the US and Indian militaries, a senior US Congressman said here on Monday.

"There is a lot of concern in the US in both the administration and the Congress regarding the S-400 (missile) system. And there is concern that any country, and it is not just India that is looking at clearing it, but any country that acquires that system will complicate our ability to work out inter-operability," Republican Mac Thornberry, the chairman of the House Armed Services, told a group of journalists here.

"So that is completely apart from any sanctions, legislation. I hope the government (of India) will take its time and consider very carefully the acquiring of that system because the difficulties it may pose for us."

The panel oversees the Pentagon, all military services and all departments of defense agencies, including their budgets and policies. Thornberry and three other members of the panel were in Delhi enroute to the 17th Asia Security Summit (Shangri La Dialogue 2018) in Singapore.

He said the US was making sanctions against Russia "flexible" for its allies like India to allow them breathing room to continue dealing with Moscow only to maintain their legacy equipment but at the sametime they must wean themselves off Russian equipment.

The US sanctions against Russian oligarchs and companies, including Rosoboronexport, the state-owned Russian weapons trading company, has raised concerns in India about a possible impact on India's military buys from Moscow, particularly the deal to procure S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile systems

The missile system is billed as a game changer by the Indian military for its ability to counter ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft like those China is developing. India and Russia signed an agreement in principle for the S-400 deal in 2016.

India's deep military and strategic ties with Russia date back to the beginning of the Cold War even as New Delhi led a movement of "non-aligned" countries that declared their tilt with neither Washington nor Moscow. However, India always leaned toward the USSR.

India still buys over 60 per cent of its defence equipment from Russia. At present, the Indian armed forces are 70 per cent equipped with Soviet or Russian weapons.

Thornberry said a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is awaiting a Senate nod and was passed by the House on May 24, would allow the Trump administration to suspend the sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA.

But the President, in order to seek the waiver, has to make a certification to Congress that the country subject to sanctions and seeking relaxation is altering its relationship with Russia.

"The current sanctions bill that was just signed in the law last fall doesn't reallly have much flexibility. But the bill that passed by the House on Thursday adds more flexibility for nations like India who have legacy of Russian military equipment and of course need to purchase spare parts in order to maintain the readiness of that equipment.

"There is an understanding both in the administration and in Congress that some additional flexibility in that law is needed and I believe that there will be...we have to take our bill and reconcile it with the Senate version. But I think there will be some additional flexibility that is... It is not just India there are some other nations as well."

He said the flexibility at this point allowed the Secretary of Defense some discussion if a country was reducing its dependency on Russia and "has a desire to continue to do so".

"Some of the government officials (in India) believe that the language could be improved. I am certainly willing to hear suggestions from not only the Indian government but other governments only," Thornberry said.

Asked how the US viewed India's dependency on Russia military hardware, he said America would want to encourage New Delhi's efforts in "seeking to diversify its suppliers of military equipment".

"It will be a topic of ongoing conversation about whether that is going at an appropriate pace and it makes sense from an Indian point of view that it wants to be less dependent on one particular supplier given the concerns on what this particular supplier has been doing on the world stage."

He said the the House panel members were in India to affirm the strong bipartisan support in Congress to the India-US strategic partnership.

"We in Congress can contribute in enhancing that partnership. We have had some good and productive discussions with people in government and some people outside the government."

--IANS

sar/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month as "unprecedented".

"The informal summit with President Xi is a new dialogue mechanism," Sushma Swaraj said while answering a question at her annual press conference here.

"It is unprecedented that we were invited by China and Russia for informal summits," she said.

She also said that Modi's meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a brief stopover in Germany while returning from Britain last month was also informal in nature.

Modi went to Wuhan in China last month for the two-day informal summit with Xi.

Then again this month he went to the Russian resort city of Sochi for a similar summit with Putin who had sent out an invitation after being elected President for the fourth time.

Sushma Swaraj said that she and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had decided that they would not confine their leaders to listed agenda.

"There were three reasons for this - strong bilateral ties, global issues and mutual trust," she said.

"President Xi told our Prime Minister to call him directly over phone for any issue."

Sushma Swaraj also added that status quo is being maintained at Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China international tri-junction where the Indian and Chinese armies were in a stand-off position for over a month last year.

--IANS

ab/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will urge German and French leaders next week to back Israel's position that Iran should have no military presence in Syria, according to a statement released by the PM's Office.

Netanyahu is scheduled to head to Europe on Monday for a three-day trip, during which he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Xinhua reported.

He said he might also meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Addressing a meeting of his Likud party at the parliament on Monday, Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, said his talks will focus on the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the Iranian presence in Syria.

"We believe that there is no room for any Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria," he said.

"Of course, this reflects not only our position; I can say with certainty that it also reflects the positions of others in the Middle East and outside it. This will be the main focus of discussions," he added.

Over the past year, Israel has been pledging Russia and the U.S. to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria, where Iranian forces are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army.

In the past weeks, Israel has struck what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, raising fears of a large-scale confrontation.

--IANS

ahm/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Irish government on Monday started consultations on the legislation of the new abortion laws after a Friday referendum decided to abolish the present constitutional ban on abortions in the country.

Irish Health Minister Simon Harris, authorized by the government to head the drafting of the new abortion laws, told the media that he will first consult the officials within his department and then seek advice from the Cabinet on Tuesday and the opposition party leaders later this week, Xinhua news agency reported.

Indian-origin Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who championed the referendum, said that the new abortion legislation was expected to be enacted by the end of this year due to legal procedures and other technical issues.

However, many groups which campaigned for a Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish constitution that virtually bans abortions in the country, urged the government to speed up the steps in the enaction of the new abortion laws.

Micheal Martin, leader of Fianna Fail, the largest opposition party in Ireland, said he was in favour of holding a special sitting of the lower house of the Irish Parliament and would like to see the legislation to repeal the Eighth Amendment published before the summer recess of the Parliament.

Earlier on Saturday when the official results of the referendum were announced, Mary Lou McDonald, president of the country's third largest party Sinn Fein, also called for a quick passage of the new abortion laws so as to address the problems still faced by Irish women who want abortions.

Abortion is still illegal in Ireland before the enaction of the new laws to replace the Eighth Amendment.

Ireland held a referendum last Friday on whether or not the Eighth Amendment should be repealed. Nearly two-thirds of the voters voted to repeal it which was inserted into the country's Constitution after a 1983 vote.

Varadkar hailed the referendum as a victory of "a quiet revolution" that has taken place in Ireland over the last few decades.

An exit poll released on Friday night immediately after the referendum indicated that the young Irish were the decisive force in changing the current anti-abortion laws in the country.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior Pakistani and Afghan military and security officials have agreed to work on a roadmap for reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's National Security Adviser (NSA) Haneef Atmar led a high-level delegation for talks with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi late Sunday. During talks, both sides vowed to "undertake measures that would assist them in reduction of violence at the hands of terrorists," Xinhua news agency reported citing a statement by the Pakistani Army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations.

The talks were held days after both countries agreed to operationalise the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), which provides a framework to deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagements.

"Both sides chalked out outline plans for operationalising APAPPS and shared ideas towards Afghan reconciliation as the roadmap for lasting peace," the statement said.

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to fast track the formulation of working groups, especially on bilateral security cooperation and to undertake measures that would assist both sides in reduction of violence at the hands of terrorists, it said.

General Bajwa said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan suffered heavily due to prolonged conflict and must together explore ways to usher in peace in the region by defeating the common enemy.

"We must begin with the trust that neither covets an inch of the others territory nor is letting its land being used against the other," he said, adding that suspicions will only fuel negativity and facilitate detractors.

The Afghan delegation also extended an invitation on behalf of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to General Bajwa for visiting Kabul which he accepted.

The Afghan side was appreciative of Pakistan's initiative in preparation of the framework document to improve cooperation and coordination between the two countries on a host of confidence building and substantive measures.

Afghan NSA Atmar said that Afghanistan had "very positive expectations" from Pakistan and with mutual help "we can allay each other's concerns and apply our energies to bring about enduring peace and stability".

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israel's Defence Minister on Sunday announced that construction had begun on a marine barrier with the Gaza Strip extending into the Mediterranean Sea.

Avigdor Liberman said in a statement that the barrier aimed to prevent any attempts by Palestinians in Gaza to enter Israeli territory through the sea, Efe news reported.

"This is an additional setback for Hamas, which has lost another strategic capability that it has invested massive amounts in developing. We will continue to protect the citizens of Israel with might and sophistication," Liberman said.

The barrier is to consist of three layers, one of which is to be underwater, and is expected to be completed within a year, the statement added.

During Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza, members of the military wing of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that governs the Gaza Strip, managed to swim to Israeli territory and launch an attack on a Israeli army installation before being killed.

Israeli authorities are also constructing an underground barrier beneath the Gaza-Israel boundary to stop Hamas from digging tunnels into Israeli territory.

Israel claims Hamas constructs these tunnels to attack Israeli civilians.

An independent inquiry into the 2014 war in Gaza by the UN Human Rights Council concluded that "the tunnels were only used to conduct attacks directed at IDF (Israeli army) positions in Israel in the vicinity of the Green Line, which are legitimate military targets."

--IANS

ahm/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italian Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte has failed to form a coalition government and resigned after President Sergio Mattarella vetoed his choice of economy minister.

Conte and Mattarella had met on Sunday to discuss officials selected by the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement and the rightist League to comprise the new government cabinet for Italy, which has been without a government for 84 days, reports Efe news.

The coalition had wanted to place 81-year-old economist Paolo Savona in charge of Italy's economy, although the former industry minister has been a key figure in questioning Italy's participation in the eurozone and the budgetary restrictions the European Union requires of its members.

Mattarella expressed his doubts about Savona although the 5 Star Movement and the League refused to back down from their choice, thus creating a standoff, given that Italy's president must approve a government's ministerial picks.

Mattarella ultimately refused to back the so-called "euroskeptic" for the economy portfolio.

In response, the 5 Star Movement chief Luigi di Maio announced that the party will launch within Parliament a move to oust Mattarella for having impeded the formation of the government by vetoing Savona and refusing to sign the list of ministers presented by the coalition.

Mattarella's decision sparked an unprecedented institutional crisis, with strong opposition being mounted by the 5 Star Movement and the League, which garnered more than 50 per cent of the votes in the March 4 national elections.

Other political forces, however, citing his constitutional presidential prerogatives to protect Italian markets and savers, have rallied to Mattarella's defence.

Conte, a law professor who had been named as the coalition's prime minister, resigned, telling reporters that he "gave the maximum effort, attention, to carry out this task with the full collaboration" of both the 5 Star Movement and League.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday asked a former economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to form the government in a bid to end a political stalemate that has persisted in the Mediterranean country since elections two months ago produced a hung Parliament.

Mattarella's formal request to Carlo Cottarelli came amid calls from populist and anti-establishment leaders for the President to be impeached for having rejected the candidacy of a eurosceptic as Finance Minister, the BBC reported.

Italy, the eurozone's fourth biggest economy, has been without a government since elections in March because no political group could form a majority.

Two of the big winners from the vote -- populist Five Star Movement (M5S) and the far-right League party -- attempted to join forces but abandoned efforts after their nomination for Finance Minister, 81-year-old Paolo Savona, was shot down by Mattarella.

The Secretary-General of the presidency, Ugo Zampetti, read out the brief announcement of Mattarella's request, which mentioned that Cottarelli had accepted, albeit with reservations.

Both the M5S and the League, as well as former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's right wing-populist Forza Italia, have said they would not vote for Cottarelli, making his eventual ascension to the premiership unlikely, as he requires substantial parliamentary backing in order to take up the post.

Cottarelli currently serves as Director of the Italian Public Accounts Observatory (OCPI) at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan.

In 2013, he was appointed by then Prime Minister Enrico Letta to lead a technocratic commission overseeing steep budget cuts and the implementation of a strict austerity plan, which earned him the nickname "Mr Scissors".

He has been one of the most prominent critics of the government deal signed between the M5S and the League, especially of its economic provisions related to welfare programmes for low-income families.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior Congress legislator Siddu Bhimappa Nyamgoud from Karnataka's Bagalkot district died in a road accident on Monday, police said.

He was 71 and leaves behind his widow, two sons and three daughters.

"The accident occurred near Tulasegeri village when the car in which Nyamgoud was travelling crashed into a divider after the driver lost control while trying to avoid a head-on collision with a truck," Tulasegiri police inspector M B Biradar told IANS.

Bagalkot is 530 km from state capital Bengaluru and 20 km from Tulasigeri.

Four persons, including the driver, were injured. They have been admitted to a hospital in Bagalkot.

"The legislator was travelling to Jamkhandi via Bagalkot from Panaji in Goa upon his return from Delhi on Sunday night," Biradar said.

Nyamgoud was re-elected to the state Assembly in the May 12 election, defeating BJP's Kulkarni Shrikant Subrao by 2,795 votes.

The veteran party leader was a Union Minister in the P V Narasimha Rao cabinet in 1990-91.

Chief Minister and many Congress leaders mourned his untimely death.
The wife of Korean Air's chairman was questioned by police on Monday over multiple assault and abuse allegations.

Lee Myung-hee arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at around 10 a.m. The police had summoned her last week, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Lee and her two daughters, including Cho Hyun-ah famous for the "nut rage" case, were being probed over mounting allegations of abuse of power, assaults, tax evasion and smuggling of luxury goods.

Lee, 69, is accused of shoving and cursing at construction workers hired for the expansion of a hotel owned by Hanjin Group, which includes Korean Air, in 2014.

She may face a charge of aggravated assault as a witness testified she had hurled scissors at them.

She is also suspected of physically and verbally assaulting workers at her Seoul mansion when it was being remodeleld, as well as habitually abusing company employees, private chauffeurs, security guards and housekeepers.

The police have secured statements from more than 10 witnesses who said they want Lee to be held accountable. By law, assault charges cannot be pressed against a suspect unless victims seek punishment.

But authorities are considering charging Lee with aggravated assaults, in which case, victims' formal complaints will not be required.

--IANS

ksk/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid Opposition's allegations of nearly 25 per cent EVMs being used in the bypoll in the Bhandara-Gondiya parliamentary constituency on Monday were malfunctioning, the Election Commission said all defective machines have been replaced and polling has resumed.

Election Commission (EC) officer in-charge Abhimanyu Kale told the media that around 156 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) or Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were replaced or spares deployed.

Dismissing Assistant EC officer Anant Walaskar's earlier statement that after complaints were received from 64 polling stations, voting was cancelled in 35, Kale said: "Nobody has the authority to decide this except the EC and no such orders have been issued."

Walaskar had told the media in the morning that voting has been stopped in 35 polling stations and would be conducted at a later date owing to serious glitches in the EVMs.

The EVMs malfunctioned in polling booths at Khapa, Mandhal, Hingna and Kharbi in Bhandara-Gondiya, besides Tarapur, Shelvali, Kamare, Satpati, Maikhop, Dhuktan, Chinchan and other polling stations in Palghar.

Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel alleged that "nearly 25 per cent of all the EVMs in Bhandara-Gondiya are defective or malfunctioning".

"I have come to know that around 60 machines are defective in each Assembly segment of this Lok Sabha constituency. The EC must take serious note of this. What is the security of the votes that have already been case in the malfunctioning EVMs?" Patel told media persons.

Hundreds of voters patiently waited to cast their votes in the blistering heat as the EVMs were replaced.

However, the defective machines hit polling severely, with barely 25 per cent of the electorate casting their votes by 2 p.m. in both constituencies.

Ruling ally Shiv Sena leaders also strongly criticized the EC and the government for the glitches and claimed that these were reported mostly from the party's strongholds.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the glitch is nothing but a manifestation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent controversial statement on 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed'.

"The EC is under pressures not to even register complaints... the defective machines are mostly in the Sena strongholds," he said.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) President Prakash Ambedkar demanded cancellation of the elections in Bhandara-Gondiya.

"I have received reports of problems in some 450 polling stations. It's clear that the EVMs have been tampered as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is losing the elections. The entire elections must be cancelled and held afresh," said Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar.

Congress state spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged large-scale irregularities as the BJP was attempting to make the Lok Sabha bypolls 'My-polls' in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya.

All the opposition parties demanded that since the voting process was halted upto several hours in some areas, the voting timings should be extended to enable the people cast their votes.

--IANS

qn/him/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Malian migrant, hailed as a hero after mounting a daring rescue to save a small boy dangling from a balcony in Paris, was on Monday offered honorary French citizenship and a job as a fireman.

French President Emmanuel Macron met 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama, who has been dubbed "Spiderman" by the media after a video showing him swiftly scaling the facade of a building to come to the rescue of a four-year-old boy who was hanging from a balcony went viral on Sunday.

In the video, Gassama was seen pulling himself from balcony to balcony and grabbing the boy as a neighbour tried to hold the child from an adjoining flat.

The incident took place on Saturday evening on a street in the north of the city.

After meeting him at the Elysee Palace, Macron said Gassama would be made a naturalised citizen. He personally thanked Gassama, gave him a medal for courage and said he would also be offered a role in the fire service, the BBC reported.

Talking about the incident, Gassama said he had been walking past when he saw a crowd gathered in front of the building. "I just didn't have time to think, I ran across the road to go and save him," he told Macron.

"I just climbed up and thank God, God helped me. The more I climbed the more I had the courage to climb up higher, that's it," Gassama said.

He said that the boy was crying when he hauled him to safety and had also suffered an injured foot.

Authorities quoted by the French media said that the mother of the boy was not in Paris at the time of the incident, while the father was questioned by police on suspicion of leaving the child unattended. He was set to appear in front of the prosecutor.

Gassama is said to have arrived in France last year, taking the long and dangerous journey to Europe via a boat over the Mediterranean to Italy.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was among those to praise Gassama's heroism and said she had called him to thank him.

She referred to him as the "Spiderman of the 18th", referring to the Paris district where the rescue took place, calling him an "example for all citizens".

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said West Bengal is an important stakeholder in resolution of the Teesta water sharing issue between India and Bangladesh and that the Narendra Modi government has one more year left to fulfil the promise.

"Teesta resolution can't happen only between the two countries -- Bangladesh government and Indian government. A big stakeholder in this is West Bengal government," Swaraj said in reply to a query on Teesta at her annual conference here.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was recently in West Bengal and had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee separately. Hasina has been stressing on the need to have water from Teesta, which flows through north Bengal, as large areas of Bangladesh were being affected.

Swaraj said as per Mamata Banerjee's suggestion, a team of water resources officials from both Centre and West Bengal were investigating the feasibility of three other rivers that could give as much water to Bangladesh as expected from Teesta.

"The feasibility report is yet to come out. As for Teesta resolution, we have one more year left. We are working on it, but one should understand that there is a third stakeholder. Without taking them on board even if you take a decision how will you implement? Water has to flow from West Bengal. It is our policy to take all stakeholders on board to make implementation easy," she said.

On the issue of Rohingya migrants, the Minister said Bangladesh never alleged that India had sided with Myanmar.

"I am happy to hear that there has been an understanding between Bangladesh and Myanmar. As per the understanding, the repatriation would be complete within two years. They have progressed on the understanding and Myanmar has given a list of 1,222 verified individuals to be sent back. This is the first successful step and we believe honest efforts from both sides would bring a solution to Rohingya crisis," Swaraj said.

--IANS

mgu/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samajwadi Party leaders and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav approached the Supreme Court on Monday to extend their stay in their official residences.

The father-son duo have sought appropriate time to vacate their official residences allocated by the Uttar Pradesh government.

They moved the apex court as by its May 7 judgment, the court had set aside a provision of a law that allowed government accommodation to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers, terming it "arbitrary and discriminatory" as it violated the concept of equality.

The leaders earlier approached the UP government seeking time to vacate their official residences and move to their own accommodation.

Mulayam Singh recently wrote to the Estate Department saying he did not have any alternative suitable residential accommodation in the city for shifting within the deadline fixed by the department and he would need two years to shift to a new residence.

In the apex court judgment, a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi had said once a Chief Minister demits office, there was nothing to distinguish him or her from a common man.

Setting aside the provision of the law passed by the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the bench had said such bungalows constitute "public property which by itself is scarce and meant for use of current holders of public offices".

The apex court had struck down Section 4(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981, as amended by then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's government in 2016, allowing the state's former Chief Ministers to be entitled to allotment of government accommodation for their life time.

In its judgment, the top court said that "natural resources, public lands and public goods like government bungalows/official residence are public property that belongs to the people of the country".

--IANS

pk-gt/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that his predecessor Nawaz Sharif was ready to go to prison for the sake of his principles, a media report said on Monday.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) narrative was of "giving respect to vote" and "performance", Abbasi told Geo News on Sunday.

Ousted from Office by the Supreme Court in July 2017, Sharif has been rigorously campaigning with the slogan "give respect to vote", while at the same time facing corruption references filed against him and his family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Abbasi said that it was necessary to call a meeting of the National Security Committee to put an end to the situation after the Mumbai attack statement by Sharif.

Nawaz had recently 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?"

The Prime Minister also said that it would be difficult for any government to run the state affairs under the current circumstances.

He questioned how would a country progress, in which the leadership stops making decisions.

"Under the present circumstances, bureaucracy is unwilling to present any summary. Such matters would be resolved through a national dialogue," Abbasi added.

--IANS

and/ksk/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One person was killed and another injured after a truck hit their car on the Delhi-Gurugram expressway on Monday, police said.

Varun Bhatt and Nilanshu Gupta, residents of Delhi, were returning from Gurugram when the accident happened.

"When their car reached the Sirhol toll plaza, a speeding truck hit the vehicle.

"Critically injured Bhatt and Gupta were rushed to a private hospital where doctors declared Bhatt dead," said a senior police officer, adding the truck's driver and helper ran away after leaving vehicle behind on the accident spot.

The accident caused a traffic jam on the stretch for over an hour. A case against the truck's unknown driver was registered at the Udyog Vihar police station.

--IANS

pradeep/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has defended the US President's political attacks against special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible Russian collusion, suggesting that the origins of the probe were illegitimate, the media reported.

Asked during a CNN interview on Sunday whether there was a larger strategy to undermine the investigation at play, Giuliani said he "couldn't do it if they didn't have the material".

"They're giving us the material to do it. Of course, we have to do it in defending the President. To a large extent, what we're doing here, it is the public opinion, because eventually the decision here is going to be impeach or not impeach," Giuliani said.

The lawyer also suggested that the start of the Mueller probe was illegitimate, citing fired FBI Director James Comey's leaked memos and a lack of evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia.

"You get the Comey thing, which is the leak of a confidential memo, which is illegal for an FBI official to do. I'm not saying Mueller is illegitimate. I'm saying the basis on which he was appointed was illegitimate," Giuliani remarked.

Asked whether the Mueller probe was legitimate now, Giuliani told CNN "not anymore", citing reports of an FBI informant within the Trump campaign as one of the reasons for its discrediting.

The former New York City mayor also said the President was "adamant" about doing a sit-down interview with Mueller.

Giuliani said two topics were likely to be addressed during the interview: collusion and obstruction of justice.

Mueller has been pursuing his investigation since May 2017 to determine if - as US intelligence agencies say - the Kremlin interfered with the 2016 presidential vote to favour Trump and whether or not members of Trump's campaign colluded with that effort.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 4,000 attacks were carried out on Left activists and their property by members and "goons" of Tripura's ruling BJP-IFPT since it came to power in the northeastern state, the CPI-M said on Monday.

"Over 4,225 attacks were made by ruling party members and goons on Left parties, in their homes and assets besides individuals in last 87 days of BJP regime in Tripura," ommunist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state Secretary Bijan Dhar told the media.

He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) alliance government, which is on the verge of completing three months in power, is only doing "undemocratic destructions" and had taken no positive decision or actions for people's welfare.

"A large number of opposition party offices including 70 of CPI-M and its trade unions have been bulldozed in Tripura since May 7. BJP workers forcibly occupied over 200 offices of various Left frontal organisations," said Dhar, who is also the CPI-M Central Committee member.

"Everyday, the BJP and IPFT workers attacking Left party members and supporters, their houses and assets while police was a mute spectator during these attacks."

Dhar said that during a recent election campaign in Kerala, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb gave Rs 5 lakh to a slain Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh cadre from CM's Relief Fund, violating the ode of conduct and normal practice as the fund is meant to help of the state's people.

He also said that within two weeks of assuming office, the BJP government stopped 33 social pensions introduced by the previous Left Front government that benefited over 4.5 lakh poor.

Dhar said that the BJP government even ignoring its promises mentioned in the "Vision Document" announced before the February 18 assembly polls.

"Like the Narendra Modi government at the centre, the Biplab Kumar Deb government in Tripura has been cheating the people," he added.

The Left Front has started its agitation against the BJP-IPFT government's "misrule" from May 25 with a three-hour long sit-in, a first of its kind agitation programme after the BJP-IPFT government assumed office on March 9.

BJP termed the CPI-M's allegations as "double standard."

"The government has been demolishing only those political party offices constructed on government land. Construction of party offices or any other structure on government land is a totally illegal activity that was done during the Left Front regime," said BJP spokesman Victor Shome.

About the implemention of the "Vision Document", he said that two and a half months of a government is not enough to execute all the pre-poll promises. "The BJP is committed to implement its Vision Document, the CPI-M should not be bothered about it," said Shome.

--IANS

sc/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan has "rejected" India's protest against Islamabad's move relating to administrative control over the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is a part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The "Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018" was approved by Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 and it was also endorsed by the Assembly for the region.

Pakistan Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi announced enforcement of the reform package for Gilgit Baltistan which was greeted with pandemonium and a shouting match in the local assembly. The order takes away powers of President in respect of tribal areas to empower its people.

Abbasi said that under the order, all the powers have been transferred to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination. Several civil rights groups in Pakistan slammed the order.

India summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi on Sunday and lodged a strong protest over the order, saying no action should be taken to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation".

"It was clearly conveyed that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947," the Indian External Affairs Ministry had said in a statement.

Reacting to New Delhi's protest over the move, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal in a statement claimed that the "Jammu and Kashmir was disputed territory and its final status will be determined through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite administered by the UN".

He said: "Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu and Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India. Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim," the spokesman said.

"These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said.

A complete strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan on the call of the Opposition to protest against the order.

--IANS

soni/hs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim relief of exemption from personal appearance to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal before the trial court in connection with allegedly giving "misleading information" in his poll affidavit ahead of the 2013 assembly elections.

Justice A.K. Pathak, however, declined to stay the trial court proceedings in the case.

The court said the interim relief of exemption to Kejriwal before the trial court would continue till the next date, and listed the matter for further hearing on July 30.

Kejriwal, who was granted bail in the matter in December 2016, has sought a stay on the trial court proceedings claiming there was a defect in the summoning order.

An NGO has filed a complaint before a trial court alleging that Kejriwal had "wilfully misled" the Election Commission (EC) by concealing his correct address and suppressing the market value of his property.

The complaint was filed by NGO Maulik Bharat Trust, through its office-bearers, who alleged that Kejriwal "suppressed the actual figures of property owned by him" and deliberately furnished a wrong address of his property in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad.

The plea contended that "wilful concealment and suppression of correct address and value of the aforesaid property amounts to commission of a criminal offence under section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, punishable with six months of imprisonment and/or fine or both."

--IANS

akk/nir/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Chairman Nand Kumar Sai on Monday asked various state governments to restore alienated tribal lands to their tribal owners.

"In Tripura and other states, there are huge tracts of tribal land alienated due to various reasons. The governments should restore these lands to the tribals," Sai told the media after visiting the state's tribal areas for three days.

"Some non-tribals are holding land illegally in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council areas. These lands must be restored at once," he said adding that educational aspects of the tribals should be given priority by the all governments.

He asked Tripura and other states to fill vacancies in government jobs reserved for tribals.

During his stay in Tripura, the NCST Chairman held meetings with Chief Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan, Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla and other senior officials and discussed welfare measures pertaining to the tribals.

Sai directed the police chief that whenever a tribal lodged an FIR, it should be specially marked for speedy action.

He also said that tribals be encounraged to opt for organic farming and cultivation of high-yield rice, pineapple and other cash crops increase their socio-economic status.

In India, 8.6 per cent (10.45 crore) of the 1.21 billion population are tribals/Adivasis/Janjatis. In Mizoram the percentage is 94.19 per cent, followed by Nagaland (86.50), Maghalaya (86.42) and Arunachal Pradesh (68.81). A considerable number of tribals reside in Tripura, Assam, Manipur and Sikkim.

--IANS

sc/tsb/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Even in a "runaway Artificial Intelligence (AI)" scenario, robots will not render people completely jobless, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told The Sunday Telegraph in an interview.

People will always want a job as it gives them "dignity", Nadella said, adding that the focus should instead be on applying AI technology ethically.

"What I think needs to be done in 2018 is more dialogue around the ethics, the principles that we can use for the engineers and companies that are building AI, so that the choices we make don't cause us to create systems with bias that's the tangible thing we should be working on," he was quoted as saying.

According to a report in MIT Technology Review on May 25, Microsoft is building a tool to automate the identification of bias in a range of different AI algorithms.

The Microsoft tool has the potential to help businesses make use of AI without inadvertently discriminating against certain groups of people.

Although Microsoft's new tool may not eliminate the problem of bias that may creep into Machine-Learning models altogether, it will help AI researchers catch more instances of unfairness, Rich Caruna, a senior researcher at Microsoft who is working on the bias-detection dashboard, was quoted as saying by MIT Technology Review.

"Of course, we can't expect perfection -- there's always going to be some bias undetected or that can't be eliminated -- the goal is to do as well as we can," he said.

In the interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Nadella also said that as Microsoft's business model was based on customers paying for services, he believed the company was on "the right side of history".

"Our business model is based on our customers being successful, and if they are successful they will pay us. So we are not one of these transaction-driven or ad-driven or marketplace-driven economies," the Microsoft chief was quoted as saying.

--IANS

gb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Saudi Interior Ministry has confirmed its readiness to allow women to drive vehicles in the kingdom, starting from June 24 after decades of a ban.

Assistant Minister of Interior for Operation Affairs General Saeed Al-Qahtani confirmed that all women capable of driving cars can do so, according to an Al Arabiya report on Monday.

He also said female drivers would be on par with males in facing penalties and fines in case of traffic violations.

"Those who will drive cars are our daughters, wives and sisters, and it's our duty to remind them of rules and prevent any harm against them," he said, adding that the decision to allow women to drive serves the country.

He highlighted that security checkpoints would be set up to deal with expected changes in traffic after the ban would be lifted, Xinhua news agency reported.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered in September 2017 to allow women to drive cars after decades of restricting driving only to male citizens and residents.

The order was one of the major steps Saudi Arabia has taken to change the society in general and promote the foundations for a strong economy in particular.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bedsheets, cloth and fans were used to protect the EVMs from extreme heat, light or dust in Monday's bypolls held in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, said Palghar Collector Prashant Narnaware.

Amid Opposition onslaught of alleged tinkering with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and electronic voting machines (EVMs) deployed first time in two Maharashtra constituencies, he sought to give an insight into the problems the Election Commission (EC) encountered.

"The sensors of these EVMs are extremely sensitive to heat, light and dust pollution. We were alerted on this by the EC beforehand. We faced problems even during the first level checks carried out on these machines a few days ago," Narnaware told IANS.

Of the total 2,907 EVMs deployed, 156 machines in different areas of the constituency malfunctioned, but the officials were prepared to tackle it.

"Anticipating a 15 per cent error margin in the machines, we had already ordered 15 per cent more than our requirements and had sent them to various Assembly segments in Palghar for quick replacement.

"This was done promptly as and when complaints were received," Narnaware said.

Additionally, the collectorate had demanded a team of 100 engineers to handle the problems that could crop up in the EVMs, and the EC had sent 96 engineers who were distributed evenly in the Assembly segments, he said.

Besides, the local polling stations took their own little precautions like covering the windows with bedsheets, cloth cover near the EVMs and even installing fans in some areas to protect the machines from extreme heat, light or dust.

Narnaware said against a permissible error margin of 15 per cent, Palghar saw lower than 10 per cent, but admitted that it affected the voting percentages.

Till 4 p.m., the district had notched around 28 per cent voting, but this he attributed to the poor turnout in the urban centres compared to rural, the holiday season, high day temperatures and the general lack of interest among the people for bye-elections.

"However, acceding to submissions by various political parties, we have forwarded a request to the EC for an extension of the voting hours, and await their decision.

"Meanwhile, I have instructed that any citizen who comes to the polling station by 6 p.m. must be allowed to vote even if it takes an hour or so more to complete the (voting) process," Narnaware said.

In Bhandara-Gondiya, there have been complaints of more than 100 EVMs malfunctioning even as all opposition parties and ruling ally Shiv Sena cried foul.

Though no repolling has been ordered in any areas of the two constituencies, the Opposition parties have alleged tampering with the machines, while at least one, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh President Prakash Ambedkar, has sought a repoll in Bhandara-Gondiya.

The Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Shiv Sena have strongly criticized the EC for the large number of faulty machines and accused it of not even registering complaints.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the EVM glitches are nothing but a manifestation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent controversial statement on 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed'.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel said: "I have come to know that around 60 machines are defective... The EC must take serious note of this. What is the security of the votes that have already been case in the malfunctioning EVMs?"

Congress state spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged large-scale irregularities as the BJP was attempting to make the Lok Sabha bypolls 'My-polls'.

--IANS

qn/him/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian Army soldier injured in a gunfight between militants and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district succumbed to his injuries on Monday, the Defence Ministry said.

Militants attacked the camp of the 50 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) late on Sunday. The death toll in the incident has now reached two.

Earlier, a civilian identified as Bilal Ahmad Ganai, a taxi driver was killed in the cross fire between the militants and the security forces.

"In a cowardly and provocative act of terror, terrorists carried out a stand-off attack on the Kakapora Army Camp on Sunday. One soldier was killed in the brief encounter that followed the attack," Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

Taking advantage of darkness, the militants managed to escape.

Following the civilian death, authorities on Monday suspended mobile Internet services in the district. Rail services passing through Pulwama have also been suspended as a precautionary measure.

--IANS

sq/in

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Songwriter Mike Stoller, who is the only living member of the trio that co-wrote "Stand by me", feels sad that neither Jerry Leiber nor Ben E. King (late co-writers) were around to experience the appreciation for the song at the royal wedding of former actress Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

Stoller was 3,000 miles away from London, where the track was sung by the London-based Karen Gibson-led Kingdom Choir at Windsor Castle's St. George's Chapel, reports variety.com.

The May 19 performance of the 1961 classic was the only pop song to be part of the Royal procession, reportedly a personal request from Markle after Prince Charles suggested the gospel troupe be invited.

On the partnership that resulted in "Stand by me", Stoller said: "Jerry and I were writing blues songs almost exclusively for black performers at the time. The song has resonance in the African-American community not just because of its gospel origin, but it was also involved with the civil rights movement.

"That's something all the three of us were very proud of. I'm just sad neither Jerry nor Ben were around to experience the tremendous appreciation for the song."

Stoller, 85, is still working, overseeing a preview of his jukebox musical "Smokey Joe's cafe".

Mirroring the mix of its creators - Stoller and Jerry Leiber were a pair of Jewish songwriters, while Ben E. King was an African-American vocalist and a former member of the band Drifters - "Stand by me" represented a historic acknowledgement of its origins with the introduction of the bi-racial Markle into the royal family.

--IANS

ks/nn/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued orders closing the copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi owned by the Vedanta Group, a week after 13 people were killed in police firing during protests against the continued functioning of the unit.

The government order said it has been brought to the notice of the government that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) did not renew the 'Consent to Operate' to the copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi by its order of April 9 this year and subsequently on May 23, the PCB has also issued directions for closure and disconnection of power supply.

"Under Sections 18(1)(B) of the Water Act, 1974 in the larger public interest, the Government endorse the closure direction of the TNPCB and also direct the TNPCB to seal the unit and close the plant permanently," said the Order.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy said in a separate statement that the 'Consent to Operate' permission for the copper smelter plant ended in March this year and it was not renewed by the TNPCB. The electricity and water connections to the plant have been disconnected from May 24, he said.

The Chief Minister said the demand of the people of Thoothukudi to the government for closure of the plant has been accepted by the government and orders have been issued to this effect.

The order is also significant because the protesters against the functioning of the copper smelter have been demanding that the government should issue formal orders as they would not be satisfied with verbal promises.

Reacting to the development, global diversified natural resource major Vedanta said that it will study the closure order and then decide on the future course of action.

"Closure of Sterlite Copper plant is an unfortunate development, especially since, we have operated the plant for over 22 years in most transparent and sustainable way, contributing to the Tuticorin and state's socio-economic development," the company said in a statement.

"We will study the order and decide on the future course of action."

On the other hand, the protesters welcomed the order and said they needed a Cabinet decision on this as otherwise the company would approach the courts and get a stay order. They also wanted the Central government to take a similar stand.

Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday visited Thoothukudi, the first senior political representative to go to the violence-hit town, and announced that the government will take necessary steps to permanently shut down the copper smelter plant.

Pannerselvam visited the hospital here and enquired about the health of those injured in the police firing on anti-Sterlite Copper protesters on May 22.

Speaking to reporters, the Deputy Chief Minister said that compensation to the injured was being paid.

Normalcy was slowly returning in the town with shops and other establishments opening their doors for customers.

Internet connectivity has also resumed since Sunday midnight after it was suspended on May 23.

"Shops are open now. Normalcy is returning. But till the copper smelter plant is permanently closed there will not be total peace in the city," S. Raja of Thoothukudi Traders Association told IANS.

Raja also said a murder charge should be registered against the police officials who shot the protesters.

According to Raja, post mortem has been done on seven bodies out of the 13 who were killed in the police firing. However, the relatives have not claimed the bodies yet.

--IANS

vj-rv/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rome, May 28 (IANS/AKI) Global tea consumption and production will keep rising over the next decade, driven by robust demand in developing and emerging countries, notably China and India, according to a new report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Intergovernmental Group.

Tea consumption has grown particularly rapidly in China, India and other emerging economies, driven by a combination of higher incomes and efforts to diversify production to include speciality items such as herbal teas, fruit fusions and flavoured gourmet teas, according to the report.

The buoyant tea market will create new rural income opportunities and improve food security in tea-producing countries, it said.

The report, which was finalised in China's Hangzhou suggests that tea consumption has also benefited from increased awareness of the beverage's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight loss effects.

"Such health and wellbeing benefits are seen as the key drivers of future consumption growth," FAO said.

World production of black tea is projected to rise annually by 2.2 percent over the next decade to reach 4.4 million tonnes in 2027, reflecting major output increases in China, Kenya and Sri Lanka - with this China would reach the output levels of Kenya, the largest black tea exporter in the world, the report forecasts.

Global output of green tea is foreseen to increase at an even faster rate of 7.5 percent annually to reach 3.6 million tonnes in 2027, largely driven by China, where the production of green tea is expected to more than double from 1.5 million tonnes in 2015-2017 to 3.3 million tonnes in 2027.

The report also warns that tea production is highly sensitive to changes in growing conditions.

"Tea can only be produced in narrowly defined agro-ecological conditions and, hence, in a very limited number of countries, many of which will be heavily impacted by climate change," FAO said.

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, with more floods and droughts, are already affecting yields, tea product quality and prices, lowering incomes and threatening rural livelihoods. These climate changes are expected to intensify, calling for urgent adaptation measures. In parallel, there is a growing recognition of the need to contribute to climate change mitigation, by reducing carbon emissions from tea production and processing.

The report urges tea-producing countries to integrate climate change challenges, both on the adaptation and mitigation front, into their national tea development strategies.

Global demand for tea is also benefiting from a new clientele. Young urban consumers in large producing countries like China and India have emerged as the fastest growing segment, eager not only to pay a premium for specialty teas but also curious to know more about the product they consume - its quality, origin and contribution to sustainable development.

Young, upper-middle class consumers are looking for fashionable products to be integrated into their lifestyles, which now also includes gourmet quality tea, and consuming them in the sophisticated environments of specialty teashops and exclusive restaurants, hotels and cafes.

While world tea consumption has increased over the last decade, traditional importing European countries, with the exception of Germany, have seen a decline in consumption levels. Overall, the European tea market is largely saturated. Per capita consumption has been declining for more than a decade, facing competition from other beverages, particularly bottled water.

Over the next decade, Western countries in general are expected to see lower consumption growth.

In Britain, for instance, tea consumption is projected to decrease as black tea struggles to maintain consumers' interest amid increased competition from other beverages, including coffee.

The report argues that the decline in tea consumption in the traditional European markets could be stalled or even reversed by diversifying into other segments, such as organic and specialty teas, and by promoting their health and wellbeing benefits.

The strategy of promoting the health benefits of tea has also proved effective for other markets. For example, loose-leaf tea is seeing new growth in the US, not least as a result of increased public health consciousness.

The report is based on data received from member countries, supplemented by data from FAOSTAT and the International Tea Committee (ITC) as well as other sources, FAO said.

--IANS/AKI

vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Taliban commander in the Afghanistan's Helmand province has ordered all opium labs to be moved out of the urban areas the group controls as US airstrikes targeting the facilities are killing many civilians, a media report said on Monday.

In a walkie-talkie conversation with his secretary shared on a Taliban WhatsApp group, the terror group's shadow governor of Helmand Mullah Manan, said "due to one factory hundreds of the public are at risk from bombings and missiles" and called for facilities to shift to "mountains and valley sides" instead, the Guardian report said.

In the message, Mullah Manan said: "Drones are roaming in the air and they have made men, women and children scared because of bombing. We must strictly explain to people that if they do not stop drugs factories in public houses they will go to jail."

Any Taliban who permitted such facilities would also be punished, he added.

The recording has been verified by experts on the Taliban.

The Taliban control most of the opium trade in Afghanistan, the world's major source of the drug, where production rose a record 87 per cent last year, according to UN figures.

After years in which the US airforce avoided hitting opium labs for fear of alienating local populations, it has targeted them for the last six months as part of a campaign to choke off the estimated $200 million in yearly revenue they earn for the Taliban, the Guardian reported.

Bombing raids nearly tripled in the first three months of this year, compared with 2017.

In the strikes on drug labs since November 2017, the US claims not to have killed any civilians.

"To date, US Forces Afghanistan has not found a credible allegation of civilian casualty," a spokesperson for the US military told the Guardian.

--IANS

ksk/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India is talking with the US on the issue of H1-B and H4 visas, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference here, she said that the H4 visas were issued at India's request from 2015 when Barack Obama was the US President.

H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a significantly large number of whom are high-skilled professionals from India.

The Donald Trump administration is planning to end the Obama-era rule allowing spouses of H1-B visa holders to work legally in the US, a move that could have a devastating impact on more than 70,000 H-4 visa holders who have work permits.

The proposed rule is currently in final clearance, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told a federal court in a status update.

"We are trying to save the H1-B and H4 visas through talks with the White House, the State Department and the US Congress," Sushma Swaraj said.

"We have made our request but the US is a sovereign country. I don't know what the future holds."

--IANS

ab/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The toll from Sri Lanka's monsoon rains has reached 23, while 75,000 people have been evacuated and relocated to safer shelters, the country's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said on Monday.

DMC Spokesperson Pradeep Kodippili said of the 23 victims, five were killed after being struck by lightning, reports Xinhua news agency.

As more rains were expected in the coming days, Kodippili said the National Building and Research Organisation has also issued a severe landslide alert in the districts of Kalutara, Galle, Ratnapura, Kegalle and Nuwera Eliya.

"People residing in these red alert areas will be evacuated to safer locations. They will have to remain there till the red alert is lifted," Kodippili said.

A red alert has also been issued to the naval and fishing communities in Puttalam, Batticalo,a Colombo and Galle.

More than 4,000 houses have been partially or fully damaged or inundated.

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week instructed relevant authorities to immediately provide relief to the affected people.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that a team of American officials arrived in North Korea to organise the planned summit between him and Kim Jong-un, after he officially cancelled the meeting last week and then appeared to retract that move.

"Our US team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong-un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day," Trump tweeted late Sunday.

"Kim Jong-un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" he added.

Trump's confirmation of the arrival of the US team in Pyongyang comes hours after The Washington Post reported the diplomatic mission, reports Efe news.

According to The Post, Sung Kim, a former US ambassador in South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with North Korea, crossed the inter-Korean border to meet with Choe Son Hui, a senior diplomat in Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry.

Last week, Trump sent a letter to Kim cancelling the historic meeting, but over the weekend he said in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office that his administration was continuing to work to ensure that the summit occurs as originally planned on June 12 in Singapore.

The US official and Choe have already been part of the delegations that negotiated the 2005 denuclearization agreement in which Pyongyang, under the leadership of Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father, promised to abandon all its nuclear weapons programs.

The Washington Post, citing a person familiar with the negotiations, said that those talks will continue near the Demilitarized Zone until Tuesday.

The US delegation also includes Allison Hooker, with the US National Security Council, and an official with the Defence Department.

If it occurs, the Trump-Kim summit will be the first between US and North Korean leaders after almost 70 years of enmity and confrontation since the start of the 1950-1953 Korean War and more than a quarter century of failed negotiations.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rome, May 28 (IANS/WAM) The UAE ambassador to Italy has met the General Commander of the Italian military force in a bid to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, UAE ambassador Saqr Nasser Al Raisi emphasised on his country's keenness to work with friendly countries in all fields, especially enhancing international security and community safety, the agency report said on Monday.

Al Raisi also praised the distinguished relations between the Italian force and the United Arab Emirates' police, pointing out to the continued cooperation with them across various sectors.

On his part, General Commander Giovanni Nistri reaffirmed the eagerness of Italy to strengthen its bilateral relations with the UAE.

He also said that the permanent participation of the Carabinieri (Italian military force) in events, conferences and exhibitions in the UAE was an indication of the importance and the level of appreciation accorded to them.

Al Raisi and Nistri also discussed mutual cooperation in the field of conservation and preservation of heritage.

--IANS/WAM

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Residents of Rahispur village in Ghaziabad on Monday accused UPPCL officials of harassing their womenfolk on the pretext of power thefts and other irregularities when the men were out at work.

Hundreds of villagers took out a protest march and staged a dharna at Chief Engineer A.K. Chaudhary's office in RDC Raj Nagar. They were led by local councillor Manoj Chaudhary, Zaker Saifi and others.

In a memorandum submitted to the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited Chief Engineer, residents of the village falling under Sector 23 of Sanjay Nagar residential locality claimed that UPPCL supervisory staff barge into their houses on the pretext of random checking against irregularities/power thefts and visit all rooms in the absence of male members of the families.

They said that officials undertake the checks around 11 a.m. when the women are alone and engaged in cleaning and washing. The officials then fill up forms and inform the women that they have come across power thefts in their electricity connections. This had become almost a routine.

They questioned how the officials could enter the houses without permission when electricity meters were fixed outside the homes.

"They have submitted a general complaint whereas I have asked them to give me specific instances of wrongdoing so that I can question the staff. As for indiscriminate penal action, I have asked supervisory staff to exclude families that rear one or two buffaloes. However, if over a dozen buffaloes are kept, it means it is a business venture and hence a commercial electricity connection has to be obtained. Or else, the person concerned has to pay penalty," Chaudhary said.

He asserted that in no case would disrespect to any woman be allowed.

--IANS

sps/tsb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid complaints of dysfunctional electronic voting machines (EVMs) in three parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the bypolls on Monday to four Lok Sabha and nine Assembly seats across India saw moderate to high turnout.

The Congress and some other opposition parties complained to the Election Commission (EC) about "hundreds of EVMs" having malfunctioned, particularly in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana, but the poll panel said the news reports of "large scale" failure of EVMs were "an exaggerated projection of reality".

It said that adequate number of reserve EVMs-VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) were kept and deployed in almost half hour where there were reports of non-functioning of the machines.

The poll panel said the malfunctioning could be attributed to "first-time use by polling staff, extreme heat, placement of the machine under direct sunlight and mishandling during use".

In Kairana, where the BJP is locked in an intense fight with combined opposition including the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, the polling percentage was 54.17 per cent till 6 p.m.

In the Noorpur Assembly segment of the state, the polling percentage was 61 till 6 p.m.

In Kairana, there were reports of firing in Bhura village and skirmishes between supporters of the opposition-supported RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Mriganka Singh, daughter of late Hukum Singh, whose death necessitated the bypoll.

Both the RLD and the BJP filed complaints alleging that over 100 voting machines were malfunctioning.

The BJP told the EC that a large number of EVMs were out of order, forcing hundreds of voters to wait outside polling booths in the scorching heat.

In the national capital, a multi-party delegation including Congress leader R.P.N. Singh, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh met the EC officers and demanded a repoll in booths where there were reports of dysfunctional EVMs.

In Maharashtra, about 40 per cent polling was estimated till 6 p.m. in the Bhandara-Gondiya Parliamentary constituency. In Palghar, the polling percentage was around 47 till 6 p.m.

Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel alleged that "nearly 25 per cent of all the EVMs in Bhandara-Gondiya were defective or had malfunctioned".

EC officer in-charge Abhimanyu Kale told the media that around 156 EVMs were replaced or spares deployed.

Hundreds of voters patiently waited to cast their votes in the blistering heat as the EVMs were replaced.

The EC trashed reports that polling had been cancelled in 35 booths in Bhandara-Gondiya.

The defective machines hit polling severely, with barely 25 per cent of the electorate casting their votes by 2 p.m. in both constituencies.

Ruling ally Shiv Sena also strongly criticised the EC and the government for the glitches and claimed that these were reported mostly from the party's strongholds.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the glitch is nothing but a manifestation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent controversial statement on 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed'.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) President Prakash Ambedkar demanded cancellation of the elections in Bhandara-Gondiya while Congress state spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged large-scale irregularities.

Both elections are prestigious for the state's ruling BJP, which faces the NCP in Bhandara-Gondiya and its own ally Shiv Sena in Palghar.

The bypoll in Bhandara-Gondiya was necessitated after sitting BJP member Nana Patole quit the party in December 2017 and later joined the Congress. BJP's Hemant Patle, who was earlier in the Shiv Sena, faces NCP's Madhukar Kukde, who is supported by the Congress, while there were 18 others in the fray.

In Palghar, the bypoll came after sitting MP Chintaman Vanga died. However his son joined the Shiv Sena and was given party ticket. The BJP has fielded former Congress leader Rajendra Gavit, while the Congress has put up Damoda Shingda.

The bypoll to the Nagaland Parliamentary seat witnessed 75 per cent polling. The seat fell vacant as sitting member Neiphiu Rio resigned after being elected to the state Assembly and becoming Chief Minister.

In Bihar, Jokihat Assembly seat saw nearly 55 per cent polling.

Bypolls to Silli and Gomia Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand saw 75 per cent and 62 per cent voting, respectively.

In West Bengal, around 70 per cent of votes were cast till 5 p.m. for bypoll to the Maheshtala Assembly constituency. In Punjab, Shahkot Assembly constituency recorded over 73 per cent voting.

Chengannur Assembly constituency in Kerala saw voting percentage of 77 per cent while Meghalya's Ampati Assembly seat saw a high voter turn out of 90.42 per cent.

Polling was also held at Tharali in Uttarakhand.

--IANS

ps-mak/him/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Carmaker Volkswagen Group China announced on Monday that it would open three new factories to produce electric vehicles and SUVs in the Chinese cities of Qingado, Tianjin and Foshan.

The new plants by the joint venture between the German company and Chinese firm First Automobile Works hope to boost SUV production to meet a growing demand in the Chinese market, Efe news reported.

"The launch of these new passenger car production facilities will help us meet strong demand for new vehicles in the near-term and pave the way for the future of mobility in China", said Jochem Heizmann, President and CEO of Volkswagen China, in a statement.

"This year, after record first-quarter sales results, the company expects further growth in the total passenger car market of 4 to 5 per cent," Heizmann added.

According to the statement, Volkswagen and its partners are set to invest 15 billion euros (around $17.5 billion) by 2022 in e-mobility, autonomous driving, digitalization and new mobility services.

"Chinese consumers today are demonstrating strong demand for smart, sustainable electric vehicles as well as fun-to-drive, spacious SUVs," said Herbert Diess, the global president of the group, adding that Volkswagen was committed to China, its biggest market in the world.

In April, Volkswagen launched SOL, its new electric car brand for the Chinese market, which is a joint venture with local brand JAC.

--IANS

soni/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wipro Infrastructure Engineering's additive manufacturing unit Wipro 3D signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay racing team to fabricate parts for Formula Student electric race car, the company said on Monday.

"As per the agreement, our 3D arm will provide expertise on additive manufacturing, equipment and material while IIT racing team will design the parts to be made," said the city-based company in a statement here.

As Europe's educational motorsport competition, the four-day Formula Students will be hosted at Silverstone Circuit in Britain from July 11-15 by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in which teams from 110 European universities and 8,000 students and 2,000 professors from the world over will participate.

Held annually, the student engineering contest draws teams from the world over to design, build, test and drive a small-scale Formula 1 style racing car.

"Critical components of the race car will be fabricated and printed in our 3D unit," said Wipro 3D Vice President Ajay Parikh in the statement.

The IIT racing team has built the additively manufactured Titanium alloy automotive component in collaboration with Wipro 3D.

"We have achieved 40 per cent weight reduction in the wheel component of our new electric race car EVoX by using Titanium and improved its ergonomics," said IIT Bombay Racing mechanical officer Kanishka Panda on the occasion.

The four-year-old Wipro subsidiary offers additive manufacturing solutions, products and services to diverse industries, spanning aerospace, space, industrial, automotive, healthcare, oil & gas and heavy engineering.

--IANS

fb/him/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Do you have tiny yellow spots in the eye? Watch out, it could be an early indicator of dementia, a new study suggests.

According to the researchers, the spots known as "hard drusen" are made of fat and calcium deposit that form in a layer underneath the retina and can be seen in scans.

A common signs of ageing, the spots have long been thought to be harmless. But, the findings showed that 25 per cent of people with Alzheimer's have more number of such spots compared to four per cent of healthy people.

"We found that there were more areas associated with drusen deposition in Alzheimer's disease," lead author Imre Lengyel from Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was quoted as saying to the DailyMail.

The results also showed that, people with Alzheimer's had thicker blood vessels which may slow down the blood flow.

Thus, scanning for the spots and examining the eye's blood vessels could be a valuable tool in Alzheimer's disease monitoring, the researchers said.

"A brain disease is difficult to diagnose through the eye. But we can use ophthalmologic imaging to chart progression of the disease and monitor the effectiveness of medications used to combat it," Lengyel added.

"An eye imaging session would comprise 20 seconds of time and is very non-invasive. It's exciting. We really hope that eye imagining will be a powerful tool in monitoring Alzheimer's progression."

In the study, published in the journal Ophthalmic Research, the team conducted eye test on 117 patients aged between 60 to 92 years.

The researchers hope that the study may be helpful in early detection of dementia so that early precaution is taken in order to combat the disease.

--IANS

sh/rt/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by her son and president Rahul Gandhi, left for abroad on Sunday night for a medical check-up, party sources said.



has been at the receiving end of mockery in the past, allegedly by the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) so-called troll army, for flying in and out of the country. The chief this time left a message on for his critics before embarking on a journey, asking them to not get "too worked up", and that he would be back soon.



will be travelling abroad for her annual medical examination. She had undergone a surgery in the US in 2011.

While will return within a week, will stay abroad for a longer period, sources told PTI.

They said some key decisions, including the allocation of ministerial portfolios in after a Congress-JD(S) government led by HD Kumaraswamy, was formed in the southern state last week, have been put on hold.

Some fresh appointments in the are also awaited as part of the party's rejig under



Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up.



To my friends in the troll army: dont get too worked up...I'll be back soon!  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 27, 2018

The Congress chief held deliberations with party leaders since yesterday to decide on the portfolios for the party's legislators in Karnataka, but the discussions remained inconclusive.

The sources said Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a rally at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh on June 6 to commemorate the first anniversary of police firing on farmers there.
In what might make the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka look like an unequal alliance and raise doubts about its future, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that the 65 million people of the state hadn't elected him as their leader. Instead, he said that he is indebted to the Congress for bestowing the chief ministerial post on him, and to that effect, he is at the mercy of the grand old party.

The Karnataka election hadn't thrown up any clear winners. After loads of drama, the edge-of-the-seat thriller ended with the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Indian ...
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today flagged off a statewide campaign against child sexual abuse in the state capital, urging people to fight the menace, an official release said.

As part of the fortnight-long drive - an initiative of the Odisha Police in association with UNICEF - a total of 15 chariots, fitted with LCD screens to display awareness messages, were rolled out from different parts of the state this morning.

Only when a society is aware, it can take proper care of children, Patnaik said.

Each specially designed chariot, called Pari Express, will cover two districts before converging in the state capital for a valedictory function on June 12, the release stated.

The rising cases of sexual abuse of minors have prompted the state machinery to launch the campaign, Odisha DGP R P Sharma said.

"Sexual abuse of minor girls is a challenge the society needs to face. In 90 per cent of the cases, the accused persons are known to the victims," he added.

The UNICEF has provided technical support for the programme and facilitated the training of folk artistes, who would be performing on the chariots as part of the drive, the release said.

The volunteers on board the chariots, with help from the District Council of Culture, will also make arrangements for community interaction in the presence of local gentries.

The campaign would reach out to people in the rural areas to create awareness on the matter. It would stress the need to report such cases to police on time, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Around 20 people including civilians were killed in a suspected jihadist attack in northeastern Mali near the border with Niger, sources said.

The deaths came after more than 100 people including many civilians, particularly from the Fulani and Tuareg communities, died in recent months as a result of attacks by rival armed groups in the region.

A local official in the town of Talataye -- where Saturday's attack took place -- said late yesterday that the assailants arrived in three vehicles and on a motorcycle.

Khalil Toure, a teacher, added: "They opened fire on a group of people resting under a tree, killing five people on the spot and wounding two." Jihadists have also ramped up their activities in central Mali in recent months, targeting domestic and foreign forces in violence once confined to the country's north.

France intervened militarily in Mali in 2013 to help government forces drive Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists out of the north.

But large tracts of the country remain lawless despite a peace accord signed with ethnic Tuareg leaders in mid-2015 aimed at isolating the jihadists.

The violence has also spilled over into both Burkina Faso and Niger.

The French military has said the jihadist group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) is using the border region as a haven.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 28,400 bunkers will be constructed in Jammu and Kashmir for the safety of residents living along the Indo-Pak border who often face shelling from the Pakistani side, the Home Ministry said today.

The home ministry has approved Rs 415 crore for construction of more than 14,000 bunkers in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts, an official statement said.

Work on construction of 1,431 community and more than 13,000 individual bunkers will also be commenced from July, it said.

The ministry's decision came in view of 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan since January this year.

A high-level meeting, attended by the top brass of the home ministry, took stock of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where it was informed that compensation to victims of cross-border firing has been approved at National Disaster Response Force rates and the limit of three milch animals removed for losses incurred upon livestock.

The compensation for livestock may be increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 30,000 presently, the statement said.

The meeting expressed satisfaction that there has been a significant drop in stone-pelting incidents since the central government had announced suspension of operations during the month of Ramzan.

The recruitment for the already sanctioned two new battalions of the Jammu and Kashmir Police is expected to be completed by March, 2019, and the home ministry had sanctioned Rs 105 crore in March for this purpose.

These two battalions would be raised from the people living within 0-10 km of International Border or the Line of Control.

Besides, five India Reserve Battalions (IRB) are also being raised in Jammu and Kashmir where altogether 4,690 youths have been recruited and they will join the force next month, the statement said.

In addition, 6,689 SPOs have been appointed out of a total of 10,000 new posts sanctioned. The possibility of filling up of the vacancies of SPOs from border living community may be explored.

The meeting was informed about the progress of relief and rehabilitation programmes related to various sections of migrants and displaced persons. A total of 12,763 beneficiaries of displaced persons of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been disbursed Rs 578 crore, the statement said,



Rs 5.5 lakh per family will be disbursed to displaced people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb for which the home ministry has provided Rs 2,000 crore, it said.

Reviewing the Prime Minister's Development Package worth Rs 80,068 crore, it was informed that nearly Rs 63,000 crore have been sanctioned for 63 projects pertaining to 15 central ministries. Out of which more than Rs 24,000 crore (31 per cent) have been released and over Rs 20,000 crore (26 per cent) utilised, the statement said.

Altogether 13 projects have been completed or substantially completed, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three suspected members of a fake Territorial Army recruitment racket were arrested, police said today.

The three accused were identified as Amit Kumar alias Amit Fauji (31), Suni Kumar alias Jogi (32), and Devender (39), they said.

A specific information was received in the Crime Branch that members of a racket involved in fake recruitment in Territorial Army were active in Delhi and Haryana.

They were engaged in cheating unemployed youngsters from Haryana on the pretext of getting them recruited in the Territorial Army.

The gang members used to conduct fake physical tests in the Delhi Cantonment and subsequently got fake medical tests done in hospital and interviews and even issued fake appointment and joining letters, the police said.

A written complaint was received from one of the victims, Sudheer (21) on May 1. Subsequently, two other victims approached the Crime Branch with complaints.

Sudheer told police that sometime in June-July last year one Sunil Jogi of his village had introduced him to one Pradeep, who induced him by offering employment in the Territorial Army and demanded Rs 5 lakh.

Since the victim was qualified and unemployed, he was trapped in the offer made by Pradeep and gave the money on various pretexts.

The victim was handed a joining letter on August 18 last year. Later, the alleged fake joining letter was taken back from the complainant on the pretext of providing joining in Bangalore, instead of Delhi.

The complainant, along with a relative and another victim, went to Bangalore on October 11 last year to join his duty.

However, on reaching Bangalore no one came to receive the complainant and when he tried to contact Pradeep, his phone was switched off, said G Ram Gopal Naik, deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime).

The two other victims -- Tilak Raj, and Suraj, also corroborated similar allegations against this gang, and confirmed that each of them was cheated of Rs 3 lakh.

Subsequently, the three accused were arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eight people, including two policemen, were injured after militants today targeted their police vehicle in Pakistan's Dera Murad Jamali region in the troubled Balochistan province.

The police vehicle was targeted by an improvised explosive device in a motorcycle which was parked near the roadside from where the police vehicle passed.

The eight injured in the blast were rushed to nearby Naseerabad hospital for medical treatment and an emergency was imposed in the hospital. The windowpanes of nearby shops and houses were smashed due to the impact of the blast.

Yesterday, two traffic policemen were gunned down in Quetta in a targeted killing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Afghan official says gunmen have killed at least three people in an attack in western Herat province.

Gelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor in Herat, says the three victims include an employee of a voter registration centre and two policemen.

A third policeman was wounded in the attack, which took place late last night.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, a spokesman says that the Taliban overrun several villages today in the district of Khoja Ghor in northern Takhar province, pushing back the local police.

Sonatullah Timor there were no casualties reported.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, claimed the attacks in Takhar, saying insurgents have pushed near the district centre and taken several posts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior military and intelligence officials from Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to enhance efforts to ensure sustainable peace in the region.

The two sides reached the understanding at talks yesterday at Pakistan army's headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The Afghan delegation was led by the national security adviser, Hanif Atmar, and also included the intelligence chief and other officials.

A military statement early Monday said Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, told the delegation that "we must begin with the trust that neither covets an inch of the other's territory nor is letting its land being used against the other."



Pakistan has been under pressure from Kabul to stop giving safe havens to militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies the charge.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Disinvestment of Air India and rise in prices of petrol and diesel are likely to feature in an important coordination meeting of the RSS, BJP and the government scheduled for tomorrow.

BJP president Amit Shah, Finance and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, and Commerce and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu are among those likely to attend the meeting. It will be chaired by RSS joint general secretary Krishan Gopal.

The sangh's economic group, comprising Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharti and Swadeshi Jagran Manch, will present their reports and feedback on various economic policies of the government.

Sources said that the issues of Air India disinvestment and rise in prices of petrol and diesel would feature in the meeting.

Earlier, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had categorically said that Air India should not be sold to a foreign buyer.

Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) have also opposed its disinvestment in the current form.

According to the SJM, Air India has operating profits, but is running into losses due to its debts. It suggested that government should monetise the assets of the national carrier to repay its debt.

The Centre has invited 'expression of interest' to sell 76 per cent stake and management control in the airline.

The Indian government owns 100 per cent equity of Air India. The government has injected more than Rs 23,000 crore since 2012 to bail out the airline.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Guiyang city, where India is establishing its second IT corridor in China, will become the technical support centre and Internet Content Provider (ICP) filing centre for the cloud service of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Alibaba Cloud will also provide cloud storage service for the research data of China's five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope in Guizhou province, of which Guiyang is the provincial capital, state-run Xinhua agency reported today.

It is the world's largest single-dish radio telescope. All websites hosted on the Chinese mainland must be ICP filed with the ministry of industry and information technology.

A website cannot direct to any server located on the Chinese mainland for public visits until the developer get an ICP filing number.

Yesterday, India launched its second IT corridor in China in collaboration with the local government of Guiyang to access the Chinese software market.

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) along with Guiyang's municipal government established one more Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza (SIDCOP) platform in China, in an effort to provide market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market.

Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale was among those who took part in the meeting at Guiyang to launch the project.

India recently established its first IT corridor in China in Dalian city.

While Dalian corridor's focus was on IOT (Internet of things), the Guiyang corridor will focus on 'Big Data' as Guizhou province is regarded as the IT centre of China specialising in Big Data.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US-based financial advisory firm Andersen Global is planning to enter the Indian markets and will tie-up with two Indian firms for business and legal advisory services.

According to sources, Andersen Global has been planning to enter the Indian markets for the past one year and has had discussions with five business advisory firms.

After rounds of meeting, Andersen Global is understood to have zeroed in on partnering Nangia & Co for its business advisory business and Vaish Associates, Advocates, for legal practices.

A formal announcement is likely to be made by Andersen Global tomorrow, sources said.

When contacted, Nangia & Co declined to comment, while Vaish Associates did not reply to queries sent for the story.

Established in 2013 by US member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has over 2,500 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 103 locations through its member firms and collaborations.

Nangia Advisors LLP, founded in 1984, with specialisation in international tax and transfer pricing, has network of offices located in Noida, New Delhi, Mumbai, Dehradun and Singapore with about 250 professionals.

Vaish Associates, Advocates, set up in 1971, provides client focused legal and business advisory services.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Conservative candidate Ivan Duque took a commanding lead in Colombia's presidential election today, partial results showed, but fell well short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a second-round runoff next month.

A 41-year-old senator, Duque will face his leftist rival, former guerrilla Gustavo Petro, in the run-off on June 17. With most of the vote counted, Duque had polled 39.7 per cent of the votes, compared to Petro's 24.8 per cent. Petro beat off a late challenge from former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo to narrowly take the second runoff spot.

It was the first presidential poll in half a century free of the threat of the FARC, though Duque, 41, has campaigned strongly on a pledge to rewrite a peace agreement with the former rebel movement.

Polling closed on schedule at 2: 30 am IST after eight hours of "totally normal" voting, said electoral authority chairman Juan Carlos Galindo. Bogota and other major cities reported a high turnout in a country where voter abstention is traditionally around 50 per cent.

The peaceful election was an achievement celebrated by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos after casting his ballot in Bogota.

"So far not a single voting station has had to be moved for security reasons," he said in a televised speech. "It's been many decades since that has happened. In other words, these elections are going to be the most secure, the calmest." Ironically, the peace Santos made with the FARC, which is now a political party, has opened sharp divisions, reflected in the leading candidates to succeed him.

Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror in Colombia before transforming itself into a political party. "I want a country of legality, a full-on fight against corruption, a country where peace can breathe throughout the land," said Duque after casting his ballot in Bogota.

Outside one Bogota polling station, Paula Rubio, 38, said she voted for Duque "to maintain order in the country." Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, has defied expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right.

Petro said he wanted a Colombia "present and future" without hatred or vengeance and to leave behind "the machinery of corruption." The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption, making him the country's first leftist candidate going to the second round of a presidential poll.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The five YSR Congress MPs, who had submitted their resignations on April 6 over



non-grant of special category status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh, will press for acceptance of their resignations when they meet Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in Delhi tomorrow.

"We are firm on our resignations and there is no reason why the Speaker should not accept them," YSRC parliamentary party leader Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy said.

The LS Speaker's office had sent letters to the MPs last week, asking them to meet her in New Delhi on May 29 on the resignations issue.

"We will meet the Speaker at the appointed time and pursue our case. We will explain our stand and we see no reason why she should not accept our resignations," Rajamohan Reddy said.

Whether the Lok Sabha Speaker would accept the resignations and gave way to by-elections to the five seats emptied by the parliamentarians, seems to be hanging as a big question mark.

Nevertheless, both the Telugu Desam Party and the YSRC are gearing up for any eventuality.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Energy firms plunged with oil prices in Asia today after Saudi Arabia and Russia signalled they could lift output, while indications Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un could be back on provided support to equity markets.

Both main contracts tanked on Friday after Saudi oil minister Khaled al-Faleh said his country could open the taps wider in the second half of the year to insure against any supply shocks.

His Russian counterpart Alexander Novak said they had spoken about a two-year-old deal capping production, adding OPEC and other members of the pact would discuss lifting limits next month.

The comments come as supply worries increase, with major producer Venezuela hit by economic uncertainty, Iran facing painful export sanctions and demand seen picking up.

On Friday, Brent sank three per cent and WTI fell four per cent, and in early Asia business they were both down a further two percent.

The losses come after crude earlier this month hit levels not seen since November 2014, and led to sharp selling in Asian energy firms.

Sydney-listed Woodside Petroleum was 3.6 per cent down and Inpex dived a similar amount in Tokyo.

CNOOC plunged three per cent in Hong Kong, while Sinopec was off more than two per cent.

Broader markets were mostly up as the oil sell-off was offset by renewed hopes for the Trump-Kim summit after the US president appeared Friday to do a U-turn 24 hours after cancelling the meeting.

Markets fell in Asia Friday after Trump said he had pulled out of the June 12 gathering, citing "open hostility" from Pyongyang. However, a flurry of diplomacy -- led by South Korea, whose President Moon Jae-in met Kim Saturday -- has put it back on track.

And yesterday, Trump tweeted that a US team "has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit".

He added: "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"



By the break in Tokyo, the Nikkei was flat, Hong Kong added 0.5 per cent and Shanghai gained 0.1 per cent. Singapore, Seoul and Jakarta were all sharply higher but Sydney fell 0.6 per cent and Manila dipped 0.2 per cent.

On currency markets, the euro edged up despite political uncertainty in Italy, with investors welcoming that President Sergio Mattarella had vetoed the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister.

While the decision led to the resignation of prime minister-elect Giuseppe Conte and could lead to fresh elections, it was seen as a positive move for the euro.

However, Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank in Sydney, told Bloomberg News: "We may now be in for an extended period of heightened uncertainty ahead of fresh elections -- assuming that's where we're headed.

"For now it's more relief that Italy will not -- for now at least -- have an avowed eurosceptic finance minister." The single currency's gains are also being limited by the prospect of upheaval in Spain, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy could face a no-confidence vote after his party was found guilty of benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said today the disputes related to assets distribution between UP and Uttarakhand pending for the last 17 to 18 years will be resolved in two months.

"Both states have arrived at a consensus over all pending matters after the recent round of talks between the chief secretaries and they will be resolved in two months," Yogi said after laying the foundation stone of a 100-room tourist guest house owned by UP government here.

The UP CM also announced that the Alaknanda hotel over which the two states have long been embroiled in an ownership dispute will belong to Uttarakhand.

The tourist guest house whose foundation stone was laid by Adityanath stands next to the Alaknanda hotel. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister said he has plans to build one guest house for pilgrims at Badrinath.

He said the credit for the resolution of long pending assets distribution issues between the two states went to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat who began taking positive steps after taking over.

Adityanath said both states will work together to develop new tourist destinations.

The UP chief minister urged his Uttarakhand counterpart to release maximum water into the Ganga for next year's Kumbh in Allahabad and extended an invitation to him, his cabinet colleagues and all saints and seers to attend the festival.

He said the Kanwar mela road along Gangnahar in Haridwar will be expanded up to Ghaziabad.

Earlier,accompanied by Rawat, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik and his own cabinet colleague Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Yogi performed a Ganga Aarti at the Har ki Pairi.

The Uttarakhand chief minister expressed his gratitude to the UP chief minister for active cooperation in resolving the assets related disputes. Yoga guru Ramdev who also participated in the programme said the states were like brothers and all pending issues between them should be resolved with goodwill.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A delegation from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) arrived in the city today on a two-day visit to the naval base here.

It is headed by Commodore Fiona Therese Freeman, Director General of Hydrography, Meteorology and Oceanography (DGHM) and accompanied by Captain Simon John Bateman, Resident Defence Attach of Australia, a Defence release said here.

The visit is aimed at understanding Indian Naval Meteorology and Oceanography (IN METOC) operational/ training facilities and discussing avenues for mutual cooperation in the field of METOC, it said.

The delegation visited the Indian Naval Meteorological and Analysis Center, School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology and INS Garuda, the Naval Air Station.

Commodore M K Singh, Principal Director, Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, was present to interact with the delegation on professional matters.

Apart from METOC facilities, the delegation also visited other training facilities such as the Navigation and Direction School and Anti-Submarine Warfare School.

The delegation called on Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command today and held discussions on Hydrography, Oceanography and areas of cooperation



Naval crests were exchanged during the interaction. They also visited INS Sutlej, a hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy.

India and Australia have close relations as members of the Commonwealth. There has been significant progress in Indo-Australian relations with improving economic and cultural ties.

Exchange of high-level military delegation visits and interaction between the navies is expected to further boost the defence cooperation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Global consultancy firm PwC has said the Indian government's flagship programme 'Ayushman Bharat' will result in a tectonic shift in the healthcare industry, encouraging efficiency and innovation in the sector.

The national health protection scheme aims to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (about 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

"One of the tectonic shifts in Indian healthcare has been the launch of 'Ayushman Bharat', which addresses both pillars of universal healthcare coverage the role of primary care and financial access," said the PwC report on Financing and Funding Indian Healthcare: Navigating the Turbulent Tide.

Traditionally, it said, the public and private sectors have not worked together. International experience shows that the most efficient public healthcare systems use private capital and expertise to induce efficiency and innovation.

'The scheme gives a fresh impetus for both to work together towards achieving the nation's goal of achieving universal healthcare," it said.

The 'New Indian Healthcare Eosystem', it added, will redefine the healthcare delivery and products space with low-cost hospitals, speciality clinics, medical devices -- which cost a fraction of imported devices, mobile technologies, which address primary healthcare needs and quality healthcare which is affordable.

The report further noted that a host of factors ranging from price control to regulatory overreach and safety of the caregivers in hospitals have threatened to derail the robust growth of the sector.

The report makes a case for increasing transparency, improving hospital and patient connect, and dispelling the negative perception of the industry.

"With the aim of balancing the need for returns for investors and affordability for patients, there is a need for hospitals to look at their cost structure and work on operational efficiency programmes," it said.

Also, the government needs to use this opportunity to create a robust regulatory framework keeping in mind the interest of all stakeholders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ending a year-long acrimonious relationship with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Kendrapara's suspended Member of Parliament Baijayant Panda today resigned from the BJD, leading to speculation the industrialist turned politician could join the BJP.

In his three-page-long resignation letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Panda said he was "hurt and unhappy" that members of the ruling party did not attend the funeral of his industrialist father Bansidhar Panda who passed away on May 22.

"It has plumbed the absolute depths of inhumanity when neither you nor anyone from the BJD turned up to pay their last respects to my father Dr Bansidhar Panda, who as everyone knows was a very close friend, supporter and associate of Biju uncle (Biju Patnaik) for decades," Panda said in the letter to Patnaik.

The four-time MP, representing the party, also said that he was heartbroken to find out that several BJD leaders were "restrained" from attending the funeral service.

Panda was elected to Rajya Sabha twice from 2000 to 2009 and later to Lok Sabha from Kendrapara segment in 2009 and 2014.

"It is with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the kind of into which our BJD has descended," he said in the letter.

The ruling BJD, however, preferred not to comment on the content of the resignation letter before completion of Dr Bansidhar Panda's 11th day rituals.

Confirming receipt of Panda's resignation letter to Patnaik, the BJD vice-president Devi Prasad Mishra said, "Yes, Panda's resignation letter has reached the BJD president. The CM has already expressed his deep condolence over Dr Bansidhar Panda's demise. As the MP's family has been mourning, the party will not give any statement on his resignation now. We will put forth our view on the matter at an appropriate time."



Panda was suspended from the BJD on January 24, 2018 for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities.

He was removed from the post of the party's spokesman in New Delhi on March 12, 2017.

After his suspension from the primary membership of the party in January this year, the BJD parliamentary party leader Bhartuhari Mahatab on March 6 had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan seeking removal of Panda from the parliamentary standing committee and to make special arrangement for his seat in the House.

When asked whether the BJP will admit Panda after his resignation from the BJD, senior BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: "All good people who have trust on the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah are welcome in BJP."



Meanwhile, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik described Panda as a "good parliamentarian" and said: "The leader of the ruling party should have gone to pay respect to Dr Bansidhar Panda. It looks wrong to the outside world that the chief minister and the BJD leaders did not pay tribute to the state's noted industrialist."The OPCC president also said, "We will welcome anyone who is committed to work for Odisha's interest."Along with Panda, former president of BJD Kendrapara district minority cell Salim Khan and student leader Prafulla Swain also tendered their resignations from the BJD today.

Panda's political secretary Jyoti Prakash Ghose also tendered his resignation from primary membership of the party.

Panda, who was considered close to Patnaik for long, however, faced opposition from within the BJD when he started raising his voice against certain issues.

Panda had also wrote some paper articles highlighting "mis-functioning" of his party and some times supporting NDA government at the Centre even as the BJP was against the ruling party here in Odisha.

The Kendrapara MP was also believed to have been "very close" to several senior BJP leaders at the national level.

Panda was popular in his constituency for certain developmental works like drinking water projects, mini-stadiums and other projects.

Panda was attacked with stones and eggs when he had gone to attend a public meeting at Mahanga in May last year.

The rift between Panda and party supremo widened after the former accused the chief minister's private secretary of forging a conspiracy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bureau of Energy Efficiency said today that it has signed two pacts in petrochemical and appliances sectors.

The first MoU was signed with Engineers India Ltd (EIL) for implementation of energy efficiency in petrochemical sector, under the Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, a BEE statement said.

The second MoU was signed with National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) to establish a mechanism to provide accreditation services to support implementation of BEE's Standard and Labelling programme.

EIL is undertaking various consultancy activities focused on oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The total energy consumption of the cracker units under PAT cycle-IV is around 2.8 MTOE and the estimated energy saving from this sector after three years would be 0.228 MTOE.

The pact with NABCB will provide Product Certification bodies such as Independent Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation (IAME) under Standard & Labelling programme to implement regulatory framework.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Committee of Creditors (CoC) of Binani Cement today voted in favour of UltraTech Cement's Rs 7,960-crore offer.

UltraTech Cement's bid received 100 per cent consent at the CoC meeting, sources close to the company said.

The meeting had to be pushed back several rounds due to legal hurdles.

The voting overrides the previous CoC decision of going with the Dalmia Bharat-led consortium as the successful bidder.

UltraTech now becomes the H1 bidder, replacing Rajputana Properties - the bidding company for the Dalmia Bharat-led consortium.

The Letter of Intent is unlikely to be issued immediately, as the CoC will submit its plan to the resolution professional (RP), who in turn will forward it to the NCLT Kolkata bench, CoC sources said.

The Tribunal had ordered the CoC to submit the final successful proposal, presenting an opportunity to revise the offers of both the bidders, latest by June 24.

Dalmia Bharat had said it will not revise its offer, which was lower by about Rs 1,100 crore.

The company, however, had said it will contest the decision in the Appellate Tribunal and may also move the Supreme Court, if Ultratech Cement's proposal was accepted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The opposition BJP's appeal to farmers and the public to "voluntarily observe a bandh" across Karnataka today to protest the alleged failure of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to keep up his farm loan waiver promise evoked a tepid response.

Normal life was not impacted as schools and colleges functioned normally, as also the public transport service.

No major farmer of pro-Kannada organisation supported the bandh call, citing a political motive behind it.

Bengaluru was exempted from the bandh due to polls today in Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency, which was countermanded over voter ID controversy and alleged electoral malpractices.

No major untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state, police said.

BJP workers and leaders held protest marches and demonstrations at various places in the state.

Party workers allegedly tried to force closure of shops and stop public transport at several places, including Belagavi, Koppal, Ballari and Chikkamagaluru, but police intervened and ensured normalcy.

In Chitradurga, a group of people claiming to be BJP workers, shouting slogans against Kumaraswamy, pelted stones at a government run Indira Canteen, damaging windows.

Police detained the protesters.

BJP's flip-flop regarding the bandh also caused confusion among party workers and public.

In a fierce attack on the coalition government headedby Kumaraswamy, BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa during the trust vote on Friday had termed it "unholy" and announced a state wide bandh today if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crorewere not waived immediately as promised.

However, on Saturday Yeddyurappa, who is also leader of the opposition in the assembly, said BJP had not called for a bandh, but was only supporting a call givenby farmers.

BJP state General Secretary N Ravi Kumar in a statement released yesterday had appealed to farmers and the public to observe a bandh "voluntarily" today.

On his part, Kumaraswamy, who had promised farm loan waiver immediately after coming to power, has sought time, as he was heading a coalition government with Congress and would have to consult them before taking any decision.

He has also said that he would have to analyse the financial condition of the state before taking the decision.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Private hospitals in the national capital "cannot hold hostage" bodies of patients, who have died during treatment there, even if families are unable to pay the due bills before the last rites, according to a draft advisory proposed by the Delhi government.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, however, said the proposal does not imply that the bills would be waived, and hospitals can take legal action in case the payments are not made later by the families.

"Body of any deceased patient cannot be forcibly withheld by a hospital and denied to the family for want of payment of due bills. There has to be dignity in death. A body cannot be held hostage just for bills. After death, a body belongs to the society, and final rites must be performed," he said at a press conference held here today.

The draft advisory has been prepared on the basis of recommendations of a nine-member expert panel, headed by Director-General of Health Services Kirti Bhushan, which was set up by the Arvind Kejriwal government on December 13 last year, after allegations of excessive charges and unfair employment practices by a few private facilities were reported.

"The draft has been put in public domain, inviting suggestions and objections for a period of 30 days. After that, we will implement the policy with revisions," Jain said.

The minister said that the draft also proposes that doctors at private hospitals and nursing homes should preferably only prescribe drugs from the NLEM (National List of Essential Medicines) list and patients should be consulted before administering drugs in the non-NLEM category.

The National List of Essential Medicines of India 2011 (NLEM 2011) is a list of medicines, prepared by the Ministry of Health, which are considered essential in India.

"The draft advisory would be implemented by amending the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act, and eventually, it would mean that a private hospital or a nursing home could lose its licence to operate in Delhi, in case it violates these norms," Jain said.

The members of the panel include the then Indian Medical Association president Dr K K Aggarwal, Delhi Medical Council president Dr Arun Gupta, former president of Delhi Medical Association Dr R K Gupta, and experts, and senior bureaucrats.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman from the United Kingdom (UK) was apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly using a fake ticket to enter the terminal area, a senior official said today.

F H Thomas was intercepted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel around 10:30 am yesterday as she was about to leave the Terminal-3 building of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, he said.

She was stopped and questioned as exiting the terminal area is not usually permitted for passengers, the official said.

The UK national told the security personnel that she used a "cancelled" ticket to enter the terminal area to see off her husband and children, who were travelling to London, he added.

The woman was subsequently handed over to the police as her ticket was a fake travel document and she was charged with alleged trespass, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI has arrested an alleged wildlife contraband dealer who was intercepted with over seven kilograms of tiger bones in his possession, officials said.

The CBI acted after receiving information that Mangal Lama from Nepal was allegedly indulging in illegal trafficking of wildlife material especially skins, bones, body parts, and their derivatives and was looking for customers for tiger bones, they said.

After verifying the information, a team under Vijay Kumar Singh, Inspector, the Economic Offences in the CBI, was constituted to take further action.

Further inputs were received that Lama will be going to Indian Oil Petrol Pump, Libaspur, New Delhi, near the service lane of NH-1 to sell body parts of tiger to an unidentified person.

The team swooped down at the location and laid a trap for Lama who arrived allegedly carrying the parts in a big trolly bag for its delivery.

It was observed that he started to move from the location, when the agency officials intercepted him. After due process on the spot, he was asked to open the bag in which some bones were found.

The CBI brought Lama to its headquarters following initial questioning where he was taken into custody by the agency.

He was questioned about the source of bones but he did not cooperate, the agency alleged in its FIR.

However, he admitted that the bones/body parts recovered from him are of tiger and his knowledge towards the fact that possession of the same is an offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. He further admitted that he was indulged in this illegal activity and doing this illegal act to earn illegal money for his personal gain, the agency alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, arrived here today on a three-day visit to the Eastern Naval Command.

Admiral Lanba was received by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Vice Admiral Karambir Singh at INS Dega, according to a navy release here.

The Chief of Naval Staff reviewed operational readiness at a review meeting attended by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command, Vice Admiral Bimal Kumar Verma,



FOC-in-C, ENC, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, and Director General Naval Operations, Vice Admiral Satish Ghormade, the release said.

The Chief of Naval Staff was accompanied by his wife Reena Lanba, President, Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China has invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to take part in the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in an apparent rebuff to US President Donald Trump's move to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal with threats to impose sanctions against Tehran.

Rouhani will pay a working visit to China during which he is also expected to attend the SCO summit being held in the Chinese city of Qingdao, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told media here.

The SCO summit is due to be held on June 9-10 in which Prime Minster Narendra Modi is due to take part.

Leaders of SCO member states and observer states, as well as chiefs of various international organizations will attend the summit, Wang said.

Rouhani's presence at the summit as well as his bilateral visit coincides with Trump withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal and issuing threats of unilateral US sanctions.

China, a large importer of the Iranian oil, has made it clear that it will not implement any unilateral sanctions other than UN sanctions.

Elaborating on China's stand, Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui said that the Iranian nuclear deal would continue to be implemented.

China was in touch with European Union as well as with Russia.

"We hope China and Iran avoid major disruption to the cooperation projects between the two sides," Zhang said.

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China at the invitation of Xi, he said.

The SCO in which China plays an influential role is comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan were admitted to the organisation last year.

Iran along with Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia is an observer in the SCO.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese officials will visit India soon to hold bilateral discussions on the issues hampering the negotiations of the proposed mega free trade deal -- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said.

The pact, negotiations for which started in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in November 2012, aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights.

"Chinese official delegation will be coming here for RCEP only. We have invited them for RCEP," Prabhu told PTI.

The RCEP bloc comprises 10 Asean members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners - India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The meeting with Chinese officials would be crucial as Indian industry and exporters are apprehensive about the presence of China in the grouping. They have stated that lowering or eliminating duties for China may flood Indian markets with Chinese goods.

India's trade deficit with China stood at USD 63.12 billion in 2017-18. India wants certain deviations for such countries. Under deviations, India may propose a longer duration for either reduction or elimination of import duties for such countries.

Pressure is also mounting on India for early conclusion of the proposed trade pact.

Prabhu said that during his recent visit to Cambodia, Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen expressed his keenness for early conclusion of RCEP talks.

"I explained to him that we have certain issues with China. So we are talking to them bilaterally about the RCEP issues as well as with Australia and New Zealand where "we have concerns about agriculture because we want to make sure that agri imports should not happen through RCEP so that our farmers should not get affected. We explained these two things," he added.

When asked about the apprehensions and concerns raised by experts and industry on the agreement, Prabhu said the ministry is collecting feedback from all ministries and other stakeholders for preparing their positions.

About mounting pressure for conclusion talks, he said it is a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and that means inclusion of services sector.

Member countries are looking to conclude the talks by end of this year but a lot of issues are yet to be finalised including the number of products over which duties will be eliminated. Domestic steel and other metal industries wants these sectors to be kept out of the deal.

Under services, India wants greater market access for its professionals in the proposed agreement.

India already has a free trade pact with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan and South Korea. It is also negotiating a similar agreement with Australia and New Zealand but has no such plans for China.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police in central China have come under fire on social media over their handling of a protest by teachers demanding unpaid performance bonuses, the latest in a series of reported demonstrations by educators.

The public security bureau in Lu'an, a small town in Anhui province, said it launched an investigation into allegations that officers beat some of the teachers during Sunday's demonstration.

Some 200 teachers had marched to the municipal government office with banners demanding arrears and better treatment, according to Hong Kong-based human rights blog The Activists' Network.

But a statement by the security bureau said only about 40 teachers had gathered outside the gate of the local government office.

"They refused to follow staff advice and seriously disrupted public order," the police said.

"A small number of offenders were removed from the scene", police said, adding that all those detained were later released.

The bureau has already conducted an investigation to "verify claims made online that police beat the teachers, and results will be announced in a timely manner", it said.

Photos and an unverified video being circulated on Chinese social media show police officers pulling and shoving individuals as they try to escape arrest and a woman is shown on a hospital stretcher, although no injuries are visible.

The incident triggered an outpouring of sympathy online with hundreds of comments saying police officers had been rough with the teachers.

Authorities swiftly break up protests in China, where officials are wary of large gatherings getting out of their control.

"This style of trying to tackle people voicing issues instead of solving problems is spreading all over the country," one commenter wrote.

"How will these teachers talk about the socialist core values



that include freedom and fairness with students after this? Or is it all a joke?" another said.

The handling of the protest has touched a raw nerve with the Chinese public, because low pay has made it difficult for rural and small-town schools to attract and retain teachers.

Reports and comments on the incident have been quickly taken down from Chinese social media sites, making it difficult to gather details about the protest, said Geoffrey Crothall, communications director for the China Labour Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based non-profit that supports worker movements in China.

Poor pay, unpaid performance bonuses and lack of pensions were major grievances affecting teachers in the country, Crothall said.

A strike map compiled by the organisation showed that there were nearly 30 protests by teachers - mostly in small towns and rural areas - across China this year. "There has been an uptick in activism by teachers in recent months, but these tend to happen in waves," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chiranjeev Prasad, a 1996-batch IPS officer, was today appointed as Commissioner of Police of Aurangabad, a Maharashtra Home Department notification said.

The city was without a full-time police chief since March 15 this year when the then Police Commissioner Yashaswi Yadav was sent on compulsory leave in the wake of law and order problems over a garbage dumping issue.

Prasad was the Inspector General of Nanded Range before today's appointment.

Aurangabad Range Inspector General of Police, Millind Bharambe, a 1997 batch IPS officer, was holding charge in the absence of a full-time commissioner.

During this period, the city, among the important urban centres in central Maharashtra, was rocked by riots between two communities on May 11, allegedly over illegal water connections.

Two persons were killed and over fifty, including a dozen policemen, were injured.

Scores of shops and vehicles were torched by rioting mobs.

On March 15, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced in the state Legislative Assembly that Yadav would be sent on leave with immediate effect.

Yadav's suspension was demanded by legislators cutting across party lines due to the alleged mishandling of the violence that occurred there on May 7 over dumping of municipal garbage.

Scores of people, including eight police personnel, were injured in stone-pelting as locals opposed dumping of garbage at Padegaon-Mitmita village on the outskirts of Aurangabad on March 7.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A city school will approach the CISCE to know the shortcomings of students after receiving complaints of below expectation scores in their English paper, a top official of the Association of Heads of ICSE Schools said today.

Names of six students of Central Modern School, Baranagar, will be forwarded to the Council For Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts the ICSE Board examinations, for the purpose, Association of Heads of ICSE Schools general secretary Nabarun Dey told PTI today.

The students will be randomly chosen from among the students who complained about their low scores and the CISCE expert panel will re-evaluate their written English answer scripts, Dey, who is also school's principal, said.

The number of schools who would opt for this and their names would be known at the association's AGM on June 5-6.

"This move to send answer sheets for re-evaluation is not aimed at securing higher revised marks in English for our students. We just want to know where the students fared below the expected level, what could be the more appropriate and ideal answer. On getting the feedback, it will be passed on to the students for their improvement in the subject and will use the recommendations for preparing the next batch of students," he said.

A spokesman of another city school said, "Some of our best performers in ICSE have scores in the 90s in English, which has brought down their aggregate."



Authorities of another south Kolkata school said only 18 students have got scores of 90 or above in English in the examination.

A North 24 Parganas school principal said "Many of our students got below 80 per cent marks in the subject despite scoring over 85-90 per cent in other papers which has affected their result.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coast Guards of India and Pakistan today held talks, addressing issues pertaining to boundary violations by fishermen from both sides and enhancing cooperation in the area of maritime search and rescue, and combating pollution at sea.

"A lot of focus of the meeting was on (violation of maritime boundary by) fishermen," Indian Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh said.

"Focus of the talks was also on cooperation in the area of search and rescue operations and cooperation in the field of (maritime) pollution," he added.

The four-member delegation of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is being led by its Director General Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman.

Rehman was accompanied by Director Operations of the PMSA, an official each from Pakistan's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Two members -- a defence attache and a political secretary -- at the Pakistan High Commission here also participated in the talks.

The high-level meeting was conducted under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies in 2005.

A meeting between the two maritime security agencies was scheduled for October last year, but it was called off amid tension between India and Pakistan following the Kulbhushan Jadhav episode.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national and former navy officer, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on the charges of alleged spying. India has denied the charges and approached the International Court of Justice against the sentence.

"This annual meeting is a significant link between the two maritime agencies for addressing issues pertaining to maritime boundary violations by fishermen and enhancing cooperation in the domain of maritime search and rescue and marine pollution.

"The two service heads from Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan MSA also have a hotline link between them for regular exchange of information on non-military maritime issues as per the MoU between the two governments," a statement by the Indian Coast Guard said.

The Pakistani delegation will be in India till May 30.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister H D today said he is committed to waive farm loans or else he will retire from politics, and asked people not to fall prey to the "BJP's conspiracy".

The JD-S leader, who was sworn-in Chief Minister last week after the extended unconditional support to his party, said he is ready with the guidelines on farm loan waiver, details of which will be disclosed on Wednesday.

was talking to reporters here today after meeting Prime Minister

"I have clearly said that I will waive farm loans. I had promised during election that I will do it in 24 hours. That is true. At least you should give time to breathe. Today, I have limitations.

"If I don't do it, have clearly said that I will retire from politics and I will resign as chief minister. Why cannot you wait for some time?," told reporters.

He said he has heard statements by BJP leaders including BS Yeddyurappa on the issue of farm loan waiver. "I am not sitting quiet. I am not Yeddyurappa to sit quiet."



"The guidelines to waive farm loans have been kept ready. They will be shared before the public on Wednesday in Bengaluru," he told reporters.

The chief minister accused the BJP of conspiring against him and urged the people not to fall prey to it. The JD-S leader said his government is for the people and he will serve the people till the time he is the chief minister.

"Don't panic and get confused (by BJP statements). Not only on farm loan issue, I will work on other matters related to people. There will be a difference when I work as CM," he claimed.

Before his meeting with the prime minister, Kumaraswamy also met top leaders in the capital to work out power-sharing arrangement with the ally.

(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.)
The Congress and the JD-S are likely to seal the deal over portfolio allocation in Karnataka within a day or two, a senior Congress leader said today after the two coalition partners held deliberations over the issue.

Top leaders of the two parties including Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara met here at the residence of Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel and AICC incharge of party affairs in Karnataka K C Venugopal were also present during the meeting.

"We held discussions with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and other leaders of our ally in Karnataka. We are likely to finalise the portfolio-sharing issue within a day or two. We will be meeting again this evening and hold further discussions," senior party leader Venugopal told PTI.

After the meeting, Kumaraswamy exuded confidence that an amicable power sharing arrangement will be worked out.

JD-S leader Danish Ali, who was also part of the discussions, said that the talks were "constructive" and would yield a positive outcome.

The two partners in Karnataka are involved in hectic bargaining over portfolio sharing ever since they got together to form a government in the southern state.

Kumaraswamy has admitted earlier to having "some issues" with the Congress over allocation of portfolios in the new government.

Sources said the two partners want key portfolios of Finance and Home, besides other departments like Public Works Department (PWD), Power, Mining, Water Resources, Irrigation and Urban Development.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the constant rise in fuel prices, a local Congress leader along with some locals today took out a 'Shav Yatra' or funeral procession of a motorcycle on a hand pulled cart here.

Decorated with flowers, the cart with motorcycle was pulled by Congress leader Suresh Mishra and some others.

They took out the symbolic procession for nearly one and a half km area in Bhankrota area. Fuel prices have put extra burden on people and have disturbed their budget. But the government is taking no measures to control the prices, Mishra said.

He said there is outcry and resentment among the public and the government should immediately take steps to provide relief.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid talk of parties opposed to



the BJP coming together, senior Congress leader S Jaipal Reddy said contradictions in such a broad front are minor in nature, compared to the times of the National Front, United Front and UPA governments.

The former Union Minister said last week's swearing in of H D Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka chief minister, heading the JDS-Congress government, marked the beginning of coming together of parties opposed to the BJP and it indicates the "shape of things to come."



"In the pre-poll scenario (before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections), most of the people (opposition parties) will come together. Such people who can't come together before the polls, they will come together after the polls," Reddy told PTI here.

He termed the contradictions in such anti-BJP front as "very minor."



"I have dealt with United Front, UPA, then I dealt with National Front... I have experience. I have been spokesperson for three fronts, I can say contradictions of a new front that will be formed are very minor comparatively," Reddy said.

Asked whether the proposed front has to be led by the Congress, he said, "Congress is the single biggest party. Why bother about it (on who should lead it) now?"



He said the Congress is ready to play the role of junior partner in States where it's no strong.

"Why not? why not? In Uttar Pradesh, we play second fiddle to SP and BSP and also in Bihar. Elsewhere (where the Congress is strong), other parties will play (the role of) junior partners," Reddy observed.

Reddy agreed that in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress and the Left, and in Kerala the Left and the Congress cannot be seen together before the polls.

"Therefore, for such major contradictions...(one should go for) post-poll alignment," he said.

"Wherever the contradictions are of a major kind, one must go for post-poll arrangement," he said, pointing to Congress party's swift decision to back the JD(S) in Karnataka even when the results were flowing in.

On whether the Congress should project its President Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate, Reddy said, "Where is the question of projection? He is the president of our party. Let there be a front, we shall then see.As far as the Congress party is concerned, Rahul Gandhi is the only leader."



Last week's swearing-in of Kumaraswamy undoubtedly reminded him of the days of United Front and UPA, he said.

"I have handled many of these things (coalitions). I am absolutely confident that it (anti-BJP front) will be too strong for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi to be able to stop or resist or fight," he said.

On critics pointing to several prime ministerial aspirants among parties in the proposed anti-BJP front, Reddy said, "It's bound to be. It's a democracy. Without some kind of struggle, there cannot be democratic process."



"Is there any country in the world where there is no power struggle based on ideological issues, personal ambitions?" he asked.

The show of strength by a galaxy of national leaders and regional satraps at the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumarasamy as Karnataka Chief Miniser on May 23, is being seen as a strong signal to the BJP on the possibility of formation of a broad-based front to take on the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leaders of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) today requested the President to convene a special session of the Parliament immediately to discuss the ongoing agrarian crisis in the country.

A 17-member delegation met the president and submitted a memorandum urging him to address the immediate crisis of farm debts and guaranteed remunerative minimum support prices of farm products.

"A special session of Parliament is the only way out to discuss the agrarian crisis in the present scenario where even a 'no confidence motion' is not allowed to be taken up due to disorder in the House. While the country can have a midnight special session for GST, don't the farmers of the country who have been sacrificing their lives to ensure food security of the country, deserve this special session to save their lives?" the memorandum says.

Stating that their two demands are closely connected, the AIKSCC delegation also said that they wanted these demands to be secured as legal rights for farmers.

"If the issue of remunerative prices alone is tackled without providing relief from indebtedness, the increased returns would only go to pay back increasing loans. On the other hand, if only loan wavers are provided without addressing the issue of remunerative prices, farmers would again be pushed back into the debt trap," AIKSCC leader Hannan Mollah said.

The delegation also added that their demand for special session was not "unprecedented".

"While we are seeking a special session in the light of suicide by 3.5 lakh farmers in the country, there is a precedent where the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee convened a special session in December 2003 to discuss the sugarcane crisis in the country in the light of the death of three sugarcane farmers of Manderva in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh," said another AIKSCC leader, Atul Anjan.

The leaders claimed that the President has assured them to look into the matter on priority basis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A sub-inspector was shot at and injured by three bike-borne assailants in Barahauli area which comes under the jurisdiction of Alinagar police station, police said today.

Santosh Kumar (45) was fired upon by the three bike-borne assailants while he was on duty last night, leaving him injured, Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Singh said.

The assailants fled from the spot, leaving their bikes behind, the SP said, adding that the two of them were later caught from a nearby farm with the help of locals.

The injured policeman was referred to the BHU Trauma Centre, where his condition is stated to be stable.

A case was registered against the assailants, Singh added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Opposition CPI(M) today said it would support the ruling BJP-IPFT government if it makes efforts to save jobs of 10,323 school teachers in Tripura, who are now serving on ad hoc basis.

CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar, at a press conference, said, the party opposes the BJP ideologically, but would support them on the issue of saving jobs of the teachers, who served for years.

He said the BJP should fulfil its pre-poll promise and bring an ordinance to save jobs of 10,323 teachers.

"They (BJP) earlier announced that an ordinance would be brought to save the jobs. Let them bring ordinance in state Assembly or in Parliament.

"Place bills in the House or do anything which would help to save jobs of 10,323 teachers lawfully following the Supreme Court directive. We shall support them," Dhar told reporters.

The terminated 10,323 teachers include undergraduate, graduate and post graduate teachers who were recruited in several phases since 2010.

A verdict of the Supreme Court of India passed in March, 2017 said the recruitment rules followed for appointment of the teachers was faulty.

It had also said that their jobs would be terminated after December 31, 2017.

The erstwhile Left Front government decided to recruit them on ad hoc basis for six months from January 1 and the apex court allowed them. Their service tenure is slated to end on June 30.

Dhar also criticised Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for comparing his government's achievements with those of the erstwhile Left Front government.

"The chief minister has claimed to turn Tripura into a model state in the next 3 years. It will need him 2 years to inaugurate all the projects which were started by the Left Front government," he said.

The CPI(M) leader also alleged that over 4,250 people were attacked in post-poll violence in Tripura.

"FIRs were filed but not a single accused was arrested. Two party workers were killed but the real culprits were not arrested," he claimed.

Dhar also criticised the chief minister's move to provide Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the family of a youth who was killed in police custody in Kerala.

Last week, Deb had visited Chengannur in Alappuzha district in Kerala to join the campaign for a bypoll and announced the compensation.

Dhar alleged the chief minister has violated election code of conduct by granting the compensation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The death toll from that hit and over the weekend rose to at least 13 today, authorities said, as relief workers and aid arrived to hard-hit areas in the two Arabian Peninsula countries.

Flooding and damage remains considerable after the cyclone, the strongest-ever recorded to hit southern and the sultanate's third-largest city of Salalah.

The cyclone's remaining hazards are just as deadly days after its landfall early Saturday on the coast of

The Royal Oman Police announced today the death of two additional Omanis who lost control of their car in flood waters in Salalah.

Those deaths come after Oman's National Committee for Civil Defense earlier announced that four people had been killed. The dead include a 12-year-old girl killed when the storm's strong winds flung open a metal door that struck her in the head.

While Salalah Airport already has reopened, there's still much damage that needs to be repaired in Oman, from downed power lines to whole roadways swallowed by raging flash floods. Water supplies also have been affected.

Before hitting Oman, Mekunu struck Yemen's Socotra in the Arabian Sea, causing massive damage to the island that UNESCO has recognized as a world natural heritage site. The storm killed at least seven people there while eight remain missing, according to the

Over 500 families were displaced by the storm, which sent flash floods through streets and homes on the island. Saudi Arabia, the and all have sent relief material to the island, as has the UN.

packed maximum sustained winds of 170-180 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 200 kph. Omani forecasters said Salalah and the surrounding area would get at least 200 millimetres of rain, over twice the city's annual downfall. It actually received 278.2 mm, nearly three times its annual rainfall.
The committee of creditors (CoC) for bankrupt Moser Baer Solar has extended the deadline by a month to June 26 for inviting bids for assets of the solar cells manufacturer, according to resolution professional Arvind Garg.

The deadline to submit bids for the company, which owes around Rs 2,244 crore to its lenders, was May 26 earlier.

"The deadline has now been extended to June 26," Garg told PTI.

"Since we have time in hand, and they (CoC) also thought that we could wait and give chance to others as well, we decided to extend the deadline by a month. We hope to get more response in this second call," he added.

As per the conditions laid in the EoI (expression of interest), companies with a net worth of over Rs 80 crore and a turnover of over Rs 200 crore can bid for the company.

It may be noted that the company's parent firm, Moser Baer India, which owes more than Rs 3,700 crore to its lenders, is also undergoing insolvency procedure.

"In such situations where the parent company is also facing insolvency procedure, there are chances that the response received for the subsidiary (Moser Baer Solar) could be subdued," an industry expert said on condition of anonymity.

Moser Baer Solar was dragged to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) by state-run Central Bank of India last November on over Rs 114-crore loan default.

The resolution process needs to be completed within 180 days from the date of admission of application in NCLT, with an option to extend it by 90 days, as per the IBC.

Moser Baer Solar, which was set up in 2005-07, has crystalline cells capacity of 185 MW, the crystalline modules capacity of 200 MW and thin film modules capacity of 50 MW.

Its financial stress increased following rising imports from China. The company had sought restructuring of Rs 956 crore of debt in 2012-13, but the recast had failed in October 2016.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US National Defense Authorisation Act provides "flexibility" for countries like India who are dependent on Russia for their military purchases, but were likely hit by a 2017 US law to punish entities engaging in transactions with some sectors of Russia, North Korea and Iran, Congressman Mac Thornberry said today.

Thornberry is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Pentagon's all military services and all Department of Defense agencies including their budgets and policies.

The Congressman, who is part of a delegation visiting India, red-flagged the Indo-Russia S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems deal, stating there was "concern" in the US, both in the administration and in the Congress, that it would "complicate our ability to work on inter-operability".

Recognising that the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CATSA), that was signed in August last year, "does not have much flexibility", he said the National Defense Authorisation Bill 2019, which was passed in the House last week, adds more flexibility.

"So, there is an understanding in the administration and the Congress that some additional flexibility in that law is needed. And it's not just India that's in that situation, there other nations in that," Thornberry told reporters.

Besides Thornberry, Congresswomen Vicky Hartzler and Carol Shea-Porter and Congressman Harry Ceuller are also part of the delegation.

The CATSA mandates the US administration to punish entities engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence sectors of Russia, North Korea and Iran.

This also impacts India, which depends on Russia for its military supplies.

Thornberry added that the new bill allows the US Secretary of Defence some discretion to allow any concession if a country is willing to reduce its dependence on Russian equipment.

"Now, some of the (Indian) government officials with whom we have met, believe that the language (of the Bill) could be improved. And so, I am certainly willing and anxious to hear suggestions not only from Indian governments but also other governments who may be affected on this by improving the language," the Congressman added.

He noted that one of the provisions of National Defense Authorisation Act 2019 is to rename the US-Pacific Command to be renamed as Indo-Pacific Command.

India has recently concluded price negotiations with Russia for a nearly Rs 40,000-crore deal to procure S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for the Indian Air Force. The two countries are now trying to find a way out to evade the provisions of CATSA in regards to the deal.

"If there is concern that any country...it's not just India that is looking at acquiring it or any country that requires that system, it will complicate our ability to work on inter-operability together. So, that completely separate and apart from any sanctions, legislations. I hope that the (Indian) government will take its time and consider very carefully in acquiring that system (S-400) because of the difficulties it may present," he added.

Referring to muscling in of China in the Indo-Pacific, he said the islands Beijing is building in the disputed South China Sea were initially said to be meant only to help rescue stranded fishermen and that they would never put military capability.

"There is concern about using debt to acquire bases and other sorts of things in variety of countries and then turning around and militarising them which shows a newly aggressive posturing by China," Thornberry said.

He added that in Djibouti, China was to initially have a commercial port but it brought military capability there.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dehradun will be the venue for this year's national programme on the International Yoga Day on June 21 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending it.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh was informed about it through a letter by Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha.

Dehradun will be the venue for this year's national programme on the International Yoga Day, an official release here said.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here yesterday that the prime minister will attend the International Yoga Day celebrations here on June 21.

"The prime minister has special feelings for Uttarakhand and he is coming to Dehradun on the International Yoga Day," Rawat had said, adding that the venue for the programme would be close to the Forest Research Institute.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In its efforts to solve a kidnapping case of a five-year-old boy who was brazenly abducted from a school bus in Shahdara, the Delhi Police has solved the abduction-cum-killing case of the son of an ASI.

On February 5, police had arrested one Nitin Sharma (28) for allegedly kidnapping a child and then holding him captive, along with his accomplices.

The boy was rescued after an encounter between police and the kidnappers on February 6 at Shalimar City, Sahibabad (Ghaziabad). One of the alleged kidnappers, identified as Ravi (25), was killed in the encounter.

Kamleshwar Tiwari, who is working as an assistant sub-inspector in the Delhi Police, informed police that his son Rahul (23) was abducted on June 4, 2014 by unidentified persons.

The investigation of the case was transferred to the Crime Branch on July 18, 2016 from Gokulpuri after efforts to find Tiwrai did not yield result, police said.

Following the encounter with the child's kidnappers, police searched the flat at Ebony Tower, Shalimar City, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, where the boy was held captive. As many as 24 mobile phones were recovered.

A PAN card of one Rahul Tiwari was also recovered from the flat.

Later, when the team was doing a technical analysis of the recovered cell phones, it was found that two of the cell phones belonged to Tiwari, said G Ramgopal Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime).

Police spoke to one Ranjit Deswal, who was a good friend of Tiwari and was the last person to see him alive. He identified Sharma from a photograph and told police that he had seen him with Tiwari in a white car.

Deswal told police that Tiwari had come to meet him to take some money and ATM card and had told him that he was going to Jaipur for a party with his friends, said the DCP.

The team interrogated Sharma and after thorough interrogation, arrested him in the abduction case after obtaining production from the concerned court and eight days' police custody.

During police custody, the accused, Sharma, confessed to killing Tiwari, who was his friend. Sharma was taken to Gurgaon, Haryana, where he pointed out an isolated place near Ghata Village. He had killed Tiwari, along with his associates, and tried to burn the body.

It was found that a murder case was registered at Sector 56, Gurgaon on June 5, 2014 after the body was found and the deceased was not identified.

During interrogation, Sharma disclosed that Rahul had an intimate relationship with one of his cousins and their family did not approve of their relationship.

On June 4, Sharma, along with his friend Ravi (who was killed during the encounter), lured Tiwari to go to Jaipur with them.

They took Rahul to meet his friend Deswal in Noida and later took him to an isolated area in Gurgaon, where they killed him by shooting him on his cheek and in the chest, said the DCP.

Police are probing the involvement of others in the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Applauding the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) for playing a major role in supporting the drug regulatory system of the country, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today asked scientists here to develop drugs to cure diabetes and prevent diseases like malaria, chikungunya and dengue.

"Pay more attention on diabetes and other diseases such as malaria, chikungunya and dengue so that a large number of people get benefited from your (IIIM) research," he said.

The vice president said he was glad to know that the institute has started a Technology Business Incubator with the objective of creating jobs for the youngsters of the state.

"I am happy to note that a number of startups within the IIIM campus are currently incubating under this initiative, which is being supported by the department of science & technology", Naidu said.

He said it was heartening to know that institute has a very robust drug pipeline in the areas of Oncology, Arthritis, Tuberculosis, Alzheimer's and Peptic ulcer.

Naidu said as we all know, science has played a major role in the growth of our great nation and the remarkable achievements in the areas of affordable medicine, food security, milk production, space, atomic energy and information technology, among others, are a testimony to this fact.

"India is among the leading nations in space and IT. It is pertinent to mention here that the founder of this institute, Sir Ram Nath Chopra, played a major role in the formulation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules of Independent India", he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Clarifying his remarks that he was at the "mercy" of the Congress and not the people, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said he did not mean to show disrespect to the people but stress the fact that his continuance in the post depended on the coalition partner.

Kumaraswamy, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top Congress leaders in the national capital, said he was committed to waive farm loans or else he would retire from

He urged the people not to fall prey to "BJP's conspiracy".

The JD(S) leader, who was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister last week after the Congress extended support to his party, said he was ready with the guidelines on farm loan waiver, details of which would be disclosed on Wednesday.

"I am the chief minister who has the responsibility to six-and-half crore people of the state. My remark that I am at the mercy of the Congress party meant that I am Chief Minister as long as their support is with me, and to run any programmes I will need their support is what I said," he said, while seeking to clarify his remarks which evoked sharp criticism from the BJP.

"In a coalition government, I never said it won't be possible to waive farm loan. What I had said was that in a coalition government, whatever decisions have to be taken would be in consultation and with permission from coalition partner Congress.

"Why are you (media) spreading that Kumaraswamy took a U-turn or right turn, I don't understand...Don't twist my statements and confuse people," he said on the BJP's criticism.

Slamming his opponents for giving a twist to his remarks, Kumaraswamy said that in the run-up to the assembly polls, he had asked the people to give him a clear mandate so that he could work independently under the obligation of people. "My appeal was rejected by the people of the state," he told reporters here.

Karnataka BJP leaders flayed Kumaraswamy's remark, saying he was "deriding his own people" and doubted his credentials to serve them.

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda took to Twitter asking Kumaraswamy if he would compromise the interests of Kannadigas just to retain power. The BJP in Karnataka tweeted, "One can only imagine the kind of loot he will preside to impress his Congress bosses."



BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya termed the chief minster's remarks as "the most brazen admission ever" and expressed apprehensions that Karnataka "will bleed" under the present state government "while JDS-Congress fill up their coffers".

Assuring people on the issue of farm loan waiver, he said, "I have clearly said that I will waive farm loan. I had promised during election that I would do it within 24 hours (of assuming office). That is true. At least you should give time to breathe. Today, I have limitations."



"If I don't do it, (I) have clearly said that I will retire from and I will resign as chief minister. Why cannot you wait for some time?" Kumaraswamy told reporters after meeting the prime minister.

He said he heard statements by BJP leaders including B S Yeddyurappa on the issue of farm loan waiver and was not like the BJP leader who is sitting quiet.

"The guidelines to waive farm loans have been kept ready. It will be made public on Wednesday in Bengaluru," he told reporters.

The Karnataka Chief Minister accused the BJP of conspiring and urged people not to fall prey to it. He said his government was for the people and he would serve the people till the time he was the chief minister.

"Don't panic and get confused (by BJP statements). Not only on farm loan issue, I will work on other matters related to people. There will be a difference when I work as CM," he claimed.

Before his meeting with the prime minister, Kumaraswamy also met top Congress leaders in the national capital to work out power-sharing arrangement with the Congress.

"BJP is trying to convince people that we are not going to waive farm loan. Four farmers have committed suicide. Who will take responsibility of their family? Will Yeddyurappa take the responsibility?" he asked.

On the ongoing discussions with Congress leaders over portfolio allocation in Delhi, he said, "Without having any confusion, we are taking care that nothing hampers the stability of this government. On the issue of cabinet expansion and portfolio allocation, we are taking every one into confidence."



To a query on who would get the finance portfolio, the Chief Minister said, "We have had discussions on that as well."



He said "...their party national president (Rahul Gandhi) is not in town, we have decided to take final decision after bringing to his notice about the discussions that have taken place today."



Asked if the cabinet expansion would be delayed, he said even when there is a single party government, there would be several issues regarding cabinet expansion and portfolios.

"This is a coalition government, in such a government at the initial stage itself we will have to show generosity to give and take...discussions have taken place in this regard, there is no confusion, and everything will be fine."



"Both sides have to show generosity," he said in response to a question, while adding that there are no issues and government would function smoothly for the next five years.

"We are working towards creating a platform of mutual trust for the smooth functioning of this government that includes coordination committee and common minimum programme," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reacted angrily today after French President Emmanuel Macron met the head of the African Union (AU), apparently suspecting closed-door dealings on the crisis-riddled country's future.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende blasted Macron for "dog-whistle remarks" that he made last Wednesday in Paris after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also the AU's current chair.

The comments caused "discomfort, not to say anger" in Kinshasa, Mende told a press conference.

Macron had said, "France supports the initiative taken by the president of the African Union, in strict concertation with the president of Angola," but did not elaborate. Angola President Joao Lourenco was visiting Paris on Monday.

The verbal broadside from the DRC comes in a context of mounting tensions ahead of presidential elections scheduled for December 23.

Countries in central Africa are casting a worried eye, amid fears that the sprawling, volatile state could spiral once more into war, possibly drawing them into it.

DRC President Joseph Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001 and should have stepped down at the end of 2016 after he reached his two-term constitutional limit -- a constitutional clause has allowed him to remain in office until his successor is elected.

Kabila's presidency has been stained by a reputation for corruption, oppression of free speech and poor governance. The DRC's armed forces are struggling to repress conflict in the vast, lawless east, which is under the sway of multiple rebel groups.

Mende said, "We do not accuse the French president of anything. The question is about knowing what may have been said between him -- because he spoke about it -- and the president of Rwanda concerning the DRC without us knowing about." "When the answer comes, if it is unsatisfactory, you can be sure that we will draw all the consequences," Mende said.

"No-one has the right to envisage solutions to our problems without us," he said, condemning "people who are nostalgic for the colonial order" and "closed-door meetings and open plotting against our country's sovereignty."



The representatives of France, Rwanda and Angola were called to the foreign ministry in Kinshasa on Saturday after Macron's remarks.

Previous conflicts in the DRC -- from 1996-97 and from 1998-2003 -- sucked in countries around central Africa, including its neighbours, Angola and Rwanda.

Mende on Monday did not address speculation about whether Kabila would run again in the elections, which are at the legislative and local level as well as presidential.

But he made it clear Kabila planned to remain a key figure in national through his role as party chief.

Kabila "is head of the presidential majority," Mende said, referring to the majority of pro-Kabila MPs in parliament.

"When we hold the elections, he will be the head of the presidential majority. And since we intend to win, Kabila will be the head of the presidential majority after the elections," he said. "There's nothing unconstitutional about this.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 'Open Days' session being organised by the Delhi University to address queries on various courses, colleges and admission process will be concluding tomorrow.

The 'Open Days' session had commenced on May 21 and 800-900 visitors participated in the sessions everyday, said an official from the university.

The university has been holding the sessions at THE Conference Centre near gate number 4 in North Campus in two shifts - 10 am to 11.30 am and 12 noon to 1.30 pm.

The session will be concluding tomorrow.

Today, the 'Open Days' session saw 1,100 visitors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistani defence experts believe that there could be greater scrutiny on the role of the powerful Pakistan Army after the revelations by former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani in a controversial book co-authored by him opened a "Pandora's Box", pressing it to keep its own house in order.

According to the Express Tribune newspaper, the defence experts also said the new book has benefitted the beleaguered former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif to a great extent as he has been facing severe criticism for his comment on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in a newspaper interview.

Brigadier (retd) Said Nazir Mohmand told the paper that the ousted premier Sharif seems to be the beneficiary as the former ISI chief has directly talked about the issues, considered sensitive.

"Indian spy agency RAW and ISI have been fighting against each other since long and now ISI's former boss talks about some controversial matters. Now the criticism will be diverted to Pakistan Army, pressing it to keep its own house in order," Nazir said.

The powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history since independence in 1947, is considered a major player in the country's

The release of the book has sparked accusations of treachery against the former spy chief after his candid views on various matters of regional and global concern came under intense public scrutiny, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Nazir said Durrani unveiled some top events in Pakistan which were highly classified.

"The former RAW chief (Amarjit Singh Dulat) has been very guarded while Durrani has been extrovert as such topics have opened a Pandora's Box," Nazir commented.

The Pakistan Army which summoned Durrani to the General Headquarters today to demand an explanation from him on the views attributed to him in his book, has instituted a Court of Inquiry and banned him from leaving the country.

In the book, Durrani has revealed that track-II diplomacy was in place since long aimed at averting war between the two nuclear-armed neigbours.

The basic idea of this book is to discuss steps which could help avert surgical strikes on behalf of India if untoward incidents like Mumbai attacks happen again, Nazir added.

Another defence analyst Khalid Muhammad told the Express Tribune that looking at former ISI Director General's collaborative book with the former RAW chief Dulat "it is hard not to consider the timing and the content."



"While the book is formulated as a discussion between two former intelligence chiefs, we have to understand with the current climate against Pakistan, this book is a landmine."



"With the elections on horizon, Durrani's statements paint a very negative image of the Pakistan Army and the ISI in relation to events that happened in the past and continue to affect Pakistan's domestic and regional policy," he said.

According to him who is also the writer of a spy novel, Agency Rules, it should also be taken into consideration that he [Durrani] did not leave Pakistan Army under stellar conditions. He was deposed as DG-ISI and forced to retire early.

"Whether his statements are taken seriously, or from the point of view of someone who was in the most powerful seat in Pakistan, the statements made in the discussion presented in the book are going to be difficult for any Pakistani to absorb or accept," he said.

While responding to a question he said India would be the actual beneficiary after publishing of the book.

Sharif will be benefited indirectly because attention has been diverted to the Pakistan Army rather than keeping it firmly focused on him, he said.

Muhammad said the book will add more weight to Sharif's argument of an "over-active" army in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Army summoning the former ISI chief and action taken against him comes after Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani voiced their reservations over the book.

Sharif last week demanded that an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee be summoned over the book, while Rabbani, who formerly served as the Chairman of the Senate, also severely criticised the teaming up of former chiefs of Pakistan and India's spy agencies to write the book.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ruia-family owned Essar Power has signed an initial agreement with Russia's INTER RAO-Export LLC to collaboration in the power sector in India, the Indian firm said today.

The memorandum of understanding and strategic cooperation was signed in St Petersburg, Russia last week, Essar said in a statement.

Maxim E. Sergeev, Director General of INTER RAO Export LLC, and Ravi Ruia, co-founder, ESSAR, signed the agreement on the sidelines at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2018.

"The objective of the document is to integrate the capacities of both companies for operations in the power market of India," the statement said.

The two firms would look at joint investment in the existing coal based power assets including associated coal mines as well as investing in brown field expansion of a thermal power plant.

INTER RAO-Export LLC is a specialised subsidiary of PJSC Inter RAO created for the purpose of searching and managing the implementation of foreign projects. It's main objective is to development expansion projects overseas.

The company's portfolio includes projects worth more than USD 2 billion. It is currently developing business in a number of Latin American countries and is actively working to enter new markets in other regions of the world.

Essar Global Fund Ltd (EGFL), the holding company of Essar Power, operates as an investment fund. The company invests in energy, power generation and exploration, and metals and mining sectors. EGFL conducts business worldwide.

The statement said EGFL invests long-term capital into the portfolio companies and holds near 100 per cent stake in all its investments. The portfolio companies have aggregate revenues of about USD 15 billion and employ over 8,000 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Voting in the Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha bypolls in Maharashtra was today marred by reported malfunctioning of EVMs in some booths.

Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader and former MP Prakash Ambedkar said around 450 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioned.

Besides, around 15,000 voters from Mali Ali, Mavanda, Navale and Nandanvan villages in Palghar's Vasai tehsil boycotted polling, citing lack of developmental works in their area.

Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Hitendra Thakur claimed that "the entire election commission machinery is working on behalf of the BJP in Palghar."



There were phone calls from the office of a local BJP functionary in Palghar to housing societies about making arrangements for snacks and refreshments for member-voters, Thakur said.

Earlier, voting began at 7 am and there was no untoward incident at any polling booth so far, police said.

Voting will conclude at 4 pm and the counting of votes will take place on May 31.

Around 14 per cent polling was reported for the Bhandara-Gondia



seat till 11 am. In Palghar, around seven per cent electorate cast their votes till 9 am.

In Palghar, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga. The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena has fielded the late MP's son, Srinivas Wanaga, in a bid to garner the sympathy vote.

The BJP has put up former Congress minister Rajendra Gavit and the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi is also in the fray with the nomination of its ex-MP Baliram Jadhav.

Kiran Raja Gahla of the CPI-M, which has a base in Talasari and Dahanu areas, and former MP Damu Shingada (Congress) are also contesting in a multi-cornered fight from the Palghar seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST).

The Sena had earlier accused the BJP of distributing cash to voters.

During a rally, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray played an audio clip wherein Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis purportedly exhorted the party cadre to win the elections "by all means possible."



Fadnavis had said the audio recording was doctored.

An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' today said its nominee will win the Palghar seat, despite the BJP roping in UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the poll campaign.

"Lord Ram will emerge from the ballot box, wielding bow and arrow (Sena's symbol) and win this seat," it said.

The constituency includes extended suburbs of Mumbai like Vasai, Virar, Nalasopara and Palghar in the newly-created Palghar district.

In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP and the NCP have locked horns in the bypoll, being held after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole.

Patole, a leader of the powerful OBC Kunbi community, had switched side from the Congress to the BJP and was elected as an MP from the constituency, located in the Vidarbha region, in 2014 by defeating former Union minister and NCP heavyweight Praful Patel.

The NCP, which has allied with the Congress, has fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde, against BJP's Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former UP chief ministers and his son today moved the seeking "appropriate time" for vacating their official residences allotted by the government.

The top court had on May 7 held that former chief ministers of cannot retain government accommodation after demitting office and said that a chief minister was at par with a common man once his or her term ends.

The two former Chief Ministers had earlier moved the UP government's estate department seeking two years' time to vacate their official residences and shifting to their private accommodations in

In their pleas filed through advocate Garima Bajaj, they have sought appropriate time to vacate their official bungalows on various grounds.

While the plea filed by sought sufficient time from the apex court to make arrangements for alternate accommodation, the one by his son Akhilesh has urged the court to consider the security of his family.

"We are requesting the to grant us sufficient time to make arrangements for a suitable alternate accommodation, taking into consideration the security of the petitioner and his family members," Akhilesh said in his plea.

"Grant us sufficient time to make arrangements for a suitable alternate accommodation, taking into consideration the security of the petitioner, age and ill health," plea by said.

The pleas by the father-son duo has been filed in the backdrop of the May 7 apex court judgement that had struck down an amendment in a state legislation allowing former Chief Ministers to retain government accommodations even after demitting office.

Shortly after this verdict, Union Home Minister and governor Kalyan Singh, who were Chief Ministers earlier, had informed the estate department that they will vacate the government bungalows.

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 the Supreme Court's order.

However, former UP chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati recently put up a signboard outside her official accommodation in announcing that it was a memorial named after the party founder late Kanshiram.

The top court had passed the order on a petition filed by an NGO Lok Prahari challenging the amendments made by the erstwhile government to the 'UP Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981'.

In its order, it had observed that a Chief Minister cannot continue to occupy public property like government bungalows which belong to the people of the country and said the provision had the effect of creating a separate class of citizens for conferment of benefits by way of distribution of public property on the basis of the previous public office held by them.

The court, in its 29-page order, had said once such persons demit public office, there is nothing to distinguish them from the common man.

The apex court had also said that in a democratic republican government, public servants, entrusted with duties of public nature, must act in a manner that reflects that the ultimate authority is vested in the citizens and it is to the citizens, that the holders of all public offices are eventually accountable.

The NGO had also challenged another UP law of 2016 called 'The Allotment of Houses under Control of the Estate Department Bill-2016' to regulate the allotment of government accommodation to trusts, journalists, political parties, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of legislative assembly, judicial officers and government officials.

The apex court had sought the UP government's response in November 2016, after the plea claimed that state government has sought to skirt the verdict of August 1, 2016 by amending the law.

In that verdict, the apex court had held that the practice of allotting government bungalows to former chief ministers of was bad in law and they should hand over their possession in two months.

It had also said the state government should recover appropriate rent from the occupants of these bungalows for the period of their "unauthorised occupation".
Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI's former chief



Lt Gen (retd.) Asad Durrani has been banned from leaving the country and will face a Court of Inquiry over a controversial book he recently co-authored with India's former intelligence head.

Durrani, who headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from August 1990 till March 1992, along with former RAW chief A S Daulat has recently published the book titled 'The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace' in India.

He was summoned to the General Headquarters (GHQ) today to explain his position on the book 'Spy Chronicles', said a statement issued today by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the Pakistan military's media wing.

"A formal Court of Inquiry headed by a serving Lieutenant General has been ordered to probe the matter in detail," the statement said.

It also said that "competent authority has been approached to place the name of Lt Gen (retd) Durrani on Exit Control List (ECL).

Those persons on the ECL are prohibited from leaving Pakistan.

Durrani has expressed dismay at his "own people" after facing severe backlash over his recent book that landed him in controversy. He was also targeted by some retired senior army officers on different TV talk shows.

Lt Gen retired Abdul Qayyum and Maj Gen retired Ijaz Awan questioned the motive behind releasing the book on internet.

Durrani was apparently summoned after ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanded an urgent meeting of the high-powered National Security Committee (NSC) to discuss a recent book co-authored by a former spy chiefs of Pakistan and India.

Also, former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani and prominent leader of Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the joint book by rival spy chiefs and said if it was written by a civilian, he would have been branded as traitor.

In the book, the two former spy chiefs have touched upon some thorny issues including terrorism, particularly Mumbai attack, Kashmir and the influence of intelligence agencies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two workers have died while one has been hospitalised with burn injuries in a fire which broke out in Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar's mill at Kinauni in Meerut on Saturday, the company said.

In a regulatory filing today, Bajaj Hindusthan informed that the fire broke out in one of the storage tanks at its distillery division during loading of ethanol in containers.

The incident took place in the afternoon on May 26 and the fire could be fully extinguished in the evening next day with help of state fire department along with the army.

"The fire has caused serious burn injuries to three workmen at the distillery site. All the three injured workmen were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Two of the injured workmen succumbed to burn injuries and other one is being treated at the hospital," the company said, adding that the company would provide necessary support to families of these workmen.

Bajaj Hindusthan said it is investigating the matter with the help of local law enforcement and district administration.

"The fire completely damaged one out of ten storage tanks in the distillery division. The entire stock of industrial alcohol in this storage tank and three containers that were being loaded, aggregating to approx. 18 lakh litres have been destroyed," the filing said.

As per its preliminary assessment, the company said this incident would not have any material bearing on the overall operations/performance.

Being off-season, there was no loss of sugar production at Kinauni mill on account of this incident.

Bajaj Hindusthan is the country's largest sugar firm with 14 mills in Uttar Pradesh having cane crushing capacity of 1.36 lakh tonnes per day. It also manufactures ethanol.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A foreign national was today arrested with narcotics which might be worth over Rs 1 lakh in the international market, a senior police official said.

Prince Anthony Enzema, who claimed to be from Nigeria, was arrested by Calangute police today morning from Baga, said inspector Jivba Dalvi.

The official added that Enzema tried to escape from the police while being arrested but was nabbed after a short chase.

Dalvi said that the accused was arrested following a tip-off that he would arrive at a lane in Baga, which houses several night clubs, to carry out narcotics-related transactions.

"We have seized ganja and charas, worth Rs 1.35 lakh in the international market, from him. He has arrested under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act," Dalvi said.

He added that the accused did not have a valid passport or visa and was, therefore, booked under sections of the Passport (Entry into India) Act and the Foreigners Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's former was today named as the country's caretaker prime minister for an interim two-month period, ending the political wrangling between ruling PML-N and the opposition ahead of the general elections on July 25.

The announcement was made by Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah at a press conference here following his meeting with Prime Minister

Shah expressed hope that Mulk, 67, will successfully conduct free, fair and impartial elections in on July 25, 2018.

The job of the caretaker prime minister is to keep the country running between the dissolution of parliament and the new government being sworn in.

The announcement came after weeks of deadlock between the PML-N and the opposition over the name of the caretaker prime minister.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes(NCST) chairperson Nand Kumar Sai today said encroachments by non-tribals on land reserved for indigenous people in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) be removed.

Sai claimed that illegal migration in the TTAADC area was continuing for a long time and the migrants were illegally occupying tribal lands.

"As per the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, people from other places cant enter and live in sixth schedule areas. But these situations are going on for a long time here. This problem also continues in different parts of the eastern India," he said.

Sai said after an investigation if any encroachment is identified, the land should be freed.

The TTAADC was formed under sixth schedule in 1985. The council comprises of two third of the states territory and is the home to indigenous people, who form one third of the population.

Sai also claimed that 32000 posts of the state government reserved for tribals are currently lying vacant and requested the state government to undertake a special drive to fill up these posts



The NCST chairperson arrived in Tripura yesterday on a three-day visit to study facilities available to indigenous people in the state. He visited Laxmicherra village in South Tripura and Killa village in Gomati district yesterday, official sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Realty firm Gaurs group today said it is entering the hospitality business with three projects comprising over 200 rooms in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida with an investment of about Rs 65 crore.

The company will develop a 40-room hotel in Ghaziabad and two hotels in Greater Noida West (commonly known as Noida Extension) comprising 170 rooms.

"Ghaziabad and Greater Noida West lack good hospitality properties. So we are entering into this new venture with three projects," Gaurs Group MD Manoj Gaur said.

The 40-room property in Ghaziabad would come up at Gaur Central Mall with an investment of Rs 15 crore, he added.

In Noida Extension, the company would develop a 70-room property for Rs 30 crore and another 100-room hotel at an investment of Rs 20 crore, Gaur said, adding that these business hotels would be of 4-star category.

Gaurs group is developing a 240-acre township 'Gaur City' in Greater Noida (West). About 25,000 housing units are being developed in this township at an investment of Rs 5,000 crore. It is also developing a shopping mall in this city with Rs 750 crore investment.

Ghaziabad-based Gaurs group is developing another township on Yamuna Expressway on 300 acre land which it purchased from Jaypee Group in 2013 for over Rs 1,500 crore.

Besides real estate, Gaurs group had forayed into education sector in 2014 and opened 'Gaurs International School' in its township in Greater Noida (West) with an investment of about Rs 80 crore.

In January this year, the company said it will invest Rs 150 crore in its education business as it plans to open two schools and one institution for higher studies in Uttar Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Veteran actor-activist Shabana Azmi today said there is still a long way to go in achieving higher standards of menstrual awareness.

The 67-year-old actor said men also need to be included in initiating more dialogue about periods.

"The glass is half full and half empty... It is not possible that we take this initiative forward unless we involve men," Azmi said.

The actor was addressing a panel titled 'Loss Fertility in Females' at Niine Movement's "Menstrual Awareness Conclave" to mark International Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28.

Talking about the difficulties of women residing in rural areas, the actor said she was "shocked" to see how they used unhygienic "recycled" cloth during periods.

"Women use cloth, they don't use sanitary napkin. So, they would recycle the cloth but they would not be able to hang it out to dry in the sun because it was such a matter of shame...

"That it will be recognised as a menstrual cloth. So they would dry under the mattresses of the cot. This would lead to inevitable diseases. Even in 21st century India, women didn't have a patch of sunlight for themselves. That hit me so hard," she said.

Azmi said a change in the mindset of people is needed to get rid of the taboo associated with menstruation.

"We need to encourage workshops in schools and village so that women and girls where they are taught exercises to help them cope with the period pain and keep them fit," she added.

The actor was joined by Meenakshi Lekhi, Delhi BJP MP, Avinash Kumar, Director Programme and Policy, WaterAid India, Nishtha Satyam, Deputy Representative, UN India MCO and Dr Jaideep Malhotra, President of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) on the panel.

Akshay Kumar served as chief guest at the event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indore police team has left for Goa to take custody of an accused who has been arrested in the coastal state in connection with a gang-rape that occurred on May 24, a senior police official said today.

The official said that the accused is wanted for allegedly killing a couple in Madhya Pradesh.

Goa police had nabbed Ishwar Bheel, also known as Vishwas Makrana, from Margao railway station on May 26 for allegedly raping and robbing a woman on May 24 at Sernabhatim beach under Colva police station limits.

Amarinder Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police, Indore Crime Branch today said that Bheel is wanted for allegedly killing a couple at a tourist spot in Indore and also carried a reward of Rs 20,000 on his head.

He said that a team had left for Goa to Bheel after completing legal formalities.

Once he is brought back, Bheel would be produced before a local court for remand, Singh said.

Three men, all hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were arrested between May 25-26 for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman at a south Goa beach.

Goa police had identified them as Sanjiv Dhananjay Pal (23), Ram Santosh Bhariya (19) and Vishwas Makrana (23).

The accused trio had demanded money from the woman's boyfriend at knife point and then stripped both of them before raping her, police said.

As per the complaint lodged with Colva police station in Goa, the entire act was filmed on camera by the accused, who threatened to make the clip viral if they approached the police.

"All three of them are from Indore in Madhya Pradesh and they had been booked in the past in their state for various offences, including theft," Superintendent of Police (South) Arvind Gawas had said on Sunday.

Gawas told PTI today that Bheel, along with two others, was involved in the gangrape of a 20 year-old woman on May 24 and is right now in their custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tech giant Google has launched a new educational programme for children and parents for the summer vacations.

As part of its '#SummerWithGoogle', the company will offer a variety of activities to keep teenagers (13-18 years) engaged throughout their summer vacations, Google India Director (Trust and Safety) Sunita Mohanty said.

Google will release one assignment every week for four weeks, which will include use of various Google products like Google Earth, Google Translate and Google Arts and Culture, she added.

The last assignment will entail development of an app to share their summer experience.

"After four weeks, 100 children will be chosen along with an accompanying parent to visit our campus in either Delhi or Hyderabad to attend an interactive workshop," Mohanty said.

She explained that each assignment will also teach these youngsters "how to be Internet Smart, Internet Alert, Internet Strong, Internet Kind and Internet Brave".

Mohanty said parents are also encouraged to be a part of the programme that is being launched for the first time in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Qatar's state-run agency was back on Twitter today for the first time since its "hacked" website carried controversial comments from the emir that sparked a Gulf crisis.

In its first tweet since May 24 last year, the Qatar Agency announced the emir had sent a message to Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev.

The return to social media follows QNA gaining notoriety last May, when a press release purporting to contain quotes from the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, appeared on its website.

In comments said to have been from a military graduation ceremony, the emir in part expressed understanding for Hezbollah and Hamas, and claimed Donald Trump might not last long as US president.

Doha insists the explosive remarks were fake and that the website was "hacked by an unknown entity".

However, less than a fortnight later, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly broke off diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar, accusing it of having links with radical groups and seeking closer ties with Iran.

Qatar denies the charges and the boycott remains in place almost a year later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Gujarat High Court today



extended the protection from arrest to activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand till June 13, in a Rs 1.4 crore fund embezzlement case.

Earlier today, Justice A Y Kogje, in whose court the matter was listed, recused himself from hearing it saying "not before me."



The matter was then taken up by the court of Justice Biren Vaishnav, who extended the activists' interim protection from arrest till June 13.

The court has listed the case for next hearing on June 12.

The Supreme Court had last month granted temporary relief to Setalvad and Anand, extending their interim protection from arrest and transit anticipatory bail from May 2 to May 31, granted to them by the Bombay High Court.

The apex court had said the duo will not be arrested till May 31, but before that they would have to approach the competent court in Gujarat which will decide the matter on merits.

Setalvad and Anand had moved the Gujarat High Court after a lower court rejected their anticipatory bail plea in the Rs 1.4 crore fund embezzlement case related to their NGO Sabrang Trust.

The duo had moved the plea for anticipatory bail after an FIR lodged against them on March 30 this year by complainant Raeeskhan Pathan.

Opposing the bail plea in the lower court, the Crime Branch had claimed that the couple misused the money granted to their NGO by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development between 2010 and 2013 for their "personal and political cause".

In its submission, the Crime Branch said the accused misused the funds "to pay witnesses in serious cases in Gujarat (2002 riot cases) to make false deposition."



During this period, Setalvad worked as the field co-coordinator for her NGO - Citizen for Justice and Peace, while her husband Javed Anand worked as the trustee of the Sabrang Trust.

The ministry had granted Rs 1.4 crore between 2010 and 2013 to the NGO for a scheme under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Under the 'Khoj project', the Sabrang Trust had published literature and pamphlets that spread communal enmity which is "dangerous for the country's unity", the police said.

In their defence, Setalvad and Anand had told the court that the books published by them were written by some enowned writers, like Govind Pansare and Savitriben Phule, and were approved by the HRD Ministry.

They also provided details of bank accounts related to the fund, saying all payments were made through cheques and were transparent.

They claimed the police wanted their custody on "false complaint" and that the complainant, Pathan, had a "personal grudge" against them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today refused to stay the trial court proceedings in a case in which it was alleged that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave false information to the Election Commission in his affidavit in the run up to the 2013 assembly polls.

Justice A K Pathak said the interim relief of exemption from personal appearance to Kejriwal before the trial court will continue till the next date and listed the matter for further hearing on July 30.

When the AAP leader's counsel sought a stay on the trial court proceedings claiming there was a defect in the summoning order and notice could be framed on Kejriwal, the judge said he was not inclined to stay the lower court's proceedings in the complaint case.

The trial court had issued summons to Kejriwal in February 2016 on a criminal complaint filed by Neeraj Saxena and Anuj Agarwal on behalf of an NGO, noting that the Chief Minister had prima facie "willfully concealed" and "suppressed" details regarding his assets and income.

The trial court had on December 24, 2016 granted bail to Kejriwal.

The high court had on May 29 last year issued notice and sought the response of the complainants in the matter. Saxena and Agarwal have already filed their replies.

Earlier, the NGO had approached Delhi High Court with a plea seeking quashing of Kejriwal's nomination papers on the ground of "illegalities" in his affidavit. But the High Court had refused to entertain the petition and directed the petitioners to approach a magisterial court.

The NGO, in its plea in the high court, had alleged that Kejriwal had violated the provisions of the Representation of the People (RP) Act by submitting an affidavit which had incorrect details of his assets and income at the time of filing the nomination.

The offence under section 125-A of the Act entails a punishment of six months jail term or fine or both.

The complaint was filed under several sections of the RP Act and the IPC for the alleged offences committed by him before holding the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi.

The complaint alleged that Kejriwal falsely gave his Delhi address so as to qualify for contesting the polls in the capital though he lived in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. This prima facie amounted to wilful concealment, suppression and furnishing of false information, it was claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today granted interim stay on an order of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry by which it had withdrawn the permission given to a and current affairs TV channel to operate due to lack of security clearance.

The court's interim order came on a plea by Alliance Broadcasting Pvt Ltd challenging the I&B ministry's April 23 decision that since the security clearance accorded to it earlier had been withdrawn by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the permission granted for operating the channel was liable to be cancelled.

The ministry had also rejected the company's application for renewal of the permission for a further period of 10 years.

The company has alleged that this order was "illegal and unsustainable in law".

Justice Rajiv Shakdher sought the responses of the ministries Home Affairs and I&B on the petition and stayed the April 23 order.

The court listed the matter for further hearing in June during the summer vacations.

During the hearing, central government standing counsel Ajay Digpaul, appearing for both the ministries, said the allegations against the company were serious and the decision to withdraw security clearance was based on the inputs of the Intelligence Bureau.

The company said in its plea that it was granted permission by the I&B Ministry to uplink and downlink a and current affairs TV channel in English and other regional languages in January 2007.

The permission was granted for 10 years to the channel, which was initially known as 'Real Estate'. Its name was changed to ' 7 (Tamil)' in 2014.

The company claimed it had maintained an unblemished record in operating the channel since the permission was granted, and had been remitting the annual licence fee for operating the channel without any default.

It said that in November 29, 2017, the company received a show cause notice from I&B Ministry that in view of the withdrawal of security clearance from the MHA, the permission granted to operate the channel was liable to be revoked.

The company claimed when it had moved the high court seeking direction to restrain the I&B Ministry from taking any coercive action, the court had asked the two ministries to pass a speaking order on the notice.

The plea said the company was given a hearing by the joint secretary of I&B Ministry on April 23 where it had made its contentions.

However, on May 23, the I&B ministry passed an order rejecting the company's contentions and repeated that as security clearance has been withdrawn, the permission to operate has to be cancelled, it said.

The company through its plea sought a direction to set aside the May 23 order of the I&B Ministry cancelling the permission granted to operate the channel and rejecting the application for renewal for the next 10 years.

It also sought a direction to the ministry to proceed with its renewal application and disclose the reasons for withdrawal of security clearance by the MHA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State media say the head of a major bank in northern China has been found dead in his office in an apparent suicide.

Official media said Tianjin Rural Commercial Bank Chairman Yin Jinbao was found on Saturday afternoon with both his wrists slit.

Yin also served as head of the bank's ruling Communist Party committee, giving him quasi-government official status.

Yin's bank was under inspection and media reports said he was under pressure over major losses and scandals at another bank in Tianjin where he served as chairman until last year.

His is the latest in a string of apparent suicides of party and government officials in recent days, including a deputy secretary of the Beijing city government who reportedly suffered from depression.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Haryana government has



constituted the state Animal Welfare Board.

The Board has been constituted under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

A spokesperson of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department said here today that the official members of the Board would include director, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, director, Urban Local Bodies Department, chief Wildlife Warden and representative of the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The DG, Animal Husbandry and Dairying would be the member secretary.

The spokesperson said that the functions of the state Animal Welfare Board, Haryana would be to ensure proper implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (Haryana Amendment) Act, 1980 and the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871 and other Acts or Regulations for animal welfare applicable to Haryana.

The Board may give directions to the concerned departments/agencies and review their performance in this regard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"I have no desire to live...all I pray for is death."



This is what Sunanda Pushkar wrote in an e-mail to her husband Shashi Tharoor nine days before she was found dead in a luxury hotel room here, police today told a city court.

The police also said that Sunanda's death was due to poisoning and 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room but it was not clear how many pills she had consumed.

While quoting from the charge sheet, the Delhi Police told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal that Sunanda had injuries on her body which were received prior to her death which is reflected in the post-mortem report.

In an e-mail sent to Tharoor on January 8, 2014, she had written, "I don't care about the test. I have no desire to live...all I pray for is death," the police claimed.

Sunanda's mail and messages on social media should be taken as a "dying declaration", the police told the court, which today reserved for June 5 its order on whether to summon Tharoor as an accused in the case.

Referring to Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act, Special Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava said, "It is presumed that if she has committed suicide, she must have been subjected to cruelty before death. Court may take cognisance of this fact that it is a case of abetment, as the death has taken place within seven years of the marriage, and under the law, a case of abetment is made out."



Under Section 113A of the Act, a court "may presume, having regard to all the other circumstances of the case, that ... suicide had been abetted by her husband or by such relative of her husband" if she kills herself within seven years from the date of her marriage.

To drive home the point that Pushkar was subjected to cruelty, he also alleged that Tharoor did not bother to take care of his ailing wife who was suffering from high fever.

He said that Pushkar used to write poems, the contents of which showed that everything was not right with her.

The Delhi Police had on May 14 accused the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram of abetting Pushkar's suicide and urged the court that he should be summoned as an accused in the four-and-half year-old case, claiming there was sufficient evidence against him.

In a nearly 3,000-page charge sheet, the police has named Tharoor as the only accused while also alleging that he had subjected his wife to cruelty.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has been named one of the key witnesses in the case. Tharoor has not been arrested in the case.

Pushkar was found dead in the suite of a luxury hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.

The Congress leader has been charged under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

Under section 498A, the maximum punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, while jail term of up to 10 years is prescribed under section 306.

The charge sheet, which includes several annexures including medical reports, said that Pushkar died within four years of her marriage with Tharoor. The couple had entered the wedlock on August 22, 2010.

The suite of the South Delhi hotel, where Pushkar had died, was sealed by the police on the night of her death for investigation. An FIR was registered by the police on January 1, 2015 against unknown persons under IPC section 302 (murder).

According to prosecution sources, the charge sheet has mentioned that Pushkar was allegedly subjected to mental as well as physical cruelty.

The special investigation team on April 20 had told the apex court that a draft final report has been prepared after conducting "thorough professional and scientific investigations" in the case relating to the death of Congress MP's wife.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid a protracted legal battle for bankrupt Binani Cement, billionaire Ajay Piramal today said the committee of creditors (CoC)-led resolution process is backed by vigilance authorities, and no one should be allowed to "game" the system.

"The process has been laid out. It has to be followed. It is the process as far as the CoC is concerned, it is the process which is laid out that the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) has approved. That process has to be followed," Piramal told reporters here.

It can be noted that resolution plan of Dalmia Bharat, with help from a fund floated by Piramal and Bain Capital, was chosen by the CoC of Binani Cement in March. Ultratech, the other bidder, reached an out-of-court agreement with Binani to settle dues, leading to an ongoing legal battle.

Even as the value offered by Ultratech is much higher than the one submitted by Dalmia, Piramal said value maximisation is something that happens much later.

He hinted that coming up with revised offers after being outbid initially tantamounts to "gaming the process".

According to reports, the CoC for Binani Cement today voted in favour of UltraTech's bid.

Piramal stressed that there is no lacunae in the law.

With the National Company Law Tribunal and the Supreme Court hearing the matter, Piramal said, "I hope they will decide logically. Otherwise, this process can be taken for a ride."



Piramal said the India Resurgence Fund floated by him alongwith Bain Capital is working on at least one more deal apart from the much talked about Binani Cements, and the fund was "never aggressive".

He said the fund enjoys a few advantages like a large corpus, Piramal's understanding of businesses and keenness of companies like Dalmia to partner with it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fertiliser major IFFCO and Indian Potash Ltd (IPL) have acquired 37 per cent stake in Jordan's largest mining and chemical firm JPMC for about Rs 900 crore.

The shares have been purchased from Kamil Holdings, owned by Brunei Investment Agency, which is the largest shareholder in Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC).

"IPL and IFFCO have jointly bought 37 per cent stake in JPMC for about USD 130 million (nearly Rs 900 crore)," IFFCO Managing Director U S Awasthi told PTI.

The deal will ensure phosphatic reserve security to Indian farmers and help achieve balanced use of fertilisers in the country, he added. India is dependent on imports for phosphatic fertilisers.

Awasthi said IPL -- the country's largest importer of potash fertilisers -- has bought about 27 per cent stake, while IFFCO through its subsidiary Kisan International Trading (KIT) has purchased around 10 per cent in JPMC.

He also mentioned that the Jordanian government has permitted Brunei to offload its stake to Indian companies.

IFFCO already has a joint venture, Jordan India Fertilizer Company (JIFCO), in which it has 52 per cent stake, while JPMC holds 48 per cent equity in it.

JPMC, one of the largest phosphates firms in the world, produces 7 million tonnes of rock phosphates annually.

IFFCO manufactures and markets various kinds of fertilisers. It had sold 10 million tonnes and produced 7.87 million tonnes of soil nutrients last fiscal. Its turnover stood at Rs 22,597 crore in the 2016-17 fiscal. The cooperative is yet to announce the results for last fiscal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India today said it will continue trading with Iran and Venezuela despite US sanctions against the two countries, asserting that it only recognises UN restrictions.

"We only recognise UN sanctions. We do not recognise any country-specific sanctions," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference.

She made the remarks while responding to a question on whether US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela will hit India's oil imports from the two countries.

The external affairs minister also said that India does not make foreign policy under any pressure from any country.

"We don't make our foreign policy under pressure from other countries," she said.

Earlier this month, the US had pulled out from the landmark Iran nuclear deal of 2015 under which Tehran had agreed to stop its sensitive nuclear activities in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

Announcing the decision, President Donald Trump had reimposed sanctions against Iran which were suspended after the nuclear deal was finalised three years back.

The US had also announced tightening sanctions against Venezuela following re-election of President Nicolas Maduro.

Iran is India's third largest oil supplier. Venezuela is also one of the major suppliers of oil to India.

Swaraj also ruled out using cryptocurrency in oil trade with Venezuela saying the Reserve Bank of India had banned it.

Her comments came hours before a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who is here to seek India's support to salvage the nuclear deal.

There were apprehensions about possible impact of the US decision on India's oil import. However, officials said the US decision to reinstate financial sanctions on Iran would not impact India's oil imports as long as European countries did not follow suit.

China, Russia and several European nations have been trying to salvage the deal.

Iran had struck the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) with the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany after years of negotiations.

In its reaction to Trump's decision, India had said all the parties concerned should engage constructively to resolve the issue peacefully and that Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy must be ensured.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, India-Iran bilateral trade during the 2016-17 fiscal was USD 12.89 billion. India imported USD 10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exported commodities worth USD 2.4 billion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Start-ups in India will see substantial growth over the next decade and many of them will turn into world-class organisations to lead the next phase of building "brand India" in a broader technology landscape, Nasscom Chairman Rishad Premji said.

Premji, Chief Strategy Officer and Member of the Board at Indian IT services giant Wipro, called for enhancing the lens beyond just thinking and looking at the IT services landscape but also to focus on other ecosystems of capabilities that are thriving in the country. He expressed optimism over the future of the start-up ecosystem in the country.

India has over 5000 start-ups today. I think over the next 8-10 years that number will grow substantially and many of them will be world-class organisations with world-class products, creating world-class employability and value and recognition and be the next phase in many ways of continuing to build brand India from a broader technology landscape, Premji told PTI in an interview here.

We should evolve our thinking just from the traditional IT services story to the broader technology story.

On the outlook for the Indian IT industry, Premji said he is very hopeful.

He cited a report titled Perspective 2025: Shaping the Digital Revolution' by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) which said the Indian technology and services industry is on track to reach its goal of USD 200-225 billion in revenues by 2020 and may even touch USD 350 billion by 2025.

Premji said this implicitly suggests double digit growth over the next 7-8 years.

I am quite hopeful that if we do many things right, one of which is the skilling piece, he said. There is huge opportunity for the industry not only to survive but to thrive over the next 8-10 years.

Premji noted that there is a dearth of technical talent everywhere in the world today and India is a large producer of technical talent, with a million engineers graduating every year in the country. Even if you assume half of those are employable, there are still 500,000 engineers every year and if you can channelise them correctly, you are still a huge source of talent, he said.

He asserted that talent still is a "big differentiator in the technology landscape, so I am hugely optimistic and hugely hopeful in terms of the opportunities that lie ahead for the technology industry, in the country.

With companies globally moving towards a new phase of digital transformation, Premji said the industry is sitting on the cusp of transformation, which is the digitalisation of organisations.

The year 2018-19 is a moment of some acceleration and pivot where customers are moving from experimentation and prototyping around digitalization to industrial scaling. That presents a huge amount of opportunity globally for technology service providers and certainly Indian service providers as well. All of us in the IT services industry globally are gearing up to participate in that opportunity, he said.

Premji stressed that a major implication and enabler to participate in that opportunity is the right capability and talent. So skilling is a big focus for all organisations, he said adding that companies must now reskill and up-skill existing workforce in the industry. It is equally important that they then have the opportunity to demonstrate, enhance those skills through practical application.

We have got to think very closely about the intersection between new-age technologies and their usefulness to business, he said adding that innovating in technology on a stand-alone basis may not be useful to customers. instead, how one can apply Artificial Intelligence, blockchain to useful scenarios for business is of paramount importance now.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italy's was set to appoint a pro-austerity economist as prime minister today as the country lurched into fresh political chaos after a bid by two populist parties to form a collapsed.

Carlo Cottarelli, an economist formerly with the Monetary Fund, arrived at the presidential Quirinal palace on Monday morning, with a temporary technocrat on the table as faces the strong possibility of new elections in autumn.

The crisis was sparked when Sergio Mattarella vetoed the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister, enraging the far-right League and leading to the anti-establishment Five Star Movement calling for his impeachment.

The two parties' approved nominee for prime minister, lawyer and political novice Giuseppe Conte, stepped aside over the decision, exacerbating the political turmoil nearly three months after March's inconclusive general election.

Mattarella said he had accepted every proposed minister except Savona, who has called the euro a "German cage" and has said that needs a plan to leave the single currency "if necessary".

The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, furiously denounced the veto, decrying what they called meddling by Germany, debt ratings agencies and financial lobbies.

Cottarelli, 64, was director of the IMF's fiscal affairs department from 2008 to 2013 and became known as "Mr Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in

European stock markets and the euro received an early boost Monday after the veto of the fiercely eurosceptic economy minister, which potentially averted a eurozone crisis.

But Milan's stock exchange proved volatile, turning to losses in mid-morning trading, in a sign that early positivity may not last.

Cottarelli will struggle to gain the approval of parliament with Five Star and the League commanding a majority in both houses.

"They've replaced a with a majority with one that won't obtain one," said Di Maio.

A livid Di Maio later called for the to be impeached.

"I hope that we can give the floor to Italians as soon as possible, but first we need to clear things up. First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls." "Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the governments." Salvini, who was Savona's biggest advocate and a fellow eurosceptic, declared that Italy was not a "colony", and that "we won't have tell us what to do".

Today, Salvini threatened to break his alliance with the League's pre-election rightwing coalition partner Silvio Berlusconi should the media mogul's Forza Italia party vote for the government.

The 81-year-old billionaire former prime minister released a statement on Sunday in which he praised Mattarella's efforts to "safeguard this country's families and businesses".

His partnership with Salvini, which saw them part of a grouping that won the most votes in the March vote, is still in place despite the League's attempt to form a government with Five Star, as Forza Italia and the League hold local and regional administrations together.

"Berlusconi's statement yesterday was the same sort of thing that could have been written by (former centre-left prime minister Matteo) Renzi," Salvini told Radio Capitale.

French far-right leader joined in their outrage today, accusing the president of a "coup d'etat" and saying the " and financial markets are again confiscating democracy".

A former judge at Italy's constitutional court, Mattarella has refused to bow to what he saw as "diktats" from the two parties that he considered contrary to the country's interests.

He had watched for weeks as Five Star and the League set about trying to strike an alliance that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority.

Mattarella said he has done "everything possible" to aid the formation of a government, but that an openly eurosceptic economy minister ran against the parties' joint promise to simply "change for the better from an Italian point of view".

"I asked for the (economy) ministry an authoritative person from the parliamentary majority who is consistent with the government programme... who isn't seen as a supporter of a line that could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro," Mattarella said.

The president said Conte refused to support "any other solution" and then, faced with Mattarella's refusal to approve the choice of political novice Savona, 53, gave up his mandate to be prime minister.

(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.)
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today briefed vice president Venkaiah Naidu about internal and external security management in the state, an official spokesman said.

Vohra also briefed him about the growth and development of the state, the spokesman said.

The vice president arrived here this morning and attended a function organised by the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM).

The governor particularly informed the vice president about the consequences of the recent recurring violations of the ceasefire agreement across the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Army jawan and a civilian were killed last night when terrorists attacked an Army camp in militant-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir, police said.

This is the first terror strike by militants after the Centre announced cessation of operations during the holy month of Ramzan.

Police said the militants attacked the camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles at Kakapora in Pulwama district leaving a jawan seriously injured.

A civilian identified as Bilal Ahmed was also caught in the crossfire leaving him seriously injured.

Both were rushed to a hospital where the duo succumbed to their injuries.

Authorities have clamped prohibitory orders in parts of Pulwama district.

They said the fire was retaliated by the Army personnel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The stalemate over allocation of portfolios in Karnataka continued today despite five days of hectic deliberations between the Congress and the JD-S, delaying the expansion of state cabinet.

The Congress claimed that the "issues" would be resolved soon after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy held talks with its leaders in the national capital. The JD (S) said that talks between the two allies were inconclusive and would resume after a day or two.

Kumaraswamy and state Congress leaders left for Bengaluru late this evening to participate in the funeral of a Congress MLA, who died in an accident last night.

There has been "heavy bargaining" over portfolio allocation during discussions between the coalition partners, thus delaying the formation of council of ministers in Karnataka.

JD-S leader Kumaraswamy, who was sworn-in as chief minister of the state last week after the Congress extended its "unconditional support" to his party, went straight from the airport to the residence of senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for discussions with top Congress leaders.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had left for the US yesterday accompanying his mother who has to undergo a medical check-up there.

Among those present during the deliberations today were Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot and K C Venugopal, who is the AICC general secretary incharge of the state.

Kumaraswamy was joined by JD-S leader Danish Ali during the discussions with the Congress leadership.

Later, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge, state Congress leaders Siddharamaiahan, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara and D K Shiva Kumar joined their senior leadership in the "negotiations".

Sources said that the state Congress leaders are pushing their own case for key portfolios. They added that the Congress is keen to have all key portfolios of Finance, Home and Industries, under which the department of mining comes, besides Power, Irrigation, Public Works Department, Excise, Bengaluru Development and primary education.

The JD-S leadership too is keen to have a share in the key portfolios, especially Finance, as the chief minister wants to fulfil his promise of farm loan waiver.

"We held discussions with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and other leaders of our ally in Karnataka. We are likely to finalise the portfolio-sharing issue within a day or two. We will be meeting again and will hold further discussions," senior party leader Venugopal told PTI.

After the meeting, Kumaraswamy exuded confidence that an amicable power sharing arrangement will be worked out.

"We discussed the portfolios. The discussions remained inconclusive, but ended on a positive note. Very soon we will sort out the issues," Ali told PTI.

Kumaraswamy had admitted earlier to having "some issues" with the Congress over allocation of portfolios in the new government. Only



Kumaraswamy and Parameshwara have been sworn-in till now.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A special investigation team has been formed to trace a 20-year old woman, who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances from her home in Pathanamthitta district in March.

DGP Loknath Behera designated Range IG, Manoj Abraham to lead the 15-member SIT, a statement said here.

The state police also announced a reward of Rs five lakh for those providing information about the missing woman, Jasna Mariya James, a second year graduation student.

Though the police had earlier announced Rs two lakh reward, no information had been received so far.

There were rumours that Jasna was spotted in Bengaluru recently.

Though a police team rushed to the place, they could not trace the woman or ensure veracity of the information.

According to her family, Jasna, who was on her study leave, had gone missing from her home at Vehoochira in Pathanamthitta on March 21.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The performance of Kerala's local self-government bodies is a model for other states to emulate, N K Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, said today.

Singh was addressing a meeting of officers and elected representatives of local self-governing department here as part of the Commission's three-day visit to the state.

The commission's visit comes amid concerns raised by Kerala that its Terms of Reference were against the state's interest.

There was good coordination between the state government and local self-governing bodies and no serious issues were found, Singh said.

The Commission members-- Shaktikanta Das, Dr Anoop Singh, Dr Ashok Lahiri, Dr Ramesh Chand and Secretary Arvind Mehta--also attended the meeting, a government release said.

T K Jose, Additional Chief Secretary, gave a presentation on the performance, fund utilisation and challenges of local self-government department.

The activities under Haritha Keralam Mission, Kudumbasree Mission, Information Kerala Mission and Suchitwa Mission were elaborated.

Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V K Prasanth referred to the issue of anomalies in professional tax system and the need to bring in a legislation by central government to rectify the issues in methods for calculating the professional tax.

Kerala had convened a meeting of Finance Ministers of southern states here on April 10 to arrive at a consensus on their response to the Terms of Reference.

State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has said these states were being 'penalised' for successfully implementing national policies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP took a swipe at Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today, saying he was the "chief manager (CM)" of the Congress's ATM in the state and that he was lying prostrate at the feet of the Gandhi family.

The saffron party's attack on the JD(S) leader came after the latter's comments in Bengaluru yesterday that he was at the mercy of the Congress and not the people of Karnataka as his government had not received the full mandate, which his party had sought in the recently held Assembly election in the state.

"Nothing can be sadder than this. This is absolutely demeaning to the democratic fabric of the country and akin to an abuse of India's democracy," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters here.

He described the current situation as a fallout of the Congress-JD(S) alliance's mockery of the popular mandate in the southern state for petty political interests.

The BJP had emerged as the single-largest party in the Karnataka Assembly election by bagging 104 of the 222 seats that went to the polls, but fell short of a majority, allowing the Congress and the JD(S) to join hands and form government in the state.

Patra alleged that for the Congress, Karnataka was its ATM and it had found a chief manager in Kumaraswamy, while the government in the southern state would be run from Janpath -- a reference to the residential address of former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

"The Congress has found a new manager for its ATM in Karnataka. We can say this after his (Kumaraswamy's) statement. People are asking who is their chief minister," the BJP spokesperson said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words, he said for the BJP, the country was family, while for the Congress, the "first family" of the party was the country.

"Kumaraswamy is lying prostrate at the feet of a family," Patra said.

He added that former prime minister Manmohan Singh used to blame the compulsions of coalition in the face of allegations of corruption in his government and said there was a feeling of deja vu in Karnataka.

Patra also claimed that various opposition parties were not accepting Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the leader of an anti-BJP coalition.

To a question, the BJP leader claimed that the saffron party would form the next government in Odisha, where Assembly polls will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election in 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Karnataka BJP leaders flayed Chief



Minister H D Kumaraswamy's remark that he was at the "mercy" of Congress and not the people of state, syingthat he was "deriding his own people" and doubted his credentials to serve them.

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda took to twitter asking Kumaraswamy if he would compromise the interests of Kannadigas just to retain power.

"Sri @hd_kumaraswamy Honble @CMofKarnataka says he is indebted to @INCIndia not to 6.0 crore Kannadigas. Sir I would like to ask u 1) will u compromiseinterest of Kannadigas just to retain your power 2) Whats your local standee for corrupt congress is it partnership enterprise (sic)," he tweeted.

The party said that Kumaraswamy should not have "stooped" so low.

"This statement of H D Kumaraswamy proves that he cares two hoots to six crore people of Karnataka. A democratically elected CM could not have stooped much lower than this in deriding his own people.

"One can only imagine the kind of loot he will preside to impress his Congress bosses," the BJP in Karnataka tweeted.

BJP's IT cell chief chief Amit Malviya termed the chief minster's remarks as "the most brazen admission ever" and expressed apprehensions that Karnataka "will bleed" under the present state government "while JDS-Congress fill up their coffers".

"I dread to think what will happen to the state when the Chief Minister doesn't feel compelled to serve the people, but the party that put him in power. Karnataka will bleed while JDS-Congress fill up their coffers," he said.

Kumaraswamy had yesterday stated he was at the 'mercy' of the Congress, not the 6.5 crore people of the state.

"Mine is not an independent government. I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state," he had said.

BJP MP Rajeev Chadrasekhar said it is the "worst kind" of Congress with willing and shameless regional parties.

"Victory of Democracy" this gang called it - lets call it wht it is - worst kind of #CongressPolitics with willing n shameless "regional" parties," he tweeted, tagging it to Kumaraswamy, AICC President Rahul Gandhi, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's twitter accounts.

"And the new @CMofKarnataka @hd_kumaraswamy reveals whose mandate he has - he represnts not the peoples mandate but the rejected @INCKarnataka mandate!," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The new Congress-JDS coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy today issued an order terminating the tenure of non-official heads of various boards, corporations and authorities with immediate effect.

The Government Order said the chief minister has directed the chief secretary that till such time new non-official heads of these government bodies are appointed, the secretaries, principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries would head them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"Game of Thrones" star Lena Headey says she wants to end the stigma around mental health.

Citing her own example, the actor urged people to speak out about what they are going through, Contactmusic reported.

"There are certain things that are cool to talk about, and there are certain things that no one wants to talk about. I just feel if you don't share and you don't connect, you're just causing more isolation, and that's a really bad thing for all of us. I've learnt just to sit with it, anything that feels uncomfortable.

"I saw a doctor for the medical check, and I just burst into tears. She said I was postnatally depressed and I went, 'Am I? Why is that?' I saw a great guy and he sorted me out, but I did the first year (on 'Game of Thrones') in that space, figuring out motherhood and going through a weird time personally. It was tricky," she said while speaking on Running Wild with Bear Grylls.

The 44-year-old actor had previously revealed she was diagnosed with "horrendous" postnatal depression when she joined "Game of Thrones".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French President Emmanuel Macron praised his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella today, saying he was fulfilling his role as the guarantor of the country's institutions with "courage and responsibility."



"I reiterate my friendship and support for President Mattarella who has an essential task to undertake, (ensuring) the institutional and democratic stability of his country, which he is doing with a lot of courage and responsibility," Macron said.

The Italian leader rejected a eurosceptic nominee for economy minister on Sunday which led to the collapse of a government put forward by a populist alliance comprising the far-right League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

Despite facing calls for impeachment, Mattarella named a caretaker prime minister on Monday, Carlo Cottarelli, putting the country on course for new elections.

Macron, a pro-Europe centrist, is watching Italy's unfolding political crisis closely, aware that his plans for deepening the European Union depend largely on a stable and like-minded government emerging in Rome.

"Italy is an important partner for France at every level: a historic partner, a present partner and a future partner, that we respect and that we need for our European projects, as well as our bilateral relationship which is fundamental," Macron added.

He was speaking at a press conference with Angolan President Joao Lourenco who was making his first official visit to France.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Polling for the Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra today were marred by instances of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs).

The technical glitches prompted the Shiv Sena and the NCP to express reservations over the use of these machines, with former Union minister Praful Patel claiming that almost 25 per cent of EVMs malfunctioned in the bypoll to Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said those in power were contesting elections with the "key and remote of EVMs in their hands".

Palghar district collector Prashant Narnaware told PTI that around 46 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the constituency between 7 am to 6 pm.

A district official from Gondia said the polling percentage in Bhandara-Gondia is projected to be less than 40 per cent. It would be around midnight for the approximate polling figures to be available, he added.

"In view of the malfunctioning of EVMs, we received representations from various parties to extend polling hours," the IAS officer said.

"In the 2097 polling booths in the constituency, we had to change only three EVMs," he said. However, 154 VVPATs had to be replaced, he added.

"We had anticipated these technical glitches and had deployed 96 engineers and sought 15 per cent extra machines," he said.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel sought to know why EVMs from Surat in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were used in the bypoll when similar machines were available in Maharashtra.

"EVMs were available in Maharashtra. What was the reason for bringing EVMs from Surat in Gujarat? We have expressed our doubts to the Election Commission," Patel told reporters in Gondia.

In New Delhi, sources in the poll panel said inapt handling of VVPAT machines by the ground staff, especially when the temperature is high, led to their heating, resulting in their malfunctioning, an explanation Patel termed as "shocking".

"To say that EVMs malfunctioned due to excessive heat is shocking," he said, demanding re-polling in the booths where the voting machines failed.

In developed countries like the US, Germany, France and Japan, the use of EVMs was stopped and they reverted to ballot papers, he said.

Patel, who lost from the Bhandara-Gondia constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, said his party had raised the issue of faulty EVMs with the Election Commission.

He also pointed out that VVPAT) machines, which eject slips to confirm the voter's choice, were not functioning.

"As and when re-polling takes place, will we be able to count every slip?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Raut told reporters in Mumbai that manipulating EVMs was now a trend. "Earlier, there used to be booth-capturing and bogus voting. Now, some people hold the key and remote control of EVMs in their hands and contest elections," he said.

"This is a warning bell for the country. This EVM scam is taking place because you (the BJP) are in power. That is why outdated EVM machines are brought in," the Sena leader said.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan said alleged 250 EVMs and VVPATs had malfunctioned, which was a suspicious development. He demanded a probe.

The BJP candidate for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat, Rajendra Gavit, demanded the polling time be extended in view of the faulty EVMs in some booths.

Gavit's poll representative submitted a memorandum to election officials in Palghar, seeking extension of the polling time due to malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPAT machines in some booths.

However, the polling time was not extended.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader and former MP Prakash Ambedkar said around 450 EVMs malfunctioned.

"There were certain cases of failure due to technical problem of EVMs and VVPATs during polling in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituencies which were replaced," an election official said.

Around 15,000 voters from Mali Ali, Mavanda, Navale and Nandanvan villages in Palghar's Vasai tehsil boycotted polling, citing lack of developmental in their areas.

In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP and the NCP were the main rivals in the bypoll, held after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole.

Patole, a leader of the powerful OBC Kunbi community, had switched sides from the Congress to the BJP and was elected as an MP from the constituency, located in Vidarbha region, in 2014 by defeating Praful Patel.

The NCP, which allied with the Congress for the bypoll, fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde against BJP's Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.

In Palghar, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga. The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena has fielded the late MP's son Srinivas in a bid to garner the sympathy vote.

The BJP has put up former Rajendra Gavit, who quit the Congress and joined the saffron party. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) led by Vasai-Virar strongman Hitendra Thakur is also in the fray with the nomination of its ex-MP Baliram Jadhav.

Kiran Raja Gahla of the CPI-M, which has a base in Talasari and Dahanu, and former MP Damu Shingada (Congress) are also in the fray for the multi-cornered fight.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mahindra's new semi-knockdown assembly plant in the coastal South African city of Durban is expected to give a boost of more than R95 million (USD 7.7 million0 to the economy of the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The plant in the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ), next to the airport, which was officially opened on Friday by provincial Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala and Indian High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj, has a capacity to produce 4,000 of Mahindra's two models of its Pik-Up range, known as 'bakkies' locally.

Besides sales in South Africa, where the Mahindra bakkies have been gaining ground, the assembly line will also turn out vehicles for export into the rest of Africa.

Speaking at the launch, provincial Economic Development head Zikalala said Mahindra's decision to establish the assembly plant in KwaZulu-Natal was an indicator of the province's "rising star in terms of investor confidence."



He added that the issue of unemployment in the region would also be addressed by Mahindra.

"Of the 24 staffers to be hired in the new assembly plant we have been assured 80 per cent would be locals that had not been employed before and hopefully this would fit the youth profile" Zikalala said.

He also commended Mahindra for its skills development initiatives, which have already seen scores of South Africans being skilled in India in various fields before returning to jobs at home.

"We also acknowledged that the company would be extensively investing in skills development, including sending staff to India to gain more capacities, which would contribute in the expansion of skills base in the province," Zikalala said.

Small and medium enterprises would also receive a boost as Mahindra plans to source 40 per cent of components locally.

Confirming this, Mahindra South Africa CEO Rajesh Gupta said it was part of Mahindra's long-term plan to increase employment and help develop local companies through local sourcing.

Gupta explained how Mahindra's market share in South Africa had grown exponentially since it first entered the country over a decade ago.

"In the last five years alone it has grown its market share by a compound annual growth rate of over 4.6 per cent a year which puts us in the league of the five fastest growing company in the same period.

"Much of this growth was achieved in a declining market (for motor vehicles) which indicates our increased acceptance and popularity in the South Africa market," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The city police has registered offences against a 36-year-old man who allegedly cheated a bank here by taking loans based on fake documents and then defaulting on repayment.

The accused used to change his name and prepare fake documents to approach banks for availing loans for various purposes, Kasarwadavali police station's senior inspector Datta Dhole said today.

The police registered an FIR yesterday on the directions of a local court, after a Thane-based branch of a nationalised bank approached it, he said, adding that a search was on for the man.

According to the FIR, the accused had taken a car loan of Rs 49.76 lakh in December 2014, a housing loan of Rs 1.16 crore in January 2015 and a personal loan of Rs 50 lakh in March 2015 from the bank.

He made a part payment of the loan amounts and then defaulted, Dhole said.

The accused was yet to repay the loan amount totalling Rs 1.55 crore, the official said.

The man had also allegedly cheated other nationalised banks earlier with the same modus operandi and the cases against him were being probed by a leading investigation agency, he said.

The accused was booked under various IPC sections for cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery, the police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has kept under observation a patient, who arrived here from Kerala and was found having symptoms of the Nipah virus.

State health minister Vishwajit Rane said the man was under observation at GMCH, located near here in North Goa district, and it was not yet confirmed if he was infected with the deadly virus.

The blood samples of the patient were sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, Rane said, adding that there was no need to panic.

The patient's identity was not disclosed by GMCH.

A senior GMCH official said the man arrived in Goa from Kerala yesterday and complained of having symptoms similar to the Nipah viral infection.

"The patient himself suspected that he might be infected with the virus. So, adequate precaution has been taken by the hospital, as per the protocol drawn by the state government," he said.

The virus has so far claimed 13 lives in Kerala.

The outbreak of the Nipah virus infection, a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, is suspected to be from an unused well at Perambra in Kerala's Kozhikode district which was infested with bats.

The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.

So far there is no vaccine against the virus which was first identified in 1998 in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of a powerful drug cartel leader in the city of Guadalajara, the interior minister said today.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," was taken into custody by Mexican navy agents, the minister said.

Cervantes heads Jalisco New Generation, one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels.

"This woman is a likely administrator of both economic and legal assets of this criminal organisation. She had been sought on an organised crime warrant," Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete told a conference.

Gonzalez was put into preventive detention and has been brought before a judge, Navarrete said.

Security forces, civil defence and emergency medical services were put on alert in case of retaliatory attacks by the cartel, sources in the Jalisco state prosecutor's office said.

Troops were deployed to guard approaches to the city, Mexico's second largest.

On Monday, Guadalajara was shaken by the attempted assassination of Jalisco Labour Secretary Luis Najera, a former state prosecutor who was attacked by armed men in a restaurant in the city centre.

Assailants torched a passenger bus after the attack, killing an eight-month-old baby.

Najera suffered only minor injuries but seven other people were more seriously wounded. One of the attackers was killed.

The Mexican government estimates that the Jalisco New Generation cartel has amassed a USD 50 billion fortune. It has a strong presence in nine Mexican states and connections with criminal organisations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

In recent years, it has carried out attacks against military and police targets, including the 2015 downing of a military helicopter in which 20 soldiers and a policewoman were killed.

In December of that year, authorities said police and soldiers arrested Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho's brother, months after arresting Nemesio Oseguera's son, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, known as "El Menchito.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three miscreants today looted Rs 9 lakh from two employees of a gas agency in Bihar's Sitamarhi district, police said.

The incident occurred at Barahi village when the two employees of the gas agency were on their way to deposit Rs 9 lakh in a bank at Parihar, Sitamarhi, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Veer Dhirendra Kumar said.

The miscreants fired at the gas agency staff who fell down from their bike and decamped with a bag containing Rs 9 lakh, the SDPO said.

One of the employees of the gas agency received bullet injury. He has been rushed to Sitamarhi Sadar hospital where doctors declared him out of danger.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed his unhappiness to his British counterpart Theresa May over focus on conditions of Indian prisons during court hearings on extradition of fugitive Vijay Mallya to India, according to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Modi, during a meeting with May in London last month, told her that it was not proper for courts to ask about the condition of Indian jails as the British themselves had kept Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other Indian leaders in these prisons, Swaraj said.

"These are the same jails where you (British) had kept Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other top Indian leaders," Swaraj said at a press conference today when asked about focus on conditions in Indian jails during hearing in a British court over Vijay Mallya's extradition to India.

The minister said Modi, during his talks with May on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), also raised the issue of delay by British authorities in sending back Indian fugitives.

"He also told her that when our fugitives come here (Britain), it takes time to send them back," Swaraj said.

Mallya's lawyers have been opposing Indian Government's plea for extraditing him, citing poor hygiene and overcrowding in Indian jails.

A British court is considering India's requests for extradition of Mallya, who is facing charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crores.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three persons have been arrested in connection with a fire at a commercial complex in suburban Goregaon which killed four labourers, police said today.

A fire had swept through the seventh and eighth floors of the Technic Plus One building in Goregaon yesterday evening.

The deceased were contractual labourers who had been deployed by a firm called Pratham Enterprises, said a police official.

Pratham Enterprises was removing a private telecom firm's assets on the seventh and eighth floors as part of a High Court order, he added.

The labourers got trapped in the fire and while three of them died late last night, a fourth labourer died early this morning, the police official said.

He identified the four as Naimuddin Shah (25), Ramavtar (45) and Ram Kheerat (45), who died yesterday evening, and Samshad Shah(35) who died today.

About 100 labourers, who were working alongside at the time of the incident, were rescued, the official added.

Prima facie investigations have revealed that a short circuit in an electric duct might have caused the fire that resulted in smoke enveloping several floors of the nine storey building, the official said.

A case has been registered and police has arrested an employee of Pratham Enterprises and two labour contractors who have been identified as Ramzan Ali Khan and Salim Maniyar, said Dhanaji Nalawade, senior inspector, Goregaon police station.

The three have been booked under section 304 (culpable homicide) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fortis Healthcare today said the Munjals-Burmans combine, whose bid for investing Rs 1,800 crore was approved by its board, have consented to re-opening the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

The development comes at a time when there is an uncertainty over the process of sale of Fortis as four of the directors, who had approved the Munjals-Burmans bid, are no longer on the company's board.

In a regulatory filing, Fortis Healthcare said it has received a letter from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman family Officer ...giving their consent to re-open the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

In a letter to the board of directors, Munjals-Burmans combine said "it appears that there may be indecision on the part of the company regarding the bid process, which we understand could be on account of a few shareholders indicating their preference to the company for re-open of the bid process".

While expressing "deep anguish and regret" over the matter, Munjals-Burmans combine said they have has consented to re-opening of the bidding process "in order to facilitate the company to expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the company's business does not suffer any further".

Fortis Healthcare, however, did not clarify whether it will re-open the bidding process.

When contacted, a Fortis spokesperson said the company's board will take a decision on the matter without specifying when the meeting would take place.

"Necessary intimation to the regulator and stock exchanges would be given accordingly," the spokesperson added.

Fortis' board of directors is scheduled to meet on May 30 to consider and approve the audited financial results for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2018.

In their letter, Munjals-Burmans combine said "this situation may have arisen largely on account of the lack of information available to stakeholders.

Munjals-Burmans combine said it expects the re-bidding process to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, with full clarity to all stakeholders and bidders regarding the criteria and objectives which will be considered relevant by the company for this purpose, and with equal information being available to all bidders.

It has been reported that Yes Bank, which holds over 15 per cent stake in Fortis as on March 31, per BSE data, had expressed concerns over the bidding process.

Yes Bank asked Fortis' board to consider revised bids for the company submitted to maximise value for investors.

Last week, Fortis board was reconstituted after its shareholders had voted out its director, Brian Tempest, from the board in the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on May 22.

Earlier, out of four directors whose removals were sought by two institutional investors, three directors - Harpal Singh, Sabina Vaisoha and Tejinder Singh Shergill - had resigned ahead of an EGM called to vote on the matter.

Fortis shareholders last week also voted in favour of appointments of Suvalaxmi Chakraborty, Ravi Rajagopal and Indrajit Banerjee as independent directors on the board.

The resignations of three directors and removal of Tempest has cast a shadow over the ongoing attempt to sell Fortis as these four directors were among the five who had voted in favour of Munjals-Burmans combine's Rs 1,800-crore bid for the healthcare firm.

Last week, Malaysia's firm IHH Healthcare Berhard extended the acceptance period for its enhanced revised proposal for acquiring Fortis to June 30 in the wake of changes in the board of the cash-strapped healthcare chain.

IHH Healthcare, which had revised its offer to directly invest in Fortis at Rs 175 per share on May 1 from an initial non-binding offer to invest in Fortis at Rs 160 per share, had earlier stated that its enhanced offer would expire on May 29.

Similarly, Manipal-TPG combine had also extended the validity of its modified offer for Fortis Healthcare to June 6, 2018.

There were five suitors in the race for Fortis Healthare out of which only four made binding bids.

Besides Munjals-Burmans, Manipatl -TPG and IHH Healthcare, KKR-backed Radiant Life Care had also put in bidding offer.

China's Fosun Healthcare but did not make a binding bid for the Fortis.

On May 14, Manipal-TPG combine had again sweetened its offer for Fortis at Rs 180 per share, thereby increasing the valuation of the healthcare company to Rs 9,403 crore.

Manipal-TPG combine was the first to make a binding offer for the cash-strapped healthcare chain.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's anti-graft body, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), established by a dictator to "pressurise" politicians, is creating circumstances that are "damaging" the country, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said.

Abbasi's remarks came days after NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal ordered a probe against the embattled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for allegedly laundering USD 4.9 billion to India.

The NAB, in a press release on May 8, had said that its Chairman had taken notice of media reports claiming that the former premier allegedly laundered USD 4.9 billion to India. The media reports had cited a purported report of the World Bank, which it later denied as "incorrect".

Sharif, 68, later slammed the NAB chairman for failure on his part to probe the report at internal level before going public with it. He also slapped a legal notice to NAB chairman demanding an apology for his "insulting" press release and pay Rs 1 billion as damages within the next 14 days.

Abbasi also said that there was a need for a national dialogue, that whatever the NAB was doing whether it is in the nation's interest.

"The anti-graft body was established by a dictator to pressurise politicians, who want to disband the NAB through consensus. It should be pondered over in the (national) dialogue whether it is in interest of the country whatever the NAB has been doing," Abbasi told Geo TV yesterday, attacking the anti-graft body.

The NAB was established by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who established it in the late 90s.

"The circumstances created by the NAB at present have been causing damage to the country," the Prime Minister said.

Abbasi also hailed Sharif as a leader who was ready to go to the prison for the sake of his principles.

Speaking about the National Security Committee meeting, which was called soon after Sharif's statement on the 2008 Mumbai attack, he said it was necessary to put an end to the situation after the statement by PML-N supremo.

For the first time, Sharif, in an interview to the Dawn newspaper, had publicly acknowledged that militant organisations were active in Pakistan and questioned the policy to allow the "non-state actors" to cross the border and "kill" people in Mumbai.

Sharif, 68, was disqualified as prime minister in the Panama Papers case by the Supreme Court in July last. Subsequently, he was handed down life ban for parliamentary politics. He along with his children is facing three corruption cases on money laundering and possessing huge assets abroad, by the NAB.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NATO will on Thursday hold its first formal talks with Russia since the nerve agent attack on a former Kremlin double agent in Britain, as the alliance seeks to counter Moscow's increasing assertiveness.

Tensions between the transatlantic alliance and Russia have hit post-Cold War highs in recent years over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and more recently the attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury.

NATO vehemently criticised Moscow over the attack in March, the first hostile use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War Two, and expelled seven Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated international response.

"A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council will take place on 31 May 2018," a NATO official said.

"This is part of NATO's twin-track approach of strong defence and meaningful dialogue with Russia." The meeting -- the seventh of the NATO-Russia council in the last two years -- will be held at the alliance's brand-new headquarters in Brussels and is expected to cover the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Moscow is accused of backing pro-Russian separatists in the restive east.

Transparency around military exercises is also expected to be discussed. At the last meeting in October, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members had challenged Russia over its controversial "Zapad" drills which caused concern in Poland and the Baltic states.

The meeting comes as NATO builds up to its summit in July, which Stoltenberg today said would focus on five key areas from deterrence to modernisation and EU relations, with measures to "manage" ties with Russia a priority.

Last week, NATO and the EU urged Moscow to take responsiblity for the 2014 downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine after international investigators concluded that a missile which destroyed the plane came from a Russian military brigade.

The NRC met regularly until the Ukraine crisis plunged relations between the West and Moscow into a deep freeze in 2014 but the meetings resumed in 2016 after months of debate within the alliance over whether it would send the wrong signal to Moscow.

US-led NATO has suspended all practical cooperation with Russia over its role in Ukraine but has kept political channels of communication open.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Peace is the prerequisite for progress as development suffers when there is tension on the border, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said today, and in an apparent reference to Pakistan, asked the "neighbouring country" to give up its policy of supporting, aiding and abetting terror.

There should be zero tolerance on matters of national security and integrity, he added.

India wants good relations with all and "a neighbouring country" must give up its policy of supporting, aiding and abetting terror, the vice president asserted.

Peace is prerequisite for progress as attention cannot be paid to developmental activities if there is tension on border, he said at an event where Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta and Union Minister Jitendra Singh were present.

The vice president said both science and religion were tools in the hands of people in their quest for prosperity and internal peace. Scientific advancements illuminate our understanding of the universe whereas religion provides answers to the unexplored universe, he added.

The issues of 'mind and soul' and the relentless internal unrest and lack of internal peace constitute this vast unexplored universe and it is religion that provides some answers to these raging issues, he said.

Research and innovation make us grow and transform the world we inhabit, he added. Posing relevant questions and seeking answers must be a way of life, the vice president said. Children and young adults must be encouraged to ask questions and search for answers, he said.

The quality of research is an important indicator of the quality of an educational system and determines the pace of a country's development, he said.

Human civilization has evolved over many millenniums by asking questions and seeking answers. This process of questioning and seeking solutions lies at the heart of research, he said.

Paying tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru, Naidu said the country's first prime minister felt that integration of science and technology with national planning was necessary to improve the socio-economic conditions of the teeming millions.

He also recalled the contribution of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who was the first vice president of CSIR.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Federal Socialist Forum, a key Madhesi party in Nepal, has decided to join the Nepal Communist Party government after an agreement that "appropriate" demands of the Madehsis will be addressed.

Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Federal Socialist Forum, signed a two-point agreement with NCP chairpersons K P Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

Under the agreement, Prime Minister Oli government agreed that the demands raised by the FSF during its agitation as well as issues related to constitution amendment would be addressed on the basis of mutual understanding.

The government agreed that it will try to address "appropriate" demands raised by the Madhesi parties during their past movements, which are related to the rights and proper representation of the Madhesi people through amendment to the Constitution.

"Our party will join the NCP government on the basis of the agreement reached between us, Yadav said.

The FSF, the fourth largest party in the Parliament, has 16 members in the 275-member House of Representatives.

The party is likely to get at least three ministerial berths including a Deputy Prime Minister, according to party insiders.

Another Madhesi party, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, has not yet decided to join the communist government.

The adoption of a new Constitution in 2015



that divided Nepal into seven provincial units and reportedly marginalised Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin and inhabitants of the Terai, had triggered a six-month-long agitation during Oli's first tenure in which more than 50 people were killed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Informatics Centre will hire 800 professionals in the next one year, including for 355 cyber security experts, as increased cyber risks globally bring data protection and cyber safety to centrestage, according to a top NIC official said.

The NIC -- whose new cloud-enabled National Data Centre was inaugurated by IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad here today -- currently has 4,500 people across India in its various operations. NIC provides technology support to all governance services and hosts nearly 10,000 websites of the government.

"This data centre in Bubaneswar is of global standards," Prasad said unveiling the data centre that will host new as well as existing applications of central and state governments and has ability to support 35,000 virtual servers.

Emphasising the significance of the new national data centre here, Prasad further said that in the IT ecosystem, data centre adds to the digital clout of a state or location and raises its global profile.

"Data centre is important because data sanctity is important," he said at a conference here.

NIC's fourth national data centre after Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune, the Bhubaneswar unit aims to offer round-the-clock operations with secure hosting for e-governance applications of ministries and departments.

"With a slew of government apps including mygov, eWay bill, public finance management system, eHospials all being hosted by NIC, the demand for computing and storage has increased many folds," Neeta Verma, director General of NIC, told reporters here.

She said that over next one year, NIC will hire 800 people all over India and 355 of these will be cyber security professionals, to tackle "rising risks of cyber security".

The hiring will be both at entry level and lateral, that is, from the industry.

Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan was also present on the occasion.

An NIC release said that the unified and shared infrastructure is flexible enough to rapidly respond to infrastructure requirements and also accommodate future technology enhancements, distributed applications, database applications, virtualised applications and cloud-based applications that are available on demand.

The cloud services will provide benefits like on-demand access to ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure for easy availability and quick deployment of applications and standardised platforms of deployment, it added.

The cloud service offerings of NIC would allow departments to provision infrastructure and add to the computing capacity "on demand".

In the traditional model, departments have to budget and procure infrastructure at the commencement of the project, leading to either over provisioning of infrastructure or under-sizing of the requirements.

But elastic nature of the cloud allows departments not only to bring the solution to deployment quickly but also to scale up based on the demand of peak or low loads.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today described the Indian Army's practice of having only women in its nursing service as "antiquated"and asked the Centre why men cannot be inducted in that branch of the defence force.

"It is very antiquated, very stereotyped. How can you have an entire nursing branch without any males, especially in the Army," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said.

The bench also issued a notice to the Ministry of Defence seeking its stand on a society's PIL alleging "blatant discrimination" in recruitment for the Indian Military Nursing Service.

In its plea, the Indian Professional Nurses Association, has said that there are several thousand males trained and qualified as professional nurses in India and their omission from nursing corps of the Army was "unjustifiable and unconstitutional inasmuch it deprives them of an avenue of employment and professional advancement".

"The said omission also deprives the military and the nation of a large pool of committed professionals," the petition, filed through advocates Amit George and Rishabh Dheer, said.

The PIL has challenged the provisions of the Military Nursing Service Ordinance 1943 and the Military Nursing Service (India) Rules 1944, to the extent they provide only for appointment of women.

"Blatant discrimination being carried out in light of the present scheme of the Indian Military Nursing Service Ordinance, 1943, as well as the Military Nursing Services (India) Rules, 1944, omitting male nurses from within its scope," the association has said.

It has also contended that the Ordinance and the Rules "also perpetuate the stigmatization and ostracism of male nurses, by singling them out and making them feel unwanted".

It has said that such discrimination is contrary to the Constitutional scheme and is, therefore, "ex-facie unconstitutional, illegal and arbitrary".

The petition has sought quashing of the words 'if a woman' in the Indian Military Nursing Service Ordinance and to place male nurses at par with their female counterparts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leaders of the Congress, SP and the RLD today demanded that the Election Commission should order re-polling in the Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur Assembly constituencies after there were reports of malfunctioning of the EVMs in some areas.

Polling for the high-stakes by-elections to the two constituencies was held today.

A delegation of the opposition party leaders met the EC and raised the issue of polling being halted at a number of places due to faulty EVMs.

The delegation, comprising Congress leader RPN Singh, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh, told the commission about the reports of malfunctioning of the electronic voting machines at many places.

"We have demanded that wherever the machines have malfunctioned, where the machines have taken more than an hour-and-a-half to be changed, re-polling should take place at those booths tomorrow or the day after.

"We have also demanded that wherever the machines were changed in less than an hour-and-a-half, an additional time of 90 minutes after 6 0'clock should be given to the people to cast their votes," Singh told reporters after the meeting.

The opposition has raised concerns about the reported malfunctioning of the EVMs in some areas, due to which the polling process was held up for a few hours.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 21 per cent polling was recorded till 11 am in Kairana parliamentary constituency while 22 per cent votes were polled in Noorpur Assembly constituency where bypolls are underway today.

The opposition has complained of EVMs malfunctioning in several places.

According to the Election Commission, till 11 am, Kairana recorded 21.34 per cent polling, while the polling percentage in Noorpur Assembly constituency was 22 per cent.

The Kairana bypoll is signifcant as it would test the popularity of the ruling BJP in the state. The Kairana bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh in February.

His daughter Mriganka Singh is the BJP candidate, pitted against Rashtriya Lok Dal's Tabassum Hasan (BSP MP from Kairana in 2009) who is also supported by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and also claims the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Kairana parliamentary constituency has five assembly segments -- Shamli, Thana Bhawan and Kairana in Shamli district, and Gangoh and Nakur in Saharanpur district.

Similarly, the by-election to Noorpur Assembly seat was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Lokendra Singh Chauhan in a road accident in February.

In Noorpur, the BJP announced the name of Avani Singh, wife of late MLA Lokendra Chauhan, as its candidate. The SP has fielded Naeemul Hasan as its candidate.

According to the Election Commission, there are 16.09 lakh voters in Kairana. This includes 8.73 lakh male voters and 7.36 lakh female voters. Noorpur Assembly constituency has 3.06 lakh voters.

In Kairana, there are 12 candidates in the fray, while from Noorpur there are 10 candidates in the field. There are 2,056 polling booths.

Opposition Samajwadi Party and RLD have complained of snags in EVM machines.

"Getting reports of problems in EVMs in the by election but still voters should go for casting votes), SP president Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary charged that 140 EVMs have been tampered with in Noorpur and similar reports have also come in from Kairana.

"BJP wants to avenge defeat in earlier bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur anyhow and win these by polls," Chaurdhary charged.

RLD spokesman Anil Dubey said there are reports of EVM malfunctioning in both the constituencies, specially in areas where the RLD-SP have influence.

"We (RLD and SP) are going to meet the CEO to lodge a formal complaint in this regard," Dubey said.

Counting of votes will take place on May 31.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's powerful Army today ordered a Court of Inquiry into the revelations made by former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Asad Durrani and approached the government to place his name on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent him from leaving the country.

Durrani, who headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from August 1990 till March 1992, along with Indian former RAW chief A S Daulat has recently published a book titled 'The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace' in India.

He was summoned to the General Headquarters (GHQ) today to explain his position on the book 'Spy Chronicles', said a statement issued today by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the Pakistan military's media wing.

"A formal Court of Inquiry headed by a serving Lieutenant General has been ordered to probe the matter in detail," the statement said.

It also said that "competent authority has been approached to place the name of Lt Gen (retd) Durrani on Exit Control List (ECL).

Durrani has expressed dismay at his "own people" after facing severe backlash over his recent book that landed him in controversy. He was also targeted by some retired senior army officers on different TV talk shows.

Lt Gen retired Abdul Qayyum and Maj Gen retired Ijaz Awan questioned the motive behind releasing the book on internet.

Durrani was apparently summoned after ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanded an urgent meeting of the high-powered National Security Committee (NSC) to discuss a recent book co-authored by a former spy chiefs of Pakistan and India.

Also, former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani and prominent leader of Pakistan Peoples Party criticised the joint book by rival spy chiefs and said if it was written by a civilian, he would have been branded as traitor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected the Opposition's protest against a new order relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying he has no authority over the region after the devolution of all the powers to local representatives.

Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly of the region. The order is being seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order. A complete strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan yesterday on the call of the joint Opposition to protest against the order.

India yesterday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation".

The order has also sparked several protests in the region.

Abbasi said that under the order, all the powers have been transferred to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination.

He said his government was ready to accommodate more demands from the representatives of the area.

Abassi said that he as well as minister for Kashmir Affairs had no authority over the region after the devolution of powers.

From today I as the prime minster and Barjees Tahir as federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan have become powerless as far as the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned. All the powers have been shifted to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and no one can abolish the powers which we have transferred to them, Abassi said while addressing a joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly and GB Council yesterday.

He said once powerful GB Council would function as an advisory body only.

He said he was amazed that some opposition parties were protesting against the law.

"If they had listened, they would have noticed that all powers had already been transferred to local representatives under the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018," he said.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier expressed hope that the region would be the most prosperous and developed area of the country under the project.

He said the international issues related to the region might go on, but it was a proud moment for the government as the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would have same rights which the people of other parts of the country enjoyed.

When Abbasi was about to start his speech, Leader of the Opposition in GB Assembly Mohammad Shafi Khan stood up from his seat and interrupted the CM to say Gilgit-Baltistan people had principally rejected the order.

How can GB be governed through orders? he asked.

Khan announced that the opposition parties had decided principally not to accept any order without constitutional protection.

Other opposition members including Javed Hussain of Pakistan Peoples Party, Raja Jahanzeb of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Nawaz Naji of Balawaristan National Front stood up and shouted the slogan orders not accepted. The opposition lawmakers also tore the copies of the agenda.

During the protest, a scuffle erupted between the opposition and ruling party members. The opposition parties later staged a walkout.

Following the walkout by the opposition, the prime minister began his speech.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has rejected India's protests over its latest move on exercising administrative authority on the disputed region, saying New Delhi's "spurious" claim over contradicts everything from history to the situation on the ground.

cabinet on May 21 approved Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly for the region. The order is being seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

In a statement, the said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Foreign Office spokesman in a statement claimed that the " was a disputed territory".

"Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu & Kashmir as an 'integral part' of Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim, the spokesman said.

"These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said.
Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and issued a demarche over the Indian statement that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Pakistan Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly for the region. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

India yesterday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Commenting on India's remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal today said that Singh was summoned on the issue.

Faisal, who is also the Director General (South Asia & South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) issued the demarche to Singh.

Singh was summoned "to register Pakistan's categorical rejection of the Indian statement on the Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018 and its baseless, fallacious claim" over Kashmir, according to a statement issued by Faisal's office.

It said a written demarche to this effect was also handed over to Singh.

The Foreign Office spokesman in a statement yesterday claimed that the "Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory".

"Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu & Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India. Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim," the spokesman said.

"These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said, referring to UN Security Council resolutions.

The spokesman said that Pakistan as a responsible member of the international community, had always taken steps consistent with UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir dispute.

"The latest measure is no exception, as its aim is to further empower the people of Gilgit and Baltistan. We will continue to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions until this dispute is finally resolved through peaceful means, he said.

Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now.

China's controversial USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through the disputed region.

It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BSF sleuths today nabbed a



Pakistani intruder from an area close to Jalloke border outpost along the International Border in Ferozepur Sector



The intruder was identified as 32-year-old Mohammed Asif, BSF sources said.

An amount of Rs 1200 in Pakistani currency and some medicine was recovered from his possession, they said.

Further investigations were on, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
None of the seven recognised national and 59 state parties have responded to the Law Commission's consultation on the 'working paper' on holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, a proposal being pushed by the government.

May 8 was last date of submitting response. Among the prominent people who have responded to the document are V Narayanasamy in his capacity as Puducherry chief minster and former chief election commissioner H S Brahma.

BJP, Congress, CPI, CPI-M, Trinamool Congress, BSP and NCP are the national parties recognised by the Election Commission (EC).

Highly-placed sources in the Commission said Narayanasamy was of the view that simultaneous polls cannot be held without amending the Constitution. He said any move to amend the Constitution to extend or reduce the term of the state assemblies would be against the federal structure.

Brahma has supported the idea of holding the two sets of elections together, the sources said.

Seeking to give shape to the government's concept of one nation, one election', the Law Commission's internal working paper has recommended holding of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in two phases beginning 2019.

The second phase of simultaneous polls can take place in 2024, the document states.

The document has proposed amending the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act to shorten or extend the terms of state legislative assemblies to effect the move.

The states which are recommended to be covered under phase I are where assembly polls are due in 2021.

States which will come under phase II are Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi and Punjab. To hold elections in these states along with LS polls, the terms of the assemblies have to be extended.

Based on a suggestion made by the Election Commission, the working paper also says that a no confidence motion against the government should be followed by a confidence motion.

This would ensure that if the opposition does not have numbers to form an alternative government, the regime in office cannot be removed.

Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat had a word of caution on simultaneous polls when he recently said that the legal framework required for holding of the two elections together will take a lot of time to get ready.

We cannot put the cart before the horse. Logistical issues are subservient to legal framework. Unless legal framework is in place, we don't have to talk about anything else because legal framework will take a lot of time, making constitutional amendment to (changing) the law, all the process will take time," he had said.

He had said once the legal framework is ready, the EC will deliver. "EC is a creation of the Constitution. We have to perform willy-nilly, deliver the election, whatever way prescribed in the law," he had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed concern over the rising fuel prices across the country.

"Fuel prices are increasing again and again. All are being badly affected: agriculture, transport and common people are being forced to bear burden," she said in a tweet.

The CM also urged the Centre to take measures to control the surge.

"In spite of the grim situation, why isn't the Central Govt taking any serious steps to find a solution? They need to act," Banerjee, who is also supremo of the ruling Trinamool Congress, added.

The youth wing of the ruling party had last week taken out rallies in several districts of the state to protest against the sharp rise in fuel prices across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Poland's prime minister has called a planned Russian gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, a "new hybrid weapon" and says Moscow wants to use it to undermine NATO and the European Union.

Mateusz Morawiecki called Nord Stream 2 "a poisoned pill of European security" as he addressed a NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Warsaw today.

The Nord Stream 2 project would double the amount of natural gas Russia can funnel directly to energy-hungry Germany from newly tapped reserves in Siberia, intentionally skirting Eastern European nations like Poland and Ukraine.

The United States and some other EU members share Poland's opposition to the project, warning that it could give Moscow greater leverage over Western Europe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A plea alleging obstruction in the minimum flow in Godavari River due to construction of a diaphragm wall at Polavaram Dam prompted the National Green Tribunal today to seek responses from the Centre and others.

A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim issued notices to the Polavaram Project Authority, Union Ministry, Inter Ministerial Monitoring Committee, Central Inland Fisheries Institute, Andhra Pradesh, District Collector of West Godavari and others while seeking their replies before July 31.

The tribunal had recently asked all states to maintain a minimum environmental flow of 15 to 20 percent of the average lean season course in their rivers.

E-flow defines the quantity, timing and quality of water flow required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, besides human livelihood.

Advocate Pragya Parijat Singh, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that the environmental flow of the river was being obstructed due to construction of a diaphragm wall.

She said the construction of such a wall has a devastating effect on marine wildlife in the river and livelihood of 8,000 fishermen in and around the Polavaram area.

"The water is getting dried up and thousands of fishermen are stranded due to loss of livelihood. Not just that, the ecology is getting disturbed as the aquatic life is suffering. All these are in clear abrogation of environmental clearance dated October 25, 2005



"The fishermen adopt traditional methods for fishing and there boats are lying idle and they are devoid of any work," the lawyer said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Andhra Pradesh resident Pothabathula Nageswara Rao seeking maintenance of minimum flow of Godavari river at Polavaram dam site and directions to allow fishermen to continue fishing activity.

The plea has also sought action against the project proponent for allegedly violating conditions enumerated in the environmental clearance.

The dam construction at Polavaram involves building of a 1.5 metre thick concrete diaphragm wall up to depths from 40 to 120 metre below the river bed under the earth. The purpose of a diaphragm wall is to secure the river bed stability for withstanding water pressure across the dam.

Polavaram, which the Andhra Pradesh government terms as the lifeline of the State, has been declared as a national project under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

The central government shall execute the project and obtain all requisite clearances, including forest, environmental and rehabilitation and resettlement. The Union should take under its control the regulation and development of Polavaram, the Act says.

Accordingly, the Centre constituted the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) for the purpose. The State government has been going ahead with its execution for the last four years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twelve Naxals were today arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarhs insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI that six Naxals were apprehended from the forest near Dalla village under Basaguda police station limits, five from areas falling under Bedre police station and one from Tarnichhilpatpara in Jangla village.

Six Naxals were nabbed after a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) 168th battalion and District Force acted on a tip-off and launched a search operation near Dalla in Basaguda, he said.

Basaguda is located about 450 kilometres from the state capital.

The six arrested from the forest near Dalla village have been identified as Madkam Hunga (24), Oyam Manglu (26), Kunjam Hunga (45), Punem Bandi (35), Uika Podia (25) and Nupo Pandu (20), the SP said.

Madkam Hunga, he said, was an active member of the Maoists' "military platoon number 9" and had also served as the gunman of Maoist "central committee" member Sonu.

Hunga was active in Abujhmad as well as Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, the official said.

They were allegedly involved in attacking police parties as well as cases of loot earlier, he said.

The five Naxals arrested from Murkinar village under Bedre police station limits were identified as Chaitu Kursam (29), Bonjo Poyam (30), Masa Kuhram (30), SudhramPoyam (22) and Betti Joga (35).

They belong to the DAKMS (Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan) and janmilitia squads of the Maoists and were arrested by a joint team of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and DF, he said.

The five were allegedly involved in torching a passenger bus, after asking occupants to alight, between Kutru and Bedre on March 2 this year, he said.

Garg said that in the third incident, Naxal Dukhari Poyam (35), who was allegedly involved in the murder of a watchman at the house ofa panchayat secretary in Jangla, was arrested by the local police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A nine-year-old Indian-origin girl was today killed in a botched car hijacking, leading to angry protests by the community members in the Indian township of Chatsworth in Durban.

The girl, Sadia Sukhraj, was on her way to school with her father when three armed men allegedly accosted and hijacked the car she was in and sped away with her.

In an ensuing chase in which the hijackers and community members shot at each other, the hijackers crashed the car they were in. The girl was found shot and critically injured while one of the hijackers tumbled out of the car dead.

She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her serious injuries.

A second hijacker was arrested by an off-duty policeman, while the third one escaped.

Following the incident, more than 3,000 members of the community converged outside Chatsworth police station calling for urgent police action.

As the small contingent of officers at the police station allegedly came under severe verbal abuse and threats of physical action from protestors, they resorted to firing rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades to disperse the crowd, which included scores of children.

Mahendra Lillkan, chairperson of the local Crime Forum, said there had been a spike in crime in the area, despite community patrols at night.

"It seems that the criminals have now resorted to striking at soft targets, such as parents taking their children to school, as we have seen with this tragic incident."



Police and community leaders have appealed for calm amid fears that the protests would escalate tomorrow as the distraught family prepared for the funeral.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rajasthan has recorded a significant growth in its sex ratio at birth (SRB) from 888 in 2011 census to 950 in 2017-18, thanks to an effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.

We have carried out a number of activities to improve the situation in the state like decoy operations, prosecution of those held for sex determination, among others, Naveen Jain, Director, National Health Mission, Rajasthan told PTI.

We have created a terror among those involved in sex determination tests and other illegal activities and as a result of it, the state's sex ratio at birth is significantly improving, he asserted.

The official said a total of 14.5 lakh births in the state were examined in the fiscal year of 2017-18.

The data analysis showed that the SRB has increased to 950 which was 888 in the 2011 census, Jain said while hoping that the indicator will further increase in the years to come.

The state's SRB was recorded at 929 in 2015-16 and 938 in 2016-17.

Jain said that the PCPNDT Act, enacted to put a check on female foeticide in the country, has been effectively implemented in the desert state.

Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf said 94 decoy operations cutting across states have been conducted in the last four years, with the maximum of 42 operations being conducted in 2017.

This year, 19 decoy operations were performed, he said.

Saraf said 276 people, including 170 doctors, have been arrested in the state for their alleged role in female foeticide.

Rajasthan has emerged as a model state in the implementation of the PCPNDT Act. Our teams have performed well and I have asked them to continue like this, he said.

Jain also lauded a "strong network of informers" in bringing down the rate of female foeticide in the northern state.

We have a good network of informers and our teams of PCPNDT cell are strong, so we have been able to execute decoy operations in a successful manner, the NHM director said.

The PCPNDT cell takes the help of informers, pregnant women and others to perform decoy operations. Pregnant women act as decoy for the cell and help in arresting those involved in sex selection activities.

In Rajasthan, as many as 2,968 sonography machines are registered in the state and a regular inspection is carried out.

More than 1,200 such inspections were conducted this year, an official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ambient music in restaurants can influence what food people choose, say scientists including one of Indian origin who have found that louder environments inspire diners to crave greasy cheeseburgers and fries instead of making healthier choices like salads.

Volume is proven to directly impact heart rate and arousal. Softer music has a calming effect, making us more mindful of what we order, researchers said.

This typically results in healthier choices, such as a salad.

Louder environments increase stimulation and stress, making diners choose junk food like cheeseburgers and fries, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Sciences.

"Restaurants and supermarkets can use ambient music strategically to influence consumer buying behaviour," said Dipayan Biswas, a professor at the University of South Florida in the US.

Researchers conducted the study at a cafe in Sweden, which played various genres of music in a loop separately at 55 and 70 decibels.

The menu items were coded as healthy, non-healthy and neutral, the category used for items like coffee or tea.

During the experiment conducted over several hours across multiple days, researchers found 20 per cent more restaurant patrons ordered something unhealthy when exposed to louder ambient music compared to those who dined during a quieter time.

While previous studies have looked at varying aspects of ambience's impact on food sales such as lighting, scent and decor, this is the first study to look specifically at how volume dictates healthy vs non-healthy food choices.

These findings allow restaurant managers to strategically manipulate music volume to influence sales.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Overflowing water from Sikkim's



Pakyong airport premises disrupted road traffic in various low lying areas today following heavy rainfall, officials said.

The downpour lasted for more than an hour, they said.

This resulted in waterlogging in the airport area, the officials said, adding, that the accumulated water in the premises then flowed down and cut off a road link between Pakyong and Bhanuturning.

As a result, traffic movement was affected but efforts were on to restore the link, they said.

A few houses were damaged, the officials said.

The rain water also damaged drinking water pipelines at Mamzey village below the airport area.

Meanwhile, a senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) official at Pakyong solicited cooperation of the state government and the local officials in helping the AAI acquire land below the airport wall, so that houses lying there do not have to bear the brunt of heavy rains.

"We want the state government to assist us in getting the land of the local people residing below the airport's perimeter," Deputy General Manager (AAI) at Packyong airport, Jagbir Singh, said.

The construction company, which built the airport, tried to divert the rainwater and channelise it into drains but was not successful, another AAI official said.

The Pakyong airport, located at an attitude of 4,500 feet, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 605 crore.

The state of Sikkim, nestled in the Himalayas, is set to join the aviation network of the country, since the Pakyong airport obtained license in the first week of May this year.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu took to Twitter to announce the development, saying the license would pave the way for direct air connectivity to the state, giving a boost to tourism and economic growth.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court today stayed the arrest of a women rights activist Trupti Desai in a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, in which she is an accused.

The top court sought the response of Maharashtra government on a plea moved by Desai against the April 23 order of Bombay High Court rejecting her anticipatory bail application in the case.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and M M Shantanagoudar, while issuing notice to the state government, stayed the immediate arrest of Desai.

The High Court while refusing to grant anticipatory bail to Desai and others in the case had said it was not going into the truth and falsity of the allegations at this stage.

"Once this complaint is perused in its entirety, particularly in the backdrop of the provisions of the SC/ST Act and the mandate of section 18 thereof, we cannot term this complaint as a patent false version," a division bench of high court had said.

It had said that merely because the complaint was made after some time, does not mean that the ingredients of the provisions of the law were not prima facie satisfied.

According to the prosecution, the complainant, Vijay Makasare, was heading towards Mumbai from his residence in Ahmednagar, when Desai, along with three others, came in their car and stopped his car.

They had then allegedly snatched his Samsung mobile phone, gold chain and money worth Rs 27,000, after which he was assaulted with sticks and iron rods by all the accused.

The complainant has also alleged that as he belongs to the Mahar community, Desai and others had also abused him in the name of caste. The police had registered a complaint under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

Desai had argued before the high court that the "patently false" complaint was made 10 days after the incident.

The activist had contended that she has documents to show that the complainant does not belong to SC/ST community after converting to Christianity, but the high court refused to consider the argument saying no material was shown to it with regard to the alleged conversion.

Trupti Desai is the founder of the Bhumata Brigade, a Pune-based organisation, through which she has campaigned against discriminatory treatment meted to women in religious places like Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra, the Mahalakshmi Temple at Kolhapur district and the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple in Nashik districts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China today said the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit will be a "new milestone" in the grouping's history as it would formulate new measures for common security to strike on three "evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, besides drug trafficking and cybercrimes.

The summit will be held in the Chinese city of Qingdao on June 9-10 in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take part.

This is the first SCO summit to be held after India and Pakistan were admitted to the grouping in which China plays an influential role.

The SCO is comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

Pakistan is expected to be represented by its President, Mamnoon Hussain as the country is poised for general elections.

Over the years, the SCO has developed strong anti-terrorism cooperation structure, Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). It specialised in cooperation in counter terrorism operations with periodic exercises between the member countries.

"On security, the summit's focus would be on the three evil forces (terrorism, extremism and separatism), drug trafficking and cybercrime," Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a media briefing here today.

"During the summit, leaders of the SCO member states will analyse the global and regional security situation, explore specific measures to strengthen security cooperation and review several cooperation documents," Wang said.

The SCO summit will explore broaden and elevate security cooperation, he said. The leader will review documents on striking against the three forces and cyber crimes and drug trafficking, he said.

Such a cooperation will "help solidify the legal framework for security cooperation and will make shore up the resolve the parties to collectively address the uncertainties and destabilising factors and elevate the coordination among the concerned departments so that it would strengthen SCO strength and world peace, strengthen regional security and stability, he said.

Terming the summit to be a new milestone in SCO's history since it was founded in 2001, Wang said its has become the largest regional cooperation organisation in terms of geographical coverage and population.

Since China took over the rotating presidency of the SCO last June, more than 160 activities including a series of important institutional meetings and multilateral events have been held so far, Wang said.

The events held in the run up to the summit included, meetings of Foreign and Defence Ministers as well as top security officials of the grouping.

"Mutual political trust has been lifted to a new high; security coordination has made new progress; pragmatic cooperation has achieved new breakthroughs and people-to-people exchanges have yielded new fruits," Wang said.

He said China hoped that the Qingdao summit would reach new consensus, formulate new measures and design a new blueprint for enhanced development.

"Series of documents will be passed covering customs, agriculture, environment and tourism among others. They will be accompanied by detailed action plans so that political consensus will be translated into deliverables and fresh impetus to development," he said.

"Peoples have high expectations of the summit, the international community is watching the summit closely," Wang said, adding that the leaders will try to reach new consensus on maintaining regional peace and solidarity and integrated development of member states.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP president Amit Shah today paid tributes to Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary, saying he fought against untouchability in the society to allow Dalits entry into temples.

"Besides serving the country, Veer Savarkar fought a lot against untouchability in society to allow Dalits entry into temples. Only after searching hard among crores of patriots that one can find a patriot like Savarkar," he said in tweets.

Shah said he was also a strong votary of united India and believed in the mantra of one nation, one culture and nationalism.

"He strongly opposed the policy of appeasement and attempts to divide the country," the BJP chief said.

Born in 1883 in Maharashtra, Savarkar has been a reverential figure for the BJP but his ideology has been condemned by parties like the Congress which identifies themselves with the secular policy and accuse him of spreading communalism.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 40 per cent polling was recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot Assembly constituency of Punjab, where voting for a bypoll is underway.

"44 per cent polling has been recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot Assembly constituency," Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Karuna Raju told PTI.

There was no report of any violence from anywhere in the constituency.

"The polling has been peaceful," the Punjab CEO said.

However, four voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines and a control unit were replaced at some polling booths after the devices developed malfunctioning during the mock polling, he added.

Polling for the by-election began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

While the ruling Congress party in the state is hoping to maintain its winning momentum, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is aiming to retain the seat.

The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of Shahkot's Akali MLA Ajit Singh Kohar in February.

The Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Laddi, while the SAD has given ticket to Kohar's son, Naib Singh Kohar. Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan of the AAP is also in the fray.

While casting their votes, both Laddi and Kohar exuded confidence that they would win the bypoll.

As many as 1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates, who are in the fray.

Of the 236 polling booths in the constituency, webcasting will be held at 103.

On the Akali Dal's allegations that vehicles bearing registration number of other states were seen moving in the constituency, Raju said the teams concerned were constantly following up on the matter, but nothing was substantiated as yet.

The Election Commission (EC) has deployed a total of 1,022 security personnel, including six companies of the Border Security Force (BSF), in Shahkot, an official said, adding that 1,416 polling staff have been deployed for the bypoll.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPAT machines are being used at all the polling stations.

Shahkot is known to be a pocket borough of the Akali Dal. Kohar was a five-time MLA from the constituency.

The main opposition, Aam Aadmi Party, which had faced a humiliating defeat in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll and the civic polls in the state, is desperately looking for a victory in Shahkot.

In last year's election to the 117-member Punjab Assembly, the Congress had won 77 seats, while the SAD-BJP alliance had won 18. The AAP had won 20 seats, while the Lok Insaf Party had bagged the remaining two seats.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Shiv Sena and the NCP today alleged malfunctioning in electronic voting machines (EVMs) during bypolls for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

Former Union minister Praful Patel claimed that almost 25 per cent of EVMs malfunctioned in the bypoll to Bhandara- Gondia Lok Sabha seat, while Sena leader Sanjay Raut said those in power were contesting elections while keeping the "key and remote of EVMs in their hands".

Patel sought to know why EVMs from Surat in Gujarat were used in the bypoll when similar machines were available in Maharashtra.

"EVMs were available in Maharashtra. What was the reason for bringing EVMs from Surat in Gujarat? We have expressed our doubts to the Election Commission," Patel told reporters in Gondia.

To say that EVMs malfunctioned due to excessive heat is shocking, the senior NCP leader said, and demanded re-polling soon in the booths where the voting machines failed.

"In developed countries like the US, Germany, France and Japan, the use of EVMs was stopped and they reverted to ballot papers," he said.

Patel, who lost from the Bhandara-Gondia constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, said his party has raised the issue of the faulty EVMs with the Election Commission.

He also pointed out that the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, which eject slips to confirm the voter's choice, were not functioning.

"As and when re-polling takes place, will we be able to count every slip?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Raut told reporters in Mumbai that manipulating EVMs was now a trend.

"Earlier, there used to be booth capturing and bogus voting. Now, some people hold the key and remote control of EVMs in their hands and contest elections," he said.

"This is a warning bell for the country. This EVM scam is taking place because you (BJP) are in power. That is why outdated EVM machines are brought in," the Sena leader said.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Chavan said over 250 EVMs and VVPATs had malfunctioned, which was a suspicious development and this should be probed.

The BJP candidate for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat, Rajendra Gavit, demanded that the polling time be extended in view the faulty EVMs in some booths.

Gavit's poll representative submitted a memorandum to election officials in Palghar, seeking extension of the polling time due to malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPAT machines in some booths.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP and the NCP have locked horns in the bypoll, being held after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole.

Patole, a leader of the powerful OBC Kunbi community, had switched side from the Congress to the BJP and was elected as an MP from the constituency in Vidarbha in 2014 by defeating Praful Patel.

The NCP, which has allied with the Congress, has fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde, against BJP's Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.

In Palghar, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP's Chintaman Wanaga. The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena has fielded the late MP's son Srinivas in a bid to garner the sympathy vote.

The BJP has put up former Congress minister Rajendra Gavit. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) led by Vasai-Virar strongman Hitendra Thakur is also in the fray with the nomination of its ex-MP Baliram Jadhav.

Kiran Raja Gahla of the CPI-M, which has a base in Talasari and Dahanu, and former MP Damu Shingada (Congress) are also contesting in a multi-cornered fight from the seat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A white South African has been slapped with a fine and asked to do 50 hours of community service for making racist remarks on Facebook about Hindus.

The South African Hindu Dharma Sabha has hailed it as "a major victory against people who attack Hindus on social media".

Alexander MacGibbon was hauled to the Equality Court by the Sabha after he posted racist remarks on Facebook during Diwali celebrations in October 2016.

In his post, MacGibbon had referred to the fact that the first migrants from India arrived in South Africa as indentured labourers to work on the sugar-cane plantations.

Amid a huge outcry, MacGibbon deactivated his Facebook account, but not before his post had gone viral.

He was also suspended from his position as chairman of a local company.

MacGibbon struck a deal with the Sabha which was ratified in the Equality Court by chief magistrate Sakhisene Mzimele on Monday.

In terms of the settlement, MacGibbon has to apologise to the Hindu community within 10 days, pay a fine of Rand 20,000 to the Aryan Benevolent Home, an Indian-run welfare association for orphans and the aged in Durban, and serve 50 hours of community service at the Ramakrishna Centre, another social welfare institution in the city.

Sabha President Ram Maharaj said in his complaint to the Human Rights Commission that MacGibbon's comments were "deeply demeaning and invasive of human dignity".

The Commission, reacting to Maharaj's call for serious action, initiated the Equality Court action against MacGibbon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Southwest Monsoon hit Kerala today, marking the arrival of the rainy season in the country, private forecasting agency Skymet said.

However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country' official forecaster, in its 8.15-am bulletin, said Monsoon would hit Kerala in the next 24 hours.

"There are Monsoon-like conditions over Kerala and we can say that the annual rainfall season has arrived," Skymet CEO Jatin Singh told PTI.

The Skymet, in its forecast, said that Monsoon would hit the Kerala coast on May 28, while the IMD has made a prediction for its arrival on May 29.

According to the IMD, if after May 10, 60 per cent of the available 14 stations --Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore -- report rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days, the onset of Monsoon over Kerala can be declared on the 2nd day. This is one of the main parameters for the declaring the arrival of monsoon.

Besides this, the other parameters for the arrival of Monsoon should be that the westerly winds must be up to 15,000 feet above main sea level and outgoing long-wave radiation should be less than 200 wm-2 (watt per square metre).

"The long-wave radiation is 140 wm-2. Rain for consecutive two days have been recorded in almost all stations and even the wind criteria has matched to safely say that the Monsoon has hit Kerela," said Mahesh Palwat, Vice-President (Meteorology and Climate Change) of Skymet.

Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some parts of South Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Comorin Maldives area, some parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, some more parts of South Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Andaman Sea and Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next 24 hours, the IMD said in its forecast.

"The Monsoon is expected to hit Kerala in the next 24 hours," Mritunjay Mohapatra, Additional Director General, IMD said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken today claimed that the number of government school students in the national capital who passed CBSE class 12 exam has dropped during AAP rule.

In a tweet addressing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said, "During Congress rule, 1.47 lakh students passed from government schools. My challenge is that like previous year this year also you could not break this record. Do not lie, see how number of students passing from private schools has increased while those from government schools has gone down."



In support of his claim, Maken tweeted the number of students who passed from government schools compared to private school in the last few years.

The data tweeted by the Congress leader showed that 1.47 lakh students had passed CBSE class 12 exam as compared to 76,000 from private schools, in 2013-14. In 2017-18, the number of students who passed from government schools was 1.09 lakh whereas the number was 91,000 in case of private schools.

As the CBSE declared Class 12 results on Saturday, Delhi was third in terms of pass percentage after Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said that the Delhi government schools had a pass percentage of 90.64, against last year's 88.27 per cent. Kejriwal had lauded the students and said that the good results were achieved despite many hurdles.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) today staged protests outside the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata against the fuel price hike.

The SUCI(C) supporters carrying placards against the fuel price hike violated the prohibitory orders in vogue in the area as per security norms.

The protestors termed the decision to increase prices of fuel as "anti-people" and demanded immediate reduction of fuel prices across the country.

Few SUCI(C) supporters were detained by the police, the force sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NCP MP Supriya Sule today accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of trying to "promote" its "ideology" through by using Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pictures on books being recommended for supplementary reading in schools.

Waving a book titled 'Chacha Chaudhary and Narendra Modi' at a press conference, Sule said, "I am happy that through these books (Chacha Chowdhary and Modi) the message of cleanliness is given to the students, however, what was the need to use PM Modi's large pictures on these books?



Sule said photos of Sant Gadgebaba--a 19th century mendicant-saint and social reformer from Maharashtra--or Mahatma Gandhi who spread the message about cleanliness, should have been used on these books instead of those of Modi.

The Maharashtra government had reportedly taken a decision to buy books worth Rs 59.42 lakh under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) as a supplementary reading material for students which include the books on Chacha Choudhary and Modi series that can be read by the students in leisure time.

"It is unfortunate that the government is trying to promote itself using as a mean. should not be used for political gains but the government is doing it by bringing marketing into the education," she said.

Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said no political party had tried to promote its ideology through education in the past, "but this government is doing this which is unfortunate".

The Baramati MP also sought clarification from state Education Minister Vinod Tawde over the government's decision to close down 1300 schools run by Zilla Parishads across the state.

"After I spoke about the state government's decision to close 1300 schools in the state, Tawdeji said I and Sharad Pawar were lying. But today, I have all the data with me and on the basis of the data and the media reports, I would like to seek clarification from the state government on what basis they are closing down or merging the schools in the state," she said.

In most of the villages where the decision to merge or close down the schools is taken the local residents are opposing it, she said.

"I am not saying this. It is the school-wise report (sought from respective Zilla Parishads) which shows that in majority areas people are opposing it," she added.

Tawde had said that a "false propaganda" was created over the closure of 1,300 schools which had recorded low enrollment.

A few months ago, the government decided to close down over 1,300 schools on account of low number of students and poor education standards.

The move drew criticism from various quarters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi court today reserved for June 5 its order on whether to summon Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as an accused in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said he would pass the order after the counsel for prosecution said there was enough evidence to summon Tharoor.

The Delhi Police had on May 14 accused the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, of abetting Pushkar's suicide and told a city court that he should be summoned as an accused in the four-and-half year-old case, claiming there was sufficient evidence against him.

In a nearly 3,000-page charge sheet, the police has named Tharoor as the only accused while also alleging that he had subjected his wife to cruelty. It had also urged the court to summon Tharoor as an accused.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has been named one of the key witnesses in the case.

Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel room on the night of January 17, 2014.

The Congress leader has been charged under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

Under section 498A, the maximum punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, while jail term up to 10 years is prescribed under section 306.

An FIR was registered by Delhi Police on January 1, 2015 against unknown persons under IPC section 302 (murder).

According to prosecution sources, the charge sheet has mentioned that Pushkar was allegedly subjected to mental as well as physical cruelty. Tharoor has not been arrested in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"I have no desire to live...all I pray for is death," wrote in an e-mail to her husband nine days before she was found dead in a luxury hotel room here, police has told a city court.

The police also told the court that Sunanda's death was due to poisoning and 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room but it was not clear how many pills she had consumed.

Sunanda's mail and messages on social media have been taken as a "dying declaration", Delhi Police told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal, who today reserved for June 5 its order on whether to summon Tharoor as an accused in the case.

The Delhi Police had on May 14 accused the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, of abetting Pushkar's suicide and urged the court that he should be summoned as an accused in the four-and-half year-old case, claiming there was sufficient evidence against him.

In a nearly 3,000-page charge sheet, the police has named Tharoor as the only accused while also alleging that he had subjected his wife to cruelty.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has been named one of the key witnesses in the case.

Pushkar was found dead in the suite of a luxury hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.

The Congress leader has been charged under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

Under section 498A, the maximum punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, while jail term up to 10 years is prescribed under section 306.

The charge sheet, which includes several annexures including medical reports, said that Pushkar died within four years of her marriage with Tharoor. The couple had entered the wedlock on August 22, 2010.

The suite of the South Delhi hotel, where Pushkar had died, was sealed by the police on the night of her death for investigation. An FIR was registered by Delhi Police on January 1, 2015 against unknown persons under IPC section 302 (murder).

According to prosecution sources, the charge sheet has mentioned that Pushkar was allegedly subjected to mental as well as physical cruelty. Tharoor has not been arrested in the case.

The special investigation team (SIT) on April 20 had told the apex court that a draft final report has been prepared after conducting "thorough professional and scientific investigations" in the case relating to the death of Congress MP's wife.

The Delhi High Court had last year on October 26 dismissed BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking court-monitored SIT probe into the death of Pushkar, terming his PIL as a "textbook example of a political interest litigation", instead of public interest litigation or a PIL.

Later, Swamy had moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order. The top court had then asked him to satisfy it on the question of maintainability of his plea.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today apologised for saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed lakhs of "Indians" in Nepal's Janakpur recently.

She posted a tweeted an apology after people on Twitter, including a Parliamentarian from Nepal, pointed out that Modi addressed Nepali people in Janakpur earlier this month and not Indians.

"This was a mistake on my part. I sincerely apologise for this," Swaraj tweeted tonight along with a video of her comments about Modi's efforts to reach out to Indian dispora abroad, including in Nepal.

Earlier addressing a press conference on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the NDA government, Swaraj said no prime minister before Modi had tried to reach out to the Indian diaspora at such a large scale.

"Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of the country who has from America's Madison Square to Janakpur (in Nepal) addressed lakhs of Indians and reached out to them," Swaraj had said.

Nepali Congress leader and Parliamentarian Gagan Thapa criticised Swaraj for the comments and wondered whether it was a "casual undermining of Nepal's sovereignty".

"Regrettable that India's External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj described Janakpur's population that @narendramodi greeted as Indians. One wonders what the confusion was, or if this was casual undermining of Nepal's sovereignty," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China's Tibet region is getting warmer and wetter due to global climate change, data from the regional climate centre has shown.

Tibet's average temperature climbed 0.42 degrees Celsius per decade from 1981 to 2017, while average annual precipitation has increased by 11 millimetres every 10 years.

The average temperature in 2017 was 5.7 degrees Celsius, the third-highest since 1981. Average annual rainfall last year was 492.4 millimetres, 32.2 millimetres more than average, state-run Xinhua agency reported quoting the centre's data.

Scientists believe the change in temperature and precipitation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the result of global climate change, which has expanded the temperate zone and forced the frigid and the sub frigid zones in Tibet to move westward and northward, it said.

The overall in the highlands is good, scientists said, according to the report.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid strain in the Indo-Maldives relationship, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said though bilateral ties may have seen ups and downs, they were "not broken and cannot be broken".

Addressing her annual press conference here, Swaraj said India plays the role of a counsellor and gives humanitarian assistance to the island nation.

"Maldives is our neighbour. 'India First' is part of their foreign policy. In ties with Maldives, whichever government has been in power (in India), there have been ups and downs," Swaraj said.

"There had been ups and downs in the past, there are (ups and downs) now also. But ties with Maldives are not broken and connot be broken," she asserted.

Swaraj's remarks come days after Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said Maldives is a "challenge" for India at the moment as its current government is more inclined towards China.

Lanba's remarks indicated that the ties between New Delhi and Male were yet to reach a level of normalcy.

India's ties with Maldives nose-dived after it criticised the Abdulla Yameen government for imposing a 45-day emergency in the archipelago nation earlier this year.

During the crisis, India had ignored calls for military intervention from the opposition parties in the island nation.

The influence of China on Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, considered a backyard of India, has been growing and it is seen as a concern in New Delhi.

Maldives neither participated in the multi-national 'MILAN' naval conclave, a congregation of littoral navies conducted biennially by the Indian Navy at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was held in mid-March this year, nor did its defence minister led his country's delegation to take part in the DefExpo2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tamil Nadu government today ordered the state Pollution Control Board to seal and "permanently" close the Vedanta group's copper plant in Tuticorin following last week's violent protests over pollution concerns during which 13 people were killed in police firing.

Soon after the issuance of the Government Order (GO), top Tuticorin district officials sealed the copper smelter unit premises and pasted the order at the main gate.

Palaniswami told reporters in Chennai the "plant has been permanently closed".

The government's decision came a day ahead of the start of the state Assembly session where it is likely to come under intense Opposition fire over the Tuticorin incidents.

"Now the plant is permanently closed. The GO has been implemented," Tuticorin District Collector Sandeep Nanduri said.

The closure of the copper plant caps sustained protests and campaign for the last several years by the local people against copper factory over enivornmental pollution concerns.

The Government Order (GO) said it endorsed the recent closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and also asked the TNPCB to "seal the unit and close the plant permanently".

The document cited the Constitution's directive principles of state policy (Article 48-A) enjoining protection of environment and provisions of the Water Act, 1974, to order the permanent closure of the copper factory "in the larger public interest".

It referred to the PCB order of April 9 refusing to renew its consent to allow Vedanta's copper smelter plant at Tuticorin to operate.

The order recalled how on May 23 the TNPCB had issued directions for closure of the unit and disconnection of power supply to it. The power supply was disconnected a day later.

Chief Minsiter K Palaniswami said the government has issued the GO in deference to the sentiments of the people.

The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days. Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Asked what he had to say to the people of Tuticorin, the chief minsiter said, "Peace has returned to the town and it must continue, and people should cooperate with the government. Their demand has been fulfilled by Amma's government."



Palaniswami said people of Tuticorin were seeking permanent closure of the plant since it did not meet the environment related conditions of the National Green Tribunal and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

Recalling the efforts initiated by late J Jayalithaa in 2013 for the closure of Sterlite plant following a gas leak incident that year, he said on March 29, 2013, the unit's closure was ordered. Subsequently, power supply to it was discontinued and the unit was shut.

However, the plant approached the National Green Tribunal which allowed operations on August 8, 2013, he said.

The government had appealed against this direction in the Supreme Court and its petition is pending there, he said.

On April 9, the TNPCB had rejected a plea of the plant management for renewal of consent as pollution control norms were not being followed, and since May 24 the unit was not getting power and water supply, he said.

He said representatives of the protesting groups met him, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other top government officials at the Secretariat today.

Earlier, Panneerselvam met those injured in last week's police-public clashes and firing at a government hospital in Tuticorin and asserted that the government will take "resolute" steps for the permanent closure of the copper plant.

"Today, the main demand of the people is that the copper plant should be permanently closed. In keeping with their demand, it is shut now. I would like to make it clear that Sterlite plant will be permanently shut," he said.

Quoting Jayalalithaa's popular slogan of "Makkalal Naan, Makkalukagavey Naan (I am by the people and I am for the people)," Palaniswami said his was "Amma's government" that followed in her footsteps and was committed to the welfare of the people.

"In deference to the opinion and sentiments of the general public, it was decided to close down the Sterlite plant and a Government Order has been issued today," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 68-year-old man was arrested from Gujarat's Surat district for allegedly kidnapping two minor girls from Nandurbar district in neighbouring Maharashtra, police said today.

The girls, aged 8 and 11, were handed over to Nandurbar police along with the accused, identified as Babban Pawara, in Kim in Surat district today, they said.

The girls hailed from Shahada in tribal-dominated Nandurbar district.

Pawara was arrested by Kosamba police yesterday after the police received a complaint that the girls were forcibly brought to Kim Kothwa Dargah in Surat district, said Surat (rural) DySP Hetal Patel.

"One Ibrahim Shah, who volunteers at the Dargah, spotted the girls crying. Upon inquiry, the girls told him that they were brought here forcibly by an elderly man from Nandurbar. Shah then alerted Kosamba police officials," Patel said.

When the Kosamba police contacted their counterparts in Nandubar, they were told that the girls were kidnapped five days ago and an FIR was registered, he said.

Patel said Pawara is also wanted in the murder case of his son.

A team of police from Nandurbar today came here to take custody of the girls and the accused.

Shah, who had alerted the police, was felicitated by Nandurbar police, Patel said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Venezuelan generals were among a group of people arrested last week for allegedly plotting against the country's President Nicolas Maduro, their lawyer has said.

The generals are accused of leading a group of eight soldiers and a civilian.

Alfonso Medina Roa, a lawyer for the officers, yesterday said they were charged in a military court for "treason against the fatherland, instigation of rebellion, mutiny and crimes against military decorum."



Maduro alluded to the group's arrest in an announcement last week, though he did not say how many of them were soldiers nor their ranks.

Human rights NGO Foro Penal described the arrests as political detentions. It estimates there are some 350 "political prisoners" currently in detention, including 70 from the military.

Maduro has offered to release some imprisoned opponents as part of what he has called a "pacification policy" in the wake of the deaths of some 200 people in protests since he took office in April 2013.

On Friday, 22 such prisoners were released.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain must be "fully out" of the EU customs union after Brexit in order to be a global trading nation, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said today, piling further pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May.

"Now is our moment not to be less European -- we can do a great trade deal with the EU that will benefit both sides -- but to be truly global again," Johnson wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

Speaking after a long tour of South America, Johnson said countries in the region had been "emphatic" and told him: "If this is to work, we must come fully out of the EU customs union".

For Britain to be a "valid trading partner, then we must take back control -- as the PM has said -- of our tariff schedules, and do deals that are unhindered and uncomplicated," he said.

With just one month to go until a critical European Union summit, the British government is deeply divided over its plans for future trade ties with the bloc after Britain's withdrawal.

Johnson and some other ministers have advocated a clean cut with what is currently Britain's biggest trading partner that would enable it to sign free trade deals with third countries.

But moderates have put forward a plan whereby Britain would collect tariffs on behalf of the EU for goods heading to the bloc and setting its own, separate tariffs for goods that do not.

The EU has instead proposed a "backstop" solution to avoid a border in Ireland under which Northern Ireland would remain aligned with and de facto still under the bloc's rules, but Britain says that would effectively create a border between the province and the rest of the UK.

A senior EU official last week said: "We have to do away with the fantasy that there is an all-UK solution".

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Saturday urged Britain to stop playing "hide and seek" in Brexit negotiations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Investigating agencies are mulling pressing criminal charges under the Telegraph Act as part of their corruption and money-laundering probe against journalist Upendra Rai and others after they claimed to have recovered the call detail records (CDRs) of a senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) official and an IAS officer, who was earlier posted in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

PTI had first reported yesterday that the ED and the CBI had seized the CDRs of some senior government officials, following a recent raid on the premises of Sanjay Snehi, an associate of Rai.

At least 10 CDRs, including one of a senior ED officer probing the Supreme Court-monitored Aircel-Maxis case and another of an IAS officer who served as a joint secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs a few years ago, were recovered.

Sources said the ED officer was also probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam, in which a firm where Rai was employed was under the scanner, and the IAS officer was supervising the affairs of the said company during her tenure in the ministry for alleged misappropriation of funds.

Charges under various sections of the Indian Telegraph Act like sections 24 (unlawfully attempting to learn contents of messages), 25 (intentionally damaging or tampering with telegraphs), 26 (telegraph officer or other official making away with or altering messages) and 31 (bribery) could be pressed in light of new revelations, official sources said.

Obtaining CDRs was a cognizable offence, they said, adding that the ED and the CBI would exchange notes on the new development.

The offences under the said provisions were punishable with prison terms, they said.

Apart from the CDRs, the probe agencies have claimed to have recovered a number of other "incriminating documents" like a confidential communication between the Indian High Commission in Singapore and a former ED chief.

The recoveries also include income tax assessment orders of various companies and suspicious transaction reports (STRs) of nearly 140 firms, generated by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The searches also resulted in the seizure of a confidential note dating back to 2010, which was written by a former additional director of the ED who is now a senior officer in the Delhi Police to the then CBI director, "complaining" about the activities of Rai.

The ED is also in the process of collecting the details of assets owned by Rai and others for possible attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED and the CBI are probing Rai for alleged offences under the PMLA and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Rai is currently in judicial custody after the CBI arrested him on charges of extortion and manipulation of an Income Tax department case against a Mumbai-based businessman.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A US delegation is in North Korea to make arrangements for the Singapore summit on June 12, President Donald Trump said today, adding hope for his meeting with the reclusive nation's leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump also said he sees "brilliant potential" in Pyongyang.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," Trump said in a tweet.

Trump is scheduled to have a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim in Singapore on June 12. Last week, he had suddenly cancelled the meeting after North Korean statements in which they threatened not to attend the summit.

Soon thereafter, the North Korean leaders said they were ready to meet anytime and anywhere. Kim had an unscheduled meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in wherein they discussed ways to revive the summit.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said a pre-advance team is headed to Singapore to prepare for the summit.

Today, Trump tweeted that US officials are in North Korea to prepare for the talks.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" Trump said in the same tweet.

According to The Washington Post, Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with the North, has been called in from his post as envoy to the Philippines to lead the preparations. Sung Kim met with North Korea's Vice-Foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who said last week that Pyongyang was "reconsidering" the talks, the daily said.

The two officials know each other well - both were part of their respective delegations that negotiated the 2005 denuclearization agreement through the six-party framework.

The talks are expected to continue on Monday and Tuesday at Tongilgak, or "Unification House," the building in the northern part of the demilitarised zone where Kim Jong Un met Moon on Saturday, The Post reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump today said a US team was in North Korea to plan a summit with its leader Kim Jong Un, indicating that the much-anticipated meeting could take place as scheduled.

Trump withdrew from the planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim on Thursday but quickly announced that it could get back on track.

The cancellation apparently followed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo setting some strict ground-rules ahead for the meeting, which in turn resulted in a North Korean minister reportedly saying that Pyongyang could make the US taste an appalling tragedy and that a stalemate could lead to a nuclear-to-nuclear showdown.

Later, the North Korean leaders said they were ready to meet anytime and anywhere. Kim had an unscheduled meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in wherein they discussed ways to revive the summit.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," Trump said in a tweet.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" Trump said in the same tweet.

While the US did not announce the delegation's members, The Washington Post reported earlier Sunday that Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with the North, had been called in from his posting as envoy to the Philippines to lead the preparations.

Sung Kim met with North Korea's Vice-Foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who said last week that Pyongyang was "reconsidering" the talks, the daily said.

The two officials know each other well - both were part of their respective delegations that negotiated the 2005 denuclearisation agreement through the six-party framework.

The talks are expected to continue tomorrow at Tongilgak, or "Unification House," the building in the northern part of the demilitarised zone where Kim met Moon on Saturday, The Post reported.

Last year, Trump and Kim were threatening war after Pyongyang tested its most powerful nuclear bomb to date and launched test missiles it said were capable of reaching the United States.

Tensions were calmed after Kim extended an olive branch to Seoul by offering to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea, sparking a sudden detente that led to Trump agreeing to hold direct talks with the North Korean leader.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vedanta Ltd today termed as "unfortunate" the Tamil Nadu government's order to close down the Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin and said it would decide the future course of action after studying the development.

This follows Tamil Nadu government today ordering the state Pollution Control Board to seal and "permanently" close the Vedanta group's copper plant in Tuticorin following last week's violent protests over pollution concerns during which 13 people were killed in police firing.

"Closure of Sterlite Copper plant is an unfortunate development, especially since, we have operated the plant for over 22 years in most transparent and sustainable way, contributing to the Tuticorin and state's socio-economic development. We will study the development and decide on the future course of action," Vedanta Ltd said in a statement.

The government's decision came a day ahead of the start of the state Assembly session where it is likely to come under intense Opposition fire over the Tuticorin incidents.

"Now the plant is permanently closed. The Government Order (GO) has been implemented," Tuticorin District Collector Sandeep Nanduri said.

The closure of the copper plant caps sustained protests and campaign for the last several years by the local people against copper factory over environmental pollution concerns.

The GO said it endorsed the recent closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and also asked the TNPCB to "seal the unit and close the plant permanently".

Chief Minsiter K Palaniswami said the government has issued the GO in deference to the sentiments of the people.

The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days. Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Asked what he had to say to the people of Tuticorin, the chief minister said, "Peace has returned to the town and it must continue, and people should cooperate with the government. Their demand has been fulfilled by Amma's government."



Palaniswami said people of Tuticorin were seeking permanent closure of the plant since it did not meet the environment related conditions of the National Green Tribunal and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the eve of his visit to Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that India had a robust strategic partnership with all the three countries and his visit would provide a further boost to the country's Act East Policy.

In Singapore, he will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security meet, on June 1.

"This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address. It would be an opportunity to articulate India's point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region," he said.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the prime minister said he would be in Jakarta tomorrow on the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

"This is my first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister. I am looking forward to my discussions with President Widodo on 30 May, as also to our joint interaction with the India-Indonesia CEOs Forum. I will also address the Indian community in Indonesia," he said.

He said India and Indonesia enjoyed strong and friendly ties and shared deep historical and civilisational linkages.

"Both countries are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, plural and open societies. I am confident that my visit to Indonesia will create greater synergy between Asia's two largest democracies and further elevate our bilateral ties," he said.

He said, on May 31, on his way to Singapore, he will make a brief halt in Malaysia to congratulate the new Malaysian leadership and looks forward to meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"In Singapore, I will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of Fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence. Singapore entities have become major partners with India in areas like urban development, planning, smart cities and infrastructure development. My visit in Singapore presents an opportunity for both countries to engage further," he said.

On 31 May, Modi will visit the India-Singapore enterprise and innovation exhibition and will also address a business and community event followed by a roundtable meeting with select top CEOs of Singapore to discuss business and investment opportunities.

On June 1, the prime minister will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob and hold delegation level talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee (Hsien Loong).

"(I) am looking forward to my visit to the Nanyang Technological University where I would interact with young students," he said.

Later in the evening, he will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue.

"This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address. It would be an opportunity to articulate India's point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region," he said.

On June 2, he will unveil a plaque at Clifford Pier, where Gandhiji's ashes were immersed in sea on March 27, 1948. He would also visit some places of worship that have civilisational linkages with India.

"The last element of my programme would be a visit to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore where I will visit the Indian Naval Ship INS Satpura and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy.

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will provide a further boost to our Act East Policy and enhance our relations and engagements with all the three countries," he said.

India's Act East Policy, that was introduced by the Modi government, focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Polling to the Shahkot bypoll began here today in which the Congress is hoping to maintain its winning momentum while the Akali Dal is trying to retain the seat.

The Shahkot bypoll was necessitated following the demise of Akali MLA Ajit Singh Kohar in February this year.

The ruling Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Laddi while Akali Dal has given ticket to Kohar's son Naib Singh Kohar. The Aam Aadmi Party has nominatedRattan Singh Kakkar Kalan for the Shahkot bypoll.

As many as1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates who are in the fray.

Voters including women could be seen standing in queues at various polling booths in the morning for voting.

The Election Commission has deployed a total of 1,022 personnel of security forces, including six companies of the Border Security Force, in Shahkot, official said.

The votingcommenced at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Holiday had already been declared for the electors of Shahkot Assembly constituency which falls in Jalandhar district.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

There are total 236 polling stations in the constituency, out of which, webcasting will be held at 103 stations.

The Electronic Voting Machines andVoter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) are beingused at all the polling stations while 15 per cent additional EVMs and VVPAT have been kept as reserve if some malfunctioning is developed during polling, official said.

With the Congress eyeing to maintain the winning momentum on the development agenda, opposition Akali Dal is striving to retain its pocket borough from where late Ajit Singh Kohar had remained five-time MLA.

Main opposition Aam Aadmi Party, which faced humiliating defeat during Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll and civic polls, is desperately looking for the victory.

The Congress had won 77 seats in the 117-member Punjab Vidhan Sabha during 2017 Assembly polls while the Shiromani Akali DalBJP alliance had managed to win 18 seats. The AAP had won 20 seats while Lok Insaf Party had bagged two seats.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The draft advisory from the Delhi government on proposed new norms for private hospitals has invited subdued reactions from a few private facilities operating in the city.

One hospital group called the proposals "harsh" while another said, it will provide its comments directly to the government.

However, both said they will engage with the government on this matter.

"The advisory from the Delhi government is quite harsh from the perspective of private healthcare services providers based in Delhi. We are in the process of studying the document in detail and will be engaging with the government in a constructive manner," a spokesperson of the Max Healthcare group said in a statement.

Among other proposals made in the draft advisory, include provisions, where private hospitals in the national capital "cannot hold hostage" bodies of patients, who have died during the treatment there, even if families are unable to pay the due bills before the last rites.

The draft also proposes that the doctors at private hospitals and nursing homes should preferably only prescribe drugs from the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and patients should be consulted before administering drugs in the non-NLEM category.

"The draft has been put in public domain, inviting suggestions and objections for a period of 30 days. After that, we will implement the policy with revisions," Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters today.

A senior official of another leading private hospital, on condition of anonymity, said, "We are yet to receive the draft advisory. But, comments would be provided to the government."



Queries to the Fortis Hospital group did not elicit any response at the time of going to press.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian IT services giant Wipro is localising more in the US and more than half of its workforce in the country now consists of locals, the company's Chief Strategy Officer Rishad Premji said asserting that the firm is very committed to the US market.

Premji, who is Member of the Board at Wipro, said Wipro currently has a workforce of over 14,000 employees in the US and 58 per cent of those are locals.

Under the Donald Trump administration, there is heightened scrutiny of the H1B work visa programme, which several lawmakers allege is being abused to replace Americans with foreign workers.

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Since taking office, Trump has ordered an overhaul of the H1B visa programme to check visa fraud and abuse, and his administration has taken steps to tighten scrutiny of applications, adding to the uncertainty and anxiety of thousands of IT workers on the visas over their future.

So we are not a 50-50 company. (The US) still remains one of our largest markets so it's an area of big focus for growth and I think if you cannot win in the US market, you really won't win globally, Premji told PTI in an interview here.

Premji, who was in the city to address the NASSCOM C-Summit last week, said Wipro is very very committed" to the US market.

Premji is also the chairman of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).

"We are localizing more, we are hiring on a very structured basis from campus, which has been very very successful, he said.

In June last year, Wipro said in a press release that locals formed over 50 per cent of its US workforce. In the first half of last year, Wipro had hired over 1,600 employees by attracting and nurturing local talent to drive innovation and help transform clients' businesses into digital enterprises.

During the past decade, Wipro said it has invested over two billion dollars in the United States, according to the company press release. The company has been focused on creating jobs in the US underscoring its strategy to "build a deep reservoir of local talent based out of centers close to its clients".

During FY16-17, over 3,000 locals joined Wipro and the company would continue to recruit from top universities to build on the momentum of hiring locally in the United States, the press release had said.

Premji added that Wipro has been hiring from campuses in the US for two years now and plans to scale that going forward. Wipro also continues to invest in centres in the US and as part of this, it had last year launched a multi-million dollar Silicon Valley Innovation Center in Mountain View, California.

Premji said Wipro also continues to invest from a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) perceptive in the US as well and a big focus for it is to help elevate the quality of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) talent in the US.

Wipro is working with certain universities that support programmes with teachers who can enhance their own STEM capabilities to then "produce better STEM-educated students in disadvantaged communities, Tier 2 and Tier 3 districts of the US, Premji said.

We have a huge amount of commitment to this market, we want to be ingrained in the very natural fibre and fabric of this market and the communities in which we work and live and where our employees work and live, Premji said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wipro today said it has entered into a pact with Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay to fabricate parts of students' formula electric car.

The third largest software exporter will contribute technical expertise on additive manufacturing as well as the equipment and material for the fabrication of parts, while IIT Bombay Racing will provide designs for the parts, a company statement said. ............................................................. Retail bond issuances by non-bank lenders to grow over Rs 20,000 cr: Icra



Domestic ratings agency ICRA today said retail bond issuances by non-bank lenders will grow over four times to over Rs 20,000 crore in fiscal year 2018-19.

"Tighter liquidity conditions, rising bond yields and weak capital position of public sector banks (PSBs) that enjoy a dominant 70 per cent share of bank credit is likely to increase retail bond issuances by NBFCs," its senior vice president Karthik Srinivasan said. .............................................................. Bond issue: J M Fin Credit Solutions retail and HNI components over-subsrcibed



Non-bank lender J M Financial Credit Solutions today said retail and high net individuals' components in its Rs 750-crore bond issue have been oversubscribed on day one, while institutional and corporate portions were yet to.

As against an allocation of Rs 225 crore, the retail and HNI portions have received subscriptions of Rs 555 crore and Rs 427 crore, respectively as of 1700 hrs.

The institutional portion had received 20 per cent subscription, while corporates had received 78 per cent subscription, an official statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
World Day being hosted by India this year is not a token celebration, but an attempt to reach out to a large number of people, a top ministry official said today.

Union secretary C K Mishra emphasised on the need for building a movement to connect people and getting them on a single platform in the run-up to World Environment Day celebrations.

The United Nations has entrusted India with the responsibility of hosting World Environment Day on June 5 with focus on finding alternative to plastic in different parts of the globe.

The celebrations will be held from June 1 to 5 in the national capital and across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to chair the plenary session on June 5, where all the state environment ministers will also be present.

"World Environment Day is an attempt is to reach out to a large number of people and is not merely a token celebration," Mishra said while emphasising on the need for building a movement to connect people and getting them on to a single platform.

Addressing stakeholders at an interactive session, jointly hosted by the Environment Ministry and the FICCI, he said the knowledge sessions being held as a part of WED celebrations, are an attempt to know what suggestions do people including experts, industry, NGOs and civil society have in mind.

Senior officers and officials of the Environment Ministry, FICCI and United Nations Environment attended the interactive session.

The ministry said the knowledge sessions will comprise, among other things, 11 thematic areas including air pollution in Indian cities present status and future action, local green enterprises and their role in greening the economy and Himalayan ecosystem.

It will include sustainable urbanisation resilient cities; CII and EU on plastic pollution, marine litter and integrated coastal zone management, the new plastic economy - eco-solutions for balancing economic and environmental sustainability and sustainable lifestyles towards enhancing resource efficiency and circular economy.

It will also include launch of TERI's consortium on waste proofing the future, corporate sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Extended Producer Responsibility, sustainable urban landscapes and smart cities, galvanising finance for India's development, Waste to Resource (W2R) and natural capital accounting or global nitrogen assessment.

These sessions will be held from June 1-4.

An exhibition by various institutions and organisations will be put up in the back lawns of Vigyan Bhawan from June 2-5.

In accordance with the theme of this year's celebrations, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has urged people to give up single-use plastic and said the fight against plastic menace did not require big actions, but only minor behavioural changes and adopting 'Green Good Behaviour'.

Highlighting the menace posed by plastic, he had recently said that 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day in the country, with 40 per cent of those being uncollected, while 60 million tonnes of solid waste is generated in one year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Brenda GohSHANGHAI (Reuters) - The New Development Bank (NDB), set up by the BRICS group of major emerging economies, said on Monday it plans to raise 5 billion yuan ($782 million) through a yuan-denominated bond issue this year. Leslie Maasdorp, the NDB's chief financial officer, told reporters on the sidelines of the bank's annual meeting in Shanghai that the issue would be part of a 10 billion yuan bond programme approved by the NDB's board."Our next issue is going to be 5 billion renminbi," he said."We have to just go through a series of regulatory approvals, we've already appointed ...
(Reuters) - Fortis Healthcare Ltd on Monday said the consortium of Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office, which won a five-way bidding war for the Indian firm, has permitted re-opening the bidding process, amid shareholder concerns over the board's choice of the underdog.Though permitted to re-open the bidding, Fortis had not yet made a decision on the matter, a spokesperson told Reuters.The board of the cash-strapped company approved the consortium's offer to invest 18 billion rupees ($266.9 million) earlier this month. However, investors have been wary of the board's ...
By Tanvi MehtaBENGALURU (Reuters) - India's Fortis Healthcare Ltd said on Monday it had not decided whether to re-open bidding for itself, after an offer of funding that its board had accepted got a tepid response from investors, prolonging a fierce takeover battle.The Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office's offer this month to invest 18 billion rupees ($267 million) in the company did not go down well with Fortis shareholders, who voted out a director last week. Three directors resigned ahead of the vote. The cash-strapped hospitals operator has become an attractive ...
BERLIN (Reuters) - German businesses are relieved that eurosceptics are not taking power in Italy, the DIHK Chambers of Industries and Commerce said on Monday as Berlin said it hoped a stable government would be formed in Rome.Anti-establishment forces abandoned their efforts to form a ruling coalition in Italy at the weekend after a standoff with President Sergio Mattarella, who vetoed their choice of a eurosceptic as economy minister.Mattarella on Monday appointed a former International Monetary Fund official as interim prime minister with the task of planning for snap polls and passing the ...
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is looking with concern at signs that the network of multilateral organizations and agreements designed to foster international cooperation is being weakened, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a Berlin conference on Monday.Ahead of a G20 summit of the world's leading economies, she said that multilateral organizations, United Nations agencies in particular, were short of the money they needed to play an effective role and that countries bearing the brunt of the Syrian refugee crisis had received less aid than promised."International agreements and institutions ...
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian economy is expected to grow between 7.3 to 7.5 percent in the March quarter, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg told CNBC-TV 18 news channel on Monday.The government will release GDP data on Thursday around 1200 GMT.Garg said the country was expected to grow at 6.7 percent in the 2017/18 financial year that ended in March. (Reporting by Neha Dasgupta; Editing by Malini Menon)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Aditi ShahNEW DELHI (Reuters) - Uber's India President Amit Jain has been promoted to head of the global ride-hailing firm's Asia Pacific operations, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and India, the company said in an emailed statement.Jain will continue to lead India until a successor is found, an Uber spokeswoman said in the statement.India is one of Uber's fastest-growing markets and accounts for 10 percent of its total rides.The move comes weeks after Uber sold its business in Southeast Asia to rival Grab Holdings, which gave rise to speculation about talks on a ...
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The New Development Bank set up by the BRICS group of major emerging economies said on Monday that it has approved six new projects that take its loan book to $5.1 billion.The bank, set up in 2015, made the announcement at its annual meeting in Shanghai. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Writing by John Ruwitch)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean prosecutors searched Samsung Securities' head office as part of their investigation into the brokerage's recent fat finger error.The brokerage's accidental issuance of 2.8 billion shares to employees - more than 30 times the number of its outstanding shares and theoretically worth some $100 billion, prompted a public outcry, particularly after it was discovered that some workers quickly sold off shares.The country's financial watchdog said this month it had found that 21 employees traded or attempted to sell shares to make a profit from the error and reported ...
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Tamil Nadu state has ordered a permanent closure of a big copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources, its chief minister said on Monday, after protests demanding its shutdown killed 13 people last week."We have taken a decision to permanently shut down the plant and today issued government orders to do the same," Edappadi K. Palaniswami said in a statement. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Malini Menon)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GCE session Archives

There was total pandemonium in Government Bilingual High School, Muyuka Subdivision; Fako Division in the South West region after unknown gunmen stormed the school shooting indiscriminately.

The men arrived when students were taking on the Advance Level Economics but were forced to stop and run to different directions after gun shots were fired in the air.

The main aim of the visit by armed men was to disrupt the process and scare everyone to go home. Prior to the start of exams this year, two Principals have been abducted in Mile 16 and Muyuka in less than 24 hours. Enanga Sanga and Ngomba Eric of GHS Mile 16 Bolifamba and Cameroon Baptist Academy were taken to unknown destinations.

In other Anglophone areas like Buea, Bamenda, Kumbo, Kumba among others, a relative calm was observed but the students wrote under tight security. In Bamenda, chief town of the North West region, Journalists were not allowed to the various examination halls as they were kept in a distance by administrators.

This year, some 129,700 candidates are sitting in for the General Certificate of Education Examinations, but 5000 less than the number last year.

Some 388 accommodation centers have been set aside for the exams which will be in 8 phases, meanwhile a total of 295 out of 388 centers are destined for Ordinary Level, with 81 centers in the North West region and 48 in the South West region.

In Douala, the number of candidates especially at the Bonaberie Center have increased, Chief of Center, Gimndo Gilbert told reporters that they have registered more than 1600 candidates with majority frm the two English speaking regions due to continues violence.
Patrick Ekems W. Musa

Patrick Ekema Esunge, the Mayor of Buea Council, has discontinued the case pitting him against the University of Buea and the Ministry of Higher Education over his alleged fake certificates.

Reports say the Mayor through his legal representative, Barrister Nkea Emmanuel on May 16, filed a Notice of Discontinuance, indicating his willingness to discontinue the case against the University of Buea and the Ministry of Higher Education.

However, Barrister Eta Bisong Jr, Counsel for University of Buea has filed a counter affidavit, requesting that the matter be heard by a bench of three judges. The Counsel further stated that the Buea High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case, concluding that only the Administrative and not the High court has the jurisdiction to do so.

Despite the will to withdraw the case, Barrister Eta Bisong has told the court that a motion No: HCF/015/WOS/13/3M/2018, is still pending.

The presiding Magistrate has ruled in line with the Counsel for the Plaintiff, Barrister Nkea Emmanuel, that if they have decided to discontinue with the case against UB, then it takes care of other aspects.

It should be recalled that the Buea High Court had on April 16 ordered UB to halt the processes of withdrawing the First and Masters degrees of Patrick Ekema Esunge, after the Senate found out he used a fake A/L certificate to gain admission into UB.

The reason for the courts decision was because the Senate did not hear from the accused before arriving on the conclusion.

Now that Patrick Ekema has filed for Notice of Discontinuation of the case, it is now left on UB and the Ministry of Higher Education to decide whether or not his two degrees will be withdrawn under laws governing Higher Education in Cameroon.
| BY Ricki Green |

Australian beer, Hahn, has unveiled a new brand platform this week; Hahn  Now Youre Talking, via Ogilvy Sydney, positioning itself as the beer that celebrates conversations between mates over a beer, across the country.

The new platform is backed by a $12million integrated campaign called Beer Banter, which also launches this week. To start the conversation rolling, a new TVC will elevate one great pub discussion  What is the most epic pub anthem ever?  to epic proportions. Other elements including OOH, PR, social and digital will also roll out over the coming weeks.

Ogilvy Sydney ECD, Derek Green, said the launch of the new campaign coincides with the 30-year anniversary of the launch of the Hahn brand back in 1988.

Says Green: Theres nothing more Aussie men love than a bit of banter over a beer with their mates discussing all of lifes big, and not so big issues. So the Beer Banter campaign, across all its executions, takes a good look at these conversations and the connections they have always had, and will continue to have with a beer like Hahn.

Green said in addition to the TVC and supporting elements, hundreds of conversation starters featuring provocative questions will be seen under Hahn bottle caps and on pub coasters as part of an amplification in conjunction with Geometry Global. These questions will get pub conversation flowing as freely as the beer. From Who is the greatest ever action hero? to The fast bowler youd least like to face? and even Youre a pro-wrestler. Your theme music is? Hahn invites all these conversations to take place over an icy cold beer.

Lion portfolio marketing manager, Amy Darvill, said the objective of the campaign is to inject a bit of fun back into the beer category, and remind consumers how good it is to get together with their mates and have a laugh over a great tasting beer.

Says Darvill: Hahn is unashamedly a big and popular Australian beer brand, and while busy lives might sometimes get in the way, whats a bigger or more popular pastime than catching up with mates for a beer in a pub or over a BBQ? We want this campaign to get this simple pleasure back on everyones radar.

We also love how we are bringing back our focus on taste  something that has been absolutely core to the Hahn range of beers since it was but a twinkle in Chuck Hahns eye 30 years ago. It is part of who we are  anyone who enjoys a schooner of Hahn SuperDry will agree  so lets celebrate it.

LION

Amy Darvill  Lion Portfolio Marketing Manager

Chris Allan  Senior Brand Manager Hahn

Ogilvy:

Derek Green  Executive Creative Director

Boris Garelja  Creative Director

Andrew Hankin  Associate Creative Director

Andy Cooke  Senior Creative

Toby Harrison  Chief Strategy Officer

Ryan OConnell  Head of Strategy

Isabella Rago  Strategist

Ben Frost  Group Account Director

Ola Moszumanska  Account Director

Zach Audsley  Senior Account Manager

Renee Nadin  Broadcast Producer

Production Company: FINCH

Director: Alex Roberts

Producer: Catherine Anderson

Executive Producer/ MD: Corey Esse

Executive Producer: Karen Bryson

DOP: Lachlan Milne

Editor: David Whittaker

Edit House: ARC EDIT

Edit Assist: Damien Magee

Edit Producer: Olivia Carolan

Colourist: Trish Cahill

Post Production & Vfx: Nakatomi

Audio: Song Zu

Music Composition: Song Zu

Music Supervision: Donna Fitzhenry @ Music Mill

Media: UM

Natasha Cleak  Client Director

Jack Bellamy  Strategy Director

Ashleigh Vogel  Connections Design Director

Lorena Chiarella  Partnerships Director

Shopper: Geometry

Kate Warren-Smith  Business Director

Ivan Davies  Creative Director

Belinda McKinnon  Group Account Director
| BY Ricki Green |

Independent integrated communication agency, Horizon Communication Group, has announced several new client wins including a renewal with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for another multi-year engagement.

In other significant wins, Horizon has been appointed to work on a new campaign for the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Love Food Hate Waste, which aims to educate households, communities and businesses on how to stop wasting food and protect the environment.

In addition, NSW Local Land Services, Soil Conservation Services NSW and North Coast Local Land Services have joined Horizons enviable Government roster and will see the agency work on a range of communication activities including marketing communication plans and a stakeholder engagement strategy.

Outside of the Government arena, Horizon will be working with innovative gut health specialists Microba, to educate the Australian public about the important role microbiome plays in sustaining a healthy gut.

Says Justin Flaherty, CEO, Horizon Communication Group: These new and renewing clients and our recent award wins are testament to the high quality of Horizons services.
| BY Ricki Green |

Findings from this years Starcom Media Futures showed that very positive brand experiences have 10 times the impact on consumer brand choice and as a result, Starcom Australia has created three new national leadership team roles to deliver on positive customer experiences and Return on Experience for clients.

Return on Experience (ROE) is an additional measure that works in tandem with Return On Investment (ROI). The Media Futures report found that ROE, which combines business and human outcomes, is the most valuable measurement for brand choice. As a result, Starcom has evolved the way it works with clients and the three key appointments will work to deliver ROE for clients.

Simone Galletly joins Starcom as national planning Director, Stu Carr returns as national head of measurement and Nancy Lan has been promoted to national commercial partnerships director. The newly created roles will be part of Starcoms national leadership team and will report to CEO Toby Barbour.

Says Barbour: These appointments will strengthen our national leadership team as we deliver on our strategy of client-obsessed value creation and Return on Experience. The findings from our 2018 Media Futures report, the only study of its kind that uses a combination of consumer and industry research with marketers and media owners, has evolved our focus for client investment.

We will apply our insights to closing the expectation gap by satisfying the tension between what people want and what brands need to create  connected experiences that drive human and business outcomes. The ROE framework will be a key indicator of our business success. I am delighted to announce Simone, Stu and Nancy to these new roles and I am confident they will help create the next level of insights for clients as we look to deliver the best brand experiences for consumers.

Galletly joins Starcom from parent company Publicis Groupe, where she was global strategy director based in London. She has more than 15 years experience working in media in London and Singapore, including APAC strategy director and planning director for Mediacom and head of planning for m/SIX.

In her new role, she will lead connected experience planning and design to create valuable business outcomes based on the Media Futures reports findings that connected end-to-end experiences through paid, owned, earned and shared media are 1.5 times more likely to be very positive.

Carr moves back to Starcom from Publicis Medias Analytics & Insights division that he headed. He has more than 15 years experience in communications and media agencies including Naked Communications, BellamyHayden, Mediacom and Universal McCann. He joined Starcom in 2012 as a data and analytics strategist and then national director, data and analytics.

In his role, Carr will be responsible for measuring performance and connecting media metrics to business outcomes. His focus is determining whether the audience insight and connected experience delivered campaign or business results.

Lan joined Starcom last year as Sydney agency director from Zenith Shanghai where she was deputy managing director. Lan has more than 10 years experience working in media and on the client side in Sydney, London and Shanghai. She has worked with Telstra as media sponsorship and content manager, MCN as strategic integration manager and branded content director, Newcast at Zenith in London before moving to Zenith Shanghai as general manager, Newcast.

In her role, Lan will be responsible for connecting consumer insights with brand needs with the right product solution to optimise value of Return on Experience back to clients.

These additional leadership team appointments join recently appointed Melbourne managing director Stuart Jaffray, who was previously BMW general manager of marketing.

The three new appointments are effective immediately.
| BY Ricki Green |

The Refinery Post Production is thrilled to welcome legendary VFX artist Chris Betteridge (aka Cb) to the fold. Betteridge brings with him a wealth of knowledge and skill with over twenty-five years experience in visual effects, compositing, and shoot supervision.

Starting out in GTV9s video department back in the late 80s, Betteridge has put many a commercial to air over the intervening years, spending long days (and the occasional all-nighter) deepening his online and VFX knowledge at companies AAV, Digital Pictures, Iloura, Deluxe, and most recently Method Studios.

Says Betteridge: Im excited to be joining the team at The Refinery as it enters a new creative phase. Ive known Eugene, Freya and Kate since the Iloura days and Im thrilled to be working alongside them again, as well as the talented Drew Downes in Sydney who brings such a strong design eye to the team. Its good to be back in the saddle with such a passionate group of artists.

Says Eugene Richards, founder, The Refiney: Chris was an obvious fit for us here at The Refinery. He is accomplished at leading 2D and 3D teams, having worked for many years on large-scale VFX and CGI projects at Iloura and then Method Studios, and complements our existing VFX team perfectly.

Says Drew Downes, founder, The Refinery: We are building a small but powerful team of artists to deliver high-end 2D and 3D projects, enhancing our current offerings in Sydney and Melbourne. Having Chris on board will also allow our artists to be more involved on projects throughout the pipeline; flexible enough to be on set, and consulting with directors and creatives throughout from as early as script stage and pre-vis, through to editorial, VFX, and final delivery.

Senior producer Freya Maddock is as equally thrilled to welcome Betteridge.

Says Maddock: Cbs work is world class in its creativity and technical execution. A familiar face to most of our Melbourne clients, his invaluable problem solving skills, devotion to detail, and relaxed demeanor make him perfectly suited to sitting behind the big desk here at The Refinery. Just dont ask him to wear shoes!

Betteridge will be based in the Refinerys Melbourne studio and available for both Sydney and Melbourne work.
| BY Ricki Green |

Youngbloods Vic is connecting emerging account management talent with industry leaders at its inaugural Speed Mentoring event held on Thursday, June 21 at Town Square in Prahran.

Finding your feet as a new entrant can be hard, but guidance from the best practitioners in the business can be the catalyst you need to steer your career in the right direction.

Youngbloods invites emerging talent in account management to mingle and learn from the industrys best at Youngbloods Speed Mentoring.

What: Youngbloods Vic Speed Mentoring

When: Thursday, 21 June

Where: Town Square, 145 High Street, Prahran hosted by Youngbloods Vic, The Communications Council and iPopulate.

Forty mentors will join 80 mentees at this inaugural Youngbloods Vic event representing agencies from across Melbourne. The line-up of mentors includes industry stars:

 Chris Jeffares, CEO at Cummins & Partners

 Belinda Murray, MD at BWM Dentsu Melbourne

 Simon Lamplough, MD at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne

 Lucy Haworth, Client Services Director, DDB Group Melbourne

 Jayne Brady, General Manager, Director of Client Services at AJF Partnership

 Michael Titshall, Managing Director at CHE Proximity

Youngbloods is about providing connection and opportunity for the fresh faces in Victorias creative industry, developing this event to give young suits a rare opportunity to get personal, frank advice from the stars in their field.

Says Spencer Ratliff, Youngbloods Vic co-chair and senior account manager at BWM Dentsu Melbourne: I was lucky enough to attend a similar event run by the Communications Council in the early stages of my career in account management. The advice that I was given by the mentors really helped me make sense of the sometimes daunting world of advertising, plus it was heaps of fun!

Youngbloods is an industry body for anyone working in creative communications who is yet to go grey (officially thats people under 30).
| BY Lynchy |

To celebrate the opening of the latest Star Wars movie Globe Telecom in The Philippines has released an online video about the fictional story of Agapito, a long time Han Solo fan, and his best friend Richard (who he insists on calling Chewie).

Solo: A Star Wars Story is the much awaited movie that gives us an intimate look at the life of the worlds favourite scoundrel  Han Solo. The global launch happened two days ago on May 26th and to publicise Globe Telecoms partnership with the movie franchise, their agency Publicis JimenezBasic created Agapitos story.

The lighthearted online video celebrates the unstoppable adventures people have with their real friends, a sentiment echoed in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Aside from the online video, Globe also paid tribute to Han with a movie pre-screening and a Solo themed quiz night.

Credits:

Clients: Charly Atienza, Veca Keeler, Carla Braganza

Account Service Team: Katie Santos, Raffy Parcon, Gert Lugtu

Strategic Planning Director: CJ Jimenez

ECD: Trixie Diyco

CDs: Alnair Langkay, Bia Fernandez Famularcano

Associate CDs: Lowell San Jose, Marielle Auti Nones

Director: Borgy Torre
| BY Lynchy |

Syeda Ayesha Ikram has joined BBDO Indonesia as Executive Creative Director of the agency.

This marks a return for Ikram to the network, having been a key member of the team that established BBDO Pakistan. Most recently she was Head of Design at Ogilvy Pakistan, and has held other creative roles at Ogilvy, affiliate agencies of the Publicis Groupe, and Dentsu.

Ikram (pictured) brings 15 years of extensive industry experience to the Indonesia Agency, across an array of categories including FMCG, Automotive and Telco on clients including Pepsi, Nestle, Honda, LG and Coca Cola.

Her creative leadership helped win 3 Creative and 2 Digital Agency of the Year Awards, and 3 prestigious National Pakistan Advertisers Society (PAS) awards.

Vaishali Sarkar, CEO BBDO Indonesia commented, We are actively evolving our business at BBDO Indonesia to better serve our clients in this rapidly changing industry, and nothing can be more invigorating than a new era of creative leadership. I am thrilled to have Ayesha as my creative partner on this exciting journey. She brings cross-category and multi-discipline expertise to the table that will foster a collaborative and rich creative environment that leads to big, bold ideas  that cut across channels, build brands and deliver business results.
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.
Photo: Contributed

Everybody makes mistakes, like answering Yes when a program asks if youre sure you want to delete that thing.

I can tell you from experience that you can be absolutely sure and at the same time completely wrong.

Also, how to fix a mouse with a mind of its own.

Quickly recover deleted files

If you delete a file and you realize right away that it was a mistake, press the CTRL and the Z key at the same time. The key combination of CTRL+Z tells Windows to undo the last thing it did.

If deleting the file was the last thing you did, you will probably get it back.

If you havent emptied your recycle bin, double-click it and see if you can locate the file. If so, you can either right-click on it and then click "restore," or just click once on it and then click "restore this item" at the top of the window.

The file will go back to its last location.

If youve deleted email, look in the deleted Items folder in your email program. Email doesnt go to the recycle bin.

If you cant find your file after all that, try Recuva from Piraform.

Restore events to Google Calendar from Google Calendar trash

Late one night I meant to change the time of an appointment on my Google Calendar, and instead of changing it, I deleted the event. Uh-oh!

It turns out there are two ways to recover from this. (Three if you count just entering the whole thing again.)

First, if youre quick enough you can click on the Undo link at the top of the Calendar. But if enough time goes by that link fades away.

You can still get that event back.

On the left side of the Calendar window, highlight the calendar where you want to restore your event.

Click once on the down arrow just to the right of the name of the calendar.

Click on View Trash.

Locate the event you want to restore. (Its probably at the top!)

Put a check mark in the box.

Click on Restore selected events.

When youve restored everything you need to, click on the Back to calendar link, and youll see your event again. Whew.

Bring a dead mouse back to life

If your mouse is unresponsive, try these fixes until you find the one that works.

For a wireless mouse:

Check that it is turned on.

Check that the transceiver is all the way plugged in to a USB port.

Try it in a different port.

For a Bluetooth mouse, go to the Settings in Windows and try to reconnect.

Replace the mouse batteries.

Turn the computer completely off and turn it on again.

Replace the mouse.

For a mouse that plugs into the computer:

Plug it into a different USB port.

Turn the computer completely off and turn it on again.

Replace the mouse.

If your mouse works, but its too quick or slow or jerky, go to Windows Settings for Mouse and adjust as necessary.

If you have a Logitech mouse or a Microsoft mouse, use their software to give you more control over your mouse.

If clicking your left mouse button gives you unexpected results, you might have reversed the button settings.

Fix this in Windows Settings for Mouse. If, by the way, youre left handed, you can make the right button your primary button and laugh your head off at the rest of us when we try to use your mouse.

Weve almost reached our fundraising goal for the June 24 Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Ride Dont Hide event benefiting the Canadian Mental Health Association. How about sponsoring me?

Click on this link to make your secure online contribution: https://goo.gl/WnnSd3.

Your help is much appreciated.

Cate Eales will retire June 29 from running Computer Care Kelowna, a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers.

She welcomes your comments and suggestions for future column topics, good fishing spots, epic bike rides, and songs to learn on the ukulele. Send email to [email protected].
Photo: Contributed

Firefighters in British Columbia are preparing for more challenging conditions early this week, as windy, hot and dry weather could fuel the flames of three large wildfires.

Kevin Skrepnik, chief fire information officer for the B.C. Wildfire Service, says fires at Allie Lake, Xusum Creek and Tommy Lakes have remained fairly stable over the weekend, but that could change.

He says the fire burning at Allie Lake, 55 kilometres northwest of Kamloops, remains out of control across about 20 square kilometres. The Xusum Creek fire, 35 kilometres west of Lilloet, is holding at about five square kilometres and has been 25 per cent contained.

In the Peace region, Skrepnik says only one fire of note remains in the remote area of Tommy Lakes, but it's a big one at over 200 square kilometres.

In addition to those three blazes, which have each prompted local evacuation orders, B.C. Wildfire Services personnel helped local crews fight a grass fire that broke out in West Kelowna near the Mission Hills winery on Saturday night.

That fire also prompted some brief tactical evacuations, but Skrepnik says crews were mopping up by Sunday afternoon and everyone would be allowed back in their homes by the night. Skrepnik says some rain forecast for the southern part of the province may bring some good news around Wednesday, but noted those forecasts can change rapidly.

"We haven't seen a ton of growth on our current fires, which is good, but still not really any significant relief in the weather either," he said.
Photo: CTV

The family of a wheelchair-bound man killed by a train Saturday is demanding changes be made to railway crossings to make them safer.

On Saturday afternoon, 40-year-old Matthew Jarvis left his Chilliwack home in his motorized chair to make a brief trip to a nearby 7-Eleven for a slushie. He had made the trip many times, one which involves crossing railway tracks three blocks from his house.

This time, though, his wheels got stuck in the tracks, his partner Valerie Schneider told CTV News. Two female witnesses attempted to help free him but were forced to leap to safety when an oncoming train approached. One of the women was hit on her arm, and had to be taken to hospital.

Jarvis, who is a father of three, died at the scene.

"Some angels of God tried to help him," Schneider said. "And whoever you are, I thank you. My family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts."

Jarvis had been in the wheelchair since January of 2017 when a car crash fractured his vertebrae. He had hoped to recuperate and walk again one day.

Schneider said that while she is still reeling from the sudden loss, she knows for sure she will be advocating for safety measures at railway crossings so that nothing like this happens again.

"I'm not going to stop until there's change," she said. "Nobody should die like this."

She suggested sensors or cameras to notify conductors earlier when people are on the tracks, in order to allow them more time to make a stop.

Police from CN railways are working with the RCMP on an investigation.

-With files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: Sharon Halliwell

Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline was temporarily shut down Sunday north of Kamloops after a spill.

About 100 litres of crude spilled at a pump station in Darfield, about 80 kilometres north of Kamloops.

The Ministry of Environment says crews with vacuum trucks cleaned up the oil.

The spill was contained to the pump station property and is not expected to impact any waterways.

Neighbour Sharon Halliwell told CTV a Kinder Morgan representative came to her door around 10:30 a.m. to inform her of the incident.

She was told cleanup will take about 10 days.

The pipeline was restarted about 3:30 p.m.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: The Canadian Press

Scientists who track pollution have discovered traces of opioids in some mussels off the B.C. coast.

Researchers found traces of antibiotics and the pain reliever oxycodone in some Puget Sound mussels.

KIRO-TV reported this week that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife obtained clean mussels from Penn Cove on Whidbey Island and put them different areas to test for water contamination.

Scientists worked with the Puget Sound Institute to analyze the data and discovered three out of 18 locations came back positive for trace amounts of oxycodone.

State Fish and Wildlife biologist Jennifer Lanksbury says the contamination likely comes through wastewater treatment plants.

She says the chemicals may be having an impact in fish and shellfish in the areas.

She says mussels at a restaurant or store are healthy to eat because they come from clean locations.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this May 26, 2018 photo South Korean President Moon Jae-in writes on a visitor's book as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, stands at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea.

A U.S. team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to President Donald Trump, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place.

Both the State Department and South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for U.S. officials.

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced it could still happen. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the North's stance toward the summit had been allayed.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," he tweeted Sunday. "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"

South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in Panmunjom, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

The Korean leaders' second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border.

The talks, which Moon said Kim Jong Un requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim said he's willing to co-operate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a "firm resolve" to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic co-operation if Kim implements "complete denuclearization."
Photo: USGS

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has had it all over the past three weeks: molten rock shooting toward the sky, lava oozing from the ground and ash clouds rising miles into the air.

You can also add "vog" to the mix.

Scientists say higher sulfur dioxide emissions recorded at the volcano's vents in recent days are creating the potential for heavier than usual vog, or volcanic smog. So far, trade winds have been mostly blowing the grey haze offshore.

Vog is created by vapour, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide gas released from Kilauea. It reacts in the atmosphere with oxygen, sunlight, moisture and other gases and particles. In a matter of hours or days, it converts to fine particles that scatter sunlight, creating a haze that can be seen downwind of Kilauea, according to The Interagency Vog Dashboard, which is made up of Hawaii, U.S. and international agencies.

The U.S. Geological Survey said sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano have more than doubled since the current eruption began.

Kilauea was belching 15,000 tons of the gas each day, up from 6,000 tons daily prior to the May 3 eruption. People living miles from the eruption are paying attention to the amount of noxious fumes pouring out of the volcano because it creates potential for more vog.

"Everyone is having symptoms now on some level," said Dr. Josh Green, a state senator and emergency room physician who has been volunteering in communities where lava fissures have opened in neighbourhoods.

Symptoms for generally healthy people can include burning eyes, headaches and sore throats. But those with asthma or other respiratory problems can end up hospitalized.

Those who are healthy, physically active and don't smoke can usually tolerate basic symptoms, Green said, adding hospitals are seeing more patients with difficulty breathing.

Green's mom, Natasha Green, who lives on the Kona side of the island, said the vog was particularly bad on Tuesday. "It makes it very hard to breathe," she said, adding that her other symptoms include coughing and watery and stinging eyes.

She's had to use an inhaler, which she doesn't need when there isn't vog. She's a former smoker, "so that's probably part of the problem," she said.
Photo: Contributed

UPDATED: 2:31 p.m.

One of the two brothers charged with first-degree murder in the 1986 death of Saminder Kaur Bogarh was her husband.

BC Prosecution Service has confirmed to Castanet that Mr. Paramjit Singh Bogarh was married to Saminder Kaur Bogarh.

Paramjit was extradited from the United States to face charges of first-degree murder as well as conspiracy to commit murder.

The BC Prosecution Service continues to pursue the extradition of Paramjit's brother, Narindar Singh Bogarh.

Narindar is believed to be in India.

Narindar is also facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Paramjit has been ordered detained and has had his matters adjourned by consent to Thursday, May 31, 2018 when he will appear in Vernon Law Courts by video.

ORIGINAL: 1:01 p.m.

Charges have been laid against two men in connection with a 1986 New Year's Eve murder in Vernon.

Paramjit Singh Bogarh and his brother, Narinder Singh Bogarh have been charged with first-degree murder as well as conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Saminder Kaur Bogarh.

Paramjit remains in custody. Narinder has not been arrested.

Paramjit Singh Bogarh is expected to appear by video in a Vernon courtroom on Thursday, May 31.
Photo: The Canadian Press

French business executive Serge Dassault, a top aviation and arms industrialist and one of France's richest men, died Monday in his Paris office. He was 93.

Dassault's family announced his death in a brief statement to the conservative newspaper Le Figaro, which the Dassault Group owns. It said he died of a "cardiac deficiency" at the group's office on the Champs-Elysees Avenue.

Dassault was especially known for the development of France's Mirage jet fighters, as well as for equipping the French Air Force and other militaries through global sales. He was chairman and CEO of the Dassault Group when he died, and president of honour of Dassault Aviation, which he once led.

The office of President Emmanuel Macron praised a man "who consecrated his life to developing a flagship of French industry."

Dassault was the son of Marcel Dassault, a survivor of the Nazi death camp at Buchenwald in Germany who founded the aviation company that would form the core of the group's business.

Like his father, Serge Dassault also became a press baron and a politician. A conservative with views on the right, he entered politics in the 1980s, representing the Essonne region south of Paris in the French Senate from 2004 until last year. He also served as a regional counsellor and mayor of the town of Corbeille-Essonnes for 14 years.

"Dassault marked the history of our country," Senate President Gerard Larcher said in a statement.

Former conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a tweet that France lost a great industrialist and the aviation world a pioneer. "Me, I simply lose a friend," Sarkozy said.

The March 2018 edition of Forbes ranked Dassault as having the fourth-largest fortune in France, worth 19 million euros ($22.6 million.)

Dassault was fighting a 2017 tax fraud conviction and 2 million-euro fine over millions of euros he had kept outside of France. His defence lawyers said the financial arrangements were set up by Marcel Dassault during the 1950s. An appeals court hearing in the case was scheduled for next week.

In another affair, Dassault was handed preliminary charges in 2014 for alleged vote buying and complicity in illicitly financing an electoral campaign.

Survivors include his wife, Nicole, and four children. The family said memorial arrangements are pending.
Chicago is likely to experience a scorching day for the Memorial Day holiday after hitting the second-hottest May temperature the city has ever recorded on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
A man broke into a residence at about 2 a.m. Sunday in the 400 block of West Belden Avenue, where he attempted to make sexual advances toward a girl who was asleep in her bedroom, police said.
They marched down lanes lined with nearly 200 American flags, all donated by the families who received them after they had once draped the coffins of a fallen soldier. Hundreds of parade-goers fell in behind, passing neat rows of white granite grave markers standing at silent attention over those at rest below them. And they stood quietly among the oak trees as veterans read aloud the names of fellow soldiers who passed away over the past year, each name followed by the single toll of a bell.
The boy, 15, was trying to help his friend stop a group of 15 to 20 men from taking his bike when they surrounded the teen and hit him while he was on the ground, Chicago police Officer Michelle Tannehill said in an email.
"This is a story that has to represent the women involved and what happened correctly  for all women (and men) to understand," Carlson told me by text. She's right. Ailes' story needs to be understood by the mass audience that a Hollywood film can deliver  just as fact-based movies like "Spotlight" or "The Post" have helped many people understand how journalism works, and why it matters.
What did happen: Stemm took her grievance to court. Her lawyers claim that the Junior Mint box is misleading, deceptive and unlawful conduct of the mint-maker, Chicago-based Tootsie Roll Industries. "They have created this oversized theater box, and it misleads consumers because consumers believe they're getting more candy when they purchase a box of Junior Mints than they're actually getting," says attorney Christopher Moon, who seeks undisclosed damages and an order that Tootsie Roll either fill the box more or reduce the size of the packaging. The case is scheduled for an initial hearing Thursday.
Of all the demographic groups that voted for Trump, some were obvious and many were surprising, but the ones that baffle me are the veterans. During Trumps campaign, his ridiculing of U.S. Sen. John McCain as a loser for being captured and tortured should have been enough to raise the wrath of veterans across the country. After several deferrals, the fittest president ever managed to get exempted from military service with bone spurs. His election made it OK for some heartless, snarky individuals among his administration and supporters to unapologetically call this war hero Songbird McCain with no actual evidence that he collaborated with the enemy, and to dismiss his congressional positions as insignificant since he is dying anyway.
Service to country was the legacy of Troop 206, as it was for countless American organizations  then as well as now. We must never ever forget what they stood for.
We remember that this countrys history is filled with men and women who served  who gave their lives for you lest we forget, he said. They were brothers, sisters, sons and daughters  They were loved by someone. They put aside all their ambitions to serve you, to serve your country.
According to the charges, on March 14, 2007, the then-44-year-old woman was walking when she was pulled into the back seat of a Cadillac. The driver dropped the woman and her assailant in a wooded area where the woman was raped.
Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor said the holiday is for the memory and honor of those who died for their country. Those who gave their all by leaving their all behind. We are here today to persevere for our heroes and their personal stories.
Kparker was a practicing urologist affiliated with the University of Illinois Medical Center, among others, according to www.sharecare.com. He graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine in 2003, according to the website.
Colorado's love for SUVs is stronger than ever, even as climate warms
By Dorcas Wong

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo visited China recently, and reaffirmed Australias commitment to strengthen the trade partnership between the two countries.

The trip marked the first visit of the year from any high-level Australian minister, and the first visit from Ciobo since Sino-Australian diplomatic relations deteriorated. The Australian government last year raised concerns over Chinas influence in Australian universities and politics, leading Australia to announce that it will introduce legislation banning foreign political donations.

However, despite quite a tumultuous political environment, the China-Australia economic relationship has largely remained steady under the protection of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).

ChAFTA, which came into force on December 20, 2015, has dramatically expanded trade and investment between the two countries and increased the competitiveness of opportunities for Australian businesses in Chinas marketplace.

China-Australia trade

China is Australias largest trade partner for goods and services. This two-way partnership amounts to US$131.6 billion dollars and accounted for 23.8 percent of Australias total trade in 2016-17.

ChAFTA trade in goods

Because of ChAFTA, more than 98 percent of Australian goods exported to China enter either duty-free or at a preferential rate. In 2016, China purchased exports valued at US$70.5 billion, which comprised over a quarter of all Australian exports that year.

Traditional Australian exports such as coking coal, wine, beef, and dairy are expected to grow substantially as tariffs are gradually eliminated under ChAFTA. Similarly, new opportunities will likely open up for exports such as whisky, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and health products  goods that will have their tariffs eliminated come January 1, 2019.

ChAFTA trade in services

In 1999, Australia became a net exporter of services to China. By 2016-17, Australias exports in services to China valued at US$11.1 billion, making China the largest service market in Australia.

Education  often described as the quiet champion of Australian exports  is the largest Australian service export to China. In 2016, education-related-services accounted for 53.8 percent of total Australian service-exports.

China is also Australias largest source of tourism revenue, and one of its fastest growing service imports. Last year Australia welcomed a record 1.33 million Chinese visitors to its shores. In the same way, Australians are now travelling to China more so than ever  with a 15.5 percent growth rate from last year.

The 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism campaign was behind much of the growth. China and Australia signed of a Memorandum of Understanding that liberalized aviation and visa regulations, and also created more targeted marketing strategies.

Under the Most-Favored Nation Clause of ChAFTA, China commits to protecting Australias competitive position in the service industry, offering treatment no less favorable to similar services and suppliers of any other country. This extends to the following industries: education, tourism, construction, engineering, securities, environmental, forestry, as well as computer services and related scientific and technical consulting services.

RELATED: China-Germany Relations: Opportunities Emerge as Investment Ties Grow

Foreign investment

Under ChAFTA, both Australian and Chinese investors gain a competitive advantage through simplified screening processes and introduction of new rules making it easier to establish a commercial presence.

Australia has consistently ranked the second largest recipient of aggregated global Chinese direct investment, and this has grown exponentially over the past 10 years.

In 2016, Chinese investment into Australia was valued at approximately US$65.6 billion. A large proportion of these investments were in commercial real estate (36 percent) and infrastructure (28 percent), followed by healthcare (nine percent), agribusiness (eight percent) and energy (oil and gas) (eight percent). Chinese investors are increasingly shifting away from mining investments and turning to more consumption-related sectors such as healthcare and agribusiness, in-line with changes to Chinese consumer behavior.

ChAFTA is unique in that it was the first time that China made a treaty-commitment for commercial associations between law firms, and Chinas best ever-commitment to health and aged care services at the time ChAFTA entered into force. Under ChAFTA, Australian medical service suppliers are able to establish wholly-Australian-owned hospitals in many areas of China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Guangdong, amongst others.

Australian financial investment in China is also booming. As the fifth most popular destination for Australian investors in 2016, direct and portfolio investments were valued at US$66.3 billion.

The 2018 Westpac Australia-China Business Sentiment Survey reports that Australian businesses in China are generally quite optimistic, with over half of them reporting year-to-year growth, and even more businesses forecasting that they will generate a profit in the upcoming year.

Challenges and opportunities for Australian investors

One of the biggest challenges that Australian companies face in China is entering the market at the right moment. According to Paul Dwyer, the head of Australia Desk at Dezan Shira & Associates, where he also leads the International Tax and Transfer Pricing practice, Australian businesses are usually inhibited by comparatively slow internal decision-making, which means that by the time they reach the market, opportunities are not as fresh and the market is more saturated.

Dwyer also observed that Australian investors entering the Chinese market are often surprised about how different the regulatory and business environments are from Australia. He notes that Australian business can sometimes adopt an overly domestic-mindset, making them ill-equipped for the Chinese market.

These findings are supported by the Westpac-Austcham Australia-China Business Sentiment Survey, which found frequent regulatory changes and lack of market familiarity as two of the biggest challenges for Australian businesses in China.

Business Intelligence from Dezan Shira & Associates

Nevertheless, ChAFTA has opened considerable amount of opportunity for both Australia and China. For example, ChAFTA wine and whisky exports to China have grown substantially in recent years, but the elimination of tariffs on January 1, 2019 for these goods will be a major boon for the alcohol industry. Tariffs for pharmaceutical products, including vitamins and health products, will also be eliminated on January 1, 2019.

Dwyer said, New and existing investors should capitalize on this growing market, and continue to expand their products to match the changing needs of the Chinese consumer.

Australian businesses continue to find success in the Chinese market, supporting the expansion of the bilateral economic relationship with diversified trade and investment. Australian service exports in tourism, education, and healthcare continue to grow alongside traditional goods exports such as iron ore, copper ore, gold, wool, and beef.

Ultimately, the China-Australia partnership continues to be strong due to the far-reaching ChAFTA, and naturally complementary economies. Australian business in China will continue to enjoy many opportunities for entry and growth, but it is clearly important for Australian businesses to become familiar with the Chinese market and seek professional assistance to manage new market entry and expansion.
You are here: Business

A China-India IT industry cluster was launched Sunday in southwest China's Guizhou Province, in a bid to step up cooperation between the two countries through integrated development.

Guiyang, capital of Guizhou, has joined hands with NASSCOM, an Indian non-profit IT industry association, and NIIT, an Indian talent development enterprise, to launch a series of cooperation projects.

The NASSOM (Guiyang) IT Industry Cluster District and the NIIT Big Data College were inaugurated on a forum at China International Big Data Industry Expo 2018.

Guiyang, also known as China's "big data valley," saw its big data enterprises gaining 81.7 billion yuan (12.8 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue in 2017, contributing 33 percent to the city's annual GDP, official data showed.

Located in Guiyang's High-tech Zone, the 8,000-square-meter NASSOM (Guiyang) IT Industry Cluster District is to become an important base for Guizhou's software and service outsourcing industry, according to the forum.

In three to five years, the district is to achieve over 275 million yuan in revenue, by hosting more than 25 enterprises as well as more than 500 software engineers.

The NIIT Big Data College will offer various training programs including big data technology, network development and business intelligence analysis.
China's Xiamen Airlines welcomed the 200th member of its fleet as its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft started commercial flight on Sunday.



With a white egret logo on its tail fin, the latest model of the Boeing 737 family started its maiden trip for Xiamen Airlines on a direct air route from southeast China's Xiamen to the eastern city of Shanghai.

"Born in 1984 in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone, Xiamen Airlines is the epitome of China's surging civil aviation amid the country's reform and opening," said Che Shanglun, chairman with Xiamen Airlines.

The airline has achieved total profits of 10 billion yuan (about US$1.57 billion). It has also celebrated 31 consecutive years of profitability.

"It's a milestone of Xiamen Airlines to become a big carrier with the 200th aircraft joining the fleet," said Che, adding that the airline doubled its fleet from 100 to 200 in less than four and a half years.

"Boeing has had a very special relationship with Xiamen Airlines in the past three decades. Now it receives its 737 MAX, which will surely make it more profitable," said Kevin McAllister, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"With the delivery of this aircraft, we hope it begins the next chapter of our long-term relationship," he said.

As the latest member of the Boeing 737 narrow-body aircraft family, the 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing's history. Boeing has gotten more than 4,500 orders from nearly 100 customers worldwide.

The 737 MAX boasts advanced technology winglets and LEAP-1B engines, which contribute to its reduced fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions compared to the single-aisle airplanes it replaces.

In 2017, Boeing delivered a record high of 202 new aircraft to China, representing its sixth consecutive year of more than 140 deliveries to the country, according to Boeing China.

Boeing's global deliveries of commercial aircraft reached 763 in 2017, with those to China making up 26 percent.

Now, each one of three Boeing narrow-body 737 family aircraft is made for the Chinese customers.

China's surging aviation industry has been creating great opportunities for global companies, especially U.S. giants and many enterprises on the extensive industrial chain, said insiders in the aviation industry.

As an air carrier of all-Boeing fleet, Xiamen Airlines uses the fleet of 737s, 757s, and 787 Dreamliners to expand its airline network home and abroad, including ten transcontinental air routes.

Che announced that the airline has set a target to expand its Boeing fleet to 560 by 2035, similar to the current fleet size of the country's biggest carrier, China Southern Airlines.
Chinese technology group BOE, a global leader in semiconductor display industry as well as an IoT technology provider, has unveiled its new strategic plan "VUSION 2022" at Viva Technology, which ran from May 24 to 26 in Paris.

The plan aims to strengthen the leadership of the French company SES-imagotag (hereinafter referred to as SES), of which BOE Technology Group is the main shareholder, on the market of the digitalization of the physical trade with three objectives: a doubling of the customers within the Top 2,000 of the world distribution, a base installed 500 million connected electronic tags and a turnover of 800 million euros in 2022.

In June 2017, BOE acquired 50.01 percent of the share capital of SES, the world leader in electronic labels and IoT solutions for commerce, and since March 16, 2018, the group holds 79.94 percent of the shares.

BOE and SES share the same vision for the central role of smart labels, which, combined with sensors, image recognition and data analysis, is a true "omni-channel store's technology base".

"Our partnership with BOE will generate strong growth in the coming years, strengthening our industrial competitiveness and taking a leadership position in the huge Chinese market at the forefront of 'New Retail'," said Thierry Gadou, CEO of SES.

"BOE focuses on the applications in segmented markets based on its advantages in display, AI, and sensor technologies. loT-based smart retail solutions are intended to address pain points of retailers and consumers by improving operational efficiency an achieving seamless online and offline convergence," said Yao Xiangjun, Co-COO of BOE.
In April 2013, the government of Jiashan, a small county in East China's Zhejiang province, handed a piece of land to the industrial zone operator China Fortune Land Development (CFLD). Both parties envisioned the construction of a livable new city with booming industry and a clean environment.



Five years later, their blueprint has in large part been accomplished, and the new city continues to thrive, through CFLD's flagship public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Unlike other realty developers, CFLD's model for developing and running the new city is focused on long-term urban growth.

The small town is located in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Jiashan county, an area once known as "the land of fish and rice." Now, after being built from the ground up and following five years of expansion, the town is on course to become a new regional hub for technological research and development, software development, information, film and television media, as well as trade and commerce.

Most of the supporting facilities of the new city have also been put into operation, including service centers for talent recruitment, companies, parks, road networks, apartment buildings, shopping centers, hospitals and schools, CFLD said.

After the PPP project was rolled into effect, CFLD invited top local and international consulting and planning agencies like McKinsey, AECOM and Regal Lloyds to build a conceptual urban strategy for the new industry city.

Jiashan's vicinity to the troika powering China's prosperous Yangtze River DeltaShanghai (80 km), Hangzhou (95 km), and Suzhou (90 km)gives it unique advantages to develop and thrive, especially with industrial restructuring and urbanization on the agenda.

The sprawling transportation network around Jiashan (including a high-speed rail, two expressways, two national highways, four major international airports and three major international cargo ports) also gives the new industry city a geographical advantage, as it is involved in the Yangtze River Delta and in the division of labor in the surrounding city cluster, explained Zhao Hongjing, co-president of CFLD.

"Based on easy transportation and scientific planning from our top consulting partners, we are striving to build the new city in a space with clean environment, deep cultural substance and convenient facilities," Zhao explained.

To date, approximately 200 enterprises have established operations in the new city, attracting almost 300 talented personnel with master's or PhD degrees.

CFLD's expertise in building new industry towns near larger metropolises originated at the turn of the century in Hebei province's Gu'an, which has been transformed from an unknown town dominated by small scale agriculture to a center of general prosperity powered by advanced manufacturing.

Recently, the Gu'an case was touted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as a successful model for sustainable development.

Compared to Gu'an, Jiashan has a relatively stronger economic foundation and will be able to deliver faster socioeconomic benefits, Zhao said.

"The more developed the region is, the more it thirsts for advanced industries," he stated. "With one of the largest investment solicitation and service teams with 4,600 people, as well as an advanced innovation incubator, CFLD can attract leading enterprises into the area, form an industrial cluster and facilitate the region's sustainable development."

During an event marking the fifth anniversary of the new industry city on May 27, the Jiashan government announced that a total of 35 new major programs will begin operations in the city, ranging from urban infrastructure and road building to industry and people's livelihood.

UISEE, a Beijing-based unicorn company in self-driving technologies, products and services, is among those that are going to set up production facilities in Jiashan.

The company's co-founder, Wu Gansha, said that strong support from the local government, quality service from CFLD, as well as solid industrial conditions are some of the key factors in having chosen Jiashan New Industry City.

Today, CFLD's PPP model has been scaled up to 80 new industry cities across China and extended to six other countries.
You are here: China

Experts have refuted longstanding rumors about China's organ donation and transplantation practices by sharing clear and transparent information in Geneva.

Huang Jiefu, head of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, said 17,085 Chinese had voluntarily donated organs after death, and over 48,000 organs had been transplanted in China from January 2010 to April 2018.

The release refuted media reports that "China has a yearly organ transplantation volume of as much as 60,000 to 100,000" and of "organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners".

Organ trafficking and human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal are condemned by the World Health Organization and the United Nations.

"These figures strongly rebut these groundless rumors," Huang said on Thursday during a news conference in Geneva.

Huang attended the "Toward Universal Access to Solid Organ Transplantation" event on the sidelines of the World Health Organization's World Health Assembly.

The 71st World Health Assembly ended on Saturday.

International experts concluded that China had accomplished a broad range of reforms, including prohibiting the use of organs from executed prisoners and transplant tourism, and establishing a national allocation system.

Wang Haibo, director of the China Organ Transplant Response System Research Center, explained China's strict measures against organ trafficking.

A national organ donation and transplantation monitor system has been set up that uses big data to ensure traceability and fairness of organ distribution and aids law enforcement against organ trafficking, he said.

National surveillance against organ trafficking is conducted through the joint efforts of legal and health authorities.

Huang, the former vice-minister of health, confirmed that the information and data collected by Chinese authorities would be shared with the WHO and its member states.

Philip O'Connell, director of the Centre for Transplant and Renal Research at the Westmead Institute for Medial Research in Australia, said "One reason why some people believed them (rumors) in the first place was because of the lack of knowledge".

Francis Delmonico, another leading expert who attended the news conference, said he agreed with O'Connell that the rumors have been effectively countered by the transparent and complete data Chinese authorities provided.

Jose Ramon Nunez, an adviser at the WHO, said "We have this (figure)135, 000 organ transplantations performed every year in the worldwhich is only 10 percent of the real needs".

China's expertise, especially China's experience in successfully carrying out national reforms, is very needed worldwide, he said.




China has pledged to take effective measures to protect the legitimate rights of convicts as an important part of ongoing judicial reform.

According to the Ministry of Justice, a pilot program featuring basic medical insurance will be established in six provinces and municipalities to protect the human rights of prisoners.

The two-year program will initially be trialed in areas including the provinces of Heilongjiang, Hainan and Shaanxi before being expanded nationwide, according to Wang Jinyi, director of the Prison Management Bureau at the Ministry of Justice.

"We are negotiating with the relevant authorities, including the ministries of finance and human resources and social security. A joint regulation will be issued in the coming months to clarify the details," he said, noting that in future prisoners' medical expenses will be covered by national medical insurance funds.

At present, inmates are guaranteed immediate medical treatment if they fall ill.

However, they can only be treated at a number of designated hospitals and only have access to basic treatments rather than more expensive imported drugs, which may influence the outcome of their treatment.

That will change under the new system.

"After the convicts are covered by the national medical insurance program, observance of their human rights will be greatly improved and those rights will be guaranteed," the ministry said.

According to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, China's highest investigative and prosecuting body, provincial prosecuting departments will intensify inspections of penal institutions to prevent illegal behavior by warders that could contravene the legitimate rights of inmates.

In addition, the prosecuting departments will conduct both regular and random patrols of facilities to further improve supervision and prevent interference by prison and local authorities.

Prisoners who believe their convictions were flawed, or claim to have been assaulted or treated unjustly, will be able to lodge a complaint and receive immediate feedback from prosecutors, according to the procuratorate.




As part of the event of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, the Second China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Political Parties Forum was held in Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, from May 26 to 27.

Chaired by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the forum themed "reform, innovation and party building" was attended by some 80 delegates representing over 60 political parties and regional organizations in nearly 30 countries.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up and the CPC is willing to share its experience with political parties from CELAC countries, said Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

The CPC is also willing to promote the building of a China-CELAC community with a shared future together with political parties from CELAC countries, Song noted. Bilateral ties are expected to enhance strategic dialogues, reinforce mutual trust, deepen communication, improve governance capacity, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and step up pragmatic cooperation, he added.

"China's economic development in the past 40 years not only benefited its own people, but also made great contributions to the whole world," said Lineth Guzman, vice president of the Bolivian Senate, at the forum. China's experience can be used to propel Bolivian economic growth, she added.

After two days of discussion, the Statement of the Second China-CELAC Political Parties Forum was declared at the closing ceremony on the afternoon of May 27. The first China-CELAC Political Parties Forum was held in 2015.




The fourth China-Africa Young Leaders Forum was held in Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, from May 26 to 27.

The theme explored at this year's forum was "How youths can play a role in exploring paths that suit their national conditions." It was hosted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Some 70 youth delegates representing 40 political parties from nearly 40 African nations attended the forum and took part in discussions around the theme.

The CPC and participating African political parties have placed great emphasis on youth engagement, with younger citizens contributing to the exploration of paths to national development, the promotion of China-Africa friendship and the building of a global community with a shared future, said Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

Song noted that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental reason for all the achievements and progress that China has made in the past decades. The CPC is willing to enhance exchange with political parties in Africa on this topic, he added.

"China's 40 years of rapid economic growth have brought hope and experience to Africa and we will make earnest efforts to develop our own country and Africa in the next 40 years," said Marius Assoumou Ndong, deputy secretary general of the Gabonese Democratic Party and secretary general of the party's Youth League. He also expressed that the forum offered a great platform to exchange views and enhance cooperation between China and African countries.

The forum was also deemed a successful warm-up event for the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which will be held in Beijing this September.




The 4th Beijing International Forum on People-to-People Friendship kicked off on May 27, attended by over 300 representatives of cities and organizations from nearly 30 countries and regions.

The forum, established in 2011, aims to help Beijing to become an international exchange center. This year's event hosted visitors from the U.S., Malaysia, Australia, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, among others, to discuss cultural inheritance, urban governance, and youth communication.

Wang Hong, vice mayor of Beijing, opened the forum by highlighting the role of the international community in the city's development. "Building Beijing into the political, cultural, international exchange, and science and technology innovation center depends on the participation of every country, international organization and talented individuals home and abroad," she said.

Beijing stands as one of the main gateways for international exchange between China and the world. According to the municipal bureau of statistics, the city received 746,000 inbound tourists from January to March, while its outbound tourists reached 1.25 million.

The forum's panelists echoed Wang's sentiment on the importance of people-to-people exchanges. Colin Mackerras, an Australian sinologist and expert on Australian-Chinese relations, said, "In our world today people-to-people relationship is more essential than ever, which always underpins diplomatic relationship."

He commended China's efforts in its preservation of traditional culture like the Peking Opera and minority ethnic cultures, which became an key element to its work in international cultural exchange.

During Chinese New Year holidays in February, China hosted the galas and in major cities around the world with performances by the National Peking Opera Company of China.

Mackerras added that China's Belt and Road Initiative focuses not only on economic aspects, but also on cultural, is thus strongly welcomed worldwide.

In an interview after the forum, Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, who worked as Malaysia's ambassador to China from 1998 to 2005 and now serves as president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, expressed his optimistic view about Malaysia-China relationship.

"The relationship is becoming stronger by the day, and also expanding in other areas," Majid said. He brought up the increasing number of international flights between the two countries as one example to illustrate the increasingly frequent people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Today, "practically all airlines in China fly to Malaysia," he said, adding that such flights are even available in China's second-tier, and even some third-tier cities, for people there to visit Malaysia.

In March 2016, AirAsia initiated a direct flight line between Jieyang, a third-tier city in China, and Kuala Lumpur. Recently, a direct flight route from China's new second-tier city Guiyang to Langkawi, an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia's west coast, has launch on May 22.

To boost Chinese tourists arrivals, Malaysia introduced a visa waiver program called eNTRI in March 2016, giving visitors 15 days of visa-free stay.

Majid also emphasized that Malaysia and China have a long-established relationship which has been strong and healthy, and the Malaysian Chinese also share historical and other linkages with China, supporting strong Malaysia-China relations for mutual benefit.

The forum included a photo exhibition, themed "Understanding through Glimpses of Beijing," to give attendees a visual understanding of Beijing's economic and social development.

The event was sponsored by the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, the Communist Youth League Beijing Municipal Committee, and the People's Government of Xicheng District.
According to the IMD report, executed in cooperation with the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines fell by nine places to 50th among 63 countries.

Nevertheless, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia called the findings a "misobservation" - and rightly so.

Economic realities vs. Index data

After the global crisis, the Philippines' economic performance quickly bounced back, but did not provide sustained growth in the first half of the 2010s. Despite stated struggle against corruption, the Aquino administration neglected systemic graft and drugs proliferation focusing on geopolitics, at the cost of economic development. Investment was ignored. Relatively low debt benefited mainly the financial elite.

How were these trends depicted by the IMD at the time? Actually, the IMD data suggests nothing much happened in the Philippines in the early 2010s (Figure).

Figure Philippine Economic Performance Vs IMD Ranking, 2008-2018

Source: World Bank (annual real GDP growth); World Competitiveness Index (IMD ranking)

Ironically, the Index ranking also indicates that the country's competitive performance improved in 2013-14, when narco-corruption grew pervasive creating odd bedfellows in politics. As the Liberal Party saw Manuel Roxas as the next president, a wasteful "election stimulus" supported growth in Aquino's last days.

In contrast, Duterte began a historical infrastructure investment push, while initiating the requisite changes to boost foreign investment, with his economic team, including Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez III, Secretary of Budget and Management Benjamin Diokno and Secretary of Public Works and Highways Mark Villar. That required greater debt-taking and would lead to deficits in the short-term. Philippine peso would soften against the US dollar, as a result of conservative monetary policy in the past and the Fed's rate hikes. Yet, the Philippines is positioned to enjoy 6-7 percent annual growth and rapidly rising living standards until the early 2020s.

How has the IMD measured these realities? The simple answer is: Poorly. Basically, the Index insulated short-term trends - e.g., debt, deficit, exchange rate - from the transformative investment program, and then mistook its own misreading as the government's policy mistakes.

As the Philippines is now positioned for sustained growth, the IMD Index suggests that economic performance has been hit the worst, when in fact it is more sustained than in years as the government's infrastructure program is integrating and connecting the country domestically, regionally, and internationally.

So why do the competitiveness indexes often fail to capture transformative change?

Five caveats

In the past 25 years I have been involved with global competitiveness and innovation initiatives, while lecturing and speaking in MBA and Executive MBA programs from New York University's Stern School of Business and Columbia's School of Business to Harvard Business School, Tsinghua and Fudan in China, Singapore Management University, Nanyang Technology University and INSEAD, to mention some.

When the Cold War ended, economic competitiveness came to substitute for geopolitical rivalry. That's when I began cooperating with the leading strategy and cluster analyst, Prof. Michael E. Porter in Harvard Business School. His approach framed the original Global Competitiveness Index by the World Economic Forum (WEF), along with Jeffrey Sachs's macro index and Xavier Sala-i-Martin's research.

Of the two competitiveness indexes, IMD's World Competitiveness Yearbook is the minor one. It deploys both hard data and executive surveys but features only 63 economies. Much of the WEF data is based on executive surveys and a third on hard data, but it features some 140 economies.

The not-so-secret secret of the competitive indexes is that they tend to reflect slowly-changing historical realities. So they often fail to capture rapidly-changing, future-driven and disruptive economic realities, such as Duterte's transformative leadership.

Second, these rankings rely significantly on executive surveys, which reflect the views of incumbents rather than those of the challengers. When I projected in the US National Interest in 2005 that Chinese and Indian multinationals were becoming competitive and innovative, most observers had not heard of Huawei, Alibaba, Tata and Infosys, and other future leaders. Chinese government leaders and executives remained focused on economic progress - as Filipino leaders do today.

Third, when competitive realities change rapidly and disruptively, hard data is absent and surveys reign. In such situations, domestic media should mirror economic realities. But when that media is linked with domestic monopolies and vested interests, such neutrality is often absent. When Nokia and Ericsson conquered mobile markets in the 1990s, most executives still focused on Motorola and AT&T, which failed in the GSM era - as I discovered advising them in New York City.

Fourth, as most competitiveness indexes represent multinationals headquartered in advanced economies, they offer lessons that don't always work for late entrants from emerging economies. Last summer, when I spoke in Jollibee's executive summit, I recalled that when I began to use the company in case studies a decade ago, foreign execs often said: "Jolly, who?" Today, Jollibee is far better known, thanks to its international strategy and quest for excellence.

Finally, there are political linkages behind all indexes. Michael Porter became more widely known in the 1980s, when the Reagan administration made him the head of its competitiveness commission. Jeffrey Sachs's ideas of "shock therapy," which monetarist Milton Friedman had first applied during Pinochet's Chilean dictatorship, contributed to Russia's Great Depression in the 1990s. Sala-i-Martin used to cooperate with Robert Barro who built his growth theory on neoclassical economics, which has been the cornerstone of post-Cold War US administrations. But what works for US dominance may not always be good for other nations.

The long and short of it is that many competitiveness indexes look into the future by staring at the rear-mirror. That's not a receipt for future , but for crashes.

It is not the Philippine economic performance that is failing. Rather, it is the competitiveness indexes that fail to capture the country's new economic progress - for now.

Dr Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served as research director at the India, China and America Institute (USA) and visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore).

The original commentary was published by The Manila Times on May 28, 2018.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
 Flash









Buyers seeking nutritious goods, boosting catering sector's prospects





National Bureau of Statistics data show Chinese consumers spent 3.96 trillion yuan ($620 billion) on food and drink in 2017, up 10.7 percent year-on-year, with a higher growth rate than the consumer goods sector's average.





This April, China's food and beverage industry generated 302.4 billion yuan in revenue, up 9.6 percent year-on-year.





"The Chinese economy is growing at a stable pace and the food and beverage industry will keep playing an important role in stimulating consumption," the China Cuisine Association predicted in its annual report released in 2017. "In 2018, the industry will maintain a growth rate of around 10 percent, with the entire market size reaching 4.3 trillion yuan. By 2020 it is expected to top 5 trillion yuan."





Demand is not only growing in terms of quantity but also quality, as buyers are getting pickier. Consumers are paying more attention to quality, safety, service and whether their food is produced sustainably.





"To achieve high-quality development, we need to offer diversified experiences for our customers," said Jiang Junxian, head of the China Cuisine Association. "So, we need to speed up supply-side structural reform in the business. With a more developed food processing industry, we can provide safer, more nutritious and convenient ingredients to consumers."





Qu Hao, an award-winning Chinese master chef, predicted the average spend on eating out will increase in 2018, with cheap restaurants struggling to survive as costs rise.





"I think 2018 will see fierce competition between restaurants priced at 100 yuan to 200 yuan per person per meal," Qu said. "Diners will have higher expectations at a restaurant priced within that range, which will push the business to upgrade and offer better services."





Nordic pork is an example of a high-end product gaining wider popularity among Chinese diners despite its relatively high price. China is a pork exporting country. With domestic supply far exceeding local demand, prices are sliding. However, that hasn't stopped foreign companies selling their products in the country.





In May, Finnish meat products company HKScan Oyj exported 25 metric tons of pork to China. It plans to ship a further 2,975 tons this year, believing its omega-3-rich, antibiotics-free and hormone-free pork chops will be a major market hit.





"We see a demand for premium pork in the Chinese consumer market," said Jukka Nikkinen, executive vice-president at HKScan. Especially when it comes to food, Chinese customers do not look at the price tag alone, but care about whether it is safe, healthy and nutritious, he said.





"I don't care if the pork is a frozen import or fresh from the butcher's, as long as it's not genetically modified and is hormone-free," said Li Wenjie, a 30-year-old new mother based in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. "I don't even go to the food market. I buy most of my groceries from the supermarket or online anyway. I used to eat junk food every day when I was at university, but now I'm a mother with a baby to feed, I need to pay attention to food quality and safety."





HKScan is not the first Nordic country to ship pork to China. Late last year, 36 tons of pork from Finnish food company Atria arrived in Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan province. The pork joints sold for 168 yuan each in a local restaurant, which served them as schweinshaxe, meaning German-roasted pork knuckle. Atria is planning to export 2,000 tons of pork to China every year.





Pork belly from Denmark, selling at 62 yuan per kilogram, has been a popular product on Tmall Supermarket, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's online grocery store.




 Flash

China on Sunday voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to two U.S. warships trespassing into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement released on Sunday night that the U.S. warships trespassed into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands on Sunday without permission of the Chinese government, and the Chinese navy identified the U.S. warships, warned and expelled them.

The Xisha Islands are China's inherent territory, Lu said, noting that in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government promulgated the baseline of the territorial sea off the Xisha Islands in 1996.

The relevant Chinese law has explicit provisions on foreign military vessels' entry into the territorial sea of China, Lu said.

The U.S. side once again sent warships to trespass into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands, an act which violated the Chinese and relevant international laws, seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty, disrupted peace, security and good order of the relevant waters.

"The Chinese side strongly urges the U.S. side to immediately stop such kind of provocative operations that violate China's sovereignty and threaten China's security," Lu said, noting that the Chinese side will continue to take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and security.
 Flash

The first Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Political Parties Forum was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on May 26.

Themed "Pooling Wisdom of Political Parties, Promoting the Shanghai Spirit and Building a Global Community with a Shared Future," the forum was hosted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Nearly 200 delegates representing over 30 parties from 18 SCO members, observers and dialogue partners attended the forum to exchange views and experiences at the conference.

"Being forerunners and guides of national development, political parties play a leading role in building a global community with a shared future and jointly making the world a better place," said Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, adding that, "enhancing exchanges between SCO political parties will definitely promote its further development."

Song noted that the CPC is willing to take the opportunity of the forum to advance the building of a SCO community with a shared future featuring equality, mutual support and solidarity together with other SCO members.

As a regional organization with member states accounting for approximately half of the world's population, the SCO has become a model for peaceful development and cultural exchange, said Sergey Zheleznyak, deputy secretary of the General Council of the United Russia Party, at the forum.

After discussions, consensuses were reached on carrying on the Shanghai Spirit, endeavoring to build a SCO community with a shared future, enhancing coordination of action plans and promoting the institutionalization of the forum, said Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a news briefing held after the forum.

The forum has helped to create a positive and friendly atmosphere for the upcoming SCO summit, which will be held in Qingdao, Shandong Province, next month, he added.
 Flash

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Monday its dismantlement of the Punggye Ri nuclear test site last week has shown its will to work for a nuclear-free world.

The official Rodong Sinmun said Monday in a commentary stated that the positive measures taken by the DPRK for the dismantlement of the nuclear test ground have "evoked a tremendous response from the world."

It said that by inviting international media to cover the event, the DPRK has shown transparency in stopping nuclear tests.

"The DPRK is advancing along the path taken by itself according to its timetable no matter whatever others may say and wherever wind may blow from," it said.

The ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) said last month in a plenary session that DPRK would halt its nuclear and missile tests and concentrate all its efforts on economic construction to improve the lives of its people.

"The whole course of dismantling the northern nuclear test ground eloquently proves the DPRK government's unshakable peace-loving stand to join the aspiration and efforts of the international community for a total stop to nuclear tests," said the newspaper of the WPK.

DPRK dismantled the Punggye Ri nuclear test site last week and it invited foreign journalists to cover the event.




China Daily | May 25, 2018

Eighteen of the 44 foreign airlines that had been required to stop listing the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan as though they were independent countries have finished their rectifications, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said Friday.

The other 26 foreign airlines have promised to make the rectifications but applied for delayed implementation due to technical reasons. The earliest promised time for the completion of the rectifications is May 28 and the latest is July 25, the administration said in a statement.

On April 25, the administration required 44 foreign airlines to rectify their wrong practice of referring to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao as independent from China on their official websites before May 25, as such practice is a violation of Chinese laws and goes against the one-China policy.

The administration said Friday it will closely follow the airlines that have not yet finished the rectifications. It also promised to safeguard the legitimate rights of foreign airlines to offer transportation services in China.
By Dong Lyu, Blake Schmidt, Kyunghee Park, Kiyotaka Matsuda, Christopher Jasper, Lena Lee, Shuping Niu, Mary Schlangenstein, Bloomberg News | May 28, 2018

Most of the foreign airlines that agreed to tweak references to Taiwan to reflect the island as part of the mainland China have been given more time to comply as Beijing extends a crackdown on companies over its stance on disputed territories.

Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG are among airlines that have made changes to their websites, while those that have received or applied for an extension include United Continental Holdings Inc. and ANA Holdings Inc. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said late Friday that all 44 carriers that were asked to modify their Taiwan references will do so. Eighteen made the required changes before a May 25 deadline, and the rest asked for extensions and were given until as late as July 25 to comply, the regulator said.

Taiwan has been a repeated flash-point as President Xi Jinping flexes China's economic clout on the global stage, forcing companies including Gap Inc. and Daimler AG 's Mercedes-Benz to apologize for offending the mainland's political sensibilities. Air carriers from United to ANA received letters from the regulator calling for strict adherence to guidelines on references to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on websites and promotional materials, a move the White House called " Orwellian nonsense ."

The Chinese government considers Taiwan a renegade island to be united with the mainland, while Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions that enjoy greater autonomy. Beijing objects to references indicating that they are independent.

According to an April 25 statement the CAAC sent to more than 40 foreign airlines, carriers aren't allowed to place China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on an equal footing, and must refer to "China Taiwan" or the "China Taiwan region." Maps must display the territories in the same color as mainland China and airlines can't place Taiwan in other categories such as Southeast Asia, it said.

Failure to comply with the directives 30 days after the letter was sent out would face punishment under Chinese regulations, according to the statement.

Airline Extensions

United asked for and received a 30-day extension on the request, according to an email Friday from the Chicago-based carrier. American Airlines Group Inc. confirmed it got the Chinese request and declined further comment. Delta Air Lines Inc. said it was studying the matter.

"We are reviewing the Civil Aviation Administration of China's request and will remain in close consultation with the US government throughout this process," Delta said in an email.

The White House said in a May 5 statement that the directive by China is "part of a growing trend by the Chinese Communist Party to impose its political views on American citizens and private companies." "China's efforts to export its censorship and political correctness to Americans and the rest of the free world will be resisted," the White House said.

ANA confirmed its Beijing branch received a letter, dated April 25, from the CAAC. The carrier is in negotiations to extend the 30-day deadline, Yuko Yoshimura, a spokeswoman, said by phone. She declined to specify whether ANA would comply with China's demands. Japan Airlines Co. also applied for an extension, Masafumi Okuno, a spokesman, said in email.

"We always meet our obligations under international law and regularly make changes to our website, BA.com," IAG SA 's British Airways said.

Regional Rejig

Following China's directive, Korean Air moved destinations in Taiwan to the North Asia grouping on its website, from Southeast Asia previously, a spokesman said. Asiana Airlines Inc., which also received the letter from Chinese authorities, placed Taiwan under a section including China, Hong Kong and Macau, from the Southeast Asia grouping previously.

Earlier this month, Gap apologized for and destroyed stocks of a T-shirt featuring a map of China that left out territories claimed by the country, including parts of southern Tibet, Taiwan and the South China Sea. The US retailer said on its Weibo account that it "respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China."

Malaysia Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa now refer to "Taipei, China" on their booking websites. Jin Air Co., a low-cost airline under Hanjin Group, said it will change the Taiwan reference on its website to comply with China's request by Friday or Saturday.
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
China and Burkina Faso announced on Saturday the resumption of their diplomatic ties in a joint statement signed by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Alpha Barry in Beijing.

The West African country became the second nation within a month to break off ties with Taiwan, following the Dominican Republic.

The statement said the resumption of the ties is in line with the interests and wishes of the people in the two countries.
West African nation Burkina Faso's resumption of diplomatic relations with China on Saturday is anything but a surprise.

Admitting that there is only one China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China is non-negotiable if any country wants to develop diplomatic ties with China.

What Taiwan's secessionists feel about the island's declining number of "diplomatic allies" and what the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen says about it makes no difference. There is nothing her administration can do to turn the tide.
'I Hope You Can Help Me;' Daughter of Missing Lawyer Pleads with Merkel Contact: ChinaAid, 432-689-6985 office, 432-553-1080 media, media@chinaaid.org



BEIJING, China, May 28, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- The daughter of a Christian human rights lawyer who has been missing in China since August of last year pled with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to use her current trip to China to help her locate her father.



Photo: Grace Geng (right) sits with lawyer He Junren at a press release during the launch of her father's book, Unwavering Convictions -- (Photo: ChinaAid)



In a letter published to ChinaAid President Bob Fu's Facebook page, Grace Geng, the daughter of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, described to Merkel how her father has suffered repeated kidnappings, torture, and imprisonment for his legal defense of Christians and practitioners of Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual practice encouraging "truth, compassion, and tolerance." Both faiths have been repeatedly targeted as threats to the government, even though most of their devotees live peacefully and abide by the law.



The government started targeting Gao in 2005, when they revoked his lawyer's license and ordered him to close his practice. In December 2006, authorities convicted him of "inciting subversion of state power" and handed him a three-year prison term with a five-year probation. For unknown reasons, he was released soon afterwards.



In 2007, Gao was arbitrarily held in police custody for 50 days. Afterwards, he published an article titled "Dark Night, Dark Hood, and Kidnapping by Dark Mafia," describing the various tortures he underwent.



Due to the immense threat to their family, Gao's wife and children fled to the United States in January 2009, but Gao remained in China. Less than a month later, police seized him in his home, and he didn't resurface until March 27, 2010, when he was allowed a brief stint out of prison. He spoke to family and friends and shared his story with international reporters. On his way home from his in-laws apartment in Xinjiang in mid-April, officials kidnapped him again, and no one knew his whereabouts until Chinese state mouthpiece Xinhua News Agency reported on Dec. 26, 2011, that he had supposedly violated the terms of his parole and would serve a three-year prison term in Xinjiang. After spending three excruciating years behind bars, Gao was released but subjected to strict surveillance in his home in Shaanxi province, where he had difficulty eating due to the condition of his teeth after the harsh period in prison. He was not allowed to see a dentist.



While under house arrest, he secretly penned a book, which ChinaAid helped out of the country and secured a publishing deal with the American Bar Association and the Carolina Academic Press. It is available for purchase here.



In mid-August, two sympathizers, Li Fawang and Shao Zhongguo, helped Gao escape his minders and hid him at a vacation spot in the neighboring Shanxi province. For just more than three weeks, they successfully evaded detection until police officers from Shaanxi organized a large number of officers to cross the border to find him. Once in police custody, Gao vanished, and both Li and Shao were criminally detained.



Weeks later, Beijing officials claimed they had Gao in the custody of secret agents within the city, but no one has seen him, and ChinaAid has been unable to verify their claims.



Geng's letter can be read in full below.



ChinaAid, which exposes abuses suffered by Chinese dissidents such as Gao, joins Geng in urging Chancellor Merkel and other leaders in the free world to pay urgent attention to his case and press their contacts in the Chinese government for his release in order to ensure the nation respects human rights and rule of law. Dear Chancellor Merkel,



My name is Grace Geng. I am the daughter of Gao Zhisheng, the missing Chinese human rights attorney. My father has been missing in China for 284 days now. I learned that you are about to visit China. I am urgently asking you to help find my father, who has been forcefully disappeared in China.



My father is concerned about the rights of the vulnerable groups in China, such as the rights of Christians and the persecuted Falun Gong believers. As a result, he has been jailed and brutally tortured numerous times over the past 12 years. He has also been missing many times: the longest period was 21 months. He was confined alone in a small, dark cell that had no windows for a long time. His teeth were knocked out or fell out due to the beatings and lack of nutrition.



After he served his jail term in 2014, he was confined in a small village in his hometown. With barely a few teeth left, he could not eat properly or talk normally, but he was never allowed to see a dentist.



He is once again missing and has been so since mid August of last year, and we have had no news of him for the last 284 days.



My mother, my brother, and Ias well as all of our relativesare very worried. My uncle sought help from all the local police stations but got no result. He also hired two lawyers to inquire about my father's whereabouts in Beijing but still got nowhere.



Dear Chancellor Merkel, I hope you can help me despite your busy schedule. I am very concerned about my father, who has already suffered so much from such severe torture.



I sincerely appreciate your help. I wish you a wonderful trip to China!



Grace Geng

Daughter of Gao Zhisheng

May 23, 2018

Share Tweet
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
Terre des hommes Moldova este in cautarea unui /unei consultant/e sau a unei echipe de consultanti in domeniul orientarii in cariera si educatia pentru cariera.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

"With all of cheap women dresses a new thing to us, and we're still trying to figure out the best way to support them. When I was in my 20s I exercised at a New York City gym, and almost every day I'd see this frazzled woman.

need that burp mulan mcnugget sauce

The idea for Challenger Champions was created three years ago to honor outstanding individuals like Young who have attended the program during their childhood and then gone on to support the center as they got older. Jews also used this tactic: when it was reported in Palestine that the British Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin declared that Britain had never undertaken to establish a Jewish state but rather a Jewish home, the news was received with outrage, and led to Jewish riots in Tel Aviv.

"The nurses screen them, they bring it to me, they share it out with the participating eye doctors in the community, and those kiddos get in and get glasses. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you.

In FL it is more complicated, you have to take state tests every other year (same for HI).. Using blood samples collected over several years by the Rwanda Development Board, The Institut Congolese pour la Conservation du Nature and by Gorilla Doctors, which treats wild gorillas injured by snares, researchers were able to sequence the whole genomes of seven mountain gorillas for the first time.

We need bonds, we need bonds for our buildings, but when you get articles like we've had, nobody is going to trust us with any money."Later, he added, "I'm not going to go back on what I said before, if you don't think I'm the right person for this position, please find that person because our kids deserve that.

We should understand the history behind them whether that an incredibly proud moment in history or a moment that we should learn from, and we all understand was wrong and never should have happened," Creighton said, adding the proposal had more to do with "heritage monuments" around the state rather than solely Confederate monuments..

Farms used to be a valuable addition to Canada's correctional facilities. Otherwise, it will fail to help children and learners develop appropriately through exploration. Towards the end of the project, students will be getting ready for their Oral Presentation..

I didn't have kids when I used to frequent the pub more regularly, and my visits tended to be after a restaurant shift, when most "civilians" were tucked up cosy in their beds and televised games were long concluded. As much as I've shared tips that can help you protect your marriage, I honestly think you need further reading on this subject.

Big Deal on Summer! Shop up to 60$off designer Women Dresses and Girl Dresses at Jollyhers online store until May,31 ,2018.

$10 off code SP10 for $99+ orders

$30 off code SP20 for $249+ orders

$60 off code MS40 for $399+ orders

Visit Jollyhers to find Women Dresses, Women Tops, Girl Dresses, Girl Coats, Boy sets, Boy Coats, family matching clothes, kids shoes,and more. Enjoy designer stylish,high-quality materials,reasonable price,and free shipping from Jollyhers. Snap on https://www.jollyhers.com/women-dresses
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Global Report of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024

Peripheral Intravenous Catheters market:

Peripheral IV catheters are been used for administering drugs and nutrients and has been around in the market for many years, which is expected to create market demand for peripheral catheters across the globe. Moreover, rising number of inpatient, critical care admissions owing to chronic diseases and several acute diseases conditions expected to lead the market revenue growth positively. In addition, growing geriatric populations and rising healthcare infrastructure in developing economies driving peripheral IV catheters market globally.

Over last few years healthcare professionals increasingly preferring safety catheters over conventional catheters owing to rising concern of needlestick injuries to patients is creating the potential market opportunity for players offering safety catheters in the market. Moreover, technological advances in catheters manufacturing resulted in a reduction in hematoma-related complications and blood infections is expected to drive market revenue growth. For instance, usage of short peripheral catheters helps in reduction of hematoma related complications and blood infections.

Free sample of this report is available upon request @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-peripheral-intravenous-catheters-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx

The global peripheral catheters market is categorized as under-

1. Product Type

 Short Peripheral Intravenous Catheter (Ported PIVCs and Non-ported PIVCs)

 Integrated/closed Peripheral Intravenous Catheter

2. Technology Type

 Conventional PIVCs

 Safety PIVCs

3. End-User

Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC), Homecare Settings.

Free TOC of this report is available upon request @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-peripheral-intravenous-catheters-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu

And lastly on the basis geographical regions, the global peripheral intravenous catheter market have five major regions-North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Currently, North America market leads the global peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) due to the increase in adoption of a safety and short catheters in this region. Asia-pacific peripheral intravenous catheters market is expected to grow at significant rate owing to large patient population and growing healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-peripheral-intravenous-catheters-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3

Some of the key players in the global Peripheral Intravenous Catheters market include: Argon Medical Devices Inc. (U.S), B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Becton Dickinson and Company (U.S), C. R. Bard, Inc. (U.S), Medical Components Inc. (U.S), Smith Medical (U.S), Tangent Medical Technologies (U.S), Teleflex Inc. (U.S), Terumo Corporation (Japan), VIGMED AB (Sweden), Vygon Group (France) are some names.

Players in the Global Peripheral Intravenous Catheters (PIVCs) Market are launching the newer, mergers and acquisitions, collaborations and technologically advanced products in the market to garner larger market share. The market for peripheral IV catheters projected to reach US$ 5,467 million by 2023 owing to increasing healthcare infrastructure and growing advances in PIVCs technology.

Get access to full summary @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-peripheral-intravenous-catheters-market/

About Precision Business Insights

Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.

Contact to Precision Business Insights,

Kemp House,

152  160 City Road,

London EC1V 2NX

Email: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.com

Toll Free (US):+1-866-598-1553

Website @https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com
SHANGHAI, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 8, 2018, inA Shanghai, theA "Curated retail: present and future trends SHARK SHOPPING brand release ceremony & worldwide partner conference" was held at Shanghai Mercedes Benz Cultural Center. Global Home ShoppingA has changed its name toA SHARK SHOPPING. The event was witnessed by distinguished guests from China Radio International, China Home Shopping Alliance, China Electronic Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, Industry Association, a leading B2CA enterprise Fubon MOMO in Taiwan, citrussTV, theA largest TV shopping company in Middle East and North Africa, and TVD, the leading TV shopping operator. Hundreds of knownA brands such as Dyson, Panasonic, LUOLAI and Good Health were also at the event. SHARK SHOPPING, as one of t! he most r epresentative and innovative enterprises among China's TV shopping industry,A initiated theA "Selection mode" strategy,"A to select theA high-quality goods from around the world. SHARK SHOPPING will provide a quality lifestyle of "NoA moreA wastingA time,A SHARK SHOPPINGA offersA youA theA best." Currently, SHARK SHOPPING provides food, household suppliers, makeup products, personal care, garments, bags and suitcases, accessories and other products for customers through multiple channels including a video shopping app and live broadcastA (HD and SD), social media, marketing (based on big data), anA e-commerce website and print advertisements. There are 5-6 brands, 20-30 styles under every category, all of whichA areA quality products from around the world. Last September, SHARK SHOPPING signed a strategic agreement with citrussTV, the largest TV home shopping company in MENA basedA A in Dubai. Due to the exceptional location of Dubai, SHARK SHOPPING has completed its global trade chain by taking advantage of this favorable condition. In the activity on May 8,A citrussTV andA SHARK SHOPPING united simultaneously with Fubon MOMO, a leadingA B2CA enterprise in Taiwan and TVD, a leading TV shopping operator in Thailand, and jointly pushed "Global Brand Development Plan." Every platform will select the high-quality brands and output them onto other platforms quickly in local markets, achieving the goal of introduction and output of excellent brands.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Global Report of Cancer Biomarker Testing Market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024

Global Cancer Biomarker Testing Market:

Biomarker testing also known as genetic testing or molecular testing are group of tests that look for these molecular signs of health so that doctors can plan best care. Biomarker is any of bodys molecules that can be measured to assess the health. Molecules can be obtained from, body fluids, tissue or blood. Cancer biomarker is a process or substance that indicates the presence of cancer in the body as abnormal growth of cells. Genetic, epigenetic, glycemic, proteomic, and imaging biomarkers are used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and epidemiology. These cancer biomarkers used as risk indicators for various types of cancer such as lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer among the others.

The number of new cases is expected to rise about 70% over the coming 2 decades. In addition, increase in awareness in public and healthcare professionals regarding early diagnostic procedures, rise in government and NGOs funding for oncology are expected to grow the cancer biomarker testing market. However, high cost for biomarker tests, low detection rates and regulatory policies are expected to hamper the cancer biomarker test market.

Free sample of this report is available upon request @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cancer-biomarker-testing-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx

The cancer biomarker testing market is categorized on the basis of-

1. Type of cancer

 Cervical cancer

 Lung Cancer

 Collateral Cancer

 Liver Cancer

 Prostate Cancer

 Breast Cancer

 Others

2. Applications

 Drug Discovery and Development

 Personalized Medicine

 Diagnosis

 Others

3. End-users

Hospitals, Cancer diagnostic centers, research institutes and others.

Free TOC of this report is available upon request @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cancer-biomarker-testing-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu

And lastly on the basis of geographical regions, the global cancer biomarker testing market have five major regions- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is a major market due to increase in R & D activities for diagnosis and treating cancer and rise in prevalence of cancer. Asia-Pacific cancer biomarker test market is expected to be fastest growing market due to increase in demand for the non-invasive techniques in diagnosis and prevention of cancer, high prevalence of cancer conditions in the region.

Some of the players in cancer biomarker test market are Thermo Fisher Scientific (Affymetrix Inc.) (U.S.), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), AbbVie Inc. (U.S.), Arquer Diagnostics Ltd. (U.K.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), Qiagen (Germany), Agilent Technologies (U.S.), Merck & Co. Inc. (U.S.), Becton Dickinson and Company (U.S.), and Hologic Inc. (U.S.) to name a few. In 2015, Abbot Laboratories acquired exclusive rights for FGFR3 gene mutations to detect bladder cancer. It is a gene mutation and useful for early detection, disease monitoring, and prognosis of bladder cancer through tissue and urine-based testing.

Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cancer-biomarker-testing-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3

Market players are carrying out collaborations, partnerships, and acquisitions as key development strategies to enhance the market share. For instance, in March 2017, Foundation Medicine and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered collaboration to understand tumor profile and its microenvironment to predict patients response to cancer immunotherapy. Key cancer biomarkers include SCC, CEA, NSE Cyfra 21, PSA (prostate cancer), TPA (Lung cancer), CA15-3, EGF R, Cytokeratin 4 (breast cancer) and BRCA .

Get access to full summary @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cancer-biomarker-testing-market/

About Precision Business Insights

Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.

Contact to Precision Business Insights,

Kemp House,

152  160 City Road,

London EC1V 2NX

Email: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.com

Toll Free (US):+1-866-598-1553

Website @https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Global Report of cervical dystonia Market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024

Global market for cervical dystonia

Cervical dystonia, also known as spasmodic torticollis, rare neurological disorder that originates in the brain. Cervical dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions in the neck that cause abnormal movements and postures of the neck and head. The severity of cervical dystonia can vary, but the disorder can cause significant pain and discomfort as well as difficulty due to the abnormal postures. It can affect the quality of life and activities of daily living including employment. Cervical dystonia typically begins in middle age, and rarely begins in adolescence and young adulthood. The cause of cervical dystonia is unknown, although a genetic susceptibility is thought to underlie some cases.

The major driving factors for the market for cervical dystonia market is increase in aging population across the globe. Females are more likely to be get affected by cervical dystonia. Besides this increase in treatment for cervical dystonia and improvement in infrastructure provided fuel for the growth of the market. Furthermore, low and increase in cost of treatment is the major cause for restraining the growth of cervical dystonia market.

Free sample of this report is available upon request @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cervical-dystonia-management-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx

The global market of Cervical Dystonia Management Market is categorized as under-

1. Route of administration

 Oral

 Intravenous

2. Drug class

 Dopaminergic drugs

 Anti-cholinergic drugs

 GABA Agonists

 Anti-Convulsants

3. End- users

Hospital, retail pharmacies and others.

Free TOC of this report is available upon request @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cervical-dystonia-management-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu

And lastly on the basis of geographical region, the global cervical dystonia market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America dominated the market due to developed infrastructure, governmental initiatives, and increase in demand for the better treatment of cervical dystonia driving factor. Furthermore, increase in aging population in Canada fueling the growth of North America cervical dystonia market. Europe and Asia-Pacific accounts to have significant market share. However, Asia-Pacific expected to dominate the market in the forecast period due to continuous development and increase in cervical dystonia treatment procedures. Furthermore, large patient pool in Asia-Pacific region contributes significant growth for cervical dystonia market.

Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cervical-dystonia-management-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3

Some of the key players in cervical dystonia management market are ALLERGAN (Ireland), US WorldMeds (U.S.), Ipsen (France), Addex Therapeutics (Switzerland), and Revance Therapeutics Inc. (U.S.). In March, 2017, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc., the Canadian affiliate of Ipsen has received Health Canada approval for DYSPORT THERAPEUTIC (abobotulinumtoxinA) to treat cervical dystonia.

Get access to full summary @

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-cervical-dystonia-management-market/

About Precision Business Insights

Precision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.

Contact to Precision Business Insights,

Kemp House,

152  160 City Road,

London EC1V 2NX

Email: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.com

Toll Free (US):+1-866-598-1553

Website @https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com
Continue Reading Below Advertisement

That beast has a wingspan of two and a half meters, and has been nicknamed the "flying barn door." Truly, we'd all be worse off without something that awesome circling the globe, right? Conservationists agreed. After the bird was hunted to extinction in Scotland and faced near extinction in the rest of Europe, they worked hard to reverse the trend, and reintroduced the eagle to its old Scottish hunting grounds.

Nobody was prepared for the ensuing carnage.

In one incident, an eagle killed a prize-winning goose (along with several of the goose's less lauded companions), and it even attacked and wounded the owner when he tried to intervene. The eagles also prey on lambs, so local shepherds are using laser pointers to disorient the birds. Yes, this is the era of the Laser Shepherd -- all shall behold, and despair.

DamianKuzdak/iStock "I'm about to behold your nuts if you point that shit at me again."

Continue Reading Below Advertisement

Elsewhere in Europe, there's concern that the eagles are a major threat to wimpier endangered species, because it's hard to explain nuanced conservation efforts to animals that are mostly talons, beak, and murder.
The gig economy has revolutionized the way we live, making it possible to rent out pretty much anything for a few bucks while also ensuring that we never have to get off the couch for too long. Can you believe our old hammers used to just lay around draining equity, when we can now rent them out on a tool-sharing app ? But there are downsides to the sharing economy, like the fact that 40 percent of the people renting a hammer online are murderers on a budget. Also ...

5 You Can Hire Someone To (Unknowingly) Confess To Your Crime

Idle perverts of the early 2000s could only imagine John Goodman making out with the mole from Animal Crossing. Now you can have that whole scenario professionally written up on Fiverr, illustrated by a graphic designer on Upwork, and acted out by some confused carpenters from TaskRabbit, all while a man from Craigslist silently chews on your feet (you may or may not have requested that last one). And those aren't even the weird requests. Some of those could make you the unwitting accomplice to some maniac's crime spree.

Aspiring actress Samantha Field, who took a job through Fiverr in 2017, found that out the hard way. It was an easy gig -- she simply had to deliver a monologue to the camera, playing the part of a woman recording a video diary. The listing said that the script was an extract from an upcoming novel, and that the video would be played at the book launch. The novel was called "The Floppy Hat," and was nowhere near as cute as it sounds; it was all about fake anthrax attacks. Field took the measly $35 commission and read a few lines about sending baking soda to her many enemies in the Saskatoon area.
Have you ever been to one of those birthday parties where the guests vie to win admiration by the extravagance of their gifts?

Well, something similar might be happening with the NHS. On July 5 it will be 70 years old, and each of the Conservative and Labour parties will be vying to prove to the public that it is the more generous birthday benefactor.

Its a strange sort of competition for the publics affections, since the extra money can come only from voters own pockets. Opinion polls suggest that around 60 per cent of the public would be happy to pay more tax to increase funding for the NHS: but in practice it is a different matter.

I appeared on BBC1s Question Time last week, and one of the questions in the West Sussex coastal town of Worthing was: is it political suicide to put up taxes for national healthcare provision?

Opinion polls suggest that around 60 per cent of the public would be happy to pay more tax to increase funding for the NHS: but in practice it is a different matter

This followed on from the joint report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Health Foundation: it concluded that the sharp rise in the number of people of great age with chronic diseases meant the average household would need to pay around 2,000 a year more to cover the needed increase in NHS funding.

But as my fellow guest, the novelist Lionel Shriver, pointed out, since half the nations households dont pay income tax, it means an extra 4,000 a year would have to come from those households that do.

My own response was that we dont need a crystal ball to see how the public would react to a sudden demand to pay more to fund the care of an increasingly grey population. We need only look in the political rear-view mirror.

Jeremy Hunt has a genuinely heartfelt enthusiasm for the NHS: I have witnessed personally how moved he becomes when talking about the dedication of its doctors and nurses

The 2017 Conservative manifesto suggested some of the new funding for the ballooning bill should be paid from what amounted to a sort of post-mortem wealth tax: money would come out of the proceeds of the sale of the homes of those elderly people who had been receiving long-term care.

Dubbed the dementia tax by Jeremy Corbyn, it was catastrophically unpopular on the doorstep, and abandoned by a panicking Theresa May almost as soon as she announced it.

Since that disastrous general election campaign, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has added social care to his duties, so his remit now spreads right across this intractable political conundrum.

Mrs May attempted to move him to the job of Business Secretary, which would certainly have given him an easier life. But Hunt insisted on staying put. He has a genuinely heartfelt enthusiasm for the NHS: I have witnessed personally how moved he becomes when talking about the dedication of its doctors and nurses.

Not surprisingly therefore, he is determined the Government will come up with a substantial proposal to increase annual funding  perhaps by around 4 per cent  in time for the NHSs 70th birthday party.

Labour hates the idea that the wicked Tories should present themselves as the political friends of the health service, and will doubtless attempt to outbid them on generosity with public money.

What the public will not forgive, however, is if extra billions taken out of their earnings are frittered on management, bureaucracy and pay rises, rather than focused, laser-like, on essential patient care. The splurge on the NHS under Labour between 2001 and 2007 was a dreadful example of how not to do it.

Its own report, by Sir Derek Wanless, revealed that almost half the increased funding had gone into higher pay for staff and increased prices charged by suppliers. GPs were so amazed by the generosity of the contract they were offered by Labour that one of their negotiators told the BBC some years later: It was stunning. Nobody in my position had ever believed we could pull it off . . . it was a bit of a laugh.

Bluntly, we need more doctors, not just higher-paid ones. But if sufficient numbers are not being trained in this country, once again an increase in budgets will result more in pay increases for existing staff than in what the public wants: shorter waiting times for surgery such as for cataracts, which as the Mail reports today is being denied by two-thirds of NHS trusts to all but the most severely affected.

At the same time, there must be scope for cutting down on unnecessary medicalisation. As the Mails serialisation of Dr James Le Fanus book Too Many Pills demonstrated, colossal amounts are wasted on pointless prescriptions which are perversely encouraged by the GPs contracts with the NHS.

Pills with minuscule medical benefits are given away in their billions  statins being the most egregious example  to meet an essentially bogus productivity matrix. As Le Fanu points out, over the past 15 years the volume of medicines issued by the NHS has tripled, and something like 10 per cent of emergency hospital admissions are now related to adverse medical reactions to those indiscriminately prescribed pills.

And while Jeremy Hunt kept his promise to reduce management jobs in the NHS, it remains bewilderingly ponderous compared to an increasingly efficient private sector.

A friend who runs a medical instrument business recounts a recent meeting: There were two people from my company, of which I was one: on the NHS side of the table there were seven people. Only one was medical. The other six were all admin staff, three of whom said nothing.

So while the NHS will deserve congratulations on reaching its 70th birthday, for its own continued health it must become fitter, not fatter.

The REAL barbarians of abortion

Now the people of the Irish republic have voted to legalise abortion, a group of Conservative MPs led by the Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, is calling for the House of Commons to vote to do the same for Northern Ireland: termination, except in exceptional cases, remains illegal there.

It has for more than half a century been accepted that Northern Ireland was exempt from Westminster law on this matter (the 1967 Abortion Act was never extended to the province).

I suppose that Ms Mordaunt regards the people there as religious primitives who need enlightenment imposed on them by the civilised British mainland.

But are we so civilised on this side of Irish Sea?

Now the people of the Irish republic have voted to legalise abortion, a group of Conservative MPs led by the Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, is calling for the House of Commons to vote to do the same for Northern Ireland: termination, except in exceptional cases, remains illegal there

While abortion is legal in Britain only up until the 24th week of pregnancy, the law allows the termination of the unborn child right up until the full term of 40 weeks if there is a substantial risk of a serious handicap.

In other words, what would be considered illegal infanticide in the case of normal babies suddenly becomes legal if they dont meet certain standards.

Most frequently, this applies to Downs syndrome. Lisa Green was 35 weeks pregnant when in 2006 she was told her unborn child had Downs. Her obstetrician recommended that she abort this completely viable child. Her refusal to accept this advice apparently startled him.

As the parent of a wonderful young woman with Downs syndrome (she turns 23 this week), I remain amazed the law continues to regard such people as fit to be destroyed in the womb up to the moment of birth at full term.

Last year, a congenitally disabled Tory peer, Lord Shinkwin, proposed a Bill which would have equalised the abortion limit at 24 weeks for all pregnancies.

He told his fellow peers: Theres something deeply disturbing about non-disabled politicians spouting equality and in the same breath defending a law which is being used as a licence to kill for the crime of being disabled.

His plea was ignored. I wonder if it is not Belfast which is barbaric, but Westminster.
Baroness Shami Chakrabarti (pictured)

So now we know. Yuman rites is more important than democracy. The verdict has been handed down by no less an authority than Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, the Corbyn stooge elevated to the Lords as a reward for absolving Labour of anti-Semitism.

Shameless Shami made her unilateral declaration on Radio 4s Today programme yesterday. Henceforth, where the will of the people expressed at the ballot box conflicts with the sacred values of the Great and Good, the values of the Great and Good must prevail.

Her pronouncement came with an ultimatum that Northern Ireland should immediately follow the Republic in legalising abortion  despite the duly elected Assembly in Belfast voting the opposite way as recently as February 2016.

She insisted Theresa May, as a self-identifying feminist, should take advantage of the current power vacuum in Ulster to impose abortion rights in the Province. When interviewer John Humphrys pointed out the inconvenient truth that no party in Northern Ireland had stood for election on a manifesto which proposed legalisation of abortion on demand, Shameless became indignant.

You cant have democracy without fundamental human rights, she insisted, in the authentic, hectoring voice of one who self-identifies as a liberal.

She doesnt even want to grant the people of Northern Ireland a say in the matter by holding a referendum, as they did south of the border. Nope, the law must be consistent across the island of Ireland. Why? Because Shami says so, thats why.

Never mind the fact that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and abortion is a devolved power.

The whole point of devolution, which is generally supported by self-identifying liberals, is that laws can be varied to suit the purposes of the people and legislatures of the kingdoms component parts. But not, obviously, if they contradict the prevailing wisdom of the liberal elite.

So now we know. Yuman rites is more important than democracy. The verdict has been handed down by no less an authority than Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, the Corbyn stooge elevated to the Lords as a reward for absolving Labour of anti-Semitism

Shami, who no one has ever voted for, doesnt want a referendum in Northern Ireland because there may still be a majority of people who are likely to vote against full legalisation.

OK, so the people of the Irish Republic voted overwhelmingly in favour of abortion. But you cant rely on those backward bigots north of the border to do the right thing. Theyre even propping up the ghastly Tories, denying Jeremy his rightful place in Downing Street. Best not to ask them in the first place.

Thats the problem with referendums. Sometimes they deliver the wrong result. Just look at what happened over Brexit. The likes of Shameless Chakrabarti are all in favour of referendums when the outcome reinforces their own prejudices. Less so, however, when the great unwashed display a little unwelcome independence.

Thus, the vote to leave the EU must be overturned at all costs. So, too, the vote against Scottish independence. That hasnt stopped Wee Burney wheeling out over the weekend yet another plan to break away from the UK.

But the result of the abortion referendum in the Irish Republic has been hailed as an historic triumph for democracy by many of the same people who were appalled when the Irish electorate voted against the EUs Lisbon Treaty in 2008. On that occasion, the Irish were condemned as thick, racist bog-trotters and were forced to vote again so they could produce the right answer.

Thats now the favoured tactic of Remoaners here, if they cant stop Brexit by parliamentary means.

For the record, I support abortion rights and approve of relaxing the law in Northern Ireland. But I appreciate it is an emotive subject, with strong beliefs on both sides.

'The Why Aye' Newcastle is building a giant ferris wheel, bigger than the London Eye. Inevitably, it has already been nicknamed by Geordies The Why Aye. They can do better than that. How about paying tribute to the Likely Lads and calling it Bob Ferris. Advertisement

So while the Irish referendum result is welcome, I found the near hysterical reaction to it pretty nauseating  as have been the attempts by British politicians to capitalise upon it to further their own agenda, whether that involves trying to embarrass Theresa May or battering the people of Northern Ireland.

The posturing, pipsqueak Irish Prime Minister was close to tears. Supporters of the legalisation campaign were ecstatic, cheering and hugging, waving their banners. It was more like VE Day than the announcement of a decision on such a sombre subject as terminating pregnancy.

Wherever you stand in the debate, theres no dispute that abortion involves ending a human life, even in embryo, and deserves to be treated with the utmost dignity. But this was politics for the Twittersnapgram generation. Everybody had to be in the movie. Look at me, me, me!

It reminded me most of the day Michael Jackson died, when dozens of dopey birds and some of the more flamboyant Friends of Dorothy turned up outside the HMV store in Oxford Street and started dancing in the street, singing along to a selection of Wacko Jackos greatest hits.

Half of them didnt even know the words. Bobby Jean, youre not my mum! But that was beside the point. They had to be there, emoting, and being seen to emote.

As for media tart Shami, I suppose it was inevitable shed find some way of getting in on the abortion act. Funny, though, I dont remember her getting quite so animated when a bakery in Northern Ireland was prosecuted not so long ago for refusing to bake a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage because it was contrary to their religion.

Surely that, too, in a proper democracy should be a question of individual choice, even if you disagreed with the bakers decision. Why should anyone be forced to bake a cake promoting something which is against their beliefs?

Thats the problem with self-identifying liberals. As Baroness Shameless has now made perfectly plain, their idea of democracy means the rest of us doing what they say, regardless of what we might believe.

Their concept of universal yuman rites doesnt apply to anyone or anything of which they disapprove. And they only respect the results of referendums that go their way.

Britain celebrated the Bank Holiday in traditional style, by raiding the dressing-up box and/or getting completely bladdered.

This column has a great fondness for fancy dress follies, so I was particularly drawn to the photo of a man dressed as an Oompa Loompa, puffing on a cigarette while making his way home from a good night out in Birmingham.

The weekend also saw the annual Comic Con convention in London, featuring grown men and women togged up as cartoon characters and superheroes.

Years ago, men visiting the seaside on Bank Holidays would wear nothing more elaborate than a knotted hanky. Nowadays, you cant move for Spider-Men and assorted Star Wars lookalikes.

Occasionally, this good clean fun spills over into violence and other inappropriate behaviour, especially after drink has been taken.

This column has a great fondness for fancy dress follies, so I was drawn to the photo of a man dressed as an Oompa Loompa

Over the years Ive brought you news of a brawl at a Doctor Who convention and a man dressed as Tigger discovered having sex in a public toilet with a woman in a leprechaun outfit.

For some reason, these punch-ups often involve men dressed as Elvis. Last week in Poole, Dorset, police were called to an incident at a concert given by an Elvis impersonator. Four people were arrested.

Apparently, Elvis fans clashed with theatregoers who had been attending a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, based on the movie set in the Twenties and starring Julie Andrews.

Just as well they werent in costume, too. I have visions of tipsy flappers delivering Charleston-style kicks, leaving the Elvis contingent with Black Bottoms.

Bring on the Oompa Loompas!

Let us pray they're never defrocked...

I suppose it was only a matter of time. The Church of England, always eager to hurl itself under any passing bandwagon, is appealing for transgender people to train as vicars. Bishops in the Lichfield diocese are writing to clergy claiming that recruiting trans priests will encourage more young people to join their congregations. Where did they get that idea? Still, it ticks the diversity box and will help solve the shortage of women vicars. If they dont get enough applications from transgender people, no problem.

A man recently applied to the Labour Party to become a womens officer by claiming that he identified as a woman, but only on Wednesdays. The C of E could always ask its existing male vicars to identify as female every other Sunday.
Drinking a lot of beer has certainly been known to knock people out for the night  and now some companies are harnessing the power of the drink and using it a different way to help people catch some Z's.

Beer essential oils are becoming a trendy aide for people to incorporate into their bedtime routine, as experts say that hops  a flowering plant that is used predominantly to give the alcoholic drink its bitter flavor  can also help those who suffer from restlessness fall asleep at night.

They say that placing drops of the essential oil in a diffuser or on a pillow case may actually help people's bodies relax before bedtime.

Relaxing: Beer essential oils, also known as hops oil, is used in aromatherapy to help with sleep

For what ales you: Experts say the hops oil can help with insomnia, headaches and menstrual cramps. Pictured is Colorado-based Breckenridge Brewery's own hops oil

'Hop flower oil isn't only popular in breweries, but it has also gained much attention in aromatherapy because of its ability to treat several health conditions, specifically insomnia,' Dr. Mercola, an osteopathic physician wrote on his website.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a osteopathic physician, recommends on his website a variety of essential oils to help with different ailments.

In one article, he cites the hop flower oil (also known as beer oil) as a natural option for people who struggle with sleep deprivation.

Holistic Pharmacologist Dr. Nick Berry of Ashland, Orgeon also recommends hops essential oil for people who need help relaxing their bodies and minds.

'This oil has fantastic effects when diffused throughout a room,' he said on his website. 'When suffering from anxiety or pain, I suggest diffusing hops extract in your favorite diffuser to disperse the relaxing scent.'

Usrs can also place one or two drops of oil on their pillow to allow the scent to take effect while sleeping.

Natural: Hops are a flowering plant that is prominent in beer to give it the bitter taste. But experts say the natural ingredient is also useful as an essential oil to relax the body

Beneficial: The hops works to loosen the muscles in the body and help relax the mind. That is how it works as a sleep aide as well as a pain reliever

Besides working as a sleep aide, beer essential oils are also said to help with severe headaches and menstrual cramps, according to Organic Facts.

The relaxing effect the hops have when used as an essential oil helps to destress the muscles around the shoulders and neck that tend to tense up. It also helps to lower anxiety to soothe the mind.

Similarly, the oil relaxes the muscles in women that cause menstrual cramps to help relieve any severe pain.

People can purchase hop oil to try for themselves through online stores and local breweries. Breckenridge Brewery in Colorado is one place that sells its own formula online.

But experts warn to stick to only one or two drops of the essential oil, because the scent can be overpowering if used aggressively.

'Care is needed due to the fact that this oil is powerful and can cause internal irritation in high concentrations,' Dr. Berry wrote.

While the essential oil typically doesn't cause a reaction, it is stronger than other types on the market and can cause a skin reaction.
Three married men have revealed why they decided to buck convention and take their wives' last names instead of retaining their own.

Speaking to The Cut, Aryon Hopkins (formerly Hoselton), Josiah Neufeld (formerly Thiessen) and James Kosur (formerly Johnson) detailed the reasons behind their decisions to take a less traditionally route.

Aryon Hopkins, a designer and artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico, admitted that changing his name has been 'a little tricky' and it also upset his dad.

Bucking tradition: Three married men have revealed why they took their wife's last name instead of keeping their own

Perfect pair: Aryon Hopkins (formerly Hoselton), a designer from Albuquerque, New Mexico revealed that he and his wife initially decided on a hybrid name but couldn't come up with one

In a piece written for The Frisky in 2012, Aryon explained that although he tried to think of a hybrid variation of Hoselton and Hopkins for him and his wife to share, because she is a doctor, her name needed to have 'an air of respectability'.

And now, whenever he says his wife's name, he feels like he's 'a part of her.'

'If we all took our wives' names for a good 100 years, then we could reset this whole patriarchal lineage thing, and start fresh,' he added.

For James Kosur, a writer who splits his time between California and Illinois, changing his name didn't happen overnight, and it was only when his daughter arrived that he decided to reconsider his last name.

'When we had a daughter, we gave her my wife's name, because it's much more unique,' he explained.

James explained that his former last name is so common, he was always being mistaken for other people. He would frequently receive debt collection letters, and he once had a job offer retracted because a background check pulled up someone of the same name and date of birth with a criminal history.

Unique: James Kosur (formerly Johnson), a writer who splits his time between California and Illinois, felt that his old name was too common and wanted something more unique

He also didn't have a deep connection to the name Johnson, which is actually his former step-dad's surname. He was born James McKinney.

'They aren't even married anymore, so I really didn't see the point in keeping that man's name,' he admitted. 'Whereas I get on so well with my wife's family, I have a strong bond with her father, and everyone in town knows who they are.'

James pointed out that depending on where you live in the US, taking your wife's last name isn't even that big of a deal.

He explained: 'I work in Illinois and California. When I am in California it's like, "Big deal, that is not edgy." When I am in Illinois, people are like: "Oh my God, I can't believe you did that  Why would you?"'

For Josiah Neufeld, a writer from Winnipeg, Canada, taking his wife Mona's name was motivated by a desire to symbolize their union without his wife having to take his name.

Symbolism: Josiah Neufeld (formerly Thiessen) a writer from Winnipeg, Canada, was motivated to symbolize his marriage without his wife having to take his name

'She probably would have been happy if we'd each kept our own, but I wanted to have a name that symbolized our union and I wanted our kids to share the same name as both their parents,' he said.

While his wife thought he would regret giving up his name, Josiah admitted that he doesn't feel any kind of disappointment, even though his family took issue with his decision.

I wanted to have a name that symbolized our union and I wanted our kids to share the same name as both their parents Josiah Neufeld

He also revealed that feminists often disagree with his decision and have told him that his decision to change his name is based on 'an outdated patriarchal concept to both assume the same identity'.

In the US 94 per cent of women still take their husbands names, and in Japan the law insists that husbands and wives must share the same last name.

A husband can also take his wife's family name, but the majority of woman change their names and only after divorce are they permitted to change their name back.

In marriages between a Japanese national and a foreigner, however, the law doesn't apply.

Stars too! When Zoe Saldana married Marco Perego in June 2013, he became Marco Perego Saldana  though she tried to convince him not to take her name

White Stripes: Though they have since split, Jack White famously took his ex-wife Meg White's last name. He was born Jack Gillis

Doubling up: Spy Kids star Alexa Vega and her husband, Carlos Pena Jr., combined their names, becoming Alexa and Carlos PenaVega

Flashback: John Lennon officially changed his name to John Winston Ono Lennon when he married Yoko Ono

There are also several examples of famous couples in which the husband took his wife's name  or the two each took each other's names.

When Zoe Saldana married Marco Perego in June 2013, he became Marco Perego Saldana  though she never asked him to do it.

'I tried to talk him out of it,' she Us Weekly. 'I told him, "If you use my name, you're going to be emasculated by your community of artists, by your Latin community of men, by the world." Marco looks up at me and says, "Ah, Zoe, I don't give a s**t."'

Though they have since split, Jack White famously took his ex-wife Meg White's last name, having been born Jack Gillis.

Spy Kids star Alexa Vega and her second husband, Carlos Pena Jr., combined their names when they said 'I do' in 2014, becoming Alexa and Carlos PenaVega. In December of 2016, they had a son named Ocean King PenaVega.

And while it's certainly a more modern trend, couples today are not the first to buck tradition: John Lennon officially changed his name to John Winston Ono Lennon when he married Yoko Ono.
Asking for a pay rise can be daunting for anyone.

The thought of sitting down for a meeting can be intimidating, especially for those who don't deal with their bosses on a day-to-day basis.

But with the cost of everyday living skyrocketing, an Australian financial expert said you should consider asking for a pay rise if you know you're being underpaid.

Here, Money Magazine editor Effie Zahos reveals how to figure out the average salary for your profession - and what to do next if your boss says they simply can't afford to give you a pay rise.

With the cost of everyday living skyrocketing, a financial expert said you should consider asking for a pay rise if you know you're being underpaid (stock image)

Money Magazine editor Effie Zahos reveals how to figure out the average salary for your profession - and what to do next if your boss says they simply can't afford to give you a pay rise

Average salary for jobs Primary school teacher: $60,835 Bank teller: $41,127 Journalist: $51,997 Attorney/Lawyer: $69,090 Registered nurse: $48,783-$84,043 Plumber: $44,000-$71,000 Retail Store Manager: $50,379 Electrician: $47,000-$83,000 Accountant: $55,160 Graphic Designer: $50,411 Operations Manager: $83,116 Source: PayScale Advertisement

Start by working out exactly how much your position is worth.

Speaking to the Today show, Ms Zahos said there are several websites where you can type in your details - and it calculates the average salary of the profession.

She said it was important to understand your average salary or wage comes down to your location, level of expertise and years of experience.

So what should you do if you find out you're underpaid?

'At the moment, it's a really good time to ask for a pay rise,' she said.

'The cost of living has actually gone up so we do need wages to go up.'

But if things don't go your way after your boss turns around and says they simply 'can't afford' to give you a pay rise, Ms Zahos said there are other ways to negotiate for other perks or bonuses.

Registered nurses get paid between $48,783-$84,043 a year while electricians get paid between $47,000-$83,000

Primary school teachers around the country get paid an average of $60,835 per year

'The cost of living has gone up so you've got to think different or smarter how to get it,' she explained.

'The number one thing besides a pay rise is flexibility in hours. People are quite happy to say "okay, I'm working really hard, you can't afford it, let me work four days instead of five days.'

She said other benefits to look at include getting health and wellness incentives through the company or trying to get more annual leave.

If you're studying, get financial help or even get your phone bill covered.

'Find other perks. These are dollar values that your employer may be able to afford instead of giving cold hard cash,' she said.
Viewers were left feeling distraught in the final moments of last night's episode of BBC drama A Very English Scandal - after they witnessed the murder of a dog.

The political drama retells the remarkable story of how Liberal MP Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant) tried to kill his former lover Norman Scott, played by Ben Whishaw in a bungled attempt that ended Thorpe's political career.

The second installment of the three-parter for BBC One saw Scott assume he was in safe company with Andrew Newman, played by Blake Harrison - but Newman was actually a hitman out to kill Scott on the orders of Thorpe.

The scene showed the pair pulling over in the rain to switch over seats, with Norman's canine companion Rinka swiftly jumping out behind him - and getting in the way as Newman's trigger is pulled.

The gunshot rang out and Norman's hand was seen covered in the dog's blood, leaving viewers 'distraught'.

Ben Whishaw's character Norman Scott wept over the dead dog's lifeless body in the final moments of the second episode of A Very English Scandal, which retells how former Lib Dem leader Jeremy Thorpe tried to have his one-time gay lover Scott killed

A hitman, played by Blake Harrison, was tasked with killing Norman Scott but he shot the dog instead in the bungled murder attempt...much to viewers' horror

Phew! The dog was revealed to be 'very much alive' by it's real-life owner as she reassured viewers by posting a picture on Twitter of the beautiful pooch

Viewers watching the drama unfold at home were outraged that the dog was killed and saying it 'destroyed' them

Such was the outpouring of worry for the dog, that the real owner of Rinka took to Twitter to reveal her pet was very much alive and living the life of luxury'.

One viewer said: 'He shot the dog! Outrage! Bring back hanging for crimes against canine abuse!'

Another cried: 'Not the dog! NOT THE DOG!!!'

'A Very English Scandal is so good but am so distraught about the dog,' a third added.

The owner, a woman named Amelia who described herself as a 'part-time working mum and student', took to her own Twitter page to calm those worrying about the pooch.

'Everyone is worrying over the dog who got shot and she's very much alive and living the life of luxury in my parents house,' she revealed.

Relieved others began to tweet #JusticeforRinka, and said the dog deserved an award for best supporting actor.

Hugh Grant (left) has been widely praised for his portrayal of Liberal Democrats leader Jeremy Thorpe in the three-part drama for BBC One. The show details Thorpe's attempts to kill his ex lover Norman Scott after Scott threatened his political ambitions

As the gunshot rang out Norman realised that he was meant to be the target and made a run for his life

When the hitman drove away Norman returned to the scene of the murder and wept over the dog in the rain

Viewers couldn't cope with the distress and made claims that the dog should be given an award for its acting skills

At the end of the first episode of the BBC drama, which retells the true account of Britains most notorious failed murder plot, the Liberal Party MP Jeremy Thorpe decided his ex-lover Norman had to die.

Newman was enlisted as the hitman but it ultimately turned into a farce as he couldn't locate his mark.

When he eventually cornered Norman he shot the dog first giving him chance to run for his life in the botched murder attempt.

Newman drove off in a panic as Norman returned to weep over his dead canine companion screaming out to a driver passing by that it was Jeremy Thorpe who had tried to kill him.

Norman was seen with the dog Rinka, it has been reported in the past that it was his dog but was in fact owned by someone else

The final episode of A Very English Scandal airs next Sunday on BBC One at 9pm
With Delhi in the midst of a heat wave with temperatures reaching the high 40s many will be doing away with layers.

But it seems that Queen Maxima was still a little chilly despite the blazing heat.

The Queen of the Netherlands stepped out in an elegant baby blue sleeveless dress for her meeting in the Indian city on Monday.

But as soon as she took her seat for her meeting with a local representative of the UN, Maxima, 47, could be seen wrapping up in a shawl.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked her elegant best as she headed for a UN meeting in Delhi on Monday

The mother-of-three appeared to be suffering from the cold, likely due to the air conditioning, as she covered up in the chic patterned pashmina.

She opted for various metallic accessories in the form of bangles, a belt and silver pumps for her engagement today.

In light of the high temperatures, the Argentinian-born royal swept her golden tresses into a low chignon as she headed for her meeting.

Despite the country experiencing a heatwave Maxima appeared to be a little chilly, wrapping up in a chic shawl

The mother-of-three could be seen unfolding the printed pashmina as she took her seat ahead of the meeting

It is likely that the air conditioning was leaving the Dutch royal a little cold as the Indian city is currently seeing temperatures above 40

The Dutch Queen was paying a visit to the local coordinator and representative of the UN, Yuri Afanasiev.

The royal came armed with various notebooks in preparation of her meeting today and appeared in high spirits as she was greeted by dignitaries.

She took her seat next to Afanasiev and Eric Duflos, before giving a short speech before representatives of the UN.

The royal came armed with various notebooks in preparation of her meeting today and appeared in high spirits as she was greeted by dignitaries

She could be seen shaking hands with Yuri Afanasiev local coordinator and representative of the UN

Maxima took her seat next to Afanasiev and Eric Duflos, before giving a short speech before representatives of the UN

She is visiting India at the invitation of the government and in her capacity as special advocate of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for inclusive financing for development.

The Dutch royal is a UN Secretary Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development and Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.

Appointed the role in 2009, she advises the Secretary-General, and works worldwide to make financial services accessible to all, including low-income groups.

Later on Monday, Maxima met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for state discussions.

She added an elegant topaz and diamond brooch to the collar of her dress in honour of the occasion.

Later on Monday, Maxima met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for state discussions

She did away with an outfit change, simply adding a topaz brooch to her ensemble in honour of the occasion
Advertisement

All respect to Alicia Vikander and Nina Agdal, but 'hygge' may be the hottest thing to come out of Denmark in the past few years.

Hygge  pronounced 'hoo-gah'  is the concept of feeling cozy, comfortable, and content. And while its been a way of life for Danes for centuries, its really caught on outside the Scandinavian country in recent years.

The idea of feeling hygge has become so attractive, in fact, that an entire hygge-themed hotel has opened up in Brussels, Belgium.

A place like home: A hygge-themed hotel has opened uptown in Brussels, Belgium

Behind the trend: Hygge  pronounced 'hoo-ga'  is the concept of feeling cozy, comfortable, and content

The hotel is designed to make guests feel cozy, and the lobby feels like a homey but perfectly-styled living room

It's all in the details: It's decorated with puffy ottomans, throw pillows, swing chairs, and tapestries on the walls

The hotel, which was opened by the Everland group in the fall of 2017, bares hallmarks of Scandanavian design

No pretension: A patio outside offers guests a chance to sit and relax in a secluded outdoor area

According to Country Living, 'hygge' has been around in Denmark since at least the 1800s, when it first appeared in print. It was derived from a Norwegian word for 'well-being'.

In 2016, Meik Wiking published the English-language book The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well, and it was a huge hit, with the 'hygge' concept quickly charming Americans, Brits, and more across the globe.

'Hygge has been around for centuries. It's something I grew up with, and is a central part of Danish culture and DNA. For us, it's not a lifestyle move, its simply a way of living and how we do things,' he told Time.

People who feel 'hygge' can be doing anything that makes them feel cozy and content, though for many it brings to mind a scene of curling up in front of a fireplace while wearing soft, chunky knits, cuddling under a soft blanket, and drinking tea while reading a book.

'Hygge' has been around for centuries in Scandinavia but spread to other countries, including the US and the UK, in 2016  and quickly became popular

Chill out: The hotel's rooms are done in calming shades of blue to keep guests relaxed

Stunning: Several bathrooms are decorated in gorgeous blue and white tiles

Rooms go from 113 ($134, 99) a night and come in two varieties: 'cozy' and 'relax'

Chic: The place was designed by architect Michel Penneman, who also designed the nearby Pantone hotel

The Hygge Hotel, which was opened by the Everland group opened in the fall of 2017, is all about capturing that cozy feeling  hence its tagline, 'There is a place like home.'

Designed by architect Michel Penneman (who also did the nearby Pantone hotel, an ode to color), it spotlights Scandinavian design and feels instantly homey.

The lobby is outfitted with cushy ottomans, chairs with throw pillows, and couches with blankets. Tables are topped with plants and vases, while the walls are lined with more draped plants, tapestries, and furs. Walking in feels more like entering the home of someone with very good taste than arriving at a hotel lobby.

Breakfast is served in what feels like a country kitchen, and outside is a cozy patio with chairs and tables.

The rooms go from 113 ($134, 99) a night and come in two varieties: cozy and relax, both of which are decorated with muted blue hues and outfitted with minimalist Scandanavian furniture.

Starting the day off right: Breakfast is served in what feels like a country kitchen

Furniture is simple and streamlined, but little touches like plants and a fireplace keep it cozy

'We created a universe conducive to relaxation, well-being and comfort, punctuated by creations of Scandinavian designers,' said Penneman

'As in Scandinavia, in Brussels the weather is often cold and wet. We have made this hotel a vast, calm place with soft colors, lots of wood, furs and textiles,' he added

'We created a universe conducive to relaxation, well-being and comfort, punctuated by creations of Scandinavian designers,' Penneman, the architect, told Wallpaper.

'As in Scandinavia, in Brussels the weather is often cold and wet. We have made this hotel a vast, calm place with soft colors, lots of wood, furs and textiles,' he added.

According to Front Office Manager Pierre Tadei, who spoke to Daily Mail Online, the hotel is adding amenities all the time. During the colder months, they offer cozy slippers upon request. They also switch out pieces of decor in the lobby to keep things interesting for repeat guests.

Of course, there's nothing 'cozy' about being right in the tourist center, bumped by crowds the minute you walk out the door. The Hygge Hotel is located in Ixelles, an upscale uptown neighborhood that's about a 20-minute walk from Grand-Place and a 15-minute walk from the Royal Palace.

It's a stone's throw from Avenue Louise, a street lined with high-end boutiques, and a short walk from posh Sablon, which is dotted with chic cafes and the best chocolate shops in the city  including Pierre Marcolini, Patrick Roger, Wittamer, and Neuhaus  as well the speculoos-specializing bakery Maison Dandoy.
She recently opened up her private life to royal watchers everywhere when she made her Instagram public.

But Princess Sofia of Sweden was back to business when she attended a formal function on Monday.

The 33-year-old royal, who is married to Prince Carl-Philip, looked pretty in pink as she was guest of honour at the The Sophia Party at Sophiahemmet Hospital in Stockholm.

The institution - of which Sofia is Honorary President - held the event to celebrate this year's graduating class of nurses.

Princess Sofia of Sweden, 33, looked pretty in pink as she attended an event in Stockholm on Monday

Sofia's sharp ensemble comprised of a pair of flared pale pink trousers with a matching fitted jacket.

The feminine number featured three large rose gold buttons that kept Sofia looking suitably demure.

She paired the look with a matching pair of pretty pink shoes and a quirky black clutch bag.

Mother-of-two Sofia wore her brunette tresses in bouncy curls around her shoulders and complimented her pink outfit with a dash of pink lipstick.

She was guest of honour at the The Sophia Party at Sophiahemmet Hospital in Stockholm and was welcomed by director Johanna Adami (pictured)

Sofia presented newly-qualified nurses with their Medals of Merit for completing their studies

She took time to pose for photographs with Johanna Adam, the director Sophiahemmet, outside the venue.

Sofia presented newly-qualified nurses with their Medals of Merit for completing their studies.

It was her first royal engagement since opening up her social media pages to the public.

Sofia and Prince Carl-Philip who are parents to Prince Alexander, two, and Prince Gabriel, who is eight months old, have been filling their Instagram feed with photographs since last year, but have only recently chosen to share the contents with the public.

Happy couple: Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden have made their Instagram account public

Their Instagram feed features sweet family snaps of the couple with their two boys, Prince Alexander, two, and Prince Gabriel, eight months

The candid snaps capture the Prince and Princess exchanging a smile during a board meeting for their foundation, a group shot taken on a family outing on Valentine's Day, and the Princess' own snap of her eldest boy, Alexander, gently tickling his new baby brother on the nose.

Sofia and Carl-Philip made the account public earlier this month, sharing a picture of themselves with a message welcoming their followers.

'As you can see, we have already posted photos for some time to give you an insight into our work, the missions we are carrying out and, above all, the issues we are burning for.'

They signed off with: 'Hope you want to follow us!'
An Indian couple rushed to three hospitals in six hours after their first son was born with a rare condition which makes his skin look like plastic.

The newborn boy was taken to a hospital 100 miles from his home village in the north of India when doctors realised he needed urgent medical attention.

The baby, who has not yet been named, suffers from Lamellar ichthyosis which means he has tight, waxy, plastic-like skin.

Parents Anita Devi, 23, and Alakhram Yadav, 25, rushed their baby to a doctor just a couple of hours after delivering him at home when they realised his skin looked abnormal and he was struggling to breathe.

They were eventually sent to a private hospital in Lucknow, about 300 miles south-east of New Delhi, where doctors treated the baby for free.

An expert said the skin condition is 'extremely rare' and the baby was put on life support but his parents have been told he has a good chance of survival.

Scroll down for video

The baby, which has not yet been named, was born with a condition called lamellar ichthyosis, which makes the skin tight, shiny and plastic-looking

After rushing to a community centre then a local doctor, the baby's father Alakhram Yadav, took him to a hospital 100 miles from their home

The family are from a village called Binhoni Kalan in Balrampur, a district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, near the border with Nepal.

Ms Devi gave birth to the couple's first child last Thursday, May 24, in a normal delivery at home, but they soon realised something was wrong.

Mr Yadav, who works as a farmer, said: 'Within couple of hours after the delivery we found the baby was different from normal babies. His skin was waxy and shiny, resembling plastic.

'Also, he was having breathing problems as well.'

Referred to a hospital 100 miles from home

He immediately rushed his son to a nearby community centre, where doctors told him to go to an advanced medical centre because the baby's condition was critical.

They were finally referred to a private hospital in Lucknow, over 100 miles from their home, where doctors admitted him and offered free treatment.

There he was diagnosed with a condition called collodion membrane, in which babies are born with tight, waxy and shiny skin resembling plastic wrap.

Rare condition affecting one in 600,000 people

The condition, according to doctors, is caused by a rare inherited genetic disorder called lamellar ichthyosis that affects one in 600,000 people.

Babies born with the permanent condition may have a tight, plastic-looking membrane on their skin, which will then peel off.

Lamellar ichthyosis is a permanent condition which causes the skin to shed far more quickly and more often than a normal person's would

In later life lamellar ichthyosis is associated with excessive skin shedding, and it is usually inherited from parents who do not have the condition but carry the gene.

It is not a contagious condition but there is no cure, and complications can include hair loss, difficulty bending fingers, overheating, tight skin cutting off circulation, and eye problems.

'Within six hours hours, I visited at least three hospitals with my baby as doctors kept me referring to other hospitals saying they can't help him as he was a rare case,' Mr Yadav added,

Dr Shishir Agarwal, a child specialist at Mahesh Children's Poly Clinic in Lucknow said: 'The baby has tight, waxy, shiny skin resembling plastic, a condition called collodion membrane.

'In nine years this is the first case I've come across'

A medic said this was the first case he had seen of the 'extremely rare' condition, but the baby was put on life support and has a 'good chance' of surviving

'The baby has been kept on life support system. He is improving now and his survival chances are quite good.'

'The condition is extremely rare. In my nine years of medical career, this is the first case of collodion baby I've come across.

'This is a permanent skin condition which is very painful.

'Parents of such babies need to be very careful as they are very prone to infections and to diseases particularly to water and airborne diseases.'
A vaccine which could protect against Lyme disease is in the pipeline.

The condition is caused by a bacteria which is carried by ticks and relentlessly attacks the nervous system.

Now, French drug manufacturer Valneva has completed the first-ever human trial of a vaccine against the disease.

The developers claim the immunisation jab could be up to 96 per cent effective and that it could be widely available in just five years.

Scroll down for video

Each year, thousands of people around the world contract Lyme disease. Supermodel Bella Hadid (left) and Zoolander actor Ben Stiller (right) are both sufferers of the condition. The first human trial of a vaccine against the condition was successful and could be available by 2023

Each year, thousands of people around the world contract the illness, including around 3,000 Brits.

The number of cases is on the rise, with Europe seeing a 14 per cent increase year-on-year.

David Lawrence, Valneva's chief financial officer, told The Sunday Telegraph that it was investing 262 million ($350 million) into development of the vaccine.

It is hoped that the vaccine will be available on the NHS as Valneva aims to manufacture it at a relatively low cost.

The vaccine will work by kick-starting the person's immune system to produce antibodies to directly attack the bacteria.

By targeting the gut of the tick as it is eating human blood, the idea is that the bacteria hiding inside the insect will therefor be unable to enter the person's blood.

The early trial found the vaccine to be between 71.4 and 96.4 per cent effective.

The condition is caused by a bacteria (Borrelia Burgdorferi) and is carried by ticks. Common symptoms include fever, headache and a ring-shaped rash that resembles a bullishness (stock)

So far, there has also been 'no associated safety concerns' for patients given the vaccination.

Whilst the omens seem positive for a future vaccine, the company is also focusing on increasing its protection rate.

Billionaire founder of Phones4u, John Caudwell, is a high-profile advocate of the fight against this disease.

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash called erythema migrans. The disease can typically be treated by several weeks of oral antibiotics. But if left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous symptoms and be deadly. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE INFECTED? During the first three to 30 days of infection, these symptoms may occur: Fever

Chills

Headache

Fatigue

Muscle and joint aches

Swollen lymph nodes

Erythema migrans (EM) rash The rash occurs in approximately 80 per cent of infected people. It can expand to up to 12 inches (30 cm), eventually clearing and giving off the appearance of a target or a 'bull's-eye'. Later symptoms of Lyme disease include: Severe headaches and neck stiffness

Additional rashes

Arthritis with joint pain and swelling

Facial or Bell's palsy

Heart palpitations

Problems with short-term memory

Nerve pain Source: CDC Advertisement

The businessman and philanthropist started a charity, called Caudwell LymeCo, to try and defeat what he has called 'one of the most dangerous illnesses to mankind'.

In 2015, Mr Caudwell revealed the condition has ripped through his entire family, affecting himself, his ex-wife and their three children.

Chief executive of the charity, Veronica Hughes, said: 'It would be fantastic if it turns out to be a safe vaccine.'

Mr Lawrence claims the vaccine will cover all of the six different strains that cause the vast majority of cases.

The condition is caused by a bacteria (Borrelia Burgdorferi) and is carried by ticks.

Common symptoms include fever, headache and a ring-shaped rash that resembles a bullishness.

HOW DOES THE HADID FAMILY BATTLE LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease impacts hundreds of thousands of people every year and some of the most high-profile individuals belong to the same family. This family includes Yolanda Foster and her children, two daughters and one son. The Hadid children are all stars in their own right and two of them, Bella and Anwar, suffer from Lyme disease, much like their mother. Gigi is the only one to not have the suffer with Lyme disease. Yolanda, star of Desperate Housewives and an ex-model, has been a prominent figure in raising awareness of the invisible illness. In a previous interview, the mother of three revealed that the pain and discomfort was so severe she contemplated suicide. Her youngest daughter, Bella, is most well-known for her catwalk displays and for gracing the cover of glossy magazines. Diagnosed in 2012 as a teenager, she has previously stated that she had dreams to reach the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as a show jumper. Unfortunately, the debilitating illness left her unable to ride and shattered her hopes of becoming an Olympian. Bella has severe symptoms which not only stopped her riding, but continue to sap her energy as an adult. In an interview with the BBC, she said that Lyme disease makes modelling difficult. Anwar Hadid is the youngest of the three children and, like his two older sisters, is a professional model. The 18-year old also has Lyme disease, and his mother has previously said he copes with the effects of the disease well. Undergoing ozone treatment, Anwar responds well and has minimal symptoms, according to a blog post by Ms Foster. Advertisement

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria which is carried by ticks and relentlessly attacks the nervous system.

Effects can often be far more severe, with some long-term implications lasting several years leaving patients bed-bound with little to no energy.

High-profile sufferers of the disease include supermodel Bella Hadid, pop-star Shania Twain and actors Alec Baldwin and Ben Stiller.

Ms Hadid claims she had to abandon hope of becoming an Olympic show-jumper after contracting the condition.
A grotesque video shows the moment medics remove the body of a dead cockroach from a woman's ear.

A hand is seen inserting tweezers into the ear of the woman and pulling out pieces of the insect before producing most of its body in one piece.

The woman had visited a volunteer fire station in Guatemala City after experiencing dizziness and headaches.

On closer inspection, one of the firefighters made the gruesome discovery that she had an entire dead cockroach lodged in her ear cavity.

A member of the volunteer firefighters posted the video online with the caption 'You will sleep well tonight!'

Scroll down for video

A volunteer at the fire station used tweezers to remove the insect while another one filmed the grotesque procedure

The unnamed woman visited the fire station in the capital city of the Republic of Guatemala in Central America.

It is believed she went to the fire station because it was closer to her home than a medical centre.

She had reportedly been suffering intense headaches and dizzy spells.

When, on closer inspection, the firefighters made the stomach churning discovery, spokesman William Gonzalez filmed the bug being removed and posted it online.

He wrote the message: 'You will sleep well tonight! A woman felt dizzy and had a migraine and decided to come to the Volunteer Fire Station. We found a cockroach in her ear.'

An entire cockroach was removed from the ear of the unnamed woman, who reportedly went to her local volunteer fire station because it is closer to her house than a medical centre

Cockroaches may look for food in human ears

According to National Geographic, cockroaches are one of the insects most keen to climb inside people's ears.

One South African hospital removed 24 bugs from people's ears in a two-year period, and ten of those were cockroaches.

WHAT IS EARWAX BUILD UP? Earwax usually falls out on its own but, in some cases, it can become blocked. It cannot be prevented as the wax is there to protect ears from water, dirt germs, infection and foreign bodies. You are more likely to suffer buildup if: You naturally produce more wax

You have hairy or narrow ear canals

You are elderly because wax hardens with age

You wear a hearing aid, headphones or earbuds as these push wax in further Symptoms include earache, difficulty hearing, itchiness, dizziness, an ear infection and tinnitus. You can try using over-the-counter wax softening drops or warm water to irrigate your ears. If this doesn't work, seek professional medical help in case of infection. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

Entomologist Coby Schal, of the North Carolina State University told the magazine: 'Its actually not an uncommon phenomenon to have a cockroach in the ear.

'Roaches are searching for food everywhere, and earwax might be appealing to them.

'A roach could go in to explore and then get stuck.'

US woman has cockroach parts in her ear for nine days

A similar case was reported earlier this month when Florida woman Katie Holley, 29, saw a cockroach's legs sticking out of her ear.

She went straight to A&E, where doctors removed what they thought was the entire bug, but Ms Holley continued to experience ear pain and hearing loss.

She returned to a doctor nine days later and was then referred to an ear specialist who removed six more pieces of the cockroach's body, which had been in her ear canal for more than a week.

Getting an object stuck in the ear can cause pain, infection and hearing loss.

People should not use tools to get things out of their own ears

It can be possible for someone to remove an object from their ear themselves, according to US non-profit healthcare organisation Mayo Clinic.

But tools or implements should not be inserted into the ear canal in case it pushes the object farther in.

Although fragments of the dead insect were removed first, most of its body was taken out intact

The website suggests tilting the head to encourage the object to fall out or, if it is an insect, pouring a small amount of mineral, olive or baby oil into the ear could float it out.

However, this should not be tried in children or if the eardrum might be perforated, which could cause pain or bleeding.

Cockroaches, however, are not the strangest animals medics have had to remove from a person's body.

In 2017, a man in China went to the Nanchang University Hospital with severe abdominal pain.

After medics examined him, an x-ray revealed that he had an eel in his intestine which was causing intense pain.

When questioned by doctors about how it got there, the patient refused to answer.

However, medics concluded that the man had deliberately introduced the eel up his anus while drunk.
Eczema affects millions of people around the world and it can affect any area of the body.

For Elaine Wright, a 51-year-old civil servant from Castleford in West Yorkshire, one particularly sensitive area was plagued by the irritating condition.

Ms Wright had eczema of the eyes and would often have painful sores and open wounds on her eyelids.

The condition developed spontaneously, and Ms Wright scrambled to find a cure to the infuriating itchiness caused by the condition.

Doctors had few suggestions, and prescribed an ill-suited steroid cream that is not designed to be used for prolonged periods of time or to be applied to the sensitive skin of a person's face.

Through her own research, Ms Wright stumbled across a gel that is made with natural ingredients sourced from the Indian sub-continent.

Bought online without a prescription for 8.95, the Sri Lankan gel succeeded where modern medicine failed and saw Ms Wright's affliction banished.

Scroll down for video

Elaine Wright, a 51-year-old civil servant from Castleford in West Yorkshire, developed a case of eczema on her eyes which made them unbearably itchy. She found a gel that cured her condition which came from a Sri Lankan plant

Having never struggled with eczema, or any other skin condition, Ms Wright was surprised when she began experiencing a mild irritation to her eyelids.

Ms Wright said: 'Over a few months [it] developed into a constant excruciating itch that left my upper eyelids and the lower eye lid of the left eye red raw, swollen and very dry.

'I went to the doctor and was prescribed a cortisone steroid cream, at 0.5 per cent. '

Despite being given a course of treatment, the steroid cream was not without its flaws.

'My doctor said I should take care when using it and only use it for a week as apparently it's quite dangerous to use steroid cream on the face at all and especially around the eyes,' Ms Wright explains.

'The side effects can cause permanent damage or discoloration to the skin if you use them for too long.

'Obviously this worried me, but my eyes were so painful I was prepared to take the risk.'

Doctors had few suggestions as to how best to treat the condition of Ms Wright and prescribed an ill-suited steroid cream that is not designed to be used for prolonged periods of time or to be applied to the sensitive skin of a person's face

The cream was effective, and did ease the symptoms over a week of use, yet the limited time period meant the soreness soon returned.

Painful to touch, Ms Wright was forced to stop wearing make up as her condition worsened.

Ms Wright added: 'I could feel it all the time. At night it would wake me up and I'd feel like I wanted to scratch my eyelids sometimes as it was so itchy and sore.'

In desperation for a more complete solution, Ms Wright Google searched 'eczema on eyelids' and found a vast online community of people with the same condition.

In desperation for a more complete solution to the short lived respite provided by conventional medicine, Ms Wright Google searched 'eczema on eyelids' and found a vast online community of people with the same affliction

It was through these channels that Ms Wright first got wind of the Hydrosil gel.

'Since using the Hydrosil Dry Eye gel twice daily over the ten months I've only had to resort to my steroid cream once and only for a few days.

'I can wear eye make up again if I out the eye gel on first, which is fine as it's a light gel and make up goes easily over it.'

The gel is sourced from Sri Lanka, and comes from a vine plant known as the 'Balloon plant', scientifically known by its Latin name of Cardiospermum halicacabum.

It seems the gel has also had some unintentional benefits.

Ms Wright added: 'Not only has my eye eczema cleared up, the skin around my eyes feels much softer and less crinkly than it was. I used to look tired all the time as the skin was so dry and red around my eyes.'
A 21-year-old beauty queen has undergone ground-breaking surgery to manage her crippling case of epilepsy.

April Coxon, a former student at Gateshead College, had two devices implanted in her chest and brain to give her regular electric shocks.

The technology predicts when her brain will malfunction and when a seizure is imminent.

A combination of the two devices prevents seizures from happening.

Ms Coxon, who regularly competes in beauty pageants, is sometimes subjected to up to 50 electric shock a day, which she describes as a 'small price to pay to get my life back'.

Scroll down for video

A 21-year-old beauty queen has undergone ground-breaking surgery to cure her crippling case of epilepsy. April Coxon, a former student at Gateshead College, had two devices implanted in her chest and brain to give her regular electric shocks

The electric shocks interrupt the natural signals of the brain and are designed to stop a seizure.

The 21-year-old, who now calls herself the 'bionic beauty queen', has lavished praise on the the NHS following her succesful procedure.

The Sunderland native said: 'It was odd at first giving myself electric shocks.

'They do hurt but it's worth it to have some independence for the first time in my life. Before I couldn't do anything on my own.

'Now I can go out with my friends, but they have to be careful not to sit too close when I give myself an electric shock or they get a jolt too.'

Ms Coxon had the surgery last year at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where she had a vagus nerve stimulator implanted into her chest.

The 21-year-old, who now calls herself the 'bionic beauty queen', has praised the NHS for allowing her to have the procedure, which means she can live a normal life for the first time

This is connected to a second device in her brain as well as a hand-held magnet.

The therapy comes in three parts that are all connected together.

A small electrical device, similar to a pacemaker, is implanted under the skin in the chest and it sends electrical impulses to the brain through a nerve in your neck called the vagus nerve.va

As well as sending regular jolts of electricity through her body, Ms Coxon can also trigger an electric shock by waving the magnet across her chest.

The pacemaker-like device in her chest is also linked to a handheld magnet which can trigger an electric shock should the patient feel a seizure coming on

Ms Coxon had the surgery last year at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where she had a vagus nerve stimulator implanted into her chest

Diagnosed at eleven years old, Ms Coxon has known little else outside of her condition and was unable to be left alone and forced to live with her grandparents to receive constant attention

This can either stop a seizure or, at the very least, reduce the severity of it.

Diagnosed at eleven years old, Ms Coxon has known little else outside of her condition.

Unable to be left alone and forced to live with her grandparents to receive constant attention, the former call centre worker has suffered with depression and anxiety as a result of her limited life.

WHAT IS VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION? Vagus nerve stimulation is a form of treatment for epilepsy. It involves three pieces of equipment: A pacemaker like device implanted in the patient's chest

A small wire through the patient's neck towards their brain

A handheld magnet The device in the chest sends electrical impulses to the brain through a nerve in the neck called the vagus nerve. This regular stimulation subdues the brain's normal electrical activity. It is designed to stop seizures before they happen, or at least to lessen the severity of a seizure. If the epileptic person feels a seizure coming on, they can also trigger an electric shock themselves. By sweeping the hand-held magnet over the generator, the individual can send more impulses to the vagus nerve. As epilepsy is a very varied condition, only a small amount of people are suitable for the operation. A person must mot be eligible for brain surgery, or have had brain surgery only for it to have been unsuccessful. Vagus nerve stimulation is a form of treatment for epilepsy. It involves three pieces of equipment and is designed to limit and stop seizures Advertisement

Ms Coxon read about vagus nerve simulation she begged her doctor to refer her for the operation only available in extreme cases

Ms Coxon competed in Miss Teen Great Britain in a bid to boost her confidence. She said: 'It also helped me to raise awareness of epilepsy'

Ms Coxon told Chronicle Live in 2017: 'Everywhere is a potential danger, and my room is padded and I have got epileptic alarms. I don't even know how many black eyes I have had.

'It is hard getting through every day  I can't go to the toilet or bath alone. It is very dangerous walking across a road, you can't ride bikes, you can't drive, it is hard to get about or go abroad.'

Now, a year after her surgery, she is competing in beauty pageants to boost her confidence.

In 2017, Ms Coxon said she couldn't go to the toilet alone and that it was dangerous for her to cross the road or ride a bike, in case she had a seizure

Ms Coxon said she was 'frightened' the first time she received an electric shock, but soon became adjusted to it. She said then when she is out with friends she has to be aware that the shocks can transfer through to them if they are close by

Ms Coxon has said it is normal to get up to 50 shocks a day. She also said that she wants to continue to enter beauty pageants in a bid to become the 'first bionic beauty queen'

Ms Coxon competed in Miss Teen Great Britain in a bid to boost her confidence. She said: 'It also helped me to raise awareness of epilepsy.'

After reading about vagus nerve simulation she begged her doctor to refer her for the operation only available in extreme cases.

She said: 'I was frightened the first time I shocked myself but I was astonished when it worked and prevented a seizure. I knew I was going to be able to live a normal life.

'As I suffered so many fits it's not unusual to give myself up to 50 shocks a day. Now I want to enter more pageants and become the first bionic beauty queen.'
I have nocturia and during the night I need to urinate every hour. Its as if fluid accumulates during the day and wants to be released when I am in a reclining position. I believe that my lymphatic system is sluggish. I am a 90-year-old female in excellent health and am not on any medication.

Jeanne Crane, by email.

Nocturia is the term used when people wake two or more times in the night in order to empty their bladder.

Its a common problem, and as it disturbs sleep, it is significantly detrimental to health and is associated with lower mental and physical well-being.

Its more common with age, and anyone with obesity, high blood pressure, snoring, restless legs syndrome, cardiac problems, diabetes, or who takes diuretics or antidepressant drugs is also at greater risk.

Did you know? Women with nocturia may also have other urinary tract problems that lead them to go to the loo more than normal during the day, too

Women with nocturia may also have other urinary tract problems that lead them to go to the loo more than normal during the day, too. These include stress incontinence or overactive bladder syndrome (characterised by a sudden urge to urinate).

You tell me in your longer letter that you are passing a total of 1.4 to 1.7 litres of urine during the night and very little during the day, which is an unusual pattern.

Its referred to medically as nocturnal polyuria and is a hormonal problem, involving arginine vasopressin (AVP).

This hormone helps ensure we dont dehydrate by stimulating the kidneys to reabsorb water. As a result, the urine is more concentrated, economising on water loss.

Normally, the body releases more AVP in the evening, which helps reduce the output of urine at night (and so ensures sleep is not disturbed).

However, from around the age of 60 or 70, we all, to some degree, stop producing higher levels at night. I suggest this is whats happening in your case rather than it being down to a sluggish lymphatic system.

WHAT CAUSES NOCTURIA? You produce less anti-diuretic hormone as you age. This is a chemical that your body makes to help hold onto fluid at night, so you make less urine. Lower levels of this hormone mean that more urine is produced at night. In men, the prostate gland often starts growing with age. This gland surrounds the urethra (the tube that urine passes through before exiting the body). An enlarged prostate can press on your urethra and prevent your bladder from emptying properly, so you need to pass urine more often. Source: Guy's & St. Thomas' Advertisement

However, there could be other additional factors at work here. The fluid accumulation might suggest some degree of heart failure.

When the heart doesnt pump efficiently, this can lead to fluid retention and oedema (swelling) of the feet and ankles as the failing heart generates a hormone called B-type natriuretic peptide which reduces kidney function and causes salt and water retention.

Lying down means some of that retained fluid can re-enter the blood vessels, leading to an increase in urine output. That is why, in part, those with swollen ankles note a degree of improvement overnight.

This does seem to mirror your description. Although you say youre otherwise in good health, at the age of 90 some degree of heart failure is not unusual. However, I believe the nocturia to be the result of lowered AVP levels.

Treatment is a synthetic version of AVP, as a tablet or nasal spray. Taken two hours before bedtime, it causes a reduction in urine volume, followed by an increase in urine output the next day.

However, use of this drug is not advised over 65 as there is a risk of adversely lowering blood sodium levels, which can be dangerous, particularly in those taking medications such as diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and antidepressants, or those with cardiac problems.

My advice is that you discuss your troublesome symptoms with your GP: it might be that referral to a kidney or heart specialist, or an endocrinologist, could be helpful for expert advice.

I have pains in my hands that make it hard even to press the keys on a keyboard. I also have problems with my ankles and knees. I have exercised all my life and do not want to give up as I am only 50, but any strain on my body results in another ache that simply wont go away. My rheumatoid factor is high but no rheumatism was found at a recent investigation. So why do my bones and joints hurt?

Ita Wise, Orpington, Kent.

I am puzzled by your comment no rheumatism was found.

Rheumatism is not a diagnosis; it refers, in an ill-defined way, to aches and pains. What you are describing is polyarthropathy, a condition in which multiple joints are involved, but for which there is as yet no diagnosis. There are many possible causes, ranging from an infection in a joint to postinfectious arthritis  a form of arthritis triggered by a reaction to an infection.

Diagnosis is simpler if there is a synovitis  swelling of the soft tissue around affected joints, warmth in the area and reduced range of motion  as this limits the number of possible causes.

Do you have it? Polyarthropathy is a condition in which multiple joints are involved, but for which there is as yet no diagnosis

In one study, 60 per cent of the patients with synovitis had rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition in which the immune system starts to attack the joints), ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis caused by inflammation of the spine) or psoriatic arthritis (which affects patients with the skin condition psoriasis).

With rheumatoid arthritis, symmetrical joints are normally affected, and this, to me, sounds to be what you are describing.

There is no definitive test. Some, but not all, with the condition will have raised levels of the antibody rheumatoid factor or of another antibody, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide. Both are measured with a blood test.

Write to Dr Scurr To contact Dr Scurr with a health query, write to him at Good Health Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk  including contact details. Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. His replies cannot apply to individual cases and should be taken in a general context. Always consult your own GP with any health worries. Advertisement

We also measure markers of inflammation to help distinguish between non-inflammatory pain disorders (such as fibromyalgia) and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

In up to a third of patients, symptoms develop gradually, and a positive diagnosis may not be reached for weeks or months after the first signs are noted.

Even so, if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, treatment can be started to ease symptoms, and tests repeated every month or so.

At present, your symptoms could be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen, and possibly steroids, such as prednisolone, to reduce any swelling.

Some rheumatologists would include a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug such as a weekly dose of the immuno-suppressant methotrexate that works by subduing the immune response.

Im hoping youve already been referred to a rheumatologist, and that steps have been taken to bring about a significant reduction in your pain.

IN MY VIEW...CHANGING DOCTORS RUINS LIVES

Can you imagine allowing one surgeon to start an operation only for them to hand over midway to another?

It would compromise the patients safety and the success of the surgery, so would only normally happen in an emergency.

Yet this scenario happens in general practice day after day. It is very rare these days for a patient with any number of ongoing health issues to be seen by the same GP even twice on the trot.

The value of continuity of care  seeing the same doctor as often as is feasible  was underlined by a study published last year, which showed that people over the age of 65 were twice as likely to require an urgent hospital admission if they had poor continuity of care compared with those who had a high level of continuity.

The ability to give the best care, to minimise complications and errors, is dependent on knowing the whole person: the personality, the family relationships and the social situation. This makes for more effective medicine than scanning a patients notes.

Patients also prefer continuity: it gives them greater confidence in their doctor, facilitates communication and is an incalculable boost to morale for both the patient and the doctor  all of which improves outcomes. Yet over the past five years, the number of patients able to see their own GP has dropped by 25 per cent, according to a recent study in the British Journal of General Practice. This is an inevitable result of the rising workload and the scarcity of doctors in general practice.

Part of the issue is money, but so, too, is a move away from seeing continuity as important. Surgeries now open longer, but the price is being less likely to see the same GP.

We need to rethink what matters. Its a sad world in which people are likely to have a better relationship with their hairdresser than with their general practitioner.
The family of a six-year-old girl is hoping to find someone with the exact same heritage as the little girls as she battles two types of rare blood cancer.

Kalea Ramos was diagnosed with two forms of leukemia that leave her in need of a bone marrow transplant.

No one in her family ended up being a match and, because she is of mixed race, donors who be a close enough genetic match for her blood are few and far between.

Now, the Ramos family, from San Diego, California, is desperately searching for that match that could save their daughter's life.

Kalea Ramos, six (left and right), of San Diego, California, was diagnosed with mixed phenotype acute leukemia, which is two forms of leukemia combined: acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

In addition to chemotherapy, Kalea's parents, Angela and Mike, were told that Kalea (pictured) would need a bone marrow transplant

Last October, Kalea was diagnosed with mixed phenotype acute leukemia, which is two forms ofleukemia combined: acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

It is very rare, representing five percent of all cases of acute leukemia, a rapidly spreading form of the disease. Five-year survival rates are 50 percent.

'You think hearing the cancer diagnosis is the hardest and then hearing they have rare cancer,' Kalea's mother, Angela Ramos, told CBS 8.

The fast-moving nature of mixed phenotype acute leukemia means it is especially crucial for people who are newly diagnosed to be treated quickly.

And it was fast-moving indeed for Kalea - by the time she was diagnosed, cancer cells had spread to her spinal fluid, meaning she immediately had to start chemotherapy.

Doctors told Angela and Mike, Kalea's father, that their daughter would most likely need a bone marrow transplant.

Neither her brother, 11-year-Kailen (in bed, left), nor her sister, seven-year-old Keanna (in bed, center), were bone marrow matches

But her siblings try to help her as much as they can. They remind Kalea to take her medicine, help her dress and, in March, Keanna (pictured, left and right, behind Kalea) asked her mother to shave her head so her sister 'wouldn't be alone without hair'

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.

Transplants involve taking a donor's healthy blood-forming cells and putting them into the patient's bloodstream, where they begin to grow and make healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Because the set of genes used for determining a match are linked to ethnicity, patients are most likely to find a match within their own ethnic group.

Angela and Mike cannot donate because they are Caucasian and Asian, respectively, and their daughter is mixed-race.

Neither Kalea's brother, 11-year-old Kailen, nor her sister, seven-year-old Keanna, were bone marrow matches.





Her siblings try to help her as much as they can. They remind her to take her medicine, help her dress and, in March, Keanna asked her mother to shave her head so her sister 'wouldn't be alone without hair'





'The hardest thing for me so far was having to tell the kids they were not a match because they both want to help their sister,' said Angela.

According to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 70 percent of patients in need of a marrow transplant do not have a matching donor in their family.

Patients are most likely to find a match within their own ethnic group, which is difficult for Kalea (pictured) because she is Asian and Caucasian

The Ramos family has since turned to the Be the Match Registry - the national marrow donor program - in hopes of finding a donor (Pictured, Kailen, left, with Kalea)

The family is also chronicling Kalea's journey on a Facebook page called Kalea Strong, through which they also raise awareness for pediatric cancers

Of the seven million people on the national bone-marrow registry, only three percent identify as mixed-race. Depending on your race your, chances of finding an unrelated donor vary greatly:

Caucasian patients find a donor about 75 percent of the time

Hispanic patients find a donor about 45 percent of the time

Asian patients find a donor about 40 percent of the time

African-American patients find donor 25 percent of the time

The Ramos family has since turned to the Be the Match Registry - the national marrow donor program - in hopes of finding a donor.

Kalea told CBS 8 that she misses being a kid and going to the pool and the beach but said she 'believes I can beat it'.

Kalea's family has created a GoFundMe page to help cover her medical bills. So far, $31,550 has been raised out of a of $50,000 goal.

The family is also chronicling Kalea's journey on a Facebook page called Kalea Strong.

Through the page the family also raises awareness for pediatric cancers, which receive only four percent of cancer research funding, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Fabulous at (nearly) 40! Actress Claire Danes is still youthful and boasts a fab decolletage

It's been nearly 25 years since she shot to stardom in 1994's cult TV series My So-Called Life.

Yet, to look at Hollywood actress Claire Danes now, it's hard to see that she's aged at all since coming of age.

The critically-acclaimed actress, who later starred in Homeland and Thai prison drama Brokedown Palace opposite Kate Beckinsale, turned heads when she stepped-out in New York, this week.

Promoting the release of her latest movie, A Kid Like Jake, she proudly displayed her toned decolletage at the official launch.

Wearing a strapless black dress, the performer - who's married to Hugh Dancy and pregnant with their second child - displayed a taut and toned upper chest.

Yet, interestingly, the actress and mother-of-one dislikes the gym.

However, she does lift weights and regularly undertakes circuit training (exercises that combine strength and cardio), though she prefers dancing.

I exercise for mental relaxation more than anything else, she has said.

So how can you replicate her look? Here, we reveal the best way to emulate her body success.

Still got it! Promoting the release of her latest movie, A Kid Like Jake, she proudly displayed her toned decolletage at the official launch

WHAT TO TRY

- The chest fly is great for strengthening muscles in the decolletage area.

- Lie on your back on a bench, step or exercise ball, holding a dumbbell or weight in each hand.

- Straighten arms above your head, palms facing each other.

- Bring arms out to the side with slight elbow bend, palms facing up.

- Squeeze chest muscles together to lift weights, bringing arms back towards each other at the top of the movement.

-Tap weights together and repeat 12 times. Do three sets.

Back in 1999: Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale star in Jonathan Kaplan's Brokedown Palace
Material world: Silver is widely-known for its natural anti-bacterial properties

THE PATIENT

For years, Id had problems with my left knee, caused by wear and tear to the cartilage. Id had a knee replacement in 2006 but by 2012, it was hurting again, leaving me unable to stand for long periods.

Eventually Id be in pain after just ten minutes, so in 2013 I had surgery to remove damaged cartilage and to realign the knee cap.

But a week later the knee swelled to twice its size. My GP said it was an infection and prescribed antibiotics.

However, four months after surgery, the knee was still swollen and too painful to put my foot to the ground, so I had two more operations  one to remove the implant because they couldnt clear it of the infection, then another operation to put in a new implant.

Because my knee was infected, the two operations had to be done several months apart. This meant I was effectively left without a working knee joint for six months  I just had a block (known as a spacer) in its place to keep the thigh and shin bones apart  and I had to use a wheelchair.

But even after having a new implant fitted, the infection came back. It was incredibly frustrating. My knee was swollen and painful and I had to give up work. Eventually my doctors said I might need an amputation because there was a danger it could turn septic, which would be life-threatening.

Id always been active, so being told I could lose my leg felt like the end of my world.

Then, in July 2015, a friend called to say theyd read an article in the Daily Mail about a surgeon who was treating infected knee joints like mine by washing them out with a form of vinegar, and replacing them with a new, sterile implant.

It sounded amazing so I saw him privately in May 2016.

He explained that as well as washing the wound out, he would use a new implant that was coated in silver  he said silver was known for its anti-bacterial properties. I saw it as my last chance to avoid amputation and was sick of being in constant pain, so decided to go ahead.

It would mean two more operations  one to remove the second infected implant and wash out the wound with vinegar, and then another six months later to fit the silver implant once the infection had cleared.

The first two-hour operation was in October 2016. Once the second replacement joint was removed and my knee washed out, they put a surgical cement block packed with antibiotics in its place as an interim measure to keep the bones apart. It made my leg rigid and travel very difficult.

Did you know? Infection can be a problem with any joint replacement  there are 80,000 knee replacements a year in the UK, and around 1 per cent become infected

Fortunately, by March 2017, blood tests showed no sign of infection, so I was able to have the new silver implant put in.

I stayed in hospital for 12 days and needed a walking frame for two weeks, then crutches and finally a stick. But three weeks later we could fly back to Spain: I finally had a moving knee and could stand and walk on it. I also needed fewer painkillers.

Just over a year after the surgery, I can stand for hours in my shed building boats, and play with my five grandchildren. Im finally living again.

THE SURGEON

Rhidian Morgan-Jones is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff and Spire Cardiff Hospital.

Infection can be a problem with any joint replacement  there are 80,000 knee replacements a year in the UK, and around 1 per cent become infected.

Infection is a risk because an implant is a foreign body and bacteria present on the skin naturally can be transferred from the patients skin during surgery. This is why we always give antibiotics beforehand.

We try to treat any infection within a few weeks, but in some cases they become chronic. Around 2 per cent of those with an infected joint face amputation.

When joints become infected, we open it up, wash out the joint and clear away any infected tissue  in cases of chronic infection we also replace the implant because if it stays in it can become septic and life-threatening.

Relatively new: These silver-coated implants were pioneered in the UK around eight years ago

We usually clean out the joint using an irritant such as iodine or alcohol, but for the past five years I have been using a weak solution of acetic acid (a compound in vinegar) which I believe is more effective  a small study I led showed this was the case, with results published in the American Journal of Arthroplasty in 2015.

A few surgeons are also using new silver-coated implants. The antibacterial properties of silver have been known for millennia. Organisms such as bacteria cant settle on it  it also emits charged particles which are anti-bacterial, and so stop infection taking hold.

These silver-coated implants were pioneered in the UK around eight years ago, for people with knee tumours, as they tend to have a higher risk of infection. For the past five years the implants have been utilised for revision knee replacement surgery, too.

Available on the NHS, they are used at major centres, including the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, in Birmingham  for over three years Ive been doing them at University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff and Spire Cardiff Hospital.

In theory it could be used in all knee replacements to reduce the risk of infection, but the silver coating costs another 400 on top of the typical 800-1,200 for an implant, so the cost would not be justified. But for high-risk patients (for example smokers and diabetes sufferers are more prone to infection) including those with an existing infection, they are helpful.

For cases like Alans, we remove and replace the infected implant with the silver-coated one in two operations done three to six months apart, each takes around two hours. We pack the knee with antibiotics once the old implant has been removed to give the best chance of killing the infection before fitting the new implant.

First I re-open the original 10-12cm surgical scar straight down the knee to remove the implant. I clean away infected bone and soft tissue then wash the remaining parts of the joint  the end of the thigh, shin bone and surrounding area  then pour in acetic acid, leaving it to soak for 20 minutes.

Then I pack the knee with surgical cement which is loaded with antibiotics and close the wound  the cement keeps the bones apart. The leg is rigid afterwards, patients cant bend their knee, though they can stand and walk on the leg.

Once I am sure the infection has gone, I re-open the joint and remove the cement using a hammer and chisel and sometimes ultrasound, then fit the silver-coated implant in the same way as any implant.

It goes into the thigh bone and links to the shin bone  it comes in different sizes but is larger than standard implants since so much bone has already been lost.

Around 80 per cent of revision knee surgery patients wont need more surgery after this implant others will need repair to the metalwork because the hinge can fail, or infection can return.

It doesnt work quite as well as first-time total knee replacement, but is much better than having a stiff, infected knee.

The operation costs around 20,000 to the NHS and 25,000 privately.
More is more: Children with exposure to various microbes are protected, experts say

Our instinct is to keep babies clean, to scold them if they pick up something dirty and shield them from other sick children  but could this be increasing their risk of cancer?

A new study  the result of analysis of 30 years of data  suggests that a lack of exposure to bugs as a baby could be to blame for the rise in cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukaemia.

Professor Mel Greaves, of the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said they found that an infection could trigger the cancer in children  but only in those youngsters who had a lack of microbial contact within the first year of their life.

In other words, the cancer seemed to strike mainly those who had a clean infancy, with scant contact with other children.

Having siblings or going to playgroups, thereby gaining more exposure to a host of microbes, seemed to be protective.

Work is now ongoing to develop a bacteria pill that could be given to children to protect them from cancer and a host of other conditions, from asthma to diabetes, that have been linked to a lack of exposure to bugs.

Which begs the question, are we keeping our children too clean?

The idea that being overly clean might be bad news emerged in the Eighties, with the hypothesis that excess cleanliness underworks our immune system so that it overreacts to harmless substances such as pollen. This, it was suggested, was why rates of allergy-related conditions have risen.

Now it is thought that its not hygiene that is making us ill but modern lifestyles.

Irony: A new study  the result of analysis of 30 years of data  suggests a lack of exposure to bugs as a baby could be to blame for more cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

The argument is that we evolved to live alongside bugs commonly found in the air, in water and on animals, and a lack of exposure to these old friends is causing inflammation and, ultimately, an increase in autoimmune disorders such as Crohns disease, type 1 diabetes and allergies.

The immune system of vertebrates is like a computer, and when youre born it has hardware and software but no data, so it cant function until the data is put in it, says Professor Graham Rook, a medical microbiologist at University College London, who developed the old friends theory.

The data comes from microbiota [microorganisms including fungi, bacteria and viruses] that you encounter. Typically this will be from your mum during vaginal delivery, then from your environment. These microbiota, he says, are as much of an organ as your kidneys or liver  and without an adequate diversity of them, we become ill.

Being born by C-section, not being breastfed, being the firstborn (so no siblings about), antibiotics and a lack of fibre (a source of food for beneficial gut bacteria) all reduce contact with old friends, Professor Rook adds.

But were not saying people need to be less hygienic, he stresses. Years ago, people were dying through lack of good hygiene.

Sally Bloomfield, a hygiene expert and honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explains its targeted hygiene that is crucial. So we need to worry not about whether something is dirty, but rather whether it is a risk that could make us ill.

Some elements of cleanliness are unnecessary for good health for most people, she says.

Bleaching sinks and drains is one. Most people do it to control odours, but when it comes to protecting against infection, if the microbes are down the plug-hole, then theyre not likely to be a risk, Bloomfield says.

People should be paying attention to an area that really matters, such as chopping boards, Dr Lisa Ackerley, deputy chairman of the International Scientific Forum On Home Hygiene, says. The trend towards using antibacterial soap is also largely unnecessary, says Professor Mark Fielder, a medical microbiologist at Kingston University. We dont have to have everything clinically clean the whole time, he says. Soap and water is probably better.

Professor Rook even advocates parents licking their babys dummy clean when it has fallen on the floor, rather than sterilising it. He believes this can help with transmission of beneficial microbes, citing a study that has shown it can reduce the risk of children developing eczema.

The study found that children whose parents licked their dummies clean before giving it back to them were less likely to have eczema at 18 months of age than those whose dummies were washed or sterilised.

One very simple way to improve our exposure to immune-boosting bugs is to get outside more. About a third of the organisms in your gut produce spores that can persist in the environment for thousands of years, Professor Rook explains  so where humans have been, the environment is seeded with strains.

In other words, if we go out we can breathe in beneficial microbes dropped by our forefathers. Yet there are times when we must all be scrupulously hygienic. During the preparation of food, for example, and everyone should wash their hands when coming in from outside, before eating, and after touching pets.

People think that the message about hand-washing gets taken too far, but a few years ago a child died in this country after picking up the bacterial infection E.coli from something they picked up at the beach, says Professor Bloomfield.
House of Fraser is looking at opening champagne and gin bars to attract shoppers.

The department store chain wants to go more upmarket and has opened branches of coffee chain Caffe Nero in stores.

But it is understood these have not been as successful as hoped so it is now turning to champagne and gin after launching a hit gin bar in a Glasgow shop earlier this year, where shoppers can order an afternoon tea with gin-soaked scones.

House of Fraser's Belfast champagne bar has proved popular with shoppers

House of Fraser already has a popular champagne bar in its Belfast store. It said: House of Fraser is keen to create experiences which suit each store and food and beverage is important in achieving this.

The move comes as the 169-year-old chain fights landlords over proposals to shut a third of stores and get rent reductions.

The restructuring would be a lifeline, with the Chinese owner of Hamleys, C Banner, taking a majority stake and providing cash.

House of Fraser has 59 stores and employs 17,500 people.
President Donald Trump has launched a stinging attack on former President Barack Obama, criticising his predecessor's lack of action over 'so-called Russian meddling'.

Posting on Twitter, Trump claimed that Obama was informed about potential Russian influence on the 2016 Presidential election prior to Americans going to the polls.

The current President said that Obama failed to act because he thought Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton, who he referred to as 'Crooked Hillary', was going to win the election and 'didn't want to upset the apple cart'.

Donald Trump took to Twitter to blast his predecessor and accuse him of knowing about Russian meddling before the election

Trump's comments are the latest in a series of angry barbs over the issue of Russian meddling in the election.

He also slammed Hillary Clinton and criticised the investigation into his campaign, asking why his former rival hadn't been investigated.

His latest tweet said: 'Why didnt President Obama do something about the so-called Russian meddling when he was told about it by the FBI before the election? Because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win, and he didnt want to upset the apple cart.

'He was in charge, not me, and did nothing.'

Current President Trump claimed that Obama didn't act because he 'didn't want to upset the apple cart'

He also earlier slammed his former rival Hillary Clinton, who he labelled 'Crooked Hillary'

It followed an earlier tweet where he claimed that Clinton had 'much collusion' with Russia.

He wrote: 'Why didnt the 13 angry Democrats investigate the campaign of Crooked Hillary Clinton, many crimes, much collusion with Russia? Why didnt the FBI take the server from the DNC? Rigged Investigation.'

Academic Stefan Halper, 73, (above) has been identified in published reports as the suspected paid FBI informant who met with multiple Trump campaign members in 2016

His latest comments come after he lashed out at the 'crooked' leadership of the FBI, demanding to know why 'spies' were sent into his campaign to purportedly investigate Russian infiltration attempts, rather than anyone warning campaign leadership.

'With Spies, or Informants as the Democrats like to call them because it sounds less sinister (but its not), all over my campaign, even from a very early date, why didnt the crooked highest levels of the FBI or Justice contact me to tell me of the phony Russia problem?' Trump wrote on Saturday afternoon.

In recent days, academic Stefan Halper, 73, has been identified in published reports as the suspected paid FBI informant who met with multiple Trump campaign members in 2016.

Trump has lashed out at the 'crooked' leadership of the FBI, demanding to know why 'spies' were sent into his campaign

Democrats have defended the insertion of informants into the campaign as a legitimate counterintelligence operation targeting Russian attempts to infiltrate Trump's campaign, claiming it was not a politically motivated investigation to dig dirt that could then be used against Trump.

Halper is a well-connected academic and veteran of three former Republican administrations, with ties to both the FBI and MI6.

Both he and the FBI have declined to comment on prior reports that he is the informant who met with Trump campaign staffers George Papadopoulos, Carter Page and Sam Clovis.

It was reported late last year that the FBI did in fact meet with Trump campaign officials weeks after he got the nomination to warn that foreign adversaries, including Russia, might try to infiltrate his campaign.

In subsequent tweets on Saturday, Trump pivoted to attacks on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe, in an apparent attempt to link that investigation with what he has taken to calling 'Spygate'.

'This whole Russia Probe is Rigged. Just an excuse as to why the Dems and Crooked Hillary lost the Election and States that havent been lost in decades,' Trump wrote.

'13 Angry Democrats, and all Dems if you include the people who worked for Obama for 8 years. #SPYGATE & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST!,' he continued.

An apparent allusion to the film 'Twelve Angry Men', about a jury that nearly convicts a man before finding reasonable doubt, '13 Angry Democrats' seems to refer to the staff of Mueller's probe.

Trump referenced the film Twelve Angry Men (above) in a pair of tweets about the '13 Angry Democrats' he says form the core of Mueller's investigative team

Out of the 17 attorney staff members on the team that have been publicly identified, 13 have been identified as registered Democrats in published reports. They are Greg Andres, Rush Atkinson, Ryan Dickey, Michael Dreeben, Kyle Freeny, Andrew Goldstein, Adam Jed, Elizabeth Prelogar, James Quarles, Jeannie Rhee, Brandon Van Grack, Andrew Weissmann and Aaron Zelinsky.

The other four publicly identified team members are registered as unaffiliated, or do not appear to be registered to vote.

'When will the 13 Angry Democrats (& those who worked for President O), reveal their disqualifying Conflicts of Interest?' Trump wrote in a third tweet on Saturday.

'Its been a long time now! Will they be indelibly written into the Report along with the fact that the only Collusion is with the Dems, Justice, FBI & Russia?'

In March, the Department of Justice's Inspector General launched a review of possible surveillance abuses by the FBI and Justice officials related to the inquiry into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election.

Last week, the DOJ said that the review would be expanded to investigate whether there was 'any impropriety or political motivation in how the FBI conducted its counterintelligence investigation' into alleged Russian election interference.
The father of a British woman who died fighting ISIS in Syria says she has been 'left to rot' on the battlefield as he urged the government to bring her body home.

Anna Campbell, 26, from Lewes, East Sussex died on March 15 in a Turkish missile strike while travelling in a convoy in Afrin after joining a Kurdish fighting unit.

Her father Dirk Campbell, 67, has accused the Government of 'back pedalling' and claimed that a meeting with Alistair Burt, minister of state for the Middle East, give him little confidence of progress.

In an open letter to the Government, Mr Campbell claimed Turkish authorities had flouted international humanitarian law by not doing their duty in searching for the dead and preventing their bodies being 'bespoiled'.

Anna Campbell died on March 15 in a Turkish missile strike while travelling in a convoy in Afrin after joining a Kurdish fighting unit

Dirk Campbell (left), pictured with Anna's sister Rose at a vigil for his daughter, says the government is not doing enough to help bring her home from Syria

He said charities were prevented from getting to the site to assist, and as a result, his daughter's body has still not been brought back to the UK.

The 67-year-old has since met officials after calling on the Government to do more to address the 'atrocities' in Syria and to help him be reunited with his daughter.

The 26-year-old is the eighth Briton to have died in the country so far.

She flew to Syria via Lebanon about a year ago where she joined the YPJ, an all-female brigade of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which has about 50,000 Kurdish men and women fighting against Isis in the north of the country.

Ms Campbell was the eighth Briton to have died in the country so far

Mr Campbell, said: 'It is a scandalous state of affairs.

'I had hoped for a less equivocal response from the Foreign Office. It is just completely back-pedalling. They are not supporting the Kurds.'

One of Ms Campbell's sisters, Hester, said the family had a 'desolate feeling of futility', adding: 'We don't want Anna to have died for nothing.'

Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth where another of Ms Campbell's sisters lives, said in a statement released by the family that she was 'disappointed' Mr Burt was 'not prepared to commit the Government to challenging Turkey's actions'.

Mr Campbell's MP, Conservative Maria Caulfield, said she was trying to arrange a meeting for him with Prime Minister Theresa May.

Ms Campbell was one of about 100 British people who have joined the Kurdish forces fighting against ISIS

Ms Campbell, pictured with other members of the Kurdish Women's Protection Unit, said before she left for Afrin that she was 'happy and proud' to fight against fascism

In a YPJ video filmed before she left for Afrin, a smiling Ms Campbell told the camera how she was known by her nom de guerre of Helin Qerecox.

She said she was 'happy and proud' to join her friends and defend against fascism.

Conflict between Turkey and Kurdish groups has been inflamed since January.

In the week of Ms Campbell's death, Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country's military had captured the town centre of Afrin, which was previously controlled by the YPG.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: 'We have been in contact with Anna's family following her sad death in Syria.

'As the UK government has no consular presence in Syria, our ability to help is extremely limited.

'The UK has repeatedly raised its concerns with Turkey following its intervention into Northern Syria.

'While we recognise Turkey's legitimate right to defend its borders, it is essential that the rights of innocent civilians are protected.

'Turkey has assured us of its commitment to respect international law in its operations.

'Where there is credible evidence that human rights have been violated, then those responsible should be held to account.

'Anybody who travels to Syria against our advice is putting themselves at considerable risk.'
A search and rescue ship has become both a sanctuary for a heavily pregnant mother, and the place of birth for her healthy baby boy, named Miracle, in honour of their survival.

There was a surge in migrants crossing the sea from Libya to seek a new life in Europe over the weekend, with 2,350 making the risky crossing over just two days, because of the improved weather. They were rescued by charities and authorities from Italy and Spain.

Among their number was baby Miracle, a healthy baby boy born on board MV Aquarius, a search and rescue ship run in partnership between the international medical humanitarian aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and SOS Mediterranee.

Baby Miracle, a healthy baby boy born on board MV Aquarius, a search and rescue ship. His mother had been held captive, beaten, given very little food and extorted for money

When Miracle was brought on to deck by the MSF midwife, the migrants on board celebrated his birth by singing and dancing  a far cry from the conditions in Libya

Humanitarian ships, along with Italy's navy and coastguard vessels, rescued more than 1,800 migrants over the past three days. One body was recovered, an Italian coastguard official said

Humanitarian ships, along with Italy's navy and coastguard vessels, rescued more than 1,800 migrants over the past three days. One body was recovered, an Italian coastguard official said.

Meanwhile, the UN has called for urgent measures to be taken after Spanish authorities rescued more than 550 migrants in one weekend, from 17 dinghies, by Spanish Maritime Rescue Safety in Motril, Granada.

The multiple rescues came just days after groups of migrants in dinghies were plucked from the Mediterranean Sea, also by Spanish Maritime Rescue Safety. Hundreds have been brought to Malaga and Motril, for processing, on May 22 and May 27 respectively.

A man seen covered in blanket as he landed in Motril. He was one of 536 people rescued from 17 dinghies by Spanish Maritime Rescue Safety, May 27

Following their sea rescue, migrants could be seen marching to the registration centre after their arrival at Motril, Spain, on May 27

Warmer weather has helped boost the number of people making the risky sea crossing, for a better life in Europe

Arrivals from Libya, a staging post for people smugglers, have plummeted 85 per cent this year from last as Italy provided support to the Libyan coastguard and to municipalities along the coast to stop migrant boats.

But good weather or other factors seem to have reversed that trend, for now.

'It's really hard to know what's happening inside Libya, or why the Libyan coastguard has not been so active in these last few days,' said Lauren King, a spokeswoman from the Aquarius, the ship baby Miracle was born aboard.

MSF midwife Amoin Soulemane, above left, who delivered baby Miracle (with his mother), said: 'For a first time delivery the baby came very quickly'

Miracle, weighing 2.8kg, was the sixth baby born on the rescue ship, but the first this year. The Aquarius is a rescue ship run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF)

A migrant being rescued by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF), which brought ashore migrants in Catania, Sicily, on Sunday

The Aquarius is a rescue ship run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF), which brought ashore 70 migrants in Catania, Sicily, on Sunday. The Aquarius is setting off again later in the day for the waters off the coast of Libya.

'Given the weather conditions ... it's better we're out there and ready,' she said.

Migrants rescued by the Aquarius spoke of horrific conditions and violence in Libya, including the mother of the baby born on Saturday.

'For a first time delivery the baby came very quickly. The labour pain started early in the morning, but within just a few hours of active labour the baby was born. Both the mother and baby are doing very well,' Amoin Soulemane, the Medecins Sans Frontieres midwife on the Aquarius, said.

Miracle, weighing 2.8kg, was the sixth baby born on the rescue ship, but the first this year, Lauren King added.

When Miracle was brought onto deck by the midwife, the migrants on board celebrated his birth by singing and dancing  a far cry from the conditions they said they had came from in Libya.

The mother, whose name was not given, told MSF she had been 'held captive, beaten, given very little food and extorted for money for release' during the year she was in Libya.

She was eventually able to escape from her captors, and on Thursday she set out to sea on a rubber boat with 68 others.

MSF nurse Aoife Ni Mhurchu said: 'The situation in Libya is extremely dangerous for refugees and migrants, with very little access to medical care. If she had gone into labour just 48 hours beforehand she would have given birth hiding on a beach in Libya, without any medical assistance.

Migrants stand on the ground after being rescued from a dinghy by members of the Spanish Maritime Safety Rescue on May 22

Last weekend's multiple sea rescues follows those on May 22, in Malaga, Spain. Above, migrants stand aboard the rescue boat 'SAR Mastelero' after their arrival

At Malaga port, the new arrivals are tended to by health care workers and local officials, following their rescue on May 22

'She told me their boat actually departed on Wednesday but after a few short minutes the engine failed and they were returned to shore.

'The smugglers demanded they hide on the beach, then disappeared and didnt return for 24 hours. At this point she was left terrified, heavily pregnant, and without food or water.'

On Saturday, the leader of the far-right League party, which appears poised to form a coalition government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, said that the surge in arrivals meant someone was trying to undermine the would-be administration.

'The usual powers that be are threatening us with the migrant boats,' Matteo Salvini Tweeted.

The League has promised to take a hard line on irregular immigration and deport hundreds of thousands of migrants if the government receives the president's endorsement and wins parliament's backing.
Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit of a Sydney hospital have been evacuated after a pipe burst causing the ceiling to partially cave in.

Fragile premature and sick newborn babies at Royal Hospital for Women were moved after a pipe expansion joint broke, causing four ceiling tiles to become wet in the Newborn Care Centre on Sunday.

General manager at the hospital Vanessa Madunic told Daily Mail Australia 'staff relocated 13 babies but at no time was their care - including treatment using neonatal intensive care equipment - in any way interrupted or comprised.'

Newborn babies in the intensive care unit at Royal Hospital for Women (pictured) have been evacuated after a ceiling in the ward collapsed on Sunday

(File photo) Premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit were moved after a pipe burst causing the ceiling to partially cave in on Sunday.

Health effects of cytotoxic chemicals foetal malformations and loss

fertility changes in women

alterations to normal blood cell count

abdominal pain

vomiting

liver damage

abdominal pain Source: Cytotoxic Drugs and Related Waste Advertisement

A staff member from the Randwick hospital previously told the Southern Courier, some employees had exposed to waste which may have contained dangerous cytotoxic chemicals from the oncology ward above.

The employee added: 'The staff [affected] will probably have to get extensive health checks for hepatitis a and chemo exposure.'

Exposure to cytotoxic chemicals are highly toxic and could lead to miscarriages, foetal malformations, fertility changes, vomiting and liver damage.

According to a 2017 report Cytotoxic Drugs and Related Waste published by NSW Health, cytotoxic drugs are used to treat cancer, and other illnesses like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Yet general manager at the Royal Hospital for Women denies these allegations saying the plumbing incident happened in the gynaecology unit - not the oncology ward.

Ms Madunic told Daily Mail Australia: 'The incident originated in the Gynaecology Services Unit on the level above the Newborn Care Centre and posed no risk of exposure to any contamination.'

'Parents of babies were immediately advised of the relocation and no [ceiling] tiles dislodged while the infants were in the room,' she said.

Ms Madunic admits that staff changed uniforms after the incident as a matter of precaution.

Cleaning and repairs to the damaged ceiling and burst pipe has started and the ward is back in full operation, she said.

The hospital's infection control unit have conducted an investigation into the incident.

(File photo) Some employees had been exposed to waste which could allegedly contain dangerous cytotoxic chemicals from the oncology ward, a staff member told The Telegraph
Hundreds of Tommy Robinson supporters flocked to Downing Street on Saturday to demand the release of the far-right leader.

Robinson, 35, was arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace on Friday after he was seen filming outside a court house.

It has caused a furious backlash among his supporters who stormed Whitehall on Saturday to stage a protest.

Hundreds of Tommy Robinson supporters (pictured) flocked to Downing Street on Saturday to demand his release after he was arrested on Friday

Far-right supporters waved '#FreeTommy' and 'Free the truth teller' placards as others branded St George's flags and banners with 'Make Britain Great Again' on them in Whitehall

Pictured: Robinson founded the English Defence League in Luton in 2009 and remains a far-right activist

They waved '#FreeTommy' and 'Free the truth teller' placards as others branded St George's flags and banners with 'Make Britain Great Again' on them.

Some managed to mount the gates surrounding the Prime Minister's home, but the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline there were no arrests made.

Robinson rose to prominence after founding the English Defence League in Luton, Bedfordshire in 2009.

He resigned from the party in 2013 but has continued his far-right activism ever since.

Protesters called for the release of Tommy Robinson by waving St George's flags outside the gates to Downing Street in central London

One supporter is pictured scaling the gates of Downing Street. Met Police said there were no arrests made during the protest

Another far-right activist is pictured climbing the gates that block off Downing Street

Traffic was stopped from entering Whitehall on Saturday afternoon as hundreds chanted for his release.

After supporters spoke through megaphones outside the No 10 gates, they marched down to Parliament Square.

Footage of Robinson's arrest on Friday shows him saying 'I'm being arrested for breach of the peace', while filming the incident himself.

He then says: 'Can you get me a solicitor?'

#FreeTommy signs were waved by protesters who called for the EDL founder's release
Former politician and long-term single mother Jacqui Lambie has been savaged online after appearing in a 'cringeworthy' television interview about her love life.

Channel Seven's Sunday Night followed the 47-year-old as she experimented with speed-dating, Tinder and raunchy sex-toy themed parties with her girlfriends.

And reactions to the segment have been mixed, with the public and parliamentarians alike voicing their takes on social media.

Scroll down for video

Former politician Jacqui Lambie (pictured) has been savaged online by her former colleagues and viewers after appearing in a 'cringeworthy' television interview about her love life

Channel Seven's Sunday Night program sees the 47-year-old bachelorette taking the dating scene by storm (pictured: Ms Lambie with potential relationship candidate Craig)

Senator for Victoria Derryn Hinch was unimpressed with the way in which Ms Lambie wore her heart on her sleeve for the sake of ratings.

'Jacqui Lambie. We worked so well on worthy legislation. Wish you were back,' he tweeted.

'Tonight's TV was cringeworthy. Vomitville. You're so much better than that.'

Another Twitter user launched a savage rebuke at lovelorn Lambie, writing: 'Give up you weren't popular in politics and I can't see this working out either' while one man called Sunday Night 'desperate' for running an entire segment on the subject.

Reactions to the premise have been mixed, with Senator for Victoria Derryn Hinch one of many who savaged the segment online

Another Twitter user criticised Sunday Night for giving the subject so much air time

A particularly controversial part of the program saw the cameras following Ms Lambie to a vibrator party, where the ex-politician was shown discussing sex toys.

'It's like a bloody jackhammer,' she said at one point, before revealing that she's 'pretty open to all that side of ... that side of life.'

'Jacqui Lambie sitting with a table full of dildos and vibrators next to her is hands down the weirdest thing I've seen in 2018,' one man bluntly tweeted in response.

A particularly controversial part of the program saw the cameras following Ms Lambie to a vibrator party, where the ex-politician was shown discussing sex toys

One Twitter user called the unusual scene 'the weirdest thing I've seen in 2018'

Others, meanwhile, were slightly more sympathetic to Ms Lambie's situation.

'I loved the story and as a lady in her late 50's it gives me some hope,' wrote one Twitter user.

Another praised Lambie's courage for laying her heart on the line.

'Brave lady indeed. Good luck to her, I hope she finds what she is looking for.'
A car fanatic has been slammed by road safety campaigners after bragging about smashing the land speed record from John O'Groats to Land's End by travelling at an average of 90mph.

Tommy Davies, 26, of Llangollen, north Wales, claimed he managed the 841 mile trip in just nine hours and 36 minutes, flying past 50 cameras, seven police cars, and hitting only one red light.

Only a FG1 Phantom fighter jet has completed the journey faster and Google Maps estimates a journey time of almost 15 hours.

But his boast has been branded 'totally reckless and irresponsible' and an 'outrageous example of putting thousands of people's lives at risk' as he faced calls to be prosecuted for the stunt.

Tommy Davies, of Llangollen, north Wales, managed the 841 mile trip in just nine hours and 36 minutes

Speaking of his record attempt, Mr Davies said: 'Speeding in this country is controversial and it's one those things where you are on the road with other drivers, and who am I to put their lives at risk?

'We were so focused if there were any other cars on the road I would slow down and make sure the passing rate of speed was safe to minimise any risk.'

The 26-year-old said he undertook the late night mission in September with friend Tom Harvey in a specially adapted Audi S5 with a 4.2 litre VA engine.

They upgraded the vehicle to 400 brake horsepower, installed detectors to pick up speed cameras and police radio signals so they could track their movements, and built a fuel tank in the boot that extends the range of the car from 250 miles to over 400 miles which meant they only had to stop once, he claimed.

The pair had been planning to try and beat previous unofficial records for the trip for six years.

Mr Davies, who filmed the journey on a dashcam, said: 'If you speak to a lot of people, the ten hour mark doesn't seem possible to break, with the average speed cameras and the police, the odds were stacked against us.

The specially adapted Audi S5 with a 4.2 litre VA engine

The 841 mile route Mr Davies took from John O'Groats to Land's End, completing it in nine hours and 36 minutes, with an average speed of 90mph

They built a fuel tank in the boot that extends the range of the car from 250 miles to over 400 miles which meant they only had to stop once

'A lot of people said it couldn't be done - so we went out to prove them wrong.

'We believe we are the only ones to do it that quick on land, only a FG1 Phantom fighter Jet has done it faster in just under 47 minutes.'

But Ian Crowder, head of road safety at the AA, told Mailonline: 'This is just totally reckless and irresponsible.

'Britain's road are crowded, and far too many people are injured and killed in road accidents every day.

'For somebody to deliberately set about to break the land speed record, film it, and admit how many police he passed and how many cameras he avoided is an outrageous example of putting thousands of people's lives at risk.

The petrol-heads stopped once to refuel, meeting two friends with 150 litres of petrol in a van at a junction near Lancaster services at 1.18am, before arriving at Land's End at 5.36am

'I hope the police prosecute him. It is almost unbelievable that somebody would do that, deliberately, and then brag about it.

He added: 'No matter how skilled a driver you are, he was very lucky to avoid any kind of incident. What if somebody pulled out? He wouldn't have had a chance.

'And to film it? Words fail me. I think it will provide the police all the evidence they need to prosecute him.'



The only official records for the journey date back to the 1984, before speed cameras and automatic number plate recognition technology existed.

Neal Champion, who held the previous record on a motorbike, did it in 11 hours 14 minutes at an average speed of 78.7 mph back in 1984.

The driving duo studied the route for six years, breaking it up into various sections so they knew where police may be parked and where the speed cameras were.

Mr Davies said: 'We had spread sheets just full of information just so we could get a good sense of what we were up against.

'We left at 8pm, which we perfectly timed to pass Glasgow at 11.45pm, then come through Liverpool and Birmingham in the dead of night as they are the most populated areas.'

The committed petrol heads stopped once to refuel, meeting two friends with 150 litres of petrol in a van at a junction near Lancaster services at 1.18am, before arriving at Land's End at 5.36am.
Bill Shorten has become the worst performing Opposition Leader in the history of Newspoll.

The Labor leader slipped two points as preferred Prime Minister to 30 per cent while support for the Coalition's Malcolm Turnbull rose 1 point to 47 per cent.

Mr Shorten's result was the worst run of negative approval ratings for any Opposition Leader since Newspoll started in 1985

Bill Shorten has received the lowest approval rating of any Opposition leader in the history of Newspoll. He is pictured with his wife Chloe after speaking to the 'Yes' vote supporters on gay marriage in Melbourne

The Coalition's two-party preferred result dropped one point with Labor now leading 52 to 48 in the poll published in The Australian.

Mr Shorten received a negative net approval rating in 66 consecutive polls and has been behind as better Prime Minister for 53 polls.

Anthony Albanese was not far behind Mr Shorten as preferred leader after gaining 26 per cent support, while Tanya Plibersek received 23 per cent.

The Coalition's primary vote dropped one point to 38 per cent while Labor's stayed the same at 38 per cent.

The Coalition's primary vote dropped one point to 38 per cent while Labor's stayed the same at 38 per cent. Mr Turnbull is pictured addressing the Liberal Party's State Council meeting on Saturday

Poll Who's your preferred Labor leader? Bill Shorten Anthony Albanese Tanya Plibersek Other Who's your preferred Labor leader? Bill Shorten 7 votes

Anthony Albanese 53 votes

Tanya Plibersek 15 votes

Other 73 votes Now share your opinion





One Nation increased its support by two-points from six to eight per cent of the vote, while Greens vote remained unchanged at nine percent.

The Newspoll also showed 63 percent of people support the Government's plan for corporate tax cuts.

The negative result for Mr Shorten comes in the wake of the citizenship crisis which forced four Labor MP's to quit.

Mr Shorten and Mr Turnbull will face a test to their popularity at a super Saturday of five by-elections on July 28.

Elections will be held in four states in the seats of Perth, Fremantle, Mayo, Longman and Braddon.
Two women in their 60s were involved in a violent road rage incident with a truckie who tried to run them off the road before confronting them with a hammer.

The women were driving along the Tullamarine Freeway, in Melbourne, on Saturday about 1.10pm.

The truckie allegedly began tailgating and beeping his horn before pulling to the side of them.

Investigators have been told the truck hit the side of the car, pushing it towards a concrete barrier causing damage to the tyres, side mirror and doors.

Two elderly women were involved in a violent road rage involving a truck driver in Victoria

The aggressive driver rammed the car for a second time before pulling in front, according to reports.

After the truckie drove off along Wildwood Road and turned into Blackwells Road in Wildwood, the women got out of the car to inspect the damage.

The police statement said the women were examining the vehicle when the truckie approached them holding a hammer and a stick.

He ran towards the driver but did not strike her but pushed the passenger to the ground as she tried to run away

The truckie told the women to get back in the car and then proceeded to strike the vehicle multiple times, causing further damage, according to the police statement.

The man lost control of the hammer and it fell into the back seat as the women reversed away.

The violent road rage occurred on the Tullamarine Freeway in Melbourne on Saturday about 1.10pm

The women drove to a nearby police station to report the matter.

The truckie is believed to be of Middle Eastern appearance, spoke with a slight accent, is aged in his late 20s, has curly short black hair, is approximately 160cm tall and was wearing a top with Eden written on it.

Victorian police have released an image of the truck allegedly involved in the incident and are seeking any information or dash camera footage of the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
CNN commentator and White House press corps member April Ryan is under fire after tweeting about a story that asked if the Trump administration is involved in child sex-trafficking.

The tweet alerted her 336,000 Twitter followers to a story in The Root, an online magazine that showcases black news, opinions, politics and culture.

The headline of The Root article reads: 'Is the Trump administration running a child-trafficking ring or nah? Follow me down the rabbit hole.'

CNN contributor April Ryan is being criticized for alerting her 336,000 Twitter followers to a story in The Root that asks if the Trump administration is involved in child sex-trafficking

A story published by The Root, pictured, raised questions around whether President Donald Trump could be engaged in child trafficking

Ryan, who is also the White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, initially tweeted the article without comment but after coming in for a barrage of criticism decided to justify her posting.

'So apparently fox just wants to slam me for clicks. and never read the article I retweeted either. Lol! So sad! Hello it said the conspiracies were unfounded. You just need me to hate. Thank you!!' she tweeted.

The Root's article asked why 'alt-righters' should have 'all the fun' peddling disproven and unfounded conspiracy theories.

The political editor of the website Jason Johnson then proceeds to suggest one of his own.

Defending her social media use, Ryan accused the Fox News reporter of not reading the story she had tweeted out, and that it noted the conspiracy was unproven

April Ryan took to Twitter on Sunday night accusing Fox News of off slamming her 'for clicks'

'Now it turns out that the Trump administration may have an equally implausible conspiracy on its hands: Is the administration involved in child sex trafficking or just white nationalism? Follow me down the rabbit hole and see for yourself,' Johnson wrote in the article, published Friday.

Many on Twitter then went on to question how Ryan, a professional journalist, could associate herself with such a story.

Among those condemning Ryan for the tweet was first lady Melania Trump's spokeswoman.

'If you're a journalist w many followers & a @CNNPolitics contributor...is it ok to retweet any headline you want, regardless of if it's true?' Grisham asked on Twitter. 'Remember: 'The core purpose of a journalist is to research, document, write, & present the news in an honest, ethical, & unbiased way.''

First Lady Melania Trump's communications director, took aim at Ryan's retweet of the story, suggesting it was irresponsible

The Root's story was based partly on revelations that almost 1,500 immigrant children that have gone missing under the watch of the current administration.

It remains unclear what exactly happened to them after they were assigned sponsors.

If left without supervision, they could potentially fall victim to trafficking schemes which continue to operate throughout the country and across the globe.
The NHS must use any extra cash to spark a 'technological revolution' in healthcare, says Jeremy Hunt.

The Health Secretary warned there needs to be a 'dramatic transformation' to counter the demand of an ageing population.

The NHS should continue to lead the world in medical breakthroughs using advances such as artificial intelligence, he added in an interview yesterday.

Calling for major changes, Mr Hunt revealed that 'sheer physical exhaustion and the constant pressure of rising demand means now is the time to give NHS staff hope of a different way forward.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured) is calling for a technological revolution of the NHS

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'If the public are going to put more money into the NHS, we must prove that every penny is well spent.

'The NHS came to define what a 20th-century healthcare system should look like.

'Could we use the power of technology to define a 21st-century healthcare system as well?'

It also emerged that Philip Hammond has told the Prime Minister he will agree to the NHS receiving extra cash only if it is spent wisely.

The Chancellor is said to have agreed to a three per cent rise, which could come from tax hikes announced in the autumn Budget.

Theresa May is expected to announce a major funding boost in time for the health service's 70th anniversary on July 5.

But Mr Hammond has reportedly attached conditions to the funding boost amid concerns the money will be wasted.

Philip Hammond (pictured) has told the Prime Minister and Mr Hunt he will agree to the NHS receiving extra cash only if it is spent wisely

The NHS is notoriously economically inefficient and reports have highlighted how hospitals waste millions on overpriced equipment, pills and staff holidays.

Mr Hammond has urged his colleagues to put pressure on NHS bosses  including chief executive Simon Stevens  to take control over how the money will be spent.

A source close to the Chancellor told The Sunday Times: 'If we make a decision to make health spending our top priority, people have to be clear that there won't be large sums of money for much else.

'There are demands for the police and defence, but ministers will have to accept we won't be able to do everything.

'Philip thinks the public are pretty sceptical about the efficiency of the NHS and whether they themselves should be out of pocket.'
Chelsea Clinton has rebuked her former friend Ivanka Trump in a new interview.

'Shes an adult. She can make the choices for herself. I mean, shes 36. We are responsible for our choices,' Clinton, 38, said of President Donald Trump's daughter in an interview with The Guardian published on Saturday.

Clinton's face hardened with the Guardian reporter asked whether Clinton had sympathy for Ivanka Trump for being 'obliged to do her fathers grotesque bidding', or considered her 'complicit'.

'In 2008 I was really proud to support my mum  but I disagreed with her fundamentally on a few things, particularly her then opposition to equal marriage rights for LGBTQ Americans. I never defended that position, because it wasnt what I believed was the right thing to do,' said Clinton.

Chelsea Clinton (left) has rebuked her former friend Ivanka Trump (right) in a new interview

Ivanka (second from left) stood next to her father as he signed an executive order supporting military spouse unemployment earlier this month. Clinton has slammed her support for Trump

Making an exception for 12-year-old Barron, Clinton said of the President's children: 'Theyre adults whove made the decision to work in this administration.'

Clinton and Ivanka Trump were formerly friends, and could be seen cavorting together at swanky Manhattan events such as Glamour's 2014 Woman of the Year awards at Carnegie Hall.

In 2015, Clinton praised Ivanka Trump in an interview with Vogue.

'Theres nothing skin-deep about Ivanka,' she said. 'Shes always aware of everyone around her and ensuring that everyone is enjoying the moment.

'Its an awareness that in some ways reminds me of my dad, and his ability to increase the joy of the room.'

The respect was mutual, with Ivanka Trump in 2015 once tweeting an inspirational quote from Clinton and remarking 'well said'.

Clinton and Ivanka Trump were formerly friends, and could be seen cavorting together at swanky Manhattan events such as Glamour's 2014 Woman of the Year awards (above)

'Theres nothing skin-deep about Ivanka,' Clinton (right) once said about Ivanka (left)

Also in the interview, which was to promote her children's book She Persisted Around The World, Clinton had strong words for the President himself, saying that he has degraded 'what it means to be an American'.

Clinton was discussing why she now responds to attacks on Twitter when she spoke of a changing American culture that she believes was spearheaded by Trump.

'I think the way that our president, and many people around him, have not only mainstreamed hate, but mainlined it, is so deeply dangerous,' she said.

Clinton cited reports of rising bullying in schools and said she believed Trump's behavior was partially to blame.

Chelsea Clinton has hit out at Donald Trump, saying that the president has degraded 'what it means to be an American'

'[There are] now thousands of instances in schools across America, where children are citing the president as theyre demeaning a little girl, or theyre chanting "Build a wall" in an attempt to demean and degrade brown children,' she said.

'So the reason, now, I no longer ignore it when people say hateful things to me on the street or on social media is, I think we have to shine a light.'

'I think those of us who have platforms to do that have to say this is wrong and unacceptable, so we dont normalize it but try to detoxify what has been unleashed.'

'Because if we dont, we leave a vacuum. And I think the darkness fills that vacuum.'

The mother-of-two also hit out at Trump's administration, saying she did not believe he has hired many people who are 'qualified to do the jobs'.

Clinton cited the a report of rising bullying in schools and said she believed Trump's behavior was partially to blame

'Not only do I want an administration that isn't venal, corrupt, and focused on making life harder for millions of Americans, I also want a competent administration,' she said.

'So for me, the larger question is the collision of cruelty and incompetence and corruption that we see across the administration.'

While Clinton hopes the Democrats will be able to repair things from a 'policy standpoint', she believes there will be plenty more that needs to be fixed.

'I think we will still then have work to do on repairing the tone in our country, the exposure of the real racist and sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic and antisemitic feeling which is on the right in our country,' she said. 'A rot that has been exposed.'

While Clinton hopes the Democrats will be able to repair things from a 'policy standpoint', she believes there will be plenty more that needs to be fixed with the 'tone' of the country

And when it comes to doing that work, Clinton doesn't believe it's enough to have tolerance.

'I think one of the big mistakes was, for so long, we focused on tolerance, which I just think is insufficient,' she said.

'People tolerated casual misogyny, but casual misogyny is maybe the gateway drug.'

'We have freedom of speech, which I do think is hugely important  and yet people thought you couldnt dispute hateful things, because theyre like  well, its freedom of speech.'

'Well, freedom of speech doesnt mean there is freedom of consequences.'

'Sure, you should not be in prison because you said something racist. But you also shouldnt be able to run for president. And yet here we are.'
A political commentator has defended Malcolm Turnbull's wage - the highest of any leader in the Western world.

Radio presenter and author Richard Glover said the Australian Prime Minister's $528,000 salary was entirely warranted, citing the salaries of high-ranking public servants.

'The new head of the Defence Force gets $800,000; the head of Border Force gets $600,000,' he said on Seven's Sunrise program on Monday.

'You can't have the person who is running all these public servant heads being paid radically less than the people he's employing.'

Scroll down for video

Political commentator Richard Glover (pictured centre ) has defended Malcolm Turnbull's wage which is the highest of any leader in the western world

Figures reveal Malcolm Turnbull earns $527,854 - more than any other head of government in the OECD, yet still less than the heads of the Defence Force and Border Force

Mr Glover (pictured with wife Deborah) appeared on Sunrise alongside Deborah Clay who voiced similar support for Prime Minister Turnbull's salary

Also speaking on the panel was Deborah Clay, national news director for the Australian Radio Network, who voiced similar support for Mr Turnbull's salary.

'If you want a high-caliber candidate for such an important role you've got to pay for it... [and Malcolm Turnbull's] resume is quite impressive,' she said.

Mr Turnbull, 63, earns almost 10 times the average Australian wage and takes home more money than any politician from Canada, the United States, Germany and Switzerland, according to new figures published by IG.

He gets a pay packet of $527,854 which is more than any other head of government in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Second after Turnbull among global politicians comes Switzerland's president Alain Berset who earns $482,958 a year, while U.S. president Donald Trump sits comfortably in third place with $400,000.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is the highest-paid politician in the world, according to the latest figures

U.S. president Donald Trump (right) gets paid less than Malcom Turnbull (left). Trump sits comfortably in third place with $400,000

World leaders' wages Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull $527,854 Swiss president Alain Berset $482,958 U.S. president Donald Trump $400,000 German chancellor Angela Merkel $369,727 New Zealand PM Jacinta Ardern $339,862 Source: IG Advertisement

They are followed by German chancellor Angela Merkel earning $369,727 and New Zealand's prime minister Jacinta Ardern in fifth place with a salary of $339,862.

The findings published also compare the political leaders' salaries to the average national wage.

The latest figures reveal Turnbull gets ten times the average Australian wage which is the second-highest disparity between leaders and workers in the developed world.

Turnbull also earns $0.44 for every million dollars of GDP produced in Australia.

Australians have taken to social media slamming the prime minister's hefty pay packet.

One man wrote: 'There was a time not all that long ago where we accepted the argument that if we payed our politicians more wed get better quality in Parliament. Clearly that was wrong.'

In fourth place among OECD countries, German chancellor Angela Merkel earns $369,727

Second after Turnbull among global politicians comes Switzerland's president Alain Berset who earns $482,958 a year

Turnbull earns 10 times the average Australian wage which is the second-highest disparity between leaders and workers in the developed world, new figures reveal

'Just converting to Aussie dollars doesnt give an accurate comparison because the cost of living is higher in Australia so we get paid more generally compared to other countries,' another social media user added.

Not only does Turnbull get a healthy pay packet, but he also receives a golden retirement package once's he leaves parliament.

Australian politicians have the advantage of having 15.4 per cent of their income going towards their superannuation, according to the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004.

Top five heads of state's base pay packets in the OECD. From left to right: Australian pm Turnbull, Swiss president Berset, U.S president Trump, German chancellor Merkel, and Kiwi prime minister Ardern

That is in comparison to most Australian workers who get just a 9.5 per cent super contribution.

While Turnbull is the best paid out of most developed countries, Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong earns a staggering $1.7 million a year in U.S. dollars.

Singapore is not a member of the OECD so the prime minister's salary was not included in the survey.

Turnbull gets a pay packet of $527,854 which is more than any other head of government in the OECD. He is pictured with Prince Charles and Camilla (left) and wife Lucy
Jeff Smith, who represents Manchester Withington, was flown to Seattle to learn about how cannabis has been made legal in Washington State

A Labour MP took a week out of the local elections campaign to go on a drug legalisation junket to the United States paid for by cannabis firms, it can be revealed.

Jeff Smith, who represents Manchester Withington, was flown to Seattle to learn about how cannabis has been made legal in Washington State.

The 4,199 cost of the trip for Mr Smith and a staff member was picked up by Botanica Seattle, which produces foods made with cannabis, and Privateer Holdings, a private equity firm specialising in the legal cannabis industry.

Mr Smith, a former DJ who has previously admitted taking drugs, went on the transatlantic jaunt from April 9 to 15, which was during the Easter recess but just three weeks before the local elections.

When launching Labours local election campaign in Manchester a fortnight earlier, Mr Smith had pledged to knock on as many doors as he could before polling day.

It came as figures showed that the number of people taken to hospital with cannabis-related health problems has soared. There were 27,501 admissions linked to cannabis in England in 2016/17  a 15 per cent rise in just two years.

Mr Smith worked as a DJ in Manchester nightclubs and at festivals during the 1990s and early 2000s before moving into politics. Last year, he admitted to drug use, telling the Manchester Evening News: Like many people my age Ive taken drugs in the past, and Ive spent a lot of time around people who have regularly used recreational drugs.

In his maiden speech in 2015, Mr Smith said he would use his time in the Commons to fight for reform of our discredited and ineffective drug laws.

Mr Smith said last night: As a chairman of the all-party group on drug policy reform, I believe it is important for politicians to learn from legislative changes on this serious issue.
Settlement and colonization of the moon is a 'must' if the human race is to survive, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (seen Friday in Los Angeles) has said

Settlement and colonization of the moon is a 'must' if the human race is to survive, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has said.

'We must go back to the moon, and this time to stay,' Bezos said.

Bezos, the world's richest man, told a space development conference in Los Angeles on Friday that he is ready to help pave the way for further lunar exploration and eventual settlement with his rocket startup, Blue Origin.

The way Bezos sees it, the Earth will be zoned for residential use as well as light industries, while heavy industries that are the biggest polluters will be conducting their operations extraterrestrially.

He spoke before a meeting of the National Space Society, a non-profit group that advocates for building human colonies in space.

Ideally, while he would like to venture out into space together with the cooperation of the US government and the European Union, Bezos says he is willing to go it alone, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Bezos insists that lunar settlement isn't a matter of choice, but one of necessity.

'The alternative is stasis,' Bezos said on Friday.

Bezos, the world's richest man, told a space development conference in Los Angeles on Friday that he is ready to help pave the way for further lunar exploration and eventual settlement with his rocket startup, Blue Origin. A Blue Origin rocket is seen taking off in the above stock image

If humans do not expand into space, then communities on Earth 'will have to stop growing' because of environmental and other factors, according to the Amazon founder.

'That's not the future that I want for my grandchildren, or my grandchildren's grandchildren.'

Bezos said: 'The Earth is not a very good place to do heavy industry. It's convenient for us right now.

'In the not-too-distant future - I'm talking decades, maybe 100 years, it'll start to be easier to do a lot of the things that we currently do on Earth in space, because we'll have so much energy.'

Bezos did not offer specific details about how he plans to realize his vision of lunar settlement, but he did note that his company has drawn up a design for Blue Moon (seen in the above promotional sketch), a lunar lander that can deliver 5 tons of payload to the moon's surface

'We will have to leave this planet. We're going to leave it, and it's going to make this planet better.'

While SpaceX CEO Elon Musk thinks that Mars will be the next planet targeted for human colonization, Bezos says the moon makes more sense, according to Geek Wire.

First off, the moon is located closer to the Earth - just a two-day trip via rocket.

The moon is also believed by scientists to hold deposits of water ice near the poles.

These deposits could be converted into drinkable water, breathable air, and even energy for rockets.

'It's almost like somebody set this up for us,' Bezos said.

Bezos said: 'We will have to leave this planet. We're going to leave it, and it's going to make this planet better.' The last man to walk on the moon, Eugene Cernan, is seen above on the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972

Bezos did not offer specific details about how he plans to realize his vision of lunar settlement, but he did note that his company has drawn up a design for Blue Moon, a lunar lander that can deliver 5 tons of payload to the moon's surface.

Bezos hopes that with help from NASA, the Blue Moon will be up and running sometime within the next decade.

If NASA doesn't help, Bezos said no worries.

'By the way, we'll do that, even if NASA doesn't do it,' Bezos said.

'We'll do it eventually. We could do it a lot faster if there were a partnership.'

He said that more needs to be done to accelerate private space travel.

Bezos said that the breakthroughs being made by Blue Origin are 'the most important work I am doing.'

He said that this will be a cooperative effort involving numerous other companies and entities or 'I'll run out of money.'

Bezos is estimated by Forbes to be worth more than $130billion.
Families across Britain are facing paying an extra 400million in energy bills over the next two weeks as prices rocket at major providers.

UK bills are set to soar in what critics have dubbed 'price hike fortnight'.

Four of the Big Six energy firms have announced they are increasing prices in the summer, which will affect around 7.4 million consumers.

The hikes are set to come into force over the first two weeks of June, with British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF and Npower customers all affected.

Families across Britain are facing paying an extra 400million in energy bills over the next two weeks. File image used

Figures released by the energy firms show 393.8million in extra bills will flow from Brits' bank accounts when the changes hit.

British Gas announced that its prices will change on May 29, with a 5.5 per cent price hike set to hit 4.1million customers - costing on average 60 extra per year.

Britain's biggest energy firm will be billing customers 246million more than last year.

Scottish Power has announced it would change prices on June 1.

Their 5.5 per cent price hike will hit one million customers, sending bills soaring by 63 per year.

EDF energy's price hike of 1.4 per cent which will see 1.3m people's bills rise by 16 per year on June 5.

And British energy giant Npower puts prices up by 5.4 per cent on June 17. The increase will hit a million households, increasing bills by 64 per year.

Four of the Big Six energy firms have announced they are increasing prices in the summer, which will affect around 7.4 million consumers. British gas bills are going up by 60 a year

The figures have been collated by renewable energy firm Pure Planet, who this year became the first energy company to lower their prices for members.

Steven Day, co-founder of the renewable energy firm, urged consumers to switch from the big firms before pricey bills land on their mat this winter.

He said: 'We're calling it price hike fortnight. This will cost consumers nearly 400m.

'They shouldn't be distracted by the warm sun outside but make the quick switch to avoid big bills all year.

'Modern, renewable, app-based energy companies like Pure Planet are as much as 400 cheaper than the Big Six for high users.'

EDF's price increase will see families paying an extra 16 a year

SSE is the only one of the Big Six firms yet to reveal a price increase after news of its potential merger with Npower.

Eon, the German energy company, was accused of a stealth price increase in March when it quietly removed its dual fuel discount, costing a quarter of its customers 50 per year.

Energy Minister Claire Perry has been scathing in her criticism of the hikes, urging customers to leave suppliers who continue to raise prices.

She said: 'Consumers should vote with their feet. Switching suppliers will always help consumers get the best deal.'

Labour's shadow cabinet office minister, Jon Trickett, called the rises 'a slap in the face' for the 4,000 households in his constituency that live in fuel poverty 'and for those who struggle with extortionate energy bills.'
A 'wave of violence' is sweeping NSW as the number of crimes relating to bikie gangs, attempted terrorist plots, and child sex offences continuing to rise in recent years.

The last three years have been the 'most intense period of attempted terrorist attacks in Australian history,' a report obtained by The Daily Telegraph cautions.

The report also claims that the Child Protection Register, the list police use to keep track of child abuse offenders, is growing by up to 15 per cent every year.

The number of crimes relating to bikie gangs, attempted terrorist plots, and child sex offences continuing to rise (pictured; police raid the Nomad bikie headquarters in 2015)

Former Comanchero bikie boss Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi was assassinated in 2018 (pictured at the NSW Supreme Court, in Sydney, 2014)

The report mentions one NSW north coast community where there are 200 people listed on the Child Protection Registry with only one police officer keeping track of them.

The report claims that the high rate of growth in names being added to the register combined with a lack of officers 'makes it extremely difficult for officers to engage in the level of supervision needed to prevent further offences.'

'Without more officers, the capacity to properly supervise every offender will be seriously compromised, putting children directly at risk.'

The last three years have been the 'most intense period of attempted terrorist attacks in Australian history,' a report by NSW police has said (pictured; hostage Elly Chen runs from the Lindt Chocolate cafe in Martin Place, Sydney 2014)

Police confer on Philip St near the Lindt Cafe, Martin Place on December 15, 2014 in Sydney

Authorities have called for more 'boots on the ground' to help officers deal with the growing numbers of crimes (pictured; a woman carried out by police from the Lindt Cafe, Martin Place following a hostage standoff on December 16, 2014 in Sydney)

Authorities have called for more 'boots on the ground' to help officers deal with the growing numbers of crimes, saying that police operations, such as the successful anti-bikie unit Strike Force Raptor, are under threat.

The Police Association's Budget submission to the Berejiklian government is calling for an increase of up to 2500 police officers for NSW to combat a potential crime epidemic.

It claims NSW has the smallest ratio of police-to-population in Australia, apart from the ACT, and looks to be falling further behind.

It compared the situation to Victoria where it says neglected police numbers led to an overall crime rate increase of 25 per cent in five years, with violent robberies rising by over 20 per cent in just one year.
A pensioner was arrested over the death of an elderly shopper after the car he was driving hit two pedestrians in a Sainsburys car park.

Police were called to the scene in Long Drive, Ruislip at 1.15pm on Saturday following reports of a collision between a car and two pedestrians.

A 64-year-old woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries. She died on Sunday morning.

The second woman, aged in her fifties, was discharged with minor injuries.

Police were called to the scene in Long Drive, Ruislip (pictured) at 1.15pm on Saturday following reports of a collision between a car and two pedestrians

The driver, an 86-year-old man, was arrested for failing to provide a specimen of breath when asked, police said.

But after being taken to a police station and assesed, he was released under investigation.

The supermarket car park was sealed off and police enquiries continue.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said that the incident happened as the women were returning from shopping.

The pensioner was arrested over the death of an elderly shopper after the car he was driving hit two pedestrians in a Sainsburys car park. File photo

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to ascertain the exact cause of the 64-year-old womans death.

An inquest will be opened and adjourned later in the week.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is requested to call police on 0208-991-9555 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Advertisement

This is the nail-biting moment planes were lit up by lightning as thunderstorms battered Britain.

Footage, taken from Twickenham, shows two planes passing by as the wild storm hit London overnight.

Huge flashes and sharp bolts can be seen from the clouds as the planes, which had taken off from Heathrow, went by in the direction of Hounslow.

The intensity of the storm over London would have even made the most confident of fliers feel a bit nervous being up in the air.

Huge storm clouds were seen across the south of England - even though the storm was over Buckinghamshire. The storm reached a massive 40,000ft and could be spotted up to 80 miles away.

Scroll down for video

This is the nail-biting moment planes were lit up by lightning as thunderstorms battered Britain

Footage, taken from Twickenham, shows two planes passing by as the wild storm hit London overnight

Huge flashes and sharp bolts can be seen from the clouds as the planes, which had taken off from Heathrow, went by in the direction of Hounslow

The intensity of the storm over London would have even made the most confident of fliers feel a bit nervous being up in the air

The video emerged after a lightning bolt came perilously close to hitting a plane on Sunday as Britain was hit by a second successive night of powerful thunderstorms and torrential downpour.

Hundreds of bolts of lightning lit up skies across the UK as the volatile weather forced Britons to baton down the hatches and seek shelter, despite stifling humidity and 80F temperatures continuing to creep up.

Despite the ominous yellow weather warnings, the UK could be set for the hottest day of year today - with the sun reemerging in time for Bank Holiday barbecues, all day drinking and al fresco dining.

The Met Office said a site at Winterbourne, in Edgbaston, recorded 58mm of rainfall in just one hour on Sunday afternoon, and 81mm in a 12-hour period.

Dramatic lightning over central London this weekend captured by photographer James Burns

Hundreds of bolts of lightning lit up skies (pictured, Portsmouth last night) across the UK as the volatile weather forced Britons to baton down the hatches and seek shelter, despite stifling humidity and 80F temperatures continuing to creep up

Hundreds of bolts of lightning lit up skies across the UK as the volatile weather forced Britons to baton down the hatches and seek shelter, despite stifling humidity and 80F temperatures

A lightning bolt came perilously close to hitting a plane on Sunday as Britain was hit by a second successive night of powerful thunderstorms and torrential downpour

Lightning was pictured over the Conwy mountains in Wales as Britain saw a second night of thunderstorms and lightning

The Met Office said a site at Winterbourne, in Edgbaston, recorded 58mm of rainfall in just one hour on Sunday afternoon, and 81mm in a 12-hour period

The heavy downpours could continue for some on Monday, with a yellow weather warning for rain in place as thunderstorms roll south through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire overnight

The monthly average for the West Midlands region in May is 55mm, meteorologist Craig Snell said.

But he said the torrential rain had been 'very localised', pointing out that another site 10 miles away at Coleshill recorded just 3mm of rain in 12 hours.

The heavy downpours could continue for some on Monday, with a yellow weather warning for rain in place as thunderstorms roll south through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire overnight.

Residents on Sir Johns Road in Selly Oak, Birmingham had to be rescued by firefighters using boats as one red Ford Focus was pictured close to being engulfed by the rising waters

Mr Snell said: 'We won't see the scenes we saw last night.

'There could be a few very short-lived thunderstorms but overall it will be a much quieter night.'

Southern England was struck by lightning between 15,000 and 20,000 times on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

The Environment Agency has more than 20 flood warnings and more than 40 flood alerts in place covering much of Central England.

A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place from the afternoon for large swathes of East Anglia, the South East including London, the South West and Wales.

But Mr Snell said temperatures could hit highs of 28C or 29C in the South East, potentially surpassing the 2018 record of 29.1C on April 19 in St James' Park, central London.

He said: 'It all depends how much cloud develops. There's a chance we could see the warmest day of the year.

'It will be quite widely into the 20s across many parts of the UK. For a bank holiday Monday, it's not looking too bad.

'Further thundery downpours might appear in the late afternoon - not everyone will see them but if you do see one they could be quite nasty. The areas worst hit on Sunday might escape.'

Scotland would see the most prolonged sunshine, he said, but most areas would start dry and cloud cover quickly burn off.

On Sunday, residents in Birmingham were caught in flash floods as torrential rain poured down across the Midlands.

Britons have been sweltering in 80F heat today with clear skies and stifling humidity replacing last night's lightning strikes

Over the weekend, crowds descended on Weymouth beach in the South East as families raced to secure prime sun bathing real estate amid soaring temperatures and clear blue skies.

More than 62,000 lightning bolts blitzed Britain in the 'lightning show of a lifetime'. Lightning hit the south east before midnight with thunderstorms then striking Wales and the rest of England in the early hours of yesterday morning.

One house in Stanway, Essex, had its roof completely destroyed when it was struck by lightning and erupted in flames.

While passengers were left stranded on planes for hours at Stansted airport after flights were cancelled and grounded following a lightning strike hitting a fuel tank.

Scotland and Northern Ireland escaped the worst of the bad weather.

Residents in Birmingham were caught in flash floods as torrential rain poured down across the Midlands but the wet weather failed to put a dampener on the spirits of some Pride festival goers

People feed goslings from pedalos on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London

One house (pictured) in Stanway, Essex, had its roof completely destroyed when it was struck by lightning and erupted in flames

On arrival fire crews discovered that the 'entire roof of the detached building was alight' and had to spend three hours at the property

The roof has been destroyed while most of the house itself has also been affected by fire damage. No-one was in the property at the time of the lightning strike and it is believed the home owners are on holiday

Lightning dramatically hit The Shard in London in the early hours of this morning as the Bank Holiday weather took a turn for the worse with heavy rain

At least 17million journeys are expected to be taken over the long weekend but plans to enjoy outdoor barbecues could be hit by more potential thunderstorms. Pictured: Lightning strikes on Kent Coast

A fantastic display of lightning has taken place above the skies of Birmingham in the West Midlands whilst heavy rains soaked the area

Amazing images show the true power of storm clouds that passed over Birmingham. The lightning lasted for hours over Saturday night into Sunday morning whilst rain lashed down soaking anyone who could not get to cover

Pictured: Lightning strikes above Wembley Stadium in London (left) and over Northolt in west London (right)

A deluge hit the south east before midnight with showers or longer spells of rain promised for Wales and central and southern England. Pictured: This bolt found its target on the outskirts of the City of London

The crew of the RNLI station at Tower Hill posted this photograph on Twitter showing these dramatic scenes last night

Met Office: The science behind lightning strikes As tiny water droplets form inside a storm cloud, they are propelled towards the top of the cloud by strong internal winds (updraughts) where they turn to ice. Some of the pieces of ice grow into hail, but others remain very small. Some of the hail that forms becomes too heavy to be propelled by the updraughts and so begin to fall back through the cloud, bumping into smaller ice particles as they do so. During these collisions, electrons are transferred to the hail giving the hail a negative charge, while the ice particles that have lost electrons gain a positive charge. As negative charge builds at the base of the cloud, the electrons near the ground's surface are repelled. This leaves the ground and the objects on it with a positive charge. As the attraction between the cloud and the ground grows stronger, electrons shoot down from the cloud cutting through the air at around 270,000 miles per hour. Source: The Met Office Advertisement

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service sent three vehicles to attend the fire in Stanway last night at 1:38am after lightning hit the roof of a property.

On arrival fire crews discovered that the 'entire roof of the detached building was alight' and had to spend three hours at the home.

No-one was in the property at the time of the lightning strike and it is believed the home owners are on holiday. The roof has been destroyed while most of the house itself has also been affected by fire damage.

The 62,598 lightning bolts that hit Britain in a 24-hour period recorded until 9am Sunday is 20 times more than an average lightning storm's 3,000 strikes, Met Office data shows.

Weather experts said it the best lightning storm of their lifetime. BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker tweeted: 'Mother of all #thunderstorms now over London. Oh boy! This is utterly insane.'

He added: 'That was one adrenaline-gagging-meteorologically-sickening-bonkers-conkers-electrifying sky show. I've never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life.'

The London Fire Brigade said it had taken more than 500 weather-related calls as the warm and humid bank holiday weather broke down into an 'utterly intense' storm.

In Warwickshire, the fire service said five properties were struck by lightning in the early hours of Sunday, while in Dawlish, Devon, a telephone box burst into flames after a BT pole was hit on Saturday evening.

A cluster of 17 flood alerts has been issued for parts of the Thames Valley, while West Midlands and Bedfordshire fire services warned motorists of the risks of driving on flood-hit roads.

Western Power Distribution said nearly 1,000 properties had been left without power across the Midlands, with the majority of outages down to lightning.

The 62,000 strikes contained 15million kWh of energy - enough to boil water for 600million cups of tea, lightning and energy data showed.

As torrential rain fell in Birmingham this evening many roads became unpassable due to flooding

As torrential rain fell in Birmingham this evening many roads became unpassable due to flooding

Made In Chelsea star Binky Felstead reveals her daughter India's nursery is 'ruined' after her London home floods during thunder storm Damage: Binky Felstead have revealed the devastating effect Saturday night's thunder storms had on her London home Binky Felstead, 27, has revealed the devastating effect Saturday night's thunder storms had on her London home. The former Made In Chelsea star shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of flood damage at the house she shares in the capital with her partner Josh Patterson and their daughter India, eleven months. Binky told fans her daughter's nursery is 'ruined' after water flooded into the lower floor of the property during the 'mother of all thunderstorms' across the country on Saturday. Binky has been holidaying on the Isle of Wight with her daughter and friends over the weekend, while Josh is working on a photoshoot in Capri, Italy. While the family have been away though, their recently renovated house has suffered severe damage. Taking to Instagram on Sunday afternoon, Binky shared a happy snap of her daughter India playing in the sunshine on holiday, only to reveal in the caption the 'nightmare' that awaited them back home. 'At least someone has no idea of the nightmare that's going on back at ours ... her nursery is ruined as is all of the bottom floor of our place. Thank you for that last nights storm.' In photos of the house shared on her Instagram stories, thick black mud and water can be seen covering the floor of the hallway and India's room, with the carpet and the tot's toys destroyed. Binky captioned one of the photos: 'Happy bank holiday to me,' while the nursery snap was accompanied by the words: 'Cheers to last night's storm.' The reality star also took to Twitter to plead with Thames Water to help her, sending the message: 'Sorry @thameswater getting worried no one is going to show up ... can you let me know how long you're going to be to sort this out.' A representative for Binky has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Binky previously revealed that she completed work on India's nursery a matter of days before her daughter's birth on June 12 last year. Ruined: The former Made In Chelsea star shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of flood damage at the house she shares in the capital with her partner Josh Patterson and their daughter India, eleven months Advertisement

BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker tweeted: 'Mother of all #thunderstorms now over London. Oh boy! This is utterly insane'

Passengers are stranded on planes at Stansted airport as flights are cancelled because LIGHTNING 'struck fuel tank' Passengers have been left stranded on planes at Stansted airport as flights are cancelled after lightning struck a fuel tank. Flights were forced to remain grounded after the lightning strikes reportedly ruined the airport's fuelling system. Scenes of chaos broke out this morning at the terminal as passengers arrived to find their planes were cancelled. Scenes of chaos broke out this morning at the terminal as passengers arrived to find their planes were cancelled The dramatic thunderstorms from overnight are apparently to blame and flights are likely to be affected throughout the day The dramatic thunderstorms from overnight are apparently to blame and flights are likely to be affected throughout the day. One passenger tweeted: 'All we been told is no fuel in Stansted due to fuel tank being struck by lightning.' Another wrote: 'Plane getting hot and stuffy as we wait for fuel as Stansted Airport fuel system broken.' And Cathy Winston wrote on Twitter: 'Airport now closed to incoming planes, nothing has taken off today & still no fuel available for the dozens sitting by gate. Apparently engineers working on the problem but no word on when/if they might succeed.' An airport spokeswoman reportedly confirmed to the Mirror Online this morning that the aircraft fuelling system had been restored. An airport spokeswoman confirmed this morning that the aircraft fuelling system had been restored. Yet flights could still be diverted, delayed or even cancelled, with passengers being advised to check with their airline for updates Yet flights could still be diverted, delayed or even cancelled, with passengers being advised to check with their airline for updates. Twelve cancellations have been listed so far and only four out of 50 journeys listed to depart before 8.15am have flown. A statement from the airport said: 'Due to an earlier lightning strike, the aircraft fuelling system was unavailable for a period this morning. 'Engineers have been on site and have now restored the system, however flights may still be subject to diversion, delay or cancellation. 'We apologise for the inconvenience and advise all passengers to check with their airlines for their latest flight updates.' Advertisement

A Big Issue seller braves the bank holiday rain in a wetsuit and a pair of flippers during the Hay Festival in Hay on Wye, in South Wales

The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning between 12am on Sunday and 6am on Monday amid concerns that the conditions will put a dampener on the weekend. Pictured: Thunderstorms & torrential rain over Northolt in west London

Britain's bank holiday weekend has been rudely interrupted by torrential rain, thunder and a spectacular display of lightning. Pictured: This fork of lightning stretched across the sky towards the city of London

There were incredible scenes over the City of London with lightning streaking across the darkened skies

A map (pictured) shows where the 62,598 lightning bolts hit around Britain in the 24 hours period to 9am Sunday

Lightning lit up this mosque (right) in east London as the bank holiday weekend's good weather broke in dramatic fashion. In Portsmouth (left), the lightning lit up the sky above the Solent as several ships made their way out to sea

Numerous people filmed the forked lightning last night which was spotted across London around midnight

Lightning is seen from a bedroom window as it strikes above a street in south London

A black Mercedes caught in flash flooding just after Wandsworth Bridge following broken pipes near Latchmere Hill tunnel

Train or bus services could face delays, while spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures. Pictured: A car splashing through a puddle in Northolt in west London

Forecasters also warned that flooding or lightning strikes could also bring power cuts and loss of other services, with thunderstorms this afternoon possibly bringing up to 1.2in (30mm) of rain. Pictured: Vehicles splashing through the rain in Northolt in west London

The Met Office has warned that thunderstorms will continue throughout the rest of the Bank holiday weekend (Pictured: A map of where rainfall will strike)

BUSIEST TIMES ON BRITAIN'S ROADS DATE PLANNED LEISURE JOURNEYS BY CAR EXPECTED BUSIEST TIME ON ROADS Today 4.45 million 4pm to 7pm Tomorrow 3.82 million 10am to 4pm Sunday 2.86 million 10am to 4pm Bank Holiday Monday 2.86 million 12pm to 4pm Planning a trip between May 22 and 29, but no date set 4.77 million afssaf

The Met office reports that flooding could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

Train or bus services could face delays, while spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures.

Forecasters also warned that flooding or lightning strikes could also bring power cuts and loss of other services, with thunderstorms this afternoon possibly bringing up to 1.2in (30mm) of rain.

The Met also says: 'Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life'

One Fulham home has suffered flooding hell after the long night of thunderstorms with the property seeing torrential rain damage in some rooms.
A hotel will remove all pokies machines after a young mother shockingly left her baby alone at the entrance of the venue while she gambled inside.

Hotel owner Glen Dick told Daily Mail Australia, 'I could not believe what had happen and was stunned. I mentioned it to my partner Lana and it was from there our decision was made to turn off the pokies.'

Glen Dick took to social media on Saturday to explain the confronting moment he found the abandoned baby outside the Rawene Masonic Hotel in New Zealand's north.

'This is a true story that has been a major influence on our decision which occurred at our hotel that I had to deal with,' Mr Dick said.

Hotel owner Glen Dick (right) and his partner Lana Marie Turnbull (left) took to social to declare their venue will no longer be a gaming venue

(File photo) A hotel has removed all pokies machines after a young mother left her baby alone at the entrance of the venue while she gambled inside

Pokie statistics in NZ Gaming machine proceeds in the country rose 2.5 per cent from $866.1 million to $888.1 million in the last year

15,490 gaming machines in NZ

Pokies machines in venues have decreased by 523 over the last year

Number of gaming venues also dropped in the last year by 50 to 1146 Source: Department of Internal Affairs Advertisement

Last week a young woman walked into the hotel in the early afternoon and asked to get $20 out by eftpos before going into the gaming room.

Two minutes later, the hotel owner said he heard a baby crying and was shocked to find the toddler in its carrier just outside the venue's entrance.

Mr Dick then approached the young mother who was playing pokies and asked her to leave.

He then proceeded to push the 'collect' button and told her to get out after she said 'Oh but I still have money in the machine.'

Rawene Masonic Hotel (pictured) will no longer a a gaming venue after a young gambling-addicted mother abandoned her child while she played pokies

(File photo) Hotel owner Glen Dick said he found a baby sitting in it's carrier after he heard crying coming from outside the venue's entrance

Mr Dick told Daily Mail Australia the woman has returned since but left after finding out the gaming machines have been turned off.

He hopes that removing the machines can help fix the wider problem of gambling addiction especially among low-income earners in the region.

'If these gaming machines can influence people to this kind of behaviour, then we want nothing to do with it,' Mr Dick said.

Glen Dick took to social media (pictured) saying 'Effective immediately we will no longer be a gaming venue'

The Rawene Masonic Hotel is no longer a gaming venue and will be removing their pokies machines by Friday June 1.

The hotel is part of the Far North District in New Zealand's North Island.

New statistics reveal the district made more than 3.5 million from gaming machines from January to March this year.

Gaming machine proceeds in the country rose 2.5 per cent from $866.1 million to $888.1 million in the last year, according to figures from NZ Department of Internal Affairs.

While there are 15,490 gaming machines currently registered the number of these machines in venues have decreased by 523 over the last year.

The number of gaming venues over the last 12 months has also dropped by 50 to 1146.
An image of Barnaby Joyce with newborn baby Sebastian and partner Vikki Campion enjoying a meal together at an airport cafe threatened to spoil a $150,000 TV deal.

Mr Joyce and his partner had reportedly all but sealed an exclusive paid interview with Channel Seven, when the network released an intimate photo of the trio.

The baby dressed in a white outfit, was pictured in the arms of Ms Campion as Mr Joyce adoringly looked on at Armidale Airport in New South Wales.

Ms Campion was furious when the photo was aired and threatened to take the story to Nine's 60 Minutes, sparking a furious bidding war, The Australian reported.

This image of Barnaby Joyce with baby Sebastian and partner Vikki Campion at a New South Wales airport nearly cost the family a $150,000 pay check

The couple eventually decided to stay with Alex Cullen in an interview expected to air on Seven's Sunday Night within a month.

Proceeds from the interview will reportedly be placed in a trust fund for baby Sebastian, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

The news of Ms Campion's pregnancy in February led to Mr Joyce's downfall as Malcolm Turnbull's deputy.

The interview with journalist Alex Cullen is expected to air with Seven's Sunday night within the next month. Mr Joyce (right) is pictured with partner Vikki.

Mr Joyce's salary halved from about $400,000 as a deputy prime minister to $200,000 as a backbencher when he resigned from the position.

Joyce's decision to agree to the interview has been slammed by former colleagues, with one Nationals MP reportedly saying his life had become a 'soap opera'.

A cabinet colleague of Mr Joyce told the Daily Telegraph it was a 'tacky stunt'.

'It makes you wonder whether he is even interested in the Government doing well. He is unbelievable,' the MP said.

Mr Joyce's salary halved from about $400,000 as a Deputy Prime Minister to $200,000 as a backbencher when he lost his job. He is pictured at a bar in Sydney with Ms Campion before the baby was born

The couple have largely kept their baby under wraps since he was born on April 20.

Baby Sebastian is Mr Joyce's fifth child and first son, after having four daughters he with estranged wife, Natalie Joyce.

'We are very happy and just taking it quietly,' Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media at the time of the birth.

Mr Joyce has previously said he did not want his child with Ms Campion, 33, to grow up 'as some sort of public display'.

Mr Joyce has previously said he did not want his child with Ms Campion, 33, to grow up 'as some sort of public display'

The news of Ms Campion's pregnancy in February led to Mr Joyce's downfall as Malcolm Turnbull's deputy and leader of the Nationals
A Chinese boss who made a 'deliberate decision' to treat a Malaysian couple differently to other employees has been fined $211,104.

The Federal Circuit Court found the husband and wife, who were employed by the Scamander Beach Resort Hotel on the east coast of Tasmania, were underpaid almost $30,000 and required to work extra hours which were not recorded.

Chang Yen Chang of NSW owned the hotel until 2014 and was director and company secretary of Yenida Pty Ltd.

A Chinese boss treated a Malaysian couple differently to Australian workers while employed by the Scamander Beach Resort Hotel on the east coast of Tasmania (pictured)

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James (pictured) said it was an uncomfortable truth that racial discrimination is a driver behind some of the exploitation of migrant workers in Australia

He was fined $35,099 and the business was ordered to pay out a further $176,005, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

'This is the first time the Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against an employer for racially discriminating against employees,' Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said.

'It is an uncomfortable truth that racial discrimination is a driver behind some of the exploitation of migrant workers in this country,' she said.

It was found Chang and his company breached the Fair Work Act's racial discrimination provisions by treating the couple differently to Australian workers who worked five or few days each week.

The Malaysian husband was hired as a chef from an advertisement in a newspaper in 2007.

Chang's company sponsored the man on a 457 skilled worker visa to work in the restaurant of the hotel, working six days a week up to 57 hours.

The court heard Chang deny claims he had referred to the couple as 'family' to further pressure for them to work hard.

The Malaysian husband was hired as a chef from an advertisement in a newspaper in 2007 (stock picture)

From 2010-2014 he was underpaid a total of $20,550, the court heard, with an annual salary of $45,240 to $46,280 - which did not account for overtime or public holiday rates.

His wife was taken on as a kitchen-hand on a spouse visa from September 2009 - January 2010 and was allegedly underpaid $8775 over four months, working between 35 - 51 hours a week.

It was heard that 15 Australian employees were allegedly underpaid a total of $26,488.

Ms James said both the Malaysian couple and Australian employees had been repaid.

'Our success in this case is a warning to any employer tempted to make employment decisions based on race,' Ms James said.
A Chinese flight school student in California was allegedly kidnapped by a pilot and an accomplice who attempted to deport him Friday morning before police arrested the two suspects.

Redding police said in a social media statement the department responded to a call about an alleged kidnapping of Tianshu Shi at 7:18am at the 1400 block of Trudie Trail.

Flight instructor at IASCO Flight Training school where Shi attends, Jonathan McConkey, along with his assistant and ground instructor, Kelsi Hoser, are accused of orchestrating the bizarre kidnapping.

Police said Shi phoned his brother, Baihan Fu, who lives in Shanghai, that morning to inform him that two people entered his apartment and threatened to deport him.

Flight instructor at IASCO Flight Training school, Jonathan McConkey, along with his assistant and ground instructor, Kelsi Hoser, are accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of student Tianshu Shi

The victim has been identified as Chinese IASCO Flight Training student Tianshu Shi. The school in Redding, California is seen above

Fu reported the incident to police when he could not get back in touch with his brother over the phone.

DailyMail.com reached out to the police department by phone and email Sunday night for further information.

The department has yet to give word about a possible motive of the suspects.

Shi, who has a student visa, told police McConkey and Hoser did not give an explanation when they entered his apartment.

This photo shows students who are enrolled in the IASCO Flight Training school in Redding

Police have not yet given word on a possible motive of the attempted kidnapping allegedly orchestrated by the flight school workers

He informed them that when refused to comply, the suspects abused him. He suffered minor injuries.

'When Shi refused, McConkey battered him, and threatened physical violence if he did not go with them,' the department said in a statement.

'Shi ultimately left with them in fear for his safety and was transported to the Redding Municipal Airport to be sent back to China.'

McConkey and Hoser were taken into custody at the airport on charges of conspiracy and kidnapping.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
A transgender woman who allegedly killed her older boyfriend in a 'domestic violence incident' has been granted bail, provided she can find her passport.

Jade Walker, 31, faced Sutherland Local Court via video link on Monday morning charged with the manslaughter of Gilbert Caetano, 58, in the early hours of Sunday, May 20.

Ms Walker, the sister of rugby league star Dylan Walker, will walk free on bail when her family can find the New Zealand passport which the court heard she didn't know she still had.

Jade Walker, 31, faced Sutherland Local Court via video link on Monday morning, charged with the manslaughter of Gilbert Caetano, 58, in the early hours of Sunday, May 20

Ms Walker, the sister of rugby league star Dylan Walker, will walk free on bail when her family can find the New Zealand passport which the court heard she didn't know she still had

Magistrate Glenn Walsh ordered that before she could be released on bail, Ms Walker had to surrender the document.

'She did not think she had one at all, so she may have trouble finding it,' her lawyer Brenda Duchen told the court.

Ms Duchen fronted court later on Monday where Ms Walker's bail conditions were changed to allow her to report her passport as lost upon her release.

Ms Walker was supported in court by her mother Judy, who offered a $4,000 surety and will house her daughter while she is out on bail.

Jade Walker (far right), the older sister of rugby league star Dylan (centre), has been charged over the death of her boyfriend Gilbert Caetano at a home in Sydney's south-east

Jade Walker, 31, (left) is charged with the manslaughter of Gilbert Caetano, 58 (right)

Mr Caetano's heartbroken daughter Jessica (left, pictured with her mother and Mr Caetano's ex-wife) told media outside the Brighton-Le-Sands home where he was killed that her father 'did not deserve this'

As part of her bail conditions Ms Walker will have a 10pm nightly curfew, report to police daily and not be able to drink alcohol or take unprescribed drugs.

It is understood that Ms Walker has long taken hormone tablets as part of her transition from a male.

An AVO application was also heard on Monday, barring Ms Walker from going within 500 metres of the Brighton-Le-Sands home, in south Sydney, where Mr Caetano died.

Police were called to the home at 1.10am on Sunday where they allegedly found Mr Caetano unconscious and attempted to revive him, but were unsuccessful.

Court documents revealed that Mr Caetano had allegedly been struck in the head and face during the incident with Ms Walker, moments before his death.

As part of her bail conditions Ms Walker (right) will have a 10pm nightly curfew, report to police daily and not be able to drink alcohol or take unprescribed drugs
Leslie McGourty (above), 48, had allegedly made a threat to shoot herself and others during a concert in Las Vegas

A Las Vegas high school teacher has allegedly threatened to poke a lot of holes in a lot of people because she wanted to start her own #MeToo movement in which women felt empowered to become serial killers.

Leslie McGourty had allegedly made a threat to shoot herself and others during a concert in Las Vegas.

She has been charged with a felony threat to commit an act of terrorism.

McGourty, a physics teacher at Bonanza High School, was arrested by Las Vegas police on campus grounds on May 16.

Her friend reported McGourty, 48, to the authorities after she sent a series of text messages suggesting that she wanted to not only kill herself but others, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The text messages show that McGourty was hinting that she was planning a shooting for a concert scheduled for May 19.

A perfect plan with my favorite song surrounded by a bunch of f****** up misfits like I am, she wrote in a text message.

McGourty, a physics teacher at Bonanza High School (seen above), was arrested by Las Vegas police on campus grounds on May 16

Imagine knowing exactly the moment that youre going to die. I know exactly that your favorite song will be playing. By your favorite band. Its just too perfect.

McGourty allegedly texted to her friend that she was 'forming a plan' that would 'blow everyone's mind' and that 'people will remember me,' according to KNTV.

In another text exchange, McGourty told her friend: 'I have the means, motive, and brains. Vegas will lose its luster after me.'

Her friend texted to McGourty: 'You have a hole deep inside you are trying to fill. A little voice screaming to be cared for.'

McGourty replied: 'But since nobody's filling it I'm going to poke a lot of holes in a lot of people on Saturday.'

Then the friend asked: 'Again to what end than to hurt other people?'

McGourty answered: 'Imagine knowing exactly the moment that you're going to die. I know exactly that your favorite song will be playing. By your favorite band. It's just too perfect.'

After her arrest, McGourty told investigators that she was planning to attend the concert in downtown Las Vegas.

The headline act was the band Life of Agony, an alternative metal band from Brooklyn, New York which was playing at Beauty Bar.

But she said that the text messages were nothing unusual because she often has those types of conversations with her friend.

She said that the text messages were taken out of context.

McGourty was released on bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 19.

Las Vegas was the site of the worst mass shooting in modern American history.

Las Vegas was the site of the worst mass shooting in modern American history. On October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock, 64, fired more than 1,100 rounds from the 32nd floor window of his hotel room at Mandalay Bay resort, killing 58 and wounding more than 400

On October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock, 64, fired more than 1,100 rounds from the 32nd floor window of his hotel room at Mandalay Bay resort.

Paddock killed 58 people and wounded over 400 who were attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival.

After perpetrating the massacre, he eventually turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.

Authorities have not yet pinned down a motive for the shooting.
An unhinged driver has gone on a rampage during a police stop, nearly running over officers before racing up the sidewalk and wrong-way driving before his capture and arrest.

George Lopez, 27, faces a slew of charges in the incident that took place at around 4am in the upper Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood, near the intersection of Dykman Street and Payson Avenue.

Lopez, who lives in the area, was initially pulled over for driving erratically, according to police.

Bystander video shows police ordering the driver to get out of a dark Toyota Sienna minivan, but he refuses to comply.

Cops scatter after the driver peels into reverse after they ordered him to exit the vehicle

The Toyota Sienna minivan did backwards doughnuts slamming into several cop cars

Bystanders looked on in amazement as the deranged driver continued in reverse

'Get out of the car!' an officer shouts as he reaches through the rear sliding door to try to grab the driver.

The driver, who is boxed in by multiple police cars, revs the Sienna's engine loudly and then peels forward, smashing into a radio car.

Cops scramble out of the way as the driver reverses and begins doing wild doughnuts in the intersection, slamming into the surrounding police cars.

The driver then jumps the minivan onto the sidewalk and races away, scattering bystanders as police sirens blare behind him.

The Sienna then fled the wrong way up the Henry Husdon Parkway with cops in hot pursuit, according to police.

The suspect vehicle drove up the sidewalk scattering bystanders in an attempt to flee cops

The mangled wreckage of the suspect vehicle is seen in a police impound lot after a crash

The chase ended when the Sienna got off the parkway at Moshulu Parkway and crashed into a RAV4.

Both Lopez and the driver of the Rav4 were both taken to the hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries. Lopez remains hospitalized for neck and back injuries under police supervision.

He charged with reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs, reckless driving, and driving without a license.

The suspect vehicle was impounded at the 34th Precinct and images from ABC7 show it badly mangled, missing a front bumper with one tire shredded bare.

The driver of the Rav4 and three police officers were treated for minor injuries and have been released from the hospital.
A fungal disease is threatening to wipe out Australia's banana crops and could make the tropical fruit a luxury item for many consumers as prices more than triple.

The Panama tropical race 4 disease spread from south-east Asia to Darwin in 1997, wiping out most of the Northern Territory's banana industry, and migrated to Queensland in 2015.

Tropical north Queensland, which produces 94 per cent of Australia's bananas, has experienced more outbreaks this year.

Scroll down for video

A fungal disease is threatening to wipe out Australia's banana crops could make the tropical fruit a luxury item for many consumers (north Queensland farmer pictured)

WHAT IS PANAMA DISEASE? Panama is a fungal disease which attacks the roots of a banana plant. It originated during the 1950s in Panama and spread to neighbouring Central American nations Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. The disease, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, wiped out the Gros Michel banana variety which was exported from Central America to the United States. Panama disease cannot be controlled chemically. A particular strain, tropical race 4, is regarded as a threat to Cavendish bananas growing mainly in tropical far north Queensland. Source: Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Advertisement

In February, a third Queensland outbreak of Panama TR4 was found on a commercial banana farm in the Tully Valley, between Cairns and Townsville.

This discovery occurred just seven months after another outbreak of Panama TR4 was detected in the same area.

In Australia, the tropical race 4 variety of the disease threatens Cavendish bananas, which are grown mainly in far north Queensland.

A smaller volume of these bananas are harvested at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid-north coast and Western Australia.

While the disease is not harmful to humans and doesn't affect the quality of the fruit, the fungus causes the leaves of the banana plant to dry and diminishes the ability of the plant to produce fruit.

Banana prices are now hovering at $1.47 a kilogram however a shortage in bananas could see prices triple to $6/kg.

The Panama tropical race 4 disease spread from south-east Asia to Darwin in 1997 and migrated to Queensland in 2015 (crop in far north Queensland pictured)

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is worried about the spread of Panama TR4 disease

This happened in 2006 in the aftermath of cyclone Larry in far north Queensland which wiped out 80 per cent of Australia's banana crop.

Panama disease cannot be controlled chemically, with Biosecurity Queensland advising farmers to hose down tractors to prevent the spread of the disease.

Since Panama TR4 was detected in Queensland in March 2015, taxpayers have spent $27 million in a bid to contain and manage the disease, including $3.5 million to monitor any possible spread and kill feral pigs.

Panama disease cannot be controlled chemically, with Biosecurity Queensland advising farmers to hose down tractors to prevent the spread of the disease

Australian Banana Growers Council chief executive Jim Pekin said the industry in far north Queensland was hoping to avoid the 1990s repeat of the Northern Territory losing its banana industry.

'Panama TR4 poses a challenge for Australia's banana growers and their crops,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.

'It was first detected in the Northern Territory in 1997, and it subsequently wiped out most of the banana industry there.

'North Queensland produces 94 per cent of Australian bananas, so when it was detected near Tully in 2015, it was certainly a blow.'
An unlicensed and drunk female driver has been suspended from driving for three years after she drove her car down a busy Brisbane boardwalk while three-times over the legal limit.

Cheryl Ann Taylor, 44, had a blood alcohol reading of 0.153 when she was caught driving her Mitsubishi Magna down the promenade on January 16.

Empty VB bottles and beer cans were found strewn across her by police after she was caught travelling past cyclists and pedestrians on the boardwalk.

Cheryl Ann Taylor, 44, (pictured) had a blood alcohol reading of 0.153 when she was caught driving her Mitsubishi Magna down the busy promenade on January 16

Taylor drove along a busy Brisbane boardwalk (pictured) while three-times over the legal limit

Bottles of VB were discovered in her car (pictured) when she was arrested by police

This is not Taylor's first drink-driving related offence. She has been convicted on three other occasions over the past 12-months

The incident unfolded when she drove from her home in Atkinsons Dam to South Bank and began passing pedestrians and cyclists along a timber boardwalk.

On Monday, at the Brisbane Magistrates Court, Taylor pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle while intoxicated, driving under the influence, driving unlicensed and in an unregistered vehicle.

Taylor had an 'abysmal' track-record of driving offences and had been convicted for three other drink-driving offences over the past 12-months.

Taylor's defence lawyer, Tom Gardiner, said his client's decision to drive on the boardwalk stemmed from a series of family tragedies.

The court heard that a few days before the incident, Taylor had attended her brothers funeral.

Taylor also lost one of her sons in 2015 from a heart incident. Her defence lawyer, Mr Gardiner said that Taylor received a call from her other son on the day of her reckless driving where he blamed her for the death of her son.

'She has a problem with alcohol, your honour, but she instructs since this event on the 16th of January she hasn't drunk at all,' Mr Gardiner said.

'She recognises she needs help with that.'

It was determined by Magistrate Kerry Magee that Taylor put the lives of others at risk when she chose to drive along the boardwalk.

Police question Taylor (pictured) over her reckless driving incident that put pedestrians and cyclists at danger

The boardwalk that Taylor recklessly drove along (pictured)

Taylor's defence lawyer discussed the string of family tragedies that contributed to the incident

Ms Magee connected the experiences of Taylor with the threat she posed to the public, stating ,'you potentially exposed other families to the loss you have suffered'.

Ms Magee did not think Taylor deserved a prison sentence, however, her driving caused 'extreme concern and alarm' which led Taylor to receive a three year driving disqualification and two year parole.

Taylor chose not to comment when she left the court with her partner.

Taylor (pictured) chose not to comment after pleading guilty to her charges of reckless driving, driving under the influence, driving unlicensed and driving an unregistered vehicle
A wreck hunter's claims that authorities are not collecting debris from MH370 have raised fears Malaysia does not want to find the missing plane.

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas described the situation as strange, and questioned why Malaysia is not interested in debris gathered by locals on Indian Ocean islands.

Mr Thomas said Seattle lawyer Blaine Gibson has been the victim of death threats and intimidation ever since travelling to Madagascar to look for the airliner.

The Malaysian-funded search for MH370 is due to end on Tuesday, the country's new transport minister announced last week.

Scroll down for video

Seattle lawyer Blaine Gibson (pictured) has been the victim of death threats and intimidation ever since travelling to Madagascar to look for the airliner

A wreck hunter's claims authorities are not collecting debris from MH370 have raised fears Malaysia does not want to find the missing plane (pictured is debris found on Reunion Island)

The Malaysian-funded search for MH370 is due to end on Tuesday, the country's new transport minister announced last week (pictured is a Malaysian Airlines jet)

Malaysia is ending the search despite the efforts of wreck hunters and scientists to find MH370, and with much debris yet to be recovered, Mr Thomas told Sky News.

'It doesn't smell right, I'm certainly, absolutely, not a conspiracy theorist, I don't buy into that stuff, but there is something not right here,' he said.

'If Malaysia is really serious about finding this aeroplane then they should be paying, as Blaine suggests, a reward for debris handed in.'

Mr Gibson, who has found more than half of the debris recovered so far, believes there are hundreds more pieces of wreckage yet to be recovered.

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas (pictured, left) described the situation as strange, and questioned why Malaysia is not collecting debris gathered by locals on Indian Ocean islands

Just two days before he was due to collect the debris, Mr Raza (pictured) was allegedly assassinated, breathing fresh life into MH370 conspiracy theories

'There is so much more out there and pieces I have handed in to local authorities have not been collected by the Malaysians,' he told The West Australian.

'A reward would galvanise many villagers to collect pieces that are just lying on beaches. Some of these could be critical to the investigation.'

Among the debris collected by Mr Gibson were two pieces he planned to hand over to Malaysia's honorary consul in Madagascar, Zahid Raza, in 2017.

Just two days before he was due to collect the debris, Mr Raza was allegedly assassinated, breathing fresh life into MH370 conspiracy theories.

Mr Gibson has also been the subject of death threats, and has been targeted by online campaigns set up to threaten and ridicule him.

Mr Gibson has also been the subject of death threats, and has been targeted by online campaigns set up to threaten and ridicule him (pictured is debris believed to have come from MH370)

The latest search for MH370 is being conducted by US firm Ocean Infinity, which was offered US$70million if it found the plane during a 90-day search (pictured is Ocean Infinity search vessel Seabed Constructor)

'For whatever reasons, some people are very upset that I and other private citizens are finding pieces of the plane,' he said.

Mr Thomas believes the Australian government should continue to help, pointing out the wreckage could lie within 50metres of areas that have been searched already.

The latest search for MH370 is being conducted by US firm Ocean Infinity, which was offered US$70million if it found the plane during a 90-day search.

That effort was extended until May 29, but last week incoming Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke said there would be no more extensions.

MH370, a Boeing 777 flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished in March 2014 with 227 passengers, including six Australians, on board.
Annabella Sciorra, the actress who is one of several women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of rape, says she derived no relief from seeing the former Hollywood titan being led away in handcuffs on Friday.

The law finally caught up with Harvey Weinstein on Friday and charged him with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, the star of the 1991 film Jungle Fever tweeted on Sunday.

But nothing about that felt celebratory to me.

The smirk on his face as he was led out of the police station in cuffs made me physically sick.

The public statement from his lawyer was intended only to denigrate all the brave women who came forward and spoke out against him.

Annabella Sciorra, the actress who is one of several women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of rape, says she derived no relief from seeing the former Hollywood titan being led away in handcuffs on Friday. Sciorra is seen above in March 2018 at an event in Beverly Hills

The law finally caught up with Harvey Weinstein (above) on Friday and charged him with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, the star of the 1991 film Jungle Fever tweeted on Sunday. But nothing about that felt celebratory to me'

And I got no relief from seeing this monster walk into court, then sneak out the back door after posting a million dollar bond.

All that says is, money buys VIP treatment in the justice system no matter how serious or violent the crimes.

A handcuffed Weinstein appeared in a Manhattan court to face charges of rape and other sex crimes against two of the scores of women who have accused him of misconduct, ending his reign as a Hollywood kingpin.

Sciorra tweeted that Weinstein should have received the same treatment as Kalief Browder.

In 2010, Browder, an African American teen from The Bronx, was arrested and sent to Rikers Island jail at age 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack.

He was held for three years in jail without trial - two of those years in solitary confinement. Shortly after his release, he committed suicide.

Browder maintained his innocence. He was never tried or found guilty of any crime.

The Browder case has been cited by advocates of criminal justice reform since the boy was never able to afford the $3,000 bail, thus resulting in his extended stay at Rikers before he stood trial.

Sciorra tweeted that Weinstein should have received the same treatment as Kalief Browder

Weinstein, by contrast, was able to walk out of jail after posting $1million cash bail.

He is now allowed to go between New York and Connecticut but must wear an electronic ankle monitoring bracelet.

If there was truly equal justice under the law, Harvey Weinstein would be behind bars in Rikers today, waiting for his own day in court, not free to roam New York, his other hunting ground, wearing an ankle bracelet, Sciorra tweeted.

Sciorra, best known for her roles in the hit film The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and the TV series The Sopranos, said that Weinstein violently raped her in the 1990s, and then sexually harassed her over the next several years.

Sciorra was a rising star thanks to her leading role in The Hand that Rocks the Cradle when she met Weinstein at a party; she said that he was polite and gave her a lift home, according to The New Yorker.

Later, she pitched a screenplay written by a friend - a comedy called The Night We Never Met - to him, and he said he wanted to produce it with her in the lead.

But when she said she didn't want to record the film directly after another two back-to-back shoots, Weinstein threatened to sue her.

His representatives denied that claim.

Later, after a Miramax party, she said Weinstein offered her a lift home - but this time he didn't leave. After she had gone inside and undressed for bed, she heard a knock at her door.

'It wasn't that late,' she said. 'Like, it wasn't the middle of the night, so I opened the door a crack to see who it was. And he pushed the door open.'

Browder (seen in the above stock photos) committed suicide in 2015 after he spent three years in the Rikers Island prison without being convicted of a crime. He was confined to prison because he wasn't able to pay the $3,000 bail after he was accused of petty theft

She said he 'walked in like it was his apartment, like he owned the place, and started unbuttoning his shirt. So it was very clear where he thought this was going to go.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN FACING LIFE IN PRISON ON CHARGES Predatory Sexual Assault (Class A-II Felony) - 10 years to life in prison A person is guilty of predatory sexual assault when: 1. In the course of the commission of the crime or the immediate flight therefrom, he or she: (a) Causes serious physical injury to the victim of such crime; or (b) Uses or threatens the immediate use of a dangerous instrument; or 2. He or she has engaged in conduct constituting the crime of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, or aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree. Rape In the First Degree (Class B Felony) - Five to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 A person is guilty of rape in the first degree when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person: 1. By forcible compulsion; or 2. Who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless; or 3. Who is less than eleven years old; or 4. Who is less than thirteen years old and the actor is eighteen years old or more. Rape In the Third Degree (Class E Felony) - Up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine A person is guilty of rape in the third degree when: 1. He or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person who is incapable of consent by reason of some factor other than being less than seventeen years old; 2. Being twenty-one years old or more, he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person less than seventeen years old; or 3. He or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person without such person`s consent where such lack of consent is by reason of some factor other than incapacity to consent. Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class B Felony) - Up to 25 years in prison A person is guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree when he or she engages in oral sexual conduct or anal sexual conduct with another person: 1. By forcible compulsion; or 2. Who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless;or 3. Who is less than eleven years old; or 4. Who is less than thirteen years old and the actor is eighteen years old or more. Advertisement

And I was in a nightgown. I didn't have much on.'

Sciorra, dressed in just a nightgown watching him walk around the apartment, apparently looking to make sure no one else was in the home, she said.

She told him to get out. He approached her. Then, she said, he raped her.

'He shoved me onto the bed, and he got on top of me,' she said. 'I kicked and I yelled,' she added, but the bulky Weinstein was far stronger.

'When he was done, he ejaculated on my leg, and on my nightgown. He said, 'I have impeccable timing.'' The nightgown was a family heirloom, she said.

He then attempted to perform oral sex on the weakened and frightened woman, who began to shake violently as she tried to fight him off; she believes her apparent 'seizure' was what scared him off.

Sciorra said she blamed herself for the attack for months after.

'Like most of these women, I was so ashamed of what happened,' she said. 'And I fought. I fought.

'But still I was like, 'Why did I open that door? Who opens the door at that time of night?' I was definitely embarrassed by it. I felt disgusting. I felt like I had f**ked up.'

Meanwhile her career - which had been riding high up to that point - faltered.

She didn't work from 1992 to 1995, being told that people had heard she was 'difficult' - something she attributes to 'the Harvey machine'.

Finally, she said, she found work again - and Weinstein found her.

While in London filming The Innocent Sleep in 1995, she said, she began to get answerphone messages from Weinstein, then cars pulling up telling her to get inside, and ultimately Weinstein himself pounding on her hotel door.

'For nights after, I couldn't sleep. I piled furniture in front of the door, like in the movies,' she recalled.

Eventually she asked Matthew Vaughan - then a young producer, now known as the director of the Kingsman movies - to help move her elsewhere. Vaughan said he recalled booking her another room.

In 1997, she signed up to Sylvester Stallone movie Cop Land; she said she didn't realize it was a Miramax film; Weinstein's reps said the company's name was on the script.

Regardless, she said, when she checked in to the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, in Antibes, France, for the Cannes Film Festival, she discovered her room was next to his.

Last year, Sciorra came forward and accused Weinstein of raping her. She believes her spurning of his advances ended up costing her career opportunities

Early one morning, she said, she was awoken by a knock at her door, and opened it to see 'Harvey in his underwear, holding a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a tape, a movie, in the other.'

He pursued the still-groggy woman into the room while she frantically dialed room and valet service - and only left when staff arrived, she said.

When she opened up to a friend who told her to call police, she replied: 'I can't go to the police. He's destroying my career.'

'Mr. Weinstein unequivocally denies any allegations of non-consensual sex,' a representative for Weinstein told The New Yorker.
Labor leader Bill Shorten's parliamentary colleagues are pushing to make is easier for gay and transgender asylum seekers to get refugee status in Australia.

Federal MPs and party members from Labor's increasingly powerful Left faction are preparing to put forward a motion at July's national conference in Adelaide to change Australia's migration laws.

The Department of Home Affairs has warned such a move could see fraudulent refugee applications from places where same-sex attracted people are given the death penalty.

Labor MPs and activists are pushing to make is easier for gay and transgender asylum seekers to get refugee status in Australia (Oxford Street rally in Sydney for gay rights pictured)

New South Wales senator Doug Cameron, from Labor's hard-Left, said Australia had an obligation to help asylum seekers facing persecution

New South Wales senator Doug Cameron, an Opposition frontbencher from Labor's hard-Left faction, said Australia had an obligation to help asylum seekers facing persecution.

'Australia's a signatory to the various treaties so they've got an obligation to do this anyway,' he told Daily Mail Australia today.

Fellow left faction MP Graham Perrett, who holds the marginal Brisbane-based seat of Moreton, said Australia should never send any asylum seeker home to be killed over their sexuality.

'I'm never in favour of any policy that sends people to their death as any decent Australian would be,' he told Daily Mail Australia, clarifying the existing Migration Act was sufficient to protect gay foreigners.

In places like Iran, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia, homosexuality is punishable by deaths under an Islamic sharia law legal system. (Noose in Iran pictured)

In places like Iran, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia, homosexuality is punishable by deaths under an Islamic sharia law legal system.

However, the Department of Home Affairs headed by cabinet minister Peter Dutton said making it easier for gay or transgender foreigners to get asylum could lead to a rush of fraudulent applications for refugee status.

'Offering blanket protection to a group of individuals has the potential to encourage large numbers of un-meritorious applications from those who would seek to abuse the protection program to extend their stay in Australia,' a spokesman told News Corp Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs said making it easier for gay or transgender foreigners to seek asylum could lead to a fraudulent applications for refugee status (Sydney rally pictured)

'This would risk reducing public confidence in Australia's humanitarian program and redirect resources from those applicants truly in need of protection.'

Labor's Victorian branch at the weekend shut down a state conference debate, after Labor for Refugees put forward a motion to impose a 90-day limit on offshore detention at Christmas Island, Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

The party's national conference had been scheduled to be held on July 28 but this is likely to be postponed so it can fight by-elections in the Labor-held seats of Longman, Braddon and Fremantle.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said on numerous occasions that Labor was committed to offshore detention.
Shawn Harris got caught leaving the store only to be shot by the owner as he tried to get away with a couple of bottles of alcohol stuffed into his pants

A thief who stole two bottles of booze from a New York liquor store and then got shot in the process is now planning to sue the owner for $2.7million for the injuries he suffered.

Shawn Harris got caught leaving the store only to be shot by the owner as he tried to get away with a couple of bottles of alcohol stuffed into his pants.

Harris describes in detail, although with several inaccuracies, how he and a friend stole from a store in North Bellmore on Long Island in August 2016 starting in the 'Hennesey [sic] and Patron section.'

Harris wrote how he 'removed 4 bottles of liquor and put 2 bottles in my pants and walked to pay for the other 2 bottles and the store owner asked for I.D. and I told him I need to go to the car and get my I.D. and I went outside and Dropped the 2 Bottles,' he stated.

Harris then apparently went back inside the shop to try his luck in obtaining another two bottles along with two of his friends when the owner who he names as 'Lan Dong Dong' of Grapes & Grains, in Baldwin, Long Island, followed the three men outside.

'We was followed outside and the store owner pulled out a handgun and stated give me the bottles back,' Harris described in an account he filed in the Brooklyn federal-court lawsuit.

Harris ended up being shot outside Newbridge Wine & Liquors, in North Bellmore, Long Island as he tried to get away with a number of bottles of alcohol before the owner shot him

The owner, who apparently isn't called Lan Dong Dong, then got into a struggle with the men and tried to grab the keys from their car's ignition before firing several shots.

'During this the store owner shoots my friend and he confronted me outside the car and shot me also and I ran off,' Harris wrote, according to the New York Post.

'I was shot by Lan Dong Dong in my right shoulder and I did not receive medical treatment because I was scared of Getting Arrested . . . so I did my own medical treatment.'

'I want to be compusated [sic] 2.7 million dollars for my injuries,' Harris wrote.

Apart from getting the owner's name wrong, the Post reports how Harris also named the store incorrectly - the correct called Newbridge Wine & Liquors, in North Bellmore, some six miles away from the store named in the suit, in Baldwin.
An Alabama teenager whose photo went viral after he was spotted walking en route to his high school graduation in full cap and gown has been gifted a car.

The photo of Corey Patrick surfaced online last week when a passerby snapped the picture of him making his way to a bus stop in Birmingham so he could get to his graduation.

The 19-year-old's family do not own a car but he was determined not to miss the chance to accept his diploma from Tarrant High School.

Corey has spent the past year waking up at 4.30am to make the same trek to school.

Corey Patrick, an Alabama teenager whose photo went viral after he was spotted walking en route to his high school graduation in full cap and gown, has been gifted a car

His family relocated just before his senior year to the West End neighborhood, which is about 10 miles from his school but takes roughly 90 minutes to reach on public transport.

Corey wanted to finish his senior year with his friends so he committed to waking up early.

'I had to do what was necessary for me to walk this year,' he told WBRC.

His mother Felicia White said the rest of his family eventually managed to find a way to get to the school in time for his graduation.

When the photo of Corey went viral on social media, local radio host Rickey Smiley asked followers to help track the teenager down.

This photo of Corey surfaced online last week when a passerby snapped the picture of him making his way to a bus stop in Birmingham so he could get to his graduation

The 19-year-old's family do not own a car but he was determined not to miss the graduation. Local radio host Rickey Smiley gifted him and his family the car on Friday

Smiley then gifted Corey and his family a brand new car on Friday in recognition of the teen's dedication and perseverance.

'He's a great young man. He's very quiet, reserved, humble and he gets a little hardheaded sometimes, but he's a very obedient child and I'm proud of Corey,' his mother said.

'Corey was getting up at 4.30 in the morning and had to be at the bus stop at 5.41 in the morning for the last year.

'Even when he would get out of school he couldn't get from that side of town until 5.19 when the bus runs back over there. So he doesn't make it back this way until about 6.30 or 7 o'clock.'
A former Army police officer, who suffers PTSD, has vanished from her Kansas home and concerned loved ones are pleading with the public for help in bringing her back.

Ashley Meiss, 30, told family members she was going for a jog two weeks ago when she departed her home in Ogden, Kansas. Her family has not seen or heard from her since May 19.

Her distraught brother, Chris Lewis, created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a reward to compensate anyone able to provide information leading to her whereabouts.

Lewis wrote on the crowdfunding page: 'The Riley County Police Dept have not been able to obtain any valuable information so I'm taking it upon myself to create this GoFundMe page to raise money for a CASH REWARD FOR ANYONE WHO CAN DIRECTLY HELP MYSELF FIND HER or lead us to her regardless of the outcome.'

The veteran and mother-of-two has sadly been struggling with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, for years, according to her family.

Veteran and mother-of-two Ashley Meiss, 30, disappeared two weeks ago from her Kansas home

Meiss is pictured right with her family. She told her friend, from a blocked phone number Saturday, that 'she was really feeling down about everything' amid a bitter custody battle with the father of her two children, Chris Meiss (seen above)

This missing person's photo was provided by the Riley County Police Department

While Meiss has not been in contact with family, she reportedly called an old Army friend from a blocked phone number that Saturday, according to the New York Post.

Her worried father, Tom Lewis, told the Post that Meiss informed her friend 'she was really feeling down about everything' amid a bitter custody battle with her ex and father of her two children, Chris Meiss.

'She is very missed by many and including her two very young children,' Lewis said.

Meiss left her home two days prior, on May 17, without her phone, wallet and keys - which her family believes is even more concerning.

Her father fears his daughter may have hurt herself.

'My gut tells me that there's something really wrong here. You don't just leave like that - especially not my daughter,' he told the Post.

The veteran and mother-of-two reportedly has been struggling with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, for years

'If she's here, she's not alive - and if she's gone, we have no idea where at or who she could be with.'

Tom Lewis, who resides in North Carolina, is also a veteran of the Marines.

He said his family has been frantically searching in Kansas since, while shielding her two young kids from learning of the news.

'The kids have no idea what's going on... the kids are gonna come stay with us for like the next six weeks,' he added.

The crowdfunding page reached $5,407 of its $10,000 goal as of late Sunday night.

Meiss' brother added that if she is not found, the money will go toward a graduation fund for her two kids.

'Any help would be grateful and let's get Ashley found. ANY INFORMATION GIVEN TO ME WILL BE HELD PRIVATELY IF ASKED. Thank you so much,' he wrote.
The White House said Monday a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is 'expected' to happen  in the latest iteration of the on-again, off-again high stakes meeting.

The qualifier came in the form of a statement where the White House said Trump would meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in advance of the highly anticipated one-on-one meeting.

Trump last week announced he was pulling out of it, only to have the meeting get back on track following a conciliatory response from the north and a spontaneous meeting between Kim Jong-un and his South Korean counterpart.

Trump spoke to Abe Monday about a range of issues, and the two will meet before the 'expected meeting,' the statement said.

President Donald Trump speaks at Arlington National Cemetery as part of Memorial Day observance, Arlington, Virginia, U.S., May 28, 2018. The White House says he plans to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before a planned North Korea summit

The leaders are scheduled to attend the G7 meeting major industrialized nations June 8 in Canada, giving them a possible venue to meet.

The call came a day after a small team of U.S. negotiators crossed the DMZ to begin preparations with the North Koreans for the summit. An advance team is also in Singapore, where the talks are scheduled to occur.

The White House said Trump and Abe discussed their shared goal of achieving 'the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs.'

Abe said the leaders agreed to cooperate to make the Trump-Kim summit 'meaningful,' Japan's Kyodo news agency reported, according to Fox News.

Participants of the 'Launch Event Women's Entrepreneur Finance Initiative', among them (L-R) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, US President Donald Trump,, the daughter of the US President Ivanka Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the 'Women's Entrepreneurship,Finance Event' at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, July 8, 2017. Trump spoke with Abe by phone on Monday

In this file photo taken on April 17, 2018, US President Donald Trump greets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Planet Pix via ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock (9694544p) Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, prior to a bilateral meeting in the Kremlin Grand Palace May 26, 2018 in Moscow

The U.S. wants the hermetic dictatorship to agree to immediate denuclearization, and the two sides appear to be far apart on that issue.

The call came amid a whirlwind of activity over the possible June 12 summit in Singapore.

Trump pulled out of the meeting Kim Jong-un last week, but then said a day later that it could get back on track. The White House's latest characterization of the meeting as 'expected' appears to be a further sign that it could go ahead.

According to the White House: 'The two leaders discussed recent developments in North Korea and confirmed they would meet again to continue close coordination in advance of the expected meeting between the United States and North Korea.'

The statement continued: 'The President and Prime Minister affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs.'

U.S. officials worked with North Korea over the weekend on plans for the on-off-on meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as Trump continued to signal optimism for the sit-down.

Trump tweeted Sunday that a U.S. team was in North Korea to work on the possible summit. Another delegation was in Singapore to discuss logistics. On Monday, the White House said Trump had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the North Korea efforts, adding that the two planned to meet before the 'expected meeting' with Kim to coordinate strategy.

In this May 26, 2018 photo provided on May 27, 2018, by South Korea Presidential Blue House, South Korean President Moon Jae-in writes on a visitor's book as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, stands at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea

Trump withdrew from the planned June 12 summit in Singapore last Thursday, but quickly announced it could still happen. The president's Sunday tweet offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, another signal that his concerns about the North's stance toward the summit had been allayed.

'Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself,' he tweeted Sunday. 'I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!'

Both the State Department and South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The border can be crossed simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for U.S. officials.

LETS TALK: US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim looks inside a Cessna-208B Grand Caravan Intelligence, Surveillance and Recoinnaissance (ISR) aircraft acquired through grant programmes by the the US government to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) during a formal turn-over ceremony at the PAF headquarters in Manila on July 27, 2017

Choe Son-hui, Head of the North America Department of North Korea's Foreign Ministry, issued a statement calling Vice President Mike Pence a 'political dummy' and slammed him for 'ignorant and stupid remarks.' Here she arrives at the 2017 Moscow Nonproliferation Conference at the Centre for Energy and Security Studies.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in Panmunjom, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.'

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

The Korean leaders' second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border.

The talks, which Moon said Kim requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit, which he sees as the best way to ease the animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim said he's willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

President Donald Trump has announced the summit with North Korea will take place as planned on June 12 in Singapore

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a 'firm resolve' to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements 'complete denuclearization.'

'What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization,' Moon said.

'During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the U.S. and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization,' he said.

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the North's state-run news service earlier Sunday, 'expressed his fixed will' on a North Korea-U.S. summit.

During Saturday's inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to 'positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-U.S. relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace.'

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, who previously served as a nuclear negotiator with the North Koreans, has crossed into North Korean territory in advance of a possible summit

Choe Son-hui, Head of the North America Department of North Korea's Foreign Ministry, issued a statement calling Vice President Mike Pence a 'political dummy' and slammed him for 'ignorant and stupid remarks'

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Joshua Holt, who was recently released from a prison in Venezuela, in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In this May 26, 2018 photo provided on May 27, 2018, by South Korea Presidential Blue House, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, shake hands before their meeting at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea. Moon said Sunday, May 27, that Kim committed in the rivals' surprise meeting to sitting down with President Donald Trump and to a 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.' The Korean leaders' second summit in a month Saturday, May 26, saw bear hugs and broad smiles, but their quickly arranged meeting appears to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border. (South Korea Presidential Blue House via AP)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, shakes hands with a journalist afte a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Moon said Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed in the rivals' surprise meeting Saturday to sitting down with U.S. President Donald Trump in a summit and to a 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.' (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A far right, anti-Islam activist has announced a speaking tour of Australia just months after she was banned from entering the UK.

Canada's Lauren Southern will host speaking events in cities across Australia in July, alongside alt-right preacher Stefan Molyneux.

Southern, a journalist-turned independent commentator, was banned from entering the UK in March for distributing 'racist material'.

Scroll down for video

Canada's Lauren Southern (pictured) announced a speaking tour of cities across Australia in July, alongside alt-right preacher Stefan Molyneux

Southern was forcibly stopped by the police when she distributed 'racist' flyers which read 'Allah is a Gay God', and 'Allah is Trans'.

Southern's UK ban came three years after she ran as a Libertarian Party candidate in the Canadian federal election.

She was dumped by the party after she joined a 'Slutwalk' protest wearing a sign that read: 'There is no rape culture in the West'.

She caused a stir with a number of unorthodox stunts in recent years.

Southern announced she was transitioning to become a man but later said it was a stunt used as part of her argument that there should be only two genders.

She also actively campaigned against the Black Lives Matter movement, claiming the movement caused more deaths than the Ku Klux Klan.

'They just locked me out and said 'au revoir'. Officially banned from UK for 'racism'. Doing fine though, all the cool people are being banned anyway,' she wrote on Twitter in March

Southern (pictured) was forcibly stopped from distributing 'racist' flyers which read 'Allah is a Gay God', and 'Allah is Trans'

Southern's touring buddy, Stefan Molyneux (pictured) has also found himself in hot water over controversial comments on Islam, feminism and immigration

A spokesperson for the UK Home Office defended the decision to ban Southern from the country.

'Border Force has the power to refuse entry to an individual if it is considered that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good,' the spokesperson told CNN.

Southern's touring buddy, Molyneux, has also found himself in hot water over controversial comments on Islam, feminism and immigration.

On his YouTube account, which has garnered 780,000 subscribers, Molyneux said Australia was at the precipice of losing its culture.

'Australia is a fascinating situation for both of us, because it really seems that you guys are at a crossroad. Do you want to retain your culture? Or will the boats keep coming?,' he said.

'Will you become another victim of multiculturalism? Who knows what the future of Australia holds. But hopefully, we can bring some of the facts to make those decisions.'

Katie Hopkins shared what appeared to be a letter sent to Southern letting her know she was refused entry

A spokesperson for the UK Home Office defended the decision to ban Southern from the country

Molyneux was also a big supporter of Donald Trump's presidential campaign and his podcast, where he preaches far-right beliefs, has grown so popular it has previously been referred to as a 'cult'.

Southern and Molyneux's speaking tour comes after British provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos caused a stir with his in December last year.

Yiannopoulos has made headlines with his controversial comments focused on transgender people, Muslims and feminists.

His tour was picketed by protesters in Sydney and Melbourne who chanted 'racist, sexist, anti-queer, Milo is not welcome here'.

Southern also actively campaigned against the Black Lives Matter movement. She claimed the movement caused more deaths that the Ku Klux Klan

Southern and Molyneux's speaking tour comes after Milo Yiannopoulos (pictured) caused a stir with his in December last year

Yiannopoulos (pictured), a self-described right-wing provocateur, has long made controversial comments about transgender people, Muslims and feminists

Protesters clash in Kensington, Melbourne on December 4, 2017 outside Milo Yiannopoulos' speaking event

The protests grew so violent, police were forced to deploy capsicum spray to subdue the crowds. At least two people were arrested.

Police said they were forced to spend $50,000 to control the chaos.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said Yiannopoulos' event's organisers would be sent the bill after protesters and anti-protesters violently clashed outside the Kensington venue.

Yiannopoulos refused to pay the bill saying his 'people had nothing to do with the violence'.

Police said they were forced to spend $50,000 to control the chaos (police arrest protesters outside Yiannopoulos' Melbourne event)
Ivanka Trump's business has won approval from China for at least five new trademarks.

The timing appears to be suspect with it coming just days after Donald Trump announced he was working on a controversial deal to drop U.S. prohibitions against China cellphone manufacturer ZTE.

President Trump said Friday he had reached a deal to keep Chinese telecoms giant ZTE running, rolling back penalties in exchange for security guarantees.

China has approved five new trademarks for Ivanka Trump's business just days after Trump's deal to drop US prohibitions against cellphone manufacturer ZTE

The move infuriated Democrats and some in his own party after the company violated US sanctions on Iran and North Korea and repeatedly lied to US government officials.

But now, daughter Ivanka's operations will give her the exclusive rights to market a variety of products in China that will likely amount to millions of dollars in profits.

Although the trademark applications were submitted more than a year ago, they were all approved on May 7 - then five days later Trump said he was working on a deal to lift remove U.S. business barriers against ZTE in order to save Chinese jobs.

News of the agreement drew immediate fire on Capitol Hill.

The trademark approvals raise new concerns about potential Trump family conflicts of interest

Under the agreement, ZTE would oust its management team, hire American compliance officers and pay a fine.

The fine would come on top of the roughly $1 billion ZTE has already paid for selling equipment to North Korea and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.

In return, the Commerce Department would lift a seven-year ban on ZTE's purchase of components that the Chinese firm depends on from U.S. companies.

The ban, imposed earlier this month, threatened to put ZTE out of business.

The non-profit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, D.C., said the trademark deal again raises concerns about the Trump family's international businesses and potential conflicts of interest.

'As a White House adviser, Ivanka has represented the United States at multiple diplomatic events despite the potential conflicts her business interests present,' CREW said in a statement.

President Trump said Friday he had reached a deal to keep Chinese telecoms giant ZTE running, rolling back penalties in exchange for security guarantees

The trademarks grant Ivanka Trump operations exclusive rights to market a variety of products in China that will likely amount to millions of dollars in profits

'This is a law enforcement action being handled by Commerce,' said Lindsay Walters, the deputy White House press secretary. 'We are making sure ZTE is held accountable for violating U.S. sanctions, pays a big price and that we are protecting our security infrastructure and U.S. jobs.'

Lawmakers have warned the administration not to go easy on a company that brazenly violated U.S. sanctions against two rogue nations that were pursuing nuclear weapons production.

'If the administration goes through with this reported deal, President Trump would be helping make China great again,' said Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.

Schumer added: 'Both parties in Congress should come together to stop this deal in its tracks.'

'ZTE presents a national security threat to the United States  and nothing in this reported deal addresses that fundamental fact,' said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. 'If President Trump won't put our security before Chinese jobs, Congress will act on a bipartisan basis to stop him.'

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida tweeted: 'It is a great deal ... for #ZTE & China ... Many hoped this time would be different.'

Congress, Rubio said, 'will need to act.'

The United States and China have reached a deal to lift sanctions on embattled Chinese telecom company ZTE, The New York Times reported

Trump responded to his critics late Friday, saying Democrats had done nothing to rein in ZTE. 'I closed it down then let it reopen with high level security guarantees, change of management and board, must purchase U.S. parts and pay a $1.3 Billion fine,' he tweeted.

The Commerce Department last month blocked China's ZTE from importing American components for seven years, having concluded that ZTE deceived U.S. regulators after it settled charges last year of violating sanctions against Iran and North Korea.

The ban amounted to a virtual death sentence for ZTE, which relies on U.S. parts, and it also hurt ZTE's U.S. suppliers.

On the eve of broad trade talks last week with a Chinese trade envoy, Trump waded into the ZTE case: He tweeted that he was working with President Xi Jinping to put ZTE 'back in business, fast' and save tens of thousands of Chinese jobs.

ZTE was fined $1.2 billion in March 2017 and Washington banned the sale of crucial US components to the company, but such restrictions have now been rolled back

He later tweeted that the ZTE talks were 'part of a larger trade deal' being negotiated with China.

Word of a reported ZTE agreement comes nearly a week after the U.S. and China suspended plans to impose tariffs on as much as $200 billion of each other's goods.

In doing so, the two nations pulled back from the brink of a trade war over Chinese demands that U.S. companies hand over some of their technology as the price of doing business in China.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is scheduled to travel to Beijing on June 2 for further discussions over China's aggressive push to challenge U.S. technological dominance.

Resolving the ZTE case  a company that employs more than 70,000 Chinese  could make the talks go more smoothly.
Add Robert F Kennedy Jr to the growing list of people who believe that there was a second gunman who carried out the assassination of his father almost 50 years ago.

RFK Jr recently met with Sirhan Sirhan, the man serving a life sentence in prison after he was convicted of murdering his father, Senator Robert Kennedy Sr, in a Los Angeles hotel in 1968.

After meeting with him for three hours, RFK Jr came away convinced that the wrong man was eventually convicted for his fathers murder, The Washington Post reported.

I got to a place where I had to see Sirhan, Kennedy told the Post.

He said he had done months of research into his fathers assassination before he met Sirhan at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, a California state prison not far from San Diego.

Add Robert F Kennedy Jr to the growing list of people who believe that there was a second gunman who carried out the assassination of his father almost 50 years ago

I went there because I was curious and disturbed by what I had seen in the evidence, RFK Jr said.

I was disturbed that the wrong person might have been convicted of killing my father.

My father was the chief law enforcement officer in this country.

I think it would have disturbed him if somebody was put in jail for a crime they didnt commit.

RFK Jr, an environmental lawyer, is the third oldest of RFKs 11 children.

He is now calling for a re-investigation of the assassination. RFK Jr was 14 when his father was shot shortly after winning the Democratic primary in California.

Kennedy was killed just two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and nearly five years after the assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy.

His death came at a tumultuous time for the country, which was beset by domestic strife over race as well as American intervention in the Vietnam War.

At trial, Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant, admitted to shooting RFK, but he later said he had no recollection of doing so.

The findings of the case also raised questions. An autopsy report revealed that RFK died after he was shot at point-blank range from behind, but Sirhan, who was 24 years old at the time, was standing in front of him.

There is also the question of how many shots were fired.

RFK Jr recently met with Sirhan Sirhan, the man serving a life sentence in prison after he was convicted of murdering his father, Senator Robert Kennedy Sr, in a Los Angeles hotel in 1968. Kennedy is seen lying mortally wounded just after he was shot on June 5, 1968

Newly unearthed evidence, including audio from that night, suggests that 13 shots were fired that night, but Sirhans gun only held a total of eight rounds.

Law enforcement and the judicial authorities in California consider the case closed.

The man who has been most vocal in calling for a re-examination of the case in Paul Schrade, who was at the time a top union official who was shot in the head as he was walking behind RFK and survived.

It was Schrade who persuaded RFK Jr to revisit the case.

Schrade has also been trying to convince lawyers to take on the case in the hopes that the courts would be willing to hear new evidence.

Witnesses who tackled Sirhan shortly after hearing gunshots testified that he never got close to RFK.

This would seem to suggest that it was someone else who shot the fatal bullet which killed the senator, since autopsy results showed a wound near the ear.

The people that were closest to [Sirhan], the people that disarmed him all said he never got near my father, RFK Jr said.

Newly unearthed evidence, including audio from that night, suggests that 13 shots were fired that night, but Sirhans gun only held a total of eight rounds. Sirhan is seen above being led away from the Ambassador Hotel after the shooting

Sirhan, who has been in prison for nearly 50 years, has been repeatedly turned down for parole. He is seen above photographed in 2011

Schrade said that while he believes Sirhan shot the other four people who were wounded that night, but he was not the gunman who killed the presidential hopeful.

Yes, he did shoot me. Yes, he shot four other people and aimed at Kennedy, Schrade, who is now 93, told the Post.

The important thing is he did not shoot Robert Kennedy. Why didnt they go after the second gunman? They knew about him right away. They didnt want to know who it was. They wanted a quickie.

Forensics experts who examined the bullets fired found that there were bullet holes in the door frame of the pantry at the Ambassador Hotel.

A closer examination by experts revelealed that there were more than eight shots fired and that not all of the bullets came from Sirhans gun - meaning there was a second gun.

But authorities later denied that the holes found in the door frame were bullet holes. The door frame was eventually destroyed after Sirhans trial.

In 2012, another witness to the assassination, Nina Rhodes-Hughes, told CNN that she is convinced there was a second gunman.

What has to come out is that there was another shooter to my right, Rhodes-Hughes said.

RFK Jr, an environmental lawyer, is the third oldest of RFKs 11 children. He is now calling for a re-investigation of the assassination. RFK Jr was 14 when his father was shot shortly after winning the Democratic primary in California

The truth has got to be told. No more cover-ups.

At Sirhans trial, Grant Cooper, the defense lawyer, did not contest the charge that his client fired the fatal shot.

Instead, he asked the jury not to hand down the death penalty, claiming that Sirhan had diminished capacity and didnt know what he was doing.

Cooper, who died in 1990, was criticized for not sufficiently investigating the case before instructing his client to plead guilty.

Sirhan, 74, who has been in prison for nearly 50 years, has been repeatedly turned down for parole.

Russell Iungerich, an attorney from Rancho Palos Verdes who was California deputy attorney general when the RFK case was reopened in 1975, said RFK Jr's assertions were wrong.

'His comments are just way off base,' Iungerich told the Los Angeles Times.

'When you add up all the evidence produced at the hearings, there's no way you can configure the evidence to say that there was a second gunman.

'RFK Jr. may believe this because he talked to Sirhan, but Sirhan had worked as a groom at Hollywood Park and he was kicked in the head by a horse.

'That created some brain damage, and he had some delusional thinking about RFK.'

Last week, the authors of The Assassination Of Robert F. Kennedy argued that Sirhan was programmed to shoot RFK through hypnosis by a woman working for the CIA.

The authors, Tim Tate and Brad Johnson, wrote a synopsis of their findings in DailyMail.com.
Friends of Chelsea Manning have rallied around the activist in concern after a series of now-deleted tweets sparked concern for her well-being.

'Chelsea is safe. she is on the phone with friends, thanks everyone for your concern and please give her some space,' someone wrote on Manning's Twitter account early on Monday.

The outpouring of concern was sparked by two highly disturbing Tweets that Manning, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Maryland, posted late on Sunday.

The first tweet read: 'im sorry - i tried - im sorry i let you all down - im not really cut out for this world - i tried adapting to this world out here but i failed you - i couldn't do this anymore - i can take people i dont know hating me but not my own friends - i tried and im sorry about my failure'.

Someone tweeted this message from Manning's Twitter account early on Monday

Manning is seen speaking in Milan, Italy on Sunday, hours before a pair of disturbing tweets

Manning posted then deleted the above tweet and one other which were highly disturbing

The second tweet simply said 'im sorry' and shows a picture looking down onto a street from the rooftop of a building several stories high.

The legs of a person are seen in the photo, wearing pink pajamas and with red-painted toenails standing inches from the edge of the roof. It is unclear when or where the photo was taken.

The disturbing messages came in response to an online debate with Dawn Ennis, a writer and former ABC News assignment editor who, like Manning, is transgender.

Ennis had criticized a message that Manning wrote on May 23, which said in part 'voting wont change anything' and called for something 'radically different'.

It came in a thread in which Manning expressed discouragement over the campaign for US Senate, and general hopelessness that Democrats would retake the House or Senate in November election.

Manning (above on Sunday at a conference in Milan, Italy) had been arguing with Dawn Ennis on Twitter and expressing hopelessness about the political process and Democrats' chances in November

Ennis immediately responded with this concerned tweet offering to get Manning help

Other friends responded to the disturbing messages with an outpouring of concern

Ennis responded: 'When I suggested @xychelsea should consider not running, I stopped short of telling her what to do. But this tweet is just lunacy. Sorry, just cuz youre one of the #girlslikeus you dont get a pass. Tweeting voting wont change anything is wrong and a lie! Just stop. Please.'

The disturbing tweets from Manning came in response to that message.

Manning lives in Bethesda, Maryland and was last seen publicly at a conference in Milan, Italy on Sunday.

The activist in January announced plans to run against incumbent Senate Democrat Ben Cardin.

Manning is a former Army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act for leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.

Former President Barack Obama commuted the sentence for that conviction and Manning was freed from prison in May of last year.

For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255
An incredible timelapse video has emerged showing lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano invading a backyard as it now enters its fourth week of destructive eruptions.

The footage shows the burning lava engulfing the yard at the Leilani Estates subdivison on Hawaii's Big Island last Thursday.

The lava can be seen slowly burning up everything in its path, including parts of the family home.

The footage shows the burning lava engulfing the yard at the Leilani Estates subdivison on Hawaii's Big Island last Thursday

It comes as authorities revealed on Sunday that lava had started creeping even closer onto a geothermal power plant property.

The lava breached the property overnight and was within 200 yards of the nearest well, which have been capped to protect against the release of toxic gas should they mix with lava.

Steve Brantley of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the flow seemed to have halted Sunday morning after moving slowly into the proximity of the well overnight.

Lava had previously crossed onto an older part of the property, according to officials. But it's now on 40 acres of the plant that are operational.

Asked about safety hazards, David Mace, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, replied: 'I think it's safe to say authorities have been concerned about the flow of lava onto the plant property since the eruption started.'

The lava can be seen slowly burning up everything in its path, including parts of the family home

Fissure seven experience a noticeable increase in the volume of lava being produced as huge rivers of it snaked its way to the sea and a massive flow headed toward the Puna Geothermal Venture facility

A volcanic fissure erupts near Nohea Street in the Leilani Estates on Saturday after four weeks of eruptions

This fissure in the Leilani Estates started spurting molten rock on Saturday

Officials earlier this month carted away 50,000 gallons of potentially toxic gas away from the site, which lies on the southeast flank of the volcano, nestled between residential neighborhoods.

They also capped the 11 wells at the property to try to prevent a breach.

Lava-filled fissures have torn apart chunks of the southeastern side of the Big Island over the past three weeks as Kilaeau has become more active.

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.

Fissure 22 continues to erupt, sending a river of lava snaking toward the coast and into the sea, leaving several areas totally surrounded by flows

Fissure 22 feeds a massive flow that snakes its way to the sea, cutting through farmland and forest in Pahoa
Britain's most dangerous female prisoner Joanna Dennehy threatened to kill Rose West within minutes of arriving in the same jail forcing her into solitary confinement and then another prison, it was revealed today.

Triple murderer Dennehy, 35, and West, 64, who murdered at least ten with husband Fred, are the only two women in British jails serving whole life sentences since the death of Myra Hindley in 2002.

Dennehy killed three men and tried to murder at least two more claiming it was 'moreish' and 'fun'.

Today criminologist Christopher Berry-Dee, who has met both killers, revealed that Dennehy was 'pure evil' and she even smelt of it.

And said staff at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey were so worried she would murder West that the 64-year-old was put into solitary confinement within minutes and then moved to another prison the next morning.

Britain's most dangerous female prisoner Joanna Dennehy threatened to kill Rose West within minutes of arriving in the same jail

He said: 'Joanna Dennehy tried from the get-go to assert herself as top dog. Between five and 20 minutes after first arriving at Bronzefield in 2014, she said she was going to kill Rose West.

Dennehy was so evil she even stank of it, a criminologist who has met her said today

'Dennehy quickly established herself as the shot-caller. She has guards and inmates at her beck and call.'

Former marine Berry-Dee has written a new book called Talking with Female Serial Killers after meeting them all over the world.

He told the Mirror: 'Dennehy was, without doubt, the most evil person I have ever met', and is 'streets ahead' of Aileen Wuornos, who murdered seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990 by shooting them at point-blank range.

'Well-spoken' serial killer Dennehy has put on a lot of weight in jail, he said.

She appeared to threaten him by getting her face as close to his as possible and staring at him without blinking.

He added: 'I could smell evil coming off her - its a smell like no other so its impossible to describe but its acrid and dirty'.

Dennehy killed three men and tried to murder more claiming it was 'moreish'

She has showed 'no remorse' for murdering three men in the space of ten days.

TRAGIC VICTIMS OF FRED AND ROSE WEST Although Fred West was convicted of killing 12 women and Rose 10, the pair are thought to have killed up to 20 more. One victim who was almost certainly killed by West was his former girlfriend Anne McFall who like the others, was found in a shallow grave with body parts missing. West denied it. The warped pair used whips to torture their victims as well as their own children. Fred West committed suicide by hanging himself in a prison cell in January 1995  before he could stand trial for the murders. Rose West is still a prisoner at HMP Low Newton in Durham, having been handed a rare 'whole life tariff' for her part in the killings. Confirmed victims include: Charmaine West, eight: Fred West's stepdaughter from his first marriage, Charmaine was murdered by Rose in 1971 while Fred was in prison. Rena Costello, 27: Charmaine's mother Rena, Fred's first wife, was murdered when she arrived to pick up her daughter Charmaine in August 1971. With Charmaine already dead, it is thought Fred killed her to avoid an investigation. Lynda Gough, 20: Miss Gough was a lodger in the West's home and was killed in April 1973. Rose told her mother she had moved to Weston-super-Mare. Carol Ann Cooper, 15: The teenager disappeared while walking home from the cinema to her Worcester children's home in November 1973. Her remains were found buried in the Wests' garden. Lucy Partington, 21: After spending Christmas with her family in Cheltenham, Miss Partington disappeared after leaving to catch a bus. The student was the cousin of novelist Martin Amis and the sister of author Marian Partington. Therese Siegenthaler, 22: The South London student was killed in April 1974 after disappearing while attempting to hitch-hike to Ireland. Shirley Hubbard, 15: One of the Wests' youngest victims, she disappeared on her way home from college in Droitwich. When her body was discovered, her head was completely covered in tape with a rubber tube placed in her mouth to allow her to breathe. Juanita Mott, 18: Miss Mott, a former lodger at 25 Cromwell Street, was living in Newent when she vanished. Shirley Robinson, 19: Another lodger, Miss Robinson was killed in 1978 after becoming pregnant with West's child. Alison Chambers, 17: The teenager disappeared in August 1979 and her remains were later found beneath the patio at 25, Cromwell Street. Heather West, 17: Repeatedly raped by her father, Heather complained to friends about the abuse and was murdered by her parents in a bid to keep her quiet. Advertisement

Psychopath Dennehy laughed and smirked as Judge Justice Spencer branded her a 'cruel, calculated, selfish and manipulative serial killer'.

During his summing-up, Dennehy muttered in the dock and shouted the word 'b******s'.

But after the judge ordered her to serve the rest of her life in jail, the mother of two, who was flanked by ten security guards, looked stunned and started wailing.

Dennehy is only the third woman to be given a whole-life prison term - along with Moors murderer Myra Hindley and House of Horrors serial killer Rose West - and the first to be given the term by a judge.

Hindley and West were both handed the sentence by home secretaries.

In March 2013, she stabbed to death three men in ten days in Peterborough before travelling to Hereford, where she knifed two more within minutes of each other.

Her first victim was a Polish man, Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, who had come to believe Dennehy was his girlfriend.

She lured him to a property with suggestive texts, then stabbed him through the heart.

Dennehy then used a pocket knife to kill her housemate John Chapman, 56, stabbing him once in the neck.

The third victim was her landlord, Kevin Lee, 48, who she lured with the promise of sexual favours.

Excited by the police manhunt for her, she then stabbed Robin Bereza from behind in Hereford on April 2.

Nine minutes later, she knifed John Rogers. Both men survived.

She was caught after two days on the run.

Dennehy, who was brought up in a stable family home in the Home Counties, carried out the attacks to gratify her 'sadistic love for blood'.

The Old Bailey was told the killer had a 'sexual and sadistic motivation'.

Later she told a psychiatrist: 'I killed to see how I would feel, to see if I was as cold as I thought I was. Then it got more -ish.'

Experts said Dennehy craved notoriety and wanted to humiliate her victims through sick sex games. Before the killings she had boasted she had already killed four times.

When the three bodies were found, police launched a high-profile murder investigation.

Meanwhile Dennehy, 31, travelled to Hereford and started scouring the streets with accomplice Gary Stretch for more men to kill.

She told him: 'I want to have my fun.'

The pair randomly selected two dog walkers, retired fireman Robin Bereza, 64, and John Rogers, 56. Dennehy stabbed them in frenzied knife attacks. Both survived the horrific attacks only because of swift medical intervention.

During her search for further victims, Dennehy posed for photos with a huge serrated knife and bragged that she and Stretch were 'like Bonnie and Clyde', whose gang killed nine policemen in 1930s America.

She has tattoos on her arms, including one which said 'licking legend'.

Staff at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey were so worried Dennehy would murder West that the 64-year-old was put into solitary confinement within minutes and then moved to another prison the next morning.
Advertisement

Lava from Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano threatened to cover more wells at a geothermal power station on Monday as a fresh blast from the crater sent an ash plume almost 15,000 feet into the sky, officials said.

Lava engulfed the heads of two wells that tap into steam and gas deep in the Earth's core at the 38-megawatt Puna Geothermal Venture on Saturday.

The Hawaii Civil Defense Agency said the wells 'are stable and secure,' and Hawaii Governor David Ige said that the plant was 'sufficiently safe' from the lava that has plowed through backyards and streets and burned dozens of homes.

But lava has never engulfed a geothermal plant anywhere in the world and the potential threat is untested, according to the head of the state's emergency management agency.

Scroll down for video

Lava covered two wells at the Puna Geothermal Venture. The plant is seen above on Sunday

Hawaii officials say they are closely monitoring the situation, and that so far, no dangerous hydrogen sulfide has been released. Above, lava encroaches on the plant (bottom left) on Sunday

It's also unclear if the release of hydrogen sulfide is the only dangerous scenario when magma infiltrates a geothermal well.

Local residents fear an explosive emission of deadly hydrogen sulfide and other gases should wells be ruptured.

The molten rock was expected to continue to flow across the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) facility, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Since Hawaii's Kilauea volcano began a once-in-a-century-scale eruption on May 3, authorities have shutdown the plant, removed 60,000 gallons of flammable liquid, and deactivated wells that tap into steam and gas deep in the Earth's core.

Ten of the wells were cooled down with water, but the eleventh had to be filled with a clay because water wasn't working.

Since Hawaii's Kilauea volcano began a once-in-a-century-scale eruption on May 3, authorities have shutdown the plant, removed 60,000 gallons of flammable liquid, and deactivated wells that tap into steam and gas deep in the Earth's core. Above, lava on Sunday

Magma has drained from Kilauea's summit lava lake and flowed around 25 miles east underground, bursting out of about two dozen giant cracks or fissures near the plant (center)

PGV officials said that so fat the mud appears to be working, but as a back-up, Pacific Air Cargo flew out 200,000 pounds of a mud-like substance to Kona from Los Angeles Sunday evening.

Magma has drained from Kilauea's summit lava lake and flowed around 25 miles east underground, bursting out of about two dozen giant cracks or fissures near the plant.

Residents have complained of health hazards from plant emissions since it went online in 1989. PGV has been the target of lawsuits challenging its location on the flank of one of the world's most active volcanoes.

The Israeli-owned 38 megawatt plant typically provides around 25 per cent of electricity on the Big Island, according to local power utility Hawaii Electric Light.

Operator Ormat Technologies Inc last week said there was no above-ground damage to the plant, but it would have to wait until the situation stabilized to assess the impact of earthquakes and subterranean lava flows on the wells.

Over the weekend, there were more than 250 earthquakes at Kilauea's summit, with four explosions on Saturday sending ash as high as 12,000-15,000 feet, officials said.

The plant is pictured above on May 24, when the lava was still hundreds of feet from the wells

Lava enters the ocean on Saturday, creating toxic laze fumes. Hawaiians have been warned to stay away from the laze

Winds are set to shift on Monday and Tuesday, causing higher concentrations of ash and volcanic smog that will spread west and northwest to affect more populated areas. Above, Kilauea's crater exploding on Saturday

Winds are set to shift on Monday and Tuesday, causing higher concentrations of ash and volcanic smog that will spread west and northwest to affect more populated areas, said National Weather Service meteorologist John Bravender.

Haze from the Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii blanketed the Marshall Islands 2,300 miles away on Sunday, as officials warned it would continue moving west.

The haze, a phenomenon known as 'vog' or volcanic smog, 'is spreading across Micronesia,' the US National Weather Service based in Guam said.

The Guam weather office said haze produced by Kilauea would spread farther westward and reach Kosrae, Pohnpei and possibly Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia over the next few days.

U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard helicopters are on standby for an air evacuation if fissure activity cuts off Highway 130, the last exit route for up to 1,000 coastal residents.

On Sunday, one man had to be rescued when he became trapped in his home due to fast moving-lava which took out his driveway.

Firefighters were able to lead him out of the neighborhood on food and he declined medical treatment.

A view of Kilauea's summit caldera on Sunday. The photo was taken by the Civil Air Patrol

Lava advances west fissure 7 on Leilani Avenue on Sunday
A young tradie was exposed as a paedophile at a work Christmas party after colleagues scrolling through his mobile phone stumbled upon a folder of recently deleted images and videos.

Brandon Wood was just 19 years old when he was arrested over his private cache of child pornography - including hundreds of photos and movies, as well as content that featured scenes of sadism and bestiality.

Workmates of the Ballarat apprentice - who was training to be a cabinet maker - took photos of the illicit images on their phones and reported Wood to local police, Herald Sun reports.

Brandon Wood was just 19 years old when he was arrested over his private cache of child pornography - including hundreds of photos and movies, some featuring scenes of sadism and bestiality, hidden in a folder on his phone (file image)

Wood admitted to all accusations following his arrest, confessing that he was attracted to young girls and watched porn on a daily basis.

Wood, now 21, revealed that he first came across child porn as a 15-year-old and had been actively seeking it out in the months before he got caught.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing child pornography material: a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.

County Court judge Sue Pullen said Wood had 'quite good' prospects of rehabilitation when she sentenced him on Friday - noting his young age, his lack of criminal history and his rehabilitation in the time since his arrest in 2016.

Wood reportedly pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and immediately sought medical treatment for his addiction, suggesting that he was genuinely remorseful.

Wood reportedly pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and immediately sought medical treatment for his addiction, suggesting that he was genuinely remorseful (file image)

He was ultimately sentenced to a three years community corrections order: including 250 hours of community work, ongoing psychiatric assessment and treatment and a ban from leaving Victoria.

During the sentencing, Judge Pullen stressed the fact that 'the offence of possessing child pornography cannot be classed a victimless crime, [because] the children in the end are the victims.

'The mere fact that persons are prepared to possess child pornography, albeit for their private purposes, necessarily creates a market for the corruption and exploitation of children,' she said.
Advertisement

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as the subtropical Storm Alberto approaches the Florida Panhandle, but that hasn't stopped some surfers from taking advantage of the weather.

A number of surfers ignored warnings of swells that could cause 'life-threatening and rip current conditions' and rode huge waves in Pensacola, Florida on Monday morning as Alberto neared landfall.

The storm has caused a state of emergency to be declared in Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as the subtropical Storm Alberto approaches the Florida Panhandle, but that hasn't stopped some surfers from taking advantage of the weather

A number of surfers ignored warnings of swells that could cause 'life-threatening and rip current conditions' and rode huge waves in Pensacola, Florida on Monday morning as Alberto neared landfall

Alberto, which has begun to weaken as it approaches the Gulf Coast, is expected to make landfall in Pensacola at 1pm

Alberto, which has begun to weaken as it approaches the Gulf Coast, is expected to make landfall in Pensacola at 1pm and winds are expected to reach 40 to 50 mph, according to ABC News.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement on Sunday that a mandatory evacuation has been issued in Franklin County in the Florida Panhandle, with the evacuations affecting about 4,200 homes.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in an advisory issued at 8am on Monday that the storm's center was located about 100 miles south-southeast of Destin, Florida, and moving north at 6 mph.

Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 65 mph.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for an area stretching from Florida's Suwannee River to the border of Alabama and Mississippi.

A storm surge watch remains in effect for much of northern Florida, from the Suwannee to Navarre in the Panhandle

A storm surge watch means life-threatening inundations are possible from rising water moving inland from the coast. Destin and Panama City Beach are within the watch area as well

A storm surge watch also remains in effect for much of northern Florida, from the Suwannee to Navarre in the Panhandle.

A storm surge watch means life-threatening inundations are possible from rising water moving inland from the coast. Destin and Panama City Beach are within the watch area.

The Florida Panhandle is expected to be under the biggest threat from Alberto, with a potential of flash flooding and more than 6 inches of rain.

Tornadoes could also hit parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolina.

Rain falls on Clearwater Beach, Florida by Pier 60 early on Sunday morning, as northbound Subtropical Storm Alberto looms

The Gulf Coast is bracing for Subtropical Storm Alberto this Memorial Day Weekend. A satellite image taken Saturday at 5.30pm shows the storm

Forecasts predict that Alberto will significantly weaken once it hits Florida, but will dump heavy rain on Atlanta, Nashville, the Carolinas, and Birmingham, Alabama by Tuesday.

Alberto, the first named storm of the year, gained an early jump on the 2018 hurricane season and disrupted long holiday weekend plans from Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle to Miami Beach on Florida's southeastern edge.

Lifeguards posted red flags along the white sands of Pensacola Beach, where swimming and wading were banned amid high surf and dangerous conditions.

Alberto has hurtled through the Caribbean Sea and is threatening to bring heavy rainfall, mudslides, and flash floods to parts of Mexico, Cuba, Florida and the US Gulf Coast.

Alabama, Florida and Mississippi were declared under states of emergency ahead of Subtropical Storm Alberto's landfall

Forecasts predict that Alberto will significantly weaken once it hits Florida, but will dump heavy rain on Atlanta, Nashville, the Carolinas, and Birmingham, Alabama by Tuesday. Isolated tornadoes could also hit the states

The hurricane center said a tropical storm warning was in effect from the Suwannee River in Florida to the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

The storm's approach also triggered mandatory evacuations of some small, sparsely populated Gulf Coast barrier islands in one Florida county.

Though the Atlantic hurricane season doesn't officially start until Friday, Alberto has thrown long holiday weekend plans in disarray up and down Florida's Gulf Coast, causing tourists and Memorial Day crowds to abandon the sandy white beaches.

And just as Memorial Day marked summer's unofficial start in the US, Alberto welcomed the unofficial start of what forecasters recently predicted would be an active hurricane season.

In Southern Alabama, Mississippi and the western Florida panhandle there could be as much as one foot of rain. Flooding is expected to be heavy as a result

A cyclist tries to stay dry along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida, on Friday as they are drenched by torrential rain from the storm

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said that on Monday, at 2 am EDT, Alberto was maintaining its strength as it approached the Florida panhandle and was centered about 115 miles south-southwest of Panama City.

The storm had sustained winds of 65 mph as it approached the northern Gulf of Mexico.

In a statement, the Hurricane Center said: 'These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.'

'On the forecast track, the center of Alberto will move over the northern Gulf of Mexico overnight and cross the northern Gulf Coast in the warning area on Monday,' it said.

As well as life-threatening surf conditions, it warned of the possibility of a few brief tornadoes in much of Florida and parts of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. Heavy rains are also expected in many areas.

Lifeguards posted red flags along the white sands of Pensacola Beach, where swimming and wading were banned amid high surf and dangerous conditions.

Alicia Herrera visiting from Germany doesn't let dark clouds ruin her day at beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Friday

A man rides a bicycle down a flooded road as Subtropical Storm Alberto passes by the west coast of Cuba, in Bahia Honda on Saturday

Family members shovel sand into bags at a Harrison County Road Department sand bag location, preparing for Subtropical Storm Alberto

A subtropical storm like Alberto has a less defined and cooler center than a tropical storm, and its strongest winds are found farther from its center.

Subtropical storms can develop into tropical storms, which in turn can strengthen into hurricanes.

Forecasters cautioned that heavy rain and tropical storm conditions could reach the northern Gulf Coast well ahead of the center of Alberto making landfall.

Empty beaches and low-hanging clouds are shown, Friday, May 25, 2018, at Fort Lauderdale Beach

Flood alerts are seen on the map above. Residents have been preparing for the storm by filling sandbags around their properties

The storm prompted Florida, Alabama and Mississippi to launch emergency preparations over the weekend amid expectations Alberto would reach land sometime Monday.

Rough conditions were expected to roil the seas off the eastern and northern Gulf Coast region through Tuesday.

Earlier, Mississippi governor Phil Bryant had declared a state of emergency as the storm continued on its potentially destructive path.

Florida governor Rick Scott also declared a state of emergency for all 67 counties on Saturday morning to 'prepare for the torrential rain and severe flooding this storm will bring'.

A view of a partially flooded farm as Subtropical Storm Alberto passes by the west coast of Cuba, in Bahia Honda, Cuba, on May 26

Hannibal and Emily Baldwin pose for a wedding photo under an umbrella outside the Casa Marina Resort in Key West, Fla. The couple had planned an outdoor wedding, but the evening ceremony and reception were moved inside due to rain from Subtropical Storm Alberto

In a tweet from Saturday, Governor Bryant said he signed an order making the Mississippi National Guard and other state resources available should they become necessary.

Meanwhile, at a briefing at the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee, authorities urged Floridians to take the storm seriously.

Mark Bowen, the Bay County Emergency management director, said at a Sunday afternoon news conference that Alberto's biggest threat will be its heavy rains, with forecasts of anywhere from four to 12 inches of rain in some areas.

Rain falls on Clearwater Beach by Pier 60 early Sunday morning with officials warning residents to take the subtropical storm seriously

In Gulf County, T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park began evacuations Sunday morning.

In Miami, organizers called off the sea portion of the Miami Beach Air & Sea Show on Sunday because of heavy rain and rough waters.

While in the Tampa Bay area on the central Gulf Coast, cities offered sandbags for homeowners worried about floods.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a hurricane season forecast on Thursday that predicts 10 to 16 named storms, with five to nine hurricanes.

Tommy Whitlock, left, places a filled sand bag onto his trailer at a Harrison County Road Department sand bag location, as his friend Joseph Buckner adjusts the load while preparing for Subtropical Storm Alberto to make its way through the Gulf of Mexico in Gulfport, Mississippi

Gulfport, Mississippi, residents shovel sand into bags at a Harrison County Road Department sand bagging location, while preparing for Subtropical Storm Alberto

One to four hurricanes could be 'major' with sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.

'There are no strong climate signals saying it's going to be extremely active, like last year, or extremely weak,' said Gerry Bell, the lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
Two men have been charged after $13,000 worth of drugs destined for Queensland's Big Pineapple Music Festival were seized by police.

Another 17 people were arrested on 19 charges related to the possession of dangerous drugs at the sold out festival held on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed to Daily Mail Australia police seized a quantity of red and black pills at two homes on Friday that were 'supposedly destined' for the festival.

Police said they allegedly seized more than 200 methamphetamine capsules, an ounce of cocaine, methamphetamine crystals and almost $8,000 in cash.

Scroll down for video

More than methamphetamine capsules were allegedly seized by police at two homes in lead up to the Big Pineapple Music Festival held on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday

An ounce of cocaine, methamphetamine crystals, almost $8000 in cash and tickets for the Big Pineapple Music Festival (pictured) were also allegedly seized on Friday

Tickets to the music festival were also allegedly seized, 7 News reports.

A 23-year-old Parrearra man was charged with four drug offences and a 20-year-old Warana man was charged with 12 offences, including drug trafficking.

Both were bailed to appear in Maroochydore Magistrate Court on June 19.

Police will allege the drugs could have potentially resulted in 'another couple of hundred' drug deals on the day, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

'That's concerning for us,' Sunshine Coast Acting Inspector Troy Pukallus told reporters on Monday.

'The fact they're willing to buy drugs that they don't really know the contents of and what effect it will have on them is concerning.'

Now in its sixth year, the sold out Big Pineapple Music Festival attracts visitors all across Australia

Despite the drug arrests, the Big Pineapple Music Festival enjoyed its sixth year on Saturday in Woombye with a sell out crowd of 15,000 in attendance.

With 60 officers out in force keeping a watchful eye on revellers, police said there were no serious incidents at the festival.

The annual festival attracts music lovers from across Australia and hosts nationally renowned performers as well as roaming performances from street artists.

The event won the people's choice award for best festival at the recent Queensland Music Awards.

Festival director Mark Pico told the Sunshine Coast Daily at the time that 80 per cent of those attending this year's festival came from outside the region, bringing direct expenditure of $9 million and $7 million in additional consumption to the region's economy.
Security guards at the Portsmouth festival where a teenager and a young father died have been berated online as they are accused of failing to carry out proper searches.

Tommy Cowan, 20, and Georgia Jones, 18, died after reportedly taking 'Green Heineken' ecstasy in a double tragedy at Portsmouth's Mutiny Festival on Saturday.

Other revellers say they were barely searched on the way in to the event.

One person wrote on Twitter: 'The security yesterday at mutiny was f**king shambolic, their sniffer dog was just running round with a tennis ball and not one of us got searched.'

Another said: 'Security at mutiny yesterday honestly shocking, one sniffer dog, nobody got a pat down search or anything and seemed to be more interested in throwing away my water bottle than looking for drugs!!'

Condoms were all over the toilets with revellers saying this is how the ecstasy was smuggled in

Shocking images of the state of the toilets, strewn with condoms allegedly used to bring in the drugs have circulated online.

Some have reacted with anger while others said it was 'exactly like this' in 2017.

Steward Thomas Hall, 28, told The Sun Online he saw colleagues working for security firm Vespasian in without being searched.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs after two people died at a music festival and 15 others were hospitalised.

It is understood that Tommy Cowan, 20, and Georgia Jones, 18, died after taking 'Green Heineken' ecstasy in a double tragedy at Portsmouth's Mutiny Festival on Saturday.

The pair fell ill 20 minutes apart from each other and were both at the centre of dramatic rescue bids by on-site paramedics, in front of horrified festival goers.

One person remains in a 'critical condition' in hospital after a what is thought to have been a 'bad batch' of toxic ecstasy was circulated.

Two men aged 20 from Havant and Waterlooville and a 22-year-old man from Cosham have since been arrested, police confirmed.

Oliver Gardiner, managing director at Vespasian Security said he was onsite along with a 175-strong team of crowd management officials to keep the event secure.

He said: Our public-facing search team worked closely with the police as well as on-site welfare and safeguarding teams.

A team from Hampshire Constabulary was on site and three drug dogs were working the gates. Each access point was also covered by CCTV. Drugs seizure from searches at the gates were passed to police as evidence.

All our search staff are CRB/DBS checked as art of their national SIA licensing and all SIA licensed staff on the gates have a five-year corroborated work history. The team works to strict guidelines carried out in direct compliance with the pre-event plans agreed by emergency stakeholders.

He also rubbished the claims made to The Sun by a security guard who said staff kept drugs for themselves and barely searched arrivals.

He said the guard was never deployed to the main Mutiny Festival site over the weekend, nor even to the festival-goers campsite.

The second victim has been named as 20-year-old Tommy Cowan (pictured) from Havant, also known as Tommy Bakeer, who became a father in 2016

Mr Cowan's devastated father has slammed organisers for failing to reach out to his family

Tommy Cowan's devastated father has slammed organisers for failing to reach out to his family.

Speaking from his home in Havant, Hampshire, Mr Cowan's father Damian, 43, paid tribute to his son, but revealed he had not been contacted by anyone responsible for organising the festival.

He said: '[Tommy] meant everything to me, he was my boy. He was funny, he loved life and he loved his little boy.

'He was everything. He was a good lad - unfortunately he made a bad choice.'

Delivery driver Mr Cowan added: 'He was a brilliant dad, he went to work all week, he would buy his son all the best stuff.

'He was just brilliant, he really was, he was so loving.

'I'm frustrated that the organisers of the festival - no-one has contacted me to say 'I'm sorry'.

'You'd except them to do that. I'm just going to miss him, I really am.'

The mother of the other young victim, Georgia Jones, is warning of the dangers of illegal drugs after her 18-year-old daughter collapsed and died when she took two pills

Janine Milburn, 41, said her daughter Georgia suffered seizures for 45 minutes before her heart stopped several times in hospital and her lungs filled with blood and fluid.

Miss Jones, a care worker from Havant, Hampshire, was enjoying a day of dance music at the Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth when she fell ill at 7.10pm on Saturday.

She was taken to the city's Queen Alexandra Hospital but could not be saved.

Eighteen-year-old Georgia Jones died after taking two pills at the 15,000-capacity Mutiny Festival

Tommy George Bakeer, 20, from Havant, collapsed in front of revellers 20 minutes after Miss Jones and also died.

Fifteen other festival-goers needed hospital treatment, although it is not clear if they were all drug-related.

The second day of the festival, which Craig David and Sean Paul were due to headline, was cancelled as a 'safety precaution'.

One eyewitness said revellers had been taken 'Green Heineken' tablets and had seen a girl being treated by paramedics after taking the pills, the Mirror reported.

Organisers had warned revellers of a 'bad batch' of high-strength drugs circulating the festival site and they cancelled yesterday's final day as a 'safety precaution.'

Writing on Facebook, healthcare assistant Mrs Milburn said her daughter's death should serve as a warning to others tempted to take drugs.

She said: 'Georgia died yesterday due to complications after taking two pills at Mutiny.

'If nothing else, I hope what has happened to her will deter you from taking anything ever.

Georgia Jones fitted for 45-minutes after taking two pills at Mutiny Festival

'The pills had caused her temperature to rise so high it made her fit for 45 minutes. This then caused her muscle to break down and turn her blood acidic.

'Her heart was irregular and stopped numerous times, and then her lungs filled with blood and fluid and I made the decision to turn everything off.

'My little girl was 18 and full of life. I just hope this stops at least some of you from ending up the same.'

A heartbreaking letter posted by Georgia's mother on Facebook read: 'As I have now spoken to family members I can now say Georgia died yesterday due to complications after taking two pills at Mutiny.

'If nothing else I hope what has happened to her will deter you from taking anything ever.'

She continued: 'The pills had caused her temperature to rise so high it made her fit for 45 mins.

'This then caused her muscle to break down and turn her blood acidic. Her heart was irregular and stopped numerous times and then her lungs filled with blood and fluid and I made the decision to turn everything off.

'My little girl was 18 and full of life, I just hope this stops at least some of you from ending up the same.'

Janine today updated her profile picture on Facebook to a photo of her daughter.

About 30,000 people had been due to watch headliners Craig David and Sean Paul close the festival, held over two days in Portsmouth's King George V playing fields.

Revellers leaving the event on Saturday described seeing Mr Bakeer, a father of one, 'dying' on the ground while high on drugs.

Tributes were paid on Facebook to 20-year-old Tommy who died at the festival

Ashleigh Dennison, 22, from Worthing, West Sussex, said: 'I was in the tent with my friends and it was obvious this boy was on drugs but he was having a good time.

'Then, 15 minutes later, he was completely gone. All around his mouth it was blue, he was floppy and there was no response from him. His eyes were just white. I knew that was it, he was gone.

'I think he was probably on pills or ketamine, perhaps MDMA because he was gurning. I couldn't believe what I saw, it was scary.'

Another festival-goer, Lauren Matthews, from Portsmouth, Hants, added: 'It looked he had a fit and didn't wake back up.

'We didn't want to stare to much so we walked off and when we came back he was still lying there surrounded by the ambulance crew. He got taken out on the stretcher.

'His eyes were closed so it was hard to tell if he had taken something but there was blood coming out of his mouth.'

The mother of Georgia Jones (pictured) paid tribute to the 18-year-old today

Tommy George Bakeer (pictured) was later confirmed as the 20-year-old festival victim

He was a 'brilliant' friend, according to 19-year-old Jack Ford, who said they met at college studying uniformed services.

'He is such a caring guy who would do anything for any one. He loved going out with his mates but most importantly loved spending time with his girlfriend and son,' said Mr Ford, who lives near Portsmouth.

'It was a big shock to lose such a great guy like him.'

A tribute to Tommy, who studied Uniformed Services at Havant and South Downs College, said: 'I can't believe you've been taken this soon we had some amazing times mate.'

Another said: 'You will be missed by lot of people we had some many memories buddy it was only yesterday we spoke before you went love ya pal.'

And a third commenter wrote: 'Still haven't come to terms with last night. It's unbelievable how quickly life can just be flipped on its head.

'Hurts to know that you won't be able to see him grow up to be a man. but I'll always be here to help him become the best man he can be.'

Police had urged Portsmouth City Council to increase the minimum entry age at the festival from 16 to 18.

Organisers said that there had been 'revised entry procedures' for this year's event, although 16 and 17 year olds were still allowed to buy tickets.

On Thursday, Hampshire Police said they would be clamping down on drugs at the festival by taking a zero-tolerance approach to those caught with even small amounts of illegal drugs or psychoactive substances.

Organisors decided to cancel the event in the wake of the two deaths

The site lay empty today after the two deaths which are not thought to be related

Superintendent Paul Bartolomeo warned: 'If you are caught with these substances, you will, at the very least, be ejected and barred from returning to the site. You also run the risk of being arrested and receiving a criminal record.'

It is not clear what drug Miss Jones and Mr Bakeer had taken, although it is believed to have been a high-potency form of ecstasy, also known as MDMA.

On Saturday, the organisers of the Love Saves The Day festival in Bristol used social media to warn attendees of a batch of deadly pills, including one named 'the Punisher', which contains up to four times the typical expected dose of MDMA.

Meanwhile, Sean Paul paid his respects to the loved ones of the pair who died, as did Craig David, who tweeted: 'My heart goes out to the family and friends of the two young people who lost their lives at @MutinyFestivals yesterday.'

The deaths are being treated as separate incidents and are not being treated as suspicious. Another person is currently in a critical condition.

An 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man have died after falling ill at the Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth (pictured) on Saturday evening

A spokeswoman from Portsmouth Hospitals said: 'We had 15 people come to the hospital which we think were related to Mutiny Festival.

'Two of them have sadly died and we have another in a critical condition, as well as another who remains in hospital. Everyone else was in a minor condition.'

The hospital says not all of the patients were admitted for drug-related issues.

The spokeswoman added: 'It's difficult to say how many were actually drug-related. For example, this morning we had three more people come in but those were in relation to assault or intoxication.'

Police were first alerted to the woman falling ill at the site on Saturday evening and the man was found collapsed around 20 minutes later.

Both were taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital where they later died.

They were taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth where they later died (file photo)

A statement posted on the music festival's Twitter page said: 'Mutiny Festivals are devastated to hear of the tragic loss of life from its festival family today.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this very difficult time and we will continue to work with the authorities to support them in any way possible.'

In a message posted on social media after the pair were taken ill, organisers warned of a dangerous substance circulating on site and urged revellers not to take anything.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The force said: 'At 7.10pm on Saturday 26 May, we were informed that an 18-year-old woman had fallen ill at the festival site in King George V Playing Fields, Cosham.

'The woman was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital where she later died.

'At 7.30pm, a 20-year-old man was found collapsed at the festival site. He was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital where he later died.

'The deaths are being treated as separate incidents at this stage. They are not being treated as suspicious but inquiries are being made to determine the circumstances of what happened in each case.'

The festival organisers shared a harm prevention alert 'strongly' urging people not to take any substances because of a 'dangerous high strength or bad batch substance' on site

Just two days before the pair's tragic deaths Hampshire police said they would be clamping down on drugs at the event.

Superintendent Paul Bartolomeo warned about the dangers of drugs prior to the festival, saying they can have 'fatal consequences'.

On Thursday he said: 'Our priority is to keep the event and the local area running as smoothly as possible, and we have been working with the organisers to achieve this aim.

'Those attending can expect to see officers at the site  they will provide help and advice.

'We would like to remind people that the organisers have a policy that no alcohol can be brought on to the site.

'Controlled drugs and psychoactive substances are not permitted.

'If you are caught with these substances, you will, at the very least, be ejected and barred from returning to the site. You also run the risk of being arrested and receiving a criminal record.

'Even just dabbling in illegal drugs and psychoactive substances can have catastrophic and fatal consequences.'

In a statement on Thursday the force added: 'The organisers will also employ a 100 per cent bag search policy at the entrance.'

Last year police wanted to ban all under-18s from the festival following concerns over sexual assaults on children and drug use, but instead councillors insisted all youngsters must have photographic ID.

Hampshire Constabulary revealed that in 2017 there were 23 drug-related incidents over the festival weekend, including a 13-year-old boy punched in the face four times after taking nitrous oxide, cannabis and alcohol.

In a statement, festival organiser Luke Betts said the deaths were 'deeply upsetting', adding: 'We again wish to send all our thoughts to the families.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.
Advertisement

A massive cyclone slammed into the Arabian Peninsula killing 13 people in Yeman and Oman and dumping three years' worth of rainfall in single day.

Cyclone Mekunu, the most powerful to ever hit the area, ripped apart buildings and blew down street lights with 105-111mph winds gusting up to 124mph.

Eleven inches of rain hit Salalah, Omans third-largest city, on Saturday turning dry creek beds into raging rivers, and flash flooding tore away whole roads and submerged others.

Cyclone Mekunu, the most powerful to ever hit the area, ripped apart buildings and blew down street lights with 105-111mph winds gusting up to 124mph

A massive cyclone slammed into the Arabian Peninsula killing 13 people in Yeman and Oman and dumping three years' worth of rainfall in single day

Before hitting Oman, Mekunu struck Yemen's Socotra in the Arabian Sea, causing huge damage to the UNESCO world natural heritage site island

Thousands of the city's 200,000 residents lost power and water and communications services were wrecked throughout surrounding provinces.

Six people were killed in Oman including a 12-year-old girl and two other who lost control of their car in flood waters, with at least 30 missing.

Salalah International Airport reopened on Sunday but the cleanup has barely begun with the devastation displacing thousands from their homes.

The Port of Salalah  a key gateway for the country and for Qatar amid a regional diplomatic dispute  remained closed, its cranes secured against the pounding rain and winds.

A car diverts after an underpass has been filled by the flood water after Cyclone Merkunu in Salalah, Oman

Debris litter a beach after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah after thousands of the city's 200,000 residents lost power and water and communications services were wrecked throughout surrounding provinces

The storm killed at least seven people on Socotra and eight remained missing, according to the United Nations, and flooded dozens of streets

Six people were killed in Oman including a 12-year-old girl and two other who lost control of their car in flood waters, with at least 30 missing

Before hitting Oman, Mekunu struck Yemen's Socotra in the Arabian Sea, causing huge damage to the UNESCO world natural heritage site island.

The storm killed at least seven people there and eight remained missing, according to the United Nations, and flooded dozens of streets.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar all sent relief material to the island, as did the UN.

Eleven inches of rain hit Salalah, Omans third-largest city, on Saturday turning dry creek beds into raging rivers, and flash flooding tore away whole roads and submerged others

The Port of Salalah  a key gateway for the country and for Qatar amid a regional diplomatic dispute  remained closed, its cranes secured against the pounding rain and winds
The foster care system has been slammed for putting murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer in the care of Rick Thorburn after his twenty-year-long rap sheet was revealed.

Rick Thorburn was sentenced to life in prison on Friday after he pleaded guilty to the murder of his 12-year-old foster daughter Tialeigh, whose decomposed body was found by fishermen on the banks of the Pimpama River on November 5, 2015.

Thorburn's criminal history has since surfaced, revealing a long list of offences spanning from 1977 to 1997.

The foster care system has been slammed for putting murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer (pictured) in the care of Rick Thorburn after his twenty-year-long rap sheet was revealed

Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father Rick Thorburn (pictured) pleaded guilty to the schoolgirl's murder in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday

Tiahleigh's death led to reviews of protocols on cases of children who go missing while in out-of-home care

His offences included stealing, break and enter, drink driving and other traffic offences.

The Queensland father was even a wanted man for crimes relating to trucking fines.

Despite his long rap sheet, Thorburn passed a host of tests which allowed him to become a foster father to Tiahleigh in 2014.

He passed a working-with-children check, successfully got his Blue Card and went on to run a family day care business with his wife at the family home.

Thorburn was accepted into the foster care system because he was never charged with more serious crimes like assault, sexual assault or crimes against children.

Following the murder of Tiahleigh, the Queensland Government said it would review the Blue Card system, and look into the requirements a person needed to become a foster carer.

LNP member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates questioned the Queensland system and rubbished it for allowing someone like Thorburn to be in a position of responsibility.

Queensland Opposition Leader Ros Bates slammed the foster care system saying Tiahleigh shouldn't have been placed with two teenage boys

Trent Thorburn (pictured), Rick's 20-year-old son, was released in January after serving 16 months in jail for incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice

An autopsy was conducted but due to the state of her body a cause of death was never determined (pictured are police divers searching the Pimpama River for evidence)

Part of his plan, which was told to the family, was to dispose of Tiahleigh's body, which was found unclothed but for her underpants (pictured are police divers searching the Pimpama River for evidence)

'I don't think if you have criminal history as long as your arm, even if it isn't to do with child offences, that people like him should have ever been considered,' Ms Bates told the Courier Mail.

'Tiahleigh Palmer was never missing. She was right where Child Safety put her, back with her eventual murderer.'

Appearing on A Current Affair on Friday, Ms Bates said Tiahleigh should never have been put in a foster family with two teenage boys.

'It was an inappropriate placement. Why on earth would you put a prepubescent girl with two teenage boys?' she said.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston acknowledged the foster system needed a shake-up, but said ruling out anyone with a criminal history was not the answer.

Ms Johnston said it was already difficult enough to find foster carers.

'It's easy to criticise but there aren't enough foster carers we need to start looking at a character assessment,' she said.
The British Government's preparation for a 'no deal' Brexit has ground to a halt, officials have claimed.

Theresa May will not be able to deliver on her threat to walk away from talks if Brussels tries to impose a punishment deal because money has not been spent on contingency plans, it has been reported.

The stark warning piles further pressure on the Prime Minister who is struggling to get her divided Cabinet to sign up to her Brexit vision.

And it comes ahead of a crunch summit next month when EU leaders have demanded Britain spell out more fully how it plans to avoid a hard Irish border after Brexit.

Theresa May (pictured with her husband Philip on her way to church in Maidenhead yesterday) will not be able to deliver on her threat to walk away from talks if Brussels tries to impose a punishment deal because money has not been spent on contingency plans, it has been reported

Brexiteers have urged the PM to invest in preparing for a no deal Brexit to strengthen the UK's hand in the talks.

But a senior British Brexit official told the Financial Times: 'Our preparedness for no deal is virtually non-existent.

'Our ability to deliver a 'no deal' outcome recedes with every week that passes.'

While other officials involved in the talks said they are being discouraged from taking on projects that might only be needed should there be no agreement on customs and regulatory co-operation by next March.

The revelations will spark alarm among Brexiteers who have repeatedly urged the PM and her Chancellor to spend more money on the no deal preparations.

Sir Ivan Rogers, the UK's former ambassador to the EU, last week warned that the UK had still not set up the independent regulatory bodies needed if the UK has a 'no deal' Brexit.

He said: 'If we want . . . genuinely to go it alone . . . then we have to be going full tilt in developing that regulatory capability at huge speed.

'The fact that, in so many areas, we are obviously not doing that . . . is yet another reason why the EU side has long since concluded that the UK would not walk out.'

Another former mandarin told the newspaper: 'How many years does it take to set up a medicines agency? Or chemicals approval? Or civil nuclear-safety standards? Or a new state aid policy?

'Where is the legislation? Where are the skilled staff coming from?'

Chancellor Philip Hammond last December allocated 1.5billion for no deal planning.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has been negotiating with the EU's Brexit chief Michel Barnier (pictured together at an EU summit in March) but some officials have expressed concern that the Government has left it too late to invest in a no deal Brexit plan

But the money only became available in the financial year starting in April - just a year before the UK leaves the bloc.

Another 1.5bn has been set aside but this is only set to be used for the financial year after March 2019 when the UK is formally due to leave the EU.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leading Tory Brexiter, urged Mrs May to revive her threat to leave the EU without a deal if Brussels takes an uncompromising approach in the Brexit negotiations.

He told the BBC yesterday: 'We should say quite clearly: "If we don't get the trade deal we want, you don't get the money. That's a very strong negotiating position.'

A Number 10 spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister is committed to getting the best possible Brexit deal, one that works for the UK and the EU.

'The Government is committing extensive resources as part of our preparations for leaving the EU  whether in the event of a deal or not, and at the autumn Budget the chancellor allocated 3bn specifically for our exit preparations.'

The row comes as Mrs May's Cabinet remains deeply divided over the future customs arrangements the UK will have with Brussels after Brexit.

The PM favours a customs partnership - which would see the UK collect tarifson behalf of the EU.

But key Brexiteers in cabinet, including Boris Johnson, wants the UK to fully cut ties and adopt a 'maximum facilitation' system which would see technology and trusted trader status help trade flow freely across the Irish border.
A woman whose two sisters were involved in a catastrophic car crash has appealed for the surviving sibling to be spared jail time.

Candice Lee Chmieluk, 31, will spend the next three months in jail for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed her younger sister on the Gold Coast.

Candice was sentenced in the Southport District Court on Monday to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to one charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while adversely affected by alcohol.

Kristy Chmieluk (pictured: right) has appealed for her younger sister Candice (pictured: left) to be spared jail time over a car crash that killed youngest sibling Sammy-Jo (pictured: centre)

Candice Lee Chmieluk (pictured: right) will spend the next three months in jail for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed her younger sister on the Gold Coast

Candice was driving drunk when she crashed into a traffic light at such speed that the vehicle she was driving was was sheared in half - Sammy-Jo was killed instantly

Her family had appealed to Judge David Kent for her to avoid jail for the offence despite the crash on May 29, 2016 at Palm Beach claiming the life of her younger sister Sammy-Jo.

Reading a victim impact statement, Chmieluk's older sister Kristy said her two younger siblings had been inseparable friends, and the accident and subsequent criminal proceedings had put the entire family's lives on hold.

'The loss of my baby sister has been utterly unbearable,' Kristy told the court.

'But I have forgiven Candice.

'If she is sent to jail I will be losing my second sister.'

Reading a victim impact statement, older sister Kristy said Candice (pictured: right) and Sammy-Jo (pictured: left) had been inseparable friends

The crash happened after Candice and Sammy-Jo left a Gold Coast surf lifesaving club following an afternoon drinking session.

Less than half an hour after leaving the club, the car the pair were travelling in crashed into a traffic light at such speed it was sheared in half.

Sammy-Jo was killed instantly while Candice sustained leg fractures in the accident and was rescued from the burning wreckage by a passer-by.

The court heard Candice was suspended from driving due to demerit point accumulation at the time of the crash and a blood sample taken three hours after the crash returned a 0.202 blood alcohol level.

Before the pair left the club's car park one patron had actually taken the car keys away from the sisters to try to prevent them driving while the club itself had made a courtesy bus available to take them home.

Despite the emotional pleas, however, Judge Kent said a wholly suspended sentence would be 'manifestly inadequate' given the seriousness of Candice Chmieluk's offending

As well as her own remorse and mental health issues following the crash, Chmieluk's family said she was the sole carer for her two young children and they would be unduly punished by their mother's incarceration.

Despite the emotional pleas, however, Judge Kent said a wholly suspended sentence would be 'manifestly inadequate' given the seriousness of the offending.

'At the end of the day you should have to serve a minimal amount of imprisonment,' Judge Kent said.

'I accept, as I have made clear, you have suffered and continue to suffer to a large degree as a result of these events - as, of course, have others.'

Chmieluk's sentence will be wholly suspended for five years after she has served three months.

Chmieluk has also been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of five years.
Advertisement

Police arrested fighting teenagers after more than 2,000 youths descended on the Scottish coast for an impromptu Buckfast party as temperatures soared across the country - hitting highs of 81.14F (27.3 C).

Mounted police patrolled throngs of noisy teens at Troon beach, in Ayershire, Scotland, where a number of youths were escorted off the beach by police and at least one 15-year-old was arrested.

Loud music and Buckfast were reported at the scene, just one day after a 16-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with leg injuries following unconfirmed reports of a stabbing at the same beach.

Britain's temperature soared to 81.14F (27.3 C) today, tempting thousands out onto beaches and parks all over the country with temperatures reaching 25 and 26C in most of Britain.

Soaring temperatures: Police grapple with a sun burnt youth on Troon beach as hot weather brought thousands to the coast

Soaring temperatures lured sun-seekers to the beach at Troon, but police were also at the scene policing the crowds

Mounted police were even deployed to the scene as teens were seen drinking Buckfast and listening to loud music

Police were seen restraining a youth during the enormous impromptu beach party at Troon, Ayrshire, south-west Scotland

But there was a stark contrast between temperature in the south and east of the country today, with the eastern coast plagued by heavy mist and cloud, keeping temperatures cooler at about 13C.

But the weekend also saw thunderstorms and flash flooding and a yellow weather warning is still in place until 10pm tonight across parts of Wales and southern England.

More rain and thunderstorms may sweep through the country again tomorrow.

People enjoy the hot weather at Potters Field Park, London, as Britons could see the hottest day of the year this Bank Holiday Monday

Today could be the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to soar to 84F (29C) in Britain - after the weekend saw the country hit by 67,000 lightning bolts and flooding. Pictured is Lyme Regis beach, Dorset

People enjoy the hot weather in Victoria Park, east London, as Britons could see the hottest day of the year this bank holiday Monday

People cool off in the sea at Blackpool beach, as Britons could see the hottest day of the year this bank holiday Monday

A lightning bolt destroyed the roof of a house during a storm which left one man dead this Bank Holiday weekend.

Heavy thunderstorms and torrential downpours saw much of the West Midlands submerged in water up to 5ft deep.

The Black Country saw the worst of the weather with two homes struck by lightning and one man sadly dying after his car became trapped in flood water.

Pictures taken show the devastation inflicted by one lightning strike last night.

The roof of the home in in Benton Crescent in Bloxwich was completely destroyed.

Surprised neighbours reported seeing smoke billowing over homes in the residential street.

A lightning bolt has destroyed the roof of a house during a storm which left one man dead this Bank Holiday weekend

Heavy thunderstorms and torrential downpours saw much of the West Midlands submerged in water up to 5ft deep

Debris piles up on the ground outside the scene of the lightning strike in Benton Crescent, Walsall

Damage done: A view from inside the house where lightening burned a large hole in the roof in Walsall

Firefighters attended the incident and made the area secure by pulling down some loose sections of the rood around the original hole.

Nobody is understood to have been injured as a result of the lightning strikes.

And lightning struck twice in Black Country on the same night.

Just down the road, a separate strike punched a hole was through the roof of another home, smashing light switches and leaving the home without power this morning.

In Warwickshire, the fire service said five properties were struck by lightning in the early hours of Sunday, while in Dawlish, Devon, a telephone box burst into flames after a BT pole was hit on Saturday evening.



A man in his 80s died after his vehicle was submerged in flash flooding. Police were called to Lichfield Road, Walsall, just after 2am today to reports that a car had entered the water.

The victim, who is believed to be in his 80s, was taken to hospital but pronounced dead a short time later. His next of kin have been informed.

Chief Inspector, Paul Ditta, from West Midlands Police, said: 'Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died today.

'There are a number of roads affected across the region that have been badly affected by the flooding.

'Many people will be heading away for the half term break and I'd urge people to take care on the roads and allow extra time to travel.'

Torrential rain and multiple lightning strikes also created mayhem in Milton Keynes, Bucks, early this morning with almost a dozen people being rescued from flood-swamped cars and a hospital emergency department hit by the deluge.

Residents on Sir Johns Road in Selly Oak, Birmingham had to be rescued by firefighters using boats following flash floods

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service received more than 200 appeals for help from hundreds of 999 callers whose homes were flooded or who were trapped in deep floodwater.

Fire appliances from across the county, backed up by crews from Berkshire and Oxfordshire, rushed to the new town and began rescues, carrying householders to safety and pulling others from their flooded vehicles.

Incredibly no-one was injured in the four hour storm which, at its height, had 26 frontline fire engines tackling incidents across Milton Keynes.

Controllers had to call for assistance as more than 200 calls hit their switchboard between 8pm Sunday evening and 1.30am today. In a normal shift they would expect to answer just two 999 calls to Milton Keynes in the same period.

A spokesman for the Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We received more than 200 calls for assistance after a storm struck Milton Keynes.

Many took advantage of the hot weather this Bank Holiday by tanning themselves on the water at Loch Morlich near Aviemore

Summer, aged three, plays on an inflatable crocodile in the sea at Blackpool beach on what could be the hottest day of the year so far

'Crews rescued five people who were trapped in vehicles on the road between Olney and Stoke Goldington. One man was rescued from the roof of his car by swift-water rescue technicians wearing drysuits and buoyancy aids.

'Three women and a man were rescued from a second car at the same location.

'Portable pumps were used to help remove floodwater which affected the A&E and Paediatrics departments of Milton Keynes University Hospital, and crews also assisted with a salvage operation,' said the spokesman.

'A large number of members of the public were assisted from their properties by crews following flooding in Coffee Hall and Stoke Goldington. Residents were evacuated to nearby halls.

'Crews were also called to a commercial building fire in Bletchley, which was confirmed to be a false alarm, and a vehicle on fire in the Drayton Parslow area. There were also a number of reports of lightning strikes which fortunately did not develop into larger incidents.'

And thunderstorms and heavy downpours also hit other parts of the country on Sunday, causing severe flooding that left major routes into Birmingham impassable because of water up to 5ft deep. More than a month's rainfall deluged parts of the city in just one hour.

Sunseekers were pictured on beaches and parks (pictured, Hyde Park, London) all across the country to enjoy the warm weather on bank holiday Monday

The River Cam (pictured) in Cambridge was packed full with visitors trying to soak up the heat this Bank Holiday Monday

Thousands of visitors flocked to Blackpool today, as the bank holiday looks to be one of the hottest on record

Sunseekers were pictured on beaches all across the country to enjoy the warm weather on bank holiday Monday. Pictured is Lyme Regis beach in Dorset today

Cooling off: People take advantage of the sunny weather and hire boats in Hyde Park, London, this afternoon

The Met Office said temperatures could hit highs of 28C (82F) or 29C (84F) in the South East (pictured, Dorset today), potentially surpassing the 2018 record of 29.1C on April 19 in St James' Park, central London

Londoners and tourists enjoy warm sunny weather in Londons Hyde Park this morning as the capital wakes up to humid conditions

Thousands of people enjoy the warm weather and sunshine with a dip in the sea at Blackpool beach this afternoon

Warm weather has been forecast across the country today along with weather warnings of heavy rain and floods. Pictured is Hyde Park in London this afternoon

Feeding time: A woman feeds a swan in London's Hyde Park as temperatures soar across the country on bank holiday Monday

Shocking moment a reckless basejumper threw himself off a cliff on to a packed beach as hundreds of Bank Holiday beach goers watched in horror This is the shocking moment a reckless basejumper put his own and many other lives in danger by throwing himself off a cliff on to a packed beach today. Hundreds of Bank Holiday beach goers watched on in horror as the man plummeted from the 150ft cliff made famous by the hit ITV drama Broadchurch in West Bay, Dorset. It took just six seconds for him to land on the shingle beach among the sunbathers, falling at 25ft a second. The basejumper, who is believed to be in his 20s, then gathered his equipment and fled the area. This is the shocking moment a reckless basejumper put his own and many other lives in danger by throwing himself off a cliff on to a packed beach today A second, older man was stood with the basejumper on top of the cliff and held his parachute before letting go. Photographer Graham Hunt said he couldn't believe his eyes when the basejumper descended from the cliff on to the masses below at about 1.50pm. He said: 'I can't believe I've just seen a basejumper leap off that cliff on one of the busiest days of the year when there are hundreds of people sunbathing on and walking along the beach. 'If he had slightly caught the wind or misjudged it he could easily have landed on the people below. It was a ridiculous thing to do and everyone was in shock because it was just so dangerous, it was Bank Holiday madness.' It took just six seconds for him to land on the shingle beach among the sunbathers, falling at 25ft a second. The basejumper, who is believed to be in his 20s, then gathered his equipment and fled the area The 180 million year sandstone cliffs form part of Britain's World Heritage Jurassic Coast but they are prone to regular and sudden rockfalls. In 2012 holidaymaker Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death under a 400-tonne rockfall further along the beach. Jake Lanning, of West Bay coastguard, said basejumping was not illegal but needed to be done 'with due consideration to other members of the public'. He said: 'The Jurassic Coast is a wonderful place to come and visit but these cliffs are prone to rockfalls. 'Basejumping is not illegal providing the jumper has permission from the landowner but it should be done with consideration to other members of the public. Hundreds of Bank Holiday beach goers watched on in horror as the man plummeted from the 150ft cliff made famous by the hit ITV drama Broadchurch in West Bay, Dorset 'The low height of these cliffs being about 150ft means there is a very narrow margin of error.' Ian Guy, Maritime Operations Controller for HM Coastguard, said: 'West Bay is a beautiful part of our coastline and everyone should be free to enjoy it safely. 'Jumping off a cliff and landing on a busy beach in the middle of a sunny bank holiday is extremely irresponsible and could easily have caused injury to members of the public or the base jumpers themselves. 'The base jumpers were also standing right on the edge of unstable cliffs, which equally could have caused injury or worse to the people sitting beneath the cliffs. 'Please act sensibly along the cliffs and on the beach, considering the safety of others as well as yourself. 'If you or someone else is in difficulty along the coast or at sea please call 999 and ask for the coastguard.' Photographer Graham Hunt said he couldn't believe his eyes when the basejumper descended from the cliff on to the masses below at about 1.50pm Advertisement

Visitors to Cambridge make the most of the warm Bank Holiday weather by taking to the River Cam in punts and canoes

Londoners and tourists enjoy warm sunny weather in London's Hyde Park this morning as the capital wakes up to warm humid conditions

Chloe Bailey and Betsy McKenzie, both 20, have some fun in the sun on scorching bank holiday Monday on Bournemouth beach

People enjoy the hot weather on Bournemouth Beach, in Dorset, as Britons could see the hottest day of the year

A woman takes advantage of the sunny weather to pose for a photo in Hyde Park, London, this afternoon

Londoners and tourists enjoy the warm weather in London's Hyde Park as the country basks in glorious sunshine today

Lyme Regis beach in Dorset proved extremely popular with guests taking advantage of the hot weather this Bank Holiday

Meanwhile, 20 people had to be rescued from a double decker bus on Pershore Road, Birmingham, and many others were rescued from their cars and homes.

The Environment Agency has more than 20 flood warnings - including four red 'immediate action' notices - and more than 40 flood alerts in place covering much of Central England.

Moment reckless youths decide to jump from Detroit Bridge in Salford Quays, Manchester These youths decided to take advantage of the sunny weather in a more unusual and reckless way than those lying on a beach or tanning in a park. Photographs captured the moment two people decide to jump from Detroit Bridge in Salford Quays, Manchester. Temperatures could reach 84F (29C) in Britain - after the weekend saw the country hit by 67,000 lightning bolts and flooding. Detroit Bridge sits at ten metres tall above deck level. The 80-metre long former railway swing bridge, built in 1941, used to carry part of the Manchester Ship Canal Railway, the largest private railway in the UK. In the pictures, one part of the daring duo can be seen leaning slightly over the bridge in order to look out at what he will soon be hurling towards. Then in the second image the youth takes a giant leap off the structure's edge and falls towards the river in a dangerous display. Not wanting to be out done, his friend soon jumps in after him and holds his hands out seemingly trying to prepare for his harsh landing in the body of water. Photographs captured the moment two people decide to jump from Detroit Bridge in Salford Quays, Manchester Advertisement

A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place from the afternoon for large swathes of East Anglia, the South East including London, the South West and Wales.

Forecasters said a site at Winterbourne, in Edgbaston, recorded 2.2ins of rainfall in just one hour on Sunday afternoon, and 3.1ins in a 12-hour period.

Police were called to Lichfield Road, Walsall, just after 2am today to reports that a car had entered the water (left). Today could be the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to soar to 84F (29C) in Britain - after the weekend saw the country hit by 67,000 lightning bolts and flooding (left, Brimingham)

Members of the Technical Rescue Unit of West Midlands Fire Service with a boat after more than a month's rainfall deluged parts of Birmingham in just one hour on Sunday

People clearing up on bank holiday Monday after flash floods in Forth Avenue, Selly Park, Birmingham. Flash floods have hit the streets of the Birmingham after a storm dropped a month's rainfall in one hour

Thunderstorms and heavy downpours swept across the country on Sunday, causing severe flooding that left a major routes into Birmingham impassable because of water up to 5ft deep. Pictured are people clearing up on bank holiday Monday after flash floods in Forth Avenue in Selly Park

Flash floods in Sir John's Road, Selly Park, Birmingham on Sunday. Homes were flooded and car were drowned in Harborne, Edgbaston and Selly Oak

Residents on Sir Johns Road in Selly Oak, Birmingham had to be rescued by firefighters using boats as one red Ford Focus was pictured close to being engulfed by the rising waters

Thunderstorms and heavy downpours swept across the country on Sunday, causing flash flooding that left a major route into Birmingham impassable because of water up to 5ft deep

As torrential rain fell in Birmingham last night many roads became unpassable due to flooding

The monthly average for the West Midlands region in May is 2.1ins, meteorologist Craig Snell said.

But he said the torrential rain had been 'very localised', pointing out that another site 10 miles away at Coleshill recorded just 0.1ins of rain in 12 hours.

A yellow weather warning for rain remained in place as thunderstorms were forecast to roll south through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire overnight.

The Environment Agency has more than 20 flood warnings - including four red 'immediate action' notices - and more than 40 flood alerts in place covering much of Central England

But today saw less chance of thunderstorms and rain. Traffic hotspots are expected to include the M25 between Gatwick Airport and the M1, the M3 south west of London, the M4 west of London and between Cardiff and Swansea, and the A47 Swaffham to Great Yarmouth.

Mr Snell said: 'We won't see the scenes we saw the other night. There could be a few very short-lived thunderstorms but overall it will be a much quieter night.'

Southern England was struck by lightning between 15,000 and 20,000 times on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Mr Snell said: 'It all depends how much cloud develops. There's a chance we could see the warmest day of the year. It will be quite widely into the 20s across many parts of the UK. For a bank holiday Monday, it's not looking too bad.

'Further thundery downpours might appear in the late afternoon  not everyone will see them but if you do see one they could be quite nasty. The areas worst hit on Sunday might escape.'

Scotland would see the most prolonged sunshine, he said, but most areas would start dry and cloud cover quickly burn off.

Pictured: Storms over the Isle of Wight. A cluster of 17 flood alerts has been issued for parts of the Thames Valley, while West Midlands and Bedfordshire fire services warned motorists of the risks of driving on flood-hit roads

The 62,000 strikes contained 15million kWh of energy - enough to boil water for 600million cups of tea, lightning and energy data showed. Pictured: Storms over the Isle of Wight

Despite the ominous yellow weather warnings and rumbling across the south, the UK could be set for the hottest day of year tomorrow, with the sun reemerging in time for Bank Holiday barbecues, all day drinking and al fresco dining

Residents in Birmingham were caught in flash floods as torrential rain poured down across the Midlands, while crowds descended on Weymouth beach in the South East as families raced to secure prime sun bathing real estate.

More than 62,000 lightning bolts blitzed Britain in the 'lightning show of a lifetime'. Thunderstorms will return today but are not expected to be as strong, making way tonight for a sunny Bank Holiday Monday at 84F (29C).

Lightning hit the south east before midnight with thunderstorms then striking Wales and the rest of England in the early hours of today.

One house in Stanway, Essex, had its roof completely destroyed when it was struck by lightning and erupted in flames.

Passengers were left stranded on planes for hours at Stansted airport after flights were cancelled and grounded following a lightning strike hitting a fuel tank.

Scotland and Northern Ireland escaped the worst of the bad weather, however temperatures are still expected to reach 77F (25C) in the South East.

Britons have been sweltering in 80F heat yesterday with clear skies and stifling humidity replacing last night's lightning strikes - but the Met Office have warned to baton down the hatches tonight as more thunderstorms loom

Residents in Birmingham were caught in flash floods as torrential rain poured down across the Midlands but the wet weather failed to put a dampener on the spirits of some Pride festival goers

One house (pictured) in Stanway, Essex, had its roof completely destroyed when it was struck by lightning and erupted in flames

On arrival fire crews discovered that the 'entire roof of the detached building was alight' and had to spend three hours at the property

The roof has been destroyed while most of the house itself has also been affected by fire damage. No-one was in the property at the time of the lightning strike and it is believed the home owners are on holiday

Lightning dramatically hit The Shard in London in the early hours of this morning as the Bank Holiday weather took a turn for the worse with heavy rain

At least 17million journeys are expected to be taken over the long weekend but plans to enjoy outdoor barbecues could be hit by more potential thunderstorms. Pictured: Lightning strikes on Kent Coast

A fantastic display of lightning has taken place above the skies of Birmingham in the West Midlands whilst heavy rains soaked the area

Amazing images show the true power of storm clouds that passed over Birmingham. The lightning lasted for hours over Saturday night into Sunday morning whilst rain lashed down soaking anyone who could not get to cover

Pictured: Lightning strikes above Wembley Stadium in London (left) and over Northolt in west London (right)

A deluge hit the south east before midnight with showers or longer spells of rain promised for Wales and central and southern England today. Pictured: This bolt found its target on the outskirts of the City of London

The crew of the RNLI station at Tower Hill posted this photograph on Twitter showing these dramatic scenes last night

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service sent three vehicles to attend the fire in Stanway last night at 1:38am after lightning hit the roof of a property.

On arrival fire crews discovered that the 'entire roof of the detached building was alight' and had to spend three hours at the home.

No-one was in the property at the time of the lightning strike and it is believed the home owners are on holiday. The roof has been destroyed while most of the house itself has also been affected by fire damage.

The 62,598 lightning bolts that hit Britain in a 24-hour period recorded until 9am today is 20 times more than an average lightning storm's 3,000 strikes, Met Office data shows.

Weather experts said it the best lightning storm of their lifetime. BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker tweeted: 'Mother of all #thunderstorms now over London. Oh boy! This is utterly insane.'

He added: 'That was one adrenaline-gagging-meteorologically-sickening-bonkers-conkers-electrifying sky show. I've never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life.'

The London Fire Brigade said it had taken more than 500 weather-related calls as the warm and humid bank holiday weather broke down into an 'utterly intense' storm.

In Warwickshire, the fire service said five properties were struck by lightning in the early hours of Sunday, while in Dawlish, Devon, a telephone box burst into flames after a BT pole was hit on Saturday evening.

A cluster of 17 flood alerts has been issued for parts of the Thames Valley, while West Midlands and Bedfordshire fire services warned motorists of the risks of driving on flood-hit roads.

Western Power Distribution said nearly 1,000 properties had been left without power across the Midlands, with the majority of outages down to lightning.

The 62,000 strikes contained 15million kWh of energy - enough to boil water for 600million cups of tea, lightning and energy data showed.

Made In Chelsea star Binky Felstead reveals her daughter India's nursery is 'ruined' after her London home floods during thunder storm Damage: Binky Felstead have revealed the devastating effect Saturday night's thunder storms had on her London home Binky Felstead, 27, has revealed the devastating effect Saturday night's thunder storms had on her London home. The former Made In Chelsea star shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of flood damage at the house she shares in the capital with her partner Josh Patterson and their daughter India, eleven months. Binky told fans her daughter's nursery is 'ruined' after water flooded into the lower floor of the property during the 'mother of all thunderstorms' across the country on Saturday. Binky has been holidaying on the Isle of Wight with her daughter and friends over the weekend, while Josh is working on a photoshoot in Capri, Italy. While the family have been away though, their recently renovated house has suffered severe damage. Taking to Instagram on Sunday afternoon, Binky shared a happy snap of her daughter India playing in the sunshine on holiday, only to reveal in the caption the 'nightmare' that awaited them back home. 'At least someone has no idea of the nightmare that's going on back at ours ... her nursery is ruined as is all of the bottom floor of our place. Thank you for that last nights storm.' In photos of the house shared on her Instagram stories, thick black mud and water can be seen covering the floor of the hallway and India's room, with the carpet and the tot's toys destroyed. Binky captioned one of the photos: 'Happy bank holiday to me,' while the nursery snap was accompanied by the words: 'Cheers to last night's storm.' The reality star also took to Twitter to plead with Thames Water to help her, sending the message: 'Sorry @thameswater getting worried no one is going to show up ... can you let me know how long you're going to be to sort this out.' A representative for Binky has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Binky previously revealed that she completed work on India's nursery a matter of days before her daughter's birth on June 12 last year. Ruined: The former Made In Chelsea star shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of flood damage at the house she shares in the capital with her partner Josh Patterson and their daughter India, eleven months Advertisement

Met Office forecaster Emma Salter said: 'Thunderstorms looked widespread in the South, before becoming fewer on Monday.

'It will feel really warm, and muggy and humid. 29C is a 40 per cent chance on Monday or Tuesday, with 27C still being seen on Wednesday.

'Bizarrely, hot air is coming to us from Scandinavia - and we never normally say that.

'It would have been bitterly cold a couple of months ago. But now the landmass has heated up with highs 10C above average in Scandinavia, with their air coming to us via Denmark.'

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: 'Beating 29.1C for the hottest day of the year is possible.'

A Big Issue seller braves the bank holiday rain in a wetsuit and a pair of flippers during the Hay Festival in Hay on Wye, in South Wales

Britain's bank holiday weekend has been rudely interrupted by torrential rain, thunder and a spectacular display of lightning. Pictured: This fork of lightning stretched across the sky towards the city of London
Advertisement

A rural Australian cattle farm the size of Fiji has hit the market for an estimated $50million.

The historic Clifton Hills Station is one of the largest rural properties in the world - crossing state borders and sprawling all the way from Queensland into South Australia.

Close to 20,000 cattle call the enormous 1.6million hectare, or 16,510 square kilometers, of outback land home.

The current owners - a partnership of multiple shareholders - have held the property for more than 60 years.

The land boasts a central homestead hub, multiple roads, airstrips, 24 sets of steel trucking yards, six flowing bores, and farming equipment.

A rural Australian cattle farm (pictured) the size of Fiji and half the size of Belgium has hit the market for an estimated $50million. Close to 20,000 cattle call the enormous 1.6million hectare, or 16,510 square kilometers, of outback land home

The historic Clifton Hills Station boasts a central homestead hub, multiple roads, airstrips, 24 sets of steel trucking yards, six flowing bores, and farming equipment. This makes it one of the largest rural properties in the world

The property is described as 'the best cattle fattening country in the land' by selling agents Colliers International Rural and Agribusiness and Rural Property and Livestock, who are running an international tender process.

It's being sold by the Clifton Hills Pastoral Company, which ASIC records show is owned equally by David Harvey, Charles Simpson and Katherine Hartley, the AFR reported.

A cattle farm in Beveridge, 40km north of Melbourne recently sold for hundreds of millions of dollars to a Chinese development tycoon as property investors set their sights on Australia's housing expansion.

The Laffan family sold their 600-hectare Deloraine farm to Melbourne-based Zeng Xiong Lin who paid an incredible $200 million for the highly sought after cattle property, which the Laffan family have run for 54 years.

The Clifton Hills property has an extra advantage to due 'the large land area which allows cattle to be well spread-out,' David Harvey explained.

The cattle station was originally established in 1878 on the Birdsville Track in the far north-east corner of South Australia.

'The secret is the large land area which allows cattle to be well spread-out,' David Harvey of the Clifton Hills Pastoral Company explained

The current owners - a partnership of multiple shareholders - have held the property for more than 60 years which is being sold by the Clifton Hills Pastoral Company, owned equally by David Harvey, Charles Simpson and Katherine Hartley

'There are three distinct and equally balanced land types  Gibber plains with creeks, soft sand hill country, and inland river floodplains,' Mr Harvey said.

Gibber plain is highly responsive to rain growing annual herbage and soft sand hill country has excellent permanent feed sources of mainly Spinifex, Salt Bush and Blue Bush which is highly suited to seasonal winter rain and responds well from as little as an inch of rainfall.

The massive land area allows for a Pastoral Board Maximum Stock Rating of 21,500 cattle.

The Georgina River, Cooper Creek and the Diamantina River all flow across Clifton Hills. Rainfall in their catchment areas consistently water large areas of Clifton Hills, creating some of the best cattle fattening country in the land.

The Diamantina, which is currently in flood, consistently floods 1,500 square kilometres each year, creating some of the best cattle fattening country in the land.

'The Diamantina River effectively terminates in a delta floodplain on Clifton Hills, giving a consistent 1,500 sq km of flood area per annum, and making it a very fertile area,' Mr Harvey said.

The Georgina River, Cooper Creek and the Diamantina River all flow across Clifton Hills. Rainfall in their catchment areas consistently water large areas of Clifton Hills, creating some of the best cattle fattening country in the land

There are three distinct and equally balanced land types ranging from gibber plain with creeks (pictured) that is highly responsive to rain growing annual herbage, soft sandhill country with excellent permanent feed sources of mainly Spinifex, Salt Bush and Blue Bush; and inland river floodplain

'There's never been a better time to offer a cattle property of this calibre,' the agents Ben Forrest, Jesse Manuel and Nick Dean Colliers have claimed.

Strong demand from both domestic and international investors and other institutions has had a significant impact on cattle property sales over the past year.

'All rain that falls on the property stays on the property,' Wally Cooper from Rural Property and Livestock explained.

'The internal gibber country acts like an enormous roof which fills numerous creeks and swamps generating growth of fantastic feed all from an inch of rain.'

'All rain that falls on the property stays on the property,' Wally Cooper from Rural Property and Livestock explained. 'The internal gibber country acts like an enormous roof which fills numerous creeks and swamps generating growth of fantastic feed all from an inch of rain'

One of the property's great advantages is it's ability to be largely self-sustaining and able to maintain a core herd during periods of drought.

The Birdsville Track crosses the property over four pastoral leases, giving access to both northern and southern markets.

'The property has very good scale, with a 21,500 head of stock rating on the pastoral lease. The scale on Clifton Hills is achieved without massive infrastructure  the secret is the large land area which allows cattle to be well spread-out,' Mr Cooper said.

For these reasons, selling agent Ben Forrest believes Clifton Hills Station will attract a premium price.

'Clifton Hills Station offers a very appealing opportunity for investors to acquire a substantial herd without the costs associated with freight, and the complexities involved in purchasing new stock,' he said.

The agents anticipate interest from $1,550 per beast area, based on the present pastoral board maximum of 21,500 cattle, plus cattle.

Expressions of interest in the international tender process are currently invited and consortium is offering the whole enterprise on a walk-in, walk-out basis.
The owners of a family-run butchers say they being terrorised by vegans who have scrawled graffiti on the front of their shop and threatened to petrol bomb it.

In the latest attack by Animal rights activists, demonstrators sprayed red wording across the shopfront, with the words 'Stop Killing Animals. Go vegan.'

The logo of the Animal Liberation Front - an international group which encourages direct action in pursuit of animal rights - was also sprayed underneath.

Since the attack three weeks ago, vegans from across the world have taken to facebook to send the business dozens of threatening messages and one star reviews.

Activists have daubed Marlow Butchers in graffiti and even threatened to petrol bomb it

Now owner Wayne Marlow - who runs the shop in Ashford, Kent, with his father Trevor and brother Martin - says vegans from around the world are 'terrorising' the family with non-stop threats and harassment.

Mr Marlow said: 'On the internet it has been very threatening.

'It has got ridiculous - activists from as far away as Australia are getting involved.

'The internet is the worst thing as not only are they threatening to physically destroy our business, but they are also trying to ruin our reputation online, too, by leaving negative reviews and comments.

'They want to close us down and people are threatening to smash the windows or petrol bomb the store.

'We live in fear and we're up worrying at night - they are terrorising us.'

Marlow butchers, pictured after the graffiti was cleaned off, was attacked on May 7

One facebook user said in a review of the butchers that 'chopping up the corpses of innocent animals and using their flesh for food is barbaric'. Pictured is meat sold by Marlow Butchers

Trevor, a butcher for 50 years, was so worried that he reported the threats to police earlier this month.

The graffiti attack took place on the last Bank Holiday, May 7.

After that the Marlow family posted a Facebook update which thanked the community but urged them not to feel 'hatefulness' towards vegans.

It read: 'We do not wish for this incident to cause any hatefulness to vegans. Please understand that this was probably the work of activists and is not a true reflection of vegans!'

But since then, the anti-meat campaigners have stepped things up, with online reviews becoming particularly vicious.

A Facebook user called Henry Washington Hutchings left a one star review on Facebook, adding: 'Chopping up the corpses of innocent animals and using their flesh for food is barbaric.'

Manthy James also left a one star review, adding: 'It's no longer a personal choice when a victim is involved.

'Are your taste buds really more important than a life?'

Following the attack animal rights activists wrote negative Facebook reviews

Mr Marlow added: 'We have been here for 54 years now since my dad took over the business and we are just supplying something that someone wants and is in demand.

'Every supermarket sells meat; we don't get why they're just targeting us.

'The threats are coming from people claiming to be vegans but they used superglue and paint when they vandalised the store, both of which contain animal by-products.

'We can't thank the community enough. Everyone is trying to do their best to help us.'

People took to Facebook to slam the animal rights activist who have attacked the butchers

Mr Marlow added: 'We have been here for 54 years now since my dad took over the business and we are just supplying something that someone wants and is in demand.

'Every supermarket sells meat; we don't get why they're just targeting us.

'The threats are coming from people claiming to be vegans but they used superglue and paint when they vandalised the store, both of which contain animal by-products.

'We can't thank the community enough. Everyone is trying to do their best to help us.'

The owners of Marlow Butchers, pictured before the graffiti attack, are now living in fear

The number of independent UK butchers has gone into freefall since the rise of the supermarket.

In 1990 there were an estimated 15,000, but by 2015 that number had dropped to just 6,000, a reduction of about 60%.

Around 75% of butchers have been in the trade for more than 20 years, but there are a shortage of youngsters being trained in the trade.

A spokesman for Kent Police said officers are investigating the report of 'malicious communications and harassment' aimed at the business.
Theresa May should prove she is a feminist who can do more than just unveil statues and liberalise abortion law in Northern Ireland, a Labour frontbencher today said.

Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti said the UK Government should intervene to change the law immediately rather than holding a referendum.

And the unelected peer said the human rights of women living in the region should trump democracy.

But Mrs May was warned by her DUP backers it would be 'hypocritical' for Westminster to step in to make abortion easier as it is a devolved matter.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, Baroness Chakrabarti was asked directly if she wants referendum or a legislative change.

She said: A legislative change  this is an issue of fundamental human rights and in fact the situation in Northern Ireland is currently putting the United Kingdom government in breach of its international human rights obligations, according to the UN.

'So, we are calling on Theresa May  a self-identifying feminist  to negotiate with the parties in Northern Ireland and then to legislate without further delay.

She added: Theresa May, as a self identifying feminist, needs to say, yes I unveil statues of suffragists in Parliament Square, but the test of my feminism will be whether I guarantee fundamental human rights for women.

Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti (pictured left) urged Theresa May to prove her 'feminist' credentials and back reform but DUP MP Sammy Wilson (pictured right) warned Westminster cannot 'pick and choose' what bits of devolved law it wants to ditch

Baroness Chakrabarti said Theresa May (pictured in Parliament Square last month at the unveiling of the statue to Suffragist Millicent Fawcett) must do more than just unveil statues to prove her feminist credentials

The row erupted after the Republic of Ireland voted at the weekend to liberalise abortion laws in a landmark referendum - leaving Northern Ireland with the most restrictive legislation in the UK.

MPs across the political divide have urged Westminster to back legislative change in the region as the devolved Assembly has been suspended for over a year amid a political row.

But the PM is dependent on the DUP's 10 MPs to prop her up in power and the small Northern Irish party is strictly against any change in the law.

If she defies her backers they could pull the plug on their support and collapse her Government.

Northern Ireland's devolved assembly voted against liberalising abortion laws in 2016.

Law could be named after 'martyr' Savita The new Irish abortion law may be named Savitas law after the woman who became a martyr for the cause of legalising abortion. Savita Halappanavar, pictured, was a 31-year-old dentist who was denied an abortion in 2012 after her first pregnancy ran into difficulties at 17 weeks. Medics at University Hospital Galway decided that a miscarriage was certain  but refused to terminate the pregnancy because the heart of the foetus was still beating. Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 Her husband Praveen said his wife had said she was in pain and had asked for a termination. He said she was told that unfortunately its a Catholic country. Mrs Halappanavar, a Hindu, developed an infection and then septic shock, and died seven days after being admitted to hospital. Her husband said there was no doubt that she would have lived if a termination had been allowed. An inquiry found that there had been an over-emphasis on the need not to intervene until the foetal heart had stopped. The death provoked protests and also led to the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, which allows a termination if there is a substantial risk to life, including risk of suicide. Mrs Halappanavars father Andanappa Yalagi told the Irish Times yesterday that the new law should be named for her. Advertisement

But Baroness Chakrabarti dismissed concerns that intervention directly by the UK government would flout devolved democracy.

She said: This is an issue of fundamental human rights.

When asked what about democracy? This is one of these great big existential debates  democracy o the rule law.

But you cant have democracy without fundamental human rights and the women of Northern Ireland have suffered for long enough.

When you have a UN committee scathingly reporting about the UK being in breach of its international obligations

There are clear signs that times are changing that the attitudes of people on both sides of that border on the island of Ireland are changing. The women must get the rights they deserve.

She denied that Labour is trying to take advantage of the issue to force a rift between Mrs May and her DUP allies which could force the collapse of the Government.

Challenged directly about if this is their aim, she said: 'No, not at all. If you look at our manifesto we have a clear commitment to work with the assembly in northern Ireland to extend abortion rights.'

Dawn Butler, Labour's shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, said: ''This is an injustice. No woman in the UK should be denied access to a safe, legal abortion.

'Labour's manifesto commits to working with the Northern Ireland Assembly to bring about these changes and we want to see the Assembly reconvened to make such important decisions, but nearly eighteen months on, women in Northern Ireland should not have to suffer in its absence.

'We call on the Government to support legislation to extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland. Labour is looking at legislative options for achieving this and urge the Conservatives to work with us to make it law.'

But the DUP have warned the PM they will not be bullied into the change.

Mr Wilson, the DUP's Brexit spokesman, told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'I find it rather hypocritical. If there is going to be interference in the affairs of northern Ireland then it needs to be done in the context of direct rule.

'But you can't pick and choose what parts of direct rule you want, and if the Government wants to go down that line then the Govenmrent will have yto make a decision that the Northern ireland aAssembly is not functioning and all the powers should be brought back to Westminster....

'But you can't pick and choose when you decide which parts of the devolution settlements you want to lave with the administration and which parts you want to take back just because you don't like the outcome.'

Mrs May is facing a tricky balancing act between those in her Cabinet who back a change in the law and the DUP who oppose it.

Theresa May (pictured with her husband Philip yesterday in Maidenhead) is facing the tricky task of trying to balance calls to back a change in the law with keeping her DUP backers on side

A group of cross party MPs acre hoping to table an amendment to the upcoming domestic violence bill to force through the change.

They say that as Stormont has been suspended for nearly 18 months the UK govenrment can step in to intervene.

But there are doubts over whether the MPs will be allowed to table an amendment on a devolved issue.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries warned that MPs demanding immediate action are making mischief.

She told MailOnline: ' On this issue, Northern Ireland is a devolved administration. This means that on economic and social issues, the elected representatives make their own decisions.

'If the British Government step in on this issue, where does it stop?

'Those who are calling for the government to push forward are in fact seizing upon an opportunity to create mischief, knowing full well that should the Government do so, our formal relationship with the DUP would be under threat and the government, and the Brexit process, destabilised as a result.'
Former prime minister Stanley Baldwin called for the nation to help clear the national debt

Britain's super rich may be focusing on avoiding the taxman today, but 100 years ago some of the nation's wealthy had the opposite intention, it has been revealed.

The national debt after the First World War was seen as a shared burden and donations to the Treasury flooded in.

Some donated a few pounds to honour the fallen, but others gave away fortunes. And those handing over the biggest cheques had little in common  except that most of them were Scottish.

One such charitable fund, National Fund for the Redemption of the National Debt, has grown from 500,000 in 1927 to 400 million today.

Attorney general, Jeremy Wright has now asked the High Court to allow access to the fund which was started by an anonymous donor, to bring down the deficit.

The fund would pay around 0.00024% of the current 1.7 trillion national debt.

Silent film actress and aviatrix Poppy Wyndham in the cockpit of her Avro biplane. she was the daughter of P&O shipping chairman James Lyle Mackay, the Earl of Inchcape

However the great-great-grandson of the largest donor to the fund - Sir Alexander Park Lyle, 1st baronet of Glendelvine in Perthshire  has questioned the plan.

Alexander Linklater's great-great grandfather and his charitable friends had set out to keep the nation free of debt.

Mr Linklater believes if the former shipping tycoon's money is merely swallowed up, it does not honour his wishes when he donated in 1929.

He told The Times he has reservations over the idea of 'throwing it into a bottomless pit'.

'It would be wrong to dissolve it just because it was convenient,' Mr Linklater said to The Times.

'They were giving money, whether 10,000 or 2, because they had been brought to the existential brink. I would think that the properly interpreted wishes of the original donor should be honoured. If that half-billion is swallowed up in the deficit in a few months, then what's the point?'

Lord Inchcape, the chairman of P&O created a The Elsie McKay Fund in 1928 after his daughter went missing. Pictured in 1932

British Conservative politician Mr Baldwin believed the richest had a duty to their country to help out. Now, many divert funds to avoid huge tax bills at home

Sir Lyle was brought up a Presbyterian and did not approve of debt, his relative said.

Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin, a businessman turned politician encouraged his peers to work with him to help the nation reduce its debt in his role as secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Baldwin became rich through his father's company which he helped run, Baldwins Ltd, one of Britain's largest iron and steel firms.

By the time of his death he had donated an entire fifth of his family wealth to funds for Britain.

The Government has previously cracked open donated pots meant for balancing the books.

Lord Inchcape, the chairman of P&O created a similar fund in 1928 named the Elsie Mackay Fund after his daughter.

Ms Mackay, also known as Poppy Wyndham, disappeared aged 35, as she tried to fly across the Atlantic with Captain Walter Hinchliffe in 1928.

The pair, a distinguished pilot and a society lady, set off from Cranwell in their monoplane Endeavour hoping to become the first to fly the Atlantic from east to west non-stop but were never seen again.

Jeremy Wright wants the Government to be able to access the funds donated by a mystery person in 1929 to help clear debt

Ms Mackay's estate of 521,101 13s 4d was placed into a fund which was later cashed in by the Labour government at 5 million in 1978.

Other contributors included former journalist and MP Lord Dalziel in 1936 who left 400,000 from his will.

In a letter to the Times in 1919, Mr Baldwin wrote: 'It is so easy to live on borrowed money; so difficult to realise you are doing so  How can a nation be made to understand the gravity of the financial situation; that love of country is better than love of money? This can only be done by example and the wealthy classes have today an opportunity of service which can never recur.'

In a statement, Attorney General Mr Wright said it is time to use the money donated almost a century ago.

He said: 'Almost 90 years ago, an anonymous donor bequeathed money to the nation.

'Yet we have not been able to put it to good use.

'We have been working with the Treasury, trustees, and the Charity Commission to find a solution consistent with the donor's original objectives of extinguishing the national debt.
A 17-year-old boy who microwaved a kitten until it had to be put down has walked away with six months' probation.

The seven-week-old kitten, who belonged to another family, suffered internal damage and had to be put down the day after.

The boy, who is from Victoria, was charged with animal cruelty following the event in January, according to the ABC.

However, he was spared a fine and conviction after Magistrate David Faram ruled he had no understanding of the impact of his actions.

A 17-year-old boy has microwaved a kitten resulting in it suffering form internal injuries and having to be put down

The boy was given six months' probation after undergoing a psychological assessment.

In a sentence hearing at the Shepparton Magistrates' Court, the boy told Magistrate Faram that he was having difficulties with attending school and had been in and out of class.

He added that he was now attending school via long distance and wanted to graduate.

Magistrate David Faram described the incident as horrible but said he would not give the boy a conviction.

'I'm certain you had no clear understanding of the impact this would have on your life.'

He said that he felt the boy regretted his actions and had learned from the situation.

'I am satisfied you're remorseful and this type of behaviour won't happen again.'
The star of Channel 4s SAS: Who Dare Wins has revealed how it feels to kill and why he misses the adrenaline rush of pulling the trigger.

Ant Middleton, a military veteran born in Portsmouth, says he was surrounded daily by death on the front line of Afghanistan.

After joining the Royal Marines in 2002, he completed two tours of duty of Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.

The 37-year-old explains that most people he encounters dont feel like they can ask him what it was like to kill a man.

The star of Channel 4s SAS: Who Dare Wins has revealed how it feels to kill and why he misses the adrenaline rush of pulling the trigger

Ant Middleton, a military veteran born in Portsmouth, says he was surrounded daily by death on the front line of Afghanistan

Yet in his new book, First Man In: Leading From The Front, the now TV star, admits: It feels like getting the job done. It feels satisfying. But beyond that, killing someone feels like nothing at all.

The father-of-five warns his response isnt ordinary and that he thrived on the combat...perhaps too much.

And unlike many other soldiers, Ant decided never to call home or open his wife, Emilies letters, for he was worried he would lose focus.

Ant was part of the Special Forces hard arrest team which meant working in life-threatening conditions on a regular basis.

He says that successfully pulling through an operation and deciding who gets fired at or not is the closest thing to feeling all-powerful, like God, report the Sun.

So when back in the civilian world, the former Special Boat sniper thought that after surviving suicide bombers and 'AK-47-wielding Taliban thugs it would be easy.

However he soon realised returning back from war would be harder than he anticipated.

On a night out Ant found himself in the middle of a brawl and says he was upset by police officers alleged inaction and forceful manner.

This led to a fight with the authorities with Ant later being found guilty of unlawfully wounding two police officers in a nightclub brawl in Chelmsford, Essex.

Unlike many other soldiers, Ant decided never to call home or open his wife, Emilies letters, for he was worried he would lose focus

After joining the Royal Marines in 2002, he completed two tours of duty of Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008

He was sentenced to 14 months in prison with an aim to be let out early for good behaviour.

Fighting inside could see him being kept in jail for years and so he knew his biggest enemy would be himself, adding: This war would be fought inside my head'.

The former sniper is one of the cornerstones of the reality programme, SAS: Who Dare Wins, which saw civilians put through eight days of intense special forces training.

The aim of the show - which recently had its third series - is to recreate special forces training conditions and recruits were forced to endure 21km hikes, interrogations and intense exercise sessions known as 'beastings'.
Savita Halappanavar in Galway, Ireland before her death in 2012

The parents of a woman who died in Ireland after being refused an abortion during a miscarriage said 'the battle is won' after last week's referendum result.

Savita Halappanavar, 31, died from a septic miscarriage after medical staff refused to terminate her pregnancy because her unborn baby still had a foetal heartbeat.

Her death in October 2012 reignited a fierce debate over abortion in Ireland and ultimately led to the campaign for a referendum.

On Friday last week Ireland voted to amend strict eighth amendment abortion laws in a landmark decision, which Savita's family hailed as a 'victory on her behalf'.

'It was a battle of six years and the battle is won,' Savita's mother Akkamahadevi Yelagi told the BBC.

'Her soul will rest in peace now.

'We are thankful to those who fought the battle for my daughter.'

Scroll down for video

Savita's father Andanappa Yelagi (left) and mother Akkamahadevi Yelagi (right) with her picture

Andanappa Yelagi, the father of Savita Halappanavar holds her portrait at his home in Belgaum, India

Messages are left at a memorial to Savita a day after the referendum to liberalise abortion laws was passed by popular vote, in Dublin

Hundreds of people laid flowers at the site of a new mural in Dublin which appeared last week dedicated to Savita

66.4 per cent of voters in Friday's referendum backed repeal of the controversial Eighth Amendment of the constitution, which bans abortion in all but exceptional circumstances.

Following the historic decision, pro-choice campaigners have backed calls for Ireland's new abortion laws to be named after Savita.

The Together for Yes coalition said calling the new legislation 'Savita's Law' would recognise the 'great debt' the Irish people owed to her.

'In terms of Savita and her family I think our country owes them a great debt and we were so honoured and so touched by the support that they lent to the campaign over the course of it,' Yes co-director Grainne Griffin said.

Savita's father, Andanappa Yelagi, told local media at the family home in India he supports calls for the new legislation to be named in her honour.

'I was really glad to see her father say that yesterday they felt they had justice for their daughter,' Ms Griffin added.

After her death in 2012, thousands of women took to the streets of India to campaign for changes to the Irish abortion law

Savita's death sparked an outpouring of public anger at the archaic Irish abortion laws in the eighth amendment

Hundreds of people on Sunday continued to leave flowers and candles at a large mural of Savita in Dublin.

Many people left floral tributes and handwritten notes saying that her death had influenced their decision to vote.

Crowds of pro-choice campaigners also chanted the name 'Savita' outside Dublin Castle as the official results of the referendum were announced on Saturday.

The vote overturns a law which, for decades, has forced over 3,000 women to travel to Britain each year for terminations that they could not legally have in their own country.

After the vote, Together for Yes co-director Orla O'Connor urged the Irish government to move swiftly to repeal the eighth amendment laws as soon as possible.

'After this phenomenal vote to remove the Eighth Amendment we now need to move very quickly to introducing and progressing the legislation,' Ms O'Connor said.

'We are calling on the Government to now start the process next week. The people have spoken, they have spoken very loudly and we now need to see this legislation happen quickly because as we know today, as we are here, there are women who are planning their journeys and who are having to travel to access abortion outside of Ireland.'
A former Bandidos bikie has admitted to beating a father-of-two to death with a shifting spanner and tyre iron before burning his body on a remote property.

Greg Dufty, a 37-year-old pool builder, went missing on July 6, 2015, after he was picked up in a Mack truck from an Ashmore car park and taken to a remote part of the Gold Coast hinterland, according to the Courier Mail reported.

This week, former Bandios bikie Lionel John Patea and his two associates pleaded guilty to bashing Mr Dufty until he died because he had stolen their cannabis.

Mr Dufty's body has never been found.

The court heard, Greg Dufty (pictured), 37, was bashed into unconsciousness with a shifting spanner and tyre iron after he stole cannabis

Lionel John Patea (pictured), the former Bandios bikie, appeared to laugh before pleading guilty to murder

When Mr Dufty wouldn't wake up after the bashing, his body was burned at a property near Casino in northern NSW, the Brisbane Supreme court heard on Monday.

Patea appeared to laugh before pleading guilty to murder.

His brother, Nelson Andrea Patea, and Aaron John Crawford each pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter.

Liam Rawhiti Bliss and Clinton Lee Earl Stockman also pleaded guilty to his manslaughter in February, Courier Mail reported.

Lionel Patea was sentenced to life in prison early last year for brutally beating his girlfriend Tara Brown to death, the publication reported.

Nelson Andrea Patea (pictured) also appeared to laugh before pleading guilty to one count of manslaughter
It's been a British childhood favourite since 1984.

And now classic TV-series Thomas the Tank Engine is gearing up for a new adventure - and a new movie.

The film sees Thomas leave the fictional island of Sodor - the setting for the franchise - as the well-loved locomotive travels Africa, South America, the US and China.

Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie will be shown at 400 cinemas across the UK from July 20.

The 80-minute animated movie sees Thomas off on an adventure without the Fat Controller's permission.

He meets a 'fun and inspiring' tank engine in Kenya called Nia who teaches him about the true meaning of friendship.

It comes after Thomas & Friends announced it was to become gender-balanced, global and inclusive by taking Thomas on adventures across the world while introducing new female characters.

Mattel, the US toy giant that owns the rights to the show, collaborated with the United Nations to help meet the organisation's Sustainable Development Goals.

Its new story lines have been written to meet five of the goals: quality education, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and life on land.

Nia, an African engine who will teach Thomas a lesson about the meaning of friendship, will join the cast of the classic franchise

Mattel said the changes are a 'groundbreaking refresh' and is based on extensive market research with hundreds of parents and their children.

Series producer Ian McCue said the team could not 'sustain' episodes that were based in Sodor any longer.

'We wanted him to discover new things, and for the first time he will be leaving Sodor and England,' Mr McCue told the Telegraph.

Series producer Ian McCue said the team could not 'sustain' episodes that were based in Sodor any longer

'We couldn't have him encountering a new animal in Sodor every week, but now he can meet kangaroos in Australia, tigers in India, pandas in China.'

Mr McCue said that while other female engines had featured on the show previously, they had 'disappeared into the background'.

'We're not making these changes for the sake of it. We know that a lot of girls love the show. The audience on [Channel 5's] Milkshake is 50:50,' he added.

It comes after Labour MP Mary Creagh complained that Thomas was perpetuating 'negative stereotypes'  arguing it needed more female engines.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in could join Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in a three-way summit aimed at denuclearising North Korea.

Preparations for the June 12 meeting between the U.S. and the rogue state are underway with top American diplomat Sung Kim crossing the DMZ on Sunday.

The agenda for the Singapore talks was still being drawn up but would include getting Mr Kim's regime to permanently shut down his nuclear weapons program.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left) could join Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un (right) in a three-way summit aimed at denuclearising North Korea

The planned historic summit is a dramatic turnaround from President Trump pulling out of talks last week after a war of words with Mr Kim's regime

Adding South Korea to the mix would mean discussions around providing a security guarantee for the North in exchange, according to Yonhap News Agency.

A Seoul official said Mr Moon's participation depended on pre-summit negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea.

'The discussions are just getting started, so we are still waiting to see how they come out, but depending on their outcome, the president could join President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore,' they said.

The planned historic summit is a dramatic turnaround from President Trump pulling out of talks last week after a war of words with Mr Kim's regime.

The U.S. President blamed 'hostility' shown by a North Korean official who threatened nuclear war for negotiations breaking down.

Preparations for the June 12 meeting between the U.S. and the rogue state are underway with top American diplomat Sung Kim (pictured) crossing the DMZ on Sunday

The agenda for the Singapore talks was still being drawn up but would include getting Mr Kim's regime to permanently shut down his nuclear weapons program

North Korean vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui also called his deputy Mike Pence a 'political dummy' for making 'ignorant and stupid' remarks.

'Based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting,' he said.

His rage subsided after North Korea apologised on Friday and the summit was quickly put back on the table.

Mr Kim also made a show of dramatically demolishing a nuclear test site as a show of good faith and his willingness to abandon weapons development.
Three masked men used a samurai sword and machete terrorise staff at a regional pub on Sunday before making off with cash and and personal belongings.

The three men, who had covered their faces with masks, entered the tavern on High Street in Wauchope, in NSW, and threatened the staff as they were in the process of closing up.

The men were armed with a samurai sword, machete and a wooden club. At one point one man can be seen holding the large sword up to a woman's face as he ordered her to open the pub's safe.

Scroll down for video

CCTV footage (pictured) shows the men pushing the staff around and threatening them

They gathered all six staff members together before forcing them to open a safe and stealing cash.

The trio also stole three mobile phones from the staff.

Jack Parker, a bartender at the pub, said that the staff had no idea what to do when the men entered through the back door.

'They were putting machetes on our neck. And yelling at us to 'get down.' We didn't know what to do. We were just frozen,' he said.

The robbers fled the scene in a vehicle described as a white-coloured late-model Subaru four-wheel drive.

Two staff members sustained grazes and scratches during the incident, however, nobody required medical treatment.

The three masked men robbed the Boga Tavern in NSW and terrorised the staff (pictured)

'Its just luck that they're all okay, and no one was injured' said tavern manager Paul Dodd.

Over Facebook, tavern management announced that they were offering up a $5,000 reward for the names of the three men.

'This breaks our hearts to see our staff and their families endure such a stressful situation... We are grateful for the quick response of the local police and the hard work and dedication they have shown towards our venue,' they said.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers.
A schoolteacher has opened up about the moment she thought she would be killed after being allegedly rammed by an irate truck driver - who then confronted her and a friend with a hammer.

Leigh Mahady, 62, and Julie Dougherty, 60, said they were tailgated by a truck while driving to Melbourne Airport on Saturday afternoon.

Terrifying footage allegedly shows the truck driver charge at Ms Mahady while brandishing a hammer after running them off the road. The driver then appears to stand over Ms Mahady.

Leigh Mahady, 62, and Julie Dougherty (pictured), 60, say they were tailgated by a truck while driving to Melbourne Airport on Saturday afternoon

Terrifying footage shows the truck driver allegedly charge at Ms Mahady while he brandishes a hammer after running them off the road. He then stood over Ms Mahady

Her friend Ms Dougherty watched as the attack occurred, also fearing for her life

'He had the steel mullet right up close to my head. I thought I was going to die,' she told the Herald Sun.

'He threatened that he knew my number plate, knew where I live and would come and get me,' she said.

Her friend Ms Dougherty watched as the alleged attack occurred, also fearing for her life.

The truck driver allegedly chased after the women as they tried to escape, smashing their vehicle with his hammer and then throwing it at the car.

The women claim the truckie began tailgating and beeping his horn before stopping to their side and pulling his finger across his neck, allegedly signalling that they were 'going to die'.

Investigators said they believe the man may have been working during the attack.

Police have been told the truck hit the side of the car, pushing it towards a concrete barrier causing damage to the tyres, side mirror and doors.

The truck driver allegedly chased after the women as they tried to escape, smashing their vehicle with his hammer and then throwing it at the car

The women claim the truck driver began tailgating and beeping his horn before stopping to their side and pulling his finger across his neck, allegedly signalling that they were 'going to die'

The aggressive driver rammed the car for a second time before pulling in front, according to reports.

After the truckie drove off along Wildwood Road and turned into Blackwells Road in Wildwood, the women got out of the car to inspect the damage.

The police statement said the women were examining the vehicle when the truckie approached them holding a hammer and a stick.

He ran towards the driver but did not strike her but pushed the passenger to the ground as she tried to run away, police said.

The truckie told the women to get back in the car and then proceeded to strike the vehicle multiple times, causing further damage, according to the police statement.

The man reportedly lost control of the hammer and it fell into the back seat as the women reversed away.

The truckie told the women to get back in the car and then proceeded to strike the vehicle multiple times, causing further damage, according to the police statement

The man lost control of the hammer and it fell into the back seat as the women reversed away, police said

The truckie is believed to be of Middle Eastern appearance, spoke with a slight accent, is aged in his late 20s

The women drove to a nearby police station to report the matter.

The truckie is believed to be of Middle Eastern appearance, spoke with a slight accent, is aged in his late 20s, has curly short black hair, is approximately 160cm tall and was wearing a top with 'Eden' written on it.

Victorian police have released an image of the truck allegedly involved in the incident and are seeking any information or dash camera footage of the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Scientists are hoping to study on Britain's first 'body farm' if plans for the outdoor, open-air grave site are accepted.

Ministers are reported to be looking into the possibility of opening a body farm so taphonomy  the science of decomposition  may be practiced.

On the farm, featured in crime novels by Patricia Cornwell and in forensic science programmes on television, a number of true-to-life scenarios are replicated to study how a corpse will change post-mortem.

This means some bodies will be hung from trees or kept under water, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

A decomposed body in Texas where a research facility with dead bodies across it helps police to solve cold cases

Inside the body farm: Gruesome images show Texas institute where corpses are left to rot in cages as part of scientific research

Scientists are learning more about taphonomy all around the world with the help of body farms

The benefit of the practice is that lessons can be drawn on when attempting to establish the cause of death in a real-life crime.

Dr Anna Williams, an anthropologist at Huddersfield University, is in talks with the Human Tissue Authority, while the Home Office said its officials are 'considering' the idea.

'The benefits to science would help us in a number of ways,' she said.

'We would be able to more accurately know when someone died, as well as being able to identify potential criminals, say from fingerprints or DNA on decomposed skin.'

Volunteers are taken to the farm after death and left in different settings, from trees to under water, to decompose

A scientist in Texas examines a bone after a body was decomposed on the scientific research site

Scientists are able to discover what happens to the body after death in varied settings - then use that information to help find out what happened to victims of crime in real life

Other nations around the world already use body farms, including in the US, Australia and Holland.

The sites are often used to help crack open cold cases.

A number of serial killer John Wayne Gacy's 33 victims were identified after research on a body farm.

In order for the scheme to go ahead in the UK, it needs the approval of the Human Tissue Authority, states the Telegraph

A spokesman from the HTA said that whilst body farms are not currently covered by the UK's human tissue laws, it was an area they 'continue to monitor and provide advice on.'

Scientists said the UK could 'fall behind' other nations if a farm is not opened.
An image grab taken from the Syrian TV channel, Al-Ekhbariya Al-Souriya, on April 30, 2018 allegedly shows the scene of missile attacks targeting central Syria the previous night

Missile strikes on central Syria killed 26 pro-regime fighters, most of them Iranians in a raid that bore the hallmarks of Tehran's arch-foe Israel.

The Syrian regime, which denounced a 'fresh aggression' after the strikes, meanwhile continued to flush out armed groups from the capital with more deals to transfer fighters to the country's north.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, missile strikes hit two military targets in Aleppo and Hama provinces.

The strike on Hama province hit a base known as the 47th Brigade where pro-regime fighters are stationed. Both hits destroyed surface-to-surface missiles, the monitor said.

'At least 26 fighters were killed, including four Syrians,' in the Hama strike, said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based monitoring organiZation.

'The others are foreign fighters, a vast majority of them Iranians,' he told AFP. 'Given the nature of the target, it is likely to have been an Israeli strike.'

Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz told army radio that he was 'not aware' of the latest strikes.

But, he said, 'all the violence and instability in Syria is the result of Iran's attempts to establish a military presence there. Israel will not allow the opening of a northern front in Syria.'

Israeli media reported that the security cabinet was due to hold an emergency session.

The latest strikes came amid heightened tensions in Syria after Damascus and its ally Iran accused Israel on April 9 of conducting deadly strikes against a military base in the centre of the country.

At least 14 soldiers, including seven Iranians, were killed in the strike on a military base in Homs province.

Days later, on April 14, the United States, France and Britain bombarded several Syrian regime military positions in response to a suspected chemical attack on the rebel stronghold of Douma which killed dozens, according to rescue services.

Syria remains technically at war with neighbouring Israel, which is concerned at the growing presence of Iranian forces and those of Tehran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah on Syrian territory.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed in an interview to strike at any attempt by Iran to establish a 'military foothold' in Syria.

Iran has forces deployed in Syria to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as supervising the involvement of several Shiite militia groups it sponsors, some of them from other countries such as Iraq or Afghanistan.

There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the strikes, but the reformist-linked ILNA news agency quoted a security official who did not deny the strike and said any reports on the military situation in Syria should come from Damascus.

'The Syrians must announce the statistics as they are responsible. We are present in this country at the request of the government of Syria,' said Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, spokesman for parliamentary national security and foreign policy commission.

The Syrian government has focused its efforts in 2018 on securing the capital Damascus, the heart of which was spared the worst of the seven-year-old conflict but was long surrounded by rebel-held pockets.

Backed by massive Russian military support, the regime took full control of the Eastern Ghouta enclave.

The sprawling semi-rural area east of Damascus had been home to thousands of armed Islamist and jihadist fighters, who were besieged for years but sporadically fired rockets and mortar rounds on the capital.

Pro-regime forces are now battling jihadists from the Islamic State group and other armed groups in southern neighbourhoods of Damascus.

After days of air strikes and heavy fighting, state media reported that those areas would be evacuated under deals similar to those that emptied other enclaves around Damascus in recent weeks.
A wedding planner's heartbreaking last Facebook post before she was found dead with her 11-year-old daughter in Gloucester has been revealed.

Police have launched a double murder investigation after Laura Mortimer, 31, and her eldest child Ella were killed at a home in Gloucester.

The last post on Laura's Facebook page, on Thursday night, was about her daughter Ella.

Showing a picture of Ella sitting at her dressing table, Laura wrote 'Go to say goodnight and she's there doing her make up - such a princess.'

Laura's father Richard Mortimer, 57, said he could not understand why his daughter, who he called his 'lollipop' and a 'loving and caring mother', was taken away.

He said: 'It's not quite hit me yet, I don't much about what has happened.

'Laura was lovely, she ran her own business, a wedding planning business called Sweet Beginnings.

'Ella had just started at Barnwood Parks School - she was just a beautiful little girl. I don't know what would make anyone do a thing like that.

'She was my little lollipop and now she's gone.'

The picture of Ella on Laura's Facebook page was captioned: 'Go to say goodnight and she's there doing her make up - such a princess'

Laura Mortimer, 31, and her daughter Ella, 11, have been named locally as the mother and child found dead in Gloucester this morning. This month her mother posted a picture of her eldest child while on a 'date night' together

Police examine the scene in Dexter Way, Gloucester, after the bodies were found earlier

Neighbours said they were woken by a 'loud bang' just before the emergency services were called to a property in the city at 4.50am.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. It is not known if Ms Boon's two younger children were in the house when she and Ella died.

Phillica Tabanor, 20, a support worker who lived next door to Laura, said: 'I wasn't at home when it happened, but my mum called me this morning to say some one had been killed.

'When I saw which house it was I thought, 'oh my God'. It has to be them, she's the only one that lived at that house and she had an 11-year-old daughter'.

An investigator examines the scene in Dexter Way after two people were found dead

A tent has been erected outside the house where a woman and an 11-year-old girl were found murdered this morning

Laura Mortimer was a much-loved mother of three and a successful wedding planner in the West Country

Tributes have poured in today with Facebook friends calling mother and daughter 'angels'.

Three days ago friends suggested that she had a few tough months. She responded thanking people for their support.

'When you get supportive random messages they lift you and make you realise who you are what you have achieved and that I dont only help myself I help other people out there', she said.

She added: 'Yes I've had another s*** year but bring it on nothing could ever bring me down when I have hit the top Im staying right there I absolutely love life'.

Ms Boon is believed to have married her husband Chris Boon, 28, four years ago and had two children together. Ella has a different father.

Tributes have poured in for Ella and her wedding planner mother, who ran Sweet Beginnings, a bridal wear and venue decor company.

Amy Harris wrote: 'In such shock and completely gutted to hear the devastating news I have no words. Laura I'm so sorry rest in peace to you and your daughter. This feels so wrong'.

Sophie Mitchell said: 'RIP Laura and your beautiful daughter. what an inspiration you were to us women'.

Sheryl Fish, who worked in the wedding industry with her, said: 'Hug your loved ones closer today. RIP Laura and Ella. What a waste of life'.

Laura Bloom added: 'RIP Laura & your daughter Ella! Absolutely tragic!!!!! Really feel for your other 2 little princesses now to be left without their mummy & big sister!'

Laura had been open about turmoil in her private life before she died. Two weeks ago she posted about how excited Ella was to have her own beauty bar

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a 31-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl in Gloucester

Police were called to a house in the city at 4.50am and found the woman and child dead.

A tent was put up at the scene after the two bodies were found at the property in Dexter Way

Police officers search recycling bins at the scene in Dexter Way, Gloucester, today

Police officers and people in hazmat suits at the scene in Dexter Way where bodies were found

Police officers remove a dog from the scene in Dexter Way, Gloucester, today

Officers have cordoned off a large area around a house in Dexter Way, Gloucester

Forensic investigators talk to each other at the scene in Dexter Way where bodies were found

Officers have cordoned off a large area around a house in Dexter Way, Gloucester, as well as a pathway leading to the nearby River Severn.

Police have erected a forensics tent outside and were seen looking under vans and carrying out fingertip searches of the pavement.

April McMillan, 23, a support worker who lives in a block of flats on Dexter Way, said: 'I woke up at 4.30am this morning hearing a loud bang.

'I didn't think anything of it because we've had road works around and there's been lots of bangs, but this one was on it's own.

'I stayed awake for another two hours and didn't hear anything more.

'There are lots of police about, it's very shocking - I can't believe it.

'I know it was just round the corner but police haven't told us anything.

'Everyone is lovely round here, I didn't expect this at all.'

Kelly Fraser, 31, was walking her dog with Emily Coyne on a nearby riverside path and had to take an alternative route due to the cordon.

'We feel shocked,' she said.

'We don't know them but down the bottom it's quite a community.

'There are always kids out playing. It just seems so sad. This is not a bad area.

'You really feel for the people involved.'

Brothers Bradley Warren, 21, and Byron Warren, 20, were stuck outside the cordon this morning.

Bradley said: 'We haven't been told anything about what's happening.

'We live right in the middle of the cordon. At about 5am there were police cars coming one by one. I noticed the top window of one of the houses was wide open.'

Police were seen looking under vans and carrying out fingertip searches of the pavement

They were also paying particular attention to an area under a silver van at the scene

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said in a statement: 'At 4.50am today, Monday May 28, police were called to an address in Dexter Way, Gloucester where it was reported that two people had been seriously injured.

'A 31-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl were declared dead at the scene.

'A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of the woman and the girl.

'Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Gloucestershire Constabulary on 101 quoting incident 73 of May 28.

'Cordons will remain in place at locations linked to the investigation while our inquiries continue. No further details are available at this time.'
Horrifying CCTV footage has captured the moment a man was almost killed after being pulled onto train tracks.

The man was seen getting on a train at Sydney's Central Station with mates before getting off at Normanhurst in the city's upper north shore.

The man appeared to put his hand on the train's doors as it departed, before the force of the train sucks his body down the side and onto the tracks.

Scroll down for video

CCTV captured the horrifying moment a man fell onto tracks as a train departed Normanhurst station (pictured)

Around 317 commuters fall onto the tracks each year, according to Sydney Trains. Pictured is another incident captured on CCTV

His feet can be seen flying into the air as he fell head-first.

Surprisingly, the man appeared to be uninjured and was helped back onto the platform by shocked fellow commuters.

The man is one of 1,800 commuters who trip or fall at stations on the Sydney Trains network each year.

Fortunately, none have been fatal and only a handful required medical treatment or hospitalisation.

Of those 1,800 incidents, 250 involved children, who, along with the elderly, are most at risk.

'It's distraction. People are on their phones, they're rushed, aren't paying attention to the environment they're in and they lose their bearings,' Sydney Trains customer service executive director Susannah Le Bron told 7 News.

Around 1800 commuters who trip or fall at stations on the Sydney Trains network each year

Around 317 people fall onto the tracks each year, according to Sydney Trains.

This is despite repeated safety messages broadcasted at stations every day warning commuters to mind the gap between the train and platform.

'Yes, we have more than a million people on our trains each day but one incident a day of people falling through the gap isn't good enough,' New South Wales transport minister Andrew Constance told 7 News.

The new Metro trains will have glass barriers to prevent falls between the platform.

In the meantime, Sydney Trains reiterated its plea for commuters to mind the gap at all times.

'Hold children's hands and stay behind the yellow line,' Ms Le Bron said.

Luckily, this man was injured when he walked too close to the platform's edge
The family of a woman who was found bludgeoned to death on her birthday have paid tribute to their 'sweet loving daughter'.

Christina Abbotts, 29, was discovered lying dead in her flat after after she failed to turn up at her birthday celebrations and concerned friends raised the alarm.

Police rushed to the flat in the Gossops Green area of Crawley in West Sussex and found her body on Friday night.

Her family said: 'Christina, our sweet loving daughter and best friend, educated at Cirencester and Oxford, will be sorely missed. This independent lady, a much travelled person was taken from us far too early.

'Her friends in London and parts of the UK will also be grieving.

'The light in our life is now extinguished. Love forever from our family.'

Christina Abbotts, 29, was discovered lying dead in her flat after after she failed to turn up at her own birthday celebrations and concerned friends raised the alarm

Her family have paid tribute to their 'sweet loving daughter' who was found dead in her flat in the Gossops Green area of Crawley in West Sussex on Friday night

Today Zahid Naseem, 47, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire, appeared in front of Brighton Magistrates Court charged with murder.

Dressed in grey jogging bottoms and top he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and his address.

Neighbours and friends of Naseem have spoken of their shock at his arrest.

The marketing specialist lives with his long-term partner Helen in a 600,000 semi detached house in a private road a short distance from Amersham town centre in Buckinghamshire.

One neighbour said: 'I am really just too shocked to say anything about him. He is our neighbour and a lovely man.'

Another said: 'I just can't believe it. He is not that sort of person to be mixed up in anything like murder. Are they sure they have got the right person?

'He is such a lovely man and always very friendly and says hello when you meet in the road. This just does not seem right.'

Naseem has lived in the private road, set in a conservation area in the Buckinghamshire village, for at least five years. He is not believed to have any children but has been with his partner for several years.

It is understood Miss Abbotts died as a result of head injuries sustained from a 'blunt' object.

Her family said: 'Christina, our sweet loving daughter and best friend, educated at Cirencester and Oxford, will be sorely missed. This independent lady, a much travelled person was taken from us far too early'

Miss Abbotts was found dead after her father arrived in the road looking for her after she failed to attend her birthday party at a London hotel

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater, from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, urged anyone with information to contact police quoting Operation Grayhill.

Crawley Borough Council and Sussex Police have been contacted for comment.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'The police and an ambulance arrived in the street at about 10.30pm last night and we knew straight away that something bad had happened.

'This is quite a nice area of Crawley and we are all a bit shocked to discover there has been a murder in the road. I don't know the young girl involved but it is very tragic that she has lost her life.'

A spokesman for Sussex Police said that detectives had launched Operation Grayhill to investigate the murder and appealed for anyone with information that might be useful to the inquiry to contact officers.

'An investigation has been launched after a woman was found dead in Crawley,' said the spokesman.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Pictured is an officer leaving the property

'Police were called at 10.30pm on Friday by a woman's friends concerned that she hadn't turned up to pre-arranged plans.

'Officers attended an address in Highams Hill and found a woman, aged in her 20s, dead in a bed. A 47-year-old man was also found in the property with some minor injuries.

'He was checked over by an ambulance crew before being arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody at this stage.'

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater said: 'We are supporting Christina's family, who aren't local to Crawley, at this very distressing time. They have asked for privacy while they start to grieve.

'We are investigating the circumstances of her death and are keen to hear from anyone who might have seen or heard anything which might help with our investigation.

'Please speak to us in confidence with any information, however small.'

Naseem will appear before Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday May 30.

Anyone with information should contact police quoting Operation Grayhill.
Farmers across England are set to be paid a 50 bounty to kill badgers in a roll out of the controversial cull.

Previously, the animals were only allowed to be slaughtered in areas where cows were deemed to be at high risk of bovine TB, which is spread by badgers.

But the Government has announced plans to dramatically extend the programme to allow farmers to kill the animals even in areas where cows are deemed to be at low risk.

The change means that farmers across the country will be able to claim the 50 fee for shooting a badger - far higher than the 21 areas currently able to claim it.

The plan was announced by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which is headed by Michael Gove.

The plan was announced by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which is headed by Michael Gove (pictured in Downing Street last week)

Under the reforms decisions on whether to allow farmers to cull badgers in low risk areas will be taken on a case by case basis.

Last year, more than 19,200 badgers were killed through the badger culling scheme, down from the 39,364 that were killed in 2016, according to The Telegraph.

But the expansion of the cull is hugely controversial and has been opposed by animal rights groups.

And Natural England is facing two legal challenges over the badger cull programme.

The legal action is being led by Tom Langton, an ecology consultant, who has hit out against the 'bloody purges' being mounted against badgers.

On his fundraising page he said: 'Our Government has escalated badger culling in England this autumn on an industrial scale.

Badgers in areas of England deemed at low risk of bovine TB will be culled under new plans unveiled by the Government

'Badgers are gone from woods, banks and meadows in a growing series of brutal bloody countryside purges.

'Bags and piles of mostly healthy badgers are mass-slaughtered using your taxes. Resting on dubious science and decisions.

'The legally required safeguards on English wildlife from removing our top-tier predator remains hidden from us.'

Private companies are given licences by the Government to carry out badger culls.

A Defra spokeswoman told Mail Online that they do not pay farmers directly for killing badgers.

More than 42,000 cows were killed prematurely in 2017 because they tested positively from bovine TB, up from 27,474 in 2014.
Sydneysiders are set to shiver through freezing temperatures this week as the winter season officially kicks off.

A cold front will force temperatures into the single digits across the city, with minimum temperatures in western Sydney expected to sit between 2C and 5C, forecasters told the Daily Telegraph.

The inner suburbs can expect to see temperatures around 17C for the rest of the week. Temperatures overnight will drop to 9C.

Experts said predicted showers and winds will make temperatures feel cooler than they are.

A severe weather warning has been issued in South Australia as thunderstorms move in over the state.

A severe weather warning has been issued in South Australia (pictured) as thunderstorms move in over the state

Sydneysiders are set to shiver through freezing temperatures this week as the winter season officially kicks off

The Bureau of Meteorology says damaging wind gusts of up to 100 km/h will reach Adelaide on Monday night.

The cold front will bring showers and fierce thunderstorms east from Kangaroo Island and will reach Adelaide and the south-east.

The State Emergency Service has warned people to move vehicles undercover, secure loose items, stay indoors and keep away from windows during the severe conditions, Adelaide Now reported.

Temperatures will reach a maximum of 18C and a low of 8C.

Severe storms that have lashed West Australia this week have taken out large chunks of car parks, walkways and sand dunes, according to Weatherzone.

Potentially hazardous metal and wooden poles at the water line at Fremantle Beach have been left exposed.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the council was working with the Port Authority and several government departments to solve the problem.

On the southern tip of West Australia, Premier Mark McGowan has defended the state authority responsible to prescribed burns, which saw 50 separate fires burn out of control through national parks near Albany.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services will conduct a standard inquiry into the fires, which destroyed at least one home, hundreds of livestock and buildings at a holiday-stay farm.

Sydney's inner suburbs can expect to see temperatures around 17C for the rest of the week. Temperatures overnight will drop to 9C

The inner suburbs can expect to see temperatures around 17C for the rest of the week. Temperatures overnight will drop to 9C

Melbourne residents are also set to for a cool week, with temperatures predicted to reach a maximum of 17C and just 4C at night.

Queensland will experience slightly warmer temperatures throughout the week.

Temperatures are expected to reach a top of 26C and drop below 10C overnight.

Canberra will experience the coldest temperatures with tops of 17C, dropping to -1C throughout the week.

Hobart will see temperatures reach 17C and a minimum temperature of 6C.

Darwin temperatures are predicted to reach a high of 32C and low of 20C.
A British woman has claimed she was imprisoned and repeatedly raped by her barman fiance - months after meeting him while on holiday in Turkey.

The 38-year-old, from Essex, said she was held hostage for 36 house at a village resort in the Mugla province of Turkey, before police raided the building.

She met the unnamed barman when she was on holiday last year and returned last week to marry him, but when she arrived he turned violent, locked her up in a hotel room and tore up her passport, she claimed.

A British woman has claimed she was imprisoned and repeatedly raped by her barman fiance - months after meeting him while on holiday in the Mugla province of Turkey (file picture)

It is understood that the barman video-called the tourist's cousin in Britain while he was beating her.

The cousin then contacted Britain's Foreign Office who, in turn, alerted local police officers.

The British tourist told The Sun: 'I was held hostage for 36 hours and only saved when the police burst in and took me away. He could have killed me. He raped me repeatedly.'

She said he had sex with her 'at least ten times', but that local police did not take her seriously and laughed as they said, 'Thats a lot of sex for a man to have'.

She said she had decided to described her ordeal as a 'warning to other women to be careful'.
A black woman went on an angry rant at a Jewish man in the middle of a crowded morning subway as shocked commuters looked on.

The pair were riding a train in New York City when the Jewish man call her a racist in what appeared to be an argument over seats.

The initial disagreement was not caught on camera but it seemed the woman made a comment about Jews when passengers didn't stand up for someone else.

He demanded to know what she meant by 'you guys' while she shouted 'because your family went through the holocaust?' as the video began.

'You said I was being racist so you tell me what I'm being racist towards. You're Jewish, and I said if a Jewish family got on her, somebody would have got up - that is not a racist thing, that is a factual statement,' she yelled.

'Judaism is not a race, it is a religion.'

The Jewish man's responses, which were rarely raised above speaking volume, were usually drowned out by her shouting, but he appeared to tell her to calm down.

'No, I need to come down because I'm schooling your a**. You guys think you're so f**king smart but guess what, I'm going to teach you a lesson on this f**king train today,' she responded.

A black woman went on an angry rant at a Jewish man in the middle of a crowded morning subway as shocked commuters looked on

He tried to tell her that they were the same and shouldn't be racist to each other, saying 'I'm a person, you are a person'.

She replied: 'No, we're different, understand that. You wanna know why? Because your people treat my people different in our community.'

'No, that's not true,' he said, before she accused Jews of refusing to rent to black people. He responded by saying he didn't own a house.

'You said that I was racist so I'm addressing your people. You said I was racist because I brought up Judaism, right?' she said, launching into a long tirade.

'You wouldn't have called me a racist if I said a Mexican family came on here, right? I'm not hateful, let me school you, did I say Jews are dirty? Did I say they stink?'

'We're different, understand that. You wanna know why? Because your people treat my people different in our community,' she yelled

The Jewish man insisted what she said initially was in fact racist, but she declared several times: 'Judaism is not a race!'

The pair exchanged 'yes it is', 'no it isn't' responses before the video ended.

Unlike many other religions, Jews are also considered a race and six million of them were murdered by the Nazis on racial, not religious, grounds.

Those who consider themselves ethnically Jewish may not practice Judaism, and many people of other races are followers of the religion.
A leading Russian billionaire who thrived under Vladimir Putin has suddenly fled to London, it is reported today.

Boris Mints, 59, head of O1 Properties, a real estate investment giant, is believed to have decamped with his three adult sons who all work for his business.

The philanthropist's dramatic flight comes amid suggestions his company is under pressure from interests closer to Putin.

Boris Mints, 59, head of O1 Properties, a real estate investment giant, is believed to have decamped with his three adult sons who all work for his business

The philanthropist's dramatic flight comes amid suggestions his company is under pressure from interests closer to Putin

'The situation appears to be tense, it's safer to go away', said a source cited by Vedomosti business newspaper.

The newspaper said two sources linked to the Russian central bank confirmed his switch to London.

It comes amid claims from Kommersant newspaper that his O1 asset could fall into the hands of a Cyrpus company 'Riverstretch Trading & Investments (RT&I)' reported to be close to energy giant Rosneft, headed by close Putin crony Igor Sechin.

However, a link has not been confirmed by Rosneft.

Dozens of rich Russians have fled to London during the Putin era.

Dmitry Mints (left), eldest son of Boris Mints and his younger sons - twins Alexander and Igor

Boris and Marina Mints (left) at the opening of the Museum of Russian Impressionism

But Britain has announced more stringent checks on wealthy Russians seeking visas or residential status in the wake of the Sergei Skripal nerve agent poisoning scandal.

A new visa was not granted to Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich by the time his previous one expired.

Mints is worth around 1 billion and was included on an American Treasure Department list of Russian tycoons who have prospered under Putin.

He is a leading player in non-state pension funds in Russia.

O1 Group this month announced it had defaulted on a bond repayment.

There has been no comment from Mr Mints.

A murder probe is underway into the death of long-time London exile, Nikolai Glushkov, 68, police have announced.
The man responsible for the a notorious kidnapping says he has no remorse for the shocking crime - and he now wants to become an Australian citizen.

Bryan Wickham kidnapped young siblings Iddin, 9, and Shahira Bahrin, 7, with their father, Malaysian prince Raja Kamarul Bahrin, in July 1992 from their mother TV journalist Jacqueline Gillespie at Melbourne's Victoria Hotel.

The children were driven 4000km to Weipa, Queensland, and put onto a small boat.

Scroll down for video

Bryan Wickham was jailed for nine months for the crime, and now, aged 80, he has been rejected in his application to become an Australian citizen

He kidnapped young siblings Iddin, 9, and Shahira Bahrin, 7, with their father, Malaysian prince Raja Kamarul Bahrin in July 1992

Wickham was jailed for nine months for the crime, and now, aged 80, he has been rejected in his application to become an Australian citizen.

He said he doesn't have any remorse for his role in the kidnapping plot.

'Remorse I don't know... I did the job,' he told A Current Affair.

While laughing, Wickham detailed how the plan to kidnap the children came about.

'I said "if it was me, I'd just go and take them",' he said of his planning with Raja Kamarul Bahrin.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Wickham has been living in Australia since 1952, but he now faces deportation.

His bid for citizenship was rejected by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's office due to his 'bad character'.

'The convictions represent a pattern of criminal behaviour over a long period of time,' Wickham's rejection letter stated.

Wickham has served in the Australian army, saying that should be proof of his loyalty to the country - and he has received a letter from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thanking him for his service.

The children's mother Jacqueline Gillespie said the kidnapping took place 'under horrific and dangerous circumstances with my children drugged, abused and terrified'

He was one of Australia's most wanted criminals after kidnapping the children, and was eventually arrested in Florida.

Raja Kamarul Bharin was recently elected to the Malaysian parliament, and said Australia should have compassion 'for an old man like [Bryan]'.

Iddin Bahrin, who is now a filmmaker in Kuala Lumpur, said he has no anger towards Wickham.

'He's never done anything wrong to me. I always remember him as a very gentle, kind man,' he said.

The children's mother Jacqueline Gillespie said the kidnapping took place 'under horrific and dangerous circumstances with [her] children drugged, abused and terrified', and that the act 'ripped [her] family apart'.

She was denied access to her children for 14 years, but is now in regular contact with them according to Malaysian media.

'It is my hope that Mr Wickham leave us all in peace, stop with his callous, manipulative and cynical attempt at an additional fifteen minutes of fame,' she said in a statement.
A former International Monetary Fund official nicknamed 'Mr Scissors' has been made interim prime minister in Italy and tasked with forming a new government amid fresh political turmoil.

Carlo Cottarelli said this morning that he will put together a government 'very quickly' ahead of fresh elections, to be held in autumn or early next year.

President Sergio Mattarella turned to the economist after scuppering an attempt by populist parties the Five Star Movement and the League who aimed to form a coalition.

Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio has called for Mattarella to be impeached for treason after he vetoed their bid to install fiercely eurosceptic economy minister Paolo Savona, who has described the euro as a 'German cage'.

Such a move would require an absolute majority in both chambers of parliament in a joint session. League leader Matteo Salvini has called for protests against Mattarella, who cited concerns from investors at home and abroad for his decision.

Italy's president appointed pro-austerity economist Carlo Cottarelli, 64, to form a potential technocrat government as the country lurched into fresh political chaos following the collapse of a populist bid for power

Italy's interim prime minister Carlo Cottarelli (pictured today) said this morning that he will put together a government 'very quickly' ahead of fresh elections, to be held in autumn or early next year

The Italian President Sergio Mattarella (pictured yesterday) is facing impeachment calls for treason after he refused to appoint a fiercely eurosceptic finance minister

The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio (left) and Matteo Salvini (right), have been enraged by the move which has plunged Italy into fresh political turmoil

The two parties' approved nominee for prime minister, lawyer and political novice Giuseppe Conte, stepped aside over the veto, exacerbating the political turmoil nearly three months after March's inconclusive general election.

Mattarella said he had accepted every proposed minister except Savona.

Di Maio and Salvini denounced the veto, decrying what they called meddling by Germany, ratings agencies and financial lobbies.

Mattarella summoned Carlo Cottarelli, an economist formerly with the International Monetary Fund, for talks earlier today, with a temporary technocrat government on the table as Italy faces the strong possibility of new elections in the autumn.

Cottarelli, 64, was director of the IMF's fiscal affairs department from 2008 to 2013 and became known as 'Mr. Scissors' for making cuts to public spending in Italy.

Italy's fresh election risks being a referendum on euro The euro looked to have dodged a bullet when Italy's would-be eurosceptic coalition government collapsed at the weekend, but it may turn out to have been the opening salvo in a war over Europe's single currency. On Sunday, Italy's president rejected the nomination of a eurosceptic, Paolo Savona, for the economics ministry by the far-right League and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement because Savona had previously said Italy should leave the euro zone. But now the two parties, who were rivals in the March vote, are weighing whether to join forces ahead of a fresh election seen in the autumn or early next year. 'The upcoming elections will not be political, but instead a real and true referendum ... between who wants Italy to be a free country and who wants it to be servile and enslaved,' League leader Matteo Salvini said on Monday. 'Today Italy is not free; it is occupied financially by Germans, French and eurocrats.' Sergio Mattarella vetoed the appointment of Paolo Savona (pictured) who has described the euro as a 'German cage' and said that Italy needs a plan to leave the single currency 'if necessary' The euro, bonds and stocks initially rallied on Monday after President Sergio Mattarella vetoed Savona's nomination, but relief turned to fear over snap elections. The gap between Italian and German 10-year bond yields, a measure of Italian risk, widened to its highest in over four years. 'The election is going to resemble a referendum, de facto, on the European Union and the euro,' said Francesco Galietti, head of political risk consultancy Policy Sonar in Rome. 'It's an existential threat for the entire euro zone.' If Italians were to cast a protest vote against the EU and euro at fresh elections, it would deliver the bloc's biggest challenge since Britain voted to quit the union two years ago and raise questions about the future of the single currency. As the euro zone's third-largest economy, heavily indebted Italy also represents a far bigger potential threat to the single currency than the Greek economic crisis. Polls show the League has gained support since winning 17 percent of the vote in inconclusive March 4 elections, climbing as high as 24 percent. The 5-Star has been drawing about the same 32 percent it got two months ago. Former prime minister Massimo D'Alema, caught speaking on an open microphone on Saturday, summed up the fears of traditional parties: 'If we go back to elections because of a veto on Savona, they (anti-establishment parties) are going to win 80 percent.' On the street, some voters believe Salvini is right to challenge the president's veto and go back to the polls. 'I'm really ticked off. The president sold out the country,' said Giancarlo Sacco, 54, owner of a cafe in central Rome. Sacco said he wanted Italy to remain in the euro but that its concerns needed to be taken seriously by EU partners. 'It just has to make itself respected again.' The president's veto of Savona as economy minister has put the currency, which was little discussed in the last election campaign, at the centre of the debate. 'Membership of the euro is a fundamental choice,' Mattarella said in a televised speech, explaining his veto. 'If we want to discuss it, then we should do so in a serious fashion.' In February, Salvini railed against the euro, saying it was a 'mistake for our economy'. 'We don't have a euro in our pockets. We have a German mark which they called the euro,' he said. The 5-Star dropped its previous calls for a non-binding referendum over Italy's euro membership, though its founder, comic Beppe Grillo, recently revived the idea. Political tensions are running high, with the League threatening street protests against Mattarella. On social media, League and 5-Star sympathisers made death threats against the president, while supporters crowding around Salvini and Di Maio during live TV interviews late on Sunday shouted insults at him. On the other side are Italians who, like many Britons devastated by the Brexit vote, see the country's relationship with Europe as fundamental. 'I am absolutely pro-European and I believe that Italy is connected, must have a connection with Europe for our future,' said Irene Teramo, a shopper at a street market in Rome, who supported the president's decision. Italians will also be weighing concern about their savings as financial markets put the country's stock market and bonds under pressure and borrowing costs increase. 'In his heart, the average voter will probably be cheering for the anti-establishment forces, but his wallet will be saying the opposite,' said political risk expert Galietti. 'It will be a heart versus wallet election.' Advertisement

'I will come to parliament with a programme that, if I win the vote of confidence, will include a vote on the 2019 budget. Then parliament will be dissolved, with elections at the start of 2019,' Cottarelli told reporters after meeting Mattarella.

But he added that if, as is likely, his government is not approved by parliament, new elections will be held 'after August'.

He will struggle to gain the approval of parliament with Five Star and the League commanding a majority in both houses.

Giuseppe Conte (pictured) has given Italian President Sergio Mattarella back his mandate to form a government

'They've replaced a government with a majority with one that won't obtain one,' said Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio to supporters at a rally near Rome.

A former judge of Italy's constitutional court, Mattarella has refused to bow to what he saw as 'diktats' from the two parties which he considered contrary to the country's interests.

He had watched for weeks as Five Star and the League set about trying to strike an alliance that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority.

Mattarella said that he has done 'everything possible' to aid the formation of a government, but that an openly eurosceptic economy minister ran against the parties' joint promise to simply 'change Europe for the better from an Italian point of view'.

'I asked for the (economy) ministry an authoritative person from the parliamentary majority who is consistent with the government programme... who isn't seen as a supporter of a line that could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro,' Mattarella said.

Italian president's powers in a crisis The president of Italy, an institutionally respected figure, has limited powers but ones which have often proved crucial during political crises. The current President Sergio Mattarella refused to appoint a eurosceptic finance minister, even though he was the choice of the prime minister-designate and had the backing of the majority of parliamentarians. His decision to exercise this right, which is enshrined in Article 92 of the Italian constitution, enraged the far-right League of Matteo Salvini and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement of Luigi Di Maio. It is not the first time that an Italian president has refused to appoint a minister supported by the majority of lawmakers - it has happened at least three times before, most notoriously with Silvio Berlusconi. The current President Sergio Mattarella refused to appoint a eurosceptic finance minister, even though he was the choice of the prime minister-designate and had the backing of the majority of parliamentarians After winning elections in 1994, the media magnate, who was already in the crosshairs of the Italian justice system, proposed to president Oscar Luigi Scalfaro to nominate his personal lawyer Cesare Previti as Minister of Justice. Scalfaro refused and Berlusconi accepted defeat. This time, the Italian populists have refused to accept that the country's head of state is simply exercising his prerogative, instead denouncing what they claim is meddling by Brussels or financial lobbyists. It is on this basis that Di Maio has raised the possibility of impeaching Mattarella for treason - something that would require an absolute majority in both chambers of parliament in a joint session. The president has very limited powers but can appoint heads of government and their chosen ministers. The constitution also gives the president the power to dissolve parliament, a deterrent force which has played a part in numerous prior political crises in Italy - a country which has had 64 governments since 1946. During the financial crisis in 2011, when global markets turned on Italy, President Giorgio Napolitano supported a move to oust Silvio Berlusconi and replace him with former European Commissioner Mario Monti. Berlusconi denounced what he said was a state coup and demanded early elections - but in vain. The League and M5S had also called for early elections after Italians voted no in a 2016 referendum on constitutional reform - prompting the departure of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi - but Mattarella refused to dissolve parliament. Advertisement

Mr Conte (pictured) who has no political experience, received the mandate last week from the pro-European Mr Mattarella, but talks failed

The president said Conte refused to support 'any other solution' and then, faced with Mattarella's refusal to approve the choice of Savona, gave up his mandate to be prime minister.

The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, were infuriated by Mattarella's refusal to accept Savona, a respected financier and economist.

Salvini, who was Savona's biggest advocate and a fellow eurosceptic, said on Sunday that Italy wasn't a 'colony', and that 'we won't have Germany tell us what to do'.

'Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the governments,' a livid Di Maio said in a video on Facebook.

Later on Italian television he called for impeaching Mattarella.

'I hope that we can give the floor to Italians as soon as possible, but first we need to clear things up. First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls,' Di Maio said.
Nicola Sturgeon today branded Boris Johnson and Michael Gove 'mad Brexiteers' as she visited Brussels to pour scorn on Theresa May's exit vision.

She held talks Brussels' chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier where she called for the UK to stay in the EU customs union and single market - flouting the PM's red lines.

And the SNP leader warned she will launch a fresh push for a second independence vote in autumn if she does not like the Brexit deal.

Speaking in Brussels today, Ms Sturgeon tore into Mrs May's Brexit plans and said she is listening to the wrong politicians.

She told a Politico audience: 'They are not listening to anybody but the mad Brexiteers - people like Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Michael Gove. That's the problem.

Nicola Sturgeon held talks Brussels' chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels today (pictured) where she called for the UK to stay in the EU customs union and single market - flouting the PM's red lines

Nicola Sturgeon today branded Boris Johnson (LEFT) and Michael Gove (right) 'mad Brexiteers' as she visited Brussels to pour scorn on Theresa May's exit vision

'Even though these people are not speaking for the majority in terms of (wanting a) hard Brexit.'

She also refused to name a single Tory MP that she likes.

Ms Sturgeon is calling for the UK to stay in the single market and customs union after Brexit - a move which would undermine Britain's ability to regain control over its borders and strike free trade deals around the world.

The SNP leader said that Brexit 'accentuates' arguments made for the 'independence cause'.

She added: 'Scotland was told in the independence referendum that we face being thrown out of the EU if we voted for it.

'We now find ourselves at the exit door.'

Scotland should not have to choose between the UK single market and the EU's, she added.

And she warned that she will renew her attempt to hold another independence referendum and tear the UK apart if she does not get her way.

Scotland's First Minister said: 'That clarity (on the Brexit deal) will emerge in Autumn - that's my working assumption. I am told by the UK and the EU there will be a detailed plan in the autumn.

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured in Brussels today with Michel Barnier) warned that she will renew her attempt to hold another independence referendum and tear the UK apart if she does not get her way in the Brexit talks

'I will at that point give my own view...at that stage.'

Scots voted against independence in 2014 in what was billed at the time as a once in a generation referendhum.

But the SNP want to use the Brexit negotiations to push for an indyref2 - claiming that Britain's departure from the EU will change the circumstances so dramatically a second vote is warranted.

She added: 'I was very clear with Mr barnier this orning that I wanted to see Scotland but also the UK asa whole remain in the single market.

'I want to see a resolution to the Northern Ireland issue.'

Her intervention comes after Holyrood voted not to give its consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill n a major blow to Mrs May.

It is the first time a devolved parliament has refused to give its stamp of approval to an important piece of Westminster legislation.
Leigh Sales and former politician Clive Palmer have gone head-to-head in the contentious interview, during which the billionaire demanded the ABC journalist 'keep quiet.'

During the interview on The 7.30 Report on Monday night, Sales pressed Mr Palmer about whether he feels a 'sense of shame' creditors for Queensland Nickle, his defunct company, have not been paid money owed to them.

Tension quickly escalated between the pair, who repeatedly talked over one another and traded barbs.

Leigh Sales (pictured) slams Clive Palmer in a fiery exchange on the 7.30 report on Monday night

'If you want to continue the interview I suggest you keep quiet,' Mr Palmer told her.

The 7.30 host, who is renowned for her tough interviewing skills, fired back at the billionaire.

'If you've got nothing to hide, I'm just wondering why you can't answer a question relating to the point that you just made?' she asked him.

Before Palmer could get a word in, Ms Sales launched into a series of questions about a Queensland court's 'recent decision to freeze hundreds of millions of dollars of Mr Palmer's wealth.

Queensland Nickel liquidators launched legal action against Mr Palmer to recover funds owed to creditors following the collapse of the refinery in 2016.

The pair spoke over each other until the ex-politician asked Sales to shut up

On Friday, the Queensland Supreme Court gave the all clear to freeze almost $205 million of Mr Palmer's wealth.

Mr Palmer has described the court action as a 'political witch-hunt' and says he doesn't owe anyone money.

'Well I don't owe them any money, that's the reality of it,' Palmer told Sales during the interview.

'It's not that I can't pay people, it's that I don't owe people.'

Responses over twitter were mixed, with many saying they didn't trust Mr Palmer and a few arguing that Sales was too aggressive

Reactions to the interview on social media were mixed, with some viewers saying Leigh was too aggressive.

'Leigh sales is so rude and aggressive cant even watch the show,' tweeted one.

Others were happy to watch the fiery exchange, saying it made great television.

'It's on! Verbal stoush between Palmer and Leigh Sales. Great TV,' wrote one.

Many slammed Mr Palmer for his behaviour.

'Clive Palmer your interview on 7.30 report shows what a disgrace you are,' tweeted another.
Prosecutors could call on dozens of women to take the stand against Harvey Weinstein.

Taking the lead of the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial, Manhattan officials are contacting women from around the world to testify against the 66-year-old film mogul.

According to sources, they want to use the victims' accounts to 'paint the picture'.

Harvey Weinstein (centre) handed himself into police on May 25 and is currently out on a $1 million bail

Comedian Bill Cosby, 80, was found guilty of sexual assault in April but was initially spared conviction at his first trial, which saw just one accuser testify.

However, in the second trial five more women testified against him and he was convicted.

Now, prosecutors apparently want to employ the same tactic to secure a conviction against Weinstein, even though the mogul has only been charged with sexually assaulting two women.

Sources told the New York Post that prosecutors want to use as many accounts as they can in the grand jury proceedings and later at the trial.

One source said: 'They'd like all these people to be allowed to testify like Cosby, although, ultimately, that would be up to a judge.'

Prosecutors could call dozens of Weinstein's accusers to take take stand to secure a conviction, after taking inspiration from the trial of Bill Cosby (pictured)

Weinstein's lawyer, Ben Brafman, was critical of the plan and dismissed it as desperate.

He also told The Post that the charges against his client include a 'truly crazy' rape allegation from a woman who Mr Weinstein had a ten-year 'consensual' affair with.

He said the affair took place both before and after the 'rape'.

The grand jury has been meeting for a few weeks and prosecutors are being cautious, according to the source.

DA Cyrus Vance Jr.'s office is in charge of the case, having failed to prosecute former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn for the alleged rape of a hotel maid in 2011.

However Weinstein's lawyer Ben Brafman (pictured) is critical of the tactic and dismissed it as a desperate move

The DA has also faced criticism for failing to prosecute Weinstein three years ago, when Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez said she was assaulted by him.

Several actresses have accused Weinstein of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Among them, are Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, Paz de la Huerta.

Weinstein has repeatedly said he is innocent of any crime.

Former actress Lucia Evans is set to testify against the producer and said that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him while they were in his office in 2004.

Meanwhile, the second woman pressing charges against Weinstein says that he raped her twice in one night at the DoubleTree hotel in Midtown, New York in 2013.

Two women have brought rape charges against Weinstein, with one saying she was raped twice in one night by the mogul at the the DoubleTree hotel in New York

Brafman dismissed both of the charges and claimed that they would be discredited 'quickly'.

Weinstein turned himself in to police on Friday and is currently out on a $1 million bail.

He faces up to 25 years in jail if he is convicted.

Prosecutors are also reportedly trying to build mount a financial-fraud case against the producer.
A British man with the word Taiwan tattooed on his forehead has been badly beaten up by a gang of Chinese men who objected to his allegiance to the break-away island nation.

Paul Farrell, who has lived in Taiwan for 14 years and is now a naturalized citizen following his marriage to a local woman, came to grief while on holiday in Cambodia.

He was set upon at the weekend in the southern Cambodian city of Sihanoukville when he became embroiled in an argument with the Chinese men who took exception to the word Taiwan in traditional Chinese characters that were tattooed on his forehead.

The Taiwan News reported today that he lost two teeth, two other teeth were damaged, he suffered a gash to his head, received a fat lip and ended up with bruises on his body.

Paul Farrell drunkenly got a giant tattoo on his forhead which spelt out Taiwan in Mandarin

He told the news portal that he had gone into a bar on Saturday evening and ordered a drink, taking off his hat as he did so - revealing his tattoo.

A large grouup of Chinese men, believed to be overseas workers, shouted in Mandarin Taiwan - China!.

Farrell then made the mistake of replying Taiwan-Taiwan!

They went insane, grabbed poles and started attacking me, he said.

The men, he claimed demanded that he said that Taiwan was part of China, and fearing for his life, Ferrell said in Mandarin OK, you think Taiwan is China, Ill say Taiwan is China. I just want to leave.

In a Facebook post today, Ferrell admitted his regret at having the tattoo on his forehead - and warned other tourists to take care when travelling in Cambodia.

In future, not going to take my hat off, getting tattoo removed btw as was a stupid drunken mistake getting it tatooed on my face.

Any other part of my body would have been fine but not the face.

Farrell, who has lived in Taiwan for 14 years, and is now a naturalized citizen was savagely beaten

He pointed out that he had previously had four laser treatments on his face, so that the image of a flag on his chin was almost gone but he needed further work on his forehead.

Taiwanese be careful abroad, stay safe! Actually Ive met many really nice Chinese here in Cambodia but obvioiusly only takes one group that are not so friendly and have trouble.

Ferrell received widespread attention last October when photos of the Taiwan tattoo on his head and the nations independence flag tattoo on his chin emerged.

Following what he said was his new citizenship he adopted the Chinese name Lohan and began running a bar called the Kayak Club in Kaohsiung.

It was not long after he shot to fame with his tattoos that he ran into trouble with the law when he was arrested for drunk driving. He was pulled over by police for riding a motor scooter erratically.

Placed under arrest, he became highly agitated in a holding cell and reportedly broke the toilet before passing out.

Local media reported that Farrell had a record of drunk driving and had previously been arrested for committing arson when he threw a Molotov cocktail at a shop out of rage about a hamburger.
A leisure centre has been slammed by the local council for reportedly only featuring 'fit, young, attractive' people on its website and advertising campaigns.

Arc leisure centre in Campbelltown, in South Australia, has received complaints for its lack of diversity, which council members claim doesn't represent all of the different type's of people living in the area.

Campbelltown council's Active Ageing Advisory Committee has asked elected members to consider images 'more representative of the diversity' of the community on the website, on marketing material and throughout the building, Adelaide Now reported.

A leisure centre has been slammed by the local council for only featuring 'fit, young, attractive' people on their website

Arc leisure centre in Campbelltown has received complaints for its lack of diversity in advertising their programs

The committee told the council it was 'quite concerned' and the issue had been raised several times but no action had been taken.

Campbelltown Mayor Simon Brewer said the leisure centre's marketing strategy sends the wrong message.

'It's not malicious in any way, but there are improvements that could happen at The ARC that could attract quite a large group of people at times when it's underutilised during the day,' he said.

Council chief executive officer Paul Di Iulio said the council should consider pictures of residents from 'the cradle to the grave', Adelaide Now reported.

'We don't want to overemphasise one group over another, and it's important we don't segregate parts of our community,' he said.

Council chief executive officer Paul Di Iulio said the council should consider pictures of residents from 'the cradle to the grave' Adelaide Now reported
A murder investigation has been launched today after a man in his thirties was killed and more were injured after an Audi drove into a crowd outside a social club.

Police are hunting for the driver who fled the scene after the crash at The Salisbury Club on Truro Avenue in Brinnington, Stockport last night.

The black Audi A4 involved was found abandoned in lane two of the M60 motorway, near to Redrock, but the person behind the wheel has not been found.

Police are hunting for the driver who fled the scene after the crash that killed a man outside The Salisbury Club on Truro Avenue in Brinnington, Stockport last night (pictured today)

Cars outside the social club have been scraped and a lamppost is also damaged

Forensics officers are gathering evidence today as police hunt for the driver of the Audi that ploughed into a crowd last night

He is believed to have climbed a fence to escape.

Detective Inspector Kris Williams of GMP's Stockport Borough, said: 'My thoughts go out to the man's family who sadly have to deal with the tragic news that their loved one has died.

'We've already spoken to a number of witnesses in the area and will continue to do so to build a fuller picture of what has exactly happened but from what we know so far, we believe the driver of the car scaled the fence next to the M60 and ran away.

'Whatever information people have, I'd encourage them to contact us as a matter of urgency.'

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 9790 quoting reference number 2575 of 27/05/18 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
A Yorkshire terrier died and another dog was severely dehydrated after they were left in a car for 90 minutes on an 80F day.

Kenneth Schnabel allegedly told police he was drinking on Sunday morning and forgot his pets were locked in the car with the windows up on a Brooklyn street.

The 54-year-old fell asleep and only awoke when an acquaintance called him to go look at his car, only to find police desperately trying to free the animals.

A Yorkshire terrier died and another dog was severely dehydrated after they were left in a car for 90 minutes on an 80F day

The 12-year-old Yorkie (pictured) was treated but its heat injuries were too great and it had to be euthanized

'Those are my dogs. I f**ked up. I was drunk, I left my car like that,' he told officers at the scene, according to the New York Daily News.

Police got the dogs out and gave them water and oxygen as they lay on the sidewalk then took then to a vet after a passerby called 911 about 10.20am.

The 12-year-old Yorkie was treated but its heat injuries were too great and it had to be euthanized.

The other dog, a seven-year-old Spaniel, was 'conscious and alert' and recovering with the vet, prosecutors at Schnabel's arraignment said.

The other dog, a seven-year-old Spaniel (pictured with Schnabel), was 'conscious and alert' and recovering with the vet

Police got the dogs out and gave them water and oxygen as they lay on the sidewalk then took then to a vet after a passerby called 911 about 10.20am

The electrician was charged with aggravated cruelty to an animal, animal neglect and leaving an animal in a vehicle in an extreme temperature.

Animal advocates said the temperature inside a locked car could jump to 120F in just half an hour on an 85F day.

Schnabel gave a deep sigh and shook his head when the prosecutor told him in court that his dog had died.

Dressed in brown flip-flops, khaki cargo shorts, an olive green shirt, dark brown-framed eyeglasses and long gray shaggy hair, he was released on a $10,000 bond.

Schnabel has seven previous arrests, including drug possession, robbery and burglary charges, police told the court.

The owner was charged with aggravated cruelty to an animal, animal neglect and leaving an animal in a vehicle in an extreme temperature

The 54-year-old fell asleep and only awoke when an acquaintance called him to go look at his car, only to find police desperately trying to free the animals

'It's obvious my client is very sad that the dog was euthanized. He was not kicking or mistreating the animals... Just someone who forgot his animals in his car,' his lawyer Elizabeth Calcaterra told the court.

'He fell asleep. A neighbor woke up him up and told him police had surrounded his car. He returned horrified to find he forgot about his dogs.'

Judge Steve Mostofsky agreed, saying the case didn't appear to be purposeful cruelty towards animals.

'It appears to be an unfortunate circumstance where they were left in the car in extreme heat... they were left there. Sorry to say that someone waited 90 minutes before calling the police,' he said.
One of southeast Queensland's most disadvantaged areas could be home to a 'world class' state-of-the-art wave pool.

Tunnel Vision Wave Pools has lodged plans to build a wave pool, swimming pool and skate park at Loganholme.

Situated in a 'perfect location' between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, the proposed site is just off the Pacific Motorway on the banks of the Logan River.

According to Logan City Council's website, the company submitted a development application to rezone the 18.4 hectare site on May 22.

A wave pool have been proposed for Loganholme in southeast Queensland. Pictured is an artist impression for Tunnel Vision Wave Pools facility

It's proposed an existing two storey building on the site be repurposed into a surf gymnasium, indoor skate ramp, surf board shaper, barber and day spa (pictured)

The proposed major use for the site will be a wave park facility consisting of an oval shape lake with a central turfed island for surfing activities.

Wave heights would range from one to 2.5 metres and feature a series creating of 480 full height waves per hour that have finishing end sections at the end of the ride while 240 learn to surf waves 20m long are proposed for the northern end of the lake.

'The team are excited to be bringing something new and exciting to Queensland and are sure the community, both surfers and surfers to be, will be just as stoked as we are,' company co-founderJay Baikie said in a media statement.

'The team are also extremely enthusiastic about contributing greatly to the emerging tourism economy in the Logan region with an expected 350,000 visitors annually.'

An outdoor swimming pool and skate board park facilities would complement the wave park.

'The applicant has proposed a state-of the-art facility that will provide the perfect wave for surfing,' the development application states.

'Tunnel Vision have committed to over 13 plus years research into the artificial wave technology, that will enable participation from beginners to experienced surfers. The proposal is seen an important catalyst for the implementation of the Logan River Vision, and river experiences, reach and themes, by introducing a world class tourism and recreation facility for the Loganholme area and immediate river environs.'

The proposed site at Loganholme is just off the Pacific Motorway and on the banks of the Logan River.

The development application seeks to re-purpose an existing two storey building on the site into a surf gymnasium, indoor skate ramp, surf board shaper, barber and day spa.

At least 12 full-time jobs would be created, along with many more casual positions.

The proposed facility would occupy a third of the site to allow the remaining 12 hectares to be further developed separately in the future.

'We appreciate there is still a lot of work to be done, but we're so pumped for the potential benefits,' Mr Baikie said.

The proposed wave pool isn't a new concept to southeast Queenslanders.

The wave pool was originally earmarked for Stapylton at the Gold Coast, which had an estimated price tag of $10-$30 million.

A development application to rezone the 18.4 hectare site (pictured) was lodged with Logan City Council on May 22

The proposed new site has been chosen for its geographical location, proximity to the Pacific Highway and Logan Motorway and relatively remote location and appropriate distance from 'any sensitive land uses', according to the development application.

Tunnel Vision isn't the first company to ride the surf park tidal wave in Australia.

Brisbane company Surf Lakes plans to build Queenslands first surfing wave pool near Rockhampton, The Courier Mail reports.

Construction on a Melbourne surf park will start this month, while another application has been submitted to build a $24 million wave pool at Sydney Olympic Park.
The carers of a woman who has not been seen for more than 18 years are to stand trial in September accused of her murder.

Margaret Fleming was reported missing in October 2016 from her home in Inverkip, Inverclyde, but has not been seen since December 1999.

Edward Cairney, 76, and Avril Jones, 58, are charged with abducting and murdering Ms Fleming and fraudulently claiming 182,000 in benefits by pretending that she was still alive.

Margaret Fleming was reported missing from her Scotland home in October 2016

The pairs lawyers entered not guilty pleas to all the charges on their behalf during the first public hearing of the case at the High Court in Livingston on Monday.

It is alleged that Cairney and Jones abducted Ms Fleming at her home at Seacroft, Inverkip, locked her in a room, assaulted her, cut her hair and bound her arms and wrists with tape on various occasions between November 1 1997 and January 5 2000.

The pair are accused of murdering Ms Fleming, who would now be 37, by unknown means at some point between December 18 1999 and January 5 2000.

It is alleged that between 18 December, 1999 and October 2016 they pretended to Department of Work and Pensions officials that Ms Fleming was alive and claimed state benefits, obtaining 182,000 by fraud.

Margaret Fleming was reported missing in October 2016 from her home (pictured) in Inverkip, Inverclyde, but has not been seen since December 1999

The pair also face two charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

It is alleged that they disposed of, destroyed or concealed the remains and personal effects of Ms Fleming between December 18 1999 and October 26 2017.

They are also accused of trying to board a train to London at Glasgow Central Station on October 25, 2017 while carrying 3,500 and the keys to a safe deposit box at a bank in London which contained 27,000.

It is alleged that they planned to travel and evade police and prosecutors.

Cairney was not in the dock during the hearing due to mobility issues as he is in a wheelchair, however Jones was present.

Lord Matthews fixed a trial date for September 25 at the High Court in Glasgow.

The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks.
A man who filmed a violent roadside confrontation between himself and a police officer after he was pulled over now faces assault charges.

Brad Charrington, from Queensland, said two police officers pulled him over to check his vehicle's VIN number in Petrie in the Moreton Bay region on Sunday night.

Mr Charrington said he was asked to get out of his car, but refused.

Footage taken during the stop later showed the pair exchanging punches as Mr Charrington's young son screamed from the back seat.

Scroll down for video

Brad Charrington (pictured) filmed a violent roadside confrontation between himself and a police officer after he was pulled over and now faces assault charges

Footage taken during the stop later showed the pair exchanging punches (pictured) as Mr Charrington's young son screamed from the back seat

In the video, the police officer can be seen hitting Mr Charrington in the face as he sits in the driver's seat of his car.

'Mate, I'm telling you I'm not hopping out of the vehicle this late at night with a child,' Mr Charrington is heard telling the officer.

'It's dangerous  it's on a road. I know my rights.'

After Mr Charrington continued to refuse to leave his car, the police officer reached through the driver-side window to grab his keys from the ignition.

However, the officer is obstructed by Mr Charrington, who held onto the keys while saying: 'Good, arrest me. Arrest me'.

Mr Charrington's partner can be heard yelling: 'What did you need to take the keys out for?'

The police officer then opens the car door, telling Mr Charrington 'you're under arrest' and can be seen trying to pull him from the car.

In the footage Mr Charrington refuses to leave his car and a police officer can be seen reaching through the driver-side window to grab his keys from the ignition, later hitting him in the face as he sits in the driver's seat of his car

The officer tells the driver he's under arrest for obstructing a police officer and the footage appears to show Mr Charrington throwing the first punch.

However, Mr Charrington told 9 News he was simply trying to defuse the situation and accused the officer of hitting his son.

'He leaned over into the seat and hit my son,' he said.

'From that point there, I knew it was escalating, so I went to throw the keys out of the vehicle just to end it.'

Mr Charrington - who now has a series of bruises and marks to his face - has been charged with seriously assaulting police and is due to appear in court next month.

However, he claims it's not the first time that he's been targeted by police and wants action taken against the officer for using excessive force.

In the footage the officer tells the driver he's under arrest for obstructing a police officer and Mr Charrington (pictured) appears to throw the first punch
Abdullah Kattineh, 19, used a four-inch mobile phone to teach himself chemistry as his family in Damascus were unable to afford books

A Syrian teenager, who studied by torchlight as his war-torn home was battered with bombs, has been awarded a place at Cambridge University.

Abdullah Kattineh, 19, used a four-inch mobile phone to teach himself chemistry as his family in Damascus were unable to afford books.

But he has now been accepted to read natural sciences in the UK after an online fundraising campaign was backed by hundreds of people.

Cambridge University's Corpus Christi College have also offered the teenager a full scholarship - covering his fees and living costs of more than 48,000-a-year.

Mr Kattineh said: 'It is the ultimate honour to be the only Syrian student who got admitted to Cambridge University this year.

'I can't by any language - or type of creative writing - express what this chance means to me.

'I can't dismiss from my mind how difficult it was to study without electricity 18 hours a day, or how difficult it was to study all the books from a 4.5-inch mobile phone screen because we couldn't afford to buy the original books or a device with a bigger screen.

'Most of us - the Syrian people - were paralysed by the outcomes of the Syrian crisis.

'From an extreme devaluation of the Syrian currency accompanied by the difficulty to afford the costs of living to the possibility of losing your best friend or family member at any moment.

'To me, I've always been a dreamer, and those circumstances made me even more determined to achieve my dreams.'

Self-taught Mr Kattineh realised his talents when he took part in the Syrian Chemistry Olympiad Competition in 2015 and made it to the international level.

He graduated from college in 2017 and immediately set his sights on a place at Cambridge, applying for the Cambridge Trust Scholarship, which provides funding for gifted students in financial need.

But after being unsuccessful, he refused to give up on his dream and set up a fundraising website asking for help.

On the site, Mr Kattineh wrote: 'Unfortunately, my family can't afford the university, college, and living costs to study at Cambridge.

'The problem in Syria, beside the horrible economic situation, is that we don't have visa cards or online bank accounts due to economic restrictions.

'As a result, I can't receive help from anyone of my family or friends who are residents in Syria.'

Cambridge University's Corpus Christi College have also offered the teenager a full scholarship - covering his fees and living costs of more than 48,000

Within hours, Mr Kattineh had received 800 from Cambridge University students and 450 people signed an open letter calling on the University to support him.

It is believed Mr Kattineh, from Damascus, is the only Syrian to be admitted to the prestigious institution this year.

Dr Michael Sutherland, tutor for admissions at Corpus Christi College said: 'This is an exceptional case.

'Abdullah has had to overcome tremendous obstacles to win the place at Corpus and we want to support him and ensure he is fully funded and able to concentrate on his studies and new life here.'

Bursar Tim Harvey-Samuel added that the college's contribution was raised from endowed funds given by benefactors to Corpus.

'The immensely generous and appreciated support of our alumni and other donors has allowed us to find the funding Abdullah needs,' said Mr Harvey-Samuel.

'We look forward to seeing him begin his degree with us in October.'

The Cambridge Trust, a grant-awarding body which provides the largest number of awards to overseas students studying at Cambridge, has also contributed.

Helen Pennant, director of the Cambridge Trust, said: 'The trust is delighted to support this student who has faced so many challenges.'

His fundraising campaign was supported by the Cambridge Refugee Scholarship Campaign (CRSC) that aims to establish a support scholarships for students hindered by political or humanitarian crises.
A Texas mother says her ex-husband has 'won' after he stormed into her home and killed their three children and her new boyfriend before turning the gun on himself.

Amanda Simpson, 29, revealed to the Huffington Post that her ex-husband Justin Painter intentionally left her alive sop she would suffer the heartbreaking loss after she left him a year ago.

'Seth's dead. The kids are dead. And you're going to have to live with it,' she recalls her ex-husband saying before he killed himself.

'My kids were my coping mechanism, and now they are gone,' Amanda said. 'He knew when he took them from me, he took everything. He's won.'

Now, just two weeks after the devastating shooting where she suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder, Amanda has been released from the hospital and says she somehow is still standing.

'Your life can always get worse,' she said. 'I don't think mine can get any lower. I don't know how, but i'm going to keep going.'

Amanda Simpson (pictured with her kids) says her ex-husband intentionally kept her alive to suffer after he shot and killed their three children and Simpson's boyfriend

Simpson's ex-husband, Justin Painter (pictured with his kids), shot and killed himself after murdering his family and another man

Simpson's boyfriend, Seth Richardson, was also killed in the deadly rampage

Amanda Simpson was released from Medical City Denton, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Authorities said Painter, who divorced Simpson in 2017 after five years of marriage, stormed into her Ponder home around 8.30am on May 16 and shot the young kids. He then shot Simpson and her boyfriend, Seth Richardson.

The children - Odin Painter, eight; Caydence Painter, six; and Drake Painter, four - were pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshots.

Richardson and Painter were found dead in a bedroom of the home.

Simpson was the sole survivor of the attack and was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the shoulder after the bullet went through Richardson's body and into hers.

Shortly after the massacre, the devastated mother posted three Facebook Live videos from her hospital bed blaming the judge who oversaw her divorce from Painter.

She said she warned a judge that her ex-husband was 'unstable' when he tried to commit suicide last year.

'I made it very clear to the judge that he was mentally unstable. And they didn't listen,' Simpson said in the video.

Simpsons three kids are pictured from left to right: Caydence, Odin and Drake. Authorities said the children died from multiple gunshot wounds

Amanda Simpson is the only survivor in the deadly murder-suicide. The 29-year-old was shot in the shoulder

Simpson sobbed from her hospital bed as she recounted how she warned a judge last year that her husband was dangerous

The night before the bloodbath, Simpson said that her ex-husband called her and asked to get back together, but she turned him down.

The judge who handled Simpson and Painter's divorce released a statement denying that mental health issues were ever brought up as a concern.

'The parties, in their Mediated Settlement Agreement, denied any family violence and mental health issues,' Judge Nancy Berger wrote in a statement, according to WFAA.

Simpson, crying in another Facebook Live video, said she now has to bury her three children.

'I just wanna say I'm mad at the judge ... I don't have my babiesthey were my everything, my purpose to breathe,' she said.

'I've relived it over and over and every time I close my eyes, I see my babies I see them dead. Every time I close my eyes, you don't want to know what I see.'

Simpson's Facebook videos were eventually removed by family members and the account was temporarily disabled.

A GoFundMe page was also set up to help the grieving mother with funeral expenses. More than $9,000 has been donated so far.

Richardson's mother, Angie, told WFAA that her son had been in a long-distance relationship with Simpson.

Richardson, who had two daughters of his own, had traveled down to Ponder to see Simpson. He had been at her house only a few hours before Painter's deadly rampage, Angie said.

'He really was innocent in all this,' she told the outlet.

Simpson and her ex-husband Justin Painter are pictured above. Simpson said she warned a judge that Painter was mentally unstable

The shooting happened around 8.30am on May 16 at Simpson's home in Ponder, Texas
Boris Johnson has piled further pressure on Theresa May's Brexit plans by warning the UK must be 'fully out' of the EU customs union in order to strike free trade deals.

The Foreign Secretary said there are 'realms of gold' to be won by forging new deals with countries in South America.

But he warned that Britain can only make the most of doing deals with these big new emerging economies if it fully cuts ties with Brussels.

His intervention, which comes after he spent a week touring south America, heaps fresh pressure on Mrs May as she struggles to get her divided Cabinet to sign up to her Brexit vision.

The PM had wanted the UK to pursue a customs partnership with the EU which would mean the country collects tariffs on the bloc's behalf.

The Foreign Secretary (pictured with a guitar during a visit to Santiago, Chile last week) said there are 'realms of gold' to be won by forging new deals with countries in South America

But Mr Johnson, one of the leading Brexiteers in the Cabinet, has branded the plan 'crazy' and is calling for a clean break

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, today, he said: 'Now is our moment not to be less European  we can do a great free trade deal with the EU that will benefit both sides  but to be truly global again.

'Now is the time to create deals with these dynamic countries (Chile alone has 24 such deals with 64 nations comprising 85 per cent of global GDP).

'But our Latin American partners are emphatic: if this is to work, we must come fully out of the EU customs union.'

He added: 'If we get it right, the opportunities are vast. Already UK bus companies are bidding to supply London double deckers to the streets of Santiago.

'Thanks to the success of the London 2012 Olympics the UK is helping Lima to lay on the Pan-American games.

'The legendary potations of the British  who like a 14 per cent Malbec  mean we are already the second biggest drinkers of Argentine wine.

'And that is before we have done the free trade deal. For Latin America and for Britain there are realms of gold on either side of the Atlantic.

'All we need now is to rediscover that global spirit.'

Boris Johnson's intervention comes as Theresa May (pictured with her husband Philip heading to church in Maidenhead yesterday) tries to get her warring Cabinet ministers to sign up to a united Brexit vision

His intervention comes as Mrs May tries to get her warring Cabinet ministers to sign up to a united Brexit vision.

Ministers have been locked in a row about whether to pursue a customs partnership with Brussels or to have a clean break and pursue 'maximum facilitation' - dubbed max fac - instead.

Under the atter scheme, the UK would fully quit the ciustoms union and use technology and hand out trusted trade statuses to businesses to facilitate ree trade.

It is hoped wth would help keep the Irish border soft and prevnet a flare up of violence in the region.

Although the viability of either proposal remains in doubt as the EU say both schemes are not workable.

Ministers have agreed a 'backstop' potion which would see the UK aligned to the EU for longer if the technology to facilitate a clean break and new trade deal is not ready.
A 100,000 military operation to try and find the body of missing Katrice Lee has uncovered 'nothing' - according to military police.

Katrice, from Hartlepool, has not been seen since she went missing in 1981 from a supermarket near Paderborn, Germany at just two years old.

But officers from the Royal Military Police (RMP) had hoped the five week search could uncover some clues to help them track her down.

Forensics teams scoured the river Arne close to the army camp where her father had been serving but found nothing.

Scroll down for video

Katrice Lee disappeared from a supermarket near her father's army camp in Paderborn, Germany in 1981

Katrice went missing from the German supermarket on the same day as her second birthday

Soldiers from the Royal Military Police carry out a forensic investigation in Paderborn, Germany

The RMP announced today they had finished the 100-man operation and had not discovered any further information to help solve the mystery of the toddler's disappearance.

'The RMP have put a statement out saying that there is a conference and nothing has been found and the MoD have put a statement out to the press saying nothing has been found,' Richard Lee, Katrin's father, said.

'In actual fact that is not wholly accurate but I am not prepared to state, until such time as we have the conference out in Germany why it is not an accurate statement to make.'

An RMP spokesperson said: 'The Royal Military Police has completed the forensic search on the bank of the River Alme in Paderborn, Germany.

'The excavation, lasting almost five weeks, did not result in any further information to help solve the mystery of the toddlers disappearance.

'The investigation continues and the Royal Military Police appeal for any further information in the case.'

Richard Lee, left, father of Katrice Lee, listens to a press conference given at the start of the five-week operation
President Donald Trump honored those who gave their lives while serving the nation in solemn Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery  hours after firing off a tweet that drew criticism for focusing on his own accomplishments.

'We strive to be worthy of their sacrifice,' Trump told a crowd of servicemen and women Monday.

Trump acknowledged 'the heroes who rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far are drawn from the full tapestry of American life.'

'Theirs was a love more deep and more pure than most will ever know,' Trump said. 'They marched into hell so that America could know the blessings of peace.'

Scroll down for video

President Donald Trump pauses at the podium as he arrives for a ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018

Attending the ceremony was Sen. Bob Dole, 94, who recovered from serious injuries in World War II before his long political career, and Navy veteran Ray Chavez, who at 106 is the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

'He was in the Oval Office two days ago and he doesn't look a day over 60,' Trump said.

Then Trump singled out seven-year-old Christian Jacobs, who he met last year at Arlington while Jacobs was wearing a full Marine dress uniform in tribute to his late father, Marine Sgt. Christopher Jacobs.

'Christian walked over to me with great confidence, shook my hand, looked me straight in the eye and asked if I would like to meet his dad,' Trump told the audience, recalling the emotional visit from last year.

'Christian, I want you to know that even though your father has left this world,' Trump said, addressing his remarks to the boy in the audience. 'He's left it for the next. But he's not gone, he'll never be gone. Your dad's love, courage, and strength live in you, Christian.'

Trump also spoke of Marine Lt. Col. David Greene, a reservist who became the highest ranking Marine to die in Iraq in 2004. Trump told his widow, Sarah:

'He's looking down on you right now you know that? Right? He's looking down on you and he's so proud and happy,' Trump said.

President Trump laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier

Trump addressed comments to seven-year-old Christian Jacobs, who he met last year at Arlington while Jacobs was wearing a full Marine dress uniform in tribute to his late father, Marine Sgt. Christopher Jacobs

Earlier, Trump wished the nation a 'Happy Memorial Day!' as Americans began honoring fallen heroes on a popular three-day weekend  then touted the 'best economy' in decades.

Trump, who prepared to make his second trip to Arlington National Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony, also said the fallen 'would be very happy and proud' about how the nation is doing.

'Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today,' Trump wrote on Twitter Monday morning.

Trump's speech was about military sacrifice, but he took heat online for his tweet about economic and employment gains on his watch

President Donald Trump lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 28, 2018

'Happy Memorial Day!' President Trump wrote on twitter as the nation prepared to honor those who gave their lives in military service to their country

Then he switched to strong economic statistics. 'Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!' the president wrote.

Trump also released a video where he spoke directly to the camera and recalled his encounter with a young boy name Christian Jacobs, who was wearing a full dress military uniform while standing by his father's graveside.

'I know that everybody is remembering the fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our country,' he wrote.

Jacobs' father, Marine Sgt. Christopher Jacobs, died in 2011 during a military training exercise.

Trump's tweet touting the economic achievements of his presidency took a different tone than other senior officials.

Trump also hailed the economy and employment gains

The president released a video recounting last year's ceremony

Sen. John McCain, a Navy veteran who is battling brain cancer and is the subject of a new laudatory documentary, wrote on Twitter: 'Today we honor the Americans who sacrificed everything to secure the blessings of liberty. Family and friends to some, heroes to all - who lived, fought and died for the safety and future of a great and good nation. God bless them and grant them perpetual peace. #MemorialDay.'

Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, wrote: 'On this #MemorialDay, we remember all the men and women in uniform who've given their lives for our nation. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice. Our prayers are with their loved ones.'

First Lady Melania Trump wrote: On #MemorialDay we honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country. As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isnt free. Thank you to all the service members & their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.'

Trump heads to Arlington Monday morning to attend Memorial Day ceremonies.

SACRIFICE: Ailing Arizona Sen. John McCain acknowledged those who 'sacrificed everything'

DIPLOMATIC: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the nation was 'forever grateful'

ONE NATION: First Lady Melania Trump thanked living service members while honoring 'those who laid down their lives for our great country'

President Trump released a video of his visit to Arlington National Cemetery last year
A Vancouver, Washington woman says she witnessed an African-American woman being shamed for using WIC to pay for her groceries.

Jacki Carroll was in line to check-out at an Albertson's grocery store in Gresham, Oregon on May 18 when the woman in front of her came up short for her bill by $12.

'The discussion between she and the clerk were somewhere along the lines of, some of the groceries weren't covered under her WIC coupon. And the lady said, "But I've always paid to get this food on WIC. It's groceries, like fruits and vegetables and stuff,"' Carroll told KOIN.

Jacki Carroll (pictured) witnessed a woman being shamed for using WIC to buy groceries at a Gresham, Oregon grocery store earlier this month

The incident happened May 18 at this Albertson's. Carroll said the woman in front of her came up $12 short for her grocery bill, and she offered to pay the difference, but the cashier refused to let her

WIC is a government assistance program that helps lower-income pregnant women and mothers with kids under the age of five pay for their groceries.

Carroll said she offered to pay the difference, but the cashier refused to let her help the woman out.

'[I] said, "I will pay," and she said, "No!" Very abruptly,' Carroll told KATU. 'Literally, she raised her voice and said, "No, you dont need to do that."'

Carroll insisted it was no big deal, but the cashier would not let up.

Eventually, the woman left the store with what she could pay for.

When it came Carroll's turn to pay for her own food, she asked why the cashier didn't let her pay for the woman.

After the incident, Carroll's daughter posted her mom's receipt to Facebook with a post describing what happened. It's been shared nearly 7,000 times since then

'When I got up to the cashier,' Carroll said. 'I said, "Well, were you trying to protect me from someone who is a usual customer who abuses the system?" She goes, "No, she gets a free handout. She gets her groceries for free, she doesn't need anyone else supporting her."'

Carroll said she told the woman that she was being judgmental and should show more compassion.

After the incident, Carroll's daughter Amanda Arnlund wrote about the experience in a post on Facebook, which hsa since been share nearly 7,000 times.

'My mom and I agree that this is exactly what is wrong with the world. Where is the compassion and basic human decency? Everybody around was in shock when this occurred,' Arnlund wrote in the post.

Carroll said she later called the manager of the store to complain about what happened.

'He was very, I think, genuine in his concern and he said he will talk to her. I actually did a follow-up call with him yesterday and he said he did talk with her,' she said.

She would like to see Albertson's track the woman down to issue a personal apology to her. She also thinks the cashier needs to be trained on customer service and compassion.

Albertson's issued a statement apologizing for the incident, which they say they are currently investigating.

'At Albertsons, we have a policy and a culture of treating our customers, and each other, with courtesy, dignity and respect. Its at the core of who we are as a company and member of this community.

'We sincerely apologize that, in this incident, it appears we did not deliver the customer service that we pride ourselves on.

'While this isolated situation is still under investigation, we are taking this opportunity to remind all of our employees that each and every customer is a welcomed guest in our stores,' the statement reads.
Commons Speaker John Bercow is facing fresh pressure as the head of the Lords said he should be investigated over claims he bullied his staff.

Mr Bercow has faced a string of claims by former employees who say he flew into 'explosive' rages which terrified his staff. He strenuously denies the claims.

But MPs blocked moves for him to be investigated by Parliament's Standards Commissioner.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Lord Fowler  Mr Bercow's counterpart in the Lords  said he would launch a probe if the allegations related to the Lords.

Lords Speaker Lord Fowler (pictured) says John Bercow should be investigated over claims he bullied staff

He said: 'It is a matter for the Commons. But if a similar thing happened here there would be an investigation into the individual.'

What are the claims of bullying and bad behaviour made against John Bercow? John Bercow has been hit by a number of bullying claims, all of which he denies. Here are the allegations: Andrew Sinclair, the former Speaker's Secretary: Said he left his post in 2010 after he was subjected to angry outbursts, foul- mouthed tirades and mimicry by John Bercow. He said was 'gagged' and stopped from speaking out about his time in the role as part of an 86,000 early retirement payoff. David Leakey, former Black Rod: Mr Leakey, who retired last year, said staff were terrified of the Speaker. Kate Emms, John Bercow's former private secretary: She took a job as Mr Bercow's private secretary in May 2010 but left her role less than a year later in February 2011 amid claims she was bullied by the Speaker. Her colleagues alleged that this was because of the behaviour of Mr Bercow after she told staff that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Colleagues told Newsnight that she was undermined by Mr Bercow in a range of ways  and he seemed to shout at her a lot. Advertisement

He also criticised Mr Bercow's decision to bar Donald Trump from addressing Westminster Hall when he visits Britain in July.

He said the US president could instead address the Royal Gallery, which is under his authority.

He said: 'You can't just disregard him. If we start that the number of state visitors will be cut down. It is not in our national interest to snub the US.'

Mr Bercow has faced a growing clamour to quit his role presiding over debates in the House of Commons over the bullying claims.

Scotland Yard is 'assessing' a complaint that the Commons Speaker could have committed misconduct in public office.

A member of the public has now asked the Met Police to consider whether Mr Bercow's conduct could amount to 'abuse of the public's trust in the office holder'.

The complaint highlights allegations that have surfaced over recent months.

They include Angus Sinclair, who left his post as Speaker's Secretary in 2010 after receiving a payment of 86,250, saying he was the victim of angry outbursts, foul- mouthed tirades and mimicry.

Former Black Rod David Leakey, who retired last year, has said staff were 'terrified' of the Speaker.

MPs on the standards committee sparked anger last week by refusing a request from parliament's commissioner Kathryn Stone to investigate them.

An inquiry by a judge into the culture at Westminster will also not consider the specific accusations against the Speaker.

And Mr Bercow sparked fresh anger a fortnight ago when he allegedly called cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom a 'stupid woman' during a Commons debate.
The daughter of a paramedic who recently took his life at work after using fentanyl - a popular but addictive pain medication - to cope with the stress and trauma of his job, has called for more on-the-job support.

'We understand that we don't send soldiers to war for 28 years because of the PTSD it would cause,' Kim, an audience member on the ABC's Q&A program, told the panel on Monday night.

'When are we going to start looking after our paramedics and first responders?' she asked.

Scroll down for video

The daughter of a paramedic (pictured)who recently took his life at work after using fentanyl - a popular but addictive pain medication - to cope with the stress and trauma of his job, has called for more on-the-job support

Kim revealed her father Tony Jenkins, a Newcastle-based paramedic with 28 years' experience, displayed multiple warning signs he was distressed but was ignored and never received help.

She spoke of a lack of on-the-job support, stresses that were not openly communicated, and a lack of information paramedics received before they go to a job.

'Paramedics don't have any idea what they're going to and it's one of the biggest anxieties because they could be going to deliver a baby ... or they could be walking into a home where there's a man waiting with a serrated knife, which is the incident my dad went to,' Kim explained.

'We understand now that Dad was using fentanyl at work to cope with the stress of on-the-job trauma, as well as assault.

'A little over a month ago he took his own life while at work'.

Kim also revealed she discovered her father's locker contained multiple complaints and correspondence to members of New South Wales Ambulance management.

The 'huge amounts of correspondence' Kim said she found following her father's death were 'saying that the men and women out there were having trouble  and that it needed to change.'

'We understand now that Dad was using fentanyl at work to cope with the stress of on-the-job trauma, as well as assault,' Kim explained. Fentanyl (pictured) is an addictive pain medication

Disappointingly, Kim told the panel her father had written notes saying that he hadn't received any response, or that the response he was given wasn't adequate.

'Some of the trauma the ambos see and the police see and they live with for a long period of time is pretty horrendous and it must wear you down,' Panellist and Liberal Senator for NSW Jim Nolan said.

Rod Bower, the rector at the Gosford Anglican Church, said he had spent a lot of time in emergency departments and acknowledged the trauma ambulance officers endured.

'There are an increasing number of ambos attacked doing their jobs,' he said.

'There are traumatised people out there on the line - helping us. High-class care is needed for our paramedics and ambulance officers.'

'Some of the trauma the ambos see and the police see and they live with for a long period of time is pretty horrendous and it must wear you down,' Liberal Senator for NSW Jim Nolan said

'There are an increasing number of ambos attacked doing their jobs,' Rod Bower (pictured) the rector at the Gosford Anglican Church, said. 'There are traumatised people out there on the line - helping us'

Kim said she hopes to change the culture and look less at drug regulation and more towards why people in the field are using them.

'That comes down to them not being supported properly on the job. Not being given the opportunity to properly seek out help in a way that they don't feel ashamed,' she explained.

'We need to build that culture that it is acceptable for these men and women to get help and that comes from management and it's not being done at the moment.'

Ambulance officers have been recalling their stories of trauma in recent months after a number of well-documented assaults.

People took to social media to support Kim, saying she was a powerful advocate for her father after his death.

Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance.

The 24-hour Telephone Crisis Support service can be reached on 13 11 14.
A mother of four was viciously trolled after trying to call out a supermarket for using a 'sexist' sign outside.

Annie James was outraged after spotting a sign outside Morrisons in Fort William, Scotland, which read: 'Caution. Men Working.'

Hoping to publicly call the company out, she shared the photo to their Facebook page with the caption: 'Obviously only men are allowed to work on this construction site at your Morrisons petrol station in Fort William. #everydaysexism.'

Everyday sexism is a project to document acts of sexism, whether they are minor or serious, to demonstrate that the problem does exist.

Unfortunately for Ms James, other users on the Facebook page disagreed with her and accused her of overreacting.

Annie James was outraged after spotting a sign which read: 'Caution. Men Working.' She shared the picture with the hashtag #everydaysexism

Plenty of Facebook users have accused Ms James of overreacting. In 2015, it was estimated that 99 per cent of building site workers were men

Dave Smith wrote: 'Outrage for outrage sake. Get a life.'

Maria Brown joked: 'I take it she doesn't want to speak to the MANager?'

Lisa Anne added: 'Since construction workers are primarily male, yes, that's what the sign will say. It doesn't say no women allowed.'

In 2015, it was estimated that 99 per cent of building site workers were men, with women only making up 11 per cent of the entire construction industry workforce - including desk jobs in design, management or secretarial.

The following year, pop superstar Madonna brought up the issue of sexist construction site signs when she posted a 'men working' sign to her Instagram page.

The 59-year-old wrote: 'Did you ever see a sign like this on any city street that said. "Women Working?" Wait...didn't think so.'

After reading the arguments going on in the comments of her photo, Ms James attempted to explain that the sign should replace 'men' with 'people'.

Morrisons have declined to comment.
This is the horrifying moment a jaguar eats a leatherback turtle for supper in the middle of a beach.

In the clip, posted on Instagram, the big cat can be seen chewing on the head of the motionless sea creature on the Costa Rican coast.

The animal can be seen biting at the flesh of the stricken creature and flicking its tail as it devours the turtle. It is not clear whether the 2m-long jaguar killed the turtle itself or found it already dead.

Manuel Campbell, from Costa Rica, shot the footage in the country's Tortuguero National Park - which has become famous for its resurgent jaguar population over the last few years.

The jaguar can be seen chewing on the head of the motionless beast just meters from the breaking waves

According to scientists, the northern Caribbean slope region has seen a huge rise in jaguar numbers because it is one of the world's most important nesting beaches for endangered turtles.

Around 15,000 to 20,000 of endangered sea creatures crawl ashore here each year for a nesting season that lasts from May to October.

Leatherback turtles can grow up to 2.2m in length and weigh up to 700kg - but their slow speed on land and need to nest on the beach makes them vulnerable to attacks from land-based predators.

The leatherbacks are only hunted by larger sharks and killer whales in the sea, meaning some can live for up to 50 years. But on land, by contrast, they make easy targets for fast-moving jaguars.

As their name suggests, the gentle creatures have soft leathery skin - rather than hard shells like some turtles.

The name Tortuguero roughly translates as 'turtle area'  although it could also be interpreted as 'turtle catcher'.

Tortuguero park rangers say 10 years ago they never saw a jaguar on their beach.

Now though, researchers say they've identified 16 jaguars in the park, and estimate that the big cats kill about 1 percent of the turtles nesting there each year.

Stephanny Arroyo, 31, who studies wildlife conservation at the National University of Costa Rica, said: 'I was certain that Tortuguero was special for something,'

The jaguar population in the Tortuguero National Park has been flourishing thanks to the ease of hunting the turtles

Scientists say they have spotted at least 16 of the nearly-endangered big cats in the park in recent months

'The behavior [of the jaguars] is unique and the quantity of individuals in such a small area is also unique.'

'For example. to see two males walking together or three males walking together is something that has never been seen before, or a male and a female walking together is something that wasn't known.'

The bounty of turtle meat for half the year means jaguars might not feel the need to compete for food, according to Arroyo.

With hunting made easy, the beasts are becoming less territorial and turtle attacks are becoming more and more common.

It is unclear where the recent spring of jaguars has come from  but for the regions new inhabitants the turtles are easy prey and are contributing to an ever greater boom in the population of the big cats.
A Little Caesars employee shot and killed a man wearing this clown mask who attacked him with a wooden post and scissors

A Little Caesars employee shot and killed a man in a clown mask who attacked him with a wooden post and scissors on Saturday night, police revealed.

Heriberto Feliciano, 28, was closing up the pizza shop in Holly Hill, Florida around 11.50pm when the man suddenly attacked him.

Surveillance footage captured the man walking to the store, wearing the mask and carrying the wooden post in one hand.

Cameras then captured the moment the man began hitting Feliciano with the post just as the employee walked out of a side door at the shop.

Scroll down for video

Surveillance footage captured the man walking to the store and carrying the wooden post

The man's face was hidden behind the clown mask as he approached the side door of the shop

Heriberto Feliciano, 28, (pictured) was closing up the pizza shop in Holly Hill, Florida around 11.50pm when the man suddenly attacked him

Feliciano told police that the man repeatedly hit his face and shoulder with the post until it broke, according to Fox35.

When the post broke, the man allegedly pushed Feliciano to the ground and tried to stab him with the scissors.

That's when Feliciano pulled out his concealed weapon and 'fired multiple rounds at the suspect', according to Holly Hill Police Chief Stephen Aldric.

Feliciano said he fired four or five shots during the altercation. He then got up, put the gun on the trunk of his car, and called police.

Feliciano told police that the man (pictured) repeatedly hit his face and shoulder with the post until it broke

Police found the man bleeding in the parking lot. He was taken to the hospital and died from his injuries.

The man's identification has not yet been confirmed by the Medical Examiner's Office.

Feliciano suffered injuries to his face and shoulder and was driven to the hospital by his relatives, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

'This is very unusual for the area,' Aldrich said.

'We're obviously aggressively pursuing this to find out where this individual came from and why this attack occurred. Very unusual.'
A bearded woman was forced to undress by police in Kenya and told to put her legs apart to prove her gender.

Teresiah Mumbi was ordered to strip by two female officers after she was arrested for a traffic offence in Kariobangi, Kenya.

The minibus tout was also told to put her legs apart to prove whether she was a man or woman, she told local media.

Bearded woman Teresiah Mumbi (pictured) was forced to undress by police and told to put her legs apart to prove her gender

Mumbi, who said she did not like shaving because it made her face itchy, has now threatened to sue the officers involved.

The 31-year-old is quoted as saying: 'Those two female officers came and demanded that I undress and put my legs apart.

'After they were satisfied they let me back to the cell.'

According to Toku.com, Mumbi pleaded with the officers not to humiliate her during her arrest on May 15.

Teresiah Mumbi was ordered to strip by two female officers after she was arrested for a traffic offence in Kariobangi, Kenya

She claimed they demanded a bribe of KSh400 (3) after she had been arrested with other minibus touts for a traffic offence.

Mumbi suffers from an excessive hair growth condition known as hypertrichosis.

She added: 'I even stopped working. I do not want another incident like that.

'Is this justice? if these are the officers mandated to provide security, what will happen to me in public?'
Ailing Sen. John McCain and first lady Melania Trump each sent out tweets honoring military servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on Monday.

McCain, a Navy veteran who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona, wrote on Twitter: 'Today we honor the Americans who sacrificed everything to secure the blessings of liberty.'

The son of a Navy admiral wrote: 'Family and friends to some, heroes to all - who lived, fought and died for the safety and future of a great and good nation. God bless them and grant them perpetual peace. #MemorialDay.'

Sen. John McCain, a Navy veteran who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona, wrote on Twitter: 'Today we honor the Americans who sacrificed everything to secure the blessings of liberty'

First lady Melania Trump also tweeted about those who lost their lives serving the nation

First lady Melania Trump, who has not been seen in public since she returned from a five day hospital stay at Walter Reed hospital following a kidney procedure, also tweeted about those who lost their lives serving the nation.

'On #MemorialDay we honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country,' wrote the Slovenia-born model.

'As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isnt free. Thank you to all the service members & their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe,' she wrote.

Both tweets took a more somber tone than the one the president fired off Monday morning.

First lady Melania Trump also tweeted about those who lost their lives serving the nation

Sen. John McCain also tweeted about the fallen

'Happy Memorial Day!' President Trump wrote on twitter as the nation prepared to honor those who gave their lives in military service to their country

Trump wished the nation a 'Happy Memorial Day!' as Americans began honoring fallen heroes on a popular three-day weekend  then touted the 'best economy' in decades.

Trump, who prepared to make his second trip to Arlington National Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony, also said the fallen 'would be very happy and proud' about how the nation is doing, in language many online critics wrote was designed to reflect well on himself.

President Donald Trump arrives at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018, in Arlington, Va

'Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today,' Trump wrote on Twitter Monday morning.

Then he switched to strong economic statistics. 'Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!' the president wrote.

Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, also opted for diplomatic language. 'On this #MemorialDay, we remember all the men and women in uniform who've given their lives for our nation. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice. Our prayers are with their loved ones.'

Trump also released a video where he spoke directly to the camera and recalled his encounter with a young boy name Christian Jacobs, who was wearing a full dress military uniform while standing by his father's graveside.

'I know that everybody is remembering the fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our country,' he wrote.

Jacobs' father, Marine Sgt. Christopher Jacobs, died in 2011 during a military training exercise.

Trump's tweet touting the economic achievements of his presidency took a different tone than other senior officials.

Trump also hailed the economy and employment gains

The president released a video recounting last year's ceremony

SACRIFICE: Ailing Arizona Sen. John McCain acknowledged those who 'sacrificed everything'

DIPLOMATIC: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the nation was 'forever grateful'

President Trump released a video of his visit to Arlington National Cemetery last year
Tom Tugendhat will warn that for too long Foreign Secretaries have been 'hobbled' as their power has been chipped away and handed to other ministers (file pic)

Boris Johnson should be given more power over Brexit, defence and intelligence matters, the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee will say.

Tom Tugendhat will warn that for too long Foreign Secretaries have been 'hobbled' as their power has been chipped away and handed to other ministers.

And he will call for the Foreign Office to be handed authority over far more of Britain's overseas policy.

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies tomorrow, he will call for a dramatic overhaul to secure the UK's role in the world.

He will say: 'Successive Foreign Secretaries - including the current one - have been hobbled. They've had the title, but they haven't had the power.'

Mr Tugendhat will warn that the Foreign Office 'has lost control of key aspects of overseas influence like trade and development and has been obliged to take part in a tug-of-war with the Cabinet Office over anything that involved national security and the EU'.

He will add: 'This has created silos in our foreign policy reducing our ability to balance across areas of influence.'

'The success or failure of our foreign policy is now more important to the future health and prosperity of our nation than it has been at any time since the end of the Second World War.

'We need make the Foreign Office the strategic engine of our foreign policy again.'

If Theresa May heeded his call for reform then Mr Johnson would be one of the most powerful Foreign Secretaries of modern times.

Ministers and officials have been locked in a longstanding row over what powers the Foreign Office should have and what should fall to the department for International Development (Dfid).

Dfid was hived off from the Foreign Office and made its own Cabinet department by Tony Blair in 1997.

And Mrs May has stuck to her predecessor's pledge to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on the department - meaning it has been sheltered from the cuts unleashed on public spending elsewhere.

Mr Tugendhat will warn that the Foreign Office 'has lost control of key aspects of overseas influence like trade and development' and has that Boris Johnson (pictured in Buenos Aires last week) should be handed extra power

Many Tory MPs have called for its funding to be cut and said that the Foreign Office should take back control of many of the areas of overseas spending directed by Dfid.

And in recent years the two departments have worked more closely together on overseas development.

But the power of the Foreign Office suffered a fresh knock when the PM created the Brexit department, headed by David Davis, and the department for international trade, headed by Liam Fox.

Their creation hived off significant areas of work and influence from the Foreign Office.

Mr Tugendhat has been tipped as a possible future challenger to Mr Johnson for the Tory leadership.

The ex-army officer also said it would be 'fantastic' to head up the Foreign Office himself.
The family of a teenage girl who has been missing for ten days have issued a heartfelt appealfor help in finding her.

Molly Reyes, 15, was last seen on May 18 at Firefighters Memorial Park at West Oakey Boulevard in Las Vegas.

She was dropped off at the park at around about 5.20pm for Quinceanera practice with her friends but was nowhere to be seen when her father came to pick her up later.

Molly Reyes, 15 (pictured), is a high school student who went missing on May 18 after Quinceanera practice in a park in Las Vegas

She told friends that her father was coming to pick her up around 6 pm, but when he arrived, she couldn't be found.

Molly has just finished her freshman year at Bonanza High School, according to her sister.

Sasha Reyes, 22, said: 'We have high, high hopes that shell be back. We havent seen or heard from her since [May 18].

'I just want my baby girl home.'

Her family, who have been handing out leaflets and searching night and day, have made an emotional plea for help in finding her

The family has been handing out fliers and searching night and day, she said.

Family members have also reached out to the police department's missing persons bureau, as well as the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The 15-year-old is described as being 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 137 pounds.

She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white shirt and pink pants.
The final moments before a deadly car crash which saw a woman killed and her sister jailed have been revealed.

Candice Lee Chmieluk, 31, will spend the next three months in jail for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed her younger sister Sammy-Jo on the Gold Coast.

Candice was sentenced in the Southport District Court on Monday to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to one charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while adversely affected by alcohol.

Candice and Sammy-Jo had gone out for a celebratory lunch at a local Surf Life Saving club - but it ended with the pair being so drunk that one of them got into a fight with another woman before being barred from the venue.

Scroll down for video

Kristy Chmieluk (pictured: right) has appealed for her younger sister Candice (pictured: left) to be spared jail time over a car crash that killed youngest sibling Sammy-Jo (pictured: centre)

Candice Lee Chmieluk (pictured: right) will spend the next three months in jail for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed her younger sister on the Gold Coast

Staff at the Currumbin Vikings Surf Life Saving Club were so concerned about the pair that they took their keys off them, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Somehow they convinced staff to hand back their keys, and Candice ended up driving a black Dodge Journey.

Witnesses said the vehicle became airborne after speeding away from the club at 5.33pm.

The car reportedly mounted a median strip, knocked down street signs and veered onto the footpath.

Eventually the vehicle was sliced in two when it hit a pole, sending debris flying up to 110metres from the crash site.

Candice was pulled from the wreckage, while Sammy-Jo died immediately. Candice returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.202, more than four times the legal limit.

Candice was driving drunk when she crashed into a traffic light at such speed that the vehicle she was driving was was sheared in half - Sammy-Jo was killed instantly

The third Chmieluk sister, Kristy, spoke of the closeness of her siblings in her victim impact statement, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

'The loss of my baby sister Sammy-Jo has been utterly unbearable for me, though I have forgiven Candice and I am committed to supporting her.'

She said while the children were growing up their mother Sharon was 'never emotionally present or affectionate', and Kristy said she looked after her younger siblings as if she was the mother.

'They were close, as close as two sisters and best friends can be, they did everything together, they were like twins, they were inseparable.

'Their inseparable relationship is what makes this situation even more devastating as Candice is the reason her best friend and sister is not here to support her through this.

'I know Candice will never forgive herself and will forever constantly live this fact.'

Her family had appealed to Judge David Kent for her to avoid jail for the offence, despite the crash on May 29, 2016, at Palm Beach claiming the life of her younger sister.

Reading the victim impact statement, Kristy said the accident and subsequent criminal proceedings had put the entire family's lives on hold.

'The loss of my baby sister has been utterly unbearable,' Kristy told the court.

'But I have forgiven Candice.

'If she is sent to jail I will be losing my second sister.'

Reading a victim impact statement, older sister Kristy said Candice (pictured: right) and Sammy-Jo (pictured: left) had been inseparable friends

Staff at the Currumbin Vikings Surf Life Saving Club were so concerned about the pair that they took their keys off the sisters

As well as her own remorse and mental health issues following the crash, Chmieluk's family said she was the sole carer for her two young children and they would be unduly punished by their mother's incarceration.

Despite the emotional pleas, however, Judge Kent said a wholly suspended sentence would be 'manifestly inadequate' given the seriousness of the offending.

'At the end of the day you should have to serve a minimal amount of imprisonment,' Judge Kent said.

'I accept, as I have made clear, you have suffered and continue to suffer to a large degree as a result of these events - as, of course, have others.'

Chmieluk has also been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of five years.
A missing 13-year-old girl who left the UK on a Eurotunnel train may have travelled to Poland with her mother's friend, police said.

Serena Alexander-Benson, 13, was last seen in her school uniform with an 'older person, believed to be a female Polish national and friend of her mother's.

The teen lives with her father in London, while her mother lives in Poland - where Mother's Day was celebrated on May 26.

Serena Alexander-Benson, 13, was last seen in her school uniform and has been missing from the New Malden area. The police want anyone who has seen her to call 999 immediately

The girl has been missing from the New Malden area, south-west London, since 7.30am on Friday.

She was travelling in a car with a female friend of her mother's who is a Polish national that lives in London, police said.

Police are not releasing details of the route the woman and Serena took by Eurotunnel at Folkestone, Kent.

A police statement said: 'She was travelling in a car with a female friend of her mother's who is a Polish national who lives in London.

'CID officers based at Wandsworth are investigating.

'Active lines of inquiry are being pursued by officers, working with the National Crime Agency and the Polish authorities.

'Detectives are not releasing further details at this stage of the route Serena and the woman have taken, nor of how it has been established that they are in Poland, where Serena's mother lives.

'At this stage, the priority of officers is to confirm Serena's exact whereabouts and confirm that she is safe. Any potential offences will be considered in due course.'

A police statement said: 'Serena has not been missing before. She lives with her father in Wimbledon, while her mother lives in Poland.' Inquiries have established that the 13-year-old left the UK via Folkestone on the morning of May 25, on a Eurotunnel train

In an earlier statement, the Met Police said they are 'concerned about her welfare' and urged anyone with information to get in touch.

'Serena was last seen by her father leaving her home address in SW19 at around 7.50am on Friday, May 25. She was dressed in her predominantly green school uniform and had told her father that she was going to school.

'However, Serena did not arrive at school and has not been seen since.'

The statement added: 'Serena has not been missing before. She lives with her father in Wimbledon, while her mother lives in Poland.'

After the teenage girl went missing on her way to school, police in south London have been tweeting for help, above. It was originally thought she went missing from 8.30am

The Met said that police inquiries 'have established that Serena left the UK at Folkestone on the morning of 25 May on a Eurotunnel train. Active lines of inquiry are being pursued to locate her.

'Anyone who may know Serena's whereabouts or who may have seen her as she travelled through Folkestone - probably in the company of an older person - should call officers at Wandsworth CID on 020 3276 2588.'

She was wearing a green blazer  part of her Holy Cross School uniform  and had her dark brown hair tied up.

The Met Police said they believe she may have left the UK on a Eurotunnel train (file picture)

Holy Cross School has today issued a statement in relation to its missing student.

You may already be aware that one of our Year 8 pupils is missing. The pupil and her family are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time, said head teacher Andrea Lucas and Anna-Marie Boyd, chair of governors.

The situation is being managed by the police and we are in liaison with them and the pupils parents.

If you have any further information please contact the police urgently.
A teenage girl cried with joy after deciphering a haiku her parents gave her as a puzzle.

They used two confectionery-inspired poems to reveal what they had bought her for her graduation present.

The first haiku went: 'Donuts in sugar, never-ending yummy love, all nice Danishes.'

But the girl was unable to work out the secret behind the poem so her father gave her another one.

This one went: 'Dipped in sweet nectar, eclairs, yearning longing and nothing disgusting.'

And then it dawned on her. The first letter of each word spelled out Disneyland.

'No.. no.. are you taking me to Disneyland?!' she says in the video.

She runs over to hug her father, who grins as she tries to contain her excitement.

Soon she is crying tears of joy as she embraces her father, mother and brother in the dining room of their house in Naples, Florida.

Tears of joy: The young girl chokes up when she cracks the code of her father's haiku

She leaps up and hugs her father after being delivered the news about her graduation present

'Happy graduation baby!' says her mother.

As a reward for her graduating the whole family visited California for seven days starting on May 4.

They spent five days at Disneyland staying at the Fairfield Anaheim hotel near the entrance to the resort.

They also booked, her father tells her, for the Fantasmic Disney dinner event.

The whole family will visit California with five day at a very special theme park

In the video, he then also reveals the whole family are going to a showing of Avengers: Infinity War at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

The camera then pans to the brother, who looks bemused by his sister's reaction.

They then have a group hug and shout 'We are going to Disneyland.'


Barnaby Joyce's colleagues in the National Party are calling for politicians to stop selling their comments to the media.

The proposed ban comes as the former deputy prime minister reportedly prepares to make $150,000 for an interview regarding his relationship with Vikki Campion.

Ms Campion - Joyce's former press secretary - gave birth to their baby Sebastian in April. The news of Ms Campion's pregnancy led to Mr Joyce's downfall as deputy prime minister.

His colleagues in the National Party say Mr Joyce cannot complain about a breach of privacy due to his reported agreement to sit down for an interview with Channel Seven, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Barnaby Joyce's colleagues in the National Party are calling for politicians to stop selling their comments to the media (Mr Joyce pictured with girlfriend Vikki Campion and son Sebastian)

Ms Campion - Joyce's former press secretary - gave birth to baby Sebastian in April

Veterans Affairs Minister and Nationals member Darren Chester said he supported a ban on politicians making money for their comments.

'This is unprecedented in my time in Parliament and I'm open to the conversation about banning MPs from benefitting personally from selling stories to the media. We need to have a closer look at it,' he said.

Mr Chester said Mr Joyce's decision to sell his story to Channel Seven was a distraction.

Senator Stirling Griff said politicians being paid by the taxpayer should not make money for commenting to the media.

Liberal MP Sussan Ley said politicians profiting from comment was 'out of step with community expectations'.

Senator Derryn Hinch called Mr Joyce was a hypocrite for complaining about privacy while accepting money for an interview.

'It is pure hypocrisy though to plead for privacy, complain about the Telegraph and then get paid,' he said.

Following the media coverage, Ms Campion has made a complaint against the Daily Telegraph for what she claims was an invasion of privacy, the newspaper itself reported.

She claimed the reporting of her pregnancy breached the couple's privacy.

The Daily Telegraph plans to defend the complaint lodged by Ms Campion.

Coalition MPs were reportedly unhappy about Mr Joyce's reported decision to sell his story to Channel Seven's Sunday Night program.

'To seek privacy and then on the other hand to seek an interview deal seems to reek of hypocrisy, doesn't it,' a Coalition backbencher said.

Coalition MPs were reportedly unhappy about Mr Joyce's apparent decision to sell his story to Channel Seven's Sunday Night program

'This is a clear case of double standards and that's regrettable,' another MP said.

Labor's Anthony Albanese said he didn't support politicians being paid for media interviews.

Mr Joyce's salary is $203,000, and while he was deputy prime minister he was making $400,000 per year.

The proceeds of the sit-down television interview, where he is expected to go into detail about his relationship with Ms Campion, will reportedly be passed on to their son Sebastian.

An industry insider told The Telegraph the money had gone into a trust fund for Sebastian 'to be independently administered at a future date'.

'Lawyers ultimately get to decide if it should be accessed for the child's education or if it will go to the child as a lump sum when he gets to 18 or possibly older,' the insider said.

'The baby's parents have no say in it and cannot access it.'

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson slammed Mr Joyce's decision to agree to the television interview, accusing him of being a hypocrite.

'He can't insist he wants privacy for his new partner and baby - and then sell his story to the highest bidder for $150K, as he has reportedly done with Channel Seven,' the former Today Show presenter wrote in an article for Ten Daily.

It is believed Seven out-bid Nine's 60 Minutes and agreed to pay the pair $150,000 for the interview, the Australian reported.

The couples' baby Sebastian will be featured on the segment which is set to be a ratings hit.

Mr Joyce has also said he is writing a political memoir for Melbourne University Press, adding to the speculation over his increasing financial costs.

The interview is said to be conducted by senior Sunday Night reporter Alex Cullen, who worked for months to secure the deal.

Mr Joyce and Ms Campion were reportedly directly involved in the bidding negotiations and did not use an agent to negotiate the deal, network sources and insiders have claimed.
Russia's ambassador to Australia has rejected demands from the federal government it pay compensation to the families of the 38 Australian victims of downed plane MH17.

Grigory Logvinov has responded to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's demands after she declared that Australia holds Russia legally responsible for its role in the tragedy.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has since called on Australia to kick Mr Logvinov out of the country if Moscow refuses to apologise, The Australian reported on Tuesday.

'A country can't be complicit in the death of 38 Australians and face no consequences. If the Russians don't apologise, we should expel the Russian ambassador until they do,' Mr Abbott told the publication.

Scroll down for video

Russia's ambassador to Australia Grigory Logvinov (pictured) has rejected demands from the federal government that pay compensation to the families of the 38 Australian victims killed in the downing of flight MH17

All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 Australians when the MH17 (pictured) was shot down in 2014

The Joint Investigation Team confirmed last Thursday that the MH17 was shot down by a Buk-TELAR missile belonging to the 53rd Brigade of the Russian army.

The plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down on July 17, 2014.

All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 Australians.

In response to Mr Abbott's calls to expel diplomats, Ms Bishop said 'further options will be considered in due course', The Australian reported.

'We are discussing Russia's actions with other nations,' Ms Bishop said.

An unnamed federal MP told the publication that expelling diplomats would have no impact and that Australia should instead focus on Russian cyber attacks.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbot has since called on Australia to kick Russian ambassador Grigory Logvinov (pictured in March) out of the country if Moscow refuses to apologise

The Joint Investigation Team confirmed last week that the MH17 (pictured) was shot down by a Buk-TELAR missile that belonged to the 53rd Brigade of the Russian army.

On Sunday, Mr Logvinov rejected the Joint Investigation Team's findings, despite repeatedly expressed our attitude towards the quality of the JIT's work'.

'Despite of everything, all our efforts to commence a serious, solid and professional joint work are rejected out of hand,' he said in a lengthy media statement.

'There is a well-known style, a rough, clumsy algorithm. Dirty provocations are organised, and the guilty side is determined in advance. The so-called 'investigation' is conducted almost completely on the basis of information from social networks and several international non-governmental organisations, which have tainted themselves long ago by fakes, forgeries, primitive fabrications and so on.'

Foreign minister Julie Bishop, pictured with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has demanded that Russia pay compensation to the families of the 38 Australian victims killed in the downing of MH17

The Boeing 777 passenger jet was shot down 100 miles east of Donetsk, Ukraine in July 2014

Mr Logvinov likened investigations of the MH17 flight to the problems surrounding the search for MH370, which vanished several months earlier and is yet to be found.

'It was indicative, that now the attention is focused again on the MH370 disappearance investigation in connection with new expert conclusions, which document possible mistakes of the version, worked out by the international investigation team,' Mr Logvinov said in the statement.

'In this case the Australian authorities do not deny the possibility, that the investigation is going in a wrong direction. However, they do not admit even a hint of such doubts regarding the MH17 tragedy.

'Therefore, we obviously see double standards, which only confirm that we are dealing with preliminary planned provocation, and MH17 passengers, including Australian citizens, are its victims.'

Mr Logvinov said Russia will continue to provide assistance so that the truth is established and the true perpetrators are brought to justice.

'However it is time to get rid of the illusion, that someone can speak with us in such a prosecutorial manner and expect that we will resignedly accept these unsubstantiated allegations,' his statement concluded.
Cecilia Haddad, 38, was found in the Lane Cove River, in Sydney's north shore, on May 1

The former boyfriend of a woman found dead in a river will reportedly return to Australia as he attempts to clear his name.

Cecilia Haddad, 38, was found in the Lane Cove River, on Sydney's north shore, on May 1, just hours after being reported missing by a group of worried friends.

Her pockets were 'weighed down with rocks', according to the kayaker who found her, and her death is being treated by police as a murder.

Brazilian Mario Marcelo Santoro, a person of interest in relation to Ms Haddad's death, is expected to travel to Australia to prove he did not kill her, the Australian reported.

Mr Santoro's aunt Jaisa Ferreira dos Santos said his family believed in his innocence.

Mr Santoro is expected to provide documents which prove he changed his flights to return to Brazil before Ms Haddad died.

Ms Haddad's mother Milu Muller said Mr Santoro had lived off her daughter's earnings, and that this had contributed to the end of their relationship.

However, Dr Jaisa claimed Ms Haddad was never Mr Santoro's lover.

She said Mr Santoro was on holiday in Sydney at the time of Ms Haddad's death and that he had brought forward the date of his flight back to Brazil at the request of his mother.

Scroll down for video

Ms Haddad (left, pictured with a friend) ended her business and personal relationships with Mr Santoro in the weeks before her body was found floating in a Sydney river, according to friends

Mr Santoro (pictured) is expected to provide documents which prove he changed his flights to return to Brazil before Ms Haddad died

Dr Jaisa said Mr Santoro would return to Australia 'with several documents that proved his father's illness, hospitalisations and other things'.

Mr Santoro, who met Ms Haddad many years ago in Rio, arrived in Sydney about 18-months ago, claiming to have a 'big job' in healthcare lined up.

But sources close to the investigation told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Santoro had no such job and came to Australia simply to 'pursue' Ms Haddad.

'Essentially he told his friends and family he'd scored a big job with a healthcare company in Australia, but he lied,' the source claimed.

'He came here to pursue Cecilia. Ostensibly he came to visit her and never left.

'He told Cecilia he had something lined up (for work) here too, but his first job in Sydney was driving an Uber from memory.'

It was so unusual for Ms Haddad to drop off the radar that three friends called police to report her missing on Sunday, having not heard from her since 9.30am on Saturday.

'Three of us that I know of reported her missing within 48 hours, that shows how out of character her disappearance was,' a friend said last week.

Ms Haddad attended a 'brief' barbeque with friends on Friday night before heading home for an 'early night'.

That was supposed to be followed by a mixture of personal and business events the next day, including a meeting with a disabled client she regularly cared for.

'She spent the remainder of Friday evening on the phone to friends sharing her plans for the weekend. This is why we were concerned about her - we knew her plans and should have heard from her,' the friend said.

Mr Santoro, who met Ms Haddad many years ago in Rio, arrived in Sydney about 18-months ago, claiming to have a 'big job' in healthcare lined up

'The BBQ was brief and ended early. I spoke to her on Friday evening, Cecilia was an open book and an open communicator.'

'Her disability clients loved her because she treated them like real people, never like they were disabled... she had plans to provide assistance to one on the weekend.

'She had an impact on everyone she met. She was the most sincere person you ever met.'

Ms Haddad spoke to friends between 8am and 9.30am on Saturday over message and phone calls, but was never heard from again.

Police divers searched kilometres from where her body was found on Friday, the same day her father Jose arrived in Sydney to meet with homicide detectives.
The ex-boyfriend of Algarve acid attack victim Ellie Chessell should face the maximum 25 years in jail for his 'macabre and repulsive' crime, a state prosecutor told a court on on Monday.

Carla Neto said in a closing speech on the last day of Claudio Gouveia's attempted murder trial there could be no doubt about his guilt.

'He plotted a cruel plan I say any ordinary person would find macabre and repulsive,' she told the three women judges tasked with deciding the defendant's fate.

'His actions resulted in very serious injuries for the victim on the whole of her body and it didn't have worse repercussions only because she received quick help.

'If it hadn't been for that, he could have taken her life.'

Claudio Gouveia is accused of plotting the murder of ex-girlfriend Ellie Chessell in the Algarve

Ellie was reportedly assaulted repeatedly by Mr Gouveia over the course of their two year relationship

Ellie Chessell (front) leaving court with family and friends on the first day of proceedings against Gouveira

Urging the judges to punish him with an 'exemplary sentence' after accusing him of assaulting Ellie repeatedly during their near two year relationship before sending her death threats when she walked out on him, she added: 'In one of the messages he sent her he said he wanted to 'rip her face off with all his strength.'

'Another sent to the victim's mum said: 'I'm going to burn your face.'

'It is obvious he became obsessed by the idea of putting into practice the aims revealed in those messages.'

Gouveia, 35, from Madeira, is accused of ordering an alleged accomplice pal to target the pretty British travel rep near the hotel she relocated to after leaving their home on the Atlantic island where they met.

Ellie, 29, from Newport, Isle of Wight, cheated death but was left with lifelong scars in the May 6 2017 attack in Alvor near Portimao.

Gouveia was told on Monday he will learn his fate on June 12 in an open court session in which lead judge Cristina Mira will announce verdict - and sentence if he is found guilty of attempted murder and domestic violence.

Domestic violence carries a maximum five-year prison sentence in Portugal and attempted murder is punishable by 12 to 25 years in jail.

Under Portuguese law Gouveia could only be jailed for 25 years even if he is convicted of both crimes.

Rodrigues Fonseca (pictured) is accused of throwing acid on Ms Chessell after a plot by her ex

Gouveia, 35, from Madeira was in a relationship with Ellie, 29, from Newport, Isle of Wight, for nearly two years

His alleged accomplice, Edmundo Helder Rodrigues Fonseca, also from Madeira, is due to be tried separately in a two-day trial starting next month.

He was hauled into court for the first time during Gouveia's trial on Monday to face questions about the acid attack.

Rodrigues Fonseca is accused of throwing acid over Ellie after her ex allegedly lured her out of her hotel by posing as a wealthy businessman called Diogo and setting up a date using a fake Tinder account.

The 44-year-old, arrested last year in Uganda, east Africa for drugs offences and extradited to Portugal in May, told the court trying Gouveia in Portimao: 'I want to remain silent.'

Ellie's ex - who was taken out of court before his alleged accomplice took the witness stand - said on his return after being allowed permission to speak to the judges: 'I don't know what else I can do. 'Only Edmundo can tell the truth and now he doesn't want to speak.

'He is using my trial to prepare his. I am innocent. I had nothing to do with this. Ellie and I had a fantastic relationship, we never had problems. I feel sad and wronged.'

The last day of evidence began with Ellie's former boss at travel firm TUI telling the court Ellie left Madeira in March last year for the Algarve after confiding in her Gouveia 'beat her very badly.'

Ellie Chessell is a former TUI travel rep who worked all over the Mediterranean with the company

TUI manager Yvette Travers said: 'We arranged a place for her in the Algarve. Ellie told me she was receiving messages from him.

'I found out about the acid attack the day after it happened and I thought right away about her ex-boyfriend because of the messages. Ellie told me the content and some weren't very nice.

'I know he warned her in one he would burn her face.

'I visited her in hospital in Lisbon. She was bandaged from her head to her chest like a mummy. She was trying to be happy but it was very difficult to see her like that.

She added: 'It is very difficult for her to move on until this ends. Her career is on hold.'

Gouveia, who claims his alleged accomplice targeted Ellie alone without his knowledge, will now remain in custody until verdict next month.

He is being held at the same prison in the Algarve town of Silves as Rodrigues Fonseca.

Gouveia's defence lawyer Etelvina Gomes said in her summing-up the evidence pointing to her client assaulting Ellie was 'extremely fragile.'

Insisting no-one had seen him in the area where the Brit travel rep was attacked and there was no proof he had created the fake Tinder profile, she added: 'There are email messages sent from accounts he recognises are his, but there is no proof the other accounts belong to him and it was those accounts the threats were sent from.'
A Dutch citizen for the first time won the right to register as neither a male nor a female, with judges urging lawmakers to recognise a 'third gender'.

The Limburg District Court in Roermond ruled that the unnamed plaintiff can now be recorded in the Dutch birth register as 'gender undetermined' as opposed to male or female.

'At birth in 1961, this person's gender could not be determined and the parents decided to register the person as male, to make things easier at the time,' the judges said.

The plaintiff then in 2001 had an operation to and change their gender to female.

The Limburg District Court in Roermond (pictured)ruled that the unnamed plaintiff can now be recorded in the Dutch birth register as 'gender undetermined' as opposed to male or female

'Eventually it also turned out that the female gender did not fit the person, whose personality is experienced as gender-neutral, feeling neither like a man nor a woman,' the court said.

The plaintiff then asked authorities to include a third, gender-neutral entry in the birth register.

A similar request by a different person was turned down in 2007 by the Netherlands' highest court, the High Council.

But due to 'social and legal developments, the time is ripe for the recognition of a third gender,' the judges said.

An example was that Dutch railway NS now addresses travellers as 'passengers' rather than 'ladies and gentlemen' and added gender-neutral toilets.

The judges ruled that someone not being able to describe themselves as 'of undetermined gender' denied them a right to a private life, self determination and autonomy.

Dutch railway NS now addresses travellers as 'passengers' rather than 'ladies and gentlemen' and added gender-neutral toilets

The court called on the Dutch parliament to enact laws that would allow citizens to easily label themselves as having no gender on legal documents.

'To enable the registration of a third gender 'X', a legal amendment is crucial. It's now up to the lawmakers,' the judges said.

Meanwhile 'the court rules in favour of changing the person's gender in the birth register to 'gender could not be determined'.'

Activists hailed the ruling, saying it was another step towards recognising the rights of Dutch transgender people, of about 0.2 to 2.0 percent of the country's 17 million people.
A Liberal Party MP has defended Luke Foley's use of the term 'white flight' when referencing Anglo families relocating from suburbs with high rates of immigration.

Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security, Angus Taylor, told Miranda Devine on her radio program, that the overseas born population is creating problems with social integration.

'What matters is the increasing concentration of overseas born population in some suburbs, the problem it's creating for our traditional social integration which is now being challenged,' he said.

'The people don't want to debate immigrant cohesion, they want us to debate the words and the words don't matter.'

Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security, Angus Taylor (pictured) defended Luke Foley's 'white flight' comment

Mr Taylor, who grew up in Cooma alongside Snowy Mountains immigrants, said integration is not being seen and that's what Australia is famous for.

'These suburbs see English language skills failing which means people are less likely to have contact with people who have been here longer.

'We don't see the integration that Australia is famous for.'

Luke Foley, the NSW opposition leader and parliamentary leader for the NSW branch of the Labor party, was savagely reprimanded by fellow Labor MPs for 'injecting race' into the debate over immigration on Friday.

Members went so far as to label Mr Foley a racist for his comments referring to the decline of Anglo families in Western Sydney.

Mr Foley apologised for his comment and The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Foley was deeply apologetic and distressed that his comments caused offence when it was not his intention, admitting it was a poor choice of words.
Meghan Markle's half sister Samantha has launched yet another Twitter attack on the Duchess of Sussex - this time bashing her coat of arms.

Samantha called it 'extremely improper that my father was not named' on the Duchess' coat of arms despite his ties to his now royal daughter.

She added that 'quite frankly it looks like it was drawn by someone in a kindergarten classroom' before citing the College of Arms' requirements for obtaining the seal which says an American can do if they show decent from the British Royal Crown.

Yesterday's Twitter tirade came just days after another one of Samantha's rants where she insulted Meghan for being 'ungrateful' and said the Duchess didn't 'walk on water'.

Samantha Markle has bashed her half sister's coat of arms, saying it looks like it was drawn by a kindergartner

She called it 'extremely improper that my father was not named' on the Duchess' coat of arms because of his ties to his now royal daughter

Samantha has been very vocal on social media, attacking her royal half sister and her mother

Samantha wrote on Twitter Sunday: 'Extremely improper that my father was not named on the coat of arms, and quite frankly it looks like it was drawn by someone in a kindergarten classroom.

Our father is American but we have ties in the family tree to royalty in several places according to the college of arms.'

She then tweeted again: 'According to the college of arms in [sic] American should be named on the coat of arms if he is in anyway related to royalty. My father is. What is represented on this coat of arms communication is weak. Where is their representation of women's rights or humanitarianism?'

After her Twitter rant last week, BET published an article calling Samantha a 'bitter half sister' and wrote 'the white side of her family is living the jealous life.'

Samantha then snapped back at the publication, calling them 'losers' for 'pulling the race card'.

'I guess that's all you got because you have a $7.00 an hour desk job at a company called B.E.T. ("Been Eating Twinkies") Black side of the family was snubbed too. keep eating,' she wrote.

In earlier tweets, Samantha fired off the false and offensive statement that Doria, who remains the only member of the Duchess of Sussex's family to not try and cash in on her daughter's new title, had been paid for an interview with Oprah.

She then followed that up on Tuesday with an unnecessary remark about Ragland at the royal wedding, saying she looked a 'hockey player in the penalty box.

The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms to design her own Coat of Arms which represents her personally and her American roots.

Each member of the royal family each have a special design which signify their rank and their identity.

The Queen signed off on Meghan's design which features far more detail than the one given to the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.

The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of the Duchess's home state.

The Coat of Arms of the Duchess of Sussex includes subtle nods towards Meghan's native California

Samantha attacked Mehgan's mother Doria Ragland on Twitter, saying she looked like a 'hockey player' at the royal wedding

HOW DO YOU GET A COAT OF ARMS? Coats of Arms came into being during medieval tournaments like jousting when knights would be recognised by the motifs on their shields or helmets and heralds quickly learnt the different ones in use, taking up responsibility for the control of their use. Their use declined in competition and battle but they became more widely used in society. The College of Arms, a branch of the Royal household, is the official body in the UK that deals with coats of arms and their team of experts - funded by the fees they charge and not taxpayers money - design and research heraldic or genealogical issues. The arms are given for free while the money people pay is for the research and design of the coat of arms. However, that doesn't mean that just anybody can pay the fee and get a coat of arms. The cumulative knowledge of the Earl Marshal gathered over hundreds of years has given them the skill of tactfully suggesting that people don't proceed with their application. The late Peter Gwynn-Jones, a former Garter King of Arms, once said: 'In practice, eligibility depends upon holding a civil or military commission, a sound university degree or professional qualification, or having achieved some measure of distinction in a field beneficial to society as a whole.' Advertisement

The three quills represent communication and the power of words.

The announcement of the coat of arms revealed by Kensington Palace also bore what is understood to be Meghan's new cypher, or letterhead, featuring the letter 'M' with a crown on top.

Beneath the shield on the grass sits a collection of golden poppies, California's state flower, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace.

The most famous design is that of the Queen who is represented by the Royal Coat of Arms.

The College of Arms, a branch of the Royal household, is the official body in the UK that deals with coats of arms and their team of experts - funded by the fees they charge and not taxpayers money - design and research heraldic or genealogical issues.

There is still speculation as to whether Meghan's father Thomas Markle will received a coat of arms as both Kate Middleton and Sophie Rhys-Jones' fathers were when they were married.

The reason for the delay may be that Mr Markle, a retired Hollywood lighting director who lives in Mexico, is a U.S. citizen, so needs to prove that he has an ancestor who was a subject of the Crown.

Meghan's Coat of Arms suggests an air of independence in comparison to the Duchess of Cambridge's in 2011.

Before her wedding to Prince William, Kate's family was awarded the crest, rather than the royal bride alone.

This gives his entire family  including his other children, Pippa and James, as well as wife Carole  the right to use the emblem

The meaning contained in Meghan's coat of arms 1. The shield's blue background represents the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Meghan's native California 2. The golden rays across the shield are another nod to the Sunshine State 3. The three quills represent communication and the power of words 4. On the grass beneath the shield are golden poppies, California's state flower, and wintersweet, which grows in the gardens at Kensington Palace 5. The shield has two Supporters, one a lion, which relates to Prince Harry's shield and also appears on her husband's coat of arms, the other - representing the Duchess herself - a songbird with wings elevated as if flying and an open beak - another nod to the power of communication 6. A coronet has been assigned to the Duchess of Sussex - the coronet laid down by a Royal Warrant of 1917 for the sons and daughters of the Heir Apparent - and composed of two crosses patee, four fleurs-de-lys and two strawberry leaves. Advertisement
Two New Jersey police officers have been reassigned to desk duty after they were caught on camera punching a bikini-clad woman during an arrest.

The Wildwood Police Department came under fire after two officers were seen hitting Emily Weinman in the head and body slamming her to the sand.

Both officers have been reassigned to desk duty and an internal investigation into the Memorial Day weekend incident has been launched.

But Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr has come to the officers' defense, saying the body camera footage will reveal there is more to the story.

This shocking video shows the moment a New Jersey officer repeatedly punched Emily Weinman in the head during an arrest on Memorial Day weekend

'It wasn't just that this officer decided to beat her up. That wasn't the case,' he told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Troiano Jr said that the footage would show that Weinman, 20, insulted the cops and spit on them.

'We don't like to see anyone get hit, period,' he said.

'Bu then again, when you have someone who's aggressive attacking you or spitting at you...I wasn't there. I don't know.'

Troiano also hit out at young people who came to the city and drank at the beach.

'I don't understand why it seems to be that this is a God-given right that they can come here and drink underage,' he said.

'You're not allowed to hit me like that,' Weinman repeatedly tells the officers who continue to hold her down and proceed to handcuff the young woman

Weinman, who went to the beach with her daughter and family, posted about the incident on Facebook with a lengthy description of what she says happened.

She claims the incident started when the cops approached her on their four wheelers and asked her and her friend for their ages because there was alcohol near them.

'I had alcohol, its Memorial Day weekend and 90 percent of people are underage drinking on the beach, without a doubt,' she wrote.

The pair cooperated with the officers and gave them their ages before getting breathalyzed.

'It came back negative. I told them I wasnt drinking and the alcohol was clearly closed/sealed, which the cops seen,' she wrote on Facebook.

She claims the incident (pictured) started when the cops approached her on their four wheelers and asked her and her friend for their ages because of the alcohol near them

Weinman said the cops still stayed near them, with one even following her when she walked away to make a phone call.

'I asked them dont they have something better to do as cops than to stop people for underage drinking on the beach, saying that theres so much more serious stuff going on...the cop said, "I was gonna let you go but now Ill write you up" and he asked my name.'

Weinman said that she didn't 'do anything wrong and anything couldve been written down on that paper so I wouldnt give it to him'.

She said the officers told her that they were going to arrest her despite her telling them that she was at the beach with her 18-month-old daughter.

'He told me hes arresting me and started coming towards me to put handcuffs on me. I cautiously was backing up from him (facing him) and yelled for my daughter's father,' Weinman wrote.

Weinman said that she 'tripped and fell and the cop tackled me to the ground and smashed my head into the sand'.

Weinman admitted that she should've just given the officer her name to avoid the incident, but 'the whole situation was iffy and I didnt trust it' she said. She also said that she is underage, but she hadn't been drinking

Within moments, Weinman said she blacked out and tried to get up and push the officer off of her.

'That's when he head locked me by [putting] his arm around my neck, punched on me in my head and then he head locked me again but this time choking me, I was gasping for air,' Weinman claims.

The video, which has been viewed more than a million times on social media, shows one of the officers wrapping his arm around Weinman's neck.

He then punches her twice in the head before body slamming her on her back as the other officer screams 'Stop resisting!'

'I'm not resisting. I didn't do anything wrong,' Weinman is heard saying as she kicks her legs at the officers.

Weinman, who has an 18-month-old daughter (both pictured) said she shared the video because the 'situation was handled wrongly and blew out of proportion'

'You're not allowed to hit me and choke me like that,' she can also be heard saying.

Wildwood Police Chief Robert Regalbuto has since said that while he finds the video 'alarming' he 'does not want to rush to judgement' until the investigation is completed.

Weinman admitted that she should've just given the officer her name to avoid the incident, but 'the whole situation was iffy and I didnt trust it' she said.

She also said that she is underage, but hadn't been drinking. She said she shared the video because the 'situation was handled wrongly and blew out of proportion'.

Weinman said thatm after she was handcuffed, the officers didn't bother to take the beer that was next to her.

She believes they were just 'there to stir the pot'.

Weinman has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction, and being a minor in possession of alcohol.
A Paris prosecutor has revealed that the father of a four-year-old boy rescued by a hero dubbed 'Spiderman' went out shopping and then played Pokemon Go in the street as his son came inches from death.

Mamoudou Gassama was hailed a hero for single-handedly hauling the four-year-old to safety after scaling the facade of an apartment block in Paris.

Praising the 22-year-old's bravery, Francois Molins revealed on BFM TV that the little boy had been in the care of another family and may possibly be on his way to Reunion Island to join his mother there.

The boy's father was taken into custody after the harrowing incident and questioned by police.

Mr Molins said: 'The father left the flat just as the incident was unfolding. He went shopping and then decided to play Pokemon Go in the street which took a little time before he returned home.'

The prosecutor revealed that the window was left open and there was no safety grille on the balcony to stop a child climbing up and falling over.

'The father is very upset because he realises what he did and what could have happened,' he said.

The father, who has not been named, has been told to appear in court in September and could face two years in jail for failing to care for a child under French law.

The Malian, dubbed 'Spiderman', will be made a French citizen after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron this morning.

Malian immigrant Mamoudou Gassama (right), dubbed Spiderman for scaling four storeys to save a child dangling from a balcony in Paris, has met French President Emmanuel Macron (left) this morning

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, was hailed a hero for single-handedly hauling the four-year-old to safety after scaling the facade of an apartment block in the capital's 18th arrondissement.

The dramatic rescue, which saw Gassama clamber from balcony to balcony and reaching the child in less than 30 seconds, was captured on video and widely shared on social media. He has since been compared to the Marvel superhero Spiderman.

Gassama, who said he arrived in France a few months ago 'dreaming of building his life' in the country, was pictured meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace this morning.

Macron said the migrant will be made a French citizen and will also be offered a place in the fire brigade.

Mamoudou Gassama (pictured today), 22, was hailed a hero for single-handedly scaling the facade of an apartment block in the capital's 18th arrondissement, and hauling the four-year-old to safety. He is pictured this morning displaying a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech

This is the incredible moment that Mamoudou Gassama scaled four storeys - using just his bare hands - to rescue a young boy dangling from a balcony in Paris

The four-year-old was filmed hanging on for his life outside an apartment on Rue Marx-Dormoy on Saturday afternoon, having been apparently left home alone while his father was out shopping

'All the (Gassama's) documents will be put in order,' Macron told the sporty 22-year-old who has become a national hero, referring to his immigration status.

In the meeting, live footage of which was carried on the president's Facebook page, Macron gave Gassama a medal for bravery.

Without a thought for his own safety, Gassama took just seconds to reach the child in a spectacular rescue captured on film and viewed millions of times on social networks.

'I was not thinking of anything. I went straight up', Gassama, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved patterned shirt, told Macron, recounting the episode.

'Bravo,' Macron replied.

'I'm pleased because it's the first time I've received a trophy like that,' Gassama, who arrived in France in September 2017 and lives in a hostel for immigrants, said after receiving his medal.

The incident took place at around 8pm on Saturday in northern Paris.

Film of the rescue shows Gassama pulling himself up from balcony to balcony with his bare hands as a man on the fourth floor tries to hold on to the child by leaning across from a neighbouring balcony.

On reaching the fourth floor Gassama puts one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child had already been rescued.

One witness told Le Parisien: 'There is a fence and a gap between them... The neighbour could not afford to lean back to get the child himself.'

The only injury sustained by the child was a torn nail. Gassama suffered a few scratches. An investigation into the incident is now underway.

Gassama, 22, took less than 30 seconds to reach the child, and has since been compared to the Marvel superhero Spider-Man

Asked why he took such a risk to save the boy, Gassama (above) told Le Parisien: 'I did it because it's a child'

'Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child,' a fire service spokesman told AFP.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo praised the young migrant on Twitter for his 'act of bravery' as well as phoning him personally to 'thank him warmly'.

'He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here.

'I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France,' she added.

After effortlessly making his ascent, encouraged by a crowd of onlookers, Gassama, originally from Mali, grabbed the boy and took him to safety

A crowd of onlookers gathered on the streets below to watch the drama unfold

Tracked down by reporters 24 hours after the heroic rescue, Gassama said he had acted without thinking.

'I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child,' he said.

'I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down,' he added.

According to initial inquiries by the authorities, the child's parents were not at home at the time.

The father was later held for questioning by police for having left his child unattended and was due in court later, a judicial source said. The child's mother was not in Paris at the time.

Gassama's story instantly drew comparisons with that of another Malian migrant who was feted as a hero, and given citizenship, for helping save lives during a January 2015 terror attack.

Lassana Bathily helped hide hostages in the freezer during an Islamist jihadi attack on a Jewish supermarket, in which four people were killed.
A woman has launched a campaign to bring back Turkey Twizzlers in British schools after celebrity chef Jamie Oliver campaigned to ban them.

Kirsty Rogers started a petition on change.org calling for the return of the spiral strips of processed meat seven months ago.

But despite a slow start, she's now amassed almost 6,000 signatures  and is on course to hit her goal of 7,500.

A woman has launched a campaign to bring back Turkey Twizzlers in British schools after celebrity chef Jamie Oliver campaigned to ban them

'I used to live [off] Turkey Twizzlers used to make sure my mum stocked up lol,' Ms Rogers wrote.

'But to think my kids will never experience the taste of them makes me want to get this petition as far as possible.

'So come on u twizzlers lovers get signing.'

Mr Oliver spearheaded a campaign fighting for better quality and healthier school lunches.

He hit out at Turkey Twizzlers  which were only 34 per cent turkey  in his Channel 4 series Jamie's School Dinners, making them synonymous with bad, cheap food for children.

Following his campaign, a number of big school catering companies announced they were dropping Twizzlers from their menus.

Kirsty Rogers started a petition on change.org calling for the return of the spiral strips of processed meat seven months ago

Jamie Oliver spearheaded a campaign fighting for better quality and healthier school lunches and hit out at Turkey Twizzlers in his show Jamie's School Dinners

Bernard Matthews, the company behind Turkey Twizzlers, was outraged by the decision to remove them from school lunches.

They also introduced a new version with less fat.

'We have been unfairly treated. Turkey is the least fatty of all meats,' managing director David Joll said at the time.

'The new Twizzlers have only a third the fat level of the average pork sausage, yet you don't hear Jamie Oliver telling people not to eat sausages.'

However, they discounted the product  which were only 34 per cent turkey  in 2005.

They consisted of 40 ingredients including pork fat, water, rusk and oil as well as a number of colourings and flavourings.
The Government could sell part of its multi-billion pound stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland in a move which would leave taxpayers facing steep losses, it has been claimed.

British taxpayers own more than 70 per cent of the banking chain after the Government pumped 45.5billion into propping it up in the 2008 financial crash.

Plans to sell the shares have been delayed for three years but reports have circulated over recent months that they are back on the table.

But taxpayers are expected to incur losses of up to 20bn if the shares are offloaded in the near future as their prices are well down on what was paid for them.

City bankers and investors have been told the first tranche of shares could be sold as early as this week, according to Sky News.

British taxpayers own more than 70 per cent of RBS after the Government pumped 45.5billion into propping it up in the 2008 financial crash. If shares are sold in the coming days then taxpayers face heavy losses on this investment

Although some bankers warned that the sale could be delayed if ministers are unable to prove they are getting value for money.

One City analyst suggested the Government could sell around 10 percent of its stock in the bank - valued at more than 3billion.

A fund manager at a major institutional investor told Sky the City had been 'awash with speculation' in recent days that a Treasury announcement is imminent.

RBS is due to hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday, but it remains unclear whether a sale would take place prior to that or shortly after it.

Chancellor Philip Hammond would have to approve any sale and ensure it meets guidelines dictating when is an appropriate time to sell shares.

Chancellor Philip Hammond (pictured at a Fintech conference in London earlier this year) would have to approve any sale and ensure it meets guidelines dictating when is an appropriate time to sell shares.

The UK Government Investments (UKGI) has previously said it is 'an entirely fair assumption' that it would be able to sell a 3bn stake in RBS during this financial year - with projections for a further 12bn of disposals during the next four fiscal years.

But shares in the bank are well down on what the Treasury bought them for when it rescued RBS from collapse.

RBS was rescued from collapse with capital injections from the Treasury totalling 45.5bn at an average share price of 502p.

Shares in the bank closed at 289.7p on Friday making the taxpayers' stake worth just under 24.5bn.

And this is well below the 330p price at which George Osborne sold the last load of the Government's shares for in August 2015.

The City has long abandoned any hope that all of the taxpayers' 45.5bn could be clawed back from the sale of RBS shares.

RBS would not comment on the report.
The valedictorian of a Catholic school in Kentucky, who was banned from giving his graduation speech that praised Parkland shooting survivors, gave his address anyway using a megaphone after the ceremony.

Christian Bales found out Friday morning - the day of graduation - that the Diocese of Covington had cut his speech from Holy Cross High School's ceremony.

But the openly gay valedictorian took matters into his own hands and still gave his speech after the ceremony using a megaphone.

Openly gay valedictorian, Christian Bales (left, in red and right), of Kentucky, who was banned from giving a 'political' speech, gave it anyway using a megaphone after Holy Cross High School's graduation ceremony

Diocese of Covington spokesman Tim Fitzgerald said the students' speeches weren't submitted on time, and upon review 'were political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church'. Pictured is Holy Cross High School

Bales was told his speech and that of his classmate, Katherine Frantz, who is also the student council president, were too political.

'The diocese took ours and said they were too confrontational, too angry, too personal, and that they weren't appropriate for the setting,' Bales told WKRC.

Frantz also blasted her speech through a megaphone alongside Bales.

During Bales' speech, he repeated the phrase 'the young people will win', a phrase coined by Parkland shooting survivors earlier this year.

'I know they pointed out that the Parkland teens teach ideologies that apparently go against the Catholic faith, which I don't agree with in my experience,' Bales told the station.

Bales said the pair's social activism likely drew scrutiny.

His speech also encouraged graduates to 'perpetuate God's will by bettering the quality of life' for communities.

Diocese of Covington spokesman Tim Fitzgerald said the students' speeches weren't submitted on time, and upon review 'were political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church'.

However, Bales' mother, Gillian Marksberry (right), says her son believes his speech was approved, before being told otherwise on Friday

However, Bales' mother, Gillian Marksberry, says her son and Frantz believed their speeches were approved, before being told otherwise on Friday.

Marksberry said she received a call from the school's principal last week.

She said he wanted her to make sure her son didn't wear makeup or bobby pins in his hair.

'That was disturbing because in four years I had never received a phone call from the principal,' Marksberry told WKRC, adding that the principal also wanted her to make sure he wore men's clothing to graduation.

Bales said he refuses to let the incident silence him and said he's going 'keep fighting' for what he believes in.


The internet has been in uproar over shocking images of immigrant children forced to sleep on the floor in metal 'cages' by ICE - without realizing the images are actually four years old.

Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and several high profile journalists, including NYT Mag's editor-in-chief Jake Silverstein, were quick to condemn the photos which reemerged on social media over the weekend.

Favreau warned that 'the only debate that matters', after seeing those photos, was 'how we force our government to get these kids back to their families as fast as humanly possible.'

The internet has been in uproar over shocking - yer historic - images of immigrant children forced to sleep on the floor in metal 'cages' by ICE.

One picture showed dozens of children sleeping under small pieces of foil, in a large room, surrounded by metal fences

'Speechless, this is not who we are as a nation,' added Villaraigosa.

While activist and Intercept columnist Shaun King tweeted that it was an 'abomination' adding that children were 'being held in cages, like dogs.'

The photos showed pictures of young children, separated from their parents, and forced to sleep on mats on the floor at two separate detention centers in Brownsville and Nogales, Texas.

One picture showed dozens of children sleeping under small pieces of foil, in a large room, surrounded by metal fences. There appears to be no toys or books for entertain the young children who had been separated form their families.

Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau was among the many to condemn the photos - without realizing they dated back to 2014

Activist and Intercept columnist Shaun King tweeted that it was an 'abomination'

'Speechless, this is not who we are as a nation,' added former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Linda Sarsour, Womens March co-founder, also shared her outrage on Twitter

In another, two young children were seen lying next to each other, next to the metal fence.

The images were shared thousands of times on Twitter by concerned citizens.

But today saw an embarrassing climb down from the outrage of yesterday, as people realized the images actually date from 2014, under the former administration - although it still reveals some of the shocking conditions ICE detainees have been forced to endure by ICE, (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Silverstein tweeted a correction, confirming the pictures were from 2014.

'Still disturbing, of course, but only indirectly related to current situation,' he tweeted. My bad (and a good reminder not to RT things while distracted w family on the weekend).'

CNN's Hadas Gold deleted her original comment and tweeted: 'Deleted previous tweet because gave impression of recent photos (they're from 2014)'

Silverstein also tweeted a correction, confirming the pictures were from 2014

CNN's Hadas Gold deleted her original comment and tweeted: 'Deleted previous tweet because gave impression of recent photos (they're from 2014)'.

Many others simply deleted their original tweets without comment.

Some Republicans have been mocking liberals for the error, pointing out that the conditions were took place under Barack Obama's administration.

The photos circulated following reports that Trump is changing the way immigrant families are processed by ICE. In the past, parents and children who crossed the border together, would be processed together in immigration court.

But the Trump administration has instituted a new policy that allows ICE to criminally prosecute adult family members, while releasing their children - splitting families. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit claiming it violates the US Constitution.

Regardless of political affiliations, the flurry of shares and outraged tweets over the old pictures should be a reminder that - however good one's intention - it's always worth double checking before sharing news on social media.
Georgina Chapman has reportedly purchased a property in Westchester as her disgraced media mogul estranged husband, Harvey Weinstein, faces multiple charges for rape and sexual misconduct in New York.

Chapman hasn't closed on the property in Westchester County yet, but the residence is located in an A-list celebrity neighborhood, sources told PageSix.

When the allegations against Weinstein first became public in a series of exposes in the New York Times and The New Yorker, Chapman said it took about two days for the scandal to sink in.

The British fashion designer fled to Los Angeles and eventually back to London where her parents live. The purchase of her new home will mark her return to New York since the allegations surfaced last year.

Scroll down for video

Georgina Chapman (left, right with Weinstein) has reportedly purchased a property in Westchester as her disgraced media mogul estranged husband, Harvey Weinstein, faces multiple charges for rape and sexual misconduct in New York

Meanwhile, Weinstein (pictured on Friday)was charged with rape and a sex crime in New York on Friday, in what was hailed a landmark for the #MeToo movement, nearly eight months after his career imploded in a blaze of accusations of misconduct

Chapman, 42, who has filed for divorce from Weinstein, told Vogue earlier this month that she has moments of rage about her estranged husband's behavior and now cries for the couple's two children.

'There was a part of me that was terribly naive - clearly, so naive,' Chapman said. 'I have moments of rage, I have moments of confusion, I have moments of disbelief!'

She said at the time that she worries mostly about their children - India, 7, and Dashiell, 5 - and the effect the scandal will have on them.

Chapman also said that she was never suspicious about Weinstein's behavior.

Chapman hasn't closed on the property in Westchester County yet, but the residence is located in an A-list celebrity neighborhood

'Absolutely not. Never'. She added that he frequently traveled for work and she had never obsessed about where he was.

'That's what makes this so incredibly painful. I had what I thought was a very happy marriage. I loved my life.'

Their six-story home in New York's West Village, which has recently been sold for $25.6million, has now been stripped of anything Weinstein-related, Vogue reporter Jonathan Van Meter noted.

Chapman and Weinstein reached a divorce agreement back in January. The prenuptial agreement she signed will reportedly pay her out between $15 and $20million after 10 years of marriage.

She will also get custody of their daughter and son.

Meanwhile, Weinstein was charged with rape and a sex crime in New York on Friday, in what was hailed a landmark for the #MeToo movement, nearly eight months after his career imploded in a blaze of accusations of misconduct.

The former mogul - once the toast of Hollywood, whose films won scores of Oscars -smirked as he was escorted into a Manhattan courtroom in handcuffs to face the first criminal charges lodged against him.

Weinstein, a 66-year-old twice-married father of five, was charged with rape in the first and third degrees, stemming from an attack on a woman in 2013, and a criminal sex act against another woman in 2004. Neither victim was named.

'Today's charges reflect significant progress in this active, ongoing investigation,' said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, thanking 'brave survivors' for coming forward and urging others to call a sex crimes hotline.

Chapman, 42, who has filed for divorce from Weinstein (pictured together in February 2017), said earlier this month that she has moments of rage about her estranged husband's behavior and now cries for the couple's two children

Weinstein, a 66-year-old twice-married father of five, was charged with rape in the first and third degrees, stemming from an attack on a woman in 2013, and a criminal sex act against another woman in 2004. Neither victim was named

Standing alongside his defense attorney, Weinstein looked glum during the brief arraignment, agreeing to post bail at $1million cash, surrender his passport and be fitted with a GPS monitoring device.

Nearly 100 women have now accused Weinstein of crimes ranging from sexual harassment to assault and rape going back decades.

New York authorities have been investigating the disgraced producer for months, under growing pressure from Hollywood actresses to bring him to justice, and their probes are ongoing.

Weinstein already faces a slew of civil lawsuits, is reportedly under federal investigation, and his former studio has filed for bankruptcy. But these were the first criminal charges against Weinstein.

Defense attorney Ben Brafman told reporters that his client would plead not guilty and still denied any non-consensual sexual activity.

'We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges,' Brafman said.

'Bad behavior is not on trial,' he added. 'Mr Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood.'

His case was adjourned until July 30.

The former studio boss surrendered to police shortly before 7.30am wearing a white shirt, pale blue sweater and dark blazer, as dozens of television cameras and photographers mobbed the street outside.

Nearly 100 women have now accused Weinstein of crimes ranging from sexual harassment to assault and rape going back decades

New York authorities have been investigating the disgraced producer for months, under growing pressure from Hollywood actresses to bring him to justice, and their probes are ongoing

He walked into the station clutching several books, apparently including the Rodgers and Hammerstein biography 'Something Wonderful' and a volume on late director Elia Kazan.

He left handcuffed, without the books, after his mugshots and fingerprints were taken.

Police said he was 'arrested, processed and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct'.

Out on bail, Weinstein's travel will be restricted to New York and the neighboring state of Connecticut.

Former actress Lucia Evans, who said Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004, is thought to be one of the women whose cases triggered the New York charges.

New York police previously confirmed another credible rape allegation after 'Boardwalk Empire' actress Paz de la Huerta accused the former producer of raping her twice at her New York apartment in late 2010.

Defense attorney Ben Brafman told reporters that his client would plead not guilty and still denied any non-consensual sexual activity

Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie are among more than two dozen actresses who say they were sexually harassed by the producer. A few, including Asia Argento and Rose McGowan, said they were raped

Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie are among more than two dozen actresses who say they were sexually harassed by the producer.

A few, including Asia Argento and Rose McGowan, said they were raped.

'I have to admit I didn't think I would see the day that he would have handcuffs on him,' McGowan told ABC..

'Today Harvey Weinstein will take his first step on his inevitable descent to hell. We, the women, finally have real hope for justice,' tweeted Argento.

The Time's Up anti-harassment movement said the producer 'shattered the lives of an untold number of women,' adding that it looked 'forward to seeing justice prevail'.

The #MeToo movement has seen people around the world come forward with cases of sexual mistreatment, leading to the downfall of powerful men across industries, including Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and former Today host Matt Lauer.

Weinstein has reportedly spent months in treatment for sex addiction.

Experts warn that any trial -- let alone a criminal conviction -- would still be a long way off.

Sexual assault cases, particularly those that allegedly happened years ago, are notoriously difficult to prosecute and often lack substantive forensic evidence.

Weinstein's lawyer is one of America's most celebrated criminal defense attorneys.

His past clients include former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who escaped criminal prosecution for alleged sexual assault in 2011.
An Argentinian submarine that disappeared in the Atlantic with 44 crew members on board did not have enough food, oxygen or escape suits for everyone, a damning report has found.

The ARA San Juan submarine, which was allegedly spying on the Falkland Islands, went missing on November 15 last year.

The vessel was supposed to carry sufficient supplies for all 44 crew members for seven days, but what was on board was only enough for 34 people.

The ARA San Juan submarine did not have enough food, oxygen or escape suits for everyone, a damning report has revealed

An Argentine Naval report said the submarine only had enough emergency oxygen on board for six days even though it had capacity for 100.

However, this was not the only concerning issue for Federal Judge Marta Yanez, who is responsible for investigating the disappearance and subsequent national and international hunt for the missing vessel.

The submarine  which was sent on unspecified manoeuvres in or around Falkland waters, was also in worse condition than previously thought.

The submarine's hatch was awaiting final approval and it is unclear whether the vessel left with a compromised escape trunk.

The vessel was supposed to carry sufficient supplies for all 44 crew members for seven days, but what was on board was only enough for 34 people

The ARA San Juan submarine, which was allegedly spying on the Falkland Islands, went missing on November 15 last year

Also, 95 percent of the fitted air filters had expired and the vessel had almost 600 fewer than planned by the manufacturer.

Additionally, the ARA San Juan did not have enough escape suits for all crew members.

Lawyer Valeria Carrera, who is prosecuting the case, said the crew members also had to deal with complications such as food shortage.

The report said the submarine had 240 units of mixed preserves, emergency rations, in thermosealed flavors;' 240 half-liter bottles of Gatorade energy drink, as well as two cereal bars and two chocolate bars for every crew member.

Ms Carrera showed that therefore, the submarine only had enough food for 34 people - 10 fewer than on board - for a maximum of seven days.

According to reports, San Juan Commander Pedro Martin Fernandez had demanded more supplies and resources months before embarking on their ill-fated operation.
An NAACP leader who claimed he was racially profiled during a traffic stop has been accused of lying after police released bodycam footage of the incident.

Timmonsville Police Chief Billy Brown accused Rev. Jerrod Moultrie, the president of the local NAACP, of trying to stir up racial unrest after the newly released video appeared to contradict his claims.

'I was shocked that someone who is supposed to be a community leader, a pastor, and head of the NAACP would just come out and tell a blatant lie,' Brown told The Blaze.

An NAACP leader who claimed he was racially profiled during a traffic stop has been accused of lying after police released bodycam footage of the incident

Moultrie said that he was pulled over last month for failure to use a turn signal, as well as an issue with his license plate.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, he described how the police officer had asked him whether he had drugs in his car, and had repeatedly questioned him on why he was driving a nice car in a nice neighborhood.

'Tonight, I was racially profiled by Timmonsville Officer CAUSE I WAS DRIVING A MERCEDES BENZ AND GOING HOME IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD,' he wrote on April 13.

Moultrie went onto claim that the white cop was sarcastic and abusive.

When he asked the Timmonsville, South Carolina, NAACP president for his address, and Moultrie pointed out his home, the cop supposedly snapped back: 'And I guess I am Bill Gates.'

Rev. Jerrod Moultrie claimed that he was pulled over last month for failure to use a turn signal, as well as an issue with his license plate

He described how the police officer had asked him whether he had drugs in his car, and had repeatedly questioned him on why he was driving a nice car in a nice neighborhood

'I am doing you a favor tonight not taking you to jail or writing you a ticket,' the officer reportedly told Moultrie.

Moultrie added: 'Guess I can't be a pastor and can't drive a Mercedes Benz and live in a nice neighborhood.

'Someone needs to answer for this behavior and this officer will.'

Florence community activist Timothy Waters was so outraged when he saw the post, that he reached out to the police department to ask for their bodycam footage of the traffic stop, WPDE reports.

But the video he saw showed a very different encounter to what Moultrie had claimed.

'Once I got a copy of that bodycam, it's as if he made the whole story up,' said Waters.

'And I felt like he set us back 100 years, because think about all of the racial profiling cases [that] are true.'

Moultrie has since deleted his Facebook post detailing the allegedly racist confrontation

Waters described the officer as being 'kind' throughout the stop.

The video also revealed that the officer never asked about drugs or questioned why Moultrie was driving through the neighborhood.

'It really bothered me, thinking about the racial unrest it could've cost in the community, and it's just troubling to me that someone who held a position like that would come out and just tell a lie,' Chief Brown added.

'There was a time where I was a victim as a police chief. I was a victim of racial profiling.'

The NAACP has since announced it is launching an investigation into the incident.

Moultrie has since addressed the bodycam footage, claiming that he was approached by not one but two officers when he was pulled over. He claims that he was racially abused by the first cop who stopped him. And the bodycam footage was taken from the encounter with the second cop.

He did not explain why two officers from two separate vehicles would approach him over the same issue.

Police Chief Brown insisted again that Moultrie was lying and that the bodycam footage was of the first - and only - cop to have approached him.

He explained that while a South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper stopped to offer assistance during the stop, he never left his cruiser.

'[The second trooper] never left the doorway,' Brown said. 'He had no contact with Moultrie at all. Now, and it's common sense, anybody who has ever been stopped by law enforcement, and there have been times where there was a backup officer.'

'But, give me a case where one officer will come and ask for your credentials, deal with you, and after he finishes with you, another officer comes up and ask for your credentials again, and deal with you again,' Brown explained. 'It just doesn't happen that way. It doesn't work that way.'

Brown emphasized that the original video footage showed the entire interaction between Moultrie and the officers.

'The video tells everything,' Brown said. 'The video tells you who had dealings with Moultrie. The video tells you who, what he claimed happened and what didn't happen. And the video would clearly tell you that there was only one officer who approached Moultrie.'
A woman from Brooklyn has died after passing out at a trendy bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The 25-year-old woman was sitting on a couch inside No Fun Bar around 9pm Saturday night when she suddenly lost consciousness, police say.

A friend then called 911.

When police arrived at the bar, the friend said the woman had been drinking and using cocaine earlier that day, a police source told the New York Post.

A 25-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital after passing out at No Fun Bar in Manhattan

No drugs were found at the time the police arrived.

The woman was rushed to Beth Israel Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The woman's identity has not been released pending family notification.

No Fun Bar was not immediately available for comment and a cause of death is unclear.
A 22-year-old college student who was found near death next to railroad tracks in northern California may have been the victim of a hate crime, his family claim despite investigators finding no evidence of foul play.

Portland State University student Aaron Salazar, who is gay, was hospitalized in Reno, Nevada, after being found unconscious near train tracks in Truckee, California, on May 15.

Amtrak investigators have suggested to Salazar's family that the 22-year-old may have jumped from the moving train, but family members believe he may be the victim of a hate crime.

Portland State University student Aaron Salazar, who is gay, was hospitalized in Reno, Nevada, after being found unconscious near train tracks in Truckee, California, on May 15

Amtrak has suggested to Salazar's family that the 22-year-old may have jumped from the moving train, but family members believe he may be the victim of a hate crime

Salazar's family members told KOIN that he had suffered 'focused' injuries to his groin area, including burns and a broken pelvis.

Amtrak police, however, said their investigation shows 'nothing to suggest criminal intent'.

Salazar remains hospitalized after being found unconscious May 15 while traveling from Denver to Portland, Oregon.

He hasn't been fully conscious since suffering the injuries and has been unable to speak to his family.

Salazar's cousin, Sonia Trujillo, said basic questions, such as when the company realized he was missing and who spotted him injured trackside, have gone unanswered.

'It's been 10 days, we need answers,' Trujillo told the Reno Gazette Journal.

Another cousin, Austin Sailas, told KOIN that Salazar was 'happy' and had no history of depression. He said Salazar planned to live with his father in Colorado for the summer.

Salazar's family members said that he had suffered 'focused' injuries to his groin area, including burns and a broken pelvis. Amtrak police, however, said their investigation shows 'nothing to suggest criminal intent'

Salazar remains hospitalized after being found unconscious May 15 while traveling from Denver to Portland, Oregon

Members of Oregon's congressional delegation on Friday wrote to Amtrak President Richard Anderson, citing the family's belief that Salazar was a victim of a hate crime and calling for an investigation using all available resources.

'We expect a full report on the investigation of this crime, to our federal delegation and to Aaron's family,' said the letter signed by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici.

Amtrak said in a statement that it was 'deeply saddened by the significant injuries to one of our customers' and that the Amtrak Police Department's investigation included reaching out to more than 300 customers, crew and friends.

'The individuals who noted interactions with Mr. Salazar shared that he had expressed to them a number of life concerns and challenges,' the statement said. 'We are unable to comment on Mr. Salazar's medical condition, but note that a fall from a moving train would cause significant injury.

'There is no evidence of a physical altercation occurring while Mr. Salazar was travelling on Amtrak.'

A police statement indicated that Salazar's location on the east end of town indicated that he never made it to the Truckee Amtrak station (file photo)

Trujillo said Salazar texted his grandmother a half-hour before the train arrived in Truckee - at 9.06am and said he'd made a friend on the train and that they planned to explore Sacramento, California, together.

The train was scheduled to leave Reno at 8.31am and arrive in Truckee at 8.37am, according to Amtrak timetables.

The Truckee Police Department said officers responded to a call about an injured man lying feet from the tracks at 11.30am, hours after the train left the station.

They found Salazar, alive but critically injured.

The police statement indicated that Salazar's location on the east end of town indicated that he never made it to the Truckee Amtrak station.

Denver, Reno and Truckee are served by Amtrak's California Zephyr route between Chicago and Emeryville, California.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for Salazar's medical costs. As of Monday afternoon, it had raised more than $55,000.
Advertisement

Robert Kelly was killed by an improvised explosive device in 2004 as an infantry officer taking part in combat operations in Afghanistan

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly paid respects to his son Robert by visiting his grave at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.

Kelly joined President Donald Trump as he delivered remarks honoring the fallen and placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington on Memorial Day.

At its conclusion, Kelly visited the grave of Robert, a marine who was killed in 2010 in Afghanistan.

His son was killed by an improvised explosive device in as an infantry officer taking part in combat operations in Afghanistan.

Kelly spent time alone at the site, and was later accompanied by his wife, Karen, who kissed their son's tombstone. Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen, Kelly's former top aide, also accompanied them.

Kelly's son's gravesite is in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. Section 60 is the burial ground in the cemetery where military personnel killed in the Global War on Terror since 2001 are interred.

Last year, President Trump joined him during the visit, though this year he did not.

Kelly praised his son during a combative appearance in the White House briefing room after gold star widow Myeshia Johnson blasted Trump for how he handled the condolence call to Army Sgt. La David Johnson.

'When he died he was surrounded by the best men on this earth. His friends,' Kelly said, recalling the message he got from his condolence officer, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Scroll down for video

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and his wife Karen pay their respects to their son, Marine Lt. Robert Kelly, at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 27, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia

Kelly spent time alone at the site, and was later accompanied by his wife, Karen Kelly (pictured kissing her son's headstone), as well as Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen, his former top aide

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly paid respects to his son Robert by visiting his grave at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday

Last year, Kelly also visited Robert's grave. He was accompanied that time by President Trump, who placed yellow flowers on the grave.

The two men have had strained relations at times, including several weeks ago when Kelly reportedly called Trump an 'idiot.' Trump called it 'fake news,' but the New York Times reported he has been venting about Kelly to friends.

Trump also reportedly tore into Nielsen in a prolonged dressing-down about illegal immigration in front of fellow cabinet members.

Kelly's son's gravesite is in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. Section 60 is the burial ground in the cemetery where military personnel killed in the Global War on Terror since 2001 are interred

Kelly walks to his son's gravesite in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, (R) embraces Karen Kelly, wife of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, as they pay their respects to Marine Lt. Robert Kelly

Before Kelly visited his son's headstone, Trump honored those who gave their lives while serving the nation during a speech at Arlington National Cemetery that came hours after firing off a tweet that drew criticism for focusing on his own accomplishments.

'We strive to be worthy of their sacrifice,' Trump told a crowd of servicemen and women Monday.

Trump acknowledged 'the heroes who rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far are drawn from the full tapestry of American life.'

'Theirs was a love more deep and more pure than most will ever know,' Trump said. 'They marched into hell so that America could know the blessings of peace.'

The grave of Marine Lt. Robert Kelly, son of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, is seen at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day

White House chief of staff John Kelly and his wife Karen wait for the start of a ceremony with President Donald Trump at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018 in Arlington, Va.

Attending the ceremony was Sen. Bob Dole, 94, who recovered from serious injuries in World War II before his long political career, and Navy veteran Ray Chavez, who at 106 is the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

'He was in the Oval Office two days ago and he doesn't look a day over 60,' Trump said.

Then Trump singled out seven-year-old Christian Jacobs, who he met last year at Arlington while Jacobs was wearing a full Marine dress uniform in tribute to his late father, Marine Sgt. Christopher Jacobs.

'Christian walked over to me with great confidence, shook my hand, looked me straight in the eye and asked if I would like to meet his dad,' Trump told the audience, recalling the emotional visit from last year.

'Christian, I want you to know that even though your father has left this world,' Trump said, addressing his remarks to the boy in the audience. 'He's left it for the next. But he's not gone, he'll never be gone. Your dad's love, courage, and strength live in you, Christian.'

Last year: President Donald Trump speaks with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and Vice President Mike Pence before laying flowers on the grave of Kelly's son, First Lieutenant Robert Kelly, at Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia

Paying his respects: Last year President Donald Trump also visited the grave with Kelly
A close friend of Chelsea Manning's said that the convicted leaker of government secrets who is now running for Senate is safe and needs 'space to heal' after the 30-year-old tweeted a photo showing her legs standing on a ledge with the caption 'im sorry'.

Kelly Wright, a friend of Manning's who also is the communications director for her US Senate bid in Maryland, said the transgender woman's adjustment to life outside of prison has been 'extremely difficult'.

Wright added: 'I have seen firsthand and up close the violence inflicted on her by years of imprisonment, solitary confinement and torture.

This is made worse by the impossibly high expectations our society sets for public figures, especially on social media.'

When asked whether Manning had suspended her Senate campaign, Wright said: 'Negative.'

Manning posted two highly disturbing Tweets late on Sunday, sparking an outpouring of concern by social media.

The first tweet read: 'im sorry - i tried - im sorry i let you all down - im not really cut out for this world - i tried adapting to this world out here but i failed you - i couldn't do this anymore - i can take people i dont know hating me but not my own friends - i tried and im sorry about my failure'.

A close friend of Chelsea Manning said she needs 'space to heal' after 'suicidal' tweets

Manning is seen speaking in Milan, Italy on Sunday, hours before a pair of disturbing tweets

Manning posted then deleted the above tweet and one other which were highly disturbing

The second tweet simply said 'im sorry' and shows a picture looking down onto a street from the rooftop of a building several stories high.

The legs of a person are seen in the photo, wearing pink pajamas and with red-painted toenails standing inches from the edge of the roof. It is unclear when or where the photo was taken.

Ten minutes later the photo was taken down and a tweet from her account said she is safe.

'Chelsea is safe. she is on the phone with friends, thanks everyone for your concern and please give her some space,' someone wrote on Manning's Twitter account early on Monday.

The disturbing messages came in response to an online debate with Dawn Ennis, a writer and former ABC News assignment editor who, like Manning, is transgender.

Ennis had criticized a message that Manning wrote on May 23, which said in part 'voting wont change anything' and called for something 'radically different'.

It came in a thread in which Manning expressed discouragement over the campaign for US Senate, and general hopelessness that Democrats would retake the House or Senate in November election.

Manning (above on Sunday at a conference in Milan, Italy) had been arguing with Dawn Ennis on Twitter and expressing hopelessness about the political process and Democrats' chances in November

Ennis immediately responded with this concerned tweet offering to get Manning help

Other friends responded to the disturbing messages with an outpouring of concern

Ennis responded: 'When I suggested @xychelsea should consider not running, I stopped short of telling her what to do. But this tweet is just lunacy. Sorry, just cuz you're one of the #girlslikeus you don't get a pass. Tweeting 'voting wont change anything' is wrong and a lie! Just stop. Please.'

The disturbing tweets from Manning came in response to that message.

Manning lives in Bethesda, Maryland and was last seen publicly at a conference in Milan, Italy on Sunday.

The activist in January announced plans to run against incumbent Senate Democrat Ben Cardin.

Manning is a former Army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act for leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.

Former President Barack Obama commuted the 35-year sentence for that conviction and Manning was freed from prison in May of last year.

She has acknowledged leaking more than 700,000 military and State Department documents to anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010. She said she wanted to spark debate about U.S. foreign policy, and she has been portrayed as both a hero and a traitor.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, she came out as transgender after her 2013 court-martial. She was barred from growing her hair long in prison, and was approved for hormone therapy only after litigation.

For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255
A top medic at the Salisbury hospital where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were treated in intensive care said doctors feared they would be overwhelmed by mass casualties of the poisoning.

Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at Salisbury District Hospital, said she dreaded the potential scale of the incident when PC Nick Bailey was taken ill with similar symptoms.

She told BBC's Newsnight programme: 'I suppose a key marker for me was when the PC was admitted with symptoms - there was a real concern as to how big could this get.

'Have we just gone from having two index patients to having something that actually could become all-consuming and involve many casualties? Because we really didn't know at that point.'

Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at Salisbury District Hospital, said she was worried about the potential scale of the incident when PC Nick Bailey was admitted

The Russian former spy and his daughter were admitted to the hospital in March after they were poisoned with Novichok.

When asked whether the Skripals would need long-term medical help, Dr Christine Blanshard, medical director at the hospital, said: 'I think the honest answer is that we don't know.'

She said that the 'total world experience' of treating people who have been poisoned with Novichok is the three patients admitted to Salisbury District Hospital in early March.

She said: 'I think it's safe to say we're still learning'.

Yulia Skripal was discharged from the hospital on April 9 before her father Sergei left on May 18.

An intensive care consultant who treated the Skripals told Newsnight that 'all the evidence was there that they would not survive' when they arrived.

Dr Stephen Jukes said medics had first thought the pair had suffered an opioid overdose, but quickly realised they had been poisoned by a nerve agent.

He said: 'When we first were aware this was a nerve agent, we were expecting them not to survive.

'We would try all our therapies, we would ensure the best clinical care but all the evidence was there that they would not survive.'

The BBC programme was told the first priority was simply to keep the Skripals alive.

They were heavily sedated and given large doses of drugs designed to protect them from the effects of the poison and re-start their bodies' production of enzymes.

The inside of Salisbury District Hospital where Sergei and Yulia Skripal and PC Nick Bailey were treated after they were exposed to the nerve agent Novichok

Dr Christine Blanshard (left) said the hospital's experience of treating Novichok poisoining was limited to the two Skripals and PC Nick Bailey (right)

Meanwhile Dr Duncan Murray, head of intensive care at the hospital, praised the 'excellent teamwork' of medical staff in the treatment of the Skripals and PC Nick Bailey.

He said: 'The vast majority of the improvement and the success of the clinical outcomes in these individuals were attributable to the very good generic, basic critical care, excellent teamwork by the doctors, fantastic care and dedication by the nurses.

'[It was] supported and supplemented a great deal by some input from really well-informed international experts, very fortunately, some of whom happened to be on our doorstep at Porton Down.'

Describing the night they were admitted he said: 'I spoke to the nurse in charge who had been on that night and it was this conversation I really could never have imagined in my wildest imagination having with anyone.'

The Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were admitted to the hospital in March after they were poisoned with Novichok

Dr Stephen Jukes (pictured) said medics had first thought the pair had suffered an opioid overdose, but quickly realised they had been poisoned by a nerve agent

Sister Sarah Clark said: 'We were just told that there were two patients down in the emergency department who were critically unwell and they would be coming up to the unit.'

The assassination attempt sparked international condemnation and prompted calls from British MPs to clamp down on Vladimir Putin's oligarchs.

Britain said that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals, a claim which Putin's regime has denied.

Western governments, including the United States, have expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats.

The Maltings, the riverside park where Sergei and Yulia were found slumped on a park bench, had to be decontaminated and did not re-open until Saturday.

Dr Duncan Murray (pictured) said experts from Porton Down were critical to the patients' survival and paid tribute to the 'fantastic dedication' of medical staff

Forensic experts also closed a Zizzi restaurant and The Mill pub, and inspected the cemetery where Sergei Skripal's wife and son are buried.

Last week Yulia spoke for the first time since the attack, calling it an 'attempted assassination', but stopped short of blaming Putin directly despite admitting she is 'lucky to be alive'.

She said: 'The fact that a nerve agent was used to do this is shocking. My life has been turned upside down.'

It came after Putin taunted Mr Skripal following his release from hospital, claiming he would have 'died on the spot' if he had been attacked with a military-grade toxin.

The full BBC Newsnight programme airs at 10.30pm on Tuesday on BBC Two.
A mother whose daughter was murdered 30 years ago is begging the Government to change the law to stop her killer being freed without revealing where he hid her body.

Marie McCourts daughter Helen, 22, vanished on her way home from work in February 1988.

Pub landlord Ian Simms, 62, was convicted of her murder thanks to overwhelming DNA evidence. But despite extensive searches, the insurance clerks remains have never been found.

Helen was a regular in Simmss pub, the George and Dragon, in the North West village of Billinge, and police believe she encountered the former union official as she walked home past the establishment on February 9, 1988.

Helen McCourt at the age of 19 who was murdered 30 years ago, her killer never confessed and is now due to be released from prison

Marie McCourt with a picture of her murdered daughter, she is campaining for "Helens Law"

Married father-of-two Simms attacked Helen in the pub, and calmly returned to his marital home nearby before returning to the pub. In the middle of the night, he drove off with Helens body in his car and it has never been found.

Mrs McCourt, 74, is bidding to have new legislation  dubbed Helens Law  introduced to prevent the release on parole of murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims body.

But time is running out. Mrs McCourt has been told that Simms, who is being held in an open prison, will be allowed two escorted day trips out of jail this month. If they go well he could be allowed on further unsupervised visits next month, she said.

If he gets out, it will destroy me, Mrs McCourt told the Daily Mail, adding that she worries the psychopath  who wrote to her from jail threatening her family  could come after them.

Ian Simms leaves The George and Dragon pub in Billinge under police guard after Helen's disappearance

For all I know he could be out on an escorted visit today. If parole is granted, my hopes of finding my daughter may never be realised.

Whats stopping him getting out and going to dance on my daughters grave? He could go there and say: Theyve not found you, have they?

'But I cant even lay my daughter to rest, give her a Christian burial or lay flowers on her grave  its so very wrong.

'We need to force the Government to act quickly on this  it might be too late for me, but if I can get the law changed and help other families in the same situation in future, then I will feel like Ive done something good in Helens name.

Earlier this month  following the outcry into the proposed release of black cab rapist John Worboys  the Government announced that victims of crime will be able to apply to find out why parole has been granted or denied to offenders.

It is part of a raft of new measures which could ultimately give victims a right of appeal to Parole Board decisions  effectively blocking an offenders release.

Mrs McCourt, who has been to all of Simmss parole hearings over the past 14 years, said freedom ought to be automatically denied to murderers who refused to reveal where the body of their victim lies.

Helen McCourt (right) at the age of 18 with her mother Marie and brother Michael

Almost half a million people have signed her online petition calling for Helens Law to be introduced.

A version of the law is in effect in several states in Australia and the House of Commons unanimously backed the proposal during a vote on a private members bill introduced by Mrs McCourts MP, Conor McGinn, in the last parliament. But it has not had a second reading.

Mrs McCourt, who founded victims charity Support After Murder or Manslaughter, said she was frustrated with the amount of time it was taking the Government to act.

DNA evidence that proved he killed her A GROUND-BREAKING DNA technique was the key to convicting Ian Simms. Without a body, police had to prove that blood and hairs found at his pub, on his clothes and in his car were Helen McCourts. After taking blood samples from Helens parents, scientists were able to extract her genetic fingerprint. It was the first time this technique was used in a criminal trial. It proved that blood found on Simmss clothing was 126,500 more likely to have come from a child of Helens parents than anyone else. But for grieving mother Marie McCourt, one in 126,500 was not enough. Following a chance meeting with then Merseyside Police Chief Constable John Murphy two years ago, she revealed that, because of advances in forensic testing over the past three decades, she wanted to pay for new tests on the samples to eliminate any doubt that Simms was her daughters killer. The top cop pledged that the force would do it for her. And the results were unequivocal. Scientists revealed that there was now a one in 1.1 billion chance that the blood came from someone else other than Helen. There was never any doubt in my mind that he did it, but I wanted the highest possible proof, Mrs McCourt said. Now there is no doubt he killed my daughter. If he gets out Im sure he will continue to say he is innocent, but the DNA is damning and I want people to know that. As well as blood found on Simmss clothing that he dumped 15 miles away from the pub, there was also blood in his car boot. Helens earring was found in his car boot, and hairs from Simmss dog were found on her clothing. Advertisement

The law needs to be brought into the 21st century, she said. Advances in forensic science and DNA mean that police no longer need a body to get a conviction  its happening more and more.

We know there are at least 30 other families who are suffering because their loved ones killer has refused to disclose where their body lies. Policing has changed but the law hasnt kept pace.

If he is freed, Simms is likely to be barred from entering Billinge  the village just outside Wigan where Mrs McCourt lives with her retired transport manager husband, John Sandwell, 70, and where Helen was murdered.

But Mrs McCourt, who last saw Simms in a court room when he was sentenced to life 29 years ago and has no idea what he looks like now, fears he could stroll past her on the street and she would be none the wiser. She said: Ive asked to see a picture or a video of him when he is released, so I at least know what he looks like. I dont want to think that every man I walk past could be him  its prolonging the torture.

Mr McGinn, Labour MP for St Helens North, Merseyside, urged the Government to act.

For three decades Simms has tormented Marie by refusing to reveal what happened to her daughter, he said. Now, despite this brutal act of cruelty, he could soon be released from prison.

The Government needs to decide whether it really wants to put victims first.

Mrs McCourt, who has a son and two grandchildren, has tried everything to find her daughter.

For years after the murder, she and her family would visit potential burial sites every weekend. They hired sniffer dogs, borrowed diving gear to search ponds and canals and looked in sewers. Theyve even employed psychics.

Simms  who has always proclaimed his innocence  was jailed for life in 1989, with a minimum term of 16 years before he was eligible for parole, but he has served almost double that. Only the third person in English legal history to be convicted of murder without a body being found, He has appealed several times, but all failed.

Mrs McCourt said she was assured by previous Home Secretaries that Simms would not be freed until he showed remorse and revealed where Helens remains lay. Thats turned out to be all lies, she said.

All the prisons are full, now they just want people out to make space. Surely their first duty should be to protect the public.

At the end of Simmss trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the judge, Mr Justice Caulfield, described him as in the first division of cold-blooded murderers.

He added: Having taken her life... you have hidden or desecrated her body so her parents can never respect her corpse.

Following the Worboys scandal, new rules designed to improve Parole Board transparency have been introduced. From now on any victims signed up to an official contact scheme run by the Probation Service can ask for a summary of the reasons why a criminal is being allowed back into society.

Members of the public and journalists will also be able to apply for documents, if they are able to demonstrate a public interest for them being released.

Under current law, the Parole Board can release an offender only if it is satisfied that he or she no longer poses a risk to the public. But according to information provided to victims by the board: Denial of guilt is not a lawful reason by itself for the board to refuse to release an offender, or assess them as suitable for open conditions.

A spokesman for the board said guidance for cases where the body of the victim had never been disclosed was updated in October last year, but insisted that all decisions were made according to future risk, not past offending.

To sign the Helens Law petition, go to https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-theresa- may-mp-introduce-helen-s-law
A beautiful young woman was found murdered in bed shortly after receiving birthday greetings from her parents and texting them back: 'Thank you very much. See you soon. Love you all.'

Christina Abbotts, who had missed her own party with friends that night, had been due to celebrate her 29th birthday with her family on Sunday, her heartbroken mother said.

She was discovered lying dead in her flat after after she failed to turn up at her birthday celebrations and concerned friends raised the alarm.

Police rushed to the flat in the Gossops Green area of Crawley in West Sussex and found her body on Friday night.

The IT worker's tearful mum Pirkko Hanna paid tribute to her as 'a beautiful daughter' and 'my best friend', saying: 'My life will never be the same again.'

Christina Abbotts (pictured), who had missed her own party with friends, had been due to celebrate her 29th birthday with her family on Sunday, her heartbroken mother said

Christina Abbotts, 29, was discovered lying dead in her flat after after she failed to turn up at her own birthday celebrations and concerned friends raised the alarm

The victim's Finnish mother and dad Michael Abbotts told how Christina had been looking after the flat where she died as a favour for a friend.

Retired BT engineer Mr Abbots, 68, said his daughter's good deed proved fatal, saying: 'She was house sitting for a friend who had gone travelling to Thailand and had been there for a few months.'

His daughter had never mentioned the man accused of her murder, who police say knew her.

He said: 'My daughter was a very beautiful woman who had lots of friends and we never thought any enemies.

'We are so shocked and saddened by her murder and can't stop crying. She had many boyfriends in the past but didn't have one recently.'

Her mum, speaking exclusively to MailOnline at the comfortable detached family home in Stourbridge, West Midlands, sobbed: 'I just want to ask him why. Why did you do this?

'It is such a horrible loss. We are broken-hearted and my family in Finland are distraught, they're a wreck.'

Her family have paid tribute to their 'sweet loving daughter' who was found dead in her flat in the Gossops Green area of Crawley in West Sussex on Friday night

Christina was bludgeoned to death at the flat she had been minding after failing to meet pals for a birthday night out in London. Her body was discovered in bed.

Her parents identified their daughter on Saturday, with her mother saying: 'It was a painful thing to do. It hasn't really sunk in.'

Christina, who was well travelled, had been due to have a special birthday lunch with her parents and brother Stephen at their home on Sunday.

Pirkko said: 'Early Friday morning at 00.03 we we texted her 'Happy birthday' and she messaged back on WhatsApp at 00.25am saying: 'Thank you very much. See you soon. Love you all.'

Her dad said: 'She was a very loving daughter. I've just lost three brothers, two to cancer and one to a heart attack and now my daughter has been brutally murdered. We're devastated.

'Police are trying to be helpful but don't tell you much. We know the cause of death was a head injury but do not know if they've found the weapon or why the suspect was in her flat. There wasn't any break in.'

He added: 'She was an independent and streetwise young woman. She lived the bright light of London and enjoyed living there.

'She was always moving to new places and we couldn't keep up. We'd never visited the flat near the airport she was looking after.'

Her family said: 'Christina, our sweet loving daughter and best friend, educated at Cirencester and Oxford, will be sorely missed. This independent lady, a much travelled person was taken from us far too early'

Her mum said she enjoyed fashion and travelling, saying: 'She'd been all over, to Dubai and Europe and Lapland. She worked in IT but wanted to be an estate agent.'

They last saw Christina at their home in April.

In a statement issued through West Sussex Police, the family said the 'light in our life' is now 'extinguished'.

'Christina, our sweet loving daughter and best friend, educated at Cirencester and Oxford, will be sorely missed.

'This independent lady, a much travelled person was taken from us far too early.

'Her friends in London and parts of the UK will also be grieving.

'The light in our life is now extinguished. Love forever from our family.'

Ms Abbotts' brother said tonight: 'Instead of celebrating with her we're organising a massive funeral for her.'

Bus driver Stephen Abbotts said that Christina's killer should receive the death penalty.

Mr Abbotts, 33, from Stourbridge, West Midlands, said: 'I want justice for my sister. We were so close and I cannot stop crying every day and night.

'I will never see my sister again but her killer will have a life and will walk free from jail after 25 years. He deserves the death penalty.'

He slammed police for failing to give the family information about the killing, saying: 'They haven't disclosed anything to us apart form the fact she's dead and they arrested a man.

'We're victims too and we want answers.'

Miss Abbotts was found dead after her father arrived in the road looking for her after she failed to attend her birthday party at a London hotel

Zahid Naseem, 47, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire, appeared in front of Brighton Magistrates Court charged with murder on Monday morning.

Dressed in grey jogging bottoms and top he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and his address.

Neighbours and friends of Naseem have spoken of their shock at his arrest.

The marketing specialist lives with his long-term partner Helen in a 600,000 semi detached house in a private road a short distance from Amersham town centre in Buckinghamshire.

One neighbour said: 'I am really just too shocked to say anything about him. He is our neighbour and a lovely man.'

Another said: 'I just can't believe it. He is not that sort of person to be mixed up in anything like murder. Are they sure they have got the right person?

'He is such a lovely man and always very friendly and says hello when you meet in the road. This just does not seem right.'

Naseem has lived in the private road, set in a conservation area in the Buckinghamshire village, for at least five years. He is not believed to have any children but has been with his partner for several years.

It is understood Miss Abbotts died as a result of head injuries sustained from a 'blunt' object.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'The police and an ambulance arrived in the street at about 10.30pm last night and we knew straight away that something bad had happened.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Pictured is an officer leaving the property

'This is quite a nice area of Crawley and we are all a bit shocked to discover there has been a murder in the road. I don't know the young girl involved but it is very tragic that she has lost her life.'

A spokesman for Sussex Police said that detectives had launched Operation Grayhill to investigate the murder and appealed for anyone with information that might be useful to the inquiry to contact officers.

'An investigation has been launched after a woman was found dead in Crawley,' said the spokesman.

'Police were called at 10.30pm on Friday by a woman's friends concerned that she hadn't turned up to pre-arranged plans.

'Officers attended an address in Highams Hill and found a woman, aged in her 20s, dead in a bed. A 47-year-old man was also found in the property with some minor injuries.

'He was checked over by an ambulance crew before being arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody at this stage.'

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater said: 'We are supporting Christina's family, who aren't local to Crawley, at this very distressing time. They have asked for privacy while they start to grieve.

'We are investigating the circumstances of her death and are keen to hear from anyone who might have seen or heard anything which might help with our investigation.

'Please speak to us in confidence with any information, however small.'

Anyone with information should contact police quoting Operation Grayhill.
British Eurosceptics sometimes overestimate the likelihood of the EU and the euro falling apart under the weight of their in-built contradictions.

Many were convinced a few years ago that the huge debt problems of Greece would force it to crash out of the euro. In the event, the country has so far remained part of the single currency, though at a terrible cost to its economy.

But dramatic developments in Italy over the past 48 hours entitle one to say that the trouble brewing in that country is likely to dwarf anything that has happened in Greece.

This is a full-blown crisis in the Eurozone's third largest economy, nearly ten times the size of Greece's.

President Sergio Mattarella has asked Carlo Cottarelli (pictured), a pro-EU stooge who has worked for the International Monetary Fund, to lead an interim administration

What is taking place is a stand-off between the increasingly unpopular Italian Europhile class represented by President Sergio Mattarella on the one hand and, on the other, two populist parties, both critical of the EU, which together won half the vote in March's general election.

Mattarella has vetoed the appointment of Paolo Savona, a distinguished veteran Eurosceptic put forward by the anti-Establishment Left-leaning Five Star Movement and the hard-Right League as their finance minister in a prospective populist coalition.

As a result, both parties have given up their attempt to form a government, and are calling for President Mattarella's impeachment. Meanwhile Mattarella has asked Carlo Cottarelli, a pro-EU stooge who has worked for the International Monetary Fund, to lead an interim administration.

It is certain this won't last more than a few months since Cottarelli only enjoys the support of a minority in parliament. There will soon be another election in which, it can be confidently predicted, Five Star and the League will do even better than they did in March.

The truth is that, by rejecting the Eurosceptic Savona in such a high-handed way, Mattarella (who has no democratic mandate) has behaved as the Europhile ruling class usually does in most EU countries, including our own. The democratically expressed view of the electorate is ignored.

Police clash with demonstrators during an anti-fascist and anti-racist march to protest against a Lega Nord far right party general election campaign rally in Milan on February 24 ahead of Italy's general election

Whether the insufferable Jean-Claude Juncker or Germany's Angela Merkel actually picked up the telephone to tell Mattarella what to do we don't yet know. But both Brussels and Berlin have swiftly welcomed Mattarella's actions. The Italian President was doing what was expected of him.

Paolo Savona is a hate figure in Europhile circles because of his intelligent appraisal of the disastrous effect membership of the euro has had on Italy. A euro exchange rate that suits Berlin is throttling the sclerotic Italian economy, which has scarcely grown since the country joined the single currency 19 years ago.

Savona has even blamed Germany for Italy's plight. He has written of the 'German cage' and criticised Berlin in forthright (and to my mind accurate) terms: 'Germany didn't change its idea on its role in Europe after the end of Nazism, even if it abandoned the idea of imposing itself militarily.'

In fact, there is nothing to suggest that the 81-year-old Savona would have taken Italy out of the euro had he been allowed to assume his position as finance minister. But he would undoubtedly have been less friendly to the EU than his pliant, Brussels-approved predecessors.

Mattarella's behaviour is almost certain to increase suspicion of the EU in Italy. Many Italians believe Brussels has ignored its serious migrant problem, and there is little doubt that the plan of the Five Star/League alliance to deport 500,000 illegal immigrants carries widespread popularity.

Five Star and the League certainly have some wacky policies  not least lower tax rates combined with a grant of about 690 a month for those deemed at risk of poverty. The bill could run into billions, and boost Italy's already stratospheric national debt.

But Mattarella's EU-backed policy of undermining the two populist parties seems certain to backfire in a country where, according to a poll last week, 61 per cent of Italians believe their voice isn't being heard by Brussels.

In the short term, there is very likely to be mounting political and economic chaos in Italy, which is sad for that wonderful country. In the longer term, though, the chances of Italy escaping the stranglehold of the euro must have improved.

Meanwhile, Italy's pain could be Britain's gain as Brussels struggles to contain an even bigger problem than Brexit  a problem which really does threaten the disintegration of Jean-Claude Juncker's tottering, and increasingly unloved, empire.
K-9 officer Brian Valenti, 45, posted an offensive Facebook comment on a photo of Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg

A Florida police officer has come under fire for posting an offensive comment on Facebook in response to a photo of Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg who organized Friday's 'die in' protest at several Publix supermarkets.

Brian Valenti, 45, is a K-9 officer with Coconut Creek who commented: 'Hope some old lady loses control of her car in that lot. Jus saying...' under a photo of David Hogg, who organized the anti-NRA event.

The comment was posted under a picture of Hogg and two other activists who were standing in the parking area of a Coral Springs Publix store after they painted body outlines in chalk to represent the 17 people killed in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Students were laying down in 'die ins' at several of the supermarket chains Friday to protest Publix's support for gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam who aligned with the National Rifle Association.

Valenti has since deleted his comment but not before a woman, Kim Simonson, took a photo of the disturbing post and emailed the Coconut Creek commissioner and Police Chief Albert Arenal urging disciplinary action against the veteran officer.

David Hogg says that there are plenty of candidates who are not backed by the NRA to donate money to

'Whether someone agrees with these students or not, it is in very poor taste for a police officer to make the following comment regarding students that have just been through a tragic shooting,' Kim Simonson wrote.

The Sun Sentinel reports that in an email to Simonson, the chief agreed that the officer's comment was 'unprofessional and inappropriate' and that Valenti 'will be offering an apology, as he has indicated that he wants to do whatever he has to do to make it right.'

Valenti has been with the department for 23 years and is 'distraught' over the incident, according to Rod Skirvin, a retired Coconut Creek detective.

The police chief said Valenti told him the comment was in poor taste but meant to be a joke which did not translate well.

Chief Arenal has not said what course of action will be taken to discipline Valenti. Instead, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel: 'Well look into it more fully on Tuesday,' when they reopen after Memorial Day.

The students from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shouted 'USA, not NRA!' and caused brief delays at the checkout as customers navigated carts around them on the floor.

Pro-NRA counter-protesters also showed up at one store, and two men almost came to blows before police intervened.

In response to the 'die in' the company announced a suspension of political contributions.

Shoppers went around the 'die in' in the produce section of the Publix supermarket in Coral Springs, FL.

Protesters spent 12 minutes lying on the ground. One minute for every mass shooting since the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016

Many protesters held sunflowers, the flowers that Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver bought for his girlfriend the morning he was killed

'A lot of people don't support who Publix is supporting,' said Haylee Shepherd, a 15-year-old sophomore at Stoneman Douglas, who joined 13 fellow protesters on the floor for about 10 minutes at one of the stores. 'It's going to reflect on them as a brand and people shopping there.'

Publix has been criticized by the students for supporting Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, a Republican who has called himself a 'proud NRA sellout.' The activists have called for a boycott of the supermarket.

Publix announced earlier this week that it would 'reevaluate' its donations amid the outcry.

In another statement Friday, company spokeswoman Maria Brous said the chain would halt its contributions for now as it continues that reevaluation.

David Hogg, who has become an outspoken activist since the shooting at his high school led the chant 'USA, Not NRA'

Publix, a chain across Florida, announced Friday that they will suspend political donations effective immediately

Senior David Hogg, one of the most vocal student activists for gun reform and one of the founders of March for Our Lives, helped organize the protest.

It came a week after 10 were killed at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, and the same day that authorities said an Indiana middle school student opened fire inside his science classroom, wounding a classmate and a teacher.

The student protesters lay on the ground for 12 minutes, which represented the number of mass shootings since the Pulse Nightclub shooting in June of 2016.

Each held a sunflower representing the flowers that Parkland victim Joaquin Oliver had purchased at the Publix on Valentine's Day just hours before he was killed.

At one point, a counter protester, Bill Caracofe, stuck his middle finger an inch from Hogg's face outside the grocery store just a few miles from the school where 17 of Hogg's classmates and teachers were gunned down.

Shoppers carefully walk among the protesters to get to the Publix refrigerator

Hogg's twitter response to the suspension of political donations

'There are millions and millions of people who don't worship everything that comes out of his mouth,' said Caracofe, who joined about a dozen NRA supporters who counter-protested inside the store. He said the students' anger toward Publix should be directed at the sheriff's office and school district for failing to protect them.

Hogg said such reactions are common, saying the media has falsely portrayed him as someone who wants to seize guns.

He said he supports the Second Amendment but wants tighter regulations, universal background checks and training for people who own AR-15s and similar semi-automatic rifles.

Publix has been a strong Putnam supporter.

Campaign finance records show that Publix, its top executives and board members, and their family members have donated more than $750,000 altogether to Putnam or his political committee.

A former top Publix executive who is related to the chairman of Putnam's committee has donated an additional $65,000.

The suspension announced Friday applies only to money from the company, which has given $413,000 to Putnam over about three years.

The supermarket chain is one of a long line of Florida corporations that has helped bankroll Putnam's candidacy. Over the last three years Putnam has also gotten substantial financial help from Walt Disney Co., Florida Power & Light and U.S. Sugar. Disney has given more than $800,000 to Putnam's political committee, including a $50,000 check it gave him earlier this month.

Publix said it supports candidates focused on building the economy.

'We regret that some of our political contributions have led to an unintentional customer divide instead of our desire to support a growing economy in Florida,' the company said in a statement.
Three years ago, 60 passengers boarded a small cruise ship called the Ortelius in the port of Tierra del Fuego, an Argentinian archipelago.

The port is located in Ushuaia, the southernmost city on the planet. Nicknamed the end of the world, Ushuaia is arduous to reach, with freezing gales and high seas that turn the stomach of even the most experienced sailor.

But then this trip, which was to take in Bouvet Island, a tiny uninhabited landmass between Antarctica and the bottom tip of South Africa, was not for your regular holidaymaker. The passengers  mostly wealthy, middle-aged men  were extreme travellers whose lifes mission is to visit all 193 UN-recognised countries. No place is too remote, dangerous or expensive.

The 29-day journey across the South Atlantic ocean on the Ortelius did not come cheap, costing 9,000 for a small, shared cabin.

Jesse Gordon posed as British aristocrat William Baekeland to offer expeditions abroad

But there was one passenger who stood out from all others. Not only did he have his own cabin, which cost around 20,000, he was years younger than anyone else on board.

Quiet, unassuming and impeccably dressed in tailored chinos, a white safari hat and jacket, he introduced himself as 22-year-old William Baekeland, a British aristocrat and great-grandson of Leo Hendrik Baekeland, the Belgian-born inventor of Bakelite  the precursor to modern plastic.

Rumours of this young mans vast inherited wealth and grand heritage were soon rife, and he was quickly welcomed into the fold.

His fellow travellers were so impressed by his status, encyclopaedic geographical knowledge and cut-glass accent it is claimed that they soon began to hand over huge sums of money for private expeditions William promised to organise.

Little did they know the young man was not who he claimed to be. They now say that they have been left badly out of pocket.

In an extraordinary tale of deception, William was not a multi-millionaire British aristocrat, but a former grammar school pupil from the West Midlands called Jesse Gordon. Instead of the homes he claimed to have across the world, including in London and Ireland, he in fact lived with his parents in a 130,000 ex-council house next to a Mecca Bingo hall in the Birmingham suburb of Great Barr.

Until a few months ago, he managed to keep up this pretence and allegedly convinced dozens to hand over money for expeditions, some of which, to be fair, came to fruition and were declared great successes. But a great many more did not. Now he stands accused of taking 524,000 from 19 people for trips that failed to materialise.

Although British police are investigating, few of his victims think theyll see their money again. Today, there is a lot of anger and embarrassment among this community as to how the wool was pulled over their eyes.

So how could this young man, without fame, fortune or ancestry, seemingly manage to hoodwink so many wealthy and experienced travellers into giving him so much money? And how could he keep up the ruse for so long?

William, who is now 25, was born Jesse Gordon in Sutton Coldfield in 1993, the eldest of three children (he has two younger sisters, Jasmine, 22, and Grace, 19) of parents Simon Gordon, 62, a railway engineer and Mandy, 53, a housewife.

Although his upbringing was relatively modest, he was an exceptionally bright child and obtained a place at King Edward VI Grammar School. Family holidays rarely went beyond Dorset, but from an early age he had a passion for geography and would study maps for hours.

Childhood friend Joshua Radcliffe, 25, says: He always wanted to see the world. It was an obsession with him.

Instead of the homes he claimed to have across the world he in fact lived with his parents in a 130,000 ex-council house next to a Mecca Bingo hall in the Birmingham suburb of Great Barr

But it was not until he finished his degree in international politics and economics at Aberystwyth University in 2014 that William who officially changed his name from Jesse to William Baekeland in the same year  began to seriously travel.

Using a small inheritance from his grandparents, he bought a ticket on the Ortelius and set sail in March 2015, just days after celebrating his 22nd birthday. This was his debut into the community of extreme travellers, who he beguiled with tales of how he could pilot planes and the 100-plus countries he claimed to have visited already.

And as they made the long journey together across icy waters, William revealed his plans for future expeditions, including a circumnavigation of Antartica. He depicted himself as a travel fixer, an explorer who could co-ordinate trips to the most far-flung and inhospitable places, with no expense spared for chartered yachts and security teams.

Dominique Laurent, 67, a retired French financier and oil executive who has travelled to more than 170 countries, was a fellow passenger on this trip. He took in every word. He looked like quite a wealthy guy although he was very young, he recalls. I was very impressed by his knowledge.

Another passenger was British-Greek travel writer Harry Mitsidis, 46, one of only a handful of explorers to have visited every country in the world. By coincidence  and probably to Williams horror  the pairs paths had crossed in 2013 when William, while still at university, had applied for an internship on Mr Mitsidiss website. He was using the name Simon Baekeland.

Although theyd they never met in person  the job was carried out remotely  subsequent checks by Harry into the interns CV revealed he had lied about his education, claiming to have attended the 17,000-a-year Harrodian school in London.

He also said he had studied in North Korea for a month, as well as at exclusive international schools in Switzerland and Monaco. Needless to say, Harry ended Williams internship and did not hear from him again until he spotted him on the Ortelius.

He says initially William went out of his way to avoid him, but with so much time together onboard (only 24 hours of the trip were ashore) they ended up talking. When Harry asked why William was no longer called Simon, he explained this was his middle name.

Bowled over by his charm and geographical knowledge, Harry quietened his suspicions and put the CV discrepancies down to the different first name. William could quote places like Kapingamarangi (an atoll of Micronesia). It goes beyond geek quirk  no one knows this kind of thing. We were all impressed and there was no questioning his legitimacy. He also had a very clear and upper crust English accent and you would think Wow, this guy sounds like royalty.

He was sociable, too, and would come to dinner  what surprised me was the ease with which he conversed with people three times his age. We were partially dealing with a genius who was able to plan and execute behaviour in a precise way in order to achieve his goal. There was great attention to detail.

William travelled extensively and organised a successful expedition to the remote Palmyra atoll 1,000 miles south of Hawaii, in the Pacific

Williams choice of the Baekeland name, for example, was most likely meticulously researched. Although it is associated with the creation of Bakelite, it has a dark past, chronicled in the book and 2007 film, Savage Grace, starring Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne.

This tells the story of Barbara Daly, the wife of Leo Baekelands grandson Brooks, who was murdered by her son Tony in 1972 after she had tried to save him from his homosexuality by seducing him.

In the face of such scandal, William told his enthralled travelling companions, he didnt like talking about his personal life, and there was no information about his family online because theyd paid Google to delete the results.

With contacts made and cash deposits taken for future trips, the cruise was a success and William began the next stage in his plan.

He posted photographs on an Instagram account of his travels to exotic places, as well as pictures of him flying first class and in chartered planes and helicopters.

In September 2016, he was interviewed for a podcast called Counting Countries, where he said he had visited 154 countries and recounted false tales of childhood expeditions. We went on safaris quite a lot, we went to East Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia...we also went to the Congo. There was no mention of the family holidays to Dorset.

Over the next year, William travelled extensively and organised a successful expedition to the remote Palmyra atoll 1,000 miles south of Hawaii, in the Pacific, and another to the sub-Antarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands.

In February 2017, he organised a trip for four people, including Dominique, to the remote Clipperton Island in the Pacific, for which Dominique paid 10,000. Three months later, he paid another 10,000 for a visit to the Central African Republic, which was a similarly small group tour. Both worked out well. Our rate of confidence in him was 100 per cent afterwards, says Dominique.

His reputation boosted by these successes, William continued to take orders, but by the autumn of 2017, trips started to fail to materialise. His explanations were typically outlandish. In a newsletter emailed to disappointed travellers following the cancellation of a trip to the Desventuradas Islands off the coast of Chile, he fabricated a story that his sisters, whom he called Muguette and Ariadne, had died from cancer and weariness of life respectively.

His mother, Lady Violette, he said, had travelled first class to the funeral in New York and paid for a separate seat for his sisters teddy bear. He said they were buried in Sleepy Hollow cemetery, the same one where Leo Baekeland lies.

In September, Dominique learned that William had failed to show up for a planned trip to South Sudan, reportedly stranding a Russian traveller who had paid 20,000. In an email sent by his assistant, William claimed he had been detained at Heathrow Airport.

News of this no show spread fast but Dominique and others werent worried. They were expecting to see him at a travel conference in Serbia a few weeks later. But again, William didnt turn up. Then, a visit to Mali, which Dominique thankfully was not booked on, was suddenly cancelled. To date there has been no mention of a refund.

William posted this picture on Instagram at the camel market of El Fasher in Darfur, Sudan

People started communicating with each other about the tours they had booked with William and it is believed there were at least ten trips scheduled, from November 2017 to early 2019  including the one he first planned on the Ortelius, the irresistible South Antarctic circumnavigation.

In total, Dominique claims he is owed 45,000 for expeditions including South Sudan, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo which so far have not happened, and there is no suggestion that they will happen.

With hindsight, Dominique says: He was very cunning to be able to infiltrate an elite group of travellers and play the long game. I feel cheated. Ive been travelling for decades and thought I was a good judge of character.

There was also the feeling of frustration over not being able to visit those countries he said he was going to take us to. Dominique has reported what happened to the British police, but feels they did not take him very seriously.

As for Harry, he was determined to get to the bottom of the story. He turned investigator and found no record of Williams birth in Britain, but instead a Jesse Simon Gordon with the same date of birth, who had registered and dissolved a travel company.

Harry remembered he had received emails from someone of this name years ago, enquiring about expeditions. He then found a photograph of him on his sisters Facebook account, and the penny dropped. He was just an ordinary guy, with an ordinary family, from the suburbs of Birmingham, who it seems has managed to pull off an incredibly sophisticated act.

Furious, in November last year, Harry  who says he is owed almost 26,000  sent an email to around 100 fellow travellers revealing Williams true identity, entitled Apocalypse now, a bomb in our travel community. He never heard from William again.

But where is William Baekeland, aka Jesse Gordon, today?

His family still lives in the same three-bedroom house in Birmingham, where William is said to be a regular visitor.

His parents have refused to comment publicly, although his sister, Jasmine, told one newspaper how their normal working-class parents had always believed their son to be a stockbroker in London.

We are not particularly wealthy. We always stayed in England for our holidays. He was always travelling for months at a time and we did not understand how he could afford it, she said.

Jasmines fiance, 22-year-old civil engineer Dylan Walton, was more scathing: I dont like him as he thinks hes better than everyone else. But I cant take away from him his genius. Hes got an amazing memory for all sorts of facts, trivia, history and geography. Its just scandalous the stories hes made up.

The 'baby-faced conman' is pictured here visiting the world's highest lake in Nepal

When his parents found out hed changed his name, he said it was because he was working for a secret Government agency. And for some reason, they just believe all his lies. Hes their golden boy.

He loves the upper-class lifestyle and I always wondered where he was getting the money from.

For now, William is lying low and refusing to speak publicly about what happened, instead using his friend Joshua, with whom he set up a travel company last year  a separate venture to anything involved with this current debacle  as his spokesman.

Joshua says: I think he got a bit ahead of himself. He flew too close to the sun, he started to organise trips costing 40,000 to 50,000 instead of 3,000 to 4,000. If you pay so much for a chartered yacht and then dont sell enough tickets, you lose the deposit.

He should have been more upfront about his background, then he couldve explained the situation. These are wealthy, entitled people who have looked to paint it all in a sinister light and I think its unfair. He will pay the money back.

A spokesman for City of London police, who investigate fraud, say they have received complaints against William and that this information has been disseminated by our National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to West Midlands Police.

No action has yet been taken and for all those who say they have lost out, it remains to be seen whether they will ever see their money again. Whether well see William Baekeland  and what guise hell take when he does emerge  also remains to be seen.
Organised crime gangs are operating a network of Vietnamese nail salons covering the whole of the UK, police have warned.

They are using the shops to launder money from cannabis farms and prostitution, and are moving child slaves between branches to avoid detection.

The nail bars are also linked to illegal immigration, the National Crime Agency says. It is currently carrying out 500 investigations into modern slavery.

Vietnamese nationals are the second largest foreign group recorded as potential victims, after Albanians.

Organised crime gangs are operating a network of Vietnamese nail salons covering the whole of the UK, police have warned. Stock photo

Police warn many young Vietnamese arrivals are working long hours with little or no pay.

And it is feared that dozens of children missing from council care have fallen back into the hands of gangmasters after being rescued from slavery.

Cash-only nail bars, which have sprung up around Britain in recent years, allow gangs to hide victims in plain sight, detectives say.

Adam Thompson, of the NCA modern slavery and human trafficking unit, said: 'Nail bars are one of the most prevalent areas where we see Vietnamese victims, usually quite young adult males, around 18 or 19.

'The gangs basically will recruit them from Vietnam. People will be told, 'Come to the UK you will get a really good job, you will be paid lots of money which you can send back to your family'. They will then typically use the services of an organised immigration gang  up through China then Russia and into Europe and then into the UK  usually clandestine in the back of a lorry.

'Then they will be linked up with the gangs in the UK who will put them to work in a network of nail bars.'

The nail bars are also linked to illegal immigration, the National Crime Agency says. Stock photo

He said gangs moved victims around the country, adding: 'Some of these will claim to be children  they will go into social services care but then go missing quite quickly, re-appearing in other parts of the UK. Our intelligence suggests there are networks which operate across the UK which have links into quite a wide geographical spread.'

The NCA said cases of forced labour affect 'every large town and city' and in recent years there have been raids on nail bars in York, Berkshire and Torquay.

In Vietnam, the nail academy business is booming, with students eager to move abroad.

It is not known how many Vietnamese nail salons there are in the UK, but more beauty and grooming salons opened on British high streets in 2016 than any other type of independent business, Royal Mail research found.

In Derby, there are five different nail salons within less than 500ft, all employing young Vietnamese workers and offering manicures from just 10, seven days a week.

Payment is cash only and there is little interaction between clients and staff.

In 2017, a total of 5,145 people were recorded in the National Referral Mechanism as potential victims of slavery  739 were Vietnamese, the third highest group after Albanian and British.

Vietnamese nationals made up the highest number of victims of labour exploitation and there were 362 Vietnamese children referred, up from 277 in 2016.

Figures released last year showed more than 152 Vietnamese children in council care had disappeared since 2015. Many went missing within two days.

Anti-slavery charity Unseen advises nail bar customers to look out for staff who appear withdrawn or unwilling to engage, and are resistant to being paid directly.
Italy's president was last night accused of an appalling betrayal of the will of his people after ignoring impeachment calls and imposing a technocratic government led by a Europhile.

MEPs said the country was in meltdown and hit out at Sergio Mattarella after he appointed former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli to lead an interim administration.

Just hours earlier Mr Mattarella had faced calls to be impeached after rejecting plans from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and League parties to install a Eurosceptic as the countrys economy minister.

The populist parties had been trying to form a coalition after elections on March 4 returned a hung parliament, and wanted anti-euro professor Paolo Savona to head the ministry of the economy.

Italian Economist Carlo Cottarelli, Italy's new prime minister designate, speaks to the press after being appointed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale palace Monday

The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella (pictured) meets the press and announce that Giuseppe Conte has resigned the assignment on Sunday in Rome

But Mr Mattarella claimed the country should not have someone in the role who could provoke Italys exit from the EU. His veto plunged the country into turmoil and led to prime minister-designate Giuseppe Conte resigning at the weekend after just four days in the job.

Mr Cottarelli, an economist, is a former IMF official who firmly believes in the eurozone project and in the necessity for Italy to cut its high debts. The appointment last night led to criticism of Mr Mattarella and accusations Brussels was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Mr Cottarelli, an economist, is a former IMF official who firmly believes in the eurozone project and in the necessity for Italy to cut its high debts

Italy's former prime ministerial candidate Giuseppe Conte gave up his mandate on Sunday

Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman said: Its appallingThis has the hallmarks of the EUs handiwork in order to save the euro and the great project.

It seems incredible that the Italian president can overturn a democratically elected government with over 50 per cent of the vote just to stop an anti-euro finance minister getting in.

The EU is in full panic about the implications of Italy reviewing staying in the euro. Its meltdown time again.

Ukip MEP Margot Parker added: This is a slap in the face against the democratic will of Italian votersTheyre effectively saying you cant have that, they must be pro-Europe.

Former Italian spending review commissioner Carlo Cottarelli (C) arrives at Termini railway station in Rome, Italy,Monday. The appointment last night led to criticism of Mr Mattarella and accusations Brussels was pulling strings behind the scenes

Yesterday Mr Cottarelli said he had accepted Mr Mattarellas request he form a government that will bring the country to new elections. These could take place after summer but may not happen until next year.

Earlier this month Mr Mattarella said Italys squabbling parties needed to come together for the common good, otherwise he would install a technocratic government.

But he has pressed ahead after refusing to approve Mr Savona, 81, as economy minister,. The 5-Star and League parties have vowed to give Mr Cottarelli the thumbs down in required confidence votes in Parliament.
Shocking footage captured outside a Washington, D.C. nightclub shows a vicious fight break out before a man plummets into moving traffic and has his head nearly crushed by a car.

The brawl happened Sunday outside Decades located on Connecticut Avenue, where former stripper and American socialite Amber Rose hosted a cookout party on the rooftop in honor of Memorial Day weekend.

The alcohol-fueled fight seemingly occurred between bouncers and a couple of club-goers. It is currently unclear what ignited the brawl.

One bouncer is captured on video holding the man by his neck in attempts to restrain him, while a woman who is with the man in a headlock tries to give him a hand.

This is the moment a brawl breaks out between club-goers and bouncers outside a D.C. nightclub

The fight happened Sunday outside Decades, where Amber Rose hosted a cookout party

One bouncer is captured on video holding the man by his neck in attempts to restrain him. Before long, the man falls into moving traffic

The bouncer and man are then seen hitting one another across the face before the man falls flat onto the slippery pavement in the rain.

The horrific footage shows the man's head land underneath a moving vehicle.

Security guys quickly rush over to help the man from ground when they see him fall, before the fight ensues on the sidewalk.

Two other men are eventually caught carrying the battered man who was lying on the ground.

One of the assistants is heard shouting out: 'Yo, can someone please call f***ing 911?!'

The incident happened here outside Decades nightclub on Connecticut Ave, where Rose hosted her party

A flyer for the Memorial Day weekend bash is seen above with Rose's picture on it

Rose is seen entering the nightclub shortly after the brawl happened outside

Sirens are heard before long and Amber Rose is spotted strolling up to the scene to enter the building. Rose did appear to have any part in the fiasco.

The bodacious model, who found fame by dating several rappers, promoted her holiday party this weekend on social media.

Rose wrote to her Twitter page Saturday: D.C., Tomorrow! Cant wait to turn up.'

The 34-year-old later followed up with fans Sunday and said: D.C., TODAY! Its a Day Party! SO GET THERE EARLY!'

The mother-of-one is pictured smiling in several photos as she poses with fans and club-goers.

The blonde bombshell sported a cleavage-bearing pink crop paired with high-waisted jeans and a slick pony for the party.

Rose posted several photos with fans at the party that lasted throughout the day Sunday

The blonde bombshell sported a cleavage-bearing pink crop paired with high-waisted pants and a slick ponytail

Rose promoted the holiday event on her social media pages this weekend
One woman and two men have been arrested over the gruesome death of a butcher whose body was fed through a woodchipper.

Bruce Saunders, 54, died when he was allegedly put through an industrial woodchipper at a property near Gympie in Queensland's east on November 12 last year.

Two men, Peter Koenig, 61, and Greg Roser, 58, were arrested and charged with one count each of murder and perverting the course of justice about 6.30am on Tuesday.

A 57-year-old Gympie woman was also arrested on Tuesday morning and is expected to be charged with murder later in the day.

Police will be investigating several possible motives, including a love triangle gone wrong.

Scroll down for video

Bruce Saunders, 54, (pictured) died when he was allegedly put through an industrial woodchipper at a Goomboorian property in November

Two people have been arrested over the gruesome death of a man whose body was fed through a woodchipper - police officers are seen taking one of the men into custody this week

Alleged victim Bruce Saunders is pictured with a former love interest, Sharon Graham

The three murder suspects are being held in police custody, where they are being questioned over the death.

Mr Saunders was working on a property on Tanana Road clearing vegetation with the two men when he was allegedly murdered.

When police were called to the property on November 12, they described the scene as 'horrific'.

Gympie Police acting inspector Paul Algie said at the time it was 'one of the worst incident scenes I've ever seen'.

'It was actually quite horrific. His friends discovered him as he became entangled and attempted to extract him from the shredder and were unable to do so.

'They're obviously quite traumatised now.'

The death was originally treated as an accident, but police opened a murder investigation when new details came to light.

Police will allege the three people arrested were known associates and 'conspired together to commit this offence'.

Peter Koenig (left), Greg Roser (centre) have been arrested over the death of Mr Saunders (Mr Saunders' former love interest Sharon Graham is pictured right)

Mr Saunders was working on a property on Tanana Road clearing vegetation with the two men when he was allegedly murdered with the woodchipper

The three workers were lending a hand to a recently widowed woman who lived at the Gympie property.

When officers returned to the homestead to investigate, they discovered fragments of human remains.

They also discovered clothing and parts of a mobile phone they believe also went through the machine.

Detectives are investigating several possible motives including a love triangle gone wrong, Gympie Times reported.

Gympie Police acting inspector Paul Algie said at the time it was 'one of the worst incident scenes I've ever seen' (victim Bruce Saunders left and right)

Detectives are seen at the Gympie property, where they discovered human remains

Mr Saunders owned and operated a family butcher shop in Bundaberg, north of Gympie, before moving to Nambour in 2016.

He reportedly moved from Bundaberg after the break down of a relationship, before starting another relationship in Nambour.

Mr Saunders' friends and family were left devastated by the suspected murder of a man they said was always willing to help others.

Queensland police officers have arrested two people over the murder of the Queensland man

When officers returned to the Gympie property to investigate, they found fragments of the human body and bloody clothes (pictured is the local area)

Maryborough Detective Inspector Gary Pettiford said on Tuesday Mr Saunders' family was devastated but relieved after murder charges were laid.

'The family is very relieved. They've been excellent throughout the whole process. They've been patient and very trusting of the police to do our job,' he said.

'They have been briefed and are very thankful.'

Det Insp Pettiford said the family was dealing well with a very difficult situation.

'They're obviously very upset today but obviously very thankful that this stage of the operation is complete,' he said.
The unprovoked attack outside a pub in Collingwood, Melbourne, left the 40-year-old victim with horrific facial injuries

A gang of thugs have been caught on camera surrounding an innocent man before knocking him unconscious in a brutal one-punch attack.

The sickening incident outside a pub in Collingwood, Melbourne, left the 40-year-old victim with horrific facial injuries.

CCTV footage, obtained by Nine News, shows one of the men land a single blow to the victim's head, knocking him to the ground.

As he lay motionless, his attacker searched his pockets before another brutally kicked him in the face.

Senior Constable Ranai Cullen described the attack as 'horrible' and 'unprovoked'.

No one has been arrested over the violent incident, which unfolded around 3am on January 27

'The victim is very lucky that he has made a full recovery given the initial injuries,' she told the network.

The incident started when one of the attackers took the victim's glasses and began to taunt him, it is understood.

The thugs then surrounded the victim and asked him for a cigarette, before the sickening punch was thrown.

Earlier, the footage showed one of the attackers push another passer-by, who managed to escape.

No one has been arrested over the violent incident, which unfolded at around 3am on January 27.

Anyone with information relating to the attack is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
They didn't look like men and they didn't sound like men  but these women insisted they had every right to swim in a male-only pool.

Tempers were as hot as the weather yesterday as they arrived en masse and jumped in to the water as part of a protest against proposed gender laws.

One put on a bushy beard while another swam in a lime mankini  a joke male version of a bikini  to make their point that they 'identified' as men.

But regulars at the men's bathing pond in Hampstead, North London, didn't see the funny side.

And neither did the police who arrived and escorted the women out amid fears that they could be breaching the peace.

Members of 'Man Friday' disrupt the men only bathing session at Hampstead Heath Pools

Police lead members of the 'Man Friday' group away from Hampstead Heath Pools yesterday

One of the protesters pictured with a fake beard in the protest at proposed gender laws

The invasion was part of a nationwide campaign set up on Mumsnet called #ManFriday which encourages women to 'self-identify' as men for the day on Fridays in a protest against possible changes to gender laws.

Campaigners say changes to the Gender Recognition Act could enable people to simply declare themselves to be a man or woman to get all the legal rights of either sex.

Amy Desir, 30, who wore the mankini and led the protest group of around 20 women, said yesterday: 'We are here to raise awareness. There's a legal consultation due to come out this summer asking for the law to change to say that any man that says he is a woman can get all the legal protections that women do.'

The mother of two and her fellow campaigners are concerned that the proposed legislation would enable predatory men to target women in single-sex facilities.

Hampstead has three ponds for swimming: one for men, one for women and one mixed. In order to cater for transgender women, the women's pond changed its rules last December to allow men in who say they identify as female.

Yesterday the women protesters told staff at the pond that they 'identified as male' and said they had the right to swim there. But police arrived 15 minutes later and they were forced to leave.

Tempers were as hot as the weather yesterday as they arrived en masse and jumped in to the water as part of a protest against proposed gender laws

But regulars at the men's bathing pond in Hampstead, North London , didn't see the funny side

Yesterday the women protesters told staff at the pond that they 'identified as male' and said they had the right to swim there. But police arrived 15 minutes later and they were forced to leave

Amy Desir, 30, who wore the mankini and led the protest group of around 20 women, said yesterday: 'We are here to raise awareness. There's a legal consultation due to come out this summer asking for the law to change to say that any man that says he is a woman can get all the legal protections that women do'

Campaigners say changes to the Gender Recognition Act could enable people to simply declare themselves to be a man or woman to get all the legal rights of either sex

Yesterday the women protesters told staff at the pond that they 'identified as male' and said they had the right to swim there

'We're clearly not men, but we've just been allowed in by Hampstead's own policy,' Mrs Desir said. 'Women's safeguarding has gone out the window.'

Hannah Clarke, 39, who also attended the protest yesterday, said: 'I would hate to think that I had upset anybody here today, but this is the point of a protest. We want to keep single-sex places single-sex and that was the aim of today. And clearly it's not just women that want them to stay single-sex, is it?'

There was widespread anger among the male swimmers at the pond. Peter John, 81, said he thought the invasion by the women was 'ridiculous' and urged the them to use the pond for female swimmers.

Mr John, from Hackney, said: 'They're saying, 'I want to identify as a man today'. That's not how this works. Women have their own female-only pool, we have ours and if you want to swim with men then go to the mixed pond.

There was widespread anger among the male swimmers at the pond. Peter John, 81, said he thought the invasion by the women was 'ridiculous' and urged the them to use the pond for female swimmers

The invasion was part of a nationwide campaign set up on Mumsnet called #ManFriday which encourages women to 'self-identify' as men for the day on Fridays in a protest against possible changes to gender laws

Police arrived and escorted the women out amid fears that they could be breaching the peace

One man shouted: 'They aren't men!' Another said: 'This is ludicrous. If I turned up at the female-only pond and claimed to be a woman I would never get let in. This is our space and that's how it should stay'

'Women have their own pool where they can bathe topless. This is absolutely ridiculous. This has been here since Victorian times!'

Ken Menczer, 70, from Camden, said: 'We should be introducing disability measures over transgender measures.

'That's more important. I think they're completing abusing a situation.'

One man shouted: 'They aren't men!' Another said: 'This is ludicrous. If I turned up at the female-only pond and claimed to be a woman I would never get let in. This is our space and that's how it should stay.'

PC Barry Macefield of Hampstead Heath constabulary, said: 'There were some men annoyed because they felt their privacy had been invaded and some who were concerned about photography'

In order to cater for transgender women, the women's pond changed its rules last December to allow men in who say they identify as female

PC Barry Macefield of Hampstead Heath constabulary, said: 'They've been peaceful, when we've asked them to leave they've left so we've got no issues with that.

'There were some men annoyed because they felt their privacy had been invaded and some who were concerned about photography.

'They've had a chance to make their point which they have done peacefully  but you can't enter a facility designated for the opposite sex, and if this occurs with men in the women's ponds we'd deal with that too.' He added: 'The rules need clarity.'
Kim Kardashian has shown her support for a man who has just been sent back to prison after being accidentally released two years ago.

Matthew Charles was sentenced to 35 years back in 1996 for dealing crack cocaine to a police informant.

Charles, who is now in his 50s, was granted an early release in 2016 when former President Barack Obama changed the guidelines and reduced the minimum sentences for crack offenses.

After a federal judge reduced his sentence after two decades behind bars, Charles was released on parole and started rebuilding his life again in Nashville, Tennessee.

Matthew Charles, who is now in his 50s, was sentenced to 35 years in prison back in 1996 for dealing crack cocaine to a police informant

Kim Kardashian tweeted support for Charles on Monday after he was sent back to prison in South Carolina last week after being accidentally released two years ago

He got a job, started volunteering and met his girlfriend Naomi Tharpe.

But a US Attorney's office then appealed his release and argued that he was legally a 'career offender' because he had previously served time in prison before the cocaine offense.

A Court of Appeals agreed that Obama's change in the law didn't actually apply to Charles and he was ordered in March to return to prison to finish the rest of his 35-year sentence.

Charles was given 45 days to get his affairs in order before returning to a medium security prison in South Carolina last week.

Nashville Public Radio spoke to Charles in the days before he was sent back to prison and Kim Kardashian tweeted a link to their story on Monday.

'This man is sentenced to 35 yrs for selling drugs. He serves over 21 yrs, is released, finds a job, new relationship, starts a new life, & now is being sent back for another 10 yrs because the original release was an error. This man has completely rehabilitated himself. So sad,' Kardashian tweeted.

When a judge granted his early release in 2016, Charles started to rebuild his life again. He got a job, started volunteering and met his girlfriend Naomi Tharpe

A Court of Appeals ruled that an Obama law change didn't actually apply to Charles' reduced sentence and he was ordered in March to return to jail to finish the rest of his 35-year sentence

In the 45 days before he returned to prison, Charles donated all of his belongings, quit his job, returned his SUV to the dealer and handed back the keys to his rented apartment in East Nashville.

Charles and his girlfriend discussed their relationship and spoke of what their health situations might be after a decade.

'We don't know what's going to happen. It's a conversation you don't want to talk about because you don't really know what you're talking about. So how do you even handle that?' Tharpe told the radio outlet.

Tharpe said she planned to visit Charles every weekend in prison.

'My reality today was I woke up this morning with Naomi,' Charles said on the day he was due to surrender.

'We went to Shoney's to eat breakfast. We were able to move according to our own accord. Whereas tomorrow, they'll tell me when I can eat breakfast, when I can move, when I can shower or go to the rec yard. They'll control my life.

'Here's a man who's changed, right? Some see the changes and others don't want to see. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to change back. I didn't do it for the US Attorney's office to say 'Charles has been a good boy, let's give him a break.'

'No, I'm going to continue to live out this new life... It is a great life.'
Advertisement

Sydney's usually picturesque harbour has been covered in a blanket of smog left behind from hazard reduction burns.

Residents woke up to eerie scenes on Tuesday morning as a thick fog mixed with back burning smoke covered much of the city and surrounding suburbs.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service inspector Ben Shepherd told Daily Mail Australia the smog coverage has affected much of the city from the outer west right through to the northern beaches.

The usually picturesque harbour city has been covered in a blanket of smog left behind from hazard reduction burns (pictured)

Sydney woke up to a thick fog mixed with back burning smoke which has created some visibility issues (pictured)

New South Wales Rural Fire Service inspector Ben Shepherd told Daily Mail Australia the smog coverage has affected the outer west right through to the northern beaches

The CBD and outer west are the worst affected parts of the city but there is less smog coverage in across northern beaches

'It depends where you are, the CBD and west have reduced visibility, the north and north west isn't too bad,' he said.

'The smog has settled in some of the valleys and it will start to clear as the day warms up.'

Mr Shepherd said the smog should begin to disappear towards late morning but may linger in parts of the city.

'The rain tonight should clear any remaining smoke out later this evening,' he said.

NSW RFS confirmed they do not have any more hazard reduction burns planned in coming days however the national park may perform some minor hazard reduction burns.

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed there have been no delays to flights this morning and 'operations are as normal'.

Mr Shepherd said the smog should begin to disappear towards late morning but may linger in parts of the city and CBD

Experts believe the thick smog cover (pictured) should clear completely when it is expected to rain later this evening

NSW RFS confirmed they don't have any more hazard reduction burns planned in coming days which will help reduce fog

The thick smog coverage comes just two days after the city was smothered by smoke after hazard reduction burns across New South Wales left the city with worse air pollution than popular cities across the world.

Sydney's north western suburbs recorded higher rates of air pollution than suburbs in major cities across the globe on Sunday, including London, Bangkok and Mexico City, according to the International Air Quality Index.

The Roseville bridge almost disappeared under the haze and participants in the Balmoral Burn said they found it difficult to breath while running as the PM2.5 level in Parramatta and surrounding suburbs rose to 111.

Channel 7 presenter Luke Darcy said it was like 'breathing in a bush fire' and fans at a football match at Melbourne's MCG were seen covering their mouths.
A woman's body has been found in an inner-city construction site, shutting work on the project down as police canvas for information about her death.

Emergency services were called to a multi-level construction site in Gladesville, Sydney on Tuesday morning after the discovery of the body at 7am.

Detectives are on site and will be searching the area.

Scroll down for video

A woman's body has been found in a construction site at Gladesville, in inner-city Sydney

The discovery of the body has shut down work on the project as police canvas for information about her death

It is not yet known if the woman's death is suspicious, police said.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contract Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Fed up with hordes of beachgoers cutting through their neighborhood over Memorial Day weekend, a group of homeowners has decided to charge a toll.

After 4,100 cars rolled through their privately maintained road last Memorial Day weekend, residents of Cedar Avenue in Surf City, North Carolina decided to charge a $5 toll this year.

The road is privately owned by a non-profit homeowners association, and maintained entirely by the $150 annual fees paid by all the residents.

Over the entire course of the summer of 2017, an estimated 127,000 cars rolled through the subdivision as a shortcut to evade traffic lights and congestion on the way to the beach, residents said.

'If anything is gonna help the situation, it is up to us,' John Conerly, an official with the road maintenance organization, told WECT. 'We can't close it totally, just restrict access. Everyone is free to use it with certain conditions.'

Residents in Surf City, North Carolina manned the makeshift toll booth, charging cars $5 each

Sick of having thousands of cars using their privately maintained road as a shortcut to the beach, the neighbors erected toll booths over Memorial Day to charge drivers

Volunteers from the neighborhood are seen manning the toll booth left and right above

On May 19, the residents voted in favor of charging a $5 toll for any car that wanted to cut through the neighborhood on Memorial Day weekend.

'We are going to have security all weekend and three checkpoints,' said Conerly. 'If you wanna use this road, you can pay $5 or turn around and go the other way.'

Since toll roads are typically maintained by the state, local officials were left scratching their head over the legality of the plan.

A spokesperson with the NC Department of Transportation said since the road is privately owned, it has no jurisdiction in the matter.

Pender County Planning Director Kyle Breuer told the local NBC affiliate that there was nothing in the land development laws about charging tolls on private land, saying he didn't know if the plan was legal or not.

Finally, the Pender County Sheriff was forced to weigh in: his deputies won't stop the residents from charging a toll, but they also will not be responsible for enforcing it.

Thousands use the private road as a shortcut to get to the Surf City beach (pictured)

'If there is any unrest at any potential toll booth, the sheriffs office will respond to keep the peace,' Captain James Rowell said in a statement.

'There are no laws that we know of that prohibit an owner of private property from charging for the use of that property,' the statement said.

'Should any member of the community find themselves at odds with [the private road maintenance organization], they may need to seek relief through civil court proceedings.'

Late Monday, the homeowners' association told DailyMail.com that the operation had been a success, collecting around $800 in tolls, which will be added to the road maintenance fund.

The residents declare the toll booths (above) a success and collected nearly $800

However, there were at least seven calls to 911 for drivers who refused to stop, including one driver who rammed a toll volunteer and a volunteer's car. There was no significant injury or damage in the incident, according to the residents.

'The majority of people were courteous and polite, but not necessarily happy,' the group said in a statement.

'This has been a highly successful step toward a safer neighborhood with a manageable level of traffic.'

The next time the toll booth is erected, the residents plan to pass out fliers with contact information for elected officials, urging them to call and petition that the road be taken over and maintained by the government.
Meetings and regular appointments are the enemy of productivity, scientists have discovered.

When you have an upcoming work engagement, the event hinders progress and stops you from being productive.

To avoid this lull, experts suggest lumping all meetings together and leaving longer, extended periods of free time to focus on projects.

Scroll down for video

Meetings and regular appointments are the enemy of productivity, scientists have discovered. When a person has an upcoming engagement, the looming event hinders progress and stops people getting stuff done (stock)

The researchers, from the Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, suggest we are least productive right before a meeting or other work engagement.

This is because when a meeting is coming up we feel we shouldn't start a big project and instead spendup to an hour simply answering emails or being unproductive.

'We seem to take a mental tax out of our time right before an appointment,' said study coauthor Dr Selin Malkoc.

'We figure something might come up, we might need some extra time, even when there's no need to do that. As a result, we do less with the available time.'

Over the course of eight studies, both online and in real-life, scientists assessed productivity immediately preceding an appointment.

One of the studies presented 198 participants with one of two situations.

Half the group were told they had a friend coming over to visit in one hour and 'you are all ready for your friend to come by.'

The others were told that they had no plans for the evening.

All participants were asked how many minutes 'objectively' they could spend reading during the next hour and how many minutes they 'subjectively' felt like they could spend reading during that same hour.

'Regardless of whether they had a friend coming by or not, participants said that they objectively had about 50 minutes available to read,' Dr Malkoc said.

Those with a friend coming by felt that they had 10 more minutes missing in their hour, with only about 40 minutes of free time.

Dr Malkoc continued: 'That's an amazing finding right there. Most people didn't think even objectively they had a full hour to read.

'People are putting a little 'just-in-case' time into their schedules when there is no real reason to do that.'

The results held up in real-life studies as well.

The researchers asked the participants about their actual schedules the next day.

People were less likely to make use of their free time when they had a looming engagement. To avoid this lull at work, experts suggest lumping all meetings together and leaving longer, extended periods of free time to focus on projects (stock)

Participants were offered the opportunity to take part in either a 30-minute or a 45-minute study on that day.

The 30-minute study paid $2.50 (1.87) and the 45-minute study paid twice as much: $5 (3.74).

Some participants had their appointment scheduled one hour before they would need to prepare for their next engagement.

For comparison, others were pencilled in when they had a clear schedule for several hours.

Even though they had plenty of time to finish the 45-minute study, people who had an appointment in an hour were much more likely than the others to choose the shorter study.

'It was clear they would have plenty of time to finish and have extra time before their next appointment, but they still were more likely to choose the 30-minute study - even when they had a clear financial incentive to choose the longer study,' Dr Malkoc said.

In a separate study, 158 university students told participants when they arrived at a lab that study sessions were running faster than expected.

In a five-minute period between activities, some were reminded of the imminent event whilst others were not.

WHAT ARE ELON MUSK'S SIX TOP TIPS FOR BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY AT WORK? In a leaked email to his Tesla employees, Elon Musk revealed tips for staff to avoid wasting their time. His advice incorporates ditching company rules, leaving large meetings and even going above your boss to get to the person 'doing the actual work.' Here are Elon Musk's top tips for boosting productivity at work: 1. Get rid of big meetings 'Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time. Please get [out] of all large meetings.' 2. Avoid having too many meetings 'Get rid of frequent meetings, unless you are dealing with an extremely urgent matter. Meeting frequency should drop rapidly once the urgent matter is resolved.' 3. Leave a meeting if you're not contributing 'Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you aren't adding value. It is not rude to leave, it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time.' 4. Avoid acronyms and jargon 'Don't use acronyms or nonsense words for objects, software or processes at Tesla. In general, anything that requires an explanation inhibits communication.' 5.Cut out the middle-man (your boss), if needs be 'Communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done, not through the 'chain of command.' 6.Don't follow rules, follow logic 'In general, always pick common sense as your guide. 'If following a 'company rule' is obviously ridiculous in a particular situation, such that it would make for a great Dilbert cartoon, then the rule should change.' Advertisement

After the time had passed, all participants wrote down what they did during the five-minute interval.

Students tended to do typical time-filler activities, such as sending a text message, checking emails and visiting social media sites.

But those who weren't reminded they had an upcoming task performed more activities (an average of 2.38) than those who were told they had a task soon (an average of 1.86).

'You don't feel like you can get as much done when you have a task coming up soon. The time seems shorter,' Dr Malkoc said.

These findings suggest that looming tasks on our calendar make us less productive.

Dr Malkoc said: 'We feel that if we have a meeting in two hours, we shouldn't work on any big projects. So we may spend time just answering emails or doing things that aren't as productive.'

That may explain why, on days when we have meetings spread throughout, we feel like we have accomplished little.

The problem is that we aren't maximising the time in between those meetings.

One solution proposed by the researchers is to try to stack all your meetings together.

That way, you have longer, uninterrupted times when you feel you can tackle the bigger projects on your agenda.
Scientists have measured the happiness levels of captive dolphins for the first time.

Researchers in France wanted to find out what captive life was like 'from the animals' perspective.'

Their results suggest dolphins born in captivity are 'much happier' when they're in a tank - particularly when they're interacting with humans.

The study, however, has proved controversial among those who believe all dolphins belong in the wild.

A dolphin in captivity can feel as happy as one in the wild. At least, that's the controversial suggestion of a new study that attempted to look at the happiness levels of captive dolphins for the first time

The study, published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, was led by Dr Clegg from Paris University.

She worked at Parc Asterix, a theme park with one of France's largest dolphinariums, looking at dolphin behaviour over three years.

Dr Clegg attempted to better understand dolphin emotions by looking at their postures.

'We wanted to find out what activities in captivity they like most,' Dr Clegg told the BBC.

Dr Clegg tested three activities: a trainer coming and playing with dolphins; adding toys to the pool; and a leaving the dolphins to entertain themselves.

'We found a really interesting result - all dolphins look forward most to interacting with a familiar human,' Dr Clegg said.

The animals showed this by a movement known as 'spy hopping', which is when they look above the surface in the direction that trainers usually arrives from.

The dolphins also became more active in the pool and swum closer to the edge, according to the BBC.

'I think that wild dolphins are happier in the wild, and captive-born dolphins are much happier in captivity,' said Birgitta Mercera, the director of the Parc Asterix Dolphinarium.

Dr Susanne Schultz from the University of Manchester, who has studied the social behaviour of wild marine mammals, told the BBC the study could not reveal 'if a dolphin in captivity is happier than it would be if it was in the wild'.

French researchers wanted to understand captivity 'from the animals' perspective', as well as what activities they look forward to the most. 'I think that wild dolphins are happier in the wild, and captive-born dolphins are much happier in captivity,' said Birgitta Mercera, the director of the Parc Asterix Dolphinarium

'But just because a dolphin interacts with you doesn't mean that it would choose that lifestyle if it was given a choice,' she said.

The RSPCA echoes this view.

'Studies have shown that dolphins in captivity can suffer stress resulting in appetite loss, ulcers, and increased susceptibility to disease due to changes in their social grouping, competition over resources and unstable social structures,' it says.

'Social grouping has been recognised as one of the most important issues affecting health and welfare of captive cetaceans.

'Although in many cases an effort is made to mimic the nature of social groupings in captivity, it is impossible to provide for the varied complex interactions that occur in the wild due to the limit on the number of individuals maintained in captive groups and the restricted physical environment.'
What if the next time you stifled a yawn in the cinema  the plot of the film suddenly changed to try and regain your attention?

That is the premise of an innovative new brain-controlled film project created by Nottingham University researcher Richard Ramchurn.

Movie-goers have to wear an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset that monitors their brain activity.

The film, a 27-minute feature called The Moment, changes based on your level of attention.

The EEG headset measures the amount of electrical activity within a frequency range believed to correspond with attentiveness and sends the readings to a nearby laptop.

Specially designed software uses these signals to alter the length of scenes, the type of background music, and more, all in an effort to keep you entertained.

Nottingham University PhD researcher Richard Ramchurn, who is also the writer-director of the brain-controlled film, (pictured wearing the EEG headset above, left) designed software that dynamically changes the editing of the film based on viewers' brain activity

To make this possible, writer director Richard Ramchurn had to film different versions of every scene in the film, resulting in 101 trillion possible combinations for the viewer and only the ending remaining the same each time.

Ramchurn explained: 'The headset reads really tiny electrical signals generated by the firing of neurons in your brain.

'From that we get attention data that gets sent via Bluetooth to a computer where I've built a multimedia system that will choose different narrative threads based on drops in attention.'

The Moment follows three separate narratives in a dystopian future where brain-computer interfaces are both a source of social threat and potential revelation.

According to Ramchurn, the film 'speaks about our present relationships with each other via social media and its facilitation of rise of far right ideologies'.

Director Richard Ramchurn filmed three times as much footage than was needed for the 27-minute running time to account for all the narrative changes made by the viewers' brainwaves

The Moment is a brain-controlled film about brain control. The story follows three separate narratives in a dystopian future where brain-computer interfaces are both a source of social threat and potential revelation

Ramchurn is not the only one experimenting with new forms of film-making powered by technology.

Fox has announced plans to use technology that allows film audiences to control characters' actions in their upcoming adaptation of the Choose Your Own Adventure book series.

20th Century Fox distribution boss Chris Aronson recently confirmed the technology would allow cinemagoers to 'choose what happens next and see the consequences of those choices play out on the big screen'.

The Moment will launch at the Sheffield Doc/Fest on the June 7.

From there, it will tour the UK in a specially-adapted caravan that serves as a mobile cinema where viewers can watch and control the film.

Screening details are available on the official website.
The 'golden record' NASA sent aboard its Voyager craft to help alien life understand humanity may just confuse them, researchers have warned.

The records include maps, images and charts along with 117 pictures, humpback whale sounds, greetings in 54 language, a 20-minute 'sound essay' of life on Earth, and 90 minutes of music.

However, Rebecca Orchard and Sheri Wells-Jensen at Bowling Green State University in Ohio say it could simply confuse alien lifeforms - and show them humanity likes to argue.

Scroll down for video

The Voyager probes launched into space with golden records (pictured) on board. Each record was etched with a map (top right) similar to those placed on the Pioneer craft

WHAT IS ON VOYAGER'S GOLDEN DISCS? The Voyager message is carried by a phonograph record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. The records include maps, images and charts along with 117 pictures, humpback whale sounds, greetings in 54 language, a 20-minute 'sound essay' of life on Earth, and 90 minutes of music. Advertisement

'The Golden Record is a beautiful artefact and representation of how humans want to see themselves, but it is meant to be received by and interpreted by something that has the sensory capabilities of the average human,' Orchard told The Guardian before their talk at the at the National Space Society meeting in Los Angeles on Saturday.

'If the second one of these senses is absent, or an entirely different sense is added, the Golden Record becomes a bit confusing.'

They say the inclusion of greetings in 54 languages could also be disastrous.

The barrage of greetings 'pile up in a way that could be construed as arguing', said Orchard, in a language that has 'no grammatical congruity' - and also assumes the lifeforms hear in exactly the same way we do.

They say trying to match the images with the audio, assuming they can work out how to listen to is, could also end badly.

This image shows a gold record in its cover, attached to a Voyager space probe before launch in 1977. The records contain sounds from nature, such as volcanoes and thunder, as well as noises linked with humanity including a train and horse and cart

'What if you pair the image of an open daffodil with the roar of a chainsaw?' said Orchard.

However, she hoped the mere fact it was sent could bolster our reputation.

'I would hope that the mere fact that we've endeavoured to send a record of humanity shows something about our humanity,' she concluded.

However, experts say it may be some time before the messages are read.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope map (pictured) of the paths of NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft as they journey through the solar system and into interstellar space. Hubble is gazing at two sight lines (the twin cone-shaped features) along each spacecraft's path. The telescope's goal is to help astronomers map interstellar structure along each spacecraft's star-bound route. Each sight line stretches several light-years to nearby stars

What the golden record shows: The Golden Record CoverIn the upper left-hand corner is an easily recognized drawing of the phonograph record and the stylus carried with it. The stylus is in the correct position to play the record from the beginning. Written around it in binary arithmetic is the correct time of one rotation of the record, 3.6 seconds, expressed in time units of 0,70 billionths of a second, the time period associated with a fundamental transition of the hydrogen atom. The drawing indicates that the record should be played from the outside in. Below this drawing is a side view of the record and stylus, with a binary number giving the time to play one side of the record - about an hour. The information in the upper right-hand portion of the cover is designed to show how pictures are to be constructed from the recorded signals. The top drawing shows the typical signal that occurs at the start of a picture. The picture is made from this signal, which traces the picture as a series of vertical lines

Voyager 1 is currently 13 billion miles away from Earth, travelling northward through space.

However, it will be 40,000 years before it comes close to another star system.

The probe has recently sent back data to Nasa that cosmic rays are as much as four times more abundant in interstellar space than in the vicinity of Earth.

This suggests that the heliosphere, the region of space that contains our solar system's planets, may act as a radiation shield.

During their 40 years of operation, the Voyagers have set several records.

HOW DID NASA MAKE VOYAGER'S GOLDEN RECORDS? Many people were instrumental in the design, development and manufacturing of the golden record, NASA says. Blank records were provided by the Pyral S.A. of Creteil, France. CBS Records contracted the JVC Cutting Center in Boulder, Colorado to cut the lacquer masters which were then sent to the James G. Lee Record Processing center in Gardena, California to cut and gold plate eight Voyager records. The record is constructed of gold-plated copper and is 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter Gold plating took place on August 23, 1977; afterward, the records were mounted in aluminum containers and delivered to JPL. The record is constructed of gold-plated copper and is 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. The record's cover is aluminum and electroplated upon it is an ultra-pure sample of the isotope uranium-238. Uranium-238 has a half-life of 4.468 billion years. The records also had the inscription "To the makers of music  all worlds, all times" hand-etched on its surface. The record's cover is aluminum and electroplated upon it is an ultra-pure sample of the isotope uranium-238. Uranium-238 has a half-life of 4.468 billion years Advertisement

In 2012, Voyager 1 became the only spacecraft to have entered interstellar space, which the Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have flown by all four outer planets  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Their planetary encounters include the discovery of the first active volcanoes beyond Earth  on Jupiter's moon Io  and the most Earth-like atmosphere in the solar system  on Saturn's moon Titan.

The Golden Record was one of four attempts NASA made in the 1970s to send a message to alien lifeforms.

It sent maps revealing Earth's location into space on board four craft, in the hope of communicating with aliens.

But Dr Frank Drake, who designed the maps, last year spoke out about the potentially 'dangerous' decision to send the charts over 40 years ago.

All four craft have now left the solar system and are speeding into deep space with Earth's coordinates on board.

This image shows the diagram carried aboard Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, showing aliens how to find Earth. To the right are images of a man and a woman, while the star-like shape on the left pinpoints Earth (centre) relative to a number of pulsar stars (end of each point)

THE MAPS TO EARTH Plaques placed inside the Pioneer craft show a man and a woman alongside a basic map of Earth which plots its position in relation to distant pulsar stars. These star are long-lasting and bright so could still point aliens in the right direction if they are found millions of years from now. The Voyager probes launched into space with golden records on board etched with similar pulsar maps to our planet. The records contain sounds from nature, such as volcanoes and thunder, as well as noises linked with humanity including a train, horse and cart as well as a kiss between a mother and child. Advertisement

Dr Drake worked with Nasa to design charts placed aboard Pioneer 10 and 11, launched in 1972 and 1973.

And similar maps were placed on Nasa's 1977 probes Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.

In a new interview, Dr Drake spoke about the maps he helped design.

'In those days, all the people I dealt with were optimists, and they thought the ETs would be friendly,' he told his daughter, Nadia Drake, who writes for National Geographic.

'Nobody thought, even for a few seconds, about whether this might be a dangerous thing to do.'

Plaques placed inside the Pioneer craft show a man and a woman alongside a basic map of Earth which plots its position in relation to distant pulsar stars.

These stars are long-lasting and bright so could still point aliens in the right direction if they are found millions of years from now.

The Voyager probes launched into space with golden records on board etched with similar pulsar maps to our planet.

The goal was to put something on the Voyager that said where it came from, and how long it was travelling.

The records contain sounds from nature, such as volcanoes and thunder, as well as noises linked with humanity including a train, a horse and cart, and even a kiss between a mother and child.

Voyager 1 (artist's impression pictured) and its identical sister craft Voyager 2 were launched to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space

Despite the potential dangers the interstellar maps pose, Dr Drake said that the chances of aliens picking up the messages are 'very small'.

He added: 'The thing is going something like 10 kilometres [6.2 miles] per second, at which speed it takes - for the typical separation of stars - about half a million years to go from one star to another.'

The astronomer is not the first expert to warn of the risks of contacting aliens.

Renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking suggested last year that meeting beings from another planet could lead to humans being wiped out.

Hawking said it could be similar to when the Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus  and 'that didn't turn out so well'.

The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet.
Animals have evolved all sorts of techniques to ward off predators in the wild  but, the adaptations of one tiny frog in South America might just take the cake.

When viewed from behind, you might mistake the Cuyaba dwarf frogs rump for a menacing face.

The small amphibian is equipped with the ability to puff up its body, allowing it to appear much larger than it actually is. And, with two large eyespots positioned on its hindquarters, it bears an uncanny resemblance to a snake.

The huge eyespots on their rear ends help to ward off predators such as birds, snakes, and even frog-eating bats. And, if deception isnt enough, theyve got poison to back them up

Cuyaba dwarf frogs can be found throughout Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, according to National Geographic.

The huge eyespots on their rear ends help to ward off predators such as birds, snakes, and even frog-eating bats.

And, if deception isnt enough, theyve got poison to back them up.

Below the eyespots are large toxic macroglands, Joao Tonini, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and collaborator on Projeto Bromeligenous, told National Geographic.

While the toxin may be potent for small animals  with one dose enough to kill 150 mice  it couldnt kill a human.

It could, however, cause a nasty sting if it got into your eyes, according to National Geographic.

Frogs and other amphibians have been facing increasing threats in recent years, putting many populations at risk.

But, the Cuyaba dwarf frog has managed to maintain solid numbers, thanks in part to their ultra-fast breeding habits.

A study published in 2004 found that some nests, or egg clutches, contained nearly 3800 eggs on average.

These frogs reproduce from October to January, during the wet season.

WHAT IS THE DISEASE CAUSING 'AMPHIBIAN APOCALYPSE'? Chytrid fungus disease, or chytridiomycosis, is caused by the pathogenic fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). It kills amphibians by destroying their skin, damaging their immune systems and even causing heart failure. The effects of the disease were first seen in the 1990s when a number of frog species were declared extinct in Australia and South America. Bd has been blamed for wiping out hundreds of species of amphibians in total and is said to threaten one third of the world's frogs and salamanders. A recent study said Bd has been evolving with amphibians for around 40,000 years, meaning some are able to live while being infected. Pictured: Researchers trying to isolate Bd in a petri dish using a swab taken from an amphibian Advertisement

Most reproductive activity was observed at the pond and occurred up to three days after rainfall, the researchers wrote.

Males formed choruses to attract females to the flooded area. Males also sought actively for females, swimming and vocalizing (choruses) on the water surface.

Their dull appearance compared to their relatives may also work in their favour, experts say.

Unlike more colourful species, which are often in high demand in the pet trade, Cuyaba dwarf frogs are small and brown, Arturo Munoz Saravia, a doctoral student at the University of Ghent in Belgium and coordinator of the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative, told National Geographic.
He was labelled a 'love rat' when he cruelly dumped Sam Frost after proposing to her on the 2014 season of The Bachelor.

And now it has been reported that Blake Garvey will make his return to the reality franchise, with sources claiming he will be heading to Fiji for season two of Bachelor In Paradise.

NW magazine has suggested that an appearance on the popular Channel Ten reality show could help change people's perception of the former male stripper.

'It's the perfect way to redeem his image': Reality 'love rat' Blake Garvey 'will get a second chance at love on Bachelor In Paradise season two' after cruelly dumping 2014 Bachelor winner Sam Frost

'It's the perfect way for him to redeem his image an unnamed Bachelor In Paradise insider told the publication.

They added: 'He's a changed guy, so if he's single, he'll be there.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Network Ten for comment.

'It's the perfect way for him to redeem his image': NW magazine has suggested that an appearance on the popular Channel Ten reality show could help change people's perception of the former male stripper

Last month it was reported that Blake had been dating Crown Towers employee Tania Mondon for two years after the pair were seen having a cosy coffee together in Perth.

Meanwhile, last year Blake slammed rumours he would appear on Bachelor In Paradise in a lengthy Facbook rant.

'No way, no how, no chance am I going on Bachelors in Paradise. That is all,' he wrote.

Not happening: while there was much speculation surrounding Blake's inclusion in the inaugural season of Bachelor in Paradise, he took to Facebook in October last year to address the rumours saying: 'No way, no how, no chance am I going on Bachelors in Paradise'

Happier times: Blake got down on bended knee and proposed to Sam Frost during the 2014 season of The Bachelor

Blake got down on bended knee and proposed to Sam Frost during the 2014 season of The Bachelor.

Weeks later, he shocked the nation when he unceremoniously dumped her before taking up with second runner-up Louise Pillidge.

Blake and Louise later split in April 2016 after 18 months of dating.

New Idea claimed in March that Blake was living with his mother Andrea and 'selling land and house packages to families on the outskirts of Perth'.

Meanwhile, his former fiancee Sam has been nominated for a Logie in the most popular new talent category for her turn on Home And Away.
They were dubbed 'too mean' for U.S. audiences by American network Bravo.

And despite desperate efforts to revive the series with a rumoured cast overhaul, it's looking like curtains for the cast of Real Housewives of Sydney, with producers ''refusing to confirm the show's future,' according tothe Daily Telegraph.

Slammed by fans as 'vicious' after debuting in February 2017, the Foxtel series was subsequently rejected by the American channel which airs The Real Housewives of Melbourne.

Facing the axe? Reports Real Housewives of Sydney 'will get the chop after US network rejects show because of its extreme cat fights'

This prompted Foxtel's head of television Brian Walsh to concede to News Corp last Maythat changes would have be made to the housewives line up after the outrageous outbursts by the show's villains, Lisa Oldfield and Athena X Levendi.

'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nasty's sake and have no redeeming features,' he said.

Reports circulated of a lengthy recasting process.

'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nasty's sake': Head of Foxtel television Brian Walsh slammed the cast for having 'no redeemable features'

In the dark? In December, Melissa Tkautz assured fans shooting would begin in February 2018 despite uncertainty over own her future on the series

Along with Kyle Sandilands' girfriend Imogen Anythony, PR guru Roxy Jacenko was reportedly courted by RHOS producers but denied any participation, labeling the shows as 'too scary!'

Seemingly in the dark since RHOS last aired in May 2017, the original cast themselves appear none the wiser.

In December, Melissa Tkautz assured fans shooting would begin in February 2018 despite uncertainty over own her future on the series.

Cause for celebration? In March, I'm a Celebrity reject Lisa Oldfied confessed on Instagram that she'd 'rather go back to the jungle'

Subsequently in March, I'm a Celebrity reject Lisa Oldfied took to Instagram to reveal she 'rather go back to the jungle.'

The rumoured axing looks to be part of an overall cull by Foxtel.

New additions? Along with Kyle Sandilands' girfriend Imogen Anythony, PR guru Roxy Jacenko was reportedly courted by RHOS producers but denied any participation, labeling the shows as 'too scary!'

Last April, fashion designer Alex Perry all but confirmed the demise of Australia's Next Top Model.

Speaking to KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show, he said he hasn't been told of any plans for the show to return.

Pushed on the subject, he claimed the reality series was most likely over as he 'hadn't heard anything for a while.
Days after Whitney Houston's second cousin Damon Elliott blasted Pusha T's Daytona album cover art for being 'disgusting' and 'tacky,' the late pop diva's nephew has voiced his overwhelming approval.

Producer Kanye West paid $85K for the National Enquirer photograph of the seven-time Grammy winner's drug-filled Atlanta bathroom circa 2006 and Gary Michael Houston said he 'got the correlation.'

'I get it. I get the correlation (sans my aunt but the photo itself), and I actually love the album,' the 31-year-old son of Michael Houston told GMA in a statement Saturday.

Scroll down for video

Weighing in: Days after Whitney Houston's (L) second cousin Damon Elliott blasted Pusha T's Daytona album cover art for being 'disgusting' and 'tacky,' the late pop diva's nephew (R) has voiced his overwhelming approval

'I get it': Producer Kanye West paid $85K for the National Enquirer photograph of the seven-time Grammy winner's drug-filled Atlanta bathroom circa 2006 and Gary Michael Houston said he 'got the correlation'

'The bigger issue is deeper and one that most people (including folks who claim to be so heartbroken and traumatized by the usage of the photo) choose to conveniently ignore and bypass.'

Gary - who beat up Bobbi Kristina's husband Nick Gordon in 2014 - noted the real outrage was the mystery family member 'who violated the trust of my aunt by taking the photo and selling it to tabloids.'

'[That's] more of a travesty to me. People should research that, because whoever exposed it are the people who violated her trust, mistreated her, and who should ultimately be held accountable for contributing to circumstances surrounding her demise,' Houston continued.

'[Kanye] nor Push are the reasons this is a topic. The conniving people who leaked it are...I think I speak for rest of my immediate family when I say that we are focused on way more important things than an old photo.'

The 31-year-old son of Michael Houston told GMA in a statement Saturday: 'I actually love the album. The bigger issue is deeper and one that most people (including folks who claim to be so heartbroken and traumatized by the usage of the photo) choose to conveniently ignore and bypass' (pictured with Cissy Houston in 2016)

'[That's] more of a travesty to me': Gary - who beat up Bobbi Kristina's husband Nick Gordon in 2014 - noted the real outrage was the mystery family member 'who violated the trust of my aunt by taking the photo and selling it to tabloids'

As for the Bronx-born 41-year-old rapper, he told EW on Thursday that his controversial Daytona cover 'definitely does match the energy of my album.'

'I feel like the cover represents an organized chaos,' Pusha (born Terrence Thornton) explained.

'The energy of the album is a bit chaotic, but its all in place. Looking at that cover, I'm sure whoever frequents that bathroom or area knew whatever they wanted to find and knew where it was.'

'I feel like the cover represents an organized chaos': As for the Bronx-born 41-year-old rapper (L), he told EW on Thursday that his controversial Daytona cover 'definitely does match the energy of my album' (pictured with Kanye West)

Fire emojis: That same day, the three-time Grammy nominee (born Terrence Thornton) gave 'co-executive producer Kim Kardashian West' a shout out on Twitter for letting him 'steal' her 40-year-old third husband to 'make this masterpiece'

That same day, the three-time Grammy nominee gave 'co-executive producer Kim Kardashian West' a shout out on Twitter for letting him 'steal' her 40-year-old third husband to 'make this masterpiece.'

Whitney accidentally drowned, aged 48, in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel suite in 2012 after consuming drugs including cocaine, Xanax, Benadryl, cannabis, and Flexeril.

Fans can catch more of the four-octave mezzo-soprano in Kevin Macdonald's fully-authorized documentary Whitney, which hits UK/US theaters on July 8.
A Love Island contestant may have a secret girlfriend.

Charlie Taylor was reportedly seen attending events as recently as February with a 'lovely lady' on his arm.

According to NW, the 22-year-old rugby player and his mystery companion were 'definitely acting like a couple'.

Scroll down for video

Love Island contestant's 'secret girlfriend' revealed! Charlie Taylor 'was photographed at events with a lovely lady only three months ago'  so what went wrong?

It's unclear if Charlie and the unidentified woman were ever officially dating, with the source adding: 'He is known to be a ladies' man, so who knows?'

Charlie has previously claimed he had been single for 'a year-and-a-half' before flying to Mallorca to film Love Island.

A Channel Nine spokesperson said: 'All Islanders have repeatedly assured producers they are single'.

Ladies' man! Charlie has previously claimed he had been single for 'a year-and-a-half' before flying to Mallorca to film Love Island. Pictured with fellow contestant Natasha

It comes after Love Island Australia's premiere on Sunday night sparked controversy on social media.

Many fans were delighted by the raunchy format, but others complained about reality TV reaching a 'new low'.

Former Bachelorette Georgia Love even tweeted that she was 'appalled by the show'.

'A new historic low in Australian television': It comes after Love Island Australia's premiere on Sunday night sparked controversy on social media

'I am so appalled by Love Island. I'm not even going to justify a worthwhile tweet about it. Absolutely abhorrent,' she tweeted.

The journalist was responding to a scene which saw the male contestants selecting their favourites from a line-up of their bikini-clad female co-stars.

Love Island Australia continues Monday at 8:30pm on 9Go and 9Now
She is gearing up for the upcoming series of Love Island.

But Caroline Flack has hinted she may have an awkward encounter with rumoured contestant, Dani Dyer after starring in steamy film with the 22-year-old's dad.

The television presenter, 38, revealed the last time she saw the EastEnders actor was when she was passionately kissing him naked for a TV role back in 2001.

Whole lot of history: Caroline Flack has hinted she may have an awkward encounter with rumoured contestant, Dani Dyer after starring in steamy film with the 22-year-old's dad

'The last time I met Danny Dyer I was in a film with him. If you Google it you will see,' she told the Sun.

'I was only young. I was 19. I'm proud of everything I've done, but you may see a bit of nudity.'

Caroline was referring to the film Is Harry On The Boat about promiscuous club reps hanging out in Ibiza, where she clambers naked on top of Danny in bed.

Awkward: The television presenter, 38, revealed the last time she saw the EastEnders actor was when she was passionately kissing him naked for a TV role back in 2001

Steamy scene: She said: 'The last time I met Danny Dyer I was in a film with him. If you Google it you will see'

Leaning in for steamy kiss, she whispers in his ear: 'Do you mind if my friend joins us?'

The scene then turns out to be a nightmare with her lingerie-clad friend coming in and brandishing a pair of shears threatening to cut his manhood off.

Caroline's on-screen dalliance with Danny comes after his daughter Dani is rumoured to join Love Island after she was forced to leave its spin-off series, Survival of The Fittest, earlier this year after dislocating her shoulder on the first episode.

According to The Sun, the rising star signed onto the show earlier this month, and will receive top-billing when the show returns this summer

Embarrassed? Caroline's on-screen dalliance with Danny comes after his daughter Dani is rumoured to join Love Island after she was forced to leave Survival Of The Fitness

No kissing: The rising star, 22, previously vowed to resist 'kissing' fellow contestants on television when she briefly appeared on Survival of The Fittest

Dani's father Danny is supposedly not too pleased about his daughter joining the scandalous show - where the contestants routinely wind up in bed together following raunchy challenges.

A source told the publication: '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.

Protective father: Dani's father Danny is supposedly not too pleased about his daughter joining the show - where the contestants routinely wind up in bed together

'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.'

MailOnline have contacted both Dani's and Danny's representatives for comment.

Returning for a fourth series, the much-love dating show is fronted once again by Caroline while Scottish comedian Iain Sterling's dulcet tones will commentate on all the romantic goings on.

Smitten: Returning for a fourth series, the much-love dating show is fronted once again by Caroline, who has found her love fairytale with her fiance Andrew Brady
He is a Golden Globe-nominated actor who was once a regular on the Hollywood party scene.

But despite his wealth and fame, Rupert Everett has revealed he is moving back in with his mother Sara  to help her in old age.

The actor said he was in the process of helping the 83-year-old split her home in rural Wiltshire into two, which he called his 'next major project'.

Everett, who turns 59 tomorrow, said they had created a separate living quarters for him and revealed he is finding the move 'very peculiar'.

Rupert Everett has revealed he is moving back in with his mother Sara (pictured together in 2012)  to help her in old age

He told the Hay Literary Festival: 'I'm not sure whether it's a wonderful thing or a tragic thing quite yet.

'You spend so much energy getting away from home, then there's something about ageing where you feel the tide turn and are dragged back to the beaches of youth.'

Everett, who has described his mother as a 'tough cookie', said that, despite sharing a house, they will set strict rules about how often they meet  each cooking for the other just once a week.

He added that he hopes moving back in with his mother will benefit his career, saying: 'We're living in the countryside and I'm going to be able to work and write and I would love to do some other projects. I've got lots of other ideas and I would love to keep going.'

The actor (pictured this month) said he was in the process of helping the 83-year-old split her home in rural Wiltshire into two, which he called his 'next major project'

It is a rather more sedate lifestyle than Everett's past antics, which included partying all night with Madonna in the 1980s.

The star, who came out as gay in 1989, also described in the talk how he never felt able to build a successful career in Hollywood because it is too 'aggressively heterosexual'.

He said he found himself limited to the role of 'gay best friend' and that casting directors could not accept he was able to play straight characters.

Everett's career took off in the 90s after his Golden Globe and Bafta-nominated performance in My Best Friend's Wedding alongside Julia Roberts, followed by his role as Madonna's character's gay best friend in The Next Best Thing in 2000.

He said: 'After a couple of gay best friends what can you do? You get bored with it and you don't really have a chance to move out of that thing.'

Everett is currently promoting The Happy Prince, co-starring Colin Firth, in which he plays Oscar Wilde during his final years in exile.

The pair once had a long-standing feud but Everett now describes Firth as a 'great, great friend' and his younger self as a 'vile monster'.

He said funding would not have been secured for The Happy Prince had Firth, 57, not agreed to star in it.
Erin, 22, reality show reject, Melbourne

Kicking off the eclectic cast is nursing student Erin, who is hoping to find love on Love Island after failing to do so on Beauty And The Geek.

The busty blonde said in a recent promo video for the show: 'Girls don't like me and I do not care. If I want something I know 110 per cent that I will get it.'

Kicking off the eclectic cast is nursing student Erin, who is hoping to find love on Love Island after failing to do so on Beauty And The Geek

Erin said she is keen to get amorous with her fellow housemates in the villa in Majorca.

'I love sex, who doesn't? I will have sex anywhere if I am horny enough. But I will try not to because it is on TV and I don't want to be a porn star,' she told the Sunday Telegraph.

She added: 'If you see me whispering under the blanket, I'm just having a chat to my f***y.'

Charlie, 22, rugby ace, Sydney

Charlie Taylor is putting an illustrious sporting career on hold to find love on the raunchy new show.

The aspiring model and actor, who used to play league for the Roosters and Manly, was in the Australian team for the Sydney Sevens victory in January and also played in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April.

Charlie Taylor is putting an illustrious sporting career on hold to find love on the raunchy new show

He said he 'wants to meet someone who takes care of themselves' and is turned off by bad breath and bad hygiene in general.

The hunk insisted he's not on the show 'just to sleep with someone' and is hoping to find a long-lasting relationship.

Cassidy, 23, barmaid, Melbourne

Blonde beauty Cassidy has confidence in spades, declaring in a recent teaser video for the show: 'I definitely go after what I want.'

She added that she could come across on the show as a 'villain' due to her upfront attitude to speaking her mind.

Blonde beauty Cassidy has confidence in spades, declaring in the teaser video: 'I definitely go after what I want'

The bartender may spark rows with the other female contestants, as she admitted she hates 'unnecessarily b***y' or 'nasty' girls and classes herself as a feminist.

Eden, 25, topless waiter, Sydney

Cheeky Eden has admitted to 'hooking up' with a slew of girls while working as a topless waiter and even slept with a bride-to-be on one boat.

The hunk, who now works as a prison guard, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'She said she wanted one last hurrah and I gave it to her. I reckon plastic is fantastic.'

Cheeky Eden admitted he 'hooked up' with a slew of girls while working as a topless waiter and even slept with a bride-to-be on one boat

In terms of his preferences in girls, he said he is looking for a 'girl with some good looks' - and isn't adverse to fake boobs and lips.

Tayla, 21, beauty queen, Perth

In a recent promo video for the show, Talya confessed she has a bunny boiler side and doesn't hesitate to get what she wants.

'Girls get a bit intimidated as I might try to steal their man,' the smouldering brunette beauty admitted.

Talya confessed she has a bunny boiler side and doesn't hesitate to get what she wants

She added that she doesn't mind indulging in a bit of X-rated messaging and has sent naked photos to an ex-boyfriend in the past.

Justin, 27, model, Melbourne

Justin is 6ft 3in and a self-professed 'international male model' who is 'pretty good with the ladies'.

Speaking about his chiselled good looks, he said: 'Look at this face, look at this smile! '

Justin is 6ft 3in and a self-professed 'international male model' who is 'pretty good with the ladies'

The hunk said he takes a lot of pride in his appearance and admitted he can scare off some women with his 'beauty and charm'.

Natasha, 24, beautician, Perth

Natasha has some fairly strict rules about what she wants in a man - namely utter adoration.

'I'm looking for a guy who puts me on a pedestal and thinks that I'm number one,' she declared in a recent promo clip for the show.

Natasha has some fairly strict rules about what she wants in a man - namely utter adoration

The beauty salon owner also insisted her striking features are all natural and that she has only had her breasts augmented.

Grant, 22, electrician, Canberra

This tradie recently revealed he has had 'plenty of flings' in the past but is looking for more of an emotional connection before committing to someone.

Posing in bright pink swimming shorts in a recent promo, he gestured at his muscled physique and said: 'All the girls seem to love me. Am I confident? Look at me!'

This tradie revealed he has had 'plenty of flings' in the past but is looking for more of an emotional connection before committing to someone

Grant has his own business and grand plans for the future - which include aims to own a house and have kids before he's 30.

Millie, 24, doggy daycare worker, Sydney

Brunette beauty Millie works as an animal handler and jokes that she prefers furry companions to men in her life.

'A dog is definitely easier to tame than a man,' the sultry star said.

Brunette beauty Millie works as an animal handler and joked that she prefers furry companions to men in her life

Mille said she was a late bloomer growing up and never really found popularity in school because the cool girls were 'so mean'.

Josh, 25, sports administrator, Sydney

This cheeky administrator admits that he tends to polarize girls with his attitude to dating.

'Girls either want to kiss me or they want to slap me,' the reality star confessed in a recent promo for the show.

Perhaps giving an insight into why he gets slapped, he added that he sends d**k pics - but never with his face in them so that he can't be identified.
Mel C was the picture of glamour as she scored an invite to pop queen Kylie Minogue's glam 50th birthday party held at London's celebrity hotspot Chiltern Firehouse on Sunday night.

But the Spice Girl chose comfort over style as she kicked off her heels and went barefoot in a taxi following the star-studded event.

Joined by her partner Joe Marshall, the Wannabe hitmaker, 44, was in great spirits as she flashed a wide grin at the cameras while heading off.

Off she goes: Mel C chose comfort over style as she kicked off her heels and went barefoot following Kylie Minogue's 50th birthday party at London's Chiltern Firehouse on Sunday

Mel ditched the dress in favour of a long-line blazer, which featured some statement fringe detail on the hem.

The racy choice of outfit highlighted Sporty Spice's toned legs, while she also flashed her cleavage in the plunging blazer.

With her brunette locks styled into a glam up do and a pair of mesh heels, Mel was ready to party alongside the likes of Amanda Holden, Jason Donovan and Graham Norton.

Say she'll be there! Joined by her partner Joe Marshall, the Wannabe hitmaker, 44, was in great spirits as she flashed a wide grin at the cameras while heading off

Cosy: The couple engaged in conversation as they relaxed in the car to end the night

Candid: Mel recently revealed ahead of last weekend's star-studded Royal Wedding that she never received an invite

Meanwhile Mel revealed ahead of last weekend's star-studded Royal Wedding that she never received an invite.

During an interview with Australian radio program Fitzy & Wippa, the 44-year-old was asked about the band's connection to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

'I should clear up the invitation part of it - we were never invited!' she said adamantly.

Party time! The brunette beauty was the picture of glamour as she scored an invite to pop queen Kylie's glam event

Glam: The singer ditched the dress in favour of a long-line blazer, which featured some statement fringe detail on the hem

Having fun: The racy choice of outfit highlighted Sporty Spice's toned legs, while she also flashed her cleavage in the plunging blazer

Chic: With her locks styled into a glam up do and a pair of mesh heels, the brunette beauty was ready to party

Stylish: Mel's partner opted for a fashion-forward blue suit, tied in with a black tie and a white shirt

'We were never invited, we were never asked to perform... and I was a little bit annoyed, actually!' she replied.

Mel C admitted that she was considering confronting Prince Charles about the snub at the Prince's Trust Awards in March.

'I was here in London and I was doing the Prince's Trust Awards... it's always nice to see Prince Charles, we do have some history,' she recalled.

'You know, back in the day with the girls and the bottom pinch and the lipstick on the face, so it is nice to see Charles, he's a lovely, lovely man.'

Mel C added: 'But I felt like going "Oy! Where's my invite?"' Mel's bandmate Victoria Beckham was the only Spice Girl to attend the wedding.
Network Ten is reportedly having second thoughts about signing up Ali Oetjen as Australia's next Bachelorette after she was embroiled in a 'cheating' scandal.

But the 32-year-old personal trainer put on a brave face on Sunday, stepping out in Adelaide for lunch with her mother, who was visiting from interstate.

Ali was all smiles despite the controversy surrounding her breakup with ex-boyfriend Grant Kemp, and appeared to be looking forward to showing her mum around town.

Scroll down for video

Ordeal: The Bachelorette Ali Oetjen put on a brave face while grabbing lunch in Adelaide with her mother on Sunday... amid reports Network Ten 'is holding crisis meetings about her future'

Ali, who first appeared on Tim Robards' season of The Bachelor in 2013, braved the chilly weather in an off-the-shoulder top and ripped jeans.

She completed her casual look with beige sneakers and accessorised with a light brown handbag, a silver necklace and drop earrings.

It comes after NW magazine alleged on Monday that Channel Ten was 'considering dumping' Ali and signing up fan favourite Nikki Gogan to replace her.

Moving on: Ali was all smiles despite the controversy surrounding her split with ex-boyfriend Grant Kemp, and appeared to be looking forward to showing her mother around town

The network has reportedly been in 'damage control' and and holding 'crisis meetings' to decide the future of the show, after fans publicly criticised the decision to hire Ali.

'It would be a brutal move to replace Ali after she's been announced, but Nikki will bring in the ratings without a doubt - everyone is still obsessed with her finding The One,' a source claimed.

'They haven't let go of Ali yet, but they're really counting on Nikki to save the series.'

The insider added that Ali's casting has been a 'disaster', with fans slamming the decision to sign her up as the show's new leading lady.

'Before Grant's story even came out, fans were already outraged, calling her boring,' they said.

Will she agree to do it? It comes after NW magazine alleged on Monday that Channel Ten was 'considering dumping' Ali and signing up fan favourite Nikki Gogan to replace her

Nikki was left heartbroken when she was dumped by Richie Strahan in The Bachelor 2016 finale.

She was widely tipped for the following year's Bachelorette, however the role eventually went to Sophie Monk.

According to NW, Network Ten are 'throwing money' at Nikki to join the show, after she previously turned down an offer to appear on Bachelor In Paradise.

Second thoughts? According to NW, Network Ten are 'throwing money' at Nikki to join the show after fans were less than impressed by the decision to hire Ali

It comes after American model Grant Kemp publicly accused Ali of cheating on him in March when she was visiting his home in Los Angeles.

Grant claimed that he and a friend, Sabrina Jaragosky-Hicks, had walked in on Ali 'hooking up' with a male house guest.

'She went to a hotel and I guess she left the next night,' he told KIIS FM after the alleged cheating incident.

A Network Ten spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday: 'The rumour that Ali Oetjen will be replaced by Nikki Gogan as The Bachelorette is completely false and misleading.

'Network Ten is looking forward to Ali finding love on The Bachelorette Australia later this year.'
It was the show that paired complete strangers, who swiftly 'tied the knot' and hoped for the best.

And while Married At First Sight may have had limited success with its couplings on-screen, it appears its stars are finding their own fairytale endings after the cameras stopped rolling.

In the latest twist, contestant Nasser Sultan has confirmed on KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show that his former co-stars Gabrielle Bartlett and Sean Donnelly are dating.

Another wife swap! Speaking to KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show, Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan confirmed Gabrielle Bartlett (left) and Sean Donnelly (right) are dating

'I can tell you that now that she's sleeping with Sean from Adelaide,' Nasser told a shocked Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands.

He said the pair were spotted getting cosy after Ryan Gallagher's stand-up gig in the South Australian capital.

'Apparently, she flew down to see Ryan's gig and Jo (Mcpharlin, Sean's 'ex-wife' on the show) caught them in the hotel room. The story will come out today, I guarantee you,' Nasser claimed.

The reality star continued: 'She always had a soft spot for Sean.'

'I can tell you that now that she's sleeping with Sean from Adelaide,' Nasser told a shocked Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands on Monday morning

'She always had a soft spot for Sean': Nasser, who was paired with Gab (left) on the show, claimed that his 'ex-wife' always held Sean in high regard

In Monday's NW magazine, a source echoed the claims in the publication.

'Ryan's show was at the Arkaba Hotel so some of the guys had rooms upstairs,' the insider said.

'Gab flew over especially to spend time with Sean as they haven't stopped talking since the show wrapped and one thing led to another.'

This week's edition of Woman's Day also claimed the pair had 'fallen for one another'.

' Jo caught them in the hotel room!': Nasser said Sean's (right) MAFS 'ex-wife' Jo (left) discovered the pair getting cosy after Ryan Gallagher's stand-up gig in Adelaide

The most recent season of Married At First Sight saw all of the couples split, before a number of them paired up with each other.

Carly Bowyer was initially matched with Justin Fischer, before finding love with Troy Delmege, who first walked down the aisle with Ashley Irvin.

Meanwhile, Tracey Jewel (first matched with Dean Wells) and Sean Thomsen (paired with Blair Rachael) struck up a relationship before ultimately calling it quits.
They're set to get married any day now.

And on Sunday, Brody Jenner and fiancee Kaitlynn Carter toasted to their romance in a very unique manner.

Calling his lady 'wifey' in text on top of an Instagram, the son of Caitlyn Jenner shared video of his bride-to-be drinking from a shoe during their destination wedding in Bali.

Scroll down for video

Cheers! Brody Jenner and fiancee Kaitlynn Carter toasted to their romance in a very unique manner on Sunday, both throwing back 'shoeys' - a drink sipped from footwear

Joining in on the fun: Later on, Brody did his own 'shoey' shot

In the clip, the couple appear to be surrounded by a crowd of friends, family and onlookers.

Fiancee Kaitlynn looked lovely in a white crop top and matching skirt, clearly excited for her big day in white ahead.

Onlookers cheered as the ex of Lauren Conrad carefully handed his love a black sneaker so she could do a 'shoey'  his term for taking a drink from a shoe.

After a bit of convincing, she took the footwear to her lips and leaned back, sipping up whatever beverage was inside.

On your toes! Onlookers cheered as the ex of Lauren Conrad carefully handed his love a black sneaker

Drink it up! After a bit of convincing, she took the footwear to her lips and leaned back, sipping up whatever beverage was inside

It seemed that Kaitlynn was far from the only person to drink a shoe cocktail that weekend.

The reality alum also made mom Linda Thompson partake, sharing video of the actress/beauty queen pulling the same stunt.

'Thanks for drinking out of my shoe yesterday mom . You gave me life... I gave you a Shoey,' Brody captioned the clip.

Family affair! The reality alum also made mom Linda Thompson partake, sharing video of the actress/beauty queen pulling the same stunt captioned: 'You gave me life... I gave you a Shoey'

Celebration! Jenner was celebrating along with Formula One driver and friend Daniel Ricciardo after his win at the Monaco Grand Prix, which Brody was watching on TV

Later on, Jenner did his own 'shoey' shot after watching Formula One driver and friend Daniel Ricciardo win the Monaco Grand Prix.

The wedding party had more unique experiences in story as they visited a monkey-filled forest for a bit of fun.

Then the couple went on to do a blessing ritual ahead of their nuptials.

'Cleansed': The couple went on to do a blessing ritual ahead of their nuptials

Ceremonial: 'First part of the blessing' Kaitlynn shared with video of a man sprinkling the group with water while reciting the ritual

'Spiritually cleansed,' Kaitlynn wrote on top of an Instagram of the couple.

The couple arrived in Bali on Thursday, sharing tons of social media from the trip.

Brody and Kaitlynn got engaged in May 2016 after the reality star popped the question on the Indonesian island of Sumba, not far from Bali where they are being wed.

She's a natural! Kaitlynn looked darling in a makeup minimal selfies shared from their trip to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Ubud

Monkeying around! The wedding party had more unique experiences in story as they visited a monkey-filled forest for a bit of fun

He wrote on Instagram at the time: 'On May 4th 2016 I got engaged to my lover and my best friend @kaitlynn_carter.

'I couldn't be more in love with this woman and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her.'

Kaitlynn shared the news with her own message: 'This trip has been memorable for many reasons... happiest girl in the world!!'
She was unceremoniously dumped by 'husband' Sean Donnelly during her stint on Married at First Sight earlier this year, but fan favourite Jo McPharlin is still smiling.

The upbeat blonde grinned from ear to ear as she attended a charity event in her hometown of Aidelaide on Sunday afternoon.

The mother-of-two kept the chilly winter temperatures at bay in a floral maxi dress, black boots and a denim jacket.

Something to smile about? Married At First Sight's Jo McPharlin looks upbeat at charity function amid rumours she's set to return to the show following her split with Sean Donnelly

Not letting the rumours her 'ex-spouse' Sean recently found love with their MAFS co-star Gabrielle Barlett dampen her spirits, Jo looked like she had a spring in her step.

She swept her blonde tresses back and accessorised the funky outfit with eye-catching blue earrings.

Jo has every reason to smile - in March, a producer on KIIS FM's The Kyle And Jackie O Show alleged live on-air that she will return to the show for another shot at romance on MAFS's third season.

'Did you know that Jo's actually going to be back next season,' they said.

Another shot at love? Jo has every reason to smile - in March, a producer on KIIS FM's The Kyle And Jackie O Show alleged live on-air that she will return to the show for another shot at romance on MAFS's third season

The 40-year-old has made no secret of her desire to be matched with another potential soulmate.

She told NW magazine, 'I would do it all again in the blink of an eye.'

After finishing filming the show, Jo jetted back to Adelaide to spend time with her children Angus, 14, and Zara, 10. But in February, she told NW that her dating life still hadn't picked up.

Split: She was unceremoniously dumped by 'husband' Sean Donnelly during her stint on Married at First Sight earlier this year

Wife swap! Sean with Jo (left) and rumoured new romance Gabrielle (right)

'I've gone back to my sad little mum life, really,' she said.

Meanwhile, her mismatched ex-husband Sean is said to now be dating Gabrielle.

Co-star Nasser Sultan claimed on The Kyle & Jackie O Show on Monday that Jo caught the pair going back to the same hotel room together after a night out watching Ryan Gallagher's stand-up show.
Shia LaBeouf has gone bald for his role in the biopic Honey Boy.

On Sunday, the 31-year-old actor grabbed breakfast in Los Angeles before heading to the barber for a fresh shave.

He appeared to be in good spirits as he left a Starbucks coffee shop carrying hot oatmeal and a few snacks before a quick trip to the hair salon.

Scroll down for video

Cue ball: Shia LaBeouf has gone bald for his role in the biopic Honey Boy. On Sunday, the 31-year-old actor grabbed breakfast in Los Angeles before heading to the barber for a fresh shave

His latest film is loosely based on LaBeouf's childhood, and co-stars Maika Monroe and Natasha Lyonne.

Lucas Hedges, best known for his roles in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing and Lady Bird, has been cast as a young Shia LaBeouf in the upcoming film.

Shia, whose childhood nickname inspired the title, will play his father Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf.

Star power: Honey Boy is loosely based on LaBeouf's childhood. Shia, whose childhood nickname inspired the title, will play his father Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf

Mini-me: Lucas Hedges, best known for his roles in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing and Lady Bird, has been cast as a young Shia LaBeouf in the upcoming film

According to IMDB, the story will follow a young Shia as he attempts to mend his relationship with his alcoholic and criminal father.

Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf was convicted of attempted rape in the early 1980s, and has since dealt with a slew of personal issues.

In an interview with Esquire back in March, the Transformers vet opened up about his tumultuous childhood.

Synopsis: According to IMDB, the story will follow a young Shia as he attempts to mend his relationship with his alcoholic and criminal father (Photo taken April 2018)

His mom Shaynawhom he calls his 'everything,'and his father split when he was just three.

And when Shia was just nine, he saw his mother being raped.

'When I got to rehab last year, they said I had PTSD,' he said in reference to the violence he'd witnessed as a child.

During his time on Disney's Even Stevens, Jeffery served as LaBeouf's on-set parent where the two bunked up in a $40-a-night hotel to live close to the studio.

Troubled life: Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf was convicted of attempted rape in the early 1980s, and has since dealt with a slew of personal issues ( Photo taken 2017)

In an interview with Esquire back in March, the Transformers vet opened up about his tumultuous childhood (Photo taken April 2018)

'I was going to the Al-Anon Club [a 12-step program] with my dad. That was my daycare center. Then I'd go to work. That was my whole life,' Shia explained.

He told the magazine that rehab forced him to 'poke his wounds.'

'You keep talking about it,' he said. 'You keep bringing it up, acting it out, thinking about its smell. Every which way you can get to it.

'And a lot of my s*** has to do with my relationship with my dad. That dude is my gasoline.'
Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan has unleashed his fury after not being invited to the Logie Awards.

In an interview with The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the 51-year-old claimed that Channel Nine had selected its 'favourites' to attend Australian TV's night of nights.

'We [all] made the show, correct? We made the show. So what does Channel Nine do? Invite Dean, Ryan and Ashley. Hang on, what about all of us?' he said on Monday.

'We don't want anything to do with you': Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan sensationally claimed he was 'blacklisted' by Channel Nine on Monday's Kyle and Jackie O Show

Nasser also sensationally claimed that he had been 'blacklisted' by Channel Nine.

The personal trainer explained that he had received a text message from somebody at Nine's publicity department, telling him he was persona non grata.

'After the last radio interview here, I had a text from the publicity of Channel Nine saying, "Just for your information, Channel Nine doesn't want to have anything to do with you,"' he said.

It's a conspiracy! The 51-year-old told KIIS FM that Channel Nine had selected its 'favourites', including Dean Wells and Ryan Gallagher, to attend Australian TV's night of nights

He added: 'What it says to me, when you [get] a text like that, it means your out of contract.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted a Channel Nine representative for comment.

While Nasser was railing against Channel Nine, Ryan, Dean and Ashley, along with season four breakout star Cheryl Maitland, attended the Logies nomination launch.

Persona non grata: Nasser explained that he had received a text message from somebody at Nine's publicity department telling him the network 'didn't want anything to do with (him)'

The reality TV stars at the event to represent Married At First Sight, which has been nominated in the category of Most Popular Reality Program.

The Star Gold Coast will host the 60th Annual TV Week Logie Awards on July 1.

Married At First Sight will return to Channel Nine next year
They were married for 23 years after meeting on the set of Crocodile Dundee, and share a teenage son together.

And Paul Hogan, 78, is said to be 'devastated' that his ex-wife Linda Kozlowski, 60, is reportedly moving from Los Angeles to Morocco with her new partner Moulay Hafid Baba.

On Monday, New Idea magazine reported that Linda sold her three-bedroom house in Venice, Los Angeles, with the intention of moving overseas to focus on her tourism business with Moulay.

'He is devastated': Paul Hogan is 'left heartbroken as ex-wife Linda Kozlowski prepares to move from Los Angeles to Morocco with new partner Moulay Hafid Baba'

Quoting an unnamed source, the publication claimed that despite their marriage ending decades ago, Paul is heartbroken.

'Paul is devastated that Linda has sold her home and cut ties with America and is moving so far away,' the 'source' said.

The alleged insider added that it wasn't a case of jealousy either, as Paul has also formed a close bond with Linda's new beau.

Selling up: On Monday, New Idea reported that Linda sold her three-bedroom house in Venice, Los Angeles, with the intention of moving overseas to focus on her tourism business, Dream My Destiny, with Moulay

'They've continued to share a very close bond and spend a lot of time together. Not just the two of them but also with Linda's new husband, and the three of them have become firm friends,' the 'source' claimed.

Adding that the move will be particularly hard on Paul as he doesn't have a lot of friends in Los Angeles where he resides, it was also claimed the actor was concerned about how the former couple's son Chance, 19, would take the move.

'He is concerned about the affect it will have on their boy,' the source said. 'Paul loves having Linda around and the three of them spending time together, so it will leave a big hole in both their hearts.'

Bon voyage: 'Paul is devastated that Linda has sold her home and cut ties with America and is moving so far away,' a 'source' allegedly told New Idea magazine

On set romance: Paul and Linda met an the set of Crocodile Dundee, in which she starred as Paul's love interest

Paul and Linda met an the set of Crocodile Dundee, in which she starred as Paul's love interest.

The pair married in May 1990 and welcomed their son Chance into the world in 1997.

They announced their divorce in October 2013, citing irreconcilable differences.

It was reported in 2017 that Linda and Moulay had tied the knot after the pair were spotted wearing matching gold wedding bands.
It was reported this week that Ali Oetjen may lose her role as The Bachelorette.

And now Grant Kemp has taken a not-so-subtle swipe at his ex-girlfriend after claiming she cheated on him.

The 29-year-old American model and firefighter says he thinks Lisa Hyde should get the gig instead.

Scroll down for video

EXCLUSIVE: 'She's definitely the best catch': Bachelor In Paradise's Grant Kemp takes a swipe at ex-girlfriend Ali Oetjen as he reveals he thinks Lisa Hyde should be the new Bachelorette

'Honestly, I think Lisa should be the new Bachelorette,' Grant told Daily Mail Australia.

'She's so sweet, pretty and successful. She's definitely the best catch.'

Lisa is believed to be single after breaking up with Luke McLeod, who she met on Bachelor In Paradise.

His pick: The 29-year-old American model and firefighter says he thinks Lisa Hyde should get the gig instead

Single and ready to mingle? Lisa is believed to be single after breaking up with Luke McLeod, who she met on Bachelor In Paradise

Ali was announced as the new Bachelorette last month, after it was revealed she and Grant had split following Bachelor In Paradise.

Grant's comments come after NW magazine reported on Monday that Channel Ten was 'considering dumping' Ali and signing up Nikki Gogan to replace her.

The publication claimed the network had been in 'damage control' and and holding 'crisis meetings' to decide the future of the show, after fans publicly criticised the decision to hire Ali, 32.

Over: Ali was announced as the new Bachelorette last month, after it was revealed she and Grant had split following Bachelor In Paradise

Rumours: Grant's comments come after NW magazine reported on Monday that Channel Ten was 'considering dumping' Ali and signing up Nikki Gogan (pictured ) to replace her

'It would be a brutal move to replace Ali after she's been announced, but Nikki will bring in the ratings without a doubt - everyone is still obsessed with her finding The One,' a 'source' claimed.

'They haven't let go of Ali yet, but they're really counting on Nikki to save the series.'

Nikki was left heartbroken when she was dumped by Richie Strahan in The Bachelor 2016 finale.

She was widely tipped for the following year's Bachelorette, however the role eventually went to Sophie Monk.

According to NW, Network Ten are 'throwing money' at Nikki to join the show, after she previously turned down an offer to appear on Bachelor In Paradise.

However, a Network Ten spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that the report is false.

'The rumour that Ali Oetjen will be replaced by Nikki Gogan as The Bachelorette is completely false and misleading. Network Ten is looking forward to Ali finding love on The Bachelorette Australia later this year,' they said.

Grant revealed earlier this month that he is 'moving on' from his breakup with Ali after he sensationally accused her of cheating on him.

Grant claimed that Ali, 32, 'hooked up' with a male house guest while she was staying at his home in Los Angeles back in March.
Kevin Hart treated his family to ice cream on Sunday after a lunch outing in Los Angeles.

The 38-year-old comedian went with the sporty look in a grey Nike jacket, black workout shorts and black Nike trainers.

The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star also wore a white cap backward and carried a black backpack while out with wife Eniko Parrish and his three children.

Sporty star: Kevin Hart went with the sporty look while out to lunch with his family on Sunday in Los Angeles

Kevin pushed a stroller carrying their six-month-old son Kenzo Kash.

The Ride Along star publicly admitted in December that he cheated on his wife while she was pregnant.

Eniko, 33, showed her post-baby body in a black tank-top and matte black leggings.

She also sported a pink cap and completed her outfit with black trainers.

New addition: The 38-year-old comedian pushed a stroller carrying his six-month-old son Kenzo Kash

Going strong: Kevin and his wife Eniko Parrish have rebounded after he admitted to cheating on her while she was pregnant

Peace out: The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star flashed a peace sign while out with his wife and kids

Pink hat: Eniko added a pop of color to her outfit with a pink cap

They were joined by Kevin's 13-year-old daughter Heaven and 10-year-old son Hendrix from his previous marriage to Torrei Hart.

Kevin proposed to Eniko in August 2014 and they got married in August 2016 near Santa Barbara, California.

The Think Like A Man star last month was featured in a new J. Cole music video playing a version of himself during the time he was unfaithful to Eniko.

Stroller duty: Kevin was on stroller duty as the family strolled together after lunch

Frozen treats: The family looked happy as they also stopped for ice cream

The cineman verite-style video for the song Kevin's Heart featured the actor going through his daily routine surrounded by reminders of his adulterous actions.

The video ended with Kevin returning home as the camera tilts to the sky where the words 'Choose Wisely' were written in the clouds.

Kevin was shamed last summer when he was caught in a sex tape with Montia Sabbag in Las Vegas.

Workout gear: Eniko looked ready for a workout in leggings and trainers

Los Angeles prosecutors earlier this month announced they had arrested and charged Kevin's friend Jonathan Todd Jackson with two felony extortion charges over the incident.

He was accused of trying to extort an undisclosed amount of money from Kevin between August 25 and August 30, 2017.

Prosecutors in a statement said that Jackson allegedly had a videotape of the actor with a woman in Las Vegas and also was accused of trying to sell the recording to numerous celebrity news sites.
Demi Lovato's half-sister Madison De La Garza got a kiss from her Brighton Hall prom date Reed Shannon ahead of the dance in Coldwater Canyon Park on Saturday.

The half-Mexican 16-year-old dressed her 5ft7in figure in a black sleeveless high-low mini-dress and matching combat boots for her teenage milestone.

The Gnome Alone actress got cozy with the 17-year-old Blaze and the Monster Machines star - sporting a classic tuxedo - while posing with friends at TreePeople in Beverly Hills.

Scroll down for video

PDA! Demi Lovato's half-sister Madison De La Garza (L) got a kiss from her Brighton Hall prom date Reed Shannon (R) ahead of the dance in Coldwater Canyon Park on Saturday

'Prom 2018': The half-Mexican 16-year-old dressed her 5ft7in figure in a black sleeveless high-low mini-dress and matching combat boots for her teenage milestone

Madison and Reed's parents pay a reported $14,500 annual tuition for them to attend the private college preparatory school in Burbank, which boasts only 98 students and eight teachers.

Aside from the Motown the Musical thespian, De La Garza was joined by schoolmates like Vittoria Nelli-Fiordellisi, Jayde Emory, and Jacob Kabai.

Last year, the American Koko guest star impressively penned the screenplay to The Imbalancing Act, a short film about a teenage girl who suffers from an eating disorder.

Cute: The Gnome Alone actress got cozy with the 17-year-old Blaze and the Monster Machines star - sporting a classic tuxedo - while posing with friends at TreePeople in Beverly Hills

Privileged pair: Madison and Reed's parents pay a reported $14,500 annual tuition for them to attend the private college preparatory school in Burbank, which boasts only 98 students and eight teachers

Aside from the Motown the Musical thespian, De La Garza was joined by schoolmates like Vittoria Nelli-Fiordellisi (L), Jayde Emory (2-R), and Jacob Kabai (R)

Behind-the-scenes role: Last year, the American Koko guest star impressively penned the screenplay to The Imbalancing Act, a short film about a teenage girl who suffers from an eating disorder (pictured in 2017)

Child star: But Madison's big breakout role was playing Gabrielle Solis' (Eva Longoria) daughter Juanita on the ABC sitcom Desperate Housewives from 2008-2012 (pictured in 2009)

But Madison's big breakout role was playing Gabrielle Solis' (Eva Longoria) daughter Juanita on the ABC sitcom Desperate Housewives from 2008-2012.

And back in 2012, the not-so-typical teenager - whose father Eddie De La Garza is a Ford dealership manager - appeared in the 25-year-old Grammy nominee's Stay Strong music video.

The former Disney Channel starlet (born Demetria) will next take her 52-date Tell Me You Love Me World Tour to Belgium's Lotto Arena in Antwerp on Monday night.

'Mi familia': And back in 2012, the not-so-typical teenager - whose father Eddie De La Garza (R) is a Ford dealership manager - appeared in the 25-year-old Grammy nominee's Stay Strong music video (pictured in 2017)
She made headlines following the 'Jacketgate' row with senior colleague Amber Sherlock last year.

And while she's brushed the incident, Julie Snook, 30, revealed her current struggle lies within husband actor Hugo Johnstone-Burt, 31, kissing other women in films.

In an interview with TV Week, Julie revealed she will 'never get used to it'.

'I will never get used to it': Julie Snook reveals she struggles with actor husband Hugo Johnstone-Burt kissing other women in films after THAT Jacketgate incident

Having featured in the likes of The Wrong Girl, and most recently the biopic Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted To You, Julia is no stranger to watching her husband kiss other women on set, but she remains less than thrilled.

Talking to the publication, the blonde-haired beauty explained that the loved-up couple have their own way of dealing with it.

'Everyone will have their own ways of dealing with it. We have ours too, but I'm never going to say I enjoy it,' she told the publication.

Touchy topic: Julia is no stranger to watching her husband kiss other women on set

The couple, who have been together for 18 months and counting, also revealed their 'classic love story'.

The Nine news reporter said she met the former Home And Away star at a Sydney pub.

And while they're happily living together now in their 'own private little world', Julie told the publication it took months of convincing for her to say yes to a first date.

Their way: 'Everyone will have their own ways of dealing with it. We have ours too, but I'm never going to say I enjoy it,' she told the publication

Hugo offered a brief summary of how the pair met at a bar and admitted he was 'slurring' at the time.

'Boy sees girl, boy has 27 beers to get up the courage to speak to girl and then slurs a few words, girl doesn't like him, boy hits her up on social media... and then the real love story started,' he told the publication.

Julie made headlines when she was famously berated by Amber Sherlock for failing to wear a jacket ahead of an on-air segment in January last year.

Hard to get! While they're happily living together in the 'own private world', Julie told the publication it took months of convincing her to say yes to a first date

Despite Julie apologising and explaining that she had been busy and forgotten, Amber snapped: 'I asked you two-and-a-half hours ago. It's not the hardest request.'

Amber was angry that the three panelists were wearing similar white outfits for the program's 'Chatroom' segment.

Julie has since laughed off the moment, and described it as a 'big learning curve' in an interview with 9Honey.

'It's shown me both the good and the bad in people and just how much we can really come together,' the journalist said.
He recently landed himself in hot water after branding his Triple M Breakfast Show 'a f**king mess!'

Now Wil Anderson has sensationally revealed he was asked to replace Kyle and Jackie O right after they ditched 2Day FM to relocate to KIIS FM n 2014.

But the comedian immediately turned the golden opportunity down.

'I knew it was going to be a disaster!' Wil Anderson has sensationally revealed he was asked to replace Kyle and Jackie O right after they ditched 2Day FM to relocate to KIIS FM

'I remember it specifically because I was hosting an event for Facebook in Sydney,' the comedian told news.com.au.

'Around 8.30am Kyle announces on air that they're leaving the network and it's all over Twitter, and my manager, Kevin, has called me.

Anderson continued: 'I jokingly say to him on the call, 'you're not ringing to offer me Kyle and Jackie O's job are you?'

Hitmakers: Ever since Kyle and Jackie O vacated 2Day FM, the radio network has struggled to find a successful replacement team for its breakfast slot

'And he goes, "well look, it's funny you should say that"' Wil continued.

Ever since Kyle and Jackie O vacated 2Day FM, the radio network has struggled to find a successful replacement team for its breakfast slot.

Following their shock departure, the pair were first replaced by Jules Lund, Sophie Monk, Merrick Watts and Mel B.

Dream team: The pair were replaced by Jules Lund, Sophie Monk, Merrick Watts and Mel B but the A-list line-up failed to fly

But despite the ambitious line-up, the new shake-up failed to attract viewers who had migrated with Kyle and Jackie O to KIIS FM.

The group were then replaced by Rove McManus and Sam Frost, who barely lasted 12 months in the role.

In early 2017, Em Rusciano and Harley Breen debuted in the 2DAY FM breakfast slot, before Harley departed at the end of last year.

Short stint: Rove McManus and Sam Frost barely lasted 12 months in the role

Em now hosts the slot with Grant Denyer and Ed Kavalee but the program still lags in the ratings.

And speculation is growing that Em may soon be replaced, following claims staff reportedly 'quit the network' due to her 'diva' behaviour.
Antony Cotton put on a supportive display as he attended his close pal Kylie Minogue's 50th birthday party at the Chiltern Firehouse in London on Sunday evening.

The Coronation Street actor - who has been friends with the pop icon for over 20 years - appeared to have too much fun at the glitzy bash as he fell into a taxi following the glitzy bash.

Sporting a crisp black shirt and a smart blazer, the soap star, 42, was assisted by his partner Peter Eccleston, as the pair reclined in the black cab to end their night.

Oops! Antony Cotton appeared to have too much fun at Kylie Minogue's 50th birthday bash held at London's Chiltern Firehouse on Sunday evening

The TV personality cut a dapper figure earlier that day, as he tied in his look with a pair of light-wash jeans and patent shoes.

Kylie was joined by the likes of Amanda Holden, Mel C and Kylie's former Neighbours co-star Guy Pearce.

Antony recently appeared on the revived Dancing On Ice series, where he even channeled his friend Kylie during a live performance.

Exhausted: The Coronation Street actor, 42, - who has been friends with the pop icon for over 20 years - struggled to get into the car as he dived in headfirst

Having fun: Sporting a crisp black shirt and a smart blazer, the soap star was assisted by his partner Peter Eccleston, as the pair reclined in the black cab to end their night

Beaming: The TV personality cut a dapper figure earlier that day, as he tied in his look with a pair of light-wash jeans and patent shoes

A host of celebs: Kylie was joined by the likes of Amanda Holden (left), Mel C (right) and Kylie's former Neighbours co-star Guy Pearce

Speaking about his relationship with the Spinning Around hitmaker, the Burn It star said: 'I've known Kylie for a good few years now... her best friend is from Manchester and that's how I met her... about 20 years ago now.'

Making sure to show his support for the songstress, Antony added: 'It's very fitting actually because Kylie is releasing her first new music in quite a while on Friday.'

Shortly before the lavish celebration, Kylie discussed her party arrangements - revealing that she is not used to 'big parties'.

Off he goes: Antony appeared to lose his balance as he crawled into the black car

Off he goes: Antony appeared weary as he attended the event with a host of celebrities

In different states: Antony appeared extremely tired as he closed his eyes while in the taxi, while his partner Peter appeared in high spirits as he flashed a grin at the cameras

Bad decision? The Bill actor looked downcast as he rubbed his eyes and folded his arms

Close: Antony recently appeared on the revived Dancing On Ice series, where he even channeled his friend Kylie during a live performance

She told Fun Radio: 'That is the plan and it's really out of character for me. I don't do big parties.'

'I don't want to commit to the party, but I think this year I'm going to do it. I think I'll have a big party in London.'

Kylie has been celebrating a lot of success these past months, as the Australian beauty's new record Golden is currently soaring up the charts.

The album - which will be her first chart-topper since 2010's Aphrodite - is winning the battle against Thirty Seconds To Mars' America, the Official Charts Company has confirmed.
Married At First Sight groom Nasser Sultan has denied gay rumours again.

The 51-year-old aspiring beauty blogger said he's just 'very metrosexual' before jokingly asking another man out on a date.

Appearing on KISS FM's Kyle and Jackie O show on Monday, the former reality star cleared up questions bout his sexuality before jokingly asking KIIS FM newsreader Brooklyn Ross out.

Scroll down to video

'I'm VERY metrosexual': Married At First Sight groom Nasser Sultan denies gay rumours again... before jokingly asking another man out on a date

The segment started with Kyle Sandilands bringing up Brooklyn's affection for the fitness trainer.

'Soon as they found out you might be gay, people like Brooklyn and Brooklyn's types they are all lined-up ready to have a go,' he said.

In a shock, Nasser replied: 'Mate, I don't discriminate, if you want to have a date, let's have a date.'

Appearing somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Nasser than quizzed Brooklyn on his more intimate habits, asking first does he 'moisturize?' and 'is his clean?'

Later Nasser breached the topic of his sexuality again, with the TV groom saying he lives in Surry Hills and loves his neighbours.

He said: 'I'm metrosexual, VERY metrosexual,...If that translates 'so Nasser's gay' then so be it.'

'Mate, I don't discriminate, if you want to have a date, let's have a date': Nasser appeared open to the prospect of a date with KISS FM newsreader, Brooklyn Ross

'Well I haven't...On a very intimate level': In the show, Nasser again denied being gay while on the show on Monday

However, he was cryptic when co-host Jackie O asked if he had been with a man on an intimate level.

Nasser, thinking, says: 'Well I haven't...On a very intimate level..But I've been out and about.'

While the skin enthusiast has been somewhat demure about his sexuality in the past, he said he was 'very metrosexual' on the show.

The Channel Nine reality star saying: ''To me its 2018, I think people should get over it whether you're gay, straight, or whatever you are...I think we should move on.'
She recently admitted on the final installment of her show First Time Mum that she 'missed' having someone special in her life.

And now Ferne McCann, 27, has insisted she's not back with her jailbird ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins, 25, after her most recent relationship with an older man fizzled out.

The ITVBe darling recently took seven-month-old Sunday to visit Arthur, who was jailed for 20 years for carrying out acid attack that injured 22 people, in prison.

Hitting back: Ferne McCann, 27, has insisted she's not back with her jailbird ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins after her most recent relationship with an older man fizzled out

Hitting back at speculation, she defiantly told OK! Magazine: 'Of course were not still together. Hes the father of my child and thats the end of it.'

It was previously reported that the former TOWIE star brought their little one to visit Arthur at HMP Full Sutton in York about once a month after he asserted his parental rights.

She explained: 'Every decision I make is made with her best interests at heart. One day, shell be old enough to decide what she wants to do for herself, but until then I have to do what I think is best based on the guidance Ive been given.'

Discussing her recent romance, Ferne admitted that her relationship became more of a friendship but is adamant that she doesn't need a man to make her 'happy'.

In the past: The ITVBe darling recently took seven-month-old Sunday to visit Arthur, who was jailed for 20 years for carrying out acid attack that injured 22 people, in prison

'End of it': Hitting back at speculation, she defiantly told OK! Magazine: 'Of course were not still together. Hes the father of my child and thats the end of it'

She shared: 'There was an older man, but it was more of a friendship than anything romantic. He was there for me when I needed him but it fizzled out.

Read the full interview in this week's OK! Magazine

'I certainly dont need a man to make me happy, but Im at the stage where Im open to meeting someone. It would be nice to have someone to flirt with and to go on some fun dates with.'

Earlier this month, Ferne was brought to tears as she opened up about trying to overcome the past 12 months while meeting with hypnotherapist Anne Currie to discuss her rollercoaster year.

The I'm A Celebrity alum explained that she wanted to move on from the events which saw her ex sentenced to 20 years for carrying out an acid attack at an East London nightclub on the series finale of First Time Mum.

After welcoming her therapist into her home, Ferne broke down as she opened up about her worries and explained that she fears she won't be ever able to escape the crime her former boyfriend, who she split with shortly after his arrest, committed.

Then: It was previously reported that the former TOWIE star brought their little one to visit Arthur at HMP Full Sutton in York about once a month after he asserted his parental rights

Chatting to Anne, she shared: 'I feel very caged because it's the obvious thing, every time I do something it's the story from last year which comes up.

'Overall, I cope really well but it be could be something so small... but it's always going to be there. I just feel so frustrated because I feel like 'am I ever going to escape this?'

Wiping her tears, she shared: 'I just feel very judged and every move I make I can't breathe without being judged or someone having an opinion.'

Speaking directly to camera, she added: 'I feel like often I am vilified for a crime I didn't commit. I didnt do anything.'

Fears: Ferne broke down as she opened up about her worries and explained that she fears she won't be ever able to escape the events that unfolded in relation to her former boyfriend

Back to her session, she continued: 'That's why my house is a safe haven. The reality is that I'm happy with Sunday but there's this whole different life outside.'

And while she wants to move on from the past, the single star later spoke to the camera and admitted that she does miss having someone in her life but Sunday is her main priority.

'My main focus is Sunday,' she said. 'Of course I miss having someone. I have great friends and family but sometimes all you want is a kiss and a cuddle. But I'm busy, I have my baby girl and that's all that matters.'

Read the full interview in this week's OK! Magazine
Telv Williams has a new set of dental veneers and he couldn't wait to share the news with his fans.

The Married at First Sight star took to Instagram on Monday to show off his new glowing white chompers.

'Teeth under construction thanks too to the magician @dr.dee_official and @voguedentalstudios' the reality star wrote.

New pegs: Telv Williams has a new set of dental veneers and he couldn't wait to share the news with his fans

VogueDental is the same Melbourne-based studio that has worked on the teeth of several Married at First Sight stars.

Telv went on: 'I've always been pretty self conscious of my toothy pegs after having them knocked out playing footy.

'But thanks to @dr.dee_official I'm starting to smile with more confidence #smile #confidence #happy #yourtherealmvp.'

Nick Furphy, 31, underwent a $25,000 teeth transformation thanks to VogueDental.

Before: 'I've always been pretty self conscious of my toothy pegs after having them knocked out playing footy' he said

Same doctor: Telv went to VogueDental which is the same Melbourne based studio that has worked on the teeth of several Married at First Sight stars

Before and after photos show a dramatic change in his pearly whites and he's said, 'Veneers are the best thing I've ever done.'

The Melbourne tradie told Daily Mail Australia that his dental makeover has helped combat years of insecurities about his 'shark teeth.'

'I used to have perfect, straight teeth but I'm a teeth grinder and didn't have a guard so they got shorter I looked like I had Shark teeth!' he said.

Sharp: Nick Furphy, 31, underwent a $25,000 teeth transformation thanks to VogueDental

Nick admitted: 'I used to have perfect, straight teeth but I'm a teeth grinder and didn't have a guard so they got shorter I looked like I had Shark teeth!'

Tracey Jewel has likewise been flashing her brand new $22,000 smile thanks to the same company.

'I've tried everything, braces, Invisalign and after talking to Dr Dee (at Vogue Dental in Melbourne), he really understood me and what I really wanted,' she cooed.

The mother-of-one added: 'I'm not fake and I'm really happy that it looks so natural'.
Former high-class escort Samantha X paid a visit to her local police station on Monday.

The busty blonde made the visit to return a wallet she found in melbourne, taking to Instagram to document it.

'Anyone who knows me knows I love a hot cop so finding a wallet on the ground is a perfect excuse to drop by,' she captioned a photo of the wallet she found.

'I love a hot cop': Former high-class escort Samantha X appears tired at a police station in Melbourne

The 44-year-old told fans she was hoping to have a flirty exchange with a handsome officer.

'Will he be hot..won't he...will he be hot....,' she pondered in another caption.

She later revealed: 'The cop was hot but my hair looks like bum fluff.'

Hopeful: The 44-year-old told fans she was hoping to have a flirty exchange with a handsome officer while returning a wallet she found in Sydney

It comes after Samantha, whose real name is Amanda Goff, hit out at reports she 'regretted' giving-up her lucrative $1000 hour escorting job.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, she clarified the reports, saying: 'I never said... I miss sex work or regret giving up escorting.'

'I said the next relationship I have I won't rush into and I regretted making important life decisions so quickly.'
Advertisement

He was amongst guests as former Suits co-star Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in a stunning Royal wedding ceremony at Windsor Castle.

And Patrick J. Adams, who played Meghan's onscreen husband, was still making the most of his trip to Europe on Sunday afternoon after trading leafy Berkshire for picturesque Mykonos in the Greek islands.

The 36-year old actor was accompanied by wife Troian Bellisario, 32, as they hit the beach.

Good times: Patrick J. Adams and wife Troian Bellisario were still making the most of their trip to Europe on Sunday afternoon after trading leafy Berkshire for picturesque Santorini in the Greek islands

The actor sported a pair of blue patterned shorts while idling on the sand with Troian, who he met on the set of play Equivocation in 2009.

Joining her husband, the actress daughter of producers Donald P. Bellasario and Deborah Prattwore a plunging black swimsuit as they prepared for a dip in the ocean.

With temperatures continuing to soar across the Greek Islands, Troian gingerly made her way into the choppy water, where Patrick was on hand to help her.

Their appearance comes after Patrick was criticised for publicly body shaming a woman who called him 'chunky' as he prepared to fly out of the United Kingdom on Monday.

Beach ready: The actor sported a pair of blue patterned shorts while idling on the sand during his latest appearance in Greece

Let's go: The couple, who joined an array of special guests at former Suits co-star Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry, were in high spirits while making their way into the water

Here she comes: Joining her husband, Troian wore a plunging black swimsuit as they prepared for a dip in the ocean

The Suits star later apologised for his actions after realising 'any sense of being a bully or lashing out felt wrong'.

The Canadian actor, who played lawyer Mike Ross on the series for seven years, revealed an unnamed woman commented on his weight as she referenced a photo of him at the wedding while he waited for his flight at Heathrow airport.

In retaliation to her remarks, the TV star shared a photo of her sleeping beside him in an airport lounge.

I've got you: Patrick assisted his wife as she gingerly made her way into the water

Easy does it: The actor held his wife's hands as she joined him in deeper water

Close: The pair were inseparable as they frolicked off the coast of picturesque Mykonos on Saturday

Named and shamed: The woman in the photo allegedly told the actor that he was looking 'chunky'

Sorry: He later apologised for fighting fire with fire after his fans told him it wasn't his best move

The actor captioned the unflattering photo: 'She reads her paper. See's picture of me and Troian from wedding. "My God. What a terrible photo of you."

'I look over. "Really. I kind of like that photo. What do you think is wrong with it?" She pauses. "Well, youre just so....chunky." She laughs and falls asleep. And .... scene.'

While he was praised by some of his loyal followers, others were less than enthused by the pointed move which later influenced his decision to take the shot down.

Off screen, on screen: The couple have both appeared on Suits together, and are now married in real life

On screen, off screen: Patrick and Meghan tied the knot in Suits, making way for her exit from the show and her real-life wedding to Prince Harry

Sight seers: Patrick and Troijan first visited the island of Santorini before making their way to Mykonos

Come here, you: The actor opened his arms wide as his wife approached him

Here we go: At one point Patrick attempted a dive into the crashing surf

One fan commented: 'I expect better from you. Shes rude and what she did was uncalled for but sometimes you dont have to get even.'

Taking to Instagram, he wrote: 'Yesterday I posted a photo of a woman who did some casual body shaming of my wife and I in the airport. My intention was solely to put a face to the people who think that sort of glancing commentary is necessary, helpful or funny.

'Some of the comments on the post instead said I was being a bully and should have taken the 'high road' (some also doubled down on the body shaming. Thumbs up guys!)

Happy couple: Canadian star Patrick married Troian in 2016, seven years after their first meeting

Tactile: The actor made sure his wife din't lose her footing as they frolicked in the ocean

Making the most if it: The couple have been keen to see the sights following former co-star Meghan's wedding to Harry

Face to face: Patrick and Troian chatted as they relaxed in the water, with her love holding onto her tightly

The Canadian actor, who attended the Windsor-based nuptials with his fellow Suits co-stars and wife Troian, deleted the original shot of the woman, after sharing it to his 2.1 million followers.

'I thought it over and agreed and took it down, not because I felt the woman was right or fair or undeserving of being called out but because any sense of being a bully or lashing out felt wrong.'

The actor added that after his actions had hit the headlines, he wanted to have his say on the matter.

All mine: Patrick looked smitten as she made her way towards him with her hair tied up and off her face

Step by step: Troijan didn't look confident while venturing into deeper water

Don't mind me: Patrick was in high spirits as he swam in the water close to fellow holiday-makers on Saturday

Awkward: Their appearance comes after Patrick was criticised for publicly body shaming a woman who called him 'chunky' as he prepared to fly out of the United Kingdom on Monday

Not happy: Patrick, who played lawyer Mike Ross on the series for seven years, revealed the unnamed woman commented on his weight as she referenced a photo of him at the wedding while he waited for his flight back to the States in Heathrow airport
She expecting her first child in a matter of weeks.

And Eva Longoria made the most of her pregnancy glow before her bundle of joy arrives as she stepped out dinner at Via Veneto restaurant in Santa Monica, with some friends on Sunday.

The Desperate Housewives star, 43, put her blossoming bump on full display in a fitted striped dress and wrapped up in a matching blue sweatshirt.

Almost time: Heavily pregnant Eva Longoria, 43, displayed her blossoming baby bump in a chic striped dress as she enjoyed dinner with friends in LA on Sunday

Eva kept it comfortable in a pair of casual monochrome sandals, and polished of her dinner look with a sophisticated black cross body bag.

The Overboard star sweetly cradled her bump before getting into a waiting car, and added a small touch of shimmer with a delicate silver necklace.

Eva's pregnancy glow and natural beauty was accentuated with a rosy cheek and lashings of mascara.

The Texas native styled her glossy chocolate locks sleek straight to finish off her toned-down dinner ensemble.

Comfortable: The Overboard star sweetly cradled her bump before getting into a waiting car, and added a small touch of shimmer with a delicate silver necklace

Eva was without media mogul husband Jose Baston and happily dined out with friends before her baby arrives.

The TV queen announced her happy baby news in December, and recently celebrated with a baby shower - attended by the likes of Marcia Cross, Melanie Griffith, Sophia Bush and Elizabeth Banks.

Eva is expecting her first child with husband Jose Baston, who she married in a Mexican ceremony in 2016, after three years of dating.

Stepping out: Eva's pregnancy glow and natural beauty was accentuated with a rosy cheek and lashings of mascara

Cute couple: Eva is expecting her first child with husband Jose Baston, who she married in a Mexican ceremony in 2016, after three years of dating

The showbiz couple recently celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary, and the actress received a gigantic bouquet of red roses from her 'amor'.

'Im the luckiest woman in the world to have a husband like Pepe and I pray we have 50 more years of many blessings, much laughter, and endless happiness!' she said on Instagram

The impending arrival will be Eva's first child, but her husband Jose's fourth, as he shares daughter Natalia, 22, and 14-year-old twins Mariana and Jose with ex-wife Natalia Esperon.
Gabby Allen can't seem to keep two feet in the same country at the moment.

The recently-cheated-on ex-Love Island star has kept herself as busy - and as far away from the UK - as possible, following her devastating split from Marcel Somerville.

And the love rat was out of sight and out of mind as Gabby continued her travels around Spain, joining Tyne-Lexy Clarson on the beach for a splash around.

Fun and sun: Gabby Allen can't seem to keep two feet in the same country at the moment following her devastating split from Marcel Somerville

Gal pals: Gabby joined Tyne-Lexy Clarson on the beach in Marbella

The blonde, 26, boasted her peachy posterior and slender waistline in a turquoise and aqua-marine two-piece in a trendy crochet pattern.

The jaunty number featured playful tassels that grazed her thighs as she strolled along the stony shore with her pal.

The TV personality ensured onlookers got a good view of her perky assets as she paraded her envy-inducing frame along the sandy beach.

The blonde beauty teamed her look with a pair of statement earrings and an oval, feature ring.

The blonde leading the blonde: Gabby, 26, boasted her peachy posterior and slender waistline in a turquoise and aqua-marine two-piece while Tyne-Lexy wore a lacy white all-in-one

Lapping up the sun: Gabby looked pretty in a trendy crochet pattern

Jaunty: The swimwear featured playful tassels that grazed Gabby's thighs as she strolled along the stony shore with her pal

Hugs: The girls were seen giggling, hugging and holding hands, clearly non-plussed about their recent love woes

She wore her cropped sun-kissed tresses in beach waves, and opted for shimmery make-up to complete her look.

Her pal, Tyne-Lexy, 21, put on a somewhat more shocking display as she slipped her curves in a barely-there, white lace one-piece.

The beachwear left nothing to the imagination, showing off her waist as well as giving an eye-popping view of her busty assets.

She wore chunky round statement earrings and wore her golden tresses loosely around her bare shoulders.

Eye-popping: The TV personalities ensured onlookers got a good view of their perky assets as they paraded their envy-inducing frames along the sandy beach

Soaking up the sunshine: The blonde beauty teamed her look with a pair of statement earrings and an oval, feature ring

Jet set: Gabby recently returned to the UK from a blissful getaway in Bali with her pal Georgia Harrison

Socialite: Gabby has proven to be quite the jet-setter as she was spotted on Marbella's Plaza Beach with her fellow reality star Chloe Goodman and her sister Lauryn on Saturday afternoon

Carefree: The Liverpool beauty was seen a few days ago taking a turn around Soho with a male pal, clearly trying to sweep her heartache under the rug

Her locks were lightly frizzy in the salt-licked Spanish air.

The girls were seen giggling, hugging and holding hands, clearly non-plussed about their recent love woes.

Gabby recently returned to the UK from a blissful getaway in Bali with her pal Georgia Harrison.

And she has proven to be quite the jet-setter as she was spotted on Marbella's Plaza Beach with her fellow reality star Chloe Goodman and her sister Lauryn on Saturday afternoon.

From all angles: She wore her cropped sun-kissed tresses in beach waves, and opted for shimmery make-up to complete her look

Show-stopper! Her pal, Tyne-Lexy, 21, put on a somewhat more shocking display as she slipped her curves in a barely-there, white lace one-piece

Bombshell: The beachwear left nothing to the imagination, showing off her waist as well as giving an eye-popping view of her busty assets

Gabby looked as if she has left her troubles - and her ex - well and truly behind her in the UK, having confirmed her split from her Love Island beau on Instagram, after he admitted to cheating on her.

The Liverpool beauty was seen a few days ago taking a turn around Soho with a male pal, clearly trying to sweep her heartache under the rug.

Speaking to MailOnline earlier this month, a spokesperson for Marcel explained that the Blazin' Squad star understood his wrongdoings and hoped that one day Gabby would forgive him.

Glam: She wore chunky round statement earrings and wore her golden tresses loosely around her bare shoulders

Moving on: Gabby looked as if she has left her troubles - and her ex Marcel - well and truly behind her in the UK, having confirmed her split from her Love Island beau on Instagram

Fresh start: The Liverpool beauty was seen a few days ago taking a turn around Soho with a male pal, clearly trying to sweep her heartache under the rug

His rep said: 'Sadly the rumours are true, Gabby and Marcel have split up. Marcel can't really defend his actions as he knows he did wrong and will regret it forever.'

They said: 'Marcel is upset that he broke the heart of someone he loves and someone that he shared so many special moments with, but with all the good times there are difficult times, and sadly Marcel and Gabby had been in a bad place at this stage.

'Gabby was a special part of my Marcel's life, and he hopes one day she can find it in herself to forgive him. He knows what he did was wrong and is extremely sad about how he has hurt Gabby.'

Having fun: Tyne-Lexy put her pert bottom on full display as she took to the sea

Act natural: She was sure to put on a show the any onlookers watching her

His comments come shortly after Gabby confirmed their 'tough' split and revealed she is 'in shock' from the relationship break-up.

In an Instagram post the blonde beauty thanked her friends, family and fans for their support during the difficult time as she deals with the end of her romance.

She wrote: 'Thank you to everyone for your kind messages, love and support. It's been tough couple of days, I think I might still be in a bit of shock! But I'm sure in time I will be OK. I have the best family and friends around me. I'm a lucky girl.'

Gabby and Marcel met on the 2017 series of summer smash Love Island and quickly forged a romance.

Wishful thinking: Speaking to MailOnline earlier this month, a spokesperson for Marcel explained that the Blazin' Squad star understood his wrongdoings and hoped that one day Gabby would forgive him

Not forgiven, definitely forgotten: His comments come shortly after Gabby confirmed their 'tough' split and revealed she is 'in shock' from the relationship break-up

Over and out: In an Instagram post the blonde beauty thanked her friends, family and fans for their support during the difficult time

But their seemingly rock-solid relationship was rocked by claims of infidelity during their Mexican getaway last month.

New allegations by The Sun state that Marcel cheated on Gabby multiple times with different women over the course of a few months.

It is also revealed that the rapper kissed another girl during a night out - but when Gabby's suspicions arose, he managed to convince her that nothing occurred.

The publication claims that Gabby had her doubts when it came to Marcel remaining faithful in their relationship.
NRL WAG and shoe designer Terry Biviano is known for her glamorous lifestyle.

And the 43-year-old was certainly in her element while dressed in designer threads and abroad a yacht off the coast of Monaco on Monday.

Taking to Instagram, the raven-haired beauty looked every inch the global jet setter while posing for snaps.

Scroll down to video

White hot! NRL WAG Terry Biviano, 43, cuts a youthful figure in a cleavage-baring frock on a yacht in Monaco

The stylish beauty was the epitome of elegance, flaunting her ample bust and trim pins in a lace button-down Zimmerman dress.

Her long raven locks were tied back in a graceful style.

Clutching on to the metal railing, the Sydney socialite looked like a European film star.

Glamour girl: Clutching on to the metal railing, the Sydney socialite looked like a European film star

At times, a light breeze lifted the ornate frock, which featured puffed sleeves and a textured pattern.

In the background, large cliff-side homes can be spotted in the distance, with a number of other yachts on the water.

The beauty captioned the snap: " GRAND PRIX READY #MonacoGrandPrix," she then added the hashtag @zimmermann.

In another shot, Terry looked high glam in a one-shouldered black one-piece swimsuit, which flaunted her long, slender legs.

Black to basics! Terry shared a second shot of herself relaxing on a yacht in an elegant black one-shouldered swimsuit, which showed off her golden pins

Last month, Terry channeled none other than style icon Kim Kardashian, when she was snapped with dead straight, jet black hair.

At the time, the flawless beauty took to Instagram to flaunt her new fabulous look.

In the snap, fashion-forward Terry flaunted plenty of cleavage in a black off-the-shoulder knotted top which featured billowing sleeves.

Striking a pose, the beauty opted to put a hand on her hip, showing off manicured nails and a silver cuff.

Obviously happy with her luscious shiny locks, Terry captioned the snap: 'Fresh hair from the BEST.'
She broke up with her former beau last year after a 'wonderful' three years together.

And Kimberley Garner has maintained a close relationship with her ex as the pair enjoyed a cosy scooter ride together in London on Sunday afternoon.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 28, ensured all eyes were on her as she paraded her impressively toned figure in a black thigh-skimming dress.

Friends for life! Kimberley Garner has maintained a close relationship with her ex as the pair enjoyed a cosy scooter ride together in London on Sunday afternoon

Embellished with trendy button-up details, the swimwear designer's frock featured a low-cut square neckline - flashing a glimpse of her perky assets.

The blonde beauty injected a hint of her trademark glamour as she tied in her ensemble with a pair of box-fresh trainers by Gucci.

Kimberely enhanced her striking appearance with touches of neutral-toned makeup, and styled her tresses into loose curls.

Striking: The former Made In Chelsea star, 28, ensured all eyes were on her as she paraded her impressively toned figure in a black thigh-skimming dress

Stepping out: Embellished with trendy button-up details, the swimwear designer's frock featured a low-cut square neckline - flashing a glimpse of her perky assets

Meanwhile, the hunk looked equally stylish in a black T-shirt, tied in with a pair of ankle-grazing trousers.

The TV personality appeared in high spirits as she and her former boyfriend took turns to lead the scooter as they rode around the English capital.

When contacted by MailOnline, Kimberely revealed that the pair are 'not together' but remain 'good friends'.

Chic: The blonde beauty injected a hint of her trademark glamour as she tied in her ensemble with a pair of box-fresh trainers by Gucci

Stylish: Kimberely enhanced her striking appearance with touches of neutral-toned makeup, and styled her tresses into loose curls

Following their break-up last year, the blonde beauty told MailOnline: 'I ended the relationship recently. It was a really wonderful three years and we are still good friends today.'

The socialite has been notoriously tight-lipped about the identity of her former long-term boyfriend, who was often seen with the personality in west London.

But while the split was still raw, she admitted she's open to the prospect of dating - as long as her suitor meets the right criteria.

Low-key: Meanwhile, the hunk looked equally stylish in a black T-shirt, tied in with a pair of ankle-grazing trousers

Dynamic duo: The TV personality appeared in high spirits as she and her former boyfriend took turns to lead the scooter as they rode around the English capital

Just pals: When contacted by MailOnline, Kimberely revealed that the pair are 'not together' but remain 'good friends'

Speaking to The Sun during her appearance at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival, she said: 'It was a great relationship. Id love to meet someone with a great personality  its all about the personality for me.'

Kimberley recently revealed how she used to pretend to be the intern when she first started in business as nobody took her seriously.

The blonde bombshell shot to fame when she starred in Made In Chelsea in 2012 as a love interest of Richard Dinan, but is now better known for her sultry bikini shots on Instagram.

Who is he? The socialite has been notoriously tight-lipped about the identity of her former long-term boyfriend, who was often seen with the personality in west London

Candid: Kimberley recently revealed how she used to pretend to be the intern when she first started in business as nobody took her seriously

However, the property heiress insists she's more than just the face of her line Kimberley London and is involved with every aspect of creating her sell-out swimwear range.

'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business,' she told Femail.

'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. It became very successful overnight. However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine.

'I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice. No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the Intern!'




Nicki Minaj is defending her longtime music partner and friend Drake amid claims that he uses a ghostwriter.

She took to Twitter on Sunday to put down rapper Pusha T's claims that Drake is still using ghostwriter Quentin Miller, who helped co-write songs from his 2015 mixtape, If You're Reading This It's Too Late.

The 35-year-old hitmaker told haters not focus on the fact that Quentin assisted the Canadian rapper because Drake writes for himself as well as for others.

Collaborators and pals: Nicki Minaj posted an angry tweet on Sunday defending Drake from rapper Pusha T's claims that he is still using ghostwriter Quentin Miller in his work

'N***** gon run that Quentin s*** in the fkn ground like Drake dont write 4 himself & OTHERS!' she tweeted.

'Ya enemies will remix, reinvent & TRY 2make u RELIVE some old s*** for YEARS 2 come when they have NOTHING ON U! Knock it off. Challenging the chosen ones only awakens the sleeping giant.'

The rivalry came to a head at the weekend when Pusha T, real name Terrence LeVarr Thornton, released the track Infared, dissing Drake, from his new album, Daytona.

On it, the 41-year-old New York City native raps: 'It was written like Nas but it came from Quentin.'

Rushing to his aid: The 35-year-old hitmaker took down Pusha T, 41, on Twitter

Jacket in: Pusha T, real name Terrence LeVarr Thornton, released the track Infrared, dissing Drake, from his new album, Daytona. Here he's seen at a fashion event in NYC in February

Less than 24 hours later, Drake, 31, released a track hitting back at Pusha T and his collaborator, Kanye West.

'If you rebuke me for working with someone else on a couple of Vs, what do you really think of the n***** that's making your beats?' the Canadian rapped.

'I've done things for him, I thought that he never would need, Father had to stretch his hands out and get it for me.

Rap collaborator: Quentin Miller is accused of being a 'ghostwriter' on Drake's work

'Whoever supposedly makin' me hits, but then got no hits sound like they need me,' Drake continued.

'My hooks did it, my lyrics did it, my spirit did it I'm fearless with it, yeah.'

Pusha T responded to Drake's diss tweeting: 'Send the invoice for the extra 20....'

And Drake had the last laugh when he did just that, charging G.O.O.D Music/Dej Jam label $100,000 for 'promotional assistance and career reviving.'

Hitting out: Pusha T replied to Drake's rap diss tweeting, 'Send the invoice for the extra 20....'

And he did: Drake had the last word by immediately posting his bill for $100,000 for 'promotional assistance and career reviving' on Instagram

Atop her new woes with Drake, Ariana Grande recently shared a snippet from a collaboration with Nicki. She is set to release her new album Sweetener later this year.

On Sunday, Ariana posted a video while singing along to a track called The Light Is Coming. The song features a verse with the duo belting out: 'The light is coming to get back everything the darkness stole'.

In response, Nicki tweeted: 'Cant let a EFF boy EFF up my nice vibez! Yo Ariana come lemme gih u a high 5!!!!!!!!'
Oscar-award winning director, James Cameron is known for his penchant for deep sea dives - having ventured to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in 2012.

Now the iconic filmmaker has revealed he only made the blockbuster film Titanic as an excuse for 20th Century Fox to fund his dive to the wreck of the doomed ocean liner.

According to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, James, 63, said: 'if he had enough money to fund his original passion of deep sea exploration, hed never make another movie again.'

'I make money to do explorations!' Oscar-award winning director James Cameron reveals he only made Titanic to fund his dive to the wreck

'Some people think of me as a Hollywood guy  (but) I make Avatar to make money to do explorations,' he said.

According to the publication James is in Sydney for 24 hours to visit the new immersive exhibition 'Challenging the Deep' at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

The exhibition traces the acclaimed director's 'lifelong pursuit of and achievements in deep ocean science, technology and exploration including his record breaking dives in Deepsea Challenger,' according to the ANMM website.

'Challenging the deep': James Cameron poses alongside a scale model of the Deepsea Challenger cockpit at ANMM in Sydney

Wheelie good! James Cameron poses next to a ships wheel from the film Titanic in Belfast, Northern Ireland

The showcase also features a number of miscellaneous articles from the 1997 US epic film, Titanic.

The famed filmmaker's fascination with the ocean has seen him make history as the only person to dive solo to the deepest spot on the planet - Challenger Deep.

Appearing on 60 minutes last week, the 63-year-old Avatar filmmaker spoke about the moment he almost ran out of air while exploring the Earth's seabed.

'[I thought] There was something wrong with my regulator': Appearing on 60 minutes last week, the 63-year-old Avatar filmmaker spoke about the moment he almost ran out of air while exploring the Earth's seabed

'I actually spent more time on the Titanic wreck than the captain spent on the ship': James said he's spent longer on the wreck than the ill-fated ship's captain

'[I thought] There was something wrong with my regulator, I checked my air it was at zero, there was no second breath,' he said of the whopping 11,000 metre dive.

'That's just it.'

Speaking about Titanic, which swept the Academy Awards with 11 Oscar wins, the film-maker said he's spent longer on the wreck than the ill-fated ship's captain.

'I actually spent more time on the Titanic wreck than the captain spent on the ship.'

The Titanic director is currently working on the Avatar sequels, with the first due out in 2020.
Married At First Sight's Charlene Perera didn't find lasting love with her TV husband Patrick Miller on the show.

But the fiery bride isn't wasting any time dwelling, with the 33-year-old embracing single life by embarking on a solo trip abroad.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the general manager of Hush Puppies shared a short clip of herself frolicking in Italy.

Scroll down to video

Enjoying the single life! Married At First Sight star Charlene Perera enjoys a solo trip to Europe after split from Patrick Miller

In the video, the former reality star panned the camera around Piazza della Signoria in Florence, showing statues from the square.

In another shot, the the Melbourne-based beauty shared a shot of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Obviously enjoying the picturesque locale, the self confident bride captioned another snap: 'Every laneway is picture magic! Love myself a city with laneways.'

Charlene currently appears to be quite the jet setter, also sharing shots of herself geo-tagged in Argentina and New York City.

In one shot, the beauty appeared to tease fans that she was going to jump on a jet ski while standing next to the Hudson River.

In the snap Charlene Geo-tagged herself at Liberty Landing Marina, looking ever the adventurer.

'Every laneway is picture magic!': Charlene gushed over Italy

Last month, the one-time TV bride spoke on the TODAY Show about meddling mother-in-laws, after she had trouble with her Patrick's mother, Ruby.

Today presenter Deborah Knight began by asking Charlene about her tense scenes with Ruby from her wedding day.

'There was never any rudeness to my face,' said Charlene, who confirmed her split with Patrick last month.

'They're very close so that was always going to be a big factor,' she said, before adding that it put pressure on Patrick as well.

Time for a selfie! The reality star appears to be taking in a number of interesting locales on her trip, taking this shot in New York City's Central Park
She recently put her best foot forward while attending an array of exclusive Dior events in Paris.

And now Paris Jackson displayed her off-duty style as she enjoyed a cigarette while out and about in Venice, Italy on Monday.

The 20-year-old model appeared in jovial spirits as she took a moment out from work commitments and soaked up her surroundings while clad in a pair of thigh-skimming white shorts that highlighted her slender pins.

Taking a break: Paris Jackson displayed her off-duty style as she enjoyed a cigarette while out and about in Venice, Italy on Monday

The daughter of Michael Jackson teamed her Daisy Duke with a loose-fitting Gucci T-shirt which featured a large print of Bugs Bunny across the front.

Paris' choice of tee boasted colourful sequins and Gucci, which is spelled 'Guccy' in an ironic nod to how the fashion house sometimes appears in Instagram hashtags.

Wearing her $1200 tee off-the-shoulder, she teamed her low-key look with a number of long beaded necklaces and matching bracelets.

Paris continued to keep her ensemble casual as she walked along the pavement in her distressed white trainers and sported large shades while her hair was pinned off her face.

Pin-credible: The 20-year-old model appeared in jovial spirits as she took a moment out from work commitments and soaked up her surroundings while clad in a pair of thigh-skimming white shorts that highlighted her slender pins

Her appearance comes after she took to social media to defend her famous family in a series of Instagram stories shared after Janet Jackson's performance at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada last week.

The model urged fans to refrain from commenting on how she should 'handle my relationship with the people in my life,' after receiving backlash for missing her aunt's return to the stage after a nine-year break from performing on live TV.

'Dear social media followers, friends, stalkers, lovers and haters, and fellow moonwalkers: Please do not tell me/demands/try to control how I handle my relationship with the people in my life, specifically my family,' she started.

'As amazing and as s***ty as things can be, it is no one's business but ours.

All in the details: Paris continued to keep her ensemble casual as she walked along the pavement in her distressed white trainers and sported large shades while her hair was pinned off her face

'I understand that some of you feel some sort of connection or need to be a part of our lives considering you watched us grow up. However, I am handling my situation exactly how my father did.

'I will always have love and respect for my family. ALWAYS. There is nothing more or less than that, that you need to know,' she wrote. 'Every family has their moments of trauma, heartbreak, separation, love, oneness, tribe, pain, everything. EVERY FAMILY.'

Janet was also at the awards show to receive the Billboard Icon Award for her stellar career which spans across decades.

Family: Her appearance comes after she took to social media to defend her famous family in a series of Instagram stories shared after Janet Jackson's performance at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada last week

Urge: The model urged fans to refrain from commenting on how she should 'handle my relationship with the people in my life,' after receiving backlash for missing her aunt's return to the stage after a nine-year break from performing on live TV

Paris continued: 'My family, specifically, and a good number of others... well, our drama is broadcasted worldwide through media,' she reminded her followers. 'But that doesn't mean our family issues are any different from yours. Ours are just made public.

'Every level has another devil. Every life has their own s**t to deal with. We ain't inferior or superior to y'all. We're all f****ng human. So let's act like it.

'I appreciate any and every person reading this and I'm grateful for everything in my life, positive and negative.'

Hours after the lengthy message posted to support her family, Paris chimed back in with more insight to her absence at the show.

'Also not to mention, no one from my mgmt [management] reached out to me about attending billboards or about the award, and no one from my family did either,' she confirmed. 'I had absolutely no idea until y'all spammed me with hatred.'
Advertisement

She's been relaxing during her pregnancy by cruising through Monaco on her dad's 100million superyacht with her boyfriend Jeremy Meeks.

And Chloe Green and her Hot Felon beau looked like they were eagerly awaiting their little one's arrival as her 34-year-old boyfriend rubbed her burgeoning baby bump on Monday.

The heavily pregnant heiress, 27, and Jeremy were spotted laughing while holding hands on-board her father Philip's yacht as they chatted to the likes of Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble and model Victoria Silvstedt, who joined the couple following the Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.

Bumping along: Chloe Green and her Hot Felon beau Jeremy Meeks looked like they were eagerly awaiting their little one's arrival as her 34-year-old boyfriend rubbed her burgeoning baby bump on-board her dad's superyacht in Monaco on Monday

Sitting on Jeremy's lap, the former Made In Chelsea star dressed her pregnancy curves in a floaty blue and white floral dress.

The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other with Jeremy cradling Chloe's bump while Chloe wrapped her arm around his shoulder and lovingly stroked his head.

They were later spotted embracing and playfully giggling as they soaked up the sun on the 90m yacht, which according to The Guardian, houses a swimming pool, a helipad, three lifts, six luxury cabins and a crew of 40.

Having a blast: The heavily pregnant heiress, 27, and Jeremy were spotted laughing while holding hands on-board her father Philip's yacht as they chatted to the likes of Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble and model Victoria Silvstedt

Burgeoning bump: Sitting on Jeremy's lap, the former Made In Chelsea star dressed her pregnancy curves in a floaty blue and white floral dress

Smitten: The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other with Jeremy cradling Chloe's bump while Chloe wrapped her arm around his shoulder and lovingly stroked his head

Living it up: They were later spotted embracing and playfully giggling as they soaked up the sun on the 90m yacht which is said to house a swimming pool, a helipad, three lifts, six luxury cabins and a crew of 40

Chloe complemented her pregnancy glow with deftly touches of make-up and wore her long brunette tresses down before tying the up later in the day to keep cool.

Looking like the ultimate power couple, Jeremy matched his outfit to the Topshop heiress. He covered up his ripped physique by donning a simple white shirt and steel blue board shorts.

It seems as though Chloe's relationship has the full blessing of her parents, Sir Philip, 66, and Lady Tina as they were also present on the boat, which is named Lionheart, with the business mogul spotted relaxing on the sun lounger.

Happy family: It seems as though Chloe's relationship has the full blessing of her parents, Sir Philip, 66, and Lady Tina as they were also present on the boat, which is named Lionheart

Babymoon: The couple looked in the throes of love as they walked around the superyacht, which was decked out with white stem roses and plush beige cushions

Radiant: Chloe complemented her pregnancy glow with deftly touches of make-up and wore her long brunette tresses down before tying the up later in the day to keep cool

Heartbreak: Chloe and Jeremy have been dating since July 2017, leaving his estranged wife Melissa devastated

Back to the superyacht: Kris Jenner had paid a visit to the boat just days earlier and couldn't resist lapping up the luxury again as she arrived on a small speed boat with Corey Gamble

Once in a lifetime experience: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star whipped out her phone to document her trip to Philip's superyacht

Glitzy: Chloe paired the look with diamond hoop earrings and a simple heart necklace

Vision of beauty: Model Victoria Silvstedt also joined the party and looked incredible in a white ruffle dress

Going all out: Sir Philip hosted a lavish lunch with Victoria being among those to enjoy champagne and wine on-board the yacht

Scenic cruise: At one point Jeremy and hest stopped to get their phones out no doubt taking in the spectacular views

Chloe and Jeremy have been dating since July 2017, leaving his estranged wife Melissa devastated.

The model, who shares son Jeremy Junior, nine, and step son Robert with his ex-wife Melissa, was later seen chatting to Kris Jenner's toyboy beau Corey Gamble, 37.

The Kardashian momager, 62, had paid a visit to the boat just days earlier and couldn't resist lapping up the luxury again as she arrived on a small speed boat with Corey.

Co-ordinated: Looking like the ultimate power couple, Jeremy matched his outfit to the Topshop heiress. He covered up his ripped physique by donning a simple white shirt and steel blue board shorts

Catching up: Jeremy was later seen chatting to Kris Jenner's toyboy beau Corey over a chilled glass of wine

Keeping his appetite at bay: The convicted criminal indulged in a spot of food while his American pal chatted to top designer Tommy Hilfiger

Marriage on the cards? Earlier this year it was claimed that Chloe is not only expecting her first child with Jeremy but is engaged to the former convict as well

All aboard! Chloe's Hot Felon beau couldn't resist waving to fans as the boat set sail

Earlier this year it was claimed that Chloe is not only expecting her first child with Jeremy but is engaged to the former convict as well.

The family are fully on board planning a wedding, and Tina [Chloe's mother] is looking forward to being a grandmother, a source told The Daily Mail. Chloe has been telling everyone that she is having a little boy.

Ahead of the impending arrival of their little one, the couple have been spending time in Monaco, relaxing at their own apartment in the same block where her parents own a 7 million penthouse.

Jailbird Jeremy, married father-of-two, had earned the dubious accolade of the worlds hottest felon, when his mugshot went viral in 2014.

Putting his feet up: Philip Green looked thoroughly relaxed as he reclined on a plush sofa

Star turn-out: Dozens of people turned up to experience a meal on the multi-million pound yacht following Sunday's Grand Prix

Making a statement: Kris dressed in a bright yellow jacket and wore her signature black shades

Once a member of the North Side Crips street gang in California, Meeks was described as one of the most violent criminals in the Stockton area before he was jailed for possessing a firearm.

He was released from prison in 2016 saying that he had found God, before quickly securing a six-figure modelling job  and ditching his wife and family when he met Chloe.

Earlier this month, the former gang member said he 'couldn't be happier' as he prepares to welcome a child with his heiress girlfriend.

Violent past: Once a member of the North Side Crips street gang in California, Meeks was described as one of the most violent criminals in the Stockton area before he was jailed for possessing a firearm

Expectant arrival: Earlier this month, the former gang member said he 'couldn't be happier' as he prepares to welcome a child with his heiress girlfriend

Speaking to FV Magazine, he said: 'Ive never been in this place mentally, emotionally, physically, that Im in right now. Ive never been in such an amazing place.'

When asked how he felt about his overnight success in the fashion industry, Meeks replied: 'I heard it a couple of times growing up that I should be a model, but it went in one ear and out the other. I never thought it was possible.'

Adding his final thoughts on what love means to him, Meeks added: 'Love means everything, everything to me. Its what keeps people alive, its what keeps people going, to love and to be loved.'

Chloe and Jeremy are said to have first set their eyes on each other at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2017, where the Hot Felon was modelling for Phillip Plein.
Brody Jenner is celebrating his marriage to fiance Kaitlynn surrounded by family and friends this holiday weekend.

But amidst the happy crowds coming together to mark the happy occasion in Bali, one face is missing - Brody's father, Caitlyn Jenner.

It seems that the reality star was either uninvited, will just jet out for the destination wedding itself, or for whatever reason declined to attend the bash.

Instead Caitlyn was pictured picking up fast food from Mexican chain restaurant Chipotle near her Malibu home on Sunday, nibbling on a tortilla chip as she walked in the street.

JennerIsland! Brody Jenner celebrates his wedding to fiance Kaitlynn surrounded by friends and family in Bali... as his dad Caitlyn picks up fast food in Malibu

Not invited? Meanwhile Caitlyn was pictured picking up fast food from Mexican chain restaurant Chipotle near her Malibu home on Sunday

As she did so, her son was preparing to say his vows with new wife Kaitlynn, with Caitlyn's ex-wife Linda Thompson sharing pictures of the happy family occasion.

The actress posted a group shot from the ongoing celebrations to Instagram, tagging the post JennerIsland.

She wrote: 'JennerIsland celebration continues embracing Balinese culture with @brodyjenner & @kaitlynn #love&marriage.'

Missing out: The images posted by Caitlyn's ex wife Linda Thompson showed Brody and his wife looking tanned and happy, amid a traditional Balinese celebration ahead of their nuptials

The images showed Brody and his wife looking tanned and happy, amid a traditional Balinese celebration ahead of their nuptials.

Brody's brother Brandon, Caitlyn's son, was there at the high end The Chedi Club resort, although his wife stayed at home in California with their infant, who was too young to travel.

The wedding party have certainly been making the most of the celebrations - with a series of unique experiences, including playing drinking games at a pool party, visiting a monkey-filled forest and undergoing a blessing ritual.

Destination wedding: The wedding party have certainly been enjoying the celebrations

'Good vibes': Husband and wife to be undergo a spiritual cleanse at an ancient Hindu temple

Extending the fun: A visit to a monkey-filled forest was amongst the attractions

Monkeying around: Brody made a new friend

But the happy scenes couldn't contrast more with the images of Caitlyn walking around Malibu, with just her younger girlfriend Sophia Hutchins for company.

Despite the lonely images, Caitlyn has a large family.

Along with Burt and his older brother Brandon from Caitlyn's marriage to Linda, the former Bruce Jenner also fathered Casey and Burt with first wife Chrystie Crownover, and Kendall and Kylie with third wife Kris Jenner.

As the patriarch of the bustling Kardashian family, the father-of-six was for many years a close and loving stepfather to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob.

But following Bruce and Kris' divorce and Caitlyn's announcement of her transition, she published a tell-all book about her experience, leaving her seemingly estranged from her stepchildren.

Father of six: Along with Burt and his older brother Brandon from Caitlyn's marriage to Linda, the former Bruce Jenner also fathered Casey and Burt with first wife Chrystie Crownover, and Kendall and Kylie with third wife Kris Jenner
She stunned in Louis Vuitton gown at this years Heavenly Bodies themed Met Gala and is said to be something of a muse for Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiere.

So it's no surprise that Emma Stone threw further support behind the brand as she attended the Cruise collection show on Monday.

The acclaimed actress, 29, put on a typically chic display in a structured blazer with dramatic lapels and dog tooth pattern detailing at the Maeght Foundation in Saint Paul, southern France.

Sophisticated: Emma Stone, 28, put on a typically chic display at Louis Vuitton's cruise collection show on Monday, held at the Maeght Foundation in Saint Paul, southern France

She paired her stylish blazer with a pair of eye-catching sequined trousers which were accessorised with a gold chain belt.

Underneath her jacket the La La Land star wore a diamond print jumper in neutral hues as she posed for paparazzi.

Emma wore her signature auburn tresses in loose waves which sat on her shoulders, framing her striking features.

Details: She paired her stylish blazer with a pair of eye-catching sequined trousers which were accessorised with a gold chain belt

Stunner: Underneath her jacket the La La Land star wore a diamond print jumper in neutral hues as she posed for paparazzi

Flaming goddess: Emma wore her signature auburn tresses in loose waves which sat on her shoulders, framing her striking features

Smokey starlet: The American native drew attention to her piercing green eyes with dramatic smokey eye make-up which lined her lids

Papped: The stars didn't appear to know which way to look as they posed for snaps

Mosaic: The celebs posed against a beautiful backdrop Mosaic wall which predominantly featured blues and greens

Details: Emma carried a barrel-style Louis Vuitton bag, which consisted of the brands signature brown pattern and white and black leather, with a golden chain

Matching: The women all wore the same style shoe in different colours which will no doubt be a hit in the coming year

Smoulder: Actress Lea smouldered next to Emma as they both offered a brooding gaze

Dream team: Jennifer, Lea and Emma all looked effortlessly glam as they sat alongside the runway

Work it: Also in attendance at the fashion event was Game Of Thrones actress Sophie Turner who managed to pull off a pattern-clashing ensemble

Pouty: She dusted her eyelids with a peach shadow and completed her look with a bright pink lip

Flawless: Sienna appeared radiant in the evening light as she kept her make-up minimal apart from a bold mauve lip

Chic: Putting on a demure display at the event was actress Sienna Miller who arrived in a Louis Vuitton branded shift dress

Sleder: Sienna's tiny shift dress flaunted her lithe frame perfectly for the occassion

Up-do: The actress wore her blonde locks in a sleek up-do as she scraped her tresses back into a bun

Smoulder: The thigh-skimming number made the most of her toned legs which were on full display

Glitz: She added sparkle to her outfit with a pair of dainty pearl drop earrings

Bang on trend: Sienna wore a circular bag across her shoulder which boasted a vibrant blue pattern

Fashion favourites: Doona Bae, Sienna Miller and Ruth Negga sat alongside Vogue editor Edward Enninful

Waiting for the show: Edward wore a sharp black suit anda navy shirt with a pair of thick-framed glasses

The American native drew attention to her piercing green eyes with dramatic smokey eye make-up which lined her lids.

Softening the tone Emma added a pale pink lip to her ensemble.

Also in attendance at the fashion event was Game Of Thrones actress Sophie Turner who managed to pull off a pattern-clashing ensemble.

Flawless: Laura stole the show in her eye-catching ensemble looking every inch the A-lister

Glowing: The actress glowed in the multi-coloured get-up while keeping her make-up to a minimum

Leggy: Laura Harrier wowed in a graphic print top which had a very clinched picture of a corseted waist

Low-cut: Laura's mini-dress offered a glimpse at her cleavage due to it's low neckline

FROW: An array of famous faces who were in attendance at the event posed together as they perched on a bench during the event

Cosy: Lea Seydoux and Emma Stone posed together during the event

Glam gals: (L-R) Camelia Jordana, Doona Bae, Laura Harrier, Sophie Turner and Sienna Miller pout up a storm on the frow

Chain reaction: Many of the Louis Vuitton garments feature chain detailing like the skirt Lea Seydoux donned

Chic: Lea's outfit gave off a military vibe due to her jacket's box-style cut and detailing

Coy: The Bond girl appeared to come over all shy while posing for pictures as she rested a hand over her face

She turned heads in an unusual deep navy satin top which boasted a graphic print across the shoulders and bust.

The 21-year-old teamed her sensational blouse with a grey and black woollen skirt which showcased her slender pins.

Revealing her attractive visage the star kept her blonde locks swept back off her face in a ponytail.

Famous friends: Jennifer Connelly, Lea Seydoux, Emma Stone and Delphine Arnault brought the glamour to the Cruise Collection show

Same shoes: Notably all of the other glitterati in attendance also appeared to be wearing the same or similar heels as they sat on the front row

High fashion: All of the famous faces were covered head to toe in Louis Vuitton wear

Serious style: Actresses Isabelle Huppert and Marina Fois cut a demure figure at the show

Bright lights: Isabelle shielded her eyes with a pair of large round shades

Stunning: Isabelle opted for a black lace dress while Marina wore a graphic print jacket and tweed skirt

Brooding: Justin Theroux, who was recently linked to Emma Stone, was in attendance with DJ Mark Ronson

Just pals: Emma and Justin are currently filming a new Netflix show together and have been pictured together on several occasions however they insist that they are just good friends

She dusted her eyelids with a peach shadow and completed her look with a bright pink lip.

Also Putting on a demure display at the event was actress Sienna Miller who arrived in a Louis Vuitton branded shift dress.

The thigh-skimming number made the most of her toned legs which were on full display.

Dapper: Mark cut a dapper figure in a white shirt which boasted strips of Louis Vuitton's signature branding in a pale blue

Catching up: The two men appeared to be enjoying a catch up ahead of the show

Biker: Justin rocked a leather jacket and black jeans which he accessorised with a gold chain necklace

Sharp: Mark looked handsome as he hand a pair of shades in his hand while posing

Swagger: The DJ paired the shirt with a pair of grey trousers and and smart shoes

Sienna slipped her feet into a pair of three-tone court shoes which featured gold detailing on the front.

Notably all of the other glitterati in attendance also appeared to be wearing the same or similar heels as they sat on the front row.

Laura Harrier wowed in a graphic print top which had a very clinched picture of a corseted waist.

Cruise collection: The collection featured eye-catching textured looks which were worn with sexy thigh-high boots

Runway: Guests sat either side of the runway on benches as there appeared to be only one row

Sci-fi: Models donned futuristic ensembles which featured oversized shades and metallic boots

She also showcased her endless pins in a flowing white mini and held a small barrel bag in her manicured hand.

An array of famous faces who were in attendance at the event posed together as they perched on a bench during the event.

Justin Theroux, who was recently linked to Emma Stone, was in attendance with DJ Mark Ronson.

Emma and Justin are currently filming a new Netflix show together and have been pictured together on several occasions however they insist that they are just good friends.

Strut: The people modelling the items strutted out to the runway across a patio

Eerie: The show included eerie looking figures which the models walked past on their way out

Wow: In the middle of the runway was a huge eye-catching structure

Mirror image: One model, who wore a purple featured jacket, appeared to be copying a statues movement
Britain's Got Talent suffered a major technical failure during its first live show.

And fans took to Twitter to make light of the malfunction by sharing a selection of memes, many of which joked that Ant McPartlin was behind the error.

Screens went black on ITV shortly before 7:45pm, before the channel was forced to air a 'sorry for the disruption' message, with Simon Cowell jokingly blaming missing presenter Ant for sabotaging the show.

Pulling the plug: Shortly after Declan Donnelly took to the stage for his first solo Britain's Got Talent show without embattled partner Ant McPartlin, there was a major technical hitch

For the first time in the popular show's history the live shows took place at London's Hammersmith Apollo instead of ITV's studios, with Declan Donnelly presenting it alone.

Dec kick-started the first solo show of BGT without embattled partner Ant, with a dazzling recreation of The Greatest Showman with former winners Diversity.

But after a show-stopping performance from first act Cali Swing, the programme froze with the disruption message appearing on screen.

Cheeky: Viewers took to Twitter in their drove post memes about the technical glitch with many joking Ant was behind the failure and had 'pulled the plug on the show'

An ITV announcer said: 'We're having some issues - we hope to return to the show as soon as possible. We hope to return as soon as possible and we are working to fix the issue.'

ITV were forced to air old audition footage as they rushed to fix the problem during their flagship programme.

Viewers took to Twitter in their drove post memes about the technical glitch with many joking Ant was behind the failure and had 'pulled the plug on the show'.

Memes: Hundreds shared pictures of Ant looking mischievous alongside captions: 'oh dear, how did that happen' alongside a winking face emoticon among other explanations

Hundreds shared pictures of Ant looking mischievous alongside captions: 'oh dear, how did that happen' alongside a winking face emoticon among other explanations.

After five minutes off air with ITV having to show audition footage, Dec appeared on stage.

Speaking about what happened, the presenter said: 'Welcome back to the start of semi-final here in London. Now the weather has caused some problems here.'

Disrupted: ITV were forced to air old audition footage as they rush to fix the problem during their flagship programme

Oh dear: Shortly after Declan Donnelly took to the stage for his first solo show without embattled partner Ant McPartlin, fans were left frustrated by the technical hitch

The television host, 42, then turned to the judges and joked: 'All going well so far guys.'

Giving his own take on the situation, Simon Cowell quipped back: 'I'm just going to say to Dec, Ant is coming back next year... Ant you're not to do that.'

Ant has stepped down from his television commitments following his second rehab stint.

Weather problem: Speaking about what happened, the presenter said: 'Welcome back to the start of semi-final here in London. Now the weather has caused some problems here'

It's sabbotage! Giving his own take on the situation, Simon Cowell quipped back: 'I'm just going to say to Dec, Ant is coming back next year... Ant you're not to do that.'

David Walliams joked to Dec as he took to the stage solo: 'You look smaller than usual there.

'We have a bigger audience so its a lot more pressure and as you know a lot more pressure can be a good thing.'

Looking nervous, Dec said: 'Moving swiftly on.'

The Geordie host recently discussed the monetary impact of going it alone.

He told The Sun's TV Mag: 'A couple of years ago our management said: 'Have you considered key man insurance? Because if something were to happen to the other one, your income would probably stop. You're not going to work on your own.'

'We were like: 'What do you mean, not going to work on our own?!' Then someone went: 'No, no or it's just for some money to come in while you decide what to do.' We preferred that version!'
They were spotted hanging out together on a luxury yacht in the South of France, two days before.

And Justin Theroux, 46, attended the same Louis Vuitton event as acting pal Laura Harrier, 28, at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, on Monday night.

The Leftovers star, who split from wife Jennifer Aniston after two years in February, was pictured enjoying a yacht day with Spiderman actress Lauren in pictures obtained by Page Six, this weekend.

Coincidence?: Justin Theroux, 46, attended the same Louis Vuitton event as Laura Harrier, 28, at the Fondation Maeght in France, on Monday

Justin cut a casual figure at the star-studded evening in black skinny jeans, a dark grey t-shirt and a leather bomber jacket.

He accessorised his look with black boots, a gold necklace, watch and bracelet, sitting with his musical pal, Mark Ronson, to watch the Cruise collection show.

Meanwhile, Laura put on a leggy display and showed off her incredible figure in a white, purple, dark orange and black patterned dress, with a matching corset to cinch in her waist.

Gorgeous: Despite posing separately at the fashion event, the appearance comes after the actor and the Spider-Man actress were spotted hanging out together on a luxury yacht on Saturday

Handsome: Justin cut a casual figure at the star-studded evening in black skinny jeans, a dark grey t-shirt and a leather bomber jacket (pictured with Mark Ronson)

Luxury: The two reportedly spent time on board a super yacht over the weekend

Stylish: Laura put on a leggy display and showed off her incredible figure in a white, purple, dark orange and black patterned dress, with a matching corset to cinch in her waist

Finishing touches: She accessorised her look with black and white heels, which had a bow on it, and a black Louis Vuitton circle handbag with silver detailing on it

She accessorised her look with black and white heels, which had a bow on it, and a black Louis Vuitton circle handbag with silver detailing on it.

Laura showed off her facial features and high cheekbones as she styled her hair into a sleek high ponytail, adding just a slick of make-up.

While the 28-year-old sat with her own girl gang, which included Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner and actress Sienna Miller.

MailOnline has contacted both Justin and Laura's representatives for comment.

Work it: Laura knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm at the event

Talented: The actress starred as Liz Toomes in Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017

Monochrome muse: The pair attended the Met Gala as guests of Louis Vuitton (Pictured alongside Ruth Negga and Alicia Vikander)

Strike a pose: Laura showed off her facial features and high cheekbones as she styled her hair into a sleek high ponytail, adding just a slick of make-up

Girl gang: While the 28-year-old sat with her own girl gang, which included Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner and actress Sienna Miller

Also attending the event was actress Emma Stone, who's friendship has blossomed with Justin since working together on new Netflix show, Maniac.

The two stars attended the same Met Gala 2018 afterparty at the beginning of May, just days after a friendly sushi date together.

However, there is nothing to suggest the pair are anything more than friends and Emma's current relationship status is unknown.

The La La Land star stunned in a Louis Vuitton gown at the Heavenly Bodies themed Met Gala and is said to be something of a muse for Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiere.

Split: He split from his wife of more than two years, actress Jennifer Aniston, in February

Pals: Also attending the event was actress Emma Stone, who's friendship has blossomed with Justin since working together on new Netflix show, Maniac

Gorgeous: The acclaimed actress, 28, put on a typically chic display in a structured blazer with dramatic lapels and dog tooth pattern detailing

So it's no surprise that Emma threw further support behind the brand as she attended the Cruise collection show on Monday.

The acclaimed actress, 28, put on a typically chic display in a structured blazer with dramatic lapels and dog tooth pattern detailing.

Underneath her jacket the La La Land star wore a diamond print jumper in neutral hues as she posed for paparazzi.

Emma wore her signature auburn tresses in loose waves which sat on her shoulders, framing her striking features.

Chic: Underneath her jacket the La La Land star wore a diamond print jumper in neutral hues as she posed for paparazzi

Group shot: (From left) Ruth Negga, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Stone, Sienna Miller, Doona Bae, Laura Harrier, Sophie Turner, Justin Theroux posed with Nicolas Ghesquiere
She is known for reinventing boho chic back in 2005, with many lauding her as a fashion icon.

And Sienna Miller showed she still had a keen eye for fashion as she attended the Louis Vuitton's 2019 Cruise Collection show at Saint-Paul-De-Vence in France on Monday.

The actress, 36, cut an elegant figure in a simple white shift dress by the famed designer.

Trendsetter: Sienna Miller showed she still had a keen eye for fashion as she attended the Louis Vuitton's 2019 Cruise Collection show at Saint-Paul-De-Vence in France on Monday

Sienna put on a leggy display in the thigh-high grazing dress which sheathed over her model frame and featured a grey slogan design on the bust.

Keeping her look simple, the Stardust actress paired the dress with monochrome court shoes with gold detailing on the front and a black circle leather bag.

Slicking her blonde hair black into a sleek bun, the mum-of-one complemented her dewy complexion with bronzed cheeks and a bold burgundy lip.

Simply chic: The actress, 36, cut an elegant figure in a simple white shift dress by the famed designer

Lithe limbs: Sienna put on a leggy display in the thigh-high grazing dress which sheathed over her model frame

Sartorially-savvy: Keeping her look simple, the Stardust actress paired the dress with monochrome court shoes and a circle black bag

Super-stylish Sienna has recently spoken about her style evolution from her twenties to her thirties.

She told Harper's Bazaar last month: 'I never used to mind drawing attention to myself through what I wore...

'I didn't mind being quite brave and colourful and I don't want that anymore. The mini-skirts and stuff

Pop of colour: Slicking her blonde hair black into a sleek bun, the mum-of-one complemented her dewy complexion with bronzed cheeks and a bold burgundy lip

Front row: Sienna sat alongside Sophie Turner who sported a quirky silk shirt and black and white mini skirt

Stunning: The actress finished off the look with some embellished pearl drop earrings

Cruise collection: The collection featured eye-catching textured looks which were worn with sexy thigh-high boots

Runway: Guests sat either side of the runway on benches as there appeared to be only one row

Sci-fi: Models donned futuristic ensembles which featured oversized shades and metallic boots

'It was great and I was in my twenties, but I've grown up a little bit. I love classic fashion; for now, I'm in a toned down, mellow state.'

The actress has relocated to New York with her five-year-old daughter Marlowe, but she is also regularly seen in the city with ex-fiance Tom Sturridge - Marlowe's father.

She is so settled that her five-bedroom townhouse in London's Queens Park was recently put up for both sale and rent.

According to The Times, Sienna bought the home in 2014 for 3million but put it on the market for sale at 2.75m but now that she lives in New York it is being let for for 2,000 a week.
It was a sign of just how much Coronation Street has changed that Mondays episode (like the next four nights) couldnt start at the time when Corrie is actually on - or invariably has been since its debut back in 1960.

The macabre content meant the Pat Phelan storyline returned after Britains Got Talent (at 9pm) rather than before it (in its traditional 7.30pm slot).

The days of Hilda Ogdens murial, Ena Sharples hairnet, and Jack Duckworths homing pigeons were clearly long gone.

Drama: The macabre Pat Phelan storyline in Coronation Street meant the ITV soap aired at 9pm on Monday night

This is fair enough of course. All soaps have to move with the times  thats part of what theyre for. And over the last decade in particular Corrie has increasingly moved away from its roots in kitchen sink dramas like A Taste Of Honey or Saturday Night and Sunday Morning for something decidedly more sensational.

In the case of Mondays closing shot, these cinematic influences appeared to been replaced by that obvious Salford reference point Quentin Tarantino.

When a wide-eyed Sarah Platt walked into the darkened secret storeroom at the builders yard the sight that greeted her (and us) was an image straight out of Pulp Fiction: Pat Phelan bound and gagged in an replica of the iconic scene showing Marsellus Wallace and Butch Coolidge sitting the same way (about to be tortured).

The only difference was Phelan actor Connor McIntyre had his mouth covered in black gaffer tape having been spared the red S&M ball gag Tarantino inflicted on Ving Rhames and Bruce Willis. Not even Coronation Street had gone that far.

Shock: When a wide-eyed Sarah Platt walked into the darkened secret storeroom at the builders yard the sight that greeted her (and us) was an image straight out of Pulp Fiction

Well hopefully not anyway. (Well have to wait for Tuesdays follow-up to be sure.)

What have you done? Sarah gasped, ostensibly to Gary Windass (who had abducted Phelan and brought him back to Weatherfield), but possibly to the scriptwriters.

Street producer Kate Oates has admitted that the five 9pm specials constitute not so much a big week for the soap but potentially a step that could be make-or-break for some veteran viewers.

It wasnt hard to see why. The noise you could hear throughout the first part of the Pat Phelan extravaganza was the sound of legends like Bet Lynch, Mike Baldwin, and Elsie Tanner etc turning in their graves.

Distressing scenes: What have you done? Sarah gasped, ostensibly to Gary Windass (who had abducted Phelan and brought him back to Weatherfield)

A scuffle in Pats caravan and the exiled killer/rapist being bludgeoned with a rock (by Joe coming to Garys rescue as Phelan throttled him) was standard Salford violence that could have been squeezed in during an earlier time slot.

Torture is another matter, if it happens

To anyone who grew up watching Corrie when it was more about depicting normal Northern life the Phelan melodrama looks fairly ridiculous: a case of Coronation Street trying too hard not just to emulate EastEnders more juicy/silly sensationalism but overtake it.

Risk: Kate Oates has admitted that the five 9pm specials constitute not so much a big week for the soap but potentially a step that could be make-or-break for some veteran viewers

Ryans drunken shenanigans the night before her wedding. Robert ending up with a black eye when he went to drag him back to face the music, and so on.

Even Gail and Sally wittering away seemed appealing.

Certainly the way that the Pat Phelan action was inter-cut with pre-existing storylines like Aidan Connors suicide was a mistake and only served to undo a lot of the good work the Street had achieved with its sensitive handling of that subject in the last fortnight.

It was also a sign of how far Coronation Street has changed (or Lost The Plot) that, compared to Pat Phelan, the storyline about David Platt being raped suddenly looked almost old-fashioned.
Channel Nine's first season of Love Island promised fans sun, sand and plenty of sex.

But viewers were left surprised when contestant Justin Lacko became unexpectedly emotional on the third day in the villa.

The model, 27, broke down in tears during Monday's episode, prompting Twitter users to label him 'dramatic' and ask if he's ever been rejected by a girl before.

'He is so dramatic! Has a girl never rejected him before?' Twitter users mocked Love Island's Justin Lacko (pictured) on Monday for crying after just THREE days on the show

Justin was apparently left heartbroken when he realised former beauty queen Tayla Damir was more interested in dating electrician Grant Crapp.

While Justin was relaxing near the pool, Tayla, 21, told Grant she liked him and gave him a 24-hour deadline to ditch his current girlfriend Cassidy for her.

However, Justin overheard the secret deal-making and later burst into tears during a private conversation with producers.

Crushed! Justin was apparently left heartbroken when he realised former beauty queen Tayla Damir (left) was more interested in dating electrician Grant Crapp (right)

'What is this?' The model, 27, broke down in tears during Monday's episode, prompting Twitter users to label him 'dramatic' and ask if he's ever been rejected by a girl before

'The person that I have been interested in is Tayla. I have confronted her and told her that I like her. I just feel like that just made me feel a bit s**t,' Justin said.

'I am here to try to find someone,' he added, sobbing. 'I feel like I was really close to someone and it didn't work out and I have to just let that one go... love isn't easy!'

During the episode, fans took to Twitter to remark on Justin's surprising emotional display after only knowing Tayla for a few days.

'You'll find someone!' During the episode, fans took to Twitter to remark on Justin's surprising emotional display after only knowing Tayla for a few days

'You spoke to her for two minutes': Kyle & Jackie O Show staffer Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola summed it up perfectly, writing: 'Bro... you spoke to her for two minutes!'

'Justin is crying on the SECOND episode of Love Island WTF', tweeted one fan. Another wrote: 'Did that dude just cry after 24 hours?'

A similar comment read: 'They've been there for three days, why is Justin acting like he's been pining for Tayla for three years?'.

Others were more supportive, however, with one viewer tweeting: 'It's day two, kid. You'll find someone!'

Meanwhile, Kyle & Jackie O Show staffer Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola summed it up perfectly, writing: 'Bro... you spoke to her for two minutes!'

Love Island Australia continues Tuesday at 8.30pm on 9Go and 9Now

Must-see TV! Love Island Australia continues Tuesday at 8.30pm on 9Go and 9Now




She appears in hugely popular fantasy series Game Of Thrones, alongside a host of other big names.

And Nathalie Emmanuel cut a casual figure as she attended and spoke at the Argentina Comic-Con, in Buenos Aires, on Sunday.

The actress, 29, showed off her toned physique in a pair of black jeans with a red and white stripe down the side.

Casual: Nathalie Emmanuel cut a casual figure as she attended and spoke at the Argentina Comic-Con, in Buenos Aires, on Sunday

Nathalie teamed the ensemble with a plain white t-shirt and a pair of chunky black Dr. Martens sandals.

She added a few statement pieces of jewellery including a septum piercing, silver necklace and various types of rings.

Nathalie styled her incredible curls into a voluminous loose hairdo as she added a slick of make-up, which included a deep red lipstick.

Chic: The actress, 29, showed off her toned physique in a pair of black jeans with a red and white stripe down the side

Simple: Nathalie teamed the ensemble with a plain white t-shirt and a pair of chunky black Dr. Martens sandals

Edgy: She added a few statement pieces of jewellery including a septum piercing, silver necklace and various types of rings

The former soap star appeared in good spirits as she appeared animated on stage and even seemed to blow a kiss to the audience at one point.

Nathalie rose to fame on beloved British soap Hollyoaks as Sasha Valentine, but found worldwide fame as Missandei in Game of Thrones.

Despite appearing in the hit HBO series, the actress recently revealed she still finds it difficult to adapt to life in the spotlight.

Gorgeous: Nathalie styled her incredible curls into a voluminous loose hairdo as she added a slick of make-up, which included a deep red lipstick

Happy: The former soap star appeared in good spirits as she appeared animated on stage and even seemed to blow a kiss to the audience at one point

Talented: She appears in hugely popular fantasy series Game Of Thrones, alongside a host of other big names

She told Grazia last year: 'You feel people's eyes on you and you suddenly feel really self-conscious.

'I grew up in Southend-On-Sea and if someone stared at you too long, it's a bit like: "What are you looking at?"

Yet Game of Thrones isn't the only Hollywood credential in Nathalie's impressive career span and she is also part of The Fast and the Furious franchise.

The 29-year-old has starred in both Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious as a character called Ramsey.

Impressive career: Nathalie rose to fame on beloved British soap Hollyoaks as Sasha Valentine, but found worldwide fame as Missandei in Game of Thrones (pictured in 2006)
Federal, state and local governments will pour $20 billion into a 10,000-hectare greenfield site around Badgerys Creek airport, with businesses encouraged to invest in what's being dubbed the NSW "aerotropolis".

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state government will fast-track infrastructure to be built around the new city in a joint announcement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to spruik the state's newest economic zone.

"The aerotropolis will create jobs in aerospace and defence, manufacturing, healthcare, freight and logistics, agribusiness, education and research," Ms Berejiklian told a business investor forum in Sydney on Monday.

"The city deal is a game-changer," Mr Turnbull said at the opening of the forum.

"For the first time, all three levels of government will be united in a common purpose, to make Western Sydney one of the best places to live and work in Australia," he said.
The son of a well-respected NSW Riverina equine family has been charged after the truck he was driving laden with horses rolled, killing his father, nine animals and injuring his nephew.

Ken Smith, 64, died at the scene, while his 16-year-old grandson was injured when the heavy vehicle, driven by a 32-year-old man, veered off the road and overturned into a ditch north of Dubbo on Saturday morning.

The teen was airlifted to Westmead Hospital with head injuries.

The 32-year-old was initially taken to Dubbo Hospital with minor injuries but has since been taken to Dubbo Police Station and where he was granted conditional bail to appear at the local court on Wednesday.

He faces five offences including dangerous driving occasioning death.

Nine of the 17 horses, each worth between $50,000 to $200,000, had to be euthanised, police said on Monday.

Harness Racing NSW chief executive John Dumesny extended his condolences on social media to the well-respected Young-based family.

"It is with sadness that I extend my condolences on behalf of the Board of HRNSW and the industry at large to Sue Smith and her family on the tragic passing of her husband Ken this morning," Mr Dumesny wrote on Facebook.

"Ken, an institution in the harness racing fraternity, especially in the Young district, lost his life in a motor vehicle accident."
South Australia will join the National Redress Scheme to provide support for people who were sexually abused as children in government institutions, Premier Steven Marshall says.

SA will join other states and territories in opting into the scheme, which will come into effect as a federal law from July 1.

"Nothing can undo the inexcusable abuse that survivors experienced as children, but we can acknowledge what they have been through and provide financial compensation and emotional support," Mr Marshall said on Monday.
Some doctors are illegally charging patients thousands of dollars in booking fees, an investigation has found.

The ABC's Four Corners team analysed the medical bills of more than 700 patients who responded to a survey on out-of-pocket costs.

In a program to air on Monday night, the investigation found a number of the bills included booking or administration fees, one of which topped $6000.

"Booking fees or other fees beyond the surgical fee are in fact illegal and should not exist and that is unethical to be charging," Royal Australasian College of Surgeons president John Batten told the the ABC, in comments published online ahead of the program.

Dr Batten said patients had every right to question the fees and ask their doctor about them.

However, he said the college saw remarkably few complaints, possibly because patients blamed it on private health insurers.

He told 2GB radio the college had changed its code of conduct in relation to "exploitative fees" and would like to hear from patients if they have complaints.

"We have a few surgeons we feel are extorting the public by raising fees and having booking charges which are illegal," he said.

"We talked to the ACCC (competition watchdog) because as a body we are not setting fees, we are an education and standard-setting body."

He said the vast majority of surgeons charged fees which were "known gap or no gap".

The problem with illegal fees was most prominent in metropolitan NSW and in the specialist areas of plastic surgery, orthopedics and neurosurgery.

The ABC also uncovered a case of a gap fee of $27,000, which Dr Batten found to be "totally illegal and unethical".

Private Healthcare Australia chief executive officer Rachel David said patients who are not satisfied with their doctor's explanation for a fee should decline to pay it and then discuss it with their health fund.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said a previous parliamentary inquiry called for the publication of the fees of individual medical practitioners in a searchable database.

"Patients should know how much they are expected to pay ahead of time, allowing them to 'shop' around for treatment," Dr Di Natale said in a statement.

Private health insurance also needed reform to stop the winding back of patient coverage as profits soar on the back of public subsidies, he said.
Four men in a boat drifting off the Northern Territory coast towards Indonesia have been rescued and charged with drug offences.

They had been drifting for 30 hours after running out of fuel when they were spotted by a border force aircraft about 8pm on Sunday.

"It was fortunate the pilot saw them shining a light from their phone onto a jerry can to attract attention," NT police sergeant John Pini said.

"They would have been in big trouble if the Australian Border Force Aircraft had not spotted them."

A rescue mission was scrambled with the cargo ship Mermaid Vision working with Water Police to rescue the men.

"They were about a quarter of the way to Indonesia and would've been lucky if they had enough water to last them another day," Sgt Pini said.

During the rescue, police found a commercial quantity of cannabis on board and charged a 24-year-old with supplying a commercial quantity of drugs.

He has been remanded in custody to face court in Darwin on Monday.

The three others - aged 18, 20 and 22 - were given notices to appear in court for liquor and drug offences at a later date.
A Tasmanian hotel owner who deliberately underpaid and discriminated against a Malaysian couple based on their race has been fined more than $200,000 in a landmark ruling.

Kien Hoong Loh and his wife Kah Yoon Low were underpaid more than $28,000 while working at the Scamander Beach Resort Hotel on the state's east coast until 2014.

In an Australian first, Judge Barbara Baker ruled then-owner Chang Yen Chang made a deliberate decision to treat the pair differently to Australian staff.

"Mr Chang was well aware of his obligations to pay them their entitlements under the relevant awards," she said in her Federal Circuit Court ruling.

"They were taken advantage of, coming from Malaysia and being of Chinese descent.

""(Mr Chang) decided to recruit employees from Malaysia, in part because he knew a Malaysian would accept working six days a week.

"He knew that it was usual in Malaysia to work six or seven days."

Mr Loh, head chef at the restaurant from 2010-14 while working on a 457 visa, was underpaid more than $20,000.

He worked between 33 and 57 hours a week, often opening the restaurant for lunch and finishing after it closed for dinner.

He was underpaid for public holiday, overtime and evening work.

Mr Loh's wife, who worked up to 51 hours a week as a kitchen hand for about five months, was paid roughly half of what she was entitled to.

Mrs Low quit after finding the workload too much, she told the court.

Mr Chang was fined $35,099, while his company Yenida Pty Ltd was slugged $176,005.

"This is the first time the Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against an employer for racially discriminating against employees," Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said.

"All workers in Australia are entitled to our minimum wages, irrespective of their background, language skills or visa status."
THE STATE OF AUSTRALIA'S SENATE

* Tasmanian independent Steve Martin joined the Nationals on Monday.

* In a full Senate of 76, the government needs 39 votes to pass legislation.

* That relies on finding eight votes from outside the coalition.

* There are 10 crossbench senators. Three from One Nation, two from Centre Alliance and independents Tim Storer, Fraser Anning, David Leyonhjelm, Cory Bernardi and Derryn Hinch

* Labor will return to 26 senators when David Smith, who is replacing Katy Gallagher after the High Court ruled her ineligible, is sworn in next month.

THE NUMBERS TODAY

* Coalition - 31

* Labor - 25

* Greens - 9

* Independents and parties with one senator - 5

* Pauline Hanson's One Nation - 3

* Centre Alliance (Nick Xenophon Team) - 2

* Vacancies - 1
West Australian Labor will choose a replacement candidate for the Darling Range by-election this week after Colleen Yates pulled out of the race following questions about the accuracy of her LinkedIn profile.

"We're keen to move on from that episode, make sure we get a new candidate and put our best foot forward in Darling Range. Obviously it's been an embarrassing incident," Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Monday.

The by-election was trigged after Labor-turned-independent MP Barry Urban quit before he could be expelled from parliament for repeatedly lying about his education and work history.
Fast food companies need to make water and salad the default drink and side dish sold with meals to make it easier for Australians to fight the flab, health researchers say.

A first-of-its kind evaluation of the nutrition policies of Australia's 11 biggest fast food companies suggests they aren't doing enough to address the obesity crisis.

Researchers at Deakin University scored the fast food chains according to their nutrition policies, including marketing to children, disclosure of nutritional information and plans to reduce sugar and saturated fat.

All failed to secure a pass mark.

Subway was the best performer, scoring 48 points out of 100.

Domino's Pizza was the lowest ranked fast food chain with a score of three out of 100, while the average score was 27 points.

The 'Inside our Quick Service Restaurants' report also revealed a lack of transparency on the issue.

Just two companies, Subway and Nando's, provided detail of their internal nutrition policies when approached by the researchers.

Lead author, Associate Professor Gary Sacks, says every section of the community needs to do their part in halting soaring obesity rates.

Currently, he said, fast food companies are failing to make the healthy option the easy one for customers, with sugary drinks and fried food still the default.

Food extremely high in salt, sugar and fat are also still heavily promoted by the chains, said Prof Sacks.

"Like $1 frozen cokes, which clock in at more than 15 teaspoons of sugar, or two-for-one whoppers, which contain a whopping 40 grams of fat," he said.

The report lists a number of policy priorities for fast food companies, including targets to reduce salt, sugar and saturated fat.

It also calls for smaller portion sizes and healthier kids meals.

"There's a real opportunity for fast food companies to help address the problem by introducing policies that make healthier choices, like water and fruit or salad, the automatic option for kids' meals," said Prof Sacks.
The NSW government is under pressure to recruit 2500 police with a leaked document claiming the state has fewer officers per person than anywhere in Australia except the ACT.

In its 2018 budget submission, seen by AAP, the Police Association of NSW has called on the government to stop "patting itself on the back" and boost recruits to combat terrorism, child abusers and fill empty station positions.

The report, set to be discussed at the union's biennial conference in Wollongong on Tuesday, notes NSW's population has increased 14 per cent in a decade but the number of police has only risen eight per cent.

NSW has about 200 police officers per 100,000 people, according to the submission. The only state with a lower ratio is the ACT, where the Australian Federal Police is responsible for providing services.

NSW fell behind Victoria after a spike in crime rates pushed the southern state to add 3100 officers, the report says.

NSW also spends the least amount of money of all the states and territories, the union says, claiming officers are "stretched and overworked".

"This is occurring at a time when the government is patting itself on the back for a 'soaring budget', with large surpluses and record investment on infrastructure projects," PANSW president Scott Weber said in the submission.

The union says the last three years have been "the most intense period of attempted terrorist attacks" in the nation's history and counter-terrorism has soaked up police resources.

Similarly, the number of offenders on the child protection register is growing each year and requires constant monitoring, the PANSW says.

The submission argues "years of neglect" have left regional police stations desperately understaffed.

Police Minister Troy Grant said the government has exceeded its target of increasing police targets to a record 16,795 officers and most key crime rates were dropping.

"The NSW government's prudent financial management means we are in a position to keep giving NSW Police Force the resources they need to put criminals behind bars," he said in a statement.

"We are building new police stations and giving the NSW Police Force a range of high-tech tools that will keep our communities safe."
Five cats with head injuries have been found dead by the side of a road in regional South Australia.

A couple walking their dogs in the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide, discovered the animals on Saturday and contacted local police, who passed on the report to the RSPCA.

After identifying one cat through a microchip and contacting its owner, the RSCPA was advised the animal had been missing for between 24 and 48 hours.

In addition to the head injuries, one cat had its tail removed, one had its tail broken and two had their tails "degloved".

The RSPCA is appealing for help to locate the owners of the remaining two kittens and two adult cats and for any information in relation to the deaths.
It is one of the highest grossing films of all time but James Cameron says he only made Titanic as an excuse for 20th Century Fox to fund his dive to the wreck of the doomed ocean liner.

The Oscar-winning director was describing his life-long fascination with the deep ocean on Monday, captured in the new immersive exhibition "Challenging the Deep" at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

It's a fascination that's seen him make history as the only person to dive solo to the deepest spot on the planet - Challenger Deep.

Located in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, 320 kilometres southwest of Guam, Challenger Deep is 11 kilometres beneath the surface - deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

"It was certainly a pinch-me moment, that moment when the hatch closed and the lift bags came off," he told AAP.

"There's just me and the universe here ... there's an out of body feeling to it."

All six-feet two-inches of Cameron clambered into a replica of the pilot capsule of a deep sea submersible he helped design and build and that took him to the ocean floor, as he gave a tour of the exhibition on Monday.

It's a space only a metre-or-so wide and missing the electrical equipment that left him with "barely room for an energy bar" and descending alone inside was an experience he describes as completely isolating.

"To me it was a zen kind of spiritual experience, to be that remote from humanity," he says.

"I got to observe, to bear witness to something that no one else has ever seen."

It's pitch black that far beneath the surface, and Cameron likens his underwater explorations to being dropped in the Nullarbor Plains with just a flashlight.

In his time exploring the ocean he says there have been some close calls. In fact, he almost didn't survive seeing Titantic for the first time.

"What really happened was that the Russians hadn't dived to Titanic in a few years and when we went there they were a little rusty and the guy piloting the sub nearly ran into the ship," he told AAP.

"We were going up this clay embankment and I had this strong feeling that the only place there's a clay embankment in the whole wreck site that I knew of ... is the clay bank caused by the bow smashing into the bottom.

"Out of a cloud of silt from the thrusters slowing down this wall of rivets came at us."

It wasn't until he surfaced that Cameron says begun to feel the sheer tragedy of the wreck - realising he had just seen the exact spot where the band had played as the ship went down.

Cameron describes himself as more explorer than Hollywood heavyweight, but admits that being a good storyteller is an essential part of discovering the ocean.

"I don't go down there to find cool aliens to put into Avatar, I make Avatar to get money to recharge the treasury to build new vehicles to go on explorations," he says.

But it is that storytelling, and ability to bring back images from the deep, that he hopes will inspire the next generation and on Monday he got the ball rolling with students from Sydney Secondary College, teaching them to drive remotely operated underwater vehicles in Darling Harbour.

It's their generation, he explains, who have the potential to make important discoveries about the ocean floor - a surface humans know less about than they do of Mars.

"There will be wonders there greater than anything we will find on Mars," he says.
A week after he described brumbies as destructive pests, Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has changed his tune on NSW laws that will see feral horses protected in the Kosciuszko National Park.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro last week introduced laws to parliament that would prohibit the culling of the wild horses as well as recognising their heritage value.

Speaking in response to the NSW laws being announced last week, Mr Frydenberg said the horses were "a bit of a pest" which damaged parts of the national park.

"We want to see our flora and our fauna protected," he said.

However, Mr Frydenberg on Monday said he was confident in the NSW laws.

"I have had constructive conversations with members of the NSW government and I am confident they are putting in place a strategy to manage the number of brumbies and their impacts on the local environment," Mr Frydenberg said in a statement to AAP.

The policy has drawn criticism from conservationists, who say protecting the wild horses is "madness".
Less than a week after a Queensland court froze hundreds of millions of dollars of Clive Palmer's wealth, the mining magnate and former federal politician insists he owes no one any money.

Queensland Nickel liquidators launched legal action against Mr Palmer to recover funds owed to creditors following the collapse of the refinery in 2016.

On Friday the Queensland Supreme Court gave the all clear to Queensland Nickel liquidators to freeze almost $205 million of the former Fairfax MP's personal wealth.

However Palmer has described the court action as a "political witch-hunt" and says he owes no one any cash.

"Well I don't owe them any money, that's the reality of it," Palmer told the ABC TV on Monday.

"It's not that I can't pay people, it's that I don't owe people."

Freezing Palmer's assets is a temporary action until the court case is finalised and does not stop him from using his assets as part of the ordinary course of business.

Palmer claimed he was worth almost $3 billion, and the court imposed freeze had no bearing on him.

"Now about the freezing order applications, they have no impact me whatsoever, $200 million for me is less than seven per cent of my assets," he said.
A push to rename the Victorian federal seat of Batman to Wonga has reportedly been quashed by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Labor, The Greens, Darebin Council and Aboriginal leaders proposed changing the name to celebrate a Wurundjeri tribe leader rather than Melbourne founder John Batman, who they claim was involved in the killing of Tasmanian Aboriginals in the 19th century.

The AEC rejected the proposal as it did "not consider that strong enough reasons" had been provided for the name change, News Corp Australia reported.
A Brisbane teen injured on a high ropes course during a school camp has moved out of intensive care.

Connor Petterson, 14, injured his head and neck in the accident at Stanmore, north of Brisbane, last week.

On Monday his school announced Connor was being moved to a ward.

"Connor is continuing to improve and is moving to a ward today," Marist College Ashgrove said in a statement.

"He is being weaned off his medication and is slowly recovering from a collapsed lung and is progressing well."

The Year 9 student's parents said they were thankful for the "overwhelming messages of support" they have received from the school community.

The school cancelled the Year 9 camp following the accident.

The company behind the camp has said it will investigate the circumstances behind the accident.
Jordan Thompson has followed fellow Australian Bernard Tomic out the French Open exit gates with another despairing five-set grand slam defeat.

Thompson's valiant fightback from two sets down proved fruitless as he bowed out 6-1 6-4 2-6 4-6 6-3 to Norwegian qualifier Casper Ruud on Monday.

The setback follows gut-wrenching losses to Nicolas Kicker in Melbourne and Thomas Fabbiano in New York.

Thompson also lost in the opening round in Paris last year.

Tomic earlier fell in four sets - 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 - to Argentine lucky loser Marco Trungelliti, leaving Australia none from four so far following Ajla Tomljanovic's elimination on Sunday at the hands of women's fourth seed Elina Svitolina.
Putting money back in voters' and companies' pockets will drive growth and keep Australia competitive, the coalition is telling senators.

The Turnbull government is using this parliamentary sitting to build support for proposed personal income tax and company tax cuts, ahead of a vote in June.

"The government calls on all senators to support our proposed business tax cut in full when the Senate comes back to the next sitting fortnight in the second half of June," Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

Labor has not committed to supporting the final stage of the income tax plan, and it opposes the company tax cuts.

"We are committed to securing the passage of a business tax cuts in full," Senator Cormann said.

He also ruled out splitting up the personal income tax cuts package, even though Labor does support sections of them.

The federal opposition will use Senate estimates hearings to get to the bottom of Treasury analysis of the tax cuts.

Monday's Newspoll showed more than a third of voters surveyed said corporate tax cuts should come into effect as soon as possible, while a further 27 per cent want them to be implemented over 10 years.

Pauline Hanson has flip-flopped several times on the corporate tax cuts, but now says voters can ring her office to get their message across.

New research on income tax cuts due for 2024 also shows rich men on big salaries will get the biggest windfall.

Modelling from The Australia Institute shows the plan to axe the 37 per cent tax bracket and lift the threshold to $200,000 a year will disproportionately benefit men already earning big money.

The report found 80 per cent of the 2024 tax cut will go to the highest income earners, with men the significant majority of those.

"Men will receive 70 per cent of the benefit of the tax cut and women only 30 per cent. For every dollar of the tax cut women receive, men will get $2.32," the report said.

But Treasurer Scott Morrison says Labor's refusal to back the tax cuts will rip income out of Australians' pockets.

"Labor are always happy to commit Australian taxpayers to higher expenditure into the never-never, but not prepared to commit to give them responsible tax relief," he said.
A Brisbane teen injured on a high ropes course at a school camp suffered a collapsed lung.

Connor Petterson, 14, had to be airlifted to hospital following the accident at the Marist College Ashgrove Year 9 camp at Stanmore, north of Brisbane, last week.

Connor suffered the injury after he became entangled on the ropes course.

On Monday, the school announced Connor was being moved out of intensive care.

"He is being weaned off his medication and is slowly recovering from a collapsed lung and is progressing well," the school said in a statement.

"The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the entire Marist community for their overwhelming messages of support and ask that we continue our prayers for all people in ICU's."

The school cancelled the Year 9 camp following the accident.

The company behind the camp has said it will investigate the circumstances behind the accident.
An 86-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man have been treated for minor injuries after they escaped a fire at their home in Sydney's west.

Fire crews arrived just before 10pm on Monday to find the Casula residence alight, with the pair having already escaped from the burning home.

Officers from Fire & Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, while paramedics treated the woman for smoke inhalation and the man for burns to his hands before taking them to Liverpool Hospital for further treatment.
The former lover of Sydney woman Cecilia Haddad, who was found dead in the Lane Cove River, will reportedly return from Brazil to talk to police.

Kayakers discovered Ms Haddad's fully-clothed body in the river near Woolwich on Sunday, April 29, about the same time her former live-in lover Mario Marcelo Santoro flew home to Rio de Janeiro ahead of schedule.

The Australian on Tuesday reported a family spokeswoman said Mr Santoro would return to Sydney with documents to prove he had changed his flights to return to Brazil early to visit his dying father.
Australia's neighbour Papua New Guinea is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a mother, a report has found.

Women in PNG are more than 35 times more likely to lose their lives during pregnancy than in Australia, and more than half have no choice but to give birth at home, according to aid agency ChildFund.

"No woman should die giving birth. Yet in a country just 160km north of Australia, women are losing their lives every day during childbirth due to unsafe conditions and causes that are completely preventable," ChildFund chief executive Nigel Spence said on Tuesday.
Barnaby Joyce's decision to pocket $150,000 for a tell-all interview about his new family with a former staffer has prompted calls for a ban on serving politicians receiving cash for media comment.

Nationals frontbencher Darren Chester, who was dumped by Mr Joyce from cabinet in December, intends to discuss the proposed ban with colleagues at the next partyroom meeting.

"This is unprecedented in my time in parliament and I'm open to the conversation about banning MPs from benefiting personally from selling stories to the media," Mr Chester told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.
A man armed with a shotgun who had been on the run for two days has been arrested after police raided a home in Perth's south.

Malcolm Stirling Blurton who was being sought for drug crimes, was arrested at a property in Canning Vale just after 1am on Tuesday, police say.

Tactical officers raided the home after negotiating with Blurton and arrested the 30-year-old who has been charged with various offences, including aggravated armed robber and threats to kill, and is due to appear before the Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
A Queensland council that will take money from Adani for employing staff to oversee its Carmichael coal mine has been urged to seek approval from the state's corruption watchdog.

The mining firm has insisted an agreement to repay costs incurred by the Isaac Regional Council to hire four extra staff to handle administrative and operational work stemming from the mine's development is lawful.

But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday cautioned the council over potential conflicts of interest and urged it to get approval from the Corruption and Crime Commission.
Washington has grown increasingly frustrated with the government of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir

The United States has asked the UN Security Council to add six South Sudanese officials including the defense minister to a sanctions blacklist for fueling the country's war and blocking aid, according to a draft resolution seen by AFP on Sunday.

The six would face a global travel ban and assets freeze if the draft resolution is adopted at a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The council will meet Tuesday to discuss the US sanctions proposal that comes as Washington has grown increasingly frustrated with President Salva Kiir's government.

South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, with critical backing from the United States, which remains Juba's biggest aid donor.

Countless efforts have failed to bring peace to a country now in its fifth year of a war where targeted ethnic killings, gang rapes and other atrocities have occurred.

The proposed sanctions blacklist would target Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juk for violating the latest ceasefire signed by the government last year and for leading attacks on the northeastern town of Pagak that was captured from rebel forces in 2017.

Also listed is cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro for threatening the press, obstructing humanitarian aid and impeding the work of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

Information Minister Michael Makuei is cited for his role in planning an attack in 2014 on a United Nations compound in Bor and overseeing a campaign to suppress the media.

Former military chief Paul Malong faces possible sanctions for ordering government forces to attack civilians, schools and hospitals and deputy army chief of staff Malek Reuben for overseeing an offensive in 2015.

The proposed sanctions list also includes Koang Rambang Chol for leading attacks in northern Bieh state and ordering his forces to impede the work of aid workers, according to the draft.

The draft resolution would also extend the sanctions imposed on South Sudan for another year and renew the mandate of a UN panel of experts.

There are currently six names of senior generals and rebel commanders on the UN sanctions list.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013 when Kiir accused former vice president Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

In the years since, millions have been uprooted, triggering a regional refugee crisis, and millions more have been pushed to the brink of starvation, while tens of thousands have been killed.

The United States has repeatedly threatened to impose an arms embargo and sanctions against those blocking efforts to end the war.

In 2016, Washington failed to win enough votes at the Security Council for the arms embargo and targeted sanctions.

Ethiopia is leading a regional peace effort, hosting talks between the government and rebel groups but there has been no breakthrough.
The US military conducts what it calls 'freedom of navigation' voyages in the South China Sea to contest Beijing's territorial claims

China has voiced "strong dissatisfaction" after two US warships sailed by an island claimed by Beijing in the disputed South China Sea, adding to simmering tensions in the strategic waterway.

The foreign ministry issued a statement expressing "resolute opposition" to the US sail-by of the territory in the disputed Paracel Island chain on Sunday.

The US military conducts what it calls "freedom of navigation" voyages in the South China Sea to contest Beijing's assertion of territorial rights in the area, although the US has no claims of its own in the disputed region.

The US Navy's Higgins and Antietam warships, a destroyer and cruiser respectively, entered China's territorial waters without permission and were met by the Chinese Navy, which "conducted verification and identification of US ships according to law and warned them to leave," the ministry said.

State-run news agency Xinhua said the two vessels were "expelled" from the waters.

The operation was conducted just over a week after Beijing flew nuclear-capable bombers to a disputed island in a bold powerplay to show its military might and boost its territorial claims in the area.

The move prompted immediate criticism from the US, which last week pulled its invitation to China to join maritime exercises in the Pacific because of Beijing's "continued militarisation" of the South China Sea.

Beijing has been building artificial islands to reinforce its claim over most of the resource-rich South China Sea despite protests from Southeast Asian countries.

Its neighbours, particularly some of those involved in maritime disputes over the waters, have expressed fears China could eventually restrict freedom of navigation and overflight.
Beijing has signalled that it intends to keep working with the Islamic regime despite President Trump's decision to quit the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions

Iran's president will attend a summit with his Chinese and Russian counterparts next month, officials in Beijing said Monday, as they try to salvage the nuclear deal thrown into upheaval by Donald Trump.

China, Russia and European powers, all of which signed the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, are scrambling to save the pact following the US president's decision to quit the agreement and reinstate sanctions.

China's President Xi Jinping will meet Iran's Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on June 9-10 in Qingdao, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will also attend the summit, he added.

Wang did not include the nuclear deal in a readout of the summit's formal agenda.

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal

But Beijing, which is Iran's top trade partner and one of the biggest buyers of its oil, has signalled that it intends to keep working with the Islamic regime despite the US move.

Chinese businesses are expected to step up activities in Iran to fill the void left by the exit of US companies and the possible withdrawal of European rivals for fear of punitive measures enforced by the US.

Iran is currently an observer member of the SCO, though it has long sought full membership.

The regional bloc focusing on security and trade also includes four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics and two new members, Pakistan and India.

The summit will discuss a three-year action plan to "fight the three evil forces" -- terrorism, separatism and extremism -- and strengthen cooperation on tackling cybersecurity breaches and drug trafficking, Wang said.

China will also push for "reforms to the multilateral trading regime" connecting the markets of SCO members, which account for nearly 40 percent of the global population, he said.

China floated the idea of an SCO free trade area in 2016, according to state-run Xinhua agency, but Wang did not say whether it would be part of the agenda.
Dozens of Israeli troops entered the Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah in the early hours of Monday, closing off all the entrances

The Israeli army raided a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank Monday, AFP journalists said, in an apparent hunt for suspects in the killing of a soldier.

Dozens of Israeli troops entered the Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah in the early hours of Monday, closing off all the entrances, AFP journalists said.

At least 13 Palestinians were lightly or moderately injured during the raid as clashes broke out, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, with soldiers firing tear gas and bullets.

Residents said a number of Palestinians were arrested, though there was no immediate confirmation or statement from the army.

Israeli forces later withdrew from the camp.

It came days after an Israeli soldier was killed during a raid inside the camp.

Sergeant Ronen Lubarsky, 20, of the Duvdevan special forces unit, was struck on the head by a stone block thrown during an arrest raid Thursday and died early Saturday.

Israeli media said the block was a granite slab dropped from a third-floor window.

Those responsible were not arrested at the time.

Amari is located inside Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, in an area theoretically under the full control of the Palestinian government.

Israeli forces regularly carry out night raids in Palestinian-governed parts of the West Bank to arrest suspects they accuse of militant activities against Israel.

Amari, home to around 6,000 Palestinians according to the United Nations, is a regular flashpoint where Israeli raids have sparked fierce clashes in the past.
Li Wenzu meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) on May 24

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met the wives of two detained Chinese human rights lawyers during her trip to Beijing last week in a rare move for a visiting leader, the women told AFP Monday.

Heads of state or government often avoid making major public statements about human rights during their trips to China and shun meetings with activists or relatives.

Merkel did not mention the meeting with the two women during her two-day visit on Thursday and Friday, though she said she brought up human rights during her talks with Premier Li Keqiang.

A German government spokesman told AFP that Merkel had met last Thursday "with a group of human rights lawyers and relatives of people detained and discussed their situation with them".

Li Wenzu, who last month had attempted to march 100 kilometres (60 miles) to a detention facility to highlight her husband's plight before she was thwarted by police, said she met Merkel on Thursday.

Li's husband Wang Quanzhang is an attorney who represented political activists and disappeared in a 2015 police sweep. He has been charged with "subversion of state power".

Li showed AFP a photo of her meeting with Merkel during which the chancellor rests her right hand on her shoulder as they smile at each other.

"I thanked Merkel for her attention and support to 709 lawyers," Li told AFP, referring to a group of attorneys rounded up in a crackdown on July 9, 2015.

Wang was among more than 200 Chinese human rights lawyers and activists who were detained or questioned that day, the largest clampdown on the legal profession in recent history.

While most were released on bail, a handful were convicted of various crimes and sentenced to up to seven years in prison.

Wang is the last person in the so-called 709 crackdown to remain in legal limbo and no trial date has been set for him.

"I asked Merkel to help me confirm with Chinese officials whether Wang Quanzhang is still alive, and if he is, to please help me urge Chinese officials to allow my lawyer to meet him," Li said in an email.

"Merkel showed concern over the situation to me, my husband and my child, and said she will continue to support and pay attention to us."

Merkel also met Xu Yan. Her husband Yu Wensheng was charged with "inciting subversion of state power" in January, a week after he was detained as he prepared to take his son to school in Beijing.

German human rights commissioner Barbel Kofler later called for Yu's release, drawing a rebuke from China.

Human rights activists had hoped that Merkel's visit would help persuade Chinese authorities to allow poet Liu Xia, the widow of dissident Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, to leave the country.

But Liu Xia remains under de facto house arrest in Beijing.
President Emmanuel Macron (left) offers Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, French citizenship after he scaled a Paris building to save the life of a four-year-old child dangling from a balcony

A Malian migrant who scaled a Paris apartment bloc to save a four-year-old child was hailed Monday as an "example" by President Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed him to the presidential palace and offered him citizenship.

Two days after his daring rescue -- viewed millions of times online -- Mamoudou Gassama, nicknamed "Spiderman" by French media for his astonishing climbing abilities, met with Macron in the splendour of the Elysee Palace.

"You have become an example because millions of people have seen you. It is only right that the nation be grateful," Macron told the 22-year-old, adding that his immigration status would be "put in order".

Macron, who presented him with a medal for bravery, also offered him a job with the fire service.

"I did not think twice. I went straight up," the sporty youth, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, said, explaining his climb.

Gassama was also congratulated by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who phoned him at the Paris embassy to congratulate him "for honouring all of Mali," the embassy said.

His act of heroism, the top news item in France, comes as lawmakers debate a controversial bill that would speed up the deportation of economic migrants and failed asylum-seekers.

Gassama has been living illegally in France and working in construction after arriving in September last year following a perilous journey from his homeland to Libya then Italy.

Macron, a centrist, has taken a tough line on economic migrants fleeing poverty rather than refugees escaping war or persecution.

Malian migrant Mamoudou Gassama, who scaled a Paris building to save a four-year-old boy, has been hailed as an "example" by President Emmanuel Macron and offered French citizenship

But Gassama's "exceptional act of heroism" warranted an "exceptional decision", he said Monday.

He leapt into action Saturday evening on seeing the child dangling from the fourth-storey balcony of an apartment in the 18th district.

The video shows Gassama swiftly pulling himself up from balcony to balcony to reach the boy, to the cheers of onlookers.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child, whose parents were not at home, had already been rescued.

A shy figure who was accompanied to the Elysee Palace by his older brother, Gassama said he had acted instinctively.

- 'Incredibly brave act' -

"I saved the child and then went inside the building and I was shaking," he told Macron.

Reacting to his awards he said later: "I'm pleased because it's the first time I've received a trophy like that."

Gassama's story instantly drew comparisons with that of another Malian migrant who was feted as a hero and given citizenship for helping save lives during a January 2015 terror attack.

Lassana Bathily helped hide hostages in the freezer during a jihadist attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris, in which four people were killed.

Mamoudou Gassama from Mali displays a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech for saving the life of a four-year-old child dangling from a Paris appartment balcony

Confirming to Gassama that he would be made a French citizen, Macron said: "Even if you did not think about what you were doing it was an act of courage and strength that won the admiration of all."

But in a warning to other African migrants he said he "can not give (papers) to all those who come from Mali or Burkina Faso" -- two of the countries from where thousands of migrants set out each year for Europe on a perilous journey across the desert and Mediterranean Sea.

Across the political class Gassama received plaudits.

But a senior member of the anti-immigration National Front, Nicolas Bay, said that while he supported Gassama becoming French all other illegal migrants should be deported.

- Dreams of a better life -

Passers-by raised the alarm Saturday on noticing the little boy hanging in mid-air.

"Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a fire service spokesman said.

The boy's father, who was reportedly out shopping, was arrested for leaving him unattended.

The boy's mother was not in Paris at the time of the incident.

The Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, was among the politicians lining up to phone Gassama to thank him.

"He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here," she said.

On Monday, he was made an honorary citizen of the eastern suburb of Montreuil, where he had been sleeping on the floor in a cramped room shared with relatives at a migrant hostel.

The fire department said it looked forward to him joining the ranks.

"We are ready to welcome him on board!," it said.

burs-cb/bp
Donkeys are a familiar sight in many parts of Africa -- but Burundi says the animals given to it by France are 'exotic' and must be quarantined

Burundi's agriculture ministry has ordered the quarantine of 10 donkeys that were donated to a central village through French funding, sparking a debate over the subliminal message behind the gift.

The donkeys, bought in Tanzania, were given to residents of a village in Gitega province, as part of a project by a local NGO to help women and children transport agricultural products, water or wood.

However a presidential advisor described the project as "an insult to the nation".

Meanwhile Gabby Bugaga, spokesman for the Senate president, wrote on Twitter that the French were "taking us for donkeys".

"Be honest, is the donkey a symbol of a quality or a flaw," he wrote.

Donkeys are not indigenous to Burundi.

On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Deo Guide Rurema asked a local administrator to "facilitate the immediate withdrawal of all donkeys that have been distributed ... without respecting the technical procedure of the distribution of exotic animals."

On Thursday, the day the project was inaugurated, French Ambassador Laurent Delahousse praised "the introduction of the Land Cruiser of the animal kingdom to Burundi".

After the controversy he said that to his knowledge "all procedures were respected".

A European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Burundi was hitting back at France over a statement criticising a referendum earlier this month which reformed the constitution, allowing President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek another two terms in office and remain in power until 2034.

The diplomat said a similar project in Ruyigi province financed by Belgium, had not met any problems.

Burundi was plunged into crisis in 2015 when Nkurunziza sought a third term in office, sparking protests and violence that left least 1,200 dead and 400,000 displaced.
Moinina Fofana, left, dressed in white, pictured on trial in 2004 alongside Sam Hinga Norman. Fofana was to be released on Monday after serving a 15-year term. Norman died in 2007 while awaiting the outcome of his case

An ex-Sierra Leone militia leader was Monday to walk free after serving a 15-year sentence, the first to complete a term imposed for crimes in the country's civil war, a UN court said.

The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone "has reached a significant milestone, with the discharge later today of the first person convicted of war crimes to complete his full sentence," it said.

Moinina Fofana was the leader of a notorious paramilitary unit that shot, hacked and burned to death civilians suspected of collaborating with rebels during the 1991-2002 conflict in the West African state.

More than 120,000 people died, and thousands of civilians lost limbs, in an orgy of violence financed largely by blood diamonds.

Fofana was convicted of war crimes in 2007 after a three-year trial at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone and jailed for six years. His term was then increased to 15 years in 2008 on appeal.

He was granted conditional release in 2015 after serving two-thirds of his sentence at Mpanga Prison in Kigali, Rwanda.

But he was taken back into custody a year later in the capital of Freetown for breaching his agreement to "conduct himself honourably and peacefully in the community" and avoid local politics, the court said. He served the rest of his term in the southern city of Bo in Sierra Leone.

Fofana ends "his sentence at midnight on Monday," the court said in a statement.

In Freetown, human rights lawyer Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai said Fofana's release "shows fairness of the international justice system.

"The special court has helped to end the culture of impunity in Sierra Leone."

Jusu Jaka, who had a limb amputated during the conflict, said: "We the victims of the war in Sierra Leone are very happy to see justice is done against perpetrators."

Joseph Kamara, a trader in the Sierra Leone capital who was only five when the war broke out in 1991, added, "Im happy he has served his sentence for committing crimes during the war as it will set an example for others."

Seven other people sentenced by the court are still behind bars, serving jail terms of between 20 to 52 years.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone, based in The Hague, and its successor were established by the UN in 2002 to try those who bore "the greatest responsibility" for the atrocities committed during the civil war.

Its most notorious defendant was former warlord and Liberian president Charles Taylor, now serving 50 years in a British jail for his role in fuelling civil conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

Taylor was the first former head of state to be jailed by an international court since the Nazi trials at Nuremberg in Germany after World War II.

He was convicted in 2012 on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity over acts committed by Sierra Leone rebels he aided and abetted during the war.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas gives a short statement before leaving a hospital near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on May 28, 2018

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas left hospital on Monday after eight days of treatment for pneumonia that led to intense speculation over the 83-year-old's condition and who will eventually replace him.

Dressed in a suit as usual and walking without assistance, Abbas gave a short statement on being discharged, saying he planned to be back at work in his office as normal on Tuesday.

"Thanks to God, I left the hospital today in good health and return to work starting tomorrow," he said, speaking vigorously and with his two sons by his side.

He thanked all international leaders who had called about his health and wished him well.

The hospital stint came at a time of heightened US pressure on Abbas and the Palestinian Authority.

Some analysts said Abbas would now seek to refocus on work and downplay talk of stepping down. He is expected to preside over a meeting of the central council of his Fatah party on Tuesday.

Known to be a heavy smoker, Abbas was admitted on May 20 to the Istishari Arab Hospital near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank with complications following an ear operation, including high fever.

Officials have since said he was being treated for pneumonia.

His extended hospitalisation led to widespread speculation over whether his condition was worse than the details being disclosed.

No successor is publicly in line for the Palestinian presidency, which has added to concerns over Abbas's health.

Abbas won a four-year term as president in 2005, but he has since remained in office without further elections.

He argues the split between his Fatah party and Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has made elections politically impossible.

- Pretend it 'didn't happen' -

A moderate, Abbas has been involved in decades of negotiations with Israel but is unpopular among Palestinians, with the majority wanting him to step down.

Many Palestinians see his approach to negotiations as having failed to end the Israeli occupation and are no where near the goal of securing statehood.

Israeli officials, while criticising what they see as his intransigence, greatly value the security coordination which his administration has provided.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (L) stands next to veteran leader Yasser Arafat as he adjusts his iconic keffiyeh headscarf at UN headquarters in New York a day after signing the Oslo Accords with Israel on September 14, 1993

Abbas succeeded Yasser Arafat, the charismatic keffiyeh-wearing leader who was revered by Palestinians.

Though Abbas has been valued by the international community due to his belief in negotiations and stated opposition to violence, he has struggled to meet Palestinians' expectations left behind by Arafat.

In recent months, Abbas has faced what the Palestinians see as the blatant bias of US President Donald Trump's administration.

Abbas froze all ties with the White House over Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital

The United States has also frozen tens of millions of dollars in aid to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees and has threatened to close the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Washington.

Abbas has sharpened his rhetoric against US officials.

In a recent speech, he called US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who has been a supporter of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a "son of a dog".

Abbas made reference to Trump's Jerusalem declaration when leaving the hospital, suggesting it had weighed heavily on him.

"If the issue of Jerusalem brought us to the hospital, we wanted to get out of the hospital to make Jerusalem the capital of Palestine," he said.

Israel sees the entire disputed city as its capital, while the Palestinians want the annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

Nour Odeh, a political analyst based in Ramallah, said the president would seek to use the Fatah central council meeting to refocus on the opposition to Israeli and US policy.

"I don't doubt that the recent events will have an impact -- the president is not young," she said, adding he seemed to have been suffering from fatigue in the weeks before his hospitalisation.

Diana Buttu, a former Abbas aide who became a fierce critic, said Abbas would seek to quash all talk of succession.

"He is going to pretend this whole thing didn't happen. It will be business as usual, as though an 83-year-old didn't have serious pneumonia," she told AFP.

"Other politicians know that if they talk about succession they will be out."

na-ab-jod-mjs/hkb
Macron met Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Paris

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reacted angrily on Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron met the head of the African Union (AU), apparently suspecting closed-door dealings on the crisis-riddled country's future.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende blasted Macron for "dog-whistle remarks" that he made last Wednesday in Paris after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also the AU's current chair.

The comments caused "discomfort, not to say anger" in Kinshasa, Mende told a press conference.

Macron had said, "France supports the initiative taken by the president of the African Union, in strict concertation with the president of Angola," but did not elaborate. Angola President Joao Lourenco was visiting Paris on Monday.

The verbal broadside from the DRC comes in a context of mounting tensions ahead of presidential elections scheduled for December 23.

Countries in central Africa are casting a worried eye, amid fears that the sprawling, volatile state could spiral once more into war, possibly drawing them into it.

DRC President Joseph Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001 and should have stepped down at the end of 2016 after he reached his two-term constitutional limit -- a constitutional clause has allowed him to remain in office until his successor is elected.

Kabila's presidency has been stained by a reputation for corruption, oppression of free speech and poor governance. The DRC's armed forces are struggling to repress conflict in the vast, lawless east, which is under the sway of multiple rebel groups.

Mende said, "We do not accuse the French president of anything. The question is about knowing what may have been said between him -- because he spoke about it -- and the president of Rwanda concerning the DRC without us knowing about."

"When the answer comes, if it is unsatisfactory, you can be sure that we will draw all the consequences," Mende said.

"No-one has the right to envisage solutions to our problems without us," he said, condemning "people who are nostalgic for the colonial order" and "closed-door meetings and open plotting against our country's sovereignty."

The representatives of France, Rwanda and Angola were called to the foreign ministry in Kinshasa on Saturday after Macron's remarks.

Previous conflicts in the DRC -- from 1996-97 and from 1998-2003 -- sucked in countries around central Africa, including its neighbours, Angola and Rwanda.

Mende on Monday did not address speculation about whether Kabila would run again in the elections, which are at the legislative and local level as well as presidential.

But he made it clear Kabila planned to remain a key figure in national politics through his role as party chief.

Kabila "is head of the presidential majority," Mende said, referring to the majority of pro-Kabila MPs in parliament.

"When we hold the elections, he will be the head of the presidential majority. And since we intend to win, Kabila will be the head of the presidential majority after the elections," he said. "There's nothing unconstitutional about this."
A Zimbabwe officer is facing charges after tweeting support for main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa (L), pictured May 2018 ahead of the July presidential elections

Zimbabwe prison authorities have charged an officer with undermining President after he posted on social media comments calling the main opposition leader "my president", lawyers said Monday.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), a legal rights group, criticised the move as a "fresh clampdown on dissent" ahead of elections expected in July.

The Prisons and Correctional Services authorities summoned John Mahlabera, 36, an officer at Chiredzi prison in the southern province of Masvingo, to appear before a disciplinary hearing on June 18.

Mahlabera was alleged to have called main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa "my president" after Chamisa addressed a rally in Masvingo province.

Four witnesses are expected to testify against him at the hearing.

The July election will be the first since the ousting of long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, whose authoritarian regime routinely suppressed dissent and had also targeted critics on social media.

ZLHR said that since 2010 they had represented nearly 200 people arrested and charged for allegedly "insulting or undermining the authority of the President".

Mnangagwa, a veteran of the ruling ZANU-PF party, took power after Mugabe was ousted following a brief military takeover in November 2017.

The new president has vowed to hold a fair and free vote in the election, when he will face Chamisa and the Movement of Democratic Change party.
The archipelago of Comoros will join southern Africa's regional bloc in an effort to open the island to English-speaking countries in the region.

The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros announced Monday it would join southern Africa's regional bloc in August, saying the French-speaking country sought to develop ties with English-speaking nations.

"We want to open the Comoros to English-speaking countries in the region," such as Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, Foreign Minister Mohamed Elamine Souef said.

"These are the countries with which we already have long-standing relations, where Comorians go more and more to, for business or for treatment," he told reporters in the capital Moroni.

The Comoros -- an archipelago of three islands between Mozambique and Madagascar and one of the world's poorest countries -- is already a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

It will be admitted into the Southern African Development Community, whose majority members are English-speaking, at the annual SADC summit, to be held in August in Namibia.

The bloc comprises: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

SADC spokeswoman Barbara Lopi confirmed to AFP that the Comoros will officially join in August.

The minister said the decision to join SADC had nothing to do with the islands' spat with France over Mayotte, a neighbouring island which remains part of France but which the Comoros claim is their territory.

The relationship between the Comoros and France, the colonial power until 1975, "is in no way comparable with that of other countries," he said.

"With France, we share a lot of things in common, with France we have only one disagreement -- the question of Mayotte."

Immigration into Mayotte, where income is 13 times higher per head, has surged for years as Comorians seek better opportunities on the French island.

Since March, Comoros has refused to take back illegal migrants expelled from Mayotte, located a few dozen kilometres (miles) distant.

Paris has in turn stopped issuing visas to all Comorians wishing to travel to France.

The minister said negotiations with France were ongoing.

"France defends its interests, we defend ours, it's a long process, the important thing is that the contact is not broken," he said.
The extradition of a Bosnian suspect in the investigation of the death of Hamas leader and engineer Mohamed Zaouari, pictured on a banner during his funeral in December 2016, was denied by a top Croatian court

Croatia's top court on Monday blocked the extradition of a Bosnian man to Tunisia over the alleged murder of an aerospace engineer, described by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas as one of its members.

Mohamed Zaouari, 49, was killed in a hail of bullets outside his house in the Tunisian city of Sfax in December 2016.

"The Supreme court accepted the appeal of the suspect... and rejected the request for extradition from the Republic of Tunisia," the court said in a statement.

At a hearing on May 8, the lower court said it had established that "legal preconditions" had been met for the extradition of Alen Camdzic, 46, who has been named by local media.

The final decision will be made by the justice minister.

The suspect was arrested in Croatia on March 13 on an international warrant and has been held in custody since, the court in Velika Gorica, near Zagreb, said in a statement.

Camdzic's arrest was announced by Tunisian prosecutors who said they believed that two people with Bosnian passports had carried out the assassination.

The second suspect, Elvir Sarac, was briefly detained in Sarajevo earlier this week but released when a court refused to hand him over to Tunisia, saying there was no extradition deal between the countries.

- 'Foreign elements' -

Camdzic served in the police during Bosnia's 1990s war and became a professional soldier after the conflict, media reports said.

Tunisia earlier confirmed that "foreign elements" had been involved in the killing of a Tunisian-Belgian citizen.

Shortly after his death, Hamas said he was a drone expert who had worked for the "resistance" for a decade for a decade before being killed by "Zionist treachery".

Israel has not responded to accusations it was behind the killing.

Israel has fought several wars with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and has assassinated several of the Islamist movement's members in the past.

In November 2017, Zaouari's family denounced "silence" on the part of authorities and called on them to provide more details on the investigation into his killing.

Israel was also accused of being behind the assassination last month in Malaysia of Fadi al-Batsh, a Hamas scientist who was said to be a rocket-making expert.

Family and friends of Batsh accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of carrying out the killing in Kuala Lumpur on April 21.
The White House said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, and President Donald Trump will meet ahead of a much anticipated summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Monday that it is "imperative" to completely dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, the White House said.

The US and Japanese leaders will meet ahead of a much anticipated summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un back on schedule for June 12 in Singapore just days after Trump announced he was canceling it.

The American president said the summit could go ahead as planned following a more appeasing statement from Pyongyang and productive talks with North Korean officials.

Japan, which has by far the hardest line compared to neighbors China and South Korea, has been left uneasy by the pace of events, and by what it sees as an unwarranted softening toward an untrustworthy Pyongyang.

Abe and Trump spoke by telephone a day after American and North Korean officials met at a border truce village to prepare for the summit.

During a telephone call, the pair "discussed recent developments in North Korea and confirmed they would meet again to continue close coordination in advance of the expected meeting between the United States and North Korea," a White House statement read.

"The president and prime minister affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs."

Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief.

Pyongyang has a different view of denuclearization and remains deeply worried that abandoning its deterrent would leave the country -- and its leader -- vulnerable, especially while the United States maintains a robust military presence in South Korea.
The Red Sea port has been a point of contention in Yemen's war since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against Iran-allied Huthi rebels

Yemeni government forces are only around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Hodeida as they advance on the key rebel-held port city, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Monday.

The Red Sea port has been a point of contention in Yemen's war since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against Iran-allied Huthi rebels.

"The Yemeni army backed by the coalition is at a distance of around 20 kilometres from Hodeida," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh.

"The purpose is to return the city back to the legitimate government of Yemen. Our operations are ongoing," he added.

Hodeida is the main conduit for humanitarian aid on which millions depend, as Yemen teeters on the brink of famine.

But for neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Hodeida is seen as the entry point for rebel weaponry -- which it accuses regional rival Tehran of supplying.

"Our goal is to cut the vein that the Huthis are benefiting from" in their war effort, Maliki said.

There was no immediate comment from the rebels on Maliki's claim.

The United Arab Emirates -- a key member of the Saudi-led alliance -- has taken the initiative to ramp up the coastal offensive, with the stated goal of taking Hodeida.

In November 2017, the coalition announced a total blockade on Hodeida in response to a rebel ballistic missile attack that targeted the Saudi capital Riyadh.

That embargo was eased under international pressure, but the coalition has meanwhile set its sights on retaking Hodeida by land -- especially as rebel missile attacks have increased.

The United Nations has warned that any operation aimed at seizing Hodeida itself would disrupt the entry of aid shipments to Yemen, 70 percent of which flow through the rebel-held port.

The fighting in western Yemen has been fierce, slowed by landmines that Yemeni military sources say have been laid by the insurgents.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led alliance launched its intervention in Yemen in March 2015, contributing to what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
US artist Jeff Koons is pictured in New York in 2012 with one of his previous artwork installations of flowers, called "Tulips"

A site for a controversial art installation and memorial to the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks by US artist Jeff Koons has still not been found, the culture ministry said Monday.

The brightly coloured "Bouquet of Tulips", which would stand 10 metres (35 feet) tall, donated by Koons to the city after the attacks that claimed 130 lives, has been the subject of tension for months.

The culture ministry confirmed that no decision had been made after a meeting with Paris city officials and the artist's representatives.

Koons is known for his brash, voluptuous works of pop art which come with stellar price tags.

He provoked an outcry when he said he wanted his work to be installed on the esplanade of the contemporary art museum Palais de Tokyo, which faces the Eiffel Tower.

But Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen told the Figaro newspaper on Monday that "we will offer him another place".

The tulips should be erected somewhere "popular, visible and shared by everyone," she added.

A park in the north of Paris has been tipped as a possible alternative, according to a source from the park's management.

A source familiar with the discussion said Koons' representatives were not happy to learn through the media that the Palais de Tokyo had been ruled out.

In January, artists, gallery owners and officials including former culture minister Frederic Mitterrand signed an open letter objecting to the planned memorial.

The letter described Koons as an "emblem of industrial art which is spectacular and speculative" and slammed the cost of installing the 35-tonne sculpture.

"We appreciate gifts, but free ones," they wrote.
The Red Sea port has been a point of contention in Yemen's war since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against Iran-allied Huthi rebels

Yemeni government forces are closing in on the rebel-held port of Hodeida, the war-ravaged country's main conduit for humanitarian aid, the Saudi-led coalition has said, prompting the defiant militants to call for a "mass mobilisation" to thwart any offensive.

The Red Sea port has been a key point of contention since the coalition intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against Iran-allied Huthi rebels.

Hodeida is Yemen's largest entry point for aid on which millions depend, as the country teeters on the brink of famine.

But for the coalition, it is seen as the entry point for rebel weaponry, including ballistic missiles, which it accuses regional rival Iran of supplying although Tehran denies the claims.

"The Yemeni army backed by the coalition is around 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside Hodeida and military operations are ongoing," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said late Monday.

Speaking in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Maliki insisted the coalition's goal was to "cut the vein that the Huthis are benefiting from", while claiming a steady "collapse" of rebel positions.

His comments were met with defiance from Hamoud Abbad, the Huthi-appointed governor of the capital Sanaa, who called for "mass mobilisation" to defend the western front.

Yemenis check the wreckage of an armoured vehicle and a pickup truck after clashes near the coastal town of Hodeida on May 29, 2018

At a ceremony late Monday to commemorate the killing of a rebel leader in a Saudi air strike in April, Abbad called on tribesmen near Hodeida to "feel their religious and patriotic duty to protect their homeland".

On Sunday, rebel chief Abdul Malik al-Huthi said in a televised address that the Huthis were ready to thwart any military operation by the coalition on Hodeida.

- UN 'extremely concerned' -

The United Nations has warned that any operation aimed at seizing Hodeida itself would disrupt the entry of aid shipments to Yemen, 70 percent of which flow through the rebel-held port.

"We are extremely concerned about the situation around Hodeida," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

UN officials in Yemen and the region have "already started to take precautionary measures in terms of ramping up assistance and redefining contingency plans in case there is further escalation," he said.

More than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of aid, according to UN figures, and Dujarric warned increased fighting would leave more people displaced.

In November 2017, the coalition announced a total blockade on Hodeida in response to a rebel ballistic missile attack that targeted Riyadh.

Yemenis receive blankets and other aid distributed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to those affected by the conflict in the country, in the coastal town of Hodeida, on April 11, 2018

That embargo was eased under international pressure, but the coalition has meanwhile set its sights on retaking Hodeida by land -- especially as rebel missile attacks have increased.

The United Arab Emirates, a key coalition member, has taken the initiative to ramp up the coastal offensive, leading a disparate collective of forces with the stated goal of taking Hodeida.

The forces include the "Giant Brigades" -- a former elite unit of the Yemeni army rebuilt by the UAE -- which has been at the vanguard of the offensive, reinforced by thousands of fighters from southern Yemen.

The second key force, the "National Resistance", are loyalists of Yemen's ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was assassinated by his former Huthi allies in December. The force is commanded by his nephew Tarek Saleh.

The third force, the "Tihama Resistance", is named for the Red Sea coastal region and made up of locals from the area loyal to Yemen's exiled president, Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The fighting in western Yemen has been fierce, slowed by landmines that Yemeni military sources say have been laid by the insurgents.

"With the battle for Hodeida, the conflict enters a new phase, but likely not an endgame," Peter Salisbury, a fellow at the think tank Chatham House, said on Twitter.

"The question for me is how long the battle for Hodeida will last and how much damage will be done to the most important port in the country. If fight runs into weeks/months and is extremely destructive... that's very bad news for ordinary Yemenis."

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led alliance launched its intervention in Yemen in March 2015.

In addition, more than 2,200 others have died from cholera and millions are on the verge of famine in what the United Nations says is the world's gravest humanitarian crisis.
SODUS, N.Y. (AP) - The western New York search for a 14-month-old boy whose mother's body was found in the woods enters its sixth day Monday.

The search for Owen Hidalgo-Calderon has been a daily quest by authorities since the body of his 18-year-old mother, Selena Hidalgo-Calderon, was found Wednesday.

An Amber Alert was issued Friday for the boy, who's been missing since May 16. It said he was taken under circumstances that led police to believe he was in danger of serious harm or death.

The mother's body was found at a farm in the Wayne County town of Sodus where she and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Edward Reyes, worked. Reyes was arrested Wednesday night on charges of tampering with evidence.

Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts said Reyes admitted burying the woman but not killing her. Authorities said Reyes was caught on a hunter's trail camera going in and out of the woods with a shovel.

Reyes, held on $25,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday. He is not the missing boy's father.

Virts has posted daily updates online on the search. He reported that 200 people searching Sunday included representatives of the Wayne County fire departments, New York State Forest Rangers, state and local police departments, Federation of Search and Rescue, Missing & Exploited Children and ambulance and emergency management squads.

On Saturday, the search was joined by about 165 individuals, many of them from the same groups.

He urged anyone with information to call the Wayne County 911 Center.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korean police on Monday summoned the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho to question her about allegations she abused and assaulted employees.

Lee Myung-hee has been accused of physically or verbally abusing more than 10 former and current employees of Cho's Hanjin conglomerate, the parent of Korean Air.

Lee told reporters she felt "sorry for causing troubles" after arriving at a Seoul police agency for questioning Monday.

Lee Myung-hee, the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, arrives for questioning at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 28, 2018. South Korean police have summoned the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho to question her about allegations she abused and assaulted employees. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

The Cho family has been under mounting public criticism after company employees alleged they were subjected to mistreatment and tantrums.

Lee's eldest daughter, Cho Hyun-ah, who was formerly the head of the airline's cabin service, received worldwide notoriety in 2014 after her onboard "nut rage" tantrum delayed a flight. She was sentenced to one year in prison for violating aviation law but was released early when a higher-level court suspended the sentence.

Last week, Cho Hyun-ah was investigated by South Korean immigration officials over allegations that she unlawfully hired housekeepers from the Philippines.

Cho Hyun-ah's younger sister, Cho Hyun-min, is under investigation for allegedly hurling a cup of water during a business meeting.

South Korean authorities are also looking into suspicions that the Cho family, including Cho Yang-ho, evaded taxes and used airline services to smuggle luxury goods.

Lee Myung-hee, the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, is questioned by reporters upon her arrival at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 28, 2018. South Korean police have summoned the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho to question her about allegations she abused and assaulted employees. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is again playing loose with the facts, claiming a drop in illegal border crossings that no longer exists while blasting a source in a news story who does.

He is also assailing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election, falsely suggesting the probes have failed to yield any meaningful results and distorting reality in asserting they are simply intended to justify why Democrat Hillary Clinton did not win the presidency.

Among other questionable claims in the past week, he also said he's provided the first big military pay increase in a decade and had "finally" delivered on improved care for veterans. .

President Donald Trump speaks during a graduation and commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy, Friday, May 25, 2018, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Here's a look:

TRUMP, on a possible summit with North Korea: "The Failing @nytimes quotes 'a senior White House official,' who doesn't exist, as saying 'even if the meeting were reinstated, holding it on June 12 would be impossible, given the lack of time and the amount of planning needed.' WRONG AGAIN! Use real people, not phony sources." - tweet Saturday.

THE FACTS: Actually, the source does exist. The White House official addressed a group of reporters as part of a background briefing arranged by the White House press office.

While Trump has criticized the use of unidentified sources and labeled information related by anonymous officials "fake news," his White House regularly arranges briefings with officials who demand anonymity before relaying information. An Associated Press reporter in attendance at last week's briefing questioned why it was not on the record - meaning that the official's name could be used. The official said Trump had been talking publicly that day and so the briefing was intended to provide "background context."

___

TRUMP: "This whole Russia Probe is Rigged. Just an excuse as to why the Dems and Crooked Hillary lost the Election and States that haven't been lost in decades. 13 Angry Democrats, and all Dems if you include the people who worked for Obama for 8 years. #SPYGATE & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST!" - tweet Saturday.

TRUMP: "Who's going to give back the young and beautiful lives (and others) that have been devastated and destroyed by the phony Russia Collusion Witch Hunt? ..."- tweet Saturday.

TRUMP: "Why didn't the 13 Angry Democrats investigate the campaign of Crooked Hillary Clinton, many crimes, much Collusion with Russia? Why didn't the FBI take the Server from the DNC? Rigged Investigation!" - tweet Sunday.

THE FACTS: Trump's suggestion that the investigations into Russia meddling are "phony" and have yielded nothing is incorrect. So far, four Trump associates have been charged in Mueller's investigation, of whom three have pleaded guilty to lying to the authorities. Among them are Michael Flynn, former White House national security adviser, and Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign aide. Overall, 19 people, including 13 Russians, have been charged.

Trump's claim of "rigged" investigations that are biased and intended simply to justify "why the Dems and Crooked Hillary lost the Election" also falls short.

He refers to Mueller's team as "13 angry Democrats," but Mueller is a Republican and some others on his team owe their jobs largely to Republican presidents. Some have indeed given money to Democratic candidates over the years. But Mueller could not have barred them from serving on that basis because regulations prohibit the consideration of political affiliation for personnel actions involving career attorneys. Mueller reports to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Trump appointee.

Mueller did not work for President Barack Obama for eight years, as Trump states, but was FBI chief for less than six years under Obama, leaving in September 2013. He was nominated to be FBI director by Republican President George W. Bush in 2001.

In addition to the special counsel, several congressional committees have been investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. The Republican-led Senate intelligence committee has made clear a key goal in its review is to improve security in future U.S. elections.

___

TRUMP: "We've done a lot of work on the wall. We're doing a lot of work on security, generally speaking, security and border - border security. The border's down over 40 percent, and don't forget, we have a great economy, probably the best economy the country's ever had. So people come across, but we're going to get the rest." - interview broadcast Thursday with "Fox & Friends."

TRUMP: "We're down on immigration crossing the border - more than 40 percent." - forum Wednesday in Bethpage, New York.

THE FACTS: Illegal crossings actually are up 20 percent since he became president, according to the yardstick he uses to measure them - the number of Border Patrol arrests.

There is no precise measure of illegal crossings because some people don't get caught. The Trump administration uses arrests as the best gauge of whether crossings are going up or down. The Obama administration did likewise.

Border Patrol arrests did fall last year to the lowest level since 1971. But since April of last year, arrests have climbed steadily. One factor in that increase may be that people are now taking their chances to cross into the U.S. illegally after an initial wait-and-see attitude about Trump's tough-talking approach to people sneaking into the country.

Last month, there were more than 50,000 overall border arrests, which are made up of people who are stopped at land crossings and other official points of entry, according to federal data. That was more than triple the number from April 2017, which was the lowest tally on record since the Homeland Security Department was created in 2003.

Overall, border arrests have increased 20 percent since January 2017, from 42,463 in January 2017 to 50,924 in April.

___

TRUMP: "This week, we passed a new landmark legislation to give more choice and better care to our great veterans. We're going to take care of our veterans. We're doing a great job with them. We are taking care, finally after decades, we're taking care of our veterans." - speech Friday.

THE FACTS: Not so fast. Congress passed a wide-ranging plan last week to expand private care for veterans as an alternative to the Veterans Affairs health system, but it'll take at least a year to implement and its actual scope in expanding choice to veterans will depend on the next VA secretary, who has yet to be confirmed. A successful expansion of private care will also depend on an overhaul of electronic health records at VA to allow for a seamless sharing of records with private physicians. That overhaul will take at least 10 years to be fully complete.

The legislation would also expand a VA caregivers program to cover families of veterans of all eras, not just the families of veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Implementation of that program won't begin until after the VA secretary can provide assurances to Congress that the department's IT systems can handle a surge in new applicants. A phased rollout of benefits won't be fully finished until more than two years afterward.

___

TRUMP, to U.S. Naval Academy graduates: "Going to have new equipment and well-deserved pay raises. We just got you a big pay raise. First time in 10 years. We got you a big pay increase. First time in over 10 years. I fought for you. That was the hardest one to get, but you never had a chance of losing." - speech Friday.

THE FACTS: That's not right. U.S. military members have gotten a pay raise every year for the past 10 years and several have been larger than this year's 2.6 percent increase. Pay increases in 2008, 2009 and 2010, for example, were all 3.4 percent or more.

___

TRUMP: "We have now the lowest number of ships that we've had since World War I, and very soon you're going to get to 355 beautiful ships. 355. That's almost a couple of hundred more ships." - speech to academy graduates Friday.

THE FACTS: No it isn't. The Navy now has 283 ships.

___

TRUMP on former CIA Director John Brennan: "Brennan started this entire debacle about President Trump. We now know that Brennan had detailed knowledge of the (phony) Dossier...he knows about the Dossier, he denies knowledge of the Dossier, he briefs the Gang of 8 on the Hill about the Dossier, which.......they then used to start an investigation about Trump..." - tweets May 21.

THE FACTS: Trump quotes conservative commentator Dan Bongino to falsely claim the Russia probe is based on a "phony dossier." In fact, the FBI's investigation began months before it received a dossier of anti-Trump research financed by the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign. The FBI probe's origins were based on other evidence - not the existence of the dossier.

The Republican-controlled House intelligence committee found the Russia probe was initiated after the FBI received information related to Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, not the dossier. The committee's final report released in March was praised by Trump, who pointed to it as evidence that the investigation was nothing but a "witch hunt."

___

RICHARD GRENELL, Trump's ambassador to Germany, on German Chancellor Angela Merkel never getting a tour of the private residence floor of the White House: "The president took the chancellor up to the residence with the vice president and myself and gave a personal tour of the vice president - of the residence, the presidential residence at the White House. That was the first time that the chancellor had been up there. It was shocking to hear that she had never been able to see the Lincoln Bedroom. Never been able to see the Gettysburg Address. And President Trump took her there." - to Fox News, April 30.

THE FACTS: Actually, Merkel's office told AP this past week that she was given a tour of the private residence, including the Lincoln Bedroom, when she visited Washington in 2011 to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to her by Obama.

___

TRUMP, on Obama's national intelligence director, James Clapper: "Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign. Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE - a terrible thing!" - tweet Thursday.

THE FACTS: That's a distortion of Clapper's statements on ABC's "The View" on Tuesday when he was asked about recent reports that an FBI informant spoke with several members of the Trump campaign.

"They were spying on - a term I don't particularly like but - what the Russians were doing," Clapper said. "Trying to understand, were the Russians infiltrating? Trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage and influence? Which is what they do."

He did not say a spy was implanted "in" the campaign and he denied the FBI was spying "on" the campaign. The effort was focused on Russians, he said, and was meant to "protect the campaign" and the U.S. political system.

___

Online:

Border patrol arrests: https://tinyurl.com/l5p7rgq

Military pay: https://tinyurl.com/y8wvomxe

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Jill Colvin, Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns in Washington and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - It was the outcome millions of Colombians had hoped to avoid: A bitter runoff between two presidential candidates whose polarizing viewpoints once again leave the nation divided.

In order to win in June, both conservative former senator Ivan Duque and one-time guerrilla leftist Gustavo Petro will need to sway many of the more than 6 million voters who lie somewhere in the middle and are appalled at the idea of voting for either contender.

The vast majority of those centrist votes went to ex-Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo, who has yet to endorse either candidate, and it remains to be seen where the largely urban, middle class voters who flocked toward his campaign might gravitate.

Supporters of Ivan Duque, presidential candidate for the Democratic Center, celebrate finishing first in the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 27, 2018. With almost all polling stations reporting, Duque won nearly 39 percent trailed by leftist former rebel and Bogota mayor Gustavo Petro, who won 25 percent. A run-off will take place on June 17. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Some vowed Monday to leave their vote blank when they enter the ballot box in three weeks for the June runoff. Others said they would hold their noses and vote for Duque, too fearful Petro will transform Colombia into another Venezuela. Still others quickly shifted their allegiances left, vowing to support Petro in order to ensure the nation's peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by the Spanish acronym FARC, remains intact.

"Do we really have to choose between Gustavito and Ivancito?" an incredulous Paola Ochoa asked in her El Tiempo newspaper column Monday as the dust from a nail-biting election day began to settle. "Between a future with the FARC in the senate or the FARC firing rounds again in the Colombian countryside?"

The vote is the first presidential contest since the signing of the 2016 accord to end more than five decades of conflict between the state, leftist rebels and paramilitary groups. The rebels have disarmed and begun transitioning to civilian life, but the accord remains polemic and polls show most Colombians think its implementation is going poorly. Despite the deal, more than 1,000 FARC dissidents are still waging war in remote territories where the state has little presence. Eleven were killed in a clash with the military Monday.

Many Colombians believe the generous terms of the peace accord allowing most guerrillas to avoid any jail time should be changed.

Duque is promising to do just that, telling supporters in his victory speech Sunday night that Colombia needs "peace with justice." He's pledging to introduce a measure in congress that would ensure drug trafficking is not an amnestied crime. He also doesn't believe FARC leaders should be allowed to hold political office without having confessed their crimes and made reparations.

"If we don't have that, the peace will never be lasting," he said.

His criticism of the peace process echoes the refrains of his mentor, powerful former President Alvaro Uribe, who singlehandedly buoyed Duque into frontrunner status with his support. Though still incredibly popular in Colombia, Uribe is polemic. He presided over the government during a time in which the Colombian military committed grave human rights violations.

Some Fajardo supporters said they feared a vote for Duque would be little more than an illegal third term for Uribe.

Petro supports the peace accord, just one of an array of hot-button topics that the two disagree on, and perhaps among the least discussed in the run-up to the first round of the election. Instead, Petro has galvanized supporters with an anti-establishment message pledging to root out corruption and lift millions into the middle class. He wants to overhaul the nation's economic model and drastically increase taxes on unproductive lands. Owners would sell the property to the state, which would then distribute the land to peasants.

His polarizing rhetoric - frequently pitting the Colombian "oligarchy" against the working class - has frightened some voters who worry he'll move the nation toward a socialist model. Critics also highlight his early ties and admiration for the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Petro says those accusations are unfounded.

"He's Chavez a la Colombian," said Andres Felipe Rojas, adding that he will be voting for Duque. "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

With 39 percent of the more than 19 million votes cast, Duque has the numerical advantage going forward. Petro won 25 percent, edging out Fajardo by less than two points.

Delegates with the Fajardo campaign were keeping their cards close to their chests Monday, refusing to reveal who they might endorse, though speculation ran rampant.

Antonio Navarro Wolff, a politician and former rebel with the M-19 movement Petro joined as a teen, himself supported Fajardo in the first-round, saying at the time that he'd chosen the former mayor because he was "moderate, serious and has experience."

"There's less resistance against him," he said of Fajardo.

Now that his first pick it out of the running, he declined to say whether his vote would go toward Petro, as many expect. But he said he would definitely be casting a ballot.

"If you don't win, you still have to participate," he said.

Fajardo, a mathematician credited with transforming Medellin from a hotbed of crime to a growing tourist destination, himself dodged questions Monday on which candidate he might endorse. He told the host of a local radio show that while he'd won nearly 4.6 million votes that could prove consequential in the runoff election, he doesn't consider himself Colombia's new kingmaker.

"It would be disrespectful to say I'm the owner of those votes," he said.

Ivan Duque, presidential candidate for the Democratic Center, and his vice president formula Marta Lucia Ramirez wave to supporters after winning the first round presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Duque, a former Senator and protege of President Alvaro Uribe, will face Gustavo Petro, a former leftist rebel and ex-Bogota mayor, in a run-off election on June 17.(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Gustavo Petro, presidential candidate for Colombia Humana, addresses supporters at a theater in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Petro, a former rebel and ex-Bogota mayor, trailed in second place behind former senator Ivan Duque in presidential elections. The two will go to a run-off election on June 17. (AP Photo/Juan Manuel Barrero)

A supporters listen to Gustavo Petro, presidential candidate for Colombia Humana, at a theater in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Petro, a former rebel and ex-Bogota mayor, trailed in second place behind former senator Ivan Duque in presidential elections. The two will go to a run-off election on June 17. (AP Photo/Juan Manuel Barrero)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd.

Politicians and industry leaders announced the ambitious plan on Monday. They say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and, if successful, would be the first time an infected country has eliminated Mycoplasma bovis.

Farming is vital to the economy in New Zealand, whose isolation has helped protect it from some diseases which affect herds elsewhere.

In this May 21, 2017 photo, cows rest in a paddock on a farm near Invercargill, New Zealand. New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd. Politicians and industry leaders announced the ambitious plan Monday, May 28, 2018. They say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and, if successful, would be the first time an infected country has eliminated Mycoplasma bovis.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Last July, Mycoplasma bovis was found in the country for the first time. Found in Europe and the U.S., the bacteria can cause cows to develop mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis and other diseases. They are not considered a threat to food safety, but do cause production losses.

Officials say they plan to kill all cows on any farms where the bacteria are found, even if some of the animals are healthy. They say many of the cows will be slaughtered at processing plants and used for beef, but some cows will have to be killed and buried on the farms or dumped in approved landfills.

Officials have the legal authority to forcibly enter farms and kill animals even in cases where a farmer might resist, but they said they hope they don't have to use those powers.

Katie Milne, the national president of the advocacy group Federated Farmers, said it was important to try to get rid of Mycoplasma bovis while there was still a chance. She said they would try to make sure affected farmers had all the support they needed, including adequate compensation.

"This is a tough time, and the pain and anguish they're going to go through is really hideous," she said of the affected farmers. "And we have to support them as neighbors, community members, farmers, friends."

New Zealand is home to some 10 million cows, about double its human population. About two-thirds are dairy cows and the rest beef cattle. Milk products represent the country's largest single export, and much of it is sold to China and used in infant formula.

Mycoplasma bovis has so far been found on 38 farms throughout New Zealand, officials say, a number they expect to rise to at least 142 farms based on computer modeling. They say all the infections found so far can be traced back to a single farm, and that the bacteria likely arrived in New Zealand 18 months before they were first identified. Officials are still trying to figure out how the bacteria got into the country despite strict biosecurity controls.

About 24,000 cows have already been killed in recent months and at least 128,000 more will have to be culled, most over the next year or two. The cost of the eradication program is estimated at 886 million New Zealand dollars ($616 million) over ten years. The government plans to pick up about two-thirds of the tab while farmers and the cattle industry will pay the rest.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she believes it's still possible to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis.

"We don't know, in the long-term, what impact it could collectively have on an industry that is incredibly important to New Zealand's economy," she said. "So if we have an opportunity to be the country that eradicates this disease, then we'll take it."

Officials say they expect to know by the end of the year whether the eradication plan is working.

In this May 21, 2017 photo, a cow stands in a paddock on a farm near Invercargill, New Zealand. New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd. Politicians and industry leaders announced the ambitious plan Monday, May 28, 2018. They say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and, if successful, would be the first time an infected country has eliminated Mycoplasma bovis.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

In this May 21, 2017 photo, cows rest in a paddock on a farm near Invercargill, New Zealand. New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd. Politicians and industry leaders announced the ambitious plan Monday, May 28, 2018. They say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and, if successful, would be the first time an infected country has eliminated Mycoplasma bovis. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, center, attends a media briefing in Wellington, New Zealand Monday, May 28, 2018. Politicians and industry leaders announced a plan to slaughter about 150,000 cows as they try to eradicate a strain of the disease-causing bacteria Mycoplasma bovis from the national herd. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)
ROME (AP) - Italian populists vowed Monday to convert voter anger over their thwarted bid to govern for the first time into a kind of plebiscite on the European Union, financial markets and eurozone membership as the country found itself propelled to fresh elections as soon as late summer.

Amid the political turmoil, Carlo Cottarelli, an economist with International Monetary Fund experience, was asked by the Italian president to assemble a technocrat government to take the country to elections.

With weeks of political uncertainty taking a toll on Italy's bond and stock markets, Premier-designate Cottarelli said the return to the polls could come as early as after the August vacation break or, at the latest, at the start of 2019.

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli, right, addresses the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

Only five days ago, another premier-designate, political novice Giuseppe Conte, stood in the same spot in the Quirinal presidential palace and declared he would he would work to create a "government of change" in what would have been Italy's - and western Europe's - first populist government.

That dream deflated dramatically Sunday night when President Sergio Mattarella refused to submit to populist demands that he approve their proposed economy minister, who in the past has recommended having a "Plan B" to exit the eurozone if EU strictures become too tight for Italy.

"This isn't democracy, this isn't respect for the popular vote," railed Matteo Salvini, a firebrand populist whose right-wing League was one of the anti-EU parties foiled by Mattarella. "It's just the last gasp of the strong powers who want Italy as a frightened, precarious slave."

"The next elections will be a plebiscite: the people and real life versus the old castes and the 'Lords of the Spread,'" Salvini said, referring to financial speculators.

Milan-based economist Nicola Nobile said it appeared that the upcoming election could shape up as a "de facto referendum on Italian membership in the eurozone."

Sharing Salvini's anger was 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio, the populist who had hoped to govern with Salvini.

Di Maio repeatedly called for Mattarella's impeachment for vetoing their pick for economy minister.

He also urged those angry like him to rally in Rome on Saturday. The gathering, likely to double as a campaign rally, coincides with a national holiday celebrating the Republic and features a military parade and VIP reviewing stands in the heart of the capital.

Opposition Democrats contended that the populists, by calling the rally, wanted to stage the equivalent of the 1922 March on Rome that paved the way for Benito Mussolini's ascension to power and his Fascist regime.

"The campaign that's being prepared will be frightening," wrote La Stampa political commentator Marcello Sorgi.

The commentator predicted the impeachment threat against the president "who only was defending his institutional role and the Constitution is only a taste of what will come."

When Italians voted March 4, the result was a Parliament with no clear-cut majority. As weeks passed without a government, Mattarella warned he would reluctantly appoint a nonpolitical Cabinet to take the country to fresh elections if a viable coalition could not be forged.

Cottarelli pledged that his government would uphold Italy's "essential" role in both the EU and in the eurozone. And he promised "prudent management of our public accounts."

But markets have remained on edge, with the prospect of anti-euro political sentiment suddenly gaining traction in Italy and Cottarelli's own tenure seen as limited, with another election approaching.

The government's benchmark borrowing rate increased further, the Milan stock market slipped and the euro weakened against the dollar.

Cottarelli, who earned the nickname "Mr. Scissors" with his reputation for finding fat to trim in public spending, said elections could come as soon as "after August" if his Cabinet fails to get the required confidence votes in both chambers of Parliament.

The numbers aren't on his side. Immediately giving him a thumbs-down were the 5-Stars and the League, whose lawmakers together have the votes to sink his government.

Also vowing to vote against Cottarelli were two of Salvini's campaign alliance partners: Forza Italia, the center-right party of former Premier Silvio Berlusconi and a smaller far-right party.

Instead, the populists were already looking to a new attempt to gain power.

Political analyst Massimo Franco said Salvini's attempt to force Mattarella's hand over the ministry appointment appeared to be a "provocation" aimed not at forming a populist government but to "possibly make it fail before it started."

That way, Salvini, whose League has made stunning gains in recent regional elections, could try for a stronger mandate to govern after new elections.

For his northern base, which traditionally is suspicious of the centralized powers in Rome, Salvini, whom Corriere della Sera described as the "undisputed master of public indignation," is likely seen as a hero for refusing to back down from Mattarella.

Di Maio has decreed that 5-Star lawmakers can't serve more than two terms to avoid becoming part of the political "caste." If he applies that to himself, he would be ineligible to run.

But he already broke a big promise to his web-based constituency when he agreed to forge a coalition with Salvini's League. He ran for premier in March with the pledge the Movement would never enter a coalition government.

Waiting in the wings is a more hard-line Movement leader, Alessandro Di Battista, who sat out the March election. That means he's ripe for a run for office and is considered less likely to compromise with those outside the populist fold.

___

Trisha Thomas contributed to this report.

___

Frances D'Emilio is on twitter at www.twitter.com/fdemilio

Italian President Sergio Mattarella addresses the media after meeting Italy's premier-designate Giuseppe Conte in Rome, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said he refused to approve populist leaders' choice of an economy minister who has expressed anti-euro views because the appointment would have "alarmed markets and investors, Italians and foreigners." Mattarella spoke to reporters Sunday night after Premier-Designate Giuseppe Conte announced that he didn't succeed in forming what would have been Western Europe's first populist government. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)

Five-Stars Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio leaves the Lower House in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. The 5-Stars and League responded to Mattarella's veto on the proposed populist coalition with a chorus of criticism that Italy had ceded its sovereignty to the European Union and international financial markets. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP)

The League leader Matteo Salvini arrives at the Lower House of Parliament, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. President Sergio Mattarella scuttled the 5-Star Movement and League's bid to form a euroskeptic coalition government by vetoing their choice for economy minister on Sunday night, which enraged both Salvini and the 5-Stars' Luigi Di Maio, who threatened to start impeachment proceedings against him. (Giuseppe Lami/ANSA via AP)GIUSEPPE LAMI

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli, right, is followed by security as he arrives at the Lower Chamber palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Cottarelli was tapped on Monday to lead Italy to early elections, possibly as soon as after the summer, after populist political forces failed to convince the president their Cabinet picks wouldn't destroy the faith of the markets and other investors. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli, right, is followed by security as he gets out of a taxi outside the Lower Chamber palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Cottarelli was tapped on Monday to lead Italy to early elections, possibly as soon as after the summer, after populist political forces failed to convince the president their Cabinet picks wouldn't destroy the faith of the markets and other investors. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli, center, is saluted by a Carabiniere paramilitary police officer as he arrives at the Lower Chamber palace, after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Cottarelli was tapped on Monday to lead Italy to early elections, possibly as soon as after the summer, after populist political forces failed to convince the president their Cabinet picks wouldn't destroy the faith of the markets and other investors. (Giuseppe Lami/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli walks out of the Quirinale Presidential Palace after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Cottarelli was tapped on Monday to lead Italy to early elections, possibly as soon as after the summer, after populist political forces failed to convince the president their Cabinet picks wouldn't destroy the faith of the markets and other investors. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli, center, is saluted by a Carabiniere paramilitary police officer as he arrives at the Lower Chamber palace, after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Cottarelli was tapped on Monday to lead Italy to early elections, possibly as soon as after the summer, after populist political forces failed to convince the president their Cabinet picks wouldn't destroy the faith of the markets and other investors. (Giuseppe Lami/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli addresses the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli arrives to addresse the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli addresses the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli arrives to address the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

Economist Carlo Cottarelli gets in a taxi to go to the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president Sergio Mattarella invited Cottarelli to the presidential palace on Monday amid speculation he would ask the former International Monetary Fund official to form a technical government following the collapse of what would have been Western Europe's first populist government. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

Economist Carlo Cottarelli arrives with his trolley bag at the Quirinale Presidential Palace to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president Mattarella invited Cottarelli to the presidential palace on Monday amid speculation he would ask the former International Monetary Fund official to form a technical government following the collapse of what would have been Western Europe's first populist government. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says gunmen have killed at least three people in an attack in western Herat province.

Gelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor in Herat, says the three victims include an employee of a voter registration center and two policemen.

A third policeman was wounded in the attack, which took place late on Sunday night.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, a spokesman says that the Taliban overrun several villages on Monday in the district of Khoja Ghor in northern Takhar province, pushing back the local police.

Sonatullah Timor there were no casualties reported.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, claimed the attacks in Takhar, saying insurgents have pushed near the district center and taken several posts.
BEIJING (AP) - The head of a major bank in northern China was found dead in his office in an apparent suicide, state media reported Monday, in the latest in a recent string of deaths among government and ruling Communist Party officials.

Tianjin Rural Commercial Bank Chairman Yin Jinbao was found Saturday afternoon with both of his wrists slit, official state media said.

Yin also served as head of the bank's ruling Communist Party committee, giving him quasi-government official status.

Yin's bank was under inspection and he was under pressure over major losses and scandals at another bank in Tianjin where he served as chairman until last year, the reports said.

Other officials who have died or killed themselves in recent days include a deputy secretary of the Beijing city government who reportedly suffered from depression.

Middle and upper-level Chinese officials are often under intense pressure to boost revenue and economic growth amid local government debt.

Meanwhile, President and party head Xi Jinping has been pursuing a relentless campaign against waste and corruption that has seen well over a million officials punished over the past five years. Such penalties often come only after a lengthy and highly invasive investigation that can include being detained for lengthy periods without contact with family or legal counsel.

Depression and other psychiatric problems often go undiagnosed and untreated in China.
ROME (AP) - The Latest on Italy's political crisis (all times local):

6:40 p.m.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is stressing the importance of upholding the eurozone's principles as Italy heads toward an early election.

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli walks out of the Quirinale Presidential Palace after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Cottarelli was tapped on Monday to lead Italy to early elections, possibly as soon as after the summer, after populist political forces failed to convince the president their Cabinet picks wouldn't destroy the faith of the markets and other investors. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP)

Merkel was asked at a Berlin conference on Monday whether she's worried about political leaders' difficulty in forming the next Italian government. She answered: "We want to work with every government, but of course we also have principles inside the eurozone."

The chancellor didn't comment directly on the collapse of efforts to form a populist government in Italy or the appointment of economist Carlo Cottarelli to lead a politically neutral government until another election is held.

Recalling the election of left-winger Alexis Tsipras as Greek prime minister, Merkel recalled that in that case "there were also many questions on the table, but in the end we came together."

She said: "We must handle this task, because of course Italy is an important member of the European Union."

___

6:00 p.m.

Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi says he's open to running for office in Italy's next parliamentary election as part of the same center-right bloc that won 37 percent of the vote March 4.

In a statement Monday, Berlusconi said he "can't imagine any other solution" than his Forza Italia party running alongside the right-wing League and the smaller Brothers of Italy party.

The League tried to form a populist government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement. Their coalition hopes were dashed Sunday when President Sergio Mattarella vetoed their choice for economy minister.

Berlusconi also says Forza Italia's lawmakers won't support a technical government headed by former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli, who was tapped by the president Monday to be premier until the next election.

A tax fraud conviction prevented Berlusconi, who served three terms as premier, from running for office in March. A Milan court ruled this month that he is now eligible.

___

5:05 p.m.

The head of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement is urging Italians to peacefully protest the president's decision to quash a proposed populist government.

In a Facebook Live video, Luigi Di Maio urged Italians to fly Italian flags and join a social media protest with the hashtag #ilmiovotoconta (My vote counts.) He says citizens should insist on their right to choose their leaders.

Di Maio said President Sergio Mattarella's decision to veto the economy minister proposed by the 5-Stars and League and instead ask a non-political, technical government to lead "was the darkest moment in the history of Italian democracy."

___

2:50 p.m.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expressing his support for Italy's president after he scuttled what would have been Western Europe's first populist government and paved the way for a technocrat government to lead until a new election.

At a news conference in Paris on Monday, Macron said Italy was an important partner "that we respect and which we need for European projects as well as the bilateral relationship."

He offered his support to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, "who has a crucial task ahead: the institutional and democratic stability of his country -which he completes with a lot of courage and a great spirit of responsibility."

Mattarella asked economist Carlo Cottarelli to lead Italy after he vetoed on Sunday the economy minister picked by the 5-Star Movement and League. The two populist forces had hoped to form a coalition government.

___

1 p.m.

The man tapped to head a neutral government in Italy after two populists failed in their bid is a former official at the International Monetary Fund who is a firm believer in the euro and in the necessity of Italy cutting its stubbornly high-debt load.

Carlo Cottarelli, an economist, has previous government experience under the short-lived center-left government of Enrico Letta, chosen to identify areas where government spending could be trimmed. He found 32 billion euros ($37 billion) in cuts, but left embittered when the government soon changed hands at the obstacles he found within the bureaucracy resisting cuts.

On Monday, after receiving the mandate to try to form a government, Cottarelli said his primary job was to guide Italy to a new election. In a bid to settle markets, he stressed that Italy's economy was growing, its public debt was "under control" and that he assured his government would prioritize "prudent" management of it.

___

12:45 p.m.

Italy's new premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli says he will bring Italy to a new election as early as this fall if he doesn't win confidence votes in parliament.

President Sergio Mattarella tapped the economist and former International Monetary Fund official on Monday to run a technocratic government after he scuttled the euroskeptic government of the 5-Star Movement and the League. Mattarella vetoed their choice for economy minister Sunday night.

In his first remarks Monday, Cottarelli said he would guide a politically "neutral" government that would lead Italy to new elections. Both the 5-Stars and the League have signaled they would deprive a Cottarelli government of their votes in Parliament, meaning his would be a caretaker government.

Cottarelli said in such a case, the government's principal job "would be the ordinary administration of government and to accompany the country to elections after the month of August."

___

12:30 p.m.

Italy's president has formally asked economist Carlo Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government.

President Sergio Mattarella turned to the former International Monetary Fund official to run a technocratic government until an early election can be held. Mattarella's office announced the president had given a mandate to Cottarelli to try to form a government after about an hour of consultations Monday.

Mattarella enraged the 5-Stars and League by vetoing their choice for economy minister on Sunday night, throwing Italy into a new round of political uncertainty more than two months after an election created a hung parliament.

___

10:30 a.m.

The European Union's foreign policy chief says she has full confidence in the Italian president, who vetoed the proposed economy minister of what would have been Western Europe's first populist government.

Federica Mogherini says she's convinced that President Sergio Mattarella was serving the Italian people and the EU by forcing the end of the proposed 5-Star Movement-League government.

In a statement, Mogherini said that "I have full trust, as I believe all Italians have in the Italian institutions, starting with the Italian president. That is the guarantor of the Italian Constitution."

She continued: "I am confident that the Italian institutions and the president of the republic will prove to be as always serving the interests of the Italian citizens that by the way coincides also with the strength of the European Union."

___

10:20 a.m.

Germany's deputy foreign minister says he hopes there will be a "stable, pro-European" government in Italy soon, but has acknowledged that his country is in no position to offer advice after its own long-drawn-out effort to form a new administration.

Michael Roth told reporters in Brussels that Italy, a founding member of the European Union, has always been a reliable and integration-friendly partner. He said that "we expect Italy to do justice to this proud tradition in the future."

Roth said he doesn't want to discuss the constitutional situation, but "we hope that there will be a stable, pro-European government in Italy without delay."

He added: "We in Germany should hold back somewhat with advice on forming a government. We needed six months to form a new government."

___

9:20 a.m.

All eyes are on Italian President Sergio Mattarella after he vetoed the proposed euroskeptic economy minister of what would have been Western Europe's first populist government.

News reports said Mattarella would convene the former International Monetary Fund official, Carlo Cottarelli, to the presidential palace and ask him to form a technical government that can lead Italy until early elections.

Markets have largely welcomed Mattarella's decision to put an end to the proposed government of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and right-wing nationalist League, which had insisted on Paolo Savona as economy minister. Savona has questioned whether Italy should ditch the euro as its currency.

The spread of points between Italy's bonds and benchmark German bonds, which had grown alarmingly last week, fell early Monday.

Economist Carlo Cottarelli gets in a taxi to go to the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president Sergio Mattarella invited Cottarelli to the presidential palace on Monday amid speculation he would ask the former International Monetary Fund official to form a technical government following the collapse of what would have been Western Europe's first populist government. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

Italian President Sergio Mattarella addresses the media after meeting Italy's premier-designate Giuseppe Conte in Rome, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said he refused to approve populist leaders' choice of an economy minister who has expressed anti-euro views because the appointment would have "alarmed markets and investors, Italians and foreigners." Mattarella spoke to reporters Sunday night after Premier-Designate Giuseppe Conte announced that he didn't succeed in forming what would have been Western Europe's first populist government. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)

Italian Premier-Designate Giuseppe Conte leaves the Qurinal after meeting Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Conte relinquished a presidential mandate to put together an acceptable Cabinet. (Claudio Peri/ANSA via AP)

Italian President Sergio Mattarella addresses the media after meeting Italy's premier-designate Giuseppe Conte in Rome, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said he refused to approve populist leaders' choice of an economy minister who has expressed anti-euro views because the appointment would have "alarmed markets and investors, Italians and foreigners." Mattarella spoke to reporters Sunday night after Premier-Designate Giuseppe Conte announced that he didn't succeed in forming what would have been Western Europe's first populist government. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)

The League leader Matteo Salvini arrives at the Lower House of Parliament, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. President Sergio Mattarella scuttled the 5-Star Movement and League's bid to form a euroskeptic coalition government by vetoing their choice for economy minister on Sunday night, which enraged both Salvini and the 5-Stars' Luigi Di Maio, who threatened to start impeachment proceedings against him. (Giuseppe Lami/ANSA via AP)GIUSEPPE LAMI

New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli arrives to address the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland's prime minister on Monday called a planned Russian gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, a "new hybrid weapon" and says Moscow wants to use it to undermine NATO and the European Union.

Mateusz Morawiecki called Nord Stream 2 "a poisoned pill of European security" as he addressed a NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Warsaw.

The Nord Stream 2 project would double the amount of natural gas Russia can funnel directly to energy-hungry Germany from newly tapped reserves in Siberia, intentionally skirting Eastern European nations like Poland and Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, shakes hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda prior to talks in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

The United States and some other EU members share Poland's opposition to the project, warning that it could give Moscow greater leverage over Western Europe. The debates have created divisions within the EU, for example between Poland and Germany, neighbors and important trade partners.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the U.S. opposition to the Nord Stream 2 stems from President Donald Trump's desire to encourage exports of the U.S. liquefied natural gas, which is supplied by ship and is considerably more expensive than Russian supplies.

Polish President Andrzej Duda also gave his own warning of Russian intentions in Eastern Europe.

"With regret it must be said that Moscow has never come to terms with the collapse of the imperial Soviet Union. The invasion of Georgia and the unlawful annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine illustrate the real intentions of Russia," Duda said.

He was referring to the Russia-Georgia war of 2008, as well as to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and support for pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's east, where a war is still ongoing.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the assembly that a decisive stance is needed toward Russia while leaving open the chance for dialogue.

He said Russia is interfering in democratic processes in other countries, for instance by carrying out cyberattacks.

He also called on Russia to accept responsibility for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine in 2014 - an appeal he also made on Friday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, shakes hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda prior to talks in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, shakes hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda prior to talks in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, shakes hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda prior to talks in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
LISBON, Portugal (AP) - After legalizing abortion and same-sex marriage in recent times, Portuguese lawmakers will decide Tuesday on another issue that has brought a confrontation between faith and politics in this predominantly Catholic country: whether to allow euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.

The outcome of the vote is uncertain and is likely to be close, but Portugal could become one of just a handful of countries in the world to permit euthanasia under certain circumstances.

Euthanasia - when a doctor kills patients at their request - is legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In Switzerland, and some U.S. states, assisted suicide - where patients administer the lethal drug themselves, under medical supervision - is permitted.

FILE - In this May 24, 2018 file photo, people stand on the steps of the Portuguese parliament in Lisbon during a protest against euthanasia. After legalizing abortion and same-sex marriage in recent times, Portuguese lawmakers will decide Tuesday, May 29, 2018 on another issue that has brought a confrontation between faith and politics in this mostly Catholic country: whether to allow euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

A series of left-leaning governments determined to bring about what they call a "modernization" of the country, as well as the Catholic Church's waning influence, have opened the door to deep cultural changes in Portugal. That trend has included permitting abortion on demand in 2007 and same-sex marriage three years later.

A 2016 petition by right-to-die activists pushed the contentious and divisive issue of euthanasia onto the political agenda. It got more than 8,000 signatures - more than double the amount needed to force a parliamentary debate last year.

The petition said allowing euthanasia would be "a concrete expression of an individual's rights to autonomy, to religious freedom and freedom of conscience, which are rights enshrined in the Constitution." It added: "It is of the utmost importance to end pointless and useless suffering, imposed by the convictions of others."

In response, a petition by the Portuguese Federation for Life a few months later collected more than 14,000 signatures and told lawmakers that society and the state have a duty to protect human life.

Now, four left-leaning political parties - the governing center-left Socialist Party, the radical Left Bloc, the Green Party, and the People, Animals, Nature party - have tabled bills proposing euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide. Inciting or assisting euthanasia is currently punishable by up to three years in prison.

The Socialist government's bill has the best chance of success, having the most lawmakers of the parties proposing legislation, though there is little difference between the four parties' proposals.

The Socialist bill covers patients who are "in a situation of extreme suffering, with an untreatable injury or a fatal and incurable disease." Two doctors, at least one of them a specialist in the relevant illness, and a psychiatrist must sign off on the request to die. The case then goes to a Verification and Evaluation Committee, which can approve or turn down the procedure.

The process is postponed if it is legally challenged, or if the patient loses consciousness, and doctors can refuse to perform the procedure on moral grounds. Oversight is provided by the General-Inspectorate for Health.

To discourage people from traveling to Portugal to end their life, the bills all stipulate that patients must either be Portuguese citizens or legal residents.

Before the debate, the Portuguese Episcopal Conference has been distributing 1.5 million pamphlets arguing against legalizing euthanasia, arguing it would be "a backward step" for society.

"Life cannot be regarded as an object for personal use," the pamphlet says.

The four bills are going to a Tuesday afternoon debate in the Republican Assembly, Portugal's parliament. The 230 lawmakers will vote at the end of the debate.

Muddying forecasts, some Socialist lawmakers have said they will vote against their own party's bill. The conservative Popular Party and the Portuguese Communist Party have said they will vote against all four bills.

The proposed legislation's fate depends largely on how many lawmakers with the center-right Social Democratic Party, the largest opposition party, choose to support it. The party has no official stance on euthanasia and is allowing its lawmakers to vote according to their conscience.

If any of the four bills are approved, they are forwarded to a parliamentary committee where they can be fine-tuned before returning to a full plenary session for a final vote.

The proposed legislation then goes to the head of state, who can veto it. If President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa rejects it, the legislation returns to parliament, which can override a presidential veto if two-thirds of lawmakers vote to do so.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - New Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Monday that a planned high-speed railway that would cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes will be axed because it isn't beneficial.

Mahathir said the 350-kilometer (218-mile) rail project slated to be completed by 2026 is too costly.

"It is a final decision, but it will take time because we have an agreement with Singapore," Mahathir said. "It is not beneficial. It is going to cost a huge sum of money. We will make no money at all from this operation."

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Monday, May 28, 2018. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says a planned high-speed railway that would cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes will be axed because it isn't beneficial. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf)

The two countries signed an agreement in December 2016 to build the rapid rail line with speeds of over 300 kilometers an hour and dubbed a "game-changer" that will boost connectivity and strengthen economic ties between the neighbors. Currently, it takes at least four hours to travel by car.

Mahathir said Malaysia may have to pay a penalty and will discuss the matter with Singapore, adding that "we will try to manage it at the least cost possible."

Mahathir's alliance won a stunning victory in May 9 elections to oust scandal-tainted former Prime Minister Najib Razak and end his coalition's 60-year grip on power.

The new government has said it will review large-scale infrastructure projects, including Chinese investment, to cut costs after revealing that national debt and liabilities was over a trillion ringgit ($251 billion), or 80 percent of gross domestic product, taking into account government guarantees and other payments.

The huge debt is partly due to a massive corruption scandal at the 1MDB state investment fund set up by Najib that led voters to abandon him, and sparked investigations in the U.S. and several other countries. U.S. investigators say Najib's associates stole and laundered at least $4.5 billion from the fund.

Mahathir has reopened an investigation into 1MDB that was suppressed during Najib's rule. Najib, who denies any wrongdoing, and his wife have been barred from leaving the country.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, right, speaks during a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Monday, May 28, 2018. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says a planned high-speed railway that would cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes will be axed because it isn't beneficial. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippine foreign secretary said Monday that China has been notified of "red lines," or actions Manila would find unacceptable, in the South China Sea, including construction activities at a disputed shoal and extraction of oil and gas in the long-contested waters.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano explained what President Rodrigo Duterte's administration has been doing to defend the country's sovereignty in the disputed region amid criticism that it has been far too soft on China.

Critics and left-wing groups have slammed Duterte for not publicly raising alarm over recent Chinese actions, including the reported installation of missile defense systems on its newly constructed islands, and for not demanding immediate Chinese compliance with a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims in the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines' sovereign rights to exploit resources in vast stretches of waters off its western coast.

"For those who keep saying, 'File a protest, file a protest,' what do we mean when we said, 'We are taking all diplomatic actions'?" Cayetano said in a flag-raising ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"At the right time, we will prove you wrong because nothing is secret forever," Cayetano said. "When we declassify all of these, once we have achieved our purposes in the future, you will see that the DFA has not fallen short in filing whatever diplomatic action, note verbale, verbal protest."

After Duterte appointed him as the country's top diplomat last year, Cayetano said the Philippines and China had discussed the thorny territorial issues, including actions that each deemed unacceptable. For the Philippines, these included any Chinese construction at disputed Scarborough Shoal or Chinese effort to remove a rusty Philippine navy ship used by Filipino marines as a detachment in another contested outcrop, Second Thomas Shoal.

"Filipino troops should not be harassed while on resupply missions or when repairing (facilities) like a runway," he said. "Another red line for us: Nobody can extract natural resources there on their own."

"The president has declared that. If anyone gets the natural resources in the West Philippine Sea-South China Sea, he will go to war," Cayetano said.

China has told the Philippines that there should be no new occupation of uninhabited areas under a 2002 accord and "we should not embarrass each other in front of all, in all multilaterals and bilaterals," he said.

After taking power nearly two years ago, Duterte declared he would chart a foreign policy not highly oriented toward the United States, the country's treaty ally. He took steps to revive frosty ties with Beijing while seeking to boost Chinese trade, investment and infrastructure funds.

Cayetano has staunchly defended the tough-talking president, including his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs.

"It is not the policy of this administration to engage in megaphone or microphone diplomacy, and announce each and every action, unless announcing it is beneficial to us," Cayetano said.

Filipino fishermen have been accosted by China in the past but have been allowed back to Scarborough Shoal's area to fish. The shoal's vast lagoon has been declared off limits to all fishermen to nurture fishery stocks, and a coast guard agreement now allows vessels to enter the lagoon for safety in stormy weather, Cayetano said.

Critics say Duterte's approach has emboldened China, which has been increasingly assertive in the potentially oil- and gas-rich waterway that's also claimed entirely or in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - President Donald Trump is turning his attention to Tennessee, where he will raise money and rally supporters Tuesday in a crucial race for control of the U.S. Senate.

Trump hopes to boost Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn in the open contest to replace GOP Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring.

Popular former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has also entered the race, putting the firmly red state is in play for his party as Republicans cling to a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Aiming to maintain Republican control of Congress, Trump is planning a series of political rallies and events in the coming months to promote GOP candidates on the ballot and brand Democrats as obstructionists to his agenda. The president held a similar rally in Indiana earlier this month, casting Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, a top Republican target, as a "swamp person" who refused to help him overhaul the nation's tax system.

Corker has called Bredesen a "friend" and said he won't actively campaign against him, giving the former governor some cross-party appeal. Trump, meanwhile, is expected to use the rally to warn Republicans that Bredesen would serve as a proxy for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and scuttle his agenda.

While the Tennessee primary isn't until early August, Trump offered an early endorsement of Blackburn in April, calling her on Twitter "a wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her. Great on the Military, Border Security and Crime."

Trump will raise cash for Blackburn at a Nashville fundraiser, then country star Trace Adkins will perform before Trump's public rally at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

The event marks the fifth rally Trump has held in Tennessee and the third in the Nashville area since he began running for president in June 2015.

Trump won Tennessee decidedly in 2016 and remains popular there. Blackburn, who served on Trump's transition team, has been counting down the days on Twitter until Trump shows up. She has dubbed herself a "hardcore, card-carrying Tennessee conservative."

Bredesen, who needs to win over independents and some Republicans to claim victory, has aired TV ads in which he says he's "not running against Donald Trump," and that he learned long ago to "separate the message from the messenger."

In Tennessee, Al Gore was the Democrats' last victorious Senate candidate in 1990. Democrats have fallen short ever since Gore left the Senate to become Bill Clinton's vice president.

Bredesen has drawn help from former Vice President Joe Biden, who attended a fundraiser for him in April.

Trump's visit will also set off a scramble for Tennessee's Republican candidates for governor to get face time and presidential shoutouts.

U.S. Rep. Diane Black, former state economic development chief Randy Boyd, businessman Bill Lee and state House Speaker Beth Harwell have all voiced their support of Trump on the campaign trail.

Out of the four leading GOP candidates, Black has been the most frequent namedropper of the president, including in TV ads that show Trump offering glowing compliments for her.

Boyd has recently likened himself to Trump in a TV spot, saying they're both conservative businessman looking to disrupt government.

___

AP correspondent Ken Thomas contributed from Washington.
McLEAN, Va. (AP) - The conservative Charles Koch Foundation is dramatically increasing its donations to colleges and universities at a time when its philanthropy is facing increasing scrutiny, according to tax records.

The foundation gave nearly $49 million to more than 250 colleges across the U.S. in 2016, according to an Associated Press review of the foundation's most recent tax records. That's a 47 percent increase over 2015.

John Hardin, director of university relations for the foundation, said the increases stem from the fact that the foundation's philanthropy is becoming more well-known and professors are increasingly approaching them with proposals. He also said the foundation's relationship with schools has deepened to where some schools that might have only received a few thousand dollars five years ago now receive hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

FILE - In this May 22, 2012, file photo, Charles Koch speaks in his office at Koch Industries in Wichita, Kan. The conservative Charles Koch Foundation is dramatically increasing its donations to colleges and universities at a time when its philanthropy is facing increasing scrutiny, according to tax records. The foundation gave nearly $49 million to more than 250 colleges across the U.S. in 2016, according to an Associated Press review of the foundation's most recent tax records. (Bo Rader/The Wichita Eagle via AP)

"We've had the opportunity with more and more folks hearing about us to have more and more scholars coming to us," Hardin said, with proposals for study not just in economics but also in criminal justice and free expression.

The foundation, though, is finding its philanthropy receiving an increasingly skeptical reception at campuses across the country.

A scandal erupted last month at ground zero for the Koch Foundation's philanthropy - George Mason University, Virginia's largest college.

While the foundation gives money to colleges across the country, no university is a bigger beneficiary than Mason. Of the $49 million donated to colleges in 2016, Mason and its affiliated Institute for Humane Studies received more than $19 million of it, far more than any other school.

For years, University President Angel Cabrera and other school administrators had brushed aside concerns from student activists that the money compromised academic independence at the school, which has developed a reputation as a conservative powerhouse in law and economics.

On April 27, Cabrera sent a "Dear Colleague" note to Mason faculty saying he had recently become aware that some agreements between the foundation and the school's Mercatus Center, a free-market think tank, "fall short of the standards of academic independence I expect any gift to meet."

Specifically, the agreements gave the foundation a say in the hiring and firing of some professors by allowing the donor to appoint members to selection committees and advisory boards that would recommend candidates for professorships and review their performance.

The agreements were released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, three days after a judge heard arguments in a separate lawsuit about whether other grant agreements should be released under FOIA.

Mason's links to the foundation stretch back decades and had largely escaped scrutiny until 2016, when it renamed its law school for conservative jurist Antonin Scalia in conjunction with a $10 million Koch Foundation gift.

The Scalia donation, and now the revelations about the grant agreements, have energized activists to pursue changes in how Mason does business going forward. Cabrera has agreed to undertake a review of all the school's donor agreements to see if they contain problematic provisions like those in the Koch agreements.

Mason is just one among many campuses that are scrutinizing Koch money. Ralph Wilson, research director for unKoch My Campus, said the Koch Foundation's philanthropy in higher education "has grown exponentially" over the years. But he said more and more campuses are questioning the funding, and that the revelations about the Mason grant agreements are fueling those concerns.

At Chapman University in California, which received $225,000 from Koch in 2016 and is slated to receive $5 million to help establish a Smith Institute for Political Economy and Philosophy, students are questioning the school's president, Daniele Struppa, about the school's dealings with the foundation.

Struppa is a former dean at Mason.

After numerous articles questioning the deals in the student newspaper, the school and the Koch Foundation agreed this week to let an editor at the student paper, The Panther, see the donor agreement and ask questions about it, but the editor will not be allowed to take written notes about the agreement's provisions or take any pictures or make copies of it.

In a statement, Struppa said donor agreements are typically private documents. "Showing them to the student paper and faculty senate president was unusual but it was important to me for them to see that the Koch Foundation agreements were very standard and contained no 'strings,'" he said.

He said that "nowhere in the Koch agreement are the names of the faculty to be hired mentioned; and nowhere are the control and agency of the faculty challenged. There are no strings whatsoever."

He said he would be violating his own faculty's academic freedom if he stopped them from seeking grants from the Koch Foundation. "I have always been and continue to be a fierce advocate of academic freedom. This means supporting the pursuit of knowledge across all ideologies, not just those I personally agree with," he said.

At other schools, resistance to Koch Foundation money was building before the revelations at Mason. At Utah State University, a faculty task force was created earlier this year to monitor a $25 million gift to the school last year from the Koch Foundation to expand the university's business school and create a Center for Growth and Opportunity.

And at Wake Forest University, the faculty senate voted last year to ask the administration to reject $3.7 million in Koch Foundation funding for an institute to study the nature of "human flourishing."

Hardin acknowledged that Koch Foundation grants are facing increased scrutiny, and attributed it to "a handful of activists" who he said "find ways to harass and try to censor" academic work rather than debate it on its merits. "We find that deeply troubling, and deeply concerting."

He said the foundation will remain committed to philanthropy even at schools where some faculty and staff raise objections.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - The former head of Pakistan's powerful spy agency has been banned from travel and will face a formal inquiry over a book he co-authored with his former Indian counterpart.

Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, an army spokesman, said retired Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani was summoned to army headquarters Monday for questioning about "Spy Chronicles," a book that documents his exploits as head of Inter-Services Intelligence from 1990 to 1992.

The army has not detailed its concerns, but it may have been angered by the authors' suggestion that Pakistan cooperated with the U.S. in the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Durrani retired nearly two decades before the raid.

The book was co-written by A.S. Daulat, the former head of India's Research and Analysis Wing, and Indian journalist Aditya Sinha.
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Nine white nationalists gathered outside a Tennessee church to protest a talk by the author of a book about white supremacy.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the group stood outside First United Methodist Church in Maryville on Sunday evening. They held aloft a Confederate flag and a "White Pride Worldwide" flag.

Inside, church members listened to a presentation by David Billings, author of a book called "Deep Denial: The Persistence of White Supremacy in U.S. History and Life."

Catherine Nance, senior pastor at First United Methodist, says protesters showed up after the presentation began, and people inside were largely unaware of their presence.

Nance says protesters were "demonstrating peacefully," and that "no one felt threatened because of their presence." She says Maryville police were called and officers monitored the situation.

___

Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com
BALTIMORE (AP) - A close friend and colleague of Chelsea Manning said Monday that the convicted leaker of government secrets and longshot candidate for U.S. Senate is safe after a photo on her Twitter account apparently showed the 30-year-old woman standing on the edge of an upper-story window ledge.

The photo was posted to her Twitter account late Sunday with the words: "I'm sorry." It was sent shortly after a separate tweet that said: "im not really cut out for this world - i tried adapting to this world out here but i failed you - i couldn't do this anymore," among other things. The tweets did not make clear where the photo was taken, and Manning's friends declined to say.

The alarming tweets were deleted after about 10 minutes, followed by a message on her account saying Manning was OK and asking people to "please give her some space."

FILE- In this May 2, 2018, file photo, Chelsea Manning attends a discussion at the media convention "Republica" in Berlin. A close friend and colleague of Chelsea Manning said Monday, May 28, that the convicted leaker of government secrets and longshot candidate for U.S. Senate is safe after a photo on her Twitter account apparently showed the 30-year-old woman standing on the edge of an upper-story window ledge. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Kelly Wright, a friend of Manning who also is the communications director for her Senate bid, told The Associated Press on Monday that the 30-year-old transgender woman now needs the "space to heal." She did not reply when asked if Manning was seeking professional help.

When asked whether Manning had suspended her Senate campaign, Wright wrote: "Negative."

In her text message, Wright said Manning's adjustment to life outside prison has been "extremely difficult."

"I have seen firsthand and up close the violence inflicted on her by years of imprisonment, solitary confinement and torture," Wright said. "This is made worse by the impossibly high expectations our society sets for public figures, especially on social media."

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself while in a U.S. military lockup, recently told attendees at a Berlin tech conference that she felt a "kind of cult of personality" foisted upon her that she found "really intimidating" and "overwhelming."

In a recent interview with the AP at her Maryland apartment, Manning was emotionally raw, her eyes welling up at times when discussing her motivations. When asked about her lengthy stints in solitary confinement, Manning said she occasionally wakes up panicked that she's back in the cage in Kuwait where she was first jailed, or incarcerated at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, where a U.N. official concluded she'd been subjected to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment."

She said she had to work hard to overcome anxiety and told AP that it was "becoming increasingly clear" to her "just how deep the wounds are" from her years behind bars.

A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment, saying the company did not comment on individual accounts for privacy and security reasons.

Manning, who makes her living on the speaking circuit, is fresh off an appearance at an international business conference in Montreal. When Wright was asked if Manning was in Montreal when the photo was posted from the ledge last night, Wright would only say: "I'm not going to disclose her location due to safety concerns."

Manning has been free for over a year. Former President Barack Obama commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, the lengthiest ever for revealing U.S. government secrets.

She has acknowledged leaking more than 700,000 military and State Department documents to anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010. She said she wanted to spark debate about U.S. foreign policy, and she has been portrayed as both a hero and a traitor. Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, she came out as transgender after her 2013 court-martial. She was barred from growing her hair long in prison, and was approved for hormone therapy only after litigation.

The high-profile transgender activist and convicted leaker is now in the midst of a highly unlikely Democratic primary bid for the U.S. Senate in her adopted state of Maryland. She's claimed she's genuine in her aim to unseat Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democratic powerbroker in the blue state who is seeking his third Senate term. But last week, she tweeted the primaries were "rigged" and there was no point in voting.

___

Follow McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (AP) - The hospitalization of former President George H.W. Bush caused him to miss out on a Memorial Day parade in Maine that he traditionally attends.

The 93-year-old said in a tweet Monday evening that he regrets missing the event earlier that day in Kennebunkport, down the road from his summer home. He also said he's "forever grateful not only to those patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation - but also the Gold Star families whose heritage is imbued with their honor and heroism."

Bush was taken to a hospital Sunday after he experienced low blood pressure and fatigue. A spokesman said he'd likely be in the hospital for a couple of days for observation. There was no update on his condition Monday.

FILE- In this Nov. 5, 2017, file photo, former president George H.W. Bush arrives for an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts in Houston. A spokesman for the former president says the 93-year-old has been hospitalized for low blood pressure and fatigue. Spokesman Jim McGrath tweeted just after 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2018, that Bush will likely remain in the hospital for a few days. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Residents attending the parade expressed concern for the nation's 41st president. The event's grand marshal, Tom Willey, mentioned the president in his remarks, wishing him a speedy recovery.

"He's such a figure at our parades. He was definitely missed," said Shawn Hayes, vice commander of American Legion Post 159.

Bush arrived for the summer in Maine on May 20 without his wife of 73 years, Barbara Bush, who died in April in Houston.

The day before his hospitalization, Bush attended a pancake breakfast at the local American Legion hall. His former national security adviser, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, joined them.

Bush was a Navy pilot in World War II and survived being shot down over the Pacific Ocean. His two crew members perished.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Thunderstorms that moved through Wyoming spawned tornadoes that damaged homes in Laramie County, large hail in parts of the county and flash flooding in Casper.

Jeanine West, director of Cheyenne/Laramie County Emergency Management Agency, says a tornado touched down about 4 p.m. Sunday near the town of Federal. Eight properties had damage, but no people or animals were injured. Two other tornadoes in the area did not cause any damage.

National Weather Service forecaster Andrew Lyons tells the Wyoming Tribune Eagle there were several reports of hail up to 2 inches (51 millimeters) in diameter in parts of Laramie County.

Thunderstorms brought flash flooding to low-lying areas of Casper. KTWO-AM reports a restaurant at Casper's Eastridge Mall had water pouring through the ceiling during the storm.

___

Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com
LAS VEGAS (AP) - This city means business when it comes to hockey and is stating its (lower) case - no capital letters.

In a shot at the Vegas Golden Knights' opponent - the Washington Capitals - city officials are dispensing with capital letters on the official Twitter account.

The city posted a photo-shopped version of the famous Las Vegas sign with all lowercase letters on Friday and the message: "we're serious about #nocaps! #goknightsgo." Since then, the city has been tweeting in all lowercase letters. MGM resorts also joined the push on its Twitter account.

The campaign comes in response to the Washington Capitals' "#ALLCAPS" social media push.

The expansion Golden Knights have made a startling run to the Stanley Cup Final and host Game 1 on Monday night.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on preparations for a possible summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plan to meet in advance of the "expected meeting" between Trump and North Korea's leader.

In this May 26, 2018 photo provided on May 27, 2018, by South Korea Presidential Blue House, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, during a meeting at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea. Kim and Moon met Saturday, May 26 for the second time in a month, exchanging a huge bear hug and broad smiles in a surprise summit at a border village to discuss Kim's potential meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and ways to follow through on the peace initiatives of the rivals' earlier summit. At left is Kim Yong Chol, a former military intelligence chief who is now a vice chairman of the North Korean ruling party's Central Committee tasked with inter-Korean relations. (South Korea Presidential Blue House via AP)

The White House said Trump and Abe spoke Monday. They discussed their shared goal of achieving "the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs."

The call came amid a whirlwind of activity over the possible June 12 summit in Singapore. Trump pulled out of the meeting Kim Jong Un last week, but then said a day later that it could get back on track. The White House's latest characterization of the meeting as "expected" appears to be a further sign that it could go ahead.

Trump said Sunday that a U.S. team was in North Korea to work on plans. Another U.S. delegation was in Singapore to work on logistics.

___

12:40 a.m.

The presence of U.S. officials in North Korea is raising expectations that a summit between President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong Un will take place after all.

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, then quickly announced that the meeting could get back on track.

On Sunday, Trump tweeted that a U.S. team had arrived in the North to make arrangements for the summit. Later, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the nations' officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the demilitarized zone, or DMZ.

Trump's tweet offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, and the latest signal that his concerns about the North's stance toward the summit have been allayed.

In this May 26, 2018 photo provided on May 27, 2018, by South Korea Presidential Blue House, South Korean President Moon Jae-in writes on a visitor's book as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, stands at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea. Kim and Moon met Saturday, May 26 for the second time in a month, exchanging a huge bear hug and broad smiles in a surprise summit at a border village to discuss Kim's potential meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and ways to follow through on the peace initiatives of the rivals' earlier summit. (South Korea Presidential Blue House via AP)

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Joshua Holt, who was recently released from a prison in Venezuela, in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In this May 26, 2018 photo provided on May 27, 2018, by South Korea Presidential Blue House, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, shake hands before their meeting at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea. Moon said Sunday, May 27, that Kim committed in the rivals' surprise meeting to sitting down with President Donald Trump and to a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The Korean leaders' second summit in a month Saturday, May 26, saw bear hugs and broad smiles, but their quickly arranged meeting appears to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border. (South Korea Presidential Blue House via AP)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, shakes hands with a journalist afte a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Moon said Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed in the rivals' surprise meeting Saturday to sitting down with U.S. President Donald Trump in a summit and to a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Lewis Hamilton has called on Monacos organisers to ring the changes after lamenting Sundays processional affair as the most boring race of his career.

Daniel Ricciardo nursed his wounded Red Bull home, while Sebastian Vettel moved to within 14 points of Hamilton after finishing one place ahead of his rival in second.

Ricciardo was down on power for much of the race after engine gremlins struck with 50 laps still remaining. But the Australian never came under threat at a circuit where overtaking is, and always has been, virtually impossible.

Lewis Hamilton wants to make the Monaco Grand Prix more exciting (Tim Goode/PA)

Indeed the top six crossed the line in the order they qualified.

Thank God thats over, Hamilton said on the Mercedes radio at the conclusion of the grand prix. That was the most boring race Ive ever participated in.

The Brit, 33, later said: We were just cruising around from lap six, literally cruising, so it wasnt really racing.

Monaco has got the biggest build-up and it is the most special race of the year, but Formula One needs to apply a different schedule here.

From a racing drivers point of view, we were never pushing. It was insane how little I was pushing. I was 10 seconds behind, but I was conflicted because in my heart I wanted to win this race, but the team just asked me to bring the car home.

Big congrats to Daniel this weekend. Thank you to the team for your hard work all weekend as always. Were looking forward to the next one in Canada  #MonacoGP #F1 @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/IOgTv7y8Cu  Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 27, 2018

Hamilton added: What can we do to make this one better? I spoke to Prince Albert the other day and said maybe we should make it longer. There are more roads so maybe we can change this great track and make it even better.

Or maybe the format should change. You shouldnt be able to do a one-stop race here. There has to be some mixed-up things. Maybe we need two races?

Hamilton was not alone in his view, with Fernando Alonso, a former winner at Monte Carlo and double world champion, also taking aim at Sundays spectacle.

This was probably the most boring race ever, Alonso, who retired in the closing stages, said.

The sport needs to think a little bit about the show because this is very disappointing.

We probably need to give something to the fans at the end of the race just to pay back the ticket.
A man will appear in court charged with murder after a woman failed to turn up to her own birthday celebrations and was found dead in a bed.

Christina Abbotts, 29, was discovered bludgeoned to death in Crawley on Friday night.

Zahid Naseem, 47, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, was remanded in custody and will appear at Brighton Magistrates Court on Monday, police said.

Naseem, who knew Ms Abbotts, was arrested at the property.

Zahid Naseem was arrested at the property (Flora Thompson/PA)

Ms Abbotts had been living at the flat in the Gossops Green area of the West Sussex town, Sussex Police confirmed.

The preliminary cause of death from a post-mortem examination is blunt force trauma to the head, a spokesman said.

Witnesses told how police flooded into the street shortly after 10.30pm on Friday after friends, who were worried when she failed to turn up to meet them in London, raised the alarm.
Italys president has come under fire after he vetoed the proposed economy minister of what would have been Western Europes first populist government, ushering in the likelihood of a new election within months.

News reports said Sergio Mattarella would convene the former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli to the presidential palace later on Monday and ask him to form a technical government that can lead Italy until a new election.

Mr Mattarellas office declined to reveal his plans.

Markets have largely welcomed his decision to put an end to the proposed government of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and right-wing nationalist League, which had insisted on Paolo Savona as economy minister.

Mr Mattarellas veto on Sunday enraged League leader Matteo Salvini, pictured (Flavio Lo Scalzo/ANSA via AP)

Mr Savona, a former industry minister, has questioned whether Italy should ditch the euro as its currency.

The Milan stock exchange opened higher on Monday and the spread of points between Italys bonds and benchmark German bonds, which had grown alarmingly last week, fell slightly.

Mr Mattarellas veto on Sunday enraged both League leader Matteo Salvini and Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio, who threatened to start impeachment proceedings against him.

The president, however, took pains to explain that he was fully in his constitutional right and duty to reject Mr Savona as economy minister, saying he had repeatedly asked for a minister who would not be perceived as entertaining Italys exit from the euro.

Sticking with the euro is a fundamentally important choice for our country and our young people, Mr Mattarella said in a late-night statement at the Quirinale Palace.

Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio threatened to start impeachment proceedings against the president (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

If you want to discuss it, it should have been done openly and with a serious debate, which he noted had not been part of the electoral campaign.

Mr Cottarelli, for his part, is an economist who assisted a former centre-left government in slashing public spending.

A technical government will still be subject to votes of confidence in both houses of Parliament, and the Five Star Movement and League made clear Mr Cottarelli would not have their support.

In an interview with Radio Capital on Monday, Mr Salvini wondered aloud who would vote for him.

Mr Mattarella didnt give the centre-right the chance to form a government because we didnt have the votes, and now Mr Cottarelli arrives without any votes? It seems a stretch, Mr Salvini said.

Paolo Savona, pictured here in 2005, was the League-favoured candidate for economy minister (Luca Bruno/AP)

He also warned ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi against voting for Mr Cottarellis government.

In a statement late on Sunday, the three-time premier took a much more measured tone about the collapse of the Five Star-League experiment, refusing to criticise Mr Mattarella.

Mr Berlusconi had never endorsed the populist attempt at government, but had not impeded it either.

He has as much to gain from a new election as the League, which has seen its popularity only rise in the weeks since the March 4 election resulted in a hung parliament.

The vote gave the centre-right alliance of the League, Mr Berlusconis Forza Italia and a smaller party 37%, while the Five Star Movement took 32%.

However, Mr Salvini warned Mr Berlusconi that the alliance would collapse if Forza Italia voted for Mr Cottarelli.
A man has appeared in court charged with murder after a woman failed to turn up to her own birthday celebrations and was found dead in a bed.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit, dark-haired Zahid Naseem spoke only to confirm his name, age and address when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on Monday.

He is accused of killing Christina Abbotts, 29, who was found bludgeoned to death in Crawley on Friday night.

Naseem, who knew Ms Abbotts, was arrested at the property, police said.

Christina Abbotts had been living at the flat in the Gossops Green area where she was found dead, Sussex Police confirmed (Flora Thompson/PA)

Ms Abbotts had been living at the flat in the Gossops Green area of the West Sussex town, Sussex Police confirmed.

The preliminary cause of death from a post-mortem examination is blunt force trauma to the head, a spokesman said.

Neighbours told how police flooded into the street shortly after 10.30pm on Friday after friends, who were worried when she failed to turn up to meet them in London, raised the alarm.

Maria Slater, prosecuting, asked for the case to be sent straight to a crown court because the nature of the allegation was so serious.

The 47-year-old, of Elm Close, Amersham in Buckinghamshire, nodded as magistrates told him he would be remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday before being led away from the dock.
A migrant from Mali lauded as a hero for scaling an apartment building in Paris to save a young child dangling from a balcony will be rewarded for his exceptional act with papers to legalise his stay, French president Emmanuel Macron said.

He said 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama will also be given citizenship if he wants and a job as a firefighter.

Bravo, Mr Macron said to Mr Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with the awarding of a medal from the prefecture for courage and devotion.

Avec M. GASSAMA qui a sauve samedi la vie dun enfant en escaladant 4 etages a mains nues. Je lui ai annonce quen reconnaissance de cet acte heroique il allait etre regularise dans les plus brefs delais, et que la brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris etait prete a laccueillir. pic.twitter.com/xMpFlP1UFe  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 28, 2018

Mr Gassamas feat went viral on social media, where he has been dubbed Spiderman for climbing up five floors, from balcony to balcony, and whisking a four-year-old boy to safety on Saturday night as a crowd screamed at the foot of the building in Paris northern 18th district.

The young man said he has papers to legally stay in Italy, where he arrived in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean after a long, rough stay in Libya.

However, he wants to join his older brother, who has lived in France for decades.

Mr Gassama, dressed in blue jeans and white shirt, recounted his experience which took place at around 8pm on Saturday when he and friends saw a young child hanging from a fifth-floor balcony.

I ran. I crossed the street to save him, he told Mr Macron during a filmed portion of the meeting.

He said he did not think twice, adding: When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing.

God helped me too, he said. Thank God I saved him.

Mr Gassama felt fear when he took the child into the apartment.

I was trembling, he told Mr Macron.

Mamoudou Gassama displays a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech as he leaves the presidential Elysee Palace (Thibault Camus, Pool/AP)

Because this is an exceptional act we are obviously, today, going to regularise all your papers, Mr Macron told him, and if you wish we will start naturalisation procedures so you can become French.

Mr Gassama told Mr Macron that he arrived in Italy in 2014 after more than a year in Libya, where he was arrested and beaten, but I wasnt discouraged.

The French president is toughening the nations approach to immigration, and stressed that not all who make the treacherous journey to Europe can be welcomed, but that Mr Gassamas actions were admirable.

You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him, the president said.

You need courage and the capability to do that.

Working as a firefighter corresponds with his skills, Mr Macron said, and opened the door for him to join.

You have become an example because millions have seen you on social media, the president said.

The French media reported that the father of the small child was detained for alleged parental neglect.
A woman who fought a long legal battle to liberalise abortion law in Northern Ireland has urged Theresa May to step in.

Northern Ireland will be the only part of the UK or Ireland not to allow the procedure after the Republic voted overwhelmingly for change in a referendum at the weekend.

Sarah Ewart went for a termination in England in 2013 after doctors told her her unborn baby would not survive outside the womb.

The Stormont Assembly is suspended due to the collapse of powersharing months ago.

Ms Ewart told the BBC: If we had an assembly here, we would be literally at their doors begging, but we dont so we are really hoping that we can have help from Westminster and Theresa May to give us the access we need here in Northern Ireland.

Its a relief that women like me are going to be able to travel down to Dublin to access this procedure, but really we are wanting the help here to have it within our own hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Regina Doherty (right) said legislation would be introduced to liberalise abortion in the Irish Republic (Josh Payne/PA)

Ms Ewarts legal case galvanised an issue which has since made its way to the UK Supreme Court.

Mrs May is under pressure to intervene in the Northern Ireland debate following the two-to-one vote in favour of reform in Ireland.

Her Government is propped up in key votes by the DUP, which opposes any relaxation in the law and which has opposed any change in Northern Ireland under devolution.

Theresa May has been urged to support liberalisation of Northern Irelands laws (Leon Neal/PA)

Meanwhile, the Irish Government has said the Republic has set the tone for what should happen in Northern Ireland.

Employment Minister Regina Doherty said her colleagues will move quickly on legislation.

New laws are expected to be in place by the end of the year and Health Minister Simon Harris is to consult officials in his department on the legislation and guidelines.

The Irish Cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to consider a memo on the way forward.

Yes campaigners in Dublin Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

Asked whether she will be putting pressure on Mrs May to introduce legislation in Northern Ireland, Ms Doherty said: I think she has enough pressure and I think the resounding mandate that was given by the Republic of Ireland managed to set the tone with regard to what should happen in Northern Ireland but obviously they are responsible for their own.

She also said the vast majority of doctors will deliver the service women require despite some having a conscientious objection to the referendum result.

Those campaigning for liberalisation secured a stunning victory on Saturday, after it was confirmed that 66.4% of voters in Fridays referendum backed repeal of the controversial Eighth Amendment of the constitution, which bans abortion in all but exceptional circumstances.

Mr Harris will seek cabinet backing on Tuesday to draft legislation that would allow abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, subject to medical advice and a cooling-off period, and up to 24 weeks in exceptional circumstances.
More thunderstorms are set to hit southern parts of the UK as the hot weather brings with it torrential downpours.

Holidaymakers enjoying the long weekend and those off for half-term have been warned of the risk of flash floods and sudden worsening of visibility amid heavy rainfall.

Southern England and much of Wales is covered by a yellow weather warning, with the thunderstorms looking likely to continue into Tuesday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service were called after a car was submerged in flood water in Walsall (Peter Bowles/West Midlands Ambulance Service/PA)

One elderly man lost his life in the early hours of Monday when his vehicle became submerged in Walsall, and multiple rescues had to be carried out from cars, buses and homes on Sunday, the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service technical rescue unit said.

While further thunderstorms are forecast for parts of Wales and England the rainfall is unlikely to be as intense as Sundays, the Met Office said, predicting up to 30mm rainfall in the space of an hour in affected areas.

A man has died after his vehicle was submerged in flood water in Walsall following flash flooding that hit the region.

Police were called to Lichfield Road, Rushall, just after 2am today (Monday 28 May) to reports that a vehicle had entered the water: https://t.co/HrIymRY3Rw pic.twitter.com/MFVJKcfHaL  West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) May 28, 2018

Although temperatures had been tipped to rise to the highest of the year so far, late-clearing cloud kept the mercury lower than expected, forecaster Greg Dewhurst said.

The cloud cover took longer to burn back this morning so its just kept things a bit cooler and just hasnt had that full amount of sunshine to heat everywhere up, he said.

Thorney Island in West Sussex was the warmest recorded spot by late afternoon, peaking at 25.8C, a few degrees shy of the April high of 29.1c in central London.

A combination of warm, unstable air and light winds has sparked the thunderstorms, Mr Dewhurst said.

Dozens of flood alerts remained in place on Monday for the Midlands and some southern parts of England.

The Environment Agency has warned people not to drive through floodwater, reminding people that just 30cm can move a car.

The Met Office said a site at Winterbourne, in Edgbaston, recorded 58mm of rainfall in just one hour on Sunday afternoon, and 81mm in a 12-hour period.

Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control received more than 900 weather-related calls, with crews attending 100 incidents on Sunday evening.

Birmingham City Council, which said it could not yet put a figure on how many properties have been affected, has advised that while flood water is subsiding in the area, people should take care and beware of debris.

A clean-up operation is under way with extra street cleaning crews working to clear rubbish from affected areas.

The large amount of rainfall in a short timeframe has led to localised flash flooding@WMASHART have assisted @OFFICIALWMAS crews with retrieving patients from flooded properties



Our control room is very busy this evening - Please only call 999 for life threatening emergencies pic.twitter.com/S5Coyp6dDM  Peter Bowles (@wmaspeterbowles) May 27, 2018

Carol Holt, Environment Agency flood duty manager, said: Further heavy showers in some parts over the remainder of this bank holiday weekend carry a risk of further localised flooding.

She added: Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the flooding this weekend and our teams are working with those communities who have experienced flooding.

We are continuing to check and operate defences and we are supporting local authorities in responding to surface-water flooding.

Emergency services were called to the Walsall incident shortly after 2am to find two vehicles in the flooded Lichfield Road in Rushall.

The victim, aged in his 80s, was taken to hospital where he later died, but a second person found in the water was unhurt, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Hot and #sunny for many this #BankHolidayMonday, but staying cool on the east coast and watch out for some torrential #thunderstorms later #weatheraware pic.twitter.com/kvQNvpvfe7  Met Office (@metoffice) May 28, 2018

Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: I would say pretty much anywhere across England and Wales could see some thunderstorms but they wont be as intense as they were yesterday.

They could still give some torrential downpours, some localised flooding is still possible, some local hail as well and lightning but they shouldnt be quite as intense as they were yesterday.

Scotland and Northern Ireland enjoyed a warm, dry Monday with highs of 25C and 23C respectively.
US President Donald Trump said he had come to the sacred soil of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day to honour the lives and deeds of Americas greatest heroes.

An audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans, families of the fallen and others gathered on Tuesday in the marble amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Mr Trump said all Americans strive to be worthy of the sacrifice they made on behalf of a thankful nation.

He marked his second Memorial Day as commander in chief by laying a wreath at the tomb.

Before heading to the hallowed grounds across the Potomac River from the nations capital, Mr Trump tweeted that those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today.

In the tweet, the president veered from the somber to self-congratulatory, citing what he said was the Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!

He was criticised for his tone by a number of people, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Obama administration, former Army General Martin Dempsey, who tweeted, This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us.

At Arlington, Mr Trump said the heroes who died for America rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far, and are drawn from the full tapestry of American life.

He said they came from every generation, from towering cities and wind-swept prairies, from privilege and from poverty. They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, color and of every creed, but they were all brothers and sisters in arms. And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country.

National security adviser John Bolton and his wife Greatchen Smith Bolton attend the wreath laying (Evan Vucci/AP)

General Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honoured the more than a million Americans he said gave their last full measure so we could live in freedom and raise our children in peace.He also honoured the families they left behind and for whom every day is Memorial Day.

Those who fought and died for America, he said, shared a commitment to something greater than themselves and they were people who understand what we have in this country is worth fighting for.

Those who attended the Memorial Day tribute included Mr Trumps chief of staff, John Kelly, whose son, Marine 2nd Lieutenant Robert M. Kelly, was killed in November 2010 after he stepped on a land mine while on patrol in southern Afghanistan.

He is buried at Arlington.
The families of two young people who died at a festival have paid tribute to them.

Tommy Cowan, 20, and 18-year-old Georgia Jones, both from Havant in Hampshire, died after falling ill at Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth on Saturday night.

Three men are in custody after being arrested on suspicion of drug dealing.

A 20-year-old man from Havant, a 20-year-old from Waterlooville, and a 22-year-old man from Cosham have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, Hampshire Police said.

Ms Jones worked with people with learning and physical difficulties, her family said.

Georgia was a very strong-willed and opinionated young lady, they said in a statement released through Hampshire police.

She was a shoulder for anyone that needed it. She loved her job working with people with learning and physical difficulties. We just hope she uses her indoor voice wherever she may be.

Tommy Cowan died after becoming ill at Mutiny Festival (Hampshire Police/PA)

Damien Cowan, the father of Mr Cowan who was also known as Tommy Bakeer, told of his shock and sadness.

He said, in a statement also released through police: My baby boy, I miss you so much and cant believe you are gone.

Fly high with the angels and sleep well. Until we meet again, I love and miss you always.

The pair were among 15 revellers admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital from the event that night, with organisers issuing a warning of a high strength or bad batch of drugs.

The second day of the festival, which Craig David and Sean Paul were due to headline, was cancelled as a safety precaution.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said it was believed they were admitted after falling ill from the effects of drugs. Another person remains in a critical condition.

Mr Cowan was described as a caring young father.

According to Portsmouth newspaper The News, his father said: He was funny. He loved life and he loved his little boy.

He was everything. He was a good lad  unfortunately he made a bad choice.

Mr Cowan was a brilliant friend, according to 19-year-old Jack Ford, who said they met at college studying uniformed services.

He is such a caring guy who would do anything for anyone. He loved going out with his mates but most importantly loved spending time with his girlfriend and son, said Mr Ford, who lives near Portsmouth.

It was a big shock to lose such a great guy like him.

Police said Ms Jones was taken ill at the festival in King George V Playing Fields at 7.10pm before Mr Cowan was found collapsed 20 minutes later.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the two young people who lost their lives at @MutinyFestivals yesterday.  Craig David (@CraigDavid) May 27, 2018

A further 12 festival-goers went to the hospital on Saturday, but their cases were not necessarily all drugs-related, the hospital spokeswoman said.

Three more attended on Sunday morning to be treated for injuries sustained in assaults or because of alcohol-related intoxication, the spokeswoman added.

Police said the deaths were separate incidents and were not suspicious.

Mutiny warned at around 9.30pm on Saturday, after the pair were taken ill, that it was aware of a dangerous high-strength or bad-batch substance on site, and that no drugs should be taken.

I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING @MutinyFestivals 2NITE. MY HEART GOES OUT 2 FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES LAST NIGHT!   Sean Paul (@duttypaul) May 27, 2018

The festival announced the deaths, before adding: Following the terrible news from earlier today, the team behind Mutiny Festival are incredibly sad to announce that the Sunday of the festival has been cancelled as a safety precaution.

The organisers of the festival, which was headlined by Dizzee Rascal on Saturday, also urged customers to responsibly dispose of any substances.

Sean Paul paid his respects to the loved ones of the pair who died, as did Craig David, who tweeted: My heart goes out to the family and friends of the two young people who lost their lives at @MutinyFestivals yesterday.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.
British number two Heather Watson shrugged off her recent poor form to reach the second round of the French Open for the sixth time.

The 26-year-old needed just over an hour to dispatch a distinctly off-colour Oceane Dodin of France 6-3 6-0.

She will face either Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens or Varvara Lepchenko of the USA as she bids to reach the third round for the first time.

Heather Watson shrugged off her recent poor form in Paris (Nigel French/PA)

 Come on! Brilliant performance by @HeatherWatson92 to reach the #FrenchOpen 2nd round after blasting past Dodin 6-3, 6-0! #BackTheBrits  pic.twitter.com/XFNv8iuCpb  LTA (@the_LTA) May 28, 2018

Watson arrived at Roland Garros having lost nine of her previous 10 matches, and looked nervous as she dropped her opening service game.

But Watson broke back for 2-2 and as Dodins error count began to creep up she went on to take the opening set.

Dodins game then fell away completely to virtually gift Watson a free pass into the next round.

She needed five match points to get over the line but eventually wrapped up a morale-boosting win.

I started a little nervous, said Watson. I was feeling really confident coming in, and loosened up. I played really, really well.

It was tough to close it out. You could feel the rain coming up. Throwing the ball up to serve I kept getting water in my eyes.

I was happy with my level throughout the whole match. Despite my season, I was feeling so confident coming into the match because Ive done everything to prepare, to the best of my ability.
Fabinho will join Liverpool on a long-term contract on July 1 after the Champions League finalists agreed a deal with Monaco on Monday.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five things you might not know about the Brazilian midfielder.

"He has ability and mentality to play at the highest level in a number of positions. He can play 6, 8 and 2. This is cool." 



The boss on why he's so excited about Fabinho signing: https://t.co/6AUt4XUyjg pic.twitter.com/hX49UVnLKk  Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 28, 2018

Bye bye, Brazil

Fabinho, who was born in October 1993, barely featured in Brazil before departing for Europe. He graduated from the Fluminense academy as a right-back but was soon off to Rio Ave and, after hardly any time with the Portuguese club, he was off to Real Madrid and their Castilla development squad.

Man like Mendes

Jorge Mendes has been the driving force behind many successful careers in football (Neal Simpson/EMPICS)

Pulling the strings for the then Brazil Under-20 international was his agent Jorge Mendes, who also looks after Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho and has recently worked with promoted Wolves. His Gestifute agency has helped many Portuguese-speaking players make progress at the biggest clubs.

The Real deal?

Apparently not. The emergence of Dani Carvajal at the Bernabeu meant Fabinho was unlikely to break through quickly and so he moved to Monaco, initially on loan, from his parent club Rio Ave. He managed only one first-team appearance for Real, providing an assist for Angel Di Maria in a win over Malaga.

Monacos main man

Fabinho never looked back following his switch to the principality and his signing was made permanent in May 2015. By that time he had remodelled himself as a defensive midfielder  although he still enjoys the occasional raid down the right flank  in a team that featured the likes of Bernardo Silva and Kylian Mbappe and last summer he was celebrating clinching the Ligue 1 title with Monaco.

Links to United

Fabinho has opted to embark on a career at Anfield but for a long time it appeared that Manchester United might be his preferred UK destination. It was Mourinho who handed the tall Brazilian his Real debut against Malaga and the Portuguese made it clear he wanted to bring a new attacking full-back to Old Trafford last summer, choosing ultimately to field Antonio Valencia ahead of Matteo Darmian.
By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries

DUBLIN, May 27 (Reuters) - Irish people paid homage on Sunday to an Indian immigrant woman whose death inspired a historic vote to repeal Ireland's strict abortion laws while the Catholic Church rued the outcome saying it showed indifference to its teachings.

In a referendum on Friday, the once deeply Catholic nation voted to scrap a prohibition on abortion by a margin of two-to-one, a landslide victory that astonished campaigners as citizens of every age and background demanded the change they had spent decades fighting for.

The vote overturns a law which, for decades, has forced over 3,000 women to travel to Britain each year for terminations that they could not legally have in their own country. "Yes" campaigners had argued that with pills now being bought illegally online abortion was already a reality in Ireland.

Hundreds of people on Sunday continued to leave flowers and candles at a large mural in Dublin of Savita Halappanaar, the 31-year-old Indian whose death in 2012 from a septic miscarriage after being refused a termination spurred lawmakers into action.

Katy Gaffney, a 24-year-old baker who travelled home to Dublin from Berlin to vote, stood silently in front of the makeshift memorial crying.

"I am relieved but devastated that it had to come to this," she said.

Others, many with tears in their eyes, pinned messages to the wall. One read: "I'm so sorry this happened to you before the country woke up. My vote was for you." Another: "I'm sorry we let you down. It won't be in vain."

"It's not a high. It's more of a relief," said Lynda Cosgrave, a 35-year-old legal associate, wearing the black sweatshirt with 'Repeal' in white that become the symbol of the youthful "Yes" campaign.

"I thought when I came in last night it would be jubilant, but it was a bit down. It's a bit sad. I don't think we ever thought it would actually happen."

The campaign was defined by women publicly sharing their painful experiences of going abroad for procedures, a key reason why all but one of Ireland's 40 constituencies voted "Yes".

The government of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who campaigned to repeal the laws, will begin drafting legislation in the coming week to allow abortions with no restriction up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy by the end of the year.

Many lawmakers who campaigned for a "No" vote said they would not try to block the bill.

NEW MILESTONE

The outcome was a new milestone on a path of change for the country of 4.8 million which only legalised divorce by a tiny majority in 1995 before becoming the first in the world to adopt gay marriage by popular vote three years ago.

With the vote making newspaper frontpages across the world, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter that "Ireland has once again made history." He called the vote an essential symbol for women's freedom.

In Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May faces a showdown with ministers and lawmakers in her Conservative party after refusing to back reform of highly restrictive abortion laws in the British province of Northern Ireland which has a 500 km (312 mile) land border with Ireland.

Ireland's push to liberalise its laws is in contrast to another traditionally Catholic European country, Poland, where the ruling conservative party and still powerful church are seeking to ban most abortions.

In Ireland though, the once all-powerful Catholic Church, which has seen its public influence collapse since the 1980s after a string of child sex abuse scandals, took a back seat throughout the referendum campaign.

In churches across the country on Sunday there was only regret at the outcome.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin told parishioners that the church had to "renew its commitment to support life."

"Many will see the results of Friday's referendum as an indication that the Catholic Church in Ireland is regarded today by many with indifference and as having a marginal role in the formation of Irish culture," Martin said in a homily published by the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick called the result "deeply regrettable and chilling for those of us who voted 'No'." He asked those attending mass to pray for healing in Irish society.

Calling on colleagues to move quickly on legislation, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone reminded lawmakers that Irish women would still have to travel across the water to Britain for terminations until they acted.

"Women are leaving the country today," she told national broadcaster RTE. "We have to be aware of that and have that sense of urgency in order to legislate as soon as possible." (Reporting by Padraic Halpin Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Twelve Sri Lankan migrant workers stranded as a result of a labour dispute in Somaliland, a self-declared state of Somalia, would return to Sri Lanka shortly, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

The Ministry said the workers would be brought back safely in coordination with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a statement, the Ministry said Sri Lanka does not have diplomatic and consular presence in Somaliland.

Therefore, the Ministry and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Addis Ababa worked with the IOM Office in Hargeisa which interceded to negotiate with the employer concerned in Somaliland to resolve the labour dispute, to secure the release of the Sri Lankans, and facilitate their safe return, it said.

The Sri Lankan Government expressed its gratitude to the IOM for the role it played by providing assistance to the Government and people of Sri Lanka on this particular occasion as well as in the past in many similar situations.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry urged all Sri Lankans to be cautious in undertaking employment in high risk territories in which Sri Lanka does not have resident diplomatic and consular presence.
Actress Deepani Silva has been arrested by the Bandaragama police this morning in connection with an accident in which her car collided with a three-wheeler in Bandaragama injuring a child.

Police said the injured child, who was inside the three-wheeler, was admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.

Deepani Silva would be produced in the Panadura Magistrate's Court, Police said.
Amana Takaful PLC (ATL) was awarded the prestigious Gold Award in the Takaful Entity of the Year category, together with its novel insurance scheme Kiri Govi Sathakara (a scheme especially for the dairy farmers ) , which was also awarded Gold in the Product of the Year category at the Sri Lanka Islamic Banking and Finance Industry (SLIBFI) Awards held recently.

The Annual SLIBFI Awards show was introduced to recognize and honour individuals and institutions for their contribution and performance in the Sri Lankan Islamic Banking and Finance industry. The SLIBFI Awards highlight excellence in the industry and give special recognition to institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding performance, innovation, use of technology and a significant contribution to society. The awards ceremony was held as part of a gala evening, which celebrated the gathering of the SLIBFI fraternity. Accolades were awarded in multiple categories, which were keenly contested. The nominees were selected after a thorough auditing process conducted by KPMG auditors, who partnered as the official adjudicator of the event.



Commenting on these prestigious accolades, Mr Fazal Ghaffoor, CEO, ATL, stated, It is a great honour to be adjudged the The Takaful Entity of the Year. We are also very proud to have Kiri Govi Sathakara win Gold as the Product of the Year. It is a product that we truly believe in and we are proud that it has been recognised. At ATL, we strive to provide the best services and products to our customers while delivering the best to our stakeholders, profitably and productively. These awards are a welcome acknowledgement of our hard work and the trust our policyholders place in us.

ATL continues to be in the forefront of the insurance industry in Sri Lanka and caters to all segments of customers. The Takaful way of insurance operates on the concept of bringing people together to be part of a system that gives them the opportunity to help each other. Since its inception in 1999, ATL has been successful in establishing a strong position for the concept of Takaful amidst competition from established conventional players. As the pioneer Takaful provider, ATL operates 35 branches and is set to expand further to better serve customers across the country. ATL continuously reaches out to customers from all segments of society and offers innovative and state-of-the-art insurance products that are convenient, affordable and reliable. As part of its commitment to remain open to all, ATL serves all communities and employs a multi-ethnic team across its network
It was a rich harvest of awards for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the 8th SAARC Film Festival which concluded here on Sunday. While Sri Lanka bagged the Best Director, Best Actor and Best Sound Recording awards and also a Special Jury award, Bangladesh walked away with the Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Music Direction awards.



India too acquitted itself creditably, though not to the same extent as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It also got four awards; those of Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Short Film. One of the two Special Jury awards also went to India.



While the Pakistani entries were quite a few among the 26 films shown from May 22 to 26, they were crassly commercial with little or no artistic content.

The Bhutanese and Maldivian films, on the other hand, were outstanding, whether in content, acting or technical values.



These films came as a pleasant surprise given the fact that these countries have no presence yet in the world of cinema. The Bhutanese and Maldivian films on show dealt with burning social issues boldly and brought to light aspects of Maldivian or Bhutanese societies which the world around was not aware of.

But it was disheartening to find on the awards giving day, that none of the films from Bhutan and the Maldives had made the grade in the estimation of the jury. The three-member jury comprised: Ms. Han Sunhee of South Korea, who is Dean of the International Film Business Academy of the Busan Asian Film School; Amable Tikoy Aguiluz of the Philippines who is a leading light of the alternative film movement in his country; and Christophe Henri of France who is an international actor and filmmaker.



Sri Lanka



The Best Director award went to Sri Lankan Director Prasanna Jayakody for his film 28 (Twenty-Eight). The jury described his work as poignant storytelling about marginalised characters. The director captivates the audience through very clever cinematic storytelling, continuously surfing on the cutting edge of irony and humour.



28 is the story of a village woman who had been raped and murdered and dumped in a mortuary. Her husband identifies the body, and to carry the body to his village, he tricks a van driver into transporting an empty coffin. En route, the coffin falls off the rooftop rack and the dead body gets exposed. Though shocked and angry, the driver agrees to resume the journey. At the village, the people vent their anger against the womans husband for her death. But she addresses the mourners bereft of fear (as she is dead), providing a powerful testimony on the plight of women.



Mahendra Perera of Sri Lanka got the Best Actor award for his work in 28, which was distinguished for the depth, realism and sincere heartfelt portrayal of his character who gradually releases his emotion and connection to the corpse.



Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe of Sri Lanka got the award for the Best Sound Design for his work in Bahuchithawadiya (The Undecided). It accurately reproduced the sounds of the environment and locations of present-day Sri Lanka, the citation said.

28 is the story of a village woman who had been raped and murdered and dumped in a mortuary. Her husband identifies the body, and to carry the body to his village, he tricks a van driver into transporting an empty coffin



Malaka Devapriya got a Special Jury award for the way he directed Bahuchithawadiya (The Undecided). As per the citation, it was a daring movie that pushes the cultural boundaries of traditional Sri Lankan values, in a humorous and accurate way.



The film is about the distressing world of lower-middle class underpaid and frustrated youth. Sasitha works as an underpaid delivery boy in an internet-based gift agency. Through it he develops liaisons with bored and sex-starved wealthy women. But soon the horrors of the real world catch up with him and he begins to use Facebook and Skype to have liaison with girls of his own class working overseas.



Bangladesh



Like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh too grabbed key awards. Tauquir Ahmeds Halda about the troubled Halda River in Bangladesh, walked away with the Best Feature Film award. The citation said the film addresses serious environmental issues of real day-to-day Bangladesh life, emphasizing the struggle of the people through cinematic language. Its about sustainability of the life of the rural people.



The Best Cinematographer award went to Enamul Haque Sohel of Bangladesh for his work in Halda. The award was given for the light and shadow interplay of the lives and drama of the people in the river Halda. Amit Debnath was given the Best Editor prize for his work in Halda. He was praised for enabling the fluid and balanced flow of the story.



Halda got the award for the Best Original Music Score too. The citation praised the work of Tauquir Ahmed, Pinto Ghosh, and Sanzida Mahmood Nandita for its beautiful conversion of traditional Bangladesh music into contemporary flavour.



Halda is about the dwindling quantity of fish in the increasingly-polluted Halda River which had been a major breeding ground for fish in Bangladesh for centuries. Driven into abject poverty, fishermen and their women fall prey to the designs of rich men. Fisherwomen were forced into marriages with affluent old men who treated them as slaves and not as wives.



Director Tauquir Ahmed had made a gripping film based on his own script written to perfection through 17 drafts. He derives satisfaction from the fact that the Bangladeshi Government woke up to the issue of pollution, and today, Halda river is back to being a major breeding ground of fish.



India



The Indian child star Vaishnavi Tangde bagged the Best Actress prize for her portrayal of a rural working class girl hungry for a school education to get ahead in life. In the Marathi language film Kshitij (The Horizon), Vaishnavis portrayal of the village girl was honest, innocent and realistic, the jury said.



Prashant Pandey & Shreya Dev Verma got the Best Screenplay award for their work in the Indian film Poorna. The film is a triumph of the spirit story with a compelling and accurate narration of true events that project the hardships of climbing Mt. Everest.



Directed by Rahul Bose, Poorna is a true story based on the life of Poorna, the youngest girl to climb Mt. Everest. Though a poor village girl, she does amazingly well in a rock climbing competition, and is picked up for formal training in mountain climbing. She struggles to keep it up but ultimately succeeds in achieving every mountaineers dream: to climb the Everest and also be the youngest to do so.



Manouj Kadaamh of India got the Special Jury award for his film Kshitij (The Horizon). Commending his work the citation said that it was a sincere and relevant portrayal of the need for education of the youths in India, especially young girls.



The Indian short film GI directed by Kunjila Mascillamani was adjudged the Best Short Film and commended for using the cinematic language to tell a story about a girls sacrifice for her grandfather.
A decision by a local bank to suspend two of its employees for commemorating the war dead of the final phase of the Eelam war has now caused a fresh wave of controversy. The disciplinary action was purportedly taken after Sinhala nationalist social media highlighted the incident. The Bank said in a media statement, HNB takes very seriously any sentiment or act that is in violation of, or poses a threat to the morale of citizens of Sri Lanka. As a Bank that stands for all Sri Lankans, our goals, interests and initiatives are all aligned to the vision and greater good of our Country.

We regret an unauthorized incident that took place recently in one of our branches, which does not reflect the values of the Bank. The matter has been investigated and necessary action taken.



The management response has however drawn condemnation from Tamil society, and Tamil diaspora groups, who are unlikely to have accounts on the HNB anyway, have called for a boycott of the bank.

The third question however is political connotations behind these events



This incident raises several important questions which go beyond the usual contentions over the amount of control that an employer can have over its employees. In general, companies that try to control private lives of their employees are loathed, sued and discredited. Whereas, there is no consensus as to how much control the employers could wield over the professional conduct of their workers. The problem get complicated when the private conduct of the employees are intertwined, or viewed as such, with their professional lives. Commemorating the war dead in an impromptu event inside the Kilinochchi branch of the HNB during the working hours falls well within the employers purview. However, businesses do celebrate many events, ranging from religious and national festivities to the Indian Ocean tsunami. On the other hand, if the HNB employees in Hambantota choose to commemorate those who perished in the JVP uprising in 1989, one would wonder whether the bank would act with the same diligence. This lead to the second question of what is permissible  and what is not. That is a tricky question, more so in the context of ethnic polarization and political fragmentation in the country. Suspended employees have defended their action, claiming that they had commemorated the dead civilians, and not the LTTE. Sinhala nationalist right in the South thinks otherwise, and the bank has cowed into their pressure. Leave aside the discredited claims of zero civilian casualties , a claim which effectively handed over a propaganda victory to the Eelam Tamil fringe, there is no gainsaying that a considerable number of civilians perished during the war.



The governments repeated failure to give an accurate death count, which is not so much to provide, unless of course, there is a concerted effort by either side to distort the numbers , has now given rise to various concocted figures. If those suspended employees in Kilinochchi, have family members perished in the conflict, the bank decision obviously raise serious moral questions. That is the same moral question that Sri Lanka as a country is faced with in responding to the remembrance day on May 18.

This lead to the second question of what is permissible  and what is not. That is a tricky question, more so in the context of ethnic polarization and political fragmentation in the country. Suspended employees have defended their action



The third question however is political connotations behind these events. They are no longer a matter of remembering the dead, but, are becoming purveyors of militant Tamil nationalism, the same kind that drove Tamils to Mullivaikkal in the past. The vast majority of victims of the war may desire to keep away from these increasingly polarizing political polemics. However, their politicians, and a microscopic minority of hard core have other calculations. The incendiary speech by Northern Chief Minister C.V.Vigneswaran, in which he announced an annual Tamil genocide day on May 18 and called for international intervention is a case in point. Tamil political leadership has historically resorted to loaded language and trumped up grievances.And they were essentially anti-Sri Lankan. From the very beginning of the independence, they set the tone for confrontation: In 1950, much before the much lamented Sinhala Only Act, the Federal Party disowned the Sri Lankan Flag. All that incremental escalation finally metamorphosed into a nihilistic terrorism, which in a twist of fate for its early advocates, pounced on them, before eating two generations of Tamil children.



Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran who has fallen out with the TNA leadership is probably plotting to use another generation of Tamils as pawns. He has exploited new relative freedoms to advance his personal political ends.

All that incremental escalation finally metamorphosed into a nihilistic terrorism, which in a twist of fate for its early advocates, pounced on them, before eating two generations of Tamil children



He follows a well-trodden self- destructive path of gradual escalation. He has vindicated the fears of Sinhalese nationalists as to where a compromise would finally lead.



Tamils as a whole would not take stocks of his folly, as it had happened with different brands of charlatans and megalomaniacs in the past, until it is too late to push the reset button.Tamils remembrance of their own dead could well be the first casualty of his polarizing approach. But, that may not be the only one, if things are allowed to degenerate.
BEIJING REUTERS May 28 - China will host Iranian President Hassan Rouhani next month at a regional summit aimed at avoiding disruption of joint projects, its foreign ministry said on Monday, as major powers scramble to save Irans nuclear deal after the United States pulled out.



Rouhani will pay a working visit to China and attend the summit of the China and Russia-led security bloc the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the ministry said.



It did not give exact dates for his visit, but the summit is scheduled to be held on the second weekend of June in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao.



Our hope is that China and Iran will have close consultation on the basis of observing the deal and push forward development of bilateral cooperation, Chinese deputy foreign minister Zhang Hanhui said at a briefing. We should together look into how to avoid major disruption of joint projects between the two sides, he added.
The GMOA today condemned the alleged conduct of Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma who had sabotaged a disaster preparedness programme being conducted at the Galewela District Hospital.

GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge said Sri Lanka was a climate risk country as reported in the media, and the country would experience more and more natural disasters in future and as such it was essential to carry out such awareness programmes.

He said it was inappropriate for the deputy minister to forcibly enter the Galewela hospital and disrupt the programme organized by the Disaster Management Ministry.

The deputy minister has disrupting the duties of public servants lawfully involved in the programme, Dr. Aluthge said and urged the government to inquire into this incident.

Meanwhile, the GMOA requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to hold a workshop to educate parliamentarians on how to act when faced with a disaster situation.

It said Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperumas unruly behaviour during a disaster preparedness rehearsal at the Galewela District Hospital on Friday was a bad precedent to all public representatives.

Dr. Aluthge said apart from the public the MPs should also know about handling a disaster situation.

Yahapalana was brought to end an administration where government servants were tied to trees and and made to kneel down. Such a dark age cannot let repeated, he said.

GMOA also criticized Minister Duminda Dissanayake for apologizing to Deputy Minister Thewarapperuma for the incident.

What made Minister Duminda apologise to Thewarapperuma. It should have been the other way round, he added.

Dr. Aluthge warned the deputy minister to keep his business out of the health sector or he will face the consequence. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)

Video by Sanjeewa
Perceptual Treasuries Chief Arjun Aloysius offered me money in 2015 but I refused to accept it, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said yesterday.

Mr. Ramanayake told a media briefing that he was among many MPs who were offered money by the Perpetual Treasuries Chief.

I was offered money by Aloysius but I refused to accept saying I dont want to associate with them, he sai

"JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and I were the only two MPs who had refused to accept money from Aloysius, he added. The Deputy Minister was a member of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) in Parliament which carried out a probe on it.

Mr. Ramanayake said prominent members of clergy belonging to all four main religions, journalists, artistes, MPs, provincial and local politicians were among the 118 persons who had obtained money from Perceptual Treasuries Chief. He said he learnt this from reliable sources.

Those who dont criticize former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera who had been charged with obtaining money from Perceptual Treasuries Chief are the ones who have also taken money from Aloysius. Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake was asked to comment on Dayasiri Jaysekera but he had refused to do so. Only Bandulalal Bandarigoda and few others have criticized Mr Jayasekera and I ask the MPs in my own party to criticize Mr. Jayasekera and prove their innocence, he said. He said the criticism made by SLPP Chairman Prof. G L Peiris was commendable.

He also said Mr. Jayasekera should return the one million rupees to Aloysius.

Further he said Aloysius and Palisena are revealing details of the people to whom they gave money from prison.

Meanwhile, President Maithripala Sirisena assured me that he would soon reveal those who got into deals with the corrupt right from January 8, 2018, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said yesterday.

Mr. Ramanayake the President made this assurance when speaking to him over the telephone last morning. President called me after seeing the statement I made last week that those who pledged to arrest the corrupt within 24 hours of coming to power but gave helicopters for them to get away. He told me that he was not involved in those matters. I told him to make a public statement and disclose everything to the people. Therefore he agreed to make a public statement and disclose everything, Mr. Ramanayake said.

The Deputy Minister said the President also instructed him to send application to his office asking for the names of 118 persons who had obtained cheques from Perceptual Treasuries Chief Arjun Aloysius under Right to information Bill (RTI) and he had already sent an application.

 I hope the Prime Minister will also make a statement and reveal everything to the people, he also said. (Yohan Perera)

Ranjan talks to Sumanadasa During a media briefing yesterday Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake phoned well known Astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunasekara on his mobile to inquire whether it was he who provided advise on Vasthu Sasthra ( science of architecture ) for a newly made mansion which is said was owned by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Ranjan: Hello Mr. Abeygunasekara, I am your good friend Ranjan Ramanayake. Sumanadasa: Ha.. Ayubowan.. Ayubowan are you speaking in the presence of the media. Ranjan: Are you crazy? I am talking from home... I want to know about that Nandasena.. Mr. Gotabaya's house in Kataragama.. Did you do the Vasthu advice for that also? Sumanadasa: No no I never did it... I have actually not even spoken to Mr. Gotabaya.

Pic By Kushan Pathiraja
AFP, 28th MAY, 2018- Indian authorities on Monday ordered the permanent closure of a controversial copper plant, which was at the centre of deadly protests last week with 13 people killed by police fire.

The violence erupted when thousands marched in southern Tamil Nadu state last week, demanding the closure of the factory owned by British-based mining giant Vedanta Resources over fears that it was polluting the environment.



In an order Monday, the state government said it supported concerns raised by its pollution regulator about the Sterlite Copper factory located outside Tuticorin city, and ordered it be shut permanently.

In the larger public interest, the government endorse the closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and also direct the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to seal the unit and plant permanently, the order said.



The pollution board last week ordered that electricity to the factory -- the second-largest copper smelter in India -- be switched off.
Kim fixed on meeting Trump

Hopes of an historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump have been revived, after the US president said meetings on the subject were moving along very nicely.



Days after he called off next months summit in Singapore with Kim, citing Pyongyangs open hostility, Trump told reporters in Washington late Saturday, Were still looking at June 12 in Singapore, that hasnt changed.



His comments came as South Korean President Moon Jae In said it was his understanding that practical talks would soon be held between the

two sides.



The outcome of those talks would decide whether or not the US-North Korea summit would be successful, Moon told reporters in Seoul on Sunday, a day after he held a surprise meeting with Kim at the border between the two countries. Earlier Sunday, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported that Kim had told Moon it was his fixed will to hold the summit with Trump.



Moon said Kim had once again expressed a willingness to meet Trump and that he had reiterated a pledge to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula made when the two leaders first met in April.



The South Korean leader said Saturdays meeting had taken place at Kims request and that the two had agreed that the North Korea-US summit was something on which we cannot fail. - Washington



(dpa)
GPTW CEO, Ratnayaka and TSG CEO, Nilaweera with the GPTW award

Third Space Global, the British owned and BOI approved company based in Orion City was recognised as a Great Place to Work 2018 company. The GPTW 2018 certificate was officially presented to Third Space Globals CEO Roshan Nilaweera by GPTW Sri Lankas CEO, Kshanika Ratnayaka on Monday, 14 May at the Third Space Global office.

Ms. Ratnayaka commented that this is an exceptional achievement given the uniqueness of Third Space Global. Unlike many of Sri Lankas successful companies, TSG is relatively young, having only been set up in June 2015.

Since 2015, TSG has rapidly scaled from 25 to 250 staff whilst growing its business volume 17 fold. Despite its youth, TSG has remained focused on building a strong culture based on its core values of: Care, Commitment, Integrity, Innovation, and Excellence. This has allowed the team to rapidly adapt and grow as it scaled. It is not just the companys age, Third Space Globals workforce too is unusually young, with an average employee age of 23.3 years.

GPTW CEO, Kshanika Ratnayaka presenting Third Space Global with the GPTW award

Third Space Global continues to break with tradition as female staff represent 62% of the workforce. This figure is nearly twice that of the disappointing 36% female representation in the national labour force  the successes and challenges of which were discussed by Countess Sophie during her recent visit to Sri Lanka. TRH Prince Edward and the Countess also visited Third Space Global during their February trip.

Ms. Ratnayaka also commented on how exciting it is for Sri Lanka to have Third Space Global provide education services to the UK in such an innovative method. Currently, Third Space Global is the only company in the world that delivers one-to-one Maths online teaching to a state school education sector. By working directly with the schools, TSG are able to work with at-risk children who need extra support, thus allowing TSG to pursue its social mission We seek social change by cultivating a global community of the most ambitious talent to make effective online teaching more accessible than ever before.

Earl and Countess Wessex visiting TSG in Jan 2018

For Roshan Nilaweera, this award is deserving recognition of the staff and culture at TSG. Going forward, Third Space Global intends to build upon this success by expanding its CSR programmes in collaboration with Sri Lankas Department of Education as well as Commercial Bank whilst also looking at the development of a new technology platform to create jobs and opportunities across the whole of Sri Lanka.
Much has been made in the media lately, about foreign direct investment in infrastructure in Sri Lanka, principally from China, and concerns about Sri Lanka becoming over reliant on such sources for its development. There has been less discussion as to how new infrastructure feeds into other sectors, such as commercial, hospitality and residential real estate, and the trickle down benefits to all, as wealth is distributed throughout the economy.

A number of recent road infrastructure projects, have been instrumental in making vast tracts of land in Sri Lankas south west quadrant more accessible. Reduced travel times from key entry points have opened previously redundant land to development possibilities, especially in the hospitality sector.

Once sustainable tourist numbers are established, commercial enterprises, including retail as well as food & beverage outlets, enter the market to service tourist requirements, and these are quickly followed by residential developments, in all price segments, as demand can be verified. This process is not limited to roads, as over time, other methods of moving people and goods become necessary, driving rail improvements and the development of regional airports to meet additional demand.

Perhaps the best known example of this effect in Sri Lanka is the 126 km, E01 Southern highway, opened in November 2011, between Colombo and Galle, extended to reach Matara in 2014 and now being pushed through to Hambantota. Other routes that are having positive outcomes for real estate include the 99 km Colombo to Kandy Expressway, being developed over two phases, and scheduled in time to be extended northwards to Jaffna and eastwards to Trincomalee. 29.2 km of the Colombo Outer Circular Highway (OCH), funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) opened in March 2014 between Kottawa and Kaduwela, being one of several planned phases to create an orbital belt around Colombo, linking highways and easing congestion.

Negombo is perhaps one of the clearest examples of the infrastructure effect, enjoying more overnight stays than any other beach destination in Sri Lanka - 90% of which from leisure travellers. The closest resort to this key entry point currently has an inventory of 1400 keys and is dominated by the Jetwing group with 6 facilities and 400 rooms. However, recent infrastructure improvements, including the Peliyagoda, Negombo, Puttlam Expressway extension has resulted in some 300 rooms being added, representing a growth of 17%, and a future supply of 800 rooms in the pipeline, an explosive 57% increase!

The coastal stretch from Bentota through Hikkaduwa to Balapitiya, close to the Southern Expressway and the mooted Southern Railway Line improvement scheme, is witnessing meteoric growth. International hotel operators from as far afield as Spain, India, Thailand and Japan are adding significant inventory, and local brand John Keells is adding 150 new keys by redeveloping the Bentota Beach Hotel. Other schemes that have leveraged reduced travel times include the government initiative, led by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Dedduwa Lake Resort, which plans to develop 1800 hectares of wetlands to the east of Bentota, into an integrated resort facility, utilizing existing waterways and enhanced connectivity.

Further south, the historic fort city of Galle was one of the first beneficiaries of improved infrastructure. The extension to Matara has opened up 64 km of coastline as far as Tangalle, for development. Previously, the scale and height of development was restricted to reflect the landscape and height of coconut palms, but now two 12 storey residential complexes by Fairway dominate the vista and further along the coast at Weligama the 14 storey, 198 suite Marriott Hotel & Spa certainly stands out. In the luxury hospitality sector, the 172 room Amari Galle is a notable new entrant and in the luxury residential space, Serenia Talpe, just along the coast, with 47 units, is scaled to blend with the beachscape environment, while Elysian, Mirissa, takes a different approach, with 5 towers, up to 14 storeys over podium level, set to tower over the neighboring area.

Municipal authorities are struggling to keep abreast of the scramble for development applications, but the Coastal Conservation Department has flexed its muscles, recently, bulldozing 21 allegedly illegal structures being used for hospitality, mainly food and beverage purposes, on Mirissa beach, following complaints from concerned persons.

Moving inland to Sri Lankas fabled hill country, the commercial centres of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are yet to realise the full impact of the infrastructure bonanza, as modern standard road and rail connections are yet to reach these important tourist destinations and regional commercial centres. Land prices have, nevertheless, been rising steadily in expectation of a boom in development activity when connectivity improves. Today there is a lack of internationally recognized hoteliers in either location, but Hilton Group have recently signed up to operate a 150 room Hilton Kandy Resort and Double Tree by Hilton will operate a 96 key hotel in Nuwara Eliya. The residential sector is still finding its feet in Kandy although the 18 storey, 93 unit, Dynasty Kandy, catches the eye and in Nuwara Eliya, Span 20 Tower, by Span Engineering will offer 56 units
Human beings love being reminded of what awaits them after they die. Heaven or hell, earth or purgatory, they want to know. And by knowing, they either work to make their afterlife a reality or do their best to change that afterlife.



We all want to ascend to paradise, after all, and even if we dont, we want to be born in this paradise of ours we call Earth. This is true of the Sinhalese and the Buddhists, especially those who plan out every deed they do in the name of what they will encounter once they leave home. And to a considerable extent, the hopes, fears, sorrows, and joys which this sense of karmic expectation compels from us is reflected in the way we depict our faith on temple walls: intense serenity on the one hand, for those who do good and merit, and intense suffering on the other, for those who do bad and evil. Visit a typical temple and chances are youll come across more of the former: in places of worship as with businesses, crowds come in to know how they will be benefited. They want to be reminded of the path to heaven. The path to hell, for all they care, exists elsewhere.



For atheists, agnostics, and rationalists, heaven and hell are metaphors denoting extremities on earth: starvation in Africa versus opulence in America. According to the Buddhists texts, this is false. Even the rationalists who say theyve found in Buddhism the ultimate religion to square with their scientific outlook overlook the fact that no less a figure than the Buddha himself contended that such realms do exist and they are not a state of mind. (To call them that would be to invite censure the way Rahul Gandhi did when he called poverty a state of mind.) While I am certainly not equipped to write at length about Buddhist hells and heavens (which are different from their Christian counterparts on the basis that no matter how divine the reward or horrible the punishment is, people always return to this realm, and are not sent to those realms for eternity), I would recommend a careful reading of the Devadutta Sutta from the Majjhima Nikaya for the lay reader who wishes to know more about this subject. That, and a visit to those temples which lay down the torments of the underworld.



Buddhism has no art to speak for itself; much of the art which cropped up, years and centuries after the passing away of its founder, was secular, conforming to standards created in the human mind. And more so than their Christian counterparts, who depicted fanged demons as guardians of hell, Buddhist temple painters seem to have found out eventually that either of two ways served to frighten or embolden the people into doing good. (Back in the early days, when worship was as integral to daily life as going to a job is to us today, most of those people took the precepts of Buddhism seriously, to their hearts, and made them a pivotal part of their lives.) The first way was by externalising the various torments of hell. Here, the paintings depicting those torments were etched out side-by-side with paintings of onlookers and visitors from heaven. The Beauvais Cathedral resorted to this method, with devils subjecting sinners to pain through boiling vats and prongs to the discomfort of those heaven-sent onlookers. The message was clear, even to the most illiterate and juvenile.

For atheists, agnostics, and rationalists, heaven and hell are metaphors denoting extremities on earth: starvation in Africa versus opulence in America



The second method was easier, though rarely resorted to: turn those hellish torments into veritable exhibits. Here the disturbed onlookers werent messengers from heaven, but the viewers themselves, us. The thin line between us and the punishments of hell was the imagination of the artist involved in drawing up the latter, which is why these paintings tended to be labelled, meticulously, with stanzas and allusions to religious texts, particularly (when it comes to the Sri Lankan temple) the Buddhist canon: so that we would know that these werent just figments of that imagination, that they were a reality. As I pointed out above, however, Sri Lankans, especially Sinhalese Buddhists, prefer to know the consequences of doing good on earth: they want to be emboldened into accumulating kusal (good karma), and that by discerning the various pleasures and comforts of life in the higher realms. Over the years, though, because of rising crime rates and vagrancy and other indicators of social evil, artists may have had to rethink on this issue, and consider depicting the consequences of bad deeds.



This latter phenomenon has neatly, I should think, tied up with rising tourist arrivals and the tendency of Westerners to exoticise the faith of the majority, Buddhism, in terms of paintings, drumbeats, and fragrances, once theyre here. Sri Lankans are howling at the fact that certain hotels are restricting them from entering their premises and instead favouring tourists, the outsiders, but the truth is that there is another side to this: because of the Westerners fascination with those paintings, drumbeats, and fragrances, the guardians and gatekeepers of certain other tourist spots, including temples and other holy sites, take in more money from them than from natives like you and me. On both counts its discrimination, and on both counts, the owners of the tourist sites want to cash in on the tourist, with respect to profits for accommodation (hotels and restaurants) and with respect to places of worship and the need to sustain them financially (temples). Depicting hell, as opposed to heaven, while obviously necessary with rising crime rates here, also spells out good business with the tourists who will be asked, politely and kindly, to contribute to the temple coffers once theyve looked around. As far as Buddhism goes, hell is the nearest destination to their Westernised minds that theyd want to see as a tourist pastime, especially since while the concept of heaven in Buddhism is different from that in Christianity, the punishments meted out to sinners in hell are virtually the same in both faiths. Theyll pay to see how theyll be flogged, stabbed, burnt, boiled, and brutally mutilated.



At Wewurukannala Viharaya, which is situated in Dickwella, near Matara, youll come across a tunnel to hell which compounds all these points, facts, and trends. Its at once a reminder for the Buddhists, even non-Buddhists (and non-Sri Lankans: I came across Indians who visit for purposes of worship); a tourist hotspot for the Westerner; a cultural site for the historian; and a paradise for the ardent photographer. Since I was a little of all these things, I found Wewurukannala, and not just the tunnel, more than just fascinating.



Composed of three parts  a budu medura in the front; the tunnel to hell in the middle; and a large seated Buddha statue, measuring at 160 feet, the largest in Sri Lanka, and resting against a building filled with paintings from the life of the Gauthama Buddha along with a museum containing various cultural exhibits, further away  Wewurukannala dates back to the 18th century, to the reign of Rajadi Rajasinghe.

At Wewurukannala Viharaya, which is situated in Dickwella, near Matara, youll come across a tunnel to hell which compounds all these points, facts, and trends



While most people will remember the second and third of these sections, particularly the third (which, I rather thought, was more fascinating and colourful than the hellish exhibits), the budu medura at the front wasnt all that bad either; in fact thats where tourists are compelled or encouraged (depending on the time theyre in) to donate. Among those who had donated to the medura, and its paintings, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a patron from Kolamunne, in my hometown, Madapatha.



Advertising is alien to Buddhists, since its probably the most lawkika (materialistic) of all forms of secular communication today, but just outside the tunnel there was an inscription which revealed to me just how well the Buddhist has been able to advertise and market his faith to the lay outsider. The inscription, or quatrain, read as follows:



wmd yl uEkakg Tn leu;s ke;

tmd mo lrkakg ;=ka fodka le;

Wmd hla fukak bka je,flkak we;

umd olajkak nrmekg foka we;



Heres a rough translation:



Desire, you do not, to suffer the torments of hell

Commit not, then, the sins that will lead you to hell

There exists a way out from the path to those torments

And that by extending your hand to help sustain us



Its a neat roundelay, almost a rallying cry for Buddhists: keep away from hell and the sinful paths that lead to it; do your best to commit good in this life; and its a good deed to donate towards the temple and the tunnel in particular. In other words, its a good deed to help us market the consequences of bad deeds to the world! I dont really want to consider this an advertisement, since that would be a rather crude way of rationalising what this particular quatrain (siv padaya) represents, but thats the closest to a contemporary method of communication I can think of when describing these lines. (The quatrain might have been a recent addition; if it wasnt, it proves that advertising or rather marketing was not alien to the Sinhalese Buddhist culture.)



Located 1.5 km down the Dickwella-Beliatta Road, 22 km away from Matara town, Wewurukannala presents to us a paradox: do we celebrate the tunnel as a masterpiece in design, cut it off from its cultural roots, and consider it as a veritable display, or do we take its message for what it is? I certainly couldnt figure it out, partly because Sinhalese culture (secular, particularly when it comes to the arts and crafts) and Buddhism have intermingled in ways which are rather paradoxical. But considering it as a paradox is enlightening in a way: it gets us to think of the other paradoxes that exist in this world of ours, and how we can escape them, firstly by doing good, secondly by avoiding evil. In that sense, Wewurukannala was a treat.
REUTERS: Sri Lanka has accepted an eight-year China Development Bank US$1 billion syndicated loan to repay loans maturing this year, two top Finance Ministry officials said on Friday.



The bank was chosen from among four bidding for the loan, which the government plans to use towards repaying other loans, one official told Reuters. All three others had three-year tenure and only China Development Bank had a bid for an eight-year tenure. The effective rate of return is around 5.3 percent, the official said. It was a good offer. The loan has a three-year grace period. Then in the next five years, the government will be repaying US$100 million biannually.

Another ministry official confirmed the deal.



The new borrowing comes after Sri Lanka raised a record US$2.5 billion via two tranches of sovereign bonds last month.



The government is also preparing to refinance big debts that fall due up to 2022, with the start this year of repayments on expensive infrastructure foreign loans.

The government has blamed colossal borrowing by the previous government for the spike in debt servicing.



Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said last week the debt crisis would further worsen next year, when US$4.3 billion has to be paid for debt servicing in 2019. Some 77 percent of the next year repayments are for debts obtained by the previous government, he said.



Sri Lanka, which has a US$87 billion economy, expects foreign currency outflows of US$6.35 billion in the next 12 months including loans, securities, and deposits, compared with the current US$9.1 billion in foreign exchange reserves, according to the latest official Central Bank data.



The Cabinet has approved plans to borrow some US$ 5 billion in 2018 to refinance the debts due this year.



The island nation plans overall net foreign borrowing of Rs.300 billion (US$1.9 billion) this year, 9.1 percent lower than 2017, budget data showed.
Sections 47 and 57 of Customs Ordinance to be amended

Customs in talks with trade unions for further amendments

Sri Lanka Customs Ordinance, one of the oldest in the world, was enacted in 1869



By Nishel Fernando

Sri Lanka is to amend the archaic customs law shortly to facilitate paperless trade and pre-arrival clearances at the Customs, Sri Lanka Customs Director General and National Trade Facilitation Committee Chairman P.S.M. Charles said.



Addressing the inaugural session of the International Trade Centres (ITC) second public-private consultation on Sri Lankas National Single Window, last week, Charles said the Sri Lanka Customs has submitted a draft document to amend the 47 and 57 Sections of the Customs Ordinance, the law governing the Customs, to enable facilitation of paperless trade and pre-arrival clearances.



She was confident that the Cabinet of Ministers would approve the proposed amendments to the Customs Ordinance and they would be given green light by parliament very soon.



Sri Lankas Custom Ordinance, which was enacted in 1869, has been amended over time and is considered one of the oldest customs laws in the world.



Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera last year termed the Custom Ordinance a complex and yet archaic law that has not kept up with the developments of modern global trade and called for an overhaul of the same.



According to the Sri Lanka Customs officials, there are a number of amendments, which are due under the commitments Sri Lanka made to the World Trade Organisation in implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The TFA came into force in February 2017.



Speaking to Mirror Business, a Customs official noted that they have submitted the draft document to amend Section 47 and 57 of the Customs Ordinance almost two months ago to the Finance and Mass Media Ministry.

He noted that the Sri Lanka Customs administration is currently holding discussions with the trade unions on how to proceed with other amendments to meet the TFA commitments.



The official said though there are no objections from the trade unions in amending the customs law to meet the TFA commitments, they have voiced oppositions to any changes to the rewarding scheme under the existing Customs Ordinance.



Speaking of the possibility of replacing the archaic law with a completely new act, the official pointed out that unnecessary changes could impact the government. We have met the governments revenue targets due to the powerful Custom Ordinance, he noted.



Meanwhile, Charles requested the support of the trade unions for the implementation of the online processes at the Sri Lanka Customs.



She said the Sri Lanka Customs has received a grant from the European Union to improve the efficiency of services. The ITC has been selected to manage the fund and Charles said that workshops and capacity-building events would be carried out with the support of the World Customs Organisation, particularly in the field of risk management and post-clearance audit.



Following the Wold Bank recommendations, the Sri Lanka Customs recently amalgamated the Risk Management Directorate under the Central Intelligence Unit of the agency, on par with other countries, in order to improve the efficiency of control measures.



Sri Lanka Customs is also in the process of modernising its outdated Post-Audit Unit to facilitate trade. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Information Trade Portal is on route to be launched on July 5, 2018, as 80 percent of information of various government agencies is already uploaded to the system. The portal is expected to streamline trade while improving transparency.



The blueprint of the National Single Window is scheduled to be launched by end-July this year and is scheduled to be in operation by 2019.
Freed Venezuelan prisoner Josh Holt, 26, met President Trump on Saturday (Daily Mail)

Washington (dpa), 27 May 2018 - A US citizen detained for two years in Venezuela was freed and welcomed at the White House on Saturday. Joshua Holt and his wife Thamy, their daughter and parents met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.



Youve gone through a lot. A lot more than people can endure, Trump told the younger Holt couple. The president tweeted a 30-second video after the meeting which featured stirring music and compiled footage of Holt talking, shaking hands and embracing people inside the office with the caption WELCOME HOME JOSH!

Earlier, US Vice President Mike Pence welcomed Holts release but said sanctions would continue until democracy returns to Venezuela.
China Claims Territorial Sea As US Warships Enter South China Sea



The page you requested is only available to subscribers.





1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story:



Log-in : Password :



2. If you are not a subcriber, you can:



-- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable.



Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories.





-- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time.





-- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box.




By Ken Branson

16 May 2018

(Rutgers Today)  Climate change will force hundreds of ocean fish and invertebrate species, including some of the most economically important to the United States, to move northward, disrupting fisheries in the United States and Canada, a Rutgers University-led study reports.The study, published today in the journal PLOS ONE, covers the North American continental shelfs on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Previous studies have been global or regional, thus being too large or too small to get a clear picture of the future for North Americas fisheries. The species surveyed include finfish, sharks and rays, crustaceans, and squid. Among those most affected are Pacific rockfishes, Atlantic cod and black sea bass.Fish are sensitive to the temperatures of the water where they live, and as it becomes too warm, populations often shift to where the water temperature is right for them. This process has already begun, though at different rates in different places. As climate change continues and the oceans warm up, the study shows, more species of fish will move north to where the temperature range is habitable for them.Weve already seen that shifts of a couple of hundred miles in a species range can disrupt fisheries, said lead author James Morley, a former postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers-New Brunswick. This study shows that such dislocations will happen all over the continent and on both coasts throughout the 21st century.For commercial fishers, this often means longer trips and higher fuel costs, said co-author Malin Pinsky, a professor of ecology, evolution and natural resources at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Some species along the U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts will move as much as 900 miles north from their current habitats.The researchers used 16 different climate models, each with both a low level of greenhouse gas emissions and a high level, to develop projections for future ocean temperatures around North America. The lower-level emissions scenario is in line with goals set by the Paris Agreement, from which President Trump withdrew the United States earlier this year. These climate projections were combined with statistical models of species temperature preference, which were based on bottom-trawl survey data from around the continent. While both high and low emission scenarios project some northward shift, the shifts in species habitat will be two to three times greater under a high emissions future.Among the northward moving species is the Alaskan king crab. People in that fishery already travel a long way to catch crabs  many from as far away as Seattle  so this may not make a big difference to them in the short term, Pinsky said. But if youre based in North Carolina, fishing for black sea bass, and you have to travel 300 or 400 extra miles to do it, thats a real problem.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Pew Charitable Trusts funded the study.
By Christina Capatides 26 May 2018 (CBS News)  As more and more American communities grapple with opioid addiction , the human toll of the epidemic has grown in both scope and severity. And now, scientists at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have found evidence that drugs impact has literally flowed downstream to affect marine life, as well.Specifically, they used mussels as a barometer of pollution in the waters off Seattle, and discovered that oxycodone is now present enough in the marine environment there for shellfish to test positive.Since mussels are filter feeders, they absorb contaminants from their environment into their tissues in a concentrated way. Scientists used cages to transplant clean mussels from an aquaculture source on Whidbey Island to 18 urbanized locations around Puget Sound. Several months later, they pulled those previously uncontaminated mussels back out of the urban waters and, together with the Puget Sound Institute , tested them again.In three of the 18 locations, the mussels then tested positive for trace amounts of oxycodone. How, you ask?When humans ingest opioids like oxycodone, they ultimately end up excreting traces of the drugs into the toilet. Those chemicals then end up in wastewater. And while many contaminants are filtered out of wastewater before its released into the oceans, wastewater management systems cant entirely filter out drugs. Thus, opioids, antidepressants, the common chemotherapy drug Melphalan  the mussels tested positive for all of them.What we eat and what we excrete goes into the Puget Sound, Jennifer Lanksbury, a biologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, told CBS Seattle affiliate KIRO . Its telling me theres a lot of people taking oxycodone in the Puget Sound area.While mussels likely dont metabolize drugs like oxycodone, and thus wouldnt necessarily be physically harmed by the presence of it in their tissues, studies show that fish are not so lucky. In fact, scientists at the University of Utah recently discovered that, if given the opportunity, zebrafish will willingly dose themselves with opioids. Scientists say salmon and other fish might have a similar response. [ more ]

Mussels off Seattle coast test positive for opioids

By Jeff Rice

9 May 2018

(Puget Sound Institute)  The opioid epidemic has now hit the waters of Puget Sound. State agencies tracking pollution levels in Puget Sound have discovered traces of oxycodone in the tissues of native bay mussels (Mytilus trossulus) from Seattle and Bremerton area harbors.The mussels were part of the states Puget Sound Mussel Monitoring Program. Every two years, scientists at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) transplant uncontaminated mussels from an aquaculture source on Whidbey Island to various locations in Puget Sound to study pollution levels. Mussels, which are filter feeders, concentrate contaminants from the local marine environment into their tissues. After two to three months at the transplant site, scientists analyze the contaminants in the collected mussel tissues.The areas where the oxycodone-tainted mussels were sampled are considered highly urbanized and are not near any commercial shellfish beds. You wouldnt want to collect (and eat) mussels from these urban bays, explained PSIs Andy James, who assisted with the study. The oxycodone was found in amounts thousands of times lower than a therapeutic dose for humans and would not be expected to affect the mussels, which likely dont metabolize the drug, James said. The findings may raise concerns for fish, however, which are known to respond to opioids. Lab studies show that zebrafish will learn to dose themselves with opioids, and scientists say salmon and other Puget Sound fish might have a similar response.Scientists typically find many chemical compounds in Puget Sound waters, ranging from pharmaceuticals to illicit drugs such as cocaine, but this is the first time that opioids have been discovered in local shellfish. The contaminants in this case are thought to be passed into Puget Sound through discharge from wastewater treatment plants. Even filtered wastewater can include traces of thousands of chemicals known as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Runoff from agriculture and stormwater are also common sources of CECs.In addition to oxycodone, the mussels also showed high levels of the chemotherapy drug Melphalan, which is a potential carcinogen due to its interactions with DNA. The drug was found at levels where we might want to look at biological impacts, said James. The mussels had ingested amounts of Melphalan relative by weight to a recommended dose for humans.These Puget Sound mussel monitoring studies occur every two years and are currently funded by WDFW, the states Stormwater Action Monitoring program, and various other regional partners. The monitoring is led by Jennifer Lanksbury, of WDFWs Toxics-focused Biological Observing System (TBiOS), along help from a host of citizen science volunteers from across Puget Sound. PSIs Andy James worked with TBiOS on the chemical analysis and presented the findings at last months Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference.James and his team at the University of Washingtons Center for Urban Waters in Tacoma are now using high resolution mass spectrometry to look for additional chemical exposures in the mussel tissues and to evaluate potential biological impacts on Puget Sound species.Read more about mussel monitoring in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound.
By Heather Long

25 May 2018

(The Washington Post)  The U.S. economy has a problem. The usual economic bench marks look really good: America in 2018 is enjoying faster growth, low unemployment, record numbers of job openings and a stock market near an all-time high. Yet an alarming number of Americans are still struggling to get by.In the past week, two reports  a new Federal Reserve survey of more than 12,200 Americans about their finances and a new United Way report on financial hardship  reveal just how unstable life remains for a large number of people. Heres a rundown of the key findings:

Forty percent of American adults dont have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency expense such as an unexpected medical bill, car problem or home repair.

Forty-three percent of households cant afford the basics to live, meaning they arent earning enough to cover the combined costs of housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and a cellphone, according to the United Way study. Researchers looked at the data by county to adjust for lower costs in some parts of the country.

More than a quarter of adults skipped necessary medical care last year because they couldnt afford it.

Twenty-two percent of adults arent able to pay all of their bills every month.

Only 38 percent of non-retired Americans think their retirement savings is on track.

Only 65 percent of African Americans and 66 percent of Hispanics say they are doing okay financially versus 77 percent of whites.

The Fed and United Way findings suggest the U.S. economy isnt nearly as strong as statistics such as the unemployment rate and the GDP growth rate suggest. Taken alone, these metrics mask the fact that some Americans are doing well and some are not.We have a Two Realities economy in America, said William Rodgers, a professor at Rutgers University and chief economist at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. One segment has truly recovered from the Great Recession and is at full employment. The other continues to experience stagnating wages, involuntary part-time employment, inflexible work schedules and weaker access to health care.Rodgers is worried about how families that dont have $400 in savings are going to handle rising gas prices, higher rents and credit card rates that are climbing as U.S. interest rates rise.President Trump and many Republicans in Congress are focused on getting people back to work with the belief that once people have jobs they will be able to lift themselves out of poverty. But a growing body of research like the Fed and United Way studies and anecdotes from people working on the front lines at food banks and shelters indicates that a job is no longer enough.Wages in the United States, especially for workers who arent managers, have stagnated for two decades, making it difficult to save for emergencies, let alone save to buy a home or take extra classes to get ahead. [more]
Save my User ID and Password

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe






BIOMIN Vietnam celebrates 20-year anniversary



BIOMIN Vietnam has celebrated two decades of innovation, growth, and pioneering business philosophies at a two-day event, which was held on the idyllic shores of Da Nang, Vietnam, on May 25-26.

Through its innovative Biomin Solutions, BIOMIN has helped customers in the animal nutrition industry throughout Vietnam to improve their day-to-day business operations, enhanced regulatory compliance objectives while realising significant operating cost efficiency.

The company opened its first factory in Vietnam in 1998. The facility was located in Hanoi, which underwent a full upgrade in 2017.

In 2013, BIOMIN opened its second premix facility-a state-of-the-art fully-automated production system in Binh Duong. The BIOMIN Aquaculture Center for Applied Nutrition (ACAN), a collaboration with the Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, opened in 2015.

BIOMIN's suite of product offerings have also expanded over the last two decades in response to customers' evolving business expectations and industry regulatory demands, offering solutions spanning from mycotoxin risk management to gut performance management.

"The past two decades have been a very rewarding experience, and an incredible journey for us. We started out with a philosophy of listening to the market, delivering quality products like Mycofix, and we are producing our Biomin Premix locally, all the while providing the best services to customers," said Phuong Nguyen Quang, managing director of BIOMIN Vietnam & Cambodia, who reflected on the company's 20th anniversary.

"These beliefs continue to drive us... and because of that, our company remains viable, strong and growing. A big thank you to our valued customers, partners, and my team in Vietnam, who have had faith in BIOMIN right from the start."

Marc Guinnement, managing director of BIOMIN Asia Pacific added: "We are very proud to celebrate this milestone. The fact that we are the first premix-producing company in Vietnam to be certified according to the international quality standards of GMP+ B1, reflects the robustness of our feed safety system. We are dedicated to the high quality and safety of our products, and against the backdrop of our 20th anniversary in Vietnam, we are confident of our continued ability to deliver quality products to our customers."

BIOMIN stays at the forefront of scientific knowledge through significant proprietary research and development and through partnerships with more than 200 respected laboratories, academic and research institutions worldwide.

"Our commitment to scientific research and cutting-edge R&D stretches back more than three decades. We have established an in-house research arm, the BIOMIN Research Center, with more than 120 scientists and researchers." said Erich Erber, founder and president of ERBER AG and founder of BIOMIN.

"While each innovation takes years to go from discovery to field application, we have always been fervently committed to delivering the most effective, cutting-edge products to customers. It is part of our value proposition, the 3 S's, enshrined across ERBER Group, of which BIOMIN is a part. Science. Service. Speed. As we look back the past two decades, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering the best products and best services to customers in order to help them stay ahead."

2018 also marks the 35th year of ERBER Group.

Hand in hand with its employees, customers, and business partners, BIOMIN Vietnam is looking forward to the next 20 years that lie ahead, the company said.
Israel tries to block sale of F-35s to Turkey

Israeli newspaper reported that Israel is concerned about a deal to provide F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey and US lawmakers try to stop the sale.

According to a senior Israeli defence officials statement to Israeli Haaretz, officials are concerned about a deal to provide F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey and the issue is currently being discussed with the United States.

Its been stated that Israel would like to remain the only country in the Middle East with the F-35 in order to keep its military qualitative edge and out of fear that details about its capabilities would leak to neighboring countries. Israel Air Force is scheduled to receive the software that will improve the plane's performance in July and Israel wants planes to be provided to Turkey without the software.

It will be very difficult to cancel the deal, because Turkey was one of the countries that invested in the plane's development. Turkey, a key US ally in the Middle East, is slated to purchase more than 100 of the ultra-high tech aircraft.
Thousands of shoes laid at EU Council to protest Israel's massacre

Members of Avaaz NGO placed 4,500 shoes in front of the Council of the EU in Brussels on Monday - each pair representing a Palestinian killed in the conflict with Israel over the last decade.

The shoes were placed ahead of the EU foreign ministers meeting in the capital on Monday.

"Over a thousand of them symbolise children and I brought the shoes of my daughter as well, to just show that I'm standing with those fathers, those mothers, those brothers and sisters who have lost their children and their siblings in this war" said Christoph Schott, senior campaigner in Avaaz.

Thousands of shoes laid at EU Council to protest Israel WATCH

He also stressed that the move is aimed to urge the EU impose sanctions on Israel adding that the slogan of the campaign is 'Palestinian lives matter'.

The Palestinian protests, known as the March of Return, were launched on March 30 to demand their right of return to their pre-1948 homes in historical Palestine.

Demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border reached a peak on May 14, when at least sixty Palestinians were killed during the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Sasha Pieterse and Hudson Sheaffer made it official this past weekend. The Pretty Little Liars star wed her longtime beau in an idyllic ceremony.

A Fairytale Romance

The happy couple tied the knot on Sunday in a fairytale-like castle setting, in Glaslough village in County Monaghan, Ireland.

Pieterse wore a custom Christian Siriano gown for her big day. The 22-year-old Pretty Little Liars actress and her 28-year-old beau got engaged back in December 2015.

Pieterse has been very open over the past few years about how Sheaffer helped her through one of the most difficult parts of her life.

The actress gained almost 70 pounds over just two years due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Pieterse opened up to PEOPLE last year about how supportive Sheaffer had been.

"He's incredible. I've known him for so long, and it's so incredible having someone like that supporting you and knowing without a doubt that they are going to be there no matter what happens," she said.

Sharing Her Story

Pieterse told E! News back in September that she was relieved to be able to share her struggle publicly. She hoped she could help other women to understand what's going on with their bodies.

"It really is about awareness ... I really want women who have it to figure it out, because it ... can lead to ovarian cancer, infertility, [and] breast cancer," she warned.

On what kept her relationship with Sheaffer healthy and happy over the years, the actress explained that it all came down to communication and mutual respect.

"It really, truly is reciprocated and what we originated our relationship on was honesty, commitment, being loyal, being supportive, making sure that the communication is open enough and obviously love," she said.

At the start of the month, Pieterse posted the couple's marriage license on Instagram, along with a smiling shot of the two of them.

Sharing The Moment

She also utilized Instagram to announce their engagement in December 2015, when Sheaffer popped the question.

Pieterse shared a photo of her long-time beau getting down on one knee, and captioned the pic that it was the best day of her life. Likewise, Sheaffer posted a picture gushing over how she said yes to him.

The couple kept their wedding plans mostly under wraps, though Pieterse did hint that the big day was coming up soon, as she noted it was their wedding month in a recent Instagram post.

The actress is slated to appear in Pretty Little Liars spinoff The Perfectionists, which hits Freeform next year.
Comparing Canadian and American Right (Part Four) By Mark Wegierski

The Conservative Party was finally able to win a strong majority in the federal Parliament in the 2011 federal election. This was the first putatively conservative majority in the federal Parliament since that won in 1988. However, in October 2015, Justin Trudeaus Liberals rebounded, and won a strong majority. Their return to power probably means the undermining of whatever small steps in a conservative direction that Stephen Harper had undertaken. It should be well noted that left-leaning infrastructures such as feminist groups (who are indeed often tightly enmeshed with governmental bureaucracies) outweigh in resources such right-leaning infrastructures (such as, most notably, the Fraser Institute think-tank) by astronomical factors. And, although there is a quite substantial amount of debate about economic issues and economic conservatism, as far as social conservatism and right-wing patriotism, these have almost no register on the Canadian political scene. Left-liberals are quite content to allow the presence of a soulless managerial Right that manages the economy  so long as they themselves get to control all the social and cultural issues. Some Canadian newspapers, notably The National Post (formerly owned by the Canadian-born conservative press baron Conrad Black  who is now largely disgraced), have some degree of right-wing content, including a few surprisingly acerbic columnists. There are a handful of prominent conservative academics, especially in Alberta. There also arose in April 2011, a right-leaning news outlet on television  Sun Network News  but it closed abruptly on February 13, 2015 (putting around 200 people out of work). Ezra Levant has also founded a major news website  The Rebel Media. However, this is all very, very little, compared with the comparatively massive right-wing presence in the United States. The presence of a large, organized, political Right in the U.S., and its absence in Canada, will probably lead to increasingly divergent futures for both countries. Many of the more pleasant aspects of life in Canada are likely to disappear with the increasing triumph of ever-more-insistent, utterly unchecked and unimpeded left-liberal and left-wing policies. The political situation in Canada, with the virtual non-existence of an intellectual and cultural Right, cannot be described as healthy for Canadian society. Persons of traditionalist or conservative outlooks in Canada are faced with the unappealing prospect of the spiraling into oblivion of many congenial aspects of Canada, about which they can do virtually nothing. Their feelings of chronic hopelessness may perhaps to some extent be assuaged by looking to more hopeful developments in the United States, or perhaps in East-Central Europe and Russia. Considering that Harper has been badly stymied in his efforts at systemic reform through the federal Parliament, there might arise increased calls for regional devolution, so that, for example, Alberta or all of Western Canada could carry out social and economic policies more congenial to itself. It could be seen that Harper, during his majority government, has decisively failed, and such scenarios of regional devolution may, ironically, become the best hope for some fragmentary survival of traditionalism and conservatism in Canada. The more furiously and immoderately the Left opposed Harper, thwarting the work of the Conservative federal majority government, the more it might have created the preconditions for frustrated Conservative voters to turn to devolutionist scenarios. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Dem gun confiscator tacitly admits gun control wouldnt work By Selwyn Duke

One of the more despicable Congress-critters is Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), a man with utter contempt for Truth. He was on Tucker Carlson Tonight last Monday evening pushing for confiscation of AR-type rifles and spinning like a dervish with rocket boosters. But lets forget that while Swalwell wrote an op-ed calling for gun confiscation, its not really confiscation, according to Swalwell. Lets forget that what he labels assault weapons are just semi-automatic rifles that happen to have a military-style appearance (much like putting a Porsche body on a Hugo chassis). Lets forget that he claimed his AR-species confiscation plan would keep kids safe, ignoring that the most recent shooting, in Santa Fe, was perpetrated with a .38 pistol and a shotgun. Most significant is that, amidst his pseudo-Machiavellian babbling, he contradicted himself and refuted his own argument. Pointing out the congressmans more-equal-than-others status, host Tucker Carlson repeatedly asked Swalwell if he would restrict his own bodyguards, the Capitol Hill Police (CHP), to the same weapons to which hed limit Joe Six Pack. Practice what you preach, right? Aside from using the spurious diversionary argument of saying that Carlson was denigrating the police by likening them to bodyguards (hmm, in doing so, wasnt the congressman denigrating bodyguards?), Swalwell also repeatedly said that he wouldnt agree to limit the CHP because he, the man passionately proclaimed, doesnt want our cops outgunned. Did you get that? Question: If outlawing AR-type rifles actually could get them out of bad guys hands, then how could the police be outgunned without them? Perhaps Swalwell knows in his heart (and head?) that his proposal wouldnt suffice to deny these weapons to criminals. Its as if hes tacitly admitting that hes just a lying, power-hungry sack of excrementitious ambition and hot air. Below is the Tucker Carlson Tonight segment with the congressman. Of course, another explanation is that such contradictions inevitably occur when, instead of seeking Truth while formulating opinion, you play games and just disgorge whatever sophistic argument you think will work at the moment. And as the above segment evidences, Swalwell is the epitome of this demagogic practice. In reality, gun grabbers have completely departed from reality. Im old enough to remember when the Lefts gun-control obsession involved banning handguns. I disagree with doing so, but at least that proposal has some relationship to crime: Handguns were used in 19 times as many murders in 2016 as all rifles combined. Amazingly, even the Swalwellian New York Times admitted this in its 2014 piece The Assault Weapon Myth. The paper pointed out that in 2012, only 322 people were killed with rifles of any kind and that even prior to the 1990s Assault Weapons ban, such firearms were used in only 2 percent of the nations gun crimes (this hasnt changed). Moreover, credible studies show that the ban did not serve to reduce gun violence, the Times also informed. The point? Do you think leftists would stop at banning a class of weapons (AR-style ones) used in almost no crimes and not move on to a class (handguns) used in most gun crime? As admitted by Esquire editor Dave Holmes in a recent article titled Okay, Now I Actually Do Want to Take Your Guns and by former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens when he proposed in March repealing the Second Amendment, the Left ultimately wants all firearms banned. They just plan to accomplish this via incrementalism, stealing away our freedoms inch by inch. They generally dont admit this, though, because theyre Swalwellian  which is another way of saying theyre liars. Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Twitter or log on to SelwynDuke.com. Home
You dont have to like Donald Trump By Rachel Alexander

Its become hip to criticize President Trump, even among conservatives. These armchair critics usually dont have any better alternatives to suggest, they revel in tearing down Trump. Hes easy to criticize because he speaks his mind without a filter. But does that make him unworthy of being president? The only other alternative was Hillary Clinton, who was a far worse choice. Tearing Trump down isnt going to help him succeed in office, but will hamper his ability to get things done. Trump surprised most of us by becoming an extremely proactive conservative once in office. Hes accomplished more already than probably any other of the GOP presidential candidates would have at this stage. Conservatives should be elated at everything he has done. The Heritage Foundation reported in February that Trump had accomplished nearly two-thirds of the think tanks 334 agenda items. This is faster than Ronald Reagan, who had only achieved 49 percent of their policy goals at the same time into his presidency. Writer Andrew Sullivan, no conservative, penned a piece for New York Magazine entitled Obamas Legacy Has Already Been Destroyed. He asserts, In 17 months, he has effectively erased Barack Obamas two-term legacy. But the #NeverTrumpers dont seem to care how much Trump has accomplished for conservatives. Tearing him down is more important than ensuring that he continue this progress. Despite the fact hes not being impeached, and has a good chance of winning reelection, his critics pounce on every flaw. Trump comes from a reality TV background and was a Democrat for much of his career. If he had affairs with women before he became president, it doesnt disqualify him from being president. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton both had multiple affairs. Condemning Trump nonstop, as CNN and MSNBC are doing, is overkill. Hes denied the accusations and his wife is standing by him. Even if he is guilty of affairs, whatever happened to Christian forgiveness, a Biblical principle? Trumps critics also decry his ties to Wall Street, the Rothschilds and other powerful interests. They claim that Trump is doing the bidding of these power brokers. But the fact that Trumps agenda coincides with theirs, such as moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to acknowledge it as the real capital, is not the same as them convincing Trump to take action contrary to conservative interests. Even if he is a little too cozy with some of these wealthy operatives, what is the alternative? One can disapprove of aspects of Trump but still support him, its not an either/or choice. It is not necessary to praise Trump or be a cheerleader. Why not encourage him to do better and pray for him instead of tearing him down? The left already does a thorough job of tearing him down. Late night comedy has become a monolithic hate fest toward the president. Trump may not act like Ronald Reagan, but hes already on pace to accomplish more for conservatives than Reagan did. Where is the gratitude? Constantly criticizing Trump will convince some conservatives not to support him for reelection in 2020. Its a self-defeating strategy. Hes likely to win the primary nomination again, so where it will hurt him will be the general election. The Democrats are grooming up-and-coming stars like California Senator Kamala Harris, who would be the first black female president. They are also trying to recruit Oprah Winfrey. If conservatives stay at home and dont vote, a Democrat could pull it off. What is worse, four more years of Trump or four years of a staunch Democrat? Some are finally coming around. Conservative media mogul Glenn Beck announced on Friday during his radio show that he will vote for Trump in 2020. He cited the constant media bias as the reason. He admitted Trumps record is amazing. The longer the naysayers continue to attack Trump, the more foolish they appear. He hasnt slowed down implementing a conservative agenda. Its probably just going to get even better. You dont have to like Trump. You dont have to defend all of his actions. But its counterproductive to join the left and take him down. Theres already plenty of them doing that. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, and other publications. Home
What if Obamacare sold homeowners insurance? By Michael R. Shannon

If homeowners insurance worked like Obamacare, in no time at all homelessness would be a viable option for residents trying to lower their insurance cost. Under Obamahome, construction contractors would talk endlessly about how compassionate their employees are. Edgy companies would assert that dealing with an Englishspeaking crew makes rebuilding your home a breeze. But no company would be talking prices or making binding estimates. Instead homeowners would hire the company that was closest or had the most caring spokesperson. Really shrewd homeowners might check a Yelp review, but that would be the extent of the research. When it came time to sign the contract the homeowner would pay his deductible and the bill for the covered procedure would go direct to the insurance company. The homeowner would remain blissfully unaware of what his newly repaired roof, siding, basement or deck cost to fix. Under Obamahome, renters are also covered, but renters wouldnt be required to pay a premium. And homeowners who had a loss, but werent covered by insurance  because they opted to make the final payment on their Sistine Chapel tattoo  can both buy a policy and file a claim during the same transaction. At premiumsetting time, homeowners would discover Obamahome rates had to be set high enough cover their house and their prorated portion of the renters and the preexisting damage claims. Soon theyre confronted with Obamas Choice: To get an affordable premium, homeowners must choose between a much higher deductible for the same coverage or the same deductible for much less coverage. The result is a $12,000 deductible that covers everything up to and including Hurricane Stormy or a $1,000 deductible that covers tornados and fire, but excludes hail, wind, lightening and floods. Fortunately, homeowners insurance doesnt malfunction like Obamacare, and with any luck the Texas Supreme Court may force hospitals to adopt pricing reform. The Dallas Morning News reports Crystal Roberts was rushed to an emergency room after a car crash. The good news is she was home three hours later. The bad news is accompanying her was a bill for $11,037.35 for Xrays, CT scan, lab tests and other services. Crystal was charged the This Is Gonna Hurt rate because she lacked insurance. But she didnt lack a lawyer, so Crystal sued. The Texas Supremes ruled that if the hospital intended to prove Roberts bill reasonable it must share  details about the discounted rates it had with health insurers, data thats generally seen as proprietary and confidential. Ill say its confidential. Youd have better luck finding Trumps tax returns. The only price information a patient gets on a visit to the hospital is what it costs to park. One wouldnt know that from the story, though. Economics illiteracy among journalists continues unchecked, While few dispute costs are out of control and transparency would help, the ruling is seen as unprecedented by some, who worry it could deal a big blow to free market competition in health care. The statement couldnt be more wrong. Its like saying if we banned Consumer Reports Car Buying Service and prohibited window stickers on new cars it would increase competition and lower prices. The ability to compare prices encourages competition, while concealing prices encourages pricefixing. The decision is a tentative step toward my simple, Constitutional, solution for increasing healthcare competition. First, require any hospital taking federal money to post turnkey prices for the 25 most common hospitalized surgical procedures; the 25 most common outpatient procedures and the 25 most common tests. All charges must match the best price offered insurance companies  the information the Texas hospital doesnt want to share. Second, allow insurance companies to compete across state lines, creating a national market. Any national policy wont be subject to state-level regulations. This means state politicians with itchy legislative fingers cant force companies to cover pap smears, prostate exams, birth control, or any medical fad do-gooders want to force on consumers. Individual buyers will be able to pay for the coverage they want and not be forced to pay for coverage a major campaign contributor wants them to have. Policies must be offered in all states to escape individual state regulation. Any company selling a policy within a state must conform to that states financial stability rules. Third, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions if the patient can prove continuous coverage for the prior six months. Otherwise, a six-month waiting period. Patients who dont want to buy private insurance can participate in a federal highrisk pool. Depending on judges to reform healthcare is spotty and imprecise. We need Congress. The only negative impact my reform might have is on hospitals and the Medical Industrial Complex. Thats why it wont happen. Those insiders make large campaign contributions and the likes of Crystal Roberts dont. Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home
Op 'Crossfire Hurricane' is now op 'Backfire Tornado'

By Mark Alexander



In the Rolling Stones' hit song "Jumpin' Jack Flash," Mick Jagger wails, "I was born in a crossfire hurricane. And I howled at the morning driving rain." I have no idea what that means, but a counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign under the codename "Crossfire Hurricane" certainly justifies a lot of howling.

Let's review.

Earlier this month marked the one-year anniversary of "independent" counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the fake Trump/Putin collusion delusion, sponsored by ludicrous and unverified opposition research provided to the CIA and FBI by operatives of the Clinton/Putin/Fusion farce.

Clinton's charade prompted months of FBI and CIA investigations into the Trump campaign, followed by the appointment of Mueller to widen the investigation.

Despite having stacked his investigative team with 13 hard-core Democrats (some overt donors to Hillary Clinton's campaign) and zero Republicans, and having burned through 10 million taxpayer dollars (and as much in legal defense fees from those they've targeted), what Trump/Putin collusion has Mueller uncovered?

According to The New York Times  yes, The New York Times  "A year and a half later, no public evidence has surfaced connecting Mr. Trump's advisers ... or linking Mr. Trump himself, to the Russian government's disruptive efforts."

Let that sink in.

Instead, Mueller's "big fish" indictment was Trump's former campaign chief, Paul Manafort  with unrelated business practice violations that occurred years before Trump was even a candidate. He also obtained a couple of guilty pleas from others who were only remotely connected to the Trump campaign and a bogus perjury plea from former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (even former FBI Director James Comey told Congress he didn't think Flynn had lied). But none of the indictments are even remotely connected to "collusion."

Mueller has issued indictments for 13 Russians who plotted to disrupt the U.S. election in 2016  not by swinging votes to one candidate or the other but by undermining confidence in the American electoral system.

For the record, the Russians have been trying to disrupt U.S. political stability since 1917, because that's what socialists do.

Putin's plotters have succeeded in their disruption goal beyond their wildest ambitions, thanks to a few rotten apples  most notably Obama's CIA Director John Brennan, the Deep State boss who's at the root of the Trump collusion setup, the aforementioned James Comey, their enablers within the Clinton campaign, and of course Mueller himself.

Currently, according to Mueller, Trump is not a target of his investigation, but he most certainly has been the target of Brennan and Comey. So when Mueller wants a conversation with Trump about something that didn't happen, he should decline.

Despite the fact that the collusion narrative has collapsed, there will likely come other charges and indictments for infractions unrelated to Mueller's investigative mandate in the months and potentially years ahead, as Mueller can keep his investigation open until he decides to close it  or is fired.

Mueller has veered so far out of his lane that earlier this month during the Manafort hearing, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis blasted Mueller's investigation, charging, "If I look at the indictment [against Manafort], none of that information has anything to do with links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of Donald Trump. So I don't see what relation this indictment has with anything the special prosecutor is authorized to investigate."

"C'mon, man!" the judge added, dismissing the special counsel's argument.

This week there are two more confirmations of Obama/Clinton political weaponization of the FBI and CIA.

First comes evidence of Obama administration collaboration with several corrupt FBI officials, who protected Clinton while using her campaign's fake dossier to set Trump up.

In a text message between fired key FBI investigator Peter Strzok to his paramour FBI lawyer Lisa Page, Strzok declared that the Obama administration was orchestrating the investigation into Trump. "The White House is running this," wrote Strzok.

Indeed, Obama's modus operandi was all over the Trump setup.

Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz has already issued a scathing report regarding the FBI's former deputy director, Andrew McCabe, a corrupt Clinton supporter who, along with Comey, helped her avoid criminal prosecution for her lawless email communication subterfuge and subsequent destruction of evidence while she was secretary of state.

Horowitz is scheduled to release his second report this week, focusing more on how a few Clinton supporters in key FBI positions mishandled the aforementioned investigation to her campaign's benefit. And a third report due this summer will provide some insight into another area of the Clinton Crime Syndicate, the corrupt Clinton Foundation and its "pay-for-play" fundraising schemes.

But Horowitz is about to have another significant investigation on his hands.

The second revelation confirming the Obama/Clinton political weaponization of the FBI and CIA this week came in the form of disclosures regarding a CIA and FBI secret counterintelligence operation investigating the Trump campaign.

In July of 2016, operation "Crossfire Hurricane" was activated to allegedly investigate whether the Russians were attempting to infiltrate and influence the Trump campaign. In effect, the FBI and CIA, using FISA surveillance, covert operatives and allied intelligence services, infiltrated the Trump campaign. The rationale was, ostensibly, to protect the Trump campaign from Russian operatives.

The CIA and FBI should have warned Trump about these threats, but the "collusion" fix was already set, despite no evidence of such collusion  none.

The first of the Crossfire Hurricane operatives to be outed was British "professor" Stefan Halper, who was paid more than $400,000 to contact and obtain information from at least three individuals associated with Trump's campaign: Carter Page, Sam Clovis and George Papadopoulos.

Based on what we know about the events used to justify Crossfire Hurricane, when cross-referenced with the Trump/Putin collusion timeline, I predict that some of Obama's corrupt CIA and FBI principals who seeded and manured the collusion investigation will also be key players in the counterintelligence operation.

Just a reminder  Richard Nixon's Watergate coverup most egregiously involved the use of operatives within the CIA and FBI to obtain information on Democrats. Nixon had the decency to resign rather than put the nation through impeachment proceedings. No small irony that the Democrats are now talking about impeaching Trump, when it was the leaders in their own party who were coopting the CIA and FBI to do much more than just obtain opposition research.

Once Crossfire Hurricane became public, Trump protested: "I hereby demand ... that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes  and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama Administration!"

And in a New York second, operation "Crossfire Hurricane" became operation "Backfire Tornado"!

But according to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (who lied to Congress in 2013 about the Obama administration's collection of data on all Americans), Trump's concern about the counterintelligence campaign targeting his campaign "is hyperbole."

Clapper claims: "They may have had someone who was talking to them in the campaign, but, you know, the focus here, and as it was with the intelligence community, is not on the campaign, per se, but what the Russians were doing to try to instantiate themselves in the campaign or influence or leverage it. So if there was someone that was observing that sort of thing, that's a good thing."

Ask directly if government operatives were spying on the Trump campaign, Clapper said, "They were spying on, a term I don't particularly like, but on what the Russians were doing. Trying to understand were the Russians infiltrating, trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage or influence, which is what they do."

Again, the CIA and FBI should have contacted the Trump campaign directly to help determine if the Russians were seeking to influence Trump, but there was already a presumption of colluding guilt.

Now, for certain, Russian efforts to undermine the integrity of U.S. elections should be thoroughly investigated  as has always been the case.

And objectively, there's a very thin argument in favor of Clapper's assertion that the investigation was justified, though highly irregular. However, with Brennan, Comey and some of their key investigative gatekeepers, "objectivity" was AWOL. They were heavily biased for a Hillary Clinton victory over Trump and were colluding to use the power of their agencies to ensure she would defeat Trump, and in the unlikely event he was elected, ensure to ensnare him in the collusion trap they set.

Thus, President Trump's concerns are fully justified, as was his call for a full investigation into the campaign probes.

Regarding Brennan's politicization of the CIA, Trump's social media staff summed it up: "John Brennan ... has disgraced himself, he has disgraced the Country, he has disgraced the entire Intelligence Community. He is the one man who is largely responsible for the destruction of American's faith in the Intelligence Community and with some people at the top of the FBI, Brennan started this entire debacle about President Trump. We now know that Brennan had detailed knowledge of the (phony) dossier. ... He briefs the Gang of 8 on the Hill about the dossier, which they then used to start an investigation about Trump. It is that simple. This guy is the genesis of this whole Debacle. This was a Political hit job..."

Georgetown law professor Jonathan Turley (a Democrat) observed that, no matter how the Left and Leftmedia try to spin this operation, "You can tell a victim that this isn't a mugging, it's a forced divestiture, but this is a mugging. ... I know of no precedent to support this."

Not about to be content with this mugging, President Trump called Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and FBI Director Christopher Wray and ordered an investigation into the campaign probes with a full report due to congressional investigators. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was assigned to ensure that Congress receives the information it needs to fully investigate the probe.

According to Trump Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, the administration believes the DoJ's inspector general should "expand its current investigation to include any irregularities with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's or the Department of Justice's tactics concerning the Trump Campaign."

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has referred the case to IG Horowitz, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has appointed a federal prosecutor, John Huber, to work with Horowitz to review the case.

And House Republicans have introduced a resolution calling for a special counsel to investigate the FBI/DOJ investigators involved in the Trump/Russia probe.

Game on.

Moving forward, I would caution Republicans to choose their words carefully when broadcasting condemnations.

As I have previously noted, the corruption of FBI leadership and some high-level bureaucrats has cast a long shadow on all of the 12,484 special agents and 2,950 intelligence analysts in the FBI. But most men and women in the FBI, much as in the CIA, steadfastly abide by their oaths "to support and defend" our Constitution, not their preferential candidate, and they serve our nation likewise. They live up to the FBI motto: Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.

Indeed, most FBI agents, whose reputations and careers are being sullied, are deeply offended both personally and professionally by that corruption. According to confidential sources within the FBI, there are special agents who are appealing for subpoenas to testify about the extent of the Deep State corruption in the agency in order to clean it up.

Former District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Joe DiGenova, who is well connected with rank-and-file FBI agents in Washington, says, "There are agents all over this country who love the Bureau and are sickened by Comey's behavior and McCabe and Holder and Lynch, and the thugs like [John] Brennan. They despise the fact that the Bureau was used as a tool of political intelligence by the Obama administration thugs."

DiGenova places the FBI politicization plot squarely at the feet of Comey and McCabe on the inside, and Holder and Lynch over at the DoJ.

One well-placed FBI agent declared: "Every special agent I have spoken to in the Washington Field Office wants to see McCabe prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They feel the same way about Comey. They know that it wasn't just Comey and McCabe in this case. That's too narrow a net to cast over these guys. There's a much broader corruption that seeped into the seventh floor at the Bureau. They ruined the credibility of the Bureau..."

Indeed, there are critical questions yet to be answered about the politicization of the FBI under Obama.

But thus far, as was the case when Obama politicized the IRS, having key high-level bureaucrats target conservative groups, nobody has gone to jail. The prospects of indictments for Obama/Clinton political hacks in the CIA and FBI may be even more elusive.

Finally, allow me to share an award-winning example of Democrat obfuscation in rebuttal to Trump's demand for an additional investigation.

Senate Minority schmoozer Chuck Schumer (D-NY) did a masterful job of turning this situation inside out: "That he would issue such an absurd and abusive demand based on no evidence shows just how little regard the president has for the rule of law."

Seriously, he referenced "Rule of Law," claiming there was "no evidence," which is precisely the amount of evidence that led to the Mueller investigation.

Schumer then added, "President Trump seems to have the terribly misguided view that the Department of Justice is there to protect his political interests and prosecute his enemies." Ironically, it was Democrat Party leaders who weaponized the Department of Justice to take down Trump.

Schumer finally ran out of hot air with this summary: "The president's behavior is the kind of grossly autocratic behavior we'd expect in a banana republic, not a mature democracy."

Actually, the FBI/CIA probe is what one would expect when banana republic autocrats are attempting to take down their opposition.

Mick Jagger's song ends, "It's a gas, gas, gas," and more Obama/Clinton FBI/CIA Crossfire Hurricane operatives just got doused.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
Psychological asymmetry: Understanding the Gaza return demonstrations By Dr. Irwin J. Mansdorf

Differing Perceptions of the Same Reality Why are those who see themselves as sympathetic to Israel frustrated with the coverage of the current Gaza demonstrations? For supporters of Israel, the situation is rather simple: A terrorist regime is organizing as much of its citizenry as possible under the guise of a peaceful demonstration, to taunt, provoke, and provide cover for others to violently attack Israeli soldiers and attempt to infiltrate into Israel proper for carrying out terror attacks. Years of building attack tunnels, launching rockets, and attempting to breach the fence countless times serve as the backdrop to what is taking place now. But for critics of Israel and supporters of the Palestinians, what is taking place is nothing less than a massacre, a denial of rights and oppression in continuing a cruel blockade and quashing the hopes of people who simply have the desire to return to their original homes and to live a better life. How can people witnessing the same events have such grossly divergent views of what they are seeing? The psychological asymmetry common in the war against Israel by self-described Palestinian and Arab resistance organizations has been outlined before. So has the use of nonviolence as a psychological strategy against Israel. This asymmetry refers to the clear military advantage of Israel and the subsequent psychological disadvantage precisely owing to that superiority. The events of the last few weeks are clear examples of this form of psychological warfare and, in an age of microwave news and instant tweets, how the psychological asymmetry between Israel and Hamas is again being used to supplement and mask a terror approach to fighting Israel that includes, as part of its strategy, the use of civilian casualties to publicize grievances and attack Israel. The Dilemma of the Powerful Party Causing the deaths of innocent human beings is universally condemned in Western circles. It is considered illegal, and by extension, immoral under the Rome Statute. While it is easy to understand why innocent civilians may be harmed, it is equally hard to argue that any unarmed civilian deserves to be killed and wounded simply because of their presence in a war zone. Israel, as the stronger and controlling party in the conflict with Hamas, is seen as having greater responsibility. Consequently, the weaker party is given slack and not seen in the same light. Moreover, civilians of the weaker party are doubly endowed with special status, first owing to their position of being victims of an oppressive occupation and secondly, as victims of an oppressive regime. Thus, they are absolved of guilt, absolved of responsibility, and certainly absolved of blame. So where does that leave the blame game when these victims are harmed? While arguments can certainly be made that Hamas is ultimately responsible for exploiting their citizens and placing them in harms way, these arguments ultimately hold no water when up against what is seen as an inviolable principle of never harming unarmed civilians. While many of the casualties in Gaza are terror operatives, not all are. It is these innocent victims that are seen as Israels, not Hamas responsibility. Those supporting and appreciative of Israels position understand the principle of protecting innocent, unarmed Gaza civilians, but also likely understand that these civilians are exploited by their government. This is not the view of those who have an intersectional view of all victimhood, a view that not only absolves victims of blame but also assigns blame to whatever powerful party is most in control of the situation. As noted by Jonathan Haidt, [In intersectionality] the binary dimensions of oppression are said to be interlocking and overlappingThey must all come together to fight their common enemy, the group that sits at the top of the pyramid of oppression: the straight, white, cis-gendered, able-bodied Christian or Jewish or possibly atheist male. This is why a perceived slight against one victim group calls forth protest from all victim groups. This is why so many campus groups now align against Israel. Intersectionality is like NATO for social-justice activists. When Ideology and Reporting Interface This results in a rather simplistic and basic view of right vs. wrong and strong vs. weak where it is the quantity of victimhood and not the quality of the victims actual behavior that determines moral correctness. Accordingly, this tweet by CNN correspondent Sulome Anderson would make perfect sense: I condemn the deaths of all civilians. But they have to actually die first, and there have been zero Israeli casualties. If the numbers show more Palestinian Arab victims than Israeli victims, the power imbalance is displayed for all to see and further supports the powerful partys (Israel) responsibility and, by extension, guilt. Further highlighting the disparate relationship are images that show one side in what is seen as a civil struggle, with people in civilian clothes carrying no serious weapons other than makeshift slingshots and incendiary kites versus a well-armed and formal military on the other side. The differences between these images are made even starker when the weaker and clearly unarmed civilians are presented absorbing incoming tear gas and live fire and carrying out the wounded and dead, in direct and live contrast to the Israeli side engaged in a very proper celebration of the opening of an embassy; seemingly impervious to the suffering of the innocent. That the facts tell a different story is irrelevant to the power of psychologically coloring reality. So when headlines state Israel Kills Dozens at Gaza Border as U.S. Embassy Opens in Jerusalem there is an implication of absolute symmetry between the two events, with the headline further implying an active, offensive, not reactive nor defensive motive to the Israel side. The Ultimate Loss of Objectivity All this is not lost on Hamas, who have been aware of their position and using psychological asymmetry time and again over the years. Dealing with this is not as simple as it seems, and explaining, describing, and providing evidence in counterarguments may help when dealing with those for whom the interpretation of events is based more on logic and less on emotion. But for those for whom ideology trumps all, providing post-hoc explanations of the events in Gaza based on the actual events is not likely to be effective. Irwin J. (Yitzchak) Mansdorf, PhD., is a clinical psychologist and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He directs the Center's Israel-Arab studies program for university students. Home
The African Unions (AU) leadership would like to negotiate a new deal guiding the relationship with the EU as part of an overhaul of the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000 in Benins capital. As Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chadian chairman of the African Union Commission, pointed out, we think that the African continent should be acting as a whole.

Speaking alongside European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker following the ninth meeting between the leaders of both unions, Mr. Faki commented that the AU wanted to be in a position to talk to each other one continent to another, and added that we have three parts  the Maghreb, Southern Africa which has an agreement with the EU, and the other members of the ACPwe would like to act as a continent as a whole. The AU would like to position itself as political actor but the Cotonou deal that is still governing the relations between both sides is mostly development-centered and investment-centered, though migration is also a part of the deal.

The EU would in turn like to see one single agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP countries) and three regional compacts, including one for Africa that would replace the Joint Africa-EU strategy. The EU also wants to avoid the accusation from African countries that the bloc is mostly interested in using the Cotonou negotiations to create conditionality between financial support and controls on migration. Co-operation with Africa goes far beyond migration, said Juncker, who described the relationship as a partnership between equals. We have been talking about migration but I wouldnt want people to think it is the only thing (on the agenda), Mr. Juncker emphasized.
ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Investigators on special counsel Robert Muellers team questioned a conservative London-based author about his interactions with longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone as part of the probe into possible meddling by Russia during the 2016 campaign, ABC News has learned.



The Mueller team spent almost an hour with Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Malloch, 65, an American academic, discussing about his ties to Stone and Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange. Malloch, the author of a new book alleging Trump has been the target of a "deep state" plot by enemies with the U.S. intelligence community, told ABC News the questioning occurred in March after he was detained by federal agents at Boston's Logan Airport upon arrival from his home in London.



In his book, he expresses bewilderment about interest in his contacts with the Wikileaks founder, who has been living in detention in Ecuadors embassy in London.



"Had I ever visited the Ecuadorian[sic] embassy in London? They asked," Malloch writes in his post-script. "No. I replied truthfully."



Malloch told ABC News he has only met Stone a few times but asked to re-purpose the text of a speech Stone gave as the forward to his book.



Stone told ABC News that he did not use Malloch as an intermediary between himself and Assange.



I know and like Professor Malloch, he said in an email response to questions. I met him during the 2016 campaign and think we were together on perhaps three occasions There has been some inference in the media that Ted was somehow a go-between between me, Wikileaks and Julian Assange. This is false.



Stone has been increasingly vocal about his concern that he is the subject of the Mueller probe. This week he circulated a mass email declaring Roger Stone is under attack! and seeking donations to a legal defense fund. This is truly a vendetta and a witch hunt! the email said.



In an email to ABC News, he added: I reiterate that I had no advance knowledge of the source content or exact timetable for release the WikiLeaks disclosures regarding Hillary Clinton and the DNC. I never received anything from WikiLeaks or Julian Assange or anyone else Including allegedly hacked emails and never passed in anything on to Donald Trump or the Trump campaign. There is so simply no evidence to the contrary.



The Mueller team has in recent weeks questioned several people with close ties to Stone. Last week, Jason Sullivan, a social media adviser who worked with Stone, received a pair of subpoenas from Mueller, according to Knut Johnson, Sullivans lawyer.



Stones social media activity during the run-up to the 2016 election has brought questions because of the seemingly prophetic messages he sent about hacked emails belonging to Hillary Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta. In the weeks before WikiLeaks began publishing emails belonging to Podesta, Stone tweeted out cryptic messages on Twitter alluding to an impending release of material related to the Clinton campaign and specifically Podesta.



Six weeks before Podestas emails became public, Stone tweeted, Trust me, it will soon [be]the Podesta's time in the barrel. #CrookedHillary, and just days before the Podesta emails came out, Stone tweeted, I have total confidence that @wikileaks and my hero Julian Assange will educate the American people soon #LockHerUp.



Malloch told ABC News in an interview last month that the FBI agents confiscated his cell phone after presenting him with a search warrant signed by a federal magistrate judge in Boston.



Muellers agents have conducted interviews and searched cell phones and other devices of several potential witnesses during airport detentions as the subjects passed through the passport lines in various U.S. airports. Lebanese-American foreign policy operative George Nader received similar treatment, as did Stephen Roh, a German lawyer with ties to a suspected Russian agent who had been close to one-time Trump aide George Papadopoulos.



Earlier this year, ABC News confirmed reports identifying Nader as a cooperative witness in special counsel Robert Muellers probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.



Roh said he was fished from the passport control queue [at New Yorks JFK airport] by the FBI and his family was retained with armed police force. There followed hours of interrogation and search by the FBI, a team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigating Russia-Gate.



In an email with ABC News, Roh said that while the encounter was intimidating to his children, he now considers the entire affair irrelevant.



Mallochs detention involved the first known use of a search warrant by the special counsel to obtain data on the phone of a witness in the Russia probe in a U.S. port of entry. Malloch insisted, however, that he had limited direct interaction with Trump and Stone and he denied knowing Assange at all -- which he says he also told the FBI under questioning.



Malloch denies meeting Assange



Malloch first disclosed being served with a search warrant for his phone from the special counsel in a taped interview with ABC News late last month and provided details that suggest federal Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler in Boston signed the document in March after prosecutors showed probable cause.



"It's not completely settled that under these specific circumstances Mueller could search and seize his phone in Customs without a warrant," said Solomon Wisenberg, former deputy independent counsel in the investigation of President Clinton. "This just shows how careful Mueller's people are being."



In a new pro-Trump political book published by Skyhorse, "The Plot to Destroy Trump: How the Deep State Fabricated the Russian Dossier to Subvert the President," Malloch writes that the encounter was bewildering and intimidating. He says agents stopped him and separated him from his wife, marveling that they "seemed to know everything about me," and also warning him that lying to the FBI is a felony.



Wikileaks published emails hacked and stolen in 2016 from Hillary Clinton's campaign manager John Podesta. A Russian-government linked website, "D.C. Leaks," also published the Podesta emails.



Russian Dossier refers to unsubstantiated opposition research on Trump which a Democratic Party-contracted American political research firm hired a retired British spy to assemble. The files were eventually turned over to the FBI by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) after he was given a copy during the 2016 campaign.



He did say during the ABC News interview that his questioning by the FBI at Logan was extremely professional and even humorous.



They talked to me for about 50 minutes and it was actually quite friendly," Malloch said.



Malloch shared few other details, citing legal advice, and he declined to discuss specific questions the FBI asked. His Washington-based lawyer did not return several calls and emails asking for comment over the past two weeks.



Malloch on efforts to meet candidate Trump



One source who has met with the special counsel's team tells ABC News they were asked about Malloch and efforts by Stone to get him an audience with then-candidate Trump during the 2016 campaign. Asked about such efforts recently, Malloch in an email wrote, "Cannot deny or confirm, on legal advice."



The book  which is endorsed by InfoWars radio host Alex Jones  charges that the U.S. intelligence community has attempted a "coup d'etat to overthrow" Trump's presidency.



Malloch lives in the U.K., where he says he has befriended British supporters of the American president, such as U.K. Independence Party founder Nigel Farage, who campaigned with Trump in 2016 and has visited the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.



Farage, who campaigned with Trump in the U.S., has denied allegations that he delivered derogatory information about Clinton to Assange.



Malloch said he was an unpaid, volunteer adviser to the Trump campaign and wrote more than 20 op-eds supporting candidate Trump. But many of Trump's closest aides told ABC News they were unaware of Malloch prior to last month when he said he was stopped by agents at Logan.



"Never heard of him," said one senior Trump campaign aide.



In his initial statements about his run-in with Mueller's investigators to the media, Malloch said he had agreed to appear before the grand jury probing Russian active measures to influence the 2016 election in Washington, D.C. federal court on April 13. He confirmed to ABC News that he did not testify then but declined to say why, or if his testimony has been rescheduled.



"The facts are as laid out in the post-script to my [upcoming] book -- and on legal advice, I'm told not to talk at all about where that lies or what might happen or my part and I'm certainly willing, a very willing cooperator in any questions they might have and have had."

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The European Union has extended the scope of the punitive measures against Myanmar/Burma by broadening the current arms embargo and strengthening the export of dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police. The EU has also newly imposed restrictions on the export of equipment for monitoring communications. Moreover, the European Council put a ban on the provision of military training to and military cooperation with the Myanmar/Burma army.

The sanctions are imposed over the killings of Rohingya Muslims and grave human rights abuses. In a prior statement, EUs foreign ministers called for targeted restrictive measures against senior military officers of the Myanmar armed forces responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations without delay. The new measures, which are the blocs toughest so far, are widely seen as Brussels attempt to hold the Myanmar military accountable for the crimes. Through this move, the EU has effectively joined US and Canadian sanctions that have already been in place for some time.

The punitive measures are going to target certain individuals as well but no names have been disclosed. The United States is, for example, sanctioning Major General Maung Maung Soe, who is accused of a crackdown on the Rohingya minority in Rakhine. Some EU officials suggested that the list was likely to include more than just one senior military officer. The United States, Canada, the EU as well as United Nations, have described the killings in Myanmar as ethnic cleansing. More than 680,000 Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh, the EU said. Brussels decision to impose sanctions comes despite the resistance to such measures in the UN Security Council, where veto-wielding Russia and China said earlier this year that the situation in Myanmar was stable and under control.
Chinas economic program Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is generally seen as a unique opportunity to boost cooperation between China and Europe by intensifying trade flows but some consider it a strategic and self-interested tool for China to extend its sphere of influence.

The European Business Summit that took place last week held a roundtable to discuss the Chinese and European perspectives on the future of the BRI initiative. Chinas budget for the BRI is a stunning $1,000 billion and the project will connect China and Europe by road and sea through the Balkans and Central Asia. The project brings together almost 90 parties  countries, international organizations and other entities  following the UN principles as well as international law and trade rules.

Zhang Ming, the ambassador and head of the Chinese mission to the EU, added that transparency was very important for China and so was sustainable development. Transparency is, however, a contentious point for the EU, making some member states unwilling to sign a binding agreement that China would like to ink with as many countries as possible. To that end, one of the panelists, Luisa Santos of BusinessEurope, said that the lack of concrete opportunities for European companies was a sticking point.

Companies need predictability and transparency to apply for the project and ensure its sustainability, Ms. Santos said, pointing to the fact that not many European enterprises are involved in the initiative since the project cannot be trusted in the long run. The BRI is sometimes compared to the Marshall Plan but Chinas project will mainly provide loans, not grants, unlike the post-war US plan for the reconstruction of Europe. Therefore, some are concerned about the involvement of countries that are more fragile economically, specifically about their ability to repay loans.
A 2013 oil spill contaminated acres of Steve Jensen's farmland

By Diego Flammini

Staff Writer

Farms.com

A family from northwestern North Dakota is planning to plant its first crop since 2013.

Steve Jensen from Tioga, N.D. is hoping to seed a cover crop this year to put nutrients back in the soil and follow up with a cash crop next year.

If he can, it will be the first time hes produced a crop since a pipeline burst in Sept. 2013, sending oil spilling into the familys wheat field.

A lightning strike may be responsible for the oil spill, the North Dakota Department of Health said in a presentation during a 2016 North Dakota Water Quality Monitoring Council conference.



Aerial view of the cleanup site.

Photo: Bill Seuss/North Dakota Water Quality Monitoring Council

Jensen could smell oil in the air before noticing his combines tires were covered in it, the Associated Press reported in a recap of the oil spill today. The pipeline belonged to Tesoro, which is now known as Andeavour.

About 840,000 gallons of oil flowed through Jensens wheat field. The oil covered 14 acres of wheat, and construction and cleanup equipment affected a total of 48 acres.

Cleanup crews excavated about 1.2 million tons of soil and had to dig nearly 60 feet in some areas to remove contaminated soil, Bill Suess, an environmental scientist with the North Dakota Health Department, told the Associated Press.

The incident is said to be one of largest land-based oil spills U.S. history. The company estimated at the time that the spill would take two years to clean up and cost around $4 million.

Andeavour now estimates the cleanup cost is closer to $93 million.

Farms.com has reached out to the Jensen family for further insight into how it managed the farm during the cleanup process.

Kevin Cederstrom/Associated Press photo
Wires Glasses, a London, UK-based eyewear startup, raised seed funding from True Ventures.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to focus on its direct-to-consumer strategy, including building out its ecommerce site and selling its eyewear in boutiques in the U.S. and Europe.

Established in 2017 by London-based designer Yair Neuman and under the creative direction of Lily Cole, Wires Glasses is an innovative eyewear brand that leverages sustainable design, modularity and hinge technology. Each pair is designed with a single piece of metal wire at its core with interchangeable, 3D printed lenses to minimize waste.

The company has just launched its new collection of modular eyewear.

FinSMEs

28/05/2018
.      .   1           .           .           .                  ,     ,  ...
Samsung is still fresh from the Galaxy S9 and S9+ launch, but it looks like the company is busy giving finishing touches to next major flagship of this year; the Galaxy Note 9. Usually, Samsungs Note series flagships go official in August, but for Galaxy Note 9, Samsung is making an exception as it is rumored to be announced on July 29th.

Furthermore, the Galaxy Note 9 has spotted on the Geekbench benchmarks revealing basic specifications of the flagship. According to benchmarks, the Galaxy Note 9 is said to be powered by the Exynos 9810 SoC 1.79GHz Octa-Core processor coupled with 6GB RAM. It will be running on the Android 8.1 Oreo with Galaxy Experience U.I. Some rumors say Samsung might re-touch the U.I and bump the version to Experience U.I 10 from 9.5.

If we are lucky enough, we might also see an 8GB RAM variant with a whopping 512GB of storage; this model could be region specific if it gets official. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in the Geekbench benchmarks has scored 2737 in single-core and 9064 multi-core scores. Rest of the specifications remain a mystery for now, but the July 29this not very far away, so we might get to see more details as we move forward from here, so stay tuned.

Source 1, 2, 3
Google India today has announced a fun new Summer with Google educational campaign for Kids. Google with this initiative is aiming to educate kids and make them spend more time learning in becoming responsible explorers of the Web.

Google says it has partnered with product leaders to bring a series of activities for parents that they can do along with their kids to make this a memorable a summer. It said that it will unveil one assignment every week for four weeks. The assignments range from exploring the country on Google Earth to saying gracias and por favor as you learn phrases in Spanish and other languages on Google Translate, creating your own gallery on Google Arts & Culture and ultimately building their very own app to share your summer experience.

Google says that each assignment will have questions on the four fundamental codes of being Internet Awesome and teach the young internet explorers a lesson or two on how to be Internet Smart, Internet Alert, Internet Strong, Internet Kind and Internet Brave. Right after the four weeks, it will host a Summer Camp at Googles Gurgaon and Hyderabad campus where it will fly up to 100 participants along with their guardians from across the country.

Google has also partnered with Kidzania to set up the Summer with Google experience zone where children can take a virtual tour and learn about the essentials of being safe on the Internet. The assignment can be accessed from #SummerWithGoogle website and Googles social media handles.

In a blog post, Sunita Mohanty, Director, Trust and Safety, Google India said:

As a parent myself, it has always been a challenge for me to engage my kids meaningfully, summer after summer. And the struggle is real for many more parents. Therefore, we partnered with our product leaders to bring parents, a series of activities they can do along with their kids to make this a memorable summer.

Source
NBC News and one of its opinion writers faced a barrage of criticism Sunday over a commentary, posted on NBC News main Twitter account, that called Spanish the most all-American language.

Gustavo Arellano, also a columnist for The Los Angeles Times opinion section, asked in the piece, published on Memorial Day weekend, Is it dangerous to speak Spanish in public in Trumps America? Well, si!

The commentarys headline: Spanish, not English, is the most all-American language and has been for centuries. In his argument, he noted how Spain had established colonies in what later would become the United States before the English settlement of Jamestown was established in 1607.

One Twitter critic wrote: What makes American English beautiful is that it encompasses several languages. The writer is biased and ignorant.

Others on Twitter called the article silly and stupid news and anti white propaganda.

The column focused on what he described as anti-Latino backlash as well as the history of Spanish in America. The reality is that speaking Spanish in the United States has always been dangerous: In this age of social media, the rest of the country is just learning about what Latinos have had to deal with for generations, Arellano wrote.

NBC did not respond to Fox News request for comment. Arellano replied, Theres backlash? Its all valentines for me!
Have you met The Bachelorette Becca Kufrin?

The 28-year-old publicist from Minnesota picked 29-year-old medical sales rep Garrett Yrigoyen during the ABC reality love competition's season finale on Monday night.

Below, check out some quick facts about the reality star.

No stranger to Bachelor Nation

The Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr. popped the question to Kufrin, who was a contestant on his season. However, the romance was short-lived.

Luyendyk would later break up with Kufrin just weeks after his proposal to be with 25-year-old Virginia native Lauren Burnham, who was initially the runner-up. Luyendyk and Kufrin had been engaged for two months.

Bidenisbae

Kufrin wore a Biden my time shirt in a February 2017 Instagram post.

Just over here like , she captioned the snap. #bidenmytime#2020#haveyouseenhimeatanicecreamconetho#bidenisbae.

Kufrin also used the hashtag #imwithher, referring to then presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, in a Nov. 8, 2016 post on the social media platform.

Stamps are one of her must-haves

Kufrin was asked about five items she "can't live without" in her "Bachelor" contestant questionnaire.

"Chapstick, facial lotion, bobby pins, popcorn, and stamps," she shared.

She also listed some "embarrassing" listening choices.

"Country (when I'm feeling sad) or the Sister Act 2 soundtrack, which I don't think is embarrassing at all, but my friends disagree," Kufrin said.

Breaking the law?

Kufrin was hit with an underage consumption summons in January 2009, Radar Online reported.

The future "Bachelorette" pleaded guilty for the misdemeanor offense, the outlet said, adding that she was told to shell out no less than $431 in fines.

Shes engaged

Kufrin shared the good news with People in May, before her season premiered.

"It was the happiest moment of my life," she told the publication. And it feels so good to say it. I still pinch myself, like, did that all just happen? Its been a whirlwind.

Yrigoyen asked Kufrin to marry him in the Maldives.

Fox News Katherine Lam contributed to this report.
Paris Jackson stormed out of a Paris, France, fashion show in a rage as an actual storm raged overhead.

At the Dior cruise collection show on Friday at a chateau, driving rain dramatically doused the catwalk  and dampened some attendees spirits. As the first model hit the catwalk, Jackson walked out on the show that ambitiously recreated a Mexican rodeo with all female riders performing daredevil stunts. But a source told us Jackson left the show because she disapproved of the performing animals.

WWD reported, With guests held up in rush hour traffic, the show finally began just as sheets of rain started driving down.

Another report said, Glowering clouds broke into a thunderstorm as the show opened, sending models on to a catwalk slick with driving rain.

But the New York Times further observed in its fashion review that, By the end, the only cloud that remained over the event was the jarring exit of Paris Jackson, who had pranced in puddles barefoot for the photographers before the show, but stalked out in a rage as the first model made her way down the runway.

WWD added in a review that Jackson visibly, huffed out barefoot, having earlier asked two assistants to help her out of her high-heeled sandals. Whether the issue was animal welfare, or simply an extreme aversion to rain, was not clear.

And Harpers Bazaar reported: Not everyone was a fan of the horses though, as Paris Jackson was spotted leaving the show only minutes in, presumably out of concern for animal welfare.

Jacksons reps did not comment.

The fashion it girl simply posted on Instagram of her departure, Left early and did this, with a pic of herself staring skyward solo.

Either way, the looks on the runway received high praise, and were called beautiful.

But a fashion insider observed to Page Six of all the wet threads and guests, they spent a bajillion dollars on this  they couldnt get a tent?

Also in the front row with fashion world favorite Jackson were Alexa Chung and Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton.

This article originally appeared in Page Six.
More than a dozen people have died after an outbreak of a rare disease in southern India that health officials warn could cause a global epidemic.

Health officials have imposed emergency measures in the southwestern state of Kerala after the more than 40 people were infected with the Nipah virus, which causes flu-like symptoms leading to an agonizing brain-swelling condition known as encephalitis, according to Sky News.

There is no vaccine for Nipah, which has a mortality rate of 70 percent, and no treatment beyond supportive care to make patients comfortable. The virus is listed alongside Ebola and Zika as one of eight priority diseases the World Health Organization believes could cause a global epidemic.

Health officials believe this outbreak began with someone infected by a fruit bat, a senior Health Ministry official told the Press Trust of India news agency. Subsequent infections are believed to have come from human-to-human contact, sometimes passing to relatives or medical workers caring for the sick.

About 100 families where someone has had contact with infected people are being carefully monitored by health officials.

RARE BAT VIRUS KILLS AT LEAST 10 IN INDIA AS OFFICIALS SCRAMBLE TO CONTROL OUTBREAK

Tests have also been ordered after several bats were found dead at a secondary school in the state of Himachal Pradesh, according to Sky News. The examinations later found the bats were not carrying Nipah, but fear continues to run high across the country.

Health officials advise that people should not eat fruits that have fallen to the ground or appear to feature tooth or claw marks, and travel to the affected states should be avoided.

On Thursday, medical workers in white plastic suits and breathing masks buried the latest victim in the town of Kozhikode, placing his plastic-wrapped corpse in the red earth.

People have also been told to avoid abandoned wells, as fruit bats eat dates from palm trees, and sometimes nest in wells. Health experts have been flown into the region to help contain the virus, according to Sky News.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

This Memorial Day marks the seventh for this national holiday that is deeply personal to me.

On September 9, 2011, my twenty-six-years-young husband, SPC Christopher David Horton, gave his last breath wearing the cloth of our nation after being shot to death while on a mission in Paktia, Afghanistan. That moment when I received the knock on my door that would take my soul with it - each pounding thud on the freshly painted wooden white door shattered my heart into more pieces than I ever thought possible of the human heart. Since that day six years ago, I have been on a mission to ensure that Chris is never forgotten, and that those who lie beside him and rest near his head and feet in the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and across the nation have a voice  because I knew if I didn't fight to give them one, to many, they would remain faceless and nameless. I wanted to give my husband that best I had to give back to him for giving his life for me.

Since that day on September 9, 2011 when everything changed forever, I now live each day with a new purpose and with a new mission in life to honor the fallen. This Memorial Day, which is a day of remembrance to honor the fallen, there is no greater way to do that than to give them a physical memorial on the national mall where those who fought alongside them, those who mourn them, those who loved them, and those who just want to honor and remember them can come together as a nation to memorialize their sacrifices.

This year, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is hosting its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at The Wall, while the WWII Memorial plans for its own Memorial Day Observance. As a widow from the Global War on Terrorism, every year I struggle to find the right place to gather with other families of the fallen to honor our heroes. I have always dreamed of the day when a memorial will stand on the national mall and honor the very other half of my heart. Unlike other wars, GWOT families of the fallen do not have a central place of healing to gather and honor lives lost.

After nearly 17 years of war in the Global War on Terrorism across the globe, and with no end to the fight in sight, now is the time to bring honor to those who continue to fight, bleed and die for us. I was enthusiastic and grateful to know that there is an organization in place doing just this. The Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation, the congressionally-designated non-profit foundation tasked with organizing, fundraising and coordinating efforts to build a new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., passed legislation in August of 2017 to make this memorial a reality. The unique and incredibly special thing about this memorial is that America gets to come together to build it  because this memorial will be representative of us as an American people. We are resilient, we are warriors, and we are the everyday Americans who have fought, bled, and died to defend freedom.

This generation of warriors who have fought, bled, and died in the Global War on Terrorism chose to volunteer when our country needed them the most after we were attacked in an act of terror on our own soil.

Many Americans arent aware that since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3 million Americans have deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, and of those service members, close to 7,000 have been killed, with 52,000 wounded in action and an estimated 20 percent of veterans returning home grappling with the invisible wounds of war such as posttraumatic stress (PTS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). This generation of warriors who have fought, bled, and died in the Global War on Terrorism chose to volunteer when our country needed them the most after we were attacked in an act of terror on our own soil. Many men and women heard the call and raised their right hands to serve and defend this nation.

This Memorial Day I urge my fellow Americans to take up the mission I started six and a half years ago  to ensure that Chris and the fallen are never forgotten, and to honor them by coming together as a nation to remember them by building a national memorial. Its the least we can do for all that they have given to us. After all, America is literally propped up by the blood of patriots.

This summer, GWOT Memorial Foundation will formally request public input on the future memorials themes and design to ensure it reflects the American people as a nation. Please follow their progress and join us in this amazing and sacred mission of honoring the fallen, and those who have fought and bled for us defending our nation against terrorism.
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Many Americans know what its like to be the parent of a U.S. Marine. Some know what its like to send their sons and daughters off to war to fight in the deadliest places on Earth. Others have dealt with their children who struggle with the gripping effects of post-traumatic stress (PTS).

But to be a parent who has endured all of this and then become the mother of a son who takes his own life is to belong to an even smaller group.

NICKI: I am Simons mom. Thats how I start every morning and end each night  being Simons mom. I lost Simon to suicide on November 2, 2015. He was a Marine  a proud, Magnificent Bastard of 2d Battalion, 4th Marines who served his country from 2004 to 2007 in the most dangerous place on Earth  Ramadi, Iraq.

It is staggering to think that there are over 6,800 names etched into stone on the memorials for those our nation has lost during the Long War on Terror.

Sadly, some are not memorialized in granite. This includes those who died, and continue to die, long after they return home  committing suicide from the effects of PTS, still fighting an unimaginable battle  a number in the thousands.

Try, for a moment, to picture many more of the granite columns if we recognized this loss. The sacrifice of these warriors. The struggles. The families who have no memorial for their sons and daughters, many who fought in combat.

Not all Marines who lose their lives are memorialized in granite.

Simons mom had no idea what joining the Marines meant when Simon signed up during his senior year of high school. She could never brace for the impact of what would hit her, nor grasp the extent of life-altering changes that would take place in the following years. Simons decision would affect the lives of all who knew him.

Simon always said his Marines were his brothers. Nicki attended Simons graduation from boot camp. Now addressed as maam and embraced by groups of thin kids with gaunt, clean-shaven faces, Nicki quickly got a crash-course in the philosophy of the Marines.

Those she met wore sharp uniforms and were forged into Marines over a 14-week period. These well-mannered kids had changed. They were men. But Simon was still her boy.

Simon deployed to Ramadi in 2004. Nicki came to the realization that there was nothing she could do to protect her son. Simon fought in the middle of the deadliest city in Iraq. There was no safeguarding him from the danger. He was surrounded by it  and lived for it.

Simon was proud to fight alongside his fellow Marines. In less than 24 months he was ordered back to Iraq. Back to Ramadi.

In 2006 the news from Ramadi was bad  blood was shed everywhere in the city. But Simon was with his brothers, and despite his mothers anxiety, they both knew he was where he wanted to be.

When Simon came home from the war, his mom didnt meet the men he fought alongside  his extended family of Magnificent Bastards. She didnt meet any Gold Star families  but would later, through his tragic loss.

She would come to know people like: David and Jennie Sanchez, Gary and Donna Matus, Judd and Jeni Libby, Rita Jerabek and Dianne Layfield. These are the parents of the fallen Marines in Simons company.

Simons pain over losing his brothers became Nickis as well. Despite the loss, Nicki was supported by them all years later.

Once a Marine, always a Marine is not simply a slogan  its an eternal bond. The men who fought together understood each others pain, joy, fears and accomplishments like no other group could ever understand. They gave, and continue to give, unyielding support without fear of judgment. A bond between those who have lived through hell together can never be broken.

Even though the bond was born in hell, the connection is about love. Its about joy just as much as its about sorrow; it means more responsibility. Simons mom understood that.

A memorial service for Simon was held two weeks after he committed suicide. The Marines gathered at his mothers home the day before for support.

Nicki was stunned by the strength of the bond her son had made with these men that had lasted all the years after combat. They were all there for each other and for her  they were one big family. They ate chocolate chip cookies, drank beer, and the sound of their comradery rose to the roof.

Simons mom felt that when she walked into the living room to take a break from the noise, Simon was with her, laughing at his brothers. A heartwarming smile broke across her face.

In the wake of Nicki's loss, Simons friends and family went through his room that held his personal effects, souvenirs and childhood trinkets  trying to grasp one last, tiny piece of his life that meant something to them, to Simon and to Nicki.

Nicki kept some of the things. She thought the physical pieces would help her remember him. They didnt. It was the people that helped her the most.

Simons mom is a true Marine mom. Even though Simons gone, she has been adopted by 200 more of her Marine sons, who are always welcome to claim a piece of her heart, a piece of her life and a piece of her love.

Nicki keeps up with Simons Marines and their shenanigans the same way she does with the rest of her family. Her arms and heart are open to the boys she watched become men, the men who fought and loved alongside her son, like no other group she has ever known.

Not all Marines who lose their lives are memorialized in granite. But theyre memorialized in the hearts of those who remember them  the families they fought for.

Simons MomNicki (Litke) Peterson lives in Minnesota. She has a daughter and younger son, three grandchildren, a husband, and treasures them all. She continually supports 2d Battalion, 4th Marines and all of Americas veterans. She just sent her second son, a Cavalry Scout in the U.S. Army, off to his first deployment to Afghanistan.
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

At a ceremony on Arlington National Cemeterys hallowed grounds in 1985, President Ronald Reagan pondered the depths of sacrifice of those who die defending our nation on battlefields near and far.

The imagination plays a trick, President Regan said. We see them like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But he reminded his listeners that most of the fallen were quite young when they died and they gave up two lives  the one they were living and the one they would have lived.

For many of the years since President Reagan made this observation, ours has been a nation at war. Flag-draped coffins have been greeted by spouses and young children. Bereaved parents must do the unthinkable and bury their children. The TV news, newspapers and websites have featured the fresh, young faces of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country.

Americans know about these terrible losses. But as a young veteran who had just left the Marines, I felt they didnt care. Then Oakville, Missouri, showed me I was wrong. It happened in June 2010.

My friend, Cpl. Donald Marler , was in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. He and I spoke briefly over Facebook one day. We joked about a mutual acquaintance and our shared dislike for a tactical vehicle known as an MRAP  just a mundane conversation between buddies.

Two days later, I got the call that Don had died when the MRAP he was riding in during combat operations overturned in a canal. He was only 22.

A grateful community paused to honor and remember Cpl. Donald Marler in June 2010. And on Memorial Day, a grateful country does the same for all those who lost their lives protecting our country.

Don was a great Marine. He skipped high school graduation just so he could get to boot camp a little early. In the Marine security detail at Camp David, where I served with him, he filled jobs normally reserved for higher ranking sergeants or staff sergeants.

Don excelled in some of the toughest schools in the Marine Corps. He had volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan and to go on patrol when he was killed.

As I made my way to his funeral, I was cynical. This tremendous guy had died for his country, but I figured only Dons family and friends, fellow Marines, and perhaps a few veterans at the local VFW would care. I was wrong.

Hundreds of people lined the roads and overpasses to pay their respects as Patriot Guard riders in full force escorted Dons body to the funeral home. Two trucks from the local fire station raised a flag over I-55.

At Dons funeral, every pew was full. It was standing room only. On the way to Jackson Barracks National Cemetery, businesses posted signs: Rest in Peace Cpl. Donald Marler. Firefighters and police officers turned out to show their respects. People stopped their cars on the side of the road and stood as the casket went by.

The local Holiday Inn provided free and discounted rooms to Marines who came in for the funeral. A rental car company gave us cars to get to the service. I was reminded on this day that Americans know whats at stake for men and women in uniform. More importantly, I was shown that they honor those sacrifices with their words and their actions.

Don was a warrior. He got his orders changed so he could go to combat. He volunteered for convoys and patrols so he could fight alongside and protect his brothers. He exemplified the Marine motto  Semper Fidelis  always faithful.

On the 66th anniversary of D-Day, Don joined a special group of Americans who stood in the way of tyranny. On this day, we stop to remember those Americans like him who didnt make it home. Those who gave up the life they would have lived for the lives we are able to live now.

Those men and women knew freedom isnt free. They were willing to pay the highest possible price for it.

A grateful community paused to honor and remember Cpl. Donald Marler in June 2010. And on Memorial Day, a grateful country does the same for all those who lost their lives protecting our country.

We stand up to protect those who made it home. We honor and care for those who shall have borne the battle. We must live our lives in a way thats worthy of the sacrifices they made for us.
Chelsea Manning reportedly posted a pair of tweets Sunday night that hinted suicide contemplation that have since been deleted.

Shortly after the tweets, Mannings Twitter handle reported that she is safe and was on the phone with friends.

Thanks everyone for your concern and please give her some space, the tweet read.

Manning, who is currently living in Bethesda in Maryland, announced her run for U.S. Senate earlier this year. She was sentenced to 35-years in prison in 2013 for violating the Espionage Act and leaking sensitive information to WikiLeaks.

President Barack Obama commuted her sentence in his last day in office in 2017.

The candidate for the U.S. Senate posted a picture that appeared to show a person looking down to a street from atop a building.

"I'm sorry - I tried - I'm sorry I let you all down," Manning wrote in one of the now-deleted tweets, The Daily News reported. "Im not really cut out for this world - I tried adapting to this world out here but I failed you - I couldn't do this anymore - I can take people I don't know hating me but not my own friends," she added. "I tried and I'm sorry about my failure."

Many on social media quickly jumped on her frightening tweets, asking friends to contact Manning or the authorities to ensure her safety.

The alarming messages came after a debate on social media with Dawn Ennis, a former ABC News assignment editor who criticized Mannings remark that voting wont change anything.

Ennis, who came out as transgender in 2013, posted on Twitter, I am looking forward to an update on Chelseas well being in the morning. I truly wish her well. And I expect a new wave of online anger and hate to greet me, too. Be kind to all those who struggle. I myself will work harder to bear that in mind.
A former Obama administration official, liberal activists and journalists incorrectly shared pictures of children sleeping in enclosed cages from 2014 to take a swipe at the Trump administration and its zero-tolerance policy towards parents and children crossing the border illegally.

It turns out the photographs were published by The Arizona Republic in 2014 after the authorities detained over 1,000 children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally and placed them in a detention facility. The Daily Calller first reported on the error.

Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau tweeted one of the pictures showing kids in one of the enclosures, criticized the government for neglecting the children.

This is happening right now, and the only debate that matters is how we force our government to get these kids back to their families as fast as humanly possible, Favreau reportedly said before deleting the tweet.

The pictures follow a controversy over the Justice Departments zero-tolerance policy of separating parents and children when they cross the border illegally.

If you cross the border unlawfully, then we will prosecute you. Its that simple, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said this month. If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you. And that child may be separated from you, as required by law.

Trump fired back on Saturday, suggesting the horrible law isnt new and urged Democrats to support its repeal. Put pressure on the Democrats to end the horrible law that separates children from there [sic] parents once they cross the Border into the U.S. he tweeted.

Shaun King, a journalist and an activist, also tweeted the story from 2014. At the time of writing, the tweet has still not been deleted.

I saw this photo floating around and didnt know if it was real. It is, King wrote. Children of immigrants are being held in cages, like dogs, at ICE detention centers, sleeping on the floor. Its an abomination.

Linda Sarsour, a controversial progressive activist, tweeted the same pictures: Take a look at these photos. #WhereAreOurChildren. At the time of writing, the tweet has still not been deleted.

Jake Silverstein, editor in Chief of the New York Times Magazine also issued an apology after posting the pictures and suggesting they are recent.

Correction: this link, which was going around this morning, is from 2014. Still disturbing, of course, but only indirectly related to current situation. My bad (and a good reminder not to RT things while distracted w family on the weekend), he wrote.

Fox News Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
President Trump pledged to Gold Star families on Monday to "never forget our heroes, saluting those who made the ultimate sacrifice on this Memorial Day.

The president marked his second Memorial Day as commander-in-chief with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, alongside Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford. He then delivered brief remarks.

"We gather to honor the lives of America's greatest heroes," Trump said. Were joined today by the families of American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. We cannot imagine the depth of emotion that this day brings each year, the grief renewed, the memories relived, those last beautiful moments together cherished and always remembered. You also feel that incredible pride- a pride shared by one really and truly grateful nation."

We will never forget our heroes, the president said, adding that today, we pay tribute to their service and strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.

"It's our heroes who make us who we are and who determine what we will be. Our fallen heroes have not only written our history, they've shaped our destiny," Trump said.

The president pointed to each "marker" on the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery, saying they "teach us what it means to be loyal and faithful and proud and brave and righteous and true."

"That is why we come to this most sacred place. That is why we guard these grounds with absolute devotion," Trump said. "That is why we always will remember because here on this soil, on these grounds, beneath those fields, lie the true source of American greatness, of American glory and of American freedom."

He added that "as long as we are blessed with patriots such as these, we shall forever remain one people, one family and one nation under God."

Ahead of the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump suggested that those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today, touting the economy and record-low unemployment numbers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
As President Trump has teased a summit between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could still take place, the U.S. on Monday halted new sanctions against the rogue nation, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Citing an unnamed U.S. official, The Journal reported the White House was poised to announce additional sanctions on North Korea as early as Tuesday but decided to hold off on doing so. Trump said Sunday that a U.S. delegation was in North Korea to plan for a potential meeting with Kim.

Trump called off the summit earlier this month following increasingly harsh rhetoric from North Korea. The Treasury Department had come up with new sanctions to levy on almost three dozen targets, including Chinese and Russian entities, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The goal here is to achieve maximum pressure, a senior administration official told the newspaper last week. Were still short of that.

Both the State Department and South Koreas Foreign Ministry said American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks. Trump said in a Sunday tweet that a U.S. team had arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself.

I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day, Trump said. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!

Trump has said the June 12 summit could still happen in Singapore, even though he called it off on May 24. Kim could see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

WHAT TRUMP, KIM JONG UN WERE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS AT HISTORIC SUMMIT IN SINGAPORE

In March, the State Department announced new sanctions on North Korea after it found an illegal nerve agent was used to kill Kims estranged brother. In announcing the new sanctions, the State Department said it strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons to conduct an assassination.

The new sanctions topped an already mounting list levied against the hermit kingdom.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in had a surprise meeting over the weekend with Kim and said his North Korean counterpart had committed to sitting down with Trump and to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

SOME LAWMAKERS PRAISE TRUMPS DECISION TO CALL OFF NORTH KOREA SUMMIT AS RIGHT CALL

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the Norths state-run news service, expressed his fixed will on a North Korea-U.S. summit.

Fox News Elizabeth Zwirz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Virginia Republican Rep. Tom Garrett announced Monday he was not seeking re-election because of his ongoing battle with alcoholism.

The announcement comes just three days after Garrett reassured voters he was not abandoning his run for a second term in Congress despite a week of turmoil, including reports he and his wife turned staffers into his own personal servants.

Any person  Republican, Democrat or independentwho has known me for any period of time and has any integrity knows two things: I am a good man and Im an alcoholic, Garrett said in a video recorded at the state Capitol in Richmond. This is the hardest statement that I have ever publicly made by far. Its also the truth.

Garrett's tepid fundraising had worried members of his party, but he said his decision not to seek another term was not motivated by fear of losing his seat. Garrett said "sometimes winning means knowing where your priorities should be."

"This isn't an ending for me, or my values of service to my fellow man, it's just a new beginning," Garrett said.

FOLLOW COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Republican party of Virginia Chairman John Whitbeck thanked Garrett for his service in a statement released late Monday:

"On behalf of Republicans around Virginia and especially in the Fifth District, we thank Tom Garrett for his service. Substance abuse is a serious issue that reaches even to the halls of Congress. Tom has tremendous courage for bringing his own struggle to light. We wish him and his family all the best.

The Fifth District Committee will begin the process of choosing a replacement nominee immediately. "Congressman Garretts decision not to seek re-election makes it even more imperative that we select the right nominee to defeat the anti-Semitic Democrat nominee, Leslie Cockburn."

Garrett, who represents the 5th District of Virginia, now joins the group of nearly 40 other Republicans who are not returning to Congress after the 2018 midterm elections.

Last week, the former Virginia state senator was accused of making Congressional staffers pick up groceries, chauffer his children and clean up after his dog, according to a report in Politico.

A spokesman, Matt Missen, said in a statement to Politico that the allegations were "unfounded".

Garrett was set to face Democratic challenger Leslie Cockburn, who reportedly has raised more money than the Republican incumbent.

Fox News' Mike Emanuel andThe Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dinosaur dandruff? Yes, you read that right.

Researchers discovered what they believe is the oldest known case of dandruff in a tiny feathered dinosaur that roamed the Earth around 125 million years ago.

Paleontologists found tiny flakes of fossilised skin on a crow-sized microraptor, a meat-eating dinosaur that had wings on all four of its limbs.

Tests on two other feathered dinosaurs, beipiaosaurus and sinornithosaurus, and a primitive bird known as confuciusornis, also revealed pieces of fossilised dandruff on the animals bodies, reports the Guardian.

The ancient skin flakes are reportedly the only evidence researchers have that show how dinosaurs shed their skin.

This is the only fossil dandruff known, Maria McNamara, who worked on the dinosaur fossils at University College Cork, told the Guardian. Until now weve had no evidence for how dinosaurs shed their skin.

PRIMATE MYSTERY SOLVED: HUMAN BONE REVEALS ITS SECRETS

Images of the dandruff taken with a powerful electron microscope show that the material is extremely well-preserved and is almost identical to that found on modern birds. Like human dandruff, the skin flakes are made of tough cells called corneocytes that are full of the protein keratin.

The work, published in Nature Communications, suggests that dinosaurs who sported feathers evolved skin to cope with their plumage as far back as the middle Jurassic.

Even though they are in the early stages of feather evolution, they have already adapted their skin to this more modern structure, McNamara said.

The fossilized remains of the animals were recovered in northeastern China. At 2 meters long, beipiaosaurus and sinornithosaurus grew to more than twice the size of the microraptor.
Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere after the impact of the Chicxulub asteroid, which ended the era of dinosaurs some 65 million years ago, warmed the Earth's climate for 100,000 years, a new study has revealed.

The study, based on an analysis of fossil records, suggested that the Earth's overall temperature increased by 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) over that time.

The results raise concerns about how long it will take for the planet to recover from the effects of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, said Kenneth MacLeod, a professor of geological sciences at the University of Missouri and lead author of the new work, published today (May 24) in the journal Science. [How the Dino-Killing Chicxulub Asteroid Impact Was Found]

Scientists have long theorized that after the piece of space rock with a diameter of 6 to 9 miles (7 to 14 kilometers) smashed into the Yucatan Peninsula near today's town of Chicxulub in Mexico, the temperature of the planet first rose sharply for minutes or hours, MacLeod said. After that, it plunged down for months to decades, because the huge amount of dust and soot thrown into the atmosphere by the impact blocked the sun's rays. Eventually, however, carbon dioxide released during the impact led to global warming.

More From Space.com How the Dino-Killing Chicxulub Asteroid Impact Was Found

MacLeod's study is the first to present empirical evidence of how long this greenhouse gas-related global warming lasted and how substantial it was.

"We thought that we could resolve this question by looking at fossilized bits of fish teeth, scales and bones from the El Kef section in Tunisia," MacLeod told Space.com, referring to a paleontological site in northwestern Tunisia known for having one of the world's best-preserved fossil records from the period before and after the Chicxulub impact

"This place is known for having a beautiful record across the interval that we are looking at  the so called Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary  the mass extinction event following the Chicxulub impact."

The researchers looked at the concentrations of different oxygen isotopes in the fossils. These isotopes differ in the number of neutrons in the oxygen atom and, according to MacLeod, behave slightly differently from one another.

"One of the differences is, as temperature increases, the amount of the light oxygen isotope, oxygen 16, in a mineral increases relatively," MacLeod said.

"We are measuring the ratio of oxygen 16 to oxygen 18. Every 1 part per 1,000 that the ratio changes correlates to an about 4.5- to 5-degree [C, or 8.1 to 9 degrees F] change in temperature."

The researchers analyzed 40 samples taken from the site in Tunisia: 10 samples from the 50,000-year period before the impact, 20 samples from the 100,000 years immediately after the impact and additional 10 samples from the following 200,0000 years.

"We found that there was a really big difference in oxygen isotopes between these three sets of samples  unambiguous," said MacLeod.

He said he and his team now want to look at fossil samples from other parts of the world and check for similar patterns.

"It's one thing to find 5 degrees [C, 9 degrees F] of warming in North Africa. It's even more impressive to find 5 degrees of warming in North Africa and perhaps 10 degrees [C, 18 degrees F] of warming off the coast of Australia," he said. "That would really strengthen the idea that it's a global signal and a greenhouse gas-related change."

The study, MacLeod said, not only sheds more light on what happened to the Earth's systems after the devastating collision, but it also raises questions about the consequences of current human activities.

"If I were to draw a line under the lessons of this study for the modern era, it would be to contemplate the idea that what we are doing in our lifetimes will affect the Earth for the next 100,000 years, which is pretty daunting," MacLeod said.

Original article on Space.com.
This is a rush transcript from "Special Report with Bret Baier," May 25, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We will see what happens. It could even be the 12th. We are talking to them now. They very much want to do it. We would like to do it. We are going to see what happens. Everybody plays games, you know that. You know that better than anybody.

DEFENSE SECRETARY JAMES MATTIS: There's possibly some good news on the Korea summit where it maybe our diplomat can pull it off may have it back on even.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

MIKE EMANUEL, FOX NEWS: So maybe the U.S.-North Korea summit will happen. We have some bipartisan reaction from Capitol Hill. Let's take a listen:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

REP. BRAD SHERMAN, D-CALIF.: Maybe the summit happens. Maybe it doesn't. But I think we have put ourselves in a bad position where we would be blamed for the summit's cancellation. But by canceling it, it makes them look like they are more interested in peace than we are. That's a mistake.

SEN. JAMES RISCH, R-IDAHO: Everybody needs to take a step back, take a deep breath and understand that this isn't the situation where the two agree to meet. They go in to a room, have a conversation, come out and shake hands sing kumbaya and it's over. This is incredibly complicated. It's going to take time.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

EMANUEL: And with that I'm going to take a deep breath, and let's bring in our panel: Steve Hayes, editor in chief for The Weekly Standard; Karen Tumulty, opinion writer for the Washington Post, and Charles Hurt, opinion editor for The Washington Times. Steve, does it happen?

STEVE HAYES, THE WEEKLY STANDARD: I think there will eventually be some kind of a summit. I don't think if it will be a Trump- Kim face-to-face summit. I don't think it's likely to happen in the coming months.

I think it was smart for the president to take a step back here. He seemed at least in his public comments very eager for not only the summit but for a deal saying things about Kim Jong-un that I don't think were true, giving him too much respect, saying he was very open and very honorable. At one point the president tweeted that Kim Jong-un had agreed to denuclearization, which he hadn't. So I think it's smart that the president took a step back here. I think he had Mike Pompeo and John Bolton in his ear on either side of him telling him, reminding him of the history of the North Korean behavior on this.

An the history really matters. It's not as if Kim Jong-un is actually going to give up his nuclear weapons program. It's been a key component of the regime for three decades. It will remain a key component of the regime, and anything has to start with that premise, I think.

EMANUEL: Speaking of presidential tweets. We have one here. Let's take a look. The president tweeting "Very good news to receive the warm and productive statement from North Korea. We will soon see where it leads. Hopefully long and enduring prosperity and peace. Only time and talent will tell." And Sarah Sanders, the press secretary, also provided this update.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: As the president said this morning certainly we would like to have a meeting. But the president is not just looking to have a meeting. He is not looking for just a cheap political stunt. He wants to get something that's a long-lasting and actual real solutions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

EMANUEL: So, Karen, your thoughts at this stage?

KAREN TUMULTY, WASHINGTON POST: Of course we should all be rooting for a long lasting and real solution. But it's not only time and talent. I would hope that the administration, one of the things that they have learned is that the other two things that you need going into this kind of meeting are preparation and message discipline. And both of those things really seem to be lacking starting from the moment that President Trump announced that the summit was happening without consulting his foreign policy advisors or his own administration.

EMANUEL: Charlie, your thoughts at this stage?

CHARLES HURT, WASHINGTON TIMES: I think it's interesting to listen to some of the Democrats complain about some of the strategy here. I think it's politically tone deaf because, as you say, Karen, everybody should be rooting for some success here. And the notion that you have some Democrats who are obviously just making a partisan claim criticizing the president for even having the meeting and giving him -- Kim Jong-un some new stature that he shouldn't have had. My goodness we just went through eight years of not only whatever they called it, the strategic indifference in Korea, but also the negotiations with Iran. The problem wasn't that they were negotiating with Iran. It's that they fell for a terrible deal.

And of course, John Kerry during that time was so desperate to get a deal he practically moved in with the foreign minister of Iran and wound up with a really, really bad deal. So that's the problem there. So I think to step back now and have Democrats almost gleeful when the talks got called off, it is a -- they are tone deaf again politically speaking.

EMANUEL: Was some of this the art of the deal at work essentially? You saw president pull out yesterday and then North Koreans last night around news time were saying wait a minute, we would still like to talk.

HAYES: I think the president at least deserves some running room here for it being exactly that. And to have somebody like Bob Menendez lecturing Mike Pompeo yesterday about the art of the deal is not the same of the art of diplomacy. My goodness, I mean, the experts have been in charge for a long time, and what do we have? We have a nuclear North Korea and nearly a nuclear Iran. So obviously maybe switching it up and trying something different might not be a bad idea.

EMANUEL: Karen, do you think we will be back and forth and back and forth on whether this is going to happen in the coming weeks?

TUMULTY: Yes, I do. However, one thing we have also learned, I think, from this is that when President Trump was running for office he said I like to be unpredictable. He has, I think, discovered that you can you overdo unpredictability as well.

EMANUEL: Steve, we have seen a bit of a dynamic of Mike Pompeo, perhaps, being the good cop in these negotiations and then John Bolton behind the scenes perhaps being the bad cop. Is that your read of things?

HAYES: Well, if have you got Mike Pompeo being the good cop on North Korea that's a pretty hawkish place to be. I would imagine that Mike Pompeo is giving the president advice that suggests he take seriously this long history that we talked about earlier and not fall for any public gestures that Kim Jong-un might engage in. Look, Pompeo knows arguably more about this than anybody else. He has been there and met with him. I think he probably has a good sense of what the actual ask was, what the real conversations were better than anybody else. But he is also, I think, quite aware of this history, and the history is what has to be our guide as we go into these discussions.

EMANUEL: So how do you see the next few weeks?

HAYES: I think Karen is right. I suspect it will be unpredictable. I expect there will be more ad hoc decision making. It can be a strategic advantageous to be unpredictable with your enemies. But if you're working with your allies, it's not good to have our South Korean allies be totally shocked and spun up into bewilderment by an announcement like this. It's important to keep them on board to talk to the Japanese, to talk to others that need to be supporting what we are doing in these talks.

EMANUEL: In the end does the dear leader walk away from the table?

TUMULTY: The thing is that one thing we have to understand is what these nuclear weapons mean to Kim Jong-un. And they are literally tied to his actual, physical survival. So I think that, again, we have to understand this is not -- the president keeps saying well, we could bring you economic prosperity and we could guarantee your safety. Kim Jong-un knows he has got a guarantee of his personal safety, and those are those nuclear weapons.

EMANUEL: Charlie, briefly, do you expect a result? HURT: I do. It may not be on the date that they predicted, but I do predict there will be some kind of meeting out of all this.

Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
Officers involved in a violent scuffle with a 20-year-old woman suspected of underage drinking at a New Jersey beach  an incident caught on video  were reassigned to administrative duty pending the outcome of a full and thorough investigation, officials said Sunday.

Video of the arrest Saturday went viral showing a Wildwood Police officer punching Emily Weinman of Philadelphia twice  once in the head and once in the neck  and putting her in a chokehold. Voices in the background could be heard shouting, Stop resisting, according to Fox 29.

The police department issued a statement about the arrest on Facebook Sunday, noting: While Chief [Robert Regalbuto] finds this video to be alarming, he does not want to rush to any judgment until having the final results of the investigation.

Weinman is facing multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on an officer and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

She posted about the incident on Facebook, which went viral before being taken down.

I asked them dont they have something better to do as cops than to stop people for underage drinking on the beach, she wrote.

Honestly, I can say if I took even a sip, then I wouldve gave them my information and called it a day; Im underage, so I know better, she wrote, according to The New York Post.

I know I shouldve gave him my name, Weinman wrote. I was partly wrong in a way but I was scared.

She noted: I tripped and fell and the cop tackled me to the ground and smashed my head into the sand.

But this whole situation was handled wrongly and blew out of proportion all because these pigs didnt do their jobs the way they were TRAINED to do so.

Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. told The Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday that the police soon would release body camera footage showing Weinman insulting the cops and spitting on them.

It wasnt just that this officer decided to beat her up, he said. That wasnt the case.

He added: We dont like to see anyone get hit, period. But then again, when you have someone whos aggressively attacking you or spitting at you.  I wasnt there. I dont know.
Veterans from across the country will be gathering in our nation's capital on Memorial Day this year to not only honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but to advocate for a cause that isn't typically associated with our nation's heroes -- the legalization of marijuana.

The veterans and advocates taking part in the Memorial Day Veterans Rally DC hope to change the stigma that surrounds cannabis, the preferred term for marijuana among advocates, by arguing that this alternative medicine is already helping some vets treat issues like PTSD, chronic pain and depression -- all without the use of dangerous & addictive prescription drugs like opioids. One of their rallying cries is "plants over pills," and they're not just coming from the usual legal pot hot-spots like Colorado.

The speakers are traveling from places as far west as Alaska, as far south as Texas, and as far north as New England to support the cause, and to share their stories of how legal marijuana helped ease their pain, alleviate symptoms of PTSD, and even get back into the workforce. Among those scheduled to speak are one of the first responders to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, the mother of a 24-year-old Marine who took his own life after battling PTSD, and the owner of a veteran-operated cannabis company dedicated to "medical cannabis for military veterans."

Beyond a lack of access in all 50 states, advocates say one of the biggest problems is that veterans are forced to pay for this alternative treatment out of pocket, despite what they say are life-saving results. That's due to Department of Veterans Affairs regulations which stipulate VA doctors still cannot prescribe medicinal marijuana to patients, despite the fact that they are allowed to "discuss marijuana use with veterans as part of comprehensive care planning."

"It is clear that medical research into the safety and efficacy of cannabis usage for medical purposes is timely, necessary, and widely supported by the veteran community."  Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn

THE VA GETS INVOLVED IN LEGAL WEED

That could soon change, and advocates may wind up having the VA to thank for it. Earlier this month, Congress passed a bill making the Department of Veterans affairs the first federal agency to conduct research into the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis. The lack of federal research has been one of the biggest issues in the debate over the potential benefits of legal cannabis, medicinal or otherwise.

The Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 was pushed over the finish line thanks to the overwhelming support of veterans across the country. A 2017 survey released by the American Legion, a congressionally-charted veterans group, revealed 92 percent of veteran households support further research into the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis. Another 83 percent of veterans said they support the legalization of cannabis nationwide, and 82 percent expressed a desire for it to become a federally-legal treatment option.

In a press release, American Legion officials also noted that veterans don't just support more research, "22 percent of veterans are currently using cannabis to treat a medical condition."

Those poll numbers did not fall on deaf ears. Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans affairs and himself a medical doctor, argued "it is clear that medical research into the safety and efficacy of cannabis usage for medical purposes is timely, necessary, and widely supported by the veteran community." Rep. Roe, who is also the co-chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus and a member of the Health Caucus, mentioned PTSD specifically in advocating for the study, before adding that veterans might not be the only ones who benefit from such a study.

The bill, he argued, is "a pragmatic and bipartisan piece of legislation that would advance our understanding of the impacts of medicinal marijuana usage and could improve the lives of veterans and other Americans."

"BABY STEP"

Derek Cloutier, a Marine who already uses medicinal cannabis for his PTSD and chronic pain, says allowing the VA to conduct research is a good "baby step," but it's too early to tell how much good it will do. In the meantime, he says many veterans will continue to suffer because of VA policies regarding cannabis -- even in states where it is medicinally legal. For some, that means breaking the law just so they can get their hands on what they say is a more effective, and less dangerous, form of treatment.

"I've been told straight by a vet that I can go to a VA hospital and be prescribed opiates, Adderall -- anything if they play their cards right, and then go sell the pills on the streets... just so they can buy cannabis and heal themselves," Cloutier says.

Cloutier returned from his deployment in Fallujah, Iraq, and found himself in a less-than-ideal employment situation for a veteran struggling with symptoms of PTSD -- working as a maximum-security prison guard. "That exacerbated my PTSD ten-fold," he says, and it didn't help when ISIS started re-taking control of the same cities he fought to liberate.

Cloutier would drink heavily at night to numb himself from both his growing PTSD symptoms, and the stresses of his new job. He says the support groups for veterans that he tried weren't of much help, either, with most meetings typically ending with a night of drinking. It wasn't until a friend recommended cannabis as an alternative to both the alcohol, and the prescription drugs Cloutier was taking, that he finally got a good night's sleep. Along with it came a new purpose in life.

Thanks to the laws in Massachusetts, where Cloutier lives, he is legally allowed to grow and consume his own cannabis. Now, he's working tirelessly to help other veterans find that same peace of mind by organizing events like the Memorial Day rally, and through a group he created called the New England Veterans Alliance (NEVA).

"REEFER MADNESS"

Part of the problem, according to Cloutier, is that most people --particularly veterans -- are still scared to even talk about cannabis, something he chalks up to the remnants of the so-called "reefer madness" of the early 20th century. Breaking down those barriers is one of the main reasons he says he started NEVA.

"I've been told straight by a vet that I can go to a VA hospital and be prescribed opiates, Adderall - anything if they play their cards right, and then go sell the pills on the streets... just so they can buy cannabis and heal themselves,"  Derek Cloutier, Veteran

"The more I learned about it, the more I educated myself about it... the stigma came down, the stereotypes came down," Cloutier said. "All these walls around me, that I was terrified to say I'm a cannabis user... that's part of the problem."

With NEVA, Cloutier hopes to connect with and educate veterans who may be thinking about the world of medicinal marijuana, but who are too scared to ask anyone about it because of VA policies, or social stigmas. Since starting his group, he's discovered veterans of WWII and Vietnam, and even a former VA doctor, who are using cannabis for treatment.

While Cloutier obviously considers it a win when he convinces vets to ditch their opioid prescriptions for cannabis, he notes there are plenty of other advantages to becoming more knowledgeable about cannabis. Many of NEVA's members have taken their newfound knowledge to secure jobs in the ever-growing cannabis industry.

And even if it doesn't lead to a job, Cloutier argues that the process of growing and cultivating the plant itself can be a major benefit --particularly for those who have served. "The biggest thing is giving a vet a purpose," Cloutier said. "Not everyday will I want to get up and care for [my plants], but I have to if I want to help myself. You need to check on it, water it, care for it.

"In the military, that's the opposite of what you're doing, at least for an infantry guy like me. You're taught to destroy, you're war-torn and battle-ready, but cannabis brings people together -- growing, smoking and consuming. And it's something that'll continue to bring people together more and more," he argued.

"ONE HIGH FOR ANOTHER"

Not all veterans agree with Cloutier. Fellow Marine and retired Staff Sgt. Johnny Joey Jones says he's tried cannabis before, and argues that veterans who use it to ween themselves off of prescription drugs like opioids are just "trading one high for another." He says what we really need to be doing is fixing the problems that veterans are coming home with, not just adding a new type of band-aid that he says doesn't even have much research to back it.

Jones agrees that the VA conducting official research is a good first step, but he's also concerned that his fellow vets are becoming "pawns" in what is quickly becoming a multimillion-dollar game of chess between lawmakers and lobbyists.

Some of Jones' fellow vets, and even some of his family are using cannabis -- and suggested he try it himself. One of them has managed to stay off of pills for five years because of it, but Jones still isn't convinced.

And when it comes to the potential job benefits, or the therapy that advocates say can come from simply growing the plant, Jones had a simple response. "I went down to Loews and for $500 I bought all of the tools and equipment I need to make furniture in my garage," he said. "And that's something that I can do legally in all 50 states."
Hes a lousy crook  and an even worse jailhouse lawyer.

A bumbling Long Island liquor-store thief who got caught stuffing bottles of hooch in his pants, only to be shot by the stores owner as he tried to get away, wants $2.7 million for his injuries.

But Shawn Harris cant even get the name of the store or the shooter right.

In the handwritten lawsuit he filed himself, Harris describes in detail how he and a pal ripped off the store on Newbridge Road in North Bellmore, LI, in August 2016, starting in the Hennesey [sic] and Patron section.

Harris removed 4 bottles of liquor and I put 2 bottles in my pants and walked to pay for the other 2 bottles and [the store owner] asked for I.D. and I told him I need to go to the car and get my I.D. and I went outside and Dropped the 2 Bottles, he wrote.

Harris, who was with two pals, was trying for another two bottles when the store owner  who he names as Lan Dong Dong of Grapes & Grains, in Baldwin, LI  followed the three men outside.

We was followed outside and the store owner pulled out a handgun and stated give me the bottles back, Harris writes in the Brooklyn federal-court lawsuit he filed from his cellphone in the Nassau County Correctional Center.

The owner struggled with the men, trying to grab the keys from their cars ignition before opening fire.

During this the store owner shoots my friend and he confronted me outside the car and shot me also and I ran off, Harris writes. I was shot by Lan Dong Dong in my right shoulder and I did not receive medical treatment because I was scared of Getting Arrested . . . so I did my own medical treatment.

But the theft actually occurred at a store called Newbridge Wine & Liquors, in North Bellmore  not Grapes & Grains, and Lan Dong Dong isnt the owner who shot Harris, according to reports.

Click for more from The New York Post.
Memorial Day weekend proved even bloodier than last year in Chicago.

At least eight people were killed and 25 others wounded in shootings across the city since midnight Friday, police told WLS. Last year, over the entire weekend of the unofficial start of summer, seven people were killed and 45 others were hurt.

The victims, WLS reported, include China Marie Lyons-Upshaw, who was shot in the chest while playing with a gun; Bobbieana Lyons, 20, a young mother shot and killed on her doorstep while celebrating her 2-year-olds birthday; and a 31-year-old man shot twice in the chest and once in the head after he got into a fight with another man.

To try and reduce the grim statistics, police had been trying to curb gun violence by employing 1,300 extra officers on patrol with help from state and federal partners.

The crimes come days after President Donald Trump tweeted about how Chicago police are unable to properly do their jobs because of the citys bureaucracy.

The killings are at a record pace and tough police work, which Chicago will not allow, would bring things back to order fast ... the killings must stop! Trump tweeted.

As Fox News previously reported, Trumps comment came after Blue Wednesday in Chicago, during which members of the citys Fraternal Order of Police showed up at a City Council meeting to address their grievances against Mayor Rahm Emanuel. They claim that Emanuel, who is in the middle of an election as he runs for his third term as mayor, has turned his back on them.

During the meeting, members accused Emanuel of not taking their interests into consideration because of, in part, a consent decree with the federal government thats in the works, The Chicago Tribune reported. The decree will give a federal court oversight over the Chicago Police Department.

Chicago police have argued that the decree is a shroud for even more anti-police policies.

You are more concerned with consent decrees, settlements, pandering to police-hating groups than negotiating a contract with us, said Patrick Murray, union vice president, according to the newspaper report. Our members are starting to believe you have no intention of negotiating a contract with us until after the next election.
The first named storm of the 2018 hurricane season made landfall late Monday on the Florida panhandle, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the coastal area normally packed with Memorial Day crowds.

The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET advisory that Subtropical Storm Alberto has top sustained winds of 45 mph, and made landfall near Laguna Beach in the Florida panhandle

"On the forecast track, the center of Alberto will cross the northern Gulf Coast in the warning area this afternoon or evening," the center said. "The weakening system is forecast to move well inland into the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region on Wednesday and Thursday."

The NHC warned of life-threatening surf conditions, the possibility of a few brief tornadoes in much of Florida and parts of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. Heavy rains are also expected in many areas, with some locations seeing between up to a foot of rain across the Florida panhandle into Alabama.

Alberto's approach to the region triggered mandatory evacuations of some small, sparsely populated Gulf Coast barrier islands in one Florida county.

Lifeguards posted red flags along the white sands of Pensacola Beach, where swimming and wading were banned amid high surf and dangerous conditions. The hurricane center said a tropical storm warning was in effect from the Suwannee River in Florida to the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

"We've got currently, at double red flags," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said at a news conference Sunday. "That means that people are not allowed to go in the water, there could be legal consequences if they go in the water because there are very dangerous surf conditions so we do that for their safety as well as the safety of responders."

THOUSANDS EVACUATE AS ALBERTO BEARS DOWN ON NORTHERN GULF COAST

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement Sunday that a mandatory evacuation has been issued in Franklin County for all barrier islands there and those in the county living directly on the coast in mobile homes or in recreation vehicle parks.

The storm's approach during the busy Memorial Day weekend caused disruptions for local businesses, eating away at profits.

In the seaside town of St. Marks located south of Tallahassee, the threat of severe weather kept many people out of the Riverside Cafe. Bartender John Hargan told WCTV what normally is a large weekend for the restaurant has instead turned into an "all hands on deck" situation to handle any damage.

"We're going to unplug everything that we can unplug, we're going to lift it up the best that we can and we're just going to let mother nature take its course," he said.

GULF COAST BRACES FOR IMPACT AS ALBERTO THREATENS FLASH FLOODS

Another small business, Taylor Airboats, told FOX35 they had to cancel some bookings over the weekend.

"I had some people that wanted to go out on the boat ride but I said I don't think we're going to make it because it's coming in pretty quick," owner Dennis Inman said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rescuers are searching for a 39-year-old National Guard member Monday who was reported missing a day after he was swept away by fast-moving floodwaters in Marylands Ellicott City while attempting to rescue people during devastating floods, family and officials said.

Eddison Hermond, of Severn, was reported missing around 12:30 a.m. Monday, hours after sudden, violent floodwaters destroyed businesses, submerged vehicles and left some flipped and in pieces, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said. Friends and relatives on Facebook said Hermond, a National Guard member, was rescuing people after 4 p.m. Sunday when he was swept away by floodwaters, WBFF-TV reported.

Hermond was last seen in the La Palapa area near Lot D on Main Street around 5:20 p.m. Sunday, Howard County Police Department said. Hermond was described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and 160 pounds.

Officials said he was holding a door to a restaurant closed until he and others left to assist a woman whose cat had gone missing. Witnesses said they saw Hermond go under water, officials said Monday.

Were continuing to search for the missing gentleman. Nothing is off the table, Howard County Fire Chief John Butler told reporters Monday afternoon, adding that rescuers arent yet making assumptions.

By Monday, the storm had calmed but residents of the city, about 13 miles west of Baltimore, were left attempting to sort through the damage. At least 300 people in hazardous areas were assisted and at least two dozen were stranded or rescued from waters, Butler said.

Additionally, two buildings caught fire during the storm, one possibly because of a lightning strike, Butler said.

"They say this is a once every 1,000-year flood and we've had two of them in two years," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said.

Hogan declared a state of emergency Monday morning

The last time the city of nearly 66,000 experienced such catastrophic flooding was in 2016, when two people there were killed and the city was left with millions in damages. Kittleman said Sunday nights flooding was worse than the July 2016 storm.

No deaths were yet reported in this storm. Officials said Monday some minor injuries have been reported.

I can tell you my heart is broken thinking about what people are going through here, and the people's lives who were devastated two years ago and they rebuilt, and now they're faced with the same daunting task again, Kittleman said.

Photos and videos from the scene showed brown water rushing through the streets, carrying along anything in its path. Some footage showed the water reaching just below a Stop sign. Others showed stoplights partially knocked down as people stood on dry land watching the torrent of water.

About 600 customers were reported to be without power by Monday morning, according to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Jessica Ur, a server at Pure Wine Cafe on the city's Main Street, told The Baltimore Sun that she watched as gushing waters swept three or four parked cars down the street.

"It's significantly higher than it was before," she told the newspaper, comparing the floodwaters to those of 2016. At this point, Im definitely really worried about all our neighbors on Main Street.

The floodwaters reached the first floor of most buildings. In some, it had reached even higher. Len Berkowitz, the owner of Great Panes Art Glass Studio in Ellicott City, said he hasnt seen his shop yet, but knows its going to be devastating.

He added, But there's nothing you can do, I guess. Nature has its way."

A wedding party was forced to evacuate its venue when the doors couldnt keep the floodwaters out.

It looked like we were in the Titanic or The Poseidon Adventure, the brides father, Bill Rigney, told The Baltimore Sun.

Photos from the aftermath showed two vehicles stacked up in a triangle form while others had parts destroyed or missing after colliding into other cars.

The community received nearly eight inches of rain over a six-hour period, but more fell during an intense, three-hour period. In July 2016, Ellicott City received 6.6 inches of rain over a two- to three-hour period.

"In a normal heavy rain event, you wouldn't see this amount of flooding, where you see cars floating down the road," National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Muccilli said. "This was a true flash flood."

Ellicott City has been rebuilding since the 2016 flooding. Local officials recently said that 96 percent of the businesses were back in operation and more than 20 new businesses had again opened in the Main Street area.

Time to rebuild, thats it, Michel Tesiguel, a restaurant owner, said. Its no question for us. We rebuilt the building last time, so that helped  Our plan is to get it as soon as the county lets us in.

Those who need help  that isnt an emergency  can call a hotline set up by Ellicott City: 410-313-2900. An emergency shelter has also been set up at the Roger Carter Community Center, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lava from Hawaiis Kilauea volcano covered one of the wells at the island's geothermal power plant, prompting fears of a toxic gas leak as authorities urge residents to evacuate Leilani Estates due to fast-moving flows.

A well at Puna Geothermal Venture, known as PGV, was successfully plugged before the molten rock reached it Sunday evening, Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said. A second well thats 100 feet away is also stable and secured.

Neither well is expected to release any hydrogen sulfide. The public will be kept informed of the situation, the civil defense agency tweeted.

Residents have been concerned about the lava rupturing wells at the plant, causing deadly hydrogen sulfide and other gases to be emitted, Reuters reported. Authorities already shut down the plant and removed 60,000 gallons of flammable liquid at the start of the volcanic activity. The wells were also deactivated.

"I think it's safe to say authorities have been concerned about the flow of lava onto the plant property since the eruption started," David Mace, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said.

Officials, however, said they have been monitoring the lava and have personnel on site to prevent a potential deadly disaster.

Fast-moving lava flows were the main issue for residents in Leilani Estates. Authorities urged people Sunday night to evacuate the community immediately because of lava flowing from Fissure 7. Firefighters rescued a man who was trapped when lava cut off his home around 8 p.m. Sunday. The man, who was not injured, was guided out of the area through a back route, Hawaii News Now reported.

A 24th fissure opened on Leilani Estates Sunday, more than three weeks after the volcano began erupting. At least 82 structures, including dozens of homes, were destroyed. One man was injured by lava spatter.

The volcanic activity has also caused a slew of health concerns for residents on the Big Island. On top of lava, ash clouds and plumes of deadly laze (lava and haze), officials are also warning about vog, or volcanic smog.

Scientists say higher sulfur dioxide emissions recorded at the volcano's vents in recent days are creating the potential for heavier than usual vog. So far, trade winds have been mostly blowing the gray haze offshore.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A motorist in Florida is alive after another driver frantically warned her to pull over after her SUV burst into flames on Friday.

Meridith Olinger was driving on Interstate 4 in Orlando when she noticed the bottom of a nearby SUV was on fire.

I mean, I felt like I helped someone who really needed help that day, Olinger told WESH-TV.

The driver of the SUV, Susan King, said she got out of the vehicle right before it was completely engulfed in flames and totaled in minutes.

Im incredibly grateful. She was my angel that day. It was surreal, King told WESH.

18-WHEELER TRANSPORTING AVOCADOS IN LOUISIANA TRIGGERED FIERY PILEUP THAT LEFT 4 DEAD, POLICE SAY

King said the vehicle belonged to her best friend, Tyla Kennedy, who told the television station she later found out it was under a safety recall involving an engine defect.

Kennedy told WESH that Kia customer service said it had no valid address to send a recall notice, and that there would be no compensation until she can prove it was the recall that caused the engine to catch fire.

All three women involved said they were glad at least that no one was seriously hurt in the incident.
A Little Caesars employee in Florida took matters into his own hands Saturday night when he shot and killed a scissors-wielding attacker who was wearing a clown mask, police said.

Police responded to the pizza shop in Holly Hill around 11:50 p.m. after receiving 911 calls about shots fired at the location. When they arrived, they found the alleged attacker lying down in the parking lot with a clown mask and scissors on the ground. The suspect was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Little Caesars employee Heriberto Feliciano, 28, later told police he was closing up the restaurant around 11:50 p.m. when a man wearing a clown mask attacked him. Surveillance video shows the masked attacker begin wielding a wooden post at the employee, who had just walked out of a side door after checking the stores security system.

Feliciano said the masked man began hitting him with the wooden post in the face and shoulder until the plank broke, according to the police report.

The suspect, who has not been identified, allegedly nailed Feliciano to the ground and attempted to stab him with scissors  until the pizza shop workers quick thinking saved his life.

Even though [Feliciano was] being attacked he's able to pull out a concealed firearm he has and fires multiple rounds at the suspect, Holly Hill Police Chief Stephen Aldrich told FOX35 Orlando.

Feliciano said he fired four to five shots at close range. He added that he placed his gun on the trunk of his vehicle and called police to report the shooting, the report stated.

Aldrich said the case was very unusual.

We're obviously aggressively pursuing this to find out where this individual came from and why this attack occurred, he added.

Carlton Akins, who lives near the Little Caesars, told FOX35 he thought the employee made the right move.

I'm sorry the guy got killed, but he got what he deserved, he said.
A Las Vegas teacher was arrested this month on terrorist threat charges after she sent texts saying she was forming a plan to shoot up a concert and wanted to empower women to be serial killers.

Leslie McGourty, 48, was exchanging texts with a friend May 16 when she made a threat to poke a lot of holes in a lot of people and kill herself, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing her arrest report.

The friend took the texts to cops and McGourty was arrested later that day as she was teaching a physics class at Bonanza High School, the paper reported.

She was accused of targeting a May 19 concert at a downtown bar.

In the texts, McGourty romanticized being remembered and said she hoped to start another #MeToo movement but this time in which women feel empowered enough to become serial killers, the paper reported.

A perfect plan with my favorite song surrounded by a bunch of f----- up misfits like I am, she said in one of the texts, according to the paper. Imagine knowing exactly the moment that youre going to die. I know exactly that your favorite song will be playing. By your favorite band. Its just too perfect.

The arrest report says McGourty offered little reaction when detectives read her the texts.

It also says McGourty admitted to police that she had planned to attend a downtown concert, but that she often has those types of conversations with her friend.

She was assigned to home after being released on bail, the paper reported.

KTNV-TV reported that the text exchange between McGourty and her friend included a reference to Stephen Paddock the gunman who killed 58 people attending a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip.
A military family in Texas received a special honor on Saturday for their loved one who was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart medal.

Army Private First Class Raul Herrera Sr. served in World War II and passed away in 1992, but never received the Purple Heart for his wounds endured in service.

"He was awarded a bronze star, received his bronze star but he was never awarded a Purple Heart," Col. Rojelio Herrera Jr., his son, told FOX San Antonio.

Herrera Jr. told KENS5 his father was wounded in 1944 when he faced enemy fire while delivering much-needed supplies and ammunition to fellow soldiers. His father sprinted through dangerous territory multiple times to secure the items.

"He got wounded in the hand," Herrera Jr. told KENS5 We're not sure how bad because he went to an aid station or he got treated and he continued on, never left the unit."

'VETERANS MATTER' HELPS HOUSE THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS

Herrera's other son, Raul, told FOX San Antonio it may have been for a variety of reasons.

"Back in the 70s there was a fire at the St. Louis repository for military records and a lot of the records were burnt, so part of dad's file was also charred," he said.

Family members from Los Angeles and Chicago gathered in San Antonio on Saturday as part of the presentation of the Purple Heart. Many of the family members, including Herrera's sons, served in the armed forces.

"It was something that my dad deserved, Herrera Jr., himself a Vietnam veteran, told KENS5. And to know that the system works and that he finally got it is very rewarding. I wish he were actually here.
One World War II veteran celebrated this Memorial Day weekend by receiving a high school diploma  74 years after dropping out.

Robert Lockard, 94, would have graduated from Circleville High School in 1944 but instead dropped out. He later join the Army where he served in the Air Corps 354th Infantry 89th Division and spent time in northern France and Central Europe during World War II.

Lockard went on to earn European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, three Bronze Star designations and a World War II Victory Medal.

But despite all these achievements, Lockard said he always thought about graduating after returning home.

Circleville honored the vet at a graduation ceremony on Sunday. He finally received his diploma, which he says means everything to him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The wife of one of Mexicos most wanted drug lords has been arrested, Mexican government officials said.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia was detained in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopon in the Western state of Jalisco Saturday, according to Sky News and other news outlets.

Garcia's husband Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, heads the New Generation Jalisco Cartel, which along with the Sinaloa Cartel, is blamed for most of the U.S.'s illicit heroin market, Sky News reported.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Chicago said in March that Oseguera was their "top target" following the arrest and extradition of drug cartel leaer Joaquin Guzman, known as "El Chapo."

Through extreme violence, corruption,and extortion, (the Jalisco Cartel) has increased its presence in Mexico, engaging in turf battles throughout the country and steadily expanding their territory and control, the State Department said.

Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances, a role previously held by her brother Abigael, who was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2015.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete declined to speculate Sunday on whether government agents were close to detaining the cartel leader. But he said he hopes to soon have news.

"I once heard that they arrived at a place and that he had just left because the coffee was still steaming," Navarrete said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A flight school instructor and his assistant were booked at an airport Friday after allegedly kidnapping one of their students and attempting to send him on a plane back to China, police said.

Tianshu Shi, 21, recorded audio from the alleged attack by Jonathan McConkey and his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, who both work for IASCO Flight Training in Redding, Calif.

Shi, who said the two employees had visited him on Thursday night and told him he would be "shipped back" to China the next day, provided the audio recording to the Record Searchlight. (WARNING: GRAPHIC AUDIO: CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDING)

"I've got your f***ing passport, you're leaving now," a male says in the audio recording. "I'm not f***ing with you. Let's go. Don't f*** with me."

Shi's university reportedly paid approximately $70,000 for his instruction at IASCO, which contracts with China's civil aviation authority for pilot training services.

At one point, Shi, who claims he has been grounded by the school for the past two months, appears to ask his instructor whether he is being threatened.

"Your a** is getting on a plane right now -- I'll break your f***ing arm. You'd better believe I'm threatening you," the male voice says.

A female voice adds: "You are here illegal, you know that? If you don't go with us, you go to jail."

"If you cannot speak English, you are not going to be able to stay here, she says. The man speaks only in English in the recording; the woman alternates between English and Mandarin.

Shi had reportedly been in the United States for just seven months at the time of the incident, on an M-1 visa, which applies to students involved in vocational or technical programs.

The male in the recording also threatens to call the police and claims to have Shi in his legal "custody."

"At that moment, police is my Jesus."  Tianshu Shi, after being rescued

"The United States government needs you out of this country right now, you understand?" the man asks.

AIRPLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING ON FREEWAY AFTER EXPERIENCING MECHANICAL ISSUES

Shi agreed to get in the car with his instructor because he was fearful for his safety, police said.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Shi managed to contact his brother in China during the encounter. Eventually, Shi's brother spoke to one of Shi's flight school classmates, who confirmed the apparent kidnapping.

Authorities encountered the trio at Redding Municipal Airport. That's where the flight instructors told police that they had organized the vigilante deportation because Shi's English was not up to par for communicating safely with air traffic controllers, The Los Angeles Times reported.

"At that moment, police is my Jesus," Shi said after his rescue.

"I can't speak English well in life, but I can speak English well with air traffic control," he said in an interview with Searchlight.

McConkey and Hoser were charged with kidnapping, and have been released on bail.
Thousands of American troops could be permanently stationed in Poland as a deterrent to Russia, the country's defense minister said Monday, adding that he's has held talks with U.S. officials.

Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told state Radio 1 he's recently held talks in Washington about having a permanent presence of U.S. troops in Poland, where they are currently on a rotational, temporary, though open-ended mission.

Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine has caused anxiety in the region, as Moscow has continued to support separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"The result of our efforts is that the U.S. Senate has contacted the Pentagon about an assessment of ... (the) permanent presence of U.S. troops in Poland," he said. "Such presence is of great importance because it deters the adversary."

U.S. and NATO troops were deployed to Poland and the region last year as a security assurance.

Russia has taken other steps seen as hostile in the region in recent years, and a Dutch-led investigation revealed Thursday that a Buk missile from a Russian military unit brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. The passenger jet was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when it was blown out of the sky over Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers and crew were killed.

Cisco's Talos cyberintelligence unit also warned last week that it has a high level of confidence the Russian government has hacked at least 500,000 routers and storage devices in an attempt to cause another enormous cyberattack on Ukraine.

RUSSIA HACKS 500,000 ROUTERS IN ATTEMPT TO ATTACK UKRAINE

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that an expanding NATO's presence and infrastructure towards Russia's borders was an "expansionist" move.

"In general, when we record gradual expansion of NATO military structure towards our borders, when NATO infrastructure directly approaches our borders, this certainly does not contribute to security and stability on the continent in any way," Peskov told the TASS news agency. "On the contrary, these expansionist steps, certainly, result in counteractions of the Russian side to balance the parity which is violated every time this way."

Peskov said that a permanent deployment of U.S. troops in Poland is a "sovereign decision" but that the consequences for the "entire security on the continent" are evident.

The Onet.pl news portal reported that Poland is seeking the permanent deployment of a U.S. armored division and is offering up to $2 billion to help build the infrastructure. It says the defense ministry has written to U.S. politicians and the U.S. Congress with details of the proposal.

The ministry's press office confirmed to The Associated Press that such a document has been forwarded, but declined to give more details.

Fox News Chris Ciaccia, Ryan Gaydos, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A man who was hailed as a hero after scaling a building to save a child dangling from a Paris balcony will be granted French citizenship and was offered a job as a firefighter.

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, a Malian illegal migrant, met with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday at the Elysee Palace, just two days after his daring rescue was captured in a now-viral video. Gassama scaled four floors of a building in northern Paris on Saturday to save a 4-year-old boy, Sky News reported.

"I just didn't have time to think, I ran across the road to go and save him, Gassama told Macron during the meeting. "I just climbed up and thank God, God helped me. The more I climbed the more I had the courage to climb up higher, that's it.

WATCH: HEROIC GEORGIA COP USES CPR TO SAVE CHOKING INFANT

A man in the neighboring balcony was attempting to hold the child up before Gassama reached out with his right arm and pulled the child to safety. Gassama, who was dubbed a real-life Spiderman, said the boy was crying and had an injured foot.

Bystanders captured the rescue on video, which was viewed millions of times on social media platforms.

Macron called Gassamas actions an exceptional act.

"You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him, Macron said. "You need courage and the capability to do that."

TEXAS MAN'S ACT OF KINDNESS FOR ELDERLY WOMAN GOES VIRAL

The French president said Gassama, who was in France illegally, will be granted citizenship and offered a new job with the Paris fire brigade. Gassama had arrived in Paris a few months ago in hopes of starting a new life, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told Sky News.

"I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France, Hidalgo said.

Macron also gave Gassama a medal and certificate for his bravery.

Police later questioned the boys father for leaving the child unattended. The boys mother was reportedly not in Paris at the time.
Police say a civilian and a soldier have been killed in fighting between government troops and rebels in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Police say the deaths occurred overnight during fighting that followed a rebel attack on an army camp in southern Kakpora village.

Separately, police say militants detonated a bomb by remote control targeting an Indian army armored vehicle in the volatile Shopian area. Three soldiers were wounded in the blast.

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 Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
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.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low near 80F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.
United Nations University : UN students query Bonners about heat stress

Bonn Students from the United Nations University in Bonn are investigating the impact of the increasing number of heat waves on the urban population. They will continue to be more frequent due to climate change.

Teilen

Teilen Weiterleiten

Weiterleiten Tweeten

Tweeten Weiterleiten

Weiterleiten Drucken

Lydia Mobus does not mind the increasing heat when temperatures rise in the old town. The 49-year-old sells car number plates on Breite Strae and is happy about the summer weather. Its great when its warmer, she says. However, it quickly gets much too hot for her parents. They are approaching 80 and dont go out at all. I can imagine that lots of people have a problem with the heat.

Lydia Mobus is among the first respondents to be interviewed by the 15 students from the United Nations University (UNU) in Bonn. The UN Think Tank is primarily concerned with research questions that affect many countries. There are institutes around the world each dedicated to different topics. Here in Bonn, the researchers work at the Institute for Environment and Human Security.

800 Bonners will be surveyed

Simone Sandholz researches the issue of heat in cities and says: When it comes to natural hazards, we often think of houses that are damaged by floods and storms. The issue of heat, however, is often overlooked. Heat waves often occur much more slowly than other natural disasters. Figures from the Federal Environment Ministry show, for example, that the record summer of 2003 cost around 7000 people in Europe their lives. There were also numerous cases of illness through dehydration, heat stroke and heart and circulatory diseases.

Although Germany has a relatively cool climate, the burden of heat waves is increasing. This primarily affects urban populations, explains Sandholz. The expert assumes that there will be more heat waves in the future because of climate change and that they will last longer. In typical holiday destinations such as Italy and Spain, people could be more relaxed about the heat than in Germany. Theres a reason the siesta has caught on there. But on average, the Germans are significantly older than those from southern countries. And were all getting much older, says Sandholz.

For this reason, Bonners should rethink their behaviour and administrations should respond to citizens needs. To this end, the researchers want to develop larger scale strategies. Senior citizens in particular feel every degree and are more susceptible if the heat lasts longer, Sandholz knows. Most voluntarily restricted their range of motion. If I am 80 years old and live alone, I will wonder who can go shopping for me. This is why the researchers also looked at neighbourhood cohesion. Small children, pregnant women, overweight people, those with chronic illnesses and alcoholics also belong to the risk groups. The Federal Environment Agency has issued these with advice on handling heat.

While the project partners in the interdisciplinary research team carry out analyses and forecasts about heat exposure themselves, the experts at the UNU are asking the population. A total of 800 Bonn residents in the old town and Bad Godesberg are to take part in the survey. The researchers are investigating whether the residents notice the heat in the city and what measures they take when it gets too hot for them. They are also recording personal details and the current housing conditions.

As guidelines are currently being developed in city districts, Simone Sandholz knows there is an opportunity to promptly inform the administration and citizens of the results. As the old town is very densely built up, this part of the city heats up more quickly than others. Cities had to find ways to adapt and protect their residents. For example, sufficient green spaces also played a role.
felicilin at 28-05-2018 10:36 AM (3 years ago) (f)

Hip Hop mogul, Sean Diddy Combs a.k.a Diddy has hailed Falz over his new single, This is Nigeria, a cover of Childish Gambinos This is America.

Hip Hop mogul, Sean Diddy Combs a.k.a Diddy has hailed Falz over his new single, This is Nigeria, a cover of Childish Gambinos This is America.

Mirroring the concept used by the American musician/filmmaker born Donald Glover, Falz, whos also a multi-faceted entertainer, used his song to address a number of societal issues in Nigeria.



The video which was released late on Friday, May 25th was received with widespread acclaim, and criticism from some quarters, largely due to the topical issues highlighted in it.



Reacting to the video which has since gone viral, Diddy, owner of Revolt TV and Bad Boy Records, posted a short clip on his Instagram page.



While acknowledging the Nigerian rapper/comic-actor, he wrote: #Nigeria LETS GO!



A post shared by Diddy (@diddy) on May 27, 2018 at 4:43am PDT Mirroring the concept used by the American musician/filmmaker born Donald Glover, Falz, whos also a multi-faceted entertainer, used his song to address a number of societal issues in Nigeria.The video which was released late on Friday, May 25th was received with widespread acclaim, and criticism from some quarters, largely due to the topical issues highlighted in it.Reacting to the video which has since gone viral, Diddy, owner of Revolt TV and Bad Boy Records, posted a short clip on his Instagram page.While acknowledging the Nigerian rapper/comic-actor, he wrote:

Post Reply Posted: at 28-05-2018 10:36 AM (3 years ago) | Hero
clarajancita at 28-05-2018 11:24 AM (3 years ago) (f)

Uwaila Agbonson's (@Lauraveth on instagram) has called out Her Ex-hubby and a man, Osa Osula who claims to be a relative to her Ex-hubby Emmanuel. In a response to Uwailas previous rants, Osa Osula claims her rants were a case of greed and blackmail taken too far. He also claims she is a liar and everything she had written about her Ex-husband were false.

Uwaila Agbonson'shas called out Her Ex-hubby and a man, Osa Osula who claims to be a relative to her Ex-hubby Emmanuel. In a response to Uwailas previous rants, Osa Osula claims her rants were a case of greed and blackmail taken too far. He also claims she is a liar and everything she had written about her Ex-husband were false.

He wrote; Quote "Someone just contacted me that youre alleging on Social Media that hes replying your post. Drama queen, He is not interested in your fake news and sensationalized stories. Everyone in the world knows that if he was not paying child support in America and the additional gift of maintenance totalling over $2550 monthly he agreed to, He would have been in jail or be without all his driving and business licences.





In addition until two weeks ago, he was still paying for your car insurance, you and your siblings phone bills. As at this very second, I am writing he still pay for your phone and Mobil internet (hot spot). Remember that the last time you paid for anything in 15 years until recently was just a few months ago. He sent you to London for your B.Sc & M.Sc after you couldnt pass the University Matriculations Examination, UME in Nigeria. Whereas you lied that you were a graduate of Computer Science from Uniben, a school you never attended.



You are such a shameless liar who is completely driven by greed and the fact that the wide dream of a clean out in the divorce fell short of your high expectations. You told the family court that the House you got in the divorce settlement should have been fully paid for. A 7bedrooms duplex occupied by you, his two kids, your two brothers who are medical doctors, who by the way were fully trained in All Saints University in the Commonwealth of Dominica by uncle Emmanuel after their father abandoned them there in their first year, your sister and her daughter, who he has cared for since birth apart from training her at Benson Idahosa University.



You went to court to try to tarnish his name by filling for Order of Protection for you and the kids, it was dismissed because you withdrew it for lacking in substance. His counter-suit was granted. Thats your pain. In court the transcripts will show the world that you & your lawyer argued that he shouldnt be believed because all Nigerians are 419 and now you are appealing to Nigerians sentiments after failing to tarnish him in the family court. The divorce has been over for years, what is your beef? It must be greed certainly. Its not easy having to work for the first time in your life and pay your own bills in America by yourself right? Prove to the world how many years you have worked in your life.....



THIS IS HER RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE RANT....



















Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 28-05-2018 11:24 AM (3 years ago) | Hero
felicilin at 28-05-2018 12:49 PM (3 years ago) (f)

It is sad that once again a Nigerian who ought to be a responsible mentor for Nigerian youths has towed the unfortunate path of Ignorance. In his recent music video, Falz called out Nigerian Churches for building universities with money of the poor yet made it unavailable for the poor due to "expensive" tuition.

It is sad that once again a Nigerian who ought to be a responsible mentor for Nigerian youths has towed the unfortunate path of Ignorance. In his recent music video, Falz called out Nigerian Churches for building universities with money of the poor yet made it unavailable for the poor due totuition. This is one of the numerous emotional blackmail that churches in Nigeria are being subjected to. It is sad because one wonders if much of these accusers even realize what it takes to fund a mediocre university not to talk of a good one. In much of these debates and attacks against churches, most seem to abandon the facts rather they go feed on the lies and propaganda against the church which is an easy target because most churches rightly do not have PR teams or many individuals knowledgeable enough to defend them.

How Much Does It Cost To Run A Nigerian University

We would be using federal and state universities as a guide here due to the unavailability of data from mission universities.

In their underfunded states, the University of Ibadan's annual wage bill stands at 800 million naira/month translating to 10 billion naira/annum. Capital allocation to the university also stands at 1 billion naira/annum. While Tetfund's annual allocation stands at 2 billion naira per annum. Therefore all FG induced funding stands at 13 billion naira for a total number of 29,783 students which put total FG subsidy of UI at N437,000.00 per annum. This is excluding the IGR made by the university.

State universities on the other hand have a typical wage bill profile of about 5 billion a year. Example would be the likes of Lautech and EkSu with 390> million naira and 450 million naira as wage bill respectively.

If Governments are finding it hard to fund universities how would fahlz expect churches to do so exclusively?

Until recently Lautech was enmeshed in a series of Industrial actions which was a result of the two owner state's inability to pay subvention for the university. Adekunle Ajasin on the other hand witnessed an internal crisis when state government had to hike the fees students where paying. All these are testament to the fact that university education is severely expensive to fund. So the intelligent questions that Falz should be asking is how state governments funded with Oil revenue, Compulsory Tax and a predictable income regime are finding it nearly impossible to properly fund single universities across their various states. Not why should churches who are funded by voluntary donations and a non consistent income regime must fund free education.

There Are No Free Church Universities Anywhere In The World

While most of the advocates of free church university education are quick to cite old missionaries as the reason why today's church must give free education it is curious as to why they refuse to cite free church universities in advanced nations of the world today which currently practices free education. They cunningly make it sound as though tuition fees was invented by Nigerian pastors. But it is indeed far from the truth. The fact is that majority of the conventional churches across the globe funded or founded by churches charge way higher than their counterparts in Nigerian universities. Exceptions would be made of university cum seminaries which are usually also funded by churches.

"Church Universities Are Funded By The Poor" - A lie invented by Mischievous individuals

Half truths are equal to lies, to say that church universities are funded by the poor is to insinuate that they are exclusively funded by them. But that would be a lie because the obvious truth is that they are equally funded by the rich and middle class who in some cases don't even bother applying. Much of these self appointed advocates of the poor are in the reality hypocrites using poor people as a pawn in a dirty war game against the church.

University education is expensive everywhere and where it is free someone must be paying for it. Many of the hypocritical advocates of the poor make it seem as though poor people sell off their inheritances to gift to churches so as to build schools "that are for the rich". But in reality what most church members give to churches or university donations are negligible funds such as 50 - 500 naira. How many 50/100 naira notes are you going to pull together to replace one 800,000 required to educate one kid?

Nigerian Churches Should Continue Their Good works In The Higher Education Sector And Ignore Detractors

The fact of the matter is that Nigerian churches provided over 30 universities which has given thousands of Nigerian youths the opportunity to study in a country with one of the lowest university per populations in the world. They've done that and have equally saved Nigeria millions in foreign exchange which erstwhile was lost to education tourism.

They've funded researches in millions, owned research institutes which helped in curbing infectious disease and now even one now has a startup laboratory.

Watch a video of the controversial This Is Nigeria song below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW_xEqCWrm0 This is one of the numerous emotional blackmail that churches in Nigeria are being subjected to. It is sad because one wonders if much of these accusers even realize what it takes to fund a mediocre university not to talk of a good one. In much of these debates and attacks against churches, most seem to abandon the facts rather they go feed on the lies and propaganda against the church which is an easy target because most churches rightly do not have PR teams or many individuals knowledgeable enough to defend them.We would be using federal and state universities as a guide here due to the unavailability of data from mission universities.In their underfunded states, the University of Ibadan's annual wage bill stands at 800 million naira/month translating to 10 billion naira/annum. Capital allocation to the university also stands at 1 billion naira/annum. While Tetfund's annual allocation stands at 2 billion naira per annum. Therefore all FG induced funding stands at 13 billion naira for a total number of 29,783 students which put total FG subsidy of UI at N437,000.00 per annum. This is excluding the IGR made by the university.State universities on the other hand have a typical wage bill profile of about 5 billion a year. Example would be the likes of Lautech and EkSu with 390> million naira and 450 million naira as wage bill respectively.Until recently Lautech was enmeshed in a series of Industrial actions which was a result of the two owner state's inability to pay subvention for the university. Adekunle Ajasin on the other hand witnessed an internal crisis when state government had to hike the fees students where paying. All these are testament to the fact that university education is severely expensive to fund. So the intelligent questions that Falz should be asking is how state governments funded with Oil revenue, Compulsory Tax and a predictable income regime are finding it nearly impossible to properly fund single universities across their various states. Not why should churches who are funded by voluntary donations and a non consistent income regime must fund free education.While most of the advocates of free church university education are quick to cite old missionaries as the reason why today's church must give free education it is curious as to why they refuse to cite free church universities in advanced nations of the world today which currently practices free education. They cunningly make it sound as though tuition fees was invented by Nigerian pastors. But it is indeed far from the truth. The fact is that majority of the conventional churches across the globe funded or founded by churches charge way higher than their counterparts in Nigerian universities. Exceptions would be made of university cum seminaries which are usually also funded by churches.- A lie invented by Mischievous individualsHalf truths are equal to lies, to say that church universities are funded by the poor is to insinuate that they are exclusively funded by them. But that would be a lie because the obvious truth is that they are equally funded by the rich and middle class who in some cases don't even bother applying. Much of these self appointed advocates of the poor are in the reality hypocrites using poor people as a pawn in a dirty war game against the church.University education is expensive everywhere and where it is free someone must be paying for it. Many of the hypocritical advocates of the poor make it seem as though poor people sell off their inheritances to gift to churches so as to build schools "that are for the rich". But in reality what most church members give to churches or university donations are negligible funds such as 50 - 500 naira. How many 50/100 naira notes are you going to pull together to replace one 800,000 required to educate one kid?Nigerian Churches Should Continue Their Good works In The Higher Education Sector And Ignore DetractorsThe fact of the matter is that Nigerian churches provided over 30 universities which has given thousands of Nigerian youths the opportunity to study in a country with one of the lowest university per populations in the world. They've done that and have equally saved Nigeria millions in foreign exchange which erstwhile was lost to education tourism.They've funded researches in millions, owned research institutes which helped in curbing infectious disease and now even one now has a startup laboratory.Watch a video of the controversial This Is Nigeria song below:

Post Reply Posted: at 28-05-2018 12:49 PM (3 years ago) | Hero
clarajancita at 28-05-2018 01:56 PM (3 years ago) (f)

The camp of Apostle Suleman claims the General Overseer was attacked by some suspected assassins who have been apprehended. The senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman has yet again survived an attempt on his life. He made the revelation during the May 2018 miracle and fire night held at the headquarters church in Auchi, Edo State Nigeria.

The camp of Apostle Suleman claims the General Overseer was attacked by some suspected assassins who have been apprehended. The senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman has yet again survived an attempt on his life. He made the revelation during the May 2018 miracle and fire night held at the headquarters church in Auchi, Edo State Nigeria.

According to the fiery preacher, he said after the Finland "Restoration and Supernatural Encounter Crusade" he flew to Germany enroute Nigeria and while waiting for his connecting flight to Nigeria at the VIP lounge, he enquired from a lady at the customers desk if his flight is boarding and the lady told him that the flight isn't boarding.



He said after a while, he walked up to the lady again to ask her if his flight is boarding and the lady told him that the flight is not boarding and that she will inform him when the gate for boarding is opened.



Nevertheless, After about 30 minutes, he asked the lady if the flight is boarding and the lady told him that it is not yet time. The man of God said he checked his time and it was already 11.30 am and he decided to go to the boarding gate to find out what is happening only for him to be told that the flight has departed.



Apostle Johnson Suleman wasn't happy to hear that he missed his fight after getting to the airport two hours before departure. He called his wife to inform her about what happened and the wife told him that "For you to miss your flight, it is for a purpose"



Papa, as he is fondly called, said he tried to see if he could get another flight to Nigeria that friday but to no avail.



However, he said on Sunday a security personnel came to his office and told him that they rounded up some boys who were busy confessing that on Friday they were waiting for him in a hiace buses along Benin Auchi Road, fully armed and their mission was to open fire on his car.



God's oracle said he was moved to tears when the security personnel was talking and all he could do was to go on his kneels and thank God.



The man of God pointed out that an insider must have told the armed men his itinerary and he concluded by saying that " According to the fiery preacher, he said after the Finlandhe flew to Germany enroute Nigeria and while waiting for his connecting flight to Nigeria at the VIP lounge, he enquired from a lady at the customers desk if his flight is boarding and the lady told him that the flight isn't boarding.He said after a while, he walked up to the lady again to ask her if his flight is boarding and the lady told him that the flight is not boarding and that she will inform him when the gate for boarding is opened.Nevertheless, After about 30 minutes, he asked the lady if the flight is boarding and the lady told him that it is not yet time. The man of God said he checked his time and it was already 11.30 am and he decided to go to the boarding gate to find out what is happening only for him to be told that the flight has departed.Apostle Johnson Suleman wasn't happy to hear that he missed his fight after getting to the airport two hours before departure. He called his wife to inform her about what happened and the wife told him that "For you to miss your flight, it is for a purpose"Papa, as he is fondly called, said he tried to see if he could get another flight to Nigeria that friday but to no avail.However, he said on Sunday a security personnel came to his office and told him that they rounded up some boys who were busy confessing that on Friday they were waiting for him in a hiace buses along Benin Auchi Road, fully armed and their mission was to open fire on his car.God's oracle said he was moved to tears when the security personnel was talking and all he could do was to go on his kneels and thank God.The man of God pointed out that an insider must have told the armed men his itinerary and he concluded by saying that " Quote You See Me, I No Dey Fear. I don't get careful or get worried, I just stay connected"



I am "untouchable" he stated emphatically.



You would recall that early this year, there was also an attempt on his life. Apostle Johnson Suleman has remained adamant to the christian course in Nigeria. He is a voice to the body of Christ in Nigeria and he is among the few preachers who speaks against the killings and persecution of christians in Nigeria. I amhe stated emphatically.You would recall that early this year, there was also an attempt on his life. Apostle Johnson Suleman has remained adamant to the christian course in Nigeria. He is a voice to the body of Christ in Nigeria and he is among the few preachers who speaks against the killings and persecution of christians in Nigeria.

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 28-05-2018 01:56 PM (3 years ago) | Hero
Description

GIS  28 May 2018: A validation workshop on the draft of the Childrens Bill opened this morning at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Ebene, in the presence of the Minister of Gender Equality Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs. Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus and the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Mauritius, Mrs. Marjaana Sall.

Participants of the one-day workshop which is a joint collaboration of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare and the EU, include representatives of the public sector as well as Non-Governmental Organisations. The draft of the Childrens Bill was done in a participatory approach with all stakeholders from the Government, civil society and private sector in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

In her address, Minister Jadoo-Jaunbocus highlighted that children constitute the most vulnerable people of the society and that children issues are everybodys concern. Ensuring their protection and promoting their rights are certainly one of Governments key priorities, and various endeavours are being spearheaded to this end, she said.

She pointed out that some 6,000 cases of children who are victims of different types of abuse are reported to the Ministry each year. This alarming situation, she emphasised, calls for urgent actions to curtail and eliminate these both sexual and physical forms of abuse. It is critical to establish solid partnerships between government, and stakeholders as well as the society to address this challenge on several fronts.

According to the Minister, the Childrens Bill, once implemented, will significantly help to tackle child-related challenges. She underlined that Governments determination to promote the rights of children underpins the relentless efforts being undertaken to finalise the Childrens Bill, adding that every element is being closely looked into to serve the best interest of children.

She expressed gratitude to the EUs technical assistance in the finalisation of the Childrens Bill and pointed out that various issues were considered during consultative meetings including: institutional mechanism for a better child protection service; age of marriage and age of consent; age of criminal responsibility and child abuse and neglect.

As for Ambassador Marjaana Sall, she recalled that the rights of a child are essentially human rights. She highlighted that childrens rights are certainly one of the key concerns of the EU and its treaty denotes an explicit commitment to promote the protection and rights of the child through internal and external action. Subsequently, she said, the EU has produced guidelines to put into practice this commitment in its member states, with the objective to ensure that international standards of the rights of children are respected in the countrys system.

On that score, the Ambassador underlined that the EU has provided the Ministry with foreign expertise for capacity building in various areas pertaining to gender issues as well as for drafting and finalising the Gender Equality Bill, the Adoption Bill and the Childrens Bill. The Childrens Bill, she said, is particularly important as it is focused on the promotion and protection of rights of children. It is a legislation that when approved and implemented will have significant bearing on the future of the next generation, she added.
Description

GIS  28 May 2018: A total of 51 fishermen received their Fishermen Cards and six were handed over cheques as grant under the Canotte Scheme during a ceremony held on Friday 25 May 2018 at the Mauritius Maritime Training Academy in Pointe aux Sables. The Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr Premdut Koonjoo, and the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong, were present.

In his address, Minister Koonjoo underlined that the fishermen community is among one of the most important stakeholders of the Ministry and added that fishers have always been at the center of development of the fisheries sector. He pointed out that in line with Governments vision to make the ocean economy an important economic pillar to create employment, wealth generation and food security, the Ministry has assisted fishermen by providing them a series of incentives and capacity building with a view to contributing to the development of the Ocean Economy.

However, he said, in recent years, issues such as over-exploitation of the lagoon, pollution, climate change and coral bleaching events have led to the decrease in catch in the lagoon by some 50% in 2013 compared to 2005. As a result, fishermen are increasingly facing difficulties to secure a decent living, he pointed out.

He stressed that the Ministry has not remained insensitive to the problems faced by the fishermen and has reviewed its policy to empower the fishermen community. Consequently, in Budget 2014/2015, provision was made for the implementation of a special scheme with a view to providing financial support to the fisherman community to enable them to purchase better equipped fishing boats namely Canottes to be used as a tool to enhance their livelihood and to encourage fishermen to fish in the off-lagoon, he added.

Speaking about the Canotte Scheme, he recalled that a total of Rs 10 million is available in Budget 2017/18 for the implementation of Phase III and IV of the scheme. Funds have also been committed under the Fisheries Sector Programme of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the EU to continue the Canotte Scheme in 2018/19, he said.

Referring to the Fishermen Card, Minister Koonjoo pointed out that from 2009 to 2018, 635 applications for Fishermen Cards have been received at the Ministry while adding that from 2017 to May 2018, a General Course for Fisher was run for three batches of a shortlist from the 635 applicants. The 51 selected fishermen, he said, will have to undergo a monitoring assessment for 6 months, carried out by the Fisheries Protection Officers. He informed the fishermen community that the Ministry will not tolerate any breach of the Fisheries Act.

For his part, the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong, laid emphasis on safety and security at sea and appealed to fishermen to comply with all safety measures. He stated that the job of a fisherman is a noble one since one puts ones life at risk at sea to provide for ones family. He added that it is therefore very important that Government gives them incentives so that they can work in the best possible conditions. The fisheries sector, he recalled, is contributing significantly to the Mauritian economy.

Canotte Scheme and Fishermen Cards

This scheme was introduced in Budget 2014/2015 to support fishermen financially so that they can equip themselves with better fishing boats. Through this scheme, a registered fisherman is eligible to a grant representing 50% of the cost of a Canotte and engine up to a maximum amount of Rs 200,000 per Canotte. The fisherman may provide his own contribution to finance the other 50% of the project or contract a loan from the DBM. As at date, 38 registered fishermen have benefitted from the scheme.

As regards Fishermen Cards, the last issue dates back to 2009. A first screening exercise for new Fishermen Cards application started in 2015 by the Fisheries Protection Service. The fishermen community comprises 1881 fishermen, out of which 39 are females.
Most privacy advocates are ecstatic. But many others say the sky is about to fall because of the new privacy regulations.The big day for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) finally arrived this week, and global reactions are all over the map.What is clear is that the World Wide Web is becoming more segmented, with different rules in different countries and regions that go far beyond the Chinese firewall or Iranian Internet isolation.Here are some of the diverse media headlines from the past few days on GDPR:General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law (2016/679) on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union. It also addresses the exportation of personal data outside the EU.This video clip from CNBC is supportive of the new EU privacy rules, saying that it is about time to give users control of their data back.However, there are many other perspectives expressed, which makes the case that the biggest companies are well-equipped to deal with GDPR, but the small companies will be harmed the most. Gina Sanchez, CEO of Chantico Global, said, The right to your digital footprint is a human right in Europe but not in the US. This is the biggest difference between the US and Europe now.The BBC reported that some high-profile US news websites are temporarily unavailable in Europe after new EU data protection rules came into effect.Theandwere among those saying they were currently unavailable in most European countries.CNN andwere among those not affected.andwere among those requiring EU users to agree to new terms.In the UK, which is due to leave the EU in 2019, a new Data Protection Act will incorporate the provisions of the GDPR, with some minor changes. As many experts predicted, it didnt take long for high-profile lawsuits to be filed. Barrons.com reported : That didnt take long.Regulation (GDPR) going into effect today, a privacy group accused Facebook (FB), Alphabet (GOOGL)'s Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram of violating Europe's strict new data-protection law.Austrian lawyer Max Schrems, a frequent critic of Facebook's privacy policies, on Friday filed complaints that claim the companies forced members to consent to terms of service with a "take it or leave it" threat."Tons of 'consent boxes' popped up online or in applications, often combined with a threat, that the service cannot longer be used if user(s) do not consent," Schrems nonprofit organization, NOYB, said in a statement . magazine discussed the major GDPR impact by describing our new  Balkanized Internet .A little Balkanization of the web, in the other words, can be a healthy exercise of democratic power and pluralism. The trouble is deciding where to stop. In the near future, will there be one Internet for Americans who live in blue states and another for those in red states? (Alas, this is already the case in many respects given how sites like Facebook and Twitter create so-called filter bubbles that serve up news and opinions we already agree with). The disappearance of U.S. websites may be a victory for E.U. regulators, but its also a further blow to diversity and freedom online. While the focus on GDPR is on Europe, some companies have declared that they will offer the same privacy protections to all customers  no matter where you live. Nevertheless, this approach to privacy is not the general rule or approach taken by organizations outside Europe.There are several helpful articles that examine how the new EU legislation will impact U.S. governments.During a recent webcast regarding GDPR and the states that was held by the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO), the privacy experts from several states expressed the view that state governments that market to Europeans need to take special notice of GDPR-required actions. For example, travel and tourism agencies that try to get Europeans to come to states like Florida or Tennessee need to understand and prepare for GDPR in their emailing lists and uses of data collected.However, the majority of the government discussions focused on how most state and local government functions that address U.S. citizens will not be impacted directly by GDPR.It is clear to me that heated discussions on GDPR are just ramping up, and the disagreements will not be going away anytime soon.One example of this came from reactions to a posting on LinkedIn. When I posted thecommentary article entitled:  The Obvious Consequences of GDPR  the feedback was mostly harsh.The viewpoint expressed in the article is summarized by these quotes: This law is going to make a mess sooner rather than later. ... GDPR is tough and the punishment for non-compliance is draconian. For example, a breach of record-keeping obligations incurs a fine of 10 million euros or 2 percent of global income, whichever is more. Infringing people's data rights or any sort of unlawful transfers of data out of the EU results in a fine of 20 million euros or 4 percent of global income, whichever is higher. The way I see it, GDPR is going to make a mess sooner rather than later. I also suspect that Google, Amazon, and Facebook are primary targets so the EU can soak them with big fines.LinkedIn comments came from industry pros like Jason A. Powell from the Cincinnati, Ohio Area:This article is absolutely filled with inaccuracies and wild conjecture. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) is neither appropriate nor effective in the face of material business or societal change. Lets instead have a cogent, objective, and factual conversation about legitimate concerns. Mark Lomas, a senior consultant at Capgemini in St Albans, United Kingdom, wrote (UK spelling):The article suggests that processing requires explicit consent. Consent is one of several mechanisms to authorise processing, not the only mechanism. Here in the UK the Information Commissioner's Office has already issued guidance explaining several circumstances under which it is inadvisable to rely upon consent as the legal basis for processing.The article also mentions fines for non-compliance. I predict that regulators and courts will distinguish between willful non-compliance and accidental non-compliance, and the impact to data subjects, when deciding whether to prosecute and the magnitude of fines.Regulators are pragmatic. They have limited resources so they will prioritise investigation and prosecution of the most serious offences. However, they might also consider whether an organisation belongs to an industry where non-compliance is widespread.I cannot do justice to the GDPR ramifications in one blog post. No doubt, I will certainly be returning to this GDPR topic in the months and years ahead, along with the wider privacy regulation topic.Nevertheless, I think it is very important, even necessary, for readers in the USA to understand GDPR and the impacts to security and privacy and our global online business and activities and our personal lives.Chris Roberts, a respected security industry expert who has hacked everything from planes to cow-milking machines , said that the criminals are just laughing at this GDPRmania. According to Chris, the criminals couldnt care less about any of this, because they just ignore all of these laws anyway. In fact, the bad actors are liking the extra attention and resources going to other places as they hack away.While Chris point may seem obvious, and GDPR is intended to impact how businesses use data and not criminal behavior, the question remains open as to whether this new normal regarding privacy will make things better online or not. Also, who decides?Only time will tell what twists and turns and impacts are ahead for GDPR. But as Albert Einstein once said: Theis ato live;of thewhoof thewho don'tabout it."Now we will find out if those in the EU who did something big about privacy were on the right track. However, specific answers are still a bit away due to the courts cases and rulings on fines that will probably take years to resolve.




Haiti - FLASH : Business Resilience Index, Haiti very poorly ranked





The breakdown of supply chains is one of the main causes of economic instability. The FM Global Resilience Index is a world-leading decision support tool and data repository that ranks 130 countries in terms of business resiliency. It is designed to help decision makers assess and manage the risks associated with their supply chain. This index is composed of nine supply chain risk vectors, grouped into three key resilience drivers: economy, quality of risk and supply chain. Ratings range from 0 to 100, with 0 being the lowest resilience and 100 being the highest resilience.



Download the methodology of the study (PDF, in English): Methodologie https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Resilience_Methodology.pdf



The economic index, which represents the political and macroeconomic influences on resistance, includes 4 factors: productivity, political risk, oil price and urbanization:



Haiti scores 4 out of 100 and ranks 127th out of 130 countries.

Dominican Republic scores 38.8 out of 100 and ranks 65th out of 130 countries



The risk index. measures the risk of commercial and industrial property, it includes 4 factors: exposure to natural risk, the quality of natural risk, the quality of danger and the risk of cyber attack:



Haiti scores 7.9 out of 100 and ranks 123rd out of 130 countries

The Dominican Republic scores 16.9 out of 100 and ranks 110th out of 130 countries



The supply chain index includes 4 factors: control of corruption, quality of infrastructure, quality of local suppliers and visibility of the supply chain.



Haiti scores 0 out of 100 and ranks 130th out of 130 countries

Dominican Republic scores 30.3 out of 100 and ranks 101st out of 130 countries



On the general plan, which combines 12 factors and 3 indices to form the composite index resilience of the business environment :



Haiti scores 0 out of 100 and ranks last in 130 countries.

The Dominican Republic scores 30.3 out of 100 and ranks 94th out of 130 countries



Download the summary of the study (PDF, in English) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Resilience_Summary.pdf



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : A Mayor disappeared for more than 72 hours !





The Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) is concerned about the disappearance of the main Mayor of the Commune of Estere, Seneque Estimable. According to information gathered, he was last seen on the morning of Wednesday, May 23 before leaving Estere presumably in the direction of the capital. Since then, the family, relatives and sympathizers of the City Councilor have no news of the latter.



As soon informed of this situation, the Minister of the Interior immediately informed the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) of facts. An investigation was immediately opened to find the Mayor Estimable as soon as possible. At the same time, a mission of the MICT went to Estere in the context of this affair.



In addition, the Ministry of the Interior takes advantage to launch a call for calm to the residents of the Commune of Estere which, in reaction to this previously unexplained disappearance, ransacked public buildings.



In these circumstances, the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities invites all persons with information likely to help shed light on this issue, to inform local authorities as soon as possible.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Petit-Goave : Happy Feast Mrs. Jamba, a mother of 125 years old





Happy Mother's Day to Mrs. Jamba who would be "125 years old" and who would be in this capacity, the oldest woman in Haiti and the world https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23845-icihaiti-petit-goave-at-125-she-would-be-the-oldest-woman-in-haiti-and-of-world.html



Saturday, as part of the Mother's Day (May 27), the Quisqueya University that respects the promises of Jacky Lumarque, the Rector of the University to this elder to take it fully in charge https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23945-haiti-social-the-oldest-woman-in-haiti-will-never-be-alone-again.html sent a team to the 8th communal section of Petit-Goave for Mrs. Jamba, bringing her clothes, food products, a wheelchair and money.



In addition, the reconstruction of Mrs. Jamba's house is underway. The work that should have ended before Mother's Day, have been delayed because of the very poor condition of the road leading to the 8th section, all materials could not be transported in time, but we are informed that the work should end soon



Mrs. Jamba is healthy and has been happy since being taken care of by Quisqueya University.



Happy feast to all the mothers of Haiti.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23945-haiti-social-the-oldest-woman-in-haiti-will-never-be-alone-again.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23907-haiti-social-big-visit-to-the-oldest-woman-of-haiti-125-years.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23845-icihaiti-petit-goave-at-125-she-would-be-the-oldest-woman-in-haiti-and-of-world.html



HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)


















by Andrew Walden

Hawaii Free Press has been attemptingunsuccessfully--to obtain the six OHA LLCs check registers since 2016. Now we have discovered a seventh OHA LLC.

Information provided to Hawaii Free Press shows the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) secretly created and then dissolved a Limited Liability Company -- apparently to finance Ola Investments--a company seeking a Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary license.

Hoopakeu, LLC was registered with the DCCA BREG October 30, 2015 by Mona Bernardino, who is manager of several other OHA LLCs . On BREG its three managers are listed as Kamanapono Crabbe, Lisa Victor, and Iona Hawleyrespectively, OHAs CEO, COO, and former CFO . In its Articles of Organization, the sole member of the LLC is listed as Hookele Ponoone of OHAs six known LLCs--Bernardino signs as attorney in fact for Kamanaopono M. Crabbe, Manager.

Note: Hoopakeu, LLC involves a separate OHA dope-dealing scheme from the one identified in a July 19, 2015 Hawaii Free Press article titled:  OHA Trustee to Use Trust Funds to Sell Marijuana? 

Apparently, somebody inside OHA spilled the beans on Hoopakeu, LLC this week. From the resulting flurry of finger-pointing emails bouncing around OHA, some details are emerging.

In a May 22, 2018 memo from Hiilei Aloha LLC , another of OHAs six known LLCs , to OHA Board of Trustees, Crabbe and Victor admit to the secrecyblamed on an alleged Non-Disclosure agreement which they apparently believe supersedes state open records laws--and attempt to blame Trustees:

Because of a Non-Disclosure Agreement signed by OHA Executive Leadership, the LLC Managers cannot share details of the venture . On September 10, 2015. OHA's Board of Trustees (BOT) created the Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Innovation. see attached BOT Agenda and pertinent minute pages. OHA's COO and CFO were tasked by the Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Innovation Chair Leinaala Ahu lsa to: (a) conduct due diligence on the process for creating a particular type of joint venture; and (b) evaluate the appropriateness of the proposed venture. At that point in time, the hope was that the proposed joint venture could be very profitable and could assist OHA with its Fiscal Sustainability efforts. Second, when the proposed venture was presented to the COO and CFO, the details about the venture needed to be developed and articulated, and the timeline for creating a "business entity'' for the proposed joint venture was extremely short. In order to meet the short timeline. the LLC Managers supported the creation of an LLC, as a placeholder, in the event the BOT decided to move forward with the proposed joint venture. This shell" LLC- Ho'opakeu was formed on October 30, 2015. Third, Ho'opakeu never engaged in any business activities. After detailed review and legal counsel opinion, OHA ultimately decided not to move forward with the proposed venture for various reasons. and the LLC Managers closed the shell in June 2017.

The OHA BOT Minutes Sept 10, 2015 mention only Approval of the Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Innovation. There is nothing about selling weed or forming a seventh LLC.

Countering Crabbs claim, in the email string activist Geraldine Meyers reminds readers of an: Hiilei Aloha LLC update and Hookele Pono LLC update at OHA BOT Meeting on May 25, 2017 . Mona Bernardino, LCC COO, gave a Setting the Record Straight Presentation of all LLCs created by OHA from conception to current date status. No records were disclosed by Mona Bernardino or Kamanaopono Crabbe about Hoopakeu LLCs creation, purpose, and existence. No record disclosed also by Ad Hoc Committee Chair Trustee Lei Ahu Isa or Vice Chair Trustee Peter Apo.

In May 23 and May 24 emails widely distributed at OHA, Trustee Lei Ahu Isa tries to clarify:

Ranson Kepa Shepherd and my committee met to establish a shell LLC as he was trying to close a fabulous deal for a dispensary, one of the 8. OHA has to sign a non disclosure so nothing was leaked as it was proprietary in nature. Our beneficiary that presented now makes profits of upwards to $1M per month and is helping so many native tribes in Vegas. Too bad, too sad OHA closed the door on this opportunity to diversify and expand. I felt I needed to follow up and explain the created "shell" of Hoopakeu, LLC.... as it was advised that we have an LLC created in the short turn around time for application for the medical marijuana license application with John Henry Felix....

Ranson Shepherd runs a Nevada marijuana grow op profiled on Hawaii News Now, August 21, 2017 . Shepherd tells HNN he can produce two tons of marijuana every year. His name does not show up on published lists of Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary applicants.

John Henry Felix is a co-owner of Ola Investments per its dispensary application dated January 29, 2016. Other owners included ex-HPD Chief Lee Donohue.

In the email string, activist Mililani Trask responds to Lei Ahu Isa:

The OHA Bot never authorized the creation of a new LLC. Crabbes memo claims that because "time is extremely short", they then decided to create a "shell" corporation. This explanation is ridiculous given the fact that OHA regularly has weekly meetings for its RM committee and the BOT. The need for a new LLC could have be placed on the RM and BOT agenda the following week. Instead, Crabbe, a few executive staffers and yourself decided to skip the required BOT procedure for approval and quietly created another illegal LLC. NO information on here actions was ever shared with the BOT or beneficiaries until May 22, 2018 - just two days ago. It is clear that Crabbe's untenable explanation was prompted by recent revelations that another illegal LLC was created and by the public knowledge that there is an ongoing State AG/FBI investigation. I recommend that you seek an interview with the State AG and FBI to explain your actions in this matter because the facts indicate your complicity in these secretive and unauthorized activities of Crabbe and the Executive staff at OHA. I am forwarding this response to the State AG and FBI.

Why was time extremely short?

HRS329D requires a dispensary applicant have:

financial resources under its control of not less than $1,000,000 for each license applied for, plus not less than $100,000 for each retail dispensing location allowed under the license applied for, in the form of bank statements or escrow accounts, and that the financial resources have been under the control of the applying entity for not less than ninety days immediately preceding the date the application was submitted.

Ninety days before the date Ola Investments dispensary application was submitted, January 29, 2016, is Saturday, October 31, 2015exactly one day after Hoopakeu was registered with DCCA BREG .

Ola Investments' original October 14, 2015 articles of incorporation were amended January 5, 2016 to allow for the sale of 900,000 shares of Series A preferred stock at $5.56 a share. These would provide a theoretical 8% dividendwhich is of course uncollectable if the company has no revenue. Notably, 900,000 shares sold at $5.56 would bring in just over $5 million, the capital amount targeted by Ola Investments in its original articles of incorporation.

According to its 2015 form 990 ( pg33 ), Hiilei Aloha LLC granted Hoopakeu $26.00 to support operations explaining that Hoopakeu is a sub - entity of Ho'okele Pono, LLC.

Pukui and Elberts Hawaiian Dictionary explains pakeu means excessive and hoopakeu means to exceed.

According to filings with DCCA, Hoopakeu was terminated by its managers June 29, 2017.

On the agenda of the May 17, 2018 OHA BoT -- Exec Session, Trustees again discussed Contract #3147  Crabbes employment contract.

---30---

UPDATE June, 2019: Non-Disclosure agreement

OHA Marijuana Background:
Brian Schatz: Tax Reform Was A Conspiracy To Make People Lose Their Jobs

by Julia Cohen, Daily Caller, May 27, 2018

The goal of the 2017 Tax Cuts And Jobs Act was to make more people unemployed, according to Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz on Sunday.

The tax cuts are working exactly as intended, Schatz tweeted Sunday evening in response to an Axios article , which has a Twitter headline suggesting companies would soon be slashing their work forces. The Axios article cited the CEOs of two major companies  Coca-Cola and AT&T.

The CEOs suggested they would reduce their work force over time, according to Axios. Absolutely not in my business, Coca-Cola CEO Troy Taylor said, regarding potential staff wage growth. AT&Ts staff is 20 percent call center workers  a number CEO John Stephens said he is looking to reduce.

This isnt the first time Schatz suggested the tax cuts were a conspiracy. They knew the tax cut would benefit the wealthy and not normal folks  Telling the truth now is not a profile in courage; it is a confession, the senator wrote in a May 1 tweet .

---30---
Beijing has in recent months adopted a tougher stance on the self-ruled, democratic island it considers a rebellious province. The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a letter to a total of 36 airlines late last month ordering them to refer to Taiwan explicitly as part of China.

Finnair is on a list of 20 airlines that have recently begun to refer to Taiwan as part of China, reports the Associated Press (AP) .

The letter also set forth similar instructions for referring to Macau and Hong Kong.

The list of airlines that have seemingly yielded to the demands by amending the maps and drop-down menus on their global websites to state Taiwan, China, also includes Air Canada, Alitalia, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa and SAS, according to AP.

Finnair made the decision to amend and, thereby, harmonise its website as the issue received some attention in the global media earlier this year, Paivyt Tallqvist, the director of communications at the majority state-owned airline, stated to Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday. Parts of Finnairs online services, she explained, had already referred to Taiwan as part of China.

We follow the one-China policy thats generally accepted in Europe, she commented, adding that the airline has received no official instructions for dealing with the issue from Beijing.

China is an important market for Finnair.

The one-China policy effectively prevents countries from establishing diplomatic relations with both China and Taiwan. Vatican is currently the only country in Europe with diplomatic ties with Taiwan, officially the Republic of China.

Beijing has also lashed out at other companies for referring to what it considers its territories as countries, writes Helsingin Sanomat. Gap, an American clothing and accessory retailer, had to apologise earlier this month for selling T-shirts with a map of China that omitted Taiwan.

Gap Inc. respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. Weve learnt a Gap brand T-shirt sold in some overseas markets mistakenly failed to reflect the correct map of China. We sincerely apologise for this unintentional error, read a statement the clothing retailer posted on Weibo in mid-May, according to The New York Times.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva
A MAN who oversaw the creation of Prince Harrys outfit for his wedding to Meghan Markle says he was honoured to be part of the couples special day.

William Skinner, from Cane End, managed the fashioning of the frock coat uniforms worn by the Duke of Sussex and his best man and brother Prince William.

His family firm of Dege & Skinner, based in Savile Row, tailored the Blues and Royals uniforms worn for the ceremony at St Georges Chapel in Windsor on Saturday.

It was also responsible for the creation of the four page boys outfits, which were similar to those worn by the princes.

The Blues and Royals uniform is the official dress worn by those who have served in the regiment, which is part of the Household Cavalry. Prince Harry, 33, was given permission by the Queen to get married in the uniform.

She also allowed him to sport a beard for the occasion, which made him the first royal in more than 125 years to do so.

Mr Skinner, who took over the running of the firm from his father Michael in 2000, only found out it would be involved eight weeks ago.

The princes uniforms were originally made more than a decade ago when they joined the Blues and Royals.

Mr Skinner made Prince Harry a new jacket specially for his wedding. He used 150m of Black Russia, a type of double-ribbed lace, which required 65,000 stitches just for the lacework on the six uniforms.

Mr Skinner, 49, said: We were asked if we would like to make the page boys outfits and a uniform for Prince Harry. It was eight weeks ago and we were honoured to be asked.

We managed to do it alongside our other military commitments and were very pleased with the outcome and what we have done.

When they stepped out I was relieved to see the uniform looking good in the flesh. I had the same feeling when the page boys came out. It did look good.

We had done our work and he was wearing the uniform as he arrived at the church on time.

Then the page boys turned up and it was reassuring and a relief to see we had achieved our goal. The uniforms were cut and made by hand at the tailors workshop.

The detailed sleeve pattern on Prince Harrys uniform took one member of staff a week to make.

The single-breasted frock coat was made from blue doeskin with a stand-up collar. It also has figured braiding of regimental pattern. It was ranked to major with large gold embroidered crowns.

It showed a badge on the left chest for Pilots Wings attained while Harry served with the Army Air Corps flying Apache helicopters.

There were four medal ribbons below the wings which were for the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Afghanistan with rosette, the Queens Golden Jubilee and the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

The trousers, which are officially called overalls, were made from a blue and black wool barathea and were fastened by a leather strap and buckle underneath the boot. They would have been traditionally worn while the wearer was on horseback.

The hat was a Blues and Royals Forage Cap (No 1 Dress cap) and there was a white buckskin waist belt with regimental buckle and slings but no sword.

The Duke of Cambridge wore the same outfit, with the Wings attained flying helicopters while serving with the RAF.

The two medals were for the Queens Golden Jubilee and the Queens Diamond Jubilee. He also wore the Garter Star.

As Prince William is an aide-de-camp to the Queen, he also wore the EIIR cyphers on his shoulder straps along with a gold Aiguillette on his right shoulder.

A similar outfit, if it were to be made for a collector, would cost about 6,500 for the frock coat and 1,350 for the trousers.

The page boys outfits offered a new challenge for the firm as they were considerably smaller then staff are used to making.

All the details, especially on the sleeve, back and collar of the jacket, had to be shrunk down.

On the shoulder straps on each uniform there was gold monogramming with the initials of each boy, which was Prince Harrys idea.

Staff went to Kensington Palace to fit Prince George, Prince Williams eldest child. They also did a fitting with Jasper Dyer, the other English page boy who is the son of Mark Dyer, a mentor to Prince Harry when he was growing up. The uniforms were delivered to Windsor Castle on Friday morning.

As part of the job, Mr Skinner and his staff kept their involvement under wraps right until the princes and page boys stepped out of their cars at Windsor Castle.

He hosted a party with his wife Camilla for relatives, including his father, who is chairman of the firm and lives in Wyfold, and friends.

He revealed his involvement to his children Harry, 16, and Lucy, 13, when they returned from Pangbourne College, where they are students, in the afternoon.

It was quite a secret to keep, said Mr Skinner.Its part of our understanding that what goes on is kept confidential and I can understand why that is. Obviously, it has now been mentioned as part of what happened.

The children were at school so we were only able to tell them when they got back. We had 15 people over for a barbecue party, including my father and stepmother. Our friends and family were very pleased and some were saying the outfits took their breath away. Some had an inkling we have been involved. When I told them it was down to our handiwork they said it was wonderful news.

To create Prince Harrys uniform Mr Skinner did three fittings. First, the tailors created the shell of the coat, which was adjusted after a fitting.

Then they took the shell back to the shop, where it was taken apart and put back together with lacework sleeves and collar before a second fitting.

They then checked the changes were appropriate and the uniform was comfortable.

Prince Harry then had a final fitting for a few final adjustments before the uniform was finished and then delivered for the big day.

The whole process took about six weeks. At Prince Harrys request, the uniform was made lighter and less structured inside to make it cooler and more comfortable to wear.

Mr Skinner said it felt fantastic to be part of the occasion.

It was great for the whole country, he said. We had fantastic weather and people were out in crowds and a day like that makes you proud.

It was a great display of pageantry, which was traditional, but also had modernity and was forward-looking.

When the country puts on a display like that it makes you proud to be British. It could not happen anywhere else in the world. You just dont find it anywhere else.

It is not the first time the firm has made a uniform for the princes or members of the Royal family.

Dege & Skinner also made the uniforms for the brothers when they were commissioned into the Blues and Royals.

The uniforms were captured on canvas by artist Nicky Philipps in a double portrait which currently hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

It shows the princes in an imagined moment just before they leave Clarence House to take part in the 2008 Trooping the Colour ceremony.

The firm also made Prince Harrys Tropical No 3 Dress uniform for the Blues and Royals worn when he represented the Queen on a tour of the Caribbean in 2013 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her coronation.

The company goes back to 1865 and became Arthur Dege and William Skinner in early 1900s when two family businesses came together.

Now it is one of only two firms in Savile Row that is still family-run and it is famous for its military tailoring.

The firm also has royal warrants from the Sultan of Oman and the King of Bahrain.

This authorises it to display the royal arms, indicating that goods or services are supplied to the sovereign or to a member of the royal family.

Previous customers have included David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Gianni Versace.

The company, which employs 20 people, celebrated its 150th anniversary as a bespoke tailor in 2015.

Mr Skinner, 49, grew up in Wyfold and attended Pangbourne College. He is the fifth generation of his family to work for the firm and the third generation to run the business.

His parents moved to the area in 1969 when he was three months old. His grandparents on his mothers side lived in Harpsden and ran Vincents Garages and his fathers family lived in Cane End.

As part of his preparations to run the family business, he worked at tailors and material producers across the country to gain experience in all aspects of the job.

He started full-time at the firm in 1991.

Mr Skinner said: This gave me an all-round education as well as being involved part-time in London.

It gave me the skill set to understand all the facets of bespoke tailoring and the lengths we go to serving our clients.

We have maintained the skills for making military uniforms. Its a very important part of our businesss and very much part of our DNA and heritage.

We have our royal warrant by appointment of the Queen for making uniforms for the Yeoman of the Guard. We are very proud of our royal warrant and have been making those uniforms since 1982.

Mr Skinner is chairman of the Savile Row Bespoke Association, which works to protect and promote the practices and traditions that have made Savile Row the acknowledged home of the best bespoke tailoring in the world.

The organisation also devises and administers apprenticeship courses to help young people learn the skills and keep them going.

Mr Skinner said time would tell if his firms association with the royal wedding would increase business.

He said: We look back to 1973 when we were asked to make Capt Mark Phillipss uniform for him and his best man for his wedding to Princess Anne.

It gave us a point for the company to look back and reflect on sometimes.

From our military work point of view, it adds to the history of the company and is a notable achievement.

It helps us to keep focused on maintaining the skills and offering apprenticeships for making the clothes and keeping the business going for the next generation.

Its difficult to say what effect it will have but the company has been mentioned in many forms of media in the last three or four days, so only time will tell.

There has been quite a response and we are very proud to be associated with it.
The Peruvian leader also pointed out his administration has several major objectives, which will be achieved with a committed work, honesty, and teamwork.

"This is our second month in office. When we assumed the post , we were clear that we were receiving the post following a severe political crisis, including a divided country, a paralyzed economy, and a State that did not work properly," he highlighted.
13:11 | Cusco (Cusco region), May. 28.

In his speech, the Head of State affirmed potatoes are part of Peruvian culture, as they are linked to the Inca countrys history.





Furthermore, he noted Peru is a nation of diversity hosting various realities which commits his administration to adopting a decentralized approach.





Prior to the ceremony, President Vizcarra and Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Gustavo Mostajo toured the stands showcasing diverse native potato varieties





It must be noted this is the first time a Latin American country hosts this international event.





The 10th World Potato Congress brings together scientists and professionals linked to the study, conservation, and commercialization of this Andean tuber.





The event takes place at Cusco Convention Center and will run thru May 31.





(END) MAO/JAA/MVB
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
Tomorrow, the day after this article is published, we will go to the polls in Ireland. The referendum in which we will mark our Xs on the ballot papers is  ostensibly at least  about the 8th Amendment. But there is more at stake than that. Fundamentally, the electorate is being asked whether or not the women of Ireland can be trusted.

The answer as far as I am concerned is emphatically Yes. And therefore I will be voting Yes.

Historically speaking, women, here and around much of the world, have not been trusted. And they still arent. This is something we have to change. Dont believe me? Of course you dont  I am a woman, after all. But there are many, many examples. Here are a few.
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.
Italy's Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte has abandoned efforts to form a government after the country's president Sergio Mattarella rejected his choice of economy minister.

May 28, 2018, 10:34 Italy's PM designate ends effort to form government

STEPANAKERT, MAY 28, ARTSAKHPRESS:The comments were read out following a Sunday evening meeting between Conte and Mattarella.

The two politicians met to discuss the list of cabinet candidates the would-be coalition partners, the far-right League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, were proposing.

Conte, a political novice, was appointed on Wednesday in an attempt to end 11 weeks of political stalemate since Italy's March 4 general elections.

Earlier on Sunday, a source said Mattarella had rejected the name of Paolo Savona, the eurosceptic candidate whom the League/5-Star coalition had put forward to head the Economy Ministry.

Savona, 81, is an economist who has previously been a vocal critic of the euro and the European Union.
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.
Clarksburg Town Election, Town Meeting Set

CLARKSBURG, Mass.  Voters this week will elect town officers and decide a fiscal 2019 budget of $4,210,846.

The town election is Tuesday, May 29, from noon to 7 p.m. at the Senior Center; the annual town meeting is Wednesday, May 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the elementary school. The Select Board will meet at the school at 6 p.m. to conduct business.

Town officials also plan a presentation on a future ballot vote on a Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund town and school infrastructure needs. The presentation will take place immediately following town meeting.

The Select Board has had trouble maintaining three members in the last several years and that may continue into fiscal 2019. There are two seats up for election but only one person is on the ballot and that for a one-year term.

Current Chairman Jeffrey Levanos is not running for re-election after serving two terms on the Select Board; he also served three terms on the School Committee, at one point serving as chairman of both at the same time.

No one, however, took out papers for Levanos' three-year seat.

Karin V. Robert is running unopposed for one year on the board, the conclusion of a three-year term that will see three different people hold it. Former board member William Schrade was re-elected in 2016 but resigned; Carlyle "Chip" Chesbro Jr. ran to complete the term last year but also resigned because of other obligations.

There is only one race on the ballot and that for a three-year term for School Committee to fill a spot being vacated by John Solari. Cynthia Brule and Martha Beattie are vying for the three-year term.

Running unopposed are Greg Vigna for a five-year term on the Planning Board; Debra Bua for library trustee and Norman Rolnick for Board of Health, both three-year terms; and Bryan Tanner for the one-year term as moderator.

The ballot is blank for a three-year term as War Memorial trustee and one-year term for tree warden.

On Wednesday, voters will take up a 17-article town warrant. In addition to the annual authorizations and revolving fund deposits, voters will decide a total spending plan for fiscal 2019 that is nearly 3 percent under this year's budget.

The town budget is proposed at $1,495,135, up $60,000 or 4.21 percent over this year. The school budget is set at $2,409,566, down by $40,000 and an assessment from McCann Technical School  based on enrollment and capital debt  that is down nearly 11 percent, from $342,169 to $306,146.

The cost associated with the sewer is down a couple thousand at $309,253.11, with of that $21,720 for debt service. The sewer enterprise fund is replenished by ratepayers on the septic system and is managed by the town on their behalf. Rates are set by the City of North Adams.

Voters will also be asked to adopt state law to authorize the implementation of two local taxes, one for short-term rentals of residential spaces and the other for retail marijuana sales.

A two-thirds vote is required to pass four articles (14-17). Article 14 asks that Saturday be declared a legal holiday closure for the town clerk's office, which affects the filing of documents. Articles 15 and 16 ask that $6,000 be taken from the School Department's stabilization and $5,500 from the town's stabilization account toward Green Communities Act matches. The school's funds will go toward new boilers and the town's toward energy efficiencies in town buildings.

Article 17 asks that $43,429.41 be appropriated from the town's stabilization account to cover an overage in snow and ice removal. This is the only account that can be overspent.
Memorial Day observances were held around the county on Monday. Above, Clarksburg's memorial to veterans who fought in World War I. North County American Legion members make their annual pilgrimage up Mount Greylock on Sunday morning to honor and remember friends and comrades. The ceremony is held inside the tower this year because of the inclement weather. Massachusetts American Legion Executive Committeewoman Sandra Kee addresses the group. PreviousNext

Memorial Day Brings Reminders of Sacrifice, Obligations



Applause for World War II veteran Frank Lazarczyk of Cheshire at the Adams Memorial Day service on Monday. See more photos here. ADAMS, Mass.  It was some 55 years ago that Francis Bourdon stood in Maple Street Cemetery to recite the Gettysburg Address as a member of Boy Scout Troop 38.

"If you had told me that someday I would be speaking here, I would have laughed," said the retired lieutenant colonel on Monday at the annual Memorial Day service in Adams. "One day in the not too distant future one of the youths here may have that honor ...

"You're embarking on a life of adventure secure in the freedoms by the sacrifices of your parents, your relatives and generations of heroes they will never know. They symbolically paid it forward for you to enjoy the fruits of this great nation and the security of your rights guaranteed by our Constitution."

The retired National Guard and intelligence officer's speech in the cemetery was representative of the many observances being held across Berkshire County  and the nation  on Memorial Day. Parades and speakers and bands and songs offered both patriotic gestures and solemn remembrances on a day set aside to honor those killed in defense of America and our freedom.

In Adams, Paul Hutchison of Adams American Legion Post 160 was the master of ceremonies and the Rev. Matthew Guidi of St. Mary's Church in Cheshire gave the prayer. Hoosac Valley High and Middle School eighth-grader Tyler Norcross read the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields" and junior Suki Liang recited the Gettysburg Address. The Hoosac Valley band performed and Tom Brown and Hannah and Aiden Koczela performed patriotic songs. Also recognized was World War II veteran Frank Lazarczyk.

The ceremony at the cemetery followed a parade that included veterans and Scouting groups, Adams Alerts, Adams Police officers, Adams Ambulance Service, and children with bicycles bedecked in red, white and blue.

Bourdon said he was inspired by several things in writing his speech: the recent March For Our Lives, Maslaw's hierarchy of need and "Rally Point," a book with thoughts on how to revitalize and reunite the country.

Assuring basic needs of life and liberty would allow, as Thomas Jefferson believed, for humans to pursue excellence or the pursuit of happiness, he said. But that freedom is not free  it requires sacrifice and duty and responsibility.

Past veterans "served with the understanding that sacrifices even unto death would be required to keep the greatest country and social experiment in history alive and strong for their future and their children's future," Bourdon said. Future generations will also have obligations but they may not find it in the armed services, he continued, but in law, politics, public safety, and other professions, and, at the very least, to be informed citizens who vote.

"When they vote they have the personal responsibility to understand the issues and the positions of the politicians they are voting for as they will determine our future," he said. "Sometimes understanding the opposing viewpoint is uncomfortable but necessary in order to break out of the constraints of their personal sphere of influence and arrive at a knowledgeable and defendable position on the issues. ...

"It requires effort to balance intellect with emotion and arrive at a responsible conviction."



Lynette Farnsworth sings the 'Star-Spangled Banner' in Clarksburg. See more photos here. Speakers in Clarksburg also spoke of sacrifice and obligation, especially the obligation of leaders to be forthright with the constituents.

Town Administrator Carl McKinney said it was imperative for a democracy to have leaders who are truthful  that the endeavors they embark upon that put our nation's treasure in the line of fire be "necessary and noble." Questioning is an American trait, he said, and we are obliged to determine if our leaders are "straight shooters" because we entrust them with great power.

"The brave men and women who have served our nation so diligently and courageously over the 242 years of our republic have over the centuries relied upon truth from our leaders. Truth from each other. Truth that the cause they are asked to defend is indeed honorable, necessary and truthful," McKinney said. "We entrust our leaders with great power from this nation and, in return, they must safeguard the vital commonality that is expected  namely truth!

"For without truth how can we, the holders of democracy, the voters holding the levers of power, make an

informed decision?"

The ceremony was held at Town Hall, where the town's honor roll and monuments to its veterans reside. Joseph Bushika of Peter A. Cook VFW Post 9144 was master of ceremonies, giving several readings and naming those the town lost in the nation's wars.

Lynette Farnsworth sang the "Star-Spangled Banner": Lilli Meehan, Mia Parise and Emily LaBonte gave the Gettysburg Address; the Clarksburg School band played two selections, and the Volunteer Fire Department stood as honor guard to give a three-volley salute.

Ron James, past commander of Richard A. Ruether American Legion Post 152 in Williamstown and an Army veteran, reminded the gathering that they are the legacy of those who fell to make freedom possible for them.

"Regardless of the place or the war they fought, their purity of sacrifice is without question," he said. "Young men and women lost their lives in order to make freedom for others possible."

Like the "brash aviator from Arizona earned a reputation for recklessness," Frank Lukes, who won 18 aerial victories against the Germans in World War I. Shot down at the age of 21, he defended himself on the ground with a pistol until he fell dead. He was the first pilot to be awarded a Medal of Honor.

Or Sharon Lane, who joined the Army as a nurse and spent her time in Vietnam under almost constant barrage in an evac hospital, and was killed at the age of 25 when a rocket burst through her ward. The only nurse killed from direct fire in the war, she doesn't have a Wikipedia page or a medal, but "she was where she wanted to be," caring for others.

"The heroes we remember today are not exclusive to any gender race or religion they are a diverse group wedded to the common principle that America is worth dying for," James said. Not all die in combat but they still fall in service to the nation and its people. "We observe Memorial Day every year but these families remember the fallen ones every day ... It is up to us to hear the voices of these families."



American Legion Post 152 Chaplain Kevin Hamel presents a ceremonial flag to the family of John J. Runz , who died at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. See more photos here. Attendees at Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at Field Park in Williamstown were reminded that not all war casualties die before the war ends and not all heroism happens on the battlefield.

Town Veterans Agent Michael Kennedy told the crowd about several of the men and women he has worked with in two decades at his current posting and about some of the battles they have fought on the home front to receive the benefits they earned overseas.

"You'll meet a family today who will tell you their loved one, if he'd been killed in battle in Vietnam in 1970, he'd have been better off," Kennedy said. "Instead, he came home and suffered [post-traumatic stress disorder]  and became an alcoholic. His family turned away for obvious reasons. They couldn't live with him.

"And where did he die? He died at the age of 32 in a VA hospital in Albany. Have you ever gone to a VA hospital and look around? You won't be very impressed.

"He died of brain cancer. Well, Agent Orange has nothing to do with cancers. Yeah, right."

Kennedy, who said he has stayed a veterans agent out of contempt for the U.S. Veterans Administration, talked about the forgotten heroes of every war who came home in one piece but died, sometimes decades later, due to the injuries they sustained while serving their country.

"He was not a casualty of war, they'll tell you," Kennedy said. "The books closed back in '75. We had 80,000 men or whatever it was, and there were no more casualties from Vietnam.

"That's a bunch of crap.

"If you take all the guys who died from Agent Orange since 1975, that wall [in Washington, D.C.] would have to be five times as large as it is now. And if they died from Agent Orange, didn't they die as a result of the war? Aren't they casualties of war?"

A couple of hundred people remained at the park for American Legion Post 152's annual Memorial Day ceremony, which follows the parade from the bottom of Spring Street and up Main Street to the junction of Routes 2 and 7.

Kennedy was the principal speaker and held the crowd in rapt attention as he talked about a few of the veterans he has served since moving into the veteran's agent office after a career in the Williamstown Police Department.

The festivities, as always, featured an invocation from Post 152 Chaplain Kevin Hamel and the laying of wreaths by members of the post's ladies auxiliary.

Kathleen Carbone delivered an inspiring rendition of "God Bless America," the Mount Greylock Regional School band played the national anthem, and Adam Filson read "One of the Millions," a poem by World War I soldier Frank Bernard Camp.

The local American Legion post also presented burial flags to the families of three local service members who are no longer with us: Army Staff Sgt. John J. Runz, Army Spc. Mario Cristofolini and Army Spc. Joseph Brandon.

Runz enlisted in the Army less than a month after Pearl Harbor and was killed in action in the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Cristofolini served during the Cold War in Bamberg, Germany, on the Czechoslovakian border. Brandon was drafted into the Army and was deployed to Vietnam.

While honoring those three and other men and women who have died, Kennedy reminded the crowd of the suffering that living veterans endure after their deployments come to an end.

"I've got two guys who did convoy duty in Iraq," Kennedy said. "You don't stack up your vehicles. You separate them. The Iraqis will send little kids out to run in front of your vehicles. The thing you've got to do is stop your vehicles so you don't run over the kids, and all the vehicles behind you stop, and on come the RPGs and rockets and everything else.

"So you have orders. You keep driving. I've got two guys who ran over kids.

"You don't forget that."



Veterans place poppies at Pittsfield Cemetery on Monday. See more photos here. Pittsfield honored Memorial Day with a parade down North and Wahconah Streets and a ceremony at the Pittsfield Cemetery. There, the names of local veterans who died were read aloud while representatives from veterans groups tossed poppies onto a marker in remembrance. There were a rifle salute and taps, patriotic music from the Pittsfield High School band, and proclamations made honoring those who died.

Fran Tremblay served as the keynote speaker. The Pittsfield native joined the Marine Corp. in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam as a combat infantryman. He returned to Pittsfield in 1969 when his service ended and he was honorably discharged in 1974. Here at home, he is currently the chairman of the Berkshire Veterans Coalition and was one of the key players in opening the Vietnam Veterans Outreach Center on First Street. He is a former Boy Scouts committee member, former president of the Berkshire County Search and Rescue Team, a current director of the Pittsfield Sportsman's Club, and a member of multiple veterans groups.

"The servicemembers we honor today came from all walks of life but they shared fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty, and integrity, all of the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one's self," Tremblay said.

"Many of them didn't ask to leave their homes to fight in a distant battlefield and many didn't even volunteer, they didn't go to war because they loved fighting. They were called to be part of something bigger. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways at extreme times. They rose to the nation's call because they wanted to protect this nation."

Despite the losses in all of the wars, Tremblay said people continue to step up and are willing to serve for that greater good.

For the last few years, the ceremony had been rained on. But this year, it held off despite an overcast.

"It would be easy for us to curse the clouds, the cold, and the rain. And I often think of that on Memorial Day because it seems like for the last few years we've had in climate weather," Mayor Linda Tyer said.

"And then I remember that there were men who trudged through freezing snow and cold, sitting huddled together to stay warm in the icy winter months. Then I remember the men in the Vietnam War who trudged through tropical rain and heat and unbelievable conditions, all for us. They did it for us and our simple promise is to remember them."

Tyer said the city vows to take the time on Memorial Day to remember those who died.

"We come together today in a solemn remembrance. Today and every day we are Pittsfielders and we are Americans. We make a solemn vow on Memorial Day every year to remember those we have loved and lost, the brave men and women who sacrificed all for our freedoms," Tyer said.

North County American Legion members made their annual pilgrimage up Mount Greylock on Sunday morning to honor and remember friends and comrades.

After stopping midway up the mountain to share a cocktail and a toast to fallen comrades, the group made its way up to the Veterans Memorial. However, because of the whipping wind and thick fog, for the first time ever they held the ceremony inside the tower.

"We have been coming up to this pilgrimage for 85 years and I have been probably coming up for 30 and we have been here when it was raining and snowing but I have never seen it this cloudy," Adams American Legion member Don Sommer said before starting the ceremony.



Representatives from North County veterans organizations made the annual pilgrimage to the Mount Greylock War Memorial on Sunday. See more photos in the slideshop at the top. Navy veteran and Executive Committeewoman of the American Legion Department of Massachusetts Sandra Kee was invited to speak and asked the attendees to remember the sacrifices veterans have made throughout the country's history.

"They each have stories to tell. The crosses at Normandy, the markers at the Punch Bowl, the tombs at Arlington and the fallen heroes that rest in places unknown," she said. "From our founding revolution to today's war on terror over 1 million men and women in the armed forces have sacrificed their lives while defending America in time of war."

Kee also asked that attendees remember the military families who have also made sacrifices and noted that acknowledging fallen veterans once a year is not enough.

"Remembering our fallen once a year is not enough. The widows, widowers, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and children remember every day," she said. "The empty seat at the dinner table, the smaller gathering at Thanksgiving and the voice of a loved one that has become a distant memory are all reminders that they are no longer here today. Today is an opportunity to give thanks we owe it to those who have died and those who have been left behind."

After the ceremony, the Legion members had breakfast at the Bascom Lodge.

After a parade through the downtown accompanied by the Drury High School band, North Adams held its Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial.

Master Sgt. James Michael Zieba, Section Chief, Det. 1A Co. Recruiting & Retention BN, MAARNG, Westover Air Reserve Base, addressed the crowd that gathered around the monument.



Flags are passed out by American Legion Auxiliary members during North Adams' parade. See more photos here. "Today we gather in remembrance of all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom," he said. "Those fallen heroes who never came home to their families and friends. For generations of men and women who have served in our armed forces in both times of peace and war to preserve the gift of liberty that we Americans enjoy every day."

Zieba said he was an Army brat and was inspired by his father to join the service.

"My father was active duty in the special forces and was deployed numerous times in his career," he said. "I am proud to say that my father was my hero growing up ... I always knew because of who my father was I would follow in his footsteps I wanted to be him."

Zieba went on to say less than 1 percent of the population serves in the military at this time and he noted it takes a "special breed" to voluntarily put yourself in harm's way.

He added the best way to honor fallen veterans is to honor the noble cause they died for and protect freedom.

"Every life lost is a tragedy. It is a loss to our military and to our nation ... we see these white headstones in neat rows and they should remind us of those fallen heroes," he said. "We can only hope that the anguish of the families who have lost is tempered by the knowledge that there loved one died for a noble cause ... they gave their lives to bring peace, freedom and democracy to the troubled regions in the world."

Zieba said freedom is not a guarantee and needs to be protected.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction ... and each generation must be ready to fight for freedom and protect it so it can be passed to the generation that follows," he said. "That is what heroes that rest in peace under the Stars and Stripes ... did."

Mayor Thomas Bernard also spoke and said veterans have affected the lives of every American.

"We are here today to honor the memory of those who died in service to their country and understand the price that others have paid for our freedom," he said. "We know some of those names but there are too many for us to know them all but each one of them has shaped the course of each of our lives in some way."

He named Peter W. Foote who was killed during the Vietnam War in 1968 and Spc. Michael R. DeMarsico II who was killed in Afghanistan in 2012 and asked that even though buildings have been dedicated to these local heroes, that we always remember that these heroes were real people.

"These are signs of respect but we have to remember that these were real people and not just names on buildings," he said. "These are people with families who loved them with friends who miss them whose presence continues to reverberate in our community."

Ryan Michael Herold recited the Gettysburg Address and was also the recipient of the George Angeli Award.



Children right their bikes with red, white and blue during Cheshire's Memorial Day parade. See more photos here. Cheshire held its Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery on West Mountain Road after a parade through the downtown.

Selectwoman Carol Francesconi addressed the crowd and noted how special Memorial Day is.

"As we gather here today to observe Memorial Day we are forever grateful or the men and woman of our armed services who have laid down their lives for this great country," she said. "We must remember this sacred day is set aside to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom."

She went on to talk about local veterans who answered the call of duty.

"We must tell the stories of the Cheshire Veterans listed on the memorial that left the safety of family and home to ensure that freedom indeed remained free," she said. "We must pass this to generation to generationwe must tell them that these veterans did not die in vain and we will continue fighting for what they believed and died for."

Francesconi said Americans need to unite and carry on the American principles that so many have died protecting.

"We must stand united in our fight against those who would threaten our democracy and we must not fight amongst outsells and forget the sacrifice that many soldiers are now making in several battlefields around the world," she said. "It is our responsibility to make sure that these veterans are not forgotten and that future generations know of the ultimate sacrifice they made for us."

Griffin Lancia read the Gettysburg Address, which was followed by the "Star Spangled Banner" performed by the Hoosac Valley marching band.

Staff writers Tammy Daniels, Stephen Dravis, Jack Guerino and Andy McKeever contributed to this report.




iciHaiti - Social: Truce 8 days at the OAVCT after 8 weeks of paralysis





After 8 weeks of strike and paralysis of the Office of Insurance Vehicle Against Third (OAVCT) the union of the strikers granted an truce of 8 days although it did not obtain the departure of the members of the Commission which manages the OAVCT.



Since Friday, May 25 the OAVCT starts to serve the population. According to trade unionist Jean Roody Saint-Juste of the OAVCT union, he obtained the guarantee that no strikers will be dismissed or any of the 1,030 employees working at the OAVCT. He said that during this truce in good faith the union would continue on the path of dialogue.



However, in addition to the guarantee given to them by a deputy close to power, mediating between the Palace and the union, he demands a formal letter from the Minister of the Economy guaranteeing that none of them will be dismissed. Recalling that the trade unionists will remain vigilant and ready to resume their protest movement if during the truce no follow-up has been given to their demands.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24355-haiti-politic-6th-week-of-paralysis-at-oavct.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24231-haiti-social-strike-at-the-oavct-the-ministry-of-economy-condemns-and-requires.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24178-haiti-social-road-users-in-hostage-by-the-strike-of-oavct.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21886-haiti-politics-a-debt-of-700-million-gourdes-to-the-oavct.html



PI/ iciHaiti


















It is symbolic that the first foreign minister to visit Armenia after the events that unrolled in the country is the foreign minister of France, News.am reports.

May 28, 2018, 15:44 Armenia MFA: France FMs visit is symbolic

STEPANAKERT, MAY 28, ARTSAKHPRESS:Foreign Affairs Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on Monday stated the abovementioned during his joint briefing with the visiting French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

In his words, it is also symbolic that this visit is taking place on the centennial of the First Republic of Armenia.

The Armenian FM noted that relations between the two countries are rich.

At their talk preceding the briefing, the parties discussed their bilateral agenda, reflected on the avenues for the expansion of their legal framework, and conferred on the French presidents scheduled visit to capital city Yerevan in fall.

In the interlocutors view, however, Armenia-France economic relations have not yet reached the level of their political relations.

In addition, the parties discussed the possibilities for intensifying their decentralized cooperation.

Also, FM Mnatsakanyan stressed that Armenia underscores the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries (US, Russia, and France), and reaffirms its support, to the pacific resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict.




iciHaiti - DR : More than 500 Haitians controlled, 281 deportees





According to a report of the Directorate General of Migration (DGM), teams of inspectors, supervisors and agents of the DGM, with the support of members of the Dominican army and the national police, as well as representatives of the Public Ministry, 225 foreigners (mostly Haitians) were controlled on the same day of several simultaneous migratory operations in the Mgr Nouel Province (Central Cibao) more specifically in the sector El Cruce del Abanico, El Ocho, Los Transformadores, Los Quemados, Villa Liberacion, Piedra Blanca, Maimon, Palmarito and other parts of the city of Bonao, capital of this province.



Moreover 291 other Haitians were controlled in the communities of Vallejuelo, Las Matas de Farfan, Pedro Corto and in several areas of the urban area of the city of San Juan de la Maguana. After verification, 198 of our compatriots (171 men and 27 women) were transferred to the border point of Elias Pina to be registered and deported to Haiti.



In addition, on Friday morning, members of the Dominican army arrested a minibus carrying 24 Haitians in an irregular migratory situation in Santiago de los Caballeros. The driver Ramon Antonio Rodriguez Gutierrez was arrested and accused of migrant smuggling. The 24 Haitians were handed over to the DGM to be deported to Haiti.



Recall that these control operations, which are increasingly frequent were conducted after intelligence work carried out in communities, following denunciations (more and more frequent), which allowed to locate the Haitians.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-24443-icihaiti-dr-dominicans-denounce-haitians-161-deportations.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24380-haiti-flash-rush-on-false-papers-in-dr.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24224-haiti-dr-hundreds-of-haitians-arrested-in-santiago-and-deported.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-24209-icihaiti-dr-163-haitians-deported-during-migratory-control.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-24157-icihaiti-dr-more-than-200-haitians-deported-from-the-provinces-of-san-cristobal-and-peravia.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24152-haiti-dr-vast-operation-of-migratory-control-700-haitians-arrested-in-one-day.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-24104-icihaiti-san-pedro-de-macoris-100-haitians-deported-to-haiti.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23954-icihaiti-social-211-haitians-controlled-in-las-terrenas-51-expelled-to-haiti.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23925-icihaiti-social-multiplication-of-migratory-control-patrols.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















A G SITORI *

A 2013 report by the late Justice Sevua legitimated Dr Schram's doctoral credentials. Now attempts are being used to disprove this. Is Dr Schram needlessly defying the courts or are they being manipulated as a political plaything by his enemies? Who should really be on trial here & what are the implications for the rule of law in PNG?

PORT MORESBY - Dr Albert Schram, who had my support throughout his hardships, has now lost it if his intent in seeking a variation to his bail was to abscond and not return to Papua New Guinea to honour his commitment to the national court.

Whatever systems we have in place in PNG are our systems and we need people of great calibre like Dr Schram to accord our court system due respect, notwithstanding it being tinged in whatever shades of grey.

If Dr Schram does not return to PNG, as he has suggested, the esteemed doctor and his lawyer may have got the national court in bed with them to commit a felony.

It would be best for him to turn up in court and produce that authentic doctoral document.

Dont force the court seek Interpol assistance to get him back to PNG. This time it may be jail and no bail variation application is going to help.

It is this same court he will need to appear before to lodge any damages claim against his accusers. The courts may not always readily avail themselves to his interests.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu visits Value Addition Lab at the Indian Institute of the Integrative Medicine in Jammu May 28. During his speech to IIIM scientists, Naidu said India is ready for talks with all nations, including Pakistan. (IANS/PIB photo)
Chairman, Geregu Community Association, Idris Aliyu, attributed the non-completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company to mystical forces arising from the neglect of the communities.

The community leaders of Geregu and Ajaokuta, the host communities in Kogi, expressed the view in interviews with News Agency of Nigeria, saying the firm cannot take off unless their angry ancestor, Egbunu Akoko, is pacified. He said;

It is not the communities that are preventing the work from being completed, it is the ancestors.

There is a lady that had a dream two years ago and said she saw one of our ancestors, Egbunu Akoko, who told her that if the government wants ASCO to be completed, they should go and resettle his people in Geregu and Ajaokuta.

My advice is that, let them come back and fulfill most of the promises they made, they should fix our roads and repair the schools.

Also, Egbunu Akokos house, which they demolished, should be rebuilt.

Really, our ancestors are not happy over what is happening. The agreement we reached with ASCO when they acquired our lands since 1976 has not been implemented.

All the promises they made they did not fulfil.

As you were coming, you saw our road just about two kilometres from the steel plant to Geregu, you saw how rough it is and that is why you used motorbike to get to our palace.

We have been neglected but we are praying that work should continue in the company, may be they will look into the promises they made to these two communities,
Overseer of Bride Assembly Church, Moses Alu, has said Christianity is the centre of corruption in Nigeria. In the video currently trending on social media, the pastor was heard saying:

Why do you stand on scriptures that prosper you and you dont know the scripture that can bring peace to a nation?

I am not laying curse on any Fulani man, I am not laying curse on the government.

Ive looked around everywhere in this country including myself. I have found myself guilty, every Christian in Nigeria, were guilty, we would be held responsible for what is happening in the country.

Because it is Christianity in Nigeria that it is the centre of corruption. Where you should point out evil, youre romancing with evil.

Alu also criticised fellow pastors for collecting money from politicians.

Who are those giving you billions to build your churches, he asked.

Are they not the ones that have reduced the country to what it is today? Are the politicians not giving you tithe and offerings? What are you telling them?
My achievements in this period speak for themselves. Most significantly, after an independent account went over all the university accounts, we achieved an unqualified, clean audit report by the Auditor General for the first time in over two decades, and became one of the handful of agencies with this distinction.

As Vice Chancellor (President) for the PNG University of Technology appointed for two terms, I worked with seven Ministers of Higher Education, and three different Chancellors.

Now that I have safely left Papua New Guinea, I feel free to write about what happened and was not reported in the national media.

SINGAPORE  On his way back home to Verona in Italy during a stopover in Singapore, Dr Albert Schram wrote a lengthy article on his scarifying experiences in Papua New Guinea. It provides a detailed background and analysis of what befell him when he ran foul of powerful political players. You can read here the original Facebook piece , from which this extensive extract is drawn - KJ

Albert Schram finally at liberty in Singapore - "A truly terrifying world, but the truth will set us free"

This has been my commitment to the UNITECH community from the outset.

We completed 13 major infrastructure projects on campus, restored the reputation of the University internationally by signing 23 agreements. This allowed us to send 77 PNGeans abroad for training of which 27 for doctoral programs, of a total of about 150.

Despite active internationalisation and professional accreditation strategy which required our presence elsewhere, we sent over 10,000 emails per year, chaired over 60 meetings on campus per year, spent each year over eight months on campus and in country.

To be accused by former colleagues of being dishonest, lazy and incompetent is truly bizarre in the light of these facts. Might does not make right, and a lie does not become true the more you repeat it.

The five years I was on campus, however, there were four attempts to dismiss me, an almost yearly exercise. The first time was for disclosing confidential information, then for false pretence, then for inciting ethnic tensions, and finally again for false pretence.

This last time, after receiving an infamous catalogues of bizarre and baseless allegations, we decided we had enough, and when the Councils lawyer came with a proposal to settle the matter, I accepted this on 18 April 2018.

On 1 May 2018, while returning to the country on a tourist visa, I was detained at Jacksons airport in Port Moresby, not while attempting to exit the country as reported by the media.

The police took my passport to assure I would turn up for an interview at the police station the next day, but then refused to return it and did not charge me with any crime within 24 hours as is required. Police practices in the country have been reason for concern, as can be seen in the recent report of Human Rights Watch.

The next day, 2 May, the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, Stan Joyce, came personally to demand the return of my passport which by international law must occur within 24 hours. The police waited him out, and held on to my passport until they charged me on 7 May for false pretence alleging I had presented a false doctorate with the purpose of obtaining employment in the country.

The incident has cause a stir in the international press, most notably in The Australian and in The Times Higher Education in the UK, a leading industry publication. Prof Stephen Howes, who is one of the leaders in the academic collaboration between Australianand PNG, wrote: "These developments are outrageous, damaging, and scary". In my home town in Verona Italy it was even front page news.

Verification of Academic Credentials

Supposedly only the production of an original doctorate would prove my innocence. The verification of academic credentials, however, never rests on the production of an original, but always involves direct communication with the originating university and higher education agencies in the country. I produced a certified copy for the police which was sent directly sent to the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands [in PNG].

The current secretary of the Department of Higher Education and his predecessor went through a rigorous verification process communicating by email, by speaking to the [European] university and communicating with the professor members of the thesis committee who were present during my thesis defence. This should have put the matter to rest, but instead confusion was allowed to prevail.

Some journalists contacted these same professors, and in fact I published in 2014 one of their emails on this blog hoping that would be the last word on the issue. My book was also published by Cambridge University Press in 1997, which is based on my doctoral thesis from 1994.

I have answered all other questions raised regarding my doctorate and none of those questions prove any wrongdoing. The police however refused to acknowledge any of this evidence, although they received it.

The National Court Has Spoken

After the hearing in the National Court on 22 May we received the headline that we needed: Schram allowed temporarily to leave the country. We did not get the headline we deserved, however, which is Schram first wrongfully dismissed and then unlawfully charged on false pretence.

In his judgement of 22 May on the bail conditions, the judge in the National Court  the second highest court in the country - was deliberately explicit on the substantive case: there is not a shred of primary evidence suggesting I have falsified anything, while there is overwhelming evidence that in fact my doctorate is genuine.

Finally, an independent judge has said what anyone with common sense could have concluded since the complaints were made in 2012.

The judge blasted the police and the complainant Ralph Saulep, and wrote in his judgment:

"In spite of this overwhelming evidence (presented by Dr Schram) Mr Saulep continues to dispute the authenticity of the applicant's doctorate degree. I find this ridiculous and difficult to fathom especially when neither he or the police are in receipt of evidence from the European University Institute in Florence Italy, confirming their allegations and suspicions".

The judge continued:

"The current charge, with respect, lacks the primary evidence to prove the elements of falsity. Whether they will have such evidence by the 12th of June 2018 (the next hearing) is anyone's guess. The reality is that they have failed to do so when the allegations were raised in 2012".

Since 2012 when the complaint was filed by the former [Unitech] pro-chancellor Ralph Saulep the police have failed to produce any evidence, and in fact cannot do so because there is no basis for it in fact and in truth.

In a state of law it is not up to the accused to prove his innocence, but for the police to prove substantial primary evidence of a crime and proof guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge regretted I had been put in a position to prove my innocence, but pragmatically accepted the situation and my commitment to proof my innocence: "The refusal by Mr Saulep and the police will now cause the appliance to use his own expense to prove his innocence".

It stand to reason therefore the case will be thrown out at some point in time, and my innocence will be established.

All this is of course damaging for police and the complainant - former pro-chancellor Ralph Saulep, in 2012 dismissed by the Minister with former Council members for mismanagement - and the University Council, which [earlier this year] dismissed me for no valid reason. The lack of evidence had already been indicated earlier by Keith Jackson.

Since the conditions for the settlement with the Council, which included no criminal prosecution, have now been violated, I do not consider myself bound to this agreement. In any case, for justice to prevail and the people of PNG to be liberated from police abuse, I must describe the facts.

This whole case is hugely damaging for the country where human rights and the police force are already severely criticised in the recent report from Human Rights Watch in New York.

If any tourist can be arrested for not being able to prove anything about his/her identity (birth, credentials etc.) and subsequently charged on "false pretence", and then having to incur costs and waste time to prove his/her innocence at their own expense, we must warn all tourists and visitors.

The Joys

From 2014 to 2016, though I had three wonderful years when Sir Nagora Bogan, a wise Chancellor kept the politicians out of my hair, [when we] focused all our energies on the development, and on efficient, transparent accountable management, of the University.

Despite these recent experiences of politically driven persecution, my wife and I love the wonderful people of Papua New Guinea. We did not come to PNG to get rich and worked on local salaries paid in the national currency, but we came to make a difference. Although many things we tried, failed, our records of achievements speak for themselves.

So far, I have lived in seven different countries in Latin America and Europe, but the people of PNG are the most warm, welcoming and generous people I have had the honour of meeting. After six years, for example, we have six wonderful young men who call us father and mother, three babies named after us, and I have four new brothers, subsistence farmer or fishermen living in villages like 80% of the population.

In addition, we have been adopted as Chiefs (for external affairs) in Busama Village, which is arguably a greater achievement than being appointed Vice-Chancellor. This new family is not after our money, but genuinely included us in their families, and communities.

The Sorrows

Regrettably, when Sir Nagora Bogan resigned as Chancellor at the end of 2016, politics crept into the University governance with a deadly combination of external meddling and toxic internal administrative politics.

In 2016, we dealt as best as we could with major shortages in funding, and a terrible student crisis instigated from outside the university.

The University crisis in 2016, which led to the students wounding and killing each other on the campus of the PNG University of Technology, and the shooting of students on the campus of the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby was a direct consequences of politicians and aspiring politicians using students to fight their proxy fights before the elections in 2017.

A similar thing happened on the campuses in 2011 the year before the 2012 election, and let's hope it does not repeat itself in 2021.

In 2017, it got worse with a battle for the control of the development rights of Uni-City on campus land, and land held by the University Development & Consulting Ltd, the commercial arm of the University now chaired by Sam Koim.

First the two Australian consultants, the urban planner and the financial consultant were pushed out and then apparently it was my turn. The transparency in the expression of interest process has now been lost, and it is rumoured that the development of this "prime real estate" will now occur with the support of Chinese government companies.

The Need for Truth Telling

The feeling of being object of political prosecution is strangely familiar to me and my wife after my earlier experience of being deported three times from Papua New Guinea in 2013.

There is nothing quite like it. Entering a parallel world where lies are truth, and all people are blind, deaf and mute. In this world, you are completely along because there is no point in trying to have a reasonable conversation with anyone. A truly terrifying world, but the truth will set us free.

In 2013, while holding a current work visa for Papua New Guinea, I was denied entry twice on 8 March and 9 May and deported to Australia..

My deportation was done with the consent of someone at the highest level government and, given the circumstances at the time, may actually have enhanced my personal safety considerably, or possibly even have saved my life.

While we must recognise each country has the sovereign right to deny anyone entry, there must be a process in place, and the visa must be cancelled formally.

We all have two eyes to see reality and two ears to hear what others say, but only one mouth to speak the truth. If one eyes, or one ear fails, we can still be part of the world around us and work hard to make a positive difference. When our only mouth fails, however, we are condemned to live in a world created for us by others, and unable to control anything.

Telling the truth for me is not about revenge, nor is it not about me. A world where those in leadership position are in a state of delusion and denial, and base their decision on incorrect information, the rule of law cannot possibly be upheld.

A world with no consistently applied rules is bound to descend into chaos and anarchy. As a higher education leader, such a world makes higher education unnecessary and redundant because qualification and competence do not matter, and academic credentials have no meaning.

Whats Next?

As I said my wife and I did not come to the country to get rich, but neither did we expect the financial ruin we are facing now. The legal fight with the Council for wrongful dismissal first and now the fight for my malicious prosecution by the police has drained all of our resources we needed to sustain ourselves while I am still unemployed. I missed two job interviews because of my arrest.

Our lives have been turned upside down. We seem to be the only ones to pay the price for the fight for good governance at the PNG University of Technology and for a police that upholds the rule of law. Why?

Because I gave my word to the court, I will go through the costly process of having a public notary in Italy legalise my original doctorate and send it through the appropriate diplomatic channels to the committal court in Waigani. This should clear all charges forever.

Afterwards I will claim damages for all the financial losses, opportunity costs and defamation of character I suffered. Some people will lose face, be demoted or lose their jobs, but without accountability there is no justice, and without justice there is no peace, healing and the opportunity to advance.

It is anybodys guess what happens next. Given the series of incidents of abuse of ministerial authority and police power, and the recent publication of the Human Rights Watch report, in my view it seems a parliamentary inquiry into police abuse is warranted.

The current debacle shows that the performance of the University Council also fails to impress, and it seems time now to implement the long awaited reform and create independent university council of no more than 13 members, rather than the current councils of 30+ members filled with political appointees.

It is too easy for the University Council to simply distance itself from my arrest, while it failed to clear me of those charges after the Sevua Investigation in 2014. In 2018 brought these same trumped up charges based on the identical materials from 2012, and failed to see there was no evidence.

For me personally, my case should be thrown out for lack of primary evidence, and then it may not be necessary for me to return for a hearing on 12 June, if a hearing will even take place at all.

It is also likely my government will file an official protest and not allow me to travel back to PNG given the abuse of police power and the state of lawlessness this has produced in the country.

There is no limit to madness once it takes root: will I be charged for indecent exposure for having lost a few buttons on my shirt during the flight? Just saying, anything seems to go now.

Negative travel advisories for tourists from different may be issued, and universities will be unable to recruit qualified academics. Last week, for example, Unitech already lost a head of department, who is now back in the USA, and another respected academic because of what happened to me.

Like all of us academics, journalists and other knowledge workers who cannot return to the country, it makes us sad that until amends are made and the police has been restructured and under control, we will not be able to see our friends and our new and beloved family in PNG.

Selected References

Australian National University, Development Policy Blog The Outrageous & Unfounded Arrest of Dr. Albert Schram (13 May 2018, Canberra, Australia) http://www.devpolicy.org/albert-schrams-arrest/

The Australian, Tim Dodd PNG Vice Chancellor Albert Schram Charged with False Pretence (16 May 2018 - Melbourne, Australia) https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/png-vicechancellor-albert-schram-charged-with-false-pretence/news-story/27f51e82a24e9f67fddaa294dce40174

Times Higher Education, Chris Havergal Former V-C Arrested upon Return to Papua New Guinea (16 May 2018 - London, UK) https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/former-v-c-arrested-return-papua-new-guinea

PNG Attitude blog, Keith Jackson National Court Mulls Albert Schrams Application to Leave PNG (18 May 2018  Noosa, Australia) http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2018/05/national-court-mulls-albert-schrams-application-to-leave-png.html
A quite furious Delta pastor who would not compromise his distaste for alcohol has reacted angrily at a church members wedding reception.

The unusual incident was witnessed at a wedding this past weekend in Delta state after the pastor who conducted the wedding was disappointed by the couple.

According to journalist, Sapele Oghenek, the pastor became angry after seeing the assorted alcoholic drinks the couple brought for their wedding reception against their church principles and beliefs.

The pastor reportedly gave the couple some time to remove all the drinks at the wedding event  when the time had elapsed and the drinks had not yet been removed, the pastor ordered all the church members to leave the reception.

The pastor and his members were on their way going before the couple begged them and finally removed all the drinks, that was when the pastor came back to the reception.

Leave a Comment

comments
Some Nigerians on Twitters have called out Nigerian artistes to be hypocrites after a number of them were spotted prostrating and kneeling on the American musicians page, thanking him for taking Nigeria to the world!

Since the release of Falzs latest song #ThisisNigeria, there have been discussions about some of the issues raised in the satirical music!

Everything took a twist however when American godfather of music Sean Combs aka Diddy acknowledged the song and posted it on his instagram page, not once but twice!

In a short while, a number of Nigerian stars stormed his page to appreciate him for recognizing one of their own.

Surprisingly, just as many others have noticed, we found out that many of these stars have not personally celebrated the song or hailed Falz until they saw the video trending on Diddys page!

This has made Nigerians refer to some of these artistes as hypocrites who only worship foreign stars but leave their own until the stars they worship do it for them.

Not only did Diddy post the song, he changed his location to Nigeria which is actually a big deal whether or not we agree!

But really, are Nigerian stars hypocrites who dont celebrate each others success?
80 years old Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemis two sets of twins by his young wives, recently turned three months old.

News spread all over social media in the early days of March when the Monarch welcomed two sets of twin babies at just one week apart, from his young wives Olori Memunat and Olori Badirat Olaitan.

Its been the quarter of the twins first year and they look quite hale and hearty

Checkout their new photos below:

Leave a Comment

comments
Don Jazzy may be getting married soon.. and the whole world will of course be happy for the Veteran Music Producer.

The music producer has on social media been joking about his quest for a wife, and how hes desperate to tie the knot too.. We all know of his obsession with Rihanna, and that of Linda Ikeji, who recently got engaged, pregnant.

Though Jazzy has been insinuating that he is still and searching, but then, after a chat he had with Banky on Instagram, it may seem as though he has someone in mind to tie the knot with.

Don Jazzy posted a video of himself dancing at a wedding with caption;

If you ever think you cant dance. Just remember this. You cant be that bad. I decided to start going out more. Came all the way to this wedding maybe I will see wife . Everybody was taken sha. But dear future wife, just know that I will embarrass u with my dance moves forever. Take me as I am. I don talk my own. 

When Banky W responded saying the day he gets married, he wont only break the internet but cause an earthquake, Don Jazzy replied, saying he doesnt want the internet to break but just witness pure happiness.

He ended with JOINING YOU SOON BRO DONT WORRY

This has sent fans into a frenzy as they believe he may be already secretly engaged.

Leave a Comment

comments
A medical practitioner, Dr Ayopo Adeyemi, on Sunday warned women against the use of artificial eyelashes, commonly used to enhance beauty, in view of its grievous consequences.

Adeyemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the health implications of fixing false eyelashes included corneal abrasions or ulcers, damage of the natural eyelashes, eye sensitivity, amongst others.

She said fixing of artificial eyelashes had become an increasingly popular trend in the fashion world as most ladies, regardless of the health implications, seek perfection and glamour.

According to her, natural eyelashes had its natural way of preventing dirt, sweat, bacteria and other foreign materials from entering into the eye by trapping and keeping out anything that comes near.

Adeyemi, a practitioner at Mushin General Hospital, Lagos, said false eyelashes would accommodate the dirt, thereby causing different forms of allergy and infections.

The use of harmful chemicals on the eyelashes can cause them to fall out quicker than they naturally would and it is also dangerous when tools to be used come in close proximity to the eye.

Artificial eyelashes can cause trauma to the eye either through the glue and other materials used or unprofessional operators; there could be introduction of microbes into the eye causing conjunctivitis of all types.

The lashes themselves can cause allergic conjunctivitis trapping and retaining dirt around the eye, she said.

Adeyemi advised ladies to minimise the rate at which they fix false eyelashes if they must retain healthy natural ones.

Leave a Comment

comments
Following an announcement by Senate President Bukola Saraki that he had met last Friday with the Ministers of Labour and Health, and as would be having a follow up meeting today, Monday 28th with the leadership of JOHESU. Senator Ben Bruce took to Twitter to hail the senate president for doing the things that a President should do.

The senator stated that President Muhammadu Buhari doesnt care  care about health workers strike just because your own doctors are abroad

See Tweets below;

Following my meeting last Friday with the Ministers of Labour and Health, I will be having a follow up meeting tomorrow with the leadership of JOHESU, the second in under a week.  Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) May 27, 2018

These are the things that a President should do. This is leadership. You dont not care about health workers strike just because your own doctors are abroad. What about the common man? Well done @bukolasaraki https://t.co/F9OCT511RQ  Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) May 28, 2018

Nigerians on the platform didnt go easy on the common sense senator as some of they argued that Bukola Saraki is part of the All Progressives Congress, the ruling and also he is the senate president.

See reactions below;

If you think Bukola Saraki (senate president) isnt part of FG anymore, but who does the minister (an executive) represent at these types of meetings? We are archiving all of yall tweets sha! Since most of yall only care abt politics.  Blackness (@Deenazla) May 28, 2018

The legislative arms of this government is the major problem of this nations. Mr Ben coming to Twitter to tell us what a president should do is not the right thing but you will never do the needful because all of you patronized the foreign doctors. Non of you care about us.  iconadeayo (@abiodunadeayo) May 28, 2018

Presidents dont meet with strikining workers, the Labour Minister does that and the Senate can equally wade in to assist. Just saying some commonsense  #AlphySimplex (@aaoshioledwg) May 28, 2018
A 39-year-old spinster in desperate search of a husband has told of how she received 48 strokes of the cane from a Pastor so she could get a husband.

Princess Josephine Uloma, an indigene of Orlu in Imo state, broke down in tears in front of a large congregation in Asaba on Sunday as she told of all the horrible things she has had to endure in her search for a life partner.

She told the congregation that she has had several suitors but they all rejected her over inexplicable spirit of limitations, anger, and demonic measures.

She said she has been infested by this spirit for fifteen years and it has caused her to run helter-skelter in search of a cure, and even led her to some fake men of God.

She told Daily Post:

Trouble started when I turned down a marriage offer from a suitor who hailed from Enugu State. Few months later, I found myself in an unbridled anger and querulous manners. I started beating up men whoever ask my hand in marriage. Any man who comes near me I will beat him up.

In tears, she added:

My life is full of testimonies, I rejected an offer of marriage from a suitor who hailed from Enugu State, and after few months, my trouble started, I was taken to several churches including one of the Pentecostal churches around Ezenei Avenue where I was flogged 48 strokes of cane by the pastor.

And after I slept for twenty minutes, I took on the pastor, beat him up silly and forced him to eat from the sand.

The woman denied that her problem stemmed from alcohol and/or Indian hemp.

She continued:

My parents during the process thought I did not want to marry. They organized a man who came from London to marry me, and when we got there I beat him up after a minor quarrel, and I was arrested and deported to Nigeria, I later realized I was not myself when I came into Nigeria before I was introduced to Kings Chapel.

She said that after she started attending Kings Chapel in Asaba, she was delivered by the prophet in charge.

She added that since her deliverance, she has had over 120 suitors asking her hands in marriage, and that all the suitors are currently being screened by God.

Leave a Comment

comments
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has asked Reno Omokri, aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan to stop lying, or quit the ministry.

According to the presidential aide, Omokris statement has prompted him to set the record straight. Shehu in his statement on Sunday said Omokri was never his colleague but a Personal Assistant to his colleague. See full statement below;

Pastor Reno Omokri is forcing me to do what I dont do. I dont react to published criticisms. I have spent my entire career in the media and as one who criticizes others; you must be ready to take criticism.

This is about exposing a liar masquerading as a pastor. By the way, I have known and worked with exemplary pastors who are decent and from whom you learned more of the etiquette of truth telling.

Take for example Pastor Emeka Izeze and his brother, Pastor Ifeanyi, or his friend, Pastor Segun Babatope. And lately, @ ProfOsinbajo, the Vice President and Pastor @ FemAdesina.

For those Reno tried to mislead, yes it is a fact that I worked in the media office of a PDP administration.Not for five years as the new-day pastor published but only for six months at which point it was announced on NTA news, to my surprise, that my letter of resignation had been accepted when I hadnt written any.

I learned of course that I was fired because the head of the country at that time, who believed that every published criticism was sponsored by an insider, read the weekly magazine, The News, and didnt like what was written about him. Another point the Pastor keeps making is that he was my colleague at that time. No, he wasnt. His boss was. The Reno I knew was a Personal Assistant (PA) to a Principal Officer like me. He didnt attend meetings and didnt receive official briefings as we did but ran errands for his boss. Not being a principal officer by status, he could not have had an office opposite my own. He may, however, have perched on a stool in one of those offices but I didnt take particular notice of which one. He was, however, very personable at that time. Pastor Reno lied by calling me an AGIP  meaning an unprincipled person ready to serve any government in power. The period he was referring to was one in which my ex-boss ran into bad political weather and some of us around him were scapegoated.

I was locked in DSS detention many times, my houses in Kano and Abuja broken into and valuables, including cash some of which were never returned were seized. I was going to court for two years and for the most part of which I didnt have a passport. Under detention in the DSS I was stripped down to the pants and photographed head to toe. All that didnt make one to capitulate.

When they lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the party primaries, the candidates in that race, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Waziri Atiku Abubakar, Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah surrendered their media assets to the winner who had the grace to ask me to lead the media team.

When we won, he (then President-elect Buhari) invited me to serve as one of his two spokespersons and I pledged 100 per cent loyalty to him and thats where I am. This cannot be AGIP by any standards. Reno should stop lying, if only to help the pastoral calling to retain its good name. Otherwise he should quit the ministry.
This collection features the arguments in favor of and against the renaming of Catt Hall on Iowa State's campus, which was named in 
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Baidu announced on May 18 the departure of the group's COO and president Lu Qi, which heavily shocked the Internet circle. During the past several years, the Chinese Internet giant has been changing its senior executives, especially in autonomous driving area. Gasgoo summarized some key senior executives or experts that had made significant contribution to the development of Baidu's intelligent driving cause during their tenure. Although they did different routes after resigning from Baidu, most of them still chose autonomous driving or AI as their future battle field.

Lu Qi

Due to personal and family reasons, Lu Qi will leave the management roles as Baidu's president and COO, but stay as vice chairman of the company board of directors, Baidu announced on May 18. Affected by his abrupt departure, Baidu's share prices slumped 9.54% on the same day.

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. During his tenure, he has made great contribution to Baidu's development, especially in intelligent driving area. On March 1, 2017, Lu grouped the autonomous driving unit (L4), the intelligent vehicle unit (L3) and IoV (Internet of Vehicles) unit into an Intelligent Driving Group (IDG), which was directly headed by himself. Then in April last year, Baidu launched its autonomous driving platform the Apollo, which has currently won 100 partners worldwide.

Wu Xuebin

Baidu confirmed on January 23 that its vice president Wu Xuebin has submitted a resignation and would leave for Baoneng Group, taking charging of automobile businesses in the new company.

On September 28, 2016, Wu Xuebin joined Baidu as vice president in charge of the company's autonomous driving unit. Before that, Wu had previously worked at BAIC Group, a Chinese state-owned auto enterprise. Besides, his life in auto industry also includes the experience he served for General Motors, Ford and Porsche, etc. During his tenure in Baidu, Wu managed the external cooperative matters for Apollo autonomous driving platform and other auto-related businesses of Baidu.

Wang Jing

Wang Jing, Baidu's former senior vice president and ex-general manager of the company's autonomous driving unit, announced on March 27, 2017 that he would resign from Baidu in April and set up his own company.

Wang joined Baidu in April 2010 and was promoted as senior vice president in December 2012, before serving as general manager of the autonomous driving unit since December 2015. In the same month he officially left Baidu, Wang established his own autonomous driving startup named JingChi.ai.

On December 22, 2017, Baidu filed a lawsuit in Beijing Intellectual Property accusing JingChi.ai and its founder Wang Jing of infringement on its commercial secrets, not returning devices that contained classified information, and poaching technical personnel. Wang Jing responded that Baidu's prosecution was totally untenable.

The case came across a dramatic turning in March. JingChi.ai has officially joined Baidu Apollo autonomous driving platform, while its founder Wang Jing left his own company for family issue, succeeded by Tong Han, the startup's new CEO. Although Baidu dropped the lawsuit against JingChi.ai, it is still suing Wang Jing.

Andrew Ng

Andrew Ng, a leading figure in the world of artificial intelligence, left his post as chief scientist at Baidu in March last year.

I will be resigning from Baidu and opening up a new chapter of my work in AI, he announced through his social accounts.

After joining Baidu in 2014, Ng helped develp an AI-first strategy. He oversaw the creation of the Silicon Valley AI Lab in California and led a AI team of more than 1,300 researchers, among which 300 were from Baidu.

Three months after he left Baidu, Ng confirmed that he had joined self-driving vehicle startup Drive.ai and became one of the directors. In December, 2017, Ng announced the establishment of the AI startup Landing.ai, where he served as CEO. The AI startup aims to help enterprise transform for the age of AI.

Ni Kai

Ni Kai, the former director of Baidu's self-driving vehicle project, left Baidu in December 2015 and then was hired as vice president at LeEco's autonomous driving unit.

Ni joined Baidu in 2013 as the senior scientist of the Institute of Deep Learning, and was in charge of the R&D of Baidu's self-driving vehicle and unmanned aircraft projects.

Currently, he was the founder and CEO of the autonomous driving startup HoloMatic, which was established in August 2017. The company aims to deliver level 3.5 production-ready autonomous driving functions. To be specific, it focuses on developing level 4 automatic driving solutions, and then applies the technologies in level 3 system, which is under a higher security standard and suitable for mass production at the same time.
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.
Egypts economy is rebounding after years of economic stress and political turmoil.

As Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, noted earlier this year, Egypt is at a turning point in its economic structure and is signaling to investors it is serious about comprehensively reforming its economic system.

According to The Heritage Foundations 2018 Index of Economic Freedom, Egypts overall economic freedom has increased over the past year thanks to improvements in financial freedom, investment freedom, and business freedom.

Reform of fuel and electricity subsidies has been a notable achievement, and market forces now determine the exchange rate. A recently enactedinvestment law aims to reduce bureaucracy and promote greater foreign investment. And, earlier this year, Egypts parliament passed the countrys first bankruptcy law, which should help viable companies return to business success more quickly.

These reforms are paying off. In a recent economic report, Harvard Universitys Center for International Development ranks Egypt as the third-fastest growing economy in the world and predicts the country will achieve average economic growth of more than 6 percent per year until 2026.

In addition, tourism has been rebounding, helped by ongoing economic stability and an improved security situation. Tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2018 were up 30 percent over the previous year, with hotel occupancy rates at their highest since 2010.

Egypts progress toward greater economic dynamism matters to America. As noted by The Heritage Foundations Jim Phillips, Egypt is a heavyweight Arab power that can serve as an effective partner in advancing regional efforts to fight terrorism, contain Iran, and stabilize the explosive Middle East.

Already, as tough reform measures start to pay off, U.S. multinationals have begun to look into the overall investment situation with growing interest.

Encouraging Egypt to capitalize on its current reform momentum by taking more decisive steps in advancing the countrys economic freedom will help the U.S. strengthen its ties with an essential ally in the Arab world, advance mutual strategic interests, and help bring security and stability to the region.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
FILE - In this Monday, July 14, 2014 file picture, Serge Dassault, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Group, attends the traditional Bastille Day parade in Paris. French business executive Serge Dassault, a top aviation and arms industrialist, has died in his Paris office. He was 93. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent, Pool, File)
A paper bag used to collect the tears of those testifying, to then be burned in a sacred fire, is seen at the final day of hearings at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, in Richmond, B.C., on Sunday April 8, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An Atlantic salmon leaps while swimming inside a farm pen near Eastport, Maine, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, in Eastport, Maine. A deal has been reached that will halt commercial salmon fishing in Greenland and the Faroe Islands for the next 12 years to allow adult wild Atlantic salmon to return to rivers in Canada, the United States, and Europe. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
Dwight Campbell, father of slain Truro police officer Const. Catherine Campbell, arrives at a sentencing hearing dealing with parole eligibility for Christopher Calvin Garnier, convicted of second-degree murder in her death, in Nova Scotia Supreme Court on Monday, May 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, left to right, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford and Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath participate during the third and final televised debate of the provincial election campaign in Toronto, Sunday, May 27, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
New premier-designate Carlo Cottarelli arrives to address the media after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Monday, May 28, 2018. Italy's president has formally asked economist Cottarelli to try to form a government after quashing the hopes of the euroskeptic 5-Star Movement and the League to form Western Europe's first populist government. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)
Okaloosa Beach Safety lifeguard Doug Brown instructs beachgoers on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Monday, May 28, 2018, as Subtropical Storm Alberto approaches the Gulf Coast. The storm's gusty rain and brisk winds roiled the seas near the U.S. Gulf Coast on Monday, keeping white sandy beaches emptied of their usual Memorial Day crowds. (Nick Tomecek/Northwest Florida Daily News via AP)
JUNCTION CITY, Ore.  Award-winning Oregon author Danuta Pfeiffer just released the audiobook to her memoir Chiseled.

She was a former television evangelist who worked as the co-host for the show The 700 Club. Her book details many of the struggles she faced being a woman in the male-dominated world of Christian evangelism.

With the release of the audiobook, she said her story comes to life.

I think it adds a lot of the personal human touch to the story when you hear the author reading her own words," Pfeiffer said.

She said narrating her own story was different than writing it. For her, she said the experience was highly personal.

In that highly personal experience, Pfeiffer said she details many of the struggles she faced based on perceptions men had that often made her feel vulnerable and powerless. She said also sometimes felt that because she was a woman, she couldnt take hold of her own life.

She said she has grown over the years and gained confidence, but said with many women still facing these challenges, it is her way of contributing to the #MeToo conversation.

"Ive found women who come up to me about the book, Pfeiffer said. Sometimes they will just take my hand and they will start crying and they will just nod and say it happened to me too. It really touches me to know that I've touched them.

She said when young women read the book, she hopes they will realize they have the opportunity and ability to make the most out of lifes experiences.

"So be sure that when you step out into that big world that you experience every moment of it, don't miss a thing," Pfeiffer said.
SAGINAW, Ore. -- Employees at witsell are still trying to absorb everything that has happened over the last 24 hours.

An employee told us as many as 150 workers could be affected.

READ MORE: Fire destroys Whitsell mill in Saginaw

As the remnants of Sunday night's fire continued to burn early into the morning, around ten of those employees gathered near the mill to look on and comfort each other.

"It's just weird to see it all gone," said Whitsell employee William Strom.

Strom has worked for whitsell for nearly four years.

He admits he isn't exactly a saint, but said the company gave him a chance when no one else would.

"They ended up looking past that and listening to the people I've worked for. They gave me a job and I've busted my butt for them to show them that I appreciate it. And that's why I want to stay here."

He said just two weeks ago they allowed him to take his job back after being out for seven months, because he had surgery on both of his knees.

The fire is also affecting Whitsell contractors who had equipment at the mill when it caught fire.

One of those contractors, Steve Moorehead, said his equipment is in good shape, but also the last thing on his mind.

"I've done a fair amount of work out here. But, my losses are minimal compared to the mill," said Moorehead. "So, I'm not concerned about that."

Strom said because of the kindness Whitsell has shown him, he just wants to be able to pay it back.

"I'll be here if they need me to clean it up. Every step of the way, I'll be right here," said Strom. "Because I don't want.. I don't want it to be gone. They were good enough to me, so that's what I think we should give them."

Employees did tell us that they've been told several of them could go work at another mill that the company owns.

Right now, there's no word on what the future could be for the mill in Saginaw.
DULUTH, Minn. (AP)  A Duluth teacher is accused of having sex with a former student at her home earlier this month.

Thirty-three-year-old Karla Winterfeld was charged Wednesday with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Winterfeld was arrested Monday, the day Duluth police were notified about the alleged contact. Authorities say the 15-year-old boy is a former student of Winterfeld's.

According to the criminal complaint, police collected evidence that included a recording of sexual acts, photographs and text messages.

Winterfeld requested a public defender, but a judge rejected that request. Her bail was set at $100,000.

Winterfeld is a health teacher at Lincoln Park Middle School. The Duluth School District says she has been placed on administrative leave, and that the district is cooperating with police during their investigation.
NASHUA, IA - Authorities in Chickasaw County confirm a young man died over the holiday weekend while swimming at a park.

The Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office says they received a 911 call that someone was swimming at Chickasaw Park. Several agencies also responded to the location and later found the body of 17-year-old Samel Hake of Nashua. The incident remains under investigation.

The Nashua-Plainfield High School Facebook page posted earlier with the following message:

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

All of us at Nashua-Plainfield were saddened to receive news last evening of the passing of Sam Hake, one of our 11th grade students. We will be providing counseling support for our students on Monday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. in the junior high commons.

We all react in individual ways to this type of event. Things such as developmental level, our relationships with the people impacted, our previous experience of loss, and our personal perceptions of death impact how we deal with this event. We should expect, try to understand, and accept a variety of emotions and behaviors. The most important things we should do is be supportive and encourage discussion about the events, our feelings, and what we can do in response to it.

Sam impacted us in a lot of different ways. Sam will be remembered by his friendly smile and demeanor.

Please let us know how we can assist you and your family. We will be available on Monday morning at 9 a.m. in the junior high commons.

Sincerely,

N-P Administrative Team

Due to Hake's sudden death the high school band will not perform Monday at the Nashua Memorial Day Service.
MASON CITY, Iowa - The Mason City Police Department is investigating a stabbing reported on Monday afternoon.

Officers were called to a home on the 1100 block of E. State St. Once on scene, they say they found a victim who had been stabbed. A second person at the residence was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Police are not confirming if the person who was taken into custody is the suspect in the stabbing investigation. Stay with KIMT for more information on this developing story.
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's prime minister on Saturday hailed the culmination of "a quiet revolution" in what was once one of Europe's most socially conservative countries after a landslide referendum vote to liberalize highly restrictive laws on abortion.

Voters in the once deeply Catholic nation backed the change by two-to-one, a far higher margin than any opinion poll in the run up to the vote had predicted, and allows the government to bring in legislation by the end of the year.

"It's incredible. For all the years and years and years we've been trying to look after women and not been able to look after women, this means everything," said Mary Higgins, obstetrician and Together For Yes campaigner.

For decades, the law forced over 3,000 women to travel to Britain each year for terminations and "Yes" campaigners argued that with others now ordering pills illegally online, abortion was already a reality in Ireland.

The campaign was defined by women publicly sharing their painful experiences of leaving the country for procedures, a key reason why all but one of Ireland's 40 constituencies voted "Yes".

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who campaigned to repeal the laws, had called the vote a once-in-a-generation chance and voters responded by turning out in droves. A turnout of 64 percent was one of the highest for a referendum.

"Today is an historic day for Ireland. A quiet revolution has taken place," Varadkar, who became Ireland's first openly gay prime minister last year, said in a speech after the vote.

"Everyone deserves a second chance. This is Ireland's second chance to treat everyone equally and with compassion and respect. We have voted to look reality in the eye and we did not blink."

The outcome is a new milestone on a path of change for a country which only legalized divorce by a razor thin majority in 1995 before becoming the first in the world to adopt gay marriage by popular vote three years ago.

The once-mighty Catholic Church took a back seat throughout the campaign.

ASTONISHING MARGIN

Anti-abortion activists conceded defeat early on Saturday as their opponents expressed astonishment at the scale of their victory. Lawmakers who campaigned for a "No" vote said they would not seek to block the government's plans to allow abortions with no restriction up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.

"What Irish voters did yesterday is a tragedy of historic proportions," the Save The 8th group said. "However, a wrong does not become a right simply because a majority support it."

Voters were asked to scrap the constitutional amendment, which gives an unborn child and its mother equal rights to life. The consequent prohibition on abortion was partly lifted in 2013 for cases where the mother's life was in danger.

The country's largest newspaper, the Irish Independent, described the result as "a massive moment in Ireland's social history".

Campaigners for change, wearing "Repeal" jumpers and "Yes" badges, gathered at count centers, many in tears and hugging each other. Others sang songs in the sunshine outside the main Dublin results center as they awaited the official result.

The large crowd cheered Varadkar as he took to the stage to thank them for "trusting women and respecting their choices".

Reform in Ireland also raised the prospect that women in Northern Ireland, where abortion is still illegal, may start traveling south of the border.

"The outcome of the referendum is an extremely worrying development for the protection of the unborn child in Northern Ireland," said Jim Wells, a member of Northern Ireland's socially conservative Democratic Unionist Party.

MIDDLE GROUND

No social issue had divided Ireland's 4.8 million people as sharply as abortion, which was pushed up the political agenda by the death in 2012 of a 31-year-old Indian immigrant from a septic miscarriage after she was refused a termination.

Campaigners left flowers and candles at a large mural of the woman, Savita Halappanavar, in central Dublin. Her parents in India were quoted by the Irish Times newspaper as thanking their "brothers and sisters" in Ireland and requesting the new law be called "Savita's law".

Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said he believed a middle ground of around 40 percent of voters had decided en masse to allow women and doctors rather than lawmakers and lawyers to decide whether a termination was justified.

"For him, it's a different Ireland that we're moving onto," said Colm O'Riain, a 44-year-old teacher referring to his son Ruarai, born 14 weeks premature in November who was in his arms.

"It's an Ireland that is more tolerant, more inclusive and where he can be whatever he wants without fear of recrimination."
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's president set the country on a path back to fresh elections on Monday, appointing a former International Monetary Fund official as interim prime minister with the task of planning for snap polls and passing the next budget.

The decision to appoint Carlo Cottarelli to form a stopgap administration sets the stage for elections that are likely to be fought over Italy's role in the European Union and the euro zone, a prospect that is rattling global financial markets.

The euro zone's third-largest economy has been seeking a new government since inconclusive March elections, with anti-establishment forces abandoning their efforts to form a ruling coalition at the weekend after a standoff with the president.

President Sergio Mattarella vetoed the parties' choice of a eurosceptic as economy minister, prompting the 5-Star Movement and far-right League party to accuse him of betraying voters and to drop their plan to take power.

Cottarelli told reporters after his appointment that elections would be held in the autumn or early next year. He also tried to reassure investors on the Italian economy.

"Speaking as an economist, in the past few days the tensions on the financial markets have increased," said Cottarelli, who had served as a cost-cutting tsar to a previous government.

"Nonetheless the Italian economy is still growing and the public accounts remain under control. I can absolutely guarantee that a government led by me would assure a prudent management of our public accounts," he added.

The prospect of fresh elections raised fears among investors that the vote could become a de facto referendum on Italy's euro membership. The euro hit a fresh six-month low and yields on Italian debt climbed, increasing the extra borrowing costs or spread that Italy pays in comparison with Germany.

Already Italian politicians are back in campaign mode.

A 5-Star source said it was considering an election alliance with the League. In March, 5-Star ran its own campaign while the League campaigned as part of a right-wing coalition, including with the party of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"This is not a democracy, this doesn't respect the popular vote," League chief Matteo Salvini said in a statement after Cottarelli accepted his appointment by the president.

Salvini characterized the move as the political establishment lashing out in its death throes, intent on keeping Italy enslaved and afraid of the reaction of financial markets.

"The next elections will be a plebiscite  the population and real life against old political castes and the 'lords of the spread'," Salvini added.

FAILURE LIKELY

Cottarelli must try in the coming hours to form a government with majority support from parliament. He seems almost certain to fail - Berlusconi's Forza Italia party refused to back Cottarelli even before he was appointed - at which point the president would swear in him and his proposed cabinet, to serve until the next election.

He has been tasked with passing the 2019 budget by the end of this year, a challenge that may prove impossible without the confidence of parliament. In those circumstances, elections could be held as soon as September.

Voters at a Rome market criticized 5-Star and the League.



"It is ridiculous. They had so much time to sort themselves out and they also had an electoral campaign to explain their policies which did not include leaving the euro," pensioner Nuccio Lugini told Reuters.

Shopper Irene Teramo also backed the president in his decision to veto the economy minister. "I am a mother of a boy who has to travel the world and so I am convinced an anti-European minister is not the right thing for Italy," she said.

FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE

In a televised address on Sunday, Mattarella said he had rejected the coalition's candidate for the crucial economy portfolio, 81-year-old Paolo Savona, because the economist had threatened to pull Italy out of the euro zone.

"The uncertainty over our position has alarmed investors and savers both in Italy and abroad," Mattarella said, adding: "Membership of the euro is a fundamental choice. If we want to discuss it, then we should do so in a serious fashion."

The League and 5-Star, which had spent days drawing up a coalition pact aimed at ending the stalemate that has lasted since March, responded with fury to Mattarella, accusing him of abusing his office.

5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio called on parliament to impeach the mild-mannered Mattarella. League chief Salvini threatened mass protests unless snap elections were called.

"If there's not the OK of Berlin, Paris or Brussels, a government cannot be formed in Italy. It's madness, and I ask the Italian people to stay close to us because I want to bring democracy back to this country," Salvini told reporters.

However, Salvini later dismissed Di Maio's call. "We need to keep cool. Some things cannot be done in the throes of anger... I don't want to talk about impeachment," he told Radio Capital.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will face a vote of confidence in his leadership on Friday as corruption convictions handed down to dozens of people linked to his center-right People's Party (PP) threatened his six-year rule.

Spain's parliament agreed on Monday that the debate and vote would take place on Thursday and Friday, although the opposition Socialists who proposed the vote may struggle to garner enough support in the fragmented legislature to unseat Rajoy.

News of the no-confidence vote helped drive the Spanish government's borrowing costs to 2-1/2 month highs, while the blue-chip stock index, the IBEX, turned lower.

Opposition parties are taking advantage of Rajoy's weakness after 29 people linked to the PP were convicted last Thursday of crimes including influence-peddling and falsifying accounts, in the culmination of a long-running corruption trial.

The PP has closed ranks behind Rajoy, who said on Friday he intended to serve out his four-year term and that the corruption convictions did not affect a single member of his government. The 63-year-old survived a no-confidence vote last June.

"We are deeply sorry that there were people who used the PP for self-enrichment," party spokesman Pablo Casado told a news conference on Monday, adding that the no-confidence vote was irresponsible and put Spain's economic stability at risk.

Spanish borrowing costs relative to Germany's rocketed to their widest differential since the start of the year, though they were also hit by concerns over political uncertainty in Italy.

PRESSURE FROM OPPOSITION

Ciudadanos (Citizens), a liberal party ahead in opinion surveys and the most likely to win a snap election, urged Rajoy on Monday to call an early poll, saying his government was weak and tainted by corruption.

The Socialists have proposed their leader Pedro Sanchez as a replacement for Rajoy. The party, with just 84 seats in parliament, must get at least 176 votes to carry its proposal.

Leftist party Podemos, with 67 seats, has said it will support the motion, but that would not be sufficient. The Socialists would also have to seek backing from small regional parties who would attach politically difficult conditions in return for their support such as the freedom of Catalan politicians from custody.

Ciudadanos said on Saturday it would be willing to work with the Socialists to support a neutral candidate to oust Rajoy, whose minority government has been damaged by a crisis sparked by Catalonia's independence vote.

However, Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera said on Monday he was not prepared to seek pacts with "regional nationalists and populists" to oust Rajoy and that elections in the autumn would be preferable.
BIG POINT, Miss. -- Jackson County Sheriff deputies arrested a Big Point man over the weekend after he was involved in a domestic altercation with his wife, according to Sheriff Mike Ezell.

Reginald Butler Warren, 66, has been charged with shooting his wife Friday night. According to Ezell, shortly before 10 p.m. Friday night, a woman called 911 saying her husband shot her.

When deputies arrived at 17933 Rayford Shumock Road in the Big Point community, they found Butler's wife shot several times with non-life threatening injuries. She was airlifted to USA Medical Center in Mobile.

Warren is charged with domestic violence, aggravated assault, was arrested without incident and is currently being held without bond.
Selva honors military survivor families for strength, bravery

By Lisa Ferdinando, DOD

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2018  The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff honored the families of fallen service members yesterday, saying through unimaginable loss, they honor their loved ones and give hope to others.



Air Force Tech. Sgt. Derek Smiling holds a U.S. flag before a National Police Week opening ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 14, 2018. The base flew the flag throughout the week to honor military and civilian police who lost their lives in the line of duty. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves



The bravery of these families strengthens those who currently wear the uniform, Air Force Gen. Paul Selva said at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors 24th annual National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp banquet.



There are tens of thousands of family members who carry the weight of the service of their spouses, their children and their parents, Selva said. And for that, we all owe you a debt of gratitude, each of us to you, because you are such an example of strength.





Carrying the Legacy Forward



Since 1994, TAPS, which offers a variety of programs for survivors, has hosted its national seminar and grief camp in Washington over Memorial Day.



Selva commended TAPS president and founder Bonnie Carroll and the work of the organization supporting those who have lost a military loved one.



He highlighted the commitment of survivors who serve as mentors at TAPS, saying they have opened their hearts to help others and are making a big difference in the world.



To carry a legacy forward together, to remember the life of the service member who you would honor I think is the foundation that allows us, all of us who wear this uniform, to continue to serve, Selva said.





Just Two Words: Thank You



Every service member, the general said, knows that one day he or she might be in harms way. It gives us great comfort to know that if something were to happen to us, this community would wrap its arms around our families, he said.



TAPS has helped 70,000 survivors cope with the loss of military loved ones. The survivors and TAPS have made incredible contributions to the nation, he said.



I am personally grateful for your service. I am personally grateful for what you have done and what you do brings strength to all of us. he said. And for that, there are only two words I know how to say -- thank you.



Yesterdays banquet in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, brought together 850 people, to include survivors, mentors and sponsors. TAPS families came from across the country and the world to participate in the weekend events, according to TAPS.


TBA applauds Gov. Haslam, General Assembly for funding indigent representation reform



NASHVILLE - Tennessee Bar Association President Lucian Pera is applauding Gov. Bill Haslam, the General Assembly and the Tennessee Supreme Court for their partnership in strengthening Tennessee's commitment to indigent representation reform in the wake of adoption of a recurring allocation of $9.7 million in the FY2018-19 budget, which the governor signed last week.



The TBA made increased indigent representation funding its top legislative priority in 2018, and the budget allocation marks a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts for indigent representation reform in Tennessee.



"The TBA applauds Governor Haslam, the General Assembly, and the Tennessee Supreme Court for increasing funding for indigent defense of Tennessee's most vulnerable citizens and children," Pera said. "Competent representation costs money, and the constitutional right to counsel is only real if lawyers appointed to defend them are paid reasonably. The TBA especially wants to thank Chief Justice Jeff Bivins for his courageous leadership in making indigent representation reform and increased funding the Court's top priority this year. This victory would not have happened without his forcefully getting out front on this issue.



"We know how committed the Chief and the entire Court are to enacting the reforms envisioned by the Court's Indigent Representation Task Force, including significantly higher attorney compensation and a statewide indigent representation task force. We hope and expect to work with the Court next year to move funding even closer to what the Court's Task Force recommended. And just as important, the TBA wants a statewide commission to oversee and improve indigent representation for Tennesseans in need."



In response to requests by the Tennessee Supreme Court - requests strongly supported by the TBA and its members - the FY 2018/19 state budget includes an additional $9.7 million in recurring funding for indigent representation reform. On April 19, 2018, the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives approved the budget. On May 21, 2018, Gov. Haslam signed the appropriations bill. The funding becomes available July 1, 2018.



The funding will be used to increase compensation for appointed counsel for those unable to afford counsel in criminal and other cases where the Constitution grants them a right to counsel. Before this week's funding boost, Tennessee ranked second-from-the-bottom among all U.S. jurisdictions in funding for indigent representation.



Increased funding of indigent defense was one of two key recommendations of the Court's Indigent Representation Task Force, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice William C. Koch, Jr. That task force spent two years holding hearings across the State and developing its 198-page report issued in April 2017. The Supreme Court strongly urged the legislature to enact the Task Force's other key finding - the establishment of a statewide indigent representation commission - but no action was taken this year. The TBA continues to strongly support this Task Force recommendation and will join the Court in seeking the creation of a commission next year.



The new funding will increase the amount attorneys are paid to work on indigent cases, as well as raise the current caps imposed on payment for individual cases. The Supreme Court has not yet announced what changes in rates and caps it will make in light of the legislature's decision. The TBA is also working closely with the Supreme Court's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on training programs for attorneys who take these cases.



Along with changes in rates and caps, the AOC has committed to implement periodic or "interim" billing for attorneys, replacing the existing system under which most cases cannot be billed until the end. That change will address the ongoing problem of many attorneys not receiving payment for their work on indigent cases for years, until after the conclusion of a case.

Published May 28, 2018














MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Moss Point police are searching for three men in connection with an armed carjacking spree in Jackson County, Jackson, Ala., and Washington County, according to Chief Brandon Ashley.

Around 2 a.m. Friday morning, Moss Point Police received a call from an unknown motorist reporting that a male and female motorist were carjacked at gunpoint on the I-10 Exit 69 westbound entrance ramp.

The victims were unharmed and for their safety, police will withhold their names due to the investigation being open.

According to the victims, they were switching drivers to finish their drive to Houston, TX when they say three to four black males approached and forced them out of their vehicle.

Once the carjackers forced their victims out of their vehicle, they fled the scene driving westbound on I-10 in the stolen white 2018 Nissan Rogue with a North Carolina license plate.

Ashley said throughout their investigation, they have learned the four men have been involved in numerous crimes in several different jurisdictions and are currently under investigation by several other agencies including: Moss Point PD, Pascagoula PD, Jackson County Miss. Sheriff Office, Washington County, Alabama Sheriff's Office, and Jackson Police Department in Alabama.

The suspects, Devarian Edwards of Moss Point (at-large), Kyle Webb of Pascagoula (apprehended), Zavier Williams of Jackson, Ala. (apprehended), and Scieler McKenzie from Gautier (deceased).

Detectives from numerous agencies have pieced together a crime spree involving the same four suspects and it is believed to have started in the late evening hours on May 24 in Pascagoula.

The spree began with grand larceny (motor vehicle theft), then continuing with armed carjacking and commercial burglary in Moss Point, followed by armed robbery and kidnapping in Jackson County.

The spree ended in the City of Jackson, Ala. with capital murder. All charges have been issued or pending in all corresponding agencies.

Agencies are asking communities to be on the lookout for 22-year-old Devarian Raheem Edwards, who is at-large. Edwards is known to hang out in the Moss Point, Pascagoula area is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Anyone with any information about these crimes are asked to please contact Detective Mark Peters or the Moss Point Police Department at 228-475-1711.

You may also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-787-5898 or visit the Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers website at mscoastcrimestoppers.com.
Taipei 101 / Courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau



By Kim Jae-heun



TAIPEI  Taipei is a rising tourist destination in Asia.



In 2015, the city ranked 10th on the most popular tourist cities by MasterCard.



A total of 7.4 million people visited the city, edging over other tourist destinations such as Bali, Shanghai and Sydney.



The city nowadays attracts tourists mostly from Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea in that order.



The 101-floor landmark skyscraper Taipei 101 is Taiwan's No.1 tourist attraction.



The former Taipei World Financial Center stands 509.2 meters tall in the popular business district of Xinyi.



It was the world's tallest building until 2010, when the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was completed.



Taipei 101's observation decks are visited by many tourists who look at the spectacular views of the city. Its outdoor observatory is 8.4 meters taller than the indoor deck.



"The building glows in light of seven colors in the evening. The colors coincide with the days of the week. For example, on Mondays, the color is red. On Tuesdays, the color is orange. On Wednesdays, the color is yellow. Today, the building glows blue, so it's Friday," said Paul Ou, a Taipei resident who has been living in the country for over 30 years.





The Longshan Temple / Courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Air Seoul's aircraft / Yonhap



Air Seoul Inc., the budget unit of Asiana Airlines Inc., said Thursday that it will launch a new route to Danang, Vietnam, this week, a move that could heat up competition among South Korean carriers over a popular tourist destination.

The debut service to Vietnam is set to begin at 10:20 p.m. on Friday, with the 195-seat A321-200 jet being deployed on the route. The service will be available every day, according to the carrier.

Currently, six other South Korean carriers operate flights to Danang, a destination that draws about 500,000 South Koreans a year.

Air Seoul currently operates six A321 chartered planes -- two configured for 220 passengers and four with 195 seats. With the planes, the low-cost carrier offers services on routes to 16 cities in five countries -- Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the U.S. territory of Guam.

The budget carrier plans to add a seventh A321 plane to its fleet in the second half of this year. (Yonhap)
By Kim Jae-kyoung



South Korean automakers should come up with a contingency plan to produce more cars in the U.S. in case the Trump administration levies tariffs on auto imports, according to an American expert on U.S.-Korea trade relations, Sunday.





Troy Stangarone




By Lee Suh-yoon







Local governments are promoting "peace-themed" tours along their border with North Korea amid the continuing peace overtures between the two Koreas.







Gangwon Province, which borders the eastern half of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), ran a familiarization tour of the DMZ for about 50 tourism industry representatives on Monday, in partnership with the state-led Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).







The provincial government hopes the continuing peace overtures and international spotlight on Korea since the April 27 summit will attract foreign tourists and revive the local economy.







The Monday tour centered on Cheorwon County, which is on the northwest corner of Gangwon Province and directly borders North Korea. Cherwon County is home to a peace observatory, the former Korean Workers' Party Headquarters, a closed railway station inside the DMZ, and a North Korean-built underground infiltration tunnel.







This is only one of numerous attempts by regional governments to attract more foreign tourists to the border. Earlier this month, Gangwon Province and the KTO hosted a series of DMZ tours for 200 foreign travel agents, people with social media influence, and exchange students.







Travel agencies that already provide similar tours say business has boomed since the inter-Korean summit.







"The number of people signing up for our DMZ tours has increased by 30 percent," said a spokesperson for DMZ Tours, a local agency that caters to foreign tourists.






U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he believes North Korea will be a great economic nation one day, setting a positive tone ahead of his potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.



Trump also confirmed that U.S. officials are in North Korea to continue preparations for the summit, which, if held, would take place in Singapore June 12.



"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," he tweeted.



The Washington Post first reported the visit of the U.S. delegation led by Amb. Sung Kim, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and former negotiator on North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The State Department later confirmed that the two sides were having talks in the truce village of Panmunjom, which sits on the inter-Korean border.



"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day," Trump wrote. "Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"



The U.S. president has increasingly offered economic rewards in exchange for denuclearization, although the exact terms of any deal are unclear.



Washington seeks a complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of the North's nuclear weapons program, but Pyongyang has rejected demands for "unilateral" denuclearization and threatened to pull out of the summit if such discussions continue.



Kim has been quoted as offering a phased and synchronized process that would likely involve a gradual give and take of dismantlement steps in exchange for sanctions relief.



Last week the North demolished its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri in front of a small group of international journalists. A few hours later, Trump abruptly canceled the summit, citing "tremendous anger and open hostility" in recent North Korean comments.



Apparently eager to salvage the rare opening for diplomacy, the North responded that it was still ready to meet with the U.S. at any time. And Trump welcomed the "warm and productive" statement, saying the summit could go ahead as planned.



In the meantime, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held a second meeting in Panmunjom Saturday.



Moon later announced that Kim had reaffirmed his commitment to denuclearization and willingness to meet with Trump.



The White House said Saturday that a "pre-advance team" was headed to Singapore to prepare for the summit should it take place. (Yonhap)




President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un embrace after their surprise summit in the Panmunjeom truce village, Saturday. / Yonhap



By Oh Young-jin



The May 26 inter-Korean summit shows how the two Koreas might mend their erstwhile rivalry, combine their forces and become united on the international stage.



Of course, their newly found love may prove ephemeral considering their decades-old antagonistic relations that peaked with the 1950-1953 Korean War that was started by the North's invasion under Kim Il-sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.



The following seven decades have been marked by a series of close calls that have pushed the 1953 armistice to its limits. So what has changed that could help the two Koreas overcome their history, if indeed that concept of reconciliation is truly possible?



Above all, the two Koreas are being unhinged from their Cold-War patrons _ South Korea from the United States and North Korea from China after the demise of the Soviet Union.



The collapse of the ideological pillars is forcing Seoul and Pyongyang to find their own way to survive. Before the PyeongChang Olympics, Seoul faced the real possibility of war that could come from a preemptive strike by its closest ally, the U.S., against the North for its development of nuclear-armed intercontinental missiles (ICBM). Seoul wants to stop being potential collateral damage.



The North has felt betrayed by China's cooperation in strengthening international sanctions that are increasingly biting its isolated economy.



So respectively facing the existential threat from their historic benefactors, the two Koreas appear to be finding comfort in each other's arms for now, their long lost sense of brotherhood awakened.



Here are some points to ponder regarding what happened in the lead-up to and after the summit, compiled from President Moon's remarks at the May 27 news conference and reports about the minisummit.



North asks for the summit



President Moon said the North had asked for the summit first.



Suh Hoon, director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), met his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong-chul at the Panmunjeom truce village on May 25. The previous night, U.S. President Donald Trump canceled the June 12 summit by revealing an open letter to Kim. This panicked the North enough for it to call Seoul for help.





Moon, the powerful peacemaker Crucial North Korea-US talks taking place all over Seoul making preparations for June 1 inter-Korean high-level talks The North took only hours for Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan to say the Pyongyang wanted to hold the summit. Not long after the announcement, the South's spy master received a summit proposal from his opposite number. Cheong Wa Dae said the proposal was made in the form of Kim Jong-un's initiative and Moon accepted it.



"The summit was held as if it was part of a routine between close friends and that is what is meaningful about it,' he told reporters.



Something amiss in Moon-Trump summit



According to Chosun Ilbo, the vernacular conservative newspaper, three NIS members led by deputy director Kim Sang-kyun, went to Pyongyang on May 23 when President Moon was on his way from his summit with Trump in Washington. Trump was inquisitive about the North's apparent change of heart during their phone conversation and Moon decided to fly to Washington.



On May 16, the North cited the South-U.S. joint aerial exercise, Max Thunder, as the reason for cancelling the June 1 high-level talks and poured venom on the U.S. for trying to impose the fate of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, to the North.



Gaddafi gave up his incipient nuclear program in a deal with the U.S. and Europe, but was killed by western-backed rebels.



Seoul suggested to the North that it should mediate between the North and the U.S.



All kept in dark about the summit



The secrecy on the summit was comparable to a spy movie. A small convoy carrying President Kim in a Mercedes used by the first lady sped to the truce village but without traffic control along the route in order not to draw unnecessary attention.



In video footage at the start of the meeting, the two acted sometimes as if they were a close uncle and nephew.



"We should have you in a better place ... I am sorry not to treat you better," Kim told Moon. "We will give a grand reception to you and your wife when you two visit Pyongyang in autumn."



The North Korean leader addressed Moon and spoke to him in such a respectful way as a young person traditionally does to an old person. Moon also spoke politely and took an avuncular tone when he comforted Kim saying the summit at a short notice reflected a change for the better in the two Koreas' relations.



Their tryst was kept a secret until Cheong Wa Dae made a Facebook posting about the meeting three hours after the summit.



Too close for comfort



President Moon told the news conference that the U.S. was informed of the result.



But Moon did not say whether the U.S. was notified in advance of the two Koreas' plan to hold a summit. There were some reports that Cheong Wa Dae later confirmed that Washington got an advanced notice.




President Moon Jae-in holds a press briefing on his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at Cheong Wa Dae, Saturday. / Yonhap



By Park Ji-won



President Moon Jae-in may visit Singapore while the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is taking place there next month, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Monday.



Moon's possible visit, however, hinges on how dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea unfolds, the official said.



This prompted speculation that the two Korean leaders and the U.S. leader may jointly declare a formal end to the Korean War in Singapore depending on the outcome of the Kim-Trump summit.



"(The success of making an announcement of ending the war through a trilateral summit) is dependent on the result of the North-U.S. summit," the official said when asked about Moon preparing to go to Singapore.



The official added that "there are two issues on the summit table; denuclearization and ensuring the security of the North Korean regime. The declaration of the end of the (Korean) war is part of guaranteeing the North Korean regime."



"We can forecast the success of the Kim-Trump summit based on the outcomes of the high ranking meetings between the North and the U.S., which are now being held in Panmunjeom, that also can be connected with holding a trilateral summit between the two Koreas and the U.S."



President Moon Jae-in in his Sunday press conference talked about making a declaration of putting an end to the war on the Korean Peninsula through a trilateral summit between the South, the North and the U.S. after the success of the Kim-Trump summit.



Some critics also anticipated the announcement of terminating the War status following the Kim-Trump summit based on the fact that Moon didn't mention anything about a quadrilateral agreement after having talks with Trump.



"I think there could be the announcement of ending the War after the June 12 summit," National security strategy senior researcher Cho Sung-ryul was quoted as saying to CBS radio.



"President Moon has mentioned ending the war through a trilateral agreement after the Moon-Trump summit which has been trilateral or quadrilateral connected to the Pamunjeom Declaration."



"Previously, Trump said on Twitter that he can change the summit date with Kim. That possibly means President Moon and Trump talked about ending the war during the summit on May 22 and Moon and Kim talked about it Saturday. "



However, South Korean government officials remain cautious in giving a clear answer to questions; that is likely part of Moon's moves to play a mediation role between Kim and Trump.



During a press briefing Sunday in London, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that "talks between the North and the U.S. may not go as far as discussing ending the Korean War" when asked if President Moon would travel to Singapore.



"President Moon is considering the next step after a successful summit between Kim and Trump. Talking about everything now might complicate things."


Moon offers to meet Kim anytime without formalities



By Kim Rahn





President Moon Jae-in

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be the main characters of the nuclear standoff drama that has been unfolding with a series of reversals and twists. But without backup and setting by President Moon Jae-in, the whole play may have not been on stage at all.



He has again shone as a "mediator" because he reignited the dying embers of the Washington-Pyongyang summit, which was on the verge of falling through following Trump's decision to call it off.



Since the beginning of this year, Moon encouraged the North and the U.S. to engage in denuclearization talks by taking advantage of the rare reconciliatory mood created by the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Kim offered a summit with Trump, who immediately accepted it, and they agreed to hold it in Singapore on June 12.



But the preparation faltered as the North threatened to reconsider the summit in protest of hawkish U.S. officials' suggestion of a "Libyan model" of denuclearization, and stood up a U.S. advance team sent to prepare for the summit.



Then Trump said he would cancel the summit. Perplexed, Pyongyang issued a statement to express its intention to continue dialogue, and Kim asked Moon to meet.



In the urgent, secret meeting at Panmunjeom, Saturday, Moon told Kim about Trump's pledge to guarantee his regime security, which Moon heard from the U.S. president in their May 22 bilateral talks. Kim also reaffirmed his commitment to denuclearization and the summit with Trump.






Seoul police escort the suspect, surname Kang, to Central District Court. / Yonhap



By Kang Aa-young



Police on Monday sought an arrest warrant for a man accused of murdering two Gangnam officetel guards.



The suspect, surname Kang, 28, reportedly admitted murdering the guards, in their 60s, who worked at an apartment complex in Segok-dong, Seoul, at around 9 p.m. on Saturday



The victims were brothers-in-law.



According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the suspect surrendered, saying "I killed people."



Police found a blood-covered knife and a hatchet in his bag.



The man allegedly told police that he took pills for a mental disorder. He sounded incoherent, according to police, who are checking his hospital records for signs of schizophrenia or other mental disorders.



He allegedly said he heard noise coming from a neighbor upstairs, but a police investigation revealed this was not true.


Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae



By Lee Kyung-min



Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae is likely to face prosecution questioning over alleged deep meddling in and abuse of the judiciary to suit the 2013-17 Park Geun-hye administration, in return for administrative favors to advance his agenda.



The current chief justice, Kim Myeong-su, has said he is considering filing a criminal complaint with the prosecution against his predecessor. "I am as disappointed as the public is over the allegations," Kim told reporters on his way to work. "I will take all aspects into consideration in determining follow-up measures and I will listen to all opinions within the judiciary before making a final decision."



The highly cautious response reflected the explosive nature of the allegation substantiated by a special investigation committee under the top court, whose findings released last Friday were completely at odds with those of two earlier separate committees. They concluded there was "no blacklist of judges," despite volumes of evidence that suggested otherwise, questionable findings that only fueled public outrage and eroded trust in the judiciary.



The two investigations were launched over suspicion that the Office of Court Administration (OCA) under the top court created the list to control and suppress liberal judges. These came under tight scrutiny for demanding judicial reform, openly criticizing the "emperor-like" power of the chief justice and the systematic efforts to solidify the standing and influence of the judiciary instead of serving the public. The third committee reviewed around 37,000 files stored in computers used by key senior OCA officials, which the two earlier committees were denied access to. They found documents in which officials discussed plans in detail on which rulings could benefit or hurt the administration.



An OCA-drafted document began by highlighting the "continued efforts to support the president-led government policy initiative." Fourteen rulings made by district courts and the top courts were cited as decisions that greatly benefited Park, giving her what she would have considered accurate accounts of history, protection of freedoms and democratic principles, and prioritizing economic development, all of which were her top priorities.



Under the headings "Speech material" and "Ways to persuade the BH" (short for Blue House, Korea's presidential office), the top court cited its ruling that upheld lower courts' rulings that denied compensation to victims of past military regimes' brutality on the grounds that "the regime of the time was legitimate in exercising the discretion to govern the public." The top court, documents showed, sought to justify the Park-led labor reform by increasing flexibility in the labor market in a ruling that found for Ssangyong Motors, a carmaker that resorted to massive layoffs. Possible discretion in trials was also discussed involving many other high-profile figures including former spy agency chief Won Sei-hoon, a close aide to former President Lee Myung-bak whose alleged mobilization of the National Intelligence Service helped Park beat liberal candidate Moon Jae-in in the December 2012 presidential election, and Sung Wan-jong, the former head of Keangnam Enterprises who committed suicide amid intensified prosecution questioning about the failed energy diplomacy during Lee's 2008-13 administration.



The top court even drafted a "fallback" measure in case such cooperative "gestures go unrecognized." Under the headings of "Pressuring Cheong Wa Dae," the document said if the presidential office refused to cooperate with the top court, it would have no choice but to veer off its course, long consistent in seeking and coordinating mutual understanding to limit the number of rulings that were "off," and exercise "independent" judicial discretion. Yang rejected the committees' request for questioning twice, on April 24 and last Thursday.



All for 'Second' Supreme Court



Such a detailed plan was to strengthen "negotiating power" in leveraging a swift passage of the law that would have allowed the establishment of a de facto Second Supreme Court, Yang's top initiative. This failed to materialize due to heated criticism that the judicial proceeding would create a court between the top court and appellate courts. Yang sought to have the top court justices lead deliberations only on a handful of politically and socially significant landmark cases _ with far-reaching implications, and have the second court handle the greater number of remaining appeals cases. The move was to unburden the top justices who have to rule on over 3,000 cases per year, but failed to gain public support as it would have inevitably required a substantial increase in senior judges that would help the top justices, a move welcomed by many senior judges nearing retirement wishing to hold onto their prestigious high-ranking public posts.



The OCA oversees judicial affairs including personnel affairs, budget allocation and accounting, as well as the maintenance of judicial affairs-related buildings including courthouses and infrastructure. The administrative office has been known to have only a small number of elite judges working there, and those with experience are said to be on the fast track to being promoted within the judiciary.


Rep. Lee Un-ju, far left, raises her hand with Seoul mayoral candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, second from left, at the opening of a Bareunmirae Party election campaign office of Ansan mayoral candidate Park Joo-won, third from left, in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. / Yonhap





By Lee Suh-yoon



An opposition lawmaker is in the hot seat after calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "the ruling party's election campaign chief" in her online posts, a day after President Moon Jae-in had a surprise summit with Kim.



She deleted the posts after they prompted public outrage.



"In many ways, the ruling party's election campaign chief in this local election seems to be Kim Jong-un," Rep. Lee Un-ju of the Bareunmirae Party said on Facebook and Twitter, Sunday. "What will this campaign chief demand from our country afterwards?"







Lee also said Kim Jong-un showed "intentionality" to influence elections by scheduling his summit with U.S. President Trump, June 12, a day before the local elections here.



Rep. Lee is the campaign strategy chief of the second-largest opposition party for the upcoming June 13 local elections. She quit the ruling Democratic Party Korea (DPK) in April last year to join the campaign team for Ahn Cheol-soo during the presidential race.
By Lee Min-hyung





Sung Kim Choe Son-hui




The wife of Korean Air Lines Chairman, Lee Myung-hee, arrived at a Seoul police station on Monday (May 28) for questioning over assault and abuse allegations.

Lee is accused of shoving and cursing at construction workers in 2014, Seoul's Yonhap News Agency reported.

The South Korean airline conglomerate has faced mounting public outrage after the chairman's youngest daughter Cho Hyun-min  the younger sister of the notorious "nut rage" heiress of the airline  was accused of throwing a drink at people at a business meeting last month.

In response to growing public backlash, Cho Yang-ho, the company chairman, made his daughters step down from their positions at the airline and made a public apology for the behaviour of his daughters.
By Wayne Finley





"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Most people disagree with Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. Survey results show, time after time, that public speaking is so scary, so debilitating, that people would rather die first.



Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once made the remark, "This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy."



A 2014 survey, conducted by Harris Poll in the United States, showed that more than one in five workers would be willing to let someone else present, even if it meant losing respect. Almost one in 10 would feign illness.



The same survey highlighted the extreme steps people take to handle their anxiety. Five percent would take a shot of alcohol, seven percent some form of medication and seven percent would picture the audience naked.



The importance of developing public speaking skills for career advancement is undisputed.



Burning Glass Technologies, after analyzing 25 million job posts, found that industries ranging from information technology to marketing all ranked communication skills as the first or second most sought-after.



In 2009, Warren Buffett advised business students at Columbia University, "You can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills _ public speaking."



Brian Tracy, the acclaimed self-development author, shared similar wisdom, "Your ability to communicate with others will account for fully 85% of your success in your business and in your life."



There are places to overcome the fear of public speaking in Korea.



Toastmasters International has both Korean language and English language clubs all over the country.



Korea TESOL is currently inviting presentation proposals for its upcoming International Conference, with a deadline of May 31.



Don't let the fear of public speaking hold you back. It could be hurting your career. Start presenting: A new world of opportunity awaits.





Wayne Finley (waynejfinley@gmail.com) is the associate director of admissions and enrolment strategy at Sol International School and Endicott College of International Studies in Daejeon.


By Anne-Marie Slaughter and Purple Romero





MANILA  Ironic. That is how Sultan Abdul Hamidullah Atar described the planned rehabilitation of Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur province on the Philippine island of Mindanao, a year after the Maute Group, also known as the Islamic State of Lanao, launched an attack on the city on May 23, 2017. The five-month battle that followed resulted in the death of more than 1,000 people and displaced 360,000 more.







Marawi's people, called Maranaos, are fiercely independent. Like the rest of the Moros (as the Muslim peoples of Mindanao are known), the Maranaos (or "People of the Lake," because they have built their lives and homes by Lake Lanao) were never conquered or colonized by the Spanish, the Americans, or the Japanese, as opposed to other Filipinos from the Luzon and Visayas regions. But now, as Atar noted, they view the participation of Chinese firms in the rehabilitation of Marawi as an intrusion, if not outright invasion.







A consortium composed of five Chinese firms and four Filipino partner companies has submitted a master plan for rebuilding the conflict-torn city.







The master plan aims to transform the main battleground in Marawi City  which, prior to the siege, was known for its bustling trade, grand mosques, and dynamic madrassas  into a tourist destination. The $328 million plan, covering 250-hectares, is modern and glitzy, with sprawling walkways, grandiose waterfront resorts, Instagram-worthy parks and plazas, an eco-trail, and a convention hall.







But the Maranaos say it's not Marawi. It does not capture their culture, tradition, or identity as historic weavers and traders, as the People of the Lake. "We do not want beautification," one displaced Maranao matriarch said. What Maranaos want is the chance to be allowed to rebuild their houses. They have their own vision; their own planners, architects, and engineers; and their own manpower.







The problem with the master plan, according to civil-society groups, is that it was reportedly developed without meaningful consultation with other stakeholders. On March 30, hundreds of Maranaos held a peaceful protest to demand that they be included in the plan's formulation.







The potential entry of Chinese firms in the massive rehabilitation of Marawi City is the latest major venture for China in the Philippines. Just this April, the Chinese companies Shanghai GeoHarbour Group, Jovo Group, and Zhongfa group signed multibillion-dollar agreements with the Philippine government for land reclamation, construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, and thermal energy projects.







The increasing presence of Chinese firms in the Philippines is a result of President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China in October 2017. Invoking the country's need for an "independent foreign policy," he threatened to scuttle his country's military agreement with its longtime ally, the United States, and vowed to work with China instead.







Since then, Chinese money and firms have poured into the country, vying to build infrastructure. In 2017, investments from China reached $31 million; by April 2018, an additional $9.5 billion was expected, creating 10,800 jobs for Filipinos in tourism, agriculture, and e-commerce.







China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, the government-run firm vying for the contract to rebuild Marawi City, is among the world's largest 100 publicly traded companies, with market capitalization of $43.2 billion in 2017. But the company also was blacklisted by the World Bank in 2009 for colluding with three other Chinese companies in a $33-million road project in the Philippines.







Duterte reasons that he can do more for Filipinos  at least his own constituents  by welcoming Chinese investment to build infrastructure across the country. He has also concluded that it is not worth resisting China's claims to large parts of the South China Sea, notwithstanding a 2016 international court ruling rejecting those claims. He has said publicly that the Philippines is no match for China's military might.







Thus far, Duterte's gamble appears to be paying off. His popularity among Filipinos remains high, with a net satisfaction rating of 56 percent for the first quarter of 2018. The Marawi City protests, however, signal a more complex long-term dynamic, one that is playing out in parts of Africa and Latin America where China has made deals with national governments.







Chinese money strengthens local elites and often fuels corruption. Chinese firms hire mostly Chinese workers. And Chinese plans proceed independently of local culture and input. Over time, locals who are shut out become increasingly fed up.







The recent history of Marawi is a cautionary tale. The Maute Group, which was led by Isnilon Hapilon, the emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia, and former Moro Islamic Liberation Front members Abdullah and Omar, exploited long-term resentment of outsiders and discrimination against Moros in their recruitment materials. Failure to include moderate Maranaos in the reconstruction of their own city and its governance could fan the flames of radicalism again.







More generally, accepting Chinese money on Chinese terms fuels grievances against a type of economic imperialism with which the U.S. government and American companies operating across the developing world in the 20th century are all too familiar.







Sooner or later, resistance movements build under a nationalist flag; expropriations ensue. And in an era in which open data and global anti-corruption movements are gaining strength, shady deals will be exposed much more quickly.







For the People of the Lake, Marawi is not just another concession for China. It is their home. Those attachments create emotions and energy that the Philippine government ignores at its peril.











Anne-Marie Slaughter is president and CEO of New America. Purple Romero is a Filipina multimedia journalist who has written about politics, gender issues, the environment and international relations for foreignaffairs.com, Asia Sentinel, the South China Morning Post, and The Guardian. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate ( www.project-syndicate.org ).
All-out efforts should be made to regain public trust



The judiciary is the last fortress that protects people's rights and interests as well as a safeguard against disorder. Public distrust in the court would result in the collapse of the justice system and the breakdown of law and order.



Once it loses public confidence, the judiciary faces difficulties in serving as one of the three pillars of the state, along with the legislative and executive branches. It may find it difficult to regain the lost trust whatever efforts it makes to do so.



Much to the disappointment of the people, the judiciary was found to have damaged its fundamental values _ independence and neutrality from political power. It is under criticism for having tried to curry favor with Cheong Wa Dae under the previous Park Geun-hye administration to set up a "final appellate court" in the Supreme Court to help lighten the burden of justices. It failed in its bid to create the new court during the term of then Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae.



The judiciary also incurred public distrust with regard to the alleged blacklist of judges who were critical of the Park government. Even though a special probe team concluded such a controversial blacklist did not exist, it found the National Court Administration tried to classify judges according to their political or ideological inclinations as well as monitor their activities secretly.



It is hard to understand why the special team decided not to take any legal action against those involved in the illicit act, saying there was no clear evidence judges suffered disadvantages in transfers or promotions as a result of the profiling and secret monitoring.



Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su will soon reveal his official position on the results of the special investigation team's year-long work. He should not overlook the unlawful acts committed by the judiciary. He must take proper disciplinary action and file criminal complaints against those involved in them.



The probe also confirmed the court administration had abused its power to exercise influence over judges and their rulings. So it is urgent to reform the judiciary, especially the National Court Administration, which allegedly attempted to use trials politically and intervened in the personnel management of judges beyond its authority. Without reform the judiciary can never regain public trust in the fairness of trials and the justice system.




By John Burton





If the Trump-Kim summit has gone off the rails, blame it on the bad blood between Kim Kye-gwan, North Korea's first vice foreign minister, and John Bolton, the new U.S. national security adviser, who have confronted each other over North Korea's nuclear program for years.



Kim participated in the talks that established the 1994 Agreed Framework agreement that suspended North Korea's plutonium program until 2002 and then was the lead negotiator with the U.S. during the six-party talks a decade ago. His experience has given him a good insight into the bureaucratic politics and key players in Washington.



Bolton has long been a bete noire for Pyongyang. He has been blamed for almost single-handedly sabotaging the Agreed Framework agreement in 2002 on the U.S. side. As the then undersecretary of state for arms control, one of the most senior State Department posts, Bolton actively lobbied against the agreement. When the U.S. intelligence community concluded in 2002 that North Korea was developing a secret uranium enrichment program, Bolton would later say in his memoir, "Surrender Is Not an Option," that "This was the hammer I had been looking for to shatter the Agreed Framework."



Bolton has always regarded North Korea as an untrustworthy negotiating partner that would cheat on any international commitment. As a result, Bolton during his time in the George W. Bush administration pushed for tough and intrusive verification procedures that Pyongyang would be unlikely to ever accept. He also believed that no concessions should be made to adversary nations like North Korea, favoring coercive measures in forcing Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons rather than a cooperative give-and-take approach.



In 2003, Bolton gave a speech in Seoul where he made disparaging remarks about Kim Jong-il and called his rule "a hellish nightmare," which led to a private reprimand by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who believed Bolton was deliberately provoking the North Koreans. In response, Pyongyang described Bolton as "human scum and a bloodsucker," which Bolton later described as "the highest accolade I received during all my service in the Bush years."



So it's perhaps not surprising that when Trump appointed Bolton as his new national security adviser in April, it would give the North Koreans pause.



Bolton soon appeared to be returning to his provocative behavior when he said on April 29 that he favored a "Libya model" in North Korea's denuclearization, which was based on the rapid surrender of Libya's nuclear program and complete access by inspectors to all the country's nuclear sites. By bringing up the Libya example, Bolton was waving a red flag in front of Pyongyang, which has often cited the subsequent downfall of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi as a reason why it was reluctant to give up its nuclear weapons.



Given this background, it is perhaps understandable why Kim Kye-gwan would lash out on May 16 when he denounced Bolton and threatened to pull out of the summit between Kim Jong-un and Trump. Calling Bolton's remarks "reckless" and "unbridled," Kim added that "We do not hide our feeling of repugnance toward him."



Kim's statement was clearly intended to isolate Bolton in the policy making process. It showed that Pyongyang was hoping to play on Trump's desire for a Nobel Peace Prize to persuade the president to sideline Bolton in favor of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been spearheading the latest talks with North Korea.



But in that regard, Kim may have miscalculated. Bolton is known as a skillful bureaucratic infighter and during his time in the Bush administration he succeeded in building a coalition within the government to stop the Agreed Framework.



He appears to be following the same strategy this time, with Vice President Mike Pence last week suggesting that Kim Jong-un would meet the same fate as Gadhafi unless he agreed to give up his nuclear weapons. Bolton may also be behind Trump's recent remarks that China might be encouraging Kim Jong-un to adopt a tougher line on the nuclear issue.



North Korea reacted to Pence's remarks by again threatening to withdraw from the summit and suggesting it could lead to nuclear war. Choe Son-hui, Pyongyang's top U.S. expert and Kim's deputy at the foreign ministry, said "I cannot suppress my surprise at such ignorant and stupid remarks gushing out from the mouth of the U.S. vice president."



With Bolton's possible encouragement, Trump's cited Choe's "tremendous anger and open hostility" in suddenly deciding to cancel the summit. It is reported that Trump made his decision after meeting Bolton and without notifying Pompeo.



Although Trump has suggested that the summit may still take place, it is unlikely that a deal will be made as long as Bolton remains as Trump's national security adviser given the personal animosity that exists between him and the North Koreans.





John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant.


By Shin Chae-eun





You have invented a new technology with world-changing capabilities. As it stands, there are no regulations surrounding this new technology.



The question then becomes how can the invention be commercialized in compliance with regulations that do not exist yet? A key thing to consider in a situation such as this is the legal landscape of the location or the country in which the technology is being developed.



Depending on which country you are in, it will be more or less difficult to commercialize this technology. Broadly speaking, it is more likely to be less difficult in the U.S. than in South Korea.



Government regulatory policies can be divided into two main categories: positive and negative regulations. Positive regulations define what is legal and prohibit everything else.

On the other hand, negative regulations define what is legally prohibited and allow for everything else.



In short, a positive regulatory system says "just do this" and a negative one says "everything is okay except these."



The United States has adopted a negative regulatory system. Because all things are acceptable except that which government specifically bans, start-ups and creative innovators flourish. These systems enhance creativity by giving them confidence that they will not be punished unless they do what is explicitly forbidden.



Under these conditions, global companies including Google are quickly able to commercialize technologies.



How about our country? South Korea is a typical example of a country with a positive regulatory environment. Things cannot be done beyond what the government and the law specifically allow.



To try something new, start-ups have to check whether it can be covered by things that are already allowed. Therefore, creative and innovative technologies not regulated by existing laws, will have to wait until regulations specifically allow them.



In addition, such a system tends to bring about collusion between politics and business. If the interpretation of which technology is " permissible" is unclear, a small number of politicians have the actual authority to decide whether to allow or deny a business through regulatory changes and interpretations.



Newly emerging innovative ideas and projects are often labeled as illegal in Korea. Not only are products that use new technologies such as virtual currency, self-driving cars, drones, and others that were not expected at the time of the enactment of the law subject to regulations, but start-up companies cannot even begin.



In fact, Airbnb was not able to do business in South Korea due to article 3 (1) of the Public Health Control Act and Uber was not able to do business in South Korea due to article 81 (1) of the Passenger Transport Service Act.



South Korea's innovative technologies are ready to compete, and they are tired of waiting for "permissible regulations" from this country's government. The recent ban on ICO (Initial Coin Offering) shows how conservative Korea is in its attitude toward new technologies.



No matter how much the government stresses the Fourth Industrial Revolution and strengthens education based on new technologies in theory, legislation is blocked when it becomes a reality.



When introducing regulations on new technologies, it should consider introducing negative regulatory methods. We hope that lawmakers in Korea will find the courage to create such an environment.



Shin Chae-eun is a junior associate at HMP Law and a member of the Tech & Comms team.


By Frank Ching





The world  in particular China's neighbors  has been anxiously watching Beijing's increasing assertiveness over the last decade, especially since the rise of Xi Jinping. Quite a few countries are taking steps to enhance their own security by linking up with others in a similar situation.



Their concern was heightened last October when the Chinese leader announced that China had entered a new era and would move closer to "the center stage" of the world. Then, after gaining a second term, President Xi warned in no uncertain terms that China would give no quarter whenever or wherever its sovereignty was challenged.



Such messages are meant to strike fear into the hearts of China's potential adversaries. But they also serve to reinforce concern over China's intentions on the part of those who disagree with its territorial claims, say, to virtually the whole South China Sea.



The response to what is seen as the China threat has been clear. Thus, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or simply the Quad, comprising the United States, Japan, India and Australia  all democracies  has re-emerged, meeting for the first time in 10 years.



More recently, Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia, asked Australia  an American ally  to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vietnam and Australia have announced the establishment of a strategic partnership while Vietnam is planning to set up a comprehensive partnership with New Zealand.



Vietnam and South Korea have also announced the strengthening of cooperation, especially in the areas of diplomacy, security and defense.



On the Korean Peninsula, China's behavior had, for different reasons, alienated both North Korea, its only formal ally, and South Korea.



Of course, not all diplomatic moves need to be interpreted as aimed at China. Indeed, many countries are simultaneously strengthening their relations with Beijing and trying to work out issues through bilateral talks.



China's official media often seemed to belittle the countries involved. On Vietnam, the state-owned Global Times newspaper said that Hanoi was being "tactful" in developing ties with major powers. While Vietnam may be interested in joining the Quad, the paper suggested, "It lacks common values to cooperate with the so-called Quad," since Vietnam isn't a democracy.



The paper also questioned the growing ties between Japan and India. A commentary noted the strengthening of relations between the two but dismissed this development, saying that "the two countries will see their ties cool once cooperation delivers less than expected" and China had little need to worry.



The news of President Donald Trump's acceptance of the proposal by Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, to a summit meeting caught Beijing by surprise. It highlighted the fact that, on an issue where the Chinese felt that they were playing a central role, they had unknowingly been sidelined.



China decided to take action to mend relations with North Korea, which resulted in a visit to Beijing by Kim and apparently productive talks with Xi.



However, the inter-Korean Panmunjeom Declaration of April 27 by North and South Korea left open the possibility that China may not be a participant in talks to formally end the Korean War by replacing the armistice accord with a peace treaty. This, too, must have stung Beijing.



Now, China has woken up. It is belatedly trying to mend fences and ameliorate whatever fears and suspicions there may be. On Korea, China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, was in Pyongyang last week to affirm to the North Korean leader Chinese interest in the peninsula's affairs.



China is also eager to improve relations with both India and Japan. Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, was invited to a two-day informal weekend meeting with Xi in Wuhan, in central China, April 27-28. Xi told Modi that he had not invited any other leader to meet outside of Beijing.



On May 6, Premier Li Keqiang flew to Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest country, for discussions with President Joko Widodo. Two days later, he visited Japan for a rare trilateral meeting involving Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.



Down the line, China is expected to invite Abe to pay a state visit, followed by a return visit to Japan by Xi. Such an exchange of state visits will be a major improvement to Sino-Japan relations, which Japan had been seeking but which China had been reluctant to approve.



But if China continues to be assertive, as suggested by its continued increase in its military budget and the deployment of missiles on its manmade islands in the South China Sea, it cannot expect its neighbors to believe that all is well.





Frank Ching (Frank.ching@gmail.com) is a Hong Kong-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter: @FrankChing1.


By Kim Yoo-chul



Senior Chinese government officials have asked Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to cut memory chip prices for leading Chinese consumer electronics companies, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.



"Officials at China's commerce ministry and anti-trust agency asked Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to cut the prices of DRAM chips they sell to Chinese technology companies. Samsung representatives met with Chinese officials, the results of which were notified to Korea's trade ministry. SK hynix is keeping an eye on further developments on the price issue," a high-ranking government official said.



Samsung Electronics declined to comment. No latest updates are available.



The requests were apparently made due to China's concern over the continuing price increases for DRAMs, which are used in all digital devices.



Chinese PC makers have been struggling under component cost pressure as Samsung and SK control over 75 percent of global demand as of the first quarter of 2018. China says it wants to ensure "fair competition" in the market, so that no single supplier becomes too dominant and manipulates prices.



The two Korean companies are most likely to be investigated due to "limiting the amount of products for sale" as a violation of antitrust laws, said market researchers. If Samsung and SK pay a fine, it will be a one-time event.



Sources at Samsung and SK say "price correction" isn't the only reason behind the latest action by China, adding it may want more cross-licensing with the Korean pair.



China has been keen to establish a foothold in the semiconductor industry, as it looks to move into high-value manufacturing and maintain national security with "Made in China" components.



Samsung, SK and Intel of the United States have established memory fabrication facilities in China over the past decade thanks to lower labor costs and favorable tax policies.



"However, China is dissatisfied with the South Korean firms as they have been highly protective with less cross-licensing and often use older technology _ two or more generations behind _ to safeguard their intellectual property rights," said a Samsung source on the condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to officially speak to the media.



"With several failed efforts to acquire memory technology from the two companies, China wants to protect its companies from any sudden fallout by helping them save chip procurement costs from major suppliers. I believe more will happen as technology is critical to the cost structure in the memory chip industry," an SK source said.



The indigenous memory technology in China remains three to five years behind that of the Korean companies. Lagging in competition by one generation often implies at least a 30 percent cost disadvantage. After factoring in the more rapid wafer density growth, Samsung and SK, for example, are expected to maintain a minimum five-year advantage in wafer density.



"This implies significant losses for new entrants in an oversupply scenario that China doesn't really want to see," said the source.



DRAMeXchange, a leading market research firm, anticipates such anti-trust investigations may happen again, and that may restrain price increases.




Posted Monday, May 28, 2018 2:00 am

This spring, Missouri's Ethics Commission may have found a solution to one of the biggest threats to transparency of special interest money in public policy.

Critics call it "dark money." The term refers to money special interests secretly dump into campaigns without disclosure.

For years, Missouri law has required political campaigns to disclose donors.

But there's a loophole.

It involves an organization that is not a legal campaign organization and, thus, is exempt from campaign financial disclosure laws.

A donor wishing to be secret simply contributes to the reporting-exempt organization, which then dumps the money into a political campaign.

When the campaign identifies its contributors, as required by law, it lists only the exempt organization as the contributor  not the exempt organization's donors.

To be legal, this process requires that there's no explicit agreement as to the ultimate recipient of a donor's money.

Even more insidious are the attack ads you so often see against public figures that are not funded by campaign committees.

Because the attack ads are independent of the candidate and ballot-issue campaign committees, no financial disclosure is required.

Gov. Eric Greitens has personified the growth of this dark-money approach.

It was a dark-money funded organization, Seals for Truth, that dumped more than $1.9 million into Greitens' primary campaign for governor just weeks before the primary and with no disclosure about the real source of that money.

Eventually, Seals for Truth filed a federal report designating the source of that money, but it turned out to be a dark-money organization exempt from campaign finance disclosure requirements.

Dark money returned as an issue in his inauguration.

Greitens' inaugural festivities were financed by a dark-money inaugural committee that was not required to disclose its finances because it was a campaign committee.

We know the donors only because Greitens identified them in his inaugural program.

But the amounts from those donors remain a secret, as well as whether the donor list was complete.

Later that inaugural day, Greitens signed an executive order prohibiting government employees, including those in his own office, from accepting lobbyist gifts.

Yet, some of the donors to Greitens' inauguration celebration had significant financial interests with state government including one company that later got a no-bid state contract from the Greitens' administration.

Later that year, Greitens supporters set up another dark-money organization  A New Missouri.

Its stated purpose is to support the governor's agenda.

Although run by the governor's former campaign manager, it technically is not a campaign committee.

So, its finances are completely secret, including its funding sources.

But this year an indication about the assets of this dark-money organization emerged when an organization campaigning for a "right to work" ballot issue to ban mandatory union membership reported it had received $2.4 million from A New Missouri.

Because A New Missouri is not a campaign committee, it's not required to disclose its own finances  including where it got the $2.4 million it funneled into the "right to work" campaign.

Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, has been the leading critic of this dark-money trend in Missouri politics.

In his final year in the Senate, the only two bills he's sponsored seek to expose dark money. Neither bill was given even a committee hearing in the Senate.

But, the Missouri Ethics Commission may have found a way around legislative inaction about dark money.

In an early May advisory opinion, the commission concluded that a non-profit organization becomes a political committee required to disclose its finances if it received more than $250 from any one contributor or more than $500 in a calendar year "for the primary or incidental purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the actions of voters."

It's hard to believe that of the $2.4 million A New Missouri gave to the "right to work" campaign there wasn't at least one contributor who intended to influence voters.

Left unanswered in MEC's advisory opinion is how to determine donor intentions.

But MEC has taken a step towards shining a light on dark money that the legislature has failed to address.

Phill Brooks has been a Missouri statehouse reporter since 1970, making him dean of the statehouse press corps. He is the statehouse correspondent for KMOX Radio, director of MDN and an emeritus faculty member of the Missouri School of Journalism. He has covered every governor since the late Warren Hearnes.
Samsung C&T employees showcase a smart mirror at its "Raemian IoT HomeLab" model house in Munjeong-dong, Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Samsung C&T



By Nam Hyun-woo



Samsung C&T on Monday revealed a model house entailing 19 internet of things (IoT) technologies, suggesting a model of the future smart home which the company is planning.



The model house, dubbed "Raemian IoT HomeLab" will be open to the public on June 1 in the builder's bid to provide customers with experiences of an IoT-embedded home and use it as a testbed to gather customers' opinions.



"Raemian IoT HomeLab will not end up suggesting a certain concept to customers, but will be a space showcasing IoT products that can be applied to real life in the near future," Samsung C&T Building Team 2 Senior Vice President Baek Jong-tak said during a preview event at the model house in Munjeong-dong, Seoul.



"Of those products, the most preferred will be applied to apartment complexes that will be parceled out next year," he said.



According to the team's Vice President Kim Myung-suk, the company named the model house IoT HomeLab because it is "the first step and the testbed for experimenting with IoT technologies of Samsung C&T and third parties," including Samsung Electronics, Harman and others which are developing IoT products.



At the model house, the company applied 19 IoT products by 13 companies, including Samsung Electronics, Harman, Kornic Automation, Planuri, Samsung SDS, Body Friend and Legrand. They each developed technologies and products, including an air shower system, a smart mirror, recipe suggestion, air ventilation systems, automated curtains and a temperature control system.



"What is different between existing IoT technologies and ours is that ours build an environment preset by the user, not merely controlling a single device through voice recognition or other tools," Kim said.



At the model house, visitors can grasp what Kim was saying. When the user enters the home, it automatically recognizes the user, knowing when to turn on the air shower, depending on the quality of air, and display information useful to the user on the smart mirror.



When the user enters the kitchen, sensors communicating with the user's smartphone or smart watch, which Samsung C&T calls "beacons," recognize the user and change the environment, such as dimming the light and lowering the temperature. When the user starts cooking, the kitchen's range automatically turns on depending on the temperature of the air.



Similar things happen when the user moves to the living room, where the lighting, temperature, TVs and other appliances can be controlled by not only Samsung's Bixby artificial intelligence but also Amazon's Alexa. The curtain can be drawn or open automatically, depending on the user's mode selection.



In the bedroom, the home recognizes whether the user is sleeping or awake and automatically controls the temperature and lighting.



"This is not an end product and we will continue adding new features or adjusting the model house so we can test new products and find what are the best matches for our customers," a Samsung C&T official.



According to Kim, the company is in talks with nine apartment complexes in Seoul to apply those technologies as early as next year.



"With these technologies, we are confident that Raemian customers will be proud of their homes," Baek said. "We will continue making efforts to raise Korea's residential standards a step higher."




By Jhoo Dong-chan







The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) will host the 46th KCCI Jeju Forum from July 18 to 21.







Under the topic of "Insight and Healing from Jeju," the four-day forum is expected to offer discussions by renowned experts on a wide range of social and economic issues.







The nation's top economic officials, Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon and Trade Minister Paik Un-gyu, were invited to the event while various prominent figures from Korea and abroad, including politician-turned-writer Rhyu Si-min and inter-Korean relations expert professor Lee Jung-chul, will also participate. KCCI Chairman Park Yong-maan will give the opening and closing addresses on the first and last day.







Chinese economy expert Chun Byung-suh will deliver a speech about China's future under President Xi Jinping's leadership on the third day.







"Like the previous one, the 46th KCCI Jeju Forum will discuss a wide range of topics to provide insights into social and economic trends," a KCCI official said.







"The event will not only offer roundtable conferences but also leisure programs."





For more information, contact the KCCI at (02) 6050-3429 or email

. The application deadline for the forum is July 11.














By Jung Min-ho







China has tightened regulations on religious freedom, cracking down on construction of large outdoor religious statues of all kinds.





With churches and other religious facilities being demolished in China amid the Communist Party's increasing restrictions on religion, the Korean government has warned citizens in China to take special care.





"China's government has been tightening regulations on religious groups and their activities," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on Facebook on May 23.





"Some Koreans have been caught violating the rules. We urge Koreans who are residing or visiting China to take special precautions."





In a message to Christian missionaries, the ministry warned that China had banned missionaries from targeting Chinese.





The Constitution of China states that it protects freedom of religion  but with a caveat: the government only protects "normal religious activities" that take place within government- sanctioned religious organizations and registered places of worship. In other words, there is no protection for religions the government does not like.





Chinese authorities increasingly see religions, especially Christianity, which is growing more quickly in China than in most parts of the world, as potential rivals and crack down on them.





Concerned about any organized movements outside their control, the Chinese government has harassed and detained church members. But in many places, house churches have been flourishing.





In an extra effort to limit the growing influence of Christianity, the government recently banned online retailers from selling the Bible, according to the New York Times. As a result, Christianity has become the only major religion whose holy text cannot be sold through normal commercial channels there.


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.
Posted Monday, May 28, 2018 1:45 am

CIVIL PETITIONS

The following civil cases have been filed in Polk County Circuit Court:

Amber Perry, Buffalo, Sean Wilkerson, Buffalo vs. Edna Weinmann, Buffalo, Missouri Department of Social Services, personal injury-vehicular.

Personal Finance Co. NKA MAR vs. Carrie Harvey, Brighton, breach of contract.

Robert Meredith, Bolivar, Loretta Merideth, Bolivar vs. Bruce Wolford, Bolivar, rent and possession.

Corey J. Barrett, Buffalo, vs. Polk County Prosecuting Attorney, Polk County Circuit Court, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Polk County Sheriffs Department; expungement of criminal/arrest record.

DISSOLUTIONS

The following couples have filed for dissolution of marriage in Polk County Circuit Court:

John Maloney and Roselee V. Maloney.

Corey D. Budd and Chelsie C. Budd.

Maria B. Contreras and Jose Maria Diaz Mendez.

MUNICIPAL COURT

The following people were assessed fines from May 14 to May 18 in the Bolivar Municipal Division of Circuit Court of Polk County, Judge Randolph Blosch presiding. Dollar amounts listed are for fines and court costs.

Nathan Wayne Lively, Lebanon; speeding; $180.

Tyler J. Curts, Bolivar; driving while intoxicated; 2 years probation, suspended, community service and SATOP due by April 2018; $64.

Breanna M. Rodgers, Kansas City; amended defective equipment; $200.

Robert Terwilliger Jr., El Dorado Springs; driving while revoked/suspended; $100.

Justin L. Ward, Lincoln; property damage; $150.

Jayden James Serles, Bolivar; amended possession of drug paraphernalia; $204.

Matthew Joseph Cercea, Bolivar; amended defective equipment; $204.

Ralph Chambers Bethea III, Republic; amended defective equipment; $250.

Zachary Lightfoot, Bolivar; parked on wrong side of street; $15.

Brian Scott, Independence; amended defective equipment; $180.

Kyle Gaddy, Dunnegan; amended defective equipment; $150.

Ashley L. Brandon, no address given; amended defective equipment; $170.

Hunter Cole Wilson, Bolivar; failure to register motor vehicle/expired plate; $70.

The following people paid fines for overtime parking. The number of tickets, if more than one, is after the name:

One to five tickets, $2 per ticket: Anthony Raymond, Bolivar; Glenda Potter, no address given; Audra Vanhooser, no address given; Jennifer Fields, Bolivar; Debbie Giberson, Bolivar.

The following people failed to appear in court and were issued warrants:

Ryan J. Kulju, Bolivar (5); Codie L. Gregory, Stockton (2).

SHERIFFS REPORT

The Polk County Sheriffs Office released the following reports for:

Monday, May 21

 A 40-year-old Flemington woman was arrested on suspicion of traffic violations.

 Cameron Redburn, 38, of Bolivar was arrested on warrants for non-support and a traffic violation.

 Anthony Barila, 28, of Bolivar was arrested on a warrant for tampering with a motor vehicle.

 Steven Hudgens, 20, of Collins was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation.

 Jessica Grady, 34, of Springfield was arrested on a warrant for a traffic violation.

Tuesday, May 22

 Brent Ballinger, 40, of Bolivar was arrested on warrants for domestic assault, tampering with a victim and traffic violations.

 Jimmy Jones, 57, of Bolivar was arrested on a warrant for a traffic violation.

 Domestic assault was reported on East 562nd Road, Pleasant Hope.

Wednesday, May 23

 Joseph Thornton, 39, of Fair Play was arrested on a warrant for a traffic violation.

 William Hughes, 48, of Springfield was arrested on a warrant for tampering with a motor vehicle.

 Shawna Lipe, 31, of Bolivar was arrested on a warrant for a parole violation.

 Todd Herbert, 36, of Bolivar was arrested on a warrant for possession of controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Sara Benson, 34, of Bolivar was arrested on a warrant for possession of controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Eric Whitworth, 31, of Flemington was arrested on warrants for traffic violations and possession of controlled substance.

NEW BUSINESSES

The following business licenses were issued at Bolivar City Hall in April:

Jarrell Properties LLC, 322 W. Madison St; B & K Moving LLC, 920 S. Springfield Ave., Unit F; BA Construction LLC, Goodson; Price Rite Flooring, Golden City; Bodenhausen Handyman Services, Bolivar; Nextgen Electric LLC, Springfield; Bella Roofing LLC, Lees Summit; DRC Contraction Inc, Jamesport; Doug Aug Services, Bolivar; Hilltop Catering, Bolivar; Besendorfer Flooring, Lamar.

FOOD INSPECTIONS

The following food service establishments were inspected by the Polk County Health Center on the dates shown, and the following violations were noted (critical violations involve handling of food; non-critical violations primarily involve housekeeping issues):

Thursday, May 3

 The Farmhouse, 2077 Hwy 32, Halfway, routine, 0.

 Rt 32 Cafe, 2131 Hwy 32, Halfway, routine, 0 critical, 1 non-critical (Need thermometers in all coolers and freezers).

 Halfway School, 2150 Hwy 32, Halfway, routine, 0.

Friday, May 4

 3 G's Custard, 123 E. Broadway, Bolivar, routine preopen, 0.

 Fair Play School, 301 N. Walnut, Fair Play, routine, 0 critical, 1 non-critical (Floor around dish machine not properly sealed.)

 Hannah's General Store, 108 W. 1st St, Fair Play, routine, 0 critical, 4 non-critical (1. Plumbing on 3-vat sink leaking. 2. Prep cooler has leak/standing water inside. 3. Ice machine door in poor condition. 4. Food items thawing at room temperature, corrected on site).

Monday, May 7

 Dollar General, 602 W. Tilden, Humansville, routine, 0 critical, 1 non-crticial (Walls in storeroom in poor condition).

 Humansville School, 300 N. Oak St, Humansville, routine, 0.

 Half Century Club, 102 W. Tilden, Humansville, routine, 0.

Wednesday, May 9

 Meadowview Discount, 3616 S. 21, Dunnegan, routine, 3 critical (1. Mouse droppings observed. 2. Food stored on floor, uncovered. Repeat violation. 3. Well water requiring continuous disinfection system), 2 non-critical (1. Cooling unit condensation leaking in walk-in cooler 2. Daylight showing around store room door.)

Friday, May 11

 The Well 4:14, 201 S. Main, Bolivar, routine, 0.

Tuesday, May 15

 Ozark Country Kitchen, 3601 Hwy 123, Dunnegan, routine, 1 critical (Personal food items stored in walk-in cooler. Need to separate food items and organize walk-in cooler), 0 non-critical.

 Shadyside Bulk Food, 3756 Hwy 123, Dunnegan, routine, 1 critical (Ceiling damaged. Repeat violation.); 0 non-critical.

 Back Road Bakery, 251 Hwy A, Dunnegan, routine, 0.

Wednesday, May 16

 Piper's Place, 102 S. Arthur, Humansville, routine, 1 critical (Food contact items stored under hand sink. Corrected on site), 2 non-critical (1. Vent hood dirty 2. Cups stored on cloth towel, corrected on site).

 Brenda's Cafe, 119 W. Broadway, Bolivar, routine, 2 critical ( 1. Employee personal items and medication improperly stored in food prep area. 2. Bare hand contact with ready to eat food. Both corrected on site.), 2 non-critical (1. No paper towels at hand washing sink. Corrected on site. 2. Vent hood dirty.)

Friday, May 18

 GO Petticoat Junction Bar & Grill, 3110 S. 33rd, Humansville, pre-opening, 0.

 Countryside Discount, 3466 Hwy 123, Humansville, routine, 1 critical (Improper chemical storage), 2 non-critical (1. Personal food items stored in walk-in cooler. 2. Hot water not available at hand washing sink.)
Could not establish database connection.

DB: bostonimc and SQL: -->

The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP.
Brussels, May 28 - German European Affairs Minister Michael Roth said Monday "we hope that Italy soon has a stable pro-European government". He stressed that Berlin "must refrain from giving lessons on the formation of a government" since "after all it took us six months". Roth added: "Italy is a founding country of the EU, we have always been able to count on Italy as a country friendly to integration, with which we have worked very closely and with trust, and we expect that Italy will live up to this tradition in the future".
Milan, May 28 - A Milan judge on Monday rejected a plea to test a heart taken from a 48-year-old Milan man and given to a 60-year-old Roman heart illness sufferer who subsequently died in September 2016. The ruling means that five doctors accused by prosecutors are now probably off the hook, judicial sources said.
Rome, May 28 - Carlo Cottarelli, the man President Sergio Mattarella has asked to form an interim technocrat government, did not see himself as a potential premier until very recently. "It seems more likely to me that Inter will call me up to play instead of (Mauro) Icardi, up front," he said just over two months ago when asked about the possibility of him heading the executive. The "surprise" call summoning him to the president's office came as he corrected the homework of his students at Milan's Bocconi University in his role as visiting professor, according to people who have spoken to him. Born in Cremona in 1954, he is best known as the former chief of a review of public spending, a job he was given by former premier Enrico Letta in November 2013 to find ways to save money and cut waste in the public sector. An economics graduate from the University of Siena and the London School of Economics, after his studies he joined the Research Department of the Bank of Italy where he worked from 1981 to 1987 in the Monetary and Financial Sector Division. He then worked for about one year as head of the Economic Research Department of ENI, before joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1988. He worked for the European Department, the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, the Policy Development and Review Department, and the Fiscal Affairs Department. He was Deputy Director both in the European Department and the Strategy, Policy and Review Department. After 25 years at the IMF, he took up the spending review challenge, compiling a list of possible cuts worth 32 billion euros. This experience ended, among signs of bitterness at the obstacles he encountered during the review, in November 2014 when the Matteo Renzi government nominated him an executive director of the IMF's board. In October 2017 he became director of the Observatory of Public Accounts of Milan's Cattolica University. He has repeatedly stressed the need to improve Italy's public finances and reduce the public debt, recently saying that "otherwise we will remain slaves of the market". Andrea Roventini, the person initially chosen by 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio to be the economy minister of an eventual M5S executive, said during the election campaign that Cottarelli's spending review should be used to help draft policy. Cottarelli was critical of the contract agreed by the M5S and the League as part of their forlorn bid to form a coalition government, saying the measures would have costs tens of billions of euros with little attention to where the money would come from. He plays the guitar and his forte is his rendition of Francesco Guccini's "La Locomotiva". He is married to fellow economist Miria Pigato. Friends and colleagues describe him as hard working and extremely meticulous, but with a great sense of humour.
Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa), May 28 - An immigrant was violently beaten on Monday around noon in the weekly market of Castelfranco di Sotto, near Pisa. Three people riding in a Nissan vehicle stopped near an immigrant and beat him with a crowbar in front of dozens of witnesses before fleeing and leaving him in a pool of blood. Castelfranco councilor for the environment Federico Grasso, who was nearby when it happened and went to the scene of the crime, said that he was told the perpetrators were three Italians.
Olbia, May 28 - Amid extra-tight security for a set in the old airport of Venafiorita in Olbia, Sardinia, shooting has resumed for "Catch-22", a series by the actor, director and producer George Clooney. Filming had been scheduled to begin on Monday morning and was slowed down but not prevented by rain. The US star had in recent days taken a home in Puntaldia, near San Teodoro and about 20 minutes from Venafiorita. Friendly and welcoming but always careful about his privacy and surrounded by massive security that often shields him from view, in recent days Clooney was caught by a Daily Mail photographer buying cheese in Bermuda shorts and a t-shirt from a shepherd along the road while he was motorcycle riding, prior to having lunch on the beach. It will be more difficult to meet him starting Monday, however, since he will be in the Venafiorita bunker. Clooney, who was to have begun going around Capo Testa in recent days, on Friday morning went to the airport early in the morning and shot a few scenes ahead of schedule. Based on Joseph Heller's 1961 novel by the same name, "Catch-22" is a six-episode series for which Clooney is overseeing the direction and production of as well as playing a role in, alongside Kyle Chandler - who will be the protagonist, Colonel Chathart - Christopher Abbott, Hugh Laurie (" Dr. House") and the Italian Giancarlo Giannini. The story, which will be broadcast on Sky next year, focuses on US pilots stationed in Italy on the Pianosa island during WWII. Clooney inspected about 80 disused airports across Europe before deciding on the one in Sardinia, where he will be shooting the series in until July 21.
Turin, May 28 - A 28-year-old activist for the group 'Lgbt Diritti e Liberta' (LGBT Rights and Freedom) was beaten up in what police have called a homophobic attack near a cemetery in Turin Saturday night. The young man suffered a broken nose and slight concussion.
Rome, May 24 - Anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader Matteo Salvini said Thursday that former industry minister and anti-euro economist Paolo Savona, his pick for economy minister, "is the figure able to put Italy back at the centre of the debate in Europe". "It seems that in the past Savona has had doubts on the efficacy of the euro: I ask myself if the free vote of Italians has any meaning, if it should be respected and what the problem is, if someone puts his competence at your disposal to discuss in Europe for the good of Italians" said Salvini.
280518KALIA INVESTORS MEET JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS

New Dawn FM News



Kalia investors arrived today to a warm welcome by Motlock flower girls at the Buka airport.

The four investors arrived on a private chartered jet and went to the Bougainville Administration Conference Room to meet with the ABG Vice President and several Ministers of the ABG including some senior officers from the Bougainville Administration.

They then travelled to Tinputz to talk with the landowners of KALIA project before retiring for the night in Buka.

The team will again go into the MAHARI electorate tomorrow before returning to Australia on Wednesday.



Ends






China is no monolith. While residents in Shanghai and Beijing are almost as well off as those in Switzerland by some income measures, parts of the country live more like they were in Guatemala.

The economic might of the mainlands 31 provincial-level territories ranges from rust-belt areas in the northeast to farming areas in the central plains to Silicon Valley wannabes sprouting up in support of companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Huawei Technologies Co.

The wide disparity puts some residents at the cutting edge of the developed world, stepping into battery-powered cars that silently ease down city streets, or as consumers facing advertising choices generated by image-recognition technology. Across China, close to 1 billion consumers shop or pay for purchases using apps on their smartphones.

At the other extreme are rural towns where water still needs to be carried on foot from a well.

Advertisement

Development in some of the major cities can now match anywhere in the world, but thats not the whole story, said Qian Wan, analyst for Bloomberg Economics, who specializes in provincial research. In part of the inland areas, even some places along the coast, urbanization  and therefore incomes  lags far behind.

As of early 2018, cumulative lending by the World Bank to help development in China surpassed $60 billion for 416 projects.

At the high end are Shanghai and Beijing. Gross domestic product per-capita adjusted for purchasing power  one measure of average incomes  were slightly more than $53,000 last year. Thats similar levels to Switzerland and the U.S. At that level, in fact, those cities would rank among the top 10 of all countries with populations of at least 3 million people, according to Bloomberg analysis of data sourced from the International Monetary Fund and Chinas National Bureau of Statistics.

Shanghai, the mainlands biggest financial center, and Beijing, the nations capital, lead the list in large part because they are more compact and benefit from supportive government policies. They have the best universities, the highest-paying jobs and, until recently, unmatched infrastructure development.

For at least two decades, general laborers and highly skilled workers have been lured to help the big cities grow, though most have second-class status. Most lack the difficult-to-acquire household registrations, or hukou, meaning they dont have access to legal residents rights to social services and education resources.

Travelers headed to their hometowns for the Spring Festival holiday board trains in Beijing. Income gaps between Chinese workers in inland provinces and those in Beijing and Shanghai have narrowed dramatically in the last 10 years (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

There are places farmers can move, now, and transfer to being fully urban, but there is a point system for elite cities like Beijing and Shanghai, John Giles, a World Bank economist, said at a recent conference on Chinas anti-poverty campaign in Washington. You have urban residents who dont want those migrant kids in school with their children.

Chinas yawning economic disparities arent just of academic interest  they form the basis for one of Xi Jinpings three critical battles, namely poverty alleviation. And as the economy slows, policies that bring the incomes of those in Gansu closer of those in Shanghai will help ensure that the whole pie grows in a sustainable way.

While early waves of migrants flocked to more affluent coastal and higher-tier cities, more migrants are now choosing to stay within their home provinces, Hyde Chen, an equity analyst for UBS AG in Hong Kong, wrote in a report that compared urban development trends.

Historical experiences from mature economies suggest that household incomes of wealthy and poor areas in China will likely converge over time, Chen said. In China, the income convergence is taking place at a fast pace, with the household per-capita income gap between lower-tier cities and tier-1 cities narrowing from 56% in 2005 to 46% in 2017.

Just 10 years ago, it wouldve taken a dozen workers in Guizhou province to earn what one worker in Shanghai made. By 2017, that wealth gap had narrowed by half.

Still, the gap remains wide.

Guizhou and Yunnan provinces in the south and Gansu in the north each had per-capita GDP income below $10,000 last year, ranking them among Ukraine, El Salvador and Guatemala. But with a combined population of 110 million  nearing that of Japan, with average income of $39,000  those three provinces have tremendous potential.

Starbucks Corp. Chief Financial Officer Scott Maw said investing in coffee-growing areas of Yunnan has been a boon to both his company and the region.

Im sure we benefit from that, but the vast majority of the coffee that is produced under those improved practices goes to others, he said at a UBS conference on consumers and retail in March. In a couple of years, youll have 600 million middle-class customers in China.

China is changing from a land of villages and farming plots to one dominated by mega-cities and rapidly growing towns. Overall urbanization stands at 59%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, with Guangdong  the most-populous province  the most citified: Its urban ratio is 70%. By comparison, the U.S. is at 82%, Thailand 50% and India 33%, according to the United Nations.

The drivers behind this shift likely include improved infrastructure and transport networks, better economic integration, and policymakers initiatives to rebalance regional development, Chen said.
Qualcomm Inc.s top executives will be eligible to receive cash severances if theyre fired after a change in control of the firm, reversing a long-standing policy of not providing such payments for senior managers.

The policy mirrors the severance plan the San Diego-based chipmaker adopted in December for all employees below the rank of executive vice president as it faced a hostile takeover attempt by Broadcom Ltd. The plan, which said workers would get payouts based on their salary, rank and tenure if they were fired following a change in control, would make it more expensive for an acquirer to make sweeping changes.

In a regulatory filing on Friday, Qualcomm said that executive vice presidents and higher-ranked employees are entitled to 1.5 times their salary and annual bonus, and a payment to cover health benefits for a period of time. Chief Executive Officer Steve Mollenkopf would get twice his salary and bonus.

The executives would also receive any unvested equity awards, with some depending on the firms stock performance. Qualcomms previous termination terms for top bosses didnt specifically include promises of severance payments.

Advertisement

The new plan will help ensure that Qualcomm has the continued attention and dedication of these executive officers, according to the filing.

While many large public U.S. companies give executives severance of as much as three times their annual salary and bonus if theyre terminated following an acquisition, many of the countrys biggest tech firms, including Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc., dont have such policies.

Broadcoms bid for Qualcomm was blocked in March by an executive order from President Trump. But even with that win, Qualcomm faces a number of woes, including waning market share and costly legal battles with regulators and key customer Apple over its lucrative licensing business.

The companys stock price is also far below the $80 range where it once traded. Qualcomms shares closed at $59.96 on Friday. Markets were closed on Monday.
Natalia Meneses was shopping at a Walmart in Georgia this year when her 3-year-old daughter began a conversation that triggered an ugly experience.

The little girl did not blurt out a profanity or otherwise say anything inappropriate. She simply pointed out flower hair clips to her mother: Mira, Mami!

Overhearing the conversation that ensued in Spanish between mother and child, a woman snapped at Meneses, an American citizen who was born in Colombia.

You need to teach this kid to speak English, because this is America and kids need to learn English, she said. If not, you need to get out of this country.

Advertisement

An angry Meneses responded that both she and her daughter were American and spoke English.

Spanish, the first European tongue to take root in North America, has established itself as perhaps the most relentlessly polarizing language in the United States. Two decades ago it sparked an emotional debate in California about banning bilingual education, a topic that divided even Latino families. During heavy immigration into California and other border states, Spanish was the language of choice in whole neigborhoods.

Now, the presidency of Donald Trump has reignited the linguistic divide. Trump has railed against illegal immigration, attacked the character of those who cross the border and once said this is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.

At the same time, Spanish is making inroads in American pop culture. Luis Fonsis global hit Despacito broke numerous records on the pop charts and became the first YouTube video to hit 5 billion views.

When were living in a world where symbols become dividing lines, language can be one of those, said Brian Levin, director for the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino.

In this environment, two recent incidents seared themselves into the long tradition of people being berated for speaking Spanish, while also illustrating the power of video and social media to launch a counterattack.

In one case, New York attorney Aaron Schlossberg yelled at Latino restaurant workers at a Fresh Kitchen in Manhattan for speaking Spanish and threatened to report them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

My guess is they are not documented, so my next call is to ICE to have each one of them kicked out of my country, Schlossberg said in the recorded incident. I pay for their welfare. I pay for their ability to be here. The least they can do ... is speak English.

After a barrage of criticism that included an ironic serenade from a mariachi band, Schlossberg apologized on Twitter and said he is not racist.

The same week as the New York incident, a Border Patrol agent was recorded stopping two women in Montana and asking them for identification.

Maam, the reason I asked you for your ID is because I came in here, and I saw that you guys are speaking Spanish, which is very unheard of up here, the agent can be heard saying in the video.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said the incident is being reviewed to ensure that all appropriate policies were followed.

Its hard to know whether there has been an uptick in confrontations over the speaking of Spanish. Such incidents have been reported for decades, and the share of Latinos who can speak Spanish has declined over the past decade, with 73% of Latinos speaking Spanish at home in 2015, down from 78% in 2006, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data. Many Latinos grew up in households where only English is spoken.

Since the presidential election, dozens of Latinos have reported verbal assaults for speaking Spanish through Documenting Hate, a project that tracks bias incidents and hate crimes around the country. The reported incidents include insults over a truck driver radio channel, a confrontation in a movie theater and at a hotel pool.

The prejudice against Spanish is not about Spanish the language; its about the people who speak Spanish, said Carmen Fought, a linguistics professor at Pitzer College. Who tend to be people of color, who tend to be people from a lower socioeconomic background and who, not always but sometimes, are immigrants and are in the center of a lot of negative targeting in the political arena.

Although English is spoken by most people in the U.S., there is no official language designated for the country. There are at least 350 spoken in homes around the nation.

There were 40 million U.S. residents who spoke Spanish at home in 2016, according to census data. More than half  57.5% of Latino Spanish speakers  spoke English very well.

Spanish has long inspired contradictory impulses. On the one hand, many middle-class and affluent whites have enrolled their children in bilingual charter schools so they could learn Spanish, believing it could give them a leg up in the job market. But the language has also inspired English-only initiatives across the country.

In a tweet, Republican strategist Ana Navarro wrote: Let me get this straight. Just a few months ago, everybody in America  and the rest of the world  was going around singing every word of Despacito. But now, they want to berate us and detain us when they hear us say a few words in Spanish?

Since the election, there has been a rise in hate crimes and the emergence of bigotry in public spaces, Levin said, captured and widely shared on social media.

The attitude toward Spanish is reflective of the feelings toward German in the 19th and 20th centuries, when Germans were criticized for supposedly failing to assimilate. In some states, such as Nebraska and Iowa, laws were enacted to ban German in public schools.

Language can make someone automatically suspect to someone who has nativist leanings, said Heidi Beirich, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extreme right-wing and hate groups.

Spanish speakers and the idea of Spanish spreading in the United States has been a bugaboo for the far right for a long time, Beirich said.

The Manhattan incident took the 40-year-old Meneses back to what happened to her at Walmart in March. The mother of two broke down in tears on the way to report it to store employees, who confronted the other woman.

I was just doing her a favor, Meneses recalled the woman saying. That kid needs to learn English. Its going to be a disadvantage for her, and I dont want to pay my taxes for them to learn English.

What if I was white and speaking French to my kid in a Walmart. Was that lady going to attack me? No, said Meneses, who is working on her doctorate. What if I had a blonde kid and I would have been white and blonde haired and I would have been speaking Spanish, was she going to say something? No.

Ana Suda cannot remember what she and her friend were discussing as they walked around a store in Havre, Mont., when the Border Patrol agent asked them where they were born.

After he took their IDs, Suda recorded a video asking the agent why he had asked for their identification.

Suda asked whether they were being racially profiled. The agent said no.

It has nothing to do with that, he said. Its the fact that it has to do with you guys speaking Spanish in the store, in a state where its predominantly English-speaking.

Suda, who was born in El Paso and raised in Juarez, Mexico, said she often speaks Spanish in the town without incident. She speaks Spanish with her two children so they are able to communicate with family in Mexico.

After her 7-year-old daughter watched video of the interaction at the gas station, she approached Suda with a look of sadness.

Mommy, I cant speak Spanish anymore? she asked.

Of course you can, Suda said. You need to be proud. You speak two languages. Youre smart.

In the fall of 2016, Jobana Townsend was in the cereal aisle of a Walmart in Susanville, Calif., when a couple of women overhead her speaking Spanish with her two children. Townsend, born in Hermosillo, Mexico, is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

At first, one of the women simply said aloud that she hated when people spoke Spanish. Townsend ignored her and kept speaking to her son and daughter.

Then, the woman turned and made it direct: You need to speak English. This is America. We speak English.

Townsend said nothing until she was in her car with her family, when she told them to never be ashamed of who they are. Her father, a U.S. born citizen and a military veteran, fought for everyone to have the right to speak any language.

Were not going to stop speaking Spanish just because other people are uncomfortable by it, Townsend said. Maybe the more they hear us the more theyll see that were just like them. We just speak a different language on top of it.

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia.


As a girl, Christina Venegas remembers visiting the stone pillar erected in 1947 at a five-point intersection near her Boyle Heights home to honor Mexican American veterans, such as her father, who fought in World War II.

Venegas and her family moved to El Sereno in the 1960s, but she continued to visit the Boyle Heights memorial with her father, who died at age 97 in 2014.

She went once again to pay her respects on the eve of Memorial Day.

So many are not here anymore, but we have to remember what they did, Venegas said as she gazed at the memorial. They gave their lives, and that is a very humbling thing.

Advertisement

As she reflected on the significance of the monolith, three teenage girls  cadets for the Los Angeles Police Department  stood guard before it, their hands crossed purposefully behind their backs. Every year on the eve of Memorial Day, volunteers take turns standing watch over the memorial from 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday.

Volunteers included members of the LAPD cadets, Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans, U.S. Navy and others who take part in three-hour shifts.

Closing the patriotic vigil, as its called, is a traditional Memorial Day tribute to the fallen. This years speakers include Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey) and U.S. Air Force veteran Theresa Varn.

Venegas father, Martin Venegas, joined the Marines in the 40s and worked as an iron factory foreman through the end of WWII. A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, he attained U.S. citizenship through the military.

For Christina Venegas, it means a lot that a memorial dedicated to people like her father stands in the Mexican American neighborhood where she grew up.

Its something orgulloso, she said. You just feel that pride.

Jose Diaz, 46, has volunteered to help plan the vigil for the last 20 years. Like Venegas, his late father attained U.S. citizenship through the military.

At age 16, Diazs father entered the country illegally through Mexicali in 1952. Three years later, he joined the Army and went on to serve in the Vietnam War.

Diaz said people like his father should continue to be granted citizenship.

In a 2016 report, the American Civil Liberties Union said there were at least 239 deported veterans in 34 countries. The issue affects legal residents who served in the military and were honorably discharged, but then were convicted of crimes. Because they had not become U.S. citizens, they were deported after serving their sentences, returning to countries that many had left as children.

Theres men and women who are still serving now and hoping to become citizens, he said. They should be the first ones who become citizens.

Tony Zapata, 73, was in charge of discharging the LAPD cadets, who traded off every 15 minutes. Forward, march, he commanded two teen boys in light blue uniforms. They advanced to the memorial, their hands balled into fists.

Zapata served in the Navy in Vietnam and later in the Western Pacific from 1965 to 1969. Now he serves as junior vice commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Back then, serving in the military as a Latino wasnt easy. Zapata was called a beaner and a wetback. His father, who served in WWII, told him about being passed up for promotion by whites with less experience.

But his father always told him to never let discrimination bother him.

Im proud of my heritage, he said, standing before the memorial. This right here shows it.

Venegas found comfort talking to LAPD Officer Austin Fernald, whose own father served during WWII in Europe and passed away last month.

Fernald had regularly attended events honoring veterans with his father. Sunday marked his first alone.

Its just so many memories. I really miss him  as do you, said Venegas, tearing up and sqeezing Fernalds shoulder.

Theyre here, he told her, through us.

andrea.castillo@latimes.com
Police arrested a flight school instructor and his assistant who are accused of kidnapping a student pilot in Redding and trying to send him back to China, authorities said.

Two IASCO Flight Training employees  Jonathan McConkey and his assistant, Kelsi Hoser  showed up to the trainees apartment Thursday night and told him he was going to be shipped back to China the following morning, said Redding Police Cpl. Rob Peterson. The trainee, Tianshu Shi, was not told why, Peterson said.

Shi had enrolled in the program through an organization that contracts with the school to train Chinese nationals, Peterson said. The Civil Aviation Authority of China sends up to 180 students to the program, according to the schools website.

On Friday morning, McConkey and Hoser returned to the trainees apartment and told him to pack his bags.

Advertisement

Shi told the Record Searchlight that he didnt sleep all night and that when the pair came back in the morning, he recorded the confrontation. The profanity-filled audio clip was obtained by the Searchlight.

Ive got your [expletive] passport, youre leaving now, a male voice says in the recording. He later adds, The United States government needs you out of this country right now, you understand?

You are here illegal, you know that, a female voice says later. If you dont go with us, you go to jail.

During the conversation, Peterson said, McConkey shoved Shi into a countertop, knocking him to the floor. Peterson also said the suspects threatened to call the police on Shi, who had come to the country on a student visa. Fearing for his safety, authorities said, Shi got into their car.

At some point, Shi had managed to contact his brother in Shanghai and told him what was going on. When the brother didnt hear back from Shi a short time later, he spoke to another flight school student who said Shi had been assaulted and kidnapped. Shis brother then called Redding police.

Officers found Shi, McConkey and Hoser at the Redding Municipal Airport, about seven miles from his apartment. Hoser told authorities that they were sending Shi back to China because his English wasnt strong enough to safely communicate with the air traffic control tower, Peterson said.

They also told police they cut him from the program in April, but Shi said he was still in the program in May, Peterson said, calling the incident bizarre and confusing.

McConkey and Hoser were arrested and booked on suspicion of conspiracy and kidnapping, police said. Both were released from custody after posting bail, according to the Shasta County Sheriffs Office.

Shi told the Searchlight that he has been in the country for about seven months on a one-year visa for students who enroll in vocational programs. He told the newspaper that his university paid about $70,000 for him to train at the Redding flight school. For the last two months, he said, he has been grounded, unable to fly or train.

I cant speak English well in life, but I can speak English well with air traffic control, he told the Searchlight.

He said he was relieved when police arrived.

At that moment, police is my Jesus, Shi said.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek
One by one the names were read out loud, a solemn tolling of the fallen.

All weekend long, volunteers took turns standing at a lectern outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center to read the names of San Diegans killed in the Vietnam War or listed as missing in action.

There are more than 450 names on the list, and it took about an hour to read through them all, each name followed by the ringing of a bell. When the readers were finished, they read the names again.

And again.

Advertisement

They read for about eight hours on Saturday, and another 10 hours Sunday. They read when passers-by stopped to listen, and they read when no one else was there. It wasnt about the audience.

Today, at the beginning of a Memorial Day ceremony at the museum, theyll read the names one more time.

We do it to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, said Tom Slaughter, a board member for the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

This isnt like the well-attended events at Fort Rosecrans and Miramar, the national cemeteries in San Diego that will be decorated today with thousands of American flags and red roses. It isnt military planes flying over Mt. Soledad. There are no speeches by admirals or brigadier generals.

But there is Benjamin Rodriguez, reading names.

Albert Banuelos Jr. Thomas Peavy. Gilbert Maestas. Jesus Ortega Jr.

Those were among the people Rodriguez honored on Saturday, and he felt a personal connection. They all went to Lincoln High in San Diego, and they all went to Vietnam.

Rodriguez came home. The others did not.

I say their names and I think of them as high school friends, and I salute them, he said.

And he tries not to cry.

Vietnam War veterans took turns on Saturday, speaking the names of the fallen during a Memorial Day weekend observance at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park.

The readings have been going on for more than 30 years.

In 1969, a handful of volunteers worked with the local Roman Catholic Diocese to build what was called the San Diego Peace Memorial on church property in Old Town.

Funded through private donations, it was erected in response to the protests against the Vietnam War that were erupting across the country. It featured two concrete monuments topped with plaques containing the names of San Diego Countys casualties.

The list grew as the war continued  it was still more than five years from ending  and two more plaque-topped monuments were added in 1974.

Like the war itself, the memorial was controversial. Some saw it as a glorification of combat. American flags were burned at the site, rotten eggs thrown at the markers.

After the war ended, the memorial took on a sacred air, and veterans saw it as a place of reconciliation. There was pride in the fact that it was one of the first Vietnam memorials in the nation, pre-dating the reflective granite wall in Washington by more than a decade.

Sometime in the mid-1980s, volunteers started gathering at the San Diego monuments there on Memorial Day weekends and reading the names aloud for 48 straight hours.

It made for a sometimes-odd juxtaposition at the corner of San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street, somber reflection bumping up against camera-toting tourists wandering by during the day and boozy revelers carrying on from nearby bars at night.

In 1994, the diocese sold the property. The memorial was moved to its present spot, outside the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park.

Some people worried that moving the memorial would rob it of its emotional power, and that with fewer visitors walking by it every day, those honored on its plaques might soon be forgotten.

But the volunteers working this weekend in two hour blocks, four readers per hour, show that hasnt happened.

After each name is read, a bell is rung  once for those killed in action, twice for those missing.

The readers never know how many people might be listening, or who they might be. Sometimes, Rodriguez said, they are survivors of the San Diego County residents killed in the war.

Sometimes they are from elsewhere, and ask to speak the names of their loved ones, too.

The requests are always honored.

Wilkens writes for the San Dieogo Union-Tribune.
President Trump paid a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, saying he came to sacred soil to honor the lives and deeds of Americas greatest heroes.

The commander in chief, speaking before an audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families assembled in the marble amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, said: We mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.

Trumps somber tone contrasted with a self-promotional tweet earlier Monday in which he said fallen soldiers would be very proud and happy at how well our country is doing today, citing the economy and low unemployment.

RELATED: Remembering Californias war dead 

Advertisement

During his second Memorial Day trip to Arlington as president, Trump laid a wreath at the tomb before making his remarks. He recognized military figures, including Bob Dole, the former senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, who served in World War II. And he spoke warmly about a number of military families in attendance, including a young boy named Christian Jacobs, whose father is buried at Arlington.

Trump said the boy showed him his fathers grave last year, calling it a moment I will always remember.

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

Before heading to the hallowed grounds across the Potomac River from the nations capital, Trump said on Twitter that those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today.

But the president then veered from the somber to the self-congratulatory, citing what he said was the best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice! The president also posted quotes in line with his criticism of the Justice Department and investigations into ties between his winning campaign and Russia.

He was criticized for his tone by a number of people, including a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Obama administration, retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who wrote, This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us.

This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us. No matter how prestigious or powerful, no matter how successful we perceive ourselves to be. Rather, this day should be about those who gave their lives so that we could live ours in freedom. #MemorialDay  GEN(R) Marty Dempsey (@Martin_Dempsey) May 28, 2018

Memorial Day messages from First Lady Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter, stuck to a theme of remembrance and thanks.

As we remember our fallen servicemen and women, our hearts are filled with gratitude for their sacrifice and awe of their courage, Ivanka Trump tweeted.

Melania Trump thanked service members and their families for helping safeguard the country. We honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country. As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isnt free, she tweeted.

President Trump at Arlington National Cemetery. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press )

At Arlington, Trump said the heroes who died for America rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far, and are drawn from the full tapestry of American life.

He said they came from every generation, from towering cities and wind-swept prairies, from privilege and from poverty. They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, color and of every creed, but they were all brothers and sisters in arms. And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored the more than 1 million Americans whom he said gave their last full measure so we could live in freedom and raise our children in peace.

He also honored the families they left behind and for whom every day is Memorial Day.

Those who fought and died for America, he said, shared a commitment to something greater than themselves and they were people who understand what we have in this country is worth fighting for.

RELATED: Veterans and volunteers hold 24-hour vigil at World War II memorial in Boyle Heights 

Trumps chief of staff, John F. Kelly, also attended. His son, Marine 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly, was killed in November 2010 after he stepped on a land mine while on patrol in southern Afghanistan. He is buried at Arlington.

UPDATES:

4:55 p.m.: The article was updated with Trump recognizing military figures and speaking about military families in attendance.

The article was originally published at 9:05 a.m.
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Monday, May 28, Memorial Day, and heres whats happening across California:

TOP STORIES

An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups  unrestricted by contribution limits  a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before, a Times analysis of data shows. The groups have already spent more than $26 million, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary. Los Angeles Times

-- Remember when they said this would be the Year of the Woman in California politics? Maybe not. Los Angeles Times

Advertisement

Turnaround plan

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs says that for way too long, his city has been known for headlines about bankruptcy, violent crime and the housing collapse. He has some radical ideas for how to turn the troubled city around, but other forces might get in the way. Los Angeles Times

Volunteers to the rescue

The booming popularity of Joshua Tree National Park has led to more visitors getting lost and needing to be rescued. When someone goes missing, officials often call on a trained group of volunteers to comb the park  many of them retirees. Los Angeles Times

Get the Essential California newsletter 

A member of the Marine Corps League stands guard Sunday at a World War II memorial in Boyle Heights as part of a 24-hour patriotic vigil that extends to Memorial Day. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times )

L.A. STORIES

Memorial Day: In Boyle Heights, volunteers held a 24-hour vigil, a traditional tribute to the fallen with a focus on Mexican Americans who served. Los Angeles Times

Milestone coming up: Any day now, Mike Scioscia will achieve his 1,600th managerial win for the Angels, one more than his mentor Tommy Lasorda. Los Angeles Times

Man on the street: The life and times of a street vendor in South L.A. Its a hard life but a gratifying one. L.A. Taco

Stepping up: A dance contest that will warm your heart. Los Angeles Times

How they made it: These L.A. women built a West Hollywood firm that plans and orchestrates events, from small private soirees to multimillion-dollar weekend-long gigs. Their immigrant backstory could be a movie in itself. Los Angeles Times

On the move: The northeast San Fernando Valley might finally get its own big-ticket mass transit line. Los Angeles Daily News

CRIME AND COURTS

Your life matters: A story of the criminal justice system, pain and redemption. Los Angeles Times

Who did it? The second gunman theory in the Robert F. Kennedy assassination emerges again, with a new surprising supporter. Washington Post

Plus: In 1988, a Times reporter broke down, and dismissed, the conspiracy. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Evangelizing: Pastor Franklin Grahams plan for Christians to change California politics. New York Times

Priced out: As California rushes to build fancy apartments next to transit lines, it is pushing out the people who cannot afford cars and depend on mass transit. San Diego Union-Tribune

Lawmakers story: For him, the fight against gay conversion therapy is very personal. Mercury News

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Power shift: As China overtakes the U.S. in box-office revenues, the studios are getting more frustrated. Wall Street Journal

On the prowl: Coyotes across California are getting friendlier toward humans, or at least less afraid of them. Alta

Dinahs! In the hot chicken craze sweeping L.A., this stalwart of old-school fried chicken still reigns after 50 years. Los Angeles Times

History lesson: A push to preserve the history of lesbian activism in the Bay Area. San Francisco Chronicle

Hidden gem? Is this the most affordable city in California? SFGate

In Silicon Valley: Is Googles love of cats killing owls? New York Times

White space: Why the Starbucks debate goes beyond what goes on inside the coffeehouse. The New Yorker

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: Partly cloudy, 74, Monday and Tuesday. San Diego: Partly cloudy, 68, Monday and Tuesday. San Francisco area: Sunny, 70, Monday. Sunny, 66, Tuesday. Sacramento: Sunny, 96, Monday and Tuesday. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

This weeks birthdays for those who made a mark in California:

Actor-director and former Carmel mayor Clint Eastwood (May 31, 1930), Cal State Long Beach President Jane Close Conoley (May 31, 1947) and former L.A. County supervisor Gloria Molina (May 31, 1948).

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.
280518MIRIORI ON PM

New Dawn FM News



The former BRA/BIG Secretary and now Businessman, MARTIN MIRIORI today called on the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea not to mislead the people of Papua New Guinea on the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

He said that the Bougainville Peace Agreement is a Compromised agreement that was finally reached when the Papua New Guinea Government agreed to include a Question to be put to the people on the Referendum must include on option on the Independence of Bougainville. That was the special clause that Bougainville wanted inserted for them to stop the fighting on Bougainville.

MR. MIRIORI said that even the International Community witnessed the signing so the Prime Minister must not confuse the people.

Ends


On Memorial Day, the nation commemorates American service members who have died in the waging of war, though our recognition falls short of full attention, what with special sales at shops, neighborhood picnics, quick getaways to Vegas and the kind of chore-doing that often gets relegated to a three-day weekend.

When we do stop to focus on those who gave their lives in battle, we often think in terms of glory and sacrifice, and allow that to obscure the basic nature of the battles in which they fell, the brutality and inhumanity of the conflicts that killed them. Not that war can always be avoided; nor is it always unjustified. The Allies who joined to oppose Nazi Germany in World War II were certainly on sound moral footing. But even then, some of the ways in which they waged that war  in Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for instance  raised profound ethical questions that have not been answered to this day.



For the record: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly stated that the armistice ending the Korean War was signed on July 17, 1953. It was signed on July 27 of that year.

Its worth mulling such things on this Memorial Day, in particular. President Trump is tough talking when it comes to the U.S. military. He seems, at times, to be itching for a fight (perhaps related to the fact that he himself never served). Sure, it might all just be bluster, part of a negotiating strategy, a la President Nixon and his madman theory, in which he tried to persuade North Vietnam that he was just crazy enough to use nuclear weapons. But it didnt work then, and isnt likely to work now; Trumps threats  such as his promise to unleash fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before on North Korea  seem more likely to erode international trust in the U.S. as a reliable global leader.

As weve seen in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, there is no way to make war palatable or low-risk or death-free. Soldiers die, and civilians die too.

Advertisement

This week it also seems appropriate to recall the Korean War, which ended with an armistice signed 65 years ago  on July 27, 1953. The Times Editorial Board at the time took note of it in a couple of ways. One was to join a call for donations to a fund to help address the humanitarian toll of the conflict. It cited a report by investigators for the American-Korean Mission, who found that 85% of both Koreas had been destroyed. The fighting left 9 million homeless people, most of them children; 1 million war casualties including 15,000 amputees; 300,000 wives widowed; and 100,000 orphans. Tuberculosis, typhoid and other contagious diseases afflicted the survivors, few of whom could find treatment facilities because 80% of the hospitals had been destroyed. Those numbers dont even take into account the 34,000 U.S. soldiers killed in action and the more than 100,000 wounded, or the 217,000 South Korean, 206,000 North Korean and 600,000 Chinese troops who lost their lives. All in a war  technically a United Nations police action  that lasted three years.

War is more sterile, and distant these days. People manning joysticks thousands of miles away direct drones to attack enemy combatants. But as weve seen in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, there is no way to make war palatable or low-risk or death-free. Soldiers die, and civilians die too. War is waged through killing, whether it be a bayonet run at Picketts Charge during the Civil War or U.S. troops ripped apart by IEDs alongside roadways in Middle East desert towns.

The day after the armistice was signed in Korea, The Times noted that even though the fighting had been put to an end, the conflict was not over. The killing has stopped for a while, but the soldiers will stay in Korea for a long time, probably, dug in along the southern edge of no-mans land, The Times wrote. Peace in Korea can come only after long, frustrating negotiations while our soldiers stand by. Seven decades later, theyre still there, even as Trump and Kim Jong Un trade insults and cancel summits.

And here on Memorial Day it behooves us not only as a nation, but as people, to be wary of the wars of the future, because they really will not be so different from the wars of the past. War is still hell.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
I need a witness! exclaimed the security screener at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Because I had forgotten to remove my belt before going through a scanner, he explained, I must undergo an enhanced patdown. I told him that if he jammed his hand into my groin, Id file a formal complaint. So he summoned his supervisor to keep an eye on the proceedings.

I thought of this exchange last week when the New York Times revealed that the Transportation Security Administration has created a secret watchlist for troublesome passengers. The TSA justified the list by saying that its screeners were assaulted 34 times last year, but did not release any details about the alleged assaults.

Naturally, the TSAs official definition of troublemaking goes well beyond punching its officers. According to a confidential memo, any behavior that is offensive and without legal justification can land a traveler on the list, as can any challenges to the safe and effective completion of screening. Anyone who has ever loitered near a checkpoint could also make the list. So could any woman who pushes a screeners hands away from her breasts.

The memo would be more accurate if it stated that anyone who fails to unquestioningly submit to all the TSAs demands would be found guilty of insubordination. As an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, Hugh Handeyside, told the Washington Post, the policy gives the agency wide latitude to blacklist people arbitrarily and essentially punish them for asserting their rights. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-New Jersey) expressed similar worry. I am concerned about the civil-liberty implications of such a list, she said.

Advertisement

The watchlist would seem less perilous if the TSA were not one of most incompetent agencies on Earth. After a series of undercover tests at multiple airports across the country, the Department of Homeland Security concluded last year that TSA officers and equipment had failed to detect mock threats roughly 80% of the time. (In Minneapolis, an undercover team succeeded in smuggling weapons and mock bombs past airport screeners 95% of the time.) An earlier DHS investigation found the TSA utterly unable to detect weapons, fake explosives and other contraband, regardless of how extensive its pat-downs were.

The watchlist might seem less perilous if the TSA were not one of most incompetent agencies on Earth.

According to the TSA, travelers can take consolation in the certainty that its agents will never assault them. But Americans have filed thousands of complaints that suggest otherwise, claiming screeners used excessive force or inappropriately touched them. How many have been fired as a result? Its hard to say: When I asked the TSA, they told me to file a Freedom of Information Act request.

One ongoing court case is showcasing the TSAs prerogatives. Airplane captain James Linlor was traveling through Dulles Airport in 2016 when he suffered a brutal patdown that left him requiring surgery. A TSA video shows that the patdown was proceeding normally, if somewhat aggressively, until the TSA agent, without warning, administered what appeared to be a karate chop to the captains testicles.

Linlor sued, claiming that the TSA violated his rights with an unconstitutional and unreasonable search. In a hearing last year, a lawyer for the Department of Justice argued that theres no law establishing a specific degree of permissible intrusiveness of a security screening pat down, and that, since theres no law, Americans should have no legal recourse. Federal Judge James Cacheris scoffed at the governments oratorical calisthenics. The case is now before an appeals court.

The TSA has a long history of intimidation. In 2002, it created a system of fines to penalize travelers with bad attitudes, charging up to $1,500 for any alleged nonphysical interference. This included any situation that in any way would interfere with the screener and his or her ability to continue to work or interfere with their ability to do their jobs, according to a spokeswoman. The TSA failed to specify exactly how much groveling was necessary and eventually abandoned the regime of fines.

If I have not yet made the TSA watchlist, its not for a lack of trying. The agencys former chief, John Pistole, once claimed a 2014 article I wrote was misleading, inaccurate and unfairly disparages the dedicated (TSA) workforce. The following year, after I endured a patdown in Portland, Ore., that nearly turned my private parts into a pancake, I raised hell in USA Today and elsewhere.

I filed a complaint after the Reagan airport incident, in part because the TSA confiscated a cigar cutter  even though its website explicitly states that cigar cutters are permitted in carry-on luggage. Did TSA screeners fear I would break into the cockpit and circumcise the pilot?

The TSAs latest anti-privacy charade is yet more evidence that the agency should be done away with. After pointlessly groping countless Americans, the TSA has no excuse for groping more.

Jim Bovard is the author of numerous books, including Attention Deficit Democracy and Lost Rights.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
The novelist Margaret Atwood recently caused a stir when, during an interview with Variety, she said that the 9/11 hijackers got the idea to fly planes into buildings from watching Star Wars.

Atwood, the author of The Handmaids Tale and other dystopian classics, did not have the facts right. The 19 hijackers were not inspired by Star Wars. Al Qaeda wasnt reenacting the destruction of the Death Star.

But the premise of Atwoods comment was not at all far-fetched. Literature and film have long sought to capture the realities of war, and, in turn, they have influenced thinking about war. There is a direct relationship between real war and reel war.

This is nothing new, of course. Art has been influencing war, and vice versa, since the beginnings of recorded human conflict. The Iliad is an ancient and largely made-up tale of war, yet Alexander the Great reportedly slept with a copy of the book under his pillow.

Advertisement

John Steinbeck never saw battle, but his 1942 novel The Moon Is Down, about the military occupation of a small town, became enormously influential in Europe during World War II, serving as a narrative guide for resisters to the Nazi occupation. It was so helpful to the resistance movement in Norway that Steinbeck was awarded the countrys King Haakon VII Freedom Cross for wartime achievement in 1945.

Margaret Atwood may have drawn ridicule for suggesting that the 9/11 hijackers were inspired by Star Wars, but her proposition was far from implausible.

Contemporary warriors still learn from fiction. The retired generals Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus have both said that they were profoundly influenced by The Centurions, a 1960 novel about French paratroopers in Indochina and Algeria. The former NATO supreme allied commander and retired four-star Navy admiral James Stavridis has cited the collected works of Hemingway as inspiration for his military career.

The 9/11 Commission Report noted that intelligence officials were aware that commercial airplanes could be weaponized. They had learned this not from national intelligence sources, but from a novel: Tom Clancys Debt of Honor, published in 1994, in which an airliner is flown into the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., nearly wiping out Americas political leadership.

The U.S. government typically classifies this sort of information  i.e., information with intelligence value that comes from a book, a film or some other creative endeavor  as open-source intelligence (OSINT), meaning that it was gleaned from publicly available material.

The government has even made ad-hoc efforts to mine fiction for intelligence purposes. After 9/11, the Pentagon asked two dozen Hollywood writers and directors to speculate about unanticipated attacks that could follow.

More recently, the Army chief of staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, speaking at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago in 2016, acknowledged that science fiction is something we pay close attention to, a tool to help the military suss out the requirements of potential conflicts.

The nature of warfare has never been more fast-changing than it is today. And as Michael Morell, a former deputy and acting director of the CIA, recently told the Atlantic, the U.S. has never faced as many threats as it does now. It may very well take Hollywood-grade creativity to anticipate and counter them.

For this reason, the U.S. should do more to leverage the longstanding informal relationship between fiction and war. Instead of inconsistent efforts and one-offs, our national security agencies should expand this sort of speculative research into more formal, ongoing programs.

The U.S. Army recently announced a major initiative, Futures Command, to help it anticipate and adapt to coming combat by harnessing the expertise of business leaders, technologists and academics. (Three cities in California  Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco  are on the short list of locations being considered for the Futures Command headquarters.) The Army should make room in this new initiative for strategic imagineers, including screenwriters and novelists.

Within Futures Command and across other agencies, creative experts could serve as a vital source of fiction intelligence  or FICINT, a term coined by the national security analyst August Cole  helping to foresee the next major attack on America, shaping preventive strategies and even deploying when necessary.

Margaret Atwood may have drawn ridicule for suggesting that the 9/11 hijackers were inspired by Star Wars, but her proposition was far from implausible. Whats more, Atwood was entirely correct when she made the follow-up comment that science-fiction writers are uniquely talented at anticipating future events.

The U.S. military would be wise to formally harness that talent. As the 9/11 Commissions report memorably concluded, the most important failure leading to the September 11 attacks was one of imagination. Unlike with Star Wars, we cannot allow a sequel.

Major ML Cavanaugh is an Army officer and a fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point. He co-edited Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Comedian-turned-activist Chelsea Handler made a prediction a few months ago.

They had the Year of the Woman in 1992, Handler told a crowd, almost all women, who had gathered in a Los Angeles hotel ballroom over avocado toast and roasted tomatoes at a brunch for Emily's List, the group dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women.

"This is obviously going to be a bigger year for women. Hopefully we'll win so much we'll be so sick and tired of winning."

In California, thats a wish that is likely to remain unfulfilled, with many top-tier female candidates at risk of getting left behind in the approaching primaries.

Ranking the toughest House races in California 

It's not for lack of candidates. On June 5, a record 57 women from the two major parties  mostly Democrats  will be on the ballot for House races in California, a 24% increase from the last record in 2012. Nationwide, its about 400, another record. Many are established professionals  doctors, nurses, lawyers, technology executives and nonprofit directors  who are running to oppose President Trump. Its easy to understand why Handler and so many others are feeling bullish. Results in early primary states have shown enthusiasm for women candidates, including, in Georgia, the first black woman to receive a major party nomination for governor of any state.

Source: Center for American Women in Politics L.A. Times Graphics

But in California, crowded primaries in crucial battleground districts, entrenched incumbents, notoriously expensive media markets and a top-two primary system that may prove disastrous for Democrats are some of the formidable barriers women face.

"I think that female candidates in California are having a really hard time," said Mai Khanh Tran, an Emily's List-backed pediatrician running in the 39th Congressional District to replace retiring Rep. Ed Royce of Fullerton. "The truth is that on the ground, women candidates are not getting the support and the help that we need to become really competitive."

Tran, 52, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam, is one of six Democrats running in the district, where her party could be shut out of the November runoff due to the state's primary system, which advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party.

Despite Trans relatively strong fundraising, the race on the Democratic side appears to have mostly come down to health insurance executive Andy Thorburn and Navy veteran Gil Cisneros. Both are millionaires who have vast resources to get their message out.

The term 'Year of the Woman' doesn't have any teeth if it doesn't lead to any of the outcomes that we're seeking. Democrat Rachel Payne, who is running in the 48th Congressional District

A similar scenario is playing out in the 48th Congressional District, where Democrat Rachel Payne is one of four women on the ballot against GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. The primary fight on the left there seems to be an expensive battle between two men: stem cell researcher Hans Keirstead and real estate investor Harley Rouda.

"The term 'Year of the Woman' doesn't have any teeth if it doesn't lead to any of the outcomes that we're seeking," said Payne, a former Google executive whos now chief executive of a media research firm.

Like many of this years women candidates, Payne launched a campaign against the toughest type of candidate to beat: one whos already in office. Rohrabacher, a 15-term incumbent in a historically safe Republican seat, is vulnerable this year because of eroding support within his party and intense scrutiny of his pro-Russia sentiments, but he has the backing of the GOP establishment. Congressional incumbents are generally reelected 90% of the time.

Debbie Walsh, director for the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, finds herself pointing that out so often lately that she refers to herself as "Debbie Downer."

She and her colleagues warn that despite the flood of women candidates and an apparent bump in support for them in some early primary states, talk of a "pink tsunami" to counteract Trump may be overblown.

Nationwide, six major party women candidates are running against incumbents. In California, that figure is 60% and just six major party candidates are running for the states two open seats. And even though women are breaking records this year in raw numbers, men still make up roughly three quarters of major party House candidates in California and nationally.

The top-two primary system has put the focus on getting a Democrat, rather than a woman, into the top two.

None of the women running in the seven GOP-held House districts carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016, considered key to Democrats chances of retaking the House, managed to get the state Democratic Party nod at its February convention.

It was a moment, said Payne and Tran, that crystallized their frustration with the process. Do they mean it? Do they want to see women in Congress? Payne said. "Or is it, 'Let's talk about empowering women and not do anything about it."

Afterward, Tran said she reached out to Emilys List for more assistance for its candidates here. While the groups independent expenditure arm has spent a couple million dollars to bolster four of its endorsed candidates in California, none has been directed to Trans race. (The vast majority of the money has gone to support 49th District candidate Sara Jacobs, whose grandfather Irwin Jacobs, cofounder of Qualcomm, contributed more than $1 million to the group.)

Tran said she was taken aback when Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee staffers and several members of Californias House delegation tried to dissuade her from running, showing her internal polls that put her behind her male counterparts. One mentioned she risked becoming a spoiler, Tran said.

Mai Khanh Tran, left, is running against fellow Democrats Sam Jammal and Andy Thorburn in the 39th Congressional District. Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call

Even candidates who have held office, including former Riverbank mayor Virginia Madueno in the Central Valley, or those with seemingly unlimited money, such as Jacobs, have struggled against men who ran as challengers in the last cycle and can benefit from the millions of dollars spent to boost them two years ago.

Some have been told by activists or local leaders that they should step aside. I was the one told over and over again, Why are you going straight to Congress? Why arent you waiting your turn? said Katie Hill, former executive director of a homelessness nonprofit who is facing the Antelope Valleys GOP incumbent, Steve Knight, and attorney Bryan Caforio, a fellow Democrat and two-time challenger. Hill has out-raised them both for the last seven months and of the Emilys List endorsed candidates is considered to have one of the best shots of making it past June 5.

But even if she does, shell have to overcome historical odds: In 2012, the last record year for women candidates in California, 29 non-incumbent women ran for the House. Just six made it out of their primaries and two of them became congresswomen.

The strategic labyrinth of Californias top-two primary, passed by voters in 2010, provides a stark contrast to 1992, the original Year of the Woman, when the mission was much simpler. After Anita Hills testimony to an all-white, all-male panel alleging sexual harassment when she worked with Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, women were elected to the House and Senate in record numbers, tripling the number of female senators to six.

Sources: California Secretary of State, Center for American Women in Politics L.A. Times Graphics

Rose Kapolczynski, who managed Sen. Barbara Boxers 1992 campaign and remained her political consultant until she retired last year, recalls how women would walk into Boxers campaign office, hand her $5 or $10 for the campaign or ask to volunteer.

There was a direct relationship between seeing those hearings  and then taking action to elect a woman, Kapolczynski said. Now, its much more diffuse. There is a Trump outrage every day on a wide variety of issues.

In a state dominated by Democrats, its actually Republican women with experience winning elections who are best positioned to get through Californias primary and the November runoff.

An incumbent like Rep. Mimi Walters of Irvine, the only Republican woman in Californias delegation, could benefit from California voter assumptions that Republican women candidates in the state are more moderate, says Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. So could former GOP Assemblywoman Young Kim, running to replace Royce, and Diane Harkey, the state tax board chair looking to replace Rep. Darrell Issa. The two have led internal polls from both parties.

Coming in just out of the gate, it is difficult for anyone, male or female, Harkey said. You either have a constituency or you dont. And if you dont, you shouldnt be running for office.

Lucinda Guinn, vice president of campaigns for Emilys List, said its candidates are used to being underdogs and called Californias primary system an added complication. She acknowledged that progress for Democratic women in the state may be incremental.

But our success is not defined by one election night, she added. If that means our candidates run and get really close, theyre probably the front-runner for the next time.

Boxer, who started a super PAC to help flip House seats, agreed with Guinns long view.

People say Year of the Woman again  I dont care, Boxer said. Its been a steady, slow climb and the most important thing to me is that it continues to be a steady climb.

Payne wont continue that climb this year. Though her name will remain on the ballot, she announced at the end of April that she would stop campaigning against Rohrabacher, citing concerns over Democrats splitting the vote.

Ultimately, its our country thats at stake, she told an audience at the end of a debate. There were tears in her eyes and she was in the white pantsuit she wore in 2016 to vote for Clinton for president, a nod to the suffragettes of the early 1900s.

It represents strength, it represents the power of commitment to the cause, Payne said afterward.

Payne hasnt said whether she will run again for the House in her Orange County district. But she hasnt ruled it out.

More stories on California politics 

christine.maiduc@latimes.com

For more on California politics, follow @cmaiduc.
Cruise and hike the rugged Norwegian coast on a five-day small-ship voyage that visits the Lofoten Island region and the Senja coastal islands.

The 50 Degrees North cruise, which departs from Svolvaer, a small village in the Lofoten Archipelago, travels to Tromso, sailing along the Atlantic coastline.

The area has small fishing villages, few roads, well-preserved historic architecture, impressive coastal views and diverse hiking trails.

Participants can chose to hike or ski each day with a guide. Another highlight is the voyage through the Senja area, which offers mountains, emerald water and white beaches.

Advertisement

Dates: July 18 and 22, Aug. 8 and 12

Price: From $2,130 per person, double occupancy. Includes cruise, meals and activities. Cabins do not have en-suite baths. International airfare not included.

Info: 50 Degrees North, (888) 880-0286

ALSO

From baseball to date shakes, these four California road trips are made for families

American Airlines also tightening rules on emotional support animals, it explains on its podcast

A road trip to the Pacific Northwest is better with a little help from our friends

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
A hard-line stance toward demobilized Colombian rebels helped conservative presidential candidate Ivan Duque mount a formidable lead in Sundays election, though not enough to avoid a runoff in June.

Duque, a former senator backed by former President Alvaro Uribe, was expected to face leftist former guerrilla and ex-Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro in a second round of voting June 17 to determine who would capture the presidency. The two men represent opposite views of a landmark 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the rebel group known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

In addition to addressing the already shaky peace agreement, the next president will face challenges including corruption, crime and economic development.

With nearly all ballots counted, Duque was leading the race with 39% of the vote, short of the 50% plus one needed to avoid a runoff, according to early results. Petro was in second place with 25% of the vote, narrowly ahead of third-place finisher Sergio Fajardo, the former mayor of Medellin, who received 24%.

Advertisement

Duque and Petro appeared headed for a high-stakes runoff that will present voters with stark alternatives. The future of the already shaky peace accord with FARC rebels signed in 2016 could hang in the balance as Duque has proposed changes to provisions of the deal that demobilized rebel leaders have said are unacceptable, while Petro supports the agreement.

Sundays turnout was on track to surpass 50%, exceeding the 2014 elections first round when only 40% of eligible voters cast ballots in a contest ultimately won by Juan Manuel Santos. Turnout at the Corferias convention center complex, Bogotas largest polling place, was described by officials as massive.

Accompanied by one of his children, Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro votes in Bogota, the capital, on May 27, 2018. (Mauricio Riveros / EPA/Shutterstock )

Duque is a 41-year-old economist with graduate degrees in economics and public administration from Georgetown University and American University. In addition to changes to the 2016 peace accord to require ex-combatants to serve jail terms for heinous crimes, he promised economic measures to restart the sluggish Colombian economy.

The peace accord with FARC brought an end to a 52-year-old civil conflict, with about 7,700 rebels laying down their arms. The rebels were guaranteed 10 seats in Congress, economic incentives and light maximum sentences for war crimes. Colombia has seen a sharp drop in homicides and kidnappings since negotiations began in 2012.

But the deal was opposed by many Colombians as too generous to the rebels, and it was narrowly rejected in an October 2016 plebiscite. Santos subsequently ramrodded the deal through Congress, earning a Nobel Peace Prize and international kudos but deep unpopularity on his home turf.

Rosario Villaveces, a graphic designer in Bogota, said she voted for Duque in large part because of the peace deal changes he promised.

I agree that there should be amendments to make it more fair, that they pay for the crimes they committed, that their actions have consequences, said Villaveces, 58. Now, thats not so clear.

Duques most attractive attribute for many voters is the seal of approval he received from Uribe, a senator who was president from 2002 to 2010 and who remains Colombias most popular and influential politician. Uribe handpicked Duque as the candidate of his Democratic Center party, the Colombian Congress most powerful faction.

I like Duque because he has Uribes support, and I like Uribes approach to peace in that it should have been won with the armed forces, not with peace negotiations, said Charlotte Graham, 24, an engineering student at the University of the Andes in Bogota. The peace deal has been too easy on the FARC after all the crimes they committed.

Petro, 58, is a former member of the M19 guerrilla force that demobilized in 1990. He gained national fame as a senator denouncing paramilitarism and politicians who profited from it. He also served a controversial term as Bogota mayor. He has promised to promote ways of lessening Colombias economic inequality, which economists say is at the root of Colombias civil conflicts.

Petro draws much of his support from the courageous reformer image he fashioned as senator. He also has promised to combat Colombias rampant and systemic corruption, which has disillusioned many Colombians hardened by spectacular cases of politician malfeasance.

These nearly 5 million votes were cast by the young, the disadvantaged and the marginalized who decided to say, we are here to make decisions in favor of a more equal society, Petro said to supporters in Bogota after the results were known.

But many Colombians are wary of Petros past association and friendship with late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. During the campaign, his opponents tried to stigmatize him as a Castro-Chavista candidate who would take Colombia down the path to socialism. The issue is a potent one in Colombia, which has witnessed firsthand neighboring Venezuelas economic collapse and rising tide of emigration.

We cant go the way of Venezuela, which is where Petro would take us, said Jaime Aguilar, 52, a retired police officer. Anyone with any property would not be safe. Theyd have it confiscated by the government like Chavez did. Duque also will be better for the armed forces and the police in bringing back better security that we have lost with Santos.

Some voters said they favored the centrist Fajardo, who finished in third place. Fajardo helped turn Medellin around from the chaos and crime generated by drug trafficking with innovative urban development and public works programs.

Alexander Rodriguez, a 40-year-old chauffeur, said he had favored Fajardo because he saw him as a unifier.

I like his ideals and the fact that education is what is important to him, I dont see either Duque or Petro as capable of leading the country because they are too extreme. I prefer someone more in the center.

Duque and Petro will have less than a month before the runoff to broaden their appeal and form alliances. Key to each candidate will be efforts to attract supporters of losing candidates, including Fajardo, former Sen. German Vargas Lleras (7%) and former Vice President Humberto de la Calle (2%).

Kraul is a special correspondent.
Two years ago, Muhammad Sheikhuni got a chance to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a man he had admired ever since he moved to the country from Hama, Syria, in 2008.

The encounter at a crowded public gathering for the presidents supporters in Bursa left Sheikhuni so moved that he changed his last name to Erdogan.

I just spoke to him for a few moments, but I was impressed, Muhammad Erdogan, a businessman who became a Turkish citizen in 2016 and is running for parliament, said recently at his home outside Bursa.

I dont have some personal love for Erdogan, he said, but I saw that he has been sincere in helping the Muslim world. What else can you do but love him?

Advertisement

Many people in Turkey could answer that question without mentioning anything resembling love. The country has been under a state of emergency since July 2016, after a failed coup by a military faction, and more than 50,000 people have been jailed under charges of terrorism. Critics say the crackdown has gone beyond those connected to the coup attempt and include anyone opposed to Erdogan.

The president last month called for elections June 24  a year-plus earlier than scheduled  in a move expected to enable him to consolidate powers. As a result, a coalition of secular and religious leaders who believe Erdogan has gone too far has united to try to defeat him on election day.

As the conditions and the campaigning have intensified, the countrys policy toward the 7-year-old Syrian civil war, and the refugees it has produced, has become a common talking point. Polls show the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, could lose power for the first time in years in part because of its position on refugees.

Months after fighting began in Syria in 2011, Turkey announced an open-door policy toward refugees, eventually providing humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of people, many of them in camps. As the war has dragged on, the numbers and needs of refugees have increased, creating many challenges for Turkey, including long-term housing, healthcare, employment and education for Syrians.

A January report by the International Crisis Group said that although Turkey had demonstrated remarkable resilience in absorbing the refugees, growing hostility among locals was ripe for politicization. During 2017, at least 35 people died in Turkey, including 24 Syrians, in incidents of refugee-related social violence, according to the report.

Muhammad Erdogan, a Syrian businessman who became a Turkish citizen in 2016 and is running for parliament, in his home near Bursa, Turkey. (Umar Farooq / For The Times )

Erdogan, who has led Turkey for 15 years  first as prime minister and then as president  has supported antigovernment rebels in Syria and often refers to the refugees as Muslim brothers and sisters living in the nation of about 80 million people. More than 3.5 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey, according to government statistics, including 311,000 children born in the country since 2011.

Many government supporters also say Syrians have helped the economy. Syrian investors account for more than 10% of all foreign-owned companies and more than $360 million in capital since 2013, according to the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkey has spent $30.2 billion on Syrian refugees since 2011, according to government figures.

The Erdogan government instituted a program in 2016 that grants citizenship to some Syrians, regardless of how long they have lived in the country, who are highly educated or bring in foreign capital. Officials said about 55,000 Syrians have been granted citizenship so far  a geographically distributed constituency too small to make an impact in an election where nearly 50 million votes are expected to be cast.

Despite its likely small overall influence on election results, the program nevertheless is controversial among the political opposition because support for the Justice and Development Party is nearly universal among Syrians.

Omar Kadkoy, a research associate at the Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation, said Erdogans overt support for refugees means that those Syrians who become citizens of Turkey feel they have an ethical commitment to at least pay back with votes to the AKP.

The Syria policy stands in contrast to opposition leaders who have said Turkey should not be involved in the Syrian war at all and have promised voters they will reestablish diplomatic ties with the Syrian government and find a political solution that sends the refugees home.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the Republican Peoples Party, the countrys largest opposition party, told supporters at a campaign rally in Mersin this month that the day after the election, his party, if victorious, would seek a peace deal in Syria that would allow the refugees to return home.

Syrians are human too, but go to your own country. Your mother, your father, your country, your flag, is there, Kilicdaroglu said. We will provide them all kinds of support to live a peaceful life in their own country.

Some opposition leaders to the right of Kilicdaroglu have been even more emphatic about sending Syrians back to their homeland as soon as possible.

Meral Aksener, a presidential candidate for the newly established Iyi Party, which polls show could emerge as the most powerful opposition to the Justice and Development Party, told supporters at a campaign rally that our living standard has dropped because of the Syrian refugees.

Muhammad Erdogan is among those who disagree with Aksener. He said he studied interior design in Damascus and set up tourism and construction firms in Turkey that have brought investors to the country.

At his home last week, Muhammad Erdogan was busy fielding phone calls from Justice and Development Party leaders. He wore a ring with an Ottoman insignia and, as a devout Muslim, took breaks to pray and then returned to work.

He said the Syrian and Turkish people are historically intertwined. His wife is Turkish and his three small children speak four languages  Arabic, Turkish, English and German. His parents fled war-torn Syria in 2013 and joined him in Turkey.

The businessman said that at the height of the migrant crisis in 2014, he watched as Syrian friends launched boats from the Turkish coast not far from Bursa, hoping to make it to Europe.

I told them they would regret it, that they should stay in Turkey because it has an Islamic culture, and there are economic opportunities here they wont find in Europe, he said. Now they call me and tell me they wish they had never left.

On May 21, the Justice and Development Party announced its nominees competing for the 600 seats in parliament, and among the candidates was the 34-year-old Muhammad Erdogan, who expects to win a seat despite what analysts may say about long odds.

Turkey is a democracy, and there are people here from many different lands, so its not strange that a person originally from Syria could sit in parliament, he said. I will be a representative of the city of Bursa, and of course, I see myself as Turkish, but I wont forget I am from Syria.

Farooq is a special correspondent.
280518WELCOMES POSSIBLE INVESTORS

New Dawn FM News



The ABG Vice President and Minister for Mining, RAYMOND MASONO says the ABG will talk to any possible investor who wants to invest on Bougainville.

He made these remarks when welcoming a team of investors who visited Bougainville today at the administration Conference Room.

MR. MASONO said that the ABG has an open door policy on investments on Bougainville and is prepared to listen to investors who want to invest on Bougainville based on Bougainvilles own laws.

The team then did a presentation to the ABG Vice President and his Ministers and Senior Public servants from the Economic Sector.

They later travelled to Tinputz to talk to the Tinputz landowners on the KALIA Exploration project.



Ends






A small crowd gathered Sunday afternoon at McKeen Park in South Side Easton to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The annual Memorial Day program, held by the Rice-Ebner American Legion Auxiliary No. 588, began at 1 p.m. at McKeen Park. Remarks were offered by guest speaker, The Rev. Becca Middeke-Conlin of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of South Side; and Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr.

Both reminded the public of the purpose of Memorial Day: remembering those who died while serving their country in the armed forces. Panto also thanked the Rice-Ebner American Legion Auxiliary for continuing the tradition each year.

"It's so important to remember Memorial Day is not just about picnics, hamburgers and hot-dogs," Panto said. "Memorial Day is the day we remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but just as importantly as those who died, are those who served and who continue to serve like our police and fire departments who do such a great job in protecting our residents."

"That's important and we're very fortunate in Easton to have really good police and firefighters who really come to the call of duty. And that's what Memorial Day is about -- the call to duty," the mayor added.

A man in uniform who said he was speaking on behalf of Jamiel Curto, commander of Post No. 588, said he heard on the radio earlier that week someone complaining about all the picnics and festivities happening during the three-day weekend.

The caller stated the holiday should only be centered around tributes, he said.

"I can't agree," Easton's speaker said. "That's why they sacrificed their lives so we can have the freedom to enjoy this three-day weekend. As long as we take a little time out like we are doing right now to honor their sacrifice ... as long as you spend a little bit of time honoring their service, I think they're happy with us having picnics and going to the Shore and this and that."

The program then included the reading of a poem titled, "In Flanders Fields," which was written during World War I by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.

Betty Rush, president of the Legion, read, "We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields."

The reading was followed by an applause from the crowd.

Marianne Heimbach, Americanism chairwoman of Post No. 588, led the placing of a wreath adorned with red, white and blue flowers and ribbon as guests bowed their heads in remembrance. Chaplain Diane Pierzga led the benediction.

The tribute ended with the playing of the TAPS and singing of "God Bless America" by the St. Joseph's Men's Choir.

Scroll through the top of this page for scenes from the Rice-Ebner American Legion Auxiliary No. 588 Memorial Day Ceremony.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A 51-year-old Forks Township man was being held Monday in Northampton County Prison after firing a shot Sunday afternoon into his bedroom ceiling in an effort to "menace" his wife, police say in court papers.

Vincent Fedele, 51, of Forks Township. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Vincent Fedele, of the 600 block of Fraser Drive, was arraigned overnight at Central Booking on charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and discharging a firearm in an occupied structure, authorities confirmed.

He was housed in the prison in lieu of $30,000 bail, according to the Department of Corrections. A 10 percent option was pending an investigation by PreTrial Services.

As a township officer pulled up at 5:08 p.m. outside 600 Fraser Drive responding to a call about a domestic dispute that involved a man with a gun who had fired a shot, he saw Fedele leave in a red pickup truck, court papers say.

The Ford F-150 was pulled over on Hopkins Lane and Fedele was taken into custody, police said.

He told the officer, "I shot the second floor bedroom ceiling with the gun and the gun is at the house," police said.

A Ford pickup was pulled over Sunday afternoon at Hopkins Lane and Zucksville Road in Forks Township and the driver, Vincent Fedele was arrested. He was charged in an incident in the 600 block of Fraser Drive. (Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor)

Fedele had unlocked his gun safe in and taken out the 9mm Glock semiautomatic handgun, police said.

After being advised of his rights at the township police station, Fedele admitted having his finger on the trigger and then firing, police said.

Fedele also said he pushed his wife to the ground several times before firing the shot, police reported.

It was unclear if conditions of bail require Fedele stay away from his wife and surrender his weapons. Court papers that would indicate if he has an attorney won't be publicly available until Tuesday, due to the holiday.

Fedele does not have a previous criminal record in Pennsylvania, records show.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Forks man held on $30K bail after firing gun to 'menace' wife, police say



A man fired a gunshot during a domestic disturbance Sunday afternoon in a Forks Township home, police reported.

Officers responded at 5:10 p.m. to the 600 block of Fraser Drive, according to a news release. The Colonial home from which police were walking in and out was actually at 600 Fraser.

No one was injured, Cpl. Brooks Kranich said.

The man drove away from the red brick and tan-sided suburban home, which had an American flag over the front door, a well-trimmed lawn, covered deck and swimming pool.

A Ford pickup was pulled over Sunday afternoon at Hopkins Lane and Zucksville Road in Forks Township and the driver was arrested. He was be charged in an incident in the 600 block of Fraser Drive. (Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor)

He was arrested three blocks away when officers pulled over a cherry red Ford F-150 pickup at Hopkins Lane and Zucksville Road, Kranich said.

The man was taken to Central Booking at Northampton County Prison, where he was to be arraigned on charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, Kranich said.

Police did not name the man pending the arraignment. The home is owned by Vincent and Katherine Fedele, according to Northampton County property records.

A woman briefly came out of the home and spoke to neighbors and then returned inside as police investigated. An officer remained more than an hour with the Ford pickup in which the man was arrested.

Neighbors returned to their homes after the incident, and the scene fell mostly quiet, with the exception of a few happier sounds from unrelated celebrations at nearby residences.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Courtesy photo

By Pamela Sroka-Holzmann | For lehighvalleylive.com

Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed every year on the last Monday in May.

It honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War to honor both the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. It became an official federal holiday in 1971, according to a report on History.com.

The holiday was later extended to include all American soldiers. This day is not to be confused with Veterans Day in November, which recognizes the service of all U.S. military veterans.

Don't Edit

No Shortage of Tributes

Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. It is traditional to fly the American flag at half-staff until noon and then raise it until sundown.

In the Lehigh Valley, there are many events that mark Memorial Day. Check out our list of services, tributes, parades and other activities here.

Here's a rundown of what is open and closed:

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Mail Delivery

All post offices will be closed Monday, May 28. There will be no residential or business deliveries. All operations will resume Tuesday, May 29.

Don't Edit

File photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Money and Markets

The New York Stock Exchange is closed. Most banks and financial institutions are closed. Online banking and ATMs will remain available, though transactions such as transfers may not show up until the next business day.

Don't Edit

Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Don't Edit

State and Local Municipal Offices

All federal, state and municipal offices will be closed Monday, May 28.

Don't Edit

Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Don't Edit

Liquor Stores

In Pennsylvania, liquor stores that are normally open Mondays will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Jersey liquor stores are privately owned and hours vary by location.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

File photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

Don't Edit

Department of Motor Vehicles

New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicle offices and Pennsylvania driver's license centers are closed.

Don't Edit

File photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

Don't Edit

Transportation

LANtaBus and LANtaVan services will not operate, said Tiana Williams, director of LANtaBus Rider Experience. TransBridge on Monday will follow a normal Sunday schedule with no Wall Street service.

Don't Edit

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann | For lehighvalleylive.com

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Libraries

In New Jersey, the four branches of the Warren County Library system are closed Monday, May 28.

The Phillipsburg Free Public Library is closed on Monday, May 28.

The Hackettstown Free Public Library is closed Monday, May 28.

The WH Walters Free Public Library, in Alpha, is closed Monday, May 28, re-opening again on Tuesday, May 29.

In Pennsylvania, the Easton Area Public Library, Hellertown Library, Bethlehem Area Public Library and The Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity is closed Monday, May 28, re-opening again on Tuesday, May 29.

The Allentown Public Library is closed Monday, May 28.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Restaurants

Most large chain restaurants remain open on Memorial Day, but some mom and pops and smaller chains could be closed or have an altered schedule. It's best to call ahead to check the hours of operation.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Gas Stations

Most gas stations and convenience stores remain open on Memorial Day.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Plainfield Township officials are working toward a decision by Aug. 31 on allowing construction of a facility to would treat and process sewage sludge into fertilizer and industrial fuel.

That's how long Synagro Technologies Inc. has given the township to review and consider approval for the Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center, township Manager Tom Petrucci said.

It's proposed beside Green Knight Energy Center at the Grand Central Sanitary Landfill, off Route 512 in the township.

Project plans submitted in February are back before the township planning commission at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Co. banquet hall, 6480 Sullivan Trail. No decision is expected, Petrucci said.

The last meeting on the latest plans, April 4, drew about 120 people to Wind Gap Middle School, according to Petrucci.

Township planners will recommend approval or denial to the township board of supervisors. The plan must also go before township zoning hearing board for four variances, Petrucci said. The plan itself is a permitted-by-right use under the property's zoning, according to Plainfield's zoning officer, John Lezoche.

In a review of the plans, township engineer Robert J. Lynn listed 32 environmental concerns, along with other development issues, he would like addressed before construction is approved.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission last month found that while the project is consistent with the area's comprehensive plan, its stormwater drainage plan falls short of requirements.

The Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center also needs Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approval on stormwater and municipal waste permits and its air quality plan. Grand Central landfill needs its permit modified for the center to be built.

A representative of the Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center did not return calls for comment ahead of next week's planning commission meeting.

This is the rear of the Green Knight Energy Center at Grand Central Sanitary Landfill, off Route 512 in Plainfield Township, seen May 24, 2018. That's where vents dissipate heat left over from burning landfill gas to generate electricity. The Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center is proposed to capture that heat to dry sewage sludge, or biosolids, to create Class A pellet fertilizer and industrial fuel. (Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Heat recovery refers to the proposal to capture waste heat created by the Green Knight Energy Center, which burns landfill gas -- mostly methane -- to turn turbines that generate electricity. The green energy plant has been in operation since 2001, run by the community-based nonprofit Green Knight Economic Development Corp., according to synagro.com.

Sydney, Australia generates about 180,000 tons of biosolids from sewage each year, but authorities are having no... Posted by Synagro - Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center on Monday, April 30, 2018

The heat would be used to dry the sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, as part of the treatment process to create what are known as Class A pellets.

The plant would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with sewage sludge deliveries limited to landfill hours, according to the zoning officer's review.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Organizations & Institutions National Memorial Day Parade live stream from Washington DC

Memorial Day Parade

28.05.2018 11:10:21 - Watch live streaming on the national memorial day parade from Constitution Avenue in Washington DC



(live-PR.com) - The Memorial Day parade returns once again to Washington DC this year, with live streaming online coverage once again provided for people to watch from across the country and around the world.



Memorial Day parade live stream:



www.myworldevents.com/parade/dc-memorial-day.html



Memorial Day



An annual public holiday in the United States, Memorial Day is marked in towns and cities across the US, as well as in military - The Memorial Day parade returns once again to Washington DC this year, with live streaming online coverage once again provided for people to watch from across the country and around the world.Memorial Day parade live stream:Memorial DayAn annual public holiday in the United States, Memorial Day is marked in towns and cities across the US, as well as in military bases around the world. There are large parades in New York City and Chicago, but the main event, and the one that is broadcast live to the nation on TV and via live online stream, is the National Memorial Day parade from Washington DC.





Memorial Day or Decoration Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, will be held on May 28, 2018. The holiday was held on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. It marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.



Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.



Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day  Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, whereas Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance celebrated earlier in May, which specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.



The main focus of the parade is Constitution Avenue, a major east-west street in the northwest and northeast quadrants of the city of Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was originally known as B Street, and its western section was greatly lengthened and widened between 1925 and 1933. It received its current name on February 26, 1931. Constitution Avenue's western half defines the northern border of the National Mall and extends from the United States Capitol to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Its eastern half runs through the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill and Kingman Park before it terminates at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. A large number of federal departmental headquarters, memorials, and museums line Constitution Avenue's western segment.



On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.



Memorial Day observances in small New England towns are often marked by dedications and remarks by veterans and politicians.



The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. The concert is broadcast on PBS and NPR. Music is performed, and respect is paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.



Across the United States, the central event is attending one of the thousands of parades held on Memorial Day in large and small cities. Most of these feature marching bands and an overall military theme with the Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and Veteran service members participating along with military vehicles from various wars

bases around the world. There are large parades in New York City and Chicago, but the main event, and the one that is broadcast live to the nation on TV and via live online stream, is the National Memorial Day parade from Washington DC.Memorial Day or Decoration Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, will be held on May 28, 2018. The holiday was held on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. It marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day  Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, whereas Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance celebrated earlier in May, which specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.The main focus of the parade is Constitution Avenue, a major east-west street in the northwest and northeast quadrants of the city of Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was originally known as B Street, and its western section was greatly lengthened and widened between 1925 and 1933. It received its current name on February 26, 1931. Constitution Avenue's western half defines the northern border of the National Mall and extends from the United States Capitol to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Its eastern half runs through the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill and Kingman Park before it terminates at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. A large number of federal departmental headquarters, memorials, and museums line Constitution Avenue's western segment.On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.Memorial Day observances in small New England towns are often marked by dedications and remarks by veterans and politicians.The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. The concert is broadcast on PBS and NPR. Music is performed, and respect is paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.Across the United States, the central event is attending one of the thousands of parades held on Memorial Day in large and small cities. Most of these feature marching bands and an overall military theme with the Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and Veteran service members participating along with military vehicles from various wars Author:

Martin Kerrigan

e-mail

Web: http://www.myworldevents.com

Phone: 0035799813173 28.05.2018 11:10:21 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.
Stock Market News

Italy faces new elections as Mattarella rejects eurosceptic economy minister 28-05-2018 09:26



Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk
Kottayam : The Kottayam Gandhi Nagar police station is currently under fire for neglecting the complaint filed over the abduction of a newlywed man in Kottayam. Sub inspector MS Shibu, ASI has been suspended from service for the alleged negligence during the investigation. Kottayam SP Muhammad Rafeeq had been transferred from the district.

The district police chief demanded an explanation from the officials about the incident. The DGP has sought a report from the IG about the incident. The newly married man, who was abducted just a day after his marriage was found dead at Chaliyekkara in Punalur.

Kevin, 23 had been missing from Sunday morning. He was allegedly abducted by his wife's relatives. His cousin brother Aneesh was also abducted along with him. The local people found Kevin's body on Monday morning. Though his wife Neenu, filed a complaint in the Police Station, the cops did not acted effectively on the complaint

It is alleged that Kevin was abducted by a gang led by the girls' brother. Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behra promised to take action against the police officers who acted carelessly on the complaint.
Today marks the observance of another Memorial Day, one of the most fitting holidays in the calendar year. War is a horror that has plagued humankind since the start of history, but that shouldnt detract from our honoring and remembering those who gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we so readily take for granted.

I believe it should also be a day in which we think of those who may not have lost their lives in combat, but suffered serious injuries, both physical and emotional.



Two friends, both veterans of the Vietnam conflict, have wrestled for many years with a common wartime consequence, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is a malady that most of us who have never served during wartime cannot fully understand or imagine. Yet its toll on countless thousands has been very real, even debilitating.



Today, my friends are devoting much of their time and energy to assisting others who, like themselves, survived combat physically, but have suffered a grave toll emotionally and mentally. The suicide rate among veterans who have suffered PTSD in combat is alarming; others find themselves homeless, unable to function properly upon returning to civilian life.



My father served in World War II; I remember many nights during my childhood when he would awaken, screaming. He never talked of his wartime experiences, but I know the nightmares were a byproduct of what this twice-wounded, two Purple Heart and one Bronze Star recipient had seen, heard and felt on the battlefields of Europe and Northern Africa. We knew little, if anything, about PTSD back then.



I remember how shamefully Vietnam vets were treated in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they returned home. They had gone to serve their country, doing what they thought was right, even though many at home questioned Americas wisdom in its involvement. Their noble, yet largely unappreciated, service reminded me of something Jesus said to His followers: Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15:13).



Thousands of U.S. soldiers did just that, lying lifeless on East Asian fields of conflict. Others lay down their normal lives, returning to American soil physically, but shattered just the same, not the people mentally or emotionally they once had been. Even if they didnt think it in so many words, their sacrificial service was truly an act of love.



But as we commemorate the sacrifices of so many, in far too many wars, I cant help but think of an even greater sacrifice, that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Going to the cross to die for the sins of mankind, paying an incomprehensible price on our behalf, Jesus epitomized that greater love. As Romans 5:8 declares, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.



This Memorial Day, please take a few moments to remember those who gave so much for us. And especially think of Jesus, the One who gave more than we could ever imagine  so that we could receive far more than we could ever deserve.



- - - -
Dozens of peaceful demonstrators have been massacred by the state authorities in Tamil Nadu, India, after organising to demand the closure of a plant that is wreaking havoc on the environment and causing health issues for the locals. Louis Thomas reports from Tamil Nadu.

Sterlite is a copper smelting plant located in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi), on the southern tip of the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a subsidiary of Vedanta Pvt. Ltd., a UK-based company which is owned by Mr. Anil Agarwal, who currently resides in London. It has plants all over India and in various other countries. Large parts of India and states like Tamil Nadu have large amounts natural resources, which is part of the reason British imperialism colonized India, and this richness continues to attract capitalists today.

Anti-Sterlite protests have been massive / Image: public domian

Vedanta has enriched its coffers by violating environmental laws and human rights. But it had to shut down its plants in Goa and Rajasthan due to severe resistance by masses. Previously, the Orissa state government gave Vedanta permission to perform bauxite mining in the Niyamagiri hills. But there as well, the project had to be stopped because of the severe resistance of tribal people. Even the Supreme and High Courts of India have passed orders to shut down plants, citing environmental violations.

Sterlite in Thoothukudi

The Sterlite Copper Plant is a subsidiary of Vedanta and was allotted for construction first in the coastal district of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra in 1993. But later construction was halted because of resistance by the masses in that district over environmental hazards. So it was transferred to Thoothikudi: a port town where people depend on agriculture, fishing and trade for their survival. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) had given the go-ahead to the project on the condition that the plant should be constructed 25km outside the of Gulf of Mannar and should conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). But the project was allowed to start flouting all these conditions from 1996.

Air and water pollution

Due to gas leaks, the air and water surrounding the plant is completely polluted. Due to this the local people were affected by skin diseases, headaches and even cancer.

In a report by the News Minute, according to NEERIs (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) initial study in 1998, Sterlite failed to develop a green belt; was producing products it was not authorized to; had contaminated the groundwater with arsenic, lead selenium, aluminum and copper; may have tampered with the online monitors; and had caused numerous gas leaks.

Despite violating health and environment regulations, the plant remains in operation, sparking protest / Image: public domain

This impact study that was submitted to the Madras High court led to the plant being shuttered, but later, NEERI gave the go-ahead for it to continue operations.

The reason for the protests

The Sterlite company has sought expansion of the plant and wants to double production to around 400,000 tonnes of Copper. In 2010, the Madras High court stepped in due to large-scale environmental violations by Sterlite. But the order was stayed by the Supreme Court in 2013 and instead a fine of 10bn rupees was ordered. The plant was allowed to continue functioning since it provides employment and contributes to copper production. Sterlite has approached the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to renew its license and expand. This request is currently pending. The expansion of a plant that has already caused environmental degradation and health concerns led to new protests.

The people of Kumaratipuram village, whose water bodies are affected due to contamination from plant, began fighting for its closure. In March 2018, the peaceful protest culminated in a huge crowd of 50,000. On the 100th day of the protest, on 22 May 2018, the people sought permission to demonstrate near the Sterlite plant. But the authorities refused. Objecting to this move by the authorities, the organizers decided to picket the Sterlite plant and Collector Office (District Head). On 22 May, at 10am, protestors organized before the Old Lady Mother church, and proceeded to the District Collectors office in Tuticorin. The 20,000 protesters nearly outnumbered the police and they marched past the police barricades.

Massacre of the anti-Sterlite protestors

The police used tear gas but the protestors moved on peacefully. However, the authorities did not follow the Tamil Nadu Police Standing Orders (PSO), which state that gunfire cannot be ordered without first using tear gas shells, then water cannon to disperse the crowd and only at last after a final warning. Even then, shots are supposed to be delivered below the knees.

None of these these rules were followed and the news footage shows police shouting Kill at least one of the protestors. Snipers were also deployed. Video footage shows police officers on top of a van, firing on protestors with live ammunition. Nearly 10 were killed on first day and on next day, at a protest at a hospital, another a teenage boy named Kaliappan was killed.

State authorities fired on the crowd from on top of vehicles / Image: public domain

Two of the victims, Tamilarasan and Jeyaraman, are members of the revolutionary organization that was leading the anti-Sterlite protest. A 17-year-old girl Venista and another woman were also killed. 65 people were injured due to the indiscriminate gunfire from the police. Reports by injured victims say that this was clearly a planned action by the authorities. Furthermore, police have been going to the homes of protestors and those who support them and indulging in harassment and violence.

Protests are being held all over Tamil Nadu. Left-wing parties like CPI, CPM and CPI-ML have condemned the killings by the Tamil Nadu state government for the profit of the capitalists. A public emergency has been ordered by the state of Tamil Nadu in three districts (Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin). There has been a complete media blackout and there are currently no internet facilities in these states.

Solidarity!

The Tamil Nadu state government, led by Edappadi Palanisamy, is a puppet government under Modis control. Both these central and state governments are working tirelessly for their masters, the corporates (capitalists). The AIADMK Party in Tamil Nadu survives at the behest of the central government. All the ruling parties, from Congress to BJP, have benefitted from receiving foreign money from Vedanta and were found guilty by the Delhi High Court after 10 hearings in 2015 under the Foreign contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) for receiving foreign money. The High Court has ordered the election commission to take action against these parties under the Representation of the People Act. FCRA act was amended in 2018 to exempt companies like Sterlite because they are only subsidiaries. Now, foreign companies can donate to political parties so long as they have subsidiaries in India. Foreign donation has been made legal in the 2018 budget. Congress and the BJP worked together to get this act passed to escape from the 2015 Delhi High Court judgment. These parties received tens-of-millions of rupees from Vedanta.

We send our solidarity to the protestors in Tamil Nadu / Image: public domain

Southern Tamil Nadu is a place where the people have a great heritage of protest, including during the national independence struggle. The area consists mostly of working-class communities. Tamil Nadu has recorded the highest number of protests in India, nearing 20,000 in 2017. Protests are continuing all over the country, seeking the closure of the Sterlite plant. There was even a protest at the offices of Vedanta in London. This struggle against the capitalists and their government can be won only through the widest solidarity from workers and youth all over state of Tamil Nadu, India and throughout the world. Protests and demonstrations must be launched everywhere to ensure the people of Tuticorin are not defeated.
On Friday 25 May, Ireland went to the polls to decide whether to repeal the 8th amendment of the constitution, which denied women the right to abortion as long as the unborn fetus had a heartbeat. Under these laws, which are part of the legacy of the Catholic Churchs domination of Ireland, abortion was illegal, even under the horrific circumstances of rape, incest or fetal abnormalities. The repeal of the 8th amendment is an epoch-making slap in the face against the Catholic Church and the establishment in the Republic.

As the results came in it was clear that the people had mobilised in huge numbers. The Irish electorate voted by 1,429,981 votes to 723,632 in favour to repeal the amendment and to introduce abortion rights. Turnout reached a massive 64.1 percent, even higher than the 60.5 percent who voted for same-sex marriage in 2015. Thousands of people even flew home just to vote, some from as far as 9,000 miles away! With one tremendous push, the dead hand of the past has been thrust aside. More than anything else, this was a mighty blow against the Catholic Church, which for decades has kept women enslaved in Ireland.

The Yes vote carried 66.4 percent of the total, winning in every single constituency with the exception of Donegal, where the turnout was the lowest. In Dublin the vote was as high as 75 percent. But even in the rural areas, which the No campaign thought it could rest upon, the Yes vote won by 63 percent. Among the youth levels of support for 'Yes' reached an absolutely crushing 87.6 percent for the 18-to-24-year-olds. But among all other age groups other than the over-65s the 'Yes' vote won. Amongst women, 72.1 percent voted 'Yes'.

Even traditionally conservative Roscommon-Galway, the only constituency which voted against gay marriage in 2015, voted 57 percent to repeal the amendment on a 65 percent turnout.

Another revolutionary moment

To appreciate just how revolutionary these changes in Irish society have been, we need only look back at how recently it was that the Catholic Church had Ireland in its grip. Until as late as the 1990s homosexuality and divorce remained illegal. From a rural, priest-ridden island under the aegis of the Catholic Church in the 1980s, Ireland has become transformed into an urban, forward-looking society, with a large, educated and youthful working class.

Embed from Getty Images

It was just 35 years ago that a referendum was carried to introduce the 8th amendment by a crushing majority, similar to that with which it has now been repealed. Even as recently as 2002, a referendum to make abortion more restrictive was only narrowly defeated. In the past, however, the Catholic Church was not afraid to campaign for moral purity directly from the pulpit. In this referendum, as in the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, the Church has been conspicuous by its absence. And no wonder  it stands today utterly discredited and could only have assisted the 'Yes' vote by its intervention.

The thousands of women who had gathered at Dublin Castle to hear the announcement of the results were chanting get your rosaries off our ovaries!

Church and state

Since the Free State was established in the 1920s, the Church has lorded it over the Irish people, keeping them under the heel of a medieval-style theocracy. Women suffered the worst of its abuses. While denied the right to abortion, those who had children outside of marriage were shunned as fallen women. Their babies might be taken from them and given away. The women themselves were locked up in institutions like the Magdalene laundries.

'Fallen women' were sent to hell-holes like the Magdalene laundries to slave for the Church / Image: public domain

In these hellholes the sanctity of life was trampled underfoot. Women were stripped of their possessions, their dignity, and even their names and forced to perform slave labour for the religious orders. From the labour of these enslaved women, the Church made millions. There they were subjected to mental, physical and sexual torture and when women and children died in these institutions, as often they did, they were dumped in mass graves and septic tanks.

Only since the 1990s has this systematic torture of innocent women and children, and a litany of other abuses, been brought to the surface. This has led to a wave of revulsion against the Churchs subjugation of women. Since 2008 and the collapse of the Celtic Tiger, the authority of every pillar of the establishment has dramatically collapsed with it.

Despite its declining authority however, the Church continues to maintain deep links with the Irish capitalist class and its state. To this day it continues to run 90 percent of primary schools and 50 percent of secondary schools, as well as many hospitals. In theory there exists separation of church and state in Ireland. In practice there is none. Ironically, the Church (through its control of sex education) and the poverty capitalism creates, have undoubtedly increased the number of unwanted pregnancies.

The lingering effects

The struggle against the 8th amendment shows that the Churchs legacy is not as-yet thing of the past. This was shockingly brought into the light of day in 2012 by the tragic case of a young Indian woman, Savita Halappanavar.

Savita Halappanavar's death in 2012 highlighted the barbarism of Ireland's abortion ban / Image: William Murphy

Savita visited hospital in utter agony, clearly suffering from a miscarriage. There was no chance of successfully delivering the fetus and Savita begged the doctors for an abortion. She was told that unfortunately, this is a Catholic country, as she lay in agony, dying.

Since then dozens of women have shared their horror stories. What is clear is that these laws havent prevented abortions. Instead, women have been forced abroad. Every year a stream of more than 3,000 women fly from Ireland to Liverpool, Manchester or London seeking an abortion. Inevitably such trips require thousands of euros and days of bedrest, thereby persecuting working-class women hardest.

For women who cant afford the flight there have always been riskier alternatives: the purchase of online abortion pills for instance, with all of their attendant risks.

Liberal elites

The crushing nature of the vote means that it is almost inevitable that the government will have to introduce the right to termination until 12 weeks.

It should be noted though that those now expected to carry out the peoples will are very recent converts to the idea that women should be able to control their own bodies. Both Leo Varadkar and Michael Martin, along with the rest of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail establishment, were traditionally, staunchly pro-life.

Indeed, FG health minister, Simon Harris (who will be expected to help draft new laws on abortion), wrote to the Pro-Life Campaign in 2011 seeking their support in his election:

Please be assured of my support. I need number-one votes on Friday so I can be in a position to support these positions in Dail Eireann.

Expecting a tight-run thing, one of Varadkars close associates back in 2017 told the press:

He doesnt believe in an absolute abolition of the amendment. What hes talking about is minimal change. He wants to rebalance it.

Leo Varadkar, who was previously staunchly pro-life, has hypocritically described the result as a "quiet revolution" / Image: Flickr, LLysaght

Now he is hailing a quiet revolution that has made Ireland a kinder place! It seems Varadkar, like all liberal politicians, can change principles as easily as he changes his colourful socks! In fact the establishment has slowly been putting distance between itself and the Catholic Church in anticipation of a 'Yes' vote for some time.

None of them expected this, however! All of the pundits and press commentators anticipated a slight 'Yes' majority, but this is an earthquake. Once more the liberal ruling class has demonstrated precisely how out of touch it is.

Eyes turn to the North

Nowhere is the shock of this vote going to be more strongly felt than in the North of Ireland. With the repeal of the 8th, the law in effect in the North of Ireland has now become the most reactionary anywhere on these islands. There is now growing clamour for Theresa May to do something to address this long-standing injustice against women, with senior Tories even calling for a referendum on abortion rights in Northern Ireland.

In the past the unionist politicians of the North could point to the conservatism of the South and its domination by the Catholic Church as an argument against unification. Now things have been turned into their opposite. The jubilation North of the border shows that this is really one struggle across Ireland. Arlene Foster and the DUP have tried to downplay the all-Irish significance of the repeal of the eighth. Already, however, Sinn Fein have raised the need for a poll on Irish reunification.

The situation in the North of Ireland represents a growing fire under the backsides of the Tories. Every day, the grounds for refusing a border poll grow more tenuous. At the last Assembly election, unionism lost its historic majority. However, as May told a recent meeting of 150 Tory MPs, shes not about to risk a border poll any time soon because she wont be guaranteed of winning it!

With May forced to rest on a precarious alliance with the rotten reactionaries of the DUP, it looks unlikely she will be making any concessions on abortion rights. Instead we have been assured that this is an issue for Stormont  which doesnt look likely to come back from the grave any time soon!

The Tories are not the only ones who have sacrificed reproductive rights in appeasement of the DUP. Back in 2008, amendments were tabled to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, by none other than Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott. If passed they would have seen abortion legalised in Northern Ireland. But because the New Labour government of the day had depended upon the DUP on 42 days detention, they decided to disgracefully sabotage the amendments to keep the DUP sweet.

What next?

While the politicians in the Dail are unlikely to try and prevent legislation giving women their right to abortion, there remain obstacles. The reactionary 'No' campaign  and behind it the Catholic Church  will strive might and main to stop abortion rights becoming a reality.

A spokesman for the Save the 8th campaign made their bitterness abundantly clear when appearing to threaten abortion clinic pickets:

If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the Government to keep their promise about a GP-led service, we will oppose that as well. Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known.

The Catholic Church remains an immensely powerful section of the ruling class, with huge amounts of wealth an influence in the state. As Marxists we believe it is time for a revolution that completely uproots the Churchs influence. All of its assets must be nationalised without compensation and it must be booted out of education. Religion should be a private affair.

But the Church alone is not the only obstacle. There remains another: the austerity being carried out by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. It is not for abortions alone that Irish people are forced to travel abroad every year. Such is the state of healthcare that last year alone more than 2,000 people travelled abroad for healthcare because waiting lists were too long at home! Even simple operations like cataract removals can involve waits of five-to-six-years.

The ruling class can grant the theoretical right to access medical procedures. However, under conditions of ongoing crisis it is stripping working class people of the basic access to healthcare that makes for a semi-civilised standard of living.

The struggle therefore for the full material liberation of women must be linked to the struggle to overthrow capitalism.

The subterranean, revolutionary mode has been expressed in a number of fabulous struggles for women's rights worldover, like the 8 March women's strike in Spain (pictured) / Image: Isabel Serra

The ramifications of the repeal earthquake are being felt the worldover. The vote is a manifestation of a subterranean mood  a revolutionary mood  of anger and opposition to the old order developing internationally. And everywhere this developing mood is accompanied by womens struggles. In Latin American, women have risen up against gender violence; in Poland for reproductive rights; in Spain there is the fabulous example of the March 8 feminist strike.

To be finally successful and to achieve the full equality and liberation of women, these struggles must run like many tributaries into a single torrent. Only the revolutionary struggle of the working class of the whole world to overthrow capitalism and create a socialist society can put an end once and for all to the oppression of women.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created one disaster after another in Latin America, exposing the naked contempt of the ruling class for the workers of the region. But with the memory of Red October still fresh, this explosive new development is preparing revolutionary upheaval in the near future.
This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power.
LeBron James added another entry to his collection of momentum-grabbing chase-down blocks.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers leading the Boston Celtics 55-51 late in the third quarter, Celtic guard Terry Rozier picked off a James pass and took off in transition.

Perhaps aware of James history of fast-break thwarting swat, Rozier hesitated momentarily in hopes of throwing off James' timing. But James wasn't fooled and rejected the attempt.

The play seemed to shift the momentum in the favor of the Cavaliers, who led 59-56 after three quarters.
Looking for great, affordable, dry white wines perfect for summer?

Look no further than Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand.

Year in and year out, this beautiful country best known for being the place where "The Lord of The Rings" movies were filmed produces some of the driest, most refreshing white wines.

I've raved before about Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand's Marlborough region (all but one of the wines reviewed this week come from here). That's because these wines have such a distinct, delightful taste.

Some inexpensive white wines have no flavor or character. But many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs immediately stand out with their grassy, citrus-like flavors. And if you think they all taste the same, think again. There are subtle differences between each one of the wines reviewed this week.

Plus there's the price factor. Seven of the wines recommended this week cost less than $10 a bottle. Many of them are also easily available at many wine stores around the world.

I also included two, additional Sauvignon Blancs - one from New Zealand and one from California - that cost a bit more but are definitely worth splurging on since they illustrate the versatility of this delicious grape.

Let me add that I loved all nine wines reviewed this week. There isn't a bad one on the list. I simply loved a few of them a little more.

One more thing, as Colombo used to say. If you really want to appreciate the wine's distinct flavors, make sure you swirl the wine around your mouth before swallowing. Otherwise, if you drink the wine straight down, you'll miss out on what makes these Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand so unique and so much fun.

Hope you enjoy.

WINES REVIEWED THIS WEEK

2017 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield) (Highly recommend)

2016 Haymaker Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine)

2016 Giesen Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine)

2017 Ranga Ranga Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine)

2016 Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine)

2016 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine)

2016 Matua Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99 at Table & Vine) (Highly recommend)

WINES WORTH SPLURGING ON

2016 Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Sauvignon Blanc ($24.99 at Table & Vine)

2017 Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($22.99 at Table & Vine)

ABOUT SAUVIGNON BLANC

One of the world's most versatile grapes, Sauvignon Blanc wines thrive in many different areas around the world. Along with New Zealand, places that excel at making great, Sauvignon Blancs include Chile, Australia, California's Napa Valley and France's Loire Valley and Bordeaux regions. If you love white wines from France's Sancerre region in the Loire Valley, you love Sauvignon Blancs since that's the grape used to make those wines.

ABOUT THE REGION

New Zealand's Marlborogh region (where all but one of the wines reviewed this week was made) has a long, rich wine-making history. Located on the northern tip of New Zealand's southern island (the country's divided mainly into two, large islands), this part of the country's mainly famous for making two, outstanding types of wine - Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

FOODS TO PAIR WITH WINES

New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs taste great on their own but they go particularly well with seafood, especially shellfish. And I can say that with confidence since all the New Zealand wines reviewed this week were tasted while eating fresh oysters from Prince Edward Island in Canada.

TASTING NOTES

2017 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc (Highly Recommend)

One of the most popular New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, this consistently-delicious white wine deserves all the attention it gets. In a taste test with the other New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs reviewed this week, this one stands out with its crisp, signature fresh-cut grass flavors that made New Zealand's Marlborough region famous. There's also a slight hint of citrus and ripe green apple flavors as well.

2016 Haymaker Sauvignon Blanc

This is the first time I tried this wine and I was impressed by its distinct blend of flavors, including grapefruit, green apple and a slight sour aftertaste. There's also a crisp ripeness to the wine that pairs perfectly with oysters and other shellfish. This wine is more of a food wine versus one you drink on its own.

2016 Giesen Sauvignon Blanc

Another wine I tried for the first time, this understated wine illustrates just how different Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand's Marlborough region can taste. Everything about this wine is subtle and understated. The green grass, green apple and citrus-like flavors are all toned down, all softer than the other wines reviewed this week.

2017 Ranga Ranga Sauvignon Blanc

Of all the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs reviewed this week, this one (which is the first time I tried this wine) has the most citrus fruit-like flavors, including orange and grapefruit. Crisp and yet slightly tart, there's almost a Sour Patch Kid-like taste to this fragrant yet dry white wine. Another wine that shines best when paired with shellfish and other seafood.

2016 Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Another first for me, this wine has a subtle blend of crisp green apple (the most dominant flavor) along with a hint of grapefruit and a faint hint of fresh cut green grass. Like the Giesen, the flavors are more muted than many of the other wines reviewed this week but not as understated as the Geisen. A beautiful, subtle wine perfect for drinking on its own or with seafood.

2016 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc

A flavor-packed wine that I tasted for the first time, this bright, clean wine will appeal to people who like wines that pack a bit of a punch. Dominant flavors include ripe, green apple, a hint of grapefruit and mountain laurel. The flavors in this wine in particular really jump out when you swirl the wine around your mouth. Great with shellfish or on its own.

2016 Matua Sauvignon Blanc (Highly Recommend)



One of my favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, this one will appeal to traditionalists who crave that distinct, refreshing, fresh-cut grass flavor mixed with a hint of grapefruit and ripe, green apple. Great with shellfish or its own, this classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc gets everything just right.

WINES WORTH SPLURGING ON

2016 Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Sauvignon Blanc

One of the most unique wines I have ever tasted, this powerful Sauvignon Blanc (16.5 percent alcohol) from California's Napa region was aged for three months in a Tequila barrel. Almost Chardonnay-like in flavor, this distinct wine has a slightly nutty flavor with a hint of melted butter and just a touch of Tequila. Definitely one of the most unique wines on the market. Delicious on its own or with seafood or even roasted meats.

2017 Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Outstanding Sauvignon Blanc from one of New Zealand's best-known winemakers in the Marlborough region. This wine takes New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to whole different level. Soft and understated at first, the wine's subtle flavors slowly emerge like a gentle, ocean breeze - a hint of green grass, followed by a splash of grapefruit and then slightly buttery notes. Let me add that this wine has the longest, lushest finish of all the wines reviewed this week. Absolutely outstanding.

Cheers!

Next Week - Burgundy Wineries, Part 4 - Interview, Tasting at Domaine Anne Gros.

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican's weekend section every Thursday.

Follow Ken Ross on Twitter or Instagram.


Fifty years ago, this week, the nuclear submarine USS Scorpion went missing in the Atlantic Ocean with its crew of 99. Searches throughout the week discovered no signs of the lost vessel. The final contact with the submarine had been on May 21 as it radioed in its position south of the Azores. The Scorpion was returning from a training mission in the Mediterranean.

From the May 28, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

Later in the week, Viet Cong forces continued their two week long assault on Saigon. Enemy forces were reported within a mile of the Presidential Palaca and six blocks away from the national Police headquarters. Street fighting continued around the clock in parts of the city and the guerrillas also fired rockets into the downtown area.

From the June 1, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

Ten years later, a fortieth anniversary story of the Quabbin reservoir. Sixty-eight year old Warren Doubleday spoke of his family home in the former town of North Dana. North Dana was one of five Swift River Valley towns dismantled and flooded over in the creation of the reservoir.

From the May 29, 1978 edition of The Morning Union

These are some of the headlines you'll see from Page 1 of The Republican and its predecessors over the past fifty years for the week of May 27 - June 2. Each week I'll put together a slideshow of Page 1 images from selected years over the course of that week. We're starting with a look back at one, five, thirty, forty and fifty years ago, with Page 1s from each day of the week for those years.

The slideshow for May 27 - June 2 is embedded at the top of this article.

We'll also find some humor printed out on page one over the years. In 1968 'Dennis The Menace' could be found on the bottom of page one six days a week.

From the May 27, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

Five years ago, this week, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz ordered the city's Department of Public Works to restore benches to the downtown area. The six benches had been removed as part of the Mayor's "experiment". A week of protests led to the return of the benches.

From the May 31, 2013 edition of The Republican

And back in 1968, Bobby Unser won his first Indy 500 race with a record speed of 152.882 miles-per-hour. Unser pulled into the lead of the race with 22.5 miles to go. It was the 52nd running of the 500-mile auto race.

From the May 31, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

As you'll find with looking through the slideshow, that while many stories come and go, many of the issues and topics that affected lives in the past, continue to have an impact on our lives today.

Copies of these and other stories can be found in the online archives. The Historic Archive includes stories from 1824 to 1989, and the Newsbank Archive covers 1988 through the present day.
Jamari Leblanc, a 31-year-old Brockton man, died from gunshot wounds in a double shooting that sent a second victim to the hospital over the weekend, authorities said Monday morning.

Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police are investigating the shooting at Madrid Square in Brockton. Police responded to the area after multiple 911 calls just after midnight.

A second male victim, who remains unidentified, was sent to Good Samaritan Hospital for "non-life threatening injuries," according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz's office.

"Preliminarily, the shooting does not appear to be a random act of violence," Cruz's office said in a release.
CHICOPEE - The Memorial Day ceremonies brought Gerald Desroches back to his 19th birthday, which he observed looking up at the stars while in a prison of war camp after being captured during the Korean War.

Now close to his 89th birthday, Desroches said he had led people into enemy territory twice earlier, but a third time he was serving point man to bring an Air Force sergeant and others to a spot where the Chinese were shooting rockets. They were cut off by an enemy brigade, several people were killed and he was taken prisoner.

Desroches joined the military before he turned 17 and served in the 3rd Infantry Division. The unit invaded North Korea 74 days after the war started and pushed through the country to the 28th Parallel.

Desroches spent about five months on that mission in Korea and until Christmas Eve, 1950 he and others boarded a military ship. "They asked me if I wanted anything and I wanted to take my boots off. It was so cold my socks froze to my feet."

The socks had to be cut off and left his feet a bleeding mess. After more than a month recovering in a hospital in Japan, Desroches returned to his unit and was later captured. His first 40 days as a prisoner were spent essentially locked in a cage where he was given no food and about one-third of a cup of water a day.

When he was released he lined up with other prisoners and their captors brought out bowls of rice. "I thought finally some food and went to grab it," he said.

A fellow prisoner, an Air Force officer who had been shot down tried to pull him back by his shirt but was too slow. Desroches said his captors beat him in the head with their guns, damaging his teeth and leaving his head badly swollen.

During the Memorial Day observances, Desroches was one of many people Mayor Richard J. Kos addressed with a simple but direct message.

"I thank you and I thank you over and over again," he said. "I thank the Gold Star families and those who have served the country."

Several hundred people lined the parade route and then gathered at Veterans Plaza where wreaths were laid on monuments remembering those with Chicopee ties who died in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. This year was the first time families were able to place a wreath on a permanent monument dedicated last week to the six men killed during the War on Terror.

The guest speaker was Col. Christine Hoffmann, chief of staff for the Massachusetts Army National Guard. During her speech she told people service is not only about being in the military and applauded those who serve their community in public safety, as city leaders, by helping neighbors and in other volunteer efforts.

"Today is not about me, it is a day of remembrance," she said.

Parade-goers also honored veteran Michael Brunetti, who received this year's Charles H. Tracy award given to a veteran who has been dedicated to helping

other veterans. They also recognized James Healey, a Vietnam War veteran, who served as parade marshal.

The parade included bands from the city's two high schools and two middle schools, Boy and Girl Scout marching units, the city's St. Patrick's Colleens, Police and Fire department units, a bus carrying residents of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home and more.

Lana and Paul Cote were among the many people who lined the sidewalks along Front Street to watch the parade. One of the reasons they came was to see their grandson Tyler Cote who plays drums for the Dupont Middle School Band.

"I love parades and I'm really for supporting the American veterans," Lana Cote said, who dressed in red, white and blue and even wore blue eye shadow for the event.
A New Hampshire firefighter died over the weekend in a scuba diving accident in Massachusetts.

The Swanzey Fire Department said Lt. Benjamin Tatro was scuba diving off Cape Ann in Gloucester when the accident occurred on Saturday.

Tatro, a veteran of the department, was the senior lieutenant on Ladder 1, an advanced EMT and a skilled rescue diver on the Water Rescue Task Force, the department said.

"We join the Tatro Family in grieving the loss of our brother and friend who had been so deeply involved in the Swanzey community for his entire life," the Swanzey Fire Department posted on Facebook.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that he and U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed to meet ahead of the possible summit between Trump and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un.

[File photo: China Plus]

Abe made the remarks to reporters after a phone call with Trump Monday night.

He said that during the phone call Trump briefed him about the recent developments surrounding the planned DPRK-U.S. summit.

Although he could not reveal the details, Japan and the United States had agreed to cooperate to make the DPRK-U.S. summit "meaningful," the Japanese prime minister added.

The two sides also discussed the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by DPRK decades ago, according to Abe.

Trump canceled the scheduled summit between him and Kim last Thursday, saying that it will not happen "based on the tremendous anger and open hostility" displayed in the DPRK's recent statements.

However, he reversed course just one day after the announcement. Both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks, he said.

The Kim-Trump meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Singapore on June 12.
Nearly 400 chickens and roosters were seized from a farm amid allegations of an illegal cockfighting ring.

Northampton Police and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took the birds, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported.

The newspaper reported that the animals were taken from an area by the farm known as Ravenwold Greenhouses, located at 1095 Florence Road in Florence, Mass.

A message left with Richard Adams, the owner, was not immediately returned. But he told the Gazette that there was "no fighting on the farm," and the spot where the birds were found was rented to someone else.

The newspaper reported that an animal control officer, during an inspection of Ravenwold Greenhouses last week, found an "unusually large number of roosters," and "blood spatters" in a location that looked like a "small fighting area."

Northampton police did not respond to a request for comment Monday morning.
SOUTH HADLEY -- The community group Know Your Town's annual meeting and banquet Thursday will feature a Mount Holyoke College professor speaking about the country's foreign policy.

Vincent A. Ferraro, 68, who has spoken about North Korea in the past, is a professor emeritus of politics. His area of interest is international relations since the end of the Cold War, according to Ferraro's Mount Holyoke webpage. The professor's talk is titled, "American Foreign Policy: A Changing World and a Changing America."

During a 2016 lecture at the University of Massachusetts, focusing on the Islamic State group, he said: "There are a number of wars going on simultaneously on Syrian territory" with some happening "independent of each other." He described the President of Syria, Bashar Assad, and the former president, his father Hafez Assad, as both "ruthless."

Ferraro, in the lecture, referred to the "war between Russia and the United States" ongoing inside Syria. "The Russians are going to stay" in Syria, he said. "The Russian war against the United States is an interesting dimension." The professor said the "United States attacks against Islamic State have been more successful" than Russian military actions.

"The Kurds are the most effective ground force against the Islamic State," Ferraro stated.

A South Hadley resident, Ferraro grew up in Stoneham, and earned his doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976.

Thursday's event, at the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center on the Mount Holyoke College campus, begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 6:15 p.m., with Ferraro's talk at 7:15 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Preservation Trust will host a house tour in Atwater Park on Sunday, June 10 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The tour will feature houses from the early 1900s through the 1930s.

The tour is from 1 to 4 p.m., and tickets can be purchased in advance, or at the event that day.

Much of the Atwater neighborhood was developed from the 300-acre estate of George Atwater, founder of the Springfield Street Railway, the Preservation Trust stated in a prepared release.

In 1902, Atwater's heirs hired the Boston firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. to create a plan for a pleasant residential neighborhood, the trust said.. Noted local architects designed many of the houses, and development was encouraged by the neighborhood's park-like setting, proximity to the Springfield Hospital, and access to the trolley line, the trust said.

"House tours are one of our most visible events," Preservation Trust President Don Courtemanche said. "After more than forty years, out tours have opened hundreds of homes, showcased the wonderful neighborhoods of Springfield, and even encouraged people to buy homes in the city."

Tickets will be available on-line at The Flower Box, 596 Carew Street, Flowers, Flowers, 758 Sumner Avenue after Memorial Day, and at www.SpringfieldPreservation.org.

The tickets can also be purchased on the date of the event at the corner of Springfield and Cunningham Streets between 12:45 and 2 pm.

The Springfield Preservation Trust is an organization formed to preserve and protect properties in Springfield which have architectural, historic, educational, or general cultural significance.
Mamoudou Gassama's act of heroism over the weekend has quickly gone viral. Dubbed a real-life "Spiderman," Gassama scaled a French building with his bare hands to save a toddler dangling from the fifth-floor balcony.

According to a

, Anne Hidalgon, Gassama was an undocumented immigrant from Mali who entered France a few months ago. French President, Emmanuel Macron, is taking part in expediting his citizenship. In a Facebook post, President Macron wrote, "I told him that in recognition of this heroic act he was going to be regularized as soon as possible, and that the Paris Fire Brigade was ready to welcome him."

Avec M. GASSAMA qui a sauve samedi la vie dun enfant en escaladant 4 etages a mains nues. Je lui ai annonce quen... Posted by Emmanuel Macron on Monday, May 28, 2018

The Associated Press reports that Gassama was also given a certificate of courage and dedication signed by the Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech after his meeting with President Macron on Monday.
CHICOPEE - Gary Lefebvre was 10 when his uncle Butch joined the U.S. Marine Corps and shipped off to Vietnam. He never returned home.

Pfc. Edward J. Downey Jr., died April 11, 1968. He was 21 and had been overseas for four months.

On the eve of Memorial Day, family members and friends joined with city officials to remember the 15 men from Chicopee who were killed in war between April 1968 and 1970.

During the candlelight ceremony, held by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 111, veterans also remembered the prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

When the names of the 15 men killed in Vietnam were read, family members or friends came to a memorial set up for each man and illuminated an electronic candle in memory of the fallen soldier or Marine.

Lefebvre attends the ceremony every year. This year he came with a page of photographs of Downey, who he knew as Butch, and memories of his uncle teaching him how to lift weights and how to box.

"I adored him...He was my second hero, just after my dad," Lefebvre said. He said his father, now 86, was the older brother and fought in the Korean War.

Lefebvre said he has written to military officials asking for his uncle to posthumously receive a medal of valor to recognize the bravery that killed him.

"He was a fire team leader and he entered enemy barracks underground first and was killed," he said.

The other 14 men killed in Vietnam are: Army Sgt. Carl L. Glasscock, Army Cpl. Edward P. Stefanik, Army Pfc. Roger J. Dumont, Marine Sgt. Harold J. Gilbert, Army Sgt. Robert R. Litwin, Army Lt. Robert O. Gagne, Army Pfc. Zygmunt P. Jablonski Jr., Navy Chief Petty Officer Donald E. Kulacz, Marine Cpl. Robert R. Tolpa, Army Spc. John J. Laskowski, Army Spc. Thomas J. Wilk, Army Pfc. Robert R. Dowds, Army Spc. Michael P. Bouchard and Army 1st Lt. Mark H. Rivest.

During the event chapter member Larry White read a poem he wrote called "A Soldier's Last Request" and Susan Zajchowski, who was an Army nurse read "Hello David" a poem about a dying soldier being treated by a nurse in a military hospital. Air Force Jr. ROTC students from Springfield's Central High School provided the honor guard with the chapter members.

Traditionally the commemoration is held in the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Park, which is bordered by 15 brick pillars, each of which contains a bronze plaque in memory of each of the men. This year the event was moved inside to the neighboring Church of New Covenant.

The move was a last-minute decision. The chapter, which has borrowed chairs from the church for the ceremony for several years, was debating if it should cancel the ceremony because of the pouring rain when Rev. Vasily Tokarev invited them to hold it in the church hall, said Jim Healey, who served as master of ceremonies.

"When there is war everyone loses," Tokarev said. "My goal is to bring peace everywhere."

State Sen. Donald Humason thanked Tokarev and said it shows people can work together. When he was a child Tokarev's native Russia was in a cold war with the United States.

"How are we supposed to get anything done if we don't talk to each other," he said.

Every year veterans visit the schools across the city to teach children a little about Memorial Day and Mayor Richard J. Kos said his message to children is the holiday is not the unofficial start of summer, instead it is to remember those killed in war, those who came back hurt and are still suffering and the families who continue to mourn their loved ones.

He also thanked the veterans for putting on the event, which Kos admitted is probably his favorite Memorial Day commemoration, and all the work they do during the year.

This is the 26th year the candlelight memorial has been held and Healey said it continues to be important to remind families their loved ones are remembered.

"Someone has to remember all of those who gave all they had to give," he said.
Updated at 11:42 a.m. Monday, May 28 to add photo gallery.

HOLYOKE -- So much about fighting in a war is random, retired U.S. Army Col. Stephen P. White said Monday at Veterans' Park.

"I have been machine-gunned, mortared, mined, rocketed and 'IED'd.' They're all random acts. You step left, nothing happens. You step right, bad things happen," White said in the city's Memorial Day ceremony.

"All the military killed while serving are particularly deserving to be honored. None thought bad things would happen to them. They answered the call of our nation and paid the full measure," he said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse and City Councilor Joseph M. McGiverin also made remarks, the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band and Holyoke High School band performed and Eva Teraso sang the National Anthem in the ceremony.

Check back with The Republican and MassLive.com for more coverage of Holyoke's Memorial Day 2018 ceremony, including photos and video.
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- For Gold Star mother Tracy Taylor, Memorial Day is not a day off and it's not the start of summer.

It's a day for her son, Army Spc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, an infantryman who was killed Oct. 14, 2007, in Iraq. He was 22.

"It's a chance to say his name, Kenny Iwasinski of West Springfield," Taylor told a gathering on the town green Monday morning. "So that he'll never be forgotten."

She spoke Monday during West Springfield's annual Memorial Day observance just steps away from the city's veterans monument that bears her son's name.

Later, along with Chris Lizotte, West Springfield director of veterans services, and Mayor William Reichelt, she placed a wreath at the monument.

While all mothers who have lost a child to combat are considered Gold Star mothers, not all these women join the Gold Star Mothers organization,Taylor said. It acts as a support group and a means of carrying on their children's legacy.

She now serves as president of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island departments.

Lizotte said the ceremony is meant to be somber and reflective.

"We want to teach people about the sacrifices that many have made," Lizotte said. "It's a somber day."

Participating was a color guard from American Legion Post 207 in West Springfield, a rifle squad from VFW Post 6714 in West Springfield, State Sen. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield, and State Rep. Michael J. Finn, D-West Springfield.

The West Springfield Middle School band performed as well.

The ceremony on the green followed a 7 a.m. wreath laying on a bridge over the Westfield River between West Springfield and Agawam. There was no parade in West Springfield this year.
The old country is embracing modern times, modern thought.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, in the land once thought of as the New World, there are those who are hard at work trying to turn back the clock, endeavoring to bring back the bad old days.

Voters in Ireland overwhelmingly backed a referendum that will legalize abortion, with nearly two-thirds supporting revocation of a 1983 constitutional amendment that effectively kept women from terminating a pregnancy in nearly all cases.

The vote is just the latest sign that the nation, long under the conservative sway of the Roman Catholic Church, is turning secular, liberal, embracing modernity.

This in itself would be highly noteworthy. But what makes it all the more fascinating is the fact that even as the tradition-bound nation is moving to the left, there are those in the United States who are struggling to pull our country rightward.

The U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 with its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade. Forty-five years later, the battle over abortion continues. No one expects anything similar happening in Ireland, however, which decided to move toward legalized abortion by popular vote.

The die has been cast. The old days, when the word of the church reigned supreme on so many matters, have quickly become a part of history.

Just three years ago, Irish voters approved a ballot measure legalizing same-sex marriage. The nation's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, is a gay man whose father is a Hindu born in India and whose mother is a Catholic born in Ireland.

The times they are a-changin', indeed.

"This has been a great exercise in democracy," Varadkar said, "and the people have spoken and the people have said: We want a modern Constitution for a modern country, and that we trust women and that we respect them to make the right decisions and the right choices about their own health care."

Hear, hear.

If only we heard such sensible talk from more of our political leaders in America.

When he was a candidate for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2016, real-estate mogul Donald Trump, long a supporter of abortion rights, completely changed course. At one point, he demonstrated clearly how little he'd assimilated the arguments of the anti-choice sect of the GOP when he said that if abortion were made illegal, there'd have to be "some form of punishment" for a woman seeking to terminate her pregnancy. Though he quickly recanted that foolish statement, as president, he's consistently worked to undermine women's reproductive rights.

A snapshot of our current moment: Ireland has turned progressive, trusting women to make their own choices. At the same time, some in America want to criminalize those very decisions, and are hard at work trying to keep women from acting autonomously.

On abortion, at least, as Ireland moves forward, America risks turning retrograde.
Danica Patrick was an inspiration to women and young girls, a heartthrob for men, and a target of derision for those in auto racing who refused to see her as anything more than a gimmick with a taste for self-promotion.

What nobody could dispute was Patrick's impact on racing and how she made it matter to people who otherwise would not have cared. Criticisms of the 36-year-old racer were often personal and usually unfair. Her retirement removes a unique personality who developed a worldwide audience.

Patrick's last race was the 2018 Indianapolis 500, and it ended with a non-injurious crash that critics called a fitting curtain call. Her 13-year career netted only one victory, the 2008 Indy/Japan 300, but she is also the only woman to have led laps at the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, and was the 2005 rookie of the year.

While Patrick's career did not produce the victories she had hoped, saying she was out of place in the sport is grossly unfair. If some people saw her as a gimmick, it was only because of the attitudes she encountered from others, not by any behavior of her own.

That didn't stop Kyle Petty from saying Patrick was "not a race car driver" in 2013, and Petty's father, racing legend Richard Petty, from saying had Patrick been a man, nobody would have realized she was at the track. "I just don't think it's a sport for women," Richard Petty said in 2006, and both Pettys noted the marketing opportunities enjoyed by racing's only female star.

There's truth in the marketing observation, but it ignores how men eagerly pursue whatever commercial opportunities come their way, too. Race cars are covered with advertising and those decals aren't plastered onto the chassis for free. And if anyone - male or female - is looking for a way to make money through marketing, driving a car at frightening, death-defying speeds is not the easiest way to do it.

What really irritated some established male drivers was Patrick's refusal to apologize for being herself. She was not "just happy to be there." She was a fierce competitor who chose a dangerous sport that does not give anyone a head start, a wider passing lane or a safer ride.

Looking for ways to diminish her accomplishments, which included several high finishes, some critics suggested that her "woman's advantage" was being lighter than most men. That was quickly dismissed as a "reach" without merit.

Not every racer was hostile to Patrick's presence. Even the critical Pettys conceded the attention she brought to racing offered benefits to everyone. In the early 2000s, she restored interest in the Indianapolis 500 when it was losing its grip as America's most identifiable race.

Many races respected Patrick as another competitor, which she said was all she wanted. Early in her career, Patrick rejected the label of "sex symbol," but later she accepted that her obvious attractiveness was part of the Patrick package and there was no reason to hide, downplay or deny it.

Patrick left a positive mark on racing and American sport culture. She encouraged a new generation of racing fans, including women and girls (and some men) who were inspired by her willingness to compete on equal terms against men in a thrilling, high-risk sport.

She wasn't a Hall of Fame racer, but neither were all but a few of the men she competed against. Patrick had her moments of success, but she didn't have to pile up a long list of victories to prove she belonged.

Once known as a regional, chauvinistic sport, auto racing is now for everyone. Nobody represented that advancement better than Patrick, who leaves with the knowledge she gave her large fan base reason to be proud.
Republican Congressional candidate John Wards recent assertion that Puerto Rican evacuees living in Florida shouldnt be allowed to register to vote is being denounced from both sides of the political spectrum.

The comments by Ward, who is running for Floridas 6th District, were captured in a YouTube video making the rounds Tuesday.

I dont think they should be allowed to register to vote, Ward said of Puerto Ricans who moved to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Its not lost on me that I think the Democrat Party is really hoping they can change the voting registers and I dont think they should be allowed to do that.

His comments came in response to a question about governments role in helping Puerto Rico following the hurricane that nearly destroyed the island last fall. The video was posted on YouTube by the campaign of Fred Costello, a fellow Republican who along with Michael Waltz is battling Ward in the 6th District primary. It was shot on April 23 at a debate in Lake County, according to Vic Baker, Costellos campaign manager.





Previous





2/2 HIDE CAPTION John Ward 1/2 HIDE CAPTION Candidate for Congress John Ward answers questions at an April 23 forum about Puerto Ricans who have come to Florida and whether they will register to vote. [Campaign for Fred Costello for Congress] 2/2 HIDE CAPTION John Ward 1/2 HIDE CAPTION Candidate for Congress John Ward answers questions at an April 23 forum about Puerto Ricans who have come to Florida and whether they will register to vote. [Campaign for Fred Costello for Congress] 2/2 HIDE CAPTION John Ward Next





In the video, Ward later also said he believes the situation is improving in Puerto Rico.

We should be looking to put the Puerto Ricans back in their homes, right? The idea that they can come to the mainland United States, I dont necessarily have a problem with that, but I think we should be thinking about it in terms of getting them back home. And providing the capital and resources to rebuild Puerto Rico, which is, I honestly think, where they belong.

Dolores Guzman, president of the Volusia County chapter of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, said Ward demonstrates ignorance in his comments.

I am so upset at the fact that people treat the Puerto Ricans like they are second-class citizens. We are U.S. citizens. We were given that right in 1917, Guzman said. How dare you say if we move here, especially from a disaster area, that we dont have the right to vote.

The Division of Elections states any citizen residing in Florida has the right to vote.

Guzman said every candidate, Democrat or Republican, should denounce Ward for his comments.

A Republican state lawmaker, Rep. Bob Cortes of Altamonte Springs, did just that in endorsing Costello.

This is an outrage, Cortes said in a written endorsement. No candidate for office in this great country should be so woefully ignorant of the Constitution and the rights it protects for American citizens. Electing a candidate like that is dangerous and would be a disservice, not just to the Puerto Rican Americans he would disenfranchise, but to all freedom-loving Americans.

In contrast to Ward, Costello answered the question at the forum by saying: I absolutely disagree. Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United States of America. They have a right to go anywhere in the United States.

He continued, saying he doesnt want Puerto Ricans who have moved to Florida to register as Democrats.

I want them to understand they moved here for opportunity, Costello said. They moved to Florida because they wanted to take care of their families, and if they want individual liberty and personal responsibility and equal opportunity, we, the Republican Party, need to show they why were the party that they need to gravitate to.

On Tuesday, Costello said the video speaks for itself.

Waltz does not appear in the video, which was shot toward the end of a forum hosted by the Country Club of Mount Dora Republican Club, said Don Marx, president.

Following Ward and Costello in the video, a woman audience member introduces herself as an attorney who studied in Puerto Rico, and offered a rebuttal.

The fact that people from Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States and have been forbidden from voting for the president is one of the basic problems of Puerto Rico. We are put in our little hole there. We are told what to do, she said. ... For you to tell me, to come here, and not be able to vote as an American citizen ... we have to talk.

Marx, who declined to name the woman, said other than her response, there didnt seem to be much chatter about Wards comments as club members left that evening. I didnt pick up on any buzz about what was going on, he said.

Three Democrats are also vying for the 6th District seat currently held by gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis: Nancy Soderberg, John Upchurch and Stephen Sevigny.

Here are some of their comments on the Ward video.

 Soderberg: John Wards shameful and out-of-touch admission is not only stunning, but dangerous. He is advocating that American citizens should not be allowed to vote in an American election. That is an affront to our democracy.

 Upchurch: Puerto Ricans are American citizens and those who have made their home in Florida have endured unbelievable hardship. They have the right to vote in this country, period. ... John Wards comments were inflammatory towards Americans who deserve our assistance and compassion.

 DeSantis: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and any suggestion that they should be treated differently than other Americans is beyond the pale. Hurricane Maria has caused unprecedented damage on the island, necessitating some to establish residency on the mainland, including in Florida. These are our fellow Americans and candidates running for office as Republicans need to be committed to equal treatment under the law for all of our citizens.

Congressional District 6 is comprised of Volusia and Flagler counties and parts of St. Johns and Lake counties. Ward, a Ponte Vedra Beach investor, lives outside of the district boundaries, more than 100 miles away from Guzmans city, Deltona, in Volusia County.

Its shameful, Guzman said. We have 2,000 residents (from Puerto Rico post Maria) here in Volusia County. Theyre working and doing the best they can.

Ward responded to the criticism in a prepared statement he provided The News-Journal.

I stand by what I said. I do not believe the Democrat Party should be able to take advantage of Puerto Rican evacuees fleeing a natural disaster, here on a temporary basis, in order to manipulate voter registration rolls in the run up to the 2018 elections, it reads. I would welcome any Puerto Rican who wants to permanently resettle in Florida to register to vote here. Were all American citizens together.

Ward reiterated his belief that the state and nation should provide resources and capital to help American citizens return to Puerto Rico.

Home is where we all want to go, that is why home is called home, Ward said. There is a difference between coming here temporarily, displaced by a natural disaster, and making a permanent life here on the mainland. Again, I welcome any Puerto Rican who wants to resettle here permanently and I want to do the work necessary to allow Puerto Ricans, that want to do so, to return home safely.

In a final note, misspelling Cortes name, Ward added: I wish Representative Cortez had called me to talk this through before issuing his statement.
In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!


John Moor, mayor of Asbury Park, N.J., walks on the citys boardwalk. He was among those who lobbied for a state law that prohibits oil exploration in waters up to three miles from shore and bucks the Trump administrations push. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

The Trump administrations bid to expand offshore drilling sounds like a sweet deal when the oil and gas industry sells it: more jobs, increased local revenue and possibly an energy surplus that could lower home heating costs.

But Mayor John Moors opinion of the proposal to drill off the Atlantic Coast for the first time in decades is set: I dont think the risk is worth all the money in the world, he said at City Hall, a few blocks from the popular beach boardwalk that is fueling his citys economic turnaround.

You could stack billions atop of billions atop of billions and its just not worth the risk.

Moors unwavering view stretches the length of the 142-mile Jersey Shore, from northern municipalities such as Asbury Park to Cape May in the south. As Memorial Day and beach season approached, several mayors whose economies rely heavily on tourism said they are united in opposition to President Trumps plan.

New Jersey beaches were an embarrassment 30 years ago, but state officials have poured millions of dollars into efforts to recover from a pollution catastrophe. The shore is revitalized, a state treasure that residents, conservationists and politicians fiercely protect.

Across the Atlantic Coast strip, mayors in nearly every city teamed with council members, conservationists, business leaders and residents to craft resolutions that denounced the proposal to widen federal offshore leasing to 90 percent of the outer continental shelf, an effort that began just days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the plan in January.

They helped put New Jersey at the forefront of resistance to Trumps energy dominance agenda, crafting obstacles to the five-year lease proposal that at least one other state copied and another is considering.

Last month, New Jersey became the first Atlantic state to adopt a legal barrier to offshore drilling. Lawmakers passed a bill , signed by Gov. Phil Murphy (D), that prohibits oil exploration in state waters, which extend three miles from shore.

An amendment to the law went further, barring the construction of infrastructure such as a pipeline to deliver oil and natural gas from drilling platforms in federal waters that start where state waters end, a move that would head off the industrys favored method of bringing energy resources to shore.

New York quickly passed a similar law. And a Republican state senator in Delaware submitted a bill in mid-May that mirrors those of the states northern neighbors.

Some chamber of commerce estimates put the economic impact of coastal Atlantic beach tourism at $95 billion a year.

The administrations proposal has stood on shaky ground from the beginning. Within days of the announcement, Zinke flew to Florida to assure a political ally, Gov. Rick Scott (R), that his state would be exempt.

After a barrage of bipartisan criticism and requests for the same treatment from other coastal states, Zinke has backpedaled.

At congressional hearings in March, Zinke assured Pacific Coast officials that a paucity of easily extractable oil there makes it unlikely that drilling will happen. Later he said something similar about Maine.

A pair of Republican representatives from New Jersey, Leonard Lance and Frank A. LoBiondo, said the secretary indicated to them that the state would also be left off the plan.

Regardless, they pushed for the state ban as a backdoor way of blocking the offshore drilling, according to its co-sponsor, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D), whose district includes Cape May.

But banning gas pipelines in state waters isnt necessarily . . . a showstopper, said Nicolette Nye, a spokeswoman for the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents oil and gas interests. Pipelines are the cheapest way to transport oil and natural gas to a processing plant, she said, but an expensive plant could be built in federal waters or shipped in an offshore vessel.

While the stated goal is to reduce dependence on oil, the fact remains that a major shift from oil as a fuel is still many years away, Nye said. Thus such a pipeline ban will likely actually increase importation of oil from foreign countries.

But Jersey Shore drilling opponents are deeply influenced by the shores dark history, when federal officials allowed state and local governments to dump millions of tons of sewage into the ocean.

The result was an environmental disaster that led to a tourism exodus from New Jersey beaches, billions of dollars in losses and a generation of conservationists and politicians who said never again.



Fishermen cast their lines from a rocky strip just north of Atlantic City. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

The trash era

In the late 1980s, the Jersey Shores reputation was garbage.

It was a victim of a lawful practice that polluted the coast. Six New Jersey cities and three in New York routinely sent barges piled with 8 million wet tons of sewage to a dumping area 100 miles off Cape May.

Floating trash washed up on beaches from Long Island to Cape May. Everything from A to Z, said Moor, the mayor of Asbury Park.

We used to call it the tampon index because if you had a certain number of tampon applicators youd know how much raw sewage washed up on the beach and whether you could swim, said Cindy Zipf, the executive director of Clean Ocean Action, who sat next to Moor at City Hall.

Near Cape May, Martin Pagliughi, mayor of Avalon, remembered. We spent every morning, 5:30 in the morning, scouring the beaches with shovels and buckets and scoops to kind of get all those, he said.

Congress passed the federal anti-dumping act of 1988 that ended sewage dumping in 1991 as New York City continued to assert that its ocean garbage runs had nothing to do with the pollution. Meanwhile, syringes and other medical waste continued to wash up on beaches

By that time, oceanfront rentals and hotels had emptied, few customers were in stores and the shore was the butt of jokes.

New Jersey lost between $900 million and $4 billion, and New York lost between $950 million and $2 billion, according to an estimate by the State University of New York Waste Management Institute.

As the larger dumping debacle played out, Asbury Park was rocked by its own sewage problem starting in 1987. The city botched the maintenance of its sewer lines for two years, then mishandled a cleanup effort by flushing grease into a treatment plant that couldnt handle it. Blobs of fat mixed with fecal matter drifted into the ocean, broke apart and contaminated the beaches of eight cities at the height of the summer season.

These beaches were empty, said John Weber, the Mid-Atlantic regional manager for the Surfrider Foundation, a conservation group. And I knew because, if you wanted to surf by yourself, if there were good waves, you could come to Asbury Park to not bother with the crowds. That was like their little secret spot, Asbury Park.

The beaches were terrible because of the sewage, Moor said. The tourism loss led to the economic decline of the city itself and also with the boardwalk, which was in terrible disrepair.

Asbury Park was fined nearly $1 million, the stiffest fine ever levied by the states environmental agency against a city.

This city was down and out, Moor said.

Now, after nearly three decades, Asbury Park is resurging. The sewage plant was upgraded and is winning awards. The beach is restored.

Revenue from the tags people must purchase to access the beach is marching upward, from $85,400 in 2003 to nearly $2.2 million last year, money that must be spent to maintain and improve the waterfront.Parking revenue rose to the $1 million mark in 2011, and last year it topped $5 million.

New retail stores and restaurants on a three-block stretch of Cookman Avenue leading to the boardwalk have drawn international praise. New condominiums sprang up years ago, and another gigantic mixed-use development is being built.

Every weekend theres something going on in Asbury Park, Moor said. So when news broke of Trumps drilling proposal, he felt threatened.

How do we stop this, Moor recalled wondering, because its totally insane.



Members of several environmental groups, along with local and state politicians, join a Hands Across the Sand event in Bradley Beach, N.J., showing their opposition to offshore drilling and support of a clean-energy economy. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

The activism era

Like other mayors, Moor turned to activists.

Out of the muck of the late 1980s, determined environmental conservation efforts sprang up. That was when a lot of us got together and formed the Jersey Shore Partnership and created a beach lobbying type of environment, said Pagliughi, the mayor of Avalon.

Zipf became their guide.

Working with Vicki Clark of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, she pulled together a network of people who raised public and political awareness.

Zipf also helped craft the amendment that forbids oil pipelines in New Jersey waters, which is modeled on a California law.

David Holt, president of the Consumer Energy Alliance, said outlawing that infrastructure could lead to the type of catastrophe states are trying to avoid.

Theyre basically saying no to the most environmentally sensitive way to handle this, Holt said. It is a concern for groups like ours.

For others on the Jersey Shore, resistance means there is a better chance that ocean views and waters will remain pristine, beckoning to tourists and their wallets.

Were pretty passionate about protecting our tourism economy, Clark said. She recalled lobbying mayors and council members to pass resolutions when she bumped into them on the streets.

Pagliughi, who called the opposition a no-brainer, was a quick sell. Cape May Mayor Clarence F. Lear III, who doesnt want to see a single oil platform on his horizon, asked what he could do.

Clark summed up her lobbying to fight Trumps proposal: It was easy, she said.



A stretch of Atlantic Ocean that he worked to protect crashes in the distance as Mayor John Moor exits the convention hall at the boardwalk in Asbury Park, N.J. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

Read more
2:06 You dont deserve American food!: Muslim students attacked at McDonalds A man was arrested May 23 after deputies said he threatened a group of International students from Egypt at a at a Saint Augustine, Fla., McDonalds.

John Jay Smith kept muttering to police they killed my son, but really all that the five young men had done was eat some food in a McDonalds parking lot.

It was sometime past 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. The five friends were having a mini tailgate, finishing their burgers and fries while standing outside their two cars in a Saint Augustine, Fla., McDonalds lot, when Smith started eyeing them from his truck, the men would soon tell police.

The man was on the phone, but once he hung up he had a question for the five men.

Are you American boys? he asked, according to a St. Johns County Sheriffs Office arrest report.

They were not American boys. They were international students from Egypt, all between the ages of 19 and 23, Omar Abdelmoaty told The Washington Post. But they didnt tell that to Smith.

The truth is, we didnt even look at him, 23-year-old Abdelmoaty said. We didnt respond. We didnt say anything. And then he said some stuff to us.  Do you really want to know?

According to the arrest report, Smith flashed his pocket knife, flicking it open and closed, and then he shouted, Get the  out of my country! using the f-word, and You dont deserve American food!



John Jay Smith (St. Johns County Sheriffs Office)

At this point, Abdelmoaty told The Post, we thought we were going to die.

We said, Okay, sir, we are leaving,  20-year-old Mohamed Galal recounted in a sworn affidavit.

They were apparently not leaving fast enough. According to the police report, Smith grabbed a stun gun from his truck to make this quicker, as he put it, according to the affidavit.

ADVERTISING

As the men scrambled to get back into their cars, Smith allegedly charged toward them with the stun gun drawn, pulling the trigger just to show us that his electric shocker is working, Abdelmoaty told police.

One of them, 19-year-old Gasser Elkady, swung open the door to the back seat of the red Nissan while Smith put the [stun gun] behind my back. Smith did not relent once Elkady was inside. Police say he then stuck his hand through the window and tried, unsuccessfully, to use the stun gun on Elkady again as Elkady retreated farther back into the car.

Then Smith moved on to the drivers side, allegedly sticking his hand through the open drivers side window and sticking his stun gun in Galals face.

Galal was so spooked that he hit the gas with the car in reverse and struck a pole. Then he and the others peeled out of the lot and called 911.

Upon my arrival, Deputy Kristin Pamies wrote in her report, I made contact with John Smith. John had the smell of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person and he was slurring his words. John made spontaneous statements advising, I am an American and the guys by the vehicles were making ruckus so I told them to get out of here and one of them pulled a gun and they left in a red vehicle.

The red Nissan returned to the scene. No gun was recovered, and in his formal recorded statement to police Smith did not mention a gun again, Pamies noted. He did, however, tell police he went up to the window and initiated a shock with his zapper. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Once in the back of the cop car, an officer reported that Smith made the spontaneous utterance that they killed my son. His son, he said, was a Marine who died in combat in Afghanistan.

Smith was arrested and booked Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary with assault, and armed trespassing. He is out on an $8,500 bond.

Police selected the hate crime enhancement on the report, noting that the statements made by the defendant to the victims showed that he only committed the acts due to the victims religion, but it is not clear if prosecutors will charge him with a hate crime in court.

Abdelmoaty said he and his friends are Muslims.

In the interview early Thursday morning, Abdelmoaty told The Washington Post that he and his friends have not been sleeping since the attack, that they have been trying to get back to studying but that this incident has consumed them, making it difficult to even go out in public to go on with their daily lives. Were in a state of fear, he said.

They have been in the United States for seven to 10 months, and Abdelmoaty said they have never experienced anything like this before. Asked why they believe they were targeted, Abdelmoaty says it seems obvious to him, but that its hard to say it out loud, because that makes it real.

This is the land of the free, so we didnt think one day that we would encounter something like this, he said. We didnt do anything to anybody. Were just students. The basic idea that he charged us and attacked us for this, for our religion, for our home country and background, its kind of scary. In the first place, were just human beings  names and descriptions came afterward.

We dont hate him for what he did, he said. Were just sad.

In the police report, deputies noted that evidence at the scene corroborated the five mens version of events. The McDonalds manager told police she saw Smith get out of his truck with a stun gun and threaten the men through the car windows. The police found damage to the Nissans back bumper, its red paint still on the pole it backed into. They found the knife in Smiths pocket.

They found the burgers and fries and milkshakes scattered in the parking lot.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30)  CNN Philippines held Wednesday its first business forum on the government's massive infrastructure plan, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Taguig.

Focusing on the administration's "Build, Build, Build" program, the forum featured five panelists that include Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vivencio Dizon.

Build, Build, Build has greatly increased government spending in April, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) data showed.

Government spending in April 2018 was at P261.2 billion, up 43 percent from last year. This was driven by infrastructure spending, which counted for almost a quarter of the expenses for that month at P65.6 billion.

Overall, the government has spent P1.03 trillion for the first four months of this year, and its poised to spend more.

We are keeping our foot on the gas pedal with regards to government spending, said Diokno said in a statement Wednesday. Strong government spending will only improve our growth and development prospects, which means better living standards and more economic opportunities for our people.

Infrastructure is one of the top priorities of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, in an effort to bring more inclusive growth outside of the Metro Manila region.

This administrations Build, Build, Build program is a way of spatially targeting the poor in different parts of the country, given that the thrust of the program is building infrastructure in the regions, Pernia said in a statement Wednesday.

According to the latest World Bank report, the country's poverty rate was at 21.6 percent in 2015.

The government targets a gross domestic product of 7 to 8 percent and a significant reduction in poverty by the end of Duterte's term in 2022.

The "Build, Build, Build" program is composed of 75 flagship infrastructure projects, including six airports, nine railways, three bus transits, 32 roads and bridges, and four seaports.

The government estimates these projects will cost approximately P8.44 trillion ($167.3 billion), to be funded by a mix of local and foreign sources.

These projects are expected to create 1.7 million jobs.

The government launched an online Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, portal to connect workers to job opportunities to meet the demand created in the infrastructure sector.

"The Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Portal will serve as a job matching platform between potential employers and employees as the government moves to complement its Build, Build, Build infrastructure initiatives with more job opportunities for Filipinos," Villar said in a statement.

CNN Philippines Chief Correspondent Pia Hontiveros and CNN International Correspondent Andrew Stevens interviewed these officials about the administration's ambitious infrastructure plan, which aims to bring about a "Golden Age of Infrastructure."

The country's economic and infrastructure managers will also be facing a panel of business leaders from various business organizations as well as representatives from different embassies in the Philippines.

"Building for the Future" will air on CNN Philippines on Friday, June 1, at 7:00 p.m.
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
Manila (CNN Philippines Life)  In 2012, Maria Lourdes Serenos appointment as the Philippines first female and youngest Chief Justice of the Supreme Court broke new grounds. Today, a similar level of unprecedentedness marks her exit from the high court. She is the first SC chief to ever be unseated by her own peers in the court.

However polarized our political conversations are, there is one thing that all sides can agree on: Sereno made and continues to make history.

For many, she is Mamshie Meilou, a fiercely independent CJ who stood up against the bully that is Tatay Digong. Former Chief Justice Sereno faced not only challenges to the independence of the SC but also demeaning personal attacks by President Rodrigo Duterte. In a press briefing, Duterte called her ignorant and dumb and declared that her successor should not be a woman. She takes it personally that the president has chosen to undermine women leaders and treat them as second-class citizens.

Would he want his female children and grandchildren to have less chances in life to be a Chief Justice or Ombudsman? There are many proofs that women are capable of achieving great things around the world. He must look at us, we, women, as his equal, says Sereno.

For others, the former chief magistrate lacks integrity and is a closet partisan. Dutertes spokesperson Harry Roque, a fellow former professor at the UP College of Law, claims that she is solely responsible for her own ouster for previously failing to file her SALNs (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth). The administrations allies and supporters accused her of taking the side of the opposition. Yet Sereno is reluctant to assume the leadership of the countrys feeble opposition.

The little man is losing his voice. Powerless individuals will become defenseless. When judicial independence is attacked, individual freedoms are also under attack, former CJ Sereno says on how the rule to unseat her exposes a larger problem of judicial independence that Filipinos could face. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO

It is a tough role to lead the opposition. I need to discern, pray, and ask many questions, she says. First, who and what is the opposition? When I asked the president to resign, it was not about siding with the opposition. I only want him and his allies in Congress to be truthful and be accountable to their actions. That it was the presidents order to have me removed from my post.

She has also earned the moniker Serene Sereno, which she gladly embraced, for exhibiting calmness despite losing the battle for her position. Many young people, who made troves of memes out of the testimonies by Serenos colleagues against her, were surprised by how composed she handled the derisive and petty allegations of her fellow justices. She claims that her serenity is coming from a good God, a God that I completely depend on. He is someone who does not tolerate cruelty and injustice. However, this public display of spirituality is also sometimes met with criticisms. They argue that faithfulness to God demands submitting to authorities. But to her mind, this is a mistake.

Others say that if you believe in God, you should not engage in protests. This is not in consonance to my faith, she explains. Faithfulness to Him also demands that you are accountable to the people, that you fight for what is right and just. Especially for public officials, it is a sin to be meek and silent in the face of injustice.

A minority CJ

This is not the first time that Sereno has stirred up the judiciary. Early on, as the first appointee of former President Aquino to the high tribunal, she earned the ire of her senior colleagues when she defied tradition and made frank criticisms of how the SC was run under then CJ Reynato Corona. This resentment of the most senior justices of SC grew more when she, who ranked 13 among the 14 justices of the court in terms of seniority, chose to bypass them and accept the appointment as CJ. In many landmark decisions of the court, Sereno always found herself penning dissenting opinions.

Her vulnerability, occupying a minority position in the SC, has always been clear to her. Given what happened to Corona, it was not difficult to foresee that she would also eventually face challenges to remove her from the high court. I knew that the next administration would have 12 appointees. So, that is 12 against three. That is a very lopsided figure, she says. It was clear to my mind that if the political forces would move to oust me, there is a strong possibility that they will succeed.

Sereno has also earned the moniker Serene Sereno, which she gladly embraced, for exhibiting calmness despite losing the battle for her position. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO

But her being a minority CJ does not bother her. I made a decision early on in my life that one must fight not because of the odds of winning but because one believes that she is fighting for what is right.

So despite her exposed position, she has no regrets in how she served her term and led the courts. She made several reforms that resulted to a more efficient and accessible judiciary, particularly the automation of the courts.

Right now, we have 297 electronic courts. For the first time, we broke the thinking that we cannot automate the courts, she shares. We also automated hearing. Litigants can now receive the court order just 15 minutes after the judges read it. We no longer use the snail mail. This cut down two to three months of delay time in receiving the order.

There were also improvements in attempts to solve the perennial problem of court congestion. We have deployed many volunteers to courts for the decongestion project. Court dockets are now significantly decongested. In some target areas, 50-60 percent of the cases were reduced. There is also continuous trial. For the first time, we have shown that in five months time, it is possible to finish a trial from filing of information to conviction.

Sereno presided over not only a more efficient SC but also a fiercely independent one. This, she considers her most important achievement. With neither the power of the purse nor the sword, the high court relied on its power of handing down fair and independent judgements.

I can look every judge in the eye and say: we have stood for what is right, regardless of the odds and consequences. We stood our ground. We showed independence. I have been fiercely independent regardless of the consequences. Everyone who loves democracy must be willing to bear the cost.

SC between crisis and transformation

For all her public appearances at present, no one would have imagined that she would end up under the limelight. Upon her assumption of the CJ post, Sereno insisted that her first order of the day was to restrain her engagement with the media and the public. Leading the high court post-Coronas impeachment, she maintained that the SC must bring its glory back by returning to the dignified days of silence.

Before, I try to follow the classical concept of the judge who is seen and heard only through her decisions, says Sereno Sometimes, you will hear my opinions through the oral arguments that are audio livestreamed. But other than that, I try to stay away from the public eye hoping that we can go back to a classical time when the judiciary had an outstanding reputation and high prestige.

But times have clearly changed. In the past years, the judiciary has consistently received lower trust and performance satisfaction ratings in national surveys compared to the other branches of government. Sereno assumed the leadership of the judiciary at a time when there is an absence of public confidence in the courts and a demand for deep and durable reforms in the justice system. People are calling for a more in-depth analysis of what goes behind the closed-door sessions in the halls of justice. She adds, I find this really important especially during the time when I went around the country to consult the people about judicial reforms. I even went to malls and campuses to talk about issues in our justice system.

The image of a reclusive chief magistrate eventually gave way to an increasingly vocal top justice. This is more evident now that the high court has been put on a defensive position. Since his assumption to the presidency, Duterte has repeatedly targeted the courts. He has included judges in a list of public officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, threatened to ask the executive department to refuse to recognize the CJ, and personally named Sereno his enemy.

All these she did not take sitting down.

The judiciary must stand for judicial independence and democracy so that Filipinos will not think that they are defenseless. Otherwise, where would people go? There are so many people who are suffering injustice, she says.

When we make a stand for what is right, we are also making it on behalf of all those who face injustices in their lives. Their situation is even more difficult because they do not have allies. Whether you are bullied in your school or office or you are a battered wife or child, it is the same injustice. Every time you shout on behalf of justice, a little of injustice dissipates. This fight is about justice for every Filipino.

Commonly called the weakest branch of the government, the national judiciary has been pushed to assume a leading role in the fight against democratic erosion. She says that there need not be a formal declaration of martial law to feel and see the fear and attacks perpetrated on democratic institutions.

Whenever fear is being used as a major policy tool, then we will have a problem. That is why people must fight for judicial independence, to clap back against an atmosphere of fear. We must fight to reclaim the primacy of the constitution, she says.

"Would he want his female children and grandchildren to have less chances in life to be a Chief Justice or Ombudsman? There are many proofs that women are capable of achieving great things around the world. He must look at us, we, women, as his equal, says Sereno on President Duterte's statement saying that he doesn't want a woman to lead the Supreme Court. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO

In all these conversations about noble but big ideals of democracy, freedom and judicial independence, Sereno does not lose sight of how important this is for the man and woman on the street.

The little man is losing his voice. Powerless individuals will become defenseless. When judicial independence is attacked, individual freedoms are also under attack, she explains.

You would notice that the attacks on the judiciary are also accompanied by harassments against the political opposition, dissenters, critics, and even journalists. They go hand in hand. It is an alarming trend that our courts are attacked and our individual freedoms are repressed.

In the end, the public embraced the CJs cause. She says that people have told her that her cause resonates with the public and she is happy to share this fight with them. She highlights that the fight is never about her, but about the principles and values of the Filipino people. The value that power should not be concentrated in any branch of the government, the principle that helpless individuals can run to the courts to protect them, she says.

And whether this fight will bring her to the Senate in 2019, the CJ is reluctant but not closed to the possibility. After all, precedence may inspire Sereno. CJ Marcelo Fernan previously made it to be the only Filipino to head the high court and eventually become Senate President. I will lend my voice to those who need it so they can be heard, to those who wish that their fight for democracy and against injustices be heard. That is clear to me. Not all individuals are given the power and the opportunity to be listened to. Small people rarely get heard. If I can amplify their voices, I will not hesitate to do it.

Will our democracy survive?

Since President Duterte first took office, many of his landmark policies, from the War on Drugs and the martial law in Mindanao, have landed in the Supreme Court. Duterte has responded by challenging the legitimacy of the courts, and even regularly denouncing the Chief Justice. But these are not only rhetorical attacks on the judiciary. Duterte has also presided over an executive department that signals open disrespect for human rights and the rule of law. The increasing number of dead bodies of the poor in our streets, as a result of his murderous war on illegal drugs campaign, have sent the message that rules do not apply to the rich and powerful and that, in fact, our right to life depends upon the willingness of our law enforcement officers to follow the laws of the land.

Commonly called the weakest branch of the government, the national judiciary has been pushed to assume a leading role in the fight against democratic erosion. Sereno says that there need not be a formal declaration of martial law to feel and see the fear and attacks perpetrated on democratic institutions. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO

How should the justices respond to this law-breaking chief executive? Can the judiciary play a role in resisting the slow erosion of our democratic values and institutions?

In all these, Serenos actions in the past years declare an unequivocal response: to aggressively counter any attacks on judicial independence and individual freedoms and, to the surprise of many, to personally stand ones ground regardless of odds and consequences. These are not normal times. The gods and goddesses of Padre Faura, and even ordinary Filipinos, are called by no less than the chief magistrate to approach their role differently and bravely, in the face of real challenges to our constitution.

I am not giving up on anything. I had not given up. What I have had was just a loss of position, a temporal position. There has not been a loss of conviction, there has not been a resolve to fight for what is right, she says. I did not and do not lose hope in any situation. When hope seems to be its dimmest, that is when you must be at your bravest.

Over the long term, the best protection for judicial independence and legitimacy is not having an extraordinary CJ like Sereno but in building public support for the courts. This entails reminding the public that a weak court ultimately diminishes our individual rights and freedoms.

However, this also requires a commitment to building a judiciary that our people can embrace  one that is more representative and transparent, not captive to elite interests, and more capable of providing meaningful access to justice in the matters that impact our choices, chances, and lives.
Lawmakers, business officials and others in the public policy realm are headed to Mackinac Island this week to partake in the annual Mackinac Policy Conference.

The conference, hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, runs from May 29 to June 1 and is focused on three overall themes: Michigan's preparedness and competitiveness for business investment, readiness for next-generation mobility and trust in government, media and business institutions.

More than 100 government officials at the local, state and federal level registered for the conference, with all state legislative leadership expected to attend.

One big draw for the Mackinac Policy Conference is the gubernatorial debate featuring the top three candidates for both Republican and Democratic primaries.

That includes Attorney General Bill Schuette, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and state Sen. Patrick Colbeck on the Republican side, and former state lawmaker Gretchen Whitmer, physician and public health expert Abdul El-Sayed and businessman Shri Thanedar on the Democratic side.

Featured speakers include former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, former U.S. Secretary of Education John King and Gov. Rick Snyder.

The conference will also feature panel discussions on topics ranging from regional transit to bringing gender parity to the workforce, as well as discussions on opioids in the work place and how to attract talent in STEM fields to the state.

MLive reporters Lauren Gibbons, Emily Lawler and Dana Afana and MLive News Leader Shannon Murphy will be attending the conference. Follow them on MLive or on Twitter at @laurenmgibbons, @emilyjanelawler, @danaafana and @smurph5 for updates throughout the weeklong event.
The U.S. Coast Guard has long pushed life jackets as the best way for boaters on the Great Lakes and inland lakes to be safe on the water.

This season, authorities are reminding boaters of a few other prevention tips: Wear bright colors so rescue crews have an easier time finding you in the water - because many of Michigan's lakes are huge and you are small.

And if you go overboard, it's a Coast Guard chopper crew that may come looking for you. If you want to look like more than a speck in a bathtub, wear some eye-catching colors under your life jacket.

Because even though no one ever plans to end up in the water when they head out on a boat, the truth is you're only one mishap, ill-timed jump or medical problem away from turning from a boater into a victim, the Coast Guard said.

Some really smart boaters even wear reflective gear.

"It's difficult to see a single person in the water, so anything you can do to make yourself more visible is good," said Lt. Ted Borny of the Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City.

And with most Great Lakes water still dangerously cold in the 40- and 50-degree range, the time you have to help yourself once you're in the water is short.

"You want to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature," Borny said.

"Nobody expects to go in the water. Nobody is planning on it when it's sunny and 75. But it's that submerged log that you didn't see. And all of the sudden, you end up in the water."

Air Stations in Traverse City and Detroit run rescue missions throughout the year, responding to boaters and kayakers in trouble, vessel mishaps and even medical evacuations aboard freighters. This year, there are also seasonal Air Stations in Muskegon and Waukegan, Ill.

Traverse City alone launches for about 220 cases each year, Borny said. The station recently switched to three Jayhawk MH-60 helicopters, which can stay in the air longer during search-and-rescue missions.

But not all the rescue calls have happy endings.

In some cases, the bodies of paddlers and swimmers reported missing last year have not yet been found.

When the water is as cold as it is now - really anything colder than 60 degrees - boaters need to remember the "1-10-1" rule of cold water survival.

1: "Any time you get immersed in cold water, your initial reaction is just to gasp," Borny said. If that happens, you could suck in a gulp of water and start to drown. Instead, keep your head above water for that first minute and steady your breathing. Get control so you can survive.

10: You've got 10 minutes where your body will function well enough in cold water to pull yourself back into your boat, or swim to shore if you're very close. This is your self-rescue window. After this, you'll likely lose control of your muscles.

"This is why we push life jackets so much," Borny said. "If you are not wearing a life jacket, you are going to be going down from there."

"Life jackets allow you to cough water out of your lungs, take a breath of air and regroup."

1: It can take about an hour for hypothermia to make you lose consciousness. If you're not wearing a life jacket, it's unlikely you'll make it that long.
A falling tree limb killed two motorcyclists, the Barry County Sheriff's Office reports.

The Barry County Sheriff's Office was dispatched Sunday, May 27, to an injury accident involving two motorcycles on Yankee Springs Road between M-179 and Deep Lake Road.

The initial investigation showed that two motorcycles were traveling south on Yankee Springs Road. A large tree limb fell on top of one of the motorcycles. The other motorcycle drove into the same tree limb. Both riders were thrown from their motorcycles. Both riders were wearing helmets, police said.

A 47-year-old Wyoming man was operating one of the motorcycles and a 55-year-old Hudsonville man was operating the other motorcycle, police said.

Attempts were made to save the Hudsonville man's life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wyoming male was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries, police said.

The crash remains under investigation.

Yankee Springs Fire, Wayland Fire, Wayland EMS, Michigan DNR, Michigan State Police, Barry County Road Commission, and Barry County Central Dispatch assisted the sheriff's office.
AUGUSTA, MI -- Tanya Raab smiled as she went down a massive string of cars leaving Fort Custer National Cemetery, gripping a handful of roses.

She was helping the owner Plumeria Botanical Boutique, a florist in Battle Creek, who handed out roses to each attendant leaving the Fort Custer Memorial Day Service. You wouldn't know it, but it's been an emotional day for Raab.

She spent the night before in the massive cemetery, with a crew of 30 volunteers, tasked with sweeping off 3,000 graves in the cemetery, one of which belongs to her late husband, a Marine who served two tours in Vietnam.

Raab found herself volunteering a lot in the cemetery, so it wasn't surprising that when she heard Plumeria was providing roses to lay across every single gravesite at Fort Custer for their annual Memorial Day Ceremony, she decided to start her own annual event, Sweep the Cemetery.

After they cleared a plot, Raab said she and the other volunteers made it a point to speak the name engraved on it aloud.

Being close to each grave and reading each name aloud makes the experience deeply personal, she said. You feel more connected not only to the deceased, but to fellow volunteers.

"It's a passion, you connect with people when they are at their most vulnerable," Raab said. "And it humbles you to be able to do so."

She got quiet for a moment when her eyes well, and added, "It's OK. Sometimes it just stings more than others."

Raab isn't alone. There is a tangible mixing of pride and grief among those surrounding the stage at Fort Custer during the ceremony. The former, however, is winning.

Veterans and their families from all types of service were asked to stand, and hundreds of supporters cheered, thanking them personally for their service.

One such veteran was 97-year-old Rex Welch, who served as a captain in the army in World War II and has earned three or four Purple Hearts. The correct number has become a topic of some debate in the family.

After the service numerous people approached Welch to shake his hand and to simply meet him. Don Gillespie, who served as a sergeant, was so impressed he asked Welch to take a photo with him.

Elizabeth Bohannon was another guest who felt overwhelmed by the showing of support for local veterans and their families, a subject that for her, a Blue Star mother, is close to her heart.

In her experience, providing a network of support for military families is of the utmost importance. When her son was serving in Afghanistan, she struggled to sort out her feelings, and relied on the support of fellow blue star mothers.

With those feelings in mind, she was honored to be representing Blue Star mothers in the service, and was grateful beyond words that hundreds of people attended the service, despite the 90-degree temperatures.

Bohannon added though, that the service choked her up not only because it made her think of her son, but because it made her think of her father. Bohannon described a moment etched in her memory. Her son had just returned home from duty, and her father just stood up silently and shook his hand.

"That was the proudest moment of my life," Bohannon said. "And that is what today is about."
SANDUSKY, OHIO - It's not the memories a lot of people had hoped to make. A power outage at Cedar Point stranded riders on some coasters in near 90-degree heat on Memorial Day.

The power went out after the driver of a car hit a power pole, a park spokesperson told the Toledo Blade. The outage, which occurred at about 1:45 p.m. and was restored two hours later, reportedly affected about one-third of the park's rides.

"All of the rides that were affected safely came to a stop and all guests are being escorted off," Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark said, according to the Blade.

About an hour into the power outage at Cedar Point. People stuck on lots of rides including Windseeker and Sky Ride. Here they are checking on Millennium Force riders. pic.twitter.com/tveu5mDH1n  Matt Lydy (@mlydy) May 28, 2018

Confused guests were finally alerted to the power outage via a tweet at 2:23pm which read: "We're currently experiencing a power outage in a portion of the park. Ohio Edison is currently addressing this and will restore power as quickly as possible. Thanks for your patience!"

According to people on Twitter, some of the rides people were stuck on were Millennium Force, Rougarou, Sky Ride and WindSeeker. People in the park also reported the outage closed Steel Vengeance, Raptor and GateKeeper.

Anyone affected by the power outage can return to Cedar Point anytime from now through Labor Day for free with proof of their ticket purchase from today, according to the Blade via Tony Clark.

Stuck on rougarou at cedar point today. Eventually got us over the top. All rides shut down due to power failure. pic.twitter.com/CVvP7XfvtZ  Stephen Howard (@plopbellie) May 28, 2018

Yes you may! I am still here and its been over an hour and it still hasnt moved. Other rides are down as well. I also took this video. pic.twitter.com/EiWVpsBL39  sarah (@sarah_lizzzzz) May 28, 2018

More Cedar Point from MLive:

Stranded rider goes on Facebook Live from top of Valravn
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28)  The fire department said three people suffered minor injuries after a blaze broke out at the Land Management Bureau (LMB) Building in Binondo, Manila early Monday, quickly spreading to three nearby buildings including one housing offices of the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP).

Manila Fire District Senior Superintendent Jonas Silvano said the fire at the LMB that started at 12:36 a.m. spread to the 150 Plaza Cervantes building, Moraga Mansion and the Juan Luna E-Services Building (also known as Pacific Commercial Company Building) that houses some offices of the NAP.

"'Yung isang bumbero yung laceration lang sa kamay yung isang fire volunteer laceration din and yung isang volunteer din difficulty of breathing, so 'yun ang reported injuries natin," Silvano told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon.

[Translation: One fireman suffered a laceration on the hand. A volunteer fireman suffered a laceration as well while another volunteer had difficulty in breathing, so those are the reported injuries.]

As of 8:30 a.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) declared "Task Force Charlie" which meant 36 fire trucks have responded. Silvano also confirmed the blaze reached the third floor and portions of the fourth floor of the building which houses offices of the NAP.

"It started from the Land Management Bureau tapos nadamay ang BPI [BPI was affected] and then 'yung isang building po [and the other building] I just dont remember the exact name, kasalukuyan po [right now] we are trying to confine the fire on the 11th floor and sa may lugar ng National Archives [and by the National Archives area]...affected po ang third floor and portion ng fourth floor," Silvano said.

Vicente Velasco, an employee of the NAP administration department, told CNN Philippines that the affected offices in the building do not house any historical documents. The third floor is occupied by the NAP administration offices where requests to see the documents are filed. The historical documents are located in NAP's other offices such as in Paco, Manila and in the National Library in Ermita.

CNN Philippines approached NAP Executive Director Victorino Manalo but he refused to comment.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which heads the LMB, also confirmed the safety of their employees and all important records contained in the building. They pegged the total cost of damages at P100 million due to the lost gadgets purchased for the digitization of their records.

"The DENR said that while land records in the building had been damaged, these only serve as back-up of documents in the regional offices," their statement said.

DENR added that Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has formed a committee, headed by Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr., to assess any damage to the bureau's other important documents.

They also advised citizens to forward all land concerns and inquiries to their Help Desk in their Quezon City office.

The BFP said they are still gathering information on the cause of the incident.

The LMB building is located along Plaza Cervantes, approximately 200 meters from the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch that marks Binondo's Chinatown district.
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.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
The moment a man scaled four storeys of a Paris apartment to rescue a dangling boy was captured on camera.



Mamoudou Gassama arrived in the French capital from Mali just a few months ago. On Saturday evening (local time) the 22-year-old was walking down Rue Marx-Dormoy in Paris' 18th arrondissement [district] when he heard people shouting and sounding their car horns.

He looked up to see a small boy dangling off the side of an apartment balcony some four storeys high. Without a second thought, Mr Gassama sprang into action.

Video shows him clambering quickly up the side of the building, pulling himself from balcony to balcony. Two other people can be seen reaching out to try to hold onto the boy from a neighbouring apartment.

Within a matter of moments Mr Gassama reached for the child, grabbing him by one arm and hauling him to safety.

He didn't seek attention after his courageous act, and was only tracked down by reporters the following day.

He told local media that despite his seeming fearlessness in the face of danger, he felt far from calm during the dramatic rescue.

"I felt afraid when I saved the child," he told BFM Paris.

"[When] we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down."

Since footage of his bravery went viral, Mr Gassama has been admired around the world, with some calling him 'Spiderman of the 18th' for the arrondissement in which the rescue took place.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted her congratulations and said that she had spoken to the man on the phone as well.

French president Emmanuel Macron has invited Mr Gassama to the Elysee Palace to thank him personally.



The child's father was held for questioning by police as it is believed he left his four-year-old son alone in their apartment.

Newshub.
Grab our rova app and stay tuned to More!

We love our family of listeners, and we want to make sure you've got the easiest way to listen to us when you are on the go, wherever you are!
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28)  Solicitor General Jose Calida said he would defend himself at the proper forum amid allegations of conflict of interest because his wifes security agency bagged multimillion-peso contracts from several government agencies.

Calida was evasive when he was cornered by the media at the Senate Monday, walking fast to avoid the cameras as reporters asked him questions.

But at one instance, he said the Senate was not the proper forum to defend himself.

Calida also did not comment on calls for his resignation.

The Solicitor General earlier issued a statement denying any conflict of interest.

In the statement Saturday, Calida said he had resigned as President and Chairman of his family-owned security agency, Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc. (Vigilant), prior to assuming office.

He referred to documents that surfaced revealing signed deals between Vigilant and the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) on January 31, 2018 for the maintenance of Paco Park and Rizal Park in Manila.

Calida said he complied with rules under Republic Act (RA) 6713, which states that a public official should "resign from his position in any private business enterprise within 30 days from his assumption of office."

"There is no conflict of interest. The contracts between Vigilant and the NPDC did not require the approval of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). Also the OSG does not regulate, supervise or license security agencies like Vigilant," the statement said.

Senate President Tito Sotto said Calida was at the Senate to seek senators support for the bill expanding the Office of Solicitor Generals powers.

Incidentally, his visit coincided with the Rules Committees meeting on the proposed resolution questioning the Supreme Courts ruling on the quo warranto petition against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

CNN Philippines' Janine Peralta contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28)  The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday identified the top 20 companies found or suspected to be engaged in illegal contracting practices.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the 20 companies have the most number of affected workers out of more than 3,000 companies suspected or found to be engaged in labor-only contracting.

The 20 companies were identified as:

Jollibee Food Corporation (14,960 affected workers)

Dole Philippines Inc. (10,521)

Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co. (8,310)

Philsaga Mining Coprporation (6,524)

General Tuna Corporation (5,216)

Sumi Phils. Wiring Systems Corporation (4,305)

Franklin Baker Inc. (3,400)

Pilipinas Kyohritsu, Inc. (3,161)

Furukawa Automative Systems Phil., Inc. (2,863)

Magnolia Inc. (2,248)

KCC Property Holdings, Inc. (1,802)

Sumifru Philippines, Corp. (1,687)

Hinatuan Mining Corporation (1,673)

KCC Mall de Zamboanga (1,598)

Brother Industries (Philippines) Inc. (1,582)

Philippine Airlines and PAL Express (1,483)

Nidec Precision Philippines Corporation (1,400)

Peter Paul Phil. Corporation (1,362)

Dolefil Upper Valley Operations (1,183)

Dole Stanfilco (1,131)

PLDT said in a statement that it received the decision of the Labor Secretary on April 3 and filed a petition for review before the Court of Appeals on May 2. "Certain aspects of the decision were inconsistent with applicable law, jurisprudence, and the documentary and testimonial evidence presented to the DOLE Secretary," the telco company said in a statement on Friday.

Magnolia Inc. also issued a statement on its inclusion in the list, saying the company has always aimed to protect the rights of its employees and workers.

"We believe our inclusion in the list stems not from our contracting of labor but from the use of certain machinery and equipment leased by a DOLE-accredited independent service provider whose workers maintain and operate them. They, not our workers and employees, are the subject of concern of the DOLE," it said in a statement on May 30.

Magnolia said it is coordinating with DOLE to address the issue immediately.

"As a company, we believe that all our partners should exercise the same care that we do when it comes to ensuring that workers' rights - including security of tenure and all benefits provided for in the Labor Code and prevailing laws - are fully protected. As such, we are committed to working with our providers to ensure this issue is resolved at the soonest time possible," it said.

CNN Philippines is still trying to get the side of the other companies on the list.

DOLE on Friday said there are 3,337 companies that have been found to be engaged or suspected to be into labor-only contracting or other illegal contracting or sub-contracting schemes that violate an employee's right to security of tenure.

Out of the total, DOLE said it has so far found that 767 companies are into such illegal practices. It was not immediately clear if all the top 20 companies identified are among those confirmed to be engaged in illegal contracting practices.

Over 224,000 workers are affected by illegal contracting, DOLE said.

From June 2016 to April 2018, DOLE has inspected 99,526 out of the over 900,000 establishments nationwide.

It has submitted the initial list to Malacanang.

The initial list comes in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte's issuance of an executive order a month ago clamping down on illegal contracting and subcontracting of workers.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified Bello  not Duterte  will take action on companies that engage in illegal contracting.

"Although the president asked for the list, the asking of the list does not mean it's the president who will act. I think the Labor Code is very clear that it is within the power of the labor secretary to close establishments, provide fines and even prosecution under the penal clause of the labor code," he said in a separate media briefing.

Labor-only contracting or contractualization is already prohibited in the Labor Code and DOLE order 174, or the implementing rules on three articles of the Code.

Contractualization refers to the outsourcing of work that is essential or a key role in a business operation.

It also refers to the hiring of employees from a contracting agency  for example, a manpower agency that supplies security guards to companies  that does not have substantial capital or investments in tools and supervision.

Bello also previously said the common practice of "endo" or "555 hiring" scheme must stop. This is where companies release workers on their fifth month of service so they will not be entitled to regular benefits.

"Endo" has been banned in Labor Department Order 174 issued in 2017. Under the section on "other illicit forms of employment arrangements," one of the prohibited acts is "repeated hiring by the contractor/subcontractor of employees under an employment contract of short duration."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28)  President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed Indonesia's new ambassador to the country.

Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang arrived in Malacanang Monday afternoon where he was welcomed by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Chief of Protocol, Assistant Secretary Jerril Santos.

After signing the Palace's guest book, the Ambassador's credentials were accepted by President Duterte. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano was also present.

At the event, Duterte said, "I am glad that you were assigned to my country and I am happy to see you again. I accept you with open arms."

The President added he hoped the relationship between both countries would continue to prosper.

The Ambassador was joined by his family and members of his delegation in the event.

According to the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Sarundajang, the former governor of North Sulawesi, was appointed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in February 2018 as Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines, Republic of Palau, and Marshall Islands.
Sign up to receive the First Reading newsletter, your guide to the world of Canadian politics.

First Reading is your guide to the world of Canadian politics.

Sign up now>
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28)  Malacanang Palace is leaving the decision to suspend the tax reform law up to Congress.

President Rodrigo Duterte will only comply with whatever measures pass through the legislative arm, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.

This comes amid consumer complaints on the rising cost of goods.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, or Republic Act 10963, was approved by Congress last year  but lawmakers have since called for its suspension. The package provides lower income taxes, but higher taxes on fuel and sugar.

However, with the government poised to collect these taxes to meet revenue project, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno previously said suspending tax reform would "do more harm than good."

The Palace also warned that suspending the law would hold back other items on their agenda -- particularly the administration's Build, Build, Build infrastructure program.

"Masakit po talaga ito pero kung ititigil naman po natin ito at matitigil ang Build, Build, Build -- yung mga trabahong inaasahan, yung mga additional na kita sa mga negosyo... maaantala rin," said Roque. "So parepareho tayong malulugi."

[Translation: It will really hit if we stop this and stop the Build, Build, Build program  the jobs and additional business income we are hoping for... will also be held back. Everyone loses.]

The ambitious 9 trillion program, set to be implemented from 2017 to 2022, covers 75 major infrastructure projects and is expected to generate 1.7 million jobs.

The Finance Department added other policies like free tuition in state colleges and universities and pay hikes for public school teachers will also suffer.

It maintained that the TRAIN law should not be blamed for the rising cost of goods to begin with.

Based on their computations, only 2.80 out of the 10.20 rise in fuel can be attributed to tax reform.

Officials say oil prices are causing the rise in local pump prices. Roque previously said that the Palace was ready to suspend the tax if rising prices pressed on.

Moreover, the law provides that fuel excise tax can only be suspended if the price of international oil averages at $80 a barrel in a period of three months. If this condition is met, only the next scheduled increase in fuel excise tax could be suspended  and that's still in January 2019.

"It's also hard for us to suspend mid-year because you have already projected in your appropriations, in your revenues and in your budget those things that you will fund in your budget allocations," said Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez.

The Finance Department also maintains that the 33 billion in disposable income released every month should be enough to cover for rising prices under tax reform.

This amount includes 12 billion for the reduction of personal income tax, 2.5 billion for unconditional cash transfers to the poor, and 3.5 billion for free tuition.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 28)  Senator Leila de Lima's request to attend her son's graduation had been denied by the Court.

De Lima filed the furlough request on May 15, asking she be allowed to attend her son's graduation from San Beda College-Alabang School of Law on June 3.

She also requested to be allowed to spend two to three hours with her son and family after the event.

In a three-page decision released Monday, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 presiding judge Amelia A. Fabros-Corpuz denied De Lima's "very urgent motion for furlough" saying  among other reasons  the Senator's presence at the event would disrupt the solemnity of the event and that the "risk of flight" would be "very high."

The decision also said de Lima's supporters and escorts could also disrupt the event for other attendees.

"Being charged with a crime punishable by life imprisonment, and non-bailable, and more importantly, being charged of a crime punishable by RA (Republic Act No.) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, accused de Lima cannot be given a different treatment as that of other prisoners whose liberty is curtailed, pending the final resolution of their criminal case," Corpuz said

However, Corpuz said despite de Lima being unable to physically attend the ceremony, advancements in technology, or relatives could record the event and have the senator watch it from her detention facility.

"De Lima's family may celebrate the occasion with her in Camp Crame during visiting hours, even during the same day, if they wish to, without endangering themselves or other people during the conduct of the same," it added.

The Senator has yet to give a statement on the matter.

De Lima was previously granted a one-day furlough in March, where she underwent a CT scan at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City to have her liver problem checked.

She was arrested in February 2017 over drug allegations.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India today conveyed to Pakistan the need for instituting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for immediate release and repatriation of fishermen who inadvertently cross the international maritime boundary, an official statement said.

The emphasis on the SOP was given during the talks between the Coast Guards of the two countries, where issues pertaining to boundary violations by fishermen and enhancing cooperation in the area of maritime search and rescue, and combating pollution at sea, were discussed.

"A lot of focus of the meeting was on (violation of maritime boundary by) fishermen," Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh said.

An official statement said, "During the meeting, the Indian side reiterated the need for instituting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for immediate release and repatriation of the fishermen who cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) inadvertently as the issue needs to be approached in humanitarian context."

Further, expeditious exchange of information about the apprehension of fishing boats and fishermen by both sides was also recognised to ensure safety of the fisherfolks, the statement said.

Several fishermen from both countries are languishing in each other's jails.

"Focus of the talks was also on cooperation in the area of search and rescue operations and cooperation in the field of (maritime) pollution," the Coast Guard Director Genera added.

The four-member delegation of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is being led by its Director General Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman.

@IndiaCoastGuard Director General Rajendra Singh formally received Director General of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency after according him a Ceremonial Guard of Honour, at Coast Guard Headquarters, prior commencement of High Level Meeting (HLM) @PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/Q514aN6GIV  Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) May 28, 2018

Rehman was accompanied by Director (Operations) of the PMSA, an official each from Pakistan's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Two members -- a defence attache and a political secretary -- at the Pakistan High Commission here also participated in the talks.

The high-level meeting was conducted under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies in 2005.

A meeting between the two maritime security agencies was scheduled for October last year, but was called off amid tension between India and Pakistan following the Kulbhushan Jadhav episode.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national and former navy officer, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on the charges of alleged spying.

India has denied the charges and approached the International Court of Justice against the sentence.

This annual meeting is a significant link between the two maritime agencies for addressing issues pertaining to maritime boundary violations by fishermen and enhancing cooperation in the domain of maritime search and rescue and marine environment pollution.

"The two service heads from Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan MSA also have a hotline link between them for regular exchange of information on non-military maritime issues as per the MoU between the two governments," a statement by the Indian Coast Guard said.

The Pakistani delegation will be in India till May 30.
By Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: In yet another incident of polices laxity, a bridegroom hailing from Kottayam who was abducted allegedly by his wifes relatives has been found dead at Chaliyekkara near Punaloor in Kollam district in the early hours of Monday.

The death of Kevin P Joseph-23 from SH Mount in Kottayam has put the local police in the dock as the station house officer (SHO) at Gandhinagar police station, Kottayam did not act timely to save the young mans life, even though, his wife and relatives lodged a complaint early morning on Sunday and waited in the police station all day.

The incident put Kerala police, who are already facing the heat for the custodial death of another young man Sreejith in Varappuzha in Ernakulam, in shame as the SHO M S Shibu reportedly told the complainant and Kevins wife Neenu that police could take up her complaint only after some programmes of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which were scheduled in his police station limit, on Sunday.

ALSO READ | Family in distress as Kevins death dashes dreams

Meanwhile, Kottayam DySP Shajimon Joseph filed a report to the district police chief stating SHO had made lapses in handling case.

It all commenced after Saturday midnight when Kevin and his relative Aneesh were abducted by a quotation (a euphemism for contract killers) team allegedly deputed by Neenus relatives.

Police said Kevin was in love with Neenu, who is a college student in Kottayam and hailing from Thenmala in Kollam for a couple of years and they got married recently. Following a complaint submitted by womans relatives, Gandhinagar police summoned them to the police station. However, woman preferred to go with her husband.

ALSO READ | Alleging laxity by cops, angry protesters lay siege to police station

Later, Kevin with the help of Aneesh sent her to a hostel on Saturday in the wake of the threat from Neenus relatives. In the early hours of Sunday, the quotation team barged into the house, where Kevin and Aneesh were staying and abducted them to Thenmala. While Kevin escaped from their clutches when the gang reached Punaloor, Aneesh was later let off.

Aneesh, who came back to Kottayam had given a statement at the police station and was admitted to Govt MCH, Kottayam with injuries.

However, Kevin was found dead in a deserted place in Chaliyekkara on Monday morning.

Gandhinagar SHO Shibu suspended

Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behra swung into action to control the damage. Immediately after he told reporters that action would be taken against SHO if there were any lapses from his part, the suspension of Gandhinagar SHO Shibu was

announced.

Moreover, a special team led by an officer in the rank of Inspector General (IG) Manoj Abraham was also formed to nab the gang who abducted and killed the youth.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Young people can apply for a sponsorship certificate to join the Hong Kong/United Kingdom Working Holiday Scheme from July 3 to 16.

The Labour Department said those interested must register for the certificate before applying for a visa to live and work in the UK, which will allow them to stay for up to two years.

They can take up short-term employment to finance their stay, or participate in volunteer work.

Applicants must hold a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport, and be aged between 18 and 30.

British National (Overseas) passport holders can directly apply for the visa at the UK Visa Application Centre in Hong Kong.

There is an annual quota of 1,000 for HKSAR passport holders.

The registration form is available here.

Click here for details or visit the Working Holiday Scheme website.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
How Much Does This

Guy Love His Wife?

Their House Now Spins
(Newser)  Long-held grudges, executions, an Eric Clapton concertit's all there in a new 542-page memoir by a man the Wall Street Journal calls "North Korea's most high-profile defector in two decades." The New York Times reports on Thae Yong Ho's Cryptography From the Third-Floor Secretariat, which documents Thae's experiences as a diplomat for the North, a post he held until he escaped the country in 2016. Among the biggest Freudian-style revelations Thae offers in the book is the "tightly guarded secret" of Kim's mother, Ko Young Hee, a Japanese-born dancer shunned by Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung. Thae writes that Kim Jong Un's 2013 execution of his own uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was driven by animosity he'd had toward Jang since childhood because he blamed his uncle for driving a wedge between his mother and grandfather.

story continues below

Even more intriguing are Thae's details on Kim's reclusive older brother Kim Jong Chul, who was reportedly passed over to take the North's reins because dad Kim Jong Il thought he was too "effeminate." Kim Jong Chul, said to be an "avid guitarist," apparently lives a high life courtesy of his powerful brother. Thae says that included a 2015 trip to London to see an Eric Clapton concerta trip filled with unreasonable demands (Thae said he had to talk the brother out of forcing a London music store to open after hours), McDonald's runs, and a fanboy presence at the Clapton show. The Times notes Kim Jong Chul "was completely taken over by the music, standing up, wildly clapping and raising his fist." Thae's distaste for the Kim family solidified after seeing how they lived it up while North Koreans starved during the '90s famine. (Read more Kim Jong Un stories.)
(Newser)  Has a notorious international murder mystery been solved? Maybe not, but there is a compelling new theory in the case of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, reports the New York Times. On Feb. 28, 1986, Palme went to a movie in Stockholm with his wife and was shot point-blank from behind as they left. He died at the scene. A minor criminal, Christer Pettersson, was convicted of the crime shortly after, but won release on appeal, and died in 2004. Over the years, the police questioned an estimated 10,000 people in connection with the crime, and according to the BBC, 134 people have claimed to be the killer. An assortment of shadowy factionsincluding the CIA, arms dealers, apartheid loyalistswere suspected of the crime at various times. Enter freelance journalist Thomas Pettersson, who has been investigating the murder for 12 years.

story continues below

He has a new theory, as reported in Filter Magazine (link is in Swedish). Pettersson lays out considerable circumstantial evidence that Stig Engstrom, who happened upon the scene within minutes of the crime and testified as a witness in Pettersson's trial, murdered Palme. Engstrom appears to have had opportunity and motive, Pettersson says. He also had weapons training and access to a firearm similar to the one used in the crime, lied to investigators, fit the police profile of the killer, and seemed to bask in the attention his proximity to the case brought. Engstrom cant defend himselfhe committed suicide in 2000. But his former wife (they divorced in 1999), believes hes innocent. "He was not that kind of person, that's for sure, she told Expressen, per the BBC. He was too much of a coward. He wouldn't harm a fly." Pettersson has delivered his findings to the police. (Read more unsolved mystery stories.)
(Newser)  George HW Bush has been hospitalized for the second time since the death of wife Barbara Bush last month. The 93-year-old former president was taken to a hospital in Maine after suffering low blood pressure and fatigue, reports USA Today. Spokesman Jim McGrath says Bush is not experiencing any discomfort but will probably remain in Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford for a few days for observation. Bush, who was hospitalized in Texas the day after his wife's funeral and was treated for a blood infection for 13 days, arrived in Maine for the summer last week, the AP reports. He has spent every summer at the family compound apart from the years of his WWII service. On Saturday, he joined fellow veterans for a pancake breakfast at the American Legion in Kennebunkport. (Read more George HW Bush stories.)
(Newser)  A US team is in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to President Trump, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting will indeed take place. Both the State Department and South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for US officials, the AP reports.

story continues below

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced it could still happen. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the longtime US adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the North's stance toward the summit had been allayed. "Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," he tweeted. "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" (Kim met South Korea's President Moon Jae-in for a surprise summit in Panmunjom Saturday.)
(Newser)  Donning a clown mask and attacking an armed Little Caesars employee with a piece of wood and a pair of scissors was the last bad life choice a Florida man ever made. Cops say the man was shot dead after he ambushed the worker around midnight Saturday, ABC News reports. According to officers, the attacker repeatedly bashed the worker with a wooden board and then tried to stab him with scissors when he was on the ground. The worker then pulled out a concealed firearm and fired four or five shots at the man, police say. Authorities found the bleeding man in the parking lot outside the Holly Hill restaurant, still wearing the grotesque mask. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in nearby Daytona Beach.

story continues below

Police say security cameras captured the masked man lurking near the restaurant. "This is very unusual for this area," says Holly Hill Police Chief Stephen Aldrich, per Fox 51. "We're obviously aggressively pursuing this to find out where this individual came from and why this attack occurred. Very unusual." The worker, who suffered minor injuries, has not been charged. "I'm glad that he was able to defend himself and that he's OK," the chief says. "It's just unfortunate that this whole episode occurred." The attacker has yet to be identified. (Read more Little Caesars stories.)
(Newser)  When you're banned from giving a high-school graduation speech, what do you do? Give it anyway. On the lawn. With a bullhorn. That's what 18-year-old Christian Bales did Friday after Holy Cross High School in Covington, Kentucky, told him earlier that day he would not be allowed to speak at graduation, ABC News reports. "When the proposed speeches were received, they were found to contain elements that were political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church," says a spokesman for the Diocese of Covington. So Bales stood outside the graduation venue and spoke about gun laws (wants stronger ones), abortion (applauds students who joined a pro-life march), and removing a Jefferson Davis statue (advocated for removal).

story continues below

"'The young people will win' is a mantra that I'm sure many of you have heard if you've been attentive to the media recently," he said. "It's a phrase adopted by the prolific [Marjory] Stoneman Douglas teenagers [from Parkland, Florida] who are advocating for an agendaour rights to feel secure as humans." His friend, Student Council President Katherine Frantz, was also banned and gave her speech on the lawn. Bales' mother described the school's last-minute action as "out-of-the-blue" and said Principal Mike Holtz told her the students' words were "aggressive, angry, confrontational," and overly personal, WCPO reports. She also said Holtz wanted her to confirm that Bales, who is openly gay, would wear men's clothing without bobby pins or makeup if he attended graduation, CBS News reports. (Read more graduation stories.)
(Newser)  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may not be heading any place tropical on their honeymoon but the world's most famous newlyweds are still in for the royal treatment. TMZ reports the two lovebirds will be heading to Canada for their post-wedding vacation. Now officially the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan and Harry will be honeymooning at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta. Specifically, TMZ says the couple will be staying in the 6000-square-foot Outlook Cabin, which also happens to be known as "The Royal Retreat." While the resort will reportedly be stocking up for Harry and Meghan, it is no stranger to big name clientele. Harry's own grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II herself, stayed there in 2005. Per StarMetro, however, the resort has not corroborated TMZ's reporting. A statement provided to the paper by hotel PR Monday says Harry and Meghan are not booked at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. (Read more Meghan Markle stories.)
(Newser)  A close friend and colleague of Chelsea Manning said Monday that the convicted leaker of government secrets and longshot candidate for US Senate is safe after a photo on her Twitter account apparently showed the 30-year-old woman standing on the edge of an upper-story window ledge. The photo was posted to her Twitter account late Sunday with the words: "I'm sorry." It was sent shortly after a separate tweet that said: "im not really cut out for this worldi tried adapting to this world out here but i failed youi couldn't do this anymore," among other things. The tweets did not make clear where the photo was taken, and Manning's friends declined to say. The alarming tweets were deleted after about 10 minutes, followed by a message on her account saying Manning was OK and asking people to "please give her some space," per the AP.

story continues below

Kelly Wright, a friend of Manning who also is the communications director for her Senate bid, told the AP on Monday that the 30-year-old transgender woman now needs the "space to heal." She did not reply when asked if Manning was seeking professional help. When asked whether Manning had suspended her Senate campaign, Wright wrote: "Negative." In her text message, Wright said Manning's adjustment to life outside prison has been "extremely difficult." Manning, who twice tried to kill herself while in a US military lockup, recently told attendees at a Berlin tech conference that she felt a "kind of cult of personality" foisted upon her that she found "really intimidating" and "overwhelming." Manning has been free for over a year.

(Read more Chelsea Manning stories.)
Sorry!

This content is not available in your region
New Delhi:

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday declared the CBSE Class 10th results 2018 at about 1:00 pm. The CBSE has made the results available at its official website, which is cbse.nic.in.

Anil Swarup, the secretary of HRD Ministry on Tuesday took to micro-blogging Twitter and shared the news about the announcement of the CBSE Class 10th results 2018.

Students, who are waiting eagerly to go their CBSE Class 10th results 2018, may go through the following steps.

Steps to check CBSE Class 10th Results 2018:

- Step 1: Log in to the official website

- Step 2: Click on the link 'CBSE 10th Result 2018'

- Step 3: Enter the required details such as Roll Number

- Step 4: Check your result

- Step 5: Take a print out of the same for future reference

Additionally, students will also be able to check their results on Google by searching for CBSE Class 10 result.

Read | Suspended for long hug, Kerala boy gets 91 per cent in class 12 exam



"CBSE has partnered with Google for the first time to host the boards Class 10 and Class 12 results on the search engine," Hindustan Times quoted CBSE spokesperson Rama Sharma.

Earlier, the CBSE conducted the Class 10th examination between March 5 to April 4 for the academic session 2017-18.

This year, 28.24 lakh students registered for the CBSE board exams. Out of these, around 16.38 lakh students appeared for the Class 10th boards while 11.86 lakh students sat for the Class 12th board exams in 2018.

CBSE declared the results for Class 12 examination on May 26, 2018. Total 83.01 per cent candidates have cleared the CBSE Class 12 examination. Meghna Srivastava from Ghaziabad topped the examination with 499 marks out of 500.

Read | IGNOU releases official notification for admission in July 2018 session; OPENMAT XLIII on June 24


New Delhi:

Popular actor Kamal Haasan is all set to return to the small screen with the second season of Bigg Boss Tamil. The popular reality show which created waves among the audience will hit the airwaves in July.

Fans have been eagerly waiting to know about Bigg Boss Tamil 2 on-air date and the list of contestants on the show. The first season of the show kept the viewers on the edge of their seats with its constant fights, romance and drama.

Although Aarav won the first season of BB, it was Oviya Helen who won millions of hearts throughout her stint in the show. The diva grabbed maximum eyeballs on Bigg Boss Tamil and enjoyed a massive fan following.A

Grapevines are now buzzing with the rumours that everyoneas favourite Oviya would appear on Bigg Boss Tamil 2. Before you start you thinking that she would enter the show as a participant, we have to stop you right there.

According to a report in News X, Oviya will return to the show but only as a celebrity guest and not a regular contestant. She might come for a day in Bigg Boss Tamil 2 house, the report claimed.A

Special dAy Y A post shared by Oviya Helen a (@oviyahelen_official) on Apr 28, 2018 at 2:08am PDT

Oviya has often credited her fans for her success in the Kamal Haasan hosted show.

My fans don't love me bcoz I'm successful!! I'm successful bcoz my fans love meYY a Oviyaa (@OviyaaSweetz) February 3, 2018

Oviyaas presence on the show will definitely set the TRP ratings on fire and we just canat wait to see her back inside the Bigg Boss house.
New Delhi:

Punjab Congress on Monday announced a state-wide protest on May 31 against the rising fuel prices and sought Rs 100 per quintal as bonus for paddy growers, claiming high diesel prices had put additional financial burden of crores of rupees on growers since the previous year.

Taking a jibe at the BJP leaders, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar sought to know whether they will now again resort to 'Bharat Bandh' and 'Jail Bharo Andolan' which he said, they had announced on May 31m 2012 (during UPA regime) against the high fuel prices.

He said the fuel prices impacted all the sections of the society and charged the BJP led government at the Centre with not paying heed to demands for price cut.

Punjab Congress unit even played the video clips of some BJP leaders, criticising the then UPA government for the rising fuel prices in May 2012.

"On May 31, 2012, the brent crude oil price was USD 104.09 a barrel and diesel rate was Rs 40.91 per litre. Now on May 25, 2018, crude oil rate was USD 67.50 per barrel and diesel price was Rs 69.09 a litre, which is almost Rs 30 per litre higher than what it was in 2012.

"I want to ask BJP leaders, who led the agitation at that time, will they again launch the same 'Jail Bharo Andolan' which they held in 2012 (against UPA government) as vthe fuel prices were ruling at much higher rate," Jakhar said.

He asserted that rising fuel prices had impacted state farmers adversely.

"Diesel price has gone up by Rs 15 a litre between 2017 and 2018 and this increase will not get reflected in the MSP which would be announced by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP).

The hike in fuel rates put a financial burden of Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500 crore on the state growers, he claimed.

"We want Rs 100 per quintal bonus for paddy growers only for difference in diesel rates in last one year," he said.

Jakhar further announced that Congress would hold the state-wide protest against the soaring fuel prices at all the district headquarters on May 31, "the same day in 2012 when BJP leaders had observed Bharat Bandh".

When asked why the state government could not provide relief to people by reducing taxes on fuel, Jakhar evaded a direct reply and said, if the Centre announced it could not provide any relief , then the state government could consider the matter.

However, he said that the Centre could not shy away from its responsibility.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Newly sworn in Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday. The meeting came days after Kumaraswamy proved majority on the floor of the House in southern states.

The meeting between Kumaraswamy and Modi is being touted as a courtesy call but according to the sources, the Karnataka CM may also discuss farmers loan waiver issue with the prime minister.

"It is customary for the new Chief Minister of any state to call on the Prime Minister, soon after assuming office, in our federal set up," Kumaraswamy had told reporters in Bengaluru on Sunday.

After meeting the prime minister, the JD-S leader will also meet with Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the issue of coal supply to the thermal stations in the southern state.

Kumaraswamy, however, denied any meeting with Congress leadership in Delhi over the stalemate on portfolio distribution between the Congress and the JD-S in Karnataka.

"Talks on Cabinet expansion will resume here with state Congress leaders on their return from Delhi, with the names of their legislators to be inducted in the ministry," the Karnataka CM added.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The newly elected Karnataka Congress MLA Siddu B Nyamagouda died in a car accident in Bagalkote district on Monday morning. Nyamagouda, a former union minister, was going to his constituency Jamkhandi from Goa when his car hit a roadside parapet wall, according to district Superintendent of Police Vamshi Kumar.

The lawmaker suffered critical injuries in the accident and died on the spot. He was survived by wife, two sons and three daughters, Kumar said.

Nyamagouda was re-elected as an MLA from Jamkhandi in Bagalkot district by defeating BJPs Shrikanth Subbarao Kulkarni by over 2,500 votes in the recent Karnataka Assembly elections.

He also served as a cabinet minister in the PV Narasimha Raos government in 1990-91.

The 70-year-old Congress lawmaker was in Delhi and going to his constituency after landing in Goa earlier in the day.

Deepest condolences on the passing away of our senior leader and Jamkhandi MLA, Shri Siddu B Nyamagouda. The Congress party stands by his family in this hour of grief, the Congress party said, condoling the death of its lawmaker.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Setting aside the ideological differences he had during his entire political career, former president and one of the prominent Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee will address Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cadre at its headquarters on June 7.

Mukherjee, who was once the staunch critic of RSSs Hindutva ideology, will deliver the valedictory address to around 800 RSS workers attending the final year of Sangh Shiksha Varg training course, according to a report published in the Times of India.

The people whom the former president is expected to address will become full-time pracharaks who would then carry forward the Sanghs agenda for the rest of their lives.

Reacting to the development, RSS leader Rakesh Sinha said that former president attending an RSS event would be an answer to all the questions raised on Sangh's Hindutva agenda.

"Mukherjee's acceptance to attend RSS event in Nagpur sends a message to the country that on vital issues there should be dialogue&adversaries are not enemies. Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva is being answered by his acceptance of the invitation," ANI quoted Sinha as saying.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday informed that he will be out of India for his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhis health check-up. Gandhi, who is often criticised for his foreign visits by a section of social media, took a dig at the BJP and asked the saffron partys troll army not to get too worked up.

Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check-up. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: dont get too worked up...I'll be back soon!, Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

The BJP was also quick to respond to Gandhis dig and asked him to ensure a working government in Karnataka before he leaves for the US.

We wish well for Sonia jis health. Women of Karnataka also await Cabinet formation so that the state Govt can start serving them. Can you ensure Karnataka gets a working Govt before you leave? the BJP tweeted back to the Congress president.

The BJP was referring to the stalemate over portfolio distribution between the Congress and the JD-S in Karnataka, where both parties stitched a post-poll alliance to form the government

The saffron didnt stop there and returned the favour in an even wittier way.

Everyone on social media hopes that you will keep us entertained from there too, the party added in its tweet.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

In a new development, Delhi's Patiala House court on Monday reserved its order on cognisance of chargesheet against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in the four-and-half-year-old Sunanda Pushkar death case.

In its next hearing on June 5, the court will decide whether to summon Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as an accused in the case. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal will pass the order in case the counsel for prosecution manages to gather enough evidence against Tharoor.

On May 14, the Delhi police submitted a 3000-page chargesheet that accuses the Lok Sabha MP of abetting wife Sunanda Pushkars suicide. The police have also told the court that Tharoor should be summoned in the case, claiming there was sufficient evidence against him.

Quoting from the chargesheet, the prosecution explained why this is a case of abetment to suicide and cruelty.

"Her statements on social media can be treated as dying declaration. Sunanda's death is due to poisoning," the chargesheet suggests.

Sunanda Pushkar death case: Delhi's Patiala House Court sets June 5 for order on cognizance of chargesheet against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor  ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

Read | Suhel Seth takes a dig at Shashi Tharoor, points out politician's 'Grammatical Mistake' on Twitter

Talking about Pushkar's social media statements, she emailed Tharoor that she had no desire to live and all she was praying for is death.

"I have no desire to live...all I pray for is death," the mail reads. Pushkar wrote the mail to her husband on January 8, 2014, nine days before her death.

Quoting a special investigation team, the chargesheet also accused Tharoor of ignoring his wife while she was sliding or slipping into depression. "He ignored her calls," the special team found. Tharoor had also frequent fights with Pushkar days before her death.

Sunanda Pushkar death case: Prosecution quotes from the charges-sheet, explains why this case is of abetment to suicide and cruelty, says, "Her statements on social media can be treated as dying declaration. Sunanda's death is due to poisoning."  ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

"Though injury marks were not serious but they are consistent with claims that the couple fought," the chargesheet added. The police had also video recorded all the statements made by Pushkar's friends regarding the same.

Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel room of Delhi on January 17, 2014. The police had found 27 tablets of Alprax though it is not clear that how many she had.

Read | Sunanda Pushkar death case transferred to designated court

Pushkar commited suicide days after a public spat at the Kochi airport with Tharoor, who she suspected was having an extra-marital affair with a Pakistani journalist.

The Congress leader has been charged under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. Under section 498A, the maximum punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, while jail term up to 10 years is prescribed under section 306.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, is one of the key witnesses in the case.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Bengaluru:

If the recent Karnataka assembly elections provided opposition parties a template to edge the BJP out of reckoning, the outcome of Mondayas by-elections to four Lok Sabha seats and the 10 assembly seats across the country will give a clear indication of the picture ahead - whether the opposition unity will make Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah huff and puff in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

However, for now, it is more imperative for the BJP to win all the four Lok Sabha seats as its strength has weakened precariously to 272 from 282.

The opposition appears convinced that it can beat the Modi-Shah combine if they get together like it did after the post-poll tie-up of the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular in Karnataka.

In March too, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav came together in the eleventh hour to humiliate Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Phulpur and his pocket borough of Gorakhpur in bye-elections.

A greater index of opposition unity will force the Chanakya of ruling dispensation at the Centre sweat more. Surely, a united opposition spells big trouble for the Modi dispensation, especially as the people will question its governance delivery and unkept promises.

At the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, the contours of the opposition grouping were unveiled before the nation. Seen in the same frame were Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Sitaram Yechury, all beaming with smiles a to show to the nation that together they could halt the relentless and the seemingly unstoppable election machine of the BJP.

Seen in this context, the bye-election to Kairana Lok Sabha seat becomes crucial as it is in Uttar Pradesh the opposition wants to wrest the huge number of seats the BJP won in 2014.

Other than the index of opposition unity, Kairana is drawing the electoral attention, is due to the fact that it will also be the test of the efficacy of Hindutva appeal against the campaign by secular forces.

In this sense, it is not just a mere bye-election but much, much bigger and its outcome would shape the politics of the near future.

Kairana, little over 600 km from Lucknow, has an electorate of 1.7 million with a significant number of Muslims, Jats and Dalits. The constituency fell vacant after the death of BJP parliamentarian Hukum Singh. BJP has fielded his daughter Mriganka Singh against Rashtriya Lok Dalas (RLD) Tabassum Hasan. He is supported by the Congress, SP and the BSP.

In recent past, this is the first time that a combined opposition is challenging the ruling party a and the impact of the outcome could well indicate whether Modi could return with ease or will be made to work harder or will be stopped.

Read | Lok Sabha, Assembly Bypolls Highlights: 69% voter turnout till 5 pm in Shahkot; 70.01% voting in Maheshtala

If the BJP manages to retain Kairana, all the big hullaballoo about opposition unity was just lot of hot air and more important, Hindutva was much more effective as a vote gainer than secularism.

The opposition is getting together on the plank of secularism to oust one personaNarendra Modi. If the BJP puts Kairana past the combined opposition, then the battle for 2019 is over right here itself.

Why Kairana is more important than the other constituencies in Maharashtra and Nagaland going to the bye-elections today is because Uttar Pradesh has 70 seats and the BJP had done exceedingly well with 73 seats in the 2014 general elections. For it to regain power, it is important that the BJP retains Uttar Pradesh because other states that favoured the BJP are undergoing changes on the ground not so favourable to the BJP.

In Rajasthan the BJP had won 25 out of 25, Gujarat 26 out of 26, Madhya Pradesh scored 27 out of 29 and Delhi a clean sweep of all 7 seats and won 7 out of 10 in Haryana. In Rajasthan, going to polls shortly, the BJP seems to be struggling and as electoral history shows, the BJP is likely to bow out and with it its chances of retaining all 25. Similarly, in Gujarat, the Congress performance in assembly polls puts a question mark over the BJPas centum in the state. If the BJP does not do well in Uttar Pradesh, then it will have to make up for these losses in newer states a North East and South.

South India for the BJP continues to be a no-go area. Which is why the BJP tried its best to conquer Karnataka and nearly did, but ran into the last mile connectivity issue.

Other than Kairana, in UP, Noorpur constituency is voting for assembly bye-poll.

In Maharashtra, another key state for the BJP where it is also the ruling party, interesting battle is ensuing with its ally, the Shiv Sena. Maharashtra is having by-elections to Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats.

The Shiv Sena has fielded Shrinivas Wanaga in Palghar against the wishes of the BJP, which has fielded a Congress turncoat Rajendra Gavit. It is here that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray called on all opposition parties to come together and teach the BJP a lesson.

If the BJP loses both seats, there will be a spring in the opposition step.

The fourth Lok Sabha bye-poll is in Nagaland, where Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party leader Neiphiu Rio quit the Lok Sabha to become the chief minister. His alliance has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi to the seat.

Other than four Lok Sabha seats, there are assembly bye-polls in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Meghalaya. The five assembly seats are Maheshtala in West Bengal, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Jokihat in Bihar and Ampati in Meghalaya. In West Bengal it will be a three-cornered contest with the ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP and the Left Front in fray and the Congress is sitting out of the contest.

In Meghalayaas Ampati seat, the fight is mainly between the Congress and the BJP-backed National Peoples Party. Here winning the seat is significant for the Congress as it can become the largest single party if it won the Ampati seat.

The NPP with 19 MLAs is leading a coalition government. Bye-polls are also being held in Punjabas Shahkot, Uttarakhandas Tharali and Keralaas Chengannur assembly constituencies. Other than this, the constituency of Rajarajeswari Nagar in Bengaluru, where polling was withheld earlier, also went for polls today.

This election in Karnataka is not a bye-poll. Voting here was countermanded on May 12 after 9,567 electoral photo identity cards were found in a flat in Bangalore on May 9. Here the fight is between the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S). The outcome here would be indicative of how the coalition government works.
New Delhi:

New Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy must surely be realising that what he has finally appropriated for himself after a great deal of deception and wheeling dealing is a crown of thorns while his claim to being a principled politician lies in tatters.

Although he and Congress Dalit heavyweight G Parmeshwar have been sworn in, the induction of the rest of the council of ministers is in limbo, hostage to the whims and fancies of the Congress which itself is in hibernation with the dynasts Sonia and Rahul Gandhi taking off on an overseas trip ostensibly for Sonias medical check-up.

It is just the beginning of the coalition but party moneybag and former senior minister D K Shivakumar has made it plain that there was no stipulation while agreeing to its formation that Kumaraswamy will be chief minister for the entire period of five years.

The coalition partners are jockeying for key positions in the Cabinet and on present indications, the Congress wants to corner for itself all the plum Cabinet posts, leaving a few lollypops for the Janata Dal-Secular of Kumaraswamy. As it is, what Kumaraswamy has agreed to is 22 ministers from the Congress and only 12 from the JD-S. Even with such numbers, the Congress is sticky about getting all plum positions.

Tutored by his father Deve Gowda that the Congress would be a more pliable partner than the BJP, Kumaraswamy had persuaded himself to believe that he could recapture the old glory of 1994 when the undivided Janata Dal had won a high 115 seats with a vote share of 33.54 per cent or at least something higher than the 58 seats it (JD-S) managed with a 20.77 per cent vote share in 2004.

As things stand, the Congress is not the same that he knew of when he was deputy to chief minister Dharam Singh in the mid-1990s. It is a far hungrier party that is impatient about all sorts of gains it wants to make at the cost of its coalition partner. Far from being a sleeping partner that Kumaraswamy thought it would be, it is aggressive and ambitious and baying for more.

When the party high command decided to hand over the pole position to Kumaraswamy, the Congress state leadership acquiesced grudgingly, reconciling itself to being in power for some time as the second party but actually calling the shots.

There are many fence-sitters in the Congress waiting to see whether they would get positions of power and pelf before they start opposing Kumaraswamy for not living up to their expectations.

Shivakumar is like Kumaraswamy of Vokkaliga caste and would not brook the former walking away with the crown of the main representative of the influential community in the Kumaraswamy government. The Lingayats, some of whom, had gravitated towards the Congress after former chief minister Siddaramaiah promised the moon to the caste in the shape of a separate religious identity are now beginning to have second thoughts.

So abject has been Kumaraswamys plight a mere week after he was sworn in that he acknowledges that he is at the mercy of the Congress and would follow that partys dictates. Wily and unprincipled as he is, he cannot be taken at face value, but the very fact that he is having to struggle and plead that he be given the Finance portfolio speaks for itself. Gone is the swagger that characterised him.

That the Kumaraswamy government would be non-cohesive is quite on the cards and that many whose disgruntlement would be aroused by the denial of ministerial posts would be amenable to BJP lures is a possibility.

But the BJP itself may like to allow public disenchantment to build up before it takes any measures to forge an alternative. With the 2019 general elections less than a year away, it would not like anything that identifies the party as a party out to bring about the fall of a Congress-JD(S) government.
New Delhi:

Irelands new abortion law may be named after Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, whose death in 2012 triggered a nationwide Yes campaign against the ban on termination of pregnancy.

Savita, who moved to the Catholic country with her husband, had died of sepsis in Galway in 2012 after an Irish court denied her the permission to abort her pregnancy.

Early on Friday, the Republic of Ireland voted overwhelmingly in a referendum held to overturn the abortion ban. Over 66 per cent Irish citizens voted in favour of lifting the ban.

After the referendum, the Eighth Amendment of Irelands Constitution, which grants an equal right to life to the mother and unborn, will be replaced with a new provision for termination of the pregnancy.

Until Friday, abortion in Ireland was only allowed when a womans life was at risk, but it was banned in cases of rape, incest or fatal fetal abnormality.

Savitas father Andanappa Yalagi requested the government of Ireland to name the new legislation after his daughter.

We have one last request, that the new law is called Savitas Law. It should be named for her, the Irish Times quoted Yalagi as saying.

The country leading pro-repeal activists have also extended their support to Yalagi and demanded that the new law should be named after Savita, whose death led to the change in the countrys abortion rules.

On Sunday, the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had said that the new legislation will be in place by the end of 2018. The new law will allow termination of pregnancy during the first 12th weeks and up to 24th weeks in critical cases.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, this evening received the United Kingdoms Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr. Liam Fox, at Riffa Palace.





During the meeting, HRH the Crown Prince highlighted the longstanding strategic ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, noting the extensive cooperation between both Kingdoms across various sectors.



HRH the Crown Prince emphasised that Bahrain is eager to further expand commercial and trade relations with the United Kingdom, in addition to increasing collaboration between the private sectors in both Kingdoms.



The meeting presented an opportunity to discuss different aspects of trade and economic cooperation between Bahrain and the United Kingdom, as well as potential opportunities to advance the bilateral relationship.



For his part, Dr. Fox expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet His Royal Highness, and extended his appreciation for His Royal Highness continued support towards bilateral ties.



His Excellency Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, also attended the meeting.
Bringing a revolutionary transformation to its public transport system, Bahrain is all set to get its Metro as the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has begun preparations to implement one of the most ambitious projects the Kingdom has ever seen. Going by the initial plans, the Metro network will connect Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq with north of Manama, near the Diplomatic Area, Bahrain Bay, Bab Al Bahrain, Financial Harbor and Seef.

In an exclusive interview with Tribune, Transportation and Telecommunication Minister Kamal Ahmed said the final plans would be ready by July before sending it to the ministerial council. The minister asserted the project will definitely change the social life scenario in Bahrain, especially for the youngsters. I am sure many youngsters will use Metro trains, taking a break from motoring. We can solve the issue of traffic congestion once it is implemented. Among other things, Mr Ahmed said the project will create hundreds of jobs in the Kingdom. Hundreds of jobs will be created as the railway project will be one of the engines of growth in the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the GCC rail project is progressing at a fast pace. The transport ministers of the GCC member states have agreed upon completing the first phase linking Oman with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia by December 2021, with Kuwait and Bahrain joining the network by December 2023. The project is estimated to cost $15.4 billion.
$ 32 billion invested for infrastructure development as part of the long term initiative to boost growth, the Crown Prince

$ 32 billion invested for infrastructure development as part of the long term initiative to boost growth, the Crown Prince

The Kingdom is implementing a $32 billion infrastructure development programme as part of its long term initiatives to boost growth, said the Crown Prince yesterday. This came as His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, visited the majlises of Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani, Abdulla bin Hamad Al Noaimi, Al Jishi and Al Khozaei families.

rn

He highlighted that, as the GCCs fastest growing economy, it is important that Bahrain maintains momentum, noting that the Kingdoms economic resilience is a consequence of diversification and fiscal consolidation measures that have yielded high rates of return across all non-oil activities.

rn

The Crown Prince noted the importance of placing citizens at the centre of all initiatives aimed at delivering long term benefits for current and future generations, while ensuring Bahrainis have the opportunity to contribute to the Kingdoms sustainable growth.
Ahead of 2019, the speaker of the Nasarawa state House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, on Monday affirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari remains the best presidential candidate for Nigeria in 2019 as the country is well assured under his watch as the president.Balarabe-Abdullahi made this declaration on Monday at the celebration of 19 years uninterrupted democratic practice in Nigeria.The speaker who also acknowledged the developmental strides of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov.Tanko Al-makura which had impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians in his three years and seven years respectively was optimistic that President Buhari deserves second term with the fitso far made by him especially in the area of fight against corruption, insurgency, and provision of employment opportunities, agriculture, and diversification among others.According to the speaker, opposition cannot parade any candidate for now that can beat President Buhari in Nigeria, noting that APC will win with a landslide victory during the 2019 general election.Nigerias future is assured with President Buhari at the helm of affairs of the country and APC under him is unbeatable, he said.He emphasized that if President Buhari comein for the second term, it would move Nigeria to a more greater height and would also provide succour to the entire nation as most of the challenges would be tackled.The speaker said that democracy is the best form of government, while urging Nigerians to continue to support a democratic government for continued peace and stability in the country.The Speaker also lauded Gov. Tanko Al-Makuras developmental strides across the state in his seven years as governor.He said the government had impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state, hence the need for him to accept calls going on in the state by well-meaning citizens to contest for southern senatorial seat so that the people would continue to enjoy more dividend of democracy.Gov. Al-Makura had done credibly well and is still doing his best in improving on the lives of the people of the state and his developmental strides which cut across all sectors of the economy especially in the area of health, education, commercial, agriculture among other sectors which had impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state. he said.The speaker restated the commitment of the assembly to continue to pass resolutions and enact laws that have direct impact on the lives of the people of the state.
Elder statesman and Chairman, Northern Elders Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai , has said that President Muhammadu has only done well in the ...

Elder statesman and Chairman, Northern Elders Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai , has said that President Muhammadu has only done well in the area of noise making in his three years in office.

Yakasai wondered why the president has failed to prosecute anyone in his anti-corruption war, adding that he lacks the qualities of a good leader.





The elder statesman, in an interview with Punch, said Buhari should not be seeking a second term because, according to him, the president has failed Nigerians.





Yakasai said, There are many qualities required to be a good leader. One of them is competence.





Another is capacity. The third one is the ability to plan and think clearly. I believe that every leader should possess these qualities.





I have really not seen all these qualifications in our leaders in this country in recent times; that was why I did not support the second  term bid of the President, because I have not been happy with his performance in the last three years.





How many people have been convicted (of corruption) by this government?





The most important case among others was that of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Babachir Lawal), who was indicted for committing an infraction by the report of a Senate committee, which was forwarded to the President.





When the matter was referred to the President , he asked the Vice President (Prof . Yemi Osinbajo ) to

investigate. After the investigation , the presidential panel confirmed the allegations levelled against the former SGF.





However, up till today , the former SGF has not been arraigned in any court of law. This is

an open case of corruption where a contract was improperly awarded to a company.





So, a government that claims to be fighting corruption cannot be found wanting in a case that concerned such individual.





That is where this administration is incompetent . Lawal should have been arraigned before a court of law.





I have never met the former SGF in my life, but I feel any serious  minded government should have arraigned him and commenced a full prosecution by now.





Asked in what areas he thinks Buhari has actually performed well, he added, Noise making; he has succeeded in noise making.





No concrete actions. I have never seen any concrete action. There were some projects that the President is executing but they are initiated by his

predecessors. You cannot single out one project that the Buhari administration has succeeded in initiating and completing.




Two Catholic priests were on Monday morning beaten with one shot in the leg when gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked a minor s...

Two Catholic priests were on Monday morning beaten with one shot in the leg when gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked a minor seminary in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, the Punch reports.

During the attack, some students were injured and many cars destroyed, even as those wounded were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo.





The Director of Caritas Nigeria, an agency of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, revealed this in a WhatsApp message





He said, Please Frs, pray for us. Our minor seminary in Jalingo has just been attacked by the Fulani, some students are injured, some cars destroyed, two priests beaten and one shot on the leg. They are currently receiving treatment at FMC.

David Misal, spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the development. He, however, did not give many details, promising to get back to the reporter. Give me some time, he said.





Increasing attacks by suspected herdsmen has been a growing concern for security agencies in the country.





It is the second time in a little over one month that a Catholic establishment will be attacked.





In April, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen killed two priests at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ayar, Gwer east local government area of Benue state.





The deceased priests were identified as Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha. Some worshipers were also killed in the attack while many sustained injuries.





President Muhammadu Buhari has said on several occasions that his administration is doing all that is necessary to end the killings.





Pope Francis and US President Donald Trump are among the global personalities who have condemned the recent spate of attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday said his administration had delivered dividends of democracy to the people of the state...

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday said his administration had delivered dividends of democracy to the people of the state in the last seven years.Ajimobi, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji, scored his administration high in infrastructural development, security, education, agriculture and healthcare.He also said that his government had built more roads than all the previous administrations combined since the inception of the Fourth Republic.Our administration dualised strategic township roads in Ibadan such as Toll Gate Interchange; Challenge; New Garage-Toll Gate Interchange and Onireke-Jericho-Aleshinloye-Dugbe-Agbarigo road.This administration dualised major township roads in Oyo, Ogbomoso and Iseyin. Some ongoing road projects are Eleyele-Ologuneru-Eruwa road and dualisation of Saki township road.Read Also: Ajimobis wife distributes food items to womenOthers are Idi-Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Junction road, Gate-Old Ife road-Alakia and expansion of Oke Adu-Iwo road, the governor said on the eve of this years Democracy Day.Ajimobi also stated that his administration constructed the Mokola flyover which he said was the first to be constructed by any civilian administration in the state.The governor said that his administration restored security in all parts of the state through the establishment of a special security outfit, provision of patrol vans, communications equipment and armoured personnel carriers for security agencies.Ajimobi said no fewer than 36 companies had been attracted to the state in the last seven years, generating about 4,000 direct employment for residents according to figures from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.Our state was rated fifth most investment-friendly by the National Bureau of Statistics having attracted more than $61m (N22.4 billion) in foreign direct investment, he said.
The dismissed Corporal turned leader of the armed robbery gang that attacked commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, Michael Adiku has ...

The dismissed Corporal turned leader of the armed robbery gang that attacked commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, Michael Adiku has told detectives why he wasted many lives including those of policemen that day.Adiku, who said he was on a killing spree, told operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) that he personally killed over 20 people, mostly policemen during the operation.The suspect said he deliberately killed those policemen that day because he has scores to settle with the system, adding that they took Tramadol and other hard drugs before embarking on the mission.Adikwu, a Corporal attached to the Kwara State unit of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was dismissed after he was accused of freeing suspected armed robbers. He was later charged to court and sent to prison, where he spent three years.A police source who gave update on the case, revealed that Adikwu had vowed to deal with the police for dismissing and jailing him.He said: Adikwu, while in prison, had been threatening to the hearing of other inmates, that he would kill as many policemen as possible once he had the opportunity. He said that since police dismissed and made him go to prison because he released armed robbers that he too would deal with the police.He was the organiser of the robbery. He recruited other members and they had series of meeting while planning the attack.The gang went to Offa three times on surveillance mission. The police station and banks were carefully studied.Adikwu led three others into the police station, while others stayed outside. They walked into the station as if they wanted to lodge a complaint with their pistols concealed under their clothes.Immediately they entered, Adikwu said he shot the station guard he killed nine policemen at the station and carried their rifles.The suspects confessed that they took Tramadol and other hard drugs before embarking on the operation. Over 30 people were killed that day and Adikwu said he personally killed over 20.One of those he went into the police station with was Arrow (Kunle Ogunleye). They took those at the station by surprise and opened fire immediately they entered.The attack on the police station was a vendetta led by the dismissed policeman. After the operation, he went to each of the banks which were being robbed to issue orders. He was captured on CCTV shouting at his members, telling them what to do and what not to do.Continuing, the source said Ogunleye told them he did not fire any shot at the police station, adding that he killed about two people during the bank robbery.He said It was Adikwu that shot and killed all the policemen. He went from one office to the next, killing everyone. They only gave him cover.Another arrested suspect, Abel, the source said, confessed to killing five people, adding that he also sprayed bullets indiscriminately that injured many others.
Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has declared that heavens wont fall if form...

Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has declared that heavens wont fall if former President Olusegun Obasanjo is prosecuted and jailed should he be found guilty in the alleged misappropriation of public funds.





Recall that Buhari had last week at the Presidential Villa, Abuja wondered what Obasanjo achieved after spending huge amount of dollars on power.





But in a swift reaction, Obasanjo stated that he was ready for probe over the $16bn allegedly expended by his administration on power projects.





However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend said it has launched a probe into the controversy surrounding the $16 billion allegedly spent on electricity during the administration. of Obasanjo.





Reacting to the face-off, Sagay wondered why Obasanjo has continued to criticize Buhari.





Speaking with Independent, Sagay said, Heavens will not fall if Obasanjo is prosecuted and jailed if found guilty. In my opinion, this government has a very kind disposition towards former presidents out of respect.





The government doesnt want to create the impression whereby a former president who is the image of the country is being brought to trial. It will look a sorry sight. But no one should challenge this government and then compel it to establish that those who are talking are not the best and they allowed a lot of dirt under them for which they are not being prosecuted.





Why even go to the United States? Lets look into Nigeria. How many times has Yakubu Gowon under whom Obasanjo served as a military officer criticised anybody? I am sure when he has anything to say he will go quietly. How many times has Abdulsalami Abubakar criticized anybody? Even Ibrahim Babangida was quiet before, respecting himself until Obasanjo started pushing and egging him to speak. You could see it wasnt natural with Babangida coming out to attack a successor.





So, this is an Obasanjo ego trip. He has to be the President-General forever. He is always envious of anyone who came in after him. He has to interfere to be relevant and you must allow him preside over the presidency otherwise there will be no peace. He didnt allow YarAdua to rest; he didnt allow Jonathan to rest, now it is the turn of Buhari.





I think this tendency of putting your hands in the eyes of those who succeeded you really has to be stopped. His shenanigans has to be stopped. He went to Afenifere, a group he has had nothing to do with for years for support. He has to form some artificial party ADC and all sorts of ridiculous associations thinking he can destabilize this government when he was allowed a free reign as president.




President Muhammadu Buhari will make a national broadcast on Tuesday, as part of the celebration of 19 years of unbroken democracy.Nigeria since 1999 has been observing 29 May as Democracy Day.According to Femi Adesina, President Buharis media adviser, television and radio stations are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.May 29, 1999, was the day the military handed over the reins of power to democratically elected representatives at all levels of governance.The military, in its second coming, had governed Nigeria, between January 1984 and May 1999, allowing some two years of civilian rule at the state level, between 1991 and 1993.Tomorrows celebration also marks the third anniversary of the Buhari administration.
Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential aspirant for the 2019 election, says Senate President Bukola Saraki will be...

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential aspirant for the 2019 election, says Senate President Bukola Saraki will be sent to jail and that Kwara will be liberated.

Sowore said this on Friday when he visited Ilorin, Kwara state capital, for a town hall meeting.





Saraki is from Kwara state.





Sowore said the number three citizen had turned himself into a demigod in the state.





He told the crowd who received him that he would put an end to the politics of godfatherism in Kwara and Nigeria as a whole if he is voted into power.





Sowore said the country would experience a revolutionary change in government by 2019.





We will ensure that Kwara state is liberated from the hand of political godfather who cant build good roads, schools and infrastructures, he said.





I remember last year, this was the same political godfather, Bukola Saraki, that seized our money, that was meant for the SaharaReporters Civic Media Lab, and brought it to Kwara state.





This same Saraki went to the court to stop us and sent thugs to beat us after bragging he has all the Judges in Kwara state in his pocket.





Let me use this opportunity to tell him that the money he seized from us would be refunded soon and will be paid with interest while he goes to jail.





Sowore further said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has failed the nation, hence it should be kicked out.





According to him, by 2019, it will no longer be sai Baba but sai Bobo.





By next year, we are taking back this country from the hands of the old guards and we would ensure we set its feet on the path of progress, he said.





Then, it will no longer be sai Baba but sai Bobo because the country would not be left again in the hands of untrustworthy elders and leaders who have taken us back.




The camp of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday replied comments made by Adams Oshiomhole.

The camp of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday replied comments made by Adams Oshiomhole.





The former Edo Governor had on Friday described the Jonathan government as corrupt.





Reacting, Reno Omokri, in a statement on Saturday called Oshiomhole a confirmed liar who has already been proven by no less an institution than the State Department of the United States Government.





Omokri wrote: It will be recalled that on July 27, 2015, Adams Oshiomhole alleged that the State Department of the United States Government told him while he was on an official visit that just one minister who served under President Jonathan stole $6 billion from the treasury.





At that time Oshiomhole said: The PDP destroyed the country. I mean from the lips of American officials, senior officials of the State Department said one minister, under PDP, cornered as much as $6 billion. The man said even by Washington standards, that is earth-shattering.





However, the very next day, the State Department of the United States Government denied Oshiomholes assertions and said as follows:









The U.S. should not be drawn into such irresponsible comment as alleged by Mr. Oshiomhole. America has a transparent administration that doesnt hide when people make a statement.





If Mr. Oshiomhole claims a U.S. official told him that a Nigerian minister stole $6 billion, he should name the official instead of hiding behind an anonymous source.





The truth is that Adams Oshiomhole is embarrassed by the monumental thievery uncovered under the Buhari Administration and is eager to divert the publics attention from such including:





The $25 billion NNPC Contract Scam; The return, reinstatement and double promotion of Abdulrasheed Maina; The failure to announce who owns the $43 million Ikoyi Apartment loot; The reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the NHIS despite his indictment for misappropriating 10 billion;





The non prosecution of former SGF Babachir Lawal; The recent HSLi Israeli $195 million contract scam; The double payment of the Abacha lawyers scam; The 1.1 billion budgeted to clean the NSAs office, amongst others.





I also call on journalists to go to Abuja and Edo State to appraise the value of Adams Oshiomholes homes which are more expensive and worth more than former President Jonathans homes in Abuja and Bayelsa.




The Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede yesterday said the examination body has stopped the collection of votes for capital projects and over head from the federal government in order to promote transparency in the system.The JAMB boss who was reacting to criticisms against the board over alleged financial recklessness insisted that JAMB is not a money making machine for the government as being insinuated, adding that the board, under him, had been very prudent in the management of its funds.He stated this while briefing newsmen in Benin City on the proposed plan by JAMB to partner other security agencies in the conduct of their examinations.He said When you ask me what were they doing with the money before, I was not there. So I am not in position to tell you what they were doing. The one I know, is that, government gave me an assignment, I have done the assignment, the surplus must be returned to the owner of it. That is what I know.So, some persons are raising questions; are we money generating? My answer is, are we money wasting? Do you get the point? Must we go and steal the money simply because the money was there? So, at times, I do not understand the logic of some persons. They preferred that the money is generated and wasted.The first thing we did when we came in was that the government should not give us capital vote again. They used to collect capital vote and over head from government but we stopped it.Just fund yourselves except for salaries and we will be happy if government even stopped the salaries. Except for salaries, we do not collect but for the last two years, we have stopped capital and over head because we believed we did not need them.And if after spending of capital and over head, we still have surplus of billions, do people want us to waste the billions or to steal it? So that is why I am surprised that people are making noise that we are generating money. If you say we are increasing the charges I can understand but we are not doing so, he said.Prof Oloyede who further debunked the claim that examination questions are usually hacked before the exams are conducted, challenged any one with evidence to buttress the allegation.As far as JAMB is concerned, I have not found any case of a breakthrough. No matter how clever they think they are, we are ahead of them. One of the reasons why I led a delegation here myself is to see whether there is any evidence of breakthrough. You can ask any of the security agencies handling the matter, they we tell you.We have not been able to find one case of success. What we are treating are attempts. And because we are proactive that we are picking their attempt when people try to break into our BVN, they did not get any questions because our questions were not there. They were able to break into a decoil that we created and they were not able to do anything.That is why we keep on promising them that if you can get us one question of ours that is genuine, we will pay you a lot. So because we believe that we must be proactive that is why we are dealing with any attempt and once an attempt is made, we do not leave it as attempt, we go after them and when we go after them, we arrest them, he maintained.
The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has warned that it will not entertain what it described as irresponsible political broadcasting as the 2019 general elections approaches.The commission said that unlike the 2015 general elections, where hate speeches almost brought calamity to the country, as a regulator of the broadcast media, it would not allow such frigtening dimensions polarize the country through the media.It therefore urged broadcast media practioners to leave above personal inclinations and ensure that their media outfits were not used as weapons of division and threat to national unity and democracy in the 2019 elections.Speaking in Enugu, Monday, at a workshop Media Coverage of 2015 Elections: Challenges, Regulatory Framework and the Way Forward for a more Democratic Society, the Director General of NBC, Ishaq Modibbo Kawu said that the 2015 General Elections were arguably the most contentious in the national history, very fractious; politically charged and brought the media, most frontally, with the reality of hate speech, fake news and utterly abusive language, and the most unscrupulous attitude in Political Broadcasting in Nigeria.Many discerning observers of the media landscape in general, and of broadcasting in particular, are already afraid and they are saying that unless all of us, and especially the broadcasters, sit up, Political Broadcasting in 2019, will be even more intolerant and abusive of the fundamental ethics and values of broadcasting, than what we witnessed in 2015, Kawu said.He disclosed that the commission had sanctioned over 50 broadcast organisations for various infractions and violations arising from political broadcasts, flaying the recent coverages of political party primaries which he alleged some stations unethically took sides.Some of you allowed parties and candidates to begin campaigns ahead of the officially allowed time. On the other hand, some of you are already showing signs of partisanship. Your programmers biases are readily visible for all to see. Rather than act as umpires, we have thrown our hat and hearts into the ring. We compete with our guests in the effort to express our views, pretending to be experts. A lot of our political presenters apparently enjoy listening to the sounds of their own voices. And this seems so obvious in the manner that they rattle on and on, in their programming.As a regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission will not idly watch, and allow the irresponsible tendency towards the abandonment of the ethical imperatives of our profession, to push the country towards a descent into crisis.More than ever before, and as we approach the electioneering season that will usher in the 2019 General Elections, the Commission will ensure that broadcasters play strictly by the rules. In the last two quarters of 2018, the Commission has sanctioned over 50 broadcast stations  on violations related to political broadcasting and hate speech. Many have been fined and those who remain recalcitrant shall face stiffer sanctions, he stated.
Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote has explained that he decided to engage in strategic investments in Nigeria to complement the Fed...

Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote has explained that he decided to engage in strategic investments in Nigeria to complement the Federal Governments economic recovery and growth plan.According to the businessman, his investments in agriculture and fertiliser production were in that direction.Dangote spoke at the weekend as the flagship of the conglomerate, the Dangote Cement Plc, began the training of newly engaged managers to sustain its leadership and competitiveness in the industry.He said the governments decision at diversifying the economy from oil remained the viable solution to creating a healthy economy.The multi-billionaire noted that the private sector had important roles to play, which was why he took up the challenge to lead the way as a leading private sector operator.Dangote said it was because of his belief in the government approach at re-energising the economy and make it export-oriented that made him to step up his investment in agriculture, especially in the area of food sufficiency.Nigeria, he said, had wasted so much foreign exchange importing foods that ordinarily should be produced locally and even exported and that until a new approach at redirecting the economy from import-dependent to an export one, which the present government is leading, no meaningful changes can happen.We have invested massively in rice, sugar, dairy products, and tomatoes. Our rice-out grower scheme will produce rice by next year and that will reduce our rice import to nearly zero because Nigeria imports more than half of the rice it consumes. We have expanded our sugar operations with our operations in Tonga in Nasarawa in addition to Numan sugar projects, where sugarcane is being planted for raw sugar production that will be refined.Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Cement Plc Joseph Makoju lauded the programme, saying it would support the overall drive of the conglomerate.Makoju said the management scheme was part of the effort of the conglomerate to sustain our exponential growth, competitiveness and market leadership.He said: We are committed to attract top talents into our business for our current and future business needs.
Although he has not seen the body camera footage and said he doesn't know the full story of what led a Wildwood police officer to strike a Philadelphia woman multiple times in the head over the weekend, Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. said that "the police were doing their job."

"She refused to comply," he said in a phone interview Monday evening. "Unfortunately, this is what happened.

Video of the incident, which went viral on social media over the weekend, shows two officers in the sand as voices yell out, "Stop resisting!" One officer in the foreground of the footage can be seen raising his right hand in a fist and striking Emily Weinman, 20, at least twice in the head.

The incident was sparked by a crackdown of underage drinking that the city has been trying to combat for years, the mayor said. According to Weinman's account of the violent arrest, which she posted on Facebook before deleting it, she had unopened containers of alcohol on the beach when officers approached her.

"People come down here to have a good time and we want them to have a good time, but we also want them to obey the laws," Troiano said. "That is not a hard thing to do. Just obey the laws. It is amazing the amount of people that just believe they can drink. It is amazing the amount of kids who come down here and just feel like the law doesn't pertain to them.

"We are taking an aggressive stance to end it."

The Wildwood Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation into the incident. Troiano said the police would soon be releasing a statement on their findings, but he could not confirm if the body camera footage would be released. He said the officers, whom he could not identify, were wearing body cameras during the incident.

This City of Wildwood Police Department has received reports of a video on various social media sources, regarding an... Posted by City of Wildwood Police Department on Sunday, May 27, 2018

The officers involved in the arrest have been reassigned to administrative duties pending the findings of a "full and thorough" investigation, according to the department. Troiano said the officers involved were class II officers, special part-time police officers used by many Shore towns to bolster their ranks during the summer months.

"If our officers are wrong, they're wrong and they'll be handled as such," the mayor said. ... "But when push comes to shove, I think our police officers did what they had to do."

Phone calls to the police department were not returned.

According to her account, Weinman said she passed a breathalyzer test and as she was walking away, the cops followed her, prompting her to ask if they have "something better to do."

She said she was subsequently tackled by an officer after she refused to give her name.

"Chief (Robert) Regalbuto stated that while he finds this video to be alarming, he does not want to rush to any judgement until having the final results of the investigation," the department said in its statement about launching an internal affairs investigation.

Weinman was eventually booked on two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids at a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction and minor in possession of alcohol. Multiple attempts to reach Weinman for comment by phone, social media messages and in person were unsuccessful.

According to court records, Weinman was arrested in 2016 on charges of burglary, simple assault, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and recklessly endangering. She eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment and received four years of probation.

Troiano said he was frustrated the incident has cast a negative spotlight on his city during the holiday weekend, but is confident the police will properly handle the investigation and that incidents like this won't be a common occurrence.

"We are a good town that treats people well, provided they act accordingly, that they act like adults and don't act foolishly," the mayor said.

Thomas Moriarty, Alexis Johnson, Chris Franklin and S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jatmonavageNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook
If you live in one of New Jersey's urban areas - some place like Hoboken or certain sections of Jersey City - it can be really tough to get in-home care when you need it. Home health care agencies must be very persuasive to get nurses, therapists, and other home care workers to visit you on a regular basis. Don't take it personally. It's only because they can't find a safe and legal place to park.

One Bayada Home Health Care office in Hudson County racked up $11,000 in costs last year to get parking stickers, pay parking fines, use Uber and Lyft, and pay towing costs. And even though the company footed the bills, the inconvenience and frustration experienced by home care providers makes them reluctant to accept assignments in some areas.

Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Cinnaminson) hopes to ease that problem by enabling home health care workers to get distinctive placards allowing their vehicles to park in areas not normally permitted because of residents-only restrictions or time limits.

"When I became aware of the serious access-to-care issue caused by the inability of home healthcare workers to be able to park and reach their patients in many different areas throughout the state, I had to act. I drafted and introduced A3683 to ensure that an individual's access to healthcare wasn't dependent on the parking situation around where they live" said Murphy.

A-3683 has 13 sponsors in the Assembly and two in the Senate, but only one Assembly committee has considered the bill so far. So it has a long way to go, but it's not the kind of issue that generates controversy. Officials of a few local parking authorities may grumble quietly because they will get less money for fines and the fees for the special placards will be paid to the State. However, that's not the kind of thing they'll say in public, so no formal opposition is expected.

Vehicles with the special placards could park in on-street areas generally reserved for town residents, municipal parking lots, college parking lots, areas where overnight parking is generally prohibited, and overtime at meters. They could also travel on streets restricted to town residents during certain times. But they still couldn't park at fire hydrants, driveways or too close to intersections. Street sweeping wouldn't be included, so health care workers would have to park elsewhere on sweeping days.

The bill establishes a $50 fee for each placard and is likely to cost home health care agencies thousands of dollars annually, but Bayada representatives say that cost is much more bearable than the fines they've been paying and they'll no longer have to endure the complaints of irritated and inconvenienced home care workers. They say the new system will improve their care quality, too, as there'll be fewer missed or late appointments with patients.

All the placards would be numbered, must be renewed annually, and must be returned to the agency whenever an employee resigns or is terminated.

Bayada has more than 20,000 clients and 10,000 workers in New Jersey and is only one of close to a hundred agencies offering home health care services. As the population ages, demand for home health services is expected to increase because statistics show home health care is not only the most cost-effective option for ill or disabled patients, but it is also their preferred way to receive care.

The new law is likely to be enacted sometime this year. However, it's going to take as much as eight months to get the regulations in place and the placards printed and distributed. It can't happen fast enough for Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-Hudson), a co-sponsor of A-3683. "This bill is well overdue," she said. "It'll really help."

A former Assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjlournal.com
The last time anyone paid attention to the position of Deputy Executive Director at the Port Authority, it was occupied by someone who used the office for political vengeance.

The agency was more toxic in the Bridgegate days, and everyone agreed that it was time to restructure operations and reorganize leadership - including eliminating the job Bill Baroni had used to marshal traffic jams and earn a jail sentence.

These reforms, however, are stuck in neutral, so Gov. Murphy wants to restore that deputy position and appoint someone who will watch over New Jersey's PA interests. This is causing great consternation in two states, even among the local legislators who have had nearly three years to shuffle the deck and draft new rules.

They say we can't go back. They remind us the mere presence of Chris Christie's attack poodle under a New York-appointed Executive Director resulted in divided loyalties, rampant dysfunction, a balkanized agency, and an emergent David Wildstein, the kind of operative who would traffic in puppy leukemia if the price was right.

We grant all of that.

But Murphy has his own obligations, which is to ensure that New Jersey is treated like an equal regional partner rather than Andrew Cuomo's dim country cousin.

And until his Legislature passes a reform bill that mirrors the one passed in New York three years ago - with a CEO selected by the board and a rotating chairmanship, the structure endorsed by both governors in 2014 - a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, as long as he doesn't do it like his malfeasant predecessor.

Without a CEO model, New Jersey has no one looking over the shoulder of PA Executive Director Rick Cotton, an able executive who was in the Cuomo Administration for years.

It was Gov. Cuomo who dismissed the Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement as a Jersey project, even though it has a New York footprint, will be built by New York labor, and will deliver New York tax revenue.

It was Cuomo who continuously undercut former board Chairman John Degnan, New Jersey's only champion once Gov. Gridlock made a discreet withdrawal from all PA business.

It was Cuomo who tried to unilaterally appoint an Inspector General, which would give the governor prosecutorial powers against any Commissioner or manager at the agency.

It was Cuomo who has blocked every CEO candidate the search committee recommended.

"He is determined to bend the Port Authority to his needs and to drive the New York projects ahead, and he will use every vehicle at his disposal to do it," says Degnan, who supports Murphy's decision "until legislative rationality prevails."

Consider this doomsday scenario: "The Bus Terminal is 'later' in the capital plan in terms of timing - it comes after LaGuardia and JFK projects," Degnan says. "Each year, the CEO has to certify there's enough money to continue to pay for capital projects. The result is that New Jersey projects (could) be short of funding and won't go forward, while the NY projects are accelerated.

"So someone in management should be watching the sequence of projects and the availability of funding so that that New Jersey doesn't get cut off."

Until this is addressed through legislation, Murphy is taking the prudent option. Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg disagrees ("Been there, done that"), and she affirms that amendments currently being drafted will include a governor's liaison in the executive equation. Maybe that works, maybe it doesn't.

Until then, this is still a prickly bifurcation, and work at the highest echelons is a trust-but-verify proposition. Some might say Jersey should know its place, because it still has a lot of bad karma to burn off. But the same can be said for Cuomo.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal has given embattled New Jersey House Republicans another way to try to stave off a Democratic wave this fall.

Both Reps. Tom MacArthur and Leonard Lance quickly embraced Trump's decision, part of their effort to attract pro-Israel voters who might otherwise go elsewhere in a state where a recent Monmouth University Poll gave Trump a 35 percent job approval rating.

"There are voters where Israel is a top priority for them and would swing their vote regardless of party," said MacArthur's campaign consultant, Chris Russell. "People do vote on issues. This is one that is important to a significant group."

The issue is potent because both MacArthur and Lance face challenges from well-financed Democrats who previously served in President Barack Obama's administration and supported the deal to relax economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.

In opposing the Iran deal, the two Republicans were on the side of most pro-Israel organizations, led by the powerful American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Lance applauded the demise of what he called "a deeply flawed agreement."

"President Trump says he's willing to consider a new nuclear deal - one that ensures all paths to a nuclear Iran are blocked," he said. "I share this objective."

On the other side was J Street, the latest pro-Israel political action committee in terms of contributions to candidates, which supported the deal and has endorsed both MacArthur opponent Andy Kim and Lance challenger Tom Malinowski, two Obama administration alumns who also backed it.

"The best way to protect America and Israel would have been to extend the existing restrictions on Iran's nuclear program while seizing the chance our allies offered us to impose new controls on its missiles and support for terrorism," Malinowski said.

J Street is a pro-Israel advocacy group whose positions are at variance enough with others in the Jewish community that it was denied membership in the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.

"You can argue that J Street is operating by saying, 'We want to look at a larger picture,'" said Gilbert Kahn, a professor of political science at Kean University. "Essentially, J Street makes evaluations on concerns that transcend the Israel issue. This is the key point of conflict."

The Republican incumbents see their pro-Israel bonafides, including opposing the Iran deal, a way to peel away some of the state's Jewish voters who otherwise would prefer a Democratic candidate.

"I'm going to point out how strongly pro-Israel I am," Lance said. "My views are different from J Street and I presume different from that candidate."

Nationally, 71 percent of Jewish voters supported Hillary Clinton over Trump, according to the Pew Research Center. Trump was accused of using anti-Semitic memes in his campaign and later said there were some "very fine people" marching last August along neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia.

New Jersey's 545,450 Jews make up only 6.1 percent of the state's population, but they are very active politically.

"The number of people who are really, really focused on this issue, they're not huge numbers but they're very active," said Ben Chouake, president of Englewood Cliffs-based Norpac, the second biggest pro-Israel PAC. "They outbox their weight. They go to vote. They're active in their communities. They'll make phone calls."

The pro-Israel community spent $18 million on the 2016 election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group. That was more than double the $8 million from trucking industry employees and executives.

Norpac this year has held fundraisers for such politicians as U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who have only their support for Israel in common.

Last year, the group raised money for Lance, a co-chair of the House Israeli Republican Caucus who joined Chouake, then-Gov. Chris Christie and others in August 2015 in an unsuccessul effort to convince U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., to oppose the Iran deal.

"If your priority is Israel, you're not going to run somebody against Leonard Lance," Chouake said.

That's exactly what J Street is doing, however. J Street raised more than $13,630 for Malinowski, a former assistant U.S. secretary of state, Federal Election Commission filings show.

"The entire mission of J Street is there is more than one way to be pro-Israel," spokesman Logan Bayroff said. "We're overrun by candidates seeking our endorsement. Far from seeing it as some sort of negative, they're very happy to have the support of a group that speaks for so many in the American Jewish community."

Malinowski and Kim said there was no question about there support for Israel.

"I've defended Israel at the United Nations and before the U.S. Congress," Malinowski said.

As for Kim, a former national security official, "I'm somebody that has worked at the Pentagon, working to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge, and making sure they are our strongest partner in the Middle East."

Even so, MacArthur is using J Street's endorsement against his opponent.

"If Andy Kim is going to choose to accept their support, he's going to have to deal with fact that they have been roundly criticized as someone who is not supportive of Israel," Russell said.

Kahn said that's not a winning argument.

"Yes, J Street is changing the calculus but there no basis to argue that because you're taking J Street money, you're not pro-Israel," he said.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
For many New Jerseyans, the 23-cent-per-gallon tax hike imposed in 2016 is still an open wound.

So this update from state budget experts may smart: Gas tax collections are down and the tax rate may be increased later this summer to ensure it brings in enough cash to pay the bills for road and rail projects around the state.

Until 2016, New Jersey motorists enjoyed the second-lowest gasoline taxes in the country.

But lawmakers desperate to raise money for a nearly empty Transportation Trust fund struck a deal with then-Gov. Chris Christie to hike gas taxes 23 cents per gallon and cut the sales tax, eliminate the estate tax, raise the retirement income exclusion and the Earned Income Tax Credit and offer a tax credit for veterans.

That tax hike -- along with increases in diesel fuels and non-motor fuels -- is expected to bring in about $1.2 billion each year. If it brings in more or less than that as consumption rises or falls, the treasurer can adjust the rate to keep it on target.

"If we're about $100 million shy ... that's about a 2-cent increase to maintain that level of revenue, and there may be another cent or two in play if there's a gap to be made up," Frank Haines, budget and finance officer for the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services, told the Assembly Budget Committee.

"You could be looking at 2-to-4 cents, or something like that," he said, adding that each cent represents about $50 million in revenue for the state.

State Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio will have the final word, and she told the Assembly Budget Committee that it's too soon to make any predictions.

"We've seen that the revenue numbers on the gas tax have been lower. We're going to continue to monitor it throughout the summer. We're going into the heavy travel season, so we're going to watch what happens," Muoio said.

The specter of another increase at the pump could complicate coming budget negotiations. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, wants to raise the sales tax, which was cut from 7 percent to 6.625 percent as part of that deal with Christie, a Republican.

Under current law, if those sales tax savings disappear, so too should the gas tax hike. It was a promise put in place to discourage lawmakers from taking back any of the tax cuts after Christie left office.

Murphy, however, has said the reduction in the sales tax was a gimmick pushed by Christie and state coffers really couldn't afford to forfeit that revenue.

Liberal Trenton research and advocacy group New Jersey Policy Perspective projected Christie's reduction in the sales tax saves households with less than $25,000 in annual income at about $32 a year.

That increased to $86 for a household with $49,000 to $79,000 in income; $116 for a household with $79,000 to $132,000 in income; $255 for a household with $286,000 to $808,000 in income; and $723 for a household with more than $808,000 in income.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus.
Like those from around the nation, residents of Salem County paused Monday to remember those who died as they fought to keep America free.

Towns throughout the county held ceremonies -- and even a parade.

At noon, the Salem County Veterans Cemetery in Pilesgrove Township was the scene of the main county Memorial Day observance.

Despite gray skies, several hundred veterans and local residents turned out.

There was music, prayers and several speakers.

Among those was Trudy Corma, mother of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Salvatore S. Corma II who died April 29, 2010 from injuries sustained when his unit was attacked in Afghanistan

Individual flags had been placed on all of the graves in the Salem County cemetery on Route 45. Larger American flags lined the walkways.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm warning for the Florida Panhandle up to the Florida/ Alabama border as slow-moving subtropical storm Alberto heads northward up the Gulf Coast on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.

The center of Alberto is expected to cross into the warning area later Monday afternoon or evening before crossing into the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The storm strengthened overnight with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph but isn't expected to strengthen before it reaches the northern Gulf Coast later Monday.

Alberto is moving slowly northward at about 6 mph and was located about 100 miles southeast of Destin, Florida, according to the NHC.

The NHC registered winds of about 40 mph extending outward up to 105 miles from the center of the storm.

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

Alberto is expected to drop anywhere from 4 to 8 inches of rain in the Florida peninsula and up to 12 inches in isolated areas. The NHC has also issued a storm surge watch for part of the Florida panhandle where the combination of the storm surge and tide could cause normally dry areas near the coast to flood by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.

A couple of brief tornadoes are possible today from northern Florida into central and southern Georgia, southern South Carolina, and southeastern Alabama.

Southeast Louisiana is not expected to be impacted by the storm as it heads north, however small craft advisories are in effect for coastal waters through Memorial Day for portions of Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi.

The NHC will issue their next advisory at 1 p.m.

This story has been updated to show that the Tropical Storm Warning is in effect up to the Florida/ Alabama border and not further west into Mississippi.
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a person on an inflatable raft near Dauphin Island, Ala., on Monday (May 28) after receiving a report from local police that the person appeared to be in distress. Boat crew members brought the person aboard a Coast Guard vessel and took him in good condition to shore.

The agency had asked boaters Saturday to refrain from taking their vessels out during Memorial Day weekend as subtropical storm Alberto approached the Gulf of Mexico. It also warned beachgoers of the dangers of rip tides and to heed beach flag warnings as Alberto.

Although the storm was expected to bring mainly rain to the Florida panhandle Monday afternoon, small craft advisories were in effect for coastal waters through Memorial Day for portions of southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi.

The Coast Guard issued these tips to keep boaters safe:

Those needing passage through drawbridges should seek access well in advance of the arrival of gale force winds. The bridges might deviate from normal operation as the storm approaches.

. . . . . . .

Hannah Krueger contributed to this report.
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.
Videos

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Japanese social media was abuzz this weekend with news of a 13-year-old boy who can allegedly contact UFOs telepathically. The photos of unidentified flying objects that he took last year have attracted a lot of attention from other UFO enthusiasts.

13-year-old Haruya Ido is being referred to as UFO BOy by Japanese media, for his alleged ability to attract unidentified flying objects. Toshitaro Yamaguchi, a known paranormal researcher and the man who first shared Haruyas photos with the world, has described the boy as a classic UFO contactee with the ability to contact UFOs via telepathy.

Haruya Ido has apparently managed to photograph UFOs in different places around Japan on four different occasions just last year. He documented both the place of the sighting and the details of the aircrafts on his website.

It is reflected on the street lamps at the side of the road, I wonder if it is an Adamski type UFO, Ido wrote about the UFO he spotted on the Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway/Awaji service area of Hyogo Prefecture, on March 29, 2017. (1 in the featured photo)

The cigar-shaped unidentified flying object is shown on the electric wire on which a lot of birds are stopped, Ido-kun wrote about the elongated flying object he spotted in Nozaki, Oita City, in Osaka Prefecture, on April 21, 2017. (2 in the featured photo)

I do not know, although the object looks like a triangle, the boy wrote about the thing he photographed in Kurami Hill Park, Osaka Prefecture, on May 2nd, 2017. (3 in the featured photo)

A thing like a white hole appeared, I saw seven things moving at high speed and things that make mysterious movements, but it was reflected when I took the photo. I think it is an object but Im not sure, the UFO boy wrote about the round shape he photographed on December 30, 2017. (4 in the featured photo)

Mr. Toshitaro Yamaguchi, himself a UFO contactee, claims that while UFO Boys are not unheard of, they have become rare in the last few years. He adds that such people can spot the place and time a UFO will appear using telepathy, and compares the ability to shamanism.

Unfortunately, theres not a lot of information on 13-year-old Haruya Ido available right now, but judging by the attention this story is currently getting on Japanese social media, I have a feeling well be hearing more about him soon.

Sources: Tokyo Sports, Naver, Yahoo Japan
Joseph J. Honick

Despite the vicious rant of Donald Trump, Americans know that Senator John McCain is anything but a loser.

That kind of vulgar language, which Trump used during his election campaign during his time in the White House, has damaged the reputation of the US throughout the world.

After McCain failed to win the presidency, he showed respect for the highest office in the land. He understood that once the political battle is over, honorable people commit themselves to the good of the entire nation. Sadly, that is a lesson that Trump never learned.

While McCain never yielded to five years of torture in a Viet Cong prison, Trump got five draft deferments and now pretends to be a leader in sensitive and potential military decisions.

McCain honored his nation, family and himself, not only by his conduct as a man but as an election loser.

Would it be possible for Trump to even express the slightest tribute to McCain for his service, while the Senator is still with us?

No doubt that, when McCain leaves us, we will once again hear and read the empty tweets from the bombastic president about thoughts and prayers going to the McCain family.

The hypocrisy of Trump, who could not find any alternative to military service, blasting an outstanding American like McCain as a loser suggests his own low opinions of commitment to the nation and his own sense of patriotism.

Most who have served the nation, either by virtue of the draft or enlisting, know that heel spurs that kept Trump safe does not compare those who put themselves in harms way and suffered mightily for the privilege.

***

Joseph J. Honick is an international consultant to business and government and writes for many publications. He can be reached at joehonick@gmail.com
28/05/2018 - Peru is taking important steps toward fighting corruption and fostering greater transparency and exchange of information by completing the necessary steps to become a Party to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Anti-Bribery Convention) and the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

Anti-Bribery Convention

The OECD announced today that Peru will become the 44th Party to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention on 27 July 2018, 60 days after the deposit of its instrument of accession. Peru's Minister of Economy and Finance, David Tuesta, deposited today the countrys instrument to accede to the Anti-Bribery Convention with OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, during a ceremony in Paris. "We welcome Peru as the 44th Party, and 7th Latin American country, to join the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention," said Mr. Gurria. "By joining the Convention, Peru sends a clear signal that is determined to playing a key role in the collective fight against cross-border bribery. This is another example of both Perus commitment to closer ties with the OECD, as well as its ability to adopt legal instruments in support of a fair and sustainable approach to globalisation."

On 27 September 2016, the OECD invited Peru to join the OECD Working Group on Bribery and to take the necessary steps to accede to the Convention. Peru will now undergo systematic reviews on the implementation of its anti-bribery laws.

The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force in 1999, prohibits the bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions. Through country monitoring and extensive peer-led follow-up, the Convention seeks to ensure that the fight against bribery is effective, thus creating a level playing field for fair competition.

The 35 OECD member countries plus Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, and South Africa are presently Parties to the Convention.

Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters

During the same ceremony, Minister Tuesta also deposited Peru's instrument of accession for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. With 119 countries and jurisdictions participating in the Convention, it is the worlds leading instrument for boosting transparency and combating cross-border tax evasion. The Convention will enter into force for Peru on 1 September 2018.

The Convention is the key instrument for swift implementation of the Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters. The Standard - developed by the OECD and G20 countries  will enable more than 100 jurisdictions to automatically exchange offshore financial account information from September 2018 onwards. It is also a cornerstone for the implementation of the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports on the activities of multinational enterprises, under the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, and is a powerful tool in the fight against illicit financial flows.

Perus accession to the Anti-Bribery Convention and multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters is part of the countrys wider and continuing engagement with the OECD. This enhanced engagement, which has accelerated in the context of the OECD-Peru Country Programme, has resulted in a significant increase of Perus participation in the Organisations bodies and the adoption of OECD instruments.

For more information on Perus engagement with the OECD please visit http://www.oecd.org/latin-america/countries/peru/

For additional photos of the signing ceremony, please visit : https://www.flickr.com/photos/oecd/sets/72157696708209424/

Media queries should be directed to Lawrence Speer (+33 1 4524 7970) or the OECD Media Office (+33 1 4524 9700).

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

Related Documents
The workers have approached the Workers Union to assist them.
One of the Maskelynes underground well at Peskarus. Photo: Vanuatu Red Cross
Re: Vanuatu - the first country in the world to ban plastic straws
I would like to support Mayor Vera Katz's unfulfilled effort to move our icon, Portlandia, from outside the city's office building to a site along the Willamette River banks at Tom McCall Marine Park. Her present location has been a sorrowful disaster.

It seems like only yesterday that tens of thousands of Portlanders were commencing the Women's March -- in a rain storm -- from this very locale.

It is not too late to move our icon, which is owned by the citizens of Portland, to a setting that honors her. Will this cost our citizens money? Yes.

Please, fellow citizens, make your voices heard above a heartless bureaucracy. This is the call Mayor Katz should have heard. I believe a citizen drive will be very successful. Free Portlandia!

-- Bruce Hall, Southwest Portland
By Lynne Hasselman

Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

On a sunny September 1917 day, Rebecca Deetz's two boys boarded a train in the Willamette Valley, bound for Camp Greene, North Carolina. At a 10-minute stop in Woodburn, they and other soldiers exchanged last handshakes and kisses with loved ones through open train windows.

Lunch boxes filled with fried chicken, homemade cake, and fruit were passed up for the journey. What Deetz, a Mennonite, said to her sons in those few moments wasn't known, but it was reported later that she had a premonition they wouldn't return.

Edwin, age 20, and Jonas, age 18, were raised in a faith that opposed participating in armed conflict, but once World War I was declared they faced excruciating pressure. Should they enlist and choose their branch of the military, wait to be drafted or to apply for conscientious objector status?

Like many from the area around their hometown of Needy, near Aurora, the Deetzs were pacifist Mennonites. Their mother, Rebecca, feared if her sons became conscientious objectors, they might be lynched by vigilantes. Throughout the Willamette Valley, there were reports of barns being striped with yellow paint, shots fired through windows, churches vandalized, and businesses run out of town.

Many agreed with former President Theodore Roosevelt that conscientious objectors were "slackers, pure and simple or else traitorous pro-Germans."

After weighing the demands of country and faith, Edwin convinced Jonas to enlist in the Oregon National Guard's Third Infantry Regiment. Four days after war was declared, they had joined the ranks of the 44,166 Oregonians who would serve overseas and stateside in World War I.

Edwin and Jonas arrived at Camp Greene for trench warfare training, and from there, were sent to Camp Mills on Long Island, New York, to await their embarkation orders to Europe. At 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 12, they left for the Hoboken Port of Embarkation in New Jersey.

While the Red Cross handed out corned beef sandwiches and hot chocolate, they waited in dimly lit sheds to board the SS Tuscania. In a fateful twist, after it delivered the Oregon boys, that ship was doomed to fall victim to German torpedoes.

On Christmas Day, Edwin and Jonas safely debarked at Liverpool and crossed the English Channel to snowy Le Havre, France. In Brest, the lice-infested troops took much needed showers as they hadn't bathed since leaving New York. They also had received a new designation  they were now part of the 41st Division, 162nd Infantry Regiment.

As their troop train moved slowly past Paris to northeast France, they saw the true devastation of war. Burnt fields were peppered with shell craters, skeletons of houses with blown out windows and doors, rotting horse carcasses to be buried, piles of used shell casings, and roads lined with abandoned equipment. Hundreds of graves dotted the landscape, and almost most French women wore black in mourning.

"There are scarcely any young men except those who have returned minus some part of their anatomy or else in such a physical condition that they are almost helpless," an Oregon soldier wrote home.

As the troops moved closer to the front, they heard the dull, unbroken sound of cannon fire. Despite the grim reality, they remained reassuring in their letters home. Canby High classmate Joe Schaubel said that Edwin, Jonas, and the other local men were in "fine spirits and form, and awaiting their chance at the Kaiser's" armies.

The truth was more complicated, and the brothers would not face battle together. Edwin was reassigned to the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, and Jonas to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division.

Edwin received a terrifying introduction to battle. "I was sitting down on a bank to eat when the shells began coming over," he wrote. "They began dropping closer so I went into a nearby dugout. I had just gotten into it when a big shell struck right in front. Another made a hole within four feet of where I had been eating my supper."

He added, "If we get 'kicked off', you'll be notified. Don't believe rumors that run around loose. I am okay."

At night when the bombardments began, flares illuminated the sky like it was daylight, and the air filled with black and gray smoke. The sounds were deafening  the thunderous detonations of exploding munitions, the loud staccato bursts of machine gun fire, the shriek of whistles as German chlorine and phosgene gas were unleashed, and the screams of the wounded.

Jonas was near Belleau Wood, northeast of Paris, where his regiment was deployed to halt the German advance to the city. The wood, with its tangled undergrowth and hidden German machine gun nests, was the stuff of nightmares.

Under heavy fire, Jonas's regiment advanced without artillery support, rest or food. While defending in and around the village of Bouresches, they fought from inside houses and behind stone walls. On June 13, Jonas was hit by an explosive shell that burst into hot, sharp splinters at high velocity.

He died two hours later and was buried in a cemetery known only as #241, his gravestone a white wooden cross stenciled with his name and hung with his helmet.

Eight days later on a warm summer evening near Aurora, the telegram from the Army Adjunct General was delivered to the Deetz farm.

When Rebecca saw the Western Union messenger holding the cream colored envelope, she asked, "Which one is it?"

Knowing nothing of his brother's fate, Edwin was now fighting near Chateau-Thierry, less than five miles from where Jonas had died. His division took a sector north of Soissons, a battle one soldier remembered as "hell on earth." By late-September, they seized the heights north and west of the town of Romange-sons-Montfancon.

A friend of the brothers, Jay Coyle, told this story. He was passing a cemetery near Belleau Wood, when he saw Jonas's grave. He found Edwin and they returned to the cemetery, hoping fervently it was a different soldier. But when they compared Jonas's identification number with the one on the grave, it matched.

Weeks later, on Oct. 9, 1918, Edwin was killed by a German sharpshooter. On Nov. 18, another Western Union telegram arrived at the Deetz home.

In keeping with their parents' wishes, Edwin and Jonas's remains were disinterred, returned to the United States on an Army funeral ship and sent by train to Portland's Union Station. There the caskets were accompanied to Aurora by a Vancouver Barracks guard and the brothers were buried in the Willamette Valley town of Hubbard.

Grave of Edwin and Jonas Deetz at the Zion Mennonite Cemetery in Hubbard. (Michael Burley, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive)

Their heartbroken mother never spoke of it again. Rebecca Deetz's obituary said that her Mennonite faith helped her through many "trying times when things seemed very dark," including the loss of Edwin, Jonas, another son who died of rheumatic fever, and her husband, Henry.

The deeply devout mother who believed in peace lost two sons to war. A scratched and faded photograph shows Edwin and Jonas in their infantry uniforms and wool felt campaign hats, smiling broadly with their arms around each other's shoulders and gripping hands. Perhaps that's how they would want to be remembered.

On Memorial Day 2018, a weathered headstone carved with a World War I star on a laurel wreath crown sits in the Zion Mennonite Cemetery. Inscribed upon it are the names Edwin H. Deetz and Jonas L. Deetz, and simply, "Died in France."

Lynne Hasselman is a freelance writer from Ashland, Oregon.
Updated with information on the boy's condition.

A 6-year-old boy was airlifted to a Portland-area hospital with life-threatening injuries after his mother stabbed him in their Newport apartment, police said.

Nemoria L. Villagomez, 34, was booked Saturday evening into the Lincoln County Jail on charges of attempted murder, aggravated attempted murder, three counts of assault and criminal mistreatment. Bail was set at $1.1 million.

Nemoria Villagomez

Neighbors called police when Villagomez's son showed up at their door in the Agate Height Apartments complex with several stab wounds and covered in blood, according to a news release.

The boy said his mother stabbed him, and the neighbors called police on his behalf.

Officers entered Villagomez's apartment to find "a large amount of blood" in the living room and found her 14-month-old child in a small bedroom as they searched the apartment. The younger child was not hurt.

Villagomez was questioned at the Newport Police Department as her 6-year-old son was taken to the Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital. He was later taken to Portland.

A statement from Newport police said the child was in good condition Tuesday afternoon and was "expected to be released from the hospital soon."

Court records show Villagomez was convicted for fourth-degree assault in November 2016. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a five-year probation by a Lincoln County judge.

The 14-month-old is in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

ecampuzano@oregonian.com
It was a river trek the ad writers for Land Rover likely could not have imagined.

Neither, it appears, did the driver, who drove his black Land Rover off the road on a curve while leading police on a chase. The vehicle ended up in the Clackamas River.

Clackamas County sheriff's deputies are searching for the man after he fled the scene of the crash late Sunday night.

The chase started around 10 p.m. on Oregon 224 just west of Estacada, when a sheriff's deputy observed the Land Rover's driver commit several traffic law violations, according to a sheriff's press release. When the deputy used his radar to check the vehicle's speed, it was around 100 mph going into the city.

The deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver did not comply. After leading the deputy on a chase east on Oregon 224, the Land Rover disappeared around mile post 33, according to the sheriff's office.

When deputies checked the area, they found the Land Rover "right-side-up in the middle of the Clackamas River in several feet of water," according to the press release. "The vehicle had traveled quite a distance from the road and there was an approximate 40 foot drop off to the river at that location."

The Clackamas County sheriff's water rescue team did an initial search and found the Land Rover was empty, although they found a rifle and "a few other identifying items."

They had called in other water rescue teams, plus Sandy police, an Oregon State Police trooper with a canine and a Portland police airplane.

Still, they were unable to find the suspect. A witness to the crash said he yelled out to the vehicle to see if any people inside were OK, and a man responded that he was OK and did not need help, according to sheriff's deputies. The witness did not see the suspect.

Anyone who has information about the case can contact the Clackamas County sheriff's office tip line at 503-723-4949 or online using an email form at https://web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp . The reference number for the case is 18-015334.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud
UPDATE: 2:56 p.m. May 28

One man was seriously injured and another was taken into custody after an assault in Northeast Portland Sunday evening, police said.

Police have identified the suspect as 25-year-old Todd Schneider.

Just before 6:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of an assault near the intersection of Northeast 122nd Avenue and Siskiyou Street. Police found a man suffering from injuries consistent with a knife wound.

Todd Schneider

He was taken to nearby hospital in serious condition, but he is expected to survive, police said.

Investigators searched the neighborhood and took a man into custody who they described as a "person of interest." Police believe there is no outstanding danger to the community.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048
Investigators seized two firearms, a handgun and an assault-style rifle, from a man suspected of firing a gun into the air in Southeast Portland Saturday night, officials said.

Just before 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a caller reporting gunfire near the intersection of Southeast 143rd Avenue and Division Street. The caller said a man had fired a gun into the air from inside a red 1998 Dodge Dakota truck before driving to the Rollin' Wheels Mobile Home Park, about a block away, police said in a news release.

Officers arriving on the scene found the suspect, later identified as Emanuel Venegas-Vazquez, still sitting in the vehicle. Venegas-Vazquez was taken into custody without incident and investigators discovered two firearms, a Browning 9mm handgun and an AK47, from the vehicle.

Officers discovered evidence of gunfire on Division Street, where the reports of gunfire originated, but no injuries were reported, according to police.

Venegas-Vazquez, 28, was booked into Multnomah County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence menacing, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm, officials said.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- President Donald Trump paid a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery to those who have fallen in battle or while protecting a nation forever thankful for their selfless service.

"We mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice," the commander in chief told an audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families assembled in the marble amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Trump said he came to the "sacred soil" of Arlington on Monday "to honor the lives and deeds of America's greatest heroes" -- the men and women who laid down their lives so that others could be free.

Trump also laid a wreath at the tomb during his second Memorial Day trip to Arlington as president.

Before heading to the hallowed grounds across the Potomac River from the nation's capital, Trump tweeted that "those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today."

In the tweet, the president veered from the somber to self-congratulatory, citing what he said was the "Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!"

He was criticized for his tone by a number of people, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Obama administration, former Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who tweeted, "This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us."

This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us. No matter how prestigious or powerful, no matter how successful we perceive ourselves to be. Rather, this day should be about those who gave their lives so that we could live ours in freedom. #MemorialDay  GEN(R) Marty Dempsey (@Martin_Dempsey) May 28, 2018

At Arlington, Trump said the heroes who died for America "rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far, and are drawn from the full tapestry of American life."

He said they came from "every generation, from towering cities and wind-swept prairies, from privilege and from poverty. They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, color and of every creed, but they were all brothers and sisters in arms. And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country."

Gen. Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored the more than a million Americans he said "gave their last full measure so we could live in freedom and raise our children in peace."

He also honored the families "they left behind and for whom every day is Memorial Day."

Those who fought and died for America, he said, "shared a commitment to something greater than themselves and they were people who understand what we have in this country is worth fighting for."

Those who attended the Memorial Day tribute included Trump's chief of staff, John Kelly, whose son, Marine 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly, was killed in November 2010 after he stepped on a land mine while on patrol in southern Afghanistan. He is buried at Arlington.

First lady Melania Trump tweeted her thanks to "all the service members & their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe."

On #MemorialDay we honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country. As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isnt free. Thank you to all the service members & their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.  pic.twitter.com/H6yhNQXyPg  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 28, 2018

- By Catherine Lucey
Vanuatu Needs Financial Aid With No String Attached to Achieve Real Independence
guy39 said: LOL







I am trying to find the part where he said they should be thankful to him. Can any one point it out to me.



Also, does anyone want to dispute anything in the tweet?



No, probably not. I will assume it will be more, dotard this, Trump bad, muh feelings, muh russia. Click to expand...

YOU show me where Trump expressed any gratitude, or even acknowledged, the suffering and sacrifice of those men and women that we are SU POSSESSED to be honoring today.REGARDLESS of what the fucking DOW is today or what the unemployment rate is, TODAY, those men and women died, usually in the prime of their life, so we could HAVE A TODAY!TRUMP IS A SELF- CENTERED, SELF-ABSORBED, ARROGANT, GREEDY WALKING POS.
Warsaw, 28/05/2018. Joint press conference after the meeting of President Andrzej Duda (P) with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) in Belvedere in Warsaw, after the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which took place in the Sejm. (mr) PAP / Marcin Obara PAP  2018 / Marcin Obara

We agree as to the main aims that the North Atlantic Alliance should work towards in the coming years, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Monday after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The president received Jens Stoltenberg at Warsaw's Belweder Palace on Monday. The NATO chief was in Warsaw for the Spring Session of the Alliance's Parliamentary Assembly.

"There is no discrepancy between us; we agree with the secretary general as to all the main aims that the Alliance should work towards in the coming years. Towards a certain profile that has been accepted," the president stressed, noting among other things the mutual satisfaction with the rapid implementation of decisions taken in Wales and Warsaw.

Duda noted at the same time that in the context of the forthcoming Brussels NATO summit it is necessary to think "about further decisions that will be taken there in terms of the Alliance's efficient functioning, so-called reactions, which will be followed at that time when it comes to a possible engagement of military forces of the advanced presence, in order for those forces to be reinforced with others." He added that a decision on that subject should be taken at the Brussels summit.

The NATO secretary general underscored that Poland is a "very strong" NATO member. "You participate and contribute to our shared security and our collective defence in many different ways," he observed. "You lead by example on defence spending, allocating 2% of GDP on defence." He also recalled that Poland is host to a NATO Multinational Battalion Battle Group and contributes to the battle group stationed in Latvia. "I would also like to thank Poland for the many contributions you are making to different NATO missions and operations, in Afghanistan, but also for training activities that NATO conducts in Iraq, and this is about fighting terrorism. When our neighbours are more stable we are more secure," Stoltenberg commented.

Jens Stoltenberg announced that he had discussed many issues with the Polish president that would dominate the agenda of July's summit, including defence conditions and increasing the Alliance's readiness so that its forces could be more rapidly deployed. He noted that at the Brussels summit a decision would be taken on the location of commands related to the adoption of the Alliance's new command structure. He went on to state that the July summit would also concern cooperation with "two close" partners - Georgia and Ukraine. "NATO will continue to provide political and practical support to Georgia and Ukraine (...) because they are highly valued partners where NATO has an important role to play, and we will continue to support them," Stoltenberg declared.

He also stated that NATO wants to "combine deterrence, defence, with political dialogue with Russia." "Russia is our neighbour, Russia is here to stay so we need to continue to engage in dialogue with Russia," he asserted, pointing out that this week will see a further meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. "I believe that these meetings of the NATO-Russia Council are important because they provide a framework to also discuss difficult issues. For instance, the crisis in and around Ukraine. (...) And we have seen the consequences of the crisis in Ukraine, Russias destabilising efforts in eastern Ukraine with the downing of MH17 (...) and I agree with the Dutch government that Russia should admit responsibility for its part in the downing of the plane and also fully cooperate so we make sure that those who are responsible are held accountable."

The NATO secretary general stressed that the Alliance is currently focusing on cooperation with the EU. "I welcome stronger EU efforts on defence. At the same time it has been clearly stated by EU leaders and by European leaders that this is not about creating any alternative to NATO, this is about complementing NATO, strengthening the European pillar within NATO and I agree that we need stronger EU efforts, stronger European efforts to also strengthen the transatlantic bond and improve burden sharing," he said.

On the subject of expenditures and budgeting, Jens Stoltenberg emphasised that member states' defence budgets have to be in line with the Alliance's outgoings - reduced in the period after the Cold War - as tensions increase.

President Duda was asked about his discussion with Stoltenberg on the subject of the location of the Alliance's new commands. At the preliminary stage, the reforms foresee two new command centres. One will cover the northern Atlantic and is to improve communications capability and defend maritime routes between Europe and America; the other, situated in Europe, is tasked with improving the Alliance's logistical capacities and especially the deployment of equipment and forces in Europe. Poland has announced its interest in this type of command and would like it to be located in Szczecin (northwestern Poland).

"We talked about the creation of a so-called army command," Duda replied. "We had indicated to the secretary general earlier, but also today, that we would very definitely be happy for this army command within NATO to be in our part of Europe, in Szczecin." He highlighted that the Multinational Corps North-East is already there, within the NATO framework, conducted by Poland together with Denmark and Germany. Stoltenberg pointed out that a decision on the land forces component would not be taken at the coming July summit but would need to wait for input from the NATO Europe commander, General Curtis Scaparotti, a process he said could take some time.

A question was raised about the possible timing for the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting at the level of defence ministers, which has been blocked by Hungary over a dispute concerning education laws in Ukraine. Stoltenberg said there would be a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on Monday at the level of ambassadors. "We are in constant contact with Ukraine, we hold regular meetings, we also consult with the president and prime minister of Ukraine," Stoltenberg commented, adding that Ukraine is a close and valuable partner which is a victim of the aggressive actions of Russia, which illegally annexed Crimea and continues its aggressive activities in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier, the NATO secretary-general met with PM Mateusz Morawiecki to discuss preparations for the July NATO summit in Brussels.

Morawiecki and Stoltenberg also discussed defence spending and the current state of international security, the PM's Office wrote in a Monday evening press release. (PAP)

ej/aa/mf/
Media mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused by more than 90 women of sexual misconduct, turned himself in to the police on Friday. He has been charged with rape, sex abuse, sexual misconduct and a criminal sex act, according to BBC. The news made headlines and was heralded as a victory for the survivors of his violence and for women everywhere, as reporting on his countless assaults caused women across the world to share their experiences and work towards more equitable workplaces via the #MeToo movement.

Recently, while on the way to deliver a commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy, President Trump was asked his thoughts on the monumental Weinstein case, CBS reports. He responded that he was uninformed about it, saying, "I don't know anything about it." He later told another reporter, "I'm not familiar with the case, but it's really too bad."

The statement would be shocking coming from any other President or political official given the social impact of Weinstein's case, but Trump has a history of being late to respond to political events and of endorsing sexual misconduct. Nonetheless, it is incredibly frustrating to see him normalize and implicitly excuse Weinstein's behavior by remaining willfully ignorant to it and by describing his arrest as "really too bad."

Image via BFA


You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Following the overthrow of his government by South Vietnamese military forces the day before, President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother are captured and killed by a group of soldiers. The death of Diem caused celebration among many people in South Vietnam, but also lead to political chaos in the nation. The United States subsequently became more heavily involved in Vietnam as it tried to stabilize the South Vietnamese government and beat back the communist rebels that were becoming an increasingly powerful threat. While the United States publicly disclaimed any knowledge of or participation in the planning of the coup that overthrew Diem, it was later revealed that American officials met with the generals who organized the plot and gave them encouragement to go through with their plans. Quite simply, Diem was perceived as an impediment to the accomplishment of U.S. goals in Southeast Asia. His increasingly dictatorial rule only succeeded in alienating most of the South Vietnamese people, and his brutal repression of protests led by Buddhist monks during the summer of 1963 convinced many American officials that the time had come for Diem to go. Three weeks later, an assassin shot President Kennedy. By then, the United States was more heavily involved in the South Vietnamese quagmire than ever. Its participation in the overthrow of the Diem regime signaled a growing impatience with South Vietnamese management of the war. From this point on, the United States moved step by step to become more directly and heavily involved in the fight against the communist rebels.



Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated in South Vietnam



http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ngo-dinh-diem-assassinated-in-south-vietnam

 This Day in HIstory: Nov 02 1963Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated in South Vietnam

President Kennedy (not wanting to be a one term President) ordered Diem to let up on the persecutions . . . but he refused. World opinion forced Kennedy to choose between his church and his political career and his decision cost him his life.



Finally the order went forth for Diem's removal and Buddhist Officers dragged him from the church and riddled him with bullets. This occurred on Nov. 2, 1963.





http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/assassination_kennedy.htm Assassination of President Kennedy  Solved at Last!!



Both McCone and the commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald (center) was a 'lone gunman' who killed Kennedy 

During her 1963 U.S. speaking tour, she accused the United States of being soft on communism and presented herself as the victim. She complained that the Kennedy White House, which did not acknowledge her visit, could have shown her more courtesy. She made several high-profile appearances, including an interview on NBCs Meet the Press. She said America wasnt as anti-communist as Vietnam and had given in to liberalism, which in her view meant they were, not red yet, but they are pink.



The Washington Post described her during her visit as petite, quick-witted and remarked on her long, sharpened red fingernails detracting somewhat from her posture of defenselessness.





By Colby Itkowitz

September 26



https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/09/26/the-dragon-lady-how-madame-nhu-helped-escalate-the-vietnam-war/?utm_term=.23233a810c59 The Dragon Lady: How Madame Nhu helped escalate the Vietnam WarBy Colby ItkowitzSeptember 26

XXXXX

Madame Nhu listened helplessly to the details of the crisis thousands of miles away. She wrote, If only I had been there, again and again in her memoir. She told herself that she would have prevented the regime from falling, as she had in 1955, 1960 and again in 1962. She believed this time her absence had fatally weakened the Ngo regime.
India will not follow US sanctions on Iran: Foreign Minister Swaraj

05/28/18

Source: Press TV

India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj says New Delhi will keep trading with Iran and will only follow sanctions imposed by the United Nations and not those imposed by any other country, such as the United States, against the Islamic Republic.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Swaraj added that her country's position was "independent" of any other country and would not make foreign policy "under pressure."



"India follows only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any country," she said when asked about New Delhi's response to the US decision to withdraw from a 2015 key nuclear agreement and re-impose sanctions against Tehran.



US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany.



Trump also said he would reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran suspended under the nuclear accord and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.



However, Swaraj emphasized that India rejects "reactionary" policies and will not be dictated to by other countries.



"We don't make our foreign policy under pressure from other countries. We believe in UN sanctions but not in country-specific sanctions," she pointed out.



Iran and India enjoy deep relations in political and economic sectors. Tehran is one of New Delhi's top oil suppliers.



Swaraj is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later on Monday.



The top Iranian diplomat is in India as part of international consultations aimed at discussing continued mutual cooperation with world countries following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA.



In a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in February, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed readiness to expand mutual relations in all areas.



During Rouhani's visit, Iran awarded a much-awaited agreement to India over the management of part of its strategic Chabahar port - a move that could enable India to dodge Pakistan and reach markets in Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond.
The Ghana National Chamber of Licensed Banker to Banker Lotto Operators says it will support all lotto Operators who are unable to afford the payment of their license fees.



According to the Association, their doors are open to this category of lotto Operators because they believe the new structures put in place by the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority(NLA) Kofi Osei-Ameyaw will help to streamline lottery in Ghana.



"We would like to commend Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority(NLA) for the modernization of Lotto business in Ghana... the doors of Ghana National Chamber of Licensed Banker to Banker Lotto Operators and Agents under the leadership of Mr Frank Adjei are open to lotto operators, agents and writers who are ready to work with us due to their inability to pay the license fees approved by the Board of NLA. We will assist such operators, agents and writers to pay their license fees to the NLA and subsequently work for us.



"We are urging the Board of NLA, Security Agencies and Government to take action on our petition regarding the arrest of Nigerians, Chinese and other foreign nationals operating lotto in Ghana", a statement by the Association read.



Read full statement below:



The Ghana National Chamber of Licensed Banker to Banker Lotto Operators and Agents under the leadership of Mr. Frank Adjei is ever ready to support and work with the Lotto Operators, Agents and Writers who are not able to afford the payment of the License fees approved by the Board of the National Lottery Authority(NLA).



As good citizens of Ghana we have to do everything possible to support Government with our licenses fees.



We would like to commend Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority(NLA) for the modernization of Lotto business in Ghana by:



1. Giving opportunity to Banker to Banker Lotto Operators, Agents and Writers to be registered and license under PPP initiative.

2. Scrapping taxes on lotto.

3. Introducing NLA owned Platform

4. Implementing the E-Kiosk project.



However, the doors of Ghana National Chamber of Licensed Banker to Banker Lotto Operators and Agents under the leadership of Mr Frank Adjei are open to lotto operators, agents and writers who are ready to work with us due to their inability to pay the license fees approved by the Board of NLA.



We will assist such operators, agents and writers to pay their license fees to the NLA and subsequently work for us.



We are urging the Board of NLA, Security Agencies and Government to take action on our petition regarding the arrest of Nigerians, Chinese and other foreign nationals operating lotto in Ghana.



Any group of people kicking against the registration and license fees for Banker to Banker Lotto business are Nation Wreckers and we would like to entreat the media, Government and general public to ignore such characters.



Signed



Mr. Frank Adjei

Founder/Leader & Executive Chairman

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
The government has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney Generals (AG) Department to study a request asking for the extradition to and trial of the former President of Gambia, Yahaya Jammeh in Ghana over the killing of some 44 Ghanaians in The Gambia.



The request was made by a campaign group Human Rights Watch and Trial International and is led by an American lawyer, Reed Broody.



Mr Broody is the lawyer for Martin Kyere; the only known survivor out of 56 West Africans - most of them Ghanaian and Nigerian - who were murdered in The Gambia on or around 22 July 2005.



A statement issued and signed by the Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the AGs Department have been tasked to explore the full extent of the legal and diplomatic implications of the request and advise government on the way forward.



Government wishes to inform the Ghanaian people that it is studying the request by Human Rights Watch and Trial International to ask for the extradition to, and trial of Yahaya Jammeh in Ghana.



Government has been informed that Human Rights watch in collaboration with Trial International and led by an America lawyer, Reed Brody have unearthed fresh evidence, which they believe ties the former Gambian President, Yahaya Jammeh to the killing of 44 Ghanaians, on or about the 22nd of July 2005, the statement said.



Dr Hamid noted that the request has both legal and international diplomatic implications; thus, government shall make public its decision in respect of the matter as soon as it receives the reports.



He, therefore, urged the families of those who lost their lives and the Ghanaian population, to exercise restraint as it seeks good counsel on the matter.

Source: Graphic.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Information Reaching Daily Guide indicates that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has sacked 17 recruits who were undergoing training at the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) at Shai Hills in the Greater Accra Region.



The 17 were among several others who were undergoing a six-month training to join the Armed Forces.



They were said to have failed their basic fitness test on Thursday, May 24, 2018, and were made to leave the school on Saturday.



A source who confirmed the dismissal to DAILY GUIDE explained that the recruits who were sent packing were given several chances to go through the test in order to save themselves, yet they failed.



If you cannot pass ordinary physical fitness test then you are not qualified to be there. We wont recruit people who cannot stand the testament of time for the public to start questioning our integrity and how we went about training. Never!



The training is six months and if you cannot meet the standard of passing out, then there is no need for you to be there. People can even be sacked on the passing out, the source stated.



Meanwhile, those who managed to pass the test are expected to pass out in June this year.



In the year 2016, the Ghana Armed Forces sacked 501 recruits, who were undergoing training, for misconduct.



They were said to have held an unauthorized assembly, complaining that the training amounted to maltreatment and later marched to the instructors place demanding to be sent home because it (training) was too strenuous.



Their dismissal was contained in a statement issued and signed by Colonel E. Aggrey-Quarshie, Director of Public Relations of GAF.

Source: Daily Guide









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
A former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, has stated that Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the second deputy Speaker of Parliament, is a presidential material.



Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, who is a national Vice Chairperson of the opposition National Democratic Congress, said Mr Bagbin is a seasoned lawyer with vast experience in governance and politics.



This was in response to a question posed by Mr Stephen Ashitey Adjei, who wanted to know from her if indeed Mr Alban Bagbin, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament could be a Presidential material for the Party in the 2020 polls.



Alban Bagbin is my husband and he is a very good person she said. Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu told Tema East NDC Executives at a naming ceremony organised by the constituency Zongo Caucus co-ordinator, Alhaji Zibo Abdulai, that Mr Bagbin has a unique brain power whose contribution to the countrys democracy cannot be measured.



She added that the NDC was more united than before and that was why the partys council of elders such as Dr. Obed Asamoah, Edward Doe Adjaho, Captain Kojo Tsikata, Nii Okaija Adamafio and others met often to promote the interest of the party.



She criticised the vigilante groups of the ruling New Patriotic Party such as the Delta and invincible forces for the indiscipline in the country and commended late President Mills and Former President Mahama for their good works.



Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu also used the occasion, to commend Tema East NDC Executives and aspirants present including; Kempes Ofosuware, a former Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive and Mr Issah Alhassan, Assemblyman of the area for the spirit of Unity.







Source: GNA









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
An Islamic cleric has predicted that former president John Mahama will win his partys primaries easily to lead the NDC and challenge the incumbent "mysteriously".



John Mahama has hinted that he may consider running for the presidency on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) again.



To him, he has reflected on the numerous calls by the party's teeming supporters and sympathizers to declare his intention to contest in 2020.



In a Facebook post, Mr Mahama said, "I will not disappoint you even as we await the publication of the partys guidelines for selecting a new leader."



However, Mallam Sham Una Ustarz Jibril, who has been an accurate predictor on election issues, has already congratulated John Dramani Mahama as the flagbearer of his party in the spiritual realm.



The Islamic Cleric, Numerologist, Philosopher, and a claimed Spiritual hacker told Peacefmonline.com in an interview that Mahama is the choice of the people and nothing can change that.



It will be very funny and silly to a layman on the street to understand the whole concept, thus, how and why should Mahama be congratulated ahead of their primaries. But the truth is, he has already won the elections spiritually, he said.



As to whether Mahama and the NDC will win the 2020 elections, the soothsayer said Ghanaians should expect a very serious and mysterious political race between the NPP and NDC in 2020.





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah, has implored Africas youth to lead the campaign and struggle for African unity.



Africas unity, according to Mr Mornah, will maximise its economic strength and yield to the advantage of the youth, hence the need for them to channel their energies into matters aimed at resolving Africas differences.



He made the call when he delivered the keynote address at the Second Meeting of the Pan African, Federalist Movement (PAFM)-West Africa, held at the Memorial Modibo Keita, Bamako, Mali, last Friday.



The movement is a pro African group existing to champion the formation of a United Africa State (UAS) within a generation.



Stumbling block



Mr Mornah, who is the West African Coordinator of the Movement, maintains that although the concept of unifying states owes its origin to Africa, the continent has over the years failed to dissolve its artificial boundaries  a stumbling block to its economic, social and political development.



He lamented the absence of a vibrant African youth to relive the unity-oriented ideologies of its past leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Modibo Keita and Patrice Lumumba.



Economic strength



Europe has learnt something from Africa. In the days when states in Europe were fighting among themselves, Nkrumah and the likes were trumpeting the call for unity in Africa. When European states identified their differences and came together, they enjoyed efficient economic strength. It is ironical that Africans who started the campaign are wandering in disunity, he stated.



We are a common people with no differences whatsoever within us in terms of culture and heritage. We should, therefore, not allow artificial demarcations established by our colonial masters to suggest our differences. We must dismantle all those borders. . As said by Dr Kwame Nkrumah; Africans are not poor. We have allowed ourselves to be divided at our own detriment, he noted.



PAFMs second meeting



Last Fridays meeting, which marked the PAFMs second meeting in West Africa, with the first held in Accra last year, was on the theme: Unifying States of Africa in this generation: What are the actions of the Malian Youth?



It was supported by the government of Mali.



The meeting summoned high-spirited Pan Africanists from Mali, Ghana, Togo, La Cote dIvoire and other West African countries to discuss the way forward in the campaign aimed at making Africa attain a unified status.



In a related development, Mr Mornah and Ghanas Ambassador to Mali, H.E. Major General Francis Adu-Amanfoh, were present at a short ceremony held by the government of Mali at the African Tower in Bamako, Mali, to observe the African Union (AU) Day.





Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Professor Ransford Gyampo, Director of European Studies at the University of Ghana, has said former President Jerry John Rawlings must be told that he cannot continue to disrespect Ghanaians, including all his successors, and expect to be respected.



According to him, since leaving office after the 2000 elections, Mr Rawlings has victimised all other presidents that have come, and accused them of corruption without a shred of evidence.



Prof Gyampos comments follow an apology rendered to former presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Mahama by Mr Ralwings for describing them as evil and rogue during an interaction with chiefs and elders from Mepe in the Volta Region last Tuesday when the traditional leaders visited to invite him to the final funeral rites of Mamaga Awusi Sreku II, queen of the Mepe Traditional Area.



Mr Rawlings had said during the visit that if going to heaven meant sharing the place with Mr Mahama and Mr Kufuor, then he was better off going to hell.



But in a U-turn, Mr Rawlings issued a statement saying he has withdrawn his comments and has rendered an apology to the two former Ghanaian leaders.



The statement read: The office of former President Jerry John Rawlings wishes to inform the general public that the former President has taken due note of concerns raised over certain publications arising out of a meeting he held with a delegation of chiefs and elders from Mepe in the Volta Region last Tuesday.



The former President apologises to former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama for the choice of words. He deems the words as inappropriate and withdraws them.



Commenting on the issue on Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM hosted by Chief Jerry Forson on Monday, 28 May, Prof Gyampo said although Mr Rawlings has apologised, he must be told that he cannot continue abusing people.



Rawlings speaks as if he is sacrosanct but he is not. There were several corrupt practices under his administration. I remember he issued a white paper to counteract a report by CHRAJ that indicted some of his officials in various corruption scandals.



He and his wife abused the rights of Ghanaians, but in all of these Ghanaians have forgiven them, yet he continues to talk this way.



He also engaged in several corrupt practices right from the AFRC days through to PNDC/NDC days but we have forgiven him, yet he continues to behave this way, Prof Gyampo said.



He added: Sometimes, I feel disappointed in the various civil society groups, the Christian Council of Ghana, the chiefs and other traditional leaders who are unable to tell him that his way of doing things are questionable.

Source: classnews









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
It is becoming increasingly clear that former Finance Minister under the JJ Rawlingss administration, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, is gearing up to contest for the position of flag bearer on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 presidential election.



Daily Guide is reliably informed that Prof. Botchwey, who is Ghanas longest serving finance minister, is fast catching the eyes of the NDC founder  former President Jerry John Rawlings  who is believed to prefer any candidate apart from former President John Dramani Mahama.



Prof. Botchweys campaigners believe that presenting Mahama again for the 2020 elections will provide a great weapon for NDCs opponents and that all the other aspirants are connected with Mahama in one way or the other, since they were in his government.



The aspirants who have so far made their intentions known are Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban K.S. Bagbin; former NHIS boss, Sylvester Mensah; former Trade and Industry Minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former UPSA Rector, Joshua Alabi and Kweku Rickett Hagan, former Central Regional Minister.



It is turning out that it was because of the attempts by some NDC elders and the partys cadres to float the candidature of Prof. Botchwey which allegedly has compelled Mr. Mahama to announce his comeback earlier than expected.



As a prelude to the announcement, Kwesi Botchwey is sharing a platform with the NDC founder at the June 4th Revolutionary Lecture Series on Thursday, May 31, 2018.



If confirmed, it will be the second time the economics and finance guru is trying to lead the NDC, the first one being in 2002 when he faced the late John Evans Atta Mills for the NDC slot to contest then President J. A. Kufuor, who was seeking a second term in office.



A source indicated to DAILY GUIDE that as one of the speakers, Prof. Botchwey is going to use the 2nd edition of the Revolutionary Lecture Series  which forms part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of the June 4th 1979 uprising  as a prelude to the announcement of his interest in the NDC flag bearer race.



The lecture will be delivered under the general theme, Revolutionary Economic Trends, Ghana In Focus: Past, Present And The Future. It is being organized under the auspices of the Office of former President Rawlings.



According to DAILY GUIDE sources, Kwesi Botchwey has not hidden his interest to lead the NDC as he was said to have disclosed it to some members when he was charged to tour the country to collate views in connection with the NDCs humiliating defeat in the 2016 general elections. He was made the leader of the 13-member committee which after the investigation, released a damning verdict on former President Mahama and members of his administration.



The Mahama camp has already started firing since it became clear that Prof. Botchwey could enter the contest, accusing him of skewing the Committees Report to suit his presidential ambition.



They are also ridiculing the camp of former President Rawlings who, they say, is now shopping for a candidate.



Mr Rawlings per se is reportedly keeping his cards close to his chest, but most party elders and cadres are in total support of Prof Botchwey because they believe he stands a better chance than Mr. Mahama since they say there is no corruption tag on him.



They are also pushing for the former finance minister because they claim the NDC stands on the threshold of unity, unlike Mr. Mahama who has been accused of surrounding himself with the same people that led the party to lose the 2016 elections.



According to NDC sources, the cadres, especially are rooting for Prof. Botchwey because they suspect that another powerful faction in the party (Ahwoi brothers) is allegedly pushing former President Mahama to contest again to pave the way for them to get one of their brothers, who was a former minister, to serve as the NDC running mate for 2020.



Ex-President Mahama, in his Facebook announcement, had said that he had listened to the numerous calls of the rank and file of the NDC and had accepted them; and so was ready to lead the party into another election in 2020.



To you the teeming supporters and sympathizers calling and requesting me to declare my intentions for the future, I wish to assure you today, that as a servant-leader, I have listened to your calls and reflected. I will not disappoint you even as we await the publication of the partys guidelines for selecting a new leader, Mr Mahama had posted.



His comeback attempt, however, is starting another round of serious infighting in the NDC.





Source: Daily Guide









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
General Secretary hopeful for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, joined many party faithful and bigwigs to mourn and observe the final funeral rites of NPP's great Appiah Minka in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.



Mr. Ahiagbah told Kessben FM that, Mr. Minka's life is exemplary in many ways especially, his love and dedication for the NPP, is worth emulating.



Mr. Richard Ahiagbah took advantage of the funeral rite of the late Appiah Minka to address a meeting with Ashanti Region youth organizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He told the youth to be rest assured that change is coming to make things right at the General Secretaryship.



The General Secretary aspirant told the excited youth organizers that, "Ashanti Region will continue to be the heartbeat of the party, but we need to urgently start protecting the stronghold lest we appear to be taking the confidence of the people for granted".



The candidate therefore appealed to the youth organizers of Ashanti Region to embrace his campaign as if he was a candidate from the region as such a support for him, will deepen the bond with the Volta Region as well as nurture the growth of the NPP in Volta.



In his closing remarks, Mr. Richard told the youth organizers that, he is a grassroots person, and thus understand the plight of the grassroots; therefore, they should discount the cheap politics that focuses on popularity as opposed to substance to measure the next General Secretary.

Source: Peacefmonline









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
PennLive is marking the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day with the 100 Years of Heroes project, which runs Memorial Day through Veterans Day 2018 and honors the service that veterans have given to our country. You can see the whole project at 100yearsofheroes.com.

Richard "Dick" Donald grew up in a miner's shack in a patch called Tucker Hill in Pennsylvania coal country. "There's nothing there today," he wrote in an email. The only remaining house, my grandmother's, was burned down by vandals."

Donald worked on his father's bootleg mine starting in the fourth grade. He played trumpet in a band throughout high school before quitting when he was 18 to join the U.S. Navy.

Donald is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, spending some of that time aboard the destroyer escort USS Melvin R. Nawman, chasing what was beneath them (Japanese submarines) and dodging what was above them (planes from kamikaze units). Typhoons also took their toll, including one near the Philippines on Dec. 18, 1944, that sank three destroyers.

Donald served as a "ping jockey," the term used to describe sonarmen. These were sailors who were trained to search for enemy submarines. He and his crew saw significant action off the coast of Iwo Jima in February 1945. It was there that Donald witnessed the raising of the American flag atop Mount Suribachi.

In all, Donald was involved in six Pacific invasions during WWII. He also served aboard a destroyer, USS Richard E. Kraus EAG-151, during the Korean War.

Following his service, he taught mathematics for 30 years at Bloomsburg University. He's currently a professor emeritus Living near Bloomsburg.

He is the first of our 100 Years of Heroes profiles, which will run weekly through Veterans Day in November.

More on 100 Years of Heroes
Subtropical Storm Alberto will likely continue the wet spring weather in central Pennsylvania as it moves north after making landfall Monday in Florida.

According to the

, Alberto is expected to track almost due north, arriving in Michigan by mid- to late week. For the Eastern seaboard that means another couple of days of rain, on top of recent soggy conditions.

Rainfall in central Pennsylvania likely will be periodic and could include some thunderstorms before the storm ends, according to forcasters.

As of 8 a.m. Monday morning the

- the first named storm this year - is likely reach the northern U.S. Gulf Coast Monday afternoon or evening.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said at 5 a.m. EDT Monday that Alberto was maintaining its strength as it approached the Florida panhandle and was centered about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of Destin.


A 27-year-old Mechanicsburg man has been charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault and other related charged stemming from an incident early Sunday morning in Perry County.



According to Pennsylvania State Police, officers were contacted by a local hospital after a 21-year-old woman had an encounter with William Soler Jr., whom she knew through social media.



Police said Soler was awaiting arraignment in Perry County Prison.
Starbucks, trying to put to rest an outcry over the arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia, is closing more than 8,000 stores Tuesday afternoon for anti-bias training, a strategy some believe can keep racism at bay.



After the arrests last month, the coffee chain's leaders apologized and met with the two men, but also reached out to activists and experts in bias training to put together a curriculum for its 175,000 workers.



That has put a spotlight on the little-known world of "unconscious bias training," which is used by many corporations, police departments and other organizations to help address racism in the workplace. The training is typically designed to get people to open up about implicit biases and stereotypes in encountering people of color, gender or other identities.



The Perception Institute, a consortium of researchers consulting with Starbucks, defines implicit bias as attitudes -- positive or negative -- or stereotypes someone has toward a person or group without being conscious of it. A common example, according to some of its studies, is a tendency for white people to unknowingly associate black people with criminal behavior.



Many retailers including Walmart and Target said they already offer some racial bias training. Target says it plans to expand that training. Nordstrom has said it plans to enhance its training after issuing an apology to three black teenagers in Missouri who employees falsely accused of shoplifting.



Anti-bias sessions can incorporate personal reflections, explorations of feelings and mental exercises. But one expert says training of this kind can have the opposite effect if people feel judged.



According to a video previewing the Starbucks training, there will be recorded remarks from Starbucks executives and rapper/activist Common. From there, employees will "move into a real and honest exploration of bias" where, in small groups, they can share how the issue comes up in their daily work life.



Starbucks has described it as a "collaborative and engaging experience for store partners to learn together."

While Starbucks is closing all its company-operated stores on May 29, the company said on its website, most of its 7,000 licensed stores, like those operated by major grocery stores, hotels, universities or airports, are expected to remain open. The training content with them, "so they may have the option to make it available to their employees at a later date."



Developed with feedback from the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Perception Institute and other social advocacy groups, the four-hour session will give workers a primer on the history of civil rights from the 1960s to present day. Workers will also view a short documentary film.



Alexis McGill Johnson, Perception's co-founder and executive director, says anti-bias training is about awareness.



"The work that we want to do is not say you're a bad person because you have a stereotype about a group, but say this is why your brain may have these stereotypes," she said.





Johnson declined to elaborate on the details of the Starbucks training. But she said Perception's workshops typically include mental exercises to show participants how bias creeps into situations. A session can include personal reflections, she said, such as, "'I was socialized to think about a group this way.'"



Johnson said the real work is for employees to apply what they learn in their everyday lives. She likened it to exercising a muscle. Some ways to practice counter-stereotyping, she said, are to look for something unique about a person that is beyond their social identity.



"It could be having a question that elicits something more interesting than, say, the weather or the traffic," Johnson said, stressing the need to "go well beyond the superficial."



In the Philadelphia incident, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were asked to leave after one was denied access to the bathroom. They were arrested by police minutes after they sat down to await a business meeting. The incident was recorded by cellphones and went viral.



Nelson and Robinson settled with Starbucks this month for an undisclosed sum and an offer of a free education. They also reached a deal with the city of Philadelphia for a symbolic $1 each and a promise from officials to establish a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs.



Starbucks has since announced anyone can use its restrooms even if they are not buying anything. According to documents Starbucks sent to store workers, employees should also think carefully when dealing with disruptive customers. A guide advises staff to consider whether the actions they take would apply to any customer in the same situation. They should dial 911 only if the situation seems unsafe.



Starbucks said the arrests never should have occurred and announced the mass closures of its stores for the afternoon of training.



Calvin Lai, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, said people should not place high expectations on this one day.



"We find that oftentimes diversity training has mixed effects, and in some cases it can even backfire and lead people who are kind of already reactive to these issues to become even more polarized," Lai said.



One afternoon wouldn't really be "moving the needle on the biases," especially when it's a company with as many employees as Starbucks, he said. "A lot of those employees won't be here next year or two years or three years down the line."



Starbucks has said Tuesday's sessions serve as "a step in a long-term journey to make Starbucks even more welcoming and safe for all." It is working with volunteer advisers including Heather McGhee, president of social advocacy organization Demos, and Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.



"One of the things Starbucks has to wrestle with is how to incorporate this kind of training into the onboarding of every employee," Ifill said.



That takes a sustained effort, McGhee added.



"We have really made it clear that one training is not enough, and this needs to be part of an ongoing review of their policies," McGhee said. "They really need to commit."








What remains of Tropical Storm Alberto could bring the potential for heavy rains and flooding into central Pennsylvania later this week, according to forecasters.

While Pennsylvania will be spared a direct hit from the center of the storm, rains and humidity associated with the outer bands of the system are expected to arrive in area late Wednesday into Thursday, according to Greg DeVoire, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at State College.

"Right now, the potential is there for some heavy rains over much of Pennsylvania," DeVoire said. "We'll see what happens over the next few days."

As much as 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible for the area.

The center of Alberto hit the western panhandle of Florida on Monday and is currently expected to move northward into Kentucky by Wednesday morning and be in Michigan and Canada by Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

You can see live weather updates via the National Weather Service and other Twitter sources below.

Tweet us at @pennlive with photos of inclement weather at your place, incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com.
(Editor's Note: The following editorial ran on PennLive on May 26, 2016. To observe today's very somber and important holiday, we're running it again, letting someone who knows best, a veteran, tell his story)

It was one voice of several who responded to a posting on PennLive asking how to better recognize the meaning of Memorial Day.

But the thoughts of this former soldier from the Vietnam era were among the most eloquent.

"On Memorial Day, it seems to me that the story is best told one lost person at a time. In Vietnam, according to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall, there were about 58,000 people lost, including non-combat losses. Of course, it's difficult to contemplate that number, but it's actually 58,000 INDIVIDUAL stories and that's where the meaning lies. Here is one such story:

"William Lynn Williams, from New Jersey, was known as Billy and Bing to his buddies. Bing came from an observation that he had Bing Crosby eyes, well, whatever. Bing died on Feb. 11, 1971. It was during a bad time for Delta Company, 1/46th Infantry.

"Ten days earlier, Charlie Company had seized a huge arms cache in this area, including a brand new 198 SKS semiautomatic rifles, still packed in grease, plus another 57 AK-47s, 16 light machine guns, and a number of other items. Those weapons had been painstakingly moved down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, and then into South Vietnam. They were finally available and ready to distribute to the troops, except that the Americans seized them. To say that the enemy was upset at the loss is an understatement.

"Delta Company moved into this same area while the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) scrambled to remove any remaining weapons. The NVA harassed Delta Company to delay and disrupt the search. As it was impossible to hide a Company, the NVA was able to observe where Delta Company had their night laager position. They then set up ambushes on the likely routes out of that position. If the NVA guessed wrong on the route, nothing happened. However, when they guessed correctly, a quick hit-and-run ambush would be sprung, then the NVA would fade back into the bush.

"Bing Williams was killed in one of those ambushes. Sadly, his wife had given birth to a daughter, Amy, only nine days before he died. Years later, Amy and I connected through the Sons and Daughters in Touch program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. She wasn't interested in how he had died, it was more that she wanted to know what kind of man he was while alive.

"As I said, Bing was one person, one loss, or one story. Delta Company lost another five soldiers during that 15-day mission. But again, those represent only six stories. There are 57,994 others. And of course, that was from only this one war. Unfortunately, there were many other wars, too. And each of the losses in all of the wars was a person with their individual life story.

"I cringe just a bit at the common admonition to have a Happy Memorial Day. Personally, I say, 'Have a thoughtful, thankful Memorial Day.' It seems more fitting."

Fly the flag. Wear the uniform. Bring the kids out to the parade.

And, as one other member of our military community chimed in by email, "Do not tell a vet 'Thanks for your service.' We all know that Memorial Day is about the men and women who you can no longer say that to."
By Marc A. Thiessen

After months of pretending to be normal and reasonable on the diplomatic stage, North Korea's mask has slipped, and Pyongyang is back to threatening a "nuclear-to-nuclear showdown" that will "make the US taste an appalling tragedy it has neither experienced nor even imagined up to now."

Marc Thiessen (Washington Post photo)

Why is Kim Jong Un's regime lashing out? It's not because they are offended at talk of a "Libya model." It's because they were hoping to follow the "Iran model" -- sanctions relief up front and without full denuclearization -- and are starting to realize that is not going to happen.

When national security adviser John Bolton first raised the "Libya model," he was not referring to the overthrow of Moammar Gaddafi. He was saying North Korea would have to carry out complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization before the Trump administration lifted its "maximum pressure" campaign. That is what upset the North. In a statement last week, North Korea rejected the "so-called Libya mode of nuclear abandonment, 'complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization,' 'total decommissioning of nuclear weapons, missiles and biochemical weapons' etc. . . . [and] 'abandoning nuclear weapons first, compensating afterwards.' " The Trump administration, the North Koreans said, "is trumpeting as if it would offer economic compensation and benefit in case we abandon nuke. But we have never had any expectation of U.S. support in carrying out our economic construction and will not at all make such a deal in future, too."

In other words, Pyongyang rejected the very premise of President Trump's proposed deal: security and prosperity on par with South Korea, in exchange for complete denuclearization. On Monday, Vice President Pence reiterated that this is the only basis on which Trump would cut a deal. The vice president pointed out that "the Clinton administration, even the Bush administration got played in the past. We offered concessions to the North Korean regime in exchange for promises to end their nuclear weapons program only to see them break those promises and abandon them." He added the North Korean regime would only end up like Libya if Kim "doesn't make a deal." Pyongyang, in turn, threatened the United States with nuclear annihilation if Trump did not come to the negotiating table.

Pence's threat could not be what provoked Pyongyang's fit of pique, since he was simply repeating what Trump himself had said a few days earlier when the president warned that Libya showed "what will take place if we don't make a deal." Rather, North Korea is angry because Trump is not budging from his demand, when what they want are front-loaded economic benefits in exchange for promises of "mutual" and "synchronous" arms reductions.

In other words, the idea that imprudent talk of a "Libyan model" somehow disrupted a potential deal is dead wrong. With its bellicose response, North Korea exposed the fact that it has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons.

This was further underscored by the public-relations stunt North Korea pulled this week when it unilaterally "destroyed" its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. This was portrayed as a sign of good faith, but as the Guardian newspaper recently reported, "North Korea's main nuclear test site has partially collapsed under the stress of multiple explosions, possibly rendering it unsafe for further testing." Because Pyongyang has no choice but to stop conducting nuclear tests at the site, it tried to take credit for doing what it had to do anyway. This is the kind of deceit Trump is up against.

The president made the right decision by calling off the summit, which should disabuse Pyongyang of the notion that he is desperate for a deal. Now, his conciliatory public letter to Kim should be followed by tough back-channel warnings that the alternative to negotiations is not to continue the status quo.

My American Enterprise Institute colleague Dan Blumenthal suggests Trump could also announce a major U.S.-Japan joint project to develop missile-defense capabilities to "shoot down missiles at their 'boost phase' (when they are at their warmest in their ascent and easier to track) through space, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other sensors and shooters," and also put major Chinese banks on notice that they could face sanctions for financing North Korean projects. "This would get the attention of both Beijing and Pyongyang."

Trump should make clear to both North Korea and China, absent an agreement, that sanctions will get tighter and military action is possible. And that means the "Libya model" is indeed on the table.

Marc A. Thiessen, a columnist for The Washington Post, is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush. His work appears frequently on PennLive Opinion.
A marijuana plant is seen before harvesting at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. in this Sept. 30, 2016 file photo.A Senate committee has voted to amend the federal government's cannabis legalization bill to allow provinces and territories to ban home-grown marijuana. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Andrew Selsky
Ottawa Centre Liberal candidate Yasir Naqvi walks out the door of his campaign office in Ottawa on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Yasir Naqvi is running for re-election in what's widely considered a Liberal safe seat, but he says he's never seen so much uncertainty among voters at the door who tell him they're still weighing their options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 25, 2018. Andrew Scheer's Conservatives want the federal government to give Ukraine $9.5 million worth of military equipment originally intended to help Kurdish forces in their fight against Islamic militants in Iraq. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A procession makes its way through the Alberta Legislature before Alberta Premier Rachel Notley apologizes to survivors and families of the Sixties Scoop in Edmonton on Monday May 28, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A Kodiak bear is fed ice cream in a Dairy Queen drive-thru in a screengrab from a video posted to Facebook by the Discovery Wildlife Park. A central Alberta zoo must pay $500 in fines after pleading guilty to two charges under the province's Wildlife Act for taking a bear through a drive-thru for ice cream.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Facebook-Discovery Wildlife Park MANDATORY CREDIT
FILE - This April 3, 2017, file photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump's Twitter feed on a computer screen in Washington. President Donald Trump violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment when he blocks critics on Twitter for political speech, a judge ruled Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File)
A car that was swept into the riverbank rests just off Main Street in flood-ravaged Ellicott City, Md., Monday, May 28, 2018. Sunday's destructive flooding left the former mill town heartbroken as it had bounded back from another destructive storm less than two years ago. (AP Photo/David McFadden)
FILE - In this March 30, 2017, file photo, the Capitol Dome is seen at dawn in Washington. The Senate has kicked off its annual attempt to pass government funding bills. Success is hardly assured, but President Donald Trump has warned Congress that he will never sign another foot-tall, $1 trillion-plus government-wide spending bill, and he insists that he'll get full funding for his border wall. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, shakes hands with a journalist afte a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 27, 2018. Moon said Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed in the rivalsAo surprise meeting Saturday to sitting down with U.S. President Donald Trump in a summit and to a Aucomplete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.Au (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Guyana-Anadarko Petroleum agreement released Mining, forestry contracts to follow soon  Trotman

By Kaieter News

GEORGETOWN

Petroleumworld 05 28 2018

In response to public scrutiny and pressure, the governing coalition of A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) continues to release contracts signed between Guyana and several petroleum companies.

On Friday, the petroleum agreement between Guyana and United States (US) owned Anadarko Petroleum Corp. was released by the Government.

The agreement is similar to those secured by other oil companies, including US oil giant, ExxonMobil.

In 2012, Anadarko was granted an exploration licence for the Roraima block offshore Guyana.

In October 2013, while conducting geophysical survey on behalf of Anadarko, the research vessel MV Teknik Perdana was ordered out of Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone by the Venezuelan Navy and escorted to the island of Margarita.

The Research vessel had at least five US citizens onboard.

Following the incident, Anadarko halted operations in Guyana until July 2015 when company officials met with the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and restated the company's interest in drilling for oil in the licensed area.

Friday's release of the Anadarko contract marks the last of the major oil contracts released by the Government.

However, there continues to be heavy focus on companies operating in the extractive sector, particularly, as it relates to the benefits Guyana is getting in return for millions of dollars in concessions granted.

With the oil contracts now released, the Government has shifted attention to the release of contracts in the mining and forestry sectors.

Trotman told Kaieteur News that he will release the contracts from both sectors.

I plan on releasing contracts for the mining and forestry sectors and I have sent for them, Trotman said.

He did not provide a timeline when the contracts will be released.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) oversees the mining sector while the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) oversees forestry.

MINING CONTRACTS

Over the past two weeks, Kaieteur News has been examining the foreign gold mining companies and the concessions Guyana grants. Canadian miner, Guyana Goldfields Inc. is one of the large entities which received concessions galore.

Since the first gold bar in 2014, Guyana Goldfields Inc. (GGI) has benefitted from $42.2B in concessions. The company received $17.8B in concessions on fuel, lube oil and other lubricants and chemicals.

The company was granted $14B in tax breaks on machinery and equipment. These include excavators, bulldozers, motor graders, caterpillar trucks, generators, front-end loaders, etc. It also received a whopping $10.6B in tax concessions on spare parts.

These figures were provided to Kaieteur News by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Up to November 2017, the State only received $5.4B in royalties from this foreign mining company.

Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia; Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram and Executive Member of the Working People's Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds recently agreed that Guyana is not getting value for its concessions.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. is not the only foreign company within these shores, benefitting from tax concessions fit for a king. Australian conglomerate, Troy Resources, also enjoys tax concessions galore.

Figures seen by Kaieteur News indicate that the company received generous concessions from 2016 to now. For that period, it received $2.5B in tax breaks. Based on the company's financial statements, the royalties received by the State thus far is $17M.

The $2.5B in taxes given up by the State to the Australian entity does not take into account the billions of dollars in concessions it received on fuel, lube oil and other chemicals and spare parts.

There are also major foreign-owned bauxite companies operating here including the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc./RUSAL and Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc.

FORESTRY

There has also been a major public outcry about the contract with Bai Shan Lin Forest Development Inc., and Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc.

Bai Shan Lin grew in prominence after 2010, with its forestry company said to be co-owned by the Government of China.

Shortly after taking office, the Coalition Government appointed a new Board at GFC, chaired by Jocelyn Dow. The Board seized the forest concessions of Bai Shan Lin, including some it had acquired under questionable joint venture means.

In all, Bai Shan Lin had grown to be one of the biggest holders of State forests in Guyana.

There was evidence that little was done to curtail its activities here, many of them illegal.

Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


PM Rowley meets with BHP officials

By TT Guardian



PORT SPAIN

Petroleumworld 05 25 2018

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dennis Moses and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young attended a meeting yesterday at BHP's head office in Melbourne, Australia.

They discussed BHP's current operations in T&T and in particular on-going exploration plans which include drilling of three wells which is due to begin shortly. Government's commitment to work with BHP towards future production of oil and gas in its fields was also discuss.

BHP officials emphasized the importance of its assets in T&T from its global balance sheet perspective and indicated its intention to move towards production of more oil and gas. The company is internationally recognized as an expert in deep-water drilling.

In thanking the Prime Minister for his historic visit to Australia, BHP officials also reaffirmed their commitment to T&T.

Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


U.S. oil exports bite into market share of Russia and OPEC in Asia

By Florence Tan

SINGAPORE

Petroleumworld 05 29 2018

Record crude oil volumes exported from the United States will be heading to Asia in the next couple of months to take another piece of the market away from Russia and producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The United States is set to export 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in June, of which 1.3 million bpd will head to Asia, estimated a senior executive with a key U.S. oil exporters.

Data from the Energy Information Administration shows U.S. oil exports peaked at 2.6 million bpd two weeks ago.

The record outbound volumes come as U.S. crude production hit all-time highs, depressing U.S. prices to discounts of more than $9 a barrel below Brent crude futures on Monday, the widest in more than three years and opening an arbitrage for excess supplies to other markets. WTCLc1-LCOc1

The difference in the key benchmarks was a chance for Asian refiners to reduce light crude imports from the Middle East and Russia after Brent and Gulf prices touched multi-year highs, traders in Asia said.

We're diversifying a lot to other regions. If Saudi Aramco still doesn't reduce prices next month and ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) follows, we will increase our U.S. crude purchases, a Southeast Asian oil buyer said.

CHINA BUYS AMERICAN

In Asia, China - led by Sinopec, the region's largest refiner - is the biggest lifter of U.S. crude. The company, after cutting Saudi imports, has bought a record 16 million barrels (533,000 bpd) of U.S. crude, to load in June, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

India and South Korea are the next biggest buyers in Asia, each lifting 6 million to 7 million barrels in June, sources tracking U.S. crude sales to Asia said. Indian Oil Corp bought 3 million barrels earlier this month via a tender, while Reliance Industries purchased up to 8 million barrels, the sources said, although it wasn't clear if Reliance's cargoes would all load in June.

The sources declined to be named due to company policies.

South Korea's purchases are driven by its top refiners SK Energy and GS Caltex.

Taiwanese state refiner CPC Corp has also snapped up 7 million barrels to be lifted in June and July.

U.S. exports to Thailand will increase to at least 2 million barrels. State oil company PTT PCL is 1 million barrels of WTI Midland, while Thai Oil and Esso Thailand bought at least 500,000 barrels of Bakken crude each, said traders with knowledge of the country's crude deals.

Reliance declined to comment. PTT, Thai Oil and Esso Thailand all did not respond to requests for comment.

But even if Asia and Europe are keen to take more U.S. crude, the record volumes are straining export infrastructure in the United States, limiting its ability to pump and ship more oil.

Tight (shale) oil's been eating OPEC's lunch for the last few years. The lack of infrastructure will temporarily cede market share back to OPEC, R.T. Dukes, head of U.S. Lower 48 oil supply at Wood Mackenzie said in a note last week.

Top three oil producers: tmsnrt.rs/2xk67ZR

________________________

Twitter: @petroleumworld1

Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


U.S. oil crude exports not enough for Chinese, others demand, infrastructure straining

By Ayenat Mersie

NEW YORK

Petroleumworld 05 28 2018

The U.S. oil export infrastructure is straining to keep up as the country's crude oil exports hit new highs and China snaps up more of it than ever before.

U.S. crude production has surged to a record 10.7 million barrels a day, driven largely by growth from the Permian shale patch in West Texas, which pumps more than 3 million bpd.

However, the infrastructure to move it abroad is lagging, even as U.S. prices are well below the Brent benchmark, a discount that sits just off three-year highs at $8.09 per barrel. WTCLc1-LCOc1

U.S. crude exports peaked at 2.6 million bpd two weeks ago, but are expected to keep rising.

No definitive data are available on how much crude the United States can export, though analysts estimate a nationwide capacity of 3.5 million to 4 million bpd. Most terminal operators and companies do not disclose capacity, and the U.S. Energy Department does not track it.

So far, export capacity is keeping pace, but we are walking a tightrope, said Bernadette Johnson, vice president at DrillingInfo.

That capacity may begin to be tested next month, as Sinopec , Asia's largest refiner, bought a record 16 million barrels, or about 533,000 bpd of U.S. crude, to load in June, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.

For the last six months of available data, ending in February, the United States only exported about 332,000 bpd to China.

BOTTLENECKS

Analysts are concerned about how quickly the crude terminals at Gulf Coast ports, many initially designed for imports, can shift to handling exports. Only the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port can handle supertanker exports, but it only started testing in February. The supertankers, known as VLCCs or very large crude carriers, can handle some 2 million barrels of oil - the amount preferred by Asian buyers with bigger ports.

There's only one dock on the Gulf Coast that can handle a VLCC deepwater, and that's LOOP. And the LOOP has only started to export, said Sandy Fielden, director of research in commodities and energy at Morningstar.

Port of Corpus Christi in Texas is developing its Harbor Island port, which will accommodate 120 VLCCs per year, said Jarl Pedersen, chief commercial officer at the port, with a targeted completion of late 2020.

Kpler, a cargo tracking service, on Thursday estimated that up to 4.8 million bpd can be moved from the top crude-exporting ports of Corpus Christi, Houston, Port Arthur and New Orleans. Their estimate in October was 3.2 million bpd.

PIRA Energy Group put the U.S. overall crude export capacity at 3.5 million bpd, while Morningstar's estimate is 3.8 million bpd at most.

In addition to port constraints, inadequate pipeline space has created a glut of supply in west Texas, pushing the principle cash grade there WTC-WTM to a $13 discount to benchmark U.S. crude futures this month, the biggest in 3-1/2 years.

The constraint is really the pipeline coming down from the Permian to Corpus Christi, said Pedersen. However, the ship channel still needs to be deepened, a $320 million project in development with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

There is only 3.4 million bpd of pipeline capacity while total output from tight oil and legacy production from vertical wells in the Permian is at more than 4.2 million bpd, according to energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

The combined volumes mean that the infrastructure is crammed full  there's little or no room for incremental volumes, R.T. Dukes, head of U.S. Lower 48 oil supply at Wood Mackenzie said in a note.

About 300,000 bpd of new pipeline capacity is due to come on by end January, but it's really from next summer that we'll see big new capacity, Dukes said.

In the second half of 2019, another 1.25 million bpd will be added, lifting total capacity up to 5 million bpd, he said.

That's when the big discount of WTI at Midland will narrow, Dukes said.

________________________

Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


Baker Hughes wk report: U.S. drillers add most rigs in week and month since Feb

By Reuters

NEW YORK

Petroleumworld 05 28 2018

U.S. energy companies added the most oil rigs in both a week and a month since February as drillers continued to return to the well pad with crude prices at their highest since late 2014.

The total oil rig count rose by 15 to 859 in the week to May 25, the highest level since March 2015, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday. RIG-OL-USA-BHI

For the month, the rig count rose by 34, its second increase in row, after rising 28 in April.

More than half the total oil rigs are in Permian basin in west Texas and eastern New Mexico, the nation's biggest shale oil field. Active units there increased by 10 this week to 477, the most since January 2015. That was the biggest weekly increase in the basin since February.

The U.S. rig count, an early indicator of future output, is much higher than a year ago when 722 rigs were active as energy companies have been ramping up production in tandem with OPEC's efforts to cut global output in a bid to take advantage of rising prices.

On Friday, however, U.S. crude futures fell by almost $3 to around $68 a barrel after OPEC and Russia said they were considering an increase in output. Earlier in the week, U.S. crude traded over traded over $72, their highest since November 2014.

Looking ahead, crude futures were trading around $67 for the balance of 2018 and around $63 for calendar 2019 .

In anticipation of higher prices, U.S. financial services firm Cowen & Co this week said the exploration and production (E&P) companies they track have provided guidance indicating a 13 percent increase this year in planned capital spending.

Cowen said those E&Ps expect to spend a total of $81.2 billion in 2018, up from an estimated $72.1 billion in 2017.

Cowen, which conducts its own count, said the total number of land oil and gas rigs fell by 13 this week to 1,057 due to private operators broadly distributed outside the major basins. Cowen noted the count in the Permian, the nation's biggest shale oil basin, was flat week-over-week.

That compares with 1,040 in the Baker Hughes land rig count.

Analysts at Simmons & Co, energy specialists at U.S. investment bank Piper Jaffray, last week forecast average total oil and natural gas rig count would rise to 1,020 in 2018 and 1,125 in 2019. The Simmons forecast includes both land and offshore rigs.

So far this year, the total number of oil and gas rigs active in the United States has averaged 990, up sharply from 2017's average of 876. That keeps the total count on track to be the highest since 2014, which averaged 1,862 rigs. Most rigs produce both oil and gas.

________________________

Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


Exxon pulls offshore workers; Shell, Chevron cut output due to Subtropical Storm Alberto

By Reuters

HOUSTON

Petroleumworld 05 28 2018

Exxon Mobil Corp evacuated non-essential workers from the Lena production platform in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Subtropical Storm Alberto, the company said on Sunday.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Chevron Corp shut production on platforms in the eastern Gulf of Mexico due to Alberto and evacuated workers from those sites, the companies said.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Alberto was transitioning to a tropical cyclone as its circulation became more focused around a central core located 135 miles (220 km) west of Tampa, Florida, with 50 mile per hour winds (85 kph). The storm was expected to make landfall on Monday morning in the Florida panhandle. Chevron shut production at its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms in the eastern Gulf. The Blind Faith platform is located in the Mississippi Canyon region of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The Petronius platform is in the Viosca Knoll area of the Gulf.

Shell shut its Ram Powell Hub, which is also in the Viosca Knoll area, on Friday.

Shell has shut the production platform at the Appomattox Hub it is developing in Norphlet in the eastern Gulf. Appomattox has not yet begun production, but the platform recently arrived on the site.

Exxon said production in the Gulf was unaffected by the evacuations and the company transferred control of its offhsore operations in Mobile Bay, Alabama, to an onshore control room.

The Gulf of Mexico is home to 17 percent of daily U.S. crude output and five percent of natural gas output, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

More than 45 percent of the U.S. refining capacity and 51 percent of natural gas processing capacity is located along the Gulf.

________________________

Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


Colombia heads to runoff as conservative Ivan Duque wins first round vote

Raul Arboleda/AFP



Investor-friendly lawyer Ivan Duque lead with 39% support .He'll face former guerrilla Gustavo Petro in June 17 decider. -Play Video - Ivan Duque wins first round of Colombia presidential vote

By Oscar Medina and Ezra Fieser

BOGOTA

Petroleumworld 05 28 2018

Ivan Duque, an investor-friendly lawyer, whose campaign against a peace accord with Marxist guerrillas has divided Colombians, took first place in the country's presidential election on Sunday.

Duque, 41, an ally of former President Alvaro Uribe, got 39.1 percent of the vote with 99 percent of polling stations reporting in the May 27 election. In a June 17 runoff he'll face former guerrilla Gustavo Petro, who got 25.1 percent, presenting voters with a stark choice.

The new president will need to deal with the future of the controversial peace accord that ended a 52-year civil war, soaring cocaine production and a sluggish economy.

Duque, a U.S.-educated former Senator, campaigned against the 2016 peace accord with Marxist rebels, saying it was too lenient to those guilty of serious crimes. He may seek to undermine it in various ways, while Petro backs the deal. Sergio Fajardo, former Mayor or Medellin, was in third place with 23.8 percent.

Petro, a former Mayor of Bogota, wants to reduce the country's dependence on oil and mining redistribute land and develop new export markets such as avocados, while Duque is a supporter of oil and mining exploration.

________________________

Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


OPEC, Russia and allies say have already cleared oil surplus

Akos Stiller



OECD stocks fell to 20 million barrels below 5-year average. Market re-balanced on more compliance with cuts, summer demand -Play Video - Opec and allies say oil surplus cleared

By Wael Mahdi and Grant Smith

LONDON

Petroleumworld 05 28 2018

OPEC and allied oil producers including Russia concluded that the crude market re-balanced in April, when their output cuts achieved a key goal of eliminating the global surplus.

The excess in oil inventories, which has weighed on prices for three years, plunged in April to less than the five-year average for stockpiles in developed nations, according to people with knowledge of the data assessed at the meeting of the Joint Technical Committee of OPEC and other producers last week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The re-balance is sure to be the focus of a tense meeting between OPEC and its partners in the production cuts when they meet in Vienna next month. Top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia announced last week that the suppliers may boost output in the second half of the year. The trouble is, officials from several countries in the agreement, both inside OPEC and outside, said they disapproved of the proposal and saw difficulties in reaching a consensus.

For more on the Saudi-Russia proposal to revive oil production, click here.

The Joint Technical Committee determined that stockpiles held by developed nations dropped to about 20 million barrels below their five-year average, for a total decrease of about 360 million barrels since the start of 2017, three of the people said, asking not to be identified because the JTC discussions were private. The decline was due to producers' greater adherence to their pledged output cuts -- their compliance rate reached 152 percent in April -- and to summer demand for crude and refined products, they said.

Russia and the Saudis are proposing raising production to make up for losses from other members, notably a worsening slump in Venezuelan supply and a potential drop in Iran as renewed U.S. sanctions kick in. Those countries have nothing to gain from looser output caps, and plenty to lose with oil prices sliding further below $70 a barrel in New York.

West Texas Intermediate crude declined 2.5 percent to $66.20 a barrel after tumbling 4 percent on Friday.

Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies are due to discuss ways to measure the success of the output cuts when they meet in late June. The producers have so far relied on measuring stockpiles in countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development by looking at the 5-year moving average.

At last week's meeting in Jeddah, the JTC reviewed other ways to assess oil inventories. One option is to look at a longer-range, a 10-year average from 2004 to 2014, while another is to use the five-year average but exclude data from 2015 and 2016 because those were years of abnormally large stockpiles, the people said.

The International Energy Agency said on May 16 that OPEC and its allies have finally succeeded in clearing a glut, with inventories falling below their five-year average for the first time since 2014. However, Saudi Arabia and Russia have both said the five-year average is flawed. Years of excessive supplies mean that measure is itself higher than normal, while the patchy nature of data outside the OECD makes it difficult to make an accurate assessment of the entire world market.

________________________

Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



Hit your target - Advertise with Us


This is a story about a shadowy world of international lobbying, a seven-figure payoff, abortion, the man who calls himself Donald Trump's "consigliere," a pedophile posing with the president  and Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for November 2010 and November 2011.

Did I get your attention? Good. Because there may be even more to this story  a lot more. Some of the bombshell evidence is acknowledged fact. But some of it  and this is important to say up front  is speculationwell-informed speculation, but speculation nonetheless. How much of the current theorizing about the big-bucks influence-seeker, Elliott Broidy; the Playboy model, Shera Bechard; and the 45th president of the United States is fact and how much is fiction might determine the future of the most outlandish presidency in American history.

The story begins  but maybe doesn't end  with Broidy, a 60-year-old, L.A.-based politically connected venture capitalist who virtually no one in America had heard about until a few weeks ago. By hitching his political wagon to the unexpected rise of Donald Trump, Broidy quickly soared to become a deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee, further raising the profile of his business ventures. In the last few weeks, a slew of investigative reporting by the Associated Press and elsewhere have painted a troubling picture of Broidy's apparent connection to authoritarian states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  and his influence with Team Trump.

On Monday, the AP threw open a wide window on efforts involving Broidy and George Nader  the man who, as an emissary of the princes running the UAE and Saudi Arabia, went to Trump Tower in August 2016 and told Donald Trump Jr. that the two Gulf states wanted to help elect his dad president  to leverage their clout with the new administration. Broidy is said to have met Nader at Trump's inauguration  and the two influence-seekers apparently hit it off.

In early 2017, Nader's business in the UAE wired Broidy $2.5 million that was funneled through a Canadian firm to help bankroll a public-relations campaign aimed at disrupting America's longstanding relationship with Qatar  base for about 11,000 U.S. troops, but increasingly an enemy of the rival Saudis and the UAE. As noted in this space the last time out, by spring 2017 Trump was going on Twitter to accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism and suggesting the White House was A-OK with a Saudi-UAE-led blockade of the tiny nation.

The web of intrigue involving Broidy, Nader, Team Trump and the two powerful Gulf states grew more intricate as 2017 progressed. According to the AP report, Broidy and Nader had been promised a whopping $1 billion payoff from their clients in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Meanwhile, Broidy gained an Oval Office audience with Trump last October, where he pushed various schemes including a discreet meeting between the American president and the prince of Abu Dhabi (part of the UAE).

But his associate Nader wanted even more. He wanted to prove his clout by getting his picture with Trump  a seeming impossibility, since Nader is also a known pedophile who was convicted on child sexual-abuse charges in the Czech Republic in 2003. But somehow the Trump-Nader picture happened, and a few weeks later Broidy gave $189,000 to the Republican National Committee, much more than he'd ever donated in the past and also exactly in the range of what Broidy had estimated it would take to get a picture with the president.

Broidy's donation to the RNC came on November 30, 2017. Just two days later, he gained a second one-on-one meeting with Trump, where he relayed flattering words from the Gulf states and their support for the work Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner was doing on a Middle East peace plan. A short time later, the UAE agreed to a whopping $600 million contract with a Broidy intelligence firm, and  according to the AP  the first check for $36 million would arrive in January of this year. So what we have so far is a sordid tale of oil-soaked money and the nation's highest office  but there is also a bizarre twist.

Last month, FBI agents raided the offices and home of Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. It was an explosive turn in the ongoing probes of the Trump administration, and just four days after the raid came an out-of-left-field revelation. Broidy confirmed to Wall Street Journal that he had hired Cohen in order to negotiate and handle a $1.6 million payoff to the Playboy model, Bechard, with whom the California financier said he'd had an affair, as well as a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) intended to keep the matter secret.

Broidy even issued a public statement in which he apologized to his wife of 25 years and to his family and said of Bechard  an ex-girlfriend of the iconic Playboy founder Hugh Hefner  that "she alone decided that she did not want to continue with the pregnancy, and I offered to help her financially during this difficult period."

It was kind of a weird one-day headline  Elliott Broidy wasn't exactly a household name  and most everybody moved on. But the omnipresent Michael Avenatti, lawyer for the adult-film star Stormy Daniels with whom Cohen had negotiated a $130,000 payoff and NDA, but for Donald Trump  went on MSNBC to suggest there was more to this saga. "I think at some point we are going to find out, if in fact the client in connection with the [$1.6 million] settlement was, in fact, Mr. Broidy," he said. "I'm going to leave it at that."

Paul Campos, a University of Colorado law professor, than published a theory on the pages of New York magazine: That the man who'd had an affair with Shera Bechard was not Broidy but the president of the United States. After all, it is Trump  and not the long-married father Briody  who'd once been close friends with Bechard's ex-paramour Hefner and used to hang out at the Playboy Mansion. And the details  a young sex symbol, the possibility of unprotected sex as Trump supposedly had with Stormy Daniels  sounded like the president's past M.O.

Is such speculation fair, considering Broidy's very public and even embarrassing confession? But other good questions kept piling up. Why did the NDA use the exact same fake names  David Dennison and Peggy Peterson  as the pact between Trump and Daniels (whose real name is Stephanie Clifford)? For that matter, how did Broidy know to go to Cohen, who apparently had not done legal work for him before? Why did Bechard use the same attorney  Keith Davidson  initially used by Stormy Daniels and also Karen McDougal, another Playboy model who was paid $150,000 by the National Enquirer in what's now believed to be a scheme to bury her story?

And what about Broidy's past? In 2009, he'd pleaded guilty in a $1 million New York State bribery scandal, involving government pension funds, to charges that were eventually knocked down to a misdemeanor because of Broidy's cooperation with prosecutors. Part of that plea was that he'd paid $90,000 to cover the rent and hospital bills for a girlfriend of one of the state officials he was seeking to influence.

Now, the AP story, which lays bare the extent of Broidy's efforts to curry favor with the president, also casts the Shera Bechard saga in a whole new light. We now know that that the first installment of Broidy $1.6 million-over-two-years payments to the Playboy model was made last December 1  one day after his $189,000 check to the RNC and one day before his second Oval Office confab with Trump. Is the timing a remarkable coincidence, or does it somehow tie into the anxiety of Broidy and his new partner Nader to strengthen their bond with the White House at the very moment that the $1 billion payday of a lifetime was on the line, halfway around the world?

These are questions that special counsel Robert Mueller needs to be answering, and my strong hunch is that he's working on it. It's quite possible that Broidy's explanation for this  bizarre though it may seem  is true. Maybe a man about to become a billionaire in a business deal thought that $1.6 million to make a messy personal problem go away was a good investment.

But what if the Paul Campos theory is correct, and Shera Bechard was yet another mistress of President Trump? If so, one could understand why her silence would be worth more than 10X the silence of Stormy Daniels. For one thing, Trump's encounter with the adult-film star was more than a decade ago, while the Bechard episode appears to coincide more closely with his rise to the presidency. More important. perhaps, is the matter of who really paid for Bechard to terminate her pregnancy right at the same time that Trump was vowing politically to strip women of their reproductive rights?

All of which points to the biggest question of all looming over the Trump era: Does any of this even matter? Let's just say out loud the worst-case scenario: What if influence-seekers paid a huge sum of money to benefit the president by silencing his mistress and paying for her abortion, in return for access to influence U.S. policy on behalf of autocratic foreign governments? Would the current GOP-led Congress even care? Could prosecutors even make a bribery case, given the way that the Roberts Supreme Court has thoroughly gutted U.S. anti-corruption laws?

There's one woman who could tell us a lot about just how bad this is, or, conversely, whether there's nothing much to it. But Shera Bechard has been paid big money to keep her mouth shut. Of course, that didn't stop either Daniels or McDougal from eventually going on network television to tell all or most of their stories. When the tale of Broidy's payment first broke, Bechard shut down her Twitter account, but she recently turned it back on for a tantalizing retweet.

Like so much else in our hellish reality show, stay tuned.
As the temperatures rise and Americans swarm to the beach, they slather on sunscreen to protect against the sun's harmful UV radiation that causes skin cancer. As they splash and swim, few give thought to whether the chemicals in the lotions and sprays are safe for marine organisms such as the fish and corals living in these coastal zones.

The bad news is that mounting evidence suggests that certain chemicals in these radiation filters are bleaching the corals and killing fish. The good news is that there is a greener, cleaner and safer alternative in the works.

The sunscreens widely available belong to two major categories: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens contain tiny minerals that act as a shield deflecting the sun's rays. On the other hand, chemical sunscreens use many synthetic compounds that absorb UV light before it reaches the skin.

Killer chemicals

But these lotions wash off in water. For example, for every 10,000 visitors frolicking in the waves, about 4 kilograms of mineral particles are washed into the beach water each day. These minerals catalyze the production of hydrogen peroxide, a well-known bleaching agent, at a concentration high enough to harm coastal marine organisms. In fact, up to 14,000 tons of sunscreens are released into the water each year. Active ingredients in these sunscreens, minerals and synthetic organic compounds, are putting 10 percent of the global reefs under stress, including 40 percent of coral reefs along the coast.

One of these ingredients is oxybenzone, a synthetic molecule commonly used in chemical sunscreens and known to be toxic to corals, algae, sea urchins, fish and mammals: A single drop of this compound in over 4 million gallons of water is already enough to endanger organisms. Unfortunately, its concentration in coastal water is already significantly higher than its toxic limit, though not yet deadly, and might be accelerating coral bleaching. To save their marine ecosystem from further destruction, legislators in Hawaii passed a new law banning chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone and another harmful ingredient, octinoxate. The law will take effect January 1, 2021.

Sunscreen from algae

Protecting ourselves from UV rays is nothing new. Many organisms including microbes, plants and animals have evolved ways to guard themselves. These organisms produce small molecules that absorb UV rays and block radiation from entering cells and damaging the DNA. Unlike physical and synthetic chemical sunscreens, these naturally available compounds are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. As such, these natural products have the potential to be safer compounds for commercial sunscreens.

In my laboratory in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida, we are interested in combing the world for naturally occurring chemicals that have applications in health, agriculture and environment. Recently, my colleagues and I have discovered a more efficient way to harvest shinorine  a natural sunscreen produced by microbes called cyanobacteria.

Shinorine belongs to a family of natural products, called mycosporine-like amino acids, and is made up of two amino acids and one sugar. Many aquatic organisms exposed to strong sunlight, like cyanobacteria and macroalgae, produce shinorine and other related compounds to protect themselves from solar radiation. The cosmetics industry is already infusing products with shinorine as a key active ingredient. Commercial supplies of shinorine come from marine red algae that grows slowly in large tidal pools that experience frequent environmental changes. That means that conventional extraction method is time-consuming and unpredictable.

To ramp up shinorine production, we sought a fast-growing strain of cyanobacteria that would thrive under predictable conditions. This took a lot of work! We decoded the genetic blueprints  genomes  of more than 100 varieties of cyanobacteria from marine and terrestrial ecosystems and selected one, Fischerella sp. PCC9339, to cultivate in the laboratory.

To our delight, after four weeks this strain produced shinorine, but unfortunately not enough. To produce more we then transferred a set of genes that encode the instructions to make shinorine, into one freshwater cyanobacterium (from Berkeley, California), Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which grows fast with just water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. Using the engineered cyanobacterium, we produced a quantity of shinorine comparable to the conventional method  but we did it in just a few weeks instead of one year that's needed to cultivate red algae.

Yousong Ding is an assistant professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida. This article was originally published on The Conversation.
With chemotherapy keeping his incurable oral cancer in check, Michael Becker has become a vocal critic of right to try laws. Read more

As he holds his own against terminal neck cancer, Michael Becker can relate to those who want to make experimental drugs more available to people with fatal illnesses.

Even so, the former biotech executive is a vocal critic of "right to try" laws that aim to expand access by eliminating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's oversight of the process.

Becker watched with sadness on Tuesday as the U.S. House passed a federal right-to-try bill that he believes could be a "disaster" for patients like him. The measure passed the Senate last August and is now headed for the signature of President Trump, who championed it.

"I took it very hard," Becker said from his Yardley home. "I watched C-Span. The Republicans were talking about this legislation like it's the best thing since sliced bread. They completely misrepresented it."

To be sure, Becker, 49, would love to have what right-to-try proponents imply the law will offer: access to a cure. He wants a full lifetime with his wife and two daughters, not to mention more time for his activism. He works to raise awareness of the HPV vaccine, an underused pediatric shot that could have prevented his cancer  if it had existed when he was a kid.

In hope of beating oropharyngeal cancer, Becker researched clinical trials after the disease recurred in December 2016, barely a year after initial treatment. He qualified for a clinical trial of an immune-boosting drug at the National Institutes of Health. Clinical trials  the human testing that the FDA requires to assess safety and effectiveness  are the primary route for patients to get access to experimental medicines.

"The immunotherapy didn't eradicate my disease, but my response to subsequent chemotherapy has been beyond expectations. Maybe the immunotherapy helped boost my response to chemo," said Becker, whose lung and spleen tumors shrank. "So I'm here longer than I expected."

Although he longs for a miracle, Becker is a realist who, thanks to a career in biotechnology, understands the drug development process.

As he has written, patients already have the right to ask companies for "compassionate access" to experimental therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves 99 percent of the compassionate access applications it receives  about 1,000 a year  after manufacturers say yes.

The problem is, manufacturers often say no  and could still do so under "right to try." The reasons are many. Companies may be struggling financially. Or not have enough of the drug. Or fear that if a patient is harmed, damaging publicity will follow.

Becker believes right-to-try advocates have downplayed the issue of potential harm. In addition to cutting the FDA out of the compassionate access process, the new federal law would absolve manufacturers, prescribers, dispensers, insurers, and any "other individual entity" from liability for problems, including deaths. The FDA would be restricted in how it could use information about harms in deciding whether to approve a drug.

"Do patients undergoing right-to-try therapies lose their coverage for hospice? " Becker wondered in a recent article for STAT. "What if the experimental drug causes hospitalization or leads to additional treatments  who would pay for that?"

Over the last five years, right-to-try laws have been passed in 40 states, including Pennsylvania but not New Jersey. Behind this juggernaut is the Goldwater Institute, a Phoenix-based libertarian think tank. After the House vote, Goldwater president Victor Riches said, "Millions of Americans who have been told they are out of options  are closer to having the opportunity for one last treatment, without having to get permission from the federal government first."

Yet there is no evidence that existing state laws have expanded access.

The White House issued a statement on Tuesday saying Trump "is happy to deliver on that promise."

Becker, meanwhile, fears further erosion of drug safety regulation. The Goldwater Institute has a new campaign that would let manufacturers promote approved drugs to treat conditions for which they were not approved. While the FDA gives doctors discretion to prescribe in this "off-label" way, companies can be fined for marketing drugs for unapproved uses.

"You can see the next step," Becker said.
Editor's Note: This story was originally published Nov. 15, 1994

In the early afternoon of Aug. 6, 1944, just after bombing a German aircraft factory, a U.S. Army Air Corps B-17 was shot down near Brandenburg. Five crew members bailed out; four others died in the crash.

As fate would have it, the bodies of two staff sergeants in the crew  Solomon Henry Bernstein, 20, a tail gunner and crew chief, and Chester F. Bartoszewicz, the radio operator  were so entwined that each man's casket had to contain parts of the other. The two were buried in Belgium, then repatriated in 1950 to Beverly National Cemetery in Burlington County.

This summer, 50 years after their plane went down, the two airmen got a new gravestone that authorities believe is unique in U.S. military cemeteries: The cross is for Bartoszewicz, a Catholic from Pittsburgh; the Star of David is for Bernstein, a Jew from Miami Beach.

"I am not aware of any other grave marker with both religious symbols on it," said Dee Blake, the Beverly cemetery's director, who has worked at four national cemeteries for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Until this year, the two airmen had a weathered gravestone bearing only a cross. Officials ordered a new stone at the behest of Bernstein's sister, Mary Bernstein Stout, who felt that her brother's religion should be reflected just as it is on the headstones of other Jewish servicemen buried at Beverly.

"I thought that because they died together and their bodies were entwined together, so to speak, each in each other's coffin, that this was for eternity," Stout, 64, said yesterday by phone from her home near Orlando, Fla.

"I'm sure Jesus wouldn't mind. And I felt it would be a comfort to each of them. I felt very bad seeing the old headstone. "

She still has one of her big brother's last letters: Sol Bernstein wrote on July 25, 1944, that the crew had named the plane "Just Wolfin'. "

"We have a picture of a comical wolf, Walt Disney style," he wrote. "So watch us make headlines. "

During the war, their father, Julius Bernstein, managed hotels in Miami Beach. Sol had played French horn in his high school band. He was stationed in Tampa before going overseas  but Mary was at a friend's house when Sol stopped briefly at home in May 1943, his last visit.

Drawing upon a lifetime of guilt over missing that visit, Stout told me, she has been on a crusade to learn as much as possible about his death. She was 14 when the plane went down.

"I was devastated," she said. "I had been very close with my brother when we were growing up. I was the baby. He was the oldest, and he always stood up for me. And I never got to say goodbye to my brother. "

And so Stout has obtained declassified Air Force records detailing the ill- fated bombing mission. She has spoken with two of the five survivors. And she has tried without much success to learn about the man whose remains are buried with her brother's.

Records at the Beverly cemetery do not show when Chester Bartoszewicz was born. His mother's file at the Veterans Administration was "retired" in 1973, indicating that she had died. No one in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia with the same last name seemed to know anything about Chester, Stout said.

Meanwhile, Stout hopes to scrape together funds to have her brother and Bartoszewicz listed together on a memorial in Normandy, France.

"I want both their names to be on there together," said Mary Bernstein Stout. "They died together. Why shouldn't they be honored like that? "

NO LESS A HERO

Even though Veterans Day was Friday, my visit to Beverly National Cemetery was yesterday.

Besides learning of the two airmen buried together, I was able to avoid the crowds and pay a more personal visit with more than 45,000 folks who gave their lives so that a columnist like me could say whatever I want without being killed or tortured or imprisoned.

I appreciate their sacrifice.

I also appreciate Jay Boswick Giberson of Medford, who is buried in that impeccably maintained cemetery, but who did not die in battle.

Handsome and personable, Giberson was a veteran of World War II, having served in an artillery division in Italy. He came home with shrapnel in his knees. Tragically, his death came at age 31 in May 1953 when he was working on a Burlington County road crew.

"They were repairing bridges, and the crane operator didn't realize the crane was hitting high-power electric wires," recalled Giberson's sister, Elva Giberson Will, 76, of Northeast Philadelphia. "When my brother took hold of the chain wrapped around the pylons, he was electrocuted. "

The pain was heavy for Elva Will. Although she has always lived within a short car ride of her brother's grave, for many years she could not bring herself to see his grave.

She paid her first visit yesterday.

A WORD FROM THE WISE

Beside a desk in the main office at Beverly National Cemetery, a tiny sign serves as a reminder for personnel on how to treat the public.

I think we might all benefit from its wisdom:

"Resolve to be tender with the young . . . compassionate with the aged . . . sympathetic with the striving . . . and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these yourself."
Benjamin Robbs, 83, of Camden, joined the Army as a teenager. He served in the Korean War. Read more

When a Navy recruiter showed up at her house to enlist her only son, Judi Tapper could have stopped him from joining.

But she gave her blessing. So shortly after graduating in 1989 from Edgewood High School in Winslow Township, where he was a standout wrestler, David, the youngest of six, embarked on a journey to pursue his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. Two years later, he joined the elite unit after completing SEAL training in San Diego.

He felt especially compelled to serve after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In 2003, David was part of the team that made a daring raid behind enemy lines to rescue POW Jessica Lynch from her Iraqi captors and to help recover the bodies of nine American soldiers buried near where she had been held captive. During his third tour of duty, Tapper was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 2003, four days after his 32nd birthday.

His story, as told by his Gold Star mother, Judi Tapper, of Atco, has been memorialized in a video recording at the Library of Congress in Washington as part of its Veterans History Project. He is among 25 Camden County veterans whose stories were submitted for the project last week.

"They deserve to have their stories told," said Tapper, 78, the former president of New Jersey Gold Star Mothers. "They volunteered to serve their country."

Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 to collect personal stories, photographs, and documents such as diaries, letters, and scrapbooks from veterans with service dating to World War I and preserve their accounts for future generations to better understand the realities of war. Hundreds of thousands of testimonies have been archived.

Initially, the project accepted only firsthand accounts from living veterans, excluding the stories of soldiers such as David Tapper, who died while serving. But his mother and others lobbied to change the law, and a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith (R., N.J.) was approved unanimously by the House in 2016 to allow immediate family members to share the stories of fallen loved ones.

"It's not just the ones who served, but also the ones who didn't come home," said Judi Tapper, a retired real estate agent. "He really was so special. I think it was the greatest tragedy in life that I will ever have to deal with. It's something I'll never get over."

The Camden County Freeholder Board began its Veterans History Project in 2013 to begin capturing the stories of the more than 26,000 veterans who live in the county. About 150 have been recorded, but many don't meet the guidelines and requirements for submission to the Library of Congress, said Freeholder Bill Moen.

Moen, along with U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D., N.J.), delivered the videos to the Library of Congress last week. So far, Camden County and Sanilac County in Sandusky, Mich., are the only two counties in the country to participate in the national Veterans History Project. Oral historians, civic groups, and military buffs have also been collecting stories.

The county plans to review its recordings to identify future submissions, Moen said. The recordings will also be archived locally. The county eventually hopes to set up a place, possibly with kiosks where visitors can listen to narratives from those who served, he said.

The interviews are conducted by the Office of Veterans Affairs and recorded on DVDs, Moen said. Veterans are encouraged to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable disclosing, he said. A priority is given to older veterans to capture the recollections of a dying breed.

"These stories and the impact long term, in my mind, is priceless," Moen said in an interview. "We're losing so many of them. It's dire, now more than ever, to try to preserve the stories that are left and able to be told."

Tapper, the first interviewed, said she takes comfort in knowing that her son, who loved skydiving and the beach, fulfilled his dream to become a SEAL, a member of SEAL Team 6. She recalled that she jokingly told him when he decided to enlist: "You're my only son. I can stop you."

She said he replied, "No, Mom, this is what I want to do."

His commendations included a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for valor. The 13-year veteran left behind his wife, Tracy, and four children, Raimen, Vanessa, Talia, and Jarred.

Korean War veteran Benjamin Robbs, 83, of Camden, wanted to share his experience for the history project as an African American who served in a segregated Army unit. Robbs, who grew up in Philadelphia, dropped out of high school when he was 15 to enlist in March 1951.

Robbs was sent to basic training at Fort Campbell in Hokinsville, Ky., where black recruits were barred from the commissary, service clubs, and certain neighborhoods because of their skin color, he said. There were more racial injustices when his segregated unit was shipped to Korea, where he fought for 10 months with ground troops, he said.

"People say so little about the black Army because they were segregated," said Robbs, who achieved the rank of corporal and was awarded two Distinguished Service Cross Medals and a Bronze Star. "We were treated unfairly. They didn't consider us human. It was bad."

After Robbs was wounded by a mortar round, he was sent back to the United States. His injuries left him unable to stand for long periods, so the military sent him to school to study finance and gave him a new assignment indoors. He was discharged in 1954  the same year that the last segregated unit in the armed forces was abolished.

Robbs later joined the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union in Philadelphia as a business agent for 30 years. He also worked for the State of New Jersey in the unemployment office. He was twice married and had two sons, Brian and Adam.

A devout Muslim, Robbs enjoys a leisurely pace these days at the Victor Building in Camden, where he holds court daily in the lobby and everyone knows his name. He has come to terms with his Army experience. His only military memento is his DD 214 form, which lists the dates and locations of his service.

"These are memories I don't want to remember," Robbs said. "Some things you want to forget in life."

Retired Army Command Sgt. Major Gordon Lampitt, 94, of Voorhees, enlisted in 1939 and served for 33 years, seeing duty in three wars: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. A career officer, he became a civilian employee for 20 years at Fort Dix and retired in 1972, said his son, Charles.

When asked whether he was proud about his service during an interview for the history project, he responded: "Proud? I feel proud of the fact that I served my nation, yes. I served it to the best of my ability and I gave them the best I had."

He is among a dwindling population of the country's remaining World War II veterans, who are now in their 80s and 90s. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 558,000 of the 16 million Americans who served were alive in 2017.

"We fought with him for years to get his story down before age set in," said Charles, 60. "He is one proud, strong man. I can't say enough about my dad."

Lampitt, formerly of Browns Mills, remained very active for years until his health declined recently, said State Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D., Camden), his daughter-in-law. Married for more than 60 years and the father of five, he lives in an assisted-living facility with his wife, Rose, 87.

Recently, the family was able to obtain about 15 medals that Lampitt was due in recognition of his service, Pamela Lampitt said. Several years ago, he proudly donned his uniform and danced with his granddaughter, Ilene, at her wedding.

"He's a remarkable man," his daughter-in-law said.

For more information on the Veterans History Project, call the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-464-VETS.
President Yoweri Museveni on Monday rushed to Rukungiri a day earlier than scheduled to rally support for the NRM Winnie Matsiko, the NRM party candidate in the Rukungiri district woman MP byelections.

The elections slated for Thursday May 31, has seen the President join a number of Opposition leaders including his longtime opponent Dr Kizza Besigye who has been in the district since the beginning of last week.

President Museveni is expected to address rallies in Nyakishenyi, Nyarushanje, Kabisoni and Buyanja sub counties on Monday and in Ruhinda, Bwambara, Bugangari and Rukungiri municipality on Tuesday when the campaigns end according to the Electoral Commission timetable.

Former FDC Presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has been in all sub-counties in the district at times addressing rallies at villages rallying supporters to vote for the FDC candidate.

He was last week joined by several party loyalists and Opposition politicians including FDC secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, FDC secretary for security Mr Sadick Amin, Kawempe south MP Mubarak Munyagwa, Kampala Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, Buhweju county MP Francis Mwijukye, area Members of parliament Roland Mugume Kaginda of Rukungiri Municipality and Fred Turyamuhweza of Rujumbura, FDC mobilization secretary Ingrid Turinawe among others.

On Sunday, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Winnie Kizza, former FDC president Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, Kasese Municipality MP Robert Centenary joined the campaigns.

Several other NRM leaders are expected on ground in the district joining RDCs, Generals Jim Muhwezi and Henry Tumukunde, Ms Peace Rugambwa of Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundeire group among others.

Dr Kizza Besigye and the FDC group campaign in Bwambara and the municipality on Monday while they will finish their campaigns in Kebisoni and Buyanja sub-counties on Tuesday.

There was heavy police and military deployment in Rukungiri with both motorized and foot patrols in and around the district

The Rukungiri district police commander Mr Moses Nanoka says there have not been major incidences in the district but added that police had to deploy to avoid eventualities.

A UPDF vehicle with Military police personnel was seenn patrolling streets of Rukungiri on Monday, while a military camp had been set up at Marumba scouts camping ground and Eastern division headquarters in the municipality.

Other forces are stationed at Rwenshama in Bwambara Sub County near the Fish landing site.

Several other police armored vehicles and patrol pickups are stationed at the Rukungiri central police station.

Related
Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryans congratulatory message on Republic Day

Dear co-citizens, I congratulate all of us on the Republic Day. This year we are marking the centennial of the declaration of the first republic-the jubilee which has particular significance and meaning. A century ago the Armenian people united and showing incredible will and heroism defended their right to exist. During Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa battles, in spite of the obvious privilege in number and armed forces, newly-created Armenian Forces with the support of all layers of population defeated the regular Turkish Army which was trying to invade the last parcel of Armenian land. And it was at this time when the series of May victories began and due to them our country being in hardest conditions, blocked, full of thousands of refugees and starving people, became able to declare independence and initiate national statehood. We remember and feel proud of our ancestors owing to whom we are alive today and have our country. Due to their heroism it became possible to build up our future becoming strong and defended. Once again congratulating on the Republic Day, I wish that we continue the grateful deeds of our ancestors, make our homeland more powerful and prosperous with the strong will to pass a stronger, more developed and flourishing country to subsequent generations.
Two Greendale police officers and a Milwaukee police officer were treated for exposure to fentanyl Friday in two separate incidents.

Greendale police were called to Southridge Mall around 7 p.m. Friday for a possible retail theft.

Officers said they spotted a man and a woman in a stolen vehicle in the parking lot. While searching that vehicle, officers say they removed a purse that had an unknown substance in it. One officer began feeling ill while still on the scene, the other showed symptoms back at the station. They were both given Narcan and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Both have since been released, WISN reports.

The Milwaukee police officer was exposed to fentanyl on the city's south side after arresting a person that had the drug, police said.

The officer was was treated and is expected to return to duty in the coming days, police said.
Officer Amy Caprio (Photo: Baltimore County PD)

Attorneys for the teenager accused of running over and killing Baltimore County police Officer Amy S. Caprio called for the public release of body camera footage from the incident, saying their client was in survival mode when he ran over the officer and her death was an accident.

Wyndal Gordon and Warren Brown, two prominent Baltimore defense attorneys who are representing 16-year-old Dawnta Harris, said Thursday morning that the footage will help answer questions surrounding Caprios death, and ultimately help their clients case. They called on Baltimore County States Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger to release the video.

Harris is charged with first-degree murder; police say he struck Caprio with a stolen Jeep Wrangler Monday afternoon in Perry Hall, MD. He is one of four teens charged as adults in her death.

Gordon said he wants to know why Caprio demonstrated aggression toward Harris and why she drew her weapon during what amounted to a traffic stop. Gordon said his client couldnt see where he was going when he ducked as Caprio fired her gun, and he hit the gas, the Baltimore Sun reports.

If someone's got bullets whizzing by your head, youre in survival mode, youre trying to survive, Gordon said. This was not an intentional killing.  This was an accident.
A school district in northern Georgia unanimously voted Thursday night to arm teachers with guns who volunteer to carry. Teachers will be permitted to have guns holstered but will not be allowed to have guns in bags or purses under the new policy.

Fannin County School Board approved the proposal that said employees must be approved by the Board of Education and the Fannin County Sheriff before being allowed to carry a gun on school campuses, Newsweek reports.

Approved teachers will be trained on judgment, pistol and long gun shooting at a minimum, WSB-TV reports.
Merkel ally warns Hungary's Orban not to cross red lines

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban risks triggering a crisis in his Fidesz party's relationship with the European Union's centre-right parties over laws they charge infringe civil liberties, an ally of Germany' Chancellor has warned on Monday. This chimes together with press reports over the weekend, saying the member of the Fidesz party in the European Peoples Party (EPP) group hinges on whether or not Orbans government is willing to meet two conditions regarding Central European University (CEU) and a draft legislative package dubbed Stop Soros.

Re-elected earlier this year for his third consecutive term (fourth in total), Orban has attracted criticism for delaying accreditation for CEU, a university founded by financier George Soros, an outspoken critic of Orban. The populist politician secured his party another supermajority in the April election on a heavy anti-migration campaign and by vilifying Soros.A draft package of legislation dubbed Stop Soros would subject non-governmental organisations that receive foreign funding to strict regulation has been compared by critics to measures in non-European Union states like Russia.Critics say the European People's Party (EPP), which includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), has pulled its punches because of a need for its member's votes in the European Parliament. Fidesz's commanding position at home means it contributes a big chunk of the EPP's caucus, Reuters reported today.But Andreas Nick, a CDU lawmaker and his party's Hungary rapporteur, has become the latest EPP figure to say Orban's latest moves on CEU and the NGO law risked crossing red lines.

Would I prefer Fidesz to stay within the Christian Democrat camp? Of course. But our Hungarian friends need to understand that crossing certain lines would make life very difficult for everyone

, Nick told Reuters.His remarks, coming shortly after criticism by Manfred Weber, another Merkel ally and the EPP's president in the European Parliament, suggest that patience is running out for a party increasingly seen as being far outside the democratic mainstream.The Council of Europe, Europe's human rights watchdog, is due to issue a report on the proposed NGO law next month, and Nick said Hungary's reaction to that would be a crucial test of its willingness to respond to criticism.But Cas Mudde, an expert on Fidesz at the University of Georgia, was sceptical about whether critics would stay the course if Orban did back down.

This is a pre-emptive strike... criticising Fidesz mildly, before real critique comes out, and then later either not following up or accepting marginal adjustments

," the news agency cited Mudde as saying.
Michael Barone is the omniscient and judicious political historian and columnist. He co-wrote the first 22 or so editions of the Almanac of American Politics, out in 2018 in what must be its twenty-third biennial edition. It has no competition; there is nothing else like it. The same might be said of Barone himself.

In his most recent Washington Examiner column Barone absorbs the recent disclosures in the slowly unfolding scandal implicit in the counterintelligence investigation that culminated in the Mueller Switch Project. I noted the column in Comey and Clapper clarify. I think the unfolding scandal may be the biggest and most audacious in American political history.

Barone isnt quite there yet, but hes getting close. The New York Post republishes Barones column today under the evocative headline Obamas spying scandal is starting to look a lot like Watergate.

In his understated style, Barone lends historical perspective: Until 2016, just about everyone agreed that it was a bad thing for government intelligence or law enforcement agencies to spy (er, secretly collect information?) on a political campaign. Especially a campaign of the opposition party. Thank you, Mr. Barone!
Tommy Robinson (whose real name reportedly is Stephen Lennon) is one of the founders of the English Defense League, which opposes mass Islamic immigration. On Friday, he was standing outside a courthouse where several Muslims were on trial for sex-related crimes, reporting on the trial via Facebook live, when he was arrested for breaching the peace. You can see the arrest in this video; as far as I can see, everything looks quite peaceful:

Tommy Robinson has been arrested in Leeds court for reporting on grooming gangs. More updates to follow pic.twitter.com/iEPDoNOKHM  Caolan Robertson (@CaolanRob) May 25, 2018

Robinson was hauled before a judge and, apparently, was immediately sentenced. I think what happened is that the judge imposed a 13-month prison term that had been suspended, arising out of a similar incident:

But shortly after his arrest, a source with knowledge of the case told Fox News that he had been jailed for 13 months on a contempt-of-court charge. A court listing indicated the case was closed by Friday afternoon. One source said he was jailed in Hull Prison. The prison declined to comment to Fox News on whether Robinson was there. Leeds Crown Court also did not return a request for information. According to The Independent, Robinson was already on a suspended sentence for contempt of court over a gang rape case in 2017.

In that case, Robinson wasnt one of the rapists, he was trying to film or photograph the rapists, in violation of notices posted around the courthouse.

The court in the current case has imposed a press blackout on Robinsons arrest and apparent jailing:

The judge in the case on Friday slapped a reporting ban on the case. The order bans reporters from reporting on a case if there is reason to believe the reporting could prejudice a trial. The order prevents reporting until the conclusion of the trial Robinson was reporting on. The gag order led to news outlets in the U.K. removing their reporting from their websites to comply with the order. Most remaining reporting in the U.K. comments on Robinsons arrest, but not on his purported sentencing.

Sources with knowledge of Robinsons case spoke on condition of anonymity in part because of fear they would be arrested for contempt. One told Fox that Robinsons lawyer warned that, considering the presence of Muslim gang members in prison, a 13-month sentence was tantamount to a death sentence.

Robinsons supporters have been demonstrating at Whitehall:

It is too early to say where this will end, but this thought occurs to me: we have pointed out many times the fallacy of categorizing all opposition to mass immigration as far right, as the European press has unanimously done. This description is evidently intended to rule debate over immigration out of bounds. But the truth may be worse than that: perhaps being labeled far right can be a precursor to groundless arrest, secret trial and incarceration, and a ban on reporting.

In the U.K., anyway. It could never happen here, as Americas liberals are far too tolerant and too devoted to free speech.
Distinguished President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly,

Distinguished Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly,

Honourable Marshals,

Honourable Prime Minister,

Honourable Ministers,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Ladies and Gentlemen,



Once again, on behalf of Poland and the Polish people, let me reiterate a very warm welcome to you at the session in Warsaw. You are gathered in a city, and a capital of a country, which could stand as a symbol of dramatic historical processes which finally laid the foundations for the creation of the North Atlantic Alliance; but could also symbolize the victory of the values that we all jointly advocate.



It is here, in Poland, that World War 2 began following the aggression of Nazi Germany on our country. Then, in the course of the war, in the wake of its heroic struggle in the Warsaw Uprising, Warsaw was almost completely destroyed, and yet it was rebuilt, and it could wake up to a new life. I wish to underscore the fact that you have arrived in Poland is a special moment of time: in a year of a grand jubilee of the centenary of our countrys regaining independence. The history of Poland and of the Polish people, being the history of the nation enduringly attached to freedom, the nation struggling against the vicissitudes of fate and winning historical victories, is a source of profound inspiration, also in a universal sense. See also: President after meeting with NATO chief: No discrepancies between us



It is also symbolic that here in Warsaw, in Poland, the country which was incorporated against its will to the Eastern bloc, the Warsaw Pact was signed: one of the fundamental elements of the Cold War and of subsequent divisions in the 20th century world. Equally, it was from here, from Poland, that an impulse sparked for the victory of freedom and democracy, following the bloodless Solidarity revolution, an impulse to dismantle the Cold War system, to pull down the Berlin Wall, to unite Europe. The emblem of Warsaw features a mermaid armed with a sword and a shield. This represents constant readiness to defend the city, also to defend our vision of the world, founded on human fundamental values. Such readiness, declared and maintained jointly in our fold, is NATOs principal domain. It was strongly accentuated at the 2016 NATO Summit, the event we had the honour of hosting here in Warsaw. The Summit adopted and developed important, landmark decisions which are decisive for the shape of our common security.



I am happy to be able to address today in Warsaw the Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. In the first place, I wish to express my cordial thanks to the President, Mr Paolo Alli, for the great contribution he makes in the functioning of the Assembly. I wish to thank the parliamentarians from all Allied nations.



The Parliamentary Assembly represents an essential element of democratic control of Allied activities. Being representatives of free societies, which make up the Euroatlantic community, not only do you contribute to the enhancement of credibility and strengthening of the North Atlantic Alliance but also to better appreciation of NATOs importance for Europes and North Americas security by the public opinion in your respective countries.



The NATO Parliamentary Assembly also plays a pivotal role in the deepening of cooperation we have with our partners. This cooperation is of key importance for the expansion of the area of stability and peace in the European neighbourhood, and also globally. It gives me satisfaction to welcome in our fold representatives of associate countries and delegations of observer nations. It is my profound conviction that we can contribute together to the improved security situation in the regions where it is challenged today.



Ladies and Gentlemen,



The ties between North America and Europe are key in ensuring security of the Euro-Atlantic area. They underpin NATO operations, and are the basis for its strength and effectiveness. Today, perhaps even more than ever before, we should strive to improve the political climate of Transatlantic relations. This is also a task for our parliaments, especially given that one of the crucial components of the Alliances cohesion is growing defence spending in European countries. It is needed in order to ensure the fairer distribution of security costs borne by the United States and Europe. As a representative of the country which sets great store by the strengthening of Transatlantic relations, I trust that you will remember about this challenge as you participate in defence budgets debates in your respective parliaments. This is indeed the most pressing need, given the challenges and threats ahead of Europe.

On the other hand, I would also like to express my conviction that a stable, secure Europe is the best ever American investment world-wide. The development of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union and intensifying cooperation between the EU and the Alliance is in our common interest. Enhancing European countries capabilities will also translate directly into improved operability of the whole Alliance, and also of the United States of America.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We must remember about the importance of our Transatlantic unity, particularly nowadays when the system of security that we have jointly created is tested and is undermined by the entities threatening peace and stability. Russia is the most serious one as it questions the elements of international order which were built in the transformation process at the turn of the 20th and the 21st century. The world on international law and mutual respect of interests of equal states proved to be inacceptable for her. Respect of international law is one of Polands priorities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Moreover, this was the main topic of my address in New York during the debate initiated by Poland in the Security Council.

It is most regrettable that Moscow has probably never come to terms with the downfall of the imperial Soviet Union, treating the period of the 1990s, imbued with the hope for lasting peace in Europe, as a strategic break in the East-West confrontation. The invasion of Georgia back in 2008, and the lawless annexation of the Crimea, as well as military intervention in Ukraine in 2014, shed light on Russias genuine intentions. Recent months and years have illustrated that the Kremlin does not hesitate to try to assassinate people on the territories of NATO countries, using chemical weapons, or to interfere in democratic processes. Last years edition of Russian-Byelorussian exercise Zapad 17 was carried out with deliberate omission of security building measures, which is in a flagrant contrast to the Allied practices in terms of transparency of military exercises.

It is beyond any doubt that the phenomena and processes which I have described a moment ago are of most alarming nature, especially for us in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. The second no less serious source of threat is instability along the Alliances Southern flank where terrorist organizations found refuge, financial support and human resources, which creates an unprecedented threat to our citizens.

Destabilization of the whole region of Middle East and North Africa also attracts the attention and provokes engagement of certain powers who in the chaos unfolding there see an opportunity for themselves to reinforce their influence. This equally applies to regional powers, such is Iran, and also to the before mentioned Russia. Their operations there only serve to deepen the problems existing in the region and inflict further suffering on the local people. They also have a negative impact on the situation in Europe, this, among others, through the growing numbers of illegal migrants.

The Allied response to those challenges is the Comprehensive Strategic Adaptation which was ushered in at the 2014 Wales Summit and was continued here in Warsaw in 2016. Decisions taken back then met equally the expectations of the Eastern Allies, confronted with the aggressive Russia, and of the Southern Allies, struggling against hotbeds of tension in the Middle East and North Africa. From the Polish perspective, a real break-through was especially the decision about stepping up security levels along the Alliances Eastern flank, this through institution of forward presence of the Allied forces, strengthening NATO response forces, development of Allied military planning, and intensification of Allied military exercise.

That being said I also want to emphasize that Poland has been offering and continues to offer a substantial political, financial and military contribution to the implementation of all crucial decisions taken by the Alliance in recent years, not only the ones that apply to the Eastern flank directly.

Our soldiers participate in NATO forward presence in Latvia and in Romania, but also continue with their active engagement in the Allied missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and provide training to the Iraqi armed forces. Our Air Force participates on a regular basis in the Air Policing missions in the Baltic States, but they also take part in a reconnaissance mission within the global coalition against the so-called Islamic State, engaging in air operations from the territory of Kuwait. The Polish Navy is part of NATO operations in the Baltic Sea, but it is also regularly engaging in the Allied operation in the Mediterranean.

In line with the guidelines that we have jointly adopted in NATO, Poland also increases its defence spending. As President of the Republic of Poland, previous year I signed the bill securing gradual increase of defence spending from the present level of 2% of GDP to 2.5% by the year 2030.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The upcoming NATO summit in Brussels will come as a yet another step on the way to reinforce the Alliance. Decisions taken at the Summit should have five main thrusts: strengthening deterrence and defence, adaptation in the South, relations with Russia, NATO-EU cooperation, and Allied partnership policy.

Therefore, in the first place comes consolidation and further strengthening of Allied deterrence and defence. To this end, reform will be carried out of NATO Command structures, increasing of preparedness of Allied forces, and development of credible reinforcement strategy. NATO must be capable to take an immediate military reaction, also a mass scale reaction.

In the second place, further adaptation of the Alliance to face the threats coming from the South. Increased Allied awareness in the Mediterranean is important not only because the routes of illegal trafficking of immigrants must be duly monitored, but also due to the fact that criminal groups and terrorist groups need to be surveyed. What comes as a challenge is also stepped-up Russian activities undertaken in that basin. Also, for that reason, the Alliance should develop its cooperation with partners from the South and support them in building their defence capabilities. This goal will be also served by the much-awaited decision about the change of a presence of NATO activity in Iraq into an Allied training mission.

In the third place: NATO - Russia relations. I do believe that a two-tiered Allied policy, as it was determined during the Warsaw Summit, it is the strengthening of deterrence and defence on the one hand, and maintaining conditioned dialogue on the other hand, should be upheld. It must be emphasized, however, that the experiences of the two last years do not provide us with any reasons to return to broader cooperation between NATO and Russia, but they also illustrated that Moscow is not interested in a fair and constructive dialogue. While maintaining the dialogue offer, the Alliance must nevertheless draw rational conclusions from the situation.

In the fourth place: I am happy that following the signing in Warsaw of the Joint Declaration, the cooperation between NATO and the European Union has gathered such a great momentum. One of the most important axes in this cooperation is, in my view, that of military mobility. Joint actions in this area stand a very good chance of becoming a model example of success achieved by the two organizations in their mutual cooperation. The European defence can and should be an important support to NATO operations. This also applies to the newly conceived instruments of the European Union, such as PESCO: the Permanent Structural Cooperation of the European Defence Fund, that provided that we are going to tap the two in line with the Allied needs.

And finally, in the fifth place, Brussels summit should be also a signal of readiness to further develop relations with the partners. The Allied open-door policy and partnership policy are the crucial elements in NATO external relations, targeting the countries interested in expanding the area of security and stability existing around the Alliance. Supporting our partners in developing their military capabilities and interoperability with the Allied forces is worthwhile, as much as assistance in reforming their security system.

I do hope that the Summit will provide an opportunity to seriously reflect on further strengthening of cooperation with Ukraine and Georgia. Certainly, we will also continue our joint debate about European security with Alliances closest partners, i.e.: Sweden and Finland.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our future objective should be to further strengthen the North Atlantic Alliance, in order to make it strong, credible and modern. This is an instrument which is meant to guaranteed to our nations peace and security, and to ensure stability to our immediate neighbourhood. While advocating the philosophy of defence and deterrence instead of conflict and warfare, we must realize what will ultimately predetermine its efficiency. Therefore, we must ask ourselves a question whether this philosophy is supported by appropriately prepared and organized defence capabilities, additionally underpinned by political unity across the Atlantic, as to how we see secure world. You - as parliamentarians from the Allied nations - have a pivotal role to play in this process. It will largely depend on you, democratically elected representatives of our societies, if legislative framework will be laid down, conducive to the development of the Alliance. On many occasions, it will be yourselves having a key influence on the effectiveness of a decision-making process which conditions the Alliances ability to quickly respond to crisis situations.



I do hope but the discussions carried out in Warsaw these days were both: fruitful and inspiring for you. On my own part, I wish to assure you that the debate at the session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is very closely followed in Poland. The conclusions arising out of it, will be used in formulating Polands position on key issues concerning our joint security. Once again, let me thank you very warmly for the contribution each of you makes in our joint debate. The Warsaw Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly confirms the Alliances responsibility and effectiveness, founded on our agreement and cooperation. I do hope that you will have very pleasant, agreeable memories from you stay in Warsaw, as well as the sense of value added that your work done here has produced for our common good and security.

Thank you very much.
Sustainable socio-economic development rather than economic growth alone should be a primary goal, Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the Economic Forum in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday.

President Duda paid a visit to Georgia on Saturday to attend observances marking the centenary of the 1st Democratic Republic of Georgia. Other leaders from Central and Eastern Europe also took part in the anniversary events. See also: President says region must stand together against aggression

Earlier, the Polish President together with his Slovak and Georgian counterparts Andrej Kiska and Giorgi Margvelashvili as well as Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili took part in the opening of the economic forum.

"I am deeply touched that I can stand here today in Tbilisi on this important day when together we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia," Andrzej Duda said.

He recalled his "great patron and predecessor", the late President Lech Kaczynski, "for whom a free, independent, sovereign and safe Georgia was an important, if not basic, element of European security, but also, more broadly, of global security."

The Polish President expressed his satisfaction that, as a "student and successor" of Lech Kaczynski, he could take part in the opening of the Economic Forum in Tbilisi.

"I am proud that the models that have been developed in Poland over the past 20 years are now applied in Georgia, that this forum is being held in cooperation with the foundation organising the Economic Forum in Krynica (southern Poland - PAP)," Andrzej Duda stressed.

According to the Polish President, "security and peace" are the necessary conditions for successful economic growth and development.

Social cohesion is another prerequisite for the economic development, in Andrzej Duda's opinion. "Growth cannot take place at the price of deepening social differences," he argued. These differences should be eliminated, which is what social programmes implemented in Poland are aimed at.

Free trade is another condition for economic growth, President Duda argued, noting that the potential of Polish-Georgian economic cooperation is not yet fully exploited. He pointed out that positive trends in the development of this cooperation were maintained in 2017 and that trade turnover increased by about 30 percent, including Polish exports to Georgia by 24 percent and imports from Georgia to Poland by more than 80 percent.

Andrzej Duda pointed out that since 2016 Georgia has been the largest recipient of Polish export products in the South Caucasus. "We hope to continue this trend in 2018. I am convinced that over the coming years we will be able to achieve much more in this area," the President said.

The Polish President sees the potential for Polish-Georgian cooperation in Polish companies' participation in implementing the strategic hydropower development programme in Georgia. He believes that Poland has a lot to offer to Georgian partners in the field of green technologies, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and waste management.

In Duda's opinion, transport cooperation also looks very promising, including support for the West-South transport corridor connecting India through Iran and then Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Poland to Western Europe, as well as the development of a new Silk Road from China through Kazakhstan, then also Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Poland to Western Europe. Andrzej Duda pointed out that these routes could become an alternative to those running through Russia.

The President of Georgia stressed that it is very important for him to welcome "two of his friends, the presidents of Poland and Slovakia," on an important day like this.

As Margvelashvili said, "it is extremely symbolic, because they are two leaders who strongly support and protect Georgia's interests in many international formats." (PAP)
Poles and Georgians share their love for freedom and their patriotism, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in Tbilisi on Saturday, stressing that there could be no consent to the violation of borders and the international law.

President Duda paid a visit to Georgia on Saturday to attend observances marking the centenary of the 1st Democratic Republic of Georgia. Other leaders from Central and Eastern Europe as well as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also took part in the anniversary events. See also: President Duda in Georgia: Sustainability matters in economic growth

"Poles and Georgians are nations that adhere to the same values. We share our love for freedom and our deep patriotism. Both you and us had to fight for a long time for our right to self-determination and our own statehood, therefore sovereignty and independence of our homelands is the most precious treasure for us," the Polish president said at the Freedom Square in Georgia's capital.

"We will never agree to the violation of borders of sovereign states, we will not accept aggression and we will always protest against violating the international law," President Duda said, stressing that it was the observance of the international law that guaranteed peace and security in Europe and the world.

"Although today we are celebrating the beautiful anniversary of restoring your independence, we are aware of the threats and challenges that we're still facing. We must show unity and solidarity in confronting them," President Duda said.

It was "nearly ten years ago when the Polish president, Professor Lech Kaczynski, stood nearby this place to protest together with other leaders of our region against (Russia's - PAP) aggression against Georgia and urge the world to stop it," Andrzej Duda said.

"He gave us a lesson in geopolitics that is still topical today: we must always stand together in the face of the threats and challenges posed by an aggressive world; we are strong when we act together," President Duda said.

In this context, Andrzej Duda reiterated Poland's unwavering support for Georgia's EU and NATO aspirations. "Doors to the European Union and NATO should remain open to those states and nations that share the values adhered to by these communities," the President stressed.

"I wish Georgia and Georgian people peace and security, prosperity and continuing growth for the next 100 years. Let the Georgians' right to their own independent state never be disturbed by anyone," the Polish President concluded. (PAP)
Yeghvard Bozoyan: Moving to our times, it's clear that those who live far from Armenia have nothing to do with Armenia (video)

The greatest achievement to enjoy the 100th anniversary of the independence of the first Republic without the regime, director of Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum Narine Tukhikyan told journalists today. "Some of the leaders had nothing to do with Armenia, many of them did not feel our land and water. Moving to our times, it's clear that those who live far from Armenia have nothing to do with Armenia. In this case I'm talking about Karen Karapetyan. " When a nation relies on itself,then it achieves certain results. Our political elite was not worthy of our citizens in many cases, says Aram Harutyunyan, President of the National Consent Party. "Today's revolution has not been easy, people have suffered deprivations and struggled. And if we want the revolution to reach its goal, the political prisoners who are fighting against the regime must be released." "We celebrate the 100th anniversary in a very symbolic and formal way," said political scientist Yervand Bozoyan. "There is no serious study history in Armenia. We believe in ancient primitive myths. 90% of our elite does not know the history of Armenia of the last 100 years. " "We did not have state mentality and we became smaller in the hands of superpowers," said the political scientist. "The elite of that time was romantic and primitive. There is no recognition of these problems in Armenia as well today. " Touching upon the question of the political prisoners, Yervand Bozoyan mentioned: "Their release is a necessity. They should come out and take part in snap parliamentary elections."
We agree as to the main aims that the North Atlantic Alliance should work towards in the coming years, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Monday after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.



The President received Jens Stoltenberg at Warsaw's Belweder Palace on Monday. The NATO chief was in Warsaw for the Spring Session of the Alliance's Parliamentary Assembly.



See also: Address by the President of the Republic of Poland at the Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Duda added that their meeting focused on "very important matters, or even the most significant ones" from the point of view of NATO actions planned for the near future, as well as a meeting of the Bucharest Nine and a NATO summit in Brussels.

"There is no discrepancy between us; we agree with the secretary general as to all the main aims that the Alliance should work towards in the coming years. Towards a certain profile that has been accepted," the President stressed, noting among other things the mutual satisfaction with the rapid implementation of decisions taken in Wales and Warsaw.



Andrzej Duda noted at the same time that in the context of the forthcoming Brussels NATO summit it is necessary to think "about further decisions that will be taken there in terms of the Alliance's efficient functioning, so-called reactions, which will be followed at that time when it comes to a possible engagement of military forces of the advanced presence, in order for those forces to be reinforced with others." He added that a decision on that subject should be taken at the Brussels summit.



The NATO secretary general underscored that Poland is a "very strong" NATO member. "You participate and contribute to our shared security and our collective defence in many different ways," he observed. "You lead by example on defence spending, allocating 2% of GDP on defence." He also recalled that Poland is host to a NATO Multinational Battalion Battle Group and contributes to the battle group stationed in Latvia. "I would also like to thank Poland for the many contributions you are making to different NATO missions and operations, in Afghanistan, but also for training activities that NATO conducts in Iraq, and this is about fighting terrorism. When our neighbours are more stable we are more secure," Stoltenberg commented.



Jens Stoltenberg announced that he had discussed many issues with the Polish President that would dominate the agenda of July's summit, including defence conditions and increasing the Alliance's readiness so that its forces could be more rapidly deployed. He noted that at the Brussels summit a decision would be taken on the location of commands related to the adoption of the Alliance's new command structure. He went on to state that the July summit would also concern cooperation with "two close" partners - Georgia and Ukraine. "NATO will continue to provide political and practical support to Georgia and Ukraine (...) because they are highly valued partners where NATO has an important role to play, and we will continue to support them," Stoltenberg declared.



He also stated that NATO wants to "combine deterrence, defence, with political dialogue with Russia." "Russia is our neighbour, Russia is here to stay so we need to continue to engage in dialogue with Russia," he asserted, pointing out that this week will see a further meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. "I believe that these meetings of the NATO-Russia Council are important because they provide a framework to also discuss difficult issues. For instance, the crisis in and around Ukraine. (...) And we have seen the consequences of the crisis in Ukraine, Russias destabilising efforts in eastern Ukraine with the downing of MH17 (...) and I agree with the Dutch government that Russia should admit responsibility for its part in the downing of the plane and also fully cooperate so we make sure that those who are responsible are held accountable."



The NATO secretary general stressed that the Alliance is currently focusing on cooperation with the EU. "I welcome stronger EU efforts on defence. At the same time it has been clearly stated by EU leaders and by European leaders that this is not about creating any alternative to NATO, this is about complementing NATO, strengthening the European pillar within NATO and I agree that we need stronger EU efforts, stronger European efforts to also strengthen the transatlantic bond and improve burden sharing," he said.



On the subject of expenditures and budgeting, Jens Stoltenberg emphasised that member states' defence budgets have to be in line with the Alliance's outgoings - reduced in the period after the Cold War - as tensions increase.



President Duda was asked about his discussion with Stoltenberg on the subject of the location of the Alliance's new commands. At the preliminary stage, the reforms foresee two new command centres. One will cover the northern Atlantic and is to improve communications capability and defend maritime routes between Europe and America; the other, situated in Europe, is tasked with improving the Alliance's logistical capacities and especially the deployment of equipment and forces in Europe. Poland has announced its interest in this type of command and would like it to be located in Szczecin (northwestern Poland).



"We talked about the creation of a so-called army command," Andrzej Duda replied. "We had indicated to the secretary general earlier, but also today, that we would very definitely be happy for this army command within NATO to be in our part of Europe, in Szczecin." He highlighted that the Multinational Corps North-East is already there, within the NATO framework, conducted by Poland together with Denmark and Germany. Jens Stoltenberg pointed out that a decision on the land forces component would not be taken at the coming July summit but would need to wait for input from the NATO Europe commander, General Curtis Scaparotti, a process he said could take some time. (PAP)
Armen Ashotyan: Today's celebration is not someone's property, it's not someone's "party," it's not a family and personal event (video)

"Today's celebration is not someone's property, it's not someone's "party," it's not a family and personal event." The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP, RPA Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan wrote this on his Facebook page, referring to the fact that the RPA representatives were not invited to Republic Day celebrations. He specifically wrote: "One of the main symbols of the First Republic's birthday and the battle of Sardarabad was unity. Today's celebration is not someone's property, it's not someone's "party," it's not a family and personal event. The day symbolizing the restoration of the state is also a day of re-evaluation and evaluation of state institutions, regardless of the heroes of the day, the working people and the "new realities". It is surprising when people who consider themselves adequate to justify the failure of the proper participation of the National Assembly in today's celebrations. And, unfortunately, the deliberate approach contradicts both the day's advice and the call of unity and of 'love and solidarity'."
NEW DELHI, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, on Global Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day), NGOs, UN agencies, governments NGOs, UN agencies, governments and corporates all over the world will join forces to raise awareness and catalyse action for one of the most neglected social issues: menstruation and menstrual hygiene management (MHM). From Australia to Brazil, from Sweden to South Africa, there will be concerts, rallies, educational events and social media campaigns. WASH United is the initiator of MH Day and acts as its International Secretariat.

Menstruation is a normal biological process, wherein about 800 million women and girls menstruates on any given day. Yet, periods continue to be shrouded in taboos and myths. Women and girls continue to be stigmatised and excluded. The combination of negative social norms, poor education, lack of access to hygiene products, inadequate sanitation infrastructure and disposal options have severe consequences on the health, education and employment opportunities, and on overall social status of women and girls.

In order to change this, WASH United started Menstrual Hygiene Day in 2014. Since then, it has grown into a veritable movement, with more than 420 partner organisations globally. In 2017, there were 350 MH Day events in 54 countries of which 67 were in India alone. MH Day reached more than 160 million people through digital campaigning alone.

In India, 50% of girls have no knowledge about menstruation and when they get their period, it leads to fear and poor menstrual hygiene practices. Education about menstruation and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is critical to empower girls to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without stigma.

In line with this year's theme of empowerment, the highlight video of the MH Day campaign in India is a hip hop artist, Dee MC, rapping about her personal encounters with stigma and asking young people to end the silence around menstruation. The campaign is led by WASH United and brings together a wide range of partners including, Change.org, Youth ki Awaaz, Culture Machine, Arre, Terribly Tiny Tales, SheThePeople, DASRA and Love Matters India. The call to action of the campaign is a petition to make education about menstruation compulsory in schools. So that every girl is empowered to manage her period safely, hygienically, with confidence and without shame. The petition has already crossed over 500 supporters and the campaign will continue to reach out to people for support as every voice is important and every voice matters because menstruation matters.

Nirmala Nair, Managing Director, WASH United India:

"It is unacceptable that in the year 2018, millions of women and girls in India are held back by something as natural and normal as their periods. This doesn't just harm women and girls, but the entire country. Solving this challenge has to start with education, so that all girls know what menstruation is and how to manage it. That is why we're calling on Hon. Prakash Javadekar to make education about menstrual hygiene compulsory in schools. If you can do that, we will work with you to create educational tools to make it happen. And once we reach girls in schools, we would work towards reaching girls who are not a part of the formal education system."

Thorsten Kiefer, global CEO of WASH United:

"It is heartening to see how many organizations and people are standing up for women and girls around Menstrual Hygiene Day, in India and around the world. It's time that we speak openly about periods, every day. A girl born today should know about period taboos and stigma not from experience, but only from history books."

About WASH United

WASH United is the initiator of MH Day and acts as its International Secretariat. WASH United coordinates the global communication for MH Day and manages the MH Day partnership of more than 420 partner organisations. It supports the partner organization with a content package which helps them to organize local events, local campaigns and to contribute to the global campaign. We also maintain global communication through the website and newsletter.

2018 MH Day campaign hashtags:

#mhday2018

#NoMoreLimits

#menstruationmatters

Social media channels:

twitter.com/MHDay28May

http://www.facebook.com/Menstrualhygieneday

http://www.facebook.com/MHDayIndia/

http://www.instagram.com/menstrualhygieneday/

Media Contact:

Nirmala Nair

[email protected]

+91-11-41650903

Managing Director

WASH United



menstrualhygieneday.org

SOURCE WASH United
MUMBAI, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical company, today announced the presentation of data from two assets in its immuno-oncology portfolio at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). These presentations include preclinical and translational data on GBR 1302, a HER2xCD3 bispecific antibody, and a Trials in Progress (TIP) poster on GBR 1342, a CD38xCD3 bispecific antibody.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/451507/PRNE_Glenmark_Logo.jpg )



GBR 1302 is Glenmark's lead immuno-oncology candidate, currently in a first-in-human trial to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in an all-comers population of patients with a variety of HER2 positive cancers. This Phase 1 trial is being expanded to explore higher doses of GBR 1302 and to examine potential clinical benefit of a once-weekly dosing regimen. Enrollment for the GBR 1302 clinical trial is currently ongoing in the U.S. and Germany.

In parallel, an ex vivo translational study has recently been completed utilizing a fully human, clinically validated diagnostic platform that delivers treatment response predictions to identify responder context to GBR 1302 in metastatic breast and gastric cancer tissue biopsies. The translational study further investigates the novel Mechanism of Action (MOA) of GBR 1302 in a tumor microenvironment and its impact on expansion of memory and effector CD8+/CD4+ T cells to inform precise patient selection. The translational study also addresses the effect of T cell engagers in combination with check point inhibitors (e.g., anti-PD1/PDL1).

"By relying on a combination of translational data and clinical adaptive design, Glenmark is rapidly advancing potential first-in-class immuno-oncology candidates," said Fred Grossman, President and Chief Medical Officer at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. "We are pleased to share these emerging data and updates on our immuno-oncology pipeline at the ASCO Annual Meeting."

Based on preliminary data from the Phase 1 clinical study, and ex vivo translational studies, a Phase 1b/2 study is currently being designed and will include an expansion cohort of HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer patients. The expansion cohort will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of GBR 1302 and is intended to generate robust and comprehensive translational data.

Additional details regarding the date and times of these presentations are below:

GBR 1302: Effect of CD3 - HER2, a bispecific T cell engager antibody, in trastuzumab-resistant cancers Session: Developmental Therapeutics - Immunotherapy Monday, June 4 th 1:15-4:45 PM

Phase 1, multicenter, open - label study of single - agent bispecific antibody T cell engager GBR 1342 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma Session: Tumor Biology Monday, June 4 th 8:00 - 11:30 AM



About Glenmark's Oncology Pipeline and Proprietary BEAT Technology

Glenmark's pipeline currently includes three immuno-oncology candidates being studied in a wide range of tumor types. These include three bispecific monoclonal antibodies (bsAbs). GBR 1302, a HER2xCD3 bsAb, targets HER2 expressing tumors including those not responsive to standard of care; GBR 1342, a CD38XCD3 bsAb targeting CD38 positive tumors including hematologic malignancies and solid tumors; and GBR 1372, an EGFRxCD3 bsAb targeting EGFR positive tumors including those resistant to standard of care.

BEAT (Bispecific Engagement by Antibodies based on the T cell receptor) is Glenmark's proprietary technology for the production of bsAbs. With BEAT technology, Glenmark's scientists have been able to overcome past production obstacles encountered with bsAbs, and can efficiently manufacture these molecules at clinical and commercial scale. Preclinically, BEAT bsAbs demonstrate the potential for more potent activity compared to existing therapeutic antibodies. Additionally, structural similarity to naturally-occurring antibodies may result in a normalized IgG half-life and less immunogenicity. GBR 1302, GBR 1342 and GBR 1372 are based on BEAT technology.

About Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GPL) is a global innovative pharmaceutical company with operations in more than 50 countries. Glenmark has a diverse pipeline with several compounds in various stages of clinical development, primarily focused in the areas of oncology, respiratory disease and dermatology. Glenmark has improved the lives of millions of patients by offering safe, affordable medications for nearly 40 years. For more information, visit glenmarkpharma-us.com.

Media Contact :

Ramkumar Uppara

[email protected]

+91-9820177907

Sr Manager - Corporate Communication

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals



SOURCE Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd
NEW DELHI, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

- Decongesting Traffic in Delhi

The rising pollution levels in Delhi NCR region is a matter of big concern, not only for the residents but also for The Supreme Court of India, Environment Pollution (prevention and control) Authority for NCR, and another ministries. One of the major causes of the pollution in Delhi is the heavy traffic. Hon'ble Supreme Court on March 8, 2004, directed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to construct bypasses and expressways around Delhi. Therefore, The Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Greater Noida, Baghpat and Sonipat was proposed. EPE was inaugurated by honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on May 27, 2018. Strata Geosystems are extremely proud to be associated with and be a contributor to the timely and environment-friendly completion of this project.

The project is being directly monitored by India's Supreme Court and the prime minister's office. The 135 km Eastern Peripheral Expressway connecting Palwal with Sonepat via Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh was completed in a record time of approximately 500 days against a target of 910 days . Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highway said that this could become a record breaker for one of the fastest projects to be built.

The government has drawn up a target to lay 18,637 kilometers' network of new expressways by 2022. The dire need for innovative technologies, superior construction quality, time-sensitive project life-cycles, and a reliable partner has made Strata Geosystems the go-to leader in the soil re-engineering and reinforced soil wall space in India.

Strata has recently completed the construction of the reinforced soil walls across the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. This project involved StrataBlock and StrataGrid. StrataBlock is a composite system consisting of concrete block units in combination with a mass of soil which is reinforced and stabilized by StrataGrid. StrataGrid is a high tenacity polyester yarn knitted into a dimensionally stable network of apertures, providing tensile capacity. It has been proven as a technically superior, economical, and environmentally friendly solution for soil reinforcement.

Strata has built reinforced soil walls for half of the stretch, close to 1,00,000 sq. meters, involving over 27 structures in this project (from Greater Noida to Palwal). Out of the six awarded companies, Strata has worked with three companies- Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited, Ashoka Buildcon Limited and Gayatri Projects Limited. It involves high-height structures up to 15 meters. The speedy construction was possible due to Strata's involvement as a turnkey project provider by manufacturing the products, designing the walls, and finally completing the construction. This is a very prestigious project as this will decongest the heavy traffic for the national capital (Delhi) and help reduce the pollution.

For more information, please visit- http://www.strataindia.com or email at [email protected].

About Strata Geosystems:

Strata Geosystems is a global leader in geotechnical product and engineering solutions. With fully integrated design, supply and construction capabilities, Strata provides solutions to complex soil reinforcement and stabilization challenges. Strata's line of geosynthetic products are matched by world-class engineering support and geotechnical expertise.

Strata's products, including the industry-leading StrataGrid (geogrid) and StrataWeb (geocell) lines, are ISO certified, hold CE markings, and are tested in GAI-LAP accredited labs across the US, UK, and India. As a member of the International Geotechnical Society (IGS), Strata proudly promotes the advancement of geosynthetics.

Follow us on social media -LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

Media Contact:

Richika Bhawnani,

[email protected],

+91-7506941667,

Manager - International Business,

Strata Geosystems



SOURCE Strata Geosystems India Pvt Ltd
MUMBAI, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

On the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day, The Himalaya Drug Company along with Rotary Club of Bombay has initiated a campaign, Jagriti, to install sanitary pad dispensers across schools and colleges. The main aim of this campaign is to make sanitary pads accessible to girls at an affordable price of Rs. 2. Menstrual hygiene is an integral part of personal sanitation and health. With this initiative, Himalaya aims at promoting menstrual hygiene among girls.

"A lot of young girls drop out of school due to a lack of affordable menstrual products. If we were to go by the statistics, 88% of women still don't use menstrual products, and about 4 million women face barriers to comfortable and accessible menstrual hygiene. The need of the hour is to create an environment where these products are easily available at an affordable price. To provide young girls a comfortable and dignified experience, Himalaya is happy to partner with Rotary Club and various institutions for this initiative," says Anil Jiandani, Business Director, Pharmaceuticals Division, The Himalaya Drug Company.

As a part of this initiative, two sanitary pad dispensers were inaugurated at the M.K Sanghvi College of Commerce in April. Ms. Krushna Gandhi, the Principal, volunteers from Rotary Club, team Himalaya, and the faculty and students from the college were present at the event.

Speaking about the initiative, Ms. Krushna Gandhi, Principal, M.K Sanghvi College of Commerce, said, "It is important to create awareness about menstrual hygiene. This initiative is a big boost for the students to improve personal hygiene. We truly appreciate Himalaya's noble initiative in sharing our responsibility to help young girls maintain proper personal hygiene and health. This initiative will ensure an increase in the attendance of female students."

The Himalaya Drug Company and Rotary Club together have planned to install sanitary pad dispensers in close to 100 higher primary schools and colleges across Mumbai. Himalaya has plans of spreading this initiative to more Indian cities in the near future.

About The Himalaya Drug Company:

In 1930, a young visionary by the name of Mr M. Manal foresaw the benefits of herbal remedies while riding through the forests of Burma. After diligently researching the science of the traditional field of Ayurveda, he decided to dedicate his life to creating products that would improve millions of lives across the world. Today, with a history spanning more than eight decades in herbal research, Himalaya has positioned itself as a brand that cares about not only enriching people's lives but also the environment. With their 'head-to-heel' range of products, Himalaya aims at providing a holistic solution to everyday ailments that affect our bodies.

Seeped in a legacy of researching nature, Himalaya has successfully been able to harness the science of Ayurveda through cutting-edge research to become a brand that is safe, gentle, and trustworthy.

For more information, please visit: http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/

Media Contact:

Aishwarya Kar

[email protected]

+91-8884703567

Consulting Associate

Genesis Burson Marsteller Public Relations Pvt Ltd

SOURCE The Himalaya Drug Company
(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/695895/FT_IE_Corporate_Learning_Alliance_Logo.jpg )

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/695896/FT_IE_Corporate_Learning_Alliance.jpg )



The findings come from a survey of business leaders: Global Perspectives on Corporate Learning in the GCC, commissioned by Financial Times | IE Business School Corporate Learning Alliance (http://www.ftiecla.com). The report is supported by Dubai International Finance Centre (http://www.difc.ae).

The research is conducted annually and seeks the opinions of almost 1000 businesspeople in GCC, Western Europe, China and Japan on issues around leadership development and executive education.

The seriousness with which the impact of digital disruption is viewed in GCC countries is underlined by initiatives such as UAE Vision 2021, Saudi Vision 2030 and NEOM (Saudi Arabia's new economic zone), Smart Dubai and the creation of a Minister of State for AI in UAE.

"The digital revolution is transforming the Middle East," says Bassem Banna, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at FT | IE Corporate Learning Alliance. "The rise of big data is driving new market entrants, particularly in the financial, insurance and HR sectors in GCC countries. Tech is fast becoming the number one disrupter of established business practices in the region."

According to the Corporate Leaning Pulse report, while the top three business priorities for 2017 globally were growth, strategy and financial management, over a third of business executives surveyed in the GCC identified digitalisation as one of their top business challenges in the next two years, alongside business growth and financial management.

"With almost 100% smartphone penetration in the UAE- the highest percentage of any country in the world - and 70% social media adoption, digitalisation will inevitably become the number one concern for businesses," says Bassem Banna.

Global Perspectives on Corporate Learning in the GCC is available to download from http://bit.ly/2IEAWtG.

Notes to Editors

About Financial Times | IE Business School Corporate Learning Alliance

FT | IE Corporate Learning Alliance was formed in 2015 in response to growing calls for more flexible, practical, relevant and timely corporate learning. A joint venture of the Financial Times and IE Business School, it brings world-renowned business information and journalism, leading academic faculty and a global network of educators to co-create customised corporate learning and leadership development programmes in multiple languages, to almost any sector, anywhere in the world. Through expert learning frameworks, innovation and technology, it focuses on achieving measurable learning outcomes. http://www.ftiecla.com

SOURCE FT IE Corporate Learning Alliance
HONG KONG, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Itiviti and ULLINK, the recently merged market-leading global provider of multi-asset trading technology and financial infrastructure, today announced that Galaxy Derivatives Financial Services Co. Ltd. (GDFSC) has implemented Itiviti's trading solution for options market making on Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE) and Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE).

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/696419/Itiviti_Logo.jpg )



Since 2015, Galaxy Futures Co. Ltd. and Itiviti have co-operated to provide high-speed connectivity to Chinese Exchanges, facilitating trading for their mutual clients via Galaxy Futures' memberships. Acknowledging the scale Itiviti's solutions provide, Galaxy recently extended the use of Itiviti technology to GDFSC, its new market making division to support the growing business in China. GDFSC is market making white sugar options on ZCE and making markets for soybean meal options on DCE using Itiviti's trading platform.

"By leveraging Itiviti's technology and expertise, Galaxy Futures and now also GDFSC gain a competitive edge in the market," commented Aleck Wu, General Manager, Galaxy Derivatives Financial Services Co Ltd. "Having worked with Itiviti over the years, we have great confidence in their technology and expert team. Itiviti's solutions enhance the trading capabilities of our new unit as well as the strength of our agency based offering in terms of the connectivity and execution management tools we can offer our clients. Importantly, the system is also flexible enough to accommodate the ever-evolving trading and regulatory landscapes in China. We really look forward to continuing working with Itiviti to grow our business."

"Aleck and his team's vision has been the foundation of our relationship with Galaxy, for the expansion of their business and use of Itiviti's technology," said Dennis Chen, VP Sales APAC, Itiviti. "We are happy to learn that GDFSC is the leading market maker on ZCE and DCE, and sincerely wish the GDFSC team every success and look forward to continuing to provide technology that enables them to capitalize on market opportunities in China and abroad."

Itiviti's trading platform addresses the present and future challenges of market makers, including the need for low-latency quoting and to efficiently reach multiple markets using a single interface. It adds key features for sophisticated volatility and pricing management, including a rich volatility management interface and a Volatility Model API, which facilitates the development of proprietary volatility models.

About Galaxy Derivatives Financial Co. Ltd.

Galaxy Derivatives Financial Services Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the company") is a subsidiary of China Galaxy Financial Holdings Company Limited, and a professional financial business arm of Galaxy Futures Co. Ltd. The company is certified by China Futures Association (CFA), and registered in Shanghai Administration Bureau for Industry and Commerce in April 2014 with an initial registered capital of 500 million Chinese yuan.

The company has further expanded and established its Beijing branch in September 2014. With the approved license from CFA, the company is engaging in various business activities including basis trading, warehouse service, cooperation insurance, pricing services, market making, OTC options and other risk management related services. With the strong support from its investor, Galaxy Derivatives Financial Services Co. Ltd. strives to develop its international business. The company possess an elite services team, highly advanced technology platform and risk management tools to provide the most professional, detailed and personalized services. The company vision is to establish itself as a leading international financial investment service platform in China.

About Itiviti and ULLINK

Itiviti and ULLINK have formed a market-leading global provider of multi-asset trading technology and financial infrastructure solutions for buy-side and sell-side market participants, including NYFIX, one of the industry's largest FIX-based trading communities.

Serving more than 1,900 clients worldwide, we provide consistent, reliable access to the most up-to- date and innovative order routing, connectivity and trading solutions available. Top-tier trading firms, banks, brokers, exchanges and institutional investors rely on our technology, solutions and expertise to streamline their daily operations, connect to their desired markets, and trade when and where they want. All while being able to comply with global regulation.

With global offices in 18 locations covering all major financial centers, the merger of Itiviti and ULLINK in March 2018 creates a full service technology and infrastructure provider, covering all asset classes, geographies and regulatory landscapes.

For more information, please visit http://www.itiviti.com or http://www.ullink.com.

Itiviti and ULLINK are owned by Nordic Capital Fund VII.

For further information, please contact:

Aleck Wu, General Manager, Galaxy Derivatives Financial Services Co. Ltd, Tel: +86-21-8016-6919, Email: wujianhua@chinastock.com.cn

Ofir Gefen, President APAC, Itiviti/ULLINK, Tel: +852-2167-1950, Email: ofir.gefen@ullink.com

Dennis Chen, VP Sales APAC, Itiviti, Tel: +852-2167-1950, Email: dennis.chen@itiviti.com

Agnes Wong, Marketing Director APAC, Itiviti, Tel: +852-2167-1986, Email: agnes.wong@itiviti.com

SOURCE Itiviti Group AB
Mr. Nhlanhla Nene was elected as the Chairman of the BoG, and will serve in this position until the end of the next BoG Annual Meeting. It was also decided that the next Annual Meeting of the Bank's BoG will be held in South Africa in 2019.

During the Meeting, the BoG approved the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 and also approved the Condensed Unaudited Financial Statements for the NDB Project Preparation Fund for the year ended December 31, 2017.

During the 14th BoD Meeting, the Board discussed the Bank's work, including project pipelines in the member countries of the NDB.

The BoD approved six projects from all five member countries of the NDB with loans aggregating USD 1.6 billion. It was highlighted that in 2018 the Bank has significantly strengthened its project portfolio, and the total amount of approvals in 2018 has reached USD 1.7 billion.

With the six projects approved today, the total amount of the Bank's portfolio has reached over USD 5.1 billion.

Petrobras Environmental Protection Project ( Brazil )

The project is aimed at helping leading Brazilian oil and gas company, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A, or Petrobras, to improve the company's environmental footprint and to comply with new environmental regulatory requirements, through the upgrading of the infrastructure of two existing refineries with the objective of reducing harmful emissions and preventing water and soil contamination. The loan amount for the environmental protection project is USD 200 million .

The project is aimed at helping leading Brazilian oil and gas company, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A, or Petrobras, to improve the company's environmental footprint and to comply with new environmental regulatory requirements, through the upgrading of the infrastructure of two existing refineries with the objective of reducing harmful emissions and preventing water and soil contamination. The loan amount for the environmental protection project is . Development of Water Supply and Sanitation Systems Project ( Russia )

The project is aimed at helping Russia's mother river, the Volga, combat water pollution problems, through the modernization and construction of integrated water supply and sanitation systems with the objective of reducing ecological damage and increasing the health security of residents in the five participating cities. The loan amount for the Development of Water Supply and Sanitation Systems Project is USD 320 million .

The project is aimed at helping mother river, the Volga, combat water pollution problems, through the modernization and construction of integrated water supply and sanitation systems with the objective of reducing ecological damage and increasing the health security of residents in the five participating cities. The loan amount for the Development of Water Supply and Sanitation Systems Project is . Small Historic Cities Development Project ( Russia )

The main objective of the project is to support the sustainable socio-economic development of nine competitively selected historic cities of national significance, through tourism infrastructure development with a focus on the preservation of cultural heritage and development of urban infrastructure. The loan amount for the Small Historic Cities Development Project is USD 220 million .

The main objective of the project is to support the sustainable socio-economic development of nine competitively selected historic cities of national significance, through tourism infrastructure development with a focus on the preservation of cultural heritage and development of urban infrastructure. The loan amount for the Small Historic Cities Development Project is . Bihar Rural Roads Project ( India )

The project is aimed at enhancing local connectivity and improving the state's transportation infrastructure through the construction and upgrading of rural roads with a total length of 4,000 km, spread across 26 districts in the state, and benefiting approximately 3,400 places of habitation. The loan amount for the Bihar Rural Roads Project is USD 350 million .

The project is aimed at enhancing local connectivity and improving the state's transportation infrastructure through the construction and upgrading of rural roads with a total length of 4,000 km, spread across 26 districts in the state, and benefiting approximately 3,400 places of habitation. The loan amount for the Bihar Rural Roads Project is . Chongqing Small Cities Sustainable Development Project ( China )

Under the framework of the project, the NDB will support sustainable infrastructure development in seven small cities in Chongqing Municipality, through an integrated sustainable urban infrastructure development scheme, consisting of sub-projects for urban infrastructure and ecological restoration. The objective of the project is to improve the living conditions of local residents and support sustainable economic development. The loan amount for the Chongqing Small Cities Sustainable Development Project is USD 300 million .

Under the framework of the project, the NDB will support sustainable infrastructure development in seven small cities in Chongqing Municipality, through an integrated sustainable urban infrastructure development scheme, consisting of sub-projects for urban infrastructure and ecological restoration. The objective of the project is to improve the living conditions of local residents and support sustainable economic development. The loan amount for the Chongqing Small Cities Sustainable Development Project is . Durban Container Terminal Berth Reconstruction Project ( South Africa )

The project is aimed at helping the South African state-owned transportation company, Transnet, to enhance the capacity of its port in Durban , through the rehabilitating of its container terminal berths that are currently operating beyond their original design and the upgrading of port infrastructure to provide additional slots for larger vessels. The loan amount for the Durban Container Terminal Berth Reconstruction Project is USD 200 million .

The BoD also reviewed Independent Audited Financial Statements for the period ended March 31, 2018.

#####

Background Information

The New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in 2014. The Bank is mandated to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, complementing the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the official website of the NDB at http://www.ndb.int or contact media@ndb.int.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/697577/NDB_Group_Photo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.ndb.int



SOURCE New Development Bank
Hart Cunningham When we think about infrastructure, it must be a solution that solves multiple problems.

Its common knowledge across America that our roads, water systems, and other critical infrastructure are simply falling apart, as 2020 presidential candidate Hart Cunningham covered in a recent campaign video on water infrastructure. Just how bad is the situation?

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates a need for more than $300 billion to fund waterway and storm water systems upgrades over the next 20 years. This at a time when the nation is $21 trillion in debt.

For forward-thinking Americans, this clear predicament demands further inspection and action.

Family Farms in a Drought

Coupled with our water crisis is a spreading food production crisis. The total amount of farmland in America has remained roughly the same for the past century. As Cunningham explains in a campaign video on agriculture and nutrition, There is not a limitless amount of landmass or nutrition that can be served to the American or world people.

At the same time, the dynamics of family farming have changed, with the number of farms shrinking, and the average size growing. While there were roughly 6 million family farms throughout the USA in 1935, today there are only 2 million. Pressure from large corporations is forcing American family farms out in the form of lawsuits, such as Monsanto, the global leader in chemicals and biotech seeds, filing nearly 1,000 lawsuits against small farms.

Smart Infrastructure for a Prosperous America

Though the nations water infrastructure problems are grave, and its small farms are disappearing at an alarming rate, these arent the only problems occurring. From a lack of water and lack of food, to a lack of housing, America has multiple challenges to tackle ahead. Add to that the imminent climate change hazards before us, Cunningham cautions, and it is clear that when we think about infrastructure, it must be a solution that solves multiple problems.

Cunningham calls for very intelligent planning with a lot of thought and budgetary action. His top recommendations?

With a Cunningham administration, America would see greater priority given to vertical farming, safe water storage and infrastructure, and the ability to sustainably grow our infrastructure safely.

About Hart Cunningham - #Hart2020

Hart Cunningham is running for the presidency in 2020 in the hopes of helping the world overcome struggles due to capitalism, unsustainable economic and environmental practices, and a lack of equality. After being a successful businessman for many years, Cunningham turned his attention to humanitarian work and to bringing awareness to these issues. Originally from the south, hes made his roots in California and has a deep understanding of democratic and republican politics and ideals. True to his name, Hart Cunningham wants to bring the heart back into politics in America and believes that poverty and climate change must be solved for the greater good of our world. Volunteer or contribute to his campaign by visiting, http://hart2020.org.

Follow Hart Cunningham on Social Media

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HCfor2020

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HartCunningham2020
Jennifer Burns, Florida Personal Injury Attorney As new autonomous technologies continue to develop and are introduced into our society, legal issues emerge concerning responsibility and liability if an accident occurs.

Recent reports of a fatality involving a self-driving Uber car in Arizona raises many questions, including those concerning legal responsibility when an autonomous, or self-driving car, is involved in a car accident.

As new autonomous technologies continue to develop and are introduced into our society, legal issues emerge concerning responsibility and liability if an accident occurs, said Jennifer Burns, notable Florida personal injury attorney at Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A. in Clearwater. State laws governing autonomous vehicles vary significantly from state to state, raising important questions regarding who is legally responsible for injuries or damages when a self-driving vehicle is involved in a car accident.

In September 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) -- the federal agency with responsibility for motor vehicle safety -- together with the U.S. Department of Transportation, released new federal guidance for automated driving systems. The voluntary guidance encourages best practices and prioritizes safety, providing technical assistance to states and best practices for policymakers. In Florida, a bill concerning autonomous vehicles died in the Florida Senate in March of 2018.

Floridas personal injury laws provide relief for those who have been injured in a car accident due to anothers negligence, continued attorney Burns. And Floridas product liability laws protect those suffering injury or damages when a product is defective. If an accident with an autonomous vehicle results in injury or damages, one must explore several liability issues  including negligence and product malfunction  with regard to the safety driver, as well as the developers of the technology, and the automobile manufacturer.

To learn more about your rights if you have been involved in an automobile accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A. Located in Clearwater, Florida, the law office of Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A. has been serving the Tampa Bay area community for more than 46 years. Innovative strategies and proven litigation skills make the firm Tampa Bays premier legal team, with a proven track record of success and a reputation for excellence. For more information about Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A., visit the firm website at CarlsonMeissner.com or contact the office directly at 877-728-9653.
LtCol Michael B. Kessler USMC (Ret), National Executive Director Emeritus, Young Marines; MG William J. Walker, Commanding General, District of Columbia, National Guard and Vice Chairman of the Young We believe the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security is a perfect mission fit for the Young Marines. Harkening to Daniel Morgans mission to educate and prepare future leaders, we, too, aspire to educate and prepare the nations next generation of leaders.

The Young Marines National Foundation presented the inaugural National Security Leadership Award on behalf of the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security (DMGS) to Colette S. Prosser of the Richland County Young Marines in Mansfield, Ohio. Prosser is commander of the unit.

I could not be more grateful to be the first recipient of this inaugural award, she said. Accompanying the award, the Young Marines National Foundation presented my unit a $1,500 check.

The award was presented at the Young Marines annual Adult Leaders Conference on May 12, in San Antonio, Texas, at which Prosser was also awarded the title National Adult Volunteer of the Year.

We believe the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security is a perfect mission fit for the Young Marines, said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Kessler, USMC (Ret.), chairman of the Young Marines National Foundation. Harkening to Daniel Morgans mission to educate and prepare future leaders, we, too, aspire to educate and prepare the nations next generation of leaders.

Prosser is deeply devoted to making a positive impact on childrens lives by teaching the three core values of the Young Marines: teamwork, discipline and leadership. To that end, she personally volunteered a total of 2,538 hours during the past fiscal year; 2,227 of those hours were spent in the community service arena, and 311 hours on unit activities.

As the provider of graduate education and research aimed at addressing the nations security and intelligence challenges, Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security is fully committed to the values of integrity, commitment, service, innovation and professionalism in teaching and in student services.

In addition, DMGS is offering military families and others up to 40 full-time scholarships for its masters programs in three distinct fields: national security, intelligence, and managing disruption and violence.

The Richland County Young Marines has 34 members and ten registered adult volunteers. For more information about the unit, call Aaron Herring at 567-241-8431.

About the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security

The Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security (DMGS) offers a professional and executive education that is easily tailored to students who wish to pursue a career in national security or those who currently work in the national security community. DMGS curriculum offerings also provide needed skills that both intersect with and are applicable to other communities such as the commercial corporate world and law enforcement. DMGS supports the intellectual foundations of American security policy by ensuring our education prioritizes policies and outcomes rather than traditional academic structures. DMGS enables professionals to address the national security challenges of the new century by encouraging them to rethink tradition and assess new forms of policy analysis. For more information visit: https://dmgs.org.

About the Young Marines National Foundation

The mission of the Young Marines National Foundation is to financially support the mission, values, and programs of the Young Marines by the solicitation, preservation, and distribution of gifts, grants, and matching funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations committed to the development of boys and girls into responsible citizens who enjoy and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. For more information visit: https://youngmarinesfoundation.org.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to 270 units with 9,00 youth and 2,600 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Okinawa with affiliates in other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: https://www.YoungMarines.com.
Educators teach to the test. They have to. Tests are powerful tools that tell people what they believe is important. What happens when vast amounts of what schools test can be answered in seconds on students smartphones?

Rising numbers of college graduates are having difficulties finding jobs at the same time as employers complain they cannot find people with skills. In an exclusive new interview with C. M. Rubin, Founder of CMRubinWorld, OECD principal Andreas Schleicher reveals that its not uncommon to find a few academics and government officials who determine what millions of students will learn and these leaders will often defend the scope and integrity of their discipline. Schleicher is currently leading over 70 countries in their efforts to design and implement education policies and practices for a new world. The reason why it is so hard to move school systems is that there is a much larger invisible part under the waterline. This invisible part is about the interests, beliefs, motivations and fears of the people who are involved in education, parents and teachers included. He adds, It will be our imagination, our awareness and our sense of responsibility that will enable us to harness the opportunities of the 21st century to shape the world for the better.

Read the full article here

Andreas Schleicher is Director for Education and Skills and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. He is the author of the newly released book, World Class: How to Build a 21st Century School System.

Founded by C. M. Rubin, CMRubinWorld launched in 2010 to explore what kind of education would prepare students to succeed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Its award-winning series, The Global Search for Education, is a celebrated trailblazer in the renaissance of the 21st century, and occupies a special place in the pulse of key issues facing every nation and the collective future of all children. It connects todays top thought leaders with a diverse global audience of parents, students and educators. Its highly readable platform allows for discourse concerning our highest ideals and the sustainable solutions we must engineer to achieve them. C. M. Rubin has produced over 700 interviews and articles discussing an expansive array of topics under a singular vision: when it comes to the world of children, there is always more work to be done.

Follow @CMRubinWorld on Twitter

For more information on CMRubinWorld

David Wine

CMRubinWorld

david(at)cmrubinworld(dot)com
Shred Bin Shredding Service When developing our chain of custody, our foremost concern is providing accountability for our client's document security.

Data breaches are real incidents and in America they happen every single day. As a business owner, it is tempting to maintain a mindset of "data breaches wouldn't happen to MY business, that only happens to large corporations with billions of dollars," or "well, those hackers only target hospitals and law offices so they can steal identities." Those viewpoints are far from true. In fact, data breaches occur across ALL industry types, which include Education, Insurance and Financial, Healthcare, Information, Manufacturing, Public Administration, Government, and Retail. Also, data breaches aren't solely confined to large companies. In fact, 61% of data breaches in 2017 were businesses with under 1,000 employees.

In order to maintain security, it is important to secure any sensitive and confidential documents. Any business which produces documents with their clients private personal information can attest to this fact. While the documents are in the business' possession many security precautions are utilized. These include the containment of those documents to specific storage spaces, obviously having an 'eyes only' policy, and use of a locked bin or 'shred bin' to store documents which are headed to destruction. However, what happens when those confidential documents leave your business' possession to be destroyed? Maintaining a relationship with a secure second party business who then destroys those documents correctly is the best choice, but it is also at that point which a secure chain of custody must be established to monitor and account for those documents.

Protecting your business until the moment of document destruction is an effective method to minimize these types of risks. By definition, chain of custody is the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence. To provide their customers this peace of mind, Shred Bin has engineered a high tech solution for their chain of custody process: Each bag of confidential material which is collected by Shred Bin is affixed with a barcode. Each one of those barcodes is then scanned at specific checkpoints throughout transit to destruction. Shred Bin's patented Alice AI software system is able to provide documentation numbers, timestamps, and use real time location information to identify the confidential material's exact location until destruction. Afterwards a Certificate of Destruction is issued electronically, upholding all best practices, regulations, and compliance standards.

This technological fortification of their client's documentation defenses was developed solely with their customers in mind. Joshua Repensek, CEO of Shred Bin states, "When developing our chain of custody, our foremost concern is providing accountability for our client's document security." This accountability is one key factor in ensuring your business security from potential data breaches.

Beyond this benefit to your business, Shred Bin's courteous and professional Information Protection Officers are also prepared to help organize and secure your business through multiple avenues. To learn more about how Shred Bin can help YOUR BUSINESS, please call 1-800-633  3650 or visit http://www.shredbin.com for more information!
Experience Skyrim on the Infinadeck With the TPCAST Business Edition, we are able to provide a true immersive experience, which is unique in the market and have the ability to operate multiple users in the same environment.

Infinadeck and TPCAST take the VR experience to the next level by integrating the TPCAST Business Edition (BE) with the Infinadeck platform and allowing multiple users to be in Virtual Reality simultaneously, at the same physical location. The companies announce that they will demo their combined solution including the BE Wireless Adapter for HTC Vive at the Augmented World Expo. Recently, Infinadeck, the creator of the first true commercial omnidirectional treadmill, and TPCAST, the leader in Wireless VR technology for PC-based Virtual Reality head-mounted displays, announced their partnership.

The TPCAST Wireless Adapter is the only PC VR Wireless Solution available in the market today and the TPCAST Consumer Edition Wireless Adapter has been shipping in North America since November 2017. The TPCAST Business Edition Wireless Adapter was released in April 2018. The BE adapter supports two or four users operating in the same physical space and enables various industry applications such as arcades, experience centers, theme parks, education, healthcare, training, real estate, travel, interior design, retail, and automotive to benefit from Wireless VR.

We have been working with TPCAST for the past 2 months and their solution enhances the VR experience dramatically. With the TPCAST Business Edition, we are able to provide a true immersive experience, which is unique in the market and have the ability to operate multiple users in the same environment," stated Ben Freeman, Infinadecks CEO. We are looking forward to continue the cooperation and demonstrate the systems at the upcoming AWE conference with our content partners.

The combined solution of the Infinadeck omnidirectional treadmill, and a VR headset with the TPCAST Adapter for HTC Vive, provides users a completely immersive experience, free from cables, where users can walk around in any direction, and easily forget about the physical presence of the treadmill. This combined solution will be demonstrated at the Infinadeck booth at AWE on May 31st  June 1st at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Tradeshow visitors will engage in the unique experience of walking on the omnidirectional treadmill, in true VR immersion, as they explore Skyrim on the Infinadeck, wirelessly.

TPCAST is excited to partner with Infinadeck and to showcase its Multi-User Wireless VR capabilities through an incredible experience on the Infinadeck treadmill. With the TPCAST Business Edition Wireless Adapter, users can feel as if theyre truly in the virtual world and walk in any direction they choose as they explore VR, said Tal Arad, TPCASTs North America Marketing Manager. The Infinadeck omnidirectional treadmill provides infinite moving capabilities with a simple solution, and significantly enhances the VR experience. We look forward to sharing true immersion with AWE trade show visitors.

Availability:

The TPCAST Business Edition Wireless Adapter is in stock and available. Please contact TPCAST sales for more information about the AWE special promotion. For the Infinadeck treadmill availability, contact info(at)infinadeck.com. The combined TPCAST and Infinadeck solution will be demonstrated at the AWE Conference in Santa Clara, CA on May 31st  June 1st at Booth 24.

About Infinadeck:

Infinadeck is a pioneering technology company in the virtual reality hardware market. The companys vision is to create a virtual reality omnidirectional treadmill that will feel so natural that users will forget they are on it. Our technology will pave the way to true VR immersion. Our fully functional prototype of the Infinadeck was originally demonstrated to VR enthusiasts at the first SVVR conference in 2014 and premiered to the rest of the world in 2016 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

About TPCAST:

Creator of the first commercial wireless virtual reality solution, TPCASTs vision is to unleash the VR world by making the VR/AR/MR HMDs wireless. The companys patent-pending technologies enable highly efficient bi-directional communications between the PC and the VR HMD with near zero latency. TPCAST's mission is to work with the VR industry ECO partners including HMD manufacturers, game developers, content providers, GPU makers, and key VR technology providers to deliver the best wireless VR experience to consumers and enterprise users. http://www.tpcastvr.com
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
The report means that over 7 million Ghanaians have no mobile money account or bank account for electronic transactions.

The unbanked population risks the benefit of financial inclusion such as receiving and transferring money easily, getting an insurance, starting and expanding businesses, investing in education or health, managing risk, and weather financial shocks.

The report highlighted the developmental potential of financial inclusion especially from the use of digital financial services, including mobile money services, payment cards, and other financial technology applications.

Overall, the research showed that 1.7 billion people across the world did not have financial account.

Excerpt from the World Bank report

Financial inclusion has emerged as a critical development challenge and is a hot topic among policymakers, development practitioners and the private sector. In fact, the foundation of financial inclusion is woven into seven of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2011 the World Bank Group launched Global Findex, a database which tracks financial inclusion efforts around the world. Its third edition was just released in April 2018.

The 2011 Findex data showed that 2.5 billion adults were unbanked and the 2011 IFC MSME Finance Gap database showed that over 200 million micro to medium enterprises in developing economies lacked access to affordable financial services and credit.

READ ALSO: Young Ghanaians are using these five ways to become millionaires in half a decade

A lot of progress has been made over the past few years toward extending financial access and the number of unbanked adults has fallen to 1.7 billion, according to the latest Findex data.

The gender gap in account ownership is not significantly narrowing: In 2011, 47 percent of women and 54 per cent of men had an account; in 2014, 58 percent of women had an account, compared to 65 per cent of men.
His message came at the opening ceremony of the 53 annual meeting of the African Development Bank.

Africa is no longer the sleeping lion. Korea is happy to share its industrial experience with the continent. The theme of the Annual Meetings is appropriate for the industrial transformation of the continent, and in facilitating the sharing of experiences with Korea and other partners. Said President Moon Jae-in.African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina thanked the Government of Korea for hosting the Banks Annual Meetings. He recalled Koreas transformation from a poor nation 60 years ago to the 11th largest economy in the world, noting the contribution of industrialization to its transformation.

Today, Samsung and LG television and phones dominate globally, while Korean cars are everywhere. Korea was deliberate and consistent in its industrial drive like China and Japan. Africa must learn from Koreas industrialization and the equally remarkable experiences of China, Japan, and other parts of the world.Africa must fast-track industrialization. That is why the African Development Bank plans to invest US $35 billion over the next 10 years in its focus on industrialization. The Banks industrialization strategy hopes to help Africa raise its industrial GDP from a little over US $700 billion today to over US $1.72 trillion by 2030. This will allow Africas GDP to rise to over US $5.6 trillion, while moving GDP per capita to over US $3,350.The formula for the wealth of nations is clear: rich nations add value to all they produce; poor nations simply export raw materials. Africa needs to industrialize and add value to everything that it produces  from agriculture, to minerals, to oil, gas and metals. Africa needs to move from the bottom to the top of the global value chains.

Young Africans can transform the continent given the chance. He described the experience of Clarisse Iribagiza, a young Rwandan woman who earned a masters in Information and Communications Technology from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, a program supported by the Bank.

With a modest contribution from the Government of Rwanda, Clarisse launched an ICT business that she recently sold for US $10 million. She is now a member of the Banks Presidential Youth Advisory Council.

To unlock Africas potential through investment, the Bank has created the Africa Investment Forum, a transactional platform created by the African Development Bank with its partners to leverage global pension funds and sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors to significantly invest in Africa.

This new investment marketplace will set sail from November 7-9, 2018 from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dong Yeon Kim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance of the Republic of Korea, said a new approach was urgently needed. He referred to Uncle Toms Cabin, a 19th-century American novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that envisioned a promising future for Africa. Harriet Stowe was right. Very surprisingly, we now witness strong evidence of Africa flourishing, just as she predicted. Growth in the region over the past 20 years was 3% higher than the previous period, and the absolute poverty ratio decreased to two thirds of what it was two decades ago. Said Kim.

Kim stressed the need for innovative industrialization to translate Africas potential into economic prosperity.Industrialization policy should take into account the unique conditions of each country. New technologies can provide leapfrogging opportunities by speeding up the industrialization process and creating new value. Smart infrastructure, he said, presents a promising area for Koreas contribution.Smart infrastructure can provide a new solution to Africas shortage in roads, airports and harbours. It allows optimal use of resources and can even replace traditional infrastructure. Africa is already producing substantial outcomes in this area. Going forward, Korea is strongly committed to share its rich expertise and experience as Africas close partner.
Eric Osei Tuffuor, the Chairman of the Ghana National Tomatoes Traders and Transporters Association states that the West african country Ghana consumes 90 per cent of fresh tomatoes produced in Burkina Faso which cost the country 56 billion CFA annually in importation.

READ ALSO: Sachet water companies in Ghana with dangerous substances

Mr. Tuffuor made the statement at a meeting with tomato farmers, traders, some executive members of the Association and Mr George Oduro, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Ghana has seen a reallocation of economic activity from agriculture into the services sector over the last ten years.

Resource allocation, particularly labour, has shifted from agriculture and value-add agriculture and directly into services.

The tomato farmers group has also raised concerns for government to support them to get stable and fair prices as well ready market for the product. They appealed for government's assistance to make the farming industry to thrive.

Mr Tuffour hoped if the country did the right thing, it could produce enough with the guaranteed quality to avoid importation.
The firms Kylla Europe Netherland and Danywise Estate and Construction are committed to building five thousand units throughout the country.

READ ALSO: Here are the 10 African countries with the largest military forces

The Kylla Europe team is prepared to listen to investment opportunities from Ghana government and other cooperate representatives, Managing Director of Kylla, Dick Van Druten said.

Frank Aboagye Danyansah,Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Danywise Estate also says the company has observed the challenge of hostel accommodation for tertiary educational institutions in the country hence the need to address them.

Many are denied admission because of limited accommodation to house them. UCOMS Accra campus and Kumasi Campus are facing a big challenge and we must take steps to address it, the CEO of Danyanwise Estate and Construction observed

Hitting on employment opportunities likely to be derived from the estate housing project, Frank Aboagye Danyansah that, over three thousand people will be employed as skilled and unskilled personnel to help curb unemployed in the country.

READ ALSO: Ghana to make Chinese textile producers invests in the country to address deficit

Since the early 2000s, stakeholders in the housing sector have accepted without much question the notion that the nation faces a housing deficit of about 1.7 million housing units. This has been quoted so often both in the media and academic publications that it appears to have been cast in stone and become an incontrovertible truth.
Yvonne Mason read the letter written to her by the White House in response to an earlier one she had written to the US presidency regarding the Feb. 14 school shooting in Florida.

As if she was marking examination questions answered by students, the former Mauldin High School teacher took the trouble to scrutinise the letter apparently to make it clear that living in the US and holding the highest office in United states of America does not make one a repository of knowledge.

Yvonne Mason is quoted as having said: I have never, ever, received a letter with this many silly mistakes.

It is public knowledge that the said letter would not have been written by Donald Trump himself though it bears his signature, but the woman said: When you get letters from the highest level of government, you expect them to be at least mechanically correct.

Some of the errors Yvonne Mason placed premium on have to do with capitalising nouns like nation, federal, president and state, which makes the proper nouns instead of common nouns.

She explained: Federal is capitalized only when used as part of a proper noun, e.g. the name of an agency.
He was speaking at a meeting with industry players who have been protesting against the influx of fake textiles onto the Ghanaian market.

He said that the decision is part of measures put in place by the government to prevent the ailing textile industry in Ghana from dying.

We believe that government will do what it has promised to dointroduce this policy.

By then we want it to be backed by legislative instrument. So well ensure that we bring out the necessary legislative instrument, he added.

In some time past the textile industry used to employ about 27.000.

This number has reduced to less than 3,000 employees as a result of the collapse of textile firms.

As a way of dealing with this issue, the Ministry of Trade and Industry inaugurated a 12-member vetting committee to facilitate the work of the anti-textile piracy taskforce it constituted earlier this year.
Dr Tweneboah was charged with sim box fraud and was sentenced to two years in prison in June 2016.

He was asked to pay a penalty of GH24,000 following the passage of his sentence.

READ MORE: Former GREDA boss sentenced to 2 years in prison

At the Fast Track High Court in Accra, where he was sentenced, the presiding judge Justice Efua Serwa Botwe said no one was above the law before jailing him with hard Labour for sim box fraud.

She said the jail term was a lenient one because Dr Tweneboah had operated the SIM box fraud for less than six months.

Background

Dr Tweneboah was arrested at his residence at Baatsona, on January 2015, where several items, including one SIM box with 64-slot SIM server, 4G Internet Modem, a laptop computer and a mini antenna were retrieved.

He, and nine others were arrested by an Anti-Telecommunication Fraud taskforce in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service with support from SUBAH Info Solutions.
Registration for Ghana Card begins today

We would have our technicians and registration officials at the Flagstaff House or Jubilee House. They will be at Parliament House, they will be at the judicial house premises, and they will also be at the security sector institutions registering them and issuing cards to them.

READ ALSO: Armed Forces sack 17 recruits for failing fitness test

The strategy is to be in the Greater Accra Region for about two to three months registering every Ghanaian and then we go onto the Volta Region, Northern Region, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Western Region, Ashanti Region, Eastern Region and then we end with the Central Region, he told Accra-based Citi FM.

To do this job smoothly, the NIA has recruited and trained 2,700 commissioners of oath to work together with their staff during the registration for the Ghana Card.

The exercise is expected to cost $1.2 billion over 15 years.

The government is contributing $531 million of the cost, while Identity Management System (IMS), which is partnering the NIA under a public/private partnership (PPP) agreement, will provide $678 million for the exercise.

The issuance of the Ghana Card had been postponed a few times due to the lack of logistics and other reasons.

However, in March 2018, the government provided a fleet of cars and other necessary logistics to the Authority to facilitate the public issuance of a national ID card.

The project is among initiatives being undertaken by the government to formalise the economy.

The National Identification Amendment Law 2017 (Act 950) indicates that documents such as driving licences, National Health Insurance cards, baptismal certificates and voters identity cards will not be accepted as sources of identification for the Ghana Card.
If there is a group of Christians who hold on to this verse in the Bible, it is members of the International Gods Way Church where Bishop Daniel Obinim is the head pastor.

A few weeks ago, Bishop Daniel Obinim asked a member of his church to carry a bag of cement as punishment for disobeying him when he attended to aid her as a different person.

The video of the woman carrying the bag of cement went viral on social media, generating conversations with most people criticizing the leader of the International Gods Way Church.

READ MORE: Rapper Medikal hints going back to school for a Degree

In another video, the 28-year-old has lashed out at people criticizing Obinim for making her carry the bag of cement as punishment.

Dont you criticize your children? the lady asked in her video.

If you dont criticize your children, they have no guardian.

My father criticized me after I made a mistake. What is your problem?

Dont you have anything better doing? I made a mistake and my father criticized me making me carry a bag of cement. Be in your lane.

Stop making the noise.

She also targeted some specific people in her video asking them to mind their business. Rants in the video also claim the act was not staged as some people believe.
According to the businessman cum politician, we should be careful about the way Anas goes about his operations.

"Do you think Anas has the right to do what he is doing? Do you think so? We should be careful the way things are going. We kept quiet over the judges' issue. Now he is at GFA. Tomorrow it could be you or me. He could be in your bedroom whilst you are asleep with your wife," he said on Net 2 TV.

The outspoken MPs comments come following Anas latest expose which has led to the interrogation of Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi.

The GFA boss is currently being investigated after President Akufo-Addo reported him to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on allegations of defrauding by false pretenses.

Nyantakyi is reported to have been captured in the expose using the names of the President and other government officials to negotiate deals with foreign investors.

Mr. Agyapong says hes not a big fan of Anas approach to uncovering corruption and wants the investigative journalist stopped before its too late.

According to him, Anas should be stopped from premiering his latest expose, even if it means dragging him and the Tiger Eye PI to court.

He explained that if nothing is done about Anas methods, he will soon take his investigations into the bedrooms of people.

"I totally disagree with his approach. Somebody should take him to court right now to stop him from what he is doing, the Assin Central MP fired.

"You want to premier this? We have to stop him or else, he will end up one-day recording you whilst you are asleep with your wife and premiere it in public."

Mr. Agyapong, however, blasted the actions of Nyantakyi for involving President Akufo-Addos name in his dealings.

According to him, the GFA boss talks to much and could have saved himself from his current predicaments in the first place.
The meeting between by the Member of Parliament for Lawra and the CID is in relation to the yet-to-be-aired investigative documentary by ace journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Late last week, the CID denied reports that they have have invited the law maker for questioning. However, his visit this morning remains unclear on what he said in the expose.

The FA boss is alleged to have demanded whopping sums of money from the potential investors to facilitate their meeting with the president, the vice and other senior government officials. The video will be released on June 6, 2018.
It will be interesting if Kwesi Botchwey contests for the NDC flag bearershipif he (Kwesi Botchwey) gets support from the Mills and Rawlings camp, he will be a strong contender for John Mahama", Ephson said.

Information gathered by Pulse Ghana indicates that the former NDC Secretary is expected to make a strong case for the 2020 presidential slot of the opposition party.

It is believed that Senior NDC cadres, who support his bid, and are putting pressure on him to step forward, include some party Regional Chairmen and former MPs.
The comments drew a wide condemnation from a cross section of Ghanaians who said the words used by the former leader was unnecessary and vile.

Rawlings had said: I know with my integrity when I die, I will go to heaven but when I see these corrupt leaders, I will ask permission from God and flog them.

If they dont leave heaven for me, I will go and leave the heavens and join Satan in hell because I cannot stay in the same place with them".

But in a release copied to the press, Jerry Rawlings said he has regretted his comments and therefore he is withdrawing them.
In a remarkably compact span of time, the country has gone from being a bastion of social conservatism in the West to a place that wholeheartedly embraces positions that would have been unthinkable just a generation ago.

The culture of silence and deference to religious authority that long dominated Ireland is gone. The country that has emerged is an unlikely leader of liberal values.

Ireland has changed 180 degrees on everything, said Adam Tyrrell, 24, struggling to take it all in as he smoked a cigarette outside a pub and watched the street fill up with crowds of cheering yes supporters after the results were announced.

The nation of 4.8 million people has experienced some of the fastest social and economic change in the world. In a matter of 30 years, Ireland has gone from being a poor and deeply Roman Catholic country to one that is seeing high growth rates and has installed a gay man as prime minister.

Long associated with exporting cheap labor, it has accepted a sizable number of immigrants and is home to foreign tech companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook.

In 2015, in another popular vote, Ireland approved same-sex marriage by a landslide.

Ireland has gone from criminalizing gays, having just one television channel and priests running the show, to now a liberal, European society, said Mark Neiland, a business owner in his 60s.

When he was growing up, Neiland recalled, Irish families had to decide between cooking dinner on the stove or watching television because electricity was scarce. Ireland was a really poor country, he said.

When Neiland graduated from high school, he said, every classmate, including him, left for the United States, Canada or Australia.

I would never think of leaving this place for America now, he said.

While the landslide result of the abortion referendum may have surprised much of the world, many Irish were less shocked. They have seen the changes in the country building over time.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is half Indian, spoke of a quiet revolution that has been taking place in Ireland over the last couple of decades.

Irelands impoverished past, as well as the outsize role of the Catholic Church, had set it apart from much of the rest of Europe. Many saw the referendum as the final step in aligning the country with the rest of the continent.

The vote, Tyrrell said, cements us as a progressive nation.

Its going to change the optics of how people view us after these two landslide victories, he said. Im so proud of Ireland.

Alan Barrett, director of the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin, said the results of the abortion referendum indicated a convergence with European norms.

If you take the standard mainstream views in continental Europe, Ireland was the outlier, and it was always economically behind Europe, he said. With the Catholic Church being moved aside, youve got the Irish accumulating their values and views the same way that the French, the Germans or the British get theirs.

There are many factors behind Irelands dramatic makeover. The most dominant reason is the collapse of the Catholic Churchs influence in most spheres of Irish life. Its very important to know that Ireland has been secularizing for a long time, said Diane Negra, a professor of cultural studies at University College Dublin.

The credibility of the church has been battered by a string of scandals, some involving pedophile priests and the cover-up of their crimes.

Irelands practice of placing thousands of unwed mothers into servitude in so-called Magdalene laundries, designed to rehabilitate what the church considered fallen women, did not end until the mid-1990s. And in a case that traumatized the nation, the remains of nearly 800 children born out of wedlock were found in 2014 in a Catholic-run home for mothers and their children in Tuam.

Another major factor driving the change: an economic transformation.

As recently as the 1980s, Ireland was a very different place.

With a weak economy in that decade, many young Irish left the country to look for jobs abroad, leaving behind an older, more conservative population that was loyal to the church. It was during this period that Ireland voted for restrictive rules on abortion and marriage.

In 1983, Ireland voted in favor of the Eighth Amendment in the Irish Constitution, which effectively banned abortion  the amendment that the Irish voted to repeal Friday. Three years later, the Irish rejected a proposed amendment to remove a ban on divorce.

Attitudes shifted notably in the 1990s with the first revelations of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, and the beginning of an economic boom.

From the early 1990s and the early 2000s, Ireland was dubbed the Celtic Tiger. The decade of prosperity attracted multinationals, increased living standards and brought back Irish expatriates who carried with them new ideas and values.

The economy soured for a few years, but then recovered. Last year, Ireland posted a 7.8 percent growth rate, the highest in the European Union  though many Irish say that inequality has also risen.

Irelands decision to make secondary schools free improved education, and the introduction of contraception significantly reduced the number of children per family. That helped more women enter the paid workforce.

Anthony Fannin, 70, a retired engineer, said the economic boom gave self-confidence to the Irish that they had lacked.

They felt equal to the rest of the world, that they could get a share of the luxuries of life, he said.

Pointing to the church sex abuse scandals, he said, Irelands changing fortunes also meant that instead of people bowing their heads whenever a priest passed by, they could actually stand up and say, Hang on, Father, what happened back then?'

Luke Hussey, 25, who comes from a working-class family, said his family had jumped into the middle class almost overnight during the boom, buying a car and going on vacations to Spain.

It was weird, almost perverse that we were now a middle-class family, he said.

It was during the boom years, in 1993, that Ireland decriminalized homosexuality. Two years later, the country finally voted to allow divorce.

The referendum on abortion, many Irish said, was the final crack in the foundation of the old Ireland.

The debate in the days and months before the referendum released, for some, decades of pent-up emotions and anger against the church. Barrett described it as national therapy. The referendum also forced a national debate on subjects that were long taboo, especially around sex.

Ireland had a culture of silence and thats broken now, Tyrrell said.

To be Irish now means to be open, he said. Were sick of being quiet.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Nigerian artiste, 2Face Idibia, former minister of education, Oby Ezekwesili and human rights lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu joined other Nigerians to march against violent killings across the country.

The peaceful walk was organised by Civil Society Joint Nigeria Crisis Action Committee (JN-CAC) to honour and mourn those who have been killed in recent times in the country.

The organiser had earlier urged Nigerians to dedicate today, Monday, May 28, 2018, as a national day for mourning all those who lost their lives due to violent killings.

Innocent Idibia aka 2Face, while speaking at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, on Monday, encouraged everyone not to keep quiet on the issue of violent killings in the country.

He said: We must talk about the issue, we must address this issue. We must try to be on the right side of consciousness.

Anyhow e be we no go keep quiet, we must talk about it and hold our leaders accountable cos na emergency situation we Dey, 2Face said.

Prof Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said the government has neglected the dead.

He said, henceforth, every May 28 would witness a set of activities for remembrance, solidarity and awakening to the challenges confronting the nation.

Last week, Catholics in Nigeria embarked on nationwide protest calling for an end to a spiral of violence attack after two priests and 17 worshippers were buried nearly a month after an attack on their church.

The protest was in response to the directive by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria that all Catholic faithful across the country should embark on a peaceful and prayerful protest, tagged, March for Life.

According to Amnesty International, 549 deaths were recorded across 14 states, while thousands were displaced in Nigeria in 2017 while Vanguard put the record of deaths at 1,351 as of March 2018 excluding those who died from illness, childbirth, lassa fever, etc.
A former female justice in Ghana, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood has joined Nigerias Professor Attahiru Jega as a fellow of the Africa Initiative for Governance.

Mrs. Wood was announced as the second fellow of the initiative after she delivered a public lecture at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Jega, former Executive Chairman of Nigerias Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was announced as the inaugural AIG Fellow in 2017.

A spokesperson for the Africa Initiative for Governance, Chinasa Ken-Ugwu, pointed out that Woods lecture at the University of Oxford was an integral part of her AIG Fellowship stay at the Blavatnik School of Government.

Speaking at the lecture titled "Rule of Law, the Promotion of Sustainable Development and Ghana's Experience: A View From the Bench, Woods said her experience as Chief Justice of Ghana revealed that the imperatives of promoting a Rule of Law based governance system, anchored on a free, fair and impartial administration of justice cannot be overemphasised.

One key lesson I have learned is that the imperatives of promoting a Rule of Law based governance system, anchored on a free, fair and impartial administration of justice cannot be overemphasized.

ALSO READ: Attahiru Jega heads Maitama Sule Centre for politics, governance

The moderating influence of the Judiciary on the more political branches is the basis of constitutional stability and balance, providing the needed conducive environment for sound economic growth and a better life for all. The Judiciary must be accorded the same respect and resources and strengthened to enable it to perform its functions, Woods said.

Founded by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) is a not-for-profit founded to inspire the transformation of Africas public sector. In 2016, the AIG Fellowship entered into a five-year partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
Howarth who is also the Director-General of Global Education Study Centre, said this while expressing the fallen standard of education in Nigeria.

The educationist who spoke with journalists at his Lagos office as part of the preparation for the 12th anniversary of his Centre said, his study centre is a British Council approved education recruitment agency adding that the centre represents universities in Europe, North America, Asia and the Caribbean.

ALSO READ:NUC shuts down 58 illegal universities in Nigeria

Howards, however, praises Nigerian Universities for producing students who perform excellently abroad, despite the difficult environment in which they are operating.

He said: I am not happy that Nigerian students are leaving the country to study abroad. You know most parents obviously want their children to have a good education.

Generally, education is given most priority abroad and I know how difficult it is here to get a good quality education. Some of the universities I worked with here have capable staff even sometimes without pay, lack of equipment to study particularly in technology subjects, etc. I think the system is not broken; it has some difficulties and those who can afford it send their wards abroad or to private universities.

When students come in and show me their credentials, I noticed that they have a good match when compared with their oversea counterparts, which shows that the quality is better.

Howarth, therefore, said his study centre is talking to students and parents about the cost of studying abroad in order to get them high-quality education.
The JAMB registrar said this while delivering a lecture at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday, May 27, 2018, in Osogbo.

Oloyede became the Registrar of the exam board in 2016 and according to him, he generated N9 billion for the board and remitted N7.8 billion to the Federal Government in 2017.

ALSO READ:NUC shuts down 58 illegal universities

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to join President Muhammadu Buhari in fighting corruption.

Speaking about the state of education in Nigeria, Oloyede said the government needs to place less emphasis on certificates and encourage abilities among the students.

Destroying a nation does not require the use of atomic bomb or the use of long range missiles.

It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examination by students.

The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation, but functional education will guarantee freedom and national development, he said

The JAMB boss also said corruption is also working against functional education in Nigeria.
A report published by Punch News on Friday, May 25, 2018, gathered that the clergyman, 25, drugged the victim in partnership with a friend.

Both are now in police custody but there might be more victims.

To help guard against such a scenario, consider five ways to protect yourself from a potential rapist:

1. Adhere to online site safety rules

Many social media networking sites offer terms of use as well as information that can aid safe usage of the websites. This can surely help prevent against a sad evening with a randy pastor if you havent given out your phone number yet.

2. Do not give out vital information

This is important and perhaps the most effective way to avoid two-faced people who might be nurturing an intention to cause harm. It is best to arrive at a place of comfort before making to release intimate details about oneself to a new acquaintance.

3. A pepper spray will hurt - yes!

It is a good idea to have a pepper spray close by in case things go south at any location one might be meeting a potential rapist.

There is a chance the fellow wont see that one coming if considering some naughty thoughts- that should keep the person in line while victim makes for an escape route.

ALSO READ: Pastor drugs and rapes menstruating school girl he met on Facebook

4. Inform loved ones concerning whereabouts

A good safety measure to consider can be making sure to inform loved ones of whereabouts such as address when meeting with someone whose character one is not so sure about.

In a case of an unanticipated circumstance, it will be easy for one to be located.

5. Let host know loved ones are aware of location

A rapist is an everyday person struggling with making bad decisions but you can help them curb their urges.

If a potential rapist has an idea that prey has given out information concerning their meeting, it just might be enough to motivate withdrawal from intended goal for the fear of consequence.
The woman reportedly lost her teeth while attending a crusade organized by his ministry, the Chapel of Liberty Church.

According to The Nation News, Egbedi had reported to a court her encounter while attending a spiritual event organized by the church in January 2010.

Justice SBA Candide Johnson ordered Kwakpovwe and the Registered Trustees of the Chapel of Liberty, to pay the complainant a sum of N9, 454,000 for negligence which led to nasty injuries to the victim.

It is difficult not to observe that for the Defendants who put themselves forward as spiritual shepherds of their sheep that they appear to have demonstrated scant care and concern for victims of their January 2010 spiritual crusade and have likewise by the letter of their lawyers (Exhibit F) dared this Claimant to go to Court, the Defendants appear to have elected carnal warfare over spiritual warfare thus leaving it to the Courts of Law to intervene.

It is virtually ridiculous for Rev. Dr. Chris E. Kwakpovwe as the presiding Pastor, and a registered Trustee of Manna Miracle Mountain Ministry and the Publisher/Writer of Our Daily Manna (ODM) to invite the general public and the Claimant to a programme which they expected to and which recorded a huge attendance and then without any remorse or conscience, argue that they only rented space at the National Stadium so he and his religious ministry owed no duty of care or concern for the welfare and safety of the guests they had invited to their own spiritual party or event organized by them.

"It is this type of reckless impunity and consciencelessness that makes many people complain about callousness and wickedness in Nigeria.

The National Sport Commission (NSC) rented space to the Defendants and it was the Defendants who structured, arraigned and independently organized their event to their own taste and standard.

"It is in my view, cowardly and irresponsible to invite a guest to your house or other venue for your independent event and then turn to blame a third party for your own want of care and want of organizational due diligence," says Justice Johnson while giving a court statement captured by The Nation.

The Nation reported that Egbedi sustained injuries she attended the end of an anointing service held at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Instablog9ja reports that Udechukwu, who hails from Ozalla, Enugu State, was arrested by operatives of the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

According to the reports, Udechukwu took advantage of the victim who also happens to be a kinsman.

ALSO READ: Police arraign pastor for alleged N1.4m fraud

Udechukwu claimed, I am his pastor and man of God, in fact, I used to pray for him to succeed and indeed, I prayed for him before he travelled out to Dubai."

The victim revealed that his ordeal began after Udechukwu asked him to bring four Toyota Highlander SUVs he imported, claiming that another church member wanted to buy the vehicles as well as other consignments valued at N16 million.

According to the victim, Udechukwu took a huge part of the proceeds, claiming it was for logistics.

Udechkwu later suggested starting a transport service business, suggesting to the Dubai-based businessman to buy two Sienna buses to start off with.

The reports revealed that the complainant agreed to the terms as if under a spell. After the business failed to kick off as expected, the victim asked Udechukwu to sell off the buses.

Udechukwu reportedly sold one of the buses and converted the proceeds to his personal use.

Months later, the pastor once again suggested another business to the complainant whose identity has been withheld, introducing him to one Amechi Chuks Amechi who claimed to work with Nigeria Breweries.

Amechi was reportedly meant to assist in securing a dealership from the company.

Amechi claimed that the deal would cost the complainant N2.37m, which he transferred to Amechis company account.

On the complainants return to the country, he was shocked to realise that nothing was done with the money as he had hoped to start up their businesses in Nigeria.

Further investigation into the case revealed that Udechukwu had used the monies for these businesses to expand his church buildings and the rest converted to his personal use.

Pastor docked over N58M fraud

A Lagos State-based man of God, Pastor Chris Anyalebechi, has been docked at the Federal High Court by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the State Police Command over an alleged N58 million fraud.

Guardian reports that Anyalebechi, the General Overseer of Christ Glory International Gospel Center, Ikorodu, was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy to defraud and obtaining under false pretense.

It was gathered that the accused had earlier been arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court on September 5, 2016, on the same charges when the court was on vacation and had to be re-arraigned to allow the charge to be reread to the accused for his plea to be properly taken.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecutor for SFU, CSP Effiong Asuquo, told the court that Anyalebechi had, between April 2014 and March 2015, allegedly conspired with some other persons now at large, to obtain the said sum from one Nestor Nwankwo of Zicozeen Nigeria Limited, under false pretence of buying a used ship, and sell same in parts or scraps on behalf of the company.

ALSO READ: Pastor Jailed For Stealing N5.1M

The offenses according to the police are contrary to sections 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences, Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(1)(a)(3) of the same Act.

When the charges were read to the GO, he pleaded not guilty and his counsel, George Ibekwe, informed the court about his clients earlier bail application.

Ibekwe also informed the court that the affidavit in support of the bail application was deposed to by the wife to the accused person, Ada Chris Anyalebechi, and urged the court to grant the bail application.

Granting the request's defendant, Justice Idris granted bail to Anyalebechi in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in the like sum.
This happened in Benin, Edo State, on Saturday, May 26, 2018. An IG post published by Instablog9ja on the following day confirmed this.

Observers at the scene of the incident were heard recommending the use of a handcuff on his wrists as opposed to caning him.

The violent reaction of some Nigerian policemen seem to have raised fear in the minds of some Nigerian youths who have suffered in the hands of law officers specifically operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

ALSO READ: EFCC extends raid to Abuja capturing 6 Yahoo Boys

On social media, IG followers have blamed the violent conduct of the policemen on a lack of training which has earned them a title not fit for a gentleman.
20,000 people. Starboy didn't do it alone. He had Tekno, a potential successor to the throne of Nigerian pop stardom. He had Tiwa Savage, Maleek Berry and two of afro-swing's favourites, Yxng Bane and Not3s on the bill.

But Afrorepublik was more than just a show, more so another box ticked by African pop music and the generation of stars who are taking it around the world.

Wizkid has been in the front of this charge for a while. He is in a role created by 2Face Idibia in the early 2000s, amplified by D'banj and handed over in an age where a Nigerian prodigy can appear on the biggest song in the world off reputation, relationships and raw talent.

He may have his demons, aplenty. But Wizkid will be remembered for these victories, big wins for himself, a culture and a continent.

Starboy sells out the O2 Arena in London

Last night, he stepped out with his son, Zion as can be seen in a photo shared on his Instagram with the caption, "Pull up with cub".
This public holiday commemorates the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, when the newly elected Olusegun Obasanjo took office as the President of Nigeria on May 1999 ending multiple decades of military rule that began in 1966.

If you are one of those people planning to celebrate Democracy day, here are five ways to have a great day.

1. Go kayaking

ALSO READ: 5 Things You Can Only Buy In Nigeria

Go Kayaking in Ikoyi for little or nothing. Drag that ocean loving friend or foe and hit the water with a kayak! While kayaking, its pretty hard to beat the sheer majesty of Ikoyi and Lekki as your backdrop! This is an excellent choice for a rare public holiday.

This low impact activity can improve your aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility.

2. Go watch the march past

While Nigeria celebrates, citizens would be at the stadium to march and listen to the president give his speech.

Why not spend that day watching a colourful parade.

3. Go ziplining

Maybe not skydiving and tandem paragliding, but zip lining would do the trick. Ziplining at the beach in Lekki is a magical and breathtaking experience that youll be talking about for years to come.

4. Go birdwatching at Lekki Conservation Centre

Trees produce most of the worlds oxygen, the Lekki Conservation Centre is a precious place, and by supporting sustainable tourism in the area, you can do your bit to ensure its survival for future generations.

And aside from all that, go on a canopy walk to enjoy a bird eyes view of the forest and see the wild life.

5. Visit Kids Beach with the kids

Help mother nature while also having an amazing time at Kids Beach Garden. Owned by Doyin Ogunye, the beach is the first sustainable beach in Nigeria where children learn about the environment and give back by cleaning up and recycling.
The minister stated this on Monday at the inauguration of Sabke, Dutsi and Mashi water supply schemes in Daura, Katsina State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the water schemes abandoned for 20 years was completed by the Buhari Administration and inaugurated by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu and Mohammed.

The project conceived and started in 1998 by the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) headed by Buhari had been abandoned by successive administrations until 2005 when the President took over.

In his speech at the event, Mohammed said the project inauguration fitted into the ongoing agenda to showcase the achievements of the Buhari Administration, especially in the area of Infrastructure.

He recalled that the water project inauguration was the second in a week by the Buhari Administration, after the one inaugurated in Ugboha community in Edo State last Thursday

The minister also listed other projects he had inaugurated and inspected in showcasing the achievements of the administration.

Recall that we kickstarted our nationwide tour of FGs projects a few weeks ago by inspecting ongoing work on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Guage Rail, which is the first leg of the Lagos-Kano Standard Guage Rail Project.

We then followed up by touring the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where work has been epileptic until this administration came into office

Our next stop was the commissioning of erosion and deflooding project in Osogbo, an Ecological Fund project, last week, which has given the people of the Osun State capital a new lease of life.

From there, we inspected the Oyo-Ogbomoso road, the Dualisation of which was awarded in 2010 and expected to be ready by 2013 but had been stalled due to lack of funds until this administration assumed office

Today, we are here to commission three key water projects, details of which the Honourable Minister of Water Resources will provide shortly.

What all these show is that this administration is delivering on its promises to ensure better life for Nigerians, irrespective of what the naysayers are saying, he said.

Mohammed congratulated the Minister of Water Resources on the successful completion of the water schemes as well as the people, who will benefit from the projects.

He said the Buhari administration was on the right track for choosing to complete ongoing and abandoned projects instead of abandoning them as past governments had done.

The administration believes that governance is about the well being of the people, and will continue to pursue projects that directly benefit the people, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Water Resources Minister said the Buhari administration placed a lot of emphasis on activities that will improve the quality of lives of Nigerians.

ALSO READ:Lai Mohammed says govt is in ceasefire talks with Boko Haram

It is for this reason that the president has infrastructural development as one of the cardinal policy thrust of his administration, he said.

He said with the inauguration of the water schemes incidences of water borne diseases will be curtailed, while sanitation and personal hygiene will be improved and income generation will be enhanced.

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina appreciated the President for the completion of the project and handing it over to the state.
Orubebe, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, under Goodluck Jonathans administration, reportedly tried to disrupt proceedings during the collation of the election results in 2015.

The former minister also accused accused Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being partial.

According to The Cable, the President said that the ex-ministers actions will not be easily forgotten in the history of Nigeria.

Buhari said Here, I must digress to raise an observation about the programme organisers because I did not see Mr. Orubebe who ought to have come and listen to Prof. Jega deliver his lecture. This is a major observation.

That instance, for those of us who were lucky that there was light and we had the television to see the confrontation between Orubebe and Prof. Jega, it will remain a life impression to many of us.

Orubebe Apologises

Orubebe later apologised for his actions during the elections at a press conference in April 2015, saying Election is a passionate thing and I really regret what took place this morning. I was unnecessarily pushed by Jega to get to that level. I want to apologize particularly to young Nigerians that look up to take politics as a career to say that what happened was not intended to cause them any embarrassment.

To Nigerians generally, I regret my actions as even an elder in the church, and a leader, the young men expected to see a lot from me and I believe that if there was any disappointment they got from me I apologize to Nigerians and to the youths of this country."

Buhari grateful to US

The President also thanked the united States government for ensuring that the 2015 election was free and fair.

I thank the United States government then under President Obama for sending John Kerry to read the riot act to the government and to us the opposition then that nothing other than a free and fair election will be acceptable, he added.

APC chieftain reports Buhari to US

Also, the former spokesman of the All Progressives congress (APC), Timi Frank has reported Buharito the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump.

Frank accused Buhari of violating the constitution and called on US President to help Nigerians and save the nations democracy.
Jega stated this while delivering this years Democracy Day lecture at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The immediate past INEC boss noted that some chief executives had complained to him that some lawmakers sought bribes from them during oversight functions.

I have spoken to quite a number of chief executives who complained of high demand for bribes from members of the National Assembly in the name of so called oversight functions, he said.

Some chairmen of committees at the National Assembly are notorious for seeking for bribes, he added.

Jega, a Professor of Political Science, who said that there was deficit of good governance in the country urged government not only be concentrating on theft and embezzlement in its fight against corruption, but should also do something on "bribe taking" at all strata of government.

He noted that the INEC was presently confronted with electoral challenges adding that party violence witnessed in the just concluded congresses portend great danger.

He expressed concerns that if political parties could not observe internal democracy and conduct peaceful congresses, it was dangerous sign over what would happen in the general elections.
Even though Nigeria slipped into its worst recession in 29 years after a 2.06% contraction in the economy between April and June 2016, a year after Buhari's inauguration, Keyamo said the economic decay had been set in motion by the previous government.

While speaking on Channels Television on Monday, May 28, 2018, Keyamo said Nigeria would have been in a worse shape if Buhari had not been elected to arrest the economic slide with his two-pronged approach of investing in infrastructure and diversifying the economy.

He said, "I think this government should be judged by the numbers and not by emotions; and if you to judge the government by numbers in terms of what has been available to it to work, Nigerians would have been worse off if the government had not taken the steps that it took especially in respect of the economy.

"Remember that in 2004, the recession started. So, nobody should wake up and, because of political reasons, say that it was when this government came on board that we slipped into recession.

"Recession does not start overnight. The recession started in 2014 and that was why at the point of handover in 2015, 24 states were almost bankrupt; they could not pay salaries.

"The federal government was borrowing to pay salaries at that point when they handed over in 2015. The naira had begun a downward slide and at the time they handed over, it was N225 to a dollar. These were clear indices that there was something wrong - we were headed for the bottom of the slope; we were going to crash. It could have been worse if the government did not take the steps that it took.

"There were two major approaches the government took to halt this slide. First, it needed to spend to reverse the recession and that is why no matter how much you criticise it, it went a-borrowing to invest in critical infrastructure, not to pay salaries, and the investment in rail, road and power has rebounded the economy. The economy is on its way to actual revival.

"The second measure it took is to diversify the economy because it was the over-reliance on oil that brought us to that sorry past. It invested heavily in agriculture and industry - eight rice mills revived, fertiliser plants were revived and we have moved from 2.5 million metric tonnes of rice to 4 million."

Buhari could have averted recession with good policies - Ezekwesili

Speaking opposite Keyamo on the television show, Sunrise Daily, on Monday, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili said Buhari could have averted the recession. Despite agreeing with Keyamo that certain conditions led to the recession, she said that good policies by Buhari's government could have stopped a recession from happening at all.

She said, "If you did the right economic policy at that time, you would have averted the recession. Many other oil-producing and exporting countries managed to avert recession."
Wabba said, We reason that Nigerian workers are frequently turned into cannon fodder by the Nigerian political elite in their high stakes political games and mindless scramble for the commonwealth.

Despite escalating costs of living, devaluation of the Naira and general hardship in the land, the Nigerian workers are still forced to survive on N18, 000 as minimum wage with not a few states owing backlog of salaries and pensions.

Pensioners in not a few states wallow in misery and unimaginable suffering, while the political elite led by state governors take in advance whopping severance packages to which they are not entitled in the first place.

How well has this democracy uplifted the spaces where we live and work? Without prejudice to the effort of this government, our infrastructure is still in tatters. Our roads are impassable and public electricity supply remains epileptic.

Our schools and health facilities have become sorry relics of what they used to be in the first decade post-independence, he said.

He also noted that the spate of killings, violence and insecurity across the country had further traumatised the hapless citizenry.

He said in the light of the foregoing, May 29, Democracy Day should not be devoted to false homage to democracy.

He said that rather, it should be devoted to soul-searching and truth-telling, and commitment from all and Nigerians.

This day avails us a great opportunity to demand for accountability from our leaders, especially, governors, and also from ourselves as citizens of a great country that has potential to be greater.

It is a day for us to shift from our pliant position as citizens to a position of virility, vitality, proactivity or of asking questions, especially, those who have appropriated the machinery of democracy to feather their nests.

This May 29 must be seized by those who have been under-served by the chefs manning our democratic kitchen.

This May 29 must be captured by those who have been left behind in our democratic journey.

There is no better time to demand for accountability from political office holders than now.
A priest in the seminary, Cornelius Pobah, was shot in the leg while two other priests were beaten by the attackers while some cars were also destroyed with many other students injured.

The Director of Caritas Nigeria, an agency of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, told The Punch on Monday morning in a WhatsApp message, "Please Frs, pray for us. Our minor seminary in Jalingo has just been attacked by the Fulani, some students are injured, some cars destroyed, two priests beaten and one shot on the leg. They are currently receiving treatment at FMC."

The state's Commissioner of Police, David Akinremi, told Premium Times that the attackers targeted Pobah because he had previously challenged them on grazing their cattle on the seminary's premises.

He said, "Some shepherds had been coming to the premises to graze their cattle and the priest had challenged them about that in the past. We confirmed that the attackers were speaking Fulani and a little bit of pidgin English."

No one was killed in the attack as police officers and soldiers reportedly arrived at the seminary shortly after the incident and evacuated students from the school.

The injured victims of the attack are reported to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in the state capital while security agents launch as manhunt for the attackers.

Church attack in Benue

The attack in Taraba follows a similar one in Benue state where two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers were killed by suspected herdsmen in Gwer local government area of the state.

The priests, Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, were killed during a mass along with 17 worshippers when the attackers invaded St. Ignatius Quasi Parish Ukpor-Mbalom in Ayar-Mbalom community of Gwer East LGA on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

They were be buried at the Ave Maria Prayer Pilgrimage Ground, on the Ayati hilltop in Gwer LGA with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, joining mourners on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

In reaction to their burial, President Muhammadu Buhari remarked that attacks on locations like a place of worship is an attempt to start religious conflict and turn Nigerians against one another.

He said, "As I've said before, these persistent killings are not spontaneous; there are clandestine forces with a sinister agenda to instigate war in Nigeria for selfish purposes. When they attack places of worship their aim is to turn Nigerians against one another on the basis of religion.

"We must not succumb to the hate that they wish to sow; we must not fall for their evil machinations aimed at dividing us. Now more than ever before we must stand firm against their calculations to stoke religious conflict and plunge our communities into unending bloodletting."
Frank, in a letter to the US President which he sent through the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, accused Buhari of violating the constitution.

He called on US President to help Nigerians and save the nations democracy, citing killings by herdsmen across the country.

According to Daily Post, the former APC spokesman, the economy of the country has continued to worsen under Buhari.

Buhari lied

Timi Frank also said in the latter that Buhari lied the US Presidenabout the state of things in Nigeria.

He told President Trump that the security situation in the North-East has worsened, adding that corruption has also not been crushed as promised the APC led administration.

Your Excellency Sir, while you daily work to advance the cause of the United States, the Nigerian situation under the present administration, led by the ruling All Progressives Congress has failed to promote the nations interest and work for the sustenance of our democracy. It was most unfortunate that when President Buhari visited you recently, he minced words on the true situation of the current happenings in the country, which pose a great threat to our national fabric of unity, peace and progress.

The ruling APC and President Buhari were ecstatically embraced by Nigerians and voted into office with a promise to fight corruption, insecurity and grow the economy in 2015. However, three years on, prevailing maladministration and insecurity have left everyone spell bound, as wanton killings by herdsmen, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, corruption and insurgency in the North-East still ravage the country unabated, he said.

Tucano fighter jets

Speaking on the recent purchase of 12 Tucano fighter jets from the US, Frank said that the funds used to acquire them was disbursed without the approval of the National Assembl

He also called on the US government to refund the money for the jests and re-negotiate the deal.

He said Furthermore, the cost of fighting these deadly malaise continues to skyrocket without corresponding mitigation in insecurity. A recent example is the withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram and other security challenges across the country by the executive in collaboration with the National Economic Council, without due recourse to the National Assembly for statutory approval.

More so, need I mention that the recent advance payment of $496 million to your country for the purchase of 12 Tucano fighter jets by the Buhari-led Federal Executive Council was done in complete violation of extant laws regarding such purchases. I must say that that action remains illegal, criminal and a breach of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers the National Assembly to approve all expenditures of the executive.

I am aware that the United States is a nation ruled by laws and therefore cannot condone impunity and illegality of this nature  no matter the amount of benefits accruable to it from the sale. I would therefore, kindly appeal to you, to use your good offices to ensure that the $496 million is repatriated into the Nigerian coffers and the deal renegotiated and made to follow due process.

Help Us

Frank also called on President Trump and other international bodies to help ensure that democracy is preserved.

He accused Buharis administration of suppressing perceived enemies and intimidation of the press.

I believe you are better placed to advise the current leadership on the need to obey the rule of law and be impartial in its ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

I humbly invite you to work with other defenders of democracy, freedom and human rights across the world, like the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and organisations like the Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, etc, to ensure that the present gagging of the press and opposition political party members in Nigeria do not degenerate further.

Help us to prevent imminent breakdown of law and order that may result to chaos and anarchy if the current atmosphere of governments orchestrated harassment, intimidation, coercion, denial of the right to free speech and outright repression of perceived enemies of the administration, is allowed to continue unabated.

I thank you in anticipation that you will take positive steps to liaise with your friend, President Muhammadu Buhari, in order to prevent escalation of anti-democratic acts by agents of the administration, he said.
In a statement published by President Buhari's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, he accused the previous government of using federal power to illegally remove state governors. Even though statement did not directly name Obasanjo, some of the events mentioned happened while he was preident between 1999 and 2007.

In the statement titled, "The real price of 'Change the Change' campaign (2)", Shehu accused the government of illegally masterminding the removal of Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo), and Peter Obi (Anambra) as governors of their states because their interests didn't align with the government at the centre.

The statement generally took a swipe at the 16-year rule of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which Obasanjo was president, blaming the party for Nigeria's current state.

Shehu said, "When they (PDP) ran the government at the centre, the opposition PDP showed aptitude in only one thing: the toppling of elected state governments using the police and secret service under their control. A five-man legislature met at 6:00 am and 'impeached' Governor Dariye in Plateau; 18 members out of 32 removed Governor Ladoja of Oyo from office; in Anambra, APGA's Governor Obi was equally impeached at 5:00 a.m. by members who did not meet the two-thirds required by the constitution.

"His offence was that he refused to inflate the state's budget. The lawmakers had reportedly met with representatives of the President in Asaba , Delta State and then accompanied to Awka by heavy security provided by the police Mobile Unit. The PDP President at that time had reportedly told Obi to forget re-election in 2007 if he did not join the PDP because he (the President) would not support a non-PDP member.

"In Ekiti, Governor Fayose in his first term faced allegations of financial corruption and murder. Following the failure to heed the instruction of the presidency to impeach only Fayose and spare the deputy, Madam Olujimi, now a senator, the PDP President declared that there was a breakdown of law and order in the state and declared a state of emergency. He appointed Brig-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd) as the sole administrator of the state on October 19, 2006.

"In an earlier incident in Anambra, it took an insider collaboration to thwart the unseating of Governor Ngige by a powerful thug sponsored by the PDP administration.

"The parliament at the centre seized the law-making powers of the Rivers State House of Assembly as a way to save Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the then chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum from impeachment by the PDP presidency.

"Thank God for Buhari, none of these absurdities has happened under his watch but the PDP is indicating their boredom with his meticulous observance of the constitution by calling for a return to the old order."

Buhari vs Obasanjo

Shehu's statement comes on the heels of an ongoing public feud between Buhari and Obasanjo after the incumbent raised questions over the $16 billion allegedly spent on Nigeria's power sector during Obasanjo's administration.

While speaking at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, Buhari remarked, "One of the former Heads of State was bragging that he spent more than 15 billion USD on power in Nigeria. Where is the power?"

In response to the accusation, Obasanjo fired back later on Tuesday, saying that Buhari was ignorant on the subject for re-echoing an unsubstantiated allegation that has been proven false.
Osinbajo stated this when he paid a visit to Ventures Park, a tech hub and co-working space in Abuja, on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The Vice President was received and taken on a tour of the facility by the Kola Aina, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Ventures Platform.

Osinbajo interacted with inventors at the Park, listening to the ideas driving theStart-ups.

ALSO READ: The 10 most influential people in Nigerian Tech

He emphasized on the need to bring in more ideas and restated the forthcoming technology & innovation council to develop policy much like the Industrial Competitiveness Advisory Council which he chairs and is 'vice-chaired' by active private sector individuals like Aliko Dangote and Atedo Peterside.

There is so much innovations out there, VP said while recalling the Start-up company -- Thrive Agric -- that alerts farmers on the weather and provides funding.

"I am really proud about what I see here and you can be sure we have your back", he assured the innovators.

Aina appreciated the Vice President for visit while pledging the support of the Park to supporting young inventors in the country.
The crisis was sparked when President Sergio Mattarella vetoed the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister, enraging the far-right League and leading to the anti-establishment Five Star Movement calling for his impeachment.

The two parties' approved nominee for prime minister, lawyer and political novice Giuseppe Conte, stepped aside over the decision, exacerbating the political turmoil nearly three months after March's inconclusive general election.

Mattarella said he had accepted every proposed minister except Savona, who has called the euro a "German cage" and has said that Italy needs a plan to leave the single currency "if necessary".

The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, furiously denounced the veto, decrying what they called meddling by Germany, debt ratings agencies and financial lobbies.

Cottarelli, 64, was director of the IMF's fiscal affairs department from 2008 to 2013 and became known as "Mr Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in Italy.

European stock markets and the euro received an early boost Monday after the veto of the fiercely eurosceptic economy minister, which potentially averted a eurozone crisis.

But Milan's stock exchange proved volatile, turning to losses in mid-morning trading, in a sign that early positivity may not last.

Cottarelli will struggle to gain the approval of parliament with Five Star and the League commanding a majority in both houses.

"They've replaced a government with a majority with one that won't obtain one," said Di Maio.

'First impeachment, then polls'

A livid Di Maio later called for the president to be impeached.

"I hope that we can give the floor to Italians as soon as possible, but first we need to clear things up. First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls."

"Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the governments."

Salvini, who was Savona's biggest advocate and a fellow eurosceptic, declared that Italy was not a "colony", and that "we won't have Germany tell us what to do".

On Monday, Salvini threatened to break his alliance with the League's pre-election rightwing coalition partner Silvio Berlusconi should the media mogul's Forza Italia party vote for the government.

The 81-year-old billionaire former prime minister released a statement on Sunday in which he praised Mattarella's efforts to "safeguard this country's families and businesses".

His partnership with Salvini, which saw them part of a grouping that won the most votes in the March vote, is still in place despite the League's attempt to form a government with Five Star, as Forza Italia and the League hold local and regional administrations together.

"Berlusconi's statement yesterday was the same sort of thing that could have been written by (former centre-left prime minister Matteo) Renzi," Salvini told Radio Capitale.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen joined in their outrage on Monday, accusing the president of a "coup d'etat" and saying the "European Union and financial markets are again confiscating democracy".

'Diktats'

A former judge at Italy's constitutional court, Mattarella has refused to bow to what he saw as "diktats" from the two parties that he considered contrary to the country's interests.

He had watched for weeks as Five Star and the League set about trying to strike an alliance that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority.

Mattarella said he has done "everything possible" to aid the formation of a government, but that an openly eurosceptic economy minister ran against the parties' joint promise to simply "change Europe for the better from an Italian point of view".

"I asked for the (economy) ministry an authoritative person from the parliamentary majority who is consistent with the government programme... who isn't seen as a supporter of a line that could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro," Mattarella said.
The opposition meanwhile said he was a victim of the government forces that had attacked protesters the same day.

The fatality brings to 84 the number of people killed since protests began on April 28, while more than 860 have been wounded, according to humanitarian groups, police, and relatives of victims.

Initially triggered by now-aborted reforms to the near-bankrupt social security system, the unrest broadened into a rejection by many Nicaraguans of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, a former Sandinista guerrilla who first ruled between 1979 and 1990 before returning as president 11 years ago, had kept power by maintaining leftist rhetoric while ensuring an accommodation with powerful private industry and keeping up trade with the United States.

Demonstrators have voiced frustrations over corruption, the autocratic style of Ortega and Murillo, limited options to change the country's politics in elections, and the president's control over Congress, the courts, the military and the electoral authority.

Church-mediated talks aimed at quelling the violence have stalled since last week, but the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference called on Sunday for both sides to attend a session on Monday aimed at reviving the dialogue.
Durrani has been mired in controversy since last week's release of "The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace". He wrote the book with A.S. Dulat, who headed India's Research and Analysis Wing intelligence agency -- arch-rivals of the ISI.

It is based on a series of discussion between the two on various subjects including tense relations with India and Pakistan's alleged interference through proxies in Afghanistan and Kashmir.

The US has long accused the ISI in particular of backing militants in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. Islamabad denies the claims.

Criticism of the military, especially its use of proxies in regional conflicts, is seen as taboo in the country. The military is the most powerful institution in Pakistan, ruling the country for roughly half its history and operating largely with impunity.

The book also suggests that the Pakistani authorities may have known about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden -- an extraordinarily sensitive topic for the military -- and may have later handed over information to the US resulting in the 2011 raid that killed the Al Qaeda supremo.

Earlier Monday Durrani was summoned to the Pakistani military headquarters for allegedly violating the institution's code of conduct over comments he made in the book. The military did not specify which comments had prompted the meeting.

It then announced a court of inquiry into Durrani's alleged misconduct and said he had been placed on the ECL, marking the first instance such controls have been placed on a former spy chief.

The controversy comes weeks after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif sparked a similar firestorm at home and in India by suggesting Pakistani militants were behind the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai.

The comments made during a newspaper interview resulted in an official condemnation from the country's National Security Council.

Sharif has called on the council to discuss Durrani's book also.
After news started going around that people were using bits of newspaper with the presidents face on them as toilet paper, police and landfill workers were ordered to look for evidence.

Detention

According to a recent article in Fergana, a Moscow-based news site known for its credible coverage of Turkmen affairs, it all started at the end of last year, when several children in the northern city of Dashoguz were detained and tried for damaging portraits of president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

In one case, students at the citys school no. 45 trampled on a photo of the president, and in another, children at another school used a pen to draw a mustache and beard on a portrait of Berdymukhammedov.

Those incidents didnt involve butt wiping, but they did prompt an investigation which eventually revealed that the use of newspapers with the presidents face on them as toilet paper was quite common.

Dismissal

While inspecting another Dashoguz school for similar defiling of the presidents photos, police found bits of newspaper  some of which had Berdymukhammedovs face on them  used as toilet paper in the school toilet.
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!
From June 1, Russia's FESCO Transportation Group is to offer a transit time of 15 days between Busan and Moscow, an improvement on the 21-23 days currently offered. The acceleration has largely been achieved by reducing transhipment time at the port of Vladivostok and by faster transit times on the ...
Russian court detains high-ranking official over mall blaze in Kemerovo

12:36 28/05/2018

MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI)  The Central Court of Kemerovo has detained head of the Ministry of Emergencies directorate for Kemerovo Grigory Terentyev as part of investigation into a criminal case over tragic fire in Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall that left 60 people dead, the press-service of the Investigative Committee has reported.

The official will stay in detention until late July. Terentyev and head of the Ministry of Emergencies department for Kemerovo Region Alexander Mamontov, depending on their alleged actions, are charged with criminal negligence and embezzlement.

Investigators allege that Mamontov and Terentyev have not organized the malls safety examination since 2017 despite knowing that one should have been completed before March 18. In addition, Mamontov used his position to embezzle 1.8 million rubles ($29,200) from the Ministry and used it for benefit of other persons.

Earlier, interim governor of Russias Kemerovo Region Sergey Tsivilev appointed Lyudmila Masleyeva as the ombudsman for rights of victims in the fire.

The blaze in the mall occurred on March 25. According to investigators, 60 people including dozens of children were killed by fire. Initially it was reported that 64 people died.

A criminal case has been launched over involuntary manslaughter, violation of fire safety regulations that left more than two persons dead and provisions of services that dont meet safety requirements.

Eight other persons were also charged and detained in the case. They are: Yulia Bogdanova, CEO of the Kemerovsky Confectionary Combine, a company owning the mall, Tanziliya Komkova, chief of the regions State Construction Inspection, a formal head of the malls owner company Georgy Sobolev; the malls manager Nadezhda Suddenok; CEO of the company System Integrator that developed the fire safety system Igor Polozinenko; an employee of the company, who personally installed the fire alarm Alexander Nikitin, a guard who allegedly turned off the emergency notification system when he received a fire signal Sergey Antyushin and fire team commander Sergey Genin, who was charged with negligence.
Prosecutors seek 14 years in prison for Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko

 RIA Novosti, Ilya Pitalev

13:27 28/05/2018

MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI)  Russian prosecutors have demanded a 14-year prison sentence for Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko charged with espionage, ex-attorney Mark Feygin has told RAPSI.

Sentencing of Sushchenko has been scheduled for June 4, according to Feygin.

In May, Feygin was deprived of his lawyer status, however, the Moscow City Court allowed him to take part in the trial of Sushchenko as another person under the Criminal Procedure Codes article on defenders.

According to Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian citizen has "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, the FSB officials claimed earlier.

Charges were brought against Sushchenko in October 2016. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The journalist pleaded not guilty to espionage.

Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko had been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinforms personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, Sushchenko arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival.

Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him "a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation.
Ex-head of company related to Russian Defense Ministry sentenced to 4.5 years

 RIA Novosti

17:49 28/05/2018

MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI)  Former head of Slavyanka utility companys body in Russias Kronstadt Stanislav Kolomiyets has been sentenced to 4.5 years in a penal colony for embezzling 11 million rubles ($176,200), the Unified press-service of St. Petersburg courts has told RAPSI.

In addition, Kolomiyets was fined 500,000 rubles ($8,000). Other defendant in the case, businessman Damir Askarov, has been sentenced to 5.5 years and fined 500,000 rubles as well. The court also granted a civil lawsuit and ruled to recover 9.3 million rubles ($149,000) in favor of Slavyanka, which is related to Russias Defense Ministry.

According to investigators, in 2012, the defendants signed papers on completion of repair contract concerning the Defense Ministrys houses in Kronstadt. Investigators claim that documents contained false data that led Slavyanka to transfer 11 million rubles ($176,200) to bank accounts of St. Petersburg Boring Company and Nevsky Holding firm, both owned by Askarov. Later, the assets were cashed out and embezzled.

During the preliminary investigation, Askarov voluntarily compensated 1.8 million rubles ($28,800) of damage.

In 2016, Moscows Tverskoy District Court found Alexander Yelkin, ex-CEO of Slavyanka, guilty of embezzling funds allocated for renovation of the Defense Ministrys facilities.

The court also determined guilt of two other defendants in the case, Konstantin Lapshin and Yulia Rotanova.

Embezzlement in the company came to light in relation to the 2012 investigation into Oboronservis, which revealed fraudulent activities carried out in the course of deals involving real estate, land and shares in Oboronservis. Totally, five criminal cases over damages exceeding 3 billion rubles ($48 million) were initiated as concerned this Defense Ministry company. No key figures of these cases have pleaded guilty.
Ombudsman for rights of infamous fire victims appointed in Kemerovo

 TASS, Kirill Kukhmar

10:59 28/05/2018

MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI)  Interim governor of Russias Kemerovo Region Sergey Tsivilev has appointed Lyudmila Masleyeva as the ombudsman for rights of victims in the tragic fire in Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall that left 64 people dead, the official has stated during press-conference.

According to Tsivilev, this appointment does not imply cancellation of communications with regional officials but rather opens an additional channel for such communication. The interim governor added that Masleyeva would be able to tell him about any problems that may occur in her field of work.

The blaze in the mall occurred on March 25. According to investigators, 60 people including dozens of children were killed by fire. Initially it was reported that 64 people died.

A criminal case has been launched over involuntary manslaughter, violation of fire safety regulations that left more than two persons dead and provisions of services that dont meet safety requirements.

Eight persons were charged and detained in the case. They are: Yulia Bogdanova, CEO of the Kemerovsky Confectionary Combine, a company owning the mall, Tanziliya Komkova, chief of the regions State Construction Inspection, a formal head of the malls owner company Georgy Sobolev; the malls manager Nadezhda Suddenok; CEO of the company System Integrator that developed the fire safety system Igor Polozinenko; an employee of the company, who personally installed the fire alarm Alexander Nikitin, a guard who allegedly turned off the emergency notification system when he received a fire signal Sergey Antyushin and fire team commander Sergey Genin, who was charged with negligence.

On May 25, head of the Ministry of Emergencies department for Kemerovo Region Alexander Mamontov was arrested by law enforcement officers as part of the investigation into a criminal case.

According to the Committee, head of the Ministrys directorate for city of Kemerovo Grigory Terentyev and other officials are also under investigation. Depending on their alleged actions, officials are suspected of criminal negligence and embezzlement.
Over 19,000 crimes against minors investigated in 2017

 RIA Novosti, Aleksei Naumov

14:41 28/05/2018

MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI)  Chairman of Russias Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin said on Monday that over 19,000 crimes against children were investigated in 2017, RAPSI correspondent reported from XV All-Russian Conference of Childrens Rights Commissioners.

According to Bastrykin, the investigated crimes against minors include 374 murders, 1,619 counts of rape and about 5,000 counts of sexual violence.

It is necessary to depart from formalism and treat children open-heartedly, he said.

The Investigative Committee Chairman also designated the need for creating conditions for childrens information security. He said about advisability of Telegram blocking as, according to investigators, the messenger was used for committing several grave crimes including the terrorist attack in the St. Petersburg metro in 2017.

XV All-Russian Conference of Childrens Rights Commissioners takes place in Moscow on May 28 and 29. The event brought together regional childrens ombudsmen, members of Russian parliament and ministries, family experts and specialists and representatives of social organizations from all over the country to discuss vital tasks of developing state policy in the field of protection of minors.
Supreme Courts of Russia and China sign memorandum on cooperation

15:00 28/05/2018

MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI)  Supreme Courts of Russia and China have signed a memorandum on cooperation during the meeting between Supreme Courts chairmen of the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations (SCO) member states, the press-service of Russias court has told RAPSI.

According to the Russian Supreme Court, there are several reasons for advanced cooperation such as, among others, increased efficiency of court reform, transparency of judicial practice and scientific research in the field of bilateral judicial assistance.

The document provides an option of court rulings exchange as well as cooperation in case study. The sides behind memorandum also plan to work together towards enforcement of rulings issued by Russian and Chinese courts.

Implementation of the memorandums provisions would promote development of friendly relationship between Russia and China enhancing national court systems, the Supreme Court noted.

The main topic of the discussion in Beijing was cooperation between court bodies in the fight against threats of terrorism, drug trade and money laundering.
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
The thrust will be on improving connectivity in economic corridors and remote and border areas with a view to hike trade and enable faster movement of cargo.

Any report card on four years of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre will show that its performance in the roads and highways sector has been outstanding.

Since 2013-14, there has been a 77 per cent rise in awarding highway contracts and a 38 per cent increase in the construction of roads and highways.

To ramp up the momentum and extent of road building even further, last October the government launched the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana, which aims to construct a network of highways connecting the western and eastern parts of the country at an estimated cost of Rs 7 trillion.

The thrust will be on improving connectivity in economic corridors and remote and border areas with a view to hike trade and enable faster movement of cargo.

Bharatmala is, in fact, the largest highways project in the country after the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) which oversaw the building of 50,000 km of roads.

The government is clearly gung-ho about this big-ticket infrastructure project.

Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has remarked that once completed, the Centres two flagship schemes - Bharatmala and Sagarmala (a string of ports on the Indian Ocean) - would be like a varmala (garland) around the country.

Experts too feel that Bharatmala is going to be the highway sectors next big story. It (Bharatmala) is like a banyan tree with everything under it, says Abhaya Agarwal, partner and PPP leader, EY India.

The work to get the project off the ground has begun already and both the Union government and the National Highways Authority of India seem all set to kickstart it.

A lot of DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) have been prepared for the green-field projects under the scheme. Some contracts have also started rolling out, says an official in the road ministry.

However, there is no confirmation as yet on whether the first phase of the project would be complete within its stated deadline of 2021-22.

Phase One of Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to build 24,800 km of roads in addition to 10,000 km of NHDP roads, which takes the total to a massive 34,800 kms of roadworks.

Slated to cost Rs 550 crore, the first phase would be funded through various channels, including Rs 2.09 trillion from the market, Rs 1.06 trillion from private investment and Rs 2.19 trillion from the central road fund or toll collection.

The average cost of constructing 1 km of road is Rs 130 million.

Under the scheme 50 national corridors will be transformed into major arteries.

The government claims that once the roads are up and running, 70 - 80 per cent of freight will move along the national carriageways as against the 40 per cent at present.

Whats more, the new roads will enable 550 districts to get access to the national highways as against 300 districts that are similarly connected at present.

Bharatmala also promises to be a huge engine of employment. It expects to generate direct and indirect employment - nearly 100 million man days of jobs during the period of road construction and an additional 22 million jobs from the rise in economic activity due to better connectivity across the country.

However, the flipside of Bharatmala is that it could put certain completed toll roads in jeopardy.

According to rating agency ICRA, the scheme might affect 25 toll road projects with a total debt of Rs 19,435 crore.

The Bharatmala network, designed on the shortest possible route connecting the origin and destination, though well-thought-through and a step in the right direction, is bound to impact the existing network by directly competing with a few stretches, including some of the existing build-operate-transfer (BOT) (Toll) road projects, the rating agency said in a statement earlier this year.

First mooted in April 2015, the Bharatmala project will commence in Gujarat and Rajasthan, then move to Punjab and subsequently embrace the Himalayan belt through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, right up to the Indo-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and on to Mizoram.

The aim is to provide uniform, four-lane highways in key corridors to permit faster movement of cargo vehicles.

The government plans to seek the help of the Border Roads Organisation when constructing roads in difficult and remote terrain.

Clearly, Bharatmala has the potential to emerge as another feather in the cap for the Modi government.

Photograph: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters
In the circumstances, an independent probe alone would establish the truth, starting from Koodangulam. It is more so in the case of Marina violence over Jallikattu, which may even at this late hour hold a candle to the events and developments in Thoothukudi, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Given a chance, the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan commission of inquiry, appointed to probe the anti-Sterlite violence Thoothukudi death of 13 individuals in police firing in southern Tamil Nadu should begin with the report of the one that is still investigating the Jallikattu protests and violence of January 2017.

But the Justice S Rajeswaran commission probing the Jallikattu violence, with an initial six months with periodic extensions when due, is not expected to submit its report for another eight or nine months, according to reports.

There are reasons for both the need for the Jallikattu probe report early on, and the inevitable delays in its work. Considering that Justice Rajeswaran, a retired judge of the Madras high court like Justice Aruna Jagadeesan now, has to hold hearings in almost all towns and cities, and at times villages wherever the Jallikattu protests were held, the delay was inherent to the probe.

But considering the possibilities of overlapping modus, or methods involving the protestors and also the late entry of police, when alone violence ensued, the Tamil Nadu government should consider the wisdom of seeking an interim report from the Rajeswaran commission on the last days violence, especially on the Marina sands in Chennai, the ground zero of Jallikattu protests.

Three episodes at the very least in over the past three or four years across the state, and even an untrained eye would be able to spot certain commonality. The anti-nuclear Koodangulam protests, the Jallikattu rallies and now the Thoothukudi violence all had begun as mass movements, with the former alone having identifiable leaderships, fighting and propagating from the frontlines.

Independent of the long history of these issues and protests, the pattern had evolved with the impromptu Marina protests on the US-sponsored UNHRC resolution on war crime probe in Sri Lanka in early 2012.

The emerging ranks of new generation protestors under a faceless leadership with no political tag attaching to any of them, held a massive protest, deliberately and at times forcefully keeping the political class out.

There was no noticeable violence at the time, as the protest leaders were possibly keener on sending out a message, an arrival statement, too. From the government side, the police intelligence was possibly grappling with establishing the identities and political ideology, if any, of the protest organisers, before it ended in relative peace.

In Koodangulam, where the protests were anyway raging for decades, one phase after another, one reason after another, reached a crescendo in recent years. Individuals like S P Udayakumar and some parish priests identifying with the local Christian fishermen who feared loss of livelihood and carcinogenic afflictions from the nuclear power plant emissions provided leadership, not only to the protestors but also were in the frontline of future negotiations and court cases, which however did not go too far, too long.

In Marina earlier and Thoothukudi now, there were faceless leaders to mass movements, which none really took note of in the early stage(s). They claimed to be apolitical, and kept traditional politicians out of it all, initially. Unlike in Koodangulam, where Udayakumar and Co permitted the political class to join them and express solidarity, the Marina and Thoothukudi protestors did not do so.

But the end scene in both saw sudden toughening of positions -- or, perceptions of the same --and the protests ending in avoidable violence, for which the entry has got blamed. There were also claims that the police was the main perpetrators of the violence, and without provocation.

There is also the opposite version that a section of the protestors, at least in the last stages, had infiltrated what was essentially mass protests by peace-loving people, and provoked the police into acting through their own violent acts.

In the circumstances, an independent probe alone would establish the truth, starting from Koodangulam. It is more so in the case of Marina violence, which may even at this late hour hold a candle to the events and developments in Thoothukudi.

With the reports of any of the earlier probes into earlier episodes of the kind available, the question arises if the state police bosses have conducted any internal studies to come to any helpful conclusions that could guide them in crowd handling, intelligence-gathering and sharing, and acting on actionable intelligence, if any, or fill the lacunae on that front.

In political terms, three successive AIADMK chief ministers, namely the late Jayalalithaa, O Panneerselvam and incumbent Edappadi K Palaniswamy, were in power when it all happened, respectively in Koodangulam, Marina and now Thoothukudi.

There is no denying the existence and entry of fringe elements in the protests, though it remains to be proved whether they made a late entry as claimed by the government authorities in all these events and more.

Their presence, unacknowledged by the Jaya government, and unnoticed by TV news viewers, was more than visible in every street protest and violence over liquor ban, which became a key independent issue in the long run-up to the 2016 state assembly polls.

There was no knowing how fringe groups of the kind had found a base in almost every corner of the state for long, and if they have found self-sustaining missions in those villages.

There was also no knowing (at least at the level of the common observer) if they have developed skills and network to reach out to them all from a central place through an impenetrable line of communication, whether human-int or tech-int, terms often associated with law-enforcing agencies.

What is true however is that where the traditional Opposition had intervened, as with the Cauvery dispute and the anti-NEET agitation, both this year as on earlier occasions, the protests were peaceful and at times counter-productive to the organisers, in terms of the envisaged success and performance.

There again, these so-called fringe groups were visible but melted away when the political Opposition took he centre-stage. Where this was not allowed to happen, as with Jallikattu and Thoothukudi protests, it ended up in violence. Whether it was a coincidence or not, too, remains to be investigated.

With Lok Sabha polls due in about a years time, it may be time that the authorities in the state and the Centre took a closer look, especially at the recent events in southern Tamil Nadu -- not stopping with Koodangulam and Thoothukudi, or even the anti-neutrino protests, which have remained mostly localised thus far.

Earlier this year, the southern temple town of Srivilliputhur was in the news, and for reasons other than the fact that the temple tower forms the official symbol of the Tamil Nadu government.

It was the Andal controversy, centred on the Vaishnavite poet-saint dated to the seventh or eighth century, also ended up seeking to create a pan-Tamil imagery of the present-day Hindutva elements in the state, as against the traditional Sanskritised, North and Brahmin identification.

Far removed though was the reality that the former had a ready identification with 40-45 per cent of the states population, whether or not it was politically and electorally so. In contrast, the latter, Sanskrit-Brahmin centric imagery has had only visible opposition, not supporters.

An even more visible aspect of most, if not all, these protests that have drawn national attention, is the reality of those that speak for the protestors often drawing parallels with the Sinhala annihilation of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka and India and our own state government both drawing inspiration from the Sri Lankans.

It is no more Centre or Union government in context, but only India, as has been the case often with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir and other border regions.

More importantly, those that mouth these lines also include the so-called left-leaning sections of the fringe group organisers who otherwise claim to be non-nationalists and non-ethnic of the territorial and birthright kinds.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter.
What the ceasefire does is to show the supporters of violence in the Kashmir valley an alternative to militancy, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

IMAGE: A grenade blast victim being taken for treatment to the SMHS hospital in Srinagar, May 24, 2018.

It was the first breach of the Ramzan ceasefire announced by the Government of India.

At least 10 people were injured in the grenade blast at Bejibihara, Anantnag district, south Kashmir. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo

The ceasefire (or, more accurately, the non-initiation of offensive action) declared on the eve of the holy month of Ramzan is a step that gives the Kashmiris living in the four restive districts of the valley a choice of more than one future.

As expected, the measure has come under criticism from some defence experts who argue that it will provide breathing space to the militants, who are currently under tremendous pressure. Separatist leaders have sarcastically asked if the armed forces will resume killing after Ramzan.

The critics on both sides of the divide miss the point. The Ceasefire is NOT a solution, but gives an alienated people yet another chance to pause and rethink their past actions.

Periodic ceasefires and resumed operations are not new.

During the course of the long-running Naga and Mizo insurgencies, there were several ceasefires followed by intense operations.

What it did in the north east (and is doing in Kashmir) is to show the supporters of violence an alternative to militancy.

After all, counterinsurgency is all about change of perception. Its aim is to shift the discourse from conflict to co-existence and, ultimately, cooperation.

A simplistic way of measuring success in counterinsurgency has been body count/weapons capture.

An alternative is to define success as absence of violent incidents in an area under a unit's jurisdiction.

With veterans of Kashmir (army chief General Bipin Rawat, for instance) at the helm, this is well understood in army circles. The proof of this is the ongoing Sadbhavana exercise and the running of goodwill schools.

I had some role in this effort way back in 1994 when the first kindergarten English medium school opened in Tregam in north Kashmir, the birthplace of Maqbool Butt, the executed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief, and a hot bed of militancy.

The unrest in four districts in Kashmir (NOT the whole of Jammu and Kashmir) has a direct link to what has been happening in Palestine for several decades. The stone-pelting and violent actions in Kashmir are a direct copy of the intifada in Gaza.

It is time the Kashmiris (and their supporters elsewhere) pause and reflect on what the intifada has achieved for the Palestinians.

In contrast, in the same Palestine, the self-governing West Bank territories have been leading a peaceful life of progress and economic development. Like the Hamas-supported intifada in Gaza, the Kashmiri intifada is basically anarchist violence.

Let it be very clear, in the rest of India there are no takers for or sympathisers of the Kashmiri intifada.

Without the backing of the rest of India or a sense of fatigue setting in, there is no chance of these four restive districts in the Kashmir valley ever achieving their avowed aim of 'Azaadi' or whatever it is that they desire.

In a clear message to the violent mobs, General Rawat recently asserted that force will be met with force and the Indian Army was too strong for the militants to overwhelm.

One oft-heard slogan in Kashmir is 'Kashmir banega Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan)'. In a substantive way, that has already happened.

Like Pakistan, the Kashmir valley has carried out ethnic cleansing and forced the migration of the minority Hindus.

Like Pakistan, the Kashmir valley has been unstable and violence-prone. A puritanical Islam has been established in place of tolerant Sufism.

All that the ceasefire does is to offer a chance for civil society to ponder the cost and benefits of its violent ways.

At the end of the month of Ramzan, the militants may opt for resumption of hostilities. In that case, the onus of civilian suffering will rest solely on their shoulders.

Will this help them retain their popular support? That is a million dollar question and peace in these four districts in the Kashmir valley will depend on the calculations of the militants.

The recently released film Raazi (based on a true story) showed how a Kashmiri girl spied for India and helped the national cause. The twitterati in Pakistan erupted and dubbed the film as false Indian propaganda.

It is time to remind the Kashmiris as well as the Pakistanis that as late as the 1970s, the citizens of Pakistan occupied Kashmir wished to merge with India.

On April 4, 1979, when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged by the military rulers of Pakistan, anti-Pakistan riots erupted in the Kashmir valley. The lives of the pro-Pakistani Jamaat e Islami cadres were saved by the Indian Army who sheltered them.

In August 1965, it was Kashmiri shepherds who alerted the Indian Army about the presence of Pakistani infiltrators. Lack of support in the valley was a major cause for the failure of Operation Gibraltar launched by Pakistan to annex Kashmir.

The current measure gives peace yet another chance.

Colonel Anil A Athale (retd), author of Let the Jhelum Smile Again, has been a student of insurgency for 40 years.
Opposition parties and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday moved the Election Commission claiming hundreds of electronic voting matchines and paper trail machines deployed for Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly bypolls developed snags and were not replaced for hours.

IMAGE: Congress leader RPN Singh (left), Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh come out after a meeting with the Election Commission over the reports of malfunctioning of the EVMs, at Nirvachan Sadan, in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

But the Election Commission termed reports of large scale failure of EVMs during Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra as exaggerated projection of realityand said adequate number of reserve machines are provided for any eventuality.

Sources in the poll panel did say that inapt handling of VVPAT machines by the ground staff, especially when the temperature is high, could have to led to their heating, which results malfunctioning.

Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh along with others met top EC officials claiming that the faulty EVMs were not replaced in time.

The leaders demanded that re-poll should be announced in polling stations where EVMs were not replaced for over one-and-a-half hours.

At polling stations where EVMs were replaced within one-and-a-half hours, additional time should be granted to voters to exercise their franchise, they told reporters after meeting the EC.

They alleged that poll officials took their own time in replacing EVMs in rural areas, the base of their voters. The EVMs were, however replaced with alacrity in urban areas.

A BJP delegation, including general secretaries Bhupender Yadav and Arun Singh besides its media head Anil Baluni, informed the Election Commission that EVM machines were dysfunctional for a long period in 197 booths in Kairana and Noorpur.

Yadav told reporters that they urged the EC to hold re-polling in booths were election process was severely affected.

They asked the EC to send observers to identify such booths and also to find out reasons for EVM malfunction.

Concerns were also raised about the functioning of VVPAT machines. Sources in the EC noted that failure on part of the ground staff led to heating of the machines.

An official said those who skipped training programmes and spent time on their phones during training sessions placed the machines at places where heat sensitive nature of the device created problems.

A poll panel spokesperson later said a joint delegation of the RLD, SP and Congress and a separate delegation of BJP representatives met the EC and brought to its notice concerns about functioning of VVPAT machines in some of the polling booths in bypolls on Monday.

The Commission assured them that all necessary action will be taken on issues raised. They were also assured that the concerns related to VVPAT have been verified on ground and appropriate actions have been taken by the District Election teams. The Commission has also informed that on the basis of reports of RO, DEO and Observers, further action will be taken.

The EC said voters who have queued up outside polling stations will be allowed to cast votes despite end of polling hours.

But in a statement, poll panel denied that the failure of the voting machines was unusual.

The Commission allocates sufficient reserve of EVMs and VVPATs for every general and by election to the Lok Sabha or state assembly.

It is pertinent to mention that during commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs, apart from EVMs and VVPATs required for deployment at every polling station, adequate number of reserve EVMs and VVPATs (around 20-25 per cent) are prepared to replace any defective machine on poll day at the polling station, it said.

It said the reserve EVMs/VVPATs are kept with sector officers, who replace the defective EVMs/VVPATs. Since each sector officer is entrusted with only 10-12 polling stations, the time taken to replace any EVM/VVPAT is normally less than 30 minutes.

The replacement of defective EVMs/VVPATs during actual polls is a normal process and does not vitiate the integrity or credibility of the poll process in any way whatsoever, the statement read.

The poll panel also rejected reports that polling was cancelled in 35 booths in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra.

Also, the reports emerging in some quarters about EVMs/VVPATs failing in 25 per cent polling booths in the same constituency are also incorrect. It is clarified that voting has not been cancelled in any polling station in Bhandara-Gondiya constituency and voting is continuing smoothly after necessary replacements, it said.

As and when a report from poll officials regarding long interruption of polling is received, the Commission takes a decision on those matters on case to case basis, it said.

The Commission undertakes a comprehensive examination and root-cause analysis of all defects observed in the machines through the Technical Experts Committee of the Commission and necessary remedial actions are being taken for smooth conduct of poll process, the statement added.
Allegations of electronic voting machines malfunctioning returned to haunt the Election Commission as four Lok Sabha seats and nine assembly constituencies went for bypolls on Monday across 10 states with moderate-to-heavy voting amid prestige at stake for the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as opposition parties ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

UTTAR PRADESH

IMAGE: A man helps a physically challenged voter to the booth in Kairana to cast his vote. Photograph: PTI Photo

Over 54 per cent polling was recorded in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency while 61 per cent votes were cast in the Noorpur assembly constituency where bypolls were held amid complaints of EVMs malfunctioning.

According to an Election Commission official, Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll saw a turnout of 54.17 per cent while the figure was 61 per cent for the Noorpur assembly constituency. Polling was peaceful at both the places, the official said.

Amid complaints of EVM malfunctioning, the EC assured that faulty machines were being changed and a re-poll would be ordered, wherever necessary.

The assurance came against the backdrop of opposition Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal complaining of snags in the electronic voting machines.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary charged that 140 EVMs were tampered with in Noorpur while similar reports had come in from Kairana as well.

The Kairana bypoll is significant as it would test the popularity of the ruling BJP in the electorally crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh in February.

His daughter Mriganka Singh is the BJP candidate, pitted against Rashtriya Lok Dals Tabassum Hasan (former Bahujan Samaj Party MP from Kairana in 2009) who is also supported by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and also claims the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Kairana parliamentary constituency has five assembly segments -- Shamli, Thana Bhawan and Kairana in Shamli district, and Gangoh and Nakur in Saharanpur district.

IMAGE: Women show their voter identity cards and ink-marked fingers after casting thier votes for Noorpur assembly bypolls, in Bijnor. Photograph: PTI Photo

Similarly, the by-election to Noorpur assembly seat was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Lokendra Singh Chauhan in a road accident in February.

In Noorpur, the BJP has fielded Avani Singh, wife of deceased MLA Lokendra Chauhan, as its candidate, while the SP has given ticket to Naeemul Hasan.

According to the Election Commission, there are 16.09 lakh voters in Kairana - 8.73 lakh male voters and 7.36 lakh female voters. Noorpur Assembly constituency has 3.06 lakh voters.

In Kairana, there are 12 candidates in the fray, while in Noorpur there are 10 candidates in the field. Counting of votes in both the seats will take place on May 31.

NORTH-EAST

IMAGE: Women stand in queue in Gomia to cast their vote during the bypoll. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Lok Sabha and assembly byolls in northeastern and eastern states passed off peacefully amid tight security with 70 per cent voters exercising their franchise for the lone parliamentary seat in Nagaland, election commission sources said.

Bye-elections were also held for assembly seats in Ampati in Meghalaya, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Maheshtala in West Bengal and Jokikhat in Bihar.

According to election commission sources, there were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere.

They said, the voting percentage in Ampati was 90.42 per cent, in Gomia and Silli it was 62.61 and 75.5 per cent respectively, while 70 per cent voting was recorded till 5 pm in Maheshtala, and Jokikhat registered 53 per cent polling till 5 pm.

The Lok Sabha bypoll in Nagaland was necessitated after Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party leader, resigned as member of Parliament in February, days before the assembly polls in the state.

In Mondays Lok Sabha bypoll, the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance, which has the NDPP and the BJP as it major constituents, fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi as its candidate.

The opposition Naga Peoples Fronts nominee is C Apok Jamir, who is being supported by Congress.

Ampati assembly in Meghalaya witnessed a triangular contest, where Miani D Shira, the daughter of Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma, is the Congress candidate, Clement G Momin is the nominee of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance while Subhankar Koch is the Independent contestant.

The bye-election in this constituency was necessitated after Sangma resigned from the seat as he had won from Songsak seat as well in the February 27 assembly election.

Polling in Gomia and Silli seats ended at 3 pm as they fall in Left Wing Extremism affected areas, sources said.

The bypolls were necessitated following the conviction of their respective MLAs Yogendra Mahto and Amit Mahto, both of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

In Gomia assembly seat, though there is a total of 13 candidates, the main contest is between BJPs Madhavlal Singh, All Jharkhand Students Unions Lambodar Mahto and JMMs Babita Devi, the wife of Yogendra Mahto.

In Silli of the 10 candidates, the main contest is between the former deputy chief minister and AJSU president Sudesh Mahto, and Seema Mahto, the wife of disqualified MLA Amit Mahto.

IMAGE: Voters show their ID cards as they line up in West Bengal for the Maheshtala assembly seat. Photograph: PTI Photo

Bypoll in West Bengals Maheshtala assembly seat was held following the death of Trinamool Congress MLA Kasturi Das.

The party has fielded her husband Dulal Das, while the BJP, which is trying to emerge as the main challenger to the rulign TMC, has fielded Sujit Ghosh, a former Central Bureau of Investigation joint director. The Left has nominated Prabhat Chowdhury.

Bihars Jokikhat assembly bypoll, necessitated following the resignation of sitting MLA Sarfaraz Alam, is being viewed as a test of strength between Nitish Kumars Janata Dal-United and Lalu Prasads Rashtriya Janata Dal.

In the multi-cornered fight for the seat, the main contestants were RJDs Shahnawaz Alam, the younger son of the partys late leader Taslimuddin, and JD-Us Murshid Alam.

Six Independents and Ghousul Azam, who represents controversial Madhepura MP Pappu Yadavs fledgling outfit Jan Adhikar Party are also in fray.

PUNJAB:

The Shahkot assembly constituency, where a bypoll is underway, witnessed 73 per cent polling, an official said.

There was no report of any violence during the polling, the official added.

Polling to the Shahkot bypoll commenced at 7 am. The states ruling Congress is hoping to maintain its winning momentum while the opposition Akali Dal is trying to retain the seat.

The Shahkot bypoll was necessitated by the demise of Akali MLA Ajit Singh Kohar in February this year.

The Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Laddi while Akali Dal has given ticket to Ajit Singh Kohars son Naib Singh Kohar. The Aam Aadmi Party has nominated Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan for the Shahkot bypoll.

There was enthusiasm among the voters who were coming out to exercise their franchise in the morning. However, there were reports that some polling booths witnessed deserted look as voters did not venture out in the afternoon because of hot weather conditions.

South

IMAGE: Voters show their identity cards as they wait in a queue to cast their votes for Silli assembly bypolls. Photograph: PTI Photo

In the south, tight security and a changed political equation post Congress-Janata Dal-Secular alliance marked voting for the Rajarajeshwarinagar bypoll in the state. The election for the seat was deferred earlier due to seizure of 9,564 Election Photo Identity Cards from an apartment.

In Kerala, people braved heavy rains to vote for Chengannur assembly bypoll, where a fierce contest was expected between the three fronts of the Left, the BJP and the Congress.

About 74.6 per cent voting was recorded in the bypoll.

The by-election was necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA K K Ramachandran Nair of Communist Party of India-Marxist in January this year.

All three major contenders for electoral laurel -- Saji Cheriyan (CPI-M), D Vijayakumar (Congress) and P S Sreedharan Pillai (BJP) -- expressed confidence about their victory.

UTTARAKHAND:

Over 53 per cent polling was recorded in the bypolls to the Tharali assembly seat in Uttarakhands Chamoli district.

By the end of the day, 53.43 per cent voters had cast their votes, District Information Officer in-charge of the election control room G S Bisht said.

Though largely peaceful, the bypoll was boycotted at Devsari village in the Dewal area by voters to protest against their demand for a road not being fulfilled, he said.

Polling for the reserved seat went at a slow pace initially.

There are 1,02,569 voters in the constituency, including 50,991 men, 48,301 women and 3,277 service voters, he said.

The contest is straight on the seat between traditional rivals the BJP and the Congress with the former looking to retain it and the latter trying to stage a comeback.

Maganlal Shah of the BJP, whose death earlier this year necessitated the bypolls, had won in 2017 defeating his nearest rival Jeetram.
Search Refworld

and / or country All countries Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Cote d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau (Special Administrative Region of China) Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena 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 Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste (East Timor) Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Territory Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
RUSSIA: 28 new raids, now 20 criminal investigations

Publisher Forum 18 Author Victoria Arnold Publication Date 25 May 2018 Cite as Forum 18, RUSSIA: 28 new raids, now 20 criminal investigations, 25 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b0bc8784.html [accessed 12 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

25 May 2018

RUSSIA: 28 new raids, now 20 criminal investigations

Officers launched 28 raids on Jehovah's Witness homes in May, often forcing entry, threatening occupants with weapons and seizing literature and other items. Under criminal investigation are 7 Jehovah's Witnesses in pre-trial detention, 1 under house arrest and at least 11 under travel restrictions. Two others are already on trial.
Comments

Acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN are those that are likely to affect international peace and security, peaceful relations between states as well as serious violations of human rights. exclusion under 1F(c) depends on the existence of serious reasons to consider that part of the responsibility in the actions can be personally imputed to the applicant. The court has to assess whether the facts resulting from the investigation are such as to give rise to serious grounds for believing that the applicant was personally involved in such actions.
Comments

If acts of a terrorist nature may fall under Article 1 (b) of the Geneva Convention, terrorist acts of an international scale in terms of seriousness, international impact and implications for peace and international security may also amount to acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations within the meaning of Article F (c). In assessing whether there are serious reasons to consider that such an act has been committed, its gravity in relation to its international effects has to be examined.
Title HANY EL-SAYED EL-SEBAI YOUSSEF -and - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT and N2 - and - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

Publication Date 26 April 2018

Citation / Document Symbol [2018] EWCA Civ 933

Cite as HANY EL-SAYED EL-SEBAI YOUSSEF -and - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT and N2 - and - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT , [2018] EWCA Civ 933, United Kingdom: Court of Appeal (England and Wales), 26 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,GBR_CA_CIV,5b0bd2e94.html [accessed 12 October 2021]

Comments whether acts may be sufficient to satisfy the threshold for exclusion from the Convention under Article 1F(c), where those acts were neither themselves completed or attempted terrorist acts, nor can they be shown to have led to specific completed or attempted terrorist acts by others.
KAZAKHSTAN: 40 months, 65 criminal convictions

Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 22 May 2018 Cite as Forum 18, KAZAKHSTAN: 40 months, 65 criminal convictions, 22 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b0be9334.html [accessed 12 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

22 May 2018

KAZAKHSTAN: 40 months, 65 criminal convictions

Three Muslims who drank tea, prayed and discussed their faith have failed to overturn their three-year jail terms on appeal. The men's bank accounts are likely now to be blocked and they owe a large sum in court fees. Their jailing means 65 alleged Tabligh Jamaat members have been convicted since 2015.
UZBEKISTAN: Criminal prosecution follows Easter worship meeting?

Publisher Forum 18 Author Mushfig Bayram Publication Date 24 May 2018 Cite as Forum 18, UZBEKISTAN: Criminal prosecution follows Easter worship meeting?, 24 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b0bed984.html [accessed 12 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

24 May 2018

UZBEKISTAN: Criminal prosecution follows Easter worship meeting?

Police raided and threatened Urgench Baptists with criminal prosecution for meeting at Easter. SSS secret police and ordinary police raided Mubarek Baptists' worship, an illegal court fining two. In Karshi police targeted hearing and speech impaired Baptists. A Samarkand Jehovah's Witness was fined when enquiring about state registration.
The Contested Iraqi Parliamentary Elections in Kirkuk

Publisher International Crisis Group (ICG) Publication Date 24 May 2018 Cite as International Crisis Group (ICG), The Contested Iraqi Parliamentary Elections in Kirkuk, 24 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b0c09dd4.html [accessed 12 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

24 May 2018

The Contested Iraqi Parliamentary Elections in Kirkuk

Widespread perceptions of fraud in May 2018 elections to Iraq's Council of Representatives have triggered demonstrations in Kirkuk and fears of inter-ethnic violence. Crisis Group is calling for a vote recount in Kirkuk to restore confidence in the institutions vital to manage deeper divisions over the contested, oil-rich area.

The International Crisis Group is deeply concerned about developments in Kirkuk, a multi-ethnic governorate in northern Iraq. Contested election results, and the widespread perception that ballot boxes were tampered with, have triggered demonstrations in Kirkuk city and raised the potential for inter-ethnic violence. To help stabilise the situation and enable long-delayed discussions on power-sharing and security arrangements in Kirkuk and, ultimately, the area's political status, Crisis Group is calling for a recount, exclusively in Kirkuk governorate, of ballots cast in Iraq's 12 May 2018 parliamentary elections, or at least a thorough re-examination of the counting and tabulation process. Regardless of the outcome, such an exercise could help restore confidence in the electoral process as well as the credibility of institutions and actors whose role will be critical in addressing Iraq's larger Kirkuk-related challenges down the road.

Kirkuk is an ethnically and confessionally diverse city and governorate with a long history of barely contained conflict. The presence of oil has encouraged demographic engineering by whoever was in control. Iraq's 2005 constitution designated Kirkuk, along with other mixed-population areas in a belt stretching from the Iranian to the Syrian border, as "disputed territories" whose status must be resolved. The UN Assistance Mission of Iraq (UNAMI) has at times worked to broker a solution to what it refers to as Iraq's "disputed internal boundaries"  essentially the border between the Kurdish region and the rest of Iraq  as have non-governmental organisations.

On 12 May, quadrennial elections for Iraq's 329-seat Council of Representatives (CoR) took place in each of its eighteen governorates. In Kirkuk, twelve seats were in play (a thirteenth is a quota seat for the Christian minority). Results tabulated by the local branch of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on the evening of 12 May and transmitted electronically to Baghdad indicated that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had won half those seats, with the remainder divided evenly between the Iraqi Turkmen Front and the Kirkuk Arab Coalition.

This outcome in itself would not have been surprising: people generally (though not necessarily) vote by their ethnicity, and Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the governorate. In previous parliamentary elections, the overall results were similar.

This time, however, there were two striking incongruities: the PUK won in several non-Kurdish areas where the party is not known to have any support and has never won significant numbers of votes in the past; and turnout in Kurdish areas was low compared both to past elections and to the participation rate in Turkmen neighbourhoods and camps for the internally displaced, where many of the governorate's Arab population have been living during and after the struggle against the Islamic State. The apparent reason for the low turnout in Kurdish areas was that many of Kirkuk's Kurds were disaffected with the PUK following its October 2017 decision to allow Iraqi federal forces to retake Kirkuk from Kurdish control in the aftermath of the controversial Kurdish independence referendum the previous month.

When IHEC announced the final results, Arab and Turkmen groups staged protests over what they saw as manipulated ballot boxes, and demanded a recount; these protests are continuing and could trigger violence. It is usual for losers in a contest to challenge the result as well as the process, but in this case there seem to be grounds for questioning both. In a statement on 17 May, the head of UNAMI, Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General Jan Kubis, called on IHEC "to act expeditiously in order to seriously address all complaints including, as necessary, the conduct of partial manual recount in selected locations, notably in Kirkuk".

Following parties' complaints lodged with IHEC, the electoral commission refused to order a recount in Kirkuk. The matter was then transferred to the Independent Judicial Panel, whose powers are outlined in a 2007 law concerning IHEC. The panel has yet to rule, but is expected to do so within two weeks. Its decision cannot be appealed.

Kirkuk's Arabs and Turkmen suspect that sooner or later a Kurd-dominated provincial council will seek a vote on Kirkuk's status and attempt to bring the governorate and its oil fields into the Kurdish region.

Contested election results are worrying in their own right, but in Kirkuk they have much more profound implications. Kirkuk has not had provincial elections since 2005 because its political leaders could not agree on an impartial mechanism for establishing a voter registry, nor on an acceptable interim power-sharing arrangement apart from election results. In March of this year, after a thirteen-year hiatus, these local leaders were finally able to reach agreement following active mediation; based on their recommendation regarding Kirkuk, the CoR then passed a law for Iraq's provincial elections, including Kirkuk, which are to be held in December 2018. It was significant progress. Yet only two months later these gains are being jeopardised by the controversy surrounding the CoR election results in Kirkuk. If people in Kirkuk have no confidence in the electoral process and its results today, why would they have confidence in the process and outcome of provincial council elections in December or, eventually, of a referendum on the province's status?

The core of the problem is that Kirkuk's Arabs and Turkmen suspect that sooner or later a Kurd-dominated provincial council will seek a vote on Kirkuk's status and attempt to bring the governorate and its oil fields into the Kurdish region; and that this means they may end up living in an independent Kurdish state, an outcome they say they reject. (This is the reason why CoR elections, by contrast, have been able to take place in Kirkuk: similar sensitivities do not exist, because Kirkuk's Kurdish representatives in the CoR have no such power. The provincial elections law adopted in March was able to include Kirkuk after thirteen years because it stipulates that the new council cannot take decisions on Kirkuk's status.) The inter-communal mistrust makes an interim power-sharing arrangement, as well as a joint security mechanism, of critical importance in maintaining Kirkuk's fragile stability.

With confidence severely shaken, progress on these objectives is unlikely if Kirkuk's CoR election results are allowed to stand without some form of review. If this results in an inability to address the larger question of relations between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional government in Erbil, which is centred on the status of disputed territories and the sharing of oil revenues, then Iraq can expect to remain unstable in perpetuity.

It is imperative that the Iraqi leadership, through IHEC, conduct a recount of the 2018 CoR election results exclusively in Kirkuk governorate.

Leaders in Baghdad and Erbil have indicated to Crisis Group their willingness to return to talks about the disputed territories and revenue sharing once new governments are in place in both capitals. (Kurdish regional elections are scheduled for the end of September.) Moreover, all principal external stakeholders  Iran, the United States, Turkey and the EU  have indicated their interest in an accommodation between Baghdad and Erbil, and a peaceful settlement of the vexatious Kirkuk question in particular.

It is therefore imperative that the Iraqi leadership, through IHEC, conduct a recount of the 2018 CoR election results exclusively in Kirkuk governorate. It is understandable, given the low participation rate nationally, that Iraq's political parties want to see the national election results ratified as soon as possible, without opening them up for re-examination. But Kirkuk has been a special case in Iraq for a long time, and it should be so again now. The parties should consider the possibility of IHEC ratifying the national results with the exception of Kirkuk for a period of one month, during which IHEC can conduct a transparent recount, or an audit of the counting and tabulation process, in Kirkuk governorate. Kirkuk's thirteen seats in the CoR will not seriously affect efforts to form a coalition government, a process that is still in its very early stages and can be expected to be prolonged.

The decision now rests with the Independent Judicial Panel. The Panel should factor into its deliberations the deeply contested nature of the Kirkuk results; the damage these results have done in Kirkuk to confidence in the electoral process ahead of much more sensitive provincial elections later this year; and the importance of both the CoR and provincial elections in Kirkuk as critical building blocks of future negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil over power sharing and security management in Kirkuk, as well as, in the end, the administrative status of Kirkuk and other disputed territories.
For Azerbaijan, Armenia's Political Upheaval is a Double-edged Sword

Publisher International Crisis Group (ICG) Author Zaur Shiriyev Publication Date 25 May 2018 Cite as International Crisis Group (ICG), For Azerbaijan, Armenia's Political Upheaval is a Double-edged Sword, 25 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b0c0c444.html [accessed 12 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

25 May 2018

For Azerbaijan, Armenia's Political Upheaval is a Double-edged Sword

Azerbaijan regards Armenia's "velvet revolution" as both hopeful and worrying. Baku hoped Yerevan's new leadership might bring a fresh approach to negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. But, thus far, to many Azerbaijanis that leadership sounds less flexible than its predecessor.

The springtime political upheaval in Armenia stunned neighbouring governments  not least that of Azerbaijan. Since 23 April, when mass demonstrations impelled Armenia's long-time leader Serzh Sargsyan to resign, the Azerbaijani authorities have struggled to understand the implications for the three-decade-long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prior to Armenia's "velvet revolution", observers in the Azerbaijani capital Baku believed Sargsyan would continue indefinitely as prime minister. At the outset of the anti-Sargsyan unrest, the demonstrations were small, and Azerbaijanis remained doubtful that the unrest would force a change in Armenian politics. They drew comparisons to "electric Yerevan"  the 2015 protests in the Armenian capital against electricity rate hikes. Even as the demonstrations grew, the Azerbaijani authorities did not imagine that Sargsyan would step down. Every previous uprising in the region had had a "geopolitical colour"  some relation to the standoff between Russia and the West  and they did not know what to make of a popular revolt centred solely on national politics.

Sargsyan's exit was not unwelcome, however. On a key Azerbaijani demand vis-a-vis Nagorno-Karabakh  the return of seven Armenian-controlled districts adjacent to the territory  Baku had long viewed him as inflexible. Baku wants to see a step-by-step formula for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, with the return of some lands as negotiations continue, so as to produce the first tangible results since the 1994 ceasefire and build confidence in the peace process. Yet Sargsyan  like Armenian leaders before him  stuck to a "land for status formula". Despite adopting a formal position that the seven Armenian-controlled districts were "not Armenian homeland", he insisted that those districts would be returned to Azerbaijan only after Nagorno-Karabakh's status was resolved.

In recent years, Baku also had thought Sargsyan was damaging the settlement process by investing his political capital in trying to normalise relations with Turkey and reopen the Armenia-Turkey border rather than in resolving the conflict with Azerbaijan. Baku has always seen the border's reopening as conditional on Nagorno-Karabakh progress.

These incompatible positions ended up foiling both Armenia-Turkey normalisation (despite Yerevan's efforts, Ankara ultimately supported Baku's stance on the border issue) and progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks, which are deadlocked. For several years, the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders have met only at long intervals. Currently there are no plans for another meeting.

Baku thought that the surprise political transition in Armenia might bring a way out of the impasse. Were there progress toward resolution of the conflict, Azerbaijan might be willing to see Armenia join long-term regional integration projects, from the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to the oil and gas ventures involving Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. But this initial optimism has faded. Azerbaijan now views the "velvet revolution" as a double-edged sword: it got rid of Sargsyan, but it also brought to power leaders entirely unknown to Baku whose statements on Nagorno-Karabakh, at least for the time being, sound harder-line.

A Cautious Azerbaijani Response to Armenian Upheaval

Prior to, and even during Sargsyan's ouster, there had appeared to be a heightened risk of skirmishes along the line of contact between Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijani army. Several opinion makers in Azerbaijani media  some having misread the situation, others playing to nationalist sentiment to raise their profiles  called for military strikes to regain territory or held out war as an option had the upheaval in Armenia worsened. In Armenia, as noted in an earlier Crisis Group commentary, there were reports of Azerbaijani movements at the line of contact (which Baku denied).

But in contrast to the pundits, most high-level officials in Baku remained calm in their statements. The Azerbaijani government feared Yerevan would provoke a confrontation so that the Armenians who had gathered on the streets to protest against the government would rally round the flag instead. It thus refrained from bellicose language, opting to "wait and see" how the Armenian tumult would end.

Baku rooted its caution in the perception that any military action, even a small provocation, would unify Armenians behind the government, possibly leading the demonstrations to dissolve. Similarly, Armenian protesters, led by the formerly obscure MP Nikol Pashinyan, who is now prime minister, seemed aware of that risk. Sasun Mikaelyan, a deputy from Pashinyan's minority Yelk faction, said, "reports of Azerbaijani military activity are untrue". Whether or not he meant it to, Mikaelyan's statement echoed that of Hikmet Hajiyev, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani foreign ministry, who had said: "Allegations of the deployment of manpower and military equipment by Azerbaijan to the front do not correspond to reality".

Azerbaijan had good reason to be transparent about its intentions. In 2008, when Sargsyan first came to power, deadly fighting (which each side accuses the other of starting) along the line of contact had coincided with a police crackdown on demonstrators in Yerevan. Tens of thousands had been protesting the outcome of the presidential election; their candidate, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, had lost to Sargsyan. The fighting helped change the mood in Armenia, redirecting anti-government anger outward.

Elites in Baku also worried that any military activity at the line of contact would incur an international backlash, casting Azerbaijan in a negative light as the "velvet revolution" proceeded. They had hoped that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's cabinet reshuffle, his most significant to date, following his election win on 11 April, would generate some positive international coverage. Baku wanted to present this change as a first step toward reform at home. Instead, the Yerevan events overshadowed the cabinet reshuffle, leaving it almost unnoticed.

After Sargsyan's departure, officials in Baku expressed concern that the Armenian demonstrations might inspire opposition groups in Azerbaijan, always a source of government anxiety. This concern had immediate consequences, namely parliament's proposal to impose new penalties for violations of the already stringent rules about rallies and demonstrations.

Pashinyan's Election and the View from Baku

Nikol Pashinyan was elected prime minister of Armenia on 8 May, with the backing of the Republican Party that had ruled under Sargysan.

The first misperception is that Pashinyan is a dove on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Overall, Baku recognises that, in the short term, the new premier is unlikely to adopt a radically different position on Nagorno-Karabakh from that of his predecessor. That said, opinion in Baku is marked both by potential misperceptions about the new Armenian premier and a number of fears.

The first misperception is that Pashinyan is a dove on Nagorno-Karabakh. Some Azerbaijani analysts cite as evidence his links to the former Armenian president, Ter-Petrosyan, who was forced to resign in 1998 by elite opposition to his perceived openness to compromise on the conflict. But in reality, little suggests Pashinyan is a dove, and though he backed Ter-Petrosyan against Sargysan in 2008, the two have never shared policy ideas on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Second, many in Baku believe that Pashinyan's rise to power could signal a shift in Armenian relations with Russia. This partly relates to the new premier's 2017 statement that Armenia should leave the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Russia's counterpart to the trade agreements sponsored by the European Union. Yet this pronouncement should not be taken at face value: at the time, Russia had just sent a shipment of arms to Azerbaijan, and Pashinyan was speaking in anger. He did not support the later decision of his Yelk parliamentary faction to incorporate an anti-EEU stance into its platform. Indeed, since becoming prime minister, Pashinyan has taken pains to ensure he is not seen as anti-Russian. During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on 14 May, he gave a speech providing assurance that "nobody has ever questioned the strategic importance of Armenian-Russian relations, or ever will".

Many Azerbaijani experts nonetheless persist in misinterpreting the 2017 statement as a "policy of blackmail" aimed at extracting more from Moscow. They believe that when that gambit fails, Pashinyan will pivot toward the West, leading to a deterioration in Armenia-Russia relations that will benefit Azerbaijan. As the former foreign affairs minister, Tofig Zulfugarov, put it, "Azerbaijan should be ready for negotiations and war simultaneously, and wait for Armenians to make new mistakes".

A pro-government analyst was blunter, telling Crisis Group, "there is an expectation that if Nikol Pashinyan makes one wrong move, Moscow will punish Armenia, and increase support for Azerbaijan. This support also would mean giving the green light to Azerbaijan to take back territories via military intervention". In reality, however, a major shift in Armenia-Russia relations for now appears unlikely.

Baku also has a number of concerns related to the change in leadership. The first relates to the fact that Pashinyan heads a minority government vulnerable to challenge. He appears likely to call snap parliamentary elections  he promised to do so before he was named prime minister and a fresh poll would give him the chance of strengthening his position in parliament. At least until that vote, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will likely remain a pressure point deployed by the opposition (which holds the majority in parliament) against Pashinyan  any sign that the new premier is insufficiently tough could be used to undermine him.

Once he does call for a vote, Nagorno-Karabakh could easily become the main campaign issue. In such contests, said Farhad Mammadov, director of the Azerbaijani president's Centre for Strategic Studies, "we should expect loud populist, maximalist promises from political parties and leaders regarding the settlement of the conflict". Pashinyan himself has promised to increase the military budget and made hard-line pronouncements on Nagorno-Karabakh that could be escalatory.

The second concern, in Baku's eyes, relates to the negotiating format for talks on Nagorno-Karabakh. For now, that format names Armenia and Azerbaijan as the two parties to the talks, and designates the two countries' leaders as the main interlocutors.

Until recently, that meant the presidents and the foreign ministers. But now that Armenia has moved from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government, the prime minister (briefly, Sargsyan, and now Pashinyan) is Yerevan's main representative. More to the point, parliament has veto power over even a basic formula for peace. The prime minister will have to put any decision up for a vote. A premier reluctant to make peace could stand by as deputies voted no on a prospective agreement. Even one ready to risk his political career for peace would need to win parliamentary backing.

For Baku, the participation of Karabakhi Armenians in talks about the territory's status is acceptable only if Karabakhi Azerbaijanis displaced from their homes by war are also present on an equal footing.

For Baku, the participation of Karabakhi Armenians in talks about the territory's status is acceptable only if Karabakhi Azerbaijanis displaced from their homes by war are also present on an equal footing. That demand, in turn, Yerevan rejects. The format has implications for status: Yerevan argues that Karabakhi Armenians need to be present as representatives of a nation that claims self-determination outside of Azerbaijan; Baku argues that, at a minimum, both ethnic communities need to be present to discuss self-determination within Azerbaijan. If and when talks resume, they could bog down in this dispute.

As for Pashinyan's statement regarding the Karabakhi Armenians, senior Azerbaijani officials interviewed by Crisis Group said, "this will be perceived as a reason for war. The de facto Nagorno-Karabakh is an interested party and so should not be at the table in the negotiations, like the Azerbaijanis of Nagorno-Karabakh. This was agreed upon back in March 1992 at the OSCE (Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe) Ministerial Council meeting in Helsinki, where the Minsk Group was established". If the new Armenian premier pushes hard on this point, Baku will dismiss him as uninterested in negotiation. It will then likely wait for the outcome of Armenia's snap elections, if they take place, before taking any action. But one of the biggest reasons for past escalations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been the parties' lack of faith in negotiations to deliver concrete results. If there is a sense that talks are stalled, non-diplomatic options, including the tactical use of force, may become more tempting.

Most dangerous would be de jure recognition of the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh authorities by Armenia, which is unlikely, but if it happens would be viewed as extremely provocative in Baku and could even spark some form of escalation. During the April 2016 escalation, Armenian MPs introduced a bill to that effect, but the majority shelved it.

Any escalation on the ground, even if small or inadvertent, could result in numerous casualties, given the high combat readiness on both sides of the heavily militarised line of contact and the risk that outside players would be dragged in.

Refrain from Provocations

The Azerbaijani side has lately been using bold rhetoric of its own, naming Yerevan and other parts of Armenia, where Azerbaijanis lived prior to the breakup of Soviet Union, as historical lands and invoking a right of return. This talk is not new, but in 2018 it has become a cornerstone of President Aliyev's speeches on Nagorno-Karabakh. On 18 April, Aliyev stated, "we would like the world community to know that not only Karabakh, but also present-day Armenia is historical Azerbaijani land". This statement triggered a wave of emotional criticism on the Armenian side, where it was perceived as an open threat.

In interviews with Crisis Group, Azerbaijani officials soft-pedaled Aliyev's intent, saying, "these statements mention only that Azerbaijanis live in these territories and they have rights. This is a response to the maximalist position of Serzh Sargsyan on Nagorno-Karabakh, rejecting the return of lands. In this way we are setting our maximalist position". Whatever the case, in the interest of building trust with the new Armenian leadership, Baku should desist from this rhetoric.

In the interim, the two countries should convene an urgent meeting of their foreign ministers. It would also be useful to upgrade (rather than overhaul) the negotiation format. At present, talks depend exclusively on high-level meetings. Separate meetings between personal representatives of the Armenian prime minister and Azerbaijani president could reduce the risk of misunderstandings during the intervals when the leaders and foreign ministers are not talking. These personal representatives could serve as a back channel, ensuring that any messages are accurately transmitted and understood. Such a format was useful in the 1990s, helping build trust and resolve thorny issues. At the same time, the Minsk Group co-chairs and the European Union should step up their engagement with both sides to reiterate the importance of refraining from provocations during the pause in negotiations.
Deadly Day in Gaza Won't Be the Last

Publisher International Crisis Group (ICG) Author Nathan Thrall Publication Date 15 May 2018 Cite as International Crisis Group (ICG), Deadly Day in Gaza Won't Be the Last, 15 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b0c0f234.html [accessed 12 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

15 May 2018

Deadly Day in Gaza Won't Be the Last

Israeli troops on 14 May killed more than 60 Palestinian protesters demanding a return to their old homes in Israel and an end to the siege of Gaza. In this Q&A, our Israel/Palestine Project Director Nathan Thrall outlines the risks of escalation.

Monday's protest, held on the day of the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem and the eve of nakba day, when Palestinians commemorate the expulsion and flight from their homes during the 1947-1949 war, was the largest of the past several weeks, and the bloodiest day of Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the 2014 Gaza war. The protesters' primary goal has been to underscore the Palestinians' insistence on returning to the homes in Israel from which they and their families have been exiled for 70 years; a more immediate demand of the march has been to end the siege of Gaza, including the tight restrictions on exports, imports, and travel in and out of the territory.

Several factors make yesterday's protest more likely to lead to an escalation in violence than earlier ones. First, the number of protesters is higher and so are the number of casualties. Israel is determined to prevent Palestinians from crossing into Israel, and to achieve that objective, it is showing little compunction about using live fire on mostly unarmed protesters.

Second, in recent weeks, and especially today, Israel started employing a new tactic in order to deter Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, from participating in, allowing, or encouraging the protests: the Israeli air force has attacked Hamas targets in Gaza that have no connection to the demonstrations, and in Monday's protest those attacks intensified. An Israeli news site reported that, for the first time since the marches began on 30 March, Israel has threatened to assassinate Hamas leaders if the protests persist.

Third, the Palestinian factions in Gaza have been building up to this week's demonstrations for several weeks. When Israel had previously hit Hamas targets in Gaza in order to weaken Hamas's support for the marches, Hamas had an incentive not to retaliate: it didn't want an escalation with Israel that would dampen or quash the protests before they had reached their planned climax. But now that we are at that anticipated climax and Israel is attacking Hamas targets on a larger scale than before, Hamas has fewer reasons to refrain from responding. Though both sides do not want a war, and Hamas has little reason to believe that a new war would leave it in a better position than it is in today, events can spiral out of control.

What have the Palestinians achieved by their action?

Although the Palestinians so far have fallen far short of their main substantive goals (return and end of the siege), they nonetheless have achieved quite a bit: they've brought renewed attention to the Palestinian issue, at a time when it is marginalized not just in the world but even in the region; united the Palestinians in Gaza in a joint struggle at a time when efforts to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have gone nowhere; emphasized the urgency of resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; highlighted the incontrovertible reality that Gazans are living in what amounts to a large open-air prison, given the strict closure regime; and reasserted Palestinian demands, in particular for the return of refugees, at a time when Palestinians appear to be losing everywhere, from Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (remaining ambiguous and inconsistent about what part of Jerusalem has been recognised), to cuts to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, to the threat of an imposed U.S. peace plan that Palestinians believe will be highly unfavourable. In addition, the protests have deepened and widened global sympathy for the Palestinians at the same time that the U.S. has grown closer to Israel. On 14 May, Turkey and South Africa recalled their ambassadors to Israel.

Looked at more narrowly within the frame of intra-Palestinian politics, there have been some achievements for those seen to be supporting the protests, in particular Hamas. Its unequivocal support for the protests has increased its standing among Palestinians, sharpening the division between it and Fatah, whose leader has made several ambivalent statements about the protests and has imposed unprecedented sanctions on Gaza during the past year.

Where do the Gaza protests fit with the U.S. embassy move?

The Great March of Return in Gaza was originally scheduled for 15 May, nakba day. But in order to coincide with the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and emphasize Palestinian opposition to the move, the march was rescheduled to begin on 14 May, the eve of nakba day, and continue on 15 May. The primary demands of the protesters are for return and an end to siege, however, not for anything related to the U.S. embassy move.

Where is all this heading for Israel?

As bad as the headlines have been in recent weeks, this sort of criticism is something Israel has been coping with fairly well since the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. There is no reason to assume that Israel cannot continue its policies in Gaza for some time to come, though part of the price it has paid, and will likely continue to pay, is occasional escalations and international opprobrium.

Nevertheless, Israel, Egypt and the U.S. share an interest in containing the protests, and it is possible that they will now act with greater urgency to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. On the day before Monday's protest, according to reports in the Arab press, Egypt offered Hamas several Egyptian and Israeli concessions in exchange for containing the protests: expanding the area in which Gaza fishermen are permitted; opening Egypt's crossing with Gaza on a regular basis; increasing imports of fuel and goods through the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel; and allowing greater numbers of medical patients to be treated in Israel and the West Bank. These are positive first steps that should be pursued, but much more needs to be done to significantly change conditions in Gaza.

Is there anything the outside world can do?

To begin, there are steps the parties to the conflict can and should take: protest organisers should do their utmost to ensure the marches are peaceful  on Monday, the Israeli army said that Palestinians had planted explosives, hurled fire bombs, and flown flaming kites  and Israel must stop using deadly and disproportionate force on unarmed demonstrators. Israelis and Palestinians also ought to pursue a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, involving an exchange of prisoners and bodies between Israel and Hamas. Beyond that, the most important measures entail ameliorating the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza. For the outside world, it means pressing Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to end their joint strangulation of Gaza. For donors to the PA, it entails beginning investing directly in Gaza projects. Israel, for its part, ought to stop transferring taxes on Gaza goods to the PA government in Ramallah and instead use that money  which in any event should belong to the people of Gaza  on the territory's most pressing needs: electricity, sewage, clean water, and jobs. Finally, the EU should consider direct support to the government of Gaza so long as it, and the factions of Gaza, commit to uphold a ceasefire with Israel.
Christian Grobbelaar, a young director from South Africa and a participant of the Looking China Project. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Annual Looking China Youth Film Project has invited filmmakers from around the world to create short documentaries about Chinese culture. Fang Aiqing reports.

A group of young foreign filmmakers are taking an in-depth look at China through their camera lenses. Among them is Christian Grobbelaar, a young director from South Africa, whose short documentary Watch People unveils a remarkable tale of craftsmanship and redemption.

By repairing watches, Li Xin not only managed to fix the problems that lie behind the face of a wristwatch, but he's also fixed many of the problems in his own life as well.

With an array of delicate tools laid out on a blank sheet of paper on his table, the 25-year-old watch repairman begins to demonstrate the process of disassembly, cleaning, oiling and reassemblyan art that few people master nowwhile telling the story of the many twists and turns in his life.

After experiencing his parents' divorce, the once well-behaved student fell into bad company and rebelliously turned to a life of smoking, drinking and fighting.

During one particularly fierce fight 10 years ago, Li was stabbed twice. One blow pierced his lung while the other permanently damaged his central nervous system. As a result, he ended up crippled, and was forced to rely on crutches for the rest of his life.

Idling at home for several years, Li's life seemed to be doomed until he found a job at the time-honored Sheng Chang Watch Shop in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, where traditional watch repair skills are passed on to the disabled.

"When it comes to fixing a watch, you will be faced with a variety of problems. The hardest ones to tackle are the problems you cannot see with your eyes, because they hid very deep. But we still always manage to find a way to fix them," Li says.

Grobbelaar's short documentary applies montage techniques and uses puns in both the title of the work and throughout the story.

As the story "unfolds in an artistic way and combines craftsmanship with humanity", the work was awarded first prize and best artistic presentation at the fourth Golden Lenses awards held recently by Beijing Normal University.

The award aims to reward excellent works from BNU's Looking China Youth Film Project, which annually invites young filmmakers from around the globe to China to experience Chinese culture and, with one-on-one help from a Chinese volunteer, create a 10-minute short documentary about Chinese culture.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) hosts a reception for Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on May 28th. (Photo: VNA)



PM Phuc highly spoke of the Australian FMs visit, saying it takes places right after the successful visit to Vietnam from May 23rd-26th by Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove to translate the Vietnam-Australia reliable and profound strategic partnership into reality.

The government leader also hailed the outcomes of earlier talks between Bishop and Vietnamese Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh.

PM Phuc thanked the Government and people of Australia for funding the construction of cable-stayed Cao Lanh Bridge in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap. The bridge reflects the long-standing friendship between the two nations, he said, adding that the Vietnamese people look forward to the enhancement of cooperation with Australia in different fields.

Bishop, for her part, emphasized the importance of fostering the implementation of the Vietnam  Australia strategic partnership to deepen bilateral ties.

She was delighted at the strengthened and enhanced mutual trust between the two nations with the inauguration of the Cao Lanh Bridge as a symbol of effective cooperation. She hoped that the bridge will benefit local residents and promote the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta.

The FM said she was pleased to know that more and more Australian investors are doing business in Vietnam and that Australia wants to step up collaboration with Vietnam in many areas, particularly innovation.

PM Phuc agreed with FM Bishops cooperation proposals, saying the two countries need to soon implement the contents of the strategic partnership and agencies must work together to remove barriers and bolster investment and trade exchange for the benefit of their businesses and people.

Bishop has been on a visit to Vietnam from May 26th-28th during which she attended the inauguration of the Cao Lanh Bridge and co-chaired the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers Meeting.

The Cao Lanh Bridge spans over the Tien River to connect the provincial capital of Cao Lanh and Lap Vo district. The 2km-long bridge is about 0.8 km from the Cao Lanh ferry terminal and about 35 km from My Thuan Bridge, which links Tien Giang and Vinh Long provinces.

It is estimated that the bridge will help reduce the travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang and Kien Giang by 2 hours. Before the bridge was inaugurated, local people had to take ferry to cross the Tien River.

Australias AUD160 million (over USD121 million) non-refundable aid in the project is one of the countrys largest aid activities in Southeast Asia./.
Thailand's fruit export between January and August this year generated 169 billion THB (about 5 billion USD), an increase of 46 percent year-on-year, according to the Thai Ministry of Commerce.
On April 5, a roundtable was held at the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly On the validity of introducing criminal liability for unauthorized development of subsoil resources and de facto stealing of precious and semi-precious stones from the state causing serious damage during their extraction.

Here, it should be stressed that while considering any issues regarding the toughening of liability for unauthorized development of subsoil resources, etc., it is first and foremost necessary to have an understandable and intelligible legal procedure for such development of subsoil resources. At present, there is no such a procedure in the Russian Federation.

The Subsoil Law of the Russian Federation that has been in effect from the early 1990s (Order no. 84 dated 19.05.1994) provides for three types of licensing: licence for mining, licence for exploration and licence for collecting.

At present, the only type of licence available for use by the gemstone industry is the licence for collecting because, in the first place, most sites that are of interest in terms of raw gemstone materials do not have the rank of a deposit at all and, secondly, the deposits with estimated reserves are not profitable because investments in the preparation for mining and building the appropriate infrastructure are ten times higher compared with any profit expected.

From 2010, according to the new orders (No. 551 dated 17.12.2010), it is forbidden to declare commercial use as the purpose of collecting, and these orders specify that this type of licence cannot be issued for precious and semi-precious stones, which in fact made it impossible for all small-scale businesses to legally acquire Russian gemstones. It turns out that the body granting licences (the Russian Federal Agency for Subsoil Use or for short, Rosnedra) uses the All-Russian Classifier, where, for example, aquamarine, alexandrite, amethyst, jadeite, emerald, morion, ruby, sapphire, topaz, chrysolite, chrysoprase, chrome diopside and rock crystal are attributed to precious stones under the All-Russia Classifier of Raw Minerals and Underground Waters 1450211.

Those who compiled the All-Russian Classifier, of course, heard nothing about the Federal Law On the precious metals and precious stones because they, probably, live on some other planet. But it is strange that the officials issuing licences were not aware of it, as they seem to stay on this planet together with us.

By the way, the licences for extracting fossil ivory are granted without any trouble. It is interesting that these are licences for collecting collectible materials. Personally, I do not understand what kind of relation there is between those tons of fossil ivory and the collectible materials, as fossil ivory is a typical raw material used to make handcrafted goods?

Over the last two decades, Russia saw the emergence of a market of raw gemstone materials involving over 500,000 persons, according to some estimates. It is worth mentioning that most of these people want to work legally and follow clear rules. The existing strategy to curb the illegal activities in the field of raw gemstone materials without any preliminary elaboration of legal ways for such activities is wrongful as it puts all the market stakeholders  except state-owned businesses - outside the legal field.

It is also worthy to note that any way of mining large amounts of raw gemstone materials without a smart sales policy can cause a global price collapse in the world market, as these materials are not industrial and the demand for them is limited. This is what we witness in recent years  a sharp decrease in prices (several-fold) for amber and jade due to large supplies of these gems to China, the major consumer of amber and jade in the world.

Based on the above, three conclusions can be made:

1. It is necessary to amend the Subsoil Law of the Russian Federation. And the sooner, the better.

2. It is necessary to strictly regulate all the terminology, especially that relating to the precious (subject to the separate law of the Russian Federation) and semiprecious stones. In this case, entities are not to be multiplied without necessity.

3. The state-owned corporations that entered this market should not behave like an elephant in a china shop and they should better have consultations more often with the real experts in this field, rather than with managers from Oxford.

Dmitry Lisitsin for Rough&Polished





Dmitry Lisitsin is the Chief of the Exposition Department at the Samotsvety Museum (Gemstones Museum), which is a federal state-funded institution. He also is an expert in the field of mineralogical materials at the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
A senior executive with a demonstrated history of working globally at management and board levels, Marcus ter Haar has been the Managing Director at Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), Botswana for about 10 months now, prior to which he held the position of Deputy Managing Director for more than 5 years. Before joining ODC, he did a stint as Head of Sales & Marketing with DTC, with responsibility to deliver diamond sales to Botswana based diamond cutters and polishers and define strategies for Botswana diamond beneficiation.

With a PLD from Harvard Business School; MA International Relations from Reading University and a BA Economics & Politics from University of East Anglia, Marcus has also acquired adequate experience in Governance, Risk, Business Planning, Management, and Business development in various positions over the years.

Marcus is also volunteering for more than 9 years now as the Secretary and Board Trustee at Khama Charitable Trust, which is a donor and fund-raising organisation supporting the upliftment of women and children in marginalised sections of Botswana Society.

In an interview with Rough&Polished, Marcus ter Haar speaks on all you wanted to know about ODC and more

Some excerpts:

Though most of our readers may be aware of Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), please walk us through from the company's journey from 2013 till date?

Okavango Diamond Companys (ODC) true inception on paper was actually in 2012. It was then that the former Managing Director Toby Frears invited a small team of executives to build the company from the ground up. At that stage, the company was working from a small leased office and we only had a strategy document to work from. In the first few months, our time was spent equipping our facility, hiring the first round of employees and putting in place all the systems, processes and policies which would eventually allow us to launch our first sale in 2013. At the launch event, we only had 50 customers registered. Since then the company has grown from strength to strength and today we have 2 sales channels (Spot Auction and Term Auction) over 500 registered customers and are selling in the region of $550 million of Botswana diamonds every year. Our focus until now has been to ensure that we win the trust and respect of our customers and the wider diamond community, to be recognised as a credible and progressive global rough diamond trading company.

In the last few years with the establishment of a number of new diamond mining houses, the mining and the wholesale rough trading segment of the pipeline has become far more competitive. This is a healthy development because it has led to a realignment in the balance of power towards rough buyers who now have multiple sources and purchasing opportunities around the world. It has always been important for us to, therefore, ensure that attention was paid to building a company with good standing and one which our customers can trust. It is also a gentle warning to all direct source suppliers that we must be highly customer-centric if we are to earn the respect and loyalty of the mid-stream.

Can you give us an idea of the product range of ODC? What is the marketing pattern of the company and in which trading centres do you operate? What benefit and convenience does ODC get in each centre? Please elaborate.

ODC sells 15% of the full range of Debswana production. We have built our sales lots based on generic and recognisable market assortments in a way which allows us to offer scale and consistency to a diverse group of customers. We sell in excess of 100 lots every 5 weeks and these represent all categories from the smaller cheaper ranges to the large iconic and rarer single stones. The Botswana production profile allows ODC to service a very wide selection of buying preferences and we are fortunate to have access to a healthy selection, the large, high value, high-quality stones which Botswana is becoming increasingly well known for.

ODC has chosen to sell by two core methods, which are the Spot Auction and the Term Auction what is known more commonly as Term. The Spot Auction is a regular 5 weekly event at which ODC markets its portion of the full range of Debswana production available. Occasionally we also expose our goods to other countries and currently, these two markets are only Israel and India. The goods we show in each of these Bourses are a broad reflection of the buying preferences of our customers in those centres. In Israel, for example, it is typically the larger gem ranges which appeal to the local buyers. All goods, however, are ultimately returned to Botswana for Auction sale and export.

ODC currently purchases up to 15% of Debswana production and our Term Auction offering is limited to the smaller cheaper goods where we have sufficient volumes of diamonds to sell on both the Auction and Term platforms. We have been doing our best to react to customer needs and will continue to refine our Term sales to try and sell more goods through this channel as several customers have expressed interest in committed supply in additional ranges of goods.

Help us with approximate details of the quality/volume of goods that are generally traded during each sale in each centre. Do you decide on the quality/volume, etc., after prior market /demand study? How does it work with your company?

ODC Sales are all conducted online and hosted in Botswana. The goods are then sold and shipped from Botswana to our global customer base. It is important to us to ensure our customers receive a regular feed of goods. Where possible we will try and make everything in our intake available for sale to our customers given that they have been demonstrating healthy demand for our product.

In terms of where our diamonds are exported so far in 2018 within our top 3 destinations is UAE currently representing our biggest share with 34% of our diamonds followed by India at 33% of all exports and finally Belgium at 24%. We operate a fully open market system, so nothing is predetermined before ODC auctions and the customers will determine what prices diamonds are sold for and where they are sent for processing.

Can you give us more details on The Spot Auction & Term Auction of your company? How does it work and how is it beneficial for the buyers? Do you provide information about the assortments/prices etc. in advance to prospective buyers? Please give more info.

We chose an auction model because it remains for us the most transparent, efficient and fair sales process in the market and instills a sense of confidence among those participating. The Auction also empowers our customers through the level of visibility and information we share throughout the viewing and auction process.

Our Spot auctions are held every 5 weeks. In advance of the auction, all our customers are invited to view our production in Botswana. The auction is held over the course of approximately 2 hours and the full range of production is made available to bid against.

We also offer information and analysis on the make-up of the lots on offer for even greater levels of transparency.

The idea of using Blockchain technology in the diamond industry is picking up of late, to maintain digital record transfers as well as decentralize the register that shows the journey from rough to polished. What's your thoughts on the need for 'Blockchain' for the industry, especially during these difficult times?

The idea of tracking the provenance and lifecycle of a product is a natural and necessary evolution in our industry if we are to win the hearts and minds of consumers both now and in the future. The underlying philosophy is that individuals want to have trust and pride in the products they buy, and we are still fighting to reverse many of the negative legacy perceptions of diamonds which still, unfortunately, exist amongst our consumers. Any means to re-establish confidence can only be seen as a positive step forward.

The entire industry will be driven to guarantee provenance over time simply as a result of diamonds needing to keep up with consumer trends. There are many exciting ideas being piloted as we speak such as GIA Mine to Market Programme and various other blockchain frameworks but there are also seemingly further developments which are required in the Blockchain space to guarantee a totally watertight system. I have every confidence that the pace of innovation in this space will soon overcome any doubts people may have in the current Blockchain systems being piloted.

Dubai is growing by leaps and bounds as re-export hub for its gems, looking to even outdo the leader-hub Antwerp. How fruitful has it been for ODC in its business by partnering with Dubai?

Dubai must be acknowledged for all they have achieved in such a short period of time. There are certainly benefits to doing business in Dubai and we have seen the city develop significantly as a financial and trade hub over the years, especially in the context of diamond trading. ODC has witnessed a growth in our rough exports to Dubai over the last year to 18 months and will continue to monitor this trend and other developments in the future.

ODC is reported to have posted a 4 percent jump in sales to $567 mn, selling 3.41 mn carats in 2017, the highest since 2013. What's your expectation for 2018, given the slowdown in some consumer markets?

It has always been exceptionally difficult to accurately predict the performance of the diamond market owing to the volatility that the sector has experienced consistently in the last few years. For that reason, we are focused more on a short to medium term view of the market. We currently find ourselves in a period of healthy demand for rough albeit if the rough can be found at the right prices. This is a slight deviation away from the typical trend of slowing demand around this time which seems to reflect a hunger for rough which has been sustained post the typical first-quarter rally in the market.

Since 2016, in business terms, how effective was ODC displaying diamonds for viewing in the SNZ (at the Bharat Diamond Bourse) in Mumbai, India? Would ODC consider direct sales if India's 'Tax structure' was rectified to facilitate mining companies?

It is important for ODC to remain relevant to buyers all over the world and it is for that reason that we undertake viewings in Mumbai from time to time. It has been very useful for us not only from the perspective of generating customer registrations but also exposing our product to other buyers in the market. Currently, ODC has no plans to change its current model of selling goods directly from Botswana.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished
Angola targets annual output of 14MCts Angola is planning to produce an annual output of 14 million carats of diamonds per year, according to the local media citing the minister of mineral resources, oil and gas, Diamantino de Azevedo.

ALROSA raised $298 million for rough and polished diamonds sold in September The company said its sales of rough and polished diamonds in September totaled $298 million, including proceeds from rough diamond sales of $289 million, and polished diamond sales of $9 million.

Endiama, Rio Tinto sign diamond JV Angolas State-owned diamond company Endiama has signed a joint venture agreement with Rio Tinto over the Chiri diamond concession in the Lunda Norte Province.

Phillips to Offer The Blue Royale, a unique Patek Philippe watch Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo is pleased to announce the sale of a unique Patek Philippe reference 3448/100, a perpetual calendar wristwatch cased in platinum, to be auctioned during The Hong Kong Watch Auction on 27 and 28 November.
Image credit: Lucapa Diamond

Lucapa Diamond said it will soon begin testing expansive flood plains in Angola, which are believed to host diamond-bearing gravels.The company chairperson Miles Kennedy said in an address to shareholders that they were waiting for the countrys dry season before they commence the testing.While our mining to date has focused on the alluvial terraces along the Cacuilo River, we believe there is major potential for the flood plains to also host diamond-bearing gravels, which would open up large new mining areas, he said.The dry season, he said, would also enable the Lulo partners to step-up their kimberlite exploration programme.We plan to complete drilling of the remaining kimberlite targets, defined following the airborne TDEM survey, by the end of this year, said Kennedy.He also said Lucapa was still in high-level discussions to assist the Angolan government achieve its goal of doubling diamond production.Luanda and its state-owned diamond enterprises had committed to making changes that are likely required to secure the foreign investment and expertise needed to achieve this goal.Having operated in Angola for a decade, through some very difficult times, Lucapa is in a great position to benefit from these changes, said Kennedy.We expect further progress this year.Kennedy said Lucapa continues to recover large and premium-value diamonds from new areas along the the Cacuilo River valley, which runs through our Lulo concession.Recent recoveries from new mining blocks included a 46 carat pink, Lulos biggest coloured diamond to date, as well as a number of high-value Type IIa D-colour gem specials.
Diamond probe: Mugabe faces contempt of parly

28 may 2018 News

Zimbabwe former president Robert Mugabe, who is now expected to give oral evidence about Marange diamond revenue pillaged during his rule today, will be charged with contempt of parliament if he fails to show up at the hearing scheduled for 2pm local time, according to media reports.

He was yet to confirm his attendance.

"We have not got anything as yet. Our expectation is that he attends tomorrow (today)'s hearing as agreed by the committee," The Herald quoted clerk of parliament Kennedy Chokuda as saying.

The parliamentary committee on mines chairperson Temba Mliswa was hopeful that Mugabe would attend today's hearing given that he understood the Constitution and the role of parliament.

"We expect him to have time to appear before Parliament. We expect him to co-operate and Parliament has power to summon anyone," said Mliswa.

"I think he will comply because he is a man who understands the Constitution and he is our statesman."

Mugabe claimed in 2016 that the country got only $2 billion from about $15 billion realised from the sale of diamonds since mining began in Marange in 2006.

Reuters cited an unnamed parliament official close to the issue as saying last week that it was unlikely Mugabe would appear before the committee because this was opposed by some influential ruling ZANU-PF politicians.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




YANGON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has received first 62 returnees through Nga Khu Ya reception camp in Rakhine state, who had fled to Bangladesh due to the Rakhine conflict, according to a statement from the State Counselor's Office Sunday.

The returnees include 58 persons pardoned by the President and four lifted from prosecution.

They had first returned by their own arrangement, ignoring the official procedure, and they had been arrested by the Myanmar authorities earlier.

However, pardoned by the president, they were brought to the reception camp on Saturday.

In accordance with the Myanmar-Bangladesh agreement, those returnees will be transferred to the Hla Pho Khaung transit camp in Maungtaw after proper verification, the statement said.

Myanmar and Bangladesh had reached an agreement on the arrangement concerning the return of displaced people from Rakhine state on Nov. 23 last year.

The Myanmar side has made arrangements to receive returnees by establishing two reception centers -- Nga Khu Ya and Taung Pyo Latwe and one Hla Phoe Khaung transit camp in Maungtaw.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army extremist terrorists launched attacks on police outposts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 last year, displacing residents from a number of areas in Maungtaw district.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Editors Pick

Walmart has partnered video streaming giant Netflix to open a retail hub to sell merchandise related to popular Netflix shows on the retail giant's platform. The Netflix Hub at Walmart will feature exclusive items and innovative experiences for customers to further engage with stories and characters from their favorite shows.

Tesla is moving its headquarters to Austin, Texas, from Palo Alto, California, according to its founder and CEO Elon Musk. The decision, revealed at the company's shareholder meeting, reflects size constraints and the cost of living in the Bay Area. At the meeting, which took place at Tesla's vehicle assembly plant under construction outside of Austin, he further revealed plans to increase produ

Dallas, Texas-based Joovy Holding Co. has recalled about 9,200 units of Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Strollers citing risk to fall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The recall involves Zoom 360 Ultralight jogging strollers with SKU 8060, 8061, 8067 and 8069 and a batch number between March 2020 (03-XX-20) and October 2020 (10-XX-20). The stroller label on the inside leg contains t
The euro climbed against its major counterparts on Monday, as Italy's Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte gave up his mandate to form a new government after the President refused to accept the nomination for finance minister, raising the possibility for another election this year.

Conte's efforts to form a government collapsed after the President quashed the nomination of eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona as finance minister.

Mattarella has summoned Carlo Cottarelli, former official at the International Monetary Fund, to discuss forming an interim government until early elections.

Opposing the move, Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio called for the President's impeachment under article 90 of the constitution.

The euro climbed to 1.1728 against the greenback, from a low of 1.1676 seen at 6:00 pm ET. The euro is poised to challenge resistance around the 1.19 level.

The euro advanced to 1.1628 against the Swiss franc, compared to 1.1557 hit late New York Friday. The euro is likely to find resistance around the 1.18 level.

The single currency rose to a session's high of 128.53 against the yen, from last week's closing value of 127.68. On the upside, 130.00 is likely seen as the next resistance for the euro.

Data from the Bank of Japan showed that Japan producer prices jumped 0.9 percent on year in April.

That topped expectations for an increase of 0.5 percent, which would have been unchanged from the March reading.

The 19-nation currency held steady against the pound, after having advanced to a 5-day high of 0.8795 early in the Asian session. The pair was valued at 0.8760 when it had closed deals on Friday.

The euro firmed to near a 2-week high of 1.5225 against the loonie and a 4-day high of 1.5496 against the aussie, from its early lows of 1.5139 and 1.5445, respectively. If the euro continues its rise, 1.53 and 1.56 are possibly seen as its next resistance levels against the loonie and the aussie, respectively.

The U.S. will remain closed for Memorial Day holiday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
German stocks rose modestly on Monday on revived hopes of a U.S.-North Korea summit and the prospect of fresh elections in Italy.

Prospects that the United States and North Korea would hold a summit brightened after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was having "very productive talks" with the regime about reinstating the June 12 meeting in Singapore.

The Five-Star and League parties abandoned efforts to form a government after Italy's President vetoed their choice of a eurosceptic minister, sending Italian bond yields lower and the euro higher.

Elsewhere, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and spokesperson Irene Montero have survived a confidence vote triggered by their decision to buy a luxury home.

The benchmark DAX was up 43 points or 0.33 percent at 12,980 in opening deals after climbing 0.7 percent on Friday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
European stocks rose modestly Monday on revived hopes of a U.S.-North Korea summit and the prospect of fresh elections in Italy.

Prospects that the United States and North Korea would hold a summit brightened after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was having "very productive talks" with the regime about reinstating the June 12 meeting in Singapore.

The Five-Star and League parties abandoned efforts to form a government after Italy's President vetoed their choice of a eurosceptic minister, sending Italian bond yields lower and the euro higher.

Elsewhere, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and spokesperson Irene Montero have survived a confidence vote triggered by their decision to buy a luxury home.

The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was up around 0.1 percent at 391.31 in late opening deals after closing 0.1 percent higher on Friday.

The German DAX and France's CAC 40 were up around 0.2 percent each, while the U.K. market was closed for the spring bank holiday.

Swiss Re shares advanced 0.9 percent. The reinsurance group has confirmed the collapse of talks over Japan's SoftBank Group taking a minority stake in the Swiss firm.

France's L'Oreal gained 1 percent after announcing a worldwide license agreement with Valentino.

Italian banks Unicredit and Banco BPM dropped 1-2 percent amid fresh political chaos in the country.

Danish biotech firm Genmab slumped 18.5 percent after its partner Janssen ended combination trials of a blockbuster cancer drug.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Canadian stocks may come under pressure Monday as crude oil prices continue to plummet on renewed expectations that OPEC will ramp up production.

OPEC and Russia will likely end their supply quota plan in the next few months, according to reports. Meanwhile, the U.S. shale boom is accelerating, with drillers adding the most rigs in a signle week since February.

In Canada, Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline may proceed after a BC court dismisses environmental certificate challenges.

Crude oil futures have plunged near $66 a barrel from a 4-year peak near $73.

The TSX Composite Index fell four sessions in a row last week, stung by losses in the energy sector. Otherwise, the market was pretty resilient.

Weakness may tempered today by hopes that the U.S. and North Korea will instate their June 12 meeting in Singapore.

Bombardier (BBDB.TO) says it will build two new luxury aircraft.

Canadian regulators have halted the Corus Media sale of Historia and Series+ channels to Bell Media.

West Jet has averted a pilot strike as the employees agreed to a new contract.

European stocks rose modestly Monday on revived hopes of a U.S.-North Korea summit and the prospect of fresh elections in Italy.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
The U.S. dollar strengthened against its major opponents in the European session on Monday, as geopolitical worries receded after the U.S. officials arrived in North Korea to prepare for a proposed summit scheduled next month.

Prospects that the United States and North Korea would hold a summit brightened after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was having "very productive talks" with the regime about reinstating the June 12 meeting in Singapore.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," Trump said in?a tweet?on Sunday afternoon.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day," Trump added. "Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"

The currency was trading lower against its most major counterparts in the Asian session.

The greenback bounced off to 1.3302 against the pound, from a low of 1.3341 hit at 12:45 am ET. Next key resistance for the greenback is likely seen around the 1.31 level.

The greenback advanced to a 4-day high of 0.9954 against the franc, after having fallen to 0.9907 at 5:00 pm ET. The greenback is poised to challenge resistance around the 1.01 level.

The greenback appreciated to near a 7-month high of 1.1611 against the euro, following an advance to 1.1728 at 1:45 am ET. The greenback is likely to find resistance around the 1.14 level.

The greenback recovered to 0.7543 against the aussie and 0.6940 against the kiwi, from an early low of 0.7581 and 6-day low of 0.6960, respectively. On the upside, 0.73 and 0.67 are likely seen as the next resistance levels for the greenback against the aussie and the kiwi, respectively.

On the flip side, the greenback dropped to 109.23 against the yen, after rising to a 4-day high of 109.83 at 5:45 pm ET. The next possible support for the greenback is seen around the 107.00 level.

Data from the Bank of Japan showed that Japan producer prices jumped 0.9 percent on year in April.

That topped expectations for an increase of 0.5 percent, which would have been unchanged from the March reading.

The U.S. will remain closed for Memorial Day holiday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Forex News
(Agencia CMA Latam) - The Brazilian Truck Drivers Association (Abcam) said that it reached an agreement with the federal government and that the number of road blockades should decrease "in a significant way."

Abcam, which represents independent truck drivers, said that it still has to contact its members and explain the agreement reached with the government. "The entity is working so that the deal information reaches everyone, but it is worth remembering that even if Abcam favors the end of blockades, not every demonstrator feels the same."

Jose Lopes Fonseca, Abcam's president, said in a statement that truck drivers should get back to work feeling "proud" for not conceding to the government pressure. "Get back [to work] with the 'mission accomplished' feeling, but remember that the fight does not end here."

The Brazilian government has promised truck drivers to eliminate two federal taxes on diesel oil - Cide-Combustiveis and PIS/Cofins, which represent nearly 12% of the diesel price at the pump.

Brazilian Presidente Michel Temer also promised to keep diesel oil prices unchanged for 60 days and vowed to adjust them on a monthly basis. Since the decision is contrary to the Petrobras policy of virtually daily adjustments, the government will have to compensate the company.

Both decisions are set to drain billions of funds from the public budget and require Congressional approval. The president also issued a decree forbidding companies that manage toll roads to charge truckers for retracted axles.

The Brazilian president also issued a decree securing that 30% of the cargoes from CONAB, the state-owned company that manages food supplies and inventories, are delivered by independent truckers and promised to create a benchmark price for road freight in the country.

by Agencia CMA Latam

For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
(Agencia CMA Latam) - The trucker strike in Brazil lost strength during the weekend, but drivers are still waiting for the federal government to turn into reality a series of measures that should lead to a R$ 0.46 decrease in diesel oil prices. In the meantime, cities are still facing fuel and food shortages.

The latest data points that there were 554 road blockades in Brazilian federal roads on Saturday night. Truckers stopped working last Monday and are refusing to deliver cargoes until the Brazilian government adopts measures that help them deal with high diesel oil prices.

The drivers see the Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras as partially responsible for the current crisis. The firm holds the most significant share of fuel in Brazil and since last year started to adjust gasoline and diesel prices on a nearly daily basis.

Petrobras policy dictates that those fuels become more expensive in the local markets when there is an increase in oil prices abroad and/or when the local currency, the real, loses strength compared to the U.S. dollar.

The recent turmoil in emerging markets means that both conditions were met in the early weeks of May, and prices jumped 10% in less than two weeks.

Drivers also blame the government for the current high cost of fuels, since almost half of the prices at the pump are a result of federal and state taxes.

Last week, the Brazilian government said that it had reached an agreement with truck drivers to suspend their strike for 15 days. The deal should buy some time for politicians to find a way to cut fuel prices, but part of the drivers rejected the proposal, and president Michel Temer ordered national security forces to clear roads that are blocked by truckers.

In a speech, Temer said that the Brazilian government would not allow the shortage of goods. "Those blocking the roads are hurting the population and will be held accountable. Lots of them [truck drivers] are doing their part, but a radical minority is blocking roads and preventing many drivers from doing their jobs."

by Agencia CMA Latam

For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Sayyed al-Houthi : We will defend Yemeni western coast [28/May/2018] br>

SANAA, May 28 (Saba)  Leader of the Yemeni Revolution, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, on Sunday evening vowed to defend the Yemeni western coast.



This came during a televised speech he delivered to the nation and aired by Al-Masirah TV channel, reviewing the latest developments in the western coast battles.



Sayyed al-Houthi said it is not strange for the aggression forces to continue to commit crimes in the holy month of Ramada.



"Thousands of infiltrations and operations by US-backed Saudi-led coalition troops have been foiled, and the Yemeni people have lived many triumphs," Al-Houthi said.



He noted that Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates had paid billions of dollars to finance extremist groups in southern Yemeni provinces, exploiting the political problems the people suffered from in the past.



"The war on Yemen is a foreign military aggression," al-Houthi said. "Some mercenary leaders of the Saudi-led coalition have recently complained over the coalition acts, and become aware that the coalition forces are occupiers."



He added that the coalition troops have committed war crimes, massacres and crimes of raping women and children in Hodeidah and Aden provinces, even in the holy month of Ramadan.



"Those who bet on the support of foreign forces will never reach satisfied results," he said.



He pointed out that the battle in Mocha city on the western coast is being run by UAE officers, who are under the command of Israeli-US operation room.



"The decision of invading the Yemeni western coast has been taken and adopted by the United States of America," Sayyed al-Houthi said.



The US and Israeli official statements proved their key involvement in leading the military aggression on Yemen, he added.



Sayyed al-Houthi called for military steadfastness and popular cohesion in the west coast front, vowing to liberate Aden, Mukala, Shabwa and all Yemeni occupied provinces.





BA



Saba
ISLAMABAD, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for talks with senior civil and military leaders on security issues, Pakistani and Afghan officials said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi invited the Afghan security adviser for further discussions on issues he had talked about with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul last month.

Atmar is scheduled to hold official talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Janjua and will also meet Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

This is the first high level visit by a senior Afghan official after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on a comprehensive bilateral mechanism for dialogue on key areas.

Both sides have operationalized five working groups under the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Solidarity and efforts are underway to implement its seven key principles that also include their commitments to take action against fugitive and irreconcilable elements.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said that India is ready to hold a dialogue with anyone, including Pakistan, provided the initiative is reciprocated.

Addressing scientists at the Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine (IIIM) here, the Vice President said: "We want good relations with all, including Pakistan. We don't have problem in talking with India's neighbours, including our immediate neighbour, but they also have to reciprocate."



His comments came on a day when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the media in Delhi that India is ready for talks with Pakistan if it stopped aiding terrorism.





"We are always ready for talks with Pakistan. We have never said we are not ready for talks. But there is a caveat -- terror and talks don't go together," she said.



Vice President Naidu also reminded his audience that peace was a prerequisite for progress and development anywhere in the world.



"In the growing world of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, nobody can afford to remain isolated. If other parts of the country are progressing, why should Jammu and Kashmir lag behind. We should put this question to ourselves to find the answer."



"Health and wealth are interlinked. A healthy state leads to a wealthy state. Here, health means peace, law and order, harmony, and overall development.



"It is up to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide whether they want to live in the present situation or want to live in peace," Naidu said.



Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too has said that the Centre is ready to speak to everyone, including separatist Hurriyat leaders.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said it has approved Rs 415 crore for construction of more than 14,000 bunkers along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) to protect the border residents in Jammu and Kashmir.

"In view of 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan during the current year, the Home Minister called for expediting construction of bunkers along the International Border and Line of Control to protect the border residents," the ministry said in a statement.



The bunkers are to be constructed in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Work on construction of 1,431 community and more than 13,000 individual bunkers will commence from July, the official statement said.



The announcement came after Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the progress of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs at a high level meeting here.





It noted that there was a significant drop in stone-pelting incidents in J&K since the government announced suspension of operations during the month of Ramadan.



On compensation to victims of cross-border firing, the limit of three milch animals have been removed for losses incurred upon livestock. The minister directed that compensation for live-stock may be increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 30,000 presently.



Rajnath Singh also directed expediting the raising of two new border battalions of state police, for which Rs 105 crore was approved last March, by completing the recruitment by March 2019. These would be raised from people living within 10 kms of the IB/LoC.



Besides, five India Reserve Battalions (IRB) are being raised for which 4,690 youth have been recruited. Also, 6,689 Special Police Officers (SPOs) have been appointed out of a total of 10,000 new posts sanctioned. The possibility of filling up of the vacancies of SPOs from border living community may be explored, the statement said.



On relief and rehabilitation programmes for migrants and displaced persons, the minister was informed that 12,763 beneficiaries of displaced persons of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir have been disbursed Rs 578 crore.



Rajnath Singh directed holding special camps and publicity in regional newspapers for disbursing assistance of Rs 5.5 lakh per family to such displaced people, for which MHA has provided Rs 2,000 crore, the ministry said.



Reviewing the Prime Minister's Development Package worth Rs 80,068 crore, it was informed that nearly Rs 63,000 crore was sanctioned for 63 projects pertaining to 15 central ministries.
Vietnamese people living in the country performed three dances at the festival, as well as an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) show.

This was the first time a group dance from Vietnam, Trong dance (dance with drums), had been selected to perform in the Gala Concert  the peak of the festival - in the stunning Vinohrady Theater on May 26.

Nguyen Duy Nhien, President of the Vietnamese Peoples Association in the Czech Republic, said that Vietnam has attended the festival for nine times, with the purpose of showing friendship and introducing the countrys cultural beauty to international friends.

This years festival attracted the participation of 20 troupes from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

The festival is the largest joint festival of national minorities in the Czech Republic and has been held since 1999.

It features music & dance performances, costume shows, exhibitions, demonstrations of old crafts, and creative and dance workshops.
Dear Editor,

I write regarding the church that had defiantly rejected the law of the land, and I would like to follow along the article piece with comments made by Mr. Vavatau.

If the C.C.C.S. is standing firm in its resistance to make a tax contribution for the development of humankind issues, then the Congregational Christian Church must understand the people of Samoa would want the lackey to collect tax and for the officers of the Court to stand its ground and implement one law for all, no matter the religion.

The brute decision by the so-called Fonotele or a fonolaititi or half a fono for that matter to remain the same as was in 2017 to reject the law requiring Church Ministers to pay taxes Mr. Editor and all, no one would ever sway the taxing of all income earners particularly those faifeau trying to protect the monopoly they have enjoyed for far too long. And to whom, are the highest income earners in the country.

But for anyone whos earning may have fallen below the threshold, has nothing to fear as the government, with the best money brains available in Samoa has allowed a scale to measure. If your income dont reach that high, you will not be taxed.

Bare in mind everyone, that the: Keeping in mind that in the C.C.C.S., there is no such thing as ones discretion hence I say, is a very very very weak assumption by those who supposedly to have serveed God Lord Almighty but are now more apparent to expose their serving the god and goddesses of wealth.

So, what the spokesperson had said is why he had the pride in his church because they practiced the true meaning of democracy.

True meaning of democracy? Ostensibly, democracy is one law for all. Apparently so, this had exposed your true sense of pride that you have swallowed your egos and lost your senses distancing yourself to categorise which one is which.

Please Mr. Vavatau, you ought to know that your church is operating in the country called Samoa. That country has a government for all to follow and obey her laws.

And if your church wants to defy the law of the land, that so is the problem within you and your church to sort out.

The Court will make sure all citizens of Samoa including me and including you Mr. Spokesperson will stand before and the Court to answer when we are charged individually.

So you said Mr. Spokesperson your church is a democratic and your decision was not decided by one person, rather the entire church.

That very same principle is with our law Mr. Vavata; that very principle s more complex than a decision reached by a small group.

However, the law of Samoa, were passed by members of the Methodist church, Mormon, Catholic, Protestant, The Church of England, Assembly of God, Bahai, Jews, Islam, to whom are representing us in the Samoa Parliament.

And of course, for your information Mr. Vavatau, some of your church members who are proud to do the utmost best for Samoa in parliament, had voted and passed the tax law you are now resist to obey.

So then Rev. Vavatau, that about 90 per cent of the church leaders who had rejected our law is nowhere that is representing the government who assiduously working towards the betterment of life in Samoa.

Apparently Reverend Vavatau, for the issue being put to a vote during the General Assembly is so so irrelevant. Even if you had put it to the Sunday schools that so is still completely out of order.

Even if it was not a decision made in prism by the Elders or the Youth of the Church, that so does make no sense whatsoever. The law is now passed and any lawbreakers will no doubt face the full brunt of the law.

So the your-way-forward Rev. Vavatau is to seek a face-to-face meeting with the Honourable Prime Minister of Samoa?

Please note he alone cannot rescind any law that had been passed by the peoples government voted in by the 99.99 per cent of Samoa.

Your church decision by a mere 90 per cent of just a church hierarchy; or for that matter by whether by the Russian oligarchy has no merit to apply in the law of Samoa.

Mr. Spokesperson had said, his Fonotele had agreed for the representatives of your Church to meet the Government because the correspondence had been going back and forth; well, the general secretary had blinded and is drowned by his egos and failed top hire a lawyer to provide the church with a valid up to date knowledge of how laws work.

And in what objective would it achieve by the Fonotele decision to seek an opportunity to meet up with the honourable Prime Minister of Samoa; besides to officially informing him with decision by the Church?

As the matter is now becoming a well known public fact after the spokesperson has already preempted the issue through the media, it is my deepest regret for the honourable prime minister of Samoa being treated a joke and second fiddle.

So he said: The decision by the Fonotele is a decision by the Church members who are attending on behalf of their respective parishes, not the Church Ministers.

And I would say: The law passed by the government that is made up of those Members of Parliament who is representing the 99.99 per cent of Samoa who voted the HRPP in the general elections being held in 2016.

And the General Secretary maintained that church members want to understand the rationale behind the law.

Then of course, any law passed is when a majority decision is upheld to endorse what ever bill that goes into the chamber. That simple! PERIOD!

According to the church spokesperson: The reason has to link to church beliefs. There is no teaching by Jesus that points to the taxing of Church Ministers.

That is no doubt his own version of interpretation but the majority of the Bible is teaching the morality in life.

And the general secretary is preaching what to suit his argument while ducking and weaving at the same time exposed his emptiness in the gospel.

According to Reverend Vavatau, Jesus teachings is clear, what belongs to God, give it to him.

Common Mr. Spokesperson; finish the quote. How about give what is for Caesar and unto God for His?

And the common belief among church members of their alofa to the Faifeau, is that they give freely with the notion this is their way expressing of their love for God.

Call it whatever you may wish Mister but in the purpose of commerce in which the church operates under (as collecting funds), that so is pure income earned; FULL STOP!!!!

In the love of any employer would reward his or her employees with remunerations and a component of that is a cut, to pay taxes for the development of the countrys infrastructure that is executed by the government.

So he says: That is why they(parishioners) give and more reasons why they(parishioners) do not want the Church Ministers to pay taxes.

But I say Mr. Vavatau, it is not your parishioners to decide who pays and who does not pay taxes. That call alone is made by the democratically elected government of Samoa.

I can only help to remind you Mr. Secretary General of the CCCS, when we discuss matters pertaining to the law being passed by parliament, there would be no more individual to have any right to the contrary. The law is now passed.

However, time for public discussions as always during submissions in a Bill process that your parishioners Mr. Vavatau should have gone there to express their objections. It is not now. The law is passed for all to obey and follow.

From hereon, it is time for the honourable Judges, Court officials, and counsels to deal with the matters should there be any law breakers.

Rev. Vavatau said it is the right decision.

But I say Mr. Vavatau: Not quite Mr. General Secretary; your church is starting to commit treacherous like it or not.

And that again is a different charge. Your church is heading towards becoming rebellious against the State and that so is a very very very serious crime allow me to remind all.

Then he said: For me personally, I am very proud of my church, they stand by their faith and I am very proud of that, said Reverend Vavatau, while fighting back tears.

Wow! Did he really cry Mr. Editor? He is no strong leader but so weak to crumble under a just mere gentle breeze if ever he had cried.

Or what they had said; crocodile tears.

When President Barack Obama cried after a shooting and I saw him wiping away tears, that surely had told me Obama is the weakest link of the US Presidents ever.

Worst preciament happened and faced by the Kennedys but never a tear fall. Any leader that had shed tears can only expose their lack of leadership quality. I am proud of my Church, he reiterated.

He reminded the teachings of the Bible not to compromise the Gospel.

We cant compromise the Gospel to satisfy human necessities.

Im baffled here. In what way are you and your church would compromise the gospel Mr. Vavatau?

The government passed the law in order for your high income earners church ministers to pay tax and you are now in narcissist mentioning the holy Bible in vain.

Paying taxes to the people of Samoa is nothing to do with the gospel.

Please stop misrepresenting the Bible it is the holiest of all books. It is not for you and your church to interpret the Bible to suit your need. That so is the abused of fact. You guys have been hiding behind the God tag and had exploited it to your advantage.

Reverend Vavatau had given an example of overseas countries that had accepted gay marriage.

Then he asked: are we going to compromise the Gospel to satisfy human nature?

With my belief in my God, I cant compromise my gospel, over laws that were not thoroughly thought out.

Excuse me Mr. Vavatau; excuse me please!

What is overseas gay law got to do with your church ministers to paying taxes in Samoa?

And who are you to mention how others may live their lives?

I can only earnestly urge you please and your church ministers to live a normal life as taxpayers of Samoa?

You are starting to make yourself become that German philosopher Faustian who had made himself a pact with the devil.

Reverend Vavatau had made it clear the decision by the Fonotele to reject the law in question is not the decision by the elders, the committees nor the Church Ministers.

It is the decision made by the Fonotele, the Church and that is because the foundation of the C.C.C.S. is based on the fact that we are a democratic denomination.

Just to be clear in case the blame is laid upon the Elders when in reality the decision was made by the Fonotele.

But may I reiterate Mr. Vavatau: It does no matter who made the decision; it does not irrespective of who had made your church decision.

Whether by the Elders, the Youth, the Sunday school Teachers, or the Wives Fellowship; that so is irrelevant.

So he said: We requested the Government for postponement, as I have said earlier this Church does not operate on one persons views and that is why we have to stand by the decision made by the Fonotele.

But I humbly say Mr. Vavatau, no one tells the government of the people what to do. The government already had been very fair to have given a 6 months reprieve to delay the implementing of the law.

Or, how in unison then, for you and your church members for six months to pause your daily movements and stop using our hospitals, roads, airports, shippings, educations, etc. etc. until you and all are ready to pay taxes to help the infrastructure development of Samoa?

He also commented on the notice by the Ministry of Revenue that will be fully enforced by 30 June 2018 that should Church Ministers insist on not paying their taxes, the Government will use the power of the law to hold them accountable. That includes the threat of fines and further charges.

Reverend Vavatau expressed grave concerns about the so called implementation.

This is what happens after 30th June 2018; a default tax notice will be sent. And with penalty rates starting to apply from that date, the toll is on starting to rise.

Now this is where we have to be very careful, because we dont want the affairs of the State to mingle with the affairs of the Church.

Indeed Mr. Vavatau; same here. I dont want the church to mingle with the affairs of the State; just pay the tax please. It is that simple.

He said the irony is quite significant.

And I could not agree more Mr. Vavatau; the irony is so so significant. But the solution is very insignificant if the fair share of the tax is paid by the 30th June 2018.

Please Mr. Vavatau, it is that simple and insignificant; unless you wish to make it significantly bold.

So tell me, who are the employers for the Church Ministers to pay taxes, should the employers attain a business license to operate? He asked.

I can help answer that very trivia question: The village congregation is the employer. The village Congregation Treasurer should speak to the Tax Office where he/she will get all the assistance required for this matter.

This is what I mean; only employees are to be pay taxes. And I have asked this question during the consultation and I want to make another thing clear is that the Church never once endorsed the taxing of Church Ministers.

Now Mr. Vavatau, Samoa as a country would want all income earners to pay taxes. That very clear thing is getting more gloomier when you keep on repeating yourself like a scratchy LP record.

Reverend Vavatau said during Tofilaus Administration, he vehemently rejected the suggestion to tax Church Ministers.

I dont know what is the motive behind the move of the current Administration to level such taxes.

I know the Government needs money, but I dont agree with the way they are trying to get money from the church, this will hinder the Churchs future plans.

Gosh!

Tofilau was the past of so many years ago. The world since has moved in full axis. And Ill help you with the motive; for near 60 years of not paying taxes never was a right but was just a privilege by your country granted unto you.

This is the present. We as a country would want all income earners to pay taxes after near 60 years of being under a Least Develop Country UN tag that had helped us much with the aid dollars.

Samoa now is almost self sufficient and the development of our country is now at the mercy of our own hands. That is the motive for the CCCS to understand. That is the motive we as people of Samoa understand.

And, the law is not aiming to the church but to the individual church ministers. It would only hinder if the church is the target but that so is a separate issue well deal with that when we cross bridges.

Mr. Vavatau had said the honourable Prime Minister of Samoa has made numerous public complaints against the Church, but the Church carries on without countering the complaints.

The issue now for Mr. Vavatau is nothing to do with the honourable prime minister of Samoa complaint against the church for what ever was in the past. The very issue now is for all citizens to obey and fulfil the tax law.

Reverend Vavatau put it out that hes ready to face the consequences of the law pertaining to only some Church Minsters who refuse to pay taxes.

For the Church, I hope they are ready, but for me personally, I am ready to face the consequences.

I cannot speak for the Church Ministers but considering the response of the Fonotele, they are ready to face the consequences, said Reverend Vavatau.

That is definitely treason Mr. Vavatau. It is a crime against the State and a very very very serious crime.

Please Mr. Vavatau understand when ever the time may have come, then the church ministers will be dealt with individually by the one law for all of Samoa. I am sorry but that is democracy.

The church democracy you mentioned is when you and your church discipline your church ministers. That is nothing to do with the law of Samoa.

Then Reverend Vavatau had declined to comment on the move by some law abiding C.C.C.S. Church Ministers who have already registered with the M.O.R. and have agreed to pay taxes despite the decision.

I cannot comment on that issue because there is a Committee that deals with Church Ministers.

After Mr. Vavatau had gone to the media to disseminate the church decision, and when asked about the dissenting views within the church with those law abiding church ministers who have already registered, he then had gone mum with a no comment response.

And so they said: Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

That so Mr. Editor is proof the CCCS is divided. The decision by the church is weak and I can see clearly now the CCCS plough is going to splash eggs on some faces. With my utmost respect,

Tofaeono Misatauveve Iosefo Joseph Hollywood

Palisi
A woman who drove one of two cars involved in a near-fatal collision at Vailima on Saturday afternoon is fighting for her life at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.

The driver of the white sedan travelling up the hill, when it attempted to overtake another vehicle, which led to the collision, is in a coma.

This was the latest update from Police Superintendent and Media Spokesperson, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo yesterday.

Aupaau said the Police investigation is continuing and no one has been charged yet. The Samoa Observer understands that the collision was one of two serious car crashes on the same road on Saturday.

The road has recently been resealed.

Police Officers told the Samoa Observer the woman in the white sedan was at fault according to witnesses in the area where the crash took place.

Eyewitnesses say the woman was travelling up the hill and may have been trying to overtake another vehicle when she collided with an oncoming black vehicle, which was being driven by another woman.

According to an eyewitness, the crash caused the white car to spin 180 degrees in the opposite direction before it came to an absolute stop in front of a shop next to Rays Taxi Stand.

The loud thud from the crash and car alarms alerted the surrounding residents in the vicinity to rush out. The collision could be heard by guests at the nearby Manumea Hotel.

One guest said she did not witness the crash as it occurred but the loud sound was enough to alert her to call an ambulance immediately.

According to a family member of the passengers in the black vehicle, the vehicle was driven by a woman with her children in the back seat and he arrived there just as they were being transported to the hospital.

A video of what ensued shortly after the crash was given to the Sunday Samoan by a male eye witness who works at the shop where the crash occurred.

The footage showed some of the men rushing to assist the woman in the white car, who appeared to be semi-unconscious and bleeding from a head injury most likely sustained when the frontal air bags deployed.
The Ministry of Finance has flatly rejected a proposal for an additional $10 million for the second phase of the Tanumalala Prison facility.

The rejection was confirmed by the Minister of Prison Services and Corrections, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, in response to questions from the Samoa Observer.

It was flatly denied by the Ministry of Finance, he said adding that they only approved $2.9 million.

The facility is already estimated to cost more than $20 million tala.

We estimated that phase one would cost up to $10 million, said Tialavea.

However the bid that won was $7.4 million

The bid was by Schwarz Construction, a company owned by Tialaveas younger brother, Alai'asa Schwarz Hunt.

We received $3.7 million from the main budget for F.Y. 2018-2019; then from the supplementary we got $3.8 million.

Another $1.5 million was received for the administration block and in total that is $9 million. That is the money they gave us.

The additional $10 million proposed for the main budget of financial year 2019-2020 is for the second phase. But it was flatly denied by the Ministry of Finance.

It was not possible to get a comment from the Ministry of Finance yesterday.

But the Minister made it clear there is no variation to the cost of the first phase of the project.

The initial plan laid out for the jail had to be amended because the area where the Prison is built is rocky.

So we have had to amend the original plans, and now we are putting the tower on the front and the center of the compound.

Asked if the tower was included in the tender for the first phase, the Minister said no.

It was not included in the first phase; however after going through the plans of the project, we have decided to include this in the first phase because its required.

So why are they proceeding with the tower when it was not part of the bidding process?

We have decided to include the tower to fit in with the first phase. Although it is not included, but for good reason, it is needed there, said Tialavea.

We are currently negotiating to determine what is the estimated cost for the tower. I think it might be a little over $900,000.

Asked why there has been no bidding process for the tower if it was not part of first phase, the Minister said there was no need.

There is a current contract and they own the site; the Committee that oversees this project, we just added this new Tower.

The Minister is adamant that their initial proposal of $20million for the prison will not increase.

The remaining projects we have is the Admin Block; the Generator; Storage with walk in Freezer; Housing for Correction officers on the compound; Water tank and the Rehabilitation building, this is all included in phase two.

The total project is $20 million.

Last month, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and Correction Services, Levaopolo Rosa Mene assured the Tanugamalala Prison is ahead of schedule and if continues according to plan, prisoners should relocate there by December this year.

A ministerial inspection led by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi of the prison at the time noted that the project was 80 percent completed.

We are way ahead of schedule, the biggest challenge is the bad weather. Also Tropical Cyclone Gita delayed the project, said Levao.

The second phase of the project will include the administration block and punishment cells for maximum security.

The difference between the regular jail cell and the punishment cell is the minimal space.

If you are a well behaved prisoner, you will remain housed at the regular cell; however if you misbehave youll then serve up to 21 days in the punishment cell.

The punishment cell is much smaller and the way the cell is built minimizes sunlight compared to the regular cells.

She explained the new prison should house between 500-600 prisoners, including women.

The capacity we have at the moment in Tafaigata is more than 367 prisoners inclusive of women, she said.

The whole compound will be fenced and there will be two secured fences, all the edges for the buildings will be fenced off-and that is secured fence. There will be a multipurpose building for visitations and rehabilitation programmes.
A video has surfaced of armed young man ransacking the Salelologa Market as trouble on the big island unfolds.

The video shows a mother trying to collect her products  which appear to be a cooler of ice cakes  as a group of young men walk through the market in a threatening manner.

Some are armed with sticks while one man is carrying a gun.

The development is the latest of an incident where residents heading to the wharf to board the Lady Samoa were stuck in traffic with the road blocked between Salelologa and Salelavalu this morning.

According to reports out of Savaii; men between Salelologa blocked the road near Salelavalu. Rocks were reportedly thrown.

Its been reported that while other vehicles were damaged; others were stopped and searched.

Videos posted online indicate that Church Ministers attempted to calm the situation between the villages.

Police have been called.

Efforts to get official comments as to what action have been taken by the Police have been unsuccessful.
The Samoa Culinary Association is doing is best to address unemployment in Samoa.

On Saturday, ten graduates of its 2018 Grassroots Cookery programme celebrated sweet success during a graduation dinner at Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

They received certificates after completing their 12-week course, along with equipment such as chefs utensils, safety boots, knives, uniforms and more.

President of the Samoa Culinary Association (S.C.A.), Chef Joe Lam, congratulated the graduates.

S.C.A. started this programme due to two concerning factors, he said.

One is the high unemployment rate in Samoa and the other is that within the rate are a higher number of unemployed youths.

The kids are the future, if you teach them well; they will be guided for life.

The programme is also special to Chef Lams heart.

I've been a chef for twenty years and coming back to Samoa was to set up my own restaurant and especially so I could teach. This training was also a way for me to give back to the community by sharing my knowledge and skills.

He added that hes very proud of what the graduates had accomplished.

One of the graduates, Bruce Soane, thanked S.C.A. for helping him improve his skills not only in cooking but also learning about safety in the kitchen.

I wouldn't be able to achieve my goal without the support of my parents, friends and family. My favorite dish to make is fish curry because, I like the uniqueness of its taste," he said.

The 20-year-old from Malololelei said one of his greatest difficulties was the distance to travel from home to the assigned workplace.

"I have to wake up extremely early in the morning to catch a bus to go to the assigned hotel for my training. It was very tiring and hard but it was all worth it in the end," he added.

The 12 weeks course started from the first of March and ended on the third week of May. The recruitment of the trainees is through radio and television advertisements.

The fees for the course are sponsored courtesy of the United Nations Development Program, Ministry of Women and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) and members of the Samoa Culinary Association.

The programme has been running for two years. Within that period, 46 youths have been trained by the programme.
The launch of of the Samoa National Ava Standards is a milestone for the industry in Samoa.

So said the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Purcell, during the launch ceremony on Friday night at Hotel Tanoa Tusitala.

This is a major milestone in the view of recent events that led to the banning of Ava exports from Samoa and the Pacific, he said.

Therefore, I strongly encourage producers, farmers and exporters to ensure compliance with the Standard to increase exports of Ava to overseas markets which will enhance economic growth, employment creation and revenue generation for Samoa.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend all our stakeholders who provided invaluable inputs during the development of this standard and acknowledge the assistance and tremendous support by the Australia and New Zealand-funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (P.H.A.M.A.).

The Minister also highlighted the significance of the ava in the Samoan culture.

In our Samoan culture, Ava plays a significant role in ceremonies and social way of life or faasamoa.

Tonight, we are here to launch our first Samoa Ava Standards having been developed through a consultative process with the Samoa National Codex Committee and stakeholders in both Upolu and Savaii.

This standard was initiated by the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (S.A.M.E.) and coordinated and facilitated by the Samoa National Codex Committee to assist Ava producers and suppliers in Samoa to produce high quality Ava production for the benefit of customers.

The main aim of the Ava Standard is to ensure that Samoan Ava:

 Is produced and stored accordingly to good hygiene standards maintaining its quality

 Is safe to consume

 Is locally and internationally renowned and recognized as a quality product

The Standard is divided into 8 sections:

1. Scope: Ava products used as food beverage or other products intended for human consumption.

2. Description: The noble Ava varieties in Samoa are Ava Lea, Ava Laau, Ava Loa, Ava Talo and Ava Mumu. We also have Ava products of 3 different types. Fresh Ava are Ava which has just been harvested and are thoroughly cleaned up by water. Dried Ava is the dried root of Ava in the form of chips when it is sundried, hot air dried or dried using other recognized methods. Lastly is the Ava extracts when soluble components of fresh and dried Ava are extracted using water and served as a drink.

3. Quality Factors: We look at different aspects of Ava by its colour, maturity before harvest, aroma, filth, moisture, powdered type, ash and Ava lactones.

4. Contaminants: Ava products must comply with the maximum level of the Codex General Standard for the Contaminants & Toxins in Food and it must also comply with the maximum residue limits for pesticides established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

5. Hygiene: The standard follows the International Codes of Practice recommended which are General Principles of Food Hygiene, Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Agricultural Practices.

6. Traceability and Labelling: Ava products shall be established at all stages of production, processing and distribution. It must be well labelled for information of the customers/buyers.

7. Methods of Analysis and Sampling: The analysis and sampling of Ava products must be in accordance with the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and must comply with methods described in Annex A of the Codex

8. Inspection: Food safety inspectors shall conduct inspections to ensure producers, handlers, processors and exporters are compliant with the Act and relevant regulations.

The traditional preparation of the Ava involves the extraction of Ava roots and/or rhizome with fresh water and consumed fresh which is facilitated through the standard. The standard was developed to align the quality standards and activities to support the implementation and enforcement of these standards amongst Ava growers in the Pacific.
All great things come to an end.

And that how it was for hundreds of members of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa last Friday who had to say goodbye to each other after a wonderful fellowship.

After two weeks of their annual conference, the curtains fell on the annual pilgrimage with the election of new officers.

The General Assembly held on the second week saw a number of issues discussed by the representatives of different parishes  including ones from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Hawaii and Samoa.

The E.F.K.Ss Fonotele is arguably one of the biggest meetings held in Samoa on an annual basis.

On Friday before the meeting ended, the Church voted on Reverend Elder Tautiaga Senara as new Chairman, succeeding Reverend Elder Tunumoso Iosia.
Two men are in critical condition at the Tuasivi Hospital after a horrifying weekend at Salelavalu and Salelologa on the big island of Savaii.

What started as a regular game of billiards at Salelologa on Saturday night turned violent when a fight broke out, kicking off a sequence of sad events.

The two men from Salelologa, who are fighting for their lives at the hospital, were allegedly beaten by men from Salelavalu on Saturday night.

The Samoa Observer was told that the fight escalated to burning a house at Salelologa where the billiard game was held on Saturday night.

Gunshots were fired and homes in Salelologa were stoned.

On Sunday night, the men from Salelologa reacted by blocking the road, seeking out Salelavalu villagers.

The roadblock affected innocent members of the public who were on their way to catch the ferry to Upolu yesterday morning.

Still unsatisfied, some men from Salelologa turned their attention to ransacking the Salelologa market yesterday morning, targeting Salelavalu villagers.

Video footage captured the men harassing and smashing properties, helping themselves to whatever they could get their hands on.

At press time last night, there was a strong Police presence in the area where things remained volatile.

Attempts to get an official comment from the Police were not successful last night.

But the Samoa Observer understands that more than 40 Police Officers sailed across to Savaii yesterday evening.

Among them were members of the Tactical Unit, Nafanua, Criminal Investigation Division, General Policing, Traffic Police Officers; Forensic Officers and more.

Salelavalu High Chief, Suafoa Sasagi, told the Samoa Observer yesterday that things had been settled between the two villages.

The Samoa Observer was at Salelavalu where more than ten chiefs were at the Suafoa guesthouse following a meeting with Salelologa and the Police.

We met with the Salelologa Village Council and the Police and we have settled everything, he said.

All that happened over the weekend has been forgiven not only in our village but also our neighbouring village.

Suafoa said the Village Council will find the men responsible and they will be dealt with accordingly.

They will be heavily penalized by the Village Council. We will penalize the culprit and his or her family without reluctance.

Attempts to get a comment from the Salelologa Village Council were unsuccessful yesterday.

When the Samoa Observer arrived there, the village was preoccupied with a title bestowal ceremony where the Village Mayor was involved.
A businessman from Salelavalu, who is reeling from an estimated $20,000 worth of damage to his business when armed men from Salelologa ransacked it yesterday, is in shock.

Peter Mariner, who operates billiard tables, a flea market stall and a Barber Shop at the Salelologa Market, told the Samoa Observer he feared for his life when young men from Salelologa turned up.

They were armed with logs of wood. One of them had a gun. Having gone through smashing tables and wreaking havoc for mothers and innocent members of the public inside the market, they then turned to his business.

Its like what you see in the movies, he said. I couldnt believe this is happening in Samoa. I couldnt believe that this is what young people in Samoa are capable of doing today.

The incident happened yesterday morning, after a night of turmoil between young people from Salelavalu and Salelologa.

Mr. Mariner said he had nothing to do with the dispute apart from the fact that he is from Salelavalu.

I am deeply saddened because this I my familys livelihood that these young men have destroyed, he said.

They broke my marble pool tables into pieces, they cost about $6,000 each.

Then they vandalized my barber shop. They threw rocks inside, smashing the place and then they took the hair clippers.

Not only did they shatter the doors and mirrors inside the barber shop; they also took scissors and hair clippers.

At his flea market stall, they helped themselves to his food items and other products.

It breaks my heart to see our young men turn to violence, when there are better ways to solve these problems.

Mr. Mariner said he watched on while they ripped through his businesses.

All the hard work of saving money to invest into a business that has been damaged overnight is very discouraging, he said.

The uncivilized behavior shown by the youth today is a clear indication that maybe it is time to move somewhere else to set up my business. It is not safe here. They can do this again.

Mr. Mariner said he has already lodged a complaint with the Police.

We will see what they have to say about how these young men are to pay for what they have damaged here.

Another stall owner, a mother said the men shoved her aside and threw her cooler of ice blocks, oranges and softs drinks to the floor. They then helped themselves to whatever they got their hands on.

And this all started over a bunch of young men who had a disagreement and as a result they have had to release their rage on us, this is completely unfair and uncalled for, she said.

For me selling these oranges and popsicles, is the only way to make money and now everything is done as a result of these ruthless idiotic young men.

The police only came after the incident and again I was told to file a complaint with them.

Videos posted on social media saw close to 10 young men, vandalizing the tables and throwing aside coolers used to store ice pops and cold drinks.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Albertsons in San Diego federal court over what the agency calls the grocers unwritten English-only policy, which Albertsons implemented as essentially a no Spanish policy at its Lake Murray Boulevard store. The EEOC charges Albertsons with violating the federal employment discrimination law, Title VII, which bars national origin discrimination.

The lawsuit was brought on behalf of several Hispanic employees who, according to the complaint, were reprimanded for speaking Spanish, even on their breaks and for speaking to Spanish-speaking customers. Albertsons allegedly instructed its employees in a 2012 training video not to speak Spanish whenever a non-Spanish speaking person was present.

Anna Park, a lawyer with the EEOCs Southern California office, said in a press release that [t]argeting a particular language for censorship is often synonymous with targeting a particular national origin, which is both illegal and highly destructive to workplace morale and productivity.

In an emailed response to a Washington Post reporters inquiry, an Albertsons spokeswoman said [t]he company does not have, and has never had a policy in which such language usage is prohibited, though she declined to comment on this case.

Advertisement

In a 1993 ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to follow EEOC guidance interpreting Title VII to require an employer to justify the need for any English-only rule. The court ruled that it was not national origin discrimination for an employer to require bilingual workers to follow an English-only policy  even absent a sufficient business need for it  because the policy did not deprive them of the privilege available to other workers to speak at work. Title VII does not protect the ability of workers to express their cultural heritage in the workplace, said the court. A worker in private employment does not have an absolute right to speak in the language of their choice.

The workers in the pending Albertsons action appear to be bilingual, presenting a legal challenge for the EEOC, even if the agency can show Albertsons had an English-only policy.

Unlike Title VII, Californias Fair Employment and Housing Act expressly prohibits employers from adopting or enforcing a policy that limits or prohibits the use of any language at work unless the policy is justified by business need and employees are notified when and how they must comply with it and the consequences for violating it.

In a 2011 unpublished ruling, the California court of appeal in Orange County concluded that an employer did not adopt a general policy prohibited by the FEHA when the employer barred specific bilingual employees from speaking their native language at work after those employees had been found to have used their native language to demean co-workers. The court added that, even if such a targeted prohibition was a policy under the law, it was justified by business necessity because it applied only to those who had used their native language to offend other employees.

Three years later, Fresno federal judge Lawrence ONeill ruled against bilingual Hispanic employees who challenged an English-only policy under Title VII. Judge ONeill found that the complaining employees could not show they were treated differently from a bilingual employee who also spoke Swedish or that they had been disciplined for speaking Spanish at work. The judge declined to decide whether the companys policy violated Californias FEHA because questions of when an employer is deemed to have adopted or enforced a policy that restricts or prohibits the use of a language in the workplace and when such a language is justified by a business necessity . . . are novel issues of California law that needed to be resolved in state, not federal, court.

No matter how the Albertsons case is resolved, an employer should adopt any English-only policy only narrowly and only with a solid business justification, such as directing it to those found to have used their fluency in a foreign language to abuse co-workers who do not speak it.

Dan Eaton is a partner with the San Diego law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek where his practice focuses on defending and advising employers. He also is an instructor at the San Diego State University Fowler College of Business where he teaches classes in business ethics and employment law. He may be reached at eaton@scmv.com. His Twitter handle is @DanEatonlaw.
The two leaders made the commitment at their separate receptions for Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and head of its Commission for Information and Education, who is on a working visit to Egypt from May 23-27.

They affirmed that Vietnam is a friend and trusted partner of Egypt in Southeast Asia. They hoped the two countries relations will help boost Egypts ties with the region.

Egypt is speeding up the implementation of memoranda of understanding and agreements it signed with Vietnam, and willing to create all favourable conditions for Vietnamese investors, they stated.

They also suggested both sides intensify collaboration in tourism, culture and people-to-people exchange.

For his part, Thuong briefed the hosts on Vietnams socio-economic situation and its outstanding achievements in more than 30 years of renewal.

He confirmed that Vietnam always bears in mind the support of Egypt for its past struggle for national liberation and current national building and development.

He expressed his belief that with strong political determination of the two countries leaders and legitimate aspirations of their people, Vietnam and Egypt will maintain close coordination and support at regional and international forums for the interests of the people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese official also had meetings with leaders of the Egyptian Communist Party and the Socialist Party of Egypt, during which he affirmed that Vietnam is always a loyal friend and a reliable partner of other countries.

In his meetings with Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Yasser El-Kady, Thuong said that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening its relations with Egypt and appreciates the countrys role in the Non-Aligned Movement as well as its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

The Egyptian side expressed hope to learn from Vietnams experience in developing fisheries, rice cultivation and ship building, and enhance cooperation in information technology and communications, cyber security, software manufacturing, renewable energy, education and culture.

Leaving Egypt, the Vietnamese Party delegation will have a working visit to Greece.
For the first time since Del Mar incorporated in 1959, its City Hall and administrative offices are moving out of temporary quarters into a new, custom-built civic center.

Finishing touches such as signs and and furniture are being added over the Memorial Day weekend, and the offices will be open for business Tuesday morning.

The first City Council meeting will be June 4, and a public dedication and celebration is planned for June 30 at the 1.5-acre location, which covers the entire block west of Camino del Mar between 10th and 11th streets.

Weve all just been amazed at the way its come together, said Bob Gans, president of the Del Mar Foundation, which contributed $125,000 to add some extra touches to the project. The foundations money helped the city buy outdoor furniture, an expanded kitchen and other facilities to host community events such as concerts, lectures and celebrations at the new civic center.

Advertisement

Our hope is that the community makes really good use of it, he said.

The project cost $17.8 million, most of which is a loan that the city will repay over the next 30 years.

Residents and council members have worked for years to perfect the design, which includes a large outdoor plaza that overlooks nearby homes and the Pacific Ocean.

Its a beautiful building, said Assistant City Manager Kristen Crane, whos overseen construction since it began and provided twice-monthly updates to the City Council.

Almost every room has a view of the ocean. Even from the eastern side of the structure, people can see through the windows, over the planning counter and through the open offices to the sea on the other side.

I like the symbolism of transparency in local government, Crane said.

The building is designed to take advantage of natural light, and the windows will be programmed to automatically open when appropriate to take advantage of the moderate coastal climate.

Much of the exterior is covered in ipe wood siding, a Brazilian hardwood noted for its density and durability.

Its a very hard wood, and it will age well in this marine environment, Crane said.

The wood also is evident in the interiors, especially the walls and ceiling of the council chambers, which the city plans to call the Town Hall.

The new Del Mar Civic Center on a lot that slopes away from Camino del Mar toward the ocean. (Photo by Charlie Neuman )

Members of the City Council and other community leaders have said for years that their new civic center should have something for everyone, not just elected officials and municipal employees.

This introduces a new park space to the community, Crane said. Well be having the farmers market here. That was always part of the vision.

Located in the southeastern corner of the property next to Camino Del Mar, the Town Hall is topped by a cupola that is the highest point of the low-slung structure. The interior has an open ceiling with exposed support beams, which are built to look like the needles of the regions native Torrey pine.

That cupola is a nice way to ventilate that public space, said the buildings architect, Mike Jobes, of the Miller Hull firm in Seattle. You can open up the clerestory in the cupola  thats a row of windows up high that let light and air in at the top of the space.

Because the site slopes down and away from Camino del Mar, most of the buildings are hidden from drivers on the highway, and anyone using the civic center wont see the cars going by.

Landscaping on the site includes several young Torrey pines, and a mature Monterey cypress, also a native tree, at least 20 feet tall, is planted in a box as a centerpiece on the plaza.

We have lots of public spaces sprinkled around the site, for people who may not have any business with City Hall, Jobes said.

The City Councils meeting room is separated from the administrative and business offices of the City Hall by a long, enclosed breezeway. To accommodate large crowds, the breezeway is fitted with speakers and can become part of the council chambers by sliding the accordian-like glass wall that separates the two spaces.

Seating and even the custom-built dais in the council chambers are mobile to make way for special events.

Jobes said hes thrilled with the way the building turned out, and that its exceeded his expectations.

Thats one of the best sites Ive ever worked on, he said. Its just a sublime view . we just wanted to have that view completely utilized.

The design achieved that effect, while blocking nearby residents from noise and without letting anyone at the civic center look out into anyones bedroom, he said.

The entire lower level of the building is underground parking, and a wall on the western side will block views of the parking from nearby homes.

Downtown Del Mar has long needed more parking, so the new building will have 140 spaces, of which only about one-third were required for the buildings employees and guests. The rest of the spaces will be free parking for other downtown visitors.

The city received a $388,000 grant from the California Energy Commission to install solar panels and batteries, Crane said. The combination should be able to store enough power to operate the building for an average of five hours daily.

Del Mar first formed a citizens committee in 1985 to review potential designs for a civic center. A number of designs were considered over the years, always with extensive community involvement.

Construction began two years ago with the destruction of the old City Hall, a former schoolhouse where nearly half the building was limited to storage because of seismic instability.

During construction, the city has operated out of leased commercial space in the South Fair complex on Jimmy Durante Boulevard.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
With summer just around the country We rounded up our favorite local burgers (not major chains like In-N-Out) and have listed them alphabetically by neighborhood:

One of San Diegos most popular burgers can be found at The Balboa Bar & Grill in Bankers Hill. (The Balboa )

Bankers Hill

The three Bs make Bankers Hills burger central. Balboa Bar & Grill, exploded on the scene three years ago and quickly took top honors in diners hearts. They serve six varieties, but we love the Balboa Burger, an old-fashioned, affordable 1/3-pounder which is just $5 during happy hour. 1863 Fifth Ave. (and second location is planned in Chula Vista) (619) 955-8525 or thebalboabarandgrill.com. Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurants famed BH Burger is a deluxe, but still straightforward, classic with aged white cheddar, pickled red onions and buttery brioche bun with sub truffled frites. 2202 Fourth Ave. (619) 231-0222 or bankershillsd.com. Bertrand at Mr. As is better known for its spectacular view, but its house-ground Kobe burger (made with different toppings every day, like Hillikers Ranch eggs and barbecued short ribs) is a worthy match for the sunset. 2550 Fifth Ave., (619) 239-1377 or asrestaurant.com.

Burgers are topped with crispy fried onion strings at MishMash in Barrio Logan. (MishMash )

Advertisement

Barrio Logan

MishMash, which opened in the barrio in 2016, serves half-pound all-natural beef burgers with a tall mound of crispy fried onion strings, garlic aioli and even goat cheese stuffing. 1805 Newton Ave. (619) 955-8544 or mishmashsd.com.

The burgers are so juicy at Pure Burger in Carlsbad theyre served in a rimmed aluminum tray. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune )

Carlsbad

Pure Burgers ultra-juicy, grass-fed, locally sourced, never-frozen burgers are the centerpiece of this quick-service, family-owned eatery in Bressi Ranch. 2641 Gateway Road. (760) 683-5101 or pure-burger.com. Notorious Burgers has 10 burgers on the menu, but its Notorious is the signature. Its made with a Fulton Farms beef blend, honey-cured bacon, cave-aged cheddar, grilled onions, local tomatoes and a house spicy sauce. 6955 El Camino Real. (760) 431-2929 or notoriousburgers.com. Craft Burger serves eight different half-pound Angus burgers on fresh-baked brioche buns. Simple and good. 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Suite 120. (760) 453-7974 or craftburgerco.com.

Halphen Red Burgers in Chula Vista is best known for its burger secret sauce. (Halphen )

Chula Vista

Halphen Red Burgers has been making its famous burger red sauce for decades. In 2012, it opened its first burger joint. The affordable Angus burgers are stacked high on butter-toasted brioche buns with fixins and house sauce. 1550 E. H St., Chula Vista. (619) 500-5399 or facebook.com/halphen.red.burgers/. Canada Steak Burger offers super affordable, simply prepared charbroiled burgers with 4- to 8-ounce patties and topping options of gyro and pastrami. 409 Telegraph Canyon Road, Chula Vista and 3604 University Ave. in Southeast San Diego. (619) 420-1300 or canadasteakburger.com. South Cali Steak Burgers is a popular hole-in-the-wall with a huge soup-to-nuts menu, but go for the steak burgers, served with crinkle-cut fries. 301 Montgomery St. (619) 409-7099.

Burgers at Boomerangs in Clairemont come with choice of more than two dozen gourmet toppings. (Boomerangs )

Clairemont

Boomerangs Gourmet Burger Joint is exactly as its name implies. Diners can build their own Angus burger with two dozen toppings including artichokes, Kalamata olives, sun-dried cranberries and even carrots. 4577 Clairemont Drive, Clairemont. (858) 483-9500 or boomerangburgers.com

Whiskey Girls namesake burger is served with a shot of Jack Daniels. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune )

Downtown San Diego

Whiskey Girls succulent whiskey burger is basted with whiskey, topped with Philly sirloin steak, sauteed onions, bacon and cheddar and mozzarella cheeses on a branded brioche bun and served with garlic Parmesan fries and a shot of Jack Daniels. 702 Fifth Ave. (619) 236-1616 or whiskeygirl.com. Consortium Holdings hipster hangout Neighborhood is known for its signature Hood Burger, made with Gruyere and blue cheese, bacon and onion jam, brown butter aioli and arugula. 777 G St., downtown. (619) 446-0002 or neighborhoodsd.com. Werewolf Bar & Grill serves up the Triple Threat, a half-pound patty topped with maple-glazed pork belly, a fried egg and blue cheese aioli. 627 4th Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. (619) 234-0094 or thewerewolf.net. Newcomer All American Burgers offers eight burgers made with 1/3-pound grass-feed beef from Grass Run Farms in Colorado. 409 F St., San Diego. (619) 255 -2800 or allamericanburgers.beer

Nicky Rottens in El Cajon serves 16 varieties of burgers. (Nicky Rottens )

El Cajon

Nicky Rottens Bar & Burger Joint in El Cajon serves 16 burgers, but gourmands try their luck with the Da Ultimate Burga, a mountain of a meal with 2 pounds of all-natural Angus beef and fixins. Finish the $27 burger in 30 minutes and its free. 3773 Willow Glen, El Cajon. (619) 440-4204 or nickyrottens.com.

Encinitas

Union Kitchen & Taps Union Burger is a true beauty, with a generous beef patty, a smoky/rich tomato jam and slab of melted white cheddar cheese on a toasted brioche bun. The burger is with optional fried egg, which isnt the least bit necessary, but still a yummy addition. 1108 S. Coast Highway. (760) 230-2337 or localunion101.com. Encinitas Ale Houses half-pound burgers include Angus, Kobe Wagyu and wild game burgers and can be ordered in a 2-for-1 special on Tuesdays. 1044 S. Coast Highway. 760 943-7180. encinitasalehouse.com.

Burger Bench serves seven different styles of hamburgers, (Burger Bench )

Escondido

Burger Bench makes seven different Angus beef burgers served on toasted brioche bun for under $9, but its worth the extra $2 for the ultra-tender grass-fed Wagyu beef patty. 237 E. Grand Ave. (760) 294-2001 or burgerbench.com. The Wooden Spoons beloved Spoon Burger is a winner with smoked blue cheese, baconion jam, tomato aioli and house-cut fries. 805 E. Valley Parkway. (760) 745-0266 or woodenspoonsd.com/. Bellamys Restaurants burger (served only at lunch or in the bar) has a King beef patty with blue cheese, caramelized onions, house aioli and arugula is delicious. Normally its $16, but its half-price during happy hours. 417 W. Grand Ave. (760) 747-5000 or bellamysdining.com.

Nessy Burger makes backyard-style big burgers. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune )

Fallbrook

Charlie Webster and his late wife, Sandra, have owned the roadside institution Nessy Burgers since 1989, turning otu oversize cooked-to-order, backyard-style burgers that are famous all over North County. The Nessy has a half-pound, never-frozen patty made with a juicy blend of premium chuck, sirloin and mild seasoning. With a toasted bun, American cheese, thick slice of sweet onion, lettuce, tomato and house-made Thousand Island, its a burger like Dad used to make. 3235 Old Highway 395. (760) 712-1497 or nessyburgers.com

Cali O Burgers in Hillcrest is known for its exotic meat patties. (Cali O Burgers )

Hillcrest

Cali O Burgers, a runaway hit since it opened in 2014, has 20 burger options, including grass-fed beef, bison, elk, ostrich, free-range chicken and grains. 1290 University Ave., Hillcrest. (619) 692-9999 or calioburgers.com. Trust us that Hillcrests Trust Restaurant has a killer house-ground, wood-grilled burger, topped with Asiago cheese, bacon-tomato jam, pickled onions and poppy-seed bun with fries. Order it the Trust Way and get a slab of house-cured bacon and sunny-side-up egg on top for $3 extra. 3752 Park Blvd., Hillcrest. (619) 795-6901 or trustrestaurantsd.com.

Jamul/Alpine

Family-owned Brodys Burgers & Beer in Jamul grinds its burger meat daily and its buns are baked fresh each morning for burgers that are tender and juicy. 12930 Campo Road, Jamul. (619) 303-5231 or brodysburgersandbeer.com. Freds Old-Fashioned Burgers in Alpine is like an Americana 1950s diner and drive-through, with crinkle-cut fries and burgers from junior size to monster. 2754 Alpine Blvd. (619) 445-1264.

Kensington

Ken Irvines Bleu Boheme in Kensington gives the all-American burger a French twist, with his hearty Croque de Garcon, an open-face fresh-ground burger topped with brie cheese, Duroc ham, caramelized onions, saffron mayo and fried egg on sliced and toasted brioche, with pomme frites. 4090 Adams Ave., Kensington. (619) 255-4167 or bleuboheme.com.

The Burger at WhisknLadle is piled high with toppings. (WhisknLadle )

La Jolla

The Grill at Torrey Pines is famed for chef Jeff Jacksons Drugstore Burger, made with a half-pound of Niman Ranch beef, onions, lettuce, tomato and house aioli. 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd La Jolla. (858) 453-4420 or lodgetorreypines.com/the-grill. WhisknLadles mile-high The Burger is a tender burger with bacon, cheddar, caramelized onions, remoulade and fried farm egg with hand-cut fries. 1004 Wall St., La Jolla. (858) 551-7575 or wnlhosp.com. The Public House has made its name on its single-source, half-pound Angus beef burgers. Other options include bison, Kobe Wagyu and lamb. 830 Kline St., La Jolla. (858) 551-9210 or the-publichouse.com. The Spot, a neighborhood pub since the late 1970s, is known for its Garbage Burger, with a half-pound beef patty, cheddar, sauteed mushrooms, bacon, lettuce tomato, not to mention onion rings on top of the bun. 1005 Prospect St. (858) 459-0800 or thespotonline.com

La Mesa

La Mesa favorite Johnny Bs Burgers & Brews serves affordable burgers with fresh, all-natural beef from local ranches (try the blue cheese burger). 8393 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa. (619) 464-2465 or johnnybsburgersandbrew.com.

Lemon Grove

Lemon Groves family-run Charleys Famous Hamburgers has been a longtime favorite with locals, thanks to low prices, wide variety and speedy service, not to mention a killer bacon burger. 8213 Broadway.

Slaters 50/50 is named for its half beef/half bacon burger. (P )

Liberty Station

Slaters 50/50, a SoCal burger empire that opened its first local outlet at Liberty Station, is named after its half-beef/half-ground-bacon burger served with fried egg, mashed avocado and pepper jack cheese, with chipotle mayo on a brioche bun. 2750 Dewey Road, No. 193. Also at 110 Knoll Road, San Marcos. slaters5050.com.

The off-menu In-N-Haute at Juniper & Ivy is chef Richard Blais tribute to In-N-Out. (Juniper & Ivy )

Little Italy

Its not on the menu at Juniper & Ivy, but ask for the In-N-Haute, chef Richard Blais gourmet homage to In-N-Out. This smoky, juicy burger is made from two custom-blended patties of 30-day dry-aged beef from Marin Sun Farms, topped with house mustard, grilled onions, sauce and sweet bread-and-butter pickles. Ask for the steak-cut fries animal style with cheese, onions and house Thousand Island sauce. 2228 Kettner Blvd. (619) 269-9036 or juniperandivy.com. Starlites Brandt beef burger is a favorite with the uptown crowd. Its served on a buttery brioche bun with Dijonaise, caramelized onions and Grueyere cheese. 3175 India St. (619) 358-9766 or starlitesandiego.com.

The Pig Mac burger at Charlies in Mission Valley. (Town & Country )

Mission Valley

Bunz serves up 11 simple to simply elaborate burgers, like the The Three Lil Pigs, which starts with beef, pulled pork, ham and smoked bacon before they pile on fixins like beer thyme mustard. 475 Hotel Circle S. (619) 298-6515 or bunzsd.com. Luce Bar and Kitchens namesake burger is messy, so be prepared to ask for extra napkins. The sweetness of the caramelized onions plays well with the saltiness of the aged white cheddar, melted just right to give the beef  book-ended by hearty brioche and served with tomato, arugula and garlic aioli. 1959 Morena Blvd. (619) 275-0321 or sandiegoluce.com. Charlies at the Town & Country Resort offers a Pig Mac burger, with beef and pork patties topped with bacon, house Thousand Island and fixins. 500 Hotel Circle North. (619) 291-7131 or destinationhotels.com/town-country.

Normal Heights

Jaynes Gastropub, modeled after a British neighborhood pub, is known for its Jayne Burger, made with Niman Ranch beef, pickled onions, Vermont cheddar cheese, garlic mayo and sesame seed bun. 4677 30th St., Normal Heights. (619)563-1011 or jaynesgastropub.com

Pork isnt the only thing chef Hanis Cavin does well at Carnitas Snack Shack. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune )

North Park

North Parks original Carnitas Snack Shack is known for its pork, but chef Hanis Cavin does a bang-up burger with house bacon jam and aioli and white cheddar cheese. 2632 University Ave., North Park (also: 1004 N. Harbor Drive, Embarcadero, and at Petco Park) or carnitassnackshack.com. The Waypoint Burger at North Parks Waypoint Public is topped with aged white cheddar, smoked tomatillo pulled pork, fried egg, pickled veggies and roasted garlic aioli. 3794 30th St., North Park. (619) 255-8778 or waypointpublic.com. Crazee Burger offers an international selection of burgers, but its specialty is exotic meat grinds like lamb, aligator, buffalo, venison, ostrich, camel, elk, boar, duck and more. 3993 30th St., North Park. (619) 282-6044 or crazeeburger.com. Newly opened The Friendly has been drawing crowds for its Dirty Flat Top cheeseburger, a basic $5 burger with grilled bun and American cheese but no condiments. 4592 30th St. (.619) 892-7840.

Royale Cocktails & Hamburgers is an up-and-comer in Ocean Beach. (Royale )

Ocean Beach

Hodads, with locations in downtowns East Village and at Petco Park, is a San Diego favorite, with burgers starting at just $4.25. We love the Guido burger, named for Hodads fan Guy Fieri of Food Network fame. Its stuffed with grilled onions, Swiss cheese, spicy mustard and six other condiments. 5010 Newport Ave. (619) 224-4623 or hodadies.com. Jordan and Mariah Brownwood opened Royale Cocktails & Hamburgers this year, and their Royale with Cheese is a best-seller. It features a 1/3-pound patty, bacon, Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, house sauce, mustard and pickles on a buttermilk bun. (619) 431-5653 or royalesd.com. The New Zealand-themed Raglan Public House serves all-organic, grass-fed burgers so rich with flavor that they dont need ketchup (so dont ask). 1851 Bacon St. (619) 794-2304 or raglanpublichouse.com.

The top-selling California burger at Urge restaurants. (URGE )

Oceanside

The middle letters of burger were the name inspiration for Urge Gastropub & Whiskey Bank. Of its five signature burgers, the best-seller is the California, with a grass-fed beef patty topped with beer-batter fries, avocado, aged cheddar, sriracha aioli and more. 2002 S. Coast Highway. Also at 16761 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo and 255 Redel Road in San Marcos. urgegastropub.com. Tys Burger House on Mission has established a growing following with its vast selection of burgers, including Kobe beef, elk, lamb and buffalo, but its top-seller is a wild boar burger topped with mushrooms and red-wine poached pears. 515 Mission Ave. (760) 757-5890 or tysburgherhouse.com

Rockys Crown Pub in Pacific Beach has been serving top-rated burgers for years. (Rockys )

Pacific Beach/Mission Beach

Rockys Crown Pub has topped diners best of lists for years thanks to its simple 1/3-pound and 1/2-pound burgers. Nothing fancy, just good-quality meat and fixins. Fries arent included. Be advised, Rockys is an adults-only and cash-only bar. 3786 Ingraham St. (858) 273-9140 or rockyburgers.com. The New Zealand-themed Bare Back Grill in Mission Beach serves organic beef and a variety of gourmet cheeses. Try the Queenstown Fave with Edam cheese. 4640 Mission Blvd. (858) 274-7117 or barebackgrill.com.

Rancho Bernardo

Urge Gastropub, like its sister pubs in San Marcos and Oceanside, serves grass-fed beef burgers, but at this location consider the wild boar burger with white cheddar, bacon and smokey aioli. 16761 Bernardo Center Drive. urgegastropub.com.

Poway/Scripps Ranch

Bruski Burgers & Brew  with locations in Poway and Scripps Ranch  serves all-natural, never-frozen half-pound burgers with gourmet fixins. Try the Bleu Pig, with blue cheese crumbles, bacon and house mustard sauce. 12622 Poway Road. 9844 Hibert St., Scripps Ranch. Bruskiburgersandbrew.com.

San Marcos

This citys top burger spots include the Urge Gastropub and Common House (see burger info under Rancho Bernardo) at 255 Redel Road, and Slaters 50/50 (see entry under Liberty Station) at 155 Knoll Road. But locals swear by the burgers at Mama Kats, a 10-yearr-old family-run cafe and pie shop with hearty burgers like the Chubby Chicken, which is a tradtional burger topped with chili, cheese and a fried chicken strip. 950 W. San Marcos Blvd. (760) 591-4558 or mamakats.com

Eastbound Bar & Grill in Lakeside has a more-is-more mentality with its burgers. (Eastbound )

Santee/Lakeside

Eastbound Bar and Grill in Lakeside delivers a sensory experience with every bite. Among its eight half-pound burgers is the Duke, topped with pulled pork, cheddar jack and barbecue sauce. 10053 Maine Ave., Lakeside. (619) 334-2566 or eastboundbarandgrill.com. Diners at Annys Fine Burgers in Santee can choose from 35+ mostly half-pound Angus-beef burgers, like the Monster Burger topped with baked pastrami, turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, mayo and honey mustard. 9862 Mission Gorge Road, Santee. (619) 258-8288 or annysfineburger.com.

Solana Beach

Pillbox Tavern has a cool beach-bar vibe, friendly service and a new burger special each month (Mays specialty was a farmer burger with roasted broccoli, cauliflower and corn. On Monday nights, get the house burger and a beer for $12. 117 W. Plaza St. (858) 436-7016 or pillboxtavern.com. Chiefs Burgers & Brew serves nine different burgrs made with at least a half-pound of Gold Canyon Angus beef. If youre really hungry, try the Super Chief with a full pound of meat. 124 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, #108. (858) 755-2599 or chiefsburgers.com

South Park

South Parks Station Tavern & Burger has a solid and affordable ground Premium chuck burger, made better with a side car of to-die-for garlic Parmesan fries. 2204 Fern St., South Park. (619) 255-0657 or stationtavern.com.

Circa San Diegos Wagyu burger is renowned in University Heights. (Circa )

University Heights

Circa San Diegos half-pound B-Side Burger is made with all-natural ground Wagyu beef, a housemade bun and pickles, sage-cheddar, fresh-cut fries, molasses ketchup and brown ale mustard. 2121 Adams Ave. (619) 269-9152 or circasd.com. Theres nothing small about the house-ground burgers at Small Bar. Try the 1/3-pound Blue Boy Burger with sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion and Maytag blue cheese sauce. 4628 Park Blvd. (619) 795-7998 or smallbarsd.com.

University City

Draft Republics popular house burger is made with a grass-fed beef patty, American cheese and house-made pickles on a potato roll served with Parmesan herb fries. 4282 Esplanade Court, University City. A second location opened last year at 5958 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad. cohnrestaurants.com/draftrepublic.

Partake Gastropub in Vista serves a 13.5-ounce Angus burger with house fixins. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune )

Vista

Partake Gastropub is worth a visit just for its burger, a 13.5-ounce, house-ground Angus burger topped with sauteed mushrooms, smoked bacon, Gouda cheese, sriracha aioli and tomato jam on a brioche bun. 721 S. Santa Fe Ave. (760) 452-7217 or partakevista.com. Better be hungry for Flying Pig Pub & Kitchens half-pound C.A.B. (Certified Angus Beef) Natural burger has blue cheese, mustard aioli, caramelized onions, house pickle, arugula and side of fries included. 230 S. Santa Fe Ave. (760) 630-4311 or flyingpig.pub. Chili Coast Burgers is a simple quick-service eatery with popular chili, teriyaki and bacon burgers. 1330 E. Vista Way. (760) 726-1187.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
On Monday, Angelenos will honor Americas fallen service members with a host of Memorial Day events, including, cemetery ceremonies, parades and flyovers.

The tradition of dedicating a specific day to remember those who died in military service started after the Civil War. During its first observance in 1868, it was known as Decoration Day, because Americans adorned the graves of the dead with flowers.

The tradition evolved to include other types of remembrances and veterans from all wars. In 1967, the federal government established Memorial Day as an official holiday.

Here are a few events scheduled in and around L.A. on Monday:

Advertisement

Westside

At 10 a.m. Monday, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti will join Randy C. Reeves, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs undersecretary for memorial affairs, at a ceremony at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood.

Hollywood

Retired U.S. Army Capt. Dr. Jon Williams, a Purple Heart recipient who underwent 23 surgeries during his second tour in the Vietnam War, will speak at an event at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills starting at 10 a.m.

South L.A.

A ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, originally built in 1923 to honor the 23,000 Angelenos who served in World War I, is scheduled for noon and will include patriotic music, an honor guard presentation and the lighting of the stadium torch.

San Fernando Valley

The annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade kicks off an hour after the 10:00 a.m. opening ceremony at Sherman Way and Owensmouth Avenue.

Inglewood

People will gather at 11 a.m. in front of the Memorial Obelisk Monument at Inglewood City Hall for speeches, a colors presentation and a flag ceremony.

South Bay

A ceremony featuring a flyover of 17 military transport aircraft, a skydiving performance, a 21-gun salute, the release of 100 doves and a parade of colors will begin at 10 a.m. at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes. Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Wissler is scheduled to speak.

Pico Rivera

Veterans are asked to bring their military photos to display at a traditional ceremony at 10 a.m. at the citys Veterans Memorial and Eternal Flame.

Long Beach

Starting at 5:45 a.m., people will gather at Rosie the Riveter Park to read the names of the roughly 7,000 members of the armed services who have died since Sept. 11, 2001. The names are inscribed on the parks Honoring Our Fallen Memorial Wall.

San Gabriel Valley

A Vietnam War Navy veteran will speak at a ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. in El Montes Arceo Park. Tributes are also scheduled for prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Joy.Resmovits@LATimes.com

@Joy_Resmovits
Their anticipated pitching matchup didnt happen Sunday and the showdown that did occur between Shohei Ohtani and Masahiro Tanaka mostly fizzled, too.

Ohtani struck out twice and walked against his fellow countryman, the two facing each other for the first time as big-leaguers.

I think hes a good pitcher, Ohtani said later, speaking through an interpreter. I think he proved that today. But more than that, Im upset that we lost.

Tanaka allowed three hits  including a homer by Andrelton Simmons  over six innings in a 3-1 New York victory.

Advertisement

Ohtani last faced Tanaka in 2013, going hitless in 11 at-bats (with six strikeouts) when both played in Japans Pacific League.

In his first visit to Yankee Stadium as an Angel, the rookie failed to dazzle like he has in the past.

Consistently hearing boos, he finished the three-game series zero for nine with five strikeouts and four walks, lowering his batting average to .291.

I dont think Im putting too much pressure on myself any day, not even this time around, said Ohtani, who is three for 19 on the Angels current trip. I didnt get any hits this time, but I was able to draw some walks. I think thats a positive thing to take out of this series.

Etc.

Justin Upton (forearm contusion) is expected to return soonThe Angels bullpen gave up one run and four hits in 11 1/3 innings in this seriesVeteran reliever Ian Krol made his Angels debut, pitching two scoreless innings.

jeff.miller@latimes.com
One by one the names were read out loud, a solemn tolling of the fallen.

Memorial Day started early in Balboa Park.

All weekend long, volunteers took turns standing at a lectern on a patio outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center and read the names of San Diegans killed in the Vietnam War or listed as missing in action.

There are more than 450 names on the list, and it took about an hour to read through them all, each name followed by the ringing of a bell. When the readers were finished, they read the names again.

Advertisement

And again.

They read for about eight hours on Saturday, and another ten hours Sunday. They read when passers-by stopped to listen, and they read when no one else was there. It wasnt about the audience.

Today, at the beginning of a Memorial Day ceremony at the museum, theyll read the names one more time.

We do it to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, said Tom Slaughter, a board member for the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

This isnt like the well-attended events at Fort Rosecrans and Miramar, the national cemeteries in San Diego that will be decorated today with thousands of American flags and red roses. It isnt military planes playing overhead at Mt Soledad. There arent speeches by admirals or brigadier generals.

Its people like Albert Banuelos Jr., Thomas Peavy, Gilbert Maestas and Jesus Ortega Jr.

Those were among the names Benjamin Rodriguez read on Saturday, and he felt a personal connection. They all went to Lincoln High in San Diego, and then they all went to Vietnam.

Rodriguez came home. The others did not.

I say their names and I think of them as high school friends, and I salute them, he said.

And he tries not to cry.

1 / 16 Vietnam veteran Jack Kline was one of many veterans of the war who took turns and read the names continuously of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action for about eight hours Saturday during a Memorial Day weekend observance. The names were read outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial, where the names are inscribed on plaques, attached to five monuments. The names are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 16 Vietnam War veterans, Paul Fusco, Phil Armitage and Benjamin Benny Rodriguez, salute as the American flag is at half-staff during the reading of the names of the 450 plus San Deigns killed or are listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War, at a Memorial Day weekend observance outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park by veterans of the war who took turns reading the names continuously for about eight hours Saturday and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 16 Benjamin Benny Rodriguez, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War salutes as the name of his friend who he went to Lincoln High School with, Jesus Ortega Jr.,was read during a Memorial Day weekend observance at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park. Vietnam veterans gathered at the museum and took turns reading continuously the 450 plus names of the San Diegans who were killed or are listed as missing in action for about eight hours Saturday and will again on Sunday for about ten hours. The names of his other three high school friends who were killed during the war, Thomas Peavy, Albert Banuelos Jr., and Gilbert Maestas are inscribed on other plaques at the San Diego Peace Memorial. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 16 Vietnam War Army veteran Cleveland Norton Jr. was one of the veterans who rang a bell made from an artillery shell each time the name of one of the more than 450 San Deigns killed or are listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War was read at a Memorial Day weekend observance Saturday outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park. The names were read continuously by fellow Vietnam veterans for about eight hours and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 16 Vietnam War Army veteran Bill France was one of the veterans who rang a bell each time the name of one of the 450 plus San Deigns killed or are listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War was read at a Memorial Day weekend observance outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park. The names were read continuously by fellow Vietnam veterans for about eight hours Saturday and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 16 Vietnam veterans took turns reading the names of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action, continuously for about eight hours Saturday and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday during a Memorial Day weekend observance outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial where the names are inscribed on plaques attached to five monuments. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 7 / 16 Benjamin Benny Rodriguez, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War lost four friends he went to Lincoln High School with during the war. Every year he and other Vietnam veterans honor them on Memorial Day weekend by taking turns and reading their names and the names of the more than 450 San Diegans who were killed or are listed as missing in action, continuously for about eight hours at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park where the names are inscribed on plaques Saturday, and for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 8 / 16 Benjamin Benny Rodriguez, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War places his hands on one of the plaques at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park with the names of two of his four Lincoln High School friends, Albert Banuelos Jr., and Gilbert Maestas that went to Vietnam and were killed in combat. Other plaques have the names Thomas Peavy and Jesse Ortega Jr., his two other high school fiends that died in the war. Rodriquez and other Vietnam veterans gathered at the museum and took turns reading continuously the 450 plus names of the San Diegans who were killed or are listed as missing in action for about eight hours Saturday during a Memorial Day weekend observance and will do so again for about 10 hours Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 9 / 16 Vietnam veteran Francisco Flores was one of many veterans of the war who took turns reading the names continuously of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action for about eight hours Saturday during a Memorial Day weekend observance. The names were read outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial, where the names are inscribed on plaques, attached to five monuments. The names are to be read for about 10 hours Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 10 / 16 Vietnam War Navy veteran Leo Enrile listens as the 450 plus San Deigns killed or are listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War were read at a Memorial Day weekend observance outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park. The names were read continuously by fellow Vietnam veterans for about eight hours Saturday and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 11 / 16 Vietnam veteran Benjamin Benny Rodriguez was one of many veterans of the war who took turns reading the names continuously of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action for about eight hours Saturday and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday during a Memorial Day weekend observance. The names were read outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial, where the names are inscribed on plaques, attached to five monuments. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 12 / 16 Vietnam War veteran Chuck Mowery was one of the veterans who rang a bell made from an artillery shell each time the name of one of the more than 450 San Deigns killed or are listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War was read at a Memorial Day weekend observance outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park Saturday. The names were read continuously by fellow Vietnam veterans for about eight hours and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 13 / 16 Vietnam veteran Francisco Flores was one of many veterans of the war who took turns reading the names continuously of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action for about eight hours Saturday during a Memorial Day weekend observance. The names were read outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial, where the names are inscribed on plaques, attached to five monuments. The names are to be read for about 10 hours Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 14 / 16 Vietnam veteran Francisco Flores was one of many veterans of the war who took turns reading the names continuously of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action for about eight hours Saturday during a Memorial Day weekend observance. The names were read outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial, where the names are inscribed on plaques, attached to five monuments. The names are to be read for about 10 hours Sunday. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 15 / 16 Benjamin Benny Rodriguez, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War places a hand on one of the plaques at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park with the name of one of his four Lincoln High School friends, Jesus Ortega Jr., who was killed in action in Vietnam. On other plaques are the names of his three other friends who were killed during the war, Albert Banuelos Jr., Gilbert Maestas and Thomas Peavy. Rodriquez and other Vietnam veterans gathered at the museum and took turns reading continuously the 450 plus names of the San Diegans who were killed or are listed as missing in action for about eight hours Saturday during a Memorial Day weekend observance and will do so again on Sunday for about 10 hours. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 16 / 16 Vietnam veteran Benjamin Benny Rodriguez was one of many veterans of the war who took turns reading the names continuously of the more than 450 San Deigns who died or are missing in action for about eight hours Saturday and are to be read for about 10 hours on Sunday during a Memorial Day weekend observance. The names were read outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park near the San Diego Peace Memorial, where the names are inscribed on plaques, attached to five monuments. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune)

A peace memorial

The readings have been going on for more than 30 years.

In 1969, a handful of volunteers worked with the local Roman Catholic Diocese to build what was called the San Diego Peace Memorial on church property in Old Town.

Funded through private donations, it was erected in response to the protests against the Vietnam War that were erupting across the country. It featured two concrete monuments topped with plaques containing the names of San Diego Countys casualties.

The list grew as the war continued  it was still more than five years from ending  and two more plaque-topped monuments were added in 1974.

Like the war itself, the memorial was controversial. Some misunderstood its purpose, saw it as a glorification of combat. American flags were burned at the site, rotten eggs thrown at the markers.

After the military conflict ended, the memorial took on a sacred air, and veterans saw it as a place of reconciliation. There was pride in the fact that it was one of the first Vietnam memorials in the nation, pre-dating the famous one in Washington D.C., the Wall, by more than a decade.

Sometime in the mid-1980s, volunteers started gathering there on Memorial Day weekends and reading the names out loud for 48 straight hours.

It made for a sometimes-odd juxtaposition at the corner of San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street, somber reflection bumping up against camera-toting tourists wandering by during the day and boozy revelers carrying on from nearby bars at night.

In 1994, the diocese sold the property. The memorial was moved to its present spot, outside the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park.

Some people worried that moving the memorial would rob it of its emotional power, and that with fewer visitors walking by it every day, those honored on its plaques might soon be forgotten.

As this weekend showed, that hasnt happened.

For love of country

Saturdays readers were from the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 472, and Sundays were from Veterans Village of San Diego.

They worked in two-hour blocks, four readers per hour. After each name was read, a bell was rung  once for those killed in action, twice for those missing.

There are now five monuments topped by plaques. Each also bears a quote from the Bible, John 15:13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The readers never know how many people might be listening, or who they might be. Sometimes, Rodriguez said, its survivors of the local men killed in the war. Hes met relatives of his high school classmates that way.

Sometimes its survivors from other parts of America. On occasion they walk up and ask to say out loud the names of their loved ones, too, even though they werent from San Diego.

Such requests are always honored. Its an emotional weekend, Slaughter said.

Today figures to be more of the same, at the museum and elsewhere. Memorial Day events are planned all over San Diego County, 150 years after the nations first official commemoration of those killed in combat.

On May 30, 1868, government leaders gathered at Arlington National Cemetery, where 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were buried, and heard future President James Garfield say, For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.

Its a sentiment that echoes still, in places where the names of the fallen are read out loud, one by one, again and again.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
All it takes is one moment, one wavering step out from under the shadow of combat trauma, and you sometimes have the privilege of hearing what Bill Rider calls The Gift.

Its when they tell you, Rider said on a recent afternoon.

When they tell you why they avoid crowds. When they tell you what the air smelled like after an IED tore the Humvee in half. When they tell you deep-down things nobody else has ever heard.

These days, Rider hears a lot of survivors guilt during his Tuesday evening Safe Warrior Outreach, a support group of Marines and corpsmen and retired special operators circled up in the industrial hangar at American Combat Veterans of War.

Advertisement

But theres also the visceral stuff  the bloodstained memories of men and women back from Afghanistan, minds throbbing like only a fellow veteran can understand.

Society at large doesnt understand what trauma does, Rider told me. Most trauma is accented by the visual part of seeing something you shouldnt see  thats the hardest to get by. And then the olfactory, the smell sense, that causes a lot of flashbacks, too.

At ACVOW, he explained, We dissect the trauma. Sometimes people come in here who have never, ever talked about their trauma except with their combat brothers. Thats a weight so heavy that you wonder how they havent blown their brains out yet.

Official estimates put the suicide toll  active-duty and veterans alike  at 22 to 24 every day across the U.S.

Rider thinks thats conservative.

Its probably at least 10 more than that across the country, because its not reported accurately, not reported to the proper authorities, to get the right number, he said. Were really fooling ourselves.

Unless Rider had experienced severe trauma himself, he would have no business doing what he does.

But his three combat wounds and 13 harrowing months in Vietnam testify to hard-won credentials: Rider is a veteran of Khe Sanh, one of the bloodiest sieges in the history of American warfare, and of the Marine Corps 1-9 battalion, known as the Walking Dead because of what its members endured in Vietnam.

For every 100 men who deployed with the 1-9 in the mid-1960s, only a handful survived; Rider is one of them.

I dont know anybody from 1-9 who wasnt wounded in some way physically, he recalled. If youd been where weve been, thered be something wrong with you, too.

Several Khe Sanh survivors have found their way to ACVOW as volunteers, for the same reasons as Rider.

What is different about us is that weve been there and done that. We know what the trauma will be, Rider went on. And we also have great access to veterans, because they come to us.

Four years ago, when the Oceanside VA clinic had just opened, Rider stood on the steps and saw huge opportunity across the parking lot, in the row of two-story offices where ACVOW headquarters is now located. Every so often, someone will leave the clinic after receiving less than encouraging news about their benefits and walk through Riders door.

Theres no room for pretense in a job like this, and Rider seems just fine with that. Everything that ACVOW deals with is a raw nerve, whether its trying to overcome nightmares or arm-wrestling the federal government into a fair disability settlement.

Rider spoke with disgust about the treatment of some veterans who have wound up on his doorstep out of desperation.

A Marine came to the Safe Warrior meeting  I said, Young Marine, why are you here? He said, I want to know why Im such a bad person,  Rider told me.

Two days before leaving the service, it seems this 22-year-old Marine had tested positive at the lowest possible level for a banned substance, earning him a month in the brig and an other-than-honorable discharge that rules out VA benefits.

The leadership knows that when they turn these guys over like that, they have no options, Rider said. This was a good kid, and  rather than help him, you treat him like that?

Thursdays, Rider and a few other volunteers head to the Vista Detention Facility, where they work with two prisoner blocks of 32 veterans each.

Most of those veterans are there because they cant handle the post-traumatic stress, he said. Everybody makes mistakes, and its about redemption. You must give them a forum, to try to figure out what the hell happened to them.

Rider remembers his own Gift coming out during a pre-surgery talk with a therapist at a VA clinic in 1999  thats how long it took him to grasp the full consequences of the dehumanizing things hed seen in Vietnam.

Youve got PTSD, the doctor had told him after five minutes.

He had served six years as a detective in the Midwest before starting a private security firm in Los Angeles, retiring in 1990, and then going stir-crazy.

Now hes found the thing he was always meant to do, he told me.

The day youre born, and the day you realize why you were born, what your mission in life is  those are the two most important days in your life, Rider said. This is why I was born. Without a doubt.
Lower taxes. Elimination of import duties. Reduction of gasoline prices. As Mexicos presidential campaign enters its final weeks, the candidates are pledging a range of measures to spur development in the countrys northern border regions from Tijuana to Matamoros.

Front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, of the left-of-center Morena Party, is proposing a 12.5-mile wide strip along Mexicos northern border, with the sales tax reduced to half the national rate, the income tax cut to 20 percent, doubling of the mininum wage, and gasoline prices indexed to those in adjacent U.S. border communities.

His chief rival, Ricardo Anaya of Mexicos right-of-center National Action Party, has been calling for several of these same measures. The other major contender in the countrys July 1 election, Jose Antonio Meade, candidate for Mexicos Institutional Revolutionary Party, is endorsing the creation of a special economic zone for the northern border, with tax incentives and other measures to stimulate growth.

After years of battling for special economic status, members of Tijuanas business community are welcoming the candidates focus on a region that they say is poised for exponential growth but held back by restrictive fiscal policies dictated by Mexicos federal government.

Advertisement

Proximity to the United States and easy access to its markets poses both challenges and opportunities for Mexicos border regions, and that requires special treatment, the proponents say.

Reducing tariffs and taxes are part of a broader vision held by the states business and government leaders, who envision a Strategic Border Economic Zone for Baja California. The plan contemplates improvements in infrastructure and education, investments in innovation, science and technology and the creation of higher-paying, higher-level jobs.

You cant have the same economic development strategy for Baja California that you do for Chiapas, said Mario Escobedo, president of the Tijuana Chamber of Commerce, CANACO. Next to San Diego, with a port in Ensenada and international airport in Tijuana that connects to Asia, he said, nobody shares our geographic advantage.

The entire Baja California peninsula  and a small part of neighboring Sonora  for decades was known as a Zona Libre, a duty-free zone for everything from perfumes to electronics to high-end clothing. That status, formally conferred in the mid-1930s by then-President Lazaro Cardenas, was intended to stimulate the development of once-remote regions of the country.

In Tijuana, longtime business leaders such as Pedro Romero Torres-Torija credit the areas former Zona Libre status for establishing the foundations of the regions prosperity. It was a place where you could easily get things done, said Romero. There were no problems, whatever we couldnt get here, we could easily bring it over from the United States, said Romero, whose businesses include a department store, hotels, real estate and construction.

Today, Romero is one of the main champions of the proposed Strategic Border Economic Zone. The border is different from the rest of the country, Romero said. We are a binational region, with different systems, different economies.

The 1994 implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, brought an end to the Zona Libre, as Mexicos federal government declared that residents of border regions should be subject to the same import duties as other regions of the country.

Two decades later, border residents also saw their sales tax raised from 11 percent to the national rate of 16 percent following the passage of a fiscal tax reform package. Baja California businesses complained bitterly that the higher tax put them at a competitive disadvantage with San Diego, where the sales tax is about half that amount.

Members of President Enrique Pena Nietos administration were unmoved, arguing that the exception for the border reduced revenues and opened opportunities for tax evasion and elusion.

But now Mexicos presidential campaign has brought renewed attention to the issue. It was a question that came up in a Mexico City news conference earlier this month hosted by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, a nonprofit think tank.

By raising the sales tax on the northern border youre slowing the growth of a region that could be contributing much more to national growth, said institute economist Manuel Molano.

Still, he added that the issue of the sales tax on the border is a complex one, ...We need to think of a comprehensive tax reform, but none of the candidates are talking about it.

At the Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana, economist Noe Aaron Fuentes said the lower tariffs and taxes are measures that would be very important for us to obtain, but very difficult to achieve. Any lowering of the tax rates would require approval by Mexicos Congress.

People here understand the need for the measures, that its a very important instrument to be able to compete, to produce and to progress, Fuentes said.

But the measures also have drawbacks, said Christopher Wilson, deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. While lowering taxes would no doubt be a stimulus for the border...how do you lower the taxes significantly in one of the wealthiest and most productive parts of the country and not pay for it somehow, how do you not hurt someone?

Talk of tax cuts is great campaigning, but Im not sure its a realistic proposal, said Wilson. For Lopez Obrador, who has vowed greater support for the poor, elderly and disabled, implementing this proposal would make it difficult to implement the rest of his agenda.

On the Baja California border, supporters of the special measures say they wont give up easily.

At his office in Tijuanas Rio Zone last week, Pedro Romero remembered a time decades ago that a Mexican president decided to eliminate the Baja California peninsulas preferential Zona Libre status.

That prompted some 200 members of Baja Californias business community to fly down to Mexico City in protest in January 1975. As a result, Luis Echeverria quickly reversed the move, Romero recalled.

Romero is encouraged by the support for the Strategic Border Economic Zone. But come election day, he said, hell continue to make his case. You cannot rely completely on the politicians, he said. Whoever is elected, we are going to push and persuade and fight.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
A Memorial Day weather report:

For several months, an electric storm has been gathering over North Chapel, a Norman Rockwellian lightning rod on Roosevelt Road.

At the front of the Liberty Station chapel, a commemorative plaque reads:

Completed in 1942, The North Chapel Building features stained glass windows representing the 41 different training schools on site and one window representing the recruit. As the recruits at the Naval Training Center practiced many different religions, different services for all religions were offered. There was a Priest, a Rabbi, a Baptist Minister and so on that would conduct the services. Weddings for senior officers were held in the chapel as well.

Advertisement

At the bottom of the plaque is this footnote: The Corky McMillin Properties is proud to preserve the history of NTC.

Well, well see how Liberty Stations master developer tacks against the headwinds of opposition to a major adaptive reuse of the beautifully restored chapel that for many sailors was their last place of worship before shipping out during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

For the past decade or so, the chapel has been rented out for suitable events: Sunday church services, weddings, concerts, and the like.

In February, Milford Wayne Donaldson, a nationally respected preservation architect who oversaw the massive NTC restoration, wrote Mayor Kevin Faulconer to sound a word of warning about McMillins intentions.

Donaldson was roused to action by McMillins advertised desire to secure a long-term tenant whod use the 7,760 square-foot property for restaurant or retail space.

To Donaldson, this anticipated change violates the NTC preservation guidelines he crafted in 2000 and approved by the City Council.

It is my belief, Donaldson wrote, that this change into a restaurant at the North Chapel would be inconsistent with the Guidelines as well as the desires of (the late) Corky McMillin and his proud remembrance of the events that happened in the Chapel that he shared with me. It is critical to retain the Chapel for its intended uses as well as public uses without major alterations to the Chapels spectacular interior.

I also strongly feel this is a violation of public trust to the men and women who served in our armed forces in defense of our nation. The memories of their dedication, service and support of family will be forever lost.

McMillins response to this cri de coeur?

A stone wall.

On Thursday, I met with Joe Haeussler, executive vice president of McMillin Commercial, in his Liberty Station office.

My goal was to find a ray of light into the mystery of whats coming after June 30, the date two Catholic congregations have been given to move their Sunday services.

I had a reason to be hopeful that Haeussler would give me something.

The NTC Foundation, the nonprofit that supports the Arts & Culture District at Liberty Station, has been well aware of the gathering storm over the chapel, including an online petition and apprehensive warnings from the Peninsula planning group as well as Save Our Heritage Organisation.

During a strictly confidential meeting with leaders of the arts district, McMillin opened the tent a little, said Lisa Johnson, NTC Foundation president and CEO.

After the presentation, we felt so much better, Johnson said, joking that the chapel was not going to morph into a Mexican restaurant. (I imagined pinatas hanging from the beams.)

Citing that opening of the kimono, I invited -- OK, begged -- Haeussler to give San Diegans the same insight into how McMillin plans to activate (Haeusslers word) the chapel without compromising its historic character.

Unmoved, Haeussler explained that McMillin is in negotiation with more than one potential long-term tenant. Therefore, he could not reveal much of anything beyond his confidence that the chapels reincarnation will meet all historic guidelines. Donaldson and other doomsayers, Haeussler implied, are shooting blanks in the dark. The takeaway: Trust us.

Haeussler pointed to McMillins record of hard-won success repurposing the officers club into Corvette Diner, the commissary into Stone Brewery, the enlisted club into Crown Ace Hardware.

But a historic chapel is a house of a different color, is it not?

Granted, its not unusual to convert a place of worship to secular duties. The Del Mar public library used to be the towns Catholic church. (In Pittsburgh, a former church is a craft brewery.)

But to San Diegans like Ron Slayen, a Liberty Station artist at the front of the charge against change, Building 208 is more than an edifice that needs to be activated. Its a shrine sanctified by generations of sailors and their families.

For a religiously pious perspective, I called Father Gerard McKee of Our Lady of Fatima Church.

Come July, barring a miracle, the priest will have to conduct services in a new venue, but he doubts hell find any affordable space equally inspiring.

Its all about the Almighty Dollar, sighed Father McKee.

Amen.
In the first four and a half months since Californias sanctuary law went into effect, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department released 349 people who were wanted by immigration officials without alerting the federal agency responsible for deportations.

Thats a little over half of the 605 people the agency requested, according to a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department.

The 605 people that Immigration and Customs Enforcement asked jail officials for make up less than two percent of the 32,137 people booked in San Diego County jails so far this year. Thats consistent with the previous two years when ICE wanted to arrest between 1.5 and 1.6 percent of those in the Sheriffs custody.

ICE doesnt pick up every person the agency requests. In 2016, ICE officers did not pick up 157, or about 13 percent, of the people they wanted from the jails, according to the Sheriffs Department. In 2017, the agency did not pick up 165 of those it requested, also about 13 percent.

Advertisement

Before 2018, officials with the Sheriffs Department would inform ICE when someone they were interested in was going to be released. With a new law that went into effect in January, jail officials now do not tell ICE when people will be released unless the person has a criminal charge listed as one of the exceptions in the law.

Opponents of the law have argued that the law, known as S.B. 54 or the California Values Act, prevents immigration officials from doing their job and that theyre now forced go to into communities to make more arrests. ICE says that increases the potential for collateral arrests of people who happened to be around when officers showed up looking for someone else.

Supporters of the law say that it helps unauthorized immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes feel comfortable coming forward, which they say keeps communities safer.

Since the law was implemented, arrests by ICE in California have dropped about 25 percent from the previous quarter, from 6,214 to 4,642, according to ICE data. Nationwide, the number of arrests rose about two percent, from 39,169 to 39,945.

Much of Californias decrease is because of a 71 percent drop in noncriminal arrests out of the San Diego field office. In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, ICE officials in the San Diego area arrested 1,622 people who did not have any criminal conviction, a significant increase from the 465 arrested the previous quarter and the most of any field office across the country for that time period. In the second quarter, from January to March, ICE made 457 noncriminal arrests around San Diego.

Arrests of those with criminal convictions in San Diego did not change significantly following the implementation of S.B. 54. ICE arrested 637 people with criminal histories between October and December, and the agency arrested 639 between January and March.

Across California, ICE arrests of those with criminal convictions dropped about nine percent, from 3,862 to 3,509.

Peter Nunez, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California who is on the board of an immigration restrictionist think tank, said its probably too soon to know what the changing arrest numbers mean.

Its not a promising trend, but lets see what happens as we go forward, Nunez said.

David FitzGerald, a professor at UC San Diego who studies immigration, said that it was hard to draw definitive conclusions from the data trend because criminal arrests would include both felonies and misdemeanors.

But this evidence is consistent with the idea that the authorities in California are continuing to cooperate with ICE when it comes to unauthorized immigrants who have committed serious crimes inside the United States, FitzGerald said. S.B. 54 just made sure that the cooperation would only turn over serious offenders.

Loren Collingwood, an assistant professor at UC Riverside who has studied immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies, said that the drop in California arrest numbers in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 might not be related to S.B. 54. He suggested detention capacity issues and networks of immigrant rights advocates alerting communities about enforcement might have contributed to lower numbers.

ICE mightve also gone for low hanging fruit, he said, in the earlier months of the Trump administration as the agency ramped up its enforcement. Those remaining in the country might take more work to track down and arrest.

What concerned Nunez more immediately than the arrest numbers were the 349 poeple that the Sheriffs Department said had been released from custody instead of turned over to ICE.

Sanctuary law is terrible, Nunez said. Its horrible. Half of the people that ICE, or INS in the old days, used to be able to take custody of are now not being taken and theyre being released back into the street.

He applauded the Orange County Sheriffs decision to publish who is getting released from jail so that everyone, including ICE, can see it. The San Diego Sheriffs Department has a report of inmates pending release on its website.

So far in 2018, the most serious charge faced by people that the Sheriffs Department did not turn over to ICE was misdemeanor spousal battery, a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department said.

Misdemeanor domestic violence is also one of the three most common charges for people that the Sheriffs Department could not tell ICE about. The other two were misdemeanor offenses related to DUI and disorderly conduct or public intoxication.

Dilkhwaz Ahmed, executive director of License to Freedom, an organization that helps survivors of domestic violence in immigrant and refugee communities, said that she supports S.B. 54 because it helps victims feel more comfortable coming forward regardless of their immigration status. (Several police departments said they received fewer domestic violence reports from Latino communities in the first year of the Trump administration and attributed that to fear of immigration enforcement.)

Every case is different, Ahmed said. For some, the deportation of an abuser brings much-needed relief. In other situations, victims dont want to report abuse if it will lead to the abusers deportation.

She recalled one client who refused to go forward with reporting her husband if it meant he would be deported.

She said, I cannot handle the fact that my kids are going to look at me and say you are the reason for my father to be deported, Ahmed recalled.

Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for state senator Kevin De Leon, who wrote the bill for S.B. 54, said that the list of crimes that qualify for communication between local law enforcement and ICE is based on an earlier law from 2013 that involved negotiations with sheriffs.

The SB 54 list explicitly covers all serious and violent crimes, including felony DUIs and felony domestic violence crimes, such as Corporal Injury to spouse/Cohabitant Penal Code 273.5 under the Battery category, Underland said.

The Trump administration sued California over S.B. 54 and two other laws it says impede immigration officials work. San Diego County joined the Trump administration to oppose the laws while the city of San Diego sided with California in support of them.

President Donald Trump hosted a roundtable at the White House May 16 with California officials who oppose the idea of sanctuary policies.

Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, who spearheaded San Diego Countys decision to join the lawsuit on the side of the Trump administration, attended the meeting.

Weve created a situation where Governor Brown makes San Diego a great place to commit a crime because you have options, Gaspar told the president. You can either be across the border in a matter of minutes and shielded by Mexico, or you have the option of simply staying put, shielded by Governor Moonbeam.

Mayor Sam Abed of Escondido told Trump that having ICE work with police in his city helped reduce crime.

In our city, more immigrant people report crime, Abed said. And this narrative that sanctuary city will allow more immigrants to report crime is fake news, Mr. President.

Tom Wong, a professor at UC San Diego who worked as an advisor to the White House under the Obama administration, recently published findings from a questionnaire given to unauthorized immigrants from Mexico that found a statistically significant difference in willingness to report crimes based on whether they believed that local police work with ICE or dont work with ICE.

About 60 percent fewer people who believed that local police worked with ICE said they would be willing to report a crime they witnessed, and about 43 percent fewer said they would be willing to report a crime that happened to them.

The survey provides evidence to support what some law enforcement officers have said, that when there are clear dividing lines between local law enforcement and ICE, undocumented immigrants are more likely to report crimes and have greater trust in public institutions.

Wong also authored a study last year published by the left-leaning Center for American Progress that found 35.5 fewer crimes are committed on average per 10,000 people in sanctuary counties compared to nonsanctuary counties.

The administrations messaging about sanctuary policies doesnt line up with the evidence, Wong said.

Youre not able to say youre making decisions on the best available evidence, Wong said. Thats a dangerous position to be in.

When asked about Wongs reports, Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for ICE, said that the agency has policies in place to protect unauthorized immigrants who cooperate with police in criminal investigations, including educating immigrants about U visas for crime victims and T visas for human trafficking victims.

ICE has long recognized the importance of victims and witnesses and the critical role they play in successful investigations and prosecutions, Mack said. These policies are intended to minimize the effect that immigration enforcement may have on the willingness and ability of victims and witnesses to call the police to report crimes or protect their safety.

The lawsuit over Californias laws has two hearings coming up in June.

Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence

Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news

kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter
During an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the Presidents trip, the Ambassador said the visit will be the most important among over 100 events celebrating the bilateral relationship anniversary.

He affirmed that Japan and Vietnam share many strategic interests, and Vietnam is one of the trustworthy partners of Japan.

According to Umeda, Vietnam is grasping development opportunities and its sustainable development is linked to Japans national interests and certainly impacts regional stability and prosperity.

He added that the two countries ministries and agencies are making final preparations for the visit to produce good outcomes.

Asked about the prospects of bilateral ties in the near future, the Ambassador said trust between Japanese and Vietnamese leaders will be further strengthened via the visit.

In politics and security, bilateral maritime security collaboration has been reinforced. The two nations will intensify diverse cooperation activities under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy which is being promoted by Japan.

The Ambassador mentioned some key contents such as in strengthening capacity of legal enforcement at sea, visits by military vessels and cyber security.

In economic field, a large-scale investment conference will be held in Tokyo with the attendance of President Tran Dai Quang. A number of economic projects, economic cooperation and joint investment plans are expected to be announced during the event.

Umeda also said Japan wants to cooperate with Vietnam in upgrading infrastructure, personnel training in support of Vietnams administrative and financial reform.

The Japanese diplomat noted that nearly 260,000 Vietnamese people are living in Japan, adding that Japan appreciates Vietnamese young peoples support to the country amidst its population aging.

At the same time, he said many issues have arisen due to increasing number of Vietnamese students and trainees, and Japan wants to work closer with Vietnam to address those problems.
About 100 people gathered in a dry field next to the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday to hear gubernatorial candidate Assemblyman Travis Allen outline his plan for California.

The Huntington Beach Republican called for a repeal of the gas tax, support for a border wall and an education overhaul to eliminate Common Core academic standards. He also called for repeal of Proposition 47, which reduced some drug possession felonies to misdemeanors.

Allen criticized Democrats in California as well as John Cox, the Rancho Santa Fe Republican who received President Donald Trumps endorsement for governor in the June 5 primary.

Its about time we put California citizens first, Allens voice, with a hint of rasp, boomed across the field. California Democrats have driven our state into the ground, and it ends today.

Advertisement

Allen told the crowd about his experiences growing up in Chula Vista, which included trips to Mexico.

I love Mexico. Its a great place, Allen said. But its a sovereign nation, and we are a sovereign nation.

He called the U.S. a magnet for people wanting economic opportunities. His solution: support Trumps plan to build a border wall.

1 / 12 Not far from the U.S. Mexico border at a rally, Travis Allen campaigning to become the next governor of California spoke with supporters Sunday afternoon. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 12 Not far from the U.S. Mexico border at a rally, Travis Allen campaigning to become the next governor of California spoke with supporters Sunday afternoon. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 12 Amy Fremen held a large U.S. flag for the political rally held not far from the U.S. Mexico border for Travis Allen for governor. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 12 Barbara Hill showed her support for California Assemblyman Travis Allen to become the next governor of California. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 12 Supporters for Travis Allen held the sign for victory in the air. On Sunday Travis Allen held a rally not far from the U.S. Mexico border. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 12 Not far from the U.S. Mexico border at a rally, Travis Allen campaigning to become the next governor of California spoke with supporters Sunday afternoon. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 12 Catherine and John Guzman arrived from Riverside County to the political rally held not far from the U.S. Mexico border for Travis Allen. Allen is campaigning to become the next governor of California. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 12 Barbara Hill showed her support for California Assemblyman Travis Allen to become the next governor of California. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 12 Joann Kroepil wore a large foam cowboy hat at the political rally held not far from the U.S. Mexico border for Travis Allen for governor. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 12 Not far from the U.S. Mexico border at a rally, Travis Allen campaigning to become the next governor of California spoke with supporters Sunday afternoon. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 12 Not far from the U.S. Mexico border at a rally, Travis Allen campaigning to become the next governor of California spoke with supporters Sunday afternoon. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 12 California Assemblyman Travis Allen campaigning to become the next governor of California spoke with supporters at rally not far from the U.S. Mexico border. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

He also wants to undo a state law passed last year that limits communications between local police and immigration officials. He said he was the first person to call on the Trump administration to sue California over the sanctuary law, which the Department of Justice did in March.

He promised to prosecute officials like California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who he said had broken the law by helping unauthorized immigrants. Schaaf made headlines for warning her city of an impending immigration enforcement operation.

Christian Ramirez, a candidate for San Diego City Council in the South Bay who has taken strong stances on border issues, spent Sunday in San Ysidro on his own campaign trail. He criticized Allens outlook as dated and lacking understanding of the border.

He pointed to the shrinking numbers of people caught crossing the border and the rise in asylum seekers, saying that those were not the same issue.

There are new crises impacting our region, Ramirez said. Were not going to address those questions by employing rhetoric that was used in the 20th century.

He said Allens plans could damage Californias economy.

We depend on people coming across the border and shopping in our shopping centers, going to games at Petco Park or visiting the zoo, Ramirez said. Our economies are intertwined.

A recent poll ranked Allen in fourth place with 11 percent of likely voters preferring him. Cox was in second with 19 percent. The top two finishers in the primary, regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November.

Allen told his supporters not to believe the polls, saying that they had also been wrong about Trump in 2016.

We will be right again, Allen said. Do not listen to these polls. Do not listen to the media.

Alice Ellingson of Alta Loma said that she believes that Allen is the only candidate who can defeat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Democrat leading in the polls.

Hes the only one that has the energy, the enthusiasm and the grassroots support, said Ellingson, who hosted an event for Allen in her home.

Wearing a pink Travis Allen for Governor shirt, she danced while carrying an anti-sanctuary sign as a band played Trump-inspired songs before switching to tunes like Suavecito.

Calfornia is in a fight for its life, said Gary Shaver, a Colton resident at the rally. Hes the only man who can pull off the deal.

Jim Hardaway of Lake Elsinore said he likes Allen because he was not an establishment politician. He said Allen stays at events until hes spoken to everyone who wanted to talk to him.

The scene was mostly a mix of red, white and blue that stood out against the brown grass of the field. Shirts and signs supported both Allen and Trump.

One man carried a sign that read, MS-13, meet AR-15.

A mariscos food truck parked nearby to take advantage of the gathering.

Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence

Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news

kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter
A hotheaded New Jersey cop is under investigation after a viral video showed him pummeling a young mother on the beach in front of horrified Memorial Day weekend revelers.

What began as a day of fun in the sun Saturday turned into a beach-blanket beatdown after a Wildwood cop was caught slugging a 20-year-old woman in the head at least two times while trying to handcuff her, according to video of the encounter.

The disturbing clash was caught on a cell phone camera by a woman who had been napping on the Jersey Shore. Her video showed the officer straddling the woman in the sand, and whaling away at her head as he ordered her to stop resisting.

The woman, who was arrested, and later identified by police as Emily Weinman, cried out, Youre not allowed to hit me like that! I didnt do anything wrong, while struggling under the tight grip of two officers.

Advertisement

Weinman, in a Facebook post quoted by Newsweek, said her 18-month-old daughter was among those who witnessed the beatdown.

Phone Video Captures of a young woman who was arrested on a beach after she was hit several times and cuffed by officers. (Twitter)

Neither the officer who hit Weinman, another cop who grabbed her legs nor a third who stood by has been identified. Two of the cops have been placed on desk duty, pending the results of the internal probe, officials said.

The arrest took place on a beach in the resort city about 30 miles south of Atlantic City.

Weinman, who lives in Philadelphia, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids at a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

The footage, shared on Twitter Saturday night, has since gotten more than 2.3 million views.

I was sleeping on the beach and I woke up to this.. i cant believe it.. pic.twitter.com/UJE5Sy7E4G  Lexy (@HewittLexy) May 26, 2018

Weinman, in a Facebook post that has since been removed, said she had been drinking a beer, according to NJ.com. The website said she was approached by officers on the beach around 4 p.m. Weinman said she passed a Breathalyzer test and cops followed her when she went to make a phone call.

I asked them dont they have something better to do as cops than to stop people for underage drinking on the beach, the Facebook post said. Thats when Weinman claims an officer said, I was gonna let you go but now Ill write you up.

Weinman said she refused to give the officer her name. She said she tripped and fell as she was backing away, and thats when the officer tackled her.

Weinman turns 21 in September, according to court records.

Phone Video Captures of a young woman who was arrested on a beach after she was hit several times and cuffed by officers. (Twitter)

Philadelphias KYW-TV said Weinman kicked an officer in the groin during the arrest, but the video does not appear to show it.

Weinman pleaded guilty to simple assault and reckless endangerment in November for a 2016 arrest, records show.

Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano told Philly.com that the officers were wearing body cameras that will show Weinman insulting and spitting at them. Wildwood Police Chief Robert Regalbuto found the video upsetting, authorities said.

Chief Regalbuto stated that while he finds this video to be alarming, he does not want to rush to any judgment until having the final results of the investigation, the department said in a statement posted on Facebook.
A Kentucky valedictorians speech that mentioned Marjory Stoneman Douglas students was too political for local officials  so he took it outside.

Christian Bales used a bullhorn to get his message across during the Holy Cross graduation ceremony in Covington on Friday. Christian was outside the auditorium, surrounded by other students, as he made the speech.

The young people will win is a mantra that Im sure many of you have heard if youve been attentive to the media recently, Christian said as he read from his cellphone, according to WCPO. Its a phrase adopted by the prolific [Marjory] Stoneman Douglas teenagers who are advocating for an agenda  our rights to feel secure as humans.

Both Bales and Student Council President Katherine Frantz were barred from making their speeches because they were political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Covington said in a statement, according to ABC. They also missed a deadline to submit the speeches, according to the spokesperson, Tim Fitzgerald.

Advertisement

Stoneman Douglas students have been vocal in advocating for stronger gun laws in wake of the shooting that left 17 people dead at the Florida school in February.

I know they pointed out that the Parkland teens teach ideologies that apparently go against the Catholic faith, which I dont agree with in my experience, Bales told Local 12.

Christian Bales was not allowed to give his graduation speech on Friday, so he used a bullhorn to deliver the message. (Wkrc)

Bales mother said the two students found out about 10 hours before the ceremony that they could not make the speeches.

We dont want to be vindictive, we dont want to be vengeful, Gillian Marksberry told WCPO. Thats not what this is about. Hes earned the right to have a voice.

I didnt think it was very polarizing, Bales told WLWT. It was, like, about empowerment through youth.

Bales is set to attend the University of Louisville on scholarship and plans to major in biology, according to WCPO. He closed his graduation speech by saying, we must take what weve learned in this community and apply it to the world we are about to encounter. We are the young people, and we will continue to win.
Sheriffs deputies arrested three men on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property in 4S Ranch on Sunday and officials say the trio may be linked to other burglaries in the county.

Deputies arrested the three men  one who is 19 years old and two who are 20  near a vehicle as they were investigating a report of a suspicious circumstance at the Boys and Girls Club in 4S Ranch, sheriffs Lt. Chris Collier said in a statement.

Deputies found a safe that had been thrown down an embankment and property belonging to several businesses in the city of San Diego, Collier said.

Sheriffs detectives from 4S Ranch and Poway and San Diego police obtained search warrants for the car found near the three suspects and several homes, Collier said. The three men then were arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and several other felonies. He said property related to the burglaries was recovered.

Advertisement

Twitter: @karenkucher

(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
An airline flight out of San Diego was diverted to Phoenix due to reports of an unknown odor in the cabin Sunday.

Frontier Airlines flight 1764 left San Diego International Airport at 6:50 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 9:50 a.m.

However, after passengers reported an ``odor that came through the plane and was then gone,' the flight diverted to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to Phoenix Fire Department Capt. Jake Van Hook.

The plane landed in Arizona without incident about an hour after takeoff from San Diego.

Advertisement

At the gate, Phoenix Fire evaluated 17 passengers at their request,Van Hook said.

One person, a 62-year-old man, was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

The cause of the odor will be investigated by the airline, Van Hook said.

Its the second Frontier flight in a week thats been forced to land early due to an odor. Last Sunday, a flight from Tulsa to San Diego diverted to Albuquerque after a chemical smell was reported.

Twitter: @karenkucher

(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
San Diego police fatally shot a man in the Nestor neighborhood near the Tijuana River Valley Sunday night after he refused to put down a knife he was holding, authorities and witnesses said.

Police responded to a call at 10:52 p.m. that a man carrying a knife was walking back and forth into traffic at Hollister Street and Tocayo Avenue, San Diego homicide Lt. Anthony Dupree said in a statement.

The lieutenant said Border Patrol agents were flagged down by someone in the neighborhood and approached the man first, but he didnt drop the knife when they ordered him to.

With their guns drawn, they told him to drop the knife, said Michael Bartock, who lives on the corner of the intersection and watched the confrontation from his back yard. He wouldnt comply.

Advertisement

As additional San Diego police officers arrived, the man appeared disoriented and panicked as he jabbed toward the officers with a small pocketknife, Bartock said.

The agents and officers drew their weapons on the man while telling him to drop the knife. As they tried to disarm him, Bartock said, officers asked the man where he lived, and whether he knew where he was. The man became more frantic as officers surrounded him, and yelled at them to leave him alone.

 Cell phone footage of San Diego Police fatally shooting a man in the Nestor neighborhood near the Tijuana River Valley Sunday night, after he refused to put down a knife he was holding.

Police tried shooting the man with a stun gun , and shot bean bags at him in order to disable him. Bartock said he watched as the man tried dodging the beanbags, and was struck in the leg and chest. Police also shot him with the Taser, but the man pulled the prongs out, he said.

You could see they hit him, Bartock said. He was limping toward the intersection.

The man stood in the middle of the road, growing more agitated as officers surrounded him, said his wife, Dalia Bartock.

He looked like he was in distress, she said.

When the man charged officers with the knife, three officers opened fire, Dupree reported. Bartock estimated that at least 20 shots were fired.

They were in a horseshoe around the man, Dalia Bartock said. Bullets were coming toward the house.

M. Hernandez from the SDPD takes down police tape on the corner of Hollister Street and Tocayo Avenue where three officers fired their weapons on a man holding a knife Sunday night. Before the shooting, officers deployed less lethal weapons. The man died. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune )

Paramedics tried to revive the man, but he died at the scene. The three San Diego police officers involved in the shooting have been on the force for one year, two years and six years respectively.

San Diego homicide detectives are investigating the incident, Dupree said in the statement. Later Sunday night, Bartock said, police officers came through the neighborhood to interview witnesses.

Hours later they came to inspect and make sure no innocent bystanders were hit, he said.

The couple said they did not know the man, whom they described as Hispanic with a medium height, and wearing a black cap, Army t-shirt and dark pants. The 42-year-old man has not been identified pending notification of relatives.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
A fire that ignited in some palm trees and damaged power lines in Lemon Grove prompted a robust firefighting response and knocked out trolley service Sunday, a fire official said.

The flames were reported on San Altos Place near Placentia Street about 5:10 p.m.

Soon after, residents around the neighborhood started reporting embers from the flaming palms were landing near their homes, Heartland Fire & Rescue Department Capt. Sonny Saghera said.

The fire traveled along the trolley tracks and into vegetation and briefly threatened about 20 homes, Saghera said.

Advertisement

A firefighting helicopter and additional engines were deployed and it took crews about 40 minutes to put out the tree fires and douse other fires in the area.

The fire damaged power lines and burned railroad ties used by the San Diego Trolley and service along the Orange Line was shut down into Sunday evening, Saghera said. He had no estimate when it would resume.

The fire also caused minor damage to a residential fence and to eaves of some houses, he said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

9:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 7:30 p.m.
When it began, with a South Korean official standing outside the White House announcing that the leaders of the United States and North Korea would meet for an unprecedented summit, President Trump believed he had accomplished a historic breakthrough  an accomplishment, he told friends, that would secure his legacy and his reelection.

Eleven weeks later, that heady dream is over  or at least indefinitely deferred  done in by an intractable issue that proved more complex than Trump had understood and the conflicting agendas of other nations, whose leaders did not respond to the mix of threats and blandishments he deployed.

Even as administration officials on Friday held out the possibility of getting the summit back on track, Trump and those around him primarily blamed China, according to accounts by administration officials and others close to the White House, several of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the deliberations.

Trump hinted at his view of Chinas role in his brief remarks Thursday explaining the decision to cancel the planned summit with North Koreas Kim Jong Un.

Advertisement

The dialogue was good until recently, and I  I think I understand why that happened, he told reporters, declining to be specific. I wont say that. Someday Ill give it to you, he added.

But while Trump privately blamed Chinese president Xi Jinping for souring North Korea on the meeting, U.S. observers, including some close to the White House, said that all along, the prospects for the summit had been caught between two competing currents: Trumps unbridled desire to make history and his advisors increasing skepticism that Kim was willing to come anywhere close to Trumps fundamental demand that he relinquish his nuclear arsenal.

Some of that tension played out in public as the North Koreans threatened to pull the plug within days of Trump musing publicly about winning a Nobel Peace Prize.

But the roots of the trouble took shape earlier, according to friends of Trump, national security veterans and Korea experts.

On one side was Trump, guided by the desire to captivate a world audience, prove the establishment wrong and win the type of legacy-building achievement that transcends scandals at home in the same way that President Nixons opening of China survived the tarnish of Watergate.

He knows he faces pressure on a lot of fronts, and he certainly is primarily focused on the national security imperatives of this, but he was also saying he thinks this could offset some of the negative stuff coming out of the Russia investigation, said a friend who has discussed North Korea with Trump in recent weeks. His thinking was basically: If I can save the world from a nuclear North Korea, whos going vote against me?

Another friend, conservative media executive Christopher Ruddy, said earlier this week that the subject had come up frequently, and that Trump sees the tipping point as pretty close.

He told me that other presidents have sort of passed the buck and left him this mess, Ruddy said. Hes not the type of guy to run away from a fire.

Follow the latest news on the Trump administration on Essential Washington 

On the other side were national security experts and Asia specialists, many on Trumps own staff, who worried that the presidents lack of preparation combined with his zeal for a deal would push him into giving up too much in exchange for symbolism.

Trump, who had taunted and threatened Kim throughout much of his first year in office, in recent weeks had praised the young autocrat numerous times, calling him honorable while promising to ensure his hold on power should he agree to relinquish his weapons.

The president also spoke in lofty terms about the rare opportunity to achieve something transformational for the world if he could broker peace with Kim.

Trump is hardly the first American president stirred by the prospect of a breakthrough with North Korea. Bill Clinton intended to go in the final days of his presidency, for example, but talks never progressed beyond Secretary of State Madeleine Albrights visit because of the protracted presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush.

Yet from the beginning, Trumps approach to North Korea faced particular disadvantages, including a lack of experienced advisors, the presidents own impulsive nature and internal disagreements about how to approach the talks.

Roughly 100 Americans have been involved in direct negotiations with North Korea, but only a handful of them serve in the current administration. Many of those on the front lines of prior negotiations, who stared North Korean government officials in the eye, were excluded by Trump and his team from the administration, either because theyre Democrats or because theyre Republicans who signed letters during the 2016 campaign calling Trump unfit for the presidency.

As the summit date neared, those advising the president increasingly worried about his reluctance to learn the intricacies of diplomacy with North Korea, an isolated country that for decades has bedeviled American efforts to curb its nuclear program and chemical weapons stash  the largest in the world.

Theres a group around him trying to help him understand what its like  how its not a real estate deal, a longtime GOP lobbyist in Washington who is close to the Trump White House said in the days before the meeting was canceled.

Hes sincere about wanting to fix this, but he believes his personal charisma will take him further than it actually will.

Trump alarmed Japanese allies during an April meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Palm Beach, Fla., telling Abe he would rely on his instinct after he sized up Kim, said a former national security official who is in touch with current administration officials and Asian contacts.

The president will not be staffed on this, the former official said a few days before the cancellation. Hes going to go in and go with his gut, which is nuts.

The Japanese have worried that Trump will agree to withdraw American troops from the Korean peninsula, something he has advocated for decades.

South Korean allies, on the other hand, have been eager for Trump to engage with North Korea  even if Kim declines to give up his weapons  because they believe talks are essential to lowering tensions in the region and allowing the South to reach its own peace deal with Kim.

Trump went with his gut in canceling the summit, as well, deciding early Thursday morning and dictating the letter that was released shortly before 10 a.m. with no warning to South Korea or other U.S. allies.

Those familiar with the White House deliberations said that optimism about the possible summit meeting began to fade earlier this month after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Pyongyang for a second meeting with Kim and found that the North Korean leader would not engage substantively with U.S. demands that he fully give up the nuclear arsenal that he, his father and his grandfather, who each preceded him as ruler, had spent more than half a century developing.

In the ensuing two weeks, the North Koreans failed to show up in Singapore for a planned meeting to discuss the ground rules for the summit. The final blow, said a national security ally in regular contact with the White House, came in recent days when the North Koreans refused to allow U.S. officials to monitor what Pyongyang billed as the destruction of its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri.

All the messaging from the North Koreans was one thing, but they did not allow anyone to witness the destruction of the nuclear test site, which they had promised, the ally said. That was sort of a red line because we really wanted to see what was there.

Pompeo and the rest were not willing to overlook these fairly material bad signs when theyre not showing up, and theyre changing the rules, the person added.

At the same time, North Korean officials began to issue public statements harshly attacking administration officials, notably Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton.

Bolton sat at the other end of the spectrum from Trump in terms of enthusiasm about the prospects of negotiating with Kim. He has spent much of his career warning against negotiations with what he considers rogue regimes, and while those close to the White House say that he hadnt tried to sabotage the talks, they agree that he had worked to temper Trumps high hopes.

In public remarks, Bolton compared U.S. strategy toward North Korea with the negotiations that led Libya to give up its far more modest nuclear program in 2003 in return for economic and diplomatic concessions. As the North Koreans well know, eight years after he ended his nuclear efforts, Libyas leader, Moammar Kadafi, was killed by Western-backed rebels.

But while Bolton was a convenient target for the North Koreans, the role his statements played has been exaggerated, said Michael Green, a former National Security Council official in the George W. Bush administration who was involved in past talks with North Korea.

I think thats ground noise, Green added. The reality was: North Korea came to the table because they wanted the president of the United States to give them de facto recognition as a nuclear weapons state, and by now, they feel they have accomplished much of what they sought.

Just talk of the summit got China to back off on their sanctions, which is 90% of their trade, Green said. So its pretty obvious this was their intention all along.

Trumps mistake was to take Kim literally when he expressed a willingness to denuclearize, even as his top national security officials were expressing skepticism, Green added.

The Libya noise certainly angered the North Koreans, but I dont think thats why this fell apart, Green said. It fell apart because when Pompeo went to North Korea to pin them down on some nuclear deal, they balked.

Some Trump allies, however, believe the president has been underestimated. They point out that he has been immersed in the Korea issue since he was elected. President Obama told Trump it would be his most daunting problem when the two met at the White House during the transition, a moment Trump likes to recall publicly as he relishes the prospect of succeeding in an area where Obama failed.

Hes been living and breathing this issue, said James Carafano, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation who advised Trump during the transition.

With that investment of time, and Trumps desire to build a legacy, the North Korea file seems unlikely to be closed, even if the summit does not quickly reappear on Trumps schedule.

I dont think that things are off the rails. I think he wants to keep them on their toes, said a former national security official.

He didnt want the decision to be in Kims hands. I dont think theyre going to give up on this long-term goal. Its year one.

Stokols is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Matt Stiles contributed from Seoul.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

UPDATES:

12:30 p.m.: This article was updated to add that Trump administration officials are holding out the possibility of getting the summit back on track.

This article was originally published at 3:35 a.m.
Sheriffs deputies arrested three alleged burglars Sundy in the unincorporated area of 4S Ranch, a lieutenant said.

The deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity early in the morning outside the Boys and Girls Club at 16118 4S Ranch Parkway, said sheriffs Lt. Chris Collier.

Deputies discovered and detained 20-year-old DaShon Morales of MorenoValley, 19-year-old Jesus Ruiz Arias Jr. of Escondido and 20-year-oldFernando Vasquez Cruz also of Escondido, Collier said.

Deputies also found a safe nearby that had been thrown down an embankment, as well property belonging to several businesses in the city of San Diego, Collier continued.

Detectives from 4 S Ranch, Poway and San Diego police obtained search warrants for the car found near the three suspects and several homes, Collier said. The three men then were arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and several other felonies, Collier added.

The three men are also being investigated for several other burglaries in San Diego County.
The diplomat hosted a farewell reception at the headquarters of the Vietnamese embassy on May 21, with the attendance of US officials, business circles, scholars and friends, including Acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Patrick Murphy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Felter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Diane Farrell, and President of the US-ASEAN Business Council, Alexander Feldman.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton and guests spoke of their great appreciation for the robust development of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership over the past three years, ranging from politics, foreign affairs and security, to economy, science-technology, education, people-to-people exchange, and cooperation in regional and international issues of mutual concern and in the enhancement of the ASEAN-US relations.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh meets with Acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton.

On behalf of the attending guests, Thornton thanked Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh for having closely coordinated, built trust, and developed a widespread network of friends, while proactively consulting on and working out measures to boost bilateral collaboration, thus serving as an important connection in the relations between the two countries in particular, as well as for ASEAN-US ties as a whole.

Ambassador Vinh (right) and former US Secretary of State John Kerry.



On May 25, Vinh paid a courtesy visit to former US Secretary of State John Kerry in Massachusetts, during which the Vietnamese ambassador thanked Kerry for having always been a friend of Vietnam and for providing valuable assistance in accelerating Vietnam-US relations.

As part of his farewell activities, Ambassador Vinh also met and expressed gratitude to Matt Pottinger, Assistant to the US President for Asia, and many other officials and friends, including former Senator Jim Webb. Vinh told the US officials that he wished to further accelerate the Vietnam-US cooperative relations across all spheres.

Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh and Assistant to the US President for Asia, Matt Pottinger.

During the meetings, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his honour to represent Vietnam and contribute to enhancing the relations between the two countries during the past few years. He extended his thanks to friends and partners for having cooperated and supported him as well as the Vietnamese embassy in fulfilling their assigned tasks, thus contributing to strengthening bilateral ties in all fields with significant milestones recorded.

Vinh has served as the Vietnamese ambassador to the US since late November 2014. Over the past three years, Vietnam-US relations have been carried forward with the momentum of strong development, with both sides conducting frequent exchanges of high-level delegations, notably the historic visit made to the US by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2015, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungs arrival for the ASEAN-US Summit in Sunnylands in February 2016, US President Barack Obamas visit to Vietnam in May 2016, PM Nguyen Xuan Phucs US visit in May 2017, and US President Donald Trumps Vietnam visit in November 2017.

The two countries have also seen a number of positive new developments, such as the removal of the ban on the sales of lethal weapons to Vietnam (May 2016), the transfer of the Hamilton-class coast guard cutter to Vietnam (March 2017), the first-ever visit made by US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to Da Nang (March 2018), the opening of the Fulbright University in Vietnam, and the signing of an agreement with the Peace Corps on teaching English in Vietnam.

>>> US Secretary of Defence vows to foster cooperation with Vietnam


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.
He said the visit will create a good chance for the two sides to express their determination to bring the bilateral extensive strategic partnership to a new period of development.

Annually, Japan only welcomes one or two State-level visits. Therefore, the reception of President Tran Dai Quang this year shows that the country attaches importance to the role and position of Vietnam in the region and the world as well as the development of the bilateral relations, he said.

For Vietnam, the visit is in line with the Party and States foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation, as well as the policy of reform, door-opening and deep-and-wide international integration, he added.

The Ambassador said the visit is a follow-up of the regular exchanges between the two countries leaders. He recalled the successful visit to Japan in 2015 by Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, and later by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in 2016 and 2017.

In 2017, the Japanese Emperor and Empress made a historic successful visit to Vietnam. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid two official visits to Vietnam the same year and attended the APEC Economic Leaders Week in the central city of Da Nang in November 2017.

Regular exchanges have helped strengthen and reinforce political trust between the two countries and peoples, Cuong said.

He stressed that the Vietnamese Presidents visit takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1973-2018).

It provides an occasion for Vietnamese and Japanese leaders and people to look back at the achievements they have gained over the past 45 years, the Ambassador noted.

He said while bilateral ties are at its best in history, there is still great room for the two sides to expand their partnership.

Vietnam is pushing ahead with comprehensive reforms to achieve rapid and sustainable development towards the goal of becoming a modern industrialised country by 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

Japan plays a crucial role in helping Vietnam implement the Vietnamese Party and States policies, he stressed.

Meanwhile, Japan is stepping up the implementation of the Abenomics policy, restructuring the economy and encouraging small-and-medium-sized enterprises to boost external investment. Vietnam is an important market and partner of Japan in the region, he noted.

A new foundation for Vietnam - Japan relations is their active participation in negotiations to reach the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement is expected to come into force from 2019, opening new cooperation prospects for the two countries businesses.

The Ambassador also highlighted the role of the overseas Vietnamese in Japan in promoting the two countries relations.

Besides, Vietnam and Japan share many strategic interests in regional and international issues, for example their similar viewpoints on the East Sea matter. Both countries support the settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means and without threat to use or use of force, based on international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, he added.
President Quangs visit is especially significant to the sound friendship between the two nations, which have reached mutual political trust, the article wrote, given that political ties have been developed and strengthen in the past 45 years by regular visits and meetings of their senior leaders at international and regional forums.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chose Vietnam for his first overseas trip after taking office in January 2013. He was also the first leader of the G7 nations to invite Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to attend the expanded G7 Summit, it said.

Japan and Vietnam always support each other at multilateral forums like the UN, ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, and UN Human Rights Council. Vietnam, with its location close to the East Sea and in the economic corridor connecting the Pacific and Indian Ocean, plays a very important role in Japans Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy.

Particularly, in the context that the East Sea is being militarised, seriously threatening peace and stability in the region, Vietnam and Japan should further boost bilateral cooperation, the article suggested.

Last year, Japan became the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with total investment of US$9.11 billion, or 25% of the nations total foreign direct investment inflow. The country was also the largest ODA provider for Vietnam, accounting 30% of the total ODA supplied by foreign nations.

Earlier, many Japanese press agencies like NHK, Nikkei, Nikkei Asian Review, Kyodo and JIJI also stressed the importance of President Quangs visit ahead of his trip to the East Asian country.

Vietnam wants to deepen the strategic relations with Japan in all sectors, they quoted President Quang as saying. Vietnam has shared the same stance with Japan on solving the East Sea issue through peaceful measures and based on international law to ensure freedom of navigation in the waters.

In addition, the Japanese media also highlighted Vietnams and Japans efforts to speed up the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Chile in March.
During the visit, Thang, also Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, held meetings with Secretary of Guangdongs Party Committee Li Xi, and Song Tao, Director of the Communist Party of Chinas International Liaison Department.

He joined representatives from 62 communist, workers and left-wing parties of other countries in a conference on Guangdongs development achievements and a seminar on Karl Marxs ideology in the 21st century and the future of socialism in the world.

Addressing the events, Thang praised the growth progress China has achieved during its 40 years of reform and market opening.

Lauding the rapid development of Shenzhen and Guangdong as a reflection of the countrys reform process, the Vietnamese Party official attributed the outcomes to the Communist Party of Chinas leadership and its theoretical perception and policy on socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He highlighted that socialism in China, Vietnam and other countries worldwide is improving, with its number of members estimated at nearly 1.5 billion or about 20% of the world population. Thang considered the fact an undeniable proof of Karl Marx ideologys practical value and socialisms vitality in the 21st century.

The official cited that in Vietnam, late President Ho Chi Minh employed and developed Marxism-Leninism in a creative manner to suit the local situation.

He added that based on Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, the Communist Party of Vietnam has led the Vietnamese people to build the countrys socialism with a goal of making Vietnam a modern and prosperous industrial nation by mid-21st century.

While in Shenzhen, the Vietnamese Party delegation also visited a number of local businesses and residential communities to learn about their Party building work.
At a reception in Hanoi on May 28 for Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the PM spoke highly of the EU delegations coordination in successfully organising the Meet Europe 2018 conference.

He expressed his belief that after the conference, cooperation between Vietnamese localities and European partners and businesses will be strongly promoted, contributing to deepening the relations between Vietnam and the EU and its member countries.

Bruno Angelet proposed several measures to foster bilateral ties, including moves towards the signing of the EVFTA, the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), and the European Commission (EC)s yellow card warning to Vietnam related to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

He said he wishes that the two sides will exert every effort to sign the EVFTA later this year.

An EU delegation had a ten-day working trip to Vietnam and spoke highly of Vietnams recent efforts to deal with IUU fishing, the ambassador said, adding that the EU is ready to support Vietnam in this issue.

PM Phuc informed his guest that Vietnams relevant agencies have made every effort to respond to the ECs yellow card warning. On the basis of the EU delegations assessments, the Vietnamese side will continue taking positive and strong measures including closely controlling fishing vessels, ensuring the location of any boats fishing position, providing modern equipment for fishing vessels, enhancing communication work and raising fishermens awareness, as well as strictly punishing any violations, he affirmed.

He voiced his belief that stronger changes will be seen in this field in the near future.

Regarding the PCA, the Government leader stated that Vietnam will strengthen collaboration with the EU to realise this agreement.
At the meeting, the two sides highly praised the positive developments of the two countries' relations, including the official visit to the US by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the visit to Vietnam and attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting by US President Donald Trump. They applauded the bilateral exchanges between the two countries legislative bodies which serve to strengthen their understanding and promote cooperation.

FM Minh urged the US Congress to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, including exchanges of senior delegations, while continuing cooperation to promote the central role of economic and trade cooperation plays in overall bilateral relations, as well as continuing to cooperate effectively with Vietnam in the matter of war aftermath settlements.

Senator Gardner expressed his pleasure at visiting Vietnam for the first time and spoke highly of the countrys positive developments in recent years. He affirmed that as the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee, he would further promote political, diplomatic, economic-commercial, and security - defence cooperation with Vietnam, in addition to sharing legislative experiences, to promote the Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership.

Emphasising that the US plays an important role in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region, the host suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in regional institutions, including attaching importance to strengthening the central role and maintaining the ASEAN unity and firmly promoting the effective ASEAN - US strategic partnership.

Senator Gardner said he would continue to push for initiatives to strengthen US - ASEAN relations. He also requested the two sides to continue coordinating in the settlement of regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the maintenance of peace, stability, security, and navigation and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea on the basis of international law.
Wire reports said port developments are planned in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abes free and open Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at securing the sea lanes that connect Asia and Africa via the Middle East.

The three sites that are being considered for port development are Dawei in southeast Myanmar, Trincomalee in northern Sri Lanka and Matarbari in southeast Bangladesh, all currently relatively undeveloped locations.

Japan, Myanmar and Thailand will jointly construct a new port in Dawei which is expected to cost up to JPY200bn ($1.8bn). A special economic zone will be established alongside the new port and a highway will be built between Bangkok and Dawei, ultimately leading to a new economic bloc.

Read More: Thailand seeks progress on Myanmar's deepsea port project

Japan, Sri Lanka and India will expand the currently relatively small port in Trincomalee into an international standard port for large vessels. This project is expected to cost between JPY10bn and JPY13bn.

Trincomalee is on the relatively undeveloped northeast coast of Sri Lanka which had been left behind amid the decades long civil war on the island. The port authorities had previously tried to position it as a lay-up anchorage during the shipping slump after 2008, just as the war came to an end.

Read More: Sri Lanka positions itself as lay-up centre

Meanwhile in Matarbari, a new port that is expected to handle up to half of Bangladeshs cargo volume in future and relieve some of the load from severely congested main Chittagong Port, will be constructed at a cost of several tens of billions of yen.

The reports said the Japanese government has already started behind-the-scenes intergovernmental discussions with the respective governments. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already started making draft plans for development. The government intends to make formal agreements with each government as early as next year.
Press Release

May 28, 2018 SENATE ADOPTS GORDON RESOLUTION HONORING THE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN MARAWI CITY The Senate yesterday adopted a resolution filed by Senator Richard J. Gordon honoring the gallantry and heroism of the men and women who fought in Marawi City against members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group who tried to take over the city last year. "Resolved by the Senate, as it is hereby resolved, that the Senate of the Philippines recognize and honor the gallantry, bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of the men and women in uniform under Joint Task Force (JTF) Marawi, especially those killed or wounded, designating them "Heroes of Marawi," Gordon's Senate Resolution No. 746 said. Gordon pointed out that Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution states that "the Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory." He added that terrorism knows no boundaries as it can thrive anywhere across the globe. The senator also noted that the Marawi crisis, being the first urban warfare fought on Philippine soil, tested the capabilities and willpower of army leaders and personnel and set a new trajectory for how the Army will overcome terrorism in the Philippines. Hence, Gordon stressed that it is time to review and learn from the lessons of the past so that we can be better prepared for the future and to remember the brave, valiant, and gallant soldiers for their heroic task that prevented the takeover of a part of the Philippine territory and sovereignty by ISIS-affiliated militants "WHEREAS, while we honor those killed in action, let us also not forget the wounded in action, who may not be able to return to a useful life, and the selfless volunteers who did what they could, in service of country, without seeking favor or remuneration from the government," he pointed out, however. "WHEREAS, the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers and police officers, should not be forgotten and deserve the highest commendation," Gordon added in the resolution co-authored by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Adopted Senate Resolution No. 109 entitled, "Resolution recognizing and honoring the gallantry, bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of the men and women in uniform under the Joint Task Force (JTF) Marawi, especially those killed or wounded, by designating them "heroes of Marawi" was sponsored by the body. On May 23, 2017, members of Islamic State-inspired Maute group, who occupied the Amai Pakpak Hospital and raised a black flag with an ISIS logo in front of the hospital, clashed with government forces. This prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law through Proclamation No. 216. On October 17, 2017 or 148 days later, Marawi City was liberated from ISIS-affiliated militants, leaving 165 troops killed and 1,767 others wounded.
Press Release

May 28, 2018 CONFIRMATION OF THE GLOBAL CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WINNER

28 May 2018

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson More at: https://pinglacson.net/2018/05/28/bagong-senado-confirmation-of-the-global-conceptual-design-winner/ Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon. When we formally started the talks on the relocation of the Senate building, many have had their doubts if we can really translate this vision into reality. But you know as they say: "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." With that in mind, my guidance as Chairman of the Committee on Accounts was simple: Eyes on the goal. Focus on our timeline. Today, we have reached a significant breakthrough as we have already concluded the second phase of the Project Road Map for the Senate Relocation. As a brief overview and for the information of everyone in this chamber, this is the phase where we, together with the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), have invited technically competent firms to join the Global Conceptual Design Competition as we search for a design that will symbolize the Senate for what it stands for, a design that will become a landmark for the Filipino people, and a design that can take the Senate of the Philippines to the next 100 years. From a total of 40 Architectural Firms, 24 foreign and 16 local, that submitted their Expression of Interest (EOIs) to participate, we have chosen the Final Five firms on March 23, 2018 that came up with their conceptual design proposals. The Final Five firms namely: Leeser Architecture, Aidea Inc., AECOM, Henning Larsen Architects, and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects presented their conceptual designs and responded to clarificatory questions raised by the executive committee. Mr. President, all five firms were judged by using a comprehensive scoring system with these three components: the Technical Score comprising 40% of the overall score; the People's Choice at 5%; and the Executive Ranking at 55%. Finally, after careful review and evaluation of the Technical Evaluation Committee, BCDA officials, the Senators of the 17th Congress, and the Senate Community, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, it is my honor to confirm before this august chamber the winner of the Global Conceptual Design Competition for the New Home of the Philippine Senate is AECOM, with a mere 0.36-point difference from our second choice. We like to extend our warmest congratulations to AECOM. There is no doubt that your conceptual design for the Senate's permanent home best represents the honor, dignity, and legacy of this independent institution. Mr. President, with this milestone, I officially announce that we are moving forward to the third phase of the Project Road Map, the Procurement of Design and Build Package. AECOM will have the opportunity to undertake the Detailed Architectural Design of the Project upon successful selection of the Design and Build Contractor by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the development of the new Senate building. At this point, let me also take the opportune time to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our participating firms, especially to the Leeser Architecture, Aidea Inc., Henning Larsen Architects, and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. Mr. President, I like to also thank everyone who took their part in the success of our competition. We have reached where we are today because of everyone's commitment, hard work, and dedication to the task. That said, I guess we can all agree to the words of philanthropist Anthony Robbins when he said, and I quote: "There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality." Therefore I move to adopt PS Resolution 748 confirming AECOM as the winner of the Global Conceptual Design Competition for the new home of the Philippine Senate. Thank you, Mr. President.
>>> FM hosts visiting US Senator

The Vietnamese President made the remark while receiving US Senator Cory Gardner, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, in Hanoi on May 28.

Praising his guests contributions to the USs relations with the region in general and Vietnam in particular for peace, stability, cooperation and development, the leader expected the senator to continue helping the ties to grow.

President Quang expressed his delight at upbeat improvement of Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership across all fields as reflected through talks and meetings between their high-ranking leaders.

He specifically pointed to a State visit to Vietnam by President Donald Trump and an official visit to the US by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last year.

The State leader lauded positive growth of bilateral parliamentary ties and stressed that Vietnam welcomes visits of more US congressmen who seek to explore Vietnams culture, land and people and will serve as a bridge for Vietnam - US cooperation.

He suggested the US side carry out measures to increase exports to the Vietnamese market in a bid to improve their trade balance, and clear trade barriers to facilitate the entry of Vietnamese goods into its market.

He recommended the two nations extend their mutual consultations and information exchange at international and regional forums and within the UN framework, especially on issues of shared concern.

For his part, Senator Gardner informed his guest that during his visit, he planned to have working sessions with Vietnamese agencies to discuss boosters to Vietnam - US ties.

He commended Vietnams stance on ensuring peace, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.

As the US Senator of Colorado, he introduced his states strength in environmental sector and expressed his willingness to bridge cooperation between Colorado and Vietnam in environmental protection and climate change response.

He said he supports free trade and increasing Vietnam - US collaboration in mitigating Agent Orange impacts and clearing post-war bombs and mines.
Senate adopts reso honoring soldiers for defending, maintaining peace in Marawi

The Senate adopted today a resolution honoring the bravery, sacrifice and heroism of the men and women in uniform who defended and maintained peace and order in Marawi City.

Senator Resolution 746 was introduced by Senator Richard Gordon and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The resolution said that it was only fitting to remember the brave soldiers for their heroic task that prevented the takeover by hostile forces in Marawi City.

On May 23, 2017, members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group clashed with government forces and raised a black flag with an ISIS logo in front of the Amai Pakpak Hospital in Marawi City.

The Marawi incident prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martail law through Proclamation No. 216.

The battle, according to the resolution, was a peculiar one because it was the first urban warfare fought in the country. It involved the setting up of a combined security force from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard under the Command of Joint Task Force.

About 39 civilians were killed in the battle while about 1,733 civilians were rescued by the soldiers.

"Terrorism knows no boundaries as it can thrive anywhere across the globe. The Marawi crisis tested the capabilities and willpower of army leaders and personnel and set a new trajectory of how the army will overcome terrorism in the Philippines," the resolution said.

"The supreme sacrifice of our fallen soldiers and police officers in order to fulfill their duty to defend and protect the country from terrorists should not be forgotten and deserves the highest commendation," the resolution said.
Press Release

May 28, 2018 AECOM Philippines awarded as designer of new Senate building The Senate adopted today a resolution confirming AECOM Philippines as the winner of the Global Conceptual Design Competition for the new Philippine Senate building. Senate Resolution 748, confirming the winner of the Global Conceptual Design Competition for the new Philippine Senate, was introduced by Senators Panfilo Lacson, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Gregorio Honasan II, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar. "We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to AECOM. There is no doubt that your conceptual design for the Senate's permanent home best represents the honor, dignity, and legacy of this independent institution," Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Accounts tasked to pursue the relocation and oversee the eventual construction of the new and permanent home of the Senate, said. "Finding a home that the Senate of the Philippines can call its own has long been a standing dream of this institution, and plans of relocating and constructing a permanent Senate building has been proposed and considered as far back as the year 2000 during the Senate Presidency of Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr.," the resolution said. Through a survey conducted within the Senate community on September 19, 2017 and the adoption of Resolution 293, filed by Gatchalian, an 18,320 square meter parcel of land owned by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), located at the Navy Village in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, was chosen as the site for the construction of the new Senate building, the resolution added. The Senate and the BCDA had launched a Global Conceptual Design Competition for the new home of the Philippine Senate on February 14, 2018. Twenty-four foreign and 16 local architectural firms submitted their Expression of Interest (EOIs) to participate, of which the top five firms were chosen by the Selection Panel comprised of senators and BCDA officials on March 23, 2018. The top five were: AECOM, Aidea Inc., Henning Larsen Architects, Leeser Architecture, and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. During the briefing of the top five firms held on April 14, 2018, senators and Senate officials articulated their vision for the new Senate building and the needs they would want to be addressed by the envisioned structure. According to the resolution, technical experts from the Senate, the BCDA, the academe, and professional organizations from various fields, such as architecture, engineering, interior design, urban planning, green design, and cultural research, conducted a review and technical evaluation of the final entries based on identity, sustainability, functionality, and feasibility. The technical score of the experts comprised of 40 percent of the over-all score. As stakeholders, Senate officials, employees and staff were also given the opportunity to vote for their design choice on May 23, 2018. Their vote, or the peoples' choice, comprises five percent of the over-all score, the resolution also said. After careful review and evaluation by the Technical Evaluation Committee, BCDA officials, senators of the 17th Congress, and the Senate community, the conceptual design of AECOM was declared as the winning design. "AECOM's 90,000 talented employees now serve clients in more than 150 countries around the world. Meanwhile, AECOM Philippines is a full service team of more than 200 professionals housed in new, state-of-the-art offices in Bonifacio Global City. They are a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public-sector clients in all of the key markets - including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government," the resolution also said.
Cooperative Bank took a crack at its larger Australian rivals shipping profits across the Tasman while reporting flat annual earnings and an unchanged rebate for its customer-owners, while fellow minnow SBS Bank also talked up its local ownership while posting a small dip in profit.

The two lenders are in a different league to their Australian rivals, with the value of loans between them totalling about $6 billion, compared to $118.5 billion sitting with the nation's largest lender ANZ Bank New Zealand. However, Australia's Royal Commission into financial services has highlighted some questionable practices among the 'four pillars' (the big four banks), prompting New Zealand's Reserve Bank and Financial Markets Authority to demand they prove they're clean.

Cooperative Bank chief executive David Cunningham said the royal commission has cast some aspersions over the practices among some Australian financial institutions and talked up his firm's own capital structure, which shares profits with customers in the form of rebates.

"I believe a strong factor in Co-op's continued growth is concern about the scale of banking profits - close to $5 billion - sent offshore to Australia each year," he said in a statement. "This coupled with public recognition that, as a customer-owned bank, we exist for the benefit of our members with a strong focus on conduct and culture."

SBS Bank, which is similarly owned by its members and remains the nation's biggest building society, echoed that sentiment without making an overt reference to the drama across the Tasman.

"Our inherent focus on delivering value to our members is our absolute priority as an organisation, given that they are not only our customers but also our owners," chair John Ward said. "They can have confidence in their bank's future following another strong financial result, as well as initiatives that demonstrate our ongoing commitment to meeting changing consumer needs."

Both lenders reported flat earnings, even as their respective loan books expanded.

Wellington-based Cooperative Bank posted a 1.3 percent gain in net profit to $10.5 million in the year ended March 31. The former PSIS grew its loan book 9 percent to $2.23 billion, with an 8.5 percent increase in mortgage lending to $2.12 billion. Non-mortgage lending grew 16 percent to $177 million. Meantime, its deposits expanded 8.1 percent to $2.2 billion.

Customer rebates were unchanged at $2.1 million for its 115,000 customers.

Meantime, SBS Bank reported a 2.6 percent decline in net profit to $26.7 million in the year ended March 31, due in part to a 38 percent jump in impairment charges to $14.9 million. The bulk of that came from its recently acquired Warehouse Group Financial Services, which added $6 million of collective provisions in the year. SBS wrote off $12.6 million of bad retail debts in the year.

The Invercargill-based bank bought Warehouse's financial services unit last year for $18 million, adding to its diversification of recent years with a 50 percent stake in Staples Rodway Asset Management, and controlling stakes in Funds Administration New Zealand, Southsure Assurance and Finance Now.

SBS Bank's loan book grew 11 percent to $3.8 billion in the year, while retail depositors holding redeemable preference shares  the bulk of the bank's funding profile - grew 13 percent to $3.09 billion.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


The government will try to eradicate the Mycoplasma bovis cattle disease that was first detected nearly a year ago to protect the national herd and the long-term productivity of the farming sector.

If successful it will be a world first.

Todays decision to eradicate the disease is driven by the governments desire to protect the national herd from the disease and protect the base of our economy  the farming sector, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The decision, dubbed 'phased eradication', was made collectively by the government and farming sector bodies and the estimated cost is $886 million over 10 years.

Phased eradication involves ongoing depopulation and includes any new infected properties.

Of the total cost, $16 million is attributed to the loss of production and borne by farmers while $870 million is the cost of the response, including compensation. The government expects most of the eradication work to be carried out in one to two years.

The government will meet 68 percent of the $870 million, or about $592 million, and DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb New Zealand will meet 32 percent, or about $278 million.

Over 99 percent of our dairy herds in New Zealand have no signs of this disease, and we want to keep it that way", said Jim van der Poel, DairyNZ chair.

According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, so far some 26,000 cows have been culled and it estimates another 126,000 cattle will need to be slaughtered as phased eradication will involve killing all cattle on all infected properties along with cattle on most restricted properties.

All infected farms found in the future will be depopulated. Following depopulation and disinfection, farms will lie fallow for 60 days after which they can be restocked.

According to MPIs modelling, in year one 142 farms will need to be depopulated and 192 in total.

There are currently 67 restricted properties. Of those, 37 are active infected properties.

Intensive active surveillance, including testing and tracing, will continue. There will be some flexibility for farmers in the timing of culling to offset production losses.

Importantly, the government promises to improve the compensation claim process. MPI said a substantial part of farmers claim for culled cows should now take four-to-10 days, with a fully verified claim taking two-to-three weeks.

When asked about the possible success of attempting eradication, MPI director of readiness and response Geoff Gwyn said I dont think theres any cast iron guarantee here. I think what we are doing here is having the best shot at eradication and noted that if the country doesnt try immediately eradication will be off the table.

MPI said there may come a time when we may have to concede that living with it and managing it within our herds is the most sensible way forward. We are not there now.

A further round of national bulk milk surveillance testing is scheduled in spring and the government will assess the direction of the operation based on that and other information in late 2018 or early 2019.

Long-term management has a projected cost of $1.2 billion. Of this, $698 million is the loss of production borne by farmers and $520 million of response costs.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


NZX-listed forestry investor Rubicon says it beat its target of doubling annual earnings as its ArborGen unit shifts into full commercialisation, posting a muddle of numbers including a new balance date and pared back business units.

Auckland-based Rubicon aligned its balance date with its fully-owned subsidiary ArborGen, which sells and develops advanced genetic seedlings to improve forest productivity and is its only asset, to Sept. 30 from June 30 and today released first-half accounts. The firm annualised those earnings to give a like-for-like comparison rather than rely on the statutory six-month versus 15-month periods on different balance dates in its accounts.

Rubicon said its US-GAAP earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation was US$4.3 million for the year to March 31 on gross profit of US$18 million. That's the measure ArborGen would report in a US listing situation and involves the full expensing of all US$5.6 million research and development activities as US GAAP does not allow the capitalisation of these costs.

The company had previously said it expected annual ebitda to more than double to US$3.4 million and chair Stephen Kasnet today said "these numbers are ahead of our previously announced earnings targets, in what turned out to be a very difficult operating environment". An extremely tough hurricane season during the year hit seedling sales by some 20 million units.

Looking ahead, Rubicon is targetting earnings "approaching" US$7 million for the March 2019 year, dependent on weather and demand conditions.

It should be clear now that ArborGens heavy product development phase and the related past ebitda losses which peaked at US$18 million, are now well behind us, Kasnet said.

He added that ArborGen is now firmly ebitda positive and its forecasts are for it to be net earnings and operating cash-positive from now as the firm ramps up sales of its advanced genetics products in the US and develops its position in Brazil.

Kasnet also said the company "will likely be aided in our future earnings targets by the NZ governments positive approach to forestry planting and regional development." The government has announced an annual New Zealand planting goal of 100 million seedlings per annum for the next 10 years  1 billion in total. Given approximately 70 million are currently being planted commercially, the government top-up is around 30 million per annum.

"As ArborGen has six nurseries spread throughout the regions in both of the North and South Islands, we are very well placed to assist the government in reaching its goals," said Kasnet.

The programme is expected to generate sales in the March 2020 fiscal year, he said.

The statutory figures include Rubicon's stake in the Tenon Clearwater unit, which it sold in January. The financial statements show Rubicon reported a net profit of US$2 million in the six months ended March 31 on revenue of US$35 million. It posted a loss of US$6 million on revenue of US$6 million in the 15 months ended Sept. 30, 2017, including the negative earnings contribution from the divested Tenon Clearwater.

The stock recently traded at 27.5 cents down 1.8 percent but has lifted 44 percent so far this year.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


Inland Revenue and Eric Watson's Cullen Group have settled one pre-trial dispute ahead of a tax avoidance trial in Auckland later this year.

IRD is pursuing Cullen Group for $59.5 million in non-resident withholding tax, as it says a 2002 restructuring was done to avoid tax. Eric Watson owned all the shares in Cullen Investments before November 2002, when he sold all of that company's shares into the newly formed Cullen Group. Watson then loaned $291 million to Cullen Group, assigning those loans to two Cayman Islands companies.

Under New Zealand's tax law, interest paid to a non-resident, such as the Cayman Islands companies, attracts non-resident withholding tax of 15 percent, but that can be cut to a 2 percent levy (the approved issuer levy, or AIL) if certain conditions are met. One condition is that the payer and the recipient are not associated persons under the relevant Income Tax Act.

Cullen Group paid the 2 percent levy, and IRD argues that while Cullen Group and the Cayman Islands companies weren't associated parties under the specific terms of the relevant Income Tax Act, it was nonetheless a tax avoidance arrangement which allowed Cullen Group to benefit significantly from paying a lower levy.

Cullen Group last year won a pre-trial motion to access documents which included advice from IRD or special purpose committees or working groups to Parliament about tax law, specifically the definition of associated persons to be employed in the legislation. The High Court, in that decision, said that the key issue at trial will be whether Cullen Group made use of the associated persons rule or the AIL regime in a manner contrary to Parliaments intention at the time Parliament enacted the legislation which established the AIL regime.

An appeal from the IRD on this was to be heard this morning in Wellington, but the dispute was settled on Friday, with Cullen Group accepting that the High Court judge who granted them access was wrong.

Cullen Group accepted the ruling went far beyond the normal definition of extrinsic aids, and that it would likely be a fruitless fishing expedition which would cover material dating back to 1968. The trial judge would also likely refuse to admit any documents found.

The three-week trial will begin on Aug. 27 in Auckland's High Court.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, New Zealand's biggest listed healthcare technology company, lifted 2018 annual profit to the top end of its forecast range and said it expects record earnings in the coming year as it benefits from growing global demand.

The Auckland-based company said profit rose 12 percent to $190.2 million in the year ended March 31, at the top end of its November forecast for $185 million to $190 million. Operating revenue climbed 10 percent to $980.8 million.

It forecast 2019 annual operating revenue in its 50th year of operation of about $1.05 billion and profit of about $210 million. The shares fell 3.5 percent to $12.89 in morning trading as the forecast fell about short of what analysts had expected.

"The market was a little disappointed with the guidance that they have given with the year ahead," said Mark Lister, head of private wealth at Craigs Investment Partners. "The result was pretty much in line with expectations (but) the profit guidance for the 2019 financial year was about 3 percent below what analysts were predicting.

"Its hardly a big miss but this is how share prices operate - they factor in the future and react accordingly."

F&P Healthcare, which makes breathing masks and respirators, estimates it helps in the care of 13 million patients in 120 countries each year and it expects to spend $160 million to $170 million to increase capacity for existing and new products this year, saying it is making good progress with construction of a fourth building on its Auckland site and a second manufacturing facility in Mexico. In the future, it aims to expand its reach to help more than 50 million patients in homes and hospitals every year, in a potential market for respiratory products of more than US$6 billion a year.

"We are well positioned to meet the growing demand for our products from an increasing investment in healthcare across the globe," the company said in a statement to the NZX. "We have a strong new product pipeline including more new humidification systems, flow generators, masks and consumables.

Sales in its hospital division rose 14 percent to $572.1 million, while homecare products sales increased a more modest 4 percent to $398.1 million.

Lister said the weaker-than-expected forecast for 2019 may be attributed to the timing of a new mask for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, as profitability for a mask launched in the 2019 year may not flow through to profits until 2020.

Still, he said the high-growth nature of the company meant earnings could ebb and flow from year to year depending on the cycle for new product launches.

"It's one of our highest quality companies on our market," Lister said. "For long-term investors, I certainly wouldnt think being 3 percent below expectations is anything to be concerned about. Its a great quality company addressing a market that is getting bigger and bigger."

F&P Healthcare will pay a final dividend of 12.5 cents per share on July 6, taking the total dividends for the year to 21.25 cents, up 9 percent on the year earlier.

In the 2018 year, its gross profit margin increased by 31 basis points to 66.3 percent, ahead of its target of 65 percent, which it said reflected sales of higher-margin products and lower costs from its plant in Mexico.

"We expect to see gross margin stability in the 2019 financial year as most of the recent improvement factors have been substantially captured," it said.

Over the past year, the healthcare company invested $94.7 million into research and development, up from $86 million a year earlier and equivalent to 9.7 percent of its revenue. It employs 572 people in research and development, including scientists, engineers and researchers, up from 563 a year earlier.

F&P Healthcare is currently involved in litigation over patent infringement with rival ResMed and said investing to protect its intellectual property it has built up over time is "crucial". The litigation cost narrowed from $20.7 million in 2017 to $15.6 million in the latest financial year with a similar rate expected in the 2019 year, it said.

Its shares have gained 26 percent the past year.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


At the meeting, Lenh informed his host about the outcomes of his talks with LFNC Vice President Khambay Damlath, saying he hopes the LFNC chief to direct the enhancement of friendship and cooperation activities, particularly between Vietnamese and Lao social organisations and people, toward effectiveness.

He also asked the Lao front leader to pay attention to facilitating the activities of Vietnamese expatriates and students in Laos.

Saysomphone Phomvihane stated fruitful cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao fronts will contribute to the two nations special relations.

The official lauded outcomes of the talks between Lenh and his deputy, particularly the review of one-year implementation of a joint communique issued at a 2017 international conference on building the Vietnam - Laos border of peace, friendship and comprehensive cooperation for mutual development.

He suggested the two fronts carry out joint field trips along provinces that share the border to build a better mechanism to address free migration, unregistered marriage and goods smuggling in the area.

He expected the sides to continue their implementation of a cooperation programme among the VFF, the LFNC and the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia Motherland, thus tightening the traditional solidarity, friendship and cooperation among the neighbouring nations.

Prior to his meeting with Saysomphone Phomvihane, Lenh held talks with LFNC Vice President Khambay Damlath. The sides agreed that joint efforts to build a peaceful border had recorded in organisation of communication campaigns and information exchanges in order to prevent and promptly deal with incidents occurring in border areas.

They also lauded outcomes of border demarcation, marker planting and patrol work during the one-year period.

They expressed their delight at the widespread implementation of the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia front cooperation programme, which was signed in 2017.

As heard at the talks, the VFF would open a short-term training course on front work for 20 officials from the LFNC.
Milk New Zealand Holding, which owns and manages dairy operations controlled by Shanghai Pengxin, says it didn't expect such a bullish forecast from Fonterra Cooperative Group for its 2019 milk payout.

Last week Fonterra raised its forecast milk price for 2019 of $7 per kilogram of milk solids from the $6.75 /kgMS projected for the current season, while cutting its projected dividends for 2018, saying rising global dairy prices were squeezing margins.

"The $7 payout forecast is stronger than we expected," said Tony Nie, a spokesman for the company. "We understand it will be challenging to hold that level for the next season because the global supply could increase with high payout prospects. The NZD/USD exchange rate is also unpredictable which can contribute to the final payout for the next season."

Milk New Zealand was created after Chinese billionaire Jiang Zhaobai's Shanghai Pengxin bought the 16 Crafar farms in 2012. In 2014 he added a controlling stake in what was then called Synlait Farms, renaming that business as Purata and increasing Milk New Zealand's operations to 29 farms milking and producing about 10 million kgMS a year. It is now one of New Zealand's biggest dairy groups and exports UHT and fresh milk to China under the Theland brand.

The group has a new structure in 2018, reflecting a reorganisation of assets. Alibaba founder Jack Ma provided fresh capital via his e-commerce, retail, internet and technology company and his venture capital arm Yunfeng Capital in December, taking a 57 percent holding in Milk New Zealand Dairy, the group's export arm. The remaining 33 percent is owned by Hunan Dakang International Food and Agriculture Co, which trades on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is 55 percent owned by Shanghai Pengxin.

Hunan Dakang separately owns Milk New Zealand Holding, made up of Theland Tahi Farm Group (the Crafar farms) and Milk New Zealand Management, while Shanghai Pengxin directly owns New Zealand Milk Capital, which in turns owns Theland Purata Farm Group (the Synlait farms). The group exports UHT, fresh milk and adult milk powder, working with manufacturers including Miraka, Westland Milk Products, Fonterra, Synergy and Green Valley.

Nie declined to comment in detail on restructuring in the group. Notes to the accounts of Milk NZ Holding show it had 26,944 cattle as at Dec. 31, up from just 1,376 a year earlier. The bulk of that is the purchase of 24,759 livestock valued at $35 million.

In calendar 2017, sales were $27 million versus $8.5 million in the year-earlier six month period, Milk New Zealand Holding's annual report shows. Profit in the latest year was $6.5 million from $1.2 million in the previous six months.

Milk NZ Holding owns and manages the former Crafar and Synlait farms.

Milk New Zealand Dairy reported its 2017 results in March, showing a jump in sales to $72.5 million from $42.5 million although increased costs resulted in a drop in full-year profit to $2.99 million from $3.26 million. The spokesman for that arm of the group, managing director Terry Lee, told the Herald that its products are now sold in 25 Chinese provinces and carried in 4,700 stores.

Partnering with Chinese supermarkets had made Theland the fastest-growing New Zealand brand in China, he said at the time. The Alibaba relationship was helping Milk NZ increase sales in the competitive China consumer market, he said.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


The New Zealand dollar rose against the euro as Italian president Sergio Mattarella tried again to form a coalition government after rejecting a eurosceptic finance minister proposed by the 5-star Movement and the far-right League.

The kiwi dollar traded at 59.65 euro cents as at 8am in Wellington from 59.30 cents late yesterday. It fell to 69.35 US cents from 69.51 cents while the trade-weighted index was little changed at 72.88 from 72.86.

Italy's Mattarella tapped former IMF economist Carlo Cottarelli as interim prime minister and Cottarelli vowed to pull together a government ahead of fresh elections expected to be held later this year or early 2019. Italian government bonds fell, driving up yields, on concern Italy's political instability may lead to further volatility following inconclusive elections in March. Financial markets were relatively subdued with the US closed for the Memorial Day holiday and the UK on a bank holiday.

"The Italian political situation remains messy and saw the euro weaken further overnight," said Liz Kendall, senior economist at ANZ Bank New Zealand. "With holidays in both the UK and US, it was a reasonably quiet session for kiwi overnight."

With little economic news scheduled today, traders will watch for May consumer confidence data in Australia, unemployment figures in Japan and tonight, US May consumer confidence.

The kiwi dollar didn't move much yesterday after the government said it will try to eradicate the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak at a cost of $886 million over the next decade. That was cheaper than the $1.2 billion price tag of long-term management, although New Zealand would be the first country eradicate the disease if successful.

The kiwi increased to 91.93 Australian cents from 91.74 cents yesterday. It fell to 4.4370 yuan from 4.4424 yuan and traded at 52.09 British pence from 52.11 pence. The kiwi fell to 75.88 yen from 76.07 yen.

(BusinessDesk)

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - NIWA

Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) Q1 Dividend Declared

Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Awarded International Cargo Flights to March 2022

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Wins $1.6m Customer Contract Extension

12th October 2021 Morning Report

Comvita Limited (NZX: CVT) Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Improvement

11th October 2021 Morning Report

Z Energy Limited (NZX: ZEL) Board Unanimously Recommends Scheme of Arrangement

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces the Acquisition of Clare House

8th October 2021 Morning Report


Haridwar (Uttarakhand): Desi upstart Patanjali is all set to deepen the already disrupted Indian telecom industry with its telecom foray. At a launch of its partnership here, Baba Ramdev unveiled the plan to offer SIM cards as part of a partnership with state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.

Although most news agencies reported the product as Swadeshi Samriddhi, the event pictures carried BSN 144 as the name of the plan.

Officials including Baba Ramdev were quoted by news-agencies as saying that the SIM cards were expected to arrive in a couple of months. These SIM cards will offer 2 GB data, 100 SMSes, unlimited calling and a host of other benefits and offers at a price of Rs 144.

Although the validity and the exact plan details are yet to be confirmed, the Rs 144 plan is expected to be either a 28 days or a monthly package. Besides these, there are other benefits too.

The other benefits on using the BSN-144 SIM card includes free health, accidental and life insurance coverage. The free medical insurance covers liabilities up to Rs 2.5 lakh, while the life insurance provides a cover for up to Rs 5 lakh cover. At the moment only road accidents are being covered under these plans.

Baba Ramdev in a file-picture during the launch of a product.



The SIM card promises users up to 10% discount on Patanjali products procured through various channels. At the start of this year, an ambitious plan to partner with e-commerce ventures such as Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm Mall and others was also announced.

Patanjali's launch is quite similar to that of Jio, the Reliance Industries led company that distributed its telecom service, initially to it's employees. The Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM card in a similar fashion will be made available to Patanjali employees initially. There is no word of when these SIM cards will be made available to the general public, but official sources indicate that they should be retailing in the next few months.

The partnership with BSNL will extend Patanjali's reach to more consumers. The key idea behind introducing this SIM card is "prosperity for charity". BSNL believes that the Patanjali plan is BSNL's best tariff plan till date. To activate the SIM, customers will need to give their identity proof.

Ramdev said that his company only tied up with BSNL because it is a Swadeshi network. He also said that once the card is launched commercially, it will be available at hundreds of thousands of locations across the country. According to him, There are five lakh counters of BSNL and from there people can soon get Patanjali swadeshi-samradhi card.

Sunil Garg, BSNL's Chief General Manager was quoted by ANI as saying that the Patanjali plan is BSNL's best offering. "In Rs 144, one can make unlimited calls from any part of the country. We are giving 2 GB data pack, 100 SMSes. The members of the Patanjali have to just show their identity and their SIM will be activated soon after some paperwork," he said.

Speaking on the availability of the SIM cards, Ramdev said, "There are five lakh counters of BSNL and from there people can soon get Patanjali swadeshi-samradhi card."

Patanjali's motive is for the betterment of the country. "Vyaapaar nahi Upkaar," (Its not trade, its favour/benefit referring to the telecom service) said Ramdev during the launch.

Watch the video here,



Although the plan appears cost-effective, it doesn't seem likely to compete against existing peers, Jio offers 2 GB data per day, 300 SMSes, and unlimited voice calling benefits at Rs 98 for 28 days. Airtel has a one GB/day, unlimited calling and 100 SMSes plan at Rs 99 for 28 days. Vodafone has a similar plan at Rs 95.

More clarity on the plans, and availability of SIM cards is expected in the coming few days.

Whether entering telecom sector turns out to be profitable for Patanjali may require guess work. After the entry of Jio, the telecom sector has mostly observed consolidation.

According to its filings with the registrar of companies, Patanjali Ayruved reported net profits at Rs 1,193.8 crore for the year ended March 2017. Patanjali's revenue from operations stood at Rs 9,122.2 crore in FY17.

Besides the news on a new SIM card offering, Ramdev's and Acharya Balakrishna's Patanjali was in news for offering Rs 5806 crore for acquiring Ruchi Soya.

Twitteratti was bemused by the suprise announcement. Here are some responses.

Now I understood y many people say "ram ram" instead of "hello"  (@Meenakshiiik)

"Baba Ramdev's Patanjali ties up with BSNL, launches Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards"



Hain? When existing telcos are bleeding? Unless government wants to wind up BSNL and hand it over to Patanjali in near future, does it makes sense?  Farhan Shaikh (@farhanknight)

Baba ramdev is new TATA/BIRLA of India after snatching big FMCG market share, with launch of patanjali SIM cards entering big fight competition. #patanjalisimcard #BabaRamdev #Patanjali  sumit bahuguna (@bahuguna_sumit) May 28, 2018

Also Read:

Will Baba Ramdev accept Louis Vuitton's $ 500 million offer?
The four-month-old cub made her debut on a small platform set inside a room, in front of media cameras outside a glass window.

Her black-and-white fur is fully grown with the typical black eyes.

The female giant panda now weighs 9 kg and is in good health, said Zoo officials.

She will be meeting the public daily inside the room before joining her parents in the open display area in two to three months' time.

Bai Tian, Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, said he expects the baby giant panda to be another envoy to promote friendship between China and Malaysia. He also suggested to hold a online campaign to name the cub.

The baby panda, born in January, is the second offspring of her parents Xing Xing and Liang Liang who arrived in Malaysia in 2014. Their first-born, Nuan Nuan, who is also a female, returned to China in November last year after turning two-year-old.
The six gold medallists were Do Quang Minh, Dang Quang Thang, Pham Quoc Hung, and Tran Gia Huy from Hanoi, Hoang Tuan Dung from Ha Giang province, and Nguyen Dinh Kien from Hai Phong city.

Among them, Tran Gia Huy, from the Archimedes Academy School in Hanoi, was ranked fifth overall, entering the top 10 students together with nine others from the host Singapore.

Vietnam sent nine students to the APMOPS 2018, who stood out from the 422 entrants during the national round of the competition in Vietnam.

Organised by Singapore's Hwa Chong Institution, APMOPS is an annual mathematics competition for students aged under 13, with the aim of generating greater interest in mathematics among primary students and sharpening their problem-solving skills.

Initially launched in 1990 as the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary School, the competition was renamed as APMOPS, as it has included overseas centres from the Asia Pacific countries since 2002.
The trip, if made, will likely be made around June 12 when US President Donald Trump and DPRKs leader Kim Jong-un are scheduled to hold their bilateral summit, the official from Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.

"The discussions are just getting started, so we are still waiting to see how they come out, but depending on their outcome, the president could join President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore," the official told Yonhap News Agency, while speaking on condition of anonymity.

A three-way summit was originally proposed by Moon and the DPRKs leader when they held their first-ever meeting at the border village of Panmunjom on April 27.

Moon again expressed hope to hold such a meeting on May 27, one day after he held his second and surprise meeting with Kim.

"Should the North Korea (DPRK)-US summit succeed, I would like to see efforts to formally end the (Korean) war through a three-way summit of the South, the North and the US," he told a press briefing.

Cheong Wa Dae earlier said the Seoul government was already studying the possibility of a three-way summit following a successful US-DPRK summit but that nothing has been decided or even discussed between the countries.

The official speaking to Yonhap noted a three-way summit in Singapore will largely depend on the outcome of ongoing pre-summit talks between the United States and DPRK, suggesting Moon's Singapore trip will likely be decided before the US-DPRK summit even begins.

Trump earlier said a US team, led by former US Ambassador to Seoul Sung Kim, has arrived in DPRK to "make arrangements for the summit between Kim Jong-un and myself."

The three-way summit, if held, will likely be aimed at providing a security guarantee for DPRK in exchange for its denuclearization.

The DPRKs leader has been quoted as saying his country would have no reason to possess nuclear weapons if and when its security and safety are guaranteed.
Malcolm and Joanna Shevlin can check off running in a New York City race from their bucket list.

When the British couple was planning their first trip to the Big Apple a few months ago, they only knew Staten Island as the home of the Impractical Jokers, the comedy TV show hosted by four Monsignor Farrell HS graduates.

Malcolm and Joanna Shevlin from Leeds, United Kingdom complete Staten Island Advance Memorial Day run.

Then, they stumbled on the Staten Island Advance's Memorial Day Run on Google, and registered with just a few minutes to spare.

"Every time we travel we look for a race to participate in, and we do every international race that we can find," said Joanna, who finished the four-mile event in 29 minutes, 39 seconds and has participated in races in France, South Africa, and throughout the United Kingdom.

"When we found this race we only had about an hour left to register, but we decided to just go for it," added Malcolm, who completed the race in 36:01. "Thankfully, we got in on time and we're really pleased that we came."

"It's been a lot of fun. We've enjoyed Staten Island so far," said the Shelvins, who have five children back in Leeds.

"We like doing things like this because we don't want to just do regular touristy things. Instead, we like to mingle with the locals and meet new people."

The Shevlins weren't the only international racers at the event as 44-year-old Robin Whiteley of Sydney, Australia competed. Whiteley finished fourth with a time of 21:22.6 to easily win the 40-44 male division.
The In Class education column will be published regularly to highlight area school happenings, and we want to hear from you.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Fourth-graders at Blessed Sacrament School recently re-enacted some of the steps their ancestors may have taken upon arriving as immigrants to the United States.

The West Brighton school was decorated to look like the Great Hall of Ellis Island to celebrate Immigration Day in April.

The event was organized by teachers Jennifer Belford and Nicholas Siggia as an interactive history lesson incorporating English language arts reading and writing techniques.

The class prepared for the event by viewing the virtual Ellis Island experience, researching family histories and creating costumes.

Students checked in for their "boat trip," then traveled past the Statue of Liberty and had their passports stamped at Liberty Island. They then entered the "Great Hall," where family members' stories were displayed in pictures and words.

Students proceeded to the character station, where they were asked if they were married and had kids, if they were willing to learn the English language, and if they had at least $30 to their name.

The student-immigrants then went to a health check station, a citizens' test station and a "green card" station, where they were granted permission to enter the United States.

View the gallery above to see the students dressed as immigrants.

As part of our education column, In Class, we are highlighting some of the activities Staten Island students are engaged in -- both inside and outside the classroom.

Here's a look at some additional recent education-related happenings.

FIELD WORK CLASSES

At Gaynor McCown High School, classes stopped for a week in April for students to take a week-long intensive course in a field they are passionate about, such as learning the history of fashion, how NYPD trains new recruits and the food industry.

As part of the field work program, students visited various places, including: a chocolate museum, Coney Island, MetLife Stadium, an ABC TV studio, a police academy, a farm, and historically significant spots on Staten Island.

"I was able to procure a firsthand experience as we watched the backstage filming procedure on the live interview show, 'The View'," recalled Amanda Singler, who took the class Student News Network as part of the intensive.

McCown students also went rock-climbing, hiking and created their own documentaries.

"My most valuable experience I gained during this intensive was going hiking at the Greenbelt," said Josiah Reyes, who took the course titled Passport to Adventure. "It was a great experience because I learned a lot about nature and was able to step out of my comfort zone by going hiking and being one with nature."

Teachers at the New Springville school spent months designing the field work program.

"It is about depth vs. breadth," said teacher Kevi Langis. "Memorable learning experiences often occur when we dig deep and explore the many perspectives of one specific topic."

Langis said intensives are a way to dig deep into one topic and to take a student's passion and explore potential careers related to it.

RUN FOR CANCER

When eighth-grader Emilyrose Gagliardi was diagnosed with ewing sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that occurs in bones or in soft tissue around the bones, Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 34) wanted to show its support.

"When we learned of Emilyrose's diagnosis, we knew we had to aid the Gagliardi family in covering expenses," said Kim Giaccio, an eighth-grade English teacher.

More than 300 students, staff and family gathered on May 7 for the Totten Tie Dye 2K Color Run. Funds raised during the event went toward Gagliardi's medical expenses.

Principal John Boyle, who kicked off the festivities, said: "One of the things that makes us so special as a school, is that whenever one of our own is in need, we always rally around that person."

The event raised over $9,000 for the Gagliardi family with the help of the school community, the Parent Teacher Association and local sponsors.

More than 300 students, staff and family members of Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 34) gathered recently for the Totten Tie Dye 2K Color Run. (Photo courtesy of Kim Giaccio)

Do you have a story idea for the new In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fccc2a2c0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fcd0e7900)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fccc2a2c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fcd0e7900)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fccc51fa8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fcd0e7900)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fcd0e7900)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fcc6d0c38)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fcd06dde0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fcd06dde0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
SIMPSON BAY:--- Stefania Kong-Gumbs, Head of the Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM, delegation at the just concluded 12th Annual Is-Lands Airport Safety Committee, (IASC) conference was presented with the Committees first Award of Excellence at the closing of the meeting on Friday May 25, 2018 at the Simpson Bay Resort.

The Committee discussed issues related to all aspects of operational safety at aerodromes from Monday, May 21st through Friday, May 25th, 2018. The Princess Juliana International Airport- SXM- hosted the conference which attracted delegations from Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba and Suriname. Participants also included the Section Head of the St. Maarten Civil Aviation Authority, Shaka Lake.

The committee members of the SXM Airport were pleasantly surprised that the first IASC Award of Excellence went to its Head of Delegation, Stefania Kong- Gumbs who serves as a Quality Assurance Officer at SXM Airport with Manager, Connally Connor and fellow officer, Deshawn York. The trio were elated with the accolade and praised the SXM Managing Board for granting them the opportunity to host the conference, in spite of the constraints.

The conference program was designed to offer participants an opportunity to engage in interactive sessions, and observe how the SXM Airport continues to recover from the devastation and aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The delegations engaged in the safety audit for a period of two days, as they presented its findings. The safety audit is essential as it would reveal the deficiencies that exist at the airport, by an independent non-punitive committee. The audit would serve to help SXM Airport to better improve the standards and recommended practices mandated by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to the Chairman of the IASC, Dharmindra Phalai, SXM Airport will receive the written version of the audit report no later than 6 weeks after the end of the conference. The Quality Assurance Department will prioritize the high-risk findings and implement the necessary mitigation measures.

During the closing ceremony, the Chairman Dharmindra Phalai announced that the Heads of Delegations committee had agreed to appoint Jonathan Hoepel as the first IASC, Public Relations Officer for a period of four years. Hoepel took the liberty to announce that he presented two safety proposals to the IASC board, which were met with approvals and should be implemented accordingly.

Meanwhile, it was also determined that the presence of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would be welcomed at the annual IASC meetings.

The conference concluded with the closing remarks by the Director of Finance, Michael Lake on behalf of the Acting Chief Executive Officer, CEO and Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Ravi Daryanani. Lake emphasized the commitment to safety by the Management of the SXM Airport. The 2019 IASC conference will be hosted in Suriname.
Port-au-Prince:---The SXM Achievers Toastmasters Club attended the 2018 Toastmasters International District 81 Caribbean Toastmasters Conference in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on May 17-20, 2018. Outgoing District Director Godalys Reina, DTM awarded the club with Distinguished status for attaining 7 out of 10 club goals. Held at the Karibe Hotel in Petionville, the conference drew hundreds of Caribbean Toastmasters from the entire region and over 20 delegates from St. Maarten/ St. Martin. Incoming SXM Achievers President Sharine Duncan, CC stated that the conference provided an excellent opportunity to absorb, adapt and think with an open mind. The four day event included networking and cultural events, informative workshops and training, inspirational presentations by accomplished Toastmasters and the highly anticipated Speech Contest which consisted of Table Topics (impromptu speeches) and prepared speeches. Toastmasters were well treated with Haitian hospitality and had the privilege of visiting the legendary Museum Ogier-Fombrun, going on a mini island tour, experiencing a Flag Day Flea Market and circus act amongst others. The SXM Achievers Toastmasters Club recently celebrated its decennial or 10 year anniversary and holds club meetings every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Asha Stevens Christian Hillside School in Cayhill in the Faculty Lounge. The Toastmasters program not only improves ones communication and leadership skills, it also enhances confidence and self-motivation to achieve more! Duncan said. Potential members can contact the Achievers via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SXMAchieversToastmastersClub/.
BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to cooperate with other countries to reduce health injustice and achieve better health services for everyone, Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission, has told the just-concluded 71st World Health Assembly (WHA).

China has attached great importance to cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) to take an active part in global health governance and contribute Chinese wisdom so that everyone has access to healthcare.

FROM BAREFOOT DOCTORS TO HEALTHY CHINA 2030

In the 1960s, when the general public in China, especially farmers, lacked basic medical insurance, barefoot doctors cured diseases for billions of farmers.

This inspired the WHO conference in Kazakhstan in 1978 to call on local communities to help decide healthcare priorities, call for an emphasis on primary and preventive healthcare, and seek to link medicine with trade, economics and other political and social areas.

Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, former director-general of the WHO, said China's experience in combating challenges is more useful for middle- and low-income countries than those of high-income nations.

China has made tremendous achievements in the medical and health sector and has improved the health of one-fifth of the world's population since the adoption of its reform and opening-up policy in 1978.

Over 95 percent of the Chinese population now enjoy basic medical insurance. Average life expectancy has grown from 35 years in the 1940s to 76.5 years in 2016, and the infant mortality rate declined to 0.75 percent in 2016.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he is impressed by the large scale, fast speed and high quality of China's medical health system reforms, adding that it serves as a good example for the rest of the world.

Ma said that focusing on relevant sustainable development goals, China has elevated its Healthy China initiative to a national strategy and released the Healthy China 2030 Outline for its national health progress.

Tedros said China has played a leading role in national health coverage, and the Healthy China 2030 Outline has demonstrated the government's determination to safeguard its citizens' health.

FOREIGN HEALTH ASSISTANCE

"We have more than 200 million cases of malaria a year and more than 90 percent of them are in Africa, so the focus on Africa is important," said Tedros, an Ethiopian who had specialized in malaria before taking the helm of the WHO last year.

"Working with research institutes in Africa, China has launched joint projects to adapt for use in Africa its practices in the prevention and control of malaria and schistosomiasis," Ma said, explaining that China is also a pioneer in global emergency response.

The change of the malaria situation in Comoros began in 2007, when a team of Chinese scientists introduced an anti-malaria project to the island of Moheli before extending it to Anjouan in 2012 and Grande Comore in 2013. On the three islands, it led to a 98-percent drop in malaria cases, from over 100,000 to 1,300 a year, said Chinese Ambassador to Comoros He Yanjun.

Over the years, China has continuously engaged in health assistance to other developing countries. Since 1963, China has sent medical teams to 69 developing countries, according to the official.

In 2014, China sent over 1,200 healthcare professionals and public health experts to help African nations in their response to Ebola. Ma said China is prepared to do so for the current Ebola crisis facing the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"China is playing a major leadership role in the global health agenda. It is a strong, economically powerful country with a vision to contributing to the fight against malaria and generally in the improvement of health beyond its own borders," said WHO Global Malaria Program Director Pedro Alonso.

"So we welcome the involvement of China in a leadership position, building out of its own experience, but putting also at the service of mankind, its talent, its capacity, its own products," he added.

FROM PEACE ARK TO HEALTH SILK ROAD

In 2017, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark sailed about 30,000 sea miles (about 56,000 km) along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road for 155 days to provide medical services for people along the route.

In 2010-2015, the Peace Ark visited Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania. Around 120,000 people from a total of 29 countries and regions received free on-board medical and humanitarian services.

Lezi Kbamba, a 48-year-old musician, will hold another music show at the end of the month. This was something he desired, yet could not do, as he had been troubled by cloudy vision for three months due to a cataract in his right eye.

China's Brightness Action program offered him free surgeries to help him restore his eyesight. The program aims to provide free cataract surgeries to 200 patients in Namibia's capital Windhoek and the rural area of Rundu.

The Chinese government has also donated medical supplies worth 279,000 U.S. dollars to the southern African country to help with eye surgeries.

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe said the Belt and Road Initiative is a great initiative which helps to cope with challenges confronting the world.

The WHA, which took place from Monday to Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland, unveiled an ambitious plan on Monday aiming to benefit an overall population of 3 billion globally for the next five years with better health care and well-being.

The plan sets three strategic priorities to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being for all at all ages -- namely, to help 1 billion more people benefit from universal health coverage, to help 1 billion more people to be better protected in health emergencies, and to help 1 billion more people enjoy better health and well-being.

"To achieve this goal, we must seize the opportunity of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative to guarantee the health of billions of people involved in the initiative," Tedros said.
President Trump: U.S. team arrives in DPRK to prepare for his meeting with Kim

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that a U.S. official team had arrived in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to talk about the preparation for a summit between him and DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," he tweeted.

The Trump-Kim meeting is scheduled to be held in Singapore on June 12.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" said the White House host.

The Washington Post reported earlier on Sunday that former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim on Sunday crossed into the DPRK to prepare for a summit with Choe Son Hui, DPRK's vice foreign minister.

The Washington Post quoted State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert as saying that the meetings are expected to continue Monday and Tuesday in the northern part of the demilitarized zone where DPRK leader Kim Jong Un met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Saturday.
NATO, Russia to hold first talks since Skripal attack



Brussels, May 28 (AFP) May 28, 2018



NATO will on Thursday hold its first formal talks with Russia since the nerve agent attack on a former Kremlin double agent in Britain, as the alliance seeks to counter Moscow's increasing assertiveness.

Tensions between the transatlantic alliance and Russia have hit post-Cold War highs in recent years over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and more recently the attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury.

NATO vehemently criticised Moscow over the attack in March, the first hostile use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War Two, and expelled seven Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated international response.

"A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council will take place on 31 May 2018," a NATO official said.

"This is part of NATO's twin-track approach of strong defence and meaningful dialogue with Russia."

The meeting -- the seventh of the NATO-Russia council in the last two years -- will be held at the alliance's brand-new headquarters in Brussels and is expected to cover the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Moscow is accused of backing pro-Russian separatists in the restive east.

Transparency around military exercises is also expected to be discussed. At the last meeting in October, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members had challenged Russia over its controversial "Zapad" drills which caused concern in Poland and the Baltic states.

The meeting comes as NATO builds up to its summit in July, which Stoltenberg on Monday said would focus on five key areas from deterrence to modernisation and EU relations, with measures to "manage" ties with Russia a priority.

Last week NATO and the EU urged Moscow to take responsiblity for the 2014 downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine after international investigators concluded that a missile which destroyed the plane came from a Russian military brigade.

The NRC met regularly until the Ukraine crisis plunged relations between the West and Moscow into a deep freeze in 2014 but the meetings resumed in 2016 after months of debate within the alliance over whether it would send the wrong signal to Moscow.

US-led NATO has suspended all practical cooperation with Russia over its role in Ukraine but has kept political channels of communication open.
Italian President Mattarella The Man Who Wouldn't Yield

Rather than handing the reins of power to anti-EU populists, Italy's president has paved the way for snap elections. Who is Sergio Mattarella?
Windhoek (Namibia), May 28, 2018 (SPS) - The SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) staged a peaceful demonstration at the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO), on Monday, 28 May 2018, in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara.



The Demonstration coincides with a State Visit of His Excellency, Mr. Brahim Ghali, President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), to the Republic of Namibia, from 27-29 May 2018.



The SWAPO Party Youth League members handed over a petition to Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, in which they expressed support for the right to self-determination an independence of the people of Western Sahara.



The SPYL urged the Namibian Government and people to continue their support for the cause of the people of Western Sahara, and to continue the call on the United Nations, to ensure that the Sahrawi people exercise their full right to self-determination, without further delays.



Honourable Nandi-Ndaitwah promised that the Namibian Government remains steadfast in its call for the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.



She further informed the gathered youth that the petition would be forwarded to the relevant UN institutions, for appropriate attention. (SPS)



062/SPS/ministry of international relations and cooperation namibia
Exhibitors show a big data visual analysis decision platform during the 2018 China international big data industry expo in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 26, 2018. The expo opened in Guiyang Saturday, attracting over 40,000 participants from nearly 30 countries. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for enhanced international exchange and cooperation in the development of the big data industry.

Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2018, which opened Saturday in Guiyang, capital city of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The rapid development of new-generation information technologies such as Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence has brought significant and far-reaching impact on social and economic development, state governance, social management, and people's life in all countries, Xi said.

He said countries need to increase communication and cooperation to seize the opportunities in the big data sector, promote its healthy development and handle challenges such as data security and cyberspace governance.

China attaches great importance to the development of big data, Xi said.

With the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, and open development that is for everyone, China is implementing a national big data strategy centered on building the country's strength in cyberspace and nurturing a digital China and smart society, which will aid the transition of the country's economy from high-speed growth to high-quality development, Xi said.

The Chinese president said he expects expo attendees to exchange views and pool wisdom in order to promote the big data sector's innovative development to benefit all people and facilitate the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Talks supported by Foreign Ministry, which hopes for peace on peninsula

Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in confirmed on Sunday the willingness of Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and US President Donald Trump to hold the first-ever DPRK-US summit as scheduled next month.

Moon delivered a nationally televised address at the presidential complex, saying both Kim and Trump "wholeheartedly" wished the success of their summit, originally scheduled for June 12 in Singapore.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Sunday that China firmly supports the DPRK and US leaders' willingness to hold the summit, expecting it not only to be held as scheduled but also to successfully bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.

Lu said China always has believed that direct dialogue between the United States and the DPRK is the key to resolving issues of mutual concern on the Korean Peninsula and the ministry hopes both countries can cherish the recent progress achieved on the peninsula.

On Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he is looking forward to the summit in Singapore. "It hasn't changed," Trump said, adding that talks were progressing well.

Trump canceled the scheduled meeting on Thursday, saying that it would not happen "based on the tremendous anger and open hostility" displayed in the DPRK's most recent statements at that time.

However, he reversed course just one day later. Both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks, he said.

Hours earlier, before Trump's statement calling to continue the summit, the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim expressed his "fixed will" to hold the summit.

Kim made the remarks when having his second meeting with Moon at the truce village Panmunjom on Saturday.

During the Saturday meeting, Pyongyang and Seoul agreed to hold another high-level talk on Friday that will be followed by inter-Korean military talks to ease tensions and a Red Cross talk to hold the reunion of separated families across the inter-Korean border since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, according to the ROK presidential office.

Lyu Chao, director of the Border Study Institute at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, said it should be recognized that the settlement of the nuclear issue is an extremely complicated process.

"It does not happen overnight," he said, adding that Trump's course reversal fully demonstrated that the Korean Peninsula issues require more cautious decisions and should not be made impulsively.

Washington's demand for a "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization" is inconsistent with Pyongyang's intention to achieve denuclearization gradually, said Zheng Jiyong, director of the Korea Research Center at Fudan University, adding that the ideal way to work on the issue is that both parties can "move toward the same goal, make concessions, and show their sincerity", he said.

On Saturday Kim and Moon also announced that the two leaders would meet frequently in the future to make dialogue brisk and to pool wisdom and efforts, and also promised to further push forward the peace process on the Korean Peninsula by working toward denuclearization and improved inter-Korean ties.
Exhibitors show a big data visual analysis decision platform during the 2018 China international big data industry expo in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 26, 2018. The expo opened in Guiyang Saturday, attracting over 40,000 participants from nearly 30 countries. [Photo/Xinhua]

Laws needed to protect personal data: expert

China is racing to be the world's leader in the big data industry, which is expected to improve people's lives, Chinese observers said. But they warned that data protection still remains a problem.

China will become the world's largest data producer, accounting for about a fifth of global data by 2020, as the nation ramps up resources to integrate cutting-edge information technologies into the real economy, Chen Zhaoxiong, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said at the start of the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2018, which opened Saturday in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou Province, gog.cn, a news site affiliated with Guizhou provincial government, reported on Saturday.

"The country has already made significant progress in the big data industry, with big data platforms established in manufacturing, commerce, finance, transportation and medical care," he noted.

Compared to industry leaders, China is blessed with its ability to collect and manage data due to the country's abundance of talent and government support, said Xiang Yang, industry analyst from Beijing-based CCID Consulting.

Big data technology, which has rapidly developed in China in recent years, is mostly used to improve people's lives and help the government make decisions, Qin An, head of the Beijing-based Institute of China Cyberspace Strategy, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The Guizhou Berkeley Big Data Innovation Research Center (GBIC) launched two public welfare campaigns using big data technology to benefit left-behind ophthalmologists in rural areas at the expo, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

By collecting online diagnosis of 100,000 cataract patients in Guizhou, the center said three-year program hopes to compensate for the lack of professional ophthalmologists in remote and poor counties in the province.

The facial recognition system also helped the local public security bureau solve more than 90 percent of criminal cases, after the city established a big data command center, a publicity department official surnamed Huang from the Guiyang Public Security Bureau told the Global Times. "The system is also capable of scanning faces and comparing them to its database of at-large criminal suspects. One a match is made, police are immediately notified," Huang said.

Big data lawsDu Yuejin, director of Guizhou's big data security engineering research center, said that data security is at risk all over the world. He said it is necessary to constantly adjust data security, the Securities Times, a Chinese newspaper focusing on financial and securities information, reported Saturday.

Compared to global industry leaders, China still urgently needs laws to regulate its big data industry, and data operators should be more transparent on how they collect, share and manage data to dispel public concerns about privacy, Qin said.

The government implements strict regulations to protect privacy. Only employees at a certain level are allowed to access the data, so these private data operators should be more cautious, Xiang noted. Chinese police have detained more than 11,000 suspects from over 3,700 cases during the past two years for alleged misuse of personal information, the Xinhua News Agency reported in December.

Over the next three years, China is expected to draft laws to protect personal data and on net users' legal rights. The new laws are also expected to clarify the legitimate use of big data and cyber crimes, said Zhu Wei, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.
(Photo/IC)

As gaokao, Chinas national higher education entrance exam, is approaching, teachers from the Nanning No. 4 High School in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region all dressed up as popular characters in anime and computer games on Friday, a unique way to reduce the pressure for students who will attend the gaokao.

A total of 492 students saw their teachers, who usually look strict and serious, dress up as the Monkey King, Spiderman, Snow White, and others.

(Photo/IC)

There has been a tradition for many high schools in China to have a perking-up meeting for students prior to the gaokao, which will be held on June 7 and 8. The examination is a prerequisite for entrance into almost all higher education institutions at the undergraduate level. It is usually taken by students in their last year of senior high school, although there has been no age restriction since 2001.

(Photo/IC)
ASM International N.V. ANNOUNCES VOTING RESULTS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Almere, The Netherlands

May 28, 2018



ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today announces the voting results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 28, 2018, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The main resolutions were as follows:



The financial statements for the year 2017 were adopted and shareholders granted discharge to the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board from liability in relation to the exercise of their duties in the financial year 2017.

The shareholders voted in favor of the dividend payment of  0.80 per ordinary share.

The shareholders resolved to reappoint Mr. C.D. del Prado and Mr. P.A.M. van Bommel to the Management Board and Mr. M.C.J. van Pernis to the Supervisory Board. Furthermore, the shareholders resolved to appoint Mr. M.C.J. de Jong to the Supervisory Board. In addition, the shareholders granted the members of the Supervisory Board a revised remuneration.

The shareholders also resolved to amend the Company's Articles of Association in accordance with the proposals which have been placed on the website of the Company (www.asm.com) and as set out in the explanatory notes to the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. That means that the extraordinary distribution of  4.00 per common share will be made by a repayment of capital to the shareholders and is expected to become payable on or around August 10, 2018.



About ASM International

ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.



CONTACT

Investor contact:

Victor Bareno

T: +31 88 100 8500

E: victor.bareno@asm.com

Media contact:

Ian Bickerton

T: +31 625 018 512





This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: ASM International NV via Globenewswire


L'OREAL: News Release: "L'Oreal and Valentino announce a worldwide license agreement for fine fragrances and luxury beauty"

L'Oreal and Valentino announce a worldwide license agreement for fine fragrances and luxury beauty



Clichy, 28 May 2018 - L'Oreal and Valentino announce the signature of a worldwide long-term license agreement for the creation, development and distribution of fine fragrances and luxury beauty under the Valentino brand.

Founded in 1960 in Rome, Maison Valentino holds a unique role in the luxury universe thanks to its long standing tradition in Haute Couture and the innovative contemporary vision of Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Under the successful direction of CEO Stefano Sassi and Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli, Valentino today embodies the image of beauty, of the extraordinary and of modernity, and as such, provides a strong inspiration for fragrance and beauty creation. The top three most popular fragrances today are Valentino Donna, Valentino Uomo and Valentina.

The agreement will be effective as of 1 January 2019, after customary regulatory approvals, if any.

Nicolas Hieronimus, Deputy CEO of L'Oreal, said "We are thrilled to have been granted the license of Maison Valentino. With its unique combination of prestige and modernity, Valentino definitely will appeal to millennial consumers around the globe and ideally complements our brand portfolio."

Stefano Sassi, CEO of Valentino, said "We are very excited to start this new venture together with L'Oreal to further develop our beauty business. We believe Valentino has great potential within the category and that with L'Oreal's unparalleled expertise in the sector, we will be able to realize that potential."

About L'Oreal

L'Oreal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 34 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 26.02 billion euros in 2017 and employs 82,600 people worldwide. As the world's leading beauty company, L'Oreal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce.

Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 3,885 people, are at the core of L'Oreal's strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L'Oreal's sustainability commitment for 2020 "Sharing Beauty With All" sets out ambitious sustainable development objectives across the Group's value chain.

For more information: http://mediaroom.loreal.com/en/

About Valentino

The Maison Valentino was founded by Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti in Rome in 1960. Since 2016 Pierpaolo Piccioli holds the position of Creative Director of the Maison. A new set of values have been created, that are both of the moment and faithful to its heritage.

Today the Maison Valentino plays a major role in the luxury sector through tradition and innovation. Valentino's fashion is displayed through the Haute Couture and Pret-a-Porter lines for women and men and through the Valentino Garavani accessory lines. An aesthetic universe present in over 100 countries through 175 Valentino directly operated boutiques and over 1,500 points of sale.

"This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy L'Oreal shares. If you wish to obtain more comprehensive information about L'Oreal, please refer to the public documents registered in France with the Autorite des Marches Financiers, also available in English on our Internet site www.loreal-finance.com.

This news release may contain some forward-looking statements. Although the Company considers that these statements are based on reasonable hypotheses at the date of publication of this release, they are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or projected in these statements."

Valentino contacts

Mita Altomare

Tel: +39 02 62492619

mita.altomare@valentino.com

Sara Trombetta

Tel: +39 06 6739 273

sara.trombetta@valentino.com

L'Oreal contacts

Individual shareholders market authorities

Jean Regis Carof

Tel: +33 (0)1 47 56 83 02

jean-regis.carof@loreal.com

Financial Analysts and institutional investors

Francoise Lauvin

Tel: +33 (0)1 47 56 86 82

francoise.lauvin@loreal.com

Journalists

Stephanie Carson-Parker

Tel: +33 (0)1 47 56 76 71

stephanie.carsonparker@loreal.com

Anne-Laure Richard

Tel: +33 (0)1 47 56 80 68

annelaure.richard@loreal.com

For further information, please contact your bank, stockbroker or financial institution (I.S.I.N. code: FR0000120321), and consult your usual newspapers or magazines or the Internet site for shareholders and investors, www.loreal-finance.com,the L'Oreal Finance app or call the toll-free number from France: 0.800.66.66.66.

www.loreal.com - Follow us on Twitter @loreal





This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: L'OREAL via Globenewswire


Transformative enough?

The study shows that resilience planning and practice did strengthen adaptive governance in the Australian organiszations. Adaptive governance is a collaborative approach which relies on flexibility, learning and networks of people and organisations at multiple levels. Several resilience practitioners described how the resilience approach helped their organizations better understand the places that they operate in.

For example, a practitioner from the Goulburn-Broken area described how resilience helped people understand soil salinity thresholds better, and that there is a maximum and a minimum within which you want to keep the system. Another informant explained how resilience planning clarified limits, e.g. for the extent of native vegetation, which gave them a mandate to deny clearing applications in some areas that were close to crossing a critical threshold. They also described how they changed their hiring practices to better address integrated social-ecological problems.



However, the study also confirmed that the implementation of resilience thinking is often conservative, and not enabling the transformative change required to halt climate change and shift towards sustainable development.



We found that, at least in Australia, the practical application of resilience thinking was lagging behind resilience research in addressing the need for transformations of required to achieve global sustainability, says co-author Garry Peterson.



The investigated organizations plans focussed on maintaining existing natural resources, by avoiding crossing critical thresholds, rather than on transforming parts of the regions that are on unsustainable trajectories. Some of the interviewed practitioners questioned this focus and also recognized that the current use of resources, in some cases, needed to transform or change significantly, especially in the face of climate change.
They called it the white gold because of the white colour of latex. Over the past decade, the cultivation of rubber trees has expanded rapidly throughout the Mekong region, stretching into non-traditional rubber growing areas in Laos and Myanmar. Prompted by rising prices, spiralling demand from an expanding Chinese economy and government incentives, farmers and investors rushed to planet the new boom crop. A latex price crash in 2011, however, left particularly small-scale producers struggling for income and dispossessed of agricultural and forest lands.

Several initiatives such as the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative, have since been launched to try and turn the rubber production into something more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.



An investigation of several of them, published in the journal Geoforum, reveals that none of them stand any particular chance of succeeding. In fact, says centre researcher Grace Wong, a co-author of the published study, the sustainability of rubber is an elusive prospect. The prospects for sustainable rubber in Laos and Myanmar  at least in the near future  looks dim, she says.
Since the 1990s Germany has ignored complaints from its allies that Germany was failing to maintain sufficient defense spending to maintain its military obligations to NATO. In 1990 Germany spent 2.7 percent of GDP on defense. That fell to 1.5 percent in 2000 and despite growing calls to increase spending fell to 1.4 percent in 2010 and 1.3 percent in 2014. Currently, it is 1.2 percent despite promises to achieve two percent by 2024. For a long time, Germany got away with this because it had no real military threats to deal with. But after 2014 Russia became a real threat and since then alarmed German defense officials have leaked increasingly embarrassing data about how ineffective the German armed forces are becoming The latest leak, about the shrinking percentage of military aircraft are capable of carrying out a mission, was particularly alarming. Less than four percent of Germanys Typhoon fighters were capable of combat. Ironically 31 percent of the older (and being retired) Tornado fighters were operational. Newer equipment tended to be worse off. Only 13 percent of the NH90 transport helicopters were ready and only 16 percent of the Tiger helicopter gunships. Even more dismal was the number of these military aircraft Germany has (114 Typhoons, 93 Tornados, 40 NH90s and 43 Tigers). This discouraging data is nothing new. German military aircraft have had the lowest readiness rates in NATO for years. Germany continues, as it has for over twenty years, to promise the situation would be fixed but it never is.

For example earlier in 2018 leaked data showed that a key component of the NATO rapid reaction force, which Germany is to supply in 2019, is nowhere near ready to perform duties German assured everyone it could handle. The German armored brigade that was promised for 2019 is, in short, not ready. Only about 20 percent of the armored vehicles (Leopard 2 tanks and Marder infantry vehicles) are fit for service. Now we know that the brigade is unlikely to get much air support either.

When the Americans press Germany to meet its NATO obligations there are promises but no performance. Meanwhile, the United States spends nearly four percent of GDP on defense, accounts for 70 percent defense spending in NATO and is now telling the Germans that they can no longer automatically expect the Americans to bail them out when Germany comes up short in meeting its NATO obligations. This got some attention in Germany, but not a lot. This is a major shift since Germany was reunited in 1990. Before that, during the Cold War, West Germany (the half that belonged to NATO) maintained its military obligations faithfully, fearful that the dozens of Russian divisions in communist East Germany would quickly extinguish a democratic and prosperous post World War II Germany.

That seemed to work because by 1990 Russia agreed to withdraw from East Germany and allow Germany to be united once more. Since then the united German defense budget and armed forces personnel were cut, what with the primary threat, the dozens of Russian divisions in East Europe gone and all those East European nations embracing democracy and a free (and more productive) economy. But a decade later Russia had second thoughts about giving up its empire. Germany made promises but did little.

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks Germany agreed to help out in Afghanistan, as long as its troops were kept away from the hostile areas and allowed to avoid combat as much as possible. The deployment of a few troops to Afghanistan and other peacekeeping missions revealed other problems. While Germany had, on paper, well-armed and equipped troops the government had spent very little on training and logistical support. It required a major effort to keep small numbers of German troops overseas fed and supplied. It was embarrassing and promises were made to set it right. Nothing really got done about that.

The current American government is questioning the usefulness of the United States in NATO when the Americans have always tolerated their assuming a disproportionate burden of NATO responsibilities. In return for that, the U.S. regularly received more criticism than cooperation. A growing number of Americans question why the U.S. should remain so involved in a defensive effort that so many other NATO partners are backing away from. In response to this, the German government is criticizing American commitment to NATO without appreciating the irony of that attitude.

Until now it was generally overlooked, especially by Western Europe, that the U.S. was stubbornly determined to stay out of the two World Wars because the majority of Americans came from Europe to get away from all the wars, broken promises and bad politics in general. Europeans tend to forget that the main reason the Americans eventually entered the two World Wars was Germans misunderstanding what they were up against. In World War I the Germans engaged in all sorts of covert aggression against the neutral United States that eventually came to light and got America into the war during the last year when they were needed most. In World War II it was Germany that declared war on the United States after Japan attacked the Americans. At the time U.S. public opinion was very hostile taking part in another World War.

West Europe is again misjudging the Americans, who are quite capable of leaving NATO and telling Europe to take care of itself. As history demonstrates time and again its the things that you refused to recognize and later say you didnt see coming that cause the most damage. Now a growing number of Germans, especially defense experts and politicians, are recognizing that they have a problem. Yet the attitude in Germany remains hostile to actually spending the money needed to repair the damage over a decade of neglect did to their defense capabilities. German elected officials agree and have promised to come up with more than $12 billion to deal with the worsening readiness problems. The same politicians agree that the annual defense budget should be increased. But when the parliament goes to work on the government budget defense always comes up short. That does not appear to be changing in 2018, despite everyone agreeing this is not a good thing.

This latest crisis is made worse by a 2015 NATO decision to do something to help new NATO members in East Europe fulfill the mutual defense pledge in the face of Russian threats. NATO agreed to speed up efforts to create a rapid reaction force to help with the defense of new NATO members bordering Russia and very much in the way of the growing Russian threat. These new NATO members had suffered decades of Russian occupation after World War II and many of their citizens spoke or understood Russian and felt that the west NATO members underestimated the seriousness of the renewed Russian aggressiveness and misunderstood what the Russians were up to.

It was pretty clear what NATO was up to, at least in theory. The overall rapid reaction operation was called NRF (NATO Response Force) and it was to have NATO members contribute 30,000 troops. A third of NRF would be available within 48 hours for an emergency. This Spearhead Force was officially called the VJTF (Very High Readiness Joint Task Force). Germany is scheduled to assume command of the VJTF in 2019 and that means a German armored brigade will be the core unit of the VJTF. That German brigade is not ready and unless Germany makes some drastic changes wont be ready. Currently, most of the tanks in the entire German army are not functional. Now it is clear that the German air force would be of even less help. The German navy, which is mainly responsible for dealing with Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea, is aging more rapidly than the ground and air forces and efforts to build replacements for Cold War era warships are inadequate and the ships that are built turn out to be less effective (or not even able to go to sea) than expected.

The NRF itself is a division size organization with air, naval and special operations contingents backing three Spearhead Force brigades. Each of these brigades has about 5,000 troops and one (the VJTF) must have units ready to move within 48 hours with the rest of the brigade moving within a week. At that point portions of the other two brigades would be on the move. The major contributors to the NRF, and especially the VJTF will be the United States France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Britain. Nearly all the ground troops will be from European NATO members while the U.S. provides a lot of specialized electronic and naval forces only they have. Note that all these other NATO members are in better shape to fulfill their NRF obligations. Germany is in a class of its own when it comes to un-readiness.

The VJTF could be used to slow down disrupt Russian aggression with ground and air forces (and naval ones if needed) until more forces can be mobilized. NATO members are reviving Cold War era defense plans because Russia has again become a threat in the east. Its a different threat this time because during the Cold War NATO was looking at an initial Russian invasion force of over 30 divisions followed by two or three times that number once they these reserve units were mobilized and deployed. These days Russia cant even muster that many brigades. In the past, there were few NATO members (like Norway and Turkey) that even bordered the old Soviet Union. Now there are many more, including the major Russian Cold War allies in East Europe (the former Warsaw Pact) who are now members of NATO. The Baltic States are particularly vulnerable and the VJTF was created in large part to reassure these neighbors of Russia that NATO membership can deliver the promised security.

Not only are the East NATO members not reassured by VJTF but they are afraid that history will repeat itself in more ways than one. East NATO members remember that in the 1930s there was a similar situation with Western nations promising assistance if there was aggression from Russia and Nazi Germany. The worst happened in 1939 when World War II officially got started when Germany and Russia both attacked and partitioned Poland as part of a secret agreement. Two years later Germany double crossed its new ally and invaded Russia. That ended disastrously for Russia, Germany and Eastern Europe, especially when the West again abandoned East Europe to Russian domination after the war. That period of Russian domination collapsed in 1991 but now East Europe sees the 1930s pattern of earnest promises that wont be kept and Russia moving in again.
Alpha Bangura receives certificate and prizes from the organizers

Alpha Bangura, a graduate of Fourah Bay College is the proud champion of this year's "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition and will represent Sierra Leone in the final contest in China.

Confucius Institute at the University of Sierra Leone held the final round of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Students in Sierra Leone at the Mary Kingsly Auditorium over the weekend in Freetown. The Chinese Bridge competition serves as a significant platform for college students across the world to study the Chinese language, and it also serves as a bridge to promote the cultural exchanges between China and the outside world. The theme for this years competition is "One World, One Family." The competition has gained its great momentum over the years as an increasing number of people in Sierra Leone and around the world start to learn the Chinese language and be willing to show their talents.

Sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and organized by the Confucius Institute, the competition had eleven students after the preliminary stage that entered the final competition. They delivered wonderful speeches based on their own experiences and understanding to have an explanation of the main theme which served as the topic for the day. They also made use of standard and fluent Chinese to answer questions related to their speeches, and after which all contestants had a variety of talent shows like Chinese song singing, Chinese poetry, crosstalk, and etc.

Chinese dignitaries at the function

"China always hold the belief that China and Africa belong to a community of shared future. In my opinion, the theme 'One World, One Family' is highly relevant to this nation," said Wu Peng, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, noting that over the decades, China and Sierra Leone have always been good friends who stand together thick and thin, good partners who share weal and woe, and good brothers who fully trust each other despite changes in international landscape.

Ambassador Wu further remarked that Chinese language which serves as a bridge of the China-Sierra Leone cultural exchange, will impressively facilitate Sierra Leoneans to explore China's time-honoured history, glorious culture, and rapid development and at the same time, it will effectively promote Sierra Leonean cultural dissemination to China, which in turn, will greatly drive people-to-people, business-to-business exchanges between the two countries.
Fighting continues in the south (Katanga province), the east (North and South Kivu provinces), northeast (Ituri province) and southwest (the Kasai region). All told, the UN estimates this continuing violence has put 400,000 people at immediate risk of starvation and disease. However, the biggest political issue remains Joseph Kabilas illegal control of the office of president. Congolese election officials are assuring the country that a new election will be held in December 2018 and Kabila will not be a candidate. Right now the oppositions attitude is well believe it when we see it. Congos constitution limits the president to two terms. Kabila was supposed to relinquish his office in December 2016. At the moment the election is scheduled to be held December 23.

May 26, 2018: The two most prominent Congolese opposition leaders, Felix Tshisekedi and Moise Katumbi have announced that they are developing a common agenda for the December elections. Both men are concerned that Joseph Kabila will try to undermine the elections and remain in power.

May 25, 2018: In eastern Congo (North Kivu) soldiers attacked a base camp of the Islamist Ugandan SDF rebels. Five soldiers and 14 rebels died in the attack while and 13 wounded. Operating near the town of Beni the ADF had been attacking (and often killing) uncooperative civilians.

May 24, 2018: In eastern Congo (Maniema Province) Five people were killed and several others wounded when a Mai-Mai militia attacked the Namoya gold mine. Although the attackers were supported by mortar fire the mine security for the huge open pit mine repelled the assault.

May 21, 2018: Burundi announced that the controversial referendum extending presidential terms had been approved. This constitutional change allows president Pierre Nkurunziza to have two more seven-year terms after his current term expires in 2020. Essentially Nkurunziza could remain in power until 2034.

May 20, 2018: Angola and Portugal have agreed to a new defense cooperation deal involving maritime and cyber security. At one time Angola was a Portuguese colony and now Africas second biggest oil exporter. On May 10 a Portuguese court ruled that former Angolan vice president Manuel Vicente could be sent to Angola and tried on money laundering and corruption charges.

May 18, 2018: Ugandan security officials still consider Joseph Kony and his remnant Lords Resistance Army (LRA) a latent threat. Ugandan security officials are speculating that since the Ugandan Army and U.S. special operations personnel quit chasing the LRA, the remaining LRA bands, including leader Joseph Kony, have been surviving by poaching on African wild game and smuggling. Ugandan intelligence believes Kony has several hideouts in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo.

May 17, 2018: An anti-balaka militia in the CAR (Central African Republic) killed a UN peacekeeper from Mauritania and wounded eight others. The Mauritanian contingent was ambushed south of the town of Alindao.

In southeast Congo (Tanganyika province), a Mai Mai militia released the last two UN peacekeepers they had kidnapped on May 11. Initially, 13 peacekeepers were taken but the militia immediately released 11.

May 16, 2018: China and Uganda announced a nuclear power deal. China will help Uganda build several nuclear power plants. Uganda has several uranium deposits and wants to use its own uranium to power the reactors.

May 15, 2018:  Rebels in the CAR attacked the town of Bambari. At least six people died in the attack. Officials said the rebel group was a breakaway faction of the Seleka rebel organization.

May 13, 2018: The Rwandan Army confirmed that the first echelon of a battalion sized mechanized infantry task force has deployed the CAR where they join the UN peacekeepers.

May 12, 2018: The UN is asking for an additional $88 million to help feed refugees in southwest Congo (Kasai region.)

May 11, 2018: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) two gunmen killed a park ranger and kidnapped two tourists in Virunga National Park. Since January 1, eight rangers have been killed in Virunga.

May 9, 2018: East African diplomats report relations between Rwanda and Uganda are strained. Uganda is accusing the Rwandan government of interfering in Ugandan domestic politics. Rwandan has denied the allegations. In 2017, several key Ugandan security officials were fired for allegedly maintaining close ties with Rwandan president Paul Kagame. A former senior Ugandan police official, Kale Kayihura, was a close friend of Kagame. Rumors were Kagame wanted Kayihura to succeed Uganda president Yoweri Museveni.

May 2, 2018: Rumors, rumors, rumors. There are claims the Russian mercenary Wagner group has built a training camp in the Central African Republic. The Wagner organization supposedly uses the site to train personnel and store equipment.

May 1, 2018: An attack in the Bangui, capital of the CAR, left 15 people dead and at least 60 injured. One of the dead was a Catholic priest. The attack occurred near the PK 5 district (a predominantly Muslim area). Observers said the fighting began when a gang attacked a Catholic Church.

April 30, 2018: A court in Burundi sentenced a government official to three years in jail for encouraging supporters of President Pierre Nkurunziza to drown citizens who oppose the constitutional amendment that would permit him to stay in power until 2034.

April 27, 2018: In western Congo (Equateur province) 47 people fleeing Congo drowned when their escape boat capsized and sank in the Ubangi River. The refugees were fleeing an attack by bandits on the town of Dongo. It is believed the bandits belonged to the Enyele militia, which is also called the Independent Movement of Liberation and Allies. They are primarily from the local Lobala tribe.

April 26, 2018: Responding to criticism by the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress, a government spokesman said that Congo will hold national elections in December 2018.

Rwandan investigators found a mass grave outside the capital, Kigali. The grave contains at least 2,000 bodies of individuals murdered in the 1994 genocide.

April 25, 2018: A recent study concluded that the gold trade nets Uganda about $200 million a year. The trade is a euphemism for smuggling gold from Congo and using Uganda as the transit route for artisanal gold mined in northeastern and eastern Congo (gold mined by small groups of miners).
Warwickshire Police are concerned for the wellbeing of Cameron Whelan from Birmingham.

WARWICKSHIRE Police have said today, Monday, that they remain concerned for the welfare of a man who is believed to have jumped into the river in Stratford-upon-Avon on Friday night.

Cameron Whelan, from the Moseley area of Birmingham, has not been seen since.

The 26-year-old is thought to have jumped into the river following a series of incidents around town.

A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: "We're still concerned for the welfare of the man in the photograph. We believe it may be Cameron Whelan, 26, from the Moseley area of Birmingham.

"We ask Cameron or anyone who knows of his whereabouts to call 101 quoting incident 492 of 25th May to let us now he is safe."
Alaina Teplitz nominated as US envoy to Sri Lanka View(s):

The United States President Donald Trump has nominated Alaina B Teplitz as the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka. She is currently the US Ambassador to Nepal. Ms. Teplitz is a senior career member of the United States Foreign Service, holding the rank of Class of Minister-Counsellor. Her nomination papers have been sent to the US Senate for confirmation. If confirmed, she will serve concurrently as Ambassador for the Maldives and replace Atul Keshap.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She joined the US State Department in 1991. Earlier, Teplitz held the Assistant Secretary-ranked position of Director of the Under Secretary for Managements Office of Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation (M/PRI) at the Department of State from 2012-2015. Under her leadership, M/PRI found innovative ways to reform bureaucracy and improve the way that our diplomatic service operates.

She championed efforts to improve knowledge management, data use and risk management, says her biodata at the State Department. Teplitz was Minister Counselor for Management at US Embassy in Kabul from 2011-2012. She also served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Near East and South and Central Asia Bureaus joint executive office from 2009-2011, where she handled the South and Central Asia portfolio, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Do children cause global warming? By Bjrn Lomborg, exclusive to the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka View(s): View(s):

COPENHAGEN  Across all cultures, raising a child is considered one of the most rewarding things a person can do. Yet a chorus of campaigners, scientists, and journalists suggest that everyone should think twice before procreating.

The United States public radio broadcaster NPR asks, Should We Be Having Kids in the Age of Climate Change? The Nation magazine wants to know, How Do You Decide to Have a Baby When Climate Change Is Remaking Life on Earth? The Guardian counsels readers: Want to fight climate change? Have fewer children. And the New York Times warns that having a child is the worst environmental action anyone could take.

By having two children, a hypothetical American woman who switches to a fuel-efficient car, drives less, recycles, installs efficient light bulbs and energy-saving windows, would do as much damage as nearly 40 times what she had saved by those actions. Last year, the US fertility rate hit a historic low.

We have been here before. In the 1970s, fear of environmental degradation and societal collapse drove some well-intentioned people to remain childless. The scientists and opinion leaders comprising the Club of Rome famously (and erroneously) predicted humanitys end, forecasting that the world would run out of aluminium, copper, gold, lead, mercury, molybdenum, natural gas, oil, silver, tin, tungsten, and zinc. They advocated stopping economic growth, cutting consumption, and making sure people had fewer children.

Some people in rich countries followed this advice. In 1972, US activists founded the National Organization for Non-Parents, promoting childlessness as politically responsible. A research paper from 1976 noted that fear of overpopulation had become one of the reasons for remaining child-free. One wonders whether any of the scientists felt remorse, or how many would-be parents felt regret, when the dire predictions turned out to be fear mongering.

Just like the Club of Rome, todays climate scientists make the case against having children by pointing to the environmental burden caused by adding to the planets population. Most analyses use the approach set out in a 2009 paper by Oregon State Universitys Paul A. Murtaugh and Michael G. Schlax, which holds each parent responsible for half of every childs projected lifetime CO2 emissions. But it doesnt stop there: You are held responsible not just for half of your childs emissions, but also for a quarter of your grandchildrens emissions, an eighth of your great-grandchildrens emissions, and so on. In their central scenario, Murtaugh and Schlax expect that in the US every child will account for more than 20 tons of CO2 every year.

This forecast is problematic on several counts. First, that emission count is already 20% too high compared to todays reality. Moreover, the US expects that personal emissions will drop a further 0.5% every year before 2050.

Second, the approach of blaming parents for all emissions of all progeny into the future is just ludicrous. By this measure, our hunter-gatherer ancestors were far worse for the planet than any jet-setting billionaire today. Clearly, your infant daughters decision in two or three decades whether to have children is her own responsibility and choice to make.

The truth is that one extra child means perhaps 90 years of CO2 emissions (caused largely by a lifetime of consuming products and utilities that account for such emissions), which at worst would remain at around todays level of about 15 tons per person annually. That adds up to 1,350 tons over this century.

If you are really worried about those extra emissions, you could offset the damage caused by your childs lifetime emissions for about $23,400 in the European Unions emissions trading system. If you buy the certificates, you will force energy companies and others to emit exactly 1,350 tons less this year.

To put this in context, the US Department of Agriculture estimates the cost of raising a middle-class US child to the age of 17 to be $233,610. Clearly, the value to parents of having a child is worth more  likely much more  than $233,610. Cutting CO2 emissions by not having a child has a value no higher than $23,400. In crude monetary terms, the benefits of children far outweigh their climate costs.

And yet scaring off potential parents continues. The New York Times interviewed one young woman who said, I know that humans are hard-wired to procreate, but my instinct now is to shield my children from the horrors of the future by not bringing them to the world.

This rhetoric is as misguided as the Club of Romes predictions. A global survey of all scientific estimates of the costs of climate change damage, undertaken by the United Nations climate panel, found that global warming right now has about a zero net cost. (The most pessimistic study identifies a cost of 0.3% of global GDP, and the most optimistic a net benefit of 2.3%.) If we do nothing, future damages are expected to total 2% of GDP in a half-century and 3-4% early next century.

This means that climate change certainly is a challenge we must confront, and there is a compelling case for additional spending on renewable energy research and development. But scaring people from having children denies potential parents what is often seen as one of the best things life has to offer, in order to achieve less good than what $23,400 could buy. Doing little environmental good at such a huge human cost is a bad deal for everyone.

(Bjrn Lomborg is Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center and a visiting professor at the Copenhagen Business School.)

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. www.project-syndicate.org
From days of yore to modern times: The spread of Buddhism By Nandiyniy Ranasingha Sutta Central to be launched in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s):

According to the great scholar monk Ven.Walpola Rahula Thera, Buddhism is neither a faith nor a belief ; it is a way of life. The way which is called the Noble Eightfold Path or the Middle Path.

Buddhism not being an ethnocentric religion, transcends all ethnic or national limits. Till about the mid 20th century, it had profound influence mainly over countries throughout Asia. Each of these countries where it was established, naturally integrated the Buddhist principles into their cultures. Although the essence of Buddhism the Dhamma remains intact, there are a variety of Buddhist cultures, from India the country of its birth to Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Japan, Korea etc.

There is historical evidence of the existence of Buddhism in the West from the 4th century B.C. onwards. This happened through Alexander the Greats Indian invasion and subsequent diplomatic and cultural exchanges. In the 3rd century B.C. the Emperor Asokas Rock Edicts ( II, V, XIII ) declare that he had sent successful  Buddhist Missions of Piety  to five Greek Kings, apart from various other territories in India and Asia. The Greek Kings are identified as Antiochus of Syria ( 261  246 B.C.), Ptolemy II of Egypt ( 285  247 B.C. ), Antigonas Gonatas of Macedonia ( 276  246 B.C. ), Magas of Cyrene ( 300  258 B.C.) and Alexander of Epirus (272  258 B.C. ). Its interesting to note that an Asoka Edict found in Afghanistan in the 1970s was written in Greek and Aramaic languages.

The Great Chronicle Mahavamsa mentions a delegation of Buddhist monks from the Greek city of Alexandria, led by senior Greek monk Dhammakitha, having participated at the inaugural ceremony of the Ruvanvali Seya in the 1st century B.C. In the Milinda Panha, the famous Buddhist Pali text of the 1st Century (A.C) that purports to record a dialogue between the Buddhist sage Nagasena and a King Milinda the king has been identified as Greek King Menandros who ruled North-Western India in the 1st century B.C

After a long period of time, Buddhism once again became a subject of interest in the West only in the 19th century. It started with the German philosopher Schopenhauer (1788 -1860). His great admiration of Buddhas teachings awakened an intellectual curiosity of other western philosophers. This was followed by French Oriental scholar Eugene Burnouf, and subsequently Buddhism spread to other parts of Europe.

However, It was the United Kingdom that made the greatest contribution towards Buddhist revival in the modern age. Rhys Davids, who served in Sri Lanka for eight years as a civil servant established the Pali Text Society in London in 1881. For over 100 years this society facilitated the accessibility of the Buddhas teachings in English to hundreds of thousands and still continues its service, to those interested.

There was a popular traditional belief in countries such as Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand, that the Buddhas word would reach every country, 2500 years after the Parinirvana (passing away of the Buddha). There was also much talk that the 1956 Buddha Jayanthi wouldl usher in a new era of the practice of the Dhamma. Strangely, this is the year the Indian Burmese founder of the now World famous Goenka Meditation Centers, Shri S.N. Goenka began to impart the techniques of Buddhist Vipassana meditation. Within the past five decades, not only in the traditional Asian Buddhist countries but even in the west across multi religious boundaries, there is a sharp increase in the number of those who have taken up Buddhist meditation. o facilitate this need, internationally acclaimed Buddhist meditation teacher Ajahn Sumedho established the Amarawathi monastery in Uk in the early 1980s. The practice of meditation subsequently spread to other parts of Europe and the USA.

The labour of many western scholars beginning from the 19th century, also started bearing fruit considerably after 1956the year when the Buddha Jayanthi (the 2500th anniversary of Buddhism), was celebrated in grand style in many countries and for the first time  internationally. Many Buddhist societies, meditation centres, temples/ viharas started coming up in Australia, Europe, UK, USA and some Latin American countries. Apart from Buddhist activities being on the increase, many sons and daughters of the soil of these western countries entered the Sasana as monks, giving credence to the traditional belief of Buddhist revival after 25 centuries of Mahaparinirvana.

SuttaCentral to be launched in Colombo on Thursday

King Devanampiyatissa, after receiving Arahat Mahinda Thera, the son of Emperor Asoka once asked, whether the Buddha Sasanaya (Buddhism) was established in Sri Lanka. Arahat Mahinda responded  O great King, the Sasana is established, but its roots have not gone deep. Then the King asked when will its roots go deep? Arahath Mahinda replied, When a son born in Sri Lanka, of Sri Lankan parents, becomes a monk in Sri Lanka, studies the Dhamma in Sri Lanka and recites it in Sri Lanka, then the roots of the Sasana are gone deep. Today, in many western countries native sons and daughters entering the Sanghahood have thus firmly established the three Jewels  Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha; together with the triad  the Sasana in their countries of origin.

Amongst leading Buddist monks Ajahn Sujato stands tall, for pioneering and establishing the SuttaCentral, which will be launched in Sri Lanka. This unique project will freely distribute the wisdom of the Buddha, breaking barriers of languages and geographical boundaries, to all those interested in His teachings throughout the world.

Ajahn Sujato (Anthony Best) was born in Perth in 1966 to a liberal catholic family. He read philosophy and literature at the University of Western Australia. Still in his teens, he became interested in the profound vision found in the teachings of the Buddha.

In 1994, he left for Thailand and studied Buddhist meditation under the tutelage of Ajahn Maha Chatchai. Further, under the guidance of Ajahn Brahmavanso as his pupil, Ajahn Sujato expanded his knowledge and practice of every aspect of the teachings of the Buddha.

In the past 14 years, Ajahn Sujato has been leading an international team of Buddhist scholars to bring the teachings of the Buddha from different traditions under one domain.

As a result of his selfless efforts, the entire Sutta Pitaka, the original words of the Buddha has been now translated into 40 languages, using the best technologies and design the modern web can offer. The design of SuttaCentral has one razor sharp focus i. e. to remove anything which stands between you and the Buddhas word. This unique project marks another milestone of the much spoken Buddhist revival of the current era. Keeping with Buddhist traditions, all contents produced by SuttaCentral is freely available to the public and dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero.

The launching ceremony of SuttaCentral in Sri Lanka will be held at the Nelum Pokuna Auditorium on May 31, under the leadership of SuttaCentral public liaison and financial officer Deepika Weerakoon of Sydney, Australia.

All are welcome and those who are interested in attending the launching ceremony can make their reservations on https:// suttacentralinsrilanka.eventbrite.com.au.
A worker shows radio frequency chip Hengxing-1 at the ninth China Satellite Navigation Conference in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, May 24, 2018. The chip, which could be used for receiving and sending signals from Beidou-3 satellites, is developed by Guangzhou-based company Hi-Target Surveying Instrument. [Photo: Photo: China News Service/ Sunnn Zifa]

China has officially started piloting the certification of products and services connected to its Beidou Navigation Satellite System, reports the Economic Information Daily.

Authorities say the certification work will promote the development of the satellite navigation industry in China.

Certification work will first cover products such as chips, modules, antenna and receivers.

This will eventually lead to a set of standards being developed for products connected to Beidou.

The Chinese government-developed Beidou Navigation Satellite System is due to go global by around 2020, with 35 satellites giving the system global coverage.

A worker shows radio frequency chip Hengxing-1 at the ninth China Satellite Navigation Conference in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, May 24, 2018. [Photo: Photo: China News Service/ Sunnn Zifa]

The Economic Information Daily report suggests the high-tech industry surrounding Beidou is developing rapidly.

It says there are roughly 14,000 companies working in connection with satellite navigation and services, and the total output of the sector is expected to break 300 billion yuan (around 47 billion US dollars) this year.
Design courses that touch on yachts have been around since the 70s, when the superyacht industry was still in its infancy. For the large majority of the design community, the real lessons came after working for established studio names, the most famous and respected of which was Jon Bannenberg Design. Bannenberg was, and still is, highly regarded within the industry and is a designer that many looked up to, including our first in this series Steve Gresham, founder and principal of Gresham Yacht Design. This British design studio, which recently relaunched its website, has worked on a number of projects ranging in size from 30m  155m.

Was your design course what you expected it to be and what were the highlights?

I studied Transport Design at Coventry University and graduated in 1988, making this year my 30th anniversary, which is amazing when I think about it. My time there was all I hoped it would be  we all worked hard and played hard. There was always something fun on that wed be involved with and the projects we were set were interesting, so there were many great times and good memories.

For example, I remember having to get an internship but didnt want to do it in the UK, so I packed a tent and sleeping bag before flying out to Florida over Christmas in 1986. I slept in the everglades opposite Chris Craft factory and knocked on the door in the morning. It was a gamble but it paid off as I secured a job with Wellcraft, and this was in the days before the internet, where you had to rely on the old fashioned way of getting a job.

What was your first major project after graduating?

I decided to set up my own company and designed and built a single person hydrofoil called the Manta Foil. It took two years of prototyping and testing to get it to work and we managed it. Unfortunately it didnt go into mass production but I still have the original prototype, which I have hanging in my garage.

There werent many single person hydrofoils around back in 1988 when we came out with this. I recall that Yamaha had produced one and that was basically it, and we were the only company to produce one with an outboard engine. The idea was that it would be cheap to manufacture like a surfboard using a mould and then you add your own outboard or buy one off the shelf.

When and what made you dedicate your career to the design of superyachts?

I was born in the Bahamas so Ive always been close to the sea and boats, and so they have always been in my life. However, working on yachts compared to the more traditional route of most Conventry graduates which is car design, provides more freedom over the design. Thats not to say that cars aren't great to work on but the designers can be quite restricted and the majority of car projects are quite mundane. As a yacht designer you get to design the whole thing and make something spectacular.

Looking back over the past 30 years, what have been the highlights?

I was lucky enough to work with Williams Grand Prix Engineering develop racing cars, and spending a lot of time in their wind tunnel. It was a great experience but so too was our most recent superyacht launch MY Victoria, and the current designs we are working on  I always love the next design challenge.

Over the past few years, has there been a yacht by another design studio that has really caught your eye, and if so why?

Motoryacht Eco by Martin Francis is way out in front for me because it really was different from anything else out there at the time of launch. The Oceanfast Yachts that Jon Bannenberg designed were also groundbreaking and really made an impression on me.

Of the projects you have worked on, which one are you most proud of?

I would have to say motoryacht Al Lusail, which I designed for H2 Yacht Design because it pushes the design envelope. The transition of the surfaces was a challenge, and I particularly like the concave hullside which people said could not be done. And of course the balconies and relationship between interior spaces and exterior were all stand out achievements.

Which of the projects youve worked on do you wish you could go back to and work on again?

If I had the chance I would like to do another high speed turbine vessel like the 24m Oci Cornie. However, it would be a new design, as I wouldnt change Oci Cornie  she is a gem!
Maria Isabel Perez Cabeza, 36, and Ana Morales Becerra, 31, are the only people in Spain to be able to add the letters FEBO after their names. They received the prestigious title Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology after passing an incredibly difficult subspecialist exam on the subjects of paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.

This title, which has been awarded to just five European ophthalmologists, signifies international recognition of excellence and enables access to specialist jobs all over Europe.

For us, passing the FEBO means we've overcome an important personal challenge. Very few ophthalmologists have this title. All the effort we put in to prepare for the test has paid off, Maria Isabel Perez explained to SUR.

The exam was very complex, with an integrated theory section of 375 questions and an oral section with four questions that lasted 15 minutes each. Everything was written and spoken in English, said Ana Morales.

The FEBO title is awarded by the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO), the European Strabismology Association (ESA) and the European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society (EPOS). The examiners are all internationally recognised ophthalmologists and members of ESA or EPOS.

To be receive the title, ophthalmologists must pass at least 70 per cent of the written test and 60 per cent of each oral test.

Despite the prestige of the FEBO title, it is not currently recognised within the jobs sector of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) or the regional government. This is not the case elsewhere in Spain.

Specialists at Carlos Haya

Ana Isabel Perez Cabeza and Ana Morales both specialised in ophthalmology at Carlos Haya regional hospital. The former completed her residency in 2010 and the latter in 2015.

Dr Perez Cabeza works in the paediatric ophthalmology unit at the Malaga children's hospital on a temporary contract. At the same time, she is a consultant ophthalmologist at a private clinic in Ronda, her birth town.

For her part, Dr Morales works in the regional hospital of Motril in a 50 per cent job share with another ophthalmologist. Before that, she practised paediatric ophthalmology for two years at the San Joan de Deu Hospital in Barcelona. When she finished her job there, she was offered an extension to her contract, but turned it down in favour of returning to Malaga. Ana Morales also sees patients at a private clinic.

These two local ophthalmologists are looking to secure professional careers within the Andalusian health service. Ana Isabel Perez is satisfied with her current temporary contract at the children's hospital and Ana Morales hopes that the SAS will offer her a contract at the same hospital in the near future. It's safe to say that the FEBO title is a reliable guarantee of the capability and knowledge of both these women.
More than 5,000 protesters gathered in Malaga's Plaza de la Constitucion on 19 May to demand that authorities open new lines of investigation into the death of Lucia Vivar.

The three-year-old disappeared in Pizarra on 27 July 2017, and was found dead, more than four kilometres away, next to the tracks of the C2 Cercanias line between Malaga and Alora. Lucia's parents, Almudena Hidalgo and Antonio Vivar, maintain that the child could not have walked that far alone and unseen.

The protest takes place after the Malaga courts have announced the possibility of the case being provisionally shelved after a lack of potential lines of inquiry.

Almudena and Antonio insist that the authorities open their eyes and explore the case further, calling the original investigation a botched job.
A normal 34-minute flight wont take you very far, but for 119 passengers and 9 crew members on May 14, 2018, they had a brush with death.

Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8633 from Chongqing to Lhasa was flying at an altitude of 9,800 meters over Chengdu when suddenly, at 07:08, a windshield in the cockpit cracked and shattered, causing the whole plane to shake violently and sucking the co-pilot halfway out of the plane.

With below freezing temperatures, the deafening sound of wind, dwindling oxygen supplies, and malfunctioning equipment inside the cockpit, there was little chance that the passenger jet would land safely. In face of one of Chinas most challenging air emergencies, Captain Liu Chuanjian, a former instructor at an air force flight college, only had one thing on his mind: Dont let the plane crash, land safely.

With the flight control unit ripped apart and no autopilot, each and every decision made by the captain, who was flying the plane manually, was a matter of life and death. Another co-pilot, who was taking a rest in the passengers cabin before the emergencyoccurred, rushed into the cockpit and kept stroking the captain to help keep him warm, while making flight plans and informing ground control of their moves.

Noticing the emergency from the radar at 07:10, authorities immediately cleared the airspace and runways at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport to create the best environment possible for the passenger jet to land.

At 07:42, flight 3U8633 landed safely in Chengdu. Apart from a co-pilot who sustained bruises and a flight attendant who was slightly injured on her waist, all passengers and crew members escaped the emergency unscathed, in what many are calling amiracle in Chinas and the worlds civil aviation history.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan wrapped up a productive trip here on Sunday after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and addressing a plenary session of the 22nd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

During his stay in Russia's "northern capital," he reaffirmed China's readiness to strengthen cooperation with Russia, called for a global effort against trade protectionism, and suggested that all countries build mutual trust and join hands for common development.

CHINA-RUSSIA PARTNERSHIP

Wang met with Putin on Thursday shortly after arriving in St. Petersburg in his first overseas trip as vice president. The two sides agreed to further boost bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both countries and the world.

In their meeting, Wang conveyed to Putin Chinese President Xi Jinping's sincere greetings and best wishes, saying that Xi attaches great importance to China-Russia ties and cherishes his friendship with Putin.

The Chinese president, added Wang, looks forward to meeting Putin again to jointly chart the future course of bilateral relations as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is scheduled to hold this year's summit in June in China.

The heads of state of the two countries have made painstaking efforts for and injected robust energy into bilateral cooperation, continuously steering the China-Russia relationship forward, said Wang.

He pointed out that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is of great significance not only to the two countries themselves but to the world at large.

The two neighbors, he said, respect each other, trust each other, cooperate on the basis of equality, and enjoy mutual understanding and support on major international affairs.

In so doing, they have set a model of major-country relations in the current world and made great contribution to safeguarding global strategic stability and building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, added Wang.

The Chinese vice president stressed that it is a choice both of history and of the people that China and Russia steadfastly pursue development paths that suit their respective national realities.

Now the Chinese people, under Xi's leadership, are vigorously pushing forward the building of a socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, said Wang, adding that China's development is making rapid and remarkable progress.

Meanwhile, the Chinese side firmly believes that under Putin's leadership, Russia will grow stronger and more prosperous, said the vice president.

China, he added, resolutely supports Russia's development, and stands ready to carry out strategic and long-term cooperation with Russia, lift the level and quality of bilateral practical cooperation more swiftly, and achieve a deeper integration of interests, so as to bring more benefits to the two nations.

Putin, for his part, asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to the Chinese president, saying he is confident that Xi will lead the Chinese people to new achievements in China's development.

The Russian leader added that he is looking forward to visiting China and meeting Xi again.

Russia-China ties continue to develop at a high level, he said, noting that political mutual trust is deepening, bilateral practical cooperation is strengthening, the structure of economic and trade relations is witnessing a sizable improvement, cooperation on large projects is speeding up, and exchanges and cooperation in people-to-people areas and at the local level are gathering steam.

Meanwhile, it serves as an important stabilizer in the world that the two countries maintain close communication and coordination as well as mutual support on major regional and global issues, said Putin.

The Russian side, he added, is willing to work with China to further deepen all-around cooperation, cement mutual understanding and support on international affairs, and keep lifting the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to a higher level.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

Addressing a plenary session of SPIEF 2018 on Friday, Wang urged countries around the world to build trust and boost cooperation in order to tackle international challenges and cement the foundation for sustainable global growth.

Pointing out that no single country can cope with today's challenges alone, Wang said building a trust economy that features equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, inclusiveness and good faith between enterprises, markets and countries is an effective way to unleash the potential of global growth.

Building trust needs mutual understanding and mutual respect, and it also needs all parties to discover and solve their own problems and consolidate their self-confidence, he said at the event, whose key theme was "Building a Trust Economy."

The Chinese vice president stressed that politicizing economic and trade issues and picking up the stick of economic sanctions at the slightest provocations will gravely impair market certainty.

No country should blame its own problems on others, and all countries should pursue development paths that suit their own realities and strive for common development through opening up and cooperation, Wang said.

He suggested that countries around the world join forces to chart the course forward with structural economic reforms and innovative development.

He also called for global unity in resisting trade protectionism and safeguarding the stable international economic order, particularly the authority of the multilateral trading regime.

Economic and trade disputes should be handled properly through communication and consultation, and different parties need to take care of each others' major concerns, Wang added.

China, he said, is forging ahead under Xi's leadership toward the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and will steadfastly stick to an opening-up policy that offers mutual benefits.

Other countries, he added, are welcome to take part in China's economic development, share its market opportunities, and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, which has now become a new platform for international cooperation.

Hailing Russia as a constructive player in global economic governance, Wang said China highly appreciates the socioeconomic achievements Russia has made under Putin's leadership and firmly believes that Russia will realize its development goals over the next six years.

He added that with annual bilateral trade approaching 100 billion U.S. dollars, China stands ready to work with Russia to deepen their all-around cooperation, strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and make new contribution to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Launched in 1997, SPIEF has become one of the leading platforms for global brainstorming on key economic issues facing Russia and the world as a whole, and is now often referred to as Russia's Davos.

Besides Wang, this year's event was also attended by Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde.

Before leaving for Minsk to continue his two-nation trip, Wang also met with Igor Sechin, CEO of leading Russian oil company Rosneft, and Dmitry Mezentsev, chairman of the Russia-China Friendship Association, among other Russian dignitaries, and inspected the Pearl of the Baltic Sea project, China's largest non-energy investment undertaking in Russia.
Sodus, NY -- Authorities have not yet charged a Mexican citizen in the death of his girlfriend and the disappearance of her 14-month-old child, but the man known as Alberto Ebavardo Guiterrez-Reyes isn't going anywhere.

The 25-year-old man, suspected of working illegally on a Sodus farm, has been ordered held by federal immigration officials. He's also facing an evidence tampering charge in connection with his girlfriend's death.

"Alberto Ebavardo Guiterrez-Reyes" is an alias for Evarardo Donoteo-Reyes, a twice-deported Mexican citizen, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement.

Reyes had been deported in 2016 and 2017, authorities told The (Rochester) Democrat & Chronicle. He has a 2017 conviction for illegal re-entry, Immigration and Customs Enforcement added.

"ICE is determined to seek out and locate illegal aliens in New York." Field Office Director Thomas Feeley said, according to the D & C. "This case sadly illustrates the real dangers to our communities."

The mother, Selena Hidago-Calderon, was found dead Wednesday in a wooded area of the farm where she worked and lived with Reyes.

Hidago-Calderon, of Guatemala, was also in the country illegally, as are many Upstate farm workers.

But hundreds of searches have so far been unable to find her 14-month-old son, Owen. (Reyes is not Owen's father.)

Reyes has admitted to moving Selena's body, but has not confessed to killing her or causing her son's disappearance.

Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts has said he doesn't expect to find the toddler alive.

The search continues today.
Syracuse, NY -- Michael Rotondo called 911 today, standing along a busy road a block from his house, to report a "harassing" phone call.

The caller, with a restricted number, said "loser," before hanging up, Rotondo said. That just can't happen, he said firmly.

"I can't have my phone getting jammed up with nonsense like that," Rotondo said as police responded to his 2:16 p.m. complaint along West Genesee Street. "I can't have that happen."

Rotondo is a man, finally, on the move. A judge has ordered the 30-year-old be out of his parents' Camillus house by Friday at noon.

He's spent much of the last week responding to media requests from across the world. He was on CNN and Fox News. He's been the punchline of jokes and spawned a conversation of millennial behavior. He's OK with all of it.

After returning from a whirlwind trip Friday to Texas -- in which he sat down with noted conspiracy theorist and radio talk show host Alex Jones and was paid $3,000 -- Rotondo spent the weekend getting ready to move.

A Home Depot employee, who contacted Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard first, offered to buy him boxes after he expressed concern at how he might pay for the moving essentials.

But Rotondo declined her offer, instead going to Lowe's for his packing equipment.

He left with $30 in boxes and a tape gun, he said.

When asked why he'd take Jones' $3,000, but not a Good Samaritan's offer to pay for boxes, Rotondo said it just didn't feel right.

"Alex Jones makes money for having me on his show," Rotondo explained. The woman "does not."

So what's next as his Friday deadline approaches to leave his home of eight years?

Rotondo said he's still not sure how long it'll take to pack up his room:

On Friday, May 25, Michael Rotondo provided a photo of his bedroom in his parents' house. He has to be out by noon June 1.

"Looking around my room and stuff - how much more is all this going to take to pack?" Rotondo said, noting he wasn't experienced in packing up.

Once he finishes that in the next few days, Rotondo said he'll move everything into a self-storage unit.

That'll be a relief, he said.

"There's no more urgency after that," he added. "Everything else is just finding a long-term place."

Rotondo said he's still in the market.

"Someplace inexpensive, with internet," he said of his wish list.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The search for a missing 14-month-old boy was called off for the night at 4 p.m. Sunday, Wayne County sheriff's deputies said.

More than 200 people on Sunday searched the area where Owen Hidalgo-Calderon was last seen May 16 in Sodus. But there was still no sign of the toddler, deputies said.

Search efforts will continue Monday morning.

An AMBER alert was issued for Owen on Friday, two days after his mother was found dead.

The body of Owen's mother, Selena Hidalgo-Calderon, was found in a bag Wednesday in a wooded area near an apple orchard in Sodus. Deputies have said it appears the 18-year-old mother was murdered.

Hidalgo-Calderon's 25-year-old boyfriend, Alberto "Ebavardo Gutierrez" Reyes, has been charged with moving his girlfriend's body from the couple's home. Reyes -- who is in custody -- refused to answer questions about Owen, Sheriff Barry Virts told the Democrat & Chronicle.

Owen was last seen with Reyes, according to the Amber alert.

On Sunday, more than 200 searchers from Wayne County fire departments, NYS Forest Rangers, ENCON Police, State Police, Federation of Search and Rescue, Missing & Exploited Children, Lyons and Sodus Ambulances, Wayne County ALS, Wayne County Emergency Management Office, Cayuga, Madison, Monroe, Livingston, Seneca, Ontario, Yates and Wayne County Sheriff's Offices helped continue to search for the boy.

On Friday, Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts said he expected the search for Owen to be a "recovery."



"As a grandfather and as a father, I'd like to say my heart tells me that we will find young Owen, but my experience in law enforcement -- what I've seen in the interviews that I've seen personally -- I believe this will be a recovery," Virts said.
Reyes

Sodus, NY -- Search and rescuers began a sixth day in a row of searching for a missing toddler, whose mother was found dead and buried Wednesday on a Sodus farm.

Owen Hidago-Caldron, 14 months old, has not been seen in nearly two weeks. The body of his mother, 18-year-old Selena Hidago-Calderon, was found in a wooded area on the farm where she worked.

Her boyfriend, Alberto Ebavardo Guiterrez Reyes, 25, has been charged in connection with the case and remains in police custody.

Volunteers continue to scour acres of farmland in hopes of finding Baby Owen. @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/wcmZngQ8b4  Melanie Johnson (@MelJohnsonTV) May 28, 2018

The couple lived in a house on the farm. Authorities believe that Selena Hidago-Calderon was killed in the house and her body moved by Reyes.

Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts has said he does not believe that the toddler will be found alive. He's calling it a "recovery" operation.

Reyes told police he moved Selena's body from the house and buried it, but he refused to answer questions about Owen's whereabouts and did not admit to killing the boy's mother, Virts told The (Rochester) Democrat & Chronicle.

Selena Hidago-Calderon, of Guatemala, and Reyes, of Mexico, were in the country illegally, like many workers on Upstate farms. Reyes had been twice deported.

Reyes is not the missing toddler's father; that man remains in Guatemala.

Authorities have not updated media Monday on any developments.
HOUNSFIELD, N.Y. -- A motorcyclist was killed and his passenger was seriously injured Sunday after the driver of a sport utility vehicle pulled into their path -- and the two vehicles collided, state police said.

Daniel A. Davis, 52, of Sackets Harbor, was riding a 1985 Honda motorcycle west on state Route 3 at 12:20 p.m. when he struck a Chevrolet TrailBlazer.

The driver of the SUV, Jennifer Lachenauer, 44, of Watertown, was north on Old Rome State Road moments earlier. She had stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Route 3. State police say Lachenauer did not see the motorcycle on Route 3 and continued to drive through the intersection and into the motorcyclist's path.

Davis was unable to avoid striking the SUV, troopers said. His motorcycle struck the passenger side quarter panel of the Chevy TrailBlazer, and both Davis and his passenger were ejected, state police said in a news release.

Someone called the Jefferson County 911 Center to report the two-vehicle crash on state Route 3 at Old Rome Road in the town of Hounsfield.

State police, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies, Guilfoyle Ambulance, Sackets Harbor fire and ambulance, and a LifeNet helicopter were called to the scene.

When emergency crews arrived, they found Davis and his passenger, Shelley Paris, 52, had been thrown from the motorcycle.

Sackets Harbor Ambulance took Davis to Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, where he was pronounced dead, state police said.

LifeNet airlifted Paris to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where she was in serious condition Sunday night.

Lachenauer was not injured, troopers said.

State police say they are continuing to investigate the crash.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's attempt to blame Democrats for separating migrant families at the border is renewing a political uproar over immigration, an issue that has challenged Trump throughout his presidency and threatens to grow more heated as he imposes more restrictions to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

In one of several misleading tweets during the holiday weekend, Trump pushed Democrats to change a "horrible law" that the president said mandated separating children from parents who enter the country illegally. But there is no law specifically requiring the government to take such action, and it's also the policies of his own administration that have caused the family separation that advocacy groups and Democrats say is a crisis.

In April, more than 50,000 migrants were apprehended or otherwise deemed "inadmissible," and administration officials have made clear that children will be separated from parents who enter the country illegally and are detained. The surge in illegal border crossings is expected to continue as the economy improves and warmer weather arrives.

"I keep imagining somebody taking my kids from me. My kids are 2 and 4 years old, and that's the age of some of the children that have been separated from their parents at the border," said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, who is helping to organize a Thursday rally in San Antonio to highlight the issue. "When a lot of people hear the story, they get a similar reaction. They can't imagine why this would be a standard government practice."

Trump's deflection offers a familiar playbook, critics of the administration's policies say. In their view, Trump's most recent comments are strategically similar to tactics he used when he ended the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and then insisted on hard-line measures in a bill to permanently protect "dreamers."

"He used DACA kids as a bargaining chip, and it didn't work," said Kevin Appleby, the senior director of international migration policy at the Center for Migration Studies, a nonpartisan think tank. "So now he's using vulnerable Central American families for his nativist agenda. It's shameless."

The situation threatens to reverse one of Trump's proudest accomplishments: the sharp drop in illegal migration in the months following his November 2016 victory.

The recent uptick in numbers has left the president privately frustrated, and top administration officials have pursued numerous ways to crack down on increased migration at the border.

For instance, the administration worked with a handful of Southern states earlier this year to deploy National Guard troops to the border. The Justice Department has dispatched more attorneys and judges to the border, while the White House has ramped up its public-relations offensive, organizing recent roundtable events in both Washington and on Long Island to underscore Trump's hard-line stance.

And perhaps most aggressively, the administration announced this month that the Department of Homeland Security will refer to Justice Department prosecutors all who crossed the border illegally, a move denounced by immigrant-rights groups who say migrants coming to the border should be treated as asylum seekers.

The new zero-tolerance policy will almost certainly mean parents who arrive with children will be separated, because children cannot be detained in criminal jails. Those kids will then be deemed as unaccompanied minors, whom federal law requires to be placed in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services.

As he detailed the "zero-tolerance" policy during a pair of appearances May 7, Attorney General Jeff Sessions stressed: "If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally. It's not our fault that somebody does that."

"My decision has been that anyone who breaks the law will be prosecuted," Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in Senate testimony earlier this month. "If you're a parent, or you're a single person, or you happen to have a family, if you cross between the ports of entry, we will refer you for prosecution. You've broken U.S. law."

The new policy appears to be having immediate effects. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Richard Hudson, the deputy chief of the operations program at Customs and Border Protection, told lawmakers that between May 6 and May 19, 638 adults had been referred for prosecutions under the new "zero-tolerance" effort.

Those adults brought with them a total of 658 children, Hudson said, who would have been separated under the new initiative. A DHS official said Sunday that many of those families may have already reunited if the detained parent had already been released from jail. HHS and DHS have worked in tandem to reunite children with parents, according to the official.

The administration has also emphasized that migrants arriving between official ports of entry will be considered illegal entries and will subsequently be referred for prosecution, and families who seek asylum at a port of entry won't be separated unless officials suspect smuggling is involved, the official said.

But Trump, whose campaign pledge centered on a border wall that Mexico would pay for, has made it clear he is far from satisfied that he has fulfilled his immigration pledges.

"Put pressure on the Democrats to end the horrible law that separates children from there (sic) parents once they cross the Border into the U.S." Trump tweeted Saturday. "Catch and Release, Lottery and Chain must also go with it and we MUST continue building the WALL! DEMOCRATS ARE PROTECTING MS-13 THUGS."

The White House didn't return a request seeking comment for more information on the president's Saturday tweet. But it outlines a litany of demands he's made on Congress, which is controlled by Republicans. They include ending a visa lottery for people who hail from countries with lower levels of migration to the United States, as well as restricting family-based immigration laws so U.S. citizens could no longer sponsor relatives such as parents or siblings, or so-called "chain migration."

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, on Sunday questioned whether some of the adult migrants who show up at the border with children are really their parents, citing human-trafficking concerns.

"We would have to address that," Meadows said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "But I think conservatives and moderates, Democrats and Republicans all agree that keeping a family together is the best strategy, and it's something we need to address and will address."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also speaking on "Face the Nation," advocated for tougher border security measures in order to send a "clear message" that illegal immigration to the United States would not be accepted.

"We have to understand a lot of these people that are crossing children are being trafficked here," Rubio said. "They are being brought here by criminal groups that help guide them and often take advantage of them and brutalize them on the path towards the United States and the ability to cross that border is a magnet that is drawing this behavior."

The current intraparty fight among House Republicans has largely focused on a citizenship path for "dreamers," prompted by a coalition of frustrated moderate GOP lawmakers who have long pressed their leadership for action on the issue.

But a showdown over border security in earnest is likely to return later this year, when funding for the federal government runs dry at the end of September. Trump has already threatened to shut down the government if he doesn't get more money for a border wall, a demand Democrats are already - and again - preparing to fight.

"The law does not require this inhumane and immoral action - DHS could stop it today. We do not need a law. This is a punt. They literally just ran this bad-faith play with DACA," Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, tweeted Sunday. "They are going to use the suffering of children as political leverage for the wall, and we must refuse to participate, because if this kind of hostage taking is ever successful it will never stop."

(c) 2018, The Washington Post. Written by Seung Min Kim.
Candidates named in city and school elections

With the passing of the filing deadline for the upcoming city and school election, several area governing bodies including the City of Tama and ...
Audemars Piguet collaborates each year with a selected curator and emerging or mid-career artist to realise a new artwork that is premiered during one of Art Basels three international shows. The aim is to amplify the artists unique vision, while using the complexity and precision inherent in watchmaking as the artists stimuli. In 2018, Audemars Piguet unveils details of its 4th Art Commission, HALO, which has been conceived and executed by British artist-duo Semiconductor, Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt, in collaboration with guest curator Monica Bello, Spanish curator and head of Arts at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, and will be exhibited during Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland, from 13-17 June 2018.

Joe Gerhardt, Ruth Jarman and Monica Bello  Audemars Piguet

Monica Bello helped select Semiconductor whose work reflects the continuing exploration of these themes, celebrating a dialogue between contemporary art, science, and technology. Titled HALO, the large-scale, site-specific artwork will present visitors with an artistic interpretation of the ATLAS experiment at CERN. The large-scale, immersive experience will allow viewers to better understand subatomic nature and the complex phenomena taking place at the CERNs Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Artists-in-residence at CERN for two months in 2015, Semiconductor have used raw data from the ATLAS experiment in their work. HALO takes the form of a ten-metre-wide cylinder-shaped structure that is entirely surrounded by vertical piano wires. Standing four metres tall, the interior of the installation is encircled by a 360-degree screen on which visitors can observe kaleidoscopic data projections generated by a series of slowed-down subatomic particle collisions that ordinarilly occur almost at the speed of light. As they hit the screen, the animated data points also trigger small hammers to hit the surrounding piano wires, emiting an all-encompassing vibration that resonates throughout the artwork, to be experienced both acoustically and physically by visitors.

Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt  Audemars Piguet

The installation marks the first time an artist has received permission to work directly with raw data generated by the ATLAS experiment, thanks to the involvement of Audemars Piguet and CERN. Semiconductor say, We are interested in the unknown and finding out about who we are as humans through what we dont know. Science just happens to be the medium through which we do that. We hope visitors to HALO will be humbled by the immersive environment, transcending the scientific aims of the data.

Following the established approach of the annual Art Commission, the artists were invited to Audemars Piguets home in Le Brassus, Switzerland, during the artworks development to spend time with the Manufactures watchmakers and begin to conceptualise the artwork. During their visit, Semiconductor noted many similarities between the watchmaking workshops and the laboratories at CERN. Theyre both operating at the limits of what is physically and humanly possible; the watches on a minuscule scale, where aids are needed to see the parts required, and at CERN, at the other end of the spectrum, where the limitations become how to manoeuvre, install and run experiments at such a large scale.

 Audemars Piguet

Monica Bello, guest curator of the 4th Audemars Piguet Art Commission, says, I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to realise HALO, and to be working with Semiconductor once again after their residency. This is the first time CERN is featured in an exhibition at Art Basel and I am grateful to Audemars Piguet for the invitation to work together. Ruth and Joe have created an immersive installation that conveys fundamental research with innovative ideas and artistic creativity in an extraordinary artwork. HALO is an opportunity for visitors to see how scientists and artists work together, inspiring each other and bringing to life unique visions of our world.

Olivier Audemars, Vice President of the Board of Directors, says, It amazes and excites me to see how Semiconductor explore how we see and experience the natural world. They help us to see things differently. And they bring to life the precision and complexity of particle physics and art. As a company, it is fundamental for Audemars Piguet to continue supporting innovative artists like Semiconductor, so we can better understand our own world and our own work.

 Audemars Piguet

Public Opening Hours: 13-17 June, 10:00am-9:00pm

Location: Messeplatz, Hall 4U, Basel, Switzerland
Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,000-year-old mummy completely intact and well-preserved in what is thought to be an Incan pilgrimage site in Peru.

Researchers led by Professor Peter Eeckhout have discovered the millennium-old preserved remains of a human body completely unscathed inside a funeral bundle found in the Pachacamac, Peru, a Pre-Colombian site converted by the Incan empire into a center for worship for their gods and deities.

A funeral bundle serves as a coffin for the deceased of the ancient Paracas culture. The dead body is usually placed in a fetal or sitting position and bundled in a long strip of cotton cloth. Often, the bundle also includes food, clothing, religious objects, and small badges of gold.

Finding A Millennium-Old Intact Mummy In Peru

Eeckhout and his team spent nine weeks digging into the area in what is known as the Ychsma excavation project, so-called after the native Ychsma people who thrived in ancient Pachacamac before the Incan empire conquered the region.

"Discoveries like this one are exceptionally scarce," says Eeckhout, "and this mummy is incredibly well-preserved."

The body is so intact, in fact, that the researchers can study it without unwrapping it. Although the results of carbon-14 dating have yet to be revealed, the researchers estimate that the mummy may have been buried sometime between 1,200 and 1,000 B.C.

The researchers are set to examine the mummy with the help of Christophe Moulherat of the Musee du quai Branly in France. Using X-ray scans, axial tomography, and 3D reconstruction, they hope to find out what the body's position is, what other objects are included in the bundle, and if the deceased harbored any diseases during their lifetime.

Ancient Pilgrimage Site Built By The Andean

The mummy was discovered in a sanctuary built for the worship of local ancestors, one of three monumental structures explored during the excavation. The sanctuary, which was later converted into a water shrine during the Incan rule, also contained Spondylus shells, thorny oysters used by the Andean cultures in their religious rituals.

Before the Incas took over this area, the site featured several funeral sites for thousands of mummies, 300 of which have been excavated by Eeckhout and his team. However, Spaniards looted the area during the Spanish conquest of Inca, rendering most of the earlier mummified discoveries difficult to study. Miraculously, one chamber remained intact. This is where the team discovered the mummy.

The team also explored an Inca monument for pilgrims and rituals, which they identified with offerings of seashells and various precious objects. The third structure is a chapel built for foreign pilgrims, where offerings of dogs were discovered.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A UK government adviser has said that obese people should be allowed to start work late.

Stephan Bevan, of the Institute for Employment Studies, said that businesses should provide more accommodations to their workers who carry excess weight.

More Accommodation For Obese Workers

Speaking at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria, Bevan said that allowing obese workers, who feel anxious about traveling on public transport, to arrive an hour later or to work from their home, could have a beneficial effect on their mental health.

He also said that obesity should be treated like other health conditions, which could help stop workplace discrimination.

"It can be working time, it can be having a bit of understanding that someone might need to turn up at 10 o'clock because they have trouble with transport or anxiety about transport," he said.

Bevan likewise said that obese workers should have the right to sue employers that failed to offer them jobs or promotion due to their weight.

"It's the same as if you went for a job and didn't get it because you were a woman," he said.

Most Obese Country In Western Europe

Bevan made the statement amid the obesity problem in the UK. Obesity raises risk for type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer.

A 2017 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development revealed that the UK is the most obese country in western Europe. The OECD's Health at Glance report showed that nearly 27 percent of the population in the UK had a body mass index of 30 and above, which is considered obese. The report also said that obesity in the country rose by 92 percent since the 1990s.

A new study presented at ECO last week showed that the number of morbidly obese people in England, Wales and Scotland is expected to double by the year 2035.

"Our study reveals a worrying picture of rising morbid obesity across England, Wales, and Scotland that is likely to weigh heavily on healthcare systems and economies," the authors of the study said. Strong measures to reverse this future trend must be an important public health priority."

Not A Disability

Others are not amenable to and criticized Bevan's recommendation. Christopher Snowdon, from the Institute for Economic Affairs, described it as a ludicrous idea that he said can potentially create resentment against obese people.

He also said that being fat is not a disability and that most people go to their jobs by car, which does not justify the idea of giving obese people an extra hour to arrive at work.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry.

Disclaimer

Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.
Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission
The Louisiana Legislature hit a dramatic mid-way point of the second special session of the year on Monday.

The House, after multiple unsuccessful attempts this year, agreed to advance revenue-raising bills meant to soften the "fiscal cliff" the state faces when temporary tax measures expire June 30. The 76-26 vote in favor of keeping one-third of an expiring sales tax hike to generate $370 million was particularly seen as significant movement, as the last special session collapsed after the chamber repeatedly rejected a similar proposal.

House rejects sales tax proposal seen as central to special session's success; bill expected to come back up Monday The Louisiana House on Friday rejected a sales tax measure seen as key to the Legislature's plan for shoring up the state's finances ahead of 

"It's a compromise, and that's what we're looking for," said House GOP Caucus Chair Lance Harris, who authored House Bill 27 to extend part of the sales tax increase through 2023.

But shortly after the "compromise" praise, House members were engaged in a heated debate over how the Legislature should move forward with passing a spending plan for the state budget that begins July 1.

"We have no budget bill that has been moved at this point in the process," House Speaker Pro Tempore Walt Leger, a New Orleans Democrat who has authored a substitute budget bill as no other has been filed. "The time is now and building on the momentum we have. We need to do it, and we need to do it now."

The chamber set off on a procedure-driven debate over constitutional provisions and committee schedules that ultimately ended with House Republican leaders setting out on a rare attempt at overriding Gov. John Bel Edwards' veto of the budget bill that passed during the regular session. The attempt was rejected in a 52-48 vote. It needed 70 to pass and then would have faced another huge hurdle in the Senate. Ten Republican House members joined all voting Democrats and two of the chambers three members who do not belong to a political party in voting against the proposal to override the Democratic governor.

Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoes Legislature-approved budget ahead of special session Gov. John Bel Edwards has vetoed the Legislature's spending plan for the coming year, calling the version of House Bill 1 that passed both the

Rep. Andy Anders, a Vidalia Democrat who is the dean of the House, at one point during the Memorial Day hearing took to the podium to call for agitated members to calm down.

"I didn't come to listen to all of this," Anders said to applause from the chamber.

The special session must end Monday, June 4, but there has been no action on a spending plan for the budget that begins July 1, raising questions about whether another special session is on the horizon. Budget bills must begin in the House. The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday and will consider Leger's House Bill 26.

Leger said that he worried that without his proposal, the Legislature will not finish its work by next week's end of the special session. Special sessions cost taxpayers about $60,000 a day.

"Why would we waste another day when we have an opportunity to move the process forward?" Leger said. Were in our sixth special session. There is absolutely no reason to go into a seventh.

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

In addition to HB27, which would cut the looming $650 million by just over half, the House also advanced House Bill 18, which would generate about $33.6 million by extending the suspension of some tax breaks linked to income taxes that people pay to other states. The tax credit has been on hold in Louisiana since 2015; under HB18, it would not go back on the books until 2023.

The sales tax bill was rejected in an earlier attempt on Friday, voted down by a mix of Democrats concerned that it didn't do enough to protect critical priorities in the coming year's budget and some Republicans who oppose any extension of the temporary sales tax hike passed in 2016.

A dozen members voted in favor of the measure on Monday after earlier voting against it  nine members of the Legislative Black Caucus and three Republicans.

In addition to the partial renewal of the sales tax hike, Harris' proposal also would eliminate some sales tax breaks, an effort known inside the State Capitol as "cleaning pennies" that would allow sales taxes to be collected on items that have been exempt or partially exempt.

After the earlier rejections and long debates on sales tax plans to plug the budget, Monday's passage was relatively quick and with little discussion.

Many members of the chamber appeared to be preparing to wrap up work for the day, when Leger brought up the budget discussion, which set off a fiery exchange between Leger and Appropriations Chair Cameron Henry, R-Metairie.

Both Henry and Leger were candidates to become the House Speaker when the new term began in January 2016, but neither won enough votes. Instead, New Iberia Republican Taylor Barras won the role with Henry's support.

"It was concerning to me that there were no budget bills," Leger said. "This isn't a game."

Henry, a frequent critic of the Edwards administration, said he has been reviewing the constitution and consulting with State Treasurer John Schroder and Attorney General Jeff Landry, both Republicans, about the appropriate path forward.

After agreeing to hear Leger's bill in Tuesday's committee hearing, Henry then set out on a veto override, which he said he had not discussed with the Senate nor the Edwards administration.

"Let's give it a whirl," Henry said before taking up the override attempt, which he said would then create a budget for the Legislature to work from.

There has been just two successful efforts to override a gubernatorial veto in the state's history.
The victim of a fatal shooting Saturday night in the 7th Ward was a 45-year-old woman who happened to "get caught in the crossfire" of a gun battle, a friend said Sunday.

Brandy Duhon, 39, identified the victim as Monique Rocquelle Davis, a mother of three who Duhon said had devoted her life to caring for others.

"Monique was the kindest, sweetest, humblest soul I know," Duhon said through tears as she described her best friend of 17 years. "There is no words that I can use to express her."

New Orleans police said officers went to the intersection of Frenchmen and North Dorgenois streets about 9:20 p.m. after shots were fired in the area. They learned that a woman had gone to a hospital in a private vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim, Davis, was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Duhon said Davis was visiting another friend and entertaining cousins from out of town when they discovered a block party was happening down the street.

Davis' son and cousins, who had never seen a New Orleans block party before, went to check it out, but Davis, who was recovering from a back injury, decided to stay on the porch, her friend said.

After a while, Davis decided to go to a corner store on Elysian Fields Avenue a couple of blocks away to get something to drink, Duhon said.

She said Davis had asked her family to meet her at Frenchmen and North Dorgenois so they could go with her to the store. As she was standing there waiting, gunfire broke out, and Davis "basically was caught," Duhon said.

"She got struck," Duhon said tearfully, adding that when her family found her, "she was just lying on the ground."

Duhon said Davis had three children: a 29-year-old daughter, a 25-year-old son and a 20-year-old son.

Davis, who was originally from Seattle but had been living in New Orleans off and on since she was young, also left behind a sister, a brother and a father who is in an assisted living center.

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

Davis didn't work because she was on disability, Duhon said, but spent her time taking care of her father by washing his clothes and making sure he was taking the proper medication.

"That's exactly who she was," Duhon said.

Duhon said the two of them had been so close they called each other family. She described a devoted friend who would respond to calls even at 4 a.m., especially if someone was not feeling well.

Duhon, for example, has been through several surgeries for issues related to her thyroid and gall bladder, and she said Davis accompanied her to the hospital every time.

"I feel like I just lost a sibling," Duhon said. "No matter what I went through, every surgery I had, she had been there. ... I talked to Monique every single morning."

When Duhon first got the call that her friend had been shot, she thought she'd finally gotten an opportunity to "return a favor" and "be there for my friend."

She was devastated, she said, to learn that Davis had died before Duhon even reached the hospital.

The death will be crushing for those who had gotten to know Davis, she said.

"Every time you saw her she was just bubbly," Duhon said. "No matter what the situation was, she was just happy-go-lucky."

Police have not released any information about the identity of the shooter or the reason for the gunfire.

Homicide Detective Maggie Darling is in charge of the investigation and can be reached at (504) 658-5300.
Egypt will send Ibrahim Mahlab, the president's assistant for national and strategic projects, to an international conference in Paris on Tuesday which aims to help resolve the Libyan conflict.

Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid announced on Sunday that Mahlab would be attending the event, which is being hosted by the French government.

"Egypt's participation in the conference comes under its keenness for the urgent political reconciliation of the Libyan crisis, achieving the interests of the Libyan people," Abu Zeid said in a statement, stressing Egypt's wish for restored security and stability in the neighbouring country.

Eighteen other countries and four international organisations will be represented at the conference, to agree on a political roadmap to resolve disputed issues that would then pave the way for UN-backed elections by the end of the year.

Libyan rival factions have also been invited to attend the conference, according to AFP.

The rivals include the prime minister and head of Libya's UN-backed unity government in Tripoli in the west, Fayez Al-Sarraj, and Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who dominates the country's eastern side.

It's unclear if the conflicting parties will attend.

Egypt and France have focused the Libyan issue during their bilateral talks and meetings, affirming their commitment in supporting efforts for political reconciliation, said Abu Zeid.

On Monday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and French counterpart Emmannuel Macron discussed developments in Libya, including Egyptian efforts to restore stability and to unify Libya's armed forces, in a phone call.

Last month El-Sisi met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Cairo where they affirmed the need to hold elections in Libya before the end of 2018, given that the situation in Libya affects the security and stability of the Mediterranean region.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Press Promotion

The Label Makers embody Snowdonia spirit

Following the successful origination of the first double-sided back label, Bradford-based The Label Makers have repeated their unique production process with a stunning two-layered design for Eryri Snowdonia Gin, the Snowdonia Spirit Companys first small batch release.

To convey the rich mythology and history of Snowdonia - ancient Celtic kings, wizards, giants, water monsters and the Tylwyth Teg (fairy folk), and the incredible provenance of an ancient land born of fire and ice, a trio of expertise was called upon to make this particular brand-style and label creation come together.

Chorley-Lancs based Atommedia created the Eryri Snowdonia Gin branding on the front label, which includes the iconic outline of the 3560 ft peak, as well as references to the botanicals used in the distilling process, namely plum, citrus and oak.

The reverse label, seen through the bottle contents, is a vivid painting of Snowdon itself by prominent UK landscape artist Alan Rankle. Working in collaboration with the Snowdonia Spirit Company, the artist was asked to represent the spirit of the Welsh Mountains, encapsulated by the brands strapline: Eryri Snowdonia, Born out of FireSculpted by IceShrouded in Legend.

Using a Rustique Blanc material for the face of the label, The Label Makers completed the process by laminating both parts of the label together to form one. A branded tamper seal was also produced.

The Snowdonia Spirit Companys, Mike Trevena, says: This has been a highly gratifying project overall, with all parties fulfilling their respective roles admirably. With the spirit being available online and at selected stockists, the market response has been exceptional. We look forward to working with The Label Makers again in respect of line extensions and different bottle sizes.

Kevin Lyons, The Label Makers sales director, adds: Once again we have shown that we can utilise our knowledge and experience to the full in determining a certain direction for a client. The Snowdonia Spirit Company had a clear concept for label in mind and looked to us to help them pull it off. Given the response that the brand has had since release, Im confident that weve achieved that.

28 May 2018 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editor
Egypt has sent its sincere condolences to Ethiopia after a landslide in the countrys Oromia region killed 23 people on Saturday.

In an official statement, Egypt's foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid expressed Egypt's condolences to the families of the victims, and the countrys wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.

Abu Zeid also stressed Egypt's support  both the government and nation with the Ethiopian government and nation in Saturday's ordeal.

Twenty-three people were killed and six others injured in Saturday evening's landslide, which was triggered by heavy rains.

Ethiopia often experiences heavy rainfall which escalates to severe landslides in areas in the country, causing major fatalities; a major landslide in March 2017 killed 113 people.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Hi! It's us! The biggest fans of Netflix crime shows ever. And we're here to tell you about a new one you should be watching now you've finished Making a Murderer and Evil Genius

The show is called The Staircase. The mystery is spread out over 13 episodes and its a look inside a case that divided all of America.
The reference to Lee as a "traitor in many Union eyes" implies that the sentiment was not unanimous (and perhaps did not even command a majority) at the time. This is an unexpected, but typical, example of the "Lost Cause" school of Civil War history, in which the Confederates are posthumously rehabilitated. In fact, no Unionist during the Civil War would have regarded Robert E. Lee as anything other than a traitor, which in fact he was without question.

In a fitting turn of history, the cemetery now faced with a threat of overcrowding was created to address overcrowding. Early in the Civil War, the heavy death toll in battles near the capital soon filled Washingtons existing cemeteries. Desperate for more burial space, the Quartermaster General of the Army, Montgomery C. Meigs, turned to a rolling green plantation just across the Potomac  the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose decision to fight on the Confederate side marked him as a traitor in many Union eyes.

In a front-page article on Memorial Day, the New York Times includes this description of the origin of Arlington Cemetery:

The U.S. Constitution specifically provides that treason "shall consist" of "levying War" against the United States, which Lee clearly did from 1861 until he surrendered at Appomattox. And even if one were inclined to excuse him for defending his home state (which I do not), his several invasions of Pennsylvania and Maryland unquestionably constituted "levying war" against the Union.

Lee's nobility of character -- including his contributions to post-bellum reconciliation -- can be recognized without rewriting the actual history of the war. And there is no doubt that virtually all "Union eyes" regarded the Confederates as traitors during the actual hostilities. The troops even sang about it.

The northern parody of Dixie began:

Away down South in the land of traitors,

Rattlesnakes and alligator,

Right away, come away, right away, come away.

Where cotton's king and men are chattels,

Union boys will win the battles,

Right away, come away, right away, come away.

And a verse of Marching through Georgia made the same point:

So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train,

Sixty miles in latitude, three hundred to the main;

Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain

While we were marching through Georgia.

Unfortunately, contemporary Civil War revisionism is a growing trend, seeking to obscure the fact that the Confederacy was established to commit treason in defense of slavery. It is perhaps even more unfortunate to see the New York Times impute that view to even a few of the actual defenders of the Union.

For a full account of the origin of Arlington Cemetery, I strongly recommend The Last Battle of the Civil War, by co-blogger Anthony Gaughan.
Egyptian prosecutor-general Nabil Sadek has tasked the Ministry of Antiquities with dispatching a team of archaeological experts to Italy to confirm the authenticity of seemingly ancient Egyptian artefacts that were seized from a shipping container at a port in Naples.

In an official statement released on Monday, the prosecution said that the Egyptian experts will work with Italian authorities to inspect the seized artefacts and prepare a report for the general prosecution.

The statement added that the prosecution has sent letters rogatory to the Italian judicial services requesting all documents and information on the matter.

Last Wednesday, Egypt's foreign ministry dismissed reports that the cache of 23,700 artefacts, which include 118 ancient Egyptian items, was discovered in a container belonging to an Egyptian diplomat.

The foreign ministry has said that the shipment belonged to an Italian citizen, according to information provided by Italian authorities.

Italian officials also promised to provide further clarifications on the container's departure date and the exporting party at the earliest possible opportunity, the ministry said.

Last Wednesday, Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Ministrys repatriation department, had said that the objects were stolen from illegal excavation sites, as there is no record of them existing in any Egyptian museum or store gallery.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Kevin Iskandar Putra (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 15:35 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e673145 3 Opinion reformasi,democracy,Blasphemy-Law,tolerance,freedom-of-expression Free

The call to end the authoritarian New Order spilled blood in Indonesia since the early 1990s to 1998, when Soeharto finally quit. Activists, political dissents and people, whose voices were curbed during 32 years, fought for their rights to be heard ever since.

The battle paid off in 2004, when Indonesia had its first democratic national election with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the champion. Since then, more transformation took place in the economy, social, and political life. Such changes have provided us with a plenty of rooms for public aspirations and resulted in the democracy that we enjoy today.

Democratization is an enduring project to begin with. The fight for a fair and just democracy continues. Freedom of expression is often mistakenly used to put forth a particular groups interest at the expense of others. In highly diverse Indonesia, identity politics is pervasive and continuously used as a political tool to garner support and mobilize people into achieving a particular agenda.

BJ Habibie, Indonesias third president, stated that even after 20 years of reformasi, the politics of identity still has its grip on the country. It reached a new high after the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

The blasphemy scandal which plagued then governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, was a test to longstanding pluralist and tolerant values prided by many Indonesians.

While Indonesia recognizes freedom of speech, the laws also set confusing limitations, most infamously the 1965 Blasphemy Law. While the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience, or religion are protected under the Constitution and under international human rights conventions which we have ratified, the 1965 law threatens people with a maximum 5-year imprisonment for committing blasphemy and/or defamation, which are extremely subjective and loose in definition. The Blasphemy Law, combined with the 2008 Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) Law, has been rather effective in suppressing criticism and opinions, especially from minority and marginalized groups.

Democracy in Indonesia should become a basis to integrate all elements of society into the decision-making process. It is the responsibility of all Indonesians to support policies to accommodate the rights of the minority. In the economic realm, we use our civil rights to demand our government for more inclusive economic policies.

To support efforts to narrow inequality, people should participate more in politics aimed at providing alternative source of income to all people in need. All in all, our democracy should interconnect all aspects of our society because they all matter.

We shall not forget the long battle to democracy and should always seek for improvements. In commemorating 20 years of reform, how can Indonesians give meaning to its democracy? What kind of democracy do we envision for the future?

While there is no guarantee that everything would instantly become better, giving too many privileges to one group in an extremely diverse society is the formula for chaos. Identity politics in the form of growing Islamic influence in Indonesian politics has led to heightened religious tensions over and over again; something that would be much less likely to take place in a secular nation unified by healthy nationalism.

I hope Indonesia will come out of these chaotic times more tolerant and respectful; and return to its pluralist roots and do away with the religious divisiveness that has kept the people apart for far too long.

***

The writer is a research assistant at the ASEAN Studies Center, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin - (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Mon, May 28, 2018

The Muslim Charitable Donations Board (BAZNAS), a non-structural governmental agency that manages zakat (alms) distribution in the country, recently launched the first zakat virtual payment assistant, to help alms donors meet their religious obligation.

The agency cooperated with local technology company PT Artina Digitama Indonusa (Artdigi) to launch the new virtual assistant, which evolved from chat robot (chatbot) technology, on May 25 at the BAZNAS headquarters in Jakarta.

The personified chatbot, which BAZNAS has named Zaki, short for muzaki (alms donors in Arabic), is equipped with the natural language processing algorithm, allowing the robot to act as a virtual assistant by conversing with customers while analyzing their needs and questions before coming up with solutions for them.

The virtual assistant is capable of performing various feats, such as counting ones zakat accurately, while providing public education on BAZNAS various social and humanity activities. Zaki will also soon upgrade itself to feature maps that will help people locate a nearby mosque, daily prayer schedules and sermon materials from various preachers.

Users can access Zaki, the virtual zakat assistant, through the LINE Messenger application under the name of @zakibaznas. The service will also soon be available through the Facebook Messenger live chat application.

The new innovations official launch was attended by the Religious Affairs Ministry's alms and loans empowerment director, Fuad Nashar. BAZNAS deputy ArifinPurwakananta said that BAZNAS had launched the digital assistant to help the general public pay alms in an easier, faster, more convenient and friendlier manner.

The information technology (IT) development has posed some challenges for zakat service providers to keep abreast with it to connect all lines of its distribution. Therefore, BAZNAS has a public campaign to raise more awareness about zakat payments through various online communication channels to make it easier for donors to access its services, Arifin said.

He added that the innovation also sought to boost the growth of zakat payments nationwide.

Artdigi CEO Ari Lastina said that Zaki was developed in response to the increasing needs of donors to get information on how to complete their zakat transactions.

The development of chatbot innovations has driven Artdigi to integrate their various functions, not merely to engage users but also to promote BAZNAS various products, while providing information on how to buy certain products and optimizing the function of chatbot innovations to enhance their convenience and social function aspects, Ari explained.

Through a human touch approach, both BAZNAS and Artdigi hope that the Zaki virtual assistant will prompt the general public to be more active in paying alms to improve socioeconomic welfare in Indonesia.
Google Arts & Culture has launched what it is calling the largest digital retrospective of Frida Kahlo to date, offering insights into the Mexican artists legacy for all to view.

The tech giant says it spent years working with museums and experts to create Faces of Frida which showcases some of her best-known work alongside artworks and artifacts that are rarely displayed publicly, many taken from private collections. Among them are View of New York, drawn from the window of the Barbizon Plaza Hotel in 1932.

Read also: Mexico court blocks sales of Frida Kahlo Barbie

Visitors to the site will also find early versions of some of Kahlos finest works, some sketched on the back of finished paintings and thus heretofore hidden from the world, plus personal photographs, letters, journals and clothes. Street View tours allow visitors to examine places that had an impact on her career, such as her residence Casa Azul.

In all, 33 partner museums from seven countries, more than 800 artifacts, 20 ultra-high resolution images and five Street View tours can be found in the online exhibition. Visitors can also go inside the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico, taking in some of its highlights by clicking on works at the bottom of the page.

Faces of Frida can be viewed through the Google Arts & Culture app.
Grab launched a food delivery service in Singapore on Monday, as it aims to position itself as a one-stop essential services app, beyond just ride-hailing.

Starting as a taxi-booking app in 2013, the Singapore-headquartered start-up has since ventured into bicycle rental, e-payments, micro-financing and package delivery.

Grab Singapore head Lim Kell Jay said at a press briefing that GrabFood is a "significant step" to serving the everyday needs of consumers, beyond just transport.

GrabFood was piloted in selected regions in Singapore a few weeks ago, but is now available islandwide with "thousands" of eateries on the platform, said Grab.

There will be no minimum order requirements for GrabFood. Users can also plan and order meals up to five days in advance. In addition, they can earn reward points on the GrabRewards system, which can be used to redeem other lifestyle products, such as food and beverage.

Read also: Grabs acquisition of Uber: How it will affect Indonesian users

In March, Grab acquired Uber's South-east Asia operations, including its UberEats business, which was phased out on Monday.

Besides Singapore, GrabFood will also be launched in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines within this quarter.

Competition in the region's ride-hailing industry is heating up, following the exit of Uber.

Indonesian ride-hailing giant Go-Jek said last week that it would be expanding into Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines in the next few months, but did not share details.

Go-Jek said it will launch a transport service first but intends to offer its other services - such as massages and food delivery - on its platform in time.
Police have found the dead body of a fugitive member of the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group while pursuing terrorist suspects in a desert area near the Wahat road in Giza governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Monday.

The police conducted the raid to apprehend suspects from the Brotherhood's armed wing who were meeting in the area according to intelligence obtained by the National Security Agency, and after obtaining a warrant from the prosecution.

The suspects fired on security personnel conducting the raid, forcing the police to fire back.

During the chase, police found the dead body of the fugitive Brotherhood member, who had escaped detention from Ismailia Hospital on 26 May.

The fugitive had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2016 for involvement in violent incidents.

Police also seized during the raid an automatic rifle, ammunition and a motorcycle.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A Malian migrant who saved a four-year-old child hanging from a fourth-floor Paris balcony after scaling the building with his bare hands was honored by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday and offered citizenship.

Two days after his daring Spiderman-style rescue -- viewed millions of times online -- Mamoudou Gassama was received by Macron at the presidential palace.

"All the (Gassama's) documents will be put in order," Macron told the sporty 22-year-old who has become a national hero, referring to his immigration status.

In the meeting, live footage of which was carried on the president's Facebook page, Macron gave Gassama a medal for bravery and also proposed that Gassama join the French fire service.

"I was not thinking of anything. I went straight up", Gassama, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved patterned shirt, told Macron, recounting the episode.

"Bravo," Macron replied.

"I'm pleased because it's the first time I've received a trophy like that," Gassama, who arrived in France in September 2017, said after receiving his medal.

Gassama leaped into action Saturday evening on seeing a child dangling in mid-air from a balcony half-way up an apartment block in the multi-ethnic 18th district of the French capital.

The video shows him pulling himself up from balcony to balcony as a man on the fourth floor tries to hold on to the child by leaning across from a neighbouring balcony.

On reaching the fourth floor Gassama, who lives in a hostel for immigrants, throws one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child had already been rescued, with a spokesman saying that "luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child."

Praising Gassama, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux tweeted: "This incredibly brave act, which is true to the values of solidarity of our Republic, must open the doors of our national community to him."

His story instantly drew comparisons with that of another Malian migrant who was feted as a hero, and given citizenship, for helping save lives during a January 2015 terror attack.

Lassana Bathily helped hide hostages in the freezer during an Islamist jihadi attack on a Jewish supermarket, in which four people were killed.

Read also: Foreign travelers search for her Yogyakarta hero goes viral

Dream of a better life

This picture taken on may 28, 2018 shows the facade of a building in Paris scaled by a 22-year old Mamoudou Gassama from Mali to save a 4-year-old child dangling from a fifth-floor balcony. (AFP/Bertrand Guay)

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo also lauded Gassama, who arrived in France in September 2017, for his "act of bravery" as well as phoning him personally to "thank him warmly".

"He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here.

"I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France," she added.

Tracked down by reporters 24 hours after the heroic rescue, Gassama said he had acted without thinking.

"I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child," he said.

"I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down," he added.

According to initial inquiries by the authorities, the child's parents were not at home at the time.

The father was held for questioning by police for having left his child unattended.

The child's mother was not in Paris at the time.
Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting what one critic called a "tone deaf" photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her son on Sunday, with the caption: "My <3! #SundayMorning."

Critics were quick to point to a "zero tolerance" policy announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that authorizes border security agents to take away the children of people who enter the United States unlawfully.

The government places such children in foster homes, but Steven Wagner, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services told a congressional committee last month the government was "unable to determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,475" minors after attempting to contact their sponsors in the last three months of 2017.

"Isn't it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? It's the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right?" tweeted comedian Patton Oswalt.

"This is so unbelievably tone deaf, given that public outrage is growing over young kids being forcibly ripped from the arms of their parents at the border  a barbaric policy that Ivanka Trump is complicit in supporting," added Brian Klaas, a political scientist at the London School of Economics.

Many others tweeted using the #WhereAreTheChildren hashtag.

Read also: Trump son-in-law Kushner's White House future in doubt

Donald Trump, for his part, blamed opposition Democrats for the "horrible law" in a tweet on Saturday -- though there is no law mandating the policy and it was not immediately clear what he may have meant.
Daylight was drowsily on its way to breaking  pale light streams crawled through the windows blinds, only to eventually flop down onto my bed sheets.

It was a Saturday morning after all  I wouldve remained in bed and woken at a later time to the sight of the fully risen sun, had my mother not decided to turn the air conditioner off and persistently demand me to throw my blankets aside at six.

She reasoned that it was a good idea to go on a morning walk while I had the chance, because my study streak for next weeks exam was something she deemed unhealthy.

As she was insistent on having me come with her and because I was slightly remorseful that she had normally gone on these walks alone, I slipped into a pair of sport shoes and began strolling the streets of a neighborhood I grew up pacing back and forth in.

You know, she began after several minutes of silence. Exercise is said to relieve stress. And with the weather being this cool, Im sure youd stay refreshed throughout the rest of the day.

There was, indeed, something admittedly pleasant in the way the air felt  it was like taking a fresh breath in a place foreign from the heat of daily demands and frantic routines, gently coursed through by soft winds capable of quieting a feverish spirit.

It was as though for the first time in my life, the chirping of birds and the sound of their fluttering from one tree to another were the only things I heard for a full few seconds without interruption. All this occurred beneath the canopy of a placid horizon, its blue tint gradually dissolving into lighter shades from the suns increasing brightness.

Hows the second semester of law school, Alma?

Good, ma. How are things at work?

My mother was a secretary at a renowned property development group based in South Jakarta.

Both good and busy, as usual.

Our footsteps, no less mute than our discontinued dialogue, had led us to pass the neighborhood playground, which was located on a grassy mound encircled by various-shaped houses. The grass sometimes served as a rug for children to leave their slippers on and rub their feet against, as it surrounded a low-platform circular space bordered by a short layer of concrete, where thick piles of sand were scattered beneath a swing set, slide and plastic play house.

It was probably a year ago when I last sat on one of the swings with the same woman I was walking with now, the movement of my knees letting the half-tire which dangled through two chains to go back and forth in a leisurely momentum. She had asked me to go on a walk with her, and for the same reasons I had today, I sat swinging beside her with brown grains stuck to the soles of my feet, eyes busily roaming a sky that was on its way to turning pink, then orange, dark blue and eventually black  but until nighttime would actually arrive, we were simply gazing at the approaching golden hour, occasionally contributing dialogue and some of our thoughts.

Ma, I said at one point in that evening. Im thinking about majoring in law later on.

My mother remained silent for a while, until a soft sigh left the narrowing gaps between her lips.

You know what, Alma?

She turned to face me, and I saw a sort of placidness gleaming in her eyes  a still river with close to no ripples painlessly reflecting a subtle glow from the moon.

Thats not important to talk about right now. I want to hear about something else.

What do you mean? I asked.

She smiled. Tell me about anything [] other than your plans for university or work.

Well [] I mumbled. I repeated the word again, stalling to think of something proper to say.

Alright, Ill go first, my mother said. Do you know our new neighbors, the Koreans living across our street?

I shook my head. I didnt even know Koreans lived across our street.

When I went on an evening stroll a couple of days ago, I heard one of the Korean boys saying with profound amazement that you could apparently feel like you walked faster if you did so while looking up at the sky.

I wanted to ask her about when she started to care about what a little boy had to say about craning your head upward to obtain the illusion that you are walking faster, but of course, I ended up inquiring that only to myself.

Of all the mostly hazy details from childhood, I could still recall with great clarity the dinners prepared then shared with my housekeeper alone, and the days-long vexation my mother displayed when the water I brought for her upon her arrival home from work accidentally spilled on some of her documents instead.

What was even harder to forget was how she disappeared into the dark obscurity of the night for longer hours ever since she and my father decided to split. I could only understand why she did the last part when I eventually participated in more after-school activities  I needed anything to keep me distracted and productive, the latter point existing to compensate for the first. This went on for such a period of time, until I would almost forget how this was something I started merely as a form of escape.

Every now and then, we would make the effort to occupy other spaces of the house apart from our separate rooms, or to go out someplace without fixating ourselves too much on our phones or individual thoughts. Alas, neither the actions nor the effects would go on perpetually. Was this somehow related to her providing a seemingly arbitrary sentence?

Cool, I decided to respond. Maybe Ill try that later on.

A pause extended itself through the suddenly broad space which surrounded us. Her somewhat awkwardly uttered words eventually stumbled after the pause to stop it from lengthening further. At times, Alma, something as simple a child wholeheartedly singing a song they are fond of has its own way of warming another person.

I dont know, ma. That sounds like something that would annoy me.

A small laugh parted my mothers lips. Okay. I suppose you could also equate that to [] a passionate artist who patiently puts details to his paintings on the side of Jakartas bustling street where almost everyone thinks theyre too busy to stop. What about that?

Generally, you are referring to any act done out of [] sincerity, and perhaps [] love?

She nodded. I suppose that could sum things up.

When did you start thinking about these things? Its unlike you or either of us, really, to suddenly do that.

I [] I dont know. She stared ahead with an indecipherable expression. Seeing these things just make me feel a certain way, and it is only until we have this conversation that I finally tried to word this feeling into a thought.

A wind ruffled through the gaps between the rustling tree leaves, then silently through my mothers wavy black hair, lightly lifting the strands from her narrow shoulders while my locks remained stubbornly tied in a pony tail.

There was a long silence before she hastily decided it was time for us to return home, and I quickly got up in agreement.

Ma. I was slightly surprised to find that the sun was not setting in the last minutes of evening, and that the park was no longer in sight. Did you by any chance say something earlier?

No. Why do you ask?

This same feeling from one year ago was slowly recurring itself today  I was even relieved to find that we were only halfway through circling the neighborhood. Sooner or later, it would seem almost inevitable that she would disappear behind her bright rectangular screen, and I behind my own as if they were portals that led to two completely different worlds.

With my academic demands, current organizational activities and my involvement in debate competitions  a passion I had been long committed to  the lack of proper connection between my mother and I would barely resurface itself to mind, and I feared that it would reach the extent where it would not even bother me yet again.

That was more or less what happened when we returned from that walk, on an evening that seemed so breathtaking at one point, then insignificant when we hid away in the closed boxes of our routines. Surely, I could not be the only person who felt this way  but based on how plenty of my friends talked about spending their weekends loitering malls with their lovers or the people they significantly cherished, I felt as I was mostly alone in this.

Nothing [] I quickly said when I realized I had not given a reply. I was just thinking about something, so I mightve spaced out.

My mother slowed down when we were walking past a particular porch to our left where a wizened man and a boy in a tiny green t-shirt were entertaining themselves with a makeshift drum set, consisting of spoons and flipped plastic buckets. After my mother and I watched them for several seconds, a woman came out of the houses open door and offered a clap towards their recital.

You know, mom, I found myself admitting as we presumed our former pace. Sometimes [] sometimes I wish we didnt only do things for the sake of productivity, if you understand what I mean.

I know, Alma. So do I. Sometimes, the presence of these seemingly pointless but loving acts lead me to question if we truly have better things to do with our time.

I dont know, ma. Do you think we do?

Well [] She said with a somewhat sheepish smile. Id like to think that weve tried to make more time for these things, and that we can always try again as long as we have the desire to.

After a few turns, the roof, then the rest of our houses parts were eventually visible again.

When we had reached the driveway, my mother cleared her throat. Lets try to go on more walks together from now on. What do you say about that?

A rush of relief unknowingly flowed into my chest, the acknowledgment of this clambering itself to pull the two corners of my lips upward into a smile. Yes, lets. But if we were to walk during the weekends, lets please go on evenings instead.

***

The writer is a law student at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. She is also the alumni of a Creative Writing Workshop at The Jakarta Post Writing Center.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

We are looking for contemporary fiction between 1,500 and 2,000 words by established and new authors. Stories must be original and previously unpublished in English.

The email for submitting stories is: shortstory@thejakartapost.com
Sebastian Gunawan, or Seba as he is known by friends and the media alike, began his journey in fashion at an early age. Born in Jakarta, the designer credits his mothers style as sparking an interest that would later be honed in Los Angeles in the United States and Milan in Italy.

In 1992, the Sebastian Gunawan label was born, and the rest is history.

As part of the celebrations of his 25 years in the industry, Sebastian along with his wife and partner-in-creativity Cristina Panarese launched a book titled Whisper/ROAR.

The title of the book calls to mind Sebastians collection from his eponymous label, showcased earlier in October 2017 to mark the labels silver anniversary. The namesake collection itself is a compilation of Sebastians hits, ranging from bold black and reds to delicate lace and floral themes in dramatic silhouettes.

The book launch is the climax of a series of celebrations for the anniversary of the Sebastian Gunawan label after the Whisper/ROAR collection unveiling and an exhibition of our past work, Sebastian said.

The 250-page book features a decades worth of Sebastians collections spanning from 2007 to 2017, shot by photographers Peter Tjahyadi, Anton Johnsen and Moko Wong.

Each chapter of the considerably large book is filled with photographs capturing minute details of Sebastians pieces, a fitting tribute for the designer who is known for his attention to detail and feminine look.

While the Whisper/ROAR book is surely a must-have for fashion aficionados and young designers, those not sartorially inclined could at least peruse it as a conversation starter.

The book itself is not available for purchase at regular bookstores, so those looking for a piece of Indonesian fashion history will have to order it directly from Sebastians team.

Glamourous look: A page of the Whisper/ROAR displays an array of evening dresses. (Tim Muara Bagdja/File)

The limited-edition book, which took one and a half years to make, was made from paper directly imported from the US, the designer said.

I originally wanted to launch the book along with the fashion show, but the production took too long so we had to delay it.

He jokingly referred to an analogy of picking a favorite child to describe the curating process, as he considered it one of the hardest decisions he had to make.

The most time-consuming part was the curating process, as it was hard to pick which pieces would make the book due to the sheer quantity, he said.

For Sebastian and Cristina, the book launch was not only a milestone reached in a career spanning a quarter of a century, but also a gift for loyal clients and aspiring designers alike.

We wanted to leave a note that could inspire others. Like a notebook, it is small but it is filled with many things, Cristina said.

In other countries, I think it is a common practice for designers to create a book for documentation purposes. I hope that young Indonesian designers will be motivated to create an archive of their works as a reference for the next generation of designers, Sebastian said.

The husband and wife team have embraced the ups and downs of their career in the fashion industry, leaving no regrets.

It takes a long process and an arduous struggle to stay on the path we have chosen and loved, but the sacrifices we make will be worth it in the end, Sebastian said. (jlm)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 08:52 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e65fc82 1 National surabaya,Chopperland,Jokowi,Royal-Enfield,traffic,East-Java Free

A motorcyclist who rode a modified motorbike similar to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's popular chopper was ticketed by a traffic police officer for not having rearview mirrors or license plate, Surabaya Police said on Sunday.

Andre Kurniawan, a resident of Surabaya, East Java, modified his motorcycle to look like the Chopperland owned by the President. He was going to register his bike at a Chopper Cup competition in neighboring Malang next week, he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

I was ticketed because [the motorcycle] did not have rearview mirrors or license plate, the 24-year-old Wonokusumo resident said.

He told the police that he was inspired to modify his motorcycle after he saw President Jokowi ride his Chopper during his visit in Sukabumi, West Java, on April 8. Unlike the Presidents chopper, Andre rode a 1990 Honda Astrea 800 motorcycle.

I spent Rp 10 million (US$708) to transform the old motorcycle into a chopper like the one Pak Jokowi has, he said, noting that the modification was ongoing, hence the absence of rearview mirrors and license plate.

Surabaya Police traffic unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eva Guna Pan Pandia said his team had been carrying out an operation on Saturday night on several roads across Surabaya when they found Andre. (vla)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 07:11 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e65b506 2 Business halal-certificate,halal-food,Muslim-consumers,Muslim-market,Muslim-economy Free

Indonesias growing Muslim consumer base has inspired companies to promote the halal label in their products, even if the brands sell non-food products.

Ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan, Sharp Electronic Indonesia launched its halal-certified refrigerator, claiming the electronic product was the first halal fridge in Indonesia. Some consumers have been perplexed about the halal label being used on a product that cant be digested, however the company argued the fridge would store the foods to justify the label.

What is the meaning of a halal fridge? Does it mean the raw material of the fridge is halal? I do not understand. Is it only a marketing gimmick? Those were some of the questions that came to Ifad Maulidis mind when he heard about the halal fridge for the first time.

The 23-year old banker always looks for the halal certification in food and beverage products and some cosmetics, but the halal certificate on an electronic product was new for him.

The Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI), the institution that issues halal certifications, has seen a rise in the use of the halal label for non-edible products besides cosmetics. In 2016, a hijab brand, Zoya, announced in an advertisement that its hijabs were the first to receive halal certification from MUI. The ad caused controversy because other hijab producers were offended. Later, Zoyas creative director, Sigit Endroyono, apologized during a press conference in Bandung, West Java, because their ad was perceived as accusing other hijab brands of being haram.

However, the controversy surrounding the halal hijab did not stop other companies from following suit. More and more brands have acquired halal certificates including Total Almeera halal detergent, Softex halal sanitary pads, Power Cat halal cat food and Medina halal plastic food containers.

Lukman Hakim, director of MUIs Institute for Food, Drugs and Cosmetic (LPPOM) said the institution had begun to receive more requests to assess non-food and beverage products. Id like to stress that MUIs position is to answer questions from clients regarding the halal status of their products. They ask and we answer by conducting an assessment, he said.

Lukman said a halal assessment request for a refrigerator was new for MUI as well. But since they asked about the halal status of the refrigerators raw materials, we have to answer it, he added.

For the refrigerator, MUI implemented the same assessment stages it conducts on other products. There were several criteria assessed, including the halal status of the raw material such as food liner, tray and the possibility of contamination during the manufacturing process.

When MUI decided to assess a product, Lukman added, it would only focus on the halal criteria. He said that MUI did not assess a brands motives as to why it wanted its product to receive a halal certificate.

In Indonesia, the number of products with the halal label has increased every year. The number of halal certified products in 2017 was 127,286, rising from 32,890 in 2012.

Marketing expert Yuswohady said the boom in non-food and beverage brands introducing halal certified products was a strategy to win the hearts of the huge Muslim market in Indonesia, which is almost 90 percent of the estimated population of 260 million people.

The Muslim market had been bullish since 2010, when the religiosity of Indonesian Muslims began to spread to horizontally, not only vertically, or between humans and God, he said. Horizontal religiosity affects how Muslims in Indonesia express their lifestyle based on sharia, or Islamic values.

Now, Muslims are more concerned with what they wear, how to dress, what they eat, how they manage financing, based on sharia. It is called sharia deepening, he said.

Yuswohady predicted that the trend of halal-certified products would continue to rise until next year, especially because Law No. 33/2014 on halal products mandated that all food and beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products bear halal certificates by 2019.

However, halal certification for products other than the three sectors could be a doubled-edged sword for companies.

What Sharp did in launching a halal refrigerator is considered a safe marketing strategy as a refrigerator is still related to food and beverages, he said.

However, Yuswohady warned brands to carefully implement halal marketing because it could backfire. Some customers could think such promotion is just a gimmick.

For example, Tiki, a South Jakarta resident who cares about halal labels in food and beverages and cosmetics, believed putting a halal label on certain products, like fabric softener, was confusing. It might be a marketing strategy, but it could lead to confusion among customers, she said.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (Reuters) Kolkata  Mon, May 28, 2018 08:21 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e65dfd0 2 World Bangladesh,Rohingya-Muslims,Myanmar,refugee,asylum-seekers Free

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged India on Friday to lean on Myanmar to take back Rohingya refugees who are camped in her country in the tens of thousands.

Hasina met her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the start of her trip to the eastern city of Kolkata.

"I seek your support to build pressure on Myanmar in taking back their citizens," Hasina said.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled into Bangladesh from Myanmar since August to escape a military crackdown, launched in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks. Refugees have reported murder, rape and arson by Myanmar troops.

Washington has called the army response "ethnic cleansing," which Myanmar has denied, saying its security forces were conducting a legitimate counter-insurgency operation against what it called "Bengali terrorists".

"We have given them (Rohingya) food and shelter as we could not drive them out on humanitarian ground," Hasina said.

About 40,000 Rohingya from Myanmar have settled in India in recent years.

Modi's government has taken a tough stance on them since coming to power in 2014, calling them a security threat and saying they should be deported.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Central Java  Mon, May 28, 2018 16:18 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e6753e1 1 National IdulFitri,Idul-Fitri,Idul-Fitri-2018,Batang-Semarang-toll-road,Kali-Kuto,Holtekamp-Bridge,#IdulFitri,#IdulFitriExodus,idul-fitri-exodus Free

Authorities are accelerating the construction of the Kali Kuto curve bridge, which is located on the Batang-Semarang toll road. The bridge, which weighs 2,400 tons and is 100 meters in length, will become a landmark in the area.

The bridge consists of 12 parts with a composition of 6:6. The installation of the bridge was conducted on-site, said Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono on Saturday.

With a total weight of 2,400 tons, it is difficult for workers to assemble the bridge in a factory. The installation can only be conducted on-site because the location is not prone to earthquakes.

In progress: Workers tie together parts of the Kali Kuto curve bridge with heavy equipment. (JP/Suherdjoko)

Kali Kuto is the biggest curve bridge in Indonesia that has been assembled on-site. Unlike Kali Kuto, the Holtekamp curve bridge in Jayapura, Papua, had to be assembled by state shipbuilder company PT PAL Indonesia at its factory in Surabaya, East Java, because Jayapura is prone to earthquakes.

As of Saturday, 10 parts of the Kali Kuto bridge have been assembled. The bridge is expected to be completed two days before Idul Fitri to accommodate homebound travelers.

According to official data, 9.51 million people will travel via Central Java to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri, up by 15.9 percent from 8.2 million during last years holiday season.

They will use 1.19 million motorcycles, 812,000 private vehicles, 44,000 buses, 29 ships and 849 flights, while the remainder will travel by train. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 18:03 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e67ac66 1 City Bekasi,paddy-field,property,Agung-Sedayu,summarecon-agung,Lippo-group,Jakarta-Cikampek-toll-road Free

The Bekasi Agriculture and Fisheries Agency says rice fields in the city are declining every year and being transformed into residential areas.

Almost 90 percent of the rice fields here belong to property companies, hence the decline, said the agencys head, Momon Sulaeman, on Monday as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

Located near industrial zones and the Jakarta-Cikampek turnpike, the main highway to Bandung and other eastern areas, the West Java city has become a hotbed of infrastructure and housing projects.

Summarecon Agung, Agung Sedayu and Lippo Group are among the big property companies that have started housing projects in the area.

Read also: Bekasi sees Rp 7.8 trillion in H1 investment

A recent survey by the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association (REI Jakarta) of its 350 members found that Bekasi was the second favorite destination to develop landed house projects after Jakarta.

Momon said the Bekasi administration had planned to cooperate with developers and farmers in order to utilize the developers empty land for crop production.

As instructed by the Agriculture Ministry, we shall try our best to maintain our rice production to be self-sufficient, no matter how small the rice field is, he added.

Momon said Bekasi had harvested 3,325 tons of rice from 475 hectares as of May this year. Rice fields in Bekasi are located in 12 districts across the municipality, most of which are in the Medansatria and Mustikajaya districts.

Some 10 percent [of the total rice production] will be stored as food stock, he added, noting that the fields in Bekasi were harvested three times per year. (vla/wit)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 10:57 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e665787 4 Business BI,rate-increase,extraordinary-meeting Free

Days after the inauguration of Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, the BI board of governors will meet on Wednesday to discuss the latest economic and monetary issues.

Perry said in Jakarta over the weekend that the board of governors would continue holding its monthly meeting in the third week of each month, but additional meetings may be held if the central bank needed to give a quick response to a certain issue.

Holding additional meetings is possible. But I wouldnt call them an emergency meeting, he said as quoted by kontan.co.id.

Several analysts have speculated about the objective of the meeting. Some believed the bank would increase its seven-day reverse repo rate as the rupiah remained under pressure after the rate increase by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.50 percent on May 17.

In a meeting in August 2013, BI increased the reference rate by 50 bps to 7 percent.

Head of Gajah Mada Universitys economy and public policy study center, Tony Prasetiantono, estimated that BI would increase the rate by 25 bps, saying that the bank needed to increase the rate by 50 bps this month.

That is why it increased the rate by 25 bps [in the previous meeting]. After it is evaluated, it needs another increase of 25 bps, he added.

Meanwhile, head of the University of Indonesias economic and society investigation center, Febrio Kacaribu, said BI needed to monitor the market carefully before making any decision on the rate. He said capital outflow had started to slow down. (bbn)
Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri expressed hope on Monday that a coalition government could be formed quickly to shield Lebanon from regional instability and a dire economic situation which he said posed the biggest danger to the country.

Hariri was speaking after meetings with lawmakers over the make-up of the new coalition to be formed after a May 6 parliamentary election that strengthened the hand of the Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah and its political allies.

Pointing to complications ahead, the Christian Lebanese Forces party demanded government representation equal to its main rival, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), and competition for cabinet portfolios also surfaced among rival Druze factions.

"I am very optimistic, God willing, and I thank everyone for the cooperation they showed today," Hariri, who will be premier for a third time, told reporters. The post is reserved for a Sunni Muslim in Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system.

"Nobody wants to put a spoke in the wheel," Hariri said.

Lebanon's economic woes and unsustainable debt levels are seen as top priorities for the next government. So too is the Syrian refugee crisis for a country where one in four people is now a Syrian refugee.

Earlier, Shia Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted saying the government formation should take less than one month.

"Nobody has an interest in delaying the birth of the government or putting complications in its way," Berri told people who had visited him, the Hariri-owned newspaper Al-Mustaqbal reported.

HEZBOLLAH DEMANDS "WEIGHTY" MINISTRY

Hezbollah aims to secure a bigger say in the next government than it had in the last one, after the heavily armed group and its allies made significant gains in the election.

The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, told reporters after meeting Hariri that his party had requested a "weighty ministry" in the new government.

Senior political sources have said Hezbollah is seeking at least one service-provision ministry and will have three instead of two ministries this time. The group has typically taken ministries of marginal importance.

Hezbollah, along with groups and individuals that support its possession of arms, won at least 70 of parliament's 128 seats in the election, a reversal of Lebanon's last legislative election, which returned an anti-Hezbollah majority in 2009.

The staunchly anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces (LF) party is also seeking more government ministries to reflect its gains in the election. The LF, led by Maronite politician Samir Geagea, nearly doubled its number of seats in parliament, winning 15.

"The (LF) representation must be equal to the representation of the FPM," LF lawmaker George Adwan said after meeting Hariri.

The FPM was founded by President Michel Aoun, and has been led by his son-in-law Gebran Bassil since 2015. The group has been politically allied to Hezbollah since 2006.

Bassil, foreign minister in the outgoing government, said the FPM's share of cabinet posts should include either the ministry of finance or the interior, saying his party had been denied both since 2005.

Berri is insisting that the finance ministry remains with his Shia Amal Movement. Hezbollah supports that demand, according to sources familiar with the group's thinking.

The interior ministry was controlled by Hariri's Future Movement in the outgoing government. Hariri lost more than a third of its seats in the election, many of them to Hezbollah allies.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (Reuters) Beijing, China  Mon, May 28, 2018 09:35 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e66128f 2 World Beijing,China,Iran,denuclearization,nuclear-arsenal Free

China will host Iranian President Hassan Rouhani next month at a regional summit in a Chinese coastal city, the country's foreign ministry said on Monday, as major power scramble to save Iran's nuclear deal after the United States pulled out.

Rouhani will pay a working visit to China and attend the summit of the China and Russia-led security bloc the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the ministry said.

It did not give exact dates for his visit, but the summit is scheduled to be held on the second weekend of June in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao.

Iran is currently an observer member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, though it has long sought full membership.

Russia has previously argued that with Western sanctions against Tehran lifted, it could finally become a member of the bloc which also includes four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, Pakistan and India.

The 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions on Tehran. In return, Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities, increasing the time it would need to produce an atom bomb if it chose to do so.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States this month, calling the agreement deeply flawed, European states have been scrambling to ensure Iran gets enough economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal.

China has also strongly supported the deal and is one of its signatories.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 20:29 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e67ed60 1 City Jakarta-Bay,reclamation,Islet-C-and-D,islet-d,LBH-Jakarta Free

The Save Jakarta Bay Coalition (KSTJ), which strongly rejects the Jakarta Bay reclamation project due to the environmental damages it has caused, requested the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) to legally revoke a right-to-build permit (HGB) issued for man-made Islet D during the first hearing of the trial on Monday.

The lawsuit was filed by the KTSJ -- which is made up of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association and the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice -- against North Jakarta Agrarian Agency head Kasten Situmorang who had granted the islets developer, PT Kapuk Naga Indah, the HGB under Decision Letter No. 1697/HGB/BPN-09.05/2017.

Read also: Central government certifies islets C and D

The coalitions legal representative, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), said there were procedural and substantial defects in the issuance of the HGB.

LBH Jakartas Nelson Nikodemus Simamora said the HGB was contrary to the 2030 Jakarta spatial plan and was issued before the city even completed two bylaws on the Jakarta North Coast Strategic Area Spatial Planning and the Zoning Plan on Coastal Areas and Small Islands.

These are only two among 14 reasons provided by the coalition at the PTUN to urge the court to revoke the HGB.

We hope the judges at the PTUN will legally revoke the HGB, Nelson said in a statement. Jakarta Bay must be returned to Jakartas residents because the reclamation will only damage the environment, he added. (wit)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 09:35 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e661bc6 1 Business I-EU-CEPA,palm-oil,EU,comments Free

The European Union believes ongoing debate over palm oil with Indonesia will not hamper the progress of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA).

Vincent Guerend, EU head of delegation and ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, told The Jakarta Post that the EU did not consider palm oil to be a trade issue because he claimed that to date; neither tariff nor maximum duty had been imposed on the commodity.

Indonesia strongly protested the European Parliaments plan to phase out palm oil as a transportation fuel by 2021.

We are not specifically talking about palm oil [in EU-CEPA], because we have 15 chapters to discuss. It may be one aspect in wider issue, but from our point of view we had no problem at all. We imposed no tariff and half of palm oil [products] enters with no duty, he said on Friday.

Guerend explained that 95 percent of the I-EU CEPA covered trade issues; however he expected the agreement to also touch legal aspects such as intellectual property rights and labor, competition and public procurement laws.

We also expect to have a discussion on investment, he said.

The fifth round of I-EU-CEPA discussions is expected to be held in July.

Indonesia has completed eight trade agreement deals, including with Japan and Pakistan. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (Reuters) Indore  Mon, May 28, 2018 07:11 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e65b3fd 2 World India,murder,rape,rape-culture,violence-against-children Free

Naveen Gadke was arrested on April 20 and charged with the rape and murder of a baby girl in central India.

Three weeks later a court sentenced the 26-year-old odd-job man to death in the fastest such trial known to have happened in modern India, a nation where public outrage is running high because of a series ofrapes and related killings.

Police, prosecutors and the district court in the city of Indore worked at a furious pace to get the conviction quickly, amid a backlash on the streets, including marches in this city of about 2 million, 550 miles south of Delhi.

This is in a country where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government last month introduced the death penalty for rapes of girls under 12 years in response to public pressure but which has a notoriously slow court system, with cases taking at least six years on average to final ruling, according to governance tracking group Daksh.

But the pace of the trial, the intensifying push for speedy hearings in rape cases, and questions about the legal defence provided to Gadke  who pleaded not guilty - have raised concerns among some legal rights advocates.

They are fearful there will be wrongful convictions and hangings when a defendant cannot afford to hire a good lawyer.

"While expeditious trials are ideal, these should not be at the cost of fair trial safeguards like the right to adequate time to prepare a defence and the presumption of innocence," said Leah Verghese, senior campaigner at human rights group Amnesty International India, in an email response to questions.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Rebecca John said she was concerned. "As a principle, I am opposed to rushing through investigative processes and trial processes" she said.

But reflecting the mood of the nation, well-known Supreme Court lawyer Dushyant Dave, a vocal supporter of capital punishment, said India "needs to send at least 500 people to death in the next one year to end this endemic" of rape.

"Our system is archaic and extremely inefficient," he added.

Such views have resonated with the mother of the dead three-month-old girl as she sat on the front yard of a 200-year-old palace where her homeless family sleeps in the open.

She told Reuters she was happy with the swift verdict but her daughter would get justice only when Gadke is hung to death, just as quickly.

"Once such men are hanged, no one will dare to do anything like this to any girl," she said.

Rape victims and their families cannot be identified under Indian law.

Gadke could not be contacted as journalists are not allowed to speak with convicts in jail as per a home ministry directive. Sachin Verma, Gadke's lawyer, said his client told him that his estranged wife "framed" him, but said little else.

Reuters could not trace Gadke's wife to seek comment.

SLAPPING AND SHOVING

At trial, the mother, police officers and the prosecution lawyer said security cameras showed Gadke taking away the infant as she lay asleep by her parents. Fifteen minutes later, he was seen coming out of the basement of a nearby building, where her blood-smeared body was found, police said.

Medical tests, completed quickly under instructions from government officials, confirmed she was raped, and the semen from a vaginal swab was found to be a DNA match with Gadke, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters.

Gadke's lawyer Verma, who specialises in matters related to crimes against children, said he reluctantly took the case on state government orders.

That was after four other lawyers refused to defend Gadke, Verma said. In a sign of how high temperatures were rising in the community, around a dozen lawyers attacked the defendant outside the court when he first arrived, slapping and shoving him, according to police.

Prosecutors presented 29 witnesses, including police and shopkeepers who found the victim's body, and "everybody supported the prosecution", said Verma. He presented no witnesses for Gadke's defence.

Verma said he could have done better if he had more time to prepare for the case.

"They had to create a story and they had to decide quickly," said Verma, who is expecting to receive 4,000 rupees ($58) from the state government for representing Gadke. "My client told me: 'Everyone has already decided I am guilty. What's the point of all this?'"

Special prosecutor Mohammad Akram Shaikh said that they had "conclusive evidence" against Gadke.

Judge Varsha Sharma, who deals with matters related to crimes against children and ruled on the case, declined to comment.

SENDING A MESSAGE

Police pressed charges against Gadke within seven days of the crime, said Police Inspector Shivpal Singh Kushwah.

"All of us wanted to send a message that the law can work fast, and we succeeded," he said.

The court sat for seven straight working days to hear the case, unusual in India where one court is often dipping in and out of several cases on the same day. A government-run laboratory conducted tests on forensic evidence within four days of a police request. This usually takes more than a month, Kushwah said.

After hearing details of his crime from Shaikh and the witnesses, Judge Sharma found Gadke guilty and ordered his death by hanging.

"This falls under the rarest of rare case and it would be appropriate to hand such a criminal the toughest punishment," the judge declared.

The sentence has to be confirmed by a higher court, for which Gadke will be provided a different lawyer by the state government. The court's decision can be challenged in the Supreme Court. An appeal toIndia's president is the last resort. The entire process can take years.

ACCELERATION DEMANDED

Even before Gadkes trial, there were growing calls to speed up child rape trials.

Lower courts take an average of five years to complete cases of prisoners sentenced to death, high courts one year and four months, and the Supreme Court two years and one month, according to a 2016 report by the Centre on the Death Penalty in the National Law University of Delhi.

The university study found that 74 percent of 373 death row prisoners they interviewed were economically vulnerable. The majority were from low castes and religious minorities. In the Indore case, Gadke did various jobs like cleaning utensils in eateries.

By contrast, trials involving India's rich and powerful sometimes take more than 10 years. Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a wealthy self-styled godman who had many followers, was convicted last year on charges of raping two followers - 15 years after the case was registered.

Government statistics show that since 2012, when a young woman was gang raped in a moving bus in Delhi igniting national uproar, reported rape cases have climbed 60 percent to around 40,000 in 2016  about one every 15 minutes - with child rape accounting for about 40 percent.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Statesman/Asia News Network) New Delhi  Mon, May 28, 2018 21:07 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e680079 2 World Narendra-Modi,India,Indonesia,Singapore,visit,bilateral-meeting Free

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for a two-nation tour of Indonesia and Singapore on Tuesday, 29 May. While it will be Modis first visit to Indonesia, it will be his third to Singapore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for a two-nation tour of Indonesia and Singapore on Tuesday, 29 May. While it will be Modis first visit to Indonesia, it will be his third to Singapore.

The visit is being seen as Indias attempt at deepening the ties it shares with ASEAN nations in accordance with New Delhis Act East policy.

Modi is scheduled to reach Indonesia on 29 May and leave for Singapore from there on 31 May for a three-day visit till 2 June.

On 30 May in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, PM Modi is scheduled to hold a summit with President Joko Widodo. They will inaugurate a kite festival organised jointly by Ahmedabads Kite Museum and Jakartas Museum Layang Layang.

After his meeting with President Widodo, the PM will address a CEOs forum. The Muslim-majority nation is Indias largest trading partner within the ASEAN with bilateral trade standing at around $18 billion.

Modi will also address the Indian community in southeast Asias largest nation. Indonesia is home to around 100,000 people of Indian origin and 7,000 NRIs. The last visit made by an Indian PM to Indonesia was in October 2013 when then prime minister Manmohan Singh.

The PM has previously visited Singapore on two occasions  in March 2015 to attend the state funeral of the city states first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then again in November the same year for his first official visit.

This time, the PM will begin his Singapore tour from the India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibition.

With strengthening of economic ties with the city state high on his agenda, the PM will speak extensively about Indias economic engagement with ASEAN at various events centred on business, including a meeting with the top 20 CEOs of Singapore.

On 1 June, he will hold a summit meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob. A visit to Nanyang Technological University is also in his itinerary.

Singapore is home to around 800,000 people of Indian origin and has around 8,000 registered Indian companies.

The highlight of the PMs visit to Singapore will be his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue on 2 June. It would be the first time that an Indian PM will address the meeting of defence ministers, military chiefs and top defence officials from across the Indo-Pacific, held annually since 2002.

It is expected that Modi will speak on the challenge Asia and the ASEAN nations face from terrorism and other sovereignty issues. He will also discuss his successful informal summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi will also highlight the progress made in India-France relations with his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron  something that will also feature in his talks with the Indonesian President.

On June 2, he will unveil a plaque of Mahatma Gandhi and visit some cultural sites. Thereafter, he will visit the Indian Heritage Centre.

Before his departure for India, Modi will go to the Changi naval base, the latest naval facility of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, May 29, 2018 05:52 1232 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e686485 1 World ASEAN,India,Narendra-Modi,Jokowi,Mahathir-Mohamad,Lee-Hsien-Loong,Singapore,Malaysia,Indo-Pacific Free

The Indo-Pacific geopolitical framework will be on the agenda during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Jakarta to meet President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

On Monday, Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Pradeep Kumar Rawat said India shared similar views with Indonesia about the Indo-Pacific concept.

Modi will be in Jakarta from Tuesday to Thursday following an invitation from Jokowi.

Rawat said the Indo-Pacific had been on Jokowi's agenda when he visited New Delhi earlier this year for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. "The discussion will certainly continue [during Modi's Jakarta visit]," he said at a press briefing.

Jokowi, along with the Foreign Ministry, has been intensively introducing Indonesia's own concept of Indo-Pacific cooperation, which is based on the following principles: Open, transparent and inclusive, promoting a habit of dialogue, promoting cooperation and friendship and upholding international law.

The Indo-Pacific concept is a geopolitical framework that recognizes the economic power shift to Asia. Indo-Pacific refers to countries in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Global communities have several concepts regarding the Indo-Pacific framework, including the United States. Indonesia's concept is different due to, among others, an emphasis on ASEAN unity.

Apart from the Indo-Pacific concept, Modi and Jokowi are scheduled to discuss issues that concerns both countries in this very fast developing global situation.

"There are issues relating to maritime and economic development. The economic development of the world is still evolving. That will certainly be part of the dialogue," Rawat said, adding that the leaders would also underline cooperation in tourism to improve the two countries' people-to-people connection.

Indonesia, he said, was India's largest trade partner in Southeast. Last year, for instance, trade between both countries amounted to US$18 billion.

Apart from meeting Jokowi, Modi is planning to engage businesses and the Indian community in Jakarta.

He will leave for Kuala Lumpur on Thursday for a brief stopover to meet newly elected Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad. He will then embark on a state visit to Singapore at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 12:48 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e66c546 1 Business Palapa-Ring,information-communication-technology,Rudiantara Free

The government expects to complete the construction of a broadband network in the eastern part of the country under the Palapa Ring project by September this year, a senior official said recently.

I came here to ensure that all should be completed by the end of 2018. Hopefully, [the installation work] will be finished in August so that we can proceed with a stability trial in September, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said on the sidelines of his visit to witness the installation of sea cables in Minahasa, North Sulawesi over the weekend.

Rudiantara asked North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey to provide assistance in issuing the permit for the project as soon as possible.

Please help speed up the permit issuance [for this project, Rudiantara told the governor.

According to Rudiantara, the Palapa Ring project is one of the President Joko Jokowi Widodo administrations priority projects.

The administration aims to develop Indonesia by strengthening border areas and villages, Rudiantara said.

The Rp 14 trillion Palapa Ring project comprises three sections  the west, central and east  that will span around 13,000-kilometers. It aims to expand domestic broadband service nationwide, particularly in frontier, outermost and remote regions.

Should this Palapa Ring project be up and running, all regencies across Indonesia will be connected with a fiber optic backbone network, the minister said, adding that the presence of the network would narrow the digital gap among remote areas in the archipelago and major cities. (dmr)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 15:52 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e6742ab 1 Business Jokowi,regulation,revision,premium,sales,Java-island,Madura-Island,bali Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has signed a revised presidential regulation to require the sale of subsidized Premium gasoline at gas stations in Java, Madura and Bali.

Presidential spokesperson Johan Budi confirmed the decision on Monday.

The President has signed the revision and it is now in the process of being issued by the Law and Human Rights Ministry, he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

On Friday, Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory (BPH Migas) Agency head Fansurullah Asa said the President had signed the revised regulation. The former said he received the information from Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan.

This year, the government has allocated 7.5 million kiloliters of Premium, excluding for Java, Madura and Bali. Meanwhile, BPH Migas calculated that the government had to provide 5.1 million kl of Premium for Java, Madura and Bali until the end of this year.

Premium, which has 88-RON, is sold at Rp 6,550 (46 US cents) per liter, below 90-RON Pertalite, which is sold at Rp 7,800 per liter.

The policy will burden state energy giant Pertamina as the sole distributor of Premium gasoline as the real market price of Premium is Rp 7,350.

Previously, Pertamina said it would resume supplying 1,926 gas stations in Java, Madura and Bali with Premium gasoline, after having previously stopped supplying the gas stations with the fuel, claiming that customers preferred using non-subsidized fuel.

The move was made in response to a government request, as customers in several areas had complained about a lack of Premium gas. According to BPH Migas, there are 3,306 gas stations in Java, Madura and Bali. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Evi Mariani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28 2018

Now it is official: Residents of Kerang Hijau kampung in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, watch their neighbor attach an address plate on their house. For years, the residents have had to borrow other peoples addresses for their ID cards because the city administration did not consider their kampung to exist. (Courtesy of Arti Astati)

A 6-hectare kampung in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, is home to 1,900 families that depend on the citys fishery industry. The kampung had no official name and was non-existent on the map at City Hall.

But lately the residents have something to be happy about. Their kampung has finally been recognized by the administration and each of their houses now has a metal plate with a complete address to prove it.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 14:09 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e66f5a1 4 National e-ID,Home-Ministry,Bambang-Soesatyo,DPR,house-of-representatives,bogor,presidential-election,regional-elections Free

House of Representatives Speaker Bambang Soesatyo will ask the Home Ministry to provide an explanation as to why hundreds of e-ID cards were found scattered on Jl. Raya Salabenda in Bogor regency, West Java, over the weekend.

Were asking Commission II of the House to ask the ministry why the ID cards, declared defective, were kept and not immediately destroyed, Bambang said in a statement on Monday as quoted by tempo.co.

He said the e-ID cards could be misused for rigging regional elections this year or presidential elections next year.

House Deputy Speaker Agus Hermanto said the government owed the public a thorough explanation on the incident to shed suspicions, considering this year and the next were election years.

Hundreds of e-ID cards were reportedly were found scattered on a sidewalk in Bogor, West Java.

The ministrys population and civil registration director general, Zudan Arif Fakrulloh, said on Sunday that the cards were defective cards that had fallen out of a ministry car.

The car was reportedly transporting a box and sack of defective e-ID cards from the ministrys storage facility in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, to another storage facility in Semplak, Bogor.

I dont know the exact number of cards that had fallen out during the incident. But, with the help of the Bogor Police, weve successfully taken the defective cards to a storage facility [in Semplak] and well question the cars driver about the incident, he said as reported by tribunnews.com. (vla/evi)
Spain's parliament will debate a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government on Thursday and Friday.

"The speaker of the parliament announces that the debate on the no-confidence motion... will take place on May 31 and June 1," a Twitter message issued by parliament said.

The vote on the motion, which was called by the main opposition Socialist party, should take place at the end of the debate on Friday but it could be put off to Saturday, a parliament press office official told AFP.

The Socialists filed the motion seeking Rajoy's ouster in parliament on Friday, a day after a court fined his Popular Party for benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial.

Spain's National Court said Thursday it had uncovered a vast system of bribes given to former PP officials in exchange for lucrative public contracts between 1999 and 2005.

It sentenced 29 people to jail for a total of 351 years for corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the so-called Gurtel trial.

The PP itself was not on trial for direct involvement in the scheme but was found to have benefited from funds obtained illegally through "an authentic and efficient system of institutional corruption" including a slush fund. It was ordered to pay back 245,000 euros ($290,000).

"The question that will arise, Thursday or Friday, is whether to vote for or against the government. Cooperate or not with impunity. That is the question," a top Socialist party official, Jose Luis Abalos, said Monday.

The Socialists can already count on the support of anti-establishment Podemos but would need to convince Catalan separatists and Basque nationalists -- or the liberal Ciudadanos party -- to obtain a majority in the 350-seat parliament for the no-confidence motion.

Rajoy's allies Ciudadanos, who have overtaken the PP in some recent polls thanks to a hard line on Catalan separatism, immediately said it would oppose the no-confidence motion and instead called for snap polls.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra  Mon, May 28, 2018 18:50 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e67c454 1 National crocodile-attack,crocodiles,Mandailing,North-Sumatra,crocodile-attacks Free

A resident of Sundutan Tigo village, Natal district, Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, was attacked and killed by a crocodile in the Kunkun River on Sunday.

Natal district head Yuri Andri said the attack took the life of a woman from Sundutan Tigo when she was washing clothes at the edge of the river at 9 a.m. local time. Her identity has been withheld.

Yuri said a large crocodile suddenly lunged at the woman, causing her fall into the river. The attack was witnessed by other women who were washing clothes in the river.

The body of the victim disappeared after the attack. Local residents walked along the river and found the body at 4 p.m., Yuri told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The victims body was found submerged in 1.5 meters of water 100 meters from the scene of the attack.

Bite wounds were found on the body, such as on the right thigh. Parts of her body, such as her right side, knee and ankle, were torn, said Yuri, adding that the victims body had been buried in a public cemetery in Bulung Gadung village, Natal district, on Monday afternoon. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 12:41 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e66c061 1 City soekarno-hatta-airport,bomb-hoax,Lion-Air Free

Private carrier Lion Air removed on Sunday a passenger identified as YS, 25, from a flight departing from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport bound for Kuala Lumpur International Airport after the passenger joked about the presence of a bomb on board.

The passenger was removed before the plane took off and the airline moved all passengers to another aircraft as a part of security measures. Lion Air confirmed both aircraft were secured but the measures had caused a flight delay.

YS told another passenger that there was a bomb on board the plane when YS was boarding. The cabin crew and other passengers heard what YS said, Lion Air corporate communications strategist Danang Mandala Prihantoro said as quoted by kompas.com.

YS was later taken into police custody.

The flight, which was carrying 127 adults and six children, was scheduled to depart from Soekarno-Hatta at 11:40 a.m. but was forced to delay its departure to 2:15. p.m.

Read also: Garuda flight delayed for six hours over bomb joke

Three Lion Air passengers have been removed from flights for making bomb-related jokes and remarks this month.

As stipulated in Law No. 1/2009 on the Transportation Ministrys national flight safety program, anyone who gives false information that can endanger flight safety faces up to one year in prison. (ami/wit)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Mon, May 28, 2018 11:01 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e66629a 1 National tiger,tiger-attack,Sumatran-tiger,Kerinci-Seblat,Kerinci,Jambi,conservation,BKSDA Free

A Sumatran tiger that reportedly attacked a resident of Kerinci, Jambi, last week had returned to its natural habitat in the Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) after being chased away from plantation areas, a conservation official has said.

The Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agencys (BKSDA) conservation division head, Udin Ikhwanuddin, said the agencys rangers had monitored the movement of the 2-year-old tiger since Friday and concluded that the endangered species had left the plantation areas where it had been wandering about over the last several days.

As reported earlier, a Sumatran tiger mauled Rusmayati, 58, a resident of Pungut Mudik village in Air Hangat Timur district, Kerinci regency, on Thursday. She was severely injured in the attack.

(Read also: Kerinci resident injured in tiger attack)

Udin called on locals to stay alert because it was still possible for the tiger to return to the settlement areas. We are calling on all residents to understand that humans and animals can live together peacefully, he said.

Udin further said residents living near the TNKS could protect the national park from damage so that tigers could live peacefully in their habitat.

TNKS data shows that around 166 tigers live in the 1.36 million-hectare conservation area. Illegal logging activities in and around TNKS have threatened their habitat. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 28, 2018 12:18 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e669b26 1 World Din-Syamsuddin,Jokowi,Joko-Widodo,Rakhine,Rakhine-state,Myanmar,Aung-San-Suu-Kyi Free

World religious figures called for a peaceful reconciliation in religious and ethnic conflicts in Rakhine state, Myanmar, during their meeting with Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo's special envoy for interfaith and civilization dialogue and cooperation, Din Syamsuddin, who is also former Muhammadiyah chairman, said the world religious leaders met with Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw on Friday.

They include three Buddhist figures, including Supreme Patriachs from Sri Lanka and Cambodia and Risho Kosakai from Japan; Bishop Gunnar Stalsett from Norway; Vinu Aram from India and Rev. Koichi Sugino, the vice secretary-general of New York-based Religions for Peace International.

The religious leaders called to the government and the people of Myanmar to resolve the religious and ethnic conflicts in Myanmar in the spirit of humanity, peace and reconciliation, Din said in a statement on Monday.

Din further said Aung San Su Ki welcomed them in an open and intimate dialogue where she stated that Myanmar had adopted democracy and therefore highly respected human rights and democratic values. She said the problems in Rakhine province and other areas in Myanmar would be resolved with a spirit of peace and reconciliation.

Din said the latest developments in Myanmar, especially in Rakhine state had raised concerns in the region and needed to be addressed appropriately.

There was no other way to do it except to develop peaceful coexistence and the recognition of common citizenship for all people, he said, adding that he had asked for recognition and citizenship rights for Rohingyas who happened to be Muslim.

The religious figures also proposed an international conference on Myanmar in October. The conference is expected offer solutions to justice-related issues in Myanmar . (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (Reuters) Yangon  Mon, May 28, 2018 23:44 1233 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e683ba3 2 SE Asia Myanmar,Win-Myint,finance-minister,politics Free

Myanmar's president on Monday nominated 80-year-old Soe Win, a well-known financial professional, as the next finance minister after the previous one resigned, amid reports he was being investigated over graft accusations.

The appointment, expected to be confirmed by parliament this week, will probably reassure potential investors worried about the slow pace of financial reform and a lack of focus on the economy by the administration of Aung San Suu Kyi, analysts say.

Soe Win, the managing partner of Deloitte & Touche in Myanmar, previously worked at Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank before launching a second career as a consultant on tax and investment for international corporations.

Parliament posted his biography on its official Facebook page, along with a brief post saying, "Myanmar President has sent biography of the nominated person, Soe Win, for the position of the Union Minister of Finance and Planning".

Government spokesman Zaw Htay and permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Finance and Planning were not immediately available for comment.

The presidential office has not explained why the outgoing minister Kyaw Win resigned from the finance post last week. Kyaw Win and the government have also not commented on media reports that he was under investigation by Myanmar's Anti-Corruption Commission.

Soe Win joined a Myanmar state-owned bank in the early 1960s before a stint as a trainee at National Westminster Bank and the Bank of England in mid-1970s, according to a biography on the website of the Renaissance Institute.

Soe Win is a board member of Renaissance, a think-tank that advises the government on economic policy. Myanmar Vigour Co. Ltd., a business advisory agency he founded in 2003, became a member firm of Deloitte in 2015, according to the biography.

Nearly five decades of army rule has left Myanmar mired in poverty and plagued by corruption.

Economic growth, while still relatively strong, has slowed along with foreign direct investment since Suu Kyi came to power in 2016.

Apart from criticism over sluggish economic reforms, Suu Kyi has also faced international condemnation for a military operation that has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh, according to the United Nations and human rights groups.
The month of Ramadhan provides the perfect opportunity to organize gatherings, and iftar (breaking of the fast) is a meal many look forward to daily to enjoy with family and friends.

There are various ways you can get together to enjoy this meal, whether you choose to go to a restaurant, put together a meal at the office or even arrange an event at home.

Here are several options for going out or staying in for a group iftar, ranging from fine dining to more casual catering.

Altitude Grill

Altitude Grill steak. (Courtesy of Altitude/File)

Located on the 46th floor of The Plaza in Central Jakarta, Altitude grill offers a modern grill concept led by executive chef Gary Eng, a native Singaporean with seasoned experience.

During Ramadhan, the restaurant is offering an iftar set menu starting at Rp 350,000 (US$ 24.91) per person, which is available daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Opening with complimentary takjil (light iftar snacks), diners have a range of choices for their three-course meal. Options include seafood dishes such as the lobster bisque starter and the crispy Barramundi main, as well as poultry and meat options, including a choice between Australian sirloin or USDA beef fillet mignon.

If you can't make it to the restaurant, however, Altitude also offers catering to the office or home, with a set menu starting at Rp 300,000 per person.

Ristorante da Valentino

Ristorante da Valentino parmesan gremolata salmon with capellini zucchine. (Courtesy of Ristorante da Valentino/File)

Ristorante da Valentino is an Italian fine dining restaurant located in Setiabudi, South Jakarta. Situated inside the MD Place tower, the restaurant is laid out to offer a welcoming Italian home experience with a touch of luxury. Valentino, as it is commonly known, boasts four private rooms, a casual aperitivo section and a dining area with a seating capacity of 75.

Throughout the month of Ramadhan, the restaurant is also offering an iftar set menu at Rp 300,000 per person. The dishes on the menu include a choice of vegetable calzone as a starter and parmesan gremolata salmon with capellini zucchine as a main, as well as a mango panna cotta dessert. The set menu also includes free takjil to enjoy before the meal.

Putu Made

Those looking for a local taste could head to Putu Made, a restaurant in Senayan City shopping center, Central Jakarta that offers Balinese cuisine. Its Ramadhan menu highlights the restaurants signature dishes, such as ayam betutu (steamed or grilled chicken with betutu spices) and bebek klungkung (klungkung-spiced duck). Staff are ready to assist in creating a customized set menu for group iftar.

Guests could also organize to have the gathering in the restaurants private room. With four private rooms available, Putu Made can host intimate gatherings with up to eight people in one room, or join all four to welcome up to 50 guests. Booking a private room requires a minimum order of Rp 1,500,000, while regular dining could cost approximately Rp 200,000 per person.

Heryadi's Catering

A post shared by Heryadi's Catering (@heryadiscatering) on May 25, 2018 at 3:39am PDT

For a bigger group and a more casual setting, such as at the office or at home, Heryadi's Catering in Jakarta could be a choice for a no-fuss arrangement. With a special group breaking of the fast set menu starting at Rp 79,999 per person, Heryadi's is ready to set you up for an event with a minimum of 30 people, complete with tables, chafing dish heaters, plates, cutlery, as well as waiters to assist diners.

Its Ramadan package comes with a choice between two set menus, both which feature home-style local dishes such as sup bakso (meatball soup), grilled chicken with rujak sauce, fish with mango sauce and fried bakmi noodles, as well as bonus takjil, sweet iced tea and fruit to enjoy. (asw)
Bombardier Inc. will build two new private planes in response to growing demand for large-cabin business jets.

The Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft will come equipped with redesigned cabins, an optimized wing and all-new Rolls-Royce engines, Bombardier said Sunday in a statement. The models, which will have ranges of 5,700 and 6,600 nautical miles, respectively, will likely enter service at the end of 2019, the company said.

Canadas biggest aerospace company already is working toward the service debut of its largest-ever business jet, the ultra-long-range Global 7000, in this years second half. Montreal-based Bombardier is banking on the Global 7000, which will sell for about $73 million, to contribute about $3 billion in annual revenue at the start of the next decade.

Compared with Bombardiers existing Global 5000 and Global 6000 models, the jets unveiled Sunday offer at least 500 nautical miles of additional range, as well as a fuel-burn advantage of as much as 13 percent. The Global 5500 will be able to fly nonstop from Sao Paulo to Paris, while the 6500 can connect London to Hong Kong.

Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc is introducing a line of business-jet engines, dubbed Pearl, that will be the sole powering systems for the new Bombardier models, the London-based manufacturer said Monday in a separate statement.

Bombardier shipped 10 of the Global 5000 and 6000 jets in the first quarter, two more than during a year earlier. It delivered 45 of the planes last year, which represents about one-third of all of the companys business-jet shipments.

Read also: How to fly the best first-class seats, cheaper than economy

The Global 5500 will have a list price of $46 million, while the 6500 will go for $56 million, Mark Masluch, a spokesman for Bombardier, said in a telephone interview Sunday. Bombardier will continue to build the Global 5000 and 6000 models as well, he said.
The Russian Cultural Centre in Cairo honoured its Director of Cultural Activities Sherif Gad on the 30th anniversary of assuming his position during a ceremony held at the centre in Dokki, Giza on 23 May.

The ceremony was chaired by the cultural centre's director and advisor to the Russian Embassy Aleksey Tevanyan and was attended by the Russian Ambassador in Egypt Sergei Kirpichenko and

During the event, Ambassador Kirpichenko said that Gad is unmatched in his contribution to the development of Egyptian-Russian relations.

Kirpichenko said that Gad "works in this very sensitive position during an important historical period; he is an eyewitness to the history of these bilateral relations and his position has enabled him to deal with high profile figures, whether Russians or Egyptians."

The ambassador also said that Gad "has contributed positively to the rapid and continuous development between the two sides," and advised him to start writing his autobiography.

The event was also attended by a large number of diplomats, public figures and artists, including former dean of the Faculty of El-Alsun at Ain Shams University Makarem El-Ghamry and former member of the Supreme Constitutional Court Tahani El-Gebaly.

Also present was Kazakh Ambassador to Egypt Arman Isagaliev, who expressed his great appreciation for the role Gad has played in supporting Egyptian-Kazakh relations through his position as president of the Egyptian Association of Russian and Soviet University Graduates and his membership in the board of directors of the Kazakh-Egyptian Friendship Society.

Abdel-Hakim Gamal Abdel-Nasser, the son of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, praised during the event the important role played by the Russian Cultural Centre in promoting the Russian culture in Egypt and the relentless efforts by Gad in supporting the Egyptian-Russian relations.

The family of late president Abdel-Nasser considers Sherif Gad not only one of its friends, but one of its members, Abdel-Nasser said.

The ceremony was moderated by Dr Mohamed Nasr El-Gebaly, head of the Russian Language Department at the Faculty of El-Alsun, Ain Shams University.

El-Gebaly concluded the event by reading a letter from Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian President Vladimir Putins personal envoy to the Middle East and deputy foreign minister, where he congratulated Gad by saying, For many years you worked tirelessly to support the cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Egypt."

"Your honourable efforts have yielded concrete results that have doubled the number of genuine supporters who support the deep friendly relations that have long been established between our two countries and our peoples.

Gad thanked the ambassadors and the attendees for joining in the celebration, stressing that he is lucky for the support of his friends and that he is thrilled to bear the fruits of efforts to promote cultural relations with such an important country that has stood beside Egypt in times of peace, war and development.

Gad also thanked his family and the Russian Centre for their support in helping him reach this moment. He expressed thanks to the ambassador and the director of the centre for renewing their trust in him for a new period as director of the Russian Centres cultural activity.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Every indie kid's wet dream came true this weekend, as the likes of Noel Gallagher, Blossoms, Courteeners, Jake Bugg and Miles Kane arrived in Warrington for the first edition of Neighbourhood Weekender.

Following the success of its sister Neighbourhood Festival that takes place across various inner-city venues in Manchester each October, Neighbourhood Weekender took place in Warrington's Victoria Park over two days. The atmosphere seriously felt like a mini Leeds Festival - even the stages set out similar to that of the NME tent, BBC introducing stage and main stage - and there were various food stalls, rides and bars laid out across the park.

The Main Stage stood at the bottom of the park, playing host to some of the biggest names on the bill, while the Second Stage was the only one inside a tent. However, the 'third stage' was pretty special. Named the Viola Beach Stage, after the Warrington band who were tragically killed two years ago, hosted the 'up-and-coming' acts and was poignantly decorated with rainbow umbrellas - a Viola Beach icon after featuring on their single cover for 'Swings & Waterslides.

Ten Tonnes kicked off our weekend as he took to the Second Stage with his uplifting indie including tracks such as 'Lay It On Me' and 'Silver Heat'. This Saturday was a gloriously sunny day, and even though he was on the only 'indoor' stage, singer Ethan Barnett's chilled out tunes still brought the sunshine into the tent. Closing with 'Lucy' (not sure why that's my favourite...) his pretty packed out audience sang along to every word.

Fickle Friends The Big Moon brought a nostalgic-feeling crossover of pop, rock'n'roll and grunge to the Main Stage playing tracks from their debut album Love In The 4th Dimension. This was my first time seeing these gals, and theyre so impressive - vocals on point, amazing stage presence and a strong set list. Brighton pop quintet' set was great, their tropical infused pop complementing the beautiful weather Warrington had been blessed with wonderfully, 'Wake Me Up' being a definite highlight. Thenbrought a nostalgic-feeling crossover of pop, rock'n'roll and grunge to the Main Stage playing tracks from their debut album. This was my first time seeing these gals, and theyreimpressive - vocals on point, amazing stage presence and a strong set list.

Grunge trio Hey Charlie sassily tore up the Viola Beach Stage, treating fans to explosive tracks such as Love Machine and Hey. Theyre a band full of energy and excitement, and its almost impossible not to feel completely thrilled while watching them strutting about the stage doing their thing.

Heading back down to Main Stage, we caught huge indie pop band Circa Waves. Kings of crowd participation, they got their crowd completely riled up - up on shoulders singing, shouting, screaming - it was one of the most fun crowds to be in the middle of all weekend. They asked for pits, they asked for sing-a-longs, they asked for the camera men to focus on the crowd rather than the band. The quartet, fronted by Kieran Shudall, played the perfect mix of crowd-pleasing newer and older songs, finishing with fan-favourite T-Shirt Weather.

Sundara Karma played to a completely full Second Stage! We only got to see the first part of the set, but the bands choices of songs were disappointing. Though they opened with banger Loveblood, the crowd quickly settled down for the next four songs, many looking a little bored waiting for another song they could actually sing a long to, before we left to head to our next act. It was a shame, because Sundara Karma are a band that are usually subject to rave reviews from critics - but this set just didnt do it.

Jake Bugg Standing on the Main Stages viewing platform, it was duringthat it became apparent (and it would worsen over the weekend) that the sound quality coming from this stage was, to put it bluntly, fucking horrendous. Unless you were dead centred and down towards the front of the crowd (like we had been for the other acts wed seen on this same stage during the day) the music was quiet, fading in and out with sudden loud bursts, then sometimes cutting to being completely inaudible for a few seconds. Sometimes you could only hear a guitar line or a bass; sometimes you could hear the band play but not the vocals.

Nevertheless, Jake himself played a perfect set. Though, even after years of performing, he still appears a little shy and quiet on stage, its clear hes putting everything into the music hes playing instead. His last four songs were definitely the strongest: Broken, Two Fingers, Simple Pleasures and Lightning Bolt were perfectly placed on his setlist.

Finally it was time for Saturday nights headliners Courteeners to take the stage. Id love to say they were explosive, and Im sure they were - if you were stood front and centre. However, from where I was stood I could bare even whisper along to the words of Are You In Love With A Notion? without hearing myself louder than Liam Fray himself.

Still, it was a sight to behold as colourful flares were set off left, right and centre, covering Victoria Park in a smokey rainbow haze. The crowd were wild, jumping around as if this was the best day of their life - and for many, it actually might have been. Courteeners are one of those bands that bring together both young fans and old - the mix in the crowd was lovely as everyone put aside any differences and simply joined each other in song and dance. Men that didnt know each other were shouting the lyrics out to one another as they fell into an embrace, while younger people offered up their shoulders to shorter strangers.

Unfortunately, Northern Rails strikes cut the day short for many fans, but every single person leaving the park had a smile on their face, still singing along to the faint sound of Courteeners that could be heard the whole walk to the train stations.

After an incredibly successful and well organised first day (especially considering its the festivals debut year) - hopes and spirits were high for day two.

Take a bow, Neighbourhood Weekender.
From the initial support he got from BBC Introducing, he has now suppored Ed Sheeran and Haim on their tours and released a strong debut album. His latest single release, 'Dancing', is an infectious slice of indie pop. With a funky bassline and a catchy, feel-good chorus, the song features bitter sweet lyrics about betrayal of friends and being better of dancing on his own. Although the musician moves away from more generic lyrics in his debut album, Young Blood, the poppy chorus of 'Dancing' is, essentially, irresistably danceable. His strong vocals perfectly complement the song's style, bringing the rich bass and synths to life. Saint Raymond continues to prove his talent and versatility from Young Blood to latest EP A Light That Blinds, comparable to Coasts, Bad Suns and Dagny.
Metallica

(Photo credit: Matthias Willi)

Best Albums of 2017

Those who make such inaccurate statements have clearly never listened to Zeal & Ardor , who stand as one of the most eclectic and continually astounding musical outfits of the 21st century. Ever since their unassuming origins as the brainchild of founder and frontman Manuel Gagneux, the group have made a name for themselves by fusing two of the most seemingly incompatible musical styles in history: dulcet, African-American spirituals and heavy, fucking metal. I came to the realisation that people were fond of the uncompromising; of me not thinking about an audience, Manuel explains. And I think thats also something that Death Grips do, or why I gravitate towards their music. They dont give a shit about their audience and people feel that; theyre fascinated by that. So I tried to keep that with me as much as I could. The unapologetic and experimental nature of Zeal & Ardor has brought the band monumental success in a shockingly miniscule amount of time. Their debut album, the lauded Devil Is Fine , first blessed ears en masse in February 2017 and, by the end of the year, they had become hailed as bona fide heavy metal heroes: trailblazers transporting the genre to new, uncharted and much-needed places. I did this for myself and thought maybe some of my friends would get a chuckle out of it. I just had it as a pet project, until I had some songs and I uploaded it to Bandcamp. Then Rolling Stone followed suit and by then I was in too deep! laughs Manuel. Never ones to rest on their laurels, Zeal & Ardor already have a follow-up to Devil Is Fine in the pipeline. Their eagerly anticipated sophomore disc  aptly entitled Stranger Fruit  arrives on shop shelves on 8th June. The record is a true successor in every sense of the term: not only is it almost twice as long as its predecessor, but its also a heavily fine-tuned masterwork, focused entirely on exploring every nook and cranny of Zeal & Ardors patented slave-music-meets-metal stylings.To me, what made the first record work was that I didnt feel pressure. I wrote the record for myself and didnt want to cater to anyone. In order to get into that same mind-set, I think thats what people expected from the second record, also. That was a liberating thought. So to me it was an imperative not to restrict myself too much and just go crazy because, in the end, thats what people want from the record. They wanted something they didnt expect, which is a catch-22 to begin with, but whatever! The refreshing artistic liberty that Zeal & Ardor clearly enjoy on the unrestrained Stranger Fruit doesnt just limit itself to the music, either. In the lead-up to the new album, the band stated that its lyrics were designed to encourage the listener to dig a little bit deeper and find their own meaning in its words. Manuel elaborates: To me, it was important to have a certain level of ambiguity with the lyrics. In the first record, I used those black American music elements and gave little-to-no context for them. Whereas, with this record, I made a point of providing that context. Servants, for instance, is not abundantly clear if its set in the turn of the last century and if its about a slave rebellion, or if its about current middle-class America struggling. Their incomparably varied tunes  all of which seamlessly unite heavenly melodies with ominous, echoing dissonance  have deservedly made Zeal & Ardor one of the most inclusive acts in all of extreme music. Manuels avant-garde troupe are equally at home in the niche heavy metal world of Download Festival as they are in the mainstream environment of Reading & Leeds, with apparently no one able to resist this bands unrivalled, alien charm. We played a show in New York, in the Saint Vitus club, last year  certainly a rebel, black-clad sort of venue  and I was so surprised and so pleased by the audience being so mixed in age, gender, sexual orientation and race. I realised that it was like a weird hippie thing where everyone can relate to it in a weird way. As Zeal & Ardor stand on the top of the modern heavy metal mountain, their success could very well herald a new era for the genre: one that shies away from cliche and openly embraces aural diversification and experimentation.
The Cambridge Zero Carbon Society were occupying Greenwich House, the university's administrative offices, since 19th May. They have been demanding for the University to divests from fossil fuels at the University Council meeting.The decision was postponed for further deliberation following an inability to reach a resolution at the meeting. The Zero Carbon Society stated their plans to continue the occupation until the university agreed to a full divestment by 2022. Cambridge subsequently issued an eviction notice and sought a claim for repossession on 24th May, allegedly without seeking negotiations with the occupiers. The claim was granted on 25th May and bailiffs arrived to forcefully evict protesters several hours after the court's ruling. Students that were present during the eviction were also told by bailiffs to leave the land or be moved. Zero Carbon Society released a statement in response, writing that: We condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of the University executive, who would rather repress a peaceful, democratic protest than respond to calls to negotiate or engage with its legitimate demands. Following the eviction, an open letter is being circulated calling on alumni to boycott donations to Cambridge, and for the University to "uphold its students right to protest non-violently on campus, and to promise no further disciplinary or legal action will be taken against occupiers". Its first signatory is Liam McNulty, the Chair of the Noel Park Branch Labour Party, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP. A University spokesperson said: "The occupation at Greenwich House caused significant disruption both to the University staff who work there and to the vital work they carry out to support research and teaching across the university. "This was an unauthorised occupation, and proportionate legal action was taken to bring it to a peaceful resolution."
The

black
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
Barakat died on 27 May 1997; he was known for directing classics like The Curlews Prayer (1959), The Sin (1965), A Man in Our House (1961), and The Open Door (1963)

Well-known director Henri Barakat came to film through some effort; a graduate of Cairos law faculty, his family had intended him to be a lawyer. He instead travelled to France to study cinema.

Barakat, who was born in 1941, went on to direct 86 films, among them celebrated classics like The Curlews Prayer (1959), The Sin (1965), A Man in Our House (1961), The Open Door (1963) and The Count of Monte Cristo (1951).

East German film critic Erika Richter described him as one of the most prominent directors of realism, but Barakat was known for directing romantic films.

He however preferred not to be pigeonholed, arguing that romantic films had chosen him, rather than the other way around.

When I made my first film The Wanderer (1942) based on a story by the Russian short-story writer Anton Chekhov, I didnt set my mind to be specialised in one genre and as a proof I followed this film with a comedy film, If I were Rich (1942), then with a detective film The Accused (1942), the director once said.

However, after a succession of films starting with The Heart has Only One Lover starring Sabah and Anwar Wagdi (1945), I began to realise that I became more inclined to direct romantic films. But what I didnt realise was the reason behind this specific inclination? Perhaps because I love beauty and simplicity and the romantic stories provide this transparency in tackling the subject.

Barakat made a number of memorable romance films: Passion Beach (1950) and Heart to Heart (1951) both starring Leila Mourad; Tryst (1956) and Nowadays Girls (1957), both starring Abdel-Halim Hafez; The Lost Love (1970) starring Soad Hosni; as well as seventeen films starring Faten Hamama.

However, the films that he was made famous for were not those which made his name in critical circles; those were realist pictures. But his realism was of a particular type, concerned with the individual at the expense of the community.

Our knowledge of the social environment in Barakats films is generated from his protagonists unlike director Salah Abu-Seif also known for realism, who treats his protagonists as part of the environment that he conveys on the screen.

In other words, Barakat focused on the impact of the environment on his protagonists rather than the details of this environment. Thus, the actors emotions and expressions have supreme importance, more that their panoramic movement in the films setting, as was the case with Salah Abu-Seif. Thats what distinguishes Barakat and makes him stand out for what can be called lyrical realism.

For instance, in The Curlews Prayer, adapted from a novel by Taha Hussein, Barakat tackles the nature of social relations governing Upper Egyptian society and the inherited customs controlling these relations.

All this was seen through the face of Amna  the films protagonist  and her conflicting feelings towards those surrounding her, including fear, compassion, love, hatred, frailty and vengeance; and also through her reactions to what is happening and her swaying between objection and succumbing, desire and restraint, determination and retraction.

The same can be said about The Sin which was adapted from a novel by Youssef Idris and also starred Faten Hamama as its leading lady.

The difference between the two films lies in the nature of the protagonists suffering, through which Barakat presented, in The Sin, a realistic image of the migrant workers tragedy in the Egyptian countryside before the 1952 revolution.

If Barakats special realism has led him to the Egyptian countryside in The Curlews Prayer and The Sin, it drove him to portray the citys society members in A Man in Our House and The Open Door.

In the former, which was adapted from a novel by Ihsan Abdel-Quddous, Barakat presented the national struggle against the British occupation and its lackeys via a young man, Ibrahim, who attempted the assassination of the prime minister and went into hiding in the house of an ordinary family that had nothing to do with politics.

Later events reveal that this familys members arent any less patriotic than the young man who took shelter in their home. As for The Open Door, which was adapted from a novel by Latifa Al-Zayyat, Barakat displayed the transformations caused by the 1952 revolution on the Egyptian urban society through a young middle-class womans search for freedom.

The Open Door wasnt Barakats only film that dealt with womens issues; many of his other films also explored the same ideas. Maybe this was because Barakats favourite star was Faten Hamama, and therefore her protagonists were given a lot of screen time.

On the other hand, it may be because several of his films were adapted from female authors; as well as The Open Door, there was No Consolation to Women by Katia Thabet and The Night Fatma was Arrested by Sakina Fouad. And there is also the fact that Barakat has relied in his films on adaptations from writers known for supporting womens issue, like Ihsan Abdel-Quddous for example.

Whats striking is that Barakat, who made masterpieces before the 1970s, slipped into low-grade commercial cinema in his last twenty years of his life. He directed films such as Soldier Shabarawy, Hassan Bey the Poor Man (both in 1982) and Nawwara and the Monster (1987).

He did, however, mount a strong defence of his choices. What should I do if this was the prevailing current in cinema nowadays? It is unreasonable that I should stay without work, it is true that in order to work I made some concessions, but they have never stooped to lowliness. I didnt make a film which I felt ashamed of, he said.

The big-name director did however decide to retire after directing An Investigation with a Citizen (1993). He passed away on 26 May 1997 at the age of 83.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Silver Schools is held each year to showcase the talents of different jewellery schools worldwide

The Design Studio by Azza Fahmy has been selected to represent Egypt at Poland's Silver Schools exhibition.

Silver Schools is part of a festival held this year in Legnica, Poland from 25 April to 10 June, and its main event is the Legnica International Jeweller competition.

Comprising lectures, seminars and exhibitions, Silver Schools has been held annually since its launch in 2000, and aims to showcase the talents of different jewellery schools worldwide.

Also participating in the festival are jewellery schools from Hildesheim, Germany and Vilnius, Lithuania.

Egypt is represented at the Silver Schools exhibition with a collection of rings described by the Design Studio by Azza Fahmy as a catalyst for reflections on time and meaning.

The title of the show is "Three Rings," and it is made up of three main parts; an interactive installation of black wax rings inviting visitors to add their own, a video installation, and finally a series of rings, each corresponding with a book which explains the inspiration behind the rings design.

More than half a century ago, the Cairo-based Fahmy ventured as an apprentice into the male-dominated workshops of Khan El-Khalili, learning all about the centuries-old craft of jewellery making.

She then started her workshop with a handful of workers, aiming to tell stories of heritage and culture through her creations, before she launched her own line and eventually became one of the most well-known of all Egyptian jewellery designers. She has since collaborated with famous names on the catwalk, including renowned designer Mathew Williamson in 2013.

Fahmy is now known worldwide not only for designs that rely heavily on research, but also on Ottoman techniques of organising craftsmen.

In her workshop, craftsmen are ranked in three categories according to experience; the master (osta), the handy man (snaiei), and the young workers (sabi), and through this system the skills are preserved and passed on.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Tom DeLonge felt like people saw Blink-182 as a "boyband"

"People were putting us up and thinking we were a boyband. We didn't get it. We were like, 'What the f*** is going on?'"


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.
Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party marched through central Berlin to protest against Chancellor Angela Merkels government Sunday, and were kept away from a raft of counter-demonstrations by a heavy police presence.

Police said over 5,000 people turned out for the demonstration organized by the anti-migration Alternative for Germany, known by its German acronym AfD. A variety of counter-protests against the far right attracted well over 25,000 people in total, they said.

The AfD event opened with German flags, placards such as No Islam in Germany and chants of Merkel must go outside Berlins central train station. The partys supporters then marched to the landmark Brandenburg Gate. Opponents chanted Nazis out from the other side of the monument.

Some of the counter-protesters took to rafts on the Spree river, within sight of the train station. Groups organizing protests against AfD included artists and a coalition of Berlin music clubs hoping to blow away the party with loud techno beats.

About 2,000 police officers were in place to prevent trouble, including reinforcements from other parts of Germany. The march concluded without significant trouble.

AfD won 12.6 percent of the vote to enter Germanys national parliament last year on anti-migrant and anti-establishment sentiment. It is now the largest of four opposition parties after the countrys two biggest parties finally agreed to continue a centrist grand coalition under Merkel earlier this year.

Its march Sunday, an unusual move for a German political party, was headlined Germanys Future. An AfD regional leader, Andreas Kalbitz, proclaimed that this is a signal and argued that it shows AfD is the center of society.

In parliament, AfDs novice lawmakers have sometimes struggled to grasp basic procedures and stood out with blunt attacks on minorities, particularly Muslims, who made up the majority of the more than 1 million asylum-seekers to enter Germany in 2015 and 2016. Recent polls have put the partys support around the same level as in last years election.

Prominent AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch told Sundays demonstrators that the vital question for us is: freedom or Islamization?

Among the protesters was Silke Langmacker, an accountant, who carried a sign reading Taxpayers First.

We are here to stop the uncontrolled influx into the German welfare system, she said. The refugees must return to Syria and rebuild their country there.

(AP)
Insurgents excavated graves in a cemetery in a refugee camp in the Syrian capital Damascus in search of the remains of three Israeli soldiers who have been missing since Israels invasion of Lebanon 36 years ago, a Syria-based Palestinian official said.

Anwar Raja of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command said the bodies of the three Israeli soldiers who have been missing since a 1982 battle in Lebanon were transferred to Syria after the incident.

Israel says that on June 11, 1982, five of its soldiers went missing in a battle near the Lebanese village of Sultan Yacoub close to the Syrian border. Several years later, two of the missing soldiers were returned alive to Israel in prisoner exchanges with Syria and the PFLP-GC. The fate of the remaining three is still unknown.

Last week, Syrian troops regained control of the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk from members of ISIS after a monthlong battle. Before IS took the camp, several insurgent groups had a presence there including al-Qaida-linked terrorists.

Raja said the insurgents aim was to find the remains of the soldiers and transfer them to Israel. The refugee camp is home to the old Martyrs Cemetery where Palestinian fighters and commanders are buried. He said all tombs in the cemetery were excavated.

Raja added that Syrian security forces, while examining the belongings of gunmen being transported to northern Syria earlier this month, arrested a woman and confiscated two bags of soil she was carrying, apparently from the cemetery, and sent them to authorities for DNA analysis.

This demonstrates that (the insurgents) are keen to determine whether the Israeli soldiers were buried in this cemetery, he said, denying reports that the bodies were ever buried in it.

The department in charge of Israelis missing in action, or MIA, in the Israeli prime ministers office refused to comment.

Rajas said IS and other insurgents dug up the past years graves in search of the remains.

(AP)
A political faux pas occurred on Sunday evening in Israel when a pre-recorded broadcast on Channel 11 news asked young children to identify which people come from Iran from a group of photos. Among the photos presented was Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Yosef. Rabbi Yosefs photo was presented next to the photo of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

MK Michael Michaeli from Shas was outraged at the comparison. Just the notion that these two people, one of the Gedolei Yisroel and one of the greatest haters of Israel could ever be compared is outrageous and insulting. From Israels new broadcasting authority, (which runs channel 11) I would have expected far better.

Journalist Amir Ivgi who tweeted the video wrote: This was amusing in the public forum. Showing children pictures of the two personages and asking them to say whether each was Iranian or not Iranian. Wait a second, this is the same place that was shocked and appalled by children who had been hurt by hearing the words Shema Yisroel and Veahavta LReiacha

(YWN Israel Headquarters  Jerusalem)
According to a Channel 2 Hadashot News report, an aerial incident involving Russian and Israeli fighter jets occurred over Lebanon on Monday morning, 14 Sivan.

Two IAF F16 fighter planes were reportedly operating in Lebanese airspace when they were met by Russian SU-34 fighter planes and compelled to turn around and head back to Israeli airspace. There is no official comment on the report. According to the reports cited by Hadashot, the Russian planes may have been taking part in drills off the coast of Lebanon and Syria but were forced to land due to bad weather conditions.

There is footage released to social media claiming to be Russian fighter planes over Tripoli  but the clip did not show any Israeli jets.

Russia and Israel were yet to confirm the validity of the reports.

#_              pic.twitter.com/fKtknLP42S  Abdallah Samra (@AbdallahSamra92) May 27, 2018

Clearly the incident is being studied in Israel and the United States, as if Russia has decided to involve itself in day-to-day aerial military realities in Lebanon and Syria, it may result in new rules of engagement and operation, and the situation is likely to involve the USA, albeit not necessarily in the media.

Last week, the head of Israels Air Force Amiram Norkin, showed a picture of an Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jet  a warplane that has conducted airstrikes previously  flying near Beirut.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
MPOLONJENI  There was excitement, ululation and tears at Mpolonjeni Royal Kraal near Siteki yesterday, when the ruling Dvuba clan pronounced the name of their new chief.

Sibusiso Dvuba (28), a soldier based at Phocweni, was pronounced as the new chief of the area and he is now awaiting official endorsement by Their Majesties, as per dictates of Swazi custom. Dvuba broke into tears and wept immediately after he was presented to the scores of excited residents, who had long called for the installation of a new chief in the area. From today onwards, you have to respect him. He is now your father. When you meet him along the way; show some respect. He is also my father despite my age, said senior Prince Madubula Dvuba, as he held the hand of the new chief. Earlier, another senior, prince Elijah Mgodzi Dvuba, had told members of the ruling clan inside the main house to pray that the new chief gets the blessings of Their Majesties.

He stressed that the new chief would not be able to officially perform his duties unless he was officially endorsed and blessed by Their Majesties. We have all agreed as members of the Dvuba clan that we want to do this job and complete it for the benefit of the people of Mpolonjeni, he stated. The new chiefs official title is Jabhane II. According to senior members of the clan, the name is derived from the first leader of the Dvuba clan; Jabhane Dvuba, who died many years ago. Jabhane II is the son of Bhekindlela Dvuba, an heir to the chieftaincy but who died in December 2015 before he could be installed. Bhekindlela was the son of Chief Macebo Dvuba, who is still recognised in official documents as the traditional authority of Mpolonjeni Royal Kraal in Siteki. Meanwhile, the ceremony was characterised by singing and ululation.

Pastors also took turns praying and sharing the word of God. Dont be surprised to see so many pastors at the royal kraal; its a Sunday today, said the programme director. Speaking to journalists after the event, the shy-looking new chief said he was overcome with emotion when he was presented to the public. Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with the numbers of people who witnessed the event. He promised that once he was blessed by Their Majesties, he would work for the people of Mpolonjeni. The event was attended by residents of Mpolonjeni and senior members of the ruling Dvuba clan, including Chief Petros Dvuba of Mpolonjeni in Mbabane and Mpolonjeni MP Jacob Siwela.

Solomon Dube, the Director General of the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA), was also present. He is a member of the ruling Dvuba clan.
STANDERTON, SOUTH AFRICA  A man of Eswatini brutally met his death after he was strangled with his waist belt and necktie during a suspected carjacking in South Africa.

His ruthless attackers then dumped his body next to the road. The mans unresponsive body was found by a herdsman who was checking a fence along Leandra Road in the Mpumalanga Province town of Standerton last Tuesday.

Immediately after he stumbled upon the dead body, the herdsman reportedly called personnel of a local security company, who in turn called Standerton police at around 10am. When the officers eventually arrived at the crime scene, they learnt that the victim had multiple facial fractures, indicating that he was heavily battered. There were also lacerations around his neck. Also found around the scene were a knotted waist leather belt and necktie, which were allegedly used by the attackers to strangle the man before they took off with his car.

Police were able to identify the deceased as Sentakona Milton Ziyane (53) of Ngculwini, outside Manzini. The information about the mans identity was sourced from important documents which were found on the crime scene, which included his national identity card. Standerton Police Spokesperson Captain Fanie Nhlabathi believes the man was targeted for the car. He said the mans injuries were unimaginable. We suspect the man was strangled to death by his attackers, he said. Speaking during a telephonic interview yesterday, Nhlabathi disclosed that Ziyane was from attending a meeting at Newcastle, when he came across his attackers while headed for his place of residence in Evander.

Investigators were able to trace people who may know Ziyane using some of the contacts saved on his mobile phone.

The Standerton police mouthpiece said a woman from Evander, who knew the deceased, told detectives that she last heard from Ziyane when he was driving through the small town of Verdekoff in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday night. From then, the woman said she never heard from him as his phone suddenly went off. She only became aware that the man had been killed after she received a call from the police on Tuesday. She was invited to report to the Standerton Police Station, where she arrived in the company of one of the deceaseds male friends. The pair was then taken to a mortuary at the local public health facility, where they positively identified the deceased. We were hoping the woman would again report to the police station to assist in our bid to locate the mans relatives, but she hasnt been helpful in that regard, explained Captain Nhlabathi.

Police in the neighbouring country are still searching for the killers, who remain at large. Initial interviews conducted by the police had not sparked any leads, and as a result, Captain Nhlabathi pleaded with anyone with information about the incident to contact him at +277 8583 0371. He said they were still having it difficult locating the mans relatives in the kingdom, because the friend and the woman who initially appeared to have some knowledge about the deceased did not have any clues. When approached for comment yesterday, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba said they were yet to get a report on the incident.
You have reached a premium content area of TOL. To read this entire article please login if you are already a TOL subscriber.



Not a subscriber?



Annual membership costs only $55 per year for individuals ($33 for students) and organizational subscriptions start at $141 per year.

Subscribe today for access to:

Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles).


Actually, not really and I wouldn't care either way.What should be mentioned is that more tourist routes aren't really news despite celebratory coverage and social media jerk faux talking points.Example:The reality is that most people in Kansas City will live and die without ever needing or wanting to visit Iceland. However, this story hogging up space on the weekend does reveal the rise of localafter the practice has faded out in bigger and better cities . . . And so news that really matters is pushed aside whilst paid hacks pummel message boards, social media streams and MSM news outlets pretending that there's interest in voyages to places even more generic and middle-class than Leawood.You decide . . .
KCMO Downtown Agenda This Week

Jazz legends, First Friday festivities set the pace for the week ahead The fifth annual American Jazz Walk of Fame and the summertime return of Friday Fridays - featuring the kickoff of the Art in the Loop season - top the highlight reel of what's cooking in Downtown Kansas City this week, Monday, May 28 to Sunday, June 3.

Naming Latest Local Dead

Police identify 57-year-old man killed in Kansas City Saturday The Kansas City Police Department has identified the man killed in Kansas City on Saturday. Authorities were originally dispatched to the 5200 block of Lawn Avenue in Kansas City around 4 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found a man, deceased. He was identified as 57-year-old Charles Wofford.

Weekend Crash Aftermath Report

KCK man, 75, dead after wreck in Parkville The page you requested is currently unavailable. Pages on this site are constantly being revised, updated, and occasionally removed. You may have followed an outdated link or have outdated pages in your

Kansas City Sacrifice Honored

Gold star families remember lost loved ones at 'Celebration at the Station' KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 16th annual Celebration at the Station wrapped up on Sunday, May 27, but Memorial Day was just getting ready to begin. The Kansas City Symphony puts on the event to honor our fallen heroes through music.

Locals Betwixt Rock & Hard Place

Group of KC climbers working to teach others the joy of the sport In Northeast Kansas City, a group of climbers have been scaling rock off of Cliff Drive for decades. "It's in our backyard, so why shouldn't we use it?" Dan Allenbaugh said. Allenbaugh, who is the Interim Director of nonprofit Exploring Roots, wants to teach young people who live in the area to climb, too.

Lame-Ass Jurassic Park Debuts In Kansas

Dinosaurs Take Over Derby In 'Extravagant' Dino Theme Park Dinosaurs have risen in Kansas and are taking the city of Derby by storm, the Wichita Eagle reports. No need to worry though, as these dinos are all animatronic and have been awoken to entertain the public and brief them on an ancient history lesson that really puts Kansas on the map as an invaluable paleontological site.

Kansas City Fighting Legacy

One of our favorite pop stars reminds us that there's no such thing as etiquette in the social media era and recently offered a bold reality check to a fan with bad form.Closer to home, here's a glimpse at some important, bittersweet and interesting news links for today:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
SUMMER 2018 VIOLENCE THREATENS TO PUSH KANSAS CITY TOWARD "HOMICIDE EPIDEMIC" NUMBERS!!!

- Already KCMO ranks as one of the deadliest towns in the nation according to recent FBI stats.





- Violence and murder is higher in KCMO than NYC -- Around 1,655 violent crimes per 100,000 residents





Even worse, as homicide rates decline around the nation and even in Chicago, the quotient of Kansas City killing remains on the upswing.

A HORRIFIC SUMMER 2018 SLAUGHTER THREATENS KANSAS CITY!!!

Already this Memorial Day Weekend 2018 we've seen no less than half a dozen separate shootings and two murders.

Right now Kansas City counts 49 murders for 2018 so far. That's one more than last year at this time. In 2017, KCMO finished a horrific, crime-ridden year with 151 killings - A number which flirted with the all-time high of 153 set back in 1993.Accordingly . . .And here's where things get worse . . .Given the rate of killing currently underway. Kansas City authorities, politicos and neighborhood leaders are predicting rising violence this Summer.There isn't any new plan to curb the rate of local killing. Whilst the new KCPD Chief has improved morale, efficiency and neighborhood outreach for the KCPD. So far he hasn't made a dent in the quotient of killing and civic leaders aren't willing to hold him accountable for those numbers which many believe represent a broader scope of social problems beyond the control of this town's top cop. Local politicos would rather blame guns, poverty and Republican policy for crime which is more likely to garner support during election season.Even more interestingly,. It's just too scary to contemplate the international drug trade on local streets. KCPD is mad brave and dedicated to keeping the peace but cartels with connections across the globe simply have more resources and experience in their rough trade. The reality is that KC has always been a central distribution point for hard drugs for most of the modern era. Most of the traffic is coming from Mexico but insiders have already seen an uptick in high-priced heroin along with the rise of distribution networks for synthetic drugs from Eastern Europe, the Middle-East and Africa making their way to local streets. Go ahead and dismiss this trend as a conspiracy theory but look at the names in recent drug-ring busts from the U.S. Attorney's Office and they read like a virtual United Nations of dangerous criminals preying upon locals who can't think beyond old school neighborhood turf wars. While we can debate the merits of weed and the harmless silliness of pot smoking stoners, the reality that hard drugs like meth, all varieties of E, and classic coke bring violence with them.And so . . .Our blog community is doing its best to warn locals about the crisis of this trending topic before it's too late. Moreover, as we slouch toward election season, politicos begging for votes confronting a call for accountability amid rising deadly crime on local streets in mandatory.Sadly, over the past few years ago these very same people have only spoken to the rising trend in local murder with forums, speeches, pizza parties, pithy quotes and ultimately . . . Empty promises.Developing . . .
The old stone wall looks like others around town, low barriers built long ago to encircle institutions or cemeteries or private estates. This one, with crowned pillars and rusting ornamental ironwork, is a remnant running along two sides of the Broadway-Valentine shopping center, north of the Uptown Theater.
Internets silliness offered a local student an important lesson in legal debate and a media firestorm.The aftermath:However,You decide . . .
Today, the Ecusta veteran's memorial is located at the VFW on Nicholson Creek Road. The top of plaque reads, "Memorial Grove dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives in World War II that we might continue to live in happiness, freedom and security."

Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, is a day to remember those who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. The tradition of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers dates back to ancient times.

Although the practice did occur in the U.S. before the Civil War, it was not until 1868 that Decoration Day was regularly held on May 30.

The date was first referred to as Memorial Day in 1882. Following WWII the name Memorial Day was used more often and in 1968 it was declared the official name by federal law. Beginning in 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday observed on...
Scout Troop 703 and members of the Davidson River Board of Trustees placed 94 American flags at the graves of veterans buried at Davidson River Cemetery on Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day, which was celebrated on May 19, is a time set aside to honor all those who have served in America's military services. The flags will be left in honor through Memorial Day.

This community has lain their brave veterans within the bounds of Davidson River Cemetery since the early 1800s. If your relative served in the military but does not have a flag at their gravesite during this time, send a request t...
First place FFA team at the State Envirothon award was given to the Brevard FFA Senior team. Pictured, left to right, are SWCD Chairman Dick Bragg, team advisor, Dan Harris, Jacob Smith, Pearl Brown, John Pickford, Ryan Jackson and Daniel Toole. Team member not pictured is Madison Baldridge.

Around 60 people gathered in the Rogow Room of the library to attend the Transylvania Soil and Water Conservation District's (SWCD) annual appreciation and awards banquet. The district hosts this event to honor the volunteers that have helped throughout the year with such events as the annual tree sale, seventh grade conservation field days and conservation education contests.

This year, the district also used this opportunity to acknowledge several students who won area and state awards, as well as announce the district's "2018 Conservation Educator of the Year."

The Transylvania SWCD...
With vacationers arriving throughout outdoor destinations in western North Carolina, park, forest and emergency management leaders will gather to talk about waterfall safety at 10 a.m., Thursday, at Cove Creek Group Campground in Pisgah National Forest.

The Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) is sponsoring the press event, according to a release.

In addition to remarks by park, forest and emergency management leaders, a team from the Transylvania County Emergency Management and Transylvania County Rescue Squad will perform a staged waterfall rescue.

We thought it...
Views like this one from the Appalachian Trail are only experienced from the middle of nowhere. Access remains an important issue for many people across the country.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the National Trails System, and on Saturday the American Hiking Society is celebrating its 26 year celebrating National Trails Day, a nationwide volunteer day that will collectively improve more than 2,802 miles of trail.

Trails have connected people in the Appalachians since long before Columbus and the Norsemen sailed to this continent, serving as migration routes for the Cherokee in our own backyard, and in some cases their footpaths have become modern thruhike trails.

Sections of the Bartram Trail in north Georgia and wester...
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

New Delhi, May 28

Fortis Healthcare on Monday said the Munjals-Burmans combine, whose bid for investing Rs 1,800 crore was approved by its Board, have consented to reopening the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

The development comes at a time when there is an uncertainty over the process of sale of Fortis as four of the directors, who had approved the Munjals-Burmans bid, are no longer on the companys Board.

In a regulatory filing, Fortis Healthcare said it has received a letter from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman family Officer ...giving their consent to reopen the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

In a letter to the Board of directors, Munjals-Burmans combine said it appears that there may be indecision on the part of the company regarding the bid process, which we understand could be on account of a few shareholders indicating their preference to the company for reopening of the bid process.

While expressing deep anguish and regret over the matter, Munjals-Burmans combine said they have consented to reopening of the bidding process in order to facilitate the company to expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the companys business does not suffer any further.

Fortis Healthcare, however, did not clarify whether it will reopen the bidding process.

When contacted, a Fortis spokesperson said the companys Board will take a decision on the matter without specifying when the meeting would take place.

Necessary intimation to the regulator and stock exchanges would be given accordingly, the spokesperson added.

Fortis Board of directors is scheduled to meet on May 30 to consider and approve the audited financial results for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2018.  PTI

Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow

The development comes at a time when there is an uncertainty over the process of sale of Fortis as four of the directors, who had approved the Munjals-Burmans bid, are no longer on the companys Board

Munjals-Burmans combine said they have consented to reopening of the bidding process in order to facilitate the company to expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the companys business does not suffer any further

Fortis Healthcare, however, did not clarify whether it will reopen the bidding process

.
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, May 28

Panic gripped patients as well the paramedical staff here after a fire broke out in an electricity panel room of the Civil Hospital here on Monday morning.

Patients as well as attendants were rushed outside the hospital building as they felt suffocation due to smoke caused by the fire, said sources.

The incident took place in the afternoon when one of the attendants noticed smoke and raised the alarm.

A short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire as it was an electrical panel that had caught the fire. The room where the fire broke out is situated on the ground floor of the building.

No loss of life was reported as the blaze was brought under control within few minutes. Normalcy returned at the hospital after a half an hour of the incident.

Fire tender fails to enter hospital
editorial@tribune.com

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, May 28

Farmer unions across the country have decided to suspend supply of vegetables and milk to wholesale markets from June 1 to 10. Growers from Haryana will join the Kisan Avkash as well.

Famers are demanding price fixation policies for agricultural and horticultural produce, loan waiver and implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations.

Gurnam Singh Charuni, state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, said farmers would sell their produce at their own counters in their respective villages or near highways.

The prices would be fixed by farmers to maintain profitability, but the direct buyer would have to pay high rates, he said.

Farmers will boycott sale in mandis and stay away from market purchase for 10 days. We had earlier proposed suspension of farm supplies, but now decided to open sale counters for the convenience of the public, said Charuni.

He is also a member of the executive committee of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, an umbrella organisation of 172 unions across India. He said farmers would sit on dharna during the Kisan Avkash.

The mahasangh had been demanding a price fixation policy to regulate business activities of middlemen in the supply chain of agricultural products.

Traders pay meagre amounts to farmers and the products are sold to consumers at high prices. We want the government to fix a minimum price for farm produce to avoid exploitation of farmers at the hands of traders, said Charuni.

There should be a transparent mechanism to regulate maximum profit margin for middlemen to ensure that the end user does not buy at a price several times the price paid to the farmer, he said. He said a campaign had been started to seek the support of people from non-farming groups.

The BJP governments at the Centre and in Haryana are suppressing the voice of farmers. Farmers are in a pitiable financial condition. We want a loan waiver and implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations to save lakhs of small and marginal families dependent on farming, he added.
editorial@tribune.com

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 28

Ranjit Singh (82), who fought a legal battle against the French Government to keep intact his identity as a turbaned Sikh, has returned to India with pain in his heart. He rues that neither any Sikh outfit nor the Indian Government helped him in his two-decade-long fight.

Singh, who was born in the districts Shahpur village, had left for France in 1991. Then, he was issued an ID with the turban and it was due for renewal in 2001. To get the ID renewed, the French authorities asked Singh to get himself photographed, this time without the turban. He, however, refused to comply and, after a couple of years, the French government stopped his social security allowance.

Ranjit took on the French Government and on June 12, 2012, the UN Human Rights Committee concluded that France had violated the religious freedom of Singh. But the French Government refused to extend social security allowance.

Singh returned to India on Saturday to stay with his younger son in Pathankot (Punjab).

He was in Ambala City with his son Manpreet Singh and daughter-in-law Kamaljit Kaur on Monday for some documentation work. He applied for an Aadhaar card. Soon, he will apply for other documents such as a medical card. Singh is suffering from multiple diseases.

Singh told The Tribune, Turban and untied beard are part of my identity. When the Indian Government had, in 1974, ordered Sikh soldiers to tie their beard, I refused to comply. As a result, in 1975, I was discharged from my duty after more than 20 years of service.

He was a sergeant in the Army. For the next 10 years, he practised as a registered medical practitioner (RMP) in Ambalas Nohni village.

About his inspiration, he said: Sikh soldiers who fought in World Wars I and II, and my maternal grandmother inspired me to always give priority to faith.

Singh said, I never had interest in politics. I still have no political agenda. I want to dedicate the rest of my life in the service of underprivileged children and sick people.

He is writing an autobiography about his struggle. The book will be completed soon.

He thanked a few people  Iqbal Singh Bhatti and Gurdial Singh, both from France, and Manoj Kumar from Ludhiana  for helped him in his struggle.
editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 28

Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala while addressing a joint meeting of the party workers of INLD and BSP from Gohana and Baroda Assembly constituencies at Gohana on Monday said, Though I am not a forecaster, but on the basis of my political experience, I can say that the Central government can hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assembly any time between October and December this year.

He announced that after forming an alliance with other political parties, every effort would be made to instal BSP supremo Mayawati the Prime Minister of the country.

Chiding the state BJP government, Chautala remarked that any government which had failed to provide basic amenities to its people had no right to rule. He asked the workers to make the partys Jail Bharo Andolan a great success.

He said that after formation of the INLD-BSP alliance government in the state, Roti, Kapra, Mukan, Health and Education would be provided to the poor and needy. INLDs national spokesman Dr KC Bangar, district president Padam Singh Dahiya, and other leaders of the BSP and INLD were present at the meeting.

Interestingly, on the direction of INLD supremo, the party workers and mediapersons were not allowed to take photographs of the meeting.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 28

The acute water crisis in the capital triggered law and order problem last midnight when residents blocked a road and stopped a water tanker near Kanlog. The tanker was released after the police intervened. The angry mob then overturned the police vehicle.

Impatient for water, the residents thronged the CMs residence, Oakover, at 1 am and raised slogans. They had a scuffle with policemen when they tried to enter his house. Three residents, who were reportedly roughed up in the scuffle, accused the DSP and SHO of thrashing them. They were taken to Ripon hospital for medical examination, but no FIR was lodged.

DSP Praveen Kumar and SHO Ravinder Kumar accused the protesters of attacking them and got themselves medically examined at the hospital, said Dr Ranjna Rao, Medical Superintendent.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation pressed into service 14 water tankers and eight pickup vehicles. Water was being lifted from the Sainj.

Residents of the main baazar, led by Congress councillor Inderjeet, gheraoed the MC control room at midnight and raised slogans, demanding the resignation of Mayor Kusum Sadret and Deputy Mayor Rakesh Sharma. The residents were supplied water on Monday after six days, they said. The city got 18 MLD water, but no emergency planning was put in place to distribute it fairly in 34 wards, they complained.

The water helpline was not working and it seemed the whole system had collapsed, said a retired officer, who lives in Panthaghati.

The residents have started fetching water from baolis which were declared unfit for human consumption.

These baolis are located in Chakkar, Tara Devi, Dhobi Ghat, lower Sanjauli, Dhalli, lower cemetery, Maliana, Shanag, New Shimla, Vikasnagar and other places.

Kalka road blocked

The agitated residents of Bouleauganj and Chakker protested against the unavailability of water on Monday evening and blocked the Shimla-Kalka highway near old barrier. Administrative officials reached the spot and talks were on to defuse the situation. TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, May 28

A jawan and a civilian were killed during an exchange of fire between Army personnel and militants outside an Army camp in the Kakapora area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district. After the Centre announced cessation of operations during the holy month of Ramzan, this is the first strike by militants where forces have suffered a casualty.

Also, three Army men were injured in an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) early in morning in Turkewangam village of Shopian district in south Kashmir.

The soldier killed in the Kakapora firing has been identified as Vikram Singh and the civilian killed as Bilal Ahmad Ganaie, a local Sumo driver. The incident took place about 10 pm on Sunday evening.

According to police reports, militants fired at an Army camp in the Kakapora area of Pulwama district in an indiscriminate fashion.

The Army men patrolling outside the camp retaliated the fire of militants, triggering a brief gunfight, a senior police officer said, adding that the militants managed to flee, taking advantage of the darkness.

As the firing subsided, the police said, it was found that a civilian had been shot dead during the crossfire and an Army man had been injured.

The soldier succumbed to his injuries at the Armys base hospital in Srinagar, said Superintendent of Police, Pulwama, Chaudhry Aslam.

The area was cordoned off following the firing, and massive searches were carried out to nab the militants. The searches were called off about midnight with no success.

In yet another militant attack in the wee hours of Monday, an IED planted by militants was detonated right in front of an Army vehicle in Shopian district, leaving at least three Army men injured. The soldiers were evacuated to hospital for treatment, a police spokesperson said.

He said that another IED planted in the vicinity of the detonated one was spotted and defused without causing any damage by alert security forces.

Militants rob bank in Bijbehara

Militants robbed yet another branch of J&K Bank, this time in the Mahend area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district. It is the twelfth robbery in south Kashmir since demonetisation was announced in November 2016. The police report says Rs 1.72 lakh was taken away from the branch in Mahend. The gunmen also took away two 12-bore rifles of the guards posted at the bank, a senior police officer said.
editorial@tribune.com

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

Three key separatist leaders in Kashmir are likely to hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss and take a final call on the dialogue offer by the Central government.

The meeting is likely to take place at the residence of Syed Ali Geelani and will be attended by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

The three separatist leaders refer to themselves as Joint Resistance Leadership, an issue-based coalition which they had formed two years ago.

Sources said, the leaders will take a final decision and then issue a joint statement about it.

The separatist leaders have so far stopped short of rejecting the dialogue offer made by New Delhi and also regarding the ceasefire, a major confidence-building measure announced earlier this month by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

On Saturday, the Union Home Minister also said New Delhi was ready for dialogue if the Hurriyat was ready to come to the table for talks. Rajnath Singhs offer of dialogue and ceasefire are the most visible indicators in the past decade that New Delhi is seriously considering a policy of talks with the separatists.

The separatists have been cautious in their reaction so far and have avoided any impulsive or uncalculated response. In their joint statements, they have also left windows open for possibilities of further negotiations.

In response to the ceasefire, the three separatists had described it as a cruel joke, mainly objecting to its limited time period of one month and instead demanding a permanent peace.

In the recent months, Geelani has repeatedly said his 2010s five-point proposal should form the basis of talks. The five points proposed by Geelani include repeal of black laws, demilitarisation of populated area, release of political prisoners and recognition of Kashmir dispute.

Pak, Hurriyat should engage with Delhi: PDP

Peoples Democratic Party vice president Mohammad Sartaj Madni on Monday expressed hope that Pakistan and the Hurriyat would respond to New Delhis offer and help relieve people of the subcontinent from sufferings. Madni said, The involvement of Pakistan and the Hurriyat in resolving the Kashmir problem can become a reality soon. Addressing a public gathering at Kulgam in south Kashmir, he said the Indo-Pakistan confrontation and perpetual insurgency had wreaked havoc and people of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered the most.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Srinagar, May 28

Three soldiers were on Monday injured in an IED blast triggered by militants in Shopian area of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said.

Another IED was detected near the scene of the incident soon after.

Militants in the wee hours of Monday blasted an IED when an Army vehicle was passing from the area on Turkwangan road near Zainpora in Shopian district, a police spokesman said.

He said militants had planted the IED near the water tank which was set off early morning when an Army vehicle was passing through the area.

The vehicle suffered damage due to the blast and the three jawans inside the vehicle were injured. The injured were rushed to hospital, the spokesman said.

It is learnt that militants after triggering the blast escaped from the spot. Bomb disposal squad deployed at the site of the blast recovered a second IED from the site, he said.

The spokesman said sanitisation of the area is underway to clear the track for vehicular movement. PTI
editorial@tribune.com

Jammu, May 28

In the wake of growing incidents of violence against children, particularly minor girls, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday called for a complete change in the mindset of people about women.

He also described the recent incidents of violence against children as unfortunate and shameful. We need a complete change of mindset on every issue. India has a history of women reincarnation. If we go through puranas, Saraswati Devi has been hailed as education minister, Lakshmi Devi as finance minister and Parvati Devi as defence minister, Naidu said.

Women are second to none if you give them opportunity Even in our country, we call it a motherland (matrabhumi) and not fatherland. That is the respect we used to give women, but now unfortunately if you see what is happening in certain areas and some incidents involving children, its really shameful, Naidu said, without naming Kathua and Unnao rape cases that shook the nation.

He said the enactment of law by simply bringing a Bill was not sufficient. What is required is political will, administrative skill and then go for the kill of evil. We should also protect our language and culture. Share and care is our basic ideology, Naidu said.  TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 28

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said India wanted good relations with all neighbours, but Pakistan must honour its commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for training terror.

Tension on borders had hampered the developmental activities in J&K, he said, adding that that no government could carry out development smoothly unless there was peace.

We want to have good relations with all. We don't have any problem in talking with our neighbours, including our immediate neighbour (Pakistan), but they also have to reciprocate in a similar manner. Pakistan must give up its policy of supporting, aiding, abetting and training terror, Naidu said while addressing scientists, students and staff of the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) here on Monday.

The Vice-President said, Pakistan must honour its commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for training terror. There should be zero tolerance on matters of national security and unity.

Governor NN Vohra, Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, Minister for Science and Technology Sajjad Lone, Minister for Higher Education Imran Raza Ansari and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Referring to the Rs 80,000-crore Prime Minister Development Package announced for J&K, the Vice-President said, Peace is prerequisite for progress. Peace and prosperity go hand in hand. If we have tension on the border, we cannot pay attention to developmental activities. The benefits of developmental activities worth Rs 1 lakh crore being spent by the Centre and state must reach the people.

In the recent flare-up along the 198-km-long International Border with Pakistan, at least 11 persons, including two BSF jawans, were killed and over 60 injured in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, besides forcing nearly two lakh border dwellers to migrate to safer areas in Jammu district.

In a word of caution to J&K, the Vice-President said, The world is going fast and we are living in an era of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. You can't afford isolation. When the world is progressing, other parts of country are progressing, why should J&K lag behind? This question should be put to ourselves.

Naidu also laid thrust on taking lab research to the fields for farmers, saying that the combination of science and technology and the practical knowledge of farmers will give good results.

Knowledge of the lab must go to the land. Merely doing research will not suffice. We (scientists) must spend time with farmers, who are also doing lifelong research. A farmer has practical knowledge and if we combine your science and technology and his practical knowledge, it will give good results, he said.

Earlier, Jammu IIIM Director R Vishwakarama presented a detailed report on the functioning of the institute and its achievements.

Discusses security situation with Guv

Governor NN Vohra on Monday briefed Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu about various important matters relating to the internal and external security management. The Vice-President, who arrived in Jammu for his daylong visit, discussed various important matters relating to security management along with the growth and development of the state during his meeting with the Governor. Vohra particularly informed the Vice-President about the consequences of the recent recurring violations of the ceasefire agreement across the International Border and the Line of Control.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 28

Every sixth second a person loses his life battling diseases gifted to him by the consumption of tobacco, which is the No. 1 risk factor for lung cancer.

While speaking about the World No Tobacco Day, which will be observed on May 31, Dr Atul Mishra, professor and unit head, Department of Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said, Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide today. Moreover, there are 1.61 million new cases of lung cancer per year and 1.38 million deaths, making lung cancer the leading cause of cancer-related mortality.

The overall five-year survival rate of lung cancer is dismal with approximately 15% in developed countries and 5% in developing countries, respectively. This can be attributed to delayed screening and miss diagnosis of lung cancer in the initial stages. There is a dire need to raise awareness among patients and caregivers about lung cancer, he added.

Tobacco remains the number one risk factor with 80% of lung cancer deaths, which are result of smoking. People who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from it than those who do not smoke. However, there is a rising prevalence of lung cancer among non-smokers too, he said.

In India, every sixth second a person loses his life battling diseases gifted to him by tobacco consumption. An estimated 60 million people die due to tobacco-related diseases, with nearly 10% being second-hand smokers, including family members losing their lives for the innocent mistake of breathing the same air as the smoker does, he added.

It is important to understand early signs of lung cancer, undergo screening and regular checkups, and seek appropriate treatment, he said.

Most lung cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy or a combination of three.

The goal of screening is to detect lung cancer at an early stage when its more likely to be cured. In Punjab alone, nine out of 10 lung cancer patients consult a surgeon very late only during stage 3 or stage 4. Patients should see appropriate treatment in stage 1 and 2 when surgery can help, added Dr Mishra while commenting on the importance of early interventions.

Know early signs of lung cancer

The symptoms of cancer are varied and depend on the type of cell affected, where it has spread and how big the tumour is. Some types of cancer do not present any symptoms until they are in an advanced stage. Thus, cancer screening and risk assessment are vital for its prevention and early detection.
vermaajay1968@gmail.com

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Shahkot, May 28

Polling in Punjabs Shahkot Assembly byelection remai-ned largely peaceful on Monday, with an impressive 76.6 per cent voter turnout. There were long queues outside all polling stations in Gidderpindi, Malsian and Shahkot in the morning, but the number began to dwindle in the afternoon as the mercury soared.

Congress booths were abuzz with activity at Shahkot and Malsian throughout the day while those of the Shiromani Akali Dal drew crowds in Lohian and Mehatpur. As many as 29 VVPAT machines reportedly developed snags during the polling. There was a group clash at a polling station in Umrewal Billa village in Mehatpur. Two persons were hospitalised.

The SAD cried foul as former Home Minister Brij Bhupinder Lalli, who quit the Congress and joined the Akalis on May 18, was arrested. Allegedly carrying a gun, he reportedly barged into the Sallah Nagar polling station where Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia had cast his vote in the morning. He was brought to the Malsian police post at 3 pm and booked under Section 188 of the IPC and Sections 132 and 134-B of the Representation of Peoples Act.

Livid, SAD spokesperson DS Cheema called his arrest a deliberate Congress and police ploy to curtail the movement of their polling agent in the crucial last three hours of voting.

Lallis lawyer Karampal Gill denied he had carried a gun inside the polling station. Lalli himself handed over his gun to the security personnel before going inside, he claimed.

He said the offences for which Lalli had been booked were bailable but the tossing of my clients turban by his opponents was a serious offence and they would lodge a counter-complaint.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP-Rural, said the police had acted on the complaint of presiding officers Ram Gopal and Harish Kumar Beri (polling booths 90 and 91).

Lalli had vigorously campaigned for SAD candidate Naib Singh Kohar. He particularly helped the SAD in the Lohian belt to which he belongs. The seat fell vacant following the death of Naib Singhs father, Ajit Singh Kohar, in February.

Congress candidate Ladi had lost to Kohar by 5,000 votes in February 2017. The third candidate is AAPs Rattan Singh. The counting will take place on Thursday.
editorial@tribune.com

New Delhi, May 28

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy today said he is committed to waive farm loans or else he will retire from politics, and asked people not to fall prey to the BJPs conspiracy.

The JD-S leader, who was sworn-in Karnataka Chief Minister last week after the Congress extended unconditional support to his party, said he is ready with the guidelines on farm loan waiver, details of which will be disclosed on Wednesday.

Kumaraswamy was talking to reporters here today after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have clearly said that I will waive farm loans. I had promised during election that I will do it in 24 hours. That is true. At least you should give time to breathe. Today, I have limitations.

If I dont do it, have clearly said that I will retire from politics and I will resign as chief minister. Why cannot you wait for some time?, Kumaraswamy told reporters.

He said he has heard statements by BJP leaders including BS Yeddyurappa on the issue of farm loan waiver. I am not sitting quiet. I am not Yeddyurappa to sit quiet. The guidelines to waive farm loans have been kept ready. They will be shared before the public on Wednesday in Bengaluru, he told reporters. The Karnataka chief minister accused the BJP of conspiring against him and urged the people not to fall prey to it. The JD-S leader said his government is for the people and he will serve the people till the time he is the chief minister.

Dont panic and get confused (by BJP statements). Not only on farm loan issue, I will work on other matters related to people. There will be a difference when I work as CM, he claimed.

Before his meeting with the prime minister, Kumaraswamy also met top Congress leaders in the national capital to work out power-sharing arrangement with the ally.

Meanwhile, in a fresh salvo, state BJP President B S Yeddyurappa threatened to take the next course of action if Kumaraswamy failed to deliver on his farm loan waiver promise within a week.

Kumaraswamy has told the media that he will resign from the chief ministers post if he fails to deliver on Rs 53,000 crore farm loan waiver within a week. We will wait until then and decide on the next course of action, he told reporters here.  PTI
editorial@tribune.com

satya prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 28

Despite the Supreme Court order striking down a law that entitled former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers to get government accommodation, many of them are not willing to vacate their bungalows.

The father-son duo of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav  both former UP chief ministers  moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking appropriate time for vacating their official residences allocated by the Uttar Pradesh government.

They had earlier requested the state government to give them two years to vacate their official accommodation. In its May 7 order, the top court had said a former chief minister was like a common man after demitting office.

The Chief Minister, once he/she demits the office, is on a par with the common citizen, though by virtue of the office held, he/she may be entitled to security and other protocols. But allotment of government bungalow, to be occupied during his/her lifetime, would not be guided by the constitutional principle of equality, a Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi had said.

The top courts order affected six former UP chief ministers  Mulayam, Akhilesh, Rajnath Singh, Kalyan Singh, ND Tiwari and Mayawati.

The Bench invoked the Preamble of the Constitution that talked about justice, equality, liberty and fraternity and explained how the 26th Amendment to the Constitution ended privy purse and privileges enjoyed by former rulers of princely states in 1971.

Noting that natural resources, public lands and the public goods like government bungalows/official residence were public property belonging to the people of India, the Bench had said: The Doctrine of Equality which emerges from the concepts of justice, fairness must guide the state in the distribution/ allocation of the same.

The verdict came on a PIL filed by an NGO, Lok Prahari, on whose petition the provision for accommodation for former chief ministers as made under 1997 Rules was declared invalid by the top court on August 1, 2016, on the ground that it was in direct conflict with the Section 4 of the Uttar Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981.

Thereafter, the law was amended during Akhilesh Government and Section 4(3) of the Act making former chief ministers entitled to allotment of government accommodation.
uttara@tribuneindia.com

New Delhi, May 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Indonesia and Singaporewith a brief stopover at Malaysiafrom May 29-June 2, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

The prime minister will visit Indonesia from May 29-31 and Singapore from May 31-June 2, the statement said. He will briefly stop at Kuala Lumpur on May 31 to meet the newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.

Prime Ministers official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership, delegation level talks, meetings with the business and Indian communities. In Singapore, Prime Minister will also deliver the keynote address at the 17th Shangri-la Dialogue, the statement read.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries in ASEAN, are Strategic Partners of India. Government of India attaches high importance to its relations with the ASEAN region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual ASEAN member states, within the framework of Governments Act East Policy. The visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, the statement said. Agencies
uttara@tribuneindia.com

KV Prasad and Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 30

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday insisted that her government has not said no to comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan but that terror and talks could not go together.

Addressing an annual press conference to highlight four years of the Modi governments foreign policy achievements, Swaraj reiterated that to hold talks, the atmosphere should be conducive.

We never said we are not ready for talks, but there is a caveat. Terror and talks cannot go together, be it post elections or even before. No talks so long as there are funeral processions on the border, said Swaraj.

She however referred to an April meeting called the Neemrana dialogue between India and Pakistan saying such meetings were exceptions. The Track II initiative, an informal dialogue process to bring down hostilities between the two neighbours saw a delegation of former Indian diplomats, military veterans and academics led by former MEA Secretary Vivek Katju travel to Pakistan to discuss ways to improve their frozen ties. Rejecting the opposition Congress claims that there was flip-flop on Pakistan, Swaraj claimed that the Modi government had succeeded in isolating Pakistan on the world stage and exposed its duplicity on terrorism.

Look Who Is Talking

Swaraj also hit out at Pakistan for its Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018, which seeks to integrate the region, territorially claimed by India, with rest of federal Pakistan.

On Sunday, India summoned Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner to lodge a strong protest. In its response Pakistan rejected the Indian protest, called entire Jammu and Kashmir a disputed territory, and said: Its disputed status is enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, which stipulate that the final status of Jammu & Kashmir will be determined through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite administered by the United Nations.

Swaraj on Monday called Pakistans response laughable.

They tried to teach us history. Pakistan always distorts history and does not believe in law. Only thing I felt reading their answer was, Look who is talking? said Swaraj.

Status Quo on Doklam

Asked about outcomes of recently held informal summit meetings with China and Russia, the Minister cited them as a new mechanism that no government had used before.

I told Foreign Minister Wang Yi not to tie down leaders with fixed agenda. Focus on increasing cordiality and confidence. These talks set a new template, she said referring to her talks with her Chinese counterpart in the run up to the Wuhan summit. Both Prime Minister Modi and President Xi have said that either leader could pick up the phone and talk when issues crop up, Swaraj added. She also dismissed off reports suggesting fresh Chinese troop build up at the Doklam tri-junction with Bhutan, where Indian Army and PLA mutually disengaged after a 73-day standoff last year. I am repeating again, at the Doklam face-off site there is no change in the situation, status quo is continuing.
vermaajay1968@gmail.com

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 28

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday insisted that her government had not said no to a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan but terror and talks could not go hand in hand.

Addressing a press conference on four years of the Modi governments foreign policy achievements, she reiterated that a conducive atmosphere was needed for talks with Pakistan, which faces a general election on July 25.

Referring to an April meeting, called the Neemrana dialogue, between India and Pakistan, she said such meetings were an exception. The Track II initiative, an informal dialogue process to bring down hostilities between the two neighbours, saw a high-powered delegation of former Indian diplomats, military veterans and academics led by former MEA Secretary Vivek Katju travel to Pakistan to discuss ways to bring about a thaw in the frozen ties.

Rejecting Congress claims of a flip-flop on Pakistan, Swaraj said the Modi government had succeeded in isolating Pakistan on the world stage and exposed its duplicity on terrorism.

Swaraj also hit out at Pakistan for its Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018, which seeks to integrate the region, territorially claimed by India, with the rest of federal Pakistan. India on Sunday summoned the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner to lodge a strong protest. In response, Pakistan rejected the Indian protest. Calling the entire Jammu and Kashmir a disputed territory, it said: Its disputed status is enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions, which stipulate that the final status of J&K will be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite administered by the UN.

Swaraj described the Pakistani response as laughable. Pakistan always distorts history and does not believe in law. The only thing I felt reading their answer was  look who is talking?

On the outcome of the recent informal summit meetings with China and Russia, she cited these as a new mechanism that no government had used before. I told Foreign Minister Wang Yi not to tie down leaders to a fixed agenda and focus on increasing cordiality and confidence. These talks set a new template, Swaraj said, referring to her talks with her Chinese counterpart in the run-up to the Wuhan summit.

Both PM Modi and President Xi have said that either could pick up the phone when an issue crops up, she added.
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May said UK courts have no business questioning the condition of Indian prisons.

Modi and May met along the sidelines of the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) summit in London in April.

Asked about fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya citing the condition of Indian prisons to UK courts to prevent his extradition, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today cited PM Modis retort to May on the subject. Prime Minister Modi told British Prime Minister that UK courts asking about the condition of Indian jails is not right, as these are the same prisons where they had jailed our leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Criticising the statement for its legal implications, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah wrote on twitter, I cant imagine this sort of comment strengthened Indias case  our jails are no better than/just the same as they were under colonial rule 70+ years ago. This is why we let lawyers argue these things.

Mallya, currently residing in UK, faces money laundering charges to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. A date for the final verdict in his ongoing extradition trail is expected to be announced on July 11 by the Westminster Magistrates Court in London.

Issues involving Indian fugitives like Mallya and Lalit Modi finding shelter on UK soil and the lengthy extradition process was discussed during the Modi-May bilateral meeting.

We have sent out Mallyas extradition request. One of the cases in the court if by the State Bank of India (SBI) consortium, which involves 12 banks. They have won the case and the money can now be recovered, added Sushma Swaraj.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Muktsar: A large number of farmers protested registration of cases against them outside the Co-operative Bank here on Monday. The protesters said: Before coming to power, the Congress had announced to waive farm debt, which never happened. It claimed that it had waived Rs 2 lakh, benefits of which never reached any farmer. Now, the bank is filing complaints on the basis of blank cheques given by farmers at the time of availing loan. The farmers handed over a memorandum to the bank officials. They also held a meeting to discuss their 10-day protest beginning from June 1. TNS
editorial@tribune.com

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 28

Satellite images showing the highest number of stubble-burning cases in the holy city post wheat harvesting has set alarm bells ringing. As per a report of the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), between April 10 and May 22, a total of 11,005 cases of stubble burning were detected in the state, with Amritsar topping the list (1,033 cases), followed by Sangrur (950) and Ferozepur (823).

In Bhatinda, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Moga and Tarn Taran, more than 700 cases were found.

Last year, a total of 13,441 instances of stubble-burning were detected during the wheat harvest season. As per an application of the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index (AQI) on May 28, 2018, (at 4 pm on the basis of average of past 24 hours) was 228, having prominent pollutants of PM 2.5.

The remarks were: poor air quality, with a breathing discomfort warning on prolonged exposure.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said the report of the PRSC was disappointing. On his directions, teams led by SDM Ajnala Rajat Oberoi on Monday visited the Ajnala belt, only to find burnt stubble along fields.

Offenders will be challaned. In the past one month, we have issued 25 challans in Ajnala alone, he said. The Agriculture Department has been advising farmers to dispose of stubble by reaping and mixing it with soil, suggesting them to take the help of various machines, including straw chopper, straw baler and happy seeder machines that sow wheat. Recently, on the recommendation of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, the government had mandated the attachment of super straw management system with self-propelled combine harvesters.

It cuts the straw into small pieces and spreads the same, which means farmers need not burn paddy straw before sowing the next crop.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has spent more than Rs 75 lakh on awareness drives, but in vain. PPCB chairman Kahn Singh Pannu said though there had been a decline in the number of stubble-burning cases this year, the air quality index of the state was poor.

Pannu said awareness drives would not serve the purpose until district administrations step in the picture.

The cases have gone down by 25 per cent as compared to the previous year, but a lot more needs to be done. The farmers were apprised of alternative ways like converting the residue into manure, but they chose to burn the stubble, he said.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Amritsar, Dr Dalbir Singh Chinna claimed that a few accidental fires were reported, but around 40 per cent of the farmers had not burnt any stubble this year. There should be a cheaper alternative, he added.

Gurvel Singh, a farmer living at Thatha village, said: Until the government comes out with a policy to supplement the income of farmers, the latter wont stop.

The crop residue will not decompose and those wanting to sow vegetables will not wait that long. The government should announce a subsidy on happy seeder machines or other chopper machines that cost anything between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, he added.
editorial@tribune.com

Chandigarh, May 28

Farmers have decided to hand over keys of their tractors to the local authorities at Samrala in a symbolic protest over the rising diesel prices on Tuesday.

BKU chief BS Rajewal said: Diesel is one of the major inputs in farm operations and despite tall claims by the government, no thought has been spared for the welfare of the farmers. Any increase in fuel prices has an adverse effect on prices of all farm inputs such as fertilisers, seeds etc.

The hike has come at a time when farmers are gearing up for the paddy season. The farmers will have to bear an additional burden of Rs 400 to Rs 700 per hour on diesel, he claimed.

He appealed to commuters using the Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway on May 29 to use alternative routes to complete their journey in solidarity with the farming community.  TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 28

In an indication of the Aam Aadmi Partys declining popularity, its booths were missing from a majority of the polling stations as Shahkot went to the polls on Monday.

This was in sharp contrast to the enthusiastic jharoo booths marked with banners and AAP flags across polling stations in the 2017 state Assembly elections.

The party drew a total blank on this front in the bypoll, thus displaying lack of enthusiasm to woo voters.

The main contest, thus, is being viewed between the ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

While AAPs only booths were visible at Kakar Kalan village (the native place of the party candidate) and Poonia, these were found missing across important places such as Malsian, Kohar, Seechewal, Gidderpindi and Rupewal.

Even at Kakar Kalan, the party only had a poster of the candidate, Rattan Singh Kakar Kalan, along with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and other prominent Punjab leaders.

Speaking to The Tribune, Rattan Singh said: We had set up at least 50 booths across the constituency, though I was not in favour of setting up even one... Its only an exercise to influence the voters, which we dont advocate. We shall even write to the EC on this... The people should vote of their own free will.

Interestingly, at many villages, the main rivals  the Congress and the SAD  had set up joint booths.

Akalis complain against Jakhars press meet

Chandigarh: The SAD took a serious note of a press conference by PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar at Punjab Bhawan on Monday, describing it a brazen violation of model code of conduct and an attempt to influence the voters of Shahkot on the day of polling as it was telecast live on some channels. A complaint was filed by SAD senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema with the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, as well as the Election Commission of India. Cheema also informed the CEO on the phone about the misuse of Punjab Bhawan by the PPCC chief on the day of polling. He demanded immediate action against the Congress and other officials responsible for the violation. Cheema alleged that the timing of the press conference revealed the intention of the PPCC chief to influence voting. tns
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 28

Members of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan staged a dharna outside the local branch of Agriculture Development Bank on Monday.

Annoyed over the registration of cheque bounce cases against farmers to recover loan, BKU senior vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke said on the one hand, the state government was boasting of extending farm debt waiver benefits to farmers, on the other it had directed banks to recover money from them.

He alleged that the farmers, who were unable to repay their debt, were being put behind bars in cheque bounce cases.

They are reeling under financial crisis and many have taken the extreme step. But the state government continues to pursue anti-farmer policies. The banks are depositing blank cheques taken from the farmers and the latter are being booked in cheque bounce cases and sent to jail, Jethuke said.

BKU leader Shangara Singh Mann said the state government should stop forced debt recovery and release the arrested farmers.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 28

Farmers will not be charged any bill for power meters being installed on agriculture feeders across the state, said Power Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar here on Monday. Addressing the media on the sidelines of a sangat darshan programme at Dayalpura Bhaika village in his Rampura Phul constituency, the minister said the government was committed to facilitate power free of cost to the agriculture sector, keeping in view the larger interests of the farming community.

He said meters were being installed to assess transmission and distribution losses so that the same could be controlled. Besides, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has also ordered installation of meters to assess the free units of power given to the agriculture sector.

He appealed to the farmers to cooperate with the power officials who visit their villages to instal meters.

Rejecting claims of the Opposition parties that meters are meant to serve bills to the farmers, Kangar claimed that no farmer would face any such problem. He told the farmers to approach him directly on the issue anytime.

According to him, in the PSPCL west zone, covering Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Muktsar districts, the work of metering agriculture feeders has been completed.
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Dehradun, May 28

Two persons hailing from New Delhi and one from Faridabad were killed on Monday when their vehicle hit a small bridge and fell into a rain-fed river on the Badrinath highway at Jiyalgarh, the police said.

The occupants were coming back from Kedarnath when the accident took place.

Two others who were seriously injured had been admitted to the Base Hospital in Srinagar, a police official said. The deceased have been identified as Anurag (27), Narendra (25), and Meenakshi (24). The injured are Amit Parcha (36), a resident of Uttar Pradeshs Modinagar, and Jyoti 34) from Delhi.  IANS
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 28

Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt on Monday said that due to the efforts of the BJP government under PM Narendra Modi there has been a qualitative change in the living standards of the farmers and the down-trodden.

In four years the Modi government declared MSP for several crops that was never done in the past. It helped the farmers economically, said Bhatt, addressing a press conference on the completion of four years of the Modi government.

Bhatt said that India had become a global growth engine and the efforts made by Modi government in several spheres had helped all the sections of the society.

The infrastructure being developed in the Himalayan states will go a long way in improving the lot of the people living in these mountainous regions, he said.

On the Tharali bypolls, Bhatt said that the BJP would improve its performance and will emerge victorious. He discounted rumours that the BJP was trying to avoid the urban local bodies elections. We are ready and it is up to the state election commission to announce the dates, he said.
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Our Correspondent

KANGRA, May 28

Senior Himachal Congress leader and former minister GS Bali on Monday threatened to launch a Rath Yatra in the state if the government failed to control grim law and order situation, address the issue of unemployment and was unable to rollback hike in power tariff and increased cement prices in the state within three months.

Addressing a press conference, Bali expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and alleged that there was some design to disturb peace in this peaceful hill state.

He said that rape cases in the state during the last five months had increased to 69 in comparison to 40 in the same period last year. There were 102 incidents of kidnapping, 183 thefts and 164 burglaries during the BJP government. This number was far higher than that during the same period last year. He expressed shock over the increase in the crime against the women in the state.

Bali described deterioration in law and order as alarming and suggested the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to wake up. The Chief Minister, though a gentle man, needs to deliver on various fronts. He alleged that the law enforcing agencies had been replaced by other agencies in the state which take law in their own hands and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere. He demanded exemplary punishment to such elements.

Bali alleged that the government had failed to address the issue of unemployment as number of unemployed youths has touched 11 lakhs. He demanded a white paper within 30 days from the government on employment generation and the policies in the coming four-and-a-half years.

Bali alleged that cement cost Rs 70 more in Himachal in comparison to Punjab despite it is produced in this state. He lamented that despite surplus power generation the state government had increased power tariff and demanded its roll back.
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 28

Uttarakhand CM TS Rawat and UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday laid the foundation stone of 100-room tourist complex to be built at a cost of Rs 41 crore on the premises of Hotel Alaknanda in Haridwar on Monday.

UP has agreed to hand over Alaknanda Hotel that was in its possession to Uttarakhand in lieu of a piece of land that is located on the premises of Hotel Alaknanda on the banks of river Ganga.

T S Rawat, in his address, said that in the last one year, several issues related to division of assets and liabilities between the two states had been resolved.

He said to promote tourism both the states would have to start working on joint ventures. Similarly, for conservation and preservation of water, both the states would have to come up with a long-term policy.

Yogi Adityanath said the new tourist complex would be named Bhagirathi Tourist Complex. He said all the pending issue of division of assets between the two states would be resolved through negotiations within the next two months. Yogi Adityanath said that UP would support any initiative to promote tourism taken by Uttarakhand.

He said before the Kumbh mela at Allahabad on in 2019, a work plan had been chalked out to stop the flow of all the sewers and Nallahs falling into Ganga river by December 2018. For this 1,556 villages along Ganga in 27 districts in Uttar Pradesh have been identified. Both of them also performed Ganga Arti at the river Ganga.
gspannu7@gmail.com

Paris, May 28

A Malian migrant who saved a four-year-old child hanging from a fourth-floor Paris balcony after scaling the building with his bare hands was honoured by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday and offered citizenship.

This just happened in Paris. Hero is Mamoudou Gassama pic.twitter.com/K7TGPg232L  Ben Phillips (@benphillips76) May 28, 2018

Two days after his daring Spiderman-style rescueviewed millions of times onlineMamoudou Gassama was received by Macron at the presidential palace.

All the (Gassamas) documents will be put in order, Macron told the sporty 22-year-old who has become a national hero, referring to his immigration status.

In the meeting, live footage of which was carried on the presidents Facebook page, Macron gave Gassama a medal for bravery and also proposed that Gassama join the French fire service.

I was not thinking of anything. I went straight up, Gassama, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved patterned shirt, told Macron, recounting the episode.

Bravo, Macron replied.

Im pleased because its the first time Ive received a trophy like that, Gassama, who arrived in France in September 2017, said after receiving his medal.

Gassama leaped into action Saturday evening on seeing a child dangling in mid-air from a balcony half-way up an apartment block in the multi-ethnic 18th district of the French capital.

The video shows him pulling himself up from balcony to balcony as a man on the fourth floor tries to hold on to the child by leaning across from a neighbouring balcony.

On reaching the fourth floor Gassama, who lives in a hostel for immigrants, throws one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child had already been rescued, with a spokesman saying that luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child.

Praising Gassama, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux tweeted: This incredibly brave act, which is true to the values of solidarity of our Republic, must open the doors of our national community to him.

His story instantly drew comparisons with that of another Malian migrant who was feted as a hero, and given citizenship, for helping save lives during a January 2015 terror attack.

Lassana Bathily helped hide hostages in the freezer during an Islamist jihadi attack on a Jewish supermarket, in which four people were killed.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo also lauded Gassama, who arrived in France in September 2017, for his act of bravery as well as phoning him personally to thank him warmly.

He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here.

I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France, she added.

Tracked down by reporters 24 hours after the heroic rescue, Gassama said he had acted without thinking.

I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child, he said.

I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down, he added.

According to initial inquiries by the authorities, the childs parents were not at home at the time.

The father was held for questioning by police for having left his child unattended.

The childs mother was not in Paris at the time.  AFP
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Bamako, May 28

Around 20 people, including civilians, were killed in a suspected jihadist attack in northeastern Mali near the border with Niger, sources said.

The deaths came after more than 100 people, including many civilians, particularly from the Fulani and Tuareg communities, died in recent months as a result of attacks by rival armed groups in the region.

A local official in the town of Talatayewhere Saturdays attack took placesaid late yesterday that the assailants arrived in three vehicles and on a motorcycle.

Khalil Toure, a teacher, added: They opened fire on a group of people resting under a tree, killing five people on the spot and wounding two. Jihadists have also ramped up their activities in central Mali in recent months, targeting domestic and foreign forces in violence once confined to the countrys north.

France intervened militarily in Mali in 2013 to help government forces drive Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists out of the north.

But large tracts of the country remain lawless despite a peace accord signed with ethnic Tuareg leaders in mid-2015 aimed at isolating the jihadists.

The violence has also spilled over into both Burkina Faso and Niger.

The French military has said the jihadist group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) is using the border region as a haven.  AFP
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

London, May 28

Human traffickers smuggling children from northern France to Britain could slip under the radar if law enforcers stop cooperating when Britain leaves the European Union, charities said on Monday.

Many children are trafficked to Britain from Frances northern port of Calais, where asylum seekers and economic migrants still gather, despite the dismantling of a huge camp known as The Jungle in late 2016, rights groups say.

Britain must ensure its cross-border partnerships with France to protect children and tackle trafficking are preserved after Brexit next March, said the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Europes policing and judicial agencies, Europol and Eurojust, and the European Arrest Warrant, are vital to Britains efforts to find child victims and prosecute traffickers, said Almudena Lara, head of policy at the NSPCC.

Britain has unfinished business with protecting the most vulnerable children from trafficking in Europe, and Brexit threatens to further weaken its response to this issue, said Jakub Sobik, a spokesman for charity Anti-Slavery International.

Joint investigations between British and European police forces could be jeopardised if Britain loses funding from Europe, said Tamara Barnett of the Human Trafficking Foundation.

The fear is that once we (Britain) leave (the European Union), our forces might not receive funding for this type of work, particularly since police resources are increasingly being cut anyway, Barnett told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The Home Office (interior ministry) said the support Britain offers to trafficked children would not be affected by Brexit.

We are committed to strong cooperation on security, law enforcement and criminal justice now and after we leave (the European Union), the spokesman said in a statement.

Of nearly 200 children living in camps in northern France referred to the NSPCC between August 2016 and November last year, about a third ended up in Britain. The whereabouts of the others remain unknown, according to a report by the charity.

Many of the children were sexually abused, made to sleep in rat-infested tents and beaten by traffickers, the report said, after many of them had fled conflict and crisis further south.

Britains exit from the European Union could hamper its fight against trafficking at a time when the number of people being trapped in slavery is on the rise, fuelled by social media, the countrys anti-slavery body said earlier this month.

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) said it was unclear how Brexit would affect Britains drive to crack down on human traffickers, but it was the key factor likely to impact the intelligence picture in coming years.

Britain passed the Modern Slavery Act in 2015 to crack down on traffickers, ensure businesses check supply chains for forced labour, and protect people most at risk of being enslaved.

In Britain, at least 13,000 people are estimated by the government to be victims of modern-day slavery - used in forced labour, sexual exploitation or domestic servitude - but police say the true figure is likely to be in the tens of thousands. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
sanjiv@tribunemail.com

Beijing, May 28

Irans president will attend a summit with his Chinese and Russian counterparts next month, officials in Beijing said today, as they try to salvage the nuclear deal thrown into upheaval by Donald Trump.

China, Russia and European powers, all of which signed the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, are scrambling to save the pact following the US presidents decision to quit the agreement and reinstate sanctions.

Chinas President Xi Jinping will meet Irans Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on June 9-10 in Qingdao, said Foreign Minister Wang Russian President Vladimir Putin will also attend the summit, he added.

Wang did not include the nuclear deal in a readout of the summits formal agenda.

But Beijing, which is Irans top trade partner and one of the biggest buyers of its oil, has signalled that it intends to keep working with the Islamic regime despite the US move.  AFP
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Jerusalem, May 28

Israels Defence Minister on Sunday announced that construction had begun on a marine barrier with the Gaza Strip extending into the Mediterranean Sea.

Avigdor Liberman said in a statement that the barrier aimed to prevent any attempts by Palestinians in Gaza to enter Israeli territory through the sea, Efe news reported.

This is an additional setback for Hamas, which has lost another strategic capability that it has invested massive amounts in developing. We will continue to protect the citizens of Israel with might and sophistication, Liberman said.

The barrier is to consist of three layers, one of which is to be underwater, and is expected to be completed within a year, the statement added.

During Israels 2014 assault on Gaza, members of the military wing of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that governs the Gaza Strip, managed to swim to Israeli territory and launch an attack on a Israeli army installation before being killed.

Israeli authorities are also constructing an underground barrier beneath the Gaza-Israel boundary to stop Hamas from digging tunnels into Israeli territory.

Israel claims Hamas constructs these tunnels to attack Israeli civilians.

An independent inquiry into the 2014 war in Gaza by the UN Human Rights Council concluded that the tunnels were only used to conduct attacks directed at IDF (Israeli army) positions in Israel in the vicinity of the Green Line, which are legitimate military targets. IANS
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Islamabad, May 28

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected the Oppositions protest against a new order relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying he has no authority over the region after the devolution of all the powers to local representatives.

Pakistans Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, which was also endorsed by the Assembly of the region. The order is being seen as Islamabads efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order. A complete strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday on the call of the joint Opposition to protest against the Order.

India on Sunday summoned Pakistans Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabads latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its forcible and illegal occupation has no legal basis.

The Order has also sparked several protests in the region.

Abbasi said that under the order, all the powers have been transferred to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination.

He said his government was ready to accommodate more demands from the representatives of the area.

Abassi said that he as well as Minister for Kashmir Affairs had no authority over the region after the devolution of powers.

From today I as the Prime Minster and Barjees Tahir as federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan have become powerless as far as the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned. All the powers have been shifted to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and no one can abolish the powers which we have transferred to them, Abassi said while addressing a joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly and GB Council on Sunday.

He said once powerful GB Council would function as an advisory body only.

He said he was amazed that some opposition parties were protesting against the law.

If they had listened, they would have noticed that all powers had already been transferred to local representatives under the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, he said.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier expressed hope that the region would be the most prosperous and developed area of the country under the project.

He said the international issues related to the region might go on, but it was a proud moment for the government as the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would have same rights which the people of other parts of the country enjoyed.

When Abbasi was about to start his speech, Leader of the Opposition in GB Assembly Mohammad Shafi Khan stood up from his seat and interrupted the CM to say Gilgit-Baltistan people had principally rejected the order.

How can GB be governed through orders? he asked.

Khan announced that the Opposition parties had decided principally not to accept any order without constitutional protection.

Other opposition members including Javed Hussain of Pakistan Peoples Party, Raja Jahanzeb of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Nawaz Naji of Balawaristan National Front stood up and shouted the slogan orders not accepted. The opposition lawmakers also tore the copies of the agenda.

During the protest, a scuffle erupted between the opposition and ruling party members. The opposition parties later staged a walkout.

Following the walkout by the Opposition, the Prime Minister began his speech. PTI
The domain turkeytelegraph.com may be for sale. Please click here to inquire
Turkmenistan celebrated Day of Turkmen Carpet and Workers of the Textile Industry. The largest festive events took place in Ashgabat, including the International Exhibition of Carpet and Textile Products of Turkmenistan, as well as the XVIII Conference of the World Association of Connoisseurs of Turkmen Handmade Carpet.

The exhibition brought together foreign companies operating in the field of cotton processing and production of high-quality textile products from two dozen countries. Among them were Swiss company Rieter, the world leader in cotton spinning, and a number of other manufacturers and suppliers of textile equipment from Germany, Italy and Belgium.

The exhibitors also included Turkish company Cotam Enterprises Ltd., the traditional partner of Turkmenistan, which has built a number of textile complexes in the country. This company is currently implementing projects in the textile sector in Akhal province.

As part of the forum, the best workers of the carpet and textile industry were awarded letters of commendation and valuable gifts on behalf of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. On the same day, the XVIII Conference of the World Association of Connoisseurs of Turkmen Handmade Carpet was held at the Ministry of Textile Industry.

The forum participants spoke about the results of the scientific research on the origins of carpet weaving in Turkmenistan and other countries in different historical epochs.

In the evening, cultural workers and masters of art of Turkmenistan performed in a big concert in honor of the workers of the carpet and textile industry of Turkmenistan.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
A fashion show was held in Ashgabat as part of the International Exhibition of Carpet and Textile Products.

Russian company RusModa presented clothes by young Russian designer Alexander Terekhov. Women's dresses and suits made of natural silk and modern fabrics with printed images and rhinestones are the visiting card of his collection. Alexander Terekhovs exquisite and refined dresses, emphasizing both the austerity and femininity of the silhouette, were warmly received by the public.

The Ashgabat Fashion House also demonstrated its collections during the fashion show. The fashion designers presented a collection of men's clothes, women's evening and wedding dresses, as well as original children's models.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
Members of peacekeeping troops attend a sent-forth event in Monrovia, Liberia, on Feb. 5, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Xiaoxin)

by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is "very grateful" for China's contributions to peacekeeping and the importance that China attaches to peacekeeping "sends a good message" to the rest of the world, spokesman for UN peacekeeping, Nick Birnback, said on Friday.

"China's contributions are very important," said Birnback in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, noting that "China's contribution has steadily grown over the years."

"That sends a message that one of the great powers is increasingly showing that it believes peacekeeping to be important. So, that's a good signal to the rest of the troops and police contributing countries and indeed to all our partners and membership," added Birnback, also chief of the Public Affairs Section of the UN Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support.

Twenty-eight years have passed ever since China began its participation in the UN peacekeeping operations in 1990, when Beijing sent five military observers to the Middle East.

Today, China has become the second-largest country to share UN peacekeeping costs and has some 2,500 peacekeepers serving in nine UN peacekeeping operations.

Speaking of the example that China has set for other big powers, Birnback said that as a permanent member of the Security Council, China's example is very important as "many members of the Security Council don't give forces to us."

Noting that some of the big powers "vote" and "pay (the peacekeeping fees)," which is, of course, "an incredibly important part of the equation," however, the message that is sent by a permanent member that "the Council is constantly increasing and sending forces to some of the difficult missions is excellent" and "important for people on the ground."

Birnback said that the reason why China's contribution is so important is also because of "the quality of the personnel we get," noting that the troops and police that China sends are "are well trained and are ready for the task."

"We can rely on them to execute the very complicated mandates that are signed," Birnback stressed.

Injured Chinese peacekeeper Si Chongchang (L) waves to people as he leaves a hospital in Dakar, Senegal, on June 26, 2016. Four Chinese peacekeepers, injured in terrorist attacks in Mali, left for China on Sunday. (Xinhua/Wang Meng)

In the same vein, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, told Xinhua last year that China dispatches "high-value, hard-to-source enabler troops."

"This in turn not only sends a good message, but allows us to be more effective on the ground," Birnback said.

Highly commending the China-based training bases for UN peacekeepers, Birnback said "those are important to us."

Noting that UN officials regularly visit those bases and discuss with Chinese government officials, military and police officers to make sure that all understand the challenges ahead and to work through some of the issues, he said UN officials have had "very good experience working with (Chinese) officials at those bases."

"What those bases do is guarantee that the forces and personnel that China sends are ready for the challenges that they confront on the ground," he said.

"They come ready to complete the tasks. And that's very important," he added.

Currently, Chinese peacekeepers are serving on a number of missions including, as Birnback put it, "some of our important and dangerous operations."

Due to their outstanding performance and the spirit of sacrifice for world peace, 18 Chinese peacekeepers have so far received the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, a posthumous award given by the UN to military personnel, police, or civilians who lose their lives while serving in UN peacekeeping operations.

The medal is named after Dag Hammarskjold, the second UN Secretary-General, who died in a plane crash in what is now Zambia in September 1961.

The year 2015 was a landmark of China's rise as a global security provider. Not only did China commit 8,000 troops to the UN peacekeeping standby force -- one fifth of the 40,000 total troops committed by 50 nations -- China also pledged 100 million dollars to the African Union standby force and 1 billion dollars to establish the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.

This year, the UN celebrates the 70th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, a unique and dynamic instrument to help countries torn by conflict transition to lasting peace.

The first UN peacekeeping mission was established in May 1948, when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Over the past 70 years, more than 1 million men and women have served under the UN flag in more than 70 UN peacekeeping operations. More than 100,000 military, police and civilian personnel from 125 countries currently serve in 14 peacekeeping operations.
Ruling BJP in HP trying to ride on sacrifices of martyrs of Indian Armed forces: Cong 12 Oct 2021 | 11:04 PM Shimla, Oct 12(UNI) State Congress unit on Tuesday accused the BJP in Himachal for trying to ride on the sacrifices of martyrs of the Indian armed forces to get electoral gains while alleging that ruling party was trying to run away from burning issues like price rices, lawlessness and lack of development, by raising emotional issues during the by election.

This was stated by the Himachal Pradesh Congress committee presidente Mr Kuldeep Singh Rathore while addressing a press conference here onTuesday. Mr Rahtore said that Congress could not be defeated in the by-election by riding on the bodies of the martyrs and claiming the valour of Indian Armed forces against the enemy. see more..

Assault on Dalit family: NCSC asks Tarn Taran administration to submit ATR 12 Oct 2021 | 11:04 PM Chandigarh, Oct 12 (UNI) Taking strong note over the brutal incident in which sarpanch and villagers of Assal Uttar village allegedly assaulted a Dalit family and molested woman for buying a piece of land in the village, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), on orders of Chairman Vijay Sampla, sent a notice to the Tarn Taran Administration on Monday, asking the officials to submit an action-taken (ATR) report till October 22. see more..

12 new COVID-19 cases in MP 12 Oct 2021 | 10:57 PM Bhopal, Oct 12 (UNI) Twelve fresh instances of novel coronavirus infection were reported on Tuesday in Madhya Pradesh following analysis of 53,260 samples even as six individuals recuperated, official sources said.

The district-wise break-up of new cases is Bhopal five, Rajgarh four, Indore two and Sagar one. A total 7,92,647 people became infected since commencement of the outbreak and 7,82,015 of them have recovered. The number of deaths is 10,523. see more..

KCR responsible for the backwardness of Palamuru: Revanth Reddy 12 Oct 2021 | 10:56 PM Hyderabad, Oct 12 (UNI) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & MP A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday blamed Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for the backwardness of Palamuru (Mahabubnagar) district and alleged that KCR provided an opportunity to Andhra Pradesh to call the pending irrigation projects of the district as illegal. see more..
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the opening of the 19th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 14th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Monday called for efforts to build China into a world leader in science and technology.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said as China strives for prosperity and rejuvenation, it needs to devote great energy to promoting science and technology, endeavoring to be a major world center for science and innovation.

Xi made the statement at the opening of the 19th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 14th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Xi said the circumstances, challenges and missions are pressing. He called on the country's science and technology personnel to grasp the main trends, seize opportunities, face problems squarely, and rise to challenges.

Xi said they should aim for the frontiers of science and technology, lead the direction of scientific and technological development, shoulder the heavy responsibilities bestowed by history, and be vanguards in innovation in the new era.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee attending the meeting were Premier Li Keqiang, Wang Huning, who is a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Han Zheng.
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- An international counter-terrorism forum hosted by China's armed police force started in Beijing Monday.

With the theme "Mountain Counter-terrorism Strategy," the four-day event, "Great Wall-2018 International Forum on Counter-terrorism," attracted more than 180 representatives from military and police from 28 countries and regions including France, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and Mexico.

"With joint efforts with our foreign counterparts, the 2018 forum aims to provide a platform for cooperation, share experience, and build capacity to counter terrorist incidents, thus effectively maintaining national security and social stability in our countries," said Qin Tian, deputy commander of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

"The world nowadays suffers from terrorism," said Col. Kahled Hanandeh, director of strategic studies at the General Directorate of Jordanian Gendarmerie.

"Terrorism is a crime which causes the loss of lives and destruction of property, in additional to psychological and social damage," added Hanandeh, stressing the importance of preventing and destroying terrorism cells through coordination and cooperation.

During the forum, participants will attend discussion panels concerning mountain counter-terror strategies, and observe drills such as combat-oriented shooting and resolving hijacking scenarios.

Initiated in November 2016, the biennial Great Wall forum aims to deepen cooperation, strengthen friendship, and enhance capability through sharing combat experiences with foreign counterparts.
Can you update us on the current payment and security landscape in Vietnam? Also, in comparison to other markets, how is fraudulent activity performed and controlled here?

Abdul Rahim

The internet, mobile technology, and rising social networks are having a profound impact on consumers, their habits, and how they behave.

In Vietnam, we are seeing a significant growth in e-commerce transactions. At the same time, fraud has shifted from the card-present channel, the bulk of which is counterfeit (CFT) fraud to the card-not-present (CNP) channel, primarily the e-commerce channel.

From 2014 to 2017, the percentage of CNP fraud in Vietnam has increased from 75 per cent to 83 per cent, and one of the reasons for this is the adoption of EMV chip in the market, which helps to prevent CFT frauds, and as such, frauds have migrated from the CFT to the CNP channel.

Globally, the fraud rate is less than 10 basis points, meaning out of every $100 spent, $0.10 is reported as fraud. For the Vietnamese market, its only $0.03 out of every $100 spent. The fraud rate for Vietnam has remained low due to the collective efforts of the Vietnamese government, payment networks, financial institutions, merchants, and law enforcement.

What is the role of Visa as a payment technology firm in helping Vietnam minimise the risk of fraud and ensure security for its customers?

We continue to focus on four data-centric strategies: devaluing data, protecting data, harnessing data, and empowering consumers.

Our best defense is to make data less valuable to cyber criminals. We started the journey with EMV chip technology, which helps mitigate the risk of counterfeit fraud. Tokenisation is another critical technology that helps to devalue data. It replaces the card number with a unique token number and even in cases where the token is stolen, itll be useless to the cyber criminals.

Cyber security today is fundamental and we must strenghten our systems against cyber attackers. The payment industry is one of the few industries with data security standards, namely PCI DSS. We must also build resiliency into our systems. Point-to-point encryption is another way to protect data from being compromised. It will ensure data is encrypted and should the encrypted data be stolen, it will be useless to the criminals if they try to perform fraudulent transactions.

As we employ technologies to devalue and protect data, we must also harness the wealth of data available to mitigate and fight fraud. Strategies include machine learning to identify and stop fraudulent activities, and technologies such as biometrics. Version 2.0 of 3-D

Secure, the authentication platform for online transactions, will help to deliver more data between merchants and financial institutions, improve security, and improve the customer experience.

At Visa, we have a risk tool called Visa Advanced Authorisation which enables banks to monitor their customers

activities. We look at more than 500 data elements to determine the likelihood of fraud and assign a risk score. Using the risk score, the banks can decide what action they want to take in relation to the customers transactions.

The fourth pillar is empowering consumers. Our research has shown that the consumer is one of the best and most under-utilised resources in fighting fraud, because theyre in the best position to tell the banks whether a transaction is valid or fraudulent

Were also collaborating with client banks to implement transaction controls which allow consumers to view and control their accounts in real time through their issuers mobile banking app, with no need to call the customer service. For example, with the use of the mobile banking app, they can decide whether to allow their payment card to be used for cross-border or international transactions, e-commerce, and even ATM transactions with the touch of a button.

Our focus is always to ensure that payment transactions are secure, reliable, and convenient  and this focus is critical to maintaining and strengthening consumer trust in every payment transaction. So, we collaborate closely with all stakeholders to maintain the integrity of the payment ecosystem, because ultimately if we dont, we will lose consumer trust in payments.

A new security roadmap to fight payment frauds

While the payment fraud rate is still relatively low in Vietnam, security measures must be taken

What plan does Visa propose for Vietnam as part of its security roadmap for the country?

Were actually engaging all the stakeholders, such as the issuers and acquirers, on the risk initiatives for the Vietnam market. Firstly, we aim to elevate the fraud management capabilities of banks as well as merchants in Vietnam to ensure that they implement robust fraud detection systems with artificial intelligence or predictive analytics. Secondly, we support the adoption of standards in alignment with global security and acceptance standards such as PCI DSS, EMVCo standards for QR codes, and security standards for innovations such as biometrics. These are the initiatives that were looking at this year.

From 2019 onwards, were looking at the adoption of 3-D Secure 2.0 across issuers and merchants in Vietnam as well as tokenisation for large Card-on-File (COF) merchants. By 2020 and beyond, were looking at transaction controls aimed at empowering consumers in payment security, and continuing with the roll-out of tokenisation at all COF merchants and for all card data held outside of financial institutions.

It seems like frauds and payments will often go hand-in-hand as no matter how advanced payment technologies grow, risks follow and fraudsters will simply develop to that same level. Will fraud always be part of the payment ecosystem and is it all you can do to prevent it rather than completely get rid of it?

Weve mentioned the importance of maintaining a balance between security and innovation. At Visa, our philosophy is responsible innovation: balancing the necessary security development with speed-to-market, meeting customer demand for convenience, and encouraging innovation without ignoring the obvious risks that engineering shortcuts could have on it. By adopting security by design at the beginning of any product implementation, its built in, not an afterthought or a bolt-on feature. For us, security must always keep pace with the speed of innovation and as we innovate our payment products, we must also strengthen and enhance our security controls.

The cyber criminals are well organised and are also actively engaged in the technology transformation, using more sophisticated tools and malware and always looking for weak links. The ecosystem is only as safe as the weakest link and the fraudsters are just waiting to find the one opportunity to commit fraud. So we need to ensure that issuers, acquirers, and merchants strengthen their risk controls.

In security and risk management, theres no silver bullet. Its a multi-layered approach to managing risk. Its similar to how we secure our homes, where we have gates, walls, doors, and security alarms for our safety. And as you can see with our four-pillar security approach, its a layered strategy to manage risk and fraud.

Customers who unfortunately fall victim to payment fraud may at the end of the day lose trust in the banks or card issuers. So in these cases, what is Visa doing to help regain their customers trust?

Maintaining and strengthening consumer trust is critical to ensuring that consumers continue supporting payments. When it comes to customer trust, its a collective effort. Bank are deploying technologies to help manage risk, which include issuing EMV chip cards, rolling out 3DS for authentication of online transactions, implementing transaction alerts on suspicious transactions, implementing transaction control, and deploying robust fraud detection systems.

At Visa, we have various risk and brand protection programmes to manage risk in the payments ecosystem. We have also enhanced our dispute process that allows the banks to process and respond to cardholder disputes better.

Payment security is a responsibility shared amongst all stakeholders. It is critical that we work together to ensure that trust remains the bedrock of digital payments well into the future.
Hopes for the US-North Korea summit have being reignited after a flurry of weekend diplomacy, including a surprise meeting between Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. (Photo: AFP)

Both main contracts tanked on Friday after Saudi oil minister Khaled al-Faleh said his country could open the taps wider in the second half of the year to insure against any supply shocks.

His Russian counterpart Alexander Novak said they had spoken about a two-year-old deal capping production, adding OPEC and other members of the pact would discuss lifting limits next month.

The comments come as supply worries increase, with major producer Venezuela hit by economic uncertainty, Iran facing painful export sanctions and demand seen picking up.

On Friday, Brent sank three percent and WTI fell 4 per cent, and in early Asia business they were both down a further 2 per cent.

The losses come after crude earlier this month hit levels not seen since November 2014, and led to sharp selling in Asian energy firms.

Sydney-listed Woodside Petroleum was 3.6 per cent down and Inpex dived a similar amount in Tokyo.

CNOOC plunged 3 per cent in Hong Kong, while Sinopec was off more than two percent.

Broader markets were mostly up as the oil sell-off was offset by renewed hopes for the Trump-Kim summit after the US president appeared Friday to do a U-turn 24 hours after cancelling the meeting.

EURO EDGES UP

Markets fell in Asia Friday after Trump said he had pulled out of the Jun 12 gathering, citing "open hostility" from Pyongyang. However, a flurry of diplomacy - led by South Korea, whose President Moon Jae-in met Kim Saturday - has put it back on track.

And on Sunday, Trump tweeted that a US team "has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit".

He added: "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"

By the break in Tokyo, the Nikkei was flat, Hong Kong added 0.5 per cent and Shanghai gained 0.1 per cent. Singapore, Seoul and Jakarta were all sharply higher but Sydney fell 0.6 per cent and Manila dipped 0.2 per cent.

On currency markets, the euro edged up despite political uncertainty in Italy, with investors welcoming news that President Sergio Mattarella had vetoed the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister.

While the decision led to the resignation of prime minister-elect Giuseppe Conte and could lead to fresh elections, it was seen as a positive move for the euro.

However, Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank in Sydney, told Bloomberg News: "We may now be in for an extended period of heightened uncertainty ahead of fresh elections - assuming that's where we're headed.

"For now it's more relief that Italy will not - for now at least - have an avowed eurosceptic finance minister."

The single currency's gains are also being limited by the prospect of upheaval in Spain, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy could face a no-confidence vote after his party was found guilty of benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial.

Key figures around 0310 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 22,445.27 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.5 per cent at 30,738.92

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 per cent at 3,144.74

Euro/dollar: UP at US$1.1711 from US$1.1661 at 2100 GMT on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at US$1.3320 from $1.3312

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.39 yen from 109.55 yen

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN US$1.64 at US$66.24 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN US$1.45 at US$74.99

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 24,753.09 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.18 per cent at 7,730.28 (close)
This handout picture taken and released on May 28, 2018 by Coca-Cola Japan shows a display of the new "Lemon-Do" alcoholic drink at a shop in Fukuoka. (Photo: HANDOUT/COCA-COLA JAPAN/AFP)

Although the US firm dabbled in the wine business in the 1970s, the experiment in Japan is "unique" in the company's 125-year history, said Coca-Cola Japan president Jorge Garduno.

From Monday, three new "Lemon-Do" drinks - containing three, five and seven per cent alcohol - will be available in the southern Kyushu region of Japan.

A 350-millilitre can will set you back 150 yen (US$1.40).

"This is a pilot project in the region which has a sizable market," Masaki Iida, spokesman for Coca-Cola's Japanese unit, told AFP.

He declined to reveal the exact spirit in the drink, as the recipe is a closely guarded secret.
Fodacon Bac Ha building was penalised for not ensuring fire safety just before the fire

According to report No.17/BC-HDND dated April 26 on supervision of the observance of the law on the management of use of apartment buildings in Hanoi, the Fodacon Bac Ha building in Mo Lao ward, Hadong district developed by Fodacon JSC, a member of Conxtrexims Holdings (code: CTX), did not ensure fire prevention. Fodacon JSC was fined for VND1.6 million ($70.5), just before the May 25 fire broke out on the 18th floor.

This was one of the 40 apartment buildings in Hadong district that not satisfy fire regulations. 188 of a total 688 commercial apartment buildings in Hanoi violate the fire code.

According to police and the fire fighting department, the fire at the Fodacon Bac Ha building (Tran Phu street, Hadong district) broke out in the afternoon of May 25 as a mattress caught fire then spread to the whole 1806 apartment.

On the other hands, after the fire, the owner of the 1806 apartment sent a report to the police claiming that Hadong Power Company had come to repair and replace the meter on the 18th floor of the building on May 25. The power was cut on the entire floor from 3.45 to 4.15PM that day. The fire occurred only a few minutes after the electricity meters were repaired.

At 4.50 PM on May 25, an apartment on the 18th floor of Fodacon Bac Ha building was engulfed in a blazing fire. Residents evacuated the building and 15 fire engines were dispatched to the scene. The fire burst out, broke the glass window, the shards of which injured a person.

Residents said that they have heard the fire alarm, but were sceptical and thought it was only an exercise because they had just had one a few hours ago.

The fire was extinguished after three hours without any casualties but made all residents concerned about fire safety in the building.
General Xu Qiliang (R), Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), meets with Mongolian Defense Minister Enkhbold (L) in Beijing, May 25, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei)

BEIJING, May 28 (ChinaMil) -- Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) General Xu Qiliang met here with Mongolian Defense Minister Enkhbold on May 25.

Gen. Xu said that China is willing to make joint efforts with Mongolia to deliver on the important consensuses reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mongolian leaders, respect each other's core interests, and keep expanding cooperation areas.

He hoped the armed forces of the two countries will maintain high-level contact, deepen cooperation, strengthen communication, and enhance strategic mutual trust, so as to push forward the pragmatic development of bilateral military relations and provide powerful support for the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Enkhbold said Mongolia always prioritizes enhancing cooperation with China in its foreign policy, and is willing to promote the docking of development strategies with China to achieve common development.

Mongolia is grateful to China for its support and help for Mongolia's national defense and military development, Enkhbold said. He expected the two sides to strengthen high-level contact, deepen exchange and cooperation in peacekeeping, anti-terrorist operations and disaster prevention and mitigation, to consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations.

General Xu Qiliang (6th L, front), vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), meets with Mongolian Defense Minister Enkhbold (5th L, front) in Beijing, May 25, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei)
Screengrab from a video posted on Facebook shows Mamoudou Gassama rescuing a child hanging from a ledge. (Photo: Facebook/Habib Bibou)

Without a thought for his own safety, Mamoudou Gassama took just seconds to reach the child in a spectacular rescue captured on film and viewed millions of times on social networks.

The incident took place at around 8.00pm (1800 GMT) on Saturday in northern Paris.

Film of the rescue shows Gassama, 22, pulling himself up from balcony to balcony with his bare hands as a man on the fourth floor tries to hold on to the child by leaning across from a neighbouring balcony.

On reaching the fourth floor Gassama puts one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child.

Screengrab from a video posted on Facebook shows Mamoudou Gassama reaching for the child . (Photo: Facebook/Habib Bibou)

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child had already been rescued.

"Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a fire service spokesman told AFP.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo praised the young migrant on Twitter for his "act of bravery" as well as phoning him personally to "thank him warmly".

"He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here.

"I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France," she added.

The young Malian will next be honoured for his brave rescue by French President Emmanuel Macron who has invited him to the Elysee Palace on Monday, his office told AFP.

Tracked down by reporters 24 hours after the heroic rescue, Gassama said he had acted without thinking.

"I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child," he said.

"I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down," he added.

According to initial inquiries by the authorities, the child's parents were not at home at the time.

The father was later held for questioning by police for having left his child unattended and was due in court later, a judicial source said. The child's mother was not in Paris at the time.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda (Source: VNA)

During an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the Presidents trip, the Ambassador said the visit will be the most important among over 100 events celebrating the bilateral relationship anniversary.

He affirmed that Japan and Vietnam share many strategic interests, and Vietnam is one of the trustworthy partners of Japan.

According to Umeda, Vietnam is grasping development opportunities and its sustainable development is linked to Japans national interests and certainly impacts regional stability and prosperity.

He added that the two countries ministries and agencies are making final preparations for the visit to produce good outcomes.

Asked about the prospects of bilateral ties in the near future, the Ambassador said trust between Japanese and Vietnamese leaders will be further strengthened via the visit.

In politics and security, bilateral maritime security collaboration has been reinforced. The two nations will intensify diverse cooperation activities under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy which is being promoted by Japan.

The Ambassador mentioned some key contents such as in strengthening capacity of legal enforcement at sea, visits by military vessels and cyber security.

In economic field, a large-scale investment conference will be held in Tokyo with the attendance of President Tran Dai Quang. A number of economic projects, economic cooperation and joint investment plans are expected to be announed during the event.

Umeda also said Japan wants to cooperate with Vietnam in upgrading infrastructure, personnel training in support of Vietnams administrative and financial reform.

The Japanese diplomat noted that nearly 260,000 Vietnamese people are living in Japan, adding that Japan appreciates Vietnamese young peoples support to the country amidst its population aging.

At the same time, he said many issues have arisen due to increasing number of Vietnamese students and trainees, and Japan wants to work closer with Vietnam to address those problems.
Grab sees new contenders entering the race to break its dominance

Igniting a new race

According to newswire DealStreetAsia, Go-Jek will initially offer ride-hailing services in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines, with plans to add additional services later. Beside ride-hailing, it offers digital payments, food delivery, logistics, and on-demand services in its home market of Indonesia. It claims to have over 900,000 registered drivers throughout the country and says it facilitates over 100 million transactions per month.

In Vietnam, Go-Jek selects Go-Viet as its partner to invest in technology and professional training.

At first, Go-Jek will supply customer transport services by automobile and motorbike before launching other services, namely Go-Food, Go-Max, and Go-Life.

The entry of Go-Jek in Vietnam is expected to bring numerous benefits for both customers and drivers by breaking Grabs domination.

According to a VIR source, Go-Viet is offering numerous advantages to lure in drivers, including ex-Uber drivers. Notably, the firm will supply free uniforms as well as an expected VND29,000 ($1.27) per route as fare support for drivers.

Once Go-Jek officially starts operations in Vietnam, it is expected to become a heavyweight in the ride-hailing market.

At the same time, Techbike.vn forum has shared that the Aber technology motorbike firm will arrive to Vietnam.

The Aber app has been developed since 2015 by a group of Vietnamese engineers in Europe. The founders issued pilot programmes in a number of countries in Southeast Asia this year and expect to launch the app in Vietnam in early June.

Previously, Singapore-based transportation startup MVLchain, which owns the Grab-like platform MVL, is planning to utilise blockchain technology for the first time in Vietnam.

Speaking at the introduction conference organised in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5, CEO Kay Woo stated that Vietnam is considered a key market of MVL (Mass Vehicle Ledger) and that the firm submitted the dossiers to establish a legal presence in Vietnam and operate as an IT firm.

MVL will start to recruit drivers within this month and in case the dossiers are approved on time, the firm will launch the app in July.

Competing by standing apart

To date, Vietnam has approximately 10 kinds of customer transport service firms using technology applications, showing the attraction of the ride-hailing market.

Many of these firms poured massive capital into expanding their operations in this sector. Notably, Uber invested $700 million across Southeast Asia in five years before selling its operations to Grab.

Besides, Phuong Trang Futa Group, a leading passenger transportation and parcel delivery company in Vietnam, invested VND2.2 trillion ($96.53 million) into developing the ride-hailing app Vivu and changed its name into Vato.

According to the report of Temasek (Singapore), the Southeast Asian ride-hailing market will be valued at $20 billion in 2025, seven times higher than the existing value. And Grab is the dominator with a presence in 198 cities.

In Vietnam, the race for market share grows stricter by the day, especially after Ubers withdrawal. However, local firms still see opportunity in the sector.

According to Nguyen Truong Giang, the founder of the Xelo ride-hailing app, newcomers will not impact the operations of existing players, including Xelo, because firms have their own development strategies and customer segments.

Notably, Xelo plans to build a general ride-hailing platform for both traditional and technology taxis so that they can have a common playground with fair competition.

Besides, in 2018 Xelo will waive commission for its drivers, after which it will set commission at a maximum of 15 per cent of the revenue of drivers. Giang added that the firm launched the app in this February and after nearly four months the firm lured in 5,000 drivers and served 12,000 customers across the country.

Meanwhile, Vato, which is the app of Phuong Trang Futa Group, will not lure in customers via promotion programmes. Instead, it will offer numerous advantages. Notably, drivers and customers can discuss the fare based on an initial fare issued by Vato. For example, after a customer orders a vehicle for a 5-kilometre ride, Vato will offer a fare of VND50,000, which the customer can then discuss with the driver.

Along with utilising blockchain technology, MVL will focus on luring in customers via a low-fare policy instead of pouring money into promotion programmes like Grab and Uber.
A black column of smoke rises from a warehouse in flames above Europa-park in Rust, southern Germany AFP/Christine Gertler

The fire at Europa-Park started early Saturday evening in a storage facility before engulfing the Pirates of Batavia boat ride, completely destroying the attraction.

It took some 250 firefighters until the next morning to extinguish the inferno, which sent huge columns of black smoke into the air.

Dramatic images of the raging fire were widely captured by visitors to the theme park in Rust, southwestern Germany and shared on social media.

Some 25,000 people had to be evacuated from the park, but none suffered any injuries.

The local Offenburg police said in a statement that the blaze had left seven firefighters "lightly injured", without giving details.

All of them were able to leave hospital after receiving medical attention.

Europa-park opened its doors as normal on Sunday, although large sections of the Dutch and Scandinavian-themed areas remain closed because of fire damage.

Europa-park's chief executive Michael Mack tweeted his thanks for the rescue services, saying Saturday had been "a sad day" for the park.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. Police said some firefighters remained at the scene to carry out damping down operations and secure the area to allow experts to assess the damage.

Founded in 1975, Europa-Park is Europe's second-most popular amusement park after Disneyland, attracting some 5.7 million visitors last year.
State President Tran Dai Quang

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will meet and hold a state banquet to welcome Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse. President Quang will also hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The visit takes place as Japanese-Vietnamese relations are at their historical strongest. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973 and upgraded ties to an Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia in 2014. The two nations have maintained high-level visits and meetings at international and regional multilateral forums.

Japan is one of the leading economic partners of Vietnam and the first country among the G7 to recognise the market economy status of Vietnam (October 2011). Currently, Japan is the largest official development assistance (ODA) provider, the second biggest investor, and the fourth ranking trade partner of Vietnam.

In 2017, the total bilateral trade turnover was $33.4 billion, increasing by 16.8 per cent on-year, and $8.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, up 15.7 per cent against the first quarter of last year.

Japanese direct investment into Vietnam reached the peak of $9.11 billion in 2017, ranking first among the nations and territories investing in Vietnam. At the end of March 2018, there were 3,693 valid Japanese-invested projects with the total registered capital of $49.84 billion, ranking second among the 116 nations and territories investing into Vietnam.

Japan committed around $30.5 billion in ODA loans to Vietnam between 1992 and the end of the 2016 fiscal year. In 2017, the two sides signed the exchange notes for five ODA projects worth over $1 billion, three ODA loan agreements, and exchange notes for four non-refundable aid projects. Japan also committed two additional ODA projects for the fiscal year of 2017.
South Korea's President Moon Jae-in (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (2nd R) walking together after their summit at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas, on May 26, 2018. (Photo: AFP/handout)

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day," Trump said on Twitter.

"Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!," the president said, confirming that a US team "has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit" between himself and North Korean leader Kim.

His upbeat language contrasted sharply to that of only three days earlier, when Trump cancelled the planned summit, citing "open hostility" from the North. An extraordinary flurry of diplomacy since then - much of it led by South Korea - appears to have put the meeting back on track.

Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met on Saturday at the Panmunjom border truce village, in a surprise bid to salvage the Jun 12 summit planned for Singapore.

Announcing the lower-level talks held on Sunday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, "We continue to prepare for a meeting between the President and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un."

The Washington Post reported that the US delegation to the Panmunjom meeting - in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea - was led by Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with the North. It said the Americans met with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.

The United States currently has no ambassador to South Korea, even as it takes up one of the most delicate diplomatic challenges in years.

It remains far from clear how Trump and Kim might be able to bridge what appear to be vast differences in their expectations for what would be a historic meeting. But analysts on Sunday expressed increasing confidence that it will take place.

DAYS OF BRINKMANSHIP

The apparent progress in the on-again-off-again talks followed a tense and turbulent few days of diplomatic brinkmanship.

Within 24 hours of cancelling the summit Trump reversed course, saying it could still go ahead after productive talks were held with North Korean officials.

"It's moving along very nicely," Trump said at the White House on Saturday. "We're looking at Jun12 in Singapore. That hasn't changed."

Trump's abrupt decision to pull out of the historic get-together had blindsided South Korea and Moon, who had been brokering a remarkable detente between Washington and Pyongyang in a bid to avoid a devastating conflict.

But Trump accompanied the cancellation with a letter to Kim that mixed tough language with an almost beseeching plea to get things back on track. Some critics mocked the letter's tone, but it may have achieved the desired result.

KIM 'MET HIS MATCH'

James Clapper, director of US national intelligence under former president Barack Obama, told CNN: "I support the letter that President Trump sent ... In some ways, Kim Jong Un may have met his match here with our very unconventional president."

Victor Cha, who was President George W. Bush's top advisor on North Korea and was briefly expected to get Trump's nod as ambassador to South Korea, said Sunday he was now confident the summit will take place.

"The summit's going forward" despite the unusually rushed pace of diplomacy and series of turnabouts.

The Moon and Trump administrations very much want the meeting, he said, "and Kim says he wants a summit, so it's going to happen."

There are still stark differences between what the two sides hope to achieve.

Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief.

Pyongyang has a different view of denuclearisation and remains deeply worried that abandoning its deterrent would leave the country - and its leader - vulnerable, especially while the United States maintains a robust military presence in South Korea.

Kim "has almost an emotional attachment and a personal psychological attachment to these nuclear weapons," US Senator Marco Rubio said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "They make him feel prestigious, they make him feel powerful."

Rubio said he was extremely sceptical that Kim might actually give up his nuclear arsenal.

If Trump is unable to negotiate those weapons away and unwilling to live in a world where North Korea poses a nuclear threat, then "you're going to have to do something to go after them at some point," the senator said.

"It's not something that I relish or take lightly," Rubio said.
A water puppet performance

Megan McCafferty from Scotland found a water puppetry show at Hanoi-based Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, very interesting.

She was recommended to see the show by her friends who had visited Vietnam.

Even though the stories were in Vietnamese, she still could understand them.

Its quite good to learn about Vietnamese tradition, culture, and history, Megan told Vietnam News Agency.

Meanwhile, Lauren MacDougan, also from Scotland, called Vietnamese water puppetry a must-see in Hanoi.

The performance was very good, Lauren said, adding even though she didnt understand Vietnamese language, it was easy to follow the stories.

She expressed her pleasure with convenience of ticket delivery service.

We dont have to wait. We just came five minutes before the show. It was really good.

Vera Regina from Brazil paid special attention to the musical instruments and the music.

Megan McCafferty finds Vietnamese water puppet interesting

It is very interesting for me because the instruments are very different. I especially like the music.

Being recommended by a Japanese friend, Vera wanted to see the Vietnamese traditional art form right on the first day of her arrival in Hanoi and she found it worth seeing.

Everything was very different and very nice. I like to watch it very much. I am pleased that I came, Vera said.

According to Tran Thi Kim Chi, Head of the Management board of the Theatres Viet Culture Space, more and more international visitors chose to see water puppet shows when they visit Vietnam.

During peak time, the theatre hosted three shows a day, with each serving an audience of 300 people.

Water puppetry is one of Vietnam's most memorable traditional art forms performed on stage.

It came into existence and developed over the past thousand years ago in the north of Vietnam.

Rice-growing villagers in the Red River Delta staged water puppet performances to celebrate the end of the rice harvest, religious festivals and other important occasions.

The performances feature the daily life of villagers such as folk singing, farming, fishing, love stories and children playing.

The plays are also picked from ancient legends, myths and historic stages such as Le loi returning the sword, fairies dance, four sacred animal dance (Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, Phoenix).
The first whole-genome analyses of ancient human DNA from Southeast Asia reveal that there were at least three major waves of human migration into the region over the last 50,000 years. The research, published online May 17 in Science, complements what is known from archaeological, historical, and linguistic studies of Southeast Asia, defined as the area east of India and south of China.

The work illuminates another critical portion of the story of ancient population dynamics around the world, joining numerous ancient-DNA studies of Europe, as well as burgeoning research from the Near East, Central Asia, Pacific Islands, and Africa. Mark Lipson, from the Harvard Medical School and first author of the study, said:

A very important part of the world is now accessible for ancient DNA analysis. It opens a window into the genetic origins of the people who lived there in the past and those who live there now.

An international team led by researchers at HMS and the University of Vienna extracted and analyzed ancient human DNA from the remains of 18 people who lived between about 4,100 and 1,700 years ago in what are now Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. The team found that the first migration took place about 45,000 years ago, bringing in people who became hunter-gatherers.

Then, during the Neolithic Period around 4,500 years ago, there was a large-scale influx of people from China who introduced farming practices to Southeast Asia and mixed with the local hunter-gatherers.

People today with this ancestry mix tend to speak Austroasiatic languages, leading the researchers to propose that the farmers who came from the north were early Austroasiatic speakers. Co-senior author Ron Pinhasi of the University of Vienna said:

This study reveals a complex interplay between archaeology, genetics, and language, which is critical for understanding the history of Southeast Asian populations.

The research revealed that subsequent waves of migration during the Bronze Age, again from China, arrived in Myanmar by about 3,000 years ago, in Vietnam by 2,000 years ago, and in Thailand within the last 1,000 years. These movements introduced ancestry types that are today associated with speakers of different languages.

The identification of three ancestral populations  hunter-gatherers, first farmers, and Bronze Age migrants  echoes a pattern first uncovered in ancient DNA studies of Europeans, but with at least one major difference: Much of the ancestral diversity in Europe has faded over time as populations mingled, while Southeast Asian populations have retained far more variation.

Reich, professor of genetics at HMS and co-senior author of the study, explained:

People who are nearly direct descendants of each of the three source populations are still living in the region today, including people with significant hunter-gatherer ancestry who live in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Andaman Islands. Whereas in Europe, no one living today has more than a small fraction of ancestry from the European hunter-gatherers.

Reich hypothesizes that the high diversity of Southeast Asia today can be partly explained by the fact that farmers arrived much more recently than in Europe  around 4,500 years ago compared with 8,000 years ago  leaving less time for populations to mix and genetic variation to even out.

The new findings make it clear that the multiple waves of migration, each of which occurred during a key transition period of Southeast Asian history, shaped the genetics of the region to a remarkable extent. Reich said:

The major population turnover that came with the arrival of farmers is unsurprising, but the magnitudes of replacement during the Bronze Age are much higher than many people would have guessed.

Also unexpected were the linguistic implications raised by analyses of the ancestry of people in western Indonesia, Reich added:

The evidence suggests that the first farmers of western Indonesia spoke Austroasiatic languages rather than the Austronesian languages spoken there today. Thus, Austronesian languages were probably later arrivals.

Additional samples from western Indonesia before and after 4,000 years ago should settle the question, Reich said.

Provided by: Harvard Medical School [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.]

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest
Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe (R) holds a welcome ceremony for Mongolian Defense Minister Enkhbold (L) in Beijing, May 25, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/ Li Xiaowei)

BEIJING, May 28 (ChinaMil) -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe held talks with visiting Defense Minister of Mongolia Enkhbold in Beijing last Friday.

Gen. Wei said China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors, China upholds the peaceful foreign policy and practises the diplomatic concept featuring affinity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in its relations with neighboring countries, and is willing to work with Mongolia to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The armed forces of China is also willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with the armed forces of Mongolia in areas of personnel training, joint drilling, international peacekeeping operations, anti-terrorism efforts and border control, so as to push the mil-to-mil relations to a new level, the Chinese defense chief said.

Enkhbold said Mongolia firmly upholds the one-China policy, supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to work with China to deepen pragmatic cooperation in all areas between the two countries and their militaries.

The two sides exchanged views on international and regional security situations.

Before their meeting, Wei held a welcome ceremony for Enkhbold and accompanied him to review the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

General Wei Fenghe (2nd R), Chinese state councilor and defense minister, holds talks with Mongolian Defense Minister Enkhbold (2nd L) in Beijing, May 25, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei)
BEIRUT, May 28 (ChinaMil) -- The second echelon of the 17th Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon, totaling 210 soldiers, arrived at the Beirut International Airport onboard a UN charter flight on May 26 and were stationed at their barracks in south Lebanon.

The 410-strong 17th Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon, which consists of a multi-function engineering detachment, a construction engineering detachment and a medical detachment, has been fully deployed in its mission area in south Lebanon.

China started to send servicepersons to join the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Lebanon in 2006. The major tasks of the Chinese peacekeepers in Lebanon entrusted by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) include landmine sweeping and exploder clearing, boundary marker erecting along the Blue Line, engineering construction and maintenance, medical treatment and humanitarian rescue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in Moscow on Saturday for talks on such matters as resolving a dispute over four Pacific islands and eventually signing a peace treaty.

Abe has been pushing for a way forward in the dispute that centers on the four most southern of the Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

The Soviet Union took the islands in the closing days of World War II. The dispute has kept the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities.
Photo: ABC

In the days following the shocking, divisive finale of Arie Luyendyk Jr.s season of The Bachelor  which concluded with the Arizona real-estate agent dumping the winner, Becca Kufrin, to propose to the runner-up, Lauren Burnham  Luyendyk Jr. offered an array of excuses during his required day-long media tour for why he chose to film his breakup with Kufrin, even though the show didnt require him to. It would allow her to easily become the next Bachelorette!, he posited. (True, we guess.) I wanted our entire journey to be on camera!, he reckoned. Essentially, he was taking on a classic #noregrets stance and eager to move forward and marry the notoriously quiet Burnham, but in a fantastic new GQ profile, Luyendyk Jr. is now admitting how he feels 100 percent betrayed by his supposed producer friends who pressured him into filming the breakup.

It was completely edited, he explained, vehemently disagreeing with the show coining the 40-minute breakup as the first-ever unedited scene in the franchises history. I was told to stay on that couch. I tried to leave, and then production was like, You need to go back inside. Shes finally calming down. I feel like you owe it to her to have this conversation. So then I went back in the house. When pressed by GQ if Bachelor producers prevented him from leaving the house at his request, Luyendyk Jr. confirmed that was true:

Yeah. I left, came back. I stepped away from the couch, I went back to the couch. But they kept talking him into staying. They cut out, obviously, production talking to me from 10 feet away, he says, and calling it unedited was super unfair to me. (A spokesman for Warner Bros., which handles production for The Bachelor, declined to comment.)

Despite his feelings of betrayal, Luyendyk Jr. admits theres still a lot of love for that Bachelor team, even though it lead to him being one of the most hated people in America for awhile. But things are looking up  he and Burnham will be marrying this coming January in Hawaii, although, sadly, their nuptials wont be filmed.
Cameron Esposito. Photo: Getty Images

Cameron Esposito hadnt been planning to talk about her sexual assault onstage. Then things kept happening in our culture  the release of the Access Hollywood tape; the election of the man featured in it; the revelation of sexual misconduct by prominent men in Hollywood and in comedy specifically; the fact that comeback narratives are already being written about those disgraced prominent men  that made her feel as if she just couldnt not talk about it anymore.

The result is Rape Jokes, a blistering, masterful, tragic, hilarious hour of comedy about sexual assault and the culture that supports it, which Esposito conceived and developed as one piece. The process of putting it together is fascinating, and it is the subject of this weeks episode of Good One, Vultures podcast about jokes and those who tell them.

Esposito doesnt just talk about the show as if shes on a mission; she is on a mission. The hour was created to make space for survivors stories in comedy and expand the dialogue currently happening around sexual assault. And she wants as many people to see it as possible, as soon as it is possible. Thats why, just days after our interview, she realized she couldnt wait any longer and decided to go ahead and film Rape Jokes as a special.

It will be released on June 11, and were honored to announce that she decided to premiere it exclusively on Vulture.

Since Espositos primarily concerned with people being able to see the special, her plan is to use a pay-what-you-can model, with proceeds going to an organization that works to support victims and stop sexual assault. In the meantime, this episode of Good One features Esposito discussing the experience of doing this material onstage and the unique way she shaped it, as well as, for the first time, a portion of the show. You can read a very brief excerpt of our conversation below. Tune in to Good One every Monday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Before we talk about you talking about sexual assault onstage, I want to talk about not talking about it onstage. Youve always had jokes about Law & Order: SVU, but as far as I know, youve never discussed your own experience.

I am so glad to start there. Its hard for me to talk about this because I had one of those experiences in college. First of all, I was in a terrible position because I was at a college where I couldnt come out, and I was realizing I was gay. This was also during the Catholic Church sex-abuse scandal and I was very Catholic, and I was living in Boston. So this all happened against the backdrop of realizing things about my church. Reading what the church said about women, and realizing that I was gay and not having anyone I could tell, I was in bad shape. Something I did to cope was drink and party and hang out with dudes just to sort of have the cover. Because its very hard to figure out if youre valuable if youre a woman whos realizing shes gay in this culture. And our culture puts so much of womens value on their fuckability. And so if youre like, Well, if I dont even want to do that then what does that mean about your value? Are you valueless?

I also had somebody who repeatedly encouraged me to put myself in bad positions. He was like a drinking buddy, but was invested in me drinking a lot so that I would hang out with him. He also provided the alcohol. It was in that situation that I was  I dont even use the word raped, which is weird, because I didnt realize what had happened to me until a bunch of years later. I used to tell this story to people as a funny joke. Like this is how disconnected I was from my own agency, and my agency over my body. Yeah, this guy totally got me drunk! And then I was just like drunk and naked and my roommates came in and I was like drunk and naked and he was like on top of me, and it was so funny! It was a male friend of mine who said, Cameron, what youre describing is date rape. You were assaulted. And I thought about it and I was like, Oh, yeah. That is what happened.

But this is such a taboo topic, I didnt know this had happened to me. Even in the new hour, where Im trying to talk about how hazy it is when your story isnt the archetypal story of like, I was knocked down by a stranger and I knew when it started and I knew when it ended. That was not my story.

So, I havent talked about it on stage because how do you fit all of that information in. What I figured out is that you have to do the full hour. You cant just do it halfway. You have to really do it. And this felt like the time to do that.

As a comic, you are constantly pulling from your own experiences. It mustve been hard to have this thing that you felt you couldnt talk about. Youve been doing comedy for 15 years  what changed, and made you decide to tell your story onstage?

Well, this is gonna be really intense, but this is just real. I feel a general un-safety all the time in the world, and especially around men because this was my story. Because when I was coming out and I was in my most vulnerable place, I really thought I was going to hell. My parents didnt take it well at first. I didnt have friends that I could tell. The first person I told didnt talk to me for the rest of the school year. I dont know that Ive ever really re-trusted people. And then this man wanted something from me that I couldnt give, and so he took it.

So, hearing the audio of Donald Trump, the grab them by the pussy audio, which is about what Im talking about  that taking what you want. That was another marker. I will maybe never recover from having had that happen to me. Having had somebody just not care about what I wanted, and then hearing somebody say thats his whole M.O., and then having that person become president. As a comic, sometimes you talk about things on stage because you get to this point where youre like, I cant not talk about this. I have to. I cant not. This is where Im at. Thats what happened for me with the election. I just couldnt not talk about it anymore.

How did you then get to the point where you thought, I need to dedicate myself this?

I waited. I waited for someone to say what I felt about this topic. I didnt feel like I wanted to be the voice on this. I wanted to hear some voices. Instead, what I saw was a lot of centering of dudes who did bad things. I saw a lot of articles that detailed the things that those dudes did, and I saw a lot of people talking about how sad they were that they lost their heroes, and conversations about art versus artists. And, man, thats not the first place my brain goes.

I want to know how are you still alive? If this happened to you, how are you doing? What is your day like? How did you have a relationship after this? How do you have sex when sex is related to sexual violence? Rape is not sex, but how do you separate the two? I had an eating disorder as a young person, and the similarity that Im gonna present to you is like, when youre in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, the thing that you can do is not drink or use drugs. When youre in recovery from an eating disorder, you still need to eat. So, again, if youre somebody whos recovering from sexual violence, how do you have a human connection? How do you go out in the world? How are you not scared? And its not one guy. We can take down whatever the growing number is. The eight dudes whose names we all know. And that doesnt change shit. They should be shamed and they should face consequences, but this is culture. This isnt eight guys. This is culture.

Yeah, and if anything, having eight guys makes it easier for people to move on.

Absolutely. Having the eight guys separates you from the eight guys. I want to talk to straight, cisgender dudes about this. I want to tell them that I also have had sex with a lot of women and this is something that I have to think about, as somebody who has sex with women. I have had sex with women who are survivors, so we actually have a lot in common, you and I, random dude. I understand that you probably are afraid. Youre afraid that you might fall into this category. I understand that maybe you can look back at things that youve done in your life and youre not sure what those events were. Maybe you were young, maybe you didnt get sex ed. Maybe culture didnt prepare you to be at college with alcohol around. And maybe you never knew that women had agency over their own bodies. And I want to hang with you, and I want to fix that. Or at least talk about it.

What was the moment where you were like, Im going to do an hour about this?

I woke up in the middle of the night  literally! Woke up in the middle of the night and sat up in bed and just went like, Rape jokes. Thats what came to me first because, again, when we talk about assault, its always very like, men versus women. Its always these really black and white cases. Thats also what tends to be joked about.

These are rape jokes. Jokes about culture and my experience and my whole life, this hour, this is rape jokes. What if, when you Google rape jokes, this was the first thing that came up and not that stupid Christopher Hitchens article. Yeah, Im gonna go on about whether or not women are funny and then we have to go down that rabbit hole, and then we start on the concept of women arent funny and then we go to rape jokes, and suddenly were harpies. Women are unfunny harpies that are telling you what you cant talk about. And its PC culture thats keeping you down, but if it wasnt for PC culture youd be fucking brilliant. No, man. No!

What was your experience with rape jokes before this?

In my television show, Take My Wife, we wrote an episode in 2015 where Cameron and Rhea come out to another comic about being survivors of assault after that comic tells a rape joke. Because that is something that has been a part of my life. And in 2014, I wrote a column in the A.V. Club about how I want comics to tell rape jokes. I just want them to be good and I want them to be jokes that work for justice and that work for the greater good of understanding. The thing is rape jokes are usually kind of bad. Theyre not well done. Theyre not really interesting. I havent seen a ton of rape jokes that I feel break new ground. People assume that women dont want to hear rape jokes, and Im like, I want you to talk about this. Just be good at it. Care enough to be good at it.

Dont just use the fact that people laughed because you said rape in public and be like, Thats a good joke!

Its a button-y word. Youre cheating. Have more respect for yourself as a comic than just using a taboo word to get a laugh. I dont do that. I have never used taboo words to get a laugh. Thats a challenge that I would throw to other comics: I dont need to do that. Dont just throw something out.

Do you have a sense of what Rape Jokes is going forward?

I would love to do it as a theater piece, except theres also timeliness to this. Its not like I think that this conversation is gonna be over or fixed. But what I do see is that were moving on a little bit. Ive started seeing some rehabbing their images pieces and also a bunch of industry news about different #MeToo-focused television shows that might happen. I wouldnt be doing this if I didnt think I had something to say. I would like to enter the pantheon of this conversation. I would like to be a part of this before we move on from this because I think what Im saying is a little different than what other people are saying.

Its survivor-focused and about trying to move through shame on all sides, trying to talk about the ways in which culture fails us, and how we do not know how to talk to each other about sex and how that creates this huge imbalance and this huge fucking problem that. This huge fucking problem. Its a problem with fucking that blurs a line between assault and sex that should never be blurred because assault is not sex. Its power and its brutality. Its not sex. The fact that thats so blurry, we clearly need to do more education and have more conversations. That needs to happen now.
Killing Eve God, Im Tired Season 1 Episode 8 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: BBC AMERICA/Sid Gentle Films Ltd 2018/Robert Viglasky

The most striking scene in Killing Eves season finale is the one writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been leading up to for the last eight episodes. Eve finds and sneaks into Villanelles fashionably crumbling Parisian apartment, and the twice-fired intelligence agent and the heavily bruised assassin end up lying in bed next to one another, Sapphic sparks crackling in the slim space between them. This first season has been about the whirling dervishes of passion and energy within each woman: The formerly desk-bound MI5 officer no one would take seriously, and the contract killer eager to announce to the world, or at least her bosses, how good she is at her job. Their obsessions make Eve and Villanelle restless and rash, but also open to explore new facets of themselves.

More than any other episode this season, the finale  which also happens to be the funniest hour since the pilot  shows that Waller-Bridge has succeeded in putting her own comic and thematic stamp on the cat-and-mouse-chase genre. The logical leaps in Eves pursuit havent always made sense and the tonal swings sometimes veer toward the reckless, but its been a treat watching Waller-Bridge puncture the self-seriousness of TV mysteries while playing up the psychosexual dynamics inherent to the dual-obsession genre.

God, Im Tired begins with what feels like a classic Waller-Bridge setup: A kidnapper (Villanelle) and her victim (Konstantins preteen daughter, Irina) sniping at one another. Irinas full of questions: Are you a bad person? Is my dad bad? Is it hard to be bad? Across town, Konstantin is worried that his Irinas tendency to be annoying  a quality the graying father clearly adores in his daughter  will make the girl a desirable target for the generally short-fused Villanelle. (Konstantins wife is undoubtedly going mad somewhere, locked up by Villanelle and worried about the status of her daughter and her husband, but shes effectively written out of the plot.)

Eve and Kenny discover Konstantin in Carolyns hotel room, but it seems to be Eves help he wants. Konstantin fesses up that hes Villanelles next target, and that the mercenary took his daughter. He knows of Villanelles obsession with Eve, and thought his protege might have contacted the agent. Konstantin and Eve pair up and head to Annas. Their odd-couple matchup is pretty fun in the car. Kim Bodnias winking matter-of-factness bounces off ebulliently against Sandra Ohs serious puppy-eagerness. Why does [Villanelle] want to kill you? Eve asks. If I told you, I would really have to kill you, you know? Konstantin responds with a guffaw. Okay, she says, at this point her curiosity overwhelming her instinct for self-preservation.

Villanelle and Irina beat Eve and Konstantin to Annas. Posing as a lost child, Irina gains entry into Annas apartment, then presumably lets in Villanelle quietly. Villanelle searches for the passport and money shed sewed into the coat she gave Anna, but only finds the note that Eve left her inside the lining: Sorry baby. Anna discovers Villanelle in her bedroom, and Villanelle points a gun at her French teachers head and demands Eves phone number.

Thus begins the first of many, many scenes in which a character points a gun at anothers head. While Villanelle is distracted, Anna aims her own pistol at Villanelle. The killer is convinced the older woman doesnt have it in her to pull the trigger. Did you two used to go out? Irina asks as the two adults discuss the past injuries that have led to this encounter. She seduced me! they say simultaneously, until Villanelle admits she was the instigator. They stand in Annas living room, pointing guns at one another, until Anna decides to deprive Villanelle the pleasure of killing her by pressing the barrel of her gun against her chin and firing it. Villanelle calls Eve  while the agent has her own gun trained on a grouchy, uncooperative Konstantin  and offers a trade: The kid for her passport and cash.

When Eve and Konstantin arrive, Villanelle aims her revolver at Irina, and Eve, and Konstantin. Villanelle gets what she came for: her passport, her savings, and the completion of her assignment to kill Konstantin. Eve and Villanelle train their guns at each other, but the assassin knows that Eve cant pull the trigger, either. Turning her back to Eve, Villanelle makes a run for it while Irina rushes over to her fallen father.

Given Eves constant subordination to Carolyn  including ordering Kenny to break into his mothers house, steal her personal documents, and trade them in for a favor  its no surprise that the disgraced MI5 agent finds herself fired. Eve is devastated, of course, but also liberated. When her friend Elena tracks down Villanelles apartment in Paris, Eve is unobstructed from flying from Russia to France to confront the mercenary once more.

Luckily for the free agent, she gets some unexpected help from Villanelles disgruntled neighbor, an elderly lady whos been logging the unusual activities of the chic young woman who lives down the hall. The neighbor also provides Eve with a key to Villanelles apartment, inside of which the frumpy law-enforcement just. Fucking. Loses. It. Beholding the frills that are the hired killers rewards  that stylish apartment, the designer clothes, a fridge full of Champagne  Eve takes a swig of bubbly and starts destroying Villanelles residence. Shes no less intoxicated on the idea of revenge when Villanelle arrives home. Eve tells her, I have lost two jobs, a husband, and a best friend because of you. Villanelle just shrugs: Yeah, but you got some really nice clothes out of it. Eve threatens to kill her with a pistol she found in Villanelles mini-armory, but her aggression suddenly gives way to total honesty.

I think about you all the time, Eve concedes, somehow sounding both crazed and businesslike. I think about you too, Villanelle responds. I masturbate about you a lot. Eve is surprised, but not repulsed. Softly dropping the gun shed trained on Villanelle just moments ago, she collapses into her targets bed. Villanelle gingerly makes her way next to Eve, and the two women lie next to one another, exhausted and uneasy. Are you going to kill me? Eve asks. Then: Ive never done anything like this before. Villanelle is all reassurances: I know what Im doing. But job or no job, Eves mission is to prevent Villanelle from having what she wants. Eve pulls a retractable knife shed found in one of the assassins drawers and jams it into Villanelles belly. When the killer screams at her to leave it in, Eve pulls it out, though more out of panic and a desire to help than sadism. Eve frantically runs to the kitchen to look for something that might help Villanelle, who picks up the discarded gun and shoots at her from the bedroom. When Eve finally returns, Villanelle has disappeared, to be pursued once again in season two.
Photo: Joan Marcus

The team behind the Tony-nominated Mean Girls (creator Tina Fey, musician Jeff Richmond, and lyricist Nell Benjamin) faced a difficult challenge when they decided to adapt a much-beloved film for the stage. How many classic lines will the musical retain? What changes will the audience tolerate, let alone enjoy? What tweaks will give the musical its own life, rather than just re-create the movie at twice the run time? And most importantly, just how dumb will Karen be? Dont worry. Karen is as clueless as ever, and a majority of the movies classic lines remain fetch. Other jokes, however, have been updated, blown out, or simply switched up for a little something new. Fresh off their nominations for Best Musical, Best Book for a Musical, and many more, here is a very subjective list of all the best new jokes in the Mean Girls musical.

Cady, when told her family would be leaving Kenya for Chicago:

America? Maybe I can meet an obese person.

Karen Smith still has no idea how to spell orange, but at least shes putting pen to paper:

Damian: I once saw her put a d in the word orange.

While some jokes sound very modern, others feel like they were found on the films cutting-room floor. For example, their classmates rave reviews of Regina George:

Caitlyn Caussin: Regina George saved my life once! Cause one time at Wiener Circle, she saw that I was choking, and she told me to stop choking. And I did!

Rachel Hamilton, a black classmate, on Reginas popularity:

Regina George is considered the prettiest girl in school. And Im like, okay, white people.

Gretchen, letting the cracks show:

Sometimes I feel like an iPhone without a case. Like, I know Im worth a lot, and I have a lot of good functions, but at any time I could just shatter.

Karen is blissfully given a full song-and-dance number, Sexy, about sexy Halloween costumes in which she introduces the many options her friends wear to a party (Sexy corn! Sexy Abraham Lincoln! Sexy Rosa Parks!). Karen is a Sexy Mouse, duh. During the song, Karen has a sexy realization.

Karen: (sung) I can be a sexy doctor / And cure some sexy cancer! (spoken) Thats not right, is it?

Gretchen: No.

Karen: I can sexy cure some cancer.

Gretchen: No.

Karen: I can cure sex cancer?

Gretchen: Sex cancer doesnt exist.

Karen: (dramatic, excited pause) I did it!!

Gretchen, taken aback by Cadys decidedly unsexy Halloween costume:

If you dont dress slutty, thats slut shaming us.

When Cady becomes Queen Bee, the North Shore juniors are willing to do more than just buy Army pants and flip-flops to be like her.

Caitlyn Caussin: Cady Heron is, like, effortlessly perfect. I would kill my whole family and eat glass for a hundred years to be that effortless.

In the lead up to the song-and-tap number Stop, which rings a lot of the same bells as The Book of Mormons Turn It Off, Damian warns Cady to stop obsessing over Aaron.

Damian: Caddy, I did a paper on this! Our prefrontal cortex isnt fully formed until were 25. Thats why were not allowed to rent cars! Cause we will wreck them just to make a cool Boomerang!

Mrs. George, trying to console a weight-obsessed Regina:

Honey, I know youre not happy with your body right now but remember, real beauty comes from the face.

Ms. Norbury, responding to the Burn Book riot:

I tried to break up a fight and one of em  stabbed me in the leg  with either an Epipen  or one of those pens that has five colors. Either way, my heart is racing.

Mr. Duvall: Never, ever, in my 14 years as an educator have I see such vicious behavior. And I used to teach computers at Joliet Penitentiary!

The films girl-power message reaches the stage intact, but, since its 2018, it feels remiss might not to acknowledge the role firearms now play in the average teenagers life.

Ms. Norbury: We have to stop beating each other up over everything little thing, cause meanwhile, men are running around grabbing butts and shooting everybody  (catching self) Not you, Rick! Not you, Rick!

Mr. Duvall: No, I get it. I got shot in the butt at Joilet.

The musical offers a touch more backstory for the Girl Who Doesnt Even Go Here, specifically, why she happened to be at North Shore in the first place.

Damian: She doesnt even go here!

Ms. Norbury: Do you even go to this school?

Teary Girl: Im here for a track meet, but I have a lot of feelings.

Ms. Norbury, on the upside of being a suspected drug pusher:

You know, when the police tore apart my house looking for imaginary heroin, I found this old calculator I thought I had lost. So, totally worth it.

Turns out, in the Mathlete clique, Kevin G. is to Gretchen as Marwan Jitla is to Regina.

Cady: Schquillz?

Kevin G.: Its a cool new way of saying skills.

Marwan Jitla: Kev, stop trying to make schquillz happen. Its not gonna happen!

As a Mean Girls fan, you have undoubtedly watched the deleted scene in which Regina and Cady share a moment at Spring Fling. The dialogue is very similar to the musical.

Regina: People say Im a bitch, but you know what they would call me if I was a boy?

Cady: Strong?

Regina: Reginald. Thats what my mom was going to name me if I was a boy, so honestly Id rather be bitch.

So not only did Tina Fey get to have her cut scene reinstated in the canon (Are musical adaptations canon? Discuss amongst yourselves), the scene also gets, thats right, a Trump joke.

Regina: If youre going to be happy in life, Cady, you have to not care what people say about you. Like truly not care. Thats what I keep trying to explain to the president on Twitter but he blocked me.
Diagnosis for an advanced case of colon cancer came dangerously late for a Decatur educator. That was in May of 2017.

The deadly disease put Deede Jones in the hospital for thirteen days. After that long hospital stay, it was time for a dozen grueling rounds of chemotherapy.

When the new school year started in the fall, students at Leon Sheffield Magnet School decided they could help hundreds of chemo patients including their librarian.

WAAY 31 was in the library at Leon Sheffield when librarian Deede Jones walked up to one of her students and gave her a hug.

I get to see Nataley all the time, Jones said. Sweet girl!

Nataley Smith loves her librarian.

What do you think about Mrs. Jones?, we asked. Is she one of your favorites? Yes! Nataley told us with a big smile.

At the beginning of the school year, students got the bad news that Mrs. Jones had cancer.

Somehow we figured out when she got colon cancer, Nataley told us. It was a little terrifying. And everyone was so sad.

Her colon cancer was so advanced, Mrs. Jones was in the hospital for nearly two weeks. When she got out, it was time for the next step: chemotherapy.

I had no clue, Jones told WAAY 31. No one in my family had ever had cancer. I didnt know you went and sat in this chair for hours while youre hooked to an IV and youre getting all this medicine.

We just wanted to do something for her, school counselor Jan Mendenhall told us. The word of the year in my guidance classes was purpose. Why do we do what we do?

Mendenhall says doing something for Mrs. Jones became the purpose for Leon Sheffield students.

When she was able to come back to school, the students had surprise for their librarian.

Well, I think the day that got me most was they surprised me with a day where everybody wore blue because blue is the color for colon cancer, Jones explained.

The students decided their purpose was even bigger. They wanted to comfort other cancer patients, too.

And the kids would talk about, what could we do?, Mendenhall told WAAY 31. So, we decided on this service project for the folks close to us. And Deede was being treated here in Decatur at Clearview Cancer Institute. And, so, we wanted to do something for them. We wanted to do something for her.

Students were excited. She was telling us how we were going to do these projects to help the people in Clearview, Nataley said.

The kids took on a big job. They wrote short stories, Mendenhall said. Kids colored and wrote notes of encouragement, inspirational quotes.

Nataley told us about one shell always remember. One of them said, My illness doesnt define me, but my strength and courage does.

Throughout the school year, students delivered their handiwork to Clearview for the patients taking chemo there. Something as simple as a flower crafted from tissue paper became a seed of hope.

Doing these projects and just doing these little tokens of love and appreciation to patients there was just incredible to see, Jones told us.

What a difference they made.

Every time we made one they feel good because they made someone happier, Nataley explained.

The meaningful messages gave a big boost to the chemo patients.

I feel like theyre my little cheerleaders on the sidelines rooting me on, you know, cheering me on through this process, Clearview patient Shannon Privett told us. Its a hard process to go through.

Students with a purpose made sure cancer patients knew they werent in their fight alone.

And Deede Jones found her purpose: warning people about colon cancer.

Making more people aware of it because of what happened to me and seeing these kids get involved and giving love back to others. It was a miracle. It really was.

Deede Jones is now cancer free as she spreads the word for folks to get screened for colon cancer.
A single vehicle crash clamed the life of a Tuscumbia man Saturday night.

31-year old, Joshua McCollum, was killed when his 2002 Suzuji motorcycle ran off the roadway and struck a ditch.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occureed on Blue Road in colbert County, just five miles south of Tuscumbia.

Alabama State Troopers are still investigating.
The Trump administration told lawmakers Friday that it had reached a deal that would keep the Chinese telecom firm ZTE alive, possibly clearing the way for the United States to make progress in its high-stakes trade talks with China next month.

Under the agreement, ZTE would oust its management team, hire American compliance officers to be placed at the firm and pay a fine. The fine would come on top of the roughly $1 billion ZTE has paid for selling equipment to North Korea and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, according to news reports.

In return, the Commerce Department would lift a seven-year ban on ZTE's purchase of components from U.S. companies. The Chinese company depends on these components to make its products, and the ban, imposed earlier this month, threatened to put ZTE out of business.

On Friday evening, President Donald Trump lashed out at Democratic lawmakers and confirmed the news of the deal on Twitter.


A summit on June 12 between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seems back on track as officials from the two sides meet in the truce village of Panmunjom from Sunday to Tuesday to discuss the agenda.

The U.S. delegation includes Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, a former envoy to South Korea and U.S. nuclear negotiator, and officials from the White House and the departments of state and defense, a diplomatic source in Seoul said.

The North Korean delegation includes Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, who provoked Trump with her belligerent statements into canceling the summit last week, and Choe Kang-il, who is in charge of U.S. affairs.

Sung Kim had been on standby in Seoul since last week.


President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met for a second time on Saturday afternoon on the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjom. Moon briefed reporters on Sunday about the meeting, which lasted for about two hours starting at 3 p.m., saying the two "agreed the June 12 North Korea-U.S. summit must be successfully held." Moon said Kim expressed his commitment to a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Moon also said he and Kim "reconfirmed the need for the speedy implementation" of their joint declaration after the first summit on April 27 and "will hold high-level talks on June 1."



President Moon Jae-in (left) takes a question from reporters in a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sunday. /Newsis

The government did not announce that the summit had taken place until nearly two hours after it finished. The meeting apparently took place at Kim's request. Kim "on Friday afternoon requested a meeting without formalities and I gladly accepted," Moon said. Kim turned to Moon for help after U.S. President Donald Trump last week abruptly canceled their planned summit, irked by belligerent statements from North Korea's vice foreign minister. "I wish to place a great meaning on the latest talks that were held as if they were an ordinary event between friends," Moon said, but apologized for failing to inform the public in advance. Amid the war of words between the U.S. and North Korea, South Korean officials secretly visited Pyongyang while Moon was in Washington for a summit with Trump last week. National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon apparently met his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong-chol, the director of the United Front Department on Friday to arrange the ad-hoc summit.

President Moon Jae-in (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un walk out after a summit in the truce village of Panmunjom on Saturday. /Newsis

Secrecy was tight, and protocol was mostly skipped because the summit was so hastily arranged. Moon was driven to the North Korean side in a silver Mercedes used by first lady Kim Jung-sook to avoid attracting attention. His security detail was reduced to a bare minimum. The official [North] Korean News Agency also said Kim stressed his commitment to holding the summit with Trump. Moon declined to comment whether Kim pledged to denuclearize in the "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner the U.S. is insisting on but added, "I believe whether the June 12 North Korea-U.S. summit will be disrupted or succeed depends on how successfully [the two sides] complete their working-level negotiations." He said Kim agreed that such talks are needed to iron out differences and expressed hope that a successful U.S.-North Korea summit would lead to the three sides signing a ceasefire agreement officially ending the Korean War.

Read this article in Korean
The Data Model Projects Team (DMPT) met from 14 to16 May 2018 at WCO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting was attended by over 60 participants from WCO Members, the private sector and international organizations. Mrs. Ana Hinojosa, Director of the WCO Compliance and Facilitation Directorate opened the meeting by emphasizing that digital interconnectivity and exchange of information would be the key imperatives for Customs and border agencies in the rapidly changing international trade environment. Therefore, standardization and harmonization of data are basic building blocks for modern Customs work. Mrs. Hinojosa appreciated the continuous effort of the DMPT in setting standards for global interoperability and promoting and supporting the adoption and implementation of standards by WCO Members and partner government agencies, as well as private sector stakeholders.

The DMPT continued working in preparing new version of the WCO Data Model, namely version 3.8.0, that will be published by the end of 2018. There were 34 Data Maintenance Requests (DMRs) processed by the DMPT; 11 DMRs were accepted,1 DMR was withdrawn and 22 other DMRs relating to E-Commerce dataset were deferred until the Working Group on E-Commerce (WGEC) finalized the dataset.

The DMPT developed and discussed new guiding materials in order to support Members adopt the WCO Data Model. The WCO Data Model Mapping Guidance was developed to provide guidance on the adoption of the WCO Data Model at the practical level. In addition, the Business Guide of WCO Data Model was developed to reach-out non-technical audience.

In addition, the DMPT discussed the level, criteria and definition of the conformity as part of the updating process of the WCO Data Model Framework of Conformity, reviewed and updated the Business Process Models relating to Customs formalities described in the WCO DM, and advanced the work on revising the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Facilitation (FAL) Compendium and finalization of data elements to be included in the IMO Reference model with an aim to report the progress to the IMO Facilitation Committee at its 42nd Meeting in June 2018. The work promises a significant enhancement to the standardization and harmonization of data requirements in the maritime sector.

Following the successful practice at the DMPT Meeting in January this year, another Lunch & Learn session for newcomers was organized, where participants were provided with a practical knowledge on how to map a data set with the WCO Data Model.

Back to back with the DMPT Meeting, the 74th Session of the Information Management Sub-Committee (IMSC) was held on 17 and 18 July 2018. The Meeting was opened by Mr. Luc De Blieck, the Deputy Director of the Procedure and Facilitation, Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, WCO, welcoming delegates and underlining the strategic importance of information management in the data deluge environment.

Through breakout and plenary sessions, the IMSC discussed the preliminary draft Handbook on the Information Security and provided valuable inputs for further development. The draft Handbook is being developed to provide guidance on raising organizational awareness and readiness with respect to securing information, identifying and mitigating risks in the ICT environment, and working on continued improvements. In addition, another preliminary draft guidance on electronic services (e-services) was discussed with a view to provide reference guidance for implementing and enhancing e-services.

The IMSC approved the new Derived Information Package (DIP) on AEO Master Data that had been finalized by the DMPT. The new DIP would be incorporated as an annex to the Guidelines on Trader Identification Number that has been developed by the SAFE Working Group with the support of the IMSC and DMPT.

Continuing to explore new and emerging concepts and technologies, the IMSC discussed the Blockchain from an operational perspective based on the experiences shared by Korea, the Netherlands and IBM, noting its potential uses in Data pipeline platform or Single Window environment.

The IMSC also discussed the Product Identification Number (PIN) as a useful complement the use of HS, in the context of Customs having more granular information about a product and its provenance that could be useful for an effective risk management. In the area of Single Window, the IMSC enumerated some criteria and indicators concerning performance measurement of the implementation of the Single Window to ensure that the progress of building a Single Window meets the organizational objectives.

Finally, the IMSC re-elected its Chair, namely Mr. Sung Sig KIM (Korea) and Vice Chair Mr. Alvaro Palmigiani (Uruguay) and agreed on the future work programme for a two-year period of 2018/2019  2019/2020.
North Korea last Friday canceled a joint taekwondo demonstration by athletes from the two Koreas at the Vatican.

The demonstration was to take place on Wednesday in front of Pope Francis ahead of the annual World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series in Rome, Italy.

The North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation told South Korea-led World Taekwondo of its decision to withdraw from the event citing a joint South Korea-U.S. aerial drill dubbed Max Thunder that has irked the regime.


War on Terrorism Memorial Unveiled Today

Advertisement

By West Kentucky Star Staff

May. 25, 2018 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 25, 2018 | 08:18 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Members of the Operation Enduring Freedom Fund will unveil the Global War on Terrorism Memorial today at 10 a.m.



The memorial is located on the Clark Street side of Dolly McNutt Plaza. Clark Street will be closed between 5th and 6th Streets from 9:30 am until 11:00 am during the ceremony.



Nathan Torian organized the campaign to raise the funds to build the memorial which honors those who lost their lives serving our country. Torians brother, Master Sergeant Aaron C. Torian, was killed in 2014 while conducting operations in Afghanistan. Torians high school friend, Marine Sergeant Christopher T. Heflin, was killed in Iraq in 2004.



Torian said, Two Paducah natives, Sergeant Christopher Heflin and Master Sergeant Aaron Torian, gave the ultimate sacrifice in these wars. No words can describe how much Paducah needs to memorialize those who served along with those who gave everything.



In 2014, the Board of Commissioners approved a $15,000 contribution to the memorials construction. In 2017, the board approved the placement of the memorial.



Dolly McNutt Memorial Plaza also has memorials commemorating World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 28, 2018 | 02:45 PM | HOPKINSVILLE, KY

WKDZ Radio reports that Christian County Deputy Coroner Zach Lamb identified the victim as 39-year-old Jennifer Crawford of Hopkinsville. She was pronounced dead at the scene.





The accident occurred around 10:20 near the CSX crossing on Skyline Drive.



He said CSX police are investigating the accident.



A Hopkinsville woman was killed Sunday night when she was hit by a train.
It looked like a veritable love-in when President Moon Jae-in held his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, which Moon described as being "an ordinary event between friends." In reality, Kim called Moon for help, alarmed by Trump's abrupt cancellation of their planned summit in Singapore next month.

Moon said Kim "again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." But when asked if Kim agreed to the U.S.' demand for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, he had no answer, and said instead the success of the summit will depend on how well negotiations between working-level officials go. Which is it to be? Commitment to denuclearization or small-grained negotiations? The president cannot simply entrust the safety of his citizens to the supposed good will of Kim Jong-un and ignore the details.

The fate of the nation depends on North Korea's decision to scrap its nuclear weapons. Kim voiced his willingness to dismantle them when he met the South Korea special envoy and when he held his first summit with Moon. But North Korea has been saying the exact same thing since it first agreed to freeze them under the Geneva Accords in 1994, all the while squandering its resources on acquiring a nuclear arsenal. The North kept international experts away from its supposed destruction of its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri last week. Why would it do that if it is really interested in scrapping its nuclear weapons?

North Korea needs to come clean and reveal exactly how many nuclear weapons and fissile materials it has, where they are stored and when it intends to dismantle them. As long as the North fails to do this, it cannot be trusted. It continues to repeat the same old line that it will have no need for nuclear weapons if the U.S. promises to respect the regime, but what it really means is that it has no intention of scrapping its nuclear weapons.

"What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization," Moon explained. But normalized relations with the U.S., an end to international sanctions and the signing of a peace treaty are practically guaranteed once it completely scraps its nuclear weapons in a verifiable manner. No member of the international community is opposed to this, including the U.S. But instead the South Korean president is siding with North Korea and making comments that sound as if he is criticizing the way the U.S. is handling the negotiations. Moon seems if anything in favor of North Korea's "salami-slicing tactics" of demanding concessions for each step it takes toward denuclearization.

Moon and Kim agreed to hold high-level talks on Friday, apparently to put further pressure on the U.S. But it was the North that abruptly canceled the talks, which were scheduled for May 16, citing joint U.S.-South Korean aerial drills. Moon did not explain why Kim first told him that he "understands" the need for joint drills and then suddenly performed an about-turn. North Korea's rapid flip-flopping shows very little respect for South Korea. At a time like this, Seoul should stand shoulder to shoulder with Washington in pressuring Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear weapons. Playing the role of a muddling intermediary could have catastrophic consequences.


Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required.

Your Full Name: (optional)

Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required.
By The Associated Press May. 23, 2018 | 08:39 PM | COXS CREEK, KY

Nearly 20 farmers in Kentucky have been told that their milk procurement contracts with Dean Foods are expiring this summer.

The Courier Journal reported Wednesday that more than 100 farmers across several states have received certified letters from Dean Foods that their contracts will be terminated May 31. Dean Foods extended that deadline this week until the end of June.

The newspaper reports the contracts are being terminated because Walmart will no longer buy Dean's milk for its Great Value brand. That loss will cut the production at the company's Louisville plant, which will shut down. Walmart has opened its own production plant in Indiana.

Dairy farmers were already struggling with exports leveling off from a post-recession surge and alternatives like almond milk gaining ground.

___

Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com
One person has drowned at Milford Lake Sunday.

According to the Geary County Sheriff, emergency crews were sent to the lake Sunday afternoon. Those included a crew from Mission Township Fire.

Multiple people at the lake Sunday told 13 News that there had been a drowning.

Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf later said that a man in his 20s had tried to swim across a cove at the south end of the lake, but didn't make it to the other side.

Authorities do not believe the drowning to be suspicious.

Further details haven't been released. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
China to set up industrial base for QR code development

From:ChinaDaily | 2018-05-28 09:53

BEIJING -- China will soon establish its first industrial base for the development of two-dimensional barcodes, or QR codes, as companies rush to tap opportunities created by the widespread technology.

The China Electronics Chamber of Commerce (CECC) has signed agreements with Lianhuashan eco-tourism resort and the northeastern branch of Beijing E-hualu Information Technology Company to build the project in Changchun, capital city of northeast China's Jilin Province.

With total investment of 3 billion yuan (around $470 million), the project will contain a blue-ray storage data center, a scientific research area, an experience zone, and an incubator.

From mobile payment to shared bikes and messaging apps, QR codes are widely used in China and have made everyday life more convenient.

The industrial complex will focus on standardization, sales, R&D and QR code services, and it will help promote China's domestic system globally, said Zhang Chao, executive director of the China Registration & Certification Center of Two-dimensional Code, which plans to build similar bases across the country.

The center is a third-party public institution established by the CECC and the China Quality Certification Center.
Lecture of Nobel Prize winning scientist sparks thoughts

From:Shine | 2018-05-28 09:29

The auditorium of Shanghai Science Hall was a full house Saturday afternoon as Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics of 1999, Gerard tHooft, gave a lecture on science and how it led human beings to where we are today.

More than 200 students from universities across the city attended the lecture chaired byHe Xiaogang, professor of physics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

tHooft sharply pointed out that physics is now a worldwide enterprise which means certain competition between scientists and countries on the same subject is inevitable.

Seizing the chance to communicate and sum up the wrongs of others to find the right is what keeps science moving, he said.

He also argued that Asian countries are now catching up with Western ones, and that more breakthroughs may take place in China as the government continues to increase its investment in science.
WiGBits Headline News Would you like to receive our WiGBits? Signup today!

WiG Entertainment News Would you like to receive our WiG Entertainment News? Signup today!

Digital Issue Would you like to receive our Digital Issue? Signup today!
Wits University joins programme to expand Africas paediatric workforce

The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the School of Clinical Medicine at Wits has joined the African Paediatric Fellowship Programme (APFP).

The APFP is a programme dedicated to training African paediatric doctors and postgraduate nurses. It provides training and clinical experience in top-ranking African universities and hospitals.

Theres a critical shortage of child-health providers in Africa. Without an adequate number of trained experts, its difficult to make a significant difference in the way a countrys health care system can respond to the needs of infants and children, says Professor Ashraf Coovadia, Academic Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the School of Clinical Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits.

APFP works closely with Ministries of Health and 33 partner universities from 13 African countries, who select candidates for the programme, pay their salaries while in training and ensure there are positions available to them upon completion.

Wits and the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal (UKZN) joined APFP in May 2018 to enable the training of 150 paediatric specialists in the next three years. The University of Cape Town, which joined APFP in 2008, has trained 151 paediatric specialists over the past 10 years.

There is less than one paediatrician per 100,000 children in Africa, compared to an estimated 99 paediatricians per 100,000 children in the United States. Support from the APFP has improved these figures: There were four paediatricians in Malawi in 2009  eight years later, there are 15 paediatricians, including the countrys first neonatologist and 94 qualified specialist childrens nurses.

APFP fellows are primarily returning to the public health system, where the need for child health professionals is the greatest. This collaboration has resulted in 98% of graduates remaining in their home country, leading the delivery of high-quality child health services, training and research.

Donor funding covers tuition, professional fees and living expenses for the fellows during their training. Funders to date include The ELMA Foundation, Harry Crossley Foundation, Vitol Foundation, and The Red Cross Childrens Hospital Trust.
Relief among investors that Italian populists had failed to form a government quickly gave way on Monday to concerns that new elections could become a vote on the future of the euro.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday refused to accept the nomination of a euroskeptic finance minister, prompting the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League party to give up trying to form an administration, at least for now.

The euro edged higher early Monday along with Italian stocks and government bonds. They had come under heavy pressure in recent weeks because of fears that the populist parties' program of -100 billion ($118 billion) in tax cuts and spending pledges could leave Italy in breach of rules governing the European currency.

"Mattarella has made it clear that he will not allow any policy that could put Italy on a slippery slope towards a major confrontation with the [European Union] that could potentially jeopardize Italy's euro membership," wrote Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg bank, in a research note on Monday.

Related: The three biggest risks to global investors

But the market gains evaporated quickly as investors focused on an uncertain future for Italy, a founding member of the euro currency and its third largest economy.

The main Italian stock market index was down by about 2.5% in late afternoon trading.

"The electoral process is back to square one with a lot of ill will," said Kit Juckes, a currency strategist at Societe Generale. "New elections are now more likely ... and the election itself is in danger of turning into a de facto referendum on euro membership."

Years of stagnation and a lack of reform have pushed Italy's government debt above -2 trillion euros ($2.3 trillion), equivalent to more than 130% of annual economic output. That's the third highest level of indebtedness in the world after Japan and Greece.

Related: Japan's longest growth streak in decades has come to an end

Protecting the 'savings of Italians'

Mattarella said it was his duty to block the finance minister's appointment to protect the "savings of Italians."

"The uncertainty in our position in the euro has alarmed international and Italian investors and savers, who have invested in our government bonds and in our industries," Mattarella said Sunday.

"The surge of the [bond] spread, day after day, increases our public debt and it reduces government spending on social programs. The losses in the the stock market, day after day, burn the resources and savings of our industries and of those who have invested. And they amount to concrete risks for our fellow citizens and for Italian families," he added.

Italy has been without a government since elections in March. Former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli will now lead a caretaker administration until new elections later this year or in early 2019.

As a country that uses the euro, Italy has agreed to abide by EU budget rules designed to keep the currency stable. During the March election campaign, the populist parties called for those rules to be scrapped and talked about holding a referendum on the euro or leaving the European Union.

Those explosive pledges were missing from their draft government program, but analysts say they could now be revived as the populist parties blame Italy's political establishment for denying them the right to govern.

"It is also likely that the next election campaign will feature significantly stronger anti euro and euroskeptic tones," wrote Wolfango Piccoli, co-founder of Teneo Intelligence, in a research note Sunday.

"The League leader Matteo Salvini has already said that the next vote will be a 'referendum' to free Italy from the 'slavery regime' imposed by the [eurozone], Berlin, the markets and the [bond] spread," he added.

Related: 'Impossible position': Brexit is going nowhere fast

Too big to fail?

There's a huge amount at stake for Italy, and Europe.

Ratings agency Moody's warned Friday it could cut Italy's credit rating -- already just two notches above "junk" status -- because the populists' plans risked weakening its fiscal position and stalling efforts to reform the economy.

A rating downgrade would make it more costly for the Italian government to service its debts and raise the cost of new borrowing. Italy plans to issue about 250 billion euros ($292 billion) in bonds this year, according to Reuters.

Related: Turkey's economy at risk as currency hits record low

Unlike Greece, which is just beginning to emerge from eight years of international bailouts, the Italian economy is big enough to throw the entire eurozone into disarray if it suffers a debt crisis. It accounts for about 15% of eurozone GDP and 23% of the region's government debt. Greece has just over 3% of eurozone public debt.

A louder campaign in Italy against Europe will keep investors on edge.

"Even if the immediate risk of having a euroskeptic finance minister in Italy has now been at least postponed, Italian uncertainties will continue to weigh heavily on sentiment in Italy and -- to a lesser extent -- its eurozone neighbors in coming months," wrote Berenberg's Schmieding.
A new list of the world's most valuable brands is out, and China has claimed two of the top spots for the first time.

Alibaba has joined the top 10, alongside Chinese tech group Tencent, as well as stalwarts such as Google and Apple.

Ranked at No. 9., Jack Ma's Alibaba has seen its brand value nearly double to $113 billion as the e-commerce company has expanded further into fields such as mobile payments and cloud computing.

Shenzhen-based Tencent broke into the annual BrandZ top 10 ranking in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength over the past year. It now holds fifth place -- behind Google, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft but above Facebook -- with a brand value of $179 billion, up 65% compared to last year.

Tencent specializes in online games, apps, instant messaging services and online payments. It boasts a market capitalization of $490 billion, making it worth more than America's most valuable bank, JPMorgan Chase.

Related: Alibaba is pouring billions into the food delivery business

Here's the list of the top 10:

Google Apple Amazon Microsoft Tencent Facebook Visa McDonald's Alibaba AT&T

Doreen Wang, the head of BrandZ, said the new ranking demonstrates that Tencent and Alibaba have overcome numerous China-specific hurdles to become global powerhouses.

"The challenges facing Chinese brands are by no means small," she said. "Limited brand awareness in international markets, a lack of trust due to historic quality issues and a reluctance by Chinese brands to invest in impactful global advertising campaigns has put them at a disadvantage with their more established competitors."

But the rise of China and savvy young consumers has created opportunities for smart entrepreneurs, she said.

"Attitudes are changing, particularly among younger consumers who are falling in love with Chinese brands," she said. "While penetration into US markets may still be at a preliminary stage for both brands, other regions are embracing them."

Alibaba is gaining ground in Brazil, Chile and other Latin American countries, where its online marketplace AliExpress "is rapidly becoming the leading e-commerce platform," said Wang. It also has a strong presence in countries such as Israel, Spain and South Korea.

Tencent has been gaining greater recognition in south Asian markets such as Thailand and Singapore, she said.

The BrandZ ranking is published annually by WPP and Kantar Millward Brown. Google has been at the top of the ranking for eight of the past 12 years. Its brand is currently valued at $302 billion, up 23% from last year.
At a State Council executive meeting on May 23, Premier Li Keqiang stressed the need to deepen innovation in the service trade sector in more pilot areas.

Developing service trade is instrumental in transforming Chinas development model and achieving high-quality development in China, he said.

This is the second time within three days that Premier Li urged the opening-up in service trade, as he also called for efforts to further open up and stimulate the market while visiting the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on May 21.

He recalled the establishment of Chinas first joint-venture hotel, the Jianguo Hotel, which was driven by the demands of tourism at that time. The following set-up of a series of joint-venture hotels has changed the situation of domestic hotel services. Along with visits by overseas tourists, it helped improved the domestic service sectors, the Premier said.

In 2016, a pilot program for the innovative development of trade in the service sector was rolled out by the State Council in 15 areas, including Tianjin and Shanghai municipalities. Currently, the service trade volume in these regions accounts for more than half of the total volume of the whole country.

The pilot program was carried out well, and the experiences should be summarized and promoted, which would help expand opening-up and increase the global competitiveness of domestic service trade, the Premier said.

He then mentioned a phenomenon many foreign tourists may encounter when traveling in China  given the rapid development of mobile payment, some street vendors and stores refuse cash payment.

Dont underestimate this small problem, as it will possibly undermine the image of Chinese tourism, which serves as an important window for opening-up, the Premier noted, urging related departments to work out corresponding solutions.

It was decided at the meeting that the pilot program will be deepened in Beijing and 16 other areas from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020.

A series of opening-up measures will be introduced in key fields of telecommunications, tourism, engineering consulting, finance and legal services. Access mechanisms for trade in services on cross-border delivery and overseas consumption will be explored and refined. Restrictions will be gradually lifted or eased, and customs clearance and visa arrangements will be streamlined for freer flow of goods and people.

Trade in services in areas such as R&D and design, inspection and testing, international settlement and exhibition will be expanded. Tax exemption policies will be made available for service exports, and eligible exporters can enjoy zero tax rates. Exports of emerging services that are guided by Internet Plus will be encouraged, making trade in services a new highlight in Chinas opening and development.

Reform has always been connected with opening-up, the Premier added. The opening-up policy from four decades ago has driven Chinas reform, while further opening-up is also required to upgrade Chinas trade in services today.
LITTLE FALLS- Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi of Utica, who is running against Congresswoman Claudia Tenney in the November election, hosted his fifth town hall meeting since April.

One thing I announced is I am going to hold a town hall meeting at every county every year I am in office, said Brindisi. Why wait until I am elected that is why I am out there right now.

The Democratic candidate for the 22nd Congressional District has made his way to Cortland, Madison, Chenango, Broome, and Herkimer Counties so far. On Sunday, he answered numerous questions of concern from his constituents.

I would like to see a better tax code, said Gary Bradley of Little Falls. I also think we should have some sort of decent nationalized healthcare.

Brindisi commented back on the healthcare issue, as well as other topics.

Right now there is a number of things we need to work on in terms of healthcare fighting back against the attempt to repeal the affordable care act, said Brindisi. Also making sure we are protecting Social Security and Medicare which are promises that have been made to our seniors.

One local farmer and attorney from Little Falls commented on what changes she would like to see made in regards to agricultural development and climate change

The climate is changing which is impacting farmers already, said Chris Brown, of Little Falls. Even just getting into feed our animals we are having a long mud season, and its hurting our animals.

We reached out to Claudia Tenney's campaign for comment and received the following statement:

"Despite running on a self-proclaimed record of listening to his constituents, Brindisi showed us once again what he really thinks about the families he represents. In a room stocked with his supporters, Brindisi tried to run from the fact that he refers to constituents who disagree with him as idiots. Claudia Tenney continues to meet with small business owners, farmers, veterans and families across the Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier to listen to their concerns and be their voice in Washington.

The general election for this campaign will be held on November 6th, 2018.




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
Kathmandu, May 28

As many as 33 to 35 central departments have been proposed for the headquarters of newly unified Nepal Communist Party.

A task force led by the partys leaders Beduram Bhusal and Khimlal Devkota proposed the departments. According to the task force, the structure of departments would be much similar to that of the CPN-UML earlier.

Each department will have its chief, deputy chief and secretary among around 30 members. The chiefs and deputy chiefs will be appointed by the Central Committee whereas the secretary will be elected by the committee itself.

The panel has submitted its reports to the partys General Secretary Bishnu Poudel. A source says Paudel has discussed the task forces recommendation in the first phase and sent back the report to Busal and Devkota again for revision.

The new partys organisational structure would be finalised within next four days, according to the source.

The party is planning to embrace the principle of one person: one position. The provision, however, will not be implemented for the chief of party if she/get appointed as the prime minister of the country.
Home  Just In  Nepal Communist Party ready to amend constitution as Forum agrees to join govt

Kathmandu, May 28

The Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal on Monday signed a two-point agreement with the ruling Nepal Communist Party.

In the agreement, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahals party has consented to amend the constitution as demanded by the Forum on the basis of mutual consent whereas the Madhesh powerhouse has agreed to join the government.

The first point of the agreement reads that issues raised by the Forum during various protests would be addressed through constitution amendment on the basis of mutual consent and in interests of the country and people.

Likewise, the second point states that the Yadav-led party will join the Oli government.

Oli, Dahal and Yadav signed the agreement in this regard on Monday.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking to whitewash the extrajudicial execution of an unarmed Guatemalan woman by a Border Patrol agent on Wednesday, in the Texas border town of Rio Bravo, 15 miles southeast of Laredo.

The woman, identified as 20-year-old Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez, left her home town of San Juan Ostuncalco, Guatemala, more than two weeks before in the hope of joining her boyfriend and finding work in Virginia. She was traveling through Rio Bravo as part of a group of Central American migrants who had just made the treacherous journey across the Rio Grande and into the United States without immigration documents, when they were confronted by an as yet unidentified Border Patrol agent at about 12:30 p.m. local time.

Under circumstances that remain unexplained, the agent fired a single shot from his handgun into the back of Gomezs head, killing her instantly.

CBP has since given multiple accounts attempting to justify the agents actions. An initial statement issued by the agency claimed that one of its agents was investigating reports of illegal activity in the town when he was attacked by immigrants wielding blunt objects, later identified as two-by-four pieces of lumber. In response, the agent fatally wounded one of the assailants.

Two days later, on Friday, CBP released another statement making no mention of any objects used to attack the agent, but instead claiming that the officer commanded the immigrants to get on the ground, but the group ignored his verbal commands and instead rushed the officer. In this latest version of events, CBP no longer claims that the victim was an assailant, but merely a member of the group. The three men traveling with Gonzalez were apprehended and may be deported before they can provide statements or testify in the event that charges are ultimately brought against the agent.

CBP has refused to comment further on the incident and canceled a press conference scheduled for Friday. The agent has been placed on administrative leave while the killing is investigated by the FBI and the Texas Rangers.

Marta Martinez told the Los Angeles Times that she was inside her house at the time of the shooting and ran outside upon hearing the gunshot. When she emerged, she saw a woman lying face-down on the ground, her head covered in blood, and a uniformed Border Patrol agent standing over her, gun in hand. In a video broadcast on Facebook Live, an officer can be seen flipping the womans body over and performing chest compressions, though it is apparent the woman is dead.

Martinez said she watched as an agent captured two men who had tried to run away and heard him telling the men in reference to their murdered companion, This is what happens. You see? Look what happened. Martinez also heard the agent telling the men, Be quiet, you have weapons in an apparent attempt to justify the shooting.

She noted that although she did not witness what happened prior to the shooting, There was no weapon. They were hiding.

In a statement Friday, Guatemalas secretary of the National Council for Migrant Assistance, Carlos Narez, called for an exhaustive, impartial investigation and made an impotent plea for the US to observe international human rights law, saying: Guatemala is saddened by whatever violence and excess use of force was used by the Border Patrol and calls to respect, at all times, all the rights of our people and whomever may be held by immigration, especially with respect to life.

In a Friday interview with the news channel Guatevision, Claudias mother, Lidia Gonzalez Visquez, said that her daughter had earned a degree in accounting but was unable to find work for the past two years. She left home 15 days ago, saying, Mamita, were going to go on ahead. Theres no work here. But shamefully, they killed her. US immigration police killed her.

At a Friday press conference, Claudias aunt, Dominga Vicente, denounced her nieces killing and the anti-immigrant policies of the US government. She said: We want justice to be done and for her murderer to pay with prison I think it is the [US] government that is giving these orders. This isnt the first person to be dying in the country. They have treated them like animals and it is not the way people should be treated. I ask that the authorities and institutions hand down a punishment or that attention is called to the US government so that they will no longer treat us like animals.

This is an apparent reference to Trumps recent tirade against immigrants, whom he referred to as animals and rapists. Trump has used such fascistic rhetoric to whip up an anti-immigrant atmosphere and incite violence against immigrant communities in conjunction with an escalating campaign of state terror waged by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP agents. In effect, the administration has given the more than 21,000 Border Patrol agents a blank check to stop the flow of immigrants into the United by whatever means necessary.

Karina Alvarez of the Laredo Immigrant Alliance told the Los Angeles Times, Weve been seeing a lot more Border Patrol because of all this anti-immigrant narrative thats going on, noting the effect of Trumps description of migrants as animals and rapists and murderers on the attitudes and behavior of Border Patrol agents. She continued: That is ultimately how they see us. We see that in this, and this is not an isolated case. This has happened before. The exception in this case is that it was videotaped.

This is just the latest in a series of killings by Border Patrol agents in recent years, most of which go largely unreported. Last November, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man he claimed had tried to grab his gun, though this claim was never substantiated.

In April, Border Patrol officer Lonnie Swartz was acquitted of murder in connection with the 2012 cross-border shooting death of 16-year-old Mexican citizen Antonio Elena Rodriguez, despite the incident being captured on video. The boy was allegedly throwing rocks at Swartz, who was behind a 20-foot-high elevated fence. The agent shot Rodriguez in the back 10 times.

The Democrats have largely dropped even the pretense of defending immigrants against the attack being carried out by the Trump administration. They have consistently voted to increase the number of Border Patrol agents and provide funds for border fencing, drone surveillance and other border security measures that force desperate migrants into ever more dangerous routes to the US border. Though there is no reliable source of data, it is estimated that at least 10,000 people have died trying to cross the southern US border since 1994.

The summary execution of Claudia Gonzalez at the hands of the Border Patrol underscores the need for an independent working class struggle for the right of all workers to live and work where they choose with full legal and citizenship rights.
A rally by supporters of the neo-fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD) Sunday was met with mass demonstrations throughout Berlin by tens of thousands of people protesting the policies of xenophobia, racism and militarism that the party embodies.

The AfD chartered buses to bring demonstrators from across Germany and paid thousands of people to participate. Nevertheless, the fascist rally was dwarfed by counter-demonstrations which, according to organizers, involved as many as 70,000 participants.

Demonstrators said they were disgusted by a speech delivered by Alice Weidel, the AfDs co-leader, who opened the German parliaments legislative session with a fascistic tirade condemning Muslim migrants as burqas, knife-men and other good-for-nothings. Using all the tropes of Nazi demagogy, Weidel warned of the downfall of our nation resulting from the admission of people from tribal societies.

The mass protests against the AfD make clear that while the German political establishment tolerates and promotes fascists, the broad majority of workers and young people in Germany will not accept a return to the 1930s.

Notably, the demonstrations in Berlin took place over the same weekend that tens of thousands of protestors rallied in Paris against the austerity measures demanded by French President Emanuel Macron and as voters in Ireland overwhelmingly cast ballots to overturn the countrys ban on abortion.

Heavily armed police seal off the Brandenburg Gate

With the protection of heavily-armed police, the right-wing extremists marched from Berlins main train station to the Brandenburg Gate, where AfD leaders delivered fascistic tirades. Federal executive member Beatrix von Storch blustered about the rule of Islam in Germany, which was nothing other than the rule of evil. In his speech to the rally, AfD leader Alexander Gauland fumed, We will teach them a lesson.

Participants in the anti-AfD demonstration

Many young people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in the morning. A student standing near the Bundestag (federal parliament) and holding a handmade sign with the slogan I am disgusted by Nazis told the World Socialist Web Site that it was horrifying that the far-right was marching once again in Germany, of all places. Weve had this before. They killed millions of people in its name, he said.

A student protests against the AfD

Sarah, 28, who is self-employed, took part in the anti-AfD demonstration because she felt it was necessary to fight against racism and xenophobia. Asked about the other parties in parliament, she said, Nobody else is fighting the AfD. This was not surprising, she continued, because the Christian Democrats were also agitating against refugees and had virtually adopted the AfDs policies. Todays demonstrators show that the majority of the population is opposed to the AfD and the far-right, Sarah added.

Oliver, a 24-year-old apprentice tradesman, came to the demonstration with friends, to protest not only against the AfD, but also against the right-wing, racist policies it stood for. He stated that it was shameful that this party was once again advocating racial hatred.

Many participants drew parallels to the 1930s and the Nazis and criticised the major parties for paving the way for the AfD with their right-wing, anti-social policies. The enormous gulf between the hostility towards the far-right among youth and workers and the hypocritical attempts of the established parties to pose as opponents of the AfD was plain for all to see. The vast majority of demonstrators simply ignored the official rally held in front of the Bundestag by the Social Democrats, the Left Party, the Greens and the trade unions.

Anti-AfD demonstrators gather in front of the Brandenburg Gate

Members of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality PartySGP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) explained in discussions with demonstrators that a struggle against the neo-fascists required a political reckoning with the establishment parties and a socialist programme.

Under conditions of the deepest crisis of capitalism since the 1930s, wars all around the world and growing conflicts between the major powers, the extreme right is being deliberately bolstered by the ruling class in order to push through its policy of militarism, increasing state powers at home and abroad, and social austerity, the SGP and IYSSE declared in a statement.

The statement went on to explain that the origins of leading AfD politicians demonstrated that the struggle against the far-right could not be based on the capitalist state and its political parties. Large sections of the AfD were recruited directly from the state apparatusincluding the military, judiciary and policeor were formerly members of the other bourgeois parties. The most important lesson of German history is that the fight against fascism and war is inseparable from the struggle against its cause, capitalism, and against all those parties that defend this bankrupt system, the SGP statement insisted.

The SGP has played a leading role in the struggle against right-wing extremism in Europe. In 2014, the party initiated a campaign against the official promotion of the right-wing extremist professors Jorg Baberowski and Herfried Munkler. For this, it was condemned by the political establishment, which rushed to the defence of these ideologists of the extreme right.

Many demonstrators were aware of the connection between the rise of the fascistic right and the capitalist policies of war and austerity. Martin Morand, a physiotherapist, spoke out against the grand coalitions planned increases in military spending. The money would better be invested in combatting real poverty, he said. People are fleeing from war and violence and poor conditions in Africa, he said. Instead of military rearmament, Martin called for "turning swords into ploughshares.

Rene, who teaches German, brought his son to the rally. He was motivated to participate by AfD leader Alice Weidels fascistic tirade last week. Until a few years ago, he had thought that, after 1945, something like this could never take place. He said, I am very saddened that this is just accepted. Thats why I said to my son: lets go to the protest today and help.

The AfDs demagogy was the same as that used by Hitler and the Nazis, but the established parties were all gradually adopting the AfDs positions, Rene declared.
President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders Friday making it easier for federal agencies to discipline and fire employees. The unilateral moves follow the presidents vows during the 2016 election to reduce the federal workforce through attrition and otherwise shrink the number of government employees to their lowest level in decades.

The orders will give federal managers the power to fire workers alleged to be struggling in their performance after improvement periods lasting up to a single month. Previously, workers in such a status were given from 60 to 120 days to improve, depending on the agency.

The orders will likewise force government unions to negotiate labor contracts with departments at a faster rate, tie layoffs to performance instead of seniority, charge unions rent for using federal office space, and limit the amount of official time an employee can spend attending to union-related affairs.

These executive orders make it easier for agencies to remove poor-performing employees and ensure that taxpayer dollars are more efficiently used, stated White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council Andrew Bremberg. Far from the bureaucratic behemoth that conservatives have painted it as, civilian employment within the federal workforce, numbering 2.7 million, has dropped to levels lower than during the 1960s as a result of multiple bipartisan cutbacks over the past quarter century.

The executive orders build upon legislation enacted last June. The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, passed by Congress in response to numerous scandals at the Department of Veterans Affairs, has led to over 1,600 staff firings, mainly of food service, nursing and housekeeping workers, in the past 11 months, according to statistics from the American Federation of Government Employees union.

Such policies reflect measures enacted at the state level, including in Indiana, where then-Governor Mike Pence tied employee pay to performance. Far from getting the government to behave more efficiently, the current executive orders will have the effect of continuing the assault on federal workers and draining resources from public agencies already starved of funding.

Trumps legislative efforts were preceded by the Obama administrations 2014 Veterans Choice Act, which limited the amount of time an employee could have to appeal a wrongful firing. According to the Economix blog of the New York Times, the Obama administration set a record for the number of government employees laid off during the its first three years.

The attack on federal employees occur as Trump has enacted measures to repeal regulations on major Wall Street finance houses that barred risky speculation which contributed to the 2008 financial collapse, increase rent for low-income families receiving federal aid, and restrict funding to clinics that perform abortions. In each case, the Trump administration has gone after segments of the US population that are the most vulnerable in order to whip up support from the more socially backward layers of his supporters.

This is more than union bustingits democracy busting, declared AFGE President J. David Cox, Sr. These executive orders are a direct assault on the legal rights and protections that Congress has specifically guaranteed to the 2 million public-sector employees across the country who work for the federal government. Despite Coxs fake-militant rhetoric, the AFGE, the largest federal employee union, has collaborated with both Democratic and Republican administrations, accepting hiring and pay freezes for its members.

The latest efforts to squeeze federal employees come as the Trump administration continues to build up the military, the intelligence agencies and other repressive arms of the federal government. While denouncing federal workers in general, Trump has voiced a far different appraisal of the fascistic thugs who make up the bulk of the workforce of the border security and immigration agencies.

Trumps most recent federal budget includes an increase in funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement of over $600 million. Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union released a detailed report showing the widespread abuses of underage immigrants held in detainment camps by Customs and Border Patrol agents.

Previously, civilian federal employee wages rose in general parity with military pay. That ended in 2011, when the Obama administration enacted a civilian pay freeze which did not affect the military. Trump re-instituted the pay freeze upon entering office last year.

In February, the Trump administration signed into a law a spending budget of over $700 billion for the fiscal years of 2018 and 2019. Such largesse caused Military.com to remark at the time, Its the biggest year-over-year windfall since the budget soared by 26.6 percent, from $345 billion in 2002 to $437 billion the year after, when the nation was fighting in Afghanistan, invading Iraq and expanding national defense after the 9/11 attacks.
The US government recently admitted to losing track of almost 1,500 unaccompanied immigrant children who were placed in foster care. Steven Wagner, a top official from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told a Senate subcommittee last month that the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is tasked with placing immigrant children in the homes of sponsors, could not account for 1,475 missing youths in the last three months of 2017.

Wagner, the acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, part of the HHS, said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) referred more than 40,000 immigrant children to the ORR in the 2017 fiscal year.

Upon leaving an ORR shelter, the children are typically placed in the home of a parent or close relative, but sometimes when this is not an option they are given to other-than-close relatives or non-relatives.

Wager told the subcommittee that between October and December 2017, the ORR checked up on 7,635 unaccompanied children but was unable to determine the whereabouts of 1,475 children. At least 52 were relocated with a non-sponsor, 28 ran away, and five were deported, according to Wagner. The rest were assumed missing.

Despite losing track of more than 19 percent of the children his agency was tasked with overseeing, nearly one in five, Wagner insisted that the HHS was not responsible for them. He testified, I understand that it has been HHSs long-standing interpretation of the law that ORR is not legally responsible for children after they are released from ORR care.

Wagner added that the office is taking a fresh look at that question, but said if the ORR were legally responsible for the well-being of immigrant children it would need more resources. Given the noxious environment being cultivated against immigrants from the Trump administration, such additional help is unlikely.

According to the ORR, a series of evaluations is made to determine who can look after a child, including a potential sponsor's relationship with the child. The agency is supposed to carry out background checks to see if the sponsor has any ties to human traffickers or smugglers.

Most of the misplaced children are from Central America, fleeing the gang violence of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, according to government data. The subcommittee that questioned Wagner released a report two years ago detailing how the HHS released eight children to human traffickers, who forced them to work on an egg farm in Marion, Ohio. The report found that the agency failed to do proper background checks on the sponsors and follow up on them.

A "memorandum of understanding was signed by DHS and HHS in 2016 to prevent similar mistakes and they agreed to establish a better protocol within one year for checking on unaccompanied immigrant youth. More than a year after the guidelines were due, the subcommittee found that the two agencies had not completed them.

The HHS s refugee office runs more than 100 shelters around the US where immigrant children are cared for until they are placed with a sponsor. After this, the agency follows up with calls to make sure the children are still with the sponsors, are enrolled in school and are following court dates.

Since 2016, the HHS has started calling sponsors to check on children 30 days after releasing them, but now has publicly stated it is not legally responsible for what happens once they leave government custody.

The statement by Wagner comes a month after the DHS instituted a deliberate policy of separating children from their immigrant parents if they are caught at the border. DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told a Senate hearing earlier this month that similar separations happen every day in the US.

Nielsen added that even those who have small children or are claiming asylum will be separated, saying, Our policy is if you break the law, we will prosecute you. You have an option to go to a port of entry and not illegally cross into our country.

The HHSs announcement that it cannot account for almost 1,500 immigrant children is more evidence of the governments inhumanity and disregard for the health and well-being of immigrants, especially the most vulnerable. The American Civil Liberties Union recently released a report documenting widespread abuses committed against unaccompanied immigrant children by the Border Patrol between the years 2009 and 2014.

These abuses included rape, starvation, beatings and other crimes previously associated with abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq or CIA torture sites around the world. That such incidents happen to children in the United States makes a mockery of the governments hypocritical claim to be the champion of human rights around the world. It is safe to assume that conditions in Americas immigrant jails have only worsened since 2014, especially since Trump took office last year.

Last week, Trump repeatedly referred to immigrants as animals, and his education secretary, Betsy DeVos, said schools were free to report undocumented children in their districts to immigration agents.
Home  Just In  World communist leaders gathering in Kathmandu to mark Marxs 200th birth anniversary

Kathmandu, May 28

Leaders of communist parties in various parts of the world are gathering in Kathmandu later this week to mark the 200th birth anniversary of philosopher Karl Marx.

Nepal Communist Party and CPN-Mashal are organising a two-day programme on Wednesday and Thursday.

Parties of as many as 12 countries will be participating in the international summit.

Organising a press conference in the Capital today, NCP senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal informed that leaders of China, Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Russia, Japan and India will participate in the event.

Prime Minister and NCP Chairman KP Sharma Oli will inaugurate the summit. He will also present a paper on protests and process of revolution for communism in Nepal.

Likewise, the partys another Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal will present another paper on Marxism and socialism.

Former Prime Minister Nepal also said that the summit would help spread the message of unity in the world.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar was awarded this years Pulitzer Prize for Music in honor of his 2017 album Damn. He is not only the first hip hop musician to win the award, but also the first musician from any genre other than classical or jazz to win.

Cover of DAMN.

Considerable hyperbole surrounds Lamar at this point. The 30-year-old Compton, California-born rapper has been called a genius and a once in a generation talent. When he referred to police killings of unarmed youth in his 2015 song Alright and the accompanying music video, he was celebrated as a political or socially conscious rapper.

Barack Obama provided a further boost to Lamars career when he named the latters song How Much a Dollar Cost his favorite of 2015, and Humble one of his favorite songs of 2017not surprising since Lamar brags in it about his relationship with the former president. Their mutual admiration was cemented when the two had a sit-down in the Oval Office in 2016.

Recognizing Lamars music was an unexpected move by the Pulitzer Prize board, which has given out an award for music virtually every year since 1943. Past winners include classical composers such as Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Samuel Barber, Elliott Carter, Morton Gould, Gunther Schuller, Virgil Thomson and John Adams. Jazz musicians Wynton Marsalis, Ornette Coleman and Henry Threadgill have also been recognized.

One is not obliged to accept the Pulitzer Boards authority as an arbiter of musical taste; many significant works have been overlooked, and others overrated. But when considered against the achievements of these composers and musicians, Kendrick Lamars musical contribution seems so slight that it becomes almost absurd to make the comparison.

The jury overseeing this years music selection included jazz violinist Regina Carter; composer David Lang; Metropolitan Opera dramaturg Paul Cremo; as well as David Hajdu, music critic for the Nation; and Farah Jasmine Griffin, Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African-American Studies at Columbia University. Griffin called the decision very important for hip-hop and very important for American popular culture and African-American culture but its also very important for the Pulitzer.

Pulitzers choice to recognize the rapper cannot be viewed as anything but a nod to identity politics and the Democratic Party. The Pulitzer board declared Lamars Damna virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.

Kendrick Lamar in 2016 (Photo: Batiste Safest)

These are fairly sweeping claims. A more sober analysis of Lamars music seems in order.

Damn presents us with a picture of the inner turmoil of the young rapper, which he tends to pose in religious terms. He wants to walk the righteous path but fears his own wickedness or weakness will get the best of him. He is conflicted. Like so many of his rap contemporaries, Lamar wants to get money and bitches. But he feels bad about it.

While the content of Lamars lyrics leaves a lot to be desired, musically the album is an unorthodox mixture of hip hop, jazz and rock elements. There is more musical variety here than can be found on most of todays hip hop albumscommercial or underground. A gloominess or sense of resignation creeps into much of it, at least in those moments when the drums arent charging forward in a self-aggrandizing cadence.

Lamars delivery is also more varied than is common in hip hop. He often begins rapping in a familiar, straight-forward style before suddenly stopping to go against the grain with another rhythmic patternangular and unusualthat sits much differently in the beat. Lamar makes interesting use of repetition at the beginning of his verses. He often gets a running start by repeating the first few words of his first lines in extended anacruses (pick-up bars) before the true verse begins. He knows how to generate excitement. He is a capable technician. Unfortunately, his particular brand of introspection does not get him very far.

On the song DNA Lamar raps about all the positive and negative qualities that are a part of him. Somewhere high above the bass and drums, the rapper declares in a thin monotone: I got millions, I got riches buildin in my DNA/I got dark, I got evil, that rot inside my DNA  This battle with his inner demons sinks into self-pity when Lamar laments on Feel that, Aint nobody prayin for me.

At his worst, Lamar records verse after verse of standard rap braggadocio. On Element he raps about lifting himself out of poverty through rap and about his dedication to hip hop culture. With the celebrated vernacular authenticity, he raps:

Im willin to die for this shit, nigga

Ill take your fuckin life for this shit, nigga

We aint goin back to broke, family sellin dope

Thats why you maney-ass rap niggas better know

In another verse, Lamar ridicules his fellow rappers who brag about their wealth but have failed to accumulate millions in the double digits as he has:

Im allergic to a bitch nigga, ayy

An imaginary rich nigga, ayy

Seven figures ho, thats slimmer than my bitch figure, ayy

Audiences are encouraged to live vicariously through such material, and Lamar knows how to sell it with his delivery and his music. When the rapper puffs up his chest to talk about his riches, listeners can almost feel their lungs filling with the same air.

Humble contains more of the same. It is built around a tense and brooding piano melody which almost seems to have an ego of its own. On the verses Lamar brags again about his wealth and sexual prowess. The biggest brag of all: Obama just paged me. In the chorus, he reminds himself to be humble, rapping Bitch, be humble. Sit down. Only rarely, however, does he heed his own advice.

In its celebration of Lamars music, including its lyrics, the Pulitzer board has excused a real poverty of language and expression. Neither does his album take an especially broad view of life. The rapper is more than a little self-involved.

Moreover , the idea that there is anything that could be termed a distinct and unitary modern African-American life is a fiction. It is a term, like black community, that conceals the deep class divisions which exist among African-Americans and every other ethnicity. In the past decade, social inequality among African-Americans has grown dramatically. As the WSWS reported last year, the richest 10 percent of African-Americans own 75.3 percent of all wealth owned by African-Americans.

African-American billionaires such as media mogul Bob Johnson, Robert Smith, founder of the private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, and Oprah Winfrey live in a completely different world than working-class African-Americans. Those workers have a thousand times more in common with the workers of every ethnicity and background than they do with African-American elites.

While Kendrick Lamar came from humble beginnings, Forbes magazine reported in 2017 that the rapper now has a net worth of $30 million. That kind of wealth and the doors it opens, including the one leading to the Oval Office, often have a deeply damaging effect on ones outlook and the ability to create serious works of art.

Considering this very important moment for hip hop and Kendrick Lamar, it is worth giving some thought to the genre as a whole. Hip hop got its start in the early 1970s but did not become a commercial artform until 1979 or so. The music developed into a major cultural phenomenon during the 1980s and 1990s. This coincided with a period of intense reaction and cultural stagnation, during which the class struggle was largely suppressed by the pro-capitalist trade unions through their alliance with the big business Democratic Party.

The wave of bourgeois triumphalism that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 convinced many that a major social transformation was impossible. Those voices who claimed to speak for the left abandoned social reformism in favor of identity and lifestyle politics. Black capitalism was promoted as the alternative to the poverty and hardship of the inner city. African-American musicians were encouraged to be as selfish and mercenary as possible.

When it began in the 1970s, hip hop consisted mostly of relatively innocent and entertaining competitions between rappers to find out who among them had the greatest gift of gab. But it didnt take long for the music to degenerate into something more sinister. A glorification of gangsterism and money began making its way into the lyrics and attitudes of some rappers in the mid-1980s and came to dominate in the 1990s. Volumes of lyrics have been written promoting a sick, cut-throat individualism, often emulating the most criminal elements at the top of society. Many rappers fashioned an identity for themselves as the black-market version of black capitalism. Rapper Kanye West recently created a controversy with his statements in support of Donald Trump, but rappers have been identifying themselves with Trump for years. His name has been dropped in multiple rap songs, in which he serves as a symbol of riches and success to be idolized.

Socially conscious rappers have often come along to challenge their more violent, wealth-obsessed counterparts, only to promote cultural nationalism and a more nuanced black entrepreneurialism as an alternative.

Kendrick Lamar is not substantially different from what and those who came before him. Despite his religious handwringing, one finds in Lamars work much of the same gratuitous sexual explicitness, the grasping after dollars and the egoism of rap. The more political or conscious lyrics celebrated by some critics, including his opposition to police violence, are few and far between.

Far from an important moment for American popular culture and the Pulitzer Prize, as Griffin put it, Lamars award is another sign of the overall decline of cultural life during the past several decades.
On Saturday, 250,000 people joined Human Wave protests organized by a group of parties and trade unions led by Jean-Luc Melenchons Unsubmissive France (LFI) movement.

The protests reflected the growing radicalization of workers and youth in opposition to the militarist and austerity policies of President Emmanuel Macron in France and more broadly across Europe. Even as thousands of people marched in France, mass protests were erupting in Berlin against a march organized by the neo-fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD), and the Irish population was voting in a referendum to legalize abortion.

Saturdays demonstrations in France came only days after 95 percent of rail workers voting in a company referendum rejected Macrons planned privatization of the French National Railway (SNCF). The vote took place amid strikes not only at SNCF but also at Air France and in the public sector.

A chasm separates the growing opposition of the French working class from the policies of Melenchon and his allies in the trade union bureaucracy, the Socialist Party and pseudo-left organizations such as the New Anti-capitalist Party who led Saturdays protests. Melenchon is doing everything in his power to boost the authority of the unions, which have worked systematically to isolate the SNCF strikers and are holding talks with the government in an effort to end the walkout on Macrons terms.

The unions have called off strikes at Air France until a new CEO is named, limited public-sector strikes to symbolic one-day actions, and separated the rail strike from those in the rest of the public sector.

The LFI is insisting that the workers look to the unions and the parties allied with them to forge a united movement to pressure Macron. This means, in practice, subordinating the opposition of the working class to organizations and parties that are hostile to any struggle to bring down the Macron government, which has made clear it will not retreat from its program of privatization and the gutting of statutes protecting the jobs and conditions of rail workers.

The Parti de legalite socialiste (Socialist Equality PartyPES) is calling for the formation of rank-and-file committees of action to take the conduct of the struggles against the Macron government out of the hands of the trade unions and fight to broaden the movement throughout France and Europe as a whole.

Saturdays protests occurred in nearly 200 cities, according to figures provided by LFI, with 80,000 people marching in Paris. World Socialist Web Site reporters interviewed protesters at the Paris march who stated their opposition to Macrons agenda of war, social austerity and attacks on democratic rights.

Melodia said she was moved by the notion of unity of the different struggles against Macron, and that she had come to demonstrate against attacks on immigrants and the right to asylum. She said, The asylum-immigration law defended by (Interior Minister) Gerard Collomb is sordid and has been criticized as being contrary to human rights. It proposes, among other things, to increase from three to 90 days the time asylum seekers can be kept in detention centers, including women and children.

She pointed to the role of the wars launched by the major NATO powers, including France, in provoking the refugee crisis. In general, she said, I find that France does not have a reasonable or responsible policy, because the interventionist policy, especially in the Middle East, has caused enormous chaos that hurts the population. We know today that among the major reasons, which were hidden, for the wars in Libya and in Syria was access to oil resources.

She stressed her opposition to Macrons social attacks on the SNCF and the hospitals, as well as the rise of police state measures. I am hostile to the generalized state of emergency, she said. It creates a sort of hysteria and a repressive policy that favors a spiral of violence. We saw at the protests at Notre Dame des Landes scenes of civil war in France, where the police forces were using tanks This will only strengthen the position of the National Front.

Melodia added that despite the reactionary policies of the ruling elite, I remain essentially optimistic about humanitys capacity to understand the social, human and ecological stakes in this situation and react in a planned and conscious way.

WSWS reporters also spoke to a couple directly affected by the planned 4,000 job cuts at the public unemployment agency, Pole emploi. They said working conditions there were getting very, very bad, noting, We have on average 303 job seekers per advisor. They added, The job offers that we get show us that the minimum wage has become the average, though the minimum wage is supposed to be for people without qualifications or experience. But now we often have to propose to job seekers positions at 80 to 120 percent of the minimum wage, with no job security.

They expressed their anger at the growing class disparities in medical care in France: The situation in the hospitals is really serious Moreover, having to get treatment if your situation is precarious leads to serious differences in treatment outcomes. That is always how it turns out.

There is a layer of people whose living standards do not really allow them access to dental care anymore. That is so terrible. The world should have solved these problems long ago thanks to science and technology.

Mathieu, another demonstrator, stressed the need to unify the struggles against Macron, saying, I think everything will depend on our ability to struggle all together. If we dont all fight together, if our struggles get separated, we will not manage to build something strong.

On the reform Macron wants to dictate to the SNCF, Mathieu said that Macron probably thinks that all these movements will mean nothing, he can pass his law anyway. But what he is underestimating is the anger that he will create among people who are demonstrating What he is doing today is not going in a good direction for what it means about his future relationship to the French people.

Mathieu also hailed the strikes by teachers in several US states. I think that striking is one of the best ways to show our discontent, he said. And it is also a way of going into struggle against the employers, that is, a struggle through which new social rights can be established. I strongly encourage the teachers there to mobilize and protest for their rights, even if they are in a country where striking is not necessarily easy. I think it is a good way for us to improve the situation and ultimately to win our demands.

Protesters remarks reflected the social gulf separating broad masses of workers entering into struggle against Macron from the trade unions and political groups that called the rally. The unions, former Socialist Party (PS) presidential candidate Benoit Hamon, the New Anti-capitalist Party and other Melenchon allies all back the trade unions negotiations with Macron and oppose a strategy of unifying the strike struggles into a movement to bring down his government.

Several protesters told WSWS reporters about their disappointment in the trade unions, which are not bringing together the strike struggles into a unified movement. They stressed their lack of confidence in the unions capacity and willingness to fight Macron, or even to modify government policy.

Marie-Noelle, who works in social services, stressed her anger with the French political establishment and her disillusionment with the unions. There are many citizens who would be willing to donate their experience and their time, but no one listens to them, she said. Politicians and finance dominate. The cut to the tax on large fortunes (ISF)it means giving even more money to the rich It is too bad that politicians do not listen to the street. It is the only way today for us to make ourselves heard.

She stressed her lack of confidence in the talks on social policy between Macron and the unions. The unions are really useless, she said. I dont know much about them. Unfortunately, I was never unionized and so I dont know how it works from the inside, but I know what I know. They no longer have the sort of power they once had.

Aurelie and Maxime discussed with WSWS reporters the perspective of building independent rank-and-file committees to take the struggle out of the hands of the unions and unify them in a political movement against Macron. They agreed, saying that today, The disunity of the different struggles is pretty flagrant. When you look at the unions or the left political parties, a lot of these left parties have totally abandoned us.

They added, If you look at the strikes we will be having in France, it is pretty impressive. And yet, so far what these sorts of protests have accomplished is, lets say, sort of a mixed bag.
The North and South Korea leaders held unscheduled talks on Saturday following US President Donald Trumps announcement last Thursday that he was cancelling his June 12 summit with North Koreas Kim Jong-un.

Whether the June 12 meeting proceeds or not, one thing is clear. If the North fails to fall into line with Washingtons demands, the complete destruction of North Korea will be on the table, setting the stage for a nuclear war between the US and China.

The meeting between Kim and the Souths Moon Jae-in was the second between the pair in a month and aimed at getting the planned Trump-Kim summit back on track.

Moon and Kim met at Panmunjom on the North side of the Demilitarized Zone for approximately two hours. Seoul claimed Pyongyang requested the meeting.

According to the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim expressed his fixed will on the historic DPRK-US summit talks during the discussion. Moon confirmed this, telling a press conference on Sunday: We two leaders agreed the June 12 North Korea-US summit must be successfully held.

Both expressed support for the Panmunjom Declaration, reached when they first met on April 27. It includes an agreement for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as well as a peace treaty to formally end the 19501953 Korean War. One of Pyongyangs primary concerns is that it receives security guarantees in such a treaty to avoid what it has called the miserable fates of Iraq and Libya.

Moon stated: What remains uncertain to Chairman Kim Jong-un is whether he can trust the US promise to end their hostile relationship and guarantee North Koreas security once the North denuclearizes.

The two sides agreed to hold high-level talks on June 1, which were initially scheduled for May 16 but cancelled by the North, ostensibly in response to US-South Korean military drills. Kim and Moon also agreed to meet often in the future.

By threatening to cancel the June 12 summit, Trump intended to wring further concessions from Pyongyang, while sending a message to China not to interfere. Trump last week accused China of exerting a negative influence on Kim.

Chinas Global Times took issue with the accusations that China was somehow sabotaging dialogue. The Chinese people wish for a positive result from this recent roller-coaster-type situation concerning the Korean Peninsula, an editorial said. It is not a healthy mindset to think China somehow plays a hand in the recent events and is deliberately creating complications.

Beijing has long pushed for dialogue between the US and North Korea, but as part of the stalled six-party talks that include China, Russia, Japan and South Korea. Beijing hoped that through such a medium it could address its own security concerns as the United States and Japan pursue military buildups in the region, aimed at subordinating China to their separate imperialist interests.

Trump backtracked from his cancellation of the summit with Kim almost immediately. He praised the inter-Korean talks and on Saturday said, Were looking at June 12th in Singapore. That hasnt changed. And its moving along pretty well, so well see what happens.

Preparations for the summit may never have truly stopped. US presidential spokeswoman Sarah Sanders indicated the administration was still sending people to Singapore to prepare for the summit in case it goes ahead.

North Korea responded in a conciliatory tone, an indication that Pyongyang is willing to adopt a more pro-US stance. The North Korean Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Kye-gwan stated: We had set in high regards President Trumps efforts, unprecedented by any other president, to create a historic North Korea/US summit.

However, North Korea has bristled at the references by various Trump administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and National Security Advisor John Bolton to the Libyan model for denuclearizationa thinly veiled military threat. Despite reaching a deal with Washington in 2003 to give up its nuclear program, Libya was devastated by a US-led bombing campaign in 2011 and its leader Muammar Gaddafi murdered.

Pyongyang has also criticized US media outlets for suggesting North Korea is coming to the negotiations in order to obtain economic aid, in other words, from a position of weakness and subordination to Washington.

Regardless of how it is phrased, Pyongyang is ready to offer up its working class as a source of ultra-cheap labor for global capitalism, but is concerned about its own stability. Moon delayed by a day announcing the results of his second summit with Kim at the latters request, who cited the internal situation in the North.

Pyongyang provided extensive media coverage domestically of Saturdays summit. Kim Yong-hyun, a professor at Dongguk University, stated that the North, [b]y publicizing the summit in an active manner  appears to be [drumming] up support from its people about its policy toward the South and the US going forward.

In 2013, Pyongyang announced a new special economic zone and 13 economic development zones to attract foreign investment. Via its police-state apparatus, Pyongyangs elites would enforce the demands of international companies, while enriching themselves as joint owners of new enterprises.

North Korea is therefore working to ward off social anger towards this stepped-up form of exploitation. If a deal is actually reached, the division of Korea would continue while South Korean workers would be subjected to parallel attacks on their conditions in the name of remaining competitive. This is where the true interests of Kim and Moon lie.

Washingtons demonization of the Stalinist regime in Pyongyang has never been about its weapon programs or human rights abuses. The US has used North Korea has a rationale for building up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific to an ever-greater extent, targeting China above all. The Pentagons National Defense Strategy earlier this year formally declared that it is preparing for great power conflicts with China and Russia.

Beijing will demand that any deal include a reduction in US troops and military hardware, including the dismantling of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery stationed in South Korea. Ostensibly installed to defend against a North Korean attack, the THAAD system is part of the Pentagons preparations for war with China.

Ramping up its pressure on China, the US yesterday launched another so-called freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) against China in the South China Sea. Two US navy vesselsa destroyer, the USS Higgins, and a cruiser, the USS Antietampassed within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-claimed islets in the Paracel Islands.

The Chinese navy challenged the US vessels and the National Defence Ministry said Washington had gravely violated Chinese sovereignty. The clash underscores the danger of a US-China conflict that could escalate into a wider war.
The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site International Editorial Board call for urgent action to be taken around the world to defend WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange. After fighting for close to eight years against relentless persecution by the US government and its allies, the Australian-born journalist is now in tremendous danger of falling into their clutches.

The American ruling class and its counterparts internationally are hostile to WikiLeaks and its editor because he published leaked information that exposed before the world their war crimes, anti-democratic intrigues and corruption. The US government is determined to silence Assange and intimidate all principled journalists and whistleblowers by hauling him before a show trial and convicting him of fraudulent charges of espionage. Assange now faces the risk of lengthy imprisonment, or even the death sentence, for revealing the truth.

In 2010, while in Britain, Assange exposed the criminality of the United States. Soon after, a Swedish prosecutor made vile allegations against him to the effect that he may have committed sexual offenses. The allegations were part of a conspiracy to silence him and undermine WikiLeaks considerable international support. Assange was forced to fight attempts to extradite him to Sweden, from where he could have been rendered to the United States. In June 2012, he was compelled to seek political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London when a British court handed down a politically motivated rejection of his final legal appeal against extradition.

In late 2016, Swedish authorities agreed to question Assange in London and then, last year, abandoned their purported investigation without ever laying a single charge. The British government, however, in collaboration with Washington, has refused to drop its intention to prosecute and imprison Assange for absconding on bail while seeking political asylum.

The situation has now reached a critical turning point. The Ecuadorian government, which bravely provided Assange with political asylum in 2012, has capitulated to intense US and British pressure. On March 28, nine weeks ago, it cut off all of Assanges communications and his ability to receive visitors.

Media reports suggest that the Ecuadorian government is exerting immense pressure on Assange to voluntarily leave its embassy. Even before he was almost completely isolated, Assanges medical condition had seriously deteriorated. He has suffered nearly six years of effective imprisonment, without sunlight and inside a very small area. If he refuses to leave, statements from Ecuadorian officials indicate they are engaged in cowardly discussions with Britain to renege on his asylum and hand him over to British police on charges of absconding on bail.

The American CIA and other police-intelligence agencies are waiting in the wings to move in with their extradition warrants. Underscoring the determination of the American ruling class to shut down whistleblowers and hide its crimes from the world, the CIA has labelled WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence agency, while the US government has declared Assanges arrest a priority.

Demonstrations, protests, speak-outs and other public events should be organised around the world to defend Julian Assange.

The ICFI and WSWS endorse the vigil being prepared by WikiLeaks supporters outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London June 19marking the sixth anniversary of the date he entered the building. Vigils are being organised in other cities as well.

The Ecuadorian government must restore Assanges rights to communicate and receive visitors. Having granted him political asylum, it does not have the right to hand him to his persecutors. The British government, for its part, must drop the charges against Assange for jumping bail, a necessary action he took only out of legitimate concern that he would be extradited to the US. He must be allowed to leave the Ecuadorian embassy and leave the UK.

The Australian section of the ICFI, the Socialist Equality Party, has called a demonstration at Sydneys central Town Hall Square at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. The demonstration has been endorsed by well-known journalist John Pilger and other principled defenders of WikiLeaks. It will demand that the Australian government immediately act to secure Assanges unconditional freedom and return to Australia. It will also demand that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls government guarantee his protection from any attempt to extradite him to the US.

Successive Australian governments have treated Julian Assanges rights as an Australian citizen, which they are obliged to uphold and defend, with utter contempt. From the outset, Canberra was obligated to protect Assange, an Australian journalist, from persecution by the US government because he had exposed its war crimes and human rights violations.

Instead, starting with the Labor Party government headed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Canberra has thrown Assange to the wolves.

Gillard openly collaborated with the Obama administration in witch-hunting and persecuting WikiLeaks. The Labor government denounced its publication of leaked information revealing US war crimes as illegal. It declared, moreover, that it would assist the US in any criminal prosecution of Assange.

For its part, the Coalition, while in opposition, made token criticisms of Labors ruthless treatment of the WikiLeaks editor. Once it took government, however, it continued the previous governments collaboration with the US against WikiLeaks.

The reason is simple. The Australian ruling establishment and the ultra-rich, along with all their political parties, consider the Australia-US military alliance to be far more important than the democratic rights, or even the lives, of Australian citizens. Moreover, Australian governments have supported or participated in every US-led war crime in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and are no less anxious to suppress media organisations such as WikiLeaks.

The working class, students and every organisation that defends freedom of speech and democratic rights and liberties can accept this situation no longer. The attack on Assange and WikiLeaks is only a particularly sharp expression of the broader campaign of censorship and repression aimed at silencing opposition to the ruling elites and their policies of social inequality and war.

The demonstration on June 17 in Sydney must be the starting point for a mass political campaign to defend Julian Assange.

Any claim that Canberra is powerless to intervene is a lie. Assange could be immediately granted Australian diplomatic status and issued a diplomatic passport, picked up from the Ecuadorian embassy by Australian embassy vehicles, passed through British immigration protected by diplomatic immunity and boarded on a flight to Australia.

We urge all defenders of WikiLeaks and of democratic rights to circulate information about the June 17 demonstration as widely as possible. Organisations that endorse and intend to participate in the demonstration should inform the SEP (Australia) at sep@sep.org.au. Endorsements will be published on the WSWS beginning tomorrow.

Free Julian Assange! Demand his return to Australia!
After voting by 95 percent to reject President Emmanuel Macrons planned privatization of the French National Railways (SNCF) in a company referendum, rail workers held rallies across France. Protests took place Thursday and Friday in cities including Paris, Bordeaux, Avignon and Perigueux amid growing opposition among workers to the militarist and austerity policies of Macron and the European Union (EU).

The conflict between the growing militancy of the working class and the cowardly policies of the trade unions is ever more open. The union bureaucracies announce contradictory policies, divide the struggles and all the while continue to negotiate a reform that the workforce has already rejected. Now, they are announcing that they may move to end the strike action.

This vindicates the call by the WSWS for the formation of rank-and-file committees, independent of the trade unions, to take the struggle out of the unions control and unify them in a political movement aiming to bring down the Macron government. Otherwise, the unionswho are already dividing and dispersing strikes of rail workers, public sector workers, Air France workers and electricity workers in order to block a movement towards a general strike, as in May-June 1968will move rapidly to strangle protests against Macron.

WSWS reporters spoke to Farid, who works for a train maintenance subcontracting firm at a major Paris train station. He applauded the rail workers vote against privatization and the moves to eliminate the rail workers statute for new hires at the SNCF: They were right! Really, the reforms would mean that new hires would not have the same rights of others who would be doing the same work at the SNCF. So they were right to oppose that.

Farid pointed to the impact Macrons scrapping of the rail workers statute would have, speaking out against the inequality between workers protected by the rail workers statute and subcontracted workers: We are on minimum wage, unlike them. The rail workers earn 2,000 or even 2,500 a month, were on minimum wage, or maybe 1,600 tops if we are lucky. The rail workers got these rights long ago. Farid added that workers in subcontracting firms have less advantageous conditions on pensions and traveling in the trains.

Farid stressed his bitter disappointment with Macron: He doesnt care about poorer people at all. The more he made all sorts of promises early on, the more we are disappointed today. It is not just the rail workers, everyone is complaining now. He also stressed his disgust with the rapid rise of the net worth of billionaires in France: You hear about that and you feel disgust in the pit of your stomach. Its totally outrageous, there is only money for the rich.

He added that many workers would go on strike if they saw a clear perspective for improving their lives. Speaking on the advantages provided by the rail workers statute, he said, Of course we would like to have them, and if we thought we could get them we would be striking with them.  If I thought I could get those rights, I would be striking, for sure. And I would not be the only one.

After several years of work in the rail subcontractor, however, Farid stressed he had no confidence in the unions to organize a struggle. First, he criticized the self-contradictory policies of the unions: There are too many separate competing unions, they criticize each other and no one can figure out what it is they are saying. The bosses come out ahead because the one says this, the other says the opposite, and no one agrees with anyone else.

Above all, Farid stressed that he did not believe the unions would organize a struggle that would improve workers lives: No, really, we dont believe that anymore. Every time we elect trade union delegates, they come along and give us their pep talk, vote for us, well do this, well do that. Then we do not see them again until the next election. Its always the same thing. Really, we are used to it now.  We are disappointed with them, we prefer to struggle independently, or otherwise to just put up with what happens.

At the Avignon protest, workers criticized Macrons reform, which he is imposing via decrees he linked to the former Socialist Party (PS) governments labor law. The PS rammed it through parliament without a vote despite mass protests and opposition from 70 percent of the population.

One rail worker told Jean-Francois Cesarini, the Avignon representative of Macrons Republic on the March (LRM) party: LRM is an association of traitors that was elected by betraying the convictions of the people. All you are doing is impoverishing the population.  Negotiation doesnt mean using decrees to impose your will against the peoples wishes. Thats not dialog, its dictatorship.

The sharpest warnings must be made about the role of the French trade unions. They are not seeking to use the overwhelming vote of the rail workers against the reform to intensify the struggle against Macron. Insteadterrified by rising working class opposition to the government, with whom they are trying to negotiate a dealthey are looking for a way to put an end to the strike at the expense of the workers and via a capitulation to all the governments demands.

They have already accepted negotiations with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, even after Philippe said the elimination of the rail workers statute, SNCF privatization and the EU-mandated opening of French railways to international competition were nonnegotiable. Philippe said that the only thing he would negotiate was what part of the SNCFs debts the state might take over. Thus, by negotiating with Philippe, the unions were signaling they could agree to capitulate on the rail workers main demands.

On Friday, Philippe met with the trade unions and proposed that the state would take on 35 billion of the SNCFs 54.5 billion debt.

The rail federation of the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) confederation reacted by pledging a very quick decision on ending the strike. Philippe had not indicated any change in his position on eliminating the rail workers statute or privatizing the SNCF, but UNSA-Rail General Secretary Roger Dillenseger happily announced that he really listened to us and that it pays to negotiate.

The Stalinist General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union said it would continue strike action but hailed Philippes proposal on SNCF debt and called for a round table talks with the government.

From Russia, where he was meeting President Vladimir Putin, Macron demanded that the unions end the strike. He said Philippe had presented the governments last offer, and that the unions should cease organizing opposition: There are legitimate protests against the SNCF reform. But now I tell you, we have arrived at the end of this process. The bill is going to arrive at the Senate on Tuesday.

If the unions agree to Macrons diktat, this would amount on their part to an attempt to betray the strikes they have called and sell out historic gains of broad sections of the working class. Nonetheless, it is clear that this is the direction in which they are going. The only viable perspective for the working class is to organize independently of the trade unions in order to wage a political struggle to defend their rights and bring down the Macron government.
25 years ago: German neo-Nazis kill five Turkish immigrants in Solingen

Turks and Germans protest in front of the house where five people died

On the night of May 28-29, 1993, five members of a Turkish family in Solingen, in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, died in a house fire set by a gang of neo-Nazi youth. The dead included three young girls and two women, while another 14 people, including several children, were injured in the blaze, some severely. The extended family had lived in Germany since 1970, and in the house for 12 years.

The fire, set with gasoline, broke out at 1:38 a.m., while all those inside the house were sleeping. The dead included 27-year-old Gursun Ince, who jumped out of a window clutching her four-year-old daughter and an infant in her arms. The two children survived. Another 15-year-old boy leaped from a window, his clothing in flames, but survived. The others who lost their lives were teenager, Hatice Genc, 18, and three children, Gulistan Ozturk, 12, Hulya Genc, 9 and Saime Genc, 4. The oldest survivor, Mevlude Genc, 50, lost two daughters, two granddaughters and a niece.

The Solingen attack was the most violent (up to that time) of a wave of neo-Nazi attacks on Turkish and other foreign-born working people in Germany, beginning in December 1988. These attacks accelerated under conditions of the revival and encouragement of German nationalism in the course of the reunification of Germany in 1989-90 and the liquidation of the Stalinist-run East Germany (German Democratic Republic or GDR). Only three days before the Solingen deaths, the German Bundestag passed a resolution to change the German constitution by limiting the number of asylum seekers.

The response by the state to the Solingen killings was extremely limited. For young men, aged between 16 and 23, were eventually arrested, prosecuted, convicted and sent to prisons. Three of the perpetrators, two 16-year-olds and a 19-year-old, were sentenced to ten years in prison, the maximum sentence for an offender in their age bracket. Markus Gartmann, 23 years old, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

But there was no investigation into the deeper ties of the four youth, all belonging the skinhead milieu, with ultra-right and neo-Nazi political organizations, even though the oldest, Gartmann, was a member of the nationalist DVU party. Moreover, all four had exercised together at a martial arts school whose manager was an informant of the North Rhine-Westphalia domestic intelligence agency (the Verfassungsschutz).

This was only one of many ties uncovered over the years between the neo-Nazi underground and the top levels of the German capitalist state, particularly the security services, which were refounded after World War II under the leadership of high-ranking former Nazis and protected by the political leaders of all the major parties, including the Social Democrats.

50 years ago: Dozens arrested in Poor Peoples Campaign

Resurrection City in Washington DC

On May 29, 1968, black, Hispanic and Native American participants in the Poor Peoples Campaign marched on the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., to protest a high court ruling that affirmed limits on Indian fishing rights in several rivers of Washington state.

The mainly Native American demonstrators were led by Ralph David Abernathy, the principal leader of the Poor Peoples Campaign following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and Reies Tijerina, a leader of the Chicano movement in the state of New Mexico. When they arrived at the Supreme Court building, across the street from the U.S. Capitol, and found the doors locked, protesters began banging on the windows, breaking some. Police moved in and made dozens of arrests.

King, Abernathy and other leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) began to organize a new movement called the Poor Peoples Campaign in early 1968, seeking to address broader issues of economic inequality and poverty for all races, after the passage of the civil rights acts. It was Kings shift to the left, both in coming out openly against the war in Vietnam and moving towards efforts to organize an interracial, working class movement over economic injustice, that accelerated ultra-right and government plotting of his assassination.

The SCLC had organized a demonstration in Washington that modeled itself of the Bonus Army campaign of 1932 where World War I veterans camped out demanding cash payment for their service certificates. The intent of the Poor Peoples Campaign was to bring as many poor people as possible to the US capital to make American poverty visible. King proposed, we ought to come in mule carts, in old trucks, any kind of transportation people can get their hands on. People ought to come to Washington, sit down if necessary in the middle of the street and say, We are here; we are poor; we dont have any money; you have made us this way...and weve come to stay until you do something about it. On May 21 thousands of poor people from across the United States erected a shanty town on the National Mall called Resurrection City.

The Poor Peoples Campaign called for an Economic Bill of Rights with Five Planks:

A meaningful job at a living wage

A secure and adequate income for all those unable to find or do a job

Access to land for economic uses

Access to capital for poor people and minorities to promote their own businesses

Ability for ordinary people to play a truly significant role in the government

Even in the heyday of the post-World War II economic boom, American capitalism was both unable and unwilling to meet these modest and reasonable demands.

75 years ago: French Committee of National Liberation established

Giraud (left) and DeGaulle in 1943

On June 3, 1943, French military forces in North Africa, headed by generals Charles de Gaulle and Henri Giraud, formed the French Committee of National Liberation. The new entity, proclaimed after discussions in Algiers, which was under the control of French military forces, was conceived of as an alternative government to the Vichy regime in France, which had collaborated closely with Nazi Germany following its formation in July 1940.

The French Committee of National Liberation, which appointed de Gaulle and Giraud as co-presidents, stated that its aim was to re-establish all French liberties, the laws of the Republic and the Republican regime. It declared that the Vichy government was illegitimate because of its support for the Third Reich.

The committee was established under conditions of a deep-going crisis of the Nazi regime, along with its proxies in France and elsewhere. Earlier in the year, German forces had suffered a devastating defeat at Stalingrad, with the Soviet military encircling and destroying a substantial invading force. Weeks before the committees formation, German and Italian forces had been expelled from their last redoubts in North Africa.

The creation of the committee followed bitter conflicts among the French forces opposed to the Vichy regime, and between the Allied powers. De Gaulle, fearful that its collaboration with the Nazis would discredit French capitalism and provoke social upheavals, had opposed the Vichy regime from the outset. Giraud, however, had previously enjoyed the support of Vichy. His turn towards the Allies was prompted by a recognition that the collaborationist regimes days were numbered.

The divisions in the French camp intersected with mounting tensions between the Allied powers over the redivision of Africa, and the world, that would be carried out in the wake of World War II.

US President Franklin Roosevelt sought the break-up of the old French empire, as one of the conditions for the establishment of American hegemony after the war. He supported Giraud, who had consented to US demands to abandon French bases in Asian and African colonies. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had backed De Gaulle and the continued existence of French colonialism, viewing it as a junior partner in the maintenance of the much larger British empire, and a counterweight to US attempts to supplant Britain as the dominant world power.

The Allied powers acknowledged the formation of the committee, but in a sign that the divisions had not been resolved, stopped short of recognizing it as an alternative French government.

100 years ago: Sixty-nine Sinn Fein leaders deported from Ireland

Eamon de Valera in 1918

On May 30, 1918, Edward Shortt, chief secretary for Ireland, announced in the British House of Commons that sixty-nine leaders of the bourgeois nationalist Sinn Fein society had been deported from Ireland for internment in England.

This move followed midnight raids by the police and military in Ireland and the arrest of the entire leadership of Sinn Fein, including Eamon De Valera, leader of the movement, and Arthur Griffith, the organizations founder and vice president.

All the Sinn Fein members of the British parliament were taken into custody. In Dublin, the arrests were made by detectives acting in cooperation with the British army, while in the provinces they were carried out by the Royal Irish Constabulary. No charges were preferred against the prisoners. They were seized and held on warrants issued under the Defense of the Realm Act. Sinn Feins Dublin headquarters were raided, and books and documents in large quantity seized.

The Irish nationalists were arrested on trumped-up charges of treasonable communications with the enemy, i.e., the German government. In a typical response, the pro-British Irish Times declared that the Lloyd George coalition government had not acted a moment too soon, as all the signs pointed to another outbreak of armed violence, possibly in connections with the landing of German forces on Irish shores. Shortt claimed in a statement that the arrests were directed solely against German intrigue.

The New York Times reported, Documents of great importance in connection with the Irish conspiracy have fallen into the hands of the government through the arrest by coast guards of a man with certain evidence on him. Neither the name of the man, nor the evidence, nor the nature of the plot was ever made public.

De Valera escaped from prison in February 1919 and took refuge in the US.
VINCENNES, Ind. (WTHI)- People from all over the state and the country came to the Vincennes Riverwalk just off Main Street Saturday. Many wanting to take witness to the citys newest statue.

One of those who attended was Larry Whitlock was born and raised in Vincennes. He was one of the contributors to the statue.

"I currently live in Texas where I have lived for 30 years but it was very important for me to come back here today because French heritage is very important to Vincennes," said Whitlock.

The new statue is of Sieur De Vincennes. The city is named after him for being the founder of Indianas oldest city.

It's a project that was put together by the Friends of Vincennes' Heritage. Joy Biggs who is the chairman of the group says this is a project they have been happy to be completed. It's a way to honor this historical figure and his impact on the state.

Theres one little plaque for Sieur De Vincennes and I thought we had these other statues honoring Francis Vigo and Father Shivou and I thought we needed something for Sieur De Vincennes," said Biggs.

Representatives from France and Quebec also attended the unveiling of this historical icon. Local Terre Haute artist Bill Wolfe was behind the project.

Wolfe had been working on this project for over five years. It's a project that proved challenging at times for Wolfe. But one he will never forget.

"Well, it means a lot to me for one thing because I love Indiana history. So if anything that involves Indiana history and my art combination. Then that's perfect," said Wolfe.

To some, they might see a statue, but for those who call Vincennes home, its something that makes them proud of their citys rich history.

"Ive lived around the world but its always Vincennes that brings you home and Vincennes will always be home," said Whitlock.

The statue is now in its permanent place in Vincennes and available for everyone to see. Its located just north of the George Rodgers Clark Memorial on Main Street.
YALOBUSHA COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Yalobusha County Sheriff Lance Humphreys confirms the missing man who drowned in Enid Lake over the Memorial Day weekend was recovered Tuesday.

The victim's family identified him to WTVA Monday as Ismael Ponce Alvarez.

Humphreys said Alvarez was found about 100 yards from Enid dam between McCurdy Point and Persimmon Hill camping area.

The 42-year-old went missing near the dam at the lake on Saturday afternoon. Authorities say he was playing in the water with some kids and three boats were present.

His body has been sent to Jackson for an autopsy.

Humphreys told the Herald his department first got the call early Saturday evening.

Alvarez's family shared his has one wife and four children and worked on a ranch.

Officers and volunteers from multiple agencies searched for a body until almost midnight.

Those helping in the search included Yalobusha Search and Rescue, Panola Search and Rescue, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - The CREATE Foundation of Northeast Mississippi gathered this morning for the annual State of the Region.

Bo Collins, the new Chairman of the Board, welcomed the hundreds in attendance in Tupelo.

Sheldon Day, Mayor of Thomasville, Alabama, spoke about being inspired by Tupelo 20 years ago and the changes he helped bring about in his town to revitalize the community and bring more than 1,000 new jobs.

Jim McHale, the President and CEO of Woodward Pines Educational Foundation, spoke about the importance of investing in post-secondary education.

"We work hard every day to be who we can be," Day said. "But we also work with our schools. It's a partnership with our schools, our chamber of commerce, our industrial development board, our community college, everyone, to maximize the opportunities we have in our rural community."

"A bachelor's degree, associate's, or a certificate that leads to significant employment," McHale said. "May be a welder, HVAC, plumber, electrician or some kind of certificate that can lead to meaningful employment in the state."

McHale says a lot of young people are not financial ready to pursue a post-secondary degree.

"So today we are going to share with them some examples of some of the work we are doing to help young people to get this information and some of the resources that are available to them out there," he said.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Jack Reed, Sr. Award for community service.

That award recipient was Mike Staten of New Albany.

He will be given the opportunity to recommend the disbursements of funds available from the award endowment fund.
TIPPAH COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Residents in Tippah County wishing to honor those service members who have fallen while serving our country had a chance to do just that on Sunday.

A Memorial Day event was held at the Blue Mountain City Park. U.S. Representative and Brigadier General Trent Kelly spoke to residents during the celebration. A brief ceremony also included the lowering of the United States flag at half staff for service members who lost their lives in battle.

A second event will be held on Monday at the Fred and Elizabeth Sportsplex in Ripley. This observance will begin at noon. Kelly will also be the guest speaker at the celebration.
OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A Florida agricultural science teacher accused of drowning two raccoons and an opossum in front of students won't face criminal charges because investigators say the killings weren't cruel or inhumane.

The Ocala Star-Banner reports that Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt determined Dewie Brewton didn't intend to torture or torment the "nuisance" animals.

Brewton was removed from the classroom and later retired after videos of the animals being drowned were posted on social media. You can view the video from our ABC affiliate in Orlando here.

Investigators said he told them that he suspected the animals were killing chickens his class was raising. Once trapped, he said he couldn't shoot them because guns aren't allowed on school property and bludgeoning them would be cruel.

Hunt noted that a jury recently acquitted a man charged with animal cruelty after cutting off the tails of four kittens with rusty scissors.

___

Information from: Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner, http://www.starbanner.com/

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - As Subtropical Storm Alberto is approaching Florida's shores, WTXL's Karah Bailey visited Wakulla County to see the conditions there.

She was there early Monday morning just before dawn.

On Sunday, WTXL's cameras recorded heavy bands of rain washing on shore along with downpours, gusts of stronger winds and palm trees swaying but not quite bending the way they do during tropical storm force winds.

WTXL spoke with local residents who saw the change in weather for themselves at the beach.

One such person was Miranda Taylor, who lives in Sopchoppy. "Hopefully it doesn't get too terribly bad, but if it does, we'll just ride it out," she said.

The Wakulla County emergency management director says two to four feet of storm surge are expected through Monday.
(WTXL) - Florida leaders and residents state-wide are getting ready for Alberto to make landfall.

This Memorial Day weekend many people spent time filling sandbags and preparing for floods expected from Alberto.

Those preparing in communities along the Gulf Coast include Satasota resident Katressa Wilson. "I'm just preparing just in case," she said. "I'm a first time homeowner so I'm not sure what to expect..."

It's the first named storm of the year, and it comes days before the 2018 hurricane season officially begins.

Three states have already declared a state of emergency.

Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are ready to take action if and when the storm makes landfall.

Gov. Rick Scott of Florida: "Hopefully we won't have landfall in this state, but get ready. We live in a penninsula state. The nice thing is I think people are getting prepared and we've got to continue to do that everyday."=

Alberto is on track to slam the Florida Panhandle late Sunday or early Monday.

Heavy rain is expected throughout the Gulf Coast and southeast.

Officials are already taking steps to mitigate the impact of flooding.

John M. Course, director of the Broward County-Water Management: "Before the storm like in the period we are in right now, we let water out of the system to allow more room from the runoff from the storm to come in."

As the storm strengthens over warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, officials are warning residents and Memorial Day vacationers of the potentially dangerous conditions.

Dave Greenwood, the Escambia County Water Safety Chief: "You have to use caution because nature can sometimes be dangerous and if you're not familiar with it, your very, very happy holiday can all of a sudden go from extreme joy to extreme sadness."
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - One thousand down and another 100,000 to go.

The Python Elimination Program, run by the South Florida Water Management District, recently celebrated a milestone: the 1,000th Burmese python has been captured.

Weve got the best hunters this state has ever seen, Mike Kirkland, the programs project manager, said. We also have a great team of district staff too and together weve formed this cohesive unit working together and thats why this program has been such a success.

Hunter Brian Hargrove captured the snake during the weekend of May 20. It measured 11 feet 2 inches long and weighed over 30 pounds. Hargrove leads the team of hunters in python eliminations with 115.

I love looking for snakes, Hargrove said. I love snakes, actually. Its kind of bittersweet on a successful hunt always, but I also love the Everglades.

Hargrove grew up in the Everglades and said he has seen the deterioration of the ecosystem first hand. Experts say there are between 10,000 and 100,000 pythons in the Everglades. It is difficult to tell because the snakes are experts at hiding.

I dont know the exact numbers, but all I can say is that Ive seen one rabbit and one deer and over 115 pythons, he said.

The program began last April when a team of 25 professional python hunters were selected from a pool of over 1,000 applicants to eliminate pythons in Miami-Dade County. The initiative later expanded to Broward, Collier and Palm Beach counties after the pilot phase successfully eliminated 158 snakes in a little over two months.

Programs like the districts and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions Python Removal Contractor Program are important to keeping the ecosystem in the Everglades intact. Burmese pythons are an invasive species that breeds and multiplies quickly, has no natural predator in the Everglades ecosystem, (and) has decimated native populations of wildlife, according to the district.
KINSHASA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- More awareness is being urged among the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid the rising number of suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola in the northwestern part of the country.

The number of cases of the hemorrhagic fever in the DRC reached 54 last Thursday, including 35 confirmed cases.

"We have lost many of our family members so far in Bikoro and other villages," a resident of Mbandaka, Michel Bokungu, told Xinhua.

Many of the victims died before the arrival of doctors, Bokungu said.

Efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus have been hampered by poor road conditions and the lack of other logistical means.

The non-cooperation of some members of the community with the medical professionals also helped propagate the virus, observers said.

Last Wednesday, three patients were whisked from an isolation site to return to their families. Two were found dead later.

"We need to tell more to people to understand how the Ebola virus is contagious," Minister of Health Oly Ilunga said.

Many experts and health observers say the local and international response has been swift to the outbreak in northwestern DRC.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has shipped over 4,000 doses of vaccine to stop the spread of the virus, in collaboration with international partners, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has set up treatment facilities.

Serge Moka, a doctor at a hospital in Kinshasa, the DRC capital, has expressed concern over the reported presence of the Ebola virus in the town of Mbandaka, fearing it could trigger a new, perhaps uncontrollable, phase of the epidemic.

"We need more programs and case studies of people who have died from the epidemic so that people can understand the seriousness of the epidemic that is already in a city like Mbandaka," said Mark Bolakofo, a Mbandaka resident, from Bikoro village, 130 km south of Mbandaka.

On the ground in the affected areas, in Equateur province, mistrust and misinformation are the biggest risks for the spread of the epidemic, observers say.

They cite such factors as the way care is given to the sick; religion; superstition; and funerary rites that help spread the virus.

People are hoping for the upcoming vaccination drive would help ease the spread of the Ebola virus.

Vaccination is expected to start in Bikoro on Monday, targeting people who have been in contact with confirmed Ebola cases and contacts of these contacts.

For now, medical teams are continuing their field work, reminding the public that vaccination is effective only if other hygiene measures, monitoring, and follow-up procedures are well taken.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 05:28:54|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

People participate in the annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride to commemorate Memorial Day in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, on May 27, 2018. Hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders descended on the nation's capital on Sunday for the 31st annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom to honor Memorial Day. (Xinhua/Yang Chenglin)

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders descended on the nation' s capital on Sunday for the 31st annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom to honor Memorial Day.

On this Memorial Day weekend, American flags wave in quiet reverence at cemeteries across the country. The annual Rolling Thunder event in Washington, D.C., which is considered as "the world's largest single-day motorcycle event," gathers those who hope to remember prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA) in a louder way.

An estimated 400,000 motorcycle riders made the annual trek across the Potomac River on Sunday. The ride began at the Pentagon parking lot around noon and passed across Memorial Bridge, down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol and ended at West Potomac Park, along Independence Avenue, followed by a Rolling Thunder Speakers Program at 1:30 p.m. near the Lincoln Memorial.

Hundreds of fans lined up on both sides of road, cheering and waving American flags to honor the riders as the sea of Rolling Thunder motorcycles rumbled down Memorial Bridge.

Many of the motorbikes fly American flags or the black and white POW/MIA flags that feature the silhouette of a bowed head and the words, "You Are Not Forgotten."

Rolling Thunder was established in 1987 to call attention to prisoners of war or those listed as missing in action. The ride has taken place every year since 1988.
WASHINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized Sunday for low blood pressure and fatigue, according to his family spokesman Jim McGrath.

The elder Bush was taken to Southern Maine Health Care and "will likely remain there for a few days for observation," McGrath tweeted Sunday afternoon, adding that the nation's 41st president is "awake and alert, and not in any discomfort."

Bush, 93, returned to his family compound in the state of Maine for the coming summer last weekend. His wife, Barbara, died last month.

The elder Bush, who was president from 1989 to 1993, was recently hospitalized for two weeks with a blood infection after Barbara's funeral.

On Saturday, Bush celebrated Memorial Day by enjoying breakfast with veterans at the American Legion Post 159 in Kennebunkport, where his family's summer vacation home is located.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 06:19:04|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

Hanaa Ismail (1st R), head of the Egyptian Society for Integrated Development, shakes hands with a representative of a Chinese company during a charity event in Cairo, Egypt, on May 27, 2018. Dozens of Chinese companies on Sunday sent hundreds of food boxes to the needy people and held a charity iftar table in Cairo's Maadi district, sharing the joy of Egyptians during the holy month of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

CAIRO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Chinese companies on Sunday sent hundreds of food boxes to the needy people and held a charity iftar table in Cairo's Maadi district, sharing the joy of Egyptians during the holy month of Ramadan.

About 250 boxes of food were distributed and over 400 people came to the iftar, the breaking of Muslims' fasting during Ramadan.

More than 2,000 boxes of supplies and 5,000 meals are expected to be distributed through Chinese firms in the next 15 days across Egypt including the provinces of Cairo, Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef and Aswan.

The event was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, an umbrella group of Chinese firms operating in Egypt, in cooperation with the Egyptian Society for Integrated Development.

Hanaa Ismail, head of the Egyptian Society for Integrated Development, told Xinhua that it is the fourth consecutive year for her organization to work with the Chinese side in arranging the event, adding that Chinese companies donated around 600,000 Egyptian pounds (33,580 U.S. dollars) this year.

"The banquet is held with the highest level of quality to make the people happy. We thank our Chinese friends and we hope for the continuous cooperation between Egypt and China," said Ismail.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 06:54:08|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

BOGOTA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Ivan Duque, right-wing candidate for the Democratic Center Party, won the first round of the Colombian presidential election on Sunday, claiming 39.11 percent of the vote with 99.46 percent of votes tallied.

He was short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a second-round runoff and will face runner-up Gustavo Petro, of the left-wing, who finished with 25.10 percent of the vote.

The second round will take place on June 17.

All reports indicated that the day went peacefully, with no signs of the armed violence that has marred previous Colombian elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 07:39:13|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

BOGOTA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Ivan Duque, right-wing candidate for the Democratic Center Party, won the first round of the Colombian presidential election on Sunday, claiming 39.13 percent of the vote with 99.77 percent of votes tallied.

He was short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a second-round runoff and will face runner-up Gustavo Petro, of the left-wing, who finished with 25.09 percent of the vote.

The second round will take place on June 17.

All reports indicated that the day went peacefully, with no signs of the armed violence that has marred previous Colombian elections.

This was the first election to take place after Colombian government signed a historic deal with the FARC guerrilla group, ending over 50 years of armed conflict.

Duque, a protege of former president Alvaro Uribe who opposed the peace deal, struck a note of consensus as he went to vote, telling the press that "I feel very honored to come to these elections as a representative of a new generation of Colombians."

Both candidates are likely to make overtures to the supporters of third-place Sergio Fajardo and Humberto de la Calle, the chief negotiator for the government with the FARC, who finished fifth.

The vote was split across the country with Duque winning the key cities of Medellin and Bucaramanga and Petro triumphing in Barranquilla and Cartagena.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 09:04:26|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened marginally higher Monday as the market mood was bolstered by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that plans were moving forward towards the planned U.S.- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) summit.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 62.69 points, or 0.28 percent, from Friday to 22,513.48.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 1.22 points, or 0.07 percent, to 1,772.92.

Air transportation, electric appliances and real estate-oriented issues comprised those that gained the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 09:09:29|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

A visitor watches innovative Chinese cultural products during the "Night of the Forbidden City" exhibition held in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25, 2018. To encapsulate the richness and uniqueness of the Forbidden City, the China Cultural Center in Brussels hosts an Exhibition of Creative Products Inherited from the Palace Museum in Beijing, from May 25 until June 15. (Xinhua/Pan Geping)
TRIPOLI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Higher Council of State on Sunday set conditions for participating in the UN-sponsored international conference on Libya in Paris on Tuesday.

"Regarding the French initiative, the Council voted at today's session to approve sending a delegation to Paris, while preserving the constants that the political agreement is the only legal and binding framework of this initiative," the Council's information office said in a statement.

"The elections should be held after the referendum on the constitution, in order to move to a permanent phase. The state must remain civilian, and the work of the military and security institutions must be under civilian authority," it added.

The Council also demanded an immediate cease-fire in the eastern city of Darna, which has been witnessing a violent fighting since February between the eastern-based army and militants who control the coastal city.

Two weeks ago, France proposed an initiative to Libyan political parties to hold a meeting in Paris to discuss a French plan to end the Libyan political crisis.

Despite the signing of a UN-sponsored political agreement by the Libyan rivals in December 2015 and the appointment of a UN-backed unity government, Libya remains politically divided between authorities in the east and the west.

UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, in September 2017 proposed an action plan for Libya that includes amending the political agreement and holding presidential and parliamentary elections before the end of the year.

In a recent briefing to the UN Security Council, Salame urged relevant parties to focus on holding the upcoming elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 10:24:43|Editor: Xiang Bo

Video Player Close

TRIPOLI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Four soldiers of Libya's eastern-based army were killed and four others wounded on Sunday by landmines as the army advanced against militants south of the eastern city of Darna, according to a military official.

"Our forces lost four martyrs and four others were injured in the explosions of a number of landmines in Al-Thuhr Al-Humr area south of the city of Darna," Khalid Mohammed, an officer of the army's operations chamber, told Xinhua.

He noted that the militants suffered "heavy losses of lives and machinery" as a result of air strikes.

"The army controls the combat operations in Darna and makes great progress on all fronts," Mohammed said, stressing that the "biggest danger is the landmines planted by terrorist groups in much of Darna."

The army is launching a military operation to take over Darna from the militants who control the coastal city.

The army has been besieging Darna since 2015, demanding that the Shura Council (Consultative Council) of the Mujahideen in Darna, a coalition of Islamist militias, leave.

The army accused the armed group of being loyal to al-Qaida.

Humanitarian coordinator of the UN Support Mission in Libya Maria Ribeiro recently called on the army to allow humanitarian aid to enter Darna.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 10:39:48|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

by Peter Mertz

SALT LAKE CITY, the United States, May 27 (Xinhua) -- "It defiantly helped with confidence and maturity," Dawn Frandsen told Xinhua of her sons, who are now 9th graders and taking Chinese college-level classes.

Frandsen's twins were in the second grade in 2008 when funding was approved for Wasatch Elementary School in Provo, Utah to have students spend a half-day speaking Chinese, studying math and science, and the other half-day being taught reading, writing, and history in American style.

Frandsen had her sons repeat the first grade so they could start at the beginning of the new Chinese immersion effort. She considers it one of the best decisions of her life.

"They know for a fact that they can do hard things. They are less daunted by other difficult tasks," she said with pride.

"They are not afraid to communicate with adults and have been in several situations where they have been able to translate for adults and been very impressive and comfortable to do so," she added.

WESTERN PIONEERS

The large, western state of Utah is known for many things - spectacular national parks, enormous mineral resources, and a burgeoning IT sector.

However, few would recognize that Utah, America's 11th biggest state and home to only 3 million people, is a leader in education - specifically bilingual learning.

Senator Howard Stephenson, 67, has led Utah's legislative efforts to bring bilingual education to his constituency during his 35 years of public service that will end this year.

In Stephenson's opinion, the United States is sitting on the sidelines while the rest of the world jumps onboard the 21st century's education bullet-train.

"What keeps me up at night is the fact that we have less than only one percent of our kids on a national level who are studying Chinese -- and that's alarming," he said.

Bilingual education, he added, "represents the lowest cost with the highest yield in student academic enhancement performance."

According to a 2017 article published in the Education Week newspaper, Only 20 percent of American K-12 students, aged 5 to 17, are studying a foreign language, with 70 percent of those studying Spanish, 12 percent French and 3 percent German.

"Right now, with 55 million K-12 students in America, we have less than one percent that are learning Chinese, and that should be concerning to all of us," said Stephenson.

"We have to recognize the emergence of China as the economic power and world's largest population-wise nation, and we as Americans must realize that China is our future, and we should be China's future," Stephenson emphasized.

The senator argued that dual-language learning can enhance intelligence,and that the Chinese language in particular is "the most critical to know," as recognized and adopted by many industrial countries around the world.

Recalling his first trip to China in 2000, Stephenson said the Chinese college students he met were "all bilingual, all fluent also in English," which brought him to the conclusion that Chinese students are better prepared for a global market in comparison with their American counterparts.

IMMERSION STYLE TEACHING MODEL

In 2007, Stephenson created an ambitious model whereby language is taught in immersion style -- enhancing rapid fluency, thus increasing academic confidence and success.

Stephenson's revolutionary U.S.-China curricula for public schools let Utah kids spend a half-day in Chinese classes studying language, math and science, and the other half-day in traditional American classes such as reading, writing and history.

Today, nearly 30,000 students at 138 schools throughout Utah have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese. They take AP Language exams two or three years earlier than ordinary American students and enter college with junior-level language fluency.

However, Stephenson's radical China immersion plan took time for acceptance on the state level, where funding and political approval were critical for its success.

"Some parents complained it was too hard and thought it was dividing the school," said Frandson, adding that other naysayers questioned the cost of importing Chinese teachers to get the job done.

Stephenson aligned himself with the Confucius Institute and teachers from Han Ban, the Chinese institution aimed at promoting Chinese language worldwide.

"The cost ends up being no more than traditional educational funding," Stephenson said.

In the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, "Utah will have an estimated 12,349 students in dual language immersion," Stephenson said, adding that the number is expected to more than double in the next six years as the curricula expand to more schools.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 10:49:49|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

by Thanh Xuan

HANOI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A Vietnamese girl in a white dress stepped out of the Chinese Embassy with her oval face brightened in early summer sunlight.

Le Phuong Thao, 24, completed procedures to apply for a student visa to study in China in the coming autumn.

"Lucky me. I queued up here from 7 a.m. this morning. Too many applicants are still waiting outside the embassy," Thao told Xinhua, pointing to dozens of people standing in long lines along the embassy's front wall.

Thao, who has received a letter of admission from Guilin University of Electronic Technology in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is going to pursue a business management course at the Chinese university.

"My family runs a small electronics business whose key partners are Chinese firms. My parents want me to study this major so I can help develop our business," she said.

According to Tran Xuan Bach, director of Viet-Trung (Vietnam-China) Education, a study-abroad consultancy company in Hanoi, China has become a favorite destination for Vietnamese students.

"Compared to the same period last year, the number of our customers has so far this year doubled, or even tripled," Bach told Xinhua, adding that applicants are youngsters from not only Hanoi, but also other northern localities such as Hai Phong, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang which house many Chinese investment and trading companies.

With over six years studying in China, Bach pointed out that Chinese education has many advantages that benefits Asian learners, especially Vietnamese ones.

"Chinese universities offer a wide range of high-quality programs but charge affordable tuition fees. With many scholarships available, their courses are even the most affordable options among leading universities in the world," he said.

Master's degree programs in economics, construction and communications are the most popular choice of Vietnamese applicants, who are mainly in their early 20s and about to graduate from local universities, according to Bach. Besides, Chinese traditional medicine is pursued by many Vietnamese youths.

Nguyen Van Trung from the capital Hanoi has graduated from the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China's southeastern Fujian province. Now, Trung runs a traditional medicine clinic in Hanoi.

"I'm glad that I chose China to study abroad. In my opinion, it is the best place in the world to learn traditional medicines," Trung told Xinhua.

Trung plans to further study at the same Chinese university next year. "I have everything I need to study, to research at the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Professors there are very helpful and knowledgeable," he said.

Like Trung, many Vietnamese students who have finished studying in China and returned to Vietnam to work have given highly positive feedback on the Chinese education's quality. Many of them were impressed by the development of Chinese cities and advanced teaching and learning facilities, and profound knowledge of lecturers.

Most of Vietnamese youths find it very easy to adapt to living and studying in China. "The geographical and cultural closeness between the two countries helps us feel comfortable as if we were at home. That's why we love studying in China," Trung explained.

Like many Vietnamese people who want to study in China, fourth-year student Nguyen Thanh Huyen is attending a Chinese language course at the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University. Huyen is studying hard to get a certificate of Chinese language proficiency next year so as to apply for a postgraduate course in Beijing.

"I'm really passionate about Chinese culture, films and music. Once I make it to China, I will travel as much as I can, so that I can see all the beautiful places, taste delicious specialties of different Chinese cities and provinces, and explore all kinds of their customs," Huyen said.

Officially going into operation in 2014, the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, which often organizes Chinese classes and activities to promote teaching and learning of Chinese in Vietnam and facilitate cultural exchanges, has welcomed an increasing number of learners.

"Our classes are always fully booked. Sometimes we have to open up to 14 classes at the same time to serve over 300 students," the institute's head Do Thanh Van told Xinhua.

According to her, many Chinese language learners at the institute are seeking for a scholarship to study in China.

"They believe that speaking Chinese and studying in China can help them secure a good job after graduation. They believe that they will have better opportunities thanks to China's rapid development," she noted.

Van finished her higher education in China, which has shaped her career and made her life meaningful as it is today, she said.

"Now, I can help Vietnamese students realizing their dreams of studying abroad. They can go to China and enjoy their youth, then define what they should do next for their future. I feel I am useful and I love that," Van said, smiling brightly.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 11:04:51|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

KUNMING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Lo Niyun, a businesswoman from Taiwan, has run a wasabi company in Yunnan province on the Chinese mainland for 17 years.

Lo, 56, is from Penghu County in Taiwan. Her wasabi-processing company mainly sells its products to Japan, the United States, and Thailand, but she is hoping the spicy horseradish relative will take off among consumers on the mainland.

Wasabi is most often made into a green mustard-like condiment with a strong, hot taste that is often served with sushi or seafood. Lo said wasabi kills parasites in the digestive system and has strong medicinal value.

Lo earned a bachelor's degree in food processing and, after graduation, started working at a company that sold specialties from Taiwan's Ali Mountain.

"Japanese restaurants had growing demand for wasabi grown in Ali. The profits were impressive," Lo said.

However, fierce competition forced Lo to find new wasabi cultivation areas outside Taiwan.

Lo came to Kunming, capital of Yunnan, in 1999.

"I was totally attracted to the pleasant climate and beautiful scenery when I got off the plane," she said. "On top of that, the local government's support for farmers in rural areas to develop the wasabi industry had reassured me to stay."

In 2001, Lo set up her company in Yiliang County, about 70 kilometers from Kunming. To ensure a smooth supply of the vegetables, Lo cooperates with farmers in the mountainous counties of Eryuan, Luquan, Huize, Yiliang and Baoshan.

"The clean air, water and soil in these cold highland areas are suitable for growing wasabi. Wasabi also brings higher incomes for farmers compared with other crops," Lo said.

Yu Canhui, a farmer in Eryuan county, has grown wasabi in Gaoluoxi village for about twenty years. Last year, he earned over 100,000 yuan (about 15,800 US dollars) in his 0.67-hectare hilly fields 2,600 meters above sea level.

"Before I turned to wasabi, I grew potatoes, but of course wasabi brings more money. We can get from 90,000 to over 150,000 yuan per hectare by growing wasabi," Yu said. "Since 2001, wasabi planters in my village have cooperated with Lo's company, which provides us a guaranteed price and a stable market."

Now Yu manages Lo's planting bases in Eryuan. Recently, he has been busy with other farmers harvesting wasabi leaves and stems.

Lo's company has nearly 134 hectares of planting bases and cooperates with about 600 farmer households in Yunnan, according to company manager Cao Yan. She thinks that wasabi has helped farmers living in rural mountains find a path to battle poverty.

"Farmers are not the only beneficiaries. The company also creates 120 jobs for locals," said Cao, a resident of Yiliang.

For over a decade, Lo focused on developing overseas markets by exporting fresh leaves, stems and roots of wasabi and wasabi sauce. Last year, the export volume was over 2,000 tonnes, which accounted for 90 percent of the total output.

Although the products are popular abroad, the export market is limited, Lo said.

"So we increased investment in downstream processing and developed products catering to consumers in the mainland," said Lo. "We blended wasabi with local specialties such as bean sauce, sesame biscuits and chili sauce."

With the new products, Lo said she aims to expand the mainland market share to 50 percent or even higher.
TRIPOLI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army on Sunday announced maximum security alert over possible terrorist attacks on oil ports and fields.

The information office of the army's gulf military zone said in a statement that an order to raise security alert was issued to all the units of the region.

It also noted that armed forces at the oil ports stand ready to repel any terrorist attack and their response would be harsh towards any attempt to advance towards the oil crescent region, an area that contains the country's largest oil ports and fields.

In the statement, Khalifa Emraja, commander of the gulf military zone, called on the citizens to take caution about any unknown individuals or objects, and work with the security services for public security.

Militant groups in Libya have launched several attacks on oil fields and ports in the eastern oil crescent region.

In April, guards at Libyan petroleum installations announced that a terrorist group blew up a crude oil pipeline near the town of Mrada, some 500 km east of the capital Tripoli.

In December 2017, a terrorist group bombed a crude oil pipeline of the state-owned Waha oil company in a desert area, causing losses of more than 10 million U.S. dollars.

Libya's daily production of crude oil has returned to about 1 million barrels a day since the end of 2017, after production operations in all southern and eastern oil fields were resumed.

However, sudden closures of oil fields due to protests as well as terrorist attacks have caused Libya's oil production to fluctuate.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 11:19:54|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

BOGOTA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Ivan Duque, a right-wing candidate for the Democratic Center Party, won the first round of the Colombian presidential election on Sunday, claiming 39.14 percent of the vote with 99.99 percent of votes tallied.

He was short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a second-round runoff and will face runner-up Gustavo Petro of the left-wing, who harvested 25.09 percent of the vote.

While most polls had predicted Duque and Petro would enter the second round, former Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo had a strong performance, finishing third with 23.73 percent.

All reports indicated that the day went peacefully, with no signs of the armed violence that marred previous Colombian elections. The second round will take place on June 17.

The election is being closely watched by the international community keen to see Colombia move beyond its history of violence and drug crime. It was the first election after the Colombian government signed a historic deal with the FARC guerrilla group, ending over 50 years of armed conflict.

Duque, seen as the protege of former President Alvaro Uribe who opposed the peace deal signed with FARC guerrilla, is considered the favorite to win the second round.

The country remains deeply divided over the deal since its signing in 2016. The FARC is now a legitimate political party and there may be little appetite to re-open the debate over the deal, although Duque has said it should be amended.

"I feel honored to have arrived at the election as the representative of a new generation of Colombians, and I want to govern with everyone and for everyone," Duque told press after casting his vote.

Petro, former guerrilla leader himself, once spent 18 months in prison for illegal possession of weapons. He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 2002 and then a senator.

He was elected as mayor of Bogota, Colombia's capital city, in 2012, holding the position for two terms until 2015. His tenure was marked by heavy restrictions on carrying firearms and a focus on environmental protection.

Both candidates are likely to make overtures to the supporters of Fajardo and Humberto de la Calle, the government's chief negotiator with the FARC, who finished fifth.

The vote was split across the country with Duque winning the key cities of Medellin and Bucaramanga and Petro triumphing in Barranquilla and Cartagena.
CANBERRA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Experts believe halogen bulbs could disappear from Australian stores within two years as the country is moving quickly to remove halogen lights in favour of more efficient and environmentally friendly LED lighting, media reported Monday.

A ban on halogen bulbs, which use four times the energy of LED globes, was announced last month at a meeting of state and federal environment ministers.

Lighting Council Australia Chief Executive Richard Mulcahy said on Monday that manufacturers would act early to phase out the bulbs, even though the ban was not due to come into effect until September 2020.

He predicted retailers may no longer be stocking the bulbs within 12 months.

"Many consumers already prefer LED products and sales volumes of halogen lamps continue to decrease," he told the Guardian on Monday.

"Good quality LED lamps last five to 15 times longer than halogen lamps and at most will consume one-quarter of the energy to produce the same light output."

Most domestic halogen lamps could be directly replaced by LED ones, he added.

The halogen ban is backed by both Industry and the federal government, which estimates the switch will save Australian consumers 1.5 billion Australian dollars (about 1.13 billion U.S. dollars) over 10 years.

It is based on a European Union (EU) policy that will also come into effect in September 2020. The Australian government will enforce new minimum standards for LED lights, mirroring the EU policy.

Exact details of the ban and the phase-out period are yet to be confirmed but Mulcahy said he expected few exemptions.

"We expect the phase-out will set a date when halogen lamps can no longer be imported into Australia, while specifying a grandfathering period to deal with stock already in the country," he said.

A 2016 survey from the department of industry found 32 percent of households were using halogen lights (mains voltage and low voltage) and 15 percent LEDs. A further 13 percent used incandescents, 31 percent compact fluorescent lamps and 9 percent linear fluorescents.

Overall, 55 percent of homes were using high-efficiency lighting such as LEDs and fluorescents, while 45 percent used low-efficiency bulbs such as halogen and incandescents, the report found.

In 2010, only 2 percent of homes used LED and 35 percent used halogen.

Most incandescent lights, which waste 90 percent of their energy produced as heat, were phased out between 2009 and 2012.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 11:34:58|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

Colombian presidential candidate for the Democratic Center Party Ivan Duque poses after casting his vote at a polling station in Bogota, Colombia, on May 27, 2018. Ivan Duque, right-wing candidate for the Democratic Center Party, won the first round of the Colombian presidential election on Sunday, claiming 39.14 percent of the vote with 99.99 percent of votes tallied. The second round will take place on June 17. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)

BOGOTA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Ivan Duque, right-wing candidate for the Democratic Center Party, won the first round of the Colombian presidential election on Sunday, claiming 39.14 percent of the vote with 99.99 percent of votes tallied.

He was short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a second-round runoff and will face runner-up Gustavo Petro of the left-wing, who harvested 25.09 percent of the vote.

While most election polls had predicted Duque and Petro would enter the second round, former Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo had a strong performance, finishing in third with 23.73 percent.

All reports indicated that the day went peacefully, with no signs of the armed violence that has marred previous Colombian elections. The second round will take place on June 17.

The election is being closely watched by the international community keen to see Colombia move beyond its history of violence and drug crime. It was the first election after the Colombian government signed a historic deal with the FARC guerrilla group, ending over 50 years of armed conflict.

Duque, seen as the protege of former president Alvaro Uribe who opposed the peace deal signed with FARC guerrilla, is considered the favorite to win the second round.

The country remains deeply divided over the deal since its signing in 2016. The FARC is now a legitimate political party and there may be little appetite to re-open the debate about the deal, although Duque has said it should be amended.

"I feel honored to have arrived at the election as the representative of a new generation of Colombians, and I want to govern with everyone and for everyone," Duque told press after casting his vote.

Duque is also seen as a friendly figure for foreign investors as he speaks fluent English, having studied law at American University in Washington and public policy management at Georgetown University.

Petro, former guerrilla leader himself, once spent 18 months in prison for illegal possession of weapons. He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 2002 and then a senator.

He was elected as mayor of Bogota, Colombia's capital city, in 2012, holding the position for two terms until 2015. His tenure was marked by heavy restrictions on carrying firearms and a focus on environmental protection.

Both candidates are likely to make overtures to the supporters of Fajardo and Humberto de la Calle, the government's chief negotiator with the FARC, who finished fifth.

The vote was split across the country with Duque winning the key cities of Medellin and Bucaramanga and Petro triumphing in Barranquilla and Cartagena.

Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Sunday morning, outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos called on all Colombians to turn out and vote, saying the ongoing election would be the "most peaceful" in Colombian history.

"We have also sought this to be the election with the best guarantees for the electorate. We must do everything in our grasp for the victory to be transparent and with all guarantees," he said.

Echoing Santos, Interior Minister Guillermo Rivera told reporters that the election saw "one of the most peaceful electoral days in the last 50 years."

"This is a dividend of peace, thanks to the effort of President Juan Manuel Santos for having succeeded in signing an agreement with the FARC," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 11:34:59|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

SHENYANG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Fellow villagers called Chen Xijin a "mad man" and "unreasonable" when he cut down all his chestnut trees in 2006.

"How can we make a living without the chestnuts?" said Tang Xiufen, Chen's wife, who couldn't understand why her husband replaced nearly 4.5 hectares of chestnut trees with pine saplings. She argued with him.

After 12 years, Chen's little pines have grown into a thriving forest. His family earned more than 60,000 yuan (9,400 U.S. dollars) last year by selling pine nuts.

Chen's village is tucked away in the mountains of northeast China's Liaoning province. With little arable land for grain, chestnuts were a major source of income for more than 40 years.

When Chen was elected village head in 2004, he found chestnuts were destroying his hometown.

"Usually, we need to eradicate vegetation before harvesting chestnuts, which causes severe soil loss when it rains. The village would ultimately become surrounded by bare mountains with just rocks and sand. I would never allow that to happen," said Chen.

Chen spent some time trying to find a solution. The virgin pine woods in the mountain inspired him. He knew that pines could conserve soil and water, and their nuts were popular in markets.

However, it takes nearly 20 years for wild pines to produce nuts. The poor villagers seemed reluctant to wait.

So Chen and his colleagues asked a local forestry institute for help. Experts told Chen that newly developed grafted pines could halve the time before producing nuts. Chen grafted 30 scions onto wild pine saplings.

"I knew it was risky to replace chestnuts with pines, but I had no choice," Chen said. "There was no such thing as environmental protection in the past. But soil loss had been a severe problem for all of us in the village. Nobody can live on rocks."

Chen was confident that pines could save his village. He decided to set an example to his fellow villagers by cutting down his own chestnuts.

However, the villagers still hesitated after seeing Chen's grafted pines survive. After all, chestnuts had supported their families for decades.

Chen understood them and suggested they plant pines under their chestnut trees.

"We wouldn't cut the chestnuts until the pines grew big enough to bear fruit so that villagers could have stable income and the environment could recover gradually," Chen said.

Soon, 530 hectares of pines were planted alongside the chestnut trees. Twelve years later, the cultivation area of pines has almost doubled. In the meantime, the area of chestnut trees has shrunk to a little over 100 hectares, down from nearly 900 hectares at the peak.

For villagers, pines have already become an even more valuable source of income than chestnuts. But for Chen, they are a testament to villagers' rising environmental awareness.

"We are children of the mountains. We take everything we have from them, so we must protect them better. Clean water and lush mountains are invaluable assets to us," Chen said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 11:40:00|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Li Huiyu gave up a chance to work for one of America's leading genomics companies, instead returning to China to work for a startup in 2017, the same year he graduated from Stanford University's engineering school.

"I like new challenges, responsibility and leading a team forward," Li said.

"I hope what I learned can contribute to my country," Li said.

He noticed computer science was popular among school children in the United States.

His team, Mobby iCode, now aims to provide high-quality coding courses to children in China.

The experience of studying abroad appears to give Chinese students a more open-minded attitude about startups, according to a survey published earlier this week.

While only 9 percent of those who had yet to study overseas planned to start a business, the number grew significantly to 49 percent among those who had completed overseas courses, according to the survey.

Sun Haotian, also a Stanford graduate, is another example. "Before I studied overseas, my plan was to simply complete a doctorate, which might make my job search easier," said Sun.

"However, a course on entrepreneurship in civil and environmental engineering prompted me to think about joining a start-up," Sun said.

Sun quit a position with an investment company and joined Laiye, a mobile Internet platform that helps with ordering cabs, food, hotels, air tickets and housekeeping.

Rich knowledge and broader horizons are believed to have contributed to the change in attitudes.

However, some noted that it was the amicable environment for entrepreneurship in China that helped them make the decision to return.

"I tried to operate a start-up as early as my years at Berkeley. It was not successful, but I learned an important lesson," said Mark Ma, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.

Speaking of his decision to return, Ma said he values China's detail-oriented work environment.

Li Zeyang graduated with his bachelor's degree in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and continued his studies at Stanford University.

"Before leaving for the United States, I was planning to find a job there and work as an engineer," said Li. He interned at several leading U.S. companies before making the decision to return to China. He later co-founded the mobile game company Chilly Room.

"My experiences at Stanford inspired me," Li said, adding that working overseas as an engineer would not offer him enough of a voice in decision-making.

"There are many more opportunities back in China," he said.
MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The increasing share of modern weapons in Russia's Strategic Missile Troops provides new capabilities for nuclear deterrence, a Russian military official said.

The implementation of the 2017 plans on the rearmament of formations and units of the Strategic Missile Troops increased the share of modern weapons up to 66 percent, which provides them with new capabilities for nuclear deterrence, Commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops Sergei Karakayev said in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper published on Monday.

The Strategic Missile Troops have received a large amount of additional equipment, which ensures their operation, protection and combat use, added Karakayev.

In recent years, Russia has been actively modernizing its armaments and military equipment. According to Russia's 2018-2027 state armament program, its armed forces were planned to be updated with about 20 trillion rubles (352.3 billion U.S. dollars).
SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Defense Ministry said Monday that it was prepared to hold talks on military affairs with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "at any time."

Defense Ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo told a regular press briefing that it was prepared to hold a general-level, inter-Korean meeting on military affairs at any time.

Choi said the military talks between general-level officials from the two Koreas would be pushed for after the high-level inter-Korean talks scheduled for June 1.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un held their surprise second summit Saturday on the DPRK side of the border village of Panmunjom.

Moon and Kim agreed to resume the high-level inter-Korean talks, which Pyongyang had called off citing the South-U.S. joint air drills, on June 1.

It would be followed by the general-level, inter-Korean meeting on military affairs to ease military tensions, and a Red Cross meeting to discuss the reunion of families separated across the border after the 1950-53 Korean War.

The Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war since the three-year fratricidal war ended with an armistice.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 12:05:04|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

NEW DELHI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A newly-elected legislator died in a road mishap in India's southern state of Karnataka early Monday morning, reported the Zee News TV channel.

The deceased legislator named Siddu Nyamgouda belonged to the Indian National Congress (INC) and was elected from the Jamkhandi constituency in the recently held Assembly elections in the state.

The road accident occurred when he was travelling from the Goa airport to Bagalkot area in Karnataka. The accident occurred when the driver tried to swerve the vehicle to avoid a heavy vehicle coming from the opposite direction and hit a road divider.

The legislator's car toppled as an impact of the accident. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead.

The INC had won 78 legislators in the just-concluded Assembly polls. The party formed an alliance government along with the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Nyamgouda was expected to be included in the state cabinet of ministers which is yet to be formally announced.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 12:20:07|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

CANBERRA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A report into Australia's trillion-dollar superannuation industry will urge the government to establish a new body to allocate some of the 350 billion U.S. dollars in retirement savings for workers who do not nominate their preferred fund.

According to newspaper reports on Monday, the Australian Productivity Commission will release a landmark report on Tuesday into the performance of the sector, from the members' perspective.

It is expected to be a damning analysis, highlighting woes and inefficiencies, and a chronic drain on the 1.97 trillion U.S. dollar industry.

The Productivity Commission, the government's peak economic adviser, will expose data which confirms that 359 billion U.S. dollars a year falls into default funds for Australian workers, leaching billions of dollars in fees.

Superannuation is a scheme to ensure income in retirement for Australians. Federal law currently insists that employers pay 9.5 percent of a worker's salary - on top of wages - into compulsory schemes, although plans are in place for that percentage to rise in 2021 and 2025. Businesses must nominate a fund that they will pay super into if an employee cannot or does not choose their own fund.

The landmark Productivity Commission report is expected to recommend a new way for unions and employers to select a default fund, but will not open the field for competition, as some major banks had hoped.

Headed by deputy chair Karen Chester, the Commission is expected to release sufficient evidence and outcome forecasts to bring about change for members. It will be the final stage of a three-part probe into the system, designed to ensure members get bang for their buck.

The final report is expected to address default funds, multiple accounts, poor performing funds and money sucked away from retirement savings.

In order to protect Australian workers, the Commission previously suggested a tender process to select five to 10 super schemes based on net returns, fees, member satisfaction, member services and investment strategy.

While there is no deadline for the government to respond to the recommendations, the Productivity Commission is planning to issue further reports and a timetable to 2020 for the reforms.

A financial system inquiry in 2014 found fees were higher than comparable overseas systems, but regulators allowed the situation to continue.
CANBERRA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Aboriginal groups in Australia's Northern Territory have tentatively welcomed a federal government pledge to combat the deadly virus HTLV-1 which is rampant in many outback communities.

The Turnbull coalition government committed on Friday 6 million U.S. dollars to research the virus which is affecting many central Australian communities at a rate 1,000 times worse than seen anywhere else in the world.

Australia's biggest Aboriginal community-controlled health organization said on Monday the funding program was good news, but more input was needed from Aboriginal people.

"The role of Aboriginal people is critical in shaping the response and it cannot be left to a taskforce of experts alone," said Australian Aboriginal Congress chief executive Donna Ah Chee.

"There must be respect for local knowledge, promoting culturally acceptable and appropriate health information and care," she said.

"There has been much publicity on this in recent weeks and now it is time to take stock and carefully consider the issue."

There is currently no strategy in Australia to prevent the ancient virus, transmitted by unprotected sex, blood contact and breastfeeding, which can cause a rapidly fatal form of leukaemia, and debilitating spinal cord inflammation.

As the Australian Broadcasting Corporation revealed in April that research suggests thousands of Indigenous people in Central Australia unknowingly carried HTLV-1, or human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, which can cause serious disease in 5 to 10 percent of carriers.

Clinicians have expressed alarm at the high rates of the virus in central Australia and the Congress is working with the Central Australia Academic Health Science Centre to discuss appropriate responses to HTLV-1, bringing together Aboriginal health services, Alice Springs Hospital, key research institutions and invited experts.

"We want to achieve consensus on the current state of knowledge, identify gaps in knowledge that require further research and consider whether there is a need to change current clinical guidelines for health practitioners in relation to HTLV-1," Ah Chee said on Monday.

"As long as this new funding announcement can assist us to do what is needed then it is a very welcome announcement."

The task force will bring together Aboriginal communities, relevant health providers, researchers, clinicians and all levels of government "to look at HTLV-1 and other emerging communicable diseases in remote communities," said Health Minister Greg Hunt.
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A trooper and a civilian were killed in a militant attack on an army camp, while as three troopers were wounded in separate attack after their vehicle was targeted with an improvised explosive device (IED) in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Monday.

The attacks took place in Pulwama and Shopian districts, south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Last night militants attacked an army camp at village Kakapora in Pulwama district. During the attack one trooper was killed and later on in the crossfire a civilian was also killed," a police official posted in Pulwama told Xinhua.

The area was cordoned off following the attack, however, militants have managed to escape.

Meanwhile, in an IED blast on Monday morning in adjacent Shopian district, three troopers were wounded.

The troopers were immediately removed to hospital, police said.

So far, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Indian government has announced a conditional halt in its ongoing military operations during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the region.

Sunday night's action was the first major attack since the announcement.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989.
TRIPOLI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Tripoli-based Higher Council of State on Sunday agreed to give the central bank's governor a last chance to carry out immediate economic reform to reestablish growth in the conflict-stricken country.

Ali Sweih, a member of the state council, said that during Sunday's meeting, council members discussed the country's economic situation and the necessity to implement reforms to revive the flagging economy.

He said the central bank's leader Al-Seddiq Al-Kabir failed to make any reform plan amid currency devaluation and a liquidity shortage in commercial banks.

It is a final opportunity for him, or he will be removed from the post, Sweih said.

The economic situation in the North African country remains chaotic after the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

According to a World Bank economic outlook released in April, the country's growth is expected to rebound in 2018. However, hit by conflicts and insecurity, the politically divided nation still needs a long time to restore growth foundations.

The oil producer has two governments, a UN-backed one in Tripoli and an eastern-based administration allied to the House of Representatives.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 14:40:31|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

Lee Myung-hee, spouse of Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, speaks to media as she arrives at the Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency for questioning in Seoul, South Korea, on May 28, 2018. The wife of South Korea's flagship air carrier Korean Air Lines' chief was questioned by police Monday over assault charges. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)

SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The wife of South Korea's flagship air carrier Korean Air Lines' chief was questioned by police Monday over assault charges.

Lee Myung-hee, spouse of Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency at about 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) as a criminal suspect for assaults and abusive words toward employees.

The 69-year-old director of Ilwoo Foundation bowed her head and apologized, saying it was sorry to cause troubles and she will sincerely face investigations.

Lee, dressed in a dark-colored attire and a blue muffler, did not answer questions by journalists whether she hurled scissors and flowerpots at employees.

She was accused of shoving and cursing workers in a construction site to expand a hotel owned by Hanjin Group, one of South Korea's biggest family-run conglomerates, in 2014. Korean Air is an airline unit of the group.

Lee was charged with assaulting and abusing workers who remodeled her mansion in 2013, while habitually beating and cursing company employees, chauffeurs, security guards and housekeepers. Police reportedly secured more than 10 victims.

The police is considering charging Lee against habitual assaults and special violence, which punishes a criminal with a prison term regardless of the settlement with the victim. By law, simple violence cannot be punished if the criminal settles with the victim.

Protesters from progressive political parties and liberal civic groups chanted outside the police agency with placards on hand that read "Cho Yang-ho Family Out" and "Break up Chaebol." Chaebol refers to South Korean conglomerates controlled by families only with a handful of shares in a complex web of crossholdings.

Lee and her two daughters, including Cho Hyun-ah infamous for the "nut rage" case, have been probed over abuse, assault, tax evasion and smuggling of luxury goods.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 14:45:32|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

KUNMING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Police have detained two suspected drug traffickers and seized 17.58 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, said authorities of Tengchong in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Monday.

In early May, police received a tip that a man and a woman were planning to transport drugs from Myanmar into China. Police immediately set up an investigation team and dispatched officers to border areas.

Two suspects were detained on May 25 near a gas station in Yingjiang County in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. Police also seized 17.58 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine.

Yunnan, which borders the Golden Triangle, is a major front in China's battle against drug crime.

Since the beginning of last year, the province has caught 21,000 suspects and seized about 25.54 tonnes of drugs, local authorities said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 14:50:34|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

HEFEI,May 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 436 deals were signed during the World Manufacturing Convention, with a total investment volume of 447 billion yuan (70 billionU.S. dollars), local authorities said.

The investments covers electronic information and home appliances, new materials and new energy,equipment manufacture, and auto-making, as well as biological medicine, said Deng Xiangyang, vice governor of east China's Anhui Province, where the event was held between Friday to Sunday.

The convention was hosted by the Global Alliance of SMEs, the UN Industrial Development Organization, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Anhui Provincial Government.

More than 4,000 representatives from 165 domestic companies and 315 overseas companies attended the convention.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 15:10:36|Editor: mmm

Video Player Close

PARIS, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Jelena Ostapenko became only the second women's singles defending champion in the Open era to be eliminated in the first round of the French Open.

The Latvian shot to prominence after being crowned in Roland Garros in 2017 as an unseeded player. But Ostapenko was stunned Sunday by Ukraine's Kateryna Kozlova, losing 7-5, 6-3 in the tournament's opening match.

"In general I maybe played to around 20 percent of my capability," said a frustrated Ostapenko afterwards.

The Latvian, who had been the tournament's fifth seed, fared below par throughout the match, making 48 unforced errors to her opponent's 22.

"I made around 50 unforced errors and so many double faults. It felt like I couldn't serve today. Everything together just produced a really bad result," she lamented.

Kozlova managed to convert her second match point as Ostapenko's backhand failed to cross the net.

Elsewhere, it was third time lucky for China's Wang Qiang, after she beat American veteran Venus Williams 6-4, 7-5.

Wang had lost both of her previous Grand Slam matches against 37-year-old Williams in 2017, at the French Open and Wimbledon respectively.

The Chinese, who made it into the main draw at Roland Garros for the fourth time, finished her first break after both players had several deuces in a 12-minute first game, before Williams made a timely response in the following game.

Both sides shared the first eight games of the opening set, before Wang capitalized on Williams' forehand flaw to break her opponent.

Seven-time Grand Slam singles winner Williams hit back in the second set, racing into an early 3-0 lead, but Wang came back into contention with three games of her own in a row.

Wang surrendered a lead in both sets when facing Williams at the same stage last year, but the 91st-ranked Chinese refused to let her chance slip away this time. After the two players shared the next four games for a 5-5 tie, Wang broke Williams' service to recorded a stunning victory over the American.

Despite notching 28 winners, Williams suffered 35 unforced errors, and also gave best to Wang in terms of points on first and second serves.

"I just tried my best to focus on the court, and play without many mistakes. If I got a chance, I just went for it," said Wang, adding that the win was one of her top three career victories.

Wang's next opponent will be Petra Martic. The Croatian eliminated Wang's compatriot Wang Yafan 6-2, 6-3.

Meanwhile, China's Zheng Saisai, who underwent knee surgery after the U.S. Open last year, lost her first Grand Slam match after making her comeback from injury to Russia's doubles specialist Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-1.

"I failed to play to my level, and she played well in the match," said Zheng. "But nevertheless, I'm happy to be back playing here."

There were no great surprises in the Men's singles tournament Sunday, as No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev secured his spot in the second round, along with a list of prominent names such as Grigor Dimitrov, Lucas Pouille and Kei Nishikori.

Eighth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium had to bounce back from two sets down to see off the Dutchman Robin Haase.

And in his quest for a record-extending 11th title at Roland Garros, the "King of Clay" Rafael Nadal will meet Italy's Simone Bolelli on Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 15:15:39|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The deepest borehole to be drilled for scientific purposes by Asians - the first to penetrate a continental layer of strata from the earth's Cretaceous period - was completed in northeastern China on May 26, according to China Daily on Monday.

It reached a depth of 7,018 meters.

The project, Songke 2, in Anda, Heilongjiang province, started in April 2014, led by the China Geological Survey in cooperation with about 20 organizations, said the newspaper.

The borehole is located in the Songliao Basin, one of the largest continental sedimentary basins in the world. It holds China's most important reserves of oil and natural gas.

"The success of the project will provide key technologies and equipment for exploration and experimental research deep within the earth," Cheng Qiuming, secretary-general of the International Union of Geological Sciences, was quoted by the newspaper as saying. "It will also open a new space for clean energy prospecting in Songliao Basin."

Li Yuyan, chief engineer of Heilongjiang's Department of Land and Resources, said these technical achievements have been recognized both at home and abroad.

Wang Chengshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chief scientist of the project, said the drilling project achieved the first borehole in the world that goes through the continental stratum of the Cretaceous period, which has shown China's deep-earth capabilities.

The Kola borehole in northwestern Russia remains the deepest in the world, the newspaper said. It reached a depth of 12,262 meters in 1989.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 15:25:44|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

DOHA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Qatar said it would ban products originating from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, almost a year after the four countries imposed an embargo on Doha.

"Products originating from the blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Territory, have to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures," a government statement said late Saturday.

"To protect the safety of consumers in the State of Qatar and to combat improper trafficking of goods, the government issued a directive to find new suppliers of the variety of goods impacted," said the statement.

"Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements," it added.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed diplomatic ties as well as all air, sea and land links with Qatar, accusing the gas-rich Gulf state of supporting terrorism and aligning with Iran against Arab interests. Doha has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling such isolation "diplomatically unjustified."

Imports into Qatar plunged about 40 percent from 2016 in the initial weeks of the embargo, but they have since mostly returned to normal as Doha has found new sources of products in countries such as Turkey, and developed new shipping routes through places such as Oman, according to a Reuters report.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 15:30:46|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

SAN FRANCISCO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- One man was reported missing after a small plane crashed in Eagle Harbor in King County in the west U.S. state of Washington Sunday, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest said.

Two people were on board the plane, a 1974 4-cycle two-seater fixed wing single engine when it crashed, and a 60-year-old woman was rescued and transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the state's largest city, the Coast Guard tweeted Sunday evening.

The female passenger is in critical condition, a local TV report said.

The small aircraft was reported to have crashed and sunk in Eagle Harbor under "unknown circumstances," the K5 News TV channel quoted an official with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration as saying.

The Coast Guard dispatched a rescue helicopter and a boat crew for search operations, in collaboration with the staff of the Seattle Fire Department, said K5 News.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.
KABUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban group has rejected peace offer made by the Afghan government and religious circles in the month of Ramadan to halt fighting and initiate negotiation.

The militant group, according to local officials, organized deadly blasts in the sport stadium of eastern Jalalabad city on May 18, killing at least eight people including athletes and injuring 55 others including athletes and spectators.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in his message on the eve of Ramadan described the fasting month as a month of peace and called upon militants to respect the holy month and contribute towards achieving peace in Afghanistan.

Similarly, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in its message released on May 16, besides expressing warmest wishes to all Afghans, hoped that "observation of Ramadan will provide an opportunity for all communities in Afghanistan to come closer to each other and build bridges peacefully."

Afghan religious circles including the religious scholars' council of Afghanistan have also called upon the armed group to respect Ramadan and halt fighting at least throughout the holy month.

Taliban outfit which launched its so-called annual offensive on April 25 has doubled militancy activities since beginning of Ramadan, and besides organizing series of deadly roadside and suicide bombings, has also launched massive offensives on several districts and briefly captured some important areas.

Government forces, backed by the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission, were able to foil militants' attempt to overrun the key western city of Farah last week and keep their presence in the districts of Kohistan, Tala-o-Barfak, Jaghato, Zana Khan, among others.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Radmanish, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, has said that the security forces are capable enough to thwart any vicious designs of militants elsewhere in the militancy-battered country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 16:15:54|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

NANCHANG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- East China's Jiangxi Province will advance new energy vehicles (NEVs), raising output to half a million by 2020.

Jiangxi has rich lithium and rare earth resources, and the NEV industry will be a priority, according to a provincial government document.

By 2020, Jiangxi will boost its technological level in the NEV industry. Lithium battery output is expected to reach 40GWh, with NEV industry revenue expected to reach 50 billion yuan (about 8 billion U.S. dollars).

By 2020, 75 percent of the new public buses will be NEVs, and consumers will be encouraged to purchase 100,000 NEVs.

Jiangxi will also expand charging facilities, aiming to have 260 stations and 100,000 posts by 2020.

China's new energy vehicle market recorded another year of rapid growth in 2017 as the government continued its green transport push. New energy vehicles refer to vehicles powered by non-traditional fuels, such as electric and hybrid vehicles.

A total of 777,000 new energy vehicles were sold in China last year, up 53.3 percent year on year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

China's stock of new energy vehicles is the world's largest, with 1.53 million as of the end of 2017.
ISLAMABAD, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government and the opposition Monday agreed on the appointment of former Chief Justice of Supreme Court Nasir-ul-Mulk as the caretaker prime minister of the country.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and opposition leader Khursheed Shah announced the decision at a joint news conference after their talks in Islamabad.

"The government and the opposition have ended deadlock over the nomination of the caretaker prime minister and we have agreed to nominate retired Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk as the caretaker prime minister," Shah said.

Nasir-ul-Mulk, who belongs to Swat Valley in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has also served as the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan. He belongs to a political family and his father had served as senator in the 1970s. His brother Shuja-ul-Mulk has also served as senator.

The other main opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf also welcomed the appointment of the retired judge and said that the party does not have any objection at the appointment of Nasir-ul-Mulk, the party spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said.

Appointment of the caretaker prime minister is constitutional requirement, who will supervise the parliamentary elections, to be held on July 25. The caretaker government will complete the election process within two months.

The incumbent government will complete its five-year constitutional term on May 31.

The caretaker prime minister will take oath after incumbent Abbasi steps down on May 31.
SYDNEY, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Nearly one dozen islands in Australia's far north will be closed to the public from Monday, as authorities attempt to deal with major rat infestation.

The Queensland State Parks and Wildlife Service will now begin a three-week aerial baiting program to control the rodent pests on the Great Barrier Reef's world heritage listed Frankland and Northern Barnard Islands, where black rats are threatening native seabirds by damaging nests and eating hatchlings.

"Obviously these islands play a very important part in seabird and migratory shorebird habitat," Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Warwick Armstrong told local media.

"We also have a lot of visitors to campgrounds, so there's a risk of disease that's carried by these pest rats."

Although it's not completely clear how the rats came to the islands, it's believed the rodents might have made it there by sneaking off larger boats in the area or were washed toward the islands during flood events.

It is not the first time that authorities have been forced to act on a rat infestation on the islands.

Rangers conducted a control program on the South Barnard Islands back in 2000, which saw the number of seabirds increase dramatically after its completion.
PYONGYANG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a U.S. diplomatic delegation had arrived in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to prepare for a much-anticipated summit between Pyongyang and Washington.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," Trump tweeted, referring to the DPRK by another name.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" he added.

At the Panmunjom truce village on Sunday, U.S. diplomat Sung Kim crossed the demarcation line into the DPRK for pre-summit negotiations with DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, in what was the latest sign that both sides were working to bring the first meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a DPRK top leader back on track.

The diplomat was summoned from his current post as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. He also served as top U.S. envoy to South Korea and was the chief negotiator for denuclearization talks with Pyongyang during the George W. Bush administration.

The arrival of the U.S. delegation came just one day after Moon Jae-in, president of South Korea, held an impromptu meeting with Kim Jong Un at the DPRK side of the truce village.

Neither Seoul nor Pyongyang revealed in advance Saturday's Moon-Kim meeting, which, according to TV footage, saw the two leaders hug and smile at each other, seemingly building on a certain level of personal friendship following their first encounter merely a month ago.

During the inter-Korean summit on April 27th, Moon and Kim agreed to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as well as lasting peace between the two neighbors.

Moon told reporters after the second summit, which he said was requested by Kim, that the DPRK's top leader "again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." He added that Kim also reaffirmed his commitment to the summit with Trump.

Acknowledging the differences between Washington and Pyongyang over the exact meaning of denuclearization, Moon suggested that the two sides dispel possible misunderstandings via direct dialogues and hold working-level talks to resolve disagreements.

On the DPRK side, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim, during his meeting with Moon, expressed "fixed will" toward the summit with Trump.

"Kim Jong Un told Moon Jae-in to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve the DPRK-U.S. relations and establish mechanism for permanent and durable peace," the KCNA said.

The United States demands "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantlement of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, but the DPRK refuses to unilaterally abandon its nuclear arsenal.

Pyongyang insists on denuclearization of the whole Korean Peninsula, where Washington has troops stationed on the South Korean territory and boasts a so-called nuclear umbrella protecting regional allies South Korea and Japan.

The diplomatic back and forth over the prospects for the Trump-Kim summit caught the world in surprise last Thursday, when Trump made public a letter to Kim in which he canceled the meeting, citing "tremendous anger and open hostility" displayed in the recent statements by the DPRK.

Pyongyang issued a moderate statement in response, saying it is ready to sit down with the United States anytime in any manner for talks.

Some 28 hours after scraping the summit, Trump sent out another tweet, saying: "We are having very productive talks with North Korea about reinstating the Summit which, if it does happen, will likely remain in Singapore on the same date, June 12th."
SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- South Korea said Monday whether to hold a three-way summit between South Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will depend on the outcome of the DPRK-U.S. summit.

The remarks, by an unidentified official from the presidential Blue House were carried by local media reports.

Possibilities ran high for top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump to hold the first DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore on June 12 as scheduled.

Media speculations arose that South Korean President Moon Jae-in may visit Singapore around June 12 to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice. The Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war with this armistice agreement.

Pre-summit talks between working-level officials from the DPRK and the United States were reportedly underway to arrange the Kim-Trump summit.

The official was quoted as saying the three-way summit could be possibly held in Singapore if all issues, including agenda, are to be perfectly dealt with at the working-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

Referring to denuclearization and the DPRK's security guarantee as the two main pillars of the Kim-Trump summit on the agenda, the official said Moon can enter the three-way summit to declare the end to the Korean War as part of measures to guarantee the DPRK's security.

Moon and Kim met on Saturday at the DPRK side of the border village Panmunjom, the second inter-Korean summit in a month after the April 27 summit at the South Korean side of Panmunjom.

In a nationally televised address Sunday, Moon confirmed the willingness of Kim and Trump to hold the Singapore summit as scheduled. Moon visited Washington to hold a summit with Trump last week.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 16:56:03|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

GUIYANG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Guiyang City in China's southwest Guizhou Province will become the technical support center and Internet Content Provider (ICP) filing center for Alibaba Cloud, the cloud service of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, the company announced during the China International Big Data Industry Expo on Monday.

All websites hosted on the Chinese mainland must be ICP filed with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. A website cannot direct to any server located on the Chinese mainland for public visits until the developer get an ICP filing number.

Alibaba Cloud will also provide cloud storage service for the research data of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope in Guizhou Province. It is the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 17:12:17|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

Visitors consult at an exhibition area for China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the Fifth China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, May 28, 2018. The fair kicked off here on Monday and will last until June 1. More than 130 seminars, meetings and trade activities have been planned for the fair. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 17:06:06|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have completed a genetic study of the human fetal digestive tract that will assist in diagnosis and treatment of digestive-tract complaints such as gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

Research mapped the genes of 5,277 individual cells and identified 40 cell types in organs from human embryos, as well as the large intestine of adults.

The research supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation was carried out by the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), the Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center and the Third Hospital of Peking University, and published in the latest issue of Nature Cell Biology.

Tang Fuchou, deputy director of ICG and member of the research team, told Xinhua that it was the first time that scientists had systematically studied the development paths and gene expressions of the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine in both embryonic and adult stages.

Founded in 2016 in Peking University, ICG is sponsored by the Beijing government.
TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Several pedestrians were struck on a road, one fatally, in a city southwest of Tokyo by a driver in her 90s, local police reported on Monday.

The driver, a female in her 90s, and six other people aged between 30 and 60 were rushed to hospital from the scene, where one of the women remained unconscious temporarily.

According to local rescue officials, the accident, which occurred at around 10:55 a.m. local time in Chigasaki city in Kanagawa Prefecture, was the result of the elderly female driver pulling out from a company building and onto a main street.

In doing so, she struck four people who were on a crossing walk and two other people who were on a side street.

The latest accident involving an elderly driver has underscored the need for the National Police Agency (NPA) to enforce mandatory cognition tests for drivers wishing to renew their licenses who are aged 75 or over, observers of the matter said.
TALUQAN, Afghanistan, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces killed six militants loyal to the Taliban outfit and injured two others following a fierce clash in the country's northern province of Takhar, local police said Monday.

The conflict happened early Monday morning, when the government forces launched an offensive on insurgents' hideouts in Yangi Qala district of the province, resulting in the death of six armed militants and injury of two others, Abdul Khalil Asir, spokesman of provincial police department, told Xinhua.

He also confirmed that two security personnel have been injured in the incident, with the Taliban yet to comment on the report.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from among the youth.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 18:01:20|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

KUNMING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Bao Mingwei treats "patients" more than 30 times his own size.

Bao, 39, is a veterinarian for wild elephants at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

For 18 years, Bao has helped rescue more than 20 wild elephants, 10 of which are still at the center for further rehabilitation training and medical treatment.

"Rescuing wild elephants is very difficult, as the animal is huge and can be aggressive and attack people sometimes," Bao said. "An adult Asian elephant weighs more than 2,000 kg."

Most elephants in need of help are reported by local villagers, and professional rescuers rush to the scene immediately.

"Some elephants were injured in fights or falls from mountains, and some were abandoned by their herd due to congenital diseases such as heart problems," Bao said.

According to Bao, wild elephants are intelligent. They leave sick herd members near villages on purpose, counting on humans to save them.

"Judging from their injuries and the situations on the ground, we deploy different rescue teams of about 60 people, sometimes even with a crane and a helicopter," he added.

"In remote areas, we even have to pave the way to transport the animals," he said.

According to Bao, the worst situation is rescuing at night when the forests are in utter darkness and a flashlight is the only tool when conducting rescue work.

Elephants slightly injured are sent back to the forests soon after recovery, but those in serious conditions have to be treated at the center for a long time before being released.

"For every elephant at the center, we arrange two keepers to accompany them 24 hours a day. They have to lead the elephants to the mountains every day for them to re-adapt to the wild," Bao said.

Fresh bananas in hand, Bao feeds the rescued elephants while conducting daily checks on their teeth and mouths. He also takes their temperatures and checks their excrement to ensure the animals are healthy.

"Every six months, we do a thorough physical examination on those elephants," he said. "Just like little kids, some elephants don't like doctors because we give them injections when they are sick."

Wild Asian elephants are mainly scattered in three prefectures in Yunnan, with Xishuangbanna home to the biggest elephant population.

The animals are under Class-A protection in China and are included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.

"Enhanced protection for wild animals has led to a rise in the number of the mammals in recent years," Bao said. "In the 1990s, there were only about 170 wild Asian elephants living in China."

It is estimated that the population has risen to around 300. In March, a group of more than 50 was spotted in the valley.

The 340-hectare Wild Elephant Valley is a scenic area where elephants often roam. It was opened in 1990 at a cost of 150 million yuan (23.5 million U.S. dollars).

In 2008, the breeding and rescue center was established there. So far, five elephants have been born at the center.

As an elephant lover, Bao started to work at the Wild Elephant Valley in 2000, after graduating from Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute.

Bao now has five students and he has written eight academic papers about wild elephants. But he stresses the need for more veterinarians devoted to the animals.

"In China, there are fewer than 10 professional elephant doctors. Protection and rescue can be better achieved with more devoted to the field," Bao said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 18:26:26|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

DOHA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and the United States held a joint meeting to discuss ways to boost trade ties between the two countries, state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Monday.

The meeting was attended by Qatar's Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed and the visiting chairman of the U.S.-Qatar Business Council Anne Patterson, and the delegation accompanying him in Doha on Monday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the measures taken by Qatar to attract U.S. investments, particularly the draft law which has recently been approved by Qatar to allow foreign investors to own 100 percent in all sectors.

According to the report, the two sides highlighted the outcomes of the first stage of Qatar's economic roadshow of the U.S., which is Qatar's sixth-largest trading partner and first destination for imports.

The first tour included four U.S. cities and witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding between Qatari and U.S. companies.

The meeting, which was held in the Qatari capital Doha, is a result of the U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, which concluded in Washington in January.

The two nations enjoy sound military and economic relations. as Qatar currently hosts the Al-Udeid air base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East.

The tiny Gulf country also accommodates more than 658 U.S. companies, of which 117 are fully owned U.S. companies. The volume of U.S. investments in Qatar has amounted to 26.3 billion Qatari riyals (7.22 billion U.S. dollars).
KATHMANDU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition entitled "Sino Nepal Cultural Communication Art" kicked off here Monday, featuring art pieces by renowned Chinese artists on various themes.

The exhibition, organized by Shanghai International Culture Association, is part of the International Youth Creative and Cultural Week.

It features dozens of art pieces, reflecting traditional Chinese art including calligraphy, ink painting and oil painting, among others.

"Culture and cultural activities bring nations closer and enhance people-to-people relations. Such platforms are very important to understand each other," Dhan Bahadur Budha, Nepali state minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, said at the event.

The exhibition, attended by artists and art enthusiasts, has displayed paintings mostly related to bamboo plants and animals like tiger, fish and squirrel.

On the occasion, Nepali artist Suchi Chitrakar said that Nepal should learn from China regarding preservation of art and culture, which is the wisdom of people.

According to the organizer, besides Kathmandu, the exhibition will be held in other cities of Nepal.

"I am glad to attend this exhibition of Chinese artists. It has allowed our artists and art enthusiasts like me to learn deeply about Chinese art and culture," a visitor, Sukdev Sigdel, told Xinhua.
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) top diplomats on Monday urged Venezuela to hold "fresh" presidential elections, days after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term.

In a move aimed to bring Caracas to heel, the EU foreign ministers threatened to swiftly impose "targeted and reversible restrictive measures", according to the conclusions adopted at the EU's Foreign Affairs Council.

Maduro was sworn in for a second term on Thursday, after he won the presidential elections by a wide margin on May 20.

His re-election also prompted a diplomatic row between Caracas and Washington, with the two sides reciprocally dispelling diplomats.

Maduro was first elected in 2013, pledging to strengthen the Bolivarian Revolution launched by former President Hugo Chavez. His second term will conclude in 2025.

Commenting on the Venezuelan presidential election, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang last Tuesday stressed it is Venezuela's internal affairs.

"A fundamental principle of China's foreign policy is non-interference in others' domestic affairs," Lu said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 19:21:36|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Shamshad Akhtar, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Shamshad Akhtar, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in Beijing on Monday.

Wang praised the cooperation between the UN, especially ESCAP, and China, saying he hopes ESCAP will maintain its advantages, closely integrate its work with the Belt and Road Initiative, and make joint efforts with China to promote the process of economic cooperation and integration in the Asia-Pacific region, so as to inject new impetus into regional economic and social development.

Akhtar thanked China for its strong support for the UN and ESCAP, saying ESCAP will fully play its role as an intergovernmental platform and participate in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to make contributions to the development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 19:21:36|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced Monday.

The summit is scheduled for June 9 to 10 in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province.

Leaders of SCO member states and observer states, as well as chiefs of various international organizations will attend the summit, Wang said at a press conference on the summit in Beijing.

This is the first SCO summit since the expansion of the SCO in June 2017 at the Astana summit in Kazakhstan, when India and Pakistan were accepted as full members.

It is the second major diplomatic event China is going to host in 2018, following the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in April.

According to Wang, Xi will exchange views on the current and future development of the SCO, cooperation in all areas under the new situation, as well as on major international and regional issues, with leaders of the other seven member states, four observer states and chiefs of the international organizations.

Xi will sign the Qingdao Declaration and a dozen agreements on security and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges with leaders of other member states, according to Wang.

The president will also invite foreign delegates to a welcoming banquet and a display of fireworks and lights, he said.

On the sidelines of the summit, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China at the invitation of Xi.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will pay a working visit to China.

Xi will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders during the summit, Wang added.

NEW MILESTONE

Since China took over the rotating presidency of the SCO last June, more than 160 activities including a series of important institutional meetings and multilateral events have been held so far, Wang said.

"Mutual political trust has been lifted to a new high; security coordination has made new progress; pragmatic cooperation has achieved new breakthroughs and people-to-people exchanges have yielded new fruits," Wang said.

He said China hoped that the Qingdao summit would reach new consensus, formulate new measures and design a new blueprint for enhanced development.

Wang said the Qingdao Declaration to be issued after the summit would sum up the development experience of the past 17 years since the SCO was created in Shanghai in 2001.

The declaration will call on all parties to continue to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, Wang said.

"Parties are also encouraged to enhance the cohesion, implementation capacity and the influence of the SCO, gain consensus on building a community with a shared future for humanity and building a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, and enrich the Shanghai Spirit in the new era so as to consolidate the basis for the SCO's future development," Wang said.

He said that on security the summit focus would be on the "three evil forces" (terrorism, extremism and separatism), drug trafficking and cybercrime.

"During the summit, leaders of the SCO member states will analyze the global and regional security situation, explore specific measures to strengthen security cooperation and review several cooperation documents," Wang said.

On development, Wang said the summit would deliver a clear message on issues like improving global governance and consolidating the multilateral trade system.

"The summit will advocate the new vision of innovative, coordinated, green, and open development that is for everyone, and strive to create a favorable development environment for member states," he said.

A number of cooperation documents will be adopted at the summit in the hope of transforming political consensus into achievements, he said.

"The Qingdao summit will lay out new plans to enhance the synergy of development strategies of member states, especially promoting the construction of the Belt and Road to lift regional economic cooperation," the Chinese foreign minister said.

Wang said that Shandong Province, as the home of ancient Chinese philosophers Confucius and Mencius, was one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization.

He said that Qingdao, as one of the first Chinese cities to open up, was an important port for the Belt and Road, and that people could sense the extensive, profound local culture and the vitality of China's reform and opening-up.

"I believe that Qingdao Summit will become a new milestone in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," Wang said.
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Preparations are well underway in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, according to an official with the APEC PNG authority.

Christopher Hawkins, chief executive officer of the APEC PNG authority, told Xinhua recently that all buildings are well and truly on track, and "We will take possession of APEC House next month, that's where the leaders will be meeting."

"Other hotels or the convention centre are already established, but we are awaiting refurbishment at one or two more venues, but we will take possession of those ready for APEC in just a couple of months."

According to Hawkins, he and his team have also come up with some creative strategies to accommodate the travelling delegates and make sure the event runs smoothly.

"We do have a shortage of hotel rooms," he said.

"So what we have done is hire three cruise ships which are essentially floating hotels, to make up the shortfall."

Hawkins said they are now more determined than ever to showcase the spirit and resolve of the proud South Pacific nation.

"There is no doubt that PNG are a very resilient people and the recent tragedy has demonstrated that," he said, referring to the devastating 7.5 magnitude tremor back in February, along with a relentless series of aftershocks that followed, which have reportedly killed over 150 people in the mountainous central region.

With PNG riding a wave of economic success in recent years, Hawkins believes that APEC is the perfect platform to let the rest of the world learn more about the nation and its rich cultural history.

"There are a lot of people who don't know much at all about PNG," he explained.

"But there has been dramatic change taking place here and it has been 15 years of positive economic growth, despite the global financial crisis and the massive downfall in commodity prices."

The 2018 APEC summit will be held in November. The 2018 summit will be the first to be hosted by PNG.
BERLIN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The German Social Democrats (SPD) on Monday criticized Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel for her silence in a public debate sparked by irregularities at the federal office for migration and asylum (Bamf).

"Merkel is hiding from her own responsibility. She is silent, inactive and wants to wait until issues surrounding a loss of control at Bamf sort themselves out," Ralf Stegner, SPD deputy parliamentary faction leader, told newspaper Welt. "The chancellor must now finally ensure that (the scandal) is resolved and start clarifying things herself," Stegner added.

A senior Bamf employee in Bremen stands accused of incorrectly granting humanitarian residency in Germany to at least 1,200 applications asylum seekers between 2013 and 2017.

The Bremen State Prosecution Office has confirmed that the employee in question, three attorneys and a translator are being investigated on suspicion of corruption and organized incitement of filing fraudulent asylum applications.

The comments of the chancellor side is not available now.

Merkel made asylum policy a personal priority at the height of the refugee crisis in the summer of 2015 by transferring some responsibilities in the issue-area to the German chancellery. Peter Altmaier, then the chancellery's secretary of state, was temporarily designated as the government's official refugee coordinator. Nevertheless, the Bamf director continued to report to the interior minister.

Interior minister and Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Horst Seehofer reiterated on Monday that there would be a comprehensive investigation into the scandal. Referring to an upcoming parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Seehofer announced on the public broadcaster ZDF that he would say everything that he knows in the federal parliament.

However, Seehofer refused to provide any information about the fate of the embattled Bamf director Jutta Cordt prior to the hearing. Seehofer has also come under pressure himself in the affair for allegedly withholding information from the public.

Josefa Schmid, a civil servant who was posted to the Bamf Bremen office as an interim director following the first reports of the scandal, says that she personally informed the minster in March about 3,332 asylum decisions which she believed to be incorrect. Schmid complained that her subsequent transfer to a different station in Bavaria was "arbitrary" and intended as "punishment" for her vocal criticism of the Bamf headquarters.

By contrast, Seehofer insists that he only learnt of the irregularities concerning asylum applications in mid-April. The minister emphasized once again on Monday that he acted immediately by prohibiting the Bremen Bamf office from making any further asylum decisions and asking the Federal Audit Office to launch an independent inquiry.

Seehofer argued that the scandal highlighted the urgent need for so-called "anchor centers", an initiative championed by the interior minister which would witness the centralized confinement of asylum seekers until a verdict is reached in their individual cases. "After all, we don't just want to make the asylum procedures faster but also safer in the centers," the CSU leader told ZDF.

The interior minister further said that the Bremen case called for an overhauling of Germany's approach to refugees in general, a topic addressed in a new "master plan" which would be published within the next weeks. Seehofer warned that the problems of overwhelmed government agencies discovered in the scandal could not be solved "without a limitation (of immigration)."

At the same time, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) called for an external review of all asylum decisions made by the Bamf between 2014 and 2017. "The agency should not monitor itself in this case," FDP interior spokesperson Linda Teuteberg told newspaper Bild.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (C) waves as he leaves a hospital in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on May 28, 2018 following eight days of treatment for pneumonia. (AFP photo)

RAMALLAH, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday left hospital in the West Bank city of Ramallah eight days after he was hospitalized with pneumonia and high fever.

Outside Ramallah Consulting Hospital in the city, Abbas told reporters "I will get back to work tomorrow and thanks God and to the great hospital which is a good exemplary of our hospitals."

"If Jerusalem brought me to the hospital, now we are leaving the hospital and we want Jerusalem to be the capital of our independent Palestinian state," Abbas said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 19:41:46|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

Italian President Sergio Mattarella (Front) addresses a press conference after meeting with Italian prime minister-designate Giuseppe Conte in Rome, Italy, on May 27, 2018. Conte on Sunday remitted his mandate after Italian President Sergio Mattarella nixed his choice of euroskeptic economist Paolo Savona as finance minister. (Xinhua/Alberto Lingria)

By Alessandra Cardone

ROME, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday gave mandate to form a government to former International Monetary Fund (IMF) official Carlo Cottarelli, as new prime minister-designate.

Cottarelli, a 64-year-old economist, was summoned on Monday morning by the president, after a bid to form a coalition government by populist parties Five Star Movement (M5S) and League failed on Sunday night.

"The president of the Republic has conferred a mandate to form a government on Carlo Cottarelli," presidential secretary Ugo Zampetti said after the president and the economist met for one hour.

"Cottarelli has reserved to accept."

The former IMF official then confirmed he would try to form a technical cabinet to take care of the country's current affairs and forthcoming domestic and international commitments. His cabinet would anyway need to ask a confidence vote in both houses of the Italian parliament.

"The president asked me to go before the parliament with a cabinet able to lead the country to new elections," Cottarelli said in a short speech after the meeting.

"My plan is to submit to the assembly a program that would include (the approval of) the 2019 budget law later this year, and new elections in early 2019," he explained.

"In case the parliament denies the confidence, the cabinet would stay in charge for current affairs only, leading the country to fresh elections after August."

In this case, the government would remain neutral during the campaign, Cottarelli specified, pledging he would not run for elections, nor would any member of his cabinet.

The former IMF official said he was deeply honored by the task, and would put his best efforts in the bid.

The mandate to Cottarelli followed Mattarella's decision on Sunday to veto a euro-skeptic figure in the role of economy minister, as proposed by anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and far-right League, the two most-voted parties in March's inconclusive vote.

The decision put an end to the efforts by M5S and League to form a coalition, sparking angry reactions by both populist forces, which accused the president of abusing his role.

Five Star's leader Luigi Di Maio, backed by small far-right Brothers of Italy party, threatened to demand impeachment for the head of state under Article 90 of the constitution.

The two parties had forged a coalition after March elections, on the base of a platform including radical tax cuts, a roll-back in pension reform, a crackdown on irregular migrants, and defiance of European Union (EU) fiscal rules to boost economic growth.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 19:41:47|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative has placed China's currency, the renminbi (RMB), on a stable path towards internationalization, according to a new report.

"The world's largest economic corridor is expected to expedite the use of RMB for trade, financing and investment," said the report jointly prepared by financial magazine The Asian Banker and China Construction Bank.

The report covered several areas, including the rate of internationalization, initiatives influencing internationalization, industry sentiment, RMB-denominated financial assets held abroad, and foreign RMB bond-holding.

It showed the pace of RMB internalization picked up in 2017 with the initiative's promising potential, according to the report based on a survey of 398 Chinese and overseas enterprises and financial institutions.

When asked what factors had had the maximum impact on RMB internationalization, 72 percent of respondents, including 80 percent of Chinese corporations, voted for the Belt and Road Initiative.

China expects its annual trade with countries along the Belt and Road route to surpass 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars within the next decade.

Other key initiatives driving RMB internationalization include the inclusion of RMB into Special Drawing Rights currency basket by the International Monetary Fund and policies to further open the market released by Chinese regulators.

The Special Drawing Rights inclusion marked not only a vote of confidence in RMB as an international currency but also solidified China's commitment to financial liberalization, according the report.

The industry, especially Chinese corporations, is optimistic about increased RMB engagement in 2018, particularly in the areas of trade settlement, offshore deposits, payments and forex transactions.

About 63 percent of Chinese companies, 47 percent of overseas corporations and 57 percent of financial institutions plan to increase their RMB cross-border engagement this year.

In 2017, the internationalization of the renminbi continued to move forward and its status as an emerging international currency was further consolidated.

At the end of 2017, total RMB-denominated financial assets held by foreign institutions and individuals amounted to 4.28 trillion yuan (630 billion U.S. dollars), up 41.3 percent year on year.

Foreign institutions increased RMB bond-holdings by 347.7 billion yuan, and total outstanding yuan bonds held by foreign institutions at the year-end reached a record high level of 1.15 trillion yuan.

"Development of RMB hubs across the world along with long-term enablers such as the Belt and Road initiative and clearer policy directions could further strengthen the RMB's position in international financial markets in the foreseeable future," it said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 19:46:48|Editor: mmm

Video Player Close

JAKARTA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's modern pentathlon squad is training in South Korea prior to participating in the Asian Games this year. Six athletes left for South Korea on May 27.

"By having the training the athletes are expected to get a boost in their quality," the chairman of the Indonesian modern pentathlon association Anthony C. Sunarjo said. The chairman says athletes must work and train hard.

The modern pentathlon is a combination of five sports; horse racing, fencing, swimming, shooting and running.

To gauge the level of athletes' capabilities, Indonesia will send the

athletes to the Netherlands to compete in the Dutch Open Coubertin Cup

from June 26 to July 2.

The 18th Asian Games is scheduled to be held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and in Palembang city, the provincial capital of South Sumatra province. The event will take place from August 18 to September 2.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 19:52:58|Editor: mmm

Video Player Close

A model poses with a new energy vehicle during the 2018 International Exhibition on Transport Technology & Equipment in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2018. About 600 entrepreneurs attend the exhibition held in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government said Monday that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to Tajikistan Tuesday and attend a meeting of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Wednesday.

Medvedev will meet Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda on cooperation in trade, economy, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture, migration and humanitarian fields, with the signing of documents following their talks.

He will attend a session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, where the CIS leaders will exchange views on the current state and prospects of economic cooperation.

They will also discuss progress in negotiations for free trade in services within the CIS, innovation cooperation, intellectual property market, cooperation in customs affairs, education and youth policy.

The CIS was founded in 1991 as a regional association of former Soviet republics. Its members comprise of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Ukraine and Turkmenistan are associate members of the organization.

Last month, Ukraine started the procedure to withdraw from the management bodies of the CIS following years of disputes with Russia.
NEW DELHI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- After the southern state of Kerala, another Indian state -- Goa in the west -- Monday got its first suspected case of Nipah.

Goa's Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane told the media that the suspected Nipah virus-infected patient, who travelled to the state from Kerala by a train, has been quarantined in the Goa Medical College, a government hospital.

"It is not clear yet whether it is a Nipah case. We will have to wait for test results. The person admitted himself to the hospital, after he felt he had some symptoms similar to those affected by Nipah and he has been kept in the isolation ward," he said.

Nipah virus has already claimed the lives of 14 people in Kerala. Apart from the 14 deaths in Kerala's Kozhikode and Mallapuram districts, some 94 people have been quarantined in their homes while 17 others are under treatment in hospitals.

The Indian Health Ministry last week claimed to have contained the virus. "It was a highly localised infection and we have been able to contain it well," Indian Health Secretary Preeti Sudan had said.

Health officials have identified the bat-infested well in the house in Kozhikode district as the likely epicentre of the outbreak of Nipah virus in this country.

This is the third outbreak of Nipah virus in India. Two other outbreaks of the virus were reported in 2001 and 2007, respectively, in eastern state of West Bengal, claiming 50 lives.
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union (EU) Monday decided to extend sanctions against Syria by one year, until June 1, 2019.

The sanctions, put in place since 2011, include an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, and a freeze on the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU.

Some 259 persons and 67 entities are also subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze.

The Council reiterated the EU's commitment to "finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria."

The ongoing Syrian civil war broke out in spring of 2011 between the government forces, along with its allies, and various forces opposing the government, including the Islamic State group militants.

During the seven-year turmoil and military confrontations, Syria has witnessed large-scale devastation in various parts of its territories, with many foreign countries intervening in the crisis.

The Syrian government's troops have liberated most of cities, towns, and villages captured by rebels and Islamist terrorists.

Since its eruption in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has claimed the lives of about half a million people and displaced and wounded over 14 million.
WASHINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Subtropical storm Alberto was expected to hit U.S. southeastern state Florida sometime on Monday, while a separate storm system in the Mid-Atlantic was causing what the weather service called an "extremely dangerous and potentially catastrophic situation" in Ellicott City in the eastern state Maryland.

In a 2:00 a.m. ET (0700 GMT) update, the National Hurricane Center said that Alberto was maintaining its strength as it approached the Florida panhandle and was centered about 115 miles (185 km) south-southwest of Panama City. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (about 104 km per hour) as it approached the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The center also warned of life-threatening surf conditions, the possibility of tornadoes in much of Florida and parts of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama, as well as up to a foot (about 0.3 m) of rain in some areas.

Heavy rain was expected to arrive in Florida on Monday, where white sandy beaches had been emptied of their usual Memorial Day crowds, an NBC News report said.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Saturday in 67 counties. More than 5,000 National Guard members were ready for deployment, while 165 state troopers were set to begin 12-hour shifts and dozens more had been assigned to "quick response" teams.

In another development, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency on Sunday after flash floods ravaged Ellicott City, about 13 miles (21 km) west of Baltimore.

Numerous water rescues have been reported after heavy rain drenched the city and sent raging brown water surging down Main Street and past vehicles. Howard County fire and rescue officials said there were also reports that a building had collapsed.

"I can tell you right now, the devastation is worse I think than it was in July of 2016, which is kind of hard for me even to imagine, because back then we all said that it looked kind of like the set from a disaster movie," Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said at a news conference.

It wasn't immediately clear whether there were injuries in Ellicott City. In 2016, two residents died in a similar flash flood striking the city after six inches (about 0.15 m) of rain fell in two hours.
NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will host a China trade forum next month to boost Sino-Kenya Trade, organizers said on Monday.

International Events Director at Middle East International Events (MIE) Michelle Meyrick told a media briefing in Nairobi that the Fourth Edition of the China Trade Week Kenya will run from June 13 to 15 for Phase One and from June 18 to 20 for Phase Two.

The China Trade Week is a business-to-business matching trade show featuring over 500 Chinese manufacturing companies, looking to connect with the local and regional sourcing, buying and purchasing professionals, Meyrick said.

"The event will help to expand Sino-Kenya trade by proving an opportunity for the local business community to develop direct trading links with high-end Chinese product manufacturers," she said.

This will be the first time that the China Trade Week is split into two phases. It will bring together exhibitors in building materials, lighting, water and environmental, furniture, textile, consumer goods, automobile and auto parts, electrical and agriculture sectors.

The trade forum has been instrumental in increasing commercial and investment ties between the two countries, she said.

The first China Trade Week in Africa was held in Kenya in 2015. Since then, Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia have also hosted similar events.

In the last decade, China has become Kenya's largest source of foreign direct investment and is the biggest exporter to Kenya.

Meyrick said that the China Trade Week was the first China-focused event to be hosted in the east Africa region.

"It successfully provided exhibitors, visitors and various stakeholders with the opportunity to meet together to develop trade relations and potentially negotiate commercial cooperation with Chinese manufacturers," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 20:17:02|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

HARBIN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 170 Chinese enterprises will attend the 5th China-Russia Expo in Yekaterinburg City in Russia in July, local authorities said Monday.

Co-organized by the Ministry of Commerce, the government of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and a number of Russian ministries, the expo will be held from July 9 to 12.

Themed "new starting point, new opportunity, new future," the expo will hold 28 commercial activities covering finance, electricity, science and technology, logistics, forestry and machinery.

So far, 170 Chinese enterprises from the aviation, heavy equipment and high-tech sectors, have applied to attend and display their products at the expo.

The fourth expo was held in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, last year. The annual event is an important platform for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police have arrested about 20 suspects from the National Youth Service (NYS) over a 90 million U.S. dollar graft scandal.

Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lillian Mbogo-Omollo presented herself to the police on Monday as investigators intensify probe into the scandal at the NYS, the country's premier vocational training institute for under-privileged youth, involving some of its flagship projects.

The arrests were ordered on Sunday by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji after he independently reviewed all the ten inquiries files related to the ongoing investigations at NYS and directed that prosecution commence immediately against all 48 named suspects.

"A team of experienced prosecutors led by the DPP is currently undertaking a final review of the files," Haji said.

"The DPP assures the public that appropriate directions based on analysis of evidence and the law shall be issued without undue delay," he added.

Among those arrested are NYS director-general Richard Ndubai and top finance and procurement officials. They were held at various police stations ahead of their prosecution this week.

The suspects are likely to spend another night there ahead of their prosecution on Tuesday.

"We spent the night looking for them. They will also spend theirs in custody ahead of their prosecution, probably on Tuesday," said an official with knowledge of the operation.

The arrests of senior government officials signal looming arrests and prosecutions of more than 40 other suspects, including NYS managers, suppliers and treasury officials.

Reports indicate that on Friday, Haji and DCI director George Kinoti met to review statements recorded by the individuals suspected to have been involved in the latest NYS scandal.

Investigations were launched after it emerged that an unknown amount of money could have been lost at the NYS through fictitious payments.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered speedy investigations that have seen Omollo and Ndubai step aside. All NYS procurement, finance and accounting personnel who are under investigation have been sent on compulsory leave.

A multi-agency team pursuing allegations of fraud in paying tenders is embarking on the second phase of their probe.

Investigators want to establish if there are any case of collusion between suppliers and public officers that may have led to theft of money in fictitious claims involving billions of shillings (tens of millions of dollars).
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 20:27:03|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

WUHAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- In China, where spicy crayfish is a much loved snack on hot summer nights, doubts have been raised about the safety of the crustaceans: Are they raised in gutters? Do they eat unclean food?

Fisheries scientists have frequently refuted the claims, saying that crayfish sold in markets are raised in clean water on clean food sources. However, cautious diners still fear they might buy an exception, since wild crayfish, which are highly adaptable, are often seen living in gutters in the countryside.

Hubei Province's Qianjiang, known as China's "hometown of crayfish," hopes to dispel the concerns by promoting "ID cards" for live crayfish.

By scanning a QR code on a carton of crayfish, the buyer can learn information about the animals inside, such as where they were raised, where they were bred, and even details about their food.

The measure is part of Qianjiang's efforts to build a quality traceability system for crayfish. The city produces one-tenth of China's crayfish.

China is the world's largest crayfish producer, according to a 2017 report by the then Ministry of Agriculture, now known as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Its output skyrocketed to 852,300 tonnes in 2016 from 265,500 tonnes in 2007.

Outside the domestic market, Chinese crayfish have found fans in the United States and Europe. In 2016, China exported 23,300 tonnes of crayfish worth 259 million U.S. dollars. Nearly 40 percent went to the United States, while 90 percent of the crayfish consumed in Europe came from China.

In addition to the "ID cards," Qianjiang is also working to build an online quality monitoring system.

"We previously raised crayfish based on experience, but now we are also turning to technology," said Dong Guangwen, who manages a 667-hectare breeding base in Qianjiang's Zhaonao Village.

"For example, you should add water to the ponds at four in the morning, or the crayfish can die due to lack of oxygen," said Dong, pointing at a dynamic graph on the screen.

The system can also be used to monitor use of crayfish's food sources in real time.

In addition, Qianjiang set up a quality testing center in 2016, which enables rapid and precise tests of all freshwater aquatic life, mainly crayfish.

"In the past, if we needed to check the water quality in the crayfish ponds or how much pesticide residue was in their bodies, it took three to four days to take samples, test them, and get results. But now it takes only three to four hours, thanks to advanced equipment," said Li Jiawen with the center.

Qianjiang is also cooperating with SF Express, with an aim to deliver live crayfish to more than 300 domestic cities within 48 hours of an order being made, said Chen Jianlian, an executive with the courier.

"Freshness will be a big selling point for Qianjiang crayfish in the future," Chen said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 20:37:05|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- While transferring money at a Chinese bank, the cashier often asks whether the receiver is an acquaintance. The cashier does not intend to infringe on your privacy, but to prevent you falling victim to telecom fraud.

A Beijing center for telecom-fraud control prevented nearly 2 billion yuan (313 million U.S. dollars) of losses in 2017 by freezing the accounts of suspects.

The center is the country's only investigation and monitoring center against telecom and cyber fraud.

Officer Zang Xuemin said the center brings together police, telecommunications operators and banks, monitoring phone numbers associated with fraud around the clock.

Once a case is reported, the center intervenes to stop the transfer or freeze the suspect's account, if the transfer has been made.

Officer Su Xingbo said that earlier this month a man was about to transfer 13 million yuan to an account owned by a suspect pretending to be a court official to avoid a "lawsuit," when Su called him to halt the payment.

Nearly 40,000 people were told by the center to stop transfers in 2017, according to Zang.
BERLIN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- German exporters have downgraded their business expectations for the sixth month in a row, a study by the Institute for Economic Reseach (Ifo) showed on Monday.

The closely-watched Ifo barometer for exporting-oriented companies fell by 2.0 points to 13.6 points in May, the lowest measurement in more than a year. The findings were based on a monthly survey of 2,300 industrial companies conducted by the Munich-based researchers.

"The difficult global economic environment is increasingly weighing on German exporters," a statement by Ifo president Clemens Fuest read.

Fuest highlighted that the automotive industry in particular "barely expected any further growth" in their international sales.

At the same time, however, expectations in the German electronics and engineering industry remained more robust. Similarly, food producers were hopeful that they could still improve their current export performance.

According to a recent survey by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), every fourth company in Germany is worried that growing protectionism poses a threat to their business model. Companies hereby feel particularly threatened by new U.S. import tariffs as well as economic sanctions imposed by Washington against countries like Russia and Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump is resorting to a 1960s trade law to assess whether car import tariffs could be justified on the grounds of U.S national security. Carmakers like Volkswagen and BMW subsequently highlighted that free market access was a crucial factor in the German automotive industry's success and one that also underpinned growth in the global economy as a whole.

Import tariffs on foreign-manufactured vehicles could rise to 25 percent in the U.S. compared to a relatively low duty currently levied on most passenger vehicles brought to the country of 2.5 percent. The change would consequently lead to a significant rise in cost shouldered by the German firms in the important U.S. market.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 20:47:09|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China's largest aluminium producer Chinalco has signed a cooperation agreement with the government of southwest China's Yunnan Province to set up a joint-venture.

In principle, Chinalco will own 58 percent of the new venture, while Yunnan provincial government will own the remaining 42 percent, according to statements released Monday by Yunnan Copper Co. Ltd., Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium Co. Ltd., and Yunnan Aluminium Co. Ltd.

The share prices of Chinalco, Yunnan Copper Co. Ltd., Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium Co. Ltd., and Yunnan Aluminium Co. Ltd. fell slightly Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 20:52:14|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

ZHENGZHOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road tourist city mayor's summit opened Monday in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, highlighting quality urban tourism in the sharing economy era.

The summit, part of the international mayor's forum on tourism, focused on international tourism cooperation, tourism safety, sharing tourism as well as international tourism governance.

Li Jinzao, China's vice minister of culture and tourism, called for strengthening international tourism cooperation and improving tourism governance, amid threats of ethnic conflict, terrorism and epidemic disease worldwide.

As the world's largest source of outbound tourists, China saw 130.5 million overseas trips made in 2017, up by 7 percent year on year, official data showed.

"Tourism can be a strong support for the economy, especially for cities along the Belt and Road, as the initiative has connected China and Europe in not only infrastructure, but also resources," said Zhu Shanzhong, executive director of the UN World Tourism Organization.

Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the UNWTO and Henan Province, the event has attracted 95 mayors and representatives from 28 countries, as well as 39 Chinese mayors or deputy mayors.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 21:02:16|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- An international counter-terrorism forum hosted by China's armed police force started in Beijing Monday.

With the theme "Mountain Counter-terrorism Strategy," the four-day event, "Great Wall-2018 International Forum on Counter-terrorism," attracted more than 180 representatives from military and police from 28 countries and regions including France, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and Mexico.

"With joint efforts with our foreign counterparts, the 2018 forum aims to provide a platform for cooperation, share experience, and build capacity to counter terrorist incidents, thus effectively maintaining national security and social stability in our countries," said Qin Tian, deputy commander of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

"The world nowadays suffers from terrorism," said Col. Kahled Hanandeh, director of strategic studies at the General Directorate of Jordanian Gendarmerie.

"Terrorism is a crime which causes the loss of lives and destruction of property, in additional to psychological and social damage," added Hanandeh, stressing the importance of preventing and destroying terrorism cells through coordination and cooperation.

During the forum, participants will attend discussion panels concerning mountain counter-terror strategies, and observe drills such as combat-oriented shooting and resolving hijacking scenarios.

Initiated in November 2016, the biennial Great Wall forum aims to deepen cooperation, strengthen friendship, and enhance capability through sharing combat experiences with foreign counterparts.
PARIS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hailed the bravery of an illegal migrant whose "exceptional act" to climb four-floor balcony saved a four-year-old boy who was about to fall on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Macron received 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama at the Elysee Palace. He offered him French citizenship "in recognition of this heroic act".

"We're going to regularize all your papers and if you wish, we will initiate a naturalization procedure so that you can become French, if you so desire," the president said during a meeting closely followed by local media.

Macron added that Paris fire brigade "was ready to welcome" him in their ranks.

A video, which went viral on social media sites, showed the 22-year-old, from the African country Mali, heroically scaling four stories of a building with his bare hands when he saw a boy hanging from a fourth-floor balcony.

Arriving to the fourth floor in a building in Paris northern suburbs, Gassama, risking his life, throws one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child.

"I was not thinking of anything. I went straight up...I climbed ... Thank God I saved him," the young man told Macron.

Gassama had arrived in France from Mali a few months ago, local media reported.
MANILA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Monday a law that aims to improve the overall business environment in the country by making the process of putting up and running a business easier and more efficient.

"This law will introduce simplified requirements and streamline procedures that finally spare our people from intolerable waiting time and long lines of frontline government agencies," Duterte said in a speech during the signing ceremony at the presidential palace.

The law, called "the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018," aims to shorten the number of days in processing permits and licenses for all business-related transactions in the Philippines.

It also aims to impose stricter rules, which include a two-strike policy on erring government officials who failed to comply to issue permits within a given period.

Passed in the bicameral conference committee on Feb. 14, Duterte said the new law addresses the failure of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2017 to solve the country's perennial problem of bureaucratic red tape in all government institutions.

One of the most important features of the law is the standardisation of the processing time of government transactions, Duterte said.

For now on, agencies are required to process simple transactions within three days, complex transactions in seven days, and highly-technical transactions in 20 days.

"The law will also limit the maximum number of signatories for applications and licenses, clearances, permits, certifications and authorizations. Electronic signatures will also be recognized and a zero contact policy will be implemented to avoid improprieties," Duterte added.

He said the law also mandates the local governments to automate their business permit and licensing system and set up one-stop facilities, services and to use online unified business application forms.

He said one of the priorities of his administration's 10-point socio-economic agenda is to encourage competitiveness and improve the overall business environment.

"We intend to accomplish that by promoting integrity, accountability and good governance in all government transactions."

During the same speech, Duterte also lamented that corruption that is harmful to business still persists despite efforts to stamp it even by the previous administration.

Duterte has fired several officials due to alleged involvement in graft and corruption, including several cabinet officials.

Midway into his speech, Duterte announced that he has decided to fire the government corporate counsel Rudolf Philip Jurado due to corruption issue.
A Saudi woman checks a car at the first automotive showroom solely dedicated for women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 11, 2018. (Reuters photo)

RIYADH, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Interior Ministry has confirmed its readiness to allow women to drive vehicles, starting from June 24 after decades of ban.

Assistant Minister of Interior for Operation Affairs General Saeed Al-Qahtani has confirmed that all women who are capable of driving cars can do so, Al Arabiya local news reported on Monday.

He also said female drivers would be on par with males in facing penalties and fines in case of traffic violations.

"Those who will drive cars are our daughters, wives and sisters, and it's our duty to remind them of rules and prevent any harm against them," he said, adding that the decision to allow women to drive serves the country.

He highlighted that security checkpoints would be set up to deal with expected changes in traffic after the ban would be lifted.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered in September 2017 to allow women to drive cars after decades of restricting driving only to male citizens and residents.

The order was one of the major steps Saudi Arabia has taken to change the society in general and promote the foundations for a strong economy in particular.
ISLAMABAD, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Senior Pakistani and Afghan military and security officials have agreed to work on a roadmap for reconciliation in Afghanistan, according to local reports on Monday.

Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Haneef Atmar led a high level delegation in talks with Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi late Sunday and both sides also vowed to "undertake measures that would assist both sides in reduction of violence at the hands of terrorists," the reports quoted a statement by the Pakistani army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations.

The talks were held days after both countries agreed to operationalize the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), which provides a framework to deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagements.

"Both sides chalked out outline plans for operationalizing APAPPS and shared ideas towards Afghan reconciliation as the roadmap for lasting peace," the statement said.

The two sides agreed to fast track the formulation of working groups, especially on bilateral security cooperation and to undertake measures that would assist both sides in reduction of violence at the hands of terrorists, it said.

The Pakistan army chief said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan have suffered heavily due to prolonged conflict and must together explore ways to usher peace in the region by defeating the common enemy.

"We must begin with the trust that neither covets an inch of the others territory nor is letting its land being used against the other," he said, adding that suspicions will only fuel negativity and facilitate detractors.

The Afghan delegation also extended an invitation on behalf of the Afghan president to Bajwa for visiting Kabul which he accepted.

The Afghan side was appreciative of Pakistan's initiative in preparation of the framework document to improve cooperation and coordination between the two countries on a host of confidence building and substantive measures.

Atmar said that Afghanistan has very positive expectations from Pakistan and with mutual help "We can allay each other's concerns and apply our energies to bring about enduring peace and stability."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 21:37:25|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

Italian Prime Minister-designate Carlo Cottarelli attends a press conference in Rome, Italy, on May 28, 2018. Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday named senior economist Carlo Cottarelli as new prime minister-designate. (Xinhua/Alberto Lingria)

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday named senior economist Carlo Cottarelli as new prime minister-designate.

64-year-old Cottarelli, former director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was summoned by the president on Monday morning, after a bid to form a coalition government by populist Five Star Movement (M5S) and far-right League failed on Sunday night.

"The president of the Republic has conferred a mandate to form a government on Carlo Cottarelli," presidential secretary Ugo Zampetti said.

In a short speech after holding consultations with the president for one hour, Cottarelli pledged a "cautious approach" to Italy's public finances, ensuring the country would not leave the euro-zone.

Cottarelli said he would submit a list of ministers to the president in a very short time. He was expected to choose technical figures, in order to take care of Italy's most pressing domestic and international commitments.

Nonetheless, his cabinet would need to win the confidence of both houses of the parliament.

"My plan is to submit a program that -- in case of confidence -- will include the 2019 budget (approval), immediately followed by dissolution of parliament and new elections in early 2019," Cottarelli explained.

On the contrary, if it fails to win the parliament's confidence, the cabinet will "immediately resign, stay in charge for current affairs only, and lead the country to new elections after August."

Italy has been without a government for some 13 weeks now, after general elections held on March 4 provided inconclusive results.

This prolonged uncertainty, and a bid to form a government by M5S and League -- the most-voted parties, and both euro-sceptic -- have unnerved global markets and worried European partners.

Cottarelli worked as director of the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF from 2008 to 2013, and served as spending-review official in one of the center-left governments in the past legislature.

Visibly aiming at reassuring international observers, he emphasized Italy's recovery was still solid. "The Italian economy is still growing, our public finances remains under control, and I can assure you my cabinet would guarantee a cautious management of public finances," he said.

He also highlighted the need of a constructive approach with the EU.

"A dialogue with Europe to preserve our national interests is crucial. Yet, it must be a constructive one... as one of the EU founding member states, our role in the union and our participation in the euro-zone remain essential," Cottarelli stressed.
VALLETTA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The European parliament has set up a new working group with the task of monitoring corruption and the rule of law, which will be focusing particularly on Malta for the time being.

The idea behind the working group is to create the standing structure to allow the European parliament to respond to new developments related to corruption and cross-border organized crime against the rule of law.

The new unit created within the European parliament's committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, has been appointed to keep tabs on corruption and the rule of law within the EU and to address specific situations, such as that in Malta.

A recent MEP delegation to Malta had reported a lack of will on the part of the Maltese authorities to investigate political corruption and money laundering.

The working group is expected to hold hearings in the European parliament and send representatives to Malta to establish the gravity of the current threat to the rule of law and how this affects Malta's relations with EU countries.

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, who will be representing the European People's Party (EPP) on the working group, told Xinhua that the initiative demonstrated the European parliament's commitment to stopping the spread of corruption.

"This working group has been tasked with examining the tools available on a European level and come up with a series of recommendations," Metsola said.

"The intention is to protect not to punish. It is clear that Malta's solid international reputation...is being questioned," he said.

"The least I would have expected, in two years of scandal, is one political signal that this is being given the importance it deserves by the government. So far we have seen nothing. The work has already started and we will be electing a chairperson this week," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 21:47:26|Editor: ZX

Video Player Close

SHANGHAI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has approved six new projects from all five member countries with loans totalling 1.6 billion U.S. dollars, according to NDB President K.V. Kamath.

The Chinese project is the Chongqing Small Cities Sustainable Development Project, with loans reaching 300 million dollars.

The bank has approved 21 projects so far and the total amount of the bank's portfolio has exceeded 5.1 billion dollars.

According to Kamath, the bank is planning another renminbi bond issuing of 5 billion yuan (781 million U.S. dollars) this year.

The bank will launch its Americas Regional Office in Brazil this year, which will increase the operational capabilities of the NDB and facilitate identification and preparation of bankable projects in Brazil.

Together with the Africa Regional Center which opened last year in Johannesburg, South Africa, the new regional office will progressively support a growing range of the bank's operations.

The NDB was founded by the BRICS member countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- during the group's sixth summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in July 2014 and formally opened in Shanghai in July 2015.

It was created with the objective of financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS countries and other emerging economies and developing countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 21:52:27|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

DUBAI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Monday its citizens will be allowed to travel visa-free to Guyana, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The announcement was made by the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, saying that citizens with diplomatic, private and regular passports can obtain a visa to Guyana upon arrival at the airports.

The report quoted Ahmed Alham Al Dhaheri, assistant under-secretary for consular affairs at the ministry, as saying the UAE Embassy in Brasilia received a diplomatic note from the Guyanan Embassy in Brazil announcing the decision.

The initiative of Guyana, located on the northeast coast of South America, highlights the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and opens up "new horizons" for the country's citizens for tourism, investment and trade, the report said.
Abe, Trump agree to meet before possible DPRK-U.S. summit: Kyodo Source: Xinhua 2018-05-28 22:07:29 TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he and U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed to meet before a possible summit between Trump and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un, Kyodo news reported. Editor: Yurou
MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 245 Russian citizens and 439 legal entities are currently under U.S. sanctions, a senior official from the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Since 2011, the United States has imposed 52 rounds of sanctions on Russia, Georgy Borisenko, director of the North American Department of the ministry, told a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament.

The committee is discussing a bill, recently passed by the State Duma, the lower parliamentary house, authorizing Russian President Vladimir Putin to impose sanctions in response to restrictions adopted by the United States and its allies.

The upper house is scheduled to examine the bill at its plenary session on Wednesday.

The bill has to be endorsed by the Federation Council before being signed into law by Putin.
LONDON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 organizations in Britain representing thousands of farmers and the country's food supply chain sent a Brexit manifesto Monday to Prime Minister Theresa May.

With little more than 10 months to go before Britain ends its membership of the European Union, the manifesto emphasizes the importance of ensuring the departure from the EU does not undermine the food production and supply sectors in Britain.

The biggest fear in the farming industry is the heavily reliance on thousands of European nationals who traditionally head to farms across Britain every crop picking season to harvest fruits and vegetables.

The concern is that the supply of casual labor will be cut off once Britain parts company with the EU.

Leaders of 100 organizations have put their names to the manifesto setting out the key principles that can help ensure Brexit is a success for the supply of food in Britain. It calls on May's government to publish a white paper setting out its immigration plans as a matter of priority.

The manifesto said the significant number of EU nationals employed meant it was vital the government ensures a continuing, adequate supply of permanent and seasonal labor before and after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019. The industry cites difficulties in recruiting enough people in Britain for crop-picking work.

The UK Food Supply Chain Manifesto has been drawn up by organizations representing farmers producing the raw ingredients and their suppliers, right through to manufacturers and retailers. It sets out the need for positive outcomes on trade, labor, regulation and domestic agricultural policy.

The manifesto has been sent to the Prime Minister as well as other key members of her cabinet by the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Minette Batters.

Batters said: "Today we are presenting a united voice as a food and farming sector worth at least 112 billion pounds (150 billion U.S. dollars) to the UK economy and employing around 4 million people."

Batters, a full-time working farmer and the first female head of the NFU, added: "In the manifesto we warn, as a collective, that a Brexit that fails to champion UK food producers, and the businesses that rely on them, will be bad for the country's landscape, the economy and critically our society."

"As we enter this critical period in the Brexit negotiations, the signatories to this manifesto will be looking to government to ensure its objectives are aligned with ours to ensure British food production gets the best possible deal post-Brexit," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 22:22:36|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

AMMAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Monday said it was closely following up on the situation in southern Syria.

"We are monitoring the developments in southern Syria and we are ready to protect our interests and national security," a government official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Jordan is in direct contact with Russia and the United States with regard to the developments in southern Syria, the source said.

"Jordan wants the de-escalation zone created in southern Syria to remain," said the official.

The source added that Jordan believes that the de-escalation zone helped in reaching a cease-fire and led to positive results in Syria.

Last year, Jordan, the United States and Russia reached an agreement to establish a temporary de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria to help restore stability and allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

"Keeping the de-escalation zone for Jordan is a priority at this stage especially when there are some reports that the Syrian army wants to make advances in the southern provinces in Daraa and areas near the Jordanian borders," said Fayez Dweiri, a retired major general and military analyst.

"Any military operations in southern Syria will lead to influx of refugees into Jordan and increase security burden on Jordan," he added.

Jordan is home to around 1.3 million Syrian refugees, representing some 20 percent of the country's population.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 22:42:40|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

GENEVA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 260,000 passengers have flied directly between Beijing and Geneva via Air China during the past five years, and the successful opening and operation of the Beijing-Geneva flight has become a microcosm of the deepening relations between China and Europe under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Marking the 5th anniversary of the opening of the Beijing-Geneva flight, the Geneva office of Air China said on Monday that it is now launching a "better service" campaign to better fit the needs of the passengers.

Air China is now operating 29 flights to Europe, linking China to 22 cities in 15 European countries.

Every week, it said, the Chinese national flag carrier flies 290 flights to Europe, delivering a total of nearly 3 million passengers per year.

Already the largest flight carrier between China and Europe, Air China opened a number of European flights such as Beijing-Zurich, Shanghai-Barcelona, Beijing- Athens in the year 2017.

In 2018, according to the Geneva Office of Air China, the airlines will open more flights from China to Europe, such as Beijing-Copenhagen and Chengdu-London flights.

According to Geng Wenbing, China's Ambassador to Switzerland, last year more than 1 million Chinese tourists had been in Switzerland, and more are expected to come in the future.

"As the only carrier airline from Geneva to Beijing, Air China successfully facilitated various trade, economic, cultural and art exchange groups and thus helped to promote bilateral cooperation, I expect even more role to play for Air China in this regard in the future," the Chinese ambassador said at Monday's celebration.

Being a global hub for diplomacy and banking, Geneva is home to the UN's European Headquarters and a number of other major international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Air China's Beijing-Geneva flight was officially opened on May 7, 2013.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 22:47:41|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

Police officers from China and Italy attend a ceremony held to symbolically mark the start of the third year of law enforcement cooperation between the two countries in Rome, Italy, on May 28, 2018. Police officers and dignitaries from China and Italy -- as well as hundreds of photo-snapping passersby -- were in Rome's picturesque Piazza Navona Monday for the ornate ceremony. (Xinhua/Alberto Lingria)

HANGZHOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Ten Chinese police have left China for a joint patrol program in Italy.

The police, all fluent in either Italian or English, will be in the Italian cities of Rome, Milan, Venice, and Prato from Monday until June 17 to offer services for Chinese tourists and Chinese nationals living in Italy.

The Chinese police will join their Italian counterparts in patrols. A hotline will be set up to receive reports or alarms during the joint program.

In 2014, China and Italy agreed to launch the joint patrol program during peak travel seasons.

Chinese authorities said that they hope the program will help guarantee the safety of Chinese tourists and Chinese living abroad, and increase international cooperation.
TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that he and U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed to meet ahead of the possible summit between Trump and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un.

Abe made the remarks to reporters after a phone call with Trump Monday night.

He said that during the phone call Trump briefed him about the recent developments surrounding the planned DPRK-U.S. summit.

Although he could not reveal the details, Japan and the United States had agreed to cooperate to make the DPRK-U.S. summit "meaningful," the Japanese prime minister added.

The two sides also discussed the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by DPRK decades ago, according to Abe.

Trump canceled the scheduled summit between him and Kim last Thursday, saying that it will not happen "based on the tremendous anger and open hostility" displayed in the DPRK's recent statements.

However, he reversed course just one day after the announcement. Both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks, he said.

The Kim-Trump meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Singapore on June 12.
By Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Athens said on Monday that significant progress has been made in talks to resolve the long-standing Macedonia name row with Skopje following the latest round of negotiations in Brussels and New York.

"Greek and FYROM's foreign ministers made significant progress, however the negotiations are not concluded. They are at the most crucial turning point... Patience until June's EU Summit," commented Greek government sources in Athens on Monday via an e-mailed statement.

The Foreign Ministers of Greece and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov met in the Belgian capital on Sunday evening, after talks in New York last week with UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz, the mediator in the name dispute.

Following meetings with the foreign ministers of other EU countries on Monday they both also talked about constructive talks.

"As the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, we have finished with everything we undertook for the two countries' Prime Ministers. The negotiations will continue today, and probably tomorrow, on the level of experts; technical and legal issues are what need to be dealt with," Kotzias said in an e-mailed statement.

"As soon as they have finished, and when the technical and legal aspects have been clarified, the texts that have been drawn up on the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs will be given to the two Prime Ministers, who will talk to each other and reach the final agreement," he added.

The name dispute between the two neighboring countries started when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and chose the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province.

Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims.

In recent months, UN-mediated talks to resolve the issue have intensified and both sides have expressed optimism that a deal can be sealed before the June summit which will explore EU's further enlargement. The name row has been one of the key obstacles in FYROM's accession to the EU and NATO.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 22:57:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

AMMAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Indian Potash Limited and Kisan International Trading FZE of India bought a major stake in the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC).

The Indian companies bought 37 percent shares in the JPMC which was owned by Brunei Kamil Holdings Limited company, Abdel Majid Dhneibat, chairman of the JPMC, said in a press conference on Monday.

The Indian companies bought the shares at 2.98 dinars (4.2 U.S. dollars) per share, said Dhneibat, adding that the total volume of the deal is around 90 million dinars.

"This is a very important deal for Jordan and the country is attractive to investors ... we expect the company's exports to increase after the deal," said Dhneibat.

"The Indian market is a major market for our company and this strategic agreement will help boost exports to India as well," he said.

In 2016, Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) bought a 37-per cent stake in JPMC. The BIA paid around 112 million dollars for the purchase of the stake.

The JPMC produced up to 8.6 million tonnes of rock phosphate in 2017, which is 8.7 percent higher than 2016. It also produced 378,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate in 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 23:07:48|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ABUJA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Four people were confirmed killed following a suicide attack by suspected Boko Haram members in Nigeria's northeastern town of Konduga, local police said on Monday.

Seven others were wounded in the blast late Sunday, said Damian Chukwu, police chief in the northern state of Borno.

Chukwu told reporters that the bombers had sneaked into Mashimari village, in Konduga area, near an internally displaced persons' camp, to carry out the attack.

Konduga, with a population of over 13,000, has witnessed frequent Boko Haram attacks. Its inhabitants are mostly engaged in subsistence farming.

In February, at least 22 people were killed and 28 others injured in multiple suicide blasts orchestrated by Boko Haram rebels at a local fish market in Konduga.

Boko Haram has been blamed for the death of more than 20,000 people and displacement of 2.3 million others in Nigeria since 2009. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 23:22:51|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

RABAT, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan King Mohammed VI has given his instructions to set up a medical-surgical field hospital in Gaza, local media reported on Monday.

Citing a statement from the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, the daily Le Matin said this initiative is meant to provide the necessary medical care to the Palestinian civilians wounded during recent clashes in the Gaza Strip.

The setting up of this hospital, which comes during this holy month of Ramadan, is in line with the king's commitment to the Palestinian cause and shows effective solidarity with the Palestinian people, the same source said.

On May 14, at least 62 Palestinians were killed and thousands were wounded on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba Day, which coincided with the transfer of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

It was the highest Palestinian death toll in a single day since the beginning of the "Great March of Return," which has been ongoing in the besieged Gaza Strip since March 30.

Thousands of Palestinians gathered near the Gaza border with Israel, demanding their right of return to the villages and towns from which they were expelled in 1948. Enditem
Vietnamese PM, Foreign Minister receive Australian FM Julie Bishop

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 28 for Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, during which they highly evaluated the fruitful development of bilateral relations in recent years.









Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) hosts a reception for Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on May 28.





PM Phuc highly spoke of the Australian FMs visit, saying it takes places right after the successful visit to Vietnam from May 23-26 by Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove to translate the Vietnam-Australia reliable and profound strategic partnership into reality.

The government leader also hailed the outcomes of earlier talks between Bishop and Vietnamese Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh.

PM Phuc thanked the Government and people of Australia for funding the construction of cable-stayed Cao Lanh Bridge in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap. The bridge reflects the long-standing friendship between the two nations, he said, adding that the Vietnamese people look forward to the enhancement of cooperation with Australia in different fields.

Bishop, for her part, emphasized the importance of fostering the implementation of the Vietnam  Australia strategic partnership to deepen bilateral ties.

She was delighted at the strengthened and enhanced mutual trust between the two nations with the inauguration of the Cao Lanh Bridge as a symbol of effective cooperation. She hoped that the bridge will benefit local residents and promote the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta.

The FM said she was pleased to know that more and more Australian investors are doing business in Vietnam and that Australia wants to step up collaboration with Vietnam in many areas, particularly innovation.

PM Phuc agreed with FM Bishops cooperation proposals, saying the two countries need to soon implement the contents of the strategic partnership and agencies must work together to remove barriers and bolster investment and trade exchange for the benefit of their businesses and people.

Bishop has been on a visit to Vietnam from May 26-28 during which she attended the inauguration of the Cao Lanh Bridge and co-chaired the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers Meeting.

The Cao Lanh Bridge spans over the Tien River to connect the provincial capital of Cao Lanh and Lap Vo district. The 2km-long bridge is about 0.8 km from the Cao Lanh ferry terminal and about 35 km from My Thuan Bridge, which links Tien Giang and Vinh Long provinces.

It is estimated that the bridge will help reduce the travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang and Kien Giang by 2 hours. Before the bridge was inaugurated, local people had to take ferry to cross the Tien River.

Australias 160 million AUD (over 121 million USD) non-refundable aid in the project is one of the countrys largest aid activities in Southeast Asia.

Australian govt considers Vietnam one of partners in Asia Pacific









Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop









The Australian Government continues considering Vietnam one of key partners in Asia Pacific, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

During their talks in Hanoi on May 28, FM Bishop added the government wants to further bolster the relations both in bilateral framework and at regional and global forums.

The two officials highly valued the organisation of the first Vietnam-Australia Foreign Ministers Meeting, saying this is one of first important steps to implement the freshly-established Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The first meeting was co-chaired by the two FMs in Hanoi on May 28.

They expressed their pleasures at the strong development of the bilateral ties while affirming the importance of upgrading the relations to the Strategic Partnership on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs recent visit to Australia.

Deputy PM and FM Minh spoke highly of outcomes of the recent State visit to Vietnam by Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove on May 23-26, affirming the trips contributions to strengthening friendship between the two peoples.

The two officials stressed the need to push economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, saying this should be the focus of their Strategic Partnership.

They agreed to reinforce political and strategic trust, and deepen cooperation across fields between the two countries, while affirming determination fully tap potential and strengths of each country as well as address difficulties and challenges, form more mechanisms for dialogue and information sharing, and promote cooperation in the fields that have positive and direct impacts on the enhancement of friendship and people-to-people exchange such as education, culture, sport and tourism.

The Vietnamese leader highly valued Australia for its provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, which is the third largest level in Southeast Asia.

He suggested the two sides continue their cooperation to ensure the effective implementation of ODA projects in Vietnam, thus practically contributing to the Southeast Asian nations socio-economic development.

Bishop, for her part, affirmed Australia will continue to closely coordinate and support Vietnam in joining UN peacekeeping operations, and in improving Vietnams ability in ensuring marine security and safety.

Both officials also discussed regional and global issues of shared concern, agreeing on the close coordination and mutual support in regional and international forums, especially the UN, ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Bishop affirmed Australia supports the solidarity and central role of ASEAN in the region, has a consistent view in the East Sea issue and continues making contriubtions to strategic security issues in the region.

Minh said Vietnam will support Australia in expanding links with other ASEAN member nations, and in performing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and activities and initiatives of APEC Year 2018 hosted by Papua New Guinea.

Minh and Bishop also expressed their joy at the fruitful cooperation between the two foreign ministries in recent times, and agreed that they will continue to closely cooperate in organising activities celebrating the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties. They also agreed to enhance exchange of high-ranking visits and meetings, and implement newly-formed bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Economic Partnership, Agriculture Partnership and Innovation Partnership.

On May 27, FM Bishop attended the inauguration ceremony of Cao Lanh Bridge in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, which was built with non-refundable development assistance funded by Australia.

VNA
YEREVAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Armenia on Monday celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the first independent Armenian republic that emerged after more than 600 years under foreign rule.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and many foreign dignitaries attended a festive ceremony and a small military parade held at the Sardarapat Memorial to mark the occasion.

"A hundred years ago Armenia won this battle because for the first time we relied on ourselves rather than expecting help from others," Pashinyan said.

Sardarapat was the site of the pivotal battle that took place between Armenian and Ottoman troops in May 1918, which ultimately led to the establishment of the short-lived independent Armenian republic.

Armenia regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. May 28 has since been celebrated in Armenia as the Republic Day.
NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- There is need for African countries to have a coherent policy framework as they embark on the next phase of cooperation with China, former Kenyan ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Ngovi Kitau, said.

In a commentary published by the Star newspaper on Monday, Kitau stressed the need for African leaders to spell out their vision for the continent's engagement with China ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, to be held in Beijing in September.

"The seventh meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is scheduled for this September in Beijing, and there is need for African leaders to craft a clear policy towards China before then," Kitau said.

He said African countries have an opportunity to review their engagement with major powers against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical dynamics.

"Taking into consideration recent major developments in the global arena, it is worthwhile for African leaders to pose two policy questions," said Kitau.

"One, is the time ripe for African leaders to review and leverage on the continent's three largest strategic partners -- China, the European Union and the United States. Two, does the pathway to Africa's long-awaited renaissance pass through Beijing?" he added.

The former envoy noted that China has emerged as a valuable alternative for Africa as Western powers retreat from global stewardship in trade and security amid rising nationalism.

"China is now the real locomotive of the world economy. It is a modern rising power which respects and support other countries," said Kitau.

He hailed progress achieved since the December 2015 FOCAC summit held in Johannesburg that includes improved bilateral trade and enthusiasm by African countries to join China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Kitau said two-way trade has grown more than 40 times to total about 200 billion U.S. dollars in 20 years and China has financed more than 3,000 critical infrastructure projects in Africa.

He noted that six African countries, including Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sudan, are either members or prospective members of the Beijing-based AIIB.

At the same time, the ex-envoy said, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will complement the newly launched African Continental Free Trade Area.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-28 23:27:52|Editor: zh

Video Player Close

Relatives mourn for Palestinian Mohamed al-Radee'a, 25, who was killed in the fresh Israeli army shelling near northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on May 28, 2018. Mohamed al-Radee'a was killed and another injured on Monday in an Israeli tank shelling on military facilities that belong to Islamic Hamas movement in northern Gaza Strip, medics said. (Xinhua/Stringer)

GAZA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- One Palestinian was killed and another injured on Monday in an Israeli tank shelling on military facilities that belong to Islamic Hamas movement in northern Gaza Strip, medics said.

Ashraf al-Qedra, Gaza's health ministry spokesperson, confirmed that 25-year-old Mohamed al-Radee'a was killed and another one injured in the fresh Israeli army shelling near northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.

On Sunday, three Islamic Jihad militants were killed in another Israeli tank shelling on eastern Gaza Strip after a bomb detonated under the fence of the border with Israel.

Earlier Monday, al-Qedra said that Nasser al-Arini, 28, died of his wounds he sustained several days ago during protests and clashes with Israeli soldiers at the border.

He said that the death toll since the outbreak of the rallies and protests that the Palestinians call the "Great March of Return" has risen to 117 killed and 14,190 injured.

The rallies broke out on March 30, as the organizers and leaders of Hamas, the Islamic movement that rules the Gaza Strip, stressed that their goals are to defy an Israeli blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for 11 years.

Medical officials said there are 300 injured who are still in serious condition since March 30.
WASHINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- One person was missing in flash flood rushing through historic Main Street of Ellicott City in eastern U.S. state Maryland amid an unexpected massive storm, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said Monday morning.

Thirty rescues were carried out into Monday morning and no fatalities were reported so far, according to local media reports.

Heavy rain drenched the city on Sunday, sending raging brown water surging down Main Street, toppling buildings and upending vehicles.

Howard County fire and rescue officials said there were also reports that a building had collapsed.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in Howard County on Sunday afternoon.

The Ellicott City, about 13 miles (21 km) west of Baltimore, is known for its flood-prone location in the valley of the Patapsco River, which rose 17.8 feet (about 5.4 meters) in two hours on Sunday afternoon to 24.13 feet (about 7.4 meters), a new record from the previous high of 23.6 feet (about 7.19 meters).

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning for northeastern Anne Arundel County and southeastern Howard County through early Monday.

The NWS provided observed rainfall accumulations for the past 24 hours in the greater Baltimore area, showing widespread observed amounts of three (about 0.08 meter) to six inches (about 0.15 meter) with isolated measurements exceeding nine inches (about 0.23 meter).

"I can tell you right now, the devastation is worse I think than it was in July of 2016, which is kind of hard for me even to imagine, because back then we all said that it looked kind of like the set from a disaster movie," Kittleman said at a news conference.

Hogan said earlier that the city had recently received 1 million dollars for flood control as a result of the 2016 floods.

"It took two years to get the money and it's ironic that we just got it this month," Hogan said. "Nobody expected another storm of this magnitude to come two years later because, as I said, they're only supposed to happen every 1,000 years."

In 2016, two residents died in a similar flash flood striking the city after six inches (about 0.15 meter) of rain fell in two hours.
SINGAPORE, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Ministry of Transport said here Monday that it has not received any official notification from Malaysia regarding the dropping of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (KL-SG HSR) project.

This followed Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's announcement in a press conference earlier Monday that Malaysia would pull out of the pact. Mahathir said it was a "final decision" and his government still has to talk to Singapore over a penalty concerning the withdrawal.

However, a spokesman for Singapore's Ministry of Transport said it is still awaiting "official communication from Malaysia".

"We had agreed to proceed with the HSR project based on mutual benefits and obligations set out in the HSR bilateral agreement," the spokesman added.

Mahathir has made it clear that his government will review agreements made by the previous administration, including the HSR project.

Malaysia and Singapore signed a deal in 2016 to build the high-speed rail, which will deduct the travelling time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to just 90 minutes.
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)'s measures to preserve the landmark Iran nuclear deal are motivated by security interests rather than economic interests, the bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters Monday.

She made the remarks at a press conference following the EU's monthly Foreign Affairs Council.

Regarding the EU's economic commitments to Iran, she said: "For us, it is not about economic interest; this is about security interests for the EU."

"Because in the absence of the deal with Iran, we believe the security of the region and the EU will be at stake," she said.

"We see no possible ways to have better security conditions in the region if the agreement is not in place any longer," she stressed.
CAPE TOWN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Calls emerged on Monday for South Africans to join hands in fighting a surge in gender-based violence following the hanging of two school girls.

The two teenage girls were found hanged on a school's dormitory premises in Stella, North West Province on Sunday morning, the latest incident in a series of gender-based killings that have gripped the country recently.

"We need to send out a strong message that the lives of our women and girls matter, we are not disposable and justice needs to deal harshly with anyone who takes the life of a woman or a girl in such a senseless manner, as in this case where the bright future of these two young girls has been prematurely stolen from them," Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said.

South Africans have seen far too many of their young women killed at the hands of their boyfriends, or ex-boyfriends, said Motshekga.

The two girls were believed to be killed by a 19-year-old boy, who was an ex-boyfriend of one of the two girls. The boy has been arrested by police and his name was withheld pending further investigation.

The motive of the killing at this stage is unknown.

Motshekga asked for a full report from the province into the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident and how the boy gained access to the dormitory.

The minister called upon communities to work together to address social ills that are affecting mostly young people of school going age.

"We need to see all stakeholders playing a role in ensuring that the integrated strategy for school safety is implemented to protect our learners against perpetrators of violence as we have seen in this particular case and indeed others like it," she said.

The hanging of the two school girls is reminiscent of Zolile Khumalo who was killed by her ex-boyfriend. Khumalo, a 21-year-old student at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), was shot dead on campus in Durban in full view of her roommate early this month following what police described as a domestic quarrel.

Also on Monday, the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) said it is saddened by the high alarming rate of gender-based violence in the country.

In addition to the hanging of the two school girls, the organization pointed to another case involving suspended Commissioner of South African Revenue Services (SARS) Tom Moyane who allegedly assaulted his grandson's 17-year-old mother physically. A medical report shows that the woman suffered a bruised jaw, bruised abdomen and a cut to the inside of the cheek.

Moyane must face the law for alleged assault and the man who allegedly hanged the two school girls must face the law on murder charges, ANCWL Secretary General Meokgo Matuba said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

"South African women, children, gays and lesbians continues to bear the brunt of abuse in the hands of men. It is men against children, men against women, men against gays and lesbians," Matuba said.

The government must treat this as a national crisis and national security threat, she emphasized.

Gender-based violence must be fought by all members of society, political parties, civil society organization and businesses, she said.

The ANCWL also pleads with the media to also play a critical role in the fight against gender-based violence, Matuba added.

Radio stations, television stations and newspapers have a platform that they can use effectively to discourage patriarchy and male chauvinism, she said.

South Africa is among the countries that have the highest rate of violence against women and children. According to the South African Medical Research Council, a woman is killed by an intimate partner every eight hours in the country.
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)'s measures to preserve the landmark Iran nuclear deal are motivated by security interests rather than economic interests, the bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters Monday.

She made the remarks at a press conference following the EU's monthly Foreign Affairs Council.

Regarding the EU's economic commitments to Iran, she said: "For us, this is not about economic interest; this is about security interests for the EU."

"Because in the absence of the deal with Iran, we believe the security of the region and the EU will be at stake," she said.

"We see no possible ways to have better security conditions in the region if the agreement is not in place any longer," she stressed.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Mogherini has, on different occasions, reaffirmed the EU's stance that it will stick to the deal as long as Iran abides by all its nuclear-related commitments.

To salvage the JCPOA, the European Commission on May 18 proposed activation of a dormant statute to shield European firms doing business with Iran from renewed U.S. sanctions.

The 1996 Blocking Statute forbids EU companies from complying with the U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. government has threatened to punish foreign firms doing business with Iran after certain 90-day and 180-day wind-down periods.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday that if Iran's interests and benefits from the JCPOA are guaranteed, the country will remain committed to it.

The JCPOA was signed in July 2015 by Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus the European Union (EU) and Germany.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to freeze its nuclear programs in return for the lifting of most international sanctions.

Trump declared on May 8 in a televised speech that the United States would withdraw from the deal, claiming that it had failed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons or supporting terrorism in the region.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Iran has so far complied with all of the conditions established under the deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 00:58:20|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, addresses the opening of the 19th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 14th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Monday called for efforts to develop China into a world leader in science and technology.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said as China strives for prosperity and rejuvenation, it needs to devote great energy to promoting science and technology, and endeavor to be a major world center for science and innovation.

Xi made the statement at the opening of the 19th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the 14th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

Xi said the circumstances, challenges and missions are pressing. He called on the country's science and technology personnel to grasp the main trends, seize opportunities, face problems squarely, and rise to challenges.

Xi said they should aim for the frontiers of science and technology, lead the direction of its development, shoulder the heavy responsibilities bestowed by history, and be vanguards in innovation in the new era.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee attending the meeting were Premier Li Keqiang, Wang Huning, who is a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Han Zheng.

Xi noted that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has been adhering to the Party's leadership over the cause of science and technology, striving toward the goal of developing China into a science and technology power, sticking to the path of innovation with Chinese characteristics, inspiring creativity vitality through deepened reform, stressing the key role of talent in innovation-driven development, and integrating itself into a global network of innovation.

Historic, holistic, and structural changes have taken place in China's science and technology sector.

China's strength in this field is undergoing a transition from quantity accumulation to quality leap, and from breakthroughs in certain fields to improvement of systematic capabilities, Xi said.

A new round of scientific, technological, and industrial revolutions are reshaping the world domain of innovation and global economic structure. The impact of science and technology on a country's future and the people's wellbeing has never been so profound as today, he said.

Calling innovation the primary driving force of development, Xi said efforts must be made to ensure "high-quality science and technology" to underpin the development of a modernized economy.

Xi required integration of the internet, big data, and artificial intelligence with the real economy, advance fundamental transformations of the industrial pattern and enterprise forms in the manufacturing and move Chinese industries up to the medium-high end of the global value chain.

Xi called for unwaveringly carrying out independent innovation, having firm confidence and enhancing the capability in this regard.

Noting that independent innovation is the only path for China to climb high in global science and technology, Xi urged courageous moves to reach for the "commanding heights" in scientific and technological competition and future development.

Xi called for courage to explore the uncharted courses and realize the goal that key and core technologies are self-developed and controllable.

"The initiatives of innovation and development must be securely kept in our own hands," Xi said.

Also, Xi demanded greater efforts to research and plan for scientific issues that are of fundamental significance and overall importance.

Prime resources should be focused and strategic planning made to deal with "key areas and stranglehold problems," Xi said, calling for breakthroughs at the earliest possible date in these fields.

Xi urged overall reform of scientific and technological system, to improve innovation efficiency and inspire innovation vitality.

Technological innovation should be accompanied by institutional innovation, Xi said.

Xi called on Chinese scientists to be deeply involved in the global governance in science and technology, offer Chinese wisdom, and make greater efforts to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Efforts should be made to deepen international exchanges and cooperation, make use of global innovation resources, and establish partnerships featuring win-win cooperation to deal with common challenges concerning future development, food and energy security, health and climate change, Xi noted.

While achieving its own development, China will bring benefits to more countries and their peoples and promote balanced development around the globe, Xi said.

Xi encouraged integration into the global innovation network and enhancing opening-up of the country's scientific and technological plans, saying Chinese scientists are encouraged to actively participate in and lead international science plans and projects, and initiate and organize international scientific cooperative programs.

Xi called for efforts to create a good environment for innovation, and mechanisms to foster talent and let everybody display their talent.

The CAS and CAE should continue to play their role as the state strategic scientific and technological force and work with all in the field in the country to push for strides in development and scale new heights in science, Xi said.

Xi urged the academicians to do forward-looking, targeted, and strategic research.

Calling academicians a treasure of the state, pride of the people, and honor of the nation, Xi said he hoped they could gain continuous breakthroughs in key scientific fields.

Party leadership is the fundamental political guarantee of advances made in the cause of scientific innovation with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.

He stressed the role of youth in the future of the country and innovation. "Numerous children in China dream of becoming a scientist. We should make science an appealing career for the young," Xi said.

Leading officials of the Party, the national legislature, the cabinet, the top political advisory body, and the military were present at Monday's conference.

It was presided over by CAS President Bai Chunli. CAE President Zhou Ji delivered opening remarks.

The event was attended by more than 1,300 academicians, representatives of outstanding scientists and grassroots science and technology personnel, officials from the central government agencies and the military, research institute fellows, and university students and teachers.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 01:33:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

JERUSALEM, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army arrested on Monday two Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who had attempted to cross into Israel.

"IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops apprehended two terrorists who attempted to infiltrate into Israel in the northern Gaza Strip with the intention of carrying out a terror attack," a military spokesperson said in a statement.

"The terrorists were found with knives, combustion material and cutters in their possession," the spokesperson said.

The Israeli troops were shot by fire from the Gaza Strip while pursuing the suspects, according to the spokesperson.

In response, an Israeli tank fired towards an adjacent military observation post. No injuries of Israeli soldiers were reported.

The casualties of the suspects were not immediately clear. A military notice said they were transferred to the Shin Bet security agency for questioning.

The incident came amid escalation between Gaza and Israel, with over 110 Palestinians killed during demonstrations that started on March 30.
PARIS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- French industrialist and politician Serge Dassault has died in Paris at the age of 93.

Dassault died at his office at the Champs Elysees avenue around 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) after suffering heart problems, his family announced Monday in a statement published by the Le Figaro newspaper, which is owned by the industrialist.

In 1986, the French tycoon, then aged 61, took the leadership of the aviation and software giant Dassault Group that his father created almost a century ago, before leaving the office in 2000.

He was France's third wealthiest person, with a net worth estimated by Forbes magazine of 14.7 billion U.S. dollars.

Like his father, he had, as well as his businesses, a political career. A member of the right-center Union for a Popular Movement party, now known as "the Republicans," Dassault served as senator and mayor of Corbeil-Essones, Paris suburbs from 1995 to 2009.

In a statement released by his office, President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Dassault, "a man who devoted his life to developing a flagship of French industry."

"All his life, Serge Dassault would have looked with extreme attention to the strategic choices of the group inherited from his father, allowing him to make the necessary turns and lead multiple innovations," he said.

Macron also sent condolences to Dassault's family, friends and employees.
YEREVAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian here on Monday to discuss ways to boost bilateral relations, according to the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides discussed steps to develop bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, science, education, culture and local governance.

The French minister reaffirmed his country's readiness to continue deepening and widening the centuries-long cooperation.

They also touched upon preparations for holding a summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie, a group of French-speaking countries, in Yerevan this autumn.

The two ministers also discussed Armenia's relations with the European Union as well as other issues of mutual interest.

The two countries signed an agreement on the establishment and operation of the French Development Agency and the Investment and Promotion Company for Economic Cooperation in Armenia.

Le Drian is expected to meet with Armenian President Armen Sargsyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during his visit.
MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signed an intergovernmental agreement here on Monday scraping visa formalities for the mutual visits of Russian and Costa Rican citizens.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Costa Rica's Ambassador in Russia Arturo Fournier Facio, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

After this document takes effect, Russia will have visa-free agreements with all Central American countries, the ministry said.

The visa-free regimes "create new opportunities for developing contacts and ties with the states of this region in the economic, sporting, cultural, tourist and other fields," the ministry added.
HARARE, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Zimbabwe government for the deployment of its election observer mission.

The MOU, signed by Zimbabwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo and European Union ambassador Philippe Van Damme, comes after the Zimbabwe government in March invited the EU to deploy an observation mission for the upcoming harmonized elections set to mid year.

It is the first time since 2002 that the EU will deploy an election observer team to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has invited 46 countries from across the world to observe the general elections.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is yet to proclaim the election date.
RABAT, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan and U.S. militaries on Monday vowed to further cement their cooperation.

The pledge was made at a meeting between Fathallah El Ouarrak, the inspector general of Morocco's army, and Robert B. Neller, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, who is on a working visit to Morocco.

The two generals discussed several issues of common interest and means to promote interoperability between the two armed forces, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said in a statement.

They lauded the positive results of the bilateral military cooperation, notably the organization of combined exercises such as the yearly "African Lion" exercise held last month, participation in different trainings, reciprocal support, and exchange of visits, the statement said.

They also examined the means to further develop this cooperation to improve interoperability and improve coherence and complementarity between the two armies via expertize sharing, it said.

While affirming their adherence to the principles and goals of the U.S.-Moroccan military cooperation, the two officers agreed to enhance the bilateral ties in the same spirit of friendship and shared trust, it added.
TRIPOLI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Supreme Judicial Council on Monday urged the attorney general to investigate a recent audit report revealing corruption by officials.

"The Council has reviewed the report of the Audit Bureau, and discussed it during an extraordinary meeting held today," the council said in a statement.

The council made the request after reviewing the financial and economic violations by certain parties in successive governments.

The statement said that these violations "were the main cause of the financial and economic crisis" that the country is going through.

"These accusations, if proven true, are serious crimes punishable by the Criminal Penal Code," it said, calling on the attorney general to "study the report carefully, seriously and accurately."

The council called for "completion of this task as soon as possible, disclosure of facts, and bringing those found to be involved in such financial irregularities to the court."

Agila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based House of Representatives (parliament), on Sunday submitted a similar request to the attorney general to start an investigation into the Audit Bureau's report.

The 2017 annual audit report by the Audit Bureau of Libya, a government watchdog, was published last week, revealing hundreds of financial and administrative violations committed by the current UN-backed government and previous governments.

The report disclosed that tens of millions of U.S. dollars were illegally spent on offices of senior government officials, trips abroad, hotel accommodation, and expenses of the Libyan delegations attending international forums.
NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Energy experts have urged Kenya to develop a local content policy to encourage locals to participate and benefit from all economic activities along the oil value chain.

Mwendia Nyaga, the CEO of Oil and Energy Services, said on Monday that due to the capital intensive nature of the oil industry, the sector is dominated by huge multinationals which use foreign expertise to carry out oil exploration activities.

"So for the local to benefit from the oil resources they need to be involved in all the stages of the value chain," Nyaga during the Conference on Kenya Extractives Policy Dialogue under the theme "Developing a sustainable in-court value addition strategy: Real Time Policy options for Kenya Petroleum Sector."

The East Africa nation discovered oil deposits in the Lokichar Basin in the Northwest County of Turkana.

So far, Kenya has confirmed deposits of approximately 750 million barrels of oil.

The major stages in the oil value chain includes the exploration, production, transportation, refining and marketing.

Nyaga said that Kenya lacks sufficient expertise in the upstream activities as the country has never been a major oil producing nation.

He noted that typically exploration companies outsource 80 percent of their work to third parties.

"This provides an entry point for Kenyan firms to supply goods and services and help benefit from the oil sector," he said.

The Local Content bill is currently in parliament for debate and when enacted will provide a legislative and policy framework to ensure locals benefit from the activities of the exploration and sale of oil resources.

Nyaga said that prudent commercial exploitation of the oil reserves will help Kenya to diversify its economy that is highly dependent on agricultural exports.

He added that oil accounts for a significant portion of the import bill and hence the sale of oil will save Kenya significant foreign exchange revenue.

Antony Paul, the Principal Consultant Energy and Strategy at the Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists, said that the level of local content in the oil sector is dependent on the capacity of local people and businesses to supply goods and services to oil firms.

"However, for the objectives of oil content policy to be achieved, the appropriate regulatory, monitoring, reporting and oversight framework needs to be in place," Paul said.

He added that best way for Kenya to develop its human capacity in the oil sector is by ensuring that locals are trained by foreign experts in the country rather than having locals to be trained overseas.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to flag off the first convoy of trucks ferrying crude oil from Lokichar basin to the coast of Mombasa for export in June 3 under the Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS) that seeks to test the market for Kenyan oil.

The EOPS is an agreement between the oil producing firms and the government to evacuate 75,000 barrels from the oil fields to the international markets.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 03:13:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

TEHRAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Booking.com's recent restrictions on Iran are unlikely to have a significant impact on inbound tourism market, Iranian Hoteliers' chief said Monday.

"The Iranian hotels never managed to interact directly with the (foreign) customers through the website because the main issue of money transfer was never adequately solved," Jamshid Hamzezadeh was quoted by the Financial Tribune daily as saying.

In fact, reservation of Iranian hotels is performed in a semi-online mode through intermediaries, and foreign travelers could not complete their booking on their own, Hamzezadeh said.

There are no reservation systems at the moment by which tourists can directly deposit money and book a hotel in Iran, he noted.

The number of hotel bookings via the platform was not very big since most foreign tourists either travel to Iran in tour groups or are on business trips for which hotels are booked through other links, he added.

"The population of independent travelers who used this website is too small to hit the country's tourism on their elimination," Hamzezadeh said.

If Booking.com restricts Iranians' access to global reservation or make it difficult, outbound travel will also suffer, he said.

"Many Iranian individuals as well as travel agencies used the platform to book hotels worldwide and the embargo on the service will impact foreign travel," he said.

Booking.com, based in the United States, recently restricted its services for Iran in line with the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and its pledge to resume economic sanctions.
SARAJEVO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) Border Police has blocked 177 illegal migrants entering the territory of BiH during the past weekend, local media reported Monday.

Since mid-May, BiH Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies and the State Investigation and Protection Agency have been actively monitoring the state border with Serbia, which is mostly threatened by the migration pressure and is located in the area of Visegrad, some 110 km east from the capital.

During the weekend, police officers have prevented the entry of 107 illegal migrants in the area of Visegrad, and returned all migrants to the territory of Serbia.

On the territory of Foca, some 80 km southeast of the capital, BiH Border Police deterred entrance and returned 23 illegal migrants to Serbia on Sunday.

In the area of Bileca, a town near the border with Montenegro, some 170 km south of the capital, members of BiH Border Police on Sunday prevented 12 persons and returned them to the territory of Montenegro.

At several other locations, BiH Border Police have deterred entrance and exit of illegal migrants from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and handed them over to BiH Service for Foreigners' Affairs.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants passed through the so-called "Balkan route" in 2015, trying to reach Western Europe. BiH was then not part of that route. However, migrants have turned to BiH in recent months, trying to avoid more heavily-guarded routes and borders in the Balkans.

BiH authorities are struggling to cope with the increased influx of migrants whose number exceeded 3,500 since the beginning of this year, three times more than the total number of registered migrants in 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 03:23:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

TEHRAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's cybersecurity authority has issued a warning about an imminent malware attack, the Financial Tribune daily reported on Monday.

The spread of a malware, named VPNFilter is likely, can affect hundreds of thousands of home and office routers, and collect users' information or shut down network traffic, Iran's Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center said.

The attack is not limited to Iran and has impacted many computer users across the world, the center warned.

It said it has advised the owners of many brands of routers to turn them off and on again, and download updates from the manufacturer to protect themselves.

The malware was initially detected by Cisco Systems Inc., which said that the hacking campaign targeted devices from Belkin International's Linksys, MikroTik, Netgear Inc, TP-Link and QNAP.
TUNIS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has suspended negotiation on a government reshuffle, due to a controversy over replacing Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, presidential spokesperson Saida Garrach said Monday.

Everything was mentioned at the meeting held last Friday, which lasted for over three hours. Essebsi stressed that the country's general interest is above all personal interests.

In July 2016, the Carthage Pact was signed to approve the current national unity government led by Chahed and to form an action plan of the government.

Last march, participating parties of the pact formed a special committee to draw up the second version of the Carthage Pact, which determines new economic and social priorities.

However, the amendment was halted as the signatories disagreed on a profound cabinet reshuffle, in which Chahed was involved.

Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), one of the signatories, has decided to withdraw from the pact definitively, as it vehemently called for the departure of Chahed.

"Nothing will engage me," said Noureddine Tabboubi, the secretary-general of UGTT.

Chahed's ruling party Nidaa Tounes also supported a government reshuffle, calling for the appointment of a new prime minister.

However, Islamist Ennahda (Renaissance) party refused a radical change of the government, stressing that the country needs a plan for such reforms.
ADDIS ABABA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia revealed on Monday its plan to meet the country's road network ambition of 200,000 km within the coming two years.

The Ethiopian Roads Authority said in its latest report that the East African country is presently working to realize its road network infrastructure ambition of 200,000 km at the end of second five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II), due effective from 2015 to 2020.

Ethiopia, which was able to reach 100,000 km of road network within the first Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-I), is now working to double that figure by the time GTP-II is completed, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the country's road network coverage has currently reached 121,171, including gravel road, in which the plan to realize the target is said to be achievable.

The authority has recently disclosed that the country's main-road coverage has increased from less than 19,000 km to 113,000 km during the last 27 years.

Ethiopia's main-road coverage was less than 19,000 km in 1991, of which the share of rural areas was less than 6,000 km while urban areas with around 12,000 km. The figure has registered a six-fold increase over the past 27 years, according to the ministry.

The country's road access has now also reached 1.23 km per 1,000 Ethiopians, figures from Ethiopian Roads Authority indicated.

The authority further noted Ethiopia's current investments in the infrastructure construction sector, which includes railway construction across the country as well as connecting the capital Addis Ababa with the Djibouti port.

The 752 km transnational Ethiopia-Djibouti Standard Gauge Rail, East Africa's first electrified railway, and the Addis Ababa Light Rail, a 475-million-U.S.-dollar railway project, are the pioneer railway infrastructures in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government also considered the two Chinese-built transport projects as flagship infrastructure projects as Ethiopia works to remain as Africa's fastest-growing economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 03:43:59|Editor: Liangyu

Video Player Close

PARIS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Rafael Nadal was one set away from victory before rain interrupted his match against Italy's Simone Bolelli in the men's singles first round of the French Open here on Monday.

The same day witnessed last year's runner-up Stan Wawrinka bow out through full sets.

Ten-time winner Nadal saw a change of his first opponent at Roland Garros this year, as lucky loser Bolelli replaced injured Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in the main draw.

Bolelli kept himself within touch from Nadal through his powerful backhand, as he held serves for a 4-4 tie after the eighth game, but the "King of Clay" broke Bolelli's service in the 10th game to set the opening set 6-4.

Bolelli heated up quicker after the interval and finished his break in the first game, before extending his lead to 3-1.

Nadal, in quest for his 11th title at Roland Garros, then won five games in a row to move on.

After Bolelli took away the first three games of the third set, the downpours delayed the duel to Tuesday.

Maria Sharapova, who made her return to Roland Garros after two years, also needs to play her first round against Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands one day later than schedule.

Wawrinka, who lost to Nadal in last year's final, showed little positive sign of coming back from his knee injury, as he lost to Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

However, the Swiss shrugged off any connection between the tough loss and his knee plague.

"It's completely unconnected. That's the positive of today," he said.

Novak Djokovic swept Grand Slam titles two years ago in Paris, while competing in this year's tournament as No. 20 seed, his lowest Grand Slam seeding since the 2006 U.S. Open after an elbow injury forced him to be sidelined from many tournaments last year.

The Serbian saw off Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, joining seeded players Dominic Thiem, Diego Schwartzman and Sam Querrey in the second round.

"It has been difficult to face the most challenging injury that I have ever had," recalled Djokovic.

"It's been a long 12 months behind me, but I'm starting to play better. In the past couple of

weeks, I feel like playing pain free, not thinking about the elbow," he added.

Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki withstood challenge from Danielle Collins of the United States to move past the women's singles first round 7-6 (2), 6-1.

Women's prominent names Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova also marched on, while former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka fell short at 7-5, 7-5 against Katerina Siniakova.

China's Zhang Shuai, Peng Shuai and Duan Yingying will kick off their campaign at the 2018 French Open on Tuesday.
LJUBLJANA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A Slovenian-Chinese virtual laboratory for high-performance computing was launched on Monday at the Ljubljana Faculty of Computer and Information Science, the first project of a memorandum on multi-year cooperation between the two countries' scientists.

This memorandum was signed in Beijing last April by the faculty, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese supercomputer manufacturer Sugon and Slovenia's Arctur as part of an achievement of the Slovenian-Chinese economic cooperation commission.

The cooperation will among other things focus on additional support for the Orange program, developed by the bioinformatics laboratory at the Ljubljana faculty, according to the Slovenian Press Agency STA.

Orange is a tool for data analytics with a user-friendly interface, which is intended to be additionally supported by data analytics with supercomputer performance.

One of the main goals is to develop new methods and a program system for the detection of patterns in large quantities of biomedical data and climate data from computer simulations.

Citing the Slovenian Public Administration Minister Boris Koprivnikar, the STA report said the results of research will be used to eliminate concrete issues faced by science, industry and modern society as a whole.

A part of the Orange program is already being developed for Slovenian drug maker Lek to enable it to develop biopharmaceuticals faster.

Arctur is the leading service provider of supercomputing in Central Eastern Europe, striving to bring innovative and user-friendly IT solutions to businesses, state and public institutions, research institutions and NGOs.

According to Arctur director Tomi Ilijas, the STA said, the importance of the cooperation with Sugon is huge.

While it is very demanding to maintain the exascale-class computers developed by Sugon due to high electricity consumption, this technology is very useful as it takes research and development to another level, Ilijas said.

Sugon vice-president Ying Guo said the project made Arctur the European centre for Sugon, from which all Europe-related activities would be coordinated.
Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581 (public domain)

MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Ivan the Terrible and His Son painting, a masterpiece by Russian realist painter Ilya Repin, will be exhibited in a bullet-proof glass case after it is repaired following an attack.

Zelfira Tregulova, director general of Tretyakov Gallery, made the remarks on Monday after the famous painting was damaged in the gallery by a drunk vandal on Friday, according to TASS news agency.

Just before the closing time of the gallery in downtown Moscow, the perpetrator smashed the glass covering of the painting with a metal pole, piercing the canvas in three places in the central part of the painting, which luckily is repairable.

The vandal has been detained and criminal proceedings have been launched.

Tregulova slammed the attack as "an awful and frightening incident suggesting that society is gripped by aggression."

Russia's largest Sberbank said on Monday it will fund the restoration of the painting, which will take a long time and possibly cost 5 to 10 million rubles (about 80,000 to 160,000 U.S. dollars).

Completed in 1885, the painting depicts grief-stricken Ivan the Terrible, one of the cruellest tsars of Russia, cradling his dying son after accidentally giving him a fatal strike.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 04:19:11|Editor: zh

Video Player Close

BAGHDAD, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament on Monday approved manual recounting of 10 percent of votes in the May 12 parliamentary election amid allegations of fraud, forgery and irregularities.

With the attendance of 165 lawmakers at the emergency session, the parliament passed a draft bill to recount 10 percent of the votes.

And if one quarter of the 10-percent votes are found with irregularity, the recounting would be carried out for all the votes across the country, said a statement of the parliament.

The decision will also cancel the votes of the polling centers outside Iraq if irregularities were found, as well as the results of the "conditional voting" in the refugee camps, according to the statement.

The "conditional voters" refer to those who showed any IDs to prove their Iraqi citizenship instead of valid voting cards.

In addition, recounting of the votes at the polling stations in the ethnically-mixed city of Kirkuk will be held, as well as for some polling stations that were already cancelled by the electoral commission in the disputed areas claimed by both Baghdad central government and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

On May 19, the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results of the parliamentary election, which showed that the al-Sa'iroon Coalition, led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, was the front-runner by winning 54 of the 329 parliament seats.

The al-Fath Coalition, led by Hadi al-Ameri, came in the second place with 47 seats, while the al-Nasr Coalition, led by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, came in third with 42 seats. The State of Law Coalition, headed by Vice President and former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, garnered 25 seats.

Many Iraqi parties, especially in the Kurdistan region and the disputed areas including Kirkuk province, have complained about irregularities and forgery in the parliamentary election.

The complaints put the electoral commission under pressure, as it has not carried out manual recounting of many ballot boxes and depended only on the electronic counting of the votes.

Earlier, Riyadh al-Badran, head of the electoral commission, told a press conference "there is no justification for a manual recount yet," despite many complaints about voter fraud.

On May 17, UN 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.

The Iraqi parliament also called on May 19 for measures to instill confidence in the election process after receiving complaints from political entities about alleged irregularities.

On May 24, the Iraqi Council of Ministers (cabinet) met with top judicial and intelligence officials and the IHEC's security committee to discuss immunity of the electronic devices used in casting and counting the votes for the first time in the Iraqi election, a government statement said.

The cabinet appointed a special committee to investigate the allegations, whose results would be handed to the council of ministers, high judicial council and the federal court, according to the statement.

On May 12, Iraq held the first parliamentary election since defeating the Islamic State (IS) militant group in last December.
SKOPJE, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on Monday declared that Macedonia and Greece have reached a framework for a solution to the dispute over Macedonia's name, according to Macedonian International Agency (MIA).

"We have a framework that needs more work and at the moment legal teams from both ministries are working on it," Dimitrov said. The remarks came after a meeting with the Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias on Sunday in Brussels.

According to Dimitrov, a meeting between the prime ministers of Macedonia Zoran Zaev and Greece Alexis Tsipras in mid-week "will decide important things, from the options that are at the table."

Last week Dimitrov and Kotzias held another round of name talks in New York in the presence of the United Nations mediator, Matthew Nimetz, which ended without a breakthrough.

On Monday morning, during his visit in Brussels, Dimitrov had a working breakfast with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and with the foreign ministers of EU member states.

In her remarks, Mogherini said the progress made at the Athens-Skopje talks was very encouraging.

Athens and Skopje have been at odds over the use of the name of Macedonia since Greece's northern neighbor declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Macedonia is formally called Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) at the United Nations. Macedonia is also the name of a northern province in Greece and Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims.

The solving of name row that exists between two countries is seen as main obstacle that Macedonia has to overcome in order to make progress towards the European Union and NATO integration.

During the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008, Greece vetoed FYROM's application to enter the alliance without having solved the name issue. As Skopje has renewed efforts to join the EU and NATO, Greece has signaled that its position remains unchanged.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 04:19:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

Italian Prime Minister-designate Carlo Cottarelli attends a press conference in Rome, Italy, on May 28, 2018. Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday named senior economist Carlo Cottarelli as new prime minister-designate. (Xinhua/Alberto Lingria)

ROME, May 28 (Xinhua) -- With an assertive move to put a temporary end to an 85-day-long stalemate, Italian president Sergio Mattarella on Monday named economist Carlo Cottarelli as Italy's new prime minister-designate.

Cottarelli was summoned and asked to form a technical cabinet able to lead the country to snap elections -- either in late 2018 or early 2019 -- after the efforts by anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and rightwing League to form a government failed on Sunday.

The crisis was triggered by president Mattarella's refusal to accept their proposal of a Eurosceptic economist as finance minister.

After holding talks with the president for one hour, Cottarelli accepted the mandate, pledging a "cautious approach" to Italy's public finances as caretaker prime minister.

Cottarelli was expected to choose technical figures for his cabinet, which must win confidence votes in both houses of the parliament.

"My plan is to submit a program that -- in case of confidence -- will include the 2019 budget (approval), immediately followed by dissolution of parliament, and new elections in early 2019," he said in a short message from the presidential palace.

His chances to win the confidence were quite low, however, since most parties in parliament said they would not support a technocratic government.

In this case, Cottarelli explained his cabinet would "immediately resign, stay in charge for current affairs only, and accompany the country towards new elections after August."

In either case, snap elections seemed to be approaching.

Italy has been waiting for parties to agree on a coalition government after general elections on March 4 delivered inconclusive results.

The new parliament appeared split in three blocs -- a center-right front as strongest coalition, populist Five Star Movement (M5S) as largest single party, and a center-left coalition at the rear -- none of which were able to form a majority.

Running as rivals in the campaign, M5S and League decided after the vote to join forces on the base of a platform including strong tax cuts, more public spending, a crackdown on irregular migrants, and defiance of European Union (EU) fiscal rules to boost growth.

Their attempt to forge a coalition failed, when the president vetoed their choice for the Finance Ministry.

In a message broadcast on Sunday evening, Mattarella explained he had accepted all of M5S-League's proposals for the cabinet line-up, but could not confirm a finance minister that "would likely, or almost certainly, bring about Italy's exit from the euro-zone."

The two parties had submitted the name of 81-year-old economist Paolo Savona, who has described the single currency as a "European straitjacket" and suggested Italy should leave the euro if "the future of the country is put in jeopardy."

The decision to not confirm the appointment of a minister is a rare step for an Italian president. Nonetheless, it is allowed by constitution, and has occurred at least four times in 1979, 1994, 2001, and 2014.

Yet, it sparked furious reactions by the two populist forces, which appealed on their supporters to organize peaceful street protests in the next days.

M5S's leader Luigi Di Maio called for president Mattarella's impeachment, along with minor far-right party Brothers of Italy. League's leader Matteo Salvini claimed Germany and European financial lobbies were behind the president's veto.

"We are going to have a government that has not been voted by people, not by the parliament, and this is a shameful unique case," Di Maio also said in a message on Facebook on Monday, asking sympathizers to take to the streets of Rome on June 2, Italy's Republic Day.

Both parties also increased their anti-European rhetoric, after Cottarelli was named.

On his part, 64-year-old Cottarelli -- a former IMF Fiscal Affairs Department Director from 2008 to 2013 -- vowed to keep Italy's public finances under control.

He stressed the Italian economy was solid, trying to reassure international investors alarmed by the long uncertainty and the perspective of euro-sceptic forces leading the euro-zone's third largest economy.

He further pointed out that Italy should maintain a constructive approach with the European Union (EU).

"Dialogue with Europe to preserve our national interests is crucial. Yet, as one of the EU funding members, our role in the Union, and our participation in the euro-zone remain essential," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 04:24:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

ANKARA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. attempt to block the delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey has put the bilateral ties between the two NATO allies at risk, said an aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In 2014, Turkish government placed an order for the first two F-35 jets for a projected fleet of 100 F-35A aircraft.

The F-35 jets are developed and built by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the U.S., Britain, Australia, Italy, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada, in a project worth about 400 billion U.S. dollars, making it the world's most expensive arms program.

Turkish firms, including Aselsan, Kale Aviation, Roketsan, and Turkish Aerospace Industries, also take part in the production of the jets.

The ties between Ankara and Washington have soured in recent years over differences on Turkey's war inside Syria and Washington's refusal to extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen accused by Turkey of masterminding the failed coup in 2016.

Tensions further rose as Turkey signed a deal worth 2.5 billion dollars to purchase the Russian S-400 defense system, a move that raised concerns among Turkey's NATO partners.

Hence, although Turkey has been a co-partner of the F-35 project and already paid for part of its shares, a group of U.S. senators in April drafted a bill calling for excluding Ankara from the project, citing Turkey's defense deal with Russia and its imprisonment of the evangelical pastor, Andrew Brunson.

Brunson, a U.S. citizen who has lived in Turkey for over 20 years, was arrested in the aftermath of the botched military coup in Turkey in July 2016. He was charged with "espionage" and "terrorism," and faces up to 35 years in jail.

The U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump has called for the release of Brunson.

Last week, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said Turkey would respond if the U.S. Congress passed the bill on blocking the delivery of F-35 jets to Turkey.

The Turkish government has showed its willingness to amend its ties with the U.S., but Washington seems to have no response, said Ilnur Cevik, a presidential aide.

"We want to overcome the problems with the United States. Close cooperation with the United States is essential," said Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in its announcement for holding elections on June 24.

"Erdogan's remarks meant 'Let's open a new chapter.' Did the United States understand this?" Cevik asked.

Murat Yetkin, editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News, said that now almost all existing problems between Turkey and the U.S. have been tangled with each other and reflected on the F-35 issue, including the Syrian war, the Gulen case, and the Brunson case.

The F-35 controversy could cause a real collapse of the Turkey-U.S. ties, he warned.

A crucial meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington scheduled on June 4 will be an opportunity to put all the matters on the table.
OTTAWA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with his visiting counterpart of Estonia Juri Ratas, who arrived here last weekend for a visit.

During their meeting, Trudeau and Ratas discussed issues of mutual interest, including the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and regional security challenges. They promised to work more closely together to create jobs in both countries and build economies that work for everyone.

As part of the celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of Estonia's independence, Ratas has met members of the Estonian-Canadian community in Toronto during his visit.

Trudeau said Canada and Estonia enjoy a strong relationship, rooted in decades of cooperation and strong people-to-people bonds. The bilateral relationship is enriched by the vibrant Estonian-Canadian community - the largest Estonian community outside Estonia. I look forward to find ways to broaden our cooperation, and create more opportunities for Canadians and Estonians alike." he added.

Today's meeting is the first formal meeting between the prime ministers.

The bilateral trade volume between Canada and Estonia totaled nearly 110 million Canadian dollars (some 80 million U.S. dollars) in 2017. Canadian exports to Estonia were 24 million Canadian dollars (roughly 20 million U.S. dollars), and Canadian imports from Estonia hit about 86 million Canadian dollars (some 60 million U.S. dollars).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), on May 7, 2018. (Xinhua/JINI)

JERUSALEM, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will urge German and French leaders next week to back Israel's position that Iran should have no military presence in Syria, according to a statement released by the PM's Office.

Netanyahu is scheduled to head to Europe on Monday for a three-day trip, during which he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

He said he might also meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Addressing a meeting of his Likud party at the parliament on Monday, Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, said his talks will focus on the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the Iranian presence in Syria.

"We believe that there is no room for any Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria," he said.

"Of course, this reflects not only our position; I can say with certainty that it also reflects the positions of others in the Middle East and outside it. This will be the main focus of discussions," he added.

Over the past year, Israel has been pledging Russia and the U.S. to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria, where Iranian forces are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army.

In the past weeks, Israel has struck what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, raising fears of a large-scale confrontation.
HARARE, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese yuan comes under the spotlight Tuesday and Wednesday when 17 top central bank and government officials from 14 countries in eastern and southern Africa meet in Harare to discuss its possible use as a reserve currency for the region.

In a statement to Xinhua on Monday, spokesperson for the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) Gladys Siwela-Jadagu said the event would be attended by deputy permanent secretaries and deputy central bank governors.

Officials from the African Development Bank and an investments management organization will also attend the forum bringing together the policy makers and experts in reserves management to strategize on the weakening external positions of most member countries, following the global economy slowdown, she said.

The theme for the forum is "Trends in Sovereign Reserve Management."

"As at the end of 2017, official reserves for most countries in the MEFMI region stood barely at or below the traditional three months of import cover benchmark. Foreign currency denominated public debt continues to increase as well as interest payments, as most countries move to more commercial sources of borrowing to meet their increasing appetite for infrastructure projects," she said.

She said the bulk of reserves for most countries in the region were invested in U.S. dollars, yet their composition had not kept pace with the large shifts in the world economy. This was particularly so since China and India continued to shape global economic trends as they remained major trade partners for the region.

"Most countries in the MEFMI region have loans or grants from China and it would only make economic sense to repay in renminbi (Chinese yuan). This is the reason why it is critical for policy makers to strategize on progress that the continent has made to embrace the Chinese yuan which has become what may be termed 'common currency' in trade with Africa.

"Ascendancy of Chinese yuan in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of currencies is an important symbol of its importance and IMF's approval as an official reserve currency.

"With China as the largest trading partner of over 130 countries, the main challenge for African countries is how to benefit from the new pattern of international commerce," she added.

She warned that the continent could not afford to lag behind in taking advantage of growth-enhancing opportunities with China, as it had been clear over the last five years that trade and investment with the West continued to be limited.

The forum will also discuss risk perceptions and capital flows and financial products available for use by African countries.

MEFMI is a regional owned Institute with 14 member countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
HAVANA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 people have been evacuated from central Cuba due to flooding from tropical storm Alberto, which was nearing the coast of Florida on Monday.

In the province of Sancti Spiritus, the Defense Council turned schools into shelters to house families evacuated due to flooding from the Zaza and Agabama rivers.

Weather reports said that rainfall over the last 24 hours had broken historical records for the area, with 303 millimeters of rain falling on the town of La Sierpe, 240.2 millimeters along the Yayabo river, 226.9 millimeters on the town of Tuinucu and 229 millimeters on the city of Sancti Spiritus.

The Zaza dam, the largest in Cuba, has accumulated over 900 million cubic meters of water, standing at 103 percent of its full capacity, with experts recommending the opening of its six sluice gates.

In the province of Villa Clara, 366 millimeters of rainfall were registered although without damage to infrastructure and housing.

The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources announced that 19 weather stations registered over 100 millimeters of rain in 24 hours starting 8:00 a.m. Saturday, in western and central Cuba.

On Monday, weather reports continued to predict strong rains, which could worsen flooding since the earth is saturated with water.

Authorities said they would continue to report on risks and damage to homes and fields but called on the public to remain calm, obey instructions and stay informed.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 04:54:24|Editor: Chengcheng

Video Player Close

VIENNA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China announced Monday that all member states of the United Nations are welcome to cooperate with China to jointly utilize its future China Space Station (CSS).

"CSS belongs not only to China, but also to the world," said Shi Zhongjun, China's ambassador to UN and other international organizations in Vienna.

"All countries, regardless of their size and level of development, can participate in the cooperation on an equal footing," he said.

Interested public and private organizations, including institutes, academies, universities and private enterprises with scientific orientations, can identify their appropriate models of cooperation on board CSS, may it be the growth of a space plant, or even the accommodation of an astronaut, said the ambassador.

HOME OF COOPERATION FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT

CSS, expected to be launched by 2019, and complete and brought into operation by 2022, will be the world's first space station that is developed by a developing country and open for cooperation with all UN member states.

Consisting of one core module and two experiment modules, CSS will have the capacity to accommodate up to three astronauts at the same time and maximum six during rotation.

Operating in low-Earth orbit about 400 kilometers above the Earth's surface, CSS will be used in a wide range of research fields, including space medicine, life science, biotechnology, microgravity science, Earth science and space technology.

"Through the vehicle of CSS, we would like to build up a model of sincere mutual beneficial cooperation among countries in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space," said the Chinese ambassador.

As a developing country itself, China stands ready to help other developing countries in their development of space technology and space capacity building in particular, he said.

Guided by the idea of a shared future for mankind, CSS will be a home that is inclusive and open, a home of peace and goodwill, and a home of cooperation for mutual benefit, he added.

Priyani Wijesekera, ambassador of Sri lanka to the UN in Vienna, believes that CSS would benefit developing states like Sri lanka which lacks financial means and expertise to launch such a project.

"It's very interesting and we are looking forward to cooperating with China," she told Xinhua.

CHINA'S MOVE TO SHARE WELCOMED

Simonetta Di Pippo, director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) welcomed China's move to share its "state of the art space program" which is "one of the most holistic and technologically advanced in the world."

"With the global challenges we all face here on Earth, it is therefore important to foster collaboration and cooperation in the field of space activities," she said.

The director said technical advances in space have broader benefits to all humankind, as space is a driver and a tool for socio-economic sustainable development.

In 2016, the United Nations, represented by UNOOSA, confirmed its partnership with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to allow "Access to Space" to all UN member states, developing countries in particular, to address all 17 Sustainable Development Goals by jointly utilizing CSS.

Following Monday's announcement, the UNOOSA has extended official letters to all Permanent Missions in Vienna and New York as well as offices of the United Nations Development Program, kicking off a three-month application period for public organizations, industries and private sector organizations with scientific orientation.

"By working together, the sky is no longer the limit," said Di Pippo.

"I believe that all the efforts that we are making together will be highly beneficial to our cooperation, to all Member States of the United Nations, and to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals," she said.

China's exploration into outer space has been at the core of global attention since the launch of the first Chinese satellite in 1970. The planned launch of CSS next year follows the launch of space laboratory, Tiangong-1, in 2011.

China has been consistent in its peaceful commitment to the outer space. Yang Liwei, China's first "taikonaut", exhibited the UN flag to the whole world on China's first space safari in 2003, followed by 10 more Chinese in his footsteps making trips into the outer space.

The core module of CSS is named Tianhe, or "Harmony of the Heavens" in the Chinese language, which conveys China's hope to promote mutual trust and peace through cooperation aboard CSS.

Maria Assunta Accili Sabbatini, Italy's ambassador to the UN in Vienna, said the project offers a great opportunity for Italy as the two countries' space agencies have maintained close ties.

"We believe this opens a lot of room for cooperation," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 05:19:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

BRASILIA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Eight Brazilian airports were running out of fuel on Monday as a consequence of the week-long truckers'strike, the state-owned airport company, Infraero, announced.

In a statement, Infraero said that fuel is out of stock in the airports: Sao Jose dos Campos, Uberlandia, Ilheus, Campina Grande, Juazeiro do Norte, Aracaju, Joao Pessoa and Teresina.

It added that its staff was in contact with authorities "to guarantee the arrival of trucks with airplane fuel to the airports."

Infraero also recommended that passengers should get in touch with airlines to find out the status of their flights.

Of 300 flights scheduled at Infraero airports by 8 a.m. on Monday, 13 were cancelled and 45 were delayed.

Other airports, run by private companies, such as that of Brasilia were also limiting operations due to fuel shortage.

In an effort to end the strike, President Michel Temer on Sunday announced a cut in diesel prices for 60 percent.

On Monday, Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia also ruled out any increase in other taxes to compensate for the loss of government revenue from the slashing of diesel prices.

The main trucker syndicates said on Monday they were satisfied with the news, although the blockades did not formally end as they said it would take time to communicate the agreement to all the truckers.
ALGIERS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Algeria will repatriate 105 Malian terrorists, local media reported on Monday.

Citing a security source, El Watan newspaper reported that these Malian armed militants were arrested by Algerian counterterrorism troops in five provinces in the south of Algeria.

They were arrested over involvement in establishing training camps in Algeria for the Malian militant group Ansar Eddine.

The source stressed that the terrorists are "under administrative detention" and listed as dangerous people who must be repatriated under tight security escort.

Algeria decided to repatriate them by air to Bamako, after consultation with the Malian diplomatic mission in Algiers, he added.

Algeria has deployed tens of thousands of troops on the southern and eastern borderline, in a bid to thwart the intrusion of terrorists and arms amid instability in Mali and the civil war in Libya.
HAVANA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Cuban foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, met on Monday with Argentina's government chief of staff, Marcos Pena, who is on an official visit to the island to deepen cooperation despite political differences between both governments.

According to a foreign ministry statement, Rodriguez received Pena to discuss bilateral relations and international issues.

This is the first visit to Cuba by a high-ranking Argentinean official since President Mauricio Macri has maintained an opposition to Cuba's political system and other left-wing administrations in the region.

Pena arrived in Cuba on Sunday for a 24-hour visit and is also expected to meet Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment and the Vice President of the Council of Ministers, Ricardo Cabrisas.

Before departing Buenos Aires, the Argentinian official wrote on Twitter that his trip aimed to "work on issues of bilateral interest."

Both Latin American countries maintain active commercial and economic links, especially in food and tourism. Argentina is among the top sources of tourists to the Caribbean island.

Political ties between Havana and Buenos Aires were closer under the presidency of Nestor Kirchner (2003-2007) and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (2007-2015).
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 05:44:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

ASUNCION, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Paraguay's outgoing President Horacio Cartes offered his resignation on Monday so that he can take office as a senator on July 1.

In his resignation letter presented to the president of the national congress, Cartes reiterated his aim to serve Paraguay and its people with dignity and patriotism as senator.

"I have taken this decision to fulfill the democratic decision of the Paraguayan people expressed at the ballot box on April 22, when they elected me to the rank of senator...for 2018-2023," he wrote.

Cartes also announced his decision on Twitter. "I have presented my resignation of the position of President of the Republic of Paraguay in order to continue serving my country from the Senate."

Cartes has been president since August 2013. However, his election to the rank of senator has been contested by the opposition as violating the Constitution, where Article 189 mandates that former presidents can only be inactive senators, namely able to speak in Congress but unable to vote.

Now, the Senate will analyze Cartes' letter and decide whether to accept his resignation or not. Should they accept it, Cartes would become senator on July 1.

His vice-president, Alicia Pucheta, would become the first female president of Paraguay until August 15, when president-elect, Mario Abdo Benitez, takes over.

If the resignation is rejected, Cartes will remain in office until August 15 and his political future will be in the hands of the next Congress.
RABAT, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Morocco aims to strengthen relations with Spain to secure electricity supply to meet the market demand, Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development Aziz Rabbah said Monday.

Rabbah made the comments at the press conference following his talks with Alvaro Nadal Belda, Span's minister of energy, tourism and digital agenda.

A "fruitful" energy cooperation between Morocco and Spain is part of a vision of regional integration, and places the kingdom as a connecting point between Europe and Africa, Rabbah said.

The Moroccan minister noted that the meeting also discussed the prospects of cooperation in the gas sector, given that the contract of the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline (GME) project will expire in 2021.

GME is a pipeline that transports natural gas from Algeria through Morocco to the Spanish and Portuguese gas grids.

For his part, Belda welcomed the development of the bilateral relations in the field of energy, calling for further strengthening the cooperation.

"The political relations between Spain and Morocco remain a priority and are not limited to what has been discussed," he said.

The Spanish minister also underlined that this meeting was an opportunity to examine ways of making efficient use of energy in line with the climate agreements.

The two sides also agreed to jointly prepare a roadmap and a plan of action for the signing of a memorandum of understanding during the next visit of the Spanish king to Morocco.
Sorry, this news has been deleted.
MAPUTO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican parliament announced here on Monday that it is working to remove the specific article from the family law that allows girls to get married when they are 16 years old as long as their parents consent.

"Presently we are working on the alteration of the family law, in order to remove the article that says girls can get married when they are 16 years old as long as their parents consent.

Now we think that they can only marry after 18 years old," the parliament spokeswoman Veronica Macamo told the press.

The decision follows the increase of the cases of early marriage in Mozambique, which has drawn frequent criticism and complaints from civil society saying that the article concerned is violating children's rights.

The parliament also announced that it is discussing the future of girls who get pregnant while they are pupils.

"We had decided that a pregnant pupil should remain in the same classroom and continue studying in the same period, but there were comments from parents against it, and the pupils themselves were not comfortable, so we are currently discussing the alternative solutions," added the spokeswoman.

Pregnancy at school has been linked to the dropout of girls and among the reasons behind early marriages, as many parents particularly in the rural areas of Mozambique tend to take their children to the alleged father of the baby.

Statistics show that Mozambique ranks the 11th in the world with the highest rate of early marriage. With more than 12.6 million children, Mozambique had half of its teenagers getting married before the age of 18.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-29 05:54:36|Editor: Li Xia

Video Player Close

Chinese Tibetologists hold a meeting with Latvian representatives in Riga, Latvia, May 28, 2018. A delegation of Chinese Tibetologists, currently visiting Latvian capital Riga, had a meeting Monday with Latvian lawmakers, officials, academics and representatives of the public during which they provided a comprehensive insight into Tibetan history, culture and religion.(Xinhua/Janis)

RIGA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of Chinese Tibetologists, currently visiting Latvian capital Riga, had a meeting Monday with Latvian lawmakers, officials, academics and representatives of the public during which they provided a comprehensive insight into Tibetan history, culture and religion.

Zhang Yun, head of the delegation and director of the institute of history studies at China Tibetology Research Center, used photographic images to introduce the audience to Tibet's history, language, religion, culture and social development.

Later, other members of the delegation took over, telling how the Tibetan language is being studied, used and developed in China in four aspects: the legislative aspect, research, extensive use and comprehensive development.

They also told about Tibet's cultural diversity and interethnic unity, as well as the government's efforts and achievements to that effect.

Representatives of the Latvian side noted that the event represented a good opportunity for Latvia to learn about Tibet and expressed hope that there will be more opportunities for communication in the future.

Earlier in the day, the delegation met with Dace Balode, head of the institute for religious studies at the University of Latvia.

During the meeting, Zhang told Balode about the China Tibetology Research Center and its latest achievements in Tibetan studies.

Balode informed that the institute is still in the process of development and that interest in Tibetan Buddhist is very strong among its teaching staff and students.

Both sides expressed hope for active cooperation in the future and academic exchange through sharing resources and exchanging visits of teaching staff and students to jointly promote studies in Tibetology.

The delegation arrived in Riga on Sunday for a three-day visit.
WASHINGTON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump spoke over phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, with the two agreeing to meet ahead of the expected meeting between the leaders of Washington and Pyongyang, said the White House.

During their phone conversation, the two leaders discussed recent developments for a possible meeting between Trump and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un, according to a statement released by the White House.

Trump and Abe also agreed to meet again to "continue close coordination" ahead of the expected summit, which was originally scheduled on June 12 in Singapore, said the statement.

Trump on Sunday confirmed that a U.S. official team had arrived in the DPRK to talk about the preparation for the summit.

Earlier, Trump canceled the scheduled meeting on Thursday, citing "tremendous anger and open hostility" displayed by Pyongyang recently. However, he reversed course on Friday, saying both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks.
The opposition LMP party criticised the government for what it called the unclear future of the Central European University (CEU) in Hungary.

MP Peter Ungar noted that a threemember delegation had visited New York State over a month ago to examine if the university had a campus and courses there but the foreign minister had still failed to pass a decision on the matter.

The lawmaker said that it would serve national interests if the university continued to operate in Budapest.

Parliament approved amendments to the higher education act in spring 2017 that require foreign colleges and universities in Hungary to operate on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement and have a campus in the country in which they are based. CEU complained that it was targeted by the amended legislation because it had no campus in the United States.

In the autumn, however, the university said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Bard College to provide educational activities in New York.

MTI Photo: Roka Laszlo
The Budapest Administrative and Labour Affairs court invalidated the listing of a monumental painting by the Hungarian master Mihaly Munkacsy (1844-1900).

The listing prohibited the removal of the work from Hungary and gave the state pre-emption rights for its purchase. The court said the listing of the painting was directly related to a breakdown in talks over its sale, and therefore violated the owners right to due process.

The decision may not be appealed, although a request for a review of the decision by the Kuria, Hungarys supreme court, may be made within 60 days.

An appeal against the listing by the owner of the painting, the Hungarian-born American collector Imre Pakh, was earlier rejected, but the Kuria ordered a retrial. The painting was listed after Pakh refused the National Bank of Hungarys asking price for the masterpiece and threatened to remove it from the Deri Museum in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, where it is on loan.

The state already owns the other two paintings in Munkacsys Christ Trilogy: Ecce Homo! and Christ Before Pilate.

MTI Photo: Czegledi Zsolt
Critics of the government struggle to figure out whether the decision by a public foundation to invite two controversial personalities, Steve Bannon and Milo Yiannopoulos to address several hundred strong audiences in Budapest carries a political message.

In Nepszava, Gabor Horvath discribes the presence of President Trumps former campaign strategist and the man even he had to sack from Breitbart for his controversial remarks on gay sex between adults and minors, as a deliberate provocation.



He believes the government side enjoys the sight of liberals gasping for air and pursues a strategy of successive conflicts. It is in this context that he makes sense of the Stop Soros bill, due to be tabled in Parliament next week.



The legislation is expected to draw the ire of the governments opponents at home and abroad. The government doesnt mind, Horvath continues; it is intentionally provoking clashes in order to trigger reactions which then are to interpreted as threats to Hungary against which the government alone can defend the nation.

On hvg online, Gaspar Miklos Tamas characterises what happened as a despicable and disgusting gesture which makes sense if one considers it as a reverse advertisement. He sees both Yiannopoulos and Bannon as representing a trend among the alt-right whereby they pose as rebels against ruling powers.



This has been unprecedentedly successful, he continues, in so far as it got a man whom he describes as a half-wit elected President of the United States. According to the Marxist philosopher the invitation proves that the Hungarian government is following a similar strategy.



This government does not represent the establishment, the author continues, but only because there is no establishment. An establishment must have authority among the wide population, he explains. The last real establishment, he contends, was that of the Kadar regime.

On Valasz, Andras Stumpf believes Yiannopoulus was invited to speak in Budapest simply because the organisers knew that he would praise Prime Minister Orban. In a n interview with Mandiner, Milo Yiannopoulos said the Hungarian Prime Minister was someone very much like Mr.Trump and ascribed Hungarys rejection of undocumented mass immigration to what he called the Hungarian national character.



The government side might hope that this international star will help put Hungary onto the world map Stumpf remarks, adding however that Milo doesnt even suspect that his kingdom has already come in Hungary.



What Stumpf means is a land of hypocrites, for Yiannopoulos is a fervent Catholic, yet his lifestyle and opinions contradict several main tenets of the Catholic church. Hungary, the independent conservative commentator continues, swarms with such pundits.



Hvgs Arpad W. Tota writes in an angry commentary that it is useless to bear children in Hungary and condemns the governments campaign against demographic decline, while he himself is a father.



By way of contrast, an author at Pesti Sracok, who writes under the pen name Paranoid Android asks whether Tota is a human being before concluding that he is not.



Meanwhile the author, whose identity is apparently known to Stumpf and who speaks on behalf of Christian values, is one of those fervent Christians who live with their partners outside marriage and have no children although they are well over 30.



Peoples private lives are their own business, Stumpf writes, but when one is a public personality private life may become a matter of credibility.



This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online

Click here to Share Your Story



MTI photo: Szigetvari Zsolt
New Delhi: Mercedes-Benz on Monday announced that it celebrated a historic milestone of rolling-out of the 100,000th Mercedes-Benz for the Indian market an E-Class.

The car was rolled-out from the assembly line of Mercedes-Benzs Chakan plant.

Mercedes-Benz was the first luxury automotive brand to enter the Indian market in 1994. The W 124 E-Class was the first luxury car which rolled out of the assembly plant in Pimpri, Pune. Mercedes later moved the facility to Chakan near Pune.

Mercedes shared the chronology of milestones achieved:

1995: First locally made E-Class rolls-out of assembly line

2008: Mercedes-Benz rolls-out its 20,000 cars in India

2010: Roll-out of 30,000 cars from the Chakan manufacturing facility

2014: 50,000th Mercedes-Benz rolls out of the assembly lines in Chakan

2018: 100,000th Mercedes-Benz rolls-out of the assembly line in Chakan

Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, The roll out of the 100,000th Mercedes-Benz vehicle in India is a strong testimony of the impeccable customer trust and the unsurpassable brand equity Mercedes-Benz enjoys in this dynamic country. The journey that began 24 years ago, as we pioneered the luxury car segment in the country, has only gotten more fruitful and today we remain the most preferred luxury brand in the country. The milestone of rolling-out 100,000 cars is also the result of the absolute dedication of all past and present employees of Mercedes-Benz India, who remain our best brand ambassadors. This achievement also reiterates Mercedes-Benzs India commitment and we strongly believe in the India story and its potential. We will further deepen our strong connect with the Indian customers and keep continuing to fascinate them with our products and customer service.
New Delhi: The NCLAT will hear on Tuesday the plea of Reliance Communications which has challenged NCLT's decision to start insolvency proceedings against it on a petition by Swedish telecom equipment major Ericsson.

The plea of Anil Ambani-run RCom was mentioned today before the bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), seeking an urgent hearing on the issue. It has directed that the matter be listed for hearing tomorrow.

"The appeals filed in the NCLAT against the NCLT orders admitting RCOM, RITL and RTL to the debt resolution process and appointment of the Interim Resolution Professional, were mentioned for urgent hearing today," RCom said in a regulatory filing.

It added: "The NCLAT has fixed the appeals for hearing tomorrow, May 29, 2018."

Major lenders, including China Development Bank, State Bank of India and Standard Chartered Bank, have been formally impleaded to the appeal proceedings before NCLAT, it added.

Last week, RCom had approached the appellate tribunal along with its subsidiaries - Reliance Telecom Limited (RTL) and Reliance Infratel Limited (RITL) .

On May 15, the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had admitted an insolvency petition filed by Ericsson against Reliance Communications and two of its subsidiaries seeking to recover unpaid dues.

Ericsson, which had signed a 7-year deal in 2014 to operate and manage RCom's nationwide telecom network, had alleged that it had not been paid the dues.

Last September, the Swedish company had filed a petition in the NCLT's Mumbai bench seeking liquidation of the telecom operator to recover Rs 1,150 crore that RCom allegedly owes it.
A quick glance at the top news of the day:

1. JDS offered support, but Congress insisted on Kumaraswamy as Karnataka CM: Deve Gowda

Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda said on Monday that the Congress had insisted on HD Kumaraswamy becoming the CM of Karnataka. He clarified that he had offered to support a Congress-led government in Karnataka after the fractured verdict in the Assembly polls. Read full report

2. IRCTC website upgrade to make train ticket booking easier

The Ministry of Railways will launch an upgraded version of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website on Monday. The move undertaken by the Indian Railways will ensure smooth ticket-bookings on IRCTC and strengthen the online ticket reservation system. ' Read full report

3. China not allowing us to take holy dip in Mansarovar lake, allege Indian pilgrims

Hindu devotees, who have travelled to Kailash Mansarovar on a holy pilgrimage, have alleged that Chinese authorities are not allowing them to take a dip in the Mansarovar lake. This comes less than a month after a stand-off between India and China over access through Nathu La pass for the yatra. Read full report

4. British jailed Gandhi, Nehru in same Indian prisons: PM Modi told Theresa May on Vijay Mallya

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj revealed on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a strong retort to his British counterpart Theresa May on Vijay Mallya's extradition case. Read full report

5. Baba Ramdev's Patanjali ties up with BSNL, launches SIM cards

After becoming India's most trusted Fast Moving Consumer Goods brand, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali on Sunday entered the telecom sector. At an event, Baba Ramdev launched Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards, in alliance with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Read full report
DEHRADUN: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rajkumar Thukral on Tuesday sparked a controversy after he defended the violent mob that attacked a Muslim youth who was found in the premises of a temple in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar.

He said that Hindus do not go to mosques and madrasas because they are not allowed to go. Then why did the Muslim youth stepped inside the temple premises, he asked.

Blaming the law and administration, the BJP MLA further questioned the intentions of the Muslim man and accused him of harming Hindu sentiments. "Why did they go to the temple with an intention to destroy Hindu Sabhyata?" he said.

Thukral added, "We are already fighting against 'forceful conversion of religion' and 'love jihad'. If police and administration fail to do their job effectively, Hindu Sena will be compelled to take necessary actions to stop these malpractices, he further said.

The BJP MLA's remark comes barely days after a Sikh policeman rescued a Muslim man from a mob allegedly comprised right-wing people. Gagandeep Singh saved the life of the Muslim youth who was being assaulted after the latter was allegedly found in a compromising position with a Hindu girl at a temple near Ramnagar.

A video featuring Sub-Inspector Gagandeep Singh went viral on social media platforms and has been doing its rounds since then. Gagandeep Singh won praise on social media and was hailed as a hero after the video purportedly showing him saving the Muslim man from the violent mob went viral.

Dehradun: Gagandeep Singh, a Sikh policeman who had saved the life of a Muslim youth from a violent mob after the latter was allegedly found in a compromising position with a Hindu girl at a temple near Ramnagar, has won praise on social media.

Sub-Inspector Gagandeep Singh is now being hailed as a hero after a video purportedly showing him saving a Muslim youth from a violent mob went viral on the social media platforms.

According to ADG (law and order) Ashok Kumar, the incident occurred on Tuesday when a Muslim youth went to meet his Hindu girlfriend at the popular Garjia Devi temple, which is about 15 km from Ramnagar. Locals somehow came to know about it and reached the temple to "teach the duo a lesson".

Sub-Inspector Gagandeep Singh, who was informed about a possible trouble in the area, immediately rushed to the spot where he found a mob preparing to attack the couple alleging that they had been found in a compromising position.

Singh, without fearing the violent mob, immediately rushed to their rescue drawing the Muslim youth close to him to act as a shield to him, and in the process taking several blows from the mob on himself.

The entire incident was caught on camera and it was widely shared on the social media where people hailed the Sikh cop for his heroic act.

The Uttarakhand Police have, meanwhile, booked at least five people whose faces are visible in the clip and initiated a massive search to nab them.

A reward of Rs 2,500 has also been announced for Gagandeep Singh for his act of bravery, the ADG said.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj revealed on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a strong retort to his British counterpart Theresa May on Vijay Mallya's extradition case.

"PM Modi told British Prime Minister that UK courts asking about the condition of Indian jails is not right, as these are the same prisons where they had jailed our leaders like Gandhi and Nehru," she said while addressing the media on the completion of four years of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. PM Modi's message to May was conveyed when the two leaders met in London in April 2018, during the meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and had discussed Mallya`s extradition, wherein he had complained to the UK courts about the conditions of Indian jails.

"We have sent out Mallya`s extradition request. One of the cases in the court is by the State Bank of India (SBI) consortium, which involves 12 banks. They have won the case and the money can now be recovered," Swaraj added.

Liquor baron Mallya is absconding and currently living in the United Kingdom. His assets in India have been seized by the Indian authorities as he faces money laundering charges to the tune of more than Rs 9000 crores. Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant in April 2017. Apart from this case, the High Court of London on February 12 had ordered Mallya to pay an estimated USD 90 million to a Singapore-based aircraft leasing company in claims. The case involves a number of aircraft leased by Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines from BOC Aviation in 2014.

Mallya is among 53 persons, who are facing prosecution complaints from the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and they are absconding, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in July 2017.

In a related development, the UK High Court had said on May 9, 2018, that Mallya can be regarded as a "fugitive from justice". Judge Andrew Henshaw, who upheld a worldwide freeze order and ruled in favour of 13 Indian state-owned banks to recover funds amounting to nearly 1.145 billion pounds in a judgment, took note of the fact that the 62-year-old businessman is contesting his extradition to India relating to "alleged financial misconduct".

The HC had remained unconvinced by Mallya's claim that he has been a non-resident Indian (NRI) since 1988 and has lived in England since 1992, a country where he has indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Mallya, who remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017, will return for the last leg of his ongoing extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on July 11, after which the court is expected to set a timeline for judgment in that case.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), representing the Indian government, has claimed it has successfully established a prima facie case of fraud against the businessman.

Mallya has claimed the criminal charges against him are "without substance" and "politically motivated".

(With Agency inputs)
Hindu devotees, who have travelled to Kailash Mansarovar on a holy pilgrimage, have alleged that Chinese authorities are not allowing them to take a dip in the Mansarovar lake. This comes less than a month after a stand-off between India and China over access through Nathu La pass for the yatra.

On May 8, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had announced that Nathu La pass was opened after India took up the issue with Chinese authorities.

Addressing mediapersons at a press conference, Sushma Swaraj had said, I had told Chinese Foreign Ministry that relations between governments cannot prosper until people-to-people relations are improved when Nathu La pass was closed during last Yatra it came as a blow to people. I am happy to announce that it has now been opened for Yatra.

Swaraj, who was in China for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)'s Foreign Ministers' meet, had said that her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had agreed to allow Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which was stopped by Beijing after the 72-day-long Doklam standoff.

The tour is organised by the MEA each year between June and September in cooperation with the government of People's Republic of China through two different routes - Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).

The Nathu La route was opened to Indian pilgrims in 2015. After crossing over the Nathu La pass, Indian pilgrims are ferried by Chinese transport to Kailash.

The route through the Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand), which involves some trekking, is done at an estimated cost of about Rs 1.6 lakh per person. The duration of the yatra is 24 days for each batch, including three days in Delhi, for preparatory work. This route passes through important sites like Narayan Ashram and Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

The pilgrims can also see the scenic beauty of Chialekh Valley, or the 'Om Parvat' which has the natural occurrence of snow in the shape of 'Om' on this mountain.

The route through the Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) is motorable and suitable for senior citizens unable to undertake arduous trekking.

From Gangtok, the route passes through scenic places like the Hangu lake, and through the vast landscape of the Tibetan plateau. It is estimated to cost about Rs 2 lakh per person, and duration would be 21 days, including three days in Delhi, for preparatory work.
New Delhi: Former president Pranab Mukherjee will the chief guest at the valedictory function of Third Year Sangha Shiksha Varga (SSV) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Nagpur on June 7.

Mukherjee has given his consent to participate in the programme, RSS' Akhil Bhartiya Prachar Pramukh Arun Kumar told PTI. "We have invited the former President of India and it is his greatness that he has given his consent for participating in the programme," he said. The Sangh leadership invites eminent people for the annual event held at its headquarters at Reshim Bagh.

RSS leader Rakesh Sinha also said, "Former president Pranab Mukherjee's acceptance to attend RSS event in Nagpur sends a message to the country that on vital issues there should be dialogue and adversaries are not enemies. Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva is being answered by his acceptance of the invitation."

Former Pres Pranab Mukherjee acceptance to attend RSS event in Nagpur sends a message to the country that on vital issues there should be dialogue&adversaries are not enemies. Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva is being answered by his acceptance of invitation: Rakesh Sinha, RSS pic.twitter.com/9PS0i2CQ7d  ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

During the summer months, the RSS organises training camps across the country. This is the third year of SSV. It began on May 13 and is reportedly being attended by 607 participants from all over the country. Those who have completed first two levels of the SSV and are below the age of 45, are further trained in various aspects of the RSS organisational work during the third year at Nagpur.

In June 2017, when Mukherjee was the president, he had invited RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for lunch at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The RSS had said at that time that it was a pre-decided courtesy meet. Earlier, Bhagwat had called on Mukherjee in December 2015. The RSS functionaries had said that Bhagwat had gone to extend Diwali greetings to Mukherjee.

A veteran Congress leader, Mukherjee, 82, was the 13th president of India and held the office from 2012 to 2017. He has been associated with the Congress since 1969, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Mukherjee has worked closely with former PMs Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv. He became Union finance minister for the first time in 1982 and served till 1984. In his last stint, he served as the finance minister in Congress-led UPA II government headed by Manmohan Singh.
The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) on Monday declared the GSEB Gujarat board class 10 results 2018. The GSEB Gujarat board class 10 results 2018 are available on the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board's (GSHSEB) official website gseb.org. The students can also check the results on the boards website, and also on gipl.net, examresults.net and indiaresults.com.

At least 10 lakh students appeared in the SSC Class 10 examination 2018 at various centres across the country. The Gujarat board Class 10th examinations were held between March 12 to March 23, 2018.

Here's how to check Gujarat board class 10th result 2018:

Step 1: Log on to the official website - gseb.org

Step 2: Click on the result tab

Step 3: Enter your registration number or roll number

Step 4: Submit the details

The marksheets will be handed over to the school authorities on May 31, Thursday and the students can collect their scorecards on the same day.

The GSEB is responsible for the conduct of Class 10 and 12 exams in the state. Every year, 2 (including 4-semester type examinations) main examinations are held - the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam for standard 10 and the Higher Secondary (School) Certificate (HSC) examination for Standard 11 and 12 students in Gujarat. The board is also responsible for the State entrance examinations GUJCET.
New Delhi: India has concluded price negotiations with Russia for a nearly Rs 40,000 crore deal to procure S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for the Indian Air Force, officials said. They said the two countries are now trying to find a way out to evade the provisions of a US law that seeks to punish countries and entities engaged in transactions with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.

"The negotiations for the missile deal have been concluded. The financial component has been finalised," a top official involved in the negotiations for the deal with Russia told PTI. The official said both Russia and India are likely to announce the deal before an annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2018.

Two other officials said both sides are now looking at ways to insulate the deal from the sanctions announced by the US against Russia under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The issue is understood to have figured during Modi's informal talks with Putin in Sochi on May 21, 2018.

There has been mounting concerns in India over the US sanctions against Russian defence majors including Rosoboronexport as billions of dollars of military purchases may be impacted because of the punitive measure. The US had announced sanctions against Russia under the stringent law for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016.

CAATSA, which came into effect in January 2018, mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in April appealed to the Congress to urgently provide India the national security waiver, saying imposing sanctions under CAATSA for the S-400 air defence missile deal would only hit the US.

India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border. In 2016, India and Russia had signed an agreement on the 'Triumf' interceptor-based missile system which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of unknown number of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing. The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, has been in service in Russia since 2007.
Following what Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did over a month back, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas has now written to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking an apology from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongman.

Tendering his apology to Jaitley, the AAP leader has sought withdrawal of a civil defamation case filed by the Union Finance Minister against him.

Reacting to the letter sent by Kumar Vishwas, the lawyer of Arun Jaitley said, We have accepted it.

The Delhi High Court had in April disposed off a defamation suit filed by Jaitley against Arvind Kejriwal, after the latter apologised to the BJP leader for his remarks. The defamation suit was was quashed as Jaitley accepted Kejriwals apology.

Kejriwal had tendered an apology to Jaitley in a letter. He had said: "I unequivocally withdraw all the allegations made by me in question whether in print, electronic or social media against you. I offer my sincere apology to you and your family members for any harm caused to your reputation as a consequence of my allegations."

Thereafter, the two leaders had moved an application before the Delhi High Court seeking withdrawal of the defamation case. Along with Kejriwal, four other AAP leaders - Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh, Deepak Bajpai and Raghav Chadha - had also apologised to Jaitley for their allegations.

In his letter, Kejriwal had stated that the allegations made by him were based on information and papers furnished by certain individuals who represented to have first-hand insight into the DDCA's affairs but had "recently discovered that the information and the imputations contained therein are unfounded and unwarranted and I was clearly misinformed into making these allegations". Kejriwal also said that he did not approve of senior advocate Ram Jethmalani`s "disparaging and malicious" remarks against Jaitley.

Levelling defamation charges against the Delhi CM, Jaitley had asked for Rs 10 crore as damages before a magisterial court in December 2015. He had claimed that the charges affected his reputation.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the 'Ujjwala Yojna', a flagship welfare scheme of his government has become a symbol of progress which is driving remarkable social transformation. While speaking to Ujjwala beneficiaries across the country, through video conference, the PM also said that the scheme is influencing the holistic development of the country.

Addressing the beneficiaries of the scheme, he explained how the LPG connection had reduced time spent on cooking, and enhanced the quality of life for the entire family.

Stating his government's pro-Dalit credentials, he said that the scheme aimed at increasing LPG cylinder coverage among poor families has led to a social transformation with over 45 per cent of its four crore beneficiaries being Dalits and tribals. He also compared the benefits given to the community under the scheme to what they received under the Congress-led UPA government.

"Since people started to get benefits under the Ujjwala Yojna, a big social transformation is visible. I am happy to tell you that out of its four crore beneficiaries 45 per cent are Dalits and tribals. Till 2014, 13 crore families got LPG connection. This means, for over six decades the figure stood at 13 crore. It was mostly the rich people who got LPG connections. In the last 4 years, 10 crore new connections have been added and the poor benefited," he said.

He also claimed that while Dalits got 445 petrol pumps under 2010-14 during the UPA rule, more than 1200 of them got it during 2014-18 in his government's rule. The LPG reach is now 100 per cent in 70 per cent villages and more than 75 per cent in 81 per cent villages, he added.

"Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, Dalits, tribal communities. This initiative is playing a central role in social empowerment," Modi said.

Recalling his past experiences, he said that when he was young, he would see rich and influential people had gas connections and they would tell the poor that it was unsafe to have a gas connection at home. "When we would ask them why do they have it in their homes, they were silent," he said.

The Prime Minister quoted a story written by Munshi Premchand in 1933, to highlight the importance of easing the lives of home-makers. He said Ujjwala has brought about benefits through better health outcomes, freedom from poisonous smoke and cleaner fuel. He said women now have a greater opportunity to earn extra income, as time spent on cooking has been reduced.

He also said that the government has been paying attention to ensure that there are no middlemen involved in this scheme, and the beneficiaries are chosen through a transparent process.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme court on Monday refused to give an urgent hearing to the plea filed over alleged police atrocities during anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi last week. The court said it would hear the matter once it reopens after the vacations.

Advocate GS Mani In his PIL alleged a "pre-planned murder" by police with the help of high-level officials of police and civil administration. The Thoothukudi protests against Sterlite Copper smelting plant turned violent on May 22 in which 13 persons were killed in police firing and many others were injured.

Mani sought registration of an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code against the Thoothukudi Collector, Superintendent of Police and other police officials. The petition said that announcement of Rs 10 lakh each as compensation to bereaved families was only meant to please the pubic and to escape a heinous crime of murdering innocent civilians.

Also in his plea, he demanded Rs 50 lakh each to the family of police firing victims, and Rs 25 lakh to the seriously injured.

Seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mani pleaded that the Tamil Nadu Police would not be able to conduct free and fair investigation into the firing incident due to the involvement of senior police officials.

The construction of a proposed second smelting plant in Thoothukudi was stopped on the orders of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday.

As per SC rules, only the following matters shall be treated as matters of urgent nature for listing during the vacation:

1. Matters in which death penalty has been awarded;

2. The petition for Habeas Corpus and matters relating to it;

3. Matters relating to imminent apprehension of demolition of property;

4. Matters relating to dispossession/eviction;

5. Matters relating to and of general public importance;

6. Matters for anticipatory bail and matters filed against orders-refusing/granting bail
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday held wide-ranging talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif. His day-long visit is part of Tehran's efforts to reach out to major world powers after the US pulled out from the landmark nuclear deal of 2015 under which Iran had agreed to stop its sensitive nuclear activities in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

Iran had struck the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) with the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany after years of negotiations. The Iranian Foreign Minister has visited China, Russia and some European countries in the last three weeks after President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

The MEA said Swaraj and Zarif discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. Following is the press release by the MEA:

External Affairs Minister met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Mr Javad Zarif today. They, inter alia, discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. The two sides positively assessed the implementation of decisions taken during the visit of President Rouhani to India. These included bilateral cooperation in the areas of connectivity, energy, trade and promotion of people to people contacts. FM Zarif briefed about the discussions that Iran has undertaken with parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following the US decision to withdraw from the agreement. EAM conveyed that all parties to the agreement should engage constructively for peaceful resolution of the issues that have arisen with respect to the agreement. The other members of the delegation accompanying FM Zarif had separate meetings with their counterparts earlier in the day where they discussed measures for practical cooperation between the two sides.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes Foreign Minister of #Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif in New Delhi ahead of the delegation-level talks. Our relations with Iran are unique and historical and we attach great importance to this relationship. pic.twitter.com/uuxGFZ7PGR  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 28, 2018

EAM @SushmaSwaraj and her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed bilateral, regional and global issues at the meeting. Press Release at https://t.co/gBs4tS9bRS pic.twitter.com/vNQv7DlRbk  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 28, 2018

Earlier, on Monday, Swaraj had said that India will continue trading with Iran and Venezuela despite US sanctions against the two countries, asserting that it only recognises UN restrictions. "We only recognise UN sanctions. We do not recognise any country-specific sanctions," she had said at a press conference. The EAM has made the remarks while responding to a question on whether US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela will hit India's oil imports from the two countries. She had also said that India does not make foreign policy under any pressure from any country.

Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier and there were apprehensions about the possible impact of the US decision on India's oil imports. In February 2018, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had visited India during which both sides agreed to further expand their cooperation in a number of key sectors. During his visit, both sides had signed nine agreements including one on handing over Chabahar port's operation to India for 18 months. According to the MEA, India-Iran bilateral trade during the 2016-17 fiscal was USD 12.89 billion. India imported USD 10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exported commodities worth USD 2.4 billion.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday that there cannot be any comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan till it shuns terrorism. "We are always ready for talks with Pakistan but with a caveat that terror and talks cannot go together... there cannot be a comprehensive dialogue till Pakistan shuns terror... when people are dying on the border, talk of dialogue is not appropriate," she said.

The EAM was replying to a question on whether India-Pakistan talks can take place after the general elections there. However, she admitted that the NSAs of India and Pakistan meet to hold "talks on terror". Swaraj also hit out at Pakistan over its "Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018" relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying Pakistan always "distorts history". "Pakistan tries to teach us history and geography. It is one country which does not believe in rule of law and I would just say one thing to their answer 'look who's talking', she asserted.

Watch EAM @SushmaSwarajs annual press conference live here. https://t.co/pxZqxLZPJn  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 28, 2018

Pakistan on Monday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and issued a demarche over the Indian statement that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Pakistan Cabinet on May 21 had approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the Assembly for the region. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

India on Sunday had summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

Further, Swaraj said that the government has achieved "unprecedented outreach and unparalleled outcome" at the global stage in the last four years. Outlining the work of the Narendra Modi-led government in its four years of rule, she said India has secured membership of three export control regimes out of four since this government came to come in 2014. The government has reached out to 186 out of 192 nations under its "unprecedented outreach and unparalleled outcomes", Swaraj said.

(With PTI inputs)
Lucknow: Voting for the high-stakes by-elections to Kairana parliamentary constituency and Noorpur assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh began on Monday morning. The Kairana bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh in February.

His daughter Mriganka Singh is the BJP candidate, pitted against Rashtriya Lok Dal's Tabassum Hasan (BSP MP from Kairana in 2009) who is also supported by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and also claims the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Kairana parliamentary constituency has five assembly segments -- Shamli, Thana Bhawan and Kairana in Shamli district, and Gangoh and Nakur in Saharanpur district.

Similarly, the by-election to Noorpur Assembly seat was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Lokendra Singh Chauhan in a road accident in February. In Noorpur, the BJP announced the name of Avani Singh, wife of late MLA Lokendra Chauhan, as its candidate. The SP has fielded Naeemul Hasan as its candidate.

The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

According to the Election Commission, there are 16.09 lakh voters in Kairana. This includes 8.73 lakh male voters and 7.36 lakh female voters. Noorpur assembly constituency has 3.06 lakh voters.

In Kairana, there are 12 candidates in the fray, while from Noorpur there are 10 candidates in the field. There are 2,056 polling booths.

The opposition hopes that by consolidating the anti-BJP votes, they will repeat the results of the Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-elections where the ruling party suffered an unexpected defeat, especially after Lok Dal candidate Kanwar Hasan pulled himself out of the Kairana bypoll fray and embraced the RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal).

The ruling BJP on the other hand will make extra effort to retain both the seats to try and send a message to voters, party cadres -- as well as opposition parties -- that the drubbing in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-elections were a closed chapter now, and that it was still strong in western UP. Counting of votes will take place on May 31.
New Delhi: The MHA has approved Rs 415 crores for the construction of more than 14,000 bunkers in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts in J&K. Work on construction of 1,431 community and more than 13,000 individual bunkers will commence from July 2018. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed its progress at a high-level meeting on Monday.

In view of 1,252 ceasefire violations by Pakistan during the current year, the Home Ministry has called for expediting the construction of bunkers along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) to protect the border residents. Compensation to victims of cross-border firing has been approved at NDRF rates and the limit of three milch animals has been removed for losses incurred upon livestock. MHA has directed that compensation for livestock should be increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 30,000 presently.

During the meeting, Singh directed to the expedition of raising of two New Border Battalions of J&K Police. He said that the recruitment should be completed by March 2019. MHA had approved Rs 105 crores in March 2018. These two battalions will be raised from people living within 0-10 kms of IB/LoC. Besides, 5 India Reserve Battalions (IRB) are also being raised. 4,690 youth have been recruited for this, who will start joining from next month. Also, 6,689 SPOs have been appointed out of a total of 10,000 new posts sanctioned. The possibility of filling up of the vacancies of SPOs from border community may be explored.

Reviewing the Prime Ministers Development Package worth Rs 80,068 crores, the government has sanctioned 63,000 crores for 63 projects pertaining to 15 Central ministries. Out of which more than Rs 24,000 crores have been released and over Rs 20,000 crores have been utilised. 13 projects have been completed/substantially completed.

As per an MHA report 1,079 youth were selected during a special recruitment drive for CAPFs and Assam Rifles in 2016-17 while 7,302 youth were inducted into the Army during the period 2014-2017. MHA has taken stock of the progress of relief and rehabilitation programmes related to various sections of migrants and displaced persons. Singh has directed that special camps should be held and there should be publicity in regional newspapers for disbursing assistance of Rs 5.5 lakh per family to displaced people of PoK and Chhamb, for which MHA has provided Rs 2,000 crores.

Meanwhile, the ministry expressed satisfaction that there has been a significant drop in stone-pelting incidents after the Centre announced the suspension of operations during Ramzan.

Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba were present during Monday's review meeting.

(Reporting by Manish Shukla)
Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda said on Monday that the Congress had insisted on HD Kumaraswamy becoming the CM of Karnataka. He clarified that he had offered to support a Congress-led government in Karnataka after the fractured verdict in the Assembly polls.

"There was a discussion between me, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot. I told them, you form (the government), I have no problem. They insisted that Kumaraswamy become the CM and that it was their high command's decision," the former PM said at a press conference.

He also indicated it would be difficult to keep the promise of relief to farmers. "How? With 37 members (MLAs of the JD-S), we have to run the government with the support of another party. We will also have to continue with their programmes. Without their support it is difficult. That is why he (Kumaraswamy) said I will give resignation if need be. He was under Congress' will and not under the will of 6.5 crore people. He has called himself a child of circumstances," Gowda said, as per PTI.

Kumaraswamy had promised to write off farm loans totalling Rs 53,000 crore within 24 hours of coming to power, but has now sought time citing coalition compulsions and the need to assess the financial condition of the state. He had said on Sunday that said he was at the "mercy" of the Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka as his party had not received the full mandate which it had sought.

JD(S), who had fought bitterly against the Congress, especially in old Mysuru region, had to join hands to keep BJP out of power in Karnataka, where the May 12 polls threw up a hung Assembly.

Kumaraswamy was on May 23, 2018, sworn-in as Karnataka CM at a grand ceremony in Bengaluru attended by a galaxy of top leaders and regional satraps. G Parameshwara, the state Congress chief and the party's Dalit face, was sworn in as his deputy.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu, and Pinarayi Vijayan, her counterparts in Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala respectively, were present on the occasion. Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and socialist leader Sharad Yadav were also in attendance.

(With Agency inputs)
BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yeddyurappa on Monday took a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy asking him to apologise for his statement of serving the Congress and not the people of the state. The saffron party leader reminded him that he took oath as the Chief Minister to serve the people of Karnataka, not the Congress party.

Attacking the Congress-JDS alliance in the state, "I want to remind him that he took oath as the Chief Minister to serve the people of Karnataka, not Congress party. He cannot work as the CM of Congress party. It is clear that Kumaraswamy is at the mercy of Congress: BS Yeddyurappa

Kumaraswamy had on Sunday said he was at the 'mercy' of Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka as his government had not received the full mandate which his party had sought in the assembly elections.

Ahead of his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfill it.

However, he reminded people that JDS did not get an absolute majority, which meant he and his party were rejected by the electorate.

His remarks had come in the wake of BJP's call for a state-wide bandh on May 28, demanding immediate waiver of farm loans, as promised by the JD(S) in their manifesto.

BJP state president had on May 25 announced a state-wide bandh on May 28 if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore were not waived by then.

JDS leadership has been saying they have to seek the consent of its coalition partner Congress before taking any decision.

To a question on the Congress demand that the finance portfolio be given to it, he said it was quite natural for them to ask it as some in the party believed they could deliver better.

He brushed aside talk of a tussle between the two coalition partners over the distribution of portfolios.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: The stock of the expressway developer Welspun Enterprises hit its all time intra-day high on Monday, a day after it was inaugurated.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had signed an agreement with Welspun Enterprises for development of the first phase of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

The stock of Welspun Group firm Welspun Enterprises hit its all-time high level of 202.85 on BSE. The stock closed 2.30 percent up at 198.15 a piece on Monday.

Welspun Delhi Meerut Expressway, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Welspun Enterprises, will maintain the project for 15 years after which it will be transferred to NHAI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the first phase of the Rs 7,500-crore expressway that will considerably reduce travel time between national capital Delhi and Meerut in adjoining Uttar Pradesh state.

The first phase of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway costed Rs 842 crore on building the 9-km stretch of 14-lane highway, according to an advertisement released by the government on the project.

The expressway, which will have dedicated bicycle tracks on the nearly 28-km stretch between Delhi and Dasna, will cut travel time between Delhi and Meerut to 45 minutes from two-and-half hour now. The total length of the project is 82 km, of which the first 27.74 kms will be 14-laned, while the rest will be 6-lane expressway.

The expressway will do away with 31 traffic signals on the Delhi-Meerut road, the busiest highway in the region, and make it signal free.

Modi had in December 2015 laid the foundation stone of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to be built at a cost of Rs 7,566 crore.

The project is being built in four segments -- Nizamuddin Bridge to UP Border, UP Border to Dasna, Dasna to Hapur and Hapur to Meerut.

Besides, six-laning of 22 km long Dasna-Hapur section of NH 24 will cost Rs 1,122 crore.

With PTI Inputs
New Delhi: Huawei`s sub-brand Honor on Monday announced the roll out of Emotion User Interface (EMUI) 8.0 based on Android Oreo 8.0 on Honor 7X devices.

EMUI 8.0 comes with three new features including the "ride mode, game suite and shortcut to Paytm" along with improved smart resolution, dynamic wallpapers and navigation bar customisations, the company said in a statement.

"The upgraded EMUI 8.0 is a technological software which is efficient, secure, user friendly and will enable the users to reach 90 percent of the core functions in just 3 clicks," said P. Sanjeev, Vice President, Sales, Huawei Consumer Business Group.

The newly added "ride mode", on activation will notify callers if the user is unavailable to answer calls while riding or driving in order to promote road safety.

With the "gaming mode", the device will automatically optimize for better gaming experience, hiding all on-screen notifications except for calls, alarms and low battery.

With "Paytm" integration, in EMUI 8.0, users will be allowed to access the Paytm payment page by a fingerprint to making transactions faster, the company added.

Launched in December last year, Honor 7X comes in 32GB and 64GB variants, priced at Rs 12,999 and Rs 15,999 respectively along with a 15.06cm Full HD+ display, dual-lens 16MP + 2MP rear camera, 8MP front camera additionally including face unlock and split screen features.
The Maharashtra government is soon slated to launch a special drive to ensure that Mumbai becomes a safer city for women. The latest initiative is being executed at a whopping cost of Rs 250 crore and makes use of drone cameras.

Whenever they are in any sort of trouble, they can press the panic button, which would activate a drone equipped with camera. The button will also alert the nearest police station.

A drone will immediately fly to the spot of the incident and relay the happenings live to the police control room. This will help the police reach the spot of the crime at the earliest.

The drones are connected with an advanced software, linked to a mobile application. Once a person installs the mobile app on her phone, she would get the panic button as part of the same. Once the button is pressed, a drone will be activated with the location and will move to the same immediately.

After reaching the spot, the drone will send live footage to the police control room.

Apart from women safety, the initiative is also expected to be used by the Mumbai Police to tackle several untoward situations. The drones are also likely to be used to monitor places that are crowded. For instance, the drones can be used for security during Ganpati visarjan, political rallies or sporting events.

Mumbai Police PRO, DCP Deepak Devraj said, Drones will be used to ensure security in Mumbai. This will lead to better security in the city. With their help, we can monitor areas which got ignored till now.
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar launched a brand new advertising campaign for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) in the capital on Sunday. The campaign focuses on promoting the twin pit toilet technology in rural Indis, was launched at a Collectors Convention for Toilet Technology.

The ad also features actress his Toilet: Ek Prem Katha co-star Bhumi Pednekar.

In his welcome address, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, spoke about the contribution made by Kumar to the Swachh Bharat Mission. He said that right from his movie, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, which was seen and appreciated by rural and urban people across the country, to his participation in the twin pit toilet advertisement campaign for the Swachh Bharat Mission, Shri Kumar has been a strong supporter of the sanitation movement underway in the country

Kumar interacted with Swachh Bharat Mission officials, district collectors, communication experts and members from the media on the occasion. During his interaction, he spoke about the need for influencers of society to talk freely about toilets, and empty toilet pits around the country to destigmatize cleaning of ones own toilet by members of the family itself.

The District Collectors and field officials, during the interaction, spoke about the power of women in leading the sanitation mission in rural areas, and the role played by the movie, Toilet Ek Prem Katha in leading this behaviour change. It was also announced by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on this occasion that the producers of Toilet Ek Prem Katha have given rights to all State and District teams of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) to screen the movie in villages on a non-commercial basis.

The advertisement campaign launched on Sunday is an effort, supported by the World Bank, towards encouraging this technology using mass media. The film can be found on the YouTube channel of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) (link: tinyurl.com/sbmgramin). It will be translated in several regional languages, and the Hindi version will start airing on television channels with immediate effect.

Watch the ad embedded below:

The twin pit toilet technology was invented in India and is the most well-suited toilet technology for rural India, and is recommended by Government of India and the World Health Organization. It is scientifically proven that:

1. A pit in a standard twin-pit toilet model fills up in roughly 5 years for a 6-membered family

2. The waste may then be easily re-directed to the second pit

3. In 6 months to 1 year, the waste in the filled pit decomposes completely

4. This decomposed waste is safe to handle and rich in NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) nutrients which makes it ideal for use in agriculture

The States are continuously encouraged by the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) to include awareness generation about the above facts as part of their grassroots information, education and communication (IEC) efforts.
CHENNAI: Soon after AIADMK's IT wing secretary Hari Prabhakaran tweeted comparing journalists with street dogs, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu expelled him on Monday.

In a derogatory tweet indicating the journalists, the computer science engineer said, "Reporters are not allowed to shoot inside the hospital during the DCM visit - street dogs who shouts for biscuits will be tied on the gate rather allowing them inside."

Prabhakaran had tweeted on Monday morning at 9.40 am, however, he deleted the tweet after some time.

The AIADMK leader came up with an apology saying, "All opinions expressed by me are personal and it is not official party view. I'm not authorised to express party views. I heard few people got hurt due to one of my tweet this morning. I don't have any animosity towards any group of people. My apologies to those who r hurt."

All opinions expressed by me are personal and it is not official party view. I'm not authorised to express party views. I heard few people got hurt due to one of my tweet this morning .I don't have any animosity towards any group of people. My apologies to those who r hurt.  Hari Prabhakaran (@Hariadmk) May 28, 2018

Prabhakaran, an active Twitter user, has completed eight years on the microblogging site on May 10, 2018.

His tweet came barely a week after the violence in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin which claimed lives of 13 protesters demanding closure of the Sterlite copper smelting plant.

O Panneerselvam had visited a local hospital to meet the injured protestors and their families. The mediaperons were, however, not permitted to get inside the hospital premises.

The protests were going on in Tuticorin for over three months now, but violence erupted on Tuesday with agitators allegedly fighting pitched battles with police, prompting it to open fire.

Hurling stones and setting government vehicles and public property on fire, the agitators went on the rampage in the town, about 600 km from Tamil Nadu capital Chennai.
With Pakistan set to go for general elections on July 25, a study has revealed that a huge spike in the number of non-Muslim voters in the country. According to a report in Pakistan-based Dawn News, the number of non-Muslim voters has increased from 2.77 million in 2013 to 3.63 million this year, which is a rise of 30 per cent.

The report further said that among the non-Muslim voters, referred to as minorities, the highest number of voters are Hindus. However, in 2013 Hindus constituted half the number of non-Muslim voters in Pakistan, but its not the same this time.

Total number of Hindu voters in 2013 was 1.40 million whereas it stands at 1.77 million in 2018. However, the rise in non-Hindu minority voters has been more.

Dawn report further said that the second largest group of non-Muslim voters were Christians. There are 1.64 million Christians who are entitled to vote in the upcoming general elections. The rise in the number of Christian voters has been significantly more than the Hindus.

The number of Parsi voters has also gone up in Pakistan, reported Dawn.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a formal letter last week had proposed the president to grant permission to hold the election between July 25 and 27, following which the date for the elections was declared.

According to the law, ECP proposes dates to the president to organize general elections, who is empowered to fix the final date.

The present government will complete the tenure on May 31 and the caretaker government will take over form June 1 and remain in office until a new government is set up through elections. It is the second consecutive elected government that is poised to complete the five-year tenure. It was elected in 2013.
Retired chief justice Nasir-ul-Mulk has been named to be the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan until the general elections, which is scheduled to be held on July 25. According to Pakistan media, the name was declared at a press conference addressed by Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah. The press meet also saw the presence of current Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Pakistan-based Dawn News quoted Shah as saying that the former judge was chosen on the basis of merit and after taking all parties into confidence.

Speaking to mediapersons, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that all names considered for the post of interim Prime Minister of Pakistan were credible. He further said that the final name was chosen after considering all options. Dawn quoted him as saying, Its a name no one can point fingers at.

Nasir-ul-Mulk was appointed the 22nd Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2014. He had joined the Pakistan judiciary on September 20, 2008. He has also held the office of Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan.

The present government will complete the tenure on May 31 and the caretaker government will take over form June 1 and remain in office until a new government is set up through elections. It is the second consecutive elected government that is poised to complete the five-year tenure. It was elected in 2013.

A total of 105.95 million voters will use their right of vote to elect the new government. Among them are 59.2 million male and 46.7 million female voters, showing A gender gap of over 12.5 million.

Pakistan's upcoming general elections for parliament and provincial assemblies will be held on July 25, according to a decree signed by President Mamnoon Hussain on Saturday. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a formal letter last week had proposed the president to grant permission to hold the election between July 25 and 27, following which the date was decided.
Pakistan has once again claimed that the nuclear tests by India in May 1998 forced it to take the decision to test its own atomic weapons. Marking the 20th anniversary of the seven nuclear tests conducted in 1998, Pakistan hinted that India's nuclear tests put an end "to the prospect for keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons".

"28 May 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan in 1998. Pakistan was forced to take that decision as a response, in self-defence, to the nuclear tests and accompanying hostile posturing by its neighbour. These developments unfortunately put an end to the prospect for keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons - an objective which Pakistan had actively pursued. Notwithstanding these facts, Pakistan has remained steadfast in its commitment to non-proliferation and global peace and strategic stability," the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a press release on Sunday.

"Since 1998, Pakistan has demonstrated utmost restraint and responsibility in the stewardship of its nuclear capability. It is committed to the principle of Credible Minimum Deterrence and has persistently sought deterrence stability in the region. This objective has driven Pakistan to offer and conclude several Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the nuclear and conventional domains, including the 2004 Pakistan-India Joint Statement which recognized the respective nuclear capabilities of the two countries as a factor for stability. Pakistan has consistently signaled its willingness to consider further measures for risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the region," the release added.

Pakistan also claimed that it is confident of "ability to deny space for any misadventure against the backdrop of rapidly expanding nuclear and conventional forces in its neighbourhood, deployment of BMD and pursuit of aggressive security doctrines and developing force postures". "The nuclearization of the Indian Ocean and canesterization of ballistic missiles in our neighbourhood should be a matter of concern for the international community as well, since these developments have extra-regional ramifications."

While India had conducted its first atomic test in 1974 in Pokhran in Rajasthan, the country became overtly nuclear only after conducting five tests on May 11, 2018 and May 13, 2018. While three nuclear bombs were tested on May 11, two were conducted on May 13. Two weeks later Pakistan followed suit with seven tests in the Ras Koh Hills in Chagai district of Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Russia is flight testing its latest 4++ generation supersonic multirole fighter of the MiG series - MiG-35. The multipurpose fighter, which is being built in both single-seater and double-seater (trainer) versions, is an advanced form of the legendary MiG-29/2 jet with improved and state-of-the-art avionics, radar and combat capabilities. The MiG-35 (NATO code: Fulcrum-F) can hunt targets in the air, on the ground, and in the sea.

"This is a plane that can operate on its own. It relies much less on ground services and is capable of effective networking. The MiG-35 meets 21st century standards based on its reliability, repair and upgrades," says Ilya Tarasenko, CEO of MiG Aircraft Corporation. Russian Air Force plans to equip its entire Aerospace Force division with MiG-35 planes in a few years with the first plane entering active service in 2020.

With a length of 17.3 metres, wingspan of 12m and 4.73m high, the MiG-35 is capable of flying at over Mach 2 (2,560 kilometres per hour). Its service ceiling is 17.5 km. The maximum takeoff weight is 24,500 kilogrammes and the fighter has a weapons payload capacity of 6,500 kg. There are nine hardpoints, four on each wing and one under the fuselage, for carrying weapons apart from a cannon for close range combat.

All MiG-35s will have the Zhuk-ME or Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar which is capable of operating even amidst enemy jamming. The radar can detect and track 30 targets simultaneously. Its air target detection radius is 160 km while the radar can see surface ships at a distance of 300 km. The fighter can destroy six aerial targets or four on the ground at one go.

The plane also has an advanced helmet-mounted target acquisition, glass cockpit as part of the flight deck comprising liquid-crystal displays and display system along with optoelectronic complex which ensures the fighter can operate at full capacity day or night beyond visual range. The system also helps detect aircraft with low radar signature and gives the MiG-35 the capabilities to match fifth-generation fighters.

The unified front part of the fuselage of a single-seat or two-seat plane allows the second pilot's cockpit to be converted into a fuel tank. The aircraft's service life is 6,000 flight hours and s capable of operating in a wide variety of climatic conditions with temperature ranging from 45 degrees Celcius to 50 degrees Celcius. Made with almost 20 percent composite material and coated with anti-radar material, the MiG-35 has a reduced radar signature.

Claiming that the MiG-35 is super-manoeuvrable the Russian test pilots have demonstrated that the fighter is capable of performing several gravity-defying acrobatic loops which test not only the machine but also the pilot inside the jet.

Cobra's aerobatic feat

The plane sharply raises its nose while retaining the preceding flight path so that the fighter jet reaches angles of attack of over 90 degrees. After that, the plane returns to its normal flight mode without losing the altitude. This famous Cobra manoeuvre was first performed by test pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union, Igor Volk aboard a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft in 1989 in the town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow. Later, pilot Viktor Pugachev publicly demonstrated the aerobatic maneuver at the Le Bourget airshow outside Paris and that is why it was dubbed Pugachev's Cobra.

Bell figure feat

This is the most complex aerobatic manoeuvre to perform. The aircraft enters the position of its nose to the zenith and its speed drops to zero, after which it starts falling tail first and then makes a vertical U-turn through the horizon followed by a nosedive, imitating the swaying of a bell's tongues. Russian test pilot Anatoly Kvochur first performed this feat aboard a MiG-29 fighter in 1988 at the Farnborough airshow.

Frolov's Chakra

The aircraft turns around its tail, forming a tight loop (or otherwise known as Nesterov's Loop with a closed curve in the vertical plane). The manoeuvre can be carried out only aboard aircraft with thrust vectoring nozzles. This feat was performed for the first time by test pilot, Hero of Russia Yevgeny Frolov aboard an experimental Su-37 fighter jet in 1995 at the Le Bourget airshow outside Paris.

The plane is powered by two RD-33MK engines which have been designed to reduce the fighter's thermal and optical signature to make it less visible to radars and heat-seeking missiles. The two RD-33MK can produce a full Afterburner thrust of 29,000 kilogram-force while the maximum mode thrust is 25300 kgf. The engine's service life is 4,000 hours and it can be rigged with a thrust vectoring nozzle, which helps enhance the aircraft's flight performance. The vectored thrust angle can be 15 percent in any direction.
Washington: A US delegation is in North Korea to make arrangements for the Singapore summit on June 12, President Donald Trump said today, adding hope for his meeting with the reclusive nation's leader Kim Jong Un. Trump also said he sees "brilliant potential" in Pyongyang.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," Trump said in a tweet.

Trump is scheduled to have a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim in Singapore on June 12. Last week, he had suddenly cancelled the meeting after North Korean statements in which they threatened not to attend the summit.

Soon thereafter, the North Korean leaders said they were ready to meet anytime and anywhere. Kim had an unscheduled meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in wherein they discussed ways to revive the summit.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said a pre-advance team is headed to Singapore to prepare for the summit. Trump tweeted that US officials are in North Korea to prepare for the talks.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" Trump said in the same tweet.

According to The Washington Post, Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with the North, has been called in from his post as envoy to the Philippines to lead the preparations. Sung Kim met with North Korea's Vice-Foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who said last week that Pyongyang was "reconsidering" the talks, the daily said.

The two officials know each other well - both were part of their respective delegations that negotiated the 2005 denuclearization agreement through the six-party framework.

The talks are expected to continue on Monday and Tuesday at Tongilgak, or "Unification House," the building in the northern part of the demilitarised zone where Kim Jong Un met Moon on Saturday, The Post reported.
According to the law enforcers, the shell exploded three meters away from the girl and left no chance for survival

A criminal proceeding on the case of the death of a 15-year-old girl in Zalizne, Troitsk region was opened, as the press office of Donetsk Police reports.

It is reported that the grandfather of the dead informed the law enforcers about the tragedy at around 12:30.

A child went out in a yard when the militants opened artillery fire at Zalizne. The shell exploded three meters away from the girl and left no chance for survival. The girl sustained fatal injuries, the message says.

The police investigative group is working at the site. Preliminary, the case was determined under the article of Ukraines Criminal Code on terrorist attacks.

As Ivanna Yashchenko, the Region Police Spokesperson, said in an exclusive commentary for 112 Ukraine, the tragedy happened in front of the grandfather of the dead.

According to Yashchenko, the situation near Toretsk has worsened over the past week.

As we reported earlier, a 15-year-old girl died as a result of militants attacks at a civilian village Zalizne.

Earlier, a man was blown up on an explosive device near Toretsk, he was hospitalized with numerous shrapnel wounds.
Ukraine's state security service, the SBU, took casualties in the combat area in Donbas. As the group of SBU operatives was on a combat mission in Luhansk region, the enemy conducted an artillery attack. Olena Hitlyanska, the spokeswoman of the Ukrainian law wnforcement agency posted this on Facebook.

According to her, Lieutenant Colonel Ruslan Mulyar and Warrant Officer Yuriy Zhuravlyov lost their lives in the attack. One more serviceman was severely wounded.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian militants violated the ceasefire 28 times; specifically, they used mortars to shell the positions of Ukrainian troops.
Today, on May 28, a 15-year-old girl died as a result of militants attacks at a civilian village Zalizne, as the Chairman of Donetsk civil-military administration wrote on his Facebook page.

A 15-year-old girl died in Zalizne village, near Toretsk  Daria, a 9th-grade pupil of the school number 7. A child was in her grandmothers yard when Russian positions launched a large caliber projectile, he wrote.

Vyacheslav Abroskin, First Deputy Head of Ukraines National Police, specified that the child was killed by the pieces of the enemys shell. An investigative group is working at the site.

As it was reported earlier, the militants violated the ceasefire 22 times in Donbas, four of them  from the heavy armament. Two Ukrainian soldiers were injured.

Earlier, a man was blown up on an explosive device near Toretsk, he was hospitalized with numerous shrapnel wounds.
The U.S. envoy for Ukraine affairs disapproved the assumed removal of Vladislav Surkov from the office of President Putin's counselor

Open source

Vladyslav Surkov's assumed removal from the office of presidential counselor of Russian leader Putin, actively discussed in the media, is not something that U.S. envoy in Ukraine Kurt Volker approves. He said this himself as quoted by Krym.Realii outlet.

Volker claimed that the contact with Surkov contributes to the solution of Donbas conflict. 'I saw the message in the press (about possible removal of Surkov, - 112 International), but the Kremlin did not provide any official information on whether he would or would not continue. Surkov is very smart, very professional, a serious contact person... I would be glad to keep on workign with him, if the Kremlin decides so', Volker said.

He added that the decisions that regard the solution of Donbas conflict lies within the authority of Putin. According to Volker, it is 'crucial to work with someone who has direct contact with the Russian leader'.
Governor Eric Greitens issude the respective proclamation in honor of the millions of victims of the greeatest man-made starvation campaign in the 20th century

The government of Missouri state recognized the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine's Embassy in the U.S. reproted that on Monday.

Eric Greitens, the governor, issued the respective proclamation.

'We're grateful for the U.S. people and their solidarity and support of Ukraine in resoting the historical justice in the memory of millions of people who died due to the tyranny of Stalin's regime', the message says.

Holodomor is considered the act of genocide of Ukrainians in eleven U.S. states.

The Great Famine in Ukraine lasted from April 1932 till November 1933. It claimed at least 1.8 million lives. Ukrainian historians assume the actual figure could be from three to ten million of victims.
One day, this country will become great in terms of economy and finances, U.S. leader says

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the American delegation reached North Korea for the talks with Kim Jong-un's government. The respective post appeared on Trump's official Twitter account.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!  Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump May 27, 2018

Previously, the U.S. Department of the State reported that the sides hold talks in the de-militarized zone in the Korean peninsula.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stressed that he completely agreed with the conclusions of the international commission

Open source

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated that he completely agrees with the conclusions of the international commission on Russias involvement to the MH17 plane crash, which was shot down in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

I agree with the estimations of the Netherlands authorities concerning the Malaysian Boeing  Russia has to admit its responsibility, Stoltenberg said delivering a speech at NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Warsaw.

As we reported the investigators from the Netherlands found another confirmation that MH17 plane was shot down from Russian 'Buk' missile system. Particularly, they got fingerprints from the ammunition.

He added that 'the investigations confirmed that the plane was shot down from 'Buk' transferred from Russia to the uncontrolled territory'.

As is known, Boeing 777 of Malaysian Airlines, flight MH17 was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala-Lumpur, when it crashed in the militant-held area of Donetsk region in July 2014. The aircraft carried 298 people; no one survived. Experts found out that the passenger plane was shot down by a missile, fired from Buk, the Russia-made anti-aircraft missile launcher. The weapon was brought to Donbas by pro-Kremlin militants. Moscow has been denying any ties to the disaster.
The Ukrainian reporter may be exchanged for RIA News agency director Kyrylo Vyshynsky, the lawyer says

Open source

The verdict in the case of Ukraine's political prisoner Roman Sushchenko may be announced in June - at least how lawyer Mark Feygin put it. Sushchenko's defender said this in his commentary for 112 Ukraine TV channel.

On May 28, the Moscow city court will hold the session, where Suschenko will turn to the jury with the allocution.

Meanwhile, Sushchenko's lawyer does not rule out the chance that his defendant will be exchanged for RIA News agency director Kyrylo Vyshynsky, charged with state treason in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Roman Sushchenko, the reporter of Ukrinfiorm news agency, was detained in September 2016 in Moscow, and accused by the FSB of espionage. For this he faces 20 years in prison.

Related: Sushchenko had no journalist visa when entering Russia in 2016, - Russian foreign ministry

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that Kyrylo Vyshynsky, a director of RIA Novosti news agency, is now officially suspected of state treason. Olena Hitlyanska, the press secretary of the SBU posted that on Tuesday evening.

'Kyrylo Vyshynsky, the leader of propagandist anti-Ukrainian information portal 'RIA Novosti Ukraine' is announced as a suspect in the crime. He is detained under the Article 208 of Ukraine's Criminal Procedure Code. The criminal case was initiated under the respective article of the Criminal Code (state treason)', Hitlyanska wrote.

As it was reported earlier, the officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has exposed the network of the media entities controlled by the Russian Federation. The law enforcement bodies hold the investigative actions at the office of RIA News-Ukraine.
According to Andrzej Duda, the experience gained over the past two years did not provide any reasons to come back to wider cooperation between NATO and Russia, but it demonstrated the Moscow is not interested in an honest constructive dialogue

Andrzej Duda, the President of Poland, stated that Russia is a major threat to the world. He said it delivering a speech on the last day of NATO Parliamentary session in Warsaw, Polske Radio reports.

As Duda stressed the only thing which can secure the Euro-Atlantic region is strengthening of relations between Europe and North America.

The development of the security policy and the defence cooperation in the EU as well as the development of the cooperation between the EU and the USA, strengthening of the defense capacity of the European states, the increasing of the opportunities of all the North Atlantic Alliance and the USA  all these is really significant for us, he noted.

He said that the biggest threat to the security in Europe and the world is Russia. He recalled the attack on Georgia in 2014, Crimeas occupation and intervention in eastern Ukraine in 2014, stressing that these things show Russias actual intentions.

Recent events proved that the Kremlin allows itself to commit assassinations using chemical weapon on the territory of NATO member states and intervene the democratic processes, Duda reminded.

Polish President is convinced that Russia put in doubt the international order which exists at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries.

I regret to admit that Moscow has not put up with the ruin of the imperial Soviet Union, considering the period of the 1990s, full of hopes for the longstanding peace in Europe only as a strategic break in the confrontation on East-West line, he stated.

Besides, it should be emphasized that the experience gained over the past two years did not provide any reasons to come back to wider cooperation between NATO and Russia, but it demonstrated the Moscow is not interested in an honest constructive dialogue, Duda concluded.
Moscow City Court held a session on this case. The sentence on Sushchenko's case may be announced on June 4

The prosecution asked Moscow City Court to sentence Roman Sushchenko, an illegally detained Ukrainian journalist, to 14 years, as Mark Feygin, his lawyer, wrote on Twitter.

The prosecution asked 14 years of imprisonment for Roman Sushchenko, he informed.

Today, Moscow City Court held a session on this case. According to Feygin, the sentence will be announced on July 4.

Within the debates, the prosecutor stated that he considers the quilt of the accused proved and asked the court to sentence him to 14 years of imprisonment. The defense insisted on Sushchenkos innocence who, according to the lawyer, was a victim of provocations.

In his last plea Sushchenko stated that he did not admit his quilt, he does not agree with the accusations, and that he believes that everything that happened to him was a planned provocation of Russian special service and asks the court to acquit him, Mark Feygin, the lawyer, told Interfax.

The lawyer explained that Sushchenko, who lived in France for six years, being a Ukrinform correspondent in Paris, has visited Russia multiple times, and during the detention he was there for his own reasons, He has relatives in Russia.

Ukrainian Roman Sushchenko, the reporter of Ukrinfiorm news agency, was detained in September 2016 in Moscow, and accused by the FSB of espionage. For this he faces 20 years in prison. Ukraine has appealed to Russia with a demand to release the Ukrainian journalist multiple times.
Open source

The North Atlantic Alliance will continue supporting Georgia and Ukraine, as Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said at the press conference in Warsaw, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

NATO will keep providing political and practical assistance to Georgia and Ukraine, he said.

According to him, Georgia and Ukraine are very valuable and very close NATO partners.

Earlier, we reported that Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz believes that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg can intervene in the situation with Hungary's attempt to block Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.

As it was reported earlier, Hungary imposed a veto at the holding of the Ukraine-NATO commission in Brussels at the foreign ministers level that should take place this week.

Budapest blocks the holding of the Ukraine-NATO commission for the third time, expressing the claimants toward the language article of the Ukrainian law on education.

As we reported the session of the Ukraine-NATO commission that should have taken place on February 14-15 was blocked by Hungary. Hungary claimed about its intention to block the meeting in the mid of January when Peter Szijjarto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary claimed that the blocking will continue until Kyiv fulfills the demands of Hungary toward the education law.
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Today, Armenia and Armenians around the globe are celebrating the centennial anniversary of establishment of the First Republic of Armenia and the historic victory in the Battle of Sardarapat. May 28 is celebrated as Republic Day in the Armenian calendar.

Numerous events and programs such as forums, conferences, cultural and public performances, are expected to take place nationwide. Celebrations will take place in Artsakh as well.

Government officials will pay a visit to the Sardarapat Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes who gave their lives for independence and freedom.

A military parade will also take place in Sardarapat.

The holiday will be wrapped up with a concert in Yerevans Republic Square in the evening.

On May 28, 1918 the Armenian people restored their independence, which was lost nearly 9 centuries earlier, with the triumphant victories in the fierce battles of Karakilisa, Bash Abaran and Sardarapat.

The Battle of Sardarapat shaped the destiny of Armenia. The entire people, who survived the genocide, joined forces and entire families, including women, children and elderly, were fighting alongside soldiers.

With this victory, Armenian troops were able to stop the Turkish invasion to Transcaucasia and saved Armenia from total destruction.

On May 28, after the collapse of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic in Tbilisi, the Armenian National Council declared the Republic of Armenia.

The first Prime Minister of the First Armenian Republic was Hovhannes Kajaznuni, and the last  Simon Vratsyan.

The short-lived First Republic of Armenia was subsequently invaded by the Red Army in 1920 and later the country became part of the USSR.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bridget Brink are in Armenia for the celebrations. Thousands of Armenians have also arrived from the Diaspora.

English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. The United States remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in his congratulatory message on Azerbaijans Republic Day, reports Armenpress.

We remain committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and urge the parties to resume intensive negotiations as soon as possible, the message says.

The Secretary of State noted that since the restoration of Azerbaijans independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has been a valued partner of the United States.

English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian has congratulated Armenians on Republic Day and the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia and the Heroic May battles, the Presidents Office said.

In the address, the president said:

Dear countrymen,

Today, together in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, we celebrate the 100th anniversaries of the First Republic of Armenia and the Heroic May Battles.

100 years ago, our people who saw genocide, and stood on the edge of life and death, restored the independent Armenian statehood with highest effort  declaring the birth of the First Republic of Armenia. Although it was short-lived and faced numerous problems, it was the basis for further development of the countrys economy, education, science and culture, an educated and versed society emerged, which in turn led to new independence and new victories in 1991.

Today we must with special depth realize the significance of Armenian statehood. As a result of the latest changes in Armenia we have the chance of a drastic kickoff, and the requires sufficient human and institutional resources are available. We must unite these efforts, we must act more tactically and flexibly, because breakthrough moments create the chance to soar.

Thus, lets together start shaping the Armenia of tomorrow, by appreciating and developing the Armenia which we have today.

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on Republic Day and the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia and the Heroic Battle of May.

I am wishing you peace, prosperity and optimism.

Long live the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh,

Long live the Diaspora,

Long live the citizens of Armenia.

Today, Armenia and Armenians around the globe are celebrating the centennial anniversary of establishment of the First Republic of Armenia and the historic victory in the Battle of Sardarapat. May 28 is celebrated as Republic Day in the Armenian calendar.

Numerous events and programs such as forums, conferences, cultural and public performances, are expected to take place nationwide. Celebrations will take place in Artsakh as well.

Government officials will pay a visit to the Sardarapat Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes who gave their lives for independence and freedom.

A military parade also takes place in Sardarapat.

The holiday will be wrapped up with a concert in Yerevans Republic Square in the evening.

On May 28, 1918 the Armenian people restored their independence, which was lost nearly 9 centuries earlier, with the triumphant victories in the fierce battles of Karakilisa, Bash Abaran and Sardarapat.

The Battle of Sardarapat shaped the destiny of Armenia. The entire people, who survived the genocide, joined forces and entire families, including women, children and elderly, were fighting alongside soldiers.

With this victory, Armenian troops were able to stop the Turkish invasion to Transcaucasia and saved Armenia from total destruction.

On May 28, after the collapse of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic in Tbilisi, the Armenian National Council declared the Republic of Armenia.

The first Prime Minister of the First Armenian Republic was Hovhannes Kajaznuni, and the last  Simon Vratsyan.

The short-lived First Republic of Armenia was subsequently invaded by the Red Army in 1920 and two years later the country became part of the USSR.

English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Chief Military Inspector Movses Hakobyan considers honor working in the new position, reports Armenpress.

By using this chance I want to congratulate our people on this glorious holiday. This is the beginning of our victories and I think at all times we are obliged to celebrate only victories. As for my position, I want to state that any position that gives you a chance to serve the homeland, is a great honor, Movses Hakobyan told reporters at the Sardarapat Memorial on the occasion of the Republic Day.

At the request of reporters, he also commented on the appointment of Mayor-General Artak Davtyan as new chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. An experienced officer, I think everything will be fine, he said.

The reporters also asked him that the corruption discoveries of the National Security Service may touch also the defense field, whether there are concerns in this sense, Movses Hakobyan said the concerns of reporters are unnecessary. In any case I am not a lawyer, prosecutor or judge, there are law enforcement agencies that will give the assessments, he said.

Movses Hakobyan was serving as chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces since October 3, 2016. On May 24, 2018, he was relieved from this position by the proposal of the Armenian Prime Minister and the decree of the President. On the same day Movses Hakobyan was appointed Chief Military Inspector.

Mayor General Artak Davtyan has been appointed as new chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces.

English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on May 28 received Bridget Brink, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, the foreign ministry told Armenpress.

During the meeting FM Mnatsakanyan said Armenia attaches great importance to the comprehensive cooperation with the US, stating that Armenia plans to further develop the Armenian-American friendly partnership.

In her turn Bridget Brink thanked for the reception and congratulated the Armenian minister on assuming office, as well as addressed wishes on the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia. She expressed readiness to take joint steps with the new Armenian government aimed at deepening the bilateral relations.

The sides agreed that the high-ranking visits provide a good opportunity to discuss the agenda issues of the relations between the two countries, the joint steps aimed at further intensifying and deepening the mutual partnership.

During the meeting the officials exchanged views on expanding the bilateral political dialogue, further boosting the commercial ties. In this context they in particularly highlighted the effective activity of the Armenian-American Council on Trade and Investments and the Armenian-American inter-governmental commission.

The meeting agenda also covered a number of international and regional issues.

The Armenian FM attached importance to the US efforts, together with Russia and France as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, aimed at peacefully settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and reaffirmed Armenias commitment to exclusively peaceful settlement of the NK conflict. In this context both officials highlighted the need to create and strengthen an atmosphere of peace.

English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready to create the most favorable conditions for French businessmen aimed at attracting new investments in the country, Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said during a joint press conference with French minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in Yerevan on May 28, reports Armenpress.

The Armenian FM said the sides are committed to make efforts to raise the commercial ties to the level of political relations.

The French businessmen made significant investments in Armenias economy, and we ready to create the most favorable conditions for new investors in order to see more tangible results. We believe that there are preconditions for that, but seeing, continue working, rather than talking about them is important. We think it will have an applicable expression soon, the Armenian FM said.

In the context of deepening the economic partnership, FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan attached importance to the signing of the agreement on establishment and activity of Proparco company and the French Development Agency in Armenia.

French minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Armenia on May 28. He is scheduled to meet with President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. MP of the Yelk faction of the Armenian Parliament Sasun Mikayelyan denies the rumors on his appointment as Governor of Kotayk Province, reports Armenpress.

He told reporters at the Sardarapat Memorial that he will remain in the Parliament.

Asked whether he has been proposed to assume the post of the Kotayk Governor, MP Mikayelyan gave a negative answer, and asked whether he is ready to take that office in case of offer, he stated: I am ready to stay in the Parliament.

Commenting on the question what attracts him in the Parliament, the lawmaker said: Its not a matter of attraction, there are just works that need to be done. I want that we can properly hold the upcoming snap elections.

As for the possibility for holding snap parliamentary elections, the lawmaker said the snap elections should be definitely held. Commenting on the view according to which the head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction Vahram Baghdasaryan announced that the RPA is preparing for the 2022 regular elections, Sasun Mikayelyan said: Im Sasun Mikayelyan and announce that snap elections should be held this year, and they can prepare for the 2020 elections.

As a result of the April-May domestic political processes, campaigns, civil disobedience acts in Armenia, the minority Yelk faction of the Parliament formed a government by giving several ministerial mandates to the Prosperous Armenia party and the ARF. The RPA is still a majority in the Parliament. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan aims at holding snap parliamentary elections before the end of 2018. Before being elected as PM and after that, Pashinyan has repeatedly stated that holding fair and transparent snap parliamentary elections is one of their priorities. The RPA considers inappropriate to hold snap elections.

English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 28 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 28 May, USD exchange rate stood at 482.76 drams. EUR exchange rate stood at 565.36 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.81 drams. GBP exchange rate stood at 644.63 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price stood at 20252.7 drams. Silver price stood at 256.25 drams. Platinum price stood at 14108.67 drams.
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia attaches great importance to the opening of the National Center of Armenian Memory in Paris as well as to the initiative of establishing a French cultural Centre in Yerevan on the basis of Charles Aznavour Centre, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan announced after meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Yerevan.

ARMENPRESS presents the full text of FM Mnatsakanyans speech.

Dear colleague,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am glad to welcome my French counterpart, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his delegation, who arrived in Armenia on an official visit. It is worth noting, that Mr. Le Drian is the first Foreign Minister to visit Armenia after the internal political developments and formation of the new government. The visit of Mr. Le Drian is also symbolic as it happens when Armenians all over the world celebrate the centennial of establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.

The programme of Minister Li Drian's visit is quite rich, since prior to the press conference he has already visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, as well as made an entry in the commemorative book of honourable guests. Then, together, we visited the Memorial of Musa Ler. The salvation of Musaler Armenians is also one of the important manifestations of the Armenian-French friendship.

To tell the truth, that visit to Musaler was really a very emotional moment, and I think, that together we have had quite an interesting experience of sharing that emotional moment.

Later, the Minister will meet with President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Today, we can undoubtedly state that the privileged relations between Armenia and France are anchored in the traditional friendship and mutual support of the Armenian and French peoples.

Since independence, we have always felt the support and friendship of France and can proudly state that the privileged relations between Armenia and France are at a high level, and the constant political dialogue, regular state visits at the level of heads of states, deep cooperative ties in different spheres, close collaboration in international structures, and, of course, the existence of a vibrant French-Armenian community attest to it.

We have had a very fruitful discussion with my counterpart on many issues of our bilateral agenda, on cooperation in various international formats, and touched upon the expansion of the legal framework.

The agenda of our meeting included the upcoming state visit of President Macron to Armenia this fall.

We have also held a detailed discussion on our bilateral trade and economic relations, and in that context, we have acknowledged with my colleague that despite of the existing achievements, our cooperation in this sphere, having more potential and development prospects, nevertheless is still inferior to the level of political relations. We exchanged thoughts on joint steps aimed at giving  fresh momentum to bilateral trade and economic ties. French companies have made significant investments in the economy of Armenia and we are ready to create the most favourable conditions for new French investors.

We really paid quite much attention to these issues. It is our common interest to see much more tangible results on Armenian-French trade, economic and investment cooperation. I think, there are prerequisites for it. But, naturally, I will not get ahead of it. What is important is instead of speaking about them, rather see and immediately benefit from them. We think that soon that will have its substantial and practical expression.

I am pleased to note that today we have already signed an agreement on establishment and operation of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Investment and Promotion Company for Economic Cooperation (Proparco) in Armenia.

We talked about such key components of our relations as decentralized cooperation, educational and cultural ties, as well as joint programmes and initiatives in these areas.

Armenia attaches great importance to the opening of the National Center of Armenian Memory in Paris as well as to the initiative of establishing a French cultural Centre in Yerevan on the basis of Charles Aznavour Centre.

It is encouraging that the Armenian TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies has become a source of inspiration, and that there are plans to establish a similar centre in Paris, which in the future will become one of the bridges strengthening our friendship.

Various joint projects in tourism, agriculture, education, culture, healthcare and other spheres are being implemented each year within the frameworks of about seven dozens of mutual cooperation agreements signed between the cities and regions of Armenia and France.

Both Armenia and France are proud of the French University of Armenia, one of the most successful examples of our close cooperation in the field of education, the university which is in highest demand in Armenian education system. One of my sons is also a graduate of this high-ranking university. I am a parent, so to say, who confirm the fact. It is very important that the educational institution is expanding: this year already it is planned to open/establish a new faculty.

Speaking more extensively about new cooperation in the educational field, I am very glad about the fact that we mutually recognize the substantial potential of Armenia for a quite tangible and strong cooperation in the field of education. We have potential, we have quite an interesting examples of creative education to fulfill and direct this institutional and creative education: that is, a quite strong positions of the French University in our educational system, as well as our capability to pass our experience.

Our attention was focused on the preparations for the Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie to be held in Yerevan in October. In this context, we have reiterated the commitment of Armenia to properly organize and hold this important event, as well as reaffirmed the highest level participation of the French side and active engagement in the works of the summit.

We exchanged views on the Armenia-EU cooperation, the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and the emerging new perspectives for Armenian-French cooperation in this format. Naturally, this is one of the important questions of our mutual agenda as well.

The Nagorno-Karabakh issue has been touched upon in the course of our meeting. Armenia values the joint efforts exerted by France together with other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries - Russia and the United States, aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context, we reaffirm Armenia's commitment to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We agreed with my colleague that for the success of the process it is crucial to have an environment conducive to peace.

We had a detailed exchange of thoughts with regards the developments over the Iranian nuclear programme and resolution of the Syrian crisis.

Before turning the floor to my colleague, I would like to congratulate all of us on the occasion of the Republic Day. A century ago, thanks to the unity and unwavering spirit of the Armenian people, the centuries-old cherished desire of the Armenian people to restore the independent statehood became a reality - the Armenian statehood, based on the values of democracy.

I really would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of us. This symbolic fact that the Foreign Minister of our friendly country and nation is in Armenia this very day is very important. I want to thank You once again, Minster, and to give the floor to You.

English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on May 28. Welcoming the guest in Armenia whom he had met in Tbilisi 2 days ago, the Armenian President noted that this visit on the day of the 100th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic symbolizes the imperishable nature of Armenian-French relations and the continuation of the policy of close cooperation.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents office, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian conveyed the greetings and warm wishes of French President Emmanuel Macron, who will pay a state visit to Armenia in October, to President Armen Sarkissian. The French Minister highly assessed the peaceful process of the fundamental changes in Armenia and the balancing role of the President in that. He assured that under the light of the current complicated international situation France always stands and will stand with Armenia.

Expressing satisfaction over the dynamically developing Armenian-French cooperation in all the spheres, the interlocutors referred to the organization process of the La Francophonie summit to be held in Yerevan in autumn, highlighting the economic forum that will be held in the sidelines of the summit.

During the meeting the role of Armenia a s a bridge between the EU and EAEU was highlighted.

The Armenian President and the French FM exchanged ideas over the negotiation process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia received French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on May 28.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the PM highly assessed the current level of Armenian-French relations and underlined the fact of the existence of warm relations between the two countries. PM Pashinyan noted that its a great honor for him to host French President Emmanuel Macron in Yerevan in autumn, who will pay a state visit to Armenia and will participate in the 17th summit of La Francophonie. The PM added that the preparatory works of that key event are in the focus of his attention. I am confident that the existing dialogue between our two states, including between our governments, parliaments and local self government bodies, will be preserved with the same intensity. The involvement of French business s in Armenia is below the desired level. Today there are all the preconditions to bring up trade and economic relations to the level of political relations, Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Head of the Executive expressed gratitude to France for fostering the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The PM highly assessed the role of France as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair country in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement negotiations. Nikol Pashinyan reassured the readiness of Armenia to continue with the negotiation process in a constructive atmosphere.

Jean-Yves Le Drian congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of being elected Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as on the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia. Armenian French friendship has a history dating back centuries ago. France is ready to continue its support to Armenia and the Armenian people. Our country will always stand with you and Emmanuel Macron will reaffirm this personally during his Armenia visit, the French FM said.

He expressed confidence that the La Francophonie summit in Armenia will be held at a high level and highlighted the importance of the economic forum to be held in the sidelines of the summit. Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed conviction that the improvement of the business environment in Armenia will give new impetus to the economic partnership of the two states. Referring to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, he underlines that France comprehends the degree of its responsibility in the sidelines of the OSCE Misnk Group Co-chairmanship. The French FM underlined that Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be settled exclusively through peaceful methods, adding that any violence of use of force cannot be observed as a way of settlement.

Nikol Pashinyan and Jean-Yves Le Drian highlighted the development of Armenia EU cooperation and the soon ratification of the CEPA by EU Member States.

The interlocutors expressed satisfaction over the bilateral cooperation in education, culture. They also spoke about holding new elections in Armenia and making amendments in the Electoral code.

English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
The federal health minister insists Australia should meet the higher than expected demand for flu vaccines.

An extra 800,000 influenza vaccines have been secured and are expected to be available in June and July, before the peak period for the spread of the flu this year.

The federal government has ordered the additional doses to help keep up with unprecedented demand.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said orders from the states were up significantly for this season but the public demand has been even greater.

Last year 8.3 million Australians were vaccinated and it has increased to almost 10 million already in 2018.

An extra 800,000 influenza vaccines have been secured and are expected to be available in June. Source: AAP

With the extra 800,000, the advice for the chief medical officer is that we are expecting to meet all of the demand under the national immunisation program, he told ABC TV on Sunday.

Mr Hunt said Victoria asked for 1.2 million vaccinations and had received 1.3 million.

He also noted advice that this years flu season was not expected to be as severe as last year.

Australias acting chief medical officer Anthony Hobbs has said more vaccines would be ordered if necessary.

Well continue to work very closely with the chief health officers of each state and territory to ensure that the vaccine gets to those most in need, he said.
A Malian migrant who scaled a Paris apartment block to save a four-year-old child was hailed Monday as an "example" by President Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed him to the presidential palace and offered him citizenship. Two days after his daring rescue -- viewed millions of times online -- Mamoudou Gassama, nicknamed "Spiderman" by French media for his astonishing climbing ability, met Macron in the splendour of the Elysee Palace. "You have become an example because millions of people have seen you. It is only right that the nation be grateful," Macron told the 22-year-old, adding that his immigration status would be "put in order". However several aid groups accused the president of "political exploitation", "hypocrisy" and covering up a harsh policy towards migrants. Macron, who presented him with a medal for bravery, also offered him a job with the fire service. "I did not think twice. I went straight up," said the sporty youth, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt to the encounter, explaining his climb. Gassama was also congratulated by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who phoned him at the Paris embassy to congratulate him "for honouring all of Mali," the embassy said. His act of heroism comes as lawmakers debate a controversial bill that would speed up the deportation of economic migrants and failed asylum-seekers, thousands of whom live in squalid camps in the capital. "There's a general feeling of shameful political exploitation," said Jean-Claude Mas, secretary general of La Cimade, which defends migrants. "It raises a lot of questions when you know what this government is doing." "There's a bit of hypocrisy or cynicism," added Claire Rodier of GISTI which supports immigrants, noting "the contrast with the repressive policy of this government against migrants and those without documents." Gassama has been living illegally in France and working in construction since arriving in September last year following a perilous journey from his homeland to Libya then Italy. Macron, a centrist, has taken a tough line on economic migrants fleeing poverty rather than refugees escaping war or persecution. But Gassama's "exceptional act of heroism" warranted an "exceptional decision", he said Monday. He leapt into action Saturday evening on seeing the child dangling from the fourth-storey balcony of an apartment in the 18th district. The video shows Gassama swiftly pulling himself up from balcony to balcony to reach the boy, to the cheers of onlookers. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child, whose parents were not at home, had already been rescued. A shy figure who was accompanied to the Elysee Palace by his older brother, Gassama said he had acted instinctively. - 'Incredibly brave act' - "I saved the child and then went inside the building and I was shaking," he told Macron. Reacting to his awards he said later: "I'm pleased because it's the first time I've received a trophy like that." Gassama's story instantly drew comparisons with that of another Malian migrant who was feted as a hero and given citizenship for helping save lives during a January 2015 terror attack. Lassana Bathily helped hide hostages in the freezer during a jihadist attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris, in which four people were killed. Confirming to Gassama his French citizenship, Macron said: "Even if you did not think about what you were doing it was an act of courage and strength that won the admiration of all." But in a warning to other African migrants he said he "can not give (papers) to all those who come from Mali or Burkina Faso" -- two of the countries from where thousands set out each year for Europe on a perilous journey across the desert and Mediterranean Sea. Across the political class Gassama received plaudits. But a senior member of the anti-immigration National Front, Nicolas Bay, said that while he supported Gassama becoming French all other illegal migrants should be deported. - Dreams of a better life - Passers-by raised the alarm Saturday on noticing the little boy hanging in mid-air. "Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a fire service spokesman said. The boy's father, who was reportedly out shopping, was arrested for leaving him unattended. His mother was abroad. The Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, was among the politicians lining up to phone Gassama to thank him. "He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here," she said. On Monday, he was made an honorary citizen of the eastern suburb of Montreuil, where he had been sleeping on the floor in a cramped room shared with relatives at a migrant hostel. The fire department said it looked forward to him joining the ranks. "We are ready to welcome him on board!" it said. burs-cb/bp/gd President Emmanuel Macron offered Mamoudou Gassama French citizenship for his act of bravery Video footage shows Gassama swiftly pulling himself up from balcony to balcony to reach the four-year-old boy Mamoudou Gassama received a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech
Anti-establishment leader Luigi Di Maio made a move Wednesday to resurrect a populist coalition that collapsed at the weekend by offering the president a compromise over a controversial pick for economy minister. Di Maio, head of the Five Star Movement, said that he was prepared to remove staunch eurosceptic Paolo Savona from his proposed economy ministry post as an olive branch to President Sergio Mattarella, whose rejection of the respected 81-year-old financier caused Five Star's coalition with the nationalist League to fall apart. "Let's find someone of the same character and freedom as the excellent Savona, and professor Savona remains in the cabinet, in another role as minister," Di Maio said in a video on Facebook. On Monday Mattarella gave ex-IMF economist Carlo Cottarelli a mandate to become caretaker PM, but he has stalled on announcing his own cabinet, with the presidency saying on Wednesday that they were assessing Di Maio's offer with "great interest". Di Maio's move has also thrown down the gauntlet to League leader Matteo Salvini, Savona's biggest advocate and fellow strong eurosceptic. "It doesn't depend on us but on the other political force that drafted the contract (joint government programme presented earlier in May) with us. This is a great opportunity," Di Maio added. The League has so far insisted on new elections as the party's polling ratings soar, but on Wednesday evening news agency AGI reported Salvini as saying that he would discuss the issue with Di Maio. Di Maio's proposal comes amid political turmoil nearly three months after an inconclusive election, which has raised concerns about the stability of the eurozone. The uncertainty prompted Moody's to place a dozen Italian banks on negative ratings watch Wednesday, including Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and Mediobanca, having already Friday placed Italy's Baa2 rating on review for a possible downgrade over its political crisis. Fuel giant Eni, postal service Poste Italiane, public TV network RAI and gas companies Snam and Itaglas were also put under surveillance by Moody's. Cottarelli, a former IMF economist, left the presidential palace on Wednesday without making a statement after informal talks with Mattarella, not long after Di Maio ended his own brief meeting with the head of state. - Parliamentary anger - Mattarella's veto of Savona and subsequent nomination of Cottarelli as caretaker prime minister angered lawmakers, most of whom had been ready to back the eurosceptic as economy minister. There is almost no chance of his formation gaining parliamentary approval now that Five Star -- the largest single party in Italy's hung parliament -- have confirmed that they like the League will vote against. In the meantime factions in both houses had been trying to reach agreement over how long Cottarelli's caretaker mandate would last before new elections are held, with officials from the centre-left Democratic Party calling for the country to go to the polls as early as July. That could only happen if the parliament was dissolved before Friday. A more likely scenario is new elections in early October, should Di Maio and Salvini not agree on moving Savona to another ministry. So far Salvini has made no secret of his hostility to trying again with Mattarella before fresh elections. "I spent weeks in Rome trying to form a government. It was a futile effort," he retorted while campaigning in Pisa on Tuesday. Instead, he said he would be ready for new elections "as soon as possible," while rejecting the idea of holding them in July. Salvini's anti-euro, anti-immigrant party has risen in opinion polls in recent days. Central to the party's agenda is reform of the EU, spooking markets worldwide and caused a flurry of reaction in Brussels. - Anti-EU uproar - On Tuesday, European Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said he hoped Italy's poor economic situation would keep populist parties out of government. "I can only hope that this will play a role in the election campaign.. sending a signal to voters not to hand power to populists on the right and left," he told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. His comments caused uproar in Italy, prompting European officials to scramble to calm anger at the perceived meddling by Brussels. Financial markets have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past few days, but Milan stocks closed up 2.09 percent on Wednesday, and the bond market strengthened slightly. But investor doubts over Italy's financial stability were far from eased, with the country struggling under a debt mountain of 2.3 trillion euros. Central bank chief Ignazio Visco had on Tuesday warned about the impact of the turmoil. "We are only ever a few steps away from the very serious risk of losing the irreplaceable asset of trust." Carlo Cottarelli is charged with forming a caretaker government but populists have vowed to block it Since 1948, Italy has had no less than 61 governments
The door of the blue bus slides open and dozens of children excitedly bound up the steps, eager to get their hands on hard-to-find books in Kabul's first mobile library. Named Charmaghz -- the Dari for walnut, which is associated with logic in Afghanistan because the nut resembles a brain -- the converted public bus is hard to miss as it winds through the dusty streets of the Afghan capital. The library-on-wheels offers pupils and street kids free access to children's books, which are in short supply at public schools and libraries. It also offers one of the few spaces outside the home that children can use in a city where fear is increasingly keeping residents behind closed doors. As both the Taliban and the Islamic State group step up their attacks in Kabul, with civilians paying the price, many parents -- traumatised by the violence, some of them already devastated by loss -- have stopped taking their children out in public. Charmaghz, used by as many as 300 children every day, is a rare exception. The vehicle, which is rented from a state-owned bus company and takes precautions to avoid government buildings, main roads or other crowded areas targeted by militants in Kabul, is a relatively secure place for them to read, play chess and see friends. "Boys, you sit in the back and girls in the front. It is important to be organised," one of three volunteers tells the children as he pulls books from an overhead shelf and places them in outstretched hands. Unlike traditional libraries where chatting is discouraged, the constant hum of voices fills Charmaghz. Children sit cross-legged on the carpeted floor or at desks reading aloud from some of the 600 books that have been donated by Afghan publishers. "I come to the bus once a week to read books," 13-year-old Zahra told AFP. "Today I'm reading about how to improve your health. I'm reading what I should do and what I should eat." "When I go home I share the stories I read here with my brothers and sisters." - Book shortage - The library bus was launched in February by Oxford University graduate Freshta Karim, who has dedicated herself to improving the reading and storytelling abilities of children in Afghanistan -- an opportunity she never had as a child. Karim grew up a refugee in Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan after the fall of Taliban in 2002. She completed her undergraduate degree in Kabul before winning a Chevening scholarship to study a master's in public policy at Oxford. "When we were children we did not have access to... libraries for children," Karim, 26, told AFP. "I remember as a kid at school we didn't even have chairs -- we were sitting on the floor to study." The library bus stops at schools, parks or orphanages throughout the week, and is an "efficient" way to reach lots of children, Karim said, helping to improve Afghanistan's low general rate of literacy of just 36 percent. Even now most public schools in Afghanistan do not have libraries, said Shafiullah, who used to work at Kabul's main public library and now helps non-profit organisations publish children's books. "Young people and children do not have access to different types of books except their school textbooks," Shafiullah, who like many Afghans goes by one name, told AFP. "And there are only a few non-governmental organisations that sometimes help publish books for children." The time many children spend at schools in Afghanistan is limited. Afghans receive an average of 4.6 years of formal education, according to a 2017 survey by the Asia Foundation. - Broadening horizons - Inside Charmaghz, 15-year-old Abbas reads to his friends the tragic story of Rostam, a hero in Persian mythology, and his son Sohrab. Abbas said the library bus had given him access to books he could not find at his school. "At school you have a limited choice. You don't have a lot of books. But here you can find a whole range," he told AFP. More than eight million children are enrolled in schools across Afghanistan this year, official figures show. But 3.5 million other school-age kids will miss out due to school closures, grinding conflict and poverty. Karim is realistic about the changes to literacy the mobile library can achieve in a country the size of Afghanistan. But it is a start, said Karim, who is hoping to garner enough donations to rent another two buses. "I don't think a mobile library will solve the thousands of problems that we have in our education system," she said. "But a mobile library is a small effort among a lot of efforts that we have to make." Afghan children read books in a mobile library on a converted bus in Kabul The library-on-wheels offers pupils and street kids free access to children's books, which are in short supply at public schools and libraries in Afghanistan The vehicle is a relatively secure place for the children to read, play chess and see friends The library bus stops at schools, parks or orphanages throughout the week More than eight million children are enrolled in schools across Afghanistan but 3.5 million other school-age kids are missing out due to school closures, grinding conflict and poverty Children read from some of the 600 books that have been donated by Afghan publishers
An American Airlines passenger has been arrested after allegedly unleashing an abusive tirade at a flight attendant before swinging punches at another traveller.

Jason Felix is said to have become aggressive on board flight 1293 from St Croix to Miami last Wednesday after he was refused any more alcohol by crew members, the Washington Post reported.

Footage from the flight shows the passenger shouting at the flight attendant before directing an elbow in the direction of the male employee.

Felix can be seen arguing with flight attendants repeatedly after being refused anymore drink on the flight. Source: YouTube/ Bill Bolduc

Another video of Felix from onboard the flight shows him allegedly grappling with a male passenger after a flight attendant rebuffs his request for more drink and tells him to sit down. According to FBI documents, cited by the Washington Post, the men appeared to be hitting each other.

Felix allegedly spat blood on the passenger and threatened to kill the same passenger in a separate incident, US television station WPLG reported.

Other passengers attempted to calm Felix down, before he began shouting: I know my rights  That man is going to lose his job.

Felix was eventually escorted from the plane by four police officers on arrival in Miami.

Footage shows Felix grappling with another passenger, with the FBI saying the pair appeared to be exchanging blows. Source: YouTube/ Bill Bolduc

He is facing charges of interfering with a flight crew, which can carry up to a 20-year sentence, according to the Washington Post.

American Airlines said in a statement to Yahoo7 News they were grateful for their employees actions during the altercation.

On Wednesday, May 23, requested law enforcement meet flight 1293 from St. Croix to Miami due to a disruptive passenger, the airline said.

We thank our crew for taking care of our customers and are proud of the work they do every single day.
As the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 comes to an end, the sister of the doomed flights pilot has spoken out about rumours he was having an affair at the time.

Sakinab Shah has dismissed suggestions that her brother Zaharie Shah deliberately ditched the plane, killing himself and all 238 others on board, in a dramatic suicide mission.

The suicide theory has been attributed in part to allegations that the pilot was having an affair with a married staffer from Anwar Ibrahims Peoples Justice Party, or PKR, but the relationship had ended just months before MH370 went missing on March 8, 2014.

Some aviation experts believe Zahadie Shah carefully planned a murder-suicide mission. Source: Huffpost UK

The mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished in March 2014, remains.

Ms Shah told The Weekend Australian that her brother and his wife, Faizah, had normal marital problems and admitted her pilot brother, 56, was naughty.

A lot of times I gave him a telling-off about this, she said, referring to his many female friends.

It was never anything serious. Being a pilot, life is a lot of fun.

He was naughty, I admit that, but at the end of the day he always went home. He took care of his wife.

Ms Shahs comments came as the Malaysian government announced it was calling off the search after a 90-day search deal with US underwater search company Ocean Infinity failed to find the missing plane.

The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been called off. Source: AAP

Aviation experts have claimed that the only plausible cause for search teams not being able to find the planes wreckage is the result of a controlled ditching of the plane.

While Malaysian authorities have ruled out a deliberate hijacking of the plane, other aviation analysts believe the pilot depressurised the cabin to kill passengers on board before sinking the plane to minimise surface debris.

But Ms Shah claims such speculation is preposterous, saying: He loved life, this guy.

The search for MH370 has so far cost the Australian, Chinese and Malaysian governments more than $200 million.
Bunnings Warehouse staff were allegedly threatened after confronting a man who had attempted to steal from a store on Sunday.

Two men and a woman entered the shop on Dalton Drive at Maroochydore at about 8.30am, where it is alleged one man concealed an axe, and the other man concealed a radio and tried to leave without paying.

Staff confronted one of them as he was leaving and he handed over the radio, police allege.

The other man was challenged about the property by staff after he returned to a vehicle in the car park, when he allegedly threatened both male employees and produced the axe.

On Monday police released images of three people who may be able to help with investigations into the robbery.

Police have released images of three people who may be able to assist with investigations into a robbery on the Sunshine Coast. Source: Queensland Police

The trio left the car park in a blue Holden Commodore sedan bearing stolen Queensland registration plates 542-XTU, authorities said.

Police said at about 9.35am on Sunday officers tried to intercept the vehicle at Alexandra Headlands.

Authorities said the trio left the carpark in a blue sedan bearing the stolen registration plates 542-XTU. Source: Queensland Police.

The vehicle had been parked at the time before driving off at speed and leaving one of the males behind.

Authorities said a man and a woman fled in the car.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The New Zealand couple who discovered a crying toddler outside their pub, while the childs mother played the pokies inside have been hailed heroes after taking a drastic measure to ensure it would never happen again.

Glen Dick and Lana Turnbull vowed to remove all seven poker machines from the Rawene Masonic Hotel after making the disturbing discovery over the weekend.

Mr Dick told Yahoo7 News the incident was the final straw and that he and his partner would not have been able to sleep at night knowing an infant could be put in such danger again.

I take the capsule inside and ask this young girl if this baby is hers and she replied with Yes, but my car isnt here, Mr Dick recalled.

I couldnt believe her response, she said ohh but I still have money in the machine, I just pushed the collect button and said no you dont, take your child and leave.

Glen Dick found the toddler crying outside his pub in Northland, north of Auckland. Source: Google Maps

After some not so nice words the hotelier sent the young mother on her way and made the decision then and there that he would no longer run a gaming venue.

After sharing his story, thousands of social media users praised Mr Dick for not choosing profit over moral values.

Well done on taking a moral stand when the easy option would have been to keep the pokies there and continue getting revenue off them, one Facebook user wrote.

They may have just saved this babys life from been taken (sic), one woman wrote.

You are heroes to your community, well done, a personal sacrifice of real cost to you for the betterment of where you live, another added.

What a fabulous decision. I just wish some of our local hotels here in Australia would take the same stance, another said..

Glen Dick and his partner Lana Marie Turnbull say they are happy to see the back of their seven pokies machines. Source: Supplied

Others however suggested the young mother may have benefited from further discussion about what had taken place.

Great that the gaming machines are going perhaps a little more compassion for this girls addiction cup of coffee and chat about baby care, one woman wrote.

Good on you! But you should have called the police/community services also. God only knows what sort of life that child will have, another added.

Thumbs up for the landlord and his conscious decision to do this Id report her to police for child endangerment as well, another said.

If you or someone you know is being affected by gambling addiction, help is available on 1800 858 858 or at Gambling Help Online.
An ex-Sierra Leone militia leader was Monday to walk free after serving a 15-year sentence, the first to complete a term imposed for crimes in the country's civil war, a UN court said. The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone "has reached a significant milestone, with the discharge later today of the first person convicted of war crimes to complete his full sentence," it said. Moinina Fofana was the leader of a notorious paramilitary unit that shot, hacked and burned to death civilians suspected of collaborating with rebels during the 1991-2002 conflict in the West African state. More than 120,000 people died, and thousands of civilians lost limbs, in an orgy of violence financed largely by blood diamonds. Fofana was convicted of war crimes in 2007 after a three-year trial at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone and jailed for six years. His term was then increased to 15 years in 2008 on appeal. He was granted conditional release in 2015 after serving two-thirds of his sentence at Mpanga Prison in Kigali, Rwanda. But he was taken back into custody a year later in the capital of Freetown for breaching his agreement to "conduct himself honourably and peacefully in the community" and avoid local politics, the court said. He served the rest of his term in the southern city of Bo in Sierra Leone. Fofana ends "his sentence at midnight on Monday," the court said in a statement. Seven other people sentenced by the court are still behind bars, serving jail terms of between 20 to 52 years. The Special Court for Sierra Leone, based in The Hague, and its successor were established by the UN in 2002 to try those who bore "the greatest responsibility" for the atrocities committed during the civil war. Its most notorious defendant was former Liberian president Charles Taylor, now serving 50 years in a British jail for his role in fuelling the civil conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone. Taylor was the first former head of state to be jailed by an international court since the Nazi trials at Nuremberg in Germany after World War II. He was convicted in 2012 on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity over acts committed by Sierra Leone rebels he aided and abetted during the war. Moinina Fofana, left, dressed in white, pictured on trial in 2004 alongside Sam Hinga Norman. Fofana was to be released on Monday after serving a 15-year term. Norman died in 2007 while awaiting the outcome of his case
Six critically endangered black rhinos were en route from South Africa to Chad on Thursday in a pioneering project to re-introduce the animals to a country where they were wiped out by poaching nearly 50 years ago. The wild black rhinos were loaded onto a plane at Port Elizabeth airport on the South African coast in a 3,000-mile (4,800-kilometre) journey to Chad's Zakouma National Park. After the translocation, which took two years of planning, the rhinos will be released into small enclosures before being allowed to roam freely through the vast park. Security has been strengthened at Zakouma, in the south of Chad, with officials saying that poaching has been "practically eliminated" thanks to African Parks, an international conservation group. "All too often, headlines on rhinos are about their demise as they teeter on the brink of extinction," said African Parks chief Peter Fearnhead. "However, today we are participating in an historic event and peering into a brighter future for this species which has persisted on this planet for millions of years." The four females and two males were taken by road from the Addo park in South Africa to the airport in special ventilated crates that were loaded into the plane by a crane. Teams of vets monitored the animals' stress levels. - 'Truly hopeful story' - Fernhead said the project was a "truly hopeful story for rhinos across Africa", and that it would encourage population growth and boost biodiversity in Chad. Fewer than 25,000 rhinos, of which just 5,000 are black rhinos, remain in the wild in Africa due to a surge in poaching. Black rhinos are rated as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rhinos are targeted to feed a booming demand for rhino horn in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries, where it is believed to have medicinal qualities. Northern white rhinos disappeared from Chad several decades ago and the last western black rhino was recorded there in 1972, after decades of poaching pushed both subspecies to local extinction. African Parks assumed management of Zakouma in 2010 and secured the park from poaching, allowing wild animals to thrive. The park has a dedicated rhino ranger unit to ensure the animals will be protected, as well as a well-equipped law enforcement team and aerial surveillance. "It is a mark of the strength of our partnership with African Parks and the transformation of Zakouma in to a secure sanctuary that we are now able to bring rhinos back," said Chad's ambassador to South Africa Youssouf Mahamat Itno. African Parks reintroduced rhinos to Rwanda in 2017. One of the six black rhinos waiting to be transported to Chad's Zakouma National Park, pictured at the Addo Elephants National Park in South Africa on May 1, 2018 Fewer than 25,000 rhinos, of which just 5,000 are black rhinos, remain in the wild in Africa due to poaching
The man who scaled a building to rescue a child dangling from a balcony has been offered citizenship.

France has offered citizenship to the illegal immigrant from Mali after he scaled the facade of a Paris apartment block to save a boy who was about to fall from a fourth-floor balcony, President Emmanuel Macron said.

Video shows Mamoudou Gassama, 22, risking his life on Sunday (local time) as he climbed up the balconies to rescue the four-year-old who is clinging to a railing and glancing at the ground below, while horrified onlookers watch on.

The video went viral and Mr Gassama, who has been nicknamed Spider-Man for reaching the boy in the nick of time, was swiftly granted a meeting at the Elysee Palace.

Mamoudou Gassama met with Emmanuel Macron on Monday, who promised him he would be granted French citizenship. Source: Reuters

I did it because it was a child, French newspaper Le Parisien quoted Mr Gassama as saying.

I climbed  Thank God I saved him.

Mr Macron congratulated Mr Gassama for an exceptional act and said France would give him a job in the emergency services.

Well obviously be setting all your papers straight and if you wish it, we will start the process of naturalisation so that you can become French, the president added.

Ministers said the citizenship process would be sped up, although Mr Gassama cannot legally be granted it right away.

Mr Gassamas bravery was recognised in a meeting with the French president. Source: Reuters

As elsewhere in Europe, immigration from Africa and the Middle East has fixated French public opinion in the last few years, fuelling the rise of far-right parties such as the National Front.

Mr Macron, who had been criticised by left-wing voters for taking a tougher stance on immigration since his election, may also have sought to send a message to Socialist voters by signalling a more welcoming attitude to a deserving migrant.

Mr Gassama told Mr Macron he tried to cross the Mediterranean in March 2014 to reach Italy, but was caught by police.

Europe has faced a migrant crisis since 2015 following wars in Libya and Syria and more than 1 million people from Africa and the Middle East have tried to reach the continent via Turkey or by sea.

Story continues

The 22-year-old sprung into action to save the life of the dangling four-year-old boy. Source: Facebook/ Habib Bibou

Mr Macrons government has said it wants to be both firm and fair on immigration but it took a tougher stance lately, with parliament approving a bill that tightens asylum rules.

What you have done corresponds with what firefighters do. If this fits your wishes, you could join the firefighters corps so that you can do (such acts) on a daily basis, he said.

Adam Thiam, a Malian analyst and former presidential adviser, told Reuters Mr Gassamas act had been praised in his home country.

Mr Gassama managed to pull the child to safety in front of a gathering crowd. Source: Facebook/ Habib Bibou

There is great pride here in Mali, Mr Thiam said.

But while (Gassama) gets the honours, there are Malian citizens under the threat of being expelled by the French government.

Mr Gassama told Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo by phone on Sunday he arrived from Mali a few months ago and wished to stay in France.

I replied that his heroic gesture was an example for all citizens and that the City of Paris will obviously be keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France, Ms Hidalgo said.

The boys father was arrested and told police he had left his son alone to go shopping and returned home later than planned because he was playing Pokemon Go, an enhanced reality game, on his smartphone.

His behaviour constitutes an offence, failing to honour parental responsibilities, which carries a possible sentence of two years in jail, French prosecutor Francois Molins said.

Mr Gassama is being offered a spell of community service work at the Paris emergency services. An official website says the work pays about 480 euros ($558) a month for a fixed 11-month period.
A site for a controversial art installation and memorial to the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks by US artist Jeff Koons has still not been found, the culture ministry said Monday. The brightly coloured "Bouquet of Tulips", which would stand 10 metres (35 feet) tall, donated by Koons to the city after the attacks that claimed 130 lives, has been the subject of tension for months. The culture ministry confirmed that no decision had been made after a meeting with Paris city officials and the artist's representatives. Koons is known for his brash, voluptuous works of pop art which come with stellar price tags. He provoked an outcry when he said he wanted his work to be installed on the esplanade of the contemporary art museum Palais de Tokyo, which faces the Eiffel Tower. But Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen told the Figaro newspaper on Monday that "we will offer him another place". The tulips should be erected somewhere "popular, visible and shared by everyone," she added. A park in the north of Paris has been tipped as a possible alternative, according to a source from the park's management. A source familiar with the discussion said Koons' representatives were not happy to learn through the media that the Palais de Tokyo had been ruled out. In January, artists, gallery owners and officials including former culture minister Frederic Mitterrand signed an open letter objecting to the planned memorial. The letter described Koons as an "emblem of industrial art which is spectacular and speculative" and slammed the cost of installing the 35-tonne sculpture. "We appreciate gifts, but free ones," they wrote. US artist Jeff Koons is pictured in New York in 2012 with one of his previous artwork installations of flowers, called "Tulips"
Two women have allegedly been terrorised by a hammer-wielding truck driver in a Melbourne road rage attack.

The two women, aged in their 60s, were allegedly tailgated by an unknown truck along Tullmarine Highway at Tullamarine, in the citys northwest, about 1.10pm on Saturday.

Police say the truck then rammed the side of their car, forcing it into a concrete barrier and damaging the side of the vehicle.

The truck hit the car a second time and pulled in front of them before driving off.

While the women were checking their cars damage, the truck driver then allegedly approached the women armed with a hammer.

Police believe this truck may have been involved in the incident. Source: Victoria Police

He ran toward the driver but did not strike her. The passenger was pushed to the ground by the truck driver, police say.

The truck driver told them to get back in the car before allegedly hitting the car a number of times, causing further damage.

The women reversed away and the man dropped the hammer, which fell into the back seat.

The pair then drove to a police station to report the matter.

Police are calling for witnesses who may have seen the incident to come forward.

The suspect is said to be of Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his late 20s and has curly short black hair. He is about 160cm tall and was wearing a top with Eden written on it.

Investigators have released an image of the truck allegedly involved in the incident.

Anyone with information or dash camera footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Nearly 7.8 million children nationally are uprooted from their homes due to a myriad of issues, ranging from the ill effects of the opioid/heroin epidemic, criminal involvement begetting incarceration, mental health or medical issues, homelessness, and ever-present poverty problems. For every child being raised in the foster care system, 25 are being raised by grandparents or relatives.

Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agencys Kinship Care Program assists non-parental caregivers, including grandparents, relatives and non-relatives, who provide full-time care for children in their home. The program has operated in Cayuga County since October 2017 and is staffed by a mental health specialist and case manager. Staff are currently serving 42 families, including 49 adults and 68 children. Caregivers range in age from 45 to 77 years and children in their care range from newborn to 16 years.

Kinship caregivers who take on the abrupt responsibility of caring for children other than their own in their home often feel overwhelmed, taxed and ill-equipped. Many, like Lisa Baker and her husband, have never before accessed services or the public welfare system. For the past year, they have tapped into personal savings to care for their two young grandchildren under the age of 3. Stressed and exhausted, Lisa recently shared her story with an employee at her physicians office who was familiar with the agency's Kinship Care Program; the employee encouraged Lisa to reach out.

The relief felt by Lisa and her family once connected to the Kinship Care Program was immediate. Program staff assessed and began to help address the needs of Lisas expanded family. They referred the family to the Cayuga County Department of Social Services for a temporary assistance child-only grant, the Cayuga County Health Department for the Women, Infants and Children program, and the Heroin Epidemic Action League for information and support. In-house, staff connected the family to the agency's food pantry, free clothing, the Car Seat Program, Head Start, HEAP and health insurance access. Staff provided education and information about addiction, trauma and behaviors of children impacted by trauma, and made referrals for counseling. They also helped Lisa obtain insurance cards for her grandchildren.

The agency's kinship services are free, confidential and voluntary; staff offer family assessments, trauma-focused case management services, court accompaniment and linkage to community services. Participants are offered information and education around strengthening families, including better communication skills within the family, understanding substance abuse and understanding the effect of trauma on childrens behaviors. The program also provides crisis intervention services, education around the importance of counseling for children after trauma, and connection to counseling services.

Because Kinship Care Program relationships develop for a variety of reasons, children come into homes with many different needs. Foremost, they are in need of love and nurturing. Most have experienced some type of trauma in their young lives. Depending on the nature of the trauma itself, the age of the child and their level of development, responses to kinship care can vary dramatically.

Most young children lack the developmental ability to share or even understand feelings related to trauma. A young child may experience fear due to feelings of uncertainty, such as who will feed them or care for them. Many will exhibit reactive behaviors: They may look withdrawn or act angry, kick, hit, cry, have nightmares, etc. The agencys Kinship Care Program encourages children to work with age-appropriate therapists who will teach them how to begin acknowledging and talking about feelings.

Many children arrive at their new homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Most families in the program lack the means to fully meet the immediate needs of children now in their care. These needs include blankets, pillows, pajamas, underwear, socks, beds, coats, school supplies, backpacks and a variety of other necessities. Many children also arrive in their new homes with no toys.

The Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agencys Kinship Care Program relies almost entirely on private donations from individuals and organizations like the Zonta Club of Auburn, the Kiwanis Club of Auburn and the Allyn Foundation to help cover these needs. If you would like to make a monetary donation or have items in need that you would like to donate (e.g. school supplies/backpacks, toys, Walmart gift cards, gas cards, etc.) please contact the agency at the number provided below. One brief act of kindness could make all the difference in a childs life.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the agencys Kinship Care Program or would like to make a donation, please contact me at (315) 255-1703 ext. 161 or driester@cscaa.com.

Deborah Riester is a mental health specialist with the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency. She can be reached at (315) 255-1703 ext. 161 or driester@cscaa.com.

Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
About a year after acquiring a newly discovered photo of a young Harriet Tubman, the Library of Congress has revealed more information about the photo and the album that contained it.

In a March article, Library of Congress Publications Editor Mark Hartsell said the photo, taken in 1868 or 1869, is believed to be the earliest one of the abolitionist and Civil War spy in existence. The full-length portrait was taken by Benjamin Powelson, of Auburn, where Tubman lived the second half of her life.

Beverly Brannan, of the Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division, said the Tubman depicted in the photo "is much more stylish than expected, and her expression just looks lively." The photo is a "striking contrast" to pre-existing ones of Tubman, which show her as an older woman or a "frail, swathed figure in a wheelchair," Hartsell said.

Speaking to The Citizen after the photo's discovery in February 2017, Tubman biographer Dr. Kate Clifford Larson called it "remarkable."

"She looks so young," Larson said. "This is the vibrant young Tubman just coming off her work during the Civil War. She's building her life with her family in Auburn."

The album of 48 images was owned by Emily Howland, of Sherwood, Tubman's friend and fellow abolitionist. Hartsell said the album was a gift from Howland's friend Carrie Nichols in 1864, when the two were teaching at the Camp Todd school on the Arlington estate of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The album also contains the only known photo of John Willis Menard, the first African-American elected to Congress. Other subjects are less well-known, and the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian are researching them, Hartsell said.

The Library of Congress joined with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture to buy the album at a March 2017 auction for $161,000. Hartsell called it "a most unusual collaboration between two public institutions." When the album was received, the Library of Congress's Conservation Division cleaned it, strengthened its spine and rebuilt the cover with layers of textile and leather toned or dyed to match the original. The photos were also gently cleaned and repaired, though they were in good shape, Hartsell said.

All 48 images of the album are available to be viewed at loc.gov.

"The most rewarding thing is that, at the end, people are going to be able to experience it as an album," Library of Congress photo conservator Alisha Chipman said. "Now, everything will be safe and secure, and you can experience the entire album as it was meant to be."

Lake Life Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @drwilcox.

Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

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.
Preparing to decorate graves, May 1899. Library of Congress

In the years following the bitter Civil War, a former Union general took a holiday originated by former Confederates and helped spread it across the entire country.

The holiday was Memorial Day, and this years commemoration on May 28 marks the 150th anniversary of its official nationwide observance. The annual commemoration was born in the former Confederate States in 1866 and adopted by the United States in 1868. It is a holiday in which the nation honors its military dead.

Gen. John A. Logan, who headed the largest Union veterans fraternity at that time, the Grand Army of the Republic, is usually credited as being the originator of the holiday.

Yet when General Logan established the holiday, he acknowledged its genesis among the Unions former enemies, saying, It was not too late for the Union men of the nation to follow the example of the people of the South.

Im a scholar who has written  with co-author Daniel Bellware  a history of Memorial Day. Cities and towns across America have for more than a century claimed to be the holidays birthplace, but we have sifted through the myths and half-truths and uncovered the authentic story of how this holiday came into being.

Generous acts bore fruit

During 1866, the first year of this annual observance in the South, a feature of the holiday emerged that made awareness, admiration and eventually imitation of it spread quickly to the North.

During the inaugural Memorial Day observances which were conceived in Columbus, Georgia, many Southern participants  especially women  decorated graves of Confederate soldiers as well as, unexpectedly, those of their former enemies who fought for the Union.

Library of Congress Glass negatives

Shortly after those first Memorial Day observances all across the South, newspaper coverage in the North was highly favorable to the ex-Confederates.

The action of the ladies on this occasion, in burying whatever animosities or ill-feeling may have been engendered in the late war towards those who fought against them, is worthy of all praise and commendation, wrote one paper.

On May 9, 1866, the Cleveland Daily Leader lauded the Southern women during their first Memorial Day.

The act was as beautiful as it was unselfish, and will be appreciated in the North.

The New York Commercial Advertiser, recognizing the magnanimous deeds of the women of Columbus, Georgia, echoed the sentiment. Let this incident, touching and beautiful as it is, impart to our Washington authorities a lesson in conciliation.

Power of a poem

To be sure, this sentiment was not unanimous. There were many in both parts of the U.S. who had no interest in conciliation.

It struck me that the South was holding out a friendly hand, and that it was our duty, not only as conquerors, but as men and their fellow citizens of the nation, to grasp it.

Finchs poem seemed to extend a full pardon to the South: They banish our anger forever when they laurel the graves of our dead was one of the lines.

Almost immediately, the poem circulated across America in books, magazines and newspapers. By the end of the 19th century, school children everywhere were required to memorize Finchs poem. The ubiquitous publication of Finchs rhyme meant that by the end of 1867, the southern Memorial Day holiday was a familiar phenomenon throughout the entire, and recently reunited, country.

General Logan was aware of the forgiving sentiments of people like Finch. When Logans order establishing Memorial Day was published in various newspapers in May 1868, Finchs poem was sometimes appended to the order.

The blue and the grey

It was not long before Northerners decided that they would not only adopt the Southern custom of Memorial Day, but also the Southern custom of burying the hatchet. A group of Union veterans explained their intentions in a letter to the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph on May 28, 1869:

Wishing to bury forever the harsh feelings engendered by the war, Post 19 has decided not to pass by the graves of the Confederates sleeping in our lines, but divide each year between the blue and the grey the first floral offerings of a common country. We have no powerless foes. Post 19 thinks of the Southern dead only as brave men.

Other reports of reciprocal magnanimity circulated in the North, including the gesture of a 10-year-old who made a wreath of flowers and sent it to the overseer of the holiday, Colonel Leaming, in Lafayette, Indiana, with the following note attached, published in The New Hampshire Patriot on July 15, 1868:

Will you please put this wreath upon some rebel soldiers grave? My dear papa is buried at Andersonville, (Georgia) and perhaps some little girl will be kind enough to put a few flowers upon his grave.

President Abraham Lincolns wish that there be malice toward none and charity for all was visible in the magnanimous actions of participants on both sides, who extended an olive branch during the Memorial Day observances in those first three years.

Although not known by many today, the early evolution of the Memorial Day holiday was a manifestation of Lincolns hope for reconciliation between North and South.

___

Richard Gardiner, Associate Professor of History Education, Columbus State University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Editor's note: In conjunction with Monday's holiday, The Citizen is publishing the full text of this year's presidential proclamation for Memorial Day:

On Memorial Day, we pause in solemn gratitude to pay tribute to the brave patriots who laid down their lives defending peace and freedom while in military service to our great Nation. We set aside this day to honor their sacrifice and to remind all Americans of the tremendous price of our precious liberty.

Throughout the history of our Republic, courageous Americans have purchased our cherished freedom with their lives. Our 151 national cemeteries serve as the final resting place for millions of people, including veterans from every war and conflict, many of whom died while serving our country. We remain duty bound to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf and to remember them with thankfulness and unwavering pride. The fallen  our treasured loved ones, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens  deserve nothing less from a grateful Nation.

We must safeguard the legacies of our service members so that our children and our grandchildren will understand the sacrifices of our Armed Forces. As a part of this effort, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to keep the memories of our fallen heroes from ever fading away. The National Cemetery Administrations Veterans Legacy Program challenges our youth, from elementary school through college, to research and share the stories and sacrifice of their hometown veterans, who are forever honored at VA National, State, and tribal veterans cemeteries. To further ensure that our veterans legacies are remembered and celebrated, this program is developing an online memorialization platform that will amplify the voices of families, survivors, and Gold Star parents and spouses as they honor our beloved veterans and fallen service members.

Today, and every day, we revere those who have died in noble service to our country. I call upon all Americans to remember the selfless service members who have been laid to rest in flag-draped coffins and their families who have suffered the greatest loss. The sacrifices of our hallowed dead demand our Nations highest honor and deepest gratitude. On this day, let us also unite in prayer for lasting peace in our troubled world so that future generations will enjoy the blessings of liberty and independence.

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer.

I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I also request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth 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

Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Memorial Day weekend is a time of year where we reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by our service men and women. Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers have died across the globe protecting our way of life and the freedoms we cherish here at home. This weekend, and every day, we should remember these brave individuals and honor their memories. As the son, father, brother and uncle of U.S. veterans, I have a personal and heartfelt appreciation for the sacrifices made by our soldiers and their families.

Long referred to as the Forgotten War, 33,000 Americans lost their lives fighting in Korea and more than 8,000 remain missing. Fighting in a foreign land, our soldiers bravely fought against the tyranny brought upon South Korea by North Korea. Many of these soldiers had already fought in WWII, but again answered the call of duty. Sixty-five years later peace has yet to be declared, but we remain hopeful that our soldiers sacrifices will yield an amicable conclusion. This Memorial Day, take a moment to reflect upon the cost of our freedom here at home, and marvel at the brave individuals who have fallen defending those freedoms.

WATERLOO AND THE FIRST MEMORIAL DAY

The first Memorial Day was actually celebrated right here in the Finger Lakes Region. As most local residents know, the Village of Waterloo is the location of the first-ever Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day, in 1866. Local druggist Henry C. Welles is credited with the idea to first commemorate the lives lost during the Civil War. The notion was wholeheartedly supported by General B. Murray and together they created the first Memorial Day celebration for the village. Memorial Day became a national holiday in 1971.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE SIGNIFICANCE

This weekend, there will be numerous ceremonies and parades in the Finger Lakes Region. Please take the opportunity to use these events as learning experiences about the sacrifices of the U.S. Armed Forces, and not just a reason to have a celebration outdoors now that the weather is nice. Nearly every town in our area will be having a parade of its own, and some will be hosting ceremonies at various cemeteries to honor the service of fallen soldiers. A full list of activities happening this weekend can be found here: http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/content/memorial-day-parades-rochester-ny-area.

I encourage everyone to take a moment to pause while enjoying the festivities and think about the true significance of Memorial Day and what it means to us as Americans.

What do you think? I want to hear from you. Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, email me at kolbb@nyassembly.gov, find me by searching for Assemblyman Brian Kolb on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
#NO:EL Rapper NO:EL arrested over allegedly assaulting police officer, refusing breathalyzer Rapper NO:EL was arrested Tuesday on charges of driving without a license, refusing to take a breathalyzer test and headbutting a police officer last month. Police took the 21-y...

#swimming Swimmer Hwang Sun-woo breaks nat'l record in individual medley Teen swimming sensation Hwang Sun-woo broke the national record in the men's 200m individual medley (IM) on Tuesday, surpassing South Korea's only Olympic swimming champion Park Ta...
Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency?

No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples.

Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist ideals.
About a year ago, some North Carolina craft brewers took on a couple behemoths in the state ABC system and a well-funded and entrenched network of wholesalers and distributors.The brewers, in plain terms, were fed up.They were tired of what they view as one-sided and interminable franchise contracts, sick of worrying about an arbitrary state ruling telling them they can produce no more than 25,000 barrels of beer each year without contracting with a distributor, who take control of their products and play no small role in decisions about pricing and placement.House Bill 500 last year brought gave brewers some hope.For a minute or two.The measure would have raised that cap to 200,000 barrels, but the state's distributors - who said the increase would place their own businesses in jeopardy - along with religious objectors who see alcohol as morally abhorrent - persuaded lawmakers to eliminate the provision.Which they did.John Marrino, who owns Olde Mecklenburg brewery in Charlotte, said at the time.Let a judge decide.The brewers' complaint - filed in Wake County 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.Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour ruled the case will continue.Baddour, who heard the complaint March 20, issued the ruling May 15. He denied a motion filed from the state saying the complaint should be dismissed with prejudice, and that the challenge, according to statute, must be heard by a three-judge panel of the Superior Court.The plaintiffs' brief included a deposition by N.C. ABC Commission Administrator Robert Hamilton and an affidavit from Dustin Canestorp, founder of Beer Army, LLC. The affidavit 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. The statements in the affidavit border on shocking, and the language in the emails raw and sometimes sophomoric. Its contents, though, may offer some insight into Baddour's thinking and the resultant decision.Discovery will continue, subpoenas will be issued, and members of the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers will be deposed.The National Beer Wholesalers Association, interestingly, has recently launched a public relations campaign to, in its words, bringa news release says,The campaign, called Delivering Local Jobs The wholesalers make important points, and we mean in no way to disparage the people who work hard and do their jobs. Sure, beer and wine distributors offer an important service and, in certain aspects of the business, are indispensable.In other aspects, particularly in regard to state control, the brewers see things quite differently.
Outgoing chairman leaves top slot on UNC board during emotional meeting

CHAPEL HILL - Stay in your lanes and keep pushing forward, the outgoing chairman of the University of North Carolina's Board of Governors said during an unusually emotional meeting to elect new board officers.Lou Bissette, an Asheville attorney and the BOG's current leader, delivered a bittersweet speech before the board Thursday, May 24, making way for Chairman-Elect Harry Smith, who will assume the role in July. Members Randall Ramsey and Pearl Burris-Floyd also were elected as the board's vice-chairman and secretary, respectively. All three members ran unopposed and received unanimous support.Bissette teared up while thanking BOG members for their dedication and hard work. His colleagues responded with a standing ovation.The scene was a far cry from the board's previous transfer of leadership.Bissette led the board for nearly three years, weathering protests and politics, and riding out controversies he inherited from former BOG Chairman John Fennebresque. In late 2015, Fennebresque shook up BOG members and state legislators when he acted unilaterally to recruit now-UNC System President Margaret Spellings. His actions also triggered uproar among university administrators, faculty, and students.Fennebresque resigned immediately after Spellings was elected to UNC's highest office. When Bissette stepped to the helm, the board was reeling, facing public accusations of scheming and secrecy. Faculty and student protests - some disruptive and violent Unlike Fennebresque, who allowed little discussion during tightly scripted meetings, Bissette welcomed more relaxed, sometimes rowdy debates. With the shift came some slip-ups. During Bissette's first months, the board made some procedural mistakes, violating open meetings law and voting in closed session to raise chancellors' salaries.Legislators later decided the misstep was a mistake, and Bissette ensured all members of the board - including him - were well-schooled on North Carolina Open Meetings Law.The goal was to rebuild trust and enact the best policies for the university, Bissette said.Bissette said.Spellings' presidency, and UNC's strategic plan for university success, highlight the legacy Bissette hopes he will leave, he told reporters.Smith, now the board's vice chairman, was not available for questioning after the board meeting.The Greenville businessman has recently faced allegations that he tried to manipulate a development deal at N.C. Central University. A lawsuit alleges Smith, along with BOG member Darrell Allison and N.C. Central Chancellor Johnson Akinleye, made a shady deal to push up to $120 million in student housing contracts to a Raleigh land developer. The suit claims Smith was involved in the project, and was in secret meetings with the developer, Preiss Company of Raleigh. The bidding process was unfair, and didn't allow other bids, it alleges.The allegations are false, Smith stated. He and Allison were simply advising NCCU to get the best deal, he said.The lawsuit was filed by Benjamin Durant, NCCU's former vice chancellor for administration and finance. Durant was fired in January.In 2016, Smith discussed a potential investment partnership with East Carolina University , proposing to buy an apartment complex near the university. The deal didn't come together, and Smith later said "the optics are terrible," due to the appearance of a conflict of interest.he told the Raleigh News and Observer.Smith is energetic with "an incredibly good mind," Bissette said. The incoming leader should set priorities carefully so he can avoid being pulled in multiple directions.he said.Bissette has expressed concern that some board members stray into university management - not the role of UNC's governing body, he said.The focus should be on policy, he said.The board also shouldn't be involved in campus-level issues, Bissette said.he said.UNC administrators are relying on Smith's deference and willingness to learn as he takes on his new role, Spellings told Carolina Journal.Spellings said.
Kathy Manos Penn with Lord Banjo

Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, but it's also a day when I'm reminded to think about those service members who are still with us. The Quilts of Valor Foundation is an organization that does just that. I learned about Quilts of Valor at a World War II Roundtable meeting last year. This Atlanta group meets monthly, and that day, Cecilia McVickers joined the group to introduce us to the Quilts of Valor Foundation.In 2003, Catherine Roberts had a dream while her son was deployed to Iraq, and she describes it on the Foundation's website Her dream led her to found Quilts of Valor. Catherine envisioned a team of volunteers who would craft quilts to award to returning service men and women touched by war, quilts that would be reminders that their service was appreciated. Through the years, the recipients have grown to include service members and veterans of any conflict, not only declared wars.Cecilia told the story of the quilts and explained that volunteers across the country donate time and materials to create the quilts, each one meant to comfort and heal its recipient. Since its inception, The QOVF has awarded 182,533 quilts.That afternoon, she was there to award a quilt to the oldest WWII veteran present. One gentleman in his 90's proclaimed he'd be 97 in September, and another raised his hand to say he would too. Cecilia had come prepared with two quilts, so she invited both veterans to make their way to the front of the room. Each was draped with a beautiful quilt to take home and cherish.Cecilia left behind an informative and touching brochure that included the story of a WWII veteran. Al Lind was a POW for two years during WWII. When he discovered the Quilts of Valor Foundation, he was inspired to get involved. From 2007 until his death in 2010, he pieced together 450 Quilts of Valor.Whether or not you're a quilter, you can join the QOVF, and you can also make a tax-free donation. One quilt can cost as much as $250 to complete; donations help fund fabric, batting, and shipping. If you're interested in joining a quilting group, visit this website , to find existing groups. You can start a new group too. Just check out the how-to information online.These quotes from returning service members say it all:All thumbs at sewing? You can always support our veterans with a donation to the Quilts of Valor Foundation, USO, VFW, or other veterans organizations this Memorial Day and throughout the year.Kathy Manos Penn is a Georgia resident. Her latest book, "Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch," and her collection of columns, "The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday," are available on Amazon. Contact Kathy at inkpenn119@gmail.com.
Hobbs, N.M. is an oil town out in No Country For Old Men country, and I lived there for 7 years after moving to the United States. It's rarely in the papers, but thanks to a weeping Mary statue at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, it's become international news.

Church bosses have assured they are going to take a "scientific" approach to the suspected miracle. Virgin Mary's supposed tears were first spotted by Laura Cisneros, the church's secretary. She found a puddle of an "oil-like substance" had pooled at the feet of the statue during mass. Another parishioner claims they then wiped away the tears, only for more to appear in her eyes

The church knows all the tricks to make a statue appear to weep and, at least in principle, allows only scientific mysteries to ascend to miraclehood. An unusual circumstance in Hobbs right now is that it is quite hotwell into the 100sso if the AC down everthing is weeping something. Photo: KOBTV [Thanks, Heather!]
Gardner Dozois started his career in science fiction as a (very good) writer, but quickly transitioned to the role that defined his life in the field, as an editor, taking over Asimov's from 1984 to 2004, winning 40 Hugos, 40 Nebulas, 30 Locus Awards, and the best Professional Editor Hugo Award 15 times.



Gardner was the first editor to buy my work at professional rates (he wasn't the first to publish my work in a professional forum  Scott Edelman beat him to the punch because Science Fiction Age had a shorter backlog and a faster turnaround than Asimov's), and long before he'd published my work, he'd nurtured my career, including my stories in the copious honorable mentions appendices to his longrunning, definitive Year's Best Science Fiction anthologies, appending encouraging personal notes to the rejections I got from Asimov's and, on a memorable occasion at Philcon, announcing during a panel that he viewed me as one of the best new writers in the field.





In a field where beginning writers are starved for attention, critical feedback and encouragement, Dozois stood out as an editor who never succumbed to the laziness of simply publishing works by known authors: he was an assiduous reader of the "slushpile" of unsolicited manuscript, which made him an encylopedic guide to emerging talents, long before people were publishable. Beginning writers, years before their first sales, often found themselves meeting Dozois at conferences, only to be treated to specific, encouraging words about the stories he'd rejected and their professional and artistic progress.

Dozois's public persona was larger than life, hilarious and lewd: he was, famously, the man who would shout "penis" in a public place. But as his frequent collaborator and close friend Michael Swanwick writes in his moving obituary, Dozois in private was quiet, shy and thoughtful. This is unimaginable if you'd only ever encountered Dozois in large, public industry gatherings  but unmistakable if you ever had the privilege and pleasure of chatting with him one-on-one.





Dozois went into the Pennsylvania Hospital this week with a good prognosis. His doctors told him that he could expect to be home today and on his feet in less than two weeks. Instead, he died yesterday of systemic failure. He was 70 years old.

Eight days ago, Dozois' son Christopher Casper accepted the Science Fiction Writers of America's Solstice Award for lifetime achievement on his father's behalf. Dozois apparently told his son to say that the award belonged properly to the writers that Dozois had published. Thankfully, Christopher defied his father and used the opportunity to remind us of Dozois' shyness and modesty.

When Philadelphia Magazine named him one of "Philadelphia's 100 Smartest People," he said, "If that's true, then God help Philadelphia!" When he was placed in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, he returned from Seattle to report that they'd placed his name and image on a brick which went into the Hall of Fame Wall. "So now I'm really just another brick in the wall." And when he couldn't make it to Pittsburgh for the Nebula Awards Weekend, he told Christopher to just say that the award properly belonged to all the writers he'd published. Chris, of course, ignored this directive and spoke movingly of his father's virtues instead. But here's the thing. Any number of editors were capable of saying that the award really belonged to the writers. But Gardner actually meant it. Gardner really loved science fiction. One of the greatest joys in his life was discovering a new writer of talent. There are a great many writers who are grateful to him for discovering them, praising them when nobody else did, and promoting their work. He would have told them that they had it backward: that he was grateful to them for writing what they did. Anybody who was ever praised by Gardner Dozois should know this: He meant it. Not only did he like you personally, but he loved your work.

The Gardner Dozois You Didn't Know You Knew [Michael Swanwick/Flogging Babel]

Gardner Dozois, 1947  2018 [Tor.com]
Dave writes, "Maxime Bernier, a far-right asshole who ran for leadership of Canada's Progressive Conservative party on a platform of 'fair gun policy' and 'standing up for rural Canadians,' decided that his colleague across the aisle (Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes) thought too much about her skin colour, and let it taint her point of view."



"That's the main difference between us," he wrote. "You think the world revolves around your skin colour. My goal is to bring better policies to all Canadians. That's an MP's job."

Caesar-Chavannes responded with a message of her own in which she pointed out that she deals with policy on a daily basis.

"Unlike you however, I can focus on policy while also shifting the status quo and increasing awareness," wrote the MP from Whitby, Ont.

"That's what happens when you #AddWomen. We get more done!"
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has come under huge pressure to sack under fire junior minister Terence Mukupe over a litany of controversial actions and statements that he has made in recent weeks, which have caused palpable anger among many Zimbabweans.It didn't help matters that Mukupe issued an equally controversial apology yesterday, which only served to inflame emotions further as both ordinary citizens and politicians alike dismissed it as a "half hearted" attempt at best to justify his unacceptable lack of decorum.Just this past week alone, the MP for Harare East constituency was involved in three not so flattering incidents - including making reckless claims that the military would not accept youthful MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa as the country's new leader if he were to win the country's impending national elections.That ill-conceived statement forced Mnangagwa and his senior aides to publicly rebuke Mukupe. But no sooner had this happened before he provoked yet more anger after he stigmatised people living with HIV/Aids during a chaotic radio debate with former Finance minister Tendai Biti.Later, Mukupe was also accused of assaulting the wife of a local journalist and "stealing" her mobile phone - ratcheting up the already growing calls for his dismal from the government."While due process demands that these allegations be verified, at the very least this man (Mukupe) should be suspended by President Mnangagwa."This comes on the back of the exposure of his comments  stating what we all know - namely that having seized power through an illegal coup last November the military aren't now just going to hand it over on a platter to Nelson Chamisa and the MDC Alliance."In one sense, Mukupe is just being honest - although rather foolish, all he has done is confirm what we already know," former Education minister David Coltart said."However there are still those - both citizens and some in the international community - who believe that a leopard can change its spots. Even some seasoned diplomats and ministers of democratic countries repeat the mantra that they expect free and fair elections to be held."If President Mnangagwa does not act vigorously to investigate and then dismiss Minister Mukupe - and the others who have spoken treasonously (for that is what refusing to respect the democratic will of the people is) - then he will simply confirm that his own undertakings to hold a free, fair and credible election are just a sham," Coltart added on social media.Piers Pigou, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group, told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that Mukupe was "not fit to remain in office", warning Mnangagwa further that failure to act on him would send the "wrong message that there is nothing new about the new dispensation"."Mnangagwa has an opportunity to demonstrate decisive leadership and Mukupe should be dismissed. There is, however, little evidence of basic notions of political accountability for such irresponsible statements from members of an executive whose leadership is trying hard to demonstrate that it has changed."These are highly irresponsible statements and demonstrate that he (Mukupe) is not for and proper for public office. Is this a face the new administration wishes to support?"For many, Mukupe's comments also reflect Zanu-PF's DNA, something they have got used to. As such, these utterances are not that surprising," said.Vice president of the MDC splinter group led by Thokozani Khupe, Obert Gutu, also said bluntly that Mukupe should "either resign or be sacked" over his comments on anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs."It's a total shame for any one, more so a public figure and government minister, to stigmatise people living with HIV."Assuming that he has got a sense of responsibility, which doesn't appear likely from his numerous public gaffes, Mukupe should just proceed to do the honourable thing and immediately resign as a government minister and Member of Parliament."If he doesn't resign voluntarily, then President Mnangagwa should sack him forthwith," Gutu thundered."Surely, if Webster Shamu could be sacked for attempting to rig a party primary election, why should Mukupe remain in government after committing an even more serious and catastrophic transgression? Is Mukupe untouchable and if so, why?" he added.Mukupe stoked passions further yesterday when he sought to minimise the damage of his actions and recent utterances by issuing a controversial statement "apologising" for his actions - but which many ordinary people said was a crass attempt to justify the very same things which he was trying to distance himself from."I feel it is of the utmost importance to apologise and clarify on some statements that have been misinterpreted and in some cases deliberately distorted and misrepresented. First of all I deny categorically that I ever insinuated that the military would take sides in the upcoming hamornised elections."In November of last year, the military stood with the people in their cry for freedom, they stood with the leadership of now president ED (Emmerson Dambudzo) Mnangagwa, and now they will stand with the people once again as they help secure our country in the build up to elections."I am a passionate supporter of both the president and our highly professional military, and for that I will never apologise," he said, notwithstanding that his comments on the military were captured on video.In the video clip that circulated widely on social media, Mukupe stated categorically that the army would not allow the opposition to lead the country."How can we say honestly the soldiers took the country, practically snatched it from (former president Robert) Mugabe, to come and hand it over to Chamisa?"Look at me, I also want to be a president. There is no one who does not want to sit in the (Mercedes) Benz while sirens are sounding all the way, but everything has its time."I don't think that I am mature enough to be given the country to run and all the soldiers in this country salute me saying the commander-in-chief is here," Mukupe is shown saying in the damning video evidence.Last week the government described Mukupe's statements on the army as "reckless and unlawful"."Consequently any pronouncements which have the effect of undermining the supreme law of the land and the authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Force, or of suggesting that our well-respected security organs will act in partisan manner in relation to the country's politics, apart from being unauthorised, are unlawful, reckless, improper, uncalled for and thus totally condemnable," acting Information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said.Mukupe also attempted to apologise in his statement over the remarks which he made during his interview with Biti, although he began that part with a justification."Though I was abused and insulted by the tone and content of Mr. Biti's interview, I should not have responded in such a way, and I apologise for the offence I have caused for the remarks I made pertaining to ARVs," he said.Mukupe has attracted so much negative attention in the last few weeks.Last month, he briefly snatched a ballot box during the Zanu-PF primary elections in Harare East constituency, amid widespread complaints that he had manipulated cell registers.Mukupe had also in full view of journalists and police assaulted his rival's driver before speeding away - causing pandemonium.Mukupe's rival in those primary polls, Mavis Gumbo, was forced to flee the scene in fear, at which point many people also left the polling station.The temperamental Mukupe was also fined by police this year after he admitted to assaulting a finance director in his ministry over travel allowances.
News / National

by Byo24News Reporter

Former Zimbabwean President has snubbed a parliamentary portfolio committee on mines and mining for the second time.Mugabe had been summoned to give oral evidence before the Temba Mliswa led committee on missing $15 billion revenue he alluded to during his birthday interview with ZBC in 2016.Last week Wednesday, the former president failed to avail himself before the same parliamentary portfolio committee forcing them to reschedule for this Monday afternoon.Mliswa, the mines and mining parliamentary portfolio committee chair told journalists after that they are going to write to Mugabe for the third and last time requesting him to appear before the committee." . . . we are going to write to him for the last time as required by the law. If he fails to attend this time, then we will take it to the next stage. But we are going to remind him of the certain provisions of the standing orders of parliament. We still respect him as former President and want his legacy to be protected."He reminded the former President that the late Roy Bennet was imprisoned by parliament after being found to be in contempt of its authority.
Opinion / Columnist

Several opposition parties and President Emmerson Mnangagwa's ruling Zanu-PF have launched their manifestos, all projecting themselves as committed to providing a messianic solution to the vast majority of the country's poor in an attempt to redress inequalities in society.All the parties that have unveiled their manifestos have made vague, largely unworkable but plausible-sounding rationale in their election manifestos that makes some of them sound vaguely believable to someone who has not thought about it much, which is most of us most of the time.Since this sounds good to most people, the politicians who promise it are the ones that get elected, then later on they can slide back from what they promised.For instance in the run to the 2013 elections, the ruling Zanu-PF delivered what still ranks as the most ambitious economic policy proposal.The ruling party's five-year economic blueprint, ZimAsset, was supposed to steer the country forward at an average growth of 7,2 percent per annum and deliver over 2,2 million jobs.The 129-page document detailed a five-year plan stretching to 2018 for the economy, detailing plans including the sale of bonds, securitisation of remittances, re-engagement with international finance institutions and the creation of special economic zones.Financing options were supposed to focus on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics), a group of large emerging market nations collectively known as BRICS, but the plans all fell through.Critics suggest political parties must be forced to sign legal contracts promising to fulfil their campaign promises, which in most cases are pie in the sky.The ruling party has just released its latest 2018 election manifesto - themed "Unite, Fight Corruption, Develop, Re-engage and Create Jobs" -at a colourful occasion in Harare, in which it made several incredible promises to the electorate.The party's manifesto contains an incredible claim that the party will build 1,5 million houses in just five years.Political rivals and analysts took out their calculators and realised that the party claimed it would build an average of 822 houses per day for five years!Independent candidate for the Mount Pleasant parliamentary seat Advocate Fadzayi Mahere went on to ask: "How will this be funded? Who'll build these houses? Will people have to buy them? With what money" before concluding that "We are being lied to again."Zanu-PF has also pledged to transform Zimbabwe into a middle income economy by 2030."The party will focus aggressively on reopening the country for business with the global community so as to build our industries, create jobs, eradicate the scourge of poverty and uplift people's livelihoods."As a party, we seek the renewal of the mandate from the people to enable us to extend our transformation agenda."The 2018 people's manifesto unveils the immense opportunities awaiting Zimbabweans under the new dispensation by demonstrating the party's commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the people," reads part of the manifesto.Former deputy Prime Minister in the stability-inducing GNU, Arthur Mutambara said Zanu-PF's projected six percent growth per annum was not being sufficiently ambitious, blasting the manifesto's failure to clarify on how they intend to achieve their envisioned middle income country status by 2030."Despite the critique we have offered in the past, Zanu-PF in its recently launched manifesto, insist on claiming that its vision is for Zimbabwe to be a middle-income country (MIC) by 2030."This is bland and banal statement which requires qualification, quantification and supporting details for it to be meaningful," Mutambara said.The robotics professor and Oxford scholar said the Zanu-PF manifesto is vague, lacking clarity on which group of middle income countries they seek to achieve for Zimbabwe between lower MICs and Upper MICs."This is too broad a grouping. In any case our GDP per capita income is $977, hence jumping to $1005 (if we consider minimum qualification) over 12 years is not sufficiently ambitious. This is not visionary at all."It is instructive to note that the MICs are broken up into Lower-MIC and Upper-MICs."Does Zanu-PF aim for Zimbabwe to be a lower-MIC or an upper-MIC?" quizzed Mutambara.Social media users have said the ideas propelled in the manifestos are good but lack implementation."Zimbabwe is not short of great ideas or manifestos. Zimbabwe is short of principled leaders to make those manifestos a reality," a Twitter user by the name Bret Mu Vet said.Another one said, "So if #Zimbabwe has more than 100 political parties, that will mean people will have to read more than 100 manifestos? Only in Zimbabwe! I don't even think most people will read one manifesto at all".Zanu-PF is not the only party that has since issued its own manifesto.The mainstream MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa is yet to launch its manifesto.Thokozani Khupe, who is now leading a splinter camp of the MDC, has also issued her own party's manifesto.In the manifesto, she promised to improve the country's economy."Our economic plan for Building an Economy that Supports Transformation (BEST) of people's livelihoods is anchored on the promotion of social democratic principles on the one hand while on the other responding to the prevailing socio-economic conditions where millions of Zimbabweans are trapped in poverty and joblessness."We believe in a strong democratic developmental State to facilitate in the uplifting of the majority out of extreme poverty through the following: Decent Jobs and remuneration, Re-industrialisation and Value Addition, Road Transport Services and Infrastructure, Restructuring and rehabilitation of Railway Services, Transformation of the mining sector, A new point of view on Tourism," the party said.The party also promised to offer, capital support to businesses, establish ICT, free Internet for all urban and rural populations, rehabilitate developmental infrastructure and restore viability of agriculture for food security, among other issues."The MDC-T government shall ensure 'a rights-based approach' to the development and management of domestic housing projects. Considering that the national housing backlog currently stands at 1,2 million units, the MDC-T government will ensure residential developments for at least 50 percent of the citizens on the housing waiting list in the first five years of governance."Unlike the current government administration which prioritises funding for mega infrastructure projects like power generators, airports and highways at the expense of domestic housing projects to ensure decent shelter, we shall ensure that we: promote access to shelter as a human right, support public and privately run housing projects, facilitate home-ownership schemes, special scheme for promotion of women and youth housing ownership."Zimbabwean ambassador to Senegal Trudy Stevenson, said most of the issues that are placed in these manifestos are hardly read by the electorate. #Zimbabwe True! However, in my experience very sadly the manifestos parties work so hard to produce (my job to coordinate that for 10 years in MDC) are scarcely read by the voters - they go for the name and the symbol," she wrote on Twitter.Kisinoti Mukwazhe, who leads the Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP), has also launched his manifesto, focused on implementing several policies to deal with the youths and the public in general."60 percent of Zimbabwe's Cabinet and other key decision making State arms must be youth at any prize in order to make them navigate Zimbabwe's economy to a higher level of development."Our youngsters must drive Zimbabwe. The culture of abusing youth in political campaigns and for violence shall not be acceptable under ZDP government. ZDP government will consult the youth whenever national decisions are to be made."The party also promised to change several policies in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, war veterans, police force, teachers, vendors, the elderly, the physically challenged, those in the Diaspora, the judiciary and the health sector, among other sectors."ZDP government shall never interfere with the judiciary service of Zimbabwe. We shall support them as they perform their constitutional Mandate in an independent, non-partisan and professionally. ZDP shall uphold the constitution of Zimbabwe."Speaking about its investment policy, the party said: "No one must come to invest in the mining sector. We have already lost billions to those foreign miners. ZDP will not accept theft of our natural resources. No foreign nationals shall be allowed to work in the food clothing industries and water engineering sectors. Our people can do so."Zimbabwe has manpower and they can perform well in those key sectors. Investors are those who will employ more than 20 people. An investor can do infrastructure development like building road networks, advance technological skills, power generation and training of engineers among many more projects. The ZDP government will support locals to participate in the economic development initiatives".On the other hand, the Noah Manyika-led Build Zimbabwe Alliance, said it will cut the number of Cabinet ministers to 15, defend the constitutional rights, restore property rights and investor confidence, build a dynamic economy and introduce a culture of service among other issues."Zimbabwe needs leaders who will pay equal attention to the needs of every province. A clear message to the entire government and the public that each province is equally important to the nation will be sent by devolving the presidency and obligating the president and key staff to a week's working residency per month in each of the country's provinces," the party said.
Opinion / Columnist

The problem with Zanu-PF is that they do not take appropriate action against a minister or mp that acts in bad faith or exude indecorum behavior.One wonders as to whether they have any books with rules of how their officials,ministers or mps must conduct themselves. This tells a long story about Zanu-PF.It shows that there is no proper administration in Zanu-PF and the government.Ministers in their individual ministerial and in their collective ministerial capacity, must conduct themselves appropriately.They render public service and are supposed to be role models, so good conduct is expected of them.They are under scrutiny from the media, the world and the public per se.So,a minister who has behaved like that must resign gracefully or be forced to resign.Resignation is the appropriate and proportionate action to take under such circumstances.More recently,in the UK ,the Home Office Minister was forced to resign due to being incompetent and what she had said about a hot issue.There was a public outcry by the public and the other ministers including the opposition party.That must be the case in Zimbabwe.My opinion without bias.libertyatliberty at gmail dot com
Opinion / Columnist

What exactly is the MDC Alliance offering in this election? I ask because I have failed to point precisely what I, as an ordinary person, stand to benefit under their Government, should they win the forthcoming elections. Their rhetoric in previous election installments was easily understandable - 'Mugabe must go' and many had no time to ask why as they were made to believe Tsvangirai was the alternative - but not anymore.The Zimbabwean political landscape has changed since November 2017. The political change that many, including the MDC Alliance, were clamoring for is here, albeit as a result of the efforts of the generality of Zimbabweans and the least expected political party - Zanu PF. These developments showed the world and indeed the people of Zimbabwe that opposition political parties were not the only agents of change in the country.That being said, let me rephrase my question, now that former President Mugabe is in retirement, is MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa's bullet trains and homestead airports, the bread and butter issues for the people of Zimbabwe?When Chamisa made the above mentioned promises at rallies, I took it as though the young man just got carried away seeing multitudes that had gathered to hear from him. Some might argue that it is just a vision, and my mind need to be a little sophisticated to comprehend it. The only problem is that, it did not end there, Chamisa made more indefensible ridiculous promises and pronouncements.The youthful opposition leader once claimed he would solve the economic problems bedeviling the country in two weeks - yes 14 days. And probably in a bid to substantiate this claim he further claimed that US President, Donald Trump had promised to fund the MDC Alliance to the tune of $15 billion, in the event they win the forthcoming elections.The US Government denied Chamisa's claim, a development which exposed the first claim for what it was  a lie. So, one can safely conclude that in this election, the MDC alliance has nothing to offer on the economic front. This line of argument can be further validated by economic projects articulated by Chamisa at different rallies. A case in point being the contraction of a pipeline to export gas from Lupane to Mozambique when the latter has one of the biggest natural gas deposits which it is already tapping.If one takes way the unsustainable economic promises from Chamisa campaign rhetoric what is left is equally meaningless and peripheral  but understandable. He promises prosperity and at the same time wants to spend on trinkets such a bullet trains and homestead airports. He speaks of unity in delivering real change while behind the scenes he is sending the likes of Shakespeare Mukoyi to unleash violence on political opponents. He speaks ill of political opponents and insults women whenever he stands before a political gathering. So yes - real change is possible under Chamisa, where as a nation we will spend on useless things, unleash violence on dissenting voices and speak ill of one another other.Some might argue that this piece is ill-timed considering that MDC Alliance is yet to release it 2018 election manifesto, which would probably pin point what the party intends to do for the people of Zimbabwe. However considering that we are now a few months from elections, I argue that whatever will be contained in the party's manifesto will be similar to what is being said at its rallies currently taking place countywide.
Alberta's oil and agriculture industries are cautiously watching the Canadian Pacific Railway labour dispute as thousands of train operators and signalling workers are poised to walk off the job Tuesday evening.

About 3,000 locomotive engineers and conductors in the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, and roughly 360 signals and communications employees in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, voted overwhelming against the railway's contract offers late last week.

Then the unions formally served strike notice, with the deadline of 10 p.m. ET Tuesday now looming.

Both unions have said they are prepared to strike if further talks, facilitated by a federal mediator, fail.

It's all making rail-dependent industries nervous.

"Certainly disappointing and we're really hoping it doesn't happen," Kevin Bender, chairman of the Alberta Wheat Commission, said Monday.

"One week, if they go on strike and the trains don't move, that's about 400,000 tonnes of grain that will be stuck either in elevators or on farmers' yards that they can't move."

Bender, who farms near Sylvan Lake, Alta., said wheat transports were already backed up after the winter. A strike would exacerbate the problem.

"It would be quite detrimental if that happens," he said.

The oil industry is also following the dispute closely, eyeing "any further impact on the availability of rail capacity," the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers said in a statement.

"Pipelines are full and rail capacity is very tight," spokesperson Elisabeth Besson said in the statement. "Any loss of capacity will make a bad situation worse."

CP, the country's second-largest railroad, has seen strong demand recently for its transportation services. In a statement on it website, the railway said it is preparing a contingency plan in the event of a work stoppage.

Bender said the wheat commission would encourage the federal government to enact back-to-work legislation or binding arbitration, should CP Rail workers strike again.

Story continues

The company's train crews have gone on strike two times in the past few years. For one of them, the federal government under then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper threatened to enact back-to-work legislation.

Teamsters spokesperson Christopher Monette said both sides were talking Monday and meeting with the mediator.

"I want everybody to know that we're trying hard to try to reach a negotiated settlement, to move forward without a service disruption," he said.

"But unfortunately  we have no progress to report at this stage."

The union's main goal is to address issues of fatigue, workplace culture, "systematic" collective agreement violations and "intense punitive" discipline. Monette said the union's roughly 3,000 members have filed 8,000 outstanding grievances.

A strike would be "a last resort," but he said if no agreement is reached, the union will strike Tuesday.

- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Kayakers find body in Lake Louise

- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Kananaskis wildfire triggers local state of emergency
More and more of the infamous Steele Dossier is turning out to be true, according to Barack Obamas former director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

While the more salacious parts have not been confirmed, Clapper told Salon that significant portions of the Steele Dossier have been verified through various investigations, though the dossier isnt an intelligence document.

The salacious parts, no. Thats never been corroborated. It would appear to me that as time has gone on more and more of it has been corroborated, but I cant actually give you a percentage, Clapper said.

Trending: Captive Dolphins 'Look Forward' to Play With Humans, Like Pavlov's Dogs

Our only purpose, at least my only purpose for briefing the president-elect [on the dossier] in the 'no good deed goes unpunished' department was to let him know it was out there and Jim Comey, the then-director of FBI, was concerned about the Russians, Clapper continued.

Fusion GPS, the organization behind the Steele Dossier, was originally funded by The Washington Free Beacon and its Marco Rubio supporting donor, according to the New York Times. After Trump secured the GOP nomination, The Times reports that the Hillary Clinton campaign and the DNC hired Fusion GPS to "compile research about Mr. Trump, his businesses and associates  including possible connections with Russia."

Steele, according to the Times, was brought on by Fusion GPS shortly after the Clinton campaign and the DNC hired the organization.

The Steele Dossier, written by ex British spy Christopher Steele, has been laughed off by Trump publicly but former FBI director James Comey said Trump brought it up several times during one of their meetings before he was fired. Trump, Comey said, asked him to investigate the dossier including parts about the pee tape.

Don't miss: Ellicott City Flooding Pictures: Maryland Governor Declares State of Emergency After Severe Flash Floods

Story continues

He brings it up and says he may want me to investigate it to prove that it didnt happen. And then he says something that distracted me. Cause he said, you know, 'If theres even a 1 percent chance my wife thinks thats true, thats terrible,'" Comey told ABC.

Before Trump brought it up, Comey said he was going to skip that part of the Steele Dossier.

I did not go into the business about... people peeing on each other, I just thought it was a weird enough experience for me to be talking to the incoming president of the United States about prostitutes in a hotel in Moscow. And so I left that part out.

Clappers recent appearance on The View sparked a controversy after his comments about the FBIs investigation into Russia were misconstrued by the President. Trump said Clappers comments proved the FBI had a spy during the 2016 campaign.

Most popular: California Doctor Found Selling Homeopathic Ebola Cure On MP3 Files

Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign. Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE - a terrible thing, Trump tweeted Thursday.

Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign. Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE - a terrible thing!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2018

However, what Clapper actually said after being asked if the FBI was spying on the Trump campaign was much less shocking.

"No, they were not. They were spying on, a term I don't particularly like, but on what the Russians were doing, Clapper said on The View. Trying to understand, were the Russians infiltrating, trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage and influence, which is what they do."

11_17_james_clapper_02

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Update I This story was updated to include more information about Fusion GPS and the funding of the Steele Dossier.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
By Matthew Miller BEIJING (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc is expecting to meet this week in Beijing with China's antitrust regulators in a final push to secure clearance for its proposed $44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors NV , three sources told Reuters. The acquisition has been caught in the crosshairs of rising U.S.-China trade tensions, with sources saying an approval would depend on the progress of broader bilateral talks. The deal has got a nod from eight of the nine required global regulators, with Chinese clearance the only one pending. Qualcomm is likely to meet Chinese regulators before U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross arrives in China on Saturday, the sources briefed on Qualcomm's discussions said. A Qualcomm team and officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) met in Beijing on Friday and had "productive" talks, the sources said. The San Diego-based firm is now "cautiously optimistic" the deal will go forward, one of the sources said, amid recent indications of a thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions that has seen both sides propose tens of billions of dollars in tariffs. On Friday, the Trump administration said it had reached a deal that would put ZTE Corp <000063.SZ><0763.HK> back in business after the Chinese telecommunications company pays a $1.3 billion fine and makes management changes. Resolving the ZTE sales ban has been of chief importance to China's leadership. The firm was banned in April from buying U.S. technology components for seven years after breaking an agreement it reached for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran and North Korea. "It feels as though it's getting close to the end," said the source quoted above. Qualcomm did not immediately reply to an email from Reuters seeking comment on Sunday, while calls to NXP went unanswered outside regular business hours. NEW SUBMISSION Qualcomm is now preparing a new submission to SAMR aimed at providing final guarantees and assurances, the sources said. China's market regulator did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment outside of business hours. While there are no explicit ties between ZTE's problems, Sino-U.S. trade tensions and Qualcomm-NXP merger clearance, there are "perceived linkages" and the timing of current discussions is "not coincidental", two of the sources said. "The degree to which the two sides are moving to resolve trade tensions clearly has an impact," one source said. Qualcomm in recent weeks has moved to restart discussions that have stalled since the end of last year. The company in April was forced to refile its China anti-trust application to clear the NXP deal, after talks reached a dead end. Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm's president, was in China last week, attending a big data industry expo in the southwest province of Guizhou. Earlier this month, China's anti-trust regulator approved Qualcomm's investment with a unit of state-owned Datang Telecom Technology Co. to design, package and test smartphone chipsets, one year after the joint venture was announced. (Reporting By Matthew Miller; Additional reporting by Michael Martina and Elias Glenn; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Why BC Ferries won't be going all-electric anytime soon

BC Ferries has no plans to go electric with its ships anytime soon despite the worldwide movement toward greener battery-powered ferries using technology made right here in B.C.

From Norway to Washington state  ferry fleets are cutting fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions by launching vessels that run largely  and some entirely  on battery power.

But not so in B.C., where a continued reliance on fossil fuels such as diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) on coastal ferries is frustrating critics.

"We should be absolute leaders here," said Guy Dauncey, an author and sustainability advocate, who thinks BC Ferries should be doing more to adopt the green technology.

Dauncey says the technology has already proven to be economically feasible on shorter routes and he's identified at least nine BC Ferries routes suitable to make the switch.

But BC Ferries vice president Mark Wilson says right now, the marine battery technology is not feasible for its vessels. That's because its ferries need to operate on both short and longer routes, so they need the range diesel power provides.

"One day down the road you'll see an all-electric ferry. The question is when," Wilson said.

Cutting edge B.C. technology

Around the world, ferry fleets are turning to a B.C. company that makes bus-sized batteries to power their vessels and cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

Corvus Energy first emerged from the Richmond garage of two entrepreneurs about a decade ago. Vice president Sean Puchalski, says since then, the company has grown to be a world leader in marine battery technology.

The ferries they power come in a range of configurations, depending on the length and location of the routes they are designed to run.

With the most popular diesel-electric hybrid systems, the batteries can either be used as the primary power source or as back-up to conventional engines.

But on shorter routes  roughly 20 to 30 minutes  the ferries can run entirely on batteries, hooking into clean hydropower to charge up each time they stop to load vehicles.

Story continues

In fact in 2014, Corvus Energy helped build the world's first all-battery-powered car ferry for the Norwegian ferry company Norled.

The quick-charging vessel makes its 5.6 kilometre trip across Norway's Sognefjord 34 times a day without burning a drop of fossil fuel.

And as the technology continues to improve, more ambitious projects with larger ships and longer routes are in the works, says Puchalski.

But because the batteries are so expensive, Puchalski agrees that for now electric-only systems are still best suited to shorter routes where the savings in fuel pays for the more expensive technology.

North America slow to adopt new technology

Green MLA Adam Olson is another proponent of electric ferries who thinks BC Ferries could be doing more to adopt the new technology.

"What's super frustrating for me is knowing that the European ferry systems are electrifying, are using a B.C. company's batteries, and we are not."

"This drives me up the wall," says Olson, who represents Saanich North and Islands, one of the top ridings for BC Ferries passengers.

Currently, 90 per cent of Corvus Energy's battery systems are exported overseas, often to Northern Europe and Asia where regulations, fuel taxes and subsidies make them economical.

In comparison, a lack of regulations and incentives means North American sales have been slow. However, Puchalski says there are signs that is starting to change.

Washington state makes electric plans

One sign of that sea-change came earlier this month when Washington state's ferry service announced plans to convert its three largest ferries to run primarily on hydroelectric power.

Once the conversion is complete, the three hybrid ferries will run on batteries that will be charged with green hydro power at the ferry terminal. The remaining diesel engines will only be used to provide extra power, say officials.

Not yet feasible says BC Ferries

Back at BC Ferries, Wilson notes the corporation is planning to build eight new smaller vessels with a hybrid diesel-battery power supply using batteries from B.C.'s Corvus Energy.

Since the new ferries need to work a range of routes along B.C.'s southern coast  some over an hour in length  it's not feasible yet to make them all-electric, says Wilson.

"We want to work with the technology that is best for the taxpayers. It still has to be economically viable."

Instead of charging the ship's batteries at the dock from a charging station providing clean hydropower, the new ferries will be charged by the diesel engine onboard.

That means greenhouse gas reductions will be limited to 20 per cent, instead of the 90 or 100 per cent reductions that a charging station can provide.
When recreational marijuana went on sale in Colorado in 2014, the government's goal was to regulate and tax a drug that was already widely used and to squeeze out dealers and traffickers in the process.

But law enforcement authorities in the state say legalization has done the exact opposite.

Even though there are more than 500 recreational marijuana dispensaries in the state, the black market is booming. It's being driven by criminal organizations that grow weed in Colorado and smuggle their crop into states where it is still illegal and can be sold for a much greater profit.

The black market hasn't gone away within the state, either, because some marijuana users are deterred by the higher dispensary prices and are loyal to their long-time dealers.

Investigators say the illegal trade has flourished because the state laws around growing marijuana were overly generous in the beginning and hard to enforce.

As Canada prepares for legalization, CBC News spoke to insiders to get their perspective on why the black market is thriving in a place where pot is legal.

The DEA

Investigators with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) focus on the largest and most serious drug trafficking rings operating in the United States.

Paul Roach, a DEA supervisor, says his team spends about 15 per cent of its time on marijuana trafficking cases  a threefold increase from before legalization.

"Colorado has basically become the marijuana capital of the United States," he said.

"You find drug trafficking organizations moving here, setting up shop in Colorado and sending it back to their home states where they can sell it at incredible profit."

DEA agents document Operation Golden Gopher, in which they raided several Denver warehouses they say housed marijuana intended to be smuggled out of state:

Colorado's high-altitude weed is being trafficked to dozens of states, but some of its largest recipients are Florida, Illinois and Texas, according to a report by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Traffic Area. It works to support the national drug control strategy while co-ordinating investigations between different authorities.

Story continues

Criminal organizations, including groups tied to Mexican and Cuban drug cartels, are growing marijuana in rental homes, warehouses and even on forested federal land.

In some cases, they are operating in plain sight and are disguised as legitimate operations.

"The cartels and drug trafficking organizations, in general, will go where they will make money," Roach said.

"If they see an opportunity in Canada to increase their profits by exploiting Canada's laws, then I expect them to do that."

The local sheriff

Jason Mikesell is sheriff of Teller County, Colo., a rural community nestled against the Rocky Mountains.

This picturesque county of 24,000 is favoured by young families and retirees, but Mikesell says criminal organizations are also moving in to smuggle pot out.

"Never would we have thought that we would have this issue going on in our community," he said.

While he believes most of the illegal marijuana grown in Teller County is destined for out of state, he also says there is a local black market.

Last fall, Mikesell wanted to sell an SUV, so he listed it on Cragislist. A prospective buyer offered to trade for nearly two kilograms of pot.

Mikesell set up the trade, and when the buyers arrived, they were arrested and charged with illegal distribution of marijuana. One of them was convicted and recently sentenced to four years in prison.

Mikesell says Colorado was the test subject for legal weed in the U.S., and the state regulations that made enforcement difficult because people were allowed to grow so much of their own marijuana.

In the beginning, each person could grow up to six plants, and they could pool them together in a co-op.

Medical patients could grow up to 99 plants and appoint a caregiver to grow it for them.

More restrictive laws were introduced earlier this year, limiting each residence to a maximum of 12 plants, so the sheriff's office has been able to ramp up enforcement.

The sheriff's team has raided eight houses so far this year and has seized more than $3.5 million US of marijuana. During those investigations, they arrested more than 20 cartel members with connections to Cuba and Miami.

Mikesell says his team has been tipped off about some of the grow operations because people have called in complaining about strong odours in their neighbourhood.

"We know there are another 60 or 70 marijuana houses we haven't got to yet," said Mikesell.

Other local police departments in Colorado are getting similar calls from residents who also report excessive noise from air conditioning units and blown electrical transformers, according to the DEA.

The drug dealer

A dealer who agreed to speak with CBC News on condition that he not be named said he spends most of his days in the front seat of his sedan driving around Denver. An air freshener dangles from the mirror of his vehicle, but it can't disguise the lingering smell of weed.

On his lap, he holds a plastic bag containing marijuana buds.

"In a good day  I am making $400 to $500," he said.

The father of two advertises online along with dozens of others who grow and sell marijuana illegally.

He runs a delivery service and sells marijuana that he's picked up from a network of growers who have "extra" product, and he also grows his own. He compares himself to a pizza delivery man because, he says, he guarantees delivery to anywhere in Denver in less than an hour.

A dealer in Denver shows off his supply:

He says legalization hasn't had a big impact on his business because he caters to clients who don't want to be seen going into a dispensary.

"I have had nurses that have contacted me via the internet and have a delivery brought to their home or their office or wherever they feel comfortable," he said.

His clientele also includes a number of truck drivers, who are prohibited from using marijuana under federal transportation laws.

While the dealer's operation helps him provide for his family, it isn't his full-time job. He says he has a couple of more "respectable" side projects that keep him busy, but he says one of his goals is to make marijuana more accessible.

He does worry about being caught by the police but admits there are other risks to operating in the black market.

"I have had people sit right there ... with a gun to my head," he said, pointing to the front passenger seat.

"It's a definite risk."

The advocate

Whenever Larisa Bolivar, 42, wants to pick up some marijuana, she heads to one of her preferred Denver dispensaries where she can buy cannabis to smoke and edibles to eat.

As president of Colorado's Cannabis Consumers Coalition, she is both a longtime user and an advocate. For the past two years, she has conducted online surveys by polling marijuana users about just where they get their pot from. She reached out through the coalition's Facebook page, which has 17,000 members, and contacted people directly after obtaining customer lists from cannabis-related companies.

She had 527 people respond to her 2017 survey, and while she is still tallying the results for this year, she says the findings are consistent.

"There is still a larger percentage of people buying from the black market [than legally]," she said.

The results of Bolivar's Facebook survey suggested nearly 50 per cent of the respondents were not shopping at the state's licensed dispensaries. Bolivar says most are buying their pot off of friends or sticking to their regular dealers because they trust them.

In Colorado, you have to be 21 to buy from a dispensary, and you have show identification. Bolivar says accessibility is also an issue: not all communities have retail stores.

Taxes and fees on marijuana have brought in more than $250 million US to the state last year. Bolivar says those additional costs are the biggest driver toward the local black market.

"I really think a lot of it has to do with price," Bolivar says.

The tax rates vary by municipality. In Denver, for example, people buying recreational marijuana pay a tax of 23.15 per cent.

"If I can save $5 on a purchase, that is a cheap lunch," Bolivar said.

CBC's Briar Stewart gets an inside look at Colorado's marijuana black market:
A Winnipeg library that is more than a century old and houses the city's archives has been named among the most endangered historic sites in Canada at a time when the future of the building hangs in limbo.

The National Trust for Canada has put Winnipeg's former Carnegie Library building at 380 William Ave.  which has sat empty since 2013  on its 2018 Top 10 Endangered Places List.

"It's the oldest library in Winnipeg and it's a high profile one with beautiful materials," said Chris Wiebe, manager of heritage policy and government relations at National Trust for Canada, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the renewal of historic sites across the country.

"It's not a negative list by any means, I think it's a way of shining a spotlight on properties that have the potential to be turned around."

The Carnegie Library was officially opened in 1905 after the city received a $75,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie, and is the first of three city libraries to be built with help from the American philanthropist, including the Cornish Library and St. John's Library.

While it was replaced by the Centennial Library (now the Millennium Library) in 1977, the Carnegie continued to serve as a library branch until it became the home of the City of Winnipeg Archives in 1995, according to records from the Manitoba Historical Society.

But while the building was undergoing major renovations in 2013, a heavy rainstorm damaged the roof and washed away plans to turn it into a state-of-the-art archival facility.

The city moved the archives out and it's been vacant ever since.

'Recipe for an endangered building'

That's "a recipe for an endangered building," says Cindy Tugwell, who nominated the building for the National Trust list.

"To sit vacant and mothballed, we don't know what work has been done  has all the mould been removed? So in our eyes it could be a sitting duck for demolition by neglect," said Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg.

Story continues

"We have no clear understanding of what the city wants to do as owners and what their future intentions are for the building."

The city's archival collection and departmental records are now being held in storage on an interim basis out of two locations  the Corporate Records Centre at 311 Ross Ave. and leased space at 50 Myrtle St., according to a city spokesperson.

Both Wiebe  who used to live in Winnipeg and visited the Carnegie Library while he was in school  and Tugwell hope to see the archives returned to Carnegie Library.

"It was one of the most dynamic and most used libraries in Western Canada for many decades in the middle of the 20th century," said Wiebe.

"Continuing that public use and access would be the ideal solution  it was a public space  it has that value to people in the area and around Winnipeg."

Heritage protection, for now

A city spokesperson said the city is "currently evaluating strategic alternatives for the future use of the Carnegie Library," but added bringing back the archives remains an option.

In the meantime, the repair work has been put on hold until that use has been determined, said the spokesperson, who also didn't rule out the possibility the city could sell the building in the future.

If that's the route the city chooses, Tugwell hopes the decision is made soon. While she would rather see the archives return, Tugwell says she has heard from developers interested in making a deal.

While the building is protected with heritage status, that protection falls with the walls, says Tugwell.

"What worries me is, if it sits a couple more years like that it will be too far gone for anybody to purchase it and reuse it," she said. "Unfortunately it's not protected if it's falling apart.

"These buildings are too valuable to let sit for years on end vacant."

She's hopeful the attention brought by the National Trust's list will encourage the city to make a decision on what to do with the building.

"We'll never see the likes of these buildings again, the way that they're built, the type of architecture and the type of materials and the sturdiness of theses buildings that were built over a century ago to last the test of time," she said.

"We'll never see these buildings again  once we destroy them, they're gone."




Theres been a lot of speculation around where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will honeymoo, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly courting several destinations, including Ireland and Africa.

But according to TMZ, theyve finally decided on a locationand its in Canada!

Getty Images

ALSO SEE: One of Kate Middletons favourite designers accuses Meghan Markle of copying her work

The former Suits star, who spent several years in Canada, and her husband, will reportedly head to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, in Jasper National Park.

The Duke and Duchess will stay in the Outlook Cabin, which costs an eye-watering $8,850 CAD a night. The 6,000-square foot cabin boasts six bedrooms, two fireplaces and much more. And its fittingly known as the Royal Retreat.

ALSO SEE: Queen Elizabeth is sending Meghan Markle back to school

The cabin, located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, actually has quite the history with royals.

King George VI and the Queen Mother stayed there in 1939, while Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have stayed there a handful of times, as recently as 2005.

Watch the video above to learn more about the royals honeymoon, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Check out our brand new podcast, Make It Reign  our hot takes on all things royals in a non-stuffy way  on iTunes and Google Play.
Just the other day my colleagues and I were discussing the unfortunate death of a toddler who had chocked on a toy. All of us are fathers and we could not imagine the devastation of losing one of our own. A comment was said I wouldnt want to keep living if I lost my child. A couple of the boys jumped in straight away and said, No you would man, you have Jesus. We are all Christian men, we love our families and we love God, but that conversation got me really thinking, would I be ok if tragedy struck, would I be ok if I hit rock bottom, if I have nothing left, will Jesus be enough for me?

That night while I was showering my almost 2-year-old daughter, I was singing some worship songs with her while shampooing her hair. There is a song that I love called Healer by Hillsong. There is a particular line in the song that goes Youre more than enough for me, Jesus youre all I need I instantly broke out into tears, I sat on the shower floor and sobbed. My daughter must have thought I was a crazy person, all of sudden daddy has gone from happily singing to uncontrollable crying.

The conversation from earlier on in the day with the boys flooded my thoughts and I held my little girl tight, not ever wanting to let her go. I cried for a couple of reasons, one I never want to lose a child and two if all I have was taken from me, will Jesus be enough? In that moment I was not sure I would have wanted to continue on.

This got me thinking about how comfortable my life as a Christian has been. Not once have I ever been in danger because of my faith, not in my adult life have I experienced the death of a close friend or family member, not once have I faced a medical diagnosis that would change the course of my life. Life for me as a Christian has been fairly cruisy, quite easy to love God and remain strong in faith. Sure, there have been some pretty hard times, but some of the things I have mentioned happen to people, good and bad, Christian and non-Christian all the time. So many people have hit rock bottom, for the believer, was Jesus enough for them?

Hope lies in those who have come before

The bible has many accounts of believers suffering, losing everything and yet their faith in God was what got them through the tough times. I think of Abraham and Sara who werent able to have children and were well passed child bearing age. Yet God asked him to have faith and promised that his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky. The nation of Israel was born.

Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold off into slavery, falsely accused of rape and thrown into an Egyptian prison and forgotten about. Yet because of his faith, God raised him up and he eventually became second in command of Egypt.

Job lost it all, his wealth, health and family. Many of his friends had told him you must have done something wrong to have such tragedy come upon you. But never once did he blame God. God restored Jobs life because of his faith and commitment to Him.

Christians past and present have been brutally persecuted, believers murdered and tortured for their faith, yet the Christian faith continues to grow in the very countries that are trying to wipe them out. Everything I have mentioned are real things, that happen to real people every day. How such faith can come out of immense tragedy can only be explained as miraculous. But then again, we serve a miraculous God.

Why did these individuals hold on? Why did they continue to pursue God even though their lives wear left in tatters? They all had one thing in common, an eternal perspective, hope in a future where pain and suffering will no longer exist, evidence of a God who loved them and cared for them, a God who knows all too well the suffering they have gone through, a God who can relate and empathise with them.

My best friend

Psalm chapter 34, verse 18 says: The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We have a God who is concerned with our wellbeing, he knows the perils that life holds for mankind, the suffering, the wars, the diseases, the death. In our short lives here, we will all experience some of the worst that life has to offer, but we are able to stand strong and carry on because of what Jesus did for us.

My best friend, my Lord and Saviour went through it all. The emotional stress of the task before him as he knew how he would die, the physical humiliation and torture of his body as he took stripe after stripe for me and you, the fear and the loneliness as he hung on the cross, the sins of the world past, present and future thrust upon him, so much so that God could not look at him and He cried. My God, My God why have you forsaken me? an eternal connection broken in an instant.

You see Jesus knew, he needed to pay the price so that mankind could have a chance to have an eternal relationship with the Father just like he does. So, the answer to the question: Jesus youre all I need? Yes, with all my heart, yes.

Jarred is an HPE and Mathematics teacher on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, he is married to Haley and has beautiful daughter named Chelsea. Jarreds previous articles may be viewed at: https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jarred-pienaar.html
Colombia has formally joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization as global partner. It makes it first Latin American to join NATO. The announcement came after Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) approved Colombia as a new member.

Background

NATO alliance had reached partnership agreement with Colombia back in May 2017, just after the Latin American signed peace agreement with communist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), ending the longest-running civil conflict in Latin America. The peace deal had earned Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.

Key Facts

As a global partner with NATO, Colombia will not necessarily have to take part in active military actions of NATO but will be fully accredited to 29-nation military alliance. It will cooperate on global security areas like cyber and maritime security, terrorism and links to organized crime. Other global partners of NATO include Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries based on the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. It is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, while headquarters of its Allied Command Operations is near Mons, Belgium.

NATO system constitutes of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to attack by any external party. The combined military spending of all NATO members constitutes over 70% of the global defence spending.
The first edition of Global Wind Summit will be held in Hamburg, Germany from September 25 to 28, 2018. It will be largest and most important meeting of the wind industry worldwide. The summit will see participation of of speakers from about 100 countries, including India, China, the US, Spain and Denmark.

Key Facts

The summit combines will have two main conferences, WindEnergy Hamburg and WindEurope, Holinsky. Both events together will witness participation of about 1,400 exhibitors and 250 speakers from all over the world. The summit will provide platform for experts from across globe to discuss innovative and green technologies for harnessing wind energy making.

The focus of the conferences will be on three major subjects viz. dynamic markets, cost efficiency and smart energy. It will discuss ways to develop new markets, make product competitive in auctions and use wind power for all energy applications.

Note: India with 33GW (installed capacity) is fourth largest country after China, US and Germany in terms of wind energy installation capacity. Government has set ambitious target of achieving 60 GW of wind energy by 2022.
India has concluded price negotiations with Russia for deal to procure S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems for Indian Air Force (IAF). They also have finalised financial component nearly Rs 40,000 crore of the deal.

Key Facts

The deal will be announced before annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2018. Now both countries are now trying to find way out to evade provisions of CAATSA (Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), a stringent US law that seeks to punish countries and entities engaged in transactions with defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.

Background

India wants to procure long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along its nearly 4,000-km-long border. In 2016, India had signed agreement with Russia on Triumf interceptor-based missile system. But there has been mounting concerns in India over US sanctions against Russian defence majors export as billions of dollars of military purchases may be impacted because of punitive measure. The US had announced sanctions against Russia under CAATSA for its alleged meddling in presidential election in 2016.

S-400 Triumf Air Defence System

It is long-range air defence missile system is one of most advanced long-range defence systems in the world. It is referred to as SA-21 Growler by NATO. It is an upgraded version of the S-300 defence system and is manufactured by Almaz-Antey. It has been in service in Russia since 2007.

It is capable of firing three types of missiles, creating layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36 targets. It has capability to destroy incoming all airborne targets at ranges of up to 400 km. With it, India can destroy Pakistani or Chinese aircrafts even when they are in their airspace.

China was first foreign country to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia to procure this lethal missile system in 2014. Russia already has started delivery of unknown number of the S-400 missile systems to China.
Sri Lanka: Death toll in Sri Lanka monsoon rains hits 19

May 28,2018 | Source: The Quint

The death toll in Sri Lanka monsoon rains reached 19 on Saturday while over 128,000 people have been affected, the country's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. DMC Spokesperson Pradeep Kodippili said two people were reported missing in the south while over 55,000 people had been evacuated to safer areas, Xinhua news agency reported.



With the threat of more rains in the coming days, Kodippili said those living in low areas, close to rivers and lakes were advised to evacuate and the police along with tri forces had been deployed in the affected districts for relief assistance.



Till date, over 4,000 houses, mainly in the south and north central Sri Lanka have been fully or partially damaged. Kodippili also warned the naval and fishing communities to be vigilant as the wind speed could increase up to 60 to 70 km per hour. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe earlier this week instructed relevant authorities to immediately provide relief to the people affected by floods and landslides.



The Meteorological Department said that "heavy falls above 100 millimetres can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts". Over 200 people were killed and 78 people went missing when the monsoons caused severe floods and landslides across Sri Lanka in 2017.
4,000 inmates await execution in Punjab





The fate of thousands of death-row prisoners hangs in the balance as the federal government failed to come up with a clear-cut policy to deal with convicts over the last 5 years.





The general elections 2018 are due in July with Pakistan having largest death-row population in the world. Perhaps, the new government will be able to decide the fate of condemned prisoners languishing in jails for decades.





Currently, at least 6,000 to 8,000 prisoners await execution across the country. Most of those put on the death row were convicted in murder cases. Hundreds among them have exhausted their appeals and their clemency appeals are rejected as well.





In December 2014, Pakistan lifted 7-year unofficial moratorium on the death penalty in response to the deadliest attack on Army Public School in Peshawar. The executions picked up momentum in 2015 with 332 convicts sent to gallows.





However, the executions dropped drastically in 2016 and 2017. At least 87 convicts were hanged across the country in 2016 while 44 convicts were executed in 2017. According to Justice Project Pakistan, at least 495 convicts have been hanged in the country since the moratorium was lifted.





It is not clear yet why the executions of murder convicts are halted this year again. But key international players called for an immediate halt to executions after the country had suspended the ban on the death penalty for all convicts.





Many among those hanged to death in recent years were terrorists in addition to murderers.





In 2016, several inmates were hanged to death in murder cases reported by police almost 20 years ago. They remained in the prisons for 15 to 20 years before they were executed. Among them were double-murder convicts Mansha Munees and Salman Munees who were hanged in the Lahore's Central Prison on February 4, 2017. The police had reported the offense in 1996.





Similarly, Allah Ditta who had murdered his wife in 1999 was executed in district jail Jhang on January 19, 2016 after remaining on the death row for more than 15 years.





While rights activists call for reforms in the criminal justice system stating that the death penalty does not deter crimes, the police officers think otherwise.





Police investigators and jail officers interviewed for this story say executions help control crime particularly murders in this society where thousands of people are killed each year.





Police official Mubarak says if the convicts will not be hanged for many years the impact of the punishment will vanish. "We are bound to follow the law that awards death penalty to the killers. If the convicts will not be executed on fast-track, the rising murder rate will not be controlled. If the punishment is awarded after 15 or 20 years, it will not make any different because even the victim family, after so many years, will forget what had happened to them," he said.





Police officer Ahmad, who works at a police station in Lahore to exclusively investigate the murder cases, said thousands of people are murdered due to one or another reason each year in this province. "The suspects are arrested by police, sent to jails, and convicted in the courts. They must be punished under the laws," he said.





In recent years, the Punjab Police established special homicide cells at each police station to probe murder case. Nayab Haider, a police spokesman said, the murder cases are thoroughly investigated.





He says the police use multiple resources and techniques to probe homicides and ensure conviction. "The Homicide Investigation Cells are set up in each police station of the province to exclusively investigate murder incidents. This (murders) has become a complete subject for the policing because of high murder rate in the province," he explained.





Farooq Nazir, former Inspector General of Prisons says that 95 % of those put on the death row were sentenced to death in murder cases. A few drug convicts are also on the death row in Punjab, he said.





Nazir, who served in Punjab for many years to lead the Prisons Department, defends the capital punishment stating that it works as deterrence. "Hundreds of people are murdered (in Punjab) every month. But only a few convicts are hanged," he said. "The convicts are given fair trails. Even they can compromise with the heirs of the deceased under the laws."





The former prisons police chief said at least 4,000 convicts are on the death row in the Punjab province where police reported 1,213 murdered cases during the first 4 months of this year.





According to him, when suspects are convicted in homicides and awarded death sentence by the district courts they are called "unconfirmed condemned prisoners" and when their appeals are rejected by the higher courts they are named as "confirmed condemned prisoners." Once the black warrants are issued, the convicts are hanged in jails within a week, he said. The convicts can appeal to the higher courts and the superior courts and even they can file mercy petitions, he argued.





He went on to say the ratio of homicides is zero in the countries where murder convicts are executed on fast-track like Singapore, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. He said only a few murder convicts are hanged in Pakistan after years long legal wrangling. "The impact of the punishment disappears if the convicts are sentenced after 20 years," he said.





Rimmel Mohydin of Justice Project Pakistan, a group which follows the cases of the death-row inmates, said most of the murder convicts belonged to poor families.





When asked whether the capital punishment helps downgrade murder ratio, she rejected the police claims. "This is, in fact, untrue," she said. "There are up to 8,000 prisoners on death row in Pakistan. The only common factor is that they are poor and therefore unable to afford lawyers who can prove them innocent. There are no millionaires on the death row," she said.





Rights activists say the country's criminal justice system is too complicated and mired in corruption. They say the poor can't hire strong defense lawyers. "None of the millionaire is put on the death row. The lawyers of poor convicts don't appear in the courts even after accepting fees," said Mohydin, Head of Communications at the Justice Project Pakistan.





"Pakistan's legal infrastructure is faulty, mired in red tape, and beholden to power. This creates a permissive environment for the routine miscarriage of justice," Mohydin said.





Akram says he was working in the fields when he came know that one of his relatives was shot dead by another. Consequently, 3 men were charged in the murder case and Akram was 1 of them.





"I had nothing to do with that murder. But nobody was ready to listen to my requests," Akram told The Nation during a brief interview. "Ultimately, I was handed life-term while the other 2 men were sentenced to death by the district courts."





All the 3 convicts spent almost 10 years in the Sahiwal District Jail before they appealed to the Lahore High Court from the prison. The Lahore High Court last year acquitted all the 3 men in the murder case of the ex-schoolteacher.





"There were many flaws in the investigation (of this murder case). The police and the lawyers failed to establish the facts before a 2-judge bench. So, the trio acquitted by the court," said Mr Riaz who represented one of the convicts.





"Jails are hell. Life is outside," said Akram who returned to his fields after spending 10 years in the prison for the crime he say he never committed. "Poor convicts are humiliated, tortured, and abused in the prisons," Akram recalls. "We had to do hard labour in the jail to skip torture."





But Madad Ali, the eldest son of the murdered schoolteacher, asks a simple question. He says that if the trio was innocent then who killed his father. "My father was shot dead in broad daylight. Who killed him and why?"





Ali has the right to challenge the High Courts' decision and file an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. But he says that his family was already hand-to-mouth after fighting a lengthy legal battle.





Mubeen Butt is one of thousands of prisoners put on the death-row in Pakistan. He was arrested in connection with a murder case registered in Lahore's Mozang police station almost a decade ago.





Mubeen's brother spoke to the Nation last week and said that the family would badly miss him on the upcoming Eid, a religious festival celebrated across the Muslim World by at the end of fasting month.





"We visit the jail to see Mubeen once in a month because we can't pay the jail staff for the meetings. The jails staff is too much demanding. They rob us whenever we go to the jail to see my brother. They also steal food items," he said.





Dozens of prisoners die in jails across the Punjab province each year because of diseases caused by poor sanitary conditions and lack of healthcare.





"All the prisons are overcrowded," said Zaman who spent several years in Faisalabad Jail after being arrested on house-robbery charges. "The jail staff tortures the inmates to extort cash from their relatives. The poor prisoners are abused and humiliated every day in jails," he said.





Rimmel Mohydin says that there is an urgent need to improve our sentencing laws, with an emphasis of rehabilitation and human right. "We have proven that the death penalty does not deter crimes. So, the solution lies in the broader societal problems that engender and encourages crimes. It's not the easy way but it's the right way," she said.





According to Justice Project Pakistan, Iqbal was just 17-year-old when he was sentenced to death for a botched robbery. His case was tried by an anti-terrorism court even though his crime had nothing to do with terrorism. The fact of his juvenility, doubts in the prosecution's case, and even forgiveness by victim's family failed to save him.





"He is almost 40-year-old now and still remains on the death row in a Punjab's jail. His case is a stark reminder of the dire need to reform Anti-Terrorism Act, starting with how it defines terrorism itself," said Mohydin.





Iqbal's death warrants were suspended last year on the intervention of the National Commission for Human Rights, she said. The convicts remain on the death as authorities are asked to determine his age first.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!





"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

The Nation, May 28, 2018
Death penalty advocates in the House of Representatives are upbeat over Senate President Vicente Sotto IIIs pronouncement of allowing the passage of the restoration of the capital punishment only for drug cases.





Led by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Illegal Drugs, administration lawmakers agree with Sottos position that the death sentence be reimposed in the country even if it will cover only high-level drug traffickers.





Reps. Arnolfo Teves (PDP-Laban, Negros Oriental); Sherwin Tugna (CIBAC Partylist) and Carlos Uybaretta (1-CARE Partylist) all voted for the passage of House Bill 4727 that provides for the restoration of the death penalty for drug-related cases.





Barbers explained that his original bill called for the imposition of the death sentence against persons found guilty of drug trafficking.





But my bill was later consolidated with other bills seeking to re-impose the death sentence on a number of heinous offenses, including plunder, said Barbers.





Sotto, who has been supportive of the Catholic Churchs stand against death penalty, divorce, and same-sex marriage, said he is willing to discuss with senators the proposal to reinstate the death sentence if it will be limited to illegal drugs cases.





The Senate president is a fierce anti-drug abuse crusader. He was chairman of the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs.





A reformed drug user and now another vigorous anti-drug abuse advocate, Teves said Sottos pronouncement provides a good opening that would revive the bid to reinstate the death sentence.





It will be revealed that the death penalty was abolished in 2006 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after it was re-imposed during the term of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!





"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Royal Seat of the Kingdom of Dahomey from the early 19th century is pictured, on June 18, 2018 at the Quai Branly Museum-Jacques Chirac in Paris. (Photo: AFP)

PARIS: Half-man, half-beast, the tall African statues dominate a busy gallery in Paris' Quai Branly museum. But few of the visitors are aware they are looking at what might be considered stolen goods.

The three imposing wooden carvings were plundered by French troops in 1892 from the kingdom of Dahomey -- modern-day Benin. "I came here to learn about how these objects were intended to be used, more than how they were brought here," said Michael Fanning, a student from New Orleans, peering up at the statues. "But it does make me think we should give them back to whoever made them."

From London to Berlin, Europe's museums are packed with hundreds of thousands of colonial-era items. Increasingly, they are facing the awkward question of whether they should be there at all. The "Scramble for Africa", as Europe's 19th-century land grab came to be known, brought with it a clamour for trinkets from conquered territories, so exotic to the eyes of the colonisers.

Bought, bartered and in some cases simply stolen by soldiers, missionaries and anthropologists, they ended up in museums and private collections all over Europe. The controversy is hardly new, nor does it concern Africa alone.

Star lawyer Amal Clooney, wife of Hollywood actor George, has advised Athens on its bid to reclaim the Parthenon marbles, vast sculptures which have been in Britain since the 1800s. The massive Koh-i-Noor diamond, part of Britain's crown jewels and claimed by India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, is another spectacular example.

But in Africa, a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron has spurred hope that things may be about to change. "Africa's heritage cannot just be in European private collections and museums," Macron said in Burkina Faso in November. He charged two experts with working out how to give African artefacts back within five years, prompting speculation that museums across Europe could be pressured to follow suit. "Suffice to say that he'll have made European curators quake in their boots," said Pascal Blanchard, a historian of French colonialism.

Tangle of problems

French art historian Benedicte Savoy, one of the experts appointed by Macron along with Senegalese writer Felwine Sarr, described her new job as "a hell of a challenge". Museums have long wrestled with a tangle of legal and ethical problems concerning who really "owns" such objects. Even in well-documented cases of pillaging, the law often prevents countries from giving them back.

Last year France flatly refused Benin's bid to reclaim its treasures, saying they were exempt from seizure as state property. European conservationists have also raised practical concerns, worrying artefacts could be stolen or handled improperly if given to inexperienced museums in politically unstable countries.

Blanchard said countries like Nigeria, with well-established museums, had "all the ingredients for solid restitution claims". But others as poor as Chad "do not currently have the museums and cultural heritage services capable of restoring and displaying these objects", he said.

'These objects belong to us'

Yet many African officials say these treasures should be at home, attracting tourists and boosting national pride. Few cases inspire more outrage than the Benin bronzes, hundreds of exquisite metal plaques seized in 1897 by British troops from the Kingdom of Benin, in modern-day Nigeria. Most are now in the British Museum and the Ethnological Museum of Berlin.

For Crusoe Osagie, spokesman for the governor of Nigeria's Edo State, it is simply wrong that his children must go to Britain or Germany to see their heritage in a glass-fronted cabinet. "These objects belong to us and were forcefully denied to our possession," he told AFP. As for suggestions that Africans might not look after such objects, he finds the idea insulting."It's like asking me how to look after my child," he said. "We are ready to look after them with great care."

Echoes of Nazi looting

Some colonial-era artefacts have been handed back over the years on an ad hoc basis, and UN cultural agency UNESCO has mediated successfully in several disputes since the 1970s. European and US museums have also been meeting with Nigerian officials since 2007 seeking a solution for the Benin bronzes, but with few results.

The idea of loaning the bronzes, as well as Ethiopian items displayed in Britain, has been floated, but some African officials are affronted by the suggestion of "borrowing" what they see as their own property. For want of better solutions, many museums are simply trying to approach the issue more sensitively.

German museums have taken a lead -- mindful of their previous experience with Jewish-owned artworks looted by the Nazis. At Berlin's new Humboldt Forum, labels are set to include details of how colonial-era items came to be in the collection. And Hamburg's MKG museum is running an exhibition which focuses not so much on its three Benin bronzes, but the fact that they were looted.

Its curator Silke Reuther said visitors appreciate the museum's honesty. "We are not afraid to show something which is not a beautiful story," she said.
The ministry said it was also conveyed to the Pakistani deputy envoy that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations. (Photo: PTI/Representational)

New Delhi: India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah over Islamabad's so-called Gilgit-Baltistan order, and told him that any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under his country's forcible occupation has no legal basis.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Through its order on Gilgit-Baltistan on May 21, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has seized more authority from the local council to deal with the affairs of the region.

Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order. "Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the MEA said.

The ministry said it was also conveyed to the Pakistani deputy envoy that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan-occupied territories.
German and French stock futures were up 0.4 percent.

U.S. oil futures sank to six-week lows on Monday on expectations that major producers may raise output, while Asian stocks and U.S. share futures gained on signs the United States and North Korea were still working towards holding a summit.

The euro bounced back from a 6-1/2-month low after the Italian president rejected a eurosceptic as a key economy minister, as reported by Reuters.

But his move was seen as triggering a possible constitutional crisis and opening the prospect of fresh elections, keeping the single currency fragile.

Read alsoReuters: Oil prices fall as Russia warns of gradual output increase

Oil prices extended their decline from last week on growing expectations that major oil producers may ease their 17-month-old production cuts.

A return to the oil production levels that were in place in October 2016, the baseline for the current deal to cut output, is one of the options for easing curbs, Russia's energy minister said on Saturday.

His comments came after the energy ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia met to review the terms of global oil supply, ahead of a key OPEC meeting in Vienna next month.

Brent crude futures dropped as much as 2.6 percent to $74.49 per barrel, their lowest level in about three weeks. They last stood at $75.00, down 1.8 percent.

U.S. crude futures dropped to six-week low of $65.80 per barrel, shedding 3.1 percent and is on course to post its fifth day of decline.

U.S. S&P500 mini futures rose 0.5 percent, but market holidays in the world's two biggest financial centers  London and New York  could make trading slow and illiquid for the day.

German and French stock futures were up 0.4 percent.

South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.8 percent, buoyed by stocks which are seen as benefiting from a further thawing in tensions with Pyongyang.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5 percent. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.1 percent.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and President of Azerbaijan's SOCAR state-owned oil company Rovnag Abdullayev at a meeting in Kyiv discussed prospects of expanding cooperation in the sphere of supplies of high-quality aviation fuel and the possibility of its production in Ukraine.

The press service of the head of state reported on Saturday that the SOCAR president thanked for the opportunity to take part in the session of the National Investment Council under the President of Ukraine. He said that the company "feels comfortable in Ukraine and develops rapidly."

The parties discussed the "Turkish projects" of the company, the involvement of Ukraine in them and the prospects for further development of the oil refining complex in Ukraine.

"Next year, after the completion of strategic projects in Turkey, all attention will be paid to Ukraine. As development here is very successful," the president of SOCAR said, adding that "in ten years in Ukraine, good conditions for business have been created just recently."

Poroshenko pointed out the strategic nature of cooperation between the two states.

"I believe that we must take full advantage of those opportunities for the development and deepening of cooperation, including in the energy sector," the president said. He also pointed out the importance of using this potential to diversify energy supply to Ukraine.

The parties also discussed the possibility of expanding cooperation in the supply of high-quality aviation fuel and its possible production in Ukraine given sharp increase in the air passenger traffic at Ukrainian airports, in particular, Boryspil, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa and other Ukrainian cities.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is one of the largest operators of the world fuel and energy market. The key areas of the company's activities are: development of new deposits, oil and gas production, refining of oil products, trading and research activities.
Two servicemen of the Ukrainian Security Service's (SBU) Alfa Special Operations Group, Lt. Col. Ruslan Muliar and CWO Yuriy Zhuravlev, were killed in the zone of the joint forces operation in the Luhansk region, the press service for the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said.

"While on a combat mission, a group of SBU officers involved in the joint forces' operation came under artillery fire. Two servicemen of the Alfa Special Operations Group were killed, another was gravely wounded," the SBU said on its official website on Sunday.
Russian-led forces have mounted 2 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in the past day, using heavy weapons four times banned by the Minsk Agreements, with two Ukrainian servicemen wounded in action (WIA) reported, the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported.

"The situation in the area of the JFO operation remains under control. For the past day, May 27, the intensity of military operations has significantly decreased. Russian-led troops violated the ceasefire 22 times, four of them using heavy weapons. Our troops gave an adequate response to the enemy," JFO said in the bulletin as of 7:00 on Monday posted on the Facebook page of the JFO.

In the Horlivka sector, fighting continued in the areas of settlements of Svitlodarsk, Zaitseve and Novhorodske. In the Donetsk sector - near the Butovka mine, Krasnohorivka and Maryinka.

In addition, the situation in the Mariupol sectors near the settlements of Pavlopil, Vodiane and Shyrokyne was aggravated.

"Yesterday, around 19.00, during a brief clash near the settlement of Pavlopil, the enemy suffered casualties. According to the updated data, three invaders were killed and three were wounded, while the fate of one serviceman of the JFO is still unknown. The circumstances of the disappearance of the serviceman are being clarified, measures to find him have been taken," JFO reported.

According to the press center for the past day two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in acttion. They were evacuated to a hospital.

Since the beginning of the current day, May 28, no casualties have been reported.
All countries of the European Union (EU) support the outcome of an investigation into downing of Flight MH17 of Malaysian Airlines over Donbas in 2014 and call on Russia to contribute to the efforts to establish accountability, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini told reporters on Monday.

"The outcome of the investigation has been a very important moment for us. You know that the European Union has always been fully supportive of the investigation exercise and we, together at 28, reaffirmed our full support to the outcome of this investigation and to the efforts to bring accountability. And we call upon Russia to take its responsibilities and contribute to the efforts to establish accountability," she said.

As reported, Boeing-777 of Malaysia Airlines, carrying out the flight MH17 Amsterdam (the Netherlands) - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was shot down in the sky over Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers on board died.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which includes prosecutors and representatives of other law enforcement agencies in Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and Malaysia, as well as representatives of Eurojust, presented the results of a criminal investigation into the causes of the disaster in the Netherlands on September 28, 2016.

According to the findings, the airliner was shot down by a 9M38 missile launched from the BUK-TELAR self-propelled gun from an agricultural field in the area of Pervomaisk. At that time, the region was under the control of Russian occupation forces. It also follows from the investigation that the self-propelled fire unit BUK-TELAR was delivered to Ukraine from Russia and after its use for an attack on the airliner of the MH17 flight was again returned to Russia.
State prosecutors believe it has been proven that Ukrainian citizen Roman Suschenko is guilty of espionage, his attorney Mark Feygin told Interfax on Monday.

"During the presentation of cases, the prosecutor asked for Sushchenko to be sentenced to 14 years in a high-security penal colony," he said.

The defense insists that Suschenko is innocent; according to the attorney, he is a victim of a provocation.
An underage girl has been killed in militants' shelling of the Zhelezne (Toretske) settlement in Donbas, First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine Viacheslav Abroskin has said.

"Today, during the shelling of militants in the peaceful village of Zhelezne (Toretske), an underage girl was killed. The child went into the courtyard where she was killed by a fragment of an enemy shell. The investigators team up is working on the site," Abroskin wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.

In turn, Head of Donetsk Regional Military-Civil Administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky said that the incident occurred in the village of Zhelezne near Toretsk. According to him, a 15-year-old girl, a student of the ninth form of school No. 7, was killed.

"The child was in the yard of her grandmother at the time when a large-caliber shell, released from the Russia-led positions, landed there," Zhebrivsky wrote on his Facebook page.
Kyiv counts on support of Ukraine's position in Ukraine-EU summit on July 9  Poroshenko after meeting with Bulgarian PM

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov during the negotiations in Kyiv on Saturday discussed stepping up cooperation between the two countries.

"Today during the talks a wide range of issues were discussed which could improve and deepen cooperation between the two countries," Poroshenko told reporters in Kyiv on Saturday after the negotiations with the Bulgarian prime minister.

He also said that the country is counting on "the support of Ukraine's position and the demonstration of further development of relations between Ukraine and the European Union, including at the Ukraine-EU Summit on July 9 this year."

In addition, Poroshenko said that Bulgaria has a firm and consistent position in support of sovereignty of Ukraine.

"I want to thank Mr. Prime Minister for a firm and consistent position in support of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. We felt it from the very first days of Russian aggression. And the principled position of Bulgaria, including within the Council of the European Union when deciding on sanctions for the non-fulfillment of the Minsk agreements by the Russian Federation is extremely important for us," the head of state said.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has demanded that Ukrainian journalist Roman Suschenko, who has been charged in Russia with espionage, be freed and called the criminal case against him politically motivated.

"We once again stress that the case is politically motivated and demand that journalist Suschenko, a hostage to Russia's aggression, be freed," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Suschenko's defense lawyer Mark Feygin told Interfax the Moscow City Court will announce a sentence in early June.

Prosecutors said in court that they believe the defendant's guilt has been proven and asked that he be sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony. The defense argued that Suschenko was an innocent victim of a provocation.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said that NATO would continue providing support to Ukraine and Georgia.

"We will continue to provide practical and political support to Ukraine, to Georgia," he said at a press conference in Warsaw.

He said that Georgia and Ukraine are close partners of NATO.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov have made an arrangement to train teachers in Ukraine and Bulgaria for national schools.

"We have decided to solve the issues of teacher training both in Ukraine and Bulgaria. We agreed that we are developing national schools," Poroshenko told reporters in Kyiv on Saturday.

In turn, Borisov said that Bulgaria and Ukraine should train teachers for schools with the Bulgarian language.

According to him, the law of Ukraine on education "opens up great opportunities for citizens of Bulgarian origin."

In addition, Poroshenko announced that an agreement to visit Bolhrad (Odesa region) was reached with the Bulgarian prime minister.

"Together we will visit Ukrainian citizens of Bulgarian origin (Bolhrad) which make a lot of efforts for the prosperity of Ukraine, create a bridge of friendship between our countries, so we must take care of them," Borisov said.
The Ukrainian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) has prepared a report informing that Russia develops biological and chemical weapons, MP from Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction and Head of Ukraine's delegation to the NATO PA Iryna Friz has said.

"During a meeting of the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security of NATO PA I handed a report drawn up by our team concerning research work of Russian research institutes in the sphere of developing biological and chemical weapons," Friz wrote on her Facebook page, the press service of Petro Poroshenko Bloc reported on Saturday.

According to her, the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London using polonium and the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury is a vivid example of how the Russian Federation uses weapons of mass destruction abroad.

"For at least the last three years, Russia has been conducting research on hemorrhagic fever viruses, in particular Ebola and Marburg, misrepresent as attempts to develop vaccines. In fact, this is a return to Soviet development of the combination of Ebola with smallpox virus. It is confirmed by the analysis of more than 5,000 items public procurement and scientific activity of several Russian institutions under the management of the Russian Ministry of Defense. At the same time, another research organization is actively involved in procurement and conducts studies pointing to the development of new warfare agents with the properties of nerve gases. The corresponding report was also submitted to the headquarters of the Alliance," Friz wrote.

In her opinion, taking into account the report of Lord Jopling, it is necessary to familiarize the members of the NATO PA with the report that focuses also on the issue of the use of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.

"I do not rule out the prospect of including this aspect in Lord Jopling's final report as another threat in the context of Russia's hybrid actions against other states," she said.
Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says although Europeans are serious in their attempt to save the nuclear deal with Iran, yet Tehran doubts their ability to do so.

Speaking in an interview with Irans state TV Sunday night, May 27, Araqchi warned that Iran might pull out of the JCPOA if we do not reach a conclusion at the end of our negotiations with the European signatories of the nuclear deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Addressing the UK, France and Germany, Araqchi said that they should implement the JCPOA as it is, as we wont take even one step beyond our current commitment based on the document.

Araqchi made the remarks after the three European states concurred with the United States criticizing Irans missile program and its destabilizing measures in the region, although they disagreed with Washingtons pullout from the deal.

Reacting to Europes position, Araqchi stressed, We are not going to enter any negotiation about the missiles, the region or the future of JCPOA.

He called on the Europeans to offer an economic package that would secure Irans interests, while Iran is waiting to see if Europe can address technical and political challenges about European private sector activities in Iran following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say about Irans domestic and foreign policies, has recently set some far-fetched conditions for continued Iranian commitment to JCPOA. He called for a UN Security Council resolution against the United States, guarantees by European banks about the continuation of trade with Iran, guaranteeing Irans continued oil exports, redress for promises broken in the past, and countering U.S. sanctions against Iran.
(Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that only Syrian government troops should have a presence on Syria's southern border, which is close to Jordan and Israel.

Rebels hold stretches of that area and intensive Israeli airstrikes in Syria this month were prompted by what Israel said was Iranian rocket fire from the area into the Golan Heights.

Russia and Iran are close allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Of course, the withdrawal of all non-Syrian forces must be carried out on a mutual basis, this should be a two-way street," Lavrov said at a joint news conference in Moscow with Jose Condungua Pacheco, his counterpart from Mozambique.

"The result of this work which should continue and is continuing should be a situation when representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic's army stand at Syria's border with Israel," Lavrov said.

Israel in turn called on Monday for its arch-foe Iran to be denied any military presence in Syria, after Russia said Damascus' forces alone should control Syrian territory near the Israeli and Jordanian borders.

"Our position on Syria is clear," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his parliamentary faction in broadcast remarks. "We believe that there is no place for any Iranian military presence, anywhere in Syria."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported Syrian army movements into the south and state media have reported leaflet drops on rebel-held areas there urging insurgents to accept government rule, two signs a military offensive may be coming.
Russia has relocated up to 1 million people to the annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea, according to Mustafa Dzhemilev, the long-time leader of the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's envoy for Crimean Tatar affairs.

Dzhemilev told Ukrinform on May 27 that Moscow is bringing "large numbers" of people from various regions of Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

"But this is held as a military secret because they know perfectly well that it is a crime," Dzhemilev said.

He estimated that the total number of Russians brought into the disputed region was between 850,000 and 1 million.

"Russia is now roughly repeating the same strategy that was used during the first occupation [of Crimea] under [Empress] Catherine [the Great]," he said. "At that time it wasn't possible to deport people since there were no railroads. So they simply created impossible living conditions for people in order to force them to migrate. As a result, Crimean Tatars very quickly became a minority people."

The Russian annexation of Crimea and Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine prompted the United States, the European Union, and others to impose targeted sanctions against selected Russian individuals and companies.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

A solemn concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic is being held in Baku Crystal Hall.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, first lady Mehriban Aliyeva and family members are attending the concert.

The conception of the event organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation highlights the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28 in 1918, the country`s achievements in the past 100 years and Azerbaijan`s position as one of the independent, powerful and developed countries.

Famous cultural and art figures are performing at the concert.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Unfortunately, so far the Armenian new leaderships actions and behaviour in handling the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issues have been far from inspiring optimism, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium Fuad Isgandarov said in an interview with EURACTIV media platform.

The Armenian previous government made its survival through its radical destructive policy towards conflict settlement, he said.

The current Armenian government is facing the debris of this policy, Isgandarov added. They need fresh air and fresh blood to revive the economy which is in a shambles. They should strive to become an inclusive partner in projects in the region.

This is possible only through building normal relations with neighbouring countries, he said. In his early days of office, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan went to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region to celebrate the anniversary of occupation of Shusha, a city where ethnic Azerbaijanis constituted an overwhelming majority.

There he voiced controversial statements about annexing Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and introducing new conflict parties to the negotiation format which did not fit into the context and substance of negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, Isgandarov said. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

The new leaderships aggressive rhetoric was followed by a military provocation at the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border where an Azerbaijani soldier was shot dead in Nakhchivan, the ambassador said.

In the meantime, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Paris where he reiterated Azerbaijans interest in pushing ahead substantial negotiations, he said.

So, you can see differences between these two approaches - continuing aggressive actions and rhetoric on the one hand, and a constructive approach on the other, Isgandarov said. I hope the international community will adequately assess it.

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.

The European Union is not involved in the settlement of the conflict, he said. But this does not prevent the EU from promoting and international law-based solution to the conflict and supporting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of partner countries which were identified as key principles of European security in the EUs Global Strategy.

We appreciate and value the EUs explicit and consistent position in supporting these principles in its relations with Azerbaijan, the ambassador said.

Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has praised the successful results of reforms conducted in Azerbaijan as he sent a letter of congratulations to President llham Aliyev on the occasion of the centenary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The successful outcomes of large-scale reforms and transformations confidently carried out under your leadership towards ensuring dynamic development of your country, primarily raising the living standard and quality of the populations life, creating modern industry and infrastructure are praiseworthy," he said in the congratulator message.

He stressed that Uzbekistan, with great pleasure, notes Azerbaijans ever increasing influence and the strengthening of its positions on the international scene, he said.

I have to emphasize that we, in Uzbekistan, are determined to further strengthen centuries-old ties of friendship and strategic partnership between our countries and expand the mutually beneficial practical cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. It is about speeding up relations, maintaining active exchanges, increasing the volume of trade, implementing promising projects in the field of industry, energy, transport and high technologies and realizing cultural and humanitarian programs," he said.

The Uzbek leader voiced confidence that the upcoming high-level meetings will enable to bring Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan relations to a qualitatively new level and add a practical dimension to bilateral ties between the two countries.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

US remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in his remarks on the occasion of Azerbaijan Republic Day.

"On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, it is my pleasure to congratulate the Government and people of Azerbaijan on their Republic Day.

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which was the first Muslim-majority parliamentary republic, and one of the first countries in the world to grant women the right to vote.

Since the restoration of Azerbaijans independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has been a valued partner of the United States. We look forward to continuing our longstanding cooperation and deepening our work together on security, energy, and democratic governance and to further strengthen ties between our countries.

We also remain committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and urge the parties to resume intensive negotiations as soon as possible," said Pompeo.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Azerbaijan, which has an ancient and rich historical heritage, is a shining star in the region, head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group, Necdet Unuvar told Trend.

He stressed that the road to independence was not easy for Azerbaijan, which today marks the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

He added that Azerbaijan, declaring its independence in 1918, established its first ties with the Ottoman Empire.

"Today, Azerbaijan and Turkey are supporting each other in the international arena," he said.

Today, Azerbaijan marks the 100th anniversary of establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The 1917 Russian Revolution put an end to the rule of the Romanovs and saw the collapse of the Russian Empire. Shortly thereafter, on May 28, 1918, patriotic leaders in Azerbaijan founded the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was the first democratic republic in the East. It was a parliamentary state, had a flag, an anthem and an army. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic existed only 23 months. On April 28, 1920 the Bolshevik 11th Red Army occupied Azerbaijan and the republic collapsed.

The Republic Day is celebrated as a state holiday on May 28 since 1990.

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Details added (the first version was posted on 09:33)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today visited the memorial in honor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on the Istiglaliyyat street in Baku.

The guard of honor was arranged around the memorial. The head of state laid a wreath at the memorial.

The national anthem of Azerbaijan was then played.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey is proud of the success of fraternal Azerbaijan, the Turkish Presidential Administration told Trend on May 28.

The Administration further noted that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are at the highest level and are an example of regional cooperation.

"Azerbaijan, which today marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment Democratic Republic, is one of the most reliable allies and partners for Turkey," the Turkish Presidential Administration said.

Today, Azerbaijan marks the 100th anniversary of establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The 20th century became known in history not only as the age of science and technology, but also as the age of liberation from colonization and establishment of national states.

The 1917 Russian Revolution put an end to the rule of the Romanovs and saw the collapse of the Russian Empire. Shortly thereafter, on May 28, 1918, patriotic leaders in Azerbaijan founded the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was the first democratic republic in the East. It was a parliamentary state, had a flag, an anthem and an army.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic existed only 23 months. On April 28, 1920 the Bolshevik 11th Red Army occupied Azerbaijan and the republic collapsed.

The Republic Day is celebrated as a state holiday on May 28 since 1990.

--

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The Turkey-Azerbaijan link is turning into an energy, transportation and security belt, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Turkey Hazar Ibrahim said in his article published by Hurriyet Daily.

"Caspian energy resources flow to Europe via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, inaugurated late in 2017, is a major piece in a chain, reviving the ancient Silk Road, which brought peace and prosperity to Eurasia centuries ago. Most trilateral and quadrilateral regional cooperation formats include both Ankara and Baku and the scope of their activities is growing every year," said the article.

Ibrahim recalled that on June 4, 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) signed the Treaty of Batum with Turkey on friendship, cooperation and mutual military assistance, which was the first recognition of the newly established republic.

"Now, on June 12, 2018, the 1,850-kilometer long Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) will be inaugurated to become the recognition of the unbending determination, unmatched progress and strong alliance, which that friendship turned into. That is why the decision by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to declare 2018 the ADR year was met with such high praise. It is not only history the ADR represents but also the future it has helped to forge, said the article.

Further, he noted that some 100 years ago, on May 28, Azerbaijan declared the first democratic republic in the Muslim East.

"Not only was it the first declaration, but also the first historic decision to establish a parliament, university and opera. It granted voting rights to women ahead of many European democracies of the time," said the article.

Ibrahim noted that the ADR lasted only 23 months but the goals it set were never forgotten.

Today, Azerbaijan is in 100th place in terms of size and has the 35th most competitive economy, the 53rd strongest army, and the 11th most literate population. Turkey is a G20 country with mighty armed forces and is a growing soft power in the region," he added.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijan is enhancing cooperation with South Korea on all fronts, said Azerbaijani ambassador to South Korea Ramzi Teymurov.

He made the remarks during the celebration of centenary anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) organized by Azerbaijani embassy in South Korea, The Korea Herald reported.

The diplomat noted that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republics declaration of independence on May 28, 1918, was a historic event and one of the most glorious pages of Azerbaijans history.

Following our independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has achieved dramatic growth in diverse sectors, particularly by implementing mega-projects in energy and transport. Azerbaijan is rapidly modernizing and diversifying its economy, increasing its potential in transport, logistics, tourism and agricultural developments across the South Caucasus and Eurasia, and enhancing cooperation with South Korea on all fronts, said Teymurov.

Moon Duk-ho, Korean ambassador for international security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for his part, said that Azerbaijan is far from South Korea geographically, but it is close to the country culturally and emotionally.

There is active economic cooperation between the two countries focusing on energy and infrastructure, added Duk-ho.

The two governments established diplomatic relations in 1992.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received the UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan Baroness Emma Nicholson.

The president expressed gratitude to Baroness Emma Nicholson for her visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the official opening ceremony of the Southern Gas Corridor and the 25th Anniversary International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition.

President Aliyev recalled his recent visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

During the meeting the sides stressed the successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and UK in the political, economic, energy and other spheres. The sides also emphasized the continuous fruitful cooperation between BP and Azerbaijans State Oil Company SOCAR.

Touching upon the importance of the official opening ceremony of the Southern Gas Corridor and the 25th Anniversary International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, Baroness Emma Nicholson stressed the symbolism of the coincidence of these events with the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Baroness Emma Nicholson appreciated these events as significant ones and conveyed congratulations to President Aliyev in this regard.
Details added (first version posted on 17:35)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

A strong army is the basis of independence, the guarantor of Azerbaijan's security, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev during the official reception on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR).

The president stressed that the work carried out recently in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has further broadened the legal framework for the settlement of the conflict.

"Of course, four resolutions of the UN Security Council and OSCE decisions form the basis of this legal framework, the president added. Other international organizations have adopted similar decisions and resolutions since 2003 up till now. Among them are the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM), Economic Cooperation Organization and other organizations."

This means creation of a legal basis for resolving the conflict. We have also created an economic basis of the conflicts settlement and built a strong army. As a result of the comprehensive measures, Azerbaijan has fully ensured political and diplomatic superiority in this issue. The result of this is that no matter how much the world Armenians try, no state has recognized the illegal Nagorno-Karabakh regime, said the head of state.

We are well aware that today the norms of international law are in most cases violated and do not work. The power factor comes to the fore, and this is reality. Therefore, the support of the international community to our position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is our great achievement.

President Aliyev said he believes that aside from the norms of the international law, there is a factor of strong Azerbaijan.

We managed to build a strong state. I would like to say once again that the number of countries cooperating with us and those wishing to cooperate with us is growing. The respect to us is increasing and the respect to our work is apparent. In this situation, no country will be able to create relations with an illegal regime and we will never allow this to happen. We will never allow the creation of a second Armenian state in our historical lands. The only way to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the restoration of Azerbaijans territorial integrity recognized by the international community, said the head of state.

President Aliyev pointed out that Azerbaijan has built a strong army.

When there was made a decision in 1918 to create an Azerbaijani army, the founders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic probably could not imagine that today the Azerbaijani army will be among 50 strongest armies in the world. The material and technical equipment and the fighting efficiency of our army are at the highest level. We managed to prove this on the battlefield, he added.

The head of state said that two years ago, the Azerbaijani army liberated a part of the occupied lands.

Part of Agdere, Fizuli and Jabrail districts was liberated from the invaders. The citizens of Azerbaijan returned to these liberated lands. Life returned to these lands. Azerbaijani state, the Azerbaijani army did it. A strong army is the basis of Azerbaijans independence and the guarantor of its security. Security has been fully ensured in Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan as an independent state is one of the most stable countries on the world scale, added President Aliyev.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

Cavalry procession and parade of ships dedicated to the 95th birth anniversary of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev and 100th anniversary of the establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was held on the country's border with Georgia, Iran and Russia, as well as boundary waters of the Caspian Sea, the State Border Service told Trend.

The most exemplary military servicemen took part in the cavalry procession, while the State Border Service's Coast Guard ships were involved in the parade of ships.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the ADR, the procession participants, who waved the tricolor national flags of Azerbaijan, expressed their pride in serving under the supreme command of President Ilham Aliyev, and voiced readiness to liberate lands from the occupation and raise the national flag of Azerbaijan on the country's entire border.

These processions became an expression of the patriotism of the Azerbaijani border guards and adherence to the statehood ideas of Heydar Aliyev.
Tehran, Iran, May 28

By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend:

The Iranian deputy minister of industries, mining and trade stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between Iranian and Austrian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

There are 85,000 industrial units in Iran, 92 percent of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises, Sadeq Najafi said on May 28 as cited by Shata.

The SMEs have created jobs for more than 1,300 million people across the country, he added.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Austrias ambassador to Tehran.

Small businesses account for nearly 97 percent in Austria and Iran is keen to use the experience of Austrian industrialists, Najafi said.



The Austrian envoy, for his part, referred to Tehran-Viennas age-old diplomatic ties and said, Currently, 500 Austrian firms directly cooperate with Iranian firms.

He also urged the need for more interaction between Iranian and Austrian SMEs.

Iran traded $364.34 million worth of non-oil goods with Austria in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2018), registering an increase of 19.2 percent compared to the year before.

This made the European country Irans 30th biggest trading partner.

Iran Customs Administrations data shows that Iran exported 6,617 tons of commodities worth $28.28 million to Austria last year, posting a 166.46 percent and 155.66 percent growth in tonnage and value respectively year-on-year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:

The relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union progress well, and the country's relations with the EU are much broader and serious in content and cover far-reaching objectives, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium, Fuad Isgandarov, told Euractiv.

Speaking about cooperation between the parties in the energy sector, the diplomat noted that Azerbaijan welcomed the 2.5 billion EIB financing of TAP and TANAP which has materialized the EUs strategic approach to the energy partnership with Azerbaijan.

"It is a measure of success of all involved that the first gas from Azerbaijan will be delivered to Turkey this summer already, and that it should arrive in Europe as of 2020. We will welcome Commissioner Gunther Oettinger in Baku in the coming days in the margins of the Caspian International Oil and Gas Conference, to whom we pay a big tribute for his valuable contributions to the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor in his previous capacity of EU Energy Commissioner," he said.

The envoy further noted that Azerbaijan is seriously engaged with the EU in further developing connectivity concept in the region by capitalizing on the realization of tangible transport projects.

"As testified by Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Azerbaijan is very well placed to play a key role in linking Europe and Asia. We are also glad to hear that the European Union will continue to support the Port of Baku in becoming an international logistics and trade hub," he said.

In general, according to him, Azerbaijan is eager to build on pragmatic and positive outcomes in the relations with the EU by reflecting on ongoing negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU.

"The pace of negotiations on different chapters may vary but this does not question our objective to achieve a good agreement rather than a speedy one," Isgandarov said.

--

Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

The state-owned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp. (JOGMEC) will sign a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with Azerbaijan's state-owned SOCAR to explore upstream potential in the Caspian oil and gas producing country on May 30, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said in a message on May 28.

JOGMEC and SOCAR will jointly cooperate to run seismic geological surveys at "promising blocks" in Azerbaijan, where Japan hopes to get preferential rights to explore, the ministry said.

The MOC will also cover jointly developing technologies such as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), and Improved Oil Recovery (IOR), in addition to providing SOCAR engineers and Azerbaijan government agencies with technological training by JOGMEC.

The MOC will be signed on the sidelines of the International Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition in Baku on May 30-31.

Earlier, Trend reported that SOCAR will sign two memorandums with foreign companies within the Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition.

The 25th International Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference and 8th Caspian International Caspian Power-2018 Exhibition will be held on May 29- June 1 in Baku.

This year, 312 companies from 38 countries of the world will take part in the Caspian Oil & Gas exhibition.

--

Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 28

By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:

Turkey hopes for Ashgabat's participation in the TANAP project as Turkmenistan plays a key role in the energy industry of the region, said Ambassador of Turkey to Turkmenistan Mustafa Kapucu, Turkmen media report.

"The TANAP project is very important for strengthening the energy security of Europe, and all the countries through which the gas pipeline will be laid are interested in Turkmenistan as a participant of the SGC [Southern Gas Corridor] project," the diplomat said.

Kapucu noted that all interested parties are looking forward to the signing of the Caspian Convention and the determination of the status of the Caspian Sea.

A pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, supplying Turkmen gas to Europe through TANAP, would increase the profitability of the project, said the ambassador.

In May 2015, the Ashgabat Declaration on energy was signed by the Ministers of Energy of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Issues Maros Sefcovic. The project to lay a 300-kilometer gas pipeline along the Caspian Sea bottom to the shores of Azerbaijan, as previously noted by the interested parties, is optimal for the delivery of Turkmen resources to the European market.

Further, Turkmen gas can get into Turkey, which borders the European countries.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Azerbaijan exported 92,000 tons of cement to Georgia in January-April 2018, which is 84.7 percent more than in the same period of 2017, the Georgian National Statistics Services report said.

According to the report, the export value of the supplied building materials exceeded $4.7 million in January-April 2018, which is over twofold more than in January-April 2017.

For comparison: in January-April 2017, Azerbaijan exported 49,800 tons of cement worth $2.3 million to Georgia.

During the reporting period, Azerbaijan also supplied 36,560 tons of gypsum, anhydrite and plaster worth $4.47 million to Georgia.

In general, Georgias trade turnover with Azerbaijan amounted to $363.3 million in January-April 2018, which is 33.2 percent more than in the same period of 2017.

The share of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia is 9.6 percent in the total volume of foreign trade operations of this country. Thus, Azerbaijan ranked third in the list of the main trade partners of Georgia.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has announced a tender for provision of services, update of system software and system protection, and support for Microsoft Premier software solutions.

Turkish and foreign companies can participate in the tender.

The tender will be held on June 21, 2018 at 10:30 (GMT +3).

Tender bids and proposals are accepted at the following address: Dr. Sadik Ahmet Cd. No: 8 06100 Balgat Cankaya/Ankara.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (+90 312) 292 10 31, fax: (+90 212) 292 27 54.

The tender participation fee is 250 Turkish liras.

(1 USD = 4.7292 TRY on May 28)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
The meeting of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group took place in Beijing at the level of deputy foreign ministers of Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, SCO Secretariat and SCO RATS Executive Committee.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the ways of the Afghan settlement, the development of the situation in and around Afghanistan, the priority tasks for establishing cooperation between the SCO and Afghanistan.

The head of the Kyrgyz delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Nurlan Abdrakhmanov expressed concern over the activation of terrorist groups on the territory of Afghanistan and noted that Kyrgyzstan supports the efforts of the world community aimed at stabilizing the situation and early restoration of Afghanistan.

Abdrakhmanov proposed to intensify mutual cooperation in the Afghan direction at the expert level and with interested international partners.
Aziz Abdukhakimov was appointed as the new deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan, as well as the head of the complex for education, healthcare, ecology, environmental protection, physical culture and sports, Uzbek media outlets reported.

The decree was signed by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Abdukhakimov headed the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development since August 2017. Previously he also worked as the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations.

On May 25 Kakhramon Akmalov was removed from the post of deputy head of the prime minister.

Bakhtiyor Umarov, the first deputy minister of innovation development, was appointed as the new chairman of the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

Over 140,000 tons of non-oil goods, worth $74 million, were exported through customs in Irans northwestern city of Astara during the first two months of current fiscal year, that started March 20, Rasoul Omidi, head of Astara Customs Administration, said.

Irans exports via Astara registered a significant rise by 138 percent in terms of volume and 136 percent in terms of value, year-on-year, he added.

Omidi said that agriculture and food products, cement, plaster, chemicals, detergents, handicrafts, textile, shoes, bags, carpet, construction materials, mineral products, metals and plastic products were the main export items, Fars news agency reported May 26.

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia were the main destinations for the exported items, the official added.

Omidi further said Iran imported about 39,000 tons of goods, worth $25 million, including chemicals, woods, machinery, electric goods and iron products, via the Astara customs during the 2-month period from Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Over 11,000 tons of goods, worth $27 million, were transited through Astara into Iran in the period, he said.

Goods including wooden and oil products, cotton, synthetic fibers, iron ingots, copper, fiberglass and iron sheets were transited from Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Ukraine to Turkey, Iraq and the UAE, Omidi said.

Also 40,000 tons of goods, worth $184 million, including electrical appliances, cars, furniture, machinery, medical equipment, construction materials, textile products, chemicals, glass containers and agricultural products were transited via the Astara checkpoint to Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Ukraine, the official said.

The Islamic Republic also exported 24 tons of goods, including agricultural and food products as well as plastic materials, worth $22,000, to Azerbaijan via the suitcase trade from the Astara customs during the 2-month period, Omidi added.

More than 168,000 people crossed the border checkpoint in Astara during the current fiscal year, he said.

He added that the passenger traffic into Azerbaijan from Iran via Astara registered a 28 percent increase and vice versa 30 percent rise in the 2-month period.

Iranian Astara Customs' total income reached 100.6 billion rials (each USD makes 42,000 rials based on official rate) during the same span of time, which is 68 percent more compared to the same months of the preceding year.
The trilateral summit of leaders of South Korea, North Korea and the United States may be held "around June 12" in Singapore, which is going to host the meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the South Korean presidential office said on Monday, Sputnik reported.

"The discussions are just getting started, so we are still waiting to see how they come out, but depending on their outcome, the president [Moon] could join President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore," a high ranking official from the South Korean presidential office told the Yonhap news agency.

On Sunday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed his hope to hold the trilateral summit between South Korea, North Korea and the United States. The statement was made a day after Moon's meeting with Kim.

On June 12, Kim and Trump are going to hold the summit in Singapore as part of the ongoing easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On Thursday, the White House released Trump's letter informing Kim that he was canceling their meeting in Singapore but later the US president said that the summit was still going to be held.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

The President of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes, on Monday filed a resignation petition to the head of the National Congress to become a senator, Cartes reported on social networks.

"I am submitting my application for resignation from the post of the President of the Republic of Paraguay, to continue serving the country in the Senate, carrying out the people's will expressed in the vote. God bless Paraguay," wrote Cartes in his microblog on Twitter.

Cartes was in power in Paraguay since August 2013. In August this year, he would have resigned in any case, since in April, the candidate from the ruling Colorado party, Mario Abdo Benitez, was elected the new president. Abdo is the son of Secretary Alfredo Stroessner, the last dictator of Paraguay, who ruled this country in 1954-1989. The new president will take office on August 15.

According to the law, after the resignation of Cartes, in case of its approval by the parliament, the acting head of the state until August will be vice-president Alicia Puchet.
After finally dissipating on Sunday, the strongest cyclone in recorded history to strike coastal areas of Yemen and Oman on the Arabian Sea has left 11 dead and over 30 missing, while dropping some three years of rain in a single day, Sputnik reported.

The most powerful cyclone on record, Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Mekunu blasted coastal and inland regions of Middle Eastern states Yemen and Oman with sustained winds of 112 mph and gusts of up to 124 mph, bringing rainfall amounts of up to eleven inches over a 24-hour period  an astonishing and unprecedented downpour that killed at least 11 as many more remain missing, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Alongside loss of life, damage has been severe, as Mekunu slammed into several popular urban and tourist destinations along the Arabian Sea, with flash flooding destroying entire roadways in Oman's third-largest city of Salalah.

Powerful gusts tore away street light poles and ripped up roofing around the city, as quickly rising waters overwhelmed ordinarily dry watercourses.

A holiday destination, Salalah's empty beaches were strewn with debris and trash while churning waves inundated unprotected areas.

The disputed Yemeni island of Socotra saw at least 3 deaths and multiple Yemeni, Indian and Sudanese nationals have been reported missing, according to SCMP.

Yemeni officials in the country's far east regions along the Oman border reported strong winds taking out homes as well as knocking out communication, power and water networks.

Oman's Public Authority for Civil Aviation stated that the nation's Marmul Airport will reopen Sunday after being closed since Thursday, as officials assess widespread damage in the country.
From 7bln to 8 bln Syrian pounds ($13.6 bln - $15.5 bln) is needed to restore a hospital in Syrias city of Douma, representative for the Syrian Ministry of Health Waseem Fares told reporters, TASS reports.

"About 7 to 8 billion Syrian pounds are needed to restore the hospital in the city without regard for equipment, and 15 million [Syrian] pounds (about $29,000) more will be needed to restore five outpatient clinics in the enclave of Eastern Ghouta for each of them," he said.

According to the ministrys representative, the first outpatient clinic in the enclave was restored several weeks ago. When Eastern Ghouta was under the militants control, medical facilities were plundered, doctors say. "Seven years ago the outpatient clinic wasnt working. And there were three to five doctors who came there and treated people," Fares said.

"But when the war started, terrorists seized the clinic and took all the equipment there. When Douma was liberated from militants, nothing was found there. Neither the clinic, nor the equipment, nor the walls. Nothing was found," he stressed.

Eastern Ghouta, Eastern Qalamun north of Damascus and the southern quarters of the Syrian capital were earlier liberated from militants with support from the Russian Reconciliation Center for the Conflicting Sides in Syria.
Spanish authorities have rescued more than 500 people attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in a bid to reach Europe, Al Jazeera reported.

Spain's maritime rescue service said it pulled 243 people from eight small boats on Sunday, a day after picking 293 others from nine vessels.

Three of the boats located on Sunday were in poor condition and sank shortly after those on board were removed from them.

The operations included airplane and helicopter searches, while those rescued were from various countries in north and sub-Saharan Africa.

At least 6,872 people have been rescued while trying to enter Spain by sea so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), while 218 others have died attempting to make the crossing from North Africa, known as the Western Mediterranean route.

While the number of refugees and migrants arriving in southern Europe by sea has dropped substantially since the height of the EU's refugee crisis in 2016, the number of such arrivals in Spain has jumped during the same period, according to the IOM.

At least 21,468 arrived in Spain by sea between January 1 and December 20 last year, IOM figures show, more than triple the number for the same period in 2016.

Spain is the third busiest point of arrival for all refugees and migrants entering Europe by sea, behind Italy and Greece, accounting for 23 percent of all such arrivals to the EU.

Increasingly, it is seen as an alternative arrival destination for those seeking to avoid travelling through Libya, where widespread abuse and slavery has been documented, and onwards across the Mediterranean to southern Italy.

In separate comments on Sunday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for EU border agency Frontex to be given a new mandate allowing it to act in "third countries with the agreement of local government".

Kurz told Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper that more must be done "to end smugglers' dirty business model and prevent smugglers' boats setting off on the dangerous route across the Mediterranean".

Austria is set to take over the presidency of the EU, which rotates among member states every six months, in July.

Kurz is known for his anti-immigration stance and has previously called for stricter border controls in Europe to discourage refugees from fleeing to Europe.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will urge U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid protesters in central London during his UK visit in July and instead meet her at her country residence, the Sun newspaper reported on Sunday, Reuters reports.

The details of the plan will be given to the White House by Kim Darroch, British ambassador to the United States, the report said.

There are two proposals that will be made to the White House by Darroch upon Mays approval - one for a Downing Street visit or one based at Chequers, a 16th-century manor house 40 miles (60 km) northwest of London - the report said, citing a source, who added it would be made clear that May prefers the meeting take place at Chequers.

Trump will also be asked to have tea with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, a royal residence west of London and not at Buckingham Palace, according to the report.

Darroch will suggest to the White House that Trump does not visit Britains houses of parliament, the Sun reported.

Mays office was not immediately available for comment.
Cuba's Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) has identified the remains of all the victims of the plane crash which took place on May 18 near Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, Xinhua reported citing the daily Juventud Rebelde.

The Institute informed Saturday night the families of the nine remaining unidentified victims that the bodies had been recognized, concluding the exhaustive identification process of the 110 immediate victims of the tragedy.

Sergio Rabell, director of the IFM, stressed that the "work of the experts has been intense, since the victims had multiple injuries and many of them were burned."

Rabell said that the bodies of the 11 foreigners had DNA tests, for the Cuban victims, DNA tests were carried out only when other markers, such as tattoos or scars, could not be found.

On Friday, May 18, a Boeing 737 flying between Havana and the eastern city of Holguin city crashed minutes after take-off with 113 people on board.

These included 102 Cuban passengers, five foreign passengers and six Mexican crew.

The aircraft belonged to the Mexican company Damojh and had been leased by the island's national airline, Cubana de Aviacion.

Four Cubans survived initially but a male survivor died on the way to the hospital. Two other female survivors died later in intensive care while the final one is in critical condition.

The Cuban government has appointed an official commission to investigate the cause of the crash, led by Jose Armando Daniel Lopez, president of Cuba's Institute of Aeronautics and Civil Aviation.

Lopez said "it could take months to reach credible...conclusions" about the cause.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to Tajikistan on May 31, Ekonomika Segodnya website reported.

Medvedev will take part in a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, and also hold a separate meeting with President Emomali Rahmon and his counterpart Kohir Rasulzoda.

During Medvedev's two-day visit, the two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements on bilateral cooperation, including in the trade, economic spheres, as well as on energy, investments and other projects.

Along this, the sides are expected to discuss issues related to innovation and the market of intellectual property.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China to take part in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that will be held in the city of Qingdao, Chinas Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui said at Mondays briefing, TASS reports.

"Russian President Vladimir Putins upcoming visit to China will become his first state visit after his re-election. It will also be the first meeting of the two state leaders this year. So, this state visit will become an important event for bilateral relations in the first half of the year," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold negotiations and a joint press conference, as well as take part in the document signing ceremony at an official meeting, the diplomat said. "There will be numerous other bright moments as well. So, the two state leaders will take part in cultural events to share their opinions more substantially in a free and friendly atmosphere," he added.

"The sides will sign important political documents in order to sum up and map out new plans in the sphere of bilateral relations, determine areas of priority and goals of cooperation at the current and new stages," the assistant minister noted. "In addition, the relevant bodies of the two countries will sign a number of important joint documents. I am confident that thanks to our common efforts President Putins upcoming visit will demonstrate a special character and a high level of Russian-Chinese relations," Zhang Hanhui concluded.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28

Trend:

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov will arrive in Russia on May 28 to hold a number of bilateral meetings and deliver speech at the Primakov Readings annual international forum of experts, the topic of which in 2018 is "Hedging risks of unstable world order", the Uzbek media reported.

Kamilov's working visit will last from May 28 to May 30, said a message posted on the website of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.

According to the organizing committee of the forum, 65 leading foreign experts from 22 countries and more than 600 representatives of the Russian scientific and expert community, politicians and businessmen will take part in the event, which is held in memory of academician and statesman Yevgeny Primakov.

The participants will discuss the scenarios of the transformation of the system of international relations, the prospects for the development of the new world order and its stabilization, as well as the challenges and risks of regional and global security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet with high-ranking representatives from the United Arab Emirates, who which will shortly visit Moscow as a delegation, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday, TASS reports.

"Indeed, representatives from the Emirates will be in Moscow, and we dont rule out a meeting with the president," he said. In reply to the question whether the situation on the oil market could be discussed at the meeting, Peskov said "it is early to speak about this".

The delegation from Abu Dhabi will be in Moscow on Friday, June 1.
KYODO NEWS - May 29, 2018 - 08:13 | All, World, Urgent

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he has agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to meet before a planned U.S.-North Korea summit.

Abe said after a phone call with Trump that they had agreed to cooperate to make the summit between the U.S. president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meaningful.

"We agreed to meet before the U.S.-North Korea summit," Abe told reporters.

Trump and Kim separately expressed their readiness over the weekend to meet on June 12 in Singapore as originally planned, although the U.S. president had called off the summit on Thursday.

Following Trump's recent back and forth on the holding of what would be a historic summit, the Japanese government has been seeking information to understand what the president's intentions are.

Abe told reporters he was briefed by Trump about recent developments regarding the summit but did not elaborate.

(Abe speaks to reporters after phone talks with Trump)

Details such as when and where Abe and Trump will meet will be worked out, a senior Japanese government official said.

Government sources have said Abe may visit the United States before a summit meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven industrialized nations in Canada on June 8 and 9.

Japan has been aiming to resolve the North Korean nuclear, missile and abduction issues.

Together with the United States, it has stressed the need for North Korea to dismantle all weapons of mass destruction and missiles in a complete, verifiable and irreversible way.

Since taking office, Abe has been seeking to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, making it his administration's priority.

Hours after meeting with some family members of the abductees on the day, Abe said he "conveyed their feelings" to Trump over the phone.

"I told him that it's absolutely necessary to resolve the issue," the prime minister said.
By Claire Zhang, KawaiiKakkoiiSugoi - May 28, 2018 - 12:37 | Arts

Although I'm no stranger to a Miyavi show, whether in the U.S. or Japan, I nevertheless was stoked by the infectious enthusiasm and prodigious stage presence Miyavi brought to the stage in May at New York's Irving Plaza. As the last stop of this successful "Day 2" World Tour, the NYC show certainly did not disappoint.

There was no opening act but Miyavi made sure the crowd got warmed up immediately, taking to the stage precisely an hour after the door time with "Flashback" - by then the whole venue was already packed. From the very beginning, the audience was engaged, responding to Miyavi's every move, head-banging to the beats and cheering on the exquisite guitar melodies. Miyavi himself did not hold back on his energy either. The guitarist stepped onto the stereo set to get a better look at the already screaming and fainting fans, then jumped high up to the middle of the air with a strong stroke on his guitar string, which sent the crowd into a tizzy.

After the nightclubby "In Crowd", Miyavi took a brief break to jokingly complain about the mercurial weather in New York before proceeding to play a few of his recent songs heavily influenced by modern hip-hop and electronica. Though a considerable amount of fans at the plazz were from as early as his Visual-kei period, they seemed to embrace Miyavis evolution. A lot of fans had even queued up outside the venue for the entire day just to get a closer position to the stage. Their enthusiasm paid off. A fan told me while they were waiting outside, they got to see Miyavi himself entering the venue. Before soundcheck, Miyavi took the time to shake hands with almost everyone in the line, greeting them with an appreciative smile.

As the music tapered down towards the middle of the set, Miyavi made probably the most important speech of the whole night, sharing his experiences and thoughts on his multiple trips to refugee camps in Bangladesh as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency).

"I was initially doubtful of what I could do for these kids after seeing their dire living situation, but as I started singing and playing the guitar, I could see how the music lit up their eyes. From that moment I knew it was my mission to cheer them up with my music. I knew there was something I could do to help." said Miyavi.

"This war. It's not a natural disaster. The pain is caused by human, thus can be, and should be, ended and cured by human being." added the guitarist with words which received the loudest applause of the evening. It was at that point that it became clear to me how deeply and genuinely these people respected the artist known as "the samurai geisha."

Miyavi went on to comment on the heated subjects of immigration and racism. He admitted that he is an immigrant himself, traveling between America and Japan for work but primarily living in Los Angeles with his family. He said he wondered why people are treated differently just because they come from other places.

"Japanese people, American people, we are all human, right?" he questioned. "Let's unite each other as one, through music." he continued as he called on the audience to spread the message of the respect for diversity, integrity and inclusiveness. It wasn't until then that I realized how diversified this crowd was, looking around all the friendly faces surrounding me. I guess his message has already been delivered in one way or another through music, hasn't it?

After the inspiring speech, as the next notes hit the ground, the whole venue immediately turned into a wild party. People danced and laughed, celebrated and worshipped. The time passed so fast that no one was prepared for the last song to come so soon. Miyavi ended the great show with "WHAT'S MY NAME 2017" and impressed the audience again with his exceptional guitar riffs. Those slender fingers moved so fast on the guitar that it was almost magical.

Following the final song, Miyavi thanked the crowd many times before leaving the stage. Many people wouldn't leave, still immersed in the excitement of seeing the rock star yet longing for more.

Photos: Mena Ru
KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2018 - 09:40 | World, All

China "appreciates" that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continue to discuss meeting for talks next month in Singapore, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Sunday.

Beijing hopes that the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit will be held as originally scheduled on June 12, Lu told Kyodo News via email.

Over the weekend, Kim reportedly expressed his "fixed will" to meet with Trump, while the U.S. President, after abruptly canceling the summit Thursday, indicated summit talks with the North Korean leader may take place as initially planned.

Trump and Kim have "developed positive attitudes" to promote denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, Lu said.

And Lu added that China will continue to "play an active role" to resolve issues related to North Korea.

Relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have markedly improved recently. Kim traveled to Beijing in March to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and earlier this month the two leaders met again for two days in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian.

Kim's visit to Beijing in March was his first foreign trip since becoming North Korea's supreme leader following the death of his father Kim Jong Il in December 2011.
KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2018 - 16:30 | All, World

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday a team of his officials has arrived in North Korea to prepare for a possible summit next month between him and the country's leader Kim Jong Un.

During the talks expected to run through Tuesday at the truce village of Panmunjeom, one of the major agenda items to be addressed is expected to be a proposed shipment overseas of nuclear warheads possessed by North Korea, according to U.S. officials.

(The North side of Panmunjeom on May 26)

[Photo courtesy of South Korea's presidential office]

But it remains unclear if the U.S. team can convince Pyongyang to accept Washington's demand that it ship up to 20 warheads overseas at an early date as part of measures to achieve a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea.

In a Twitter post, Trump hinted at U.S. economic assistance to North Korea, saying he believes the country "has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day."

"Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this," Trump wrote. "It will happen!"

The U.S. delegation's talks with North Korean officials took place at Tongilgak, the building on the northern side of the Demilitarized Zone, according to the Washington Post.

It is extraordinary for U.S. officials to cross the line at Panmunjeom that divides the two Koreas and visit the North Korean building, where Kim and South Korea Korean President Moon Jae In held a surprise meeting on Saturday.

The second inter-Korean summit in a month was hastily and secretly arranged at the request of North Korea after Trump revived hopes of holding talks with Kim.

The delegation led by Sung Kim, a former ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with North Korea, has already met with Choe Son Hui, a North Korean vice foreign minister, who has long experience of dealing with U.S. officials, the newspaper said.

Trump and Kim separately expressed willingness over the weekend to meet on June 12 in Singapore as originally planned, although the U.S. president had called off the summit on Thursday, citing North Korea's "open hostility."

If realized, it will be the first encounter between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Other members of the U.S. team include Allison Hooker, a senior National Security Council official who specializes in Korean affairs, and Randall Scriver, assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, according to the paper.

The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said North Korea has expressed reluctance to ship all of its nuclear weapons and missiles outside the country.

It is likely that North Korea has proposed shipping in advance certain types of missiles such as intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of hitting the United States.

If U.S. and North Korean officials are unable to reach a deal in preparatory talks, a decision could be left to a Trump-Kim summit, according to the officials.

The officials said both sides are expected to discuss how Pyongyang will scrap weapons-grade plutonium, highly enriched uranium and other nuclear-related materials.
KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2018 - 18:14 | World, All

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will attend next month's meeting in China of the leaders of countries belonging to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Chinese foreign ministry announced Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also planning to attend the summit to be held June 9-10 in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, the ministry said.

Iran is currently an observer member of the regional bloc, although it has long sought full membership.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing the United States from a 2015 nuclear agreement meant to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump also vowed to impose "the highest level of economic sanction" against the Iranian regime, foreshadowing U.S. action against foreign companies that continue to do business in and with Iran.

Under the 2015 deal struck between Iran and six major powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama -- Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the SCO as full members last year.
Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall the next two days.
Description

"Light on Shadow seeks to highlight the struggle that sits at the very heart of his fine art practice. Together with the Blue Sphere Foundation he founded; the exhibition is an intimate journey through the reality of marine life under threat. Curated by Matthew Hockley Smith, the show is a powerful warning against complacency.



Art is my passion, conservation is my purpose, and for me the two are inseparable. I have found art is the most powerful tool I can contribute to help protect the oceans most threatened species and habitats.  Shawn Heinrichs



Shawn Heinrichs is an artist, Emmy-award winning cinematographer, photographer, and marine conservationist and the Founder of Blue Sphere Foundation. Shawns stunning and often stark artwork is fueled by his passion to protect the oceans, and the profound recognition that people only protect what they love. His images have transformed communities, and he hopes his work will inspire people to act before it is too late. A renowned expert on oceans and tireless activist, Shawn is a major force in the global fight to protect endangered marine species and habitats. His work takes him undercover to some of the most remote corners of the globe, providing a rare view of the people and circumstances surrounding the endangered species trade. He was one of the lead activists and co-creators of the Emmy-nominated film, Racing Extinction, one of the most watched environmental documentaries in history."



GALLERY HOURS: Thursday to Monday, 11 AM-6 PM
Shares of Altria (NYSE: MO), the leading tobacco company in the U.S. and strategic partner of cigarette company Philip Morris International, have fallen over 25% in the last year. That comes in spite of the company showing big earnings gains -- but those numbers can be deceiving. Rather than having big money-making potential, Altria has a good chance of burning investors in the years ahead.

MO Chart

Data by YCharts.

Tobacco sales in decline

The war against tobacco companies has taken a turn in the last few years. Emerging markets like China provided a growth outlet for years even while smoking in developed countries like the U.S. started to fall out of favor. Increased regulation, more consumer education, and higher prices have caused global cigarette volumes to decline since 2012, though, according to data from research group Euromonitor.

Tobacco companies have responded by raising prices and merging into fewer companies. While that has boosted the bottom line, recent results from Altria show the drop in smoking might be taking a toll. Altria's total smokable product volumes fell 5% in 2017 and another 4.1% in the first quarter of 2018. That has caused the flat revenue performance, although higher profit margins from cost-cutting and a lower tax rate after U.S. tax reform passed late in 2017 have helped earnings spike higher.

To return to sales growth, Altria has been doing joint work with Philip Morris on new reduced-risk heated tobacco products. Philip Morris has been selling its iQOS heated tobacco system overseas and an application for sales approval in the U.S. is pending with the FDA. There are no guarantees that will fly, so Altria has also submitted applications to approve chewing tobacco and other smokeless products as a reduced-risk products as well. Nevertheless, the uncertainty of the situation has contributed to the stock's recent declines.

A chalkboard drawing of a scale with reward on one side and risk on the other.

Image source: Getty Images.

Smoking alternatives are just that: an alternative

Story continues

There has been much hype around reduced-risk heated tobacco in particular, as investors hope it can eventually offset lost cigarette sales, possibly even putting nicotine-containing products back into growth mode. Philip Morris may be showing that is overoptimistic thinking, though. The iQOS system started out red-hot, but sales have been cooling off dramatically with each passing quarter.

The ultimate problem is that heated tobacco products are more likely to replace cigarette smoking than they are to bring a new segment of consumers into the fold. Altria has no doubt thought of that and has made beer and wine investments as well -- through holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev and wine subsidiaries like Chateau Ste. Michelle -- but those are small considerations compared to tobacco and have turned in stagnant performances. Cigarettes made up 88% of revenue last quarter, and Altria's brands held just over half of all U.S. market share. The company thus has a lot more to lose than it does to gain.

That isn't to say investing in big tobacco is a worthless endeavor. Altria continues to return value to shareholders with a 5.1% dividend yield, and there is another $505 million left of its share repurchase plan through the end of the year. Those should keep the stock buoyed for some time. However, with its primary business in secular decline, Altria is not a millionaire-maker stock.

More From The Motley Fool

Nicholas Rossolillo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends BUD. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For this Rule Breaker Investing podcast, host David Gardner once again climbs up onto the shoulders of giants with a "Great Quotes" episode. These five memorable aphorisms offer him excellent entries into topics that Foolish investors ought to be considering. Specifically, because May is Conscious Capitalism Month, he focused on wise words that can apply to that evolving holistic business philosophy.

In this segment, he quotes Mae Jemison, a history-making name you nonetheless may not recognize, on the topic of not letting the wrong people decide what you can or can't do.

A full transcript follows the video.

More From The Motley Fool

This video was recorded on May 16, 2018.

David Gardner: Great Quote No. 4: All right, quote No. 4 and our final two quotes each involve the word "limits." A good word. Different views of limits. Quote No. 4. Now, this one comes from Mae Jemison. Now, I didn't, right off the top, recognize the name Mae Jemison. I bet a bunch of you will, but I'll make it clear very quickly who this is after I give her quote.

Mae said, "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."

Now, who's Mae Jemison you might be wondering? Well, she's an American engineer, a physician, and a NASA astronaut. In fact, on September 12th of 1992, she became the first African-American woman to travel in space aboard the space shuttle Endeavour.

Since then, having resigned from NASA in 1993, she's appeared on television several times. She was on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, for example. She's a dancer. She holds nine honorary doctorates in science, engineering, letters, and the humanities. Dr. Mae Jemison, today 61 years old, from Decatur, Alabama. "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."

Story continues

Well, most of all, I think here, I'm not speaking to investors. I mean, I think it can be helpful for us as investors. It can be helpful to try to picture what things can become. For example, Intuitive Surgical, a wonderful company behind the da Vinci Surgical robot. When we first recommended that stock and got invested in it more than a decade ago, we [questioned whether] robotic surgery would catch on. The good news is it has. We were rewarded, there, but forget about the past. Let's look forward.

How about a company like 2U? A company that's bringing distance learning into the classrooms of some of the best universities today. Partnering with universities to reach more students than they would have otherwise. What might that become in time? Or what about MercadoLibre? How much higher could Latin American commerce go in the next 25 years? MercadoLibre, the leader. Or what about Twitter? What might Twitter become? I'm not quite sure 10 years from now. It will be fascinating to watch.

So, yes, it can be helpful not to limit your own imagination when you're thinking as an investor but here, I also think about how we talk to our kids. One of the things I always tried not to do was to limit my children, especially when talking to others. Do you have any friends who do this? They'll say something like this. "Yes, Anne is my smart child," and they'll say that right in front of Anne.

And, I mean, Anne [I'm looking at Anne Henry, one of our producers right now], is very smart. I'm not actually talking about Anne, but I'm thinking about Anne. It's awesome to have a child who's really talented or gifted. Or maybe tardy. "David is our tardy child." When parents talk about that in front of their kids, especially to other people with their kids, there, I think you start to limit them. It might not even be a bad thing. Maybe you're limiting them into being a great kid -- or the brilliant child is getting it -- but I think we're better off praising effort in our children rather than roping them into a cookie-cutter view of how they fit in within a family, or within their class, or within their generation.

So, never be limited by other people's limited imaginations, Dr. Mae Jemison said, and that's especially true [when you] think about you as a kid. When you were a kid was that true of you and how you were spoken to? It can be positive or negative, but it can be helpful to be conscious of this, both in how you were raised and how it may have affected you, but also, more importantly, how you talk going forward to people around you, especially younger members of new generations. So, never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.

David Gardner owns shares of Intuitive Surgical and MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Intuitive Surgical, MercadoLibre, and Twitter. The Motley Fool recommends 2U. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Barack Obama

AP

Former President Barack Obama remains hopeful that America can solve its political divisiveness.

But he also has a stark warning for the US: Our economy and our democracy are at risk if we can't get past the finger-pointing, partisan morass that has gridlocked the nation for years.

Obama also said that technology from mobile phones to social networks is helping tear us apart, rather than bring us together.

This is a new, more serious change of tone for the 44th president since he left office at the beginning of 2017, handing the White House keys to the Trump Administration.

Former President Barack Obama was on stage Wednesday evening at a tech conference in Las Vegas hosted by identity security company Okta where he talked about the future of the country.

Obama's previous public appearances since leaving office have been unfailingly hopeful about America's future. But when Okta CEO Todd McKinnon asked Obama his thoughts on the nature of identity these days, Obama drifted into words of warning.

"We live in a culture today where everybody feels the crush of information and the collision of worlds," Obama explained.

This is very different than how our ancestors lived, he pointed out. Humans have, for most of their history, lived their whole lives in the same basic geographic area where they were born, had a network of friends that stretched to maybe 150 people and lived in societies "with very clear rules and expectations," Obama said.

"That's sort of how our brains are wired," he said.

But today, people can easily move across the country or across the world. And everyone uses technology  even in developing areas, like Africa, everybody has a mobile phone.

That means our world is more connected, and technology is reshaping our relationships, our access to information and the way we make our livings.

Obama said "the great thing about the United States" is that we've had a "head start" over dealing with this kind of setup compared to the rest of the world because we are a nation of immigrants.

Story continues

"We are a people that came from everywhere else, so we had to figure out how to join together and work together, not based on race, or religious faith or even, initially, language, but based on creed and a sense of principals," he said.

The challenge Americans face today is "how do we maintain that sense of common purpose, our 'in it together,' as opposed to splintering and dividing? As we are seeing in some debates in social media and elsewhere, it's harder to do today. But I think it becomes more necessary than ever, because if we dont figure it out, not only will it be hard for our economy to survive but it is going to be hard for our democracy to survive."

Obama believes that one important way we can maintain and increase a national identity, where citizens view themselves as Americans first, rather than members of a particular tribe (like our political party, or race, or gender) is by sharing stories with each other. The more we can do that, the more we'll see each other as fellow humans, rather than as caricatures representing some other tribe.

One place to start is to ask everyone, no matter where in the political spectrum you fall, to expand your media sources, he suggests.

"Right now part of our polarization is that if you watch Fox News all day, or you read the New York Times, you are occupying two different realities. We have to be able to figure out, in this multiplicity of platforms, to have some common baseline of facts that allow us to meet and solve problems," he said.

More from President Obama's talk on Wednesday:

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos on breaking up and regulating Amazon

See Also:
(This May 25 story was corrected to remove reference in paragraphs 1 and 4 to OPEC discussions being triggered by Trumps tweet)

By Katya Golubkova, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Rania El Gamal

ST PETERSBURG/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Russia are discussing raising OPEC and non-OPEC oil production by some 1 million barrels a day, sources said, weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump complained about artificially high prices.

Riyadh and Moscow are prepared to ease output cuts to calm consumer worries about supply adequacy, their energy ministers said on Friday, with Saudi Arabias Khalid al-Falih adding that any such move would be gradual so as not to shock the market.

Raising production would ease 17 months of strict supply curbs amid concerns that a price rally has gone too far, with oil having hit its highest since late 2014 at $80.50 a barrel this month.

Trump tweeted last month that OPEC had "artificially" boosted oil prices.

"We were in the meeting in Jeddah, when we read the tweet," OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said, referring to a meeting in Saudi Arabia on April 20.

"I think I was prodded by his excellency Khalid Al-Falih that probably there was a need for us to respond. We in OPEC always pride ourselves as friends of the United States, Barkindo told a panel with the Saudi and Russian energy ministers in St. Petersburg at Russias main economic forum.

OPEC officials said by "the need to respond" Barkindo was referring to a tweet he sent the same day, rather than the need to act.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia have agreed to curb output by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) through 2018 to reduce global stocks, but the inventory overhang is now near OPECs target.

In April, pact participants cut production by 52 percent more than required, with falling output from crisis-hit Venezuela helping OPEC deliver a bigger reduction than intended.

Sources familiar with the matter said an increase of about 1 million bpd would lower compliance to 100 percent of the agreed level.

Story continues

Barkindo also said it was not unusual for the United States to put pressure on OPEC as some U.S. energy secretaries had asked the producer group to help lower prices in the past.

Oil prices fell more than 2 percent towards $77 a barrel on Friday as Saudi Arabia and Russia said they were ready to ease supply curbs.

NEAR TARGET

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said current cuts were in reality 2.7 million bpd due to a drop in Venezuelan production - somewhere around 1 million bpd higher than the initially agreed reductions.

Novak declined to say, however, whether OPEC and Russia would decide to boost output by 1 million bpd at their next meeting in June.

The moment is coming when we should consider assessing ways to exit the deal very seriously and gradually ease quotas on output cuts, Novak said in televised comments.

Initial talks are being led by the energy ministers of OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and Russia at St. Petersburg this week along with their counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, which holds the OPEC presidency this year, the sources said.

OPEC and non-OPEC ministers meet in Vienna on June 22-23, and the final decision will be taken there.

Current discussions are aimed at relaxing record-high compliance with the production cuts, the sources said, in an effort to cool the market after oil hit $80 a barrel on concerns over a supply shortage.

China has also raised concerns about whether enough oil is being pumped, according to a Saudi statement issued after Energy Minister Falih called Chinas energy chief on Friday to discuss cooperation between their countries and to review the oil market.

Nur Bekri, administrator of Chinas National Energy Administration, told Falih he hopes Saudi Arabia can take further substantial actions to guarantee adequate supply in the crude oil market, the Saudi Energy Ministry statement said.

While Russia and OPEC benefit from higher oil prices, up almost 20 percent since the end of last year, their voluntary output cuts have opened the door to other producers, such as the U.S. shale sector, to ramp up production and gain market share.

The final production number is not set yet as dividing up the extra barrels among deal participants could be tricky, the sources said.

The talks now are to bring compliance down to the 100 percent level, more for OPEC rather than for non-OPEC, one source said.

RALLY CONCERNS

OPEC may decide to raise oil output as soon as June due to worries over Iranian and Venezuelan supply and after Washington raised concerns the oil rally was going too far, OPEC and oil industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

However, it is unclear which countries have the capacity to raise output and fill any supply gap other than Gulf oil producers, led by Saudi Arabia, and Russia, the sources said.

Only a few members have the capability to increase production, so implementation will be complicated, one OPEC source said.

So far, OPEC had said it saw no need to ease output restrictions despite concerns among consuming nations that the price rally could undermine demand.

The rapid decline in oil inventories and worries about supplies after the U.S. decision to withdraw from the international nuclear deal with Iran, as well as Venezuelas collapsing output, were behind the change in OPECs thinking.

(Additional reporting by Olesya Astakhova, Alex Lawler, Vladimir Soldatkin and Katie Paul; Writing by Dale Hudson; Editing by Adrian Croft and Edmund Blair)
A former head of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency has been barred from leaving the country in connection with a recent memoir he co-authored with a former Indian intelligence-agency head.

The Pakistani Army on May 28 summoned retired Lieutenant General Asad Durrani for questioning at its headquarters in Islamabad, after which it announced Durrani had been placed on the Exit Control List of people banned from leaving Pakistan.

Durrani headed the ISI from 1990 until 1992.

Durrani's memoir, The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI, And The Illusion Of Peace," was co-written with A.S. Dulat, a former head of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence agency. Published last week, it documents the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan and their use of proxy fighters in Afghanistan and the disputed region of Kashmir.

The United States has long accused Pakistan of aiding militants  including the Taliban -- in Afghanistan, charges that Islamabad rejects.

The military did not say which parts of the book it viewed as "violating military discipline."

The book also speculates that the Pakistani authorities may have informed the United States of the whereabouts of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden shortly before the 2011 U.S. raid in which bin Laden was killed. Pakistan has always maintained it only knew about the U.S. raid after it occurred.

The book also discusses the Pakistani military's alleged interference in domestic politics and its support for militants fighting against India in Kashmir.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP
HOUSTON, May 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMG Industries, Inc. (OTCQB:SMGI), an oilfield services company headquartered in Houston, Texas, today announced that it will be presenting at the 8th annual LD Micro Invitational on Monday, June 4, 2018 at 11:30 AM PDT at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.



Matt Flemming, Chief Executive Officer, will host one-on-one meetings throughout the day on June 4th and June 5th, 2018. The conference will be held at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air Hotel, will feature 230 publicly-traded companies in the small-cap/micro-cap space, and will be attended by over 1,000 institutional and individual investors.

For those interested in attending or having a meeting with SMG Industries, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information. LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space.

About SMG Industries Inc.: SMGI is an oilfield services company that operates throughout Texas and adjacent states of New Mexico and Louisiana. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary MG Cleaners LLC., is focused on selling proprietary branded products including detergents, surfactants and degreasers (such as Miracle Blue) to oilfield drilling rig contractors, E&P operators and oilfield companies. In addition to the Company's proprietary products, SMGI sells equipment and parts and has service crews that perform on-site repairs, maintenance and drilling rig wash services for customers such as Nabors Industries, Patterson-UTI, Helmrich & Payne, Cactus Drilling and others. SMGI is headquartered in Houston, Texas with facilities in Odessa, Carthage and Alice, Texas. Read more at www.SMGIndustries.com and www.mgcleanersllc.com.

About LD Micro: LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into an event platform hosting several influential conferences annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains information that is forward-looking in that it describes events and conditions SMGI reasonably expects to occur in the future. Expectations for the future performance of SMGI are dependent upon a number of factors and there can be no assurance that SMGI will achieve the results as contemplated herein. Certain statements contained in this release using the terms may, expects to, anticipated and other terms denoting future possibilities, are forward-looking statements. The accuracy of these statements cannot be guaranteed as they are subject to a variety of risks, which are beyond SMGIs ability to predict, or control and which may cause actual results to differ materially from the projections or estimates contained herein. Forward-looking statements in this news release that are subject to risk include the ability to achieve and continue revenue, net income and adjusted EBITDA improvements. It is important that each person reviewing this release understand the significant risks attendant to the operation of SMGI. SMGI disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made herein.

SMG Industries, Inc.

Phone: 713.821.3153

Email: info@smgindustries.com

Investor Relations:

FieldView Capital Markets, LLC.

Scott Biddick

Phone: 619.786.1023

Email: scott@fvcapitalmarkets.com
Hamilton, Bermuda, 28 May 2018 - Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd. ("Hoegh LNG") will release its financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2018 on Thursday 31 May 2018 at 07:00 am CEST. In connection with this, Hoegh LNG will hold a webcast at 09:00 am CEST which will immediately be followed by a Q&A session.The dial-in numbers for the telephone conference are as follows:

Norway: +47 2100 2610

United Kingdom: +44 (0)330 336 9105

United States: +1 323-794-2093

Participant passcode: 4502606

The webcast is accessible via a link on Hoegh LNG's website or at http://webtv.hegnar.no/presentation.php?webcastId=83474069

* * *

About Hoegh LNG:



Hoegh LNG provides floating energy solutions and operates world-wide with a leading position as owner and operator of floating LNG import terminals; floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), and is one of the most experienced operators of LNG Carriers (LNGCs). Hoegh LNG's vision is to be the industry leader of floating LNG solutions and the strategy is to continue to focus its growth plans in the FSRU market, with the objective of securing long-term contracts with strong counterparties at attractive returns. Hoegh LNG is a Bermuda based company with established presence in Norway, Singapore, the UK, USA, South Korea, Indonesia, Lithuania, Egypt, Colombia and Turkey. The company employs approximately 125 office staff and 500 seafarers.

Contacts:

Sveinung J. S. Sthle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Telephone +47 975 57 402

Steffen Freid, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone +47 975 57 406

Erik Folkeson, VP IR and Strategy, Telephone +47 414 21 769

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act or the Continuing Obligations of Oslo Brs.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, ITALY OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

Following Sika AG's (the "Issuer" or "Sika") successful offering (the "Offering") and provisional allocations of CHF 1,650 million senior convertible bonds (the "Bonds") due 2025 on May 15, 2018 and the expiration of the advance subscription rights period on May 28, 2018, the final allocations of the bonds have been made today and will be communicated to the institutional investors on May 29, 2018.

As of May 28, 2018, 12:00 noon CET, 2,917,820 advance subscription rights, corresponding to 15,772 Bonds (19.12% of the total issue size of CHF 1,650 million), were exercised. Accordingly, the provisional allocations to institutional investors who participated in the bookbuilding on May 15, 2018 will be reduced on a pro rata basis ("clawback"). As a result, Bonds in the aggregate amount of approximately CHF 1,335 million have been finally allocated to such institutional investors and Bonds in the aggregate amount of approximately CHF 315 million have been finally allocated to investors who exercised their advance subscription rights.

The Settlement of the Offering (the "Settlement Date") is expected to take place on June 5, 2018. The Bonds are expected to be admitted to trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange as of June 1, 2018.

The Issuer has agreed to a 90-day lock-up period from the Settlement Date.

As expected, the Bonds have been rated by Standard & Poor's in line with the Issuer's corporate rating (A- (stable outlook)).

UBS acted as Sole Global Coordinator and Sole Bookrunner.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT BEING ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (THE "UNITED STATES" OR "U.S.") AND SHOULD NOT BE DISTRIBUTED TO UNITED STATES PERSONS OR PUBLICATIONS WITH A GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLES 652A OR 1156 OF THE SWISS CODE OF OBLIGATIONS OR A LISTING PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO THE LISTING RULES OF THE SIX SWISS EXCHANGE. ANY DECISION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN SHOULD BE SOLELY BASED ON THE PROSPECTUS DATED 15 MAY 2018, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY SIKA AG AND IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT UBS AG, PROSPECTUS LIBRARY, P.O. BOX, CH-8098 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (TELEPHONE: +41 44 239 47 03, FAX: +41 44 239 69 14 OR E-MAIL: SWISS-PROSPECTUS@UBS.COM). IN ADDITION, NEITHER THE BONDS NOR THE SHARES OF SIKA AG INTO WHICH THE BONDS ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS.

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, ITALY OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, ITALY OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THIS PRESS RELEASE IS BEING DISTRIBUTED ONLY TO, AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT, QUALIFIED INVESTORS (I) WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE "ORDER") AND (II) WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER AND (III) TO WHOM IT WOULD OTHERWISE BE LAWFUL TO DISTRIBUTE IT (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").

IN ADDITION, IF AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS PRESS RELEASE IS COMMUNICATED IN, OR THE OFFER OF SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES IS MADE IN, ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA")THAT HAS IMPLEMENTED DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC, AS AMENDED (TOGETHER WITH DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EU, TO THE EXTENT IMPLEMENTED IN ANY EEA MEMBER STATE AND INCLUDES ANY APPLICABLE IMPLEMENTING MEASURES IN ANY EEA MEMBER STATE, THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") ("EACH, A "RELEVANT MEMBER STATE"), THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE OFFERING OF ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN ARE ONLY ADDRESSED TO AND DIRECTED AT PERSONS IN THAT MEMBER STATE WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (OR WHO ARE OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM THE OFFER MAY LAWFULLY BE ADDRESSED) AND MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY OTHER PERSONS IN THAT MEMBER STATE.

IF LOCATED IN A RELEVANT MEMBER STATE, EACH PERSON WHO INITIALLY ACQUIRES ANY SECURITIES, AND TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE ANY FUNDS ON BEHALF OF WHICH SUCH PERSON ACQUIRES SUCH SECURITIES THAT ARE LOCATED IN A RELEVANT MEMBER STATE, OR TO WHOM ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES MAY BE MADE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED, ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED THAT IT IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR AS DEFINED ABOVE.

THE BONDS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO AND SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EEA. FOR THESE PURPOSES, A "RETAIL INVESTOR" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ONE (OR MORE) OF: (I) A RETAIL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (11) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU ("MIFID II"); (II) A CUSTOMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE 2002/92/EC ("IMD"), WHERE THAT CUSTOMER WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (10) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II; OR (III) NOT A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. CONSEQUENTLY NO KEY INFORMATION DOCUMENT REQUIRED BY REGULATION (EU) NO 1286/2014 (AS AMENDED, THE "PRIIPS REGULATION") FOR OFFERING OR SELLING THE BONDS OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO RETAIL INVESTORS IN THE EEA HAS BEEN PREPARED AND THEREFORE OFFERING OR SELLING THE BONDS OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EEA IS UNLAWFUL UNDER THE PRIIPS REGULATION.

THIS PRESS RELEASE MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON (I) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS, AND (II) IN ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA OTHER THAN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED INVESTORS.

IN THE CASE OF ANY SECURITIES BEING OFFERED TO YOU AS A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY AS THAT TERM IS USED IN ARTICLE 3(2) OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE, YOU WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT THE SECURITIES ACQUIRED BY YOU IN THE OFFERING HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF PERSONS IN THE EEA OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS OR PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER MEMBER STATES (WHERE EQUIVALENT LEGISLATION EXISTS) FOR WHOM YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON A WHOLLY DISCRETIONARY BASIS, NOR HAVE THE SECURITIES BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR OFFER OR RESALE IN THE EEA WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION BY THE ISSUER, THE SOLE BOOKRUNNER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OF A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE, OR IN WHICH THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE SOLE BOOKRUNNER HAS BEEN OBTAINED TO SUCH OFFER OR RESALE.

THIS PUBLICATION MAY CONTAIN SPECIFIC FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, E.G. STATEMENTS INCLUDING TERMS LIKE "BELIEVE", ASSUME", "EXPECT", "FORECAST", "PROJECT", "MAY", "COULD", "MIGHT", "WILL" OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL DIVERGENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL RESULTS, FINANCIAL SITUATION, DEVELOPMENT OR PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY AND THOSE EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY PRESUMED IN THESE STATEMENTS. AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THESE UNCERTAINTIES, READERS SHOULD NOT RELY ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SIKA AG ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY TO UPDATE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS OR TO ADAPT THEM TO FUTURE EVENTS OR DEVELOPMENTS.

CONTACT

Dominik Slappnig

Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

+41 58 436 68 21

slappnig.dominik@ch.sika.com

SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and manufactures in over 200 factories. Its more than 18,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 6.25 billion in 2017.

The media release can be downloaded from the following link:
collecting





I firmly believe that transforming robots are enough of a gimmick in and of themselves, so all the extras - spring-loaded weapons, electronic lights and sounds... the dreaded Mini-Cons - are superfluous, and frequently detrimental to the quality of the brand.

A UK-based fan of TransFormers since they first came out in 1984, I got back intowhen theandlines came out for the 20th Anniversary. While I tend to prefer my Robots In Disguise to look mechanical rather than cartoonish or organic, I've grown fond ofandthanks to their respective TV series, andfor its clever engineering.
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
Justin Trudeau/Facebook

Ottawa, May 28 (IBNS): Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had been urged to examine the security threat and economic cost of transferring Canadian intellectual property to Chinese telecommunications' Huawei Technologies, media reports said.

Huawei had reportedly committed about $50-million to 13 leading Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, McGill University and the University of British Columbia, to fund the development of 5G mobile technology to aid in the development of next-generation mobile networks.

Trudeau was asked to assemble a team of deputy ministers and top security officials to examine if Huawei posed a cybersecurity danger because of its close links to Chinas ruling Communist Party.

It was reportedly revealed recently that Huawei was helping Chinas state security apparatus spy on its Uyghur minority.

Former top Canadian intelligence officials feared that Huawei could use 5G technology for espionage.

But Scott Bradley, Huawei spokesman, denied this charge.

Industry Minister Navdeep Bains, to whom the matter was referred, said "our government will never compromise national security and will always listen to the advice of public-security officials.

Bains' concern was backed by the office of Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.

Ottawa patent prosecutor Natalie Raffoul said the big question to be asking is, How is this benefiting Canada...a certain amount of IP ownership remains in Canada, or at least profit-sharing remains with the Canadian entity.

On the other hand, Vivek Goel, vice-president of research and innovation with University of Toronto did not favour Ottawa's constraints about transferring ownership of university research and said, it would be unfortunate if we took a stance of building a wall around Canada and leaving global industry out. Were too small a market and we dont have enough capital [domestically] to develop the intellectual property.

However, McGill University law professor Richard Gold said, "We should welcome foreign investment in our research enterprise, but must ensure that the bulk of the benefits do not flow outward when Canadians are footing most of the bill.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Since then, the protests simmered down but have not completely disappeared. It is clear that the widespread discontent is never going to disappear for as long as the regime remains in place and society is on the brink of another uprising.

The situation in Iran is changing and external influences are evolving. US President Donald Trump announced that he is pulling the United States out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and Israel has been prominent in calling for Iran to be put under more pressure. Iran-backed Houthi rebels are being defeated rapidly and there is an online protest against the Iranian regime that has been instigated by the people. The people are making their voice heard about the regimes adventures abroad and they are denouncing it for wasting state funds on foreign conflicts. They are also speaking out against the notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that they are describing as terrorists.

The current battle is the fuel shortage that comes as a result of the protests held by truck drivers and young people who are fed up of the government trying to divide the country. Hundreds of people have been wounded in the latest wave of protests and several people have been killed. As with the last protests, several people have been reported missing under suspicious circumstances.

This is angering the people even more and they are taking to social media urging people to join the protests. The online campaign is picking up speed and there may soon be an outpouring of people onto the streets in an attempt to overthrow the corrupt and torturous regime. The protests are being led by young people who are the driving force behind the campaign.

It has been reported that bus drivers and truck drivers are protesting in more than 170 cities across the country and they are speaking out against their poor employment conditions and their poor salaries. Shopkeepers are also closing up their premises.

As well as protesting against the regimes interference in foreign conflicts, the people are protesting against their unfair treatment. The womens cause is something that is being brought to the forefront of the campaign and the pictures of women that have been murdered by the regime over the past four decades are being displayed online and in the streets. Furthermore, there has been an outpouring of public support for Mrs. Maryam Rajavi  the leader of the opposition group.

The Iranian regime evidently wants to stop any protests before they get out of the regimes control, but it is clearly underestimating the will of the people.
Madani, a Western-educated water expert, resigned his post in April after fleeing the country. Hed been falsely accused of spying on the Regime for the West, along with many environmentalists arrested in the first few weeks of 2018, and did not want to take any chances with the Regimes corrupt judicial system.

He tweeted: [I] fled from a country where virtual bullies push against science, knowledge and expertise and resort to conspiracy theories to find a scapegoat for all the problems because they know well that finding an enemy, spy or someone to blame is much easier than accepting responsibility and complicity in a problem.

Irans failure and plundering

Of course, the real reason for Madanis arrest is that he highlighted mismanagement in the Regime that was contributing to an unprecedented nationwide water shortage. Hes hardly the first Iranian official to warn of the dangers of the water crisis (i.e. mass displacement of civilians), but he was one of the only to address the fact that the Regime was making things worse.

He wrote in a scientific paper in 2014:The government blames the current crisis on the changing climate, frequent droughts, and international sanctions, believing that water shortages are periodic, [but Iran has] failed to invest sufficiently into developing a resilient water management system.

While the Iranian Regime was getting billions from the 2015 nuclear deal, they failed to invest it in something that would help its people (i.e. a water management system). Instead, they spent the money on interventionism in foreign conflicts, including helping Syrian dictator Bashar Assad stay in power, and supporting terrorist groups, like Hezbollah and Hamas.

That has long been the position of the Iranian Regime, to plunder wealth from its citizens and use the ill-gotten gains to export their bastardised version of Shiite Islam abroad in order to create chaos and allow the Regime to take control.

Irans hostage-taking of Westerners

Another reason for Madanis arrest is that he has strong ties to the West, having studied and worked in Europe and the US since 2000. Thus, they began to spy on him, arrested him briefly, and then accused him in the state-run press of being a spy.

Tzvi Kahn, a senior Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, wrote: At a time when nationwide protests  animated in part by the water crisis  continue to threaten the clerical regimes viability, Tehrans anti-Western paranoia has stymied its ability to enact the very measures that not only would help stabilize its grip on power, but also would ensure the countrys very survival. In the name of self-preservation, the government effectively sows the seeds of its own decline.
Iran is being criticised for its role in arming and training the groups in Africa. Iran already funds and supports militias and proxy groups across the region, and several leaders in the international community are calling on the regime to stop its meddling and interference in foreign politics.

It is believed that Irans IRGC is spreading across into the Western Sahara region via the Iranian embassy in Algeria where it is directing and leading operations.

Iran is being criticised for its malign role in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria and one could say that Iran is involved in all of the conflicts in the region in one way or another.

US President Donald Trump announced a few weeks ago that he is pulling the United States out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and one of his reasons for doing so was Irans belligerence.

During his speech announcing his decision, Trump said: The Iranian regime is the leading state sponsor of terror. It exports dangerous missiles, fuels conflicts across the Middle East, and supports terrorist proxies and militias such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban, and al Qaeda.

He pointed out that American military installations and embassies across the region have been targeted by the regime and many US citizens have been tortured, captured and imprisoned by Iranian authorities.

Iran has been heavily involved in the Syrian civil war since it began several years ago. The war would not have lasted this long if Iran had not been involved as Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad would never have been able to stay in power without being propped up by an outside force.

Irans IRGC controls a large portion of the Iranian budget and it, along with its Quds Force division, have been spreading the regimes revolution. The people are becoming poorer and poorer in Iran, yet they are being neglected by the leadership of the country.

When the Iran nuclear deal was signed, tens of billions of dollars were freed up. This huge sum of money should have made a difference to the lives of the people, yet they never saw any of it. A large part of the money was spent on terrorist and malign activities and the funding of proxy and militia groups all over the world.

The Iranian regime is depending on chaos outside its own borders which is why it is sparking and fuelling conflicts. It is in a desperate situation at home where it has completely lost control. It is aware that the people are united in their desire for freedom, democracy and human rights and it has run out of ways to suppress the people. It has realised that the strong people of Iran cannot be silenced.
You may be surprised to learn that the worlds most trafficked endangered mammal is a strange-looking animal.

It is the pangolin, also known as the scaly anteater.

An adult pangolin can be almost 100 centimeters in length, although the smallest are only about 30 centimeters long.

The animals body is covered in small, thin scales that help to protect the animal from attack. Pangolins can fight off attackers with their sharp claws. Yet they possess little defense against human attackers.

Several years ago, demand for the meat and scales of pangolins was rising in China. It got so high that all eight kinds of pangolin were declared vulnerable or critically endangered.

The International Union For Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, is an organization working to protect wild animals and their environment. It claims that pangolins represent as much as 20 percent of all illegal wildlife trade. The IUCN reports that more than a million pangolins were illegally hunted in the 10 years leading up to 2014.

Environmental activists and nongovernmental organizations have worked hard to learn all they can about pangolins. An IUCN Species Survival Commission formed a pangolin specialist group in 2012. One hundred experts from 25 countries are a part of the group.

Commission members organized a pangolin awareness day each year in February, starting in 2014. It is called World Pangolin Day.

Pangolins can be found in parts of Asia, including China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

In Africa, Uganda appears to be a leading supplier of pangolins. Radio Free Asia reports the pangolin trade is highly profitable. Traders can purchase the animals at low prices in Uganda, for example, and then sell them at high prices in Asia.

Experts say that most of the illegally bought and sold pangolins are shipped either to China or to Vietnam. In both countries, the animals scales are said to be prized for medicinal value.

At least one media report noted that some people have worn pangolin scales like jewelry.

In addition, pangolin meat is considered a rare, very costly food. In Vietnam, some restaurants serve the meat as their most costly meal.

In 2016, an international agency governing wildlife trading worldwide banned illegal hunting, trafficking and sale of pangolins. All 182 member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species voted to support the ban.

Some countries slow to move

Chinas government has been increasing its efforts to fight the pangolin trade. And on January 1, Vietnam amended its laws to increase prison sentences for illegal wildlife sales. The longest sentence is now 15 years, up from seven years.

But when it comes to the illegal trade of pangolins and rhinoceros horns, Vietnam has been slow to act on its promises. The same has been true of its willingness to enforce the strongest sentences.

In 2014, CNN television reported that Vietnam had only a limited ability to deal with rescued pangolins. Activists working to halt the trade and care for captured pangolins had little support, the report said.

Hong Kong has also been slow in enacting punishment. There is no scientific evidence to support the belief that pangolin scales have medical uses. Still, many citizens in Hong Kong apparently believe they do.

Pangolins thick protective scales are made from keratin, the same material that makes up human fingernails. Users heat the animals skin in water to remove the scales, then dry and cook them.

On March 22, the French news agency Agence France Presse reported that some Hong Kong businesses were still involved in the trade. They were selling pangolins scales, sometimes hidden behind boxes containing other goods.

One salesman selling the scales for $108 for only 40 grams claimed that the scales could remove toxic substances. The scales can cost more than $3,000 for just one kilogram.

The illegal trade in pangolins is reported to be widespread in Indonesia. Between 2007 and 2015, Indonesian officials seized 31,000 pangolins.

Separately, in Malaysia, Thailand, and Uganda, some 21,000 pangolins were reported to have been collected during the same period.

Indonesia has declared bans on the hunting and trading of the endangered animals, while threatening severe punishment for violators. But enforcement is a problem, with a lack of money going to control the trade.

Pangolin publicity problem

Endangered pangolins have gained much less international attention than elephants and rhinoceroses. Some experts say these larger animals possess a kind of special appeal lacking in the smaller anteaters.

Pangolins are only active at night, making them difficult to observe in the wild. In captivity, pangolins easily fall victim to disease and depression, so they are rarely to be found with other animals in zoos. An exception can be seen in Taiwan, where they have been treated as stars of the animal world. They are taken to zoos, brought back to good health when injured, and returned to the wild when possible.

Im Pete Musto. And Im Dorothy Gundy.

Dan Southerland first reported this story for Radio Free Asia. Pete Musto adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. What more can countries do to stop the illegal trade of pangolins? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

trafficked  adj. bought or sold illegally, especially between countries

mammal  n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin

scaly  adj. covered with many small thin plates

claw(s)  n. a sharp curved part on the toe of an animal, such as a cat or bird

vulnerable  adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally

species  n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

awareness  n. knowledge that something, such as a situation, condition, or problem, exists

horn(s)  n. one of the hard pointed parts that grows on the head of some animals, such as cattle, goats, or sheep

fingernail(s)  n. the hard covering at the end of your fingers

toxic  adj. containing poisonous substances
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

We all need to eat. So, meals could be a chance to stop what were doing and spend time with the people in our lives.

But sometimes they are not.

It does not matter if a person is married or single; is a parent or not; is working or retired. From time to time, we all eat last-minute meals alone. And, of course, eating alone at home or at a restaurant can be a very satisfying experience.

However, could eating too many meals alone be bad for our health or affect our future success?

Several studies show that it might for some people.

A recent study from a team of South Korean researchers suggests that frequently eating alone may lead to poor eating habits and poor food choices.

Specifically, the study found that men who ate alone more than twice a week had a greater risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Benefits of family dinners on children and teenagers

For children, eating with their families is not only about preventing bad outcomes  it is also about developing good ones.

Several studies have looked at the long-term effects eating with families has on a child. Experts say that these studies do not seem to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. However, they do suggest a strong correlation, or link.

In 2014, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at data from nearly three-quarters of the worlds countries. Among its findings was the fact that students who shared a main meal with their families were less likely to skip school.

Children who eat a main meal with their families are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

That was a finding of a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in New York. The 2012 CASA report found that family dinners were strongly linked to teen substance use prevention.

In the report, titled The Importance of Family Dinners (VIII), researchers say that teens who have frequent family dinners are more likely to say their parents know a lot about whats...going on in their lives 

They also claim that when teens say they feel closer to their parents, they are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

Another study from the University of Montreal found that children who ate with their families experience long-term physical and mental health benefits. These children were physically in better shape and drank fewer sugary soft drinks. These children also seemed to have better social skills and self-reported that they were less aggressive.

One of the researchers involved in this study is a professor of psychoeducation at the university.

Linda Pagani says that there is a handful of research suggesting a positive link between eating family meals together frequently and child and adolescent health.

Pagani says that mealtimes shared with parents likely provide young children with firsthand social interaction, discussions of social issues and day-to-day concerns. She adds that they may likely help the child have better communications skills with others.

Ways to eat together more

If you find too many of your mealtimes to be lonely events, experts at the Mental Health Foundation in the U.K. suggest making small changes.

Its website says to make room for at least one shared meal a week. And keep it simple. Even if dinner is a salad and a sandwich, it is still time for a family to be together.

If mornings are less busy than evenings, start by making breakfast your shared meal.

If you live alone, reach out to those in your social circle or neighborhood. Once a month potluck dinners where everyone brings a dish could be an easy way to start.

If you work in an office, step out with a co-worker for a bite to eat every once in a while, instead of eating at your desk every day.

Or you could simply schedule time in your week to share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend.

And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo.

Using the language heard in this story, describe your usual meals. Is there anything you would like to change about your mealtimes? Let us know in the Comments Section.

Anna Matteo reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

_________________________________________________________________

Quiz

Quiz - How Important Is Eating With Others? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

retire - v. to give up a job permanently : quit working

habit - n. something that a person does in a regular and repeated way

correlation - n. the relationship between things that happen or change together

data - n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something

skip school  phrase to miss school without permission

psychoeducation - n. health psychology combined with behavioral counseling and psychotherapy

positive - adj. good or useful

adolescent - n. a young person who is developing into an adult

interaction - n. to talk or do things with other people
A new superhero has been added to Marvel Comics Champions series. Her name is Amka Aliyak. She is known as Snowguard.

Amka Aliyak is an Inuit teenager from northern Canada. She comes from Pangnirtung, a town in the territory of Nunavut.

Inuit is the name for the native, or indigenous, people living in northern Canada, as well as parts of Greenland and the American state of Alaska. Nunavut is one of four areas that make up the homeland for Canadas Inuit population.

Amka Aliyak first appeared last month in Champions issue #19. She began as a normal girl who became interested in the sudden appearance of a mysterious factory near her home.

When she decides to investigate, a new, great adventure begins. Her character is powered by an Inuit spirit-force named Sila. She gains the power to shapeshift, which means she can change her form from a girl to an animal.

Amka Aliyak is struck with mythical power in the newest comic book, Champions #20. Her superhero persona, Snowguard, will come to life in Champions #21, to be released in June. Marvel Comics is known for many of its superheroes, including Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Cyclops and the Hulk.

The idea for Amka came from Jim Zub, a Toronto-based writer, artist and art teacher. He took over writing the Champions series, beginning with #19.

Id been doing Marvel stories for three years. And when I was on the Avengers series, I made a few new villains and a couple of new little elements, Zub said. There are Canadian superheroes at Marvel, but there havent been any new ones in quite a while and there havent been any teenaged heroes.

That is when Zub decided to turn to the Inuit people, whose traditions include myths. Some of their stories describe creatures with human-like characteristics.

The writer teamed up with South African artist Sean Izaakse and colorist Marcio Menyz to bring Amka Aliyak to life. Zub said that in creating her character, they tried to keep an important balance. They wanted to make sure she represented the things that make indigenous culture special and interesting. But they did not want the character to fall too far into stereotypes.

Zub said he carefully researched Inuit history and culture. He also contacted Toronto-based film producer Nyla Innuksuk, who is the great-granddaughter of the last shaman of the north.

He said the producer was able to provide good ideas for the teenage girls character, as well as information about life and culture in her community. This resulted in details being added, such as traditional tattoos and clothing.

As with other superhero comics, the stories are often built around showing examples of good and bad behavior. The characters seek to demonstrate the ways we should treat each other and the things we should watch out for, Zub said.

He added that readers should not worry about Amka Aliyak disappearing after a few issues, as is sometimes the case with comics. He says she will be joining forces with the other Champions to fight evil and change the world for a long time to come.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Cecily Hilleary wrote this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

character  n. a person included in a story

issue  n. version of a newspaper, magazine, etc. that is published on a particular day

adventure  n. an exciting and sometimes dangerous experience

villain  n. someone in a story or movie who does bad things

mythological  adj. things or ideas that are believed by many people but are not true

stereotype  n. an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular quality

element  n. a part of something

shaman  n. someone believed in some cultures to have powers to control or influence good and evil spirits

tattoo  n. a permanent picture or word added to the surface of skin, created by using needles to put colors under the skin
Washington D.C. is home to many embassies and diplomatic offices representing the nations of the world.

Many ambassadors in Washington live in large, beautiful buildings with rich, interesting histories. One of them is home to Turkeys ambassador, Serdar Kilic.

It is called Everett House. It is in a neighborhood known for its many embassies and diplomatic buildings. The home was built in 1914 for a wealthy businessman named Edward H. Everett. He made his money working in the glass and oil industries.

After Everetts death in 1929, the Turkish government began to pay for its use. Later, Turkey bought the home and all its contents.

In 1935, Turkeys second ambassador to Washington, Mehmet Munir Ertegun, moved into Everett House. He and his two sons  Ahmet and Nesuhi - had a great love for jazz music. They wanted to experience it with musicians in Washington.

But Ahmet said in a 2005 interview that when he first arrived in the U.S., jazz music by black musicians was not easy to find. This was during a period of segregation - laws and customs that blocked blacks from mixing with whites in America. But, over time, he said his family got to know some famous black musicians by seeing their shows at Washingtons Howard Theatre.

The current ambassador says the Ertegun family organized many jazz events and jam sessions at the residence.

But not only the white Americans, also the black Americans. And that was the segregation period in the United States. And that was a big move on the part of the Turkish ambassador at that time.

Ahmet Ertegun said several major black performers came to the ambassadors home. They included black musicians Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. But the family also invited famous white performers including Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.

Kilic said the fact that black musicians were permitted to enter the home upset some powerful people in Washington. He said that one southern member of Congress even wrote a letter to Ambassador Ertegun, expressing shock that black people could be seen walking in and out the front doors.

What the Turkish ambassador said, I mean they are equal citizens of the American society, as far as Turkey is concerned, and he invited all the guests through the front door.

John Whittington Franklin is with the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture. He says the Turkish ambassadors treatment of blacks showed the community that his home was a safe place for them in Washington.

That it gives assurance to African Americans that there are people from Europe who appreciate them and appreciate their music. And treat them as equals.

Later, Ahmet Ertegun himself made a big mark on American music. In 1947, he co-founded the famous recording company Atlantic Records. His brother helped him run it. Atlantic Records became a very influential part of the music business. It helped launch the careers of some of Americas biggest stars in jazz, rocknroll, and rhythm and blues.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Ozlem Tinaz reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted it Learning English, with additional information from other sources. Caty Weaver was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

jam session  n. a gathering or performance in which musicians play together informally without any preparation

assurance  n. the state of being sure or certain about something

appreciate  v. to understand the worth and importance of
 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.
6 hours ago

Inflation Playbook: 3 Stocks to Consider Buying Now

Inflation and transitory are probably two words that investors are getting tired of hearing, yet its important to understand that this is what is moving markets following the pandemic. Every Consumer

Read Article
A student at Hangzhou Number 11 High School gets his face scanned before retrieving books from the classroom library, in Hangzhou City in eastern China. (Screenshot via Sina)

High School in China Installs Facial Recognition Cameras to Monitor Students Attentiveness

A high school in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province located on the eastern coast of China, has employed facial recognition technology to monitor students attentiveness in class.

At Hangzhou Number 11 High School, three cameras at the front of the classroom scan students faces every 30 seconds, analyzing their facial expressions to detect their mood, according to a May 16 report in the state-run newspaper The Paper.

The different moodssurprised, sad, antipathy, angry, happy, afraid, neutralare recorded and averaged during each class.

A display screen, only visible to the teacher, shows the data in real-time. A certain value is determined as a student not paying enough attention.

A video shot by Zhejiang Daily Press revealed that the systemcoined the smart classroom behavior management system by the schoolalso analyzes students actions, categorized into: reading, listening, writing, standing up, raising hands, and leaning on the desk.

An electronic screen also displays a list of student names deemed not paying attention.

The school began using the technology at the end of March, vice principal Zhang Guanchao told The Paper. Zhang added that students felt like they were being monitored when the system was first put in place, but have since gotten used to it. Teachers have used the data to change their teaching methods, Zhang said.

Since the school has introduced these cameras, it is like there are a pair of mystery eyes constantly watching me, and I dont dare let my mind wander. -student at Hangzhou Number 11 High School

An unnamed student was quoted in an article published by the Sina News portal: Since the school has introduced these cameras, it is like there are a pair of mystery eyes constantly watching me, and I dont dare let my mind wander.

Chinese netizens, however, raised concerns about such heavy surveillance of young students. On Sina Weibo, a social media platform similar to Twitter, one user from Beijing said: this is more frightening than being in prison.

Many users felt the school was violating these students basic rights with such monitoring. They are not studying machines. Any human being will have moments when their mind wanders, said a user from Fujian Province with the moniker Laren.

China has heavily embraced facial recognition technology, used to serve meals to students at school cafeterias, pay for items at stores, as a virtual boarding pass for airline flights, and even to prevent toilet paper theft at public restrooms.

In particular, the Chinese regime has championed a nationwide system of security cameras, called Skynet, that use facial recognition and other artificial intelligence features to gather personal information on passerby in real time. More than 20 million cameras have already been installed, with plans to cover the entire country by 2020.

The regime touts the system as an effective tool for detecting criminals, but observers are concerned that the surveillance technology is turning China into a Big Brother Orwellian state.

Already, the technology has been employed to spot and detain a Chinese dissident, who was approached by plainclothes police upon exiting a Guangzhou City railway station after his name appeared on a wanted list.

The Chinese regimes nervousness about ethnic unrest in the predominantly Uyghur region of Xinjiang has led it to develop predictive security software that crunches data from CCTV cameras, ID card checks, and other personal records, which then flags individuals as potential suspects.

Frank Fang contributed to this report.
Flags of Taiwan and Burkina Faso (R) are seen inside Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei, Taiwan on May 24, 2018. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Taiwan Loses Second Ally in a Month, Burkina Faso, Amid China Pressure

OUAGADOUGOU/TAIPEITaiwan lost its second diplomatic ally in less than a month when Burkina Faso said on May 24 that it had cut ties with the self-ruled island, following intense pressure from the Chinese regime.

The Chinese Communist Party considers Taiwan a part of its territory and insists on a one China policy that precludes any international space for Taiwan. Recently, as it seeks more investments in the African continent, China has pressured African nations to recognize only one China.

Taiwan now has only one diplomatic ally left in Africathe tiny kingdom of Swazilandand formal relations with just 18 countries worldwide, many of them poor nations in Central America and the Pacific like Belize and Nauru.

The Burkina foreign ministrys statement made no direct mention of China, but said the evolution of the world and the socio-economic challenges of our country and region push us to reconsider our position.

Speaking at a hastily arranged news conference in Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan would not engage in dollar diplomacy and denounced Beijings methods.

China toys with dollar diplomacy and promises huge sums of money to entice many countries to build relations, Tsai said.

I want to emphasize again that Chinas pressure will only lead to Taiwans ties with its partners in the international community getting closer. We will not cower at all.

Taiwan has accused China of luring its friends away with offers of generous aid packages.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, who tendered his resignation, said: China grabbing our allies and giving us pressure in the diplomatic space will not shrink the distance across the [Taiwan] strait and will not let cross-strait relations walk on a peaceful, friendly path.

Growing Hostility

Taiwan is Chinas most sensitive territorial issue.

Chinas hostility to Taiwan has grown since Tsai was elected president in 2016, who is from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. She says she wants to maintain the status quo.

China is Africas largest trade partner, with massive investments in mining, construction and banking, though it has been less active to date in Burkina.

China is hosting a summit of African leaders in September in Beijing, where it will likely offer new pledges of aid and preferential loans.

In March, China said it was in the best interests of Taiwans allies to recognize an irresistible trend and ditch Taipei in favor of one China.

Burkina is the fifth country to cut ties with Taiwan since Tsai came to office, following the Dominican Republic, Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, and Panama.

The Vatican is possibly next, as the Holy See and China edge closer to an accord on the appointment of bishops there.

Taiwan says the Republic of China, its official name, is a sovereign country with the right to develop relations with other countries.

Some countries have switched back and forth between Beijing and Taipei several times.

This is the second time Burkina has cut ties with Taiwan. It last did so in 1973, before resuming relations with Taipei in 1994.

By Thiam Ndiaga and Jess Macy Yu
Taiwanese Businessman Arrested for Spying on Behalf of China

In Taiwan, another businessman has been placed under investigation for conducting espionage for Chinathe second incident in a little over a month.

Lin Wei-lin, 39, a Taiwanese businessman who, after retiring from serving in Taiwans Marine Corps, started a mechatronics business in 2000 in Suzhou City, located in Jiangsu Province on the eastern coast of China. After years of working and living in China, Lin began to hold multiple positions in Chinas state-controlled organizations, including president of a Taiwanese Youth Businessmen Association in Wujiang District, Suzhou; and deputy director of a local Taiwan Compatriot Investment Enterprises Association.

On May 25, the Liberty Times, a Taiwan newspaper, reported that Lin had been placed under investigation under charges of violating Taiwans national security law. Prosecutors in Taoyuan City in northern Taiwan found evidence that he had acted as a spy for the Chinese regime.

Taiwanese authorities uncovered that Lin had intentionally approached his classmate from junior high school after learning that he was an investigator with a Taiwan intelligence agency. According to the Liberty Times, Lin tried to bribe his classmate and hinted that he could introduce his classmate to some friends in China. Additionally, Lin told him there were some job opportunities in China that could offer a one-time-fee of at least a million yuan (about $156,400). Ultimately, Lins classmate did not take the bait.

Taiwan is a self-ruled island with its own constitution, democratically elected government, and militaryestablished after the Kuomintang were defeated by the Chinese Communist Party during Chinas civil war, and fled to Taiwan. Beijing, on the other hand, considers Taiwan a renegade province that will one day be reunited with the mainland, with military force if necessary.

Over the years, China has tried to exert its influence through economic, political, and cultural means to coerce the Taiwanese public and government to embrace the idea of reunification with the mainland. Internationally, China has tried to diminish Taiwans global presence by engaging in dollar diplomacyenticing Taiwan allies to recognize only one China ruled from Beijing, by offering lucrative economic deals.

Lins case is not the first. Last month, Hung Chin-hsi, a Taiwanese businessman working in Macau, the former Portuguese colony now under Beijings sovereignty, was placed under investigation, reported the Liberty Times. He tried to lure an official working for the Investigation Bureau of Taiwans Ministry of Justice into working for the Chinese regime by offering him huge sums of money. A Taiwanese court suspected Hung of creating Chinese-regime-friendly associations in Taiwan.

The Taiwanese government is not the only target the Chinese regime tries to infiltrate.

On May 9, Jerry Chun Shing Lee, a former U.S. CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) official, is accused of gathering classified information intended to be passed on to the Chinese regime, and was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia earlier this month, reported Reuters.

In August 2014, Su Bin, a Chinese businessman who frequently traveled between China and the United States, was indicted in California. U.S. federal prosecutors alleged that Su hacked into computer systems of Boeing and other U.S. defense contractors, and stole confidential plans for military aircraft, according to Reuters.
The tax benefits bill for Macaus renovation of old buildings passed the first reading vote at the Legislative Assembly (AL) on Friday. Once the law is enforced, companies that do reconstruction works on old buildings will be waived from paying stamp tax.

The law concerns buildings that have been deemed dangerous, buildings that pose threats to public safety, and buildings that the Chief Executive has described as being beneficial for Macaus social development, or deemed as relating to the protection of the citys cultural heritage.

According to the bill, it is proposed that developers will not have to pay stamp taxes over the acquisition of a building if the developers do not change the nature of the buildings function.

Owners of properties located near the old buildings can also have their taxes waived over the acquisition of reconstructed properties.

However, there are certain limitations. For instance, the bill is capped to expansions of 10 percent of the propertys original area.

Several lawmakers, including Agnes Lam, wondered how the government decided the rule on to 10 percent expansion of old buildings, and asked if an additional percentage can be capped.

During the plenary session, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, noted several reasons behind the 10 percent decision, including that some buildings were not fully developed in terms of foot area.

The Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) will be the body responsible for approving a buildings renovation. The renovation plan must either be made based on a buildings original plan or based on DSSOPTs considerations.

Like Lam, Chui Sai Peng and several other lawmakers also asked the government to explain how can DSSOPT engage in such procedures.

Secretary Leong explained that, in some individual cases, the original plan of a building cannot be used as the renovation plan. He further remarked that, at this moment, DSSOPT will be responsible for reviewing new plans based on the citys regulations and laws.

Another concern of some lawmakers was whether several buildings can be combined as a single renovation project, in order to avoid potential urban development problems, which might occur in certain communities where there is only a fraction of buildings being renovated.

A DSSOPT representative replied by saying that it could happen. However, such a plan would still need to be approved by the Urban Planning Committee.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Wong Kit Cheng wanted to know whether buildings already rebuilt should get tax benefits as well. She also showed some concern about the Cultural Affairs Bureaus (IC) role in the renovation of cultural relics.

The same DSSOPT representative told lawmakers that the IC will be asked when a buildings renovation involves the protection of cultural heritage.

According to the bill, developers must complete the foundations of the new buildings within three years after the acquisition of the building.

If the developer [takes] more than three years to finish works, but the delay is not the responsibility of the developer, what will the government do in face of such situation? questioned Ho Ion Sang, who then asked the government to consider giving more time to developers, as control over delays sometimes do not lie in their hands.

According to a DSSOPT representative, the government will not include the time spent by developers on administration procedures in the three year limit.

Our experience tells us that three years is enough for a developer to finish foundation works, the DSSOPT representative said.

Lawmaker Zheng Anting suggested the government should revise the citys land law.

He also hoped the government could add an article concerning who is responsible when delays occur.

Leong, in reply to Zheng, said we can study it.

Macaus Immigration requirements to be debated



ANOTHER MOTION to hold a debate on the citys immigration policies, with a focus on investment immigration and the highly skilled professionals immigration policy, was passed at the Legislative Assembly (AL), resulting in a debate to be held. Society has already been criticizing the abuse of investment policies, [as applicants] can forge their documents, and forge their education background, said Lei Cheng I, who proposed the debate. The policy should be evaluated, as many requirements are already far away from [the reality] and standards are too low, which are easy to meet, said Lei.
The Legislative Assembly (AL) will have a debate on the mutual recognition of driving licenses between mainland China and Macau, after a motion made by Ng Kuok Cheong was passed at the AL last Friday.

Mutual recognition of driving licenses between [the] Mainland and Macau should be discussed and should be put out for public consultation, said Ng, who deemed that the governments handling of the policy is ignoring the publics opinion.

The potential demand will generate tens of thousands of cars to show up at anytime, [tourists traveling to Macau with cars] can deteriorate Macaus transportation, non-local workers can also [] work beyond their duty [in terms of driving], which will harm local peoples employment conditions. Overall, it will [add] great pressure [to] Macaus environment, declared Ng.

In the lawmakers opinion, regional cooperation does not necessarily mean making Macau similar to mainland cities, or making Macau another Guangzhou or Zhongshan.

Ng also believes that the government should encourage mainland residents to use public transport when they travel in Macau.

Agnes Lam expressed her support of the motion and said that the government should explain it better to the public.

Ma Chi Seng, in turn, expressed his support of the recognition proposal, noting that I think it is a big thing, and it follows the trend. Its good to have the government explaining it again to the people.

Leong Sun Iok noted that the recognitions influence in Macau still needs to be evaluated given the fact that 70 percent of Macaus tourists come from mainland China.

This applies especially to those who live in the tourism district, who will worry about an increase in the number of vehicles [arriving near their district], said Leong.

Government representatives will be invited to the AL during the debate to answer the lawmakers questions.
Chinas ruling Communist Party has ordered local governments to better regulate the construction of large outdoor religious statues amid increasing restrictions on religious expression of all kinds.

The directive from the United Front Work Department viewed on its website Saturday appears targeted mainly at followers of Buddhism and Taoism, two of Chinas five officially recognized religions.

The meeting required all localities to take up the regulation of large outdoor religious statues as their top priority in preventing the further commercialization of Buddhism and Toaism, the directive said.

Thousands of Buddhist and Taoist temples and shrines, along with mosques and churches, were damaged or destroyed under communism, especially during the violent 1966-76 Cultural Revolution.

Although many have been restored and reopened since then, new regulations and a bureaucratic overhaul earlier this year have put the day-to-day running of religious affairs directly under the officially atheistic party.

Thats been accompanied by a renewed campaign promoting atheism and loyalty to the party, along with a push to study the works of one of communisms founding fathers, Karl Marx, who famously wrote that religion is the opium of the people.

The anti-religion drive overlaps with campaigns to promote patriotism and party loyalty, oppose separatism among ethnic minorities and fight Western liberal values.

That has complicated efforts toward reconciliation with the Vatican and led to thousands of Muslims being subjected to anti- Islamic indoctrination in re-education camps, churches being demolished and students and monks removed from a famed Tibetan Buddhist seminary. AP
Chief Executive Chui Sai On is leading a government delegation to Beijing for the launch ceremony of the Beijing-Macao Cooperation Partnership 2018 and the signing of some cooperation agreements, according to the Government Information Bureau. Held in the capital until tomorrow, Chui will also attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services, and a summit session on the topic of trade in services. Chui is also planning to meet with officials of the General Administration of Customs. Beijing and Macau launched their Cooperation Partnership program in October 2016, with the aim of boosting ties in economic matters and trade, as well as people-to-people exchanges.

Man arrested following aggravated assault

A mainland man has been arrested after injuring another mainland man while they were drinking inside a housing unit in a Taipa residence. The suspect and the victim got involved in a quarrel while drinking. The victim started becoming violent and shortly after, he threw a glass bottle against the suspects head. The suspect, in turn, grabbed two knives from the kitchen to attack the victim. The mans violent behavior was quelled by other people who were also drinking along with both the suspect and the victim. Police are now investigating the suspects violence practice.

Public car parks upgraded, electronic payments made available

The 13 public car parks that the government has been granting concessions to private companies to run, have been registering added improvements in their facilities and soon, all of them will be equipped with different forms of electronic payments, the Director of the Transport Bureau, Lam Hin San said last week. Lam said that most of the 13 public car parks recently underwent renovations of their facilities and upgrades to equipment, which includes the possibility of several forms of electronic payments. Lam also added that the bureau is seeking other avenues to update this e-pay system, in particular, technology that is compatible with the systems mostly used in other places like in the mainland. He noted that the government is proposing such an idea but that the acceptance of it lies in the hands of the concessionaires.
The West African Nation of Burkina Faso formally resumed diplomatic ties with China on Saturday after breaking off relations with Taiwan, which now has just 18 diplomatic allies.

Burkina Fasos decision was the latest blow to Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory and has been seeking to isolate on the global stage.

Earlier this month, the Dominican Republic established diplomatic relations with China and severed ties with Taiwan.

A document establishing diplomatic ties was signed Saturday in Beijing between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Burkina Fasos foreign minister, Alpha Barry.

The move leaves Taiwan with just one remaining African ally, Swaziland, and Wang appeared to indicate the small nation in the continents south was being actively courted by Beijing.

Now Africa has only one country with which we have not yet established diplomatic relations, Wang said. We hope this country can join the big China-Africa family of friendship as soon as possible.

On Friday, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted that Chinas growing pressure will only strengthen other countries support for us. She added defiantly, We will never back down.

Taiwan has previously condemned what it called Chinas dollar diplomacy campaign of luring away Taiwans allies with promises of vast financial aid and investment.

Tsai has angered Beijing by refusing to endorse its one-China principle designating the island as a part of China. AP
The 2018 Asian Wake Series continued yesterday, with the Macau Wakeboard & Wakesurf Open, a three-day event that featured a total of 90 athletes, of which 10 are from the MSAR.

Hosted in the city for the first time, the organizer of the Open, the Macau Wake Trace Wakeboard Club, hopes to see an increase in the number of its community members, particularly youngsters.

Head of the club, Ricky Sio expressed to the Times that the sport still remains unpopular in the city.

We hosted this Open because I want to make this sport popular. We want to have [more riders] and train them to become more professional and do better at the sport, Sio said. Currently, the community has around 20 members.

Sio admitted that it took the club over a year to get approval from the government to use the waters near the Fishermans Wharf  a move that he wished could become easier next year.

Organizing this Open is not easy at all. I hope that when we try the second time, it [will] be much be easier to [get approvals], he said

Echoing the same sentiments, fourth runner of the Women Novice Division Coreen Choi remarked that wakeboarding remains a challenging sport in Macau.

Were just a small group. It is not an easy sport in Macau, said the participant, who is also a member of the club.

Choi hoped the government would help the sport target the younger audience, and have them engaged in water activity sports.

With a total prize money of MOP80,500, the open attracted a few younger participants from Taiwan and mainland China.

At our age, were about to quit wakeboarding, so we want more young people to join the community. A participant here who is about age 7, from Taiwan, is already [at] a high level, so if Macau supports this sport, we can have young participants too, she added.

If we could get more support from the government, like allowing us to practice in the waters of Macau, it would be great. The government only approved us in Hac Sa but the waters there are not so [great]. Choi said, hinting that the waters at Nam Van Lake and Fishermans Wharf would be better.

According to her, the Hac Sa waters are not conducive to quality wakeboarding. As a result, many members of the club resort to traveling to mainland China or Thailand.

It would be more convenient for us to practice here but if Macau does not have the place for us, its pretty hard.

The event is part of the Malibu WWA Asian Wake Series, which also includes stops in the Taiwan region and Kumamoto, Japan, in the month of July.

The final leg is scheduled in Gyeonggi-do in South Korea.
Consumers may do as much as regulators to propel the car sector into the electricity-powered age foreseen by Tesla Inc., according to the European Unions industrial-policy chief.

European Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska said the EU has had a breakthrough moment since Germany-based Volkswagen AG admitted in 2015 that it fitted diesel engines with software to cheat U.S. checks on smog-causing discharges of nitrogen oxides. This deeply affected the emotions in society toward emissions and cleaner cars, she said.

Diesel cars are finished, Bienkowska said in a May 24 interview in her ninth floor Brussels office. I think in several years they will completely disappear. This is the technology of the past.

The auto-emissions scandal may help the EU gear up for a technological revolution in road transport. Europe is seeking to retain leadership in the worldwide market for passenger cars in the face of competition from the U.S., where Tesla is based, and China, which accounts for about half of electric-vehicle sales.

VWs cheating, which the U.S. uncovered and led Germany to order an EU- wide recall of 8.5 million Volkswagen vehicles, pushed the worlds No. 1 carmaker into a crisis and left policy makers in Europe scrambling to patch up regulatory holes that threatened a clean-diesel strategy dating to the 1990s.

The issue has been politically thorny in Europe because around half the cars in the region are powered by diesel  which causes more urban pollution than gasoline while having less global-warming impact  and because many member states have struggled to meet clean-air goals meant to reduce human sicknesses and premature deaths. People have realized that we will never have completely clean  without NOx  diesel cars, said Bienkowska, who comes from Poland.

Last week, EU governments backed a revamp of the rules for authorizing car models in the 28-nation bloc. The European Commission, the EUs regulatory arm, won the power to fine automakers up to 30,000 euros ($35,157) per faulty car and order recalls as part of the more centralized market oversight, becoming more like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Bienkowska said arrogance by carmakers, coupled with their traditionally close ties to national governments, meant the draft law was initially greeted as if the industry wrongdoing had been insignificant. Gradually, she said, attitudes changed.

I am really a little bit less frustrated than I was a year ago, said Bienkowska. During this denial phase, it was awful.

Adding to the optimism is an initiative by the commission and industry to spur the development in Europe of batteries for electric cars, including through financing. European companies seeking to get a foothold in the market include BMW AG, Daimler AG, BASF SE and Vattenfall AB. Bloomberg
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed in the rivals surprise meeting to sitting down with President Donald Trump and to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Korean leaders second summit in a month Saturday saw bear hugs and broad smiles, but their quickly arranged meeting appears to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the worlds most heavily armed border.

At the White House, Trump said negotiations over a potential June 12 summit with Kim that he had earlier canceled are going along very well. Trump told reporters that they are still considering Singapore as the venue for their talks. He said there is a lot of good will and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be a great thing.

The Koreas talks, which Moon said Kim requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back-and-forth. It allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war last year. Kim may see the sit-down with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters yesterday that Kim again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and told the South Korean leader that hes willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful North Korea-U.S. summit. Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a firm resolve to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements complete denuclearization.

What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations [with North Korea] and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization, Moon said. During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations [between the U.S. and North Korea] and help [the North] achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization.

Moon said North Korea and the United States will soon start working-level talks to prepare for the Kim-Trump summit. He said he expects the talks to go smoothly because Pyongyang and Washington both know what they want from each other.

Kim, in a telling line from a dispatch issued by the Norths state-run news service earlier yesterday, expressed his fixed will on the historic [North Korea]-U.S. summit talks. During Saturdays inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-U.S. relations and establish a mechanism for permanent and durable peace.

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Saturdays Korean summit came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a Trump-Kim meeting.

Despite repeated references to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by the North, it remains unclear whether Kim will ever agree to fully abandon his nuclear arsenal. The North has previously used the term to demand the United States pull out its 28,500 troops in South Korea and withdraw its so-called nuclear umbrella security commitment to South Korea and Japan. The North hasnt openly repeated those same demands after Kims sudden outreach to Seoul and Washington.

Moon has insisted Kim can be persuaded to abandon his nuclear facilities, materials and bombs in a verifiable and irreversible way in exchange for credible security and economic guarantees. Moon said yesterday that the Norths disarmament could be still be a difficult process even if Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul dont differ over what complete denuclearization of the peninsula means.

Moon, who brokered the summit between Washington and Pyongyang, likely used Saturdays meeting to confirm Kims willingness to enter nuclear negotiations with Trump and clarify what steps Kim has in mind in the process of denuclearization, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at Seouls Korea Institute for National Unification.

While Washington and Pyongyang have expressed their hopes for a summit through published statements, Moon has to step up as the mediator because the surest way to set the meeting in stone would be an official confirmation of intent between heads of states, Hong said.

Some U.S. officials have talked about a comprehensive one-shot deal in which North Korea fully eliminates its nukes first and receives rewards later. But Kim, through two summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping in March and May, has called for a phased and synchronized process in which every action he takes is met with a reciprocal reward from the United States.

Before he canceled the summit, Trump this past week did not rule out an incremental approach that would provide incentives along the way to the North.

Following an unusually provocative 2017 in which his engineers tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and three long-range missiles theoretically capable of striking mainland U.S. cities, Kim has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months. In addition to his summits with Moon and Xi, Kim also has had two meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Photos released by South Koreas presidential office showed Moon arriving at the North Korean side of the Panmunjom truce village and shaking hands with Kims sister, Kim Yo Jong, before sitting down with Kim for their summit.

Moon was accompanied by his spy chief, Suh Hoon, while Kim was joined by Kim Yong Chol, a former military intelligence chief who is now Kims top official on inter-Korean relations. The two leaders embraced as Moon departed.

At their first meeting on April 27, Kim and Moon first announced complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and permanent peace, which Seoul has tried to sell as a meaningful breakthrough to set up the summit with Trump.

Ahead of that summit, the Koreas established their first-ever leaders hotline to enable Moon and Kim to engage in direct communication and defuse crises. But Moon said Sunday he and Kim decided to meet again, rather than have a telephone conversation, as their aides suggested candid face-to-face talks between the leaders.

Relations between the two Koreas had chilled in recent weeks, with North Korea canceling a high-level meeting with Seoul over South Koreas participation in regular military exercises with the United States and insisting that it will not return to talks unless its grievances are resolved.

South Korea was caught off guard by Trumps abrupt cancellation of his summit with Kim, with the U.S. president citing hostility in recent North Korean comments. Moon said Trumps decision left him perplexed and was very regrettable. He urged Washington and Pyongyang to resolve their differences through more direct and closer dialogue between their leaders.

Saturdays summit marks the fourth meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas since they were divided at the end of the World War II in 1945. Hyung-Jin Kim, Foster Klug, AP
A lightning strike temporarily knocked out the fueling system yesterday at London Stansted airport, the biggest base for Ryanair Holdings Plc, causing flight delays and cancellations.

Engineers restored the system, though flights may still be delayed, diverted or canceled at the airport about 64 kilometers north of central London, according to a statement on Stansteds Twitter account.

Stansted is the third-busiest airport in London and a key hub for the discount airline Ryanair. The Irish carrier canceled a number of flights and is advising customers of their options, including a full refund or a free transfer to the next available flight, it said in an emailed statement.

We apologize to all customers affected by these disruptions, which are entirely beyond our control, Ryanair said in the statement, declining to quantify the cancellations.
A Chinese dissident who founded a website documenting rights abuses will be tried on June 20 for allegedly leaking state secrets, his lawyer said Friday.

Huang Qi was arrested in November 2016. His attorney, Liu Zhengqing, confirmed his trial date and said he was charged with illegally providing state secrets abroad.

Huang, 55, has been jailed twice before, including in 2008 after advocating for parents whose children were killed in a massive earthquake in the southwestern province of Sichuan. Thousands of students died when their shoddily built schools collapsed, but the government has never made public the results of any investigation or held anyone accountable.

In 1998, Huang founded the 64 Tianwang Human Rights Center and its accompanying website to chronicle the stories of people alleging abuses by authorities. Reporters Without Borders, which calls Huang a cyberdissident, has awarded him its Cyberfreedom Prize.

Huangs mother, Pu Wenqing, said in a letter earlier this week that she worried about her sons ailing health. She urged authorities to transfer him to a hospital to receive treatment for his limited kidney function and severe weight loss, among other ailments.

Pu Fei, a colleague of Huangs, said the activists supporters believe he should be freed for humanitarian reasons.

We have called on the authorities to take into consideration his deteriorating health and let him go, Pu said by phone. Not to mention they have kept him in jail without any evidence.

Since coming to power in 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping has overseen tightening restrictions on civil society, jailing human rights activists as well as the lawyers who defend them.

Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake earlier this month, Pu Wenqing said: Huang Qi is innocent. Im really worried my son will die in prison.

Calls to the courthouse where Huang is to be tried in the Sichuan city of Mianyang were not answered. AP
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.
I totally agree about Ethiopia being easy to visit. I went there last December and was baffled by how safe it was. I went outside and easily hailed a Taxi at 11 pm (the blue and white ones that everybody take in Addis not the special ones made for tourists). Id never find a real Taxi in Port-au-Prince after 8 pm. Except the special (and very expensive) ones you can call on the phone.

What stroke me the most was how cheap Ethiopia was compared to Haiti and low income countries in Africa (especially Tchad, where my wife works). I think this is a major problem for countries like Tchad or Haiti (or Nigeria): they grew too expensive before getting even remotely rich. And this gives me hope that Ethiopia could achieve some significant success in tourism and exports in the coming years. By the way, I think that why a country like Ethiopia is cheaper than Haiti or Chad remains a question to be seriously investigated.

However, the Internet in Haiti is way better and cheaper. Cars in Haiti are also substantially cheaper (3 times cheaper at least, thanks in part to the US being so close). I also think the Internet is largely better and cheaper in Nigeria compared to Ethiopia. This made me think about something you wrote about the future of economic development, with people in countries like Haiti or Nigeria getting more satisfaction from the Internet and relatively cheap electronics instead of jobs and income. My impression is that its one of the very few low income country not taking this route currently
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A California company has developed an app that could give Long Island clients a "fast pass" in doctors' waiting rooms, while a Manhattan firm plans to provide members with no-wait emergency room service on the East End this summer.

The two are new examples of "concierge medicine," a model in which members pay an annual fee for special access to doctors.

Concierge Key Health subscribers can use the company's mobile app to schedule no-wait appointments with participating doctors. The Newport Beach, California-based firm launched in pockets of the West Coast, including the Los Angeles area, earlier this year, and has recently entered the New York market.

"We plan to be in the tri-state area in the next couple months," CEO Robert Grant said. "We are going through the process of signing up doctors in the New York area, and that includes Long Island."

Priority Private Care, which offers concierge emergency room care 24 hours a day every day at its location in Manhattan, plans to roll out an East End-based service for the summer months, co-founder Benjamin Kruger said.

Concierge Key Health puts a focus on specialty practices such as cardiology, ophthalmology, ear/nose/throat, dermatology, orthopedics and plastic surgery. An individual membership costs $3,000 annually, while a family subscription, which covers up to three children under age 26, is $5,000. Members also pay regular appointment fees when they see a doctor.

The company has about 600 members, Grant said.

"We did some promotional sign ups, and we expect many of them to convert and become paying members," he said. "We also have plenty of paying subscribers. We are also eyeing corporate accounts."

The doctors are selected via a peer-to-peer vetting process, Grant said. He added that doctors are recommended to clients based on their insurance benefits and location, although members can make changes to those recommendations.

About 200 doctors have joined the network nationwide, including about 20 in New York. So far only one of those, Dr. Stephen Greenberg, is on Long Island. The plastic surgeon is based in Woodbury, with additional offices in Southampton and Boca Raton, Florida.

"This makes it so easy for a busy professional who doesn't have time or energy to wait for an appointment," Greenberg said.

He said he has set aside time in his schedule for Concierge Key Health patients, so other patients aren't skipped in the waiting room.

The concierge medicine model has grown on Long Island and nationwide over the last few years, although the industry has focused more on general practitioners who bill patients directly for membership. Annual membership fees range from $1,100 to $3,600, doctors said. Usually, members also pay appointment fees.

The physicians cap the number of patients they accept at about 600, which is about 75 percent less than at standard general practitioner practices. But the doctors are guaranteed a minimum income from each of those patients. Some concierge doctors take insurance, while others don't.

The concierge model remains a sliver of the physician industry.

There are about 900,000 licensed physicians in the United States, and while there is no database of concierge doctors, experts have estimated there are about 5,000 to 8,000 such doctors.

While most of concierge medicine remains primary care, other types of businesses are also breaking into the model, said Priority Private Care's Kruger.

The company has ER physicians, full diagnostic imaging and labs available with no wait for members at its Upper East Side location.

"People come to us for urgent issues, potentially immediate issues that may not be truly life-threatening, and for convenient general care," Kruger said. "That includes the more basic medical services that may not be convenient for them to get in their everyday life. For instance, they forgot to get a flu shot, or their kid is vomiting in the middle of the night.

"We don't take gunshot wounds or trauma."

Priority Private Care launched in 2016 and has 1,200 members, he said. An individual membership costs $5,000, while a family package costs about $10,000 for a family of four.

"That includes visits to a medical facility, and it covers your lab work," Kruger said.

Diagnostic imaging and some other services are not covered in the annual membership.

With the planned East End service, "people can join for the summer at a lower rate, or they can roll it into a full membership," Kruger said.

FAST FACTS:

Concierge Key Health

Service: No-wait appointments with specialty doctors

Annual fee: $3,000 individual, $5,000 family

Priority Private Care

Service: No-wait, 24-hour emergency room care

Annual fee: $5,000 individual, $10,000 family

Explore further $2,000 health care app promises to be the Uber in its field

2018 Newsday

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A woman with her treatment regime for extensively drug-resistant TB in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Credit: MSF

The informal settlement of Khayelitsha in Cape Town is the latest site of a multi country trial that aims to transform the treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).

The endTB clinic was officially opened by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the City of Cape Town and will test five new drug regimens in Peru, Lesotho, Kazakhstan, Georgia and South Africa.

The current standard treatment for drug-resistant TB is arduous. It can last for between nine and 24 months, and includes a painful daily injection for up to six months which can cause hearing loss and other serious side effects in up to 60% of patients.

Even worse, standard treatment is only successful in about half of all cases.

The trial will use bedaquiline and delamanid  the first TB drugs to have been developed in almost 50 years - in experimental new treatments with other drugs such as clofazimine, linezolid, fluoroquinolones and pyrazinamide, with the aim of finding at least one new treatment that is shorter, more effective and less toxic than the current treatment.

The experimental treatments are all-oral, meaning the toxic injectable that has been used in drug-resistant TB treatment for over half a century is not incorporated.

If the trial proves successful, it will be a major revolution in the treatment of the age-old disease. But it won't be the first. There have been several over the past 100 years and we've come a long way. But the fact that the current treatment can only be administered by injection, and that nearly two thirds of people who are treated go deaf, elegantly explains why we've still got a long way to go.

There's reason for optimism. Over the last 20 years I've seen a dramatic change in attitude towards people with drug resistant TB  from the World Health Organisation (WHO) right down to health workers in the smallest clinic. This gives me great hope that we're on the right track to institutionalising care that has the patient at the very centre.

A misconception

I first witnessed South Africa's rapidly growing drug-resistant TB epidemic during in 1999 while working in Khayelitsha with MSF. Khayelitsha was then  and remains  one of the highest TB and drug-resistant TB burden settings in the world.

The dominant but incorrect view of the World Health Organisation at the time was that drug-resistant TB was the patients' fault because they didn't take their treatment properly. Another line of argument was that it was due to health service issues, including bad quality drugs or wrong prescriptions.

Patients with drug-resistant TB were seen as "defaulters" who created their own disease. They were stigmatised and stripped of their right to dignity and freedom of movement. Typically they were confined to hospitals, or locked up in sanatoriums, often against their will.

These misconceptions meant that preventing people from acquiring drug-resistant TB was the priority. Treatment wasn't, because existing regimens were believed to be sufficient. This in turn disincentivised the development of new ways to fight drug-resistant TB.

A woman waits for her appointment at the clinic in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape. Credit: MSF

At the time drug-resistant TB was essentially a medical blind spot. The extent of it was underestimated across the world. The WHO's annual drug-resistant TB reports spoke of "hot spots"  identifying South Africa and Egypt as the main ones in Africa. But in fact these were the few places in Africa then testing for TB drug resistance, and the problem was actually far, far worse.

The tide started to turn in 2000.

Diagnostic revolution

In the early 2000s a decision was finally taken to tackle the problem. After the fall of the Berlin Wall it emerged that many parts of Eastern Europe  particularly but not exclusively prisons  also had high rates of drug-resistant TB. Evidence was also emerging of high rates of drug-resistant TB in areas with high numbers of patients also living with HIV.

It was clear that this was not an isolated epidemic, and that drug resistant TB needed to be tackled head on.

The first big breakthrough was in 2006 when scientists developed the ability to speed up and expand the diagnosis of drug-resistant TB. They used genotypic testing: diagnostic tools that enable clinicians to diagnose and confirm drug resistance in TB cases in just a few hours, avoiding weeks of waiting for results from scientists in central laboratories.

By 2011, South Africa was going all out to identify how big the epidemic was, with a nationwide roll out of nearly 800 GeneXpert machines.

Within just a few years, the world had started to realise the scale of the problem. Today, the WHO estimates there are 19 000 new drug-resistant TB cases a year in South Africa alone.

Mapping the scale of the problem also made the pharmaceutical market for drug-resistant TB more lucrative.

There's been another reason for the changes in attitude to drug-resistant TB  the courageous decision of MSF's first drug-resistant TB patients from Khayelitsha to speak out. Ten years ago when drug-resistant TB patients were being blamed for their condition it was unheard of for a patient to raise their voice.

But patients like Phumeza Tisile from Khayelitsha, who went permanently deaf from the daily kanamycin injections, became powerful public advocates for better treatment. By 2014 Phumeza - then cured of XDR-TB after two years of treatment  delivered 50,000 signatures on the drug-resistant TB manifesto at the World Health Assembly, calling on members to radically improve care.

As a result of her actions others started to object to the treatment  a dynamic similar to what happened among people living with HIV in South Africa in the early 2000s. Today drug-resistant TB survivors don't feel ashamed to say they want a less toxic, shorter treatment, and to demand that their basic rights are respected. By speaking out they've made sure that a much more patient-centred approach is been put in place.

But care still remains inadequate. It's still too long, painful and too toxic.

This makes the endTB trial and its ambitious aim of finding new treatment regimens that are demonstrably safe and effective, shorter and able to be taken orally all the more important. If the trial achieves its aims, it will take forward the ongoing revolution in tackling this form of TB.

Explore further New TB drug offers glimmer of hope in S.Africa

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Every day, a school bus drops off as many as 45 children at a community eye clinic on Chicago's South Side. Many of them are referred to the clinic after failing vision screenings at their public schools.

Clinicians and students from the Illinois College of Optometry give the children comprehensive eye exams, which feature refraction tests to determine a correct prescription for eyeglasses and dilation of their pupils to examine their eyes, including the optic nerve and retina.

No family pays out-of-pocket for the exam. The program bills insurance if the children have coverage, but about a third are uninsured. Operated in partnership with Chicago public schools, the program annually serves up to 7,000 children from birth through high school.

"Many of the kids we're serving fall through the cracks," said Dr. Sandra Block, a professor of optometry at the Illinois College of Optometry and medical director of the school-based vision clinics program. Many are low-income Hispanic and African-American children whose parents may not speak English or are immigrants who are not in the country legally.

Falling through the cracks is not an uncommon problem when it comes to vision care. According to a 2016 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, as many as 16 million people in the United States have undiagnosed or uncorrected "refractive" errors that could be fixed with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery. And while insurance coverage for eye exams and corrective lenses clearly has improved, significant gaps remain.

The national academies' report noted that impaired vision affects how people experience their world, including normal communication and social activities, independence and mobility. Not seeing clearly can hamper children's academic achievement, social development and long-term health.

But when people must choose, vision care may lose out to more pressing medical concerns, said Block, who was on the committee that developed the report.

"Vision issues are not life-threatening," she said. "People get through their day knowing they can't see as well as they'd like."

Insurance can make regular eye exams, glasses and treatment for medical problems such as cataracts more accessible and affordable. But comprehensive vision coverage is often achieved only through a patchwork of plans.

The Medicare program that provides coverage for millions of Americans age 65 and older doesn't include routine eye exams, refraction testing or eyeglasses. Some tests are covered if you're at high risk for a condition such as glaucoma, for example. And if you develop a vision-related medical condition such as cataracts, the program will cover your medical care.

But if you're just a normal 70-year-old and you want to get your eyes examined, the program won't cover it, said Dr. David Glasser, an ophthalmologist in Columbia, Md., who is a clinical spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If you make an appointment because you're experiencing troubling symptoms and get measured for eyeglasses while there, you'll likely be charged anywhere from about $30 to $75, Glasser said.

There are a few exceptions. Medicare will pay for one pair of glasses or contact lenses following cataract surgery, for example. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer vision care.

Many commercial health insurance plans also exclude routine vision care from their coverage. Employers may offer workers a separate vision plan to fill in the gaps.

VSP Vision Care provides vision care plans to 60,000 employers and other clients, said Kate Renwick-Espinosa, the organization's president. A typical plan provides coverage for a comprehensive eye exam once a year and an allowance toward standard eyeglasses or contact lenses, sometimes with a copayment. Also, individuals seeking plans make up a growing part of their business, she said.

Vision coverage for kids improved under the Affordable Care Act. The law requires most plans sold on the individual and small-group market to offer vision benefits for children younger than 19. That generally means that those plans cover a comprehensive eye exam, including refraction, every year, as well as a pair of glasses or contact lenses.

But since pediatric eye exams aren't considered preventive care that must be covered without charging people anything out-of-pocket under the ACA, they're subject to copays and the deductible.

Medicaid programs for low-income people also typically cover vision benefits for children and sometimes for adults as well, said Dr. Christopher Quinn, president of the American Optometric Association, a professional group.

But coverage alone isn't enough. To bring down the number of people with undiagnosed or uncorrected vision, education is key to helping people understand the importance of eye health in maintaining good vision. Just as important, it can also reduce the impact of chronic conditions such as diabetes, the national academies' report found.

"All health care providers need to at least ask vision questions when providing primary care," said Block.

Explore further Screening for impaired vision in older adults: New Canadian guideline

2018 Kaiser Health News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Lung CA seen on CXR. Credit: James Heilman, MD/Wikipedia

For smokers and former smokers, the threat of lung cancer always lurks in the shadows.

To flush it out of the darkness, some decide to get their lungs scanned by a CT machine, which can find a tumor early enough to stop itor set off a false alarm that turns out to be nothing.

Others may avoid the scans, or don't know they should have one, even though they are the type of person who has the most to gain from screening, according to official recommendations in effect for the last five years.

Now, a new study shows how to personalize the lung cancer screening decision for every patient. The results could help doctors fine-tune their advice to patients, so that it's based not just on a patient's individual lung cancer risk and the potential benefits and harms of screening, but also a likely range of patient attitudes about looking for problems and dealing with the consequences.

Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study forms the backbone for new free online decision tools aimed at physicians and their teams, and at members of the public.

The tool for clinicians, called Lung Decision Precision, was designed by a University of Michigan and Veterans Affairs team to help clinicians talk with patients and their loved ones about whether to a lung CT scan might be a good idea for them.

The same team has also launched a website for patients and their loved ones, http://www.shouldiscreen.com, that gives easy-to-understand information about the positives and potential negatives of lung cancer screening, and allows individuals to calculate their risk of lung cancer.

Tanner Caverly, M.D., M.P.H., led the team that did the new computer-based simulation analysis using data from major studies of lung cancer screening, and national data on the potential screening population under the current guidelines.

"Our model is built on a comprehensive view of net benefits for individual patients, which incorporates the best evidence for personalizing the pros and cons of screening and assumes that not all patients will feel the same about screening and its consequences," explains Caverly, an assistant professor in the Division of General Medicine and Department of Learning Health Sciences at the U-M Medical School. "This allows us to identify which patients are in the preference-sensitive zone for the decision about screening, and which ones have a very clear potential benefit to them."

Any person with an annual chance of lung cancer between 0.3 percent and 1.3 percent, and a life expectancy of more than 10 years, falls into that latter high-benefit category, he notes. This accounts for about 50 percent of all Americans who qualify for screening under the current guidelines.

But for most of the rest, their personal preferences should play a large role in determining if they should get screened. For instance, this might include how much they dislike getting medical tests in general, how they feel about the potential unintended consequences of looking for a problem when they feel fine, and how they view the process of having to get follow-up scans and lung biopsies if the screening scan shows something suspicious.

In fact, for them personal preference is more important to their decision than the false-positive rate for lung CT screening (which outnumber true cancers 25 to 1), and the negative impacts of being over-treated for a lung cancer that was not highly dangerous.

At the same time, people who fall into the potential pool of screening candidates but have a short life expectancy and a low risk of lung cancer should not be screened.

The model could help physicians prepare for conversations with patients about lung screening, customized to the patient in front of them.

"If a physician is not clear about the potential benefit for a patient who's in the high-benefit zone, they could miss an opportunity to do something really good for them, to say, 'I don't recommend this for everyone but I recommend it for you'," Caverly says. "But coming across strong for screening with a patient who has a fine balance of pros and cons could miss an opportunity to give them a choice, to tell them that their decision depends on the kind of person they are."

While the study looked specifically at the evidence around lung cancer screening, its authors note that the underlying analytical method could lead to personalized health decision tools for other situations.

Looking at lungs

The researchers focused on lung cancerthe leading cause of cancer death among both men and womenbecause of the recent move to encourage certain smokers and former smokers between the ages of 55 and 80 to get screened for it.

A major study published in 2011 showed that some members of this group could survive longer if they had CT screening to find the earliest signs of lung cancer, which is diagnosed in more than 230,000 Americans every year.

Two years later, a national panel recommended it for people between the ages of 55 and 80 who had been or still were heavy smokers (an average of a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years, who currently smoke or quit less than 15 years ago).

The recommendation comes with exceptions, even among this group, including patients whose overall health meant they have a life expectancy of less than 10 years, and those who aren't strong enough to withstand lung surgery if a scan shows signs of cancer.

Now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which made the initial recommendation, is preparing to revisist its guidance on this topic.

Caverly and his colleaguesincluding senior author Rafael Meza, Ph.D., who is coordinating principal investigator of the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) lung grouphope their new study will inform that process.

They're studying how the online tool can be used by physicians and the medical team members who assist with screening. They're also thinking about whether it could be included in the online systems that patients use to communicate with their clinic ahead of an appointment, and the clinical reminder tools that prompt physicians to talk with patients about preventive services that might be right for them.

The physician-focused tool produces a colorful display that places the individual patient somewhere along a green and yellow line. If a patient is deep in the yellow, they likely have a small but non-zero benefit with screening and screening will depend highly on patient views.

The closer they fall to the divide between green and yellow, the more likely it is that screening will benefit them. And if they're deep in the green zone, the physician should encourage them more strongly to get screened. The site generates other visual representations, and handouts for patients and their spouse or other loved one.

The team, including co-author Rodney Hayward, M.D., of General Medicine and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, hopes to test the model's usefulness for other types of health services that are used by many people and have good data available about their benefits, risks and patient preferences.

This includes cancer screening, disease prevention, chronic disease management approaches and more.

"This method can incorporate anything that moves the needle on risk and benefit, and that involves patient preferences about time, dollars and worry," Caverly explains. "As a clinician I'd like to have this for many of the things I do, where it would be meaningful to know how beneficial something could be for the individual patient, and we could talk about whether it's indicated for them."

Explore further Researchers identify the most accurate risk prediction models for selecting whom to screen for lung cancer
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Compared to the rest of the animal kingdom, the human brain is way out of whack.

Our brains are roughly six times larger than what you would expect for a placental mammal of our stature, scientists say.

And no other animal has a brain as large as ours relative to body size.

So why did humans evolve to have such large brains when other animals did not?

It's a question that evolutionary biologists and anthropologists have been trying to answer for decades.

Our giant brains must have helped our ancestors survive in the African savannah where the first modern humans evolved, but they also came at a metabolic cost.

The human brain represents just 4 percent of our body weight, but it consumes 20 percent of our energy, said Mauricio Gonzalez-Forero, a mathematical evolutionary biologist at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

"It's a very expensive organ," he said.

Determining what social and environmental conditions caused our predecessors to develop such disproportionately large, energy-hungry brains has turned out to be a hard problem to solve.

Human brain evolution is not something you can test in the lab. It would take hundreds of years, if not thousands, to reveal how evolutionary pressures shaped the modern human brain. And even if you could do those experiments, they would probably not be ethical.

Instead, previous research has generally focused on the relationship between the brain size of different animals and their ability to find food, learn new skills, and live in groups. Scientists use those correlations to make inferences about why the human brain might have evolved as it did.

But this strategy has limitations, Gonzalez-Forero said. For example, some researchers have found a correlation between large group size and large brain size, he said. But it is not clear what came firstthe living in large groups, or the development of a large brain.

In a paper published Wednesday in Nature, Gonzalez-Forero set out to approach the question of why our brains got so big in a different wayby attempting to simulate evolution in a computer.

To do this, he started by considering how much energy an adult human female needs to sustain her brain, body tissues and the energetic cost of reproduction.

He also included previously determined data on how the energy requirements of an organism shift depending on its body size and the size of its brain.

For example, a bigger brain might have helped our ancestors find and consume food more efficiently by allowing them to be more adept at tracking and by learning to cook over fire, but that bigger brain also requires more energy. The same holds true for body size.

Next, Gonzalez-Forero identified four challenges that early humans might have faced that could have influenced the evolution of their brain size. These were ecological (me vs. nature), cooperative ecological (us vs. nature), competition between individuals (you vs. me) and competition between groups (us vs. them).

By fiddling with the levels of each of these factors and then running the model through many successive generations, he was able to see which combination of evolutionary pressures were most likely to give rise to the modern human brain size.

According to the results, the size of our brains can best be explained primarily as a response to ecological pressures, but not exclusively. The best match for modern human brain size came when our virtual human ancestors contended with 60 percent ecological challenges, 30 percent cooperative ecological factors, and 10 percent of competition between groups.

The model also suggests that our brains would be even larger if they were molded entirely by the challenge of efficiently extracting energy from the environment, Gonzalez-Forero said. The cooperation among individuals limits how large our brains need to be to survive.

"Cooperation decreases brain size because you can rely on the brain of other individuals and you don't need to invest in such a large and expensive brain," he said.

But why didn't other animals that lived in the same environment as early modern humans develop such large brains as well?

Although Gonzalez-Forero's model doesn't address this question directly, he said it does offer some potential clues. Specifically, the model suggests that human brain size would only develop the way it did if our ancestors were already inclined to acquire new skills throughout their lives.

"Ecological challenges can only lead to brain size of this scale if they are coupled with the ability to continue learning from others," he said. "The paper is suggesting that human brain development is an interaction between these two thingsecological pressures and culture."

Robert Barton, an evolutionary anthropologist at Durham University in England who was not involved in the new work, described the study as extremely ambitious and said he appreciates that the model examines interactions and trade-offs among social and ecological factors.

"This is surely something that has not been considered sufficiently in the past," he said.

However, he added that researchers don't know enough yet to create an accurate model of brain evolution, and that any general model will have extremely limited explanatory powers since it is likely that different forces acted to shape brain size at different times.

"What we have been saying for years is that brain size is not a very useful measure unless you can understand the underlying variation in neural structure," he said.

Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Oxford, offered a more damning critique.

"Computer models are fine, but you get out what you put inwhat is known as the GIGO (or garbage in, garbage out) mode of science," he said in an email.

He added that although the work looks impressive, it is misleading in part because the authors misconstrue the ecological problem that animals including hominins, had to cope with, and then confuse the social mechanisms they used to solve these problems.

"(The authors') model of sociality is one of cooperation, when in fact it is one of coordination," Dunbar said. "Cooperation is a consequence of living in groups, not its cause."

Susanne Shultz, who studies evolutionary biology at the University of Manchester, took issue not with the methodology, but with the conclusions that were gleaned from the work.

"I have a fairly strong opinions about the utility of trying to divide social and ecological challenges into mutually exclusive categories," she said. "After reading the paper several times, I am still convinced that the model and results are more consistent with a 'socio-ecological' brain. Their argument that they find support for an ecological and not social brain just isn't supported by their results."

Gonzalez-Forero expected some pushback to the work, and he admits that although his model is fairly complex and robust, it could always be improved on.

"That's the story of science," he said. "You are never at the end. This is opening up a new way of addressing this question and there is room for a lot of exciting new work to be done."

Explore further How human brains became so big

More information: Inference of ecological and social drivers of human brain-size evolution, Nature (2018). 10.1038/s41586-018-0127-x , Journal information: Nature Inference of ecological and social drivers of human brain-size evolution,(2018). 10.1038/s41586-018-0127-x , www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0127-x

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The opioid crisis has shown us that prescription painkillers and their illicit counterparts can wreak havoc in American communities. Now researchers have quantified the damage they can do inside hospitals when administered to patients following surgeries and other invasive medical procedures.

More than 10 percent of hospitalized patients who took one or more opioid painkillers experienced a side effect tied to the drug, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Surgery. Fully 93 percent of these patients suffered at least one episode that was deemed moderate or severe.

These findings are based on medical records of patients who were treated at 21 acute care hospitals that are part of the Baylor Scott & White Health in Texas. All of the patients had some kind of surgery (such as cardiac or orthopedic) or an endoscopic procedure between 2013 and 2016, and all of them had their pain treated with opioids.

What the study authors were looking for were instances of opioid-related adverse drug events, or ORADEs for short. And they found them.

Among the 135,379 patients included in the study, 14,386or 10.6 percenthad at least one ORADE.

The most common type of adverse events involved a respiratory problem, including the need to be put on a ventilator. Other problems included a painful intestinal obstruction called an ileus; an abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia); nausea and vomiting; confusion and delirium; and skin problems like severe itching or a rash.

Most of these patients had only one such side effect. But 27 percent of them experienced two or more ORADES, according to the study. A little more than half (56 percent) of these problems were considered "moderate," and more than one-third (37 percent) were classified as "severe."

These episodes were more than a nuisance. Compared with patients who took opioids without incident, those who experienced an ORADE were nearly 29 times more likely to die before leaving the hospital, the researchers reported. They were also about 3 times more likely to have a longer hospital stay and to be discharged to another "care facility" instead of being sent home.

The researchers calculated that ORADEs were associated with an extra 1.6 days of hospitalization and $8,225 in additional hospital bills.

These calculations accounted for the fact that patients who had ORADEs were more likely to be older, to be men, to be non-Latino whites, and to have health coverage through Medicare. They also had more health problems, which the researchers said was understandable considering their age.

The patients with adverse effects were also different from their counterparts in the way they used opioids. They took the painkillers for about one day longer (a median of 3 days, compared with a median of 2) and received higher doses too (a median of 47 morphine milligrams equivalents, compared with a median of 30 mg).

Importantly, the study doesn't claim that the side effects of opioids caused any of these observed differencesonly that they are linked. It could be that some third factor is responsible for both the side effects and the need to extend a hospital stay.

The researchers also warned that these results might not apply patient populations from other parts of the country who are treated by other health systems.

Explore further Inpatient opioid use and insufficient weaning pre-discharge may increase outpatient opioid prescript

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Kids who develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia may be the victims of a triple-whammy stroke of bad luck, according to a provocative new theory from a respected British cancer researcher.

If the explanation turns out to be correct, it would be good news for the most common type of childhood cancer: Doctors could prevent cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the strategic introduction of something the world has plenty of: filth and pestilence.

Melvin Greaves, a cell biologist who directs the Center for Evolution and Cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, has been trying to unravel the causes of childhood leukemia for 30 years. His "unified theory" of leukemia, which draws upon research from genetics, immunology, microbiology, epidemiology and evolution, is laid out this week in the journal Nature Reviews Cancer.

Greaves' treatise is a kind of scientific stem-winder that posits that modern humans, in our admirable zeal to prevent infectious diseases and spruce up the environs in which we raise our young, have inadvertently broken a rule imposed by millions of years of co-evolution with our microbe-filled environment.

That rule, repeated by grandmothers everywhere, tells us that, in life, we must "eat a peck of dirt."

In the industrialized world, roughly 1 in 2,000 children will develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia before the age of 15. Their bone marrow cells grow and divide rapidly, resulting in too many immature cells that interfere with the normal production of blood cells. Thanks to improved treatments, 90 percent of patients will survive, albeit with persistent health problems and an early burden of existential dread.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is on the rise throughout the industrialized world. In the United States and Europe, the incidence is increasing by 1 percent a year. In search of an explanation, researchers have explored a long list of modern enviromental influences, including ionizing radiation, electricity cables, electromagnetic waves and man-made chemicals.

That research just doesn't add up, Greaves argues.

Instead, he makes the case that three steps, performed in just the right order, set the stage for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

First, a baby is born with a random transcription error in her genes. It's a mutation so commonin twin studies, Greaves and his colleagues have discovered that 1 in 20 children are born with itthat it might never have drawn the suspicion of researchers.

The mutation results in a fusion gene called ETV6RUNX1. But if 1 in 20 are born with it and only 1 in 2,000 end up with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, some trigger is clearly necessary for the disease to progress.

That trigger, argues Greaves, is actually something that doesn't happen. It must be a combination of events that generally happens in early childhood, and that would prime the immune system to block leukemia. Left unprimed, the immune system is left vulnerable to step three.

Finally, at some key point before the age 20 (when nature appears to wipe the mutation clean), a seemingly minor infection must happen. It could be something as insignificant as a touch of flu.

This final blow may prompt a further genetic mutation, activating the malignant potential of these first two factors and igniting a process in which the bone marrow's production of immature lymphocytes spins out of control.

Greaves' "delayed infection" theory suggests that when it comes to teaching the immune system about infectious threats, the sooner the better. In the absence of early priming (and in the presence of the right genetic mutation), a later infection can trigger leukemia.

As support for the role of steps two and three, Greaves cited epidemiological studies that have found the incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is notably higher in children who did not attend day care, were firstborn in their families, were not breastfed, and were born via caesarian section rather than vaginally. All of those, he said, are fair surrogates for lower levels of early-life exposure to germs and infections.

He then dissected a number of recorded clusters of acute lymphoblastic leukemia to find common threads. In one cluster, seven children in Milan, Italy, were diagnosed with the cancer in a four-week period. Greaves' sleuthing turned up evidence that all seven patients had been infected in a swine flu outbreak three to six months prior to their diagnosis. Six of the seven patients were firstborn children, and none attended day care in the first year of life.

Finally, in mice engineered to have the high levels of the protein that allows acute lymphoblastic leukemia to gain a foothold, Greaves and his colleagues found one highly reliable way to induce leukemia: by moving the mice from germ-free housing to cages teaming with microbial life after their early childhood.

Paul Workman, the chief of London's Institute of Cancer Research, said Greaves' work suggested that most cases of childhood leukemia were likely to be preventable.

"It might be done in the same way that is currently under consideration for autoimmune disease or allergiesperhaps with simple and safe interventions to expose infants to a variety of common and harmless bugs," he said.

Dr. Bert Vogelstein, a Johns Hopkins University geneticist whose research has helped tease out the role of random mutations in cancer, said that scientists have already come to appreciate that two genetic alterations are likely required for acute lymphoblastic leukemia to develop.

That the catalyzing alteration is the result of a bout of infectious illness "is a reasonable and intriguing hypothesis," said Vogelstein, who called the new hypothesis "stimulating." But "it is still speculative and much more research must be done to confirm or refute it," he said.

Explore further Scientists reveal likely cause of childhood leukaemia

More information: A causal mechanism for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Nature Reviews Cancer (2018) www.nature.com/articles/s41568-018-0015-6 Journal information: Nature Reviews Cancer A causal mechanism for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia,(2018) DOI: 10.1038/s41568-018-0015-6

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Melanoma in skin biopsy with H&E stain  this case may represent superficial spreading melanoma. Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

In addition to rapid and lasting weight loss and a passel of other health benefits, bariatric surgery has now been linked to a 61 percent reduction in the risk of developing malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer most closely associated with excessive sun exposure.

The new research, to be presented Thursday at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria, also found that people who underwent weight-loss surgery saw their risk of skin cancer in general decline by 42 percent.

That protective effect was seen in a group of 2,007 obese Swedish study participants who chose to undergo bariatric surgery, and were then followed for a median of 18 years.

In the study, the subjects who chose to have the surgery as a treatment for obesity were compared to 2,040 obese Swedes who were similar to the surgical patients in multiple waysincluding age, gender, body measurements, cardiovascular risk factors, psychosocial variables and personality traitsbut did not go under the knife.

Why a cancer linked to outdoorsmen and sun-worshippers would be stymied after obese patients had their gastrointestinal tracts surgically altered is unclear. But the authors of the studya group from Sweden's University of Gothenburg led by Magdalena Taubesuggested it was the deep weight loss that altered subjects' risk of melanoma.

The finding "supports the idea that obesity is a melanoma risk factor, and indicates that weight loss in individuals with obesity can reduce the risk of a deadly form of cancer that has increased steadily in many countries over several decades," said Taube and her colleagues.

The American Cancer Society estimates that roughly 91,270 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States in 2018about 55,150 in men and 36,120 in womenand that about 9,320 people will die of the malignancy.

The organization also has reported a recent increase in the incidence of melanoma: Between 2008 and 2018, the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed annually has increased by 53 percent.

Explore further Obesity surgery prevents severe chronic kidney disease and kidney failure

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NAPAfrica, the non-profit Internet Exchange Point (IXP) funded by Teraco, recently reached the top 15 in IXP rankings globally.

Global IXP rankings are determined in terms of unique ASNs or peering members across an IXP, and NAPAfrica connects to over 350 ASNs servicing 16 countries.

The amount of content peered at the NAPAfrica exchange significantly lowers the cost of data transport, which has an effect on the pricing of clients services.

NAPAfricas growth is made possible due to its complete neutrality, as it is hosted in Teracos data centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town  and not owned by carrier networks.

To learn more, MyBroadband spoke to Teraco Business Development Manager Michele McCann about the positive effect of NAPAfrica on the South African broadband market.

True neutrality

McCann said the NAPAfrica exchange sees peak throughput of 400Gbps in Johannesburg, 88Gbps in Cape Town, and 3.2Gbps in Durban.

The reason Johannesburg has the largest data throughput is GDP, and the fact that it services multiple African countries, she said.

Durban has been slower because of the size of the market, and generally a lot of people invested first in Johannesburg, but now we are starting to see a lot more content investment happening in Durban.

McCann said Teracos main focus with NAPAfrica is to make content available locally in the South African market.

With that being the key goal, we give it away for free. There are no port fees, no cross-connect fees, no membership fees, no once-off fees, nothing in terms of that, she said.

To make international content available locally, McCann said the country needs a deregulated market and the content needs to be hosted in a true neutral data centre.

Teraco is the only true neutral data centre in South Africa. We are not owned by a carrier, the only services which Teraco sell is the physical space, the power, the cooling, and the cable.

This means there is zero conflict of interest when Teracos clients connect to each other.

Local content

This neutrality has allowed ISPs to compete for content on the same level, and rely on either pricing or innovative products to battle with each other.

Every Southern African ISP is on the NAPAfrica exchange. That is where most of our membership comes from, and all of them are peering with the major content players, said McCann.

This means they can compete on network quality, price, and coverage alone.

International content providers peering with NAPAfrica dramatically lowers the cost for ISPs and carriers to retrieve popular content.

If you look at the innovative products that ISPs and carriers are coming up with, it is because they can reach that content now, said McCann.

Previously, content was sitting in Europe and there was an inherent cost to be able to reach it.

They would have to pay for subsea cable capacity and colocation fees in data centres in Europe to be able to access that content from there and then bring it back.

In addition to the latency issues involving retrieving content from Europe, the cost was high.

With NAPAfrica and Teraco pushing content closer to ISPs, they now have the opportunity to offer innovative products from a content perspective.

Price is not as much of an issue as it used to be, and access to content such as YouTube, Showmax, or Netflix is growing increasingly important, she said.

Now read: Teraco gets new digital content PoP
To provide more details about the status of the local soldiers at that camp, the Register summarized the content of letters either received or written by two local young women. The first letter was received by Ruth Williams. It had been written by her brother Harrison Williams. He stated he and the Napa boys were all well and in good spirits. The Register added, The boys had then received no definite orders to move, as they were still awaiting their physical examinations.

A second letter written by Beulah Vidy was received by her parents in Napa. It seems, while she was visiting an uncle who lived in Sacramento, she went to the camp to visit with the Napa boys. The Register continued, They all expressed themselves as being delighted to meet somebody from home. It added, They said their were anxious to get orders for the front.

The Register ended the article on a near tragic note. Ed. Codiga recently had some hard luck in camp. Apparently, while splitting wood, the ax slipped and severed an artery in his arm, it said. Codiga was rushed to the camp hospital and treated. The Register added, It is reported that he will soon be ready to re-join the Company within a day or so.
Pro-and-con forces for both Measure C and Measure D all created six-figure war chests for their June 5 election campaigns, though the financial distance between the Measure C forces is substantial.

Measure C is the oak and watershed protection measure that some say will help agriculture and other says will hurt agriculture. The wine community is providing the big contributions for both sides.

No on Measure C forces have raised $645,858. Yes on Measure C forces have raised $211,504, according to campaign papers filed last week with the Napa County Election Division.

Both sides have done such things as send mailers to residents  the No on Measure C campaign in greater numbers. As of May 19, the No campaign reported having $118,992 remaining and the Yes campaign reported having $21,320.

Donations to the No on Measure C campaign include $200,000 from Napa Valley Vintners, $25,000 from winemaker David Phinney, $13,915 from Duckhorn Vineyards, $11,369 from Pina Vineyard Management and just under $10,000 apiece from Opus One winery, Alpha Omega winery owner Robin Baggett, Alpha Omega winery, and C. Mondavi & Family, the campaign filings said.
Since then, the state has become even more dependent on taxing the rich, thanks largely to a temporary income tax rate increase on them that Brown sponsored to close the deficit, and that unions and other pro-spending groups later persuaded voters to extend.

Therefore, as Brown prepares to leave the governorship, the potential negative impact of recession on the state budget has become even greater, with only his relatively puny reserve to cushion the blow.

The real solution to volatility is tax reform but that would mean reducing the states dependence on the wealthy, shifting more burden to middle class taxpayers and/or changing the mix of taxes, such as imposing sales taxes on services.

That obviously would be an enormously difficult political task and when asked again last week about tax reform, as he introduced a revised budget, Brown once again shunned it, saying it would take political will which I dont think exists today.

Even were he to meet with every legislator personally, Brown told reporters, he is absolutely confident that no such reform would be possible. Figuratively, he tossed the ball to his successor, who would have to deal with the budget crisis that a recession would surely bring.
Bollywood actress Dia Mirza attended the flag off ceremony of Gaj Yatra at Tura in Meghalaya on Monday at 3.30 pm. Dignitaries stepped out to flag off the Gaj Yatra at 5 pm.

CP Marak, PCCF and HoFF, Meghalaya Forest Dept, addressed the audience at the Opening Ceremony of Gaj Yatra.

At the opening ceremony, students from the St. Xaviers Secondary School perform a beautiful song conveying how we have to be Defenders of the Planet.

WTI ED & CEO, Vivek Menon welcomed all the Dignitaries and Nokmas and guests. WTI Brand Ambassador, Dia Mirza gave an inspirational speech and motivated the children to carry forward the message of Right of Passage.

Agatha Sangma presented WTI Brand Ambassador Dia Mirza with a Dakmanda; The dignitaries were presented with Gond elephant paintings; Dignitaries pledged their support for the project.

The Gaj Yatra is part awareness campaign, part celebration launched in August 2017. It is an 18-month road show through 13 states; a confluence of local art, culture and imagination that aims to build a groundswell of public support for Indias elephants.

The project highlights the importance of securing elephant corridors  101 vital habitat linkages across the country that WTI is trying to secure through its Right of Passage project.

The objective of the project is to raise awareness about the shrinking space for Indias wild elephants and their corridors.

Gaj Yatra, which is partnered by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), is the biggest-ever event planned around Indias wild elephants.

Dia Mirza became widely known after winning the Miss Pacific title in 2000. She has played a crucial role in highlighting issues around conserving nature for the mainstream audience.
Opposition "Armenia" faction hosts members of AGBU Canada

India FM arrives in Yerevan

Ceremony commemorating National Hero of Armenia Vahagn Avetisyan was held

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives head of ICRC Delegation

Digest: Pashinyan is on working visit to Russia, Malkhas Amoyan declared world champion

Armenia education, science, culture and sport minister receives newly appointed French Ambassador

Putin-Pashinyan meeting kicks off at the Kremlin

Armenia high-tech industry minister receives Iran Ambassador

Dollar holding relatively steady in Armenia

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends condolence message to Georgian counterpart

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II: Armenia will overcome difficult times with Russia's support

Putin to hold online meeting with heads of security agencies of CIS countries

Andrea Wiktorin: EU ready to be mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan, if they wish

Armenia Parliament Speaker on opening of roads and return of Armenian POWs

Displaced residents of Karabakh hold demonstration in front of Russia Embassy in Armenia

Turkey President's spokesperson: Biden, Erdogan to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Taliban says NATO should speak to movement only in language of diplomacy

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives Syria Ambassador

Historical houses of Armenians in Igdir are perishing

Texas governor bans forcing residents of state to vaccinate against COVID-19

Armenia parliamentary opposition boycotts standing committee session

Speaker: Only those vaccinated against coronavirus will have right to enter Armenia legislature building

Armenias Pashinyan in Russia on working visit

Kremlin: Format of Putin-Pashinyan talks implies conversation and working lunch

Armenia delegation head: PACE called on Azerbaijan to return all Armenian POWs immediately

Armenia ex-Deputy PM and now opposition MP's attorney leaves courtroom as protest against judge's actions

Bloomberg says Erdogan will persuade Biden to allow Ankara to buy US military aircraft

Armenia former deputy PM and now MP Gevorgyan: Court is holding me captive

Armenia opposition MP: PM not guaranteeing Kashatagh, Shushi regions villages will not be under Azerbaijan control

Armenia ex-deputy PM, now lawmaker Gevorgyan's lawyer submits 2 motions to court

Armenia ex-president Kocharyan, former deputy PM and now MP Gevorgyan criminal case court hearing resumes

Pashinyan to Spains Sanchez: I appreciate your country's support for expansion of Armenia-EU partnership

Armenia, India FMs to meet Wednesday

903 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Artsakh displaced residents again protesting outside Armenia government building

Armenia President in Vatican, meets with head of Pontifical Council for Culture of Holy See

Russia citizen stabbed to death in Yerevan

Armenia convict, 40, dies in hospital

Russia peacekeepers escort Azerbaijan convoys via Karabakh

Armenian Assembly of America urges US to reject Turkey request to purchase F-16 fighter jets

Armenia, Russia defense ministers discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani border situation

Newspaper: Mandatory coronavirus testing of unvaccinated Armenia employees to become 3 times a month instead of 2?

Newspaper: Arrested Armenia ex-defense minister Tonoyan keeps silent to save PM Pashinyan

Armenia ombudsman: During war Azerbaijanis incurred in border area near Tsav village of Syunik Province

ECtHR denies Azerbaijan appeal on blogger Lapshins case

Armenia Journalists Union issues statement on Constitutional Court declaring law on insult/defamation constitutional

Aravot.am: Gyumri woman who killed her mother with psychotropic drugs, attempted suicide is arrested for 2 months

Spiritual leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan to discuss peacemaking initiative in South Caucasus

Iran test-launches 'Majid' short-range and low-altitude air defense system

Putin, Merkel and Macron discuss Ukraine

Karabakh Prosecutor General's Office on case of murder of citizen by Azerbaijani side

Court renders decision on Armenia Police's unlawful actions against Armenian citizen Argishti Kiviryan

Armenia PM's Chief of Staff attends event dedicated to International Architects' Day

The ARARAT Museum of the Yerevan Brandy Company hosted the Awards Ceremony of the Golden Apricot

Participants of motorcade of six cars in Moscow start firing gunshots, Armenia citizens arrested

Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Denmark

Armenia ruling faction MP: Turkish textiles need to be replaced with Russian ones

Armenian deputy minister: There are companies in Armenia that manufacture items for Russian military planes

Armenia justice minister says government will remove unjust judges from the judiciary

Karabakh President signs law on making amendments to legislation on weapons

Armenia President visits St. Peter's Basilica at Vatican, lays flowers at statue of St. Gregory of Narek

Armenia President meets with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Armenia President meets with Pope Francis

Iran's Prosecutor General to arrive in Armenia at invitation of Armenian counterpart

Armenia high-tech industry minister receives Sweden Ambassador

Armenia Deputy PM Suren Papikyan to leave for Moscow

Digest: Pashinyan and Putin scheduled to meet, more on COVID-19 in Armenia

Armenia State Revenue Committee chief meets with UAE State Audit Institution president

Superior command inspects engineering work at Armenia army positions

Iran MFA spokesman: We have never closed our airspace to Azerbaijan

Artsakh ombudsman: Occupied Hadrut undeniable proof of Azerbaijan hatred, ethnic cleansing policy against Armenians

Azerbaijan, Turkey FMs confer on regional situation

Armenia to host French-Armenian Scientific-Medical Conference to help those affected by the war

Iran FM to visit Azerbaijan, media report

One dollar falls below AMD 479 in Armenia

Union of Banks of Armenia has new board chairman

Russian architect: Old Yerevan is about to perish, while Gyumri is being reborn

3 Azerbaijanis cause mass deaths of residents of Russia's Orenburg

Karabakh Armenian architect: It's impossible to cooperate with Azerbaijan in culture sector

UAE State Audit Institution president arrives in Armenia at invitation of justice minister

Mutalibov: Karabakh Armenians will have right to live there if they adopt Azerbaijan citizenship

Ambassador to finance minister: Sweden ready to continue assisting in Armenia reforms

Russia architect: Many monuments in Karabakh are now under threat of destruction

Turkey court orders interior ministry to pay close to $112k to Hrant Dinks family

Catholicos of All Armenians heading for Moscow, will meet with religious leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan

Armenia prosecutor's office to be consistent in investigating Artsakh residents murder, gross violation of ceasefire

Russian FM meeting with Turkish counterpart in Serbia

Armenia FM, Belarus ambassador discuss regional issues

Bitcoin price rises above $ 57,000

Armenia PM to pay working visit to Russia

Azerbaijan State Border Service calls on Iran officials to avoid to spread false and defamatory information

Gas price in Europe exceeds $ 1,100 per 1,000 cubic meters

Man, 37, found half-naked on Armenia river bank

601 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Legal team: Armenia ex-defense minister does not accept charge against him

Russia peacekeepers ensure pilgrims safe visit to Karabakhs Amaras Monastery

Child, 9, found dead under concrete rubble in Yerevan (PHOTOS)

Artsakh historical, cultural heritage being discussed in Yerevan with participation of international specialists

US embassy in Armenia to be closed Monday
President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), Bako Sahakyan, on Monday issued a congratulatory address in connection with the day of the First Armenian Republic.

The 1918 May victories have become the foundation of restoration of the Armenian statehood, the address reads, in particular. For centuries the Armenian people have been subjected to violence and massacres and have passed through numerous ordeals being deprived of statehood subject to foreign yoke.

Despite the fact that the First Armenian Republic survived for a short period of time its role in the life of our people is significant.

The heroic deeds of our brave sons in Sardarapat, Bash Aparan and Gharakilisa proved that Armenians can escape the massacre when they believe in their own strength, when they take up arms and defend their own land, when they are united and determined.

Mother Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, always keeping the spirit of the 1918 heroic battles, continue to defend and strengthen the two Armenian republics, develop the Armenian land and forge reliable and bright future of the Armenian people.
YEREVAN.  The visit to Astana was very positive, and I felt the warm attitude of the politicians, secretary of the Armenian National Security Service secretary Armen Grigoryan said.

Answering whether he felt a certain distance in communication, given that he criticized the policy of CSTO member countries, Armen Grigoryan answered: Frankly speaking, when I was going there, I had such fears, but I positively perceived my visit, and even felt the warmth of these politicians, perhaps because I was young, or for other reasons. I was a beginner, people did not know me. I had a meeting with Patrushev, very warm one, we talked for half an hour, discussed the Armenian-Russian relations, the good sides of these relations and the possibility of their development.

He said that he did not discuss the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan with Patrushev, but this issue will be raised during the next meetings.

Since this was my first visit, it was mostly of a fact-finding nature, he said.
It is the fourth year that Menu.ge  the first Menu Group project outside Armenia  is operating on the Georgian market. During four years Menu.ge became the leader in terms of food delivery in Georgia  a market with serious competitors. Armenian News NEWS.am talked to Menu.ge director Stepan Aslanyan to find out how the company managed to become a leader as well as to disclose peculiarities of the Georgian market.

Menu.ge was launched in Georgia in October 2014. What was the initial goal of the project? What were the terms for reaching the outlined positions?

We follow the international market of delivery very attentively, especially the trends in the neighboring countries. The delivery culture of the country wasnt developed, when we first entered the Georgian market, even though one of the biggest international delivery services operated here at the time. The restaurants did provide delivery services, but at a very high price. Our entry to the Georgian market, has finally made the prices of delivery service competitive. We were confident that there is a huge potential here. We needed to foster the culture of delivery for both our customers and for the restaurants. Our Armenian service did not have that problem because the delivery in the homeland was relatively widespread when we introduced menu.am service to the Armenian consumers.

Your main opponent left Georgian market during these years. Victory is a positive element for business, but it brings serious challenges, as this leads to a vacuum in the market.

The presence of healthy competition is the best guarantee of a boost for a developing business. However, our competitors failed to overcome the challenge of our experience and professionalism accumulated in the Georgian market. So, Menu Group purchased Foodpanda Georgia in 2017, August 1. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a market vacuum for a client oriented business, because our "competitors" become our customers. The responsibility of a leader is to serve customers who have made us the leader of the market.

How many orders does menu.ge get daily? What is the difference between the orders through a call center and online?

More than 5,000 meals are delivered daily. About 90% of the orders are made online - equally through the application and through the website. The rest of the orders are placed through the call center. Actually, our experience shows that the Call Center is a great tool for customer service, and the online system makes our work much faster and more efficient. Especially after we have launched the site's geolocation feature, we are sure that the number of online users will increase.

Georgia hosted around 8 million tourists last year. Menu.am, for instance, has many orders from tourists. What about Georgia? Are there many orders from foreigners?

Yes there are many foreign users of our service. For example, recently, during the May holidays, our system showed a sharp increase in foreign customers. This shows that the fact that we enjoy the trust of the locals which in their turn make the image of our service even more accessible and dependable to foreigners.

Number one order in Armenia is barbeque, kebab or shaurma. What do they usually order in Georgia?

Khinkali, Shaurma and of course Fast Food. These are the quickest and most affordable dishes, hence, the demand is high too. There is also relatively a bigger demand for Thai, Indian and Persian cuisines.

What projects do you have to develop business in Georgias regions?

Menu.ge operates in 7 different cities of Georgia. At present, the number of restaurants that cooperate with us is over 350 in Georgia, most of them in the capital. In the nearest future, we have many projects to involve regional restaurants and increase the number of orders.

You were working as a manager for quite a big company in Armenia, but in a while you were appointed a director of a project that seems to be a difficult job. A foreign country, different mentality, and you have to manage them. How did you overcome these changes?

The Georgian customs, for us Armenians, are not so foreign. On the contrary, Georgia, as a consumer market, is very similar to Armenia, with some distinctive variants of course. And even the most sophisticated project comes to life easily with a professional and a motivated team.
YEREVAN.- Armenian Prime Minister received on Monday French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia reported.

The PM highly assessed the current level of Armenian-French relations and underlined the fact of the existence of warm relations between the two countries. PM Pashinyan noted that its a great honor for him to host French President Emmanuel Macron in Yerevan in autumn, who will pay a state visit to Armenia and will participate in the 17th summit of La Francophonie. The PM added that the preparatory works of that key event are in the focus of his attention.

I am confident that the existing dialogue between our two states, including between our governments, parliaments and local self government bodies, will be preserved with the same intensity. The involvement of French business s in Armenia is below the desired level. Today there are all the preconditions to bring up trade and economic relations to the level of political relations, Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Head of the Executive expressed gratitude to France for fostering the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The PM highly assessed the role of France as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair country in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement negotiations. Nikol Pashinyan reassured the readiness of Armenia to continue with the negotiation process in a constructive atmosphere. Jean-Yves Le Drian congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of being elected Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as on the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia.

Armenian French friendship has a history dating back centuries ago. France is ready to continue its support to Armenia and the Armenian people. Our country will always stand with you and Emmanuel Macron will reaffirm this personally during his Armenia visit, the French FM said.

He expressed confidence that the La Francophonie summit in Armenia will be held at a high level and highlighted the importance of the economic forum to be held in the sidelines of the summit. Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed conviction that the improvement of the business environment in Armenia will give new impetus to the economic partnership of the two states. Referring to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, he underlines that France comprehends the degree of its responsibility in the sidelines of the OSCE Misnk Group Co-chairmanship. The French FM underlined that Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be settled exclusively through peaceful methods, adding that any violence of use of force cannot be observed as a way of settlement. Nikol Pashinyan and Jean-Yves Le Drian highlighted the development of Armenia EU cooperation and the soon ratification of the CEPA by EU Member States. The interlocutors expressed satisfaction over the bilateral cooperation in education, culture. They also spoke about holding new elections in Armenia and making amendments in the Electoral code.
Home | News | General | One dead, eight injured in Ilorin auto crash

FRSC blames accident on reckless driving

One person reportedly died, while eight others were seriously injured, weekend, in an auto crash at Oyun area along Jebba Road in Ilorin.

An eyewitness said the accident occurred when two Mazda 323 cars that were coming from opposite directions had a head-on collision.

One of the cars, number plates FUF 845 XA, was coming from Oke-Ose axis, while the other, number plates KEY 609 XA, was coming from Sango axis.

Mr. Sunday Maku, Kwara Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, confirmed that one person died and eight others were injured in the accident.

He said: Eight passengers four males and four females sustained various degree of injuries in the accident. No other life was lost in the incident.

The sector commander blamed wrong overtaking for the auto crash, saying the accident occurred at the Oyun end of the old Ilorin-Jebba Road, three kilometres from the base of the two commercial vehicles.

Two commercial vehicles, Mazda 323 with registration number KEY 609 XA and Mazda 323 with registration no FUF 845 XA, were involved.

There were nine people in the vehicles, five males and four females. Four male and four female were injured.

Maku said the injured passengers have been referred to a private hospital in the city.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | $16bn POWER PROJECT: Tell Nigerians roles you played, Agoro tells Buhari, Obasanjo

By Ola Ajayi

IBADANFOLLOWING accusations and counter-accusations between the presidency and former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan over the $16 billion power project, Chairman of the National Action Council, NAC, Dr. Olapade Agoro, yesterday, challenged the three leaders to stop the blame-game and explain their roles in series of mismanaged funds since 1999.

Buhari and Obasanjo

Agoro said this when speaking with newsmen, in Ibadan, on the occasion of Nigerias 19th anniversary of Democracy Day.

The NAC chairman said: It was unfortunate that the 19 years of the democratic process have brought about poverty, suffering, and sorrow to Nigerians as a result of corruption and mismanagement of funds.

The 19 years of democratic experience in the country have been woefully messed up by corrupt politicians. What Nigerians need now is an explanation on how some funds were mismanaged or embezzled.

Besides, the cleric insisted that Nigerians also deserved to know more about the $62 billion left behind in the countrys foreign exchange reserve in 2007 when former President Obasanjo left office and the missing $20 billion crude oil money alleged by the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

His words: The issue of the $16 billion power project is not a blame-game issue. Buhari was partially right, claiming that Obasanjo spent $16 billion on the power project. The truth is that Obasanjo committed $12 billion, while the YarAdua/Jonathans administration committed $8 billion to the project.

This is, therefore, calling on Obasanjo to forget about asking anybody to go and read his book. Nigerians are not interested in that. Nigerians deserve to know what is happening. Nigerians are waiting for explanations on what happened to the money. It is, therefore, not ordinary political words being thrown about.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Restrictive legislation undermines REITs operation  NSE President

By Peter Egwuatu

PRESIDENT of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, has blamed the underdevelopment and ineffectiveness of the Real Estate Investment Trusts, REITs, in Nigeria on restrictive legislation as well as poor knowledge and understanding of the industry.

Ogunbanjo spoke at the maiden REITs conference with the theme Real Estate Investment Trust in Sub-Sahara Africa: The Role of the Capital Market, hosted by the NSE in Lagos.

According to him the clarity on diverse regulatory issues which are required to stimulate greater market confidence, transparency and foreign capital inflows are still lacking in the industry.

He stated: The major challenges facing the REITs industry in Nigeria include restrictive legislation, poor knowledge and understanding of the industry in addition to prolonged bottlenecks created by the Land Use Act of 1978. Nigerias Land Use Act is embedded in the constitution of our country. Thus, any attempt to rectify its inadequacies requires a constitutional amendment which in itself is a major challenge.

He, therefore, called for the establishment of a separate and dedicated lands registry in each viable state of the federation, a (REITs registry of sorts) within the existing legal framework to specifically handle all REIT related transactions.

Also speaking, Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, noted that the African REITs market is presently valued at US$29 billion and is available in four countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya.

He said: There are only 32 REITs in Africa with South Africa being the largest REIT market having 27 REITs and Nigeria second with three REITs listed. In 2015, an estimated $265 million worth of transactions were concluded in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, a big improvement to the $65 million seen in all three markets during 2012. This indicates an increasing market as a larger number of investors are beginning to take increased interest and participation in the real estate investment sector.

Onyema further stated that Whilst the Nigerian market may not be as developed as other emerging markets such as Mexico, South Africa and Singapore, this asset class has definitely come to stay. Today we have about N40 billion in REITs market capitalisation listed on the NSE and a total of N96 billion in the construction/real estate sector of our equity market.

REITs are corporations or trusts that use the pooled capital of many investors to purchase and manage income property and/or mortgage loans. REITs are traded on the NSE just like stocks.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Northern, southern elders form group, seek solution to Nigerias challenges

- A northern elders forum and their southern elders counterpart have agreed on a common platform to tackle the challenges facing Nigeria

- The elders declared that they are worried about the condition of the country

- They said poor governance is one of the major problems that the country is facing

The northern elders forum and the southern elders forum on Saturday, May 26, went into a three and half hours closed door meeting to set up another group to be known as the Nigerian Elders Forum (NEF) to address poor governance in the country.

Premium Times reports that the spokesman of both groups, Banji Akintoye said the forum when established will find a way to meet, study situations, provide solutions and make sure that the decisions have impact on the lives of the people.

NAIJ.com gathered that the dignitaries in the meeting includes Yime Sen, Yinka Odumakin, Alfred Mulade, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chris Anyanwu, Francis Doukpola, Chike Dike, Bello Suleiman, Ibrahim Lame and Bala Sani.

READ ALSO: Why Buhari led Nigeria through difficult changes - Presidency

Also in the meeting were Sam Nda-Isaiah; Idris Hayatudeen, Saidu Dansadau, Falalu Bello, Doyin Okupe, Yerima Shettima, Charles Nwekeaku, D. G Darah, Abdullahi Usman Toro, Rahila Gowon and Abdulrazaq Adamu among others.

The statement released by the group read: We are elders, we are not active politicians. Most of us are not active politicians. We have come together because we are worried about the condition of our country.

Things are not well with our country. A lot of things are happening in our country that ordinarily should not happen. Ours is a land of promise, a land well-endowed by nature with a lot of wealth but we are not using the wealth to enrich our people. Instead, we are going down, down and down in terms of prosperity and progress.

So, we have decided to work together  that is the most important thing because the problems are many. There is a general problem like the problems of ecology. The desert is moving South on upon us, upon our country and we are not doing anything about it. The ocean is moving in from the south, parts of Lagos already under sea level and we are not doing anything about it.

What we have decided is to set up, and this is the height of our decisions, to set up a Nigerian Elders Forum. The Nigerian Elders Forum that will establish its own means of meeting and study situation and provide solutions and make sure that the decisions have impact on the lives of our country. Those are the things we have decided today.

Pointing out some of the problems facing the nation, the statement said parts of the south and south-south has gone under sea

There is the issue of erosion in the east, people now resort to killing each other and the nation lacks leadership. Parts of the south-south too already under the sea and we are not doing anything about it, and in the east, there is serious strange problem of gully erosion. Nobody seems to know what to do about it.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

And then, economy itself, we have become a country that is longer productive because lack of productivity is the big problem now of our country, and we have to do something about it. We also have this huge problem of poor governance.

It is no longer a question of a party, it is no longer a question of one party is doing better than the other, you can see now clearly, even though our political parties are rarely no longer political parties, they are just neighbours or combination of people who want to gather together and win elections and control the wealth of the country.

That is what it has become, and the quality of leadership has fallen so drastically that it is not possible to have any progress in the hands of such poor leadership and then now we have reached a point at which where we are actually killing one another. People burning around killing their countrymen and destroying their livelihoods.

So, we cannot go on like this, we elders of the country have decided that we cannot go on like this. We must change actions to change these things.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the Northern Elders Forum weighed in again on the controversial issues of restructuring the country, and disclosed what it would not accept.

According to the group, while they acknowledge the persistent calls for Nigeria to be restructured, they would not be stampeded into adopting a grand design from other regions, which would not be in their best interest.

Do you prefer a restructuring of Nigeria or should we just split-up? on NAIJ.com TV:

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Christians will not vote for wicked and lazy politicians - Methodist prelate

- Rev Samuel Uche, the prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, said he will mobilise the Christian community to vote against wicked and religious bigot leaders in 2019 general elections

- The cleric said that no religion or holy book encourages war and killing of innocent souls

- Uche warned the government against clamping down the opposition and also advised the opposition not to be making careless statements that would heat up the polity

The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Rev. Samuel Uche, has said Christians in the 2019 elections will not vote for wicked and lazy politicians, who are religious bigots, The Punch reports.

Uche said this in a sermon delivered at the 2018 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, said although he had only one vote, he could influence at least two million voters from his denomination and many other Christians.

While saying impunity would no longer be allowed in the country, Uche said he was ready to take the bullet while fighting the menace.

READ ALSO: Why Buhari led Nigeria through difficult changes - Presidency

He said: As we celebrate Democracy Day on Tuesday and as we remember our children today, I want to advise that we should avoid do-or-die politics.

There should be no fear in politics. Let people be allowed to vote and let their votes count.

We will work against all those who plan to manipulate elections; we will never allow that. And let me tell you that if they fire their bullet, it will not penetrate because God is with us. The God of Elijah and Elisha is our God.

We will no longer allow impunity to reign in this country. I dont belong to any political party but I can influence at least two million Methodists in Nigeria. I can also influence other Christians.

We will never vote in anybody that is lazy; anybody that is wicked, anybody that is a religious bigot can never smell any office in this land. Those who mean well for Nigeria, God will preserve them. Those who are planning to hurt Nigeria, God will annihilate them.

So, let us come together to build a nation where there is peace, love, harmony, tolerance, concord and synergy.

The clergyman warned the ruling party against clamping down on members of the opposition parties just as he advised stakeholders against heating up the polity, saying the nation needed peace.

He supported the call for the establishment of special courts for urgent trial of corruption cases..

Uche, however, said the present-day politicians acted with impunity because they had not learnt their lessons.

He described 90 per cent of such politicians as chameleonic, asking them to change.

Our leaders have failed to provide good leadership. They cant organise simple primaries. There is in-fighting. What a shame! We need peace before we can build a nation of our dream. We need tolerance, forgiveness and forbearance, he said.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

NAIJ.com previously reported that Vice president Yemi Osinbajo, at the 2018 Democracy Day inter denominational church service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja to mark President Muhammadu Buhari three year in office said never would corruption be allowed to have its hold on the country and draw it backward.

Taking his reading from the book of Exodus 154:10-15, Osinbajo compared Nigeria and its people to the children of Isreal went on a journey of nation building. The Lord he said had promised to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

According a statement by senior special assistant to the vice president on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, They had just left the captivity where they were been punished and cheated by Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Lagosians groan as President Buhari's visit grounds activities on NAIJ.com TV:

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Despite squabble with FG, Governor Wike makes huge demand

- Nyesom Wike has urged the federal government to release Rivers state's 13% derivation from the $1 billion insurgency fund

- Wike said it is mandatory for the constitutional procedure to be followed

- According to the governor, all the all oil producing state should be paid the 13% derivation withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account

The governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike has demanded that the federal government pay his state its 13% derivation fund from the $1 billion recently withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account.

Speaking on Sunday during the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year award for 2017 presented to him in Abuja, Wike said it is mandatory for the constitutional procedure to be followed, Punch reports.

He said he had been officially approached to lobby the Rivers state House of Assembly to approve the resolution mandating the withdrawal of the said funds.

READ ALSO: How Obasanjo's administration forcefully impeach governors - Presidency

Wike noted that oil producing states should be paid the 13% from the funds withdrawn.

The governor said that while the state government was not against the fight against insurgency, all the required constitutional procedures must be respected.

They have approached us to lobby for the passage of a resolution by the State House of Assembly approving the $1 billion withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to fight insurgency," Wike said.

The law is clear. You must remove 13 per cent derivation for oil-producing states from oil proceeds. We cannot be stampeded into doing the wrong thing.

READ ALSO: Viral video shows thugs destroying Fayemi campaign billboard in Ekiti

So, where is the 13 per cent derivation for oil-producing states? In fighting insurgency, you must respect the law.

If you criticise the government, they deny the state funds due to it. This is a government that claims that it is fighting corruption, the governor added.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that the federal government had warned Wike over undue utterances against it.

The federal government said the governor should thank his stars that he enjoys immunity from prosecution.

This reaction from the federal government followed assassination allegation leveled by Wike against the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led federal government.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Shareholders of Consolidated Hallmark to get N140m dividend

SHAREHOLDERS of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, CHI, will be paid N140 million or two kobo per share as dividend for the 2017 financial year. Chairman of the company, Mr. Obinna Ekezie, disclosed this to shareholders at the companys annual general meeting in Lagos last week. He said that the company believes shareholders deserve all the reward they can get through regular dividend payments and more for their continued faith and firm belief in the company.

Ekezie said, We shall continue to live up to this expectation as we have done severally in the past.

He expressed optimism about the future of the company, noting that the successful completion of the final phase of the capital it raised, full deployment of funds realised and the eventual emergence of the company as one of the top players in the financial services sector, will benefit its shareholders in the long run.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, said the company continues to fulfil its obligations through prompt claims settlement as gross claims amount paid out in its 2017 financial year was N3.4 billion. He said that total assets stood at N9.5 billion in 2017 up from N7.44 billion in 2016, representing 27 percent growth.

He stated that CHI also posted profit after tax of N406.2 million as against N194.9 million in 2016, adding that its profit before tax grew by 74 percent from N368.1 million in 2016 to N641 million in 2017.

Efekoha said that gross premium written was N5.6 billion; while a net underwriting income of N4 billion was recorded.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Amassoma youths flay degeneration of NDU protest

Youths of Amassoma community, the host community of Niger Delta University, NDU, Bayelsa State, under the aegis of Amassoma Youth Representative, have expressed concern over the dimension to which the peaceful protest, which started as a result of the labour crisis in the university had degenerated.

Dickson

The youths, in a statement, weekend by Ayogoi Simeon, said: We are deeply pained by the dimension the peaceful protest, which started as a result of the labour crisis in the Niger Delta University, NDU and how it metamorphosed into violence, destruction of properties and loss of lives.

It is quite unfortunate that, while peaceful means were being sought to address all the demands of the workers, the protest degenerated suddenly to this level.

In view of the above, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who is also a son of our community, invited all the chiefs, from the Ebananaowei down to the least Pelenanaowei, opinion leaders, youth groups and other NGOs in the community.

Frank and fruitful discussions were held and at the end, all the issues in the dispute have been resolved amicably. The stakeholders and the chiefs in the community have equally set up a high-powered committee to liaise with the bereaved families to bury the dead and traditional rites done in accordance with our tradition, he said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Osinbajo Begs Nigerians Using Bible

The former President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has pleaded with Nigerians using the bible not to give up considering the sad things taking place in the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday displayed his pastoral prowess, quoting copiously to analyse Nigerias situation to beg Nigerians to go forward.

So I say to you brethren in Christ and fellow country men and women, let us go forward, do not look back, the armies of the enemy that you see today threatening to kill and maim.

 the claws of poverty and injustice you shall see again no more forever, the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.

We must go forward, we are a people of prophecy.

There have been times when the journey is somewhat tough, difficult, and fearful; we look behind us and see the armies of the past.

 the armies of division, which led to a civil war where millions died, the armies of religious strife that refuse to leave us, the armies of corruption and graft, those who want us to remain in the captivity of ethnic and religious conflicts.

Ahead of us, we see the Red Sea, bloody conflicts, and the doomsayers saying that the future will be worse than the past!

Osinbajo, who is also a Pastor in the Redeem Christian Church of God, drew spiritual analogy to placate Nigerians who now believe things were getting worse than it was.

God has said concerning this nation, that He is building a new Nigeria; a nation where men and women of all tribes and faith, dwell in love and peace.

A nation, where our young people have ample opportunities for productive and rewarding work. The promises of God are sure and certain. 2nd Corinthians 1:20.

Osinbajo spoke centred on the topic, Let us go forward from anguish of the past in his remarks at the democracy day interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre on Sunday.

For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him amen, to the glory of God through us. This is the future and we are headed in that direction already.

Drawing form the history of the movement of children of Israel for nation building, he said: The children of Israel were on a journey of nation building; the Lord had promised to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

They had just left the captivity of Egypt, where they were cheated and punished by Pharaoh. God took them on the journey out of captivity, out of anguish, and promised them a place of comfort, abundance and peace.

But the journey was tougher than they expected, suddenly they saw Pharaoh and his army coming after them.

They were unarmed, and one of the most vicious armies in history was coming after them. They ran in great fear, with their wives and children. They carried the elderly, the disabled, and the babies, but in front of them was the Red Sea.

No boats to cross the sea. They were, between the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea.

So they turned to their leader, Moses, who himself was now full of fear because he didnt expect what they were now experiencing.

A lesson here, when God puts you on a journey to your destiny, whether you are a person or a nation, He doesnt tell you what the challenges will be, lest you refuse to undertake the journey.

So the Israelites turned to their leader, Moses, saying in Exodus 14.11, `because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?

Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

He explained that so it is in the journey of nation building and development, our own nation, is no different, we are on a journey from the anguish of the past.

And then the people say, why did you take us from where we were? The same people who cried in anguish to the Lord, now say, you should have left us in Egypt.

We didnt know you were taking us out of captivity to kill us here in the wilderness. Like Moses, the leadership say to God, but what shall we do oh Lord? We didnt expect that this would be a journey to destruction.

Then God said to Moses in Exodus 15, why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. Go forward! Dont turn back! Moses inspired by God, said to the children of Israel, do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

So I say to you brethren in Christ and fellow country men and women, let us

go forward, do not look back, Pastor Osinbjo said.

-NAN

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | We got what we did not bargain for - Imo youths speak out against Okorocha's administration, declare readiness to correct mistake

- Ahead of 2019, youths in Imo have declared their readiness to correct the mistakes made in 2015

- They said the present situation in the state is unacceptable; and pointed out that there is need for serious change

- The youths said they got what they did not bargain for; and that it has been excruciating pain and agony for the last eight years

Scores of youths in Imo state have said that they are prepared to rectify the mistakes made in past elections, Vanguard reports.

Speaking in Owerri, the state capital on Sunday, May 27, a cross section of youths decried the present situation, describing it as unfortunate.

READ ALSO: Youths in Ebonyi community allegedly kill boy for destroying statue

NAIJ.com gathers that the state coordinator of Visionary Association for Creative Citizenship (VACC), Chinedu Ndukwu, that the 2019 elections in the state will not be determined by money.

He said: The political situation in Imo state is not acceptable. We have seen the way Imo state is, and there is need for a serious change.

We no longer want a deceitful element. In 2019, it is not going to be about money. You can see that the local government system in Imo is dead.

It was an unfortunate selection in 2015. Believe me, we got what we did not bargain for. For eight years, it was excruciating pain and agony. We are tired of what is happening in Imo state.

Chukwu Kelechi Kingsley, who led the Imo Renewal Youth Movement (IRYM), also stated that the only way to bring Imo state on the path of true governance is to correct the mistakes of the 2015 elections in the state.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that a governorship aspirant in Imo, George Emenalo, popularly called Boy George (BG), expressed optimism to become the next executive governor of the state.

Emenalo, who just joined the gubernatorial race in Imo, expressed the optimism while addressing newsmen in Lagos. He said that his confidence was from God, whose mandate was for him to liberate the people of the state from their sufferings.

What is cooking in Imo state? - on NAIJ.com TV:

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | 2019: INEC reacts to claims of disqualifying aspirants with court cases

- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims that it would disqualify aspirants with court cases

- INEC said that those pendling such reports do so with evil motives

- The commission said it has no constitutional power to disqualify any aspirant from contesting in the 2019 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again dismissed claims that it would disqualify politicians with court cases from contesting future elections in the country

Prince Adedeji Solomon Soyemi, INEC's commissioner on publicity said that those involved in such rumoured mongering do so to push out their opponents from contest, Vanguard reports.

READ ALSO: 2019: Obasanjo only thinks for himself, not Nigeria - Kalu

The claims went viral when anti-corruption agencies, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigned some major political aspirants in court over alleged money-laundering linked to 2015 campaign funding.

Prince Soyemi insisted that the commission has no constitutional backing to disqualify any candidate submitted by the political parties for a nomination. He said: We have been inundated with this baseless insinuation, which we have denounced because INEC has no power whatsoever to disqualify any political aspirant or candidate as the case may be.

The rumours have been trending on social media alleging that INEC will not issue forms to anyone with a pending case of embezzlement before the security agencies or any court. The story is completely false and baseless and could not have emanated from the Commission.

As we have stated repeatedly, grounds for disqualification are clearly spelt out in the 1999 Constitution as amended. There is no way whatsoever to act outside the Constitutional provisions to disqualify anyone.

Meanwhile, an Abuja- based lawyer, Barrister Yunus Abdulsalam reported to officials of PRNigeria that apart from constitutional provisions, only the judiciary can disqualify a candidate from contesting in any poll.

Yunus said: For INEC to disqualify a candidate over an allegation of graft will amount to a clear violation of Section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).. That constitutional provision clothed all candidates with the garment of a presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

Such disqualification will amount to a penalty and INEC by law did not have such power. The power to penalise is exclusively that of the judicial arm of government. This position was reiterated by the supreme court in the case of Action Congress and others Versus INEC which Reference SC 69/2007.

We should also remember that the then Presidential candidate of APC in 2015 was also a beneficiary of INEC insistence of not disqualifying any candidate when his school certificate issue came up and there was no court verdict to disqualify and INEC refused to do otherwise.

One of the trending messages quoting INEC on the issue reads: We will not sell forms to Anybody with a pending case of Embezzlement, under Investigations either Police, SSS, EFCC, ICPC or in any Court  INEC The Stage is set. The Drama is about to start."

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

"The effort to sanitize the political system by Buhari is about to begin. Only clean candidates shall come onboard, enough is enough for the corrupt politicians whose aim is to deprive our children their future, we shall not allow them again to play on our collective intelligentsia as Nigerians.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reports that the chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had said electronic voting would not be used in 2019 elections.

Yakubu said this in Abuja on Wednesday, April 11, at the end opening of a three-day International Conference of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in West and Southern African countries in Abuja themed Opportunities and Challenges in the Use of Technology: Experiences from West and Southern Africa.

2019: Ahmed Buhari tells Nigerians he is the best option for president - On NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Reconciliation committee headed by Tinubu panel saved APC from implosion - Party member

The coordinator of Buhari Support Organisation in Ondo state, Mike Adeyanju, has said that the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) would have been worse if not for President Muhammadu Buharis Reconciliation Committee headed by the partys national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, The Nation reports.

NAIJ.com gathered that Adeyanju said the setting up of the committee was recognition of the problems confronting the party and the resolve of Buhari to ensure that all shades of opinions and interests were accommodated in the larger interest of the party and the country.

Adeyanju, a House of Representatives aspirant for Akoko North and East in Ondo state noted that Tinubus Committee could best be described as work in progress for the party.

READ ALSO: Political thugs vandalise Fayemi's billboard in Ekiti

However, he noted that going by the look of things, the partys national convention might not be rancour-free.

Adeyanju, who is a member of the Security Sub Committee of the Convention, appealed to members of the party to follow due process during the convention.

He said: For now the party has put the mechanism in place and all the party structures are working to ensure that a successful national convention takes place. In politics all interests cannot be accommodated. And we can only appeal to members to show the spirit of give and take.

The security sub-committee will do its best to ensure that the convention is free and fair. And it is our hope that it will be quite different from some of the experiences recorded during the congresses at the states.

But I can assure you that with the level of commitment and reconciliation that is on-going in the party, we would not witness what happened in 2014 in PDP where some people staged a walk out at the National Convention of the party.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

NAIJ.com previously reported that as part of preparations towards 2019 general elections, All Progressives Congress (APC), national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, April 24, said the party fought hard for the conduct of congress against all odds and got it for true party democracy.

He also announced ban on members who had spent a minimum of eight years as ward, council and state executive members from seeking re-election in its congresses across the state and by extension to all APC- controlled states.

Buhari to Contest for Presidency in 2019! - on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Naval officer kicks kidnapper into ridge in Kaduna, escapes with colleague

- Two Nigerian naval officers have escaped kidnnapers in Jaji Kaduna state

- They were said to have run into a roadblock mounted by the kidnappers dressed in military camouflage after Marraba-Jos, Junction

- One of the officers kicked one of the kidnappers on the head and facilitated their escape

Luck has favoured two Nigerian naval officers who were kidnapped along Jaji-Kaduna express road as they narrowly escaped from their abductors.

The naval officers Lt-Commander S. Ahmed, a Weapon Electrical and Electronics/ Special Boat Services(WEE/SBS), operative and Lieutenant-Commander Maigado, a pilot and personnel of the Air Warfare Wing (AWW), were kidnapped, on Saturday, at about 10, Oclock in the night, Daily Sun reports.

The news outlet reports that Maigado had traveled to the Armed Forces Command And Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, to deliver lecture to junior course students of Maritime warfare department of the college.

READ ALSO: Why Buhari led Nigeria through difficult changes - Presidency

On his way back to Kaduna, he was said to have been accompanied by Lt.-Comdr. Ahmed, when they were kidnapped.

They were said to have run into a roadblock mounted by the kidnappers dressed in military camouflage after Marraba-Jos, Junction and were forced out at gunpoint.

After dispossessing them of their wallets and phones, the kidnappers, totaling five in numbers, reportedly marched the officers into a bush and trekked for about four hours and stopped to take a rest.

On their way, it was reported that one of the officers pretended to have stepped on a thorn as he was barefooted. He was said have kicked one of the kidnappers on the head in the process of removing the thorn. The kidnapper was said to have fallen over a ridge while they took to their heel.

The kidnappers pursued them. As the officers got close to a hamlet they (naval officers) began to shout, calling out people to help. When people began to respond, the kidnappers turned and scampered away in the opposite direction.

The officers continued walking until they got to a small community near a major road at about 0030hours.

With the help of the people of this community, the officers contacted one Lieutenant-Commander S.M. Jibia, a student at AFCSC Jaji who, in turn, informed a member of Directing Staff. Shortly after, troops from 4 Demonstrations Battalion were immediately mobilised to evacuate the officers.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Also, the vehicle was recovered from the police at about 0100. Lt Cdr S Ahmed is currently in AFCSC Jaji while Lt Cdr AI Maigado arrived Lagos at about 0850 this morning to resume flying duties.

The officers are mentally and physically stable, a source told the news outlet.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the police command in Kaduna have arrested three suspected vandals on Sunday, May 27, for allegedly vandalizing a transformer attached to the residence of President Muhammadu Buhari along Sultan road in the state.

Do you prefer a restructuring of Nigeria or should we just split-up? on NAIJ.com TV:

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Breaking: Catholic priest reportedly shot, students injured as herdsmen attack seminary

- Two Catholic priests have reportedly bee beaten, one shot in the leg by some gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen

- Some students reportedly injured while some cars were also destroyed

- Director of Caritas Nigeria, an agency of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey has confirmed the terrible occurrence

There was a pandemonium in a minor seminary in Jalingo, Taraba state on Monday, May 28, when two Catholic priests were reportedly beaten, one shot in the leg by some gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

The Punch reports that some students were also injured and while many cars were as well destroyed in the attack.

READ ALSO: How Obasanjo's administration forcefully impeached governors - Presidency

NAIJ.com gathered that the injured people were receiving treatment at the federal medical centre.

The director of Caritas Nigeria, an agency of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, made this known in a WhatsApp message.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

He said: Please Frs, pray for us. Our minor seminary in Jalingo has just been attacked by the Fulani, some students are injured, some cars destroyed, two priests beaten and one shot on the leg. They are currently receiving treatment at FMC.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that a video of a Catholic priest claiming to resurrect a man that was dead for three weeks, went viral on social media.

The video was shared by a Facebook user identified as Izu Nwaobi Joe Okakwu who claimed to have witnessed the miraculous event.

According to Okakwu, the priest identified as Chiedozie Modestus Chilaka did the unthinkable after he allegedly brought back a man to life in Owerri, Imo state.

Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers - on NAIJ.com TV:

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | UK-based NGO donates relief materials to Abuja IDPs camp, orphanage

By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA-AN international Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, the Royal Initiative Against Poverty and Starvation, RIAPS, on Saturday distributed foodstuffs and educational materials to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camp at the New Kuchigoro, as well as City of Refuge Orphanage Home, Durumi, Abuja.

Osinbajo teaching the children at the Abagana IDP camp the song I am a winner in the name of the Lord

While donating the items to the displaced persons, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RIAPS, Mr. James Okpanachi, said the NGO also planned to visit all IDP camps across the country as part of efforts to assist government accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, with a focus on eradicating extreme hunger and poverty and enhance productivity of the people in IDP camps.

Okpanachi stated that about 70 percent of the population in Nigeria was poor just as he said there was a starvation problem in the country.

He added that 90,000 children die every year in because of hunger in Nigeria. Adding that RIAPS has come to support government efforts to eradicate poverty in Nigeria.

Okpanachi informed the IDPs that: We have heard of your food needs, we have heard of your education needs, we have heard that you need schools, we have heard that you need teachers, we have heard that you need books, that you need things to educate your children, we have heard that you need good food to eat, and that is why we are here.

He stated that development and productivity was a concerted effort between the public and the private sector, saying that there was a need for local and international NGOs to support federal government to ensure that the needs of displaced persons in various IDPs camps accros the country were met.

The breakdown of items donated include bags of beans, gari, rice, packs of noodles, packs of drinks, books, packs of pencils and pens.

The NGO also promised to recruit 10 teachers that will teach children at the IDP camp.

We are not going to stop; the only time we will stop is when they tell us that there is no more need. Okpanachi assured.

Speaking on behalf of the IDPs, the Chairman of the new Kuchigoro camp, Mr. Emmanuel Philmon, thanked the NGO for the donation.

He appealed to government for soft loan to enable IDPs carry out farming activities for self-sustainability rather than depending on relief material from NGOs.

The Royal Initiative Against Poverty and Starvation was also received by the children of City of Refuge Orphanage Home, Durumi, Abuja, where similar donations were made.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Lets unite with Buhari to end security challenges, Ete-Ibas tells Nigerians

By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA-THE Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, has called on Nigerians to all stand in unity with President Muhammadu Buhari to end the current security challenges in the country

Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas

Ete-Ibas said the panacea to the insecurity plaguing the country was the unity of both the government and the governed in tackling the situation headlong.

Speaking yesterday during the interdenominational church service to commemorate the 62nd Anniversary of the Nigerian Navy at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja,Ete-Ibas assured that with the security challenges in the country would soon be a thing of the past going by the hard work and determination on the part of security agents.

As you are aware, our dear nation is facing several security challenges at the moment and we must all therefore stand united with the president and all who are in power to confront the current challenges that the nation faces today.

I believe that with hard-work and determination, the present situation will be a thing of the past, he said.

Meanwhile, he hailed all Nigerian Navy personnel for the sacrifice so far in their efforts at fighting insurgency and economic sabotage in other to maintain the peace and unity of the country.

 May I seize this opportunity also to restate that as we fight together towards achieving the change agenda of Mr President, it must be emphasised that security is the key to its overall attainment, he added.

The Naval chief hinted that the Nigerian Navy transformation plan was anchored on the vision to emplace the navy that is adequately motivated and capable to effectively combatting security challenges in nigerias maritime domain.

While saying he was not unaware of the constraints in the Nigerian Navy operations as well as the myriads of welfare problems facing the service, he stated that improving welfare has raised the hallmark of his administration.

Hear him:Improving welfare has remained the cornerstone of my administration as demonstrated in the numerous welfare and administrative projects in various stages of completion across the various commands and establishments.

Speaking to the Navy personnel, Ete-Ibas said:As we celebrate the Navy Week , I want to remind us all of our sacred duty to continue to remain committed to the defence of our country.

On the part of the leadership, you can count on the fact that we will remain unwavering in the pursuit of necessary enablement to fire you up for the optimisation of your output.

It is a covenant that we are bound to, that we are determined to realise and of which we converge here to seek the face of God.

I therefore urge you all to continue to collectively and individually conduct yourself and discharge your duties with highest sense of integrity, teamwork and professionalism.

He said the Nigerian Navy owed its achievements since inception to God, who he said, has been blessing the service with abundant human and material resources.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Let's end security challenges by uniting with President Buhari - Naval chief tells Nigerians

- The chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Abas, has urged Nigerians to united with President Muhammadu Buhari in ending the country's insecurity

- He said that with hard work and determination, the security situation in the country will be a thing of the past

- Ete-Abas said that security is the key to achieving President Muhammadu Buhari's change agenda

Nigerians have been called upon by the chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, to all stand in unity with President Muhammadu Buhari to end the current security challenges in the country.

Ete said that there must be unity between the government and the governed in order to tackle the insecurity Nigeria is currently faced with, Vanguard reports.

NAIJ.com notes that Ete spoke during the interdenominational church service to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Nigerian Navy at the Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja.

READ ALSO: EKEDC to prosecute retired Army general for allegedly threatening officials with gun

He said: "As you are aware, our dear nation is facing several security challenges at the moment and we must all therefore stand united with the president and all who are in power to confront the current challenges that the nation faces today. I believe that with hard work and determination, the present situation will be a thing of the past.

May I seize this opportunity also to restate that as we fight together towards achieving the change agenda of Mr President, it must be emphasised that security is the key to its overall attainment."

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported Alhaji Kabir Usman, the emir of Katsina, accused political opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari as being responsible for the security challenges in the country.

He argued that president Buahri's opponents were uncomfortable with his single-minded efforts to positively reposition the country.

Abdu-Labaran Malumfashi, media aide to the governor of Katsina state, said the monarch made the assertion when the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, paid the governor a condolence visit over the death of the former governor of the old Kaduna state, Alhaji Lawal Kaita.

What does Nigeria need right now? (Nigerian Street Interview) | on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Elder statesman and Chairman, Northern Elders Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai , has said that President Muhammadu has only done well in the area of noise making in his three years in office.

Yakasai wondered why the president has failed to prosecute anyone in his anti-corruption war, adding that he lacks the qualities of a good leader.

The elder statesman, in an interview with Punch, said Buhari should not be seeking a second term because, according to him, the president has failed Nigerians.

Yakasai said, There are many qualities required to be a good leader. One of them is competence.

Another is capacity. The third one is the ability to plan and think clearly. I believe that every leader should possess these qualities.

I have really not seen all these qualifications in our leaders in this country in recent times; that was why I did not support the second  term bid of the President, because I have not been happy with his performance in the last three years.

How many people have been convicted (of corruption) by this government?

The most important case among others was that of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Babachir Lawal), who was indicted for committing an infraction by the report of a Senate committee, which was forwarded to the President.

When the matter was referred to the President , he asked the Vice President (Prof . Yemi Osinbajo ) to

investigate. After the investigation , the presidential panel confirmed the allegations levelled against the former SGF.

However, up till today , the former SGF has not been arraigned in any court of law. This is

an open case of corruption where a contract was improperly awarded to a company.

So, a government that claims to be fighting corruption cannot be found wanting in a case that concerned such individual.

That is where this administration is incompetent . Lawal should have been arraigned before a court of law.

I have never met the former SGF in my life, but I feel any serious  minded government should have arraigned him and commenced a full prosecution by now.

Asked in what areas he thinks Buhari has actually performed well, he added, Noise making; he has succeeded in noise making.

No concrete actions. I have never seen any concrete action. There were some projects that the President is executing but they are initiated by his

predecessors. You cannot single out one project that the Buhari administration has succeeded in initiating and completing.

I challenge anybody to single out one major project that the President completed in the last three years.
The camp of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday replied comments made by Adams Oshiomhole.

The former Edo Governor had on Friday described the Jonathan government as corrupt.

Reacting, Reno Omokri, in a statement on Saturday called Oshiomhole a confirmed liar who has already been proven by no less an institution than the State Department of the United States Government.

Omokri wrote: It will be recalled that on July 27, 2015, Adams Oshiomhole alleged that the State Department of the United States Government told him while he was on an official visit that just one minister who served under President Jonathan stole $6 billion from the treasury.

At that time Oshiomhole said: The PDP destroyed the country. I mean from the lips of American officials, senior officials of the State Department said one minister, under PDP, cornered as much as $6 billion. The man said even by Washington standards, that is earth-shattering.

However, the very next day, the State Department of the United States Government denied Oshiomholes assertions and said as follows:

The U.S. should not be drawn into such irresponsible comment as alleged by Mr. Oshiomhole. America has a transparent administration that doesnt hide when people make a statement.

If Mr. Oshiomhole claims a U.S. official told him that a Nigerian minister stole $6 billion, he should name the official instead of hiding behind an anonymous source.

The truth is that Adams Oshiomhole is embarrassed by the monumental thievery uncovered under the Buhari Administration and is eager to divert the publics attention from such including:

The $25 billion NNPC Contract Scam; The return, reinstatement and double promotion of Abdulrasheed Maina; The failure to announce who owns the $43 million Ikoyi Apartment loot; The reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the NHIS despite his indictment for misappropriating 10 billion;

The non prosecution of former SGF Babachir Lawal; The recent HSLi Israeli $195 million contract scam; The double payment of the Abacha lawyers scam; The 1.1 billion budgeted to clean the NSAs office, amongst others.

I also call on journalists to go to Abuja and Edo State to appraise the value of Adams Oshiomholes homes which are more expensive and worth more than former President Jonathans homes in Abuja and Bayelsa.

Yet former President Jonathan was a deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and President while Oshiomhole was a labour leader before becoming a Governor. From where did he get the money to build such palatial homes?
National Chairman of the National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, on Sunday enjoined former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan and incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the blame-game, and come out with explanations on their roles in the mismanagement of public funds since 1999 when democracy returned to Nigeria.

Agoro, while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on the occasion of this years Democracy Day anniversary, lamented that it was unfortunate that the 19 years of democratic process have brought about poverty, suffering and sorrow to Nigerians as a result of corruption and mismanagement of funds.

The NAC presidential aspirant lamented further that the 19 years of democratic experience in the country have been woefully messed up by corrupt politicians, adding that what Nigerians need now are explanations on how some funds were mismanaged or embezzled.

Agoro specifically asked Obasanjo, Jonathan and Buhari to come out and explain their roles on the $16 billion allegedly expended on the power project without any meaningful result, instead of embarking on a blame-game.

Speaking further, he remarked that, Apart from this, Nigerians also deserve to know more about how the $62 billion left behind in the countrys foreign exchange reserve in 2007 when former President Obasanjo was leaving office got depleted to about $360 million within one year, and the missing $20 billion crude oil money alleged by the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Agoro, while insisting that the trio of Obasanjo, Jonathan and Buhari should come out and explain their roles in the mismanagement of Nigerias treasury, revealed that in order to create a platform for Buhari, Obasanjo and Jonathan to do this, he (Agoro) would on August 16, 2018 organised a fora in Ibadan that would be tagged Face the Nation, in which the trio and members of their economic teams will be invited to explain their roles in the alleged mismanagement of funds.

He said, The issue of the $16 billion power project is not a blame-game issue. Buhari was partially right, claiming that Obasanjo spent $16 billion on the power project. The truth is that Obasanjo committed $12 billion, while the YarAdua/Jonathans administration committed $8 billion on the project.

This is, therefore, calling on Obasanjo to forget about asking anybody to go and read his book. Nigerians are not interested in that.

Nigerians deserve to know what is happening. Nigerians are waiting for explanations on what happened to the money. It is, therefore, not an ordinary political words being thrown about.
Home | News | General | 1 Nigerian university listed among top universities in the world

The University of Ibadan is the only academic institution ranked among the top 1000 universities in the world.

This is according to the global rankings released by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR).

READ ALSO: Catholic priest reportedly shot, students injured as gunmen attack seminary

University of Ibadan is ranked 991st worldwide, and 14th in Africa,

No other Nigerian university made the list.

Harvard University is ranked number 1 for the seventh year in a row followed by Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

University of Cambridge, U.K, is ranked fourth, while University of Oxford, also in the U.K, is ranked fifth.

Among the top 10 universities are University of California, Berkeley, U.S (sixth); Princeton University, U.S (seventh); Columbia University, U.S (eighth); California Institute of Technology, U.S (ninth); and the University of Chicago, U.S (10th).

Also on the list are seven universities from South Africa, four from Egypt, and one each from Uganda and Tunisia.

The U.S leads with 213 universities in the top 1000, followed by China (108), the United Kingdom (62), France (58), Japan (56), Germany (54), Italy (45), Spain (38), South Korea (35), and Canada (28) round up the top 10 countries.

According to CWUR, CWURs rankings grade universities on seven factors without relying on surveys and university data submissions: quality of teaching, alumni employment, quality of faculty, research output, quality publications, influence, and citations.

The methodology has been enhanced this year, with research now accounting for 70 per cent of the total score.

Meanwhile, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has released the list of 58 illegal universities in Nigeria.

According to the commission, the listed universities are yet to be licensed by the federal government and have been shut down for violating the national minimum standard for education, Premium Times reports.

NAIJ.com gathered that the commission, in bulletin released on Monday, May 21, from the office of the executive secretary of NUC, dated May 14, listed all the illegal universities across the country.

Parents advice government over ASUU strike - On NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Sad! Young serving corps member mercilessly beaten, shot dead by naval officer in Imo state (photos)

In recent times, cases of police and army officers assaulting innocent Nigerians were reported that but their irrational act is yet to be curbed by the government.

A young man identified as Franklin Chigozie Odika on Monday, May 28, took to his Facebook profile to share pictures of a serving corps member who was shot dead by a naval officer in Imo state.

Odika disclosed that his late friend Amadi Chukwuemeka Princewill died on Saturday, May 26. Following his friends death, Odika disclosed that the naval officer who committed the crime at a local joint is currently on the run.

Late Amadi Chukwuemeka Princewill. Source: Facebook/Franklin Chigozie Odika

READ ALSO: 55-year-old Russian multi-millionaire puts out vacancy for wife, marries 29-year-old lady (photos)

According to his Facebook post, he also urged Nigerians to help search for the naval officer. His post reads:

Amadi Chukwuemeka Princewill, a serving corps member and a native of Awaka in Imo state. On Saturday being May 26, he went on a sit out with his friends, one Mr Nick Anyanwu (current community chairman at Ndegbelu community in Awaka Imo state and also a re-election aspirant) came to the sit out spot with a naval officer and started harassing them (Princewill Amadi and friends) all in d name of political power. Amadi Chukwuemeka Princewill who has been away for the 3 weeks orientation camp prior to NYSC proper tried to inquire what the problem was, but the naval officer faced him squarely and started harassing him in particular. On seeing that his attacker is a uniformed man, Chukwuemeka tried walking out and the naval officer dragged him backed, beat him up mercilessly and shot him on the chest. This same naval officer took him to the hospital (Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku) dumped him there and ran away. As it stands now, the navy officer and the man aspiring for the post of chairmanship are at large. Please let us get #justiceforprincewilll #justiceforchukwuemeka#justiceforsleek. Let the search for Mr Nick Anyanwu, current chairman and aspiring chairman of Ndegbelu community in Awaka Imo state begin.

PAY ATTENTION: Get hottest gist on Naija Uncensored Facebook Group

See post below:

RIP!

Lagos CP Tells Lagosians What to Do to Erring SARS Officers | Naij.com TV - on NAIJ.com TV.

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Ex-governor, ex-minister arraigned for reportedly receiving N450m from DIezani

Mahmud Shinkafi, a former governor of Zamfara state has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving cash from former minister of petroleum, Diezani Madueke.

Premium Times reports that the former governor was arraigned alongside three other persons for receiving N450 million from the former minister.

READ ALSO: Catholic priest reportedly shot, students injured as gunmen attack seminar

They were arraigned before Justice Fatima Murtala of the Federal High Court sitting in Zamfara on a five-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.

Others are the former minister of state, finance, Bashir Yuguda, Aminu Nahuche, and Ibrahim Malaha.

It was reported that the money was part of the $115 million allegedly distributed by Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 elections.

One of the charges read: You Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Aminu Ahmed Nahuche and Ibrahim Malaha on or about 27th, March 2018, at Gusau, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired among yourselves to receive cash payment of the sum of N450, 000,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) from Odia Akpotune without transacting through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act and punishable under 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

All the defendants pleaded not-guilty while their counsel, J. C Shaka, asked for bail.

The prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane, said counter affidavit has been filed urging that they should be denied bail.

The judge however set bail an N5 million and asked that they be remanded in prison till they perfect the bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned to June 27 and 28 for the commencement of trial.

It will be recalled that The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for alleged fraud.

PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

This was contained in a post published by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, May 23.

Iyamu was the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo state, an election he later lost to Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress.

Also to be arraigned is Chief Dan Orbih, the PDP chairman in Edo state. They will be arraigned on Thursday, May 24, in Benin city.

Laolu Akande Speaks on How Presidency is Tackling Economy on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Nigerian Navy arrests 12 over alleged theft of 200,000 litres of diesel

The Nigerian Navy has arrested 12 men caught in the act of transshipping 200,000 litres of allegedly stolen diesel, worth N44 million, an official said.

NAIJ.com gathered that Captain Victor Choji, the executive officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, paraded the suspects before newsmen on Monday in Isaka, Okirika, Rivers.

He said that naval forces caught the suspected oil thieves in the late hours of the night, loading the petroleum product from a large metallic barge into Lagos registered vessel, MV Naye III.

READ ALSO: Our database is intact - JAMB declares, denies hacker infiltration

He said that, On May 7 at about 2300 hours, one of our gunboats while on routine patrol of the creeks intercepted a vessel, MV Naye III, bunkering petroleum product.

The vessel was connected to a barge and engaged in transshipment of substance suspected to be illegally refined diesel at Isaka creek in Rivers.

Choji said that all the 12 crewmen on board the vessel were immediately arrested to enable naval interrogators ascertain where the product was sourced and its owners.

The Nigerian Navy will not rest on its oars until all forms of criminality and criminals in the Rivers state maritime domain are brought to their kneels.

We are passionate and committed to ensuring that only lawful social and economic activities thrive within the state maritime environment, he stated.

He handed over the vessel to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out further investigations on the matter.

He urged members of the public to provide security agencies with information that would lead to seizure of illegal vessels, with a promise that their identities would be kept secret.

A suspect and the captain of MV Naye III, Babatunde Taiwo, explained to journalists said that the diesel was sourced from an illegal refinery in the state.

Taiwo claimed that they were hired by Lakeside Limited, a company based in Lagos.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

We were on our way to Bonny when we were instructed by our boss to reroute to Isaka to lift the diesel. We were later arrested by naval personnel, he said. (NAN)

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the Nigerian Navy said it discovered six new illegal refineries with combined capacity to refine four million litres of crude oil daily in Alakiri, Asari Toru local government area of Rivers state.

Nigerian Air Force winged 10 flying officers - on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | For allegedly defrauding his member of N16m, check out what EFCC did to self-acclaimed pastor in Lagos (photo)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it will soon arraign a self-acclaimed pastor, ThankGod Udechukwu, founder of Jesus the General Outreach Ministry based in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos for alleged swindling of a kinsman and member of his church.

According to NAN, Udechukwu, who hails from Ozalla, Awgu local government area of Enugu state, was arrested by the EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office on Wednesday, May 23. He reportedly took advantage of one of his kinsmen who trusted him as a man of God.

He said: I am his pastor and man of God. In fact, I use to pray for him to succeed and indeed, I prayed for him before he traveled out to Dubai.

Pastor ThankGod Udechukwu. Source: NAN

READ ALSO: House of Rep leader Femi Gbajabiamila gives wife Benz G-Wagon worth N100m on her 50th birthday (photos, video)

Apparently with this Messiah mindset, the self-styled minister of God set out to rip off his victim using lies, half-truths and manipulations.

According to the victim and complainant who resides in Dubai, his ordeal in the hands of Udechukwu started with a suggestion that he hands over to him four Toyota Highlander SUVs he imported, claiming that one of his church members was willing to buy the vehicles and other consignments valued at N16m.

The pastor helped himself to a huge part of the proceeds, claiming it was for logistics. Later, the pastor mooted the idea of starting a transport services business and suggested to the Dubai-based businessman to buy two Sienna buses to kick it off.

As if under a spell, the complainant still agreed to the business idea. With no returns from the transport business, the complainant instructed the suspect to sell off the two buses. Udechukwu sold one of the buses and converted the proceed to his personal use.

PAY ATTENTION: Get hottest gist on Naija Uncensored Facebook Group

Some months after, the pastor further suggested a business to the complainant and introduced him to one Amechi Chuks Amechi who claimed to work with Nigeria Breweries and that he could assist in securing a dealership from the company.

He claimed the deal would cost the complainant N2.37 million, which he transferred to Amechis company account in the name of Royal Homes Furniture Company Limited.

The petitioner, who had hoped to use part of the proceeds from his investments to start some businesses here in Nigeria, was totally devastated when on coming home, he discovered that nothing was left as the pastor and his friend had diverted most of the money for their personal use.

However, investigations revealed that the pastor used the money from all the businesses to expand his church buildings and take care of personal issues.

Pastor Ashimolowo shades Daddy Freeze, insists tithing is necessary - on NAIJ.com TV.

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | I won't file for divorce till we are 122 years old - Stella Damasus hubby Daniel Ademinokan says as they celebrate wedding anniversary

- Adorable lovers, Stella Damasus and Daniel Ademinokan seem more in love as they celebrated their wedding anniversary

- The couple tied the knot in a secret in 2017 and live together in the United States

- As they celebrate their wedding anniversary, they both shared beautiful words on social media

Nollywood beauty, Stella Damasus and her man, Daniel Ademinokan recently celebrated their wedding anniversary in style. The lovers tied the knot in a secret wedding in 2017 and have been been waxing strong since then.

In a recent post, Daniel shared a cute photo of both of them and wrote a touching message as he promised to be her one and only till they grow old and grey. The lovers left fans with something to aspire to with their gentle display of affection for each other.

In his post, Daniel said: "Happy Wedding Anniversary to my favourite couple in the world - US. @stelladamasus I've told you I'm not doing an epistle today. I just want to say that I love you and having you by my side as my wife is a great honor and blessing. Thank you for jumping through hoops with me, loving me, weathering the storm and being a part of every success story. When I think of the things we have achieved together as a team, I can't help but marvel at your awesomeness. You are God's answer to my prayers. Babe, I love you and I promise I won't file for divorce till we are 122 years old. Yeah. I've extended it by 2 years. Till then, continue to enjoy every inch of me. Hahaha!! Love you always boo."

READ ALSO: Stella

Stella also penned down a special message which reads: "Happy anniversary @dabishop007 my lover, my friend, my brother, my father, business partner and boss. Words cannot express how much you mean to me boo. I just want to appreciate you and also thank God for blessing me with an amazing husband. You have been there for me through thick and thin. You held my hand in my time of need and you prayed with me in my lowest moments. You brought me closer to God and taught our kids the word of God. You gave me the support I needed to do the things I love to do and gave me the FREEDOM to be me. You have given me much more than I asked for. It's truly my pleasure to share your company and I am honored to breathe the air that you breathe. I love the way you make me feel. Everyday you go out of your way to treat me like a queen and I hope that in some way I can even measure up to that. Thank you for allowing yourself to be used by God to change not just our lives but the lives of all who have experienced you. I love you so much and I am excited to share many more years with you my love. I pray that God gives me the wisdom to continue to be the best wife any man could ever ask for. Together we make magic and I can't wait to see what the future holds. #happyanniversary #celebration."

Congratulations to the couple!

PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app

Street Gist: What is Wrong with Dating Your Friend's Ex? on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: Naija.ng

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | News | General | Rapists invade Abia school, injure, separate students according virgins, non-virgins

By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA-AT least 15 female students of Methodist Girls Model Secondary School, Ovim in Isuikwuato council of Abia State were reported to have been wounded when suspected rapists invaded their hostel last weekend.

Information from the community said the incident happened about 2 am last Friday.

Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Nkiruka Onyejiocha with one of the injured students attacked by rapists in Abia school

Meanwhile, the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Nkiruka Onyejiocha paid a visit to the school where she met some of the wounded students.

Narrating her ordeal to the law maker, Miss Chidinma Nwadubem, an SS11 student, explained that they were sleeping when suddenly one of the hoodlums broke into the dormitory and attempted to rape them.

According to her, the suspected rapist was wearing a mask and was moving from bed to bed flashing his torch light on the students and ordering them to wake.

The traumatized 15 year old student said the suspect told the students that they had killed all the security guards on duty at the school gate, and that the entire dormitory had already been surrounded by his colleagues.

According to her, the suspect ordered them to simply cooperate with them, warning that anyone who dared them would just be killed like one of the guards.

She however said that the students did not succumb to the threat despite physical assault by the suspect.

When he broke into the dormitory, he ordered us to separate ourselves between virgins and non virgins. He now ordered us to undress but when we resisted him, he started heating us with the iron rod in his hand.

We said we cannot undress for him even if he likes let him kill us. It was at that point that all of us started shouting on top of our voices and crying for help, Chidinma said.

She said it was at that point that he started breaking our heads with the rod before escaping through the fence.

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Oluchi Ibenye, who confirmed the incident, said the hoodlums probably gained access into the school premises through the back fence.

The principal said the matter had been reported to the police for investigations and arrest of the suspect. She also appealed to the government to assist the school to reinforce its perimeter fence and fortify security around the school.

In her remarks, Hon. Onyejiocha who is an Old girl of the school, expressed anger over the ugly incident and called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect.

She described the ugly incident as terrorism against the girl child which she said must be resisted.

The lawmaker promised to undertake the fortification of the perimeter fence of the school dormitory and renovate the shattered louvers and broken doors.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General
Home | World | Africa | Mugabe snubs parliament again

Former Zimbabwean President has snubbed a parliamentary portfolio committee on mines and mining for the second time.

Mugabe had been summoned to give oral evidence before the Temba Mliswa led committee on missing $15 billion revenue he alluded to during his birthday interview with ZBC in 2016.

Last week Wednesday, the former president failed to avail himself before the same parliamentary portfolio committee forcing them to reschedule for this Monday afternoon.

Mliswa, the mines and mining parliamentary portfolio committee chair told journalists after that they are going to write to Mugabe for the third and last time requesting him to appear before the committee.

" . . . we are going to write to him for the last time as required by the law. If he fails to attend this time, then we will take it to the next stage. But we are going to remind him of the certain provisions of the standing orders of parliament. We still respect him as former President and want his legacy to be protected."

He reminded the former President that the late Roy Bennet was imprisoned by parliament after being found to be in contempt of its authority.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate blaming HER failure to pay taxes on Republicans

The Democratic Party has long been a refuge for hypocrites, but thats not the only type of person the party lures.

Its also very good at attracting people who utterly fail to take personal responsibility for anything they do, no matter what, under the arrogant belief that uber-Leftists can do no wrong.

Thats what allows Lupe Valdez, a Democrat running to unseat patriotic Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, to blame him for her failure to pay $12,000 in taxesthat she owes.

As reported by The Daily Caller:

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez is blaming sitting Gov. Greg Abbott for the fact that she owes some $12,000 in overdue property taxes. Valdez, in a statement delivered by campaign spokesman Juan Bautista Dominguez, claimed that Abbott is responsible for the high property taxes in Texas.

As weve been saying all along, under Greg Abbotts failed leadership, property taxes are unpredictable and burdensome for Texans everywhere, including Sheriff Lupe Valdez. Sheriff Valdez has an agreement with the counties to payoff 2017 property taxes and plans to do so entirely in the coming months, said the spokesman. (Related: Texas Governor Greg Abbott calls for amendment of the U.S. Constitution via Convention of States to protect citizens from federal tyranny)

Just. Wow.

And yes, you read that correctly: Shes law enforcement. Well, she was; shes the former sheriff for Dallas County. Now she wants to be governor, despite the fact that shes a deadbeat taxpayer.

As My San Antonio reports, she also gave false details on her official financial disclosure report by leaving off a Dallas property that she owns. Also, two companies she listed on the filing form have incorrect names  which, of course, her campaign attributed to typos.

You bet. Thats probably Abbotts fault, too. Failed leadership caused her campaign to type up her very important financial disclosure form incorrectly. Twice.

But thats not the limit of her brazenness. My San Antonio notes further:

Online property tax records show Valdez personally owns or has an interest in 15 properties  including her two-story Oak Cliff homestead and several other houses along with several vacant lots  and has not fully paid taxes on six in Dallas County and one in Ellis County.

Shes been making payments ranging from $10 to $500 per month, according to tax records posted online  which is good  but something to remember is that she allowed herself to get behind in her taxes by $12,000. And, according to state tax officials, if the entire amount isnt paid by July, the remainder will be certified as officially delinquent, making Valdez the delinquent taxes candidate.

Thats not normal. People have to really try in order to owe their state that much money.

Maybe thats Abbotts fault too  his failed leadership. But really, its a failure on Valdezs part, and the fact that shes blaming someone else not only says something about her nature, it says a lot about her character, along with the fact that she identifies as a Left-wing Democrat.

For the record, as The Daily Caller reminds us, Texas is one of seven states that doesnt have a personal income tax but raises revenue with a sales tax and property taxes (the other states are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming).

Its not that Valdez even represents a serious threat to Abbott this fall. Shes more of a threat to personal responsibility than anything else; any Texans who are already teetering between doing the right thing and shuffling off their fair share to other taxpayers could be influenced by her campaign to withhold their taxes, thereby throwing Texas into default.

Then shed become the default candidate.

Valdez is the picture-perfect Democrat for todays party: A politician who refuses to accept that she has made mistakes because, after all, nothing is ever her fault.

Read more about Left-wing political corruption at Corruption.news and LeftCult.com.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

DailyCaller.com

TheNationalSentinel.com


Ellen Pompeo's purse was stolen from "right under [her] nose" during her holiday in Florence.

The actress was dining at Ristorante & Wine Bar dei Frescobaldi in the Italian city when the item was snatched from her, and she retold the story with a good sense of humour on social media.

Taking to Instagram, she said: "My purse was stolen from right under my nose!! I blame the rose!! (sic)"

The 48-year-old star's good mood is no doubt down to the fact the purse was recovered, and she added her thanks to both local police and staff at the eatery for their help with the matter.

She added: "Grazia to who ever stole it for dropping it on the street exactly in tact. I was tracking my phone and chasing you down... had I caught you... it would not have ended well for you... I am nice but lets not forget my heritage... NAPOLITANO (sic)"

Ellen - whose father Joseph E. Pompeo was of Italian, English, and Irish descent - is currently on a break between seasons of 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Speaking earlier this year, the Boston, US-born actress admitted she initially didn't want to sign up for the medical drama series because such programmes always fuelled her "hypochondria".

However after 14 years on the show, it's helped with her anxiety as she's now more familiar with many conditions - but was baffled by pain she suffered from a mass that had formed in her kidneys back in March.

She admitted: "Medical shows - 'E.R.' was on at the time and every time I watched it it made me anxious, hypochondriac, always thinking there was something wrong with me.

"It's helped and hurt at different times. At certain times I think I know what to do and other times... I had a kidney stone on Saturday and ended up in the E.R., I thought I was dying, for sure. I didn't know that was what it was."
they already kiiiiiiinda had a cpl like this lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

what do you mean... like are they gonna 3d print whatever's in their hearts and instead of a butterfly cookie the protag gets a cookie in the shape of her best friend's husband's penis?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

ONTD would just print 50 different flavours of off-brand oreos.

Reply

Thread

Link

And Avocado Mayo.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Lmao

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

lol what was he eating

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Not dick that's for sure

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

a tomato.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Pussy

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Obviosuly, he doesn't swallow.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

nnnnn @ your guys' ability to turn anything into a Shawn Mendes post.



lmao. enough. tomorrow.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

But a trigger warning on this.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Future of fast food for sure. I feel like it's less wasteful too. Im kinda here for it. I welcome our 3d overlords.

Reply

Thread

Link

But I still have to cook it? I might as well lie down and die.

Reply

Thread

Link

lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

seriously, if it doesn't microwave in under 5 mins I'm out

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Lmao this is me

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

thisssssssssss lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

mao

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

lmaooo truly

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

What is it called?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Spyce

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I would pass on printed food.

Reply

Thread

Link

Ive been meaning to get a 3D printer honestly. Now I can just claim it as a cooking utensil.

Reply

Thread

Link

I think you listed the wrong source.

Reply

Thread

Link

lmao. this unintentional promo for my faves.



fixed. thanks for the heads up.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

lol no problem. One time my mom asked me "Who is Brandon Flowers ? I might win tickets for him & I don't know who that is...Oh, okay. I don't want the tickets then."

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

no thanks

Reply

Thread

Link

Immense health benefits?



All this stuff is very "Look what I can do! Now give me my millions" to me.

Reply

Thread

Link

what is that title OP?

Reply

Thread

Link

OP came from the future to warn us about the dangers of the newer 3D Doritos

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

lol. well, there's always that one person that's like "lol, this isn't new..." and it isn't, thanks.



but the title seemed off to me too, so i went back with my original choice. just flows better.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link





https://www.instagram.com/dinarakasko



She might just do 3d printed moulds though, not sure Id she 3d prints the food as well







Edited at 2018-05-28 12:50 am (UTC) These ones are better:She might just do 3d printed moulds though, not sure Id she 3d prints the food as well

Reply

Thread

Link

Her cake apple is 10x better than the one Cathy Mitchell does with bread & canned pie filling.



Edited at 2018-05-28 12:52 am (UTC)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

omg this is a r t

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

she just 3d prints her original molds, it's awesome. I like when bakers create cool things aside only cakes with fondant.

but I'll probably never eat these fancy desserts so

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
BOOKS

Over 120 Stephen King short stories and where you can find them: https://t.co/DikkGe4r1A pic.twitter.com/WCEt3ClWhQ  Book Riot (@BookRiot) May 26, 2018



A Death , via The New Yorker

, via The New Yorker

Herman Wouk is Still Alive, via The Atlantic



TELEVISION

New episodes of Finding Bigfoot air Sunday May 27th at 8 pm on @AnimalPlanet! We start with a 2-hr special where we go back to Bluff Creek, and that's followed by a 100th episode celebration special. #FindingBigfoot  Cliff Barackman (@CliffBarackman) May 24, 2018

Join us for Series Finale this Sun 5/27/18 8 pm for r 99th and 100th episodes!! They're great!! Thanks 4 supporting us all of these yrs! https://t.co/ddoiWDvGGf  James Bobo Fay (@squatcher) May 25, 2018

FILM

Word on the streets is @officialjaden @willsmith might be interested in producing my #UFO ENCOUNTER IN THE HOOD MOVIE... a true story ..we will see it would be a huge blockbuster indeed  pic.twitter.com/xAwDN3B9wP  THE LIGHTWERKERZ (@tymajestic) May 23, 2018

Delighted to announce that our next screening will in Cardiff on June 24th as part of the excellent @cardiffminifilm  https://t.co/hSMJQWYiDT  CanariesMovie (@CanariesMovie) May 26, 2018

Christopher Lee and Vincent Price, were born #onthisday in 1922 and 1911, respectively. As one of 'The Four Kings of Horror' Lee and Price (pictured top left and right) became known for their distinctive voices and compelling performances within the #Horror movie genre. pic.twitter.com/hM4NUEvNRg  Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) May 27, 2018



Lisaa is directed by Raju Viswanath and starring actress/model Anjali.

is directed by Raju Viswanath and starring actress/model Anjali.

The film will be shot in Tamil and Telugu, and dubbed in Hindi.



Viswanath says of the title: Only certain names sound Gothic and give that scary feel, and Lisaa is one such name.



On shooting in 3D: Viswanath says shooting in 3D helps the horror film stand out from the rest. We looked at a few options  converting to 3D in post, using the technique used in Ambuli and so on But finally, we decided to shoot it in 3D just like how they do abroad.



Paramount Gets Aggressive and Acquires Top Secret The Oberlin Incident https://t.co/YCd44FCzM8  Bloody Disgusting (@BDisgusting) May 23, 2018

Here are all of the horror films streaming on @netflix this June https://t.co/DvlciARAJJ  Bloody Disgusting (@BDisgusting) May 23, 2018

hjalmartazar

loglady

This week'spost explores what's new in film, tv and books!In his answer, Hari shares a story of his neighbors uncle who was allegedly possessed by an evil spirit, and Hari says, that it is up to the public to believe what is fact and what is fiction- Evil Spirit or Split personality. Both can be explained and both can be believed., a collection of essays from various authors in the horror industry, is released and discounted on Amazon.Book Riot shares where to find Stephen Kings short stories, both online and in print. There are four fromthat are available to anyone, and the rest of his earliercontributions are available for subscribers only. Here are two links to short stories that you can read right now: New episodes of Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet starting TONIGHT!!!But The popular documentary series will come to an end with the 100th episode of the show: Are Will and Jaden Smith going to develop  #UFO ENCOUNTER IN THE HOOD? The upcoming science fiction - comedy - horror film from Wales,, about an alien invasion at a New Years Eve party will enjoy its next screening at Cardiff Mini Film Festival.Iconic horror actors Christopher Lee and Vincent Price were born on this day in 1922 and 1911, respectively. Some of Lees most memorable roles include portraying Count Dracula in the Hammer Horror films and Saruman in thetrilogy. Pricesandare just some of his best.India is getting its first stereoscopic 3D horror film withThe first look atposter was revealed recently:, a horror spec script by Cory Goodman, was just acquired by Paramount in a six-figure deal. Not many details are known right now, except that the film will have a female lead.Bloody Disgusting shares six horror movies getting added to Netflix in June, includingand, both of which hit Netflix on June 1!
Kanye gave his friend an opportunity to run an organization on his own. So now that Kanye is being publicly shamed for not being involved makes no sense and, at this exact time, just seems very calculated.  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

Kanye and Donda started a charity called Loop Dreams. When Donda passed, they changed the name to Dondas House. Kanye paid Rhymefest a salary to run it.  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

After several years of lack of performance from the organization and Kanye going through personal financial issues, he could no longer fund salaries. Rhymefest asked to take it over and Kanye agreed with no financial strings attached.  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

I have and will always applaud any efforts to give back to the community. To fight for justice and to help uplift the youth. But I will never tolerate someone who was close to Kanye who attempts to use his late mothers name to publicly shame him while pretending to do good.  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

I will always ride for my man!  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

My English teacher of two years, Donnie Smith, quit her job as a teacher (which she had done for more than a decade) at one of the most prestigious schools in AMERICA to run and operate Dondas House as a FAVOR to Kanye! The fucking disrespect Kim and him are showing is wild af!  K (@YettaDaYettiii) May 27, 2018

So many young peoples lives have been touched, changed. And no one works harder for Donda than Donnie Smith, Rhymefests wife. One of the sweetest people Ive ever known. The Smiths are good people.  Exavier Pope (@exavierpope) May 27, 2018

In an effort to do some type of damage control after showing her ignorance and privilege, Kim Kardashian West tweets some more regarding the Donda's House situation.Last night, co-founder Rhymefest responded to Kim's threat to buy out the non-profit organization for her three toddlers to run by inviting the "businessowner" and her husband Kanye to visit Donda's House. He also encouraged them to contribute to underprivileged youth in Chicago if they really wanted to buy Donda's House.Today, Donda's House announced that it would. Kim has now responded by continuing her attempts to discredit the work of Rhymefest and Donda's House.As a subtle way of chiming in, unlike Chrissy Teigen's butting-in , actor and activist Jeffrey Wright tweeted in support of Rhymefest last night:In addition, locals from Chicago are chiming in in defence of not only Rhymefest but his wife Donnie Smith who also runs Donda's House.
A mega-strike by Brazilian truck drivers furious over high fuel costs eased Tuesday on the ninth day of transport chaos that has paralyzed Latin America's biggest economy and rattled the unpopular government. With roadblocks lifted by truckers and a major increase in the flow of fuel from refineries, buses and goods vehicles started to get back on the road. According to the federal highway police, there were just three blockades still in place in the country. Rio de Janeiro, where almost all gas stations have been shut for several days, saw limited fuel deliveries. A column of at least 150 food trucks, escorted by armed soldiers, also made it into the city, where many supermarkets have run out of fresh products. Public schools in Rio reopened after a day of being closed and buses were running at 70 percent capacity. In Sao Paulo, the big Ribeirao Preto oil terminal was back online after the truckers' blockade was lifted, while traffic returned to what had been unusually quiet avenues. "We are on the road to normalization. It's not going as quickly as we'd like, but we can see a return (to movement). There's much more than yesterday and tomorrow will certainly go much better than today," government chief of staff Eliseu Padilha told journalists. But some protesters remained determined to hold on, even though their initial demands for cheaper fuel were met on Sunday. The stubbornness of some truckers surprised the center-right government and even some union leaders, prompting allegations that the protests were being manipulated to try to bring down President Michel Temer. The result was that in much of the country transport struggled to get back to normal, continuing to hobble the vast agricultural industry and making commutes a nightmare for millions. Seven airports were still out of aviation fuel, the Infraero airports' administration said in its latest tally, down from double digits earlier. At a food wholesale market in Rio, merchant Betinho Rodrigues said the supply was still a long way from resolved. "The situation's still critical. There isn't that much merchandise and it's expensive. This will take time," Rodrigues told AFP while shopping for tomatoes. Shares in state-controlled oil major Petrobras shot up nearly 11 percent in Sao Paulo stock market trading, rebounding from a more than 14 percent drop Monday. However, the huge company faced a separately announced 72-hour strike by its own workers planned to start Wednesday. The meat industry alone has lost $170 million as a result of the disruption, the sector's trade group told the G1 news site. - Political shift - The crisis comes ahead of October presidential elections, with voters in an angry, anti-establishment mood. Temer, who is Brazil's most unpopular president in history, is not running for re-election and some activists said the truck strike could be used to spearhead his early departure. At a roadblock set up by truckers outside Rio de Janeiro, people held up numerous signs calling for a military coup, while others spoke of ousting Temer. "We've had enough of all this corruption. If more people come out into the streets, the government will fall, it's sure," said Tango Roxa, an electrical appliances salesman who joined the truckers to express his support. The president of the Brazilian Association of Truck Drivers, Jose da Fonseca Lopes, alluded to this hardening of opinions, saying that "it's no longer truckers who are on strike.... It's people who want to bring down the government. I've got nothing to do with these people." Padilha accused outsiders of hijacking the truckers' movement, saying "the nature of the demonstrations is going beyond the concerns and demands of the truckers and into the political sphere." A poll by Ideia BigData found that 95 percent of Brazilians disapproved of Temer's handling of the situation, even if 55 percent opposed the strike itself. Temer took power in controversial circumstances in 2016, following the impeachment and removal from office of his leftist predecessor Dilma Rousseff for breaking budget rules. The president's market-friendly, center-right government launched sweeping austerity reforms that have been widely praised by investors as a bid to return Brazil to fiscal health, but have proved hugely unpopular with ordinary Brazilians.
Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut reached the French Open second round Monday, just a week after his mother passed away. Ester Agut died last Monday but the world number 13 decided to come to Paris in honour of his mother. "It's been emotional for everything that has been happening to me this week," said the 30-year-old after beating Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. "It's not easy to handle all this in your head. "I thought it was best to come here, take a step forward, not hide and not stay at home. I wanted to continue fighting as I have always done."
Former Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo Ardot Parojinog (courtesy: OCPNP)

QUEZON CITY, Philippines  Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Director Roel Obusan will leave for Taiwan this week to process the immediate deportation of former Ozamis City councilor Ricardo Ardot Parojinog.

He will be accompanied by PNP-Drug Enforcement Group Director Albert Ferro.

According to PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, the two officers will deal directly with the Taiwan Police to expedite the process.

Authorities said it might take a month or two before Ardot is deported because he has to answer to Taiwan authorities for illegally entering the country.  UNTV News & Rescue

The post PNP to expedite deportation of Ardot Parojinog from Taiwan appeared first on UNTV News.
29 May  Despite previous comments from netizens saying that she is not "purely Filipino", Solenn Heussaff recently shared that she is unfazed by such negativity.

As reported on Push, the actress, who recently had an online spat with a netizen who made the aforementioned remark, said that there is a very small minority of Filipinos who said that about her.

"You can't please everyone," she said.

Heussaff added that she hopes Filipinos could be more accepting of everybody rather than bash people because of their differences.

"We need to move forward like all the other countries," she added.

Said Heussaff, despite being half French, she still considers herself a Filipino.

"You being pure as a Filipino 100% blood, it doesn't make you less of a Filipino if you're 50% Filipino. I think we promote the Philippines more than a lot of Filipinos in general," she said.

(Photo Source: Solenn Heussaff Instagram)
FILE PHOTO: Government Forces on guard at a coastal area in Zamboanga City (REUTERS/Erik Castro)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  Ninety-six (96) members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have returned to their respective hometowns Monday, May 28, after their release from detention of nearly five years for their participation in the 2013 Zamboanga siege.

From Edwin Andrews Airbase, 45 of them were sent to Basilan; 34 to Jolo, Sulu; 3 to Zamboanga-Sibugay and 17 stayed in Zamboanga City where they proceeded to the Regional Office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR.)

City administrator Marie Angelique Go said they have no details of the Courts decision yet about the conditions of their release.

We were not given copies of the legal requisites we were only informed to coordinate the passing through and as to the number we have the same report as mentioned earlier but as to the reason why perhaps when we get the documents we can inform the public, explained Go.

Their return prompted the local government and police authorities to heighten security level to ensure that the city remains protected.

That is a court order we just need to follow pero (but) nevertheless they will be monitored, said PSinsp. Shellamie Chang, ZCPO spokesperson.

The 96 MNLF members were among the 200 charged with rebellion and crimes against humanity in relation to the 2013 siege.

Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco has yet to comment on the matter.  Dante Amento | UNTV News & Rescue

The post Zamboanga City raises alert level as 96 MNLF members return appeared first on UNTV News.
River floods in China are transferred through trade networks to the US. Credit: PIK/Willner, Otto, Levermann

Fluvial floods will increase due to human-made climate change, particularly in China. This might cause direct and indirect economic losses along the global supply and trade chains. The U.S. is susceptible to indirect climate-related economic losses due to its negative trade balance with China. Trump's tariffs might further reduce the resilience of the U.S. economy.

Intensifying river floods could lead to regional production losses worldwide caused by global warming. This might hamper not only local economies around the globe, the effects might also propagate through the global network of trade and supply chains, according to a study now published in Nature Climate Change. It is the first to assess this effect for flooding on a global scale using a newly developed dynamic economic model. It finds that economic flood damages in China, which could, without further adaptation, increase by 80 percent within the next 20 years, might also affect E.U. and U.S. industries. The U.S. economy might be vulnerable due to its unbalanced trade relation with China. Contrary to U.S. President Trump's current tariff sanctions, the study suggests that building stronger and thus more balanced trade relations might be a useful strategy to mitigate economic losses caused by intensifying weather extremes.

"Climate change will increase flood risks already in the next two decadesand this is not only a problem for millions of people, but also for economies worldwide," says Anders Levermann, project leader from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany and Columbia University in New York. Without further adaptation measures, climate change will likely increase economic losses worldwide due to fluvial floods by more than 15 percent accumulating to a total of about 600 billion U.S. dollar within the next 20 years. While the bulk of this is independent of climate change, the rise is not. "Not only local industries will be affected by these climate impacts," says Sven Willner, lead author of the study from PIK. "Through supply shortages, changes in demand and associated price signals, economic losses might be down-streamed along the global trade and supply network affecting other economies on a global scalewe were surprised about the size of this rather worrying effect."

World Bank Economist: "Natural disasters are not local events anymore"

The World Bank's lead economist with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, Stephane Hallegatte, who pioneered research in the area of indirect disaster effects but was not involved in the present study, says, "This work combines two very innovative lines of work: global risk assessment for natural hazards and network theory to understand how localized shocks propagate in time and space. It contributes to scientific progress in multiple ways, but one of the most important policy messages for me is that the world is so interconnected that natural disasters are not local events anymoreeverybody can be affected by a disaster occurring far away. It means that risk management is more than each country's responsibility. It has become a global public good."

The study is based on projections of near-future river floods on a regional scale already determined by the greenhouse gas emissions that humans have so far emitted into our atmosphereimpacts after 2035 depend on future additional emissions. The authors investigate the overall economic network response to river flood-related shocks, taking into account the inner dynamics of international trade. They do so with the new economic computer simulation.

Without major adaptation, China could suffer biggest direct losses

Without major adaptation measures, China could suffer the biggest direct economic losses from river floodsadding up to a total of more than U.S. $380 billion in economic losses over the next 20 years, including natural flood events not related to global warming. This corresponds to about 5 percent of China's annual economic output. In China, $175 billion of the total losses will likely occur due to climate change. "This is a lot," says Willner, "and it is only the effect by river floods, not even taking into account other climate change impacts such as storms and heat waves."

The European Union and the United States, on the contrary, might be affected predominantly by indirect losses passed down along the global trade and supply network. In the U.S., direct losses might be around U.S. $30 billion, whereas indirect losses might be $170 billion in the next 20 years. "The EU will suffer less from indirect losses caused by climate-related flooding in China due to its even trade balance. They will suffer when flooded regions in China temporarily fail to deliver parts that European companies need for production, but on the other hand, Europe will profit from filling climate-induced production gaps in China by exporting goods to Asia. This makes the European economy currently more prepared for the future," says Willner. "In contrast, the U.S. imports much more from China than it exports to this country. This leaves the U.S. more susceptible to climate-related risks of economic losses passed down along the global supply and trade chain."

Global trade allows global bufferingIndia could be a winner

"More intense global trade can help to mitigate losses from local extreme events by facilitating market adjustments," explains co-author Christian Otto from the Potsdam Institute and Columbia University. "When a supplier is impacted by a disaster hampering its production, international trade increases the chance that other suppliers can jump in and temporarily replace it. Interestingly, the global increase of climate-induced river floods could even cause net gains for some economies such as India, South East Asia, or Australia."

The study's focus is not on damages to production facilities of businesses, but to what extent a regional economy stagnates due to flooding. "We adopted a rather optimistic view when it comes to the flexibility and promptness of shifting production towards non-affected suppliers after an extreme weather event," explains Christian Otto. "Hence our study rather underestimates than overestimates the production lossesthings could eventually turn out to be worse."

Trump's tariffs might impede climate-proofing the U.S. economy

"We find that the intensification of the mutual trade relations with China leaves the E.U. better prepared against production losses in Asia than the U.S. The prospect that the U.S. will be worse off can be traced back to the fact that it is importing more products from China than it is exporting," says PIK's Anders Levermann. "Interestingly, such an unbalanced trade relation might be an economic risk for the U.S. when it comes to climate-related economic losses. In the end, Trump's tariffs might impede climate-proofing the U.S. economy."

For resolving this risk and balancing out the negative trade relation, there are generally two options: either isolation or more trade. "By introducing a tariff plan against China, Trump currently goes for isolation," says Levermann. "But Trump's tariff sanctions are likely to leave U.S. economy even more vulnerable to climate change. As our study suggests, under climate change, the more reasonable strategy is a well-balanced economic connectivity, because it allows to compensate economic damages from unexpected weather eventsof which we expect more in the future."

Explore further Globalization made economic production more vulnerable to climate change

More information: Sven Norman Willner et al, Global economic response to river floods, Nature Climate Change (2018). Journal information: Nature Climate Change Sven Norman Willner et al, Global economic response to river floods,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0173-2
Credit: Aalto University

An Aalto University study has provided new evidence that time crystals can physically exist  a claim currently under hot debate.

A time crystal is a structure that does not repeat in space, like normal three-dimensional crystals such as snowflakes or diamonds, but in time. In practice this means that crystals constantly undergo spontaneous change, breaking the symmetry of time by achieving a self-sustaining oscillation.

The value is in the time crystal's coherency, a property that allows temporal and spatial consistency, amounting to longevity otherwise not possible.

"Nature has given us a system that wants to be coherent over time," says Senior Scientist Vladimir Eltsov, leader of the ROTA research group at Aalto University.

"The system spontaneously begins to evolve in time coherently, over long periods of time, even infinitely long," he says.

With more understanding, the coherent nature of a time crystal may pave the way for eventual real-world applications. Researchers are hunting for systems that preserve coherence over the long term to make, for example, quantum information processing devices, but they struggle with sources resistant to decay.

Until recently, there has been little experimental evidence of the phenomenon. Physicists around the world have been racing to determine if  and how  these unique structures can be observed.

Credit: Aalto University

"There has been a lot of theoretical papers, but very few practical realizations. So ours is one of the few, and the first to demonstrate quasi-crystals," says Eltsov explains.

By understanding the fundamentals of time crystals  as in, when and how they materialize  researchers may be one day able to harness these principles to develop coherency in other devices, regardless of environmental factors.

The finding, achieved by studying the BoseEinstein condensation of magnons in superfluid Helium-3, also has implications for other branches of physics.

"Helium-3 is related to practically all branches of physics: gravity, topology, particle physics, cosmology," says Professor Emeritus Grigori Volovik at Aalto University, a global pioneer in the study of connections between cosmology, high-energy physics and condensed matter.

In the future it may even be possible to look at time itself, including the possibility of constructing the boundary between time going forward and back, as theory suggests.

"It is an entire universe of study," Volovik says.

The scientists observed the time quasicrystal and its transition to a superfluid time crystal at the Low Temperature Laboratory at Aalto University in Finland, which has a long-standing history of research on superfluidity.

The results of the study, funded by the European Research Council, were published in Physical Review Letters on May 25, 2018.

Explore further Physicists find signs of a time crystal

More information: S. Autti et al. Observation of a Time Quasicrystal and Its Transition to a Superfluid Time Crystal, Physical Review Letters (2018). Journal information: Physical Review Letters S. Autti et al. Observation of a Time Quasicrystal and Its Transition to a Superfluid Time Crystal,(2018). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.215301
When aerospace engineers launch a satellite, they don't expect it to last forever. So when the NASA orbiter known as IMAGE disappeared from view after five years in orbit, few were alarmed.

What did stun the field came last January, when an amateur satellite watcher spotted IMAGE in the skies again after a dozen yearsand realized it was still trying to talk to earth.

"I've been in this field since the late 1980s, and it almost never happens that a lost spacecraft is found again, especially after so long," said Jeffrey J.E. Hayes, program executive for missions at NASA headquarters in Washington. "IMAGE is this zombie that came back to life."

Now space scientists across the United States are working on the long-lost spacecraft again, trying to help NASA keep steady contact and assert control. Among them is a team at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md.

It was Bill Dove, an engineer who manages the Hopkins lab's Satellite Communications Facility, and his colleague Tony Garcia, lead engineer in APL's Space Exploration Sector, who led the way in locking down communication with the $150 million craft, first launched in 2000. They've spent months downloading its signals and feeding them to NASA.

After they re-established communication between the spacecraft and earth, the signal was strong for three weeks in February before dropping out again. It returned more weakly in March, then came back strong early this month.

The APL team has been monitoring the proceedings throughout, and Dove, a 38-year veteran of the field, said he has never had a project quite like it.

"We've been presented with a rare and unique technical challenge," he said. "We continue to get (radio communication) from IMAGE, and we're helping NASA out as much as we can."

The story of IMAGE began toward the end of the last millennium, when scientists at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, and elsewhere set out to explore the relationship between solar windthe stream of charged particles that flow into space from the sun's upper atmosphereand the magnetosphere, the vast, dynamic sphere of magnetic gas that surrounds the earth and protects its inhabitants from the sun.

They wanted to learn more about how changes in the speed, density and temperature of solar wind affect atmospheric conditions on earthspecifically how they create and shape aurora borealis and aurora australis, the northern and southern lights.

To that end, NASA designed and built Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration, the first spacecraft ever dedicated to producing visible images of the magnetosphere.

The agency launched IMAGEa solar battery-powered, 1,087-pound hexagonal satellite with six specialized imagers, or cameras, on boardon March 25, 2000.

It orbited the earth around the north and south poles at an altitude of 650 kilometers, producing the first comprehensive images of the plasma in the earth's inner magnetosphere, or plasmasphere.

Though astrophysicists know that the magnetospehere responds to solar winds when those winds reach speeds of several hundred kilometers per hour, they're still trying to "understand the actual mechanism in fine detail," Hayes said.

IMAGE was doing unexpectedly well at providing answers. It transmitted images leading to 39 new discoveries, including some that confirmed theoretical predictions and others that identified new, unpredicted features.

NASA headquarters had just deemed it the second most valuable space-physics mission flying when it suddenly went dark and stopped responding to commands on Dec. 18, 2005.

Several theories emerged as to whythe most widely cited was a shorted-out power converterbut no clear answer emerged.

After months of trying to reestablish contact, NASA cancelled the mission and its funding.

"At some point, you have to cut your losses," said Hayes, whose current projects include overseeing the Voyager program and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Then this past winter, Scott Tilley, a hobbyist astronomer in Roberts Creek, British Columbia, near Vancouver, was searching for another satellite on Jan. 20 when he spotted an object roughly where IMAGE would have been if it were functionalone that was emitting a radio signal similar to the last one IMAGE had sent.

He notified NASA, where astonished officials, including Hayes, asked several of the agency's affiliated sky-watching stations to run more detailed tests.

The sites included Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore and White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M.

Goddard located the new signal on Friday, Jan. 26, but it was Hopkins APL that took the next crucial steps.

Dove and Garcia dialed the facility's 60-foot satellite dish toward the spacecraft's expected location. That weekend, Dove reconfigured the 56-year-old antenna so that it receive signals from IMAGE's equipment, much of which had become obsolete in the intervening years.

On Monday, Garcia went to work.

He adjusted the antenna's frame of vision in half-degree increments, then zeroed in on the moving object's radio frequency, which turned out to be exactly 44.44 kilobits per second.

"Tony worked what I call his 'magic,'" Dove said. "He basically used his 30-plus years of expertise to change the values, bit by bit, until he cracked the code."

They had achieved "telemetric lock." Data from the satellite began flowing in.

Hopkins APL doesn't have the facilities to interpret such data files, but the engineers sent them to NASA, which quickly used it to decode the object's spacecraft ID166.

Richard J. Burley, the original mission director for IMAGE, notified Tilley by email, and the space buff tweeted the news to the world.

"NASA confirms IMAGE is indeed alive!" he wrote.

Early information from the spacecraft has been "housekeeping" data that indicates its conditionwhich Hayes said is "surprisingly healthy."

At least three major scientific instruments have been disabled, Hayes said, and the inconstancy of its signalsIMAGE "disappeared" again once, and its signals have fluctuated wildlysuggest that it's now "tumbling" through space, which means its spin control is out of whack.

Engineers have so far failed to establish the two-way communication they would need to correct problems on the craft, let alone revive its original mission.

That kind of happy ending, Hayes said, would require engineers to exhibit such clear control of the craft that NASA's review board would reapprove its funding stream at a time when competition for funds among missions is more intense than ever.

In the meantime, Dove, Garcia and their counterparts at Goddard, White Sands and elsewhere are working on their own timeand using whatever hours they can secure on NASA's busy worldwide antenna networkto monitor IMAGE.

"We're all still waiting for that epiphany when we hit the right path at the right time, and not only lock on but establish control," Hayes said. "Is it a long shot? Yes, but I learned something important a long time ago: Spacecraft do very strange things."

Explore further NASA confirms re-discovered IMAGE satellite

2018 The Baltimore Sun

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: public domain

Fighting global warming is starting to sound like a lucrative investment. A new study from Stanford University finds that keeping global warming a half-degree beneath the Paris climate agreement's 2-degree Celsius target could potentially save more than $20 trillion globally.

The findings, described in the journal Nature, go beyond the environmental and health benefits to highlight the economic rewards for reducing global warming.

Since the Industrial Age, Earth's temperature has risen at an alarming rate, thanks largely to the greenhouse gases produced by human activity. Scientists already have documented how global warming and other aspects of climate change are allowing for the spread of disease, impacting sleep, affecting agriculture, killing corals and playing a role in extreme weather events.

The 2015 Paris climate agreement set out to place limits on the amount of warming over this century2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels by the year 2100. It also set a more ambitious target of reducing that increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius in that same time period. Countries were free to implement their own programs to reach that target, but previous research has shown that those collective commitments would be able to limit the rise only to 3 degrees Celsius by century's end. (President Donald Trump announced his decision to pull out of the accord last year.)

These efforts will require a lot of money, lead author Marshall Burke of Stanford University said in a briefing. And while such efforts would theoretically reap environmental rewards, he and his colleagues wanted to pin down what the global return on investment could really be.

To find out, researchers used historical data to calculate how much a change in temperature affected gross domestic product, or GDP, the total value of goods and services a country produces in a year. They then used that information to estimate how a continuing rise in temperature would affect those countries in the future.

The scientists found that if temperatures stayed within the more ambitious 1.5 degree Celsius target rather than the 2 degree mark, there's a good chance that these reductions would save the world roughly 3 percent of global GDP, or around $30 trillion dollars, Burke said. If the global temperatures are kept only within the 3 degree Celsius target, scientists say, it likely would cost an extra 5 percent to 10 percent of global GDP.

"That's tens of trillions of dollars," Burke said. "So these are very large numbers."

The scientists also found a high likelihood that 71 percent of countries, representing 90 percent of the global population, would face less economic harm if the temperature increase were kept to 1.5 degrees. Poorer countries benefited the most, they added.

"The low-latitude countries, which are already warm and already poor, in many cases, are highly likely to benefit from lower levels of warming because of the fact that they're highly likely to incur damages for higher levels of warming," said study co-author Noah Diffenbaugh of Stanford University.

Keep in mind, previous work estimates the cost of implementing these initiatives to be somewhere around half a trillion dollars over 30 years, Burke saida tiny fraction of the amount of money that those efforts would save.

"Based on the published estimates, our evidence would suggest that the benefits of meeting the more stringent targets vastly outweigh the costs," Burke said.

In general, those countries that were already warm were more likely to benefit from a reduction in temperature; cold countries, such as Iceland, on the other hand, benefited from a little warming.

Scientists who were not involved in the paper praised the work while pointing out a number of its limitations.

For example, it's difficult to accurately predict how future technological growth could shave off some of that temperature increase, said Maximilian Auffhammer of the University of California, Berkeley and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

"Future adaptation will probably involve innovative technologies with lower costs than those that are currently used," he wrote in a commentary. "Such technologies might include, for example, air conditioners powered by carbon-free electricity that are more energy efficient than present-day devices. Adaptation could therefore result in lower economic damages than are predicted."

Wolfram Schlenker of Columbia University pointed out that GDP is a good measure if you assume that the prices of goods and services "fully reflect the costs of their production and useand, as in the case of fossil fuel prices, that isn't always the case, he wrote in a commentary.

On the other hand, by limiting their analysis to economics, the researchers might actually be lowballing the amount of benefit from reducing global warming.

"These estimates would be even bigger if the non-market benefits of reduced fossil-fuel usefor example, for human health and ecosystemswere considered," Schlenker wrote.

More information: Marshall Burke et al. Large potential reduction in economic damages under UN mitigation targets, Nature (2018). Journal information: Nature Marshall Burke et al. Large potential reduction in economic damages under UN mitigation targets,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0071-9

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Microsatellites such as those developed by ICEYE not only reduce the size of the satellite but also cut costs significantly. Credit: ICEYE

Tiny, low-cost satellites that can work together to boost their output and a technology that reduces the loss of satellite data are two of the latest innovations to hit the Earth observation market  and the results promise to reveal a more detailed image of our planet.

Space is not just a hostile place for life, but also for business. Building and launching a traditional bus-sized satellite tens of thousands of kilometres above Earth can cost hundreds of millions of euros, but thanks to miniature satellites, the economics are changing.

Among the start-ups seeking new ways to tap into space's potential is microsatellite manufacturer ICEYE. It aims to cut satellite prices to less than one-hundredth of traditional satellites, using a series of microsatellites partly built with off-the-shelf mobile electronics.

In January, the company sent what it described as the world's first microsatellite based on synthetic-aperture radartechnology that allows satellites to see through clouds and into the darkinto a low-Earth orbit of about 500 kilometres.

Suitcase-sized and weighing just 70 kilograms, ICEYE-X1 is the first of three satellites that the company plans to launch this year, with a goal of having 18 in the sky by the end of 2020.

ICEYE says that gloomy conditions can make imagery using optical-based systems unavailable up to 75 % of the time, a problem their technology avoids.

'That means you can image in any place in the world at any time,' said Pekka Laurila, CFO and co-founder of ICEYE.

At present, requests from companies for data can take satellite providers days to process, and are often updated only once every 12 hours. ICEYE believes it can get this down to two hours once it gets six microsatellites into the sky, and even further with more launches.

'If you're able to do monitoring on a scale of a few hours, you are actually catching a set of completely new phenomena that has never been monitored from space before,' said Laurila. 'It gives you access to understanding these phenomena on a human timescale.'

Ice surveillance

There are all sorts of areas in which this could be applied, from agricultural production to tracking climate change, but one of ICEYE's key initial focuses has been ice surveillance for companies involved in Arctic operations  where vessels moving at several knots need rapid updates on ice-field movements.

'That's an area where continuous coverage is extremely important,' said Laurila.

This revolutionary approach has arrived at a time when unprecedented amounts of data are being generated by satellites.

The surge in data is driven by a range of factors, including more detailed Earth observation services. One way to process this increasing flow of information is to find better ways of getting satellite data back down to ground.

At the moment, a lot of satellite data gets lost in transit to and from Earth, or 'thrown overboard', according to John Mackey, CEO of mBryonics, a technology development company based in Galway, Ireland.

He coordinates a project called RAVEN, which is working to improve signal transmission. To do so, mBryonics is harnessing a technology called adaptive optics, which is used in telescopes to give astronomers clear images of stars by reducing the twinkle when viewing them through the distortion of Earth's atmosphere.

Adapting this technique to beam data up and down from satellites helps create a much stronger signal and a higher data rate by lessening such atmospheric interference, said Mackey.

Moving this data faster could also help with a challenge facing future low-orbit satellites  seeing less of the Earth than those satellites higher up. Low-orbit satellites have a more limited line of sight to ground stations and therefore a smaller window to beam data down when they pass by  maybe just 10 to 15 minutes, said Mackey. Speeding up the data rate means they can transfer more during this period.

Additionally, mBryonics is seeking to use its technology to create links between satellites, which could help create constellations to intelligently route data in the most efficient way possible. 'Then, if I send my data up to the satellite, it can fire it across the satellite constellation and get me to my destination much faster,' said Mackey.

And not only can that cut the number of ground stations needed, but it could also help move the data faster and thus avoid big delays in providing costly satellite-related services. mBryonics is aiming to demo a full commercial system of its satellite technology within the next two years.

Explore further Bigger pipes in space for handling the data explosion
Along the border between Ukraine and Romania, Bill Keeton (center) trains Ukrainian forest rangers in forest measurement techniques during an expedition he led to a remote primeval forest in the Carpathian Mountains. Credit: Bill Keeton

Though you might read about deep, dark woods in fairy tales, the prevailing story today is that very little European old-growth forest remains. But now a new studyand mapshows that a surprising number of these primary forests still stand.

"What we've shown in this study is that, even though the total area of forest is not large in Europe, there are considerably more of these virgin or primary forests left than previously thoughtand they are widely distributed throughout many parts of Europe," says Bill Keeton, a forest ecologist at the University of Vermont. "And where they occur, they provide exceptionally unique ecological values and habitat for biodiversity."

Keeton was part of a teamled by researchers from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germanywho created the first map of Europe's last wild forests. The map identifies more than 3.4 million acres in 34 European countriesand was published in the journal Diversity & Distributions on May 24, 2018.

Precious patches

"It is not that these forests were never touched by man. This would be hard to believe in Europe," explains Humboldt University scientist Francesco Maria Sabatini, lead author of the study. "Still, these are forests where there are no clearly visible indications of human activities. Maybe that's because they were blurred by decades of non-intervention, where ecological processes follow a natural dynamic."

The compilation of the map was a huge task. "We contacted hundreds of forest scientists, experts, and NGO activists from all over Europe asking to share information on where to find such forests in their country," says Sabatini, a post-doctoral researcher at Humboldt. "Without their direct engagement, we could have never been able to build our database, which is the most comprehensive ever compiled for Europe."

The study highlights that primary forests in Europe are generally very rare, located in remote areas, and fragmented into small patches. "The European landscape is the result of millennia of human activities, so it is not surprising that only a small fraction of our forests are still substantially undisturbed," explains Tobias Kuemmerle, director of the Conservation Biogeography Lab at Humbolt University and the senior author on the study. "Although such forests only correspond to a tiny fraction of the total forest area in Europe," he says, "they are absolutely outstanding in terms of their ecological and conservation value."

Primary forests are often the only remaining harbor for many endangered species, Kuemmerle says, and scientists consider them as natural laboratories for understanding people's impact on forest ecosystems. "Knowing where these rare forests are is therefore extremely important," he says, "but, until this study, no unified map existed for Europe."

Cutting continues

"Europe has really been at the forefront of establishing continent-wide protected areas networks," says UVM's Bill Keeton, who has studied forests in Europe for more than a decade and chairs a working group on old-growth forests for the International Union of Forest Research Organizations. But the new study also shows that the preservation of these remaining fragments of primary forest cannot be taken for granted, not even in Europe. The majority of these forests are small and interspersed in human-dominated landscapes, which makes them particularly prone to human disturbance.

The new study reports that most89 percentof the primary forest mapped is in protected areas, but only 46 percent of this land is under strict protection. This means that, at least in some European countries, timber harvesting or salvage logging may jeopardize the wild nature of these forests.

"Wide patches of primary forest are being currently logged in many mountain areas, for instance in Romania and Slovakia and in some Balkan countries," says Miroslav Svoboda, a scientist at the University of Life Science in Prague and a co-author of the study. "A soaring demand for bioenergy coupled with high rates of illegal logging, are leading to the destruction of this irreplaceable natural heritage, often without even understanding that the forest being cut is primary."

It's an irony, Svoboda says, that in many cases logging is done legally, even within national parks. "Primary forests have an exceptional value, both environmental and cultural," he says, "and preserving their integrity should be a priority of any EU environmental strategies."

Map to protect and restore

The scientists are confident the new map can help protect Europe's remaining old-growth forests. "We clearly demonstrated that the distribution of remaining primary forest is the result of centuries of land use and forest management," said Sabatini. In his view, understanding the human-caused pressures behind the current distribution of primary forests can inform future protection and restoration efforts.

"We used the new map to calibrate a model highlighting areas where land-use pressure is low," says Sabatini, "to predict where other patches of primary forest, not yet mapped, are likely to occur." Even if these areas turn out to not hold primary forest, he says, they still may be good places for forest restoration initiatives at relatively low cost.

In other words, the new research may point toward "hundreds of additional sites that are worthy of consideration for possible protection," say Bill Keeton, a professor of forestry and forest ecology in UVM's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and a fellow in UVM's Gund Institute for Environment. "We may find areas that are good to include in an expanded World Heritage Network or given other conservation status."

Explore further For tropical forest birds, old neighborhoods matter

More information: Francesco Maria Sabatini et al. Where are Europe's last primary forests?, Diversity and Distributions (2018). Journal information: Diversity and Distributions Francesco Maria Sabatini et al. Where are Europe's last primary forests?,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12778
An electronic circulator keeps information moving in a certain direction, much like a roundabout. (But in a circulator, traffic must always take the next exit after they enter.)

In the popular movie franchise "Back to the Future", an eccentric scientist creates a time machine that runs on a flux capacitor.

Now a group of actual physicists from Australia and Switzerland have proposed a device which uses the quantum tunneling of magnetic flux around a capacitor, breaking time-reversal symmetry.

The research, published this week in Physical Review Letters, proposes a new generation of electronic circulators, which are devices that control the direction in which microwave signals move.

It represents a collaboration between two Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence: the Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) and the Centre for Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET).

FLEET Associate Investigator Professor Jared Cole (working at RMIT University) said the proposed device is built from a superconductor, in which electricity can flow without electrical resistance.

Professor Cole added, "We propose two different possible circuits, one of which resembles the iconic three-pointed-star design of the cinematic flux capacitor. (See images.)

"In it, quantum 'tubes' of magnetic flux can move around a central capacitor by a process known as quantum tunneling, where they overcome classically insurmountable obstacles."

Schematic representation of the proposed circulator. Credit: FLEET

The combination of magnetic fields and electric charges leads to what the physicists call broken time-reversal symmetry.

"Unfortunately this effect does not allow us to actually travel back in time," Professor Tom Stace (University of Queensland) said.

"Instead, it means that signals circulate around the circuit in only one direction, much like cars on a roundabout," he said.

Such a device can be used for example to isolate parts of an experimental apparatus from each other, which is crucial when the individual parts are extremely sensitive quantum systems.

Lead author Dr Clemens Mueller (ETH Zurich) said this device is a crucial component for next-generation technologies, including the long sought-after quantum computer.

Dr Mueller said, "Our research makes an important step towards scaling up this technology, where researchers need to precisely direct control and measurement signals around a quantum computer."

The operation of the microwave circulator resembles the flux capacitor from Back to the Future. Credit: FLEET

In the nearer term, the research could find application in the development of better electronics for mobile phone and wifi antennas and improving radar.

The paper, "A passive on-chip, superconducting circulator using a ring of tunnel junctions," was published in Physical Review Letters on 23 May 2018.

The two participating ARC Centres of Excellence form part of Australia's significant strength in quantum research.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) researchers are building quantum machines that harness the full spectrum of quantum physics.

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET) is developing a new generation of ultra low-energy electronics to address the increasing challenge of energy use in computation.

Explore further New quantum device set to support measurement standards of the electrical current

More information: Clemens Muller et al. Passive On-Chip Superconducting Circulator Using a Ring of Tunnel Junctions, Physical Review Letters (2018). Journal information: Physical Review Letters Clemens Muller et al. Passive On-Chip Superconducting Circulator Using a Ring of Tunnel Junctions,(2018). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.213602

Provided by FLEET
Credit: University of Dundee

Police Scotland has changed the way it carries out stop and search following a series of recommendations made by researchers at the University of Dundee and Edinburgh Napier University.

Dr. Megan O'Neill, from Dundee, and Edinburgh Napier's Dr. Liz Aston had previously evaluated a new approach to stop and search piloted by the Fife Division of Police Scotland.

Their report, published by the Dundee-based Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR), highlighted elements of the pilot that can be regarded as good practice while also making 19 recommendations for improvement. Police Scotland has today published their response to this and other reports, highlighting the ways in which policy has been changed.

One of the key proposals was a cessation of consensual search and a presumption of the use of statutory search powers. The authors suggested these should be targeted in order to end misunderstanding about the purpose of consensual searches and the public's right to refuse them.

Police Scotland have accepted all the recommendations within the report and these were implemented into policy and practice alongside further recommendations made by other internal and external stakeholders. Police Scotland's Code of Practice for Stop and Search was introduced in May 2017 through the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. Consensual searches are now no longer lawful in Scotland.

"We are absolutely delighted to see Police Scotland respond to our report in this way," said Dr. O'Neill. "When we looked at the pilot it was clear there was a real desire amongst individual officers, Fife Division and Police Scotland in general to make stop and search more effective in serving public safety.

"Many of the elements of the pilot can be regarded as good practice, but we also noted several areas for improvement, particularly around consensual search. Those searched continued to complain about 'random' searches during the trial, suggesting that even with the pilot's methods of making the option to refuse a consensual search explicit and the advice slips provided by officers, confusion remained.

"We therefore recommended that Police Scotland used legislative searches only. Only these can truly be targeted at 'the right people, right place and right time' thereby enhancing accountability and public confidence, two key aims of the pilot."

The Fife Pilot evaluation ran from November 2014 to February 2015. It aimed to improve levels of approval amongst the public by better informing them of the process, the reasons why searches are being carried out, and the rights of the individual. Researchers analysed police data on their use of stop and search in two areas of Fife, and compared that to data from another division of Police Scotland. They also conducted 11 observations of stop and search and interviewed 42 police officers and 13 members of the public.

Elements introduced as part of the pilot included sending letters to the parents of children who have been stopped to make them aware of the event, providing enhanced information leaflets to every person stopped, and increasing opportunities for the public to provide feedback after a search.

The systematic recording of all stop searches, compliance recording checks, engagement with external stakeholders, provision of advice slips and aide memoires, and enhanced staff training were held up as successes in the report, which also found:

More stop and search, even with good practice identified in the pilot, will not stop crime or anti-social behaviour on its own.

While police respondents perceived stop and search to be effective in terms of crime prevention the current evidence base does not support this.

Stop and search should be used as a last resort in contact with the public, especially with young people and vulnerable groups.

The stop and search database should flag up whether the same individuals are being stopped and searched on multiple occasions and alternative interventions used in these instances.

Local knowledge is essential for the success of stop and search.

Increased and improved face-to-face training on stop and search should be provided for officers.

Dr. Aston said, "Stop and search is a contentious area of police practice, where human rights must be balanced with safety concerns, yet until doctoral research by Dr. Kath Murray in 2014 the practice had received very little attention in Scotland.

"We are delighted that all of our recommendations from the Fife Pilot have been actioned by Police Scotland and our research has resulted in significant changes to the policy and practice of stop and search. We look forward to developing this work further through a European network on Police Stops."

The SIPR evaluation report has supported Police Scotland in the delivery of improvements in the use of stop and search including enhancements to the stop and search database, improved recording practices and the public reporting of management information, alongside both face to face and online training of officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Higgins of Police Scotland added, "Police Scotland understand the value of external scrutiny and review. Our work with academia and addressing all the SIPR recommendations is evidence of the willingness of our organisation to learn and implement significant changes to both policy and practice based on that learning.

"We recognise that stopping and searching people is a significant intrusion into their personal liberty and privacy and, as such, all stop and search activity must be appropriate in line with the Code of Practice for Stop and Search. We have made real progress improving the use of stop and search and it is important we continue to build on that good work with internal and external review providing proportionate governance and assurance."

Explore further Research reveals why police stop-and-search young people
Dinizia jueirana-facao. A part of a compound inflorescence; B part of crown of type specimen; C trunk of type specimen; D dehisced fruits. Photos: a, c Domingos A. Folli, b , d G. P. Lewis. Credit: Lewis, G.P., Siqueira, G.S., Banks, H. et al. Kew Bull (2017) 72: 48. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-017-9720-7

The highest branches of a Brazilian forest. The permanent darkness of a cave in China. The deepest place on Earth.

Life has carved niches for itself in the most extreme and stunning habitats. As a result, it has taken on surprisingand just plain weirdphysical attributes and behaviors.

In celebration of this biodiversity, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry has compiled a list of the Top 10 new species that were described by science in the previous year.

"I'm constantly amazed at how many new species show up and the range of things that are discovered," Quentin Wheeler, the college's president and founding director of the International Institute for Species Exploration, said in a statement.

This year's list includes a rare great ape, a hitchhiking beetle, an extinct omnivorous marsupial lion and many species that are critically endangered. As humans alter habitats and contribute to global climate change, species are going extinct at a faster rate than we can name them.

"If we don't find them, (these species) will be lost forever," Wheeler said. "And yet they can teach us so much about the intricacies of ecosystems and the details of evolutionary history. Each of them has found a way to survive against the odds of changing competition, climate and environmental conditions."

Here are the creatures that made the 2018 Top 10 list:

A MYSTERIOUS SINGLE-CELLED ORGANISM

Ancoracysta twista

Location: Unknown

This microscopic marvel is unlike anything scientists have ever seen.

Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego discovered the protist living on a brain coral in a tropical aquarium. The organism propels itself with a whip-like tail, called a flagella, and uses unusual harpoon-like structures to stun and consume other protists. Because scientists found the species in captivity, they can't be sure of its geographic origins in the wild.

The cell's genetic origins also puzzled its discoverers. A. twista does not fit with any known group of organisms. Instead, it appears to belong to an early lineage of eukaryote that was previously unknown.

BRAZIL'S LONELY GIANTS

Dinizia jueirana-facao

Location: Brazil

These massive trees stand up to 130 feet above the canopy of Brazil's Atlantic Forest, producing woody fruits that grow over a foot long. A member of the legume family, this 62-ton giant is found only in and just outside the Reserva Natural Vale in Espirito Santo, Brazil. With just 25 known trees, the species is considered critically endangered.

The tree's sister species, D. excelsa, was discovered almost 100 years ago. In September, scientists described the smaller D. jueirana-facao as a distinct species.

The Atlantic Forestwhich is home to more than half of the country's threatened animal speciesmay be endangered itself. The region once covered 330 million acres, but humans have since cleared 85 percent of the now-fragmented forest.

A HUNCHBACKED SHRIMP

Epimeria quasimodo

Location: Southern Ocean

Last year, scientists discovered 26 new species of tiny crustaceans in the Southern Ocean off Antarctica. These amphipods are famous for their bright colors, spines and variety; some live as free-swimming predators and others stay put and feed by filtration. But one species stood out for its humped back, which reminded scientists of Quasimodo of Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame." E. quasimodo is about 2 inches long.

A HITCHHIKING BEETLE

Nymphister kronaueri

Location: Costa Rica

Plenty of creatures use mimicry and camouflage to great effect, but this tiny beetle takes it to another level.

Nymphister kronaueri evolved a set of traits that allow it to live among a particular species of army ant in Costa Rica. Army ants are nomadic, spending a few weeks in one place before migrating for about three weeks to new territory. When the ants move, so must the beetles. That's when their mimicry comes into play.

The beetle, only 1.5 millimeters long, is shaped, sized and colored just like the abdomen of a worker ant. N. kronaueri uses its tiny mandibles to clamp down on its host's abdomen as the ants embark on their journey. This makes it look like the ant has two abdomens. These myrmecophiles, or ant-lovers, likely use similar chemical signals as the host ants to avoid detection.

A NEW SPECIES OF GREAT APE

Pongo tapanuliensis

Location: Sumatra, Indonesia

The great ape family welcomed an eighth member in 2017: Tapanuli orangutans.

In 2013, researchers compared the skull of an adult male Sumatran orangutan killed by humans to 34 others. Last year, they announced that they had found enough subtle differences to convince themselves that this individual belonged to a distinct species. Tapanulis, named for the region of the island in which they're found, live in the southern range limit of Sumatran orangutans. An estimated 800 individuals exist in a small, fragmented habitat.

About 674,000 years ago, orangutans on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo split into separate species. However, the Sumatran species diverged about 3.38 million years ago. In addition to three species of orangutan, the other living species of great ape are western and eastern gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and, of course, humans.

THE DEEPEST FISH IN THE SEA

Pseudoliparis swirei

Location: Western Pacific Ocean

Plenty of surprises still lurk in the deep ocean.

Researchers exploring the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth, found large numbers of weird, tadpole-like fish swarming their mackerel-baited traps. This translucent snailfish was recorded 5 miles below the surface of the ocean, making it the deepest-dwelling fish in the world. Scientists believe the 5-mile mark represents a physiological limit below which most fish can't survive.

Despite measuring just 4 inches in length, the Mariana snailfish is the top predator in its ocean-floor habitat, the researchers observed.

A FUNGAL-FEEDING FLOWER

Sciaphila sugimotoi

Location: Ishigaki Island, Japan

Among Japan's well-documented flora, one unusual flower eluded science until now.

In September and October, Sciaphila sugimotoi produces delicate magenta blossoms in only two locations in Ishigaki's humid forest. The plant lives symbiotically with a fungus, which provides it with the energy it needs to survive. That's in contrast to most other plants, which derive energy from the sun using photosynthesis.

About 50 plants make up the critically endangered species, researchers suggest.

A BACTERIAL ERUPTION

Thiolava veneris

Location: Canary Islands

In 2011, the underwater volcano Tagoro erupted and wiped out much of the ecosystem off the coast of El Hierro in the Canary Islands. Three years later, a strange new bacteria was the first organism to re-colonize the area.

Dubbed "Venus's hair" for its long, hair-like structures, the proteobacteria grew to almost half an acre in size and covered Tagoro's summit with a massive white mat. The colony, scientists suggest, represents the start of a new ecosystem 430 feet below the surface of the ocean.

A MARSUPIAL LION

Wakaleo schouteni

Location: Australia

About 23 million years ago, a lion the size of a Siberian husky roamed the Australian forest. This marsupial ate both meat and plants, and spent part of its days up in the trees.

Fossilized remains of the creature were unearthed in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Queensland. W. schouteni was one of two marsupial lions that existed toward the end of the late Oligocene Epoch 25 million years ago. In the subsequent Miocene, species of the genus Wakaleo, or little lions, grew larger in an evolutionary chain reaction: Prey animals got bigger as plant life changed in response to a drying and cooling continent.

A CAVE-DWELLING BEETLE

Xuedytes bellus

Location: China

Du'an Karst, a system of limestone caves in China's Guangxi province, is a veritable kingdom of cave-dwelling ground beetles.

To date, more than 130 species have been discovered in the region, the latest being Xuedytes bellus. Researchers marvel at how "extremely cave-adapted" the beetle appears, with its dramatically long head and neck and slender body.

Beetles that evolve in the darkness of caves often take on a similar set of characteristics, including narrow bodies, spider-like appendages and loss of wings, eyes and color.

Explore further ESF lists top 10 new species for 2018

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SpaceX on Tuesday blasted six small commercial satellites to low-Earth orbit. It was the company's 10th launch this yearbut the payload itself may be a sign of what's to come.

Like many companies, Iridium Communications Inc. has been developing a constellation of satellites. Those smaller satellites are set to gradually replace the giants that traditionally handled broadcast and other communications from 22,000 miles above the Earth.

In a reflection of that shift, SpaceX itself expects to launch fewer satellites next yeararound 20, down from as many as 28 this yearbecause orders for commercial geostationary satellite launches have fallen off.

"The market has decreased a little bit," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in an interview on CNBC. Worldwide orders for the school bus-sized spacecraft that operate in a fixed place relative to the ground typically numbered 20 to 25 a year until 2015, when they dropped to 17.

The change rippled out to companies such as Alliance Spacesystems of Los Alamitos, which makes composite and lightweight structures for satellite components such as solar arrays and antenna reflectors. Its sales fell 60 percent from $30 million in 2015 to $12 million in 2016. The company laid off "a good portion" of its workforce, including 54 of its 85 technicians, said Rick Byrens, Alliance's senior vice president and general manager.

"We never saw a downturn like we saw in 2016," he said.

Satellite suppliers have been hit with a double whammy. Thanks to technological advancements, new geostationary satellites are more capable than ever, so fewer are needed. At the same time, new types of satellites are being built that reflect changed video viewing habits.

SpaceX is among the companies developing networks of hundreds or even thousands of tiny, cheaper satellites to beam low-cost Internet access to customers.

"So many of the services that are being done by the big, geostationary satellites may well be done by some of these new, big constellations," said Marco Caceres, senior space analyst at market analysis firm Teal Group.

While satellite industry experts say that order numbers can be cyclical, the most recent shift sent suppliers scrambling across California.

In 2015, L3 Electron Devices' Torrance facility was almost entirely focused on space products. It says it is the only U.S. manufacturer of a type of vacuum-tube technology that amplifies radio signals through space. When the slowdown hit, management decided to combine the Torrance facility with work done at another plant in Northern California that was producing the same type of technology for aircraft, such as General Atomics' Predator drone, according to an L3 official.

Today, space systems account for only about 40 percent of L3 Electron Devices' business.

Two weeks ago, Westminster, Colo., firm Maxar Technologies Ltd. told analysts during a quarterly earnings call that company revenue declined 5 percent on a pro-forma basis from the same period last year, partially from lower contract award amounts and "continued weakness" in the geostationary commercial satellite market.

Maxar owns Palo Alto-based satellite and spacecraft manufacturer SSL, as well as Earth-imagery provider DigitalGlobe.

Chief Executive Howard Lance told analysts he hoped Maxar would start to see "the bottoming" of the impact of the geostationary business, though he noted that the company believes there will be a "sustained lower level" of satellite orders.

The lower order forecast shook up Santa Barbara supplier Deployable Space Systems, which had been counting on SSL's business for its advanced solar arrays.

The company was worried for about a year, said Brian Spence, president of Deployable Space Systems. But it was able to capture solar array orders for interplanetary and low-Earth orbit spacecraft.

Commercial geostationary satellite operators also have started to hedge their bets by entering the market for smaller, largely broadband satellites.

Canadian operator Telesat announced plans to launch a low-Earth orbit constellation. Japanese operator SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. has invested in Washington, D.C.-based LeoSat Enterprises, which plans to launch up to 108 satellites to provide broadband access for businesses.

Even Alliance sees opportunity in these new constellations. Its parent company, Albuquerque-based SolAero Technologies Corp., will produce solar panels for OneWeb's small-satellite constellation, and Alliance will make the support structures for the satellites' solar arrays.

"It's obviously a huge program for our corporation," Byrens said. "You go from a GEO (geostationary satellite), which is one satellite, to now 700 satellites."

Indeed, Alliance has bounced back this year as its main customer, Boeing Co., recently won several commercial geostationary satellite orders after it made inroads in the high-capacity satellite market. Alliance was able to call back many laid-off workers, and its technician force is now back to 102. Alliance has forecast sales of $38 million this year.

But not all suppliers will be able to cash in on the proposed constellations.

"If you're talking about making 1,000 satellites at an affordable price point, it's just going to be a different supply base," said Jim Adams, principal in the aerospace and defense practice at KPMG. "It's just different technologies."

Satellite industry experts say large, commercial geostationary satellites likely will never completely disappear, and more complex satellites could mean fewer numbers of orders generating more dollars. That makes landing each remaining order all the more critical.

Government satellites, which traditionally have been large, geostationary spacecraft, are another lucrative source of revenue.

However, the government communications satellites are transitioning to a new generation as well, said Bill Ostrove, aerospace and defense analyst at Forecast International. And a new program from the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, is urging contractors to focus on small-satellite launchersindicating that the Defense Department also is looking into the possibility of using small satellites.

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Leiden University

Flying is cheaper than driving a car, but a disaster for the environment. Yet few politicians dare to levy excise duty on kerosene. This is only one example from a world where emotions and yelling are burying facts, and in which scientists lose connection with society.

On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) will elaborate on this theme with a symposium. Organiser Rene Kleijn asks himself how scientists can convince people to tmke sustainable decisions. Because why is that healthy and nice living environment still so far away, while everyone seems to want it?

"Policymakers choose not to excise levy duty on kerosine, but on fuel for cars. That seems like a financially positive decision for society, but on the long term, the associated environmental problems will result in much higher costs," industrial ecologist Kleijn explains. Because sustainable solutions sometimes directly cost money , they are not always popular. That's why some politicians oppose to them, to attract voters. "Although populists seem to want the best for the people, sustainability is not or barely on their politic agenda," Kleijn states. "While their voters also want the best for themselves and their children. How can we convince them that it would do them well to make other decisions?"

Mug or plastic cup?

"We do research on environmental problems and propose solutions. We know sustainable solutions sometimes cost money. For example, the energy transition from fossil energy to sun and wind energy. But at the same time the fossil industry receives a lot of subsidy ", Kleijn continues. That's why it is is so important that scientists and politicians consider all aspects and options when they want to tackle environmental problems, he argues.

Environmental researchers at the CML and other institutions develop methods to assess the environmental impact of products, like the life cycle analysis. "But these analyses never result in simple answers," Kleijn explains. "All too often the answeris: it depends." For example, when you want to know whether using a porcelain mug or a plastic cup is more sustainable. When you use your plastic cup very carefully and hardly ever wash it with warm water, this is a better option than a mug. Because a plastic cup costs relatively little material and energy to produce or to keep clean. In many cases, your behaviour determines the best option."

Scientists as partypoopers

Companies often make unjustified claims of sustainability, also known as greenwashing or window dressing. But, Kleijn says: 'with everything that you claim to be sustainable, an independent control should be done to check if your claim is based on facts and thus science. During the control the whole system is studied, like with the plastic cup, and we do not only look at the front end of the problem as is often the case with plastic waste. Because of this we sometimes must disappoint people who want to do good for the world. In these cases, the scientists are the party-poopers."

Kleijn notes that people are now being influenced in different ways than before. He speaks of a post-truth society in which facts are becoming less important. "My own father is not highly educated and always watches the evening news on television. That is where he gets his information from. This presents facts from science in a relatively objective way. But nowadays most people get their information from social media, where the truth is a lot less important, to put it mildly. Sometimes scientists are depicted as the elite, who defend their own interests. This leads to distrust of science. While scientists just want to discover the truth. To convince people, we have to show them what science can do for them."

Researchers should not have a political agenda. Yet, environmental scientists often study questions from society, among which from politicians. "The CML was born from a group of activists. In the meantime, it has grown into a solid scientific institute. But still the motivation of students at the CML is to make the world in better place." Scientists should be aware of their contribution to society, Kleijn thinks. "As a scientist, you should be open to questions from society and strive to improve society. Also when you are doing fundamental research."

Explore further What do we do about plastics?
Escherichia coli. Credit: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH

A key question in evolutionary biology is how new functions arise. New research at Uppsala University, Sweden, shows that bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) can contribute to new functions by revealing hidden potential in their bacterial hosts.

Bacteriophages are the most numerous organisms on Earth. Every day, they infect and kill 15 to 30 percent of all bacteria in the world's oceans. In a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers have investigated how bacteriophages, instead of killing bacteria, transmit genes that help the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) survive.

"We found a new, unexpected mechanism whereby genes from bacteriophages enable bacteria to use their hidden potential and establish a new function," says researcher and lead author Jon Jerlstrom-Hultqvist.

First, the scientists removed an essential gene (ilvA) from the bacterium. They then investigated whether bacteriophage genes (isolated from Svandammen, "Swan Pond", in central Uppsala) could rescue the bacteria. The researchers identified a new group of genes that code for enzymes: S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) hydrolases. These enzymes break down SAM and, as a result, boost biosynthesis of the amino acid methionine, a precursor to SAM. One of the enzymes required for methionine biosynthesis has a side reaction that enables the E. coli bacterium to compensate for the absence of the essential ilvA gene.

The study in question shows that, to understand how a bacterium works, the functions normally found in bacteria are not the only ones that need investigating. The hidden potential of the bacterial cell can be manifested when its metabolic state changes, for example in a bacteriophage infection. According to Professor Dan I. Andersson, who heads the study in question,

"The new function in this study is that these bacteriophage enzymes have the ability to break down an important cell component (SAM) of the bacterium. When this component breaks down, the bacterial cell resets its metabolism and a new function becomes available. Moreover, it is very important to understand the hidden potential of bacteria and whether it can affect the development of antibiotic resistance and its pathogenicity," says Professor Andersson, who heads the study.

Explore further Researchers assassinate disease-causing bacteria with virus cocktail

More information: Jon Jerlstrom Hultqvist et al, A bacteriophage enzyme induces bacterial metabolic perturbation that confers a novel promiscuous function, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2018). Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Jon Jerlstrom Hultqvist et al, A bacteriophage enzyme induces bacterial metabolic perturbation that confers a novel promiscuous function,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0568-5
Citing money laundering concerns, South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has banned trading in 11 countries including North Korea, Iran, Iraq.

In an announcement on Monday, the exchange said it will comply with global anti-money laundering norms by blocking all transactions of residents in jurisdictions belonging to the Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCT) blacklist.

The 11 NCCT countries are seen by the inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as nations that have taken insufficient measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the international financial system. The countries, in addition to North Korea, include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Yemen.

The measure took effect on May 27 with Bithumb no longer accepting new users from the 11 nations listed by the NCCT initiative. Existing users from those nations will also see their accounts disabled from June 21.

According to data from Coinmarketcap, Bithumb is Koreas largest and the worlds fifth largest cryptocurrency exchange with over $400 million in tokens traded over a 24-hour period.

In addition, Bithumb says it has strengthened its own anti-money laundering policies by implementing the recommendations of authorities from the South Korean government and the Korea Blockchain Association, a self-regulatory industry working group. Established in December, the body introduced a number of measures including ethical codes in an effort to foster transparency in domestic crypto trading markets. The industry body also mandated strict rules to prevent market manipulation and insider trading. A number of major exchanges including Bithumb and Upbit will undergo periodic evaluations.

A spokesperson for Bithumb added:

We will strictly enforce our own rules and protect our investors while we actively cooperate with local authorities.

Story continues

For international users, Bithumb is in the process of mandating a mobile verification process to avoid any instances of falsification of user information, the exchange added.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Koreas Biggest Cryptocurrency Exchange Bans Trading in 11 Countries appeared first on CCN.


European stocks, bonds and the euro fell on Monday as political chaos in Italy rattled investors who feared the nomination of a caretaker government will only delay, but not avert, a eurozone crisis, analysts said. Oil prices extended losses, meanwhile, after Saudi Arabia and Russia signalled they could raise output, while Asian stock markets rose on signs that Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un could be back on. Milan's FTSE MIB stock index had a rollercoaster day, starting with a two-percent surge as investors greeted with relief President Sergio Mattarella's veto against the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister. But a growing feeling that Italian politics are far from out of the woods quickly caused a Milan stock market downturn, also sparking a reversal in Paris and Frankfurt, as well as weakness in the euro. Italy is mired in political chaos after the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League's bid to form a government collapsed. - Spread widens - The Italian president has now appointed Carlo Cottarelli, a pro-austerity economist formerly with the International Monetary Fund, to lead a technocrat government, ahead of likely fresh elections in the autumn. Italy's debt-risk premium rose as the yield on the government's 10-year bonds -- the return an investor gets on holding the bond -- spiked to 235 points above that of German debt which is the eurozone's benchmark, its highest level in over four years. This was 29 basis points more than late Friday. Yields typically rise at times of stress as investors demand higher returns if they are to buy a country's bonds. Meanwhile the euro also dropped against the dollar after earlier positivity gave way to fear of a drawn-out crisis. "The planned eurosceptic governing coalition will not initially be possible. However, it looks like there will be new elections in the autumn, which could see the populists emerge with a bigger share of the votes," Commerzbank Commodity Research analysts said in a note. The single currency was also hurt by the prospect of upheaval in Spain, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faces a no-confidence vote after his party was found guilty of benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial. - Oil slips - WTI oil futures contract tanked Monday, extending last week's losses, after Saudi oil minister Khaled al-Faleh said his country could open the taps wider in the second half of the year to insure against any supply shocks. His Russian counterpart Alexander Novak said they discussed whether they need to ease production limits set in 2016. The comments come as supply worries increase, with major producer Venezuela hit by economic uncertainty, Iran facing painful export sanctions and demand seen picking up. Asian markets meanwhile mostly rose on renewed hopes for a Trump-Kim summit after the US president appeared Friday to make a U-turn 24 hours after cancelling the meeting. On Sunday Trump tweeted that a US team "has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit". He added: "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" - Key figures around 1545 GMT - Milan - FTSE Mib: DOWN 2.1 percent at 21,933 points (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.6 percent at 5,508.93 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.6 percent at 12,863.46 (close) EURO STOXX 50 - DOWN 0.9 percent at 3,482.64 (close) London - FTSE 100: Closed for public holiday New York - Dow: Closed for public holiday Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1624 from $1.1661 at 2100 GMT on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3304 from $1.3312 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.35 yen from 109.55 yen Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 22,481.09 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.7 percent at 30,792.26 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,135.08 (close) Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN $1.41 at $66.47 per barrel Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN $1.12 at $75.32
A truckers' strike paralyzing fuel and food deliveries across Brazil entered an eighth day Monday but with hopes of relief after unpopular President Michel Temer caved in to the strikers' key demand. Road blockages by truckers remained in place across 21 of the country's 27 states, G1 news site reported. Although there has been some relief since the army was ordered to intervene Friday, with armed soldiers escorting fuel trucks on priority routes, enormous lines continued to form at gas stations. Many supermarkets still struggled to source fresh food and there were eight airports reporting Monday that they were out of aviation fuel. But after agreeing Sunday to slash diesel prices, the government hopes the crippling standoff can now wind down. "The expectation is that the demonstrations will end and the truckers will return to work today," said Temer minister Carlos Marun on CBN radio. "There are still some blockades but the protest strike has been resolved." According to Marun, those still resisting represent "an anarchic, radical movement which we believe will not succeed." The crisis has exposed the surprising fragility of Latin America's biggest economy and put Temer's lame duck administration on the defensive ahead of October general elections. Truckers are angry over the rise in costs from 3.36 reais (92 US cents) a liter in January to 3.6 reais before the strike. On May 26, it hit 3.8. After urgent negotiations with representatives of the truckers, Temer agreed to cut the diesel price by 0.46 reais a liter for 60 days.
Wang Xiaochuan, CEO of Beijing-based search engine operator Sogou, believes that the nature of internet search is undergoing a seismic shift, one that could catapult his company from also-ran to market leader.

Instead of scrolling through page after page of search results and trying to figure out which information to trust, consumers have come to expect and demand direct answers to their queries. In that context, search engines have to be able to think on behalf of humans and play a more active role in facilitating day-to-day decision-making, from where to eat to which doctor to consult.

Declaring keyword-based search backward, Wang said advancements in technology have made it possible to move into a query-based era, which comes more naturally to human instinct. The only reason we have been using keywords is because technology was not advanced enough, he said.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post in a recent interview in Beijing, Wang, who turns 40 in October, cuts a relaxed figure, dressed in a white shirt, untucked, and no tie. He claims not to worry over Sogous share price, which is trading below its IPO price when it listed on the New York Stock Exchange last November. Investors have a winner-takes-all mentality when it comes to valuing search companies that underestimates the advances Sogou has made in new areas such as hardware and smart-query services, he said.

Chinese search engine Sogou works on lip reading, divorce advice

Sogou is a distant second with 18 per cent of the Chinese search market, trailing behind Baidu which has more than 70 per cent. Baidu, also based in Beijing, had consolidated its leadership after Google exited China in 2008.

Still, Wang is confident that Sogous proprietary technology in natural language processing  a branch of artificial intelligence that deals with how computers understand and interpret human language  stands the company in good stead as more queries are made by voice.

Story continues

Sogou operates Chinas fourth-most widely used mobile application, a method for inputting Chinese voice search that handles more than 300 million queries a day. The company also showed its simultaneous machine translation service at the 2016 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, about 18 months ahead of the version developed by its investor and strategic partner, Tencent Holdings. The company has placed first in a global machine-translation competition that evaluates the ability of a machine to generate human-like responses to text queries.

To bring its voice recognition, translation and transcribing capabilities to the broader public, Sogou has branched out into hardware. On May 15 the company introduced an artificial intelligence-powered, portable translation device it calls the Sogou Smart Recording Translator, retailing at 398 yuan (US$62) in China, with 30,000 sold so far.

The device supports the recording, transcription, translation and interpretation of both real-time and recorded conversations to and from 18 different languages, including Chinese, English, German, Arabic and Russian. The device can transcribe Chinese recordings at a rate of 400 words per minute and has a voice recognition accuracy rate of 97 per cent, according to specifications from the company. Sogou introduced its first translation hardware product in March, called the Travel Translator.

Sogou is not a hardware company, but we have to stay close to users, Wang said. Users are starting to have voice-interactive demand, so we will just follow where they are going.

Language is integral to cultural identity and having the necessary hardware and software to translate between languages could also help extend Chinas soft power, Wang said, citing the example of how Chinese scientific researchers now have to struggle with writing their papers in English. Overseas students can also concentrate on lectures rather than worry about taking down notes and translating from a non-native language, he said.

Chinese companies have been investing in AI technology as the country seeks to harness the economic potential of what has been dubbed the fourth industrial revolution. To that end, Chinas government has set itself a target to become a global AI innovation centre by 2030.

Users are starting to have voice-interactive demand, so we will just follow where they are going

Wang Xiaochuan, Sogou CEO

Baidu is the clear market leader with a more rounded ecosystem for AI applications while Sogous focus is on its voice recognition technologies, according to Sun Mengjie, an analyst with Bank of Communication International Holdings.

[Sogou] is expected to release more hardware products targeting mass consumers to increase the capability of smart interaction related research and services, she said.

Wang, a gold-medal winner at the International Mathematical Olympiad, is known in Chinas tech circles as one of the brainy bachelors. He gained some notoriety after he vowed not to get married until his company was listed. The computer science and engineering graduate from Chinas prestigious Tsinghua University used to be the chief technology officer at Sohu.com Inc, one of Chinas earlier leading internet portals. He has led Sogou since 2004, building the company from an in-house incubator project into a publicly traded firm with 2,800 employees, about 70 per cent of whom are involved in technology. The company turned a profit in 2016 and doubled its net income last year.

Sogou also benefits from the backing of Tencent Holdings, the Shenzhen-based internet giant that operates WeChat, the super-app that has become a staple for many of its 1 billion users. The partnership with Tencent has allowed Sogou to gain market share from Baidu as the company has exclusive access to WeChats public accounts, Wang said. Sogou has also invested in Zhihu.com, a Chinese version of Quora, to gain its content.

Sogou launches Chinese language translator as it goes head to head with Google

Wang said Sogou will focus on health care and legal issues for smart-query services as the two are among the fields that are ripe for veering away from traditional keyword-based search. The company is working with thousands of doctors and lawyers to create a smart-query platform that users can consult for medical and legal advice.

When the system can give you answers instead of pages of search results, that is when it will become your private doctor and lawyer, Wang said. One day we will charge users for the services, but theres still some way to go. We are in no rush to make money from it.

Asked if the company is working on so-called moonshots, Wang said Sogous team of researchers is involved in experimental technologies including lip-reading and the replication of voice, handwriting, and emotional tone in translation so it sounds more human.

Our machine can read 60 per cent of your lip movements, or 90 per cent if your sentence is long enough, Wang said. You will be able to mimic Jay Chous voice, he said, referring to a popular Mandarin-pop star. But he is realistic that technology needs time to mature and be ready for widespread application.

Most companies wait for AI to commercialise because they have drawn some very sexy pies, he said. But our style is different. Sogou has always been down to earth.

This article Chinese search engine Sogou sees future in legal, health queries first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.

More from South China Morning Post:
Malaysias Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad meets with Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya, Malaysia on May 19, 2018 in this handout photo. Singapores Ministry of Communication and Information/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS  THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

The Malaysia moment just refuses to leave the headlines. More than two weeks after the historic 9 May election result, hardly a day goes by without yet another dramatic twist, another climactic revelation. From ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak being pulled in to explain his role in the money scandal revolving around the state-funded 1MDB to the disclosure that the countrys debt has breached RM1 trillion (S$336 billion)  not RM685 billion as claimed by his government  to the sensational seizure of RM114 million in cashthe aftermath of the unprecedented election result has, to put it mildly, been jaw-dropping.

That all this is happening on Singapores doorstep is raising concerns not just economically but also politically and socially. A diplomat friend whom I met two months before the election was astute when he asked me: Which country is going to be very important to us? I said China. He shook his head. The US? Nope, he said. It is Malaysia, he said with a worried look.

Even though we separated politically decades ago, we are something akin to inseparable Siamese twins: Malaysia is our closest neighbour, we are linked by a shared history, we are one of the biggest investors there, Singaporeans have relatives living there (and vice versa) and the Causeway linking the two nations is the most crowded land link between any two countries. The election result is going to be very important for us, he concluded.

He didnt mention any personalities. But it was clear that uppermost in his mind were names like Najib, with whom Singapore has had a wonderful relationship, and 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, whose 22-year reign as PM from 1981 was one of the most trying in the two countries history.

Can a leopard change its spots?

In this photo released by Malaysia Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali Office, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, third right, chairs the first cabinet meeting with the new Malaysia cabinet members in Putrajaya, Malaysia Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (Malaysia Minister of Economic Affairs, Azmin Ali Office via AP)

As Singapore continues to digest the implications of the election result and as the flurry of revelations continues to pop out of Putrajaya, it is the name of Mahathir that keeps coming up again and again. Of immediate concern is how he will deal with the RM50 billion High Speed Rail contract that Najib signed with Singapores Lee Hsien Loong in 2016. Mahathir has been talking publicly about mega projects like this. His latest comment  that the project might be ditched  was the clearest indication so far of its likely fate.

Story continues

If that happens, it will be a pity as the proposed rail link can move people faster between both countries and create economic activities that will benefit businesses. Mahathir is a wily politician, linking the mega projects like this to the trillion ringgit budget deficit and saying that going ahead with the contract under its present terms will be a huge burden on the economy. Maybe this is all part of Mahathirs negotiating stance. By raising the possibility of scrapping the project, he might be hoping that he can get Singapore to consider a renegotiation of the deal.

Mahathir has to walk this tightrope very carefully as cancelling a binding international agreement and in the process paying huge sums of money to Singapore as compensation will not be seen favourably by governments and businesses outside his country. This is different from the time he cocked a snook at the world when he refused to seek help from the International Monetary Fund and imposed capital controls during the monetary crisis of 1997. Although the experts predicted chaos, Malaysia came out of that crisis relatively unscathed.

At 92, despite his impressive stamina, it is doubtful that the man has the energy and lasting power to see through another crisis, though the present one may not be as serious as the one he saw in 1997. He has about two years to clear up the mess created by Najib and his hands are tied somewhat this time round because he is leader of a minority party in the ruling coalition.

There is also the question of legacy: Mahathir would want to be remembered not for his strong-arm rule during his previous premiership but as a leader who put Malaysia on a firmer footing. He has been given one last throw of the dice and he wont want to waste it by being impetuous. Add to all these factors his decision to start a Council of Elders with respected members like businessman and former Malaysia-Singapore Airlines chairman Robert Kuok, a man whose recommendations based on his deep knowledge of the inner workings of Singapore and Malaysia cannot be wished away.

How Singapore deals with a resurgent Mahathir will be its biggest international challenge and a good test for the 4G leadership. PM Lee had a symbolic 30-minute meeting with the Malaysian leader on 19 May. Beneath the warm congratulatory messages, the anxiety was evident. Lees uncomfortable body language as he walked in to meet Mahathir, his late fathers old adversary, was palpable.

There are signs that Mahathir is a changed man. But he may just go back to his old ways if he sees in Singapore a difficult partner in the expected talks on the rail contract. That is not something Malaysians and Singaporeans want to even think about.

P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who was formerly chief editor of Today, as well as an editor at The New Paper. He is currently a media consultant. The views expressed are his own.

Related stories:

COMMENT: Can Singapores elite circle turn around growing social divide?

COMMENT: A catch-up Budget from a government in danger of losing focus
Croatia's top court on Monday blocked the extradition of a Bosnian man to Tunisia over the alleged murder of an aerospace engineer, described by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas as one of its members. Mohamed Zaouari, 49, was killed in a hail of bullets outside his house in the Tunisian city of Sfax in December 2016. "The Supreme court accepted the appeal of the suspect... and rejected the request for extradition from the Republic of Tunisia," the court said in a statement. At a hearing on May 8, the lower court said it had established that "legal preconditions" had been met for the extradition of Alen Camdzic, 46, who has been named by local media. The final decision will be made by the justice minister. The suspect was arrested in Croatia on March 13 on an international warrant and has been held in custody since, the court in Velika Gorica, near Zagreb, said in a statement. Camdzic's arrest was announced by Tunisian prosecutors who said they believed that two people with Bosnian passports had carried out the assassination. The second suspect, Elvir Sarac, was briefly detained in Sarajevo earlier this week but released when a court refused to hand him over to Tunisia, saying there was no extradition deal between the countries. - 'Foreign elements' - Camdzic served in the police during Bosnia's 1990s war and became a professional soldier after the conflict, media reports said. Tunisia earlier confirmed that "foreign elements" had been involved in the killing of a Tunisian-Belgian citizen. Shortly after his death, Hamas said he was a drone expert who had worked for the "resistance" for a decade for a decade before being killed by "Zionist treachery". Israel has not responded to accusations it was behind the killing. Israel has fought several wars with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and has assassinated several of the Islamist movement's members in the past. In November 2017, Zaouari's family denounced "silence" on the part of authorities and called on them to provide more details on the investigation into his killing. Israel was also accused of being behind the assassination last month in Malaysia of Fadi al-Batsh, a Hamas scientist who was said to be a rocket-making expert. Family and friends of Batsh accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of carrying out the killing in Kuala Lumpur on April 21.
In addition to launching the beta version of GrabFood, Grab also unveiled its vision in integrating transportation, F&B, delivery, and payments services

Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab today announced the launch of the beta version of its on-demand food delivery service GrabFood in Singapore.

Following its recent merger with ride-hailing giant Uber, the company also unveiled its vision to become an everyday app that integrates the functions of transportation, F&B, courier, and payments in just one app.

As we build out an everyday app that offers transport, food and package delivery and mobile payments, Grab is focused on creating a seamless experience and unlocking value for our customers by offering complementary services on one platform. From the moment you wake up, you can plan and book your entire journey across different transport modes in one tap, shop and receive discounts on-the-go, and have your favourite foods and shopping delivered right to your doorstep  all enabled by one mobile wallet, within one everyday app, said Grab Singapore Head Lim Kell Jay in a press statement.

This is the future we are building towards and we look forward to working with industry players and governments to innovate and realise this vision together, he added.

Also Read: Todays top tech news, May 21: Grab partners Maybank for Malaysia mobile wallet, Singapore blocks piracy sites

Future-of-Grab_Grab-Ecosystem

An infographic detailing Grabs everyday app vision. Image Credit: Grab

GrabFood offers benefits for customers that include no minimum order requirement, order scheduling feature, and reward points. As for their drivers, GrabFood offers anytime cash-out scheme and insurance programme.

According to the company, there is a S$250-300 million (US$186-373 million) total addressable market in Singapore for food delivery, and an estimated 4,000 restaurants and 12,000 hawkers stalls that are not yet served by food delivery apps.

The GrabFood service will be launched in six Southeast Asian markets including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines in Q2 2018.

Story continues

Also Read: Todays top tech news, April 10: Vietnam orders Grab to prove it is not a monopoly post-Uber deal

Some of the most well-funded Southeast Asian startups working in providing on-demand or e-commerce services have been competing in becoming a one-stop app for all sort of different services.

Just in time for holiday, Indonesian travel tech startup Traveloka launched car rental service to complement its recently launched bus ticket, F&B directory, and even lending services.

E-commerce platforms Tokopedia and Bukalapak have also been entering the fintech sector with the launch of gold trading and mutual bonds trading platforms.

Grabs biggest rival in Indonesia Go-Jek has even expanded into content creation by the upcoming launch of its production house and streaming service.

The post Grab launches food delivery service in Singapore, aims to become an everyday app appeared first on e27.
Italy was mired in fresh political chaos after the populist parties' bid to take power collapsed with the president set to appoint Monday a pro-austerity economist to lead a technocrat government ahead of new elections. President Sergio Mattarella vetoed the nomination of fierce eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister, enraging the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League and prompting their prime minister-elect to step aside. "I have given up my mandate to form the government of change," said lawyer and political novice Giuseppe Conte, 53, plunging the country into a political crisis nearly three months after March's inconclusive general election. Mattarella said he had accepted every proposed minister except Savona, who has called the euro a "German cage" and said that Italy needs a plan to leave the single currency "if necessary". The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, denounced the veto, decrying what they called meddling by Germany, ratings agencies and financial lobbies. Mattarella has summoned Carlo Cottarelli, an economist formerly with the International Monetary Fund, for talks Monday, with a temporary technocrat government on the table as Italy faces the strong possibility of new elections in the autumn. Cottarelli, 64, was director of the IMF's fiscal affairs department from 2008 to 2013 and became known as "Mr. Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in Italy. He will struggle to gain the approval of parliament with Five Star and the League commanding a majority in both houses. "They've replaced a government with a majority with one that won't obtain one," said Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio to supporters at a rally near Rome. - 'Diktats' - A former judge of Italy's constitutional court, Mattarella has refused to bow to what he saw as "diktats" from the two parties which he considered contrary to the country's interests. He had watched for weeks as Five Star and the League set about trying to strike an alliance that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority. Mattarella said that he has done "everything possible" to aid the formation of a government, but that an openly eurosceptic economy minister ran against the parties' joint promise to simply "change Europe for the better from an Italian point of view". "I asked for the (economy) ministry an authoritative person from the parliamentary majority who is consistent with the government programme... who isn't seen as a supporter of a line that could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro," Mattarella said. The president said Conte refused to support "any other solution" and then, faced with Mattarella's refusal to approve the choice of Savona, gave up his mandate to be prime minister. The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, were infuriated by Mattarella's refusal to accept Savona, a respected financier and economist. Salvini, who was Savona's biggest advocate and a fellow eurosceptic, said on Sunday that Italy wasn't a "colony", and that "we won't have Germany tell us what to do". "Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the governments," a livid Di Maio said in a video on Facebook. Later on Italian television he called for impeaching Mattarella. "I hope that we can give the floor to Italians as soon as possible, but first we need to clear things up. First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls," Di Maio said
Spain's maritime rescue service said Sunday it had rescued 532 migrants who were attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea from north Africa this weekend. Rescue boats intercepted 239 migrants travelling in eight small boats off Spain's southern coast on Sunday, a day after 293 migrants were pulled from nine vessels. Three of the boats sank on Sunday right after the migrants were plucked from them due to their "poor state", the maritime service said in a Twitter message. Favourable weather in the Strait of Gibraltar appears to have sparked the surge in sea crossings. Each year, tens of thousands attempt to reach Spain and other southern European countries by crossing the Mediterranean in smuggler boats. Most of the vessels are unfit for open water and thousands of migrants drown each year. Spain is the third busiest gateway for migrants arriving in Europe, still far behind Italy but catching up fast with Greece. Many Africans undertaking the long route to Europe are choosing to avoid crossing danger-ridden Libya to get to Italy along the so-called central Mediterranean route, choosing instead to try via Morocco and Spain. According to the International Organisation for Migration, more than 22,400 people arrived in Spain by sea last year, nearly triple the number for 2016. Some 223 people died along the way.
Today also saw the launch of GrabFood in Singapore and a funding round for Chinese fashion e-commerce platform JollyChic

Coworking space JustCo to launch in Indonesia  DailySocial

Singapore-based coworking space chain JustCo announced its entry to Indonesia with three locations in Jakarta, DailySocial reported.

To support its expansion to Indonesia, JustCo signed a joint venture with local conglomerate Gunung Sewu Group.

JustCos first three locations will be at The Plaza, AIA Central, and Sequis Tower. These three locations will be opened between August to October this year. The company is also planning to launch its coworking spaces in other cities outside of Jakarta.

The launch is part of the companys regional expansion plan following a recently announced Series B funding round and partnership with GIC and Frasers Property.

Uber, ComfortDelGro dissolve US$220M deal  Dealstreet Asia

Ride-hailing giant Uber and Singapore-based taxi operator ComfortDelGro have agreed to dissolve a deal that involved ComfortDelGro buying 51 per cent of Ubers car rental unit, Dealstreet Asia reported.

Following Ubers recent acquisition by competitor Grab, there has been uncertainty regarding the status of the deal.

According to ComfortDelGro Managing Director and Group CEO Yang Ban Seng, the move was made due to the change in operating environment following Ubers exit from the market, which made the partnership no longer relevant.

Other reports by Straits Times said that Grab plans to reach out to the taxi operator for a possible partnership while TechCrunch said that the company is already in talks with Go-Jek, which is set to enter Singapore this year.

Also Read: Todays top tech news, May 25: Uber saw US$2.5B in profits following Southeast Asia, Russia deals

Grab launches food delivery service GrabFood in Singapore  e27

Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab today announced the launch of the beta version of its on-demand food delivery service GrabFood in Singapore, e27 reported.

Story continues

Following its recent merger with ride-hailing giant Uber, the company also unveiled its vision to become an everyday app that integrates the functions of transportation, F&B, courier, and payments in just one app.

The GrabFood service will be available in six Southeast Asian markets including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines by Q2 2018.

Chinese e-commerce firm JollyChic raises Series C funding round  Dealstreet Asia

Chinese e-commerce platform JollyChic has raised hundreds of million in Series C funding round led by Sequoia Capital with participation of existing investor Legend Capital, Dealstreet Asia reported.

According to a statement by Legend Capital on WeChat, the funding round has given the startup a unicorn status.

Founded in 2012, Hangzhou-based JollyChic has offices across in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Silicon Valley, Saudia Arabia, Dubai, UAE and Jordan. With the Middle East market as its focus, the company acquired Jordanese e-commerce player MarkaVIP for an undisclosed sum in 2017.

The post Todays top tech news, May 28: JustCo to enter Indonesia, Uber-ComfortDelGro dissolve deal appeared first on e27.
Sesame Workshop, the non-profit that produces Sesame Street, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday against STX Productions over the way theyve been marketing The Happytime Murders, Variety reports. Thats the upcoming Melissa McCarthy film whose spectacularly unfunny red band trailerwatch above if you darefeatures a puppet ejaculating about five cans of silly string in a 20 second money shot. While Sesame Workshop acknowledges STX has the right to make a feature film about puppets that ejaculate silly string if they want to, they take issue with the films tagline, No Sesame. All Street. Sesame Workshop alleges viewers are confused and appalled by the trailer, which they mistakenly believe has some connection with Sesame Street.

Advertisement

As it happens, there is a connection, although its a few degrees removed: The Happytime Murders was directed by Brian Henson, Jim Hensons son and the chairman of the Jim Henson Company. (The company sold the rights to the Muppets featured on Sesame Street to Sesame Workshop in 2001.) For viewers who havent been keeping up with the complicated web of intellectual property rights surrounding Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, some confusion is understandable, especially given the way the trailer plays up the Muppet-related items on Hensons resume:

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

After 35 years of entertaining children, the director of The Muppet Christmas Carol, the director of Muppet Treasure Island, the director of Muppets Tonight, is finally ready to reveal what goes down when kids arent around.

Advertisement

Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company seem to be caught in the middle between Sesame Workshop and STX, according to an email from CEO Lisa Henson to Sesame Workshop that is quoted in the filing:

We wholeheartedly disagree with their direction of referencing Muppets and Sesame, and Brian has taken as hard a position as he could, but contractually we dont have the right to change it.  Throughout the development of The Happytime Murders, Brian has conscientiously pushed the creative direction and design of the new characters away from Muppets (both Muppet Show and Sesame Street) because he never saw it as a parody of the Muppets.  We resisted creative suggestions to make some characters look more like Anything Muppets or Muppet monsters, because that was exactly wrong for the movie. Therefore, trading off the famous Muppets to sell the film is exactly what we did not want to have happen.

Advertisement

STX, meanwhile, released a statement ostensibly from one of the films puppets, a lawyer called Fred, Esq.:

Advertisement

 While were disappointed that Sesame Street does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position. We look forward to introducing adult moviegoers to our adorably unapologetic characters this summer.

But the real importance of The Happytime Murders lawsuit has nothing to do with intellectual property and everything to do with watching lawyers use extremely formal language to describe a trailer in which, again, a puppet ejaculates silly string all over the place in a sequence that lasts for twenty very, very long seconds. Here are a few choice passages:

Advertisement

Defendants widely-distributed marketing campaign features a just-released trailer with explicit, profane, drug-using, misogynistic, violent, copulating, and even ejaculating puppets, along with the tagline NO SESAME. ALL STREET.  As evidenced by a parade of social media posts, emails, and public comments, the NO SESAME. ALL STREET. tagline has confused and appalled viewers because of what they believe to be a serious breach of trust by Sesame by supporting this movie.  The trailer is Restrictedmeaning that the Motion Picture Association of America has not deemed it suitable for all audiences. And it is easy to see why: scenes from the movie shown in the trailer depict repeated foul language by humans and puppets; drug use by humans and puppets; puppet prostitutes offering sexual favors to a human; gun and other types of violence; and puppet sex that culminates in a scene where a puppet is depicted copiously ejaculating for an extended period. The leading online movie ticket-seller, Fandango, referred to it as filthy and depraved and repeated the NO SESAME. ALL STREET. tagline, in a tweet that the Defendants retweeted.  As Defendants intended, the audience for their marketing campaign is reading the NO SESAME. ALL STREET. tagline as an indication that the movie will show the more salaciousor, colloquially, streetside of characters associated with (even if not starring on) Sesame Street.

Slate salutes the attorneys at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman for translating the more salaciousor, colloquially, streetaspects of the trailer for Melissa McCarthys ejaculating puppet movie into the records of the federal court system.
This post contains spoilers for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

I had a feeling Darth Maul would make an appearance in Solo from the moment someone uttered the word syndicate. True, the Star Wars baddie was killed off at the end of The Phantom Menace when Obi-Wan Kenobi cut him in half with a lightsaber, but he had since long returned to the franchise, becoming a powerful crime lord in his quest for revenge on the animated prequel-era series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Apparently, though, another fan in my screening didnt get the memo about the characters return, since his response to Mauls cameo was to shout What?! aloud in the theater. And based on the spike in Google searches and the number of explanatory pieces about how Maul survivedincluding my ownthat cropped up over the weekend, he wasnt the only one.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Mauls reappearance in a live-action Star Wars movie will surely drum up renewed interest in The Clone Wars, which aired from 2008 to 2013 on Cartoon Network and is currently available on Netflix. Thats great news, because while Clone Wars should theoretically be a must-watch for any Star Wars lover, it and the other animated TV series of the franchise have been snubbed by even some of the most devoted fans I know. Maybe thats precisely because theyre animated, and thus seen as being just for kids, a phenomenon that isnt limited to TV. After all, critics similarly seem to forget about another Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the 2008 animated movie that is routinely left out of rankings of Star Wars movies, even though it had a wide theatrical release and is officially considered part of the canon.

Advertisement

The film, set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, might be another reason the animated series has gone underrated for so long, since it was not well received, to say the least: USA Today called the movies dialogue stilted and overblown, while the highest praise the New York Times could muster up was it isnt the most painful movie of the year. Roger Ebert even bemoaned the decline of the entire franchise in his review, asking, Has it come to this? Has the magical impact of George Lucas original vision of Star Wars been reduced to the level of Saturday morning animation?

Advertisement

Im not here to defend the Clone Wars movie, because all of those gripes are more or less fair: The animation, while deliberately stylized, does have a certain low-budget video game quality to it, the dialogue is strained even by Star Wars standards, and the plot, which involves the kidnapping of Jabba the Hutts infant sonwho looks like thisis, frankly, a little silly. However, despite its flaws, The Clone Wars turned out not to be the death rattle of the Star Wars franchise, but the shaky first step into a rich new era of Lucasfilms storytelling, because it set up the television show of the same name.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The first season of The Clone Wars, which is set during the civil war introduced at the end of Attack of the Clones, is full of goofy droid humor and Jar Jar Binks-ian antics in line with the movie that preceded it. But over the course of its six seasons, The Clone Wars grew up, maturing into a surprisingly complex drama that explored the ramifications of an entire galaxy in conflictnot to mention it started killing off its characters in any number of gruesome (if usually bloodless) ways, including being set on fire, choked, impaled, suffocated, gunned down, electrocuted, eaten alive, and decapitated.

Advertisement

Advertisement

That said, the shows quality really doesnt depend on how dark it is, but on the way that it adds some much-needed depth to the prequel trilogy as a whole, filling in the lingering plot holes in the Skywalker saga while fleshing out the rest of the galaxy with side stories about other characters. At the heart of Clone Wars is a familiar (if now animated) face: Anakin Skywalker, voiced by Matt Lanter, who definitely benefits from a more gradual transition from hero to villain than we see in the movies, where he goes far too quickly from whiny teen to baddest villain in the galaxy. But there are also entire episodes in which Anakin is nowhere to be found. Clone Wars took a radically populist approach to Star Wars long before The Last Jedi, focusing in on individuals besides the Chosen One, from clone soldiers grappling with their role in the war to bounty hunters for whom business is booming.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

While some of these are crossover characters from the live-action movies, like Maul, Boba Fett, and Rogue Ones Saw Gerrera, its the original characters who really shine, like separatist assassin-turned-reluctant antihero Asajj Ventressjust one of the series many standout female characters, back when the movies were still averaging one per trilogy. None of these is more important than Ashley Ecksteins Ahsoka Tano, first introduced in the Clone Wars movie as a bratty whippersnapper assigned to be Anakins apprentice. (As for why anyone would entrust a kids welfare to Anakin Murdered the Sand People Skywalker, well, lets just say Yodas teaching methods have always been unorthodox.) While Star Wars doesnt have a great track record when it comes to kids, Ahsokas growth over time and her relationship with Anakin eventually made her a fan favorite, and her fate is one of Clone Wars central mysteries: What happens to her to justify her complete absence from Revenge of the Sith?

Advertisement

Go ahead and start in Season 2 with Landing at Point Rain, the first in a four-episode arc that captures precisely what Clone Wars does best.

Its because Ahsoka and others are so vital to the series worldbuilding that I dont recommend starting your Clone Wars journey by leaping ahead to the Maul episodes, even though they are among the best in the series. What makes them so great to begin with is the way that Mauls rise in Season 5 brings together so many of Clone Warss disparate storylines, building on groundwork laid over almost four seasons before hes even re-introduced as a character. Thats not to say that every episode of the show is essential viewing; in fact, the entire first season is mostly skippable, though there are a handful of standout episodes, like Cloak of Darkness or the clone-centric Rookies and Innocents of Ryloth, that are worth checking out if youre so inclined.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Otherwise, go ahead and start in Season 2 with Landing at Point Rain, the first in a four-episode arc that captures precisely what Clone Wars does best. Each episode in that arcwhich, taken together, form a kind of self-contained anthology movierevolves around Geonosis, the same planet where the final battle of Attack of the Clones takes place. Landing at Point Rain, which sees the Republic trying to recapture the planet, is light on plot but manages to squeeze a relentless, full-fledged war film into just 23 minutes, pushing the limits of cartoon violence in the process. Weapons Factory offers a closer look at the relationship between Anakin and Ahsoka and contrasts Anakins style of mentorship with that of a much more traditionally minded Jedi. Legacy of Terror is a fun little zombie flick that finds a way to make the insectoid Geonosians far more interesting as villains, while Brain Invaders nods to Invasion of the Body Snatchers as well as Alien and other space horror movies.

Advertisement

Its OK if youre only watching Clone Wars to see how Darth Maul made his comeback in Solo, but trust me when I say that the payoff will be so much sweeter if you pick it up well before that horned mafioso skitters in on his mechanical spider-legs. The versatility of the Geonosis arc sets the tone for the rest of the series, which used the freedom afforded it to play with genre, at times mimicking monster movies and political thrillers, at others paying episode-long homages to The Cube, Seven Samurai, and, on more than one occasion, the works of Alfred Hitchcock, all with a Star Wars flair. Come for the disgraced Sith lord, but do yourself a favor and stay for what turned out to be some of the smartest, most vibrant storytelling in the entire Star Wars universe. Not bad for a show thats just for kids.
Former President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized in Maine on Sunday after experiencing low blood pressure and fatigue, Bush spokesperson Jim McGrath said. He will likely remain there for a few days for observation, McGrath wrote on Twitter. The former president is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort.

President @GeorgeHWBush was taken to Southern Maine Health Care (@SMHCHealth) today after experiencing low blood pressure and fatigue. He will likely remain there for a few days for observation. The former president is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort.  Jim McGrath (@jgm41) May 27, 2018

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

This latest hospitalization comes shortly after the 41st president spent almost two weeks in a Houston hospital for an infection that spread to his blood. He was admitted to the hospital the day after the funeral for his wife, Barbara Bush, who died on April 17. The former president, who is 93 years old and has Parkinsons disease, was discharged from the hospital on May 4. He flew to Maine on May 20 as part of a family tradition of spending summers at the family compound.

I guess he partied too hard with the American Legion yesterday, wrote Jean Becker, Bushs chief of staff, in an email to family and friends. Darn it. The former president took part in an American Legion pancake breakfast on Saturday with veterans in Kennebunkport, Maine to mark the upcoming Memorial Day.

Advertisement
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani had a wide-ranging interview with CNN on Sunday in which the man who is now President Donald Trumps lead defense attorney talked about a lot of issues surrounding Robert Muellers investigation. The special counsels work, Giuliani said, amounts to a rigged investigation. When CNNs Dana Bash outright asked Giuliani whether he thinks the Mueller investigation is legitimate, Giuliani said no. Not anymore, I dont, Giuliani said. I did when I came in. But now I seeI see spy gate.

Advertisement

When he was asked about whether the Trump team wasnt criticizing the Mueller investigation as a way to undermine the probe in the minds of the American people, Giuliani pretty much acknowledged as much but said they could only do it because there was something to question. I couldnt do it if I didnt have the material. They are giving us the material to do it, Giuliani said. Of course, we have to do it in defending the president. We are defendingto a large extent, remember, Dana, we are defending here, it is for public opinion. Giuliani said that ultimately members of Congress will have to decide what to do with the results of the investigation and they are going to be informed a lot by their constituents. That means our jury is the Americanas it should beis the American people.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

.@DanaBashCNN: So you think that the Mueller probe is legitimate?"



Rudy Giuliani: Not anymore. I dont. I did when I came in #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/2KQxFeBhEy  CNN (@CNN) May 27, 2018

Giuliani said that while Trump is adamant about wanting to sit down with Mueller for an interview, others in his circle are more concerned. If the interview does go through though, Mueller and his staff would only be able to address two main issues: collusion and obstruction of justice. Although Giuliani said hes comfortable with the president answering questions about collusion, the obstruction issue is a bit trickier. I am not comfortable, because it is a matter of interpretation, not just hard and fast, true, not true, Giuliani said. Still, the former mayor highlighted that the president is fine with it. He is innocent.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In another portion of the interview, Giuliani referred to veteran intelligence officials James Clapper, who is the former director of national intelligence and John Brennan, who is former CIA chief, as two clowns. When asked how he could so readily dismiss two people with such a long history of public service, Giuliani brushed away that concern. There are a lot of people with decades of service. Some are good, some bad. And some then get consumed with power, and some begin to lie, he said. And, in the case of Brennan, he is a political guy. He was Obamas chief defender. Im not sure about Clapper. When Clapper was asked about the characterization, he said it seemed like he got a bit of an upgrade from earlier insults. In the space of a week, I have progressed from being the dumbest foreign intelligence officer on the planet, according to President Trump, and now a clown, he said. So, its career progression, I guess, at its best.
When Yvonne Mason, a retired English teacher, received a letter from the White House earlier this month, she was appalled. The letter, which was signed by President Donald Trump, was filled with many silly mistakes she recognized from her 17 years as a high school English teacher in South Carolina. So she took out her trusty purple pen and started making corrections to the letter. Have yall tried grammar and style check? Mason wrote at the top of the letter. OMG this is WRONG! she wrote in one part near the bottom of the letter. She posted a photo of the letter filled with her corrections to Facebook, saying she would send it back to the White House.

Advertisement

When you get letters from the highest level of government, you expect them to be at least mechanically correct, Mason told the Greenville News. Mason, a self-described Democrat who lives in Atlanta, had written to the president asking him to visit family members of those who died in the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida. I had written to them in anger, to tell you the truth, she told the New York Times. I thought he owed it to these grieving families. Mason said the letter she received from the White House didnt quite address her concerns.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

"I have never, ever, received a letter with this many silly mistakes," the Mauldin teacher said about @realDonaldTrump's response.



"When you get letters from the highest level of government, you expect them to be at least mechanically correct." https://t.co/mwUH93WP4g  The Greenville News (@GreenvilleNews) May 25, 2018

Advertisement

She says there were lots of other mistakes in the letter she didnt correct. I did not mention the dangling modifier, she said. I focused mainly on mechanics. Even though the letter was signed by Trump, Mason knows full well that the president wasnt the one who wrote it. Still, one of the things she noticed seems like a very Trump characteristic: too many Is. She highlighted the pronoun five time in the letter.

Mason said the letter stood out from others she had received from government officials. If it had been written in middle school, Id give it a C or C-plus, she said. If it had been written in high school, Id give it a D.
Just like pretty much everyone in Franceand many around the worldPresident Emmanuel Macron was highly impressed by 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama. Video that quickly went viral over the weekend showed how Gassama, a Malian migrant, went into action and scaled four floors of an apartment building in Paris northern 18th district Saturday evening in mere seconds to rescue a four-year-old child who was dangling from a balcony.

Paris : a mains nues, un homme a escalade la facade dun immeuble du 18 arrondissement pour sauver un enfant de 4 ans suspendu dans le vide. Les parents de l'enfant n'etaient pas presents, une enquete a ete ouverte, son pere a ete place en garde a vue (LCI). pic.twitter.com/RpnehgPuCr  Infos Francaises (@InfosFrancaises) May 27, 2018

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called Gassama the Spider-Man of the 18th on social media. Later, Hidalgo wrote that she had talked to Gassman on the phone. He explained to me that he arrived from Mali a few months ago with the dream of making a life for himself here, she wrote on Twitter. I replied that his heroic act is an example for all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France.

Advertisement

Cet homme aussi temeraire que courageux a sauve la vie dun enfant au peril de la sienne. Je souhaiterais, comme nombre de Parisiens, savoir qui est le Spiderman du 18eme pour le feliciter.

 https://t.co/nagKekpL9O  Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 27, 2018

Advertisement

Un grand bravo a Mamoudou Gassama pour son acte de bravoure qui a permis de sauver hier soir la vie d'un enfant. J'ai eu plaisir a m'entretenir avec lui aujourd'hui par telephone, afin de le remercier chaleureusement. https://t.co/DP5vQ1VZYh  Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 27, 2018

Advertisement

Macron invited Gassama to the Elysee Palace for a sit-down on Monday and promised him documents that would allow him to stay in the country. Gassama said he had papers to legally stay in Italy but wants to be with his older brother who has lived in France for years. I just didnt have time to think, I ran across the road to go and save him, Gassama told Macron. I just climbed up and thank God, God helped me. The more I climbed the more I had the courage to climb up higher, thats it. The childs father was allegedly out shopping when the incident took place and is now being investigated for neglect. The childs mother was reportedly not in Paris at the time of the incident.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Avec M. GASSAMA qui a sauve samedi la vie dun enfant en escaladant 4 etages a mains nues. Je lui ai annonce quen reconnaissance de cet acte heroique il allait etre regularise dans les plus brefs delais, et que la brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris etait prete a laccueillir. pic.twitter.com/xMpFlP1UFe  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 28, 2018

Advertisement

You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him, the French president said. You need courage and the capability to do that. Macron awarded Gassama a gold medal from the French state for his courage and devotion and offered him a job as a firefighter. The French president is in the process of tightening the countrys immigration laws and he denied there was any contradiction between that and awarding Gassama citizenship. An exceptional act does not make policy, he told reporters.
President Donald Trump celebrated Memorial Day on Monday in the most Trumpian way possible, giving himself a pat on the back. In a tweet Monday morning, the commander in chief said servicemembers who were killed in action would be very happy with the way the country is going under his leadership. And as if that werent enough he wished a happy holiday when Memorial Day is usually thought of as a time to grieve and remember the fallen. Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice! he tweeted at 8:58 a.m.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

It didnt take long for the backlash as many expressed their shock that even Trump could go as far as to claim the endorsement of dead veterans. This is the most inappropriate #MemorialDay comment that a @POTUS has ever made. Self-promotion on a day to remember the fallen, and wishing those remembering their deceased loved ones a happy holiday is appalling. #CadetBoneSpurs, tweeted the progressive veterans political group Vote Vets. The hashtag refers to what Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs in combat, called Trump, who got several Vietnam War deferments, including one for bone spurs.

Advertisement

This is the most inappropriate #MemorialDay comment that a @POTUS has ever made. Self-promotion on a day to remember the fallen, and wishing those remembering their deceased loved ones a happy holiday is appalling. #CadetBoneSpurs pic.twitter.com/kRse4dnwiu  VoteVets (@votevets) May 28, 2018

Advertisement

Gen. Michael Hayden, the former head of the CIA and National Security Agency, reacted with three letters: OMG.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Obama administration wrote a pointed reply to Trump without ever mentioning him: This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us. No matter how prestigious or powerful, no matter how successful we perceive ourselves to be.

Advertisement

This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us. No matter how prestigious or powerful, no matter how successful we perceive ourselves to be. Rather, this day should be about those who gave their lives so that we could live ours in freedom. #MemorialDay  GEN(R) Marty Dempsey (@Martin_Dempsey) May 28, 2018

The Atlantics David Frum called Trumps tweet the grossest, most inappropriate, most self-flattering Memorial Day message in the history of the US presidency.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Many people question this president, but its no small achievement to write the grossest, most inappropriate, most self-flattering Memorial Day message in the history of the US presidency https://t.co/t8JN7JNwdg  David Frum (@davidfrum) May 28, 2018

He should be ashamed, Col. Morris Davis wrote on Twitter, but shame requires a conscience.

Advertisement

Even on Memorial Day when we pay tribute to those who answered the nations call and paid the ultimate price, 5-Deferment @realDonaldTrump pays tribute to himself. He should be ashamed, but shame requires a conscience. pic.twitter.com/rr22mh28Ku  Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) May 28, 2018

Less than an hour after Trump sent his Memorial Day tweet he was back to his regular live-tweeting of Fox News and his attacks on the Justice Department. He sent out three tweets in close succession that quoted what someone on Fox News was saying about what he has billed as spygate.

Advertisement

The President deserves some answers. @FoxNews in discussing SPYGATE.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sally Yates is part of concerns people have raised about bias in the Justice Dept. I find her actions to be really quite unbelievable. Jonathan Turley  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

Advertisement

We now find out that the Obama Administration put the opposing campaigns presidential candidate, or his campaign, under investigation. That raises legitimate questions. I just find this really odd...this goes to the heart of our electoral system. Jonathan Turley on @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

And then he was back to Memorial Day a few hours later, with a markedly different tone as he posted three tweets with excerpts from his tribute at Arlington National Cemetery. He also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Advertisement

Thank you for joining us on this solemn day of remembrance. We are gathered here on the sacred soil of @ArlingtonNatl Cemetery to honor the lives and deeds of America's greatest heroes, the men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom. #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/YSYAHf7bNu  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

Advertisement

Many were quick to point to a tweet by former president Barack Obama on the right way to honor Memorial Day. We can never truly repay the debt we owe our fallen heroes, Obama wrote. But we can remember them, honor their sacrifice, and affirm in our own lives those enduring ideals of justice, equality, and opportunity for which generations of Americans have given that last full measure of devotion.

Advertisement

Advertisement
The farther away I go, Alex wrote, the closer Ill be to you.

A week later, she lay dead on the floor of a middle school bathroom in Thailand. That was three years after she had shown up late for dinner with a black eye from her first seizure. It was eight years after our first date climbing trees in Central Park.

That breeze, that tickled your ear? she wrote once, when there was just an ocean between us. That was me.

Advertisement

Her final letter ended with a question. How long until we see each other again?

It was the night of her funeral when it happened. She was there, waiting on the far bank of a raging river, radiant with red hair flying. I began to wade across, but the black current swept me away before I could reach her. She came again another night, as I slept, trapped behind thick glass we pressed our palms against. Then, another dreamthis time of Alex in a hospital waiting room. It isnt her, the nurse insisted, summoning security. Unable to contemplate nothingness, the mind can only shape the contours of the void. Death becomes an uncrossable river, a wall of unbreakable glass, an obvious lie.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

I dreamed of Alex for years. Each dream was different, yet the theme was immutable: She could not be reached. Then, one night, I went lucid, and everything changed.

Dr. Keith Hearne, a psychologist, defines lucid dreaming as becoming fully aware of being in a dream. This realization is instantly transformative: Rather than a dream being something that simply happens to you, suddenly you can influence the dreams content and direction.

As his wife sleeps unsuspectingly beside him, Liam flies through an endless cosmos of beckoning planets searching for sex.

Aristotle documented the phenomenon, as did the Buddha Shakyamuni. Depictions of lucid dreaming appear in Egyptian hieroglyphics and in the oral traditions of Australian aborigines. In a conceit shared by many modern practitioners, the Upanishads from the sixth century B.C. equate lucid dreaming with godhood. Up and down in his dream, the god makes manifold shapes for himself, either rejoicing together with women, or laughing, or seeing terrible sights.

Advertisement

Among scientists, the concept was widely considered a myth until Hearne proved otherwise. At 8:07 a.m. on April 12, 1975, research subject Alan Worsley sent a message to Hearne from within a lucid dream. Our bodies are paralyzed during REM sleep, except our unseeing eyes, which still flit around behind sealed lids, like captive butterflies. While an EEG confirmed that Worsley slept, the dreamer performed a series of choreographed eye movements, akin to Morse code. The signals were coming from another worldthe world of dreams, Hearne wrote, and they were as exciting as if they were coming from another solar system.

Advertisement

For many lucid dreamers, or oneironauts, inner space and outer space converge. At the moment of lucidity, Clare Johnson delights in backflipping out of her current dream and landing in an infinite void. Felicity Doyle often begins by exploring a galaxy of soap bubbles, all portals to exotic locales. Another man, who asked to go by a pseudonym due to the nature of what he shared, summons a universe. As his wife sleeps unsuspectingly beside him, Liam, as we will call him, enacts the two most common lucid dream motifs: He flies through an endless cosmos of beckoning planets searching for sex.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I usually take the approach that the women have been waiting for me, Liam explained. I transmit that thought to them ahead of time, telepathically, Im your long-lost love. 

They couplein ruined castles, on red sand beaches, in luminescent wildernessand then he flies away, never to return. There is only one particular woman that I search for again and again, he confessed. Ill think, Oh, maybe theres something in that bed, and Ill pull back the covers and sure enough, there she is. Maybe half the time, Im successful.

In waking life, the woman is a family friendsomeone Liam knows through his wife. Objectively, they have never shared more than casual conversation, but in dreams, she is the ultimate lover, even boldly initiating sex with Liam in front of his wife and family. I love those moments, he grinned. Its almost like braggingbragging to myself about my own lucidity. Im so strong, I can do it in front of my own mother-in-law.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In the morning, Liam feels no guilt. This is a safe space to explore anything taboo, he concludes. Other lucid dreamers report going even further, carrying out acts of rape, pedophilia, incest, and murder with impunity.

I first met Liam at a private gathering organized by Doyle. Over a light lunch, 10 oneironauts discussed recent nocturnal adventures: turning into animals, conversing with historical figures, shooting heroin. Some spoke about cutting through the fabric of dreams to see what lies beyond. Others advised the more reckless to tie silver cords to their dream bodies first, to keep them from wandering too far and being lost forever.

While a recent study found that 47 percent of respondents have had at least one lucid dream, Doyles guests reported frequent and prolonged experiences. It is unclear why certain individuals are predisposed to lucidity, but research suggests that oneironauts tend to possess a greater puzzle-solving ability. It was also evident, from my conversations with dreamers, that training is critical for developing any innate potential.

Advertisement

Advertisement

As lunch progressed, the discussion turned to matters of willpower. While even novice oneironauts are usually able to exert minimal control over their dream environments (levitating a handkerchief, for instance), more impressive feats are often stymied. The dream world possesses a kind of perverse and shifting logic. Concessions can often be made. If the dreamer cannot fly, for example, she might consider manifesting a magic carpet. If a dreamer wanted to move a mountain, she might first have to rig an atomic bomb.

Advertisement

As far back as Doyle can remember, this world of dreams always seemed more real than her waking one. Its brighter and more vibrant there. Everything sparkles, she insists. Its crystal clear in all directions. Other dreamers report synesthesia, viewing scenes from multiple angles simultaneously, and ethereal music beyond the capability of any earthly instrument. Jared Zeizel regularly visits an orchard bearing surreal fruit more delicious than any meal he has ever tasted.

Advertisement

As a child, Doyle later told me, I had extreme social anxiety. We sat amid the clutter of her suburban San Francisco home, eating oranges as her lively 8-year-old practiced piano across the room. My parents got divorced when I was 3, and then my mom got divorced again when I was 15. There was fighting at home and at school. Kids threw their lunches at me, and shoved me into lockers. Dreams were my only escape. Yet, even there, securely inside her own mind, the suffering continued.

There is this boy, and we are blissfully in love, Doyle began, describing a recurrent dream that has persisted for decades. His appearance changes from night to night, but his essence is the same. Our love is deeper and stronger than any Ive ever known, and in every dream, we are torn apart. I go questing after himjust bizarre scenes like climbing telephone poles in the desert to peer into the distance, or asking a series of giants, Have you seen him? Or, I remember a wardrobe of uninhabited bodiesjust skins on coat hangers, and I was desperately searching through, Not him, not him, just sobbing and sobbing. I would wake up and be wrecked for weeks.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

At 19, Doyle lost a leg in a motorcycle crash. I shattered my pelvis, she whispered, to spare her daughter the details, and my femur broke, and I severed my femoral artery. At that point, I had no pulse. They didnt expect me to survive.

As far as the leg, she continued, gesturing at her stump, I find it a very useful tool. You may not be able to discern the difference between your physical body and your spiritual one, but I know what it feels like all the time. Where her leg once was, Doyle now experiences a phantom limb permanently bent in the exact position the leg had been that day, straddling her motorcycle, at the moment of impact.

Advertisement

She has long since become accustomed to life on crutches, but every now and then, she will open a door in a dream and see herself across the threshold, back in the intensive care unit, suspended in a web of tubes and wires, somewhere between life and death. Ive learned to close that door, and walk away, she stated. And, when she walks away in dreams, she walks on two legs.

In her dreams, the 47-year-old is young again. And she runs, over hills and rooftops, through houses. She leaps over fences. The last time Doyle saw her dream lover standing there with their daughters, she ran to them too. I instantly knew them, she explained. Our wedding, the births of our childrenI knew my dream family more than I ever knew my waking one. They wept with joy at their reunion, but all too soon Doyle felt the harrowing sensation of being pulled back into a body. Her family begged her to stay. She clutched at them with all her strength.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Doyle awoke beside her real husband. He has no interest in dreams, she admits, though like her, he has his own double life. Among other revelations too painful to utter, Doyle discovered just three months ago that her husband has a cigarette habit. He lied to me for nine years, she confessed. Id smell it on him and hed say things like, I must have been standing next to a smoker. 

Advertisement

The resulting marital crisis has provoked an enduring insomnia. Doyle juggles a pharmacopeia of sleeping pills, but the sleep is never deep enough to go lucid. Now, at a time when she needs her inner world the most, she is an exile.

Meanwhile, in a clinic outside L.A., Dr. Joseph Green works with patients suffering from the opposite problem. Many of them are terrified of falling asleep. The psychologist specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly the intrusive nightmares so characteristic of that disorder. Green teaches lucidity techniques that allow clients to re-engineer their nightmares from the inside.

Advertisement

While skepticism creates lucidity, faith is required to sustain it. Among oneironauts, the concept takes on an almost religious tone.

The therapist begins by advising patients to document their dreamsthe first step to lucidity. Journaling helps strengthen the connection between the conscious and subconscious mind, and the dream material can be studied for recurring themes. Each theme is an opportunity to perform the vital task of reality testing. For example, Green explained, Ive always had cops in my dreams, so whenever I see a cop during the day, I ask myself, Are you dreaming?  Eventually, the subject asks that question in a dream. Some practitioners test reality by pushing an index finger through the palm of their hand, some pinch their noses and try to breathe, others jump to see if they can levitate. Confirmation instantly subverts reality.

Advertisement

Advertisement

While skepticism creates lucidity, faith is required to sustain it. Among oneironauts, the concept takes on an almost religious tone. As London-based lucid dreaming therapist Dr. Clare Johnson explains, If youre afraid theres a monster around the next corner, lo and behold, there is. If youre worried that a door wont open, lo and behold, its locked. If you believe you can fly, you can fly. If you begin to doubt it, though, down you go. Here, in the dream, the minds role in creating reality is absolute.

Advertisement

Johnson and Green train clients to reflect extreme confidence within dreams. Rather than flee from ones nightmares, the dreamer is encouraged to engage. Everything in the dream is part of you, Johnson notes. Everything is alive, and everything has a message. Instead of running from a monster, turn and face it. Try sending love. Try giving it a gift. Try asking what it wants.

Advertisement

Green described a Vietnam veteran whose best friend died beside him in a firefight. The veteran relived the episode in eruptive nightmares for half a century until the therapist taught him how to rewrite the script. When the dream returned, the veteran became lucid. Get up, he told his dying comrade. The war is over. Were going home. The stricken soldier smiled, and the two men strolled off the battlefield arm in arm. The veteran never had that nightmare again.

Advertisement

Christina Cha was 10 years old when her favorite aunt, Theresa, was raped and murdered. In a recent essay, Cha imagined herself as the girl she had been, addressing the deceased. It was 1982. Purple is my favorite color, and rainbows and unicorns are important to me. She had just been the flower girl at her aunts wedding. When you are found, you wear black and white with red.  [C]loth pieces lying on the ground, empty of you.  Your body, dumped in a parking lot in Little Italy.

Advertisement

The murder, Cha confided, sent a nuclear blast through her family. This heavy seriousness descendedthis heavy silence, just full of rage and sadness. Suddenly, I had to be tough. Being cute was a death sentence. Being girly was shameful. My father began teaching me martial arts. I became hypervigilant. I tried to be invisible.

These therapeutic methods are so beneficial that, having vanquished all naturally occurring nightmares, some oneironauts begin creating their own.

As hard as she tried, however, she could not hide from her nightmares. Theresa had been strangled by her own scarf, and now on a nightly basis, so was Cha. Again and again, she dreamed of serial killers. Sometimes, Theresa appeared as well, only to greet her niece with a ghastly face-warping grin. Chas epiphany came one night as she lay bound in a dark basement somewhere in the depths of her own subconscious. A terrifying figure loomed over her. As always, she was to be raped and murderedexcept this time, Cha became lucid. I just started making fun of my captor, she recalled.  Do it! I shouted. Fucking kill me! And then, he couldnt. He couldnt even get an erection. It was ridiculous and disgusting, but it felt wonderful. I actually said, Is that all youve got?  That was the last serial killer dream Cha would ever have.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Johnson and Green, the successes of Cha and the veteran are common. If you think of a dream as a subconscious message trying to reach your conscious mind, Green explained, when you lucid dream, the message is delivered. After that, theres no reason for the dream to return, and thats what we find time and time again.

These therapeutic methods are so beneficial that, having vanquished all naturally occurring nightmares, some oneironauts begin creating their own. One of Jared Zeizels favorite methods is to summon a negative version of himself to embody his fears and shameful impulses. I call him Dark Jared, Zeizel expounded. Hes a very gaunt-looking, shadowy clone. When Dark Jared is there, I embody Light Jared, and Im able to separate the negative elements of myself from the positive elements.

Advertisement

The summoning ability Zeizel demonstrates is integral to another important clinical processbereavement. If we dream of a deceased loved one, Johnson believes, it can help us maintain a connection with them and trust that theyre OK. In the years I have spent collecting thousands of dreams from around the world, that theme is prevalent. When the dead appear, they are usually joyful and vibrant. The elderly return to the prime of life. The cancer patient has a full head of hair. The victim of dementia remembers everything.

That is how it was with Alexat least initially. Seeing her began to instantly trigger lucidity. I could then overcome the barriers between us, leaping rivers, shattering glass walls with an operatic high note, or pummeling her wardens into submission. For a while, she was impervious to touch. My hand would pass through hers, but we persevered. It helped when she donned gloves. The sense of closure was visceraleven just to say I love you again and hear it back in her exquisite voice contoured by her conspiratorial smile.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Eventually, though, the process began to break down. I could not find Alex so easily anymore. She would appear only as a sound or a fragrance. I would try to fly to her, but a scrum of dream characters would pin me down. I would summon her, but a pile of bones or cured meat would appear instead. It was like a subconscious immune response had been activated.

Nobel Prizewinning physicist Richard Feynman reported something similar in his own lucid experiments in the 1940s. After months of progress, Feynman had a dream in which he realized that his lucidity was caused by sleeping on a brass rod, which had disturbed his visual cortex. After casting off the rod in that dream, he was never able to go lucid again. His brain, Feynman theorized, was tired of him interfering with the natural sleeping process and had invented some false reasons as to why I shouldnt do it anymore.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

We are often told that dreams are not real, but Einsteins experience subverts this idea.

Feynmans fascination with the intersection of dreams and reality was shared by several of his colleagues, including Wolfgang Pauli and Albert Einstein. In adolescence, Einstein had a momentous dream that he would always remember. I was sledding with my friends at night, he recounted. I started to slide down the hill, but my sled started going faster and faster. I was going so fast that I realized I was approaching the speed of light. I looked up at that point and I saw the stars. They were being refracted into colors I had never seen before. I was filled with a sense of awe. I understood in some way that I was looking at the most important meaning in my life. The experience would eventually inspire his theory of relativity. My entire scientific career has been a meditation on my dream, he reflected in his later years.

Advertisement

Advertisement

We are often told that dreams are not real, but Einsteins experience subverts this idea. Ultimately, his dream represents a deeper and more enduring reality. That belief is echoed by many oneironauts, paying out their silver cords, as they venture further and further into the dream world. For them, the distinction between waking life and dream life has become meaningless. Doyle, for example, is unable or unwilling at times to acknowledge a boundary between her worlds. I truly believe that I could regrow my leg, she insists, if I absolutely, and 100 percent beyond the shadow of a doubt, believed that I could.

Advertisement

Thomas Peisel recalled his own journey with lucidity, which culminated in him converting to Buddhism. Lucid dreaming is like an amusement park. When you first get lucid, you want to go on all the rides. After being in the park a thousand times, though, the rides begin to lose their appeal. You start to wonder, Who built this park and why? 

Advertisement

For Peisel, one of his most profound dreams hints at the answer. I could see an entire city before methe people and buildings were crystal clear all the way to the horizon. I remember thinkingnot only am I in this dream, but this dream is inside me. It is a return to the Upanishads. Everything is God, the text claimsGod hiding from himself in the form of a cloud, a tree, you, me.

In the end, Alex died twice. First, in waking life, then gradually in dreamsone reality reflecting another. You have gone too deep, she once warned, in a particularly vivid dream, you shouldnt be here. After that, Alex began to appear less frequently, and only in peripheral roles: a supernumerary, a silhouette in a window. Eventually, a kind of amnesia arose. In a jostling crowd, we collided softly, apologized, and carried on without recognition. It was the last time we ever spoke.

Even though she has vanished again, the memories from my dreams have relieved the sense of loss. I think about how she once wrote, in life, about measuring distances by the degree to which we can comprehend them. The more I comprehend, the more the distance collapses, and the more the dreams become real. For a little while, we were there together inside of the illusiontwo separate beings generated by a single sleeping mind.
Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now...
Bratislavas Foreigners Police department works in a limited regime

People are recommended to visit the place only if necessary.

Due to unexpected technical problems caused by the provider of the phone and internet services, the Foreigners Police department on Regrutska Street in Bratislava will operate in a limited regime as of May 28.

We thus ask all people who intend to visit this workplace to do it only if necessary, the press department of the Interior Ministry informed.

Due to the difficulty of the technical malfunction, it is expected that it will take several days to fix.

The Interior Ministry will inform about the return to ordinary operation of the department as soon as the error is solved.

28. May 2018 at 10:24 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Minister unveils long-awaited rules for the election of Constitutional Court judges

Justice Ministry sent the new rules for the election of Constitutional Court judges into interdepartmental review on May 28.

Font size: A - | A +

On May 28 Justice Minister Gabor Gal submitted draft amendments related to the change of the election of Constitutional Court judges for interdepartmental review. Changes will be introduced through an amendment to the Constitution and amendments to four other laws, one of them a brand-new law on the Constitutional Court drafted by the Justice Ministry.

The constitutional change will require the qualified majority of at least 90 votes in parliament, meaning the ruling coalition will need some opposition votes to advance the changes. Nine out of the 13 judges of the Constitutional Court will end their terms as of February 2019. Parliament must elect 18 candidates for their vacant posts and the president has to appoint nine of them before then. Constitutional law experts deem the election one of the most important events of 2018 in Slovakia.

Read also:

Read also: Lawyers propose their own changes for Constitutional Court elections Read more

Under the proposed rules, the election of candidates for the post of Constitutional Court Judge will require a simple majority (76 votes) of all the present MPs, despite the original proposal requiring 90 votes in the first round for the candidates.

It is going to be very hard to find even the 76 votes in the parliament, Gal told journalists.

The ministry also wants to raise the age limit for eligible candidates from 40 to 45. Some experts have been critical of this intention in the past, saying that it disqualifies distinguished lawyers from the younger generation. Gal now says he does not deem the higher age requirement all that problematic and argues that the candidates will have five more years of practice.

"Practice is very much needed in legal professions," Gal said.

Contrary to the present system, the person who proposes a candidate for Constitutional Court Judge will have to submit a reasoning along with the candidacy proposal, explaining why they believe the candidate to be suitable for the post. The proposal will also have to be accompanied with a letter of motivation, in which the candidate will be required to explain why they have accepted the candidacy proposal.

The candidates should be distinguished personalities in the area of law and will need to have passed one of the professional exams (barrister, notary, judge) as well as regularly publish or lecture and master a global foreign language.

"We are able to prepare much better, cleverer material from the legal perspective but at the end of the day parliament decides the outcome with 90 votes and we need to find those votes, first in the ruling coalition," Gal said, dismissing the discussed proposal to adjust the terms of the judges to secure greater variability in their tenure, to prevent too many judges ending their terms at the same time as is currently the case. "I can imagine a different proposal if Most-Hid ruled alone," added the minister.

Gal dismissed the proposal of some lawyers from last week for the election of Constitutional Court Judges to be public. Gal said he believes personal issues can only be freely decided in a secret vote.

The ministry also proposes that judges in all courts wrap up their term at the end of the year in which they reach the age of 68. Currently, the Judicial Council has to propose the dismissal of a judge due to age to the president. Gal maintains this is an unpredictable system that creates a lack of clarity.

28. May 2018 at 13:20 | Michaela Terenzani
Slovakia supports EU stance on latest findings on MH17 flight

FAM: Slovakia supports the EUs stance on the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over the Ukraine in 2014, asking Russia for cooperation and to accept responsibility.

Reacting to the latest findings of the international investigation team concerning the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over the Ukraine on July 17, 2014, Slovakia fully supports the European Unions stance in which it has called on Russia to fully cooperate with all efforts to establish accountability, the Foreign Affairs Ministry informed on May 25.

The ministry added, as quoted by the TASR newswire, that it takes the latest findings of a Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) very seriously. We expect consequences to be drawn for this barbaric act that killed 298 people, it wrote, as cited by TASR.

The joint investigation team announced on May 24 that the BUK installation used to bring down flight MH17 belonged to Russias armed forces. All 298 people onboard MH17, which was heading from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, died when it was shot down over conflict-hit Ukraine on July 17, 2014. Most of the passengers were of Dutch origin.

Australia and the Netherlands said they are holding Russia responsible for downing the jet; while Russia has denied any involvement in the incident.

28. May 2018 at 13:31 | Compiled by Spectator staff
The ban on Uber in Slovakia is probably not final

The state gives a second chance to the car-service application, economic daily writes.

The ban on the Uber service introduced in Slovakia in March will probably not be final, as the Transport Ministry is working on an amendment to the Act on Road Transport which would enable its return. Transport Minister Arpad Ersek has invited affected taxi organisations and the third sector to discuss the planned measures, the Hospodarske noviny daily wrote on May 25.

The European Union member states were encouraged to create a space enabling digital platforms to do their business by the European Commission, Robert Chovanculiak of the INESS think tank said, as quoted by the daily.

Read also:

Read also: Uber out of service in Bratislava, for now Read more

The proper due law elaborating on how to create space for digital platform enterprise can even help increase tax collection.

Taxi-drivers reaction

Taxi drivers say they are not satisfied with the current version of the law. The changes stated in the law might particularly help the other side, head of the Civic Association of Licensed Taxi Drivers Matej Krampl said, as quoted by the daily. However, he added that they do not plan to strike anymore.

The amendment to the Act on Road Transport has been through the preparatory phase and is now to be commented on by other ministries. Then, it will be voted upon in parliament.

Ups and downs of the amendment

The draft amendment, prepared by the ministry and the INESS, should liberalise conditions for taxi licenses, creating a special category of so-called contractual transport. It would require a digital platform (e.g. Uber) to send the client information about the drive afterwards, and an electronic document or invoice. If the draft is approved it will require drivers to have a self-employed license or some other form of doing business enabling them to pay taxes.

The shared economy could be used to improve tax collection, the EC claims, adding that full digitalisation will prevent unreported, black rides.

Legal digital alternatives could exist parallel to classical taxi services, Chovanculiak argues, giving countries like Latvia or Estonia as examples.

28. May 2018 at 13:28 | Compiled by Spectator staff
New ambiguities surround President Kiskas campaign

President Andrej Kiska paid for both parts of his campaign through the KTAG company.

Font size: A - | A +

How did, in fact, Andrej Kiska pay for his campaign? Since 2013, the Slovak president has repeated that he paid for the whole campaign from his own pockets. It turns out, however, he did not pay for any part of the campaign directly from his own money. This stems from invoices someone sent to the private TV broadcaster, Markiza.

Why did he do it?

Each campaign has two parts: an informational part, which can last for several months, and an official part, which begins 15 days before the election. The latter has stricter rules and candidates can spend a maximum of 133,000 on it.

Kiska repeatedly claimed that he paid for the second part of his campaign from his own account. But Markiza has available invoices which suggest the due money came from accounts of his company, KTAG. Despite this inconsistency, the president insists he did not lie, and the money was actually his.

He paid for the campaign by transferring money from his private account to his KTAG company, and the company then covered the TV commercials, advertisements and billboards, said his spokesman, Roman Krpelan. He did not further explain why Kiska did it this way but the published information does not automatically mean Kiska acted for some dubious reason.

This may have been more comfortable for him, or he was simply unable to do it on his own, financial manager and former auditor, Marian Jaros, said. Lets say that instead of 50 payments, he thus managed the whole campaign by a single one, to the account of his company, he adds.

Tax consultant Alica Orda Oravcova sees it similarly, and explains that this procedure is not prohibited in Slovakia. However, some accounting and tax rules must be observed still.

Such a procedure is most often used if the whole administration (orders, individual payments, etc.) is secured by company employees, and then, it charge's it all out to a natural entity (Kiska, in this case- ed. note), she adds.

Various ways

Currently, many things are unclear surrounding payments for the official campaign. Besides not being known which contract, or agreement, Kiska and KTAG had between themselves, it is not clear at all whether there was any.

It is not known, either, what the presidents company reported in its tax return. Nor is it known whether he changed the way in which he financed the official campaign in additional tax returns.

He reported them after some time when tax officials discovered incongruities in KTAG's accountancy, in connection with the first information campaign. Without these details, it is thus impossible to completely determine whether everything was correct or what was the result of the tax correction.

Kiska may have paid for the official campaign in several ways. He could have ordered services from KTAG as a natural entity, and then use it for the official election campaign. In that case, the company may have accounted for its expenses in fulfilling the order as tax-deductible expenses but only if KTAG had invoiced these services after the end of the campaign. This is not stated, though, in the originally reported balance of accounts.

It is possible, too, that he agreed with the company it would pay his campaign invoices for him, and thus, KTAG had an account receivable towards him which Kiska paid within the deadline, together with interest. In that case, the company could not deduct the work on his campaign from taxes, nor state these services in accounting costs.

There is also a chance that Kiska did not order the campaign but rather received it from his own company as gift. This may have not been stated in accounting statements but the connected taxes and levies would be stated there. A gift to an executive director from his own company is liable to taxes and levies just as a salary is.

Amounts do not fit

Besides questions on what kind of contract Kiska had with KTAG, another incongruity appeared, according to Markiza. The invoices paid imply that the president paid more for the campaign than he originally claimed.

Kiska stated he spent a total of 251,000 for the first and second round of the official campaign. However, the invoices are actually worth a total of 268,000. If this is true, it would mean that the president exceeded the financial limit (266,000) stipulated by law.

Among the invoices are two for the public opinion poll which, according to the Presidents Office, need not have been included. In that case, costs for the campaign were 259,000 and the difference against the sum declared would be around 8,000.

The Presidents Office informed it was looking for necessary documents in the archive of the KTAG company, and it will comment more in detail on the situation if they manage to find them. Part of the documents may be currently in the hands of the police and the Prosecutors Office, who investigate tax matters of Kiskas firm.

Krpelan believes sending the invoices to TV Markiza was part of an ongoing effort to discredit and smear Kiska's name, which the chairman of Smer, who recently admitted to having information underlying tax secrecy that only the National Criminal Agency and Financial Administration have at their disposal, announced recently.

This concerns the press conference, which Smer MP Robert Fico summoned recently to claim, without knowing details, the results of the tax official's audit are disastrous.

28. May 2018 at 16:06 | Michaela Stalmach Kusnirova
Tourist boats from two northern Vietnamese localities that share the same body of water home to the famous Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island are reportedly banned from directly entering the territorial waters of each other, causing complications in local tourism development.

Cat Ba Island is a popular travel destination administered by Hai Phong City, whereas Ha Long Bay is under the management of Ha Long, the capital of Quang Ninh Province.

Both of the destinations are located within the Gulf of Tokin, with Cat Ba Island lying at the southeastern edge of Ha Long Bay and maintaining the dramatic and rugged features of the bay.

Cat Ba is commonly used as an overnight hotel stop on tours to Ha Long Bay run by travel agents from Hanoi.

However, many tourist boats have complained that they are not able to carry passengers straight to Ha Long Bay after touring Cat Ba.

No trespassing

Vu Thi Thom, head of the Cat Ba Tourist Boat Association, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that tourist boats from the island often have to undergo scrutiny by waterway authorities of Quang Ninh whenever they attempt to take customers to Ha Long Bay.

Visitors have no choice but to travel by land to Quang Ninh and board boats from there to get to Ha Long in order to explore the caves and islands in the renowned bay.

The natural heritage does not merely belong to Ha Long, but a public tourist destination of Vietnam as a whole, Thom complained.

Previously, boats departing from the Ben Beo Port in Hai Phong were still able to take tourists to Ha Long Bay.

All we had to do then was buy tickets for our guests when we arrived at the bay, she said.

But we are now even banned from admiring the bay from afar.

As soon as a ship from Hai Phong reaches Ha Long waters, Quang Ninh authorities would appear and chase it away.

A corner of Cat Ba Island, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

It turns out that Quang Ninh authorities also prohibit boats departing from local ports from directly traveling to Cat Ba waters, according to some travel companies, which provide three-day-two-night packages in Ha Long Bay.

Such packages are originally designed to have holidaymakers spend the first night in Ha Long before going to Cat Ba the following morning.

However, in the wake of the ban, tourists in fact have to return to the mainland in Quang Ninh and spend two hours on a passenger bus to Hai Phong, where they can board another ship to Cat Ba Island.

Nguyen Tien Tung, director of a tour operator in Cat Ba, said that the ban was only put in place after Quang Ninhs tourism authorities set a target of making at least VND600 billion (US$26.4 million) a year from selling tickets to Ha Long Bay.

Tung did not specify when the goal was set.

Better management

Pham Dinh Huynh, deputy head of the Ha Long Bay management board, told Tuoi Tre that the ban on ships traveling from Hai Phong to Ha Long Bay comply with regulations on waterway transport management.

Any boat wishing to travel from Hai Phong to Quang Ninh, and vice versa, has to obtain permission for that route from local port authorities, Huynh elaborated.

In a directive issued in 2015, the Quang Ninh administration also stipulated that only entities with a legal presence in the northern province would be allowed to offer tourist services in Ha Long Bay and the nearby Bai Tu Long Bay.

This means travel firms based in other localities must open a branch in Quang Ninh and pay tax to the provincial budget to comply with the rules.

An aerial view of Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

It is unreasonable because not all businesses have the capability to open a branch in Quang Ninh, Tung complained.

But Ho Quang Huy, deputy chairman of Ha Long City, explained that the decision was meant to better oversee the operations of boats and ships in Ha Long Bay.

Addressing complaints that ships departing from Hai Phong would face scrutiny when reaching Quang Ninh waters, Huy said the provinces inspectors are authorized to stop boats for checks, and penalize the owners of vessels that do not meet technical standards.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Thousands of brightly-colored lanterns are being decorated on the embankment of a major canal spanning over several urban districts in Ho Chi Minh City in preparation for Vesak Day, also known as Buddhas Birthday.

Vesak Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, a religious figure recognized by Buddhists as a teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end rebirth and suffering, and on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.

This year, the occasion falls on May 29.

On that day, the main ceremony to mark the Buddha's birthday will be celebrated at Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in District 10, according to the Venerable Thich Tri Quang, head of affairs at the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam.

On May 22, the Buddha-bathing ceremony was also organized at this venue, whereas the colorful lanterns were hung along the embankment of Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal.

Seven large lotus-shaped lanterns were floated on the canal.

The three-meter-tall lotus flowers, with a diameter of more than five meters, have their base attached to the buoys to float on the water, and are equipped with lighting systems inside to make them shimmer when night falls.

The lanterns all look so eye-catching that I find it very nice to carry my grandchild here and walk, Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, a local in Phu Nhuan District, said.

It is anticipated that thousands of Buddhists and local officials will attend the ceremony, which will begin on the early morning of Tuesday and continue into the evening with a series of rituals and activities celebrating the year 2562 in the Buddhist calendar.

Below are some photos capturing lanterns illuminating the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Seven large lotus-shaped lanterns by Quan Am Monastery are seen on Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Seven large lotus-shaped lanterns by Quan Am Monastery are seen on Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

One of the seven large lotus-shaped lanterns by Quan Am Monastery is seen on Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Local people enjoy a walk along the embankment of Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal in the beautiful light of brightly-colored lanterns. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, a Phu Nhuan District resident, carries her grandchild while walking along the canal. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A couple choose the shimmery embankment of Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal for their date. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A couple choose the shimmery embankment of Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal for their date. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Big lamp posts set along the embankment of Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal are seen in this photo. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A little girl adopts a pose next to the brightly-colored lanterns. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A local prays for peace in front of a Buddha statue. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A woman watches a brightly-colored lantern. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A man and his two sons watch the lanterns and the giant lotus shining on the canal. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A woman watches the brightly-colored lanterns. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A rescue team worked hard for more than two days to bring home the body of a backpacker who was found dead after getting lost while trekking through a forest path in southern Vietnam over a week ago.

T.A.K. went missing on May 11 while trekking in a group on the 60-kilometer Ta Nang-Phan Dung trail, which runs from Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands to the south-central province of Binh Thuan.

The forest covering the trail is famous for its scenic beauty but poses potential danger to first-time explorers, as it has a number of waterfalls and fast-flowing streams.

Over 100 people had joined in the efforts to search for the missing 24-year-old trekker, before he was finally found dead and trapped at the bottom of the Lao Phao waterfall in the jungle on May 20.

It was not until May 23 that the rescuers managed to transport the body to the end of the Ta Nang-Phan Dung trail in Binh Thuan, after a strenuous bid that lasted about 50 hours.

The victims mother was there to receive her son's corpse and took him to Ho Chi Minh City.

Arduous task

K.s body had lain at the waterfall for more than ten days as attempts to retrieve it met with hindrances of accessibility to the forest.

The body of A.T.K. is moved on a rope up a waterfall in Binh Thuan, south-central Vietnam, in this supplied photo.

A group of volunteers knowing the trail well and mastering rescue skills was formed for the purpose, including Nguyen Quoc Huy and Tran Ly Tuong, who felt sorry for the plight of the victim.

Now that the search and rescue efforts ended, the group recalled the tough task and explained why it took them more than two days to be able to retrieve the body.

On the first day after knowing of the location of the deceased trekker, the group set off in the early morning in Da Lat, the capital of Lam Dong, walked along devious paths in the jungle for nearly five hours before reaching the three-story waterfall, where K. was lying, according to Huy.

This is a completely deserted place that even no natives have ever got to, Huy said.

All members had to wear face masks and put on medicated oil to protect themselves from the assault of the odor emanating from the badly decomposing body, which they were unable to stand near for 30 seconds with a bare nose.

Tuong said they anchored ropes at several points up the waterfall cliff, which he estimated to be 90 meters high, and manually pulled the body to the top gradually.

The body of A.T.K. is moved on a rope up a waterfall in Binh Thuan, south-central Vietnam, in this supplied photo.

The body was left at one-third of the height of the waterfall from the bottom when night fell and the volunteers became exhausted.

They stayed awake through the night, shivering in icy cold winds in the jungle.

We initially thought the job would be done within a day, so we didnt bring much food, he admitted.

But it turned out to be too difficult and lasted longer than expected.

At the end of the day, our stomach was rumbling ravenously.

Huy added that the rescuers were worried they had to start afresh if there was a problem with the anchors and ropes.

We were all nervous and just wanted the morning to come quickly, he said.

The volunteers resumed at dawn and continued hard into the late afternoon, when they again felt worn out as a result of moving the rope system and pulling the body to the top.

The body was then carried on a motorbike down a one-meter-wide slope which they said can only be maneuvered by the most skillful riders.

Huy recalled that surrounding the vehicle was four subgroups; one cleared the path at its front, two kept the motorbike in balance and the other held the body in place at the rear.

We inched down along the way, hands all numb, he continued.

They reached the end of the Ta Nang-Phan Dung trail fatigued at 10:00 pm on May 25, around 50 hours since the strenuous effort was initiated.

The victims mother collapsed at the sight of her sons body, and the volunteers were moved to tears at the moment.

The mother had wept copiously for over ten days. Her voice was choked while she was saying the childs name, Tuong said.

Volunteers take a rest in a forest in Binh Thuan, south-central Vietnam, in this supplied photo.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Australian Greens have raised the question of Eurovision boycotts by SBS in Jerusalem due to recent violence in Gaza.

It follows calls for a boycott in Iceland and Ireland. It has also been raised in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Last week Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon quizzed SBS CEO Michael Ebeid at a Senate Estimates hearing.

Recent events along the Gaza border have shown that the Israeli army engage in lethal military actions, on days that are seen as significant or when Palestinian-protests are planned, she said.

This means Eurovisions activities could impact on who lives and who dies. Will SBS consider these factors when it considers whether to participate in next years contest or if its held in 2020?

Michael Ebeid reminded the Senator SBS has been broadcasting Eurovision for 35 years -an event that started 62 years ago post-World War II to reunify Europe.

The whole point of Eurovision is to forget politics, forget all of that and unite communities and countries together in the spirit of song, in the spirit of celebration, in the spirit of culture. It transcends things youre talking about, he said.

Israel has won before, Israel has hosted before and it in the spirit of unity and bringing people together and cultures together I cant imagine that we would not televise Eurovision next year.

Asked specifically if SBS had been following calls for a boycott of the 2019 event, Ebeid said, Ive certainly not seen any serious boycott, I know some quarters have talked about it but as I say the European Broadcasting Union is all about uniting people and communities not about the dividing them and and Eurovision Song Contest is something that transcends politics.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, siting beside Ebeid at the time, suggested Senator Rhiannon might be more interested in the Intervision Song Contest, previously the Eastern Bloc equivalent to Eurovision.
Sunrise was forced to apologise to Malcolm Turnbull after David Koch was one of several media misled by a man who claimed he PM had queue-jumped him in a local pub.

The Prime Minister was at a Politics in the Pub event in Brisbanes Carindale Hotel when he committed the ultimate pub sin, cutting in front of the line to get a beer. Twenty-six-year-old landscaper Nick Gordon, known as Bluey, wasnt impressed and flipped the bird at our leader, Koch said last Wednesday.

As Media Watch reported, the man being ejected and fined for refusing to leave the premises, was enough for Kochie calling on the PM to pay the fine.

David Koch: Itd be fair to say you were protecting Australian culture, werent you? Our heritage?

Nick Gordon: Yeah, yeah, yeah, thats exactly right.

David Koch: So Bluey you didnt swear at him, you didnt drop the f-bomb or anything like that. You were just pointing out the etiquette of every pub.

Nick Gordon: Yeah, yeah, Im just pretty much just saying it just how it is.

Other media also weighed in on the great Australian sin of queue-jumping at the pub.

But Peter Van Onselen asked on The Project: Do we really know that he tried to push in or are we just assuming that?

The Courier Mail revealed footage that showed the PM did not queue jump, prompting a hasty Sunrise retreat.

Pushing in at the pub is the kind of stain that stays with a man for life. Here in Australia it is unforgivable. Nick, that was a dastardly thing to do and make up, big fella. You cant do that, Kochie said on Thursday.

It was good to get the vision.. youve got to check these things out.

Sam Armytage added, Apologies to the Prime Minister.
The truck strike in iran started in parts of Shiraz and Isfahan last Tuesday and drivers announced they will not go back to work until they receive higher transportation fares, higher drivers insurance, and payable prices for spare parts.

Officials in certain cities have tried to persuade the drivers to stop their strike and made promises to them that there is going to be a 17 percent rise in their fares. But the drivers are not taking it seriously and say the government has always lied to them. The Transportation Organization called on all drivers to go back to their jobs as there will be a 20 percent rise in load fares but the drivers said they will remain striking till fares go up to 50 percent.

Over a thousand fuel tank drivers also went on strike

By the fourth day and onward, 1,700 fuel tank drivers from Isfahan Province stopped working as well as taxi drivers belonging to the Snap Internet Company. Videos sent from Tehran showed 280 passenger buses in a convoy that were travelling empty.

Repressive Forces took aggressive attempts to try and make drivers in Islamabad Gharb and Hamedan pull back from their union and attacked strikers with electric shockers and tear gas that wounded some of them.

In the run-up to the strike, gas stations in numerous cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, and Kazerun went short on petrol and some stations had to close. The gasoline stations are still experiencing long queues of cars parked outside until they can start pumping again.

Ongoing protests in Iran

State-run media desperately tries to show the situation as calm and under control, mentioning only four provinces being on strike. Now the facts of this tough uprising are becoming clear to the world as Al-Arabia TV and Sky News Arabia have broadcast the scenes on satellite.

Activists across Iran are reporting a whopping number of 233 protests across the country from May 17th to the 23rd.

This leads to an average of 33 protest rallies each day. These protests continue the massive December uprising last year in December. People from throughout society poured into the streets, calling for the ruling mullahs overthrow.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the Iranian Resistance, saluted the striking truckers and heavyweight vehicle drivers and called on all Iranians to support the striking drivers.

This is while the Iranian regime is on the verge of US sanctions and the situation will likely deteriorate further. The Iranian people will not tolerate the current situation and the protests will continue till the overthrow of the Iranian dictatorship.
Saturday night was a big night. Liverpool fans were disappointed by the Champions League final result and the Republic of Ireland held a referendum (on Friday) to decide whether or not the people wanted to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, which put a ban on women getting abortions. As it turns out, they do, since the result of the referendum was a pretty resounding 'yes'. 66.4% of the people voted to repeal in a landslide historical event that is being celebrated by winners throughout the UK  and especially in Northern Ireland which has always been more restrictive than the rest of the UK.

.

The amendment had formerly meant that women who wanted to get abortions would have to travel overseas in order to undergo the operations, but that presented all sorts of problems. For example, some of them could not afford to make the trip and would therefore be forced to have a baby that they also couldnt afford to raise. Plus, you would have to get the time off work to travel over there. So, it was far from an ideal situation. Now, after all the passionate campaigning in the lead up to the referendum, the majority vote came in and theyve decided to repeal the amendment, so that isnt going to be a problem for Irish women anymore.

Only a single Irish constituency voted against repealing the eighth amendment in this referendum, which is a sign that times are changing in a momentous way.

With a voter turnout of 64.1%, the number of votes in favour of yes to repealing the amendment were double the amount of that in favour of keeping things the way they were. Now, the ban on abortion will be lifted by the Irish government in a groundbreaking historical event that nobody couldve seen coming.

Constituency that voted against gay marriage voted to repeal the eighth amendment

The constituency Roscommon-Galway, which was the only one to vote against same-sex marriage when that referendum came around, was surprisingly not the one that voted against repealing this amendment in the Irish Constitution. In fact, its constituents voted in favour of repealing it with a majority vote of 57.2%.

The constituency that did not vote in favour of the repeal was actually Donegal. According to reports, this is due to the fact that a large amount of the youth vote in that constituency are actually registered to vote in other regions of the country.

Leo Varadkar, the Prime Minister (technically the Taoiseach, but thats a complicated word that essentially means Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland, had been campaigning in favour of the repeal. Ecstatic about the vote for reform, he has said that the decision made in the referendum is the culmination of a quiet revolution thats been taking place in Ireland over the past twenty years. He also said that the vote shows that the Irish people now trust and respect women to make the right choices and decisions about their own healthcare.

Yes campaigners call for it to be called Savitas law

The people who campaigned day and night to educate Irish voters on the importance of womens freedom to have abortions in anticipation of the referendum vote have celebrated their victory by calling for the new legislation to be called Savitas law, in honour of Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 after being denied the right to terminate her pregnancy.

This call is coming officially from the group Together for Yes, which is a blanket group that represents all of the organisations that supported the pro-repeal movement.

Halappanavar became the face of the pro-repeal campaign when she died at age 31 and she is credited with the revolution that has led to this weekends referendum and its result. So, since she has always been the symbol of this movement, the officials in charge of it have decided that it would only be right to name the new law that wouldve prevented her death after her.
The U.S government is receiving some major criticism for losing track of 1.475 immigrant children in their custody last year. According to HHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the children all crossed the U.S border alone and were labeled "unaccompanied alien children."

The children were placed in the U.S with a sponsor and according to Steven Wagner, acting assistant secretary at HHS, attempts were made to reach up to 7,635 children and their sponsors, but only 6.075 of them turned out to still be living with the sponsors. According to the Washington Post, the location of the rest of the children is currently unknown.

Additionally, the decision of the Trump administration to increase criminal prosecutions of parents entering the U.S illegally and separating them from their children has fueled the outrage of the American public. In light of this criticism, President Trump took to Twitter to express his anger towards this new policy, despite the fact that it was with his administration that supported the policy. The policy states that parents that are caught crossing the border illegally, will have their children taken away from them and then they will be criminally prosecuted, according to MSNBC.

Outraged public takes to Twitter

In his tweet, President Trump called for pressure to be put on Democrats to "end the horrible law that separates children from their parents once they cross the border into the U.S." This tweet has had many scratching their heads, due to the fact that Trump's administration is made up of many Republicans.

Put pressure on the Democrats to end the horrible law that separates children from there parents once they cross the Border into the U.S. Catch and Release, Lottery and Chain must also go with it and we MUST continue building the WALL! DEMOCRATS ARE PROTECTING MS-13 THUGS.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2018

This would not be the first time Trump has caused outrage among the public regarding his migration policies.

When campaigning for president, he repeatedly said he would limit immigration from mainly Muslim countries such as Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. In the past week, the outrage found it's ground in two hashtags, #WhereAreTheChildren and #MissingChildren.

In response, Health and Human Services officials have argued that it is not their responsibility to find those children since they are no longer in their care after being released from the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which falls under HHS.

FYI, another point about this: we do not know how many of these children werent located because they and their relatives in the US (who might even be their parents!) made the decision to go off the grid to reduce deportation risk.  Dara Lind (@DLind) May 26, 2018

But those arguments have not done much to sooth the angry voices of the public. Twitter users also aimed their fury at Ivanka Trump, President Trump's eldest daughter, when she tweeted a picture of herself, holding her two-year-old son. The image was said to be tactless, in light of the widespread news reports that children were being taken from their mothers at the U.S borders.

The policy an attempt to scare parents away

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been widely judged for his stand on the matter.

On 7 May, Sessions announced that although he understood the circumstances and sympathized with those trying to access the country, the U.S simply could not take everyone in.

In addition, he advised anyone trying to enter the country illegally, not to do so as they would be prosecuted and their children taken away. To many, that was a cold statement. But according to the Washington Post report, those actions may have been put in place to reduce the illegal immigrants and scare parents into not to take their children with them.

John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, said in an interview that this would act as a warning to those migrant parents who might be thinking of crossing the borders.

The Trump administration has long been criticized for its take on immigration.

In December of last year, Trump pulled America out of the United Nations agreement, previously favored by his predecessor Barack Obama. The agreement would have ensured up to 60 million migrants worldwide basic human rights. Trump is also still fighting for the wall he promised his voters he would have Mexico pay for along the U.S-Mexican borders, but Mexico has said they have no plans for financing the construction.
"Ant and Dec" have built up a large following over their successful thirty-year career together. The Geordie best friends have made a career from simply being themselves. They have many awards and accolades under their belts including OBEs and an NTA Landmark Award. The dynamic duo have been successful at whatever they put their hands to, and all with a clean record.

So, many fans were shocked when in 2017, it was revealed that Ant McPartlin was suffering from a drug and alcohol addiction. According to Birmingham Live, he sought help, and fans were pleased to see the continuation of the much loved 'Ant and Dec.' The revelations of Ant's struggle came as a surprise, but everyone showed him their support.

However, his sobriety was not to last. OK Magazine reported that in March 2018, McPartlin was under the influence, with much greater consequences than before. This time he was caught drink-driving, after being involved in an accident. A month later he was fined  86,000 and given a twenty-month driving ban.

Where is Ant?

According to Heart UK, Ant McPartlin is currently undergoing rehab to fight his addiction. Once again, he has the support of the duo's large and loving fanbase. He was, of course, part of the BGT auditions, that were pre-recorded before the incident. Saturday night saw the last of McPartlin's appearances, marking the start of Declan Donnelly working alone.

Fans were able to enjoy the comedic duo's famous banter during the auditions.

This prompted the conversation about what will happen to future "Ant and Dec" hosting positions. Although many were sure that Donnelly would host alone, it led some to wonder what other television duos could replace them.

What will happen with their other hosting positions such as "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" has yet to be decided, but it is hoped that they will both return.

An arrest under his belt and the scare of losing his career may be just what McPartlin needs to help him fight his addiction for good this time.

Dec continues the hard work

Declan Donnelly has stuck by his best friend throughout his struggles. He continues to show his support by taking on their commitments on his own. It shows the respect the pair have earned over their career, with ITV allowing Dec to continue without Ant.

Could this mean that Ant will return?

The live 'BGT' shows will not be Donnelly's first time hosting solo. After McPartlin's first rehab stint, it was left to Donnelly to finish the last two weeks of live shows for "Ant and Dec's Saturday night takeaway." He received positive reviews for his skills and commitment to his career. However, the live shows for "BGT" will be a lot longer.

Many fans worry that the much-loved banter between "Ant and Dec" that comes along with "BGT" may be lost. But Donnelly does have support behind him, and it is hoped that he will succeed. It is also hoped that Donnelly's hard work, will mean that McPartlin will be able to slot back in when he recovers. But fans are still left wondering; is this the end of "Ant and Dec?"
FILE PHOTO: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attends a meeting with Muslim leaders and scholars in Hyderabad, India, February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/File Photo

Thomson Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will host Iranian President Hassan Rouhani next month at a regional summit in a Chinese coastal city, the country's foreign ministry said on Monday, as major power scramble to save Iran's nuclear deal after the United States pulled out.

Rouhani will pay a working visit to China and attend the summit of the China and Russia-led security bloc the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the ministry said.

It did not give exact dates for his visit, but the summit is scheduled to be held on the second weekend of June in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao.

Iran is currently an observer member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, though it has long sought full membership.

Russia has previously argued that with Western sanctions against Tehran lifted, it could finally become a member of the bloc which also includes four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, Pakistan and India.

The 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions on Tehran. In return, Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities, increasing the time it would need to produce an atom bomb if it chose to do so.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States this month, calling the agreement deeply flawed, European states have been scrambling to ensure Iran gets enough economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal.

China has also strongly supported the deal and is one of its signatories.

(Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry)

See Also:
In this article:

* European shares edge up

* Italian banks see short-lived bounce

* UK, U.S. markets closed for holiday

May 28 - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to

you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to

share your thoughts on market moves: helen.reid.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

"WE ARE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS": SELL THE ITALIAN RALLY! (0859 GMT)

It looks like relief that Italy won't see an anti-establishment government taking immediate

power has already dissipated, as investors ponder possible outcomes of a autumn election.

The reversal was expected but its timing wasn't and the turn lower materialised fast: in

less than 90 minutes.

After rising 3.3 percent at the open, Italian banks - a key proxy for political

risk in Italy due to their big government bond holdings - have turned negative.

"We are in a constitutional crisis," Exane says in a note this morning where it tells

clients to sell the Italian rally.

"Italexit risk / EUR systemic risk - albeit still minimal- should be repriced in and any

relief rally should be sold..., unless you were to see M5S opening up to Cottarelli (case a) or

PD to M5S (case d), not on the cards for now," the French broker adds.

Gilles Guibout, portfolio manager at AXA IM in Paris, also warned us there would be a

short-lived bounce.

Here's what he said when we spoke to him last night: "A rebound is possible in the short

term since there wont be a government, but if there is (a rebound) I dont believe it will

last. Now (Frankfurt: 11N.F - news) we need to understand what could be the outcome of a new vote but what's clear is that

Europe will be at the centre of the debate of the next campaign."

For more, check out our latest update from Rome: Italy's president is expected to ask a

former International Monetary Fund official on Monday to head a stopgap government amidst

political and constitutional turmoil, with early elections looking inevitable.

Story continues

(Danilo Masoni)

*****

OPENING SNAPSHOT: RELIEF IN ITALY AND SPAIN (0803 GMT)

Italian markets have opened strongly higher this morning, with banks and utilities in

particular driving gains and helping European shares into positive territory.

But the surge at the open has moderated somewhat as several analysts note that new elections

do not preclude there potentially being an even more radical government voted in. With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) elections

- if they occur - likely not until the autumn, investors are also likely faced with a power

hiatus over the summer.

Still, optimism over Italy has spilled over into Spain too, pushing the IBEX up after

Friday's sharp fall on fears of a no confidence vote.

Germany's DAX is leading the way, up 0.5 percent. Economy Minister Peter Altmaier just said

Germany is seeking a deal to end a dispute between the U.S. and EU over Trump's steel and

aluminium import tariffs.

Prices could be more volatile today with thinner volumes due to holidays closing Wall Street

trading as well as the UK.

(Helen Reid)

*****

WHAT'S ON THE RADAR FOR THE EUROPEAN OPEN (0649 GMT)

European stocks are set for a bounceback on Monday as investors grow more optimistic over

the region after Italys president vetoed anti-establishment parties eurosceptic pick for

economy minister, setting the country on a path to likely fresh elections. Progress towards a

summit between North Korea and the U.S. also helped risk appetite overnight.

Futures for the Eurostoxx 50, DAX, CAC 40 and IBEX are up 0.3 to 0.7 percent while Britains

FTSE 100 is closed for a holiday.

A rally in the euro  a bellwether of confidence in the European Unions resilience  and

decline in Italian bond yields indicated the anti-establishment parties failure was well

received by investors.

Some analysts, including at Societe Generale (Swiss: 519928.SW - news) and Berenberg, were however warning new

elections in Italy could make matters worse, opening the possibility of a more radical outcome,

and the likelihood of a power vacuum over the summer with elections in the autumn.

After a sharp sell-off on Friday futures for the Spanish stock market are also rising,

indicating some relief there too after concerns Prime Minister Rajoy would face a vote of no

confidence.

Oil stocks are however likely to be a drag after crude prices tumbled as OPEC and Russia

said they were discussing raising oil production by some 1 million barrels per day.

In a thin day for corporate news Swiss Re (LSE: 0QL6.L - news) stands out, pulling the plug on talks with

SoftBank (Swiss: SOFB.SW - news) to acquire a minority stake. News the two were in talks had sent the shares up at the

end of March, so there could be some selling after drawn-out talks were fruitless.

(Helen Reid)

*****

EUROPE ON TRACK FOR BOUNCEBACK AS EURO OPTIMISM RETURNS (0615 GMT)

It looks like European stock markets are set for a bounceback today after Spanish and

Italian political turmoil dented performance on Friday.

If there is going to be stress from Italy, it'll be relatively contained - and some

investors are even calling for a bounce on relief that the anti-establishment government won't

materialise. Indeed Italian bond yields are falling back after the parties abandoned plans to

form a government.

Renewed optimism over a U.S.-North Korea summit is likely to also be helping boost European

futures this morning, while the euro - the barometer of investors' confidence in the euro zone -

has rallied half a percent, after hitting a low.

Futures are up 0.3 to 0.6 percent. Here's your snapshot:

(Helen Reid)

*****

EARLY MORNING HEADLINE ROUND-UP (0557 GMT)

Here's this morning's harvest of corporate, M&A and political headlines to digest, including

Swiss Re and SoftBank ending talks about a potential minority investment.

Daimler (IOB: 0NXX.IL - news) faces scrutiny of 120,000 Vito, C-Class diesels -BamS

Deutsche Post (IOB: 0H3Q.IL - news) considers raising price for letter postage -report

Fiat Chrysler recalls 5.3 mln vehicles for cruise control defect

Smiths Group (Frankfurt: QS2A.F - news) , ICU Medical (Frankfurt: 894139 - news) in talks about medical division merger

Audi CEO says diesel crisis not over and vows to stay on - report

Enel (LSE: 0NRE.L - news) in advanced talks with Russia's Melnichenko over Reftinskaya coal plant sale - sources

LafargeHolcim (LSE: 0QKY.L - news) to close Paris, Zurich head offices, axing 200 jobs

Veolia CEO sees opportunities in China from Beijing's waste crackdown

Gemalto Announces Collaboration With Qualcomm Technologies

Swiss Re, SoftBank pull plug on talks about minority stake

Italy's president calls in former IMF official amid political turmoil

Italy's efforts to form govt fail as president defends euro

(Helen Reid)

*****

ITALY: NEW ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON? (0553 GMT)

Italy's efforts to form a government have failed after the President vetoed the two

anti-establishment parties' pick for economy minister - and early elections are looking

inevitable.

"President Mattarella has announced he is going to meet with Mr Carlo Cottarelli, former

head of the Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF tomorrow," writes Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) ' senior

economist Silvia Ardagna in a note late last night.

"Most likely, President Mattarella will grant Mr Cottarelli a mandate to form a caretaker

government, in our view, as the various attempts to form a conventional government have failed."

She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) doesn't expect a caretaker government to win a confidence vote in Parliament, and says

new elections could take place "as early as October".

Societe Generale analysts say "most political parties have said they will not support such a

government and want elections soon, maybe in September". A general election has never been held

over the summer period, so the prospect of an "extended hiatus in power" looms, they add.

The new election campaign could also become a referendum on a euro, and there's a likelihood

that an even more radical government will be brought in, SocGen (Paris: FR0000130809 - news) notes, making it a volatile

environment for investors.

(Helen Reid)

*****

MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN STOCKS SEEN RISING AS EURO SLIDES ON ITALY RISK (0526 GMT)

Italian political risk is likely to loom large again today in European trading after the

President rejected 5-Star and League's choice for economy minister, Paolo Savona, a eurosceptic.

The euro hit a 6 1/2 month low late on Friday but is bouncing back in early trading. The

currency's drop is still likely to give a boost to euro zone stock markets, while Italian stocks

could still see choppy trading after a fragile Friday.

Overnight U.S. oil futures hit six-week lows on expectations major producers may ease

production cuts, which could weigh on European commodities stocks. Overall Asian markets gained

on further signs the U.S. and North Korea were still working towards holding a summit.

UK stock markets are closed for trading today due to a bank holiday, but euro zone

benchmarks are seen rising.

Spreadbetters call the DAX 36 points higher at 12,974 and the CAC 40 up 2 points at 5,545.

(Helen Reid)

*****

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Kit Rees and Julien Ponthus)
Red Bay Coffee

Red Bay Coffee

On May 29, Starbucks will hold a racial bias training in 800 US stores. The training is in response to an incident in April at a Philadelphia location, when a white store manager called the police on two black men after one asked to use the restroom.

Racial bias is one of Starbucks' biggest PR headaches right now. On May 17, the chain came under fire again after a barista wrote a racial slur on a Latino customer's cup.

A California coffee chain called Red Bay has curbed racial bias toward customers by hiring people of color in management positions and creating a culture of discussing racial issues, according to founder Keba Konte.

In recent months, Starbucks has been dealing with a public-relations headache that threatens to damage its reputation.

In April, a white store manager called the police on two black men in Philadelphia after one of the men asked to use the restroom. Footage of the arrest went viral, and other customers proceeded to share similar experiences of racism using the hashtag #Starbuckswhileblack. A month later, the company came under fire again, when a barista in California wrote "beaner"  a derogatory term for Mexicans  on a Latino customer's coffee cup. And in late 2017, an Asian customer said a barista wrote "ching" on his cup instead of his name.

On the afternoon of May 29, Starbucks will attempt to address racial bias by holding trainings in 800 stores across the US.

While Starbucks struggles with racial bias, another coffee chain says it has found two strategies for curbing racism in its stores: hiring more people of color as managers and creating a culture of openly discussing racial issues.

Starbucks will continue to have racial bias incidents unless it "makes some deep structural changes"

The chain, called Red Bay Coffee, has a staff composed entirely of women, people of color, and the formerly incarcerated.

Story continues

In 2014, Red Bay was founded by Keba Konte, a black entrepreneur who started his career as a visual artist. The company operates just two locations in Oakland, California. But it plans to open seven more in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2019.

Red Bay Coffee

Red Bay CoffeeKonte stresses that building a diverse leadership team was a core part of his company's mission from the start. He says that a similar tactic could work for Starbucks.

"Until Starbucks makes some deep structural changes to reverse its legacy of racial bias  which is also built into American society  they'll continue to have incidents," he told Business Insider. "The only way you can reverse corporate culture is by changing the leadership. That has been my experience."

Konte attributes Red Bay's diverse leadership to the company's success, because it has allowed the company to differentiate itself from competitors.

"The number-one question I get is, 'Specialty coffee is such a crowded field. What makes you different?' There's a competitive advantage to opening up opportunities for folks who have a higher barrier of entry to jobs, like the formerly incarcerated," he said.

He also notes that in the specialty coffee industry, people of color are often left out of leadership positions.

"Once you delve into this industry, you'll notice the coffee is only grown in countries, often near the Equator, by black and brown people that make the lowest pay," he said. "Once it's exported from the hard labor, in terms of the roasting, the branding, the technical education, the designing of the equipment  people of color are underrepresented."

As Red Bay expands to more cities, Konte is working to design a comprehensive racial bias training program, which every employee will need to take. Red Bay already requires trainings to combat sexual harassment.

Diverse company leadership can lead to higher profits

While 43% of Starbucks' lower-level workers in the US are racial minorities, the same is not true for employees in positions of real power. Just 18% of the top leadership at Starbucks is nonwhite, according to the company. Starbucks writes on its site that it does have ambitions to make these percentages more balanced moving forward.

Red Bay Coffee

Red Bay Coffee

In past interviews with Business Insider, several Starbucks baristas discussed the importance of managers at the chain creating an environment that supports people of color. Caley Bolderson, a former barista in Michigan, said Starbucks should hire more nonwhite employees in managerial positions to help prevent racial bias.

"Ultimately, a lot of the in-store dynamics trickle down to baristas from district managers," she said.

Business experts have expressed this same idea. In addition to hiring diverse leadership, Harvard Business School professor David Thomas argues that being able to discuss cultural differences is also important to a company's success.

"The way I look at it is, if our customer base is diverse, we need diversity in our workforce so that we can learn from our own diversity to make ourselves more effective at meeting the needs of our clients," he wrote. "I, as an African-American male, will never be Asian, but if Im in a diverse work group where we can actually talk about cultural differences, I can become much more effective relating to that Asian client."

It can even help a company's bottom. According to a recent McKinsey study, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. Additionally, a 2015 study from the HR research firm Bersin by Deloitte found that companies with gender, racial, and ethnic diversity had 2.3 times higher revenue per employee over a three-year period than non-diverse companies.

After the incident in April at the Philadelphia Starbucks, Red Bay saw its retail and online sales shoot up by 60% and 110%, respectively. While Konte declined to reveal specific sales numbers, he said the company's revenue is continuing to grow.

Companies with diverse leadership are "better reflections of America"

Red Bay's locations sit in two different Oakland neighborhoods. One of the shops is downtown, while the company's headquarters is located in Fruitvale, a semi-industrial district with a large African-American, South East Asian, and Spanish-speaking immigrant population. Sitting next to train tracks and a few factories, the location serves as a retail store, roastery, and event space.

Red Bay Coffee

Red Bay Coffee

Konte says it's valuable for companies to have teams that are as diverse as the communities they serve.

"I think that is the bare minimum of what any company should do. Once you get larger, this is more difficult," he said. "But [American] companies should reflect the globe or at least the US. And when I say 'reflect,' I don't mean just on the front lines  like the entry-level baristas  but also the executive team and middle management. That's the part that has to be a better reflection of America."

Red Bay's diversity has also led to more interesting coffee concoctions that appeal to a wider demographic, Konte said. At a recent cupping event, one black employee had the idea to create a candied yam latte. (Sweet yam recipes have origins in West Africa and Peru as early as the 16th century.)

"The candied yam is traditionally an African-American dish that no meal is without during the holidays  It's a soul-food staple," Konte said, adding, " You could contrast that to a spiced pumpkin latte."

See Also:
Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos gives a speech to the nation in Bogota, Colombia May 25, 2018. Colombian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS

Thomson Reuters

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia will next week formally join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, making it the only Latin American nation in the alliance, President Juan Manuel Santos said late on Friday.

Colombia will join as a "global partner," Santos said, which means it will not necessarily have to take part in military action, and will be fully accredited in Brussels.

The 29-nation NATO alliance reached a partnership agreement with Colombia back in May 2017, just after peace was signed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, an agreement that earned Santos a Nobel Peace Prize.

"Colombia benefits a lot from being an active part of the international community, many of the problems we face are increasingly global and need the support and collaboration of other countries for their solution," Santos said in a televised address.

Other global partners include Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

NATO

Associated Press

The partnership with Colombia will cooperate on global security areas like cyber and maritime security, terrorism, and links to organized crime, according to NATO's website.

The announcement came just hours after the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) approved Colombia as a new member.

"Being part of the OECD and NATO improves the image of Colombia and allows us to have much more play on the international stage," Santos said.

(Reporting by Helen Murphy; editing by Louise Heavens)

NOW WATCH: Colombia found a sunken ship with $17 billion in treasure

See Also:
ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia's Supreme Court denied on Monday the extradition of a Bosnian citizen sought by Tunisia over his alleged involvement in the murder of a Tunisian who Palestinian group Hamas said was one of its members.

The court said that Tunisia had not provided guarantees that the arrested Bosnian, if handed over, would not be exposed to a possible death penalty.

"There is no doubt that the suspect is charged with one of the worst crimes, but when there is a risk of a conviction with the death penalty the extradition cannot be allowed," the court said.

Earlier this month Bosnia also refused to extradite another suspect in a same case.

Mohammed Zawari, an aerospace engineer and drone expert, was

shot dead in December 2016 near the Tunisian city of Sfax. Authorities there said that they had arrested 10 Tunisians but that two foreigners suspected of plotting the killing had

escaped.

Hamas blamed Israel for the killing of Zawari, who it said

had been a member of its organisation for 10 years.

(Reporting by Igor Ilic; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Ellen DeGeneres spends time in Kenya before visit to Dian Fosseys gorillas in Rwanda

Cape Town  Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are officially on vacation and their chosen destination is Rwanda.

The daytime talk show host has been teasing since her birthday show in January that she and her wife, Portia are heading to Africa for their holiday for a very special reason.

ICYMI, in celebration of Ellens 60th birthday on 26 January, and her love for animals, Portia gifted Ellen with her own namesake wildlife fund.

Combined with Ellens absolute love for Dian Fosseys dedication to animals, Portia added that The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Funds first initiative would be to build a gorilla conservation centre in Rwanda and will form part of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Since the reveal of the wildlife fund, Ellen had collected generous from fans and friends, including a massive $4m donation from Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary.

Well, the time for Ellen to visit the location which she plans to help has finally come.

The couple spent their weekend in Nairobi, Kenya at Giraffe Manor  an exclusive boutique hotel owned by The Safari Collection.

In a bunch of videos Ellen and Portia enjoy their stay by participating in the local attraction activity  feeding the lodges herd of resident Rothschilds giraffe who poke their long necks and heads through windows for a treat.

SEE ALL THE VIDEOS HERE:

Giraffes! #giraffemanor #discoverthesafaricollection A post shared by Ellen (@theellenshow) on May 26, 2018 at 11:46am PDT

Flirting with a giraffe. #giraffemanor #discoverthesafaricollection A post shared by Ellen (@theellenshow) on May 26, 2018 at 1:36pm PDT

Ellens most recent video shows herself and Portia landing in Rwanda, where they will visit the gorillas Dian Fossey worked so hard to protect.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
The mayor of Hawaii County told residents living near fissure 7 in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Puna to evacuate on Sunday, May 27, due to fast-flowing lava.

The residents were told that shelters were open and pet-friendly.

Earlier on May 27, lava crossed onto the property of a Hawaii geothermal power station, posing a new hazard; however, residents were reassured that no release of hydrogen sulfide had been detected from wells on the site.

According to the Hawaii Tribune Herald, lava has destroyed 41 homes and covered over 2,200 acres of land since the Kilauea volcano erupted on May 3.

This video, from the USGS, shows lava erupt from the seventh fissure on May 27. Credit: USGS via Storyful
A young Malian man who had recently moved to Paris for a new life has been hailed a hero after saving a child who was dangling from a fourth floor balcony.

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, scaled the building after seeing the four-year-old in danger.

Mr Gassama took just seconds to reach the child in a spectacular rescue captured on film and viewed by millions on social media.

The incident took place on Saturday evening in northern Paris.

The footage shows Mr Gassama pulling himself up from balcony to balcony with his bare hands as a man on the fourth floor tries to hold on to the child by leaning across from a neighbouring balcony.

On reaching the fourth floor Mr Gassama puts one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child had already been rescued.

"Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a fire service spokesman told the AFP news agency.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo phoned Mr Gassama to thank him for his act of bravery.

"He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here," she said.

"I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France."

Ms Hidalgo described Mr Gassama as the "Spiderman of the 18th" - referring to the Paris district where the rescue occurred.

Mr Gassama has been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to the Elysee Palace on Monday to be honoured for his bravery.

Mr Gassama told reporters he acted without thinking.

"I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child," he said.

"I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down."

Story continues

It is understood the child's parents were not at home at the time.

The father was later held for questioning by police for having left his child unattended and was due in court later, according to a judicial source.

The child's mother was not in Paris at the time.
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Princess Diana's niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, continues to build her career as a model-this time by booking a coveted role as Bvlgari's latest brand ambassador.

Spencer has been working with Bvlgari for quite some time, but the new partnership gives her an official role with the brand.

As Harper's BAZAAR UK reports, Spencer says of her new appointment:

"It is an immense honor to be working with the most iconic Italian jewellery brand in the world. Bvlgari has always been synonymous with creativity, heritage, beauty and glamour. I am, therefore, very excited to be part of the Bvlgari family, as it means experiencing their passion and magic first-hand."

Photo credit: Bvlgari

Bvlagri notes that Spencer represents the brand's "fearless attitude," making her a perfect fit for the new position.



Spencer has previously helped to raise funds for several charities that work with Bvlagri, including the Elton John Aids Foundation and Save the Children.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Just last weekend, Spencer attended Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding in Windsor. As she's Prince Harry's cousin, it's unsurprising that Spencer was invited to the royal wedding. Princess Diana's niece wore a stunning green floral gown by Dolce & Gabbana to the ceremony, along with bright orange heels, and a green fascinator. She accessorized the look with a simple, sparkly necklace:

Photo credit: Getty Images

Lady Kitty is no stranger to the spotlight, and her Instagram account instantly caught the world's attention, particularly as she regularly showcases her chic outfits, including when she got to walk the runway for Dolce & Gabbana:



You Might Also Like
Be careful of what is on the internet and the stories that circulate. Fake news has been increasing and it has not gotten any better. Fake news has risen because of the presence of online journalism and the fact that people can write without having the necessary credentials. This is surely dangerous to the common good. In the end, it is disgracing journalism and the power that it brings, along with the help it brings to the public.

The other aspect to battle fake news is for reporters and journalists to double-check their work. Finding multiple articles about the same story is essential because some stories can be inaccurate.

There is no shame in fact-checking and finding other sources. The pen is mightier than the sword and business billionaire Elon Musk knows it and he has attacked the media for spreading fake news. What does he plan to do about it? He wants to punish journalists for it and create a database that would rank journalists online.

The solution

The reason this all started was due to negative publicity for Tesla. To be more specific, according to an article in The Atlantic, "criticized news coverage of recent Tesla crashes and delays in the production of the Model 3."

According to the article, Elon Musk's war on the media has been well-documented. Musk believes that journalists are writing about his brand to get views or "general increase of misleading clickbait." He criticized journalists and news outlets by going on a Twitter rant.

The businessman even blamed the media for Donald Trump becoming president. But what might be his solution or plan to ending fake news and punishing journalists for it? By creating a database ranking system for journalists and scoring them on the authenticity and accurateness of the articles. He would be naming the website "Pravda," which was the name of the Soviet propaganda news agency.

Going to create a site where the public can rate the core truth of any article & track the credibility score over time of each journalist, editor & publication. Thinking of calling it Pravda   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2018

Thought youd say that. Anytime anyone criticizes the media, the media shrieks Youre just like Trump! Why do you think he got elected in the first place? Because no ones believes you any more. You lost your credibility a long time ago.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2018

Is he right?

There is no question that Elon Musk is a genius and successful businessman and his brands have only continued to soar.

But he's wrong because journalists are just writing about the news toward his brand and the problems it has faced. The article states "Because production delays are newsworthy. Because the firing of 700 employees is newsworthy. Because fatal crashes of autopilot-equipped vehicles are newsworthy." And this is indeed the truth because Tesla has had these issues in the past just as Uber has had. Moreover, Elon Musk is wrong to blame journalists and the media for coverage of Tesla because they are just doing their jobs. The media and journalists in the present day have a tough job at hand and are being stripped away of their rights. He is right that fake news is real, but is unfairly criticizing the media and reporters for working and covering news on Tesla.

If his website comes alive and starts rating journalists on their work and accuracy, it would not be a bad thing because it would crack down on fake news and punish individuals for spreading inaccurate information to the public. The rating could harm their careers, though, with people seeing the number and looking elsewhere. Ironically, many are in favor of the website with "Musk's poll on his proposed media-credibility rating site records 88 percent in favor and 12 percent out of more than 630,000 votes."

We must not forget how great of a country that America is, as other countries put journalists in jail for simply doing their jobs. Freedom of speech is an undeniable right, but Musk is right about one thing.

Something must be done about the fake news because it is only continuing to hurt journalism and spread inaccurate information to the public. And that should not be happening.

Others have chimed in support of Musk, for example, Stan Lee, who believes that he is right that the media should not be spreading lies and keep reporters or news outlets responsible for their own actions.

The website could very well happen according to the article with "Mark Harris, a reporter for IEEE Spectrum, shared a document that showed a Musk agent filed a notice to create 'Pravda Corp.'" The race for accurate journalism rages on.
In theory, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the third-most powerful person in the country. Voted for by the entire House, but traditionally coming from the majority party, the Speaker has a wide array of responsibilities, including bringing legislation to the floor to be voted on.

This is in stark contrast to the role of Speakers of the House in other countries, where they are typically neutral and their main duty is to make sure that the process of legislating is carried out in a correct and civilized way. But more recently, the office has been one that many would want to avoid as its powers have become limited by things like rambunctious caucuses.

Hard-line wings of the party make it almost impossible to govern

When John Boehner became Speaker in 2011, it seemed like it could be a cushy time for him as the Republicans held a newly-acquired massive majority in the House. However, around the same time, a faction of the party that called themselves the Tea Party Caucus rose to prominence. Made up of members of the far-right wing of the party, the caucus seemed dedicated to sabotaging any piece of legislation in which there was any sort of compromise made with members of the opposition and afterwards going on cable news and complaining about how so little gets done in Washington.

The Tea Party Caucus has largely given way to a similar group called the Freedom Caucus, but the results have mostly been the same.

On the flip side, far-left and other groups have started forming among the Democrats that would likely be a source of frustration if their candidate held the gavel.

Speakers take more than their fair share of the blame for the problems in Washington

After the Freedom Caucus drove Boehner to an early retirement in 2015 and the heir-apparent in Kevin McCarthy was forced to withdraw after a bungled television interview, it fell to Paul Ryan to take the post.

Ryan clearly understanding the problems that come with the position in modern times, very much did not want to take the job and had to be essentially forced into it. He would not only be met with the Freedom Caucus and the fierce opposition of the Democrats, he would be left to deal with a new problem - President Donald Trump.

While Ryan has been quick to condemn many of Trump's most morally objectionable statements, including his derogatory references about places like Africa and Haiti, many on the left seem unsatisfied. In fact, they would probably not be unless, maybe, Ryan became nothing but a full-time critic of Trump and led a full-out rivalry between the Legislative and Executive Branches. Which, if one actually stops and thinks about it, is probably not a good idea.

Similarly, criticism has been pointed in Ryan's direction for the lack of action taken by Congress on many pressing issues. Case in point - gun control. The need for gun law reform was in existence long before Ryan's tenure, including when Nancy Pelosi was Speaker and the Democrats controlled the House, the Senate and the Presidency.

Frankly, they didn't really put much of an effort into it. But even if Ryan put his full weight behind it, coming up with any major meaningful legislation on the topic that could pass both the House and the Senate and be signed into law by the President is exceptionally unlikely. And Ryan hasn't wanted to waste time and taxpayer money on something that doesn't stand a chance.

In the end, maybe the biggest criticism of Ryan is that he has been too practical. He isn't perfect and there have been times he should've stood up to Donald Trump more than he did. This has been noticed in his district, Wisconsin's 1st, where his formerly safe seat has been put in play and it was suddenly an open question as to whether or not he would even be sent back to Congress. He has announced his intentions to retire and it's unlikely that whoever his successor is, whichever party they may be from, will fare much if any better.
In the past few episodes that we've seen Annie Suwan on on "90 Day Fiance," the 25-year-old Thai native has always been shy and emotional. Of course, she was always worried about a lot of things back then, like leaving her family and going to America for the first time. Now that she's married and living her American dream, Annie is finally loosening up and showing her funny side!

David & Annie have a funny and awkward discussion

In last Sunday's "90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?" Season 3 episode, fans saw Annie and David having an interesting discussion over a meal.

David told Annie that his son was planning to stay with them for a while. Annie was apprehensive, but David assured her that his grown son will give them alone time during weekends. For the 25-year-old Annie, this situation was a total buzzkill.

"We will have sex only two times a week," she told her 49-year-old husband. "Because he's here, I will not have sex with you."

In a rather candid confessional, Annie shockingly revealed that she and David are intimate at least five times a week. If her shocking revelation wasn't enough, the reality star even went on to disclose hilarious details about what goes on inside their bedroom! Watch the funny scene below!

"90 Day Fiance" fans are cracking up over Annie's brazen confession.

On Facebook, many are totally digging this new side of the usually timid Thai girl.

"Annie needs to have her own show! I used to think she was a moocher like her husband-mooching off of Chris. Shes too funny and tells it like it is," one fan wrote. Even Paola Mayfield took to Twitter to praise her "90 Day Fiance" co-star.

I really like Annie, she is hilarious! #90dayfiance   Paola Mayfield (@pao8705) May 28, 2018

Pao deals with family guilt

Speaking of Pao, last Sunday's episode showed her emotional trip back to Colombia. The reality star and aspiring model hasn't been home for four years since she married Russ. She's feeling a lot of guilt, especially since her grandma is sick with brain cancer.

After Pao had a tearful talk with her sister, Russ encouraged her to make the trip home. According to TLC, Pao's grandmother hasn't spoken in weeks but miraculously uttered her first words when she saw Pao enter her hospital room.

 Paolas grandmother hadnt spoken in weeks but started talking when Russ and Pao entered her room. The nurses called it a miracle. #90DayFiance  TLC Network (@TLC) May 28, 2018

Azan's visa gets denied

Meanwhile, another highlight of Sunday's "90 Day Fiance" episode was Nicole and Azan's video chat, when Azan broke the bad news that his K1 visa got denied. According to the Moroccan, he needed more paperwork so he could be re-evaluated. Nicole was visibly upset and she got even more frustrated when her mom, who was listening to their phone conversation, threw in a shady comment.

"So he has to get another paper," Nicole's mom muttered. "A.K.A. send more money!"

Nicole admitted in a confessional that she's currently supporting Azan financially because he's jobless in Morocco. But the 21-year-old single mom insisted that she's doing it all for love.

"For me, I can't put a price on being with someone I want to marry forever," she concluded.

Did you catch the latest "90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?" episode? Comment your thoughts below.

"90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?" Season 3 airs every Sunday at 8 PM on TLC.
The journey might have been long and hard for Noah and Rhain, but the couple is finally getting married this summer. They are reportedly going to tie the knots in Washington state where the Browns are currently filming the new season of Alaskan Bush People. According to Radar Online, the 25-year-olds relationship with Rhain had been a rough one because his fiancee had been on bad terms with Noahs siblingsBam Bam, Matt, Gabe, Bear, Snowbird, and Rainy.

Let bygones be bygones

It can be remembered that the couple organized a pre-wedding celebration in Idaho last March, which sparked rumors because his family was not invited.

It was later clarified that the event was for fans since many expressed desires to be part of their wedding. Moreover, Radar Online reported that the family has decided to set their differences aside and let bygones be bygones. So, the wedding is finally taking place. A source told the publication that Rhain is finally on good terms with Noahs brothers and sisters, and everyone is expected to attend the ceremony. Noah and Rhain are excited to share their special day with their family and friends, the source added.

And now the Brown's must face brutal weather https://t.co/wHoikRA0eA  Alaskan Bush People (@AlaskanBushPPL) May 18, 2018

Will the wedding be featured in ABP?

Those who cant be present at Noah and Rhains wedding may be wondering if it will be featured in Alaskan Bush People Season 8.

Well, we dont have the official answer, but it is highly likely. The Discovery Channel has already confirmed the return of Alaskan Bush People, although there have been reasons for the delay. Laurie Goldberg, the networks Executive Vice President of Public Relations, explained that Billy and Amys family are in a pretty much remote area, which had been experiencing its worst winter.

As a result, some roads became inaccessible. In addition, some of the Browns had health issues.

With all nine members of the family confirmed to be returning for the new season, it would be a good storyline to include Noahs wedding. It is quite a development as well since they were also featured in the previous season of Alaskan Bush People back when they were just beginning to date.

Back then, Rhain could not find a job in Alaska, so she could not move in with Noah as well. Last season, Noah informed his family that he wanted to forge his own path and go his separate way from the rest of the Browns. Ami and Billy gave their blessings, and his siblings were also supportive.

It would be interesting to see how things have changed since then and to have a glimpse of their future plans. Reports say Noah and Rhain plan to have a child after getting married. Ami, who battled late-stage cancer last year, said before that she wanted to see her grandchildren. Stay tuned for more updates on Alaskan Bush People!
Over the weekend, Jill Duggar shared a recent tragedy that happened to a family friend.

On her Instagram account, the former "Counting On" star narrated how Dylan and Dianna Fleshman, the Duggars' friends from Oklahoma, met a terrible accident while driving to Minnesota.

According to Jill, Dianna sustained a fractured skull and major head trauma and is now on maximum life support.

The Duggar family responds, sets-up a GoFundMe account

Jill posted a screenshot of the fundraiser they've set-up for their friends and asked her followers to pray and give.

The Duggar family is asking for $68,000 to cover medical expenses. The fundraiser is up on GoFundMe.com and is entitled "Fleshman Family Tragedy." John Duggar (Jim Bob and Michelle's second eldest son) is listed as the creator of the campaign.

Many Duggar friends and fans have responded. Within a day, the fundraiser has gotten more than 100 donations amounting to over $10,000. Jim Bob Duggar is listed with the highest donation of $1,000. Jessa's husband, Ben Seewald, also gave $150.

Despite the outpouring of support from people, the Fleshmans are facing a grim prognosis. John Duggar gave a recent update that their friend has been declared 100 percent brain dead.

"[Doctors] said she cannot, medically speaking, come back from this.

Her heart will eventually stop, they did not give a timeline," John Duggar stated in his update. "We are praying for God to restore her brain, a true miracle. They said her brain has swelled so much that it's coming down out of the spinal cord opening."

Jill Duggar's post gets bashed

While the "Counting On" family certainly had good intentions in asking for donations to help their friend, Jill Duggar got slammed yet again for her IG post.

Many critics took the opportunity to point out that this isn't the first time for a Duggar Family member to ask followers for money online. They noted how Jill and her husband Derick Dillard used to have their own fundraiser campaign when they were working as overseas missionaries.

"Why not donate the money your husband collected for his FAILED missionary trip?

Knowing that YOU have scammed $$$$ already is going to make anyone hesitant to donate to any cause you're preaching," one critic replied.

Others pointed out that Jim Bob Duggar could easily shell out cash to help out his friend. They noted that the "19 Kids and Counting" patriarch owns several properties and does not need to ask strangers for money. As one critic wrote, "$68,000 is a drop in the bucket for the Duggars."

Jill and her family have not responded to the hate comments. Meanwhile, other Duggar family members have also donated to the cause. This includes Ben Seewald, Jessa's husband, who gave $150. Dwain Swanson, Josiah Duggar's soon-to-be father-in-law, also donated $500.
The fate of Shawn Butler on "General Hospital" has troubled fans since 2015. He was wrongly imprisoned for the attempted murder of Hayden Barnes, who has since left Port Charles. Shawn has been wasting away in Pentonville, while his portrayer, Sean Blakemore, has been acting in the BET series "The Quad," which has been canceled. Rumors are flying that Blakemore may reprise his "GH" role and interfere with the upcoming nuptials of Jordan and Curtis. Considering that Butler is T.J.'s biological father, this could play right into Aunt Stella's hands as she is bitterly against her nephew deciding to marry his brother's wife.

A report by Variety contributed details to this article.

Shawn Butler returning to 'GH' would bring closure

"General Hospital" fans have been waiting for three years to see Shawn Butler acquitted of the attempted murder of Hayden Barnes. Instead, his character has languished away in Pentonville prison as life in Port Charles has gone on without him. Shawn found out, while incarcerated, that T.J. is his biological son, but the teen never mentions visiting his dad. His girlfriend Jordan has moved on with Curtis and they are planning a wedding. Sean Blakemore would shake things up and also bring closure to several storylines should he decide to return.

Aunt Stella would probably love it if Shawn came back to Port Charles and disrupted things between Jordan and Curtis.

She was less than pleased when they announced their engagement at the Nurses Ball, so this would be the ideal time for some added tension in the relationship. Butler coming back to town would give T.J. a chance to bond with his father and also force the issue of who really shot Hayden to be addressed. Although Ms. Barnes and Nikolas are no longer on the scene, Jason, Spinelli, and Sam might work together to find out the truth and clear Shawn's name.

The 'Quad' cancellation might open a door

The cancellation of "The Quad" after only two seasons opens the door for Sean Blakemore to return to Port Charles, but as of yet the actor has not addressed the issue. "GH" fans, however, are jumping on the opportunity to point out the fact that no other character has spent so much time in jail for a crime they did not commit.

If Shawn gets out of jail, there are several possibilities regarding the storyline. Spencer Cassadine is slated to return to Port Charles this summer, which will no doubt resurrect rumors of a Nikolas recast. If this pans out, the prince will have to answer for his crimes.

There is also the fact that Hayden left town pregnant with Finn's child. Should she come back to Port Charles, things could become difficult for the doctor and Anna, who only just found their way back to each other on Tuesday (May 22). In addition, Ms. Barnes would probably be charged with withholding evidence that sent an innocent man to prison. "General Hospital" fans would be elated, but for now it's all just conjecture. Viewers can only continue to believe that Shawn Butler will return and set things straight.
Voters in Ireland made history by repealing the current ban on abortion. Nearly 66.4 percent of voters supported the repeal, in contrast to the 33.6 percent who voted against the repeal. Politico reported that Health Minister Simon Harris has begun writing up legislation and is expected to have the bill passed this year.

The repeal reversed a ban that has been in place since 1983. The Eighth Amendment said that an unborn child has the same right to life as a pregnant woman. Abortion was only allowed in cases of rape, incest or fetal abnormalities. Reuters reported that the turnout was among the highest for a referendum.

The government of Ireland supporting the repeal.

Irelands Prime Minister Leo Varadkar supported the reversal and said the vote was the culmination of a quiet revolution, which has been growing over the past few decades. The repeal comes after Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote, back in 2015.

While Ireland is a deeply religious country, Ireland managed to legalize divorce by a slim majority in 1995. The Roman Catholic Church has been weakened by a series of scandals over the last 20 years. Siobhan Donohue, chairwoman for Termination for Medical Reasons, called the result a historic step forward.

Irish citizens forced to travel to Britain to receive an abortion.

Donohue was forced to travel to Britain to have an abortion when her baby diagnosed with a fetal anomaly. Donohue has said while the repeal was successful, the fight is still not over. While Ireland has repealed the ban, Irish citizens will still have to travel to Britain in order to have an abortion, until the law is changed, which could take some time.

According to the United Kingdoms National Health Service, 10 Irish women a day cross the Irish Sea to receive an abortion and three to five women a day illegally obtain abortion pills. Anti-abortion groups in Ireland say the results are disappointing. The government is requesting that the law allow access to abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

This has become a major victory for the people of Ireland.

Amnesty International called the result a victory for respect, equality, and dignity. Politico reported that young adult voters offered the most support for the repeal, with nearly 80 percent of those under 34, voting in favor. The end of the ban comes after a lengthy emotional campaign from those against the ban and those working to keep the ban in place.
by Evert Cilliers

The freer the market, the more people suffer.

Look what happened after Bill Clinton signed the two bills that deregulated Wall Street with the repeal of Glass-Steagall (the firewall between regular and speculative banking) and the removal of derivatives from all oversight: Wall Street tanked the world.

And who got bailed out? The crooks of Wall Street, not their victims.

Socialism for the rich, and capitalism for the rest of us (as MLK put it).

The free market means freedom for the rich, and oppression for everyone else.

1. Taxes

Consider taxes:

At the end of WW2, for every buck in taxes collected on individuals, Washington collected $1.50 on business profits. Today, for every buck collected on individuals, Washington gets 25 cents from business profits.

Remember that one. Sear it into your brain. Staple it on your cerebellum. Since Reagan, the tax burden has been neatly shifted from business to individual people, from GE (who never seems to pay ANY taxes in any given year) to you and me.

Then add this: the marginal tax rate on the richest individuals went from 91% after WW2 to 35% today, and is actually, for hedge fund billionaires, 15%, and for the second richest American, Warren Buffett, 17% (as he never tires from pointing out, my secretary pays a higher tax rate than me).

The top 25 hedge fund managers earn a billion dollars a year each. Making these 25 people pay taxes at the level that middle-class people pay taxes would cut $5 billion a year off the deficit. And thats just making a mere 25 people pay taxes like the rest of us.

If we had a top tax rate of 90% today, the 25 hedge fund managers who make an average of one billion dollars a year would make a $100 million each  and we would be able to pay the salaries of 658,000 more teachers.

You pay a higher tax rate than Warren Buffett, GE or Goldman Sachs (who typically pay between 1% and 2% taxes a year). Plus millions of rich Americans park their money off-shore to avoid paying taxes.

Thats taxes. How about wages?

2. Wages

We used to have a Ford economy: Ford doubled the wages of his workers to the outrage of his fellow manufacturers because he wanted them to afford the cars they built.

Today we have a Walmart economy: Walmart pays their workers so little, they have to go on food stamps. Your taxes subsidize the richest family in the world, the Waltons.

If wage gains had kept pace with productivity gains, today the average household income would be $90,000 per year instead of around $50,000 a year. Think what a thriving economy wed have if that were the case. But no, the income from those productivity gains did not go to the productive workers, but to their bosses.

CEOs, who are probably less productive than before, got the productivity gains of their workers. CEOs have been stealing $40,000 a year from their workers. (BTW, if ordinary workers got their salaries raised the way CEOs have, theyd each be making $200,000 a year.)

Joseph Stiglitz puts it well: How the market has altered the way we think is best illustrated by attitudes toward pay. There used to be a social contract about the reasonable division of the gains that arise from acting together within the economy. Within corporations, the pay of the leader might be 10 or 20 times that of the average worker. But something happened 30 years ago, as the era of Thatcher/Reagan was ushered in. There ceased to be any sense of fairness; it was simply how much the executive could appropriate for himself. It became perfectly respectable to call it incentive pay, even when there was little relationship between pay and performance. In the finance sector, when performance is high, pay is high; but when performance is low, pay is still high.

OK, thats taxes and wages. How about education?

3. Education

Property taxes fund education, so rich neighborhoods have good schools and poor neighborhoods have shitty schools. Inequality gets passed down from generation to generation.

The GI Bill gave thousands a free university education and opened up universities to the non-elite. Community colleges used to be free. Today? Try getting an MBA: it will cost you $100,000 a year.

Insane, right?

America isnt a country anymore: you know, a place that serves its people.

America is a total f-up.

With the biggest f-up of presidents imaginable, whose first months in office have so far been an utter disaster.

4. Trump

Trump might be worse than even Bill Clinton, the disaster who signed the bills that gave us the 2008 Wall Street fraud f-up and the Great Recession, the disaster who gave us mass incarceration, the disaster who gave us welfare reform, the disaster who outsourced our jobs with NAFTA, and the disaster who could have but did not prevent the Rwanda genocide. Although maybe not worse than George W. Bush, the disaster who presided over the murder of between a hundred thousand and two million innocent Iraqi women and children, the worst war crime since the Nazis. Or Barack Obama, the not-quite-disaster who gave Wall Street fraudsters a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Without proper redistribution, regulations and unions, people got so miffed, they voted for Trump.

Agent Orange as president.

Call us the cruel society, not the fair society (how would you like to be a pig or a chicken on a factory farm?).

Forget about a government works program, which we sorely need, to fix up our crumbling infrastructure, and to give everyone a good job. Why cant the government give everybody a job when the private sector is useless at it? Or if it cant do that, why cant we have universal basic income now that robots are doing more and more of our work?

The paradox is this: automation increases productivity, but concentration of wealth at the top decreases demand for what that increased productivity produces, because ordinary folks have less money to spend. This leads to an increase in debt relative to income so folks can suck up the increased production. Thats why there HAS to be greater income equality  otherwise runaway debt will end up bankrupting the economy.

5. Plutocracy

Listen up, Davos. The most basic job of any democracy is to stop the elite from stealing everything. In the Nordic countries and Germany, they manage to do that.

In America, not.

As Joseph Stiglitz writes: Market fundamentalism has eroded any sense of community and has led to rampant exploitation of unwary and unprotected individuals.

We have ourselves a very pretty plutocracy, where the aristos screw the peasants, instead of a working democracy, where redistribution mitigates the inequalities of capitalism, regulations stop corporations from ripping off people and the environment, and strong unions secure workers a living wage.

We have ourselves a Davos neoliberal Friedman-Hayek-Ayn Rand fraudster paradise. A free market instead of a fair market. Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the rest of us.

Capitalism needs to be regulated, because otherwise it trends only one way: to monopolies that destroy competition (witness the Amazon-Google-Facebookfuckification of our lives).

So, Davos, let me ask you this: what do you want, an economy that works for you, or for everybody? What do you want to create: a successful you, or a successful society?

Which one could you be proud of?

Over to you, dudes of Davos. Lets see if you can be human beings, or continue to be the scum of the earth.
by Dave Maier

So Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and a number of other brash rebels daring to challenge the stifling intellectual status quo, in which one is not allowed to criticize anyone from other cultures, because multiculturalism or Marxism or something, are part of, I am not making this up, the Intellectual Dark Web. Fine, whatever. Its not that theres no such thing as lefty orthodoxy, obviously, especially on campus, but these best-selling authors look pretty petty presenting themselves as somehow being silenced.

Anyway, thats not what I want to talk about. In the New York Times piece telling us about all this, I ran across the following exchange:

After [Harriss] talk, in which he disparaged the Taliban, a biologist who would go on to serve on President Barack Obamas Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues approached him. I remember she said: Thats just your opinion. How can you say that forcing women to wear burqas is wrong? But to me its just obvious that forcing women to live their lives inside bags is wrong. I gave her another example: What if we found a culture that was ritually blinding every third child? And she actually said, It would depend on why they were doing it. His jaw, he said, actually fell open.

Its not unprecedented, or even unusual, that Harris should commit a philosophy fail. But in detaching ourselves from error, we have to be careful about where we end up. Its not even clear, for example, that his point in the context is threatened by his futile sally. So Ill be defending him as much as diagnosing his (all too common) error. Maybe I should be on the IDW too. Help, Im being silenced!

Okay, enough japery for now. What did Harris do wrong here, and why may his main point survive the stumble?

His interlocutors challenge seems to him  naturally enough  to be an expression of cultural relativism: his typically Western objection is just his opinion and can have no normative force for the alien culture, whose members may have perfectly good reasons for acting as they do, given their traditions and other commitments. In response, Harris reaches for a criticism which transcends all such culturally contextual considerations: he suggests a practice so indefensible that no possible cultural context could save it from justified condemnation  a conceptual slam dunk.

There are two problems with this response, and its important to keep them straight. The first is the weakness of Harriss actual hypothetical, due most likely to a failure of imagination. If in giving a potential justification I am allowed to tell any story I like  any cultural context, however non-actual, in which to embed the supposedly unacceptable practice  I can do this standing on one foot, even for something as gruesome as ritual blinding of children. (Ill leave this as an exercise for the reader, at least for now.) Maybe a better example would have been more effective. But of course Harris didnt even try to exercise his imagination here, to make sure that nothing could possibly justify anything so seemingly horrible. He thinks that follows simply from his description  that it is a brute moral fact. Even to try to imagine such a justification would be morally corrupt. Thus his open-mouthed reaction to his critics reply.

But that reply  that I must at least listen to what the other culture has to say for itself  is perfectly reasonable, as far as it goes. This is the other problem with Harriss sally: its dodgy philosophical assumptions about what relativism amounts to and how properly to resist it. The moral context complicates this a bit, so to see this lets pull back to the simpler yet still tricky problem of relativism about (non-moral) facts. Here too a natural tendency among realists is to reply to the relativist slogan whos to say? with what purport to be brute, context-transcendent facts. (There are various sorts of these things, from the empiricist red here now to more platonistic deals like the truths of logic; see the history of epistemological foundationalism for the now somewhat tedious blow-by-blow.)

For pragmatists like me, at least, this realist response to relativism tries too hard to do too much: we cannot sidestep the interpretive process and go directly to the world for our facts. But just as this does not mean there are no facts  that no beliefs can be true ones, or that we have no real knowledge, the nihilistic conclusion which realists thought they needed brute facts to resist  so too, in our moral context, the lack of such brute moral facts as Harris offers does not threaten the very idea of even cross-cultural moral judgment. It just means we have to use our imaginations after all.

This means that Harriss interlocutor has some explaining of her own to do, in responding to his talk as she did. What did she mean by thats just your opinion? Maybe it is indeed an expression of a facile relativism, as Harris seems to take it (his response makes no sense otherwise), suggesting that no outsider may criticize another culture at all. If so, the philosophical issue is a wash (theyre both wrong) and Harriss criticism of the Taliban stands (i.e., her challenge fails).

So, to be clear: Harris is right that of course we can and should criticize the Taliban for their oppressive and backward ways. (And if to say so is indeed an unpardonable heresy in intellectual culture, then maybe we do need an intellectual dark web after all.) Nothing in the philosophically virtuous rejection of a metaphysically overambitious moral realism forbids the very idea of cross-cultural moral judgments. However, Harriss philosophical error is not without cost. That he believes an imaginative response to the issue is not necessary (its a brute fact that putting women in bags is morally objectionable) suggests that he hasnt actually provided one, making a reaction of thats just your opinion understandable if also ambiguous.

That is, maybe her comment was not an expression of relativism after all. (If so, while I referred above to her response to his hypothetical as perfectly reasonable, she might have done better to say instead something like Im not talking about hypotheticals, Im talking about the Taliban.) Maybe she objected not to the very idea of criticizing the Taliban, but instead to his actual remarks. My point here is not about those actual remarks, so I wont be examining them closely  maybe theyre actually fine, although the crack about bags doesnt inspire confidence, no more than does his philosophically thin account of morality in The Moral Landscape. Its not, again, that one couldnt perfectly well condemn the Taliban harshly, as they are indeed nightmarishly horrible.

In more general terms, then, what might what Ive been calling an imaginative response look like? If we see what looks to us like injustice in another culture, I would suggest, the form of our criticism should depend on how the apparent victims of that injustice feel about it. Theres a big difference between attitudes like were heartened in our struggle against what you rightly call oppression by the knowledge that the free world sees whats happening to us and is looking for a good way to help and what do you mean, were oppressed? You dont know what youre talking about  thats your decadent Western bias, nothing more. Go away. Note that for all thats been said so far  the advantage of speaking at the general level  we need not (ultimately) accept that latter judgment, and can, if thereby risking condescension, diagnose the problem as a need for consciousness-raising. The point is that the two attitudes are quite different, and thus call for correspondingly different responses.

While crucial to get us started, in practice that distinction requires much more subtlety; those are the two endpoints, while most things are in the middle. This is where the imagination comes in (corresponding to, indeed amounting to, the imagination required for successful interpretation, as in the merely non-moral cases noted above). For not only is the proper form of our criticism affected by the attitudes just mentioned, it is inextricable as well from what we might decide to do about it. Ann Coulter believes, or says she does, that we should respond to (for example) Taliban barbarism by invading these countries, assassinating their leaders, and convert them (the population, not the leaders  we just killed them, remember?) to Christianity. Harriss own solution involves a wholesale rejection of not only Islam but all transcendent religion as an unenlightened relic unsuited to the modern world.

Im not arguing that these solutions couldnt possibly be right (although that first one would be just about the last conceivable thing I would try). I dont believe in a transcendent deity any more than Harris does. But most of the victims of Taliban oppression are Muslims themselves. As described, Harriss solution is no solution to them. They want to live in a Muslim society. To fix their society as Harris would would be to break it. Moving such societies into the modern world  an aim I share  requires careful disentangling of the many threads holding everything together; and that requires imagination (of the sort, again, involved in interpretation: seeing how things look from a perspective you dont share).

Hmm, I seem to have brought Harriss actual views into it after all. But again, my point is not about him specifically. If his actual suggestions are more subtle than the ones Ive seen, then fine  in that case, I retract anything in this post which depends on that. Thats not the important part anyway.

In any case, not surprisingly, theres a lot more to say about moral relativism, even after we discard the facile version that renders cross-cultural moral judgments nonsensical. We need to do a lot more, that is, than simply suggest, as I have, that imagination is needed to do such things properly. A number of philosophers defend their views under the name relativism, but I think thats a tactical error; we should use that term (like postmodernism, I guess) for whatever it is that we are rejecting as, you know, too relativistic to support the concept of moral judgment (or, again, in the non-moral context, of belief). Still, some of that stuff is really interesting and worth discussing. Well leave that for now (have to go do some more reading first!).

One last thing. I mentioned above that if you got to tell whatever story you want, you could whip up an at least arguable cultural justification even for Harriss supposedly a priori unjustifiable nightmare scenario of ritual blinding of children, and I left that as an exercise for the reader at least for now. In fact that is where Im going to leave it today. Try it yourself. Use your imagination  youll need it!
Ram Manikkalingam in The National:

Four years ago, I was in a hideout of the Basque separatist group Eta in southern France, surrounded by explosives, revolvers, grenades and rocket launchers. I was present as the chief of the commission to verify a ceasefire and begin the groups disarmament. It followed more than three years of difficult discussions with Eta leaders, Basque politicians and Basque civil society. We convinced Etas leaders that clinging to weapons was going to help neither themselves nor the Basque people.

The Basque peace process was unilateral; Madrid made no concessions to Eta in exchange for disarmament. Our efforts concluded last year in Bayonne in the French Basque region, where I accepted and certified Etas disarmament in the presence of the mayor of Bayonne, the Archbishop of Bologna and the Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ireland. Eta informed us where their arms caches were located, information we passed on to the French authorities, who then removed the weapons.

Two weeks ago, Eta themselves announced their disbanding in a statement read out by the director of the Henri Dunant Centre in Geneva, our partner in the effort. So ended a process of more than a dozen years, quietly and without violence and fanfare.

It was just one example of the tireless work of the Dialogue Advisory Group (DAG), which I founded, to get men with guns to make peace in the midst of violent conflict.

Although we are funded by the governments of Germany, Finland, Ireland, Lichtenstein, The Netherlands and Norway, we neither solicit nor accept funds from states with direct interests in the conflicts we work on. Sometimes we approach governments and armed groups  usually they approach us. We then begin by convincing separatists and rebels that using violence as a means to achieve goals is untenable.

More here.
Aberdeen couple celebrates 75 years together

Calvin and Oriole Nelson were both born and raised in Aberdeen and married at the old Bethlehem Lutheran church in 1946.
Building a startup or creating a new line of business is hard work, and statistics show the odds of success are long ones. Beating the numbers comes down to a combination of experience expertise, and commitment.

The last of these three traits is important, but experience and expertise can make or break your venture in three critical areas.

Building a high-performance team: Behind every profitable venture is a team. You might have a compelling idea, an excellent offering with market fit, and a large market opportunity, but without a competent team, your business wont make it.

You need folks who excel at what they do because theyre an order of magnitude more productive than average employees. They also know what not to do. By helping a business avoid unnecessary cycles of learning and poor decisions, they allow more of that productive power to be used efficiently.

Employees with this level of skill are drawn to startups because they seek a challenge, expect the payoff to be significant and hate mediocrity and bureaucracy. They must believe in the offering and will do their own calculus on your ventures probability of success before joining the team.

If you lack startup experience, recruit to your core management team individuals who have built at least one successful venture. It will increase the likelihood of success and also attract investors.

Being great at customer development: Selling an idea to partners, investors and customers requires deep knowledge about what problem your business is solving, how others are addressing it and how your approach is the best available solution.

Market research reports can be insightful and provide data about growth rates and trends, but theyre no substitute for actually getting out of the office and interacting with potential customers, asking them how they will buy the product or service, what costs are involved in installing or maintaining a product and how the total costs compare with the value delivered.

To test your proposed solution, early adopters and potential large buyers who have the problem should be encouraged to try out the proposed remedy.

This type of customer development is hard, time-consuming and inexact, but awesome technology and great ideas dont just sell themselves.

Developing an adaptive plan: Succeeding in the world of business involves an adaptive, learning-oriented approach that is constantly evolving and responding to real-world challenges. But being open to feedback doesnt mean operating without a plan; thats a good way to burn cash, waste valuable time and miss opportunities. A good plan builds in margins to allow it to adapt to reality rather than fail with nothing to show for it.

To begin, envision the future goal and reason backward, imagining what could go wrong along the path. Then start in the present, building toward the future on a path that avoids anticipated obstacles. The intent is not to spend months striving for a perfect, problem-free plan, but rather to think deeply about what to expect on the journey.

Paul Butler is the former chief operating officer of Lumidigm Inc. Under his leadership, Albuquerque startup Lumidigm grew revenue more than 30 percent per year, attracted investment capital, and employed more than 30 people before being acquired by HID Global in 2014.

Finance New Mexico connects individuals and businesses with skills and funding resources for their business or idea. To learn more, go to www.FinanceNewMexico.org.
In President Donald Trumps many vocal pronouncements about stopping illegal immigration, one solution he promoted during the campaign has been conspicuously missing: a requirement that employers check whether workers are legal.

Eight states require nearly all employers to use the federal governments online E-Verify tool to check whether new hires are eligible to work in the U.S., but efforts to expand the mandate to all states have stalled, despite polls showing widespread support and studies showing it reduces unauthorized workers.

The campaign for a national mandate has withered amid what appears to be a more pressing problem  a historic labor shortage that has businesses across the country desperate for workers, at restaurants, farms and in other low-wage jobs.

The urgency around that shortage was clear at a congressional hearing earlier this month when senators pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on additional visas for seasonal foreign workers.

Theres not one manufacturing plant in Wisconsin, not one dairy farm, not one resort that can hire enough people, said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

With the unemployment rate at a 17-year low and a Trump administration crackdown on foreign workers, lawmakers are reluctant to champion legislation that could exacerbate the labor shortage and hurt business constituents. Despite his administrations Hire American rhetoric, Trump and the GOP leadership have gone quiet on mandating E-Verify.

Allowing businesses to employ people illegally is like the government leaving the keys in an unlocked car, said Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, an organization that has campaigned for a national E-Verify mandate since 1996. Youre going to get a lot of stolen cars.

E-Verify has proved effective at keeping immigrants who are in the country illegally from taking American jobs. In Arizona, which pioneered the mandatory checks in 2008, the number of unauthorized workers dropped 33 percent below what was projected without the requirement, according to a 2017 analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

The federal employment verification system, introduced more than 20 years ago, has wide public support. Nearly 80 percent of those surveyed last fall by The Washington Post and ABC News support requiring employers to verify new hires are legally living in the United States  more than double the support for building a wall along the Mexican border.

Trump touted a national E-Verify mandate while running for president. We will ensure that E-Verify is used to the fullest extent possible under existing law, and we will work with Congress to strengthen and expand its use across the country, Trump declared in a 2016 speech in Arizona.

Trump last October listed E-Verify among his immigration priorities, and in February, herequested $23 million in his 2019 budget proposal to expand the program for mandatory nationwide use. But Trump has yet to use the platform of the presidency to rally support for a national requirement.

The labor shortage in industries that most depend upon undocumented workers  such as agriculture, construction and hospitality  is driving up wages and deterring state authorities from rigorous enforcement of state E-Verify laws, factors that analysts say complicate any national campaign.

Eight states require nearly all employers to use the system: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Wind technicians are still working out the kinks at El Cabo Wind Farm near Encino, the states largest wind-power generating facility.

The sprawling power plant began operating in January with 142 towering turbines spread out on about 56,000 acres of state and private lands in Torrance County.

The facilitys command control center and its electric substation, where electricity is centrally collected through feeder lines connected to all the turbines, sit just north of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line, about 10 miles west of Encino.

From the substation, a newly built, high-power transmission line transports the electricity 28 miles north to Public Service Company of New Mexicos main line near Clines Corners. From there, it flows northwest to massive interconnections in the Four Corners region and on to Southern California Edison, the utility thats now buying all of El Cabos output under a long-term power purchase agreement.

At full capacity, El Cabo can produce 298 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power about 90,000 homes. But technicians with Avangrid Renewables, the company that built and operates the plant, are still tinkering with all the startup issues related to the newly installed turbines, which have steadily cranked up to full operating capacity since January.

Its fully up and operational now and has been for over a month, said El Cabo plant manager Cody Herring. But were still getting three to five turbines a day that are faulty, with some just waiting on parts. Its all part of the learning process and working out the bugs, which is typical for any new site where you have to smooth out the kinks.

When all the bugs are corrected, the power plant will generally operate at 99 percent capacity or better, said Avangrid Director of Development Mark Stacy.

This is our first plant in New Mexico, and its now the largest one in the state, Stacy said. Its also our single largest facility in the U.S. We have a 606 MW farm in South Texas, but thats actually three large, separate facilities operating together.

El Cabo is only slightly larger than the states second-biggest wind farm, the 297 MW Broadview facility near Clovis, which Pattern Energy Group brought online last year, also to supply power to California Southern Edison.

Theyre two of 17 wind farms now operating in New Mexico, providing a total of 1.7 gigawatts of electricity, or enough to power about 422,000 average U.S. homes.

New Mexico earned bragging rights in April as the fastest-growing state for wind energy construction last year, with enough turbines added to produce 571 MW of electricity, or 51 percent more capacity than in 2016, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

Another 1.7 GW of new wind construction projects in the state are now in the pipeline through 2020, including the most ambitious project to date  a 522 MW facility that Xcel Energy subsidiary Southwestern Public Service plans to build near Portales.

Avangrid itself is already working on its second local wind farm, the 166 MW La Joya facility, under contract with PNM to supply electricity to Facebooks data center in Los Lunas. Construction will begin next year on that project, next to El Cabo on the south side of the Burlington Northern rail line.

It will be up and running by the end of 2019, Avangrid spokesman Art Sasse said.

Initial planning and roadwork for El Cabo first began in 2015, with plant construction fully underway by spring 2017. At its peak, the project employed about 450 construction and other workers, part of a 3,000-plus wind energy labor force working in New Mexico last year.

El Cabo now has 17 permanent employees, including three wind technicians trained at Mesalands Community Colleges Wind Energy Technology Program in Tucumcari. The school has graduated 290 people from its certification courses and two-year degree program since 2009, many of them now employed at wind projects in New Mexico.

El Cabo salaries start above $50,000 a year for a novice, and above $60,000 for someone with experience.

These are good-paying jobs, said Shane Ferreira, 23, an Estancia native and Mesalands graduate who joined El Cabo last year. If it wasnt for opportunities like this, Id have to leave the state.

El Cabo also pays a total of $1.5 million annually to the state in lieu of taxes and for leases with eight private landowners, amounting to $37.5 million over the 25-year life of the project.

The project cost $500 million to build, part of about $3 billion in wind-related investments that have flowed into New Mexico to date.

Despite the towering, 450-foot wind turbines, the full plant occupies only about 2 percent of project land area, allowing cattle ranching operations to continue and wildlife to run free.

The railroad limits impact even more.

It runs right through here, so we can bring all the big parts right up to the site, Sasse said. Turbine blades are over 200 feet long, and the tower tubes are divided into three sections, with each one taking up a full semi truck. We were able to keep all that off the road.

Like most wind farm developers, Avangrid benefited from federal wind production tax credits to build El Cabo. Those credits are now ratcheting down annually and will disappear by 2020.

But thanks to technological advances and industry innovation, the costs for wind energy have declined by two-thirds since 2009. And with demand for wind generation growing nationwide, especially among industrial and commercial customers like Facebook, Avangrid and other companies see a bright future on New Mexicos gusty eastern plains.

The wind resources here are fantastic, and so is the business climate, Stacy said. State leaders are really working to take advantage of New Mexicos resources. Thats what made it No. 1 in wind-energy growth last year.

El Cabo Wind Farm

 Each tower is built with three tubular steel sections reaching 263 feet tall when stacked vertically.

 Each turbine, in the cone head at the top of each tower, is connected to three 187-foot blades that reach 450 feet into the sky.

 Each turbine can produce 2.1 megawatts of electricity.

 All turbines independently monitor wind speed and direction to turn blades into the wind.

 The entire power plant is connected to a central command center in Portland, Ore., for 24/7 monitoring of operations.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps legal team would advise that he refuse to submit to an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller unless the team can review classified information shared with select lawmakers about the origins of the FBI investigation into Russias election meddling, Trumps personal lawyer said Sunday.

Rudy Giuliani said that should Muellers investigators seek a court order to compel the president to testify, Trumps lawyers would fight such a subpoena all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

I think we win it, Giuliani said.

Giuliani downplayed the chances that Trump would fire Mueller, a Republican who once was FBI director and has served under GOP presidents. Asked if Trump would dismiss anyone if the investigation kept going, Giuliani told Fox News Sunday that firings would play into the hands of playing the victim, Watergate.

Giulianis public negotiation over terms of an interview focuses on the use of a government informant who approached members of Trumps 2016 campaign in a possible bid to glean intelligence on Russian efforts to sway his race against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump has made unproven claims of FBI misconduct and political bias and has denounced the informant, without evidence, as a spy.

The two meetings with select lawmakers, held last Thursday, were requested by Trumps GOP allies in Congress and arranged by the White House. The president has tried to sow suspicions about the legitimacy of the FBI investigation, and he and his allies have focused on the use of the informant. After the meetings, which included Justice Department, FBI officials, congressional leaders from both parties and Democratic and Republican leaders of the intelligence committees, Democrats said they saw no evidence to support Republican allegations that the FBI acted inappropriately.

Nonetheless, Giuliani said the Trump camp wants access to the material presented at those briefings to help prepare the president for a possible interview with Mueller.

If they dont show us these documents, well, we are just going to have to say no, Giuliani said. Its unclear, however, if Trump would heed his lawyers advice.

Justice Department officials didnt immediately return a message seeking comment on whether the president had requested a briefing similar to what was provided to members of Congress last week.

In a separate television appearance, Giuliani said Trump was adamant about wanting to agree to an interview, saying, If he wasnt thinking about it and it wasnt an active possibility, we would be finished with that by now and we would have moved on to getting the investigation over with another way.

The new wrinkle, he said, if the disclosure about the informant.

We are more convinced, as we see it, that this is a rigged investigation. Now we have this whole new Spygate thing thrown on top of it, on top of already very legitimate questions, he told CNNs State of the Union.

Giuliani also raised the specter of a protracted legal fight over the question of a Trump interview if Mueller decided to seek a subpoena.

What we have to do is go to court and seek protection from the court, if we have to do that. Our first thing is we sure as heck are not going to testify unless its all straightened out, unless we learned the basis of that Russian investigation, Giuliani told Fox.
They came into the DeLand Animal Hospital together: Jeremy Floyd, his girlfriend and the dog.

The dog wasnt acting right, the couple told the vet. Frankly, the woman looked in worse shape.

Floyds 28-year-old girlfriend had a swollen eye, cuts all over her fingers, bruises on her arms and legs. All this was later described in a report filed by police and sheriffs deputies in DeLand, Florida. The report named the woman, too, though this newspaper will not  on account of the things she apparently went through.

The woman asked to use the vets bathroom and left Floyd waiting with the dog.

When she was out of his sight, police said, she slid a torn scrap of paper to a worker behind the counter.

In cramped, shaky handwriting, it read: Call the cops. My boyfriend is threatening me. He has a gun. Please dont let him know.

The worker did as the note asked. When DeLand police officers got to the animal hospital, they said, they found Floyd with a loaded 9mm in his waistband, his girlfriend in tears.

Floyd has an arrest record going back to at least 2003: drugs, grand theft auto and more drugs. Possession of a firearm by a felon was the least of the crimes he was charged with this weekend  but the gun was enough for police to immediately detain him and get him away from the woman.

At the hospital, police said  an actual hospital, not the vet  doctors discovered the woman had a possible concussion, along with her other wounds. Her head hurt, she told investigators, and the pain made it hard to remember.

But in time, police wrote, she told them about her injuries and the events of the previous two days. It was a story that only barely aligned with the version Floyd told from jail  and one that, in the end, police would believe.

The couple had a fight on Wednesday night, both of them agreed  what started as an argument at the single-story, tree-shrouded house they shared in DeLand.

They had been drinking, police said Floyd told them. And taking suboxone. And what he allegedly recalled as unknown white pills.

The woman didnt mention any alcohol or drugs in her interview. She said Floyd became jealous that night and got it into his head she was flirting with other men.

Floyd somewhat confirmed this. He was upset with [her] because he has a problem with ns, the police report reads, and felt that she was a n lover.

He apparently told the woman to go into the bedroom and wait for various black men to arrive to have sex with.

This was Floyds idea of a joke, he told the police.

The woman did, in fact, go into the bedroom, she said. Once there, she promptly jumped out the window.

Floyd told police that his girlfriend dove headfirst from the window. He said she collapsed in the yard and that he had to pick her up and carry her inside.

The woman told police that she ran  and he chased her down the street and grabbed her by the hair, then dragged her back into the house.

Then he hit her in the kitchen, she said: his open hand to her head and her face. (Floyd told police they had merely tussled. No beatings.)

Which one brought the gun out depended on which one told the story.

In his interview, police wrote, Floyd admitted that it was illegal for a felon like him to even keep the pistol, according to the report. But he said he needed it to protect his girlfriend from a violent ex.

In his version of the story, his girlfriend produced the gun that night. She threatened to kill herself in front of him, he said, so he tried to take it from her.

In her interview, the woman said Floyd got the gun and threatened to kill her with it. So she tried to take it from him.

In any case, they grappled over the pistol. They both heard it go off.

When police searched the house the following weekend, after the vets office and the note and everything else, they found two bullet holes through the drywall. At least no one had been shot.

Floyd finally won control over the gun  whoever had first produced it, and in whatever capacity. He told police he unloaded the weapon and then fell asleep with his girlfriend, at peace.

The woman said only that she slept for the next 22 hours.

Her head hurt.

When she woke on Friday, she said, Floyd began trying to apologize. He told her God was punishing him, police wrote.

She wanted only to get out of the house, she said, and so she told Floyd that the dog seemed out of sorts. Could she please take it to the vet?

Floyd insisted on coming along, police wrote, and he brought the gun with him.

As they drove, the woman said, Floyd pointed the gun at her and stated that he was going to kill her and her entire family.

Floyd denied this in his interview. He said the pair had been getting along fine since the argument. He said he had no idea why his girlfriend would make up a story about the dog and write a secret rescue note to contact the police.

Her reasons seemed clear to the police, and the Volusia County Sheriffs Office deputies who conducted much of the investigation.

After the interviews and counting the rounds in the gun, witnessing the bullet holes in the house and seeing the womans many cuts and bruises, police booked Floyd into jail for at least his 14th time.

He remained there on Sunday, charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, false imprisonment and battery, plus the firearm charges.

And the sheriffs office posted a photo of the womans note on Facebook, and praised the vet worker and everyone else involved in rescuing a woman held against her will.

Thank God for the courage of this woman, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood wrote on Twitter.

The woman, however, told police she did not want to pursue criminal charges against her boyfriend and declined to cooperate further with the case.
BERLIN  Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party marched through central Berlin to protest against Chancellor Angela Merkels government Sunday, and were kept away from a raft of counter-demonstrations by a heavy police presence.

Police said over 5,000 people turned out for the demonstration organized by the anti-migration Alternative for Germany, known by its German acronym AfD. A variety of counter-protests against the far right attracted well over 25,000 people in total, they said.

The AfD event opened with German flags, placards such as No Islam in Germany and chants of Merkel must go outside Berlins central train station. The partys supporters then marched to the landmark Brandenburg Gate. Opponents chanted Nazis out from the other side of the monument.

Some of the counter-protesters took to rafts on the Spree river, within sight of the train station. Groups organizing protests against AfD included artists and a coalition of Berlin music clubs hoping to blow away the party with loud techno beats.

About 2,000 police officers were in place to prevent trouble, including reinforcements from other parts of Germany. The march concluded without significant trouble.

AfD won 12.6 percent of the vote to enter Germanys national parliament last year on anti-migrant and anti-establishment sentiment. It is now the largest of four opposition parties after the countrys two biggest parties finally agreed to continue a centrist grand coalition under Merkel earlier this year.

Its march Sunday, an unusual move for a German political party, was headlined Germanys Future. An AfD regional leader, Andreas Kalbitz, proclaimed that this is a signal and argued that it shows AfD is the center of society.

In parliament, AfDs novice lawmakers have sometimes struggled to grasp basic procedures and stood out with blunt attacks on minorities, particularly Muslims, who made up the majority of the more than 1 million asylum-seekers to enter Germany in 2015 and 2016. Recent polls have put the partys support around the same level as in last years election.

Prominent AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch told Sundays demonstrators that the vital question for us is: freedom or Islamization?

Among the protesters was Silke Langmacker, an accountant, who carried a sign reading Taxpayers First.

We are here to stop the uncontrolled influx into the German welfare system, she said. The refugees must return to Syria and rebuild their country there.

__

Karin Laub contributed to this report.
Ralph Stepneys home on a quiet street in north Baltimore has a welcoming front porch and large rooms, with plenty of space for his comfortable recliner and vast collection of action movies. The house is owned by Joann West, a licensed caregiver who shares it with Stepney and his fellow Vietnam War veteran Frank Hundt.

There is no place that Id rather be.  I love the quiet of living here, the help we get. I thank the Lord every year that I am here, Stepney, 73, said.

Its a far cry from a decade ago, when Stepney was homeless and didnt care about anything. His diabetes went unchecked and he had suffered a stroke  a medical event that landed him at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

After having part of his foot amputated, Stepney moved into long-term nursing home care at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility, where he thought hed remain  until he became a candidate for a small VA effort that puts aging veterans in private homes: the Medical Foster Home program.

The $20.7 million-per-year program provides housing and care for more than 1,000 veterans in 42 states and Puerto Rico, serving as an alternative to nursing home care for those who cannot live safely on their own. Veterans pay their caregivers $1,500 to $3,000 a month, depending on location, saving the government about $10,000 a month in nursing home care. It has been difficult to scale up, though, because VA accepts only foster homes that meet strict qualifications.

For the veterans, its a chance to live in a home setting with caregivers who treat them like family. For VA, the program provides an option for meeting its legal obligation to care for ailing, aging patients at significantly reduced costs, because the veterans pay room and board directly to their caregivers.

Cost-effectiveness is but one of the programs benefits. Stepney and Hundt, 67, are in good hands with West, who previously ran a home health-care services company. And theyre in good company, watching television together in the main living room, going twice a week to a center that offers daytime care and sitting on Wests porch chatting with neighbors.

West, who considers caring for older adults her calling, also savors the companionship and finds satisfaction in giving back to those who spent their young lives in military service to the United States.

I took care of my mother when she got cancer and I found that I really had a passion for it. I took classes and ran an in-home nursing care business for years. But my dream was always to get my own place and do what I am doing now, West said. God worked it out.

The Medical Foster Home program has slightly more than 700 licensed caregivers who live full time with no more than three veterans and provide round-the-clock supervision and care, according to VA. Akin to a community residential care facility, each foster home must be state-licensed as an assisted-living facility and submit to frequent inspections by VA as well as state inspectors, nutritionists, pharmacists and nurses.

Unlike typical community care facilities, foster home caregivers are required to live on-site and tend to the needs of their patients themselves 24/7  or supply relief staff.

Its a lot of work, but I have support, West said. I try to make all my personal appointments on days when Mr. Ralph and Mr. Frank are out, but if I cant, someone comes in to be here when Im gone.

VA medical foster home providers also must pass a federal background check, complete 80 hours of training before they can accept patients, plus 20 hours of additional training each year, and allow VA to make announced and unannounced home visits. They cannot work outside the home and must maintain certification in first aid, CPR and medicine administration.

But one prerequisite cannot be taught  the ability to make a veteran feel at home. West has grown children serving in the military and takes pride in contributing to the well-being of veterans.

Its a lot of joy taking care of them, she said of Stepney and Hundt. They deserve it.

To be considered for the program, veterans must be enrolled in VA health care; have a serious, chronic disabling medical condition that requires a nursing home level of care; and need care coordination and access to VA services. It can take up to a month to place a veteran in a home once they are found eligible, according to VA.

The veterans also must be able to cover their costs. Because medical foster homes are not considered institutional care, VA is not allowed to pay for it directly. The average monthly fee, according to VA, is $2,300, which most veterans cover with their VA compensation, Social Security and savings, said Nicole Trimble, Medical Foster Home coordinator at the Perry Point VA Medical Center in Maryland.

Since 1999, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been required to provide nursing home services to veterans who qualify for VA health care and have a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher, or are considered unemployable and have a disability rating of 60 percent or higher.

VA provides this care through short- or long-term nursing home facilities, respite care, community living centers on VA hospital grounds, private assisted living facilities and state veterans homes.

Shortly after, the VA Medical Center in Little Rock launched an alternative  a pilot program that placed veterans in individual homes, at an average cost to VA of about $60 a day, including administration and health-care expenses, compared with upward of $500 a day for nursing home care.

And because veterans who are enrolled in the Medical Foster Care program must use VAs Home Based Primary Care program, which provides an interdisciplinary team of health professionals for in-home medical treatment, the program saves VA even more. One study showed that the home-based care has yielded a 59 percent drop in VA hospital inpatient days and a 31 percent reduction in admissions among those who participate.

More than 120 VA medical centers now oversee a Medical Foster Home program in their regions, and VA has actively promoted the program within its health system.

It also has attracted bipartisan congressional support. In 2013, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a bill to allow VA to pay for medical foster homes directly.

In 2015, former House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., introduced similar legislation that would have allowed VA to pay for up to 900 veterans under the program.

And this month, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., raised the issue again, sponsoring a bill similar to Millers. Allowing veterans to exercise greater flexibility over their benefits ensures that their individual needs are best met, Higgins said in support of the program.

Foster care has been a blessing for the family of Hundt, who suffered a stroke shortly after his wife died and was unable to care for himself. Hundts daughter, Kimberly Malczewski, lives nearby and often stops in to visit her dad, sometimes with her 2-year-old son.

Im not sure where my father would be if he didnt have this, she said. With my life situation  my husband and I both work full time, we have no extra room in our house, and we have a small child  I cant take care of him the way Miss Joann does.

Trimble, whose program started in 2012 and has five homes, said she hopes to expand by two to three homes a year. VA will remain meticulous about selecting homes.

There is a strict inspection and vetting process to be a medical foster home, Trimble said. We only will accept the best.

It also takes a special person to be an angel, as the caregivers are referred to in the programs motto, Where Heroes Meet Angels.

Stepney and Hundt agree West has earned her wings. On a recent cruise to Bermuda, she brought Stepney and Hundt along.

For Hundt, it was the first time hed been on a boat. And Stepney said it was nothing like the transport ships he and his fellow troops used in the late 1960s: Well, Ive gotten to travel, but it was mainly two years in Vietnam, and there werent any women around.

When asked why she brought the pair along, West said caregiving is a ministry, something you really have to like to do.

And you know how the saying goes, she said. When you like what you do, you never work a day in your life.



Kime reported this article for Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service and an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. KHNs coverage of aging is supported in part by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Scan Foundation.
BALTIMORE  Its hard to think of a more volatile mix: Four young black males from Baltimore City, accused in the death of a white female police officer in Baltimore County. Authorities say three of the teenagers were breaking into homes when the fourth ran the officer over in a stolen Jeep.

Predictably enough, social media, call-in radio and other forums blew up. A sampling from the Baltimore County Police & Fire Facebook page:

I was hoping theyd kill him during apprehension. What a waste of life. Hes currently breathing air some decent person could be breathing.

I personally am tired of good for nothing hood rats committing adult crimes and people STILL saying crap like, he had hard times growing up, society made him do these things because he had no role models.

I hope all you whites have the same level outrage next time one of your youths decide to shoot up a school of innocent children, another wrote. You all are a disgusting group of devils.

No previous case has generated as much online reaction, county fire spokeswoman Elise Armacost said. Authorities pleaded repeatedly for civility, and county staff took down comments that contained profanity or were typed in all caps. But they have struggled to keep up with the avalanche of angry postings  many of which called for the accused driver to be hanged, shot, run over or raped.

Sadly, these comments are a microcosm of the conflicts and lack of civility we see in the country right now, Armacost said.

Stephanie DeLuca, a Johns Hopkins sociologist, has long studied Baltimore youth. Shes also the daughter of a 40-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. She described the absolutely awful case as a kind of perfect, polarizing storm.

It touches on all these intersections  of race, policing, city-county, said DeLuca, co-author of the 2016 book Coming of Age in the Other America.

Once fear is sparked, anger is sparked, she said.

Authorities say the teenagers were burglarizing homes in Perry Hall Monday afternoon when Baltimore County Police Officer Amy S. Caprio approached the Jeep. They say driver Dawnta Harris, 16, of the Gilmor Homes public housing project in West Baltimore, ran her over.

Caprio died a short time later. Harris and three other youths were charged as adults with first-degree murder.

That the black youths had driven to the county, populated in no small part by decades of white flight from the city, fueled heated exchanges online and over the airwaves.

Where some saw predatory animals and thugs, others saw demonization and a rush to judgment. Finger-pointing between city prosecutors and state juvenile officials only added to the fire.

Its time that we just turn the city over to the hoodlums and just let them annihilate themselves, one commenter wrote on The Baltimore Suns Facebook page.

DeLuca said the anger obscures an important point: Most young people in Baltimores impoverished neighborhoods are going to school or working or both, not out on the streets and creating mayhem.

Theyre looking for something to do, something to be about, she said. This is about human development, personal development, and finding meaning and dignity, and these are in short supply in Baltimore.

Instead, she said, its people like Harris, who authorities say fled home detention this month while awaiting sentencing for a car theft, who are viewed as the norm.

The thing I think is important to remember is this is not the typical kid, DeLuca said. But no one wants to hear that in the face of this tragedy.

And indeed, online comments tend to follow a pattern: A poster calls for the suspects to ROT in prison & actually they should get the DEATH PENALTY! Others chime in with similar proposals, until eventually someone demurs, perhaps expressing empathy for the youths families or pointing out that police have killed suspects but escaped accountability. Then that draws a backlash, and the cycle continues.

On the WBAL radio show hosted by Clarence M. Mitchell IV, callers have been talking about little else.

Youre talking about a black young man from Gilmor Homes in a very, very white area, and a white female police officer  the racial dynamics cant be eliminated, said Mitchell, a former Democratic state senator and scion of a family of civil rights activists.

But he said people who get involved with racial animus now generally get called out for it, a change from the past.

Juvenile services secretary says Baltimore County officers killing shows youth justice system failed

He sees the real issue in this case as the failings of the juvenile services and juvenile justice systems. Harris had been arrested in several car thefts before Monday, and had been ordered on home detention this month.

If we worry about some peoples language, were never going to help these kids. Lets not be so defensive, Mitchell said, Im sorry, at some point we have to stop being so sensitive. We are too worried about how we look as opposed to correcting this reality.

The reality is we have a problem. We are a violent city. We have a dysfunctional juvenile justice system, he said. Those are the facts.

Antero Pietila, who has written about the ways decades-old laws, racial covenants and red-lining created the segregation that persists in much of the Baltimore region today, said the reaction to Caprios death reveals the continuing tensions between the city and county.

Your client is a one-man crime wave: Teen charged in Baltimore County officers death has lengthy juvenile record

After white flight, a lot of people who moved to Baltimore County  felt victimized by blacks  they made me move,' said Pietila, author of Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City.

At stressful times, all these emotions come out, he said. These are not logical matters. These are matters where emotions rise, and prejudices take hold.

Pietila is a former reporter and editorial writer for The Baltimore Sun. While city-county tensions have a long history, he said, they now play out in the context of a noisy, divisive political climate.

What is part of this discussion is the demonization of certain groups that is happening at the national level, he said. A lot of people who have strong feelings, maybe they used to be more circumspect. Now they let their feelings out.

State Del. Pat McDonough, who is running in the Republican primary for Baltimore County executive, unloaded on his Facebook page Wednesday night:

Here we go again. Another thug destroys the life of an innocent person. This time its a wonderful woman in law enforcement, McDonough wrote. The only thing these thugs are good at is destroying lives. The radical left loves the thugs, and keeps complaining about mass incarceration while in reality none of them get locked up, but just roam our neighborhoods.

Baltimore County police chief: Officer Caprio was the type of officer that youd want to hire

Baltimore City Councilman John Bullock said some will view the officers death as validation of the fears that led many to flee the city for the county in the first place  and how even that wont keep them safe.

Bullock, a political scientist at Towson University, said the first thought is, and should be, the tragedy of the loss of Caprio. But he said that shouldnt prevent a look at larger issues surrounding the suspects: their education, their neighborhoods, and their own possible exposure to violence.

Often, he said, such discussions get shut down in the more heated rhetoric.

We dont want to analyze what has brought us to this moment, Bullock said.

He contrasted that reaction to the discussion around school shooters, who have most often been white.

With the school shooter, theres more psychoanalysis, Bullock said. That same introspection doesnt happen in cases like this.

Kaye Whitehead, an associate professor of communication and African & African American studies at Loyola University Maryland, is the mother of two teenage boys and author of the book Letters to My Black Sons: Raising Boys in a Post-Racial America.

She contrasted the treatment of the four Baltimore suspects with that of the shooter at Santa Fe High School in Texas this month and the convicted shooter at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.

With Dimitrios Pagourtzis, or Dylann Roof, we want to know the full story of this lone wolf, she said. Were they mentally challenged? Were they sad? Were they lonely?

When the perpetrator is African-American, it doesnt matter. We dont want a portrait.

Whitehead said she is disturbed by the rush to judgment of the suspects. At Harris first appearance, she noted, a District Court judge called him a one-man crime wave and wondered aloud whether any juvenile facility was secure enough to hold him.

She said its hard to get past the racial elements of the case. She believes the language surrounding it would be much different if the suspects werent black males and the victim a white woman.

This is a conversation weve never been able to move past, Whitehead said. Its 50 years since the Kerner Report, in which a presidential commission declared that the country was moving toward two societies, one black, one white.

Baltimore is a microcosm of America, Whitehead said.

If so, the wrestling over race and justice promises to continue.

Harris case attracted the attention of the prominent defense attorneys Warren Brown and J. Wyndal Gordon, who are now representing him. Gordon has said Caprio displayed aggression, raising her weapon and firing, and Harris struck her accidentally as he tried to drive around her car and away.

That rankled County Councilman David Marks, a Republican who represents Perry Hall. He accused the attorneys of pouring gasoline on the fire and making excuses for their client.

He said the lawyers were deflecting responsibility for Harris alleged actions.

And I have to ask, at what point does a parents responsibility end? Marks said. Why is everything societys fault? And I think thats the position of so many of my constituents.



(Alison Knezevich contributed to this report.)
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Lindsay Sledge said she was told she cant pick and choose between half-day and full-day kindergarten when she sends her daughter to school this fall.

She had requested to send the 4-year-old to half-day kindergarten due to Paloma Sledge-Gubas chronic seizures and because her medicine  cannabis oil  isnt legally allowed on school grounds.

But now Albuquerque Public Schools is saying an error was made and told the Journal that Paloma will be allowed to attend half-day kindergarten if her mother chooses, which is in accordance with state law that says full-day kindergarten is voluntary.

Sometimes, because you are dealing with human capital, there are errors made, said APS spokeswoman Monica Armenta. We arent aware of every decision made at the schools.

That answer is not cutting it for me, Sledge said, adding its ridiculous if school officials arent aware of the law.

After a legal team reviewed the state statute the Journal sent to APS, Armenta said the district will move forward with making any necessary accommodations to get Paloma started with half-day kindergarten.

During this past school year, her daughter attended half-day preschool. Sledge sat in her car each morning, waiting to administer the cannabis oil, a non-psychotropic extract of marijuana, both as a regular preventative and as a treatment in case Paloma had a seizure.

A neurologist recommended that Paloma try cannabis to help her condition, allowing her to get a medical marijuana card. Sledge said the cannabis oil, which she either puts under Palomas tongue or rubs into her gums, has to be administered within minutes of a seizure starting.

Since state law prohibits medical marijuana on school grounds and on school buses, Sledge drove off campus to treat her daughter.

But the mother of three said she cant sit in the school parking lot for an entire school day if Paloma were required to attend full-day kindergarten.

I felt like I was hitting a brick wall with APS. I can understand the medicine portion, but for them to say that she cant even go half a day, I felt defeated, she recalled. I was tired.

Sledge was at a loss when she was initially told she couldnt have a half-day schedule next school year when Paloma enters kindergarten.

I was told she either needs to be homeschooled, be in a homebound program or be at school all day, she said.

Being Palomas full-time caretaker and teacher was something Sledge said she didnt feel equipped to do, given that the 4-year-old also receives services from her school to help with developmental delays.

While waiting in the Petroglyph Elementary School parking lot was a personal and professional sacrifice this year, Sledge was just glad she found a treatment option that worked for her daughter.

Armenta didnt know why Paloma wasnt given the half-day option for next year in the first place.

Neither did Lisa Oliphant, APS special education principal support member. Oliphant told the Journal she remembered Palomas case and remembered meeting with Sledge but had no recollection of a request to send the 4-year-old to half-day kindergarten.

Honestly, I dont remember having that discussion with the parent, she said.

Oliphant also said she did not know why Paloma wasnt given the option for half-day school.

Sledge said Friday that she had not been contacted by APS yet. While she was encouraged by the decision, she doesnt know what she will choose for her daughter next year.

But she did note that, even if she chooses half-day, she will still have to sit in her car and wait while Paloma goes to school.

Its not what I hope for in the long run, but its a good first step, she said.

Sledge is still aiming to change the state law that prohibits cannabis oil on school grounds. Since the Journal first published her story, she said legislators have reached out to her and shes eagerly awaiting the next legislative session to see if things will change.

Fred Nathan Jr., founder and executive director of the statewide think tank Think New Mexico, originally pushed for the full-day kindergarten law.

While full-day kindergarten is the best choice for the vast majority of children, there are exceptions, which is why Think New Mexico drafted the law to give families options, he said.

Nathan said while medical reasons werent the original intent of the law, he feels Palomas chronic seizures are an appropriate exercise of the law.

He had sent a letter to APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy noting the law but didnt hear back. He hopes Reedy will work to make sure the district and schools know about the law to make sure other families know their options.
Americas fallen warriors will be honored at events in and around Albuquerque on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, commemorates those who have died while serving in Americas armed forces.

The major event in Albuquerque takes place today at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana SE.

The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with a musical prelude by New Mexicos only official American Legion band, the Dukes of Albuquerque.

Mayor Tim Keller will deliver remarks at 10 a.m., followed by an address by Col. Richard Gibbs, 377th Air Base Wing and installation commander at Kirtland Air Force Base.

Parking and continuous shuttle service provided by the Department of Senior Affairs will be available at Kirtland Federal Credit Union, 6440 Gibson SE.

Bernalillo

The town of Bernalillo will host a Memorial Day event from 10 a.m. to noon at Rotary Park, 301 Rotary Park Road. It includes hot dogs, beverages and music.

Las Cruces

The city of Las Cruces is holding a candlelight vigil at Veterans Memorial Park at 8 p.m.

Los Alamos

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Guaje Pines Cemetery, 901 Range Road, at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch at American Legion Post 90, 1325 Trinity Drive, at 12:30 p.m. A free concert outside Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave., will start at 1 p.m.

Rio Rancho

Ceremony at Veterans Monument Park beginning at 11 a.m. at 950 Pinetree Road

Santa Fe

A ceremony will be held at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 North Guadalupe St., beginning at 10 a.m.

Angel Fire

A flag march will begin at 9 a.m. and a special ceremony honoring all veterans in the amphitheater at 11 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, . The memorial is located at 34 Country Club Road.
FARMINGTON  A school district in New Mexicos Four Corners region wants to have some students fluent in Spanish or Navajo by time they graduate from high school.

Kindergartners in the Farmington Municipal School District next school year have the chance to enroll in a dual-language program in Spanish or Dine, the Daily Times in Farmington reports.

The first year will feature a 20-student kindergarten class learning Dine at Apache Elementary School, and another 20-student class learning Spanish at McCormick Elementary School.

The district hopes to expand the programs to other schools, Superintendent Gene Schmidt said.

According to district officials, the program will start with 45 minutes of instruction each day in either Dine or Spanish. During that time, the students will learn social studies.

Each year, that time will increase, and more subjects will be added. By the time the kindergartners reach fourth grade, half of the days instruction will be taught in Spanish or Dine, and the other half will be in English.

This program is open to all students, not just Native American students, Karen Brown, director of multicultural education for the district, said during a meeting Monday about the Navajo language program at Apache.

Assistant director of Indian education Shawl Iron Moccasin said the key to the students success will be parent involvement. The parents will receive handbooks and are asked to speak to their children in Dine or Spanish. Parents who do not speak Dine can take a free evening class once a week at Apache.

Jessica Smallcanyon and her fiance, Brandon Chavez, attended Mondays parent meeting to learn about the options for their children. Neither speaks Dine, but Chavez said he has been looking into ways to learn it.

It feels awkward, and it feels embarrassing not to know your own language, he said.

New Mexico district eyes Spanish, Navajo dual-language plan
The Libertarian Party achieved major party status this year, and as such you will see Libertarians on the ballot in June and November. That success is due in large part to former Gov. Gary Johnsons 2016 presidential run. But this is only half the story.

New Mexicans all across the state are continuing to join the party, and their gains are nearly as large as the Republican and Democrats in absolute terms and crush them in percentage gains. According to the Secretary of State Offices data, on March 31, 2017, there were 6,093 registered Libertarians. In the offices most recent release April 30, the number has increased to 8,231. Thats a 35 percent increase, or an absolute increase of 2,138. Over the same period the Republicans and Democrats have seen less than a 1 percent increase in registered members with the Republicans getting the largest absolute gain with 3,826 members.

What is the driver of this growth even after the enthusiasm of a presidential campaign has long subsided? Its simple: People are tired of the animosity and vitriol that the two major parties exhibit on a daily basis, and they are realizing that the Libertarian party aligns with their personal and political beliefs. Most polls find anywhere from 20-25 percent of people have Libertarian ideals, and this sentiment is strongest among millennials who are now the largest voting bloc in the nation. More recently the number of Americans who would be willing to vote for a third party is trending upward, with polls often showing that number around 60 percent.

Now for the reasons you should join the Libertarian Party. The party is truly a fiscal conservative party. Libertarians will cut government spending and reduce the massive amount of debt the nation has amassed in the last two decades under both Republicans and Democrats. This is the best way to keep more of what you earn in your pocket and send less to Washington to be wasted. We are classical liberals when it comes to your natural and constitutional rights. We understand the governments proper role is the preservation of your rights, and we dont selectively pick which rights we defend and for whom those rights should be defended. We dont believe police should be arresting people and putting them in prison for victimless crimes. We believe that government should for the most part get out of your way and let you open a business without making you get 10 different permits from 10 different government agencies.

And finally, you should join the party because we believe strongly in the power of the individual. We know that with a couple thousand determined individuals we can change this state and this nation and set it on a track that all can be proud of. Live free!
WASHINGTON  President Trump has many limitations, to put it mildly, but he is brilliant at the dark art of branding. Those seeking to hold him accountable had better study his technique  and learn to fight fire with fire.

Witness how Trump is trying to use the word spy as a weapon against the FBI, the Justice Department and special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian meddling in the election. The presidents performance last week has been totally dishonest  and, lets be honest, quite effective.

Here is what actually happened, as far as we know: In 2016, the FBI saw what it believed were Russian attempts to interfere with the U.S. election, including contacts with three Trump campaign advisers. Alarmed and needing to know more  but not wanting to publicly investigate the campaign, which could be prejudicial against Trump  agents asked a retired professor, Stefan Halper, to touch base with those advisers to see what he could find out. Halper did so. Two of the advisers, Carter Page and Sam Clovis, have publicly described the encounters as innocuous.

Here is what happened, according to Trump: Spygate!

Trump has consistently and cleverly referred to Halper as a spy, rather than an informant, which is what he really was. And he has suggested, falsely, that the spy was placed very early into my campaign. Trump alleged in a tweet Wednesday that the Criminal Deep State, which for some reason is apparently persecuting him, has been caught in a major SPY scandal the likes of which this country may never have seen before!

Right-wing media and Trumps political allies have joined the chorus, which is meant to sow doubt on the Mueller probes legitimacy. And I believe the campaign is having at least some success  all because of the word spy.

According to The Associated Press, Trump told one ally (last) week that he wanted to brand the informant a spy, believing the more nefarious term would resonate more in the media and with the public. He was right. His supporters have gleefully adopted the term. Media outlets have called Trump on his distortion, but in order to refute the word spy it is necessary to use the term  which has the counterproductive effect of reinforcing the word, through repetition.

Trumps success in making some people believe his campaign was spied on does not deter Mueller from his appointed rounds. But it can incrementally shake confidence in Muellers findings  unless he completely exonerates Trump, in which case the president will paint him as the noblest and finest public servant in the history of the republic.

As The Washington Posts Karen Tumulty wrote in January of last year, Trump came up with the phrase Make America Great Again on Nov. 7, 2012, the day after Mitt Romneys loss to Barack Obama. Five days later, Trump applied for a trademark. This was back in 2012. Hes good at this.

You will recall how Trump branded his opponents for the Republican nomination with mocking nicknames  Little Marco Rubio, Low Energy Jeb Bush, etc. It was juvenile and undignified, but it served to diminish the other contenders, letting Trump set himself apart and above.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. is trying to give Trump a dose of his own medicine. What Trump calls Spygate should really be known as Lie-gate, Schiff says, because it is built on falsehoods. Schiff should get points for making the effort, but hes already a bit late.

Trump understands, and seizes, the first-mover advantage that comes from coining definitional terms. Lie-gate is a decent counterpunch. Spygate, by contrast, was a roundhouse sucker punch  not nice, not polite, but effective.

Beating Trump at his own game requires actually playing that game. This means acting instead of always reacting  it means defining the linguistic terrain before he can. And it means understanding that words dont just describe reality. They shape it.
America without her soldiers would be like God without His angels.

 Claudia Pemberton

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.

 Franklin D. Roosevelt

Its the unofficial kickoff to summer, but, more importantly, Memorial Day is the holiday set aside to honor the hundreds of thousands of American service members who have died in battle throughout the globe protecting our nation and its freedoms.

Its a solemn day for families who have lost loved ones in conflicts in far-flung places  Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, Europe, Japan, the Philippines, Pearl Harbor  and closer to home. But its also a day to celebrate each of these heroes and to send a prayer of thanks to them and their families for the enormous sacrifices they made for their country and for each of us.

People have been paying tribute to their war dead for thousands of years, but Memorial Day officially began 150 years ago.

Originally dubbed Decoration Day, this holiday was established to create a national unified celebration to honor those from both armies of the American Civil War. The first national Decoration Day was held on May 30, 1868. The holiday became known as Memorial Day by the late 19th century and honored the deceased of all wars fought by U.S. service members. It became a federal holiday in 1971 and is celebrated on the last Monday in May.

America is divided right now. Weve got Republicans feuding with Democrats. Trump supporters at war with Trump critics. Immigrant rights advocates clashing with those who want our nation to take a tough stance against illegal immigration.

But none of that should matter today. Today should be about the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Whether we support the wars or other military conflicts that claimed these service members lives is irrelevant. The bottom line is that these are men and women who answered their countrys call and who laid down their lives for their country, and for that we are eternally in their debt.

The New York-based Memorial Day Foundation, citing Department of Defense data, says more than 42 million men and women have served our country during wartime since our nations birth. Of those, more than 1.2 million never made it home.

According to the foundation, those deaths include:

 4,435 in the Revolutionary War

 2,260 in the War of 1812

 1,000 in the Indian Wars

 13,283 in the Mexican War

 364,511 fighting for the North in the Civil War

 199,110 fighting for the South in the Civil War

 2,446 in the Spanish American War

 4,273 in the Philippines insurrection

 116,516 in World War I

 405,399 in World War II

 36,574 in the Korean War

 58,209 in Vietnam

 382 in the Persian Gulf War

 2,352 in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

 4,425 in Operation Iraqi Freedom

In the words of President Lincoln, its up to us to make sure that these heroes did not die in vain and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

So while many enjoy picnics and barbecues and a much-deserved day off today, everyone should be sure to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that our nations heroes have made and continue to make for each of us.

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.
SAN DIEGO  For Latinos trying to survive the Age of Trump with their dignity intact, the hate just keeps on coming.

Americans cant make up their minds whether they want to appropriate Latino culture or stamp it out altogether. One minute, everyone in the country is going loco for Latinos; the next, theyve just gone plum loco.

Lets focus on 10 incidents from the last several months.

 Ann Coulter told radio host Lars Larson that putting the National Guard on the U.S.-Mexico border wont be enough to stop immigrants from crossing it unless theyre going to shoot one and send a message to the rest. Message received: Coulter is a ghoul.

 Bragging about his deportation record, President Trump told a delegation of California officials: Were taking people out of the country. You wouldnt believe how bad these people are. These arent people. These are animals. The next day, Trump claimed he was referring only to MS-13 gang members.

 White House chief of staff John Kelly said undocumented immigrants from Latin America do not assimilate very well because they are often poorly educated and overwhelmingly rural people who dont have skills. Of course, much the same thing was said about Kellys Irish ancestors.

 Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren came to Kellys defense and insisted that welcoming immigrants with low skills and low education who speak foreign languages is not what this country is based on. Quite right. Its more accurate to say that low-skilled immigration is what this country was built on.

 In Havre, Mont., at a gas station near the U.S.-Canada border, two women were singled out and questioned by a Border Patrol officer who suspected they were undocumented immigrants. The probable cause? The women were speaking Spanish. Both are U.S. citizens. So linguistic profiling is a thing now?

 At a Starbucks in Southern California, a young man ordered a white mocha and an iced caramel macchiato. The word Beaner, a racial slur, was on the labels attached to his drinks. Starbucks apologized. The company has a Venti-sized image problem.

 An angry white lawyer named Aaron Schlossberg was caught on video berating two women for the sin of speaking Spanish at a New York deli. He threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He later apologized and claimed that he is not racist. Sure. He just plays one in videos.

 An Albertsons grocery store in San Diego ran afoul of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after allegedly subjecting Latino employees to a hostile work environment. What caused the hostility? The employees were speaking Spanish. Remember when being bilingual was an asset?

 Fox News host Tucker Carlson invited Cesar Vargas  an undocumented immigrant and lawyer  onto his show and bullied him. Carlson told Vargas  who wants to become a U.S. citizen  Im an American and youre not. I dont think you should become a citizen. Could we take a vote on whether ugly Americans should be able to keep their U.S. citizenship?

 In Georgia, Republican gubernatorial candidates targeted Mexican immigrants. State Sen. Michael Williams campaigned in a deportation bus adorned with a message: Danger! Murderers, rapists, kidnappers, child molesters, and other criminals on board. Another candidate, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, has bragged he owns a big truck just in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take em home myself.

What in the world is going on? If this keeps up, Latinos in the United States are going to get our feelings hurt. We might even conclude that  even with all the Help Wanted signs  you dont want us around. Someone may have to leave.

But hey, we were here first. Look it up. English settlers in Virginia founded Jamestown in 1607, but the Spanish had established Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico nine years earlier. The Spanish couldve sent them a gift basket to welcome them to the neighborhood.

Were not leaving. No way, Jose. The people who should skedaddle are the ones with the problem. You have the problem. So what can we say  except adios.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Francis Nye has lived quite the life in his near century of existence.

His illustrious, three-decade career in the U.S. Air Force took him from a farm in Vermont, to North Africa and Asia in two wars, the Pentagon, to Albuquerque, where he retired in 1972 as a commander at Sandia Base, at that time the nations principal nuclear weapons installation.

I had a fabulous career, Nye said in his room at Albuquerques Montebello assisted living facility Thursday afternoon.

Despite his serious previous responsibilities, Nye is surprisingly lighthearted in discussing his time as a pilot in World War II and the Korean War and leading highly classified efforts near the highest levels of the Department of Defense.

He insists on being called Frank, smiles genuinely and often, and drinks a daily double scotch and water.

And, as one might expect of an accomplished Air Force pilot, he still exudes a nearly larger-than-life sense of self-confidence.

It just comes naturally, he said, when asked about the training involved in learning to fly in the 1940s. I took good care of my airplanes, and I never had a problem that I couldnt handle in the air by myself.

Nye enlisted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps in 1941. He was first assigned to pilot the B-17 bomber, eventually moving on to B-24s and B-29s.

Before becoming a commander at Sandia Base many years later, Nye spent time in Albuquerque training in B-24s at the beginning of his career.

Nye was sent to North Africa in the summer of 1942, flying missions in Egypt, Palestine and other areas until he was allowed to go home for a few months, then as a captain.

During his time at home, Nye was assigned to test out a new bomber: the B-29.

His second tour of duty found him flying the same bomber in Asia.

In August 1944, Nye piloted the longest mission of the war, flying 4,000 miles nonstop to Sumatra and back from a base on the island of Ceylon that took 17 hours.

I shouldnt tell you this, but coming off the target at Palembang (a city in Sumatra), I passed the bottle around to the crew, which made them pretty happy, he said, chuckling.

While at an airfield on the island of Tinian in early August 1945, Nye recalls visiting with Col. Paul Tibbets.

We asked him what that aircraft was that had a funny arrow on the tail of it and he said, Youll know in two or three days,  Nye said. And sure enough, they dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.

Of the bombs, Nye said he is convinced the U.S. made the right decision.

Japan would have fought on until the last man drew any breath, he said. Youve gotta give up sometime, and the old bomb did it.

Nye went on to fly B-29s in the Korean War as well.

After the wars end, Nyes life continued an exciting and upward trajectory.

He was at a ball attended by Englands Princess Margaret in 1950, while on temporary duty assignment, and helped actor Rock Hudson prepare for his role as a B-52 wing commander in the 1963 film A Gathering of Eagles, while himself commanding the 28th Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

His daughter, Pat Nye, said she remembers Hudson coming over for cocktails in the evenings.

Nye served in the Pentagon in the 60s and was made commander of the Defense Atomic Support Agencys Field Command, Sandia Base, where he served until 1972.

After retiring with 31 years in the military, Nye worked for several years as the manager of a Hilton hotel in Downtown Albuquerque.

I can do anything, he said, laughing, that same indomitable confidence in his voice.

Nye admitted that at 99 years old, he doesnt do much to observe Memorial Day anymore.

But he still remembers those lost during the war, like a gunner and member of his B-24 group in the Middle East who was blown out a window later on in the war after the window was hit by shrapnel.

He also remembers the thousands of men killed after being shot down over enemy territory.

I lost a lot of buddies in the Air Force that didnt return home. When youd lose the crew, youd lose 10 or 11 people, he said. And yet, we had to keep right on driving.

Nye turns 100 next month.
In the days following her mother and sisters stabbing deaths, Brittani Angel has been desperate for answers.

Police say her cousin, Dustin Brian Montano, 31, killed them before fleeing to Colorado where he was fatally shot by deputies just a few hours after police found the women dead.

I mean no one saw this coming, Angel, 26, said. My mom was like a mother to him, and my sister was like his sister. Those were his words.

Around 40 people attended a candlelight vigil at Pat Hurley Park near Atrisco and Central on Sunday to remember Deborah Martinez, 53, and Irisa Montano, 17.

The two were found dead early Thursday in the West Side apartment where Dustin had also been living for the past two months.

Ive been trying to get answers. I cant, Angel said. Im trying to put pieces together to understand everything, but I cant make sense of it. I dont understand why. I dont understand how. I dont understand. I dont get it.

Police told reporters early on that they werent able to answer questions about a possible motive, because they werent able to interview Dustin.

But Angel is holding out hope that the detective on the case may be able to offer some explanation after her investigation is complete.

She said she will have answers for me, Angel said. I just want to know more. Im trying to piece it together. I know I shouldnt be, but I just need to understand. I probably wont get that answer, but I just need something, even if its very small.

At age 19, Dustin was convicted of manslaughter in Austin after stabbing a man to death during a fight, but Angel said she had no idea about his violent past.

In the mean time, Angel said she is surrounding herself with family. And she said that the gathering on Sunday left her feeling supported.

It makes me feel better just to know that people are keeping their spirit alive, she said.

Martinez was a disabled Army veteran who served in Desert Storm.

Irisa graduated from Health Leadership High School and was planning to start nursing school at Central New Mexico Community College in the fall. Shed been working at Sonic to save up for college.

Services will take place this week in Las Vegas, N.M.
BALTIMORE  A close friend and colleague of Chelsea Manning said Monday that the convicted leaker of government secrets and longshot candidate for U.S. Senate is safe after a photo on her Twitter account apparently showed the 30-year-old woman standing on the edge of an upper-story window ledge.

The photo was posted to her Twitter account late Sunday with the words: Im sorry. It was sent shortly after a separate tweet that said: im not really cut out for this world  i tried adapting to this world out here but i failed you  i couldnt do this anymore, among other things. The tweets did not make clear where the photo was taken, and Mannings friends declined to say.

The alarming tweets were deleted after about 10 minutes, followed by a message on her account saying Manning was OK and asking people to please give her some space.

Kelly Wright, a friend of Manning who also is the communications director for her Senate bid, told The Associated Press on Monday that the 30-year-old transgender woman now needs the space to heal. She did not reply when asked if Manning was seeking professional help.

When asked whether Manning had suspended her Senate campaign, Wright wrote: Negative.

In her text message, Wright said Mannings adjustment to life outside prison has been extremely difficult.

I have seen firsthand and up close the violence inflicted on her by years of imprisonment, solitary confinement and torture, Wright said. This is made worse by the impossibly high expectations our society sets for public figures, especially on social media.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself while in a U.S. military lockup, recently told attendees at a Berlin tech conference that she felt a kind of cult of personality foisted upon her that she found really intimidating and overwhelming.

In a recent interview with the AP at her Maryland apartment, Manning was emotionally raw, her eyes welling up at times when discussing her motivations. When asked about her lengthy stints in solitary confinement, Manning said she occasionally wakes up panicked that shes back in the cage in Kuwait where she was first jailed, or incarcerated at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, where a U.N. official concluded shed been subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

She said she had to work hard to overcome anxiety and told AP that it was becoming increasingly clear to her just how deep the wounds are from her years behind bars.

A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment, saying the company did not comment on individual accounts for privacy and security reasons.

Manning, who makes her living on the speaking circuit, is fresh off an appearance at an international business conference in Montreal. When Wright was asked if Manning was in Montreal when the photo was posted from the ledge last night, Wright would only say: Im not going to disclose her location due to safety concerns.

Manning has been free for over a year. Former President Barack Obama commuted Mannings 35-year sentence, the lengthiest ever for revealing U.S. government secrets.

She has acknowledged leaking more than 700,000 military and State Department documents to anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010. She said she wanted to spark debate about U.S. foreign policy, and she has been portrayed as both a hero and a traitor. Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, she came out as transgender after her 2013 court-martial. She was barred from growing her hair long in prison, and was approved for hormone therapy only after litigation.

The high-profile transgender activist and convicted leaker is now in the midst of a highly unlikely Democratic primary bid for the U.S. Senate in her adopted state of Maryland. Shes claimed shes genuine in her aim to unseat Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democratic powerbroker in the blue state who is seeking his third Senate term. But last week, she tweeted the primaries were rigged and there was no point in voting.

___

Follow McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd
The news came just hours before their high school graduation ceremony was set to begin: Valedictorian Christian Bales and student council president Katherine Frantz would not be able to give their speeches.

It was a confusing announcement, as the two students thought administrators at Holy Cross High School  a Catholic school in Covington, Kentucky  had approved their speeches beforehand. But in a phone call to the students families on Friday morning, the school principal explained that in an emergency meeting the local diocese had deemed the students speeches inappropriate. The diocese had felt that Bales speech, in particular, was aggressive, angry and confrontational, according to the Cincinnati news station WCPO.

Bales, 18, felt that his speech was indispensable. It addressed the importance of youth advocacy at a time when the nation has its eye on teenagers, such as the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who have campaigned for stricter gun laws since a gunman opened fire on their Parkland, Florida, school in February, leaving 17 people dead. And it praised his fellow student activists across the political spectrum  from those who spoke out about the Parkland tragedy to those who participated in the antiabortion March for Life in January.

So Bales and Frantz, still hoping to impart their advice to the Class of 2018, delivered their speeches outside after the ceremony through a megaphone.

 The young people will win is a mantra that Im sure many of you have heard if youve been attentive to the media recently. Its a phrase adopted by the prolific Stoneman Douglas teenagers who are advocating for an agenda  our rights to feel secure as humans, Bales said through a megaphone on a grassy lawn to a group of cheering fellow graduates, according to a video obtained by WCPO.

As we enter into the real world, we must remember that we have a voice, Bales said.

Bales went on to say that its sometimes the young who are the wisest, as they have not been desensitized to the atrocities of our world. Therefore, young people must speak candidly about issues and mustnt tremble in the face of the institutions that try to silence them, he said.

We are dynamic. We are intelligent. We have a voice, and were capable of using it in all communities, Bales said.

The Washington Post was unable to obtain a copy or recording of Frantzs speech and could not immediately reach her.

Diocese of Covington spokesman Tim Fitzgerald told WCPO that the speeches were found to contain elements that were political and inconsistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. He added that the students had not met the deadline for turning their speeches in to faculty.

Fitzgerald and Principal Mike Holtz could not be immediately reached for comment.

Bales said he believed that he and Frantz were treated unfairly because of their outspokenness on social issues.

The president is my best friend, and weve been two huge advocates for social reform in our community, which has likely put us on the radar for the diocese, Bales told WCPO.

Bales mother told WCPO that her family has been part of the diocese for years and that Holtz had never called her personally to talk about Bales until last week. An initial phone call, she said, was to ensure that Bales, who identifies as gender non-confirming, would wear mens clothes, formal shoes, a conservative hairstyle and no makeup to the graduation ceremony  as expected by diocesan officials.

Holtzs next phone call was regarding Bales speech.

Marksberry said the staff of Holy Cross had been supportive of her son and so she did not harbor any negative feelings about the situation.

We dont want to be vindictive; we dont want to be vengeful, she told WCPO. Thats not what this is about. Hes earned the right to have a voice.

Bales plans to study biology at the University of Louisville on a full scholarship in the fall, according to WCPO. He hopes to become a conservationist.

We must take what weve learned in this community and apply it to the world we are about to encounter, Bales said in closing his speech.  We are the young people, and we will continue to win.



Video Link:
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.
Hostility between Iran and Israel is nothing new, but May 10 marked a high point. Israel reportedly launched a limited missile strike targeting Syrias Quneitra district. The attack was followed by a series of rockets fired from Syria toward the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Tel Aviv immediately charged Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani with having orchestrated the attack, and Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said May 10 that Israel had hit almost all of Irans infrastructure in Syria in response.

Iran has for the most part remained silent. On May 10, two Iranian lawmakers denied that Iran had any role in the rocket attack, saying that it had nothing to gain by attacking the Golan Heights. They added that if Iran had carried out the attack, it would not hesitate to claim responsibility for it, just as it did after its ballistic missile attack on Islamic State bases in eastern Syria last year. While it is unclear whether Iran was behind the rocket attack, it can be safely assumed that it would not have happened without Tehrans backing, given Iranian officials repeated warnings to Israel that it would receive a response for its provocative and sporadic attacks on sites in Syria.

The timing of the exchange of fire was significant: It came only two days after President Donald Trump announced that the United States will withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the formal name for the nuclear deal with Iran. Did the rocket attack and its aftermath have anything to do with Trumps decision? The answer is probably yes, particularly considering Israels increased attacks on Syria in recent weeks.

Nosratollah Tajik, Iran's former ambassador to Jordan, told Al-Monitor, Even before Trumps decision, Israel was trying to, with its confrontational measures, provoke Iran into taking reciprocal actions in order to change the psychological atmosphere against Iran. This is especially since Tel Aviv sees Europe backing Iran on the nuclear deal and is not pleased with that. Therefore, after Trump officially announced his decision to pull out, they stepped up their provocations in Syria.

May 10 was perhaps a warning shot to Europe that if the nuclear deal is not saved, there will be future clashes that may not be containable  especially since, for the first time in many years, a consensus has been formed among Israeli officers on directly countering Iran.

In his May 8 address following the US announcement, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will remain committed to the deal if European signatories guarantee that it will receive the promised economic incentives. The Iranian Foreign Ministry is also engaged with its European counterparts and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, meeting with them in Brussels on May 15 and again in Vienna May 25 to find practical ways to keep the deal alive.

There are many doubts in Iran about whether the deal will survive. For instance, on May 9, shortly after Trumps announcement, Iranian military commanders welcomed Trumps decision and expressed their lack of trust in Europe. They stressed the need to expand Irans defensive capabilities, including the ballistic missile program.

With the future of the nuclear deal in limbo, the potential for a clash between Tehran and Tel Aviv seems greater than ever. Tension is likely to increase as Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have both insisted that Iran wont negotiate further over its missile program or regional influence.

If Iran has so far refrained from responding to Israels provocations in Syria, it is perhaps because of the nuclear deal as well as Rouhani still having the upper hand in domestic Iranian politics. It is evident that the potential collapse of the JCPOA will eliminate both inhibiting factors from Iran's regional policy and pave the way for potential future clashes with Israel.

If Europe fails to keep the JCPOA alive, it is not only Rouhani who will lose one of his biggest achievements and source of political capital; Reformists and moderates will take a hit, too. Should the deal collapse, Rouhani and other pro-reform voices need to change their discourse and adopt a more hard-line strategy on regional policy or can expect defeat in the next elections. The implications are wide: A collapse of the JCPOA will mean a collapse of diplomacy and Rouhanis doctrine of constructive engagement with the world.

And these gloomy scenarios ignore what would happen if Iran were to exit the JCPOA. On May 15, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, said that if the deals remaining signatories cannot make up for the US withdrawal, We are ready to take our nuclear program to a level stronger than before the JCPOA."

With the escalating war of words between Israel and Iran, even a small spark could ignite an inferno in the Middle East, the ripple effects of which will surely reach Europe. Only Europe can prevent such a crisis first and foremost by endeavoring to keep the JCPOA alive. If it fails to do so, the prospect of full-scale war in the region will no doubt significantly increase.
Iraq is working to secure its western border with Syria from the militants that have been infiltrating the country to conduct terror attacks on Iraqi territory for the past 15 years. The Iraqi military has started cooperating with its Syrian counterpart to rid both countries of the last remaining Islamic State (IS) cells and secure the border between them.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar met with his Iraqi counterpart Qasim al-Araji in February to discuss cooperation on border security, an issue successive Iraqi governments have grappled with since 2003.

On May 21, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued directives to secure the border and prevent the infiltration of terrorists. In a May 22 address, Abadi stressed the need to secure the Iraqi-Syrian border, saying, The clearance operations are ongoing, and we have successfully secured the Syrian side of the border, where IS militants have been crushed, especially in Upper Mesopotamia. There is cooperation to secure the rest of the areas near our border.

According to Ahmed Jidiyan, the administrator of Qaim district near the Syrian border, ongoing cooperation between the Iraqi and Syrian armies has prevented the infiltration of terrorists into Iraqi territories.

The Iraqi army is also cooperating with other parties active on the ground in Syria, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the US-led international coalition. Working together, they liberated the area of al-Baghuz near Deir ez-Zor.

Since declaring the liberation of all Iraqi cities from IS, Iraq has turned its attention to border security and is working with Syria's military forces to identify the routes IS elements had used to move militants and supplies between Iraq and Syria. A source from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Information received from both Syrian and Iraqi military intelligence contributed to the arrest of a number of terrorists who planned to enter Iraq in the past weeks.

Supplies had streamed across the 605-kilometer (376-mile) border to Iraqs Mosul from Syrias Raqqa during the fighting between the Iraqi security forces and IS.

Iran is trying to secure a passage from its western border to Syria and Lebanon to supply its militias there with weapons and other needs, passing through the Tal Afar district in Iraq. The Popular Mobilization Units, which enjoys Iranian support, controls another part of the border. The PMU coordinates its operations with the border guards affiliated with the Iraqi Interior Ministry. The PMU has clashed with IS fighters inside Syrian territory on several occasions.

On May 17, the Iraqi Security Media Center reported that two terrorists were arrested as they tried to infiltrate Iraq from Syrias Hasakah province. The centers spokesman, Gen. Yahya Rassoul, told Al-Monitor, Iraqs top priority is to protect its borders with Syria by intensifying intelligence efforts. He added, Iraq is using aerial surveillance technology to secure its border with Syria, while operations are ongoing to search deep in the desert to stop the terrorists, whose numbers are decreasing by the day.

Iraq is busy building earthen berms, digging tunnels and establishing border posts while the air force patrols above.

Mohammed Abbas, a retired Syrian major general, told Al-Monitor that a joint Iraqi-Syrian operations room has been set up in Baghdad. Abbas believes that the Iraqi-Syrian cooperation will help eliminate terrorists from the border areas, which he described as a lawless zone where terrorist groups could be present.

Iraq, whose warplanes previously bombed IS positions inside Syria, will continue to target the organization on the border in cooperation with the Syrian government as long as IS is present.
There is cautious optimism in Jerusalem over the chances that the Trump administration will agree to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Apart from Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katz, who insinuates as much in recent interviews, no Israeli source is willing to risk a public guess. Still, several senior political sources have told Al-Monitor that there is a good chance it will happen. One senior Cabinet member said on condition of anonymity, We have presented this option to the Americans on all levels, including during a conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. This is a one of a kind historic opportunity, which we will not have again. A senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem confirmed on condition of anonymity, Its on the table, both for the Americans and for us. It is Israels supreme strategic interest right now, and what is remarkable about it is that the move comes with almost no price attached.

Another encouraging sign is the change in attitude of Netanyahu over reaching some arrangement or other with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but that is worth an article of its own. Over the past few weeks, Israel has been considering several options for an arrangement, which would ease the closure and reduce pressure on Hamas, in exchange for a complete stop to the firing of rockets and digging of attack tunnels from Gaza into Israel, and the return of the bodies of Israeli casualties and of civilians being held by Hamas. Netanyahu is aware that the waves of Palestinians charging the fence along its southern front make it difficult for the US administration to continue with its wholehearted and unequivocal support of Israel. In response, Netanyahus government is willing to go a long way toward Trump in order to gain continued, comprehensive support along the northern front, which, according to Netanyahu, is Israels real front. Of course, this involves the Golan Heights.

The original proponent of the idea is Zvi Hauser, who was Netanyahus Cabinet secretary from 2009 to 2013. Hauser first proposed the idea in 2013. Theres an enormous elephant in the room, and Im glad that people are starting to pay attention to it now, Hauser told Al-Monitor May 26. The Golan Heights make up just 1% of Syrias territory. They have been controlled by Israel for over 50 years, and Israeli law has been applied to the Golan Heights for 36 years now [since December 1981]. There is no better option for the Golan on the horizon than the Israeli option. The only other alternatives are the Islamic State or Iran, and everyone who should know that does."

Hauser first proposed raising the idea during the final two years of the Barack Obama administration. He articulated it when the security team led by Gen. John Allen worked together with their Israeli counterparts to outline Israels security interests, in advance of the formulation of an American security plan. Hauser suggested that their work should not stop at al-Hamma  in the southernmost part of the Golan Heights, where the borders of Israel, Syria and Jordan converge  but continue northward, and define the Golan Heights as a first-rank Israeli strategic interest. It did not happen. Later, after world powers inked the nuclear agreement with Iran, some people suggested to Netanyahu that he put a stop to his personal campaign against the agreement and reach a deal with the Americans instead. One of the components of such a deal would be American recognition of Israels annexation of the Golan Heights.

It would be logical and necessary, Hauser noted. After all, there was no debate that the nuclear agreement did not provide a response to conventional Iranian aggression, and for Israel, this aggression focuses mainly on the Golan Heights.

The problem was that Netanyahu refused to give up his campaign against the agreement even after it was signed, and the opportunity passed.

Now Israel is seemingly facing a golden opportunity, which is unlikely to repeat itself again. President Trump has been overturning agreements without as much as beating an eyelash, a senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. He canceled the nuclear agreement, even though Iran has been meticulous in fulfilling its part of the agreement, which is unprecedented. That's why it will be feasible to foresee Trump partnering with us on the Golan issue.

Katz is the locomotive who is pushing this effort full-steam ahead, especially among the public. Katz dropped a bombshell May 23 when he announced in an interview with Reuters that there is a good chance that the Americans will recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, and that this would be a powerful response to Iran and its efforts to establish a front against Israel in Syria. According to Katz, such a move would punish Iranian aggression and send a clear message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been allowing Iran to turn his country into a base for operations against Israel. All of this would bolster Israels ability to defend itself.

Another senior Israeli Cabinet member, who asked to remain anonymous, told Al-Monitor, President Trump understands the importance of strategic depth. As far as Israel is concerned the Golan Heights are vital strategic depth. In the last clash with Iranian forces over the Golan Heights, they fired 32 rockets into Israel, but only four of them actually landed in Israeli territory [they were shot down by the anti-missile defense system Iron Dome]. Most of the others landed in Syrian territory. Imagine what would have happened if these rockets had been fired from the Golan Heights near the Sea of Galilee, at Israeli towns and villages in the Galilee.

Another reason Israel hopes to gain American recognition is based on the fact that Israels control of the Golan Heights does not involve occupation of another people, as is happening in the West Bank or as happened in Gaza with millions of Palestinians. Although the House of Representatives shelved a proposal May 26 by Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.  that the United States recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights  Israel believes that the current situation in Syria and the combination of current circumstances are to their advantage.

Over 700,000 civilians have been killed in Syria in the past few years, another senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. There are 14 million refugees. The country will not recover for at least three generations, and even if Assad does manage to restore stability to his regime, genuine reconciliation is impossible there. The only viable option for the Golan Heights is Israeli sovereignty. Apart from the Shiite axis, no one in the Middle East would shed a tear if the United States recognizes a situation that has existed de facto for the last half century now.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened an emergency summit in Istanbul May 18 to address the ongoing Great Return March protests on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, which coincided with the transfer of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem May 14.

The final statement included a series of measures to be taken against those countries supporting the embassy transfer. The statement stressed the imposition of economic and political measures on states and other entities that actively supported moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, to ensure they are denied access to the markets of OIC members. The organization stated that it would also enforce political restrictions on states recognizing Israels annexation of Jerusalem, deeming the embassy move an attack on legal and historical rights.

In its statement, the OIC stressed its goal to protect Jerusalem and preserve its historical character, legal status and spiritual sites, taking all necessary measures to end violations committed by Israel and any supporting parties.

The OIC is the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations, with 57 member states from across four continents, including Saudi Arabia and Iran. The body was created according to a decision issued at the historic summit held in Rabat on Sept. 25, 1969, held to address the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Among the parties that supported the US Embassy move, the OIC mentioned Paraguay, which opened its embassy in Jerusalem May 21, and Guatemala, which opened its embassy in the city May 16, just two days after the US transfer.

At the same time, the organization called for the immediate establishment of an independent commission of international experts to investigate crimes and massacres committed by Israel against demonstrators taking part in the Great Return March, which kicked off March 30 and culminated during the 70th Nakba commemoration May 14. With more than 110 killed and thousands injured during the demonstrations, the summit saw calls for the dispatch of an international force to protect the Palestinians.

Spokesman for the Palestinian government in Ramallah, Yousef al-Mahmoud, condemned the opening by three countries of their embassies in Jerusalem, saying that it constitutes a violation of the identity and existence of the Arab Palestinian people. Refusing to recognize the implications of the embassy transfers, Mahmoud told Al-Monitor, Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine, and the opening of embassies will not erase its Arab identity.

In regard to the final statement of the OIC summit, he said that Palestine is in dire need of political and economic measures such as those that support and sustain the Palestinian cause, while weakening Israel, especially among the international community.

Mahmoud noted that the urgent call to convene the summit confirms that Palestine is the central cause of the Arabs as well as the Palestinians. He urged greater efforts to be made in support of the Palestinian people internationally, especially in relation to the city of Jerusalem.

The city of Jerusalem is a great sacred symbol of spirituality, culture and history, as well as being the capital of Palestine, he said. It is right that all nations stand by its side, especially in the shadow of the threat from the United States that aims to endorse Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Mahmoud added that the Palestinian leadership will participate in drafting the necessary plans for the implementation of the OIC recommendations, namely the creation of an international commission of inquiry and dispatching an international protection committee. He stressed that the recent events in the Gaza Strip are a crime, especially as they coincided with celebrations around the transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. According to Mahmoud, these events confirm that the United States is no longer a sponsor of peace in the region.

Abdul Sattar Kassem, a professor of political science at An-Najah National University in Nablus, told Al-Monitor that Palestines experiences with the OIC confirm that the bodys decisions and outcomes are a mere formality. He claimed that its outputs are issued purely for the media and not for implementation, emphasizing that the OIC is a weak organization unable to take action on its decisions. Citing a previous set of resolutions that have not yet been implemented, such as the boycott of Israel, Kassem said that the OIC does not in any way serve the Palestinian cause.

We must not rely on such summits to support our cause, he said. Instead, we must depend on popular efforts to support it.

Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor that the OICs swift response to the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian issue is evidence of its concern with subsequent events in Palestine. However, he noted that such forums reflect no more than decision-making, pointing to the absence of any follow-up mechanisms obliging member states to implement them.

The outcomes of the summit may be implemented by some member states, but not by all of them, he added.

Abu Saada ruled out the possibility of the OIC taking action against the United States, as it could not afford to sever political relations with the country. However, he noted that it may take action against other states that transferred their embassies, stressing the OICs selectivity in this regard as the basic punitive action should be directed at the United States.

With regard to the impact on Israel of any trade boycott, should it occur, Abu Saada explained that Israel relies on its trade with EU countries far more than with OIC member states. According to him, Israel can bypass country of origin restrictions and promote its goods via indirect channels.

What is required is not an Arab declaration of war on Israel, but rather the implementation of decisions, he continued.

Political analyst Talal Awkil told Al-Monitor that there are a series of stances adopted by the OIC that confirm the bodys seriousness. Among them, he cited Turkeys expulsion of its Israeli ambassador.

He suggested that the OICs declarations may dissuade some countries from transferring their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. According to Awkil, the US influence in the Middle East has declined in recent years, especially since it has deployed efforts to persuade countries to move their embassies.

Abu Saada added that Israel has significant trade relations with a number of countries, such as the United States, Egypt and Jordan, stressing that the implementation of the OIC resolution could strengthen and expand the boycott campaign and contribute to the isolation of Israel internationally.
Slowly strengthening Subtropical Storm Alberto could cause more than $1 billion in economic losses to the U.S. Gulf Coast as it tracks north, bringing a growing threat of floods, but it's had little impact on offshore energy production.

Alberto's top winds rose to 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour early Sunday, up from 40 earlier, the National Hurricane Center said in a 11 a.m. New York time advisory. Winds are forecast to reach 60 mph 12 hours and it should be over land in the Florida Panhandle in 24 hours. A storm's winds need to reach 74 mph to be called a hurricane.

Governors in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday declared states of emergency.

"The main concern from Alberto is flooding; not so much along the immediate coast, but inland, from the heavy rains that are coming on top of over a week of rain across the southeast," said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler at Enki Research in Savannah, Georgia. "A secondary concern is that even relatively minimal tropical storm winds can topple trees due to saturated soils and water-heavy limbs."

Last week, another pulse of tropical moisture that didn't rise to the level of a storm soaked the South.

Alberto could cause $400 million to $500 million across the South, including damage to cars crushed by toppled trees, wrecked roofs and flooding, Watson said in an interview. On top of that, there could be as much as $600 million in lost holiday spending as Alberto puts a damper on plans during the Memorial Day three-day weekend.

There's a chance Alberto could come ashore early Monday, said Dan Pydynowski, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. in State College, Pennsylvania.

Flood and flash-flood watches are spread across Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, where 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 centimeters) of rain could fall through early next week and reach into South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee expected to be hit by Alberto's remnants, the National Weather Service said.

Alberto's moisture could push all the way to Canada in coming days, Pydynowski said.

"We will be dealing with the rainfall and the moisture for most of the week," Pydynowski said. "But the winds will die down pretty quickly."

The storm was about 130 miles west-southwest of Tampa, moving north at 14 mph, the hurricane center said.

On Friday, Exxon Mobil Corp. pulled non-essential personnel from its Lena oil production platform and Royal Dutch Shell Plc shut in its Ram Powell hub, but most other energy companies are leaving offshore crews in place while they watch 2018's first Atlantic storm.

Chevron Corp. also shut oil production and evacuated personnel from its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms Saturday.

Alberto formed days ahead of the official start of the six-month Atlantic hurricane season on June 1. In the end, it might not be wind and disruption to energy production that the storm is best known for.

Storms in the Gulf are closely watched because 5 percent of U.S. natural gas and 17 percent of crude-oil production comes out of the region, according to the Energy Information Administration. Onshore areas along the coast also account for about 45 percent of U.S. refining capacity and 51 percent of gas processing.
Two people were killed in a Sunday-afternoon head-on crash in Cullman County.

Micha Bailey Spencer, 19, and Rachel McPherson Martin, 48, died at the scene on Alabama 69 south of Fairview, state troopers said. Both drivers were from Cullman, said senior state trooper Gary Daniel in a news release.

Spencer was driving a 2010 Honda Civic that collided head-on with a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado driven by Martin, troopers said.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m.

State Troopers have cleared the scene on AL69 in the Fairview community of Cullman County. There were two confirmed fatalities. Nothing further is available until next of kin are notified. #alastatetrooper  Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (@ALEAprotects) May 28, 2018

Troopers are investigating. Further details weren't immediately available.
The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is closed indefinitely due to "critical" damage to the structure.

Boat transportation to the Hawaii memorial was stopped May 6 after a crack was discovered in the exterior of the wall, Hawaii News reported.

"Due to a critical structural and safety issue impacting the USS Arizona Memorial dock and visitor loading ramp, the Memorial will remain closed to visitation for an undetermined period of time while repairs are made," the National Park Service said in a statement. "Following several weeks of analysis and continued consultation with structural engineers, the NPS has determined that what originally seemed to be a minor repair process, is in fact more significant than originally anticipated."

Other memorial programs, including a harbor tour of Battleship Row, will continue and amenities within the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center remain open.

Engineers are currently working on a long-term fix for the memorial.

"The amount of time needed to implement the repairs is unknown, but the (National Park Service) will continue to provide information to the public as our team of specialists works together to restore access as soon as possible," NPS said.

The memorial marks the final resting place for more than 1,000 military personnel killed on the Arizona during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. The memorial was built in 1962 and is visited by more than 2 million people annually.
A Cherokee County man was arrested on a multi-count grand jury indictment for sex crimes, authorities said.

Douglas Goffaux, 57, of Centre, was taken into custody Friday for sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years of age, three counts of second degree sodomy and four counts of second degree sexual abuse. The investigation stemmed from allegations that happened between 2013-2018. The Cherokee Sheriff's Office arrested Goffaux in April for a sodomy charge that is related to the case.

Goffaux remains in Cherokee County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond. Additional details about the case are not released.
Subtropical Storm Alberto didn't make landfall in Alabama, but that doesn't mean the state won't have to deal with some of what it has to offer.

Alberto made landfall around 4 p.m. Monday as a subtropical storm near Laguna Beach, Fla., with 45 mph winds.

Alberto has weakened since and was downgraded to a depression with 35 mph winds as of 10 p.m. Monday.

The National Hurricane Center's forecast path takes what's left of Alberto northward along the Interstate 65 corridor in Alabama as it continues to weaken -- bringing heavy rain and gusty winds along the way.

Parts of Alabama could get up to 8 inches of rain or more from Alberto, and there is concern about flash flooding, especially across the eastern part of the state.

Here's what the state's National Weather Service offices are expecting from Alberto:

SOUTHWEST ALABAMA

A tropical storm warning has been dropped for all Alabama counties 10 p.m. Monday.

Rain from Alberto is already adding up on Monday evening. A flash flood warning remains in effect for Covington County until 11 p.m.:

Flash Flood Warning including Andalusia AL, Opp AL, Florala AL until 11:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/k6GHDhGfn1  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) May 28, 2018

Another flash flood warning covers parts of Butler, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia and Monroe counties until 2:45 a.m.:

Flash Flood Warning including Evergreen AL, Georgiana AL, Castleberry AL until 2:45 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/HrItglzIUN  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) May 29, 2018

Forecasters said rip currents will continue to be an extreme concern along the beaches, and a high rip current risk will be in place through Thursday.

Alberto is expected to weaken more over the next 12 to 24 hours, the weather service said, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds inland to south-central Alabama overnight.

As Alberto moves northward on Tuesday, lingering tropical moisture could favor additional rain and storms, with the greatest chances remaining over the eastern half of the region.

A high surf advisory for Baldwin and Mobile counties has been canceled, according to the weather service.

A flash flood watch continues for Mobile, Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Monroe and Wilcox counties.

Four to 8 inches of rain will be possible mainly east of a line from Luverne, Ala., to Destin, Fla., according to the weather service.

Three to 5 inches will be possible generally east of a line from Camden to Gulf Shores.

SOUTHEAST ALABAMA

Rain and storms will continue to impact the region tonight as Alberto moves farther inland, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla.

Four to 8 inches of rain will be possible, with isolated higher amounts up to 12 inches through the next few days, the weather service said.

The Dothan area had received nearly an inch so far, and more than 3.5 inches will be possible through Tuesday.

A tropical storm warning has been canceled for all southeast Alabama counties as of 10 p.m.

A flash flood watch will be in effect through Tuesday morning for Dale, Henry, Houston, Coffee and Geneva counties.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

Alberto is expected to move into south Alabama tonight and track northward roughly along the Interstate 65 corridor through the state, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

Flooding will be a possibility. A flash flood watch remains in effect for eastern parts of the region through 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Heavy rainfall from Alberto could cause localized flooding tonight for areas mainly near and east of I-65, the weather service said.

As far as winds go, the strongest are expected to be across the southeast part of central Alabama from this afternoon into tonight.

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph will be possible with higher gusts. Winds will be lower across the rest of the region but could be gusty at times, forecasters said.

NORTH ALABAMA

Showers and storms will increase across north Alabama through Tuesday as Alberto moves closer, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville.

The strongest storms could produce very heavy downpours and brief gusty winds.

Very heavy rain will again be a possibility across the region on Tuesday as what's left of Alberto moves across the area.

A flash flood watch will be in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning, the weather service said. Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Jackson, DeKalb and Cullman counties are included in the watch.

Isolated tornadoes, which would be brief and on the weaker side, will also be possible on Tuesday.
Subtropical Storm Alberto was downgraded to a depression on Monday night after making landfall in the Florida Panhandle this afternoon.

The National Hurricane Center said Alberto, the first storm of the soon-to-begin 2018 hurricane season, came ashore on Laguna Beach near Panama City Beach around 4 p.m. CDT.

But Alberto has weakened since and was downgraded to a depression with 35 mph winds as of the 10 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Rain bands and gusty winds continued to spread inland from Alberto, with 4-8 inches or rain possible across parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

All tropical storm warnings were dropped for Florida and Alabama, as well as a storm surge watch for the Panhandle.

Storm surge was reported earlier Monday afternoon on St. George Island where emergency managers reported water covering some of the beaches on the east end of the island.

Water levels were receding on Monday evening, the hurricane center said, and will continue to do so overnight.

As of 10 p.m. CDT Monday, Subtropical Depression Alberto was located about 50 miles west-northwest of Dothan and was moving north at 12 mph.

Alberto's winds decreased again to 35 mph, the hurricane center said. It was expected to continue to weaken.

Alberto is expected to degenerate into a remnant low by Tuesday afternoon.

Alberto could produce 2 to 6 inches of rain from Alabama to the Great Lakes region and from north Florida to the mid-Atlantic coast through Wednesday, the hurricane center said.

Rough surf from Alberto will continue along the eastern and northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday, forecasters said. These swells are likely to rough surf and rip currents.

As for Alabama, the National Weather Service said heavy rain and gusty winds could affect a large part of the state into Tuesday.

Four to 8 inches of rain will be possible closer to the coast, and areas to the north could pick up 2-4 inches.

Much of the state was under flash flood watches.
A 17-year-old was killed in an ATV crash Sunday afternoon in northeast Alabama.

The teen was driving a Yamaha ATV on DeKalb County Road 18 when it left the roadway and hit a tree, state trooper spokesman Curtis Summerville said in a news release.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. The scene was two miles north of the tiny town of Geraldine.

Troopers haven't released the teen's name. He was from Fyffe.

Further details about the crash haven't been released. The investigation is ongoing.
Women of all faiths are wearing the hijab during the holy month in solidarity with Muslim women who face discrimination.

Grace Lloyd got a round of applause when she walked into her classroom at Dohas Gulf English School on the first day of Ramadan, wearing a black hijab with her blue uniform.

The shy 11-year-old flushed as her fellow grade seven classmates in the Qatari capital clapped and cheered for her earlier this month.

Lloyd, a British Christian, will be covering her head for the entire duration of the holy month this year in solidarity with Muslim women who face discrimination for wearing the hijab.

I feel very strongly about this, said Lloyd, the youngest participant of the 30-day Ramadan hijab challenge, a yearly initiative by the non-profit World Hijab Day (WHD) organisation, inviting women of all faiths to wear the headscarf for a month.

I usually wear the black one, I feel more comfortable with it because all the people in my class wear it too, she told Al Jazeera, adding she might try a different colour later in the month.

The hijab is a headscarf worn by Muslim women who feel it is part of their religion.

For the organisers, the purpose of the month-long activity is to build bridges and break stereotypes.

Nazma Khan, president and founder of World Hijab Day organisation.

This event is for those who want to experience the hijab for more than just one day in order to better understand what Muslim women go through on a daily basis, said Nazma Khan, the president and founder of the World Hijab Day organisation.

Each year on February 1, Khans non-profit also invites women to cover their heads for a day to mark World Hijab Day.

Its great to have the one day where you walk in somebody elses shoes, but for 30 days, you really, really get to walk in somebody elses shoes, Ellie Lloyd, WHDs executive director and Qatar ambassador for the non-profit, said.

In the most basic terms, the hijab is a piece of fabric, but for a Muslim woman who puts it on, it has the deepest of spiritual meaning, she added.

Fasting experience

Muslims in the United States, Europe and Turkey began fasting on May 16 this year, with some countries in the Gulf and Middle East region welcoming the holy month on May 17.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting is obligatory during Ramadan. Observers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn to sunset.

Khan told Al Jazeera that non-Muslims wearing the hijab has a greater social impact than fasting as part of the Ramadan challenge.

Afaf Nasher, executive director for the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), agrees.

Kayla Hajji, Mormon Christian from California.

Fasting is, for the most part, not visible to the public, thus, wearing a hijab promotes the faith publicly in a way fasting does not, she said.

However, as a Mormon Christian, besides wearing the hijab for 30 days, Kayla Hajji said she is also fasting this year.

There is such beauty in coming together as a community of believers to fast that is indescribable unless you participate, the 35-year-old American from Fresno, California, said.

She wanted to take the hijab challenge to get a small glimpse into what her sisters in faith deal with to better understand their struggles or triumphs.

In the most basic terms, the hijab is a piece of fabric, but for a Muslim woman who puts it on, it has the deepest of spiritual meaning. Ellie Lloyd, British Christian, 38

Ellie Lloyd, who is also considering fasting this month, says she and her daughter Grace have had to completely change their wardrobes for less revealing clothes to complement the headscarf.

Its not just about the actual scarf, its how you dress as well, the 38-year-old told Al Jazeera.

Theres no point in wearing the hijab and then wearing skinny jeans and a crop top because its about the whole thing, Lloyd explained. So its respectful in my entire dress, not just covering my hair.

Facing discrimination

Muslim women have often faced discrimination and threats for wearing the hijab.

Earlier this year, letters urging people to attack Muslims on April 3  termed Punish A Muslim Day  began circulating across different cities in the UK.





The leaflet, received by several Britons through the post, said there would be rewards for pulling the headscarf off Muslim women, verbally abusing Muslims, and throwing acid in their faces.

After President Donald Trumps election and Muslim ban, CAIR reported a 17 percent increase in anti-Muslim incidents in the US last year, compared with 2016.

A headscarf on a woman was the trigger in 13 percent of the incidents, the group said in its latest civil rights report published last month.

Additionally, there was anger among Muslim women in Europe last year when the European Court of Justice ruled that employers are entitled to ban staff from wearing visible religious symbols.

Pamela Zafred, a Brazilian student raised as a Catholic Christian

Brazilian student Pamela Zafred, who is wearing the hijab as a social experiment this month, said the experience has been an eye-opener for her.

The 19-year-old from Goiania, who was raised as a Catholic but does not follow any religion, told Al Jazeera the first day of the 30-day challenge was the worst.

I went to the gym [wearing the hijab], and I could hear incessant jokes about me, she said. Our classes were conducted in groups, but no one chose to stay with me until the instructor divided the groups himself.

"Day 1 of #Hijab30: So my experience made me feel really bad! I felt everyone looking bad at me, some people were making jokes; our classes are in groups and no one wanted to stay with me until the professor divided the groups."-Pamela Zafred 18, non-Muslim, Brazil #hijab pic.twitter.com/L8lInPvwEG  World HijabDay (@WorldHijabDay) May 19, 2018

I could imagine this happening with women who wear the hijab and how they would feel rejected, affecting their sense of belonging.

The challenge has also received some negative reaction on social media, with words like oppression and bondage being used.

Habit of hijab

Many Muslim women are using the month-long challenge to make the hijab a part of their lives even after Ramadan.

Rawzatul Zannat wore the hijab for nine months last year before she stopped.

The Bangladeshi Muslim was often asked questions by her classmates about her headscarf, called boring and too lazy to do her hair.

Ramadan is a time when almost all the Muslims try to be their best, so I chose this month to continue my hijab forever, and my message will be if you try something for a month you can continue doing it always, the 19-year-old student told Al Jazeera.

Bilkis Salifu, 33-year-old Ghanaian Muslim.

Bilkis Salifu from Ghana, born and raised a Muslim, is in a similar situation.

I do wear hijab but only sometimes, the 33-year-old said. Im using Ramadan, which is a holy month, to see if I can get used to making it a part of me.

WHDs Khan is hoping the month-long activity encourages other Muslim women, like Zannat and Salifu, to wear the hijab without fear and make them comfortable with the head covering.

This event is meant to provide global support to Muslim women who want to wear the hijab, but dont have the courage to take the first step.

Follow Saba Aziz on Twitter: @saba_aziz
Kano, Nigeria  It is a bright Thursday morning in Kano, Nigerias second most populous city and the economic nerve centre of the northern part of the West African country.

The streets are teeming with people dressed in colourful traditional clothes while tricycles compete for customers and space on the busy streets. A group of young boys zigzag through the street traffic with a cloth and a bottle of soapy water in hand, asking people on rickshaws and car drivers if they want their windows washed. But they are quickly ushered away.

Disappointed, the boys rush down a side street knocking on doors and asking anyone who opens if they have any work.

The boys are on a three-hour break from one of the Al Majiri schools  religious places of learning  on the eastern outskirts of the city. They are part of more than 250 students who attend the Tahfidul Quran school.

After few knocks, the boys strike it lucky. Two women usher them into a compound and point to a heap of unwashed pots, bowls and utensils.

Short on time they quickly get to work, spending the next two hours washing the dirty cookware. In return, they receive a breakfast of boiled rice.

I have been doing this twice a day for the last three years, 13-year-old Muhammad Sagiru, told Al Jazeera, his tiny frame hidden behind the wall of dirty pots.

Some people, like this lady, feel sorry for us and give us work to do and then give us food, he added, expressing relief that he found a job and can eat breakfast.

Many students come from other parts of Nigeria to attend the religious schools [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]

Kneeling next to Sagiru, sweat covering his brow and breathing heavily, is 15-year-old Umar Muhammad.

I have been doing this for four years. Im happy today because I will have breakfast, he said, the hint of a smile crossing his face.

It is a struggle because sometimes we spend all our break looking for work and food. Many times we go back to school hungry.

An hour later and a five-minute drive away, the rest of the schools students sit beneath a tent reciting verses from the Quran from a wooden tablet next to an open sewer infested with flies.

Alaramma Isa Suleyman is the principal of the five-room boarding school, which he inherited from his father. He runs it with six other teachers.

I know the challenges the students face. I know most of them go out to beg because we cant provide them breakfast, lunch and dinner. But what can we do? he said, holding a cane in his right hand and prayer beads in the other.

It is not safe. Anything can happen to them when they go out. But we cant provide for them. We have more than 250 students. They have nowhere to sleep or food, he said.

The living conditions in most of the schools are basic [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]

Parents of each student pay $19 a month for their child to attend the school. This is cheaper than most non-religious schools that can charge more than double the price.

Most of the parents are poor and sometimes are not even able to pay the fees. We do our best not to turn anyone away. But we need help. We need the government to step in, Suleyman said, barely audible over the loud recitations.

The five rooms also double up as the sleeping quarters. One of the rooms is home to a goat and several pigeons. Space is premium, forcing most of the students to seek shelter elsewhere.

They sleep outside. We dont have enough room for them to sleep, Suleyman admitted.

Standing in front of a classroom-turned-sleeping quarter is Shafiu Muhammad. He said he is happy to attend the school but wishes their living standard was better.

Im very proud to be here and thank God for the opportunity. You see where we sleep, a human being should not sleep there, Shafiu said, pointing his finger towards the room behind him.

The students are not just from Kano state. Shafiu, like many other students, comes from neighbouring Jigawa state. His parents are aware of his living situation but are happy for him to stay there.

Islamic education is what will save him in the hereafter and I believe God will come to his rescue, Muhammad Abdullahi, his father, told Al Jazeera over the phone.

I dont have money to send to him. I put my trust in God to look after him, Abdullahi, a 52-year-old father of eight, said.

Each student pays $19 a month to attend the religious school [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]

Kano is Nigerias most populous state, home to more than nine million people. The state government says it is doing all it can to improve the situation for young people.

We have a population challenge where 60 percent of the population is under the age of 40 years. It is a huge challenge to provide for them. Even if we spent our whole state budget we could not look after them properly, Hafiz Abubakar, Kano state deputy governor, told Al Jazeera.

There are more than 14,000 such schools in our state and almost three million students. Kano is a hub of Islamic studies and people send their children from across Nigeria. We are doing our utmost best to provide to the best of abilities, Abubakar added.

For Sagiru and Muhammad, their love of receiving an Islamic education stops them from dropping out of the religious school.

Life here is not easy but we do this for God and the hereafter. We will continue to study our religion no matter the difficulties, Sagiru said as Muhammad, standing next to him, nodded in agreement.

Follow Hamza Mohamed on Twitter: @Hamza_Africa
Heres a skull now; this skull has lain in the earth three-and-twenty years, the gravedigger tells Hamlet. It turns out the skull is Yoricks, the kings jester.

It is here that Hamlet says his famous lines: Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.

I was instantly reminded of Yoricks skull and Hamlet when I heard Bernard Lewis had died. Then the lines of an Omar Khayyam poem and his unceasing awareness of the mortality of human presence ran through my mind:

For I remember stopping by the way

To watch a Potter thumping his wet Clay:

And with its all-obliterated Tongue

It murmurd -Gently, Brother, gently, pray!

It is unseemly to recall the horrors of a horrible man upon his passing. But Bernard Lewis was not a regular rogue. He was instrumental in causing enormous suffering and much bloodshed in this world. He was a notorious Islamophobe who spent a long life studying Islam in order to demonise Muslims and mobilise the mighty military of what he called the West against them.

Just imagine: What sort of a person would spend a lifetime studying people he loathes? It is quite a bizarre proposition. But there you have it: the late Bernard Lewis did precisely that.

He was the chief ideologue of post-9/11 politics of hate towards Islam and Muslims.

Dr. Lewiss friendship  and ideological kinship  with the Cold War hawk and Israel supporting Sen. Henry M. Scoop Jackson (D-Wash.), we are told, opened prominent doors in the capital, eventually giving Dr. Lewis favoured status among top White House and Pentagon planners before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

That is the most recent legacy of Bernard Lewis. The invasion, occupation, and destruction of Iraq.

But Lewis affiliation with powers of death and destruction went much deeper than that. Afghanistan and Iraq are in ruins today, millions of Arabs and Muslims have been murdered, scarred for life, subjected to the indignity of military occupation and refugee camps, in no small measure because of the systemic maligning of Muslims Lewis advanced in his books and articles, and with them informed generations of imperial officers.

For them, Lewis was the source for what Islam is and who the Muslims are. When US President Donald Trump said Islam hates us, it was Bernard Lewis speaking. When Trumps first National Security Adviser Michael Flynn said Islam is like cancer, it was Bernard Lewis speaking.

I was still a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania when I first encountered Lewis in person at a Princeton University conference. There was always a distance, a manufactured aloofness between him and the rest of the scholarly community.

He was more at home with heads of state, spy chiefs, military officers, intelligence communities, settler colonialists in Palestine, imperial viceroys in conquered Muslim lands.

He had power and basked in it. We detested power.

He is now showered with praise by the most powerful Zionist Islamophobes in the US and Israel. We are on the opposite side of the fence  with Palestinians, facing Israeli sharpshooters whom he favoured, enabled, encouraged, weaponized with a potent ideology of Muslim and Arab hatred.

How abhorred in my imagination it is

With the death of Bernard Lewis, the long saga of exchanges between him and Edward Said finally comes to an end. I was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard and present at their now legendary debate in Boston on 22 November 1986, during the Middle East Studies Association convention.

Long before that, like thousands of other young scholars, I followed their debates on the pages of the New York Review of Books. I was, and I remain, squarely on Saids side. But that was not, nor is it now, a merely political position; rather, it was and is a potently moral and intellectual disposition.

The difference between the two men was the difference between the politics of lucrative power and the intellectual courage to revolt.

Lewis was a historian of power and in power and for the power that ruled us all and he served happily and rewardingly. The more powerful the imperial audacity of a mode of knowledge production, the more Lewis pursued and served it.

Said was precisely on the other side of the fence, in the tradition of anticolonial struggles of Asia, Africa, and Latin America  which he theorised into our reading of Palestine.

{articleGUID}

You looked at Lewis, and you saw Lawrence of Arabia incarnate  a British colonial officer with a clumsy command over the natives language and culture, out in the field to serve the most vicious colonial enterprise of the century. You looked at Said, and you saw him in a direct line from the most revolutionary critical thinkers of all time  alongside Aime Cesaire, Frantz Fanon, V Y Mudimbe, Enrique Dussel, and of course Antonio Gramsci and Theodore Adorno.

Said attracted an entire generation of critical thinkers from every continent on planet earth. Lewis attracted career opportunists who, like him, wanted to be near and dear to power.

In January 2003, just a few months before Said passed away, he and I were invited to Rabat, Morocco for a conference on Dialogue of Civilization. He could not go. He called me from Spain insisting I go.

I went to Rabat, only to learn upon my arrival that Lewis was there too. For the entire duration of the conference, while I was sitting with the late Egyptian philosopher Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd and literary theorist Ferial Ghazoul discussing hermeneutics, Lewis was chaperoned by the young Noah Feldman, the legal adviser to Paul Bremer, who was the provisional coalition administrator of Iraq after the US invasion.

In one shot you could see how Lewis was passing the baton of service to empire to the next generation.

The evil that men do lives after them

The current state of opinion about Bernard Lewis, now appearing in various post-mortem reflections and obituaries, has him hated by the global left, adored by the right-wing Zionists, and in between, you have these goody-two-shoes who try to sound wise and impartial and speak in nuances. Yes, he was a great scholar early in his career, they now say, but later his scholarship diminished, and he became too political. Such branding of Lewis, loved by some and hated by others, deeply distorts a much more serious issue.

Beyond the political and moral abhorrence for Lewis is the legacy of his mode of thinking and writing, his colonially and racially infested manner of knowledge production that was as much subservient to powers that read and enriched him as it was profoundly at odds with the critical turning point in postcolonial knowledge production.

Lewis was no scholar objectively committed to historical truth. Quite the contrary: He has left behind not a single book in which he was not cherry-picking facts and figures to demonise Muslims, dismiss and denigrate their civilisation, and subjugate them normatively, morally, and imaginatively to the colonial domination of those who he served.

{articleGUID}

His most famous recent book, What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East (2002) is not a work of scholarship. It is a manual of style, an indoctrination pamphlet, for teaching security, military, and intelligence officers in the US and Europe as to why they must seek to control the Muslim world.

Lewis was always on the wrong side of history, blinded by his hatred, animated by the most racist cliches in the trade. His reaction to the rise of Arab revolutions in 2011 is the perfect example of who Bernard Lewis was and how he thought.

Another thing is the sexual aspect of it, he opined at the commencement of Arab revolutions, One has to remember that in the Muslim world, casual sex, Western-style, doesnt exist. If a young man wants sex, there are only two possibilities  marriage and the brothel. You have these vast numbers of young men growing up without the money, either for the brothel or the bride price, with raging sexual desire. On the one hand, it can lead to the suicide bomber, who is attracted by the virgins of paradise  the only ones available to him. On the other hand, sheer frustration.

This is obscenity in black and white  moral, political and intellectual bankruptcy on full throttle.

His book on The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam (1967), which serious scholars like Farhad Daftary later dismissed as nonsensical gibberish, was definitive to the manner he wanted to portray Muslims  as congenital murderers.

His forte was in manufacturing a cosmic divide between Islam and the West, between Muslims and the modern world, a subject that was the staple of his writing, most condescendingly in his two books: The Muslim Discovery of Europe (1982) and Islam and the West (1993).

Bernard Lewis was no scholar of Islam. He was a British colonial officer writing intelligence for his fellow officers on how to rule the Muslim world better. A Handbook of Diplomatic and Political Arabic (1947)  one of his earliest volumes  foretold his career as a colonial scribe at the service of the British and later American empires.

Today, when we think of Bernard Lewis legacy, we think of the Islamophobic industry that has US President Donald Trump and his gang of billionaires crowned at the White House.

{articleGUID}

Today, when we think of Bernard Lewis, we think of his political progenies  John Bolton, the national security adviser of the United States, the most degenerate sabre-rattler sitting right behind the US president. Today, when we think of Bernard Lewis, we think of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a notorious bigot with a pathological hatred of Muslims. Today, when we think of Bernard Lewis, we think of Gina Haspel, the newly appointed director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, a woman who ordered the torture of Muslims.

No one was more instrumental in manufacturing the illusion of a fundamental and irreconcilable difference between Islam and the West than Lewis  his singular achievement that later Samuel Huntington picked up to produce The Clash of Civilizations.

This needs no further evidence and proof than looking at who is praising him after his death. Bernard Lewis was one of the great scholars of Islam and the Middle East in our time. We will be forever grateful for his robust defense of Israel, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, himself, of course, another world-class authority on Islam and the Middle East!

As a true scholar and a great man, chimed in newly minted US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another topnotch scholar in the field of Islamic studies, I owe a great deal of my understanding of the Middle East to his work [] He was also a man who believed, as I do, that Americans must be more confident in the greatness of our country, not less. Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for your life of service.

You simply cannot find a greater authority on Middle Eastern history, this according to Dick Cheney, the former vice president who brought us waterboarding and Abu Ghraib torture chambers and who, of course, is also a stellar authority on Islamic history and doctrine himself.

You put Netanyahu, Pompeo, and Cheney together, with their vast love and admiration for Lewis, and you can gather the company he kept, the hatred he flamed, the death and destruction he sought visited upon the people he studied to death.

Dead before his death

Bernard Lewis died long before he met his creator. The rich and diversified world of critical thinking  in Asia, Africa, Latin America, as well as in Europe and the US  to which Edward Said was integral and definitive, left Lewis and his books a very long time ago in the dustbin of Orientalist history.

Lewiss verbosity, as Said put it succinctly some 36 years before Lewis died, scarcely conceals both the ideological underpinnings of his position and his extraordinary capacity for getting everything wrong.

Lewis is often compared with Said as if the two were equal. They were not. They were the polar opposites in every sense. Said was a towering critical thinker who revolutionised the field of literary and postcolonial studies.

Lewis was an ideological functionary, an intelligence officer, on par with Francis Fukuyama and Samuel Huntington, competing for the ears of powerful people to tell them how to hate Muslims more persuasively.

Said enabled the moral authority of a generation of critical thinkers. Lewis taught military strategists how and why to rule Arabs and Muslims more effectively.

The mode of ideological knowledge Orientalists like Lewis produced was not in the interest of truth and understanding. It was meant to be used in humiliating and denigrating human beings and dominating their worlds and cultures, killing their sense of self-respect, telling them the only worthy thing to be was a white European settler colonialist.

This critique is not solely based on Edward Saids magisterial book, Orientalism. What Lewis produced, French philosopher Michel Foucault  long before Said  called le savoir-pouvoir or power-knowledge: the knowledge that serves power. And it was works like Lewis that Argentinian philosopher Enrique Dussel referred to when he wrote in his book Philosophy of Liberation: That ontology did not come from nowhere. It arose from a previous experience of domination over other persons, of cultural oppression over other worlds. Before the ego cogito, there is an ego conquiro; I conquer is the practical foundation of I think.

Both Said and Lewis are now gone. But Lewis left behind a racist legacy of raising a fictitious West at the expense of the Rest, while Said summoned the best and most noble in each for a better future for all.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Over the last three years, protesters across Ethiopia have been demanding political and economic changes and voicing their frustrations with government policies. Earlier this year, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the coalition that has been ruling the country for 27 years, finally realised that this latest episode of popular unrest will not settle without the government introducing major changes.

Thus, the coalition unveiled a reform agenda focusing on the need to broaden the political space, to release political prisoners, and listen to voices of opposition. As a show of commitment to the demands of the people to end the political violence and pave the way for the implementation of the reform agenda, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation on February 15.

After a month of suspense and uncertainty, Abiy Ahmed, a young technocrat from the establishment took his seat. Ahmeds ascent to political power ensued amid visible intra-party tensions that exposed the deep divisions in the otherwise secretive EPRDF coalition.

In the absence of a strong and credible opposition  due to the EPRDFs decades-long repression of political dissent  Ethiopians pinned their hopes on the new premier and his broad political appeal even though he himself is part of the ruling coalition they have long been protesting against.

A flicker of hope

Ahmed came to power with huge fanfare. Although the regional state of Oromia and the party that administers the region, the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organisation (OPDO), are considered to be the new premiers main political power base, Ethiopians from the countrys second-largest region, Amhara, and its administrators from the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), also provided their full support to Ahmed.

The OPDO and the ANDM are two of the political parties that make up the four-party ruling coalition, and they enjoy massive political capital that comes with the responsibility of administering the two most populous and resourceful regions in the countrys federal arrangement.

{articleGUID}

Until recently, however, these two political parties were unable to exercise their political power at the federal level. The Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), a political party that led the way in the creation of the EPRDF, was instead dominating the ruling coalition and controlling the security apparatus of the state.

For a long time, the OPDO and the ANDM were blamed for failing to foster unity between Oromos and Amharas. Recently, however, they united their efforts to bring an end to the TPLFs domination of the ruling coalition and are now lauded for reigniting the once weakened Ethiopian nationalism among their supporters. By working together, the political elite within these two parties managed to garner wide popular support. Ahmeds rise to political power was the direct result of the change in attitude within these two political parties.

Understanding the rising ethnic tensions and mistrust between regional elites that became evident in the last two decades, the new premier adopted a reconciliatory tone. Since taking office, Ahmed has been attempting to tackle the mistrust among factions within the ruling coalition as well as that of the citizens through discussions of Ethiopiawinet, the Amharic word for Ethiopianness.

Through these discussions, Ahmed has managed to further reinvigorate Ethiopian nationalism and utilise it as a uniting force. For many Ethiopians who were disillusioned by the divisive ethnic politics of the last two decades and even questioned the fate of the nation, his nationalist rhetoric has aroused new optimism.

Since taking office, Ahmed has also secured the release of thousands of Ethiopians imprisoned in Sudan, Kenya and Saudi Arabia  a move that attests to his commitment to revive Ethiopian nationalism and protect citizens wherever they are.

However, Ahmed is still not immune to criticism.

{articleGUID}

Ethnic Amharas remain targets of brutal killings and evictions in a region known as Benishangul Gumuz. The fate of tens of thousands of ethnic Oromos, who have been internally displaced since they were evicted from Ethiopias Somali region, is still unclear as there are no signs for a return to normalcy.

Ahmed has condemned these injustices, but he is yet to take concrete steps to address them. Perpetrators of these crimes are still enjoying impunity, as none of them has been brought to justice or even questioned.

Furthermore, despite the relative calm in the country, extrajudicial killings of people still continue. Ahmeds administration still has a long way to go in reassuring citizens and investors alike that calm is fully restored in Ethiopia.

Abiys premiership as an EPRDFs survival project

Despite the cautious optimism that Ahmeds assumption of the prime ministers post brought, Ethiopia has still not embarked on a true transition to democracy.

To this day, the most important goal of the ruling EPRDF is its own survival. Under late-Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the EPRDF survived internal divisions stemming from the way the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea ended.

The coalition also survived an electoral defeat in 2005. It did so by imprisoning the leaders of the opposition parties which won the vote and by clamping down on protests.

After Zenawis death in 2012, many in Ethiopia once again questioned the EPRDFs chances of survival. But the coalition managed to stay in power even after Zenawis passing, thanks to what they referred to as the emergence of collective leadership.

{articleGUID}

Having Ahmed assume the position of prime minister is yet another survival strategy by the EPRDF.

What the years of protests and opposition activism managed to achieve was have the four political parties within the EPRDF come to a consensus that limiting the dominance of the TPLF within the coalition is key to their collective survival.

Unfortunately, this would not necessarily translate into efforts to broaden the political space in the country at large.

Reforms enacted by the government thus far, the release of notable political prisoners and talks with the weakened opposition groups do not necessarily indicate that a roadmap for democratisation will emerge. Although some Oromo political leaders from the diaspora have returned home, others havent and the government has not taken the initiative to engage them. Ahmed needs to make good on his promises and invite the opposition leaders in the diaspora back home. Opposition leaders like Andargachew Tsege, who was recently pardoned by the government, should be included into the national conversation.

In addition, despite commendable attempts by Ahmed to diversify the new cabinet, he has made the mistake of re-appointing many former officials to various important posts and board memberships. Moreover, although his eager interest in listening to popular grievances across various forums is applauded, there is still no sign that institutional reforms are to follow anytime soon.

The electoral commission remains a partisan institution and the electoral system still favours the EPRDF. The anti-terror proclamations that were used to stifle political dissent are still laws of the land. Moreover, although Ahmed seems eager to correct the wrongs of the past few years, Ethiopia remains under a state of emergency declared many months ago. This makes it difficult for Ethiopians to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly and freedoms of expression.

Ahmed needs to use the popularity and approval he gained to start a meaningful dialogue with political opposition at home and abroad if any of his promises regarding democratic opening and hopes for national reconciliation are ever to materialise.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Seventy years have passed since the Palestinians were expelled en masse from their homes to pave the way for the creation of the state of Israel. The recent seven-week Great Return March along the Gaza fence focused the worlds attention on the still unfulfilled right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and the more than a decade-long Israeli blockade that has turned the Gaza Strip into an open-air prison.

It also underscored the deadly consequences of impunity  Israeli soldiers killed 111 Palestinians during the march, with most of them shot with live ammunition. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded in 2017, impunity prevails across the board for violations allegedly committed by Israeli forces, both in Gaza and the West Bank.

It is against the backdrop of this increased violence that on May 22 the state of Palestine submitted a state referral to Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court. In the referral, the state of Palestine specifically requests the Prosecutor to investigate, in accordance with the temporal jurisdiction of the Court, past, ongoing and future crimes within the courts jurisdiction, committed in all parts of the territory of the State of Palestine.

The prosecutor has already examined the situation in Palestine within the framework of a preliminary inquiry launched in 2015, with a view to establishing whether or not there is a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by Israelis and Palestinians on Palestinian territory since June 13, 2014. The state referral does not relieve the prosecutor from her duty to establish a reasonable basis to proceed.





The prosecutor has previously spent a decade or more reviewing situations at the preliminary examination stage from The Hague, far removed from the scenes of the crimes.

The prosecutors team relies on publicly available information and files submitted by civil society, such as the files my organisation, Al-Haq, together with its partners turned in regarding the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip that left more than 1,630 Palestinian civilians dead.

Al-Haq and its partners have also submitted a file on crimes committed in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

These extended preliminary examinations often end up frustrating the very victims that the ICC is meant to serve. Palestines referral can spur the case forward, into the formal investigation stage that precedes arrest warrants and indictments  and one critical step closer to closing the impunity gap.

During the past 70 years of dispossession and 50 years of occupation, not a single Israeli high-ranking civilian or military official has been prosecuted for committing a crime against Palestinians. In the aftermath of the 2014 offensive, Al-Haq joined three other Palestinian human rights organisations in apprising the ICC prosecutor of the status of 369 criminal complaints submitted to the Office of the Israeli Military Advocate General.

The overwhelming majority of these complaints have not even been investigated  and not a single indictment has been issued. Israeli organisations have similar findings.

In the very few instances that an Israeli low-level soldier has been investigated and prosecuted, the eventual sentence handed down has not been commensurate with the severity of the criminal conduct. Most recently, in May 2018, an Israeli soldier was released after serving nine months in prison for the killing of Palestinian Abdul Fatah al-Sharif.

On camera, he shot Abdul point-blank in the head as he laid wounded and defenceless on the ground. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced shortly following the conviction that he would support a pardon and that the soldiers conviction marked a painful day.

As a representative of the Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq and its partners before the ICC, I have often been confronted with the proposition that past impunity may predetermine the possibility for justice in the future. What can Palestinians expect going forward?

The ICC is mired in criticism that it focuses on the African continent, that its processes are unjustifiably long, and that the scope of its investigations and prosecutions are too narrow. This criticism doesnt negate the fact that the ICC is a court of last resort, set up to close existing impunity gaps and to function as an independent judicial institution  unhindered by politics.

As such, it can act as a counterweight to efforts by the international community to pursue endless peace processes at the expense of the rights of victims.

With the Trump administrations recent recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in violation of its own international obligations, and the lack of concrete action by the international community to hold Israel accountable, it is now more important than ever that Palestinians do not give up on their pursuit of justice.

The ICC wont be able to ensure justice for all Palestinian victims. It can, however, see to it that Israel no longer unlawfully kills, tortures, or displaces Palestinians while stealing their land for illegal settlements, without fear of any consequences.

And while the ICC prosecutor will not be able to change the past, she may be able to positively influence the future. In opening an investigation and subsequently prosecuting senior Israelis, the ICC will be sending a powerful message that Palestinians, like all other peoples, are worthy of justice, and that redress is not a gift but a right that must be unconditionally fulfilled.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Croatias top court on Monday blocked the extradition of a Bosnian man to Tunisia over the alleged murder of an aerospace engineer, who the Palestinian group Hamas said was one of its members.

Mohammed al-Zawari, 49, was killed in a hail of bullets at the wheel of his car outside his house in the city of Sfax, 270km southeast of Tunis, in December 2016.

The Supreme Court accepted the appeal of the suspect  and rejected the request for extradition from the Republic of Tunisia, the court said in a statement.

At a hearing on May 8, the lower court said it had established that legal preconditions had been met for the extradition of Alen Camdzic, 46, who has been named by local media.

The final decision will be made by the justice minister.

The suspect was arrested at the airport in Zagreb, Croatia on March 13, 2018, on an international warrant and has been held in custody since, the court in Velika Gorica, near Zagreb, said in the statement.





According to the Croatian news website Dnevnik, Camdzic denied the charges during interrogation and objected to the extradition, alleging that he was charged with a criminal offence punishable by death in Tunisia.

The second suspect, Elvir Sarac, was briefly detained in Sarajevo, Bosnia earlier this week but released when a court refused to hand him over to Tunisia, saying there was no extradition deal between the countries.

Earlier this month Tunisian prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti said discussions were under way to convince Bosnian authorities to deliver the individual.

We have been surprised to find, however, that the Bosnian authorities are refusing to hand over the arrested individual to Tunisia, Sofiene Sliti said.

Camdzics arrest was announced by Tunisian prosecutors who said they believed that two people with Bosnian passports had carried out the assassination of the Tunisian-Belgian citizen.

Foreign elements

Leaders from both Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah group accused the Israeli spy agency Mossad of assassinating al-Zawari.

Last November, during a press conference in Beirut, Hamas claimed Mossad agents, carrying Bosnian passports, were responsible for his murder.

Shortly after his death, Hamas said al-Zawari was a drone expert who had worked for the resistance for a decade before being killed by Zionist treachery.





Israel has assassinated many members of Hamas in the past, but hasnt responded to accusations that it was behind the murders.

In November 2017, al-Zawaris family denounced silence on the part of authorities and called on them to provide more details on the investigation into his killing.

Israel was also accused of being behind the assassination of Fadi al-Batsh in April in Malaysia. He was a member of Hamas scientist who was said to be a rocket-making expert.
Is Egypts crackdown on dissent tied to plan to lift subsidies?

The recent spate of arrests in Egypt has many observers worried.
Bloc agrees to swiftly adopt new sanctions against Venezuelan officials following vote which lacked credibility.

The European Union (EU) is calling for fresh presidential elections in Venezuela as it prepares to impose more targeted sanctions against officials in the South American country.

Nicolas Maduro was re-elected as Venezuelas president on May 20 in an election marred by low turnout, a boycott by the main opposition and allegations from rival candidates of several voting irregularities.

At a regular meeting in Brussels on Monday, the EUs foreign ministers said in a statement that the vote lacked any credibility as the electoral process did not ensure the necessary guarantees for inclusive and democratic elections.

The EU will act swiftly, according to established procedures, with the aim of imposing additional targeted and reversible restrictive measures, that do not harm the Venezuelan population, whose plight the EU wishes to alleviate, it added.

The sanctions are expected to be formally adopted at a meeting on June 25 in Luxembourg, according to reports.

On Friday, EU diplomats told Reuters news agency that the bloc was considering imposing sanctions on 11 officials.

In January 2018, the EU introduced a travel ban and an asset freeze to seven Venezuelan individuals and in November, it imposed an arms embargo.





Elections

According to official results, Maduro secured a second six-year term after obtaining 5.8 million votes, while his main opponent, Henri Falcon, garnered a total of 1.8 million.

Turnout in the election, which came against the backdrop of a political and financial crisis, stood at 46.01 percent.

The countrys main opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), boycotted the vote, while the two most popular opposition leaders, Henrique Capriles and Leopoldo Lopez, were barred from running in the vote.

The White House branded the vote a sham, and US President Donald Trump issued an executive order limiting Venezuelas ability to sell state assets, including those from state-run oil company PDVSA, heightening pressure on Maduros government.

Maduro hit back at the US move, saying he rejected all the sanctions that are sought against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, because they harm it, they generate suffering for the people of Venezuela.

He added: We will present evidence to the country of the conspiracy in the military field of the United States charge daffaires and his embassy, of the conspiracy in the economic field and of the conspiracy in the political field.

The officials already sanctioned by the EU are: Nestor Luis Reverol Torres, minister of justice and peace; Gustavo Enrique Gonzalez Lopez, head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service; Tibisay Lucena, president of the National Electoral Council; Antonio Jose Benavides, chief of the Capital District; Maikel Jose Moreno Perez, president of the Supreme Court of Justice; Tarek William, Venezuelan attorney general appointed by the Constituent Assembly; and Diosdado Cabello, member of the Constituent Assembly.
European Commission seeks ban on items such as plastic cotton buds and cutlery in an effort to combat ocean pollution.

The European Commission has called for a ban on single-use plastic products, including cutlery and straws, in an effort to combat ocean and beach pollution.

The proposal, which was announced by the EUs executive on Monday, wants to ban any single-use plastic item for which a non-plastic alternative is readily available.

This covers plastic cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and balloon sticks.

The commission also wants member states to have collected 90 percent of single-use plastic drinks bottles by 2025 and reduce the use of plastic food containers and drink cups through setting national targets.

Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem, because plastic waste ends up in our air, our soil, our oceans, and in our food, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmerman said.

The new measures also include obligations for producers to help cover the costs of clean-up and waste management for items such as cigarette butts, wet wipes and lightweight plastic bags.

Producers of fishing gear, which make up more than a quarter of beach litter, will need to pay for waste collection and awareness-raising measures.

The plan did not set a deadline, and will need to be assessed and approved by the EU parliament and member states.

Europe-wide response

Recent research published in Scientific Reports estimates that a waste patch three times the size of France containing at least 79,000 tonnes of plastic debris is afloat between California, on the US west coast, and Hawaii, in the central Pacific Ocean.

If nothing is done to address the problem, by 2050, the amount of marine plastic waste could surpass the total weight of fish in the ocean, according to a 2016 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The European Green Party welcomed the European Commissions plan.

The scale of the problem means that we cannot rely on individual European countries to take action and must instead find a Europe-wide response, co-chairs Monica Frassoni and Reinhard Butikofer said.

The PlasticsEurope association urged the European Commission to avoid shortcuts.

Plastic product bans are not the solution and will not achieve the structural change needed to build the foundation for a sustainable and resource efficient economy, the industry group said in a statement.
US exhibit Artifacts offers view into lives of troops, refugees

The new exhibit at National Veterans Art Museum leads visitors through a maze of troubled memories  objects that were carried by refugees or made by soldiers in recent war zones.
Many former FARC fighters see the presidential candidate building a lasting peace in the country if he wins.

Santa Lucia, Colombia  The way to the reintegration camp follows many rudimentary dirt tracks where the rivers and minor waterfalls occasionally bleed into its path.

The area initially looks like many other villages one may encounter across the country. Scampering roosters, poker-faced mules, and stray dogs eyeing every empanada in hand.

The unmoving gaze of heavily armed soldiers surveyed the compound of the public library in Santa Lucia. Plastered across the wall behind them were coloured posters and pictures made by the children of the small village, about 90 minutes from the town of Ituango.

Theyre not usually here, a farmer said as he sharpened a blade. Theyre only here for the election, and after that, they leave again.

Roberto Antonio had seen this all before. What are they going to do for the farmers here? What difference does it make who wins?

{articleGUID}

For many in the village of Santa Lucia, Sundays presidential elections mattered.

In addition to being the 54th anniversary of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), it was also the first time that the former rebel groups ex-combatants participated in choosing their countrys leader.

Following the historic peace accord of 2016, the vote meant those who had been soldiers were now citizens with a voice and had a say in the direction of the country.

Right-wing candidate Ivan Duque finished first with 39 percent of the vote, leftist candidate Gustavo Petro came in second with 25 percent, and former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo, a centre-left candidate, was third with 24 percent.

As a consequence of the results, the field is now wide open as Colombia has chosen candidates who offer markedly different visions for the future of the country.

On the one hand, Duque of the Centro Democratico party has promised a return to the fighter presidency of his mentor Alvaro Uribe, where peace with FARC would not include impunity for former combatants, nor would there be an easing up on the use of paramilitary attacks against the rebel group.

Targeting ex-FARC rebels

According to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, 40 FARC members have been killed since the peace accord was signed into law  six in the northern region of Antioquia near Ituango. In addition to the deaths, former combatants are often on the receiving end of threats and harassment that jeopardise the chances of them reintegrating into civil society.

Rodrigo Londono, alias Timochenko and FARCs leader and presidential candidate, had to suspend his campaign because of threats.

Which is why, on Sunday night, as Petro took to the stage for his celebration rally, many former fighters from FARC saw in him a new hope to build lasting peace.

{articleGUID}

Were just happy that he won, Liliana said. Maybe now real change can come to Colombia.

As a fighter, Liliana was given the warrior name Estefania. Liliana joined the 18th Front of the FARC when she was 16 after she saw how well the group treated her village. After it disarmed, she moved to the reintegration camp in Santa Lucia and took on the role of a social leader within the newly formed community.

What we expect from him is that he supports us in the peace process, Liliana said as she served pork stew and sweet flatbread in the camps community hall.

She added that many in the camp hoped Petro has what it takes to become president on June 17, when the second and final round of voting takes place.

Soldiers patrol the village of Santa Lucia [Nicolas Bedoya/Al Jazeera]

Petro is hope





Jhonhader shares that hope. Having joined FARC as a 20-year-old, Jhonhader spent four years in Medellins Bellavista prison before he moved to Santa Lucia to start a new life with his partner, a woman who was also a member of the 18th Front.

For us, the presidents of Colombia have always been capitalists and the poor never get a chance, Jhonhader said, highlighting the strongly leftist leanings they have come to admire in Petro.

The former M-19 guerrilla may now be far from his rebel roots, but his campaign has found a following among former FARC combatants.

Petro now faces a further round against Duque. Despite Sundays strong poll showing, his newest battle has only just begun.
Migrant Mamoudou Gassama was filmed racing up an apartment building to save a dangling toddler about to fall.

A Malian man in France has been hailed a hero and granted French citizenship after he scaled an apartment building to rescue a child dangling off a balcony.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Mamoudou Gassama, an undocumented migrant, would become a naturalised French national and join the fire service, the AFP news agency reported on Monday.

Gassama was filmed by crowds on the ground as he quickly climbed up four balconies to reach the toddler in distress.

A couple in the neighbouring apartment, located in Paris 18th Arrondissement, were trying to reach the child but were unable to lift the boy over to their side safely.

When Gassama reached the child and pulled him to safety, the crowds gathered below broke out into rapturous applause.

He later told French media he loved children and wouldnt have wanted something to happen to him.

I managed to get up to the balcony above. I went up like that. And thank God, I saved him, Gassama said.

According to his brother, Gassama did not have the necessary papers to take up residency in France and had been living in temporary accommodations.

Before Macrons announcement, officials hinted that the situation could change.

A government spokesperson said the country should open the doors of our national community, and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo added the city was eager to support efforts to settle him in France.

Un grand bravo a Mamoudou Gassama pour son acte de bravoure qui a permis de sauver hier soir la vie d'un enfant. J'ai eu plaisir a m'entretenir avec lui aujourd'hui par telephone, afin de le remercier chaleureusement. https://t.co/DP5vQ1VZYh  Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 27, 2018

Translation: A big bravo to Mamoudou Gassama for his bravery that saved a childs life last night. I was pleased to have spoken to him today on the phone to thank him warmly.

Gassamas efforts have turned him into a phenomenon on social media, where he has been described as the Spiderman.
Experts say consumer prices have not fallen with ordinary Greeks paying the price of creditor-imposed austerity.

Athens, Greece  Out of money and out of time, Alexandros Mnimatidis is a product of his generation. He cannot afford to attend the robotics degree programme he enrolled in because he also needs to work and contribute to his parents household budget.

But without that degree, itll be difficult for him to rise above the retail work he now does for $4.78 an hour.

At the present rate, he says, itll take me another 10 years to graduate. Ill be 35, and at that age, itll be really difficult to find a job in my area of expertise.

If he fails to obtain a university education, Mnimatidis may eventually join the ranks of Greeces working poor  people who cannot improve their socioeconomic position, no matter how hard they work.

During the eight-year depression that cost Greece a quarter of its economy, workers paid the highest price, absorbing much of the impact of economic reforms that raised Greek competitiveness.





Public versus private

Salaries have fallen by an average of 15 percent since 2010, but they dropped especially sharply in the private sector. Until 2012, minimum take-home pay was $848 (731 euros) a month for full-time work.

A law in February that year dropped it to $690 (586 euros) a month, but even that often eludes workers because half of all new jobs are part-time or seasonal. A labour ministry employment database shows for the poorest one-third of private sector workers, salaries average 383 euros a month.

A separate survey from the Greek Federation of Enterprise, an employers club, shows public sector salaries are on average 38 percent higher than private sector salaries.

There is little hope of private sector workers fighting back. Collective bargaining agreements were effectively abolished in 2012. According to the European Trades Union Conference, they now cover under one-third of Greek workers.

Employer versus employee

While salary cuts should have led to a cut in the prices of products and services, they didnt, because product markets are to a great extent monopolies or oligopolies, says Angelos Efstratoglou, a researcher at the Labour Institute, Greeces leading labour think-tank.

We have a large number of multinationals operating in the country which didnt lower the cost of their products. They benefited from the salary cuts, but didnt become more competitive.

Partly as a result of the failure of market mechanisms, the statistical risk of poverty doubled since 2010 to 35 percent of the population. Thats a rate surpassed only in Romania and Bulgaria; and the risk is almost twice as high among working-age adults and their families, as it is for pensioners.

State versus individual

Congratulations prime minister, you have brought Greece back from the brink! Angel Gurria told premier Alexis Tsipras last month. The head of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was referring to the countrys remarkable macroeconomic shift over eight years.

Greece balanced its budget, closing a 36-billion-euro budget deficit. It now produces a primary surplus equal to 3.5 percent of its economy  enough to repay its debt premiums each year without further borrowing. It has returned to marginal growth after eight years of recession.





And exports are now responsible for one-third of the economy, up from a quarter before the crisis.

The question is whether this recovery is sustainable, because internally the economy remains a shambles.

Unemployment today stands at 20 percent, but the Labour Institute believes it is much higher.

Unemployment statistics count anyone who worked for at least one hour during the week as employed in surveys taken. The Labour Institute runs a parallel survey, which counts anyone who worked four hours or fewer in a given week as unemployed. By this measurement, the unemployment rate is closer to 27 percent.

Greeks have always placed a high premium on education, and they still beat European Union (EU) statistics for high school graduation (95 percent) and university graduation (45 percent). Perhaps not surprisingly, though, many young Greeks like Alexandros Mnimatidis are beginning to question the point of education.

Experts agree the investment seems pointless in the Greek labour market.

Greece is first in the EU27 in skills mismatch, says Efstratoglou. Mostly because people have higher skills than employers demand  people are forced to take jobs they are overqualified for, meaning their skills are losing value, all the investment this country made in their education is cancelled out, and people leave, which leads to a brain drain.

More than half a million Greeks have left since 2008, national statistics show.

Protesters march against austerity policies [Petros Giannakouris/AP Photo]

Growth policies needed

The problem with raising salaries is that labour is highly taxed. For every euro a worker takes home, she and her employer have spent another 60 cents on income tax and social security.

We are at the point where the tax system is not a real tax system, says former finance minister Gikas Hardouvelis. It doesnt give people incentives to work, it doesnt give incentives for capital to come in.

The pension system is not fixed either  There are no assurances for people who contribute a lot that they are going to get something down the line because the money is not theirs.

Hardouvelis believes Greece needs to be given the rest of this century to repay its debts, as the International Monetary Fund has recommended.

We are at the point where the tax system is not a real tax system ... It doesn't give people incentives to work, it doesn't give incentives for capital to come in Gikas Hardouvelis, former finance minister

This would allow the government to lower taxes and stimulate investment. And he says the Greeks should introduce individual retirement accounts, so people can maintain ownership of the money they save for retirement, instead of surrendering it to a system that has lost public trust.

Such actions would, in theory, create a virtuous cycle of investment and employment, enlarging the tax base, lowering taxes and, over time, bringing salaries up.

Few Greeks appear to believe their government or their political culture can easily make that happen.
Palestinian journalists union says bill against photographing Israeli soldiers on duty is attempt to escape punishment.

A Palestinian journalists union has condemned as racist an Israeli bill that seeks to criminalise recording and photographing Israeli soldiers on duty.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) said in a statement on Saturday that the bill would grant legitimacy to the Israeli occupation to commit more crimes.

[The bill] severely attacks the profession of the press and legitimises the criminal practices committed by the Israeli occupation army against Palestinian people.

It is an attempt to escape punishment and international justice, the statement added.

The bill was proposed to the Knesset, Israels parliament, on Thursday and has been backed by Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

The proposed legislation, entitled the Prohibition against photographing and documenting [Israeli army] soldiers, criminalises photographing troops on duty.

Anyone who filmed, photographed, and/or recorded soldiers in the course of their duties, with the intention of undermining the spirit of [Israeli army] soldiers and residents of Israel, shall be liable to five years imprisonment, says the bill, proposed by Robert Ilatov, a member of the Knesset and the chairman of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party.

The bills explanatory notes said that Israel had witnessed a worrying phenomenon of documentation of Israeli soldiers for many years.

This was done through video, stills, and audio recordings by anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian organisations such as BTselem, Machsom Watch Women, Breaking the Silence, and various BDS organisations.

Ilatov said that it was time to end this absurdity.

We have a responsibility to provide Israeli soldiers with optimal conditions for carrying out their duties, without having to worry about a leftist or organisation who might publish their picture to shame and disgrace them, he said.

The bill was also criticised by the liberal Israeli Haaretz daily, which, in an editorial published Sunday, described it as causing serious harm to freedom of the press and the publics right to know.

The public has a right to know what the reality is and especially what the peoples army is doing in its name and on its behalf, the editorial said.

That is why censorship can only be exercised in cases of serious danger to state security and not in an effort to head off criticism of the army.

The PJS argued that if the bill is approved, it will grant legitimacy to the Israeli occupation to commit more crimes.

The group called on the United Nations and international press freedom institutions to exert pressure on the occupying entity to comply with international laws and conventions, and to protect the freedom of press to document the truth.
Italys president has appointed a former IMF economist, Carlo Cottarelli, as interim prime minister.

By
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pledges crackdown on any individuals caught up in the web of corruption.

Authorities in Kenya have charged 54 people, including dozens of civil servants, as part of a corruption probe into the theft of tens of millions of dollars of public funds.

Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Mohamed Harji told a news conference on Monday that 40 public officials and 14 private sector individuals would be investigated for their involvement in a suspected theft of 8bn Kenyan shillings ($78m) from the countrys National Youth Service (NYS).

Ten business entities have also been charged.

The NYS is a paramilitary organisation populated by volunteers who receive government stipends while undergoing technical training and assisting with government projects.

Police have arrested 20 of those charged  including NYS Director General Richard Ndubai and Public Service and Youth Development Principal Secretary Lilian Omollo  with the others requested to hand themselves into authorities by Harji.

The charges include abuse of office, stealing public funds and forgery.

Among those to be charged include 40 public servants, 14 directors and proprietors of business entities and 10 business entities pic.twitter.com/Nuuwk8tGTf  Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) May 28, 2018

The funds were allegedly looted through the creation of fictitious bills and multiple payments being made on a single invoice.

Investigations reveal that there was no procurement whatsoever, Harji told reporters, according to Reuters news agency.

A second phase of the probe will look into any companies and banks which were complicit in the transactions, he added, with four special prosecutors set to be appointed to assist with the investigation.

Kenyatta pledges corruption crackdown

Speaking later on Monday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged to crack down on any individuals caught up in the web of corruption.

We are not going to tolerate unethical people. People with responsibility must be ready to serve and not to be served, Kenyatta said.

{articleGUID}

Kenyatta pledged to stamp out corruption when first elected to the presidency in 2013, but has been unable to oversee any major anti-graft convictions so far.

Anti-corruption organisation Transparency International ranked Kenya 143rd out of 180 countries in its 2017 corruption perceptions index, down seven places from 2013.

A report in March by Auditor General Edward Ouko revealed almost $400m of public funds cannot be accounted for by the government.

Mondays events mark the second corruption scandal to hit the NYS in recent years.

Earlier this year, a court acquitted almost two dozen of the agencys officials over an alleged theft of almost $475,000 in 2015.

The organisation, promoted under Kenyatta as a means to increase youth employment, has recruited 67,092 volunteers since 2014.
Libyas rival factions to meet in Paris to end political deadlock

It has been more than two years since the UN-backed Libyan political agreement was signed, but it has not been implemented yet.
Cars swept away in Ellicott City as violent thunderstorms batter the eastern US state.

Flash floods have roared through Maryland states Ellicott City sweeping away cars and causing major damage.

The floods hit the same scenic town that was slammed by a similar storm in July 2016.

As the flooding subsided, Governor Larry Hogan toured the area and promised every bit of assistance we possibly can.

They say this is a once every 1,000-year flood and weve had two of them in two years, Hogan said.

In some places, the floodwater reached the first floor of buildings.

Jessica Ur, who watched cars being swept away, also witnessed the flooding in 2016. Its significantly higher than it was before, she told the Baltimore Sun.

The storms that unleashed the rains on the city were part of a broad conveyor of moisture that has been feeding rain from Jamaica up into the east coast of the US.

Within this system, the first named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season has formed.

Over Maryland, a weak weather system crossing this band of moisture, intensified dramatically and a line of thunderstorms formed, crossing directly over Ellicott City.

About 20 centimetres of rain fell in six hours, the majority of it falling in three hours. Two years ago, the city was hit by 17cm in three hours. Therefore the amounts, and the resulting flooding, were comparable.

In 2016, two people were killed by the flooding. No casualties or serious injuries have been reported so far this year, though authorities have registered one person as missing.
Report says South Korean President Moon Jae-in may join Trump and Kim in Singapore for possible three-way talks.

A team of American officials was in North Korea on Monday to discuss a historic summit between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, raising expectations that the meeting called off last week might still happen.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, Trump tweeted late on Sunday.

I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!





Both the US state department and South Koreas foreign ministry said officials were in discussions at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border in the demilitarised zone (DMZ).

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim, the US ambassador to the Philippines, to lead the US delegation to Pyongyang to handle pre-summit negotiations.

Sung, who is of Korean descent, had served as the US ambassador to Seoul and was part of the US team that negotiated during the six-party talks with North Korea.

On Monday, South Koreas Yonhap news agency also reported that a senior North Korean official had arrived in Beijing, apparently on his way to Singapore for pre-summit talks.

A team of US officials, led by White House deputy chief of staff Joe Hagin, is also reportedly travelling to Singapore to help plan the June 12 meeting.

Trump cancelled the planned summit in Singapore on Thursday, only to change his mind a day later.

Surprise meeting

South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave details about a surprise meeting on Saturday with Kim in Panmunjom, saying North Koreas leader committed to sitting down with Trump and to complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

On Monday, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported that Moon could also make a trip to Singapore for a possible three-way summit with Trump and Kim around June 12.

An unnamed South Korean presidential official said a three-way meeting depends on the outcome of the ongoing discussions between Washington and Pyongyang.





The discussions are just getting started, so we are still waiting to see how they come out, but depending on their outcome, the president could join President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore, Yonhap quoted the official as saying.

Moon and Kim reportedly first proposed a three-way summit during their first-ever meeting at the border village of Panmunjom on April 27.

The talks, which Moon said Kim had requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth.

While maintaining that Kim is committed to denuclearisation, Moon acknowledged Pyongyang and Washington might have different expectations of what that means, and he urged both sides to hold working-level talks to resolve their differences.

American officials are sceptical that Kim will ever entirely abandon his nuclear weapons, and Moon said North Korea is not yet convinced it can trust security guarantees from the US.

Robert Kelly, a professor of international relations at Pusan National University, said Trump should lay out what the US is specifically looking for, instead of demanding that Pyongyang give up everything.

They [North Koreans] would not do that, he told Al Jazeera, adding the Trump administration does not have a grand diplomatic strategy ahead of the talks.

Assuming that the North Koreans arent going to give up all of it, what would be the United States willing to live with, and what would they give the North Koreans in return, Kelly said.

He said it could take years before the parties would be able to fulfil the concessions and counter-concessions, adding that it would be extraordinary if negotiations would wrap up in the next three weeks.
Campaign Against Arms Trade says Britain issued 221m worth of arms licenses to defence firms exporting to Israel.

The UK approved record weapons export licenses to Israel last year, according to new figures by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).

In 2017, Britain issued 221m ($294m) worth of arms licenses to defence contractors exporting to Israel, up 256 percent when compared with the 86m ($114m) licensed in 2016.

The year before that, in 2015, licenses worth 20m ($27m) were issued.

In total, the UK has sold arms and military hardware worth more than 350m ($466m) to Israel over the past five years.

Among the weapons that the UK sold to Israel were assault rifles, small arms ammunition, sniper rifles and components for targeting equipment.

The new figures were published amid the Israeli armys deadly response to the weekly demonstrations held by Palestinians in the east of the Gaza Strip near Israels fence since the end of March. At least 120 Palestinians have been killed by sniper fire, and more than 13,000 wounded.

Andrew Smith, CAAT spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that UK weaponry previously sold to Israel was used in at least two Israeli offensives on the besieged coastal enclave.

UK government investigations have confirmed that UK arms were used against the people of Gaza in 2009 and 2014, he said, calling for a full investigation to determine whether they were used in recent atrocities.

The exponential increase of arms sale is testament to the increasingly close political and military relationship between the UK and Israel, Smith added.

The close relations are further exemplified by Prince Williams visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories next month, the first such official visit to the region made by a member of the royal family.

Prince William will first visit the Jordanian capital Amman, before making his way to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah.

His tour will come against the backdrop of heightened tensions given recent events, such as the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the killing of 62 Palestinian protesters by Israeli forces on May 14.

If the Prince wants to help the people of Palestine, then he must speak out against the abuses taking place and use his visit to call for meaningful peaceful solutions, Smith said.
South Korean police summon Lee Myung-hee after more than 10 former and current employees alleged abuse.

The wife of Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho has been accused of assaulting airline employees and household staff, widening allegations of bad behavior by the South Korean family.

Police summoned Lee Myung-hee on Monday for questioning about allegations she physically or verbally abused more than 10 former and current employees of Chos Hanjin conglomerate, the parent of Korean Air.

I feel truly sorry to the victims for causing damage, Lee told reporters as she arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for questioning.

The Cho family has been under mounting public criticism after company employees alleged they were subjected to mistreatment and tantrums.

Lees eldest daughter, Cho Hyun-ah, who was formerly the head of the airlines cabin service, infamously delayed a flight in 2014 after she threw an inflight tantrum over how she was served macadamia nuts.





She was sentenced to one year in prison for violating aviation law with the onboard nut rage, but was released early when a higher-level court suspended the sentence.

Last week, Cho Hyun-ah was investigated by South Korean immigration officials over allegations she unlawfully hired housekeepers from the Philippines.

Cho Hyun-ahs younger sister, Cho Hyun-min, is also under investigation for allegedly hurling a cup of water during a business meeting.

South Korean authorities are looking into suspicions the Cho family, including Cho Yang-ho, evaded taxes and used airline services to smuggle luxury goods.

Korean Air pilots, cabin crew and activists held a protest earlier this month in the South Korean capital, calling for Cho Yang-ho to resign.

People take part in a protest against the abuse of power by the family of Korean Air chairman [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]




As paramedic Mazen Jabreel Hasna set out towards the field east of Gaza City with his medical team for the Friday demonstration, he had a sinking feeling it would be another bloody day for the unarmed Palestinian demonstrators.

Hasna and his team were in a heightened state of alert, taking into consideration the high number of casualties during demonstrations in the weeks prior.

As he got ready on April 27, he tried to stay positive by reciting verses of mercy from the Quran for extra protection.

His gut feeling, however, turned out be an accurate predictor of the days events  only this time it was Hasna among the gravely wounded.

In the moments before he was shot, Hasna noticed a woman 30 metres away, struggling to break free from the barbed wire she was stuck on. The woman was hysterical, trying to reach her wounded son but unable to move, also having been tear-gassed.





As Hasna was rushing towards the woman, he suddenly fell to the ground  he had been shot with a pulverising butterfly bullet that exploded through his right leg and settled into his left.

Years of experience working as a paramedic in hostile environments couldnt prevent the incident.

Wearing a neon green vest and a surgical mask and with no smoke to obscure the view for Israeli snipers, he said Israeli forces deliberately targeted him as a paramedic.

Its like art for them. The Israeli sniper knows very well what kind of injury youre going to have before he shoots you. So if he wants you to live, he can [let you live]. If he wants to amputate you, he will, Hasna told Al Jazeera from his home, sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by his seven children.

Where are these human rights they keep talking about day and night? My presence at the border was for a humane reason  to save lives. But [the Israeli forces] punished me with a butterfly bullet Theyre executors of humanity, Hasna said.

Targeting medics

While Israel has drawn criticism over its excessive and disproportionate use of force that has killed at least 114 unarmed Palestinian protesters and wounded more than 13,000 since March 30, many have also drawn attention to the Israeli armys targeting of medical personnel.

During mass demonstrations on May 14, 17 medical personnel were injured by Israeli live ammunition, and one paramedic was killed, according to Gazas Ministry of Health.

Seven ambulances were damaged that day, having been hit by tear gas canisters.

Since the start of the Great March of Return movement on March 30, 238 health personnel and 38 ambulances have been affected, according to the World Health Organization.

According to a new report by Safeguarding Health in Conflict, a coalition of NGOs, among the countries experiencing the highest number of attacks on healthcare, the occupied Palestinian Territories is second only to Syria.

Ninety-three attacks were recorded in 2017, mostly attributed to Israeli security forces.

These included violence against Palestinian health workers, interferences with the delivery of healthcare, obstruction of medical transport, and denial of impartial care to wounded civilians.

Tarek Loubani, a Canadian emergency physician with a specialisation in trauma and years of experience working in hostile environments, shares a similar story to Hasna.

On May 14, Loubani and three of his colleagues were wounded by live fire and one paramedic from his team, Musa Abuhassanin, was killed.

A haunting photo, Friday, May 11. Left: Mohammed Migdad, shot in the right ankle. Hassan Abusaada. Tarek Loubani, shot in left leg and right knee. Moumin Silmi. Youssef Almamlouk. Musa Abuhassanin, shot in the thorax and killed. Volunteer unknown. Photographer: shot and wounded pic.twitter.com/d82ZGrUJGP  Tarek Loubani (@trklou) May 15, 2018

Loubani explained in an interview with Democracy Now that they had all been highly visible, wearing orange jackets. The shooting occurred during a lull in the protests, and, at the time, no tyres were being burned to obscure the view with smoke.

Loubani was with his team, resupplying 3D medical devices they had made when he heard a loud bang and found himself on the ground, bleeding heavily from the legs. Hed been shot.





We could see the sniper posts, for sure they could see us Its very hard to believe that [the Israeli soldiers who shot us] didnt know who we were, that they didnt know what we were doing and that they were aiming at anything else, Loubani said.

While the Israeli army did not reply to Al Jazeeras request for comment, a spokesperson had explained previously that their targeting was accurate and measured.

On the first day of demonstrations on March 30, Israeli forces killed 17 unarmed Palestinian demonstrators and wounded more than 1,400.

The following day, a spokesperson reassured the public on Twitter the military had everything under control.

Nothing was carried out uncontrolled; everything was accurate and measured, and we know where every bullet landed.

No accountability

Attacks on medical personnel, however, are not limited just to the Gaza Strip.

According to the latest report, on several occasions last year, Israeli security forces entered health facilities in the occupied West Bank  including in Ramallah, Hebron and East Jerusalem  and disrupted services.

The most notable incident occurred last July when about 200 heavily armed Israeli personnel stormed Al Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem after firing stun grenades and tear gas into the yard outside.





They were pursuing Mohammad Abu Ghannam, a young man who was in critical condition, having been wounded in the chest.

According to Amnesty International, Israeli forces entered the operating room and shoved and hit the doctor who was trying to provide him with urgent care.

Abu Ghannam died from his wounds during the incident.

A nurse working during the raid said, I have never been so scared in my life. All I remember were loud sounds and pushing and screaming. It was total chaos  There was blood all over the place on the floor, on the walls.

In August, the NGO Physicians for Human Rights-Israel called the Israeli health ministry to investigate the case. Nearly a year later, there has been no response.

There is no indication that the Israeli authorities will hold anyone accountable for the violation of a protected hospital, for the impeding of potentially life-saving medical care, or for the unjustified violence used against staff and patients, the report noted.

In May 2016, the UN Security Council passed resolution 2286, cosponsored by 80 states, condemning the prevailing impunity for violations and abuses committed against humanitarian and medical personnel.

It urged the states to conduct independent investigations, however, none has yet to come to fruition.

Anas Jnena contributed to this report from the Gaza Strip.
Moscow calls for exit of non-Syrian forces from de-escalation area as rebels prepare for potential government push.

Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that only Syrian forces should be present in areas alongside the countrys border with Israel and Jordan, as rebels in southern Syria prepare for a possible offensive by government troops.

In recent days, Syrian government aircraft have dropped leaflets on rebel-held areas in Deraa, warning of an imminent push and urging the fighters to lay down their arms.

The southern province, which is mostly controlled by opposition groups, is close to the volatile Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, which has emerged as a flashpoint in a wider standoff between Israel and Iran.

The United States has recently warned it will take action to protect a ceasefire in the area, while Israel said it would not tolerate a permanent military presence in Syria by Iran  a major ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, along with Russia.

Israel has long been worried that any Syrian government advance would bring Iran-backed militias with it to the area near the occupied Golan Heights.





Speaking to reporters on Monday, Lavrov said the withdrawal of non-Syrian forces from the de-escalation area should be done on a mutual basis as part of a two-way street.

The result of the ongoing work should be a situation in which troops of the Syrian armed forces will be stationed alongside the Syrian border with Israel, he said, without specifying which countries back these rebel groups.

De-escalation zone

The United States, Russia and Jordan agreed last year to create a de-escalation zone in southwest Syria, which included the regions of Deraa, Quneitra and Sweida.

The area has been held under a ceasefire, but has recently been tense following a series of recent Israeli strikes on Syrian and Iranian forces.

Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, Lebanon, said Lavrovs comments come amid ongoing international negotiations aimed at avoiding a military escalation in this part of Syria that could involve regional powers.

Jordan and Israel  do not want to see Iranian troops or Iranian-allied troops on their borders, so if theres any arrangement or any deal, it will definitely not involve Iranian troops taking a part in any battle, Khodr said.

What  theyre trying to do is reach some sort of an arrangement whereby the rebels decide to lay down their arms and surrender and those who want to leave to the rebel-controlled province of Idlib in the northwest will be able to do so  but state authority will return to this area, Khodr added, noting that Jordan was keen to avoid an escalation on the border as it would create a refugee crisis.

Imminent offensive

While Syrian government forces dropped leaflets on Deraas rebel-held areas, the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV, which has reporters embedded with Syrian troops, said the army is sending reinforcements to southern Syria in an apparent preparation for an offensive.





The reports of an imminent operation in the de-escalation zone have worried the US, which warned on Friday that it would take firm and appropriate measures in response to ceasefire violations.

Jordan said on Monday it was discussing developments in southern Syria with Washington and Moscow and that all three parties agreed on the need to preserve the de-escalation zone they brokered last year and which has reduced violence.

A senior official who requested anonymity told Reuters news agency the three countries that signed last years deal saw eye-to-eye on the need to preserve the zone as a key step to accelerate efforts to reach a political solution in Syria.

No place for Iranian presence

Later on Monday, Israel called for Iran to be denied any military presence in Syria.

Our position on Syria is clear, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his parliamentary faction in broadcast remarks. We believe that there is no place for any Iranian military presence, anywhere in Syria.

Netanyahu said he would press German and French leaders to support his position during a European tour next week, with talks expected to focus on the US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal  long-sought by Israel  and the Iranian presence in Syria.

These things, of course, reflect not only our position. I can safely say that they also reflect the views of others in the Middle East and beyond the Middle East. This will be the main focus of my discussions, Netanyahu said.

Earlier this month, Israel launched a large-scale attack against what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, raising fears of a major confrontation.

This was one of the largest Israeli military operations in recent years and the biggest against Iranian targets.

Those strikes followed a barrage of rockets that Israel said was fired toward its forces in the occupied Golan Heights by Iran from Syria.

Even before that, Israel had been blamed for a series of strikes inside Syria that killed Iranians, though it has not acknowledged them.
About the show

earthrise is Al Jazeeras award-winning environmental show exploring the most significant threats to our planet by highlighting eco-friendly solutions from around the world. earthrise brings you the stories of those who strive to improve our quality of life and reduce our negative impact on the earth.
About the show

A weekly programme that examines and dissects the worlds media, how they operate and the stories they cover. Watch The Listening Post every Saturday at 0830GMT
Remember the wave of light bulb jokes popular some years ago? One in particular captured the essence of feminism:

How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb?

THAT'S NOT FUNNY!

Modern feminism is characterized by a toxic mix of prudishness, self-importance, paranoia, groundless hatred, and epidemic humorlessness. As a disease of sheer cray-cray offense-taking, culminating in hatred for half the human race, with a special emphasis on white males, feminism will not rest satisfied until men are taught to keep their knees together, their eyes down, and their mouths shut, eliminating confident alphas from the sexual equation or turning them into compliant betas.

Humor, or rather lack of same, is the key to understanding the feminist personality type and the species of derangement to which it is prone. A sense of humor, including a penchant for wit and satire, is a sign of developed intelligence. Being able to tell jokes and especially to get jokes, even at one's expense, is a human quality whose absence betokens a closed and rigid sensibility.

Examples abound; I will consider a few of the most egregious.

In 2015, Nobel Laureate Sir Tim Hunt, the discover of cyclin, was forced to resign from his position as honorary professor at University College London's Faculty of Life Sciences and from the Royal Society for making a facetious and self-deprecating jest at the World Conference of Science Journalists in Seoul about relations between teachers and students. "It's strange," he said, "that such a chauvinist monster like me has been asked to speak to women scientists. Let me tell you about my trouble with girls. Three things happen when they are in the lab: you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them they cry."

All true, kind of funny, and no big deal, as I can attest from my own teaching experience and that of many of my friends. Hunt is no charlatan like Bill Nye or Al Gore, but a genuine and brilliant scientist whose work on cancer cells has greatly benefited humanity. No matter. Abandoned by many of his friends and professional colleagues, Sir Tim is now pursuing his cancer research in Japan. A joke told in a feminist environment is the kiss of death.

More recently, Simona Sharoni, a professor of gender studies at Merrimack College, famously took offense at King's College professor Richard Ned Lebow for making an innocuous remark in an elevator they were riding. The elevator stopped, someone asked which floor it was, and he replied with the "women's lingerie" department. Sharoni filed a grievance with the International Studies Association, of which they were both members. Lebow, the 2014 recipient of the ISA's distinguished scholar award, called her complaint "frivolous." Sharoni did not agree. "As a survivor of sexual harassment in the academy," she huffed, "I am quite shaken by this incident." Oblivious to the arrant nonsense of her deposition, the ISA, whose disciplinary committee found Lebow's behavior "offensive and inappropriate," instructed him to apologize. An even "more serious violation," said the committee's director Mark Boyer, was "that you ... termed her complaint 'frivolous.'"

Three things immediately stand out from this ludicrous encounter: the flayed sensibilities of the feminists; the ubiquity of the beta syndrome; and the dreary priggishness of those who bridle at jokes, however lame. As a woman in the same elevator confided to Sharoni, "I wonder if we should have told them that it is no longer acceptable to make these jokes." She might have said any jokes.

Or consider the sexual harassment scandal in which Canadian Conservative M.P. James Bezan made a feeble off-color joke during a photo op with Liberal M.P. Sherry Romanado and a third person at a fundraiser for Canadian war veterans. What did Bezan say? "This isn't my idea of a threesome." Romanado found Bezan's comments "unwanted," "inappropriate," and "humiliating." They "caused me great stress," she went on, "and negatively affected my work environment. People are afraid to live what I've had to live through." Yes, you read that right.

As for Bezan, he had to undergo an investigation conducted by the House of Commons, complete sensitivity training, and apologize repeatedly for his transgression. A year later, Romanado, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Veterans Affairs, is still trembling from a wound as grievous, no doubt, as any suffered by the veterans for whose file she is responsible. As they say, unbelievable!

The vast majority of such claims are undeniably trivial. As my wife, Janice Fiamengo, observed at a panel discussion on the #MeToo sickness, given in Ottawa on December 8, 2017, "This is surely a phenomenon of mass hysteria, in which thousands of women claim to have been sexually terrorized by a range of behaviors that include lewd remarks, jokes, compliments, requests for dates, expressions of sexual interest, or fully clothed physical contact in public spaces."

The phenomenon, she continued "is related to decades of feminist theorizing insisting that men are guilty when women say they are. On that basis it is right to publicly shame men, to publish their names, to socially isolate them, to drum them out of an industry, to pressure businesses to fire them, to circulate their names on databases of 'bad men' ... and to create extra-judicial tribunals to hear charges against them and to determine actions to be taken."

All this is serious stuff, not only in its consequences, but in its psychic seriousness  that is, the vice of amateur souls and heavily indoctrinated natures who are strangers to nuance, complexity, irony, and the inherent absurdity of our histrionic productions. Proponents of a sinister ideology, these agelasts do incalculable harm, not counting the great number of men they have transformed into spineless confederates of a misbegotten agenda.

The absence of a sense of humor is a dead giveaway of a narrow, psychologically limited, puerile, and saturnine personality-type, which makes it difficult for lively and intelligent people to converse; negotiate; or, obviously, exchange jokes with such attenuated individuals. As Milan Kundera pointed out in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, the tyrannical mind does not laugh. When this lugubrious infirmity becomes a collective phenomenon, we know we are dealing with a social pathology whose effect is to warp and distort a culture almost, if not wholly, beyond recovery. This is feminism's endgame, and it looks bound to succeed. You cannot reason with the humorless.

There is another light bulb joke that complements the one with which I began:

How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb?

It's not the light bulb that needs to be changed.
This past weekend we celebrated the lives, and mourn the deaths, of those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of this, the greatest, most generous country that has ever graced our planet. Last weekend also happens to have seen the graduation and commissioning of the Class of 2018 from the United States Military Academy, from whose ranks over its 216-year history many of those fallen in our nations battles were drawn. That graduation ceremony was especially poignant for how well it illustrated the cross-section of Americas best and brightest who have answered their countrys call and shown a willingness to place themselves in harms way for the rest of us.

The image of these young men and women standing on The Hallowed Plain of West Point in their dress uniforms, ready to receive their diplomas and commissions as second lieutenants in the United States Army, is a picture of true, selfless diversity. They are black and white, Hispanic and Asian, Christian and Jewish, male and female, northern and southern, well-off and not-so-well-off. They have all endured the same rigors and tests of confidence over four years that West Point has crafted in the span of two centuries to hone their cadets mettle and develop confident, capable leaders who feel a bond with each unlike any other produced by Americas university system, apart from its other service academies.

The First Captain of West Points Corps of Cadets for the academic year 2017-2018, the highest-ranking cadet in the cadet chain-of-command, who led the graduating class on the parade ground this weekend, was Cadet Simone Askew. She happens to hail from my hometown of Fairfax, Virginia. She also happens to be African-American. One does not achieve the rank of First Captain of West Points Corps of Cadets without possessing extraordinary abilities academically and physically, as well as genuine, demonstrated leadership skills identified in his or her years as an underclassman. Second Lieutenant Askew and her family should be very proud, and we as Americans should be very grateful that she chose a career in the service of our country.

On graduation day, the junior class of Cadets (known, affectionately, as Cows -- one of those quaint, very old, yet loveable West Point traditions), were promoted to seniors (known as Firsties). To mark their new status, they are given red sashes and ceremonial sabers to be worn with their dress uniforms.

Ive had the blessing of having a child among this new class of Firsties. He and his classmates were very proud of their red sash and saber, and justifiably so. They represent a tremendous amount of work, physical and mental, parties foregone that their high school friends who went off to regular colleges enjoyed, and a willingness to selflessly lay down their lives for God, country, and comrade, just as those whom we celebrate on Memorial Day have done.

In this age when cynical politicians and grievance industry hustlers seek to divide us along racial lines, gender differences, economic backgrounds, and other superficial strata, I look at our service academies and see one of the great accomplishments, among many, of our blessed nation: Its ability to truly assimilate and meld people from all ethnic, religious, cultural and financial backgrounds in pursuit of a higher purpose.

In my sons three years at West Point, his best friend happens to be a classmate of combined Chinese and Jewish background. My son happens to be Christian and of German ancestry. Other of his friends include African-Americans, who were his roommates; sons of retired U.S. Army generals; and a brilliant prior service cadet, from a hardscrabble background, who saw meritorious action in Afghanistan as an enlisted man. He counts many women cadets among his friends, some of whom he competed with on the Army swim team.

It is very easy in our culture today to become disheartened by those who would seek to divide us, perhaps for electoral gain, hoped-for reparations, favorable occupational and educational advantages, or innumerable other self-serving reasons. The notion that police officers would target black individuals for murder or that teachers would single out minority students for arrest, all based on the color of their skin, yet not supported by empirical evidence, is a notion repugnant to most Americans, but is a narrative that is inflamed by a media seemingly hell-bent on creating discord. After all, it drives ratings and readership.

As illustrated in this short video of the Class of 2018 graduation, all the West Point graduates celebrated their achievement together, tossed their caps in the air together, and embraced each other (regardless of identity group), when LT Askew dismissed them for the last time as United States Military Academy Cadets. What a wonderful representation of America. No other country on earth has achieved a level of integration of diverse people like America has, claims to the contrary by malcontents notwithstanding.

Finally, on this Memorial Day weekend, I would like to remember some West Pointers who joined the Long Gray Line, but lost their lives before they could celebrate graduation with their classmates.

My sons classmate, Cadet Thomas Surdyke, gave up his life in June 2016, between his Plebe and Yuk years, while rescuing a swimmer caught in a riptide on Long Island, resulting in the posthumous award of the Soldiers Medal to Cadet Surdyke. Tom now rests in the cemetery at West Point, alongside his fellow West Pointers.

Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey, while attending Cadet Troop Leadership Training in Fort Hood, Texas, also in June 2016, lost his life, along with eight other soldiers, when their tactical vehicle overturned at a flooded crossing. The sacrifice made by those in our armed forces who die in the course of training is no less meaningful than those who perish in combat. They have knowingly chosen a dangerous profession, which requires training involving maneuvers, equipment and arms that are inherently hazardous. Inevitably, tragic mishaps occur, which makes the willingness of these young men and women to choose this vocation that much more meaningful.

Lets enjoy our Memorial Day with picnics and pool parties, but lets not forget the true meaning of the holiday: the celebration of those who gave their lives to make our freedoms and joyous celebrations with family and friends possible.

God bless America and her armed forces.

William F. Marshall has been an intelligence analyst and investigator in the government, private and non-profit sectors for over 30 years. Presently he is a Senior Investigator for Judicial Watch, Inc. (The views expressed are the authors alone, and not necessarily those of Judicial Watch.)
Is Britain lost to the ranks of free nations? The land that bequeathed the world the Magna Carta and the "mother of parliaments" is indulging in totalitarianism with its handling of Tommy Robinson, a famous political activist agitating about the threat of radical Islam and attempting to report on the trial of a Muslim "grooming gang" that allegedly preyed on young English girls, forcing them into prostitution. I wrote about the fragmentary reports of his arrest in Leeds two days ago for the alleged crimes of "breach of the peace and incitement."

British writer George Orwell warned of the dangers of totalitarian thought control via the corruption of language and pervasive electronic spying in his novel 1984. Calling the act of reporting on a trial "breach of the peace and incitement" is as Orwellian as "War Is Peace," "Freedom Is Slavery," and "Ignorance Is Strength," Orwell's most famous examples of totalitarian brainwashing.

The British authorities (I'm looking at you, P.M. Theresa May) have now managed to import a policy from Czech writer Franz Kafka, famous for exposing the corruption totalitarians impose on those under their thumbs. In his book The Trial, the defendant is not allowed to know the charges against him. The Brits now have imposed a gag order on any reporting of the fate of Robinson, including his trial and prison sentence. Bruce Bawer of the Gatestone Institute captures the essence of Kafka-logic implicit in the gag order in his title, "UK: You're Not Allowed to Talk about It. About What? Don't Ask." I recommend that you read his entire post to understand the fear of offending Muslims that has the government of the U.K. descending into a nightmare of totalitarianism, but here is a sample.

Following Robinson's arrest:

In the space of the next few hours, a judge tried, convicted, and sentenced him to 13 months in jail  and also issued a gag order, demanding a total news blackout on the case in the British news media. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was immediately taken to Hull Prison. Most media outlets were remarkably compliant. News stories that had already been posted online after Robinson's arrest at the Scottish Daily Record, Birmingham Live, The Mirror, RT, and Breitbart News were promptly pulled down, although, curiously, a report remained up at the Independent, a left-wing broadsheet that can be counted on to view Robinson as a hooligan. Indeed, the Independent's article described Robinson as "far-right" and, in explaining what he was doing outside the courthouse, used scare quotes around the word "reporting"; it then summed up the least appealing episodes in his career and blamed him for an attack on the Finsbury Park Mosque last January. Somehow, the Independent also got away with publishing a report on London's Saturday rally in support of Robinson.

Yesterday, according to the U.K.'s Evening Standard, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Downing Street, the residence of the prime minister, chanting Robinson's name. Twitter also allowed reports on the demonstration to remain up:

Whitehall at a standstill. I imagine won't be on the news #FreeTommy pic.twitter.com/S9IVLmn7J6  algernond (@algernond) May 26, 2018

Unreal support for Tommy Robinson at such late notice! #FreeTommy pic.twitter.com/JhhbA0cvcY  Nick Scanlon (@NickScan92) May 26, 2018

Robinson's supporters expect him to be killed if he is held among the general population at Hull Prison, owing to the large number of Muslim gang members held there.

Owing to the media blackout, gathering a large group of supporters is a challenge, to say the least. It will require overseas criticism to bring pressure and maybe, just maybe a lawsuit in U.K. courts. A British member of the European Parliament raises that possibility:

Tommy Robinson latest: UKIP Peer Malcolm Lord Pearson has written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid today saying : if Tommy is murdered or injured in prison he and others will mount a private prosecution against Mr Javid as an accessory, or for misconduct in public office. pic.twitter.com/UMkXqBVLoR  Gerard Batten MEP (@GerardBattenMEP) May 27, 2018

The next few days in Britain will be decisive. If Robinson is murdered in prison, he will became a martyr, and even far-reaching repression of reporting may not be enough to contain the outrage in an era of text messages, social media, and a world stage.
Life doesn't seem to be going well for Chelsea Manning, the convicted felon who leaked massive U.S. military wartime secrets to WikiLeaks and then got pardoned for it by President Obama, by virtue of declaring himself a transsexual.

Having launched a Senate run, Manning isn't even a rounding error in the Maryland polls, and now he seems to be giving up, finding the idea of campaigning for office hard work  and getting bummed out.

ive been knocking on doors and making phone calls all over Maryland lately - most people aren't interested in voting, or elections, or civil discourse anymore - theyve heard it all before - they dont think it will make a difference - and they are right  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 23, 2018

we cant expect any change thru the upcoming elections - the primaries are rigged - this so-called "blue wave" is gonna be more like a blue ripple, or a blue drip - establishment dems always happily vote for a warmer friendlier police state - change wont come thru any ballot  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 23, 2018

voting wont change anything - protesting with chants and signs and holding hands isnt gonna change anything either - we need more than that - we cant wait anymore - we need something radically different and we cant just ask for it or expect it to happen somehow  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 23, 2018

Well, yeah. Campaigning is hard work. It's even harder when you have a felony record for leaking secrets yet are running in a state that houses tens of thousands of National Security Agency employees, all of whom keep their mouths shut, and harder still when you have an utterly unserious platform of open immigration, universal basic income, universal health care, and an end to most law enforcement agencies.

No wonder he's raised only $71,999 in campaign cash compared with his Democratic primary rival, Ben Cardin, who's raised $3,775,326. According to this website, Manning has blown most of what he has managed to raise.

Twitchy has some choice commentary here.

What makes Manning different from other sad sacks unhappy with how life goes is his belief that the Senate  and unlimited power  is somehow owed to him and that even the hard work of campaigning isn't something he should have to deign to do. Since voters aren't flocking to him, he's all in for getting rid of voting. That's about par for someone this lawless.

Manning is not only whining about the rigors of running for office, but also has got lingering problems with his so-called sex change and has put out another call suggesting he was about to commit suicide, possibly triggered by his failing Senate fortunes.

His friends seem to have talked him out of it, which is good, but it's pretty obvious Manning remains mentally unstable, in part because of his gender dysphoria, which up until a few years ago was classified as a mental condition, instead of the fiction of it being society's problem that we all are supposed to play along with.

It's a wretched picture. What does Manning really seem to want?

Attention and adulation  as in this glowing profile on CBS run less than three weeks ago. Or the kind of adulation he got on Twitter in Toronto.

But no hard work!

It's the desperation of a child, and one with a lot of enablers.

What a pity this person is unlikely to ever get the mental help it's increasingly obvious he needs.
Poland, looking anxiously to the east, where Putin's Russia has made some menacing moves toward Eastern Europe, is offering $2 billion for a permanent U.S. base to house an armored division.

Politico:

"This proposal outlines the clear and present need for a permanent U.S. armored division deployed in Poland, Poland's commitment to provide significant support that may reach $1.5-2 billion by establishing joint military installations and provide for more flexible movement of U.S. forces," the defense ministry document states. It adds that Warsaw is committed "to share the burden of defense spending, make the decision more cost-effective for the U.S. government and allay any concerns for Congress in uncertain budgetary times." The administration of President Donald Trump has pushed NATO allies to increase their defense budgets up to 2 percent of GDP, as the alliance suggests. Poland has been at or above 2 percent since 2015. The defense ministry press office confirmed that the paper, called "Proposal for a U.S. Permanent Presence in Poland" and dated 2018, is genuine and said it is not classified. The document contains information on the proposed locations of military bases, hospitals  including their capacities  and possible schools or even gyms for the families of personnel. It was delivered to the U.S. government and Congress. Dominik Smyrgaa, who served as a deputy to former Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, under whom the proposal first started to take shape last summer, told Onet the proposal was drafted by senior ministry officials and a group of Polish military officers. Poland currently hosts U.S. armed forces and NATO units, who are stationed in the country on a rotational basis, moving between Poland and three Baltic states to the north.

One armored division would be considered a "tripwire" force that would ensure an American response to any incursion by Russia. Beyond that, it is little more than window dressing. As a NATO member, Poland could already call on the alliance for defense if it were threatened.

More to the point, Putin will likely be enraged at a permanent U.S. presence in Poland. He still looks at the Baltic States and Eastern Europe as within his sphere of influence, and any move to strengthen Poland's position in the NATO alliance he would consider a challenge to Russia.

Two billion dollars is a nice chunk of change, although it is unclear over what period of time the payments would be made. It will probably cost several hundred million dollars a year to maintain our presence in Poland, so any help the Poles could give us would be welcome.

In 2009, Poland was forced by the Obama administration to give up deployment of an anti-missile system in order to placate Russia. This was the "reset" with Russia period, and the Obama administration didn't want to upset our good friend Vladimir Putin.

Times have changed, as have the Russians.
Chelsea Clinton, the pampered, privileged little princess of Bill and Hillary Clinton, is back at it, calling for protests against the U.S. abroad and then declaring President Trump the anti-American one, all because she still can't get past the 2016 election. Just say she persisted.

She told the slightly disbelieving Guardian that Trump's official visit to the U.K. in July was reason enough to join the anti-American protesters who will be busy in London and said she'd been to "multiple" such protests back home. According to the Guardian:

I tell her a lot of people in Britain are wondering how they should receive Trump's visit in July. What's her advice? "Well, I've been to multiple protests since the election. Charlotte's been to at least three, maybe four. Aidan's been to one. If I lived in Britain I would show up to protest, because I don't agree with what he's doing to degrade what it means to be an American."

Why should Brits care what it means to be "American"? And why should Brits have an interest in whom we elect? Obviously, these will be rabidly anti-American protests from people who don't want America to exist at all, from the usual hammer-and-sickle screamers who put on such shows. What's more, Chelsea, having lived in England, knows exactly who these people are and the depth of their anti-Americanism. Yet Chelsea Clinton is actually telling them she's right there with them in spirit and would march with them too if she could.

If you think I'm exaggerating about the anti-American claim, get a load of what Newser (some lefty site) picked out from the mess, thinking it a good thing:

Clinton said "a rot has been exposed" in American society because of the rhetoric used by Trump and his supporters. In doing so, "the real racist and sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic feeling ... is on the rise in our country," she continued.

So not only is Trump still living rent-free inside Chelsea Clinton's head, but American society itself has "a rot" and therefore is fully protestable in London. This is wretched stuff.

When have we ever seen a presidential daughter encouraging anti-American protests abroad as she has? Can you imagine Tricia Nixon or Maureen Reagan doing such a thing? Can you imagine Alice Longworth Roosevelt? Can you see any of the Bush kids doing that?

Pretty amazing.

After that, Chelsea zeroed in on the need for less tolerance, about par for someone who's this far left. According to the Guardian:

"I think one of the big mistakes," she continues, "was, for so long, we focused on tolerance, which I just think is insufficient. People tolerated casual misogyny, but casual misogyny is maybe the gateway drug. We have freedom of speech, which I do think is hugely important  and yet people thought you couldn't dispute hateful things, because they're like  well, it's freedom of speech. Well, freedom of speech doesn't mean there is freedom of consequences. "Sure, you should not be in prison because you said something racist. But you also shouldn't be able to run for president. And yet here we are."

There are other gross details in the Guardian interview, starting with the utterly posed photo of her (note the smooth no floor-wall corners) for the interview, and the Guardian's unflattering description of her as a child of privilege, a glassy-eyed drone, and someone who talks in monotone, taking exactly after her mother. With this sort of stuff going on, it's amazing that her children's books are doing so well on Amazon, ranking number one in several categories. I feel skeptical of this, given her left-wing statements and the fact that I saw several signed copies sitting unbought on the store shelves of Target the other week. This person is some kind of fraud, and now it's getting clearer she's an anti-American to boot.

Image credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution SA 2.0 Generic.
Donald Trump has asked commerce secretary Wilbur Ross to look into the possibility of imposing tariffs up to 25% on auto imports for national security reasons.

The U.S. imported almost $200 billion in automobiles last year, and more than 50% of that came from either Canada or Mexico.

The Hill:

The administration would be conducting a Section 232 investigation to impose tariffs on autos. The Section 232 law, which is rarely used, allows tariffs to be placed on imports in the name of national security, but many think such concerns do not apply to imported cars. There are "a number of members who are concerned about using national security as a cover for essentially economic protectionism," Cornyn said. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) raised the issue with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during an unrelated hearing, saying the administration is running its trade policy "too transactionally." He called the floated auto tariffs "absolutely an abuse" of the president's authority. ... The prospect of auto tariffs comes as Republicans are already on edge over a reported deal between Trump and Beijing to save Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE and less-than-productive talks aimed at renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). They also come on the heels of Trump's decision to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports for national security reasons using the same Section 232 law. "I didn't think aluminum and steel met the test," said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of the GOP's Senate leadership. "I certainly don't think automobiles meet the test. I just don't think it's a national security issue."

Is protecting the auto industry really a matter of national security? Ross thinks so:

"National security is broadly defined to include the economy, to include the impact on employment, to include a very big variety of things," Ross said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "Economic security is military security. And without economic security, you can't have military security," he added.

There may be something to that. But it's a stretch to say an industry that made 17 million cars last year in the U.S. needs to be protected because of national security.

Section 232 allows Trump to bypass Congress, which I'm sure is why he is doing it. And Republicans, running in states where foreign auto plants are located, are no doubt nervous about anything that could impact jobs in their state or district.

Editor Lifson believes that the tariff threat isn't real, that this is just a bargaining chip. That may be. But any threat of a tariff on a vital industry like autos makes both politicians and business groups nervous.
A few years ago, I purchased the John Adams HBO series and watched the whole thing over a rainy weekend. It's amazing what you can do during a long "rain delay" theater.

As a naturalized U.S. citizen, I've always had a passion for everything about U.S. history.

I think the U.S. is the greatest nation in history. It has done more good for mankind than anyone else. Its sons have liberated millions, an important point to remember this weekend.

The U.S. economy has brought boundless prosperity to more people than anything else.

This great nation opened its arms to our family and gave us a chance at a new life. It has given me so much. Therefore, I don't stand quietly when people take cheap shots at the U.S.

Let me recommend that you revisit the John Adams series. It will cost you seven hours, but the dividends will be tremendous.

The main character is John Adams, our first V.P. and second president.

The series covers the Declaration of Independence (a great segment), his diplomatic trip to Europe, his service as V.P. and president, and the retirement years when he reconciled with Thomas Jefferson.

You cannot understand John Adams without understanding his amazing wife, Abigail. During their long and happy marriage, Abigail and John wrote an amazing number of letters. The letters have given historians so much background about the events and passion of that period. They tell the story of a man and a woman living in the early days of a new nation.

Here is a historical gem: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were two of the key players for independence. They died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826, or the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Watch it and reignite your love for the U.S. It may be wise for all of those who want to bring down statues to catch the series, too.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
The alleged Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 has just surfaced on TENAA (Chinas equivalent to the FCC). This listing reveals both the phones specs and images, and it seems like the Redmi Note 6 will sport a notch, like many other phones out there these days. The Redmi Note 5 was announced at the end of last year, and Xiaomi tends to release two Redmi Note generations a year, so the Redmi Note 6 will probably arrive in the near future, which is why it got listed on TENAA.

If you take a look at the gallery down below, you will be able to see the alleged Redmi Note 6 from several angles. As you can see, the phone will be made out of metal, and its display will sport rounded corners, in addition to the aforementioned notch. A vertically-aligned dual camera setup will be included on the back of the device, along with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. The device will sport a 5.84-inch fullHD+ (2280 x 1080) display, along with 2GB, 3GB, and 4GB of RAM, while those variants will ship with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage, respectively. The device will be fueled by an octa-core SoC clocked at 2GHz, while the phone will come with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and Xiaomis custom UI on top of it. A 3,900mAh battery will also be a part of the package, while you will be able to expand the phones storage using a microSD card. 12 and 8-megapixel cameras will be placed on the back of the Redmi Note 6 if TENAA is to be believed, while a single 5-megapixel camera will be included on the devices front side.

The Redmi Note 6 will ship in Black, Blue, Gold, Gray, Pink, Red, Rose Gold, Silver, and White color variants, says TENAA, while it will measure 149.33 x 71.68 x 8.75mm, and weigh 178 grams. It is still unclear when this phone will launch, it is possible that it will land on May 31, along with the Mi 8, but thats not that likely, as Xiaomi will probably host a separate event for the device. In any case, the Redmi Note 6 is expected to launch in the near future, and chances are well see more leaks soon.
AT&T has appointed Bala Subramanian as its new Chief Digital Officer, succeeding Teresa Ostapower. Subramanian most recently served as the chief digital officer of Best Buy from February 2017 to April 2018 prior to his new role at the second largest network carrier in the United States. Brian Tilzer, the former chief digital officer of pharmaceutical company CVS Health, will take over Subramanians role at Best Buy.

With his new role at AT&T, Subramanian will be responsible for the companys initiatives to offer a multi-channel experience to customers, according to Rasesh Patel, AT&Ts executive vice president of digital, retail and care. Based on Subramanians LinkedIn profile, he previously held the role as senior vice president and chief technology officer for global e-commerce and global architecture at Best Buy for more than four years, beginning in August 2012 to February 2017 before he was named the chief digital officer at the company. As SVP and CTO, Subramanian oversaw all aspects of technology, product development, product management, and operations in the global e-commerce portfolio, with added responsibilities in the technology direction and roadmaps for enterprise IT and enterprise architecture practices at Best Buy. He helped Best Buy adjust to the changing retail landscape through a digital strategy which enabled the company to keep its presence in an industry constantly threatened by the rise of online-based retail dominated by the likes of Amazon. While Amazon and Best Buy are generally perceived as rivals, the two companies recently announced a new partnership which will see a number of TV sets powered by Amazons Fire TV software to become available in Best Buy stores in the United States in the coming months, and in Canada before the end of the year.

Prior to joining Best Buy, he worked at T-Mobile as vice president of enterprise architecture, a position he held from January 2008 to August 2012 with responsibility in leading an organization of enterprise and product architects who work to layout the technology roadmap for the networking comprising 3G and 4G technologies and back-office systems including enterprise resource planning, SAP, customer lifecycle management, billing and customer care systems. Earlier in his stint at the Bonn, Germany-based mobile telecommunication company, Subramanian served as a senior director for technology strategy and enterprise architecture since September 1997 through January 2008, during which he led the companys efforts to execute its core data and network infrastructure strategy.
The United State Congress may circumvent President Trumps move to return Chinas phone maker ZTE back into business by effectively reversing his own reversal as part of a bipartisan effort, Republican Senator Marco Rubio suggested Sunday while speaking on CBSs Face the Nation. None of these companies should be operating in this country, the Florida representative said while referencing to Chinese technology companies. ZTE makes both smartphones and telecommunications equipment, having recently been targeted by two separate bills that are still making their way through both the House and Senate as part of a move to prevent any government agencies from purchasing ZTE and Huaweis solutions.

The lower congressional house already greenlit an anti-ZTE legislation amendment earlier this week in spite of President Trumps policy agenda, with the Senate now being expected to do the same. While the U.S. chief would traditionally have to sign such an act before it becomes law, the bipartisan opposition his attempt to provide ZTE with a lifeline is facing may be indicative of a supermajority vote overruling his right to veto any legislation being a realistic scenario. Senator Rubios Sunday TV appearance saw him once again assert ZTE and other Chinese telecom firms are used for espionage, a notion that the technology sector in the Far Eastern country has been denying for decades. While publicly traded, ZTE is majority-owned by the Peoples Republic of China.

ZTE is still affected by the Commerce Departments denial order from April that saw the company banned from purchasing any kind of American technologies over a seven-year period. Without access to a recent version of the Android operating system with Googles apps and Qualcomms Snapdragon chips, the company was forced to shut down its main operations while appealing the ruling that it reportedly estimates may cost it up to $3.1 billion, including a $1.3 billion fine it agreed to pay, as well as lost sales. Last months penalty was issued in response to ZTEs inability to adhere to the terms of a 2017 settlement over violations of American trade sanctions imposed on Iran and North Korea. The Commerce Department also accused ZTE of repeatedly lying to its investigators, whereas the Shenzhen-based firm claims its being treated unfairly as its latest regulatory failure wasnt an intentional act of defiance against Washington and was self-reported.
Forbes magazine has ranked Google and Samsung as the second and the seventh most valuable brands in the world for 2018, respectively. The publication determined the value of the brands using the brands average revenue and income within the last three years, assets associated with the brand, and the impact of each brand to an entire industry. Forbes determined Googles brand value at $132.1 billion, which is 30-percent higher compared to the estimated brand value of the Mountain Valley-based search giant of $101.8 billion last year and more than twice its brand value of $65.6 billion back in 2015. However, the search giants brand value is $50.7 billion lower compared to Apple, which the publication considers as the worlds most valuable brand. Forbes highlighted Googles search business, which has a global market share of more than 80-percent. This market share has been consistently maintained by the tech firm despite the continuing efforts of competitors like Yahoo, Baidu, and Bing.

Meanwhile, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer Samsung moved up from the 10th spot in 2017 to the seventh place this year. The estimated brand value of the device maker also increased from $38.2 billion last year to $47.6 billion in 2018, which translates to an increase of 25-percent year-on-year. The last time that the device maker reached the seventh spot was back in 2015, with a valuation of $37 billion, although the company slipped to the 11th place by 2016. Forbes magazine noted that even though Samsung sells considerably more smartphones than Apple across the globe, the South Korean device maker holds a significantly smaller share of overall smartphone industry profits, which significantly impacted Samsungs estimated brand value.

Forbes magazine further noted that the top five most valuable brands are all tech firms. The software giant Microsoft holds the third spot, with a brand value of $104.8 billion, while social media firm Facebook reached the fourth place this year with a valuation of $94.8 billion. Meanwhile, the fifth most valuable brand is the online retailer Amazon, which is worth $70.9 billion. Numerous tech firms also saw double-digit growth in brand value. The top brand value gainer is Netflix, which valuation went up by 35-percent, followed by Paypal, which brand value increased by 33-percent.
The upcoming Mi 8 Android flagship is set to dethrone the Mi MIX 2S as Xiaomis best camera smartphone to date, according to the latest teaser from the Chinese tech giant. The previous bezel-less phablet from the company has been rated as one of the worlds most capable mobile cameras by French imaging firm DxOMark, having been rated just below the Galaxy S9 Plus and Googles Pixel 2 series. Should the Mi 8 manage to improve on its predecessor, its likely to deliver performance on the level of the HTC U12 Plus, what the same source claims is currently the worlds second-best handset camera after the triple-lens setup found on the back of the Huawei P20 Pro.

While the successor to the Mi 6 was initially presumed to be advertised as the Mi 7, Xiaomi opted to market it as the Mi 8 Anniversary Edition so as to commemorate its eight full years in business, a milestone reached in early April. The device is set to be powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 845 chip and be among the worlds first handsets to offer support for Quick Charge 4.0, with its base model being expected to start at the equivalent of $440, thus seeking to compete with the most affordable high-end offerings on the market such as the recently released OnePlus 6.

Recent reports are pointing to the Mi 8 being the most value-oriented Android flagship launched in the first half of the year, with the handset presumably coming in the form of the last premium product Xiaomi will introduce during its startup phase. The firm recently filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong and is hoping to see its shares listed in the first half of July, targeting a valuation of between $70 billion and $80 billion as it seeks to raise approximately $10 billion in cash so as to continue fueling its growing ambitions in the consumer electronics segment and related fields. The Mi 8 will be announced on Thursday, May 31.
Xiaomis upcoming flagship leaked yet again earlier today, with an image of an apparent Mi 8 promotional poster being shared via one MIUI-centric Telegram channel. A cropped version of the photograph seen above gives more credence to previous sightings and reports, essentially all of which indicate the device in question will be equipped with a 3D camera embedded into a display notch, with its panel cutout hence being much larger compared to what other contemporary Android smartphones with asymmetrical screens and less imaging capabilities have.

A dual-camera setup is also depicted as being included, featuring two vertically arranged sensors situated in the top left corner of the Mi 8s rear plate, with the overall look of the product being reminiscent of Apples iPhone X. While the device still features a chin, it lacks a physical Home button and its fingerprint reader is embedded approximately a third of the way down the center of its back, as per the same leak. The newly sighted poster shows a metallic blue version of the phablet, though Xiaomi is expected to launch its next premium offering in at least several colors.

While the handset is directly succeeding last years Mi 6, the company is skipping the number seven so as to celebrate its eight full years of operations, a milestone it reached in early April. The flagship will hence be officially advertised as the Mi 8 Anniversary Edition, as suggested by a number of previous reports. The inclusion of a depth-sensing camera should allow for faster and more accurate (i.e. secure) authentication than what more traditional facial recognition solutions allow on mobile devices. The same hardware will also enable Xiaomis own take on Apples Animoji and Samsungs AR Emoji, as indicated by a teaser shared by the firm earlier today. The Mi 8 will be the manufacturers final premium product release in its startup phase as Xiaomi is expected to become a publicly traded company by mid-July, having already filed for an IPO in Hong Kong earlier this spring, targeting a valuation of up to $80 billion and seeking to raise at least $10 billion in cash, as per recent reports and regulatory disclosures.
Xiaomis Senior Vice President, Wang Xiang, has confirmed that the Mi Band 3 fitness tracker will be announced on May 31, along with the Xiaomi Mi 8 and MIUI 10. Mr. Xiang has shared this info via his official Twitter page, he flat out confirmed it in the post, along with posting an image which has a huge number 3 on it. The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 has been teased by the company recently via an image, while a number of reports suggested that it will be announced along with the Mi 8 and MIUI 10 on May 31, but we did not have an official confirmation until now.

Xiaomi had confirmed a while back that its flagship event will be hosted in Shenzhen on May 31, while Xiaomi confirmed that the Mi 8 and MIUI 10 will be launching during it, and now the Mi Band 3s arrival has been confirmed as well. It remains to be seen if any additional products will arrive at that event. The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 will be a direct successor to the Mi Band 2 fitness tracker which was announced way back in June 2016. The Mi Band 3 will be fourth Mi Band-branded fitness tracker, as Xiaomi introduced the Mi Band 1S in addition to the Mi Band and Mi Band 2. The Mi Band 3 will be a bit curvier than the Mi Band 2, but it will also sport a display, and a rubber band, based on the companys official teaser. The devices manual also leaked recently, and if that info is to be believed, it will sport a touch-sensitive display, and gesture navigation. The Mi Band 3 probably wont ship with a separate physical or capacitive button, but well see.

Xiaomis upcoming fitness tracker is expected to be incredibly affordable yet again, as the previous Mi Band devices were a bargain since they launched. It remains to be seen if the Mi Band 3 will sport a color display, or will it step in Mi Band 2s footsteps and ditch the color display in order to preserve battery life, the latter option is more likely, though. The Xiaomi Mi 8 will be the companys new flagship smartphone, it will be made out of metal and glass, and it will support wireless charging. The phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 845, and it is expected to ship with 3D facial scanning, similar to the one on the iPhone X. MIUI 10 will probably come pre-installed on the Mi 8, though we dont really have all that much info about Xiaomis all-new skin, next to none, actually, so well just have to wait and see what exactly will Xiaomi announce.
By Dezan Shira & Associates

Myanmars union government has increased the countrys daily minimum wage for an eight-hour work day from Kyat 3,600 (US$2.65) to Kyat 4,800 (US$3.54). The revised wage, which came into effect from 14 May will apply to all businesses with 10 or more employees irrespective of the location or type of work.

RELATED: Payroll and Human Resources Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Myanmars National Committee for Designating Minimum Wages first proposed the pay rise on January 2, 2018 but had to postpone formal announcement to allow a nationwide public debate between employers, workers and representatives of the union government. Workers organizations had initially stated that the rise is too low in the face of rising living costs in the country while employers had complained that the wage increase will raise their operating costs and will affect the countrys labor-intensive export-oriented industries such as garment manufacturing and food processing. While workers representatives demanded an increase to Kyat 5,600 (US$4.13), employers requested that the minimum wage be fixed at Kyat 4,000 (US$2.95).

The wage increase is the first since Myanmar introduced a minimum wage in 2015 as part of the governments labor market reforms. While Myanmar has not yet ratified the International Labour Organisations (ILOs) Minimum Wage Convention 131, the countrys Minimum Wage Law is believed to meet most of its requirements. Most significantly, the minimum wage is set through tripartite social discussions between employers associations, workers organizations and government representatives. Although Myanmar has one of the lowest wages in the region, the ILO has stated that the introduction of the minimum wage in Myanmar is producing some positive results in terms of reducing poverty and inequality.
COP26 may be a cop-out in the making COP26 is just about a month away. Delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference has built up even more expectations and momentum during the intervening months
How To Know When It's Time To Change Jobs

If You Recognize Any Of These Signs, It's Time To Look For A New Job

In college, I dreamed of working at a magazine. Specifically, my goal was to become an editor at a major mens print magazine. That wasnt a short- or even mid-term goal; it was the goal  in life.

While working towards my journalism degree, I was able to land a couple of internships, and by the time I was no more than two years out of school I was employed full-time as an editor at one of the most recognizable mens magazine brands in the world. Two years later, I was overseeing editors I had once interned under. And as recently as six months ago I was sitting comfortably near the top of the masthead of what is now and has long been the worlds largest mens magazine brand. (If youre wondering which one, its the first one that came to your mind.)

Im not saying this to brag. I dont work there anymore. In fact, as of earlier this year, Im not even an editor  or employed, for that matter (at least, by someone else).

Im telling you this story because I identified so closely with my dream job  I let it become such a part of my DNA  that the mere suggestion of doing anything else was offensive to me. I worked my ass off to get there, and I had documented every caffeine-powered step of the steep climb to my goal on social media for all to double-tap.

But then one day I realized  thanks to a series of poignant observations relating to my workplace, my trajectory, and, frankly, my industry  that what I really wanted to do with my career had nothing to do with sitting at a desk and telling men how to live their best lives. (The irony is not lost on me as I sit here writing this.)

I may have known all along, but pride has a strange way of pulling the wool over our eyes  and, man, did that cashmere feel good on my perfectly moisturized face. (Lifestyle magazine editors get to sample tons of cool shit, including but not limited to expensive face creams. One was made from an actual meteorite!)

Fast-forward to the present day. After engaging in some honest soul searching, involving taking stock of the qualities I truly wanted in a job and then imagining various configurations of those elements until one looked just right (and literally thinking back to what made me happy as a child, when I had no concept of work), I decided to start my own business  a boutique public relations firm dedicated to promoting high-quality brands in the fitness, wellness, and lifestyle space.

Ill spare you all the nuances of the current state of mainstream media that ultimately helped lead me to this conclusion, because they might just bore you to death. The point is that I took a step back from what I realized I didnt really want in order to create and step into something I truly did  something that got me excited to get out of bed in the morning and bummed me out to walk away from at the end of each day.

I still do some writing, obviously, but only because I enjoy it. Now I view writing more as a hobby than a job. And if Im being honest, the words have never flowed so freely.

(At this point, Id like to direct your attention to the irony meter, which as you can see is spewing steam as the needle nears Alanis Morissette levels.)

So, how did I know it was time to make a drastic change? Well, the truth is I probably (definitely) cant share all of those details. But if I had a nickel for every time I identified a similar factor in a friend or colleague, Id have a sh*tload of nickels. So here are some of those nickels  a couple of ways to know it might be time to get out of your current job, whether that means finding a new one or creating one all your own.

These observations are short and to the point, because at the end of the day this should actually be the easiest decision of your life. You already know the answer, and you dont need me to convince you that youre unhappy at work. Im simply pointing a couple of things out.

Playing Candy Crush while taking a sh*t should not be a highlight of your workday. Theres a better app for that, and its called LinkedIN. If you frequently find yourself thinking about how youre bringing in thousands of dollars for your company (far more than your salary), you more than likely resent your employer. This doesnt get better, only worse. The sound of your alarm clock should not trigger suicidal thoughts. It should excite you. And if youre a baby-boomer or older reading this and saying, shut up, stupid millennial, work is work, I decline to respond out of sheer sadness that you have squandered years of potential happiness, likely due to fear. Your boss seems to hold a personal grudge against you and you honestly have no idea why. Ok, fine, you have a suspicion why, but its so petty that you choose to not know why. That wont go away unless they do (Im talking about them quitting or being fired; Jesus, dont get carried away!). Unless you absolutely love your job and your boss is the only factor giving you second thoughts, its time to bail. You legitimately look forward to the sound of Scott Rogowskys voice. Your next big purchase relies heavily on your upcoming severance, yet there is currently no indication that you will or even might in fact be fired. All your friends and acquaintances cant stop telling you about how youre killing it! at work, and based on objective KPIs you know that theyre right, yet your superior refuses to validate clear wins. Theres a more than 50% chance that in the next five years you will lose your job to a machine. Despite your best efforts to demonstrate your competence, your boss continues to speak to you in a condescending pedagogical manner, revealing that they truly do not appreciate or even understand your value. You truly believe that you have the means  whether its a specific strategy or even just a fiery, inextinguishable passion  to make the world a better place, be it socially, politically, or environmentally, but your current employment situation presents no avenues to allow you to do so. You have the power to make an impact, and its needed now more than ever. You read this far.

Id just like to end with one final thought  a pre-emptive response to an inevitable retort. You could argue that a couple of the items listed above could be neutralized via an honest but discreet conversation with your companys HR department. That would be nice, wouldnt it? Well, I could argue that your companys HR person is more depressed than you are (despite the inherent thrills of their occupation) and in fact has zero motivation to see your happiness level surpass theirs. Id also like to remind you who pays your HR departments salaries.

Sure, thats pretty sardonic. And maybe Im wrong. But, deep down, do you really want to wait around and find out?

I didnt, and you dont have to either.
This is an exciting and challenging time for the energy sector. As a truly global industry, projects continue to go up and investments are made in all corners of the globe. I look forward to working with colleagues in our stellar global team who are well placed to advise clients, wherever they happen to be and wherever they are looking to invest, said Paris-based Lapierre.

National firms advise on LifeHealthcare deal

Lawyers from Gilbert + Tobin and Allens have advised on a AU$211 million deal involving publicly-listed medical device firm LifeHealthcare Group.

G+T advised LifeHealthcare scheme of arrangement with private equity heavyweight, Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), which was implemented last week.

Corporate Advisory partners John Williamson-Noble and Tim Gordon led the team, supported by Litigation partner Crispian Lynch, as well as lawyers Chris Morse, Jenny Leung, Will Ma, Alexandra Whitby, Joshua Ehrenfeld and Carla Corben.

Allens advised PEP in relation to the acquisition by Pacific Health Supplies Bidco Pty Limited, an entity owned by funds managed or advised by PEP.
A modified Boeing 747 operated by the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command will make its first-ever visit to EAA AirVenture this July, EAA has announced. The aircraft, designated an E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post, is designed for use by the National Command Authority, which comprises the president and the secretary of defense. A lot of people dont know about this plane, said Lt. Col. Mike Brazelton, aircraft commander. In fact, when I applied to come here, I didnt even know about it. For the public to see something like this at an airshow, I think, is pretty awesome. The USAF operates four E-4B aircraft, and at least one of them is on alert at all times.

If ground command and control centers were destroyed, the aircraft would provide a highly survivable command, control and communications center for up to 112 people, to direct U.S. forces [and] execute emergency war orders, according to the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is capable of inflight refueling and is shielded against nuclear and thermal effects. The E-4B also provides travel support for trips outside of the U.S. for the secretary of defense and his staff. The airplane is scheduled to fly three passes above the crowd. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski confirmed to AVweb on Tuesday that as far as he knows, there is no plan for a static dispay: Fly-bys only.
The United Nations has warned that almost two million people in Afghanistan are at risk of severe food shortages thanks to drought across two-thirds of the country, the New York Times reports.

The big picture: The U.N. reported that  in the 20 provinces most directly impacted by the drought  almost 15 million people "rely on farming, livestock or [labor] opportunities in agriculture." The U.N. is trying to collect at least $115 million to give assistance to the 1.4 million people considered most vulnerable, on top of an earlier request of $430 million for humanitarian aid. But, per the NYT, only 28% of the original request has been filled.
The worlds most powerful woman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, went to meet the worlds most powerful man, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday.

Why it matters: The trip comes as a deepening estrangement between Europe and the U.S. is reshaping Germanys choices and challenges on the world stage. Only 14% of Germans think the U.S. is a reliable partner these days, according to a recent poll. More than 40%, meanwhile, now see China in a positive light.

Germany and China find themselves in the same boat on a number of important issues.

Trade is one. As two of the worlds leading exporters, China and Germany run huge surpluses with the U.S., which means both are now in the crosshairs of the Trump administrations zero-sum trade policies. The White House has already singled out key national industriesautos in Germany, advanced technology in Chinafor possible tariffs.

As two of the worlds leading exporters, China and Germany run huge surpluses with the U.S., which means both are now in the crosshairs of the Trump administrations zero-sum trade policies. The White House has already singled out key national industriesautos in Germany, advanced technology in Chinafor possible tariffs. Merkel and Xi also agree that Trumps walkout on the Iran deal was an impetuous and dangerous move. They will try to forge a path forward that preserves the deal, even in the face of new US sanctions.

But Merkel also has a huge bone to pick with Xi about Chinas tech and industrial policies, which discriminate against foreign companies, and about Beijings siphoning of advanced technologies through investment in European firms.

After all, China is an emerging competitor in markets for high-value industrial goods that German has dominated for decades.

China is an emerging competitor in markets for high-value industrial goods that German has dominated for decades. The irony is that the Trump administration is also upset with China about these same issues, but has chosen to take up a trade fight with its European allies rather than work with them to pressure China together.

The bottom line: This leaves Merkel  who just weeks ago called for a new and more assertive European foreign policy  in the extraordinary position of having to find common ground with a rising competitor, because of the lack of common cause with a traditional ally.

Sign up for Signal, a twice-weekly newsletter from GZERO Media, a Eurasia Group company.
Right-wing politician Ivan Duque won the first-round of Colombias presidential election on Sunday, setting up a runoff next month against Gustavo Petro, a leftist from the former guerrilla group FARC, per AP.

Why it matters: This is the first election as the country continues to implement the historic peace accord signed in 2016 with the rebel group. The third-most populous country in Latin American has long been ridden with corruption and inequality  and, recently, has been seeing an influx of migrants escaping from the economic crisis next door in Venezuela.

By the numbers: More than 18.5 million people reportedly cast ballots, the highest turnout in two decades.

The candidates: Duque is chosen candidate of Alvaro Uribe, the country's former president. He's a staunch critic of FARC and the peace deal with the group, per the AP. He plans to change the terms of the agreement, including imprisoning former rebels for war crimes and blocking them from political office.

Petro has galvanized support among young voters infuriated over the country's inequality and sluggish economy. He's running on a populist, anti-establishment platform to overhaul the country's economic policy, hoping to redistribute wealth.

Go deeper: The grim mood in Colombia.
The Polish government has offered to pay the United States up to $2 billion to build a permanent military base in the country, reports Politico Europe, citing a defense ministry proposal obtained by Polish news portal Onet.

Why it matters: The move would be seen in Europe as an attempted Polish check against Russia, which could exacerbate tensions on the continent. And it's worth noting that President Trump gave a well-received speech in Warsaw last year, where he said that he would hold up Poland "as an example for others who seek freedom and who wish to summon the courage and the will to defend our civilization."
There could be more talks and summits between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Moon said on Monday according to Reuters, as U.S. officials prepare for a possible summit between Kim and President Trump.

Key quote: Moon told senior secretaries that the most important part about the meeting with the Korean leaders was that they "easily got in contact, easily made an appointment and easily met to discuss urgent matters, without complicated procedures and formalities, just like a casual meeting."
Armenia marked on Monday the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the countrys first independent republic that followed centuries of foreign rule.

The short-lived republic was officially set up on March 28, 1918 as Armenian army and militia units prevented Ottoman forces from occupying Yerevan and the rest of modern-day Armenia.

The decisive battle was fought from May 22-29, 1918 around Sardarapat, a village about 50 kilometers west of Yerevan. Turkish forces were defeated there and pushed back from the capital of what was the first sovereign Armenian state in more than four centuries.

A war memorial built near Sardarapat in the late 1960s was therefore the scene of the main official ceremonies to mark the independence centenary. Hundreds of soldiers, some of them clad in First World War-era uniforms, as well as gray-haired veterans of the 1991-19914 war with Azerbaijan marched there in a military parade watched by President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

The parade also featured tributes to hundreds of thousands of Armenians who fought, mostly as Soviet Red Army soldiers, against Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Troops from the Russian military base in Armenia also participated in it.

For the first time in their history, the Armenian people were citizens, rather than subjects, masters, rather than servants, and that was a fateful turnaround, Pashinian said in a speech that preceded the parade.

Pashinian noted that the military victory at Sardarapat was achieved only three years after the beginning of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey which put the Armenian nation on the verge of extinction.

From the standpoint of pragmatism and rational calculation, the Armenian people stood no chance to win, he said. But we won because we realized that our essence is not to be herded to deserts and massacred  The Armenian people won because for the first time in 400 years they pinned their hopes on themselves, rather than others.

The first Republic of Armenian was governed by leading members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) throughout its two-and-a-half-year existence. Its last government was forced to hand over power to representatives of Bolshevik Russia in December 1920 nearly three months after another Turkish invasion of Armenia.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern-day Turkey, was supported by Soviet Russia at the time. By contrast, the first Armenian republic was allied to Britain and other Triple Entente powers.

Only thanks to the existence of the First Republic was Armenia incorporated into the Soviet Union as a full-fledged union republic, said Pashinian. And only thanks to this status did Armenia manage to secede from the Soviet Union without upheavals and to gain the status of an internationally recognized independent country.
Three senior executives of a customs brokerage firm reportedly linked to the former head of Armenias tax and customs services have been arrested as part of a crackdown on corruption announced by the National Security Service (NSS).

The NSS accused the private firm, Norfolk Consulting, of failing to pay millions of dollars in taxes and customs duties after raiding its offices, searching other premises, and announcing the arrests late last week. It claimed to have confiscated $500,000 in cash from the home of the company director, Armen Unanian.

An NSS statement said that Norfolk Consulting was set up in June last year and quickly gained de facto exclusive rights to process commercial cargo shipments from China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. It said nine other customs brokerage firms handling those imports until then were effectively driven out of business because of a special privileged status enjoyed by Norfolk with the help of senior officials from the State Revenue Committee (SRC).

The NSS charged that Norfolk may have since earned $7 million in illegal revenue by helping importers evade or underpay taxes. The precise damage inflicted on the state will be ascertained as a result of an ongoing examination of the companys books, it said.

Unanian as well as the companys chief accountants, Tigran Zohrabian and Simon Arakelian, were formally charged and remanded in pre-trial custody on Monday. Marine Mkrtchian, a Norfolk cashier also detained on Friday, was released from custody pending in investigation.

It was not immediately clear whether Unanian, 51, will plead guilty to the fraud accusations levelled against him. The lawyer for the two other arrested suspects said that they both deny helping importers evade taxes.

We believe that the accusations are completely unfounded, the lawyer, Armen Andrikian, told RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

According to the NSS statement, two former deputy heads of the SRC have been questioned as witnesses in the investigation. It said nothing about Vartan Harutiunian, who ran the tax collection agency until last week.

A figure close to former Prime Minister Karen Karapetian, Harutiunian managed the Gazprom-Armenia national gas distribution network before being appointed as head of the SRC in October 2016. Unanian, the arrested Norfolk director, is Gazprom-Armenias former chief accountant.

The Armenian customs service has long been regarded as one of the countrys most corrupt government agencies. Harutiunian pledged to reform it after taking office. The SRC reported last year a sharp rise in customs duties and other import taxes collected by it.

The high-profile arrests came a week after the new head of the NSS, Artur Vanetsian, said that many individuals who have long enriched themselves through large-scale corruption schemes will be held accountable soon. The NSS will strive to ensure that they compensate the state for public funds embezzled by them, he said.

Vanetsian on Monday promised more corruption revelations in the coming days. All corrupt officials will be punished, he told reporters.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, who named Vanetsian to run the powerful security agency, has repeatedly pledged to root out government corruption in Armenia since he swept to power on May 8 after weeks of massive anti-government protests led by him.
The United States stands ready to help Armenias new government combat corruption and attract more U.S. investments in the Armenian economy, a senior U.S. State Department official said during a visit to Yerevan on Monday.

Bridget Brink, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European affairs, met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for the first time since he swept to power in a democratic revolution earlier this month. She also held separate talks with President Armen Sarkissian and Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian.

She welcomed the Prime Ministers stated commitment to fight corruption and offered continued U.S. support for anti-corruption efforts, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan said in a statement.

According to the statement, Brink told Mnatsakanian that Washington is committed to working with the new government to strengthen bilateral ties and attract additional U.S. investment. She pointed to the U.S.-Armenia Task Force (USATF) as an opportunity to make real progress in advancing mutual goals, added the statement.

Pashinian was reported to tell the visiting U.S. official that his government would like to deepen Armenias ties with the U.S. in all areas, including the political and economic ones, democracy building and human rights protection.He reiterated that the fight against corruption is one of its top priorities.

The unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also on the agenda of Brinks talks in Yerevan. The U.S. Embassy cited her as saying that Washington will remain actively engaged with the sides in seeking a peaceful solution to the dispute.

Pashinians press office said the Armenian premier stressed in that regard the importance of creating and strengthening an atmosphere aimed at peace. It gave no details.

The U.S. diplomat also met with a group of local youth activists. I am heartened by the spirit of the Armenian people, and especially encouraged by you  the young leaders of Armenia  who have shown such passion and dedication to building a bright future for your country, she said, apparently alluding to their active participation in recent mass protests in the country.

Washington closely monitored the dramatic events that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian. The State Department repeatedly urged Armenia political factions to embark on dialogue. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell had phone conversations with Pashinian and then Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on April 30.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for the expansion of Frances cordial relationship with Armenia on Monday during a visit to Yerevan timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the first Armenian republic.

Le Drian emphasized the fact that he is the first high-level foreign official to visit the South Caucasus state since the recent dramatic change of its government.

Armenia is at a turning point in its history, he said after talks with his new Armenian counterpart, Zohrab Mnatsakanian. We welcome the responsibility shown by political forces and the Armenia people [during the political crisis,] which allowed the election of a new prime minister [on May 8.]

I am very proud of being the first high-ranking foreign official to visit new Armenia and meet its new leaders, he told a joint news briefing with Mnatsakanian. France will continue to stand with Armenia and help it to build democracy.

Le Drian, who met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian later in the day, also reaffirmed Frances strong support for Armenias efforts to forge closer links with the European Union. He stressed the significance of a wide-ranging agreement which the previous Armenian government signed with the EU last November.

Mnatsakanian also emphasized the privileged character of French-Armenian relations. He said he and Le Drian held a productive discussion on bilateral ties and regional security.

Those ties stem in large measure from the existence of an influential Armenian community in France. Yerevan will underline them when it hosts in October a summit of Francophonie, a grouping of over 70 mainly French-speaking nations.

Preparations for the summit were also high on the agenda of Le Drians talks in Yerevan. The minister reaffirmed that French President Emmanuel Macrons plans to travel to Armenia in October on a state visit that will be followed by his participation in the Francophonie summit.

With France co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group together with Russia and the United States, the two ministers also discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Le Drian called for renewed efforts at a negotiated solution to the conflict, saying that both the status quo and the use of force are not acceptable.

We reaffirm Armenias commitment to a solely peaceful resolution of the Karabakh problem, Mnatsakanian said for his part. My colleague and I agreed that an atmosphere conducive to peace is important for the success of the process.
By Sara Israfilbayova

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev discussed prospects of expanding cooperation in the sphere of high-quality aviation fuel supply and its possible production in Ukraine.

The parties discussed the Turkish projects of the company, the involvement of Ukraine in them and the prospects for the further development of the oil refining complex of the Ukrainian state.

The SOCAR President said that next year, after the end of the strategic projects in Turkey, cooperation with Ukraine will become one of the priorities, adding that for 10 years of work in Ukraine only now there are good conditions for business.

Petro Poroshenko, in turn, pointed to the strategic nature of cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

I believe that we should take full advantage of the opportunities for development and deepening cooperation, including in the energy sector, he said, stressing the importance of using this potential for diversifying energy supply to Ukraine.

The sides also discussed the possibility of expanding cooperation in the supply of high-quality aviation fuel and its possible production in Ukraine due to a sharp increase in passenger traffic in Ukrainian airports, in particular in Boryspil, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odessa and other Ukrainian cities.

Earlier, SOCAR Energy Ukraine told Azernews that it plans to launch five new facilities in Ukraine in 2018.

SOCARs retail network includes 59 refueling complexes and two oil loading bunkers located in nine regions of Ukraine.

SOCAR entered the Ukrainian market back in 2009. The main activity of SOCAR Energy Ukraine is to improve the network of petrol filling stations and organize wholesale of petrol and oil products in the territory of Ukraine.

Azerbaijan is considered one of the main trade partners of Ukraine among the CIS countries.

Main goods imported from Ukraine to Azerbaijan remains as mainly metallurgy products, machine building products, agro-industrial products, and chemical industry products. While main goods exported from Azerbaijan to Ukraine are generally products of fuel energy industry, chemical industry products, and agro-industrial products.

The trade turnover between the states amounted to $810 million in 2017.

---

Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
 :     ,      ,      

 ,   ,           .



: - , ,  ,  - ?

 :          ,      `70-  `92 . -        - ,     . ,  -   .       ,    .

:          ?

 :  ,         ,      .     ,   ,  50%,      -  ,     ,       .          -   .    ,      ,    ,        ,          .   ,       `89- .  `89-               , .             -      .       ,   .       .

:  ,      , ,   ?   ?

 :     .       ,         ,         .       ,     .     ,     ,  `90-           ,    ,     ,   .   ,  `89-            .

:           ?

 :         ,    -      .         `49- ,        .    `90-     .      ,   -  -.         ,  ,   .        .       ,   ,  ,    ,     -.        ,       ,       ,  `89- .

:         ,   , ?

 :   .      . ,        ,   .     , ,  ,  ,     10   ,       ,     .

         ,       ,  ,       ,   .   ,          ,      ,                     .

:      ?

 :    ,       ,     ,      ,    40%  .       .      ,          .          ,     ,         `89- ,      ,            . ,       ,        -  -,        ?     ,         ,      ,   ,   -  ,     ,        ,          .           .

:            ?

 :     .   ,          ,          .    ,         .     ,      ,      ,       ,      -     .

       ,        .     ,     `92- .     -         .       ,       -    ,      -,        .

 
By Sara Israfilbayova

During January-April, 600,735 tons of fruit and vegetable products of various assortments were imported into Azerbaijan.

The State Phytosanitary Control Service reported that among the agricultural products imported from Azerbaijan are mainly apples, pears, pineapples, peanuts, almonds, bananas, nuts, kiwi, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, beans, and cabbage.

Apples, pears, pineapples, peanuts, almonds, bananas, nuts, kiwi, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, beans, cabbage are imported into the country from Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia.

The main countries supplying agricultural products to Azerbaijan during the reporting period were Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The Service noted that in the first quarter of 2018, during the examination of samples of agricultural products, mainly sown materials, 57 pests were found.

During this period, chemical substances that threatened human life and health were also found. As a result, 53,623 kilograms of fruit and vegetable products were withdrawn from sale and destroyed.

In total, in 2017 legal entities and individuals of Azerbaijan carried out trade operations with their partners in 187 countries, products exported to 116 countries and imported from 179 countries.

---

Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition "Heritage. Azerbaijan Democratic Republic-100 " opened in the National Art Museum on May 25.

At the opening ceremony, First Deputy Minister of Culture Vahif Aliyev, Chairman of the Artists, Union, People's Artist Farhad Khalilov and others noted that the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR) is a glorious page of national and world history.

The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was proclaimed on May 28, 1918 and became the first Democratic Republic in the East and the first secular democratic state of the Islamic world.

At the same time, Azerbaijan was the first Muslim state to grant women the vote.

It was stressed that for 100 years the creative work of such great artists as Azim Azimzade, Mikayil Abdullayev, Boyukaga Mirzazade, Togrul Narimanbayov, Sattar Bahlulzadeh, Maral Rahmanzadeh, Khalid Safarova, Javad Mirjavadov, Fuad Abdurrahmanov, Jalal Garyagdi, Tahir Salahov, as well as sculptors Omar Eldarov, Fazil Najafov glorified Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic, propaganda of the idea of independence, freedom, democratic values, national ideology have always occupied a special place in the work of artists.

Further, the participants of the event viewed the exhibition.

The exposition features works of art selected from the funds of the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan State Art Gallery and personal collections of artists in particular, archive photos and documents reflecting the history of the Democratic Republic, Trend Life reported.

Moreover, banknotes and postcards of 1919-1920 from personal collection of renowned lawyer Rashid Rzayev are also shown.

Portraits of the members of the National Council who adopted the Declaration of Independence, photographs of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and commanders, the Caucasian Islamic Army, which freed the country from the Russian imperialist and Dashnak aggressors are put on displayed.

A special place among the exhibits is occupied by the maps of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The exposition also showcases photographs of the Bolshevik 11th Red Army which occupied Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on April 28, 1920.

"Heritage. Azerbaijan Democratic Republic-100" exhibition will be open until May 30.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Laman Ismayilova

Unique dishes of the ancient and rich national cuisine have been included in the new edition "The Legend about Azerbaijani cuisine".

The President of the National Cooking Association, the head of the National Culinary Center, the Honored Worker of Culture of Azerbaijan, the Chevalier of the Shohrat Order Tahir Amiraslanov presented the book and held an autograph session in Kharkiv, Trend Life reported.

The book was presented in the framework of the solemn evening in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, organized by Kharkiv regional society of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian friendship "Dostlug".

The translation of the book into Ukrainian was also carried out by the "Dostlug" society.

The main goal of the project is the preservation of the centuries-old national and cultural traditions of the Azerbaijani people, the rapprochement of two cultures - Ukrainian and Azerbaijani, and the enrichment of Ukrainian national cuisine.

Guests were also presented a new book by Tahir Amiraslanov "Kitchen of Love".

Chairman of the Dostlug Society, Merited Scientist of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Murad Omarov, said that on May 28, 1918 the first parliamentary republic was established in the Muslim East - Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR).

ADR is the first secular democratic state in the Islamic world, as well as the first Muslim state where women received electoral rights. The measures implemented in the field of state construction, the creation of the National Army of Azerbaijan, the announcement of the Azerbaijani language as a state language, establishment of the national anthem, flag and coat of arms have opened a new glorious page in the history of Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately, on April 28, 1920 ADR for a number of reasons ceased to exist. In 1991, after the restoration of its independence, the Azerbaijani people, following the ADR ideals, created a new independent state, developing and successful in all spheres of life.

A special attention was paid to the role of the Azerbaijani diaspora for strengthening the image of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the international arena. The reports on the history of the creation, development and historical significance of ADR were made by scientists of the Kharkiv National University named after V.N. Karazin.

Representatives of the Kharkiv regional state administration and the Kharkiv city council, heads of higher educational institutions of Kharkiv, representatives of the clergy of various religious confessions, heads of national-cultural associations of Azerbaijanis of Kiev, Dnipro, Kharkiv, youth and students came to congratulate the Azerbaijanis.

In conclusion, a banquet was held, featuring national dishes and drinks.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

In the complex military and political situation that developed both inside and around the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918-1920 against the background of acute geopolitical rivalry between the great powers in the entire Transcaucasus-Caspian region, the primary task facing the Cabinet of Ministers was the development and implementation of a set of important practical measures to ensure the countrys national security, head of Israel-based NGO International Projects for Society, political analyst Arye Gut, said in his article published in the Jerusalem Post.

The national security concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan found its clearest expression in the declarations of the third, fourth and fifth Cabinet of Ministers read out from the parliamentary rostrum on 26 December 1918, 14 April and 22 December 1919.

Gut noted that in the cause of strengthening the countrys international position the government pinned great hopes on the forthcoming participation of the Azerbaijani delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, where it was necessary to enlist the support of free America, democratic Britain and republican France, which favored Azerbaijans independence, and to secure its recognition by the world community.

The first address to the citizens of the country already declared that both representatives of national minorities and representatives of the counties of the state are invited to the parliament convened in the city of Baku on 3 December. Therefore, they should be encouraged by greater tolerance, carry a greater burden and be ready for self-sacrifice, said Gut.

He pointed out that relatively few people outside the Azerbaijan or Jewish comminities know about the remarkable role that the Jewish community has played in Azerbaijan.

For example, a Minister of Health in the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was Jewish  Dr. Yevsey Gindes. The Director of the Central Bank in the ADR was Mark Mihailovich Aberguz, Jewish. It was fantastic that two representatives of Jewish community have been ministers in the first Azerbaijan government.

Due to the atrocities of Armenian gangs in Karabakh and other regions of the country, Azerbaijan newspaper published the following: The Jewish National Committee filed a petition with the governor of Baku for cars for free transportation of refugees  Guba Jews. Mr. Governor sympathetically treated the petition and following the measures he adopted, 27 carriages have been granted to send refugees to Khachmaz. In total, about 1,100 refugees were sent.

At present time, the picture of the events of those years was restored and previously unknown facts about the mass massacre of the Jewish population in the city of Guba were unearthed, said the article.

Synagogue archives have been opened and numerous testimonies of relatives of the victims were collected. A place of mass executions of Jews by Armenian gangs of Amazasp was the Shimi depression: people were delivered there in batches and tortured - women and children were raped and old people and teenagers had their noses and ears cut off. Then they were killed. At that time, according to documents and eyewitnesses, up to 3,000 Jews were killed by Dashnak gangs together with 50.000 Azerbaijanis, Gut added.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Sara Israfilbayova

World oil prices fell on Monday within 2.5 percent, continuing to win back news of a possible softening of the terms of the OPEC + deal and U.S. statistics on drilling rigs.

Brent futures fell by 1.74 percent, to $75.14 a barrel, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures eased by 2.45 percent, to $66.22 a barrel, RIA Novosti reported.



Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on May 25 that a gradual increase in oil production under the OPEC+ agreement could begin in the third quarter of this year, if such a decision is adopted. Later, Novak added that the countries of the deal would work out options for mitigating production restrictions within a month, while one of the options is to reach the production levels that were at the signing of the agreement.

The cost of oil is also facilitated by data on the dynamics of the number of drilling rigs in the United States. According to the U.S. oil and gas service company Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE), for the week ended on May 25, the number of drilling rigs in the U.S. increased by 13, or 1.2 percent - to 1,059. In annual terms, the number of drilling rigs increased by 151, or 1.2 times. The number of oil drilling rigs increased by 15 pieces, or 1.8 percent, to 859 units per week, while gas production fell by two, or by 1 percent, to 198 units.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached an agreement in December 2016 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from January 1.

Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce output by 558,000 barrels per day starting from January 1, 2017.

OPEC and its partners decided to extend its production cuts till the end of 2018 in Vienna on November 30, as the oil cartel and its allies step up their attempt to end a three-year supply glut that has savaged crude prices and the global energy industry.

---

Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

Turkey can buy Russian Su-57 jets in case if US blocks supplies of F-35 fighters, Yeni Safak newspaper reports May 27.

"Ankara does not intend to give up the right to airplanes, which it should receive in June. The option of buying Russian "Su" is being discussed", the newspaper says.

---
By Kamila Aliyeva

Tajikistan and Kazakhstan discussed a joint project of the roadmap related to the increase in bilateral trade between the states, the press service of the Tajik Ministry of Economic Development reported.

The two Central Asian nations aim to bring bilateral trade to the level of $2 billion. The meeting of Tajik First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavka Zavkizoda and Kazakh Deputy Minister of National Economy Dana Zhunusov was held on the margins of the Economic Forum in Astana.

The parties expressed their satisfaction with the expansion of economic and trade cooperation and discussed a joint project of the roadmap that provides concrete measures to increase trade turnover, create joint industrial enterprises and attract investment in the economy.

In addition, the parties signed the protocol and agreed that the draft of this document will be strengthened on the recommendations of the relevant ministries and departments of both states and will be submitted for ratification to the Co-Chairs of the intergovernmental Commission of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on the development of economic relations.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, while speaking on the results of the official visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Astana, stated that Kazakhstan and Tajikistan intend to increase trade turnover up to $2 billion.

Tajikistan is an important strategic ally, a partner of Kazakhstan. A high level of mutual relations has been achieved between the countries, a constructive dialogue is underway. Within the framework of the visit, an exchange of views took place on the whole range of issues. Particular attention was paid to trade and economic cooperation. The volume of mutual trade is $80 million and increased by 30 percent over the year. In the conditions of volatility of the world economy this is a very good result, Nazarbayev said.

The volume of the Tajik-Kazakh trade turnover in the first quarter of this year amounted to $204 million. The main products exported by Kazakhstan to Tajikistan are grain, flour, sunflower oil, construction materials and paints, oil gases and gaseous hydrocarbons, petroleum products. The list of exported products from Tajikistan includes vegetables, fruits, ores and concentrates of lead, zinc, and copper.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Several developments are on track for the Shackleton Barracks site

Part of the former home of Shackleton Barracks could be converted into a multi-million pound data centre development, it can be revealed.

Newry-based OCallaghan Planning has reportedly submitted plans for a 25,000 sq m building which, if approved, will see the demolition of existing structures on the site.

A public information event, outlining the plans, will take place on July 5 at the site.

Newry firm, MJM Group, bought the 621-acre Shackleton Barracks site in Ballykelly back in 2016 for 1m, with plans to use it for fitting out planes.

It is also one of six regional hubs bidding for part of the construction of Heathrow Airports new runway.

While the company wouldnt confirm details of the plans, a company spokesperson said: Were at a very early but exciting stage in the planning process. We hope to discuss this further with the local community during the consultation period.

To date, plans which have already been approved for the site include film crew accommodation, facilities and studios.

And a three-storey building was also approved as the new home for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), in what will be the biggest decentralisation of civil servants here.

Earlier this month, some of the DAERA team were relocated to the new offices.

When MJM purchased the Shackleton Barracks site, it said that it would be used for a variety of other business ventures including a technology centre and news of a proposed data centre is in keeping with those initial plans.

MJM Group is a world leader in marine fit-out services.

The company combines design services and specialist joinery and manufacturing to deliver cruise fit-outs.

In April it brought the Azamara Pursuit vessel into Belfast for a complete refit at Harland and Wolff.

The ship, which is part of the Azamara Club Cruises fleet, a global brand of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd, is currently undergoing a complete interior refurbishment. It is set to be completed in August.

And last year, MJM Group opened an office at the heart of the cruise industry in Southampton.

The company was founded by Brian McConville, who is now chairman of the business and this year it celebrates its 35th anniversary.

To mark the milestone, MJM Group has launched MJM at 35, a year-long programme of events and activities which will recognise our people, partnerships and position in the market.
The vessel when it was moored in Gloucester

The riverboat MV Oliver Cromwell, owned by Seamus Carey, sank off the Welsh coast

An entrepreneur from Northern Ireland has vowed to keep alive his dream of opening a floating hotel on the River Bann - despite his riverboat sinking as it was being towed to its planned home near Coleraine.

The MV Oliver Cromwell - a Mississippi-style riverboat which had been moored on the Severn at Gloucester for the past 25 years - was being brought to its new home at Coleraine's Crannagh Marina last week when disaster struck off the north Wales coast.

The marina purchased the ship from English Holiday Cruises Ltd in January 2018 for 245,000, and had planned to rename the vessel and give it a 100,000 refit to transform it in to a unique floating restaurant and boutique hotel.

This was part of a 500,000 development project for the marina.

Holyhead Coastguard was called just before 2pm when the vessel got into difficulties off Anglesey last Friday - but could not stop the boat sinking into the Irish Sea.

No one on board was injured.

The RNLI's Holyhead coxswain Tony Price said: "It was very sad to see such a lovely vessel sink like that, but no one was endangered and the lack of fuel on board meant there were no environmental issues."

Seamus Carey, owner of the Crannagh Marina Complex, owned the boat.

"We were really looking forward to conducting a major refurbishment of the vessel and transforming it into a luxurious 15-bedroom static hotel and restaurant on the picturesque River Bann," he said last night.

"It was to be Ireland's first ever floating hotel and a great addition to the north coast's tourism offering."

"We are naturally extremely disappointed.

"The Crannagh Marina Complex has invested significant time and resources into this exciting new venture, which would have created 20 full-time and 15 part-time jobs."

But the entrepreneur said he was already exploring options for acquiring a replacement vessel.

"Despite the unfortunate setback, we are more determined than ever and are already in the process of reviewing alternative options for a replacement boat.

"We hope to have this secured by the end of the summer and in operation before 2019," Mr Carey added.
A 20-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a fisherman in Ardglass, Co Down

A 20-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a fisherman in Ardglass, Co Down.

Jason Carr, from Castle Heights in Ardglass, spoke only to confirm that he understood two charges against him.

He is accused of the murder of 45-year-old Stefan Zait last Tuesday.

There were emotional scenes in court on Saturday as the Co Down man was remanded into custody.

Friends and family of Carr filled two rows of seats in the public gallery at Newtownards Magistrates Court for the hearing, many of the women among them crying quietly as he was led to the cells, waving at them as he went.

Carr is accused of attempted aggravated burglary at a property on Crew Hill Court in the fishing village with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on Stefan Zait, and with Mr Zait's murder, on May 22 this year.

In court on Saturday, PSNI Detective Sergeant Lewis testified that she believed she could connect Carr to each of the offences.

Defence barrister Sean Doherty told the court that while Carr denies both offences, he was not applying for bail "out of respect for the family of the deceased".

Having heard it was the defence and prosecution application for a three-week adjournment, District Judge Prytherch remanded Carr into custody to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court via video-link on June 14.
Bombardier has landed a deal for up to 60 of its Belfast-made aircraft  worth up to 4.5bn.

The aerospace giant, which employs around 4,000 workers in Northern Ireland, secured a firm order from airBaltic for 30 of its CS300 passenger jets, and the option for a further 30.

Based on book price, the deal could be worth as much as 4.5bn.

Meanwhile, Bombardier has unveiled two new luxury business jets which will be part-made in Belfast.

It will build two new private planes, the Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft.

The plane-maker already makes the forward fuselage, engine nacelles and other components for the Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets.

Earlier this year, Bombardier landed a contract American Airlines worth a potential 1bn for 30 regional jets, which are part-made in Belfast.

And in January, Bombardiers Northern Ireland workforce breathed a sigh of relief when the US International Trade Commission last month ruled in its favour after a challenge by American rival Boeing. The firm had been facing a 292% tariff on the sale of its planes to the US.
The future of DIY retailer Homebase's nine Northern Ireland stores is uncertain after the chain was sold by its Australian owner for a reported 1. (PA)

The future of DIY retailer Homebase's nine Northern Ireland stores is uncertain after the chain was sold by its Australian owner for a reported 1.

It was sold by Wesfarmers to retail restructuring business Hilco. Wesfarmers bought the chain for 340 million in 2016.

Hilco has not said whether or not it will embark on a store closure programme.

Homebase has 250 UK stores and employs approximately 12,000 people.

Under the terms of the deal, Hilco will acquire all Homebase assets including the brand, the network of stores, freehold property, property leases and stock.

Homebase boss Damian McGloughlin said the agreement with Hilco "marks an exciting new chapter" for the retailer. However, Dave Gill, national officer at shopworkers' trade union Usdaw, disagreed.

"Staff in Homebase stores are extremely worried for the future after company's ownership changed hands yet again," he said. "Clearly the sale for just one pound is very disturbing.

"I am in touch with the company and we are seeking urgent meetings to secure jobs."
The BBC's delayed adaptation of Ordeal By Innocence was the most-watched programme on iPlayer in April, new data reveals.

The Agatha Christie drama - which was put on hold to be re-shot after its original star Ed Westwick was accused of sexual assault - had almost two million requests for its first episode on the catch-up service across the month, the BBC said.

The programme was pulled from the Christmas schedule and British actor Christian Cooke replaced Westwick in re-shoots after the allegations, which the Gossip Girl actor has denied.

The BBC said the second episode of the drama was the second most-watched programme of the month on iPlayer, drawing in 1.2 million viewers.

The broadcaster also revealed that the first two episodes of marital saga drama series Come Home - set in Belfast and starring Christopher Eccleston and Paula Malcomson - were also popular in April, each getting more than one million requests on iPlayer.
The final credits may have rolled a long time ago on Belfast's much-loved Curzon Cinema - but now a documentary about the lost Ormeau Road landmark has made it on to the silver screen.

Nearly two years in the making, the Curzon Project film, recently had its premiere at the Queen's Film Theatre.

It is the brainchild of coffee shop owner Orla Smyth and graphic designer Paul McNally, who joined forces with Sara Gunn-Smith from cinema campaign group Film Hub NI.

Produced by Out of Orbit Films, the documentary is a love letter to the much-missed picture house which was run for over six decades by the Gaston family before it was closed in the late 1990s and later redeveloped into apartments.

Former cinema-goers, employees and locals all share their cherished memories for the 20-minute film.

The idea to produce the short documentary was sparked when Paul asked Orla to sell T-shirts he had designed bearing a stylised graphic outline of the Curzon, in her Ormeau Road coffee establishment, and it snowballed from there.

Further into the project, NI Screen came on board to provide a final boost of funding to get the project over the finish line.

Orla, who loved going to the cinema throughout her childhood, says the film perfectly reflects just how much the Curzon meant to locals.

"I grew up going to the Curzon in the '80s and '90s, and it was the place that you went to. You got your money for the film and your sweets and you went along to the Curzon to see the latest film," she said.

"It was a place of community, it brought people together. It was family-run, so when you went in, you would know who the manager was, so we just thought it would be a lovely idea for a film about the cinema to be made, which would bring people together to share their memories.

"When we launched the documentary project 18 months ago, we were inundated by people getting in touch. We had so many calls from people and there was not one negative memory or experience expressed at all. People talked about having their first date there, and there were a lot of marriage proposals. A lot of people remember going to see major films like Dirty Dancing, Grease and Schindler's List."

Orla continued: "People genuinely have fond memories of the Curzon. Cinemas now are so big and industrial and the thing with the Curzon was that you knew the people there."

The film was funded by proceeds from sales of Paul's t-shirts and specially-designed art prints of the Curzon, and Orla, who grew up only streets away from the picture house, says it was a project that brought her right back to her formative years.

"My whole childhood I went to the Curzon, right up to university. Then the huge movie houses and big omniplex cinemas came along, and people moved away from going to places like the Curzon, but I think there's a change now, I think people want small, independent cinemas.

"I think the first movie I saw there was one of the Star Wars films but I can also remember seeing the Care Bears Movie. The thing about going to the Curzon was that you always feared that you wouldn't be able to get in. There would be a queue around it and you'd get to the end of it and hope that you'd still be able to get a seat."

When the Curzon's projectors stopped rolling for the final time, Orla says it was only years later that she lamented the loss. "Really at the time, sadly, I didn't think much about it closing. It was only when I opened my own coffee shop years later on the Ormeau Road that it hit me what a loss it was.

"The Ormeau Road has changed massively, and a lot for the better, but sometimes change isn't for the better and we lose things that can't be replaced. And that's the Curzon."

Meanwhile, the project's documentary producer, Sara Gunn-Smith - whose first film she can remember seeing at the Curzon was Who Framed Roger Rabbit? - reveals that there are plans under way for the film to be brought to a wider audience.

"It's been submitted into a few film festivals and hopefully will be shown at the Belfast Film Festival next year.

"We also want to screen it some where on the Ormeau Road after that."

And it's the coming together of people that Orla says is what, ultimately, made the Curzon more unique and special, compared to the modern day movie-going experience.

"It was more than just a building, it was a place full of character. It had a soul," she added.
The bright, long evenings of summer! The best, the most optimistic season of the year is the trio of months when the evenings are getting brighter and brighter and those suffering from SAD - seasonal affective disorder - shrug off the symptoms associated with winter melancholy.

It's not the cold, or the rain, of winter that triggers SAD, it's the darkness. So, how enlightened, literally, of Pieta House to name their inspiring annual walk for those affected by suicide, Darkness Into Light.

It is light that lightens the mood, and the light of early summer seems like the light of life itself.

There's a difference of about 20 minutes in the sun's light between London and Dublin, and another difference of, I'd say, 15 minutes between Dublin and Galway. Clocks in Britain and Ireland were fully harmonised around the years of the First World War - you can't have accurate train timetables unless 9.30am means the same time to everyone on the schedule.

But even before 1916, there was some resistance to aligning Ireland formally with Britain. For reasons not entirely clear, the Catholic church campaigned to retain "Irish time" as a separate entity. Possibly the church was picking up on a more nationalist mood, possibly to affirm a sense of accordance with nature, since nature's time was God's time. Maybe it seemed anti-modern to campaign against the rules of the clock.

Yet Ireland is fortunate - and the west of Ireland most fortunate of all - to have this wonderful season of light and long evenings, where, on a good day, the twilight lasts until near 11 at night. There's even a poetic name for it, the Celtic Twilight or, in Scotland, what they call the 'gloaming'.

If climate contributes to character, then the ability to relax, to take your ease, to be laid-back, so characteristic of the west coast of Ireland, may well be linked with the long evenings and the soft twilights.

Light lifts our mood, and yet I wouldn't want the 24-hour daylight they experience in Iceland and in the Arctic Circle summer. Sleepless in Tromso? I have been, with the eerie presence of a full daylight at 3am. Reykjavik in June can be full-on partying and groups of boozy women roaming the streets in the wee small hours. I don't blame them - they have to live through winter's 24-hour darkness to get to 24-hour light. If climate shapes character, then the violent darkness of the Scandi noir genre fits their winter personality.

The sunnier the climate, the sunnier the personality? Virginia Woolf thought so, eulogising Italians for their extrovert disposition, formed by their weather. The more the climate allows you to live in the street, she thought, the more friendly and cheerful you are. The English would be less introverted and reserved if they had fewer grey skies and more sunshine, but they might also place less emphasis on moderation and compromise, described as virtues of moderate climes.

Twilight disappears the nearer you get to the equator, and it's astonishing, in Africa, when the sun comes down like a sudden shutter. One moment you're in daylight, the next it's night. It's unfair to generalise about a whole continent, but in his brilliant book on nature's imperatives, Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall suggests that Africa's climate has often been its true darkness, facilitating so many tropical diseases. Geography is destiny, and the way the light operates within that parameter is crucial to our environment.

Light has such an impact on psychic mood that light therapy is now sometimes prescribed for people who suffer from SAD. But too much artificial light can disturb the circadian rhythms - the inner bodyclock which accords with the earth's rotation. A Harvard study has shown that blue light - the light that's transmitted by electronic devices and even energy-efficient lightbulbs - is unhealthy with overuse, possibly contributing to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and, of course, insomnia. We're now told not to sleep in a room with artificial lights twinkling in the corner, and not to use electronic devices after 10pm.

The research into sleep claims that the solar day - the one ruled by the sun - is still vital to our psyche. Not so daft to be in accord with nature, maybe.

No wonder we start the year by looking forward to the stretch in the evenings, heralding the lengthening of the solar day. No wonder pagan and nature-worshipping religions were focused on the summer solstice, Midsummer Day - June 20 or 21 by the sun's measure, but usually marked around June 24, St John's Day in the Christian calendar. And no wonder Midsummer is so big in Sweden and Finland, with huge bonfires being lit in a symbolic effort to persuade the sun to stay at its solstice peak. No wonder people can go a little wild at Midsummer.

We wish the bright mornings and long evenings of early summer could go on forever. But we know that even as the days lengthen, soon they will begin their cycle in the opposite direction. As Robert Herrick put it in the 16th century: "The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun/The higher he's a-getting/The sooner will his race be run/And nearer he's to setting." Gather ye rosebuds of light while ye may.
If the remarkable changes which Irish society has witnessed within a generation were to be transcribed into human form, the result would be someone very much like Rev Chris Hudson MBE. The highly respected minister of All Souls Unitarian Church on Belfast's Elmwood Avenue was among those who travelled to his native Dublin on Friday to cast a Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the country's Eighth Amendment which banned abortion.

On this side of the border Mr Hudson has also been prominent in the campaign for LGBT rights. Awarded the MBE for services to the peace movement, he was a key player in bringing about the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires. But the former trade unionist's family background is avowedly republican. His father was a founding member of Fianna Fail and a close associate of Eamon de Valera. A street in Dublin is named after an IRA volunteer uncle who died in the Civil War. Here he talks about seismic societal change, carrying a banner with Jeremy Corbyn, inviting Simon Coveney to his church to get "a thick ear" and how he believes DUP leader Arlene Foster is not a homophobe.

Q. You have campaigned for years for changes to the Eighth Amendment and for marriage equality in the Republic. Do you see the day when there will be similar liberalisation of the law in Northern Ireland?

A. I have absolutely no doubt that same-sex marriage legislation is not very far away. And I believe that changes to the law here on abortion is also moving in that direction. I have absolutely no doubt that if there was a referendum on gay marriage it would be carried. But we don't need to have a referendum. All we need to have is a vote in the Assembly and at the moment the numbers are very much in favour. I would say from the bottom of my heart to the DUP not to introduce a Petition of Concern. At the moment they don't have the numbers but they only need another two. Thousands of people who vote for the DUP feel hurt by their position. It hurts them that the major unionist party does not see them as befitting citizens of the United Kingdom. The DUP are going to have to challenge themselves. They have opposed just about every change that would be helpful to the LGBT community but on a personal level I believe that Arlene Foster is not a homophobe. It's hard for her but I would hope she'd have the courage to take leadership on this issue. She's a woman whose family suffered at the hands of the IRA but Arlene must recognise the suffering gay Christians go through. My experience of the unionist community is they are far more liberal than they're given credit for.

Q. Your wife, the art historian, Isabella Evangelisti, has campaigned with you on the abortion issue. When did you meet?

A. Ironically it was back in 1983 during that referendum campaign. We met at a Repeal the Eighth meeting in Dun Laoghaire.

Q. You were born in Dun Laoghaire but where did your family come from originally?

A. My mother Mary's parents came from McClure Street off the Ormeau Road in Belfast. My grandmother had married a man called Barnes who worked in the tram station in Sandy Row. It was a mixed faith marriage and they were threatened by loyalists so in 1921 they moved to Co Meath. My father's family were very much hardline republican. My granda had been jailed by both the British and the Free State, by Michael Collins. That was the tradition I grew up in. My father Brian had joined na Fianna Eireann in his early teens. There's a street in Dun Laoghaire named Hudson Street. It's called after my uncle Joe who was in the IRA and was killed by the Free State army in the Irish Civil War.

Q. You had a fairly middle-class upbringing?

A. Yes, that's true. My father came from humble stock but worked his way up in the building industry. I have three brothers, Brian, Maurice and Fintan, and one sister, Muriel. We went to a private school. Myself and my brothers went to the Presentation Brothers College where I played rugby. I grew up thinking rugby was the national sport of Ireland.

Q. Your father was a founding member of Fianna Fail and a close friend of Eamon de Valera. Did you ever meet de Valera?

A. My dad may not have believed that Jesus walked on water but he certainly believed that de Valera walked on water. When we were small I remember we were allowed to stay up late one night to meet the great man. I think he was Taoiseach at the time. We were overawed. To us this was the equivalent of Charles de Gaulle or Churchill walking through the hall door. He was an iconic figure to our family. We were reared to believe that he was the heart of Ireland.

Q. But you left the Catholic Church and changed your politics. How did your parents react to that?

A. I was about 17 at the time and working as a ladies' hairdresser - I had a lot of different jobs when I was young. I remember informing my parents that I was no longer a Catholic. They were trying to get me to go to mass. My father was more upset when I told him I no longer supported Fianna Fail, I supported the Labour Party. That to him was more devastating. The Fianna Fail party was his greatest love. The rest of my family always stayed with Fianna Fail. At least they pretended to my dad they did.

Q. You were a leading trade unionist in Ireland for years, with the Communication Workers' Union and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). You played a key role in the Anti Apartheid movement and the Divorce Action Group. You were also involved with Oxfam?

A. When I was working as a full-time union official I was approached by Sally Anne Kinahan, who was the head of Oxfam in Ireland and she asked me to come on the board. I was a trustee for Oxfam for 10 years. I was also chair of the ICTU Third World committee. I had a huge interest in the developing world. I travelled to Brazil and during the war in 1986 I travelled to El Salvador to support the trade unionists who were being murdered in El Salvador. I went on a trade union march there with Jeremy Corbyn. He and I carried a banner through the centre of El Salvador.

Q. What did you make of Jeremy Corbyn?

A. The only thing we disagreed on massively was Ireland. On a personal level we got on very well. I told him I thought his view on Ireland was naive because he didn't understand the complexities of Irish identity. To me he just took a quintessential anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist view on every situation in the world.

He supported Troops Out, he supported a united Ireland. That was a common opinion in large parts of the British Labour Party. They refused to recognise that the majority of people of Northern Ireland did not ally themselves to a single Irish identity.

They certainly did not see themselves as part of the neo-colonial landscape. They saw themselves as Ulster folk. I notice when Jeremy spoke at Queen's the other day he seems to have changed his opinion to some extent and I welcome that. I think on the Irish question he was informed pretty badly. Growing up that's the view I would have held about Northern Ireland - that Britain should get out and that unionist people would see the error of their ways and recognise that they were just Irishmen and women. I soon learnt that was a load of nonsense.

The man who changed my mind was Conor Cruise O'Brien. I was swayed by his intellect, the moral integrity of his argument and the concise way he showed that the simplistic view of Irish nationalism and those who supported it was actually dangerous because we were misjudging the sense of identity of the other people we shared this island with.

Q. What's your opinion of the current Taoiseach?

A. I know some people feel Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney seem to be playing a bit of a green card at the behest of the European Union but I think that might be just political brinkmanship. I suppose they feel they have a position they have to defend. When it comes to resolving the issues over Brexit I think we'll have to apply the logic of the Good Friday Agreement and apply some constructive ambiguity. I haven't met Mr Varadkar. But I met Simon Coveney recently and I invited him up to my church. I told him some of my congregation might give him a thick ear. He laughed. But he said he would come.

Q. You were awarded an MBE by the Queen for your work with the Peace Train movement. But your most crucial role in the peace process was in bringing loyalist paramilitaries to the table. The late David Ervine said, "Chris set the mood music in which we were able to operate." Do you still believe they are serious about peace?

A. As you probably know I continue to work with the loyalist paramilitary groups. They regard me as what they call their critical friend. I know people still have difficulty with loyalists as to why they're still around after 30 years. But I firmly believe some of these people can be a serious part of the transformation of Northern Ireland and can play an essential role, particularly in the communities they come from. The ones that I work with are sincerely committed to that role and they do make modest contributions even like the one recently, the flag protocol in east Belfast. I know that's not going to satisfy people like Alliance but from where I'm sitting, and to people I'm sitting around the table with, that is quite good progress. When I sat down with people like David Ervine in the early '90s, I had to make a judgement call - were these people serious? To a greater extent they delivered a ceasefire. To a greater extent... Somebody was saying recently that of the prisoners that were released, less than 5% reoffended. So they were not psychopaths, they were not common criminals. In many cases they were men and women who got caught up in the conflict.

If you were a young loyalist you believed that your community in Ireland was under fierce attack from irredentist republicanism and the fear was that the British were going to make a declaration to withdraw and you were going to have to defend your community. Horrific acts were carried out, horrendous acts were inflicted by them, particularly upon innocent Catholics but also on members of their own communities. I will remain working with these people because I'm trying to see the long haul, the endgame and these people being part of the transformation. Some of them will never escape their criminal behaviour and we have to separate them from those who want to do the right thing. We cannot brand all loyalists as criminals. I'm not naive. I'm not a fool. I was a hard-nosed trade unionist. When I meet with these people I tell them how it is and I speak my mind to them. And they respect that.

Q. Where were you in 1994 when the loyalist ceasefire you worked so hard to bring about was announced?

A. I was in Pakistan with Oxfam. I was sitting in my hotel room when Gusty Spence came on BBC World News declaring the ceasefire. Pakistan is a dry country because it's an Islamic state so I toasted it with a can of Coke. I'd met Gusty two weeks before and he gave me the date and the time when the ceasefire would be announced. I explained I'd be in Pakistan. Gusty said, "If you like, we'll delay it until you come back." And I said; "No, you f****** won't."

Q. You have received a number of major awards from the gay community for your work in campaigning for LGBT rights, most recently a major award in Poland. How did your work with the gay community come about?

A. I was approached by some gay people who told me they wanted to organise a quiet, very secretive carol service one Christmas. They explained that there were many gay people who were still nervous about gathering in public. I saw that in Belfast there was a serious need for Christian ministry to the LGBT community, to show gay and trans people that they were loved by the church. I went on Pride and I purposely wore my collar. Last year there were five clergy with me. Within my denomination we ordained two openly gay young men.

Q. You have also spoken out against the boycott of Israel. Why do you oppose it?

A. To be pro-Israeli doesn't mean you are anti-Palestinian and I am not. I actually think that the Palestinian people have been badly served by people who take up their cause in the West. I honestly believe that calling for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel is crazy and counterproductive. It's distracting from real dialogue on peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

People who support the BDS will not come out and say they support the right of the Jewish State to exist. Israel has the right to see itself as secure. The turning on and off of violence by Hamas is not going to work. It is destructive, it's cruel and it's causing massive loss of life. Some people might cynically say that's the Hamas agenda. It's a little bit hard for Jews to be lectured by Europeans considering that Europe stood by in general and saw six million Jews butchered. Anti-Semitism grew out of our Christian experience.

Q. You're a busy man, Chris. So what do you do when you get a bit of free time?

A. Isabella and I love to travel. We have a wee house in Crete which we go to regularly - we love the Greek people. And we love reading, theatre, cinema, food... Isabella is from an Italian background and she's a brilliant cook. So I love food... maybe too much food.
Silky smooth: waxing can help you feel more confident in a bikini

If you've been perusing the racks of swimwear that have landed in shops recently, you've probably noticed the trend for ultra high-leg swimsuits and bikini bottoms.

These styles are amazing for creating the illusion of longer legs, but they're also extremely unforgiving in the, well, pubic area, leaving a lot more flesh on show than you might be used to.

That means you're going to want to ensure your bikini line is smooth and stubble-free, but what if you've never had a professional wax before?

"Don't be scared," says Tracey Smith, founder of hair removal brand Ashmira Botanica. "It can be daunting the first time you have a bikini wax, but remember you won't be the therapist's first client - they will have done millions of waxes before you."

"Research who you are going to," advise the Waxperts, aka Ellen Kavanagh and Trish O'Brien, founders of Waxperts Wax. "Are they trained in the treatment you want to get done - i.e. intimate waxing? Do they use hot wax for all bikini waxes?

"Never get strip wax on the face, underarm or bikini - it's way too harsh for the delicate skin on those areas. A hot wax, or peelable wax with a prewax oil, is what you need to be asking for."

And that's not all. Even if you're a regular waxee, there might be mistakes you're making when it comes to your personal grooming.

Here, our experts answer the mostly commonly asked bikini-waxing questions.

1. Are there any products you shouldn't use before or after a bikini wax?

"Yes, don't put any oil, moisturiser, shower gel, creams or fake tan on your skin pre-treatment, because they may affect the efficacy of the wax," Smith says.

"Afterwards, you are restricted with what you can do or apply for 12 to 24 hours," say the Waxperts. "For example, no fake tan, no hot showers, no exercise.

"If you're unsure of anything, ask your therapist before you leave your appointment, as the last thing you want is to have an adverse reaction."

2. How long does hair have to be for a wax to be effective?

"We say as long as a grain of rice," the Waxperts advise. "If you've been shaving, try and leave it as long as you can - three weeks would be ideal. If you're a regular waxer, every four to six weeks is perfect for repeat appointments."

3. Should you trim your hair before a bikini wax?

"If the hair is very long, it is advisable to trim it," say the Waxperts. "Don't use a razor or hair removing cream, though. Just use scissors or clippers and be careful."

But Smith disagrees: "Don't bother trimming before you get waxed. If there is hair that's very long, your waxer will trim it."

So, it just depends if you'd rather do it yourself, or leave it to the experts.

4. Are there any ways to make waxing less painful?

"Obviously, some people are more sensitive than others, and there's not much you do can to avoid that," says Smith. "I believe breathing out quickly before the wax is removed does help, but in a professional salon with a good therapist, there shouldn't be too much discomfort."

The Waxperts agree that going to someone who's well-trained means the process won't be as painful, and that taking paracetamol before your appointment could have the opposite effect.

"Believe it or not, painkillers can make it worse, because if there's caffeine in them, it will make your skin more sensitive. The same goes for your cup of coffee, so skip it before you get waxed. Anticipation is really what can make it seem more painful, so try and relax."

5. Can you go for a bikini wax if you're on your period, or is that a major no-no?

"I would definitely encourage a customer to wait until after their period for an intimate wax," says Smith. "Mainly because you're more sensitive during your period, but also, it's easier for the therapist."

"You can just wear a tampon," say the Waxperts. "You may be a little bit more sensitive, but you can still get waxed."

6. What's the difference between regular, Brazilian and Hollywood waxes?

"A regular bikini wax is basically a tidy-up, and you'd keep your underwear on," explain the Waxperts. "For intimate waxes, like Brazilian and Hollywood, you'd need your underwear off, as they both remove most of the pubic hair, including (inside) the bum. A Brazilian wax leaves a strip of hair in the front and a Hollywood leaves no hair at all."

"There are many more options, so make sure you have a conversation pre-wax with your therapist, to ensure you both understand which removal you want," says Smith. "Once it's gone, it's gone."

7. How do you prevent ingrown hairs, and what's the best thing to do when you get them?

"Ingrown hairs occur when the hair can't get out of the skin properly. This could be from dead cells on the skin blocking it, or wearing tight underwear or clothing where the pressure prevents the weak hair breaking through the skin," the Waxperts explain. "The best way to treat and prevent them is by gentle exfoliation. Our Waxperts Wonder Pads are perfect for treating and preventing ingrown hairs, as they contain salicylic acid."
The leader of Ireland's Catholics has said he has been "deeply saddened" by the result of the abortion referendum in the Republic.

Twice as many voters opted to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution, which bans abortion in all but exceptional circumstances.

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said yesterday: "I am deeply saddened that we appear to have obliterated the right to life of all unborn children from our Constitution, and that this country is now on the brink of legislating for a liberal abortion regime.

"At a time when scientific and medical evidence is clearer than ever about the beginning of life, we have effectively decided that some human lives - in this case the lives of the unborn - are less significant and deserving of protection than others."

He said the result means that "we are living in a new time and a changed culture for Ireland".

"For the Church it is a time for a new evangelisation," he continued.

The Primate said that he was praying for the "courageous" No voters.

He added: "It remains as important as ever to affirm the sanctity of all human life and that the intentional taking of the life of any innocent human being is wrong."

Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Richard Clarke - who had expressed his opposition to unrestricted access to abortion at any stage - said yesterday that after the outcome of the referendum "it behoves us all to consider these matters with mutual respect, good faith and conscience, and our prayers must be with members of the Oireachtas as they reflect on their responsibilities to the common good".

The senior clergy of the Presbyterian Church, which had come out strongly against a Yes vote, expressed its "profound sense of sadness" at the result.

Moderator Dr Noble McNeely, former Moderator Dr Trevor Morrow, and Clerk of the General Assembly Rev Trevor Gribben called on the Irish government and politicians in the Republic to keep their promise to make abortion "rare", and to ensure that the unborn with disabilities like Down's Syndrome will not have their lives terminated.

They said: "There should be no place for unrestricted abortion in a society that claims to cherish human life."

Methodist President Dr Laurence Graham and its Lay Leader Dr Fergus O'Ferrall said the result places on the Oireachtas " the responsibility of providing an opportunity for careful and sensitive legislation for safe, legal and rare terminations of pregnancy.

"We have always opposed 'abortion on demand' but have recognised that exceptional cases such as rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities may give rise to termination, and we would wish to see these provided for in the new legislation."

Belfast priest and Belfast Telegraph commentator Fr Patrick McCafferty said: "It is a dark and sad day for our country.

"God's law cannot be repealed by a referendum.

"So-called 'Catholic Culturalism' is dead in Ireland.

"This is a moment to pause and re-assess. We are called not to be popular, respectful and accessible, but to be faithful to proclaim the Gospel without compromise or fear."
Vote No campaigners during the campaign in Dublin

The Catholic Church in Ireland may be unwavering in its opposition to any liberalisation of laws on abortion, but among mass-goers in Belfast yesterday there were conflicted feelings.

On the day after 66.4% of voters in the Republic voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution, with just 33.6% voting No, the Belfast Telegraph visited Catholic churches across Belfast to gauge opinion.

At St Colmcille's Church on the Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast woman Lynda Deegan, attending church with her two young daughters, said it would be "more compassionate to give people the choice".

"I think as a religion, as a body of faith, the Catholic Church is entitled to their opinion, as is anybody else," she stated.

"But I don't think any one religion should be in a position to dictate what everybody else believes - and that's not just on abortion, that's on absolutely everything.

"As a Catholic, it's a challenge to reconcile that opinion with the desire for a little bit more liberalism.

"But I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion; it's only healthy to have a wide spectrum of opinions.

"I think it would be more compassionate to give people the choice.

"It's very much about live and let live, and I would prefer if abortion never happened.

"I do struggle with it, but at the same time, it's not something for men to decide for women.

"I think things just need to move forward and be less misogynistic.

"Male entitlement stretches to dictating what a woman should do with her own body.

"As much as I would prefer a utopian society where you choose not to have an abortion, it should be your choice. Especially when there's rape or incest."

Her thoughts were echoed by a middle-aged couple, who praised the social change taking place south of the border.

"We were very glad it went through.

"It's great to see the Republic of Ireland as a modern, democratic society, tremendous," said the man, who revealed they have a number of grandchildren. His wife added: "There are so many circumstances that a woman could be in and would have to make a terrible decision, but at least she'd have the medics on her side.

"It must be awful to carry a baby for nine months knowing that they're not going to survive.

"There are people who may want to carry that baby, and that's their right, so long as everybody has the right to choose.

"The days when you could tell everybody how they have to live their lives entirely are long gone.

"But I wouldn't like to hold my breath for change with the political situation here."

At St Peter's Cathedral, Jim McClean (68) said it the referendum result was "good for women" as they would be able to "make their own minds up".

"I think women in Northern Ireland need to be given the choice too," he continued.

"We need to see a widening of abortion law here, but that won't happen with the DUP. It should be the same here as it is in the Republic or in England.

"I don't think it's a Christian attitude here currently - they should be helping people in those circumstances."

Another worshipper at the cathedral described the result as "great" and said "women should have the right over their own bodies".

"There definitely should be liberalisation up here," she stated.

"Why hide the fact that women from here are having abortions?

"They are going to England anyway, so we are just exporting the problem. It's hypocritical.

"It would be more compassionate and kind to treat them here."

Una Torrens (63) called the case of Savita Halappanavar, who died after being denied a termination in 2012, "a terrible situation".

"I'm against abortion, I think it's an awful thing," she stated.

"But I do think there are times when it's human and charitable.

"It's kind, for example, if women are in a dire strait of health.

"I think every case is exceptional and everything should be judged on a case-by-case basis.

"There are some things you can't decide until you are in the situation yourself."

Arriving at Holy Cross Church with her two grandchildren, Nora Harrison (58) said she felt there needed to be "more compassion" in the abortion debate here.

"It couldn't be an easy choice to make," said the Ardoyne woman. "For me personally, I don't agree with what they decided in the referendum, but I can understand why some people would choose it.

"My sister lives in England, and when her daughter was 12, her friend got raped, and they opted for an abortion.

"I can remember I was very anti-abortion.

"Then I thought, 'If I had a 12-year-old daughter who was raped, would I really want her to be a mummy and lose out on her childhood?'

"But I do believe in the right to life.

"I'm very conflicted. I think that cases of rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormality should be judged on a case-by-case basis.

"And I think if the mother's life is in danger the mother should always take priority.

"I think there should be more compassion here in the discussion on abortion, because I think a lot of people are judged by it.

"It's something that I have never ever had to think about for me or my family.

"But if I did, I would like to have the choice."

Not everyone felt the same.

Nurse Nina Cardeno, attending St Patrick's on Donegall Street with her five-year-old son and husband, called the referendum result "sad".

"I wouldn't like to see abortion laws here widened," she stated.

"I'm a nurse, so I believe that as soon as it's planted within the woman's body, then that's already life.

"In those cases when there is no heartbeat, the decision on whether to abort would greatly depend on the mother.

"But I also believe that there would be a special bond between the mother and the child.

"In general I'm opposed, but in certain cases it would depend on both the mother and father.

"It would be on a case-by-case basis."

Also entering the church was Maura McCracken, who spoke about her own experience with her handicapped grandchild.

"I'm not for abortion at all," said Maura, who is in her 70s.

"It doesn't matter what is wrong with the child - I believe it has the right to live. I had a wee physically handicapped grandchild and they told my daughter to turn the machine off and she wouldn't do it, and our Mairead lived for nine years.

"If the law was brought in here I would be afraid that babies like her would be aborted.

"Nine years we went up and down to the hospital, but still, we got an awful lot of love out of her."

At St Colmcille's, Rommel Aguilar (45), who is originally from the Philippines, said that he would be against abortion "in all circumstances."

"I didn't agree with the vote in the south," he said. "In cases of rape, I think it's right for the woman to go on with the life she's carrying, even if it's unwanted.

"For Northern Ireland, it should be the majority who decide - everyone should cast a vote to say what they want.

"It is quite difficult without a government.

"I don't know what's going to happen in Northern Ireland without any leaders."
Armed response officers discharge a taser while arresting a man in the Aspen Walk area of west Belfast on on May 27th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police in Northern Ireland used a stun gun on a man after he refused to drop scissors he had allegedly held to his uncle's throat, a court heard today.

Armed response officers fired the stun gun at Paul Dunlop, 35, as he advanced towards them at a house on the outskirts of west Belfast on Saturday, a judge was told.

Dunlop, of Firmount Drive in Antrim, is also accused of jumping on the bonnet of another relative's car and trying to get inside during the same incident.

He appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with criminal damage to the Vauxhall Astra, three counts of common assault, and possessing an offensive weapon - namely a pair of scissors.

Police went to Aspen Walk, Dunmurry amid claims Dunlop had been arguing with a sister and armed himself with a knife.

A PSNI constable said armed response officers entered the house with a ballistic shield and spotted the accused standing beside his uncle, apparently holding two knives.

"Police gave clear instructions to drop the knives, but he wouldn't and walked towards them," she told the court.

A stun gun was then deployed to bring Dunlop to the ground, with a pair of scissors recovered from the scene.

It was claimed the weapon had been held to his uncle's throat, causing a cut to the neck.

According to police he also acted aggressively towards his sisters and jumped onto the car, striking at windows in an attempt to gain entry to the vehicle.

Dunlop was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital after the stun gun was used against him.

The Police Ombudsman has also been informed about the incident, it was confirmed.

During interviews Dunlop denied putting any form of blade to his uncle's throat and claimed his memory was "hazy" due to being Tasered.

His lawyer told the court: "I understand he is putting forward a self-defence case.

"His injuries are visible... and the injured parties' accounts will need to be fully tested."

Bail was refused due to the risk of interference with witnesses.

District Judge Amanda Henderson said: "This allegedly involves the use of a weapon with injuries to the neck area, with a large police response to try and contain the situation.

"It's too early in the day to consider bail."

Dunlop was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link on June 25.
The Northern Ireland Crown Forces Veterans for Justice group held a protest in support of Dennis Hutchings at Belfast City Hall on Monday.

It coincides with a similar event in Manchester.

Read More

Mr Hutchings (77) has been accused of killing a man in Co Tyrone over 40 years ago.

John Pat Cunningham (27), who had learning difficulties, was shot in the back as he ran away from an Army patrol near Benburb.

Mr Hutchings was told earlier this month that his trial will go ahead after the failure of his appeal, which claimed that the case was an abuse of process.

Mr Hutchings, from Cornwall, who suffers from kidney and heart disease, said that troops who served in Northern Ireland "were only there doing a job".

Calls for an amnesty relating to prosecutions on British Army veterans who operated in Northern Ireland have been rejected.

DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson and NICFV spokesperson Wilfie Brown, who served with the Royal Irish for 22 years, spoke at the event.

Mr Brown said that around 150 people attended the event.

"All the prosecutions against soldiers are still active and it's a one way street," he said, "there are injustices at the heart of the judicial system. It's an absolute disgrace.

"We're not saying that people weren't shot in circumstances that could have been avoided.

"The army was the legitimate law force of this country and now we see the reward that terrorism pays.

"There are a lot of people walking around this town today who owe their gratitude to the crown forces so that they can now live in peace and they have been totally forgot about."
The firebrand Free Presbyterian minister, Reverend Ian Brown described the Irish Abortion referendum result repealing the 8th amendment on abortion to the Republic's constitution as a "death sentence" on the country's potential population.

The minister of the late Reverend Ian Paisley's Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast said that while society was "obliged" to offer care and compassion to those women "caught in extreme circumstances," the 'Yes' campaign ahead of the referendum centred on "those emotive margins to gain its advantage".

He also claimed that the majority of women seeking an abortion did so for "socio-economic reasons" and it was "extremely disingenuous and dangerous to ignore the fact".

The minister said those that "celebrated this event with the kind of enthusiasm that is more typical of a pop concert may not even realise the extent of what they have done".

On Friday the Republic of Ireland voted overwhelming to repeal the eighth amendment to the Irish Constitution. It has led to pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to enact UK laws on abortion in Northern Ireland, which now remains the only part of the UK and Ireland where abortion remains illegal.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said the result would have no impact on Northern Ireland.

Read More

In a statement, Rev Brown described the result as an "inevitable consequence of secularisation".

"Much of Ireland imagines they have joined the ranks of the liberated as a result of the demolition of its constitutional protection for the unborn," he said.

"It does not seem to care that by the same action it has effectively delivered a death sentence on a significant percentage of its potential population."

He continued: "Actions of this nature are the inevitable consequence of secularisation. As belief in God and awareness of His Word declines, so does resistance to abortion laws. Its a matter of anthropology: when man believes himself to be a random event instead of a purposeful creation, he will inevitably draw the same conclusion about those both within him and around him. This will then enable him to weigh lives on utilitarian scales and so make distinctions about their respective value. "

On Monday a rally was held at Belfast City Hall calling for a change to Northern Ireland abortion laws and on Thursday a group of around 20 women are planning to openly break the law by driving a bus around Northern Ireland distributing abortion pills. Some activists say they will take the tablets in defiance of what they call "archaic legislation".

Read More

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said it would be "hypocritical" for Parliament to change the law in Northern Ireland unless the government decided to impose direct rule. Anti-abortion activists have also written to Mrs May urging her not to change the law which they claim has ensured 100,000 people are alive today "who would otherwise have been aborted".

Rev Brown continued: "The Bible makes it plain that God considers even the deliberate abandonment of ones child as an extreme example of heartlessness (Isaiah 49:15); and does not distinguish between the value of the child in the womb and the child who has made it into the world, using exactly the same word to describe both (Luke 1:41&44; Luke 18:15).

"We are obliged to show compassion and offer care to the small percentage of women who are caught in extreme circumstances, though while the Yes' campaign centred its focus on those emotive margins to gain its advantage, it is extremely disingenuous and dangerous to ignore the fact that the overwhelming majority of women who have presented themselves for abortion have done so for socio-economic reasons."

Over 2.1million votes were cast in Friday's referendum, a turnout of 64%. Over 1.4m voted to repeal while over 700,000 voted 'No'. The Donegal constituency was the only of the republic's 40 areas to reject a change in the law with 51% voting 'No'.

"The result of this referendum is a terrible outcome for everyone. People who have celebrated this event with the kind of enthusiasm that is more typical of a pop concert may not even realise the extent of what they have done; declaring their freedom even as they are delivered into the chains of their own judgment," said Rev Brown.

"When men sin with abandonment, God gives them over to sin that they may be consumed by it. They pour the drink into the glass with gladness, but do not yet realise that they will be made to drink it with grief, every last drop.

"Which is why the majority in County Donegal, plus the minority across the rest of the Republic of Ireland, who voted to preserve the lives of both mother and child, deserve our humble thanks  and all the efforts of those who are now determined to extend the stretch of the killing fields to Northern Ireland should be implacably resisted."
Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers and emergency services deal with a male throwing bricks from a roof causing mass damage in Ashley Drive , South Belfast on May 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

A number of homes had to be evacuated after a man occupied the roof of a house in south Belfast and began throwing debris into the street.

Police in south Belfast have arrested a 26-year-old man following the incident. Officers received a report of a man on the roof of a house at around 9.30pm on Sunday evening.

The man refused to come down and proceeded to cause damage to the roofs of a number of neighbouring properties. Several cars, parked in the street below, were also damaged by masonry and slates.

A number of homes were evacuated overnight as a result of the incident, with families only returning this morning following structural surveys being carried out at their homes.

The man came down from the roof at around 1.30am and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including criminal damage.

A local resident told The Belfast Telegraph that police chased the man over the roofs.

"I think it was around midnight I heard what sounded like somebody running across the roofs of houses and a lot of shouting," the resident said.

"After a while there was a helicopter and the police were walking around searching with torches.

"The guy ended up cornered on one of the roofs and spent over an hour there while police tried to talk him down."

The man remains in custody at this time assisting officers with their enquiries.
A life-saving ring was thrown into the River Braid close to where little Kayden Fleck went into the water and drowned earlier this year

A Co Antrim woman whose five-year-old son tragically died earlier this year after falling into a river in Ballymena has slammed the vandals who interfered with life-saving equipment close to the scene.

Vandals are being blamed for throwing a life-saving ring into a lake at Ballymena's Ecos Park, just metres from where Kayden Fleck entered the River Braid.

A major search operation swung into place Kayden fell into the water in February, but he was swept several miles downstream. The little boy was airlifted to hospital in Belfast but later died.

In recent days a life-saving ring, one of a number dotted around the park lake, was tossed into the water.

Kayden's mother Leanne said: "It is a disgrace. The life-saving rings are there for a reason.

"Why would people want to touch them? They are not toys.

"This is awful and it is disappointing that people can't leave them alone, it annoys you."

Leanne said she still feels uneasy near the Braid because of the bad memories from February.

"I don't really like going down that way at all," she said. "I don't like walking past rivers."

Leanne said she gets heart palpitations when the family drives past the local Sainsbury's, which goes over the waterway.

"It brings it all back," she said.

Leanne is still campaigning for safety improvements to be made at the river.

Park-users expressed their shock at seeing the life-saving device in the water.

One said: "When I noticed this has happened I immediately thought to myself, 'Why would somebody do such a thing?' It is concerning that people would throw this away as it could help save a life.

"When you think of the recent tragedy at the river it is even more worrying that somebody would do this."

Councillor Timothy Gaston said: "I am shocked and saddened to learn that someone has recklessly thrown the life-saving ring at the Ecos into the water. I urge whoever threw the ring into the water to wake up and think of the consequences that could have followed because of their actions".
In the midst of exam season parents have been warned that banning students from social media altogether won't make them study any better. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

In the midst of exam season parents have been warned that banning students from social media altogether won't make them study any better.

However, Avril Hall Callaghan, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers' Union, also warned students it isn't always possible to revise and post at the same time.

"WhatsApp-ing your way through successful exam revision just isn't possible, that's the bad news for students - but the good news is that total bans on mobile phones in bedrooms or study areas don't work either," she said.

Ms Hall Callaghan was commenting on similar views promoted by the government's advisor on school behaviour, Tom Bennett, who is also founder of the ResearchEd group, which spreads education research among the teaching profession.

"We're in peak exam revision season and there can be few homes where there hasn't been some level of confrontation over a teenager's use of social media during study time," she said.

"The adolescent brain can be addictive where social media is concerned - constantly needing to check for updates and statuses. Schoolwork is one casualty, alongside disrupted sleep and anxiety from an online culture that never switches off.

"It is also wired in such a way that open confrontation by a parent over this just isn't going to cut it.

"Yet the facts speak for themselves with studies from the US showing that not only does pupil achievement improve as a result of putting mobile phones away while studying, but also shows that low achieving and low income pupils gain the most.

"Another study indicates that bombarding people with multiple online distractions didn't make them quicker to react - as your teenager might argue."

However, Ms Hall Callaghan said that part of the problem is that when a student is revising online, work and play are a click away from each other.

"YouTube is an easy distraction but it's also a useful revision tool, while search engines can uncover online tutorials a student might otherwise miss," she said.

"So it's not as easy as simply asking your teenager to turn off their mobile. Encouragement rather than confrontation might be a better approach. Are your children even aware of the level of distraction their social media interruptions are having?

"Use of social media among young people is so ingrained now that they genuinely may not be aware of its effects on their ability to concentrate - yet it's no use switching off the wi-fi either as you're cutting off vital educational tools too.

"I think we may be at a turning point in attitudes of both parents and young people. No one can argue with the statistics revealing just how much time young people spend online and parents - a generation behind - are struggling to catch up.

"However, statistics are also showing the detrimental effects of trying to revise while being active on social media.

"Yes, the use of social media during exam time is a worry for but it's about finding a middle ground which works for the student."
Armed response officers discharge a taser while arresting a man in the Aspen Walk area of west Belfast on on May 27th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers discharge a taser while arresting a man in the Aspen Walk area of west Belfast on on May 27th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers discharge a taser while arresting a man in the Aspen Walk area of west Belfast on on May 27th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Armed response officers discharge a taser while arresting a man in the Aspen Walk area of west Belfast on on May 27th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police have used a stun gun on a man wielding a knife during a street fight in Belfast.

Between 9pm and 9.30pm on Saturday evening police received reports of a group of people fighting outside a property in the Aspen Walk area with one of them armed with a knife.

Sergeant Lee Patton said: "We then received a further report that a man, armed with a knife was making threats against a number of people in a property in that area.

When police arrived at the address, they were threatened by a man and specially trained firearms officers responded. A stun gun was deployed to prevent further harm to the person and the occupants of the house."

A 35-year-old man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence; threats to kill; common assault; and assaults on police.

The man is in police custody helping officers with their enquiries.

The Police Ombudsman has been informed of the use of a stun gun during the incident.
Parties at Belfast City Hall have accused Sinn Fein and the DUP of abusing the councils call-in procedure in a string of controversial funding decisions.

Chair of the Belfast City Councils Audit Panel, Ulster Unionist Councillor Jim Rodgers, said his party will be meeting with their legal advisers over the issue this week.

Alliance council group leader Michael Long accused Sinn Fein and the DUP of scuppering any sort of scrutiny in recent funding decisions by removing the call-in mechanism from the process.

The call-in mechanism is a safeguard which allows councillors to request an issue be revisited if they feel the original decision was not handled correctly, or if a decision could have a disproportionate and negative affect on a particular community.

Two weeks ago, the issue of the council's call-in mechanism raised its head following a controversial decision by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, in which Sinn Fein and the DUP have a majority, to award 400k to community groups for bonfire diversion.

The decision was also supported by the PUP, in a move that followed a drop in the uptake for the councils own bonfire grants programme.

When the matter was brought before committee the call-in procedure was removed from the process.

According to the Local Government Act (NI) 2014, a call-in can be requested if: the decision was not arrived at after a proper consideration of the relevant facts and issues; or if the decision would disproportionately affect adversely any section of the inhabitants of the district.

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers said abuse of the call-in procedure at Belfast City Council was getting absolutely out of hand.

We will be holding talks later this week with our party legal advisers over the abuse of the call-in mechanism, he said.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close William Young used a drone to take this remarkable photo of the bonfire at Sandy Row. 11/07/2017 Sandy Row Photo: William Young Sandy Row Photo: William Young Roden Street Photo: William Young Shankill Photo: William Young The scene on Love Lane in Carrickfergus as the local community rebuild a bonfire after the original bonfire they build was burnt on Monday evening. Picture by Matt Mackey / presseye.com 10/07/2017 The scene on Love Lane in Carrickfergus as the local community rebuild a bonfire after the original bonfire they build was burnt on Monday evening. Picture by Matt Mackey / presseye.com 10/07/2017 The scene on Love Lane in Carrickfergus as the local community rebuild a bonfire after the original bonfire they build was burnt on Monday evening. Picture by Matt Mackey / presseye.com 10/07/2017 Pacemaker Press Belfast 11-07-2017: Final preparations takes place for the Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast .The bonfires will be lit in loyalist areas as part of Eleventh Night celebrations on Tuesday night. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 11-07-2017: Final preparations takes place for the Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast .The bonfires will be lit in loyalist areas as part of Eleventh Night celebrations on Tuesday night. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 11-07-2017: Final preparations take place for the Bonfire on Sandy Row in Belfast .The bonfires will be lit in loyalist areas as part of Eleventh Night celebrations on Tuesday night. Picture By: Arthur Allison. SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan posted this photo of one of his election posters on a bonfire and said he considers the action a hate crime. Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. [Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com] Workmen board up windows of property beside a bonfire at the end of the Comber Greenway off Ravenscroft Avenue in east Belfast. [Photo: Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com] Masked men continue to build a bonfire at Inverary Playing Fields in Belfast. Police in Northern Ireland have warned their resources could be stretched amid growing fears of tension around the burning of Eleventh night bonfires. [Photo credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire] PA Masked men continue to build a bonfire at Inverary Playing Fields in Belfast. [Photo: PA Wire 10/07/2017] PA A bonfire constructed across the road from a petrol station in Carrickfergus was set alight in the early hours of Tuesday morning. / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp William Young used a drone to take this remarkable photo of the bonfire at Sandy Row. 11/07/2017

Its an absolute disgrace what happened with the bonfire diversion fund decision and the community tourism decision back in February.

In recent weeks representatives at City Hall have referred to a "string of controversial decisions" pushed through the council by some parties in which the call-in was not used, including February's reallocation of 4m of council funds for "community tourism".

Councillor Rodgers said, as Chair of the councils Audit Panel, he was extremely alarmed because the council has to stand over every penny it spends.

But it seems to be some parties, whenever it suits them, just bring forward proposals simply because of their own agendas, the Ulster Unionist representative added.

Ive been here at the council for more than 25 year and I am very concerned  many ratepayers are finding it difficult to pay their rates as it is and we need to ensure we can stand over every penny we dish out.

SDLP and Alliance councillors have already requested a meeting with the Audit Office over recent funding decisions at City Hall.

Alliance council group leader Michael Long said loopholes in the call-in procedure need to be closed as a matter of urgency.

We first heard about some of this 400,000 funding months ago, but some parties ensured the call-in mechanism couldnt be used because it was brought to committee too late - so much so it was apparently a matter of urgency.

We are extremely concerned - what we saw in the bonfire diversion decision was a deliberate attempt to scupper any chance of transparency and fairness in the funding.

The abuse of the call-in mechanism is something we will be raising with the Audit Office urgently, because some really good community organisations are being rejected because decisions are being taken without any attempt at transparency and fairness.

The DUP and Sinn Fein has been approached for a comment.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has criticised Theresa May over her handling of Brexit negotiations, calling the Prime Minister's stance on the Irish border "a mistake".

The arch-Brexiteer said Ms May was wrong to refuse to play hardball with Brussels by daring them to set up a hard border in Northern Ireland if there is no Brexit withdrawal agreement.

He also criticised the Cabinet's decision to approve a "backstop" option that would see Northern Ireland fall under the same regulations as the rest of Europe for a time-limited period if no other deal is reached, describing it as a "real problem".

Mr Rees-Mogg has previously urged Ms May to "call their bluff" during talks and argue there will only be a hard border after Brexit if the EU creates one, thereby giving Brussels sole responsibility for finding a solution.

He said: "Ireland has said it doesn't want a hard border, the UK has said it doesn't want a hard border and the EU itself has said it doesn't want a hard border - so frankly it's up to Brussels if it wants to start putting up border posts. We should call their bluff."

He was reportedly rebuked by Ms May for the suggestion.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday that the Prime Minister's refusal to adopt his proposed approach was "an error". He said: "The Prime Minister said in her Mansion House speech that she wasn't going to do this. I think that is a mistake. I think it is the obvious negotiating position for us to have.

"Bearing in mind the Irish economy is heavily dependent on its trade with the United Kingdom, it is overwhelmingly in the interests of the Republic of Ireland to maintain an open border with the United Kingdom.

"I think if you're going into a negotiation you should use your strongest cards, and just to tear one of them up and set hares running on other issues is, I think, an error."

Mr Rees-Mogg also criticised the Cabinet's decision to agree a "backstop" option that would see Northern Ireland maintain the same regulatory system as the rest of the EU customs union for a "time limited" period if no deal is reached to avoid a hard border.

He said: "That's a real problem because the customs union on its own does not solve the seamless border issues you require regulatory alignment as well, and that means the single market.

"If we were to stay as a rule-taker, as a vassal state, for an indeterminate period, I don't think that would be delivering on Brexit. And if you offer a backstop that is more attractive than anything you're likely to negotiate, from the other side's point of view, the backstop ends up becoming a front-stop."

He added: "There are concerns, inevitably, at the way negotiations are proceeding."
Mourners at the funeral of a 27-year-old Co Down man who died in a road traffic collision heard how he had a "love of life" and was going to be sorely missed by his family and friends.

During requiem mass for Karl Heaney in St Mary's Church, Newry, yesterday the congregation was told that his "strongest and closest community was his family".

In his homily, Fr Colum Murphy said "they will miss his ability to see good in others, his love of life, his dedication to be the best that he can be".

He also described Mr Heaney's "wicked sense of humour, his infectious smile and laugh, his devotion and loyalty to his family and his girlfriend, and many, many other countless wee things that will no longer be present to them in the same way".

Mr Heaney, a GAA player with Newry Mitchels GFC and a former pupil of Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School, died following a two-vehicle collision on the A1 between Banbridge and Dromore on May 23.

Fr Murphy told the congregation that words can be very difficult in the darkest moments.

"At a time like this we are lost for words," he said. "There are no words that can convey the grief, the sense of loss, the sense of shock, the sense of anything that we might be feeling."

He added: "It may even be the case that we are feeling numb, struggling even to get our heads around what has just happened and unable to take in the magnitude of how our lives will change because of this loss of someone who we loved so dearly."

It is understood the teaching assistant at Belfast's Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School was travelling home from GAA training when the crash happened.

Yesterday the priest said he would be "very sorely missed by fellow staff, parents and pupils whose lives he touched and blessed in so many ways".

He added: "Karl also had a wide and strong community of friends, and the loss that they feel has been very clear to see on social media over the past number of days."

Fr Murphy expressed condolences on behalf of the parish community to Karl's dad Michael, mum Monica, sisters Carina, Tara and Aoife, his girlfriend Ciara and his niece Imogen.

"This community is not just made up of those on earth who can comfort and console with words of faith and hope," he said.

"But is also a community which extends beyond this earth to the community of saints with God, and of which we pray today that Karl is now part. And in that new place and in this new way Karl will continue to look after you, his family and friends who remain behind. You may not even realise it, but say a prayer to him, ask him to look after you, to be with you, and to pray for you to the God who he is now with."

He was laid to rest in Monkshill Cemetery after the service.
A woman who fought a long legal battle to liberalise abortion law in Northern Ireland has urged Theresa May to step in.

Northern Ireland will be the only part of the UK or Ireland not to allow the procedure after the Republic voted overwhelmingly for change in a referendum at the weekend.

Sarah Ewart went for a termination in England in 2013 after doctors told her her unborn baby would not survive outside the womb.

Its a relief that women like me are going to be able to travel down to Dublin to access this procedure, but really we are wanting the help here to have it within our own hospitals in Northern IrelandSarah Ewart

The Stormont Assembly is suspended due to the collapse of powersharing months ago.

Ms Ewart told the BBC: If we had an assembly here, we would be literally at their doors begging, but we dont so we are really hoping that we can have help from Westminster and Theresa May to give us the access we need here in Northern Ireland.

Its a relief that women like me are going to be able to travel down to Dublin to access this procedure, but really we are wanting the help here to have it within our own hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Expand Close Regina Doherty (right) said legislation would be introduced to liberalise abortion in the Irish Republic (Josh Payne/PA) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Regina Doherty (right) said legislation would be introduced to liberalise abortion in the Irish Republic (Josh Payne/PA)

Ms Ewarts legal case galvanised an issue which has since made its way to the UK Supreme Court.

Mrs May is under pressure to intervene in the Northern Ireland debate following the two-to-one vote in favour of reform in Ireland.

Her Government is propped up in key votes by the DUP, which opposes any relaxation in the law and which has opposed any change in Northern Ireland under devolution.

Expand Close Theresa May has been urged to support liberalisation of Northern Ireland's laws (Leon Neal/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Theresa May has been urged to support liberalisation of Northern Ireland's laws (Leon Neal/PA)

Meanwhile, the Irish Government has said the Republic has set the tone for what should happen in Northern Ireland.

Employment Minister Regina Doherty said her colleagues will move quickly on legislation.

New laws are expected to be in place by the end of the year and Health Minister Simon Harris is to consult officials in his department on the legislation and guidelines.

The Irish Cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to consider a memo on the way forward.

Expand Close Yes campaigners in Dublin Castle (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Yes campaigners in Dublin Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

Asked whether she will be putting pressure on Mrs May to introduce legislation in Northern Ireland, Ms Doherty said: I think she has enough pressure and I think the resounding mandate that was given by the Republic of Ireland managed to set the tone with regard to what should happen in Northern Ireland but obviously they are responsible for their own.

She also said the vast majority of doctors will deliver the service women require despite some having a conscientious objection to the referendum result.

Those campaigning for liberalisation secured a stunning victory on Saturday, after it was confirmed that 66.4% of voters in Fridays referendum backed repeal of the controversial Eighth Amendment of the constitution, which bans abortion in all but exceptional circumstances.

Mr Harris will seek cabinet backing on Tuesday to draft legislation that would allow abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, subject to medical advice and a cooling-off period, and up to 24 weeks in exceptional circumstances.
Theresa May faces a political headache over the issue of abortion (Victoria Jones/PA)

Labour has told Prime Minister Theresa May to prove her feminist credentials by reforming Northern Irelands strict abortion laws.

Mrs May had already faced calls from MPs across the Commons  including within her own Cabinet  to resolve the anomalous situation in Northern Ireland following the overwhelming referendum result in Ireland in favour of liberalisation.

Labour said it was now looking at legislative options to see how that could be achieved by Westminster.

The partys shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti said reform was a matter of fundamental human rights.

Labour's Shami Chakrabarti says abortion reforms in Northern Ireland are a "test of Theresa May's feminism" #r4today pic.twitter.com/UGtgMbZTXP  BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) May 28, 2018

She told the BBC: We are calling on Mrs May, a self-identifying feminist, to negotiate with the parties in Northern Ireland and then to legislate without further delay.

You cant have democracy without fundamental human rights. And the women of Northern Ireland have suffered for long enough.

I think that Theresa May, really as a self-identifying feminist, needs to say yes, I unveil statues of suffragists in Parliament Square, but the test of my feminism will be whether I guarantee fundamental human rights for women.

Expand Close Ireland abortion referendum result Press Association Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Ireland abortion referendum result

These women in Northern Ireland, often very vulnerable, being forced to leave their homes, and their loved ones, and their country, to get this kind of treatment, that really has gone on for long enough.

And the result in the Republic just makes the situation even more anomalous now.

Scores of MPs across the Commons have already indicated they are prepared to act to rewrite the current legislation given the absence of a devolved administration in Stormont.

But the Prime Minister faces a political headache over the issue because her fragile administration depends on the support of the 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs  who strongly oppose any reform to Northern Irelands strict laws.

The Irish Referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result. I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign.  PM @theresa_may #repealedthe8th  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 27, 2018

Downing Street believes that any reform in Northern Ireland is an issue for Northern Ireland, a source said, adding it shows one of the important reasons we need a functioning executive back up and running.

In a post on Twitter, Mrs May said the vote in the Irish Republic was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result.

She added: I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said: The legislation governing abortion is a devolved matter and it is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate and decide such issues.

Some of those who wish to circumvent the assemblys role may be doing so simply to avoid its decision.

Expand Close DUP leader Arlene Foster said abortion was a devolved issue for the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate and decide (Yui MOk/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp DUP leader Arlene Foster said abortion was a devolved issue for the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate and decide (Yui MOk/PA)

The DUP is a pro-life party and we will continue to articulate our position. It is an extremely sensitive issue and not one that should have people taking to the streets in celebration.

Setting out Labours position, shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler said: Fifty years ago, abortion was decriminalised under a Labour government but women in Northern Ireland are still denied this fundamental right, having to travel to mainland UK or faced with potential prosecution and imprisonment at home.

This is an injustice. No woman in the UK should be denied access to a safe, legal abortion.

The Government must act to ensure that women in Northern Ireland have the same rights as women across the rest of the UK. Labour is calling for the Government immediately to begin negotiations with political parties in Northern Ireland about legislation to extend abortion rights.  Dawn Butler MP (@DawnButlerBrent) May 28, 2018

She said the changes should be made by the Northern Ireland Assembly, but women should not have to suffer in its absence therefore the UK Government should act.

Labour MP Stella Creasy claimed more than 140 parliamentarians had already signalled support for an effort to change the law in Northern Ireland and called on Mrs May to say you will give a free vote on 21st-century abortion laws.

And now not to leave the million of our own citizens behind without access to their reproductive rights @10DowningStreet? Say you will give a free vote on 21st century abortion laws and our democracy can do the rest to show in this day and age we #TrustAllWomen  https://t.co/D0fSOivRFA  stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) May 27, 2018

The forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill promised by ministers could be used as a vehicle for MPs hoping to change the law in Northern Ireland.

In a sign of the pressure from within Mrs Mays own party, Education Minister Anne Milton suggesting she would back liberalisation if there was a free vote.

The current situation does feel anomalous, she told ITVs Peston on Sunday.

Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt indicated her support in the wake of the Irish vote and former women and equalities minister Justine Greening said: Its clear its now time for debate and action to achieve the rights for NI women that we have as women across the rest of the UK.

Its clear its now time for debate and action to achieve the rights for NI women that we have as women across the rest of the UK. #repealthe8th https://t.co/OsJWTDw5nO  Justine Greening (@JustineGreening) May 27, 2018

But Justice Minister Rory Stewart warned against the Commons intervening on the issue.

He told the BBC the UK Government was acting as a caretaker administration in the absence of Stormont, and that must not be used to make fundamental constitutional, ethical changes on behalf of the people in Northern Ireland.
The DUP supports respectable bonfires while Sinn Fein want them all banned

When the DUP and Sinn Fein achieved electoral dominance and the late Chuckle Brothers - Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley - took over, they proved adept at finding ways to talk the talk of power-sharing while walking the walk of power-splitting.

Stronger than ever, though unable these days to make Executive deals, the two parties are busy divvying up the spoils in Belfast.

Fortunately they haven't yet managed to kill off the smaller parties, so their latest disgraceful collusion over using ratepayers' money for their own electoral advantage has attracted howls of protest that may yet upset their cosy conspiracies.

As SDLP group leader on Belfast City Council, Tim Attwood, describes, although some funding decisions are closely scrutinised, a number "have been pushed through by Sinn Fein and the DUP with little-to-no transparency or fairness at all".

In February, for instance, 4m of council funds was reallocated to nine community projects in east and west Belfast for "community tourism" - with no opportunity for bids from the public.

On his Facebook page last Wednesday, UUP Councillor Jeff Dudgeon blew the whistle on the decision on May 18 by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (SP&R) "in secret, with no papers ever made public", to give 400,000 to Sinn Fein and DUP pet community groups for "bonfire diversion".

The cunning plan involved no one outside the magic circle knowing that this money was available.

A few outsiders heard a rumour and put in some rushed applications, but had no chance of making the cut.

In the current terminology, the justification for this splurge is that it will do something about "negatively perceived bonfires".

The DUP support respectable bonfires, while Sinn Fein want them all banned because in the republican world these days only dissidents build them.

I fail to grasp why dissidents are likely to be persuaded to abandon bonfires by the award of another 100,000 to Sinn Fein's favourite heavily-sponsored baby, Feile An Phobail, any more than how 80,000 to the Ulster-Scotch Heirskip Cooncil/Ulster-Scots Community Network will divert loyalists from building towering infernos.

But obviously SP&R members Seanna Walsh, that distinguished ex-IRA bomb-maker and ex-prisoner, and Lee Reynolds, the DUP leader on the council and an Ulster-Scots enthusiast, feel differently.

Other lucky recipients include the Twaddell Woodvale Residents' Association who have promised to run "a major event on 11 July" with the help of 100,000, and community festivals in East Belfast (50,000), New Lodge (40,000), Market (10,000) and Belfast South Community Resources (26,521), which is a digital skills programme with nothing to do with bonfires.

And where is the money coming from? Well, the European City Capital of Culture Budget is being raided for 180,000.

Yes, I know the Belfast and Londonderry bid failed, but the big boys thought keeping that Budget going for pet schemes was a good idea; the rest came from the all-purpose General Reserves.

But it is of course the ratepayers who are coughing up through rate increases - at a time when high streets are ominously seeing shops close down to the left and right.

In the vote, Alliance, SDLP and UUP together mustered six votes against the victorious 12.

"We have asked the UUP and the SDLP to join us in registering concern over the abuse of ratepayers' money regarding this latest carve-up by Sinn Fein and the DUP," said Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown.

The SDLP and Alliance have now asked to meet the Audit Office, and the UUP will join them.

As Jeff Dudgeon said in his Facebook post: "The reality is that if you give the two big parties a majority they will squander your money."

It was only because of a complaint he made on the 18th about the lack of details that officials hastily added to the decision to register a promise "to ensure transparency" in the future by establishing an open call diversionary or a "call-in" safeguard that allows councillors to ask that a decision be looked at by a lawyer to see if it should be reconsidered.

"Lord, make me transparent - but not yet!" could be regarded as the DUP-Sinn Fein ecumenical prayer.

Ratepayers might take note that there are council elections next year in which this unholy alliance might usefully be taught a lesson.
DUP leader Arlene Foster has said the law covering abortion is a devolved matter for Northern Ireland politicians to deal with. John Stillwell/PA.

The Republic's landslide abortion vote leaves Northern Ireland and Malta as the states with the most restrictive legislation in Europe. But not for long, pro-choice campaigners predict.

Our abortion law is governed by the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act - passed 60 years before women had the right to vote. Campaigners believe its days are numbered. Arlene Foster says the Republic's referendum will have no impact upon our law. Theoretically, she's right. In practice, she couldn't be more wrong.

A situation where women will now potentially be able to board a train to Dublin or Drogheda to have an abortion - rather than a plane to London or Liverpool - changes everything. To outsiders, the situation looks ridiculous.

Oddly, the DUP's confidence-and-supply deal with the Tories could actually make change more likely. The London media yesterday focused on Northern Ireland's anomalous position in a way they wouldn't if the DUP weren't propping up the Government.

The pressure on Theresa May is huge, not just from backbench MPs but from Cabinet ministers. Those Tories uncomfortable that their party is in bed with the DUP in the first place want action from the Prime Minister.

Last June, a threatened backbench rebellion led to a massive U-turn, giving Northern Ireland women access to NHS-funded abortions for the first time in half a century. The Government had previously argued that doing so would undermine Stormont.

The DUP is rightly pointing out that abortion is a devolved issue. But proponents for change will argue that equality and human rights aren't, and that as the sovereign power, Westminster must redress the situation.

A proposal currently gaining traction is to use the forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill to change our abortion law. An amendment could potentially decriminalise abortion. It would remove the relevant sections of the 1861 Act, leaving doctors to exercise their clinical judgment with women patients. If the Government allows a free vote, such an amendment would pass comfortably.

The DUP might be expected to threaten to bring down the Tories if they failed to issue a three-line whip. But the party notably did not make a song-and-dance of the move to give local women free NHS abortions in Britain last year.

Some observers believe that despite its public insistence that abortion is a devolved matter, some in DUP ranks may even be privately relieved if London dealt with the issue.

The party's support base has widened dramatically in recent years and opinion polls show DUP voters are much more liberal than their leaders on abortion.

The suspension of devolution and the Republic's historic vote could prove to be a perfect storm for pro-choice campaigners.
The great and good tend to sniff at the wisdom of deciding important issues by means of a referendum. How can ordinary people be expected to understand all the complexities? Best leave it to the experts to decide what's in the country's best interests.

The joy that comes from expressions of a collective desire for change proves them wrong. We should know that better than anyone.

More than eight in ten in Northern Ireland turned out to vote in the referendum on the Belfast Agreement, and Ulster said Yes by a margin of more than two to one.

Twice now in recent years, the Irish Republic has experienced that same feeling of relief, first when voting to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015, and now by repealing the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution which effectively outlawed abortion in even the hardest cases.

As a result, the Irish government now has an unchallengeable mandate to legislate for abortions on request up to 12 weeks, and even beyond that on the say so of doctors. Ireland has gone from having Europe's strictest abortion laws to one of the most permissive.

It would be difficult to overstate the symbolic importance of last Friday's vote. Ireland has had a long and fractious relationship with the issue of unwanted pregnancy; future generations will now know those bitter abortion wars as history rather than lived experience.

The ban on termination of pregnancy was also one of the traits for which the country was best known abroad. That's why the referendum result made headlines around the world. Pope Francis will arrive in August to a very different country than the one John Paul II left in 1979.

Yes had been expected to win, but the scale of the victory, with two thirds of the population voting for repeal, was game-changing. It certainly made a mockery of all the earnest analysis during the campaign about which side was winning. In the end, posters and Facebook ads and TV debates didn't seem to matter at all.

Most people, polling data suggests, had made up their minds long in advance, tired of the endless squabbles over female fertility, and touched by the personal stories of young girls who'd been the victims of rape, or women whose babies were suffering from fatal foetal abnormalities which meant they couldn't survive outside the womb, being forced to travel to England to have terminations. They could see no way to help them without removing the Eighth Amendment in its entirety.

The balance which the Constitution tried to maintain between the rights of the mother and the unborn had simply fallen apart in the face of reality. Compelled to make a choice between irreconcilable rights, voters decided that it was no longer feasible to force women to carry pregnancies to term against their will.

Moral issues are not settled by majority votes; but politics, whilst it ought to be informed by ethics, has to deal first in the realm of the possible rather than the ideal. Irish women were not going to stop having abortions, whatever the result of Friday's vote. The widespread sense of relief when the result came in was palpable.

That doesn't mean those who campaigned and voted for No are wrong and should now slink away and shut up. Donegal may have been the only Dail constituency to vote No (despite the headlines, the county as a whole voted Yes) but a third of the electorate nationwide, more than 700,000 people, did vote against allowing abortions on demand.

That's equivalent to the population of the entire Belfast metropolitan area. These people are now unrepresented by any major party.

Where the result at the weekend leaves Northern Ireland is another matter entirely. In rapid succession, the South has now legalised same-sex marriage and abortion, leaving this small patch of land as the one place on these islands where both remain outlawed.

Never ones to miss a trick, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and her deputy Michelle O'Neill were pictured at the weekend holding up a sign declaring: "The North is next".

It's not as simple as that, of course. The wording of the referendum pledged that, in future, "provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy". In other words, voters agreed to leave the details of abortion to elected politicians. It could be argued that this is what already happens in Northern Ireland, which is why it remains illegal.

All DUP Assembly members are against liberalising the law on abortion. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood supported a Yes vote in the Republic, and the party recently opted at a special conference in Maghera to allow votes on abortion to be a matter of conscience, but the party is still officially pro-life. The UUP likewise accepts the issue as a matter of personal conscience. As for Sinn Fein, its supporters in Northern Ireland are significantly more pro-life than the leadership or southern opinion. Only Alliance and other smaller parties are firmly pro-choice.

There is then no guaranteed majority for softening the law here and no immediately obvious pathway to doing so. There would be something immensely satisfying about seeing laws on same-sex marriage and abortion imposed from above in Westminster, but what are the chances that a UK government which still needs DUP support will have the courage to end its hands-off approach and practise some direct rule?

Polls do consistently show that the public here is much more liberal than their political representatives. A Belfast Telegraph poll last year found only 29 per cent of people were opposed to allowing abortions in a wider range of circumstances; in 2016, another study found a clear majority in favour of abortion in cases of rape and incest.

Local politicians are definitely out of touch with ordinary people. Even a majority of DUP supporters want to legalise same-sex marriage, for example. Christian traditionalists in Arlene Foster's party would no doubt argue that candidates stood, and won, on a manifesto which couldn't have been more bluntly anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage.

That's true, but it's simply another illustration of the peculiar nature of elections in Northern Ireland, where voting for a party does not automatically imply support for all, or even most, of its actual policies. It's more an expression of tribal allegiance.

The only way of breaking that deadlock when it comes to issues outside the green/orange straitjacket is through a referendum. Who knows, it might even do local politics a power of good to find things on which we can agree or disagree that have nothing whatsoever to do with those old sectarian rituals.
Ireland is a country renowned for its hospitality and generosity - it's one hundred thousand welcomes. The Eighth Amendment saved 100,000 lives in a little under 25 years. It recognised both lives and was a pioneering piece of legislation on human dignity. The people of Ireland have now voted to remove it.

I wept on Saturday night as the magnitude of the result hit me. I was overwhelmed with deep sadness at a generation wiped out. The cheering at Dublin Castle haunted me. What sort of world cheers such a tragic moment, regardless of your views on abortion?

As Gandhi is reputed to have said: "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."

Sacrificing the human dignity of the most vulnerable is too high a price for radical individualism and personal freedom. We are relational beings, made to live in community. Every day we choose to limit ourselves for others - our children, parents, neighbours, friends.

Ireland has witnessed a brutal demonstration of power. The political establishment and the media conspired to repeal the most basic of human rights. The power of being alive was used to deny the right to life for the most vulnerable.

Scientific facts were set aside in favour of a fiction - that choice is the new god. A foetus only becomes a baby if it is wanted - a victory for consumerism, not science. And as John Stuart Mill warned, the tyranny of opinion hounded those who refused to bend the knee to the new orthodoxy.

Ireland will now have one of the most liberal abortion regimes in the world. There will be unintended consequences. There will be implications right across this island. A GP friend reminded me of the women he sees who are dealing with issues of regret many years later. Both lives pay the price for abortion.

Many of those who favour abortion say they want it to be free, safe, legal and rare. That is exactly what the law in Northern Ireland allows. Abortion is permitted when there is a serious and permanent threat to life and health of the mother. Such abortions are free on the NHS, they are safe and thankfully they are rare.

When it comes to the human dignity of the unborn, we remain a beacon of hope in Northern Ireland and as the world around grows darker, that beacon will grow brighter.

Our starting point is that both lives matter. Abortion is not the answer and so we look for better solutions. We offer relationships education. We journey with those who have a crisis pregnancy. We want to provide the best perinatal hospice care available. And yes, we can do better.

No doubt we will now see childish stunts and naive politicians calling for change in Northern Ireland. We need Stormont up and running for a host of reasons - but it is important that devolution is respected and democracy is allowed to run its course.

When there is a school shooting in America there are two responses - those who want to ban guns and those who want to arm everyone. Most here are appalled at the idea that more guns is the solution.

The idea that easier abortion is the solution to crisis pregnancy is just as appalling. Politicians must address the inequalities which lead women to believe that abortion is their only choice.

We know for a fact that 100,000 people are alive in Northern Ireland today who would not be if we had introduced the 1967 Abortion Act. The abortion lobby challenged that fact. The Advertising Standards Authority found that on balance "the evidence indicated there was a reasonable probability that around 100,000 people were alive in Northern Ireland today who would otherwise have been aborted had it been legal to do so".

Ireland's vote is not progress, it is darkness masquerading as light. Northern Ireland has suffered too much unnecessary violence. I pray we won't now inflict it on the unborn.
Alliance for Choice are thrilled to hear that the people of Ireland have voted YES!

Alliance for Choice are thrilled to hear that the people of Ireland have voted YES!

This historic result has shown that Ireland wants change and no longer sees the constitution as the right place to control women and pregnant people's healthcare. Ireland has said it believes its abortion seekers should be cared for by Ireland in Ireland and with dignity.

We are proud to have played a small part in solidarity campaigning with our friends in Ireland, and we will continue with that solidarity until it is no longer needed. We also gratefully acknowledge the offers we have already had, in solidarity from the South, to work towards the change that is still so urgently needed in Northern Ireland.

As of now, people in Northern Ireland will still have to travel for access, women (those that can) travel today, families travelled yesterday, more will travel tomorrow and face having to bleed it out on a plane home. Or more are self-administering pills at home and too scared of arrest to seek medical attention if a problem arises.

We know that the parties that represent the strongest No vote for Ulster are not representing their supporters.

An Amnesty International survey in 2016 of 1,000 people suggested 73% of DUP supporters back access to abortion for rape or incest. In clear contrast to the party, who have 0% support for that. It suggested 69% of SDLP voters feel the same way, despite the SDLP re-affirming their 'Pro Life' position in the shadow of abortion becoming a vote of conscience for party members.

People in Northern Ireland are not voting for the DUP or SDLP because of their stance on abortion or gay marriage, they vote for them despite their stance on social issues.

The DUP have stated that we do not want to be bullied into accepting abortion in Northern Ireland, but the thousands of people who have travelled for abortions and the thousands more who self-aborted at home, and their friends and families do not agree and have never been asked.

Protestant and Catholic people in Northern Ireland have abortions at the same rate and when left to the assembly they have dodged and swayed and blocked the question.

We do not want or need a referendum, it is constitutionally unnecessary and it wouldn't be legally binding if our assembly deigned to return to Stormont. It also expects that people who have been through these circumstances must open up their private lives for scrutiny and turns human rights into a popularity contest.

Human Rights are enshrined in International Treaties in order to protect from this kind of populism.

This is why we need Westminster to do its job and support the people, not the politicians of Northern Ireland in enacting access to abortion healthcare now.

Thanks to champions such as Stella Creasy and Rupa Huq in the Labour Party, Justine Greening and Penny Mordaunt in the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats and Green parties, we know that Westminster can make this happen for Northern Ireland.

It's not just Alliance for Choice saying this, it's poll after poll, survey after survey.

Let's keep this momentum for change from the bottom up happening.

We are fighting fit and ready.
Philippine government forces killed nine members of a Muslim rebel group during a raid carried out as part of President Rodrigo Dutertes anti-drugs war, putting at risk the passage of a long-delayed law for expanded autonomy in the south, officials said Monday.



The raid, which took place late Friday in the town of Matalam on southern Mindanao island, was meant to arrest two notorious drug pushers, according to local police spokesman Superintendent Bernard Tayog.



But a huge firefight erupted after those inside the home resisted, instantly killing seven, Tayog said. Two others died hours later, according to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which claimed the rebel fighters thought they were being attacked by another armed group.



Several high-powered firearms, including sniper rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, were found at the site, police said, adding that no drugs were found.



Senior leaders of the MILF disputed the police version of events, saying those slain belonged to its elite jungle fighting force, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), which has been helping the army go against pro-Islamic State (IS) groups in the south.



They were disarmed before they were shot at close range by policemen and soldiers, said Butch Malang, head of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, which had filed a complaint with the government peace panel.



The fatalities were part of the MILFs 105th Base Command, which has been helping the government against other militant groups in the area, Malang said.



Jerome Succor Aba, a member of the rights group Suara Bangsamoro, condemned the killings as he urged the MILF and other Muslims to demand justice to their fallen comrades.



The Duterte administration is jeopardizing the hard-earned gains of the Moro people towards just and lasting peace, he said. While Congress is discussing the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the military and the police are also busy killing the primary stakeholders of its approval.



He was referring to the law that is supposed to give the MILF expanded autonomy in the countrys south. It was a key component of a peace agreement that rebels had signed with the government in 2014, but has been repeatedly bypassed by a Congress fearful of granting the MILF vast powers in the south.



The BBL, now up for deliberation by the Senate and House of Representatives, outlines the basic structure of the proposed autonomy in Mindanao, the countrys mineral-rich southern third where many areas remain mired in poverty because of the insurgency.

The 12,000-member MILF dropped its bid for self-rule to settle for an expanded autonomy when it signed a peace deal with Manila in 2014.

In February, Congress voted to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of this year, saying that military rule was needed as the government was still rounding up stragglers from IS-linked groups who fought in the city of Marawi.

More than 1,200 people, most of them militants, died in the five-month Marawi siege that ended in October.

Mark Navales also in Cotabato City contributed to this report.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Proverbs 25:11)

Have you ever wondered what a word fitly spoken looks like? The Old Testament has many examples of women who spoke words of courage and help and displayed a kind of God-confidence that is to be admired. Consider these ten women in the Bible who were bold and faithful in their Spirit-led interventions and, in their womanly way, were mightily used by God.

1. Zipporah

Moses was about to be put to death by the LORD, but Zipporah wisely intervened by circumcising his sons and therefore saving his life so he could fulfill his mission to lead Gods people out of Egypt.

At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. It was then that she said, A bridegroom of blood, because of the circumcision. (Exodus 4:24-26)

2. Deborah

Barak was hesitant to obey the LORD, but Deborah boldly reminded him of Gods promise to go before them, and the blessings that come with obedience.

She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, Go gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulum. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabins army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand? (Judges 4:6-7)

3. Manoahs wife

Manoah was tempted to fearfully overreact after a visit from God, but Manoahs wife calmly and insightfully encouragedhim with words of faith. Their promised son Samson would evoke longing for the greatest promised son, Jesus.

And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, for we have seen God. But his wife said to him, If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to use such things as these. (Judges 13:22-23)

4. Ruth

Boaz was kind to pray for Ruth, that she would receive protection from the LORD, but Ruth humbly called Boaz to recognize that he was Gods choice to provide that protection. Ruth became the mother of Obed, grandfather of David.

Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer. (Ruth 3:9)

5. Hannah

The Priest Eli was unable to decipher the difference between a rambling drunk and troubled woman seeking the LORD, but Hannah gently corrected him and opened his eyes to see how God was at work. Gods answer to her prayer, her son Samuel, became a great prophet who would anoint David as king.

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you. But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. Then Eli answered, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him. And she said, Let your servant find favor in your eyes. Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:12-18)

6. Abagail

David was angry and ready to commit murder, but Abagail discretely appealed to him to do the right thing and leave vengeance to the LORD, protecting David from the folly of his temper.

David said to Abagail, Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me from this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! (1 Samuel 25:30-33)

7. The Wise Woman of Tekoa

David was unwilling to forgive his son, but the wise woman of Tekoa helped him to see that reconciliation was better than banishment.

Then the woman said, Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king. He said Speak. And the woman said, Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. (2 Samuel 14:12-13)

8. The Wise Woman of Abel-Bethmaach

Joab was prepared to destroy an entire city because of one guilty man, but the wise woman of Abel-Bethmaach entreatedto find a peaceful solution, saving many lives.

Then a wise woman called from the city, Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, Come here, that I may speak to youThey used to say in former times, Let them but ask counsel at Abel, and so they settled a matter. I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord? Joab answered, Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city. (2 Samuel 20:16-21a)

9. The Shunammite Woman

The Shunammite womans husband was content to merely provide a meal to Gods servant Elisha, but the Shunammite woman proposed that they show real hospitality and were rewarded in the birth of their son.

And she said to her husband, Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there. (2 Kings 4:9-10)

10. Esther

Mordechai urged Esther to use all of her influence to change the Kings deadly decree, but Esther humbly requested that first all the Jews in Susa gather for three days of fasting, demonstrating her belief that only God could save her and her people.

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish. Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. (Esther 4:15-16)

Fearless Faith in Jesus

Did this list surprise you? These wise and faithful women intervened for the good of others, some at the risk of their very lives. Im encouraged to read how the Bible is full of bold, godly women who respectfully used the influence given to them to rescue, protect, and guide.

May we all embrace the quick-thinking of Zipporah, the diplomacy of Deborah, the insight of Manoahs wife, the exhortation of Ruth, the gentle correction of Hannah, the discretion of Abagail, the clever speech of the wise women of Tekoa and Abel-Bethmaach, the hospitality of the Shunammite woman, and the courage of Esther.

These women of the Bible knew the greatness of their God and had a boldness of speech to match, and while Im grateful for their particularly feminine example, they all fell short and needed a Savior, just like you and me. Therefore, I know I can pursue this kind of faithful courage with confidence only because of the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the word made flesh, he spoke up for me by dying in my place on the cross, and he rose again to give me an eternal hope so that I never need to give in to fear. Because he sent Jesus, I can be confident in Gods love for me and, by his favor, I can pursue the godliness of the courageous and faithful women of the Old Testament, as many saints both dead and alive have done before me. And by his Spirit, my voice can provide words fitly spoken for his glory.

What characterizes the women you know whose words display godly feminine courage?

This article was originally published on UnlockingTheBible.org. Used with permission.

Rachel Lehner is married to Peter, has four children, and serves in women's ministry at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church. Among other things, she loves helping with math homework and reciting Dr. Seuss from memory.

Publication date: June 6, 2016
[ Editor's note : Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

"You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." - Leviticus 20:26

Leviticus 20:26Classic Commentary

Holiness

No one can explain the phenomena of Israel and the Holy One of Israel adequately without realizing the fundamental distinctive of Yahweh's transcendence. The pagan format of a "below-above" interpretation of reality was challenged by the audacious claim of Israel to be created by and related to the only Holy One. It is apparent that Moses understood this division of reality. He bowed in awe, because an Other had confronted him One who is not to be manipulated and who desires a relationship prior to any service. Israel's existence was marked indelibly by the nature of its deity, "I am holy" was the basis for their worldview, history, spirituality, and purpose (Leviticus 11:44).

Various manifestations of the brightness of the glory of God were constant reminders that the Holy One was in the midst of his people (Exodus 13:21 ; Exodus 15:11 ; Exodus 40:34). More than simply a show of searing brilliance, however, the God of Israel appears in ways that indicate his desire to communicate his very nature to his own.

The One who is Other in nature and character provides the means by which Israel can live in the full reality of his nature, and in turn can come to share his aversion to all that is fundamentally unreal. This is shown most graphically in the distinction between the clean and the unclean, the sacred and the profane, the holy and the common throughout Israel's practical worship. Yahweh, who has sanctified a day and a bush, moves in deliberate steps to reveal actualized holiness in everyday life. All of life is seen as having the option of moving from the natural to the spiritual, from the relatively secular to the totally Holy. Sinai, the tabernacle, Israel's two camps, (one for the clean and one for the unclean), and ultimately the temple, each with their accompanying physical elements and human ministers, point to one goal: the possibility of dwelling with the Holy One (cf. Zechariah 2:13 ; Zechariah 14:20 ).

(Adapted from Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)

A Thought to Keep

Israel's way of life brought everyday matters (the profane) under the authority of God (the holy). Their concept of holy did not divide life into two spheres as the pagans around them did, but brought the profane under the holy for a whole life. Do we do the same?
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the truth about the harms of marijuana.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To mark the beginning of the MoU, Shija hospitals along with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland will be conducting a free heart screening.

The National Health Mission (NHM) of Nagaland has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with hospitals in Guwahati and Imphal under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), a child health screening and early intervention programme under NHM.

The MoU was signed with Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, a tertiary eye-care hospital and an institute of ophthalmology based in Guwahati and Shija Hospitals and Research Institute Imphal, a premier hospital providing secondary and tertiary healthcare.

To mark the beginning of the MoU, Shija hospitals along with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland will be conducting a free heart screening either at District Hospital Mokokchung or Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima for all age groups.

The National Health Mission, Nagaland has been implementing RBSK in Nagaland since 2013. It aims at early detection and management of 4Ds prevalent in the children free of cost- Defects at birth, diseases, Deficiency and Developmental Delays including Disabilities.
Woman Asked For Goodbye Kiss & She Ended Up Biting His Tongue Pulse oi-Syeda Farah

Relationships do not have to end in a healthy manner and breakups are the worst in this matter. When we are in love, everything seems to be rosy, but when things go sour, it can turn out to be your worst nightmare.

Most of the breakups that people go through, do not seem to end on a healthy note and this case is a perfect example of things going wrong during breakups.

This is the case of a woman who bit her boyfriend's tongue when they were sharing their last goodbye kiss.

Check out on more details about the same...

It Happened In China!

Going by the records, one can always witness some of the most bizarre happenings in China. This 23-year-old man in eastern China had to be rescued by the police, after his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend bit his tongue and refused to let go of him.

The Incident Happened In Public

According to a few onlookers, this bizarre incident happened when the man had asked to breakup with the woman, and the couple had an intense argument, after which she demanded a last goodbye kiss from him.

Man Thought His Wife Was A Woman, But...

She Bit Him Real Hard!

Once the couple decided to share their goodbye kiss, the woman bit the man real hard and there was a little that the man could do and was wailing in pain on the street.

He Was Forcefully Rescued

It is reported that the woman was tough, as she was not ready to let go of the man, even though she was holding his tongue between her tongue real hard. Apparently, to release the man's tongue, people out there had to make use of a pepper spray for her to let go of him!

He Posted Pics Of A Cheating Girlfriend & It's Gone Viral!

He Was Set Free Finally!

Since she was real tough to be handled, using a pepper spray worked, as she instantly let go of his tongue. It is reported that the man is stable and he does not have any life-changing injuries on his tongue. He was discharged after examination.

Her Parents Claim

The woman's parents explained to the cops that their daughter had recently become 'mentally unstable' when she was scammed while shopping an online stuff, and this could be the only reason for her unexplained behaviour!

Whatever Be The Reason!

We're glad the man is safe and getting your tongue bitten off is the last and the worst nightmare that you can ever have when you breakup with your ex! Isn't it?

What is your take on this? Let us know in the comment section below.

GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 15:01 [IST]
By Brian Keegan

The position of the individual is fundamental to the way income taxes in Ireland are applied.

An individual taxpayer receives tax credits, rate bands and allowances in their own right, and it is unusual for the transfer of allowances and credits to someone else to be permitted.

There are tax pitfalls associated with working with family members, because sometimes it is regarded as transferring income from one individual to another to reduce tax, while keeping the income within the family unit.

For instance, people in business in their own account wont usually benefit in tax terms if they introduce their children into the trade or profession as their business partners.

Theres one important exception to this for farmers, called the Succession Farm Partnership Scheme.

This is a tax incentive administered by Teagasc where the farmer and his or her successor work in an approved partnership which culminates in the transfer of the majority of the farm assets to the successor.

What happens if you employ a family member?

Once employment law requirements are satisfied, there is no legal impediment to a parent employing one or more children in the family business.

Because of the suspicion in the tax code of parent-child income transfers, Revenue tends to examine the hiring of a family member particularly carefully to satisfy themselves that there is no whiff of tax avoidance arising from a bogus employment.

The key to staying on the right side of Revenue while employing a family member is to make sure that the wages are paid wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business.

The rate of pay has to be justifiable for the work which the family members are doing. There has to be some commercial basis for the wage.

Paying a family member a full-time salary for weekend work wont cut it.

Another consideration is that the wages must actually be paid over. Its not enough to put the pay through payroll if the family member never receives it.

Lastly, Irish tax law doesnt allow any tax benefits for making illegal payments. An illegal payment could include wages to a child who is working underage.

So once you have met the business purpose and legality conditions, you then have to show that wages are properly accounted for.

All wages paid by the business to any employee, family member or not, will be subject to PAYE.

The already strict PAYE system is being updated further with effect from January 1 next with the introduction of what Revenue calls PAYE modernisation.

Nearly all businesses will have to have an up-to-date payroll software system which is compatible with Revenues own systems and which can transfer employee and payment information backwards and forwards between the business and the tax office.

This will result in a high level of control from the tax office.

Care must also be taken with any payments made to workers outside of payroll. From a Revenue perspective, the chief suspects here are travel expenses and mileage allowances.

Again, the key here is control. You must keep records of vouched expenses and any business mileage actually incurred, if youre paying mileage rates.

However, once all these obligations are met, there is no tax reason why family members should not be employed in the family business or on the family farm.

All individual family members are entitled to use their personal tax credits and bands, as long as there are proper reasons to have them employed and good controls on their earnings.

Brian Keegan is director of public policy and Taxation at Chartered Accountants Ireland
Over 50,000 passengers are expected to travel through Cork Airport across the June Bank Holiday weekend, a 4% increase on the same period last year.

The weekend will also see the commencement of seven summer season routes, to destinations across France, Spain and Italy.

Cork Airports Head of Communications, Kevin Cullinane said that the addition of three new routes and services this year has provided greater choice and flexibility for those choosing to fly from the airport.

This is set to be the busiest June Bank Holiday weekend for Cork Airport in four years. All our summer season routes are now fully operational and there will be an influx of visitors into the region over the holiday weekend as well as those heading abroad for a well-earned holiday.

Six Ryanair routes will kick off this weekend from Cork Airport with Ryanair serving Milan-Bergamo, Girona, Carcassonne, Reus, Alicante and Bordeaux; while Iberia Express commences direct flights to Madrid and beyond across their network.

The 2018 summer schedule also sees the addition this year of Air Frances new year-round daily Cork to Paris Charles de Gaulle route, linking the south of Ireland to the French capital and to a further 180 global destinations on their route network.

This is also the first full summer season for Norwegians non-stop direct transatlantic service to Boston Providence, providing Irish travellers easy access to US destinations in New England such as Marthas Vineyard, Cape Cod and Newport.

As this weekend is expected to be the busiest so far this year, we would advise all passengers to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to their flight to avoid any unnecessary delays. Passengers are also strongly advised to go directly to the security screening area once they have checked in, added Kevin Cullinane.

Those choosing to drive to Cork Airport can avail of great value parking by booking online in advance and we would also advise that the forecourt is strictly a set-down area only.

The 2018 summer season will see food and beverage outlets open at Cork Airport including the new Badger & Dodo barista coffee bar, operated by Aramark in the Food Republic food court, as well as the new Aspire Business Lounge, operated by Swissport, which will be officially opened next week.

Commenting on the new developments, Kevin Cullinane said: We are committed to continuing to develop our facilities for all of our passengers, when they are travelling for either business or leisure.

Cork Airport is the second busiest international airport in Ireland, and we are in a great position to experience further growth this year, he added.
Update - 6.26pm: A Catholic priest has reacted to Bishop Doran's belief that people who voted yes in Friday's referendum committed a sin and should attend confession.

Bishop Doran from Elphin told Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio One this morning: "If you voted yes knowing and intending that abortion would be the outcome, then you should consider coming to confession, where you would be received with the same compassion that is shown to any other penitent."

He was then asked if he considered a yes vote a sin, his answer was: "If they knew and intended abortion as the outcome, yes I believe so."

Fr Brian D'Arcy joined Sarah McInerney on RTE Radio One's Drivetime this afternoon and said that people must follow their conscience and vote conscientiously, whether it was to vote yes or no.

He said: "I wouldn't like to attribute sin in this matter, at all. It's the wrong language for this because this isn't an issue about Church law at all.

"This is an issue about how the State is attempting to treat all its people in an emerging way, in an emerging republic in an emerging world."

"Each of us is having to struggle to find a way of accepting what is right for yourself, while also allowing what you couldn't allow for yourself to be allowed for others who might view life and its ethics and morality in a different way.

"That's very important to accept and encourage, and certainly not condemn.

The language of sin is not one I would use in this, at all. - Fr Brian D'Arcy

He stated that Catholic teaching wasn't up for discussion in this issue and added that the Catholic Church has a position on abortion, but nobody was asking the Catholic Church to change their teaching.

Fr D'Arcy also said that he was against adding the 8th Amendment to the Constitution in 1983.

Listen to the interview below:

- Digital Desk

11.55am: Bishop calls on Catholic yes voters to attend confession; Pro-life FF TDs will support abortion bill, Martin says

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin says he is in favour of holding a special Dail sitting over the summer in order to get legislation passed to repeal the 8th amendment.

"I would like to see [the legislation] published before the summer recess. I would like to see a second stage debate before the summer recess.," he said.

It should be possible if we collectively process this to have this legislation passed in line with the wishes of the people as declared emphatically in the referendum.

"That is my position and that will be our position as we work with Government and other parties in the Dail to give legislative voice to the decision of the people."

Michael Martin said he did not believe there were "fences to be mended" in his party.

"We had a freedom of conscience which we have been applying since 2013 that allows tolerance and respect for the opinions of others on questions like this.

"As far as I'm concerned, the people have now spoken. Many deputies have contacted me, many who voted no, very clear that they will support a bill and certainly will not do anything to oppose the passage of the legislation.

Meanwhile, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran has said he believes people who voted yes in Friday's referendum committed a sin and should attend confession.

Bishop Doran told Sean O'Rourke that he was surprised by the outcome of Friday's referendum.

"I do find it quite surprising that a majority of people voted for this," he said.

"Personally I'm very sad about it, I still believe in the right to life of every person, I don't believe there's any such thing as a life without value.

"As far as the church is concerned, what was true on Thursday last is still true today.

Unlike political liberalism, we're not going to change our core values because of a referendum vote because human rights are not really a matter for democratic decision.

A survey showed 12% of voters said religious views played a part in their decision.

"We have seen this coming. There are what I would describe as 'cultural Catholics' and then there are committed Catholics," Bishop Doran said.

"There's a difference between faith, which is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and religious, which is the communal expression of that faith. For many people who still consider themselves as Catholics, religion has become somewhat divorced from faith," he said.

He said he thinks it is a sin if Catholics voted yes on Friday knowing that it was leading to abortion.

"Every person's vote has a moral significance and a political significance. The Catholic Church is a family and nobody ever gets struck off and God never takes back his love.

What I would say to a Catholic who voted yes is this: if you voted yes knowing and intending that abortion would be the outcome, then you should consider coming to confession, where you would be received with the same compassion that is shown to any other penitent.

When asked if he considered a yes vote a sin, he replied: "If they knew and intended abortion as the outcome, yes I believe so."

Bishop Doran's remarks were met by a slew of text messages to the programme.

Texters who are practicing Catholics and who voted yes expressed their sadness at his views.

"I feel so sad and unwelcome now," one wrote.

Listen to the interview in full here:

Elsewhere, the Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, said this morning in an interview on RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta that he fears that the results of the referendum may herald a change in public attitudes to the elderly and those with special needs in this country.

"I think it was a very sad weekend for the country, and Im very disappointed personally ... but the people have voted and we must accept it now," he said.

I think that it (the result) may change peoples attitudes to life and being pro-life. Id be afraid that, in the future, attitudes may change towards the elderly and people with special needs and the likes.

Bishop Monahan also said that although there were clearly difficulties, in light of the fact that so many Catholics voted for repeal, that it is unhelpful to talk about them leaving the church.

"Its a very difficult question. Its a Church and there are plenty of people with different attitudes within it and we have to accept that.

I dont think it is helpful to say that you cant be Catholic (if you voted for Repeal) because then lots of people would be leaving.

"The viewpoint of the Pope on this would be that if there is hope that people have faith and that they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, not to throw them out of the Church ... But its very difficult, to reconcile the two viewpoints.
By Tom Tuite

A Fair City star who punched and bit his former partner during an attack has been spared a jail sentence.

Actor Patrick Fitzpatrick, 33, who played Carrigstown villain Zumo Bishop for six years in the RTE television soap, appeared at Dublin District Court today for sentencing. He received a 12-month probation bond for the attack.

He pleaded guilty earlier to assault causing harm to Theresa Gannon at his home at Hollytree Terrace, Ballymun, on September 4, 2015. The charge was under Section Three of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The offence, at district court level, can carry a sentence of up to one year.

Judge John Lindsay noted Fitzpatrick had complied with his order, made at an earlier stage, to pay 2,000 to his former partner. He was also furnished with an updated probation report on the accused as well as a reference from an employer.

Defence counsel Simon Donagh asked the judge to note his client had engaged positively with the Move organisation which helps address domestic violence. He said Fitzpatrick was going to AA, however, the judge pointed out the probation report stated he had not been attending.

Mr Donagh explained there had been a gap but Fitzpatrick was now going again, three times a week.

Judge Lindsay remarked that a good probation report on Fitzpatrick had been furnished to the court and told him, Well done, adding that he was imposing a 12-month probation bond.

He said Fitzpatrick must continue attending and complete a 26-week course at Move. Fitzpatrick told the judge he was already in the third module of the course.

He said I am, yes when asked to confirm he had gone back to AA. He also explained he has been attending addiction counselling.

Asked how long he expected that to last, he told the court, Theres no time date on it.

Finalising the case, Judge Lindsay said he must continue attending these services as a condition of his probation bond.

At an earlier hearing, Garda Niall Carolan had told Judge Lindsay that Fitzpatrick bit the womans upper arm but did not break skin. He has also said the actor then punched her twice on the side of her jaw.

Photos of her injuries were shown to the court.

She suffered bruising and a medical report on her was furnished to the court.

Garda Carolan has told the court the victim has made a full recovery.

In February last year, Judge Lindsay had suggested the sum of 2,000 should be paid to Ms Gannon. The defence had asked for the actor to be given time to come up with all the money which was fully paid in installments.

Fitzpatrick played Fair City gangster Zumo Bishop for six years, from 2007 to 2013 and briefly reprised the role last year.

His fictional on-screen hard-man alter ego was at the centre of some of the programme's biggest stories in recent years. Fitzpatricks other acting roles included a part in horror film City of Hate.
The judge at the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm has said banking authorities cannot condone criminal behaviour.

Much has been said about the Financial Regulator and the Central Bank, but what they knew is irrelevant to the issues in this trial, Judge Karen O'Connor told jurors.

On day 80, she began her charge to the jury, and outlined the legal rules which apply to the case, one of the longest-running trials in Irish legal history.

It is the State's case that Mr Drumm conspired with Irish Life & Permanent's former CEO, Denis Casey, Anglo's former financial director Willie McAteer and former Head of Treasury at Anglo, John Bowe, and others to carry out 7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions in order to bolster the customer deposits figure on the bank's balance sheet.

(Left to right) Willie McAteer, John Bowe and Denis Casey.

Today, the trial judge described 2008 as a time of unprecedented financial crisis.

She said that although bankers may have frantically been trying to keep their doors open, necessity is not a defence to the charges made against Mr Drumm.

Judge O'Connor explained that if a parent steals food from a shop to feed their hungry children it is still theft, even if the person had told a garda what they planned to do.

David Drumm (aged 51) of Skerries, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others to defraud depositors and investors at Anglo by dishonestly creating the impression that deposits in 2008 were 7.2 billion larger than they were.

The former Anglo Irish Bank CEO has also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on December 3, 2008, by furnishing information to the market that Anglo's 2008 deposits were 7.2 billion larger than they were.

David Drumm.

On the opening day of his trial, Mr Drumm's lawyers told the jury that he accepts that the multi-million euro transactions took place between Anglo and ILP in 2008 but disputes that they were fraudulent or dishonest.

Judge O'Connor reminded the 10 men and four women that when they were sworn in, they were asked not to participate in the case if they had strong views.

You and you alone decide the facts. Trust your own judgement. Apply your common sense, she said.

The judge urged them to put aside any sympathies, and ask themselves if the evidence withstood scrutiny during the trial.

The presumption of evidence is the cornerstone of the criminal justice system, she said.

Mr Drumm pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent and it is only for the jury to find otherwise, she said.

The judge told jurors that they were dealing with two separate trials within a trial, and asked them to consider each of the charges against the defendant separately.

On the conspiracy charge, she said dishonesty is an essential ingredient of this offence.

She said jurors should concentrate on whether there was a conspiracy to dishonestly engage in transactions to create a false and misleading impression with the intention of causing loss or the risk of loss to depositors or investors.

The judge stressed Mr Drumm did not have to prove anything, and that no adverse inferences should be drawn from the fact that he did not give evidence during his trial.

It is up to you ladies and gentlemen to decide whether or not the transactions at the centre of this case were real or not, and whether or not they were entered into dishonestly, said Judge Karen O'Connor.

Regarding the false accounting charge, the judge said it was up to jurors to decide if Mr Drumm knew the account was false, misleading or deceptive.

If you have any reasonable doubt about either charge, you must acquit, she said.

Judge O'Connor told jurors that it was unfortunate that only 12 of them would eventually be allowed to deliberate, considering the time and effort they have given the case.

The judge sent the jury home for the afternoon and will continue with her charge tomorrow morning.
By Liam Heylin

The new 35m courthouse in Cork opened yesterday as the Lord Mayor of the city pleaded for more funding for local community projects working to keep people out of courtrooms.

The new courts complex on Anglesea Street was officially opened today by the Chief Justice Frank Clarke, and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

Tony Fitzgerald, Lord Mayor of Cork, was the first speaker at the opening ceremony today for the courthouse and he emphasised the role of crime prevention particularly through garda juvenile liaison schemes and other projects at community level aimed at keeping young people positively active.

I appeal to all those in power that funding remains in local communities working in partnership with An Garda Siochana to keep as many people out of here and active in their community through sport and community development, said Mr Fitzgerald.

Mr Flanagan said: Whether a person comes here to work, to seek vindication, to face justice, or as a jury member to pass judgement, everyone will now enter a courthouse which integrates the old and the new, respecting our built heritage exemplified in the Model School and contrasting this with a modern building sculpted from Irish limestone to provide a modern courthouse for Cork City.

A courthouse is a place where life-changing decisions can occur. It is a place where complex and sensitive issues that affect peoples lives are dealt with. It can be intimidating and but that is why it is so good to see the enhancements here.

The new courthouse has six courtrooms, two nonjury and four jury, as well as secure circulation areas for judges, jurors and those in custody.

It also includes a vulnerable witness suite, a victim support room, a legal practitioners room, enhanced custody facilities, jury reception room, consultation rooms and other support facilities.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke, said: This fine refurbishment and new building is a very successful solution to providing additional and improved court facilities in the city.

"The improved facilities and the attractive design of the new building, complementing the historic structure, will help create an atmosphere beneficial to all who have business in the courts in Cork.

With this project now completed, and with the fine courthouse in Washington St continuing in operation, Cork city now has what are probably the best court facilities in the country.
Irish parents will not face a fine if they take their children out of school early for a holiday.

While the practice is discouraged by schools here, parents are not hit with a bill, like in some other countries.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will meet with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Lee Nak-yon at Government Buildings today.

This is the first time since 1990 that a Prime Minister of South Korea has visited Ireland.
By Aodhan O Faolain and Ray Managh

A well-known Dublin City centre based restaurant which employs 60 people faces being "put out of business" in a dispute with its landlords, the High Court has heard.

This afternoon Chicago Rock Cafe Limited, which operates the TGI Friday's at the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, Dublin, secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing its landlords from taking possession of the premises it has operated from for more than 28 years.

The interim injunction was granted by Mr Justice Tony O'Connor against the restaurant operator's landlords Ventaskel Ltd, Irish Life Assurance Plc and Mirelf VI Irish Investments ICAV on an ex-parte basis, where only one side was present in court.

Seeking the injunction barrister David Whelan Bl for Chicago Rock Cafe said his client entered into a 35-year lease in respect of the premises from where it has operated a franchise for the popular US casual diners TGI Friday's since 1989.

The landlords were seeking to take possession of the premises later this week on foot of a notice of forfeiture it served on the restaurant operator last November giving his client six months to vacate the unit.

Counsel said it is his client's case that the notice is invalid.

Counsel said that under an agreement governing the lease a notice of termination could be served if the landlords obtained a grant of planning permission for the unit.

The landlords had not obtained planning permission when the notice was served. Planning permission was subsequently secured.

Counsel said that the subsequent acquisition of planning permission does not validate the notice.

Counsel said there had been a lot of correspondence between the parties and his client's interpretation of the lease agreement is contested by the landlords.

Counsel said that if his client case is that if it did not secure the injunction, and the landlord retook possession, the restaurant would "go out of business."

The judge, after granting the injunction, adjourned the matter to later this week.
Transgender Chelsea Manning, who leaked US government secrets, is safe after a photo on her Twitter account apparently showed her standing on the edge of an upper-storey window ledge, a friend has said.

The photo was posted with the words "I'm sorry", sent shortly after a separate tweet that said: "im not really cut out for this world."

Chelsea Manning pic.twitter.com/Pm1whLibLw     (@AlbertHoward888) May 28, 2018

The tweets did not make clear where the photo was taken, and Ms Manning's friends declined to say.

The tweets were deleted after about 10 minutes, followed by a message on her account saying Ms Manning was OK and asked people to "please give her some space".

** chelsea is safe. she is on the phone with friends, thanks everyone for your concern and please give her some space  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 28, 2018

Kelly Wright, a friend who also is the communications director for her Senate bid, said the 30-year-old transgender woman now needs the "space to heal".

She did not reply when asked if Ms Manning was seeking professional help.

When asked whether the Senate campaign had been suspended, Ms Wright wrote: "Negative."

In her text message, Ms Wright said Ms Manning's adjustment to life outside prison has been "extremely difficult."

"I have seen firsthand and up close the violence inflicted on her by years of imprisonment, solitary confinement and torture," she said.

"This is made worse by the impossibly high expectations our society sets for public figures, especially on social media."

Ms Manning recently told attendees at a Berlin tech conference she felt a "kind of cult of personality" foisted upon her that she found really intimidating" and "overwhelming."

In a recent interview with the Associated Press at her Maryland apartment, Ms Manning was emotionally raw, her eyes welling up at times when discussing her motivations.

When asked about her lengthy stints in solitary confinement, Ms Manning said she occasionally wakes up panicked that she is back in the cage in Kuwait where she was first jailed, or incarcerated at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, where a UN official concluded she had been subjected to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment".

She said she had to work hard to overcome anxiety and told AP it was "becoming increasingly clear" to her "just how deep the wounds are" from her years behind bars.

A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment, saying the company did not comment on individual accounts for privacy and security reasons.

Ms Manning, who makes her living on the speaking circuit, is fresh off an appearance at an international business conference in Montreal.

When Ms Wright was asked if Ms Manning was in Montreal when the photo was posted from the ledge last night, she would only say: "I'm not going to disclose her location due to safety concerns."

Ms Manning has been free for over a year after former President Barack Obama commuted her 35-year sentence, the lengthiest ever for revealing US government secrets.

She has acknowledged leaking more than 700,000 military and State Department documents to anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010.

She said she wanted to spark debate about US foreign policy, and she has been portrayed as both a hero and a traitor.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, she came out as transgender after her 2013 court-martial.

She was barred from growing her hair long in prison, and was approved for hormone therapy only after litigation.

The high-profile transgender activist and convicted leaker is now in the midst of a highly unlikely Democratic primary bid for the US Senate in her adopted state of Maryland.

She has claimed she is genuine in her aim to unseat Senator Ben Cardin, a Democratic powerbroker in the blue state who is seeking his third Senate term.

we cant expect any change thru the upcoming elections - the primaries are rigged - this so-called "blue wave" is gonna be more like a blue ripple, or a blue drip - establishment dems always happily vote for a warmer friendlier police state - change wont come thru any ballot  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 23, 2018

But last week, she tweeted the primaries were "rigged" and there was no point in voting.

- Digital Desk and PA
A court in the Netherlands has said lawmakers should recognise a neutral, third gender, in a groundbreaking ruling for a person who does not identify as male or female.

The court in the southern city of Roermond said on Monday the person's gender could not be definitively determined at birth.
ILFM chairman Richard Longes told a briefing on Monday morning that more clarity on aspects of the proposal would be released once a formal offer was made by Blackstone.

The directors of IOF manager Investa Listed Funds Management (ILFM) said they planned to unanimously recommend the offer. ILFM's directors and Quartz Holding, a Blackstone affiliate, have entered a process deed setting out the offer's terms.

Investa said it received an initial confidential proposal of $5.05 a share on April 5, and negotiated the improved proposal that it received on May 4. Credit:AFR

The ASX-listed firm said Blackstone had offered $5.25 per unit, which equates to a distribution-adjusted price of $5.15 per unit - a 13 per cent premium to Friday's closing price of $4.55. Units in Investa jumped as much as 12 per cent to $5.18, their highest level since October 2008.

This is the third tilt at Investa in the past three year, following unsuccessful offers from Dexus Property and Cromwell Corporation.

According to CLSA analysts, the move to potentially retain Investa as manager vastly increased the chance of success as it allowed Blackstone to keep the platform together while allowing ICPF, which owns the management rights to IOF, to retain the value of its management platform.

''Furthermore, unlike the Cromwell proposal, funding will not be an issue for Blackstone,'' CLSA said. ''This bid is also a positive read-through for other AREITs with large prime office exposures, such as Dexus, Mirvac, GPT and Charter Hall, as a successful transaction will likely further tighten office capitalisation rates.''

The bid by Blackstone marks a move deeper into the Australia-New Zealand real estate market for the US-based private equity giant. Less than two weeks ago, it struck a $NZ635 million ($582 million) deal to buy an office portfolio in Auckland, which was co-held by Goodman Property Trust and Singaporean investor GIC.

A Blackstone unit was said to be the buyer in the sale of a Sydney office building earlier this year. The building, which sold for $205 million, was owned by a unit of indebted Chinese conglomerate HNA Group.
The Breaker Upperers open the Sydney Film Festival next month. Credit:Abigail Dougherty Given their very Kiwi sense of humour, the multitasking duo was were quickly described as a female Flight of the Conchords  a comparison they don't mind in the least given Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are "dear friends". Another friend with similar comic talent, Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi  a high school friend of van Beek's  is executive producer of their film. Seizing a moment when the New Zealand film industry was looking to encourage female directors, van Beek and Sami have delivered their own version of a buddy comedy. As the partying continues around them in the bar, the duo banter on the phone about their background together that includes various theatre productions together over 20 years. Van Beek has previously written and directed a more serious film, The Inland Road, and appeared in the TV series 800 Words; Sami was in Top of the Lake and directed van Beek in the TV series Funny Girls. "We actually met when I was 14 years old," Sami says. "I was in the national theatresports improv competition and Jackie was a tutor."

Van Beek chimes in: "A very young tutor." Sami: "Yes, very young." Van Beek: "I was 17 or 18 and I identified Madeleine Sami as one to watch. You did pretty well in that competition. Did you win?" Sami: "There were no winners." Van Beek: "No winners? What a lame competition."

Some filmmakers make sure they have a memorable story about a film's origins but, with an endearing New Zealand directness, van Beek says the idea just popped into her head while ambling around her kitchen one morning. "I was reflecting on all those conversations I'd had with people about how awful it is having to break up with your partner and how you dread it and there's a lot of fear and angst involved," she says. "I just thought, 'wouldn't it be funny if you could outsource the responsibility [to] a company?'. I thought, "I'll never start that company because I'm way too lazy and not interested enough but it would make a very funny film'." Sami not only liked the idea but suggested the title. "I thought it was a stupid, stupid, silly title that made me laugh," she says. "It was a working title for a long time then it just kind of stuck." Van Beek: "It was perfect because it really set the tone for the film ... Very Kiwi."

They spent four years on-and-off writing the film, enjoying inventing comic methods for breaking up couples. "That was the fun part of the writing, coming up with ways the job could work," Sami says. "We wrote a big $50 million version of the film which was completely unrealistic for us to make because we were never going to get that sort of money  speedboats and scuba diving, like James Bond meets The Idiots. "Once we had the premise, it was really about telling a story about some characters that were true to us and that we felt people could relate to  getting a buddy comedy element in there." The duo surrounded themselves with an experienced team  largely women  so they could focus on their performances in the film. "We left a lot of room for improvisation," van Beek says. "Sometimes Madeleine and I would tangent into what we considered comedy gold ...

Sami: "But some people might consider comedy poo. We've edited a lot of the comedy poo out." The duo saw their film as subverting the romantic comedy genre, with Bridesmaids as a reference for its ensemble female cast and The Wedding Crashers as "a concept cousin". "It feels like a premise for the times," Sami says. "The way young people  and I say young people because Jackie and I are both happily married older women  now connect with each other on Tinder and things like that. It's a far more brutal world that we live in with technology in the way it allows us to step back from the confrontation and the responsibilities that we've had in the past. We actually had to talk to somebody to break up with them." While the likes of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows and Flight of the Conchords suggest there is a particular quality to New Zealand comedy  deadpan, warm-hearted, down to earth and mumblingly self-effacing  the duo feel their film has a similar sense of humour to Australian comedies. "There was that era of Australian film that just was so influential for me in wanting to be an actor  Muriel's Wedding, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, The Castle," Sami says.

Van Beek: "Then later on Chris Lilley's stuff. And Kath and Kim." Sami: "And the Comedy Company. My first gig was when I was eight years old at a family Christmas in Taranaki and I did Kylie Mole impressions; 'She goes, she goes'. I got my mum to put my hair in pigtails. I can still quote Con the Fruiterer. " With the soft shell crab and broccoli bites having been swept away, it's time for the duo to head around the corner for the screening. Having already been to Hollywood to discuss future projects, they plan to co-direct again. "It's lovely that people do seem excited that we're new female film directors," van Beek says. Sami adds: "We barrelled ahead with this project and we just convinced everyone else and ourselves that it was possible. And it totally is."

Sydney Film Festival runs from June 6 to 17. Tickets are at sff.org.au. The Breaker Upperers is in cinemas from July 26. WOMEN AT THE FESTIVAL IN COMPETITION Daughter of Mine Italy's Laura Bispuri , who made her name with the 2015 transgender tale Sworn Virgin, directs a drama about a 10-year-old girl torn between two very different mothers in a small Sardinian community.

Leave No Trace Debra Granik, who launched Jennifer Lawrence's career in Winter's Bone, directs a tender drama about an army veteran and his 13-year-old daughter who live off the grid in a public park in Oregon. The Miseducation of Cameron Post Iranian-American director Desiree Akhavan won the top prize at Sundance with a touching coming-of-age drama about a high school girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) who is sent to a gay conversion camp. The Seen and Unseen

Indonesia's Kamila Andini (The Mirror Never Lies) centres a meditative dreamlike drama on a 10-year-old Balinese girl who is dealing with the loss of her twin brother. DOCUMENTARIES Maggie Gyllenhaal A Murder In Mansfield Barbara Kopple, the two-time Oscar winning director of Harlan County USA and Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, looks at the human cost of a vicious murder in Ohio in 1989, through the eyes of a troubled man still trying to deal with his father killing his mother.

On Her Shoulders A Sundance prizewinner, Alexandria Bombach's documentary is about a 23-year-old woman who survived genocide and sexual slavery at the hands of ISIS Islamic State to become the courageous voice of her people. Half the Picture Through interviews with Ava DuVernay, Lena Dunham and Catherine Hardwicke among others, Amy Adrion looks at why there are so few women directors. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

You Were Never Really Here Lynne Ramsay, the uncompromising Scottish director of Ratcatcher and We Need to Talk About Kevin, has Joaquin Phoenix as a traumatised hitman in a thriller that won screenplay and acting awards at Cannes last year. The Kindergarten Teacher Maggie Gyllenhaal shines as a primary school teacher who believes one of her students is a child prodigy in a Sundance prizewinning drama from Sara Colangelo (Little Accidents). AUSTRALIAN WOMEN

My Brilliant Career A new digital restoration of Gillian Armstrong's breakthrough film from 1979 features Judy Davis as a headstrong young woman determined to be a writer and Sam Neill as her beau. Piercing A long way from Alice in Wonderland, Mia Wasikowska plays a prostitute who disrupts the plans of a would-be murderer (Christopher Abbott from Girls) in what is described as a bold S&M comedy. Chocolate Oyster

Anna Lawrence and Rosie Lourde are two waitresses wanting bigger things in a so-called mumblecore comedy set in Bondi that is directed by Steve Jaggi. Terror Nullius New York-based sisters Dominique and Dan Angeloro, who make up the video art collective Soda_Jerk, repurpose shots from Australian films for a savage satire about the state of the country. REAL LIVES ON SCREEN Bad Reputation
James Cameron poses for a photo with a scale model of the Deepsea Challenger cockpit at the media preview of the Challenging the Deep Exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Credit:AAP

It is one of the highest grossing films of all time but James Cameron says he only made Titanic as an excuse for 20th Century Fox to fund his dive to the wreck of the doomed ocean liner.

The Oscar-winning director was describing his life-long fascination with the deep ocean on Monday, captured in the new immersive exhibition "Challenging the Deep" at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

It's a fascination that's seen him make history as the only person to dive solo to the deepest spot on the planet - Challenger Deep.
The episode's encore screening on the main channel at 10pm oddly outpaced its premiere, picking up 161,000 viewers (five-city metro).

The hyped launch of Love Island, Nine's local spinoff of the popular UK series, fizzled with viewers, earning just 155,000 viewers (five-city metro) in its launch on multichannel 9Go.

It's the sort of trash TV series viewers love to hate  if only enough of them had tuned in on Sunday night to watch it unfold.

With its multichannel focus, Love Island's soft launch on 9Go was never going to spark MAFS-like figures for Nine  although its hefty promotion, and the hosting presence of the people's princess Sophie Monk, might've hinted at a larger audience share.

A Nine spokesperson, however, said the episode's numbers were on par with their projections, and rejected any notion the show would shift timeslots, or even move to its main channel for more exposure.

"We are really happy with the performance and noise around Love Island Australia," the spokesperson said.

"This was always a multichannel commission and will remain on 9Go and 9Now. We are excited for the possibility this presents our business, particularly with its performance among 16-39s."

In another odd wrinkle, the local debut was heavily criticised by those who did tune in, with many turned off by the dubious focus on sex, scandal and almost-bare bodies.
For example: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites  will inherit the kingdom of God."

Some questions were biblical miracles from more conservative members of the audience.

It was a night for moral dilemmas on Q&A.

That this wasnt a question about Barnaby Joyce.

It was instead a question to Father Rod Bower, the Anglican priest whose progressively inclined roadside billboards have become a popular social media illustration of what happens when modern Christianity expresses vaguely Christian thoughts.

The questioner wanted to know of Father Bower: "How do you reconcile what the Bible  the word of God  teaches on same-sex marriage and homosexuality with your own personal belief?"

And here we went again.

Seven months after the thumping positive result in the marriage equality survey, Q&A was burrowing back down one of its favourite rabbit holes, via a question from an audience member whose lips were pursed so severely that one feared they might permanently seal shut.
Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has given his approval to the NSW government's plan to protect wild horses in the Kosciuszko National Park despite labelling them "a bit of a pest" just days ago.

Mr Frydenberg had sought advice from his department about the Berejiklian government's move to give protection to "heritage horses" in NSW's biggest national park.

That plan reversed a 2016 draft strategy recommending numbers be cut - by lethal and other means - by 90 per cent to 600 in 20 years' time.

Brumbies take to the hoof on grasslands near Kiandra in the Snowy Mountains. Credit:Nick Moir

Despite last week saying the brumbies were "creating great damage to parts of that national park", and that "we want to see our flora and our fauna protected, Mr Frydenberg changed his mind after "constructive conversations with members of the NSW government".
New Zealand-born fashion designer Emilia Wickstead has issued a retraction on social media after claims she implied Meghan Markle's wedding gown was a copy of her design.

Emilia Wickstead, in Sydney for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, has issued a statement after reports claimed she implied Meghan Markle's wedding gown was a copy of one of her designs. Credit:AAP

"I am extremely saddened by commentary that has appeared in the press and online over the past few days," Wickstead posted on her Instagram on Monday morning.

"Her royal highness, the Duchess of Sussex, looked absolutely beautiful on her wedding day and I have the utmost admiration and respect for her.
A leader in the ACT's Aboriginal community has praised the territory's first Reconciliation Day public holiday, but urged people to look beyond symbolic gestures and think about "real, tangible outcomes" for Indigenous people.

Ngambri-Ngunnawal custodian Paul House was front and centre as Canberra marked Reconciliation Day on Monday morning, delivering the Welcome to Country address at a community event on Reconciliation Place.

Bella, Bo, Reuben and Paul House perform at Canberra's first ever Reconciliation Day public holiday event on Monday morning. Credit:Karleen Minney

Speaking after the event, Mr House said Australia was moving closer to reconciliation every day, and that while the public holiday was a good step, it was time to move away from tokenism and give greater recognition to historical events like the frontier wars.

He said Indigenous people also wanted to see their native languages revived through the education system, and to have more of a chance to make big decisions.
The two women killed in a head-on crash on the Barton Highway last week were recent immigrants to Australia, and have been remembered as generous people with an infectious zest for life.

Pam Valencia, 36, and Sheena Katrina Garcia Landagan, 34, died when the Dodge Journey they were travelling in collided with a Toyota Landcruiser at Wallaroo, just north of the ACT border, on Friday morning.

The scene of the fatal crash on the Barton Highway at Wallaroo. Credit:Karleen Minney

The women, who were originally from the Philippines, were friends who met through the El Shaddai church in Canberra.

They were on their way to Melbourne to attend a church event with Ms Valencia's four children and husband Jimmy, 39, who was driving the Dodge Journey when the crash happened.
Geocon boss Nick Georgalis, who has stressed the importance of attracting foreign investment to Canberra.

Here's hoping you made the most of the inaugural Reconciliation Day and are ready and rejuvenated for the rest of the week. We could be up for a shower or two today, with a top of 17 degrees.

Property giant Geocon is wooing Chinese buyers with foreign investment exemptions and an ambitious vision to transform Canberra into the face of the Southern Hemisphere.

In the next 10 years Geocon is planning to radically ramp-up construction in the capital, with more than 3200 units worth a combined $1.7 billion slated for completion between 2019 and 2028.

Geocons pitch to Chinese investors has been written in Mandarin and published on Chinese social media platform WeChat.

Steven Trask reports.

Crash victims mourned, girl remains in coma
"They don't ever get a chance to switch off from school or relationships with people at school," he said. "They are both psychologically and emotionally connected to these devices - adults are too, but for kids it's particularly powerful. "Whether we ban or limit or educate, and how we do that, that's the more difficult terrain." Dr Sahlberg said a complete ban at high school level was difficult, because students didn't know the world without technology. Instead, each school must work out the best way to teach its pupils how to exercise self-control around their phones. "We should teach all children safe, smart and responsible use of technology," Dr Sahlberg said. "Every school in their own way." Chris Presland, president of the NSW Secondary Principals Association, agreed a ban was unworkable at high school level and education was the key, although teaching students how to exercise constraint was difficult given many adults struggled with that, too.

"It's more about how you use them successfully - that's not to say there aren't serious concerns about issues mobile phones cause in school," he said. "In low (income) areas, sometimes the mobile phone is the only technology the kids have. It's a question of trying to take the good side without throwing everything out." Australia's slide down PISA rankings since 2000 has prompted intense debate over school funding and education policy. Dr Sahlberg's home country of Finland is regarded by many as having the world's best schools, but it too has recently slipped, as have similar countries such as New Zealand, Canada and South Korea. Young Australian women spend two hours each day on their mobile phones, according to 2018 statistics;Australia's heaviest mobile phone usage group. Credit:Jake Michaels/The New York Times Dr Sahlberg said each country had its own issues but all had one in common.

"That one common challenge is that around 2011 or 2012 in these countries most teenagers carried smartphones in their pockets and, as a consequence, the time youngsters (I am especially thinking of 12- to 16-year-olds) spend daily watching digital devices screens exploded," he said. "Screen time and the inconvenient consequences - psychological, social and physical - have affected students learning in schools, especially reading, mathematics and science that all require concentration, attention, and perseverance to do well." Dr Sahlberg acknowledges Australia's PISA decline began before smartphones, but said children had access to technology earlier than that. There were likely other factors, such as reliance on standardised testing and undue faith in the potential of technology. He believes Australia must focus on students' general health and wellbeing if it wants to turn its PISA performance around. "If children's health and wellbeing continue to get worse, getting PISA results back on a path of growth will be very difficult." Phil Seymour from the Primary Principals' Association said mobile phones were not causing noticeable problems among younger children.

Some schools ask pupils to leave them at the office, but others allowed them for learning under a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. "I don't know if we have the issues in the playground that high school kids have," he said In NSW, schools set their own smartphone policy. Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham recently called for a smartphone ban in classrooms, saying they were a distraction from lessons and a platform for bullying. Dr Sahlberg is in Australia to discuss the recent Gonski 2.0 report into excellence in education with his fellow UNSW education professor, former NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli, at the university's Kensington campus on Tuesday night. Loading
The second man charged over the kidnapping of a 12-year-old boy from outside his Gold Coast home will stay behind bars for at least another month.

Yu "Sunny" Zhang, 20, did not appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday as his matter was briefly mentioned.

The mother (left) and brother (centre) of Yu Zhang leave the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. Credit:AAP

No bail application was made and Mr Zhang has been remanded in custody with the matter adjourned until June 26.

Mr Zhang's mother and brother were in the court for Monday's mention.
A case of measles has been confirmed in Brisbane's south, Queensland Health says.

A child later diagnosed with measles travelled from Delhi to Brisbane, via Bangkok, on Tuesday, May 22.

A typical measles rash.

The child then visited Target at Springwood Shopping Mall on Friday, May 25 between 2pm and 5pm.

Queensland Health said the child also visited Logan Emergency Department waiting room from 10pm on Thursday, May 24 to 1.45am Friday, May 25.
A puppy and kitten are lucky to be alive after they were pulled from a Gold Coast duplex fire and treated by paramedics on Monday.

Holden, a seven-month-old cattle dog, and Chip, a grey kitten, were in their Pimpama home alone when a fire broke out about 3.30pm.

Helensvale paramedics treat Holden the dog and Chip the kitten.

Firefighters rescued the pets, who were not moving, drowsy, panting and covered in back soot.

The two-storey duplex was "fully engulfed in fire", police said.
Toowoomba-based horse trainer Ben Currie has been hit with 31 charges by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, in an ongoing investigation into race-day treatments at his Hursley Road stable.

Mr Currie  whose father Mark Currie was disqualified for two years for race-day treatments earlier this month  is facing charges of race-day treatments and therapies, providing false evidence and obstruction of the stewards investigation.

Ben Currie, one of Queensland's top racing trainers, is facing 31 charges of race day treatments. Credit:Facebook

The charges include the administration of shockwave therapy within seven days of racing to several horses racing at the Gold Coast, Dalby and Toowoomba in April 2017.

Charges over race-day treatments relate to a string of alleged treatments and injections to horses racing in September 2016, February 2017, March and April 2018 throughout the state.
A former power station on Victoria's Surf Coast will be demolished with explosives this week but anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the spectacle has been warned to stay away.

The six-storey-high decommissioned Alcoa power station in Anglesea is set to be imploded on Wednesday morning, weather conditions permitting.

An aerial view of the Anglesea coal mine and power station in 2014

According to a notice of demolition, the implosion will sound akin to claps of thunder that will last for 10 to 20 seconds and will create some localised dust.

But some townsfolk fear that the dust could include asbestos, despite assurances that the building had been renderd harmless by a pre-demolition safety program.
Some of Victoria Police's most senior officers are disgusted at the pending return of a force commander who has been investigated over serious bullying allegations and possessing inappropriate images on a work phone.

The force has approved the return of Commander Dean Stevenson, one of the state's most senior officers, who escaped sanction over previous bullying complaints from 2011 amid claims the findings of an internal review were buried.

Mr Stevenson was forced to take paid leave in October last year after at least five senior officers are believed to have complained about a toxic work environment, where staff were routinely berated and belittled. Some claimed they had been reluctant to file official complaints because it could damage their career prospects.

Mr Stevenson was also the subject of separate investigation after inadvertently revealing inappropriate images stored on his mobile phone to a female colleague.
Pension Systems and the Deadly Hand of the Market



By Judith DeutschMay 25, 2018Unlike corporate shareholders and coop members, contributors to pension plans do not have a vote.The Canadian Pension Plan [CPP} is believed by many to represent the caring face of Canada, while it is lauded as the New Masters of the Universe and Maple Revolutionaries by the OECD, G20, and the World Bank. OECD analysts describe these Canadian funds as pioneers in infrastructure investing that helped to establish infrastructure as an important and increasingly popular asset class. It is no exaggeration to state that the CPP is banking on death, the title of Robin Blackburns comprehensive history of pensions. The Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade and here lists CPP investments in seventy three corporations supporting Israels military/police/surveillance/prison industrial complex.....In 2016, private pension assets in OECD countries reached their highest-ever level at over US $38 trillion. Pension funds are part of a closed political economic system and its facilitating legalities. Representative are the links between the CPP, Imperial Oil, universities and think tanks, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) to free, prior and informed consent. While information is essential, particularly for indigenous people subject to land theft and to environmental contaminants, UN declarations are non-binding and unenforceable. Nonetheless, Anglo-Saxon democracies were the last to sign.....Indigenous consentis obstructed by many loopholes: the states claim of eminent domain, the Doctrine of Discovery justifying European expropriation of supposedly empty land (terra nullius), a clause of Canadas Delgmuukw ruling on Aboriginal title that allows the Canadian government to infringe on title under specific circumstances, the Carter doctrine asserting U.S. entitlement to Canadian resources for national security purposes, trade agreements that pre-empt national laws, the Canadian Mining Act which does not require that the holder of an exploration permit inform property owners of its existence  and that the permit can be acquired via the Internet with a simple click [so] that First Nations, property owners, and municipalities are ever informed or forewarned of the acquisition of a land claim on their land or territory. The Canadian National Energy Board is made up of industry people whose consultations with Indigenous people and the general public are minimal.....Imperial Oil owns four facilities within 2 to 7 km from Aamjiwnaang. 40% of Canadas petrochemical industry surrounds this small community. The water is so contaminated that it affects endocrine balance: two girls are born for every boy, and the effects on health have been substantiated by medical and legal reports and a charter challenge launched on behalf of the 800 member Aamjiwnaang community. In 2017 Imperial Oils flaring caused a five-hour massive explosion. Over 500 incident reports had been filed in 2014 and 2015 for spills and leaks in the Sarnia area: yet only one public warning had been issued through the municipalitys alert system. The government has still not installed an effective monitoring and warning system.....Imperial Oil is 69.6% owned by Exxon-Mobil, the corporation associated with Rex Tillerson and with deception of the public about climate change. Oil was discovered in Ontario in 1858, a year before Titusville Pennsylvania, and by 1880 the Imperial Oil Company was producing, distributing, and refining oil. In the 1950s Imperial Oil and smaller companies banded together to lease some 2 million acres in the tar sands and by the early 1960s there were generous, publicly funded incentives and loose regulations to promote extraction. Imperials Board of Directors come from Exxon-Mobil, from the conservative C.D. Howe Institute, from executive positions at the major universities. In 1975, the chair of Imperial Oil led other CEOs to form the Business Council on National Issues, now the Canadian Council of Chief Executives with close ties to the Canadian and U.S. governments. In 2014 Exxon published a detailed report that brushed aside concerns about climate change, saying oil and gas will remain the dominant sources of energy through 2040....The current head of CPPIB is Heather Munroe-Blum.She is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University and her directorships include the Association of American Universities, the Conference Board of Canada, Rio Tinto, CGI (oil and gas sector), the Royal Bank of Canada (mining). She is a vocal opponent of the academic boycott of Israeli universities McGillHer combined pension entitlements gave her the richest package of any university president in Canada at a time when Quebec universities were being asked to absorb $124m in cuts.The main variables in providing social security have been whether to provide universal or selective coverage, to what degree it should be publicly funded, and the sources of funding. Traditional communities characteristically developed a range of ways to care for their members, whereas nation states came late, if at all, to take on social security, and originally only for selected groups like military men or senior state functionaries. It was not until the epoch of the French Revolution and its Declaration a the Rights of Man and the Citizen that the first proposals were heard for the paying of pensions as of right to all citizens who had reached an advanced age and were in want. It was the unlikely executor of the social legacy of French republicanism  Otto von Bismarck, who established the first universal pension system in 1889. The modest 1935 U.S. Social Security Act provided a minimal benefit. Initially it did not cover non-waged womens work or Black people. Its strengths were that it was a federal program, that it was comprehensive and not voluntary, and that it had its own autonomous administrationDespite hopes that social security would be a stepping stone to a socialized society, insufficient benefits necessitated supplementary pensions. From the 1970s, pension fund managers took advantage of the erosion of New Deal protections and of the inflow of capital from abroad, and by the 1990s pension funds became a powerful driver of financialization. The trajectory has been from state responsibility for universal benefits at one end, to private pension funds based on individual contributions. In the cases of the Enron and Nortel Network bankruptcies, pensioners took huge losses as their plans were not guaranteed, and money from asset sales were prioritized for paying legal fees, creditors, and fund managers.The erosion of state responsibility for social security was further exacerbated by the concerted assault on unions, a factor in the decline of cross-border class solidarity. The inclusion of union representatives on pension boards does not effectively change the fund-first principle of fiduciary duty that weights profit over social justice and the public interest. Not untypical is the case of American and Canadian pension fund investments in Chiles privately owned water utilities despite a mass social movement within Chile to re-nationalize water.
More than 120 people staying at an apartment block in Melbourne's CBD have been evacuated after a man let off fire hydrants on 18 floors, causing thousands of litres of water to flood the building.

MFB fire crews were called to the building on City Road in Southbank about 9.30pm and found water pouring out of the front entrance and occupants fleeing the building.

Firefighters found a man had maliciously opened all the fire hydrants, causing water to cascade through the apartment block.

The man had locked himself in a room and was "considered hostile". Victoria Police were called to deal with the man as firefighters worked to stop the deluge.
A number of countries around the world, from Canada and the US to Malaysia, are starting to take a more sceptical view of foreign investments from China, especially when they're from state-controlled firms.

But an Australian mystery remains - why did the federal government veto the $10 billion sale of Ausgrid to a Chinese-dominated partnership two years ago?

Illustration: Dionne Gain. Credit:Fairfax Media

The NSW government was furious at the disruption of its planned part-privatisation of its electricity distributor. And why did the Turnbull government intrude into the sale process just 10 days before the deal's deadline?

Treasurer Scott Morrison said only that the sudden veto was was on the basis the sale was "contrary to the national interest, in accordance with the required provision on the grounds of national security".
The Foreign Affairs department is avoiding rocking the boat in posts on a leading Chinese social media website, despite Australia's commitment to promote liberal values, a defence think tank says.

A foreign policy paper released on Tuesday says embassies in China are self-censoring and failing to speak up when Weibo, which has more than 500 million users, censors messages posted to the platform.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has urged the Foreign Affairs department to devote more resources to speaking directly to China's web users through Weibo, and said Australia should create new, dedicated accounts for its prime minister and foreign minister to reach Chinese audiences.

Australia's Foreign Affairs department should use Weibo to engage more with its users in China, the author of a new report says. Credit:AP

Author of the think tank paper, Fergus Ryan, said it was "worrying" the Foreign Affairs department was apparently trying not to "rock the boat too much" on Chinese social media.
A $10 billion industry superannuation fund is significantly underperforming for up to 250,000 members, opening the $534 billion union-linked sector to another attack by the Coalition as it seeks to influence the dominance of the funds in the sector.

A landmark report by the Productivity Commission has found overall not-for-profit industry super funds outperformed retail for-profit funds but up to 10 of 26 underperforming default funds were in the industry-backed category.

"Across the system not-for-profit funds, as a group, have systematically outperformed for-profit funds," the commission found.

"While retail funds dominate the tail of underperformance, industry and corporate funds also reside in the tail."
The changes would remove the power of the unions, employers and the Fair Work Commission to assign default funds through industrial awards and enterprise bargains. Indicative calculations by the Productivity Commission suggest that the overwhelming majority of the top 10 would be employer and union-controlled industry funds, as they perform much better than bank-owned retail funds. But industry funds are also well represented among the 26 worst performing default funds, accounting for 10 over the past decade, compared to the for-profit sectors 12. Asked to identify the worst performing default funds, Ms Chester said that wasnt the point of the report. If we were to name funds it could make things worse by sparking a run on those funds, she said. The Commissions draft recommendations would ease bad performers out of the system gradually.

Almost half a million people join the workforce every year, accounting for $1 billion of super contributions in that year alone, meaning the changes would deprive poorly performing funds of new members, encouraging the trustees to consider whether they wanted to remain in business. Each of the one in seven workers who change jobs every year would also be shown the list of the top 10 and invited to change or consolidate their accounts. Financial planners would also be encouraged to recommend funds from the top 10 list or to to show reasons why they hadnt under a rule known as if not, why not? Ms Chester said that of all the inquiries she and her fellow commissioner Angela McRae had worked on, this set of recommendations produced the best bang for buck. It could be worth 3.9 billion per year. I dont think you can overstate the impact. she said. Loading

The Commission believes its analysis of Australias superannuation system is a world-first. As far as we know, nobody in Australia nor anybody internationally has previously assessed the performance of a superannuation or a pension plan system, Ms Chester said. One of the reasons it is hard is that there are more than 40,000 super products, a number that makes it hard for consumers to make decisions. We took the stated asset allocation of each MySuper fund and compared its performance to that of the underlying assets, making allowance for fees. It gave us a measure of whether the fund managers added or subtracted value. Astonishing, around a third consistently subtracted value. All were default funds. The Commission wants the list of MySuper approved products scaled back by up to one third and the poor performers removed. The limbo bar has to be significantly heightened, Ms Chester said, adding that she was not aware of any funds that had ever applied for MySuper authorisation that had failed to get it. Only 114 of the 208 funds surveyed by the Commission responded, and only 5 were able to detail their net investment returns by asset class. Loading
Quaedvlieg argues that the issue is creating major tensions between the ideologues and the pragmatists of the Labor Party. He warns that any softness in Labor policy, will be undoubtedly be used as a people smugglers marketing ploy to inveigle clients onto boats headed for our shores.

An almost insoluble mess; a Pacific purgatory; a weeping sore on Australias collective psyche. It is hard to dispute Roman Quaedvliegs descriptions of the situations in Nauru and Manus Island in Fridays paper.

Although they are more diffuse than often pictured, people smugglers run businesses. Yes, they will look for marketing opportunities. But that itself is not enough to restart their trade, to risk inviting another wave of boats to our borders. They need willing customers.

There is abundant evidence that asylum seekers do not wish to use people smugglers  and are well aware of the risks of being on leaky boats. Yet those are the options they take if they cant see better alternatives.

Between 2008 and 2011, the absence of those alternatives is a critical piece of background. In the 10 years to 2011, Australia accepted some 120,000 refugees under the humanitarian program. Only 560 of those refugees came from Indonesia. It is not surprising that most of the asylum seekers languishing in Indonesia did not see the "official channel" as a viable option.

Loading

The prospect of detention on Nauru and Manus played a deterrent part in stopping the boats after July 2013, under Labors youll never reach Australia policy, reinforced from September 2013 by the Coalitions Operation Sovereign Borders. Drawing on his experience as commissioner of the Australian Border Force, Quaedvlieg argues that as a deterrent to prospective asylum seekers jumping onto leaky boats to come to Australia, it has been highly effective.
BHP and Queensland Treasury have reached an out-of-court agreement after a dispute over more than $300 million in coal royalties.

BHP and its coal partner, Mitsubishi, launched legal action to dispute a government demand for $329 million, in relation to a royalty reassessment relating to BHP's Singapore marketing office, going back to 2005.

BHP and Queensland Treasury have reached an in principle deal over a long-running coal royalties reassessment. Credit:Peter Braig

In the Supreme Court on Monday morning, barrister John Sheahan, for BHP, said an "agreement in principle" had been reached between the parties.

"Considerable progress has been made," he said.
Beijing: The peak business group for Australian companies in China has labelled political commentary out of Australia unhelpful in the wake of Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's use of parliamentary privilege to call the Chinese government a threat to Australian democracy.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra last week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Australian businesses are unhappy the bitter debate over alleged Chinese government influence operations has reignited just as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was trying to soothe bilateral ties with Australia's largest trading partner.

Our view and the view of our members is that we have nothing to gain and everything to lose if the bilateral relationship continues to worsen, said Udo Doring, chief executive of AustCham Shanghai.

Wine companies have faced extra scrutiny at Chinese ports amid the diplomatic row, and food exporters have been told by Chinese distributors that Australian products will be slower to clear through customs.
Kuala Lumper: Malaysia is cancelling a project to build a high-speed rail link between its capital, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday.

Mahathir, the 92-year-old who triumphed in a general election this month, has made it a priority to cut the national debt and pledged to review big projects agreed by his predecessor that he says are expensive and have no financial benefit.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says he's seeking to public expenditure. Credit:Bloomberg

"It is a final decision, but it will take time because we have an agreement with Singapore," Mahathir told a news conference referring to his scrapping of the project, valued by analysts at about $US17 billion.
Latest News Pallas Group welcomes new director from its lending arm The new director has been part of Pallas Capital since its inception

86 400 CEO steps down Bank CEO announces on social media that he has quit, merger partner to fill in

As business conditions gain strength across Australia, Steve Lawrence, VP head of major commercial clients at La Trobe Financial, is supporting brokers to capitalize

Figures released this year by the ABS confirm there were more than 2.24 million trading businesses in Australia at the end of 2017, an increase of 3.1% on June 2016, making it the fourth consecutive year of business formation growth.

In April, the NAB business confidence index increased to match the highest reading since the index began in 1997. Profitability gained six points to reach +22 and sales jumped seven points to a high of +28, with activity in mining, finance, business, property and construction driving the outcomes. As a result, economic growth is on track to top 3% this year and next.

In providing the finance that allows Australias businesses to boom, La Trobe Financial has seen a marked increase in demand, specifically across its commercial lease doc and Lite Doc products as well as construction and development finance.

While some financiers appear to be pulling back and controlling their books more tightly, La Trobe Financial continues business as usual in this space, delivering on our promise to assist those underserved by traditional lenders, says VP head of major commercial clients Steve Lawrence.

We provide solutions that some financiers cannot achieve in the current environment, with flexible outcomes that meet market demands.

In doing so, the non-bank has picked up eight industry awards over the last 12 months, including MPAs Best Non-Bank award and three recognitions in the International Alternative Investment Awards. Testament to the quality of its solutions, La Trobe Financial is also ranked as a top 10 lender in the commercial space by the leading aggregation groups.

Most recently, SQM Research released its annual review of the Australian mortgage trust sector, in which La Trobe Financial took the top spot for two funds, based on the lenders strong distribution network and geographic  as well as client  diversification. The 12-month term investment received 4.25 stars, and the peer-to-peer select investment account came second with 4.0 stars, both achieving a superior rating.

Creating a domino effect, a subsequent recalibration of market share is now taking place between the traditional banks and other non-bank credit providers, adding further strength across the commercial lending sector.

La Trobe Financial plans to capitalise on its position in a number of ways. The lender currently has one of Australias broadest ranges of products and solutions of all the non-banks in operation, including a $2.2bn retail investor credit fund.

We provide solutions that some financiers cannot achieve in the current environment, with flexible outcomes that meet market demands - Steve Lawrence, VP head of major commercial clients

We are seeing growth in all these areas. It goes back to us providing a solution to brokers in terms of speed to market and being able to connect them to our experienced commercial credit team, Lawrence says.

Striking while the iron is hot, the lenders maximum commercial loan will soon expand to $50m and average commercial loan terms will be extended from three to five years currently to 30 years, with further innovations planned in the digital space.

Commercially minded

The advancements at La Trobe Financial coincide with a number of reviews of the financial services industry, including those of the Hayne royal commission, the Harris Productivity Commission and the ACCC Residential Mortgage Products Price Inquiry, to name a few, and their influence is noted by Lawrence. Faced with a series of regulatory changes, brokers have been left searching for client solutions while leadership from the industry wanes.

At La Trobe Financial, we assume the uncertainty emerging as a result of these inquiries and other market factors will stay with us for at least the next three years  its a watershed moment for the industry, says Lawrence.

However, as other lenders continue to shy away from providing much-needed advice and guidance, Lawrence is happy to step up. While increased market share is the end goal for La Trobe Financial, the method for achieving that result is based on supporting brokers in transforming challenge into opportunity.

We are well placed to assist brokers in this space as we make our commercial loan products accessible for all finance brokers in an easy-to-use, familiar format, regardless of experience, he says.

Our products are engineered to ensure first-time users can write them confidently and competently, and we connect our key decision-makers directly with brokers from the first point of contact. Our turnaround times are far superior to most, and we provide a personalised relationship service model to treat each application on its merits and not apply a tick-box approach.

Lawrence reports a steep rise in repeat business from the broker channel, with a number of brokers who previously only used La Trobe Financial once or twice every six months now frequently turning to the lenders.

In addition, those who have never brokered a loan with La Trobe Financial are now turning to the non-bank for such USPs as its personal senior credit analyst service. These trends are expected to drive the volume of commercial loans written by brokers from less than 20% currently to much closer to those in the residential mortgage space, which accounts for 55.7% of the market.

This is because borrowers are looking for a solution to their commercial needs, and brokers who have access to a number of financiers products are best placed to be able to meet the borrowers needs and requirements, Lawrence says.

As La Trobe Financials market footprint grows, a number of new senior managers responsible for client partnerships have been appointed to meet demand and service expectations from brokers.

Speed, flexibility and certainty are of paramount importance to a brokers business. Most importantly, at La Trobe Financial, brokers can talk to decision-makers directly to work deals through; and, subject to meeting all credit criteria, that means they can meet the needs and requirements of the borrower, Lawrence says.

Industry bodies such as the MFAA, the FBAA and the Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia, along with leading aggregators, are working hard to promote the benefits that diversification into commercial lending can provide for brokers. La Trobe Financial is supporting this wider industry drive by providing education, training and accessibility to a wider suite of products.

These developments are essential at a time when Lawrence says many finance brokers feel underserved by lenders, often due to volume and accreditation barriers. Helping to expand the business capabilities of brokers as well as their commercial clients  not to mention its own bottom line  La Trobe Financial has aligned its broker engagement strategy with its wider operational objectives.

Giving brokers access to commercial loan products forms a key part of our strategy and is extremely important to us, Lawrence says. it goes to the very heart of our mission to assist underserved markets, and it would be very surprising if the broker market share of commercial didnt continue to rise in the short, medium and long term.


We have to stop saying Asian grooming gangs

Asian has become a way of avoiding mentioning the M-word.





, Writer28 May 2018SpikedLast month, two decisions were made by IPSO, the body which regulates most of the British press, in relation to the use of the word Asians. A complaint againstwas upheld. IPSO ruled that the paper had published an inaccurate headline when it claimed that Asians make up 80 per cent of child groomers. The Muslim Council of Britains Miqdaad Versi called for a correction to clarify that the 80 per cent referred specifically to grooming gangs, not all child groomers.But who are we referring to when we use the word Asians? The other complaint sought to address this issue. It was lodged by Sikh, Hindu and Pakistani-Christian groups, concerned about the liberal use of the word Asian in thes investigation into child-grooming gangs in Telford. Theexposed epidemic levels of child sexual exploitation in the northern town, where it was suggested that up to 1,000 girls, some as young as 11, had been abused by Asian men.But the term Asian is far too broad and smears innocent communities, said the complainants. They added that many Asian girls had been targeted by grooming gangs, too. But IPSO rejected their complaint. The regulator ruled that it was not inaccurate to say the men were mainly Asian. Nor did it give a significantly misleading impression, it said. Presumably, the editors code would also consider it accurate to describe these men as mammals, humans or even sentient beings.Joking aside, the complainants were right. The medias use of Asian to describe grooming gangs not only masks the ethno-religious identity of the perpetrators  it also throws Sikhs, Hindus, Pakistani-Christians and every other Asian under the bus. Gangs of Indian, Japanese and Korean men are not rampaging across Britains towns and cities, sexually abusing underage white girls. The men doing so are predominantly of Pakistani-Muslim heritage.There is a great deal of evidence to support this. A 2017 Quilliam report , which researched the cases of 58 grooming gangs since 2005, found that 84 per cent of grooming-gang members are (South) Asian and the majority were of Pakistani origin, with Muslim heritage. The report suggests this background influenced the crimes these men committed against mainly young, white girls. In 2012, Judge Gerald Clifton foreshadowed this finding when sentencing nine members of a Rochdale grooming gang. He said they had treated their victims as worthless and beyond all respect, partly because they were not of the offenders community or religion. Recently, a Rotherham grooming-gang survivor described how she was persecuted for being a white slag because she was non-Muslim.Despite all this evidence, speaking out against Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs is difficult. Muslims who speak out are labelled as traitors, while non-Muslims are called bigots. For instance, when Amina Lone, Labour councillor in Manchester, herself a Muslim, defended Sarah Champion for writing about this trend in the Sun , the Labour Party deselected her.None of this is to say that all Pakistani-Muslim men are a threat. But we need to clearly identify perpetrators and scrutinise their motivations. What is it about these men that makes them more likely to be involved in these crimes, whereas Pakistani men of other faith backgrounds arent? If we shy away from asking these questions we not only mystify the problem, we fuel the agenda of racists who always use this issue as a pretext to smear entire communities. Our inability to talk about this sensitively has allowed them to hijack it.Simply being specific about the background of those convicted in grooming-gang cases can lead to Tourettes-like accusations of Islamophobia, racism or hate. The fear of being called out can be disabling. It has undoubtedly deterred officers in local government, the police and civil society from taking steps to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable, underage girls. Fortunately, this has failed to deter journalists like Andrew Norfolk, whose courageous pursuit of the truth uncovered the Rotherham grooming scandal and prompted a government inquiry.But much of the British media has a lot to answer for. In insisting on referring to grooming gangs as Asian, journalists are lending the perpetrators a cloak of anonymity and demonising the rest of us.
Latest News Pallas Group welcomes new director from its lending arm The new director has been part of Pallas Capital since its inception

86 400 CEO steps down Bank CEO announces on social media that he has quit, merger partner to fill in

Stephen Moore, CEO of Choice Aggregation reveals the key factors that help brokers excel as business operators in an ever changing market place

Currently the broking industry faces a number of once-in-a-lifetime challenges, not to mention unprecedented scrutiny. Compound this with significant changes to lender habits, a new generation of tech-enabled players, and all the usual challenges that self-starters face, and its safe to say that times have definitely been easier.

But the flip side of any challenge is opportunity, and with a renewed focus on customer outcomes, not to mention a suite of new tools to work with, there is plenty of opportunity to be found.

Successful business owners work on the business, not just in the business. They take the time to step back from the day-to-day and focus on planning, clarity in direction, and whats required for long-term success, says Choice Aggregation Services CEO Stephen Moore.

While its often a case of easier said than done, Choice has long worked with brokers to help leverage opportunities. Choices proposition is built on the brokers role as a business operator as well as an adviser, and, with each broker different from the next, Choice also takes time to understand the individual needs of its network members.

From those who are new to the industry to the decade-plus veterans, every business faces times of transition and challenge as well as prosperity: hiring the first team member, channelling tailored support, expanding interstate, outsourcing back-office processes, or even streamlining.

In response to these needs, Choice works closely with members to achieve their growth aspirations, pioneering such solutions as a peer-to-peer learning program; monthly technical updates to help make sense of the latest regulatory developments; and its networking and discussion groups, the Top Group Summit and Top Group Advisory Group. Behind the scenes,Choice fights the brokers corner, with Moore present on the Combined Industry Forum and other bodies.

It is important to stay focused on what counts the most, and that is providing great advice and great experiences to customers Stephen Moore, Choice

With technology playing an ever larger role, Choice has placed diligent focus on supporting brokers in leveraging digital platforms to deliver operational efficiencies and outstanding customer experiences.

Further aiding efficiency, the end-to-end business and client management tool Podium is designed for brokers to streamline compliance tasks. Inclusive of an NCCP function, it gives access to a marketing hub, which provides online education and training, social media and content support. Crucially, it provides the worlds largest CRM system; however, while handy, that isnt a fast track to success.

As Moore says, One of the most important assets that any broker business has is the customer base, and the more details you have on that the more useful it becomes.

We can offer the largest system, but knowledge is the worlds best CRM.

The real world

Get Smart Financial Solutions was founded by Rachael Bland in 2012 after more than 15 years working in the finance sector. Taking the leap to satisfy her professional ambitions, as well as continue to provide for her children, Blands initial strategy focused on her local area  and it paid dividends. In her second year she gained platinum status with the aggregator, a rare achievement for a newcomer.

Today, the business settles around $70m per annum, and Bland is the sole broker, working with a team of eight part-time staff. Recently, she supported two team members in their transition to qualified loan writers, and is now looking forward to the resulting business growth.

She says, The transition from broker to business operator occurs not only through the challenges you face day-to-day but also the support received from BDMs, lenders, and of course your aggregator.

Choices support has been unparalleled; they have been like a family to me, and have been very much instrumental to the growth of my business.

Choice welcomed more than 400 brokers to its network in the 12 months to October 2017, reaching more than 1,600 members. With more than 20% of brokers on the books for 10 years or more, success stories are commonplace.

Will Unkles is principal at 40 Forty Finance, founded in Melbourne three years ago. In FY17 the business settled just under $20m and is on track to hit $40m this financial year, with a subsequent target of $60m in FY19.

Choices support has been unparalleled ... [they] have been very much instrumental to the growth of my business - Rachael Bland, Get Smart Financial Solutions

While his previous job as a consultant helped pave the way for 40 Forty Finance, like all good business operators Unkles knew where support would be required. His initial approach was to build strong connections with each lenders BDM, cementing the notion that broking is a relationship-based business.

Further. he called on a personal networks in his local area, with a focus on first home buyers. Having identified his customers, Unkles developed a strong online communications strategy and offline he sponsored a local sporting club and held free-to-attend workshops to educate 18- to 30-year-olds on financial management.

Now ready to scale up the business and recruit a third team member, hes turning to his aggregator for support.

I think in a sense a lot of brokers do take the role of an aggregator for granted. The software we receive via Choice is really the foundation of my business, and there is no way Id be able to run my business as efficiently and successfully without it, he says.

Professional focus

Professionalism is about putting the customer first and designing a business process around target outcomes. Its also about maintaining quality without compromise, and that is entirely dependent on long-term perspective: one eye on the present and one eye on the future, as Moore advises.

However, when it comes to being a business operator the most successful enterprises are aligned with their customers needs and are agile and intelligent enough to know what support they need and at what stage.

In a changing landscape like ours its even more critical to be aligned to the right aggregator, and the right aggregator will be very proactive in helping you navigate the changing landscape, Moore says.

My message to all brokers is that it is important to stay focused on what counts the most, and that is providing great advice and great experiences to customers.
Latest News Pallas Group welcomes new director from its lending arm The new director has been part of Pallas Capital since its inception

86 400 CEO steps down Bank CEO announces on social media that he has quit, merger partner to fill in

Nominations are open for the 2018 Australian Mortgage Awards, inviting entries in 31 categories.

The awards recognise a broad range of practices in the industry, celebrating brokerages, individual brokers, BDMs, aggregators and industry campaigns.

Last year saw the introduction of the lenders categories. The winners of the newly introduced categories were Westpac for Major Bank of the Year, ING for Non-Major Bank of the Year and Pepper Money for Non-Bank of the Year.

The award for Most Effective Online Presence was also expanded to recognise the best websites from brokers, aggregators and lenders, with the trophies won by Empower Wealth Mortgage Advisory, Connective and Pepper Money respectively.

Who will be the winners of 2018?

Readers are urged so submit their nomination in one or more of the award categories and start preparing their nominations.

To nominate, just click here. Entries close Friday 29 June.

Winners in all categories will be announced at an awards ceremony at The Star Sydney on Friday 19 October.

Related stories:

Australias broker of the year revealed at AMAs

Productive focus helps brokerage write $160m
Metals and mining giant Vedanta's cup of woes spilt over again on Monday with the state government of Tamil Nadu ordering a permanent shut down of its copper smelter plant. Protests against the factory which is owned by its group firm Sterlite in Tuticorin turned deadly last week after 13 people died in police action.

"We have taken a decision to permanently shut down the plant and today issued government orders to do the same," said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in a statement.

The 400,000 tonne a year smelter plant has been idle since March when the company shut it down as part of its periodic maintenance schedule. It has remained shut ever since as protests mounted against it by locals who say pollution from the factory has impacted their health. It also clouded the company's plans to double capacity with the Madras High Court putting a stay on the expansion till the next hearing in September.

Sterlite has steadfastly denied claims that the factory pollutes. Its record, however, is hardly squeaky clean. In 2013, the company was fined Rs 100 crore by the apex court in India for flouting environmental norms. With the protests turning deadly in Tuticorin, the matter has now escalated beyond its control.

This is not the first time that Vedanta had to retreat after facing the wrath of locals in a region. Nearly ten years ago, the company had to suspend its plans to mine bauxite at the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha after local tribals relentlessly protested against it.

Even outside India, it has faced controversies. Last year, it lost a case in Zambia in Africa where it has mining operations through its subsidiary Konkola Copper Mines. The Zambian villagers who alleged that their land and livelihood was destoryed by water pollution caused by the company's operations in the region, won the right to drag the company to court in England after London's Court of Appeal threw out Vedanta's attempts at blocking this legal aid. Vedanta has appealed against that verdict to the Supreme Court in England. It is still being heard.
BFSI, e-commerce, retail and Infrastructure sectors will together add 1 million plus jobs by the end of 2018, says a report by Indian Staffing Federation. These are also among the top 15 employment generating sectors collectively employing 81 per cent of the formal sector workforce in the country. The report pegs the Indian flexi staffing market at 3.6 billion euros (around Rs 28,215 crore).

With automation and innovation changing the nature of the work, BFSI contributes 12 per cent, Infrastructure, Construction and Energy 11 per cent and retail and e-commerce together comprise 5 per cent in employing the national flexi staff.

The retail market's growth is not just a phenomenon of metropolitan cities, but also across several tier 2 and tier 3 cities, providing enhanced business and job opportunities for local youth.

Accordingly to the report, the organised retail will create over 12 lakh jobs, construction and real estate about 1.4 lakh, BFSI 52,500 jobs while automobile sector will add 43,000 plus jobs by 2021.

"India doesn't have a job crisis, everyone who wants a job has a job; they simply don't have the wages they aspire for. The country is suffering from acute low levels of productivity at the workplace that emanates from the real crisis - which is lack of skills. As members of the staffing industry, we are sitting on large volumes of jobs however, we are able to hire only 5 per cent of the youth that reach out to us on a daily basis," says Rituparna Chakraborty, President, Indian Staffing Federation.

According to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) data, six lakh get added to the formal workforce every month. Chakraborty adds:"EPFO data suggests formalisation of workforce and rather than being sceptical about it, we should welcome this and shift our debate to skills rather than non-availability of jobs."

"Through Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana, we have employed 40 lakh new job seekers and Rs 725 crore has been given to those corporates providing jobs to them. This year, we expect to spend Rs 4000 crore for the new jobs to be created," said Heeralal Samariya, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X results will be declared at 4pm tomorrow, May 29. Candidates who are awaiting their results could check the same on cbseresults.nic.in, cbse.nic.in or results.nic.in.

Candidates can follow the following process to check the results:

Go to the aforementioned official websites

Click on the link which says, 'Class 10 Exam Results'

Enter your roll number and submit the same

Take a printout for future use

CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi told IANS "All evaluation has been done, not a single paper's result will be withheld."

Around 16.88 lakh students appeared for the examinations that were conducted from March 5 to April 4.

The CBSE Class 12 exam results were declared on May 26. Meghana Srivastava topped the exam with a score of 499 marks out of a total 500. Trivandrum had the highest pass percentage with 97.32%, followed by Chennai with 93.87% and Delhi with 89%.

More than 28 lakh students appeared for both the exams combined that were held at 8,591 centres in India and abroad.

Before the exams, Class 10 Mathematics paper and Class 12 Economics paper were leaked. CBSE and board members had to face a lot of flak for their inactivity and for the manner the entire issue was handled. Around 600,000 CBSE Class 12 students re-appeared for the Economics paper on April 25 across 4,000 centres in the country, while Class 10 students were exempted from the re-examination.

"Consequent to the preliminary evaluation of the impact of reportedly leaked CBSE Class X maths paper and keeping in mind the paramount interest of students, CBSE has decided not to conduct re-examination, even in the states of Delhi NCR and Haryana," Secretary, HRD ministry had told the media.
Fuel prices on Monday touched a new high with petrol at Rs 78.27 and diesel at Rs 69.17 in Delhi. Petrol price was today hiked by 15 paisa and diesel by 11 paisa. In other three metro cites, petrol is available at Rs 80.76 in Kolkata, Rs 85.93 in Mumbai and Rs 81.11 in Chennai. The prices are raised by 15 paisa in Kolkata, Mumbai and by 16 paisa in Chennai.







This is the 15th hike in a row after Karnataka Assembly elections concluded earlier this month. In the run-up to state elections in the southern state, the oil companies had stopped revising the petroleum prices for over a fortnight.

The incessant hike in petrol and diesel prices has been mostly due to rise in crude oil prices and the high taxes - excise duty and VAT - levied on fuels. The opposition parties and people have been demanding a cut in Centre and state tax on fuels. Some are even suggesting to bring petrol and diesel under the GST, hoping that it would reduce taxes -which is currently close to 50 per cent- by half. If the government includes fuels under the GST and applies the highest tax slab of 28 per cent, the price of petrol would come down by Rs 26.9 and diesel by Rs 15.4.Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram recently claimed that it was possible for the government to cut up to Rs 25 per litre in petrol prices. He said: "Central government saves Rs 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts additional tax of Rs 10 on every litre of petrol. It is possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre, but the government will not. They will cheat the people by cutting price by Rs 1 or 2 per litre of petrol."The Central government levies Rs 19.48 excise duty on a litre of petrol and Rs 15.33 on diesel. States charge value added tax that varies from state to state. In Delhi, VAT on petrol is Rs 16.41 and on diesel Rs 10.05.However, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday said that 'it is a big misconception (among the people) that price of petroleum products will be reduced significantly if they are brought under GST ambit'. He said that under the GST regime, there is a practice across the world which empowers states to impose tax over and above the highest GST tax rate. He suggested that even if fuels are brought under new taxation system, the states can still impose taxes to compensate their loss.Last week, Hindustan Petroleum Chairman and MD Mukesh Kumar Surana said that the government should review their taxes. He said that the oil marketing companies operate on a thin margin and they cannot do much if the international cost of oil rises. Earlier, it was reported that the government may levy a windfall tax on oil producers like ONGC as part of a permanent solution to rising petrol and diesel prices.After Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power in 2014, excise duty on petrol has been hiked by Rs 11.77 per litre and that on diesel by 13.47 a litre. After moving to daily revision of fuel prices in June last year, the government had cut basic excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre in October last year.
A day after PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of India's first 14-lane expressway- the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (8.716 km of Delhi section) from Nizamuddin Bridge to UP border, the stock of the expressway developer Welspun Enterprises hit its all time high in trade today.

At 12:35 pm, the stock was trading 2.32% higher at 198.20 level on BSE. Meanwhile, the stock of Welspun Group firm Welspun Enterprises hit its all-time high level of 202.85 on BSE.

The stock which opened at 195.40 rose 4.72% to hit a new high in trade today.The stock has delivered 122.22% returns during the last one year and has gained 14.09% since the beginning of this year.

The stock has given 37.46% returns during the last one month. The stock closed 2.58% higher at 198.70 on BSE.

The expressway has been built by NHAI and Welspun Group in a record time of 18 months as against the earlier expected construction period of 30 months.

Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said the expressway will reduce 27 per cent pollution and ease 41 per cent traffic jam. Gadkari said the Delhi-Meerut expressway will be completed by next March and reduce the travel time between the two cities to 40 minutes. A lot of traffic, outbound or non-destined for Delhi will be diverted, he has said, adding that at least 50,000 vehicles will be diverted.





The first phase of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway cost Rs 842 crore on building the 9-km stretch of the 14-lane highway. The total cost of the project on completion would be Rs 7,500 crore.

The total length of the project is 82 km, of which the first 27.74 km will be 14-laned, while the rest will be a six-lane expressway. The project is likely to cost Rs 4,975.17 crore.The expressway will have 11 flyovers/interchanges, five major and 24 minor bridges, 3 ROBs (rail over bridges), 36 vehicular and 14 pedestrian underpasses. It will also have an elevated section of 5.91 km.

Asserting that infrastructure is a key priority for his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Rs 3 lakh crore has been spent on laying a network of 28,000 km of highways. Highways, railways, airways and I-ways have been the focus of the government, he said.

Highways construction has reached 27-km a day from mere 12-km a day during the Congress regime, while last year 10 crore people undertook air journeys, he said.

Modi was addressing a public rally in Baghpat after dedicating the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) to the nation. The 135 km EPE has been built at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore in 500 days.

He said apart from Rs 5 lakh crore provision for Bharatmala for highways, a provision of Rs 14 lakh crore was made in the budget to strengthen agriculture related infrastructure.
28 May 2018, 10:37 PM

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Exynos variant leaked

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 with Exynos 9810 was spotted on Geekbench listing. The device scored higher than the variant that sported a Snapdragon 845 chipset which will sell in the United States. In India, the device will get the Exynos 9810 SoC. Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Note 9 in August during the IFA event. According to popular tipster Ice Universe, Samsung will be launching a 512GB/8GB variant of the device.



Xiaomi launches four new TVs in the Mi TV series

Xiaomi launched the Mi TV series in India earlier this year. Similar to its smartphones, the TV series was an instant hit for the Chinese company, so much so that the company had to deal with an acute shortage of stock. Xiaomi has now launched three new TVs in China, which could also make it to India in the near future. The company has launched the Mi TV 4S(55-inch and 43-inch), Mi TV 4X (55-inch) and and Mi TV 4C (43-inch).



Nokia to launch new devices in Moscow on May 29

HMD Global will host an event at Moscow on May 29. The Nokia 5.1, Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 2.1 might be released during this event. The company had promised new versions of Nokia 5, Nokia 3 and Nokia 2 at Mobile World Congress earlier this year.



Vivo X21 to launch in India on May 29

Ahead of its formal launch on May 29, the Vivo X21 is available for pre-bookings in India. The phone can be booked through Vivo's online store with Rs 2,000 as advanced booking price. Customers that pre-book the smartphone will get some exclusive offers like a five percent cashback and a no-cost EMI options. The phone will go on sale on Flipkart but no details have been revealed regarding the price of the phone. To pre-book the Vivo X21, visit the Vivo online store and make the advance payment of Rs 2,000. Once done, Vivo will send you a coupon worth the advance payment value, which you can apply while paying the balance amount for the device.
For any telecom company, the availability and efficiency of the network is very critical to their brand as well as revenues. Surprisingly, almost all the telecom players have outsourced the day-to-day management of their network to network management service companies, an industry dominated by two-three major players of which Ericsson India Private Limited (Ericsson), a subsidiary of Swedish based multinational telecommunications and networking company headquartered in Stockholm, is one.

Ericsson had in the year 2013 entered into different agreements for rendering various technical services with three companies, including Reliance Infratel Limited (RITL), Reliance Telecom Limited (RTL) and Reliance Communications Limited (RCom). RCom is the holding company of RITL and RTL. The three entities -- RITL, RTL and RCom -- work in different segments i.e. towers, fixed line and broadband and wireless voice and data respectively.

It would not be out of place to mention that Ericsson, which till recently was responsible for managing the backbone i.e. network of the three entities, is also the one to bring about the situation where it seems that no way out is present but to see the three entities been taken by a fourth entity (Resolution Applicant) unless a settlement is reached with Ericsson itself.

The adjudicating authority, NCLT, Mumbai Bench has admitted the three separate applications filed by Ericsson as operational creditor on May 15, the seeds of which were sprouted by Ericsson on May 7, by serving a Demand Notice under Section 8 of I&B Code 2016. The total claim of Ericsson is approximately Rs 1,000 crore against the three entities.

RCom had been fighting hard to put up a brave face in the industry mayhem brought about by the entry of Mukesh Ambani's Jio Infocomm. Initially it tried to merge with Aircel but the deal fell through owing to regulatory bottlenecks. Subsequently, it tried to work out a restructuring of its loans with bankers and also entered into a deal with elder brother's Jio Infocomm. However, in its fight for survival, RCom appears to have ignored, or underestimated, the heartburn being caused to Ericsson by ever mounting debt and failed payment promises.

A perusal of NCLT Mumbai's order reveals that for over two years, RCom kept on assuring Ericsson about the payment of its dues and failing on every occasion to pay the same. Even in response to the demand notice issued under Section 8 of I&B Code 2016 as Operational Creditor by Ericsson, RCom asked Ericsson to bear with it for some more time. Perhaps, fed up with repeated promises which failed to see the light of the day, Ericsson decided to proceed to the Insolvency Court and in the process derailing all the other plans which were in the works.

Here it is important to mention that financial creditors were also supporting RCom during the proceedings before the tribunal. Though the I&B Code is clear that the application will be admitted if it is proved that there is a default and there exists no dispute.

Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and otherwise, the secured financial creditors have the first right over the assets of the debtor company and hence are the ones who call the shots. Operational Creditors like Ericsson are placed much down the list of priority. Ergo, all the effort of RCom was to ensure a settlement with the bankers and paying their dues while ignoring the interests of other stakeholder (this is what is being claimed) including Ericsson as it realised that the only way it can survive and the only way other creditors can even have a shot at reclaiming their debts was by avoiding insolvency.

With the insolvency being admitted, the deals agreed or in the works come to a standstill and have to be now done in the framework of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. While it is still the financial creditors who eventually comprise the Committee of Creditors (COC) and call the shots, any sale of assets, whose book value exceeds more than 10% of claims admitted by the Interim Resolution Professional, is not allowed. One can argue that suitors for the assets can now come in as Resolution Applicants, there is a catch. By virtue of the recent amendment, brought in to stop re-entry of promoters/ directors of defaulting entity or their relatives, the elder brother may not be allowed to bid for the assets of RCom owing to his relationship with the promoter of RCom i.e. younger brother Anil Ambani.

A smart thing done by Ericsson was to terminate its agreement with RCom before moving the Insolvency court. Smart because by doing that it avoided itself from digging its own grave as upon admission of insolvency it would not have been able to terminate its service, they being 'essential' to the running of RCOM. As observed by NCLT in its order "will anybody become so insane not to terminate services before filing this case". This statement was made by the tribunal while addressing the argument given by the counsel of RCom: there exists a dispute between Ericsson and RCom as Ericsson has terminated its services. It would be important to that the termination notice was given by Ericsson after serving the notice under Section 8.

It would be interesting to see how this all pans out over the next six-nine months since RCom has already approached NCLAT against the order of the tribuna. Also the committee on Insolvency Code has submitted its recommendation which inter alia include diluting the provisions relating to section 29A i.e. the one which prohibits the promoters/ directors (and their relatives) of the company facing insolvency from reclaiming the company. Insolvency is a new law and the hence not only the jurisprudence is still evolving, even the practicality of provisions is still being tested and hence it would not be surprising that another amendment is made during the monsoon session which may move the goal posts from their current position.

The author is Founding Partner, Singh & Associates


Japanese English

OSLO, Norway and BALTIMORE and GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CEPIthe Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovationstoday announced a collaboration with Profectus BioSciences, Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) under which Profectus and Emergent will receive up to $25 million to advance the development and manufacture of a vaccine against the Nipah virus (NiV), a bat-borne virus that can spread to both humans and livestock.



Under the terms of the Framework Partnering Agreement for the collaboration among the three parties, Profectus will receive development funding from CEPI for advancing its Nipah virus vaccine and Emergent will provide technical and manufacturing support for the CEPI-funded program. Emergent, through a separate agreement with Profectus, has an exclusive option to license and to assume control of development activities for the Nipah virus vaccine from Profectus. The international nonprofit organization PATH will also be working with the consortium under a separate agreement with CEPI to work on clinical development.

Nipah virus and Hendra virus (HeV) are closely related Paramyxoviruses that cause respiratory and encephalitis disease in a variety of animal hosts and in humans. A natural reservoir for these viruses are flying foxes (bats of the genus Pteropus) found in Southeast Asia and Malaysia. Human infection occurs after direct exposure to tissues and secretions from infected horses, pigs, and bats. There is currently no approved vaccine or therapeutic against either NiV or HeV. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care, and the mortality rate is high at approximately 75% of cases.

The Southern India state of Kerala is currently in the midst of a Nipah virus outbreak, where the virus has killed 10 people. These are the first documented cases in Kerala.

Previously unidentified, a 1999 NiV outbreak killed 105 people in Malaysia. In addition, more than one million pigs were slaughtered to stem the spread of the virus, which caused significant trade loss and market turmoil. Outbreaks occur annually in Bangladesh and have been reported numerous times in India (CDC). NiV has a 75 percent mortality rate1. NiV is shed by bats in Southeast Asia and Malaysia and is transferred to humans via bat urine and saliva on fruit or from infected horses and pigs. It can also spread human-to-human.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said:

The current outbreak of Nipah in India, the government of which is one of CEPIs founders, demonstrates that this is a deadly pathogen that has already travelled thousands of kilometers, has serious epidemic potential and the ability to surprise us. This is the first funding agreement we have signed to develop a vaccine against Nipah and our partnership with Profectus, Emergent, and PATH represents a vital move forward in the global battle against this devastating disease.

The investment of up to $25 million represents an innovative approach to funding vaccine development, unlocking research and development potential so that vaccines are ready for efficacy studies during an outbreak. The agreement will enable funding for development efforts over a five-year period.

Thomas Lynch, Chair and CEO of Profectus BioSciences, said:

Profectus gratefully acknowledges CEPIs leadership and funding of this strategic collaboration to rapidly produce a vaccine against the emerging Nipah virus threat. Nipahs human-to-human transmission has been documented, and any initially small outbreak could take the same course as the recent Ebola outbreak. With CEPIs support and the talents of these highly regarded global health innovation partners, we look forward to applying our expertise and technologies and leveraging our partnership with Emergent to rapidly advance our pre-IND vaccine candidate for Nipah virus as an effective countermeasure that will be positioned to save patients around the world from this devastating disease.

Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, CEO of Emergent BioSolutions, said:

Emergent has a 20-year track record of success working with government and industry partners to provide life-saving medical countermeasures against identified biological agents particularly when a rapid response to an emerging outbreak may be necessary. We look forward to leveraging our expertise in advanced development and manufacturing, including our U.S. government-designated Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing, which is designed to provide surge manufacturing capabilities during public health emergencies. We expect to work closely with Profectus enabling our companies to provide synergistic and complementary capabilities for a successful collaboration with CEPI.

Steve Davis, President and CEO of PATH, on the PATH-CEPI partnership:

PATH is delighted to partner with CEPI and leverage the end-to-end capabilities of our Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA), particularly our success record in clinical development and scaling the introduction of new vaccines in low-resource settings. PATH looks forward to collaborating with CEPI to achieve our shared goals for epidemic preparedness by equipping the world with new tools to protect against these deadly threats.

About the Nipah Vaccine Development

The vaccine in development is based on Nipah virus and Hendra virus technology developed beginning more than 15 years ago by Dr. Christopher Broder and Dr. Katharine Bossart at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). The vaccine was tested in multiple preclinical models and licensed to Profectus BioSciences by The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) to develop the human vaccine. Dr. Broder began a collaboration with Dr. Antony Dimitrov of Profectus BioSciences to develop the human vaccine with financial support from the United States National Institutes of Health. As a next step in the Nipah vaccine development, Dr. Thomas Geisbert, a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston National Laboratory (GNL), will conduct correlate of immunity studies at its biosafety level 4 facility; and HJF, USU, and Profectus will collaborate on the development of a clinical assay for the evaluation of the anti-Nipah virus vaccine response. PATH is responsible for the clinical development of the Nipah vaccine candidate.

Based on the success of this vaccine technology against Nipah and Nipahs close relative, Hendra virus, it is highly likely that the Nipah vaccine to be developed here will also work against Hendra virus, said Dr. Broder.

About CEPI

CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organizations founded in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. To date, CEPI has received multi-year funding from Norway, Germany, Japan, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Wellcome. CEPI has also received single-year investments from the governments of Australia, Belgium, and Canada. It has reached $630 million of its target $1 billion funding target. The European Commission has announced a contribution in kind of 250 million that will support relevant projects through EC mechanisms. Since its launch in January 2017, CEPI has announced two Calls for Proposals. The first was for candidate vaccines against MERS-COV, Nipah and Lassa viruses. The second was for the development of platforms that can be used for rapid vaccine development against unknown pathogens.

About Profectus BioSciences, Inc.

Profectus BioSciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage vaccine platform company developing novel vaccines for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and associated cancers. Profectus' vaccines are based on the companys proprietary vaccine delivery platforms to provide protection against emerging infectious diseases of public health and biodefense importance such as Ebola, Marburg, Chikungunya, Zika, the equine encephalitis viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus; and therapeutically targeting virally infected cells and cancers associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For more information, please visit www.profectusbiosciences.com.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a global life sciences company seeking to protect and enhance life by focusing on providing specialty products for civilian and military populations that address accidental, intentional, and naturally occurring public health threats. Through our work, we envision protecting and enhancing 50 million lives with our products by 2025. Additional information about the company may be found at www.emergentbiosolutions.com. Follow us on Twitter @emergentbiosolu and Instagram @life_at_emergent.

About PATH

PATH is the leader in global health innovation. An international nonprofit organization, we save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platformsvaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovationsthat harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health. Learn more at www.path.org.

About the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU)

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), founded by an act of Congress in 1972, is the academic heart of the Military Health System. USU students are primarily active-duty uniformed officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service who receive specialized education in tropical and infectious diseases, TBI and PTSD, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, global health, acute trauma care, and advanced practice nursing and dentistry. For more information, visit www.usuhs.edu.

About HJF

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF) is a private, not-for-profit organization authorized by Congress to support military medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and throughout the armed forces. HJF serves military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and to accomplish their research goals effectively and efficiently. For more information, visit www.hjf.org.

About the Galveston National Laboratory

The preclinical studies will be conducted in UTMBs Galveston National Laboratory, a state-of-the-art high containment biosafety Level 4 facility where scientists wear protective suits and study pathogens that cause severe diseases or are fatal. The GNL provides much needed research space and specialized research capabilities to develop therapies, vaccines and diagnostic tests for naturally occurring emerging diseases such as SARS, West Nile encephalitis, Ebola and avian influenzaas well as for microbes that might be employed by terrorists. UTMB has the only functioning Level 4 laboratory located on an American university campus.

Contacts

CEPI

Rachel Grant

+44(0)7891249190

Rachel.Grant@cepi.net Profectus BioSciences, Inc.

Mary Moynihan

M2Friend Biocommunications

802-951-9600

mary@m2friend.com Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Investors:

Robert G. Burrows

Vice President, Investor Relations

240-631-3280

BurrowsR@ebsi.com



Media:

Lynn Kieffer

Vice President, Corporate Communications

240-631-3391

KiefferL@ebsi.com



1 http://www.searo.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/links/nipah_virus_outbreaks_sear/en/
The Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank saga may have hogged the limelight in recent times, but the problem of bank frauds is much longer and deeper, two recent right to information (RTI) replies revealed.

To begin with, the 21 public sector banks (PSBs) together took a hit of whopping Rs 25,775 crore from bank frauds in the last financial year. Chandrasekhar Gaud, who had filed the RTI with the Reserve Bank of India, also told PTI that the apex bank's reply had clarified that only those cases of fraud involving a sum of over Rs 1 lakh were included in the list. Furthermore, it did not disclose the numbers of cases or the nature of the fraud.

PNB had incurred the highest loss of Rs 6461.13 crore due to different cases of fraud followed by State Bank of India's loss of Rs 2,224.86 crore. Here's how the remaining PSBs stacked up in the hit list:
India on Sunday launched its second IT corridor in China to get access to the growing Chinese software market. The new IT corridor in Guiyang came months after NASSCOM established its first Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza or SIDCOP platform in the Chinese port city of Dalian.



In a statement, the National Association of Software and Services Companies or NASSCOM said that it has established one more Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza (SIDCOP) platform in China in a bid to provide market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market.



Soon after the launch, Indian IT companies signed an agreement worth RMB 36 million (about USD 6 million) with Chinese customers at the launch of the corridor. The pilot projects launched on the SIDCOP platform would be executed over the next year, a NASSCOM statement said.



According to reports, Dalian corridor's focus was on Internet of Things- IoT but the Guiyang corridor will focus on Big Data.



The platform in Guiyang intends to create online and offline presence to promote a "co-create culture" between two large neighbours in the Big Data space, NASSCOM-Global Trade Development Senior Director Gagan Sabharwal told PTI.



Speaking at the launch of the Guiyang IT corridor, India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said that the corridor is aimed at setting up local offices and assisting companies from Guiyang to establish software and IT units in India.



An Indian company named 'Zeta-V' will establish an Artificial Intelligence enabled platform for SIDCOP to bring together the IT requirements of Chinese companies and Indian companies which have solutions to offer, Bambawale said.



"In this way, we will be marrying together the requirements of Chinese companies with the capabilities of Indian IT service providers. We visualise that these initiatives will give a big impetus to cooperation between India and China in the IT-enabled services sector," he further added.



India IT firms have a presence in more than 70 countries in the world, generating employment for up to 12 million people worldwide. In China, Indian IT companies are present in 10 cities around the country, with a total work-force of around 25,000 employees.



In 2013, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China had valued country's IT market valued at over USD 493 billion. For India, getting access to China's IT market is important to address the massive trade deficit which has now spiralled to over USD 51 billion.







India has been demanding China to provide market access to Indian IT and pharmaceutical firms for several years to reduce bilateral trade deficit.





(With inputs from PTI)


Search engines like Google and Microsoft's Bing could be made to pay for showing snippets of news articles under draft copyright rules endorsed by European Union ambassadors on Friday.

The measure, which is not yet final, would allow press publishers to ask search engines to pay them for showing their articles for up to one year after publication.

The original proposal from the European Commission had foreseen giving publishers the right to ask for payment for up to 20 years.

The EU copyright reform package would also force websites like YouTube to seek a licence from rightsholders for displaying their content, for example a music video, or prevent it from being accessible.

News publishers have had an acrimonious relationship with the likes of Google in the past, whom they blame for revenue and readership declines. Google has tried to remedy that by establishing the Digital News Initiative which funds publishers' digital projects.

The tech industry says measures like "snippet taxes" do not lead to greater remuneration for the media as search engines channel millions of clicks to news sites enabling them to make money via online advertising.

But news publishers cheered Friday's agreement, calling it a "decisive step in the right direction".

"We remain confident that policy makers will continue showing support for an exclusive right to underpin investment in the free and democratic European press," said News Media Europe (NME), the European Newspaper Publishers' Association, the European Publishers Council and the European Magazine Media Association.

Thomson Reuters is a member of the European Publishers Council.

The tech industry said the agreement would hurt internet users and the digital sector.

The new so-called neighbouring right for press publishers "will extend to the smallest extracts of text, despite overwhelming stakeholder opposition and irrefutable evidence that this right does not increase remuneration for press publishers nor contribute to quality journalism in Europe," said EDiMA, which represents Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter, among others.

Spain and Germany introduced similar laws in the past, causing Google News to pull out of Spain and Germany's biggest news publisher Axel Springer to scrap a bid to block Google from running snippets of articles from its newspapers following a plunge in traffic.

The copyright reform proposals would also affect the music industry, which has waged a campaign against YouTube whom they accuse of making money off their content without remunerating them properly.

YouTube said it paid the music industry over $1 billion in 2016 from ad revenue alone and allows artists to make money from fan-uploaded music content.

Following Friday's agreement, member states will have to negotiate a final copyright reform deal with the European Parliament, which has not yet agreed its position.
The European Commission today proposed banning single-use plastic products such as cotton buds and plastic straws and putting the burden of cleaning up waste on manufacturers in an effort to reduce marine litter.

Under the proposal, single-use plastic products with readily available alternatives will be banned and replaced with more environmentally sustainable materials.

The proposal also requires EU countries to collect 90 percent of single-use plastic drink bottles by 2025 and producers to help cover costs of waste management and clean-up.

"Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem, because plastic waste ends up in our air, our soil, our oceans, and in our food," said EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans.

Plastic accumulating in the world's oceans has become a major policy issue for governments, with scientists warning of their effect on the food chain.

Research published in the online journal Scientific Reports estimates a garbage patch of some 79,000 metric tonnes - 1.8 trillion pieces - of plastic has formed in the Pacific Ocean, mainly consisting of fishing nets, plastic containers, packaging and ropes.

Earlier this year, Britain also said it planned to ban the sale of plastic straws and other single-use products.

The Commission proposal will still need to be approved by the European Parliament and Council, and the Commission said it hoped for it to be given the green light before the European elections in May 2019. (Reuters)

Srouce: www.businessworld.ie
Virgin Media Limited has acquired Casey Cablevision, a regional cable operator based in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, for an undisclosed purchase price.

Established in 1979, the family-owned business provides pay-TV, high speed broadband and phone services to over 2,000 customers in Dungarvan and surrounding areas.

Vice President of Commercial at Virgin Media Ireland, Paul Farrell, said: The Casey family were true pioneers of the cable industry in Ireland, they were the first to invest in fibre optic cabling which allowed them to offer high speed broadband to customers in the South East when the provision of such services was a distant dream for Irish consumers and businesses. We look forward to working with our new colleagues in Casey Cablevision and delivering new opportunities for growth and expansion in the region.

The acquisition will be subject to competition and regulatory approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Energy, over the coming months.

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Flights from around the world land and taxi at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport on May 14. Photo: VCG

Many foreign airlines, including some American carriers, are complying with Beijings demand to list Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as territories of China on their websites.

Eighteen of the 44 foreign airlines that were required to do so last month have already complied, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The other 26 carriers have been given until July 25 to make modifications, CAAC said, without providing a full list of the companies.

CAAC wrote to the 44 foreign airlines last month demanding they address contents on their official websites which violate Chinese law and the one-China policy.

The demand is a sign of Beijings growing assertiveness on the world stage, according to analysts, and the move provoked criticism from the Trump administration, which said it was part of a growing trend by the Chinese Communist Party to impose its political views on American citizens and private companies.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on May 5 that the American carriers were being targeted by what she called Chinas Orwellian nonsense.

Former colonies Hong Kong and Macau, which were returned to China from the U.K. in 1997 and Portugal in 1999 respectively, are now officially part of China but are classified as special administrative regions and enjoy significant autonomy in politics, judicial affairs and trade.

Chinese mainland authorities regard Taiwan as a renegade province, though the two areas have been ruled by separate governments since 1949.

In response to the U.S. criticism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Shuang told reporters earlier this month that foreign enterprises operating in China should respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, abide by Chinese law and respect the feelings of the Chinese people. This is the basic principle for them to follow when doing business here, he said.

Atlanta-based Delta Airlines and hotel chain Marriott International Inc. were among the foreign companies that were forced to apologize after being rebuked by Chinese authorities over their politically incorrect country lists.

Contact reporter Li Rongde (rongdeli@caixin.com)
news, latest-news

Canberrans are being urged to dig deep into the closet this winter to help provide 1000 winter coats to charity. Take One, Leave One co-founder and ANU law student Lauren Dreyar said she's set up coat racks across Canberra where rough sleepers and people in need can pick up a warm jacket. Ms Dreyar founded her charity with Jenna Allen, Bhavani Kannan, Dylan O'Beirne in 2017 and saw it as an alternative to collecting donations and approaching homeless people to offer them clothing. "That didn't seem at all like an ethical thing or an appropriate thing to do," Ms Dreyar said. "We're trying to do it with a bit of dignity so people are able to select items they actually like." Ms Dreyar said the initiative gave them an opportunity to engage with people but also take orders more appropriate for people's needs. "It comes down to dignity and agency," she said. "It's providing a bit of a shopping experience too that they're blocked from." The group have teamed up with charity GIVIT, a not-for-profit working to defer items from landfill and directly address community needs. GIVIT ACT manager Caroline Odgers said the coats were available to rough sleepers or even newly arrived families from overseas unprepared for Canberra's "bloody freezing" winters. "We're setting a huge target this year," Ms Odgers said. "They can go up to these coat stands and just grab a coat. They don't have to go to a charity or go to an op shop, it's totally free." Two permanent racks have been set up at the Civic and Woden libraries, with roving racks at select times at the Early Morning Centre, Red Cross Roadhouse and Safe Shelter at St Columba's. Ms Dreyar said people can donate coats a the ANU College of Law, the Food Co-Op and Shop or the Belconnen Community Centre. "We are also in need of storage spaces too so we can properly store all of the wonderful donations we receive - right now I am storing everything at home," Ms Dreyar said. Ms Dreyar also welcomed their partnership with GIVIT which now allowed them to receive corporate donations. For people in need of a winter coat who cannot afford one, Take One, Leave One is at:

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/3459f103-cad3-4edd-bd51-00f1a2acd383/r0_216_3981_2465_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
news, latest-news

Renewable energy cannot be blamed for the rising cost of power bills, according to the boss of Australia's consumer watchdog. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims told a lunch in Brisbane the main reason power prices had increased was increasing network costs. "Which have got pretty well nothing to do with whether the energy is generated from renewable energy sources or coal-fired power," Mr Sims said. "They've gone up a fair bit because of retail costs and margins." Mr Sims said a "fair bit of the affordability story" had nothing to do with the climate debate. "The debate gets so polarised that we ignore the rest of the value chain," he said. Mr Sims said some renewable energy was extremely cheap, but it was not reliably dispatchable. "So working out the cost when you've got to make it reliably dispatchable is where the comparison gets awfully complicated," he told a CEDA lunch on Monday. Mr Sims said the National Energy Guarantee would force renewable energy to come into the system and be dispatchable. The national energy guarantee would force electricity retailers to ensure minimum standards of emissions reduction and reliability of supply. "The RET [renewable energy target] has got a little way to go, but after 2020 I think you'll find that the subsidies to renewables, irrespective of when they generate will close to disappear and they'll have to make money out of, the new ones, from linking into the grid," Mr Sims said. Mr Sims said electricity costs had gone up and some offers to consumers were "very opaque". "A lot of people on very high standing offers and I really do think the retailers are trying to make this market as opaque as they can so they can keep people on offers that are higher than they need to be," he said. "Some people are getting lower prices as a result of deregulation, but most are probably not, and that's a worry." Mr Sims said a lot of companies advertised electricity prices by discount, but customers often did not know the base rate. "I can easily show you products where you'll pay more on the 30 per cent discount than you will on the 10," he said. "We are looking at taking some enforcement action, but we've done it before and it hasn't seemed to change behaviour, so we think something more is required. "The best way to sell your product is to offer the highest discount, it follows the best thing to do is to push that standing offer up, and up, and up. "The problem is there's a lot of people still on that standing offer who are paying more, and more, and more." Mr Sims said customers could save $500 to $600 per year if they were on a better offer. The ACCC is due to hand down its final report following a national inquiry into the supply of retail electricity and the competitive of retail electricity prices next month. Mr Sims said the ACCC would look at how to bring network, environmental and retail costs down, and how to make the retail market less opaque and easier to deal with. He said they were also looking at ways to increase the powers of the Australian Energy Regulator and the penalties they could impose.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/08352293-82be-4d6c-acaf-6289f5df8946/r0_283_5568_3429_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
TORONTO, May 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardinal Resources Limited (ASX:CDV) (TSX:CDV) (Cardinal or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has received encouraging results from its first pass shallow RC drilling designed to test one of the six coincident gold-in-soil and geophysical targets on the Ndongo License within the Bolgatanga Project, which is located ~15 km north of the Companys Namdini Gold Project with an Indicated Mineral Resource of 6.5 Moz Au (Figure 2).



Highlights

RC drilling has returned several shallow gold intersections from the first of six targets to be drilled including: NDRC130: 24m at 1.2 g/t Au from 2m , and 14m at 1.4 g/t Au from 46m NDRC131: 9m at 11.5 g/t Au from surface (includes 3m at 29.8 g/t Au) NDRC134 : 4m at 1.2 g/t Au from 20m NDRC137: 8m at 1.4 g/t Au from 1m

The results highlight the potential for discovery of gold mineralisation within the Ndongo License, located approximately 15 km north of Cardinals Namdini Gold deposit which currently contains 6.5 Moz Au Indicated and 0.5 Moz Inferred Mineral Resources.

Prospectivity of the area is enhanced due to its proximity to the prolific Nangodi Shear Zone which is known to host major economic gold mineralisation in northeast Ghana and Burkina Faso

Field crews are currently undertaking geological mapping, surface rock sampling, trenching and geophysical surveys to help identify new targets and refine existing targets

Cardinals Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director, Archie Koimtsidis stated:

We are highly encouraged with these early promising results at Target A  Prospect Zupeliga South (Figures 3, 4 and 5) particularly given the strong grades we are seeing near surface. These results strengthen our resolve that the Ndongo License is highly prospective with several untested drill targets which could deliver another significant gold discovery.

We are planning infill and extensional drilling with both RC and DD rigs to target the strike and dip extensions of the mineralisation which remains open.

Gold mineralisation has initially been located within an area of ~200m strike length by ~100m width within the larger Target A area which has a strike length of ~12km and a width of ~1.5km. At this early stage, mineralisation appears to be open along strike and at depth with further drilling planned.

Drill rigs will also be mobilised across the Ndongo License to test other target areas (Figures 3, 4 and 5).

The target area was originally highlighted following a soil sampling programme by AfricWest in 1997 and Etruscan Resources in 2007. A number of shallow high-grade gold intersections were returned from RAB drilling completed by Etruscan Resources in 2008. The results from the historical Etruscan Resources RAB drilling include:

NRB-08-399: 7.5m at 1.8 g/t Au from 33m

from 33m NRB-08-400: 19.5m at 1.2 g/t Au from 6m

from 6m NRB-08-404: 21.0m at 2.3 g/t Au from 6m

from 6m NRB-08-409: 18.0m at 3.4 g/t Au from surface Note: All the historical RAB drill data was collected by

Etruscan Resources Ghana Limited, now part of Endeavour

Mining Corporation (For details, refer to TSX announcement

by ABZU Gold on 23 January, 2013 entitled ABZU Gold

Announces Drilling Mobilisation For 2013, Targets Additional

Satellite Gold Mineralisation at Zupeliga).



Figure 1: Major Gold Discoveries in Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6224a371-f953-46cc-8baa-3feadba1a9ed

Ndongo Prospecting License

The Ndongo Prospecting License covers an area of 295 km2, having been recently expanded by the purchase of two exploration licence areas from Kinross Gold in August 2017 (Figure 2).

The license area is considered highly prospective for the discovery of economic gold mineralisation associated with the prolific Nangodi Shear Zone, a splay fault off the main regional-scale Bole-Bolgatanga Shear. Elsewhere, the Nangodi Shear Zone is spatially related to no fewer than four major gold discoveries, including the Companys Namdini Gold Project with 6.5 Moz Au Indicated and 0.5 Moz Au Inferred Mineral Resources, the Shaanxi Mine, the historic Nangodi Gold Mine and the 2.1 Moz Youga Gold Mine in Burkina Faso, adjacent to the Ghana border (Figures 1, 2 and 3). In addition, there are numerous historic shallow artisanal workings along many parts of this shear zone ~15 km north of the Namdini Gold Project (Figure 3).

Six exploration target areas totalling 70 km in strike length ~15 km north of the Namdini Gold Project have been initially identified for more detailed investigations through assessing geophysical, geochemical and geological data relevant to this Prospecting License (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 2: Cardinals Three Large Scale Tenements comprising the Bolgatanga Project and the Namdini Project

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31ff40e4-e772-4919-8e4f-3fb0941ed9bb

Ndongo Prospecting License - Target A  Prospect Zupeliga South

Target A was previously named Ndongo West prior to the acquisition of the surrounding Kinross ground. Numerous gold-in-soil anomalies, RAB drilling, shallow artisanal diggings and several deeper artisanal shafts all indicated the gold-bearing potential of this recently acquired area (Figures 3 and 4).

At Ndongo West, Gradient Array IP (GAIP) and ground magnetic surveys identified a very well-developed contact zone between conductive and resistive units, along which the artisanal shafts are located.

Once the former Kinross ground was added to Ndongo West, this extended the Target A strike length to 12 km and 1.5 km width and is now called Zupeliga South Prospect (Figure 5).

The prospect is underlain by weak to strongly magnetic mafic-ultramafic volcanic units which are intruded locally by granodiorite. The volcanic units are altered containing pyrite, minor pyrrhotite, magnetite, minor arsenopyrite and silica.

The geology of this prospect is more complex as folding has been identified with the fold axis orientated ~020, and the rock units striking ~300 and dipping north at ~60. The structures imply open anticlinal folds although plunges have yet to be determined.

Gold of variable grades is found within highly magnetised mafic volcanic horizons with disseminated sulphides and cross-cutting pyrite and smoky quartz veinlets. Higher gold grades occur within a sheared, less magnetic and siliceous altered inner zone within the magnetic corridor which also has cross-cutting pyrite and quartz veinlets.

Gold mineralisation has initially been located within an area of ~200 m strike length by ~100 m width within the larger Target A area which has a strike length of ~12 km and a width of ~1.5 km. At this early stage, mineralisation appears to be open along strike, especially along the fold axes, and at depth with further drilling planned to evaluate the two limbs of the anticlines.

Figure 3: Ndongo Prospecting License - Target Areas Over Geology

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cbcd95b-7f62-42d3-ada6-a149f96f220d

Figure 4: Ndongo Prospecting License - Target Areas Over Magnetics

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/69d9c170-9c83-424a-a6cd-e96b8276f3ed

Figure 5: Ndongo Prospecting License showing local prospects

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/222399d5-6566-4e3f-b5e2-184f75049933

Figure 6: Prospect Zupeliga South - Plan View - Interpretive Geology and Location of Cross Section Lines (Yellow Histograms are Historical values drilled by Etruscan Resources Ghana Ltd)

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b1552cd-9d9d-4488-b3a8-3de0b31aa704

Figure 7: Prospect Zupeliga South - Cross Section (Section Line A-A)

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9a8b09d-d220-4e2b-a7b1-b0b6c274625e

Figure 8: Prospect Zupeliga South - Cross Section (Section Line B - B)

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46be2b9c-aa0f-4413-94db-15f6b84629a8

ABOUT CARDINAL

Cardinal Resources Limited (ASX:CDV) (TSX:CDV) is a gold-focused exploration and development Company which holds interests in tenements within Ghana, West Africa.

The Companys Namdini Project has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 6.5 Moz of gold contained in 180 Mt at 1.1 g/t Au at a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 0.5 Moz of gold contained in 13 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au at a cut-off of 0.5g/t Au.

The Company is focused on the development of the Namdini Project through advancing its PFS studies, supported by additional multi-disciplinary engineering and metallurgical activities.

Exploration programmes are also continuing at the Companys Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana) and Subranum (Southern Ghana) Projects.

For further information contact:

Archie Koimtsidis

CEO / MD

Cardinal Resources Limited

P: +61 8 6558 0573

Bettina Filippone

Renmark Financial Communications Inc

E: bfilippone@renmarkfinancial.com

P: +1 416 644 2020 or +1 514 939 3989

Alec Rowlands

IR / Corp Dev

Cardinal Resources Limited

P: +1 647 256 1922

Competent Persons / Qualified Persons Statement

The information in this press release is based on information prepared by Mr. Paul Abbott, a full-time employee of Cardinal Resources, who is a member of the Geological Society of South Africa. Mr. Abbott has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.

The information in this press release has been compiled and reviewed by Mr. Richard Bray, a Registered Professional Geologist with the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Mr. Ekow Taylor, a Chartered Professional Geologist with the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Bray and Mr. Taylor have more than five years experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which is being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and as a Qualified Person as defined by the NI43-101 instrument. Mr. Bray and Mr. Taylor are full-time employees of Cardinal and hold equity securities in the Company. Mr. Bray and Mr. Taylor have consented to the inclusion of the matters in this report based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.

Disclaimer

This ASX / TSX press release has been prepared by Cardinal Resources Limited (ABN: 56 147 325 620) (Cardinal or the Company). Neither the ASX or the TSX, nor their regulation service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release contains summary information about Cardinal, its subsidiaries and their activities, which is current as at the date of this press release. The information in this press release is of a general nature and does not purport to be complete nor does it contain all the information, which a prospective investor may require in evaluating a possible investment in Cardinal.

By its very nature exploration for minerals is a highrisk business and is not suitable for certain investors. Cardinals securities are speculative. Potential investors should consult their stockbroker or financial advisor. There are a number of risks, both specific to Cardinal and of a general nature which may affect the future operating and financial performance of Cardinal and the value of an investment in Cardinal including but not limited to economic conditions, stock market fluctuations, gold price movements, regional infrastructure constraints, timing of approvals from relevant authorities, regulatory risks, operational risks and reliance on key personnel and foreign currency fluctuations.

Except for statutory liability which cannot be excluded and subject to applicable law, each of Cardinals officers, employees and advisors expressly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the material contained in this press release and excludes all liability whatsoever (including in negligence) for any loss or damage which may be suffered by any person as a consequence of any information in this Announcement or any error or omission here from. Except as required by applicable law, the Company is under no obligation to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in this press release or any other information made available to a person nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information. Recipients of this press release should make their own independent assessment and determination as to the Companys prospects, its business, assets and liabilities as well as the matters covered in this press release.

Forwardlooking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including information as to the future financial or operating performance of Cardinal and its projects may also include statements which are forwardlooking statements that may include, amongst other things, statements regarding targets, anticipated timing of the PEA on the Namdini project, estimates and assumptions in respect of mineral resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates, production and prices, recovery costs and results, capital expenditures and are or may be based on assumptions and estimates related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions. These forward  looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cardinal, are inherently subject to significant technical, business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results reflected in such forwardlooking statements.

Cardinal disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, circumstances or results or otherwise after todays date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than required by the Corporations Act and ASX and TSX Listing Rules. The words believe, expect, anticipate, indicate, contemplate, target, plan, intends, continue, budget, estimate, may, will, schedule and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

All forwardlooking statements made in this press release are qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Investors are cautioned that forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forwardlooking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.





SCHEDULE 1

NDONGO LICENSE AREA DRILL RESULTS

Hole ID Depth (m) Dip Azimuth Grid_ID mEast mNorth mRL NDRC129 60 -61.4 201.6 WGS84_30N 746789.8 1195184.3 247.6 NDRC130 120 -59.9 202.0 WGS84_30N 746815.1 1195237.1 247.0 NDRC131 120 -62.6 202.1 WGS84_30N 746886.8 1195153.4 249.4 NDRC132 120 -61.3 202.2 WGS84_30N 746899.2 1195207.1 247.8 NDRC133 186 -60.8 200.5 WGS84_30N 746829.3 1195289.2 246.2 NDRC145 108 -60.4 200.0 WGS84_30N 746930.5 1195133.3 250.6 NDRC146 120 -59.1 196.3 WGS84_30N 746945.5 1195178.7 249.7 NDRC148 180 -61.1 203.2 WGS84_30N 746845.3 1195333.8 245.0 NDRC149 120 -59.9 199.8 WGS84_30N 746960.1 1195225.8 247.3 NDRC151 108 -61.0 203.9 WGS84_30N 746755.9 1195239.9 246.3 NDRC152 132 -59.3 200.8 WGS84_30N 746912.8 1195249.9 247.1 NDRC153 66 -60.0 203.0 WGS84_30N 746805.6 1195210.0 247.3 NDRC154 108 -60.0 205.1 WGS84_30N 746822.7 1195260.0 246.6 NDRC155 78 -59.5 198.8 WGS84_30N 746837.8 1195228.2 247.3 NDRC156 106 -60.9 201.3 WGS84_30N 746788.3 1195248.0 246.3 NDRC159 50 -59.5 200.8 WGS84_30N 746890.8 1195180.2 248.0 NDRC160 210 -60.2 202.2 WGS84_30N 746787.2 1195329.2 244.6 NDRC162 50 -60.5 199.7 WGS84_30N 746904.7 1195153.0 249.7 NDRC163 50 -59.7 199.6 WGS84_30N 746858.7 1195162.7 248.4 NDRC164 174 -59.4 199.6 WGS84_30N 746773.5 1195289.4 245.0

Table 1: Meta-Data Listing of Drill Holes

Hole_ID mFrom mTo mWidth Aug/t NDRC130 23 24 1 0.9 NDRC130 28 33 5 0.6 NDRC130 41 42 1 0.6 NDRC130 46 60 14 1.4 NDRC130 102 105 3 1.7 NDRC131 0 9 9 11.5 NDRC132 43 44 1 0.6 NDRC132 53 54 1 1.1 NDRC133 88 89 1 1.0 NDRC133 93 100 7 0.7 NDRC133 110 111 1 0.7 NDRC146 35 36 1 2.2 NDRC148 152 157 5 0.6 NDRC148 162 168 6 1.1 NDRC149 77 78 1 0.9 NDRC151 24 27 3 0.8 NDRC152 90 92 2 1.3 NDRC153 12 14 2 1.0 NDRC153 23 24 1 1.0 NDRC154 62 66 4 0.5 NDRC154 73 80 7 1.9 NDRC155 25 35 10 0.8 NDRC155 39 60 21 0.8 NDRC156 33 34 1 0.5 NDRC156 51 54 3 1.0 NDRC159 19 24 5 2.3 NDRC162 0 11 11 1.5 NDRC162 0 11 11 1.5 NDRC163 0 2 2 1.2 NDRC163 9 14 5 0.8 NDRC163 33 34 1 5.7 NDRC164 23 24 1 0.6 NDRC164 40 41 1 0.8 NDRC164 84 85 1 0.7

Table 2 Summary of Individual Intercepts



Notes:

Cut-off grade for reporting of each individual intercept is  0.5g/t Au with a maximum of 3m of consecutive internal dilution included within the intercept; only intercepts  1m are reported.

Intervals are RC chips which are sampled every 1m.

Samples are analysed for Au (SGS Lab FAA505 method) which is a 50g fire assay fusion with AAS instrument finish.

Grid coordinates are in WGS84 Zone 30 North.

The intercepts were calculated, using a 0.5g/t cut-off, which approximates the cut-off for Reasonable Prospects of Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE) as per the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code) 2012 and the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) 2010 guidelines and internal dilution of no more than 3m at <0.5g/t Au.

APPENDIX 1

JORC CODE 2012 EDITION

TABLE 1 REPORTING OF EXPLORATION RESULTS

Section 1  Sampling Technique and Data

Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Sampling is by reverse circulation (RC) holes.



Nature and quality of sampling is carried out under QAQC procedures as per industry standards.



Drilling samples are collected by a three-tier riffle splitter using downhole sampling hammers with nominal 127 to 140mm diameters. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Sampling is guided by Cardinal Resources protocols and Quality Control procedures as per industry standard.



To ensure representative sampling, 1m RC samples are collected from a cyclone, passing them through a three-tier riffle splitter, and taking duplicate samples every 20th sample.



Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.



In cases where industry standard work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay). In other cases, more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. The determination of mineralisation is based on observed alterations and lithological differences.



Drill samples are crushed through a RSD Boyd crusher to -2mm and pulverised via LM2 to a nominal 85% passing -75m.



A 200g sub-sample is taken for analysis. A 50g charge weight is fused with litharge-based flux, cupelled and the prill dissolved in aqua regia and gold tenor is determined by AAS. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, openhole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). Reverse circulation drilling uses sampling hammer of nominal 127 to 140mm diameter.



The drill azimuths are orientated at 200, drilling south-southwest at an inclined angle of -60 and the initial drilling has been concentrated around the anticlinal axis.



All drill collars are surveyed using Trimble R8 RTK GPS with downhole surveying every 30m. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. The method of recording chip sample recoveries was to enter the relevant data on a hand-held Motion F5te Tablet PC using a set of standard templates supplied by Maxwell Geoservices, Perth (Maxwell).



Reverse circulation sampling is good. Chips are logged, weighed and captured to the database. Sample recoveries are assessed by weighing 1m samples from the cyclone on a scale in the field and comparing with the theoretical volume contained in a 1m x 140mm diameter hole to calculate an estimated percentage sample recovery.



Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. At the rig, sampling systems are routinely cleaned to minimise the opportunity for contamination and drilling methods are focused on sample quality. The measures taken to maximize RC sample recovery are through a cyclone and a 3-tier riffle splitter. Each 1m sample is passed twice through the splitter before sampling to ensure maximum homogenisation of each sample and to collect an unbiased representative sample to be assayed.



The rigs have auxiliary compressors and boosters to help maintain dry samples. Where wet samples are encountered, the reverse circulation drilling is discontinued. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. No relationship is seen to exist between sample recovery and grade, and no sample bias due to preferential loss/gain of any fine/coarse material due to the acceptable sample recoveries Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. All drill holes are fully logged. The lithology, alteration and geotechnical characteristics of core are logged directly to a digital format on a Field Toughbook laptop logging system following procedures and using Cardinal geologic codes. Data is imported into Cardinals central database after validation in LogChief. All geological logging is to a level of detail to support Mineral Resource estimation. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. Logging is both qualitative and quantitative depending on the field being logged. RC chips in trays are photographed both in dry and wet form. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. All holes are logged in full and to the total length of each drill hole. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. All samples in this announcement are non-core If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry. Samples are split using a three-tier riffle splitter. The majority of samples are dry. On occasions that wet samples are encountered, they are dried prior to splitting with a riffle splitter. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Samples are sorted and dried in an oven for eight hours and weighed. They are then crushed to -2mm using a RSD Boyd crusher and a <1.0kg split is taken. The reject sample is retained in the original bag and stored. The split is pulverised in a LM2 to a nominal 85% passing 75m and a 200g sub-sample is used for analysis.



All preparation equipment is flushed with barren material prior to commencement of the job. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Cardinal Resources has protocols that cover the sample preparation at the laboratories and the collection and assessment of data to ensure that accurate steps are used in producing representative samples for the analytical process. Key performance indices include:

Contamination index of 95% (that is at least 95% of blanks pass); failures can only be attributed to probable minor laboratory contamination.

Crushed Size index of 95% passing 2mm (1:50 sample screened).

Grind Size index of 85% passing 75 microns (minimum 1:50 sample screened).

Check Samples returning at worst 20% precision at 90th percentile and bias of 5% or better. Crusher and pulveriser are flushed with barren material at the start of every batch. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/secondhalf sampling. Sampling is carried out in accordance with Cardinal protocols as per industry best practice. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximize representativeness of samples is to insert commercial certified reference material (CRM) for standards and blanks every 20 samples.



The Laboratory assays duplicate samples of each sample batch (20%) so that representation of the samples can be checked. Field duplicates have been taken and analysis of results have shown the sampling to be representative Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Measures taken to ensure that the RC sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected are to take field duplicate samples every 20th sample. Approximately 3kg samples from the splitter are retained from each sample and stored at the Companys secured premises for possible reassay.



Results of field duplicates, standards and blanks are all evaluated to ensure that the results of each assay batch are acceptable. Quality of Assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. Samples are analysed for gold by lead collection fire assay of a 50g charge with AAS finish; the assay charge is fused with the litharge-based flux, cupelled and prill dissolved in aqua regia and gold tenor determined by flame AAS.



The analytical method is considered appropriate for the mineralisation style and is of industry standards. The quality of the Fire Assaying and laboratory procedures are considered to be entirely appropriate for this deposit type. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. No hand held geophysical tools are used. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. Sample preparation checks for pulp fineness are carried out by the laboratory as part of their internal procedures to ensure the grind size of 85% passing 75m is being attained. Laboratories QAQC involves the use of internal lab standards using CRMs and blanks.



Cardinals QAQC protocol is considered industry standard with CRMs submitted on a regular basis with routine samples. The CRMs having a range of values and blanks are inserted in the ratio of 1:20. Duplicates are taken at the riffle splitter every 20th sample.



Pulps are submitted to a secondary laboratory for checks on accuracy and precision of the primary laboratory. Coarse rejects are submitted back to the primary laboratory to assess the adequacy of the sub-sampling process. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. Significant intersections have been verified by alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. None of the drill holes in this report are twinned. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Primary data are captured on field tough book laptops using LogChief Software. The software has validation routines and data is then imported onto a secure central database. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. The primary data is always kept and is never replaced by adjusted or interpreted data. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and downhole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Planned drill hole collar coordinates are surveyed using handheld Garmin GPSmap 62s GPS within 3m accuracy.

All drill collars are accurately surveyed using Trimble R8 RTK GPS system within 10mm of accuracy (X, Y, Z).



Coordinates are based on six control stations established at the Ndongo License by Sahara Mining Services.



Downhole survey is completed by using Reflex Ez-Shot survey instrument at regular intervals. Specification of the grid system used. Coordinate and azimuth are reported in UTM WGS84 Zone 30 North. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Topographic control at Ndongo was supplied by Southern Geoscience Consultants (Perth) using satellite imagery. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. The drilling was carried out on four fence lines that are 50m to 100m apart with hole spacing on line within 50m testing mineralisation up to a vertical depth of approximately 180m and covering a strike length of 200m Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Drill data spacing and distribution are insufficient to establish geological and grade continuity that are appropriate for reporting Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether sample compositing has been applied. No sample compositing has been applied. Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. The drill holes are orientated to achieve intersection angles as close to perpendicular to the mineralisation as practicable based on ground magnetic modelling data.



If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.



No significant orientation-based sampling bias is known at this time. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. An independent Ghanaian security contractor is used to ensure sample security.



The drilling contractor is accountable for drill core and RC chip production at the drill site. Final delivery from the drill site to the laydown area within the core yard is managed by Cardinal. The core yard technicians, field technicians and Geologists ensure the core and chips are logged, prepared and stored under security until collected for delivery to the laboratories.



At the time of sample collection, a sign-off process between Cardinal and the laboratory delivery truck driver ensures that samples and paperwork correspond. The samples are then transported to the laboratory where they are receipted against the dispatch documents. The assay laboratories are responsible for the samples from the time of collection from Cardinal until final results are returned and checked by Cardinal Geologists.



Sample pulps and coarse rejects are retained by the laboratories and are shipped back to Cardinal after final results are returned where they are stored under security. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. Sampling techniques are of industry standards. Data is audited by Maxwell Geoservices (Perth), who have not made any other recommendations.





Section 2  Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in section 1 will also apply to this section where relevant)

Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Mineral Tenement and Land Status Type, name/reference number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties including joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The Exploration Permit covering Cardinals Ndongo Prospect is over an area of 295 sq. km located in the North-East region of Ghana. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a license to operate in the area. All tenements are current and in good standing. Exploration Done by Other Parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. Aside from Cardinal, systematic exploration was previously undertaken on the Ndongo Licence by Etruscan Resources. Geology



Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation The deposit type comprises gold mineralisation within sheared and folded rocks containing sulphides; mainly pyrite with minor arsenopyrite.



The geological setting is a Paleoproterozoic Greenstone Belt comprising Birimian metavolcanics, volcaniclastics and metasediments located along portion of the regional Bole-Bolgatanga Shear Zone and a splay off this Shear Zone (the Nangodi Shear Zone).



The style of mineralisation is yet to be determined Drill hole information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: Easting and northing of the drill hole collar

Elevation or RL (Reduced Level  elevation above sea level in meters) of the drill hole collar

Dip and azimuth of the hole

Down hole length and interception depth

Hole length A summary of drill hole information is provided in this document. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. There has been no exclusion of information. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high grades) and cutoff grades are usually Material and should be stated. No weighting averaging techniques nor cutting of high grades have yet been undertaken.



Where aggregated intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. Aggregated intercepts incorporating short lengths of high grade results within the lithological units are calculated to include no more than intervals of 3m below grades of <0.5 g/t Au when assay results are reported.



The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. No metal equivalents are used in the intersection calculation. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of exploration results. The relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept length are not yet known. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. The geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is not yet known.



If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. down hole length, true width not known). The geometry of the mineralisation is unknown; only downhole length is reported (no true width of mineralisation is reported). Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to a plane view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Appropriate maps and cross-sections with scale are included within the body of the accompanying document. Balanced Reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practical, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. The accompanying document is considered to represent a balanced report. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observation; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples  size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Other exploration data collected is not considered material to this document at this stage.



The interpretation of the geological observations shown in the cross and long sections are subject to possible change as new information is gathered.



Further data collection will be reviewed and reported when considered material. Further Work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large  scale step  out drilling).







Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Further definition drilling and geophysical surveys are planned for the Ndongo Prospect.






Published On May 28, 2018 03:26 PM By Dhruv.A

Boasting of a wide variety of luxury cars and SUVs, the German luxury car marque took just 24 years to achieve the feat!

Mercedes-Benz has announced that it has crossed the 1 lakh production milestone in the country. The 1,00,000th unit is its most popular offering in the country - an E-Class, which is exclusively available in the long wheelbase specification. The German carmaker, which began its Indian operations in 1994, took 13 years (2008) to roll out 20,000 cars while the next 10,000 took just two years. Its highest numbers were registered in the years after 2014, when it hit the 50,000 milestone, and the leading luxury carmaker has managed to double that figure in just four years thanks to an increase in demand.

Although Mercedes-Benz may have started off its operations in Pimpri, Pune, it now produces Mercedes-AMG Launches Limited Edition GLE 43 And SLC 43 Models cars its Chakan facility nearby. Not only is the company the top luxury carmaker in the country, it also boasts of the widest range of cars when compared to its rivals such as Audi and BMW. Currently, the A-Class is the most affordable of the lot while the Mercedes-Maybach S650 is the most expensive. Related:

For further details take a look at the companys official statement.

Mercedes-Benz becomes the first luxury car maker in India to reach the milestone of manufacturing 100,000 cars Made in India, for India

India is a key emerging market for Mercedes-Benz with a world class production facility and processes- enabling reduced time frame for producing more cars than ever before.

Mercedes-Benz has a robust local portfolio comprising 9 key models in India including the New Generation Cars like CLA, GLA; C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, sedans and the GLC, GLE, GLS SUVs and also Mercedes-Maybach S 560

Mercedes-Benz started its production in India by rolling-out the E-Class in 1995

Pune: Indias largest luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz today celebrated a historic milestone of rolling-out of the 100,000th Mercedes-Benz for the Indian market an E-Class. The car was rolled-out from the assembly line of Mercedes-Benzs world-class manufacturing facility at Chakan, by Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Piyush Arora, Executive Director, Operations, Mercedes-Benz India. Recommended: Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs BMW 7 Series: Real-World Performance Comparison

Speaking on this historic occasion, Roland Folger said, The th Mercedes-Benz vehicle in India is a strong testimony of the impeccable customer trust and the unsurpassable brand equity Mercedes-Benz enjoys in this dynamic country. The journey that began 24 years ago, as we pioneered the luxury car segment in the country, has only gotten more fruitful and today we remain the most preferred luxury brand in the country. The milestone of rolling-out 100,000 cars is also the result of the absolute dedication of all past and present employees of Mercedes-Benz India, who remain our best brand ambassadors. This achievement also reiterates Mercedes-Benzs India commitment and we strongly believe in the India story and its potential. We will further deepen our strong connect with the Indian customers and keep continuing to fascinate them with our products and customer service. roll out of the 100,000

Mr. Folger further added, With the growing demand of Mercedes-Benz products, a spiraling aspiration among young successful Indians, our extensive and expanding local portfolio, combined with an unparalleled network and innovations in customer service; we are positive that the next production milestone will be attained even earlier. We pioneered luxury motoring in India and with our customer delight approach and vision for future, we are confident of defining future mobility in India as well.

Piyush Arora, Executive Director, Operations, Mercedes-Benz India commented, Mercedes-Benz Indias production facility is a global benchmark in quality and technological advancement in manufacturing, and it has remained the backbone of our growth narrative in India. A very high level of refinement and implementation of advanced technology and flexible processes ensures Mercedes-Benzs production quality conforms to the most stringent global th car, we reiterate our Make in India, for India commitment and will continue our local value addition and make the best of global products available for our discerning customers in India. We are well positioned to meet any future demand in production and adopt future technologies as per market requirements.standards, and creates new benchmark in manufacturing for the luxury car industry in India. With the roll-out of the 100,000

With a heritage that goes back over 130 years and an illustrious history in India, Mercedes-Benz has inextricably been a part of the countrys automotive landscape.

Mercedes-Benz was the first luxury automotive brand to enter the Indian market in 1994. The W 124 E-Class was the first luxury car in Indias modern era which rolled out of the assembly plant of Mercedes-Benz India in Pimpri, Pune. Since then, Mercedes-Benz India has been redefining the entire business of automotive luxury in the country.

Today, Mercedes-Benz India has moved the facility to Chakan near Pune with an investment of INR 1000+ crores, the facility is spread over 100 acres and is part of Mercedes-Benzs Global Production Network. Mercedes-Benz India plays an important role in the CKD/MVP production network in Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. At these locations, Mercedes-Benz produces vehicles in various extension levels for domestic markets. Since June 2015, Mercedes-Benz India also commenced production from its new expanded production facility located in the same premises. Giving a competitive edge in the dynamic market, Mercedes-Benz also boasts of the largest spare parts warehouse by luxury car manufacturer in India which can stock up to 44,000 parts. Recommended: Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe - Some Interesting Facts
Modified On Jan 03, 2019 12:34 PM By Dhruv.A for Toyota Yaris

The midsize sedan is loaded to the gills and offers 7 airbags and a CVT automatic right from the base variant. But the Yaris still has some glaring misses.

Toyota has finally entered the C-segment with the Yaris, which packs some segment-first features like 7 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, 8-way power adjustable drivers seat, and impressive cabin insulation from the specially designed windshield. Then the premium materials used for the upholstery and the switchgear uplift the overall experience of being inside the Yaris cabin. However, there are quite a few aspects of the Yaris that need improvement, which you should know about if youve been mulling over the sedan.

Petrol-Only Offering

Toyota believes that most midsize sedan buyers opt for petrol variants, and hence the Yaris is only a petrol-only model. However, there are countless buyers still looking to purchase a diesel even if they dont have the running to justify the premium cost and servicing attached with oil-burners. Thats because diesel engines pack a punch when it comes to performance, and rivals like the Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento do offer something to enthusiasts that the Yaris misses out on with its sedate petrol engine.

Rear Seat Space

We can imagine a lot of Yaris owners being chauffeur-driven but the rear space isnt the best in class. In fact, in our review, weve said that the Yaris can seat two people comfortably at the back, with the middle seat ideal only for children. In our tests we found space at the rear to be lesser than even the Vernas, especially shoulder room. Kneeroom and seat base width are quite pedestrian as well in front of the Honda Citys generous space.

Gimmicky Touchscreen

Toyota does not offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity in their vehicles, and their own interface isnt that user-friendly either. The 7-inch touchscreen gets air gesture control in the top-end VX variant that often fails to read the user's hand movements properly or sometimes even overdoes what is asked of it. The infotainment system also takes 15 seconds to boot up and Bluetooth connectivity isnt seamless either. The reversing camera also doesnt have any guidelines while the City has static guidelines and the Verna has dynamic guidelines. Also read: Toyota Yaris review

Missing Features

Even though it packs some segment-first features, Toyota has skipped some basics which should ideally have been available in a car like the Yaris. Features like telescopic steering, auto-dimming IRVM, dead pedal and LED headlamps are not very difficult to provide and are available on its counterparts. It also misses out on bigger 16-inch wheels when the competition has it available. The Yaris doesnt offer a sunroof as well, a feature which is surfacing on the list of several buyers these days. The Hyundai Verna and the Honda City offer a sunroof. Also Read: Toyota Yaris CVT vs Hyundai Verna Automatic vs Honda City CVT  Real-World Performance Compared

Design May Not Appeal To All

The Yaris borrows a few design cues from its popular sibling, the Corolla Altis, but it does end up looking polarising. Take away the striking front end and youre left with plain side and rear profiles which may not appeal to everyones tastes, especially young buyers. The Hyundai Verna and the Honda City sport a much more palatable design which should appeal to a wider set of buyers.

Isnt it Expensive?

Well, the starting price of the Yaris is commendable and the list of standard features is applause worthy as well. But, it commands a heavy premium, especially for some of the variants. The Toyota Yaris prices start from Rs 8.75 lakh and go up till Rs 14.07 lakh even without a diesel engine on offer. The Hyundai Verna, on the contrary, offers a diesel option with two petrol motors and still costs only Rs 12.76 lakh for the top-end SX (O) diesel after beginning from Rs 7.80 lakh (all ex-showroom Delhi). While some may justify the Yaris higher cost by attributing it to Toyotas brand value and bulletproof reliability, the other sedans in the segment have proven their mettle over the long run as well. Related: Toyota Yaris: Variants Explained

Agree or disagree with the points raised? Have some of your own points on the Yaris to share with us? Let us know in the comments below.

Read More on : Toyota Yaris on road price
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.
Taipei, Taiwan, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inaugural Tang Prize Biopharmaceutical Science laureate Professor Tasuku Honjo will give a Tang Prize Lecture in Seoul, Korea. The lecture, titled Cancer Immunotherapy by PD-1 blockade, is expected to draw international leading scientists, including attendees from Taiwan. The turnout is estimated to exceed at least one thousand.



Honjo has long been speculated as one of the most likely winners of the Nobel Prize from Japan. He received his Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University and served as a professor there. This year Honjo is invited by the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) to deliver the Tang Prize Lecture at their 24th congress in Seoul, Korea. Honjo will share innovations and future perspectives in cancer treatment. President-Elect of IUBMB, Professor Andrew H. J. Wang, who himself is also a widely recognized scholar in biochemistry and molecular biology, will be the host.

It has been more than 20 years since Honjos discovery of a T-cell receptor called PD-1, but not until 2014 was the first anti-PD-1 immunological drug approved by the FDA. By blocking PD-1 functions, the brakes of immune cells are released, facilitating T-cell activation and unleashing the immune system to strike on cancer. Several PD-1 antibodies have now been approved by FDA as clinical drugs for cancer treatment, exhibiting high potency and great promise.

Honjo explains, the striking effects of anti-PD-1 depend on three basic principles: (a) the immune system can recognize mutated cancer antigens; (b) the diversity of the immune repertoire is much larger than variations generated by mutations in tumor cells; and (c) the immune system is tolerized in tumor patients by excessive negative regulations of the immune system. It is most likely that anti-PD-1 will be the first choice of cancer treatment in the near future.

IUBMB has regional associations in four continents across the globe. The members come from 77 different countries. The congress is held every three years, and it has an indispensable role in biotechnology. Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern, CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation, said the Tang Prize signed a nine-year memorandum with IUBMB in 2016, sponsoring conferences in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology and financially supporting young researchers for travel expense or relocation. This collaboration should enable more people to join the line of research and provide new job opportunities. The exchange of experience and knowledge will facilitate the development of biopharmaceutical science.

Across the channel to Kyoto, Japan, the 18th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP) comes next. The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) invites Honjo to deliver the opening lecture. Feng Zhang, 2016 Tang Prize Biopharmaceutical Science laureate, will also present the Tang Prize Lecture in the congress.

Dr. Chern also urges everyone to watch 2018 Tang Prize laureate announcement live on the official website. From June 18-21, Taipei 10 oclock (GMT+8), awardees of the four categories (Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology and Rule of Law) will be disclosed in succession.

About Tang Prize

Dr. Samuel Yin, chairman of Ruentex Group, founded the Tang Prize in December of 2012 as an extension of the supreme value his family placed on education. Harkening back to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty in Chinese history, the Tang Prize seeks to be an inspiring force for people working in all corners of the world. For more information on the Tang Prize and its laureates, please visit www.tang-prize.org
Engineers India Limited (EIL) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Management Trainee. 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 180000. The last date to apply for the government job is June 2, 2018.

Engineering Jobs 2018: TSNPDCL Is Hiring Electrical Engineers!

EIL Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS

Name Of The Post Management Trainee Organisation Engineers India Limited (EIL) Educational Qualification Engineering degree Maximum Age Limit 25 years Skills Required Engineering skills Salary Scale INR 60000 to INR 180000 Job Location New Delhi Industry Engineering Experience Not required Application Start Date Apr 11, 2018 Application End Date June 2, 2018

Also Read: ECIL Recruitment 2018 For Technical Officer And Scientific Assistant

How To Apply For EIL Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for EIL Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the EIL official website.

Step 2: Click on the application link under Management Trainee.

Step 3: Click on the registration link on the new page.

Step 4: The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 5: Click Submit and complete the registration process.

Step 6: Login using the credentials you received and complete the application process.

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (HARTRON Ltd) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Supervisor. 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 30000. The selection process is through a walk-in interview that will be held on June 5, 2018.

Railway Jobs 2018 In May-June: Apply For The Indian Railways Recruitment

HARTRON Limited Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Supervisor Organisation HARTRON Limited Educational Qualification Graduate or postgraduate degree in CSc engineering Maximum Age Limit 65 years Skills Required Knowledge in working with computers Salary Scale INR 30000 Job Location Haryana Industry Electronics Experience Desirable Application Start Date May 28, 2018 Walk-in Interview Date June 5, 2018 Reporting Time 2 pm

Also Read: TNPSC Recruitment 2018 For 805 Horticulture Officers

How To Apply For HARTRON Limited Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for HARTRON Limited Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1:Load the HARTRON Limited official advertisement.

Step 2: Read the details given carefully.

Step 3: Carry your resume and supporting documents to the venue.

Venue:

Under Secretary,

CMG, Room number 74

4th Floor

Haryana Civil Secretariat
District Health and Family Welfare Samiti, Government of West Bengal has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for various posts. 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 40000. The last date to apply for the government job is June 12, 2018.

SAIL Recruitment 2018 For Medical Officers

WB Health Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Staff (in various disciplines) Organisation District Health and Family Welfare Samiti, Government of West Bengal Educational Qualification Varies according to posts Maximum Age Limit 63 years Skills Required Clinical judgement Salary Scale INR 9380 to INR 40000 Job Location Hooghly Industry Medical Experience Desirable Application Start Date May 28, 2018 Application End Date June 12, 2018

Also Read: MPSC Recruitment 2018 For Anaesthetist

How To Apply For WB Health Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for WB Health Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the West Bengal government hospital official website.

Step 2: Click on the RECRUITMENT option on the left-hand side of the home page.

Step 3: The list of recruitment notifications will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Click on the link that reads, Recruitment different post CMOH, Hooghly.

Step 5: The detailed advertisement will be opened. Read the details carefully.

Step 6: Scroll down to the bottom of the file to find the application format. Take a printout of it and enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 7: Send your applications to WB Health hospital.

WB Health Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address

Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of *name of the post*" and send it to:

Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health

Hooghly, New Administrative Building first floor

DRS Complex, Chinsurah, Hooghly - 712101

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will declare the Class 12 results in the month of May. Every year, around 11 lakh students appear for the examination out of which cloase to 10 lakh candidates pass with flying colours.

Though lakhs of students are over the moon with the CBSE class 12 results, a few students who failed to taste success are depressed with the results. Undeniably, the class 12 results are important and scoring well is considered as the first step towards a lucrative career.

The result may put you down but don't fail to try again because everyone deserves a second chance to prove themselves. Apart from the results, students are also worried about the break in their education. For this reason, we want to share a list of courses so you don't have to carry with you a break in your education.

What To Do After CBSE Class 12th Results Are Declared

Courses In Engineering

There are some diploma courses one can enrol in using the class 10 certificate. These courses will help you pick up many skills and will productively cover up the gap in your education. Some of the best diploma courses are:

Diploma in mechanical engineering

Diploma in electrical engineering

Diploma in civil engineering

Diploma in computer engineering

Diploma in computer science engineering

Courses In The Marine Field

With the class 10 mark sheet, one can enrol for a wide range of diploma courses in the marine field. A pass in class 10 is required to pursue courses in this field. Interestingly, the opportunities are a plenty with high pay packages in this industry. Some of the courses in the marine field are:

Diploma in marine engineering

Diploma in marine technology

Diploma courses for welders

Diploma courses for wire-man

Diploma courses for sailor

Courses Related To Computers

A wide range of computer courses is available in many institutes. To pursue these courses, a pass in class 10 is required. The duration of the course varies depending upon the course.

Diploma in programming

Diploma in graphics

Diploma in design

Diploma in web-designing

Diploma in app development

Miscellaneous Courses

One can also consider some offbeat courses apart from the above-mentioned such as computer hardware and networking. The duration of the course can vary from one institute to another. Due to massive expansion of industries in India, there is a huge demand for workers such as electricians, cleaners, welders, plumbers and others. Many institutes offer courses related to the above-mentioned profiles. The pay structure will also be high for people with these profiles, especially after they've attaining considerable experience.

There are many institutes in the country that offer these diploma courses. We suggest students do some research about the institute before pursuing such as the government approval and placement services. We also recommend students attempt to complete their CBSE class 12 exams once more.

What To Do After Class 12? Top 10 Government Jobs One Can Take Up
Photo: Contributed

A home in Walnut Grove in Langley was left with bullet holes following and overnight shooting.

According to Sgt. Barry Beales, Langley RCMP, shots were fired around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday morning in the 8700 block of 215B Street.

Nobody was home when officers responded to the scene.

Police are holding the scene while an investigation is conducted, and do not yet know whether to classify this as a targeted shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 604-532-3200.

-With files from CTV Vancouver.
Photo: The Canadian Press

New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd.

Politicians and industry leaders announced the ambitious plan on Monday. They say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and, if successful, would be the first time an infected country has eliminated Mycoplasma bovis.

Farming is vital to the economy in New Zealand, whose isolation has helped protect it from some diseases which affect herds elsewhere.

Last July, Mycoplasma bovis was found in the country for the first time. Found in Europe and the U.S., the bacteria can cause cows to develop mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis and other diseases. They are not considered a threat to food safety, but do cause production losses on farms.

Officials say they plan to kill all cows on any farms where the bacteria are found, even if some of the animals are healthy. They say many of the cows will be slaughtered at processing plants and used for beef, but some cows will have to be killed and buried on the farms or dumped in approved landfills.

Officials have the legal authority to forcibly enter farms and kill animals even in cases where a farmer might resist, but they said they hope they don't have to use those powers.

Katie Milne, the national president of the advocacy group Federated Farmers, said it was important to try to get rid of Mycoplasma bovis while there was still a chance. She said they would try to make sure affected farmers had all the support they needed, including adequate compensation.

"This is a tough time, and the pain and anguish they're going to go through is really hideous," she said of the affected farmers. "And we have to support them as neighbours, community members, farmers, friends."

New Zealand is home to some 10 million cows, about double its human population. About two-thirds are dairy cows and the rest beef cattle. Milk products represent the country's largest single export, and much of it is sold to China and used in infant formula.
HIGH RIVER, Alberta, May 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited ("Western") (TSXV:WI) confirms its financial statements and MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 are available for viewing on SEDAR.

In a message to shareholders, Western CEO Scott Tannas provided the following commentary:

Our first quarter operations provided Western and its subsidiaries with NPIO net income of $307,157  we discuss the significance of this figure in our MD&A. After expensing one time closing costs for the March 1 purchase of Foothills Creamery we ended the quarter with a small loss of $28,190. This result is in line with our expectations.

Portfolio Company Reports

Ocean Sales provided a significant contribution to profit, with solid sales at various shows across North America, and a very encouraging start to our new partnership in the USA with a leading global retailer.

Our Seniors Care homes at Golden Healthcare remained at full capacity and provided our expected share of earnings.

GlassMasters had a very quiet quarter given the extraordinarily harsh winter months. As a result, they are making sure they have capacity to address the pent up demand this spring. Their annual mall parking lot count of broken windshields confirms a busy season ahead.

Foothills Creamery was under our ownership for only one month (March) and would have normally contributed to net income but for the aforementioned transaction costs.

Outlook

In the second quarter all our businesses are in full swing with GlassMasters and Foothills entering their high seasons. We remain focused on meeting the financial goals for 2018 that were outlined in my previous letter. We look forward to reporting on our progress in the weeks and months to come.

About Western

Western is a unique publicly traded, private equity company founded by a group of successful Western Canadian businesspeople, and dedicated to building and maintaining ownership in successful Western Canadian companies, and helping them to grow. The companys shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol WI. For more information on the company, please visit its website at www.winv.ca

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Western Investment Company of Canada Limited

Scott Tannas

President and Chief Executive Officer

(403) 652-2663

stannas@winv.ca

Advisory

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, statements pertaining to future plans, acquisitions, financings and returns. Statements containing the words: 'believes', 'intends', 'expects', 'plans', 'seeks' and 'anticipates' and any other words of similar meaning are forward-looking. All statements included herein involve various risks and uncertainties because they relate to future events and circumstances beyond Western's control. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Western's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Any forward looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Western does not undertake to update any

forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX VentureExchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
No sitting U.S. president has agreed to sit down and talk with a North Korean leader until Donald Trump assumed office. The prospect of a historic summit offered plenty of opportunities but ultimately caused cold feet on both sides. Washington and Pyongyang have gotten stuck in a decades-long standoff over the nuclear arsenal that North Korea has acquired. And many are skeptical that Kim Jong Un would give up that arsenal, which he sees as the guarantor of his dynastic rule, according to CNN.

So perhaps unsurprisingly, Trump changed his mind and decided not to visit North Korea after all. But interestingly enough, Donald Trump isnt the first president to get an invitation to North Korea  even if he would have been the first to accept.

Bill Clinton got close to visiting North Korea

CNN reports that before Donald Trump, Bill Clinton may be the president who got the closest to visiting North Korea. Clinton considered traveling to Pyongyang to conclude a missile deal in 2000. Instead, he sent then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on a reconnaissance mission to meet Kim Jong Il.

As CNN puts it, negotiations after Albrights visit made it clear that North Korea and the U.S. were too far apart on the details of the missile pact to justify handing Kim the huge concession of a Clinton visit. North Korea was willing to stop making and selling missiles, but it wouldnt give up the missiles it had.

Next: This president talked with Pyongyang, but not directly.

George W. Bush engaged in talks with North Korea

According to CNN, the Bush administration, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney, scotched efforts by Colin Powells State Department to follow up the Clinton diplomacy. Then, the administration discovered that North Korea had a highly enriched uranium program (despite a Clinton administration deal to halt the plutonium program). That sent relations back into the deep freeze.

When George W. Bush later engaged with North Korea, he did so only as part of six-party talks with North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Russia, China, and the U.S. Diplomats chose that framework specifically to ensure that Pyongyang couldnt achieve its goal of direct talks with the U.S.

Next: This president sent former commanders in chief to North Korea.

Barack Obama didnt visit North Korea but sent former presidents

CNN reports that Barack Obama entered office promising to talk directly with U.S. enemies. He met with Cubas Raul Castro in person and spoke with Irans Hassan Rouhani by phone. But as CNN notes, Obama concluded it would be wrong to cave to North Koreas provocations. Obama said, were not going to reward this kind of provocative behavior. You dont get to bang your spoon on the table and somehow you get your way.

During the Obama administration, North Korea remained keen on the idea of attracting top U.S. diplomats for a visit. In 2009, Bill Clinton visited North Korea on a mission to free two U.S. journalists whom Pyongyang had held hostage. And in 2010, Jimmy Carter visited and returned to the United States with another jailed American.

Next: Donald Trump planned to visit North Korea.

Donald Trump planned to visit North Korea but canceled

As CNN reports, Donald Trump decided to try a strategy opposite to that of Obama or Clinton by accepting Kim Jong Uns invitation. But if he does go to North Korea in the future, its impossible to tell what he would get in return for one of Washingtons best bargaining chips, as CNN puts it. The president wants North Korea to give up all its nuclear weapons even though Pyongyang never said that it would end its nuclear program.

Trump likely still wants to achieve that goal. But as Vox reports, the president said that he felt it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting thanks to the hostility of North Koreas recent statements about the United States and Vice President Mike Pence. However, Trump wrote to Kim Jong Un that Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you.

Next: Heres what Trump has to deal with next.

What happens next?

Vox reports that experts have identified some different scenarios that could play out now that Donald Trump has called off his summit with Kim Jong Un. Both sides could decide to delay the meeting and take more time to come to an understanding on the issue of denuclearization. They could also push off the summit but make no progress toward an agreement, but perhaps with better relations than in the past few decades.

Alternately, North Korea could return to testing missiles and the U.S. could increase sanctions, with Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un returning to trading threats and calling each other names. Or, in the worst case scenario, North Korea and the United States could go to war. War may not be likely, but the risks have gone up now that Trump has canceled the summit.

Next: Trump wouldnt be the first president to consider war with North Korea.

Donald Trump isnt the first president to consider war with North Korea

Of course, Donald Trump isnt the first president to think about war with North Korea, either. Lyndon B. Johnson almost nuked North Korea when the nation captured the U.S.S. Pueblo spy ship and held its crew for almost a year. Richard Nixon considered using nuclear weapons against Pyongyang in response to North Koreas choice to shoot down an American spy plane.

Gerald Ford almost went to war with North Korea over a tree growing in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Dont remember that episode? The United Nations Command sent a team to cut back the 80-foot tree, which was obstructing the view from a checkpoint. North Korea attacked the group, and Ford decided to cut down the tree as a display of American power.

Next: Conversely, some presidents chose not to interfere.

But some presidents chose not to interfere with North Koreas nuclear program

If Donald Trump decides to let North Korea continue its nuclear program, he also wont be alone. Ronald Reagan, for instance, focused on the USSR instead of North Korea. So it was during Reagans term that Soviets built Pyongyangs first research reactor and Pyongyang constructed a plutonium-producing reactor. Reagan didnt stop North Korea from laying the foundation for its nuclear weapons program, but he did initiate the first diplomatic talks with the nation.

Similarly, George H.W. Bush withdrew American nuclear weapons from South Korea even though he knew about North Koreas nuclear ambitions. Though Kim Il Sung began to cooperate with the Bush administration, Pyongyang put all the pieces in place for plutonium production and extraction. By the time Bush left office, North Korea had what it needed to build nuclear weapons. But Bush also kept the door open to a dialogue between the countries.

Read more: This Is the 1 Group of People Kim Jong Un Refuses to Kill, and Its Not His Family

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
A poor PR campaign or bad customer service is all it takes to give a store a bad name. And thanks to a new Harris Poll survey, we know the reputations of 100 companies according to consumers. These are the most hated U.S. retailers of all. One of Americas most popular brands is now on its last leg (on page 15).

15. Starbucks

RQ score: 73.94/100

In May 2018, the coffee purveyor faced a PR nightmare when two black men  who explained they were waiting for a friend inside the store  were arrested for trespassing in a Philadelphia Starbucks. Social media users called for a boycott of Starbucks, detailed by Business Insider.

In an attempt to recover its image, the coffee chain closed all stores to conduct racial-bias training for its 175,000 employees. Starbucks eventually settled out of court with the two men, who have not disclosed the settlement amount.

Next: Have you shopped here in the last year?

14. Nordstrom

RQ score: 73.54/100

Nordstrom isnt circling the drain like other department stores. However, the retailer is struggling to adapt to e-commerce trends and the death of shopping malls. If Nordstrom became a private company, it could experiment with new retail practices. So the Nordstrom family sought to buy out shareholders. Unfortunately, they couldnt agree about the value of public shares, explains Forbes, so the company faces an uncertain future. Next: This retail store has been called dull and unexciting.

13. Macys

RQ score: 72.51/100

In 2017, the department store closed many locations and faced a 50% loss in shares. This year doesnt look much better, as customers believe shopping at Macys is a chore. Sale signs fill the unexciting stores, and there is little encouragement to linger, explains Forbes. When shoppers enter Macys, they see dull surroundings and suffering clothing lines.

Next: Consumers mourned the death of the Dollar Menu.

12. McDonalds

RQ score: 72.39/100

America has a love/hate relationship with this fast-food giant. Diners were unhappy to see McDonalds revise its Dollar Menu to a Dollar Menu & More, offering a few $1 items alongside pricier options. Its more complicated menu now includes artisan salads, smoothies, and fancy coffees. McDonalds franchise owners have been warned of a rise in employee unfriendliness. And many consumers have noticed an increase in wait time at drive-throughs.

Next: Call failed is the norm for this mobile carrier.

11. T-Mobile

RQ score: 71.74/100

T-Mobile faces three huge issues. First, its customers complain of poor coverage, especially in rural areas. Second, T-Mobile tends to offer shortsighted promotional offers, which causes customers bills to go up extremely high when the promotion is done. And finally, a lot of T-Mobile products have been sold via third-party vendors, who overpromise T-Mobile advantages and underdeliver customer service.

Next: Lawsuits have soiled this messy stores reputation.

10. Dollar Tree

RQ score: 71.5/100

You may be able to buy a steak filet for $1, but low prices dont make up for dirty, unorganized stores and poorly paid employees. Dollar Trees are notoriously understaffed and theyve faced multiple lawsuits from former employees, including a case where the store refused to pay death benefits to the family of an employee who was killed in a racially-motivated attack while on the job. Although Dollar Tree is a true dollar store  everything is $1 or less, no exceptions  it cant make up for poor quality and bad PR.

Next: Customers dread entering this wireless carriers retail stores.

9. Verizon

RQ score: 70.32/100

Verizons network once dominated other wireless carriers, and its customers gladly paid for it. Recently, however, more affordable carriers like T-Mobile and Sprint have nearly caught up. In early 2018, Verizons profits fell 24% as consumers switched to cheaper alternatives. Poor customer service and employee care  remember the 2016 Verizon strike?  caused the carrier to slip further from Americans minds.

Next: Beware of the retailer who could ruin your car.

8. Dollar General

RQ score: 69.73/100

The retailer added close to 1,300 stores in 2017, but multiple lawsuits didnt help its reputation. Many of the legal battles involve Dollar Generals motor oil, which appears on auto shelves but features small labels warning consumers of using the oil for engines built after 1988. Another oil on its auto shelves is actually meant for lawnmowers and air compressors as well as engines built before 1930.

Next: This retailers reputation doesnt hurt its bottom line.

7. Walmart

RQ score: 68.52/100

It seems like everybody hates Walmart for one reason or another, but it clearly doesnt hurt the bottom line. Its one of the biggest, most profitable, and, yes, most hated stores in the world, yet your retail dollar is basically boiling down to an Amazon against Walmart battle.

Next: Customers dread working with this retailer.

6. AT&T

RQ score: 68.31/100

With more than 16,000 locations in the United States, AT&Ts retail business is a bigger piece of the pie than you may realize. Unfortunately, the company doesnt have a great reputation because it charges way too much money for its services.

Next: This company is not the king of its industry.

5. Burger King

RQ score: 68.26/100

Fast food doesnt have a great reputation in the health-conscious United States, and well head to another fast food joint in a minute. Between the unhealthy food, corporate blunders, and gross menu items no one wanted in the first place, Burger King has one of the worst reputations in America.

Next: Have you shopped at this outdated retailer lately?

4. JCPenney

RQ score: 68.07/100

Lots of department stores that focus primarily on fashion are struggling, but J.C. Penney is totally failing to attract customers. Not adapting to digital retail and closing 140 stores doesnt indicate a solid future, which is one of the reasons its one of the most hated stores in America with a bad reputation to boot.

Next: Diners have polarizing opinions about this fast-casual food chain.

3. Chipotle

RQ score: 67.69/100

The Harris Poll reputation rankings rate 100 retailers and other companies. Chipotle is No. 75 overall and the worst restaurant chain in America. Sure, there are some tasty secret menu items, but the restaurant is still recovering from foodborne illness outbreaks that made hundreds of people sick.

Next: Consumers constantly look for alternatives to this company.

2. Sprint

RQ score: 67.30/100

We visited AT&T, another hated phone carrier, a few minutes ago, and now we take a look at Sprint. Both of them have bad reputations, but Sprint is worse. People constantly look for alternatives to get out of having to deal with one of the most hated retailers in America.

Next: A steep drop in the score takes us to the most hated store on our list.

1. Sears

RQ score: 64.09/100

For now, Sears still shows up on a list of the most hated stores, but for how long? Its hemorrhaging money, closed about 180 stores in 2017, and has one of the most hated CEOs of all time. Sears is No. 88 out of 100 companies in The Harris Poll reputation rankings, but the others behind it arent in retail, which makes Sears No.1 on the list of most hated stores in America.

Next: The 10 most loved retail stores in America are doing nearly everything right.

The most loved retailers in America

Now that weve visited the most hated retail chain stores in the country, lets check out the retailers everyone loves. We hope you brought your appetite because  spoiler alert  well spend quite a bit of time in the grocery aisle.

10. L.L. Bean

RQ score: 79.83

L.L. Bean probably doesnt turn as much as a profit as other clothing retailers, but thats by design. The company aims to sell you high-quality clothes at a fair price, and since its been in business for more than 100 years, wed say its hitting the target. Whether or not you like the prices, it has some of the longest-lasting clothes you can buy.

Next: This retailer isnt going away anytime soon.

9. Nike

RQ score: 80.24

Whether or not you like Nike, the company isnt going away anytime soon. It has stores in almost every state and on four continents, and its continued success makes founder Phil Knight one of the richest Americans ever.

Next: A store that has good prices and a great reputation.

8. Aldi

RQ score: 80.43

The cheap food prices and other secrets that help you save money are pluses, but Aldi checks some of the other boxes that make it a great retailer. The company has a solid plan for the future, treats its employees well, and outperforms most of its national competitors.

Next: A clothing company getting it right.

7. Patagonia

RQ score: 80.44

Two components factoring into the reputation quotient are having quality products and displaying social responsibility. Patagonia excels at both. Its clothes seem to last forever, and it didnt hesitate to fight Donald Trump when the president shrunk the size of two national monuments.

Next: Another grocery chain with a great reputation.

6. Publix

RQ score: 80.81

Publix is perennially one of Americas favorite grocery stores because of its outstanding deals, great selection, and excellent customer service. Its reputation is reflected in the Harris Poll survey, where its not only one of the top supermarkets but one of the top retailers, period.

Next: Treating employees fairly is a foundation for the way this retailer does business.

5. H-E-B

RQ score: 81.14

If having a good workplace environment is one of the keys to a good reputation according to The Harris Poll, then its hard to imagine any company outdoing H-E-B. The grocery chain offers terrific job security and several benefits employees love.

Next: Retail stores are a big part of the business for this company.

4. The Walt Disney Company

RQ score: 81.53

We understand that your Disney trips account for a lot of the companys revenue, but retail is still a huge part of the business. According to Statista, retail stores did $1.58 billion in revenue in 2017. The overall financial stability, emotional appeal, and lovable products ensure Disney is the polar opposite of the most hated stores in America.

Next: You either love or hate this fast-food chain.

3. Chick-fil-A

RQ score: 81.68

Even though it tries to hide some dark and surprising secrets, Chick-fil-A is a fast food giant. Despite having just a fraction of the locations and not being open on Sundays, the chain is threatening to take down McDonalds. Despite the many reasons people hate Chick-fil-A, it has one of the best reputations of any retailer in the U.S.

Next: Small footprint, big impact

2. Wegmans

RQ score: 82.75

Wegmans has just 92 stores in a few eastern states, but shoppers are genuinely obsessed with the grocery chain. Great prices, knowledgeable employees, and excellent customer service make it one of the most loved grocery stores in America and one of the retailers with a great reputation.

Next: A company doing everything right and has the best reputation in America.

1. Amazon

RQ score: 83.22

The company that sells everything, makes a ton of money, and has a famous CEO has another thing going for it. Amazon is the company with the best reputation in America. Sure, you know Amazon for its online sales, but it has several physical retail store projects in the works, which is why it shows up on our list.

Next: How Harries calculates the Reputation Quotient.

How Harris tallies the Reputation Quotient

Six components factor into the final RQ score.

Harris polled more than 25,000 American adults between Dec. 11, 2017, and Jan. 12, 2018, and asked them to mention two companies with the best reputations and two with the worst reputations. Then, the 100 most visible companies are given average scores on a 0-100 scale based on six components:

Emotional appeal: Trust, admiration, and respect.

Trust, admiration, and respect. Financial performance: Sustained profitability, does better than competitors, room to grow.

Sustained profitability, does better than competitors, room to grow. Products and services: Quality, innovation, and value.

Quality, innovation, and value. Social responsibility: Community and environmental responsibility; supports good causes.

Community and environmental responsibility; supports good causes. Vision and leadership: Strong leadership and a clear vision for the future.

Strong leadership and a clear vision for the future. Workplace environment: Good employees, rewards employees, and is a good place to work.

Any score of 80 or above is considered excellent. Scores between 55-64 are poor, 50-54 is very poor, and under 50 is awful.

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!

Read more: Why Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Are Ready to Move Out of Their $5.5 Million D.C. Mansion
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSXV:RHT) (OTCQB:RQHTF) (Reliq or the Company), a technology company that develops innovative mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine solutions for the Community-Based Healthcare market, is pleased to announce that it has placed an order for 27,500 blood glucose + blood pressure monitoring devices to address the hardware availability issues recently faced by its iUGO Care customers.



Over the last several months our customers in Texas have been unable to secure the monitoring devices they have selected for their patients due to extremely high demand for the units, said Dr. Lisa Crossley, CEO of Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. Since our clients are not able to onboard patients to our platform without the hardware, we felt that deploying some of our capital to secure the devices necessary to meet the demand from our current contracts was a very worthwhile investment. Placing a large order like this allowed us to negotiate pricing that will generate new profits for Reliq through the sale of this hardware to our customers, while still reducing our clients total purchasing costs.

We see our relationship with our customers as a true partnership, said Giancarlo De Lio, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Reliq Health. We are committed to doing everything we can as a company to ensure our clients success. Their reaction to our decision to step up and secure a supply of these devices to meet their needs has been extremely positive. We look forward to helping our clients continue to deliver high quality care in the home to chronic disease patients in underserved communities.

Reliq Health Technologies is a healthcare technology company that specializes in developing innovative software solutions for the Community Care market. Reliq's powerful iUGO Care platform supports care coordination and community-based healthcare. The iUGO Care platform integrates wearables, sensors, voice technology and intuitive mobile apps and desktop user interfaces for patients, clinicians and healthcare administrators. iUGO Care allows complex patients to receive high quality care at home, improving health outcomes, enhancing quality of life for patients and families and reducing the cost of care delivery. iUGO Care provides real-time access to remote patient monitoring data, allowing for timely interventions by the care team to prevent costly hospital readmissions and ER visits. Reliq Health Technologies trades on the TSX Venture under the symbol RHT and on the OTCQB as RQHTF.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Dr. Lisa Crossley

CEO and Director

For further information contact:

Investor Relations at Reliq Health at 604-566-9233 or IR@reliqhealth.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements".

We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to commercial operations, including technology development, anticipated revenues, projected size of market, and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (the "Company") does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, technology development and marketing activities, the Company's historical experience with technology development, uninsured risks. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Reliq Health Technologies Inc.
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Reports that North Korea may be opening its doors to Christianity are erroneous, according to a ministry leader that has focused on the country and its oppressive regime for many years.

"Kim Jong Un has never said anything on this issue," says Thomas Kang, a director of Cornerstone Ministries.

When the North Korean leader met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at the end of April, he announced that their conflict is over. "I came here to put an end to the history of confrontation," Kim Jung-un said.

"There will be no more war on the Korean peninsula, and a new age of peace has begun," the two leaders said in a joint statement.

The soaring rhetoric and dazzling photos of the two leaders elicited huge expectations for lasting peace. "Just like that, swords were converted into plowshares," noted Lee Grady in Charisma Magazine. "The two leaders, all smiles for the cameras, agreed they will denuclearize the Korean peninsula within a year. They also agreed to set up reunions with families that have been divided since the Korean War started in 1950. It feels like we should declare a global holiday and dance in the streets."

But will North Korea agree to denuclearize? And will any peace deal mean religious freedom for Christians?

Thomas Kang believes some are presuming too much. "Kim Jong-un intended to create division in South Korea," Kang says. "There will be a short peace, but not a true peace. Their tactics have never changed. They always lie and never tell the truth."

He says the North Korean military will balk at a peace deal and may even attempt to eliminate Kim Jong Un. "I hope they don't do that before he meets President Trump," Kang says. China also appears to be exerting its influence to slow the peace initiative.

MORE
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow, which is considered incurable. But with Jesus-centered faith, prayer, and a powerful dream, God brought a miraculous healing that confounded her doctors.

"They said I had 3-5 years to live," says Tecla Miceli. "It was dreadful and I was scared to death," she says. Tecla grew up in Sicily and came to the U.S. as a 16-year-old with her parents.

Fortunately, she caught the cancer at an early stage. Tecla was opposed to chemotherapy so doctors agreed to monitor the progression of the cancer with bone surveys and blood tests every 60 days.

"The oncologist did a spinal and it came out at 17 blood plasma level and the threshold is 5," says Gary LaFerla, her son, who accompanied his mother to the doctor visits. At 17%, doctors were willing to wait on the chemo.

But after three years of monitoring Tecla, doctors noticed an alarming increase in cancer cells. "It was full blown cancer, at least 27% in her blood," Gary says.

Raised as a nominal Catholic, Tecla was born again through the influence of Gary and his sister Laura, who were involved at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California.

Nicky Cruz, the former gang member, was speaking when Tecla visited Calvary Chapel for the first time. Moved by his message, she felt compelled to go forward. "I felt a big flame in my heart literally pushing me to go up there," she recounts.

"I accepted Christ but I didn't know what I was doing. I drove home and I felt different. I never wanted to sin again. The next morning I woke up with a smile on my face and I felt so peaceful."

Tecla finally grasped her daughter's previous words. "For the first time I really understood what Laura meant when she told me about the peace of the Lord that fills the heart of a new believer and how the sky looks bluer and the grass greener."

"Throughout my illness Laura prayed with me daily and gave me positive and encouraging words of faith in Jesus."

Tecla's faith became a vital component as she faced a potentially deadly health crisis. "This cancer eats the bones from the inside and they will collapse," Gary noted. "It can be very painful."

After 36 months, the scan of Tecla's head now revealed cancerous lesions covering her skull. "She was weak all the time, sleeping a lot, not able to move much," Gary recalls. "She had blood splots all over her arms and legs. She was very anemic.

"It's a horrible type of cancer."

Tecla's doctors wanted a bone marrow biopsy from her spine before they started chemotherapy.

"I had a whole week to think and pray and was petrified all the while," Tecla recounts. "I didn't know if I wanted chemo or if I should just die naturally. I was crying all the time."

Gary LaFerlaOne evening son Gary had dinner with his mother because he was flying out of Orange County the next morning.

After their meal he said, "Mom, let's kneel down and pray." They both knelt down together. "Mom, the psalms are full of God's promises. I want you to read all of them and stand on God's promises. We will be praying for you."

Tecla spent the entire week in her patio reading the psalms and praying. "That's all I did. I prayed that God would heal me."

She poured out her heart to God: I know I have done it all, I've been married, have children, grandchildren, finished college, but I'm not ready to die yet. If you heal me I will tell of your miracle to anyone that wants to listen, she told God.

That night  shortly before her bone marrow test  she had a remarkable dream.

MORE
Bibles seen at polling stations for Ireland's abortion referendum draw complaints

Some voters have complained after seeing Bibles present at the polling stations during last week's referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment protecting the rights of the unborn child.

According to reports, some voters thought it was inappropriate to find Bibles in the precincts and one voter told the Irish Times that it angered him to see the Bible at the polling desk.

"The last thing I saw before I voted was the Bible," Declan McGovern told the publication. "I thought there was a very strong message being communicated there."

McGovern said that he's a non-practicing Catholic who voted 'Yes' in favor of removing the Eighth Amendment from the constitution.

Other voters told the Irish Times that they saw images of the Madonna and Child in their precinct. But some voting sites, which were actually Catholic schools, removed any religious symbols before the referendum.

The Journal reported, however, that Bibles found at polling booths may not have been strategically placed to influence the voters' decision as a provision in Section 111 of Ireland's Electoral Act 1992 states that if voters come to the precinct without any ID or a polling card, they can swear by the Bible before they cast their vote.

Bibles were also present at the polling stations when Ireland had its Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015. Noting this, secularists filed a proposal in February to remove any religious symbols in voting sites in time for the abortion referendum.

"Referendums should take place in a secular environment that is neutral between religious and atheistic beliefs," the statement from Atheist Ireland read. "There should be no symbols or practices in polling stations that endorse either religion or atheism, and all voters should be treated equally."

In the referendum, 66.4 percent of Irish voters declared that they were in favor of repealing the Eighth Amendment in support of abortion.
Christian leaders in Nigeria ask British government for help in securing release of Boko Haram captives

The Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) is pleading with the British government to help secure the release of girls who were kidnapped by the Islamic group Boko Haram.

According to The Vanguard, the NCEF visited the British High Commission in Abuja to ask the British government to intervene in the sectarian crisis in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by NCEF chairman Elder Solomon Asemota, the group called on the British government to assist in peace efforts.

"Urgently, a Truth, Peace and Reconciliation Commission should be set up as the basis for confession, forgiveness, healing and reconciliation in the country, and restructuring of the country," the statement said, as reported by The Vanguard.

Another concern raised by the Christian elders was the captivity of the Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old Christian girl who was abducted by Boko Haram along with 110 other schoolgirls in February in Yobe state.

Most of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Yobe were eventually freed, but Sharibu remained in captivity. She was reportedly asked to convert to Islam in exchange for her freedom, but she refused.

Some of the 276 Chibok girls that were abducted by the militant group have been released, but at least 112 girls are still missing.

The NCEF had asked the British government to intervene in securing the release of the captives.

The Christian leaders also warned about a "stealth jihad" being waged by Islamists in conjunction with "conventional jihad." The group cited the actions of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen as examples of conventional jihad.

"Stealth jihad includes the method by which Nigeria became a full member of OIC, the method by which Nigeria was given 1999 Constitution and the recruitment of Church leaders as foot soldiers for the Islamists," the group said, according to The Vanguard.

The Christian elders demanded the removal of government sponsorship of religious pilgrimages as well as the "assessment and payment of compensation for lives and property lost to Islamic insurgency and Jihad in the country."

Two Christian groups in Nigeria have warned that there could be grave consequences if Sharibu dies at the hands of Boko Haram.

Adebayo Oladeji, special assistant on media and communications to the Christian Association of Nigeria President, released a statement saying Sharibu's death could be an "open invitation to religious war" as she is being kept in captivity "purely because of her religion."

Bishop Emmah Isong, national publicity secretary of the Pentecostal Christian Association, warned that Nigeria's constitution will be called into question if the government fails to secure the release of Sharibu.
GAFCON head says breakaway provinces are Anglican too

Continuing tensions in the Anglican Communion over the status of breakaway provinces have been highlighted by the general secretary of the conservative GAFCON group.

As well as the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) which left the US Episcopal Church over its perceived liberalism, a rival Anglican province has been set up in Brazil. According to GAFCON, it is the 41st province in the Communion.

However, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC)has refused to recognise either breakaway body. In the Church Times of May 18 ACC general secretary Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon claimed GAFCON had been inaccurate in its description. 'To be part of the Anglican Communion requires being in communion with the see of Canterbury, which this Church is not,' he said.

GAFCON general secretary Archbishop Peter Jensen has said in a statement: 'Here lies the difference between mere institutionalism and spiritual reality. The basic reason why there is a division amongst the Anglicans of Brazil is because the Episcopal Church of Brazil has departed from the teaching of Scripture, and hence from Anglican teaching, concerning sex and marriage... It is a matter of the fundamentals of the faith, of what makes a true church, of the authority of God's word.'

He sharply criticised the Church of England's leadership, saying: 'Communion with the see of Canterbury used to be a welcome, useful and easily understood way of describing the Anglican Communion. But with leadership comes responsibility. So far, the recent Archbishops of Canterbury have not used the power of their office either to discipline those who have created disorder and threatened the basis of our faith, or to reach out the right hand of fellowship to those who have stood firm.'

Jensen claimed the Anglican Church in Brazil was 'of course' an authentic part of the Anglican Communion and was inviting Canterbury to 'recognise spiritual reality, and to use its influence to help align the old instrument of the Anglican Communion with the spiritual reality and new growth of the Communion'.
CAPITALIZATION

TSX Symbol: STGO

Total Basic Shares O/S (M): 42.9

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MATTHEW WOOD

Chairman, President and CEO

BATAA TUMUR-OCHIR

Director and Vice President Mongolia

ANEEL WARAICH

Director and Executive Vice President

JEREMY SOUTH

Director

PATRICK MICHAELS

Director

DR. ZAMBA BATJARGAL

Director





TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steppe Gold Limited (TSX:STGO) (the Company or Steppe Gold) is very pleased to announce that the Company has commenced an extensive infill and extensional resource drilling program at its 100% owned Altan Tsagaan Ovoo Project (the ATO Project), located in Mongolia.

HIGHLIGHTS

Stage 2 drilling program commenced with three drilling rigs currently operating on site.

Drilling currently focused on resource infill and extension drilling at the ATO4 Deposit.

Upon completion of drilling at the ATO4 Deposit, Drilling rigs will move onto infill and extension drilling at the ATO2 deposit followed by drilling at the Mungu Deposit and the Mungu Gap and Mungu Extended prospects.

Since taking control of the ATO Project the Company has completed a highly successful Stage 1 drilling program totaling 66 holes at the Mungu Deposit, three drill holes at the ATO4 Deposit, four drill holes at the Tsagaan Temeet prospect, one drill hole at the Bayanmunkh prospect and sixteen shallow drill holes at the Bayangol prospect for a total of 8,821.6 meters.

Results from the Stage 1 drilling program included:

MUNGU DEPOSIT

 MG-49 46 metres at 14.98gt gold and 82.02gt silver from 218.5 metres  MG-51 152 metres at 3.28gt gold and 29.79gt silver from 258 metres

ATO4

 ATO-295 90.6 metres at 2.57gt gold and 10.6gt silver from 39 metres

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3149234f-bc5b-408f-9134-251950d7a9aa

STAGE 2 DRILLING PROGRAM

The Company has now commenced its Stage 2 drilling program at its 100% owned ATO Project. A total of three diamond core drilling rigs are currently operating on site and conducting infill and resource extension drilling at the ATO4 Deposit. All drilling is HQ diamond drill core.

Upon completion of the drilling at the ATO4 Deposit, drilling rigs will move onto infill and extension drilling at the ATO2 deposit, followed by drilling at the Mungu Deposit, Mungu Gap and the Mungu Extended prospects.

The Company will have an active drilling program throughout 2018 with updated resource calculations for the ATO Deposits and Mungu Deposit by the end of 2018. The Company expects to have regular drilling updates covering the Stage 2 drilling program in the coming months.

STAGE 1 DRILLING PROGRAM

Since taking control of the ATO Project the Company has completed a highly successful Stage 1 drilling program totalling 66 holes at the Mungu Deposit, three drill holes at the ATO4 Deposit, four drill holes at Tsagaan Temeet prospect, one drill hole at the Bayanmunkh prospect and sixteen drill holes at the Bayangol prospect for a total of 8,821.6 metres.

Table 1. Stage 1 Drill hole summary

Deposit Prospect Drill holes number Total (m) Mungu 66 6333.4 ATO4 3 816.4 Bayangol 16 928.5 Bayanmunkh 1 449 TOTAL ALL 90 8821.6

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/224ad8d0-f05a-4e00-a955-42931f180ea5

MUNGU DEPOSIT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The drilling program was successful in outlining and extending known gold and silver mineralization. In addition to this, new high grade zones in deeper parts of the deposit were discovered that increased the understanding on the controls of mineralized structures and associated feeder zones.

Table 2. Significant intersects from the Mungu Deposit.

Drill Hole DH depth, m From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) MG-49 380.4 218.5 264.5 46 14.98 82.02 Includes 218.5 241.5 23 26.18 68.8 MG-50 434.4 250 290.4 40.4 0.84 140.95 312.5 331.6 19.1 1.37 1.62 Includes 326.5 329.5 3 4.05 2.46 MG-51 458 190 204.4 14.4 0.8 11.57 229.1 236 6.9 0.81 17.2 258 320.5 62.5 3.28 29.79 340.5 345.5 5 1.02 42.12 Includes 269 271 2 75.7 298.8 Includes 312 319.5 7.5 3.27 111.87 MG-52 485 190 342 152 2.06 72.64 Includes 300 342 42 5.75 16.97 MG-53 476 341 357.7 16.7 0.77 28.05 433 443 10 1.82 7.21

Information provided is not a true thickness (or width).

Table 3. Significant drill results from oxide drilling program, Mungu deposit

ID Drill Hole DH_depth (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) MG-54 68 12 15 3 0.6 22.76 1 19 37.3 18.3 1.84 130.21 27 33 6 3.3 333.4 2 MG-63 80 35.95 54 18.05 0.7 49.72 3 MG-66 113 25.8 48.5 22.7 1.13 67.5 83.5 102 18.5 0.79 42 4 MG-67 137 0 56 56 1.03 35.15 5 MG-68 110 13.6 24.25 10.65 1.59 87.1 27.5 31.5 4 0.15 133 6 MG-70 116 39 116 77 0.41 48.7 7 MG-71 95 14 95 81 1 45.46 8 MG-72 57 2 57 55 0.92 46.25 9 MG-74 104 27 104 77 0.63 34.57 10 MG-75 90 14 67 53 0.85 22.54 78 88 10 0.75 24.64 11 MG-78 65 18 32 14 1.3 77.49 12 MG-79 44 1 12 11 0.78 25.41 17 21 4 0.57 15.75

Information provided is not a true thickness (or width).

ATO4 DEPOSIT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

Steppe Gold drilled a total of three diamond drill holes at ATO4 (ATO-295, ATO-296) and one scout drill hole (ATO-294) to the south of the deposit. The scout drill hole failed to intersect mineralization. Significant intersections were made in both the other two drill holes.

Table 4. Significant intersects from drilling at ATO4 Deposit.

Drill Hole DH_depth (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) ATO-295 224 13.4 22.6 9.2 1.32 16.71 39 129.6 90.6 2.71 10.6 includes 69 80 11 10.82 11.24 includes 96 102 6 7.07 9.6 ATO-296 299 includes 29.3 35.5 6.2 1.20 12.95 81.5 122.5 41 0.89 4.68 includes 88.5 91.5 3 3.90 7.5

Information provided is not a true thickness (or width).

BAYANGOL PROSPECT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The Bayangol prospect is located approximately 3 km north east of the ATO Deposit and just over 1 km from the Mungu Deposit. The Company completed a program of 16 shallow diamond core drill holes in for a total of 928.3 metres. A significant result was achieved from drill hole BG-15 which intersected weak gold mineralization from 31m to the end of drill hole at 80 metres.

BG-15 49 metres at 0.26gt gold and 9gt silver from 31 metres.

Importantly, the mineralization and alteration intercepted in hole BG-15 is identical to that seen at the Mungu Deposit. Additional drilling will be completed at the Bayangol Prospect when priorities allow.

BAYANMUNKH PROJECT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The Bayan Munkh prospect is located approximately 25 km north east of the ATO and Mungu Deposits. A recently completed deep IP dipole-dipole survey has identified up to 500 m in diameter coincident chargeability and resistivity anomaly. The anomaly is located within a magnetic low and copper geochemical anomaly which is interpreted to be a possible gold copper porphyry system.

To test the large oval shape IP anomaly one single scout drill hole BM-13 was drilled to a depth of 449m. No significant results were achieved for this drill hole, although native copper was observed along late stage fractures in the drill core between 87 to 95 metres. Subsequent 3D modelling of the IP result identified a promising high chargeability anomaly on Bayanmunkh porphyry target which will be drilled when priorities allow.

TSAGAAN TEMEET PROJECT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The Tsagaan Temeet project is located 17 km to north of the ATO and Mungu Deposits. A total of four holes were drilled for 294.3 metres with no significant results being intercepted.

SAMPLING and QA-QC

At the Mungu Deposit drill holes were sampled at continuous 1 meter intervals, regardless of lithological and mineralogical variations. No selective sampling was undertaken. A total of 3,237 core samples were collected and analyzed.

Samples were processed and analyzed by ALS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. At the prep facility, all rock samples are logged in the tracking system, weighed, dried and finely crushed to better than 70% passing a 2 mm (Tyler 9 mesh, US Std. No.10) screen. This procedure coded as CRU-31 for all ALS Labs.

A split of up to 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing a 75 micron (Tyler 200 mesh, US Std. No. 200) screen (Figure 24). Drill core samples up to 3kg. This procedure coded as PREP-31 for all ALS Labs.

A 50-gram sample from all pulverized samples were analyzed for multi elements analysis by 35-element (ME-ICP41). Another 50-gram sample from remaining pulps were analyzed for gold assay using a fire assay analytical method with finish of AAS (Au-AA26, 50gr FA AA finish, instrument AAS). During ICP analysis, a 0.5g sample within 10 ml of solution was submitted for analysis. All samples were analyzed by 35-element ICP to test for abundances of Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, and Zn.

A high core recovery of more than 97% was achieved for the 2017 drilling program.

All holes were diamond drilled using a HQ core size. Down-hole orientation surveys were carried out at 50 metre intervals and/or at the bottom of each hole. Down-hole readings included both dip and azimuth of the hole at the recorded depths. Down hole surveys were completed for all drill holes.

QAQC for ALS internal and external check-ups for Mungu and other projects assays were conducted by insertion of SRM, duplicates and blanks for 2017. Inserted Industry CRMs and the results have, in the main, accurately reflected the original assays and expected values. Blank standards were all reported below <5ppb Au, which is shows that Lab is clear. Analysis of the internal repeat results for Au, Zn, Pb and As, show an acceptable correlation (most results within the 10 % error limits) with the original sample results. This indicates the sample pulps were reasonably homogenous after sample preparation resulting in high precision and repeatable sample assays.

Oyungerel Bayanjargal

Independent Qualified Person

MAusIMM (CP)

Ms. Oyungerel (Gerlee) Bayanjargal has 25 years of experience in the Mongolian geology and mining environment and has also worked as a resource consultant at Snowden in Australia. Gerlee has specialized on gold and polymetallic deposits both hard rock and placer and estimated several gold deposits resources and reserves in Mongolia. Most recently she was the Chief Mine Geologist at Boroo Gold Mine where she had worked since 2004 for Centerra Gold Inc, a Canadian company. Gerlee has been involved with project reviews, exploration and mining for hard rock and alluvial gold deposits in Mongolia, Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan.

The exploration activities and their related results included in this announcement were reviewed by Gerlee. According to Gerlee, all exploration and drilling work carried out to date on the Companys projects mentioned in this release follow clear mining industry standards.

Gerlee is a Principal Consultant for GSTATS Consulting LL. She is Deputy Chair of the MRC for the Mongolian Professional Institute of Geosciences and Mining. Gerlee is a Member of the Australian Institute Mining and Metallurgy and accredited as a Chartered Professional under the Discipline of Geology. She is also a Professional Engineer of Mongolia in discipline of Geology. Gerlee holds a Master of Science degree in Mineral Resource Exploration from The Netherlands and the Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Mathematics both from Mongolia.

CONTACT INFORMATION

THE COMPANYS HEAD OFFICE:

Shangri-La office, Suite 1201, Olympic street 19A, Sukhbaatar District 1,

Ulaanbaatar 14241, Mongolia

Tel: +976 7732 1914

TORONTO OFFICE:

90 Adelaide Street. W, Suite 400 Toronto, ON

M5H 3V9,

Canada

Tel: +1 647 697 0577

TRANSFER AGENT:

Lori Winchester

Senior Relationship Manager, Client Management

Phone: +1 416 607-7898

Cell: +1 416 671-4558

Email: lori.winchester@tmx.com
'Spiderman' Mamoudou Gassama is a hero  but his treatment raises disturbing questions

There's an extraordinary video doing the rounds at the moment. It shows Mamoudou Gassama, a migrant to France from Mali, scaling the outside of a block of flats, clambering from balcony to balcony. It takes this real-life 'Spiderman' about 30 seconds to reach his goal  a dangling small boy, in imminent danger of falling to his death. He grabs his arm and hauls him to safety.

It's an extraordinary feat of daring, with a gloriously happy ending for the child.

And, it turns out, for Mamoudou as well. France's President Emmanuel Macron invited him to the Elysee Palace, personally thanked him and gave him a medal for courage, promised he would be made a naturalised citizen and offered him a job in the fire brigade.

Nothing that follows should be read as taking away from any of that. Mamoudou is a genuine hero. No one should be anything other than inspired by him and happy for him.

But it's hard not to see his story, in all its hopeful brightness, against the dark background of Europe's long migrant tragedy. They have disappeared from our TV screens, but they are still arriving in overloaded craft in countries that don't want them. Or they are being washed up dead on Greek or Italian shores, victims of cynical people smugglers who send them to see with fake lifebelts and leaky boats. According to Missing Migrants, 639 have died so far this year  way down from its peak in 2015, but each death a tragedy.

And when they arrive in Europe, they don't find an open door and welcoming arms. Poland and Hungary are adamant they don't want them. In Paris itself, 2,500 migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East are sleeping rough in three dirty, rat-infested and drug-riddled encampments in the northeast of the city. In mid-May, the archdiocese of Paris denounced the 'total absence of humanity' with which they were being treated.

There are no easy answers to the question of what to do with migrants. But one thing the heartwarming story of Mamoudou Gassama does is remind us that each is a potential hero, with the capacity to save a life and bring tears of joy to the world. They are not, first and foremost, problems: they are people, made in the image of God and infinitely precious. It should not need one of them to risk his life to remind us of their humanity. Most of them have already done that more than once on the way.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Televangelist Jim Bakker: There are probably 100 hitmen out to assassinate Donald Trump

Televangelist Jim Bakker has surmised that President Donald Trump is likely the target of an assassination plot, and that there could be at least 100 hitmen out to get him.

On his television show that aired last week, Bakker discussed the potential attacks against the presidency with Paul McGuire and Troy Anderson, the authors of "Trumpocalypse: The End-Times President, a Battle Against the Globalist Elite, and the Countdown to Armageddon."

During the discussion, McGuire pointed to a part of the book that focused on the "deep state" theory that some within the U.S. government are working on a plot to assassinate Trump.

"I have been saying for months on the air, there are probably 100 hitmen hired to kill Trump, or more. I know this in the spirit. He is so hated that they want him dead," the televangelist said, according to The Christian Post.

Bakker further claimed that he has met people in prison who are willing to assassinate Trump for fame. He explained that Trump is an "End Times" president who is facing fierce opposition to his work.

The televangelist recently drew controversy after he urged believers to buy his cabins in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri to survive the soon-to-come Apocalypse.

"Do you know the people from the government, from NASA, the research from so many of them, they have said in their research that the safest place to live in troubled times is right here, that's why God brought us here," the televangelist said, according to Daily Mail. "Where are you going to go when the world's on fire? Where are you going to go?"

Bakker, who lost his ministry in the past due to allegations of fraud and sexual misconduct, is also reportedly selling 28-ounce Extreme Survival Warfare water bottles for $150.

The preacher also appears to be recommending a survival kit that includes a $4,100 generator package, seven years of food worth $2,200, a fruit bundle with a 20-year shelf life with a price tag of $450, and a $100 toilet kit called "When Nature Calls," which includes six rolls of tissue paper and a bucket with a toilet seat.

Bakker founded a ministry called PTL (Praise the Lord) in the 1980s with his then-wife, Tammy Faye.

The televangelist couple has in the past been accused of committing fraud while running the ministry. Between 1983 and 1986, the Bakkers reportedly purchased $900,000 worth of cars and several real estate properties, including two homes in Palm Springs, California.

Bakker resigned from the ministry in 1987 just before he was accused of having an affair with then-church secretary Jessica Hahn.

The televangelist has also been sent to prison for five years after he was prosecuted for fraud and conspiracy in 1989.
The power of forgiveness: How an Arab Christian learned to love Jews

How do you forgive a people who have taken away your home and livelihood?

Sharbel Dakwar grew up hating the Jewish people and looking for vengeance wherever he could take it. As a teenager, he and his friends would corner any Jewish boys who wandered into his neighbourhood and humiliate them by cutting off their sidecurls, removing their prayer tassels and throwing away their kippahs. He wanted to hurt them so that they would feel the pain that he and his family carried.

Sharbel's grandparents had lived in the village of Bir'im in the north of Israel. In October 1948, Bir'im was captured by the Jewish Haganah during their operation in the northern Galilee region. A few days later, all the villagers were expelled until the military operation was complete. Having left their homes only temporarily, they came back to be told it was still not safe, but that they would be able to return after a fortnight. They were never allowed to return.

The villagers of Bir'im became internally displaced citizens within Israel. Sharbel's parents grew up a few kilometres from their home village and then moved to Haifa. Bir'im itself became a national park and rather than allowing the villagers to return, the Israeli government offered compensation. 'It left a scar,' Sharbel admits, 'and gave me a deep hatred of the Israelis.'

Sharbel is Melkite Greek Catholic. Like many other Christians, he considered church to be for holidays, weddings and funerals. Jesus was simply the Christian God, just as Muslims had their prophet Mohammed, and the Jews had the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Sharbel connected with his Christian Arab community and avoided situations that would have brought him into contact with Jews.

Then he met an American called David who invited him into his home and shared his life with him. Through acts of kindness which built their friendship, David became like an elder brother to Sharbel. He gradually introduced Sharbel to a living relationship with Jesus. But when David invited him to his congregation, Sharbel was shocked to see the Israeli flag and a menorah. He fled in panic but David followed him and asked quietly, 'What's up?'

'I hate the Jews, I just don't like them.'

'Sharbel, I'm Jewish... and Jesus was also Jewish.' Sharbel stared in disbelief until the reality sank in. Then he prayed, 'God, if this is true, please take all you want to out of my heart.' As the pain, anger and hatred left, Sharbel was filled instead with peace and then love. He changed from perpetuating the cycle of violence to becoming part of the solution.

The wounds of loss had remained unhealed under a scar until David's invitation to worship God together pushed them to the surface.

The path to forgiveness starts with acknowledging the hurt and allowing the pain to resurface. This pain is a legitimate response to suffering. The reopened scar can lead to anger and the desire for revenge or to an opportunity for healing.

Sharbel chose healing and through his relationship with David began to see the people he had labelled aggressors as humans too. He made the choice to forgive and began to work out that forgiveness with practical actions.

Sharbel worked together with David and other Jews and Arabs in a drug and rehabilitation centre in Haifa. He is now moving to Europe to work with refugees and help others with their journey to reconciliation and forgiveness.

Sharbel's story appears on One for Israel's YouTube channel.

Wendy Halloun is the author of 'Identity in Messiah: finding strength to stand in the last days'. Follow her on Twitter @wordsofclay. She blogs at wordsofclay.com
A burger, like a mind, is a terrible thing to waste so make your meat selection count on National Burger Day.

At the top of the must-visit burger joints in Houston are Christian's Tailgate, Balls Out Burger, and Bernie's Burger Bus, according to a reader's poll Chron.com conducted last fall.
A single-engine plane leaving Houston Executive Airport crashed on the airport grounds Sunday afternoon.

The pilot received only minor injuries, said Andrew Perry, the airport's executive director, "but the airplane is majorly damaged."

The pilot was the only person on board, Perry said.

The plane was departing the runway when the crash occurred, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration

"He was taking off and someone lost control and ended up on the east side of the airport in the field," Perry said.

The plane was a Cirrus SR 20, a high-performance four-seater with a single engine.

The FAA will investigate to determine the cause of the crash.

Perry did not release the pilot's name but said he was visiting Houston.
Oil in New York headed for its longest run of losses in almost four months as Saudi Arabia and Russia said they are discussing raising output to ease consumer anxiety after prices jumped to levels last seen in 2014.

West Texas Intermediate dropped as much as 3.1 percent, while Brent crude futures, which traded above $80 a barrel last week, slumped near $75 in London on Monday. Saudi Arabia and Russia signaled theyll restore some of the output they cut as part of a deal between OPEC and its allies that took effect in January last year. Potential opposition from several producers could complicate the groups effort to reach a consensus when it meets next month in Vienna.

Oil rose earlier in May to a 3 1/2-year high after U.S. President Donald Trump decided to renew sanctions on Iran and as plunging Venezuelan output fueled concerns over disruptions. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners are said to have cleared a market surplus despite record American production, a possible step toward relaxing cuts that have exceeded the groups targets.

It was always going to be a tricky announcement of when to ease production cuts, said Ole Sloth Hansen, head of commodities research at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen. Oil was already on the defensive.

High Prices

West Texas Intermediate for July delivery fell as much as $2.08 to $65.80 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and traded at $66.78 at 4:39 p.m. in Dubai. It was heading for a fifth consecutive daily decline, the longest streak since Feb. 9. There is no settlement Monday because of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday. Trades will be booked Tuesday for settlement purposes. Prices dropped $2.83 to $67.88 on Friday, the biggest loss since July 5. Total volume traded was near the 100-day average.

Brent futures for July settlement dropped as much as $1.95 to $74.49 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange and traded at $75.30 a barrel. Prices on Friday lost $2.35 to $76.44. The global benchmark crude traded at a $8.50 premium to WTI for the same month, on course for the widest close since March 2015.

Futures for September delivery fell 3.4 percent to 464.3 yuan a barrel on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange.

Demand Worries

Higher crude prices are starting to affect demand, Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of consultant IHS Markit Ltd., said on Friday. He was echoing concerns voiced a week earlier by the International Energy Agency, which advises major oil-consuming nations. U.S. President Trump last month criticized OPEC for contributing to higher crude.

OPEC and its allies are likely to gradually raise oil output in the second half, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said last week at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia. He and his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak said earlier that while scaling back the supply caps was on the table, no decision had been made.

The group has to decide unanimously whether to adjust output, said Suhail Al Mazrouei, energy minister of the United Arab Emirates and holder of OPECs rotating presidency. No decisions made by two countries or three countries are going to be taken, he said Friday in an interview in St. Petersburg. We respect all the member countries.

Declining output from some producers gives countries like Russia a very good opportunity to increase production without hurting the market too much, Saxo Banks Hansen said. As long as producers dont cut by more than they promised, the Saudi-Russian proposal should be an easy sell both within and outside OPEC, Saxo Banks Hansen said.

President Vladimir Putin said last week that oil prices at $60 fully suit Russia and the country doesnt want them to spiral higher. Anything above that level can lead to certain problems for consumers, which also isnt good for producers, he said. OPEC and his nation dont plan to stick to existing output cuts, he said.

Saudi Arabia and Russias potential policy shift doesnt materially change Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s bullish oil outlook, the banks analysts including Damien Courvalin said, reiterating the banks forecast of Brent at $82.50 per barrel in the third quarter.

Drilling rigs targeting oil in the U.S. rose by 15 to 859, the highest since March 2015, according to Baker Hughes data on Friday.

Hedge funds trimmed their net-long positions -- the difference between bets on a price increase and wagers on a drop -- in Brent crude by the most in almost a year.

2018 Bloomberg L.P.
A man who began volunteering his lunch breaks at the Cleveland Senior Citizens Center was the catalyst for a fundraising project that raised $5,000.

Terry Roberts, the service manager at Anderson Ford in Cleveland, says he began working through his lunch breaks on Monday in order to devote a couple of hours to the senior center. In talking to the seniors and the facility director, Maxine Morris, he learned that an infusion of cash was sorely needed.

I went to Mr. A (Alfred Anderson, owner of Anderson Ford) and told him that money seems to be getting tight at the senior center, Roberts said. Theyve had some challenges at the senior center, so we came up with an idea for a fundraiser.

The sales staff agreed that $25 of each vehicle sold in April, for a total of $2,500, could be donated toward the fundraiser while the parts and service department would come with another $2,500.

I was so happy when it worked out because the senior center has been struggling, Roberts said.

At the check presentation on May 11, Roberts was accompanied by Alfred Anderson and members of both the sales and service departments.

Anderson said he is very proud of his employees for coming up with a way to help a much-valued organization in the Cleveland community.

Coming right off of Relay for Life, I thought our people had worked their buns off, physically and financially. They raised $12,000 for Relay and then to come back and do this is just amazing, he said.

Roberts said neither of the successful fundraisers would have been possible without the support of Anderson.

At the end of the day, he is the one who brings us all together, Roberts said.

The money donated to the senior center will be put to good use, according to Morris.

The center faces a monthly mortgage payment of more than $5,000 and still has to provide food for the elderly residents it serves, including 100 homebound people in Liberty and San Jacinto counties.

Anyone who is interested in enjoying a meal with the seniors is welcome. The cost is $3 for seniors and $5 for all others. Dine-in and take-out are available.

For more information, stop by the senior center at 220 Peach Ave. or call 281-592-1174.
Houston Community College students and administrators met Monday, May 21, with Holly L. Ham, executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific islanders.

The meeting at the HCC Administration Building in Midtown was the latest stop in a national tour Ham is taking to promote the initiatives desire to help improve the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

We are looking for ways to collaborate on solutions to issues that AAPIs face today, said Ham, an ethnic Chinese immigrant from Vietnam who moved to the Houston area with her family in 1980. Education is the number one priority to ensuring better lives for the 22 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living here.

HCC Trustee Neeta Sane said the event marked the first time a White House representative has attended a meeting at the college.

We are looking forward to working with the White House to help students at HCC and to make sure they have the resources to succeed, Sane said.

HCC is the number one community college in the nation in enrolling international students. About 15 percent of the student population is Asian. The largest contingent of international students comes from Vietnam.

Chancellor Cesar Maldonado said, We are an international college. The Asian American community is such a vibrant part of Houston.

Maldonado thanked Ham for attending the event. We thank you for your leadership and we are going to be leaning on you for your help, he added.

Students who attended the meeting praised Ham for taking the time to answer their questions.

It was inspirational and informational, said HCC and TSU graduate Ann Nguyen. I thought it was awesome to see an Asian representative in the White House. My takeaway from Ms. Hams message was, if you put your mind to it, what others may think is impossible, is possible.
In Montana, it's legal to shoot wolves that get perilously close to people or livestock, and that's exactly what a rancher in Denton thought he did, putting a bullet into something with four legs and canine teeth that came within stalking distance of his herd.

But when he summoned wildlife officials to investigate, something was off.

The dead animal's canine teeth were too short, the front paws were tiny for a wolf, and the claws on those paws were too long. The ears were too big as well, experts told The Washington Post, and the coat was wrong. This was no wolf.

It was a young, non-lactating female and a canid, or member of the dog family, Montana wildlife officials concluded, but that's about as far as animal experts got.

"We have no idea what this is," Bruce Auchly, information manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "And we won't know until we get the DNA tests back."

But from that vacuum of information has sprung not-quite-educated guesses from armchair taxonomists and conspiracy theorists - people who have spent entirely too much time staring at a picture of a carcass of a wolfish creature on the tailgate of a pickup truck.

Their leading theories about the mystery creature:

- It's Bigfoot: Because it's large and hairy and unexplained.

- It's a dogman: Think bigfoot with a snout. Or, as a website dedicated to dogman encounters defines them: "cryptozoological beings that are large and sometimes described as looking like upright canids."

"They're spotted each day and the government quells any and all reports," one person on social media said, according to the Great Falls Tribune. "Several people report being strong armed into keeping quiet about their reports by men wearing black suits. These are just facts."

Some dogmen look like a stretched out dog that walks on two feet. Others look like a Sasquatch with a Doberman's face.

There has been only one reported dogman sighting in Montana, according to the dogman encounters website, which includes a handy map.

"I sat up in my bed, frightened, but I didn't feel the need to yell for my parents or anything," the anonymous Montana poster said. "It just kind of stared at me. While looking at it, I saw that it had pointed ears, with tufts of fur, like lynx have, and a muzzle like a German Shepard."

After the dogman stepped over the poster's fence, "I heard it yip and bark while on the other side, which was prairie, with a butte and then forest. It was almost like it was calling to others."

- It's a dire wolf: The creature got too close to livestock, not Prince Joffrey of the "Game of Thrones" fame, and although Winterfell is actually a real place you can visit, it's nowhere near Denton, Montana.

Dire wolves were native to the Americas and larger than their cousins, the gray wolf. But they went extinct more than 10,000 years ago, The Washington Post's Karin Brulliard reported.

Thousands of dire wolf skeletons have been found in the La Brea Tar Pits, according to the BBC.

Auchly, with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, doesn't put much stock in that theory.

"First off, 'Dire Wolf' was a wonderful song by The Grateful Dead in about 1971. I know I listened to it a lot," he said. "In reality a dire wolf is a prehistoric mammal from the age of mammoths and saber tooth tigers."

But it could be a dire wolf 2.0. A breeder in southern Oregon has spent the last three decades trying to create a new sort of dog called the American Alsatian that would look very much like the extinct species and the animals given to the children of House Stark.

- It's a wolf-dog hybrid: Wolves and dogs are interfertile, according to the International Wolf Center, meaning they can interbreed and produce offspring that can then produce more offspring.

"We've had a few instances of wolf/dog hybrids out there," Ty Smucker, wolf management specialist for Montana FWP, told the Tribune. "One was out somewhere in eastern central Montana killing sheep like crazy. Finally, we caught it and it turned out to be a hybrid."

Hybrids can be unpredictable.

When wolves reach sexual maturity, hormonal changes can trigger behavior changes, making animals more stubborn or aggressive, the Wolf Center says. They're more likely to challenge the human "leader" of the pack, even if that leader is a person who picked up a wolf-looking puppy because it looked cool.

Abandonments are commonplace once people discover their animals may be difficult to control.

Wildlife officials, for some reason, are not relying on the armchair theories about the wolflike creature.

They sent the carcass to the department's lab in Bozeman.

Researchers there will take tissue samples and ship them to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Laboratory in Oregon.

There, scientists will extra DNA from cells looking for specific DNA markers, which will be compared to known species.

"Social media was quick to pronounce the animal as everything from a wolf to a wolf hybrid to something mythical," the wildlife agency's news release said. " . . . It may be awhile before the anyone really knows what the animal near Denton really was."
TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biome Grow (Biome) announced today that it has acquired approximately 20 acres of land in Nova Scotia to expand its Highland Grow (Highland) cannabis production facilities that are licensed under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (Canada) (the ACMPR). Highland is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Biomes.



This acquisition is a key step in allowing Highland to start work on a dramatically larger, purpose-built production facility to supply a broad spectrum of innovative cannabis products to Nova Scotians, said Frank MacMaster, President of Highland. Biome also has the option to secure a considerably larger parcel of land in Nova Scotia should changes to growing methodologies currently being considered by regulators be enacted in the future.

The expanded Highland facility will include extensive research and development facilities that will also be used by Biomes external partnerships, including its multi-disciplinary collaboration with St. Francis Xavier University. This feature of the facility is a core component of a cannabis centre of excellence that Highland is planning to establish in Nova Scotia to create a broader cannabis ecosystem in its local community.

Moreover, through this facility, Highland is looking to introduce a new way to grow pharmaceutical grade cannabis on an industrial scale. This approach is designed to address many of the scale-up challenges that have plagued most licensed producers in Canada since the inception of the MMPR program (precursor to the ACMPR). In addition to allowing a production facility to achieve full production capacity sooner with a consistent and predictable level of quality, it will greatly reduce operating cost profiles while being fully compliant with the restrictions placed on producers under the ACMPR.

Highland looks forward to sharing additional details on its new production platform in the coming months.

About Biome Grow

Biome Grow (whose corporate legal entity name is Cultivator Catalyst Corp.) wholly owns Highland Grow, an Authorized Licensed Producer in Nova Scotia under the ACMPR, P-209 Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario and in the late stages of applying for a license under the ACMPR and The Back Home Medical Cannabis Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and in the late stages of applying for a license under the ACMPR. Biome Grow plans on operating a diversified mix of low cost licensed cannabis production facilities across Canada and other jurisdictions in the coming years. Additional growth will be achieved through a mixture of acquisitions and organic growth. Moreover, Biome Grow will integrate a complimentary platform of technologies and services targeted at both the Canadian and international cannabis markets.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information concerning changes to growing methodologies being considered by regulators that may influence future decisions of Biome; Biomes intention that its wholly-owned subsidiary Highland Grow, will build a larger, purpose-built production facility in Nova Scotia and a cannabis centre of excellence and the timing and costs associated therewith; that Highland Grow will supply a broad spectrum of innovative cannabis products to Nova Scotians and its timing in connection therewith; expectations that Biome will acquire additional land in Nova Scotia; Biomes expectations that Highland Grow will receive a sales license from Health Canada and the timing associated therewith and any restrictions that may be placed thereon; Biomes plans to operate a diversified mix of low cost licensed cannabis production facilities across Canada and other international jurisdictions; and Biomes expectations to introduce a new way to grow pharmaceutical grade cannabis on an industrial scale. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Biome, including the assumptions that Highland Grow will be able to obtain a cultivation license from Health Canada on a timely and cost efficient basis; assumptions and expectations with respect to changing legislation and the timing associated with such changes; the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory licenses, permits and approvals on a timely and cost efficient basis to produce and sell cannabis and generally operate its business in both Canada and internationally; assumptions concerning labour, construction, and other costs and expectations that such costs will remain low for its licensed cannabis production facilities; its ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its working capital requirements and that sufficient financial resources will be available; and the ability of Biome to successfully market its products and services.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, or approvals, changes to legislation, changes in cannabis research or the general publics perception of cannabis, competition in the medical cannabis market, crop failure, labour disputes, increases in labour and/or construction costs, rising energy costs, an inability to access financing as needed, and a general economic downturn. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Biome, or any of its subsidiaries undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Media Contact

Colleen Ryan

647-232-6867

cryan@sussex-strategy.com
A new poll featuring head-to-head matchups between candidates for governor has New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart and Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont leading the way.

In that particular matchup, Stewart edged Lamont by 2 percent in an online survey of 2,750 total people between May 3 and May 5. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent.

The poll was conducted by Tremont Public Advisors, LLC, a federal lobbying firm with offices in Hartford and Washington, D.C. Tremont is operated by longtime Democratic political adviser Matthew J. Hennessy of Hartford. Though he says hes not working for any candidate in the current race, Hennessys firm previously provided consulting services to Lamont when he attempted a run for governor in 2010.

Hennessy said the results paint a positive picture for Stewart or Lamont heading into a general election, but theres no telling how either will fare in the conventions and primaries in order to make it there in the first place.

Polls are just a snapshot in time, but the picture is looking good for Erin Stewart and Ned Lamont if they are the nominees of their parties for governor in November, Hennessy said. With six months to go before the November election it appears Lamont and Stewart are starting to get the attention of the voters.

In other hypothetical matchups, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton tops former secretary of the state Susan Bysiewicz by 5 percent, Lamont bests Boughton 49.7 percent to 39.6 percent, and Stewart beats Bysiewicz by 10 points. In a matchup between a generic Republican and a generic Democrat, the Republicans have roughly a 6 percent head start.

Lamonts recent string of high-profile endorsements  including New Haven Mayor Toni Harp  and Stewarts millennial mentality may be whats giving the candidates their respective edge in the polls, Hennessy said.

The Lamont piece is pretty conventional wisdom in a sense, Hennessy said. With Stewart, you have someone who could win the general but will she make it out of a primary? If Jodi Rell, one of the more successful Republican governors, if she had to run in a Republican primary without being the incumbent, would the primary have ever allowed her out? Thats probably what Stewarts facing right now. The party base which has shifted farther to the right in the last four years isnt necessarily behind her.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
CHALK RIVER, Ontario, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and the Town of Deep River signed a Fire Protection Services Agreement that will see CNLs Chalk River Laboratories Fire Operations provide services to the Town to enable a significantly enhanced level of fire prevention, education and suppression services to the Towns residents, businesses and visitors.



Under this new agreement, which is effective June 1, 2018, CNL Fire Operations will provide a Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, a Fire Prevention Officer, CNL Officer Firefighters, and CNL Firefighters to the Town to an annual maximum of 14,000 personnel hours. This agreement supports a return to 24/7 on-duty coverage in the Deep River fire hall. The costs for CNL fire services will be borne by the Town of Deep River.

Of significance, this agreement will see the Town move immediately to recruit volunteer firefighters to bolster personnel from CNL and Deep River to provide the necessary resources to meet todays standards for fire suppression services, with access to CNL Fire Operations training programs and facilities.

The overwhelming priority of this Council has always been to ensure the safety of residents, employees and businesses in Deep River. This agreement with CNL provides an effective and efficient fire prevention, education and suppression service, addressing decades-old challenges at a cost within the current budget, said Deep River Mayor, Joan Lougheed. I would like to thank CNL President and CEO Mark Lesinski and the CNL team for making this possible.

CNL is pleased to work with the Town of Deep River on fire protection. Health and safety is our top priority, as it is for Deep River, which is evident in its efforts to provide enhanced fire services for its residents and businesses, said CNL President and CEO Mark Lesinski.



CNL Fire Operations capabilities and experience has already made an impression in the Town during the time of the interim agreement, said Reeve Glenn Doncaster. Their level of training and professionalism will continue to be of significant benefit to the Town as we move forward to recruit volunteer firefighters along with existing firefighters, to establish a fully functional composite fire department in Deep River.



Mayor Lougheed and Reeve Doncaster were united in their praise and gratitude to the men and women of the Town of Laurentian Hills Fire Department for their unwavering commitment to assist the Town of Deep River in times of need over the past number of decades and look forward to an even stronger relationship in the years ahead.

About CNL

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a world leader in nuclear science and technology offering unique capabilities and solutions across a wide range of industries. Actively involved with industry-driven research and development in nuclear, transportation, clean technology, energy, defence, security and life sciences, we provide solutions to keep these sectors competitive internationally.

With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is well positioned for the future. A new performance standard reinforced with a strong safety culture underscores every activity.

For more information on the complete range of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories services, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact communications@cnl.ca.

Contact:

Patrick Quinn

Director, Corporate Communications

CNL, 1-866-886-2325

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e14bb69-bdc6-476e-baa6-76dc4f3ce705




Groans resound in media safety workshops when the lesson on the encryption software, called Pretty Good Privacy, begins. Journalists without tech savvy find the program devilish to master. Eyes glaze as they grapple with the complex keys that scramble and unscramble secret messages.

This is the software that has reigned supreme among whistleblowers and investigative reporters for 30 years, allowing them to communicate privately, without being surveiled. Its popularity exploded after Edward Snowden used a similar method to share his NSA revelations with journalists in 2013.

Even for tech wizards, using the tool can be confusing. Now, its gotten more so.

Researchers from Europe recently tricked the most common way to use the system, thereby detecting a flaw in how leading email providers implement PGP. The researchers devised an attack named efail that forced Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and others to send them the plain text of encrypted messages. This means journalists should find a safer alternative to PGP email program plugins until a solution emerges.

There are steps you can take to mitigate the risks until the flaw is fixed.

ICYMI: A pivot to Netflix?

Sign up for CJR 's daily email

The Electronic Frontier Foundation suggests the most radical approach: disable PGP on email for now. Switch to another type of secure end-to-end messaging, such as Signal.

Were not saying stop using PGP forever, says Eva Galperin, director of security at the organization. Were suggesting they hold off while the security industry looks at whether these vulnerabilities have other implications. Other experts recommend disabling HTML and remote content in email programs, through which the bug can be transmitted.

Put simply, PGP involves keys that allow two parties to jumble text to look something like, 6FG/wgryQ1AQ//X7RZgF+r1Uwwpf and then unscramble it back. If the ploy works properly, no one else can decipher the message.

With efail, an attacker can send an HTML image, such as a picture, that includes a block of ciphertext as part of the images URL. Even if the recipient doesnt read the email or click on it, the email program would automatically decrypt the ciphertext, changing the URL to include the plaintext of the message, and then load that URL, sending the adversary a copy of the decrypted message. The image, in essence, serves as a window to spy through. Shutting off HTML will get rid of that risk, but it will also get rid of the pretty stuff you see on MailChimp and Paperless Post.

That inconvenience should be weighed against the likelihood of surveillance. The threat is particularly worrisome for someone on the radar of, say, the NSA, which has piles of encrypted text stored in Utah.

Micah Lee, The Intercepts guru on Internet privacy, is one such potential target. He served as the point of entry for Snowden leaks. In order to test efail, Lee sent an email to himself that exploited the vulnerability. Voila, it worked. The efail decoded the encrypted message. (He goes into detail on Twitter.)

This would be a cinch for most computer science grad students in the world, he says. The vulnerabilities are very big and serious.

For hardcore users reliant on PGP, dumping the protocol would be highly impracticable, Lee adds. Its too integral to how they work.

Therefore, journalists and their sources who understand the PGP shortcomings should simply exercise more caution. Everyone should stay abreast of updates to their email clients and use the latest versions as they come out. Thunderbird and its Enigmail plug-in have announced partial patches; fixes from others will likely follow.

The Tactical Tech Collective in Berlin advises making sure the people you engage with are updated as welland evaluate how much whether you can move from PGP to Signal or other instant messaging. Messaging apps are more secure for now, but they have downsides. Signal doesnt allow users to search for an attachment sent last January. Neither does it allow access to old messages on a new phone. And perhaps more importantly, it exposes telephone numbers, which presents different privacy implications.

Signal is not immune to bugs, either. Earlier this month, researchers discovered that attackers could inject malicious code into the Signal desktop app. Fortunately, developers quickly addressed it. (Its easier to fix a single developers software than the messy world of email, where a ton of clients compete: Gmail, Apple versus Outlook, Blackberry, etc.)

We dont have a single piece of advice to give to people, says Tacticals Cade Diehm, who leads a project on user privacy. The number one thing I would say is that when situations like this happen, its important not to get too alarmed right away. Vulnerabilities are scary but with them come patches.

Harlo Holmes, director of newsroom digital security for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, feels all media should use end-to-end encryption, in whatever form most appropriate. Its wise to get into the habit of hiding data. And a critical mass of users arouses less suspicion among hostile authorities than a few users trying to communicate secretly using the same obscure service.

But the takeaway is that you can never get too comfortable with any type of software, even if its proved reliable until now. Whatever you deploy, you have to stay on top of developments, and constantly compare the latest information.

Things can change at the drop of a hat, Holmes warns.

ICYMI: Are bots entitled to free speech?

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Judith Matloff teaches conflict reporting at Columbia. Her latest book, How To Drag a Body and Other Safety Tips You Hope to Never Need, publishes May 19.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Juanita Lake sits on a bench outside the courtroom at Cleveland Housing Court and nervously fidgets with her phone as she waits for her Legal Aid Society lawyer to arrive.

The room is stuffy and the benches are packed with other mothers and their children. Some of the children are antsy and squeal. Juanita's 7-year-old daughter Yvonne is in school.

Today marks Juanita's first court appearance after being served with an eviction notice. It's also the first time she's had to come face to face with her landlord since he ordered her out of the house that she has been renting for seven months.

She's not looking forward to the encounter.

When the landlord finally enters the waiting area, Juanita ducks out of his way and retreats to the other corner of the room.

Juanita says her dealings with her landlord have been tense ever since she called city inspectors about a leaking foundation, faulty electrical wiring and other problems in the home, which is in the city's Union-Miles neighborhood.

The tension culminated with the landlord serving an eviction notice after Juanita made her latest rent payment one day later than usual. She believes the landlord seized on that late payment as an excuse to rid himself of a troublesome tenant.

Juanita is contesting the eviction in court today only to buy time to find new accommodations. Given the bad history with the landlord, and the poor condition of the house, staying is out of the question.

Shortly after the lawyer arrives, a court employee calls Juanita's name. The lawyer and the landlord are escorted to a cubicle to meet with a magistrate.

That Juanita is accompanied by a lawyer and her landlord is not is an anomaly.

Sociologist Matthew Desmond, who conducted a groundbreaking study of evictions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, estimates in his book, Eviction: Poverty and Profit in the American City, that some 90 percent of tenants facing eviction do not have a lawyer, while about 90 percent of landlords do.

Juanita is grateful that the lawyer has agreed to represent her at no cost.

for

it

. A single mother with mental health issues, she subsists on disability benefits of $1,000 a month. To pay for legal advice would mean she and Yvonne would go hungry.

The hearing lasts about 20 minutes. Emerging from the cubicle, Juanita appears more relaxed and says the magistrate is allowing her and Yvonne to remain in the house for at least the next month.

Her next court appearance is in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, her lawyer says she will try to work out an agreement with the landlord about the remaining rent payments in Juanita's year-long lease.

Juanita walks out of the courthouse feeling as if she's won a small victory. She and Yvonne will have a roof over their head for at least another month.

Read more about the Lake family here.

A Greater Cleveland is a project of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Because of the sensitive family matters discussed in this series, we have provided the people we write about anonymity and are using pseudonyms to identify them. See the entirety of our project by clicking here.
MACEDONIA, Ohio -- A man is dead and a woman was injured Monday morning in a double-stabbing in Macedonia, police said.

The two victims were found in a bedroom at a home on Griswold Circle, located off Firestone Lane between Ohio 8 and Interstate 271.

The 62-year-old man was pronounced dead at the home. The 58-year-old woman was rushed to Akron City Hospital after firefighters treated her at the scene, according to a news release.

Police identified the pair's 28-year-old son as the suspect. He was arrested Monday afternoon in Columbiana County and police are in the process of preparing charges against him, a police dispatcher said.

The son was believed to have left the stabbing scene in a white 2007 Ford pick-up truck, the release said.

Both of the victims' identities will be released once their family is notified. Detectives are now investigating what led to the stabbing, police said.

To comment on this story, please visit cleveland.com's crime and courts comments section.
LORAIN, Ohio -- A man died and another was wounded early Sunday in a shooting near a club in Lorain, police say.

Andre Eugene Hines, 23, suffered several gunshot wounds and died after being taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center, according to a news release from Lorain police.

A 22-year-old man suffered one gunshot wound and has since been released from the hospital, police said.

The shooting happened about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in an alley in the 2800 block of Apple Avenue, just east of the intersection of Broadway Avenue and 28th Street, police said.

A gunman opened fire on the two men as they walked down the alley. People were leaving a nearby club at the time, police said.

Several Lorain police officers were already in the area and treated Hines as they waited for an ambulance, police said.

Investigators have not arrested anyone in connection with the shooting.

Anyone with information should call Lorain police at 440-204-2100 or submit an anonymous tip on their website.

To comment on this story, please visit cleveland.com's crime and courts comments section.
Former president George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized because of low blood pressure and fatigue, his spokesman said Sunday.

Jim McGrath announced on Twitter that Bush was taken Sunday to Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, Maine, and will likely remain there for a few days for observation.

"The former president is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort," McGrath said.

Bush, who turns 94 on June 12 and is America's longest-living president, has been hospitalized several times in recent years because of failing health. He is suffering from vascular parkinsonism, which mimics many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. He and his late wife also were diagnosed with Graves' disease, a thyroid ailment.

The former president arrived last week in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family has a summer home, according to the Associated Press. Bush attended a monthly pancake breakfast Saturday and met with veterans at the American Legion Post 159.

Bush was most recently hospitalized in Houston in April, just a day after former first lady Barbara Bush was buried. The former president had contracted an infection that spread to his blood and remained in the hospital for about two weeks. He was hospitalized twice in 2017 for pneumonia and bronchitis, and a few times between 2012 and 2015 - once after falling in his Kennebunkport home and breaking a bone in his neck.

Barbara Bush died April 17 at age 92 shortly after her family said she had "decided not to seek additional medical treatment" following recent hospitalizations. At the funeral, her husband sat in his wheelchair in front of her casket and greeted mourners for 20 minutes.

The former first couple was married for 73 years.

George H.W. Bush, the father of another former president, George W. Bush, served two terms as vice president under Ronald Reagan and one term as president.

(c) 2018, The Washington Post. Written by Kristine Phillips. Marwa Eltagouri contributed to this post.
English French



Dr Lucy Lu is appointed to the Inventiva Board of Directors

Daix (France), May 28, 2018 - Inventiva S.A. ("Inventiva" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), announces today the appointment of Dr Lucy Lu to its Board of Directors.

Dr Lu has a wide experience of over 15 years in the biotech and healthcare sector as an investment banker, sell-side analyst and CFO/CEO of biotech companies listed in the United States. As such, she will bring additional expertise in finance and clinical development to Inventiva. Drawing on her experience and knowledge of the American market, Dr Lu will also advise and help the Company in its development in the United States.

Lucy Lu joins Inventiva following the Company's 35.5 million capital increase on April 13, 2018, in which Sofinnova Crossover I SLP fund ("Sofinnova") has participated for an amount of 10 million euros. In this respect, Sofinnova proposed Dr Lu's appointment to Inventiva's Board of Directors.

Alongside her role at Inventiva, Lucy Lu has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Avenue Therapeutics since its inception in 2015. Prior to this, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortress Biotech from 2012 to 2017. Before working in the biotech industry, Lu gained 10 years of experience in healthcare-related equity research and investment banking working at Citigroup Investment Research (2007-2012) amongst others. Lucy Lu holds an M.D. degree from the New York University School of Medicine and an M.B.A. from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. She also obtained a B.A. from the University of Tennessee's College of Arts and Science.

To mark this appointment, Frederic Cren, Chief Executive Officer and cofounder of Inventiva, said: "We are very happy to welcome Lucy to our team. Her industry knowledge and experience of the U.S. market from a scientific, financial and managerial perspective will help us accelerate our development and achieve new milestones together."

"I am pleased to be joining the Inventiva Board of Directors," added Dr Lu. "I believe that Inventiva is at the leading edge of innovation, and it is an honour to work with this team to help advance its novel and differentiated programs for life-threatening conditions that are not addressed with current therapies."

Jacques Teurillat, Partner for the Crossover Fund at Sofinnova Partners, commented: "Dr Lucy Lu has a strong track record in the biotech space and brings industry experience, passion and savviness. She will be a great addition to Inventiva's Board of Directors."

About Inventiva: www.inventivapharma.com

Inventiva is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of drugs interacting with nuclear receptors, transcription factors and epigenetic modulators. Inventiva's research engine opens up novel breakthrough therapies against fibrotic diseases, cancers and orphan diseases with substantial unmet medical needs.

Lanifibranor, its lead product, is an anti-fibrotic treatment acting on the three alpha, gamma and delta PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), which play key roles in controlling the fibrotic process. Its anti-fibrotic action targets two initial indications with substantial unmet medical need: NASH, a severe and increasingly prevalent liver disease already affecting over 30 million people in the United States, and systemic sclerosis, a disease with a very high mortality rate and for which there is no approved treatment to date.

Inventiva is also developing a second clinical program with odiparcil (IVA 336) for the treatment of patients with mucopolysaccaridosis type VI (or Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), a rare and severe gene disease affecting children. Odiparcil has also the potential to address other MPS types, characterized by the accumulation of chondroitin or dermatan sulfate (MPS I or Hurler/Sheie syndrome, MPS II or Hunter syndrome, MPS IVa or Morqio syndrome and MPS VII or Sly syndrome). Inventiva is also developing a portfolio of early research projects in the field of oncology.

Inventiva benefits from partnerships with world-leading research entities such as the Institut Curie in the field of oncology. Two strategic partnerships have also been established with world-class major pharmaceutical companies AbbVie and Boehringer Ingelheim in the fields of autoimmune diseases (specifically in psoriasis) and fibrosis respectively. These partnerships provide milestone payments to Inventiva upon the achievement of pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, in addition to royalties on the products resulting from the partnerships.

Inventiva employs over 100 highly qualified employees and owns state-of-the-art R&D facilities near Dijon, acquired from the international pharmaceutical group Abbott. The Company owns, a proprietary chemical library of over 240,000 molecules as well as integrated biology, chemistry, ADME and pharmacology platforms.

Contacts
COLUMBUS, Ohio--With the Ohio House still unable to agree on an interim speaker to serve the rest of the year, an agreement has been reached among three prominent Republicans to choose -- no one.

Rather, Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring, who has the number-two job in the House, would preside over the chamber until session ends in December, according to a deal struck Friday by Schuring, Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken, and Rep. Larry Householder. Householder, who hopes to become speaker next session, confirmed the meeting and the details of the deal to Capitol Letter, cleveland.com's Statehouse newsletter.

But the proposal was received coolly by some other House members - in particular, Rep. Ryan Smith, Householder's rival for next session who has been a handful of House GOP votes away from the 50-vote majority he needs to be elected by the 99-member House for the rest of the year.

The plan calls for the House to meet Wednesday to make a rule change to ensure that Schuring has the power to assume the duties of speaker, Householder stated. Schuring, a Canton Republican, has already been the de facto leader of the House since Cliff Rosenberger resigned as speaker last month amid an FBI inquiry into his spending and travel.

If the rule change goes through, the House would then convene on Thursday to vote on an ever-growing backlog of bills that await a House vote. House rules prohibit the chamber from passing legislation without a speaker.

Householder expressed optimism the proposal would pass. "I'd be surprised if people aren't willing to make a simple tune change" to the rules, he stated via text.

But Smith said he wouldn't vote for the rule change and doubted many of his supporters would either. "They seem to be very upset right now," Smith said of his legislative allies.

Smith said he didn't know about Friday's meeting, though Timken approached him twice with the idea of setting up a meeting with Householder. Smith said he declined both times, as he refuses to negotiate with Householder, whom he has accused of being behind a campaign to bully and threaten lawmakers into not voting for Smith.

Smith isn't the only lawmaker with reservations about the deal. Rep. Andy Thompson, whom Householder and other anti-Smith House Republicans have been backing for interim speaker, said in an interview Sunday that he "wouldn't be thrilled" about a deal to put Schuring in charge for the rest of the year, given how close Schuring was to Rosenberger.

Thompson, a Republican from Marietta, also said any such agreement would need the support of Smith and his allies.

"If Ryan's not supportive of this deal, then I think it's deader than a doornail," Thompson said.

Schuring and Timken didn't return phone calls seeking comment Sunday.

Smith and Householder have been battling behind the scenes for months to be elected speaker when session starts next year. But Rosenberger's unexpected departure has brought that fight out into the open several months earlier than expected.

In the past two weeks, Schuring has canceled three planned votes to elect Smith interim speaker, citing uncertainty over whether Smith had enough support to win. In a closed-door House GOP caucus vote earlier this month, 47 Republican lawmakers indicated they would support Smith, while 18 GOP lawmakers (most, but not all of whom back Householder) refused.

Almost all of the 33 House Democrats have refused to back any Republican for speaker.

Smith has repeatedly claimed he has the 50 votes needed to win, but he said last week that it's hard for him to tell exactly how much support he has because of threats from Householder allies. Householder has called Smith's accusations "unfounded" and "unequivocally false."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Where will your travels take you this summer?

Athens, Greece or Athens, Ohio? Coney Island, New York or Coney Island in Cincinnati?

Yes, there are infinite adventures to be had far from home. There is also plenty of fun within an easy drive of Cleveland.

Allow us to make a few recommendations.

Again this year, The Plain Dealer has partnered with other Ohio media outlets to produce a statewide Summer Travel Guide, with suggestions on where to go and what to see in every corner of Ohio.

The guide is organized into geographic regions - northeast, northwest, southwest, southeast and central. This year's guide also organizes the content into subject categories: museums, amusement parks, sporting events, outdoor adventures and more - all of the things that would-be visitors might want to know about a destination, including prices, contact information and more.

So peruse the possibilities - and then get planning. Your summer adventure(s) awaits.

Ohio summer travel recommendations, organized by region:

Becky Kover, special projects editor for the Columbus Dispatch, coordinated this project. Contributing writers include Nicki Gorny from the Blade in Toledo, Steve Stephens of the Columbus Dispatch, Alexis Larsen for the Dayton Daily News, Emily Votaw from WOUB Public Media in Athens and Plain Dealer Travel Editor Susan Glaser.
The average American spends just over $1,000 a year getting lunch at restaurants. But investors Guy Spier, 52, and Mohnish Pabrai, 53, spent $650,100 on just one lunch for a very special reason: They got to dine with billionaire Warren Buffett. The businessmen purchased their big ticket lunch in 2007 as part of an annual charity auction for Glide Foundation, which helps the homeless and impoverished get back on their feet. This year's auction started on May 27 and concludes June 1. The winning bidder can bring up to seven guests to dine with the Berkshire Hathaway chairman at the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York City.

Smith & Wollensky steakhouse is photographed on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, in New York. Billionaire Warren Buffett sat down over steaks today with an investor who paid $620,100 for the privilege. Bloomberg | Getty Image

Last year, the bidding price topped $2.5 million  a steep climb from the $25,000 winning bid when the annual auction began in 2000. While some may scoff at paying such an exorbitant fee for a two-and-a-half-hour lunch (even if it is with the Oracle himself), Spier and Pabrai told CNBC's Squawk Box in 2010 that it was "worth every penny." "I think we would have been willing to pay a lot more than that," said Pabrai. "Well worth it." Not only was the experience "fantastic," according to the two investors, but they also walked away with three key business lessons:

Mohnish Pabrai

1. Approach everything with integrity

During their lunch, Buffett explained how he and his longtime business partner Charlie Munger approach the truth, honesty and integrity. "He and Mr. Munger use an internal yardstick," Pabrai told CNBC. Buffett gave the men an unconventional method to determine their integrity, asking them, "Would you rather be the greatest lover in the world yet be known as the worst, or would you rather be the worst lover and be known as the greatest?" "And he said, 'If you know how to answer that correctly, then you have the right internal yardstick,'" recalled Pabrai.

Guy and Lory Spier stand for a picture at Smith & Wollensky's before having lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Bloomberg | Contributor

Spier continued, "It's a very interesting person who can walk around, imagine that the world, the feedback that they're getting is that they're awful at what they do, but deep down they know that what they're doing is right." Buffett has long been a big believer in cultivating integrity, especially at young age, and has previously noted that he looks for this key characteristic in all employees. "A student [of college age] can pretty much decide what kind a person they are going to be at 60," the billionaire said in an interview with Nebraska Business magazine. "If they don't have integrity [now], they never will."

2. Get comfortable saying 'no'

Buffett reportedly once said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say 'no' to almost everything." And he clearly lives by this sentiment, Spier wrote in a 2014 article for MarketWatch. During their "power lunch," Spier said that Buffet showed them his diary, which was almost bare. "He likes to leave his time unstructured, and to leave plenty of room for spontaneity," said Spier. This isn't a new habit of his, according to Buffett's close friend and fellow billionaire Bill Gates. In an interview, Gates said that when he first met Buffett in 1991, he showed him his calendar, and it was largely empty.

This taught the Microsoft co-founder a valuable lesson. "You control your time," explained Gates, who used to have a penchant for packing his agenda. "It's not a proxy of your seriousness that you've filled every minute in your schedule." Years later, nothing has changed for Buffett and the billionaire still credits his "consistently amazing growth" with this ability to say "no." Spier pledged to do the same after his lunch with Buffett. He wrote for MarketWatch, "Observing Buffett, I could tell that even though he is a kind man at heart he also has absolutely no trouble enduring the momentary unpleasantness that comes from saying no. As I realized this, I resolved to get a lot better at my own ability to say no."

3. Do what you love

Buffet also discussed the importance of doing what you love, Spier told CNBC at the time. The billionaire first pointed out that Cecil Williams, founder of the Glide Foundation, does what he loves by taking care of the less fortunate. Buffett then added that he also he loves what he's doing as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In fact, Buffett, who is worth $86.3 billion, loves his job so much that he'd be happy doing it for much less. "Certainly with $100,000 a year, I could be very happy," the billionaire told PBS Newshour.

Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Adam Jeffery | CNBC
A man reads a notice stating "We're Closing Early On May 29," posted outside a Starbucks store, before more than 8,000 branches nationwide will close this afternoon for anti-bias training, in Philadelphia, May 29, 2018. Mark Makela | Reuters

On Tuesday afternoon 8,000 Starbucks cafes will shutter and more than 175,000 baristas will participate in a training seminar in the wake of an incident in Philadelphia that challenged fundamental parts of the company's values. The four-hour master class has been designed to address implicit bias, promote inclusion and help prevent discrimination with the hopes of preventing future incidences. The curriculum features videos from Starbucks' CEO Kevin Johnson and Chairman Howard Schultz, as well as rapper Common, and members from the Perception Institute who speak on racial anxiety and how employees can better serve customers. Employees will also watch a documentary from award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson.

"When you consider the question: 'how much impact can Starbucks really have? Is it just a drop in the bucket?' I think it has the potential to be more significant than that," Aaron Allen, founder and CEO of global restaurant consulting firm Aaron Allen and Associates, told CNBC. Of course, Starbucks has to get a few things right if any impact is to be seen.

Stress that social awareness is as important as brewing the perfect cup of coffee

In America, a company's value system is expected to be free of political or religious bias, Allen said. Which is why many companies have a very basic policy for how guests should be treated, or none at all. "This isn't taught," Allen said. "Not even the top hospitality school in the world [teaches] the subject of hospitality." In the same way Starbucks trains its employees to make a cup of coffee the Starbucks way, it must also train its employees to treat customers in the Starbucks way. "Brands and employees go together and if one or the other isn't aligned, a crisis will brew," Mark Macias, founder and owner of Macias PR, a New York City-based public relations agency, told CNBC via email. "In the case with Starbucks, where baristas come from different communities and backgrounds, it's inevitable that these different cultures and community backgrounds will ignite different actions and approaches to situations." "Starbucks needs to make sure their company values, morals and approaches are aligned with the company  and not the barista's personal history," he said.

Make the content interactive and engaging

When Starbucks closed its doors nearly a decade ago to retrain its baristas on how to make its iconic espresso, the company shipped instructional DVDs and DVD players to all 7,100 of its company restaurants that were open at the time. This time around, employees will watch video clips on iPads and use a large white and green Team Guidebook filled with prompts and a reiteration of the company's mission. "Interaction is crucial," Macias said. "Starbucks can't just create training programs that tell employees what to do. This training must involve critical thinking. It needs to engage employees with thoughts and situations, otherwise it will become a joke among employees. Once that happens, forget the progress. If employees see the training as beneath them than it will defeat the purpose." Starbucks worked with Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Heather McGhee, president of public policy organization Demos; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; and Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League to create the program.

Address not just racial bias, but also white privilege

Starbucks intends Tuesday afternoon's training to promote inclusion and help prevent discrimination, but the company has to be careful not to alienate certain employees or issue blanket statements about bias being universal, Lee Pacchia, co-founder and CEO of Mimesis, a strategic communications consultancy firm, told CNBC via email. "I noticed a lot of complaints at the inherent unfairness of making Starbucks employees who happen to be racial minorities sit through these lengthy training sessions on a topic that they likely understand full well through their own experiences," he said. "I think there's a lot of merit to those complaints, but unfortunately I can't see how Starbucks can selectively apply this program to only a subset of its entire workforce." Pacchia said Starbucks should speak plainly about the nature of racial bias and avoid "false equivalencies." "While it might be tempting to frame this issue as 'bias can happen to anyone anytime,' I'd recommend against letting anyone come away from the program thinking that what happened in Philadelphia could have happened to two white customers," he said.

Create safe spaces for open communication

"Starbucks' training day is an important step, but it is just one step in what is a very long process," Juan Martinez, president of JMart Strategies, a consulting firm that specializes in crisis communications, told CNBC via email. Martinez said employees will not only have difficult conversations during the training day, but also afterwards. Since these exchanges are very personal and emotional, he suggests Starbucks make sure to offer a safe space for those conversations to take place on Tuesday and beyond. "Starbucks must be sure its culture is one that allows space for those conversations to continue and to evolve over time," he said. "There will be a lot more work ahead for Starbucks and its employees."

Look beyond May 29
Labor Day can serve as the perfect excuse to squeeze in those end-of-summer pool parties and barbecues. But if you want to get ahead in your career, it could be prime time for productivity. Instead of using your downtime to lazily lounge around, use some of those hours to prep for a productive week ahead. Clean up your inbox Give yourself a solid head start to the work week by taking a little bit of time on your day off to purge your inbox. After billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk wakes up at 7 a.m., he takes 30 minutes to address what he calls "critical emails," according to Glassdoor. The billionaire also recommends prioritizing in order to stay productive throughout the day. "Focus on signal over noise. Don't waste time on stuff that doesn't actually make things better," Musk says. If gutting your inbox sounds like an insurmountable task, take a cue from workplace expert Leah Stringer, who tries to cut down on future clutter by writing fewer emails and keeping those short and snappy. "If it's an open-ended question, an in-depth question or a complex question that requires back and forth banter, it's probably worth a phone call," Stringer tells CNBC Make It. "You think it's faster communicating over email but it can actually be a time suck."

Start a bullet journal Bullet journaling has taken the internet by storm  check out the over 1 million #bulletjournal Instagram posts  because it is a great way to prime yourself for productivity. A bullet journal is an "analog system" created to "track the past, organize the present and plan for the future," the bullet journal's creator, Ryder Carroll, explains in a tutorial video on the official website. The journal itself you can create from blank pages, as opposed to purchasing a store-bought agenda with days and months already carved out. "It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above," the website states. Use your day off watching tutorial videos, busting out bright pens and notebooks and try out a bullet journal. It might just be your new, secret weapon to success. "Bullet journaling helps you de-clutter your mind in a very meaningful, consistent way," Carroll tells CNBC Make It. "I feel like that's something we could all use a little bit more."

Squeeze in a workout One activity that a slew of successful CEOs swear by? Working out. Billionaire and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson says that he routinely wakes up at 5 a.m. to be able to squeeze in some exercise. "Getting up and at it early gives me time to get on top of things, and chart my day effectively," Branson writes in a blog post. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also touts the value of physical fitness, and says, "doing anything well requires energy," and notes that you have a lot more energy when you're fit. In a 2015 Facebook Q&A, Zuckerberg shared a glimpse into his workout routine. "I make sure I work out at least three times a week  usually first thing when I wake up. I also try to take my dog running whenever I can, which has the added bonus of being hilarious because that basically like seeing a mop run," Zuckerberg wrote. Having a day off from work gives you plenty of time to hit the gym, park or an exercise class, and can prep you physically and mentally for the upcoming work week.
Nowadays, discussions about the future of space are more likely to reference private companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin than NASA  the federal agency responsible for putting a man on the moon.

On Thursday, the Trump administration released a set of guidelines to reform and update U.S. policy toward private space endeavors. Tellingly, NASA's sole mention came at the end of the document announcing President Donald Trump's directive, where he called for the space agency to "return American astronauts to the moon, followed by human missions to Mars."

U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, who's been making the rounds in the media recently to promote "One Strange Rock"  a series about the complexity of human life on earth  told CNBC in an interview that another journey to the moon was advisable before aiming for Mars. There are lessons that need to be learned before undertaking a farther and riskier journey to the red planet, she said.

"Going to the moon first is smart, just like we're learning about how longer duration in space is smart," said Whitson, who spent so many days in orbit that one of her colleagues called her an "American space ninja."

She added that NASA was critical to testing theories, and laying a blueprint that SpaceX and others should follow as they endeavor to send humans to Mars, and perhaps beyond. "We need to test new techniques and make sure they're going to work," she added.
TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Effective immediately Cryptobloc Technologies Corp. will be reinstated for trading.



The Company has rectified the default situation that gave rise to the suspension.

__________________________

A compter d'aujourd'hui, Cryptobloc Technologies Corp. sera retablie pour la negociation.

La Societe a rectifie la situation par defaut qui a donne lieu a la suspension.

Effective Date/Date Effective: Le 28 mai/May 2018 Symbol/symbole: CRYP

If you have any questions or require further information please contact Listings at (416) 367-7340 or E-mail: Listings@thecse.com

Si vous avez des questions ou si vous avez besoin d'informations supplementaires, veuillez contacter

le service des inscriptions au 416 367-7340 ou par courriel a ladresse: Listings@thecse.com
The chairman of a Chinese bank was found dead in his office on Saturday with slits on both his wrists, South China Morning Post reported, citing one state media outlet.

The deceased man, Yin Jinbao, was chairman of Tianjin Rural Commercial Bank since 2017, according to SCMP, which cited a report by Jinyun New Media.

He died at around 2 p.m. on Saturday with police suspecting that he committed suicide, according to the report.

The bank did not immediately respond to CNBC's emailed request for comment.

For the full story, read the report on South China Morning Post.
As the fate of the June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hangs in the balance, an impersonator of the North Korean leader has already been spotted posing for selfies at the proposed site of the meeting.

The man, who goes by the name Howard X, was seen on Sunday walking along the streets of central Singapore shaking hands and posing for photos.

Howard X said the purpose of his trip was to wish for a successful summit between the real Kim and Trump.
"You stay teachable most by reading books by reading what other people went through," Mattis has said.

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis arrives at the 149th annual Department of Defense National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, May 29, 2017. Department of Defense photo

Defense Secretary James Mattis, a revered Marine with a military career spanning four decades, credits his leadership success to his voracious reading habits. "Thanks to my reading, I have never been caught flat-footed by any situation, never at a loss for how any problem has been addressed before. It doesn't give me all the answers, but it lights what is often a dark path ahead," Mattis wrote in a 2003 email to military historian Jill Russell. Mattis, hailed for his battlefield prowess and kinship with rank-and-file soldiers, explained that the best way to hone war-fighting skills is to leverage lessons learned from history. "A real understanding of history means that we face NOTHING new under the sun," Mattis wrote. "We have been fighting on this planet for 5000 years and we should take advantage of their experience. Winging it and filling body bags as we sort out what works reminds us of the

moral dictates and the cost of incompetence in our profession." Before Mattis became President Donald Trump's defense secretary, the four-star Marine Corps general led the U.S. Central Command, the combatant command responsible for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Throughout his military career, Mattis was affectionately referred to as "Mad Dog" and "warrior monk." He was known for his strategy, matter-of-factness and disdain for PowerPoint, which is recognized as the U.S. military's signature teaching tool. Instead, Mattis chooses to arm himself with books.

Developing leadership

In October 2016, a Marine asked Mattis how he continues to develop as a leader, Mattis once again pointed to reading. "You stay teachable most by reading books by reading what other people went through," Mattis said. "I can't tell you the number of times I looked down at what was going on on the ground or I was engaged in a fight somewhere and I knew within a couple of minutes how I was going to screw up the enemy. And I knew it because I'd done so much reading." He added: "I knew what I was going to do because I'd seen other similar situations in the reading. I knew how they'd been dealt with successfully or unsuccessfully." In an interview with author R. Manning Ancell for the 2017 book "The Leader's Bookshelf," Mattis shared some of his favorite titles for both the tactical and strategic reader: "I guess on a tactical level, there was a novel by M.M. Kaye called 'The Far Pavilions,' and, of course, Guy Sajer's 'The Forgotten Soldier,'" Mattis told Ancell. At the strategic level, "you can't go wrong when you [Ulysses S.] Grant's 'Memoirs' or Viscount Slim's 'Defeat into Victory.'"

More than military history

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, Commander, U.S. Central Command, talks to Marines on Dec. 25, 2011, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Department of Defense photo

Mattis' reading extends well beyond just military history. His collection includes memoirs of those who served at the highest levels of government office, including recent officials, and histories of some of America's founding fathers. "I was executive secretary for two secretaries at Defense, I worked closely with three others and when you read [former Defense Secretary Robert] Gates' book 'Duty,' you get a real sense of the breadth and the gravity of what faces people at that level," Mattis said. "And in some way you look back on Will and Ariel Durant's 'The Lessons of History' or Ron Chernow's book on Alexander Hamilton, and you realize, man, you can get an awful lot out of people who have been through this sort of thing and studied the ones who did it before," he said. "Then you realize how few things are really new under the sun if you do good reading."

A deeply personal library

Mattis' deep attachment to his books was painfully clear when he became secretary of Defense last year. "He told me just before he took over at the Defense Department that one of the hardest things he has ever done in his life was to go through his books and give them away," Ancell told CNBC. Ancell, who co-authored "The Leader's Bookshelf" with former Supreme Allied commander U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, said that Mattis had a personal collection of 7,000 books before retiring from the military. "For most of his career he had packed all of them up at the end of one assignment and had them shipped to his new assignment," Ancell said of Mattis' book collection. "And when he retired out in California he discovered he just didn't have the room anymore." "I knew I wouldn't read them again," Mattis explained to Ancell, adding that he kept his books on geology, military history and the American West.

A literary kindred spirit in the White House

While Mattis is one of the most prolific readers to ever hold the Pentagon's highest office, Ancell says "he does have a competitor." The author said that Mattis has frequently deferred to another decorated Marine Corps general as being even more well-read than he is: John Kelly. Kelly, who is Trump's White House chief of staff, is "the only man I have ever known who reads more than I do," the Defense secretary has said.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly speaks during a daily news briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. Alex Wong | Getty Images
European stocks closed Monday lower, as investors monitored signs of thawing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea and reacted to renewed political turmoil in Italy.

Italian stocks closed 2.07 percent after initially opening the session higher. This after news of a dramatic setback for the country's populist parties.

Meanwhile, Germany's DAX and France's CAC were trading slightly lower at the close. Market holidays in the U.K. and U.S. made trading slow and illiquid on Monday.

The leader of Italy's largest political party called for the country's president to be impeached after choosing to veto a choice for economy minister. Luigi Di Maio of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement said President Sergio Mattarella had prompted an "institutional crisis" by rejecting euroskeptic candidate Paolo Savona.



No major political group has been able to form a majority in Italy since elections in March, leaving the euro zone's third-largest economy without a government.



The euro initially gained ground on the news but soon fell as traders contemplated a political stalemate and another election.



Looking at individual stocks, shares of Genmab tumbled to the bottom of the European benchmark after the Danish biotech company announced it would stop some of its lung cancer trials. Shares of the company slumped 20 percent on the news.
The European Commission on Monday proposed banning single-use plastic products such as cotton buds and plastic straws and putting the burden of cleaning up waste on manufacturers in an effort to reduce marine litter.

Under the proposal, single-use plastic products with readily available alternatives will be banned and replaced with more environmentally sustainable materials.

The proposal also requires EU countries to collect 90 percent of single-use plastic drink bottles by 2025 and producers to help cover costs of waste management and clean-up.

"Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem, because plastic waste ends up in our air, our soil, our oceans, and in our food," said EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans.
Zuckerberg also received questions on anti-trust issues, an area where Europe has become increasingly proactive in recent years. On whether Facebook is a monopoly, he responded that there are plenty of new competitors in the space with "tens of millions of users." Incidentally, Facebook has 1.6 billion active users which puts it in a completely different stratosphere to these so-called competitors. But more relevantly, if Facebook is deemed a monopoly, then what is to stop regulators from breaking up its other businesses (i.e. WhatsApp, Instagram)?

Taxation is another area that featured prominently. The European Commission has recently proposed a digital tax for companies whose users are based in Europe. While the tax is under discussion, the feeling from many politicians and lawmakers is that mega tech companies are not being taxed adequately given the size of their revenues. When asked about taxation in the testimony, Zuckerberg responded that "Facebook has always paid taxes in all of the countries where we have operations set up. We pay all taxes required by law and we invest heavily in Europe." This prompted one MEP from the Greens party, Terry Reintke, to quip: "We urgently need stricter regulation on taxation. EU-wide. Now"

The visibly uncomfortable Zuckerberg continued his trip in Paris later in the week where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron alongside other key figures in tech. And while he may receive a slightly less hostile welcome there, taxation is also expected to feature high on the list of topics as well.

But this is most definitely not the last time Zuckerberg will have to respond to questions on the continent. If the purpose of this tour was to stop Europe from being worried about Facebook, the exact opposite has occurred: Facebook should be worried about Europe.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Warnings of artificial intelligence (AI) posing a threat to humanity are "not helpful," a top executive at IBM has said.

While critics like Tesla CEO Elon Musk have warned about the risks of developing AI, David Kenny, IBM's senior vice president of Watson and Cloud, said the technology is already proving to be beneficial.

"It's making things safer in cybersecurity, it's helping doctors and nurses and patients better find health care, it's helping people be compliant and manage their tax codes, so I see all these great benefits from it. And I hate statements that make people afraid because I think that's not helpful," Kenny said in a phone interview with CNBC.

Musk has called for regulation of AI, warning that the technology could creator a dictator and cause a third world war. Though Kenny admitted there could be potential risks if the tech is not underpinned by a set of principles, he suggested that such doomsday warnings were overblown.

"I like Elon personally and I appreciate the concern but I actually believe that if businesses and builders of the AI platform really adopt principles or trust and transparency they can get all the goodness without the risk," he said.
The leader of Italy's largest political party has called for President Sergio Mattarella to face impeachment charges after he refused to accept a controversial choice for economy minister.

Amid a deepening sense of political and constitutional turmoil in the euro zone's third-largest economy, Luigi Di Maio of the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) said Sunday that the actions of Italy's president had triggered an "institutional crisis."

Mattarella, who was installed by a previous pro-EU government, refused to accept the nomination of eurosckeptic candidate Paolo Savona for economy minister. The move prompted two of Italy's anti-establishment parties to abandon their plans to try to form a coalition government.

M5S and the right-wing Lega party (League) have been trying to form an administration since elections in early March failed to produce a clear winner.

"We were a few steps away from forming a government, and we were stopped because in our cabinet there was a minister who criticized the EU," Di Maio said in an interview on RAI state television Sunday.

"I want this institutional crisis to be taken to parliament ... and the president tried," he added.
Italy's president appointed former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli as interim prime minister on Monday with a task to try and form a new government and bring order to political and constitutional turmoil.

The euro zone's third-largest economy has been seeking a new government since inconclusive March elections, with anti-establishment forces abandoning their efforts to form a ruling coalition at the weekend after a standoff with the president over their choice of economy minister.

Cottarelli said on Monday that he will put together a government "very quickly" to accompany the country to fresh elections, to be held in the fall or early next year.

"I'll present myself to parliament with a program which  if it wins the backing of parliament  would include the approval of the 2019 budget. Then parliament would be dissolved with elections at the beginning of 2019," Cottarelli said shortly after being named interim prime minister by Italy's president.

"In the absence of (parliament's) confidence, the government would resign immediately and its main function would be the management of ordinary affairs until elections are held after the month of August," Cottarelli added.




TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



The Class B Subordinate Voting Shares of MedMen Enterprises Inc. have been approved for listing on the CSE.



Listing and disclosure documents will be available at www.thecse.com on the trading date.

MedMen Enterprises is a U.S. cannabis company and among the most recognized brands in the emerging marijuana industry, with assets and operations in California, Nevada and New York. Based in Los Angeles, MedMen brings class leading operational expertise and unprecedented investment to the fast changing and fast-growing cannabis industry. MedMen is also one of the nations largest financial supporters of progressive marijuana legalization efforts at local, state and federal levels.

________________________

Les actions a droit de vote subalterne de categorie B de MedMen Enterprises Inc. ont ete approuvees pour inscription a la cote du CSE.

Les documents d'inscription et de divulgation seront disponibles sur www.thecse.com a la date de negociation.

MedMen Enterprises est la principale societe de cannabis aux Etats-Unis et la marque la plus reconnue dans l'industrie emergente de la marijuana, avec des actifs et des operations en Californie, au Nevada et a New York. Base a Los Angeles, MedMen apporte une expertise operationnelle de premier plan et un investissement sans precedent a l'industrie du cannabis en rapide evolution et a croissance rapide. MedMen est egalement l'un des plus grands soutiens financiers de la nation aux efforts progressifs de legalisation de la marijuana aux niveaux local, etatique et federal.

Issuer/Emetteur: MedMen Enterprises Inc. Security Type/Titre: Class B Subordinate Voting Shares/ Actions a droit de vote subalterne de categorie B Symbol(s)/Symbole(s): MMEN Number of securities issued and outstanding/ Titres emis et en circulation: 28 775 175 Number of Securities reserved for issuance/ Titres reserves pour emission: 435 392 614 CSE Sector/Categorie: Life Sciences/ Sciences biologiques CUSIP: 58507M 10 7 ISIN: CA 58507M 10 7 7 Boardlot/Quotite: 100 Trading Currency/Monnaie de negociation: CDN$/$CDN Trading Date/Date de negociation: Le 29 mai/May 2018 (11:00 am, EDT) Other Exchanges/Autres marches: N/A Fiscal Year end /Cloture de l'exercice financier: June 30/Le 30 juin Transfer Agent/Agent des transferts: Odyssey Trust Company

MedMen Enterprises Inc. was formed by way of a business combination with Ladera Ventures Corp., previously listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The common shares of Ladera were consolidated at a rate of 1 new for 9.2623 old prior to the business combination.

If you have any questions or require further information please contact Listings at (416) 367-7340 or E-mail: Listings@thecse.com

Pour toute question, pour obtenir de linformation supplementaire veuillez communiquer avec le service des inscriptions au 416 367-7340 ou par courriel a ladresse: Listings@thecse.com
U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago resort on April 18, 2018.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he would seek to convince President Donald Trump of the crucial role his country's automakers play in boosting the U.S. economy.

The Trump administration decided last week to begin a national security investigation into auto imports that could lead to new U.S. tariffs similar to those imposed on imported steel and aluminium.

"Japanese automakers have created jobs and made huge contributions to the U.S. economy," Abe told parliament, when asked by a lawmaker how Japan would respond to the U.S. move.

"As a country that prioritizes a rule-based, multilateral trade system, Japan believes that any steps taken on trade must be in line with World Trade Organization rules," he said.

The number of cars Japanese automakers produce in the United States is double the number it exports to the country, Abe said.

Abe also said Tokyo will continue to urge Washington to join the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

"Japan has explained to the United States its stance that TPP is the best format for both countries. We will continue to talk with the United States based on this view," he said.
MILAN, May 28 (Reuters) - Moody's on Friday threatened to cut Italy's debt ratings, citing risks that a new government will weaken its public finances and retreat from previous reforms. Italy holds the world's third-largest public debt, totalling 2.3 trillion euros ($2.7 trillion) at the end of March, and is vulnerable to a rise in refinancing costs. The Rome Treasury plans to issue 240 billion to 250 billion euros in bonds this year, rising to 400 billion euros when short-term bills are included. The agencies see Italy's membership of the single currency a key factor supporting its rating. Following is a summary of their stances on Italy.

Moody's S&P's Fitch DBRSRating Baa2 BBB BBB BBB (high)Outlook negative stable stable stable

1. MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE Moody's has placed Italy's "Baa2" rating on review for a possible downgrade, citing pledges in a government pact signed by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the far-right League to increase spending, cut taxes and scrap a key 2011 pension reform. A downgrade to "Baa3" would take Italy to just one notch above junk status. Moody's had changed its outlook on Italy to "negative" in December 2016 after voters rejected a key constitutional reform, prompting then-Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to resign. In October 2017, the agency affirmed Italy's rating with a negative outlook, citing the government's success in stabilising Italy's banks and a stronger-than-expected economic recovery. At the onset of the euro zone crisis in 2011, Moody's rated Italy's debt "Aa2", which had remained unchanged since 2002 and stood six notches above the current rating.

2. STANDARD & POOR'S S&P's rates Italy's debt "BBB" with a stable outlook, following an upgrade from "BBB-" in October last year. The unexpected move was S&P's first upgrade of Italy since it started rating the country in 1988. The agency cited a strengthening economy, diminishing risks to banks and expectations of improving public finances. S&P's affirmed Italy at "BBB" on April 27, warning that the rating would come under pressure if a new government strayed from the path of budgetary improvement or unwound past reforms. S&P's next assessment of Italy's debt is scheduled on Oct. 26.

3. FITCH RATINGS Fitch confirmed Italy's rating at "BBB" with a stable outlook on March 16, shortly after an inconclusive election, which the agency said increased the risk of budgetary slippage and weakened the outlook for reforms. Fitch expects Italy's public debt to decline gradually and monitors political developments that may damage Rome's economic and fiscal policies. The agency will provide its next assessment of Italy's rating on Aug. 31.

4. DBRS Italy lost its last remaining "A" mark when DBRS downgraded the country to "BBB (high)" from "A (low)" in January 2017. In January this year, the agency affirmed Italy's rating at "BBB (high)" with a stable trend, saying economic growth and ongoing fiscal consolidation offset risks arising from high public debt, a large stock of soured bank loans and political uncertainty. When the 5-Star and League parties looked likely to form a government, Nichola James, co-head of sovereign ratings at DBRS, warned that their fiscal policies could threaten the expected reduction in the debt ratio that underpins the current rating. DBRS' next announcement on Italy is scheduled on July 13.

($1 = 0.8584 euros)

(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Larry King)
A few days ago, the U.S.-North Korea summit was clouded in "will-they-or-won't-they" uncertainty. Entering a new week, however, the latest developments indicate a resurrected sense of optimism as Seoul looks to insert itself into the picture.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in could join President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un for their anticipated June 12 meeting in Singapore, Yonhap News reported early on Monday. The news comes after Trump and Kim, over the weekend, resumed efforts to salvage negotiations after they were officially canceled by the U.S. president.

After calling off the dialogue last Thursday, Trump on Friday suggested the meeting could still take place on the originally scheduled date in a sudden reversal widely believed to have undermined Washington's diplomatic credibility.

Further indicating the summit was now back on track, White House and Pyongyang officials met in the border village separating the two Koreas on Sunday while a U.S. delegation

departed for Singapore to work out logistics for the June event.

"Despite the sudden pause in the rush toward a summit, all sides will most likely try to reschedule the meeting," analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations said in a recent note.

Both countries, in addition to South Korea, have vested interests in making the meeting happen next month or at a later date, according to strategists.

"All these parties want a draw-down of tensions and a changed relationship between Pyongyang and the other parties," said Andray Abrahamian, a fellow at foreign policy institute Pacific Forum.

In fact, many theorized that Trump's cancellation was simply a bargaining tactic.

It was "a pre-negotiation walkout and what it does is stress test the other side in terms of who wants what more," explained Jasper Kim, a professor at Seoul-based Ewha Womans University.

Pyongyang responded by saying it was ready to meet with the U.S. at any time, which, according to Kim, told Trump that the North Koreans "want to talk and actually, they want to talk very badly  that's basically to the advantage of the U.S."

Moon's desire to join the historic summit could be a sign that South Korea is the most eager for talks to take place.
The U.S. is prepared to unveil tough new sanctions on North Korea as soon as Tuesday, but could hold off as the countries try to revive a summit that President Donald Trump canceled last week, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The newspaper, citing two administration officials, said the Treasury Department had assembled sanctions that would take aim at about three-dozen targets, including Russian and Chinese entities.

The development comes as U.S. and North Korean officials negotiate over a planned denuclearization summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump called off the meeting last week in an unexpected letter that mixed friendly-sounding sentiments with bellicose language that hinted at possible nuclear warfare between the two nations.

The U.S. president blamed recent jabs by North Korea's government for his decision to cancel the gathering, but he also left the door open to talks.

Almost immediately, however, stakeholders  South Korea, most prominently  began an effort to salvage the summit, which was scheduled for June 12 in Singapore.

There are strong signals that the summit is back on track. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, meanwhile, appears to be jockeying for a seat at the table. Moon and Kim held a surprise meeting to address the potential summit with Trump.

The U.S. already has imposed sanctions on North Korea, although the communist dictatorship still has some means to get money from countries that have resisted the American measures. Russia has helped facilitate transactions with North Korea, the Journal said, citing U.S. and United Nations officials.

The White House didn't immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Read the full Wall Street Journal report here.
A new chapter could be in store for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

On May 18, Trump announced he plans to nominate acting Secretary Robert Wilkie as permanent head of the agency.

If confirmed by Senate, Wilkie would face a long list of issues.

While the VA is rooted in noble intentions, it has been plagued with problems for years.

The VA has faced reports of excessive and contradictory spending, allegations of inadequate health care, a massive backlog of benefits claims and a top leadership position that nobody can seem to hold down.

It hasn't always been this way. The agency was elevated to federal administration status in 1930, with the intention to honor and care for the men and women who served in battle.

Since then, the U.S. has been involved in a growing list of military operations, including the 17-year-long war in Afghanistan. The VA is struggling to keep up as the need for veterans care continues to mount.
Over the 19 years that billionaire Warren Buffett has been auctioning off a lunch to benefit charity, the winning bids have skyrocketed. Pete Budlong, a San Francisco technology entrepreneur, was the first to ever win an auction to dine with Buffett in 2000. At that time, he paid only $25,000. In 2017, the winner paid almost $2.7 million. For 2018, the current highest bid is over $3.2 million, with the auction closing Friday at 10:30 p.m. EST. The proceeds of the auction benefit Glide, an anti-poverty organization in San Francisco that Buffett became involved with through his late wife, Susie. But as the bids soar, what Buffett eats for lunch has remained largely the same  right in line with his traditional and simple style. Here's a look at where the lucky few have dined with the Oracle of Omaha.

1. Steak at Smith & Wollensky

Smith & Wollensky steakhouse is photographed on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, in New York. Billionaire Warren Buffett sat down over steaks today with an investor who paid $620,100 for the privilege. Bloomberg | Getty Image

Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York City has been hosting the luncheons for Buffett since 2004 and donates at least $10,000 to Glide each year. Winners can bring seven of their friends to lunch and order anything they'd like from the a la carte menu. Dishes range from a $59 cold water lobster tail to a $49 sirloin. Buffett orders "a medium-rare steak with hash browns and a cherry coke," according to a 2007 winner of the auction. Smith & Wollensky confirmed the order to CNBC Make It, and added that Buffett's favorite steak is a sirloin. When it was time for dessert that year, Buffett reportedly told the waiter, "Just bring a couple of spoons, and I'll have a little of everyone's." "It is a very exciting day for the restaurant," Smith & Wollensky general manager Roger Morlock says. "The servers that we have, have been waiting on him for quite some years, and our executive chef has been here for over three decades, so for them it's business as usual. But of course we pay special attention to that table." Last year's lunch fell on Buffett's birthday, so the steakhouse crafted a "birthday cake extravaganza" of his favorite desserts.

Courtesy of Smith & Wollensky

2. Steak at Piccolo's

Warren Buffett was a frequent guest at Piccolo's restaurant in Omaha for six years before it closed in 2016, Scott Sheehan, formerly the general manager at Piccolo Pete's tells CNBC Make It. The steakhouse had been open for 81 years. "Warren enjoyed our veal with lemon and we always served him a root beer float at the end of his meal," Sheehan says. Piccolo's was the location for two of Buffett's charity auction meals in 2010 and 2011, both won by a hedge fund manager named Ted Weschler, who was living in Charlottesville, Virginia. His winning bid in 2010 was $2,626,311, and he upped it by $100 in 2011 to $2,626,411. "After I won, Warren called," Weschler tells The Omaha World Herald. "He was happy to come to Charlottesville," adding that Buffett also offered to meet in New York for steaks. But Weschler wanted to remain private. "I suggested, no, actually, it would be better for me if it would work for me to come out to Omaha, see the office, and instead of lunch make it dinner," Weschler explains. "When we actually got together, the only condition was that we not do it in a public forum." So, they went to Piccolo's. Local residents have frequently spotted Buffett eating at Piccolo's  sometimes with famous friends. Ryan Basye, a Nebraska real estate agent once captured a selfie with Buffett and Bill Gates eating there several years ago.

Selfie of Omaha resident Ryan Basye with billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates at Piccolo Pete's. Courtesy of Ryan Basye

"I live in Omaha so you see him around town," Basye tells CNBC Make It. "We were just so close that I decided to do it, we weren't going to bother them or anything." Today, Sheehan is running a food truck inspired by the restaurant called Anthony Piccolo's. Buffett hasn't eaten from the truck yet, Sheehan adds, but he has come by for a tour.

3. Steak at Stars

Chef and author Jeremiah Tower poses in his restaurant 'Stars' during a 1988 San Francisco, California, photo portrait session. George Rose | Getty Images
Tokyo based Softbank group will join hands with infrastructure conglomerate IL&FS to develop 20 gigawatts of solar capacity in India by 2025, reported The Economic Times.

The firms power and energy investment arm SB Energy has decided to develop projects in the country along with IL&FS Energy unit, said the report.

The solar parks will be developed to support the renewable energy road map for the country put forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, added the report.

The Japanese group had also teamed up with Chinas GCL System Integration Technology two months back for Rs 6,350 crore solar power venture, said the daily.

The decision came on the back of Softbanks commitment to invest up to $20 billion along with Falcon Technology and Bharti Enterprises in solar projects in India, the report said.

The firm has already made initial investments worth Rs 4,000 crore for these projects.

We truly believe that Indias developmental agenda would be fully realised through technology led businesses. Government of Indias thrust on renewable energy is an important component of this agenda and Softbank is eager to be a stakeholder in this endeavor. Our partnership with IL&FS leverages on the respective strengths of both institutions and will efficiently ground our target rollout plan, SB Energy executive chairman Manor Kohl was quoted saying in the report.

The report also said that a formal announcement regarding the joint venture could very likely be made this week itself.
Tamil Nadu deputy head said on Monday his government would take all steps to permanently shut a copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources after deadly protests demanding its closure on environmental grounds.

Residents and environmental activists say emissions from the plant, India's second biggest, are polluting the air and water, affecting people's health.

Resident have been demanding the closure of the plant, said O. Panneerselvam, the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu .

"The government will take all steps to permanently shut down the plant," he told reporters.

Last week, 13 were killed after police opened fire on protesters demanding that the smelter in the port city of Thoothukudi be shut down .
Almere, The Netherlands

May 28, 2018



ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today announces the voting results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 28, 2018, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The main resolutions were as follows:



The financial statements for the year 2017 were adopted and shareholders granted discharge to the members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board from liability in relation to the exercise of their duties in the financial year 2017.

The shareholders voted in favor of the dividend payment of  0.80 per ordinary share.

The shareholders resolved to reappoint Mr. C.D. del Prado and Mr. P.A.M. van Bommel to the Management Board and Mr. M.C.J. van Pernis to the Supervisory Board. Furthermore, the shareholders resolved to appoint Mr. M.C.J. de Jong to the Supervisory Board. In addition, the shareholders granted the members of the Supervisory Board a revised remuneration.

The shareholders also resolved to amend the Company's Articles of Association in accordance with the proposals which have been placed on the website of the Company (www.asm.com) and as set out in the explanatory notes to the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. That means that the extraordinary distribution of  4.00 per common share will be made by a repayment of capital to the shareholders and is expected to become payable on or around August 10, 2018.



About ASM International

ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.



CONTACT

Investor contact:

Victor Bareno

T: +31 88 100 8500

E: victor.bareno@asm.com

Media contact:

Ian Bickerton

T: +31 625 018 512
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Europe 1) Rees-Mogg says UK needs to be clear: if we dont get the trade deal we want, you dont get the money

He says governments solutions are over-complicated  Guardian

And that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed  Daily Express

Is no deal no longer an option?  FT

Preparation for it has ground to a halt  Daily Mail

Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Theresa May yesterday of making a huge number of compromises to Brussels in return for nothing as he called on the prime minister to take a much tougher line in withdrawal negotiations. Describing her as the most impressive and dutiful leader that Britain has ever had, the prominent Brexiteer said that she had nonetheless made errors in her negotiating strategy. The chairman of the influential European Research Group of Conservative backbenchers said that the prime minister needed to threaten non-payment of the Brexit divorce bill and be stronger in facing down Brussels.  The Times

Comment:

Mays negotiations have left her impaled deeply on the EU hook  Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Rees-Mogg  Customs Uniondoes not solve the seamless border issue

>Today: ToryDiary: Our monthly survey. Do you have confidence in the Governments handling of the Brexit negotiations?

Europe 2) Johnson: South American trade opportunities will only be open to us if we come fully out of the EU customs union

Today, that vast continent  full of countries and peoples whose values are so close to our own  makes up a pitiful share of our trade. In exports we are thrashed by other Europeans  France, Germany and Spain. Chile is full of Anglophiles; I was amazed how often I was asked to sign dog-eared books. But the UK makes up only 0.8 per cent of Chilean imports. Now is our moment not to be less European  we can do a great free trade deal with the EU that will benefit both sides  but to be truly global again. Now is the time to create deals with these dynamic countries (Chile alone has 24 such deals with 64 nations comprising 85 per cent of global GDP). But our Latin American partners are emphatic: if this is to work, we must come fully out of the EU customs union.  Daily Telegraph

Why I think the automotive industry needs frictionless trade  John Neill, The Times

Meanwhile, Fox confirms appointment of former RBS executive to work on trade with Middle East  The Times

Europe 3) Italian president vetoes incoming governments choice of Eurosceptic economy minister, leaving country in political break down

PM-in waiting resigns  Guardian

Five Star leader calls for impeachment of president  Daily Mail

Italys populist parties reacted with fury on Sunday night when attempts to form a government dramatically broke down after the countrys president vetoed their choice of economy minister, a harsh critic of the euro. Nearly three months after a general election on March 4, hopes that the country would have a government formed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the hard-Right, euro-sceptic League were dashed. The two parties, which were about to form Western Europes first populist government, wanted Paolo Savona, an economist and banker who has been highly critical of the euro, as their economy minister. The parties won 50 per cent of the vote at the election and insisted that their choice of cabinet ministers was an essential part of their democratic mandate.  Daily Telegraph

More Brexit

Does UK money set aside for European elections signal contempt for Brexit?  Daily Express

New National Trust trial could be chance to move on from CAP  The Times

Patel calls for investigation into Britain Stronger in Europes campaign spending  Guardian

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Newman  Bring back the Bill. See off the rebels. Get on with this.

May faces growing calls for action over Northern Ireland abortion rules

Theresa May was facing growing demands to allow a referendum on relaxing the abortion laws in Northern Ireland on Sunday after signalling that she will not risk alienating her DUP allies by letting MPs settle the matter with a parliamentary vote. Conservative MPs and the Royal College of Midwives were among those calling for a referendum, which would give voters in Northern Ireland the chance to follow the example set by the Republic of Ireland after it backed abortion liberalisation by a surprise landslide of two to one. Around 160 MPs have backed a letter, championed by the Labour MP Stella Creasy, saying the government should legislate to relax the abortion rules in Northern Ireland, which will now be the only place in Britain and Ireland where abortion is in most circumstances illegal. Creasy wants to force a vote by tabling an amendment to the forthcoming domestic violence bill.  Guardian

Milton and others have called for free vote to allow a referendum  The Times

May insists its an issue for Stormont  Herald

And DUP says it wont be bullied into law change  Daily Mail

 while Foster stresses that the Irish referendum has no impact upon the law in Northern Ireland

Varadkar says new law will be introduced to Ireland by end of year  The Sun

The Republics population voted emphatically to lift the countrys strict abortion laws, sparking scenes of celebration in Dublin on Saturday. With claims that Tory MPs are pressing the prime minister to introduce reform on Northern Irelands abortion laws through legislation Westminster, Mrs Foster stressed that abortion is a devolved issue that should be dealt with by the Assembly. She said: Fridays referendum has no impact upon the law in Northern Ireland, but we obviously take note of issues impacting upon our nearest neighbour.  Belfast News Letter

Editorial:

The UK as a whole should make an abortion law that reflects the 21st century  Guardian

Comment:

The role I played  Tara Flynn, Guardian

Dinenage: Women make a standout contribution to the NHS, and should be paid equally

Earlier this year, the government followed through on a landmark commitment to get businesses and other organisations reporting on the gender pay gap. Transparency is always a powerful antiseptic, and being open about the figures will draw attention to the issue and drive real change within our organisations. Today, we are turning a particular focus on our biggest employer, the NHS, as we launch a new review to explore the factors that contribute to the health services own gender pay gap in the medical profession. The reason is because, across a number of specialties and professional groups, we see the average female in the NHS earning considerably less than males.  The Times

This is the moment for reform  Jeremy Hunt, Daily Telegraph

Why Im wary of extra NHS spending  Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail

Government begins review into NHS gender pay gap  The Times

Focus will also be on career progression  FT

Hunt says Hammonds extra money should be spent on tech innovations  Daily Mail

Meanwhile, Ellwood calls for military spending increase as troops deserve pay rise  The Times

As UK tests missile system  Daily Express

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Wollaston on NHS spending  The Government should find the money through extra taxation

>Today:

May to urge Trump to meet her at Chequers instead of central London

Meanwhile, is his meeting with Kim back on?  The Times

Conservative council leaders want greater freedom to build new homes

Theresa May will this week urge Donald Trump to avoid central London protesters and meet her in Chequers instead. Britains ambassador to Washington DC, Sir Kim Darroch, will present the PMs plan to the White House for the US Presidents first visit to Britain in July. As well as keeping him away from Downing Street, No10 will also propose he takes tea with the Queen in Windsor Castle instead of Buckingham Palace. It is hoped the American leader will not be able to resist being snapped at the site where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle 10 days ago.  The Sun

A poll of 121 Tory council leaders showed more than 70 per cent thought the 2billion pledge to build 25,000 new homes was nowhere near enough. Local Government Association chair and South Holland District Council leader Lord Porter said: The last time the country built more than 250,000 homes a year councils built 40 per cent of them. If local government is to play our role in meeting these ambitious targets we need to be given greater freedom to build new homes. The poll was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It also found a majority of 96 per cent of all Conservative council bosses want the Government to act to significantly boost the number of low-cost rented homes in the upcoming Social Housing Green Paper.  Daily Express

Theyre criticising Mays 2bn pledge  The Sun

More Conservatives

Gauke says middle-class drug users need to accept responsibility  The Times

Hancock says BBC needs to seize a global opportunity  The Times

More calls for Bercow investigation  this time from Lord Speaker  Daily Telegraph

Tension between Goves national park review and calls for housebuilding  The Times

Comment:

Could a Gove-Davidson ticket be a winner?  Matthew dAncona, Guardian

>Yesterday:

>Today:

Unite is giving away tickets to attempt to save Corbyn festival

Labours biggest union backer Unite is giving away thousands of free tickets to Jeremy Corbyns very own Glastonbury after his own MPs slammed the project as a failure. Unite announced to members it was giving away the tickets and even offered free transport to the event, which is set to take place at White Hart Lane in north London. One Labour MP said we are not marketing fodder for their failed project after they were sent reminders to try to drum up publicity for next months festival. It has been reported only 2,500 of the 15,000 seats have been sold for the Labour Live Festival. The festival will take place on Saturday, June 16.  Daily Express

More Labour

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: You no longer decide Labour Party policy, Watson tells Campbell

News in Brief
English French

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Irving Shipbuilding research chair at Dalhousie University will contribute to Canada becoming a premier marine research leader in the world.



The Irving Shipbuilding Chair in Marine Engineering and Autonomous Systems will create a foundation for sustainable Canadian talent and leadership in marine engineering and provide leadership in Ocean Engineering at Dalhousie University. Irving Shipbuilding is contributing $500,000 to establish and support the research chair position.

Dr. Mae Seto, an associate professor in Dalhousies Faculty of Engineering, has been appointed the Irving Shipbuilding Chair in Marine and Engineering Autonomous Systems and work is already underway on many projects. Dr. Seto worked for 16 years as a defence scientist with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). Her experience positions her well to not only undertake this highly specialized research, but also support students in her lab to follow in her footsteps.

Dr. Seto and the students she supervises are working on intelligent autonomous systems, unmanned ships, shipboard intelligent launch and recovery systems, and marine robotics. Their research activity, done in conjunction with the Ocean Frontiers Institute (OFI) will support many aspects of the marine industry including, search and rescue, underwater communications and navigation, and oceanographic modeling with the aim to use that information to create economic and social value.

This research area is a key to the success of OFI, which relies on the development of new and innovative technologies to measure and observe the ocean. Atlantic Canada has a rich history in ocean sensing which has long been supported through DRDC, the Canadian Navy and the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.

Irving Shipbuilding is funding the chair position as part of the Value Proposition commitment under Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy. Through this commitment, Irving Shipbuilding will invest 0.5% of contract revenues in projects that will help create a sustainable marine industry. The Value Proposition commitments on the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, currently under construction at the Halifax Shipyard, will provide approximately $12.5 million in funding to projects across Canada.

Quotes

Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding

Irving Shipbuilding is proud to partner with Dalhousie University and the Ocean Frontiers Institute. This innovative research is addressing many of the most exciting topics in the marine industry today and will certainly contribute to advancing Canadas ocean economy.

Dr. Alice Aiken, Vice President Research at Dalhousie University

Dr. Seto is pushing the field of marine robotics forward, and her research is addressing many of the fundamental gaps in this critically important area. Her work is truly world-class, and were incredibly proud that it is happening at Dalhousie.

Dr. Mae Seto, Irving Shipbuilding Chair in Marine and Engineering Autonomous System

"I am honoured to occupy the Irving Shipbuilding Research Chair in Marine Engineering and Autonomous Systems. My collaboration with OFI provides me with an opportunity to conduct timely research in the field of marine robotics and develop state-of-the-art ocean observation systems that will give us an unprecedented view of the marine environment."

About Irving Shipbuilding

Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Canadas National Shipbuilder, is the most modern shipbuilder and in-service ship support provider in North America. Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, our skilled team and innovative facilities provide efficient building, fabrication, conversion and servicing of vessels and offshore platforms. As Canadas national shipbuilder, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is working with the Royal Canadian Navy on the next class of Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) and Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) vessels under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). We are proud to continue our long history as a trusted partner in Canadian shipbuilding. Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is a member of the J.D. Irving, Limited group of companies, a diverse family owned company with operations in Canada and the United States. Learn more at www.IrvingShipbuilding.com or www.ShipsforCanada.ca.

About Dalhousie University

Founded in 1818, Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canadas leading research-intensive university. Located in Halifax, NS, with an agricultural campus in Truro, NS, the universitys 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community. In close proximity to the ocean, Dalhousie is situated within a cluster identified as one of the worlds top three international centres in ocean science.



Dalhousies students and faculty engage in learning and discovery across 13 faculties, conducting more than $135 million in research annually with hospitals, industry, governments, non-profit agencies and universities around the globe.

About the Ocean Frontier Institute

The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) is a collaborative research initiative to harness the vast potential of the worlds ocean. An international hub for ocean science, OFI brings together researchers and institutes from both sides of the North Atlantic to understand our changing ocean and create safe, sustainable solutions for development. Learn more at www.oceanfrontierinstitute.com

Media Contacts

Sean Lewis

Director, Communications

Irving Shipbuilding

Office: 902-484-4595

Mobile: 902-240-6964

Email: Lewis.Sean@IrvingShipbuilding.com Michele Charlton

Communications Advisor, Research

Dalhousie University

Tel: 902.494.4148

Cell: 902.222.2817

Email: michele.charlton@dal.ca

Two photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c5028bd-cc2f-4a4c-88dc-13778b1d0a2d

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/928fae11-bc41-48f3-9bcb-b59553975bf0
We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds..
CORNWALL, Ontario  The Cornwall Community Police Service is asking the public for their assistance in identifying a man involved in a theft.

At approximately 1:20 a.m. on March 17, 2018 the man attended a Brookdale Avenue gas station and removed money from an ATM, using a credit card and debit card that did not belong to him.

The man is described as follows:

Approximately 510 tall

Approximately 180 lbs.

Wearing a black leather jacket, black glasses and black hoodie

Wearing blue jeans and black shoes

Police are asking anyone who can identify this man or anyone who may have information about this incident to contact Detective Constable Joseph at (613) 933-5000 ext. 2422 or ext. 2404 to leave anonymous information.
TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Partners Value Investments Inc. (the Company) announced today its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. All amounts are stated in US dollars.



The Company generated net income of $76 million ($1.03 per common share) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to net income of $5 million ($0.07 per common share) in the prior year. The income is primarily driven by warrant liability valuation gains causing our net income to increase by $51 million. Adjusting for the warrant liability valuation gains, net income for the year was $25 million.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three months ended March 31

(Thousands, US dollars) 2018 2017 Investment income Dividends $ 18,744 $ 18,216 Other investment income 764 1,394 19,508 19,610 Expenses Operating expenses (1,251 ) (1,118 ) Financing costs (1,210 ) (781 ) Retractable preferred share dividends (6,789 ) (6,358 ) 10,258 11,353 Other items Investment valuation (losses) gains (11,643 ) 12,582 Warrant liability valuation gains (losses) 51,310 (14,446 ) Amortization of deferred financing costs (501 ) (473 ) Income from equity accounted investment (488 ) (2,812 ) Income taxes 206  Foreign currency gains (losses) 26,765 (1,421 ) Net income $ 75,907 $ 4,783





Financial Profile and Net Book Value

The Companys principal investment is its interest in 86 million Class A Limited Voting Shares (Brookfield shares) of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Brookfield), representing a 9% fully-diluted interest as at March 31, 2018. In addition, the Company owns a diversified investment portfolio of marketable securities.

The information in the following table has been extracted from the Companys Statement of Financial Position:

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at

(Thousands, US dollars, except per share amounts) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 28,266 $ 29,794 Investment in Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 1 3,347,722 3,737,431 Other investments carried at fair value 643,909 750,467 Accounts receivable and other assets 7,046 6,443 Equity accounted investment 13,977 13,643 Goodwill 3,307 3,102 $ 4,044,227 $ 4,540,880 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable and other liabilities $ 29,921 $ 103,096 Preferred shares2 561,499 575,620 Warrant liability 176,735 233,958 Deferred taxes3 406,193 468,040 1,174,348 1,380,714 Equity Common equity 2,869,879 3,160,166 $ 4,044,227 $ 4,540,880

The investment in Brookfield Asset Management Inc. consists of 86 million Brookfield shares with a quoted market value of $39.00 per share as at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017  $43.54). Represents $570 million of retractable preferred shares, less $9 million of unamortized issue costs as at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017  $585 million less $9 million). The deferred tax liability represents the potential future income tax liability of the Company recorded for accounting purposes based on the difference between the carrying values of the Companys assets and liabilities and their respective tax values, as well as giving effect to estimated capital and non-capital losses.

For further information, contact Investor Relations at ir@pvii.ca or 647-503-6513.

Note: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. The words potential and estimated and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements with regard to the Companys potential future income taxes.

Although the Company believes that its anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond its control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to: the financial performance of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchanges rates; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including dispositions; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation; changes in tax laws, catastrophic events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in the Companys documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada.

The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on the Companys forward-looking statements and information, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CORNWALL, Ontario  A 71-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on May 25, 2018 and charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, and sexual exploitation.

It is alleged between June 2015 and Dec. 2017 the man inappropriately touched a 13-year-old relative and police were contacted to investigate. On May 25, 2018 he was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on June 28, 2018. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

ASSAULT

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 59-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on May 26, 2018 and charged with assault. It is alleged during an argument on May 26t 2018 the man assaulted his wife and police were contacted to investigate. During the investigation he was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on June 1h, 2018. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

CRIMINAL HARASSMENT, BREACH, THREATS

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 45-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on May 26, 2018 and charged with criminal harassment, threats, and breach of probation for consuming alcohol outside his residence and failing to keep the peace. It is alleged the man repeatedly communicated with his ex-girlfriend on May 23, 2018 and police were contacted to investigate. On May 26, 2018 police located the intoxicated man and he was taken into custody, at which time he made threats to harm his ex-girlfriend and damage her vehicle. He was charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.
The cruise industry is growing, there are more ships, and those ships are getting bigger, making itinerary planning even more complex, said Captain Vassilios Gazikas, director of marine operations at Celestyal Cruises, speaking at the MedCruise General Assembly taking place in Valletta, Malta.

Gazikas said this meant ports needed bigger facilities and more berths, and is also leading to more ports in general.

It is very complex to develop a port in Europe, he said, considering local history, environmental constraints and regulations.

Steve Young, Carnival UKs vice president of port and shore operations, said port development goes beyond just building a berth, and now takes into account the capacity of the destination. Thus, the mainstream ports in the Mediterranean: Venice, Barcelona and Civitavecchia cannot accommodate the entire cruise market. He said all lines were looking for new places to go.

Gazikas added: A cruise terminal is only a place for transit, adding in an ideal world, a passenger would not spend more than 10 or 15 minutes in the terminal.

For Carnivals big ships, Young explained the turnaround operation was broken into four hour windows.

This can mean up to 2,000 guests in an hour, he said, one person every 1.8 seconds.

Pierside, big ships require the supply chain to adapt, Young continued, meaning not only more goods, but more guides, busses and additional tourism infrastructure.

Destination selection comes down to appeal, said Ugo Savino, senior manager of itinerary strategy and planning at Carnival Cruise Line.

A destination is a function of two factors, he said. Awareness and appeal; how much people know it, and how much they want to visit it.

Over tourism remains a perception issue, explained Gerhard Lubbren, AIDAs director of destination management.

No golden age stands forever, said Lubrren. We have to be careful about public opinion  we have to anticipate the opposition and educate people.

Said Laura Cimaglia, vice president, ports & cities and destination for MedCruise: we need to control over tourism to prevent congestion, and to fight tourism-phobia.
BRIDGEPORT  As he tries to force a Democratic gubernatorial primary, Mayor Joe Ganim has taken advantage of the criticism that the top of his partys ticket  Ned Lamont and running mate Susan Bysiewicz  is too white.

Gathering primary petition signatures from the urban voters he needs to beat Lamont, Ganim said party leaders nomination last week of the Greenwich businessman and Bysiewicz was not inclusive and insensitive to the diversity of Connecticut.

So does Ganims City Hall reflect the diversity of Connecticuts largest city?

The returned mayor  Ganim ran Bridgeport from 1991 to 2003 and was re-elected in 2015  has hired blacks and Hispanics for important, high-paid positions like chief administrative officer and her deputy, police chief and the health, budget, grants and labor relations directors.

Talk about policy-makers and people with large spheres of influence, Ganim said. Im well-served and appreciative of diversity. And whenever theres an opportunity, I like to be aware of that opportunity for advancement, whether ethnic or gender based.

Some prominent voices in the minority community want more people of color in top spots, and particularly in the mayors office.

Christine Bartlett-Josie, who is black and was hired in late 2016 as the mayors deputy chief of staff, was gradually shifted to two other departments before resigning this year. Her departure left the four remaining top spots in Ganims suite  chief of staff, two aides and director of communications  occupied by three white men and a woman who said she is part Native American.

State Rep. Ezequiel Santiago, who works for the city as a special projects manager in the public facilities department, said Ganim has employed some very qualified African Americans and Hispanics  not figureheads  for important jobs.

You can definitely point to people and say some names, said Santiago. But not enough, in my opinion.

Several other department heads, including those running the public facilities, economic development, finance, legal and fire departments, are white, as are a couple Ganim aides not stationed in the mayors suite.

If youre going to talk about a diverse ticket, your upper level staff should reflect the city, said state Rep. Chris Rosario. He does have some top positions that are diverse. I dont think thats the case in his mayoral (office).

While the key advisers working in his suite are white, Ganim does have African American or Hispanic women as the executive office manager, clerical assistant, receptionist and as a communications specialist

The inner office could use a little bit more diversity, said Council President Aidee Nieves, suggesting Bartlett-Josies vacancy be filled with a minority hire who could act as a neighborhood liaison. The inner circle, it could use a little more color.

I still think he (Ganim) has a ways to go, said community leader Ralph Ford. We got black folks all up and down City Hall, but not in decision-making situations. ... We have to be at the table when decisions are made.

Sidelined

Ganim argued that the Chief Administrative Officer is an extension of his office. That job is occupied by a black woman, Kimberly Staley.

John Gomes, a black man, is the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, which is also an influential post.

There are some key people in a diverse administration with key roles to play, most emphatically Kim, the mayor said. Everything goes through the CAOs office. Staley is like a second-in-command to Ganim, overseeing departments and initiatives.

Ganims hiring practices were under the microscope long before he tapped into the anger about the 2018 Democratic ticket.

Ganim was convicted of running a pay-to-play operation in City Hall in 2003. When he three years ago launched a successful primary against then-Democratic incumbent Mayor Bill Finch, Ganim, despite hailing from a wealthy suburban family, found voters sympathetic to his second chance bid in Bridgeports minority neighborhoods.

Just two months after he was sworn in, some prominent African-American leaders who aided in that victory, including Ford, pressured the returned mayor to make more diverse appointments to key positions, including his own office.

By that September Ganim appointed Maritza Bond as health director after laying off Finchs black health chief. And by December 2016 he had promoted Staley from deputy CAO to CAO and brought Bartlett-Josie aboard.

However after a few months Bartlett-Josie, who had a reputation for being outspoken, was moved from the mayors suite to a vacancy in the small minority business office, and then to public facilities. A seasoned Democratic political hand, Bartlett-Josie left Bridgeport this past winter to manage Shawn Wooden of Hartfords campaign for state treasurer.

Bartlett-Josie in an interview this week said Ganims door was always open to me but I think others (in the administration) certainly wish I was sidelined. She believes that was in part because she speaks her mind, and because, unlike many other Ganim staffers, Bartlett-Josie did not want to get involved in his gubernatorial race.

Ford liked Bartlett-Josie: Christine is not going to sit on the outside. She sits at the table when decisions are being made.

Bartlett-Josie said of Ganims City Hall: The overall administration, theres diversity there. The mayors office in particular is all white. But the overall departments, hes (Ganim) pretty good on that. I think hes done a pretty good job. I really do.

Councilman Alfredo Castillo said the mayor has tried hard to hire qualified people of color in management and middle management.

At the end of the day hes the only candidate who really relates to us, Castillo said of Ganim. Thats why he won when he went against Bill Finch. People related to him  his second chance. He identifies with us. The minorities identify with him.
On May 28, all eyes are on the Kairana Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, where the Opposition parties have formed a grand alliance to put up a joint candidate against the BJP. Pushed onto the backfoot after the recent debacle in Karnataka, where it lost out in the face of a post-poll alliance between Congress and JD(S), despite emerging as the single largest party, winning this seat is not just a prestige issue for the BJP.

The results will also have ramifications for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as Uttar Pradesh sends 80 members to Parliament, the importance of which is not lost on the BJP.

The saffron surge in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was mainly due to the almost clean sweep of 73 (71 BJP + 2 seats of Apna Dal) out of 80 seats in UP, helped mainly by the Modi wave as well as the polarisation in the aftermath of the Muzaffarnagar riots.

The BJP won 73 seats in 2014 mainly due to the Modi wave.

The party was able to consolidate not only its core voter base, but was also successful in poaching the Dalit voter base of Mayawati, whose party scored zero in UP despite getting 20 per cent of the vote share.

Clean sweep  The BJP was successful in poaching the Dalit votes of the BSP in 2014.

With OBC, Dalit and Muslim votes getting divided among the SP, BSP, Congress and RLD, the BJP had smooth sailing.

Having learnt its lesson, the opposition then decided to come together to take on the BJP. This was evident in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-polls, where the BJP lost both the seats vacated by its CM as well as Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya. Karnataka was a shot in the arm of opposition unity where the post poll alliance was able to successfully ward off BJP's attempts to form the government. The swearing-in ceremony also saw all the Opposition stalwarts share the stage in a show of anti-BJP unity.

Show of strength at HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony.

The importance of this election is not lost on any party.

Apart from its star campaigner, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya, five state ministers are leading the BJP's charge in Kairana. They include Dharam Singh Saini (minister of state for Ayush), Suresh Rana (sugarcane development minister), Anupama Jaiswal (basic education minister) Surya Pratap Shahi (agriculture minister) and Laxmi Narayan (religious affairs, culture, minority welfare, waqf and Haj minister). The opposition on the other hand is letting RLD's Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chowdhury take the lead on the campaign trail, while they provide support through their party cadres.

Gujjar vs Gujjar

The Kairana Lok Sabha constituency has five assembly segments  namely Shamli, Thana Bhawan and Kairana in Shamli district, and Gangoh and Nakur in Saharanpur district.

A bypoll in this Lok Sabha seat was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MP Hukum Singh. In the 2014 general election, Hukum Singh polled 5,65,909 votes to defeat SP candidate Nahid Hasan by a margin of around 2.3 lakh votes. The Modi wave ensured that not only did Hukum Singh win every assembly segment of Kairana, he also polled more votes than the SP, BSP and RLD combined.

There are 5.46 lakh Muslims and over 10 lakh Hindus. The Hindu votes are further divided into 2.46 lakh Dalits, 1.52 lakh Jats, 1.23 lakh Kashyaps, 1.20 lakh Gujjars, one lakh Sainis, 32,000 Thakurs, 65,000 Brahmins, 60,000 Vaish, and 1.05 lakh others.

Interestingly both the BJP and the opposition candidates are Gujjars. While the BJP has given its ticket to Mriganka Singh, the daughter of late Hukum Singh, to garner sympathy votes, the Opposition has fielded Tabassum Hasan, a Samajwadi Party member, who is fighting on an RLD ticket.

The BJP has given its ticket to Mriganka Singh, the daughter of late Hukum Singh.

SP sources say Tabassum was fighting on an RLD ticket to ensure Jat support and prevent BJP from turning it into a Hindu versus Muslim election.

Hukum Singh had previously been defeated by Tabassum Hasan, wife of Munnawar Hasan, a former Samajwadi MP for Kairana in the 2009 general elections, after Munnawars untimely death in an accident. Tabassum's son Nahid Hasan is the sitting SP MLA from Kairana.

The Opposition has fielded Tabassum Hasan, a Samajwadi Party member, who is fighting on an RLD ticket.

With BJP banking on religious polarisation, the united opposition is betting on a grand coalition of Muslims, Dalits, Jats and OBC votes.

Another obstacle for the grand alliance was the bitter rivalry between Congress's Imran Masood and SP's Nahid Hasan.

Imran belongs to the Sheikh caste, holding sway over Muslim voters in two of Kairanas Assembly segments  Nakur and Gangoh  which fall within Saharanpur district. For the SP and the RLD, the Congress strongman is an indispensibly valuable asset.

In 2017, when Imran was the Congress candidate from Nakur Assembly seat, Nahid had allegedly asked his supporters to sabotage his chances in the election. This helped the BJPs Dharam Singh Saini win.

Mediation from members of the community as well as pressure from the Congress and SP high command ensured the feud was forgotten.

The BJP was also betting on the sizable Muslim votes getting bifurcated between Tabassum, the opposition candidate and Kanwar Hasan, who was fighting an a Lok Dal ticket. But this hope proved shortlived as back channel talks bore fruit and Kanwar Hasan withdrew from the race and formally joined the RLD.

Ganna, not Jinnah

The BJP is faced with a serious challenge in the region. With the opposition making the outstanding dues of sugarcane farmers its main poll issue, the BJP is at pains trying to pacify its voters. The area represents the sugar belt where most people depend on the crop.

The sugarcane farmers are up in arms that their dues have not been paid by the sugar mills. According to reports, farmers sold cane worth Rs 29,822 crore to sugar mills and received Rs 19,707 crore in the state during the sugarcane season 2017-18. The mill owners owe 44 per cent of the total sale to farmers  which roughly amounts to Rs 10,000 crore. In a last attempt to save face, the Uttar Pradesh government announced on Wednesday (May 23) that an amount of Rs 73 crore would be released in a day or two.

The sugarcane farmers are up in arms.

With numbers stacked against it, the BJP has gone into damage control mode. It raked up the issue of Mohammad Ali Jinnah's portrait in the Aligarh Muslim University campus but did not find many takers. The issue peaked and died down within a few days.

But UP CM Yogi Adityanath does not fail to bring it up in his poll speeches.

Another attempt to polarise by the BJP is the constant reference to the now debunked theory of the mass Hindu exodus from Kairana that was originally floated by the late Hukum Singh - but later found to be false. The UP CM also promises his Hindutva supporters that Kanwariyas would be allowed to play DJs and would be provided state security.

Road to 2019

The coming together of bitter rivals SP and BSP could be a game changer for UP politics.

The results of Kairana will send a signal about the effectiveness of opposition unity against Modi. If the opposition does succeed and win the seat, it would have proven that the alliance was successful in transferring their core voter base to the opposition candidate.

With Uttar Pradesh electing 80 of the 543 members in the Lok Sabha, this would severely dent BJP prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

An opposition win would also act as a rallying cry for opposition parties in other states that are reeling under the effects of the Modi sweep - they too would not be averse to coming together to stave off the BJP behemoth.

This would also send a major signal to BJP's allies, some of whom have recently started complaining of the ruling party's high handedness. The party ally in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena, is already making noises and is fighting the Palghar bypoll against the BJP (May 28) with whom it is in power in the state. This is the first time that the Shiv Sena is fighting an election against the BJP.

The erstwhile cockiness of the ruling party seems to have disappeared and the party has realised the virtues of coalition dharma, albeit late. BJP president Amit Shah is already in damage control mode. In a recent press conference, he said, "I repeat this, that we want Shiv Sena and BJP to fight together in 2019 elections. The BJP President said, "You should ask them" when asked why Shiv Sena doesn't want to fight together and adds that still they are together in both the centre and Maharashtra governments. "The TDP left but Nitish Ji came. 11 more parties became part of NDA after 2014. Family of NDA has increased, not decreased. Only Chandrababu Ji (Andhra Pradesh CM) left." A loss for the BJP might give more negotiating room for allies and create a bigger headache for the BJP.

With polling still to happen and the results awaited, one thing is certain  the road to 2019 will not be a cake walk for Modi's BJP. And this road passes through Kairana.

Also read: What Palghar by-poll result will mean for Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra
TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Partners Value Investments LP (the Partnership) announced today its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. All amounts are stated in US dollars.



The Partnership recorded a decrease in net book value during the first quarter of $357 million ($4.04 per unit) to $2.9 billion ($32.99 per unit). The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in the quoted market price of Brookfield Asset Management common shares. The market price of a Brookfield share decreased from $43.54 per share at December 31, 2017 to $39.00 per share at March 31, 2018.

Net income for the quarter was $18.7 million, of which $13.1 million was attributable to the Equity Limited Partners ($0.15 per Equity LP unit), slightly down from $13.4 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease in net income was due to investment valuation losses in the current period compared to gains in the prior year quarter, largely offset by foreign exchange gains in the period.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three months ended March 31

(Thousands, US dollars) 2018 2017 Investment income Dividends $ 18,744 $ 18,216 Other investment income 764 1,394 19,508 19,610 Expenses Operating expenses (1,251 ) (1,118 ) Financing costs (1,210 ) (781 ) Retractable preferred share dividends (6,789 ) (6,358 ) 10,258 11,353 Other items Investment valuation gains (losses) (11,643 ) 12,582 Amortization of deferred financing costs (501 ) (473 ) Income taxes (488 ) (2,812 ) Income from equity accounted investment 206  Foreign currency gains (losses) 20,851 (1,578 ) Net income (loss) $ 18,683 $ 19,072 Net income (loss) attributable to: Equity Limited Partners 13,055 13,443 General Partner   Preferred Limited Partners 5,628 5,629 $ 18,683 $ 19,072

Financial Profile and Net Book Value

The Partnerships principal investment is its interest in 86 million Class A Limited Voting Shares (Brookfield shares) of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Brookfield), representing a 9% fully-diluted interest as at March 31, 2018. In addition, the Partnership owns a diversified investment portfolio of marketable securities.

The information in the following table shows the changes in net book value:

For the three months ended March 31

(Thousands, US dollars, except per unit amounts) 2018 2017 Total Per Unit Total Per Unit Net book value, beginning of period1 $ 3,268,176 $ 37.03 $ 2,337,457 $ 26.49 Net income2,3 13,055 0.15 13,443 0.15 Other comprehensive income2,3 (360,566 ) (4.08 ) 274,558 3.11 Adjustment for impact of warrant3 (9,594 ) (0.11 ) 3,293 0.04 Equity LP repurchase3   (11 )  Net book value, end of period1,4,5 $ 2,911,071 $ 32.99 $ 2,628,740 $ 29.79

Calculated on a fully-diluted basis, net book value is non-IFRS measure. Attributable to Equity Limited Partners. The basic weighted average number of Equity Limited Partnership (Equity LP) units outstanding during the period ended March 31, 2018 was 73,541,131. The diluted weighted average number of Equity Limited Partnership (Equity LP) units available and outstanding during the period ended March 31, 2018 was 88,249,897; this includes the 14,708,766 Equity LP units that would be issued through the exercise of all outstanding warrants. At the end of the period, the diluted Equity LP units outstanding were 88,249,897 (December 31, 2017  88,249,897). Net book value is a non-IFRS measure and is equal to total equity, less General Partner equity and Preferred Limited Partners equity, plus the value of consideration that would be received on exercising of warrants, which as at March 31, 2018 was $370 million (December 31, 2017  $380 million).

The information in the following table has been extracted from the Partnerships Statement of Financial Position:

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

As at

(Thousands, US dollars, except per unit amounts) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 28,272 $ 29,801 Investment in Brookfield Asset Management Inc.1 3,347,722 3,737,431 Other investments carried at fair value 643,909 750,467 Accounts receivable and other assets 7,046 6,443 Equity accounted investment 13,977 13,643 Goodwill 3,307 3,102 $ 4,044,233 $ 4,540,887 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable and other liabilities $ 35,569 $ 108,744 Preferred shares2 561,499 575,620 Deferred taxes3 406,193 468,040 1,003,261 1,152,404 Equity Partnerships Equity Equity Limited Partners 2,541,069 2,888,580 General Partner 1 1 Preferred Limited Partners 499,902 499,902 $ 4,044,233 $ 4,540,887 Net book value per Equity LP unit4,5 $ 32.99 $ 37.03

The investment in Brookfield Asset Management Inc. consists of 86 million Brookfield shares with a quoted market value of $39.00 per share as at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017  $43.54). Represents $570 million of retractable preferred shares less $9 million of unamortized issue costs as at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017  $585 million less $9 million). The deferred tax liability represents the potential future income tax liability of the Partnership recorded for accounting purposes based on the difference between the carrying values of the Partnerships assets and liabilities and their respective tax values, as well as giving effect to estimated capital and non-capital losses. Calculated on a fully diluted basis. As at March 31, 2018, there were 73,541,131 (December 31, 2017  73,541,131) Equity LP units issued and outstanding, while the diluted Equity LP units outstanding were 88,249,897 (December 31, 2017  88,249,897) which includes the 14,708,766 Equity LP units that would be issued through the exercise of all outstanding warrants. Net book value is a non-IFRS measure and is equal to total equity, less General Partner equity and Preferred Limited Partners equity, plus the value of consideration that would be received on exercising of warrants, which as at March 31, 2018 was $370 million (December 31, 2017  $380 million).

For further information, contact Investor Relations at ir@pvii.ca or 647-503-6513.

Note: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. The words potential and estimated and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements with regard to the Partnerships potential future income taxes.

Although the Partnership believes that its anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond its control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Partnership to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to: the financial performance of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchanges rates; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including dispositions; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation; changes in tax laws, catastrophic events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in the Partnerships documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada.

The Partnership cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on the Partnerships forward-looking statements and information, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, the Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Kautilya lived in India and wrote his treatise Arthashastra in the third century BC. Niccolo Machiavelli lived in 16th century AD in Italy and wrote his book The Prince. Arthashastra, though an economic title, is actually about statecraft, with a preamble to preserve Varnadharma (the fourfold caste order, with the Brahmin at the top and the Shudra at the bottom). It was written to preserve Hindu Dharma in ancient India, but its influence has remained on the subcontinents statecraft, except during the Muslim and colonial rule.

However, it gained more prominence after Independence. It has been a book of study for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS') political and religious strategists ever since the organisation's inception in 1925. Its strategy of maintaining statecraft is threefold  political, religious and cultural. It propounds the political art of controlling state power through Hindu spiritual politics.

Nehru, by all means, was secular, but not Machiavellian.

The Prince, on the other hand, was written by Machiavelli to separate politics from religion. It was meant to liberate the European kings from the clutches of the spiritual control of the papacy. It is the initiator of the theory of the secular state: it separates the state's day-to-day functions from religious control. But both Arthashastra and The Prince advocate the "end justifies means" theory and combining the methods of "Lion and Fox" for achieving the ultimate goal.

In independent India, Mohan Bhagwat is the most successful Kautilyan  and Indira Gandhi has been the most successful Machiavellian in both the Congress party and governance. The real ruler (whatever his caste; in ancient times, it was mostly the Kshatriyas, and today, it is Narendra Modi, a Bania OBC) does not handle full power, it is the Brahmin guru (Kautilya himself was a Brahmin guru) who calls the shots from behind.

In contrast, in The Prince, there is no guru to the king. In fact, the Pope was that guru for every king and Machiavelli aimed to finish that invisible gurus hand in power play. The tactic succeeded in Europe and hence, secular states came into being.

If the RSS rule continues, the democratic morals of India's citizens will collapse. Photo: Screengrab and PTI

The RSS ideologically worked out a strategy that it should develop a system that continues the crucial role of the politically manipulative spiritual guru even in the democratic setup by negating the theory of separation of state and religion by systemically using the Kautilyan model with the Sarsanghchalak position. Within the RSS, the latter plays the role of Kautilya today while the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Sangh's political wing, rules the state.

After the 2014 general election, though Narendra Modi (a Bania OBC) became the visible ruler  he is also a demagogic orator and vote puller for the unorganised masses  real decision making power has remained in the hands of Mohan Bhagwat (a Chitpawan Brahmin most eligible for that position, according to Hindu Dharma).

During the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime, this Kautilyan role of the then Sarsanghchalak was not necessary as the prime minister was self-sufficient, though he was not a vote puller. Secondly, in the coalitional system, the gurus role of invisible hand was not very critical. Hence, in the Vajpayee period  one dominated by alliances  Kautilya was dormant, and very much in the background. Now that there is full majority for the BJP, the guru is playing the role of re-uniting state and religion in India, which had been separated during the British rule  and largely remained so till 2014.

This union will pose massive implications for the survival of democracy and the secular state in India.

Though Indira Gandhi was secular in her designs, without a guru or invisible hand throughout her political career, she achieved her ends. Emergency was its final product.

The Karnataka drama was played out by Mohan Bhagwat by invoking the Kautilyan principle of "end justifies the means". Operationalising this principle in the state was the goal of the RSS, the invisible hand. BJP's CM candidate here was BS Yeddyurappa, known as a corrupt Shudra and if he were to become the chief minister, he would have worked according to the direction of the guru.

Crimes like lynching over beef eating, and attacking secular and liberal intellectuals are part of the Kautilyan statecraft. Kautilya was very clear, like Machiavelli, that once you assess the enemy, you must eliminate him/her by all means. Rationalist MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh were murdered in exactly this fashion. Many well-known intellectuals from Karnataka continue to live with police protection.

The Congress' Machiavellianism began with Indira Gandhi dismissing the Left front government of Kerala in 1959, starting with her initiative as the party president, much against the views of her father and former prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Mohan Bhagwat, the modern-day guru, is calling the shots. Photo: PTI

Nehru, by all means, was secular, but not Machiavellian. But during her time, Indira Gandhi continued the practice of "end justifies means" and was a victim of the practice.

Though she was secular in her designs, without a guru or invisible hand throughout her political career, she achieved her ends. Emergency was its final product.

Like the Machiavellian prince, she did everything on her own, without any underhand figure directing her. Since it was one-person regime, the state found a way out. What is more, when the invisible guru does everything and the real ruler pretends to not know (as Narendra Modi does) what is going on, the danger to the secular state and society is deeper.

The Congress never had such a structure. The PM in the Congress rule is the prince himself! Manmohan Singh was the only exception to that rule  he was the PM, but without influence. He was a ruling economist. During his 10-year stint, no state government was dismissed unceremoniously; no genuine majority party or coalition was stopped from governing the state.

Of course, that was because Sonia Gandhi  as Congress president  was no Indira Gandhi. Though she was born Italian, she has never been Machiavellian in her approach.

Machiavellis prince was progressive for his times. To reiterate, separating the state from the religion was his ultimate objective. It did good to the world's welfare democratic system. The Kautilyan gurudom is its anti-thesis. Its end is to dismantle the democratic secular state and take India exactly on the lines of Pakistan, where the modern Mullahs rule.

The Hindu guru and the Islamic Mullah have no differences when it comes to theocratising the state.

If the RSS rule continues, the democratic morals of India's citizens will collapse. The gurus handbook is not Ambedkars Constitution, but Arthashastra. The RSS opposes not only Machiavelli the Italian but also Rousseau, the French thinker.

In their Kautilyan scheme, they are also opposed to democracy as an un-Indian system. If they come to power in 2019, they will move stridently towards their foremost objective  the abolition of India's election system.

Read: Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd breaks down the Dalit uprising
The normal expectation from a book based on conversations between spy chiefs of two enemy countries is that this will have enough masala and revelations to set the pulse racing. Unfortunately, The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace, based on conversations between former R&AW chief, AS Dulat, and former ISI chief, Lt General Asad Durrani, does no such thing.

The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace; Rs 799

For any keen observer of the Indo-Pakistan slugfest, there is absolutely nothing new in the book. Nor is there any new insight.

The book is in fact more than intellectual masturbation by two guys way past their sell-by date  one of them retired nearly a quarter-century ago and the other, about two decades ago. The fact that people who retire are out of the loop and are probably as well-informed as any journalist who gets handouts from the intelligence agency involved means that everything these two discuss is already in the public domain.

Of course, if someone is interested in the woolly-headed analysis and trite prescriptions  even wet dreams  of an elusive and ephemeral peace, of two guys who are imagining a world that doesn't exist, then this is just the book for them.

A common problem in most Track-II meetings between Indians and Pakistanis is that the interlocutors acquire an air of superciliousness and pretend that their discussions (which are mostly, if not entirely, vacuous) elevate them to a higher intellectual plane, from where they can scoff at the hoi polloi of the two countries who do not see any possibility of reconciliation. It is precisely such a setting in which they generally come up with the chimerical 'choreographed response' of how Pakistan would react to any Indian reaction to an act of terrorism.

Assumed Importance: Track-II participants often acquire an air of superciliousness.

Reality is of course a lot more complicated than two retired guys blithely discussing high policy over good whisky, without having to bear any responsibility for the consequences of the choices that they imagine the policy makers will make in any given situation.

So much happens over a great drink  including some very fuzzy conversations.

The make-believe world in which these conversations took place is an outcome of the fact that protagonists are fuzzy with their facts. It is almost as though the India-Pakistan relationship (or the lack of it) is a hobby for them  not a matter of serious study. One would have imagined that at least in India, someone who heads the intelligence set-up would have some degree of mastery over details and not indulge in flights of fancy  alas, we seem to expect too much from our spooks.

On the Pakistani side, deep-seated anti-Americanism comes pouring out of General Durrani. Everything, according to Durrani, is the fault of America.

'We hate you, USA" is a sentiment echoed by former ISI chief General Durrani.

Pakistan's own sinister shenanigans and skulduggery has been completely glossed over.

Of course, Durrani does what he does best  speaking in general, vague terms, mixing fact with fiction. What is galling is that Dulat doesn't challenge him. If anything, Dulat represents the typical deracinated, guilt-ridden Indian who labours to maintain a convivial atmosphere, and ends up sounding utterly frivolous and fluffy.

Among the patent falsehoods uttered by Durrani: "Institutionally, the military in Pakistan is not anti-India" and that: "it isn't true that Pakistan's Afghan policy is India-centric." Anyone who buys this snake oil will probably also believe that elephants can fly!

Durrani, like most of his compatriots, is a subscriber of conspiracy theories, urban legends and cliched analysis based on myths that have no empirical basis. For instance, the bit about "What does America sell more than anything else? Weapons." A man on the street who is extremely distant from high policy making such an ill-informed comment is one thing; a 'strategic thinker' invited to international seminars indulging in this sort of talk, quite another. If only Durrani had taken the trouble to do a Google search on American exports, he would realise he is completely off the mark. But the country he comes from is a past-master in first imagining something (mostly fictitious), then building an entire theory around that imagination. Keeping him good company is his counterpart from India, and also the co-author of the book who seems to think that the State Bank of Pakistan is the counterpart of the State Bank of India  it is actually the counterpart of the Reserve Bank of India  and can open bank branches in India!

More galling than Durrani's deception and dissemble are the factual inaccuracies of Mr Dulat who is quite nonchalant about details. For example, he waxes eloquent about Punjab-Punjab cooperation, but forgets that the gift horse wasn't from Shahbaz Sharif but his predecessor Pervez Elahi to Amarinder Singh. And Punjab-Punjab cooperation was driven less by the Punjabi factor and more by the Jat factor  Pervez Elahi, Amarinder, the Badals, Hooda and Chautalas were all Jats, and all operating on the Jat network.

Dulat's astounding ignorance of Pakistan's politics is clear from the fact that he thinks that Punjab is 3/4ths of Pakistan, which it clearly is not; Imran got just one seat from Lahore; the PPP has been wiped out from Punjab. One could go on and on, but suffice to say that if this is the level of understanding of India's most implacable enemy among the top echelons of India's intelligence network, then this country is doomed.

Worse, if at all there is any chance that the input of these guys is actually still taken with some degree of seriousness in making policy, then I strongly suggest people pack their bags and leave this unfortunate country.

Dulat's recommendations are so fatuous and fuzzy  and so one-sided in favour of Pakistan  that even Neville Chamberlain and the appeasement school of diplomacy would balk. Worse, some of his recommendations fly in the face of facts. Dulat seems to imagine that the Taliban were waiting with bated breath to establish relations with India  forgetting that their Pakistani masters wouldn't countenance any such thing.

Is he holding his breath? Dulat seems to imagine the Taliban were waiting with bated breath to establish ties with India.

There is also the issue of the trade deal between India and Pakistan. While Dulat, as is his wont, seems to blame the deal falling through on India, he does this without any comprehension or idea of how the Pakistanis reneged at the last moment. The fact of the matter is  the Pakistanis kept shifting the goalposts and although the Manmohan Singh government was still willing to go along with the deal, it was called off at the last moment because the Pakistan army pressured the Nawaz Sharif government to back off.

It goes to the credit of the Modi government that they asked the Pakistanis to go take a hike when they tried to revive it after Modi came to power.

In contrast to the rough ride Pakistan gave Manmohan Singh, the Modi government took a tough stand against soft talk.

Further on, Dulat thinks that the air connections are poor because of cussedness. Clearly, he hasn't applied his mind to the economics of airlines  these won't fly if there isn't enough traffic.

The biggest issue with Dulat is that he is over-keen to give the Pakistanis a free ride for everything  without getting anything in return. And then, he has the temerity to hold it against the diplomats who forsake his non-serious, even dangerous, approach to an enemy country, and ensure that national interest is protected.

If there is one thing that comes out of the book, it is that matters of state security and policy are far too serious to be left to spooks and soldiers who are shallow enough to believe that everything can be fixed over a drink. Soldiers and spooks are at best instruments of state, not the state  for them to think that great headway will be made without diplomats, this would of course be true if surrendering before the enemy is anyone's definition of 'making headway'.

Incidentally, while Dulat is ever ready to give in to the Pakistanis because he thinks this will beget peace, he hasn't elucidated how much his Pakistani counterparts are ready to give in the pursuit of peace. If the book is anything to go by, then the Pakistanis are ready to do zilch, zip, zero.

Not only does Dulat not understand Pakistan, he also has very little idea about India.

He subscribes to the old myth that Pakistan is a problem only for north Indians and others don't care much what India does with Pakistan. Such conjecture has no empirical evidence backing it. Given that body bags of Indian soldiers travel to the most obscure corners of India and entire villages come to bid farewell to those soldiers who have died protecting this country, Dulat and his ilk would probably be surprised at the depth of sentiment against Pakistan all across India.

Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who died in Siachen, hailed from Dharwad, Karnataka. He was yet another braveheart of India

While an entire treatise could be written to debunk what I call 'the chronicles of crap', the sheer vacuity and the utterly fallacious assumptions underlining these conversations is scary. If these are the kinds of people who are or were in charge of protecting this country against external and internal enemies, then God save this land.

Finally, the book is a testament to the old Indian obsession for wanting to 'do something'. According to Dulat, "I'm not at all for perpetuation of the status quo. I'm saying one must do something." This has been the bane of Indian policy-making and also the reason why we make the sort of mistakes we make with Pakistan.

Until and unless India as a nation realises that there are some problems about which nothing can be done except to manage them to our advantage, India will keep making the mistake of wanting to 'do something'.

Sometimes it's better to do nothing but sit on the river bank and wait for the time when you see the body of your enemy floating by.

In the meantime, make sure to keep your powder dry, develop your strength and ensure internal peace and stability.

But perhaps that is expecting too much from people who put making peace with the enemy (who declares he is the enemy and makes no bones about dismembering and destroying India) at a premium  and protecting the homeland at a discount.

Also read: Why Kairana by-poll will set the stage for 2019 general elections
The following companies are subsidiares of Waste Management: 635952 Ontario Inc., 8242348 Canada Inc., Acaverde S.A. de C.V., Access Computer Products, Advanced Environmental Technical Services L.L.C., Akron Regional Landfill Inc., Alliance Sanitary Landfill Inc., Alpharetta Transfer Station LLC, American Landfill Inc., American Oil Recovery LLC, Ameriwaste LLC, Anderson Landfill Inc., Anderson Rubbish Disposal, Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility Inc., Arden Landfill Inc., Atlantic Waste Disposal Inc., Automated Salvage Transport Co. L.L.C., Avalon South LLC, Azusa Land Reclamation Inc., B&B Landfill Inc., Big Dipper Enterprises Inc., Bluegrass Containment L.L.C., Burnsville Sanitary Landfill Inc., CA Newco L.L.C., CR Group LLC, CWM Chemical Services L.L.C., Cal Sierra Disposal, California Asbestos Monofill Inc., Canadian Waste Services Holdings Inc., Capels Landfill LLC, Capital Sanitation Company, Capitol Disposal Inc., Carolina Grading Inc., Cedar Ridge Landfill Inc., Central Disposal Systems Inc., Chadwick Road Landfill Inc., Chambers Clearview Environmental Landfill Inc., Chambers Development Company Inc., Chambers Development of Ohio Inc., Chambers of Georgia Inc., Chambers of Mississippi Inc., Chemical Waste Management Inc., Chemical Waste Management of Indiana L.L.C., Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest Inc., Chesser Island Road Landfill Inc., City Environmental Services Inc. of Waters, Cleburne Landfill Company Corp., Coast Waste Management Inc., Coastal Recyclers Landfill LLC, Connecticut Valley Sanitary Waste Disposal Inc., Conservation Services Inc., Coshocton Landfill Inc., Cougar Landfill Inc., Countryside Landfill Inc., Curtis Creek Recovery Systems Inc., Cuyahoga Landfill Inc., DHC Land LLC, Dafter Sanitary Landfill Inc., Dauphin Meadows Inc., Deep Valley Landfill Inc., Deer Track Park Landfill Inc., Deffenbaugh Disposal Inc., Deffenbaugh Group Holdings Inc., Deffenbaugh Industries Inc., Deffenbaugh Recycling Company L.L.C., Deffenbaugh of Arkansas LLC, Del Almo Landfill L.L.C., Delaware Recyclable Products Inc., Dickinson Landfill Inc., Disposal Service Incorporated, Dolphin Services & Chemicals LLC, Dolphin-One LLC, ELDA Landfill Inc., Earthmovers Landfill L.L.C., East Liverpool Landfill Inc., Eastern One Land Corporation, Eco-Vista LLC, Elk River Landfill Inc., Energy Injection Services of Mississippi LLC, EnviroSolutions Dulles LLC, EnviroSolutions Holdings Inc., EnviroSolutions Real Property Holdings Inc., Envirofil of Illinois Inc., Evergreen Landfill Inc., Evergreen Recycling and Disposal Facility Inc., Finch Waste Co LLC, Firetower Landfill LLC, Fred J. Eckert Sanitary Service Inc., Furnace Associates Inc., G.I. Industries, GA Landfills Inc., Gallia Landfill Inc., Garnet of Maryland Inc., Gateway Transfer Station LLC, Georgia Waste Systems Inc., Giordano Recycling L.L.C., Glades Landfill LLC, Glen's Sanitary Landfill Inc., Grand Central Sanitary Landfill Inc., Greenbow LLC, Greenleaf Compaction Inc., Greenstar Allentown LLC, Greenstar Georgia LLC, Greenstar LLC, Greenstar Managed Services - Connecticut LLC, Greenstar Managed Services - RLWM LLC, Greenstar Mid-America LLC, Greenstar New Jersey LLC, Greenstar Ohio LLC, Greenstar Paterson LLC, Greenstar Pittsburgh LLC, Greenstar Recycled Holdings LLC, Greenstar Recycling LLC, Guadalupe Mines Mutual Water Company, Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Co. Inc., Ham Lake Haulers Inc., Harris Sanitation Inc., Harwood Landfill Inc., Hedco Landfill Limited, High Mountain Fuels LLC, Hillsboro Landfill Inc., Holyoke Sanitary Landfill Inc., IN Landfills L.L.C., Illini Disposal, International Environmental Management Inc., Jahner Sanitation Inc., Jay County Landfill L.L.C., K and W Landfill Inc., Keene Road Landfill Inc., Kelly Run Sanitation Inc., King George Landfill Inc., King George Landfill Properties LLC, Kirby Canyon Holdings LLC, L&K Group Holdings LLC, LCS Services Inc., Lakeville Recycling L.P., Land South Holdings LLC, Landfill Services of Charleston Inc., Laurel Highlands Landfill Inc., Liberty Landfill L.L.C., Liquid Logistics, Liquid Waste Management Inc., Longleaf C&D Disposal Facility Inc., Looney Bins Inc., Mac Land Disposal Inc. II, Mahoning Landfill Inc., Mass Gravel Inc., Mc Ginnes Industrial Maintenance Corporation, McDaniel Landfill Inc., McGill Landfill Inc., Meadowfill Landfill Inc., Michigan Environs Inc., Midwest One Land Corporation, Modesto Garbage Co. Inc., Moor Refuse Inc., Mordell, Mountain Indemnity Insurance Company, Mountainview Landfill Inc., Nassau Landfill L.L.C., National Guaranty Insurance Company of Vermont, New England CR L.L.C., New Milford Landfill L.L.C., New Orleans Landfill L.L.C., North Manatee Recycling and Disposal Facility L.L.C., Northwestern Landfill Inc., Nu-Way Live Oak Reclamation Inc., OAKLEAF Waste Management LLC, OGH Acquisition Corporation, Oak Grove Disposal Co. Inc., Oakleaf Global Holdings Inc., Oakleaf Waste Management Inc., Oakridge Landfill Inc., Oakwood Landfill Inc., Okeechobee Landfill Inc., Ozark Ridge Landfill Inc., P & R Environmental Industries L.L.C., Pacific Waste Management L.L.C., Pappy Inc., Peltz H.C. LLC, Pen-Rob Inc., People's Landfill Inc., Peterson Demolition Inc., Phoenix Resources Inc., Pine Grove Landfill Inc., Pine Tree Acres Inc., Prime Westport LLC, Quail Hollow Landfill Inc., Questquill Limited, R & B Landfill Inc., RAA Colorado L.L.C., RAA Trucking LLC, RCI Hudson Inc., RTS Landfill Inc., Recycle America Co. L.L.C., Recycle America Holdings Inc., Redwood Landfill Inc., Refuse Inc., Refuse Services Inc., Reliable Environmental Transport, Reliable Landfill L.L.C., Remote Landfill Services Inc., Reno Disposal Co., Resco Holdings L.L.C., Resource Control Composting Inc., Resource Control Inc., Richland County Landfill Inc., Riverbend Landfill Co., Rust Engineering & Construction Inc., Rust International Inc., S & J Landfill Limited Partnership, S & S Grading Inc., S&T Materials LLC, SC Holdings Inc., SF Land Acquisition LLC, Sanifill de Mexico (US) Inc., Sanifill de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Shade Landfill Inc., Shawnee Rock Company, Sierra Estrella Landfill Inc., Southern Alleghenies Landfill Inc., Southern One Land Corporation, Southern Waste Services L.L.C., Spruce Ridge Inc., Stony Hollow Landfill Inc., Suburban Landfill Inc., Summit Energy Services Inc, Swire Waste Management Limited, TN'T Sands Inc., TX Newco L.L.C., Texarkana Landfill L.L.C., Texas Pack Rat - Austin #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Dallas #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Houston #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Houston #2 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - Houston #3 LLC, Texas Pack Rat - San Antonio #1 LLC, Texas Pack Rat Service Company LLC, The Peltz Group LLC, The Waste Management Charitable Foundation, The Woodlands of Van Buren Inc., Thermal Remediation Solutions L.L.C., Trail Ridge Landfill Inc., TransAmerican Waste Industries, Transamerican Waste Central Landfill Inc., Trash Hunters Inc., Twin Bridges Golf Club L.P., USA South Hills Landfill Inc., USA Valley Facility Inc., USA Waste Geneva Landfill Inc., USA Waste Landfill Operations and Transfer Inc., USA Waste Services of NYC Inc., USA Waste of California Inc., USA Waste of Texas Landfills Inc., USA Waste of Virginia Landfills Inc., USA Waste-Management Resources LLC, USA-Crinc L.L.C., USB LIHTC Fund 2010-1 LLC, UWS Barre Inc., United Waste Systems Leasing Inc., Valley Garbage and Rubbish Company Inc., Vern's Refuse Service Inc., Vickery Environmental Inc., Vista Landfill LLC, Voyageur Disposal Processing Inc., WM Avon Inc., WM Bagco LLC, WM Billerica Inc., WM Biloxi Hauling LLC, WM Biloxi Transfer Station LLC, WM Boston CORE Inc., WM CCP Solutions LLC, WM Conversion Fund LLC, WM Corporate Services Inc., WM Curbside LLC, WM DC 1 LLC, WM Emergency Employee Support Fund Inc., WM Energy Resources Inc., WM Energy Services Holdings LLC, WM Energy Services of Ohio LLC, WM Energy Solutions Inc., WM GTL Inc., WM GTL JV Holdings LLC, WM GTL LLC, WM Green Squad LLC, WM GreenOps LLC, WM Healthcare Solutions Inc., WM Illinois Renewable Energy L.L.C., WM Intellectual Property Holdings L.L.C., WM International Holdings Inc., WM KS Energy Resources LLC, WM LNG Inc., WM LampTracker Inc., WM Landfills of Ohio Inc., WM Landfills of Tennessee Inc., WM Leasing Services of Texas LLC, WM Leasing of Arizona L.L.C., WM Leasing of Texas L.P., WM Logistics India Private Limited, WM Logistics LLC, WM Mercury Waste Inc., WM Middle Tennessee Environmental Center L.L.C., WM Mobile Bay Environmental Center Inc., WM ND Energy Resources II LLC, WM ND Energy Resources LLC, WM Nevada Renewable Energy L.L.C., WM North Broward Inc., WM Organic Growth Inc., WM PA Holdings LLC, WM PRG L.L.C., WM Pack-Rat LLC, WM Pack-Rat of California LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Illinois LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Kentucky LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Maryland LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Massachusetts LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Michigan LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Nevada LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Ohio LLC, WM Pack-Rat of Rhode Island LLC, WM Partnership Holdings Inc., WM Phoenix Energy Resources LLC, WM Propane LLC, WM Quebec Inc., WM RA Canada Inc., WM Recycle America L.L.C., WM Recycle Europe L.L.C., WM Recycling Latin America LLC, WM Refined Coal LLC, WM Renewable Energy L.L.C., WM Resource Recovery & Recycling Center Inc., WM Resources Inc., WM Safety Services L.L.C., WM Security Services Inc., WM Storage II Inc., WM Storage Inc., WM TX Energy Resources II LLC, WM TX Energy Resources LLC, WM Texas Pack Rat LLC, WM Trash Monitor Plus L.L.C., WM WY Energy Resources II LLC, WM WY Energy Resources III LLC, WM WY Energy Resources LLC, WM of North Dakota Energy Disposal Solutions LLC, WMI Mexico Holdings Inc., WMNA Container Recycling L.L.C., WMRE of Kentucky LLC, WMRE of Michigan LLC, WMRE of Ohio LLC, WMRE of Ohio-American LLC, WMSALSA Inc., WTI Air Pollution Control Inc., WTI Rust Holdings Inc., Warner Company, Waste Away Group Inc., Waste Management Arizona Landfills Inc., Waste Management Buckeye L.L.C., Waste Management China Holdings Limited, Waste Management Collection and Recycling Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Colorado Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Maine Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Maryland Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Massachusetts Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Oregon Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Pennsylvania Inc., Waste Management Disposal Services of Virginia Inc., Waste Management Energy Services of Texas LLC, Waste Management Holdings Inc., Waste Management Inc. of Florida, Waste Management Inc. of Tennessee, Waste Management Indycoke L.L.C., Waste Management International Inc., Waste Management National Services Inc., Waste Management National Transportation Services Inc., Waste Management Partners Inc., Waste Management Recycling and Disposal Services of California Inc., Waste Management Recycling of New Jersey L.L.C., Waste Management Service Center Inc., Waste Management of Alameda County Inc., Waste Management of Alaska Inc., Waste Management of Arizona Inc., Waste Management of Arkansas Inc., Waste Management of California Inc., Waste Management of Canada Corporation, Waste Management of Carolinas Inc., Waste Management of Colorado Inc., Waste Management of Connecticut Inc., Waste Management of Delaware Inc., Waste Management of Fairless L.L.C., Waste Management of Five Oaks Recycling and Disposal Facility Inc., Waste Management of Georgia Inc., Waste Management of Hawaii Inc., Waste Management of Idaho Inc., Waste Management of Illinois Inc., Waste Management of Indiana Holdings One Inc., Waste Management of Indiana Holdings Two Inc., Waste Management of Indiana L.L.C., Waste Management of Iowa Inc., Waste Management of Kansas Inc., Waste Management of Kentucky Holdings Inc., Waste Management of Kentucky L.L.C., Waste Management of Leon County Inc., Waste Management of Londonderry Inc., Waste Management of Louisiana Holdings One Inc., Waste Management of Louisiana L.L.C., Waste Management of Maine Inc., Waste Management of Maryland Inc., Waste Management of Massachusetts Inc., Waste Management of Metro Atlanta Inc., Waste Management of Michigan Inc., Waste Management of Minnesota Inc., Waste Management of Mississippi Inc., Waste Management of Missouri Inc., Waste Management of Montana Inc., Waste Management of Nebraska Inc., Waste Management of Nevada Inc., Waste Management of New Hampshire Inc., Waste Management of New Jersey Inc., Waste Management of New Mexico Inc., Waste Management of New York L.L.C., Waste Management of North Dakota Inc., Waste Management of Ohio Inc., Waste Management of Oklahoma Inc., Waste Management of Oregon Inc., Waste Management of Pennsylvania Gas Recovery L.L.C., Waste Management of Pennsylvania Inc., Waste Management of Rhode Island Inc., Waste Management of South Carolina Inc., Waste Management of South Dakota Inc., Waste Management of Texas Holdings Inc., Waste Management of Texas Inc., Waste Management of Tunica Landfill Inc., Waste Management of Utah Inc., Waste Management of Virginia Inc., Waste Management of Washington, Waste Management of West Virginia Inc., Waste Management of Wisconsin Inc., Waste Management of Wyoming Inc., Western One Land Corporation, Western Waste Industries, Western Waste of Texas L.L.C., Westminster Land Acquisition LLC, Wheelabrator Technologies, Wheelabrator Technologies International Inc., White Lake Landfill Inc., Willow Oak Landfill LLC, and eCycling Services L.L.C..
Actuant Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes a range of industrial products and systems worldwide. It operates in two segments, Industrial Tools & Services (IT&S) and Engineered Components & Systems (EC&S). The IT&S segment designs, manufactures, and distributes branded hydraulic and mechanical tools; and provides services and tool rentals to the industrial, maintenance, infrastructure, oil and gas, energy, and other markets. This segment offers branded tools and engineered heavy lifting technology solutions, as well as connectors for oil and gas, and hydraulic torque wrenches; and energy maintenance and manpower services. It also provides high-force hydraulic and mechanical tools, including cylinders, pumps, valves, and specialty tools; and bolt tensioners, and connectors for oil and gas, as well as other products. This segment markets its branded tools and services primarily under the Enerpac, Hydratight, Larzep, Simplex, Biach, Equalizer, and Mirage brands through a localized product, rental, and maintenance depots. The EC&S segment designs, manufactures, and assembles system critical position and motion control systems, high performance ropes, cables and umbilicals, and other customized industrial components to various vehicle, construction, agricultural, and other niche markets. This segment offers actuation systems, mechanical power transmission products, engine air flow management systems, human to machine interface solutions, and other rugged electronic instrumentations; automotive convertible top actuation, hydraulic cab-tilt and latching, and automotive electro-hydraulic convertible top latching and actuation systems; and agriculture, off-highway, concrete tensioning, rope and cable and other product lines. It primarily markets its products directly to original equipment manufacturers, as well as to other customers through a technical sales organization. The company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Read More
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

NOVA LEAP HEALTH CORP. (TSXV:NLH) (Nova Leap or the Company), a company focused on the home health care industry, is pleased to announce the release of financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise specified.

Nova Leap First Quarter Financial Results

Financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 include revenue of $1,265,021 and gross margin of $444,544. Highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 included the following:

Quarter over Quarter revenues increased by 41.9% from $891,196 to $1,265,021.

Q1 2018 revenues of $1,265,021 exceeded 2017 twelve months ended December 31, 2017 revenues of $1,059,845 by 19.4%.

Q1 2018 net loss of $438,742 as compared to net loss of $302,921 for Q4 2017. Non-recurring acquisition costs of $171,412 (39.1% of reported loss) are included in the net loss for Q1 2018 as compared to acquisitions costs of $94,123 (31.1% of reported loss) included in net loss for Q4 2017. The increase in non-recurring acquisition costs relates to the closing of Family Tree and Home Health Solutions as well as the work pertaining to the pending closing of the Eastern Canada business.

Ended Q1 2018 with a revenue run rate of $7.6 million. As of the date of this press release, Nova Leap has a revenue run rate of $9.6 million.

Closed the previously announced acquisition of Family Tree Home Care (Family Tree) on February 23, 2018 for a total purchase price of $2,100,000. The acquisition was funded using $450,000 of cash, a $1,350,000 demand loan and a $300,000 promissory note payable to the vendors. The Massachusetts operating segment contributed $372,869 to the consolidated revenues for the period from acquisition to March 31, 2018, and operating income of $32,877.

The Rhode Island operating segment contributed $434,587 to consolidated revenues ($462,831 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017), operating income of $1,592 (operating loss of $4,570 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017).

The Vermont and New Hampshire operating segment contributed $457,565 to the consolidated revenues ($428,365 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017), an operating loss of $45,565 ($58,726 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017). Management instituted some efficiency measures in the first part of the second quarter which is expected to improve the profitability of this segment starting in the third quarter.

Closed a non-brokered private placement and raised gross proceeds of $382,386 for general and working capital purposes.

Closed a brokered private placement and raised gross proceeds of $1,350,845. The proceeds were used to partially fund the acquisition of Family Tree and for general and working capital purposes.

Subsequent to quarter end, acquired Home Health Solutions, increasing the Companys footprint in Massachusetts.

Overall, I am pleased with our growth early in the year. More importantly, I believe that we have very good people working at each of our locations and that we are laying the foundation for a extremely successful organization through a number of corporate initiatives, said Chris Dobbin, President and CEO of Nova Leap, I expect us to remain very active during the remainder of 2018.

This news release should be read in conjunction with the interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2018, notes to the financial statements, and management's discussion and analysis, which have been filed on SEDAR.

Corporate Update

Nova Leap expects to close its previously announced acquisition of an Eastern Canada business and its previously announced brokered private placement by early June 2018.

Nova Leap continues to explore and evaluate opportunities for the acquisition of home care businesses. Management had previously announced plans to complete up to four acquisitions in 2018. Management now anticipates closing up to five acquisitions in 2018. Achieving the Companys plans remains dependent on Managements ability to acquire profitable home care businesses and to raise adequate funds to complete such acquisitions.

Management had previously indicated that it anticipated Nova Leap would exit 2018 with at least a $10 million revenue run rate. Management believes that it will exceed a $10 million revenue run rate by the end of Q2 2018. Management is now targeting to exit 2018 with a revenue run rate range of $14 million to $15 million.

The implementation of a common technology platform across the Companys home care agencies has begun and is expected to continue as new agencies are acquired. It is Managements intention to begin the implementation of a common brand strategy in the United States in Q3 2018.

About Nova Leap

The Home Care Providers industry is becoming one of the fastest growing healthcare industries in Canada and the United States. Home care saves patients billions of dollars every year by treating them in their own homes instead of in hospitals. An aging population, the prevalence of chronic disease, growing physician acceptance of home care, medical advancements and a movement toward cost-efficient treatment options from public and private payers have all fostered industry growth. Nova Leap is focused on a highly fragmented market of small privately-held companies providing patients one on one care in their homes. Nova Leap's post-acquisition organic growth strategy is to increase annual revenue per location through a combination of increased employee investment, including training, focused sales and marketing efforts, billing rate increases, expansion of geographical coverage, and improved referral sources.

NON-GAAP MEASURE:

Annual recurring revenue run rate is the expected annualized recurring revenue based on the most recent months actual revenue for current operations multiplied by 12.

For acquisitions that closed subsequent to the reporting period or are expected to close and have been disclosed in a press release as material information, annual recurring revenue run rate is the expected annualized recurring revenue based on the most recent months revenue for current operations multiplied by 12 plus the annual revenue based on the most recent financial information available for the newly acquired operations or operations which are expected to close and have been disclosed in a press release as material information.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION:

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding future expansions and cost savings, the Companys expected 2018 revenue run rate and plans regarding future acquisitions and financings. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions, including assumptions concerning the Companys ability to integrate its acquired businesses and maintain previously achieved service hour and revenue levels, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause results to differ from those stated in the forward-looking statements in this release include regulatory changes affecting the home care industry, unexpected increases in operating costs and competition from other service providers. All forward-looking statements, including any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, contained in this press release are made as of the date of this release and included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

For further information:

Christopher Dobbin, CPA, CA, Director, President and CEO Nova Leap Health Corp., T: 902 401 9480 F: 902 482 5177 cdobbin@novaleaphealth.com

John Boidman, Vice President Renmark Financial Communications Inc. T: 416 644-2020 or 514 939-3989 jboidman@renmarkfinancial.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.




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
Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company. It engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The company operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth; Corporate and Commercial Banking; and Insurance Holdings. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Read More
Covestro AG develops, produces, and markets polymer materials for various industries. The company operates in three segments: Polyurethanes; Polycarbonates; and Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties (CAS). The Polyurethanes segment develops, produces, and markets chemical precursors, such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and polyether polyol, which are used primarily in the furniture, construction, and automotive industries. The Polycarbonates segment provides high-performance plastic polycarbonates in the form of granules, composite materials, and semi-finished products for use in the automotive, construction, electrical and electronic, medical technology, and lighting industries. The CAS segment offers precursors for coatings, adhesives, and sealants, as well as specialties. This segment also provides polymer materials and aqueous dispersions for use in automotive and transportation, infrastructure and construction, wood processing, and furniture applications. The company markets its products through trading houses and distributors. It operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and the People's Republic of China. The company was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany.

Read More
Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Read More
In 2013, Nicolas Maduro succeeded Hugo Chavez as president of Venezuela. In the ensuing five years, Maduro relied on populism, much like his predecessor did, while driving Venezuelas economy to ruin. And yet he secured a second term over the weekend.

Just next door is Colombia, a country that stands out in South America for not having had a left-wing populist leader in over three decades. It also has an economy poised to challenge Argentina as the second-largest on the continent. With all that Colombia and Venezuela share, geographically and historically, this divergence is striking. The Paradox of Plenty The Colombia-Venezuela border is one of the few places in South America without geographic barriers delineating national boundaries. To the north, they share a sliver of lowlands. Both have expansive shores along the Caribbean Sea. Just south, the Andes extend from Colombia into Venezuela. Below that, the Orinoco Basin stretches from southeastern Colombia into central Venezuela. Their geographic similarities create an expectation that they would have similar natural advantages and disadvantages.

(click to enlarge) Except that Venezuela has a lot of oil. The U.S. Energy Information Administration believes that at 307 billion barrels, Venezuela has the most reserves in the world. It funded the countrys economic development in the 20th century and into the 21st century. The oil business was so profitable that by the end of the 1920s, less profitable activities  even essential ones like agriculture  started to wither away. Today, the government depends on oil for about half its revenue.

More than that, the government depends on oil for its own popularity. When oil prices are high, as they were early in Chavezs presidency, populist measures like high welfare spending are manageable. But when prices crash, they can bring down governments. The low prices of the 80s necessitated the austerity of the 90s, which Chavez capitalized on just as prices were rebounding. In mid-2014, just over a year after Chavezs death (Maduro was his vice president), oil prices started to fall, and Venezuela has been unstable ever since.

Colombia was not blessed with Venezuelas enormous oil reserves (though it has modest reserves of its own), something that forced the country to diversify.

To help industrialize the country, the government resorted to import substitution, a policy in which the government heavily subsidizes and protects domestic industries from more advanced foreign competition so that they can grow. Industrialization and, later, services became a large part of the Colombian economy, but unlike in Venezuela, they didnt drown out other economic activities. In addition to its modest oil reserves, Colombia has some of the largest coal deposits in the world and arable land capable of growing cash crops like coffee. Furthermore, oil didnt become lucrative for Colombia until the 1980s.

T he absence of major discoveries in recent years has kept oil an important part of Colombias economy but never induced the government to abandon a more balanced approach to economic development. Experiences With Colonialism Besides their differences in natural resources, Colombia and Venezuela had vastly different experiences under Spanish colonialism, which shaped their respective visions for independence. Both Venezuela and Colombia were part of Spains New Granada colony. (And then, for a little over a decade, present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama formed the independent country of Gran Colombia.) In the latter half of the 18th century, Spain decided to divide its American holdings into smaller organizational territories to more efficiently govern and exploit the colonies. Venezuela was given more autonomy and military authority. And because Venezuelas location makes it one of the first major points of contact with incoming ships on the Atlantic, it had more contact with Europe than other colonies. Colombia, meanwhile, was primarily used as a source of gold and other commodities bound for Spain. Its riches were heavily exploited, its outside interactions were more limited, and it had less autonomy than its neighbor to the east.

The initial fight for independence began with a military junta in Caracas and revolved around Simon Bolivars vision for a pan-American state. Bolivars political model combined monarchy, republicanism and federalism in an attempt to find the right balance between control, stability and unity. He feared that introducing too much liberty to uneducated masses would result in anarchy and thus believed in the necessity of a strong central authority. These were the views of a man raised in the Caracas elite. On the flip side, Colombia generally favored federalism immediately after independence, calculating that centralized control was too similar to the central control of Spain.

After independence, Colombia endured more than a century of disruptive competition between its liberals and conservatives. During a period known as La Violencia (1946-1958), political violence displaced the rural poor, who took up arms to try to defend themselves from constant aggression. These initial rural uprisings gave way to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and started a domestic conflict that would last over 50 years. Since then, the Colombian government has focused primarily on bringing peace to the country. This is a cause that transcends political parties and therefore has stifled extremism and prevented left-wing populists from arising.

Venezuela was living with its own kind of violence. In its first decades of independence, various strongmen fought for the right to rule. This culminated in the dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gomez from 1908 until his death in 1935. The next 15 years featured a series of coup attempts as political activists tried to introduce democracy to the country. Democracy was finally established in Venezuela in 1958, and since then, the staying power of any government has been intricately linked to the performance of the economy, which essentially means oil prices.

Despite their comparable geography and similar origins, forces guided both Caracas and Bogota toward economic management and political structures that are very different from one another. Venezuela has been set in a cycle of boom or bust with its problems buried too deep  both in its history and quite literally underground. Meanwhile, Colombias need to bring about domestic political stability after decades of infighting and to seek a more measured approach to economic development has created a comparatively less volatile political and economic system.
Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Read More
This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.

If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
The following companies are subsidiares of CVS Health: @Credentials Inc., ACS ACQCO CORP., ADMINCO Inc., AE Fourteen Incorporated, AHP Holdings Inc., AMC - Tennessee LLC, APS Acquisition LLC, ASCO HealthCare LLC, ASI Wings LLC, AUSHC Holdings Inc., Accendo Insurance Company, Accordant Health Services L.L.C., Active Health Management Inc., Administrative Enterprises Inc., AdvancePCS SpecialtyRx LLC, AdvanceRx.com L.L.C., Advanced Care Scripts Inc., Aetna, Aetna (Beijing) Enterprise Management Services Co. Ltd., Aetna (Shanghai) Enterprise Services Co. Ltd., Aetna ACO Holdings Inc., Aetna Asset Advisors LLC, Aetna Behavioral Health LLC, Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health of California Inc., Aetna Better Health of Florida Inc., Aetna Better Health of Kansas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Better Health of Missouri LLC, Aetna Better Health of Nevada Inc., Aetna Better Health of North Carolina Inc., Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma Inc., Aetna Better Health of Texas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Washington Inc., Aetna Capital Management LLC, Aetna Card Solutions LLC, Aetna Corporate Services LLC, Aetna Dental Inc., Aetna Dental of California Inc., Aetna Financial Holdings LLC, Aetna Florida Inc., Aetna Global Benefits (Asia Pacific) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bahamas) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bermuda) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Europe) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Middle East) LLC, Aetna Global Benefits (Singapore) PTE. LTD., Aetna Global Benefits (UK) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits Limited (DIFC UAE), Aetna Global Holdings Limited, Aetna Health Holdings LLC, Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Aetna Health Insurance Company, Aetna Health Insurance Company of Europe DAC, Aetna Health Management LLC, Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company, Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of Iowa Inc., Aetna Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Health of Ohio Inc., Aetna Health of Utah Inc., Aetna HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., Aetna Holdco (UK) Limited, Aetna Holdings (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Inc., Aetna Insurance (Hong Kong) Limite, Aetna Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Aetna Insurance Company Limited, Aetna Integrated Informatics Inc., Aetna International Inc., Aetna Ireland Inc., Aetna Korea Ltd., Aetna Life & Casualty (Bermuda) Ltd., Aetna Life Assignment Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC, Aetna Multi-Strategy 1099 Fund LLC, Aetna Network Services LLC, Aetna Partners Diversified Fund LLC, Aetna Pharmacy Management Services LLC, Aetna Resources LLC, Aetna Risk Assurance Company of Connecticut Inc., Aetna Rx Home Delivery LLC, Aetna Services (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Aetna Student Health Agency Inc., Aetna Ventures LLC, Aetna Workers Comp Access LLC, Alabama CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Alaska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, American Continental Insurance Company, American Drug Stores Delaware L.L.C., American Health Holding Inc., Arbor Drugs, Arizona CVS Stores L.L.C., Arkansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Badger Acquisition LLC, Badger Acquisition of Kentucky LLC, Badger Acquisition of Minnesota LLC, Badger Acquisition of Ohio LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc., Beauty Holdings L.L.C., Best Care LTC Acquisition Company LLC, Busse CVS L.L.C., CCI Foreign S.a R.L. (R.C.S. Luxembourg), CCRx Holdings LLC, CCRx of North Carolina LLC, CHP Acquisition LLC, CP Acquisition LLC, CVS 2948 Henderson L.L.C., CVS 3268 Gilbert L.L.C., CVS 3745 Peoria L.L.C., CVS AL Distribution L.L.C., CVS AOC Corporation, CVS AOC Services L.L.C., CVS Albany L.L.C., CVS Bellmore Avenue L.L.C., CVS Care Concierge LLC, CVS Caremark Advanced Technology Pharmacy L.L.C., CVS Caremark Indemnity Ltd., CVS Caremark Part D Services L.L.C., CVS Caremark TN SUTA LLC, CVS Foreign Inc., CVS Gilbert 3272 L.L.C., CVS Health Solutions LLC, CVS Indiana L.L.C., CVS International L.L.C., CVS Kidney Care Advanced Technologies LLC, CVS Kidney Care Health Services LLC, CVS Kidney Care Home Dialysis LLC, CVS Kidney Care LLC, CVS Manchester NH L.L.C., CVS Media Exchange LLC, CVS Michigan L.L.C., CVS Orlando FL Distribution L.L.C., CVS PA Distribution L.L.C., CVS PR Center Inc., CVS Pharmacy Inc., CVS RS Arizona L.L.C., CVS Rx Services Inc., CVS SC Distribution L.L.C., CVS State Capital L.L.C., CVS TN Distribution L.L.C., CVS Transportation L.L.C., CVS Vero FL Distribution L.L.C., Campos Medical Pharmacy LLC, Canal Place LLC, Care Pharmaceutical Services LP, CareCenter Pharmacy L.L.C., Carefree Insurance Services Inc., Caremark Arizona Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Arizona Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark California Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Florida Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Florida Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Hawaii Mail Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Hawaii Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark IPA L.L.C., Caremark Illinois Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Illinois Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Irving Resource Center LLC, Caremark Kansas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark L.L.C., Caremark Logistics LLC, Caremark Louisiana Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Maryland Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Massachusetts Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Michigan Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Minnesota Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark New Jersey Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark North Carolina Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ohio Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Pennsylvania Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark PhC L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Redlands Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Repack LLC, Caremark Rx L.L.C., Caremark Tennessee Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ulysses Holding Corp., Caremark Washington Specialty Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Alabama Mail Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Health L.L.C., CaremarkPCS L.L.C., Central Rx Services LLC, Claims Administration Corp., Cofinity Inc., Compscript LLC, Connecticut CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood Tennessee, Continuing Care Rx LLC, Coram Alternate Site Services Inc., Coram Clinical Trials Inc., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Alabama, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater D.C., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater New York, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Indiana, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Massachusetts, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Mississippi, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Nevada, Coram Healthcare Corporation of North Texas, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Northern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Utah, Coram LLC, Coram Rx LLC, Coram Specialty Infusion, Coram Specialty Infusion Services L.L.C., Coventry Consumer Advantage Inc., Coventry Health Care National Accounts Inc., Coventry Health Care National Network Inc., Coventry Health Care Workers Compensation Inc., Coventry Health Care of Illinois Inc., Coventry Health Care of Kansas Inc., Coventry Health Care of Missouri Inc., Coventry Health Care of Nebraska Inc., Coventry Health Care of Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Care of West Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Plan of Florida Inc., Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company, Coventry HealthCare Management Corporation, Coventry Prescription Management Services Inc., Coventry Rehabilitation Services Inc., Coventry Transplant Network Inc., D & R Pharmaceutical Services LLC, D.A.W. LLC, Delaware CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Delaware Physicians Care Incorporated, Digital eHealth LLC, District of Columbia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., E.T.B. INC., Echo Merger Sub Inc., Eckerd Corporation of Florida Inc., Employee Assistance Services LLC, Enloe Drugs LLC, Enterprise Patient Safety Organization LLC, EntrustRX, Evergreen Pharmaceutical LLC, Evergreen Pharmaceutical of California Inc., Express Pharmacy Services of PA L.L.C., FOCUS HealthCare Management Inc., First Health Group Corp., First Health Life & Health Insurance Company, First Script Network Services Inc., Florida Health Plan Administrators LLC, Garfield Beach CVS L.L.C., Generation Health L.L.C., Geneva Woods Health Services LLC, Geneva Woods LTC Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Management LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Alaska LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Washington LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Wyoming LLC, Geneva Woods Retail Pharmacy LLC, Georgia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., German Dobson CVS L.L.C., Goodhealth Worldwide (Asia) Limited, Goodhealth Worldwide (Global) Limited, Goodyear CVS L.L.C., Grand St. Paul CVS L.L.C., Grandview Pharmacy LLC, Group Dental Service Inc., Group Dental Service of Maryland Inc., Health Care Management Co. Ltd., Health Data & Management Solutions Inc., Health Re Inc., Health and Human Resource Center Inc., HealthAssuance Pennsylvania Inc., Healthagen LLC, Highland Park CVS L.L.C., Holiday CVS L.L.C., Home Care Pharmacy LLC, Home Pharmacy Services LLC, Hook-SupeRx L.L.C., Horizon Behavioral Services LLC, Idaho CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., IlliniCare Health, Indian Health Organisation Private Limited, Innovation Health Holdings LLC, Innovation Health Insurance Company, Innovation Health Plan Inc., Interlock Pharmacy Systems LLC, Iowa CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., JHC Acquisition LLC, Kansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Kentucky CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., LCPS Acquisition LLC, Langsam Health Services LLC, Lo-Med Prescription Services LLC, Lobos Acquisition LLC, Longs Drug Stores, Longs Drug Stores California L.L.C., Louisiana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., MHHP Acquisition Company LLC, MHNet Life and Health Insurance Company, MHNet Specialty Services LLC, MHNet of Florida Inc., Managed Care Coordinators Inc., Managed Healthcare LLC, Martin Health Services LLC, Maryland CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Med World Acquisition Corp., Medical Arts Health Care LLC, Medical Examinations of New York P.C., Melville Realty Company Inc., MemberHealth LLC, Mental Health Associates Inc., Mental Health Network of New York IPA Inc., Meritain Health Inc., Merwin Long Term Care LLC, MetraComp Inc., Minor Health Enterprise Co Ltd., MinuteClinic, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Alabama L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Arizona LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Florida LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Georgia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Hawaii L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Illinois LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Kentucky L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Louisiana L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maine L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maryland LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Massachusetts LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Nebraska L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Hampshire L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Mexico L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Ohio LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oklahoma LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oregon LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Pennsylvania LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Rhode Island LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of South Carolina L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Texas LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Utah L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Virginia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Washington LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Wisconsin L.L.C., MinuteClinic L.L.C., MinuteClinic Online Diagnostic Services LLC, MinuteClinic Physician Practice of Texas, MinuteClinic Telehealth Services LLC, Mississippi CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Missouri CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Montana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NCS Healthcare LLC, NCS Healthcare of Illinois LLC, NCS Healthcare of Iowa LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kansas LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kentucky Inc. (Oh, NCS Healthcare of Montana LLC, NCS Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, NCS Healthcare of Ohio LLC, NCS Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, NCS Healthcare of Tennessee LLC, NCS Healthcare of Wisconsin LLC, NIV Acquisition LLC, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Nebraska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NeighborCare Holdings Inc., NeighborCare Inc., NeighborCare Pharmacy Services Inc., NeighborCare Services Corporation, NeighborCare of Indiana LLC, NeighborCare of Virginia LLC, New Jersey CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Niagara Re Inc., North Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., North Shore Pharmacy Services LLC, NovoLogix LLC, OCR Services LLC, Ocean Acquisition Sub L.L.C., Ohio CVS Stores L.L.C., Oklahoma CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Omnicare, Omnicare Holding Company, Omnicare Inc., Omnicare Indiana Partnership Holding Company LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania East LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania West LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of the Great Plains Holding LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy and Supply Services LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of Tennessee LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of the Midwest LLC, Omnicare Property Management LLC, Omnicare of Nebraska LLC, Omnicare of Nevada LLC, Omnicare of New York LLC, Oregon CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., PE Holdings LLC, PHPSNE Parent Corporation, PP Acquisition Company LLC, PRN Pharmaceutical Services LP, PT Aetna Management Consulting, Pamplona Saude e Beleza LTDA, Part D Holding Company L.L.C., PayFlex Holdings Inc., PayFlex Systems USA Inc., Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Performax Inc., Pharmacy Associates of Glenn Falls LLC, Pharmacy Consultants LLC, Phoenix Data Solutions LLC, Precision Benefit Services Inc., Prime Net Inc., ProCare Pharmacy Direct L.L.C., ProCare Pharmacy L.L.C., Prodigy Health Group Inc., Professional Risk Management Inc., Pt. Aetna Global Benefits Indonesia, Puerto Rico CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Red Oak Sourcing LLC, Resources for Living LLC, Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Roeschens Healthcare LLC, RxAmerica, Schaller Anderson Medical Administrators Incorporated, Scrip World LLC, Sheffield Avenue CVS L.L.C., Shore Pharmaceutical Providers LLC, Silverscript Insurance Company, Soma Intimates, South Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., South Wabash CVS L.L.C., Specialized Pharmacy Services LLC, Spinnaker Bidco Limited, Spinnaker Topco Limited, Stadtlander Drug Company, Stadtlander Pharmacy, Sterling Healthcare Services LLC, Superior Care Pharmacy LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Administrative Services LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, T2 Medical Inc., TCPI Acquisition LLC, TargetPharmacy, Tennessee CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company, Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan Inc., The Vasquez Group Inc., Thomas Phoenix CVS L.L.C., Three Forks Apothecary LLC, U.S Healthcare Holdings LLC, U.S. Healthcare Properties Inc., UAC Holding Inc., UC Acquisition LLC, UNI-Care Health Services of Maine LLC, Universal American - Medicare Part D Business, Utah CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., VAPS Acquisition Company LLC, Value Health Care Services LLC, Vermont CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virtual Home Healthcare L.L.C., Warm Springs Road CVS L.L.C., Washington CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Washington Lamb CVS L.L.C., Weber Medical Systems LLC, Wellpartner LLC, West Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Westhaven Services Co LLC, Williamson Drug Company LLC, Wisconsin CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Woodward Detroit CVS L.L.C., Work and Family Benefits Inc., ZS Acquisition Company LLC, Zinc Health Services LLC, Zinc Health Ventures LLC, bSwift LLC, and iTriage LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Cummins: Anvl, Apollo FC Holdings Ltd., Atlantis Acquisitionco Canada Corporation, Atlantis Holdco UK Limited, Brammo, CIFC Worldwide Partner C.V., CMI Africa Holdings BV, CMI CGT Holdings LLC, CMI Canada Financing Ltd., CMI Canada LP, CMI Foreign Holdings B.V., CMI Global Equity Holdings B.V., CMI Global Equity Holdings C.V., CMI Global Holdings B.V., CMI Global Partner 2 C.V., CMI Global Partners B.V., CMI Group Holdings B.V., CMI Group Holdings Cooperatief U.A., CMI International Finance Partner 1 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 2 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 3 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 4 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 5 LLC, CMI Mexico LLC, CMI Netherlands Holdings B.V., CMI PGI Holdings LLC, CMI PGI International Holdings LLC, CMI Turkish Holdings B.V., CMI UK Finance LP, CMI UK Financing LP, Cherry Island Renewable Energy LLC, Consolidated Diesel Company, Consolidated Diesel Inc., Consolidated Diesel of North Carolina Inc., Cummins (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Cummins (Xiangyang) Machining Co. Ltd., Cummins Africa Middle East (Pty) Ltd., Cummins Afrique de l'Ouest, Cummins Americas Inc., Cummins Angola Lda., Cummins Argentina-Servicios Mineros S.A., Cummins Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Cummins Aust Technologies Pty. Ltd., Cummins BLR LLC, Cummins Battery Systems North America LLC, Cummins Belgium N.V., Cummins Botswana (Pty.) Ltd., Cummins Brasil Ltda., Cummins Burkina Faso SARL, Cummins CDC Holding Inc., Cummins CV Member LLC, Cummins Canada ULC, Cummins Caribbean LLC, Cummins Center of Excellence Singapore Pte. Ltd., Cummins Centroamerica Holding S.de R.L., Cummins Child Development Center Inc., Cummins Colombia S.A.S., Cummins Comercializadora S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Corporation, Cummins Cote d'Ivoire SARL, Cummins Czech Republic s.r.o., Cummins Deutschland GmbH, Cummins Diesel International Ltd., Cummins Distribution Holdco Inc., Cummins EMEA Holdings Limited, Cummins East Asia Research & Development Co. Ltd., Cummins Eastern Marine Inc., Cummins Electrified Power Europe Ltd., Cummins Electrified Power NA Inc., Cummins Emission Solutions (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Emission Solutions Inc., Cummins Empresas Filantropicas, Cummins Energetica Ltda., Cummins Engine (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine (Shanghai) Trading & Services Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine Holding Company Inc., Cummins Engine IP Inc., Cummins Engine Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Cummins Engine Venture Corporation, Cummins Enterprise LLC, Cummins Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Filtration GmbH, Cummins Filtration IP Inc., Cummins Filtration Inc., Cummins Filtration International Corp., Cummins Filtration Ltd., Cummins Filtration SARL, Cummins Filtration Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Filtros Ltda., Cummins Franchise Holdco LLC, Cummins Fuel Systems (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies Americas Inc., Cummins Generator Technologies Germany GmbH, Cummins Generator Technologies India Private Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies Italy SRL, Cummins Generator Technologies Limited, Cummins Generator Technologies Romania S.A., Cummins Generator Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd., Cummins Ghana Limited, Cummins Ghana Mining Limited, Cummins Global Financing LP, Cummins Global Technologies LLP, Cummins Grupo Comercial Y. de Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Grupo Industrial S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Holland B.V., Cummins Hong Kong Ltd., Cummins India Ltd., Cummins Intellectual Property Inc., Cummins International Finance LLC, Cummins International Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Cummins International Holdings LLC, Cummins Italia S.P.A., Cummins Japan Ltd., Cummins Korea Co. Ltd., Cummins LLC Member Inc., Cummins Ltd., Cummins Maroc SARL, Cummins Middle East FZE, Cummins Mining Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Mobility Services Inc., Cummins Mongolia Investment LLC, Cummins Mozambique Ltda., Cummins NV, Cummins Namibia Engine Sales and Service PTY LTD, Cummins Natural Gas Engines Inc., Cummins New Zealand Limited, Cummins Nigeria Ltd., Cummins Norte de Colombia S.A.S., Cummins North Africa Regional Office SARL, Cummins Norway AS, Cummins PGI Holdings Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (S) Pte. Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (U.K.) Limited, Cummins Power Generation Deutschland GmbH, Cummins Power Generation Inc., Cummins Power Generation Limited, Cummins PowerGen IP Inc., Cummins Research and Technology India Private Ltd., Cummins Romania Srl, Cummins S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Sales and Service Korea Co. Ltd., Cummins Sales and Service Philippines Inc., Cummins Sales and Service Private Limited, Cummins Sales and Service Sdn. Bhd., Cummins Sales and Service Singapore Pte. Ltd., Cummins Sinai ve Otomotiv Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cummins South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Cummins South Pacific Pty. Limited, Cummins Southern Plains LLC, Cummins Spain S.L., Cummins Sweden AB, Cummins Technologies India, Cummins Trade Receivables LLC, Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited, Cummins Turkey Motor Guc Sistemleri Sats Servis Limited Sirketi, Cummins U.K. Holdings Ltd., Cummins U.K. Pension Plan Trustee Ltd., Cummins UK Global Holdings Ltd., Cummins UK Holdings LLC, Cummins Vendas e Servicos de Motores e Geradores Ltda., Cummins Venture Corporation, Cummins West Africa Limited, Cummins West Balkans d.o.o. Nova Pasova, Cummins XBorder Operations (Pty) Ltd, Cummins Zambia Ltd., Cummins Zimbabwe Pvt. Ltd., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Costa Rica S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica El Salvador S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Guatemala Ltda., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Honduras S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins S.A., Distribuidora Cummins Sucursal Paraguay SRL, Distribuidora Cummins de Panama S. de R.L., Dynamo Insurance Company Inc., Efficient Drivetrains, Efficient Drivetrains (Beijing) New Power Technology Co. Ltd., Efficient Drivetrains (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hilite International, Hydrogenics, Hydrogenics Corporation, Hydrogenics Europe N.V., Hydrogenics GmbH, Hydrogenics Holding GmbH, Hydrogenics USA Inc., Markon Engineering Company Ltd., Nelson Burgess Ltd., Nelson Industries, Newage Engineers GmbH, Newage Ltd. (U.K.), Newage Machine Tools Ltd., OOO Cummins, Petbow Limited, Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) B.V., Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) Ltd., Power Group International Ltd., Quickstart Energy Projects SpA, Shanghai Cummins Trade Co. Ltd., TOO Cummins, Taiwan Cummins Sales & Services Co. Ltd., Worldwide Partner CV Member LLC, Wuxi Cummins Turbo Technologies Co. Ltd., Wuxi New Energy Automotive Technologies Co. Ltd., and ZED Connect Inc..
The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical, 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California, ACN Group of California Inc., AHJV, AHJV MSO, AHN Accontable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS  Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ARC Infusion, ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASI Global, ASI Global LLC, Access Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Inc., Access I.V., Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Care, Advanced Care Pharmacy, Advanced Pharma Inc., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advantage Care Network Inc., Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Sherman Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Alere Health, Alere Health Improvement Company, Alere Healthcare of Illinois, Alere Wellbeing, Alere Wellology, Alere of New York, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Healthcare of Central Florida, Ambient Healthcare of Georgia, Ambient Healthcare of Northeast Florida, Ambient Healthcare of S. Florida, Ambient Healthcare of West Florida, Ambient Holdings, Ambient Holdings Inc., Ambient Nursing Services, AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice Health Services, AmeriChoice of Connecticut, AmeriChoice of New Jersey, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Amil Lifesciences Participacoes Ltda., Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., Apothecary Shop of Phoenix Inc., AppleCare Medical Management, AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., AssuranceRx, AssuranceRx LLC, Athens ASC Holdings LLC, Audax Health Solutions, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Patient Access Program Inc., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Avella of Austin Inc., Avella of Columbus Inc., Avella of Deer Valley Inc., Avella of Denver Inc., Avella of Gilbert Inc., Avella of Las Vegas II Inc., Avella of Orlando Inc., Avella of Phoenix III Inc., Avella of Sacramento Inc., Avella of Scottsdale Inc., Avella of St. Louis Inc., Avella of Tampa LLC, Avella of Tucson II Inc., Avella of Tucson Inc., Aveta Arizona, Aveta Health Solutions Inc., Aveta Inc., Aveta Kansas City, Aveta Tennessee, AxelaCare Health Solutions, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA  Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO  Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS  Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI  Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care  Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho  Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho  Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star  Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco  Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB  Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology (UK) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (US), Optum Health & Technology (US) LLC, Optum Health & Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US), Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US) Inc., Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health Services (Canada) Ltd., Optum Health Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions (UK) Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services, Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio, Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs, Optum Labs Dimensions, Optum Labs Dimensions Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs International (UK) Ltd., Optum Life Sciences (Canada) Inc., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Nevada Accountable Care Organization LLC, Optum Operations (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 703 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Public Sector Solutions, Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket, Optum Rocket Inc., Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services, Optum Services (Ireland) Limited, Optum Services (Puerto Rico) LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Solutions do Brasil  Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Optum Technology, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Women's and Children's Health, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360, Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO Florida LLC, OptumCare ACO Holdings LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Health Plan of California Inc., OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Holdings New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Financial Services, OptumHealth Financial Services Inc., OptumHealth Holdings, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight, OptumInsight Holdings, OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx, OptumRx Administrative Services, OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Illinois, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA, OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois, OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland, OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Puerto Rico LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Maryland, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada, OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings, OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet Services, OrthoNet Services Inc., OrthoNet West, OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the Mid-Atlantic, OrthoNet of the South, OrthoNet of the South Inc., Ovations, Ovations Inc., Oxford Benefit Management, Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Oxford Health Plans (NY) Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, P2 Lower Acquisition, P2P Link LLC, PCCCV, PCCCV Inc., PCN DE Corp., PHC Subsidiary Holdings, PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYS Holding Corp., PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI, PMSI Holdco II, PMSI Holdings, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado, PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., PacifiCare of Nevada, PacifiCare of Nevada Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Precision Dialing Services Inc., Preferred Care Partners, Preferred Care Partners Holding, Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group, Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., Premier Choice ACO, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Prime Health, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network, PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley, PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona, PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley, PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley, PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley, PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands, PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside, PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino, PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City, PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula, PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success, ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success LLC, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Medical Management, ProHealth Physicians, ProHealth Physicians ACO, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management, ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, Procura Management, Procura Management Inc., Progressive Enterprises Holdings, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical, Progressive Medical LLC, Progressive Solutions, Promotora Country S.A., Pronetics Health Care Group, Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Management Services LLC, Pueblo-SCA Surgery Center LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., Quality Software Services, QuarterMaster Newco LLC, R&H Family Fitness Unlimited LLC, Rally Health, Rally Health Inc., Real Appeal Inc., Recaudacion y Cobranzas Honodav Ltda., Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management, Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rocky Mountain HealthCare Options Inc., SC Affiliates LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA California Surgical Holdings LLC, SCA Capital LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA EHSC Holdings LLC, SCA EWASC Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Nashville ASC LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA SSC Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Center of Cullman LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Partners LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Mokena Properties LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-ND VBP Inc., SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Shelby Development Corp., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Wilmington LLC, SCA-Wilson LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SPINETRACK 20/20 Inc., SRPS LLC, SXC Comet, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Savvysherpa Administrative Services LLC, Savvysherpa Asia Inc., Savvysherpa LLC, Scanner Centromed S.A., ScripNet, ScriptSwitch Limited, Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Senior Care Partners, Serquinox Holdings LLC, Serquinox LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Limitada, Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Limitada, Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., SharedClarity LLC, Shelby Surgery Properties Inc., Sierra Health Services, Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company, Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options, Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products, Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators, Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sirona Infusion, Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam  Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad Editorial para la Ciencia Limitada., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria S.A., Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Southwest Medical Associates, Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center of Bakersfield L.P., Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits, Specialty Benefits LLC, Spectera, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA, Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Spotlite, Spotlite Inc., St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, StoneRiver P2P Link, StoneRiver Pharmacy Solutions, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Streamlines Health LLC, Summit Home Infusion, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Clarksville L.P., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of Spokane LLC, Surgery Center of Summerlin LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Center of Vero Beach Inc., Surgery Center of Wilmington LLC, Surgery Center of Wilmington Properties LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Belleville LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings, Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, Symphonix Health Insurance, Symphonix Health Insurance Inc., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologias de Informacion en Salud S.A., The Advisory Board (Chile) SpA, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Lewin Group, The Lewin Group Inc., The Magan Medical Group, The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Thousand Oaks Endoscopy Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys, Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, TriMed LLC, Trinity Infusion, Trio Motion LLC, Tucson Arizona Surgical Center LLC, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UHC Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UHC Global Health Services BC Ltd., UHC International Services, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings (Ireland) Limited, UHCG Services (Ireland) Limited, UHCG  FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHIC Holdings, UHIC Holdings Inc., UICI Funding Corp. 2, UMR, UMR Inc., USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors L.L.C., USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD Administrative Services, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD CT (Mo), USMD Cancer Treatment Centers, USMD Cancer Treatment Centers GP, USMD Diagnostic Services, USMD Holdings, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Inc., USMD PPM, USMD PPM LLC, USMD of Arlington GP, Ultima Rx, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Administrative Services, Unison Health Plan of Delaware, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A., United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Management Services Inc., United Resource Networks IPA of New York, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., UnitedHealth Advisors, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Finance Inc., UnitedHealth Group Global Healthcare Services Limited, UnitedHealth Group Global Services, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group Information Services Private Limited, UnitedHealth Group International Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth Group International GP, UnitedHealth Group International L.P., UnitedHealth International, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealth UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Canada Limited, UnitedHealthcare Global Medical (UK) Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare India Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia, UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International I S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International V S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VI S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Services Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas, UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida, UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky, UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England, UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York, UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma, UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas, UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah, UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington, UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands, UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UpFront Insurance Agency LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings, Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO, Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network, Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vida Tres Internacional S.A., Vidaintegra S.A., Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., WebInsure Benefits LLC, WellMed Medical Management, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida, WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., WellMed Networks  DFW, West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, WillowB Labs LLC, Wilmington ASC LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, Your Health Options Insurance Services, Your Health Options Insurance Services Inc., Your Partner in Health Services, divvyDOSE, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative, inPharmative Inc., and ppoONE.
A first of its kind in Armenia, the COAF SMART educational center opened today in Debed, a rural community in the countrys Lori Province.

The Center will provide residents of Armenias rural communities an opportunity to obtain a non-formal education and skills development, offering free training in information technology, art, communication, ecology, healthy lifestyle, business and civic skills.

The construction and operation of the center has been financed by American-Armenian entrepreneur Garo Armen, founder of the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF).

Armen, born in Turkey, has lived and worked in the United States, where he was awarded the Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016. Hes also a Doctor of Physical Chemistry, with a degree from New York University.

The SMART structure consists of two parts - the SMART center (2230 square meters) and the SMART town (20 hectares), with rooms for guests.

According to the Children of Armenia Foundation, SMART can serve up to 250 people a day.

In an interview with Hetq, Garo Armen spoke about his frequent conversations with his grandmother about the hardships that Armenians have faced. Many years later, when Armen visited Armenia and toured the villages, he met with the youth and saw great untapped potential in rural communities.

"I realized that if these talented young people were provided with resources, they would be able to create a better future and a stronger community," says Garo Armen.

COAF has been working in rural communities of Armenia for 14 years, implementing health, education and social programs for children.



Photo by Lusine Saghumyan

Garo Armen says that SMART is not one of the Foundation's usual projects. It has more ambitious and progressive goals.

Children and young people from rural communities will learn programming, robotics, creative expression, innovative arts, about renewable energy, social responsibility, career development and more in the center. At the same time, parents and grandparents of these children will be able to acquire skills in agriculture, garbage processing, food, preventive care and other areas.

Garo Armen has his own vision of a strong and developed rural community, but he thinks that he should not intervene in the thinking of young people living in the villages. He says its better to provide the youth with necessary resources to fulfill their own vision instead.

Armen says the situation in communities will change along with changes in the world in the next 5-10 years. By investing and creating diverse educational opportunities, human potential will be used more efficiently, which, as Armen believes, will become the key to the development and strengthening of Armenian communities.

"The future, I think, should be a dream. Now, if you ask me if I can describe that dream clearly, I will say no. That dream should be accomplished through the people living in the villages, since their lifestyle is different from ours. Unless I move to the village and start living there, I do not have the right to tell them how to live, " says Armen.
The following press release, issued by Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, summarizes his recent meeting in Yerevan with his French counterpart, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Dear colleague,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am glad to welcome my French counterpart, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his delegation, who arrived in Armenia on an official visit. It is worth noting, that Mr. Le Drian is the first Foreign Minister to visit Armenia after the internal political developments and formation of the new government. The visit of Mr. Le Drian is also symbolic as it happens when Armenians all over the world celebrate the centennial of establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.

The programme of Minister Li Drian's visit is quite rich, since prior to the press conference he has already visited the Tzitzernakaberd Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, as well as made an entry in the commemorative book of honourable guests. Then, together, we visited the Memorial of Musa Ler. The salvation of Musaler Armenians is also one of the important manifestations of the Armenian-French friendship.

To tell the truth, that visit to Musaler was really a very emotional moment, and I think, that together we have had quite an interesting experience of sharing that emotional moment.

Later, the Minister will meet with President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Today, we can undoubtedly state that the privileged relations between Armenia and France are anchored in the traditional friendship and mutual support of the Armenian and French peoples.

Since independence, we have always felt the support and friendship of France and can proudly state that the privileged relations between Armenia and France are at a high level, and the constant political dialogue, regular state visits at the level of heads of states, deep cooperative ties in different spheres, close collaboration in international structures, and, of course, the existence of a vibrant French-Armenian community attest to it.

We have had a very fruitful discussion with my counterpart on many issues of our bilateral agenda, on cooperation in various international formats, and touched upon the expansion of the legal framework.

The agenda of our meeting included the upcoming state visit of President Macron to Armenia this fall.

We have also held a detailed discussion on our bilateral trade and economic relations, and in that context, we have acknowledged with my colleague that despite of the existing achievements, our cooperation in this sphere, having more potential and development prospects, nevertheless is still inferior to the level of political relations. We exchanged thoughts on joint steps aimed at giving  fresh momentum to bilateral trade and economic ties. French companies have made significant investments in the economy of Armenia and we are ready to create the most favourable conditions for new French investors.

We really paid quite much attention to these issues. It is our common interest to see much more tangible results on Armenian-French trade, economic and investment cooperation. I think, there are prerequisites for it. But, naturally, I will not get ahead of it. What is important is instead of speaking about them, rather see and immediately benefit from them. We think that soon that will have its substantial and practical expression.

I am pleased to note that today we have already signed an agreement on establishment and operation of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Investment and Promotion Company for Economic Cooperation (Proparco) in Armenia.

We talked about such key components of our relations as decentralized cooperation, educational and cultural ties, as well as joint programmes and initiatives in these areas.

Armenia attaches great importance to the opening of the National Center of Armenian Memory in Paris as well as to the initiative of establishing a French cultural Centre in Yerevan on the basis of Charles Aznavour Centre.

It is encouraging that the Armenian TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies has become a source of inspiration, and that there are plans to establish a similar centre in Paris, which in the future will become one of the bridges strengthening our friendship.

Various joint projects in tourism, agriculture, education, culture, healthcare and other spheres are being implemented each year within the frameworks of about seven dozens of mutual cooperation agreements signed between the cities and regions of Armenia and France.

Both Armenia and France are proud of the French University of Armenia, one of the most successful examples of our close cooperation in the field of education, the university which is in highest demand in Armenian education system. One of my sons is also a graduate of this high-ranking university. I am a parent, so to say, who confirm the fact. It is very important that the educational institution is expanding: this year already it is planned to open/establish a new faculty.

Speaking more extensively about new cooperation in the educational field, I am very glad about the fact that we mutually recognize the substantial potential of Armenia for a quite tangible and strong cooperation in the field of education. We have potential, we have quite an interesting examples of creative education to fulfill and direct this institutional and creative education: that is, a quite strong positions of the French University in our educational system, as well as our capability to pass our experience.

Our attention was focused on the preparations for the Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie to be held in Yerevan in October. In this context, we have reiterated the commitment of Armenia to properly organize and hold this important event, as well as reaffirmed the highest level participation of the French side and active engagement in the works of the summit.

We exchanged views on the Armenia-EU cooperation, the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and the emerging new perspectives for Armenian-French cooperation in this format. Naturally, this is one of the important questions of our mutual agenda as well.

The Nagorno-Karabakh issue has been touched upon in the course of our meeting. Armenia values the joint efforts exerted by France together with other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries - Russia and the United States, aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context, we reaffirm Armenia's commitment to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We agreed with my colleague that for the success of the process it is crucial to have an environment conducive to peace.

We had a detailed exchange of thoughts with regards the developments over the Iranian nuclear programme and resolution of the Syrian crisis.

Before turning the floor to my colleague, I would like to congratulate all of us on the occasion of the Republic Day. A century ago, thanks to the unity and unwavering spirit of the Armenian people, the centuries-old cherished desire of the Armenian people to restore the independent statehood became a reality - the Armenian statehood, based on the values of democracy.

I really would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of us. This symbolic fact that the Foreign Minister of our friendly country and nation is in Armenia this very day is very important. I want to thank you once again, Minster, and to give the floor to you.

Photo (from left): Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan
At the Sardarapat Memorial outside Yerevan, former Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan told reporters covering celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the first Armenian republic, that one hundred years ago all sectors of the Armenian nation united and achieved victory; a victory that would serve as the basis for victories to come.

When one reporter noted that the anniversary of the first republic was being celebrated in a new Armenia, Ohanyan said: There is no Armenian in the world who has followed recent events and wasnt amazed at the energy of the youth, at those developments that must serve as an example to all.

The former defense minister said that Armenias political and geo-political leadership must work in a new way, in a legal way, and that he was sure that new government would do so.

When asked to comment on the view held by some that Movses Hakobyan, recently removed from the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, was one of those responsible for the losses the Armenian military incurred during the 2016 Four Day War with Azerbaijan and should not have been appointed Chief Military Inspector, Ohanyan replied Hakobyan was a seasoned military general and that the minor mistakes of the past should not be rehashed.

Were talking about the same time period when I was defense minister. We shouldnt talk about the minor shortfalls of the April War. We achieved victory because of the valor shown by officers and soldiers, and we must build the future of the army on that basis.

When asked if he believes that the loss of 800 hectares of land to Azerbaijan during those four days can be considered a minor shortfall, Ohanyan said the Armenian military was able to thwart the main aims of Azerbaijan.

Our army closely monitors the movement of positions. The change of positions and anti-assault operations later on were curtailed due to political decisions. Our army today is ready to resolve any problem it faces, whether defensive or offensive, Ohanyan said.
Traders body CAIT on Monday said it has approached the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against the Walmart-Flipkart deal, stating that it will create unfair competition and an uneven level playing field for domestic players.

New Delhi: Traders body CAIT on Monday said it has approached the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against the Walmart-Flipkart deal, stating that it will create unfair competition and an uneven level playing field for domestic players.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said the deal would deny market access to non-preferred sellers and impact small traders on offline platform. The confederation has "filed its objection petition in CCI against the Walmart-Flipkart deal," it said in a statement.

"The merger of two companies will create an unfair competition and uneven level playing field and will indulge in predatory pricing, deep discounts and loss funding," it alleged.

It also claimed that Flipkart is a combination of exclusive tie-ups and preferential sellers, where even online vendors face discriminatory conditions. Walmart, it said, would sell its inventory on the platform of flipkart.com either directly or through a web of associated preferred sellers.

"This will create an unhealthy competition much to the disadvantage of both offline and online sellers," CAIT said, adding that this transaction would result in vertical integration which no other player in India would have.

"The complainant apprehends that the deal is bound to circumvent established laws and FDI (foreign direct investment) policy of the government since the ultimate object of Walmart is to enter the retail trade of the country and in the absence of any policy on e-commerce or retail trade, it would be easy for them to reach out to retail market," it added.

Earlier this month, Walmart Inc had announced the acquisition of 77 per cent stake in Flipkart for about USD 16 billion (Rs 1.05 lakh crore) in the largest e-commerce deal which will give the US retailer access to the Indian online market that is estimated to grow to USD 200 billion within a decade.
As per the existing process of law under the PMLA, ED could only confiscate the assets once the trial in a case finishes.

New Delhi: The enforcement directorate (ED) is set to move a special court in Mumbai to seek permission for immediate confiscation of about Rs 7,000 crore assets of designer diamond jeweller Nirav Modi under the recently promulgated Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance.

The agency, empowered by the government, will seek an official declaration to categorise Nirav Modi as a fugitive based on its prosecution complaint (charge sheet) filed before a special court in Mumbai last week under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

On May 24, ED had filed its first charge sheet in the over $2 billion PNB fraud case involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and his associates stating that over Rs 6,400 crore of bank funds were allegedly laundered abroad to dummy companies by him and others.

A total of 24 accused have been listed in the charge sheet, filed under section 45 of the PMLA, including Nirav Modi, his father, brother Neeshal Modi, sister Purvi Modi, brother-in-law Mayank Mehta and the designer jewellers firms  Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds and Diamonds R Us.

The special court is expected to take cognisance of the 12,000-page charge sheet on Monday and the counsel for the agency will subsequently seek its permission to invoke the provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance against Modi and immediately begin the procedure to confiscate all the assets of and linked to Modi in India and abroad, a senior official said.

A court-issued non-bailable warrant is already pending against Modi and ED has also moved the Interpol to get a global arrest warrant issued against him, sometime back. The agency will initiate the same action against absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya, against whom enforcement directorate and CBI had filed their respective charge sheets last year.

It is expected, the official said, assets worth Rs 7,000 crore could be confiscated in the money laundering and the PNB fraud corruption case against Nirav Modi, under the stringent fugitive offenders ordinance.

The central probe agency had recently begun the work to bring together the existing cases of high-value fugitives and bank loan defaulters for getting them notified under the new legislation.

As per the existing process of law under the PMLA, ED could only confiscate the assets once the trial in a case finishes, which usually takes a long time of many years.

The ordinance is aimed at deterring economic offenders from evading the process of law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.

The government brought the ordinance last month as there have been instances of economic offenders fleeing the jurisdiction of Indian courts, anticipating the commencement, or during the pendency, of criminal proceedings, the government said.

The rationale behind the law, the government had said, was the absence of such offenders from Indian courts, which hampers investigation and wastes court time and undermines the rule of law.

The existing civil and criminal provisions in law are not entirely adequate to deal with the severity of the problem, it had said.

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 12 but couldnt be taken up due to logjam in Parliament over different issues. With Parliament being adjourned sine die, an ordinance was proposed. The cabinet on April 21 approved the ordinance and the President gave his assent to promulgation of the same day.

The ordinance makes provisions for special courts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to declare a person as a fugitive economic offender.
Softbank has announced its decision to sell 21 per cent stake in Flipkart to Walmart as part of USD 16 billion deal.

New Delhi: Softbank has announced its decision to sell 21 per cent stake in Flipkart to Walmart as part of USD 16 billion deal.

The income tax department, waiting for the Walmart-Flipkart deal to close with a finality, thinks Softbank decision to sell its stake is also liable to taxation, according to people in the know of the development.

The double taxation avoidance treaties with various jurisdictions will also come into play. So, we will have to see under what clause they are covered. So, we are not going to cover everyone in the same clause. Let us get the deal final picture and papers first on details of each transaction made, said an official.

The announcement of Softbank clears the uncertainty whether SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son would actually exit the online marketplace or not. Walmart had said earlier this month said that it would take control of Flipkart, Indias largest e-commerce company, for USD 16 billion. Son had wavered on whether to sell his Vision Funds 21 per cent stake to Walmart as part of the deal.

Sons indecisiveness had reportedly stemmed from two factors - the significant tax liability involved was one of them. Experts say a big chunk of Son's $4 billion could end up as taxes.

Short-term capital gains tax in the hands of foreign investors is 40 per cent while long-term capital gains tax is lower.

The tax department, has already written a letter to Walmart "sensitising" them about the extant provisions and offered them the assistance that they can get their tax liability computed under Section 195 (2) and other provisions as well.

We have apprised them the exant provisions of the law and several other clauses also -- Section 9 (1), section 5 apart from section 195 (2). They can get their chargeable income determined by that section 195 (2) and also covered by various applicable sections. But at the moment they must come forward to know the process and quantum of the witholding tax they may have to provide on what they have discloed so far. Now the Softbank deal with Walmart will also come under liability, an official said.

Tax expert Abhishek Rastogi says as per Section 9(1)(i) of the IT Act, any income accruing or arising, whether directly or indirectly, inter-alia, through the transfer of a capital asset situated in India, shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India.

The withholding tax in cases of such indirect transfers might vary from 10-40 per cent, depending on the exact nature of transfer with some exceptional situations of full tax exemptions.

The overall tax impact could be approximately USD 1.6-USD 6.4 billion. The exact withholding tax figures will be clear only once the acquisition filings come in the public domain and after factoring international tax exemption treaties.

Singapore-registered Flipkart Pvt Ltd holds majority stake in Flipkart India. As per the definitive agreement between the companies, Walmart will acquire about 77 per cent stake in the Singapore entity for USD 16 billion. The agreement will effectively result in transfer of ultimate ownership in Flipkart India to Walmart.

This attracts Section 9(1) of the Income Tax law, which deals with indirect transfer provisions, but will have to be seen if the benefits under the bilateral tax treaties with countries like Singapore and Mauritius, could be available for foreign investors selling stakes to Walmart. SoftBank's fund is registered in Jersey, USA, there is no Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
The NCLAT will hear on Tuesday the plea of Reliance Communications which has challenged NCLT's decision to start insolvency proceedings against it on a petition by Swedish telecom equipment major Ericsson.

New Delhi: The NCLAT will hear on Tuesday the plea of Reliance Communications which has challenged NCLT's decision to start insolvency proceedings against it on a petition by Swedish telecom equipment major Ericsson.

The plea of Anil Ambani-run RCom was mentioned on Monday before the bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), seeking an urgent hearing on the issue. It has directed that the matter be listed for hearing on Tuesday.

"The appeals filed in the NCLAT against the NCLT orders admitting RCOM, RITL and RTL to the debt resolution process and appointment of the Interim Resolution Professional, were mentioned for urgent hearing today," RCom said in a regulatory filing.

It added: "The NCLAT has fixed the appeals for hearing on Tuesday, May 29, 2018." Major lenders, including China Development Bank, State Bank of India and Standard Chartered Bank, have been formally impleaded to the appeal proceedings before NCLAT, it added.

Last week, RCom had approached the appellate tribunal along with its subsidiaries - Reliance Telecom Limited (RTL) and Reliance Infratel Limited (RITL) . On May 15, the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had admitted an insolvency petition filed by Ericsson against Reliance Communications and two of its subsidiaries seeking to recover unpaid dues.

Ericsson, which had signed a 7-year deal in 2014 to operate and manage RCom's nationwide telecom network, had alleged that it had not been paid the dues.

Last September, the Swedish company had filed a petition in the NCLT's Mumbai bench seeking liquidation of the telecom operator to recover Rs 1,150 crore that RCom allegedly owes it.
Around 250,000 tonnes of the output is consumed locally, making up for 36 percent of Indias demand.

New Delhi: London-listed Vedanta Resources hopes to restart its copper smelter in a southern Indian city and still wants to double its capacity despite protests demanding its closure that killed 13 people this week, a company executive told Reuters on Friday.

The companys position comes a day after the state of Tamil Nadu, where the smelter is located, said it was seeking a permanent closure of the plant due to allegations that it pollutes the air and water of the locality.

Were not in that stage to look at setting up a plant elsewhere, P Ramnath, chief executive of Vedantas India copper business, said in an interview.

Were confident that we will be able to overcome these issues. It will certainly require a huge effort but I am sure we can hope to restart as quickly as possible.

The plant, in the coastal city of Thoothukudi, has been shut since late March for maintenance and pending a renewal of its license, even as locals continued largely peaceful protests demanding its permanent shutdown.

The opposition escalated on Tuesday when thousands of people marched towards a local government office on the 100th day of the protest. Ten people died in police firing that day; three more died in subsequent days.

Ramnath said the smelter suffered from a perception that it was the most polluting industry in Thoothukudi because of its size, and that support of the local community would be important to restart the plant and double its capacity, as suggested by Vedantas billionaire chairman Anil Agarwal.

Our chairman has said that we need the license to operate, but also we need to build bridges with the local community so that we get their license to operate as well, he said.

But at this point of time the atmosphere is very tense, temperatures are high.

Legal option

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board cut the power to the smelter on Thursday, saying that last week it found the company preparing to resume production without permission.

Ramnath denied the allegation.

There was no reason for making preparations to restart the plant when we are still under maintenance that happens once in four years, he said.

Ramnath said the company was considering legal options to get power restored to the smelter, which produces 400,000 tonnes of copper a year.

Around 250,000 tonnes of the output is consumed locally, making up for 36 percent of Indias demand. The rest is exported to countries such as China.

Vedanta wants to double the smelters capacity mainly to meet Indias rising copper demand, which Ramnath expects to grow by up to 10 percent annually. The expansion would, however, be delayed from its earlier completion target of late 2019.
Britain risks a shortage of electric cars after Brexit as carmakers will lose an incentive to sell low-emission vehicles there, a Brussels-based think-tank warned.

Brussels: Britain risks a shortage of electric cars after Brexit as carmakers will lose an incentive to sell low-emission vehicles there, a Brussels-based think-tank warned.

Because British sales will no longer count towards carmakers' EU carbon dioxide targets, they may choose to sell to other European countries instead, the Transport and Environment (T&E) group warned.

Britain was the third largest market for zero emission vehicles in the EU last year and the largest for plug-in hybrids, the group said in the report obtained by AFP.

"Carmakers may simply opt to dump their less efficient models in the UK market," said Cecile Toubeau of T&E. A shortage of electric and hybrid cars would be a blow to the British government's claims that it is aiming for a so-called "Green Brexit" with environmental standards equal to or higher than those in the remaining 27 EU nations, the group said.

Brexit also risks hitting the wider British car industry, the group warned. Up to 6,700 British auto sector jobs -- one tenth of the current workforce -- could be lost if Britain leaves the EU without a full divorce deal, T&E said.

A so-called "Hard Brexit" would see cars manufactured in Britain becoming 10 percent more expensive if they had to be traded under World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariffs, it said. Vehicle components would be 4.5 per cent more expensive.

"This loss of competitiveness, along with the administrative burden and delays linked to increased customs checks, could be a strong incentive for relocating to the EU," it said.

The fate of British auto production after Brexit has been a major concern for Prime Minister Theresa May, who has pleaded for certain economic sectors to be allowed to keep seamless trade links to Europe.

In March the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said that Britain's biggest manufacturing sector -- most of which is foreign owned -- was at a serious risk of disruption with Brexit.
As per government data, price of petrol rose to its highest levels in the last two years of UPA regime.

New Delhi: The ruling BJP-led NDA government could have a tough time convincing the electorate that it deserves a second term in 2019, if one measures electoral fortunes of political formations based on public perception built over rising fuel prices ahead of general elections.

The previous Congress-led UPA government had lost the elections in 2014 when petrol prices had soared in September 2013 to Rs 83.67. This is almost identical to price trends under the current NDA government now when petrol prices have already crossed all-time high levels and have shot up to Rs 85.93 in Mumbai and may rise further till September the in absence of any duty cut by the Centre and the states.

In the past, skyrocketing onion prices had political parties in tears. But In 2013, prices rose up to Rs 100 per kg in north India. Expensive edible bulb did the Congress Delhi and Rajasthan. History says onion prices played a big role in unseating the first non-Congress government at the Centre in 1980

This coincidence should not be brushed aside by the ruling party that is looking to win the 2019 elections again riding high on continuing popularity of prime minister Narendra Modi. Public perceptions change fast and if the current price rise continues, it would be difficult to tone down public anger and get their favour in the form of votes again, said an official of oil marketing firm not willing to be named.

As per government data, price of petrol rose to its highest levels in the last two years of UPA regime. In Mumbai, petrol price reached Rs 78.57 in May 2012 and again reached its peak at Rs 83.62 in September 2013. Though UPA lost elections on several other issues in 2014, its inability to control fuel prices played a big role.

What is interesting is that petrol reached its highest point in FY13 and FY14 when average crude price of Indian basket stood at a staggering $107.97 and $105.52 a barrel respectively. Moreover, during those two years the central exercise duty the two products worked out to be lesser by Rs 10 a litre on petrol and Rs 11 a litre on diesel. This meant that despite high global oil prices, UPA could manage to keep fuel price at relatively manageable levels through a mix of higher subsidies and lower duty.

Contrast this with oil price situation now, it becomes ample clear that NDA government is focusing more on preventing its revenue sources by keeping excise duty on petrol and diesel high than offering consumers lower fuel prices.

Highest petrol price Mumbai stood at Rs 79.99 (on October 3) in 2017, while the average crude oil price of Indian basket stood at an average of mere $56.43 in FY18. In 2018, petrol price in Mumbai has already reached Rs 85.93 a litre on May 27, considering that average price of crude stood at $69.30 in April and is expected to close a tad higher at $72 a barrel in May.

There is ample scope to provide relief to consumers even if only Centre takes the forward step and cuts excise duty. We should remember that NDA government raised excise duty on nine occasions between November 2014 and January 2016 increasing its excise collections from mere Rs 99,184 crore in FY 15 to Rs 2,42,691 crore on FY17 and almost similar collections in FY 18. Now its time for cuts and there should not be any reluctance, said a member of oil consumers association .

The high levels of oil subsidy during UPA regime was on account of government compensating OMCs for selling petrol and diesel below market price during administered price regime . The government deregulated petrol prices in 2010 and diesel prices in 2014 after which OMCs are free to fix its price.
As the rising fuel price has become a matter of concern for the general public, the Economic Research Department of State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday suggested some measures to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel.

New Delhi: As the rising fuel price has become a matter of concern for the general public, the Economic Research Department of State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday suggested some measures to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel.

The report, authored by Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI, suggested following measures:

We believe finding a lasting solution to current increase in oil prices is a delicate balancing act. Our analysis shows that at the current crude prices, and extending our analysis to 19 states (overall consumption share is 93 per cent both in petrol and diesel), the states could have gained at least an additional Rs 18,728 crores of revenue - Rs 2675 crore additional revenue over and above the budget estimates of states revenue for every USD 1 per barrel increase in oil prices.

Given that these revenue, if foregone will not impact states fiscal position, we estimate that on an average, states can cut petrol prices by Rs 2.65 per litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre, if the entire revenue gain was to be neutralised. This is the most plausible scenario under the current circumstances.

Additionally, one suggestion to further rationalise the petrol and diesel prices is to consider a pricing mechanism where VAT is imposed on base price only by states and not on prices inclusive of Centre's tax. If this was the case, diesel prices could further reduce by Rs 3.75 per litre and petrol prices by Rs 5.75 per litre.

However, if this was to happen, the state will have to forego Rs 34,627 crores of tax revenue - 0.2 per cent of consolidated fiscal deficit of states.

Petrol and diesel prices continue to touch another peak for the 15th consecutive day, with the key transportation fuel being sold at Rs 78. 27 per litre in Delhi. The revised petrol prices in metropolitan cities are- Delhi: Rs 78.27 per litre; Mumbai: 86.08; Kolkata: 80.76 and Chennai: 81.11.

Meanwhile, the cost of diesel per liter has also been increased and the revised prices in Delhi are - Rs 69.17 and Mumbai Rs 73.64 per litre.
Telecom firms on Monday said the government needs to provide them a level playing field in public projects and lower levies for 'ease of doing business'.

New Delhi: Telecom firms on Monday said the government needs to provide them a level playing field in public projects and lower levies for 'ease of doing business'.

They also sought permits in a time-bound manner. "Today start-up firms raised their issue before government representative demanding that they should be given opportunity to participate in public projects," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews told reporters after a round table on ease of doing business in telecom sector.

"They said that tender conditions ask for high turnover and experience which they are unable to meet," he added. Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ramesh Abhishek represented the government at the meeting that was hosted c0-hosted by Invest India and India Mobile Congress.

Mathews said start-ups also demanded that low cost finance be made available to them and the government help to ease financial compliance rules. He further said that established player like Vodafone and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) raised issues of telecom operators related high levies and low return.

"The draft National Digital Communications Policy 2018 proposes to address most of the telecom operators issue to achieve USD 100 billion investment but operators want to know by when will it be implemented," Mathews said.

Sundararajan, he said, assured the companies that the issues of telecom sector will be addressed in time bound manner by 2022 as mentioned in the draft.

"DIPP secretary said that the government is now strictly looking to push Indian companies under 'Make in India', 'Start-up India' and taking action on tenders that are overlooking them. Both the secretaries said that all the issues that have been raised by companies will be looked at," he added.
Mumbai: Aamir Khan believes he is not a natural actor and unlike others has to work his way through a performance to reach the perfect pitch.

The actor says he has a sense of what a good performance entails but it takes him a while to embody the character.

"When I see actors like Naseer (Nasseruddin Shah), Om Puri ji, Raghubir Yadav, Dilip Kumar sahab, Amitabh Bachchan ji and Zaira Wasim, I feel they are a powerhouse. When they give their shot, there is so much belief in them and it comes out very naturally and effortlessly. I don't feel that I have that gift. I feel I have to work myself up to that level, it will take a bit of effort to reach to that level," Aamir said in a group interview.

The actor, who has completed 30 years in the film industry, says he fights through his doubts and does not mind going through multiple rehearsals if it can better the performance.

Citing the example of 'Dangal', Aamir said it took Wasim just a week to pick up the Haryanavi accent, whereas he struggled for four months to learn it.

"I am not a natural (actor). When I start my first reading I feel I am very bad, like when the reading of 'Lagaan' was happening I was like director Ashutosh Gowariker shouldn't drop me as other actors like Raghubir ji are doing good. My first reading is always pathetic and I start working on it."

But the 53-year-old star believes his biggest strength lies in the fact that he is "not scared to fail".

"I don't mind doing bad rehearsals again and again to finally discover where I am supposed to pitch. I have a good sense of performance. Everyone is not a born actor but in my case I can sense what a good performance is and I work my way there," he said.

Aamir explained his process of acting, saying the performance becomes richer when it is "layered".

"Often how we behave is not how we are feeling. In a performance, if I show I am hurt so that will be a superficial level of performance, the other way is 'I am hurt' but I don't show it and you are realise it. Acting is like layers... I feel my strength lies in my ability to understand that this character is going through a phase and how many layers I need to add to make it look good," added Aamir.

The actor says he would not call himself a method actor as he has not studied acting.

"I have my own method, my own way to finally arrive at what I am now."

Besides acting, a lot of young actors today focus on taking dance and action classes before entering in the movies and Aamir says these skills are important to enhance the overall performance.

"All this is very much part of getting ready to be an actor. Perhaps learning dancing, singing, fight or horse riding or anything is just a skill which if you have acquired in your training, it will come in good help."

He says he needs time to rehearse, especially learn his lines beforehand.

"Sanjay Dutt has photographic memory. You give him three pages, and he will look at them and keep the paper and will be ready. I don't have photographic memory, I take time. I do rehearsals for three to four months before a film (shoot). I rehearse with the director, then I do rehearsals alone. That's when I memorise my lines so that when I am on the set, I'll be ready. It should be your lines and not the writer's line. I write lines as well."

After working for 30 years, Aamir says it feels like yesterday he entered the industry.

"... When I look back, (I think) good quality performances ended up building a goodwill for me overtime. When you are consistent, only then you are able to build faith. I cannot claim I tried to do that but I did try to satisfy myself as a creative person and that ending up in building trust between me and my audience."
Mumbai: Arjun Rampal and Mehr Rampal (Jessia) have announced their separation after 20 years of marriage.

The couple issued an official statement to Bombay Times which read:

After a 20-year-long beautiful journey filled with love and beautiful memories, we would like to share that all journeys have different paths. We feel it is time for us to move on to different destinations henceforth.

We have always been solid when it has come to us, we will continue to be solid for each other and our loved ones, as we embark upon a new journey.

Both of us being extremely private people feel strange to be making this statement, but such are the circumstances of our lives. Where the truth can get distorted and lost.

We are a family, our love for each other is forever intact and we shall always be there for one another and most importantly for our children Mahikaa and Myra. We would therefore appreciate our privacy through this time. Thank all for their support.

Relationships can end, but love lives on.

We wont be commenting on this any further.
In an age where nothing is private, especially when it concerns celebrities, its surprising how some of them manage to keep their messy break-ups under wraps. And if the story does get out, they are quick to dismiss it. Like in 2015, when Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan broke up, some stories suggested that Arjun Rampal was responsible. In fact, there was also news that things had turned sour for Rampal and his wife Mehr. While Rampal lashed out at the media for spreading irresponsible stories back then, three years later the couple made their divorce official through a joint statement.

There are many who go to great lengths to keep these matters out of the press. Interestingly, even Hrithik and Sussanne chose to say things were fine until they announced their separation through a statement. Ditto with Farhan Akhtar and his wife Adhuna Bhabani, who also maintained that they were together till the day they announced their break-up through a joint statement released to the media and on social media.

Arjun and Mehr

And it is not just the bitter divorces that are never spoken about. A decade or two ago, even marriages were hush-hush as the audience preferred unmarried heroes and heroines in lead roles. Perhaps this is why when Saif Ali Khan married Amrita Singh (his first wife) in October 1991, and a Mumbai tabloid broke the story, Saifs mother Sharmila Tagore vehemently denied it.

Aamir Khan, too, got married for the first time on the day he turned 21 to Reena, who was two years younger and stayed opposite his house. The duo signed the papers at the registrars office. Reena also made a blink and miss appearance in his song Papa Kehte Hain from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

Aamir Khan

Interestingly, both Aamir and Saif dated foreigners before they officially broke up  while Aamir was involved with British author Jessica Hynes, Saif dated an Italian model Rosa Catalano.

There have been recent speculations in the media about two other actors who are not on great terms with their current spouses  one of them is linked to a co-star and the other is said to have grown out of his relationship with his wife. But these stories too are met with silence, cryptic denial or even public displays of affection to dispel such rumours.
While bats are natural reservoirs of some viruses, there are regions in the country where people even consume them. Unfortunately, there is no proper study on bats. As of now, all we can say is one should be cautious but not scared.

Panic surrounding the Nipah outbreak that claimed 13 lives in Kerala, has trickled into Bengaluru, too. Here, fruit and meat sellers are facing the brunt as consumers are filled with apprehension. The zootonic (typically exists in animals) virus, believed to be transmitted by bats, has caused upheaval in the medical fraternity. Without a proper study on the ecology of bats, researchers say merely culling the population is not the answer. Meanwhile, citizens are being told not to ignore flu symptoms, which the Nipah virus tends to mimic, report Aksheev Thakur and Abilash Mariswamy

The Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala has set off alarm in Karnataka, especially as initial reports suggested a few in Mangaluru were affected by the disease. Although they have since been given the all clear, Bengalureans remain wary about buying fruit and consuming pork as the virus is known to spread through fruit bats and pigs.

With fruit bats found in large number near Sankey Tank, in Sarjapura and near the city police commissioners office on Infantry road, people in these areas are afraid of being infected through their droplets or the fruit they may have consumed. But BBMP Commissioner, M Maheshwar Rao, says there is no cause for panic as bats in the city are not infected by the virus. He doesnt think there is any need to cull bats either. Besides apart from the Central government guidelines on Nipah, we havent got any specific instructions on culling bats or evacuating people from areas where they are known to exist, he says.

The officer has the backing of ecology researchers, who approve even the Kerala health departments decision not to cull bats. Without more evidence, culling of the bats will serve no purpose. Over 21 samples from bats and pigs were sent to Bhopal but they all turned out negative, points out Ms Kadambari Deshpande, a PhD student with ATREE, who is focusing on the ecology of bats. She also believes that as bats are responsible for pollination, culling will only impede this process.

While bats are natural reservoirs of some viruses, there are regions in the country where people even consume them. Unfortunately, there is no proper study on bats. As of now, all we can say is one should be cautious but not scared, Ms Deshpande adds.

She does admit, however, that when a Nipah outbreak was first reported in West Bengal in 2001, it was found that people were infected due to their consumption of raw date palm, which the bats relish. Mr T Ganesh, a senior fellow at ATREE points out that not all fruit bats are affected by the virus and feels the identification of colonies is imperative to controlling its spread.

Pigs are another source of fear as in 1998, when Nipah was first discovered in Malaysia, initial reports suggested that they were the host and the outbreak was stopped by mass culling of the animals. Whatever the cause of the outbreak, the virus is deadly, as going by the World Health Organisation (WHO) it claimed around 300 lives across Bangladesh, India and Malaysia between 1998 and 2008.

Dr G Arunkumar who heads the Manipal Centre for Virus Research (MCVR), says those at greatest risk are the staff treating Nipah patients in hospitals as the disease spreads among people in close contact.

Without habitat, bats incubate virus

With the Nipah virus claiming over a dozen lives in its neighbouring Kerala, Karnatakas health department has taken several precautionary measures against the spread of the virus in the state and for the treatment of those who may get infected. Its director, Dr P.L Nataraj has instructed all district hospitals to have isolation wards with three of beds ready, manned by a special doctor and nurse equipped with with masks and gloves. We have also asked the hospitals to coordinate if any case comes to their notice, he reveals.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) too issued various guidelines recently on containing the virus. For instance, if a Nipah virus (NiV) suspect is found in any hospital, be it private or government, they are expected to inform the Health Department immediately, call 104 for help, inform the health officer and distribute hand bills as part of the preventive measures. Asha workers will also be trained to create awareness among public about the virus.

Meanwhile with public concern rising - there have been 87 NiV calls to 104 Arogyavani till May 24 - the pig population in the city is being checked to ensure the animals dont become a cause for NiVs spread.

Doctors warn that some common signs and symptoms of the virus are headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, respiratory problems and confusion, which can last up to 14 to 21 days. The early symptoms can easily be confused with that of viral fever and common cold and if not taken care of, can result in a coma in a span of 24 to 48 hours.

Dr. Mahesh Kumar, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Narayana Health City says Ribavirin is the only available medicine that can control the symptoms to a certain extent if treated early. The incubation period of the virus is three to 14 days, he adds.

Ask him how the bats transmit the disease and he says that their loss of habitat is a huge reason. As the habitat of the flying fox has been destroyed by human activity, the bats get stressed and hungry, their immune system gets weaker, their virus load goes up and a lot of it spills out in their urine and saliva, he explains.

Guest Column: Focus on precaution and prevention

Nipah is a zoonotic virus, which means it typically exists in animals but sometimes can be transmitted to humans.. However, these large outbreaks are the exception as the genetic characteristics that allow the virus to flourish in one species may not be the same in another. The vast majority of viruses are probably harmless to humans. Only a small proportion has the ability to infect us and an even smaller proportion to cause disease.

Despite the recent outbreak, the Nipah virus has very limited ability to spread among humans. In fact, I believe we will be able to contain the current outbreak to Kerala. But it's important to track the Nipah virus and make sure it's not acquiring the ability to travel more easily between humans over time. Some previous outbreaks have been linked to people drinking raw date palm sap contaminated by bats, which can also transmit the virus to pigs, that in turn, can infect humans.

Virologists, who have studied Nipah in animals think that in humans, it initially targets the respiratory system before spreading to the nervous system and brain. Most patients, who die, succumb to an inflammation of blood vessels and a swelling of the brain. Cases of Nipah Encephalitis were reported from Kerala and samples were sent to the Manipal Institute of Virology which detected a lethal virus, with high levels of infectivity.

In most cases, the virus spreads by close contact and droplet infection and the treatment is limited to supportive care. So we need to concentrate more on precautionary measures and awareness to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure minimum loss of life, both of humans and animals. A hygienic and healthy living environment is important to prevent the spread of the viral infection.

Dr Ravikumar, Consultant Intensivist, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals




The first woman to join an infantry regiment unit in the United Kingdom (UK) since the ban was lifted quit after just two weeks, The Sun reported.

She was one of three women to apply to join the unit in Suffolk and was the only one found to be physically fit to train along with 44 males.

Media reports reveal she did not perform as well as her comrades in the RAF Regiment on fitness tests during an 18-week course.

"Even though she was way off the pace of most of the men, she gained a lot of respect," a source told The Mail. Adding, "She tried her best and was honest enough to admit the course was too tough for her."

It is believed she admitted "having underestimated the physical requirements of being an infantry recruit", the report revealed.

The RAF was the first service to finally open its doors to women. UK's former PM David Cameron lifted the ban on women serving in combat units back in 2016.
The bank lockers were intact and there were no holes in the wall and no signs of doors having being broken open.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu, which has been witnessing a series of bank heists over the past two months, saw a major burglary over the weekend in which the thieves looted jewels worth Rs 6 crore after striking the Bank of India branch in Tiruvallur district.

Bank officials, who opened the bank on Monday morning were initially unaware as there were no noticeable signs of a break-in having taken place.

The bank lockers were intact and there were no holes in the wall and no signs of doors having being broken open. Bank staff, however, found that the jewellery mortgaged by several customers was missing.

The bank officials subsequently registered a police complaint and informed robbers may have struck only to take the mortgaged jewels, whereas the cash in the bank chest was intact.

Police are now questioning the bank officials and staff including the branch manager and are examining the CCTV footage. The heist had happened in a busy area and seems to have been masterminded with inside information. There are signs of any locks having been opened using keys. Special police teams have been formed to crack the case, sources said.

Footage from CCTV cameras in adjacent areas are also being examined and migrant workers and night watchmen are also being subjected to questioning, police said.

Tension prevailed in the oil mill area after the news spread and customers thronged the bank questioning the staff about the reported theft.

A similar heist had occurred in a nationalised bank at Virugambakkam, which the police cracked within a week while arresting an accused from Nepal.
In this case, both the boys put the life of the complainant at great risk, as the voice record asking people to kill went viral in local WhatsApp groups.

Hyderabad: Even as massive campaigns are being organised by cops, to not believe rumours on social media, people continue to believe and share such rumours on various social media platforms, forcing the cops to initiate legal action.

On Monday, Wanaparthy police apprehended two minors aged 15 and 16 and produced them before the Juvenile Justice Board. Ms Rema Rajeshwari, superintendent of police, Wanaparthy (Additional Charge) stated that a massive educative campaign is going on in 233 villages in Wanaparthy district to create awareness among people about the potential security concerns of fake news being spread on social media.

In this case, both the boys put the life of the complainant at great risk, as the voice record asking people to kill went viral in local WhatsApp groups. We appeal to the people not to believe such rumours. Strict legal action will be taken if anybody spreads fake news, she said.

On Saturday, one Jetti Yadaiah from Manajipet of Khillaghanpur mandal approached police stating that, one Srikanth sent his and his friends photos to his WhatsApp number with a voice record.

The voice message stated that these three persons were moving in the village to kidnap children and plan to kill the kidnapped children. The voice record also said that if anybody sees them, they should kill them immediately. This WhatsApp forward was widely circulated in local groups and led to panic. Based on the complaint, Khillaghanpur police registered a case and nabbed the boys on Monday.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was appointed as AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, was given a rousing welcome at the Thiruvananthapuram airport late on Sunday night by the Youth Congress workers. (Photo: DC)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh is going to be burdensome for Kerala leader Oommen Chandy. With Assembly elections too happening there along with the national elections next year, his role is to bring back Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy. In the last elections, his YSR Congress had eaten away 27 percent of the popular votes along with his father's legacy. The group equations in Kerala will see a sea change.

Mr Chandy had been very close to the late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The AICC leadership hopes the emotional bond will help stitch a reunion. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had reposed his faith in AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, K. C. Venugopal. He did not want to repeat the same mistake in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and insisted on a senior leader like Mr Chandy. Jagan Reddy is very attached to Mr Chandy, whose Chanakya tactics is well known. He has got a knack to crack complex issues. It will help Congress regain its lost glory there, said a leader close to him.

Mr Chandy has repeatedly been reiterating that he will not hold any responsible post after the 2016 Assembly debacle. A source close to him said he was expecting an elevation to the highest decision-making body. Apart from Mr Antony, top Kerala leaders who had got a berth there include the late C. M. Stephen, the late K. Karunakaran, Vayalar Ravi and M. M. Jacob. Mr Gandhi is expected to reconstitute soon the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that he had dissolved in February. Now the million-dollar question is who'll take up the reins of "A" group that A.K. Antony entrusted with his trusted lieutenant.
Police picked up 132 men in connection with the Thoothukudi riots on May 22 and 23, according to Thoothukudi district police. (Photo: File)

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued a Government Order

(GO), directing the state Pollution Control Board to seal the Vedanta group's copper plant and close it down "permanently" following last week's violent protests during which 13 people were killed in police firing.

The Government Order (GO) said it endorsed the recent closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and also asked the TNPCB to "seal the unit and close the plant permanently".

The document cited the Constitution's directive principles of state policy (Article 48-A) enjoining protection of environment and provisions of the Water Act, 1974, to order the permanent closure of the copper factory "in the larger public interest".

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

It referred to the PCB order of April 9 refusing to renew its consent to allow Vedanta's copper smelter plant at Tuticorin to operate.

The order recalled how on May 23 the TNPCB had issued directions for closure of the unit and disconnection of power supply to it. The power supply was disconnected a day later.

Chief Minsiter K Palaniswami said the government has issued the GO in deference to the sentiments of the people.

The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days. Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mysuru: Tourism stake holders including the Hotel Owners Association in Mysuru have decided not to extend their support to the bandh called by the BJP on Monday on farm loan waiver as they feel it would cause a lot of inconvenience to tourists who are flooding Mysuru at the moment.

"The tourist flow to Mysuru had dropped by over 30 percent during the polls between April 12 and May 12 compared to previous years but has picked up now. There is 95 percent occupancy in hotel rooms during the weekends now and 85 percent during week days. Also because of the Nipah scare in Kerala, most tourists from other states are cancelling their trips to the neighbouring state and coming to Mysuru which is why the number of tourists visiting the Heritage City has increased by 30 percent compared to previous years," Hotel owners association head Mr Narayangowda said. There were as many 24,138 visitors to Mysuru Zoo on Sunday and 20,796 tourists on Saturday.

Meanwhile Sugarcane growers' association head Mr Kurbur Shanthakumar told the media in Mysuru that they had not been contacted by BJP leaders on the bandh adding that they wanted to give time to the new coalition government and hence were not extending support to the bandh. "Once the cabinet is formed, we will meet the CM and will put forth our demands," Mr Shanthakumar said.

Veteran politician JD (S) MLA Mr Adagur H Vishwanath said that it was not right for the BJP to call for a bandh without giving enough time to the new coalition government and much before the cabinet was formed. Mr Vishwanath who visited the Suttur Math seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji on Saturday and Adichunchangiri Math seer Sri Somanath Swamiji in Mysuru on Sunday, said, "If I get a ministerial berth, I will join hands with Mr Kumaraswamy and work for the development of the state, or else I will support him to help him strengthen his position," he said.
Since April 1, when the GPCL claimed possession of around 1,414 hectares of land in 12 villages of Ghogha and Bhavnagar talukas, protests are taking place in the area. (Photo: File | Representational)

New Delhi: After Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat may witness a "violent confrontation" between the state administration and villagers over the issue of lignite mining by the Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL) at Bhavnagar, warn farmer leaders.

Since April 1, when the GPCL claimed possession of around 1,414 hectares of land in 12 villages of Ghogha and Bhavnagar talukas, protests are taking place in the area.

"Gujarat is sitting on a live volcano. Not only the farmers, but the entire rural Gujarat is crying. We are part of the ongoing movement in Bhavnagar. The Kheru samaj of farmers is very strong. They are the ones spearheading the struggle and we are with them," All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Atul Anjan said.

"The state government should realise that the situation in Gujarat is not very different from the one in Tuticorin. If the government handles the situation like Tuticorin, then the state would have to face the fire," he added.

According to a state government notification, GPCL had acquired land in Badi, Hoidad, Malekvadar, Padva, Khadsaliya, Thalsar, Lakhanka, Thordi, Rampara, Surka and Aalampar villages of Ghogha and Bhavnagar rural talukas in 1997. But the villagers are yet to give up possession of the said land till date.

Farmers allege the government is completely ignoring the land acquisition law, while acquiring their land for lignite mining.

"According to the Land Acquisition Act-2013, if a land acquired for any purpose is not utilised within five years, then it has to be given back to the owner or farmers. No state government, including the one in Gujarat, is following the Act. Now the farmers of Bhavnagar are demanding that their land should remain with them as it was not utilised," AIKS leader Hannan Mollah said.

Even though the government claims to have given compensation to the farmers, the farmers allege that many of them were forced to part with their land.

"The compensation given by the government to farmers is not adequate and not all the farmers were given the compensation. The farmers have given in writing that those who took compensation were under pressure. The price of the land has gone up by 700 per cent," Anjan said.

The farmers' leaders also accused the BJP-led government at the centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being hand-in-gloves with corporates and ignoring the plight of the farming community.

The BJP government in the state and the Modi regime at the centre had given land belonging to farmers to corporates at throwaway prices and this was the reality of the Gujarat model, they alleged.

The leaders also pointed out that how the governments were ignoring the environmental hazards to "appease" the corporates in setting up plants.

"The environment ministry is just a rubber stamp. Those in the PMO make a proposal for the corporates and get the stamp of the ministry, ignoring the hazard the plant would cause to people and the environment," Mollah said.

The farmer leaders warn that taking a cue from the Tuticorin incident, the farmers will intensify their struggle in Gujarat too.

However, they also hope that the Tuticorin incident may force the state government to negotiate to calm down the "massive discontent" within the farming community.

In Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, a protest against a copper plant turned violent last week, resulting in the killing of 13 people in police firing.
Haj pilgrims from the Hyderabad embarkation point would leave for the pilgrimage in the second phase at the end of July or in the first week of August. (Photo: AFP)

HYDERABAD: All Haj pilgrims who would be performing the religious obligation this year will be accommodated in air conditioned tents in Mina where they would be staying for five days.

Telangana State Haj Committee special officer S.A. Shukhoor said that as the Haj season would witness harsh climatic conditions, the Saudi Arabian authorities had made arrangements to provide air-conditioning in all the tents.

Haj pilgrims from the Hyderabad embarkation point would leave for the pilgrimage in the second phase at the end of July or in the first week of August. There is no provision for cooking in the green category, whereas pilgrims in the Rubat and Azeezah would have this facility. Mr Abu Talha Amjad, member of the State Haj Committee, said Ramzan was the month of training for Muslims.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the spread of misleading messages over social media has become a serious cause for concern to the police, the cops have now started to address the issue using the same platform. The recently formed social media cell of the police has been countering many misleading social campaigns by unleashing counter campaigns of the facts using memes. The latest such effort was against the scaremongering over the Nipah virus. This apart, memes conveying general awareness against thefts and road safety tips are also being spread by the police on social media.

Sources at the police headquarters said that swift dissemination of information was the main aim of setting up the social media network. However, it has now become an effective tool to counter false campaigns by spreading truth. The state police have constituted social media cells in all districts as well as at the police headquarters. Police officials with skills in social media and related aspects have been deployed at the social media cell working at the police headquarters under the supervision of IG Thiruvananthapuram-range Mr. Manoj Abraham.

Official accounts of the Kerala Police have been opened on all major social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter and steps to get the official status verified is also on. A statewide WhatsApp network linking all senior police officers including district police chiefs is being managed by the social media cell at the police headquarters. All district police chiefs are managing social media accounts at the district level with all station house officers and DySPs as members. There is also a social media network at the police station level.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, 'Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, Dalits, Tribal communities.' (Photo: Screengrab/narendramodi.in)

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The interaction came as the BJP-led government completed fours years at the Centre.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has been touted as one of the most successful flagship schemes of the Modi government.

During his interaction, PM Modi said that the Ujjwala Yojana has positively impacted the lives of several people across the country.

Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, Dalits, Tribal communities. This initiative is playing a central role in social empowerment, he said.

The Prime Minister further said, Till 2014, 13 crore families got LPG connection. This means, for over six decades the figure stood at 13 crore. It was mostly the rich people who got LPG connections. In the last 4 years, 10 crore new connections have been added and the poor benefited.

Narrating an anecdote, Prime Minister Modi said, When I was young and my mother would be cooking, we remember the smoke. I also remember the pains she took so that us, her little children to inhale the smoke.

During the interaction, Suchsmita Kabata from Mayurbhanj in Odisha spoke about how Ujjwala has transformed her life. She said that due to Ujjwala Yojana she cooks faster and spend more time with her children. She also said now her children do not go hungry during monsoons and she can cook new things.

One of the women from Chhattisgarh group told PM Modi that she got her connection in 2016 and she feels that it has enhanced the quality of life for her entire family. She added that her children are particularly happy.

While interacting with a group of women from Anantnag, Prime Minister Modi said, When I was young, I had many Muslim neighbours. Many of my friends were Muslims. I remember during Ramzan, women woke up particularly early but the coming of the Ujjwala Yojana would have changed that too.

Arjuman, a woman from the Anantnag group, told the PM that Ujjwala Yojana gave them more time to pursue other things like stitching. During Ramzan in particular life has become easier thanks to Ujjwala Yojana, she added.

This is the month of Ramzan. We read the Holy Quran daily. We are going to pray daily for you and we hope that you continue to serve us as the Prime Minister, group of women from Anantnag told PM Modi.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is one of the various welfare schemes implemented by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government in key areas such as financial inclusion, affordable housing, cooking fuel, rural electrification and transportation connectivity during the last four years.

Launched by the Prime Minister on May 1, 2016 in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia, the PMUY aims to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel  Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Ensuring women's empowerment, especially in rural India, the connections are issued in the name of women of the households.

Rs 8000 crore has been allocated towards the implementation of the scheme.

Earlier this year, the Centre had revised its target to provide LPG connections to eight crore from five crore. Nearly four crore (3,98,77,723) connections have been given under the scheme so far, about 80 lakh of them in the past five months.
Pranab Mukherjee (82) has worked closely as a Congressman with both former Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and served as finance minister in the UPA II government led by ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: A top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) official has confirmed that former President Pranab Mukherjee will address 600 workers at the organisation's headquarters in Nagpur on June 7.

Mukherjee's office is however yet to issue a statement regarding the event, as reported by The Indian Express.

The address is planned for the Third Year Sangha Shiksha Varga (SSV) which began on May 13, is being attended by over 60o participants from all over the country.

We had extended an invitation to the former president to address RSS workers at our headquarters in Nagpur. He has accepted our invitation and will be present at the event, the RSS official said.

RSS leader Rakesh Sinha said that Mukherjee's acceptance to attend the event reflects that there can be dialogue on vital issues and adversaries are not necessarily enemies.

"Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva are being answered by his acceptance of invitation," Sinha added.

Mukherjee (82) demitted office of president in July 2017. Prior to that, he worked closely as a Congressman with both former Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and served as finance minister in the UPA II government led by ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh.
The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has also been named one of the key witnesses in the case. (Photo: File/PTI)

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday reserved for June 5 its order on whether to summon Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as an accused in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said he would pass the order after the counsel for prosecution said there was enough evidence to summon Tharoor.

The Delhi Police had on May 14 accused Shashi Tharoor of abetting Pushkar's suicide and told the court that he should be summoned as an accused in the four-and-half year-old case. The police also claimed that there was sufficient evidence against him.

In a nearly 3,000-page chargesheet, the Delhi police has explained why the death case is a case of abetment to suicide and cruelty.

Quoting the chargesheet, prosecution on Monday told the court, "Her statements on social media can be treated as dying declaration. Sunanda's death is due to poisoning."

The chargesheet has named Tharoor as the only accused while also alleging that he had subjected his wife to cruelty and had urged the court to summon the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has also been named one of the key witnesses in the case.

NDTV reports that nine days before she died in a luxury hotel suite on January 17, 2014, Sunanda Pushkar had written in an email that I have no desire to live all I pray for is death.

Some 27 Alprax tablets had been found in her room but it is not clear how many she took.

The chargesheet by a special investigation team states that Shashi Tharoor as a husband ignored Sunanda when she was sliding or slipping into depression and she had Alprax.

Her death, the court was told, was due to poisoning. Some 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room but it is not clear how many she had.

The 51-year-old was found dead at her suite in Leela Hotel in the national capital on the night of January 17, 2014, days after she publicly accused her husband of having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.

The Congress leader has been charged under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. Under section 498A, the maximum punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, while jail term up to 10 years is prescribed under section 306.

An FIR was registered by Delhi Police on January 1, 2015 against unknown persons under IPC section 302 (murder).

According to prosecution sources, the charge sheet has mentioned that Pushkar was allegedly subjected to mental as well as physical cruelty.

Tharoor has not been arrested in the case.

(With PTI inputs)
On the occassion, Swaraj also released a book on the achievements of the Ministry of External Affairs over the course of her tenure. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Monday addressed the media on completion of 4 years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

On the occassion, Swaraj also released a book on the achievements of the Ministry of External Affairs over the course of her tenure.

"90,000 people from Indian community have been rescued from various places. In his visits to many countries, PM has saved many people from severe punishments. Today, Indians living overseas are living peacefully," Swaraj said, also pointing out that it was shocking how the previous government did not visit any countries.

"When we formed our govt, we thought that we will cover all the 192 countries present at the UN, for ministerial level talks. And, we have covered 186 countries already," she added.

On relations with Pakistan and possibilities of peace, she said that its not like India is not ready for the talks, but it is not possible to do so if the terror on the border continues.

"Terror and talks cannot go together, be it post elections (Pakistan general elections scheduled for July 25) or even before. Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon,to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti (When soldiers are dying at the border, voices calling for discussion do not seem fit)," she said.

Swaraj also responded to questions on Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018, which alters the status of the region.

Also Read: Pak PM rejects opposition protest over Gilgit-Baltistan control order

"The answer we got in response of what happened with Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018 was laughable. They tried to teach us history. Pakistan always distorts history & doesn't believe in law. Only thing thing I felt while reading their answer was, 'look who's talking'," she said.

The External Affairs Minister also spoke on relations with China, especially after the infamous Doklam faceoff.

"I am repeating again, at the Doklam faceoff site there is no change in the situation, status quo is continuing," she said.

Swaraj also addressed some grievances that she received over Twitter.

"I got a tweet from someone who was visiting Mansarovar that they were not being allowed to take holy dip in the Mansarovar jheel. This wasn't the situation. There is always a designated place where you can take a bath, you cannot take dip just anywhere in the river," she said.

The senior BJP leader also slammed Congress for alleging detoriation in relations between India and Russia.

"Only recently PM Modi and President Putin held a successful informal summit," she said.

While responding to a question on Vijay Mallya's extradition from the, Swaraj said that PM Modi has informed British Prime Minister Theresa May that these UK courts questioning condition of jails in India is not correct as "these are the same prisons where they had jailed our leaders like Gandhi and Nehru."
Chennai: The controversy over the sexist tweet by BJP leader S Ve Shekher on journalists - you sleep around for work - has hardly died out, when another row has broken out, this time over a tweet by a ruling AIADMK functionary. The worthy named journalists as 'dogs on his Twitter handle on Monday and was promptly expelled by his party.

The AIADMK headquarters immediately issued a statement expelling the party's Kancheepuram IT wing office bearer Hari Prabhakaran, but damage was done has the tweet went viral on social media.

In a statement on Monday, party convenor O. Panneerselvam said that the act of Hari Prabhakaran, joint secretary, district information technology cell has defamed the party. Expelling Prabhakaran from the party, the statement, which was also signed by CM Edappadi Palaniswami, urged cadres not to have any ties with Prabhakaran.

Hari had tweeted, Reporters are not allowed to shoot inside the hospital during the deputy chief minister visit - street dogs who shouts for biscuits will be tied on the gate rather allowing them inside. Hari deleted the tweet and apologised stating the controversial tweet had nothing to do with the party.

The tweet was made in reference to media personnel who were covering the O Panneerselvam visit to Thoothukudi government hospital to console Sterlite police firing victims.
ALAPPUZHA: The increase in the voting percentage in Chengannur from 74.36 percent in 2016 to 76.26 now has prompted the political fronts to engage in a guessing game. The candidates of major fronts, D. Vijayakumar (UDF), Saji Cheriyan (UDF) and P.S. Sreedharan Pillai (NDA) are hopeful of a good show due to the increased voting figures. LDF candidate K.K. Ramachandran Nair had won in 2016 when 1,45,363 votes were polled out of 1,95,493,(74.36 percent)r. This was because there was tough competition between UDF candidate P.C. Vishnunath and NDA candidate P.S. Sreedharan Pillai.

While UDF tumbled to 44,897 (30.89 percent) from 65,156 (51.98 percent) in 2011, NDA made a quantum leap from 6,062 (4.84 percent) in 2011 to 42,682 (29.36percent) in 2016. K.Soman, president, BJP district committee, claims the increased percentage would favour it and we will get 60,000 votes, he said. The LDF camp is expecting 70,000 votes. Our target was 70,000 votes. Now we are confident of getting it, said R. Nazer, acting secretary, CPM district committee.

When asked about the unchanging figures of LDF in the last two elections, he said that there was triangular contest last time. This time there is no triangular contest, he said. Meanwhile, the UDF hopes that they would win. M.Liju, DCC president, said that UDF will wrest the seat with a margin of at least 5000 votes.

Cable TV networks disrupted

The Chengannur voters were deprived of the telecast by TV channels soon after the news broke that the body of Kevin, who was abducted on Sunday by a quotation gang following his marriage with his lover, was found in a river at Thenmala in Kollam. The UDF and the BJP alleged that LDF workers had cut off the cables after the Opposition took up Kevins case and blamed the chief minister for the police inaction. The Opposition hoped that the event will influence the voting. However, the LDF said the rain must have affected the network.

According to the operators, there was no glitch despite heavy rain till 12 noon. By that time, all news channels were covering the polling. However, when the mainstream news channels focused on Kevins murder, the functioning of the network was disrupted. The optical fibre cables were snapped at many places, including Chengannur municipality, Bethel junction, Pandanad, Mundankav and Mulakkuzha. The cable was found cut at Mandankav and Kallissery in the municipality. The relay was also disrupted at some other places after power connection was disconnected from power boosting points. The optical fibre cable of Asianet Cable Vision was cut at two places. The services of some of local cable TV operators were also disrupted at many place.
The police keeps mongrels as pets in the police station compound or its vicinity to help them guard the police stations, especially at night.

Hyderabad: Despite technological advancements, policemen in the rural areas depend on old practices when it comes to guarding police stations from antisocial elements.

The police keeps mongrels as pets in the police station compound or its vicinity to help them guard the police stations, especially at night. This practice was implemented strictly when Mr Swaranjit Sen was DGP of united Andhra Pradesh. He had asked the police to keep dogs after there were a few instances of the police successfully foiling extremist attacks after being alerted by the barking of stray dogs, said an inspector who worked in Nizamabad district then.

In rural areas, the police stations are located away from crowded places and are generally spread over a big area, housing barracks for policemen and residential quarters for officials. The premises are to be thoroughly guarded from any extremist or mob attack.

As the dogs are believed to be able to sense danger, the policemen feed the dogs and keep them in the vicinity of camps and police stations. During the night, when there is likelihood of an attack, the dogs are kept around the stations. On spotting any intruder or sensing any impending danger they bark continuously alerting the sentry and the cops inside the police stations said a sub-inspector working in Bhadradri Kothagudem, a Maoist violence affected district.

In districts, the police stations have camps for outside forces that come for anti-Maoist operations including combing, road opening and other tasks. Food prepared for the policemen is also given to the dogs. As food is easily available, the dogs hang around the police stations and camps all day and night, said the SI.

The practice is unofficial now, as police stations are now equipped with closed circuit cameras to monitor the vicinity. At a few offices night vision cameras have also been installed. But still the practice of keeping stray dogs continues even in the police stations on outskirts of the city where there is skeletal population in the surroundings of the police complexes, said an inspector working in Rachakonda.

Police officials say that there are several instances, in Maoist and militancy affected areas, when attacks on camps and police stations were foiled after sentries were alerted by dogs that sensed impending danger or spotted intruders in pitch darkness during the night.
New Delhi: Pakistan stands isolated on the issue of terrorism in the world today and this is the reason why they now want to talk to India, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday, adding that it is a success of Indian foreign policy.

She said talks and terror cannot go together and that there cannot be dialogue with Pakistan when there are deaths in border firings.

Referring to the national security advisors of the two countries meeting in Bangkok, she said talks on terror can, however, be held.

Why does Pakistan want to talk to India? Pakistan has been isolated in the international community due to terrorism. This is a success of the Indian foreign policy, the minister said.

We are ready for talks but there is a caveat. Talks and terror cannot go together. This has nothing to do with elections. Pakistan has to stop terrorism (from its soil). When there are deaths on the border, the sounds of dialogue do not sound nice, she said.
It said the decision on opening or closure of roads will be taken after getting feedback from the Local Military Authority on whether roads can be opened for civil traffic completely, selectively or as in the past said the order.

Hyderabad: Diluting its earlier order on reopening of all cantonment roads, the ministry of defence on Monday issued a fresh circular empowering the Army to impose restrictions in certain circumstances.

The order has come as a shocker to those who were still expecting the LMA to reopen the roads in th SCB area. The Army now gets a free hand to decide over reopening of the roads.

The defence ministry said in its statement: A freehand has been given to the Local Army Authority (LMA) to close and control access to the cantonments when there is actionable intelligence input or in case of emergencies. A simplified procedure will shortly be issued to jointly address the needs of the local public and the military establishment.

The development comes a day after defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she was willing to meet wives of Army officials, who had expressed concerns over security after the reopening on cantonment roads.

Mondays order read. Some roads were unilaterally kept closed for very long periods and a review was essential. A number of iterations were carried out with all stake holders where views expressed by all concerned were deliberated upon.

After giving due thought to the likely implications on the opening of roads, a considered decision was taken to open roads in military areas for one month and thereafter review the nature of traffic passing through these areas.

It said the decision on opening or closure of roads will be taken after getting feedback from the Local Military Authority on whether roads can be opened for civil traffic completely, selectively or as in the past said the order.

The defence ministry said Army officials and scores of families living in the quarters were under apprehension that the reopening of roads may lead to a security situation or traffic congestion.

It is clarified that this is a deliberate, calibrated and monitored exercise. The aim of opening roads in cantonments is to streamline the process of closure where required after carrying out an assessment of the nature of traffic moving through cantonments by following due procedure.
One of the parameters for the arrival of Monsoon is that the westerly winds must be up to 15,000 feet above sea level.

Hyderabad: The monsoon hit Kerala on Monday, a day earlier than predicted, marking the arrival of the rainy season in the country. The normal date of monsoon onset is June 1. The state can expect rain in a week, and relief from the sweltering heat.

Indian Meteorological Department-Hyderabad director Y.K. Reddy told this newspaper, If the progress of the monsoon is steady, Telangana state may receive its first rain between June 6 and to 8. The monsoon is likely to cover Kerala within a week and is likely to progress in the northern direction towards Rayalaseema and Telangana state in a week.

An official said the monsoon advances over the Andaman Sea normally around May 20, with a standard deviation of about one week. This year the conditions were favorable and it advanced into some parts of Andaman Sea and southeast Bay of Bengal before the forecast date, an IMD official said.

According to the IMD, if after May 10, 60 per cent of the 14 stations  Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvanant-hapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore  report rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days, the onset of monsoon over Kerala can be declared on the second day. This is one of the main parameters for the declaring the arrival of monsoon.

Besides this, the other parameters for the arrival of Monsoon should be that the westerly winds must be up to 15,000 feet above main sea level and outgoing long-wave radiation should be less than 200 wm-2 (watt per square metre).

Rain for consecutive two days have been recorded in almost all weather stations, said Mahesh Palwat of private weather forecasting agency Skymet.
Malappuram: The district administration and health department have put around 400 persons under observation as a precautionary measure against Nipah spread. A statement issued by the District Medical Officer said that persons who were in contact with Nipah victims are under constant observation. The DMO Dr. K Sakeena asked hospital authorities to inform while patients with suspected Nihpa infection are referred to other hospitals.

Patients should be shifted only with the assistance of trained health workers in specially arranged ambulances. Five special ambulances have been arranged for this purpose, the statement said. The DMO asked the public to abstain from programmes including festivals, congregations and Iftar parties. The district collector Amit Meena has ordered cancelling all government functions till further notice. The collector also asked all educational institution to remain shut up to June 6.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao returned to the city from Delhi on Monday evening without meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind as he could not secure an appointment with them.

He was to request them to approve new zonal system brought by Telangana state government to ensure jobs for locals. Mr Rao rushed to Delhi by a special flight late on Sunday soon after the Cabinet meeting approved the new zonal system to meet Mr Kovind and Mr Modi.

Mr Rao met Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, submitted a representation in this regard and returned to the city.

CMO sources said Mr Modis appointment could not be secured as he was busy with his three-day foreign trip beginning Tuesday. The President is leaving for Surat also on Tuesday.

Mr Rao had earlier planned to stay in Delhi for two or three days to meet the President and the PM. He will now go to Delhi again in the first week of June.

The representation submitted by Mr Rao to Mr Rajnath Singh stated, In order to take administration closer to the people, Telangana state government had reorganised the erstwhile 10 districts into 31 districts in 2016.

In the backdrop of formation of new state with 31 districts, there is a need to issue a fresh Presidential Order adjusting zones, multi-zones and state cadre etc, under Article 371(D) of the Constitution, the representation added.
According to sources, the assailants first attacked Shubham with sticks and a knife and later shot him dead. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: A group of armed robbers in Istanbul, Turkey, reportedly shot dead the son of TS labour department principal secretary Shashank Goel. Shubham Goel, a software engineer working in the USA, was holidaying in Istanbul with a friend, Sudhanshu.

Sources said they were confronted by a group of armed robbers who demanded money. Sudhanshu reportedly handed over the money he had on him while Shubham refused to do so. According to sources, the assailants first attacked Shubham with sticks and a knife and later shot him dead.

Shubham was in India to attend a relatives wedding on April 28 and was scheduled to return to California, USA, where he was working as deputy manager at the Federal Bank of America. Shubham and Sudhanshu, from Noida, made plans for a quick holiday in Turkey before returning to the US.

Shubhams body was brought to New Delhi on Saturday and then taken to the family home in Roorkee, Uttarakhand for the final rites. Mr Goel is learnt to have left the city for Delhi as soon as he received information about the incident. He was assisted by officials of the external affairs ministry for the return of his sons body, sources said.
TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy along with other party leaders pays tributes to Jawahar Lal Nehru on 54th death anniversary in Hyderabad on Sunday. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: The Congress has alleged that the state was in deep agriculture crisis and accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of using tactics like the Rythu Bandhu Scheme to divert people's attention from failure.

TPCC chief spokesperson Dr Sravan Dasoju gave a PowerPoint presentation at Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday, which was attended by TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, senior leaders Shabbir Ali, Geetha Reddy, Jaipal Reddy, K.R. Suresh Reddy, Kodanda Reddy and Sridhar Babu.

Elaborating on the flaws of the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, Dr Dasoju said as against the 1.01 crore acres of cultivable land, the government was distributing cheques for 1.42 crore acres. He sought to know the details of beneficiaries of additional 40 lakh acres. He said the government was giving the number of farmers as 45 lakh in some places and 58 lakh in others.

He said that the scheme might benefit only the rich and big farmers. The government gave Rs 415.15 crore to 17,98,068 farmers having one acre of land. Another Rs 877.55 crore was given to 14,34,187 farmers having less than one acre of land.

Nearly 56 per cent (32,32,355) were other farmers who got Rs 1,292.70 crore or 23 per cent of total amount. Nearly 15 per cent of farmers got 85 per cent of Rythu Bandhu funds and about 1.5 lakh farmers got only Rs 100 cheques, he said, adding: KCR is giving an ointment for a patient who needs to undergo surgery.

Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy slammed TRS government for pushing the farm sector into crisis. Due to wrong policies of TRS Government, Telangana has turned from a revenue surplus state to a debt-ridden state where farmers are the worst hit, he said.
Ahead of Kumaraswamy's Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfil it. (Photo: File)

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said on Sunday that he was at the mercy of Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of the state as his government had not received the full mandate which his party had sought in the assembly elections.

Ahead of his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfil it.

However, he reminded people that JD(S) did not get an absolute majority, which meant he and his party were rejected by the electorate.

The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farmers leaders too and how much they supported me, he said.

Mine is not an independent government. I had requested people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today, I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state, Kumaraswamy said.

The CM said he has certain compulsions as a politician. However, he has absolutely clarity on the issue of farm loan waivers, he said.

Slamming the BJP and other farmers leaders, he said there was no need for any farmers association to pressurise him (on farm loan waiver).

I am one step ahead of you to work for the farmers. You need not have to ask me for my resignation over farm loan waiver. If I fail to do that then I myself will resign from the post. Farm loan waiver is my priority. Cant you wait for a week? Even the cabinet has not been formed yet, he said.

Kumaraswamy urged farmers not to take the extreme step of committing suicide and to wait for a week as he was in the process of finding a way out to waive loans, not just of cooperative societies, but also nationalised banks.

His remarks came in the wake of BJPs call for a statewide bandh on Monday, demanding immediate waiver of farm loans, as promised by the JD(S) in their manifesto.

The JD(S) leadership has been saying they have to seek the consent of its coalition partner Congress before taking any decision.

To a question on the Congress demand that the finance portfolio be given to it, he said it was quite natural for them to ask it as some in the party believed they could deliver better.
Mumbai: By-elections to four Lok Sabha seats, including the politically significant Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, and 10 assembly constituencies across 10 states are being held today.

Besides Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh, other Lok Sabha seats that are voting are Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and the lone seat in Nagaland.

While the BJP held three of these seats, its former ally Naga People's Front (NPF) had won the Nagaland seat in 2014.

Bypoll to Kairana seat which fell vacant after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh is witnessing a direct contest between the BJP and the united opposition - Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - ahead of the 2019 general elections. The election has become crucial for the BJP as it comes against the backdrop of the party's losses in two Lok Sabha seats earlier this year - Gorakhpur and Phulpur that were considered its strongholds - after archrivals SP and BSP joined hands in a tactical electoral understanding.

The opposition hopes that by consolidating anti-BJP votes, they will repeat the success of the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha by-elections, where the ruling party suffered an unexpected defeat. The ruling BJP, on the other hand, has made an extra efforts to retain the seat to try and send a strong message to voters, party cadres as well as the opposition parties -- that the drubbing in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bye-elections was an aberration, and that it was still strong in western UP.

In Maharashtra, all four major parties - the Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP  have left no stone unturned to ensure a win as the outcome is likely to have a bearing on their future course.

The Shiv Sena has fielded late BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga's son Shriniwas Wanaga in Palghar, much to the dislike of the BJP which has in turn nominated Congress deserter Rajendra Gavit. The bypoll in Palghar was necessitated after the demise of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga in January this year.

Also Read: Voting begins for Palghar, Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha bypolls in Maharashtra

In Bhandra-Gondia, bypoll was necessitated after Nana Patole quit as BJP MP and resigned from the ruling party to return to the Congress earlier this year. The BJP is confident that it will retain the two seats while the opposition feels setbacks to the ruling party would boost the vigour of the 'anti-BJP camp' leading to new alignments in state politics.

The ruling party has locked horns with the NCP for retaining the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat while in Palghar, it is in a direct contest with its ally Shiv Sena even though the contest is multi-cornered.

In Nagaland capital Kohima, bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of Neiphiu Rio, now chief minister of the state, from the Lok Sabha to contest the Nagaland Assembly election in February.

The election is a test of strength between the candidate of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) supported by Congress and the nominee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA). The PDA, which has the NDPP and the BJP as it major constituents, has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi in the seat.

Apart from these Lok Sabha bypolls, the assembly by-elections are being held in Maharashtra (Palus Kadegaon constituency), Uttar Pradesh (Noorpur), Bihar (Jokihat), Jharkhand (Gomia and Silli), Kerala (Chengannur), Meghalaya (Ampati), Punjab (Shahkot), Uttarakhand (Tharali) and West Bengal (Maheshtala).

Besides, these bypolls, two constituencies in Karnataka  Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Jayanagar  are also heading for the polling booths to elect their Members of Legislative Assemblies. Voting had not happened in these two seats during the May 12 assembly polls.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.
Bengaluru: The JD(S)-Congress coalition may have had a smooth run so far winning the trust vote and the Speaker's post but portfolio allocation is proving to be a bed of thorns with both parties insisting on getting the prized finance portfolio.

The Congress is firm on getting finance and the JD(S) is equally determined to keep the portfolio for itself though it is flexible on other portfolios. Sources said the Congress is apprehensive about the future of some of their populist programmes, which helped them overcome anti-incumbency during the polls, under a finance minister of the JD(S) and feels it might affect their prospect in the Parliamentary elections in 2019. Besides, to streamline fiscal discipline, the JD(S) might bring in certain reforms, which may not be in the best interests of the Congress, said sources.

However, the JD(S) has its reasons for demanding the portfolio as it has made a huge commitment on waiving farmer loans. Besides, there is a need to draw up a common minimum programme and implement it too. It would therefore be important for the Chief Minister to have complete control over state finances, as the BJP led Central government is unlikely to be adopt a soft approach towards Karnataka's problems after making a swift exit from power, sources said.

Meanwhile, CM Kumaraswamy said he needed some time for waiving farmer loans, as he was at the mercy of the coalition partner, the Congress. "I was not voted to be CM by the people. I was made CM by the Congress. So, I am not at the mercy of six crore people of Karnataka but at the mercy of the Congress. To fulfill the promises, I need at least a week's time,'' Mr Kumaraswamy said.

Taking a dig at Opposition leader Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa who had called a bandh on Monday on the farmer loan issue, the CM said there was no need to provoke farmers in this regard. "He is no one to seek my resignation. If I cannot waive farmer loans and solve their problems, I will resign on my own," he said.

Mr Kumaraswamy made it clear that he had not received any call from Congress president Mr Rahul Gandhi for a meeting on Cabinet expansion or portfolio allocation and said he was going to Delhi on Monday to meet Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi. "It is a courtesy call after I took over as CM. I spoke to Mr Rahul Gandhi over phone, I will not be meeting him," Mr Kumaraswamy added.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday rushed to Delhi by a special flight to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after the state Cabinet meeting held in Pragathi Bhavan.

TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar said, Rajnath Singhs appointment with the CM has already been confirmed. We are awaiting the Prime Ministers appointment. We are expecting PMs appointment either on Monday or Tuesday.

The Cabinet also approved the scheme of life insurance for farmers through the Life Insurance Corporation of India.

Employees Association leaders G. Deviprasad, V. Srinivas Goud and Karem Ravinder Reddy were specially invited to the Cabinet meeting for discussion on new zones.
Vijayawada: In an organisational shake-up on Sunday, AICC president Rahul Gandhi removed party senior leader, Digvijay Singh as AP party affairs incharge and appointed former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy in his place.

Party general secretary Ashok Gehlot issued a statement in this regard on Sunday.

Mr Singh was appointed the AP affairs incharge in June 2013, and continued continued to be incharge of the two Telugu states until he was removed as TS affairs incharge last August.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appointed Oommen Chandy as general secretary AICC incharge of Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect. The party appreciates the hard work and contribution of Digvijaya Singh, who will be stepping down from his responsibility, said the brief statement.

Mr Singh was accused by the Telangana Congress leaders of failing to take on the ruling dispensation and of being unable to control infighting.

In AP too, state party leaders feel that Mr Singh had failed to establish his presence over the last few months even as the state was witnessing a bitter situation with the sentiment for Special Category Status (SCS) peaking. Mr Singh was not successful in galvanising the public mood to the advantage of the Congress, it was said.
Bengaluru: Five days after he was sworn in as chief minister along with his deputy, Dr G Parameshwar of the Congress, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy is yet to get a full fledged Cabinet with the process likely to drag on for another week because of differences over portfolio allocation and the fact that Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former president Sonia Gandhi are travelling to the US.

However, in a late Sunday night development, Congress in-charge for Karnataka K.C. Venugopal said that portfolios would be decided in a day or two as Rahul was available on phone 24/7 and they did not have to wait for his return.

Mrs Gandhi is reportedly headed to the US for a health check-up with Mr Rahul accompanying her.

Earlier speaking to reporters in New Delhi, former CM, Siddaramaiah dropped enough hints that portfolio allocation would be carried out only after Mr Rahul and Mrs Gandhi return from the US.

We could not discuss the matter of allocation of portfolios with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said.

"Once he returns, we will discuss with him again. It may not take a week... Maybe three-four days will be required," he told reporters in Delhi. "There are no grave differences between us (Congress) and the JD(S) but surely there are differences which we will hammer out and then we will take the formal approval of Mrs Gandhi and Mr Rahul once they return from the US," he explained.

In response to a question, Mr Siddaramaiah said the question of whether the JD(S) should have the full five- year term of the CM for itself or share it with the Congress on the basis of a 30:30 month formula, was still open for discussion. "Although we have not discussed this, we will take it up possibly in the next round of discussions," he said adding that the party had not taken any final decision on who should be inducted into the cabinet.

Meanwhile, sources in the Congress disclosed that the two partners were at loggerheads over the allocation of plum portfolios such as Finance, Home, Public Works Department (PWD), Power, Irrigation and Urban Development (Bengaluru Development).
Voting for Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll underway; Visuals from a polling booth in Shamli. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Mumbai: By-elections to four Lok Sabha seats, including the politically significant Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, and 10 assembly constituencies across 10 states are being held today.

Besides Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh, other Lok Sabha seats that are voting are Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and the lone seat in Nagaland.

In Kairana, the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress are supporting Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Ajit Singh. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Mriganka Singh, daughter of Hukum Singh whose death made the election necessary.

Apart from these Lok Sabha bypolls, the assembly by-elections are being held in Maharashtra (Palus Kadegaon constituency), Uttar Pradesh (Noorpur), Bihar (Jokihat), Jharkhand (Gomia and Silli), Kerala (Chengannur), Meghalaya (Ampati), Punjab (Shahkot), Uttarakhand (Tharali) and West Bengal (Maheshtala).

Besides, two constituencies in Karnataka  Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Jayanagar  are also heading for the polling booths to elect their Members of Legislative Assemblies. Voting had not happened in these two seats during the May 12 assembly polls.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

There have been reports of voting machine malfunction from Kairana, Punjab's Shahkot seat, Maharashtra's Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya.

Here are the LIVE updates:

05:47 pm: BJP delegation met EC officials in Delhi over reports of malfunctioning in EVMs. BJP's Arun Singh says, "we told them that we received info that EVMs worked either late or with some issues or didn't work at all in 197 booths,demanded repolling at few stations."

05:39 pm: 70.01 per cent voter turn out recorded till 5 pm in West Bengal's Maheshtala, 69 per cent in Punjab's Shahkot, 57 per cent in Uttar Pradesh's Noorpur and 40.37 per cent in Maharashtra's Palghar.

02:15 pm: According to reports, Election Commission officers have said that EVMs in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are malfunctioning due to heat wave.

02:00 pm: 19.25 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in Palghar by-poll in Maharashtra.

01:45 pm: Encountered problems and panic in the initial hours. Nothing has happened after 12 pm. The new machines are working properly. We are in consultation with Central Election Commission about extension of voting time: Dr Prashant Narnaware, Returning Officer on Palghar by-poll.

Photo: ANI | Twitter

01:40 pm: 34 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in RR Nagar assembly election in Karnataka.

01:30 pm: 44 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot assembly by-election in Punjab.

01:00 pm: Technical problems in EVMs and VVPATs clearly indicate failure of EC. If this is the situation in by-polls, think about coming Lok Sabha Elections. We've said it again and again and other parties have also agreed that elections should be conducted using ballot papers: Anil Desai, Shiv Sena.

Photo: ANI | Twitter

12:03 pm: Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha bypolls: Voting temporarily suspended for now at 35 polling booths due to faulty Electronic Voting Machines (EVM): Abhimanyu Kale, District Magistrate.

11:49 am: 31 per cent voters turnout recorded for Shahkot bypoll till 11 am, news agency ANI reported.

11:40 am: I've been continuously receiving complaints. They didn't expect so many people to come out to vote in Ramzan.Initial strategy was to hold elections in Ramzan so that people won't vote: RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan after writing to EC over faulty EVMs and VVPATs.

11:35 am: 21 per cent voting recorded till 11 am in Karnataka's RR Nagar assembly election, reports ANI.

11:25 am: Tabassum Hasan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate for Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll, writes to the Election Commission over faulty EVMs and VVPATs in around 175 polling booths across Shamli, Kairana and Noorpur.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

11:01 am: There are reports that in Noorpur, 140 EVMs are faulty, which is because they've been tampered, there are similar reports from Kairana. They (BJP) want to avenge defeat in Phulpur & Gorakhpur, which is why they want to defeat us at any cost : Rajendra Chaudhary, Samajwadi Party

10:42 am: Tabassum Hasan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate for Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll, casts her vote. "Machines are being tampered everywhere, faulty machines haven't been replaced in Muslim and Dalit dominated areas. They (BJP) think they can win polls like this. That won't happen," she said,

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

10:32 am: Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll: Instead of index fingers, middle fingers of some voters are being inked by officials to differentiate between them, as panchayat elections were held in some parts of Palghar on Sunday.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

10:01 am: 6 per cent voting recorded till 9 am in UP's Noorpur assembly by-election, reports ANI.

09:51 am: Shahkot assembly by-election: One Control Unit at 216 booth number and three VVPAT machines at booth numbers 169, 170 and 222 replaced during mock poll due to technical snag. Four VVPATs at booth numbers 27, 28, 132 and 45 replaced during actual polling.

09:38 am: 10.20 per cent voting recorded till 9 am in UP's Kairana Lok Sabha by-election, reports news agency ANI.

09:27 am: Voting underway for Nagaland Lok Sabha by-poll, visuals from a polling station in Dimapur.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

09:19 am: Maharashtra: 11 faulty EVMs reported across polling booths in Gondiya and Bhandara Lok Sabha constituencies.

09:17 am: In Meghalaya, voting underway for Ampati assembly constituency.

09:05 am: Maharashtra: Voting has not started at polling booth number 170 in Arjun-Morgaon area of Gondiya due to faulty EVM.

08:54 am: Uttarakhand: Polling agents of all political parties demand a new Electronic Voting Machines (EVM ) after mock poll at a polling booth in Sarpani was stalled due to faulty EVM.

08:26 am: Voting for Uttar Pradesh's Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll underway; Visuals from a polling booth in Shamli.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

08:21 am: Punjab: Voting underway at a polling booth in Shahkot.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

08:15 am: Bihar: Voting underway at a polling booth for Jokihat assembly bypoll.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)

08:12 am: Maharashtra: Voting underway at a polling station for Bhandara Lok Sabha by-poll seat.

(Photo: Twitter/ANI)
Bengaluru: Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, who quit the BJP recently, on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party for its approach in the recently concluded assembly election in Karnataka and its desperate attempts to buy MLAs to form the government.

At a discussion on Threat to Democracy-Constitution, the outspoken former BJP leader said that the BJP is of the firm belief that whatever the election result may be, they will form the government. The mandate does not matter for the party anymore, but the ability to buy MLAs and MPs after the elections to form the government like in Meghalaya, Goa and Manipur, he alleged.

The party tried to apply the same theory in Karnataka but failed miserably. But political developments in the state today are a rehearsal of what will happen after the Lok Sabha elections. If we don't wake up now, we are going to rue and regret the day that we remained sleeping and allowed democracy to slip out of our hands, he warned.

He said, If the meaning of stable government is a dictatorship, the country should not have a stable government.

He claimed that the BJP at the Centre is systematically manipulating all the four pillars of the Constitution and deliberately spreading fear among people so as to make them afraid for questioning the working style of the government.

The BJP is destroying democratic institutions and undermining the Constitution, which has caused great anxiety to me in the last four years. The party at the Centre not only systematically replaced facts with fiction but also uttered lies. It meticulously planned to destroy the values, conventions, practices and institutions of democracy, he said.

From Parliament to the judiciary, Election Commission to the media... all have been severely compromised. Look at the last winter session which was severely shortened just because there was an election in Gujarat.
TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy addresses the gathering at the Journalist Garjana (TUWJ) in Hyderabad on Monday. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: With complaints pouring in from several senior leaders, the Congress high command has put a brake on the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committees (TPCC) fourth phase of Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra.

As the 2019 assembly elections draw nearer, the infighting in the party has become a headache for the high command.

Telangana PCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has completed th-ree phases of the bus yatra and covered 38 assembly constituencies. He wants to cover all 119 assembly constituencies before the elections. But some senior leaders have complained that he is announcing the names of candidates during his bus yatra, which is against the party's principles.

Mr Reddy has announced the names of as many as 12 candidates. Senior Congress leaders said that the PCC has no power to announce party candidates as there is a procedure that has to be followed.

The announcement of some names has riled others in the constituency who are also in contention. For example, Mr Reddy announced former minister G. Prasad Kum-ars name as candidate for the Vikarabad assembly constituency. But former minister A. Chandr-asekhar is also aspiring for a party ticket from the same constituency.

Sources said that Mr Chandrasekhar has ma-de a complaint to the high command. Other names that the TPCC chief announced during his bus yatra were J. Raghava Reddy as Pala-kurthi candidate, Madh-ava Reddy for Narsam-pet, Sridhar Babu for Manthani and Jagga Reddy from Sangareddy constituency.

Some Congress leaders have complained that the bus yatra is useful for enhancing the image of the TPCC chief rather than the party.

Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and Te-langana Congress affairs in-charge R.C. Khuntia said the high command has directed Mr Uttam Reddy not to make any more announcements of candidates.

Speaking to this newspaper, he said that not only the TPCC chief but no party leader should announce the name of any candidate.

Chairman of the TPCC Bus Yatra appointed by the high command and former minister Shabbier Ali said that it is not correct to say that the high command has not given permission for the fourth phase of the bus yatra. He told this newspaper that the high command has appointed a committee on the bus yatra with him as chairman and Telangana CLP deputy leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy and former minister Danam Nagendar as co-chairmen, and Maheswar Reddy as convenor.

He said that they are preparing guidelines for the bus yatra and will meet and chart out the fourth phase of the bus yatra. Senior Congress-men said that the committee will prepare the route of the bus yatra but it is the high command that will give the permission to conduct it.

New Bus arrives:

The TPCC has bought a new bus for the bus yatra.

The new Bharat Benz bus which arrived at Gandhi Bhavan will be sent to Vijayawada for making internal fittings like a conference room, sofa-cum-bed, bathroom, a foldable platform that elevates through the sky roof and a speech lectern.

According to the TPCC, this will cost about Rs 1 crore.

Azad to be appointed TS Congress incharge

The Congress high command is likely to appoint former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as Telangana Congress affairs incharge. Mr Azad had played a key role in the state bifurcation in the UPA government.

AICC secretary R.C. Khuntia is currently looking after TPCC affairs. Mr Azad will be appointed as general secretary and made incharge of TPCC affairs, sources said. Mr Khuntia will likely assist Mr Azad.

On Sunday, the AICC had appointed general secretary Oomen Chandy, former Kerala chief minister, as incharge of the AP Congress.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajeds two-day India visit  to Santiniketan, Asansol and Kolkata  was an exercise in exceptional courtesy. At no point were the hosts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, made uncomfortable by Bangladeshs disappointment that the promise of fair and equitable sharing of waters from the Teesta river, which is politically perhaps the most important unresolved bilateral problem between the two neighbours, is no nearer a solution. For Bangladesh and for West Bengal, a solution for sharing the Teesta waters is as much an international issue as it is a regional and, above all, a domestic problem. The stakes for India, however, have changed. For as long as West Bengal was a state where past ruling parties at the Centre had no targets for ejecting the party in power, negotiating issues of concern with Bangladesh was a relatively easier task. Ever since the BJP has made taking over West Bengal from the Trinamul Congress a part of its pan-India domination plans, the water-sharing issue, Rohingya refugees, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, specially in Assam, have all become high-stakes issues of domestic political turf wars.

Intense as the pressure on Sheikh Hasina is to declare that a solution has been found on the sharing of Teesta waters, as a veteran at handling it over two terms in office, she was remarkably restrained during her visit. Evidently unfazed by the certainty that her principal opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, would start a huge furore over her failure and her proximity to India, Sheikh Hasina talked about many things, but not Teesta. This is a position that she adopted after 2011, when Bangladeshs interests had to yield place to Mamata Banerjees obduracy on the terms of the water-sharing deal. The one thing that she did talk about was her overall vision for Bangladesh, which holds topmost priority, of driving the country to become a small but developed economy by 2041. The success of Bangladesh in moving rapidly up the Human Development Index rankings after starting out as one of the poorest countries in 1971, is a story that should make India squirm, if it chose to be sensitive about its lack of progress.

And Sheikh Hasina recalled the role of India and Indira Gandhi in Bangladeshs liberation movement, and after the assassination of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and much of her family. By separating bilateral relations from the immediate problems of water-sharing, she demonstrated that Bangladesh has other dreams and can afford to wait. With elections coming up both in India and Bangladesh, the need to be seen working on finding a solution was important, but not urgent. Both sides appeared to have agreed that nothing could be done in haste, because whatever commitments are eventually arrived at, those would have to be implemented and that would have implications and consequences over a very long period. A water-sharing agreement would be a short-term solution, whereas it is being argued that a lasting fix should be on a management plan for shared waters between the two countries. In other words, India, meaning West Bengal, would need to propose a solution, which Bangladesh could then either accept or reject.

This alters the relationship between the two neighbours and the relative significance of the pending problems between them. It places the onus of finding a suitable formula for sharing the Teesta waters on India. On its part, Bangladesh has delivered on most of the issues that were important for India, such as closing access to insurgents on the run from the Northeast and dealing with fundamentalist Islamist militants with cross-border links. In many ways, Bangladeshs efforts, at considerable political cost to Sheikh Hasina, on dealing with Islamist fundamentalists has been a relief for India; its troubles have been largely confined to the western front. Of the remaining unfinished business with Bangladesh, almost all of it is a critical matter for Indias domestic politics. Besides water-sharing, the politics of illegal immigration in Assam is also a key issue for the BJP government in that state. Assam has initiated the process of identifying individuals who can stay and those whose claim to residence are being investigated under the amended National Register of Citizens. What happens in Assam is of concern for Bangladesh as the identity of the allegedly illegal migrants or non-citizens is described in political discourse as Muslims from across the border.

It is significant that Sheikh Hasina made the time to meet Mamata Banerjee separately and alone. On the face of it, Sheikh Hasina has effectively made West Bengal responsible for delivering the solution. While both the leaders did not reveal what had transpired at the meeting in Kolkata, it is understood that an exchange on political compulsions, including finding a solution on the sharing of Teesta waters and other matters, did take place. The change in Mamata Banerjees status from a regional leader to a person of significance on the national political scene as a challenger to the BJP has clearly not been missed by Bangladesh. The time the two leaders spent together is an indication of the emerging political dynamics in India, where Mamata Banerjee has been busy spearheading the formation of a collective of regional parties, often described as a federal front, making her a frontrunner in the formation of a multi-party government at the Centre should the combined efforts of the emerging front succeed in ejecting the Narendra Modi-led BJP from power.
One was the architect and principal bricklayer of Indian democracy and the man anointed by Mahatma Gandhi to be the countrys first Prime Minister. Jawaharlal Nehru spent more years in British jails than any other Indian nationalist and independence fighter, not excluding the Mahatma. In sharp contrast, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, an atheist who propagated the idea of a Hindu state (Hindu Rashtra), was released from Cellular Jail after submitting a mercy plea to the British. No surprise, then, that he opposed the Quit India movement. Also, in the Gandhi assassination case, he was acquitted on a narrow technicality.

And yet, in his Mann Ki Baat broadcast on Sunday, that happened to be Nehrus 54th death anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he paid respects (pranam karta hoon) to the first PM. This was damning the builder of modern India with faint praise. But worse, Mr Modi attempted to club Nehru with the progenitor of Hindutva, saying this time of year was also associated with Savarkar (born on May 28). This is a travesty, if there was one.

Speaking on the death anniversary of one of Indias greatest sons, the PM couldnt duck paying superficial homage to Nehru, though through his four years as PM he has said and done enough to display his utter disregard, even hatred, for Jawaharlal. It may have been better if Mr Modi had waxed eloquent about Savarkar, an icon for people like the present PM who believe in Hindu Rashtra, rather than a composite Indian Rashtra that was born out of a successful challenge to colonial rule.
Rating:

Move over, China. Vietnam is here! If you thought the Indian smart phone market was taken over by the Chinese, think again. Vietnam has made a humble yet impressive debut with Mobiistar coming to India with a duo of affordable selfie smart phones.

The smart phone market in India has assumed a pyramid structure, with some 15 odd companies dedicated to flagship devices that cost in excess of Rs 40,000. Then comes the mid-range segment where 15-plus players operate in the Rs 12,000 to Rs 25,000 range and finally the sub-Rs 10,000 segment that so far had seen lesser players, but now a lot of new brands are taking seriously. Mobiistar is one of them.

The brand has entered India with two devices from its Selfie Star series  the XQ Dual and the CQ. The first one comes in a 3GB + 32GB memory configuration, and a 13MP + 8MP dual front camera along with a 13MP rear camera. The 5.5-inch Full HD display sits snugly on the frame making the device lightweight and easy to hold. The CQ, on the other hand, comes in a 2GB + 16GB memory configuration, and an 8MP back, 13 MP front camera. This device comes with a triple SIM slot, and a 5-inch HD display. The XQ Dual and CQ are powered by Snapdragon 430 and 425 processors respectively.

Mobiistar, at least for now, stick with the basics, without trying too many frills. For instance, the devices come with display screens with the 16:9 aspect ratio and a UI experience which is very close to that of stock Android. Design-wise as well, it hasn't tried to do anything spectacular, no colour changing back panels and aviation grade metal! But the camera performance is pretty good, and the brand has consciously focused on group selfie enhancements and better low-light performance thanks to its innovative star light feature.

ViLTE phone

What truly sets Mobiistar's devices apart is the fact that they come equipped with not just VoLTE but also ViLTE, which is now the standard for video over LTE. XQ Dual and CQ are probably the first devices to launch ViLTE devices in India, at least in this price range. It allows you to make lag-free and better quality video and group video calls. The devices are prices at Rs 7,999 and Rs 4,999 respectively. With the bundle of features they offer, and the fact that they are ViLTE-enabled, Mobiistar has made an impressive debut in India.

IndiaTechOnline

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
"There is a certain amount of dignity to what is work so we need to have an incentive system," he said.

Microsoft's Indian-origin chief, Satya Nadella, does not believe in the "fallacy" that robots will overtake human labour and is confident that artificial intelligence (AI) will solve more problems than cause them. The 50-year-old chief of the tech major expressed optimism in the impact of technology on human lives if applied ethically, Nadella said in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.

"I don't believe in that lump of labour fallacy, we don't know all the jobs that are going to be there," he said in reference to robots versus human labour. If robots do replace humans, he says mechanisms such as universal basic income may be needed, drawing comparisons with the labour movement, but that humans will always need jobs.

"There is a certain amount of dignity to what is work so we need to have an incentive system," he said. "What I think needs to be done in 2018 is more dialogue around the ethics, the principles that we can use for the engineers and companies that are building AI, so that the choices we make do not cause us to create systems with bias that's the tangible thing we should be working on," he added. On Brexit, the Microsoft chief believes the UK has "great human capital, great industry, a great system" and therefore in the future it will continue to thrive, with some "turns".

The software giant, responsible for Windows, Office and Internet Explorer, has changed under Nadella's command, the newspaper notes. "What we have learned is to just be consistent in building trust and just making sure that you're not just measuring your success by your own success," Nadella says. On the current debate around privacy, he praised Microsoft's business model because it is based on customers being successful, and if they are successful they will pay. He said: "So we are not one of these transaction-driven or ad-driven or marketplace-driven economies."

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Real-time information of what is happening now at the place you want to go to, is a critical piece of information that is missing on the Internet.

A Pune-based startup, SMINQ, has launched what is arguably the world's first community-driven, real-time update-providing app that helps to broadcast live information from any corner of the earth. The platform also called SMINQ, lets users broadcast text, photos and even 15-second video clips as they happen, from where they happen. The company is responsible for curating content and ensuring that no fake content creeps in, by verifying the location of each post. And since all content expires 24 hours after it was posted, the feed remains up-to-date at all times.

"Real-time information of what is happening now at the place you want to go to, is a critical piece of information that is missing on the Internet, says SMINQ CEO and co-founder Shachin Bharadwaj, " How crowded is my gym? What is the most happening place tonight? We live in the 'now' -- and now, we have the ability to record it."

With co-founders Sheldon DSouza and Santhosh Nagarajan, Shachin first created SMINQ as a useful tool for some Pune hospitals... allowing patients to get real-time updates that reduced their waiting time to see a doctor. The name is an acronym for See Me In No Queue! The app exploded --to embrace some 150 clinics across four cities -- and then the wider potential as a wide-spectrum real-time update tool, hit the creators. The free app called "Sminq World's Places. Live Now" can be downloaded for Android devices at Google Play.

IndiaTechOnline

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her infant son on Sunday, with the caption: "My <3! #SundayMorning."

Washington: Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting a "tone deaf" photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her infant son on Sunday, with the caption: "My <3! #SundayMorning."

Critics were quick to point to a "zero tolerance" policy announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that authorizes border security agents to take away the children of people who enter the United States unlawfully.

The government places such children in foster homes, but Steven Wagner, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services told a Congressional committee last month the government was "unable to determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,475" minors after attempting to contact their sponsors in the last three months of 2017.

(Photo: Twitter | @IvankaTrump)

"Isn't it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? It's the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right?" tweeted comedian Patton Oswalt.

"If there were a Tone-Deaf Olympics, you would be its Michael Phelps," added John Pavlovitz, a writer.

Many others tweeted using the #WhereAreTheChildren hashtag.

Donald Trump, for his part, blamed opposition Democrats for the "horrible law" in a tweet on Saturday -- though there is no law mandating the policy and it was not immediately clear what he may have meant.
A consumer court has directed Jet Airways to pay a city resident Rs 41,500 as compensation for damaged luggage and serving meat while flying with them five years ago.

Gopinath, a resident of Girinagar, was flying from Doha to Bengaluru via Mumbai in May 2013, when Jet Airways staff refused to let him carry his luggage to the cabin. While Gopinath claimed that the luggage weighed within the permissible limits of seven kilograms, the airline disputed it.

The airline allowed their passengers to carry up to 40 kilograms (as check-in baggage), but only luggage weighing not more than seven kilos was allowed inside the flight.

When Gopinath tried to enquire with a manager if his luggage was within the permissible limit, the manager said to have ill-treated him and spoke inappropriately. He said he lost the joy of travel after the rough treatment meted out to him.

Later while flying, he discovered that the food served to him contained meat despite booking vegetarian. Gopinath claimed he also found flecks of plastic in the food. The airline offered to include Gopinath in their reward management programme as a compensation for their mistake, but he refused it.

Following the two unpleasant incidents, Gopinath also found his luggage damaged after landing in Bengaluru airport. He then decided to move the consumer court to claim damages from the airline.

On May 22, Bangalore I Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum headed by its president HR Srinivas and its member D Suresh passed the order directing Jet Airways to pay Rs 26,500 towards repairing the baggage and an additional Rs 15,000 towards litigation expenses.

If the airline failed to pay the consumer within 30 days, the court imposed an additional 12% per annum on the compensation until the airline cleared the dues in full.
Hundreds of protesters, including schoolchildren, formed a human chain on the ECC road with an appeal to protect the Pattandur Agrahara Lake and condemning the governments apathy.

Sundays protest was held mainly to highlight the incompetence of the relevant agencies to stop private builders from illegally occupying the lake and saving it from imminent destruction.

Attended by citizens of all ages from Sunday morning, protestors held placards with pithy messages and bellowing of slogans against the authorities failure to protect the lake. Residents complained that civic officials turned a deaf ear to their repeated requests to rejuvenate the lake.

The lake has been encroached on for the past 20 years. Debris and garbage are dumped regularly. Were demanding the Chief Minister to set up a High Power Committee or a Judicial inquiry to probe the lapses and take steps to save the lake, said Sandeep Anirudhan, Member of the Pattandur Agrahara RWA Federation.

Adugodi ward Corporator, Muniswamy, who also joined the protest, alleged that influential people are vying to grab the land. Officials and politicians involved in the lake encroachment are trying to usurp the property, he said.

On April 13, the High Court of Karnataka issued notices to BBMP, BDA, Lake Development Authority and the state government seeking action to clear the encroachment on the Pattandur Agrahara Lake, located in Kadugodi in Whitefield, east Bengaluru.
Moving a step towards consolidating the Quad, the Indian Air Force is set to send its Su-30MKI fighter jets to Australia for its maiden participation in the multilateral air Exercise Pitch Black 2018.

At least four to five front-line combat aircraft and one C-17 transporter will fly to Australia in July for the three-week-long air exercise between July 27 and August 17.

This will be India's maiden participation in the biggest air combat training programme in the southern hemisphere involving several other air forces, sources told DH.

In 2015, India and Australia had agreed on the IAF's participation in the multilateral war game.

Following a bilateral meeting between the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar and his Australian counterpart Kevin Andrews, the two sides gave a public statement on India's presence at Pitch Black 2016.

The IAF, however, couldn't make it because of certain operational issues.

In January this year, Australian Defence Industry Ministry Christopher Pyne confirmed India's participation at Pitch Black 2018 while giving a lecture at the National Defence College in Delhi.

Taking place once in every two years since 2006, the drill began with Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the US and grew to include France and Malaysia in 2008.

New Zealand participated for the first time in 2010, followed by Indonesia in 2012.

The United Arab Emirates also took part in 2014, followed by Canada, Germany and Netherlands in 2016.

The manoeuvres  practised largely in vast stretches of northern Australia  is to learn more about offensive counter air and defensive counter air combat in a simulated environment.

India-Australia strategic relations are slowly on the rise. The two navies began their annual maritime exercise in 2015 and a second edition took place in 2017.

New Delhi, however, didn't permit Canberra to be part of the Malabar multilateral naval exercise involving the US and Japanese Navy.

India's decision earned a rare praise from China.

India, Japan, Australia and the US are believed to have formed a Quad to tackle a rising China in the Indo-Pacific region.

But only sketchy official details on the Quad are available from any of these nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will briefly visit Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to meet his new counterpart in Malaysia, Mahathir Mohammad.

Modi will have a brief stopover at Kuala Lumpur while flying from Jakarta to Singapore. He will meet Mohammad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

Mahathir is a veteran of the South East Asian nation's politics and led the nation as prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003. He recently came out of retirement and was elected to take over the office of the prime minister again, dislodging his former protege Najib Razak.

He led Pakatan Harapan alliance of parties to victory, ending the 61-year-long rule of Barisan Nasional.

Earlier this month, Modi congratulated Mahathir after the 92-year-old became the world's oldest elected head of the government.

He is now going to be the third foreign leader and the first from outside the Southeast Asian region to meet the new prime minister of Malaysia.

His move to visit Kuala Lumpur to meet Mohammad is apparently aimed at reaching out to the new dispensation in the Southeast Asian nation early.

The two leaders are likely to review the relations between India and Malaysia and explore ways to give a fillip to bilateral trade, apart from expanding cooperation in maritime security and defence.

Modi will leave for Jakarta on Tuesday for his maiden visit to Indonesia. He will meet and hold talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday. He will then leave Jakarta for Singapore on Thursday and have a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur.

Modi will deliver the keynote address at the 17th Shangri-la Dialogue  an inter-governmental security forum held in Singapore every year  on June 1. He will also hold talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), are Strategic Partners of India. (The) Government of India attaches high importance to its relations with the ASEAN region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual ASEAN member states, within the framework of the governments Act East Policy, the MEA said in a press release issued on Monday.

The visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, the MEA added.
Now that the fever of elections in Karnataka has died down, it is time to dispassionately consider whether we need a more democratic electoral system. The poll panel seized more than Rs 182 crore worth of cash, liquor, gold, silver and drugs, which surely is just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of cases have been booked for violations of the election code of conduct. All this, a sign that money and muscle power have got rooted in the system.

But the more significant fault-line lies in the fact that the Congress, which is supposed to have lost the election, actually obtained a 38% vote share, higher than the 36.2% of the BJP. Also, the Congress got 1.4% more than the 36.6% vote-share it obtained in 2013. The irony is that while the 2013 election delivered 122 seats and a clear majority to the Congress with its 36.6% vote share, it got only 78 seats this time with a 38% vote share. The BJP, with only 36.2% vote share, cornered 104 seats.

The Congress and JD(S)+ together have a combined vote share of 56.7%, which reflects the majority will of Karnatakas electorate. But often, parties that get less than 50% vote-share end up getting a majority of the seats, and the majority of voters who voted against them would go without representation in governance.

These anomalies and unpredictable fluctuations in the number of seats obtained in relation to the vote share can be attributed to the faulty first-past-the-post (FPTP) system that we follow. If, instead of the FPTP, the Proportional Representation (PR) system was in place, there would be no difference between the percentage of votes a party got and the percentage of seats it won.

If seats were allocated as per vote share percentages, as required under the PR system, BJP would have got only 81, and not 104. Congress would have got 86 seats, and not 78, and been the single largest party. Small or regional parties which would find it difficult to get seats under the FPTP system would get representation as per their vote share in the PR system. Thus every vote counts in the PR system.

This is especially significant given that regional identities are gaining ground and coalitions are becoming the norm in Indian politics. India has multiple stakeholders and the marginalised, such as Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, etc., fail to get representation in the current system.

The SC/STs, for instance, are able to get representation only through reserved seats, provided they follow the dictates of the dominant parties that field them. This makes them representatives of their parties and not representatives of their people. And since they have to cater to the interests of everyone in the constituency, they cannot work for the interests of only their marginalised group.

Multi-member segments

In the FPTP system, only a single member is elected from each constituency, hence the great rivalry and cut-throat competition at the constituency level. But in the PR system, each constituency can be a multi-member constituency so that several parties can get representation. This will reduce to a large extent the use of money and muscle power. And since voters vote for a party, the partys ideology gains importance rather than the leaders, their caste, or their dynasties.

One had to also witness, after the Karnataka election, the corrupt and shameful attempts to poach and abduct members from the opposite parties to gain a majority, and parties had to rush to resorts with their members to prevent defections. If a member does defect or resign, when lured by an opposite party, a byelection has to be held at public expense and usually the same candidate wins under a different party banner.

The PR system, on the other hand, would give no scope for horse-trading as each party has a prioritised list of candidates and, if a person resigns, the next candidate in the party list automatically gets his place and there is no by-election. The person who resigns loses his seat and cannot just walk into another party.

The vote share obtained by a party and its corresponding number of seats remain sacrosanct in the PR system. Thus, this leads to a stable government and there will be no chance for members to bring down governments for their narrow ends.

Sadly, in Karnataka, only seven women have been able to make it to the Assembly under the FPTP system. In the party list system, it is possible to mandate internal reservation for various under-represented groups, such as women, and Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, etc., as per their population. Many countries, by mandating that every other name in the party list should be that of a woman, have managed to increase womens representation in the legislatures.

Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI) has been campaigning for introducing the PR system in India since 2008. The CERI manifesto recommends the German Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System for India. The Election Commission, too, has veered round to recommending the PR system for India. It remains to be seen if political parties realise its advantages.

(The writer is executive trustee, CIVIC Bangalore)
Senior politician and former union minister Yashwant Sinha on Sunday said it would be prudent to go back to paper ballots as electronic voting machines (EVMs) were not reliable.

Speaking during a seminar on Democracy - a threat to Constitution here, Sinha said several EVMs did not even make it to the strongrooms. There are reports that those in powerful and influential positions are ensuring that the EVMs dont make it to the counting centres. There are also reports that there are gadgets in the market, which could be used to tamper EVMs. The Election Commission of India should take note of this, he said.

Sinha said that the BJP, which had opposed Goods and Service Tax (GST), had brought the new tax regime into force. It was now answerable to the people on its change of stand, he added.
News

Aubrey equestrian and her horse inducted into elite riding club

Jake King/DRC Connie Napier feeds Troppy an apple before putting a bridle on his head. Jake King/DRC Connie Napier, 73, puts a bridle onto her 27-year-old horse, Conversano Troppy Tropina before taking her out for the day. The duo recently were inducted into the Dressage Foundation Century Club. Jake King/DRC Connie Napier, 73, poses with her 27-year-old horse, Conversano Troppy Tropina on the training grounds at Holly Barry Farm. The old dance studio mirrors on the wall behind them provide a means to perfect the dressage technique, which involves commands to the horse not intended to be visible. The duo recently were inducted into the Dressage Foundation Century Club. Photos by Jake King/DRC Connie Napier, 73, poses with her 27-year-old horse, Conversano Troppy Tropina on the training grounds at HollyBarry Farm. The duo recently were inducted into the Dressage Foundation Century Club. After passing the test to be welcomed into the club, the pair celebrated. We drank some champagne, and Troppy got some sugar cubes, Napier said.

Before he retired at HollyBarry Farm in Aubrey, Conversano Tropina traveled the globe with the world-famous Lipizzaner Stallions. He performed intricate strides, jumps and poses with the other gleaming gray horses.

Since 2010, Troppy has enjoyed a leisurely life with Connie and Randy Napier at the couples farm.

Hes is the sweetest horse, Connie Napier said. I found out that he was for sale from my dressage trainer, and I just had to buy him. Well, I ended up with two of the Lipizzaners from the show. They were closing it down, and I ended up with both of them.

Troppy was a star for years, touring arenas with the famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna and demonstrating classical dressage. Troppys troupe of dancing horses was based in Florida. There are other touring Lipizzaner shows still performing.

When Napier bought Troppy and one of his fellow show horses, she was so excited she was in tears, she said, calling every two hours to find out where his trailer was en route to Aubrey. (The other Lipizzaner, Enrico, who arrived with Troppy died of natural causes after relocating to Aubrey.)

Last week, Troppy added another honor to his resume: He and Napier were inducted into the Dressage Foundation Century Club, an honorary group for horses and riders whose combined ages are 100 years or more.

Troppy is 27, and Napier is 73.

He probably hadnt been ridden in two years, Napier said. We had to practice for the test. In fact, I think he kind of liked it. He got lots of treats and attention.

Napier has been training in dressage for decades. With its roots in the cavalries and battlefields of Europe, dressage is a formal riding discipline in which the rider moves in harmony with the horse. Accomplished riders look as if theyre communicating with the horse almost telepathically. Theres no jerking of the reins, no big leg movements to signal the animal to trot or canter. Some dressage equestrians also perform hunter jumping, guiding their horses through courses of obstacles the horse has to jump. Napier did some jumping earlier in her training, but long has concentrated on dressage.

Dressage is all about your legs, your seat and your core, Napier said. Its all in your core. Its not in your hands.

Dressage riders use their legs and seat to signal the horse to change his gait or to perform a movement. Accomplished horses and riders achieve a formal, graceful picture. The horses head is held high, neck arched and nose down, and its body is balanced with its weight toward its hind end.

I just love how beautiful it makes the horse look, Napier said. And I enjoy being able to teach the horse to perform to the best of its ability. Not all horses have the same ability, but I still love getting them to perform at their best level.

At 73, Napier still has a trainer come to her farm for lessons that last 30 to 45 minutes. She rides about five days a week.

In dressage, youre never good enough. Youre always trying to get better, Napier said. When you get out to the horse shows, youre competing with the other riders, but youre always trying to improve your score. So youre always trying to do something better. I wish I had the physical ability to do better. But Im 73, and I dont have the stamina I used to.

To get Troppy ready for his riding test, Napier got back in the saddle to practice gaits, patterns and turns. A dressage judge came to the farm on May 20 to conduct the test. Troppy and Napier had to practice turning, trotting and moving in a smooth diagonal line between points in the arena.

Troppys a little crooked sometimes, but hes still a really nice horse, Napier said.

Friends and family came to the farm to watch the test. Napier donned her jodhpurs, black riding jacket and velvet helmet for the occasion. Troppy was outfitted with a dressage saddle and bridle.

After the test, which Napier said was just a few minutes long, the judge gave the pair passing marks.

We drank some champagne, and Troppy got some sugar cubes, she said. It was a nice afternoon. Next year, Im going to test again with another of my older horses.

After the test, Troppy returned to his life as a horse of leisure. He gets to spend a few hours each day in a spot near the farms practice arena, where he can whicker at some neighboring horses. Hes separated from the other horses that board at the farm on account of his moodiness.

A lot of the Lipizzaners are stallions, but they gelded Troppy because he had trouble getting along with other stallions, Napier said.

Troppy gets a generous supply of sugar cubes, his favorite treat. When the sun climbs higher in the sky, he luxuriates in a shady stall in a barn outfitted with fans. He gets the occasional bath and grooming, too. Napiers goal is to take good care of him and see that he enjoys his golden years. Although a 27-year-old horse isnt unheard of, it is an advanced age, Napier said.

When Napier first got Troppy and his Lipizzaner cohort, she would take Troppy on the occasional ride. She found that the classical dressage he performed stuck with him.

The levade  where the Lipizzaners tuck their back legs underneath them and rear up to stand  must have been one of the last things they did during their shows because when Id turn him around to head back to the barn, well, up hed go, Napier said. He might have been a little shaky, I think. But up hed go. He must have really been something when he was going around the world with the show. I just love him.
SALT LAKE CITY  Even though the deadline for determining if four citizens initiatives qualify for the November ballot is Friday, the debate over what should go before voters is likely to continue.

"We may not know the end result even by the end of (the) week," said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, whose office oversees elections. "It may be several weeks or months of lawsuits before we find out whos on the ballot. "

There is already what is now a federal lawsuit, filed by opponents of the medical marijuana initiative, claiming that putting it on the ballot would violate the Utah and United States constitutions.

Another lawsuit was filed on May 25 in 3rd District Court by opponents of the initiative backed by Count My Vote that's intended to maintain a controversial candidate nomination process.

Voters had until April 15 to sign those and the other two initiatives now awaiting certification by the lieutenant governor's office, expanding Medicaid coverage and creating an independent redistricting commission.

Then voters had another month to change their minds and fill out a signature removal form. Opponents of both the medical marijuana and Count My Vote initiatives circulated those forms in targeted areas of the state.

To qualify for the ballot, an initiative must have more than 113,000 voter signatures  10 percent of votes cast for president in the most recent election  that meet specific thresholds in at least 26 of Utah's 29 state Senate districts.

Still up in the air is how many voters decided to remove their signatures and in which districts, something the lieutenant governor's office is sorting through.

"It might be close," Cox said during a recent interview with KSL Newsradio's Doug Wright.

State Elections Director Justin Lee said before the holiday weekend he wasn't sure if he and his staff would end up working on Memorial Day after "working overtime, late at night and through last weekend."

Each of the signature removal forms has to be verified as complete and checked against the state's voter database, Lee said. Some have been questionable, he said, "but the majority don't seem to have any big problems."

Still to be sorted out is when the actual deadline was for turning in the signature removal forms because the forms specified by May 15, but the law states it's actually before that date.

Lee said because of the court challenge, he couldn't talk specifics about the issue.

"We're going through every form," he said. "There's a few different stacks they're going into."

What goes on the ballot may ultimately be up to the courts, Lee said.

"We're proceeding forward with our job," he said. "We'll see what the courts say."

Walter Plumb, of Drug Safe Utah, the group suing over the marijuana initiative, said the battle to keep that initiative off the ballot is just getting started.

"It's not over. No, no, no," Plumb said. "We're going to the mat."

Keep My Voice filed suit late Friday against the lieutenant governor over his treatment of the initiative backed by Count My Voice, intended to strengthen the 2014 law allowing candidates a dual path to the primary ballot.

Now candidates can gather voter signatures for a place on a primary election ballot instead of participating in a political party's traditional caucus and convention system.

Keep My Voice had launched its own initiative to restore the power of political parties to sole advance candidates to a primary or even directly to a general election but dropped the effort in favor of focusing on removing voter signatures.

Brandon Beckham, Keep My Voice director and co-founder, said the group is still "cautiously optimistic" enough signature-removal forms have been submitted to stop Count My Vote's initiative from qualifying for the general election ballot.

Cox said he's as eager as anybody to find out what happens with the initiatives.

"I'm among those waiting with bated breath to try and figure this out," the lieutenant governor said. Utah hasn't even had an initiative since 2004, he said, and to have four "very close to making it on the ballot is certainly unique."
SALT LAKE CITY  Citing a "hostile" and "divisive" work environment, Salt Lake County Elections Director Rozan Mitchell has taken an unpaid leave of absence  and whether she returns will likely depend on the outcome of her campaign against her own boss.

Mitchell, a Republican, is running against longtime Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, a Democrat, in the upcoming 2018 election. Mitchell said she decided to take an extended leave of absence in April, after she said Swensen "cut her out" from decision making.

"It was a bit of a hostile work environment for me," Mitchell said, adding that she worried it was creating an "awkward" situation for other employees in the office who were told "not to come to me for any direction."

Mitchell, who has worked for the county for 13 years, said she didn't think it would be "fiscally responsible" to continue collecting a salary while not being involved in management decisions, so she decided to request leave through at least November. In the meantime, Mitchell said she's consulting for Utah County Clerk/Auditor Bryan Thompson.

"I'm sure the (Salt Lake County) office will be OK" for the upcoming primary and general election, Mitchell said. "Maybe that's a little Pollyanna of me, but I have confidence they'll do OK. Will it be picture perfect? Maybe not, but they'll do OK."

Swensen, who has led the county clerk's office for more than 28 years, said she "restructured" Mitchell's authority in the clerk's office early last year, but not because Mitchell planned to run against her.

"And she wasn't 'cut out,'" Swensen said, noting Mitchell was still invited to management meetings.

"But she would offer very little, quite honestly," Swensen said, so she wasn't worried about whether Mitchell's absence would have an impact on the upcoming election season. "It wasn't our choice that she didn't contribute. That was her choice."

Instead, Swensen said she restructured Mitchell's authority in response to long lines on Election Day in 2016  a fiasco Swensen blames on Mitchell.

"That was a travesty," Swensen said.

She accused Mitchell of implementing a plan "without my sign off" to have poll workers update information on provisional ballots at the polls. After it started causing long delays, Swensen said Mitchell then directed poll workers to look up provisional voters' addresses on the county's website  which then caused backlogs at the clerk's office's help desk.

"That was something she implemented without talking to me about it, without ever getting it approved," Swensen said.

She added that she reported the issues to the human resources officials who told her she could write Mitchell up for being "insubordinate," but instead she decided to restructure management so decisions wouldn't funnel only through the elections director.

"The friction wasn't about her running for office," Swensen said. "If there was any friction, it was about the fact things were hidden from me and I wasn't given correct info."

But Mitchell said the provisional process was "not a new process," and one that the county has been using since 2014.

"It was all part of our training manuals, which Sherrie reads and signs off on," Mitchell said, attributing the long lines to many voters who waited until the last day to vote because of the hectic presidential election.

But Swensen said poll workers had never done data entry in-person (the workers at the help desk did), so she said Mitchell's claim it wasn't an unusual year "is absolutely not true."

Mitchell said it's "unfortunate" the clerk's race has been sour, accusing Swensen of "pointing fingers."

"I think it's been petty," Mitchell said. "I wish we could run on the merits of our qualities and the experience we can bring to the office, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that."

Swensen also lamented the tone of the race.

"It's really unfortunate," she said. "I've never, ever had a situation where I have to say anything negative about an opponent. I never have. And I don't want to be negative, that's not how I do things. ... So it's really hard to say that this person did some things that I think were not adequate."

Meanwhile, Mitchell said she worries for the morale of the clerk's office, which she said has had eight employees quit in the last eight months.

"Losing that much institutional knowledge all at once is problematic," she said.

Several employees left amid tensions between her and Swensen, Mitchell said.

Two of those former employees  Nicole Calloway, a former elections clerk, and Cameron Fowler, a former elections coordinator  said they both left the office last fall for other opportunities, but the climate of the office contributed to their desire to leave.

"It was a pretty toxic environment  very uncomfortable, an unpleasant place to work," said Calloway, who worked in the elections division for about three years. "I could tell there was tension within management."

Calloway said she was happy reporting to Mitchell, but when the management restructure happened and "Rozan was completely cut out," she said she felt "micromanaged" by other managers and she stopped enjoying her job.

Fowler also said "it was a pretty negative environment" by the time he left for another opportunity, and the new management structure "seemed to exacerbate the problems that already existed."

"We would get in trouble for not reporting to the right person," he said. "it seemed a lot like power infighting."

Swensen said because of the way her office is laid out, she doesn't "work as closely" with elections staff members as Mitchell, but she said: "I don't know if that's a fair assessment, as far as my office being toxic."

"I haven't heard that," she said, reiterating that she made the management changes to address issues with Mitchell's job performance, and noting that she didn't tell staff members of those issues.

Two employees under Swensen, elections managers Charlotte Kuhn and Loretta Garcia, disagreed with the characterization the office is "toxic" or "divisive," but said issues originated with Mitchell.

"It was actually better" after the restructure, Garcia said. "We have people who are contributing in ways they weren't able to before. Decisions aren't made in private by one person."

Kuhn said if there was an issue, it was because of Mitchell. She said she was the one that "spilled the beans" on the provisional process issue in 2016 because the way Mitchell handled it and other issues "didn't sit well with me."

"I think someone's being pretty petty," she said. "They're throwing mud to see if it sticks."
FARMINGTON  A new audit by Davis County concluded that hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to go to inmates was mismanaged by jail staffers due to a lack of training, a lack of staffing and employees simply not understanding how the money system worked.

The audit found that there were inmates who were missing money and inmates who were wrongly given extra money. It also discovered that cash had been stuffed in cubicles that was supposed to be deposited, and money had been left sitting around for months.

Due to the poor control environment, it is difficult, if not impossible, to definitively state that all missing monies have been identified and accounted for at this time, the audit concluded while noting that additional audits would likely be conducted in the coming months.

The Davis County Attorneys Office was asked to investigate if the mishandling of monies rose to the level of criminal charges. That investigation was handed over to the Farmington Police Department to avoid a conflict of interest and is ongoing.

In a letter to the Davis County Commission dated April 30, Davis County Auditor Curtis Koch said his six-month investigation, looking at the time period between Oct. 1, 2017, and April 2, 2018, found many funds dropped off at the jail by family members to be given to inmates for provisions ended up in a cubicle and remained undeposited.

When a person is booked into jail, inmate funds are held in trust by Davis County and are expected to be deposited into the inmates account within three days.

But when auditors went to the jail on April 3, they found nearly $10,000 in cash stashed in a cubicle as well as 274 checks totaling more than $25,000 in commissary funds that had not been deposited. An additional $500 in credit card receipts that were not deposited was also discovered, the report states.

As auditors started digging into older records, they concluded: Based on the financial records of DCSO, over $126,000 of monies had been receipted and stored in various drawers in the cubicle of (the accountant technician), including almost $25,000 in cash and coin. None of those funds, over 960 individual transactions dating back as far as October of 2017, were deposited in accordance with Utah state statute.

Auditors were shocked when they went back to the same cubicle a week later and found even when (sheriff's) employees were aware that an audit was being conducted, poor cash handing practices persisted.

The auditors found an unzipped bank deposit bag in the cubicle contained $118 in $1 bills.  To date, no explanation of these funds can be accounted for.

The audit found that is wasnt an uncommon occurrence for monies to be left on desks that were unattended.

In February, the jail transitioned to a new kiosk system that allows people to send money to inmates electronically. The four kiosks are supposed to be emptied each day and deposits made into a bank account.

But the audit found 4,246 kiosk receipts totaling more than $400,000 that had not been processed. Although the kiosks accomplished the goal of depositing money in a timely manner, the receipts were not being recorded into the countys financial system, the report found. Receipts related to bail bonds, DNA testing, drug testing and fingerprinting did not appear in the commissary system.

From February through March, more than 2,500 transactions were missing due to programming errors, according to the audit. And the audit found nearly $750 of missing money from the kiosks was erroneously given to inmates and spent.

In one example listed in the report, an inmate who was supposed to receive $1,660 was actually given double that amount. Because of that, he was able to post bail 2  hours after being booked into jail and walked out with an extra $335 on his debit card.

In another case, an inmate erroneously received an extra $678, the audit found.

Interviews with Davis County Jail employees found a lack of consistent and accurate trining as it related to the handling of cash, according to the report. Other staffers told auditors it was hard to keep up with the workload and perform their other duties at the same time.

In a written response, attached to the audit, business manager Keith Major said staff started to fall behind in distributing payments after an assistant manager left for a new job. An accounting tech was given those responsibilities on top of her own, and fell behind.

The problem was caused by the shortage of personnel. Everyone else at the sheriffs office had their tasks and a few extra ones, so there were not the people or capacity to help, Major said in the written response.

A spokesman for the sheriffs office declined comment until Farmingtons invsetigation is completed.

The audit is the latest in a recent series of negative reports regarding staff and operations at the Davis County Jail.

Five jail deputies and commanders were disciplined in April and a sixth deputy resigned after an investigative report by Davis County's human resources division found a culture of ongoing sexual harassment at the jail. Earlier this month, it was revealed that two additional deputies were found to have violated the county's harassment policies.

Contributing: Mike Anderson
RIVERTON  While the day Josh Holt is expected to return home to this south Salt Lake County community was still a little up in the air Sunday, family, friends, neighbors and even strangers worked to ensure that whenever he does arrive, he'll be greeted with a visual reminder that he was never forgotten.

A two-year ordeal for Holt and his family came to an end this weekend, after the former LDS Church missionary and his wife were released early Saturday morning from a Venezuelan prison and flown to Washington, D.C. Holt and his wife, Thamy, were met by his parents, Laurie and Jason Holt, as well as Sen. Orrin Hatch and his wife, Elaine, and then were welcomed by President Donald Trump at the White House.

Creating a welcome home he will never forget was the mission of Holt family members, friends and dozens of helpers who gathered Sunday to tie bright green ribbons along 12600 South near Riverton City Park at the city's entrance.

Josh's sister Katie Holt said her brother's return was not going to feel grounded in reality until she had him in her arms.

"I'm overwhelmed and it still doesn't feel real," Katie Holt said. "I think once I can see him in person, and hug him and have a conversation, then it will set in."

Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs joined the family for Sunday's decorating effort and said he had offered the Old Dome Meeting Hall in the park as a location for an expected crowd when Josh Holt returns to Riverton, which is now believed to be sometime on Tuesday, according to family members.

Earlier Sunday, it was thought that Josh Holt and his family would be back in Utah on Monday, but the return trip was delayed as both Josh and Thamy continue to receive medical care in Washington, according to a Facebook posting by Josh's mother, Laurie Holt.

In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Laurie Holt said she was still very much recovering from the emotional toll of her son's long imprisonment and was looking forward to life getting back to normal.

"(Before Josh's imprisonment) I was a very energetic person, very fun-loving," Laurie Holt said. "Im still that way, but the funs not there as much, the laughters not there. Ive had a lot of emotional roller coasters Ive had to overcome and be strong for him and to get him home.

"So now, a weights been lifted off my shoulders, obviously, but now I just need to find myself again."

A visibly emotional Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, who had flown to Washington to greet Josh Holt and his wife Saturday, spoke with reporters Sunday morning at the Salt Lake City International Airport on her return to Utah.

"When you've got good people working together ... miracles can happen," Love said. "And this is truly a miracle because Venezuela is not a place where we have any relationships, no extradition treaties."

Love said she had become close with the Holt family over the course of Josh's incarceration and offered words of encouragement to Laurie Holt as she and her family adjust to the end of the ordeal.

"Laurie has become such a good friend of mine throughout this whole thing," Love said. "She is a rock. (I told her) I promise you theres going to be a day when you and I are going to sit in the backyard having a burger and were gonna think of this as a distant memory. And were going to talk about the memories of how we got Joshua home."

Longtime Holt family friend Kim Birdsall launched the Justice for Josh Facebook page that has served for nearly the entirety of Josh Holt's imprisonment as a place both to keep friends and neighbors apprised of the situation, as well as a conduit for those concerned to offer thoughts and best wishes to the family.

On Sunday, Birdsall said, from the day the page went up, she was floored by the number of people  from around the world  who reached out to the Holt family and was particularly inspired by the sentiments shared by residents of Venezuela.

"The messages posted by the people of Venezuela are really some of the most moving," Birdsall said. "They let us know how concerned they were for Josh and has family, but also how disappointed ... and saddened they were by the actions of Venezuela's leaders."

But Sunday's decorating party in Riverton was an exercise in celebration, and anticipation, of Josh Holt's pending return to his hometown. Herriman resident Patrick Repin said he did not know Josh Holt or his family, but heard about the event through a Facebook posting and decided to make it part of his Memorial Day holiday weekend.

"I've been reading in the news about Josh being captured in Venezuela and finally released," Repin said. "I can't imagine what he and his family have been through. It seemed fitting to help out today with this on the weekend we dedicate to remembrance."

Contributing: Dennis Romboy
WEST VALLEY CITY  A 2-year-old boy remained in extremely critical condition Sunday after shooting himself in the head late Saturday night with a handgun belonging to his father, according to police.

West Valley Police Lt. Jeff Conger said police received a report just before midnight Saturday of shots fired near 2700 South and Fair Isle Lane.

Officers responding to the call said they found the boy with a severe head wound and administered first aid until medical personnel arrived and transported him to Primary Children's Hospital.

The boy's father, Tasman Maile, 27, told police his son had shot himself after finding the gun, but did not offer details about where the gun was at the time or how the boy obtained it. Conger said while the matter is still under investigation, police do not believe Maile intentionally hurt his son.

"The situation of how he found the gun, were not exactly sure on that, but we dont believe the father, at this time, purposely tried to hurt his child," Conger said.

However, police said, Maile was booked on several other charges, including suspicion of manslaughter, drug possession, obstruction of justice and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.

Conger also offered a reminder to parents who are also gun owners.

"Always secure your weapons," Conger said.

Contributing: Caitlin Burchill
This letter is in response to the article "Next phase of Utah's Point of the Mountain development  how to pay for it all" by Art Raymond on May 16. Even the most challenged simpleton should be able to answer the question of how to pay for it. It's basic. You make the people who will be using the services pay for them, not the people who are already here. This can be done by charging huge impact fees (as much as 10 times or more the current fees) to the developer, who in turn passes them on to the consumer. Mr. Grow crows that these 150,000 new job holders who are coming to the valley will be making typically $40,000 a year more than the average of those who currently live here. They can obviously pay the costs that their impact will create on our quality of living. If they can't afford to pay their way, they shouldn't come. It appears only the politicians feel that having 150,000 new people move into the valley is a positive thing. A $50,000 impact fee charged at the time of closing on 80,000 homes would create $4 billion to pay for infrastructure.

Ennis Gibbs

Woodland, Summit County
RIVERTON Josh and Thamy Holt have arrived home in Utah, where they were welcomed at Salt Lake City International Airport around 7 p.m. tonight.

The Holts took off from Washington, D.C., on Delta Flight 939 at 2:35 MST, according to Sen. Orrin Hatch's office.

After a two-year imprisonment, the Holts were released Saturday morning from a Venezuelan prison and flown to Washington, D.C. They were met in the nation's capital by his parents, Jason and Laurie Holt, who flew from Riverton to Washington Saturday, as well as Hatch. The family was greeted that night at the White House by President Donald Trump.

Josh and Thamy Holt had been receiving medical care at a Washington hospital since their return.

According to Casey Saxton, Riverton's director of communications, the city is planning celebrations at both the airport and in Riverton.

The Holts will arrive at the Salt Lake airport at 7:19 p.m. Saxton recommends that people who want to greet them at the airport arrive by 6:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Airport officials announced that the welcome will be in the International Terminal, just west of Terminal 2.

The Holts' direct family will be at the airport, along with U.S. Rep. Mia Love, who will ride with the family to Riverton for the community celebration, according to Saxton. A limo is picking the family up and police will escort them to Riverton.

The JusticeforJosh Facebook page posted an invitation for anyone interested to welcome Josh and Thamy Holt at the airport terminal.

The city-organized welcome home community event is at 8:30 p.m. at the Old Dome Meeting Hall at Riverton City Park, 1452 W. 12600 South.
VERNAL  Officials expect full containment of the Pine Ridge wildfire that began Saturday by Thursday night, according to Bureau of Land Management information officer Heather O'Hanlon.

The wildfire began Saturday afternoon about 20 miles north of Vernal and has consumed 519 acres, according to Utah Wildfire Info officials. Fire authorities reported the most active fire was just east of Sawtooth Ridge.

O'Hanlon said Monday the fire lines held Sunday night, no growth occurred and "fire behavior is at a minimum."

The agency reported 50 percent containment late Monday afternoon.

Smoke will be visible for the next few weeks from the Sawtooth Ridge area, as the steep terrain and rolling rock hazards made it inaccessible for firefighters, O'Hanlon said.

Officials' priority on the ridge is to stop movement toward the Dry Fork community. Sawtooth Ridge will be heavily monitored until the fire is out of the vicinity.

The fire did not cause any road or campground closures, and it posed no threat to homes or structures in the area.
This Memorial Day, Americans will commemorate the more than 1.1 million Americans who have been killed in battle.

Whether you're observing the holiday by visiting a cemetery, taking a road trip or in another way, here are 7 facts about veterans:

The veteran who started Decoration Day

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day.

Gen. John Alexander Logan was a Mexican-American War and Civil War veteran who headed the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans organization for Union veterans.

In 1868, he established May 30 as Decoration Day  a day to decorate the graves of those who died during the Civil War. According to the Library of Congress, Logan got the idea from his wife, who saw Southern women in Virginia decorate soldiers graves.

Honoring Civil War veterans

Memorial Day was originally intended to honor specifically those who died in the Civil War, according to the Library of Congress. Congress recognized Memorial Day as a federal holiday in 1888 to give Civil War veterans the chance to honor their fallen comrades without losing pay, according to a Congress report on federal holidays.

After World War I, the holiday was revised to include all fallen soldiers.

The birthplace of Memorial Day

About 25 places claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

However, in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress named Waterloo, New York, as the holidays official birthplace. Residents there commemorated local Civil War veterans on May 5, 1866.

Confederate Memorial Day

Some Southern states also observe Confederate Memorial Day to specifically honor Confederate soldiers who died.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Confederate Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in April in Mississippi, the fourth Monday in April in Alabama and April 26 in Georgia. North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia also have holidays honoring Confederate soldiers.

The unknown soldiers

Every Memorial Day, the president or vice president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

The white marble sarcophagus lies on top of the grave of the Unknown Soldier of World War I. Nearby are graves for unknown soldiers from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

But the grave of the Vietnam War Unknown is now empty. On May 14, 1998, the remains that had been buried there for nearly 14 years were exhumed. Thanks to advances in DNA testing, the remains were identified as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, according to the Arlington National Cemetery website.

In July 1998, Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, where his family lived.

A moment of remembrance for veterans

Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance in 2000, asking Americans to observe one minute of silence at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans today

During World War II, more than 12 percent of Americans served in the military. Today, less than 0.5 percent of Americans have served in the armed forces.

Nearly half of veterans who served after 9/11 served with someone who was killed, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center study. And according to a 2011 survey, 84 percent of veterans who served after 9/11 believe the public doesn't understand the problems members of the military and their families face.
SALT LAKE CITY  Veterans, their families and friends gathered at Fort Douglas Cemetery Monday for a Memorial Day observance intended to honor and remember "heroes of our heritage," said Brig. Gen. Doug Cherry, deputy commanding general of the 76th Division Operational Response Command.

Cherry said the military cemetery located at what is now the University of Utah's Research Park was "a fitting place to remember our heroes with our towering mountains above us as we stand on these commanding heights over the Salt Lake Valley. You can almost feel those who came before us."

Some in attendance came to remember friends and loved ones who died in service to their country. Others honored service members who returned from battle but died later in life.

Donald Saxon said he came to the service to honor his basic training school roommate Donald Schafer. He was in his mid-20s when he died.

"We were together at Quantico as second lieutenants. He was killed at Vietnam," he said.

Saxon said he attends the event annually, sometimes wearing his military uniform.

"This a great event. This is something for me to do every year to remember," he said.

The crowd was charmed by the musical selections of the Utah Conservatory of Performing Arts, which sang "Thank you, Military," and "God Bless the USA."

The all-girl group's performance moved some audience members to tears. One veteran offered the girls a military salute at the conclusion of each of their numbers.

Two of the performers  Kamdyn and Lexi Simons  said their grandfather served in the Air Force.

"They were very excited to give back a little bit," said Stephani Simons, the girls' mother.

Jim and Valerie Clarkson of Salt Lake City, both Air Force veterans, came to the observance to honor fellow service members and family members, now passed, who served their country.

The couple met during their respective military service and have been married for 44 years.

Jim Clarkson said as he sat through the observance, his thoughts turned to his father, who served in the Navy in World War II. He tearfully recounted how his father survived the enemy attack of the ship on which he served. One-third of his dad's shipmates were killed.

Although he, too, served his country, Clarkson said he balks at any suggestion that he is a hero.

"To me, men and women, if they were in combat, they were heroes. If they won a Purple Heart, they're a super hero. If they won the Medal of Honor, they walk on water," he said.

The observance, organized by the Utah chapter of the Association of the United States Army, culminated with the laying of wreath, a gun salute, the playing of "Taps" and a memorial prayer.

Organizers also noted that this coming Nov. 11 will be the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Lenovo has confirmed June 5 as the release date for its upcoming Lenovo Z5 smartphone. The companys VP, Chang Cheng has been teasing the device for some time now and Cheng has now posted the smartphones launch invite on Weibo. The launch event is slated to commence at 2PM CST (11:30 AM IST) on June 5 and Cheng, in a separate post, said that the Z5 will be a follow-up for the ZUK series of devices, which include the Z1, the Z2 Pro, the Z2 and the Edge.

Till now Cheng has posted two images revealing the top-left and bottom-left of the smartphones display. Going by the images, the device might feature a near bezel-less display and that too, without a notch. There is also no visible chin at the bottom of the phone. As mentioned earlier, the device is said to come with more than 95 percent screen-to-body ratio but the company is yet to reveal where the front-facing camera, earpiece and the sensors have been relocated.

As the Lenovo Z5 is the companys flagship, it is expected to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. Cheng earlier revealed that the device will come with a whopping 4TB of internal storage, which seems to be pretty hard to believe considering that the highest capacity of internal storage a smartphone is currently 1TB, which is found on the Smartisan R1. Whatever may be the case, we will have to wait till June 5 when the device is launched to see what Lenovo has in store for us.

Cheng also recently shared some camera samples, which were shot using the device. Going by the watermark on the photos, the Lenovo Z5 will feature a dual-rear camera setup, which, like nearly every new smartphone, will come with AI-based features. Alongside the images, Cheng also claimed that the upcoming smartphone will deliver a standby time of up to 45 days, suggesting that it will be backed by a big battery.

As the shared camera samples are not in RAW format, we cant really speak on the camera quality of the smartphone. However, there is decent background and subject separation in Bokeh shots and if the images are not retouched in any way, then colour reproduction seems to be pretty impressive as well.
If youre someone who owns or has owned a Samsung smartphone, you may have come across the protected by Knox slogan during your use of the phone. If you havent seen it, then know that Samsung has baked in a platform into most of their smartphones that have been designed to offer a robust set of security features. But Knox is more than just a virus scanner or malware detector or even just a security feature. It is a robust set of provisions that starts at the hardware level of a Samsung device and goes all the way through to the software in multiple layers. The Knox platform is Samsung's solution for allowing people to maintain both personal and confidential work data on the same device, without compromising on security. Interestingly, Samsung Knox is built into most of Samsung's modern smartphones, even those dating back to 2015 such as the Galaxy J5. We sat down with Mr. Sukesh Jain, Senior Vice President, IT & Mobile Enterprise Business, Samsung India to understand just how Knox works to secure the phone.

What is Knox

Samsung Knox is an enterprise-grade security solution that comes pre-loaded on most Samsung devices. Samsung has built Knox from the ground up and encompasses both hardware and software encryption and security policies. Mr. Jain elaborate that We (Samsung) actually create a trusted zone at the hardware level which keeps on performing encryption tests and tests for any unwanted activity on a regular basis. So, its a combination of encryption done at the hardware layer level and the OS level. Designed to be an enterprise-grade solution, Knox allows for a total segregation of personal and business data on the same device. For an average consumer, this means that you can protect any app of your choosing from more than just prying eyes.

The Secure Folder

The most obvious place where you see Samsung Knox in action is on the Secure Folder app on your Samsung device. This is where the secure enclave kicks in. Unlike other apps which allow you to password protect apps, the Secure Folder is a separate conclave created on the storage, secured by hardware encryption. The secure folder is its own environment, inaccessible from the outside. Lets say you move a copy of the camera app and the gallery app into the Secure Folder. If you take any photos with the secured camera app, you will not be able to see the photos using the gallery app outside of the Secure Folder. However, the gallery app you just moved to the secure folder will have access to that content. Of course, without biometric or pin-based authentication, you cannot enter the Secure Folder. The biometric/PIN is used to encrypt the secure enclave. For an average consumer, moving basic apps like WhatsApp or Google Photo may be a little inconvenient because some features would break. For example, my WhatsApp was set to automatically backup my chats to Google Drive at a pre-set time, but being in the Secure Folder, this didnt work unless I had expressly left the folder unlocked. Same behaviour was noticed for Google Photos backup feature. In fact, copy-paste is also disabled for apps within Secure Folder. Consumers will find adding their financial management apps here to be the aptest use of the Secure Folder.

Securing against Intrusion

Samsungs Knox employs multiple techniques in order to safeguard not just the content stored in the secure zone, but also itself from intrusions. It all begins at the factory, shares Mr. Jain. there is something on the hardware layer that is linked to the boot-sequence. So, the boot keys need to be secure. then the boot sequence is fragmented in such a way that even if someone is able to get access to the bootloader, there is a two-factor authentication of the bootloader. There are two bootloaders, the job of the second one being to authenticate whether the first bootloader has been compromised or not and then accordingly boot. Then there is the third layer which is a hardware root of trust which has registered switches on the devices which are configured in such a way to detect if anyone has tried to access the bootloader or the bootkeys. Essentially, Samsung has built multiple checks to ensure that the Knox platform isnt compromised before boot and all of it relies on the keys that are written to the hardware at the manufacturing stage and are not re-writable. Samsung also implements a roll-back prevention system which prevents any OS build with an older version of Knox from being installed.

The E-Fuse

Samsung has built an e-fuse into the platform which is triggered in the even there is any unwarranted modification of the Knox Platform. Once the fuse is flipped, Knox becomes invalidated and the data and applications stored in the secure folder is lost forever. In fact, once the e-fuse is triggered, Samsung has a policy of not offering any kind of after-sales service for the device. This, Mr. Jain says, is because the e-fuse was designed to detect tampering of the device and once its triggered, there is no way for them guarantee the security of the device. The E-Fuse is also why you shouldnt be downloading firmware which may be for your particular smartphone but belongs to a different region. Mr. Jain explained that for each region and carrier, Samsung builds specific firmware files, often denoted by the Country Specific Code (CSC). Some CSCs may be cross-compatible, but some definitely wont be and flashing the wrong firmware file will again trigger the e-fuse, killing Knox. For an average consumer, this means no more secure folder, and no more Samsung Pay.

Knox on other Hardware

We asked Mr. Jain what keeps Samsung from licencing the technology to other hardware OEMs. He responded by saying that Knox as a platform relies on both hardware and software and that since Samsung cannot control the hardware of OEMs, it becomes difficult to provide the level of security you would get from a Samsung-made device on the devices of other device manufacturers. The hardware component of the Knox platform is deeply integrated into Samsungs own version of Android and since with other OEMs, both the hardware and software would differ, Samsung does not currently have any such licensing deals being discussed.

For everyone, but not really

The Knox Platform is built into most Samsung devices, however, its full capabilities wont be utilised by most of us. Since it was designed as an enterprise solution, Knox can be used to completely customise what you can and cannot do with a smartphone. If deployed in an enterprise environment, the admin can set the phone up in more ways than we can list out here. The admin can control app installations, deletions, copy-paste feature, what apps are available and even mandate certain security measures. A parent, for example, would love to have the ability to lock down their childs phone to prevent unwanted kind of access. Or maybe you would want to make sure that when youre gifting your child a phone, all their activity is secured by Knox, and by default, everything lies within the Secure Folder. This would help make sure that if the phone was stolen, the data within would be secure. Unfortunately, this kind of customisation which can be availed by enterprises only and when we asked Mr. Jain how much it would cost to get one or two devices configured this way, he simply smiled and said: the costs vary based on many factors. Needless to say, consumers are going to have to settle for the Secure Folder, Samsung Clouds remote wipe capabilities and Samsung Pay for now.

Samsung Knox is for sure a far more robust platform for the security conscious, moving past just a password barrier to your content. During our conversation, it also became evident that Knox could play a role in why Samsungs OS updates take so much time to roll out. We asked Mr. Jain what portion of ROM development time was taken up by ensuring Knox functionality, to which he casually chuckled and said that he could not give me a definitive answer. He said this is because a lot of the development on ROMs happen in parallel, so it would be hard to ascertain specific hours taken up by the Knox team to ensure full compliance with the ROM. He did share that at one point, Samsung engineers spent up to 4 weeks to ensure that the update that was supposed to roll out wasnt going to break anything within the Knox ecosystem. The Knox Platform offers incredible flexibility and functionality for an enterprise, but we cant help but wish that Samsung would offer the same kind of functionality to customers as well.
Thanks to robot submarine REMUS 6000, the lost treasure of San Jose, a 300-year-old armed Spanish trading vessel, was finally found near the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. The treasure, believed to contain gold, silver, and emeralds, is currently estimated at $17 billion.

San Jose, the flagship of a Spanish treasure fleet during the War of the Spanish Succession met her doom on 8 June 1708 when an encounter with a British armada in Baru caused her gunpowder to detonate. Along with 589 souls sank her entire haul of precious jewels, which included gold, silver, and emeralds. Her treasure had since been hopelessly sought by historians and treasure hunters, until two years ago, they were found by non-profit research facility Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), with the help of a robot submarine named REMUS 6000. Though the discovery was made in 2015, WHOI wasnt authorised to release its details until recently.

REMUS 6000 is a 13-foot-long autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed for deep-sea operations. It can survey a large body of water using acoustic navigation and high-resolution imaging. It found San Jose nearly 2,000ft below the surface. The robot submarine was previously used to discover the wreckage of Air France 447 in 2011.

Colombian researchers say that during the discovery, they found 62 bronze cannons lying on the seabed. They were reportedly engraved with dolphins (a sign that they belonged to the long-lost San Jose) and still in good condition. According to the researchers, even artifacts like teacups and ceramic jugs were found during the discovery. As per a recent report by CBS News, WHOI research engineer Jeff Kaeli was the only one to spot the cannons. About the discovery and REMUS 6000, he commented, you can take bigger risks with your technology and go to places where it wouldn't be safe or feasible to put a human being.

It is still unclear at the moment who owns the rights to the treasure. An ongoing legal dispute between the Colombian government and an American salvage company is one of the reasons for the delay in the announcement of the discovery.
Fortis Healthcare: Munjal - Burman combine agrees to reopening of bidding

xThe Munjal-Burman combine has accepted to reopening the bidding process for Fortis Healthcare.

In a filing with the stock exchanges, Fortis Healthcare said it has received a letter from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office consenting to re-open the bidding process to enable Fortis to close the transaction.

The Mujals of HeroMorcorp and the Burmans of Dabur had teamed up to bid for Fortis Healthcare and were among the four bidders for the hospital chain. The other bidders included Manipal -TPG, IHH Healthcare of Mlaysia, and KKR-backed Radiant Life Care.

The Munjal-Burman combine's bid for investing Rs1,800 crore was approved by its board that included former chairman Brian Tempest and three others who resigned subsequently, prior to the Fortis extraordinary general meeting on 22 May to approve of the transaction.

With the Fortis board having been reconstituted, the Munjal-Burman combine has consented to re-opening the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

In a letter to the board of directors, Munjal-Burman combine said, it appears that there may be indecision on the part of the company regarding the bid process, which we understand could be on account of a few shareholders indicating their preference to the company for re-open of the bid process.

While expressing regret over the matter, the Munjal-Burman combine said they have has consented to re-opening of the bidding process in order to facilitate the company to expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the companys business does not suffer any further.

According to reports Yes Bank, with 15-per cent stake in Fortis had expressed concerns over the bidding process. Yes Bank asked the Fortis board to consider revised bids for the company submitted to maximise value for investors.
India, Russia set to sign S-400 Triumf air defence missile deal

The Indian Air Force is all set to acquire S-400 Triumf air defence missiles from Russia after the two countries concluded price negotiations on the procurement and the modus of the transaction.

India wants to procure the long-range S-400 Triumf missile systems for the Indian Air Force to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.

Defence officials said the two countries are now trying to find a way out to evade the provisions of a US law that seeks to punish countries and entities engaged in transactions with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.

"The negotiations for the missile deal have been concluded. The financial component has been finalised," PTI quoted a top official involved in the negotiations as saying. The deal is expected to be announced before an annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2018, it added.

Both sides are now looking at ways to insulate the deal from the sanctions announced by the US against Russia under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The issue is understood to have figured during Modi's informal talks with Putin in Sochi on 21 May 2018.

There has been mounting concerns in India over the US sanctions against Russian defence majors, including Rosoboronexport, over Russias alleged meddling in the US election in 2016.

CAATSA, which came into effect in January 2018, mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has already appealed to the Congress to urgently provide waivers to India, saying that imposing sanctions under CAATSA for the S-400 air defence missile deal would only hit the US.

In 2016, India and Russia signed an agreement on the 'Triumf' interceptor-based missile system which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

China was the first foreign country to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing. The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 missile systems manufactured by Almaz-Antey systems, which has been in service in Russia since 2007.
Karnataka CM swears by farm loan waiver, but says he is at Cong's mercy

Under pressure to announce farm loan waivers, newly-appointed Karnataka chief minister Kumaraswamy said his party, which does not have the full mandate to form a government in the state, is at the mercy of the Congress party.

Kumaraswami made the statement ahead of his Delhi visit to meet PM Modi and other union ministers.

The chief minister also reiterated that farm loan waiver  a policy that the BJP chief minster announced before resigning ahead of a trust vote  was his priority as he had promised it, and he would resign if he failed to fulfill it.

But, now, Kumaraswami said, he is at the mercy of Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka, which meant that any decision against farm loan waiver, would be due to Congress and not his party.

"The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farm leaders too and how much they supported me," he said.

"Mine is not an independent government. I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state," Kumaraswamy said.

The chief minister said he has certain compulsions as a politician. However, he has absolute clarity on the issue of farm loan waivers, he said.

Slamming BJP and other farmers' leaders, he said there was no need for any farmers' association to pressurise him (on farm loan waiver).

"I am one step ahead of you to work for the farmers. You need not have to ask me for my resignation over farm loan waiver.

"If I fail to do that then I myself will resign from the post. Farm loan waiver is my priority. Can't you wait for a week? Even the cabinet has not been formed yet," he added.

Kumaraswamy, however, urged farmers not to take the extreme step of committing suicide and to wait for a week as he was in the process of finding a way out to waive loans, not just of cooperative societies, but also nationalised banks.

His remarks came in the wake of BJP's call for a state-wide bandh tomorrow, demanding immediate waiver of farm loans, as promised by the JD(S) in their manifesto.

BJP state president had on 25 May announced a state-wide bandh on May 28 if farm loans worth Rs53,000 crore were not waived by then.

JD(S) leadership has been saying they have to seek the consent of its coalition partner Congress before taking any decision.
Political parties covered by RTI Act; ECI denies rift with CIC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) today clarified that it goes by the CIC order of 3 June 2013 that national parties would be public authorities for the purposes of RTI Act and in pursuance of this all the information about the contributions received by them as well as their annual audited accounts, as and when submitted to the commission are put in public domain.

The ECIs clarification comes in the context of some media reports interpreting that Election Commission of India has contradicted the Central Information Commissions directive on political parties covered under the purview of RTI Act.

On the issue of consultation with leaders of different political parties before presenting electoral bonds, the EC said this issue has been transferred to the ministry of finance as it might concern them and not the Election Commission of India.

The requisite information is not available in the Commission. This is related to political parties and they are out of the purview of the RTI. They may submit information of donation/amount collected through electoral bonds in their contribution report for the financial year 2017-18 in the Election commission of India (ECI) for which the due date is 30 September 2018, media reports quoted the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Central Election Commission assaying in response to a query under Right to Information RTI) Act.

Earlier in June 2013, the Central Information Commission (CIC) in a decision had declared that six major political parties are public authorities as defined in the RTI Act since they receive substantial funding from the government.

Six parties for whom a specific order under the RTI Act has been given are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (Congress), Communist Party of India (Marxist)-CPI(M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
New expressways to reduce capital's vehicle population by 30%

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated two peripheral expressways around Delhi that, he said, would help reduce the number of vehicles entering the national capital by 30 per cent and reduce vehicular pollution to that extent.

Speaking at Baghpat after inaugurating the Rs11,000-crore Eastern Peripheral Expressway and the first phase of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, implemented at about Rs842 crore, Modi said the benefits of infrastructure accrue to all.

The expressways will greatly benefit the people of Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) by reducing pollution and will bring down traffic jams, Modi said.

The 135-kilometre (84-mile), six-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway was built in 17 months at a total cost of around Rs11,000 crore.

The new expressway will reroute over 50,000 vehicles that currently transit the capital city on their way to other destinations and help reach their destinations without entering New Delhi, transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters on Saturday.

It offers signal-free connectivity and is the first green highway fully lit by solar power, has drip pumps for watering plants alongside the highway and has rain water harvesting.

Modi also opened an initial stretch of an 82 km Delhi-Meerut highway, which is Indias first 14-lane expressway.

Delhi ranked sixth globally in the world's top 14 most polluted cities, according to a report published by the World Health Organisation this month. The citys air quality has worsened over recent winters, prompting the prime ministers office to directly monitor measures to clean up the capitals air.

Gadkari also said the Delhi-Meerut Expressway will be completed by March 2019. Work on the Rs7,000-crore Dwarka Expressway connecting Haryana and Delhi has also started, he added.

The NCR is a rapidly urbanising and polluted area around New Delhi that is one-third the size of New York state, but houses 2.5 times more people.

Illegal crop burning in states surrounding New Delhi, vehicle exhausts and increasing construction activities combine to make Delhi the worst polluted city in the country.

The centre took up the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which bypasses Delhi to connect Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, after the respective states expressed inability to undertake the project citing lack of funds. The project had to be implemented speedily following a Supreme Court directive to decongest Delhi.
Trump now says US team is in North Korea to discuss summit details

US President Donald Trump, who last week announced US pull-out from talks with North Korea, on Sunday said a US team is in North Korea to prepare for a proposed summit between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

US and North Korean officials had earlier met at Panmunjom, a village in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea, according to the US State Department.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, Trump wrote on Twitter, confirming US officials arrival in North Korea for the talks.

I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen! Trump added.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said a pre-advance team had also left for Singapore where the summit has been expected to take place on Sunday morning to work out the logistics.

In signs that the two Koreas are determined to mend relations, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that he and North Koreas Kim had agreed during a surprise meeting on Saturday that the North Korea-US summit must be held.

Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean Peninsulas denuclearisation and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted, Moon said.

Moon acknowledged Pyongyang and Washington may have differing expectations of what denuclearisation means and he urged both sides to hold working-level talks to resolve their differences.

The United States, which suspects that Pyongang may not be honest in its offer of deneucleration, has demanded the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear weapons programme.

Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and has always couched its language in terms of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

For years, North Korea has been facing years of economic sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006.

Leaders of the two Koreas are now trying to end the war-like situation despite the diplomatic ups and downs over the prospects for an unprecedented US-North Korea summit.

The Washington Post said the talks at the border would continue on Monday and Tuesday at Tongilgak, the Norths building in Panmunjom, where the truce suspending the 1950-53 Korean War was signed.

A Reuters report quoting US officials said former US ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim, will lead the American delegation at the border meet. Pentagon official Randall Schriver was part of the US team, the official said.

The Washington Post first reported that the team, which also included Allison Hooker, the Korea expert on the White House National Security Council, met with Choe Son Hui, the North Korean vice foreign minister.

Meanwhile, Kim is reported to have reaffirmed his commitment to complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and to a planned summit with Trump.

North Korea had earlier said it could consider giving up its arsenal if Washington removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.

American officials are skeptical that Kim will ever fully abandon his nuclear arsenal while Moon said North Korea was not convinced it could trust security guarantees from the United States.

However, during the US-South Korea summit, President Trump clearly emphasised that we may see not only the end of hostile relations but also economic cooperation if North Korea denuclearises, Moon said.

Moon met Trump in Washington on Tuesday in an effort to keep the US-North Korea summit on track.
Food fraud in China leads to opportunities for EU products

The perceived safety and quality of food imported from Europe into China provides commercial opportunities for European food producers, research has found.

Researchers lead by Newcastle University examined the concerns of Chinese consumers to food fraud and food safety after a series of high profile incidents, some of which have resulted in serious illness and even fatalities, damaging trust in domestically produced food.

See: Chinese toxic milk food makers to pay $160 million as compensation) In one such incident in 2008, six babies died when milk used to make baby formula was adulterated with melamine tyo increase the weight of the packaged milk, a further 54,000 infants needed to be treated in hospital and 300,000 were taken ill. Despite introducing food safety law and regulation, the research published today in PLoS ONE reveals that Chinese consumers are still mistrustful about the safety of domestic food supply chains. (

Lead author Lynn Frewer, Professor of Food and Society at Newcastle University said, "We found that despite considerable reforms of the food system regulation, Chinese consumers were distrustful of domestic products and considered imported food products to be better quality and safer.

"It's important that European producers understand what Chinese consumers are looking for in order to continue to offer that reassurance and to market their products successfully."

Chinese consumers

The team used qualitative and quantitative methodologies to understand Chinese consumers concerns about food fraud and to assess their attitudes towards foods imported from Europe.

Analysis revealed the safety cues used by Chinese consumers in their decision-making. Steps that producers can take and that were valued as guaranteeing food safety included:

The country of origin should be clearly displayed - European products are perceived to be safer and more trustworthy than products locally produced in China.

Label any accreditation through third party certification bodies - such as geographic indications certification (PDO) and organic certification

Industry certification- such as geographical indications certification for Scotch Whisky, can help to capitalise on the country of origin of products.

Authenticity cues on packaging  Consumers have more trust in measures that are difficult to replicate, such as tamperproof seals.

Preference for the type of authenticity cue(s) is product specific - any market research should include this as an important part of product testing.

The research also highlighted the benefits to producers as Professor Frewer explains, "We found that Chinese consumers are prepared to pay a premium for trustworthy authenticity cues so while it may take a little more effort, authenticity and safety guarantees usually add net value to products."

The researchers suggest that further research needs to be carried out in different groups of consumers across different socio-economic groups however, taking these findings into account could help European food producers in China.
Weight loss searches on Google rise, decrease on obesity

New research on Google trends data presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria held from 23 to 26 May, shows that over time, searches using the terms weight loss have increased, while those using the word obesity have decreased, potentially suggesting a normalisation of obesity in society.

The study is by Dr Aditya S. Pawar from the Mayo Clinic Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Rochester, Minnesota, and other research colleagues.

The global epidemic of overweight and obesity has become a major public health concern. At least 2.8 million die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.

In children, according to a study by the World Health Organization, around half of boys and 40 per cent of girls were overweight. Recent studies have shed light on the 'normalisation' of obesity in the society but there are no formal studies evaluating public interest and awareness of the topic.

Dr Pawar and colleagues studied data of awareness about obesity over the last twelve years worldwide. They used Google Trends which is based on the number of times worldwide the terms 'Obesity', 'Weight loss 'and 'Obese' were searched for using Google between 1st January 2006 and 31st December 2017.

The program assigns a reference value of 100 for the point of maximum popularity among the search terms, and provides relative monthly scores for all terms, which were termed relative interest scores (RIS).

The results found that the for the search term 'obesity', the mean RIS consistently decreased with each quartile. While the search term 'weight loss' RIS consistently increased with time.

The term 'weight loss' appeared to be especially popular during the month of January and its median RIS for January (n=12months) as compared to other months (n=122 months) was higher during the entire study period (88 vs 72), a result which was statistically significant. The RIS for term 'obese' did not change significantly over the study period.

Dr Pawar concludes, "Despite an increase in the prevalence of obesity, its popularity on the internet continues to decrease with time as reflected by the RIS score, which may suggest 'normalisation' of obesity in our society. Reassuringly however, the frequency of the search term 'weight loss' has increased significantly overtime, with significant interest in January every year."

"While this may be secondary to New Year's resolutions centred around a healthy lifestyle, the specific reasons for the increased interest in certain months should be explored and applied to awareness campaigns for better effectiveness. While formal studies are required to best characterise these phenomenon, the use of Google trends certainly provides valuable data to assess the public awareness and possibly health related campaigns, which are vital to the success of managing obesity at the global level."
David Brabhams wish to produce a machine faster than a GT race car has come true without even trying.

The former F1 driver, Le Mans winner and son of Jack Brabham incidentally eclipsed the outright lap record set at Phillip Island during testing and final development of Brabham Automotives inaugural supercar.

The limited production coupe built for track use only was unveiled earlier this month by the British brand and will be produced in Adelaide, Australia. Priced from $1.82 million and with only 70 examples to be built, the vehicle will belong to an exclusive club of owners.

The 972kg supercar's design and carbon-fibre body produce up to 1200kg of downforce - more than the new McLaren Senna GTR - and is powered by a Brabham-badged and modified OEM-sourced 5.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine producing 522kW and 667Nm of torque.
The head of Jaguar's battery-powered I-Pace platform says the price premium for electric vehicles over conventional petrol-powered cars has shrunk to less than 10 per cent.

Speaking with Drive at the international launch for the I-Pace in Portugal, Jaguar's technical design director Dr Wolfgang Zeibart said the gap between battery-powered models and conventional cars of similar size and performance was smaller than ever.

However Dr Zeibart admits that it is only with larger, dearer and faster cars that the electric comparison is as favourable.

The British brand's first electric car will reach Australian customers in October, priced from around $120,000.

In smaller cars, the difference between electric cars and normal cars, they are typically 50 per cent more expensive.

Thats one reason there are no immediate plans for an I-Pace less powerful than the launch model, which has electric motors front and rear, and puts 294 kW through all four wheels, giving a 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds.

The Jaguar I-Pace is the first fully electric production vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover, and the first electric SUV from a European luxury brand.

Jaguar says in Australia it will cost as little as $12 to fully charge the I-Pace using off-peak electricity, and typically about $31. That will give a range of 480 kilometres, based on the European WLTP cycle. The company says the I-Pace can be recharged to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes with DC rapid charging.
A demonstration to show solidarity with those affected by the cervical check scandal will take place at Dundalk Market Square this Wednesday (May 30th).

The Dundalk event will coincide with demonstrations across the country and a main event at Dail Eireann which has been organised by the Standing4Women group.

A spokesperson for the Standing4Women group said: Standing4Women* is a nationwide movement of people passionate about issues affecting women.

"We have organised groups in almost every county in Ireland and aim to campaign for better healthcare, support services and access to opportunities for women, beginning with those impacted by Cervical Check."

One of the organisers of the Dundalk demonstration, Laura Prendergast said: "It's absolutely scandalous what has happened. There are events planned across the country and at the Dundalk event we hope to get everyone together to show their support for these women. We want answers and accountability."

"The plan is to meet at the square at 5pm on Wed 30th May, wearing Red to symbolise care, solidarity and strength and to show that we are standing in support of these women."

Ms. Prendergast added: "If you cant make it to any of the nationwide demonstrations on Wednesday, wear red anyway as a mark of solidarity & post with #standing4women on your social media."

The group, which is "actively non-political" say they have two "urgent policy requirements".

"1: Asking for relevant policy for the upcoming Bill on Mandatory Disclosure to be implemented in conjunction with an agreed timeline.



"2. Active and independent support for those affected by the scandal, including and not limited to, an immediate point of contact for those affected, and a multidisciplinary support team."



Group Founder Anne Corkery said: "In light of the cervical check scandal, I started this group to say that after decades of mistreatment of women in this country that we will not be lied to anymore, that we are strong and we are able to demand better. We want to stand together, to ask for improvements in healthcare and we will not give up until those requests are granted.

In a very short space of time, this group has grown hugely and this reflects the feelings that are out there on this issue and the need for change that people feel so strongly about at present."

Follow the Standing 4 Women* Louth Facebook page for more details.


Management company Itaipu Binacional has commissioned consultancy firm Witteveen+Bos to conduct a feasibility study for a bypass channel for shipping traffic passing the Itaipu Dam  one of the worlds largest hydroelectric dams, located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay.

The study focuses on bridging a height difference of 125 metres, using three or four locks, and comprises a technical design, an analysis of the environmental and social impact, and an economic cost-benefit analysis. The study also covers factors that determine the projects social impact, such as stakeholder interests and environmental aspects.

The results of the study are expected to become available late July 2018.

Lake of Itaipu, as seen upstream of the 196 metres high dam..

Unparalleled capacity

The Itaipu Dam powers the worlds largest hydroelectric plant, which has an unparalleled capacity for the generation of renewable energy.

The dam is 7.7 kilometres long and its hydroelectric turbines generated 103 MWh of renewable energy in 2016, sufficient to meet 75 percent of the national energy demand of Paraguay and 17 percent of the total energy needs of Brazil.

Complex sustainability issues

To accommodate an increase in traffic over the past ten years, Itaipu Binacional decided to conduct a feasibility study into a bypass channel for shipping traffic near the Itaipu Dam.

Witteveen+Bos project manager Paul Ravenstijn: We want to combine sustainable water management and energy generation with sustainable transport and economic development.

Seen on the downstream side, are the water pipes that feed 20 turbines, producing around 100 TWh electricity per year.

Key solutions

According to Ravensteijn rivers constitute vulnerable ecosystems, but they can provide key solutions for climate-related and environmental problems connected to energy production, food security and mobility.

This makes our feasibility study a complex undertaking that requires specialised expertise, Ravensteijn explains.

Wittenveen+Bos therefore teamed up with Dutch maritime research institute Marin to investigate nautical feasibility using fast-time.

For making transport forecasts, it joined forces with specialist STC-Nestra/Gistran.

This news item was originally published on the website of Witteveen+Bos.

Read also on this website

 Witteveen+Bos presents road map to revitalise canals in Alappuzha, India, 25 November 2016

 Witteveen+Bos to investigate feasibility of hydro power in Sierra Leone, 28 July 2016

 Arcadis wins extension of management contract Sao Francisco River Integration Project, Brazil, 11 February 2014

 Country: Brazil



More information

Witteveen+Bos

Deventer, the Netherlands

+31 570 69 79 11

www.witteveenbos.com


Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor

With 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts, real-time security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click - for free! Learn More.

Mozilla earlier this week launched the first full edition of its Internet Health Report.

The report is "an open source effort to explore the state of human life on the Internet," wrote Mozilla Executive Director Mark Surman in an online post.

It consists of research and analysis about the Internet compiled by researchers, engineers, data scientists, policy analysts and artists in Mozilla's extended community.

The digital rights, open source, and Internet freedom movements stand for the idea that it is possible to build a digital world that is open, accessible and welcoming to all, according to Mozilla.

The Internet Health Report is based on the principles of the recently expanded Mozilla Manifesto.

"The optimist in me sincerely hopes this will be successful," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

That said, "you also have to ask how many outside the Mozilla community are paying attention," he told LinuxInsider.

Mozilla "is seeking to see the moral high ground as governments explore regulating the Internet by jumping on the ethics bandwagon early and often," suggested Michael Jude, research manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan.

Fake News Front and Center

In this first issue of the Internet Health Report, fake news and misinformation are in the spotlight.

The topic engendered considerable interest, Surman said, and data collection became the central focus. The discussion encompassed several issues:

Precision-targeted ads;

Bots and fake accounts;

Facebook's domination of news distribution; and

Insufficient Web literacy among the general public.

Taken together, these activities and circumstances provide the fuel for fraud and abuse, along with very bad real world outcomes, Surman said.

"Mozilla is trying to stand out as an organization with the user's best interests at heart," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

"This is well-timed, given that the issues Facebook has with data collection -- and Cambridge Analytica -- likely have people concerned about all tech firms at the moment," he told LinuxInsider.

Also included in the report:

A piece on engineers in Brazil building an open source bot that automatically inspects politicians' expenses and discloses officials' use of public money for private purchases; and

A story about FIRST, a global network of volunteer cybersecurity experts.

The Open, Accessible Digital Myth

There has long been speculation that governments, companies and organizations would carve up the Internet, and that it would end up reflecting the real world -- with territories, borders, and battles between different groups.

"Absolutely," Frost's Jude told LinuxInsider. "Look at China's attempts to close off their Internet from the rest of the world, and the EU attempting to impose privacy rights on the entire Web, regardless of where a company's based."

Meanwhile, the United States and its allies, also known as the "Five Eyes," have been spying on one another's citizens online, and sharing information to get around domestic restrictions.

In the business world, "companies always try to game the regulatory process," Jude remarked.

Although some large players dominate the space, the Internet "is still very much of a free-for-all," said Dan Goldstein, president of Page 1 Solutions.

The Internet Health Report is "an attempt to get people to think about what they're doing and what tools they're using with the subtext that we all need to be safer," Enderle remarked.

"Unfortunately, Mozilla doesn't have much reach on a good day," he pointed out, "and with Trump and Facebook news chewing up all available bandwidth, much more powerful entities are having trouble getting attention at the moment."

The collection of consumer data by Internet companies is a concern, but "It would be a significant mistake to eliminate free services like Facebook and Google Search," Page 1's Goldstein told LinuxInsider.

That's not likely to happen in our capitalistic economy, he said, but "it's important that we encourage all consumers to protect their private information both online and offline."

Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard.




Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor

With 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts, real-time security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click - for free! Learn More.

A newfound flaw in email clients that use PGP and S/MIME to encrypt messages can be exploited to expose the plain text of the missives, according to a paper published Monday.

By injecting malicious snippets of text into encrypted messages, attackers can use the flaw to make the email client exfiltrate decrypted copies of the emails, explained the authors, a team of researchers from three European universities.

Malicious action is triggered as soon as a recipient opens a single crafted email from an attacker, they wrote. The team is comprised of researchers from the Munster University of Applied Sciences and Ruhr University Bochum, both in Germany, and KU Leuven in the Netherlands.

The software defect was found in 23 of 35 S/MIME clients and in 10 of 28 PGP clients tested.

"While it is necessary to change the OpenPGP and S/MIME standards to fix these vulnerabilities, some clients had even more severe implementation flaws allowing straightforward exfiltration of the plaintext," the researchers wrote.

Client Ignores Bad News

Although the issue is serious, it has more to do with buggy clients at the host than with OpenPGP, Exabeam Chief Security Strategist Stephen Moore he told TechNewsWorld.

Some email clients fail to use the encryption protocol's native features to stymie the kind of attack described by the researchers, noted Phil Zimmermann, author of PGP and an associate professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

"There's some checking that goes on in PGP. If the email client reacts to the news delivered by PGP that something has been tampered with, then everything will be OK," he told TechNewsWorld. "But if the client ignores that information, then you get this vulnerability."

Fixing the flaw in an email client that uses PGP isn't an onerous task, Zimmermann added.

"I saw someone patch it pretty quickly, within a few hours," he said.

A patch to address the flaw already has been made for the Thunderbird email client, but not yet for Apple Mail, said Nate Cardozo, a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

"The patch doesn't close the vulnerability -- it just makes it impossible to exploit on a client," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Emails that are sent from the client are still exploitable," Cardozo pointed out. "It fixes the receiving end of the vul, but it doesn't fix the underlying vulnerability in the protocol, which remains."

When that underlying problem is fixed, it likely won't be backward-compatible, he added.

Sensitive Info Threatened

Since only a small percentage of email users employ a PGP or S/MIME client, the threat the flaw poses to all users isn't as severe as it could be, said Alexis Dorais-Joncas, security intelligence team lead at Eset.

"However, it is extremely severe for the vulnerable users and their correspondents, as this threat offers a way for an attacker to access clear-text content of communications meant to be secure," he told TechNewsWorld.

Of the more than 3 billion email users in the world, only tens of millions use PGP mail, EFF's Cardozo estimated.

"Those that use it, however, are people like journalists, system administrators and folks that run vulnerability reporting programs at big companies," he said, "so the type of information that is sent via PGP is usually the most sensitive of sensitive."

Past Messages Endangered

Adding to the severity of the attack is its ability to access past emails.

"The victim's mail client can be used as a tool to decrypt old emails that have been sent or received," Cardozo said. "That's pretty severe."

For users concerned about the security of their PGP or S/MIME email clients, Eset's Dorais-Joncas offered these recommendations:

Stop using vulnerable email clients to decrypt emails. Use a standalone application.

Disable HTML rendering and automatic remote content in your email client. This will block the backchannel communication mechanism used by the flaw to exfiltrate cleartext data.

Look for updates. It is expected that vendors will issue patches to correct some of the flaws exposed by the researchers.

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


Keeping a reusable straw in your purse, pocket, on your key ring, or in the glove compartment of your car makes it easy to skip single-use plastic when you're on the go. In fact, purchasing reusable straws, made from materials like bamboo, glass, silicone, and stainless steel, is one of the simplest ways to reduce your waste.

Americans use between 170 to 390 million straws a day, according to market research firms cited in a New York Times article. Whether your city is banning plastic straws or you just want to be more eco-friendly while sipping your iced coffee, here are the 10 best reusable straws to invest in this year.

10 Best Reusable Straws:

1. Best Overall: Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Straw Set

2. Most Sustainable: Koffie Straw

3. Most Popular: FinalStraw Collapsible Reusable Metal Straw

4. Best Silicone: GoSili Reusable Silicone Straw

5. Best Metal: Friendly Straw Six Pack

6. Best Glass: Hummingbird Glass Straws

7. Best Bamboo: ECO/EGO Handcrafted Organic Bamboo Drinking Straws

8. Best Collapsible: Flyby Portable Reusable Drinking Straws

9. Best Wide: Teivio Reusable Glass Straws

10. Best For Kids: Softy Straws Silicone Straws

Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

1. Best Overall Reusable Straw: Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Straw Set Klean Kanteen's mission is rooted in making high-quality, long-lasting products that are good for the planet. And its Stainless Steel Straw Set seamlessly follows suit. These hybrid silicone and metal straws are perfect for everyday use, as they're safe to use with both hot and cold beverages and hold up through many cycles in the dishwasher. Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Zero-waste; Supports 1% for the Planet; B Corp; Climate Neutral Certified; BPA-free; Vegan; Dishwasher safe Shop Now at Amazon Zero-waste; Supports 1% for the Planet; B Corp; Climate Neutral Certified; BPA-free; Vegan; Dishwasher safe

2. Most Sustainable Straw: Koffie Straw They're durable enough to hold up for years, but at the end of their life, Koffie Straws can be burned into biodegradable ash, which keeps them from clogging landfills. The packaging that each straw comes in is also compostable, so if you're looking for zero-waste reusable straws, these could be your best bet. Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Zero-waste; Compostable packaging; Dishwasher safe; Vegan; BPA-free; Biodegradable Shop Now at Amazon

3. Most Popular: FinalStraw Collapsible Reusable Metal Straw You may recognize FinalStraw Collapsible Reusable Metal Straws from the company's viral advertisements or $1.89 million Kickstarter campaign. And as it turns out, the folks at Final are as good at making straws as they are at marketing them. The stainless-steel-and-silicone FinalStraw is designed to fold down into a convenient case that can be attached to your key ring or stashed in a pocket or purse. Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Supports 1% for the Planet; Made with post-consumer recycled materials; Latex and BPA-free; Portable; Carrying case and cleaning brush included Shop Now at Amazon

4. Best Silicone Straw: GoSili Reusable Silicone Straw The GoSili Reusable Silicone Straw comes in a couple of lengths to fit standard cups or larger eco-friendly water bottles. It is made with soft, European-grade silicone and can be folded into its lightweight aluminum case for easy carrying. When it eventually comes time to recycle your straw, if your local recycling facility doesn't accept silicone, you can send it back to GoSili and the company will recycle it for you. Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Why Buy: BPA-free; Portable; Carrying case included; Dishwasher safe; Minimal packaging Shop Now at Amazon

5. Best Metal Straw: Friendly Straw Six Pack Looking for the best no-frills metal straw? Try the Friendly Straw Six Pack. This set of three straight and three bent straws lets you choose the ideal angle for sipping your favorite beverages. All are dishwasher safe, come with a carrying pouch, and include a brush to make cleaning a breeze. Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Dishwasher safe; Rust-proof stainless steel; Carrying pouch and cleaning brush included; Paper packaging

6. Best Glass Straw: Hummingbird Glass Straws If metal isn't quite your thing, you may like glass. Glass reusable straws are lightweight and have a smooth mouthfeel, plus it's easier to see if they're dirty. We like Hummingbird Glass Straws, which are handmade in Colorado using durable borosilicate glass, which is more shatter-resistant than regular glass. Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Zero-waste; Nontoxic; Plastic-free; Dishwasher safe; Handmade in the U.S.; Paper packaging; Cleaning brush included Shop Now at Amazon

7. Best Bamboo Straw: ECO/EGO Handcrafted Organic Bamboo Drinking Straws ECO/EGO Handcrafted Organic Bamboo Drinking Straws are a great biodegradable, long-lasting option for reusable straws. Each straw is made from 100% natural bamboo, and this set of 12 comes with its own carrying pouch and a cleaning brush. What's more, the company donates 10% of its profits to helping save wildlife like sea turtles, koalas, dolphins, and otters. Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Zero-waste; Biodegradable; Supports wildlife conservation; Carrying pouch and cleaning brush included; Plastic-free packaging; 100% natural bamboo Shop Now at Amazon

8. Best Collapsible Straw: Flyby Portable Reusable Drinking Straw Many reusable straws on our list come with a carrying pouch of some kind, but that doesn't mean they are all compact or lightweight enough to comfortably fit in your pocket. Enter the Flyby Portable Reusable Drinking Straw. This telescopic straw can be adjusted to fit different glasses, comes in an ultralight aluminum case with a carabiner attachment, includes a telescopic cleaning brush for washing on the go, and has a silicone tip for a smoother sip. Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Dishwasher safe; Adjustable length; Plastic-free packaging; Carrying case and cleaning brush included; Nontoxic Shop Now at Amazon Dishwasher safe; Adjustable length; Plastic-free packaging; Carrying case and cleaning brush included; Nontoxic

9. Best Wide Straw: Teivio Reusable Straws While a standard-sized straw will work in most situations, some drinks may require something a little wider. For smoothies, milkshakes, and boba tea, we recommend Teivio Reusable Glass Straws. This set comes with two standard straws, two extra-wide straws, a pair of cleaning brushes, and two handy cases made from biodegradable wheat straw. Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Case made from biodegradable wheat straw; Wide; Nontoxic; Cleaning brush included Shop Now at Amazon Case made from biodegradable wheat straw; Wide; Nontoxic; Cleaning brush included

10. Best Reusable Straw For Kids: Softy Straws Silicone Straws Reusable straws set a great example of stewardship for your little ones, but it's important to make sure they're bite-safe. Softy Straws Silicone Straws are flexible yet durable and come in kid-friendly colors. They're also BPA-free, lead-free, and have passed rigorous safety testing to ensure they're safe for the whole family. Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Why Buy: Dishwasher safe; BPA-free; Lead-free; Cleaning squeegee included

Buyer's Guide: Which Reusable Straw Is Right For You? We've listed 10 of the best reusable straws to choose from, but which one is best for you? When buying a reusable straw, you'll want to take into account factors such as whether you want to take your straw on the go  and, thus, whether it folds down or has a carrying case of some sort  and whether it's important that it's dishwasher safe.

You'll also want to choose which material you prefer: Silicone: If you're a habitual straw biter or have young children, Silicone will likely be your best bet. These soft reusable straws are ultra flexible, nontoxic, and are available in many different colors. They don't hold a shape as well as some alternative materials, but that's precisely what many users like about them.

If you're a habitual straw biter or have young children, Silicone will likely be your best bet. These soft reusable straws are ultra flexible, nontoxic, and are available in many different colors. They don't hold a shape as well as some alternative materials, but that's precisely what many users like about them. Stainless steel: Metal straws made with food-grade stainless steel are often a cheap option, but they hold up over time. While some people complain about a metallic taste and heating up when drinking hot beverages, others prefer these straws for their durability. Additionally, some stainless-steel straws come with silicone tips that can be used if you don't like how hard the metal is on your teeth.

Metal straws made with food-grade stainless steel are often a cheap option, but they hold up over time. While some people complain about a metallic taste and heating up when drinking hot beverages, others prefer these straws for their durability. Additionally, some stainless-steel straws come with silicone tips that can be used if you don't like how hard the metal is on your teeth. Glass: Glass reusable straws have a smooth mouthfeel, are lightweight, and can come in a variety of aesthetically pleasing hues. You can rest assured they won't be made with BPA or other harmful toxins, but one common concern with glass straws is how breakable they are. To combat this, look for straws made from a material like borosilicate glass that's more shatter-resistant.

Glass reusable straws have a smooth mouthfeel, are lightweight, and can come in a variety of aesthetically pleasing hues. You can rest assured they won't be made with BPA or other harmful toxins, but one common concern with glass straws is how breakable they are. To combat this, look for straws made from a material like borosilicate glass that's more shatter-resistant. Bamboo: Reusable straws made from bamboo are completely biodegradable, making them especially sustainable. Like glass, they're lightweight and have a smooth mouthfeel, however, they can have a slight woody taste. And if you want a bent straw, you'll need to choose another material  these only come stick-straight.

Melissa Smith is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainable studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a non-profit that's featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.
Hugh Grant married his long-time girlfriend last week. The two appeared together at the Circuit de Monaco to witness the Formula One Grand Prix.

Taking In The Sights

Dressed casually, with Eberstein in a figure-flattering black dress, while Grant tucked a blue shirt into a pair of navy chinos, the couple beamed happily for the cameras while strolling alongside other race attendees on the French Riviera on Sunday.

Celebs including Tom Brady, Bella Hadid, Ron Howard, and Kris Jenner were all spotted at the event.

The two sipped drinks on a balcony as they took in the sights, with Grant laughing and his new wife smiling happily at him.

Eberstein, 39, is mother to three of Grant's children.

Quietly Making The Commitment

This is the first public appearance of the couple since they got married at the Chelsea Register Office in London on Friday. They were seen outside the venue with friends and family.

Instead of wearing a traditional wedding dress, Eberstein chose to pair a white skirt with a fitted blue shirt and espadrilles.

British newspapers got ahold of their engagement news after a photograph of their public notice from the register office was posted last weekend.

The happy couple has been together for more than six years. They have a two-year-old daughter, a five-year-old son, and a third child born in spring whose name has yet to be revealed.

He's A New Man

The Paddington 2 star also has two kids with ex Tinglan Hong, a boy and a girl.

Actress Elizabeth Hurley, another ex and close friend of Grant, gave an insight into how the Lothario was settling down in middle age during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen this past March.

Hurley noted that having children later in life softened Grant considerably.

"He's an enchanting dad. Really, really sweet. Having these kids has transformed him from a very miserable person into a fairly miserable person. It's improved him. He's gone up the scale," she said.

Grant himself spoke to PEOPLE at the start of the year about how fatherhood was the nicest thing he ever experienced.

"It's just lovely to have all that love around. Suddenly you love someone more than yourself. It's unheard of in my case and they love you and it's all enchanting," he gushed.

The actor has never been married before, although he was involved with Hurley for 13 years. Just two years ago, he told shock jock Howard Stern that he felt marriage wasn't feasible.

"If you ask me the question, 'Do I think human beings are meant to be in 40-year-long monogamous, faithful relationships?' No, no. Whoever said they were?" he argued.
Late actor Alan Rickman's personal papers reveal that the role of Severus Snape exasperated the actor. Apparently, the Harry Potter star struggled with playing the teacher.

An Integral Role

Rickman passed away in 2016. Now, a wide-ranging archive of papers belonging to the late actor will be up for sale at a London book fair.

Included in the selection is a note from producer David Hayman, who cast Rickman as sneering teacher Snape. Rickman played the role for all seven movies in the hit franchise.

"I know, at times, you are frustrated but please know that you are an integral part of the films. And you are brilliant," wrote Hayman.

A note, from Rickman himself, jotted down while he was working on 2009 sequel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, suggests the esteemed actor felt concerned that not enough attention was being paid to poor Snape.

Rickman suggested that perhaps the core teenage audience was the main concern, instead of the story itself.

A Valuable Collection

The full archive has an estimated value of just under 950,000 or around $1.2 million. It also includes letters from the likes of Bill Clinton, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Tony Blair, and, of course, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who thanks Rickman for doing her most complex character justice.

Fans of the series were so enamored with Rickman's portrayal that some suggested that Rowling created the character with him in mind.

Actor and bookseller Neil Pearson assembled the collection of papers which will be up for sale. It includes Rickman's personal copies of scripts from some of his most famous movie appearances, including Die Hard. His first onscreen role saw Rickman take on the now-iconic role of Hans Gruber opposite Bruce Willis.

Pearson was emphatic about how valuable the archive, which includes almost 40 boxes worth of stuff, is.

"It's a fabulous collection. ... Every single script of a play or film, all of his diaries, and a massive amount of correspondence from pretty much every one you've ever heard of," gushed the seller.

Celebrated actor Rickman kept correspondence throughout his life, along with fan mail, interview excerpts, and his own personal diaries.

Everybody Was A Fan

Of particular interest to hardcore Harry Potter fans will be ongoing discourse, via letters, between Rickman and Rowling as Snape's character developed over time.

A few letters from Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter in the hit film series, were also in the collection.

One, a postcard wishing Rickman a happy Christmas, seemed to have been a genuine bit of fan mail from the young actor.

"Alan, you were fantastic in the play. See you next year," wrote the young Radcliffe to his hero.

Rickman's performance as Snape was the most popular of his entire career. Rowling believed he defined it in its infancy, with the two collaborating on it over the years as she continued to write.

The actor passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 69.
1. Is it ethical to use genealogy data to solve crimes?

Bioethicists suggest ethical considerations for forensic use of genetic data

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-1348

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Despite the popularity of online genealogy services, it is unclear whether users understand that their genetic information is available for forensic purposes. Bioethicists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggest a framework for ethical discussions about how and when genealogy data should be used for crime-solving. Their paper is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The use of genealogy data for criminal justice purposes made news when authorities arrested the suspected Golden State Killer, a serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California decades ago, after matching DNA from multiple crime scenes to DNA obtained from online genealogy data. While the arrest was celebrated, the case has raised questions about the ethics of using online genealogy data for solving crimes. Bioethicists from the NIH say that three interrelated topics should be considered when discussing the ethical use of online genealogy data: informed consent, privacy, and justice.

According to the authors, these ethical considerations are important because citizens have rights, and also because DNA evidence can be misused. The crime-solving potential of readily available DNA evidence is exciting, but it raises many issues that must be addressed.

###

Media contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To interview the lead author, Benjamin Berkman, please contact Kiara Palmer at kiara.palmer@nih.gov.
New York, NY--May 28, 2018--Tropical rainforests play a critical role in regulating the global climate system--they represent the Earth's largest terrestrial CO2 sink. Because of its broad geographical expanse and year-long productivity, the Amazon is key to the global carbon and hydrological cycles. Climate change could threaten the fate of rainforests, but there is great uncertainty about the future ability of rainforests to store carbon. While severe droughts have occurred in recent years in the Amazon watershed, causing widespread tree mortality and affecting the forests' ability to store carbon, the drivers of tropical rainforests' sensitivity to drought are poorly understood.

A new study led by Pierre Gentine, associate professor of earth and environmental engineering at Columbia Engineering, shows that photosynthesis in tall Amazonian forests--forests above 30m--is three times less sensitive to precipitation variability than in shorter forests of less than 20m. Taller Amazonian forests were also found to be older, have more biomass and deeper rooting systems that enable them to access deeper soil moisture, which makes them more resilient to drought. The paper was published online May 28 on Nature Geoscience.

"Our findings suggest that forest height and age are an important regulator of photosynthesis in response to droughts," says Gentine, who is also a member of the Earth Institute and the Data Science Institute. "Although older and taller trees show less sensitivity to precipitation variations (droughts), they are more susceptible to fluctuations in atmospheric heat and aridity, which is going to rise substantially with climate change. Our study shows that the Amazon forest is not uniform in response to climate variability and drought, and illuminates the gradient of responses observable across Amazonian forests to water stress, droughts, land use/land cover changes, and climate change."

Climate change is altering the dynamics, structure, and function of the Amazon. While climate factors that control the spatial and temporal variations in forests' photosynthesis have been well studied, the influence of forest height and age (affected by deforestation for instance) on this controlling effect has rarely been considered. Gentine used remote sensing observations of solar-induced fluorescence (a proxy for photosynthesis), precipitation, vapor-pressure deficit, and canopy height, together with estimates of forest age and aboveground biomass. His group applied statistical techniques to estimate how age and height could modify forest sensitivity to droughts.

Gentine's remote sensing observations showed that tall and older forests were less sensitive to droughts but more sensitive to heat and atmospheric dryness. This finding has implications for the capacity of younger vs. older forests to withstand--or not--future droughts. For instance, deforestation could increase the fragility of the forests to droughts, as the forest becomes younger and thus more sensitive to droughts.

"Our study makes it clear that forest height and age directly impact the carbon cycle in the Amazon," Gentine says. "This is especially significant given the importance of the Amazon rainforest for the global carbon cycle and climate."

###

About the Study

The study is titled "Tall Amazonian forests are less sensitive to precipitation variability."

Authors are: from Columbia Engineering's Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering: Francesco Giardina (currently at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne), Daniel Kennedy, Seyed Hamed Alemohammad, and Pierre Gentine (also at the Earth Institute, Columbia University); Alexandra G. Konings, Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University; Rafael S. Oliveira, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil, and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Perth; and Maria Uriarte, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University.

This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-SC0011094).

The authors declare no competing interests.

LINKS:

Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-018-0133-5

DOI: 10.1038/s41561-018-0133-5

https://www.nature.com/ngeo/

http://eee.columbia.edu/pierre-gentine

http://eee.columbia.edu/

http://engineering.columbia.edu/

http://www.earth.columbia.edu/

http://datascience.columbia.edu/

Columbia Engineering

Columbia Engineering, based in New York City, is one of the top engineering schools in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the nation. Also known as The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School expands knowledge and advances technology through the pioneering research of its more than 200 faculty, while educating undergraduate and graduate students in a collaborative environment to become leaders informed by a firm foundation in engineering. The School's faculty are at the center of the University's cross-disciplinary research, contributing to the Data Science Institute, Earth Institute, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Precision Medicine Initiative, and the Columbia Nano Initiative. Guided by its strategic vision, "Columbia Engineering for Humanity," the School aims to translate ideas into innovations that foster a sustainable, healthy, secure, connected, and creative humanity.
A new online tool takes into account personalized risks and benefits, but also allows for a range of patient preferences

ANN ARBOR, MI - For smokers and former smokers, the threat of lung cancer always lurks in the shadows.

To flush it out of the darkness, some decide to get their lungs scanned by a CT machine, which can find a tumor early enough to stop it - or set off a false alarm that turns out to be nothing.

Others may avoid the scans, or don't know they should have one, even though they are the type of person who has the most to gain from screening, according to official recommendations in effect for the last five years.

Now, a new study shows how to personalize the lung cancer screening decision for every patient. The results could help doctors fine-tune their advice to patients, so that it's based not just on a patient's individual lung cancer risk and the potential benefits and harms of screening, but also a likely range of patient attitudes about looking for problems and dealing with the consequences.

Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study forms the backbone for new free online decision tools aimed at physicians and their teams, and at members of the public.

The tool for clinicians, called Lung Decision Precision, was designed by a University of Michigan and Veterans Affairs team to help clinicians talk with patients and their loved ones about whether to a lung CT scan might be a good idea for them.

The same team has also launched a website for patients and their loved ones, http://www.shouldiscreen.com, that gives easy-to-understand information about the positives and potential negatives of lung cancer screening, and allows individuals to calculate their risk of lung cancer.

Tanner Caverly, M.D., M.P.H., led the team that did the new computer-based simulation analysis using data from major studies of lung cancer screening, and national data on the potential screening population under the current guidelines.

"Our model is built on a comprehensive view of net benefits for individual patients, which incorporates the best evidence for personalizing the pros and cons of screening and assumes that not all patients will feel the same about screening and its consequences," explains Caverly, an assistant professor in the Division of General Medicine and Department of Learning Health Sciences at the U-M Medical School. "This allows us to identify which patients are in the preference-sensitive zone for the decision about screening, and which ones have a very clear potential benefit to them."

Any person with an annual chance of lung cancer between 0.3 percent and 1.3 percent, and a life expectancy of more than 10 years, falls into that latter high-benefit category, he notes. This accounts for about 50 percent of all Americans who qualify for screening under the current guidelines.

But for most of the rest, their personal preferences should play a large role in determining if they should get screened. For instance, this might include how much they dislike getting medical tests in general, how they feel about the potential unintended consequences of looking for a problem when they feel fine, and how they view the process of having to get follow-up scans and lung biopsies if the screening scan shows something suspicious.

In fact, for them personal preference is more important to their decision than the false-positive rate for lung CT screening (which outnumber true cancers 25 to 1), and the negative impacts of being over-treated for a lung cancer that was not highly dangerous.

At the same time, people who fall into the potential pool of screening candidates but have a short life expectancy and a low risk of lung cancer should not be screened.

The model could help physicians prepare for conversations with patients about lung screening, customized to the patient in front of them.

"If a physician is not clear about the potential benefit for a patient who's in the high-benefit zone, they could miss an opportunity to do something really good for them, to say, 'I don't recommend this for everyone but I recommend it for you'," Caverly says. "But coming across strong for screening with a patient who has a fine balance of pros and cons could miss an opportunity to give them a choice, to tell them that their decision depends on the kind of person they are."

While the study looked specifically at the evidence around lung cancer screening, its authors note that the underlying analytical method could lead to personalized health decision tools for other situations.

Looking at lungs

The researchers focused on lung cancer -- the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women - because of the recent move to encourage certain smokers and former smokers between the ages of 55 and 80 to get screened for it.

A major study published in 2011 showed that some members of this group could survive longer if they had CT screening to find the earliest signs of lung cancer, which is diagnosed in more than 230,000 Americans every year.

Two years later, a national panel recommended it for people between the ages of 55 and 80 who had been or still were heavy smokers (an average of a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years, who currently smoke or quit less than 15 years ago).

The recommendation comes with exceptions, even among this group, including patients whose overall health meant they have a life expectancy of less than 10 years, and those who aren't strong enough to withstand lung surgery if a scan shows signs of cancer.

Now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which made the initial recommendation, is preparing to revisist its guidance on this topic.

Caverly and his colleagues - including senior author Rafael Meza, Ph.D., who is coordinating principal investigator of the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) lung group -- hope their new study will inform that process.

They're studying how the online tool can be used by physicians and the medical team members who assist with screening. They're also thinking about whether it could be included in the online systems that patients use to communicate with their clinic ahead of an appointment, and the clinical reminder tools that prompt physicians to talk with patients about preventive services that might be right for them.

The physician-focused tool produces a colorful display that places the individual patient somewhere along a green and yellow line. If a patient is deep in the yellow, they likely have a small but non-zero benefit with screening and screening will depend highly on patient views.

The closer they fall to the divide between green and yellow, the more likely it is that screening will benefit them. And if they're deep in the green zone, the physician should encourage them more strongly to get screened. The site generates other visual representations, and handouts for patients and their spouse or other loved one.

The team, including co-author Rodney Hayward, M.D., of General Medicine and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, hopes to test the model's usefulness for other types of health services that are used by many people and have good data available about their benefits, risks and patient preferences.

This includes cancer screening, disease prevention, chronic disease management approaches and more.

"This method can incorporate anything that moves the needle on risk and benefit, and that involves patient preferences about time, dollars and worry," Caverly explains. "As a clinician I'd like to have this for many of the things I do, where it would be meaningful to know how beneficial something could be for the individual patient, and we could talk about whether it's indicated for them."

###

Caverly, Meza and Hayward are members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Caverly and Hayward are members of the VA Center for Clinical Management research, and received VA funding to develop the web-based tool for providers. Meza and co-author Cao hold funding from the National Cancer Institute; Meza co-leads the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Program at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center.

Caverly is a VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Career Development Awardee with the VA Center for Clinical Management Research at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Intensifying river floods could lead to regional production losses worldwide caused by global warming. This might not only hamper local economies around the globe - the effects might also propagate through the global network of trade and supply chains, a study now published in Nature Climate Change shows. It is the first to assess this effect for flooding on a global scale, using a newly developed dynamic economic model. It finds that economic flood damages in China, which could, without further adaption, increase by 80 percent within the next 20 years, might also affect EU and US industries. The US economy might be specifically vulnerable due to its unbalanced trade relation with China. Contrary to US president Trump's current tariff sanctions, the study suggests that building stronger and thus more balanced trade relations might be a useful strategy to mitigate economic losses caused by intensifying weather extremes.

"Climate change will increase flood risks already in the next two decades - and this is not only a problem for millions of people but also for economies worldwide," says Anders Levermann, project leader from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany and the Columbia University in New York. Without further adaption measures, climate change will likely increase economic losses worldwide due to fluvial floods by more than 15 percent accumulating to a total of about 600 billion US dollar within the next 20 years. While the bulk of this is independent of climate change, the rise is not. "Not only local industries will be affected by these climate impacts," says Sven Willner, lead author of the study from PIK. "Through supply shortages, changes in demand and associated price signals, economic losses might be down-streamed along the global trade and supply network affecting other economies on a global scale - we were surprised about the size of this rather worrying effect."

World Bank Economist: "Natural disasters are not local events anymore"

The World Bank's lead economist with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, Stephane Hallegatte, who pioneered research in the area of indirect disaster effects but was not involved in the present study, comments: "This work combines two very innovative lines of work: global risk assessment for natural hazards and network theory to understand how localized shocks propagate in time and space. It contributes to scientific progress in multiple ways, but one of the most important policy messages for me is that the world is so interconnected that natural disasters are not local events anymore: everybody can be affected by a disaster occurring far away. It means that risk management is more than each country's responsibility: it has become a global public good."

The study is based on projections of near-future river floods on a regional scale already determined by the greenhouse gas emissions that humans have so far emitted into our atmosphere - impacts after 2035 depend on future additional emissions. The authors investigate the overall economic network response to river flood-related shocks, taking into account the inner dynamics of international trade. They do so with the specifically designed, new Acclimate-model, a dynamic economic computer simulation.

Without major adaptation, China could suffer biggest direct losses

Without major adaptation measures, China could suffer the biggest direct economic losses from river floods - adding up to a total of more than 380 billion US dollar in economic losses over the next 20 years, including natural flood events not related to global warming. This corresponds to about 5 percent of China's annual economic output. 175 billion of the total losses in China will likely occur due to climate change. "This is a lot," says Willner, "and it is only the effect by river floods, not even taking into account other climate change impacts such as storms and heat waves."

The European Union and the United States on the contrary might be affected predominantly by indirect losses passed down along the global trade and supply network. In the US, direct losses might be around 30 billion US Dollar, whereas indirect losses might be 170 billion US dollar in the next 20 years. "The EU will suffer less from indirect losses caused by climate-related flooding in China due to its even trade balance. They will suffer when flooded regions in China temporarily fail to deliver for instance parts that European companies need for their production, but on the other hand Europe will profit from filling climate-induced production gaps in China by exporting goods to Asia. This yields the European economy currently more climate-prepared for the future," says Willner. "In contrast, the US imports much more from China than it exports to this country. This leaves the US more susceptible to climate-related risks of economic losses passed down along the global supply and trade chain."

Global trade allows global buffering - India could be a winner

"More intense global trade can help to mitigate losses from local extreme events by facilitating market adjustments," explains co-author Christian Otto from the Potsdam Institute and Columbia University. "When a supplier is impacted by a disaster hampering its production, international trade increases the chance that other suppliers can jump in and temporarily replace it. Interestingly, the global increase of climate-induced river floods could even cause net gains for some economies such as India, South East Asia, or Australia."

The study's focus is not on damages to production facilities of businesses, but to what extent a regional economy stagnates due to flooding. "We adopted a rather optimistic view when it comes to the flexibility and promptness of shifting production towards non-affected suppliers after an extreme weather event," explains Christian Otto. "Hence our study rather underestimates than overestimates the production losses - things could eventually turn out to be worse."

Trump's tariffs might impede climate-proofing the US economy

"We find that the intensification of the mutual trade relation with China leaves the EU better prepared against production losses in Asia than the US. The prospect that the US will be worse off can be traced back to the fact that it is importing more products from China than it is exporting," says PIK's Anders Levermann. "Interestingly, such an unbalanced trade relation might be an economic risk for the US when it comes to climate-related economic losses. In the end, Trump's tariffs might impede climate-proofing the US economy."

For resolving this risk and balancing out the negative trade relation, there are generally two options: either isolation or more trade. "By introducing a tariff plan against China, Trump currently goes for isolation," says Levermann. "But Trump's tariff sanctions are likely to leave US economy even more vulnerable to climate change. As our study suggests, under climate change, the more reasonable strategy is a well-balanced economic connectivity, because it allows to compensate economic damages from unexpected weather events - of which we expect more in the future."

###

Article: Sven N. Willner, Christian Otto, Anders Levermann (2018): Global economic response to river floods. Nature Climate Change [DOI:10.1038/s41558-018-0173-2]

Weblink to the article, once it is published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0173-2

Who we are: The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is one of the leading research institutions addressing relevant questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. Natural and social scientists work closely together to generate interdisciplinary insights that provide a sound basis for decision-making for society, businesses and politics. PIK is a member of the Leibniz Association.

For further information please contact:

PIK press office

Phone: +49 331 288 25 07

E-Mail: press@pik-potsdam.de

Twitter: @PIK_Climate

http://www.pik-potsdam.de
Despite holidays in US and UK, the currency exchange markets are broadly higher, with the Euro back over 1.17. The nomination of potentially divisive finance minister in Italy has been rejected. On, off and now back on - President Trump says North Korea summit could still happen.

With UK and US markets closed on Monday, many were expecting a slow start to the week, but a glance over various currencies and markets shows it has been anything but. EURUSD is +0.6% and back over 1.17, US indices are +0.4%, and oil continues its slide with another 2% fall.

The Euro is recovering strongly from last weeks slide on news out of Italy which is concerning, but potentially positive. Danske bank reports,

Political uncertainty continues in Italy as premier-designate Giuseppe Conte has given up forming a government after the Italian President Sergio Mattarella last night rejected the proposal for finance minister by the incoming government of Five Star and the League. This raises the prospect for new elections, which would add to market anxiety towards Italy. Moreover, on Friday, Moody's placed Italy's credit rating on negative watch. This is likely to be negative for Italian government bonds when the market opens this morning. After the rejection of the euro-sceptic Paolo Savona as finance minister, there was some relief in the EUR/USD.

With the EURUSD oversold and closing on the dead lows last week at 1.1645, this news provides some hope. The political situation in Italy was potentially toxic enough without a euro-sceptic finance minister creating more divisions. And while a continuation of the political uncertainty isnt exactly a positive, there is at least the hope for a better suited alliance. Things  as they say  can only get better.

Adding to the slight positive bias and risk on sentiment is the continuing saga of the North Korea talks with the US as President Trump hinted there may still be dialogue between the two nations. This week could see more on/off headlines.

Data this Week

As well as the ongoing political risks, there is a busy schedule of data due for release this week.
The Pound-Dollar Exchange Rate Slides Through 1.33; Where Next in Latest FX Forecasts?

The performance of the British Pound continues to disappoint many bank forecasts who expected the rapid ascent of the Pound to continue. Disappointing data, rate hikes getting put on ice and political instability have all conspired to generate a serious reversal in direction for the UK currency. In its daily forex report, Scotiabank outlined its view on how we should interpret Fridays lacklustre GDP reading and what exactly is driving some of the weakness we have seen in British Pound exchange rates,

UK GDP rose 0.1% in Q1, in line with expectations and the preliminary report. Private consumption and government spending was a little firmer while trade was weaker. The data do not really advance the debate about the policy outlook for the BoE in the near-term, especially as UK markets appear to be facing renewed worries about Brexit.

Brexit a cause of tremendous uncertainty for Sterling

The state of Brexit talks was largely forgotten a few months ago, as it was expectations of tighter policy in the UK that was buoying the Pound (and let us not forget some substantial Dollar weakness). Now with the future of the UK and its relationship with the EU back in focus, the uncertainty is back. FX strategists believe that things are looking increasingly bad for Pound bulls,

Talks are not making progress on key issues and the EU is sounding very critical of the UKs negotiating stance. This might see hard Brexit risks increase or it could trigger more political uncertainty in the UK  neither is good for the pound.

From a technical perspective, the downtrend in Cable simply looks more and more entrenched. Now that the price has extended beneath support at 1.35, the potential for 1.33 to give way is a frightening prospect. Scotiabank believe that the lowest close of the year is pointing to more substantial weakness, with 1.31 possible in the next leg down,

Pound to Dollar Exchange Rate Outlook

GBPUSD short-term technicals: bearish  Sterling is heading for its lowest close on the week this year versus the USD and looks poised to weaken further. Trend signals are aligned bearishly across a range of timeframes which will limit the GBPs ability to recover and encourage markets to fade minor gains. We look for the GBP to push lower to 1.31.

All is not yet lost for the Pound bulls, and hopes of something important happening in Brexit is one thing that could spark some buying. However, if the BoE has lost its hawkish credibility then it may take something concrete to get things moving higher and resume the longer term uptrend.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reacted angrily on Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron met the head of the African Union (AU), apparently suspecting closed-door dealings on the crisis-riddled country's future.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende blasted Macron for dog-whistle remarks that he made last Wednesday in Paris after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also the AUs current chair.

The comments caused discomfort, not to say anger in Kinshasa, Mende told a press conference.

Macron had said, France supports the initiative taken by the president of the African Union, in strict concertation with the president of Angola, but did not elaborate. Angola President Joao Lourenco was visiting Paris on Monday.

The verbal broadside from the DRC comes in a context of mounting tensions ahead of presidential elections scheduled for December 23.

Countries in central Africa are casting a worried eye, amid fears that the sprawling, volatile state could spiral once more into war, possibly drawing them into it.

DRC President Joseph Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001 and should have stepped down at the end of 2016 after he reached his two-term constitutional limit  a constitutional clause has allowed him to remain in office until his successor is elected.

Kabilas presidency has been stained by a reputation for corruption, oppression of free speech and poor governance. The DRCs armed forces are struggling to repress conflict in the vast, lawless east, which is under the sway of multiple rebel groups.

Mende said, We do not accuse the French president of anything. The question is about knowing what may have been said between him  because he spoke about it  and the president of Rwanda concerning the DRC without us knowing about.

When the answer comes, if it is unsatisfactory, you can be sure that we will draw all the consequences, Mende said.

No-one has the right to envisage solutions to our problems without us, he said, condemning people who are nostalgic for the colonial order and closed-door meetings and open plotting against our countrys sovereignty.

The representatives of France, Rwanda and Angola were called to the foreign ministry in Kinshasa on Saturday after Macrons remarks.

Previous conflicts in the DRC  from 1996-97 and from 1998-2003  sucked in countries around central Africa, including its neighbours, Angola and Rwanda.

Mende on Monday did not address speculation about whether Kabila would run again in the elections, which are at the legislative and local level as well as presidential.

But he made it clear Kabila planned to remain a key figure in national politics through his role as party chief.

Kabila is head of the presidential majority, Mende said, referring to the majority of pro-Kabila MPs in parliament.

When we hold the elections, he will be the head of the presidential majority. And since we intend to win, Kabila will be the head of the presidential majority after the elections, he said. Theres nothing unconstitutional about this.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella on Monday, saying he was fulfilling his role as the guarantor of the country's institutions with "courage and responsibility."

I reiterate my friendship and support for President Mattarella who has an essential task to undertake, (ensuring) the institutional and democratic stability of his country, which he is doing with a lot of courage and responsibility, Macron said.

The Italian leader rejected a eurosceptic nominee for economy minister on Sunday which led to the collapse of a government put forward by a populist alliance comprising the far-right League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

Despite facing calls for impeachment, Mattarella named a caretaker prime minister on Monday, Carlo Cottarelli, putting the country on course for new elections.

Macron, a pro-Europe centrist, is watching Italys unfolding political crisis closely, aware that his plans for deepening the European Union depend largely on a stable and like-minded government emerging in Rome.

Italy is an important partner for France at every level: a historic partner, a present partner and a future partner, that we respect and that we need for our European projects, as well as our bilateral relationship which is fundamental, Macron added.

He was speaking at a press conference with Angolan President Joao Lourenco who was making his first official visit to France.
French magazine Le Point said it had suffered harassment and intimidation by supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after it labelled him "The Dictator" on its front cover.

Police were deployed in the southern city of Avignon over the weekend after a group of pro-Erdogan activists attempted to remove, then cover up advertisements for the magazine at newsstands.

Another poster of the front cover  a portrait of Erdogan above the headline The Dictator. How far will Erdogan go?  was targeted at a newspaper kiosk in the town of Valence on Sunday, Le Point said.

After a week of harassment, insults, intimidation and anti-Semitic slurs and threats towards us on social media, now has come the moment when supporters of the AKP (Erdogans party) are attacking symbols of freedom of expression and diversity in the press, Le Point said on its website.

President Emmanuel Macron rallied behind the magazine Monday calling the harassment totally unacceptable.

You cannot put a price on freedom of the press, without it, its dictatorship, he tweeted.

The left-leaning weekly, one of Frances most popular news magazines, published an investigation into the Turkish strongman in its latest edition which also included an editorial asking: Is Erdogan a new Hitler?.

Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which he co-founded in 2001, are seeking another mandate ahead of snap parliamentary and presidential polls on June 24.

The Turkish president imposed a state of emergency following an attempted coup in July 2016 which has sparked a crackdown affecting hundreds of thousands of people, including killings and torture, according to the UN rights office.

The report in March this year also warned about a continued erosion of the rule of law and deterioration of the human rights situation, including the arrests of hundreds of journalists and opposition members.

Ankara slammed the findings as biased and unacceptable.

 Unacceptable breach 

Christophe Deloire, the head of media freedom group Reporters without Borders, said that the incidents in France were isolated but have a strong symbolic resonance.

One of the leading figures in Frances ruling Republic on the Move party, Richard Ferrand, called the protests in southern France an unacceptable breach of the freedom of expression.

We are not going to tolerate in France that the front cover of a magazine be somehow censored under pressure, he told the France 3 channel on Sunday.

Many European countries are home to large Turkish-origin or migrant communities, but Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have barred Turkish politicians from electioneering in their countries.

Around three million expatriate Turks are allowed to vote in the elections next month, including 1.4 million in Germany, and they are seen as a valuable source of support by Erdogans party.

A year ago Germany and other European countries also banned a series of planned Turkish campaign events for a referendum that extended Erdogans powers.

Erdogan at the time denounced Germanys Nazi practices and accused it of harbouring Kurdish terrorists and plotters of the failed coup against him.
Privacy Settings

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit.

NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he will press German and French leaders next week to support his position that Iran should have no military presence in neighbouring Syria.

Netanyahu will travel to Germany and France for talks expected to focus on the US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal  long sought by Israel  and the Iranian presence in Syria.

He will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the June 4-6 trip. Netanyahu said he may also meet British Prime Minister Theresa May.

We believe that there is absolutely no room for any Iranian military presence in any part of Syria, Netanyahu told senior officials from his Likud party, according to a statement from his office.

These things, of course, reflect not only our position. I can safely say that they also reflect the views of others in the Middle East and beyond the Middle East. This will be the main focus of my discussions.

Israel has been pledging for months to prevent its main enemy Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where Tehran is backing President Bashar al-Assads regime.

Earlier this month, Israel launched a large-scale attack on what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, raising fears of a major confrontation.

Those strikes followed a barrage of rockets that Israel said was fired toward its forces in the occupied Golan Heights by Iran from Syria.

Even before that, Israel had been blamed for a series of recent strikes inside Syria that killed Iranians, though it has not acknowledged them.

Israel argues the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear deal allowed Iran to expand its presence in the Middle East, both through its own forces and with proxy groups.

It also says the time limits on the accord do not guarantee Iran will not eventually obtain nuclear weapons, while it also wants to see restrictions on Iranian missile development.

Trump announced on May 8 that the United States was pulling out of the agreement, but all other parties to it  Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia  say the agreement is working as intended and want to stick by it.

There have been concerns over the fallout from the White House decision and tensions in Syria.

Chagai Tzuriel, director general of Israels intelligence ministry, told journalists on Monday he believed recent events were convincing countries such as Russia that allowing Iran to entrench itself militarily in Syria was not worth it.

Russia is also backing Assads regime in Syria and Netanyahu has held a series of recent discussions with President Vladimir Putin on Irans presence there.

Tzuriel said that if the opportunity is not seized on and Iran is not pushed back we are on a collision course with Iran.
The mayor of South African capital Pretoria was 'carjacked' outside a restaurant in the early hours of Saturday by an armed gang that stole his silver Mercedes Benz.

Solly Msimanga, 37, has been mayor of Tshwane, the official name of Pretoria city and surrounding districts, since the opposition Democratic Alliance party won local elections in 2016.

I was coming out of the restaurant after dinner when two guys approached me. As I was about to get into my car, one takes out a gun, he told local media, admitting he was shaken by the incident.

As I was standing there, they came pointed at me with the gun. I thought they actually wanted to take me.

He said the cars tracker had traced the vehicle for a short time before it stopped working.

Violent crime is notoriously common in South Africa, with armed robbery, rape, carjacking and muggings among the biggest threats.

According to annual crime figures released last year, there were 16,717 carjacking incidents reported, the highest number recorded in the last 10 years.

The murder rate has risen to 52 killings a day.

South African police often come under fire for failing to bring down crime, although officials insist that levels have declined since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Monday, May 28, 2018

Ever since the passage of the National Security Act of 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has conducted media influence in the United States through its "Operation Mockingbird". This is probably the main reason the international "Reporters Without Borders" gives a very low free press ranking among all nations, lower than other G7 nations such as Canada, Germany, Japan, France, and Britain. Only Italy is lower probably due to the press there being owned by a recent former conservative Prime Minister. National security issues particularly are subject to this kind of CIA influence. This is an empire story issue.

National Security Act of 1947

This Act represents a radical departure from American traditions begun by our first president George Washington and the founding figures. The act was passed over the opposition to it by the Department of War and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their opposition was based on the American tradition of maintaining a small standing army between wars and using volunteer forces to fill out the ranks during war. Their opposition was based in part on Washington's admonition against foreign entanglements. Changing the name of the Department of War to the Department of Defense represents the change in attitude from that of a republic to that of a worldwide empire. In actuality, this represented a change from defense to offense, from national border concerns to world control concerns. Inside the CIA the change went from classic intelligence operations to also include covert overseas operations to maintain the new empire.

Commercialism and Democracy

A long running theme in American history is the foreign policy clash between pursuing commercial interests and pursuing democratic values. In founding figure terms this was the clash between Hamilton and Jefferson. In twentieth century terms this was the clash between business interests and worker interests in the democracies, or the clash between small business freedom Leninism and totalitarian complete state control Stalinism in the communist world. Contradictions abound here so I hesitate to elaborate too much.

President Kennedy

Kennedy's journey toward peace was a long and difficult one. In between crises in the Bay of Pigs, the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis, back channel negotiations continued between Zorin representing the Soviet Union and McCloy representing the USA for mutual disarmament and an end to the Cold War in his second term. His Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress used carrots instead of sticks in his diplomacy and he was determined to end covert operations in the CIA in his second term. In a September 8th 1963 executive order he planned to begin troop pullouts from Vietnam starting in December 1963. His treaty banning atmospheric nuclear testing was the first on many with the Soviet Union. All of this was ended by his assassination. Lyndon Johnson was opposed to this peace initiative and asked McCloy to break it off. Kennedy laughed when McCloy told him this and assured him he had the full support of the president. The CIA man Kennedy had fired was put in charge of the Warren Commission whitewash. In the book "Brothers" Bobby Kennedy intuitively understood the forces opposed to his brother and blamed them for his brother's death. Jackie had the French intelligence look into the assassination and they came back with the word Lyndon Johnson was behind it. Watergate burglar and long-time CIA operative E. Howard Hunt also confirms CIA and Johnson involvement with the plot in his death bed tape. Tony Morales of the CIA was Johnson's alleged coordinator for the plot and also was in the Ambassador Hotel when Bobby Kennedy was shot. Khrushchev cried when he heard Kennedy died and lost his leadership the next year, as militarists on both sides prevailed. The Brezhnev military buildup that ensued ultimately brought the Soviet Union down. Likewise Vietnam brought Johnson down. Bobby Kennedy's election to the presidency threatened to undue Johnson's legacy and reopen the investigation into President Kennedy's death. FBI director J. Edger Hoover did not have the blackmail material against Bobby that he had against John and Martin Luther King Jr.

Personal Experience

As a peace activist I have learned about CIA influence gradually over the course of my lifetime. Initially I read Newsweek cover to cover during the Vietnam War years, and assumed their hawkish perspective even after Tet in 1968. I also assumed military spending stimulated the economy until my exposure to Sivard's research in 1983. I assumed the Warren Commission was right about the Kennedy assassination until a 1988 Geraldo Rivera show began the long process of casting doubt and numerous books and academic conference presentations increasing confirmed the clear new realistic interpretation. Then the Gulf and Iraq Wars cast increasing doubt about official positions. Particularly the national and local peace movement discussion list-serves 2001-2005 were huge in clarifying my current understandings. Watching Ted Koppel's nightline July 24, 2001 confirmed one of my key suspicions. Koppel was former Naval Intelligence, hence could get better stories with the help of Intelligence insiders and his own security clearance. He had Bush's deputy defense guy on Nightline; Paul Wolfowitz, who insisted nuclear missile defense is a top defense priority. But Ted used the pentagon's own list of ten major threats to show that terrorism was most likely (#1) and rogue nation nuclear attack was #9 and assault by another nuclear threat like Russia or China was only #10. He could not have done this without security clearance as I found out trying to obtain a copy of this ranked list. I had someone at the Defense Monitor guiding me through numerous phone calls in my effort, only to end up with the pentagon refusing to give me the list because it was classified. That's why Bob Woodward, former naval intelligence, Walter Cronkite, OSS during the war, and Ben Bradley, Washington Post Editor and former CIA, and many others like them rise to the top of the media.

Church Commission

The 1975-76 Church Commission on Intelligence Activities revealed many abuses of power by the CIA, domestic and foreign, including foreign assassinations and domestic control of the American media, including the 400 top press persons in the nation. While Woodward and Bernstein became household words for their unraveling of the Watergate scandal that brought down Nixon, Woodward's career was soaring while Bernstein was ignored after his expose of Operation Mockingbird's control of the American press in a 25,000 word article for Rolling Stone magazine. This is how the CIA handles whistleblowers about its various blunders and misdeeds. Only now, some thirty years later is Bernstein reappearing on television shows in recent years. Gary Webb of the San Jose Mercury News "Dark Alliance" series is another treated poorly by former CIA veterans in the media. He dared to uncover the CIA role in the crack cocaine epidemic started by Freeway Rick in Los Angeles and protected by the Drug Enforcement Administration to fund the Contra Wars in Central America in the eighties.

Recent Years

National Security continues to be a weak spot in America's so-called free press. Even though 15 million protested in major cities worldwide February 15th one month before the 2003 Iraq War started, this was dismissed by President Bush as a "focus group." I personally attended a protest of 500,000 people in the nation's capital in September 2003 and the New York Times reported the crowd as "tens of thousands" deliberately understating the crowd size. This happened again when 600,000 protested the Republican Convention in August 2004. Judy Miller dutifully reported in the New York Times the exaggerations and distortions of Dick Cheney and company about the weapons of mass destruction of Iraq. Phil Donahue was taken off the air for daring to counter these lies. Even one year after the invasion, 90% of American troops in Iraq falsely believed Saddam Hussein was behind the 9-11-01 attacks, so carefully inserted and repeated wording by the administration had left that impression.

For a tribute to the world peace President Kennedy:

https://www.academia.edu/5184189/KENNEDY_50th_Anniversary_Tribute_12ppt._2_p._2013

President Kennedy was my mother's third cousin.

Please cite this work as follows:

Reuschlein, Robert. (2018, May 28), "Media Influence by the CIA", Madison, WI: Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Media-Influence-by-the-CIA,2018157946.aspx

Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute

Nominated Vetted for 2016, Given Odds for 2017 Nobel Peace Prize

Possible Favorite in 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Announced October 5th.



Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com, Info: www.realeconomy.com
Educators and advocates of Mexican American Studies will gather in eight Texas cities Wednesday, simultaneously, to press the Texas State Board of Education to reverse itself.

Thats no easy task given that the Republican-dominated body in April grudgingly approved creation of state standards for a Mexican American Studies high school course, giving it a swift kick on the way out.

Pressured for five years to that vote, the boards last-minute move to change the courses name was petty and political and ignored reason, common usage, the name of a recognized field of study and scholars who have nurtured it in a sometimes hostile academy.

MAS has faced far more articulate, cunning critics than the sharpest pencils on the SBOE, and advocates of the course wont be deterred.

The arguments used for changing the course name to Ethnic Studies: An Overview of Americans of Mexican Descent were at best phony and inconsistent.

Board member David Bradley of Beaumont pushed the name change, he said, because hyphenated Americanism is divisive, setting off that divisiveness.

Retired Mexican American Studies instructor Juan Tejeda said the name change came down to the board asserting its power and control. Board member Marisa Perez of San Antonio said the decision was cloaked in bigotry under the guise of Americanism.

Instead of getting mad, scholars got to work. The ultra-patient breed blessed with analytical skills is accustomed to institutions that move at glacial speed. They know that what matters is the end game and theyre committed to seeing Mexican American Studies at all grade levels, not just in high school.

So, they take a much longer view of history and this fight.

Members of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Tejas Foco Committee on Mexican American Studies will release a document Wednesday that will lay out these arguments, including several straightforward, compelling observations.

State education officials and agencies, for instance, have used Mexican American Studies to describe or refer to such coursework dating back at least to the 1980s.

MAS is in use at the university level, in textbooks (though some use Chicano Studies), and in some Texas high schools that have made MAS a social studies elective.

More strikingly, advocates of MAS will point out that the board voted to model the course after one in the Houston Independent School District thats called Mexican American Studies.

The name also conforms to majority use in Texas, where Hispanic is also used but may be falling out of favor and where Latino and Latinx, in use by some, still isnt in wide circulation.

MAS supporters also plan to point out the inconsistency in the SBOEs vote: It voted in April on a process of approving other electives, including Native American Studies, African American Studies and Asian Pacific Islander Studies.

In 2014 and 2016, the SBOE considered MAS proposals and put out calls for MAS textbooks without a mention of its objections to the accepted nomenclature.

Its members cant continue to accuse others of divisiveness when MAS is about the inclusion of fuller, richer, wider histories, and evidence shows such courses better engage students of all backgrounds and improves academic performance and graduation rates.

Mexican American also affirms Americanness and allegiance thereto.

The thing is, says Tejada, they want us all to be Americans, but theyve never accepted us as Americans, really. Segregation was prevalent in the educational system. Civil rights and walkouts occurred because of educational inequity. Spanish was punished in the classroom.

Similar arguments were waged against bilingual education.

The truest argument remains: That people get to self-identify, and no government entity gets to change that.

Not without a fight, and MAS scholars, teachers and activists have been in this fight for a long time.

In San Antonio, theyll protest the SBOE at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Guadalupe Theater, at the same time their counterparts will gather in Dallas, Houston, El Paso, Austin and South Texas.

Elaine Ayala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | eayala@express-news.net | @ElaineAyala
SHELTON  As Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mark Lauretti marched the streets of Shelton, where he has been mayor for 27 years, local support for his candidacy was evident.

Governor Lauretti! The next governor! flag-spangled Shelton and Derby residents called out to the mayor as he walked in the towns Memorial Day parade on Monday.

But Lauretti admitted that the race for governor hasnt been going his way recently.

After winning only 11 percent of delegates support at the GOP state convention earlier this month, Lauretti must collect signatures from about 9,100 registered Republicans before June 12 to earn a spot on the August primary ballot.

Were probably about 60, 65 percent of the way there, Lauretti said, declining to give an exact number.

Lauretti did not start circulating his petitions until after the convention May 11 and 12, although petitions were available from the Secretary of the States office before that date.

I lost two weeks because I really thought I was going to get the 15 percent (of delegates support at the convention), he added, referring to minimum percentage of votes needed to get on the primary ballot.

This is a familiar result for Lauretti, who also ran for governor in 2014. He failed to qualify for the primary at the convention that year, and soon after ended his petition bid.

How is 2018 different?

Lauretti laughed nervously.

At this time, its not, he said. But I have qualified (for public financing) and others have not. It was easier for me to get 3,000 people at 100 bucks a head than it was to get 170 people to vote for me (at the convention).

The 13-term mayor now has a team of 40 to 50 paid canvassers collecting signatures for him at $2 a signature, along with a similar number of volunteers, said his campaign spokesman, Bill Evans. Lauretti carried a few petitions himself as he circulated with veterans and other locals before the parade Monday morning.

Were hoping to put up good numbers this weekend, he said.

Lauretti is one of six Republicans seeking the governors office in 2018. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton is the Republican nominee for the job, but former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst and Westport businessman Steve Obsitnik qualified for the primary at the convention.

They dont have a base, said Lauretti. Im the only one who has a base. I told Tim Herbst, Im going to win in Trumbull. He will lose and lose badly in Trumbull to me.

But some Shelton-area Republicans viewed Laurettis prospects more skeptically, particularly statewide.

State Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, at first voted for Lauretti during the convention, but switched to Obsitnik with his second ballot.

Laurettis message resonates very much locally, Perillo said, but statewide hes in a tough situation.

Getting the signatures is a significant challenge, Perillo said.

Lauretti countered that every candidate struggles with statewide recognition, but said he would succeed because he is from a Republican-rich area.

Get me on the ballot and I am going to do well, he said.

Republican petitioning candidates David Stemerman of Greenwich and Bob Stefanowski of Madison also participated in Memorial Day festivities to glad-hand voters and collect signatures. Stefanowski marched with the Republican Town Committee in a West Haven parade Monday morning. Stemerman headed to Norwich to meet with voters.

Boughton participated in a Danbury parade Monday morning, while Tim Herbst left his neighborhood for parades in East Haven and Hamden. Obstinik went to Westport for a parade Monday.

Democratic endorsed candidate Ned Lamont met voters at a Middletown parade Monday morning before heading south to Stamford, where he hosted a barbecue at Jackie Robinson Park.

Democrat Joe Ganim, who is petitioning onto the August primary ballot, attended a flag-raising and a World War II memorial service in Bridgeport, where he is mayor. Another petitioning Democrat Guy Smith greeted Danbury's 411th Battalion and attended a Greenwich American Legion ceremony before going to other towns to collect signatures.

emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
Over 100 food and farming organisations have called on the government to achieve four principles to ensure a smooth Brexit for the industry.

Leaders from across the nation's food supply chain have put their names to a manifesto setting out the key principles that can help ensure Brexit is a success for the supply of food in the UK.

The UK Food Supply Chain Manifesto, released today (28 May), has been drawn up by organisations representing farmers producing the raw ingredients and their suppliers, right through to manufacturers and retailers.

It sets out the need for positive outcomes on trade, labour, regulation and domestic agricultural policy.

The principles set out in the manifesto including the need to maintain free and frictionless trade with the UK's major trading partner, the EU.

It calls for the government to secure the benefits of existing EU preferential trade arrangements, at least until the government can replace them with acceptable alternative arrangements.

The organisations appeal to the government to ensure ongoing access to an adequate supply of permanent and seasonal labour.

It also urges the continued promotion of food production through agricultural policy alongside existing environmental, health and animal welfare standards.

Lastly, the organisations urge the need for businesses to operate under an efficient regulatory system that is centred on scientific evaluation and that incentivises innovation and competitiveness.

'Champion food producers'

With little more than 10 months to go before Brexit, the manifesto emphasises the importance of ensuring the UK's departure from the EU does not undermine the food production and supply sectors in the UK.

The manifesto has been sent to the Prime Minister by NFU President Minette Batters on behalf of the signatories, as well as other key cabinet ministers.

Mrs Batters said a Brexit that failed to champion farmers and food producers "will be bad for the country's landscape, the economy and, critically, our society".

She said: "Conversely, if we get this right, we can all contribute to making Brexit a success for producers, food businesses and the British public, improving productivity, creating jobs and establishing a more sustainable food supply system.

"When it comes to the nation's ability to produce food, we believe it is critical that the different elements of Brexit are carefully considered by all Government departments - including the Prime Minister who has herself spoken about the importance of supporting our sector through Brexit in recent days.

The NFU President added: "As we enter this critical period in the Brexit negotiations, the signatories to this manifesto will be looking to Government to ensure its objectives are aligned with ours to ensure British food production - something of which every person in this country enjoys the benefits - gets the best possible deal post-Brexit."

List of all 105 signatories

Agility Agriculture Ltd

Agricultural Biotechnology Council

Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC)

Agrii

Agrovista UK Ltd

Armstrong Richardson

Asplins Producer Organisation Limited

Association of Independent Crop Consultants Ltd (AICC)

B & W Feeds (Mobile) Ltd

Bayer Crop Science

BerryWorld Group

Billericay Fertiliser Services Ltd

Branston Ltd.

British Egg Industry Council (BEIC)

British Growers Association

British Meat Processors Association (BMPA)

British Poultry Council (BPC)

British Retail Consortium (BRC)

British Society of Plant Breeders Ltd (BSPB)

British Summer Fruits

Busby Partners Limited

Cawood Scientific Ltd

Cefetra Ltd

Cefetra Ltd

CF Fertilisers UK Ltd

CN Seeds Ltd

Country Land and Business Association (CLA)

Dovecote Park

DSV UK Ltd.

East of Scotland Farmers Ltd

Elsoms Seeds Ltd

Farm Fresh PO Ltd

Federation of Bakers

Fengrain Ltd

Food and Drink Federation (FDF)

ForFarmers UK Limited

Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC)

Frontier Agriculture Ltd

Gleadell Agriculture Ltd

Glencore Agriculture UK Ltd

Hall Hunter Partnership Limited

Harbro Ltd

Haygrove Ltd

HL Hutchinson Ltd

Humphrey Feeds

ICL UK Ltd

International Meat Trade Association (IMTA)

JE & VM Dalton Ltd \ Dalton Seeds

John Thompson & Sons Ltd

KWS UK Ltd

Limagrain UK Ltd

Lion Seeds Ltd.

Lower Reule Farm Ltd

LS Plant Breeding

Lutton Farm

Manor Farm Feeds

Marks and Spencer (M&S)

Mars Horsecare UK Ltd

Meijer Seed Potato Ltd

National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC)

National Association of British and Irish Flour millers (NABIM)

National Farmers Union (NFU)

National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS)

National Office of Animal Health (NOAH)

National Pig Association (NPA)

National Sheep Association (NSA)

NFU Cymru

NIGTA

North East Grains

OMEX Agriculture Ltd

Openfield Agriculture Limited

Pearce Seeds Ltd

Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA)

Potato Processors Association (PPA)

Precision Liquids

Premium Crops a division of Cefetra Ltd

Princes Limited

ProCam UK Ltd

Promtek Ltd

Provision Trade Federation (PTF)

Quantil Agriculture Ltd

RAGT Seeds (UK)

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF)

Rumenco

Saaten Union (UK) Ltd

Sakata UK Ltd

Senova Ltd

Ses Vanderhave

Simpsons Malt Limited (incl. McCreath Simpson & Prentice and John Guthrie, trading divisions)

Strathclyde Nutrition

Tenant Farmers Association (TFA)

The Maltsters Association of Great Britain (MAGB)

Tozer Seeds Ltd

Trouw Nutrition

UKHospitality

Ulster Farmers Union (UFU)

Volac International Ltd

W & R Barnett Ltd and R & H Hall Ltd

WA Church (Bures) Ltd

William Thompson (York) Ltd and Bata Ltd

Winterwood Farms Limited

Withernay Company

WL Duffield

Wynnstay Group PLC

Yara UK Limited
Wait, What!

As per a Pinkvilla report, in an interview which is yet to be on air, when Ranbir was asked point blank if he was dating Alia, the actor revealed that it was "TOO NEW" to talk about it.

Does Their Link-Up Rumours Affect Ranbir?

Alia had earlier told Hindustan Times, "I haven't asked Ranbir. I don't know how he feels about those.rumours. He won't feel anything as he will be exactly like me (smiles). But there is nothing to feel. There's no need to clarify or deny anything. He is a very good human being, and I am very fortunate to be around him at this point in my life."

When Ranbir Admitted Having A Crush On Alia

At the IIFA press conference that took place in Delhi, when Ranbir was asked about Alia he said, "Well, I have a boy crush on her now."

Ahem-Ahem

While speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Alia said, "I'm happy that people are talking about my chemistry with Ranbir because we are doing a film together that comes out next year. And all these people who are talking about our chemistry better come and watch the film."

What's Brewing?

Talking about Ranbir, the actress had also said in yet another interview, "I don't know whether I used the word, fascinated'. But yes, I would definitely say that I'm fascinated by the kind of person he is with his vibe and behaviour. He is a really rare person and in the years that I have been alive, I haven't seen many such people."
Tovino Thomas, who is a reasonably popular name in Malayalam cinema, will soon be seen playing a negative character in the eagerly-awaited Maari 2. And, as expected fans are curious to know more about his role in the film.

During a recent chat with Scroll, Tovino spoke about working with Tamil star Dhanush in Maari 2 and said that he is a helpful co-actor. Revealing a bit about the role, he said that he will be seen in two looks and has a meaty role in the film. Tovino added that he faced a few difficulties while shooting for Maari 2 as he is not too familiar with Tamil and added that he apologised to Dhanush every time a retake was required.

"I play the villain. I have a meaty role and you will see me in two get-ups. Whenever we were doing our scenes together, I'd always apologise and ask for a retake. But Dhanush would understand that I was working in a different language and he told me he'd do the same when he did Bollywood films. He taught me that the only thing that matters on screen is the output," added Tovino.

In case you did not know, Maari 2 is a sequel to the 2015 masala action-drama Maari and features Dhanush in the role of a gangster. The first part featured Kajal Aggarwal as the female lead while Maari 2 has young sensation Sai Pallavi as the heroine. The Premam beauty has already proved her mettle as an actor and Maari 2 is likely to help her consolidate her standing even further.

On a related note, Tovino currently also has the Malayalam films Maradona and Theevandi in his kitty. As far as Dhanush is concerned, he will also be seen Vada Chennai and Enai Noki Paayum Thota in his kitty. He is also awaiting the release of Kaala which has been produced by him and hits the screens on June 7, 2018.
Roshni Pregnant With Adis Baby

There are several spoilers doing the rounds regarding Roshni's (Vidisha Srivastava) pregnancy. We had revealed to our readers that Ishita has been saving Roshni from the Bhallas and hiding her pregnancy news. But now Roshni is back in Delhi (from Bangalore).

Aliya & Raman Trouble Roshni

Aliya sees Roshini's baby bump and gets enraged. Even Raman gets angry. Aliya tries to kill Roshni and Raman too, tries to snatch the baby! Ishita warns both of them and asks them to stay away from Roshni.

Roshnis Life In Danger

According to the latest spoiler, in the upcoming episode, Roshni will go through labour pain. Ishita will rush Roshni to the hospital. But Ishita will face trouble at the hospital as doctors will not be available.

Roshni Delivers A Boy Baby

Due to the unavailability of doctors and certain issues Roshni will not be able to make it. Although she delivers the baby, she will succumb to death. Apparently, Roshni delivers a boy baby and Ishita thinks it's Adi's reincarnation.

Raman Wants The Custody Of Roshnis Baby

While Ishita will be seen taking care of the baby, Raman creates trouble for her. Apparently, Raman will try to get the custody of the baby as he is the last memory of his late son, Adi!
Swiss Re and SoftBank have ended discussions about a minority investment by the Japanese conglomerate, the reinsurance company said in a statement on Monday.

On February 7, Swiss Re had said it was in early-stage talks with Masayoshi Sons Softbank. Neither company offered an explanation as to why the talks failed to result in a deal.

SoftBanks Vision Fund, founded in 2016, has been a prolific investor around the world across recent years. Investors and equity analysts have called into question the strategy behind its ragbag collection of investments.

Selling a significant minority stake to SoftBank would have...
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB) responded to LaSalle Hotel Properties' announcement that it has entered into a merger agreement with Blackstone at a price of $33.50 per share, a significantly lower price than Pebblebrook has been willing to pay. 'Our offer is substantially superior to the merger agreement that LaSalle has reached with Blackstone.. We are disappointed that LaSalle's board of trustees has chosen not to pursue the unique opportunity that we presented,' said Jon Bortz, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. Pebblebrook said it is proposing to merge with LaSalle at a fixed exchange ratio of 0.9200 Pebblebrook common share for each LaSalle common share, with the option for LaSalle shareholders to elect to receive cash up to a maximum of 20% in the aggregate. Based on Pebblebrook's closing share price on May 18, 2018, this implies an offer price of $35.89 per LaSalle common share, representing a premium of 7.1% over Blackstone's offer of $33.50 and a premium of 47.1% above LaSalle's closing price on March 27, 2018, which is the day before Pebblebrook publicly disclosed its initial offer of a business combination with LaSalle. Earlier today, LaSalle Hotel Properties (LHO) said that it has entered into a definitive agreement with affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII, under which Blackstone will acquire all outstanding common shares of beneficial interest of LaSalle for $33.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $4.8 billion. The transaction represents a premium of approximately 35 percent over LaSalle's unaffected share price of $24.84 as of March 27, 2018, the day before the public announcement of a proposal to acquire the Company in an all-stock transaction. 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.
Now available to OEMs building devices with future generations of the Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile PC Platform

Gemalto announces a new collaboration that will see its advanced mobile connectivity solutions integrated with Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile PC platform, a product by Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. This paves the way for iSIM commercialization on a growing range of Always Connected PCs, laptops and tablets.

The effort will support the integration of Gemalto's eSIM technology and remote subscription management solutions, with the new Secure Processing Unit (SPU) on the Snapdragon mobile PC platform. As a result, this innovation will provide seamless LTE and forthcoming 5G connection, extended battery life, and a foundation for consumer applications such as online payments, transport ticketing and authentication to cloud services. This initiative represents the first time an eSIM will be integrated with processing platforms designed to power Always Connected PCs and similarconsumer devices.

Providing benefits for industry players:

OEMs optimize their bill of materials and supply chain costs. With Gemalto solutions they facilitate late eSIM customization during or after the device manufacturing process.

Mobile operators benefit from a larger addressable base of connected devices and a trusted platform for secure services. Based on existing standards the technology will be open and secure.

The first wave of Always Connected PCs to incorporate Snapdragon mobile PC platforms featuring Gemalto's technology are expected as early as 2019.

"This new agreement with Qualcomm Technologies aims at accelerating adoption of seamless cellular connectivity in PCs, tablets and other mobile products," said Frederic Vasnier, executive vice president for Mobile and IoT at Gemalto. "We are committed to continued innovation with Qualcomm Technologies in order to provide superior built-in security and connectivity experiences."

Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the global leader in digital security, with 2017 annual revenues of 3 billion and customers in over 180 countries. We bring trust to an increasingly connected world.

From secure software to biometrics and encryption, our technologies and services enable businesses and governments to authenticate identities and protect data so they stay safe and enable services in personal devices, connected objects, the cloud and in between.

Gemalto's solutions are at the heart of modern life, from payment to enterprise security and the internet of things. We authenticate people, transactions and objects, encrypt data and create value for software enabling our clients to deliver secure digital services for billions of individuals and things.

Our 15,000 employees operate out of 114 offices, 40 personalization and data centers, and 35 research and software development centers located in 47 countries.

For more information visit www.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180527005003/en/

Contacts:

Gemalto:

Tauri Cox

North America

+1 512 257 3916

tauri.cox@gemalto.com

or

Sophie Dombres

Europe Middle East Africa

+33 4 42 36 57 38

sophie.dombres@gemalto.com

or

Jaslin Huang

Asia Pacific

+65 6317 3005

jaslin.huang@gemalto.com

or

Enriqueta Sedano

Latin America

+52 5521221422

enriqueta.sedano@gemalto.com
SINGAPORE, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoplewave has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with QUOINE to launch its upcoming Initial Coin Offering (ICO) on QUOINE's ICO Mission Control platform from 31 May to 6 June 2018. Peoplewave will list its PWV token on QUOINE's QRYPTOS exchange after the ICO.

"We are very excited to partner with QUOINE in bringing our ICO to market. QUOINE's expertise provides us the confidence of launching a safe, secure ICO with a fast track to listing on the QRYPTOS exchange for immediate liquidity post-ICO. The partnership also gives us access to hundreds of thousands of crypto enthusiasts who have already cleared 'Know Your Customer (KYC)' and are ready to learn more about Peoplewave's ICO," said Damien Cummings, CEO of Peoplewave.

Having successfully achieved its US$2 million softcap, Peoplewave plans to launch its ICO from 31 May, 17:00 (UTC+08:00) to 6 June 2018 on QUOINE's ICO Mission Control platform. Peoplewave will be offering US$5 million of PWV tokens for sale. The tokens will be priced at 1 Ethereum = 6,888 PWV tokens, which is approximately US$0.08 equivalent in Ethereum (as of 28 May 2018). A highly attractive 95% bonus will be offered only on the first US$1 million of PWV tokens and for the first 24 hours, whichever comes earlier.

"Our goal is to kickstart our next phase of development to bring us one step closer to our vision of making work fair. In order to obtain the resources to make Wavebase a reality, we have decided to maximise the benefit to our contributors at our own cost as a win-win solution for everyone," said Cummings.

Peoplewave is embarking on an ICO with the objective of reinventing people management through blockchain technology. The company will establish a decentralised database of accurate, verified performance and employment information on its blockchain platform, Wavebase. As a result, employers will possess an unprecedented ability to evaluate a potential candidate based on actual credentials and past performance, or even utilise the information right from the start for targeted searches of suitable candidates. For the first time, employees will also get to own and take control of their performance data across all past employers.

"Talent acquisition and management are important topics in a company's growth process. Peoplewave's solution of providing accurate, verified employment and performance data on blockchain is highly relevant to the future of work. Having learned first-hand the challenges of running a large scale ICO, we aim to assist HR-based blockchain projects such as Peoplewave in navigating the new crypto economy," said Seth Melamed, QUOINE Senior Vice President and Head of Operations.

Contributors interested in Peoplewave's ICO will have to sign up and obtain KYC-verification on QUOINE's QRYPTOS exchange at qryptos.com. It is highly recommended that contributors complete KYC verification in advance to maximise the limited 95% bonus period on 31 May 2018. Details on the Peoplewave ICO and how to participate can be found at peoplewaveico.io.

About Peoplewave

Peoplewave is Asia's leading blockchain-ready HR software company. It is revolutionising hiring and people management with data-driven, transparent feedback and verified performance data on its blockchain platform, Wavebase. Peoplewave offers 3 key products - the "First 100 Days": a new hire onboarding tool; "Performance Wave": continuous 360-degree performance appraisals; and the "HR Command Centre" analytics suite, which unlocks employee data and insights.

Peoplewave successfully raised US$500,000 seed funding from a series of angels and aligned companies in the HR field in December 2017. The company has been named "Top 50 Most Promising Enterprise Start-ups in Asia Pacific" by CIO Outlook Magazine and "Top 20 Hottest Startups 2018" by Singapore Business Review.

About QUOINE

QUOINE is a leading global fintech company that provides trading, exchange, and next generation financial services powered by blockchain technology. With offices in Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, QUOINE combines a strong network of local partners with extensive team experience in banking and financial products to deliver best in class financial services for its customers. More information is available at www.quoine.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/696890/Peoplewave_Logo.jpg
A European expansion plan is in the pipeline

Opel customers will now be served by a new dealership, located on Boulevard Lefebvre in the 15 th arrondissement of Paris

Several other locations are scheduled to open in France by the end of 2018

A European expansion plan is currently in preparation

Regulatory News:

A new Paris address serving Opel customers in the French capital

PSA Retail (Paris:UG) is proud to announce the opening of a new Opel dealership to customers at 75 Boulevard Lefebvre in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, its first Opel location in France and in Europe.

Ideally situated on a high-traffic artery and in close proximity to the Paris ring road (Porte de Versailles exit), the dealership is expected to sell 150 new vehicles this year and 400 vehicles on a full-year basis. The site offers also a full-fledged after sales service.

The dealership became a reality thanks to an intelligent multi-brand strategy adopted by Groupe PSA. The site's original Citroen business will continue to operate at the same location, but as part of a clearly distinct customer experience pathway.

New PSA Retail Opel dealerships set to open in France supporting the commercial dynamics of the lightning brand

The new dealership is the first step in a strategic PSA Retail growth plan hinging on the Opel brand in France and, in a subsequent phase, Europe.

Eric Wepierre, President of Opel France, declares:" The opening of the Opel site managed by PSA Retail is an excellent news for the brand and its customers and announces a wider unfolding in the short term within the 'Ile de France' region".

In view of this, PSA Retail can already announce that two additional Opel dealerships will be opened successively this year based on an intra-group multi-brand approach, in the Paris suburbs of Bois-Colombes (92) and Bondy (93).

Plans to open additional locations in the Hexagon are currently being explored, in order to contribute to the reinforcement of the brand in France.

A European expansion plan currently in development

PSA Retail's growth objectives for Opel is also European wide.

The distribution group is currently exploring new dealership development projects to distribute the Opel brand in other countries where it has already activities, and where the network coverage make sense. A winning opportunity is one which promises to increase volumes and sales for the network by distributing the Opel brand as part of a profitable business model.

Note that, following the announced acquisitions of Now Vauxhall and Go Vauxhall in January and May 2018, respectively, PSA Retail (throughout its UK subsidiary Robins Day) now has a platform for operating 10 dealerships in Greater London to the benefit of the Vauxhall brand.

About PSA Retail

PSA Retail is the carmaker-owned automotive distribution group of Groupe PSA. The second-largest automotive distribution group in Europe, it has a staff of 10,180 professionals. In 2017, PSA Retail sold 508,000 new and second-hand vehicles in 11 countries via 277 plants and outlets, generated revenue exceeding 7 billion, delivered more than 4.7 million hours of after-sales service and sold 1.4 billion in spare parts.

About Groupe PSA

Groupe PSA designs unique automotive experiences and delivers mobility solutions to meet all customer expectations. The Group has five car brands, PeugeotCitroenDSOpel and Vauxhall, and provides a wide array of mobility and smart services under the Free2Move brand. Its 'Push to Pass' strategic plan represents a first step towards the achievement of the Group's vision to be "a global carmaker with cutting-edge efficiency and a leading mobility provider sustaining lifetime customer relationships". An early innovator in the field of autonomous and connected cars, Groupe PSA is also involved in financing activities through Banque PSA Finance and in automotive equipment via Faurecia. Find out more at groupe-psa.com/en.

Media library: medialibrary.groupe-psa.com / @GroupePSA_EN

Communications Department www.groupe-psa.com/en - +33 6 61 93 29 36 @GroupePSA

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180528005066/en/

Contacts:

Groupe PSA

Media contact:

PSA Retail

Marc Bocque, +33 6 80 21 87 03

marc.bocque@mpsa.com
MOSCOW, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

PhosAgro CEO and President of the Russian Association of Mineral Fertilizers Producers (RAPU) Andrey Guryev took part in televised debates organised by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Rossiya 24, titled 'Investment Breakthrough: Infrastructure and Technology of the Future'.

During the televised debates, participants noted that Russia has established an infrastructure that unites investments from leading sovereign funds from around the world and leading Russian companies. This makes it possible to combine best global expertise and practices with unique opportunities and progressive developments by Russian companies.

One of the main issues discussed by the participants was the effect of investments in creating competitive advantages for companies in the Russian market and abroad.

Over the past five years, PhosAgro has invested RUB 160 billion into its development using best available technologies. As a result, production volumes during this period increased by 40%, to a record 8.3 million tonnes, while labour productivity per employee increased by 2.5 times, which helped the Company win in a Vedomosti rating.

For the last three years, PhosAgro has achieved annual growth in fertilizer output of 10%, with a similar trend for phosphate rock production. This year the Company plans to maintain the same pace of growth.

Last year, the PhosAgro completed a large-scale investment into the construction of new, high-tech production facilites. PhosAgro's new ammonia plant is currently the highest-capacity in Russia (760 thousand tonnes per year), as is the granulated urea line with a capacity of 500 thousand tonnes per year. Investments in the project exceeded RUB 65 billion. These will enable PhosAgro to continue to produce phosphate-based fertilizers that are naturally low in potentially-harmful impurities, helping to support national and global food security. The new production facilities will also create significant potential for increasing production capacity and improving the Company's self-sufficiency in key inputs.

In the next two years, PhosAgro plans to invest at least RUB 50 billion, which will enable it to open three new production facilities (sulfuric acid, nitric acid and ammonium sulfate) at the production complex in Cherepovets by 2020, and to expand the capacity of the third apatite-nepheline beneficiation plant. PhosAgro is also considering options for the development of the production complex in Volkhov.

PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev said: "At present, we are working on a long-term strategy for the development of PhosAgro until 2025, which will be aimed at further improving efficiency, strengthening the Company's positions in domestic and foreign markets, increasing shareholder value and profitability."

"The Company, whose shares have traded on the London Stock Exchange and Moscow Exchange since 2011, last year conducted its second SPO in recent years. Shareholders successfully placed 4.5% of the shares of PhosAgro. RDIF together with five sovereign funds from China, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE participated in the SPO, as well as international investment funds from the UK, continental Europe and the United States."

"The Company benefited significantly from the SPO with RDIF, increasing its free float to more than 25%, helping the liquidity of PhosAgro shares traded on the Moscow Exchange to grow 5-fold. The company's weighting in the MSCI Russia index also grew, while the geography and structure of its investors became more diversified, and the share price broke records."

"RDIF has built an effective mechanism for attracting financing from foreign sovereign funds to the Russian equity market, and this contributed to high demand for PhosAgro shares. The order book for PhosAgro shares was fully subscribed within an hour, becoming oversubscribed thereafter. The volume of the transaction exceeded RUB 15 billion."

"We also expanded the Board of Directors of PhosAgro to ten people from eight, and an absolute majority of those are independent directors. In addition, through our cooperation with RDIF, we have gained invaluable insight into communication with and decision making by sovereign funds."

"I believe that RDIF provides a certain assurance of quality. Trust in Russia, inspired by this fund, is extremely unique."

Responding to a question from the moderator about the possibility of an investment breakthrough, Andrey Guryev noted that, "an investment breakthrough is not only possible and inevitable, but we have already entered this investment cycle, investing about USD 500 million annually into production development."

About PhosAgro:

PhosAgro (http://www.phosagro.ru) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of not less than 39% (according to IFA, Fertecon and CRU).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, over 35 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in 100 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts ("GDRs") for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.
Regulatory News:

Dassault Aviation has signed a cooperation agreement with Dassault Systemes (Paris:DSY) for the implementation of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform within the Dassault Aviation group.

This multi-year agreement covers the replacement of Dassault Aviation's civil and military aircraft programs with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for all PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions.

On this occasion, Dassault Aviation took a new step to maintain its lead in digital industrial processes, of which it has been a pioneer for over 30 years.

This approach is part of the transformation plan launched by Dassault Aviation to further optimize its operations in terms of product and service cycles, quality and costs.

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform should enable Dassault Aviation to respond to the challenges ahead: expansion of the Falcon range of business jets, evolution of the Rafale fighter, cooperative development of the future combat aircraft and the MALE observation UAV, etc.

This cooperation agreement is in line with Dassault Aviation's culture of continuous innovation, which has been the crucible of the CATIA software and which then led to the emergence of the virtual model process, then the digital collaboration process between industrial partners for international cooperation programs.

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: "As an industrial architect and integrator of complex aeronautical systems, the backbone of a strategic industrial fabric with hundreds of companies in France and abroad, Dassault Aviation has always implemented the best digital processes to design, manufacture and support the products and services expected by our civil and military customers throughout the world. Today, we are convinced that 3DEXPERIENCE is the most advanced solution to support all our businesses."

Bernard Charles, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Dassault Systemes, added: "Dassault Aviation has chosen an ambitious strategy: to implement the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as a vehicle for business integration and transformation, integrating business model, industrial model, development and support. This illustrates perfectly the multi-faceted dimension of collaborative innovation that enables us to offer unique experiences to our prestigious clients. Digital business twins, enabling the integration of products with services, are a perfect illustration of the industry of the 21st century.

About Dassault Aviation :

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2017, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 4.8 billion. The company has 11,400 employees. For more information, visit www.dassault-aviation.com

About Dassault Systemes

Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations. Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. Dassault Systemes' collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. The group brings value to over 220,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com.

3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass logo and the 3DS logo, CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, ENOVIA, DELMIA, SIMULIA, GEOVIA, EXALEAD, 3D VIA, BIOVIA, NETVIBES and 3DEXCITE are registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180528005107/en/

Contacts:

Press:

Dassault Aviation

Corporate Communications

Mathieu Durand, Tel: +33 (0)1 47 11 85 88

mathieu.durand@dassault-aviation.com

or

Dassault Systemes

Corporate France

Arnaud Malherbe, Tel: +33 (0)1 61 62 87 73

arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com
Russian module maker and project developer Hevel intends to deploy 75 MW of capacity by 2022 in the region, which has poor connections with the country's national gridThe government of the Russian Republic of Kalmykia has signed an agreement with Hevel for the construction of grid-connected and off-grid solar plants with a combined capacity of 75 MW. In a press release, the Russian manufacturer and project developer said all the capacity will be deployed by 2022, and that projects will receive the support of regional authorities. "We will construct both grid-tied solar power plants that will ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regulatory News:

TxCell SA (Paris:TXCL) (FR0010127662 TXCL), a developer of cellular immunotherapies based on regulatory T cells (Tregs) for inflammation, autoimmunity and transplantation, today announces it will present its latest manufacturing developments at the 3rd Annual Bioprocessing of Advanced Cellular Therapies Congress to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 29-30, 2018.

The purpose of this conference is to address the challenges of cell and gene therapy manufacturing processes, including safety, quality, logistics and regulatory hurdles. The implementation of automated, highly validated protocols and tools, giving these therapies the best chance of success, will also be discussed.

Pierre Heimendinger, PhD, VP Pharmaceutical Development of TxCell, will join a panel to discuss industry regulatory considerations, entitled: "Need for Standard Regulations What are Companies Thinking?" (May 29, 11.35 am CEST). He will also present TxCell's latest manufacturing achievements in a presentation entitled  Development of First Manufacturing Process to Produce CAR-Treg Cells for Clinical Use  (May 29, 4 pm CEST).

About TxCell www.txcell.com

TxCell is a biotechnology company that develops platforms for innovative, personalized T cell immunotherapies for the treatment of severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases with high unmet medical need. TxCell is targeting transplantation as well as a range of autoimmune diseases (both T-cell and B-cell-mediated), such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases or inflammatory skin diseases.

TxCell's cellular immunotherapies are based on regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs). Tregs are a T cell population discovered in the nineties for which anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated. Contrary to conventional approaches based on non-specific polyclonal Tregs, TxCell is exclusively developing engineered antigen-specific Tregs, where the antigen specificity is brought by a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) (CAR-Treg cells).

Based in Sophia-Antipolis, France, TxCell is listed on Euronext Paris and currently has 46 employees.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of TxCell, which shall not be considered per se as historical facts, including TxCell's ability to develop, market, commercialize and achieve market acceptance for specific products, estimates for future performance and estimates regarding anticipated operating losses, future revenues, capital requirements, needs for additional financing. In addition, even if the actual results or development of TxCell are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of TxCell may not be indicative of their in the future.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "could," "should," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "aims," "targets," or similar words. Although the management of TxCell believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonably made, they are based largely on the current expectations of TxCell as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of TxCell could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development of the Company's products, which may not succeed, or in the delivery of TxCell's products marketing authorizations by the relevant regulatory authorities and, in general, any factor that could affects TxCell capacity to commercialize the products it develops, as well as, any other risk and uncertainties developed or identified in any public documents filed by TxCell with the AMF, included those listed in chapter 4 "Risk factors" of the 2017 document de reference (registration document) submitted to the AMF on April 25, 2018. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will in fact be realized. Notwithstanding the compliance with article 223-1 of the General Regulation of the AMF (the information disclosed must be "accurate, precise and fairly presented"), TxCell is providing the information in these materials as of this press release, and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180528005189/en/

Contacts:

TxCell

IR Communication Department

Tel: +33(0) 4 97 21 83 00

Fax: +33(0) 4 93 64 15 80

contact@txcell.com

or

Image Box Press relations

Neil Hunter Michelle Boxall

Tel: +44(0) 20 8943 4685

neil.hunter@imageboxpr.co.uk

michelle.boxall@imageboxpr.co.uk

or

NewCap - Investor relations

Julien Perez Mathilde Bohin

Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 98 52

txcell@newcap.eu
Tightening of the indicative price range: between 14.00 and 15.50 per share (vs. initial price range of between 13.50 and 16.50)

Please note: subscription open until May 28, 2017 (included) for the open price offering and until May 29, 2017 for the global placement

Regulatory News:

Voluntis (Paris:VTX) (the "Company" or "Voluntis"), a company specialized in digital therapeutics, today announces a tightened indicative price range of between 14.00 and 15.50 per share (the "Tightened Price Indicative Range"), vs. the range initially announced, between 13.50 and 16.50 per share. This decision follows the good momentum of the IPO project.

Reminder of the terms of the Offer

The tightening of the price range does not change the offering structure described in the prospectus approved by the AMF on May 14, 2018 under the number 18-169.

The Company's shares for which admission to trading on Euronext's regulated market in Paris is requested are:

all shares that make up Voluntis' share capital, i.e. a maximum of 4,802,084 existing shares;

a maximum of 615,577 new shares to be issued upon automatic conversion, at the same time as the settlement-delivery of the Company's shares on Euronext's regulated market in Paris on May 31, 2018, according to the indicative timetable, of the 71,000,000 bonds convertible into shares issued by the Company (assuming conversion on May 31, 2018 and on the basis of the lower end of the Tightened Price Indicative Range for the Offer, i.e. 14.00); and

a maximum of 2,472,500 shares offered if the over-allotment option is fully exercised.

Reminder of the structure of the Offer

The new shares will be issued as part of a global offer (the "Offer"), comprising:

an offer to the public in France in the form of an open price offer, intended primarily for natural persons (the " Open Price Offer " or the " OPO "), it being specified that: orders will be broken down according to the number of shares requested: order fraction A1 (5 shares up to 250 shares inclusive) and order fraction A2 (above 250 shares); A1 order fractions will benefit from preferential treatment over A2 order fractions if it is not possible for all orders to be fulfilled;

" or the " "), it being specified that: a global placement intended primarily for institutional investors in France and in certain countries (the "Global Placement

Reminder of the provisional timetable

May 28, 2018 Closing of the Open Price Offer at 5.00 p.m. (Paris time) for subscriptions placed

at counters and 8.00 p.m. (Paris time) for online subscriptions May 29, 2018 Closing of the Global Placement at 12.00 p.m. (Paris time)

Setting of the Offer price

Signing of the placement and underwriting agreement between the

Company and Bryan, Garnier Co and Oddo BHF SCA as joint lead managers and joint

bookrunners

Company and Bryan, Garnier Co and Oddo BHF SCA as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners Distribution of the press release stating the Offer Price, the definitive number of

new shares and the results of the Offer

new shares and the results of the Offer Publication by Euronext of the notice of the results of the Offer

Start of trading of the Company's shares on Euronext's regulated market in Paris

Start of exercise period for the over-allotment option

Start of any stabilization period May 30, 2018 Start of trading of the Company's shares in the form of promissory notes on

Euronext's regulated market in Paris (up to May 31, 2018 inclusive) May 31, 2018 Settlement-delivery of the OPO and the Global Placement June 1, 2018 Start of trading of the Company's shares on Euronext's regulated market in Paris

on a listing line titled "Voluntis" June 28, 2018 Deadline for exercise of the over-allotment option

End of any stabilization period

Voluntis shares identification codes

Name: Voluntis

ISIN code: FR0004183960

Ticker: VTX

Compartment: Euronext Paris (Compartment C)

Business sector: 9537 Software

Financial intermediaries BRYAN, GARNIER CO ODDO BHF Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners

Availability of the prospectus

Copies of the prospectus approved by the AMF on May 14, 2018 under visa number 18-169, comprising the document de base registered on April 17, 2018 under number I.18-016 and a note d'operation (including the summary of the prospectus), are available free of charge and on request from Voluntis, 58 avenue de Wagram, 75017 Paris, France as well as on the Voluntis website (www.voluntis.com) and the AMF website (www.amf-france.org).

Risk factors

Voluntis draws investors' attention to Section 4 "Risk factors" of the document de base registered with the AMF and Section 2 "Risk factors relating to the offer" of the note d'operation and in particular that relating to liquidity. The Company believes that it is in a position to meet its commitments up to September 2018 (without taking into account the net proceeds of this offer).

About Voluntis

Voluntis creates digital therapeutics that empower people suffering from chronic conditions to self-manage their treatment every day, thus improving real-world outcomes. Combining mobile and web apps, Voluntis' solutions deliver personalized recommendations to the patient and the care team that so that they can, for example, adjust treatment dosage, manage side effects or monitor symptoms. These real-time recommendations are based on digitized clinical algorithms. Leveraging its Theraxium technology platform, Voluntis has designed and operates multiple digital therapeutics. These include Insulia and Diabeo in diabetes as well as eCO and ZEMY in oncology. Voluntis has long-standing partnerships with leading life science companies such as Roche, AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Onduo. Based out of Boston and Paris, France, Voluntis is a founding member of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance.

Diabeo is a registered trademark of Sanofi. Insulia is a registered trademark of Voluntis.

For further information: http://www.voluntis.com

Disclaimer

No communication and no information in respect of the offering by Voluntis of the shares (the "Shares") may be distributed to the public in any jurisdiction where a registration or approval is required. No steps have been or will be taken outside of France in any jurisdiction where such steps would be required. The offering and subscription of the Shares may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Voluntis assumes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person.

This announcement is not a prospectus within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament ant the Council of November 4th, 2003, as amended, in particular, by Directive 2010/73/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of November 24th, 2010, as amended and as implemented in each member State of the European Economic Area (the "Prospectus Directive

The offer will be open solely to the public in France after the delivery by the AMF of a visa on the Prospectus.

With respect to the member States of the European Economic Area other than France which have implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "relevant member State") no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities requiring a publication of a prospectus in any relevant member State. As a result, the Shares may only be offered in relevant member States: (a) to legal entities that are qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive; (b) in any other circumstances that do not require the publication by Voluntis of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this paragraph, the notion of an "offer to the public of Shares" in each of the relevant member States, means any communication, to individuals or legal entities, in any form and by any means, of sufficient information on the terms and conditions of the offering and on the Shares to be offered, thereby enabling an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Shares, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive.

This selling restriction comes in addition to the other selling restrictions applicable in the other member states.

The distribution of this press release is not made, and has not been approved, by an "authorised person" within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is directed only at persons who (i) are located outside the United Kingdom, (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and fall within Article 19(5) ("investment professionals") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order"), (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Order or (iv) are persons to whom this press release may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). The securities are directed only at Relevant Persons and no invitation, offer or agreements to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire securities may be proposed or made other than with Relevant Persons. Any person other than a Relevant Person may not act or rely on this document or any provision thereof. This press release is not a prospectus which has been approved by the Financial Services Authority or any other United Kingdom regulatory authority for the purposes of Section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities nor of any offer or solicitation to sell securities in the United States. The securities mentioned herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Voluntis does not intend to register any portion of the proposed offering in the United States nor to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.

The distribution of this document in certain countries may constitute a breach of applicable law. The information contained in this document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

This press release may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

The prospectus registered with the Autorite des marches financiers contains forward-looking statements. No guarantee is given as to these forecasts being achieved, which are subject to risks, including those described in the prospectus, and to the development of economic conditions, the financial markets and the markets in which Voluntis operates.

Oddo BHF SCA, acting as stabilising agent, or any institution acting on its behalf may, during a period of 30 days following the date on which the Offering Price is determined, i.e., according to the indicative timetable, from May 29to June 28 2018 (included), effect transactions with a view to maintaining the market price of the Voluntis shares in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations. These activities are intended to support the market price of the Voluntis' shares and may affect the share price.

Not for release, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180528005214/en/

Contacts:

Voluntis

Matthieu Plessis, +33 (0)1 41 38 39 20

Chief Financial Officer

investisseurs@voluntis.com

or

NewCap

Investor relations

Marc Willaume Tristan Roquet Montegon

01 44 71 94 94

voluntis@newcap.eu

or

NewCap

Media relations

Nicolas Merigeau, 01 44 71 94 98

voluntis@newcap.eu
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.
Reliance Worldwidehas resumed trade this morning after raising $946 million in its institutional entitlement offer.The global plumbing company says capital raised will be used to fund its acquisition of UK plumbing group, John Guest Holdings.The offer was strongly supported by existing institutional shareholders who took up over 98 per cent of the new shares available to them.Eligible retail shareholders will be invited to partake in a retail entitlement offer scheduled on the 14th of June.Shares in Reliance Woldwideare trading 21.6 per cent higher to $5.54.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified in the RTI that only those cases of fraud, involving a sum of over Rs 1 lakh, were included in the list.

Indore: Twenty-one public sector banks (PSBs) have incurred losses totalling Rs 25,775 crore due to banking frauds in the financial year 2017-18, a Right to Information (RTI) reply has stated.

The Punjab National Bank (PNB) had incurred the highest loss of Rs 6461.13 crore due to different cases of fraud during the fiscal that ended on March 31 this year, Chandrasekhar Gaud, who had filed the RTI with the Reserve Bank of India, told PTI on Sunday.

He added that the reply, which was sent to him on 15 May, did not specify details of any particular case of banking fraud.

One of the biggest banking frauds, allegedly involving diamond merchants Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi and PNB officials, is being currently investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The investigating agency has filed two charge sheets in the special CBI court in Mumbai in connection with the Rs 12,636 crore PNB scam.

The RTI reply stated that the State Bank of India had, during this period, incurred losses of Rs 2390.75 crore due to various cases of banking fraud.

In the given period, the Bank of India had incurred a loss of Rs 2,224.86 crore, Bank of Baroda's losses stood at Rs 1,928.25 crore, Allahabad Bank at Rs 1,520.37 crore, Andhra Bank at Rs 1,303.30 crore and Uco Bank at Rs 1,224.64 crore.

The RTI reply informed that the IDBI Bank incurred losses of Rs 1,116.53 crore, Union Bank of India had losses of Rs 1,095.84 crore, Central Bank of India of Rs 1,084.50 crore, Bank of Maharashtra of Rs 1,029.23 crore and Indian Overseas Bank had incurred a loss of Rs 1,015.79 crore.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified in the RTI that only those cases of fraud, involving a sum of over Rs 1 lakh, were included in the list.

It, however, did not disclose the numbers of cases or the nature of fraud.

Other banks, as per the RTI, that faced losses due to fraud during this period were Corporation Bank with a loss of Rs 970.89 crore, United Bank of India with Rs 880.53 crore, Oriental Bank of Commerce with Rs 650.28 crore and Syndicate Bank with Rs 455.05 crore.

Canara Bank at Rs 190.77 crore, Punjab and Sind Bank at Rs 90.01 crore, Dena Bank at Rs 89.25 crore, Vijaya Bank at Rs 28.58 crore and Indian Bank at Rs 24.23-crore made up the rest of the list provided by RBI as part of its RTI reply.

Economist Jayantilal Bhandari, commenting on the RTI, said that the condition of 21 PSBs of the country was "extremely worrisome" due to banking fraud.

Bhandari said, "With regard to fraud cases, the banks are not only facing huge economic losses, but the prospects of giving new loans by them in the future are also affected adversely. This situation is obviously not good for the economy."
The investigators suspect that Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi all along knew that one day the loot would be unraveled and started plotting to erase the evidence linking them and frame others in the fraud.

New Delhi: Investigation in the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi case appears to have been picking up steam in the past two weeks and Punjab National Bank (PNB) which was defrauded of over Rs 14,000 crore is trying hard to prevent any more skeletons tumbling out of its closet. Although some top officers of the bank have been charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), fresh evidence in the case demolishes the banks claim that it was a victim of the massive fraud. It was not. In fact, the bank all along knew what was happening inside Brady House branch and two of its overseas branch in Dubai and Hong Kong.

After the scam surfaced, the PNB conveniently shifted the blame on the overseas branch for not calling it up over fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoU) and Letters of Credit (LCs). In a shocking disclosure, investigators examining the evidence have claimed that PNBs branch in Dubai and Hong Kong were involved in the complex financial scam and the entire chain was aware about the fraudulent activities.

Here is the proof Firspost has accessed: On 18 August, 2011 PNB Brady House branch issued buyers credit worth $1.4 million to PNBs Dubai branch (506844, Dubai, AE, United Arab Emirates). Importer and Exporter of cut and polished diamonds were from the same Nirav Modis group--Firestar Diamond Limited, Surat and Firestar Diamond Inc, US. The SWIFT message sent 16:49 to PNB Dubai that day said: Please extend the buyers credit of 1,499,735 for the above import transaction for 71 days and remit the amount to the credit of our Nostro account with Deutsche Bank Trust Company, New York (SWIFT CODE: BKTRUS33) on value date 22nd August, 2011.

We, Punjab National Bank, Mumbai hereby unconditionally agree to pay the principal and interest at applicable 06M LIBOR plus 200 BPS under this buyers credit on the due date 1 November 2011 to your designated account. We confirm that non-payment of the buyers credit amount on the maturity date, we will pay penal interest at the rate of two per cent. We confirm that the aforesaid buyers credit is not against advance import payment. We confirm that the applicant is a customer of our branch. We have done the Know Your Customer and the transaction under the LC is a bonafide transaction. We also confirm that all necessary approvals from the competent authorities as per exchange regulation in force and regulatory guidelines in force have been duly complied with. We confirm that we hold all the copies of the trade documents and will forward them to you on demand.

PNB, which has been telling the investigators that no overseas branch of Indian banks raised any suspicion, is now in the dock. They have not responded whether the Dubai branch of PNB made any enquiry about buyers credit on 18 August, 2011. If it did, why did the fraud continue for another seven years?

A detailed questionnaire sent to PNB Managing Director Sunil Mehta remained unanswered.

There is another buyers credit worth $1.9 million that was issued to PNBs Hong Kong branch on 12 October, 2011. The import and export of cut and polished diamonds was carried out by Diamonds R US and A Jaffe Inc, both the companies owned by Nirav Modi. The SWIFT message said: The buyers credit is required for a period of 82 days from the date of disbursement. This buyers credit has been arranged on behalf of our party, Diamonds R US, to whom you have extended this buyers credit.

Why did PNB's Hong Kong branch not raise an alarm is a big question. However, PNB directly shifted the blame on to other banks while washing its hands off the massive scandal. PNB's first internal investigation report that was carried out by six officers and sent to the Fraud Risk Management Division of the bank's Delhi head office on 12 February, 2018 said: These banks never raised any alarm on violation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines and continued to provide funding against fraudulent LoUs.

PNBs internal report reviewed by Firstpost further launched attacks on the other banks.

There are discrepancies in some fraudulent LoUs where at one point it is mentioned that documents are not under LC but under collection and in the same LoU another para states that documents under LC accepted by us. As such, the funding bank has clearly overlooked the discrepancy and not reported the same. The balance confirmation for overseas banks branches for these liabilities was never sought from LoU opening bank. Overseas funding banks have been grossly negligent in funding buyers credit under the LoUs, the report said.

But, point 9 of the internal report said that reconciliation process was properly done at the banks end making a shocking admission that PNB officers knew all about it. No entry is lying un-reconciled at Nostro account level in treasury division on account of these transactions, it said.

It is illogical that just two officers carried out the fraud for 7-8 years without the knowledge of the top management. The SWIFT messages and internal report is self-incriminating. This bunch of evidence suggests the bank knew about the fraud when it started in 2011, but everyone kept quiet. We need to ascertain whether the entire chain was compromised, sources inthe investigative agencies said.

Modi, Choksi operations

The investigators suspect that Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi knew all along that one day the loot would be unraveled and started plotting to erase the evidence linking them and frame others in the fraud.

Gautam Mukkavilli, non-executive independent director of Firestar International Limited in his statement said he spoke to Modi days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a First Information Report (FIR) and the diamantaire assured him that the case was against Firestar and he was working to resolve the matter with PNB. Gautam, who resigned immediately after the scam surfaced, had no power to operate bank accounts or interfere in the working of Modis company as his commitment as per his appointment letter was limited to four to five days in a quarter. Similarly, another independent director Suresh Senapathy, who resigned on 5 February, 2018 from Firestar and Firestar Diamonds was kept in the dark about the firms' functioning by Modi. In his statement Senapathy said, as soon as he learnt about the fraud, he tendered his resignation. It appears that Modi and his uncle were scouting for the best talents in the industry sometime in 2015-16 to project the group's companies image in the Indian market.

A statement of Sanjay Rishi, non-executive independent director, is interesting. Rishi earlier worked with well-known multinational companies before his appointment in Modis company in December 2016. Rishi said his first face-to-face meeting with Modi was on 12 October, 2016.

Since he was told that Modi was interested to create India's first luxury jewellery brand that would compete with the best in the world and interested to strengthen its board for such expansion, after being shared with the names of Suresh Senapathy and Gautam Mukkavilli as independent directors, he agreed to join as non-executive independent director on 6 December, 2016, the statement said.

It was true. Modi indeed had plans. Before getting new directors on board to project a corporate face to his companies, he hired two persons -- Ogadhbhai Ukabhai Kalsaria and Laljibhai Bachubhai Kalsaria as partners in Diamonds R US. These two gullible persons became signatories for this companys account number 176123 that was maintained in PNB Brady House branch. This plan was hatched to disown the liabilities and wrongdoings in the future. Modi adopted a similar modus operandi for his company Stellar Diamonds when around the same time in January 2016 he inducted two partners -- Manojbhai Sankhat and Mohan Ladumor for the firm which maintained the account number 3731002104763593 with PNB Brady House branch. For Firestar Diamond International Private Limited, he made two employees -- Kavita Mankikar and Hemant Bhatt as authorized signatories.

Such a move by the accused Nirav Modi was planned to protect himself from nefarious activities he was planning with the ultimate intention to flee the country. Since his firms were not sanctioned buyers credit in the first place, this scam was executed and operated for almost eight years with alleged linkages from top bank officials in the chain, sources further added.

Read Part 1: Unravelling billionaire fugitive Nirav Modi's tightly woven round-tripping cobweb
Fortis Healthcare, however, did not clarify whether it will re-open the bidding process.

New Delhi: Fortis Healthcare today said the Munjal-Burman combine, whose bid for investing Rs 1,800 crore was approved by its board, have consented to re-opening the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

The development comes at a time when there is an uncertainty over the process of sale of Fortis as four of the directors, who had approved the Munjals-Burmans bid, are no longer on the company's board.

In a regulatory filing, Fortis Healthcare said it has received a letter from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman family Officer ...giving their consent to re-open the bidding process to enable the company to move ahead with the fund-raising transaction.

In a letter to the board of directors, Munjal-Burman combine said "it appears that there may be indecision on the part of the company regarding the bid process, which we understand could be on account of a few shareholders indicating their preference to the company for re-open of the bid process".

While expressing "deep anguish and regret" over the matter, Munjal-Burman combine said they have has consented to re-opening of the bidding process "in order to facilitate the company to expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the company's business does not suffer any further".

Fortis Healthcare, however, did not clarify whether it will re-open the bidding process.

When contacted, a Fortis spokesperson said the company's board will take a decision on the matter without specifying when the meeting would take place. "Necessary intimation to the regulator and stock exchanges would be given accordingly," the spokesperson added.

Fortis' board of directors is scheduled to meet on 30 May to consider and approve the audited financial results for the quarter and financial year ended 31 March, 2018.

In their letter, Munjal-Burman combine said "this situation may have arisen largely on account of the lack of information available to stakeholders.

Munjal-Burman combine said it expects the re-bidding process to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, with full clarity to all stakeholders and bidders regarding the criteria and objectives which will be considered relevant by the company for this purpose, and with equal information being available to all bidders.

It has been reported that Yes Bank, which holds over 15 percent stake in Fortis as on 31 March, per BSE data, had expressed concerns over the bidding process.

Yes Bank asked Fortis' board to consider revised bids for the company submitted to maximise value for investors.

Last week, Fortis board was reconstituted after its shareholders had voted out its director, Brian Tempest, from the board in the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on 22 May.

Earlier, out of four directors whose removals were sought by two institutional investors, three directors - Harpal Singh, Sabina Vaisoha and Tejinder Singh Shergill - had resigned ahead of an EGM called to vote on the matter.

Fortis shareholders last week also voted in favour of appointments of Suvalaxmi Chakraborty, Ravi Rajagopal and Indrajit Banerjee as independent directors on the board.

The resignations of three directors and removal of Tempest has cast a shadow over the ongoing attempt to sell Fortis as these four directors were among the five who had voted in favour of Munjals-Burmans combine's Rs 1,800-crore bid for the healthcare firm.

Last week, Malaysia's firm IHH Healthcare Berhard extended the acceptance period for its enhanced revised proposal for acquiring Fortis to June 30 in the wake of changes in the board of the cash-strapped healthcare chain.

IHH Healthcare, which had revised its offer to directly invest in Fortis at Rs 175 per share on May 1 from an initial non-binding offer to invest in Fortis at Rs 160 per share, had earlier stated that its enhanced offer would expire on 29 May.

Similarly, Manipal-TPG combine had also extended the validity of its modified offer for Fortis Healthcare to 6 June, 2018.

There were five suitors in the race for Fortis Healthare out of which only four made binding bids.

Besides Munjal-Burman, Manipatl -TPG and IHH Healthcare, KKR-backed Radiant Life Care had also put in bidding offer.

China's Fosun Healthcare but did not make a binding bid for the Fortis.

On 14 May, Manipal-TPG combine had again sweetened its offer for Fortis at Rs 180 per share, thereby increasing the valuation of the healthcare company to Rs 9,403 crore.

Manipal-TPG combine was the first to make a binding offer for the cash-strapped healthcare chain.
India on Sunday launched its second IT corridor in China to cash in on the burgeoning Chinese software market

Beijing: India on Sunday launched its second IT corridor in China to cash in on the burgeoning Chinese software market which remained elusive despite the presence of top Indian technology firms.

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has established one more Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza (SIDCOP) platform in China in an effort to provide market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market, the NASSCOM said.

Agreements worth RMB 36 million (about $6 million) were signed between Indian service providers and Chinese customers at the launch of the corridor by China's Guiyang Municipal government and the NASSCOM, a NASSCOM official said.

The pilot projects launched on the SIDCOP platform would be executed over the next year, a NASSCOM statement said.

Last December, NASSCOM established its first SIDCOP platform in the Chinese port city of Dalian, which is India's first IT hub in China.

India's top IT firms have a big presence in China, specially multi-nationals and IT Corridor at Dalian which are expected to provide a gateway for the Indian IT-small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Dalian IT corridor was formally launched a few days ago.

While Dalian corridor's focus was on IOT (Internet of Things), the Guiyang corridor will focus on 'big data', Gagan Sabharwal, Senior Director, Global Trade Development NASSCOM, told PTI.

The platform in Guiyang intends to create online and offline presence to promote a "co-create culture" between two large neighbours in the big data space, he said.

Speaking at the launch of the Guiyang IT corridor, India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said the corridor which visualises collaboration between member companies of the NASSCOM and the Guiyang city authorities is aimed at setting up local offices and assisting companies from Guiyang to establish software and IT units in India.

An Indian company named 'Zeta-V' will establish an artificial intelligence enabled platform for SIDCOP to bring together the IT requirements of Chinese companies, particularly in Guiyang, and Indian companies which have solutions to offer, Bambawale said.

"In this way, we will be marrying together the requirements of Chinese companies with the capabilities of Indian IT service providers. We visualise that these initiatives will give a big impetus to cooperation between India and China in the IT-enabled services sector," he said.

Referring to last month's informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the envoy said, "India-China relations are progressing well, particularly after the Informal Summit".

"The two leaders decided to meet at an informal summit so that they could have candid, free and open discussions with each other aimed at enhancing strategic communication between them," he said.

The two leaders spoke with each other for almost 10 hours at Wuhan and discussed their goals and objectives for their countries, how they viewed the fast-changing international situation and in this context how they would like to see India-China bilateral ties developing over the coming months.

"As a result of these unprecedented discussions between the leaders of India and China, they were able to reach consensus on over-arching and strategic issues. It is now left for the rest of us to take their vision forward," he said.

"As a result of the successful talks between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi at Wuhan, we now have a political environment in which India-China business and commercial ties can expand rapidly," he said

For India, getting access to China's IT market, valued at over $493 billion in 2013 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, is important to address the massive trade deficit which has now spiralled to over $51 billion. The Chinese IT market grew exponentially since then.

India has been demanding China to provide market access to Indian IT and pharmaceutical firms for several years to reduce bilateral trade deficit.

The two corridors, which were started in collaboration with China's provincial governments, are expected to provide the much-needed big opening for Indian IT firms, Sabharwal said.

Considering the potential, Bambawale made a strong case for Indian IT presence in China.

"As you all know, India is a world leader in the area of Information Technology and IT-enabled services with annual revenue of over $164 billion and exports of over $120 billion," he said in his address.

"Our IT companies have a presence in more than 70 countries in the world, generating employment for up to 12 million people worldwide. In China, Indian IT companies are present in 10 cities around the country, with a total work-force of around 25,000 employees. However, we believe that the potential for Indian companies to cooperate with China is huge and needs more work and efforts," he said.

Sabharwal said in addition to the Dalian and Guiyang, the NASSCOM is in touch with four other provinces including Wuhan to work out new IT corridors based on local needs.

He said negotiations were on with some of the Chinese firms to sign up with big Indian IT firms.

"If that works out it could provide a big opening," he said.
Modi said LPG is the cleanest and easily available source of energy that is giving women a healthier lifestyle, saving them time, helping them financially and saving the environment.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said 10 crore LPG connections including 4 crore free connections to poor women, were given in the last four years, compared to 13 crore in the six decades since Independence as his government stepped up efforts to shield women and children from kitchen smoke.

Interacting through video-conference with some of the women beneficiaries who received free cooking gas connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Modi recounted his own childhood when his mother struggled with smoke emitting from cooking on firewood or cow dung, to say his government will increase coverage of clean fuel to 100 percent households in the near future.

"Till 2014, only 13 crore LPG connections were given. These were mostly to rich and affluent class. In the past four years, we have given 10 crore new LPG connections, mostly to poor," he said. "Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, dalits, tribal communities. This initiative is playing a central role in social empowerment."

Launched in May 2016, the scheme aims to provide in next three years as many as five crore free cooking gas connections to women from extremely poor households, aimed at reducing the use of polluting fuels such as wood and dried cow dung that, according to the World Health Organization, cause 1.3 million premature deaths in India every year.

The target was raised to eight crore this year by adding two additional years.

India aims to increase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) usage to cover 80 percent of its households by March 2019, against 72.8 percent in 2017. The Prime Minister did not give a date for achieving 100 percent coverage.

Modi said LPG is the cleanest and easily available source of energy that is giving women a healthier lifestyle, saving them time, helping them financially and saving the environment. As many as 45 percent of the four crore free LPG connections given under Ujwalla are to dalits, he said.

Stating that his government stood for empowerment of the dalits, the Prime Minister said more than 1,200 petrol pumps have been given to dalit families since 2014 as compared to 445 retail outlets given to such families during 2010-2014 period of the previous UPA regime.

Similarly, 1,300 families got LPG distributorship as compared to 900 in the previous years.

The government, he said, is very serious in eliminating middlemen and so the beneficiary list has been made transparent.

Apart from those included under socio-economic caste census (SECC) to avail the scheme, the extended Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana would now cover all SC/ST households, most backward classes, beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), Antyoday Anna Yojana, forest dwellers, people residing in river and river islands.

Modi said the government is targeting one lakh LPG panchayats (peer learning platforms to support behaviour change in Ujjwala beneficiaries) this year to boost the LPG refill consumption and provide a window for the benefits of cleaner fuel to become visible.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the government provides a subsidy of Rs 1,600 to state-owned fuel retailers for every free LPG gas connection that they install in poor rural households without one. This subsidy is intended to cover the security fee for the cylinder and the fitting charges. The beneficiary has to buy her own cooking stove and refills.

To reduce the burden, the scheme allows beneficiaries to pay for the stove and the first refill in monthly installments. However, the cost of all subsequent refills has to be borne by the beneficiary household. He said 70 percent of the villages are 100 per cent covered by LPG and 81 percent village are covered up to 75 percent.

In his interaction with women beneficiaries from different states, he asked them if they were getting LPG refills on time and if any middlemen were asking for money. He asked them about their experience of using LPG and how it saved them time, which they can utilise for supporting the family financially by starting schemes like tiffin service.

He asked women to give healthy and nutritious food to their kids and not just rely on junk food.

Modi said he will never forget one of Premchand's stories, Idgah. "The story is about young Hamid, who does not buy sweets or gifts during Id but buys a 'Chimta' so that his grandmother does not burn her hands while cooking. This story is extremely emotional."

"Ujjwala Yojana is leading to better health for India's Nari Shakti," he said.
Haridwar-based Patanjali group had emerged as the front runner with a bid of over Rs 4,000 crore to acquire Ruchi Soya.

New Delhi: Patanjali Ayurveda has raised its bid to acquire Ruchi Soya and had made the revised offer to the Committee of Creditors (CoC) for the debt-ridden company, sources said.

The latest bid is around 30 percent higher than that of the Adani group, which is also in the race to acquire the company with its offer of around Rs 3,300 crore, sources said.

The new offer was made after the representatives of Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali group met the CoC of Ruchi Soya, said a source, adding that they had asked the group to sweeten the offer.

Patanjali has also assured the lenders that it would invest extra capital required to revive the company.

Haridwar-based Patanjali group had emerged as the front runner with a bid of over Rs 4,000 crore to acquire Ruchi Soya.

The CoC of the company is meeting today and may finalise the bids.

When contacted, Patanjali spokesperson S K Tijarawala said: "Tomorrow [Monday] CoC is meeting and we are waiting for the outcome."

Patanjali and Adani apart, Wilmar, Emami Agrotech and Godrej Agrovet have also put in bids to acquire Ruchi Soya.

Patanjali Ayurveda already has a tie-up with the Indore-based Ruchi Soya for edible oil refining and packaging.

Ruchi Soya, facing insolvency proceedings, has a total debt of about Rs 12,000 crore. The company has many manufacturing plants and its leading brands include Nutrela, Mahakosh, Sunrich, Ruchi Star and Ruchi Gold.

Earlier, Patanjali spokesperson had said that the company has bid for Ruchi Soya as it aims to be a major player in the edible oil segment, particularly soybean oil. It also wants to work for farmers benefit.

In December 2017, Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd entered into the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) and Shailendra Ajmera was appointed to act as interim resolution Professional (IRP). The appointment was made by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on the application of the creditors Standard Chartered Bank and DBS Bank Ltd, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Adani Wilmar sells edible oils under Fortune brand.

Emami Agrotech is the edible oil and bio-diesel arm of Emami Group of Companies, the Rs 100 billion, business conglomerate based in Kolkata. It has diverse business interests in segments such as production and distribution of edible oil, specialty fats and bio-diesel.

Godrej Agrovet, part of Godrej group, is into animal feed, crop protection, oil palm, dairy, poultry and processed foods.
Balakrishnan, a chartered accountant, was until recently a vice-president at the NSDL, Indias first and largest depository.

Sudha Balakrishnan has been appointed as the Reserve Bank of Indias first chief financial officer (CFO), according to a report in the Economic Times. Balakrishnan, a chartered accountant, was until recently a vice-president at the NSDL, Indias first and largest depository. She will be the 12th executive director at RBI, and will serve a three-year term, the ET report said.

Till now, the central bank did not have a dedicated official handling the finance function, and the tasks were being carried out internally. The appointment is part a major organisational change being carried out by Governor Urjit Patel since he took charge as RBI governor in September 2016, a PTI report said.

Patels predecessor Raghuram Rajan had pursued an idea of creating a chief operating officer for the apex bank but the government shot down the proposal as it involved changing the RBI Act. Rajan had also hired a slew of specialists from outside.

The CFO, who will be of the rank of executive director, will be responsible for accurate and timely presentation and reporting of financial information of the central bank, and establish accounting policies and procedures and ensure compliance with regulations.

The CFO will also formulate the accounting policy of the bank, maintain the internal accounts and report financial results, and carry out corporate strategy functions like provident fund policies, according to PTI.

The RBI first advertised seeking applications for the post of CFO in May 2017. Subsequently, the central bank modified the original appointment notice in November.

In view of modifications in eligibility criteria for the above-mentioned post, it has now been decided to accept fresh applications from applicants who had applied earlier in response to our advertisement No 6 & 6A/2016-17 dated May 15, 2017 for the said post (CFO), according to the latest public notice by the RBI.

Accordingly, it said, the last date for receiving applications for the post of CFO from all eligible candidates will now be 16 November, 2017.
Former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday rejected reports in a section of the media that he had a role in granting clearance to the controversial Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin.

Kochi: Former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday rejected reports in a section of the media that he had a role in granting clearance to the controversial Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin.

"The facts speak for themselves. I became Minister of Environment and Forests on 31 May, 2009. The Sterlite project received three rounds of clearances on 30 March, 2007, 9 August, 2007 and 1 January, 2009 - all before I assumed charge as the Minister concerned", he said in a statement to PTI.

The senior Congress leader said on 10 March, 2010 and 11 August, 2010 he answered a question in the Lok Sabha on environmental clearances asked by a Member of Parliament.

He said he did so based on information made available to him in the official files of the ministry. The answer was factual and there was no hint whatsoever that he had misled the Lok Sabha.

Had he done so, then the MPs concerned would have surely protested, he said.

"I have consistently refrained from speaking of my tenure as Minister of Environment and Forests in the belief that my record must speak for itself. But when facts are deliberately distorted and packaged in such a manner to call into question my role, I am forced to respond", he said.

Violence had erupted in Tuticorin on 22 May when a massive gathering of people took out a rally against the Sterlite copper plant.

In the police firing that day and on 23 May, 13 people were killed.

Ramesh termed as 'horrendous' the killing of 13 people as he attacked both the Centre and state governments for its approach towards people's agitation for livelihood.

"What has happened in recent days in Toothukudi is truly horrendous. It reflects not only the state government's mindset, but also the approach of the Modi government to people's agitations and protests on issues relating to livelihood and health", he said.

He said Tuticorin reflects the dark side of the so called 'ease of doing business' of the Union government.

In a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange, Vedanta, which runs the Sterlite copper plant, said the Tamil Nadu pollution control board had on May 23 ordered disconnection of power supply and closure of the plant.

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu like DMK, PMK, Congress and MNM had slammed the violence and police action, while top actor Rajinikanth,who is slated to launch his political party, had held the government responsible for the deaths.
Vendanta Resources boss Anil Agarwal says there's absolutely no liquid discharge from Sterlite Copper's Thoothukudi smelter.

Following the death of 13 people in Thoothukudi in violent protests demanding the closure of a copper smelter, operated by Sterlite Copper, a subsidiary of London-traded Vedanta Resources, chairman Anil Agarwal has said his company is open to scrutiny by any independent technical committee, according to a media report.

Speaking to The Economic Times about the Sterlite Copper plant allegedly polluting the environment, Agarwal said that he will come forward if something is found amiss. He claimed that there is absolutely no liquid discharge from the plant.

Agarwal claimed the protests were provoked by anti-development groups and that Sterlite Copper is a victim of "fake activism."

Such activists are time and again raking up the sentiments of the public for their vested interests that have now cost the lives of innocent people. They wish to destabilise Indian industry through orchestrating protests for various reasons, Agarwal was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, on Monday, said his government will take the necessary steps to permanently shut down the copper smelter.

On 25 May, the UK's opposition Labour Party called for Vedanta to be delisted from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) following the death of the 13 protesters. John McDonnell, the UK's Shadow Chancellor, said removing Vedanta from the London financial markets would prevent reputational damage from the "rogue" company, which has been operating "illegal" mining concerns for years.

"After the massacre of the protestors this week, regulators must now take action. Vedanta must be immediately delisted from the London Stock Exchange to remove its cloak of respectability, restore confidence in the governance of the Stock Exchange, and prevent further reputational damage to London's financial markets from this rogue corporation," McDonnell said in a statement on Friday.

On 24 May, Agarwal described as 'unfortunate' the loss of lives in violent protests. In a video message posted on his Twitter handle, Agarwal said the company would like to continue operating the plant, India's second largest, with the 'wish' of the community.

"I am very sad to hear the incident... This was absolutely unfortunate. My full sympathy is with the families (of the deceased)," Agarwal said.

Claiming that the company follows the courts' and the government's orders, the NRI billionaire said,"We always make sure [that] the community and Tuticorin's people at large prosper with us."

With inputs from PTI
CBSE will declare the results for Class 10 Board exams today at 4 pm on its official website cbse.nic.in. Students can get their Class 10 and 12 results delivered directly to their Android smartphones even if they are not connected to the Internet on that day using Microsoft's 'SMS Organizer', an Android app available for free download on Google Play Store.

CBSE will declare the results for Class 10 Board exams today at 4 pm on its official website cbse.nic.in. Students can get their Class 10 and 12 results delivered directly to their Android smartphones even if they are not connected to the Internet on that day using Microsoft's "SMS Organizer", an Android app available for free download on Google Play Store.

Microsoft also released a video explaining the process to check results without internet on Twitter.

Anxiously refreshing your browser to get your CBSE Class 10 or Class 12 results? Stop! Get your results delivered to your SMS Organizer inbox as soon as they are announced, even when you are offline. https://t.co/UxGkXVHSHY pic.twitter.com/c4zhOolMry  Microsoft India (@MicrosoftIndia) May 24, 2018

To get CBSE Class 10 and 12 results on SMS Organizer, users first need to download the app from Google Play Store and then register for CBSE results.

On the result day, the pre-registered users will receive a notification for the result, clicking on which their scorecard will appear. Since the scorecard data is sent via SMS, users will be able to see it even if they do not have Internet connectivity on result day, the post said.

The results will also be available on Bing search engine for parents, teachers and students to easily search and get the scorecards.

"Over the last few months, we have been working with multiple education boards in India to deliver the results of the various exams they conduct, on Bing apart from their own websites," the company's blogpost revealed.

Since 2016, Microsoft has partnered with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to display the board examination results on www.bing.com.

So far exam results for Class 10 - Andhra Pradesh SSC board, Class 10 - Telangana SSC Board and Class 10 and Class 12 - Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad are available on Bing.

Earlier, Google had also partnered with CBSE for the JEE Main exam results and other exam-related information.

Students could now quickly, securely and seamlessly locate their score on smartphone or desktop using Google Search.

Senior Public Relations Officer, CBSE, Rama Sharma said, "We are collaborating with Google for smooth dissemination of results through an easy and secure platform."

The tech giant has also introduced an improved Search experience for other popular exams like GATE, SSC CGL, CAT.

Also, students searching for these competitive exams will find information such as test dates, registration dates, important links, and other key information right within Google Search.

With inputs from IANS
The results of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10th and Class 12th examination will directly be available on Google search for the first time this year, according to media reports. The Class 10 results will be declared today at 4 pm.

The results of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10th and Class 12th examination will directly be available on Google search for the first time this year, according to media reports. The Class 10 results will be declared today at 4 pm.

Until now, students used to go to Google search, from where they were redirected to the portals hosting the results, and then they logged into the website to check their results

However, CBSE has now announced its partnership with Google for result declaration.

Speaking to NDTV, Senior Public Relations Officer of CBSE, Richa Sharma said, "We are collaborating with Google for smooth dissemination of results through an easy and secure platform.

The tech giant in a statement, according to Business Standard said, "Starting with the JEE Main exam results, the CBSE is enabling students to look up exam results directly on the Google search page. This will help students quickly, securely, and seamlessly locate their exam score on their smartphone or desktop".

According to India Today, students can check their CBSE results in the following way:

Step 1: Log on to the website, google.com

Step 2: Type CBSE 12, 10 Results 2018 in the space provided

Step 3: On selecting CBSE 12 result 2018 or CBSE 10 result 2018, a window would open

Step 4: Enter your roll number and date of birth

Step 5: Click on 'Check Exam Results'

Step 6: Results will be displayed on the screen
The 23-year-old Kevin P Joseph, a Dalit boy was allegedly killed in the name of family honour on Sunday for marrying a girl from an affluent Christian family.

It cant get worse for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala. On a day when the state went to an all important bypoll in Chengannur which is hyped as a referendum on the two-year rule of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, it has been served a mighty blow.

The 23-year-old Kevin P Joseph, a Dalit boy was allegedly killed in the name of family honour on Sunday for marrying a girl from an affluent Christian family.

What embarrasses the ruling front is that the gang that abducted and later murdered Kevin was led by one Niyas who is the Thenmala unit secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPM, a fact confirmed by the state police.

Another member Ishan who is already in police custody is also believed to be a DYFI worker.

The gruesome crime is believed to have been done on behalf of the brother of the girl with whom Kevin is said to have eloped and later married.

Kevins body was recovered from the Chaliakkara canal in Thenmala estate, close to the state capital on early Monday morning in a dilapidated condition. According to initial reports his eyes have been gouged out and there were deep cuts on his neck.

While the horrific honour crime, often seen in many rural parts of northern India, has not only shocked the literate society of Kerala on Monday but has also become a serious blot on the face of the ruling CPM which often prides itself as the champion of downtrodden.

"This is a very serious case of caste killing. We have enough evidence to prove that the girls family wanted to take her back at all costs and sought the help of the local DYFI workers to use force. Hence this killing has a political side to it which is caste based politics. Kevin is a schedule caste boy and the reality we have to gulp is that even progressive organisations such as the Left in Kerala are now against such marriage. This is the sad reality," noted dalit activist Dhanya Raman told Firstpost.

Dhanyas words are further strengthened by other non-Dalit activists too how feel the erosion of the basic policies of the Left in Kerala is the reason why such a trend has crept in a highly progressive state like Kerala.

"This is such a tremendous blot on literate Kerala. But this was expected because when you have the Left which had been the watchdog against such evils for long deviates from its core policies to become the bootlickers of the corporate world, the society in Kerala will also degenerate. There is no surprise in this at all," well-known social activists Poran told Firstpost.

Police inaction leads to death

Making matters worse for the ruling disposition in Kerala is the stand taken by the local police in the matter right from the outset.

It was on Sunday morning that Neenu Chacko, Kevins wife approached the Gandhi Nagar police station in Kottayam after she heard about the news of the abduction of Kevin and his cousin Anish from a relatives house.

Neenu had been shifted to a hostel by Kevin himself on the previous day after her family had continuously threatened the couple with dire consequences following their marriage three days go.

On Saturday night, a ten member gang led by Neenus brother Shanu Chacko, DYFI leader Niyas and a few others organised by Niyas vandalised the house where Kevin was staying and abducted the boy.

"I had waited at the police station from Sunday morning but the policemen there were just not serious about my complaint. They were initially not ready to even record my complaint. They said that since the chief minister was in town with a function, they are busy with giving him security and will take up the complaint later," Neenu had told media persons outside the station on Sunday.

It was only after some Dalit organisations reached the station and media too got their act together, the sub-inspector of Gandhi Nagar police station decided to do his duty. But by then crucial time had been lost and Kevin could not be saved.

That the abductors could travel with Kevin through three districts of the state and even go unnoticed through the town of Chengannur where security was tight owing to it being eve of bypolls only raises doubt that the cops were perhaps aware of the kidnappers movements, but were lying low.

Kevins family has one more reason to believe that the cops were hand-in-glove with killers. Kevins father claims that the local police was aware of the threat the couple faced, since after their marriage both the families were summoned to the station following a complaint from the girls family.

There was even an attempt to forcibly take Neenu away by her family at the station itself and later at Kevins house. That inspite of all this the police did nothing at all only indicates that some back door deal was worked out between the girls family and the cops, claims Kevins family.

Also following the abduction, Kevins father had passed to the policemen the registration number of the vehicle in which he was abducted and the phone number of Neenus brother. But the police hardly moved a finger to save Kevin.

There is even an allegation that the inspector at Gandhi Nagar station had talked over phone to Neenus brother who demanded that the girl return home if Kevin was to be released. The police instead of locating the abductors continued playing the role of a negotiator which finally culminated in the loss of the young mans life.

"This is a clear case of dereliction of duty. When a cognizable offence as serious as abduction is reported you have clear set of protocols to follow. You have to act quickly and initiate immediate action to alert the force across the state. Perhaps the boy could have been saved had they done it. Gandhi Nagar policemen will have to pay a heavy price," said retired Superintendent of Police Subash Babu.

Both the sub-inspector and the assistant sub-inspector of Gandhi Nagar police station have been placed under suspension and the Kottayam superintendent has been transferred out. But this is hardly enough to douse the huge protest that is simmering across the state.

Both the Congress led UDF and the BJP have called for a dawn to dusk hartal in Kottayam district on Tuesday. Both fronts sat that the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who holds the home portfolio should immediately relinquish his post.

"Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has time and again proved that he is a complete misfit in the home portfolio. He should resign from that give it to someone who is capable of running the show. Otherwise Keralas law and order will go to the dogs," Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala told media persons outside Gaandhi Nagar police station where the Congress led UDF undertook protests throughout Monday.

Politicisation of the force

Many say that the forces failure to prevent an imminent tragedy by what seems like purposeful inaction from their side only goes on to show the deep rooted politicisation inside the force. There are concrete reasons too to believe so.

This is not the first case of where the political hand had become so clear. Even in the custodial death of Sreejith in Varapuzha a month ago the political imprints had become evident when the role of the Ernakulam DYSP came into light. That a senior district leader of the ruling party had ordered Sreejiths arrest was at that time talk of the town.

"Many of you might not have faced it directly. But we encounter it on a daily basis across police stations in Kerala where cases are filed against dalits and other by policemen on one phone call from party workers. The men in uniform are so hand-in-glove with local CPM leaders that you know that unless you have their backing you cant get anything done," reiterated Dhanya Raman.

Her words are again substantiated by an intelligence report that got leaked in the media last month. A report send by the states police intelligence head to the DGP clearly talked about the deep rooted politicisation that is taking place in the rank and file of the Kerala police since this Left government took over in 2016.

The report talked about the increasing tendency in the force to raise political slogans during police association meetings and also an attempt to paint the martyrs column red in colour.

These fears got further strengthened by the actions of a few during the Police associations state conference. Close to 50 officers most of them hailing from north Kerala, the bastion of the CPM came to the conference wearing red and sat en-block, looking more like red volunteers of the ruling party than officers of the state police.

"This is no secret. At least a major part of the state police have become party sympathisers such that in situations where the party men need the cops to take a definite line that favours them, they will do it. Thats why there was delay in searching for Kevin because policemen knew who are behind it. Otherwise even after talking on phone with the girls brother who is one among the perpetrators, why did the cops not take action to nab them? There is a clear cut nexus," CR Neelakandan, rights activist and state convenor of Aam Aadmi party told Firstpost.

Meanwhile senior police officers who are worried about the turn of events say that the average police officer sitting at the various stations across the state are under tremendous stress, on one side from the ruling political class who keep breathing down their neck, and the other to follow the book.

"Kevins case is simply where the sub-inspector took the wrong choice and he will in all probability pay it with his job. But this is the kind of pressure that these young officers are facing since the Left came to power. This is taking the force down a very dangerous route," a senior officer added in anonymity.

Meanwhile the CPM has completely rubbished the claims of the involvement of any of its cadre or that of the DYFI.

"This is a very unfortunate honour killing which should not have happened in a state like Kerala. As far as we know those involved in the killing belonged to the family of the girl and their political allegiance has little meaning in all this. The party will take action against anyone found guilty," CPMs legislator AN Shamsheer told media persons.

Meanwhile the National Commission for Schedule Castes have demanded a report from the state police on Kevins killing and the chairman of the Commission would be visiting the state soon to take stock of the situation.

Even as Kevins killing remained in news space throughout Monday, brisk polling was reported from Chengannur where the by-poll was on. Only the counting on 31 May will reveal if Kevins killing had an impact on the bypolls.
The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) announced the results for the Under Graduate Entrance Test (UGET) 2018 on Sunday evening.

The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) announced the results for the Under Graduate Entrance Test (UGET) 2018 on Sunday evening, for students across India seeking admission to engineering colleges in Karnataka. The results, rank cards and answer keys have been released on the official COMEDK website, comedk.org.

Durbha Aditya from National Public School in HSR Layout secured the first rank and expressed interest in pursuing artificial intelligence. This result was unexpected for me. Although I knew I had done well, being a topper is something I never expected," Aditya was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

According to The Hindu, 62,306 students appeared for the exam. Aditya scored 168 marks out of 180. The highest score in UGET 2017 was 165.

Unmesh Roy from Jharkhand bagged the second rank and TVD Adithya from East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh secured the third position, The Times of India reported.

According to another report by The Times of India, only 42 out of the top 100 rank-holders are from Karnataka. The exam was held on 13 May. The test was held online in 291 centres in 137 cities across India.

The COMEDK UGET 2018 result was earlier expected to be declared on Monday. In case candidates have still not checked their score, they can follow the following steps:

-Go to the official website of COMEDK UGET 2018: comedk.org

-Login with the candidate's user account

-Click on the link for 'rank card'.

-Save your result and take a print copy for further reference

As has been observed over the course of the past few weeks, the dates and times of result announcements have been frequently changed around. The information above has not been independently verified by Firstpost. However, this article will continue to be updated to reflect official updates as and when they come in.
Private hospitals in the capital 'cannot hold hostage' bodies of patients, who have died during treatment there, a draft Delhi government advisory states.

New Delhi: Private hospitals in the national capital "cannot hold hostage" bodies of patients, who have died during treatment there, even if families are unable to pay the due bills before the last rites, according to a draft advisory proposed by the Delhi government.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, however, said the proposal does not imply that the bills would be waived, and hospitals can take legal action in case the payments are not made later by the families.

"Body of any deceased patient cannot be forcibly withheld by a hospital and denied to the family for want of payment of due bills. There has to be dignity in death. A body cannot be held hostage just for bills. After death, a body belongs to the society, and final rites must be performed," he said at a press conference held on Monday.

The draft advisory has been prepared on the basis of recommendations of a nine-member expert panel, headed by Director-General of Health Services Kirti Bhushan, which was set up by the Arvind Kejriwal government on 13 December last year, after allegations of excessive charges and unfair employment practices by a few private facilities were reported.

"The draft has been put in public domain, inviting suggestions and objections for a period of 30 days. After that, we will implement the policy with revisions," Jain said.

The minister said that the draft also proposes that doctors at private hospitals and nursing homes should preferably only prescribe drugs from the NLEM (National List of Essential Medicines) list and patients should be consulted before administering drugs in the non-NLEM category.

The National List of Essential Medicines of India 2011 (NLEM 2011) is a list of medicines, prepared by the Ministry of Health, which are considered essential in India.

"The draft advisory would be implemented by amending the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act, and eventually, it would mean that a private hospital or a nursing home could lose its licence to operate in Delhi, in case it violates these norms," Jain said.

The members of the panel include former Indian Medical Association president Dr KK Aggarwal, Delhi Medical Council president Dr Arun Gupta, former president of Delhi Medical Association Dr RK Gupta, and experts, and senior bureaucrats.
The no-detention policy for students between Class 5 and Class 8 is likely to be scrapped soon with the National Achievement Survey (NAS) revealing lack of exams impacting students' performances severely

The no-detention policy for students between Class 5 and Class 8 is likely to be scrapped soon with the National Achievement Survey (NAS) for Class 10 revealing lack of exams impacting students' performances severely. The survey criticised the no-exam policy of the Right to Education Act, stating that Class 10 students of state boards are struggling to get even 40 percent of the answers right in subjects like Mathematics, Social Science, Science, and English.

The NAS survey, which was carried out on 5 February, also found that "Class 10 students were performing worse than classes 3, 5 and 8 students  evidence of the problem of poor learning being simply moved up the chain to higher classes," a Times of India report said.

The report further added that "if 64 percent of Class 3 students of the state, CBSE and ICSE boards answered a Mathematics question right, the score was down to less than 40 percent for all state boards barring Andhra Pradesh for Class 10. The NAS for junior classes saw the percentage dipping to 54 percentage in Class 5 and 42 percent in Class 8."

Citing the Class 10 NAS survey findings, Hindustan Times said that in schools affiliated to the CBSE, "the average score of a student was 52.31 percent in Mathematics, 51.10 percent in Science, 53.29 percent in Social science, 58.54 percent in English and 62.28 percent in modern Indian languages. Similarly, in schools following the ICSE board, the average score of a student was 51.09 percent in Mathematics, 53.52 percent in Science, 51.15 percent in Social Science, 70.38 percent in English and 54.28 percent in modern Indian languages."

Class 10 students in Bihar performed worst in English with an average score of 28.95 percent, followed by Madhya Pradesh (29.65 percent) and Chhattisgarh (30.17 percent), the report added.

The NAS assessment report is likely to bring about a change in the no-detention policy of the Right to Education Act, which graduates students from Class 5 to 8 despite performing poorly in academics.

Union Minister of HRD Prakash Javadekar had already said hinted the government's support towards bringing about a change in the RTE Act. In fact, earlier this month, Javadekar had talked about a Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting, where education ministers from 25 states had demanded a change in the policy to promote all students till Class 8, seeking detention in Class 5 and Class 8.

The current NAS report is likely to strengthen the case of 25 states seeking removal of the no-detention policy.

The NAS survey involved a sample of 15 lakh students and used competency-based test questions developed to reflect the learning outcomes which were recently incorporated in the central rules for RTE Act by the Government of India.

The recent results of Class 10 examinations, NAS revelations, when compared to the recent outcomes of some state board results, puts forth an even more disappointing image of students abilities in state board government and government-aided schools.

That only 51.47 percent students (overall) passed the Gujarat State Education Board SSC (Class 10) examinations, the results of which were declared on Monday, is likely to strengthen the cause to end the no-detention policy. Nearly half of the 11 lakh students who appeared in the Gujarat Board Class 10 exams failed to qualify.

Meanwhile, according to another Times of India report, even as CBSE Class 12 results showed a record number of students scoring above 90 percent marks, the pass percentage in the Patna region (Bihar and Jharkhand) witnessed a sharp dip of 4.06 percent from last years 74.60 percent.

According to teachers in the region, the no-detention policy, which allows even weaker students to qualify to the next class, is one of the reasons behind the fall in passing percentage. The central government is planning to amend the RTE Act to allow states to conduct examinations in classes 5 and 8 and detain students if their performance is poor. Due to the no-detention policy, even weak students with poor basic concept advance to higher classes, Rajiv Ranjan Sinha, principal of Baldwin Academy and CBSE city coordinator, said, according to the report.

However, as Firstpost writer Vivek Kaul pointed out, introducing exams at Class 5 and Class 8 alone won't help improve the situation. "To deliver better learning outcomes what is needed is a radical reorientation of the way things are taught in schools across this country," the author wrote.
Over 50 families were rendered homeless after a major fire broke out at a Rohingya refugee camp in Haryanas Nuh district on Sunday afternoon

Over 50 families were rendered homeless after a major fire broke out at a Rohingya refugee camp in Haryanas Nuh district on Sunday afternoon, according to reports. No casualties were reported.

"It took us almost three hours to douse the flames," The Indian Express quoted a fire officer as saying. "Prima facie, the blaze appears to have been caused by a short circuit," he said. The police added that they were not approached by anybody to register a case.

A total of 215 people lived in the shanties, the report said. "All our belongings are gone. All that is left are the clothes we are wearing," a resident said. The report added that a makeshift camp was organised to house the affected people on Sunday evening.

"Unless basic necessities are provided, we will continue to witness such incidents. Time and again, we have apprised the UNHCR of the poor living conditions in the camp and how the camp is susceptible to fires. So far, no concrete steps have been taken to improve the situation," a Hindustan Times report quoted Rohingya youth leader Ali Johar as saying.

The report added that the MLA in Nuh district, Zakir Hussain, said immediate relief should be provided to those affected. "The government should compensate for the loss and temporary shelter should be provided to the refugees. They should be rehabilitated as soon as possible since it is the month of Ramzan, and they would need a space for fasting and praying. Basic food and shelter facilities should be extended to them," Hussain said.

The incident comes over a month after a Rohingya refugee camp was destroyed in Delhis Kalindi Kunj area, leaving 55 Rohingya families homeless.

The colony was built and looked after by Zakat Foundation, led by social worker Zafar Mahmud. He told Firstpost that the NGO jumped into action soon after it came to know about the fire. "Since all their belongings have been destroyed, we have taken measures to rehabilitate them... We are also planning to provide permanent shelter homes for them," an official said.

Residents of the colony suspected that the fire was caused not by accident, but by miscreants as an attempt to make them vacate the land so they can then grab it. However, Zafar Mahmud of Zakat Foundation rules out the possibility of miscreants having caused the fire.
As ceasefire violations by Pakistan become more frequent in Kashmir, India is still unprepared to protect its locals who keep running for their lives.

Jammu: As ceasefire violations by Pakistan from across the international border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu become more frequent in the last three to four years, India is still unprepared to protect its locals who keep running for their lives without even an ambulance.

Villagers along the border in Jammu say life has become so miserable for them that neither can they carry out agriculture activities for livelihood nor can their children study as schools have been shut down. All this despite a ceasefire agreement signed in 2003 between India and Pakistan.

Temples, schools and colleges have been converted into makeshift camps to save border residents from Pakistani bullets and mortar shells being fired on the villages for the past nearly two weeks.

A visit by this correspondent to one such camp at Chichi Mata Temple in Samba district, where at least 20 families of border evacuees are residing, brought to light the living condition of these border refugees.

Surinder Kumar, 47, a resident of Ramgarh in Samba, points out that infants in the camp are not provided with even milk. "While the authorities have evacuated us from our village where Pakistan was firing indiscriminately, there is no arrangement of milk for children. Most of the people who have come here are daily wagers and cannot afford to buy milk when they have no work," says Kumar.

Villagers migrated four times in three years

Shanti Devi, 78, another border resident who had taken refuge at the temple-camp, says that migration from border areas has become so common that residents of Chapri village in Samba sector had to migrate four times during the past three years.

People had to be evacuated from at least 102 villages on IB in Jammu but most of them took refuge at the homes of their relatives. While the IB in Jammu region is nearly 185 kilometres long, the LoC is nearly 734 kilometres long and runs across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions.

Jammu's additional district magistrate Arun Manhas says that at least 80,000 border residents from different villages along IB have taken refuge at safer places.

Over 150 schools that are situated within five kilometres of the IB have been shut down due to frequent shelling. The worst-hit areas are Arnia, RS Pura, Samba, Kathua and Akhnoor sector located close to the IB. Bullet holes in the walls of houses are reminders of the tragedy which turned the settlements into ghost villages. Not just humans, cattle have also perished.

Bullets know no religion

Muslim-dominated villages along LoC in Nowshera, Sunderbani and Manjakot in Rajouri district and Krishna Ghati, Mendhar and Balakot sector in Poonch district have always remained under Pakistan's firing range.

More than 4,500 people migrated to relief camps from such villages in Rajouri district in May 2017 due to heavy shelling which left more than 170 houses damaged and eight civilians dead.

Victims don't even get an ambulance

During the recent spate of firing in which an eight-month-old child was killed by Pakistani bullets, the timely presence of an ambulance could have saved many lives.

Philanthropist Rohit Chaudhary, also a resident of Arnia sector, recalls that on the first day of firing by Pakistan, the injured were taken to hospitals on tractor trolleys.

"There is a need for a bulletproof ambulance in the area so that people can be evacuated during an emergency. We need a trauma centre with specialist doctors to save lives," says Chaudhury.

After receiving several complaints Jammu and Kashmir health and medical education minister Devender Kumar Maniyal visited the affected areas on 25 May and directed the civil administration to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for evacuating people using bulletproof vehicles.

Ceasefire violations increasing

As per official records, 152 ceasefire violations took place along LoC in 2015 that increased to 228 in 2016 and inflated to 860 in 2017. Till February this year, 432 ceasefire violations took place.

The number of ceasefire violations along IB in 2015 was 253, which reduced to 221 in 2016 and further to 111 incidents in 2017. However, till February this year, 201 incidents were officially recorded.

At least 300 civilians have been killed by Pakistani firing along LoC since 2015.

What the state government is doing

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who visited the relief camps to take stock of the situation, has appealed Pakistan to respect the religious sentiment of Ramzan. She reminded the neighbouring country how India has announced a unilateral ceasefire in counterinsurgency operations during the festive month.

Mufti said the local hospital at RS Pura would be provided with more equipment and manpower and the local veterinary unit would be provided more facilities.

Along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts, the state government is building bunkers where locals can find a safe refuge during ceasefire violations.

Rajouri's deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary says a total of 102 family type bunkers have been completed in various villages. Each bunker has the capacity to accommodate 10 persons for a long-term stay while 12-16 people can take short-term shelters during shelling from across the LoC.

London-based social activist Manu Khajuria Singh, who hails from Jammu, says there is an immediate need for an overhaul of critical care facilities provided to victims of ceasefire violations.

Singh, who led a protest by a group of Indians outside the Pakistan embassy in London, also demands that the authorities should take care of the education of children whose schools are forced to shut down due to shelling by Pakistan.

The author is a Ludhiana-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.
Pakistan has 'rejected' India's protest against Islamabad's move relating to administrative control over the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Islamabad: Pakistan has "rejected" India's protest against Islamabad's move relating to administrative control over the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is a part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The "Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018" was approved by Pakistan's Cabinet on 21 May and it was also endorsed by the Assembly for the region.

Pakistan Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi announced enforcement of the reform package for Gilgit Baltistan which was greeted with pandemonium and a shouting match in the local assembly. The order takes away powers of President in respect of tribal areas to empower its people.

Abbasi said that under the order, all the powers have been transferred to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination. Several civil rights groups in Pakistan slammed the order.

India summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi on Sunday and lodged a strong protest over the order, saying no action should be taken to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation".

"It was clearly conveyed that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947," the Indian External Affairs Ministry had said in a statement.

Reacting to New Delhi's protest over the move, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal in a statement claimed that the "Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and its final status will be determined through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite administered by the UN".

He said: "Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu and Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India. Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim," the spokesman said.

"These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said.

A complete strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan on the call of the Opposition to protest against the order.
Militants on Monday triggered an IED blast in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, targeting an Army vehicle, officials said.

Three soldiers were injured in an IED blast triggered by militants in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

A Casper vehicle of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles was damaged in the blast triggered by militants in Zainapora area of Shopian district, an Army official said.

While in another incident of attack on security personnel, an Army jawan and a civilian were killed on Sunday night when terrorists attacked an Army camp in militant-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir, police said. This is the first terror strike by militants after the Centre announced the cessation of operations during the holy month of Ramzan.

Police said the militants attacked the camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles at Kakapora in Pulwama district leaving a jawan seriously injured. A civilian identified as Bilal Ahmed was also caught in the crossfire leaving him seriously injured. Both were rushed to a hospital where the duo succumbed to their injuries.

Authorities have clamped prohibitory orders in parts of Pulwama district. They said the fire was retaliated by the Army personnel.

With inputs from PTI
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan indicated that the Madhya Pradesh government is mulling to introduce a new scheme to facilitate better price of farm produce.

Indore: The Madhya Pradesh government is mulling to introduce a new scheme to facilitate better price of farm produce, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has indicated, ahead of the proposed nationwide stir by cultivators from 1 June.

"I am going to sit with farmers to work out the possibility of giving remunerative price per acre of the farm yield," Chouhan said on Sunday during a programme on farm sector organised in Indore by some media organisations.

He did not elaborate on the scheme, but said it would benefit the small farmers who cannot store their produce for a long time.

The Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, an umbrella body of 110 farmers' organisations, has called for a 10-day protest from 1 June against the "anti-farmer policies" of the Central government and to put forth their demands, including remunerative price for their produce.

The small farmers sell their produce immediately after harvesting it and at times do not get a fair price for it, Chouhan noted.

"I am concerned about how to facilitate a better price to farmers for their produce. I want to pay them the full price for their hard work and for this, I have started the 'Bhavantar Yojna'," he said.

Chouhan said his government provided irrigation facilities in 40 lakh hectares of land in the state in last 12 years, which was earlier confined to 7.5 lakh hectares.

"We have charted out a blueprint to expand the irrigation facilities to 80 lakh hectares of land. For this, steps like construction of small dams, interlinking of rivers would be taken, besides launching of other schemes, with an investment of Rs 1.10 lakh crore," he said.

He said sometimes farmers do not get a fair price for their crops due to bumper production. Therefore, the state government would conduct a detailed study and suggest farmers which crops were suitable to be grown, to fetch a good price for the harvest.

The government would also extend help to farmers to set up small food processing plants near their fields, the chief minister said.

He said the government is planning to set up a new board to boost the export of agri-products, on the lines of APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority).

Madhya Pradesh had earlier witnessed large-scale violence during a farmers' protest that left six cultivators dead in police firing in Mandsaur district on 6 June 2017.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a condolence-cum-public meeting in Mandsaur on 6 June.
Modi is scheduled to embark on a two-nation tour on Tuesday. The trip to Indonesia and Singapore is expected mark a new phase of engagement between India and Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a two-nation tour on Tuesday. The trip to Indonesia and Singapore is expected to mark a new phase of engagement between India and Southeast Asia, which is looking towards more business synergies from the world's fastest expanding market, according to political observers.

Modi will arrive in Indonesia on 29 May and leave for Singapore from Jakarta on 31 May for a three-day visit. This will be the prime ministers first official visit to Indonesia and his second official visit to Singapore.

In Indonesia, a slew of pacts and arrangements  especially in the defence sector  are expected to be concluded during the visit that will also witness two leaders focussing on counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation initiatives, a report in The Economic Times said. While Modi will seek to enhance Indian investments in Indonesia during his meet with the business community in Jakarta, his itinerary also includes participation at a kite flying event near the capital city.

However, the report added, his visit to Borobudur temple was postponed due to a volcanic eruption in Mount Merapi. Borobudur is the worlds biggest Buddhist temple, which Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited in 1950.

The prime minister is expected to update Indonesian president Joko Widowo on his one-on-one dialogues with the Chinese, Russian and other leaders. Both countries have "strong bilateral relationship" and new developments could see a big push for tourism-related projects from Indian islands in the Andaman Sea to Sumatra.

In Singapore, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Singaporean counterpart and deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is expected to be attended by top leaders from several countries across the region.

Modi will be addressing the world for the first time since his extensive one-to-one dialogues with leaders of China, Russia, France and Commonwealth heads of governments that had gathered in London during his UK visit in Apri this year. It will also be a first time for the Shangri-La Dialogue to hear an Indian prime minister deliver a speech.

The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, first convened in 2002, is an annual meeting of defence ministers, military chiefs and top-ranking defence officials from across the Asia-Pacific, and other countries concerned with the region's security.

The prime minister will also unveil a plaque at the Clifford Pier in Singapore to commemorate the immersion of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes in the country's waters. In 1948, Gandhi's ashes were sent to various parts of India and the world, including Singapore. Clifford Pier was Singapore's seafront landmark under the colonial government. It had since been renovated and currently serves as a restaurant under the same namesake "The Clifford Pier".

Modi will visit three temples on South Bridge Road to highlight old links between India and Singapore. These temples were built by early Indian settlers in Singapore as community projects over a century ago, and are now regarded as national monuments.

Modi will also visit the Indian Heritage Centre in Little India to see the exhibit and inaugurate a permanent platform for Indian craftsmen to visit Singapore from India for short durations to exhibit their work. Little India is a precinct of Indian-origin small businesses in Singapore.

Modi's visit to Indonesia and Singapore is also expected to mark the coming-of-age of India's Act East policy, announced in Naypyidaw in November 2014, says Dr Amitendu Palit, a senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, a think tank of National University of Singapore. "Modi's visit to the region will be closely watched for various reasons," Palit said.

India sees Singapore as a bigger base for businesses, and Modi is likely to focus on the strongly-growing business and cultural links. Observers expect both countries to seal the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) which has been under reviews for the past six years.

The reviewed CECA is expected to see more Indian banks and professionals getting opportunities in Singapore while more and more businesses from Singapore venturing into the Indian market.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as part of India's efforts to boost ties with Southeast Asia.

New Delhi: As part of India's efforts to boost ties with Southeast Asia under its Act East Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from 29 May to 2 June.

"Prime Minister's official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership, delegation level talks, meetings with the business and Indian communities," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

It said Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries of the Asssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, are Strategic Partners of India.

"India attaches high importance to its relations with the Asean region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual Asean member states, within the framework of the government's Act East Policy," the statement said.

"The visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest."

While Indonesia hosts the Asean Secretariat, Singapore is the current Chair of the regional bloc.

Modi will reach Indonesia on 29 May and hold a summit with the country's President Joko Widodo the next day in Jakarta. This will be his first official visit to that southeast Asian nation.

The two leaders will then inaugurate a kite festival jointly organised by Museum Layang Layang of Jakarta and the Kite Museum of Ahmedabad.

Modi will also address a CEOs forum and the Indian community in the southeast Asia's largest nation.

Indonesia is India's largest trading partner within the Asean with bilateral trade standing at around $18 billion. Around 250,000 jobs have been created by Indian companies in Indonesia.

On 31 May, Modi will make a brief stopover in Malaysia on his way from Indonesia to Singapore.

Modi will meet newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, who governed for more than two decades became, at the age of 92, the world's oldest elected leader earlier this month.

From Malaysia, Modi will reach Singapore on 31 May and will begin his engagements by visiting an India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibition.

He will then participate in a business and community event where he will talk about India's economic engagement with Asean. Modi will also participate in a CEOs Round Table with the top 20 CEOs of Singapore.

On 1 June, Modi will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob and then hold a summit with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He will also visit Nanyang Technological University, regarded as the top technological university in Asia and the 11th best in the world.

Later, he will deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do in the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.

On 2 June, he will unveil a plaque of Mahatma Gandhi and visit some cultural sites connecting India and Singapore.

Thereafter, Modi will visit the Indian Heritage Centre where he will inaugurate a special exhibition on Indian symbols, scripts and handicrafts.

Before departure for India, Modi will go to the Changi naval base where he will visit an Indian naval ship and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and the Royal Singapore Navy.

Singapore is an important partner for India in terms of security, economy and technology and plays an important role New Delhi's ties with Asean.

There are around 8,000 Indian companies registered in Singapore and the city state is also home to around 8,00,000 people of Indian origin.
In a suspected case of honour killing, a newly married man, allegedly abducted by a gang of criminals sent by his wife's relatives, was found dead in a stream near Thenmala in Kollam district on Monday, police said.

Kottayam/Thiruvananthapuram: In a suspected case of honour killing, a newly married man, allegedly abducted by a gang of criminals sent by his wife's relatives, was found dead in a stream near Thenmala in Kollam district of Kerala on Monday, police said.

The death of the 23-year-old man, who was kidnapped along with a relative from Mannanam in the district, has triggered widespread protests by his family members. The victim's kin alleged that Kevin P Joseph died due to police laxity as it refused to institute an investigation on the basis of his wife's complaint on Sunday.

The body of Kevin was found this morning in a stream in Chaliyakkara, some 20 km away from Thenmala in Kollam district. A case has been registered against 10 unidentified persons in connection with the incident.

Kevin and his relative Aneesh were abducted early yesterday from the latter's residence by a gang that arrived in three vehicles. Aneesh was later abandoned by the gang on the wayside

after brutal torture. He is currently admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam .

Kevin, who was in love with the woman studying in a college in Kottayam, married her at a registrar's office in Ettumanoor recently against the wishes of her family. Both Kevin and the woman were summoned to the Gandhinagar police station based on her family's complaint. The woman, however, preferred to go with her husband.

Kerala Human Rights Commission said it was suspected to be a case of honour killing and ordered the state police chief to submit a report in three weeks if there was any negligence

from the side of the police in investigating the case.

Heads started to roll soon after the incident with Sub Inspector M S Shibu and Grade ASI Sunnymon of the Gandhinagar police station suspended by Ernakulam Range IG Vijay Sahkare for their laxity.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the incident as "unfortunate" and said it should not have happened. Police in Kottayam and Thenmala in Kollam, from where the body was recovered, were investigating the case and all efforts were being made to nab the accused as early as possible, he said. Besides, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will also probe the crime, he added.

Vijayan also denied reports that police showed laxity in investigating the case initially. The leader of Opposition in the assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, attacked Vijayan, who is also holding the Home portfolio, over the incident. He urged Vijayan to quit the Home portfolio in view of such incidents in the state due to "inefficient policing."

The BJP has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kottayam district on Tuesday in protest against the incident.
As many as 457 private schools have defied a Delhi government order to refund excess fees collected from students within a week, claimed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday.

As many as 457 private schools have defied a Delhi government order to refund excess fees collected from students within a week, claimed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday. The petition, filed by NGO Social Jurist, sought an order from the court attaching the bank accounts of the erring schools.

On 16 May, the Delhi government directed 575 schools to pay back excess fees collected from students and to comply with the recommendations of Justice Anil Dev Singh Committee within seven days. The petition alleged that as many as 475 schools have failed to comply despite the time frame set by the government.

The said period has lapsed and the schools continue to brazenly defy the directions of this honble court as well as contained in the orders issued by the respondent GNCTD, the petition said.

In 2009, the Delhi government passed an order allowing private schools to increase their fees to meet financial requirements to pay teachers. The court, hearing a petition challenging the validity of that order, observed that schools could collect the fees subject to the condition that they would return the excess money with an interest of 9 percent per annum if it was found that the money payable was less than what the students paid.

The order read, The parents would pay the fee at the rates specified in orders dated 11.02.2009 with effect from the issuance of this order. This is subject to the condition that in case it is ultimately found that the fee payable was less than what is actually paid, the schools shall refund excess amount paid by those students along with interest @ 9% per annum. Soon after this order, private schools increased their fees even though it was not warranted in many cases, the petition alleged.

The Delhi High Court then formed a committee under the chairmanship of Justice Anil Dev Singh to verify whether any money had been collected by schools in excess of what was required to meet the financial requirements to pay teachers and staff as per Sixth Central Pay Commission.

The said Justice Anil Dev Singh Committee has so far submitted to this Honorable Court 10 interim reports as well as monthly interim reports from June 2016 to January 2018 in regard to total 1,160 unaided recognised private schools. The committee has identified 575 schools in these reports to refund excess fees charged by these schools with 9 percent interest, the petition said.

It further added that the estimated excess amount, along with interest payable at 9 percent per annum to the parents, is to the tune of Rs 750 crore. The petition also alleges that the government of Delhi only provides lip service in the name of implementing the order and is taking no action against the erring schools.

Adding that the stipulated time frame to implement the recent order issued by the Delhi government has lapsed and the schools continue to brazenly defy the orders issued by the government, it mentioned that 118 of the 575 schools identified by the Anil Dev Singh committee deposited some amounts in the court.

But remaining 457 schools have neither approached the court nor have deposited any amount, said advocate Ashok Agarwal, arguing for the petitioner.
Baijayant Jay Panda quit Odisha's ruling party Biju Janta Dal (BJD) on Monday. The MP's resignation came after Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had suspended Panda in January for allegedly indulging in 'anti-party' activities, said media reports. Panda wrote a letter to Patnaik which read, 'It's with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the politics into which our BJD has descended.' He further said that he would formally convey this decision to the Lok Sabha speaker.

Baijayant Jay Panda quit Odisha's ruling party Biju Janta Dal (BJD) on Monday. The MP's resignation came after Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had suspended Panda in January for allegedly indulging in 'anti-party' activities, said media reports. Panda wrote a letter to Patnaik which read, "It's with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the politics into which our BJD has descended." He further said that he would formally convey this decision to the Lok Sabha speaker.

Jay Panda, the self-proclaimed founding member of the BJD, is the son of Odia industrialist and founder of the IMFA (Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited), Bansidhar Panda, and Ila Panda, a Rajya Sabha MP from 1992-1998.

Bansidhar was close to Naveen Patnaiks father, Biju Patnaik, and that connection took Ila to Rajya Sabha. After the death of Biju Patnaik, Naveen took over his fathers political legacy and formed the Biju Janata Dal in December 1997. He then sent Jay Panda to Rajya Sabha in 2000. Panda continued to stay in Rajya Sabha for nine years till Naveen gave him BJDs safest parliamentary seat Kendrapara to come to Lok Sabha in 2009. Panda won again in 2014 from that very seat. From 2000 to 2014, Panda worked for the BJD in Delhi and became the party's face and voice in the national media, Outlook reported.

But according to media reports, the four-time MP is apparently not on good terms with Patnaik since 2014 due to his supposed inclination towards BJP when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

Post-2014, Patnaik did not make Panda the leader of BJD parliamentary party in Lok Sabha. Panda also wanted Patnaik's support to become the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance, which also did not come through. Particular about his clean image in politics, Patnaik knew that the two family companies (ICCL and IMFA) of Panda are among the 20 bank defaulters in India and so went ahead with his decision of not allowing Panda the post.

Panda's resignation may cost the BJD as apart from being the richest industrialist from the state, he also owns a popular television regional channel OTV. He has a considerable presence in the national media although he belonged to a regional party, said DalilyO. The parliamentarian is quite active on social media as well.

In the 2017 panchayat elections, BJP displaced the Congress to emerge as the second largest party in the state and that gave Panda some hope and he came out openly criticising Patnaik's style of functioning. Consequently, Patnaik removed him as his partys spokesperson.

Author Amitabh Tiwari in one of his pieces in Firstpost, pointed out to the lack of any known faces of the BJP in the state. Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan who secretly desires to be the chief minister of the state, however, lacks in mass appeal along with another former chief minister Giridhar Gomango which the BJP would have loved to see in them. Moreover, it is also not clear whether Modi is really interested in projecting BJP as a serious opposition to Patnaik in Odisha as he could be a possible ally to come back to power after the next election.

Although the BJP was once an alliance partner of the BJD till 2009, the party organisation in the state is far from being a formidable one which is an absolute necessity if at all it wants to offer some notable challenge to the supremacy of the BJD and Chief Minister Patnaik in particular in the state polls next year. So if Panda decides to join the BJP, the party will gain at least in terms of visibility and a known voice.

Whether Panda's joining the BJP, if he does at all, will make any difference for the party on the ground is something that only time can tell. However, it is quite obvious that BJD given its reach in Odisha, BJP will always have a hard time to dislodge Naveen Patnaik as the chief minister of the state, said a piece in the Outlook.

Odisha state BJP president Basanta Kumar Panda in Sunday Guardian in April 2018 had said that though Panda has not approached the party yet, any good person who subscribes to the ideology of the BJP and accepts the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national president Amit Shah, will be welcome to the party.

Interestingly, many leaders from the BJD and Congress have started joining the BJP lately. Former BJD MLA Ashok Kumar Panigrahi joined the BJP after he contested the 2014 elections as an independent candidate from the Bijepur Assembly constituency. Family members of the late Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra (Lulu) and their supporters also joined the BJP in 2017. Now as Panda quits the BJD it remains to be seen if the BJP will welcome him.
Pakistan rejected India's protests over Islamabad's latest move relating to administrative authority over the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday rejected India's protests over Islamabad's latest move relating to administrative authority over the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Pakistan Cabinet recently approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the Assembly for the region. Through its order on Gilgit-Baltistan on 21 May, Pakistan's prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi seized more authority from the local council to deal with the affairs of the region. Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order.

The order is seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman in a statement claimed that the "Jammu and Kashmir was disputed territory".

"Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over Jammu and Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India. Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies India's spurious claim, the spokesman said.

"These resolutions, pledging the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community," he said.
A collaborative effort to policy-making is rooted in respect for an individual's dignity, capability and is responsive to genuine felt needs.

Editor's note: The recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament was, by all accounts, the least productive in at least a decade, marked by protest, adjournment, and very little constructive debate, let alone passage of bills. Firstpost will examine, by way of a multi-part series spread across a six-week span, the reasons why the Parliamentary process in particular, and the democratic apparatus in general, has failed India's citizens. The clutch of essays, written by experts in the Constitution and constitutional law, will investigate the defects, introduced by design, that have enabled the degeneration of legislative functioning. Series has been curated by Bangalore-based lawyer and tutor of democracy and active citizenship, Malavika Prasad.

One might recall the trajectory followed by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017  notified in May last year. It was criticised for imposing an indirect ban on the slaughter of animals, thereby directly interfering with food choices of people, stayed by Supreme Court, ultimately withdrawn by the central government and finally replaced by new Draft Rules in April this year.

Other than the obvious controversy around the content of the Rules, the manner of the drafting of the Rules also invites consternation and is a telling tale of the sorry state of stakeholder consultation processes in our policy-making.

After the Rules were notified and following the hue and cry, the government came out with a press release trying to explain its stand. At the end of the release, it said that the Draft Rules were published in January 2017, comments were invited from people, 13 representations were received, which were studied, and incorporated, wherever found suitable and then final Rules formulated.

One may be surprised to note that the Rules which later seemed to have far-reaching consequences for multiple stakeholders  farmers, slaughterhouses, hospitality industry, leather industry, customers  received only 13 representations. Additionally, there is no information about who sent these representations, what was contained in those, how did the ministry respond and what, if anything at all, was incorporated in the final Rules.

'Why and how' of stakeholder consultations

The 'why' of stakeholder consultations can be found at the intersection of these realities  government is meant to govern and not rule; all expertise for policy-making is not vested in the government; the time and effort spent in mining for credible ideas from multiple stakeholders is an investment into creating better policies; and, those who are ultimately affected by a policy decision, should have a say in how those policies are shaped.

Stakeholder consultation resonates so deeply with the very core of a society's democratic existence, that to undertake such exercises effectively, a government need not wait for it to be laid down in law or procedures or for it to be mandated in the Constitution.

As succinctly explained by Dr Subhash C Kashyap, in his book, 'Reviewing the Constitution?', in a chapter on 'Working of Parliament and Need for Reforms': "It is ordinary people who have to be enabled to feel that they are participants in the decision-making and legislative processes and that through Parliament their voice can reach the government and that it counts. Parliament must have access to public opinion and public must have access to Parliament."

Yet, ostensibly for two reasons, stakeholder consultation doesn't figure prominently in the policy-making process  lack of political will and lack of a robust framework for undertaking stakeholder consultations. And this brings us to the 'how' of stakeholder consultations.

In India, as far as policy-making is concerned, stakeholder consultation can be undertaken at three stages:

Pre-legislative consultation: In January 2014, the Ministry of Law and Justice came out with a Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy which was to be followed by every ministry/department for every principal (Act) and subordinate legislation (rules under an Act). The policy provided that the draft of the proposed law be placed in public domain, for a minimum period of 30 days, along with supporting documents explaining the rationale, the broad financial implications, the likely impact and an explanation of the legal provisions in simple language. It was also stated that a summary of the feedback received be also placed in public domain.

Is this being followed? In the last couple of years, the government has used MyGov.in, an online portal, in some instances to undertake public consultation  like for the Draft Indian Institute of Management Bill, 2015, the Draft Trafficking Of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2016.

But, barring rare examples, in a majority of cases, consultations on Draft Bills happen beyond public gaze and in a manner which borders on opaqueness. Case in point, the drafting of the Aadhaar Bill, which as revealed by a recent Parliamentary Question, was undertaken by an organisation paid for this exercise by the government. There is no clarity on the procedure followed and on the stakeholders which were consulted by the organisation for coming up with the Bill, which has become the subject of many challenges since its passing.

Even in those cases, where public consultation was undertaken through MyGov.in, there are several apparent shortcomings: Government uses its discretion to decide whether it wishes to use the portal to undertake public consultation for a particular Bill; no formal mechanism exists to mandate the government to take the comments into consideration; only the Draft Bill is placed in public domain without any supporting documents explaining the rationale; there is no compulsion on the government to respond to concerns raised and several ministries continue to use their own websites to publish Draft Rules and invite comments, which dilutes the universal character of a citizen engagement portal like MyGov.in.

These shortcomings, however, can be addressed to some extent through the mechanism of Parliamentary Standing Committees, where government officials need to render explanations to parliamentarians, but which, unfortunately, suffer from their own weaknesses.

During law-making process: This stage arises after a Draft Bill has been approved by the Cabinet and has been introduced in either House of the Parliament. As per the procedure approved by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, with some exceptions, each Bill may be referred to a department related Parliament Standing Committee.

These Committees invariably invite comments from the public on such Draft Bills and present their reports which aid lawmakers while debating and reviewing the Bill. As has been pointed out, our parliamentary system, which provides that a Bill may or may not be referred to a Committee, is based on British parliamentary system in which every Bill compulsorily gets referred to a Committee. Moreover, in recent times, there has emerged a trend of evading reference to a Committee completely.

As per an analysis undertaken by PRS Legislative Research, in the five years of 14th Lok Sabha, 60 percent Bills were referred to a Standing Committee; 71 percent were referred in the 15th Lok Sabha but in the three years between 2014-2017, only 29 percent Bills were referred to a Standing Committee. Some very crucial Bills have not been referred to a Committee, thereby raising questions on the very existence of parliamentary oversight.

Standing Committees may also aid in the policy-making process by taking up subjects for review on which a legislation may be imminent. For instance, the recent call for comments by the Standing Committee on information and technology on the subject of Citizens' Data Security and Privacy is clearly in anticipation of a possible legislation.

The manner of consultation, however, has invited some criticism, for providing a very short window of just two weeks to send in comments and for treating such comments as 'confidential', a Parliamentary Convention, striking a blow to transparency around public consultation processes.

Post-legislative enquiries: These are usually undertaken to review the workings of an Act, a function either delegated to specialised bodies like the National Commission on Scheduled Caste (NCST) which prepares an annual report on working of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, or may be undertaken by a Standing Committee of Parliament.

At this stage, stakeholder consultation does take place sometimes, but there are no guidelines for this and no transparency with regard to who appeared before the Committee with what representation. As against constitutional bodies like the NCST, which publicise their hearings, it is usually not possible for a common citizen to witness and participate in a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting.

Even in all these disjointed manners in which public consultations may occur, serious flaws remain  the process is undertaken at will and there is no remedy available in law if a policy is drafted without public consultation; there exists no single point platform for undertaking such consultations and every ministry essentially uses their own website to invite comments as opposed to, say, in the United Kingdom which has one website to not just invite comments but also to publish the outcomes of such consultations.

Moreover, whenever any consultation takes place, on any medium, the government does not proactively disclose the evidence relied on for reaching a conclusion, the compelling circumstances justifying a particular policy, the alternatives which were considered and the likely economic and social implications. All of this is left to the stakeholders to figure out for themselves or to suggest to the government.

Where do we go from here?

There are reforms required in the way stakeholder consultation is undertaken, either by the government or parliamentary committees. Other than going back to its own Pre-legislative Consultative Policy, the government can also draw a leaf from the guidelines laid down by the European Commission, as per which a stakeholder consultation procedure ought to provide for:

Appropriate, and as far as possible, a single platform for undertaking consultation;

Identification of relevant and targeted stakeholders;

Communication strategy to reach the widest possible audience, preferably in multiple languages;

Suitable time frame, in some cases, as much as 12 weeks;

Evidence generation for each policy;

Transparency and accountability in reporting the outcome of the consultation.

In the end, a collaborative effort to policy-making is rooted in respect for an individual's dignity, capability and is responsive to genuine felt needs rather than imagined realities.

The author is a lawyer, public policy enthusiast, and founder of Maadhyam- a digital platform enabling stakeholder participation in policy-making. Citizens can engage with Maadhyam on Twitter and Facebook.

Read about the series: Budget Session 2018 washout, worst in over a decade, shows why legislature desperately needs reform agenda

Read Part 1: Obsolete system of voice votes needs to be replaced with electronic voting

Read Part 2: Examining legislative avenues available to keep govt accountable, exercise necessary oversight

Read Part 3: Core problem cannot be fixed till we introduce checks on Speaker's discretionary powers

Read Part 4: Strengthening committee system can improve quality of drafted laws, fast-track implementation

Read Part 5: 'Bye-Partisanship'; What Indian legislature needs to break deadlocks, improve discourse

Read Part 6: Waning legislative influence, lack of clear mission flags need to redefine Rajya Sabha's functioning

Read Part 7: Political parties must be tamed, their incomes regulated to revive Indian democracy

Read Part 8: Anti-Defection Law must be curbed to empower legislature, promote deliberative democracy

Read Part 9: Corporate funding of elections continues to bankrupt legislative morality, weaken electoral integrity

Read Part 11: Time, the unseen yet powerful factor of politics, holds key to controlling legislative discourse

Read Part 12: Understanding 'political value' of time and how it is weaponised in democracy
Under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, one-third of the public agricultural land in each village is reserved for the members of SCs.

Sangrur: Nikki Kaur from Kular village in Sangrur district of Punjab wakes up at 5 am and walks briskly to the cowshed. Her agile hands quickly milk her cow and in a few minutes, she will be frying paranthas in piping hot oil for her children, who now go to school.

Four years ago, life had been different for the 45-year-old Dalit farmer. "I used to work in agricultural fields as a daily wager. It was in 2014 that women from my community were allotted one-third of panchayat land for farming. Since then, many of us are earning well. I have bought a cow and supplemented my income by selling milk. My kids have also started going to school since I can now afford it," says Nikki.

Nikki is one of the many Dalits in 44 villages in Sangrur, Patiala and Barnala districts who have been allotted land in the past few years under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964.

Nikki says that her annual household income, which was Rs 70,000 a few years ago, has today increased to Rs 1,30,000. She proudly points to a new room that has been added to her one-room establishment last year after she was able to save some money.

What the Act says

Under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, one-third of the public agricultural land in each village is reserved for the members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs). The public land is owned by the government and managed by the panchayat in each village. It is auctioned to villagers for a one-year term.

The Scheduled Caste communities in the state form 32 percent of the population and many of them are engaged as a farm labourer. But landlords mostly belong to the upper castes (mainly Jat) while Dalits are largely landless and work as labourers in these farms.

According to Census 2011, Dalits in Punjab own only 63,480 operational land holdings ie 3.2 percent of operational landholdings in the state that spread over an area of 1,26,966 hectares ie six percent of the total cultivable area in the state.

Demand for land rights

In the recent past, rural Punjab has witnessed many protests by members of the Dalit community who have alleged that feudal landlords are in cahoots with officials to deprive them of land rights granted by the law. They alleged that farmers from dominant castes often hire Dalit villagers to act as proxy candidates during the auction.

Gurmukh Singh, general secretary of Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee, an organisation demanding land rights for Dalits in Punjab, said, "Dummy candidates of farmers with deep pockets often win auctions ensuring that control of land remains with the dominant castes. Many times, SCs have been pressurised to not take part in auctions."

Recalling one such instance, Nikki said that she and others were stopped by upper caste men from planting in the land they had won during an auction. But the women persisted and through the years improved their standards of living.

Power of pooling resources

In many cases, Dalits who are often unable to afford the land which is being auctioned have pooled in their resources. In Kular village, Nikki and 59 other Dalit families have collectively paid Rs three lakh as annual rent for a 14-acre patch.

They grow wheat and paddy in respective seasons on one part of the land, while animal feed is grown in a small patch. "We grow fodder for our livestock as many of us have now kept goats and buffaloes. The land is not only helping us produce crops but also sustain our livestock," said Harbans Kaur, 52, a Dalit farmer in Kular.

Members of the Dalit community said that Kular village is an ideal example of how granting land rights can improve lives of Dalit farmers.

Budh Singh from Balad Kalan village in Sangrur said, "There is a need for other villages in the state to follow Kular's example."

According to state government data, as of May 2018, 1.45 lakh acres is yet to be auctioned in different panchayats in the state. Of this, 48,518 acres is reserved for auction to Dalits.

Amit Batra, block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) in Sangrur, said that many more Dalit farmers in the district will benefit under the Act. "Auction of land is underway in many villages in Sangrur. The process will continue till June," he said.

Sharma is a Ludhiana-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.
Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, will leave for abroad on Monday for a medical check-up.

New Delhi: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, left for abroad on Monday for a medical check-up, party sources said.

Before leaving, Rahul Gandhi had a message for his trolls. He tweeted:

Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up.

To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: dont get too worked up...I'll be back soon!

 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 27, 2018

According to the sources, Sonia Gandhi will be travelling abroad for her annual medical examination. She had undergone a surgery in the United States in 2011.

While Rahul Gandhi will return within a week, Sonia Gandhi will stay abroad for a longer period, the sources told PTI.

They said some key decisions, including the allocation of ministerial portfolios in Karnataka after a Congress-JD (S) government led by HD Kumaraswamy was formed in the southern state last week, have been put on hold.

Some fresh appointments in the Congress are also awaited as part of the party's rejig under Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress chief held deliberations with party leaders since Sunday to decide on the portfolios for the party's legislators in Karnataka, but the discussions remained inconclusive.

The sources said Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a rally at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh on 6 June to commemorate the first anniversary of police firing on farmers there.
There cannot be any comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan as talks and terror cannot go together, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.

New Delhi: There cannot be any comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan as talks and terror cannot go together, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday, but asserted that engagements such as track-two diplomacy and NSA-level meetings will keep taking place.

"We had separated NSA talks from comprehensive bilateral talks as we said terror and talks cannot go together but talks on terror should be held. Under NSA-level mechanism, there are discussions on terror," she told a press conference while ruling out softening of India's position towards Pakistan.

Swaraj also emphasised that there cannot be talks with Pakistan when the country was pushing terrorists to India and when funeral processions were taking place on the border.

"We are always ready for talks with Pakistan but with a caveat that terror and talks cannot go together. This is our position and there is no change in it," she said when asked about possibility of talks with Pakistan ahead of general elections in the country in July.

She further said India was ready for talks even before elections and elections there had nothing to do with it. "We are ready for talks before elections if Pakistan shuns terrorism."

After the terror attack on Pathankot airbase in January 2016, India had announced that it will not engage in talks with Islamabad until it stops cross-border terrorism.

"Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon, to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti (when there are funeral processions taking place on the border, talk of dialogue is not appropriate)," Swaraj said.

Swaraj said she herself had gone to Pakistan to start the process of comprehensive bilateral dialogue, but after a few days, the terror attack on the Pathankot air base took place.

The external affairs minister said talks under various mechanisms, including between the NSAs of the two countries, as well as BSF and Pakistan rangers keep happening.

Swaraj also mentioned about last month's track II (Neemrana dialogue) under which a delegation of former Indian diplomats and experts had travelled to Pakistan to find ways to improve ties."When official dialogue stops, these mechanisms work."

Asked whether a SAARC without Pakistan was possible, she said it was not a solution.

"That grouping will not remain a grouping if a country goes out of it," Swaraj said.

Swaraj also rejected Congress' criticism that there was a flip flop on government's Pakistan policy.

"It was because of our consistent policy, Pakistan has been isolated and the international community has been putting pressure on Pakistan to take action against terrorism. Because of this pressure, they are now wanting to talk to us," she said.

The minister also hit out at Pakistan over its "Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018" relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying Pakistan always "distorts history".

"Pakistan tries to teach us history and geography. It is one country which does not believe in rule of law and I would just say one thing to their answer 'look who's talking', Swaraj asserted.

Pakistan's Cabinet on 21 May approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly of the region. The order is being seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

Swaraj's remarks came hours after Pakistan termed India's claim over Jammu and Kashmir as "spurious" and said it contradicts everything from history to the situation on the ground.
On Monday, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami announced that the government had ordered the permanent closure of the Sterlite plant at Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin). The order came after 13 died and over a hundred were wounded in the months-long protest against the plant.

On Monday, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami announced that the government had ordered the permanent closure of the Sterlite plant at Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin). The order came after 13 died and over a hundred were wounded in the months-long protest against the plant.

Just hours earlier, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited some of the injured in the police firing on 22 May. Among others, Panneerselvam met 18-year-old Raja Singh. Raja, who runs a mechanic shop behind the collector's office, and who suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the right leg, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday morning.

I asked, why I was shot like this? How could the government do this to me when all I was trying to do was protect people of my city?" Raja said. "The deputy chief minister told me to be patient and that they were trying to shut down the plant. I will go for surgery happily knowing that Sterlite has been shown the door.

For Mayil and others at Kumaratiyapuram village, this struggle has been on since 1995. Their village is just 100 metres away from the Copper Smelter plant. The 100-day protest which culminated with the death of 13 people and captured the attention of the country began here. Plagued by death after death due to various types of cancers and other respiratory ailments, the residents of this village decided to quit everything and protest until the plant was closed. We will hold a candlelight vigil for the dead at 8 pm. I cant say I am fully happy. I mainly think about those who died for us. Well pay tribute to them and then celebrate, Mayil said.

Theyve done this before. How are you saying they wont go back on it again? asks Sumathi from neighbouring Pandarampatti village. Sumathi doesn't seem entirely convinced by the government order. Though she said she is happy with the outcome, she added that the women of her village are fully prepared if the government changes its mind.

Throughout the protests, many transgender persons in Thoothukudi played a major role: From protecting people from police violence to contributing in whatever way they could. On 22 May, the transgender persons led the rally. We have not been interacting too much with anybody since because we really fear for our lives. But this gives us hope that our efforts havent gone in vain, said Reema.

Thracepuram saw maximum causalities, with more than 20 residents being hospitalised. After the firing at the collector's office, police forces entered the area and opened fire. Jhansi, 39, died in the firing. Her sister Rosamma, who witnessed this, said that she and her family would not claim the body until the government ordered Sterlite shut down.

Residents of Thracepuram were also reportedly beaten up on the day of the firing and the days that followed the incident. "I just hope this move by the government isn't to quieten down everything we've been made to go through these past few days," said Bhanu, whose son received multiple gunshot wounds and an injury to the head. "Couldn't they have done this before?"

While the hospital wards where the injured were taken erupted in celebrations, Infanta from Fathima Nagar seemed somewhat forlorn. Infanta quit her full-time job to be part of this struggle. Ive lost friends. Snowlin had a bright future ahead of her, she'd just written her Class 12 exams. We left hand in hand on 22 May, thinking this will be the last day of the struggle. I saw her being shot in front of my eyes. Ive been sleepless since. I know weve won but the cost makes me sad. Our struggle wont end until all those whove been killed receive justice."
Vedanta Ltd on Monday termed as 'unfortunate' the Tamil Nadu government's order to close down the Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi and said it would decide the future course of action after studying the development

New Delhi: Vedanta Ltd on Monday termed as "unfortunate" the Tamil Nadu government's order to close down the Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi and said it would decide the future course of action after studying the development.

This follows Tamil Nadu government ordering the state Pollution Control Board to seal and "permanently" close the Vedanta group's copper plant in Thoothukudi following last week's violent protests over pollution concerns during which 13 people were killed in police firing.

"Closure of Sterlite Copper plant is an unfortunate development, especially since, we have operated the plant for over 22 years in most transparent and sustainable way, contributing to the Thoothukudi and state's socio-economic development. We will study the development and decide on the future course of action," Vedanta Ltd said in a statement.

The government's decision came a day ahead of the start of the state Assembly session where it is likely to come under intense Opposition fire over the TThoothukudi incidents. "Now the plant is permanently closed. The Government Order (GO) has been implemented," Thoothukudi district collector Sandeep Nanduri said.

The closure of the copper plant caps sustained protests and campaign for the last several years by the local people against copper factory over environmental pollution concerns. The GO said it endorsed the recent closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and also asked the TNPCB to "seal the unit and close the plant permanently".

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the government has issued the GO in deference to the sentiments of the people. The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days. Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Asked what he had to say to the people of Thoothukudi, the chief minister said, "Peace has returned to the town and it must continue, and people should cooperate with the government. Their demand has been fulfilled by Amma's government."

Palaniswami said people of Thoothukudi were seeking permanent closure of the plant since it did not meet the environment related conditions of the National Green Tribunal and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
A BJP leader has moved the Supreme Court seeking to empower the Election Commission (EC) to look into the complaints of misuse of religion by candidates.

New Delhi: A BJP leader has moved the Supreme Court seeking to empower the Election Commission (EC) to take cognisance of complaints relating to corrupt practices and misuse of religion by contesting candidates and political parties to investigating agencies.

Besides seeking to empower the Commission, PIL petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay  a Supreme Court advocate and a leader of the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  has also sought directions to the central government to take appropriate steps to restrict misuse of religion by candidates and political parties for electoral gains.

The petition has cited the Goswami Committee report and the suggestions made by the EC in its proposed electoral reforms in support of its plea for empowering the Commission to take cognizance and refer to investigating agencies the cases of misuse of religion for electoral gains by individual candidates and political parties.

Seeking directions from the top court, petitioner advocate Upadhyay has pointed to the "growing instances of misuse of religion by political parties and contesting candidates for electoral gains, and its appalling effect on secularism, unity and integrity of the Country".

The PIL petitioner has, in support of his contention, referred to the 1990 report of the Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms, the 1993 Vohra Committee report on the criminal-politician nexus, the 1998 Indrajit Gupta Committee report on State Funding of Elections, the report of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution and other reports including that of the Law Commission and the 2008 Second Administrative Reforms Commission.

"The democratic institutions provided in the Constitution," the PIL says, "are sound and the path for progress does not lie in denigrating any of these institutions."

However, the PIL has contended that "there could be no denial that these institutions have been subjected to considerable stresses and strains and that vested interests have been trying to promote their selfish ends to the great detriment of public good."

The PIL says it was in this backdrop that the Constitution was amended to expressly spell out "the high ideals of socialism, secularism, unity and integrity of the nation" and to make the directive principles more comprehensive and giving them "precedence over those fundamental rights, which have been allowed to be relied upon to frustrate socio-economic reforms for implementing the directive principles."
BJP's appeal to farmers and public to observe a bandh across Karnataka, got off to a dull start.

Bengaluru: Bhartiya Janta Party's appeal to farmers and the public to "voluntarily observe a bandh" across Karnataka on Monday to protest the alleged failure of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to keep up his farm loan waiver promise, got off to a dull start.

Reports from across the state said normal life has not been affected, with schools and colleges, as also public transport services functioning normally.

Most of the farmers and pro-Kannada organisations have not supported the bandh call, citing politics behind it.

BJP activists held demonstrations in different parts of the state; during one such event in Mysuru Member of Parliament Pratap Simha along with some party workers were detained by the police.

In a fierce attack on the coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy, BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa during the trust vote on 25 May had termed it "unholy" and announced a state-wide bandh for Monday, if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore were not waived immediately as promised.

However, on 26 May Yeddyurappa, who is also the leader of the opposition in the assembly, had said that BJP had not called for a bandh, but was only supporting a call given by farmers.

BJP state General Secretary N Ravi Kumar in a statement released on Sunday hit out at the Chief Minister for not keeping up his promise and had called on farmers and the public to observe a bandh "voluntarily".

On his part, Kumaraswamy who had promised farm loan waiver immediately after coming to power, has sought time, as he was heading a coalition government with the Congress and will have to consult them before taking any decision.

He has said that he will also have to understand the financial condition of the state.

The BJP has stated that bandh will not be observed in Bengaluru where election is being held for Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency on Monday.

Ahead of assembly election across the state on 12 May, polling in Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency was deferred, following the voter ID controversy and various other irregularities.

The Kumaraswamy government had on 25 May,won the vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly amid a walkout by BJP MLAs.
The voters of the country have plenty on their plate today as polling is underway in 10 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats including the controversy-marred RR Nagar Karnataka Assembly seat.

The voters of the country have plenty on their plate today as polling is underway in 10 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats including the controversy-hit RR Nagar Karnataka Assembly seat.

While in North, the focus is on Kairana and Noorpur in Uttar Pradesh where regional parties seem to have aligned together as a united opposition against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), voting will also be done for the Palghar seat in Maharashtra which is a test for the BJP-Shiv Sena relationship. Apart from these bypolls are also scheduled in a seat each in West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Uttrakhand, Punjab and Kerala and Bihar.

Uttar Pradesh's Kairana is a Lok Sabha seat with five Assembly segments and an electorate of nearly 1.7 million, according to a Hindustan Times report. It has a significant number of Muslims, Jats and Dalit voters and also houses the Most Backward Class (MBC) category which the ruling party, BJP, is trying to woo to tilt the outcome in its favour.

The Kairana bypoll was scheduled following the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh whose daughter Mriganka Singh is now the BJP nominee for the seat. She is up against Rashtriya Lok Dal's (RLD) Tabassum Hasan, who is being supported by the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

While RLD looks to regain the Jat voter base in Kairana, locals have raised the issue of the distress of sugarcane farmers. Another contentious issue here is of the alleged Hindu mass exodus from the area in 2017 which happened just before the Assembly elections in the state, states an NDTV report.

Meanwhile, in Noorpur Assembly seat, BSP and RLD have backed SP candidate Naim-ul-Hasan. The bypolls here had been necessitated due to the death of two-time BJP MLA Lokendra Singh Chouhan in a road accident in February. His widow, Avani Singh, is now fighting the election on the BJP ticket. Hasan had been defeated by Chauhan in the 2017 elections. According to Financial Express, Mayawati's BSP is not contesting here but other candidates in the fray are: Bharatiya Momin Fronts Maya, Lok Dals Gohar Iqbal, Uttar Pradesh Republican Partys Ram Ratan and Rashtriya Janhit Sangharsh Partys Zaheer Alam.

Shifting focus to another major state, Maharashtra, where two Lok Sabha seats are being contended closely. In Palghar, BJP and Shiv Sena are up against each other while NCP has declared its support for Congress. The seat fell vacant due to the sudden demise of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanga, whose son has been given a Shiv Sena ticket. BJP has, in-turn, nominated Congress deserter Rajendra Gavit. The constituency has a significant North Indian and Gujarati population which the BJP looks to tap. The Congress, on the other hand, has fielded Damu Shingda, while the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, a local party dominant in the belt, has fielded Baliram Jadhav. However, as per a Hindustan Times report, the tribal population of Talasari, Vikramgad and Jawhar is divided between the Congress, CPM and BJP.

While in Bhandara-Gondia, BJP will lock horns with NCP after the Lok Sabha seat was vacated following the resignation of sitting BJP MP Nana Patole in December 2017, who later joined Congress. NCP has fielded Madhukar Kukde while the BJP has nominated Hemant Patle. The area has been considered a stronghold of the NCP's Praful Patel.

A Maharashtra Assembly seat, Palus-Kadegaon, is also seeing election today. Interestingly, this is the only bypoll that already has a result without voting. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Congress' Patangrao Kadam, who was a two-time MLA. The Election Commission declared Patangrao's son and Congress candidate Vishwajeet Kadam as having been elected unopposed after the BJP withdrew its candidate learning of Shiv Sena's support for the Congress.

Coming back to the Karnataka political battleground, the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly seat will see a crucial fight even as the JD(S)-Congress combine didn't decide on fielding a unanimous candidate. The Congress has fielded former RR Nagar MLA Muniratna, while the BJP has nominated P Muniraju Gowda and the JD(S) had announced G.H.Ramachandra, who was previously with the BJP, as its candidate. The election to this constituency was deferred after 10,000 fake voter ID cards were found at a flat in the area.

Meanwhile, in Uttrakhand where by-elections are due in Tharali (SC) constituency post the death of sitting BJP MLA Magan Lal Shah in February, the BJP has nominated Shah's wife, Munni Devi, as its candidate. While former MLA Jeet Ram is again contesting for the Congress.

In Punjab, the Shahkot constituency will see a three-way contest between the AAP, the SAD and the Congress. Necessitated by the death of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Ajit Singh Kohar in February, the bypolls to Shahkot have seen roadshow campaigning by Captain Amarinder Singh and Sukhbir Badal. The Akali Dal has nominated Ajits son, Naib Singh Kohar, as its candidate and the Congress has nominated Hardev Singh Laddi, who had lost to Ajit in 2017. This election is crucial for AAP to regain in its tethering presence in Punjab.

Down south, Keralas Chengannur assembly seat in Alappuzha district will see a three-way contest this time between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP. The bypoll is being held following the death of CPM MLA K K Ramachandran Nair in January 2018. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has campaigned extensively for CPM candidate Saji Cherian. While in this erstwhile Congress stronghold, being represented by D. Vijayakumar, the BJP has fielded national executive member PS Sreedharan Pillai considering the constituency has a sizeable Nair population.

Two North East states are also witnessing by-elections on Monday. In Nagaland, elections are being held in the lone Lok Sabha seat which has been vacant after the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio, who is now the chief minister of Nagaland, resigned as a Lok Sabha member in February. The by-poll is a straight contest between the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA)- which includes the NDPP and BJP as constituents- candidate Tokheho Yepthomi and Naga People's Front (NPF) nominee C Apok Jamir who is getting support from the Congress.

While in Meghalayas Ampati seat, the fight is mainly between the Congress and the BJP-backed National Peoples Party. The Congress here had won 21 seats in the February assembly polls, but the count came down to 20 with former chief minister Mukul Sangma vacating the seat for retaining Songsak constituency. The NPP with 19 MLAs is leading a coalition government and a win for the Congress will make them the single-largest party in the state, changing political equations drastically. Thus, keeping in with the sentiments, the Congress's candidate this time is Sangma's daughter Miani D. Shira while the National People's Party has renominated Clement G. Momin, who had lost to Sangma in 2013.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal's Maheshtala Assembly seat will witness a three-cornered contest among the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), the BJP and the Left Front. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of two-time TMC MLA Kasturi Das in February 2018. The TMC has nominated Dulal Das, Kasturi's husband, for the bypolls while Surjit Ghosh is the BJP's candidate. CPM has fielded Prabhat Chowdhury in the fray who has the support of the Congress party.

In Bihar's Jokihat, bypoll was necessitated when MLA Sarfaraz Alam won the Araria Lok Sabha bypoll in April 2018 as an RJD member. According to The Week, Sarfaraz, who had won the Jokihat seat on a JD(U) ticket, left the party after it restarted its alliance with the BJP last year. The JD(U), who has won the last four Assembly elections here, has nominated Murshid Alam as its candidate while the RJD has put up Sarfaraz's brother, Shahnawaz's candidature.

Lastly, two Assembly seats are up for a contest in Jharkhand as well. In Gomia, sitting MLA Yogendra Prasad Mahto of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was expelled from the Assembly after he was convicted in a coal theft case. Mahto had won the seat in 2014 by defeating his BJP rival Madhav Lal Singh. Singh, who had won the seat on a Congress ticket in 2009, has been renominated by the BJP. The JMM is now fielding Mahto's wife, Babita Devi who has the support of all other parties including the Congress.

And in Silli, the bypoll is happening because sitting MLA Amit Mahto of the JMM was convicted in a criminal assault case in March. In 2014, Amit had defeated All Jharkhand Students Union chief Sudesh Mahto, who had held the seat for over 10 years. Sudesh is contesting the election again, with the BJP's support this time and just like in Gomia, the JMM has fielded the 'ousted' MLA's wife, Seema Mahto.

These bypolls are crucial for the BJP to maintain its majority in Parliament, where it currently has 274 seats. And it remains to be seen if the ruling party at the Centre will be able to retain its foothold amid regional backlash from a united Opposition. The counting for these polls is scheduled for 31 May.

Click here to follow LIVE inputs on By-elections 2018

With inputs from 101 reporters
EVM glitches have been reported in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala amid voting for crucial by-elections. At least, 11 EVM malfunction have been reported in Maharashtra's Gondia-Bhandara constituency.

Auto refresh feeds

The Lok Sabha seats which will go for polls include Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and the sole parliamentary constituency in Nagaland. There will also be Assembly bypolls taking place in Noorpur (Uttar Pradesh), Shahkot (Punjab), Jokihat (Bihar), Gomia and Silli (Jharkhand), Chengannur (Kerala), Palus Kadegaon (Maharashtra), Ampati (Meghalaya), Tharali (Uttarakhand) and Maheshtala (West Bengal).

The stage is set for the bypoll to one Lok Sabha and five Assembly seats in as many states in the eastern region on Monday.

Of particular significance will be bypolls to the Kairana Lok Sabha seat especially because the BJP had lost two prestigious Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh in March. With the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party joining hands, the BJP had to suffer defeats at Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies. They were both saffron bastions earlier, Gorakhpur being earlier represented by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur by Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Voting in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana Lok seat and and Noorpur Assembly seat will begin shortly (at 7 am). The Election Commission has made all the preparations for it. In Kairana, 16,09,628 voter will exercise their franchise, out of which 77 persons are from the third gender, 7,36,431 are females while the rest are males.

The Election Commission said that they have deployed 53 companies of paramilitary forces, 10 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Kairana and Noorpur.

As per EC, 12 contestants are in fray for the Kairana Lok Sabha bypolls out of which three are women while 10 persons are contesting in the Noorpur Assembly bypolls. Two contestants are women.

Voting has begun for the Maheshtala Assembly constituency in West Bengal. Keeping up with its rising prospects in West Bengal, BJP will be looking at gaining more ground in the Maheshtala bypoll while TMC will hope to continue its winning streak. The Mahestala bypoll has emerged a tight three-way contest between TMC, BJP, and the Congress-CPM alliance, with each candidate wooing voters.

Amid allegations of horse-trading in Karnataka, the Chengannur bypoll in Kerala has garnered a lot of attention with the BJP desperate to increase its presence in the communist heartland. The bypoll will be contested between a large number of candidates. The Chengannur by-election was necessitated after the death of CPM legislator KK Ramachandran Nair in January.

The bypoll in Maheshtala constituency of West Bengal was necessitated with the death of MLA Kasturi Das. Dulal Das, the husband of the passed away MLA has been nominated from Trinamool Congress as the candidate. Sujay Ghosh and Prabhatpratim Choudhury are the candidates from BJP and CPM, respectively.

The number of registered voters for Maheshtala by-election are 2,48,665. Out of this, 1,27,149 are male and 1,21,509 are women voters. There are seven registered transgender voters. The number of total booths is 283 and there are 111 premises. Batanagar Balika Vidyalaya has been chosen as the DCRC centre. The areas under Maheshtala Police Station and Rabindranagar Police Station will also witness the voting.

Voting at three polling stations in Kairana could not be started yet due to the unavailability of EVM machines. Voters, in large numbers, have been waiting for it in the queue.

Polling at 341 booths in Gomia began at 7 am. Majority of booths are witnessing good turnout. Gomia has the maximum number of hypersensitive booths in state. Apart from 1,875 polling agents, adequate deployment of paramilitary forces have been done by administration to ensure free and fair bypoll.

RR Nagar is among the four largest Assembly segments in Bengaluru, with over 4.54 lakh voters, out of which 2.16 lakh are women and 65 are from the third gender. When close to 10,000 genuine voter IDs were seized in the city just before the Assembly elections, the EC had said that the number of new electors added in this constituency since last elections was up by 10 percent, higher than the average of six percent across other constituencies.

Voters from the Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru on Monday waiting to verify their names with booth committee members at a polling booth near Yeswanthpur Railway Station much before the polling commenced. Despite the Congress-JDS coalition in power, they are not fielding a joint candidate.

The BJP and Sena, who are allies in the state and central governments, have refused to form any pre-poll alliance for the by-elections. Sena has fielded the late BJP MP's son Srinivas Chintaman Vanga from the seat. According to IANS, the Vanga family is miffed with BJP's leadership, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, for ignoring them after the former MP's death.

As many as 1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates who are in the fray in Shahkot constituency. Out of the total 236 polling stations, 136 are vulnerable in the constituency. Webcasting will be held at 103 polling stations.

The Shahkot election is important for AAP which is desperate for a victory after its failure in Assembly polls last year. Major issues raised by Opposition during the campaign included illegal sand mining and molasses leak from a sugar mill in Gurdaspur district recently.

The by-poll to the Ampati assembly constituency to elect former chief minister, Dr Mukul Sangmas successor will be held today. With the Congress and the National Peoples Party (NPP) tied at 20 seats apiece in the Meghalaya Assembly, the by-poll to the Ampati seat is seen as a virtual tie-breaker. While a win for the NPP would put the party, which is currently holding the reign of power in the state, in the drivers seat, an extra legislator for the Congress would mean that it can push to stake claim to form the government.

Six of these booths have been classified as vulnerable due to various reasons including group clashes, inter-state border areas, elephant infestation and remoteness. Four companies of security forces have been deployed in the constituency for election duty. Along with EVMs, 65 VVPATs would be used for the voting and five polling stations are under webcasting. There are altogether 28,699 voters which include 14,317 male and 14,382 female voters.

Ampati has altogether 39 polling stations, which will be manned by 159 election officials. On Saturday, polling parties for the farthest 21 polling stations were deployed, with the parties for the remaining 18 polling stations moved out of Ampati on Sunday.

The booth number 34 Madarsa Imdad EVM is not working as well as the Banat EVM. The Chausana EVM is also not working. Voting at Kairana's booth number 43 began after delay of 30 minutes.

Village Khodsa Booth no. 5, Jhijhana booth no. 58, Babri booth no. 33, Agarwal Dharmshala booth no. 49, Bada Bazar booth centre, Banat booth no. 91, Chausana booth no. 34, Shamli booth no. 17, Jhijhana Rashtriya Siksha Sadan College booth no. 58.

Polling for the Chengannur by-election began in 163 polling stations among the 164. Voting at 31-A polling station was disrupted due to the complaints regarding the voting machine. As much as 22 polling stations are under special security due to the report of problems affected. Web cameras have been placed at these polling stations and more police forces have been deployed at the booths.

Problems with EVM machines in Nungi High School and in Netaji Subhash School have forced voting to be paused. Voters are losing their patience in Nungi.

The EVM machines of Netaji Subhash School have been replaced. But the replaced machines also turned out to be faulty again.

Voting in Jokihat Assembly seat is in progress. Overall, nine candidates are in fray for this Assembly seat. Jokihat has total 2,70,423 number of voters besides 14 voters falling in Others category (read transgenders). According to the administration, 101 booths have been placed under 'vulnerable' category and 118 critical booths out of total 331 voting centres.

In the wake of panchayat poll violence, tight security measures have been taken across Maheshtala. Most of the shops are closed around voting booths. The para-military forces are not allowing any party workers to enter the polling stations.

CPM candidate Prabhat Pratim Chaudhury said that, "If the people are able to vote properly today, then there is a chance of change. After the violence in the panchayat election, there should be a change. However, the fight is not against ideologies or parties. The fight is against money. I got news that huge amount of money flowed into many wards yesterday. Hence, the fight is against this money and muscle. I personally don't believe that I need to be an MLA to be able to work for the people. Win or loss is not the end goal. Fighting for people is and the good feedback I have received from common people in the last 19 days, makes me hopeful of a change."

With regular break down in almost three EVM machines at booth number 42 at VV Inter College in Sadar Kotwali area, voters were forced to goes back without casting there votes.

Five Quick Response Teams have been constituted. Along with that, police patrolling vans are situated everywhere so that there are no chances of violence.

Faulty EVM machines have been replaced by the Election Commission and the voting restarted. Till now, voting has been peaceful. No news of skirmish has been reported yet.

One Control Unit at booth number 216 and three VVPAT machines at booth numbers 169, 170 and 222 were replaced due to technical snag during a mock poll. Three VVPAT at booth numbers 27, 28 and 132 were replaced during the actual polling.

The removal, it claims was as a result of the Model Code of Conduct which was in effect in the state following the announcement of the election dates, and required ministers contesting an election to not use government resources or official media for electioneering.

This is in stark contrast to how former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was forced to take his app offline in wake of the Model Code of Conduct being enforced before the Karnataka elections. According to The Hindu , Election Commission of India had ordered the removal of all pictures of Siddaramaiah and other Congress ministers from government websites", and could also include "previous posts on social media championing achievements of the government".

While voting is underway for 10 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha seats across ten states today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun addressing the nation through his NaMo App, listing the schemes the BJP has introduced during its tenure so far.

According to the Chief Election officer, two polling booths each in Silli and Gomia had problems with the VVPATs which emerged when the mock polls were being conducted. These were fixed and polling continued peacefully.

Nine percent polling was registered in Gomia in the first two hours. The polling booths situated in hilly terrain and remote areas saw poor turnout in comparison to booths located near National Highways, Blocks and township area.

After the first two hours of polling, Silli registered 17 percent voter turnout overall, with some booths registering in as much as 25 percent.

Four booths in Jokihat's Mahalgaon  215, 215A, 216 and 216C  saw incidents of poll boycott by its constituents. Sub-Divisional police officer KD Singh reached there to pacify voters but they remained firm in their decision, pointing at the infrastructural neglect of their constituency, particularly the lack of proper roads and bridges.

In Gomia, voting has not begun at booth no. 165 due to technical difficulties. Similarly, polling hasnt commenced in booth no. 47 and in No. 74, as the EVM is not operational yet.

Of the two constituencies, Gomia is more keenly contested by political parties who took out huge rallies here. Even the chief minister camped in Gomia for three consecutive days seeking votes in support of the BJP candidate Madhavlal Singh. JMM chief Shibu Soren and former chief minister, Hemant Soren were some of the leaders, along with Congress and left parties leaders who had done extensive campaigning here. The fight here is a triangular one between Singh, JMM contestant Babita Devi and AJSU, Lambodar Mahto.

In comparison to Silli, the Gomia constituency saw relatively lower turnout of voters in the first two hours. While Silli recorded 18.22 percent, Gomia witnessed only 14 percent voting, revised from an earlier estimate of 9 percent.

According to ANI, some voters in Maharashtra's Palghar were marked on their middle fingers, instead of index fingers. This is was done to differentiate as panchayat polls had also recently taken place in some parts of Palghar on Sunday.

Tabassum Hasan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate for Kairana Lok Sabha by-poll, cast her vote and said that EVMs were being tampered with everywhere. "machines are being tampered everywhere, faulty machines haven't been replaced in Muslim and Dalit dominated areas. They (BJP) think they can win polls like this.That won't happen," she said.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate from Kairana Tabassum Hasan has written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) complaining about the multiple faulty EVMs in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency booths and said that voters are being kept away from voting which is not fair. Tabassum, in the letter, also said that despite several complaints, no action has been taken on the matter yet.

In RR Nagar, polling continues peacefully with 121 out of 421 polling station under live webcast. As of 9 am, the voter turnout was at 11 percent.

Voter turnout was recorded at 15.15 percent till 9 am in Maheshtala, West Bengal. The Election Commission also informed that all the faulty EVMs have been replaced and the voting is underway smoothly.

"No roads, no votes," chant the residents of Chaukta village in Jokihat where polling is being boycotted.

Despite Election Commission's reassurance, voters from Maheshtala college informed the authorities that the machines were taking time to register anyone's vote.

34 villages in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency have boycotted the polls. The 50,000-odd voters affected by Gosikhurd irrigation project, are upset that their demands haven't been met with for years now, reported News18.

In this booth in Gomia, people are keen to see photos of their candidates on their EVM. For the first time in Jharkhand, EVMs will feature photographs of the candidates, making it easier for voters to recognise who they are voting for.

Mohammed Salim, a resident of Chaukta, says that 2,600 voters across four polling booths are boycotting these elections. A promise to rebuild a bridge connecting Chaukta to its neighbours has not been met in four years, inconveniencing villagers here who have to take a detour that adds 4.5 kilometres to their commute, he says.

"No question of alliance. Let Amit Shah say anything. We are done with BJP. They are distributing money, switching off EVM machines. Earlier, people used to capture booths. Today, they have the keys of the EVM machines in their hands. Election Commission is under tremendous pressure from the government. Returning Officer fears for his job, and refuses to take cognizance of money distribution and other ill-practices by BJP," said Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, as per News18.

Following multiple reports of EVM malfunctioning and glitches in Kairana and Noorpur, the Samajwadi Party wrote a letter to the Election Commission claiming that that the EVMs are being tampered with at the direction of the Centre on such a large scale. The party also alleged that the faults were reported from booths where Samajwadi and allied parties' voters went.

JD(U) candidate for Jokihat, Murshid Alam spoke to reporters after casting his vote and refuted allegations against him, saying that every time he fights elections, he is implicated. In fact, none of the other contestants from the constituency have a clean record, he said.

More than 1,000 voters exercised their franchise at Govt Higher Primary School polling booth situated at BEML Layout in Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru. According to K Narayana, a booth committee member of BJP, over 20 percent of votes polled till 10.30 am. Election Commission confirms that the polling percentage stands at 21% as of 11 am.

Voters boycotted polls after several EVM machines turned out to be faulty. Visuals of one such deserted polling booth in Chaukta.

According to ANI, voting has been temporarily suspended at 35 polling stations in Bhandara-Gondiya after EVM malfunctioning was reported, said Abhimanyu Kale, District Magistrate.

Polling was stopped at booth no. 216 and 217 in Shamli district's Bhabhisa village after it was reported that EVMs were not working since 10 am, reported News18.

Follow reports of EVM malfunction came to light in Kairana and Noorpur, District Magistrate Indra Kumar Singh said, "Due to high temperature, VVPAT machines' sensor is developing a glitch. We are getting real time complaints and we are resolving the issue within 15 minutes. Each issue is being resolved within 15 minutes as officers are there at every centre." However, Singh did not answer if the voting timings will be extended, reported News18.

Jan Adhikar Party's candidate for Jokihat, Gaushul Azam, was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants who ripped off his clothes and broke the windows of the car he was travelling in. An FIR has been registered.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vishwajeet Srivastava detained Nagina's former MP Yashvir Singh of the Samajwadi Party for allegedly transporting voters to the booth in his private care. The car used did not have a valid car pass. He has been detained along with his supporters and might be released after voting is over in Noorpur.

"Technical problems in EVMs and VVPATs clearly indicate failure of EC.If this is the situation in bypolls, think about upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We've said it again and again, and other parties have also agreed, that elections should be conducted using ballot papers," said Shiv Sena leader Anil Desai.

Following reports of multiple EVMs malfuncitoning across booths in Palghar, Returning Officer Prashant Narnaware said that no fresh complaints were registered in the constituency after 12 pm. "Encountered problems and panic in the initial hours. Nothing has happened after 12 pm. The new machines are working properly. We are in consultation with Central Election Commission about extension of voting time," he said.

According to reports, villagers in Shamli resorted to stone pelting on the police for 'fake voting'. The police responded with lathicharge at voters in booth no. 173 in Shamli, after a clash between BJP and the Opposition.

About half a dozen voters have been injured in a clash between BJP and JMM cadres near a Jhirki polling booth in Gomia constituency.

RLD sources told CNN-News18 that the Opposition will demand extension of voting deadline following multiple reports of EVMs malfunctioning in the Kairana and Noorpur. They might also demand re-polling, the channel said. Leaders from both parties are set to meet EC officials at 3.15 pm, as per reports.

"The reports emerging in some quarters about EVMs failing in 25 percent polling booths are also incorrect. It is clarified that voting has not been cancelled in any booth in 11 Bhandara-Gondiya stations and voting is continuing smoothly after necessary replacements, whereever required," the EC said, according to News18.

The Election Commission clarified that that there were no cancellations in Bhandara-Gondiya, according to News18. Earlier, there were reports that polling was cancelled in at least 35 polling stations after serious malfunctioning in the VVPAT EVMs,

There was no report of any violence from anywhere in the constituency. "The polling has been peaceful," the Punjab CEO said.

Over 40 percent polling was recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot Assembly constituency of Punjab. "44 percent polling has been recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot Assembly constituency," Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Karuna Raju told PTI.

"Over 35 percent voting has been registered in all 471 polling stations across the constituency till 2 pm. Polling has been peaceful barring glitches in a few EVMs which were soon rectified," Returning Officer S Shailaja told IANS.

Moderate polling has been recorded in the Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency amid tight security, an official said on Monday.

"... the Commission allocates sufficient reserve of EVMs and VVPATs for every general and by election to the Lok Sabha or state Assembly. It is pertinent to mention that during commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs, apart from EVMs and VVPATs required for deployment at every polling station, adequate number of reserve EVMs and VVPATs (around 20-25 percent) are prepared to replace any defective machine on poll day at the polling station," it said. - PTI

Amid reports of faulty EVMs from various polling stations, the Commission came out with a statement to deny that the failure of the voting machines was unusual.

The Election Commission termed as "exaggerated projection of reality" reports of 'large scale' failure of EVMs during Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The Election Commission had declared that polling would conclude at 3 pm in Naxal-affected Gomia Assembly constituency. Officials have sealed the EVMs and are transporting it.

Amid complaints of EVM malfunctioning, the EC assured that faulty machines were being changed and a re-poll would be ordered, wherever necessary. - PTI

Over 43 percent polling was recorded till 4 pm in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency while 47 percent votes were polled in the Noorpur Assembly constituency amid complaints of EVMs malfunctioning.

The voter turn out in Maheshtala was recorded at 70.01 percent till 5 pm. As many as 36 EVMs had to be replaced in the day. Apart from that, the voting was largely peaceful.

Singh also claimed that her party leaders have approached the Election Commission regarding the matter

Mriganka Singh, BJP Candidate from Kairana, told ANI that there was a massive technical snag in the EVMs and a complete breakdown of systems. "My supporters went back without voting as the machines were not working," she said.

About 73 percent polling was recorded till 6 pm in Shahkot. However, final figure will only be available by 7 pm as some voters are still waiting in lines to cast their ballot.

A high turnout was recorded in bypolls to Jharkhand's Silli and Gomia Assembly constituencies on Monday, officials said. The polling began at 7 am and ended at 3 pm amid tight security arrangements in 278 polling booths in Silli and 342 in Gomia. Polling was by and large peaceful, while reports of snags in the EVMs were received from a few places. - IANS

"It passed off peacefully barring some group clashes between supporters of rival candidates. Nearly 55 percent votes were cast amid tight security," said a police official. - IANS

Voting in the by-election to Jokihat Assembly seat in Bihar passed off peacefully on Monday with nearly 55 percent polling, officials said.

According to News18, about 55 percent voting was recorded in Kairana till 5 pm and 57 percent in Noorpur.

BJP delegation met EC officials in Delhi over reports of malfunctioning in EVMs during by-polls today.BJP's Arun Singh says,'we told them that we received info that EVMs worked either late or with some issues or didn't work at all in 197 booths,demanded repolling at few stations' pic.twitter.com/gpq1CaHSZ7

BJP's Arun Singh told ANI that the party has demanded repolling at a few stations. BJP also told the Election Commission that they received information that EVMs either worked late or had some issues.

The voter turn out in Maheshtala was recorded at 70.01 percent till 5 pm. As many as 36 EVMs had to be replaced in the day. Apart from that, the voting was largely peaceful.

Singh also claimed that her party leaders have approached the Election Commission regarding the matter

Mriganka Singh, BJP Candidate from Kairana, told ANI that there was a massive technical snag in the EVMs and a complete breakdown of systems. "My supporters went back without voting as the machines were not working," she said.

About 73 percent polling was recorded till 6 pm in Shahkot. However, final figure will only be available by 7 pm as some voters are still waiting in lines to cast their ballot.

Over 50 complaints have been registered by political parties and voters in the whole day. However, the EC termed the complaints as baseless.

According the Election Commission schedule, voting was stopped at 6 pm. However, some voters are still lined up in a few booths. Those who have been in the line before 6, can cast their votes.

EVMs from Silli polling are being deposited in the strong room in Krishi Bazaar. They will be opened again on 31 May, the day of counting.

A high turnout was recorded in bypolls to Jharkhand's Silli and Gomia Assembly constituencies on Monday, officials said. The polling began at 7 am and ended at 3 pm amid tight security arrangements in 278 polling booths in Silli and 342 in Gomia. Polling was by and large peaceful, while reports of snags in the EVMs were received from a few places. - IANS

"It passed off peacefully barring some group clashes between supporters of rival candidates. Nearly 55 percent votes were cast amid tight security," said a police official. - IANS

Voting in the by-election to Jokihat Assembly seat in Bihar passed off peacefully on Monday with nearly 55 percent polling, officials said.

According to News18, about 55 percent voting was recorded in Kairana till 5 pm and 57 percent in Noorpur.

By-elections 2018 latest updates: A high turnout was recorded in bypolls to Jharkhand's Silli and Gomia Assembly constituencies, officials said. According to Chief Electoral Officer L Khiyante, Silli saw 75 percent voting and Gomia 62 percent.

BJP's Kairana candidate Mriganka Singh alleged technical snag in EVMs and said that the party has approached the Election Commission regarding the same.

The Election Commission termed as "exaggerated projection of reality" reports of 'large-scale' failure of EVMs during Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The poll panel also rejected reports that polling was cancelled in 35 booths in Bhandara-Gondiya constituency in Maharashtra.

However, the Shiv Sena and the NCP alleged malfunctioning in EVMs during bypolls for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra. Former Union minister Praful Patel claimed that almost 25 percent of EVMs malfunctioned in the bypoll to Bhandara-Gondiya seat, while Sena leader Sanjay Raut said those in power were contesting elections while keeping the "key and remote of EVMs in their hands".

Patel also sought to know why EVMs from Surat in Gujarat were used in the bypoll when similar machines were available in Maharashtra.

Till 1 pm, the Election Commission registered 63.35 percent polling in Meghalaya's Ampati Assembly constituency and 44 percent in Shahkot constituency in Punjab. In Jharkhand, Gomia witnessed a turnout of 51 percent till 1 pm.

According to ANI, voting has been temporarily suspended at 35 polling stations in Bhandara-Gondiya after EVM malfunctioning was reported, said Abhimanyu Kale, District Magistrate. Meanwhile, polling was stopped at booth no. 216 and 217 in Shamli district's Bhabhisa village after it was reported that EVMs were not working since 10 am, as per News18.

According to the Election Commission, poll turnout in Lok Sabha seat of Kairana was 22 percent till 11 am and in Noorpur it was 21.34 percent. Faulty EVMs in several seats, including Kairana and Noorpur and several other seats in Maharashtra and Bihar. Polling has been cancelled at 35 booths in Maharashtras Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat following EVM malfunctions.

As many as 34 villages that house 50,000 voters in the constituency are boycotting the by-elections, alleging their demands against the Gosikhurd irrigation project havent been met. In Uttar Pradeshs Kairana, joint SP-RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan has submitted a complaint on EVM glitches and alleged malpractices by the BJP to the Election Commission. Voting is currently underway in four Lok Sabha seats and 10 Assembly constituencies across 10 states.

EVM glitches have been reported in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala amid voting for crucial by-elections. At least, 11 EVM malfunction have been reported in Maharashtra's Gondia-Bhandara constituency. In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP and the NCP have locked horns in the bypoll, being held after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole. Patole, a leader of the powerful OBC Kunbi community, had switched side from the Congress to the BJP and was elected as an MP from the constituency in Vidarbha in 2014 by defeating former union minister and NCP heavyweight Praful Patel. The NCP, which has allied with the Congress, has fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde, against BJP's Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.

Voting was stalled in multiple booths in West Bengal's Maheshtala and Uttar Pradesh's Kairana constituency due to faulty VVPATs and EVMs. Problems with EVM machines in Nungi High School and in Netaji Subhash School in the Maheshtala by-elections forced voting to be paused. Voters were reportedly losing their patience in Nungi.

Voting at three polling stations in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana could not be started yet due to the unavailability of EVM machines. Voters, in large numbers, have been waiting for it in the queue. Meanwhile, voting is also underway in Gomia, Shahkot, Chengannur and Palghar.

Voting has begun in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana Lok Sabha seat, Noorpur Assembly seat and West Bengal's Maheshtala Assembly constituency. As per EC, 12 contestants are in fray for the Kairana Lok Sabha bypolls out of which three are women while 10 persons are contesting in the Noorpur Assembly bypolls. Two contestants are women. The Election Commission said that they have deployed 53 companies of paramilitary forces, 10 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Kairana and Noorpur. The two seats in Uttar Pradesh are important as BJP had lost two prestigious Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur and Phulpur in March.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress will get another chance to do battle, along with other national and regional parties as bypolls to 10 Assembly constituencies and four Lok Sabha seats across 10 states are set to take place on Monday. Apart from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, parliamentary bypolls will be held on Monday for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and to the Nagaland seat.

The seats where Assembly bypolls will be held are Noorpur (Uttar Pradesh), Shahkot (Punjab), Jokihat (Bihar), Gomia and Silli (Jharkhand), Chengannur (Kerala), Palus Kadegaon (Maharashtra), Ampati (Meghalaya), Tharali (Uttarakhand) and Maheshtala (West Bengal). Votes will be counted on 31 May.

Kairana constituency in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh has gained prominence in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Kairana bypoll will also see a joint Opposition taking on the ruling BJP. Located around 630 kilometres from capital city of Lucknow, the Lok Sabha constituency has five Assembly segments: Shamli, Thana Bhawan and Kairana in Shamli district, and Gangoh and Nakur in Saharanpur district. There are nearly 17 lakh voters in the constituency with a significant number of Muslims, Jats and Dalit voters.

RLD party worker Abdul Hakeem Khan said he had never seen an election in which the ruling party was being challenged by a joint Opposition. The constituency fell vacant after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh, whose daughter Mriganka Singh is now the party's candidate for the bypoll. She is fighting Rashtriya Lok Dal's (RLD) Tabassum Hasan, who is supported by the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The Opposition hopes that by consolidating anti-BJP votes, they will repeat the success of the Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-elections, where the ruling party suffered an unexpected defeat.

In Maharashtra, by-election to Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha seat was necessitated when in early December 2017, sitting member Nana Patole quit the BJP and the Lok Sabha seat to join the Congress. The Palghar seat in north Konkan fell vacant after the sitting BJP MP Chintaman Vanga died on 30 January following a heart attack.

In Punjab, polling to the Shahkot bypoll, for which the three major political parties-Congress, Akali Dal and AAP have went all out, will take place on Monday. The Shahkot bypoll was necessitated following the demise of Akali MLA Ajit Singh Kohar in February. Ruling party Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Laddi while Akali Dal has given ticket to Kohar's son Naib Singh Kohar. Aam Aadmi Party has nominated Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan for the bypoll.

As many as 1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates who are in the fray. The Election Commission has deployed a total of 1,022 personnel of security forces including six companies of the Border Security Force in Shahkot.

Meanwhile, in the eastern region, the stage is set for the bypoll to one Lok Sabha and five Assembly seats in as many states. The five seats where Assembly bypolls will be held are Maheshtala in West Bengal, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Jokihat in Bihar and Ampati in Meghalaya. The by-election will also be held in the lone Nagaland Lok Sabha seat which was necessitated after the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio, now the chief minister of Nagaland, resigned as a Lok Sabha member in February. It will be a test of strength between the candidate of the Naga People's Front (NPF) supported by Congress and the nominee of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA).

The PDA, which has the NDPP and the BJP as it major constituents, has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi in the seat. The Congress has extended support to NPF candidate C Apok Jamir.

The BJP, which had won an absolute majority in the 2014 general elections with 282 seats, lost seven seats in Lok Sabha by-elections held in the past four years and its present tally is 274. The Election Commission said that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs will be deployed in the by-elections at all polling stations.

With inputs from agencies
Polling took place in several states across the country as people cast their ballots to decide the fates of one Lok Sabha and five Assembly constituencies.

Polling took place in several states across the country as people cast their ballots to decide the fates of one Lok Sabha and five Assembly constituencies. The high-profile electoral contest for western Uttar Pradesh's Kairana Lok Sabha seat, where the ruling BJP is locked in a straight fight with a joint Opposition candidate, saw over 54 percent of the constituency's voters casting their mandate amid complaints of malfunctioning of EVM and VVPAT machines. Meanwhile, 61 percent polling was recorded for the Noorpur Assembly seat bypoll which was also held on Monday, an election commission official said. The polling was by and large peaceful.

At the end of polling, Kairana Lok Sabha constituency recorded a polling percentage of 54.17, while in Noorpur assembly constituency, the figure was 61 percent, Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Ramesh Chandra Rai, said.

"Malfunctioning was reported in 384 VVPAT (Vote Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines in the state. Of this, 29 were in Noorpur (Bijnor). Apart from this, three EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) also malfunctioned in Shamli. Both, the malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs were replaced," Rai told PTI. Election Commission officials said a re-poll would be ordered, wherever necessary.

In the Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha bypolls in Maharashtra, voting was marred by reported malfunctioning of EVMs in some booths. Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader and former MP Prakash Ambedkar said around 450 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioned.

"There have been certain cases of failure due to the technical problem of EVMs and VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) machines during polling in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituencies which have been replaced," an election official said.

Besides, around 15,000 voters from Mali Ali, Mavanda, Navale and Nandanvan villages in Palghar's Vasai tehsil boycotted polling, citing lack of developmental works in their area.

Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Hitendra Thakur claimed that "the entire election commission machinery is working on behalf of the BJP in Palghar."

There were phone calls from the office of a local BJP functionary in Palghar to housing societies about making arrangements for snacks and refreshments for member-voters, Thakur said.

Bedsheets and fans were used to protect the EVMs from extreme heat, harsh sunlight or dust in Monday's bypolls held in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, said Palghar Collector Prashant Narnaware.

Meanwhile, polling was completed peacefully in the bypoll to the Shahkot Assembly constituency in Punjab on Monday with over 73 percent voting reported till 7 pm, while a former minister was arrested for carrying a pistol to a booth, a senior poll official said.

Electors turned up in a big way to exercise their democratic right in hot and humid weather.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer SS Karuna Raju told the media that vote percentage was 73 till 7 pm. The polling in the Assembly election in February last year on this seat was 78.6 percent.

Raju said former Minister of State for Home Brij Bhupinder Singh Lalli was booked and arrested following a complaint by the Congress that he had entered a polling booth in Malsian area with a pistol.

In Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, over 53 percent polling was recorded in the bypolls to the Tharali Assembly seat in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. By the end of the day, 53.43 percent voters had cast their votes, District Information Officer in-charge of the election control room GS Bisht said. Though largely peaceful, the bypoll was boycotted at Devsari village in the Dewal area by voters to protest against their demand for a road not being fulfilled, he said.

Polling for the reserved (SC) seat went at a slow pace initially. Only 26 percent voters had cast their votes by 1 pm. However, it picked up a little late in the afternoon with 40.5 poll percentage recorded by 3 pm, Bisht said.

In the in northeastern and eastern states, the Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls passed off peacefully on Monday amid tight security with 70 percent voters exercising their franchise for the lone parliamentary seat in Nagaland, election commission sources said. By-elections were also held for Assembly seats in Ampati in Meghalaya, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Maheshtala in West Bengal and Jokikhat in Bihar.

According to election commission sources, there were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere. They said, the voting percentage in Ampati was 90.42 percent, in Gomia and Silli it was 62.61 and 75.5 percent respectively, while 70 percent voting was recorded till 5 pm in Maheshtala, and Jokikhat registered 53 per cent polling till 5 pm. The polling figure in Maheshtala Assembly seat is expected to go up as the exercise continued till 6 pm.

In Kerala, braving downpour, about 74.60 percent of 1.99 lakh voters on Monday exercised their franchise in the bypoll to the Chengannur Assembly seat, officials said. In the 2016 Assembly elections, the poll percentage was 74.36.

Meanwhile in Bengaluru, amid tight security polling in Rajarajeshwarinagar assembly constituency here began at 7 am on Monday. The elections to the assembly segment were deferred due to the seizure of 9,564 Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) from an apartment at Jalahalli.

The polling officers had also found a huge cache of freebies belonging to a political party.

Following the directions of the Election Commission, police investigated the matter and registered a case against many people including the Congress candidate Munirathna.

With inputs from agencies
A few hours after polls opened in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana and Noorpur assemblies, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came under heavy fire by the Opposition for reports of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.

A few hours after polls opened in Uttar Pradesh's politically-crucial Kairana and Noorpur assemblies, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came under heavy fire from the Opposition after reports of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines came to light.

Reports of malfunctioning EVMs poured in from across the 10 Assembly segments and four Lok Sabha constituencies that witnessed polling on Monday, but Uttar Pradesh remained the political hot spot where a strong Opposition took on BJP at Kairana where it hoped to repeat the historic victory in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls in March.

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav took to Twitter and said that despite malfunctioning EVMs being reported from different booths of the two Uttar Pradesh constituencies, people should vote. Despite this, everyone should go exercise their franchise, Yadav wrote.

Samajwadi Party state president Naresh Uttam Patel wrote to the Election Commission (EC) and complained about the reported snags in EVMs which disrupted voting. It seems that the BJP-led state government is trying to dislodge a strong Opposition by planting EVMs that are not working properly. EVMs in at least 113 booths in Noorpur constituency developed snags in the morning, the letter stated.

VVPAT machines stopped working at the Hindu Kanya School polling booth in Shamli, Kairana. Uttar Pradesh's Kairana came into the spotlight in 2016 after it was reported that the area saw an exodus of Hindus. With three EVMs regularly breaking down at booth 42 at VV Inter College, Sadar Kotwali, Shamli, some voters left without exercising their franchise. The faulty EVMs were later replaced by the Election Commission and voting resumed.

Tabassum Hasan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate from Kairana, told media that the EVMs have been tampered with, especially in Muslim and Dalit dominated areas, where BJP knows there is no hope of victory. Malfunctioning EVMs in Noorpur constituency caused polling to be disrupted in more than 211 booths and the district administration attempted to replace the machines.

The BJP rubbished any allegations of tampering and claimed the Opposition was frustrated as it was facing certain defeat at the polls. Whenever the Opposition knows it will lose, it starts a false bogey of tampering in EVMs. The BJP has already requested the EC to take corrective measures and hold repolling wherever necessary, said Harish Chandra Srivastava, Uttar Pradesh media in-charge of BJP.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner of India OP Rawat said an assessment would be carried out after polling. Polls are being conducted as per standard operating procedure (SOP). Repolling would be decided only after consulting election officers who will analyse the ground situation, said Rawat.

Reports of faulty EVMs also emerged from Maheshtala in West Bengal. Voters at a college informed authorities of the snag. The EC later stated that all faulty EVMs were replaced and voting was going smoothly. However, despite assurances from the EC, voters from Maheshtala College told the authorities that machines were taking time to register votes.

At Shahkot Assembly bypoll in Punjab, one control unit at booth 216 and three VVPAT machines at booths 169, 170 and 222 were replaced during mock poll due to technical snag. Four VVPAT machines at booths 27, 28, 132 and 45 were replaced during polling.

Eleven faulty EVMs were reported across booths in Gondiya-Bhandara Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra. In Jharkhands Gomia Assembly constituency, voting was delayed at booths 47, 74 and 165 due to technical difficulties in EVMs. Commenting on malfunctioning EVMs in Kairana and Noorpur, former Samajwadi Party minister Rajendra Chaudhary stated that the Uttar Pradesh government's intentions are dubious.

Since the day BJP was defeated in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, its leaders are frustrated, Chaudhary added. Such a dangerous election is being held for the first time in Uttar Pradesh where government machinery is being misused, he further stated.

Follow all the by-elections updates here
Disagreements and 'issues' between JD(S) and Congress have already begun cropping up as the two parties in the Karnataka's coalition government adjust to hold power.

JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has spent less than a week as the chief minister of Karnataka after being sworn-in on 23 May, but disagreements and "issues" have already begun cropping up as the two parties in the state's coalition government struggle to hold power.

Congress and JD(S) joined hands after 14 years in Karnataka to form the current state government. While JD(S) is reeling under the disappointment of not getting a simple majority, Congress is exercising its authority over it since it has more numbers in the Assembly.

In at least three scenarios, the coalition partners have expressed their differences so far. Here's a look at them:

'I am at the mercy of Congress'

Kumaraswamy publicly stated his disappointment over the JD(S) being unable to form the government on its own. On Sunday, ahead of his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers, he said that he was at the "mercy" of Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka as his government had not received the full mandate which his party had sought in the assembly elections.

"The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farm leaders too and how much they supported me," he said.

He spoke about how his was not an independent government. "I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state," Kumaraswamy said.

The JD(S) leadership has also been saying they have to seek the consent of its coalition partner Congress before taking any decision.

'There will be issues in coalition'

The Congress and the JD(S) are at loggerheads over the allocation of key portfolios such as finance, home, public works department (PWD) and power, irrigation and urban development.

Speaking on the differences over certain portfolios with the JD(S), Congress leader KC Venugopal said, "In a coalition, there will be certain issues. We are discussing with each other. It will be sorted out immediately."

As agreed by the partners, the Congress, which won 78 seats, will have 22 cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, while the JD(S), which has 36 members in the house, will have 12 ministers, including the chief minister.

The sources said that the Congress demanded finance as in the previous coalition government in the state in 2004-06 (JD(S)-Congress) as well as in 2006-08 (JD(S)-BJP), the portfolio had gone to those who held the deputy chief minister's post.

There is also discussion and demand that the party should induct new faces in the cabinet. On Saturday, the Congress president held the first round of discussion on portfolio allocation with senior party leaders of the state, but the meeting remained inconclusive.

Responding to questions on "cracks" in the Congress-JD(S) coalition, AICC spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said that when there is an internal democracy, partners have the right to raise issues and these cannot be termed as "cracks".

On Saturday, Kumaraswamy had admitted that the allocation of portfolios had caused "issues" but asserted that it will not have any adverse effect on the newly-formed government. "I will try not to take up an issue as a prestige issue and try to solve a problem. Otherwise, I will see," he had said.

However, on Sunday, he brushed aside talk of a tussle between the two coalition partners over the distribution of portfolios.

As the Congress and the JD(S) continued their discussions on the portfolio allocation on Monday, India Today reported that Congress is offering JD(S) only revenue and PWD from the key portfolios.

'JD(S)' alliance with Congress only in Vidhana Soudha'

While campaigning for the party candidate in Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency on Sunday, former prime minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda said that though his party was in coalition with the Congress, it is "not for sale". "Alliance is only within Vidhana Soudha. It is my responsibility to ensure my partys victory," Deve Gowda was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express in Jalahalli.

The Election Commission had deferred polling for the Rajarajeshwari Assembly seat to 28 May after nearly 10,000 voter ID cards were recovered from a flat in the constituency just days before the 12 May Assembly election.

After Congress and JD(S) joined hands to form the Karnataka government, the two parties tried to hold negotiations to avoid a contest in the constituency. Congress' DK Shivakumar and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy were to take a final call on this by Friday night. "The Congress party has made a big sacrifice in forming the coalition government, and the JD(S) should acknowledge that by supporting our candidate," Deccan Herald had quoted Shivakumar as saying. Clearly, a final decision was never taken as candidates from both the parties remained in fray during the bypoll on Monday.
The ongoing by-elections in Kairana could be the most important political battle for the BJP before the 2019 elections. It will put to test two theories that could be crucial in the 2019 General Election: One, index of opposition unity, and two, ability of the Hindutva appeal to influence an election when pitted against the counter war cry of secularism.

The ongoing by-elections in Kairana could be the most important political battle for the BJP before the 2019 elections. It will put to test two theories that could be crucial in the 2019 General Election: One, index of opposition unity, and two, ability of the Hindutva appeal to influence an election when pitted against the counter war cry of secularism.

Kairana is the first parliamentary constituency where the entire opposition has come together after the 2014 drubbing by the BJP. Tabassum Hasan, a Samajwadi Party candidate is contesting on the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket. Hasan has the support of both the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

On paper, Hasan is a formidable candidate. Just a few months ago, the SP-BSP combine had beaten the BJP in Gorakhpur and Phulpur in spite of the presence of the Congress. In a direct fight with the BJP with no other candidate playing spoilsport, in theory the RLD looks invincible. An opinion poll conducted by CSDS-Lokniti had recently predicted the BJPs vote share would be around 35 percent if elections were to be held today. If that is the situation on the ground, the BJP has every reason to worry about Kairana.

The Hindutva appeal is also on trial in Kairana. In 2014, Hukum Singh of the BJP had won from Kairana by more than three lakh votes in the aftermath of the Muzzafarnagar riots. He had defeated the SP candidate Nahid Hasan, Tabassums son, in spite of the presence of nearly 5.5 lakh Muslim voters, which got divided between the opposition. This year, the Muslim vote appears united in favour of Hasan.

A counter-polarisation can yield rich dividends for the BJP. But, this has been stymied by the united oppositions plan to forge a Muslim-Jat-Dalit and Yadav alliance. Together these voters are nearly 70 percent of the constituency.

If the BJP goes on to win Kairana, it would indicate that the opposition unity is just a myth and the prime ministers weighs a lot more than all his rivals combined. It would also prove that Hindutva is a much bigger issue than secularism, thus putting a big question mark over the rationale of the opposition unity.

As many critics have argued, the opposition is coming together ahead of 2019 polls with just one thread binding them  secularism. They have no other shared ideology, agenda or belief. Their Modi hatao campaign is based on just one slogan. If it bites the dust in Kairana, the opposition would have to reconsider its strategy to counter the much more attractive appeal of Hindutva and Modi-tva.

A victory for the opposition would, of course, vindicate its belief in unity and secularism. Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha constituencies. Though the caste arithmetic is not the same in every constituency, the oppositions ability to pool its vote could be a huge setback for the BJP, especially if vote share stays around the predicted 35 per cent mark or falls further below it. If the Kairana model works, the BJP would be starting the 2019 innings with a huge deficit.

Retaining its seats in UP is important for the BJP because of the evolving political scene in the other states. In 2013, the BJP had swept Rajasthan (25/25), Madhya Pradesh (27/29), Gujarat (26/26), Delhi (7/7) and Haryana (7/10). The close contest in Gujarat and the political winds in Rajasthan and MP suggest the BJP will struggle to repeat its 2014 performance in these states. If UP adds to the BJPs deficit, the 2019 race could be much closer than anticipated.

In many ways, Kairana is to 2019 what Allahabad was to 1989. Back then, VP Singh was the united opposition candidate in a by-poll held in the summer of 1988, just a few months before the next general election. His victory had given the oppositionBJP-Left and Janmorcha-- the hope that its unity can challenge Rajiv Gandhis Congress.

Back then, Ajit Singh, current chief of the RLD, had predicted that Allahabad would decide the course of national politics till the next general elections. "Let's have no doubts on that," he had told India Today.

History has a strange way of repeating itself. Today, his own candidates fate could decide the outcome of the 2019 election, albeit against an adversary that was his ally in 1998.

Click here for LIVE updates on by-elections in 10 Assembly and 4 Lok Sabha seats
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four years in office have never been unexciting as far as the government's reform-intent is concerned

Call it incremental reform, cosmetic changes or political optics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four years in office have never been unexciting as far as the government's reform-intent is concerned. There has been constant action. Aadhaar-linked bank account progammes to push DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), subsidy rationalisation policies, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation are the key highlights of Modi's reform package in the past four years. Of course, how much of these have yielded results, so far, is debatable.

For instance, while DBT is a clear winner  it has saved Rs 90,000 crore so far for the government, demonetisation has arguably led to the expansion of the tax base, but when it comes to recovering black money and reducing cash use, it has been a flop show. GST, again, is a winner in laying down the framework for a unified indirect tax regime, but the initial hiccups and technical challenges have slowed business activity.

What course will the reform juggernaut take in the fifth year of Modis term? Typically, governments do not risk their political prospects going on a reform drive in an election year and tend to stick to populist policies to appease vote banks. Modi, who still has his popularity largely intact even after four years in office, has an opportunity to do things differently and not opt for political populism.

Let's look at the unfulfilled promises.

Of the unfulfilled items on the list, the first and major one is to clean up non-transparent political funding, which has been a grey area so far. This was one of the major unfulfilled promises of this government from the very beginning, but no significant steps have been taken so far to make the whole process transparent. The government brought down the limit of cash donations to Rs 2,000 from Rs 20,000 earlier and introduced electoral bonds that can be purchased from select banks by donors and deposited in the accounts of political parties. But none of this brings in transparency in the public domain as to who is funding whom.

Such opacity gives room for a corporate-political nexus and is the fundamental factor that leads to black money generation. For these reasons, the continuation of an opaque political funding system should send warning signals to any democracy. Under the current laws, a company doesn't need to explain even to shareholders the identity of the recipient. In 2017, the government had scrapped a ceiling that earlier restricted a corporate entity from donating more than 7.5 percent of its average net profit in the three immediate preceding fiscal years to a political party. Also, it proposed to cancel an existing rule that required corporate entities to disclose, in the profit and loss account, the name of the political party to which the funding is made. Both made it easier for political parties to make their election funding more opaque.

In March this year, the government, without a discussion, amended a law in Parliament to protect political parties from any kind of scrutiny with respect to the foreign funds they may have received from 1976 onwards. Remember, this was only one among the 218 amendments Lok Sabha cleared without a debate. The law, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, that prohibited foreign funding for Indian political parties, has now been amended to exempt parties from any scrutiny. This means there will be no scrutiny on such funding, including possible illegal transactions.

As of now, almost 75 percent of political funding takes place in a non-transparent manner, according to Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

All this is happening in the backdrop of hundreds of crores flowing into the coffers of political parties every year. According to the latest report from election watchdog ADR, the BJP has seen its income rise from Rs 570.86 crore during FY 2015-16 to Rs 1,034.27 crore during FY 2016-17, while the income of Congress decreased by 14 percent (Rs 36.20 crore) from Rs 261.56 crore during FY 2015-16 to Rs 225.36 crore during FY 2016-17.

Since it came to power in 2014, the BJP moneybag has expanded by around 53 percent  from Rs 673.81 crore in 2013-2014 to Rs 1034.27 crore in 2016-2017. The Congress, during the period, has actually seen its income decline by 62 percent  from Rs 598.06 crore to Rs 225.36 crore. If the Modi government musters the political will to call a spade a spade and overhauls rules on political funding, it can be a historic steps as no government has thus far dared to do this.

Remember, both the Congress and BJP have been accused in the past of accepting money through suspicious channels. In 2014, both the parties were found guilty by a Delhi court for accepting foreign funds between 2004 and 2012, from Vedanta Resources Plc. The firm allegedly donated Rs 879 lakh to the Congress and Rs 790 lakh to the BJP through its Indian subsidiaries. Hence, the reluctance of political parties to set rules for themselves is quite understandable. But, as Modi approaches the 2019 polls, he will face questions on the absence of meaningful steps by his government to make political funding transparent. In the fifth year of his term, this remains a major unfulfilled promise.
IANS

Google has rewarded a Uruguayan teenager a "bug bounty" of more than $36,000 for disclosing a severe security flaw.

Ezequiel Pereira's sporadic poking around has finally paid off in a big way: Google just awarded the Uruguayan teenager $36,337 for finding a vulnerability that would have allowed him to make changes to internal company systems, CNBC reported on 26 May.

"I found something almost immediately that was worth $500 and it just felt so amazing. So I decided to just keep trying ever since then," Pereira was quoted as saying by CNBC.

"It feels really good  I'm glad that I found something that was so important," he added.

Although, Pereira found the bug earlier this year, he only just got permission to write about how he discovered it this week, after Google confirmed that it had fixed the issue, the report said.

It marks Pereira's fifth accepted bug, but it's by far his most lucrative.

Pereira was about a month shy of 17 when he first got paid for exposing a Google security flaw through its bug bounty programme.

Pereira got his first computer when he was 10, took an initial programming class when he was 11 and then spent years teaching himself different coding languages and techniques.

In 2016, Google flew him to its California headquarters after he won a coding contest.
tech2 News Staff

Google Doodle today involves going back to your chemistry lessons from school. The Doodle celebrates SPL Srensen, a Danish biochemist, who is credited with having founded the pH scale system which is a scale for measuring the acidity and alkalinity.

Born on 9 January 1868 in Havrebjerg in Denmark, Sren Peder Lauritz Srensen worked at the Carlsberg Laboratory in Copenhagen from 1901 to 1938. The concept of pH values was introduced in 1909 as a convenient way to express acidity.

According to Science History, the context for introducing the concept of pH was moving away from colour change tests for indicating the degree of acidity and alkalinity to electrical methods of deriving it. In the electric method, "the current generated in an electrochemical cell by ions migrating to oppositely charged electrodes was measured, using a highly sensitive (and delicate) galvanometer." That was until Sorensen developed the pH scale which easily expressed the hydrogen ion concentration.

The doodle comprises a simple animated game, which shows you a food item or other substances, and you have to sort it according to its pH values. Now a pH scale measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is and it goes from values 0-14. If the pH scale is less than 7, the the substance is acidic, if it's more than 7 then the substance is alkaline. A pH value of 7 means the substance is neutral. Generally water has a pH value of 7 as it's neither acidic nor alkaline.

So in the doodle, you are presented with a tomato, egg, broccoli, lemon, a soapy solution, battery and you have to click on either arrows which will sort them on either side of the pH scale. A correct guess will sort the substance and will also show the pH value of the said substance. If you are wrong, the laboratory scientist, modeled on Sorensen, will wildly shake his head asking you to try again. After sorting the six substances, they all animate again and make the Google logo.

At the time of writing, it isn't clear why this particular Doodle is on the Google home page today, as 29 May does not coincide with either Sorensen's birth or death, which is generally the practice of having doodles behind certain personalities. The Doodle's reach is around India, the whole of North America, parts of South America, parts of Europe, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
tech2 News Staff

Motorola is ready to launch the next smartphone, Moto Z3 Play, in its Z-series. An earlier report suggested that the device will be launched on 6 June in Brazil. Recently, the specifications and images of the smartphone were spotted online.

Now, in a recent development, the Moto Mod for the Moto Z3 Play has been spotted online. According to a report on XDADevelopers, the smartphone will also support a new 5G Mod, which is expected to bring 5G capabilities to the device. The Moto Mod can also be used with other Z-series of devices by Motorola.

The image of the Moto Mod shows a design with a single cavity for the camera on the rear, which hints that the smartphone will not come with fingerprint reader placed on the rear side of the device. The front part of the image shows that the Moto Z3 has no fingerprint on the front part of the display either. A report on GizmoChina suggests that the smartphone might come with a fingerprint reader placed on the side of the device.

The Moto Z3 shown along with the Moto Mod comes with a broad display (not completely bezel-less) which Motorola calls as MaxVision display. The 5G Moto Mod comes with one side of the top extended than the other one, which suggests that it might be the antenna used in the device. Motorola already has various Moto Mods including a battery Mod, a gamepad Mod, a projector Mod and more.

The specs suggest that the Moto Z3 Play will come with 6-inch 18:9 "Max Vision" FullHD+ AMOLED display, 4 GB of RAM and either 32 GB or 64 GB of built-in memory. It is expected to come with 12 MP primary camera and 8 MP front camera. It is expected to be powered by 3,000 mAh battery.
IANS

Three astronauts aboard the International Space Station are set to return to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spaceship on 3 June, NASA has said.

When the three crewmates land in Kazakhstan, about three-and-a-half hours after undocking, the trio will have spent 168 days in space and conducted one spacewalk each, the US space agency said in a blog post.

The three homebound station crew member are NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, and Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov.

They will be replaced by three new Expedition 56-57 crew members who are scheduled to launch to space on 6 June.

NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst of European Space Agency (ESA) will take a two-day ride to the space station with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev inside the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft for a six-month mission aboard the orbital laboratory, the US space agency said.

The home-bound Japanese astronaut earlier this year sparked a row when he declared on Twitter that he had grown 9 centimeter while in space, the media reported. He also said that the increase in height made him a little worried that he might not be able to fit in the Soyuz seats for his return to Earth.

He, however, later apologised for the 'terrible fake news' which resulted from a 'mis-measurement'. More than a day after his original tweet, he said that he had stretched only 2 centimeters which will not make him unfit for his return.

"It appears I can fit on the Soyuz, so I'm relieved," he tweeted.

Most astronauts 'grow' during protracted space missions because their spines extend in the absence of gravity, but the gains are usually limited to a couple of centimeters and disappear once they are back on the ground, the Guardian reported on 10 January.
1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted.

2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks.

3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown".

4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam).

I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published.
tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi is all set to celebrate its eighth anniversary on 31 May. The anniversary event to be held in Shenzen, China, is set to see the launch of the next flagship from Xiaomi, which is the Mi 8, along with a rumoured anniversary edition version of the Mi 8. In addition to this, there are speculations about the launch of the Mi Band 3 and on the software front, the MIUI 10 will see a launch on the same day as well.

While Xiaomi may be launching multiple things, we all know that the one thing that almost everyone will be curious about is the Mi 8. As is the case with most flagship smartphone launches, online leaks, and sometimes company official accounts themselves, reveal a lot about the product. To the extent that the event is just looked forward to for knowing the price point. We have seen this repeatedly with the Apple iPhone X last year, with the Samsung Galaxy S9/S9 Plus this year and more recently with the OnePlus 6 as well.

The big question for the Xiaomi India enthusiasts will be whether the company will bring the Mi 8 to India? The last Xiaomi flagship that saw an Indian release was the Mi Mix 2 and the Xiaomi Mi 5 before it.

We never saw the Mi Mix 2s or the Mi 6 or any of the Mi Note series devices launched in India. Will the Xiaomi Mi 8 also be a China-0nly product? This is something we will find out on 31 May, but till then let us see all that we know about the Xiaomi Mi 8 so far.

Launch date

The launch date for the Xiaomi Mi 8 was confirmed by none other than Donovan Sung, who is the global spokesperson for Xiaomi.

Mi Fans, amazing news!  To celebrate our 8th year anniversary, we'll be launching Mi 8 at our annual flagship product launch in Shenzhen on May 31.  Stay tuned for more details!#Xiaomi #Mi8 #flagship #launch #shenzhen pic.twitter.com/O7Lh3MJAqw  Donovan Sung (@donovansung) May 22, 2018

Chipset and RAM

Xiaomi had announced during the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC late last year, that its next flagship would be housing the Snapdragon 845, so that is known. The SoC is reported to be equipped with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage. There are also reports of an 8 GB RAM variant of the device.

Display

The Xiaomi Mi 8 is expected to come with a 6.2-inch FHD+ display (1080 x 2280 pixels) with a 19:9 aspect ratio. Earlier there were rumours of a 6.01-inch display as well. A leak from Techienize also claims that the Mi 8 will come with an in-display fingerprint scanner, like the one we have seen on the Vivo X21 UD. In fact, there was a video leak which showed a device with the MIUI interface on it and having an in-display fingerprint reader as well.

Dual camera setup

Xiaomi has already launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro with dual camera setup, a design arrangement for which it got a lot of flak for the close resemblance to the dual camera arrangement on the Apple iPhone X. The Xiaomi Mi 8 is also expected to be coming with a dual camera setup. The Mi 8 will reportedly sport a dual-camera setup which will be a combination of a 20 MP (f/1.7 aperture) and 16 MP (f/2.0 aperture) sensors. On the front, there will most likely be a 16 MP selfie camera as well with an f/2.0 aperture.

3D facial recognition coming to Android?

Taking to its official Weibo account, Xiaomi's latest teaser image dropped yet another hint about the Mi 8, which was being deciphered as a new unlocking method that the phone will come with. According to a report by GizmoChina, the only thing unclear here was what exactly was Xiaomi referring to. While some thought Xiaomi was referring to a 3D facial recognition system, others suggested that it could be the use of an in-display fingerprint scanner.

An image shared on Weibo which apparently shows the insides of Mi 8's notch also seems to reveal that Xiaomi may have come up with a 3D facial recognition system. As seen in the image, Xiaomi's facial recognition technology looks identical to how it works the Apple iPhone X, complete with a front camera, earpiece, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, an infrared lens, a flood illuminator and a dot projector. If indeed true, the Xiaomi Mi 8 will be the first Android device to be coming with such a notch setup.

Operating System and Battery

Xiaomi Mi 8 will most likely be coming with Android 8.1 with the MIUI 10 skin atop it. Xiaomi has confirmed that the announcement of the MIUI 10 is part of the Xiaomi anniversary celebrations according to reports. Given that the Mi 8 will be launched at the same event, it could be safe to say that the Mi 8 could be the first smartphone to come with MIUI 10 pre-installed. In terms of battery capacity, the speculations hint at a 4,000 mAh battery.

Pricing

According to a leak reported by GizmoChina, the Xiaomi Mi 8 will come in two variants. There will be a 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage variant that will be priced at CNY 2,799 (approximately Rs 28,000), and the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage model that will cost CNY 3,199 (approximately Rs 34,000). The 8 GB RAM variant might be the Mi 8 Anniversary Edition device.

This is a developing story, so we will be adding more leaks as and when then pop up, so that this is your one stop resource for everything to do with the Xiaomi Mi 8. Till the official launch on 31 May that is.
tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi is scheduled to hold a big eighth-anniversary event on 31 May, which will include the official announcement of its flagship device  the Mi 8  and the latest version of its user interface, MIUI 10. The event is will be held at Shenzhen, China, on 31 May.

And now, in a tweet, Xiaomi senior vice president, Wang Xiang, has revealed, that along with the Mi 8 and MIUI 10, the company will also be launching the new Mi Band 3.

While thats the extent of what Xiaomi has said in relation to the Mi Band 3, rumours in the past claim to reveal quite a bit about the fitness device.

It is believed that the Mi Band 3 will be a big jump up as compared to it predecessors. The fitness band is expected to feature a touchscreen display, along with some gesture-based controls. These controls will include actions like long-press and swiping up and down for performing various tasks on it.

Mi Band 3 is also coming on 31 May, along with #Mi8 and #MIUI10. Do stay tuned! #Xiaomi pic.twitter.com/xIGRBW0Z42  Wang Xiang (@XiangW_) May 28, 2018

Additionally, some leaked screenshots of Mi Band 3s companion app hinted at controls like tapping on its display will allow users to switch between notifications while other features can be accessed through swiping actions.

Hitting the capacitive key below the display will let the users access the Back function. In order to confirm on features such as start or stop searching for a device to pair, users can long press on the capacitive key. The screen can be unlocked by swiping on it.

It hasnt been mentioned yet if the display will be coloured, but a lot of speculations point towards a more rounded display on the Mi Band 3 as compared to that seen on Mi Band 2.

Further, an alleged user manual of the Mi Band 3 was also leaked, which revealed that the fitness band will come with IP67 certified chassis and removable strap.

The band is also reported to come with support for Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC, along with various health-centric features like heart rate sensor, step counter and sleep monitor.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Monday with a migrant from Mali lauded as a hero for scaling an apartment building to save a young child dangling from a balcony.

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron met Monday with a migrant from Mali lauded as a hero for scaling an apartment building to save a young child dangling from a balcony. Macron said 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama would be rewarded for his "exceptional act" with papers to legalise his stay, citizenship if he wants and a job as a firefighter.

"Bravo," Macron said to Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with the awarding of a medal from the prefecture for "courage and devotion."

Gassama's feat went viral on social media, where he was dubbed "Spiderman" for climbing up five floors, from balcony to balcony, and whisking a four-year-old boy to safety Saturday night as a crowd screamed at the foot of the building in Paris' northern 18th district.

The young man said he has papers to legally stay in Italy, where he arrived in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean after a long, rough stay in Libya. But he wants to join his older brother, who has lived in France for decades.

Gassama, dressed in blue jeans and white shirt, recounted his experience which took place at around 8 pm. Saturday when he and friends saw a young child hanging from a fifth-floor balcony.

"I ran. I crossed the street to save him," he told Macron. He said he didn't think twice. "When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing."

God "helped me," too, he said. "Thank God I saved him."

Gassama said he began to tremble with fear only when he took the child into the apartment.

"Because this is an exceptional act ... we are obviously, today, going to regularise all your papers," Macron told him, also offering to begin naturalisation procedures so he can become French.

Macron is behind a bill toughening French immigration law, and he stressed there is no contradiction between rewarding Gassama for his act of bravery and holding firm on immigration, which the president wants to stop at its source.

"An exceptional act does not make policy," he later told reporters, vowing to maintain a policy that is "exigent, respectful of our principles" on asylum and "rigorous" regarding the migratory flux.

The special treatment for Gassama comes as authorities prepare to evacuate some 2,400 migrants in makeshift encampments in the French capital, the subject of a heated debate between the Paris mayor, who wants to ensure the uprooted will be sheltered, and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, who was present at the Elysee.

Gassama told Macron that he arrived in Italy in 2014 after more than a year in Libya, where he was arrested and beaten, "but I wasn't discouraged."

The French president said Gassama's actions made him deserving of special treatment.

"You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him," the president said. "You need courage and the capability to do that."

Working as a firefighter corresponds with his skills, Macron said, and opened the door for him to join.

"You have become an example because millions have seen you" on social media, the president said.

The French media reported that the father of the small child was detained for alleged parental neglect.
Hundreds marched through Hong Kong today ahead of the 29th anniversary of China's crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Hong Kong: Hundreds marched through Hong Kong today ahead of the 29th anniversary of China's crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Semi-autonomous Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous vigil in Victoria Park on 4 June each year. The march is an annual precursor to the main event.

Organised by a group of veteran democracy activists, protesters demanded justice for the victims of the crackdown and also urged the Chinese government to release Liu Xia, widow of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who continues to be under house arrest since her husband's death in custody last year.

Protesters shouted "Accountability for the massacre! End one-party dictatorship," and held banners reading: "Mourn 4 June, Resist Authoritarianism" as they walked from the business district of Wan Chai to Beijing's liaison office in the city.

The disqualification of pro-democracy lawmakers from Parliament and the banning of some activists from standing for office has heightened concern that Hong Kong's cherished freedoms are being steadily eroded by Beijing.

Pro-Beijing figures have said recently that calling for an end to one-party dictatorship is "illegal" and that anyone who does so could run the risk of being disqualified from running for election.

"This is our freedom, our right, and also our belief. We do not hesitate to continue saying our slogan. We believe that only by ending the one-party dictatorship can we build democratic China," said Albert Ho, chairman of Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organised the march.

Ho said that around 1,100 people attended the protest.

Residents said they were marching to ensure the bloody crackdown was not forgotten.

"If nobody talks about it, the next generation will never know about this history," said a woman who gave her name as Ho, and attended the protest with her son.

"China's Communist Party will not listen to citizens and people's voices. Although I was not born at that time, I heard my parents talk about it and I knew Hong Kong people went on the streets... to fight for their democracy and rights," added another protester who gave his name as Kelvin.

However, the turnout figures for the march and vigil have dropped in recent years as many young Hong Kongers are frustrated by the lack of progress on political reform in the city.

They disagree with the vigil's main message of democratisation in China, saying the focus should be on Hong Kong, not the mainland.

Student unions will not attend the longstanding vigil in Victoria Park this year and have boycotted it for the past three years.

Hundreds  by some estimates more than a thousand  died after the Communist Party sent tanks to crush demonstrations in the square in the heart of Beijing on 4 June, 1989, where student-led protesters had staged a peaceful seven-week sit-in to demand democratic reforms.
By Steve Scherer and Stephen Jewkes MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's president rejected Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte's pick for the economy ministry, a political source said on Sunday, a veto that may lead to another election this year. Conte, a little-known law professor with no political experience, took his list of ministers to President Sergio Mattarella, but the president rejected Conte's candidate to the Economy Ministry, the 81-year-old eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona. Before Conte or Mattarella had finished their meeting, far-right League leader Matteo Salvini said that the only option now was to hold another election, probably later this year, without directly confirming the president's veto.

By Steve Scherer and Stephen Jewkes

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's president rejected Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte's pick for the economy ministry, a political source said on Sunday, a veto that may lead to another election this year.

Conte, a little-known law professor with no political experience, took his list of ministers to President Sergio Mattarella, but the president rejected Conte's candidate to the Economy Ministry, the 81-year-old eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona.

Before Conte or Mattarella had finished their meeting, far-right League leader Matteo Salvini said that the only option now was to hold another election, probably later this year, without directly confirming the president's veto.

"In a democracy, if we are still in democracy, there's only one thing to do, let the Italians have their say," Salvini said in a fiery speech to supporters in central Italy.

Salvini and 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio had met Mattarella informally on Sunday to try to find a solution.

"The problem is Savona," the coalition source said, explaining that the economist had not sufficiently softened some of his more eurosceptic positions.

On Sunday, Savona tried to allay concerns about his views in his first public statement on the matter. Savona has been a vocal critic of the euro and the European Union, but he has distinguished credentials, including as industry minister in the early 1990s.

"I want a different Europe, stronger, but more equal," Savona said in a statement.

Last week Savona's known criticism of the euro and German economic policy further spooked financial markets that were already concerned about the future government's willingness to reign in the massive national debt, worth 1.3 times its annual output.

Outgoing Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Sunday that the problem was not Savona, but the coalition's economic plan, which is "clearly unsustainable".

Padoan also said the parties should have vocally ruled out a proposal put forward in Savona's most recent book, which said Italy should draw up a "plan B" for the country to leave the eurozone with as little damage as possible if it should prove necessary.

In his statement, Savona said his position on debt was the same as that forged by the potential coalition allies in their programme - which says it will be reduced not through austerity or tax cuts, but through targeted investments and policies that boost economic growth.

Savona has had high-level experience at the Bank of Italy, in government as industry minister in 1993-94, and with employers' lobby Confindustria. But his critical stance on the euro has been the focus of concern.

In Sunday's statement Savona did not refer to his opinions on the euro, but more than 70 slides outlining a "plan B" for Italy's exit from the euro, co-authored by Savona in 2015 with a dozen others, circulated on social media.

If the president were to continue to veto Savona, the risk is that the deal holding together the two rival parties, which won the most parliamentary seats in the March vote, would fall apart, making another election this year likely.

(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Susan Fenton and Richard Balmforth)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Steve Scherer and Stephen Jewkes MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's president summoned Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte to his office on Sunday in a move that could break a long-running political deadlock and open the way for the formation of a coalition government.

By Steve Scherer and Stephen Jewkes

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's president summoned Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte to his office on Sunday in a move that could break a long-running political deadlock and open the way for the formation of a coalition government.

But just minutes before Conte, a little-known law professor with no political experience, was due to present President Sergio Mattarella with his list of ministers, a source in the would-be governing coalition said no deal had been reached on the pivotal economy ministry post.

Mattarella has opposed Conte's candidate to the Economy Ministry, 81-year-old eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona, since giving him a mandate to form a government on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the far-right League party and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement stuck by Savona, challenging Mattarella to accept him or risk another election later this year.

5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio met Mattarella informally on Sunday to try to find a solution, a source close to the president said.

"The problem is Savona," the coalition source said, explaining that the economist had not softened some of his more eurosceptic positions.

On Sunday, Savona tried to allay concerns about his views in his first public statement on the matter. Savona has been a vocal critic of the euro and the European Union, but he has distinguished credentials, including as industry minister in the early 1990s.

"I want a different Europe, stronger, but more equal," Savona said in a statement.

Last week Savona's known criticism of the euro and German economic policy further spooked financial markets that were already concerned about the future government's willingness to reign in the country's massive debt, worth 1.3 times its annual output.

Outgoing Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Sunday that the problem was not Savona, but the coalition's economic plan, which is "clearly unsustainable".

Padoan also said the parties should have vocally ruled out a proposal put forward in Savona's most recent book, which said Italy should draw up a "plan B" for the country to leave the eurozone with as little damage as possible if it should prove necessary.

In his statement, Savona said his position on debt was the same as that forged by the potential coalition allies in their programme - which says it will be reduced not through austerity or tax cuts, but through targeted investments and policies that boost economic growth.

Savona has had high-level experience at the Bank of Italy, in government as industry minister in 1993-94, and with employers' lobby Confindustria. But his critical stance on the euro has been the focus of concern.

In Sunday's statement Savona did not refer to his opinions on the euro, but more than 70 slides outlining a "plan B" for Italy's exit from the euro, co-authored by Savona in 2015 with a dozen others, circulated on social media.

If the president were to continue to veto Savona, the risk is that the deal holding together the two rival parties, which won the most parliamentary seats in the March vote, would fall apart, making another election this year likely.

(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Susan Fenton and Richard Balmforth)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting a 'tone deaf' photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

Washington: Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting a "tone deaf" photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her infant son on Sunday, with the caption: "My <3! #SundayMorning." Critics were quick to point to a "zero tolerance" policy announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that authorizes border security agents to take away the children of people who enter the United States unlawfully.

The government places such children in foster homes, but Steven Wagner, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services told a Congressional committee last month the government was "unable to determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,475" minors after attempting to contact their sponsors in the last three months of 2017.

"Isn't it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? It's the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right?" tweeted comedian Patton Oswalt. "If there were a Tone-Deaf Olympics, you would be its Michael Phelps," added John Pavlovitz, a writer.

Many others tweeted using the WhereAreTheChildren hashtag.

Donald Trump, for his part, blamed Opposition Democrats for the "horrible law" in a tweet on Saturday: Though there is no law mandating the policy and it was not immediately clear what he may have meant.
Myanmar says dozens of Rohingya Muslims who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh have returned voluntarily and will be sent to a transit centre pending resettlement.

Yangon: Myanmar says dozens of Rohingya Muslims who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh have returned voluntarily and will be sent to a transit centre pending resettlement. Nearly 7,00,000 Rohingya fled mainly Buddhist Myanmar after a violent army crackdown began last August in the western state of Rakhine, a process that the US and UN have described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar has said it is ready to take them back and has traded accusations with Bangladesh over who is responsible for the delay in implementing a repatriation deal. Critics question its sincerity.

The long-persecuted stateless minority have been reluctant to return without guarantees of basic rights and protections, including the right to return to their old villages rather than to transit camps.

A total of 58 Rohingya have crossed back into Myanmar after they could "no longer find it tenable" to live in Bangladeshi refugee camps, according to a statement published in state media Monday from the office of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. They were detained for failing to follow proper repatriation procedures until the decision to "pardon" them and allow them to resettle in Myanmar, the statement said, adding they would be "temporarily" housed in a transit camp.

The returnees entered Myanmar in different stages over the last four months, said Suu Kyi spokesman Zaw Htay. Myanmar did not give any information on the group's members and Bangladeshi authorities said they were unaware of any details. "We haven't heard of any such incidents of refugees returning to Rakhine through their own volition or under their own arrangement from the camps," Bangladesh refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam told AFP.

The UN has said conditions in Rakhine are not ripe for repatriation.

"The Government of Myanmar is busy telling the world that it is ready to receive Rohingya returnees, while at the same time its forces are continuing to drive them into Bangladesh," said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour in March.

"Safe, dignified and sustainable returns are of course impossible under current conditions." The group will be the first to be sent to a giant transit camp on the Myanmar side of the Bangladeshi border established as part of the stalled repatriation deal reached late last year.

The Rohingya are reviled by many in Myanmar, where they are branded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh despite their long roots in Rakhine state.
Indonesia has both the capability and credibility in making significant contributions towards countering Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

While the shifting of the global balance of power towards the East is in New Delhi's interests, India is not unmindful of the implications of China's growing dominance on regional geopolitics. Whether taking inflexible positions on the long-standing border dispute, or denying India a seat at the Nuclear Suppliers Group or shielding Pakistan-based terrorists from UN sanctions, Beijing's actions have often exerted a negative influence on India-China ties. No surprise, India is pushing for deeper partnerships with many Southeast Asian countries while strengthening its existing bonds with the United States.

New Delhi's attitude to India's security has largely been shaped by the way in which the turbulent frontiers left over from the British era have interacted with an increasingly challenging internal political environment. Partly because of India's security circumstances and partly due to geographical imperatives, the Narendra Modi government's attempt to reconnect India to its traditional maritime neighbourhood, particularly in the 'Indo-Pacific' region, is aimed at enlarging India's geopolitical, geostrategic and geoeconomic horizons by ensuring free movement of people, goods and ideas.

The freedom of navigation, availability of port infrastructure and unhindered access to markets are mandatory for this purpose. Hence, the major focus of Modi's forthcoming visit to Indonesia is to show that both countries are close maritime neighbours bound by history, culture and strategy. The shortest distance between India's Andaman Islands and Indonesia's Aceh is not more than 80 nautical miles.

Strategically, Indonesia is equally important to the US and China as its location across vital Indo-Pacific chokepoints has helped Jakarta secure Chinese investment without showing any evidence of a tilt towards Beijing. As all conventional precepts in Indonesian foreign policy are undergoing transformations with the country trying to position itself as a rising power in an uncertain Indo-Pacific, New Delhi figures as a credible strategic partner of Jakarta is its revamped foreign-policy vision.

Indonesia is one of the very few countries in the region that has both the capability and credibility in making significant contributions towards countering Chinese assertiveness. Indonesia's reported move to give India economic and military access to Sabang island, which is strategically close to the Strait of Malacca, is a shot in the arm for the Modi government's 'Act East' policy. Preservation and promotion of Indian imprint in Indonesia and the East Asian region, through shared culture and religion, is an integral part of this initiative.

An increasing regional interest in the maritime theatre offers greater scope for India to participate in efforts to promote regional security. India would like to see the Indo-Pacific economies substantially improving their internal as well as external physical connectivity, without such infrastructure ending up crafting discriminatory rules of access and producing political economies capable of undermining democratic aspirations of the people living in these countries.

There are genuine concerns over the real intent of China's massive investment in infrastructure projects in areas where there is no visible commercial benefit. There are apprehensions of the emerging infrastructure in India's broader maritime neighbourhood being utilised for military purposes.

Indonesia's new maritime strategy and overtures towards the Indian Ocean are visible manifestations of Jakarta's changing diplomatic posture. Indonesia, which has questioned China's unilateral claims on the South China Sea, is not very enthusiastic about the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Indonesian president Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, wants to promote a plan called the 'Global Maritime Fulcrum', which includes a commitment to Indo-Pacific sea lanes in order to balance the BRI. Washington's support for Jokowi's maritime policy has aroused the hope of closer strategic alignment between New Delhi and Jakarta. Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation, showing bonhomie with India also sends a significant message to the global community on the issue of Kashmir and jihadist terrorism.

Gone are the days when India was a passive observer of East Asian multilateralism. Now, it wants to be an active contributor to the regional balance of power. Although it is not India's role to dictate the nature and scope of Indo-Pacific security cooperation, through discussion and experiment, India can definitely find areas where increased cooperation will serve mutual security interests.

In the words of Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesia's minister for maritime affairs, "India and Indonesia relations are important to the balance of power in Asia." Clearly, Indonesia is keen to ensure that Beijing is effectively prevented to move ahead on its current antagonistic trajectory.

At a time when India plans to redefine its strategic space in the Indo-Pacific region, New Delhi cannot avoid the burdens that come with being a major power.

As China, with deeper pockets, is trying to undercut India's geographical advantages in the Indian Ocean region, New Delhi must invest greater economic and military resources to demonstrate its credibility as a contributor to the Indo-Pacific balance, through enhanced joint military exercises, patrolling, humanitarian missions, as well as inclusive infrastructure connectivity projects. These measures are likely to be perceived favourably by the countries of the region.

Diplomatically speaking, India remains committed to multilateralism in East Asia. However, many in India are sceptical of ASEAN's ability to manage its territorial disputes with China without undermining the policy cohesiveness and political solidarity of the grouping. With ASEAN unlikely to hold China to international norms and rules, India's best option would be relying on strengthening bilateral relationships with key ASEAN countries, including Indonesia.

In fact, recent years have seen Jakarta giving a marginal position to ASEAN in Indonesia's regional diplomacy as ASEAN is seen as too feeble to effectively stand for the country's national interests in the Indo-Pacific. Although Indonesia is not a part of the emerging 'Quadrilateral' coalition comprising India, Japan, the US and Australia, Jakarta's support would be vital for ensuring greater maritime cooperation and coordination in the Indo-Pacific.

A bewildering mix of assertive, antagonistic and sometimes accommodating stances demonstrated by Beijing has often constrained India's policy options vis-a-vis China. Maintaining the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific can provide the best insurance for India's positioning as a global power.
Pakistan on Monday appointed former chief justice Nasir Ul Mulk as interim prime minister until general elections are held on 25 July, premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.

Pakistan on Monday appointed former chief justice Nasir-ul-Mulk as interim prime minister until General Elections are held on 25 July, premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.

"No Pakistani can lift a finger (against) such a name," Abbasi told reporters, seated next to Opposition leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah.

Abbasi also said that his role as caretaker prime minister will be in favour of the country and the democratic process, according to a report in Dawn. "We have chosen his name on the basis of merit. We took our parties into confidence and decided upon this name," he added.

While saying that Mulk has played a historic role in the judiciary and when he was a lawyer, Khan said he is hopeful that the elections on 25 July will be conducted in a fair and impartial way.

The announcement ends weeks of wrangling between Abbasi's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Shah's Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mulk, who also served as the interim chief of the Election Commission of Pakistan, will head a technocratic government until elections as the current government and Parliament will be dissolved on Thursday.

The interim administration usually does not make any major decisions until the new government is elected, though it may be forced to act to shore up the economy amid a worsening macro-economic outlook.

In 2015, Mulk put his gavel away after a 13-month long stint as head of the country's superior judiciary, according to a report in The Express Tribune. During his short tenure, Mulk gave four historical judgments, which strengthened democracy in the country, the report added.

He was also head of the judicial commission which probed PTIs rigging allegations in the 2013 election.

Pakistan will hold General Elections on 25 July. The outgoing government of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is only the second to complete a five year term in office, which underscores a democratic transition in the nuclear armed nation.

With inputs from Reuters
Monday, May 28, 2018 Memorial Day Blogging: Catching You Up On The Final Polls



Another ad takes her campaign in a positive direction. Well, kinda of.



In this



In our May 24 poll of likely Democratic voters education was their number one concern.



FINAL GUV POLLS



Here's our take on the final polls in the '18 Guv contest:



The enormous lead MLG has in the ABQ



In other words, there's little doubt that MLG will be the Democratic nominee to face Republican Steve Pearce in November when we tally the results June 5 on KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.com.



From the beginning Democrats have been comfortable with the ABQ congresswoman and she endured little criticism in the primary. Cervantes gave it a shot but the bullets fell well short of their target. Apodaca won the passion contest but could not translate that into widespread support.



The main event promises to be more challenging for Lujan Grisham. Underdog Pearce will work to not only challenge her on the issues, but on character, if he is to have nay hope for the upset. His campaign is eyeing the same MLG business dealings that Cervantes targeted and they will also gnaw away at her as temperamental and unable to work with others. Their not so subtle implication is that if you didn't like Susana Martinez you aren't going to like Lujan Grisham.



Next Tuesday night, however, she will address a unified majority party, with an army surrounding the ABQ metro ready to fend off Pearce who must make major advances here.



A Pearce-Lujan Grisham campaign will not just be a study in contrasts, it's a study of two candidates whose approach to life and politics is worlds apart. Even Jeff Apodaca and Joe Cervantes will want to stay around for that show.



INK STAINED SPEAK



There was some salve put on Cervantes' polling wound Sunday when the Las Cruces Sun-News, his hometown newspaper, gave him their



WRONG WORD







The illegals trying to get over the great Trump wall with that thing will be flooding the injury lawyers with business. Thats what you wrote. . . Explain specifically to your readers why its accurate to use this despicable. . . word illegals to label a diverse group of people, many of whom will labor and contribute to NMs economy for meager wages and be more law abiding when compared to the citizenry. Do you even know what laws they allegedly break when they cross without documentation? Why designate one group of unconvicted law breakers as illegals, except to further a divisiveness. . . If you were writing ironically, it was lost on me.



For years the term "illegal immigrant" was the standard journalistic term. It was only five years ago that the AP



This is the home of New Mexico politics.







Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.



( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018 The TV attacks on her from Joe Cervantes didn't have much impact, according to the polls, but Michelle Lujan Grisham, the front-runner for the Dem Guv primary nomination, will close out her media campaign with one ad that shoots down the claims against her, including that she voted to repeal Obamacare which the ad asserts she "never" did. It is a low-key, mildly announced commercial that calls his ad ridiculous but never mentions Cervantes.Another ad takes her campaign in a positive direction. Well, kinda of.In this final week ad she begins by reciting some of the downer statistics facing the state's education system--47th in math; 49th in reading; 50th in K thru 12--and then says as Governor she'll invest in pre-K, math and science, apprenticeships and reduce student loan debt. She concludes with what might be her new slogan: "We Will Change This."In our May 24 poll of likely Democratic voters education was their number one concern.Here's our take on the final polls in the '18 Guv contest:The enormous lead MLG has in the ABQ Journal poll released Sunday matches the one we showed on our Wednesday, May 24 robocall poll . The Journal awarded her 57 percent; the blog poll had her at 54. In the Journal Jeff Apodaca scored 15; in the blog 18. Joe Cervantes received 9 percent in the Journal and 11 percent in ours. The paper had undecided at 19 and we had it at 17.In other words, there's little doubt that MLG will be the Democratic nominee to face Republican Steve Pearce in November when we tally the results June 5 on KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.com.From the beginning Democrats have been comfortable with the ABQ congresswoman and she endured little criticism in the primary. Cervantes gave it a shot but the bullets fell well short of their target. Apodaca won the passion contest but could not translate that into widespread support.The main event promises to be more challenging for Lujan Grisham. Underdog Pearce will work to not only challenge her on the issues, but on character, if he is to have nay hope for the upset. His campaign is eyeing the same MLG business dealings that Cervantes targeted and they will also gnaw away at her as temperamental and unable to work with others. Their not so subtle implication is that if you didn't like Susana Martinez you aren't going to like Lujan Grisham.Next Tuesday night, however, she will address a unified majority party, with an army surrounding the ABQ metro ready to fend off Pearce who must make major advances here.A Pearce-Lujan Grisham campaign will not just be a study in contrasts, it's a study of two candidates whose approach to life and politics is worlds apart. Even Jeff Apodaca and Joe Cervantes will want to stay around for that show.There was some salve put on Cervantes' polling wound Sunday when the Las Cruces Sun-News, his hometown newspaper, gave him their editorial endorsement . MLG earlier won the endorsement of the Journal and New Mexican.In the first draft of the Friday blog we erred and referenced "illegals" when the proper term is undocumented immigrants. Margaret Montoya, UNM Professor Emerita of Law, commented:For years the term "illegal immigrant" was the standard journalistic term. It was only five years ago that the AP dropped its use . However, in one of the TV ads for Congress in the southern district this year the term is again employed. We've long used the phrase "undocumented immigrant" but in that Friday piece we slipped into the old usage and corrected it.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)
A retired English teacher found many errors in a White House letter bearing president Donald Trump's signature and mailed it back after making corrections, a media report said.

New York: A retired English teacher found many errors in a White House letter bearing president Donald Trump's signature and mailed it back after making corrections, a media report said.

The letter, dated 3 May and printed on White House stationery, was addressed to Yvonne Mason, 61, who retired in 2017. After she made the corrections, she snapped a picture, posted the letter on Facebook and mailed it back to the White House. "It was a poorly worded missive," she told The New York Times on Sunday.

"Poor writing is not something I abide. If someone is capable of doing better, then they should do better." Mason, a Democrat who lives in Atlanta, had written to Trump to ask that he visit each family of those who died in the shooting that killed 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida, in February.

"I had written to them in anger, to tell you the truth," she said. "I thought he owed it to these grieving families." According to the former teacher, the letter she received did not address her concerns.

Instead, it listed a series of actions taken after the shooting, like listening sessions, meetings with lawmakers and the STOP School Violence Act, a bill that would authorise $500 million over 10 years for safety improvements at schools but had no provisions related to guns.

Some of the things Mason wrote in the letter were: "Have y'all tried grammar & style check? Federal is capitalised only when used as part of a proper noun." There was more, but she did not correct everything.

"I did not mention the dangling modifier...I focused mainly on mechanics," Mason told The New York Times. "Nation" was capitalised, so was "states". She circled both the words.

The letter stood in contrast to other letters she has received from politicians, Mason said. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, sent "beautiful" letters that struck a tone that "makes me more important than him", she said.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, who has not ruled out running against Donald Trump for the White House, on Sunday criticized as a 'diversion tactic' the president's unsubstantiated allegation last week of an FBI 'spy' being planted in his election campaign. Flake's comments, on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' put him again at the forefront of very few Republican lawmakers willing to openly challenge Trump over his attacks on law enforcement officials who are investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, who has not ruled out running against Donald Trump for the White House, on Sunday criticized as a "diversion tactic" the president's unsubstantiated allegation last week of an FBI "spy" being planted in his election campaign.

Flake's comments, on NBC's "Meet the Press," put him again at the forefront of very few Republican lawmakers willing to openly challenge Trump over his attacks on law enforcement officials who are investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign.

The investigation was begun by the FBI in July 2016, but handed over by the Justice Department to Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.

Flake said Trump's unfounded allegations about FBI spying on his campaign, which the president has called "Spygate," came amid escalating, behind-the-scenes concern in the U.S. Senate that the president may try to stop the probe by firing Mueller or the person who appointed him, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

"The president had this diversion tactic, obviously, with so-called Spygate," Flake said of Trump's assertions last week. "There is concern that the president is laying the groundwork to move on Bob Mueller or Rosenstein. If that were to happen, obviously, that would cause a constitutional crisis."

Some senior Republicans, including Flake, have sounded similar warnings in recent weeks as the Mueller investigation has plowed forward, drawing frequent denunciations from Trump.

Mueller is also investigating any possible obstruction of justice by Trump. Trump and the White House have repeatedly denied any collusion by the campaign, or any other wrongdoing.

The White House has also said it is not considering firing Mueller.

In a tweet on Sunday, Trump called the investigation a "phony Russia Collusion Witch Hunt" - reiterating his oft-stated resentment at the probe that has clouded his presidency.

After Trump demanded an inquiry into his "spy" claim, the current FBI Director Christopher Wray and Rosenstein, who oversees Muellers probe, held two classified briefings on Thursday for senior lawmakers of both parties on the matter.

Democratic Representative Adam Schiff was among those briefed. Speaking on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, he said, "There is no evidence to support that spy theory. This is just a piece of propaganda the president wants to put out and repeat."

Republican Senator Marco Rubio told the same program that so far he has seen no evidence to support the president's assertions about a campaign "spy."

"What I have seen so far is an FBI effort to learn more about individuals with a history of bragging about links to Russia that pre-exist the campaign. If those people were operating near my office or my campaign, I'd want them investigated," said Rubio, who ran unsuccessfully against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary campaign.

"If it turns out to be something different, we want to know about it. But it is the FBI's job to investigate counterintelligence," Rubio said.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January 2017 that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an effort to meddle in the U.S. election campaign, included seeking to help Trump win. Moscow has denied the charge.

Flake delivered a blistering attack on the president when he announced last October he would not run this year for re-election to the Senate. Asked if would run for the White House in 2020, he said: "It's not in my plans, but I've not ruled anything out. I do hope that somebody runs on the Republican side other than the president, if nothing else simply to remind Republicans what conservatism is and what Republicans have traditionally stood for."

(Reporting by Kevin Drawbaugh; Editing by Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
American and North Korean officials met at the border between North and South Korea on Sunday in preparation for a possible North Korea-US summit

Seoul/Washington: American and North Korean officials met at the border between North and South Korea on Sunday in preparation for a possible North Korea-US summit, as North Koreas Kim Jong-un was cited as reaffirming his commitment to meet with US president Donald Trump.

Both Pyongyang and Washington are pressing ahead on plans for a summit after Trump pulled out of the proposed 12 June meeting on Thursday, only to reconsider the decision the next day.

A US delegation is in ongoing talks with North Korean officials at Panmunjom, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, referring to a village in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that runs along the heavily armed border between North and South Korea.

We continue to prepare for a meeting between the President and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, she said in a statement.

In addition to the border talks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said a pre-advance team left for Singapore on Sunday morning to work on logistics for a possible summit.

Earlier on Sunday, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said he and North Koreas Kim had agreed during a surprise meeting on Saturday that the North Korea-US summit must be held.

The weekend meetings were the latest dramatic turn in a week of diplomatic ups and downs over the prospects for an unprecedented summit between the United States and North Korea, and the strongest sign yet that the leaders of the two Koreas are trying to keep the meeting on track.

A US official told Reuters that Sung Kim, the former US ambassador to South Korea, would lead an American delegation to meet North Korean officials at the border. Pentagon official Randall Schriver was part of the US team, the official said.

The Washington Post first reported that the team, which also included Allison Hooker, the Korea expert on the White House National Security Council, met with Choe Son-hui, the North Korean vice foreign minister.

The Washington Post said the meetings would continue on Monday and Tuesday at Tongilgak, the Norths building in Panmunjom, where the truce suspending the 1950-53 Korean War was signed.

In their Saturday meeting, Kim reaffirmed his commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to a planned meeting with Trump, Moon said.

Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean Peninsulas denuclearisation and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted, Moon said.

Moon acknowledged Pyongyang and Washington may have differing expectations of what denuclearisation means and he urged both sides to hold working-level talks to resolve their differences.

The United States has demanded the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and has always couched its language in terms of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

In previous, failed talks, North Korea said it could consider giving up its arsenal if Washington removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.
The dream of traveling from coast to coast or across the ocean in a matter of hours is a real possibility, with the Federal Aviation Administration beginning work on updated regulations to accommodate a new generation of supersonic aircraft. The changes would be great news for passengers, while creating both challenges and new opportunities for aerospace giants like Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and Boeing (NYSE:BA).

The FAA intends to issue a formal proposal on new noise guidelines by December, according to a post on the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website. The new rules would allow for testing of new supersonic technologies that are designed to not generate a disruptive sonic boom, and pave the way for eventual approval of the new technologies if they work as planned.

Commercial aviation hit supersonic speeds in 1976 when the Concorde took to the skies, but that aircraft, because of its loud boom, was limited to operating only over water due to concerns that the boom would break windows, scare livestock, and generally disrupt daily lives. Those guidelines restricting the Concorde to trans-ocean flying limited the airplane's usefulness and helped lead to its retirement in 2003.

Advances in design and material technology now allow for aircraft designs that minimize that sonic boom, and NASA has been working with the industry on concepts since 2010. But even if the noise challenges can be overcome, FAA regulations currently restrict supersonic flight based on speed and not based on noise generated, so the government would have to update regulations before commercial flights or even tests could be permitted.

New opportunities and risks

The FAA's planned action is good news for Lockheed Martin, which earlier this year was awarded a $247.5 million contract from NASA to design and build a modern supersonic commercial aircraft. Delivery of the aircraft is expected in late 2021, and NASA is likely to use the data the test flights produce to build its case for allowing a return of faster-than-sound flying.

Lockheed has extensive experience in supersonic flying thanks to its F-35 and F-22 military programs, and it's collaborating with privately held Aerion to develop a supersonic business jet prototype. Success could open new lines of business for Lockheed, which exited the commercial aviation business more than 30 years ago.

The ramifications for Boeing are more complicated. The company's massive commercial division accounts for more than 60% of its $93.4 billion in annual revenue. The company needs to be at least cognizant that its long-range, widebody order book, which currently stands at about 1,000 airplanes, could eventually come under pressure should airlines have a supersonic alternative.

Of course, that threat is still a way off, and Boeing is working on its own hypersonic offerings. The company earlier this year unveiled a new hypersonic design that at least initially will be targeting the defense market, but last summer at the Paris Air Show, CEO Dennis Muilenburg said of commercial hypersonic flights, "I think in the next decade or two you're going to see it become a reality."

Through its venture capital arm, Boeing also has a stake in Reaction Engines, a British firm working to develop a hybrid engine able to travel five times the speed of sound in atmosphere. It's far too early to project demand for supersonic aircraft or to predict list prices, but Boeing appears to be hedging its bets and committing R&D resources to make sure it is not left behind if these initial efforts prove to be a success.

Other companies are pursuing the technology as well. Boom Supersonic, a Denver-based start-up backed by Japan Airlines and several venture firms and partnered with Richard Branson, is developing a plane capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound that it hopes to introduce by 2023.

Disruption will take time

The talk of an early 2020s return of supersonic flying is exciting, but for the foreseeable future, Boeing's order book feels secure. Even if these new concepts work as planned and regulators sign off on noise rules that will allow the planes to fly over land, airlines are likely to tread slowly before committing to new technologies.

These supersonic jets, like the Concorde before it, will likely be significantly more expensive than the Boeing 777s and 787s they could potentially replace; it also remains to be seen what percentage of airline passengers will be willing to pay premium ticket prices to shave a few hours off of a flight from New York to Tokyo. Until commercial operators have a better understanding of the cost of and demand for the faster flying, they're likely to stick with what they know.

What is clear is that supersonic flying is poised for a comeback. There might be turbulence along the way, but over the long haul expect both Lockheed and Boeing to be among the winners as the technology matures.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
NATO Parliamentary Assembly accuses Russia of human rights violations in Ukraine and Georgia - GeorgianJournal
Lenovo Z5, the complete bezel-less phone to launch on the 5th of June News oi-Vivek Lenovo is all set for the launch of the Lenovo Z5 in China on the 5th of June 2018.

Lenovo has set a date for the launch of its most anticipated smartphone the Lenovo Z5 in China on the 5th of June. For the first time, Lenovo has incorporated up to 18 patent technologies to make a completely redesigned smartphone in and out with up to 95 percent screen to body ratio with no bezel on or a notch.

Lenovo Z5 features and specifications

The smartphone is going big in all aspects. In fact, the smartphone will be powered by the top of the tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with up to 4 TB of cloud storage and a mesmerizing 45 days of battery standby time with half an hour of talk time when the battery is at 0% charge. As expected, the smartphone will either have an all-glass design or a metal unibody design with fast charging capability.

the Lenovo VP shared a set of new camera samples shot with the Z5's dual rear cameras. These shots are said to be shot in the US. The clarity of the shots is vivid in bright daylight. The scenery has been captured with a great depth and attention to the details. These samples hint that the camera is quite powerful. Previously, he had shared the camera samples of the upcoming Lenovo flagship smartphone. One set of samples showed the natural-looking photos even under low-light conditions. The other set of camera samples revealed the portrait shots clicked by the dual rear camera module of the Z5.

Conclusion

Most of the smartphone OEMs are launching smartphones with a similar set of design. Lenovo, on the other hand, is coming up with something that might make other OEMs to reconsider their smartphone design. The Lenovo Z5 will be competing against the likes of the Vivo APEX, which is also expected to have a bezel-less design with a retractable camera.

In a nutshell, the Lenovo Z5 will be powered by the best processor available in the market, top of line camera optics, premium design. All these features mean, that the Lenovo Z5 could be the most expensive smartphone that the company has ever launched and is expected to cost around $800, which is still less than the $1000 price mark of the Apple iPhone X.

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 Galaxy Note 9 might get an 8GB RAM, 512GB ROM variant News oi-Vishal Kawadkar

Samsung is soon expected to unveil the next iteration of the Galaxy Note phablet. Now a new report from China suggests that the device will sport 8GB RAM and 512GB ROM. Known industry insider from China said users might see that configuration if they are "lucky."

While the source of information has a positive reputation regarding Samsung related leaks, their statement hints that the memory configuration isn't finalized and are only being considered by the company. The base model of the Galaxy Note 9 is said to come with 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage, much like its predecessor did last year.

The same insider previously tipped that Samsung will introduce at least one new color variant with the Note 9, with its official name being "Teddy Brown." This will mark the first time since 2013 where Samsung will launch a brown colored flagship.

The Galaxy Note 9 is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as Samsung's own Exynos 9810 in other markets. The device will support expandable memory up to 2TB. It will borrow the camera setup from the Galaxy S9 with variable aperture.

An in-screen fingerprint sensor is unlikely, with the company reportedly working on an ultrasonic tech for the solution. But, such a solution will most likely be debuted with the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus next year.

The Note 9 could have a significantly enhanced artificial intelligence assistant which it's basically referring to as Bixby 2.0. 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.

Besides, Samsung is also planning to make all its appliances artificial intelligence capable by 2020. The company's new consumer electronics CEO Kim Hyun-suk told The Wall Street Journal, "I wonder why everyone is talking about speakers," remarked Kim in reference to smart speaker segment.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ unboxing and quick look

Smart speaker segment is the fastest-growing category of consumer electronics, according to many industry trackers. While the South Korean giant is already working on its first Bixby-powered smart speaker, it will see the light of day in the second half of the year. But the company has bigger plans for all of its products by making them AI-ready.

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
Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro TENNA listing: Design, Specs, price and more News oi-Karan Its seems Xiaomi is looking forward to launching its Redmi 6 Pro. The M1805D1SE is now rumored to be Redmi 6 Pro. The new leak renders showcased some of the images of the phone.

Last week there were three Xiaomi models which were passed through the Chinese certification website TENAA. The models where M1804C3CC, M1804C3DE and M1804C3CE which were said to be Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A but the third model was not predicted at that time. It seems there is some clarity on the third model.

The M1805D1SE is now rumored to be Redmi 6 Pro. The new leak renders showcased some of the images of the phone which have revealed the design. The images show a similar design to the Redmi Note 5 Pro with same vertical dual camera setup and a fingerprint on the rear panel. But this time this one has a top notch which was not there in the Note 5 Pro.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro rumored specification

According to the TENNA listing the Redmi 6 Pro is expected to sport a 5.84-inch HD+ 2.5D curved glass display with a resolution of 22801080 pixels, the phone also comes with an aspect ratio of 19:9.

The Redmi 6 Pro is expected to be powered by 2GHz Octa-Core processor clubbed with 2GB RAM with 16GB storage, 3GB RAM with 32GB storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD.

On the camera part, the phone is said to come with a 12-MP rear camera with LED Flash, secondary rear camera and 5MP front-facing camera. The rear panel also houses a Fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor. The Redmi 6 Pro is expected to back by a 3000mAh battery and runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI 9. Connectivity wise the phone will offer 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS.

The Xiaomi M1805D1SE is said to come in wide range of color variants such as Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Pink, Gray and Silver colors. However, there is no clarity when Xiaomi is planning to announce these phones. Moreover, the company is already preparing the event which is going to held on May 31 in which it is going to announce some new products.

The Redmi 5 Pro was launched in India at Rs, 13,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64 GB storage model. On the basis of that we can expect the upcoming smartphone to be priced some where in the vicinity of Rs 15,000.

Xiaomi's Global Mi Home Experience Store in Delhi: Products Rundown

Source

Best Mobiles in India
ASBURY PARK, N.J. - The Trump administration's bid to expand offshore drilling sounds like a sweet deal when the oil and gas industry sells it: more jobs, increased local revenue and possibly an energy surplus that could lower home heating costs.

But Mayor John Moor's opinion of the proposal to drill off the Atlantic Coast for the first time in decades is set:"I don't think the risk is worth all the money in the world," he said at City Hall,a few blocks from the popular beach boardwalk that is fueling his city's economic turnaround.

"You could stack billions atop of billions atop of billions and it's just not worth the risk."

Moor's unwavering view stretches the length of the 142-mile Jersey Shore, from northern municipalities such as Asbury Park to Cape May in the south. As Memorial Day and beach season approached, several mayors whose economies rely heavily on tourism said they are united in opposition to President Donald Trump's plan.

New Jersey beaches were an embarrassment 30 years ago, but state officials have poured millions of dollars into efforts to recover from a pollution catastrophe. The shore is revitalized, a state treasure that residents, conservationists and politicians fiercely protect.

Across the Atlantic Coast strip, mayors in nearly every city teamed with council members, conservationists, business leaders and residents to craft resolutions that denounced the proposal to widen federal offshore leasing to 90 percent of the outer continental shelf, an effort that beganjust days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the plan in January.

They helped put New Jersey at the forefront of resistance to Trump's "energy dominance" agenda, crafting obstacles to the five-year lease proposal that at least one other state copied and another is considering.

Last month, New Jersey became the first Atlantic state to adopt a legal barrier to offshore drilling. Lawmakers passed a bill, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, D, that prohibits oil exploration in state waters, which extend three miles from shore.

An amendment to the law went further, barring the construction of infrastructure such as a pipeline to deliver oil and natural gas from drilling platforms in federal waters that start where state waters end, a move that would head off the industry's favored method of bringing energy resources to shore.

New York quickly passed a similar law. And a Republican state senator in Delaware submitted a bill in mid-May that mirrors those of the state's northern neighbors.

Some chamber of commerce estimates put the economic impact of coastal Atlantic beach tourism at $95 billion per year.

The administration's proposal has stood on shaky ground from the beginning. Within days of the announcement, Zinke flew to Florida to assure a political ally, Gov. Rick Scott, R, that his state would be exempt.

After a barrage of bipartisan criticism and requests for the same treatment from other coastal states, Zinke has backpedaled.

At congressional hearings in March, Zinke assured Pacific coast officials that a paucity of easily extractableoil there makes it unlikely that drilling will happen. Later he said something similar about Maine.

A pair of Republican representatives from New Jersey, Leonard Lance and Frank LoBiondo, said the secretary indicated to themthat the state would also be left off the plan.

Regardless, they pushed for the state ban as "a backdoor way of blocking the offshore drilling," according to its co-sponsor, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May.

But banning gas pipelines in state waters isn't "necessarily . . . a showstopper," said Nicolette Nye, a spokeswoman for the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents oil and gas interests. Pipelines are the cheapest way to transport oil and natural gas to a processing plant, she said, but an expensive plant could be built in federal waters or shipped in an offshore vessel.

"While the stated goal is to reduce dependence on oil, the fact remains that a major shift from oil as a fuel is still many years away," Nye said. "Thus such a pipeline ban will likely actually increase importation of oil from foreign countries."

But Jersey Shore drilling opponents are deeply influenced bythe shore's dark history, when federal officials allowed state and local governments to dump millions of tons of sewage into the ocean.

The result was an environmental disaster that led to a tourism exodus from New Jersey beaches, billions of dollars in losses and a generation of conservationists and politicians who said "never again."

In the late 1980s, the Jersey Shore's reputation was garbage.

It was a victim of a lawful practice that polluted the coast. Six New Jersey cities and three in New York routinely sent barges piled with 8 million wet tons of sewage to a dumping area 100 miles off Cape May.

Floating trash washed up on beaches from Long Island to Cape May. "Everything from A to Z," said Moor, the mayor of Asbury Park.

"We used to call it the tampon index because if you had a certain number of tampon applicators you'd know how much raw sewage washed up on the beach and whether you could swim," said Cindy Zipf, the executive director of Clean Ocean Action, who sat next to Moor at City Hall.

Near Cape May, Martin Pagliughi, mayor of Avalon, remembered. "We spent every morning, 5:30 in the morning, scouring the beaches with shovels and buckets and scoops to kind of get all those," he said.

Congress passed the federal anti-dumping act of 1988 that ended sewage dumping in 1991 as New York City continued to assert that its ocean garbage runs had nothing to do with the pollution. Meanwhile, syringes and other medical waste continued to wash up on beaches.

By that time, oceanfront rentals and hotels had emptied, few customers were in stores and the shore was the butt of jokes.

New Jersey lost between $900 million and $4 billion, and New York lost between $950 million and $2 billion, according to an estimate by the State University of New York Waste Management Institute.

As the larger dumping debacle played out, Asbury Park was rocked by its own sewage problem starting in 1987. The city botched the maintenance of its sewer lines for two years, then mishandled a cleanup effort by flushing grease into a treatment plant that couldn't handle it. Blobs of fat mixed with fecal matter drifted into the ocean, broke apart and contaminated the beaches of eight cities at the height of the summer season.

"These beaches were empty," said John Weber, the Mid-Atlantic regional manager for the Surfrider Foundation, a conservation group. "And I knew because, if you wanted to surf by yourself, if there were good waves, you could come to Asbury Park to not bother with the crowds. That was like their little secret spot, Asbury Park."

"The beaches were terrible because of the sewage," Moor said. The tourism loss led to "the economic decline of the city itself and also with the boardwalk, which was in terrible disrepair."

Asbury Park was fined nearly $1 million, the stiffest fine ever levied by the state's environmental agency against a city.

"This city was down and out," Moor said.

Now, after nearly three decades, Asbury Park is resurging. The sewage plant was upgraded and is winning awards. The beach is restored.

Revenue from the tags people must purchase to access the beach is marching upward, from $85,400 in 2003 to nearly $2.2 million last year, money that must be spent to maintain and improve the waterfront. Parking revenue rose to the $1 million mark in 2011, and last year topped $5 million.

New retail stores and restaurants on a three-block stretch of Cookman Avenue leading to the boardwalk have drawn international praise. New condominiums sprang up years ago, and another gigantic mixed-use development is being built.

"Every weekend there's something going on" in Asbury Park, Moor said. So when news broke of Trump's drilling proposal, he felt threatened.

"How do we stop this," Moor recalled wondering, "because it's totally insane."

Like other mayors, Moor turned to activists.

Out of the muck of the late 1980s, determined environmental conservation efforts sprang up. "That was when a lot of us got together and formed the Jersey Shore Partnership and created a beach lobbying type of environment," said Pagliughi, the mayor of Avalon.

Zipf became their guide.

Working with Vicki Clark of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, she pulled together a network of people who raised public and political awareness.

Zipf also helped craft the amendment that forbids oil pipelines in New Jersey waters, which is modeled on a California law.

David Holt, president of the Consumer Energy Alliance, said outlawing that infrastructure could lead to the type of catastrophe states are trying to avoid.

"They're basically saying 'no' to the most environmentally sensitive way to handle this," Holt said. "It is a concern for groups like ours."

For others on the Jersey Shore, resistance means there is a better chance that ocean views and waters will remain pristine, beckoning to tourists and their wallets.

"We're pretty passionate about protecting our tourism economy," Clark said. She recalled lobbying mayors and council members to pass resolutions when she bumped into them on the streets.

Pagliughi, who called the opposition a no-brainer, was a quick sell. Cape May Mayor Clarence Lear, who doesn't want to see a single oil platform on his horizon, asked what he could do.

Clark summed up her lobbying to fight Trump's proposal: "It was easy," she said.
Information about the Lenovo Z5 and its record-breaking screen-to-body ratio keeps appearing on Weibo. First it was just a corner, then it was a sketch, then it was another corner and now we have an official launch date of the device.

The phone is coming on June 5, as confirmed by Chang Cheng, Lenovo VP and former ZUK CEO. The event will take place in the Chinese capital Beijing at 2 PM.



Official poster  Letter to the fans

In a separate post earlier today Cheng said the Z5 will be a follow-up of the ZUK series that included the Z1, the Z2 Pro, the Z2 and the Edge. The executive plays the nostalgia note with the poster, saying that the 24/7 dedication and fan support is the main reason Lenovo Z5 is arriving now.

Although specs are not yet confirmed, the launch at the Beijing Film Academy should reveal the massive charge of the battery cell that last week was teased to go 45 days on standby on a single charge. Cheng also teased the Lenovo Z5 will have 4 technological breakthroughs and 18 patented technologies, with some of them most likely to be in the UI department where the ZUK interface is expected to make a return.

Source (in Chinese) | Via
These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
Published on 2018/05/27 | Source

Tourists wait outside a duty-free store in Seoul. /Yonhap

Some 213,000 Japanese tourists visited Korea in April, up 29 percent from the same month last year, the Korea Tourism Organization said Thursday.

Advertisement

The increase heralds a return of Japanese visitors as a force to reckon with in the Korean tourism industry, which not long ago weaned itself of dependence on them to throw everything at the Chinese market.

About 167,000 Japanese tourists came in March, up eight percent on-year.

"The Japanese seem to feel less anxious amid a thaw in relations between the two Koreas, which apparently led to the rise", a KTO spokesman speculated.

Numbers dropped sharply in April last year, when the Japanese Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory as tensions ran high on the Korean Peninsula.

If the trend continues, visitors from Japan will total 2.7 million by year's end, and if it keeps rising the number could surpass 3 million.

Numbers peaked at 3.52 million in 2012, but then relations soured and the weakening yen made Korea less attractive as a destination. The lowest figure was 1.83 million in 2015.

The KTO will hold a Korea tourism festival at Tokyo Dome on June 12-13, which includes an exhibition and a K-pop concert featuring acts like boy band Supernova.
Following an interrogation, police found that Bhat, a customer service officer, had been called up on his performance and given a verbal notice to improve or lose his job in three months. Bhat reportedly made the call after being warned, in a moment of frustration.

Police managed to identify the number Bhat made the call from, which was confirmed once police seized the phone.

The accused, Kartik Madhav Bhat (23), who was a 'customer service officer' with IndiGo airlines, was caught after investigators traced the call he had made to Pune. He was arrested from his residence," added Sanjay Bhatia, DCP, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

Employers can help their stressed-out workers deal with workplace anxieties before a tricky situation arises. A report from Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that one third of organizations have formal wellbeing programs in place, yet under half said wellbeing was on their senior leaders agendas.

HR leaders could consider mindfulness training and one-on-one staff engagement initiatives to ensure their workers are being cared for as they should be.
The court found that as general manager Chang breached racial discrimination provisions of the Fair Work Act when he exploited their poor language skills.

Chang was also found to have forced them to work extra hours without pay and failed to record their hours of work.

The significant fine is the result of last year's Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Act, which was implemented following findings of exploitation of migrants by several prominent franchisees.

Judge Barbara Baker found that Chang chose to recruit employees from Malaysia because he knew that it was usual in Malaysia to work six or seven days".

Moreover, Chang referred to the couple as family in order to pressure them into working hard for him.
A takeaway customer who hurled insults at staff claimed her outburst came just after she received news that she could be seriously ill.

Karen O'Rourke (36), who has battled addiction, "acted in a way she never did before", barrister Patrick Jackson told Swords District Court.

He added that shortly before his client began creating trouble in the takeaway, calling the staff members insulting names, she had been informed that she might have a serious medical condition.

Sgt Terri Ferguson gave evidence that gardai received a call to go to Townyard Lane in Malahide.

The defendant was inside a takeaway causing hassle to staff members for "no valid reason".

Officers were forced to remove her from the premises after she started shouting insults.

She was directed to leave the area but she failed to do so, the court was told.

Letters

O'Rourke, of The Paddocks, Carlton Court, Swords, pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to comply with directions of gardai on March 21. She had no previous convictions.

Mr Jackson handed in two letters from the defendant's doctor.

He told the court that following a medical examination, it appeared that O'Rourke "may have a serious condition".

"She has battled addiction and the only person she has damaged is herself," he said.

"When she got the news, she acted in a way she never did before."

He said unmarried O'Rourke, who works part-time, was now seeing medical professionals.

"She has written a letter of apology to the gardai, but she is not sure it made its way to them," he said, adding that the defendant had 100 with her if the court saw fit to proceed by way of a charitable donation.

Judge Dermot Dempsey fined O'Rourke 200 for failing to comply with the directions of gardai. He took the offence of threatening and abusive behaviour into consideration.
Two workmates who hit speeds of up to 220kph as they separately rushed home have been banned from the road.

Construction workers Ion Stamati (26) and Mihail Bors (23) drove without regard to other road users, passing each other in the inside lane, a court was told.

Judge David McHugh said the speed was "probably a record" during his time on the bench.

He fined Stamati and Bors 250 each and banned them for two years.

Stamati, of Greenwood Heights, Coolock, and Bors, of Chapelview Apartments, Lucan, both admitted charges of dangerous driving on the N4 Leixlip on April 16.

Sgt Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court that gardai in an unmarked patrol car observed two vehicles heading towards Dublin at high speed.

Manoeuvre

Sgt Callaghan said Stamati was driving a Mercedes and Bors was in a Passat.

As they passed the Celbridge interchange, the cars reached speeds of 205kph.

She added that gardai saw Bors undertake Stamati, at speed and without indicating. Stamati then completed the same manoeuvre. The pair were clocked at up to 220kph.

Gardai indicated for the pair to pull over, which they did, and co-operated fully.

Defence solicitor Matthew Kenny asked the judge to consider a plea to the lesser charge of careless driving. He said that if the men lost their licences they would lose their jobs.

Mr Kenny said the men were not "boy racers" but conceded that they were driving "without any regard to other road users".

Judge McHugh refused to reduce the charges, saying it was not only the speed but the manner of driving that was a concern.
The funeral of Mark Hennessy, who was shot dead by gardai after killing Jastine Valdez

The families of Jastine Valdez and her killer Mark Hennessy have met to express their sympathies with one another.

The two grieving families met on Friday morning - as Jastine's remains lay in repose and ahead of Hennessy's funeral last Saturday.

In a joint statement released last night, they said: "In the midst of our grief both the Valdez and Hennessy families met on Friday morning where we exchanged sympathies with each other on the tragic circumstances that resulted in the loss of our respective loved ones.

"Both families request privacy at this very difficult time," the statement, released through the Garda Press Office read.

Nightmare

At a private ceremony for Mark Hennessy in Mount Jerome Chapel in Dublin's Harold's Cross over the weekend, his father described how they had been left "broken" by what has happened.

"For the past week I have been waking every morning to see my darling sweetheart wife broken, broken," he told mourners at the funeral service on Saturday. "I look at my sons and my daughters and they're broken. I look at Mark's uncles and auntie, cousins, nephews, nieces and his beautiful, beautiful daughters and they're broken and I can't fix them.

"To all the people who have come here today and to all of the people who have come through home, offering the shake of a hand, a cuddle, a peck on the cheek, words of encouragement... thank you for coming into this nightmare to help us, because you have helped us so much more. To every single person on this planet who has had a kind thought for us, thank you - thank you."

More than 100 relatives and friends of the Hennessy family attended the funeral, after which he was cremated. There was a low-key presence of plain-clothes detectives at Mount Jerome Crematorium, where immediate family arrived in two limousines. A single wreath was placed on the coffin, which had been transported directly from a funeral home in Bray.

While Hennessy's heartbroken family is said to be struggling to come to terms with his shocking actions, a massive garda investigation continues.

Friends and family have rallied around Hennessy's parents after he was shot dead by a garda as they hunted for his victim.

Ms Valdez's body is due to be flown home to her native Philippines for burial. Meanwhile, officers from the garda's Special Crime Operations team are to probe any links between killer Hennessy and any unsolved crimes against women.

The specialist team, part of the national support services, will use the DNA database, timeline investigations and look for similarities between the abduction and murder of Ms Valdez and other cases, to ascertain if there are any links.

However, gardai working on the case believe that Hennessy suffered a cocaine and drink-fuelled psychosis on the night of the murder after weeks of heavy alcohol and drug use.

Investigations to date are painting a picture of a man losing his grip on reality as he relied more and more on booze and drugs. One former co-worker said Hennessy had worked as a banksman with crane drivers on many major construction sites around Dublin.

Cocaine

He said that he was "fond of his snow blow" - a so-called synthetic high - and on one occasion was fired from a job after consuming cocaine during his lunch hour.

Garda sources say that while a separate team of specialist officers will probe any links to other crimes, they believe his actions may have been a moment of madness scenario and the murder was unplanned.

Officers this week went to court to secure a warrant to take a sample of Hennessy's DNA so they can run it through the nation's database of unsolved crimes. However, there is no evidence to date that he knew Ms Valdez or that he had equipped himself with restraints or weapons when he abducted her on a busy Enniskerry road.

in recent months Hennessy is understood to have started behaving erratically and was spending periods outside the home socialising in local pubs.
Waterford FC manager Alan Reynolds is recovering in hospital after he suffered a vicious, unprovoked attack over the weekend.

It is understood Mr Reynolds was set upon from behind at around 1am yesterday. The incident happened when he was walking on the main street, in Tramore, Co Waterford.

At least two men attacked the manager in an incident that the club has suggested was "out of the blue".

"Waterford FC can confirm that manager Alan Reynolds is recovering in hospital following an unprovoked assault last night," a statement said.

Broken

"The club will be making no further comment on the matter."

Mr Reynolds (44) suffered injuries to his face and leg in the attack.

"As far as I know he was just walking on the main street minding his own business and the lads just jumped on him," a source said.

"It looks at the moment like the injuries to his face are superficial thank God, but the leg might be broken."

Gardai from Tramore are investigating.

In a separate incident, gardai are appealing for witnesses to an incident in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

They had been called to the scene of an assault outside a nightclub on Davitts Quay, shortly after 2am yesterday.

A man in his 30s sustained a head injury during the incident. His condition was understood to be "critical".

Gardai arrested a man in his 20s yesterday afternoon.
Scenes at Dublin Castle following the result of the referendum on Saturday

Dublin had always been predicted to vote in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment.

But the emphatic nature of the vote - 75.5pc in favour of repeal - came as a surprise even to the Yes camp.

Across the country, nine of the 10 constituencies with the highest Yes vote were in Dublin, with Health Minister Simon Harris's Wicklow constituency the only one outside the capital to make the list.

Dublin Bay South, which includes areas such as Ranelagh, Rathmines, Sandymount and Ballsbridge, returned the highest margin of the referendum, with 78.5pc of people voting Yes.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, who represents the area, expressed surprise at the scale of the vote. He had long expected the result to be Yes but was taken aback by the magnitude of the win.

"It's been two months of knocking on doors and I didn't get that sense," he said. "I certainly got the sense that Dublin Bay South was going to pass but I didn't get a sense that it was going to pass by that big a margin."

Expand Close Senator Kevin Humphreys / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Senator Kevin Humphreys

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys, a former TD for the area, told the Herald that the result had been a "long time coming".

Four other constituencies returned Yes votes above 75pc: Dun Laoghaire (77.1pc), Fingal (77pc), Dublin Central (76.5pc), and Dublin Rathdown (76.1pc).

Minister Richard Bruton, whose constituency of Dublin Bay North passed the referendum by a vote of 74.7pc to 25.3pc, said the result showed Ireland could tackle important issues with maturity. He was "very surprised" at the scale of the Yes vote nationally.

Divide

"A lot of us presumed on the doorstep that silent voters were No voters, when in fact a lot of them were Yes voters," he said.

In the Taoiseach's constituency of Dublin West, the referendum carried by 74.02pc.

Ahead of polling day a high turnout in Dublin, was considered a key factor in the success of the Yes vote.

On the day, more than 65pc of the electorate turned out to cast their ballot .

Despite the higher margin of victory for Yes in Dublin compared to the rest of the country, the overall result shows the urban-rural divide that emerged in the 1983 referendum which gave rise to the Eighth was not as pronounced this time out.
Where to go to see this fall's foliage show in the Tri-State area
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hold a public meeting in Mandsaur on May 30 ahead of Congress president Rahul Gandhis proposed farmers rally in the same city on June 6, state BJP leaders said on Monday.

While Gandhis rally is being pitched as a tribute to the six farmers who died in police firing and lathi charge during the farmers agitation on June 6, 2017, it will also mark the launch of the Congress partys election campaign in the state, slated for later this year.

All BJP MLAs and leaders of the region have been given targets for bringing people to the convention venue so that it is an impressive show and we will try to make it much bigger than Rahul Gandhis meeting on June 6, said a BJP legislator from the region. The main aim is to project that farmers and the poor are still with the party and the anger of the farmers, especially Patidars who dominate the area, has subsided, the same leader said.

Senior Congress leader from and former minister Narendra Nahata said, It will be a show of strength for the BJP... The administration is playing with the psychology of the farmers, but all this wont help because the voters want change.

BJP Mandsaur district president Devi Singh Dhakar said, The farmers and the people of the entire state are with the CM and the BJP and that is why they will come for the meet...
Parineeti Chopra, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, says Australia is a perfect international location for Indian producers to explore for shooting Bollywood movies.

Asked how she sees Australia as a shooting location, Parineeti said, Some of the cult Bollywood films like Salaam Namaste, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Chak De! India are some of the films that has been shot in the continent and with the wealth of beauty Australia has, it definitely is one of the most perfect locations for all the producers to explore.

The actor, 29, added Australia is a unique country that has some of the most incredible beaches, cities, wildlife, mountains, food and culture.

Indian visitor arrivals to Australia had grown at an average of 21 per cent since the appointment of Parineeti as a (Friend of Australia) FoA in September 2017, compared to the 15 per cent average growth experienced during the prior six months, according to Tourism Australias Country Manager for India and Gulf Nishant Kashikar.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Chinese officials will visit India soon to hold bilateral discussions on the issues hampering the negotiations of the proposed mega free trade deal -- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said.

The pact, negotiations for which started in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in November 2012, aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights.

Chinese official delegation will be coming here for RCEP only. We have invited them for RCEP, Prabhu told PTI.

The RCEP bloc comprises 10 Asean members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners - India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The meeting with Chinese officials would be crucial as Indian industry and exporters are apprehensive about the presence of China in the grouping. They have stated that lowering or eliminating duties for China may flood Indian markets with Chinese goods.

Indias trade deficit with China stood at $63.12 billion in 2017-18. India wants certain deviations for such countries. Under deviations, India may propose a longer duration for either reduction or elimination of import duties for such countries.

Pressure is also mounting on India for early conclusion of the proposed trade pact.

Prabhu said that during his recent visit to Cambodia, Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen expressed his keenness for early conclusion of RCEP talks.

I explained to him that we have certain issues with China. So we are talking to them bilaterally about the RCEP issues as well as with Australia and New Zealand where we have concerns about agriculture because we want to make sure that agri imports should not happen through RCEP so that our farmers should not get affected. We explained these two things, he added.

When asked about the apprehensions and concerns raised by experts and industry on the agreement, Prabhu said the ministry is collecting feedback from all ministries and other stakeholders for preparing their positions.

About mounting pressure for conclusion talks, he said it is a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and that means inclusion of services sector.

Member countries are looking to conclude the talks by end of this year but a lot of issues are yet to be finalised including the number of products over which duties will be eliminated. Domestic steel and other metal industries wants these sectors to be kept out of the deal.

Under services, India wants greater market access for its professionals in the proposed agreement.

India already has a free trade pact with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan and South Korea. It is also negotiating a similar agreement with Australia and New Zealand but has no such plans for China.
Ubers India President Amit Jain has been promoted to head of the global ride-hailing firms Asia Pacific operations, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and India, the company said in an emailed statement.

Jain will continue to lead India until a successor is found, an Uber spokeswoman said in the statement.

India is one of Ubers fastest-growing markets and accounts for 10% of its total rides.

The move comes weeks after Uber sold its business in Southeast Asia to rival Grab Holdings, which gave rise to speculation about talks on a similar merger in the high stakes India market, where it competes with local rival Ola.

Uber and Ola are both backed by a common investor, SoftBank, which pushed behind the scenes for the merger between Uber and Grab. But it is not clear that SoftBank intends to spur another consolidation in India, an under-penetrated market with a population of 1.3 billion people.

Uber has said it will double down on its investments in India and, while it is open to having conversations with potential partners, it had no interest in entering into minority deals in India or any other country it operates in.
Uttarakhand has reported 6,000 wildfire alerts since May 21 followed by Himachal that recorded over 3,500 such alerts in the same period, data collected by Forest Survey of India showed on Monday.

Despite a increase in forest fire incidents, the forest department isnt keen on engaging choppers to douse wildfire as it will be a costly affair. In 2016, helicopters were engaged to douse forest fire.

Notably, nearly a fortnight is left for the official forest fire season in Uttarakhand to end on June 15.

From February 15 to 2 pm on Monday, 1,646 forest fires incidents were reported in Uttarakhand, gutting over 3,600 hectare land and an additional 38.7 hectare of plantation.

The resin godowns, too, are on fire here posing damage of 560 hectare bringing the estimated revenue loss to 68.57 lakh.

Wildfire situation in Uttarakhand showed a change in trend this season. In March this year, 205 fire incidents were reported posing damage to 414 hectare.

But, due to erratic rainfall received in April, this damage subside reporting only 3 incidents burning 3 hectare. May however, has proven difficult for the state.

The month alone forest fires burnt over 3,000 hectare.

In 2016, when a massive forest fire burnt over 4,500 hectare, majority damage was recorded in April (2,270 hectare) and May (2,187 hectare).

On pressing choppers into service, Jai Raj, head of forest force and principal chief conservator of forest, said: Engaging choppers is a costly affair. We havent put any demand for them. If the government provides choppers to us, we wont deny them either.

The officer, however, claimed choppers do not help dousing wildfire in India. The wildfire in India is ground fire unlike in counties like Australia where crown fire is reported.

If you sprinkle water at an altitude of 10,000 feet from the ground, it is highly unlikely that the drops would reach the ground and provide a relief, Jai Raj said.

The main reason for forest fire in the hill state is pine and its combustible needles. In a study done by Forest Research Institute, pine constitutes 26.07% of the total forest cover and 95.49% of the cover above 1,000 metre above sea level.

Experts advocate to clear pine needles from the forest in January-February to reduce chances of forest fire spread.

The water content in the ground is less than 10% and in such situation, even a splint result in big fire. We need to start clearing the forest whether manually or through controlled burning to remove needles. This could help in bringing relief when the fire season is in the peak, said FRI director Savita, who goes by her first name.
State BJP president Ajay Bhatt on Monday attacked the Congress on Vishwasghat Diwas, observed by the party on May 26, saying that the name of the rival partys campaign was apt, as it has betrayed people.

They (Congress) have done vishwasghat (betrayal) with the people of the country and their campaign name is apt for the party, said Bhatt, after his return to Dehradun from Tharali, where he campaigned for his party for a fortnight. He was addressing media persons on completion of four-year rule of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.

Voting for the Tharali bypoll was held on Monday.

Citing positive response of the people in Tharali, Bhatt said every big or small village he visited in the constituency, people commended the PM and his initiatives to bring development in the country. Have you seen any PM who interacts with people to know whether they have benefitted with the central schemes or not? Our national president Amit Shah too communicates with locals to get the ground report of the policies, schemes and projects under Sampark for Samarthan Abhiyan, he said.

Talking about the urban local body elections, he said, The party and the government are ready to hold urban local body elections. The delay (in holding the polls) is because the matter is presented before the judiciary.

Praising the centre government, he said the Modi government has not taken debt of even a single dollar and has repaid the debt to Iran recently. He also mentioned how the centre managed to bring back Rs 83,000 crore non-performing assets from companies and also took charge of unauthorized properties worth Rs 3500 crore.

He also talked about the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, which will be launched in Uttarakhand on August 15. While the target under the project is to provide Rs 5 lakh cover to 10 crore families, but all 25 lakh families in Uttarakhand will benefit from it, he added.

Uttarakhand Congress president Pritam Singh reacted, Modiji kehtey hain acche din aayeingey lekin tareekh nahi batayeingey (Modiji says good days will come, but he wont share the date).

Modiji has made it difficult for a common man to live. Prices of petrol and common commodities are at ever high rate. How will common man survive? And BJP is celebrating four years at the centre. Why? he asked.
The state capital of Uttarakhand will be the venue for this years national programme on the International Yoga Day on June 21 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending it.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh was informed about it through a letter by Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha.

Dehradun will be the venue for this years national programme on the International Yoga Day, an official release here said.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here on Sunday that the prime minister will attend the International Yoga Day celebrations here on June 21.

The prime minister has special feelings for Uttarakhand and he is coming to Dehradun on the International Yoga Day, Rawat had said, adding that the venue for the programme would be close to the Forest Research Institute.

In an official statement, the chief minister said: The prime minister will participate in the national programmes to be organised in Dehradun to mark the Yoga Day which is a matter of immense pride for Uttarakhand.

It is matter of pride for the hill state because it is famous as the place where the art and science of yoga found birth, he said.
Their chicken biryani is not just a finger-licking monument, but also served by hereditary cooks right under the shadow of the iconic Jama Masjid.

Not long after the crack of dawn, stall owner Mohammed Nadeem and his crew light up a fire, fussing over 10kg of aromatic biryani that is cooked every day long before the first tourists arrive at the Mughal-era mosque.

Were pushtaini (hereditary) cooks, explains Nadeem, perched on a string charpoy feeding his goats in an adjacent park thats also teeming with ducks and roosters. Nadeem is recovering from a liver ailment, leaving the cooking to the quiet Shankar who is carefully watching over the picturesque brass cauldron.

The family says it first got a licence to make biryani during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Victoria ke zamane ka licence, Nadeem says, although the stall is more recent. It was set up 50-odd years ago by his father, Zarra Mohammed, just outside the eastern gates of Old Delhis signature monument.

The biryani is ready by 9am. Served with red chutney, it isnt as oily as biryani tends to be, and not terribly spicy despite so many green chilies embedded in the mound of rice. Superior to the expensive biryani served in a historic restaurant nearby, Nadeems biryani makes for a happy prologue to the historic mosque just behind the humble stall, which stays open till 10pm.

A TOUCH OF LHASA

It isnt every day that you encounter young women wearing traditional Tibetan dresses, right here in central Delhi, which is otherwise teeming with salwars, saris, skirts and pants.

A conversation inevitably follows on learning that these three women are colleagues at Tibet House, a cultural centre at Lodhi Road for Tibetan and Buddhist studies. We regard ourselves as independent working women, says Tenzin Kunsang.

Tenzin Kunsang, Tenzin Dekyong and Tenzing Doma, have been in India all their lives as children of exile. (HT photo)

The colleagues are on their way home to Majnu ka Tila, the Tibetan refugee camp north of the city, where much of Delhi folks head to when hit by a craving for authentic momos. Indeed, two of the women will rustle up chicken momos for their meal tonight

Were neighbours, you see, says Kunsang, who was born in Tibet. She came to India as a child and hasnt seen her parents since then.

I know they live in Lhasa, she says in a voice that people use while talking about facts of private life that they have no control over.

Her companions, Tenzin Dekyong and Tenzing Doma, have been in India all their lives as children of exile. Doma, for instance, was born in Darjeeling but, like many young Tibetans, was educated in Dharamshala.

The women now start walking towards Jor Bagh Metro station in their elegant chupa  the dresses that have a centuries-long history in their homeland but are rarely spotted in the city that now is their home.
Lodged inside the countrys most crowded prison, 59 Hindu prisoners have been observing fast in Ramzan along with their 2,299 co-prisoners of Muslim faith. They may follow a different faith, but each of them said they have their own reason to observe roza.

A 45-year-old woman told jail officers she is fasting for the welfare of her son outside. The woman was arrested for kidnapping. Her case is yet to be decided by a court.

Another prisoner reportedly told officials that he is observing roza in hopes of an early release.

A 21-year-old prisoner who came to jail a few months ago is also among those fasting. He told jail officials he is doing so because he observed his Muslim co-prisoners fasting and wanted to participate with them.

There are 97 women prisoners who are fasting. Spread across different jails, the central prison has around 15,000 inmates.

With temperatures outside soaring to record levels, jail officials say they have made special arrangements for prisoners observing roza. On Sunday the day temperature crossed 45 degrees Celsius in Delhi.

Every jail superintendent has been directed to participate in the iftar when the sun sets and those observing roza have their first meal of the day.

The prisons director general, Ajay Kashyap said an inter jail co-ordination meeting was held before the month-long festival started earlier this month.

Across all jails, officials have put up boards which display the sunset timings every day. We have ordered dates and rooh afza for all the fasting prisoners. There is also a special arrangement to make space available for them to observe namaz in the morning hours. The jail timings have also been relaxed for prisoners who are fasting, Kashyap said.

Jail officers have also deputed one officer who will inform prisoners about the change in timings to break their fast every day. According to prison rules, prisoners are not supposed to wear watches.

On the Hindu prisoners fasting during Ramzan, a jail officer, who did not wish to be named, said, Inside the prison the one thing that the prisoners have is time. Each of them is troubled in their own way. Many of these prisoners try to change their ways and seek the end of their trouble in religion. Inside the prison, we see many cases of prisoners either finding a newfound religious connection or, in some cases, losing whatever little faith they had.
The lofty eastern gateway of a walled enclosure built in the 17th century  which was originally a market built during Jahangirs reign along side Arab ki Sarai, Nizamuddin East  has been restored to its old glory.

The restorer, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), began restoration work in January 2017.

The 13 metre-high, five-arched gateway, topped with battlements is two-bay deep. It also has chambers and a domed roof flanked by niches on both sides. The spandrels are ornamented with detailed tile work and medallions bearing Quranic inscriptions.

This gateway, which leads to a bazaar attached to the sarai, is one of the rare structures in Delhi with inscriptions. Restoration of missing incised plasterwork has been completed. The concrete cement terrace flooring has also been carefully removed and replaced with traditional lime concrete terracing with appropriate slopes and water outlets, said Rajpal Singh, chief engineer at AKTC.

The doorway, a blend of red sandstone and Delhi quartzite, had degenerated. In the past, it was repaired with cement mortar that led to water stagnation.

Multiple cracks allowed water penetration leading to dampness and salt deposits. Quranic inscriptions were buried under the layer of cement plaster, tiles were missing and portions of the roof of the gateway had collapsed.

Sadly, not all of the artwork could be restored as evidence had been lost. As a result, central ceiling medallion had to be left blank. Some of the newspaper articles dating back to 1960s suggest that its walls were adorned with paintings of human figures but that could not be restored, said Ujwala Menon, AKTCs conservation architect.

According to Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) listing of ancient structures in the national capital, Arab Sarai was built in 1560 by Hamida Banu Begum, who was chief consort of Mughal emperor Humayan, to accommodate 300 Arabs she had brought back from Mecca.

In Sair-ul-Manazil, a Persian book written in the 1820s, author Sangin Beg referred this inn as property of Arabs and other general populace.

Author Ranjan Kumar Singh in his book, The Islamic Monuments of Delhi, said Mihr Banu, chief eunuch at Jahangirs court, added the market to the inn.

The market (constructed around the 1620s) complex has arched cells reportedly used as shops and living quarters by travellers and traders.

The spandrels of these rectangular framing are decorated with marble medallions and carvings in Persian, which suggest that the bazaar gateway was built during Mughal emperor Jahangirs period, said Menon.

The major portions of the sarai is with the Delhi government from where it runs an Industrial Training Institute, which was set up in 1948 by the ministry of rehabilitation as a vocational training center for people who were displaced during the countrys partition. With the successful completion of conservation of the doorway, the trust will start restoration of a baoli located on the inn campus, said Ratish Nanda, CEO of AKTC.

The restoration was carried out with monetary help from US Ambassadors Fund For Cultural Preservation.
Four men were arrested and three juveniles apprehended for allegedly making fun of a man dressed as Goddess Kali and then stabbing him to death, police said on Monday.

The four arrested men were identified as Naveen (20), Aman Kumar Singh (20), Mohit Kumar (25) and Sajal Kumar Maheshwari (19), police said.

On the intervening night of May 22 and 23, the body of a man was found from the NSIC jungle with multiple stab injuries on the chest, face and head.

The deceased was identified as Kalu alias Kalua. After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to his brother for last rites. Kalu, an orphan, was raised in a dharamshala near Kalkaji Mandir, police said.

He used to dance and roam around with eunuchs. He was a devotee of Maa Kali and on Tuesdays and Saturdays, used to project himself as the goddess, wearing a black salwar suit with a red chunni and anklets, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said.

On the night he was killed, Kalu was dressed as the goddess.

Police questioned several persons. On the basis of a tip-off, the accused, including the juveniles, were apprehended from Govindpuri on Sunday, the DCP added.

During interrogation, the accused told the police that they had consumed liquor and were near the NSIC jungle main gate when they saw Kalu passing by. Seeing his attire, they started mocking him.

As Kalu told them not to make fun of him, the accused caught hold of him, forcibly took him inside the jungle and started beating him up. They then stabbed him with a Swiss knife, police said.

The deceased succumbed to his injuries on the spot and the accused fled on their motorcycles. Five motorcycles were also recovered by the police at the instance of the accused.

One of the accused, Naveen, is pursuing his graduation through correspondence from the Delhi University. He is a first-year commerce student.
Three days after he first flagged concerns about a power crisis in the city caused by depleting coal stocks at plants from which Delhi sourced electricity, and two days after Coal India Ltd said the issue could have been avoided had the Delhi government planned better, the states power minister Satyendar Jain said the situation has worsened.

These power plants now have coal stocks that can run the plant to its full capacity only for 20-21 hours. Ideally, in a single day, these plants have 56,000 tonnes of coal and the stock lasts about 13-15 days. Now, only about 5% of it is left, Jain told reporters.

A spokesperson for NTPC Limited, which runs the plants at Dadri and Jhajjar, admitted there was coal shortage, but said some stocks had started coming in. There is not enough coal to run the plants to their full capacity. But the situation has been improving over the past two days, said the spokesperson.

Coal India Ltd said in a release on Saturday it had rushed coal to these plants but also said Delhi should have planned better. Power demand in Delhi and most northern states has zoomed in recent days because of heat wave conditions that are expected to last for at least the next few days.

Delhis daily allocation from the three coal-based power plants (including the one at Badarpur) is 2,325 MW, but at present, it is getting only 1,355 MW, leading to a daily deficit of about 970 MW, according to government data. As much as 80% of Delhis power comes from these and other coal-fired plants.

As per government data, the city is currently using 100% of the power available to it as the peak demand shot to 6,132 MW on Monday, making it the fifth day in May when consumption had crossed the 6,000-MW mark with maximum temperatures hovering at around 45 degrees over the past week. Jain blamed the coal shortage on the Indian Railways, saying it was not being able to transport coal either due to delays or the lack of wagons.

Last week, I had written to the union minister of railways and coal, Piyush Goyal, seeking his intervention in resolving the issue. But, I havent got any response yet, Jain said. A railway ministry spokesperson, however, denied Jains contention. The Union minister has already issued directives to railway officials to improve the turnaround time of rakes by better scheduling of trains and optimum utilisation of traffic blocks. He has also stressed on reducing terminal detention of wagons inside power plants and coal sidings to generate extra capacity, the official said, adding that there was no wagon shortage.

Officials from discoms Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited said on condition of anonymity the deficit has forced them to buy expensive power through interstate exchanges.

Due to insufficient power coming from coal-based plants, discoms are procuring power through alternate arrangements such as bi-laterals and exchanges with other states, said a discom official. The problem is that this is very expensive, with the cost going up to Rs 10 per unit. Also, there is no guarantee on availability of power as demand is rising across North India.
The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will now announce the intermediate (Class 12) board examination result on June 6, instead of June 7 as announced earlier, as the last date for applying to Delhi University colleges is June 7.

The result of the matriculation (Class 10) exams will be announced on June 20.

Students can check their results by clicking here. Students can also check their results by visiting the official website of BSEB at biharboard.ac.in

This year, 17,70,042 students filled the forms for matric exam and 12,80,000 students for the intermediate exams.

To stop students from cheating this year, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), which conducts the exams, asked students not to wear shoes or socks and enforced several other measures. Candidates were frisked at the entry gate of the exam venue and again after they sat in their allotted seats. They were monitored by video while writing the exam at all centres where extra force and home guards had been deployed.

The pass percentage of matric exam in 2017 was 50.12 as 861,000 candidates out of 17,23,911 had failed. In the intermediate exam, 30.11% science students passed, 32.13% humanities and 73.76% commerce cleared the exam.
The Gujarat Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GSEB) declared the Class 10 result on Monday. Students can check the result on the Boards official website: www.gseb.org

GSEB Class 10 result 2018: How to check

* Visit the Gujarat Boards official website: gseb.org

* Enter your 7-digit seat number.

* Click on Go.

* View your result.

The pass percentage this year is 67.5%. The pass percentage in 2017 was 68.24%. Girls performed better than boys as 72.69% girls cleared the exam while the pass percentage of boys was 63.73%.

A total of 7.9 lakh regular students appeared for the examinations, held at 908 centres across 33 districts in March, out of which 5.3 lakh students have cleared the examination. The pass percentage of private and external candidates was 6.94%.

Both the highest and lowest passing percentage districts are from south Gujarat. While Surat topped the chart with 80.06%, only 37.35% of the students from the tribal district of Dahod cleared the exam.

As many as 6,378 candidates scored the highest grade of A1 (99 to 100 marks). This was much higher than previous year when only 3,750 candidates were in this bracket. However, only 368 schools, down from 451 last year, scored 100% results.

The marksheets of the SSC exams will be distributed from 11am to 2pm at the district examination centres.
The Gujarat Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GSEB) declared the Class 10 result at 8am on May 28. Students can check the result on the Boards official website: www.gseb.org

The pass percentage this year is 67.5%. The pass percentage in 2017 was 68.24%. Girls performed better than boys as 72.69% girls cleared the exam while the pass percentage of boys was 63.73%.

A total of 7.9 lakh regular students appeared for the examinations, held at 908 centres across 33 districts in March, of which 5.3 lakh students have cleared the examination. The pass percentage of private and external candidates was 6.94%.

Both the highest and lowest passing percentage districts are from south Gujarat. While Surat topped the chart with 80.06%, only 37.35% of the students from the tribal district of Dahod cleared the exam.

As many as 6,378 candidates scored the highest grade of A1 (99 to 100 marks). This was much higher than previous year when only 3,750 candidates were in this bracket. However, only 368 schools, down from 451 last year, scored 100% results.

GSEB Class 10 result 2018: How to check

* Visit the Gujarat Boards official website: gseb.org

* Enter your 7-digit seat number.

* Click on Go.

* View your result.

According to the notification issued by the Board, the marksheets of the SSC exams will be distributed from 11am to 2pm at the district examination centres.
Marvel has a unique way of hiding Easter eggs in plain sight. They could be obvious -- like Captain Americas phone number -- or they could be more subtle, like the one recently discovered by fans online.

A Reddit user on Sunday posted two screenshots from the first Avengers film, released in 2012 and Infinity War, which was released late April. Both shots, the fan noted, were like mirror images of each other. In the first shot, Captain America, Thor and Hulk huddle around Iron Man after he had just returned to Earth after lobbing a nuke into a wormhole. This comes from the epic Battle of New York, when Thanos had sent his Chitauri army to essentially test the waters on Earth.

In Infinity War, the Earths Mightiest Heroes must face the Mad Titan himself, Thanos. When he arrives for the epic finale of the film, which takes place in Wakanda, he comes armed with the Infinity Gauntlet, making him the most powerful being in the universe.

The second shot is a visual callback to the first one, with the Avengers huddled around a fallen comrade, Vision, who had just been killed by Thanos. In both shots, Captain America kneels beside a character, while the others look on.

The post has attracted a lot of fan speculation on Reddit, with many realising that both scenes serve as emotion bookends to the Avengers journey. The fight that began in 2012 ended in Infinity War, but instead of the heroes celebrating victory, they had just been defeated.

Thanos snaps his fingers at the end of the film, which kills half the Avengers, leaving the survivors to mount their last stand in the fourth film, due out in 2019.

Avengers 4 will serve as a conclusion to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it, with several fan theories suggesting the involvement of time travel, alternate realities and the deaths of some of our favourite characters.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Rapped by the Supreme Court for interfering in consensual marriages of adults, several khaps on Sunday gathered at Meham Chaubisi in Rohtak and demanded amendment in Hindu Marriage Act to ban same-gotra (clan) and same-village marriages.

In a mahapanchayat chaired by Meham Chaubisi convener Shamsher Kharkara, the khaps said wrong marriage laws giving freedom to adults have become a pain for every parent in the state.

The youth has taken up the wrong path and our law is protecting it. Brothers and sisters are marrying each other without taking care of gotra or village. Its high time to amend the law to make sure our children do not take the wrong step. The criminal laws should be coherent with our customary laws, Kharkara said.

Former MLA Sukhbir Farmana suggested that a chapter on marriage should be included in the syllabus of school students, which should inform them about whom they can and cannot marry.

Just like this government has included yoga and Gita in school syllabus, it needs to add a chapter on marriage as well. The students should be informed during childhood only that they cannot marry in same gotra or within same village, so they dont end up defying customs when they grow old, he said.

Another speaker Ramchandra Jangra said if people started marrying in same gotra, their children will be at risk of genetic disorders.

In its recent order, the Supreme Court had rapped khap panchayats for obstructing the marriages of two adults. In view of the order, the khaps on Sunday said they will not impose any fine on anyone defying their orders, but expect the entire state to follow them.

Among the other decisions taken by the khaps at Sundays mahapanchayat was to write to government to ban porn on internet. The content on TV is regulated, but youth is free to watch obscene videos on internet. This must stop, said Kharkara.

A decision to ban loud DJs during weddings and other functions was also taken.

The Khaps also proposed and agreed on reducing mourning period after someones death from 13 days to seven days.

It also asked people to stop the practice of organising feasts on someones death. A family is already in loss on death of their loved one. The society must not put pressure on it to organise feast as well, the khaps said.
Two days before the meeting organised by Khilonjia Manch in Assams Cachar district to push for the scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, was due to be held, the authorities have got the meeting cancelled citing fears that tension may increase between the two groups warring over the proposed changes in the bill.

Wednesdays meeting would have been attended by pro-talks leaders of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), including its general secretary Anup Chetia, who are up in arms against the Centres move to amend the citizenship laws to ensure that six minority communities, except Muslims, in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are not treated as illegal immigrants in the country.

Assams Brahmaputra Valley (large parts of which is against the bill), and Barak Valley (which supports granting citizenship to Bengali-speaking Hindus from the neighbouring countries) continues to be divided over the proposed law. While those in support see a solution to the suffering of the Hindu refugees, those opposing the proposed amendments call the move communal and anti-Constitutional.

It (the meeting) could have created tensions between two groups, Cachar superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan said.

In Barak Valley districts of Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar, which has a high density population of Muslims, the situation could have taken a violent turn, the authorities feared.

Groups demand Bill

We want the 2014 voters list to be the basis of Indian citizenship, said Ajay Roy, the general secretary of Sammalita Sanskritik Manch, an umbrella group of cultural organisations in Barak Valley that had opposed the meeting. We will hold protests and show black flags if they come.

During the visit of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Bill to the state earlier this month, Silchar, the headquarters of Chachar district and the largest city in Barak Valley, saw more than 300 groups, largely representing Bengali-speaking Hindus, come out in support of the bill. The region has witnessed several waves of migration, especially after the partition in 1947.

Religious divide

The largely Assamese Brahmaputra Valley, including the pro-talks ULFA, have found an ally in some Muslim groups in the Bengali-speaking Barak valley.

A large number of Barak Valley Muslims are opposing the bill as it differentiates on the basis of religion, says Siddique Ahmed, a former minister and Congress leader from Karimganj.

Muslims in Barak know that they are original inhabitants, he said. The Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front, which has a significant presence in the Barak Valley, too, has opposed the bill, and so has the Muslim Students Union of Assam, siding with the sentiment in the Brahmaputra Valley, which sees the bill as a violation of the Assam Accord of 1985.

The bill has political parties, like the Congress, divided along communal lines. Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, party MLA from North Karimganj, said that only fundamentalist Muslims are opposing the move to amend citizenship laws.

While there should be no distinction on the basis of religion, the partition victims need to be considered, he said. explaining his conditional support to the bill.

BJP convinced

BJP leaders in the Barak Valley, on the other hand, are convinced that the partys decision to bring in the amendment remains intact even as Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently said that the state government would wait until work on updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was complete before making its stand clear.

Senior BJP leader Kabindra Purkayastha, a former Union minister, distinguishes the Bengali-speaking Hindus from the Muslims. The Muslims wanted Pakistan, they got it. Those who came to India did not come as refugees, he said.

Asked about the opposition from the Brahmaputra Valley, the leader said, The BJP knows that once the NRC is completed, the number of Bengali-speaking Hindus who are not in the final draft will be significantly less than the Muslims, which is when the BJP will be able to convince the groups in the Brahmaputra Valley that these people are not going to be any burden. The BJP leadership knows it.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its rivals on Monday protested against voting machines failing in by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, with one government official blaming heat for the glitches and the Election Commission denying large scale problems.

By-elections to four Lok Sabha and ten assembly seats across India began at 7am, and soon reports of electronic voting machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) failing in Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh began coming in.

Read: Live updates of by-elections in 10 Lok Sabha, assembly seats

Tabassum Hasan, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate backed by four other Opposition parties in Kairana, wrote a letter to the Election Commission and alleged there were continuous complaints of EVM and VVPAT machines not working in most polling booths.

Most of the complaints of technical glitches are coming from Dalit- and Muslim-dominated areas. BJP leaders are adopting every tactic to stop my victory but people will foil their plans. Voters are being denied their rights but nobody is listening to our complaints, said Hasan, who listed places where more than 150 EVMs allegedly failed.

Devendra Singh, BJP leader in charge of Kairana election, rejected the allegations. The allegation of opposition parties that BJP is tampering EVMs is baseless. It seems to be a technical problem, said Singh.

He claimed that EVMs at more than a hundred booths in places dominated by BJP supporters failed. The party has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India as well as the state election commission, Singh said.

Kunwar Bahadur Singh, additional district magistrate of Shamli, said VVPAT machines attached to EVMs developed snags because of heat. In many booths, polling staff placed the machines near windows exposing them to the sun. Faulty machines were replaced, he said.

Over 43% polling was recorded till 4 pm in Kairana and 57% in Noorpur till 5pm.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said 140 EVMs were tampered with in Noorpur. The BJP wants to avenge its defeat in the earlier bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phoolpur anyhow and win the ongoing polls, he said.

RLD spokesperson Sunil Rohta blamed the BJP for the EVMs. It seems to be an attempt to keep voting percentage low in Muslim, Dalit and Jat- dominated areas where people are rallying behind Tabassum Hasan, he said.

BJP MLA Kapil Deo Agarwal rejected the allegations of opposition parties . BJP candidate Mriganka Singh will win the election with a good margin, he said.

News reports surfacing in the media alleging large scale failure of EVMs and VVPATs in the ongoing by-elections and interruption of poll in the States of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are an exaggerated projection of reality, said the Election Commission in a press statement after reports of problems in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where bypolls were held for two Lok Sabha seats.
Coast Guards of India and Pakistan on Monday held talks, addressing issues pertaining to boundary violations by fishermen from both sides and enhancing cooperation in the area of maritime search and rescue, and combating pollution at sea.

A lot of focus of the meeting was on (violation of maritime boundary by) fishermen, Indian Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh said.

Focus of the talks was also on cooperation in the area of search and rescue operations and cooperation in the field of (maritime) pollution, he added.

The four-member delegation of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is being led by its Director General Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman.

Rehman was accompanied by Director Operations of the PMSA, an official each from Pakistans Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Two members -- a defence attache and a political secretary -- at the Pakistan High Commission here also participated in the talks.

The high-level meeting was conducted under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies in 2005.

A meeting between the two maritime security agencies was scheduled for October last year, but it was called off amid tension between India and Pakistan following the Kulbhushan Jadhav episode.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national and former navy officer, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on the charges of alleged spying. India has denied the charges and approached the International Court of Justice against the sentence.

This annual meeting is a significant link between the two maritime agencies for addressing issues pertaining to maritime boundary violations by fishermen and enhancing cooperation in the domain of maritime search and rescue and marine environment pollution.

The two service heads from Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan MSA also have a hotline link between them for regular exchange of information on non-military maritime issues as per the MoU between the two governments, a statement by the Indian Coast Guard said.

The Pakistani delegation will be in India till May 30.
Days after the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government proved its numbers on the floor of the House, the finance and Bengaluru development portfolios have emerged as a bone of contention with both parties laying claim to the crucial departments.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy held discussions with Congress leaders on cabinet expansion in Delhi on Monday. His deputy G Parameshwara, former CM Siddaramaiah, and former minister DK Shivakumar held one round of talks with party president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday.

With Gandhi travelling abroad with his mother Sonia for her medical check-up, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and KC Venugopal (general secretary in-charge of Karnataka), have been tasked with handling the negotiations in the meantime.

A senior JD(S) leader, who was part of the negotiations in Delhi, said the party had asked for the finance ministry, water resources ministry and the public works department. So far, no deal has been reached, the JD(S) leader said, requesting anonymity. Kumaraswamys brother Revanna is said to be interested in handling the PWD portfolio, which he previously held.

A Congress leader in Delhi said on the condition of anonymity that his party is willing to give the PWD ministry but would like to keep the finance portfolio.

Another JD(S) leader said the Congress is demanding all key portfolios  finance, home, irrigation, excise, power, industry and Bengaluru development.

There should be reasonable give and take. You cannot keep all portfolios just because you have given us the post of chief minister, the leader said.

We are likely to resolve the portfolio issue within a day or two, Venugopal said after the meeting. Later in the day, Kumaraswamy also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

I have discussed a lot of issues with the PM. He also extended me many suggestions. He advised me given his political experience. I am grateful to him, the CM said.

Kumaraswamy also visited Raj Ghat and offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

The fight over the finance portfolio is also a fight over the credit that is likely to accrue to the parties over the promised waiver of Rs 53,000 crore worth of farm loans, announced by Kumaraswamy, one of the JD(S) leaders cited above said.

One senior state Congress leader said: In a coalition, the party that gets the deputy chief ministers post also gets the finance portfolio. Having got the chief ministers post, the JD(S) must not now also insist on the finance ministry.

For the Congress, though, there is also the additional burden of ensuring that different regions of the state find ample representation in the government.

Ours is the only party that exists across the state. As a result, we will have to not only work on the caste-based representation of the new Karnataka government, but also regional representation, the Congress leader quoted above said.
The defence acquisition council (DAC) on Monday set the ball rolling for buying military hardware worth Rs 6,900 crore, including thermal imaging night sights for rocket launchers and equipment that will enhance the capabilities of the air forces Sukhoi-30 warplanes, a ministry spokesperson said.

The council, headed by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved the purchase of the hardware through the indigenous route to boost Indias capabilities to locally produce weapons and systems.

The thermal imaging sight for 84mm rocket launchers will be used by troops in operations to facilitate accurate and continuous engagement of moving and static enemy targets and destruction of bunkers during hours of complete darkness, the spokesperson said.

The slow pace of acquisition has hurt Indias military capabilities. The government inked a $100-million contract for 1.86 lakh bullet proof jackets for the army, a decade after the force moved the case. Financial constraints, cumbersome procedures and unrealistic qualitative requirements set by the armed forces are among the key factors that hinder modernisation, said a senior official who did not wish to be named. Forget the bigger purchases, the system is such that we take a decade to equip soldiers with new assault rifles and bullet proof vests, he said.

Ammunition is also a problem area. The army told a parliamentary panel in March that it was short of Rs 6,380 crore to build ammunition stocks necessary for war for 10 days. The panel was also told that even as China and Pakistan were modernising their militaries at a lightning-fast pace, a looming financial crisis was crippling Indias combat capabilities.

The equipment cleared for purchase on Monday is significant as it will enable the army to detect and recognise enemy tanks and soldiers.

The DAC also approved a project for the design and development of Long Range Dual Band Infrared Imaging Search and Track System (IRST) for SU-30 MKI fighters.

Experts said Sitharamans predecessors in the ministry had also cleared the decks for weapon purchases worth lakhs of crores but not many of those clearances translated into deals.

The projects that have been given a go-ahead are at the acceptance of necessity stage (the first step toward making procurement under the Defence Procurement Procedure). The real test would be to see how many of these cases end up as contracts ... said military affairs expert Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (retd).
The HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in Karnataka will not be able to complete its full term and either the BJP will have to take over the mantle or there will be mid-term election in the state, BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao said on Monday.

Addressing the Telangana BJP state executive meeting in Hyderabad, Rao alleged that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has miserably failed in leading his party in Karnataka.

There are only two alternatives  either the BJP has to take the responsibility or there will be mid-term election in Karnataka. There is no other way. It is peoples mandate, he said.

This (Karnataka) government cannot run like this. Because history says that any party with just 37 seats or 20 seats or 25 seats cannot run the government in democracy, he claimed.

JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy, whose party secured only 37 seats in the recently concluded Karnataka assembly election, took over as chief minister of the state last week with the support of the 78-member Congress team.

According to Rao, who is in-charge of Karnatakas party affairs, the people of the state voted against the Congress and it entered into an unholy tie-up with the JD(S).

People wanted Congress-mukt Karnataka. The way Ravana kidnapped Sita (in Ramayana), Rahul Gandhi and Congress hijacked democracy in Karnataka, he said. This will have an impact on political landscape of the country.

Taking a dig at Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, he said Naidus campaign against the BJP fell flat as Telugu-speaking people in the neighbouring state voted in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The senior BJP leader said the NaMo App through which Modi held video interactions with party cadre during the Karnataka elections, would be used all over the country during the Lok Sabha polls.

Telangana BJP president K Laxman said the party would soon chalk out a road map to reach out to the masses ahead of the 2019 general election. He said the party would undertake various programmes to highlight the failures and corruption of the TRS government in Telangana.
Shimla As taps ran dry for the eighth day running in some parts of Shimla, which is facing unusually high temperatures and a heavy tourist rush in the holiday season, residents of the Lower Bazaar area finally lost patience. About 100 people staged a midnight sit-in protest outside the waterworks office on the main Mall Road. The police managed to stop them only when they were heading for chief minister Jai Ram Thakurs residence.

The protesters accused the municipal corporation (MC) of discriminatory treatment, saying water was not being distributed in specific localities. Reaching the main water control room at about 12 midnight they raised slogans against the MC authorities before heading for the CMs official residence located close by.

As policemen arrived on the scene and prevented them from marching onwards, the crowds were involved in scuffles with them near the Marina Hotel. A case was later registered against former Congress councillor Sanjeev Kuthiala and his wife Sushma, a sitting councillor, for obstructing a government official from discharging his duties.

There is no water in the area for the last one week. The residents were told that supply would be restored on Sunday but nothing happened. The people are agitated about the (government) inaction. Most of the traders kept waiting for water the entire say, said Sushma.

She also alleged that the policemen manhandled the women protesters.

The Communist Party of India Marxist also staged a protest on Monday outside the deputy commissioners office.

Shimla gets its water from three main perennial sources. Gumma, the main source, draws water from the Shimla catchment sanctuary which is spread over 10.25 sq km and fed by nine streams. The British built a large water storage tank for supply to the main town. Other sources are Chairh, Giri and Churat.

Supply from Ashwani Khad, another source, was suspended two years ago after sewage contamination led to a jaundice outbreak that claimed 34 lives and affected hundreds of locals.

Against its daily requirement of 45 million litres per day (MLD) the Capital of Himachal Pradesh is just getting 20 MLD water, as sources are drying up rapidly in the summer.

Many localities in the town have been without water for eight days, with some areas in Kasumpti not getting supply for the last 11 days. Some areas are inaccessible, my tankers cannot supply water there, says Narender Thakur, former councillor

The water shortage has hit the hospitality industry too in the peak tourist season. Many bookings have been cancelled in the last two to three days. When the government cannot provide water then it should stop promoting Shimla as tourist destination, says Suresh Dogra, a travel agent on the Mall Road.

A majority of hoteliers in Shimla have engaged private tankers to make up for the shortage.

The government has pressed into service as many as 34 weater tankers to meet the water requirements of the people

BOX

Sales of disposable glasses, plates, and packaged water peak

Sales of disposable glasses, plates and packaged water have peaked in the Himachal Pradesh Capital. We prefer using disposable plates to conserve water, says Ishana Singh, a resident of Chotta Shimla.

A shopkeeper in Lakkar Bazaar, Mansoor, who uses just one name, says Earlier I used to sell about 100 bottles of water per day and now I supply about 1000 bottles per day.
India abides by sanctions imposed by the United Nations and not those imposed by any other country, such as ones announced by the United States against Iran, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday. The ministers remarks at her annual press conference came hours before a meeting with visiting Iran foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Iran is the third largest source of Indias oil imports. New Delhi is making strategic investments in the Chabahar port in Iran that connects Afghanistan to Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.

Swaraj said Indias decision on ties with Iran or its position on sanctions is independent of any other country.

India follows only UN sanctions, and not unilateral sanctions by any country, Swaraj said, after being asked about Indias response to the US decision to impose sanctions against Iran.

US President Donald Trump this month exited from the Iran nuclear deal and sought the reimposition of economic sanctions against Tehran that were suspended under a 2015 agreement.

The external affairs minister conveyed that all parties to the agreement should engage constructively for peaceful resolution of the issues that have arisen with respect to the agreement, a statement from the ministry said after Swaraj met Zarif.

Zarif, who had been to Moscow, Beijing and Brussels, arrived in India Sunday night. Zarif briefed Swaraj about the the discussions that Iran has undertaken with parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following the US decision to withdraw from the agreement, said the release by the ministrys press release.

The two sides positively assessed the implementation of decisions taken during the visit of President Rouhani to India. These included bilateral cooperation in the areas of connectivity, energy, trade and promotion of people to people contacts, the release said.

At her press confreence, Swaraj also said clarified that India had no plans to use Venezuelas local cryptocurrency petro in paying for oil imported from the Latin American nation, which too is facing US sanctions. Swaraj cited an order by the Reserve Bank of India saying it did not allow trade using cryptocurrency.

Venezuela, whose oil output is falling under pressure from US sanctions, is offering a discount on oil sales paid for by using the petro.
New Delhi

India is mounting another strong bid for admission to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an elite club of 48 countries that deal with fissile materials and nuclear technology, which is set to meet in June and December this year, three persons familiar with the hectic diplomatic activities on the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The NSG is the only major export control regime India is not part of after its entry into the Australia Group (January 2018), the Missile Technology Control Regime (June, 2016) and the Wassenaar Arrangement (December 2017).

Being a member of the NSG would be shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi government and a major policy achievement ahead of the next general elections in 2019.

The issue of Indias entry came up for discussion at the Seoul plenary of the NSG last June, but Beijing did not agree on the grounds that India was not a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Though other countries also raised objections to Indian membership, India said one country consistently raised procedural hurdles, in an oblique reference to China. Beijing backed a two-step approach which stipulates that the NSG members first need to arrive at a set of principles for the admission of non-NPT states into the NSG and then move forward with the discussions on specific cases.

Officials said that fresh talks between Indian and Chinese officials on the issue were forward looking. Former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh suggested China had blocked Indias entry primarily on account of the strain in bilateral ties. There is a perceptible change in the bilateral ties after Modi meeting President Xi Jinping in Wuhan on April 27 and 28. So if China withdraws its objection, India could be a member of NSG, he said.

EYE ON ELITE N-GROUPING WHAT IS NSG? A club of 48 countries dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of technology that could foster nuclearweapons development Why is membership important for India? Gives access to state-of-theart tech that the countries in NSG possess, which can be used for various purposes  from medicines to building nuclear power plants

Enables it to scale up nuclear power production as part of clean energy push

Gives ability to offer its own nuclear power plants to the world

Gives Make in India programme a boost Indias 3-prong strategy Tell close friends in NSG to work with others to get India admitted

Address concerns of some member countries over Indias non-NPT status

Stress that admission is "merit-based", and not "criteria-based", as advocated by China, and that being a member of groupings like Australia Group, Missile Technology Control Regime and Wassenaar Arrangement boosts its credentials

The road to the NSG membership is paved with uncertainties since the group works on the principle of consensus and even one country holding out could block the chances of entry.

Keeping this in mind, India is working on a three-prong strategy, another officials said.

One, India is telling its close friends in the club to work with others to get India admitted. Two, India is trying to dispel the notion that countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Kazakhstan, and South Africa -- which once gave up their nuclear programme -- could cite any procedural issues to not admit India. Three, India is stressing that the process of admission is merit-based and not criteria -based, as advocated by China and supported in the past by Austria, New Zealand and Mexico.

We have been in touch with our friends and partners for our NSG bid. We are not a member of the group. But we hope to the there soon, as we hope the grouping factors in our track record in non-proliferation and a clean waiver that the NSG had given us in 2008, said an official who asked not to be named.

The merit-based approach means Indias non-proliferation track record should be factored in. The criteria-based approach means the grouping must first decide how to accommodate non-NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) countries as members. India is a not a signatory to the NPT and maintains the pact is discriminatory in nature.

India has been urging the US and Russia to work with other countries to help its membership. The Netherlands, too, agreed to work with other NSG members for Indias membership during the between Prime Minister Modi and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte on May 24.In order to further strengthen global non-proliferation, the Netherlands reaffirmed its strong support to building consensus among the regimes members on the issue of Indias membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group; recognizing that Indias accession will add value to the aims and objectives of these regimes, read the joint statement issued after the meeting.

This was a step forward from the last years India-Netherlands joint statement, which had simply said: The Netherlands expressed its support for Indias early membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Switzerland, the chair of the NSG for 2017-18 with Ambassador Benno Laggner as its representative, also supports Indias membership.

In additional, there have been visits to some NSG countries by Indian ministers in recent weeks. Minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar met Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl in Vienna on May 15. The other minister of state in the ministry, VK Singh, was in Argentina, another NSG country, to attend G20 meet on May 18-19 and India hosted the foreign minister of Serbia on May 1.

Though there could be some others with reservations on Indias entry. But none of them could be seen as the last one standing in the way, added a second official on condition of anonymity. A diplomat, who also asked not to be identified, said India was in touch with Mexico and Brazil, while South Africa has twice reiterated its support for Indias membership.
Under fire after a newly-married man, who was abducted allegedly by his wifes family members in Kottayam on Sunday, was found dead Monday morning in neighbouring Kollam district, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said a special investigation team will be constituted to probe the case.

Kevin P Joseph (23), a Dalit Christian from a humble background and Neenu Chacko (21), a Christian from an affluent family, had married against the wishes of the brides parents two days ago.

It was an unfortunate incident. Police have some lead in the case and all accused will be arrested soon, Vijayan said.

Police said they have identified 10 accused in the case including the brother of Neenu, Shanu Chacko. One of the accused was arrested and they recovered Kevins body after questioning him, police said. Kevins body had deep cuts and bruises.

The opposition Congress and BJP have called a day-long hartal in Kottayam district on Tuesday. It is a brutal murder. His life should have been saved if the police acted swiftly. It is shame police personnel were deployed for the CM security, said Congressman Ramesh Chennithala who is the leader of the opposition.

But Vijayan criticised the move to link the incident with his visit to Kottayam. Usually the CMs security will be handled by a special team not the local police. It is quite unfair to club laxity on the part of some police officials with my visit, he said.

Neenu collapsed on hearing of the death of her husband and was admitted to the Kottayam Medical College hospital.

Kevin and Neenu met while pursuing studies in a college in Kottayam, said his friends. They had registered their marriage on Friday in the sub-registrars office and they were summoned to the police station after Neenus parents filed a missing person case, said friend of Kevin.

People familiar with the events said there were attempts at the police station to forcibly take the bride but she insisted that she was 21 and would like to live with Kevin. Both parties reportedly reached a compromise at the instance of police and Neenu was asked to stay in a nearby hostel and Kevin allowed to go with his relatives

On Sunday, Neenu had approached the Gandhi Nagar police station in Kottayam with a complaint that her husband was abducted and she suspected her brothers involvement.

But policemen at the station reportedly told her that the Chief Minister was in the district and all officials were busy with his schedule and the case would be taken up only after he left the district. Later Sunday night, a sobbing Neenu told television channels that the police did not take up her complaint seriously citing lack of personnel due to the CMs visit.

As the abduction and murder and the callousness of the police sent shockwaves and triggered anger among the public on Monday, the government transferred Kottayam superintendent of police Mohammad Rafiq and suspended the Gandhi Nagar police station sub-inspector M S Shibu.

Congress workers led by former Home Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan reached the Gandhi Nagar police station in the morning to stage a dharna.

The Kerala police had been under fire in recent days over complaints of excess and custodial torture. Ahead of the Kottayam SPs transfer, an embarrassed state police chief, Loknath Behra, said he has sought a report from the officer and would take action against the officials for dereliction of duty.

The accused who came in two cars, kidnapped Kevin and his relative Anish from their house early Sunday. Kevins relative who was let off after being thrashed for two hours was the first to alert his parents and wife. The cars were recovered later in the night. Kevins body was found near a stream in Thenmala in Kollam district on Monday morning.
Newly-elected Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday and flagged the issue of shortage of coal for the states thermal power plants.

He said he had sought cooperation of the Centre for the development of the state.

I discussed current problems, especially shortage of coal for three thermal plants at Raichur, Yaramaras and Bellari in the state. I requested him to ensure sufficient coal supply to these thermal power plants. The current availability of coal in the state is sufficient to operate the plants for 15 days, he told reporters after the meeting.

He said, besides coal, several other matters were also discussed.

The Prime Minister gave suggestions from his political experience as CM and PM on how to run the government, Kumaraswamy said.

Before meeting the Prime Minister, Kumaraswamy paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi.
This Is Where I Came In

By L. Neil Smith. May 26th, 2018. (lneil@netzero.com)

Attributed to The Libertarian Enterprise

It's happening again.

And again and again and again.

Goblins and mutants of various descriptions and apparent motivations invade a public school or some other unprotected crowd somewhere, with whatever the politically incorrect Gun-of-the-Month happens to be, killing or wounding pupils, teachers, or others by the dozen.

Immediately (sometimes even before the fact, when the script girl gets her cues wrong), selected mouthpieces begin bleating that certain types of perfectly legal firearms must be outlawed, confiscated, or even that the Second Amendment itself be repealed. The national "news" media takes up the cry, unimaginatively repeating each other word for word, and individuals like me, writers and activists who thought their struggle was happily over with the passage of Some Law or the election of Some Guy, have to go back to work again.

For me, it's been 50 long, difficult years, exactly half a century, since the extremely photogenic murders of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. (reinforced in our memories by the still-unsolved assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy five years earlier). Those events very conveniently allowed some of the worst enemies of individual liberty in American history to force the 1968 Gun Control Act through Congress, inflicting untold damage on the Bill of Rights and American hopes for freedom for the first time since the repulsive Administration of communist-admirer Franklin Delano Roosevelt three decades earlier.

Aside from rounding up the actual villains who instigated them, the answer to preventing these atrocities, ending them for once and for all, is obvious. However the "authorities" and the "Dominant Culture" will not willingly relinquish their power over us. They'd rather see row after row of children mowed down like crops. They will do anything they can to prevent the implementation of a real solution to school- and mass-shootings because it runs contrary to their ultimate goal for humanity: pounding us all into harmless, helpless, huddling serfdom, making us slaves forever to outrages like income taxation and the Federal Reserve System. If they get their way, we all wind up wards of the state, cradle to grave.

Over the fifty-two years that have passed since the 1966 Texas University Tower shootings in Austin (the shooter, Charles Whitman, who had stabbed his wife and mother to death the night before, was found to have a brain tumor that may have affected his behavior; I'm sure this gave certain malefactors ideas), I have been very slowly and even more reluctantly forced to the grisly conclusion that a majority of the mass shootings we've witnessed in this more-than-half-century were staged -- cold-bloodily arranged -- by some group or groups in order to force the disarming and subjugation of the American people.

But because self-defense is an individual bodily function that can no more be delegated to somebody else than can eating, sleeping, making love, or going to the bathroom, the one and only real solution is training and arming the school kids themselves. I'll say that again, so there can be no mistake: the one and only real solution is training and arming the school kids themselves.

Kids with guns. Before you dismiss it as unthinkable, remember I'm the author who predicted the widespread concealed carry movement that we see today, in my 1979 novel (still in print after 39 years), The Probability Broach.

It won't be easy. The history of "gun control" in America is an ugly, bigoted one. It began as efforts, mostly by Democrats, to disarm various "undesirable" minorities -- blacks, Italians, the Irish -- and render them controllable, or at least less threatening to genteel folks. The 1934 National Firearms Act -- the first federal gun law -- had nothing to do with machine guns in the hands of gangsters, as is often claimed. It was written and passed because the "transformative" (for which, read "socialist") Roosevelt Administration got frightened out of what little wits they collectively possessed by the 1933 "Businessman's Revolt" (which, according to author/lecturer Robert LeFevre, compelled FDR to change his leftist cabinet appointments), and the 1934 "Bonus Army" which was put down in a panic by brutal military force.

It's widely believed that the 1968 Gun Control Act was passed to keep inexpensive, affordable guns ("Saturday Night Specials") out of the hands of black families, at a time when American inner cities were in flames, leaving them dependent on the police, and with an eye toward disarming Asian street gangs beginning to form up on the West Coast. The so-called "Brady Bill" passed when Congressmen noticed that the majority of handguns in America were being purchased and held by women. The present effort seems to be directed at preventing young people from learning to shoot. So much for "shall not be infringed". Who needs to repeal the Second Amendment when our putrescently corrupted courts will simply let you ignore it?

The method is relatively simple. There are thousands of potential subjects to do the shooting or the bombing or whatever for evil entities -- mental patients, the homeless, drugged-out and disaffected kids, individuals duped into believing they're doing the bidding of jihadis, sitting around, collecting disability and watching daytime television. When things aren't going their way the bad guys simply activate one of these near-zombies they've been storing up, pre-conditioned with drugs, hypnosis, or electroconvulsive "therapy", and the public slaughter happens. The killers all turn out to have long histories of run-ins with the law or of psychiatric "treatment" that nobody seems to notice until it's too late. If they die in the act, so much the better for everybody, all around.

Can I prove any of this? Of course not -- it's specifically engineered not to be proven. But it's at least instructive that the less well the drama works, the fewer people who are panicked by it, and the less flurry that's kicked up by events like this -- the more of them there are, and the more frequently they occur. It's exactly as if their architects (you probably know who they are by now) are saying to Americans, "The more you resist gutting your Constitution and surrendering your rights, the more of your children we're going to kill."

The fact that, in this time of deadly danger, the school system fails to teach kids how to effectively defend themselves (and others) amounts to nothing less than criminal neglect and child abuse. Many an ancient classical civilization would laugh and point and wonder how such a culture as ours can hold itself together. Every time it's proposed that we simply arm school teachers, I have to laugh, myself, and shudder at the same time, remembering vividly what incompetent klutzes most public school teachers I've known were.

The only workable solution to school and mass shootings is to train and arm everybody, as the Constitution and history as we know it mandate. I was 11 years old when I started shooting competitively, reliably producing tiny groups the size of pinky fingernails at 50 yards with a big old heavy iron-sighted Winchester Model 52 .22 rifle rigged to be a single-shot.

Presently, thousands of U.S. combat veterans (stay with me here, I'm not changing the subject) tragically can't find a place for themselves in everyday civilian life (mostly, I think, because liberals are afraid of them) and are falling victim to alcohol, drugs, and suicide at astonishing rates. Some of them are even doomed to be used as zombies.

These veterans could be quickly approved by self-defense schools around the country (paid for by philanthropists recruited for the purpose) and assigned to the nation's public schools to instruct teachers and students alike in "Civil- and Self-Defense", a new course of study right alongside "History and Moral Philosophy" as recommended by author Robert A. Heinlein. Weapons-carry certificates (not permits -- you can't permit a human right) should be automatically issued at age 16, and if the public education system resists this, it should be defunded and summarily abolished, its buildings emptied out and razed to the ground so that not a single stone remains standing on another, and salt sown on the ruins.

Anti-Constitutional movement leaders like the one we call "Danny Pigg" (you know who we mean) should be sent to Cuba -- not to Guantanamo with the decent criminals, but parachuted gently into Havana as the socialist refugees from capitalist individualism they aspire to be. Let their communist comrades figure out what to do with them.

As for the rest: child demonstrators, deliberately kept ignorant of history and the law, who rail against the Bill of Rights, should be spanked and sent to bed without their suppers.

Author and lecturer L. Neil Smith is Senior Editorial Consultant for Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. A fifty-year veteran of the libertarian movement, he is the Author of 33 books including The Probability Broach, Ceres, Sweeter Than Wine, And Down With Power: libertarian Policy In A Time Of Crisis. He is also the Publisher of The Libertarian Enterprise, now in its 21st year online.



Visit the Neil Smith archive on JPFO.

Back to Top


A 40-year-old man, who spent seven years in a jail in France for allegedly keeping links with terror organisations and recruiting two French citizens for training in Pakistan, was deported to India last week.

A joint team of officials of the Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police interrogated Mohammad Rasheed, a native of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and later handed him over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). An NIA official said Rasheed has now been handed over to Tamil Nadu police for further probe.

Rasheed is suspected to have contacted Indians and helped them reach France and some countries in the Middle East, a source at the airport told HT.

The agencies are now in search for a suspected money trail between Rasheed and his contacts in south India. Rasheed, believed to self-radicalised, was allegedly in touch with terrorists involved in the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia, in which 202 people were killed.

In 2013, he was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of criminal conspiracy for wanting to carry out a series of blasts in France through alleged links with terror outfits.
Kausar Ali, a medical student arrested for uploading nude photographs of his estranged fiance on social media, was remanded in police custody by the Suri court in Bengals Birbhum district on Sunday.

The victim, a resident of Fakir Para area in Suri town, about 200 km from Kolkata, lodged complaint with the local police on Friday.

She alleged that Ali, a resident of the same neighbourhood, had been repeatedly posting her photographs on social media ever since he started avoiding her. The photos were taken when the two were into a relationship.

The victim alleged that Ali started avoiding her soon after her family talked of getting the two married.

Since Ali is a student of a medical college in Bhubaneswar the Suri police alerted several police stations. He was arrested from Burdwan town in East Burdwan district on Saturday night.

Ali has been remanded in police custody. The cyber crime branch is investigating the matter, said Ranjit Ganguly, the government pleader.

The woman, who is in her early twenties, said, Ali took some photographs a few months ago. I was shocked to see these photos on his social media page. I pleaded with him but he kept posting.

He said he would never leave me and made me pose in the nude. I trusted him. I never imagined that he could make those photos public, she added.

We had seen them together many times and Kausar was known to be good student. How can a person who is supposed to be saving lives in future have such a distorted mindset? wondered Sayed Nayeem, a resident of Fakir Para.
Two militants looted Rs 1.7 lakh in cash from a bank and took away a 12-bore rifle from its guard in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said.

The armed militants barged into the Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch at Srigufwara in Anantnag district this afternoon and looted Rs 1.72 lakh at gunpoint, a police official said.

He said the gunmen also snatched the 12-bore rifle of the banks private security guard before fleeing the place.

Police have issued screen grabs from CCTV cameras showing the two militants and asked general public to help identify them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday on his way back from Indonesia during which he will meet his newly-elected Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohammad.

Modi will leave for a two-nation tour of Indonesia and Singapore on Tuesday with an aim to boosting ties in several key sectors, including defence and trade.

His first destination will be Indonesia from where he will travel to Singapore on Thursday.

He will also make a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 31 to meet the newly-elected Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohammad, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Ninety-two-year-old Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysias prime minister on May 10 after leading the opposition alliance to a stunning election victory over the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had ruled Malaysia since 1957.

During their meeting, Modi and Mahathir are expected to deliberate on ways to deepen bilateral relationship in a range of areas, including trade and investment.

The prime ministers official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership of the two countries, delegation level talks, and meetings with the business and Indian communities.

In Singapore, Modi will deliver the key-note address at the 17th Shangri-la Dialogue.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries in ASEAN, are strategic Partners of India. Government of India attaches high importance to its relations with the ASEAN region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual ASEAN member states, within the framework of Governments Act East Policy, the ministry said.

It said the visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President X Jinping in Wuhan last month saw them developing the kind of rapport that the two leaders can now speak to each other directly on any issue of importance, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said at her annual press conference on Monday.

Commenting on Pakistan at the same conference, Swaraj said that it was clear that talks and terror could not go on at the same time, referring to terror strikes in India by Pakistan-based terror groups.

However, justifying the talks between the national security advisers of the two countries, she said the mechanism was to ensure talks on terror.

Swaraj said the informal summit between Modi and Xi enabled the two leaders to discuss issues without any listed agenda.

Today the ease (between them) is such that President Xi has said that whenever you think there is something going against you, pick up the phone and talk to me directly. And PM Modi said if you want to know my opinion about any subject, pick up the phone and talk to me. So this informal summit has established this ease, Swaraj said.

The minister explained that there were three major objectives for the informal summit.

First, smoothen relations; second, to bring an understanding on global issues; and third, increase mutual trust. All three objectives have been met. Thats why we termed the meet successful, the minister said. The meeting, the minister claimed was an unprecedented dialogue mechanism that has never been tried anywhere in the world.

She said the status quo was restored and persists at Doklam, the India-Tibet-Bhutan tri-junction, where the India and Chinese armies faced off last year before Modi and Xi resolved the issue.

On ties with Pakistan, the minister said, We are willing to have a dialogue, but with the caveat that terror and talks cannot go together. This has always been our position.

The minister spoke out against the order on Gilgit-Baltistan on May 21 by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi through which the national government got authority from the local council to deal with the affairs of the region. The order is seen as Islamabads efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

As for Gilgit-Baltistan being named by Pakistan as its fifth state, the same day we expressed our opposition, and the reply came more as a lesson on history and geography. I felt while reading their answer was, look whos talking They need not give us sermons on it, the minister said.

The minister said India is in touch with the White House, the state department as well as US law makers on the curbs on work visas that would affect Indians: We are talking to US White House, US state department, the US Congress and Senate to push US not to revoke H1B and H4 visas. Swaraj said her government had undertaken unprecedented outreach in terms of Indian leaders visiting countries, many of which had never seen a high-level visit from this country. She said the government has ensured a visit has taken place to 186 out of 192 countries; in the past four years, it has brought home 90,000 stranded Indians from various troubled spots.
Former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav moved the Supreme Court on Monday asking for appropriate time to vacate official residences allotted to them by the state government.

The top court SC had on May 7 ordered that former chief ministers cannot retain government accommodations once they demit office. The court had struck down an amendment in UPs legislation allowing former chief ministers to continue living in government houses.

Subsequent to the SC verdict, the states estate department had issued eviction notices six former CMs of UP, including Mulayam and Akhilesh, giving them 15 days time to move out. Others on the list included Union home minister Rajnath Singh and governor of Rajasthan Kalyan Singh.

After the notice, Mulayam and Akhilesh first moved the estate department for permission to live in their residences for two more years. They claimed the time would be needed to move into their private accommodation.

On Monday, While Mulayam sought sufficient time from the apex court to make arrangements for alternate accommodation, Akhilesh requested the court for time on security grounds.

We are requesting the Supreme Court to grant us sufficient time to make arrangements for a suitable alternate accommodation, taking into consideration the security of the petitioner and his family members, read Akhileshs petition before SC.

Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh had agreed to vacate their bungalows.

The top courts order came on a petition filed by an NGO Lok Prahari, challenging the amendments made by the erstwhile Akhilesh Yadav government to the UP Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981.

The SC held that a CM cannot continue to occupy public property, and said the provision had the effect of creating a separate class of citizens for conferment of benefits by way of distribution of public property on the basis of the office held by them.
India is ready for talks with Pakistan if it stops supporting terrorists, said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday.

We are ready for talks. We have never said that we are not ready for talks. But theres a caveat. Terror and talks dont go together, said Swaraj in Delhi at a press conference.

This caveat has never been altered. If the border is volatile, then talks are difficult. Terror and talks dont go together but talks on terror should go on, she said when asked if India will negotiate with Pakistan at the highest levels.

We never said we are not ready for talks, but there is a caveat. Terror and talks cannot go together, be it post elections(Pakistan general elections scheduled for July 25) or even before. Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon,to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti: EAM Sushma Swaraj pic.twitter.com/8pN4uNUlz1  ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

Swaraj also responded to a question on Pakistans Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018, which reportedly alters the status of the region and allows the country to exercise administrative authority on the disputed region.

The answer we got in response of what happened with the Gilgit Baltistan Order is laughable. They tried to teach us history. Pakistan always distorts history and doesnt believe in law. The only thing I felt while reading their answer was, look whos talking, she said.

The answer we got in response of what happened with Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018. was laughabale. They tried to teach us history. Pakistan always distorts history & doesn't believe in law. Only thing thing I felt while reading their answer was, 'look who's talking': EAM Swaraj. pic.twitter.com/HjwpebYpRX  ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

Swaraj was addressing media personnel on the completion of four years of the Narendra Modi government and released a book on the achievements of her ministry.

Listing the achievements of the government, she said, I was surprised to hear that there were so many countries that our leaders didnt go to. When we formed our government, we thought that we will cover all the 192 countries part of the United Nations, for ministerial level talks. And we have covered 186 countries already.

Some 90,000 people from the Indian community have been rescued from various places. In his visits to many countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has saved many people from severe punishments. Today, Indians living overseas are living peacefully, Swaraj said.

(With agency inputs)
No major political party has responded to the Law Commissions call for views on holding simultaneous national and state elections, two top commission officials involved in the exercise said on Monday.

On April 17, in a working paper titled Simultaneous Elections  constitutional and legal perspectives, the panel listed a series of sweeping legal and constitutional changes needed for holding simultaneous polls. The countrys top legal advisory panel appealed to stakeholders, including political parties, to give their comments on the subject by May 8. The discussion paper was also submitted to the law ministry.

No national or regional party has sent in any suggestions or comments in response to the call for participation in the exercise. We will soon begin inviting them for talks, one of the officials cited above said.

The BJP, which proposed the idea, also did not respond to the panel. Party leaders said its views are already well known and have been expressed at different platforms.

The BJP has articulated its views in favour of simultaneous polls and encouraged debate on this issueThough many parties are for simultaneous elections, they fear the PM is immensely popular and the BJP will benefit from it, party MP GVL Narasimha Rao said. He added that contrary to fears, simultaneous elections will provide a level playing field to parties while reducing election expenditure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived the debate on holding simultaneous polls soon after coming to power in May 2014. The government wrote to the Election Commision of India in 2015 seeking its views on the subject. President Ram Nath Kovind backed the idea in his joint address to both houses of Parliament to mark the start of the budget session this year.

Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy is the only chief minister who has written to the law panel. He opposed the idea, calling it unconstitutional and against the federal structure, an official said.

The two officials were also present at a meeting on the issue between the law panel and representatives of the Election Commission on May 16 . The Election Commission listed the logistical requirements, including nearly doubling the number of Electronic Voting Machines it currently possesses.

The officials said that the panel wanted to make the exercise as broad-based as possible and that it had chosen to hold consultations with stakeholders and experts rather than merely submit a report to the government based on a legal examination of the issue.

The changes listed in the draft paper include: amending the Constitution by a special majority in Parliament and ratification by more than half of the states; amending the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and doing away with anti-defection law and parts of Schedule X of the Constitution that lays down the rules of disqualification of legislators, in case of a hung House. The anti-defection law does not allow party legislators to vote against the party whip.

The recommendations also speak of scrapping the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies with a constructive vote of no confidence (allowing a House to withdraw confidence from a head of the government only if there is a motion of confidence in a successor).

In the event of a midterm poll, the new House should only be constituted for the remainder of the term, the commissions draft paper suggested.
Congress president said on Sunday he was accompanying his mother Sonia Gandhi abroad for her annual medical checkup while taking a dig at social media trolls.

In a tweet late night, Gandhi asked BJP social media trolls not to get too worked up as he will be back soon.

Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up.



To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: dont get too worked up...I'll be back soon!  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 27, 2018

The Congress chief will return within a week while Sonia Gandhi, who had undergone a surgery in the US in 2001, will stay abroad for a longer period, sources told PTI.

They said some key decisions, including the allocation of ministerial portfolios in Karnataka, have been put on hold.

Rahul Gandhi held deliberations with party leaders Sunday to decide on the portfolios for the partys legislators in Karnataka, but the discussions remained inconclusive.

Some fresh appointments in the party are also awaited as part of the Congress rejig under Rahul Gandhi.
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, which are out of bounds for foreign tourist without a special permit, have expressed their support for a move by the Centre to relax the system to boost tourism in the region.

Its not possible to completely waive off the present system of granting permits to foreign tourists. However, to promote tourism in the state, I am in favour of not only relaxing the terms of the permit but also extending its scope, Arunachal Pradeshs chief minister Pema Khandu said in an interview with the Hindustan Times.

SC Gupta, Sikkims additional chief secretary and home secretary, echoed the view.

There is no doubt that easing of the restrictions will promote tourism and benefit the state. However, since its a sensitive matter, deliberations among all stakeholders to define the terms and condition of such a relaxation is required, Gupta said.

Both the state governments said they will convey the views in this regard to the Centre in the coming few days.

Foreign tourists need to obtain Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim due to security reasons. Indian tourists also need to get an Inner Land Permit (ILP) to go to these two states.

The Union ministry of tourism recently moved a proposal to the home ministry to find out ways to open the northeast states to promote their culture and tourism. The home ministry consulted the ministry of defence as both Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are border states.

While Arunachal Pradesh shares its boundary with China and Bhutan, Sikkim is surrounded from three sides by three countries Bhutan, China and Nepal.

On May 17, senior officials from the three ministries and the Intelligence Bureau met under the chairmanship of the special secretary of the department of border management and unanimously agreed to open these areas for tourists.

Union tourism minister KJ Alphons confirmed it soon after the meeting and while speaking to HT said that a formal announcement would come only after consultation with the state governments involved.

Exploring the various possibilities, Khandu says that one of the suggestions would be either extend the days for renewal of the permit or reduce the permit fee.

Another relaxation would be to allow foreign tourists to visit those areas which they cant access even after obtaining tour permits. For instance, areas like Ki Gompa in Tawang district are great tourist destinations but they are off limit for foreign tourists. We can bring them in the ambit of the permit, he added.

Gupta said that earlier the state government had itself written to the Centre to relax permit conditions.

Now, we have received a proposal from the Centre to completely remove the permit conditions in certain areas. We are looking at this proposal and yet to formulate our views, said Gupta.

We are hoping that by the first week of June we would be able to crystalise our views, he added.

Pronab Sarkar, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, agreed that any move to relax or extend the scope of the permit will be a boon for the tourism sector.

I attended a travel congress on May 25 in Itanagar where the minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, chief minister of AP, Pema Khandu, and a lot of tourist associations deliberated on the permit issue, among other things. There was a common consensus among all stakeholders to take some measures to minimise the permit restrictions, Sarkar said.

The home ministry relaxed the six-decade-old Protected Area Permit regime from Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur for five years from April 1 to allow foreign tourists, except those from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan, to visit some of the most pristine locations in these states.

All areas falling between the Inner line and the International Border of some states were declared as protected areas under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.

The protected areas currently include whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, besides parts of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Some parts of Sikkim fall under the protected area regime while others under the restricted area.
A soldier was killed and three others injured in two separate militant attacks on the army in south Kashmirs Pulwama and Shopian districts in the last 24 hours. This is the first army casualty after the government announced to halt operations against militants during Ramzan.

A civilian was also killed in the exchange of firing between militants and forces.

On Sunday night, militants attacked the army camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles at Kakapora in South Kashmirs Pulwama district. Army said in the attack one soldier identified as Vikram Singh was injured. He later succumbed to his injuries in the Base hospital.

In the exchange of firing, a civilian Bashir Ahmad Gania was also killed. Gania, a driver by profession, was travelling in his cab along with his brother when he was killed. Police said 26-year-old Gania was killed in the exchange of firing between militants and the forces. Militants, however, managed to escape from the spot under the cover of darkness.

Army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia termed the attack as a provocative act of terror. In a standoff attack on Kakapora army camp one soldier lost his life, he said.

Hundreds of villagers participated in the funeral of Gania who was buried in his native village amid chanting of pro-freedom slogans on Monday. Fearing protests over civilian killing authorities suspended mobile internet in Pulwama district.

In neighbouring Shopian district, militants triggered an Improvised Electronic Device (IED) close to armys CASPER  Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV). In the attack, three armymen including an officer, sustained injuries. The CASPER vehicle also got damaged. After the attack, army and the police launched a search operation in the area to track the militants, but couldnt trace the attackers.

Militants had planted an IED near the water tank on Turkwangam road near Zainpora and triggered the explosion when an army vehicle was passing through the area. The vehicle suffered the damages due to the blast and the three jawans inside the vehicle were also injured, a police spokesman said.

Last week during his visit to Kashmir, army chief Bipin Rawat had hinted that suspension of operations could be extended. There is peaceful atmosphere right now, according to my view, the people here are very happy with that. If this continues and peace prevails, then we can say for sure that we can think of continuing NICO (non-initiation of combat operations) in future days. But if there is any action from terrorists, then we will have to rethink this move, General Rawat had said.
Voters made a slow start at some polling stations on Monday in the bypolls to four Lok Sabha constituencies, including the politically-crucial Kairana, and ten assembly seats across the country, which are being seen as a tryout ahead of the 2019 general elections for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a now united opposition.

By-elections are also being held in Bhandara-Gondiya and Palghar parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra and Nagaland Lok Sabha seat.

Read more: Live updates on bypoll results

Polling is underway for assembly seats in RR Nagar in Karnataka; Gomia and Silli constituencies of Jharkhand; Noorpur in Uttar Pradesh; Shahkot in Punjab; Jokihat in Bihar; Chengannur in Kerala; Palus Kadegaon in Maharashtra; Ampati in Meghalaya; Tharali in Uttarakhand and Maheshtala in West Bengal.

The votes will be counted on May 31.

Slow start in Kairana

Voting for Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh and the Noorpur assembly seats began amid tight security at 7am and will continue till 6pm.

An election official said only 12% polling has been recorded in the first two hours in Kairana parliamentary seat.

The main contest in Kairana is between Mriganka Singh of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan.

Singh, daughter of the late BJP legislator from Kairana Hukum Singh, is counting on the sympathy wave the death of her father and the power of the Yogi Adityanath government to win the election. And Hasan is pinning her hopes on the opposition unity as the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Nishad Party, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have extended their support to her.

Kairana, around 630km from Lucknow, has five assembly segments and an electorate of nearly 1.7 million with a significant number of Muslims, Jats and Dalit voters.

In Noorpur, BJPs Avni Singh is pitted against Naimul Hasan of the SP. There are 3,06,226 male voters, 1,41,924 women and 10 from the third gender.

The opposition hopes to repeat the success of the Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-elections in March in which the ruling BJP suffered unexpected defeats. The BJP is trying to retain the seat and send a message to voters, party cadre as well as the opposition parties that the drubbing in Gorakhpur and Phulpur was an aberration.

Kairana has been in the news over the reported 2016 exodus of Hindu families from the area.

Other Lok Sabha bypolls

The focus of political parties and pundits is also on the by-elections to Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena has fielded late BJP MP Chintaman Wanagas son Shriniwas Wanaga in Palghar much to the dislike of the saffron party, which has nominated Congress deserter Rajendra Gavit.

The fourth Lok Sabha bypoll is being held in Nagaland, where the by-election was necessitated after the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio, now chief minister of Nagaland resigned as a Lok Sabha member in February.

Till 9:00am, the state recorded 24% overall polling. Pughoboto with 33% recorded the highest percentage while Kohima with 17% was the lowest. Nearly 12 lakh voters are exercising their ballot in the state.

It is being seen as a test of strength between C Apok Jamir, the candidate of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) supported by Congress, and the nominee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA).

The PDA, which has the NDPP and the BJP as its major constituents, has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi in the seat.

Assembly seats

Jharkhands Silli assembly constituency recorded 18.22% polling till 9pm and in Gomia 14.4% voters cast their franchise. Polling started from 7am in the two constituencies.

Former Jharkhand chief minister and JMM working president Hemant Soren tweeted about malfunctioning of EVMs in several polling booths.

I have received concerned calls from voters, polling agents regarding constant EVM malfunctioning in atleast 13 booths in Rahe and Sonahutu blocks under Silli constituency (sic), he said.

Officials said 10% polling was reported till 10am in Tharali constituency in Uttarakhand that is witnessing bypoll after the death of BJP legislature Magan Lal Shah. The polling has been peaceful in the 178 booths in Tharali, which is reserved for the Scheduled Caste.

The bypoll is being seen as a litmus test for the Trivendra Rawat government after the saffron party riding on Modi wave won 57 out of 70 assembly constituencies in the 2017 state elections.

Unlike neighbouring Uttar Pradesh where the opposition is united to take on BJP, the scene is different in Tharali. However, its a direct fight between the BJP and Congress in the bypoll.

Five contestants are in the fray in the bypoll including Munni Shah from the BJP, Jeet Ram from Congress, Kunwar Ram from Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kasbi Lal from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and Giri Ram an independent.

Munni Devi is the wife of late BJP legislature while Jeet Ram of Congress is the former legislator who represented constituency between 2012-2017.

There are 1.2 lakh voters, with an equal number of females and males voters, who will decide whether the seat will go to the BJP or Congress.

BJP state president Ajay Bhatt said his party connect with the voters, hard work of cadres, and the chief ministers clean image would help them post an easy win. The opposition Congress feels price rise would prove too hot for the BJP.

According to officials, voting for the bypoll in Punjabs Shahkot, necessitated by the death of Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Ajit Singh Kohar, which began at 7am has witnessed 31% voting till 11am.

The bypoll is being seen as a popularity test of the 14-month-old Congress government in the state. The Captain Amarinder Singh-led government has been facing criticism from the opposition for not fulfilling promises made to the voters in the run-up to the 2017 assembly elections.

Voter-verified paper audit trail machines at several booths were replaced during mock polls due to a technical snag at some during actual polling.

Heavy polling in Keralas Chengannur

The scene, however, was different in Keralas Chengannur assembly constituency where people turned out in large numbers to cast their franchise in the morning as bypoll despite rains.

The outcome of the bypoll is widely seen as a referendum on the performance of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in the state and Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

While CPI(M)s Saji Cheriyan, the partys Alappuzha district secretary, is the candidate of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), Congress leader D Vijayakumar is the United Democratic Front (UDF) nominee. Former president of the BJP state unit PS Sreedharan Pillai is also testing his luck once again from the constituency.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA KK Ramachandran Nair (CPM) in January this year due to illness.

In Bihars Jokihat assembly seat, 29% voting was registered till 11am and the polling was peaceful, officials said.

The Jokihat assembly seat fell vacant after the then Janata Dal (United) MLA Sarfaraz Alam resigned to contest the Araria Lok Sabha by-poll on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket.

Alam won the Araria byelection, which was necessitated by the death of Sarfaraz Alams father and RJD legislator Mohammad Taslimuddin.

Nine candidates, including six independents, are in the fray but the main contest is believed to be between JD(U)s Murshid Alam and RJDs Mohammad Shahnawaz Alam, who is the younger brother of Sarfaraz.

Over 2.70 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in 331 booths.

There is a three-cornered contest with the ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP and the Left Front in the fray in Mahestala assembly seat.

In Meghalayas Ampati seat, the fight is mainly between the Congress and the BJP-backed National Peoples Party. The Congress won 21 seats in the February assembly polls, but the count came down to 20 with Sangma vacating the seat.

(With agency inputs)
Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah had no locus standi to ask for utilisation certificates for the funds released by the Centre for construction of state capital Amaravati.

Naidu was reacting to Shahs comments at his media interaction in New Delhi that the Andhra Pradesh had not laid a single brick for the construction of Amaravati though the Centre had released Rs 2,500 crore. Shah had also accused Naidu of not submitting any utilisation certificates for the central funds released so far for various projects like Amaravati. He also said the state had not even finalised the master plan which was still in the files of a Singapore consortium.

On Monday, Naidu ticked off Shah.

First of all, who is Shah to talk about utilisation certificates? It is between the state and central government. Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi or his office say that we had not submitted the accounts, he said.

It was for the second successive day that Naidu took on the TDPs former ally BJP after declaring on Sunday that the ruling party at the Centre wont return to power 2019.

Addressing a huge gathering of party workers at the partys annual conclave Mahanadu on the second day, Naidu said Shah was just a party president and an MP and had no right to question the Andhra Pradesh government on the spending of central funds.

The chief minister also took strong exception to the BJP presidents comment that the utilisation certificates submitted by the state were not genuine but only self-certified documents. This is atrocious. He has no business to certify on authenticity of the utilisation certificates. Niti Ayog clearly endorsed all our certificates. How can Shah interfere in the administrative matters? he asked.

He said that Centre-state relations were clearly defined by the Sarkaria Commission. The Centre cannot stop release of funds to a state on flimsy grounds.

Naidu also ticked off Shah for alleging that the state government had not even called for tenders for the construction of Amaravati. The chief minister said tenders for various works worth over Rs 24,000 crore, including roads and construction of various buildings to the extent of 45 lakh square feet had already been finalised and works were on full swing. The master plan for the capital was finalised long ago, he said.

We have acquired 34,000 acres of land worth Rs 50,000 crore from farmers under land pooling system for the capital. But the Centre had released only Rs 1500 crore for the capital works, besides another Rs 1,000 crore for drainage works in Vijayawada and Guntur. We have already submitted utilisation certificates for the funds released, the chief minister explained.

On Shahs statement that the Centre had not shown any special favour to Gujarat and that all projects like development of Dholera smart city were being taken up only with state funds, Naidu demanded that the Centre come out with a white paper in this regard.

The chief minister alleged that the BJP was conspiring with the YSR Congress party to malign the TDP government. He called upon the party workers to counter every allegation levelled by the BJP.

In spite of all its conspiratorial politics, the BJP will not get a single seat in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu asserted.

Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh are due next year around the same time as the general elections.

Naidu pulled the TDP out of the NDA in March after the Central government refused to confer a special category status to Andhra Pradesh which the BJP had promised during the 2014 election campaign.
Veteran politician Sharad Yadav has been an 11-term Member of Parliament, Union minister, and convener of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Now an active player in forging Opposition unity against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yadav spoke to Prashant Jha and Kumar Uttam about the national political landscape after the assembly elections in Karnataka. Edited excerpts:

You were in Bengaluru along with other Opposition leaders. What was its significance?

In Karnataka, the BJP won 104 seats; the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance won 117 seats. In Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, despite the Congress being the largest party, it did not get an opportunity to take oath. With a common Constitution, double standards were applied and the single-largest party was invited in Karnataka rather than the coalition with the majority. There was anger across the country on this and we in the Opposition were also disturbed. This was an oath-taking ceremony; even parties with differences amongst themselves were there. But there is no doubt that the anger of the country was reflected. We are working towards unity.

You were in Bengaluru along with other Opposition leaders. What was its significance?

In Karnataka, the BJP won 104 seats; the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance won 117 seats. In Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, despite the Congress being the largest party, it did not get an opportunity to take oath. With a common Constitution, double standards were applied and the single-largest party was invited in Karnataka rather than the coalition with the majority. There was anger across the country on this and we in the Opposition were also disturbed. This was an oath-taking ceremony; even parties with differences amongst themselves were there. But there is no doubt that the anger of the country was reflected. We are working towards unity.

What is the role of the Congress in this proposed Opposition front? Rahul Gandhi recently said if it emerges as the single largest party, he is willing to be prime minister. Is that acceptable to regional parties?

If there is one party in the Opposition with a pan-India presence, it is the Congress. The Congress has strived for Opposition unity. Sonia Gandhi has called meetings thrice. The most important priority is battling the undeclared emergency in the country. This country got partitioned; but we maintained a composite culture in this country, despite religious, regional and caste divisions. The need of the hour is unity of all forces. All parties have an important role. But the Congress, because it is an all-India party, has a special role.

Rahul Gandhi said this in response to some question. But I am in touch with them, and I can tell you the Congresss worry is also in getting all forces together.

Everyone can come together and resolve the question on leadership  either in advance or later. Let me give you an example. Who had projected Morarji Desai after Emergency? He became PM later, in two-three days. VP Singh became PM in 1989; he was not projected. Devi Lal was elected, and he proposed VP Singhs name. In 1996, too, there was no projection. When (HD) Deve Gowda was proposed as in 1996, many people got to know his name for the first time.

The Oppositions aim is to oust the BJP. That is the common aim. It has not fulfilled its promises, and instead raised non-issues  Taj Mahal, Tipu Sultan, Jinnah, cow. We need to protect the Constitution first.

In 2014, we saw an almost presidential-type election. Narendra Modi will remain the BJPs face. Can the Opposition, without a face, take him on?

You named one person. Was there a man bigger than Jawaharlal (Nehru)? Was there a bigger mass leader than Indira Gandhi? If anyone got the maximum seats in Parliament, it was Rajiv Gandhi. This country and its people will not accept this presidential kind of system.

But the question is, how will you challenge Modi without a leader?

We did that in 1977. We did that in 1989. We did that in 1996. What is the need for a face? What is needed is a programme. The programme is the leader. The principle will be the leader. And that principle is sustaining and protecting the Constitution. Leadership can be decided in three-four hours. The country need not worry about this.

You were active in all three experiments  of 1977, 1989, and 1996  but they did not last and collapsed in a few years.

This is a mischievous logic. There was Emergency in the country. But we protected Indias Constitution. Wasnt that aim achieved? Now you cannot declare Emergency. Didnt the Morarji government ensure that? How long the government survived is an important question. But the more important issue is that people came together to respond to the Emergency, and we ensured a constitutional amendment to ensure this cannot happen again. Protecting the Constitution is the first priority. Stability comes next. Yes, I admit that the governments on all three occasions could not remain stable. We have to ensure stability too.

But how will you assure the people that this Opposition front can provide stability now?

Our past experience will show us the light. We have to learn lessons and give a government for five years.

The BJP has built a broad social coalition. From being seen as a Brahmin-Bania party, it has both substantial OBC (other backward class) and Dalit support. How do you see this shift?

Our Janata Dal was a party of farmers and peasants. Chaudhary Charan Singh left us with the second-largest party. It got fragmented in 11-12 parts  Chimanbhai Patel, Devi Lal, Ajit Singh, Mulayam Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Navin Patnaik, HD Deve Gowda slowly left. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance)-2 was tainted with scams, it could not respond effectively. We all campaigned against it, and the Congress slipped to its worst. So in 2014, there was a vacuum. The BJP benefited from this vacuum.

When Mulayam and Mayawati came together in UP, see what happened. When the Mahagatbandhan was formed in Bihar, see what happened. The class you are referring to came back as soon as it saw that the old Janata Dal is one, with Congress on its side. Our fragmentation led to our supporters moving away. But they have now understood very clearly that the BJP is not their party. I can guarantee you that they will return as soon as fragmentation diminishes.

See, despite our fragmentation, non-BJP parties got 69% votes last time. Assume that 15% of that vote is minority vote, including Muslims, Christians and others. That still leaves the Opposition with 54% Hindu votes; it includes caste Hindus, backward classes, Dalits, and Adivasis. Assume all 31% of the BJP votes are Hindu votes. So the Opposition still got 23% more Hindu votes than the BJP. It is a misconception that Hindus are with them. There is no one Hindu. It is a social order. They will fail in their attempts to unite it.

To unite Hindus?

Yes. They will be completely unsuccessful. I have already given you the data. 54% Hindus are with us. If there is possible unity, not even complete unity, they will consolidate. The BJP will be cleaned up from the Ganga (Gangetic) belt. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are together in UP; we will see them (in Bihar); Mamata (Banerjee) will take care of them in Bengal.

Count the number of seats here. They came from the Ganga and they will disappear from the Ganga.

But this Ganga belt has also seen serious Hindu-Muslim conflicts, from the Jat-Muslim tensions to Dalit-Muslim violence. How will you manage that?

Their (the BJPs) election speeches are geared towards religious tensions. Their aim is to trigger caste conflict. All that they do is act against the Constitution and composite culture. There are so many religions, castes, subcastes. There are so many contradictions here.

Even if one was to agree that the BJP benefits from a Hindu-Muslim rift, isnt it the case that you benefit from intra-caste tensions within Hindus?

This is a big lie. Caste is an institution that goes back thousands of years. It is a reality, a reality recognised by the Constitution. To blame us for it is deeply unjust. The constitution has provisions for the disadvantaged. What the BJP and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) go around doing is inter-dining. But the institution of marriage keeps the caste system alive. The caste system is in this countrys soil. Resolving it is a long-term issue.

How will you cement the religious divide?

It is healed. See what happened in (bypolls in) Ajmer, Alwar, Gorakhpur, Phulpur, Araria. In Opposition unity, people from different communities can see their faces.

You split from Nitish Kumar on the question of understanding with the BJP. How do you assess his politics now?

He caused great damage to the nation, betrayed the faith of the millions who voted for the Mahagathbandhan. I had told him, I will never accept this. He did not listen to someone like me who made this party. He had promised to fight for Sangh-mukt Bharat. By going back on your commitment, you weaken democracy. He will be consigned to the dustbin of history.

There are some indications he has differences with the BJP. Is your door open, the Oppositions door open, for him?

This is a hypothetical question. What he has committed is a big crime. He was giving me all kinds of greed. He collaborated with the BJP to take away my party and symbol. They have been vindictive. They have gone to court. They want me evicted. He has shown what depths a person can plunge to. What is the point of him return.
Fourteen deaths due to the Nipah virus (NiV) in Kerala seem to have dampened a nine-day Yoga Ambassadors Tour in the state for 140 professional practitioners from across the globe.

Only 60 of the 140 participants have confirmed participation for the tour beginning June 13, that was designed by the union ministry of Ayush and Kerala government as part of the countdown to the International Yoga Day on June 21.

American and German nationals have written to the organisers raising concerns about visiting the state which is grappling with a deadly infection.

We got a couple of emails asking us about the situation in the state and we told them that north Kerala, which is the affected part (due to Nipah virus), is not in the itinerary, said Anish PK, president, association of tourism trade organisations, which is one of the tour organisers.

The participating yoga professionals are from the UK, US, Italy, South Africa, Germany and Singapore.

The other participants could have dropped out because of logistical reasons as they were supposed to fund their tickets and visa. I would say it is the domestic crowd that is more affected by the scare, but we are responding in detail to each query that we have received on the subject, Anish said.

Ranjit Kumar, joint secretary, Ayush ministry, said they had spoken to the state government and were assured that the disease was well contained, and there was no reason to panic. The tour will be conducted as planned, he assured.

The tour is aimed at achieving the larger agenda of Ayush ministry and Kerala government to develop a yoga and meditation circuit in south India. Vivekananda Rock in Kanyakumari and Dolmen Caves in Munnar, Kerala, are among the places identified for the circuit.

We designed this specific tour because the number of foreign tourists visiting south India for yoga and meditation was growing each year. We took the proposal to the ministry of Ayush almost a year ago and they agreed to support it, and this year we kick-start the tour with the Yoga Day, Anish said.
The five parliamentarians of the YSR Congress party said on Monday they will meet Lok Sabha Speaker on Tuesday and ask her to accept their resignations submitted by them in April over the non-grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. They said they are ready for bypolls in the state whenever they are held.

Sumitra Mahajan will meet Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy from Nellore, YV Subba Reddy from Ongole, V Varaprasada Rao from Tirupati, P Mithun Reddy from Rajampet and Y Avinash Reddy from Kadapa at around 5pm on Tuesday to have a final round of talk with them on their resignations.

We will meet the Speaker at the designated time and pursue with our case. We shall explain the reason for our resignation. There is no reason why the Speaker would not accept our resignations. We are going to prove our strength in the ensuing by-elections, Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy said.

The members of Parliament put in their papers on April 6, the last day of the budget session of the Lok Sabha, in protest against the central governments denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

He said the lawmakers resigned to protest the denial of special category status and the programme was part of the agitation and action plan announced by party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy much earlier.

If the Lok Sabha Speaker accepts their resignations, Andhra Pradesh may witness by-elections to five Lok Sabha seats vacated by the legislators.

Mekapati said it was for the central government and Election Commission to take the call to conduct the by-elections to the vacant seats.

We are ready to face the elections whenever they are held, he said.

The YSRC leader alleged that the Centre failed to fulfil the core assurances given during the unscientific bifurcation of the state and the Telugu Desam Party despite being a coalition partner also failed to pursue the special status, Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project, petrochemical corridor and Kadapa steel plant among others.

TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, however, has said the resignation of the legislators was just a political stunt.

They submitted their resignations on the pretext of demanding special category status to AP knowing fully well that they would not be accepted, he said while speaking on the first day of his partys annual conclave on Sunday.

Naidu said even if the resignations of the five MPs were accepted, the chances of holding by-elections to the vacant seats were unlikely since the general elections were going to be held in less than a year.
A member of Rajasthan State Education Policy Committee has written to education minister Vasudev Devnani to focus on students who fail to score well in Class 12 exam because they need guidance to chart their future.

The education minister is the chairman of the committee, a state-level think-tank for making education policy for the state.

Incidentally, she wrote on the day (Sunday) when a Class 12 student in Ganganagar killed herself because she scored 74% marks, below her friends score of 81%. The girl appeared for Rajasthan Board of Secondary Educations Class 12 science agriculture exam, results of which were announced on May 23.

When the results are declared, meritorious students get the spotlight, which is necessary, but with this, we tend to forget students who fail to score well. It is an extremely difficult time for them. It is our responsibility to pay special attention to these students and provide them guidance to prepare them for their future, wrote Payal Parasrampuria, who is also district panchayat head of Sirohi.

With this, we will be able to remove negativity from their minds and prepare more meritorious students in future. I have discussed this with experts in the field. The future of students can be improved with recommendations from these experts, she wrote.

Parasrampuria said it is important for the district education officers, principals, teachers and others to provide guidance to students so that they make this a daily routine and part of school curriculum.

You are not your marks, is a Facebook campaign that she is running on her page.

Parasrampuria has also written to the Sirohi district collector and district education officers of elementary and secondary education divisions.

On Saturday, when Central Board of Secondary Education announced results of Class 12, the Sirohi Zila Pramukh issued an appeal to students on her Facebook page, addressing students who didnt score well.

We are not failures in lifes scale if we fail to score good marks in an exam. We have several people among us who have made a name for themselves today but they never found a place in merit lists. Marks in report cards dont mean anything, she wrote.

My young friends, if you ever feel doubtful about yourself or feel diffident, bare your heart before your parents or friends without any hesitation because we are always with you for your help, she continued in her post.
A 17-year-old gang rape victim committed suicide by jumping into a water tank. The incident took place in Chohtan police station area of the district on May 6, but family members of the victim lodged a case in the matter on Monday, police said.

Giving a reason behind delay in filing of the case, the family members told the police that they were initially unaware about the reason behind the suicide. It was only after the victims younger sister told them about the victims gang rape, the family decided to approach the police, they stated the complaints.

On May 4, the family members had gone out of their home leaving the minor behind when two men, identified as Jitendra Jat and Ramaram Jat, kidnapped her, took to an insolated place and gang-raped, stated the complainants.

The accused allegedly threatened the victim not to reveal the fact to anyone or else they would kill her. Unable to bear the trauma, the minor committed suicide by jumping into a water tank on May 6, they alleged.

The police have lodged a case under sections 363, 366, 376(D), 305 of the IPC and the POCSO Act and started investigations. No arrest was made in the case till the last report came in.
Californias Sierra Nevada range is a dramatic granite backbone defining the states eastern edge. There are many attractions in and around itfrom spectacular mountain routes to incomparable alpine destinations. You can also see waterfalls and monoliths in Yosemite, giant trees in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and the lonely, windblown beauty of Californias best-known ghost town, Bodie.

Lake Tahoe

Lose yourself to the magic of the Sierra Nevada range(Visit California)

Blue as a topaz and circled by majestic peaks, this High Sierra gem straddling the California-Nevada border is a bucket-list staple, a place where the air is very pure and fine...it is the same the angels breathe, according to author Mark Twain. Lakefront towns dot the shoreline, each with their own appeal. Winter and springtime snow lets you carve it up at world-class alpine resorts.

Mammoth Lakes

Lose yourself to the magic of the Sierra Nevada range(Visit California)

Surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the west, folks in this laid-back mountain town know theyve got a good thing going. Its a land of serious outdoor lovers, who take to the slopes of the signature Mammoth Mountain (a massive volcano surrounded by granite peaks) and nearby June Lakes resorts in winter, then head out on trails when the snow melts to fly-fish in clear mountain streams, hike and mountain bike through wildflowers in high alpine meadows, and dip into natural hot springs.

Devils Postpile

Follow Highway 203 west of Mammoth Lakes to explore this remarkable natural wonder. Looking like a lumber pile left over by the gods, the 60-foot/18-meter basalt columns at this national monument induce a lot of head-scratching and pondering.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Lose yourself to the magic of the Sierra Nevada range(Visit California)

Climb back into the Sierra, this time on the mountains west side, to explore this expansive and diverse parkland. Famous for their giant sequoias, soaring mountains, deep canyons, and roaring rivers, these parks have plenty to see. Thanks to the General Sherman Tree, the worlds largest living thing, and its gargantuan neighbours, gawking at the big trees is the most popular activity here.

Yosemite National Park

Californias first national park and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, Yosemite attracts 4 million visitors each yearwith good reason. Nearly the size of Rhode Island and covering more than 1,100 square miles/284,899 hectares, it features unforgettable natural beauty, from the sheer walls of Yosemite Valley to the alpine beauty of Tuolumne Meadows.

For more information on the attractions of the Sierra Nevada, you can visit https://www.facebook.com/VisitCaliforniaIndia/ or www.visitcalifornia.in .
Gram pradhan Pratima Devi, 28, represents woman power, quite literally. An ordinary woman of Ramchadrapur village in Mirzapur till a few years ago, Pratima decided to contest the pradhan election only to ensure construction of toilets and bathrooms for the girls of her village.

Her agenda got the thumbs up from teenage girls and women of the village who were struggling for their dignity and privacy daily. And it was woman power that made her win the election.

Girls of the village would often lament the lack of toilets and the problems they had to face daily. Things worsened for them during menstruation. One day, while discussing the problems faced by girls I said that if I were the pradhan of the village, I would certainly do something. The girls supported me at once. Thats when I decided to fight the gram pradhan elections in 2015, says Pratima Devi. In December 2015, she was elected to a five-year term to the post reserved for women.

The girls of the village had been learning the importance of menstrual hygiene in sessions hosted as part of the GARIMA initiative of Unicef. Thus, they submitted a demand letter to Pratima when she went home to home seeking votes. She promised to fulfil the demands of the women of the village. With their support, Pratima was elected the gram pradhan.

The girls came with their letter once again in which construction of toilets and provisions for proper disposal of sanitary pads and cloth used during menstruation were among the top demands. Very soon, I got down to work and construction of toilets and bathrooms began as a mission. We got incinerators made with toilets to facilitate proper disposal of menstrual waste, said Pratima.

The government sanction for 122 toilets was given. But we have managed to get 135 toilets built in the village, making it a completely open defecation free village, she added.

Pratimas list of achievements doesnt end here. Regular meetings with girls and women of the village are hosted to spread proper knowledge about womens health issues. This also includes facilitation of sanitary napkin distribution through the frontline health workers.

We also ensure that the toilets are kept clean in schools to get girls to attend school even during their menstruation. Regular sessions on menstrual hygiene are also organised in school, she says.

Her husband Manna Lal Yadav, a teacher with a private school, is supporting Pratima in championing the cause of womens health and hygiene.

The then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had felicitated Pratima in 2016 for her efforts.

Kumar Bikram, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) officer, UNICEF Uttar Pradesh, says, In rural UP, only 39.9% of women use hygienic methods of protection during menstruation as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). Girls typically miss one-two days of school per month during that period. Availability and accessibility of toilets at the household and institutions provides private space to adolescent girls and women for practising menstrual hygiene as per their requirement in a dignified way.

Prof Rakesh Chandra, former, director, institute of Women Studies, Lucknow University, says it is heartening that girls hygiene is fast emerging as an issue on the new agenda.

Congratulations to gram pradhan Pratima Devi. This woman leader has taken womans bodily development needs as the new agenda in the politics of development. Girls need water, absorbent material, privacy, disposal facilities, counselling and care, he says.

Prof Chandra says puberty is a period of critical development with biological, cognitive, psychological and social change. Girls often feel isolated, lonely and unprepared emotionally. Many homes create taboos on touching and mobility, based on ideas of purity. Some say this is Gods punishment. The Indian reality of poverty and gender discrimination adds to the problem. We all must help girls to grow happy, hygienic and free, he said.

Dr Jyotsna Mehta, gynecologist, says, The importance of menstrual hygiene is grossly underestimated. If unsterilised sanitary napkins are used, infection may ascend up as the OS (the orifice or opening of the uterus or womb) is open during menstruation causing PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) which may, in turn, block the Fallopian tubes and cause infertility.

May 28 is celebrated as the world menstrual hygiene day to create awareness on menstrual hygiene and its management.
Srinagar, May 28: J&K police fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells in Pulwama district hospital injuring many people present in and around the hospital.

The protests erupted in Pulwama district hospital after police refused to hand over the dead body of a civilian Bilal Ahmad Ganai, who was killed by the Indian troops after an attack on Indian armys 50 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Dugam Kakapora in Pulwama, last night. Bilal Ahmad Ganai belonged to Lajoora area of Pulwama.

An Indian soldier was also killed in the attack. Bilal Ahmed Ganai received serious injuries in the firing by the troops. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed.

Meanwhile, three Indian troops were critically injured in an IED blast at Sugan in Shopian district.

Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian, Shailendra Mishra while confirming the incident told media men that several Indian army soldiers were injured in the blast.
Unlike most children who spend their idle hours glued to their phones, television, or computers, 11-year-old Chembur resident Joshua Bosco, a Class 5 student from Somaiya School in Vidyavihar spends his time bird watching. Armed with his weapon of choice, a digital camera, he has so far documented over 75 bird species in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

One of the youngest members of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Joshua picked up the hobby at the age of four and joined the pan-India wildlife research organisation at five. The budding enthusiast aims to become an ornithologist.

Bosco maintains a bird book, where he logs details of the new birds he comes across. His documentation has helped his classmates identify and learn about various avian species.

On most days, I can hear different sounds but I dont see the birds. This forces me to keep searching for them. The songs of the Magpie Robin excite me every morning, and I rush to see where they are perched. What is even more exciting is to see the colour of their eyes and feathers, and how they make their nests, said a starry-eyed Joshua.

For every new bird I see, I learn new things about the species, such as where it originates, whether it is a migratory bird, what food it eats. It is almost like a new story every day.

With studies across MMR highlighting a drop in bird sightings over the last five months, such efforts to spot and record bird species contribute immensely towards conservation practices, said BNHS officials.

In February this year, the Mumbai BirdRace, an annual bird-spotting event, witnessed a decline in the number of bird species in most habitats in and around Mumbai.

Joshuas mother recalls how at the age of four, he used to sit for hours at the kitchen window and watch a mother bird, perched on a nearby tree, feeding its fledging.

He started observing birds at the age of four when a pair of Red-vented Bulbul and Coppersmith Barbet would visit the Gulmohar tree outside our window. He would get very excited hearing their sounds, and would immediately start looking for them, said Shilpa Bosco, Joshuas mother.

She added that it was his uncle who taught him the basics of birding and gifted him his first camera.

In May 2015, when he was seven, he flew alone to Jamnagar to go bird watching for 10 days with his uncle, which further shaped his interest, she said.

During vacations, the young birder spends time in forest areas across India, honing his interest

Even after our recent family trip to the USA, he returned to school with pictures of the birds he spotted at various locations during the trip, she said.

In 2015, Joshua was selected by his school to present his photographs and share his knowledge with junior kindergarten students. 

Joshua is an enthusiastic and ardent bird watcher. As a school, we believe in the holistic development of children. There is a lot to learn from our environment, so we encourage nature lovers like him to appreciate the beauty of flora and fauna. He loves it when class sessions are held outdoors so he can count the number of birds around him, said Parveen Shaikh, principal, The Somaiya School.
Three transgender people were beaten up brutally in Thane, allegedly by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, including women, late on Sunday.

The three victims were taken to Thane civil hospital; one of them has suffered serious injuries and has been moved to another hospital.

They were involved in prostitution. We made several complaints, but officials did not remove them from the spot, said one of the accused, on condition of anonymity.

Around 20 people got together on Sunday near Majiwada bridge in Thane where the three victims usually operate, police sources said.

V Darekar, senior police inspector from Kapurbawdi police station, said the trio was only standing and begging on the side of the road and were not involved in prostitution. They are not regulars at the spot, in fact they are seen there rarely, he said. We have got medical reports and based on that we have registered a case against the MNS Thane president Avinash Jadhav and 20 other party workers, including six women. We are in the process of tracing the accused. We have summoned Jadhav to record his statement, then we will take action.

The police have registered a case of assault and rioting under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

A video of the incident is doing the rounds on social media.

Its sad that in our society we are not given any rights. We have been created like this, its not our fault. If we are accepted and have options, things would be different. Even if we are educated and qualified, we dont get jobs, and if at all someone hires us, there is always discrimination, said a transgender from Thane, requesting anonymity. Our members were beaten up badly, they were bleeding profusely.
Mulund police have arrested seven people for allegedly cheating a medical professional of 4.5 lakh on the pretext of giving him rewards and an opportunity to take part in a lucky draw on an insurance policy. The accused were running a call centre which has also been busted by the authorities.

The complainant, Dr Rajshekar Ujgare, 70, a Mulund resident, has an insurance policy in his sons name and pays an instalment of 1 lakh per year for the same.

In September 2017, the doctor received a call from a person by the name Korgavkar, who pretended to be an employee with the insurance firm. The caller, was aware of Ujgares insurance policy, and lured him with claims that he had won 9. 46 lakh as a bonus on the policy. He then told the doctor to pay 3,000 as a processing fee in order to claim the bonus.

Later in October 2017, Ramesh Shinde and Praful Patel called the doctor claiming to be the deputy manager of the insurance company and told him to pay 3,000 to each of them. The next month, the doctor was asked to pay a sum of 85,000, for the bonus to be credited to his account.

He again received a call in November 2017 informing him that he had won 32 lakh in the lucky draw and was asked to pay 3.15 lakh for the prize money to be released. After paying the amount he tried to contact the fraudulent insurance company employees, but their mobile phones were switched off.

A case has been registered at the Mulund police station under section 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and different sections of the Information Technology Act. In all, the doctor was duped of 4.50 lakh by the accused.

Mulund police have arrested seven people involved in the scam, including Aakash Chikhle, 29, resident of Thane; Rajesh Magdum, 33, resident of Kalwa; Sanjay Mankar, 27, resident of Kalwa; Rakesh Shinde, Ramesh Ugle and Murlidhar Deshmukh. The police have not released the name of one of the accused.

During the investigation we found a bulk of data of the insurance firm, which we suspect was leaked out, an officer with the Mulund police station said.

The accused have also revealed that they had committed similar crimes across Mumbai, Thane, Navi-Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune and Aurangabad among other places in Maharashtra.

Deshmukh, one of the accused, told the police that he was unaware that his bank account was been used to collect the money from the unsuspecting victims. He did however confirm that he was getting a commission of 5% on every amount received in his account.
In one of the longest running trials in India, a Mumbai metropolitan court took 45 years to complete a trial against one of the two accused in an assault case. The trial in the crime started in 1973, but the prosecution examined only one witness and still failed to bring in enough evidence. With the original case papers missing and even the chargesheet in tattered condition, the accused was finally acquitted last week.

Longest trials 40 Years Lalit Narayan Mishra assassination trial: Lalit Narayan Mishra, who was the railway minister Prime Minister Indira Gandhis cabinet in 1975, was inaugurating a broad-gauge line in Samastipur, Bihar when a grenade was thrown at him. Mishra succumbed to injuries the next day. Two others were also killed in the blast. The CBI took over the investigation and the trial went on for nearly 40 years before it was transferred to a Delhi court for fear of destruction of evidence. Four persons including advocate Ranjan Dwivedi, Santoshananda Avadhuta, Sudevananda Avadhuta and Gopalji were convicted for murder in December 2014. At the time of the verdict, Sudevandanda was already in jail for attempting to kill the former Chief Justice of India AN Ray near the Supreme Court in 1975. 22 years: 1993 Mumbai blasts trial: Twelve blasts ripped through the city in March 1993, claiming 257 lives and injuring 713 people. In June 2017, a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) (TADA) Act court in Mumbai convicted six accused including Abu Salem. The trial in the case began in 1995. In 2016, Judge GA Sanap ordered both prosecution and defence to complete their arguments by year end as the case was already expedited by the Supreme Court. The trial still continues with Rafiq Takla being the latest to be brought to India from Dubai

But the story is far from over. The court has now ordered the police to file a fresh chargesheet against the main accused in the case.

It all started on January 30, 1973. Taxi driver Ghachi Allahrakha was sitting in his parked vehicle in Pydhonie on a pleasant afternoon when a truck carrying a footwear consignment was trying to enter a factory compound on the busy street. Allahrakhas cab was blocking the entrance. The truck driver, Jamil-ul-Rehman approached Allahrakha and asked him to move his vehicle.

Allahrakha would not budge and got into an argument with Rehman. The fight escalated when he pulled the driver by his collar and they got into a verbal spat. An angry Allahrakha drove away but threatened revenge. He returned later on the same day with an accomplice, Abdul Sattar Kasam as well as an iron rod.

A brawl ensued between the duo and a group of men standing by Rehmans truck, which included the latters uncle, Jafar Hasan and a man named Rais Ahmed (both were injured in the fight).

The police soon arrived at the scene and both Allarakha and Kasam fled from the spot. They were soon arrested and booked for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons. The trial court framed the charges in April, 1973.

Due to Allahrakhas absence, the trial court separated his case and continued with Kasams.

Last week, a metropolitan court held that the testimony of the medical officer  the sole prosecution witness  showed that he did not medically examine the injured witness. He did not have the original medical papers with him, the court noted.

The additional chief metropolitan magistrate observed, Apart from the above evidence, there are no original documents available including the complaint, spot panchnama (record of observation) and the medical certificate. Even the original chargesheet is half-torn. No evidence was shown in the recovery.

The crime that Allahrakha and Kasam were charged with carries a maximum punishment for one year.

The Mumbai police now have the task of submitting a fresh chargesheet against the taxi driver, Ghachi Allahrakha, 45 years after he committed his crime.
The Bandra police have arrested a 34-year-old call centre employee for trying to cheat a mobile shop owner of 30,000. The arrested accused, Abhishek Dev, visited a mobile shop at Pali Naka in Bandra (West) seeking to purchase a phone worth 30,000. He told the complainant, Darshan, that he would make the payment through an online transaction. He then used a fake banking app to make it seem like the transaction had been completed.

Darshan refused to let Dev leave the shop until he received a message from his bank. After waiting for twenty minutes, Darshan alerted the cops. Investigations revealed that the accused had previously duped shop owners in Vashi and Sion using the same modus operandi, said police inspector Sanjeev Bhole of the Bandra police station.
You can expect beaches to remain cleaner this monsoon as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has incorporated stricter norms and higher penalty charges against firms hired for cleaning the beaches.

BMC hired Spectron Engineers Private Limited (SEPL), to keep Juhu beach clean. It is likely to get appointed for cleaning Versova beach as well.

Instead of 20 labourers, the contractor will have to use up to 60 labourers now. Each beach will have three Beach Tech machines from Germany. Beaches must be cleaned before morning walkers arrive, said an official from BMCs solid waste department. BMC will levy 10 for each metre of beach left dirty as against 1 charged earlier. The new contract starts from June 4 for Juhu beach while for Versova it starts from August 1, said assistant municipal commissioner Prashant Gaikwad. SEPL is expected to keep the 4-km Juhu beach clean for six years for 20 crore, he added. Suraj Gonsalves, head of marketing, Spectron Engineers, said, The new machines will help remove trash as well as oil and tar balls from sand.
Within days of chief minister Devendra Fadnaviss assurance of appointing a full-time police chief, special inspector general of Nanded range Chiranjeev Prasad was appointed as Aurangabad police commissioner on Monday.

The post was vacant for the last two months after the former commissioner Yashaswi Yadav was sent on the compulsory leave in March. Yadav was held responsible for the brutal lathi charge of protestors who had resorted to the streets against the dumping of solid waste.

A 1996-batch IPS officer, Prasad will take over as the commissioner in the backdrop of the recent riots between two communities in Aurangabad city over the action by the civic body against illegal water connection. The riots had claimed two lives and injured more than 100 residents in the city. Special inspector general Milind Bharambe was holding additional charge as Aurangabad commissioner for last two months.

Last week, CM Fadnavis had assured the opposition legislators that the new commissioner for Aurangbad will be appointed in a couple of days.

The legislators had met the CM over a slew of demands including the appointment of the commissioner.
Voters of the Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency are all set to seal their mandate today in a by-election necessitated by the resignation of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Nana Patole.

The seat has become a prestige issue for the BJP, the governing party in the state as well as at the Centre, as Patole left the party blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for doing nothing for the farmers community in the last four years. Simultaneously, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by former Union minister Praful Patel, is trying to wrest control of its old bastion by collaborating with the Congress.

Patole is currently the state vice-president of the Congress.

Bhandara and Gondiya are respectively 85 km and 145 km east of Nagpur. The bypoll is essentially a two-way fight between BJPs former MLA Hemant Patle and NCPs Madhukar Kukde, a two-term BJP MLA from Bhandara district. Patle belongs to the influential Powar community, which accounts for close to two lakh voters. Kukdes roots are in the Kunbi community, which, at 3.5 lakh voters, may dominate the constituencys voting pattern. Patole, the outgoing MP, is also a Kunbi.

Prakash Ambedkars Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) has fielded LK Madavi as its candidate, and will heavily rely on the two lakh Dalit voters in the area.

The Bhandara-Gondiya constituency has around 18 lakh voters.

We (Congress-NCP) have worked really hard and are confident we will defeat BJP this time, Patole said. The people are upset with the state and Central governments as they have failed on almost all fronts, be it the economy or maintaining peace among communities. They have also ignored farmers issues.

BJP workers, meanwhile, say they are also backed by the Teli community that has more than one lakh voters.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, said, We have an edge in the elections and are confident we will win. The people will support the BJP because of the work done by state and Central governments since 2014.

However, BJP insiders feel that the election would be tougher than what the chief minister predicts. A senior BJP minister, on the condition of anonymity, said, NCP has fielded Kukde, a former BJP leader, and he belongs to the Kunbi community. Second, there is no candidate from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is formidable force and helps in dividing Congress-NCP votes. In almost every election, the BSP candidate gets around one lakh votes.

The BJP, therefore, deployed a team of 25 MLAs for election management. Apart from them, senior BJP personalities such as Union minister Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and social justice minister Rajkumar Badole worked behind the scenes for the crucial bypoll.

Senior Congress leaders, though, were not around this time, as they had left the election management to their alliance partner, the NCP. No senior Congress leader was invited to make the campaign more aggressive, a senior party functionary said. This was our best chance to overthrow BJP.

Meanwhile, the NCP has alleged that the BJP is using all means to win the bypoll. State NCP president Jayant Patil said, The state government has directed the district administration to disburse relief compensation to farmers affected with crop loss last year in the next 15 days. For this, they have also asked all the banks to work even on holidays. These directives are a clear violation of the election code of conduct. We have filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding action.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is in the eye of the storm due to a controversial audio clip in which he is heard exhorting BJP workers to use all means to win the Palghar bypoll, has demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) take action against Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for distorting facts.

The Sena chief released the audio clip on Friday. On Saturday, Fadnavis released the entire 14-minute audio clip accusing the Sena of twisting and selectively editing the audio clip.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Fadnavis accused Thackeray of insulting the election process. I have submitted the 14-minute audio clip to the Election Commission. I have requested the ECI that if they feel I have done something wrong, they should take action against me. If not, then those who have deliberately edited the audio clip, action should be taken against them, said Fadnavis.

The CM said that the audio clip was from a speech he had given when addressing approximately 1,500 BJP workers regarding the Palghar polls.

Meanwhile, Thackeray also adopted an aggressive stance. We have also approached the Election Commission and anyone who is guilty should be punished. The chief minister has agreed that it is his voice and our focus is on the thrust of the speech, he said.

The Palghar bypoll, which was necessitated following the death of BJP MP Chintaman Wanga, has now become a matter of prestige for BJP. This is the first time Sena has fielded its candidate for a seat held by its ally BJP since they formed the government in the state. Its candidate is Shrinivas Wanga, son of the late BJP MP Chintaman. Both Fadnavis and Thackeray ran a high voltage campaign for their respective candidates.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are likely to engage in a face-off again over the upcoming elections to the upper house of the Maharashtra assembly, following their recent tussle during the legislative council polls for six seats.

The elections to the upper house, to be held on June 25, are likely to widen the rift between the allies-turned-foes.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced polls for the teachers and graduate constituencies, two members from each who will be elected to the upper house. The teachers will elect their representatives from Nashik and Mumbai divisions, while graduates will do so from Mumbai and Konkan divisions.

The BJP has announced Niranjan Davkhare, the outgoing member of legislative council from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as its candidate after he shifted his loyalty to the saffron party early this week.

The Shiv Sena is planning to field a candidate against Davkhare, while the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), which has stronghold in Raigad, has supported the NCP in the constituency. Controversial Thane corporator Najib Mulla is likely to be the NCP candidate while Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik is eyeing the candidature for his son. Varun Sardesai, another Sena leader is also a probable contestant. PWP leader Jayant Patils daughter-in-law may be the NCP candidate from the constituency.

Local BJP leaders including its MP Kapil Patil, MLA Sanjay Kelkar are against the candidature of Davkhare, who is also likely to face the discontent of other aspirants in the party, said a BJP leader, who wished to remain anonymous.

Jayant Patil denied the possibility of his daughter in laws candidature and said that his party has pledged support to the NCP.

In Mumbai, the BJP plans to field candidates in both constituencies against the Sena which has a traditional stronghold in the area. The Senas candidate in the graduate constituency is public health minister Deepak Sawant. In the graduate constituency, the sitting MLC Kapil Patil of Lok Bharati, likely to get support from the Congress and the NCP, will face competition from the BJPs Anilkumar Deshmukh and the Shiv Senas Anil Shendge.

In the Nashik teachers constituency the BJP has announced Aniket Patil, son of former union minister and Congress leader Vijay Patil, as its candidate. The NCP has announced Sandeep Bedse, who was at one point personal assistant to former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

The equations in Nashik have changed after Bhujbal was released on bail. He is likely to play a key role like he did in the recent biennial elections for local bodies. The Shiv Senas strong hold over the city may strengthen further with Bhujbals support. In Mumbai and Konkan, it is going to be a face-off between two ruling partners, similar to what happened in recent elections in Palghar, said an NCP leader, on the condition of anonymity.
16 border pillars missing in Panchthar

Sixteen border pillars have gone missing at the Nepal-India border in Panchthar district.
As voting for the Lok Sabha bypolls in two constituencies in Maharashtra  Palghar and Bhandara Gondia  began at 7am on Monday across 2,246 polling stations, at least 35 electronic voting machines (EVMs) reported technical problems, which have delayed polling.

After polling started, technical issues were reported in around 20 EVMs in Palghar and 15 machines in Bhandara-Gondia. At least 98 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines across polling booths in Palghar, Dahanu, Boisar, Nalasopara and Vasai malfunctioned. The VVPAT is an independent verification system for voting machines that allows voters to check if their vote was cast correctly.

Authorities said they have reserve machines, and that polling would not be affected. Majority of the issues have been reported from Nalasopara, said Dr Prashant Narnaware, collector Palghar district, and returning officer for the by-election.

Umesh Birari, deputy collector of Palghar, said glitches in VVPAT machines have been reported from 20 to 25 centres. VVPAT machines are extremely sensitive to dust and light. These issues were anticipated. We have 96 engineers spread out across the constituency who are helping us and replacing the machines. We have kept 15% reserves for VVPAT, Narnaware said, adding that faulty machines are being replaced and votes from machines that encountered problems would be retrieved.

We have informed the Election Commission, and will take a review at 3pm on extending voting timings. We will make sure that nobody goes back without voting, he said.

The two Lok Sabha seats in the state are among the four in the country where bypolls are being held on Monday.

The Palghar bypolls were necessitated by the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Chintaman Wanga in January, while Bhandara-Gondia by-elections are being held after the BJPs sitting MP Nana Patole resigned from the party in December 2017.

Both constituencies have seen heated campaigns, but Palghar has witnessed a high-pitched battle between the two ruling allies, the BJP and the Shiv Sena. Winning in the two state constituencies has become a matter of prestige for the BJP as both seats had its sitting MPs. The party also wants to maintain its numbers as its number in the Lower House in Parliament has dropped close to the half-way mark.

In Palghar, the BJP has fielded Rajendra Gavit, a Congress turncoat, while the Sena has nominated Shrinivas Wanga, son of late Chintaman Wanga. Shrinivas joined the Sena just days ahead of the bypolls. The Congress and the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi have fielded their former MPs Damodar Shingda and Baliram Jadhav, respectively, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has influence in some pockets of the constituency, has fielded Kiran Gahla.

In Bhandara-Gondia, it is a straight fight between the BJPs Hemant Patle and the Nationalist Congress Partys Madhukar Kukde, though there are 18 candidates in all.

In first two hours of polling, 11% of the total voters cast their votes in Bhandara-Gondia; it was 8% in Palghar at 10am.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared 14 polling stations as critical in Palghar; the number of such stations in Bhandara-Gondia, is 113  71 polling stations Gondia are in Maoist-affected areas.

Palghar has 17.31 lakh registered voters, while Bhandara-Gondia has 17.6 lakh.
A mathematics professor of a reputable engineering college in Mumbai was booked on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman student of the institute.

HT had reported about the first-year students complaint. The student said she was molested by the professor inside his cabin at the institute on May 18. In her complaint to the institute director, the student said the professor touched her inappropriately and forcefully kissed her when she went to him to get a signature on a form. She alleged the professor asked her to shut the door of his cabin after she had entered, and came close to her while they spoke.

He then pulled her towards him and forcefully kissed her on the lips while running his hands over her body, the student alleged. The student claimed she managed to run away from the cabin and informed her father about the incident on returning home.

The police booked the professor after the student filed a complaint. N Ambika, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone IV, said, Investigation is going on, but no arrests have been made yet.

The case was initially investigated by college authorities, but on Monday, the student, along with her father approached the police.

The family hoped the college authorities would act against the professor, which is why they did not approach the police till now, said a friend.
A hospital in Byculla has been allegedly overcharging patients covered by a state-funded health insurance scheme, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojna, said officials from State Health Assurance Society (SHAS). Families with an income of less than 1 lakh are eligible for free treatment under the health insurance scheme.

Dr Sudhakar Shinde, who heads SHAS, along with other department officials, paid a surprise visit to Balaji Hospital, Byculla, on May 19. The team found major lapses in implementation of the scheme. We started with Balaji Hospital because it is close to our office, Shinde said.

After interacting with patients at the hospital, health officials found six patients were overcharged. We scrutinised their medical records and bills, and found that they were overcharged, said Shinde.

Probe revealed that at least 20 patients were overcharged  anywhere between 17,000 to 25,000. This scheme is for poor patients, who dont have money. Patients dont understand medical terminologies and the hospital has taken advantage of their ignorance , said another official.

The team also contacted patients who were treated under the scheme earlier and discovered that 14 patients had been overcharged. We sought their medical records and got them verified from our in-house doctors. THese patients were overcharged as well, official added.

Most of these patients were seeking treatment for cardiovascular ailments. Shinde said several private hospitals are fleecing patients.

Althought Balaji hospital has been barred from treating patients under SHAS scheme for three months, decision to blacklist the facility will be taken after a meeting between insurance company, SHAS and Third Party Provider (TPA) officials. TPA helps in implementation of the scheme.

We havent violated norms. Patients were charged extra because the procedure is not a part of the package covered under health insurance scheme or the cost of the treatment exceeded 1.5 lakh,  Dr Ramesh Kagzi, medical director, Balaji Hospital. They havent heard our side of the story. Moreover, we are yet to receive a show cause notice. Once we do, proof that we havent falsely overcharged will be submitted.
With Keshavji Naik drinking water fountain at Masjid Bunder and Bai Mancooverbai Ardon Pyau having been restored in the last three years, another fountain  Kothari Pyau, a grade II heritage structure, will be inaugurated in the coming month after restoration. This comes as a part of the plan to revive heritage structures in the southern part of the city.

A study conducted by Vastu Vidhan Project found 30 such pyaus that need restoration. An official from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said three of these pyaus have been restored and four are slated for repairs.

Since the last two years, we are trying to restore and conserve heritage structures. A lot of these pyaus are historically significant as philanthropic street structures of our city, said the official.

BMC, either through their own funding or using a public private partnership module, is trying to restore as many of these pyaus because they see it as the pride of the city. Its a pity to see them in a sorry state, said Vikas Dilawari, conservationist architect working on Flora Fountain.

Water Fountain at Do Tanki in Grant Road. (Bhushan Koyande/HT)

The pyau at Crawford Market, which was built by traders in 1911 to commemorate the visit of Queen Mary and King George V, stands covered in rags today. Many such heritage fountains across the city lay unused and have become derelict.

Nilesh Thakkar, contractor who is working on Kothari Pyau, said that these water fountains were erected to provide a place where horses as well people could rest and have drinking water.

READ: Mumbais heritage drinking water fountains can help reduce use of plastic bottles: Expert

These pyaus not only gave you insight into the building technology of those days but also into the minds of the patrons who donated for the noble cause, said Thakkar.

Devangana Desai, whose uncle built Kothari pyau in memory of his daughter Lilavati, said her family believed in serving the people. Similarly, trustees of Shri Ananthnathji trust have been looking after Keshavji Naik Fountain after it was restored to carry forward Naiks legacy, who was believed in providing amenities to people.

As these places form an important part of citys architectural culture, pyaus along with milestones are being restored, said a BMC official from the heritage cell.

Varsha Shirgaonkar, author of the book Exploring The Water Heritage of Mumbai, said that in olden times,these pyaus were important for the economic development as they came up around tram routes of the city. One can associate a religious aspect to it because most communities, be it Jains or Parsis, consider water charity as supreme, said Shirgaonkar. In our city, heritage structures have been conserved since 1990s, but lately these street urban design elements are being restored so that they can act as landmarks. One can see a similar pattern in cities like Rome, Paris and London, Pankaj Joshi, director of Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI)
A dadgah  a lower grade fire temple  at Della Tower in Dadar (East) will be open for members of Parsi/ Irani Zoroastrians from Thursday.

Inauguration of this dadgah, the third category of holy fire, which is lower than agiaries and atash behrams, comes after a similar place of worship was started in Kopar Khairane, Navi Mumbai, two weeks back.

Speaking about the dadgah, Jimmy Mistry, founder chairman, Parsi Resource Group, said that the shrine is being built in close proximity of Rustom Framna Agiary in Dadar, so that it could complement the work carried out in the agiary.

The priest looking after the agiary will look after this dadgah as well. The main aim of having this dadgah is so that the younger generation of the community can be brought into the religious fold and taught about our religion, said Mistry.

The dadgah which will be situated in the lobby of Della Tower, will have an exhibition centre in the adjoining section, displaying the history of Zoroastrianism.
The Supreme Court has struck down a suicide abetment case against a deputy director of education from Aurangabad, saying a superior officer cannot be booked simply because he took departmental action against one of his juniors who took his own life.

The exigencies of work and the situation may call for certain action on part of a superior including stopping of salary of a junior officer for a month, the Supreme Court said while striking down the prosecution of Vaijnath Khandke. That action simplicitor cannot be considered to be a pointer against such superior officer.

In August 2017, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) police station at the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) in Aurangabad had booked Khandke and one of his colleagues, Vidya Ghorpade, under Section 306 for abetting the suicide of Kishor Parashar  who was also an officer with the education department. The first information report (FIR) was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Parashars wife, accusing Khandke and Ghorpade of mentally torturing her husband.

She alleged that Khandke made her husband work for more than twelve hours a day, besides calling him for duty at odd hours and even on holidays. She also claimed that Parashar was compelled to complete the work allocated to Ghorpade. Even after he did the extra work, Parashars wife claimed, his boss did not pay his salary for a month and also threatened to stop his increments.

Both, Khandke and Ghorpade had approached Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court. The high court struck down Ghorpades prosecution, but refused any relief to Khandke, thus compelling him to approach the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court held that the allegations in the FIR were inadequate and do not satisfy the requirements of Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The facts on record in the present case are completely inadequate and insufficient. As a superior officer, if some work was assigned by the applicant to the deceased, merely on that count it cannot be said that there was any guilty mind or criminal intent.
College students across Mumbai have signed up for Swachh Bharat Summer Internship 2018, an initiative of the Central government, which requires youngsters to devote 100 hours working for sanitation-related work in villages.

From constructing and repairing toilets to installing sewage management system, students are spending their summer vacation promoting safer sanitation methods in remote parts of Maharashtra. While learning about hurdles in implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet project in rural areas firsthand, they also hope to earn several incentives, including two extra credit points to their academic scores.

Students applying for the internship will have to devote at least 100 hours  anytime from May 1 to July 31. According to Babasaheb Bidve, National Service Scheme (NSS) coordinator for University of Mumbai (MU), several colleges in the city have registered for the initiative and more are expected to join once new academic year starts in June.

As part of the initiative, students from KC College, Churchgate, have started working on a waste management plant in their adopted village of Karwale in Palghar district. They have built a vermicompost chamber in the village that will treat sewage and other wastes in a natural and generate compost. It is now being filled with layers of mud, dung and leaves, and will be covered before the monsoon.

They will also survey the toilets they have constructed over the years. We have been working in this village for the past 14 years and have constructed several toilets  including 112 built that were built in the past two years. We want to find out if they need repairs, if people are using them and not, said Satish Kolte, NSS coordinator of the college.

RD National College, Bandra, has decided to carry out similar activities in its adopted village of Indapur in Raigad district. As part of the first phase of the internship, the college had joined hands with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and conducted a weeklong orientation programme for the 30 students who registered for the internship.

Earlier this month, the students visited a waste-to-energy plant constructed by Pali Hill Residents Association with the help of BMC. They learnt how the project powers streetlights with electricity generated from household waste. BMC officials also taught them how to communicate effectively and patiently with residents, while creating awareness on waste segregation.

Students from MD College, Parel, also plan to spend five days in their adopted villages of Damanwadi and Tadwadi, near Badlapur and create awareness on various issues related to cleanliness including the use of dustbin and waste management. The students will lead by example and clean the streets.

According to the teachers, the initiative is not limited to NSS members and more students are expected to enrol. The students will learn to be more responsible through this initiative. They will also earn two additional credit points for their efforts, said BT Nikam, NSS coordinator, MD College.

However, they also expect students to face hurdles in their cleanliness movement. Many times, villagers dont use public toilets unless its near their home. Some people also encroach on these facilities, said Vijendra Shekhawat, NSS coordinator, RD National College. He added they will interact with village leaders to understand their issues and devote 20 out of 100 hours to address the problems they would highlight.
Mumbai

The body of a 21-year-old labourer was found during the rescue operation after a major fire broke out at Techniplex building in Goregaon (West) on Sunday, taking the death toll to four.

A 22-year-old labourer is still missing.

On Monday, the police arrested three people for the fire incident. According to the Goregaon police, a private company Pranam Enterprises owned by Nitin Kothari, 40, was given the work of removing furniture from the seventh and eighth floor in Techniplex building.

We suspect the fire broke out while the work of removing furniture was going on. We suspect the fire broke out in the duct due to a short circuit, said a Goregaon police officer.

Kothari and two supervisors Ramzan Khan, 21, and Salim Maniyar, 35, were arrested on the charge of committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Senior police inspector, Dhanaji Nalawade of Goregaon police station said, The companys work was to remove all the furniture from the seventh floor. We suspect that the fire broke out when the work was going on. The three have been remanded in judicial custody.

Nine people, including eight fire brigade officials, were injured in the fire.

As per the NGO working for migrant workers, Aajeevika Bureau, 54 workers had been clearing scrap from the seventh floor for the past four days. The seventh floor, where the fire broke out, has two offices and both are unoccupied.

The 11-storey glass facade building, with a basement and two podiums, houses a bank and commercial properties.

The fire broke out on the seventh floor and it spread to other floors. Fire was confined to electric wiring in electric duct and so the smoke and spread to all floors, said chief fire officer Prabhat Rahangdale.

Naimuddin Shah, 25, was found on the seventh floor. Later, Ram Avatar, 45 and Ram Tirathpal, 45, were found unconscious in a lift stuck between the fourth and fifth floors. They were declared dead after being rushed to a hospital. The body of the fourth labourer Samsad Shah, 21, was found on Monday morning.

After several similar fire incidents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2013 drafted guidelines for buildings with glass facade. As per the policy, which is yet to be implemented, every floor should have an opening.
While thousands of citizens removed nearly 2 lakh kg trash from Versova beach on Sunday morning in the run up to the World Environment Day (June 5), Juhu beach, barely a few kilometres away, remained littered with more than 8,000 kg of garbage.

Paul Creado, a Juhu resident, shared pictures he took on Sunday evening of the trash that had washed ashore at the beach. More than 8,000 kg of trash was strewn across Juhu beach on Sunday. The clearing of storm water drains and the regular beach clean-up is yet to be carried out here. This is a sight we get to see during monsoons, but this year, it has greeted us much earlier, he said.

With India as the host for this years World Environment Day which is on June 5, officials from the Union environment ministry, state government and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) joined Afroz Shah, lawyer and beach clean-up crusader to remove trash from Versova beach on Sunday. Around 42 trucks full of garbage was removed between 6am and 8.30am. With this, Versova Residents Volunteers (VRV) marked their 136th beach clean-up drive since October 2015. They have so far removed 9 million kg of trash from the beach.

Union environment minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who were expected to be at the clean-up were however not present. This years theme for World Environment Day is Beat plastic pollution that kick-started from the clean-up drive in Mumbai. The celebrations will be carried out across the city till May 31 and then shift to Delhi on June 4 and 5.

There needs to be a behavioural change to address the plastic problem globally. People need to come together like they have in Versova, said Erik Solheim, head, UNEP. We had over 6,000 volunteers making it one of the largest clean-ups so far. A private bank will donate 42 toilets along Versova beach to curb open defecation. Two trained divers provided by the forest department have been removing plastic trash from 10 metres under the sea, said Shah. Trash needs to be arrested at the source, said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, Watchdog Foundation
Former Union minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel claimed that almost 25% of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had malfunctioned during the bypoll in Maharashtras Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituency on Monday.

He also demanded to know why EVMs from Surat, Gujarat, were used in the bypoll when EVMs were available in Maharashtra. EVMs were available in Maharashtra. What was the reason for bringing EVMs from Surat in Gujarat? We have expressed our doubts to the Election Commission, Patel told reporters in Gondia.

To say that EVMs malfunctioned because of excessive heat is shocking, the senior NCP leader said, and demanded re-polling in the booths where the machines malfunctioned. In developed countries like the US, Germany, France and Japan, the use of EVMs was stopped, and they have reverted to ballot papers, he said.

Patel, who lost from Bhandara-Gondia constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, said his party had raised the issue about faulty EVMs with the Election Commission.

He also pointed out that at many polling centres, the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, which eject slips to confirm the voters choice, were not functioning. As and when re-polling takes place, will we be able to count every slip, he added.

In Bhandara-Gondia, where the bypoll is being held following the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patol, the NCP and the BJP have locked horns.

Patole, a leader of the OBC Kunbi community, switched sides from the Congress to the BJP and defeated Patel to be elected as MP from the constituency in 2014. However, last December, he resigned and returned to the Congress.

The NCP, which has allied with the Congress, has fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde, against the BJPs Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.
2 Valley-based petrol pumps sealed for cheating customers

A monitoring team headed by Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Yadav sealed two petrol pumps for cheating customers on Monday.
Mumbais Development Plan 2034 and the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) released by the state government earlier this month has become a major talking point in the city.

The DP and the DCPR under it have cleared the decks for a more vertical Mumbai. It will bring a new floor space index (FSI--which decides how tall a structure can be built on a given plot) regime for the city by allowing the FSI in range of 2.5 to 5. The DCPR has allowed FSI upto 5 for commercial buildings in the city. The new provisions have also opened up 2230 hactares of no development zone (NDZ) in the name of affordable housing. In a nutshell, the provisions under the DP and DCPR would encourage more residential as well as commercial construction with the scope to build more and more vertical structures. The city is likely to see more commercial skyscrapers coming up not just in the island city but in the suburbs.

Urban planners and citizen groups are now pointing out how this will lead to reckless vertical development in an already congested city with inadequate infrastructure. Significantly, these provisions do not seem to be in sync with the focus of the government since 1980s and 1990s: To decongest Mumbai by encouraging more development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

For past two-three decades, the mandarins in Mantralaya have been pointing out how a better solution to ease the pressure off Mumbai is to encourage residential and commercial development in the MMR and connect those areas with faster means of travel. The first such experiment was to develop Navi Mumbai that had residential as well as commercial nodes. Following it more such centers were expected in the MMR but it did not happen.

Besides Mumbai, the MMR includes cities such as Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Dombivli, Panvel, Mira-Bhayander, Vasai, Virar and parts of Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. As housing became out of bounds for majority of the population in Mumbai, many moved to other cities in the MMR. Even now, a large chunk of people working in Mumbai come from these cities in its neighbourhood. In past decade, some suburban railway projects were undertaken to make their journey between work place and home faster. It has yielded limited success. Some more projects including a few metro lines are in the pipeline. If the commute become faster and a bit comfortable, more people would prefer to stay in neighbouring cities instead of renting matchbox size houses in Mumbai at exorbitantly high rates.

In past few years, policies planned by the state government also focused on creating new growth centres in the MMR so that new commercial establishments would go to the MMR instead of Mumbai. While doing this, the planners had the examples of Noida and Gurgaon in the National Capital Region in mind. As such, state governments Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) planned Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor aimed at providing faster connectivity for passengers and goods transport and thus develop various areas in Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. Assuming that the Navi Mumbai international airport would lead to commercial development of Navi Mumbai and Raigad, the plan to build Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (linking Mumbai with the mainland through a sealink) was speeded up. Besides Raigad, areas such as Bhiwandi-Kalyan belt in Thane and Virar-Palghar belt in Palghar were seen as potential growth areas. Accordingly, infrastructure projects were planned. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had even announced a growth centre on the lines of Bandra-Kurla Complex near Kalyan.

The question being asked now is: Will the provisions in DP-DCPR slow down the growth of the MMR as Mumbai becomes lucrative for the developers? Or will it prove to be complementary to the development of the MMR?
A two-year-old girl died after she was allegedly attacked by a pack of stray dogs at Bheem Nagar locality in Ghaziabads Modi Nagar town on Monday afternoon. The police said the injured girl suffered multiple injuries and was declared dead when taken to a hospital.

According to police, the girl Shivaniya had gone missing at 2.30pm. The police said she was found in a field next to her house with multiple injuries allegedly due to attack by stray dogs.

She was attacked by a pack of dogs and was dragged to a nearby field. She was found with multiple injuries. She was taken to a hospital where she succumbed, said Dharmendra Chauhan, circle officer (Modi Nagar).

The girls father, Neetu, is an electrician and was out for work while her mother Payal had gone out and had left the girl playing outside the house. She was playing and I left her. I had gone to fetch water from behind the house. When I returned, she was found missing. After a lot of search, we found her in nearby fields. We immediately picked her up while one dog was still around and trying to attack her, said Poonam, the victims aunt.

The girl died after she was dragged and attacked by stray dogs. There is no foul play, said Vaibhav Krishna, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad.

Dr Abhishek Jaiswal, the on-duty doctor who examined the girl on Monday said that she had already died before she could be brought to the Modi Nagar CHC. There was no active bleeding as she had already died. Prima facie the injuries could be due to attack by dogs, he said.

The injured girl was brought by 25-30 people including the local councillor. Our doctor informed me that it was due to attack by dogs, said Dr Sushil Siddharth, in-charge of the government CHC. The police said a pack of stray dogs resides in the fields next to the house of the victim. The agitated locals said that there have been previous incident where the stray dogs had attacked children in the locality.
A 80-year-old non-resident Indian(NRI) was found dead in a hotel room near the bus stand here on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Harbhajan Singh who had come from the United Kingdom a fortnight ago and was staying in the hotel since May 20. The deceased was from Maana village.

According to the sources Harbhajan had died in the evening and police were informed.

The deceaseds brother-in-law Balwant Singh, a resident of Khanaura said Harbhajan had come to India to sell land and collect money pending from a deal.

The police said they recovered Rs 6,100 and 125 pounds from his room. However, Balwant said the amount could be more. Balwant said the body will be cremated after Harbhajan's wife, Kulwant Kaur arrives from the UK.

Deputy superintendent of police Sukhwinder Singh said," It appears the man died of a heart attack but the exact cause of death will be confirmed in the autopsy report.
After three years of discussions and deliberations, the Panjab University senate terminated the services of assistant professor Komal Singh of the public administration department during its special meeting on Sunday.

The PU committee against sexual harassment (PUCASH) has found Singh guilty in several cases reported by students. In one such case, a postgraduate student on September 10, 2015, accused him of indulging in sexual talks with her. In another case, he was accused of entering a class in an inebriated condition in August 2017 and misbehaving with girl students.

We are answerable to society Irked by arguments made by a few senators that Komal Singh only verbally abused the complainants and did not touch them, senator Sanjay Tandon said: Which kind of society are we living in? Are we waiting for a bigger offence? Are you not encouraging other professors to do it? We are answerable to the society. Our kids will question us if we do not take an action. Cant we rise to the occasion? A few persons are suggesting that it is a matter of somebodys life. It is the question of the existence of the university, he said.

In the senates meeting on April 1, voting had taken place on the matter and three options were given to the senators  removal from service with choice to seek job elsewhere, removal from service without choice to seek job elsewhere and demotion in grade.

Of 51 members, 32 had voted for the first choice while 18 were in favour for demotion. One vote was invalid. The majority decision could not be taken in the absence of two-thirds majority.

Finally, on Sunday, the senate decided to remove Singh with a choice to seek a job elsewhere even as two senators, Ajay Ranga and Akhtar Mahmood, did register their dissent against the stringent punishment. Chaman Lal abstained from the decision.

During the meeting, several senators questioned the PUCASH report. Senator Chaman Lal even questioned its constitution, stating it did not have members from the faculty and students as required under the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.

However, senator Subhash Sharma refuted his claim, stating that the PUCASH is formed according to the rules of Parliament. Vice-chancellor Arun K Grover said the committees formation has been examined by the Union home ministry, which found it satisfactory.

Punishment too stringent

Some senators also called the punishment too stringent, stating that the assistant professors family will also end up suffering because of it.

Komal Singhs only problem is that he drinks, said senator Vicky Gill. He does not behave inappropriately when he is not drunk. He may be sent on probation and then sent to a de-addiction centre.

Agitated, senator Rajat Sandhir, who is also a member of the PUCASH, said: Do you know much courage a student needs to come forward? Senator Prabhjit Singh, too, said: We have to consider the crime when taking the decision.

Does the senate have the right to reject the PUCASH decision? If we do not take action, the high court may say the PU governing body did not take any action in the case, said senator Ronki Ram.
There are no girly giggles or embarrassing glances as Team Triya addresses period issues. For the last six months, this team comprising of six young girls from the city - four are in school and two in first year of college - have been visiting schools, slums and an orphanage in underprivileged areas to talk to girls their age and older about menstrual hygiene.

Today, we launched our pad bank in the Guru Aasra orphanage in Mohali, informed 15-year-old Rehmat Swani, a student of Class X at Strawberry Fields High School as she pointed to the colourful boxes in a corner. For the last six months we have been raising funds to start a pad bank. As a first step, we zeroed down on three places where underprivileged girls have no access to sanitary pads. We intend to supply them with sanitary pads through the year, added Eknoor Chahal, a first year student of Economics at Panjab University.

Triya - the name of their project  means a young enlightened girl. Apart from Swani and Chahal, the team also comprises Navya Chawla (16), Ridhi Gupta (19), Nehmat Sandhu (15) and Sumedha Bhandari (16) We all are friends and one day we ended up discussing menstrual hygiene and how many girls our age have no access to sanitary pads. Instead of just talking about it, we decided to work out a plan, says Nehmat Sandhu, a student of Class 10. The group started talking to friends and family about the issue and began to raise funds. We also took on an independent survey with help from CIIs Indian Women Network (IWN) wing. We surveyed 300 girls on menstrual hygiene and found out that just a handful of them were using pads. They all were using mostly cloth and open to infections. We also realised that most of them were reluctant to talk to about their period, explains Navya Chawla.

After distributing pads to girls in Bhankarpur village in Mohali and slums near Nadda Sahib gurudwara, the team decided to set up a pad bank. But another problem came to the fore. During our research, we also realised that disposal of menstrual waste is another cause for concern. The sanitary napkins get mixed with the normal waste and then segregation of the waste becomes almost next to impossible. Ideally, napkins should be incinerated immediately after use if we need to protect our environment. So we came up with the idea of a pink dustbin where the menstrual napkins will be disposed off separately at the first hand phase making it easier for it to be treated and thus saving time and the environment, explains Swani. The team has raised funds for ten dustbins and are now working to raise money to buy a small incinerator as well.

Looking to place the pink dustbins in hospitals, dispensaries, schools and colleges, the team met with Chandigarh mayor Davesh Moudgil earlier this week and put up their proposal. He was very enthusiastic about the idea. We want Chandigarh to be the first city in the country with the concept of separate dustbins for disposal of menstrual waste, pitches in Gupta. And looks like their work isnt going unnoticed. UK-based NGO, Binti.period, a well-known organisation that works around the world to provide menstrual dignity to girls, has paired up with Triya. We have all signed up with them for a menstrual educator programme that will help us educate girls and women about menstruation and hygiene, explains Bhandari. They are now chalking out fund-raiser campaigns for the months ahead.

It is still considered taboo and shameful to talk about periods but we feel the more we talk about it, the better it will be. It is a natural phenomenon and we need to help all girls get their basic right to bleed hygienically, sums up Chawla.
Keeping tabs on power politics in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K:

AAPs Shahkot campaign: Khaira gives it a miss

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Khaira spends so much time assailing both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that you feel he will automatically lead the charge in any fight against them. But, when the principal opposition party, which has been rocked by internal bickering, jumped into the crucial Shahkot byelection fray, Khaira, who is also leader of the opposition in Punjab assembly, made more headlines due to his absence from the campaign than his belligerent speechmaking. While SAD president Sukhbir Badal maintained a punishing campaign schedule to try and retain the seat where the byelection has been necessitated by the death of party MLA Ajit Singh Kohar and the ruling Congress paraded most of its ministers, Khaira made just an occasional appearance. Instead of canvassing for party candidate Rattan Singh Kakkarkalan, he remained busy in petitioning the National Green Tribunal in Delhi on pollution in rivers, and indulging in a credit war. A drubbing in Shahkot will be a setback for the party!

Cong, BJP in blame game over fuel hike

Rising petrol and diesel prices have fuelled a fight between top leaders of the BJP and the Congress in Punjab where fuel prices are among the highest in the region. The Congress, which is in power in the state, called it the parting gift of the NDA government. They have ruined the countrys economy and are now exacerbating the situation, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said after a symbolic ride on bullock cart last week to protest. Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik hit back at the Congress. The state governments are not ready to bring petrol and diesel under the goods and services tax. If the Congress intends to lower fuel prices, it should have shown initiative, he said. The BJP leader also released data showing how the Punjab government was recovering more VAT on fuel than the Centre was getting from central excise, thereby burdening the people more. Both parties are sparring even as surging fuel prices burn hole in pockets.

BJP slams brakes on Capt report cards

The state unit of the BJP has been releasing monthly report card of the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government from the time it took over in March 2017. The chain of monthly reports broke last week when party leaders withdrew the 14th monthly evaluation report after a press briefing. Party leader Vineet Joshi was playing a key role in report cards during Union minister of state Vijay Samplas stint as the state president. When Shwait Malik took charge of the state BJP, he stopped the practice. The new president desired so. Therefore, we withdrew the report. We have no option, said Joshi.

Of Sidhus, family love & Twitter

Local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his son, Karan, had some public display of affection on social media on Saturday. When Sidhu held a press conference to announce that his son and namesake wife, Navjot Kaur, will not accept positions of additional advocate general and chairperson of Punjab Warehousing Corporation, Karan gave thumbs up to Sidhus retweet of the news with series of commendations. Sidhu then tweeted proud of you son. His wife too posted her and sons qualifications to proclaim they are not undeserving. It was time for some family bonding on Twitter!

Harsmirats marketing mantra for students

Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal recently asked youngsters to learn the art of marketing because it is the need of the hour and even political parties are focusing on it these days. The minister, accompanied by former Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, was speaking at a function held in Sunam on May 13 to inaugurate a Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra. She said that training for vocations such as home health aides, distributors, animal health workers, CCTV technicians and salesmen would be given free of cost. You need to learn the art of selling things for better prospects in the marketing field. All political parties use marketing for propagating their policies and agenda, Harsimrat told the newly enrolled youngsters. Well said! Political parties seem to have become brands and fast adapting to new age marketing with big spends to woo the commoners  the voters.

Phoolka takes a stand

AAP leader and senior advocate HS Phoolka, who quit as the leader of opposition in July last year, has been maintaining a rather low profile politically in recent months. Ask Phoolka about his absence from party meetings, events and other programmes in recent months and he says, I am on leave from the party to concentrate on fighting the anti-Sikh riot cases. But that doesnt stop him from speaking his mind on political moves of the party leadership from time to time. AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal attended newly elected Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamys swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru on Wednesday, leading to speculation about the party joining the anti-BJP coalition helmed by the Congress. I will quit the party if it enters into coalition with the Congress. There can be no compromise in the 1984 riots cases, he said, serving an early warning. Phoolka has been fighting to get justice for victims of unprecedented backlash of violence.

Poll heat in Haryana

Political activities seem to be escalating rapidly in Haryana ahead off the state assembly elections due next year. On Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held a training programme for the party workers at Kurukshetra. Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar addressed a rally in Karnal whereas Randeep Surjewala organised a rally in Khedi Chopta village of district Hisar. Surjewala, MLA from Kaithal, is also national media in-charge, AICC. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is already on a continuous jail bharo protest in different parts of the state.

Deja vu for Haryana-cadre babu

It would have been a deja vu moment for Haryana cadre IAS officer Yudhvir Singh Malik when he accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for the inauguration of the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) Expressway at Kundli in Sonepat. Malik, who is now Union road transport and highways secretary, comes from Sonepat district and had also remained associated with the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway as principal secretary, industries, in Haryana. He showed around the digital art gallery of NHAI at Jakhauli toll plaza in Sonepat to Modi.

Cong trying hard to make an impression

The opposition Congress, pushed to the third in the 2014 assembly elections, is trying hard to draw attention this time. Not only a woman leader of women wing of the Congress and a supporter had their heads tonsured to protest held against the BJP in Chandigarh, party supporters, scribes and cops were amused when they saw a horse-cart with placards hung around at the demonstration held against rising price of petrol and diesel. Another vehicle had several bags with placards on display, which read 15-15 lakh le lo, 2 crore naukari le lo, sasta petrol diesel le lo, for sale.

Cap politics back in HP

In Himachal politics, caps colour denotes political leanings. Though chief minister Jai Ram Thakur doesnt have any particular preference, his party men still prefer maroon band Himachali cap that gained popularity when Prem Kumar Dhumal formed the BJP-HVC (Himachal Vikas Congress) alliance government in 1998. A number of party leaders were seen sporting maroon caps when President Ram Nath Kovind visited Shimla for his summer sojourn. Thakur also presented a maroon band cap to the President and his wife Savita Kovind at a civic reception organized at government-run Peterhoff hotel.

Himachal babus go their own way

Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur opted for public transport during President Ram Nath Kovinds visit to Shimla. To ease road congestion, he along with his cabinet colleagues went in tempo traveller to the Retreat where the President was staying. The CMs initiative did not appeal to babus. The next day, a number of officers, instead of travelling in 12-seater tempo travellers reached Peterhoff for civic reception in their official vehicles. Many MLAs and ex-MLAs, on the other hand, had to trudge to the venue because the police stopped their vehicles near Vidhan Sabha, one-and-a-half kilometres ahead of the venue.

HP Cong rides on public anger

The opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh is trying to make the most of public anger against rising prices. The Pradesh Congress Committee launched a state-wide campaign with beating of plates with spoons to protest the increase in prices of essential commodities. Then, they protest against the jump in petrol and diesel rates. While PCC chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Congress Legislature Party leader Mukesh Agnihotri rode bullock carts, a party worker was seen riding a scooter kept on a horse-drawn cart. To add punch, the party has coined a new slogan  Modi sarkar matlab aa bail mujhe maar (Modi government means inviting trouble).

In politics, promises galore

After nine days of intense shelling by Pakistan that left 12 dead and 56 injured in Jammu, PDP ministers frequented various relief camps in their motorcades. In one such visit to Samba, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Friday, proposed a slew of sops for the hapless people of international border. Among other proposals, the CM said she will also look into treating people living close to the international border (IB) on par with those living close to the Line of Control (LoC) in terms of benefits by the government. When BJP ministers had, in a cabinet meeting in February, demanded same benefits to villagers on IB, the PDP ministers gave a lukewarm response. The matter will be discussed with the law department, they said. Watch this space to find out what BJP leaders have to say about the change in thinking of their alliance partner on this!

(Contributed by Navneet Sharma, Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Sukhdeep Kaur, Avtar Singh, Hitender Rao, Rajesh Moudgil, Gaurav Bisht, Naresh K Thakur, Ravi K Khajuria)
Former Punjab home minister Brij Bhupinder Lalli, who recently switched from the Congress to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was arrested for taking his licensed revolver inside a polling booth at Sahla Nagar Patti in Malsian during voting for the Shahkot assembly bypoll on Monday. He later got bail.

The presiding officers in their complaint said Lalli entered the polling station forcibly and also misbehaved with staff. He was booked under sections 132 (misconduct at the polling station) and 134B (prohibition of going armed to or near a polling station) of the Representation of People Act and under section 188 (violation of prohibitory orders) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Lalli, who joined the SAD on May 18 showing resentment over the Congress ticket to Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, also had a scuffle with Congress workers outside the polling station; and was later kept at the local police post for five hours. Lallis counsel Karampal Singh, who reached the police post, said the police detained Lalli in spite of the fact that all the charges are bailable.

He wanted to hand over the revolver to the security staff but some people started scuffling with him and also tossed his turban. Police failed to take action against the real culprits who removed Lallis turban and harassed him, the lawyer said. He further said that Lalli had kept the revolver after the Congress government withdrew his security upon his joining SAD.

Naib Singh, SADs candidate, who also reached the spot, said police are under pressure of the state government. Dilbag Singh, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said, As all the sections are bailable, Lalli was released on bail.
Tourists visiting Agra to catch a glimpse of the Taj Mahal and other historical monuments are facing a tough time as the mercury soared beyond 46 degrees Celsius here, officials said.

On Saturday, most of the markets wore a deserted look as tourists chose to avoid visiting the Taj Mahal and other popular spots.

These days, tourists throng to the Taj either in the morning or after 4 p.m. One can see lots of colourful umbrellas. The sale of cold drinks and filtered water has gone up, tourist guide Ved Gautam said.

A tourist from Orissa complained of heat as red sand-stoned pathways were converted into sizzlers. The sight of a dry Yamuna river was also not a delight, Santosh Kumar said.

Many tourists have complained of lack of free drinking water facilities at the monuments, particularly at the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Amit Sisodia of Agra Beats, a travel group, told IANS: The foreigners presence is negligible and we are noticing a massive drop in the arrival of domestic tourists. Water facilities are not adequate in the monuments.

From the Royal Gate of the Taj Mahal to the main structure, it is one long gruelling walk, with no shade. A number of elderly tourists find it tough to cover the distance and are seen waiting under the trees.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more
President Donald Trump said Sunday a US team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place.

The State Department said earlier that a team was in Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, separating the North and South Korea. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for US officials.

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced that it could get back on track. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the long-time US adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the Norths stance toward the summit had been allayed.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, he tweeted. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!

South Koreas President, Moon Jae-in, gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in the Panmunjom truce village, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

Kim, the US ambassador to the Philippines, also served as ambassador to South Korea and was part of the US negotiating team that last held substantive denuclearization talks with North Korea during the George W Bush administration in 2005.

The Korean leaders second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting Saturday appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the worlds most heavily armed border.

The talks, which Moon said Kim Jong Un requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a US-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Moon added that Kim said hes willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a firm resolve to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements complete denuclearization.

What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization, Moon said.

During the South Korea-US summit, President Trump said the US is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the US and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization, he said.

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the Norths state-run news service earlier Sunday, expressed his fixed will on the historic (North Korea)-US summit talks. During Saturdays inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-US relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace.

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Saturdays Korean summit came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a Trump-Kim meeting.

Despite repeated references to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by the North, it remains unclear whether Kim will ever agree to fully abandon his nuclear arsenal.

The North has previously used the term to demand the United States pull out its 28,500 troops in South Korea and withdraw its so-called nuclear umbrella security commitment to South Korea and Japan. The North hasnt openly repeated those same demands after Kims sudden outreach to Seoul and Washington.

Moon has insisted Kim can be persuaded to abandon his nuclear facilities, materials and bombs in a verifiable and irreversible way in exchange for credible security and economic guarantees. Moon said Sunday that the Norths disarmament could still be a difficult process even if Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul dont differ over what complete denuclearization of the peninsula means.

Before he cancelled the summit, Trump did not rule out an incremental approach that would provide incentives along the way to the North.

Following an unusually provocative 2017 in which Kims engineers tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and three long-range missiles theoretically capable of striking mainland US cities, the North Korean leader has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months. He has had the summits with Moon and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as well as two meetings with Pompeo.
Buddha Air plans ATR 72 Nepalgunj-Delhi service

Private carrier Buddha Air has been working to operate a Nepalgunj-New Delhi service following moves by Nepal and India to make the L626 Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi airway bidirectional. Currently, only westbound aircraft are allowed to use this airway to fly out of Nepal.
Activists in Ireland are calling for the countrys new pro-choice law to be named after Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian dentist whose death in 2012 galvanised the Yes campaign and who became the face of the movement ahead of Fridays historic referendum.

As a result of the nearly 70-30 decision, the 8th amendment of Irelands Constitution will be repealed and replaced with an enabling provision for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.

Leading Ireland-based campaigners said they will support a move to have the new law named after Savita, whose Karnataka-based father, Andanappa Yalagi, has called for it to be referred to as Savitas Law. Yalagi told the Irish Times: We have one last request, that the new law, that it is called Savitas Law. It should be named for her.

Together For Yes, an umbrella group representing pro-repeal organisations, said at a news conference in Dublin that it would support naming the new law after Savita.

The government did not immediately comment on this demand.

The group also called on the government to start immediately working on legislation.



Orla OConnor, chair of the campaign, said: The people have spoken. We were here to repeal the 8th (amendment) and we did.

Moving tributes were paid at a memorial to Halappanavar in Dublin after the referendum resulted in a resounding Yes vote, reflecting major changes in the Catholic country that until recently resisted reforms such as same-sex marriage.

Eulogies to Savita included messages such as: Sorry we were too late. But we are here now, we didnt forget you, and Im so deeply sorry you had to suffer. You have changed our history and our destiny.



Halappanavar, who moved to Ireland with her husband Praveen, died of sepsis in Galway in 2012 after being denied an abortion during a protracted miscarriage. Irish law imposed a near-total ban on abortion, forcing thousands to fly to Britain and other countries to terminate pregnancies, because the eighth amendment to Irelands Constitution, introduced in 1983, acknowledges the right to life of the unborn.

Prime Minster Leo Varadkar, whose election in June 2017 was also hailed as a sign of major social change in Ireland, called the Yes vote a quiet revolution.
Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting a tone deaf photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her infant son on Sunday, with the caption: My <3! #SundayMorning.

Critics were quick to point to a zero tolerance policy announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that authorizes border security agents to take away the children of people who enter the United States unlawfully.

The government places such children in foster homes, but Steven Wagner, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services told a Congressional committee last month the government was unable to determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,475 minors after attempting to contact their sponsors in the last three months of 2017.

Isnt it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? Its the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right? tweeted comedian Patton Oswalt.

If there were a Tone-Deaf Olympics, you would be its Michael Phelps, added John Pavlovitz, a writer.

Many others tweeted using the #WhereAreTheChildren hashtag.

.@IvankaTrump, you are lucky to hold your son while 1500 mothers cannot, because your father ripped their children away under a vicious policy that he created.



Ivanka, #WhereAreTheChildren? https://t.co/xKYAbdEyse  Paola Mendoza (@paolamendoza) May 27, 2018

This administration has shown callous disregard for the sick, the elderly, and the poor. Now we learn it literally has lost 1,475 migrant children and cannot account for them. Nations are judged not by their might, but by how they treat their most vulnerable. #WhereAreTheChildren  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 27, 2018

Donald Trump, for his part, blamed opposition Democrats for the horrible law in a tweet on Saturday -- though there is no law mandating the policy and it was not immediately clear what he may have meant.
Prime Minister Theresa May is facing increasing pressure from her Conservative Party and the opposition Labour to reform abortion law in Northern Ireland, days after Ireland voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to change its strict laws.

The minority May government is in office with the support of the Northern Ireland-based Democratic Unionist Party, which is strongly opposed to abortion. Northern Ireland has stricter laws on abortion compared to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Downing Streets initial view is that any change to the law must be done by the Northern Ireland Assembly and not by Parliament in Westminster, since the issue is a devolved matter, meaning it falls within the domain of the assembly (similar to a state subject in India).

DUP leader Arlene Foster has already remarked that Irelands referendum result would have no impact on the law in Northern Ireland: "The legislation governing abortion is a devolved matter and it is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate and decide such issues."

But the assembly has not been functioning for the last 18 months and there is no local government due to differences between the two main local parties, DUP and Sinn Fein. Several Conservative and Labour MPs want the law to be reformed in Westminster.

The UK Abortion Act of 1967 was not extended to Northern Ireland, and abortion remains illegal there unless the life or mental health of the mother is at risk. Fatal foetal abnormalities and conceptions by rape or incest are not grounds for termination.

After Fridays referendum in Ireland, Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK and most of Europe where terminations are outlawed apart from the most exceptional circumstances, and most politicians in Northern Ireland  Catholic and Protestant  do not favour reform.

Supporting reform in Northern Ireland after the vote in Ireland, The Guardian said in an editorial: The overwhelming victory for repeal shows an appetite for change which should be recognised in Northern Ireland too.

The implications of the Irish referendum vote will be felt around the world. The most immediate effect must be in Northern Ireland: five Conservative women who have all been ministers for women and equality are urging Theresa May to override the DUP and significantly relax abortion laws there.

The provinces absurdly strict law means rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not seen as valid reasons for termination. However, Ireland will now be looking to make an abortion law that reflects the 21st century  and so should the United Kingdom as a whole.
The Pakistan Army announced on Monday that it will conduct an inquiry against former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Asad Durrani for co-authoring the book The Spy Chronicles with former RAW head AS Dulat.

The militarys media arm said in a brief statement that the competent authority had been approached to include Durranis name in the interior ministrys Exit Control List (ECL). People included in the ECL are barred from leaving Pakistan.

Durrani, 77, has been in the eye of a storm in Pakistan since the recent release of the book that is described as a series of discussions between the two spy chiefs on a range of issues, including the situation in Kashmir, the 2008 Mumbai attacks and anti-India groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Lt Gen (retired) Durrani was called to GHQ today to explain his position on the recently launched book Spy Chronicles. A formal Court of Inquiry headed by a serving lieutenant general has been ordered to probe the matter in detail, said the statement from the Pakistani military.

On Saturday, chief military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had tweeted that Durrani had been called to the General Headquarters to explain his position on views attributed to him in the book. Such attribution, Ghafoor added, was taken as violation of Military Code of Conduct applicable on all serving and retired military personnel.

The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace has received an adverse response in sections of the Pakistani media. Durrani has been targeted by some commentators and retired generals for his revelations on a range of issues, including the Pakistani militarys role in building up the Hurriyat in Kashmir in the 1990s, and has even been accused of treason.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif appeared to draw a parallel between the militarys sharp reaction to his recent comments questioning the policy of using Pakistan-based militant groups against India and the militarys initial lack of response to the book by Durrani and Dulat.

Sharif had called for the National Security Committee (NSC) to convene a meeting on the book, just like the one that had condemned his remarks. He also said Durrani, through the book, had made public some serious information that made it necessary to call an emergency meeting of the NSC to discuss the matter.

Opposition leader Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan Peoples Party, while addressing the upper house of Parliament last week, had said that if a politician had teamed up with an Indian counterpart to write such a book, he would have been branded a traitor.
Pakistan rejected Indias protests against its decision to give greater administrative and financial powers to Gilgit-Baltistan and its claim over Jammu and Kashmir even as it raked up the issue of alleged human rights abuses by Indian security forces.

India has strongly objected to a decision on Saturday by Pakistans National Security Committee, the top body of civilian and military officials, to give greater administrative and financial powers to Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

On Sunday, India summoned Pakistans deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah and told him that any move to alter the status of any territory under Islamabads forcible occupation would have no legal basis.

Pakistans Foreign Office responded by dismissing Indias protests against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and New Delhis claim over Jammu and Kashmir. Indias deputy high commissioner JP Singh was summoned to the foreign ministry and a demarche on the issue was handed over to him.

Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal contended that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory and several UN Security Council resolutions stipulated the status of the region should be determined through a plebiscite.

Everything from history to law to morality to the situation on the ground belies Indias spurious claim, Faisal said in a statement. He added that baseless Indian propaganda about Gilgit-Baltistan would not cover up the atrocities being perpetrated by Indian forces or divert the world communitys attention from the situation in Kashmir.

Faisal called on India to create the conditions for implementing the UN Security Council resolutions so that this long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan is peacefully resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the new Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 has transferred all powers to the people, who will enjoy the same rights as the residents of Pakistans four provinces.

All subjects under the 18th Constitutional Amendment have been shifted to the Gilgit-Baltistan government. Yet if the Gilgit-Baltistan representatives have some more demands, we can include (them) in the order (as) our government is still left for some days, Abbasi told a joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly and council on Sunday.

However, the leader of opposition in the Assembly, Mohammad Shafi Khan, said the people had rejected the order. How can Gilgit-Baltistan be governed through orders? he asked, arguing that the region should be granted the same status as PoK.

A scuffle erupted between opposition and ruling party members. PML-N lawmaker Mohammad Amin and PTI legislator Raja Jahanzeb came to blows before the opposition staged a walkout. A strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan on the call of the opposition.
The number of voters belonging to Pakistans religious minorities has risen to 3.63 million from the 2.77 million registered in electoral rolls for the last general election in 2013, an increase of 30% in five years.

Hindu voters continued to maintain their majority among the minorities but they no longer constitute more than half the total non-Muslim voters as was the case in 2013, the Dawn newspaper cited an official document as saying.

The number of Hindu voters before the 2013 polls was 1.40 million while the total number of voters from minority communities was 2.77 million. Hindu voters were more than the collective number of those from all other minorities.

The number of Hindu voters now stands at 1.77 million, mostly concentrated in southern Sindh province, where they form more than 40% of the registered voters in two districts.

Christians form the second largest group among non-Muslim voters, totalling 1.64 million, including more than 1 million settled in Punjab, followed by more than 200,000 in Sindh. Their number has grown at a relatively high pace as compared to Hindu voters, as it was 1.23 million before the 2013 polls.

The total number of Ahmadi voters is 167,505, with most of them in Punjab, followed by Sindh and Islamabad. Their number in 2013 stood at 115,966.

Of the total 8,852 Sikh voters, most are settled in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, followed by Sindh and Punjab. Their presence in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas is more than their combined strength in Balochistan and Islamabad. Sikh voters numbered 5,934 in 2013.

Interestingly, the number of Parsi voters has grown from 3,650 in 2013 to 4,235. A majority is settled in Sindh, followed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The number of Buddhist voters increased from 1,452 in 2013 to 1,884. Most of them live in Sindh and Punjab. There are a total of 31,543 voters from the Bahai community on the electoral rolls.

The document obtained by the newspaper made no mention of Jewish voters in Pakistan, though there were 809 Jewish voters in 2013, including 427 women and 382 men.

While district-wise data of non-Muslim voters is yet to be prepared, according to official statistics related to the 2013 election, Umerkot and Tharparkar districts in Sindh had as high a percentage as 49% and 46% of the total voters, respectively.

In Umerkot, there were a total of 386,924 voters, of whom 189,501 belonged to religious minorities. In Tharparkar, out of a total of 473,189 voters, 219,342 were non-Muslim.
Congress will fight any attempts to suppress democracy, free press

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said his party will take it to the streets against any attempts of anarchy and totalitarianism.
External Article

28 May 2018

What do people do when browsing travel sites and what does it say about them? Does it reflect the actual travel experience and is it an important indicator for travel companies? The comScore prepared a report on the online travel behavior of consumers in the top five biggest travel markets of the EU.

Generally speaking, expenditure on desktops rose between January 2017 and 2018. Germany leads the list with the highest expenditure in Europe. The country registered a significant increase of 24% during the year. Germany is followed by France, the UK, Spain and Italy. France registered the highest increase of all countries in the same period - 62%.

Meanwhile, in terms of online travel behavior on desktops and mobile phones, the UK is on the top. The country has a travel audience of 39 million unique visitors. An interesting fact is that 94% of the UK's digital population visited travel-related sites, which is the highest share in Europe.
Press Release

28 May 2018

Columbus, Ohio -- Paramount Hotel Group, a growing full-service third-party hotel management company, announced today that it has been awarded the management contract for the Courtyard by Marriott Columbus West hotel. Ethan Kramer, President of Paramount, made the announcement. Located at 2350 Westbelt Drive in Columbus, Ohio, the Courtyard by Marriott Columbus West is ideally situated off Interstate 70 and 270 and located just minutes from downtown Columbus and Ohio State University, as well as other area attractions. The 150-room hotel boasts 8,790 sq. feet of meeting space between eight rooms. The Grand Ballroom, the h otel's largest venue, can accommodate up to 300 guests for weddings and other events. Personalized, onsite catering also is available. "This Courtyard by Marriott benefits from a great location and the demand generators associated with a strong college market," said Kramer. "We look forward to leveraging these strengths to position the hotel as a best-in-class property and deliver strong results to our ownership group ." The Courtyard by Marriott Columbus West features an open contemporary lobby with the brand's trademarked Bistro, which offers an appealing array of hot breakfast choices in the morning and light dinner and cocktail options in the evening. Guests also can visit The Market, a 24-hour shop filled with snacks and other items. Other amenities include an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and 24-hour business center. The hotel also participates in the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards. To book rese rvations at the hotel, please call 614-771-8999 or visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cmhwt-courtyard-columbus-west/ .

About Paramount Hotel Group

Formed in 1999, Paramount has a proven track record of success. Paramount's core team consists of former executives of Prime Hospitality Corp., with over 30 years of continuity and a highly personalized approach to hotel management. Paramount is comprised of three operating companies; Paramount Management Associates, a full service, third-party management company for select and full-service hotels; H-CPM, a hotel construction project management firm; and Book My Group, a national sales organization that specializes in group reservations.

Paramount has earned its position as an industry leader by expertly managing all aspects of operations for a hotel, engaging in proactive and transparent communication with owners and maintaining strong relationships with all major brands. Paramount earns praise for its unique ability to create exceptional asset value through renovating, re-branding and repositioning hotels. The company is targeting third-party hotel management contracts with owners seeking enhanced financial returns. Additionally, Paramount identifies attractive hotel acquisition opportunities for existing and new capital partners.
Diarrhoea downs 1,200 in Dang

Diarrhoea outbreak in two wards of Shantinagar Rural Municipality in Dang has downed more than 1,200 people.
Three 6 Mafia samples are everywhere in 2018, to the point that the obvious references are now depleted. Cardi B's "Bickenhead" moved a step deeper into Memphis rap history by sampling the collective's regular collaborator Project Pat. A$AP Rocky's "Gunz N Butter" sees that Pat sample and raises it a Tommy Wright III and DJ Squeeky. The result is a wash of Memphis textures, both vocal and instrumental, with Juicy J collaborator Crazy Mike and UK experimentalist Dean Blunt joining the production team alongside Rocky and Hector Delgado. Sometimes it's hard to get a grip on which way the song is going, but that's all part of the fun, and Rocky loosens up his vocal style to fit the shape-shifting feel of the record throughout.

Rocky's new album, Testing, is his first album in 3 years. It features guest appearances from Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs, Kid Cudi, Skepta, and French Montana. Listen to it here.

Quotable Lyrics:

Mama warned me pop was on me

Acid shorty

Get get gettin' guap before

When I was fourteen Glock was forty

Bounce your jaw for plottin' on me

Hot bologna grits with

Problems copper hoppin' on me

Cheese from government-ment
Lil Yachty took Complex on walking tour of sneaker collection, and true to form, he boasts something out of the ordinary. Lil Yachty began by dissecting three consecutive pairs of Jordan 1 reissues, spotting a different type of animal leather on each shoe. I guess Lil Yachty is buying on the resale market, because his expenditures involve an element of touch, without saran wrap getting in the way.

Within his collection, he has a few Jordan's that he purchased at outlet prices, a red pair retailing at $79.99. Of course they only appreciate so long as demand is remains high, and it does. Yachty is "all over the place with the swag," as he himself says with the journalist shadowing him closely. Yachty pulls a unquestionably fake Jordan 1 from the top shelving apparatus. In place of the Nike Swoosh is an arrow pointing sideways, and the white overlay is noticeably yellow due to water damage. Yachty explains he knew they were Fake and dropped an astronomical $1 thousand anyway, just to lay claim to one-of-a-kind defects. He may unwittingly become "that guy," the collector who obsessively searches for glitches.

Yachty likens his Shadow 1's to the highest material grade, and even points out the elephant leather, as if to say he has experience hunting Safari. He shows off his never worn Luis Vuitton loafers, which in contrast to the other sneakers in his collection, feel like a pair he copped to score vanity points with his peers. Yachty ends the tour by assuring the journalist at Complex that the best is yet to come in Part Two; that he'd be wise to not display a few of the rare numbers in his fleet, so don't go asking "Why."
SAN ANTONIO  The financial crisis wiped out trillions of dollars of savings and capital in America, sparking an entire movement against the top 1 percent of earners and shining a bright light on income inequality and the wealth gap in the U.S.

U.S. businessman Edward Conard makes the capitalists case for the importance of the unequal distribution of household wealth in his book, The Upside of Inequality.

Conard argues two main points in justifying his view.

First, we need unequal incentives to push innovation and risk-taking, the engine of a capitalist economy. Without the promise of outsized rewards, where would the desire for improvement come from?

Take away the outsized rewards through taxation and redistribution of wealth and we remove the innovative engine of the economy, writes Conard.

OK, Ill admit, Im sympathetic to that idea.

Second, Conard argues, we need concentrations of wealth in the hands of risk-taking capitalists to fund the innovative ideas of entrepreneurs who have more talent than money. Take away the piles of money in the hands of capitalists, and you remove the fuel from the engine.

I find this argument of Conards plausible as well.

I dont agree with Conards view because of any ideological attachment to capitalism. But practically speaking, the miracle of lifting billions of people out of poverty in recent decades happened under market-based economies that encouraged hard work and risk-taking.

Countries that squash markets and enforce a state-driven equality  Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Zimbabwe come to mind  tend to have horrific poverty.

Still, I worry about inequality.

In households with children under age 18, a recent New York Times piece explained, the bottom 50 percent of households actually have negative net worth. They have more debt than savings or assets.

That New York Times piece also describes a straight-line 3-step mechanism of inter-generational poverty:

1. Wealth correlates strongly with the likelihood of attending and graduating from college.

2. A college degree correlates strongly with higher lifetime earnings.

3. No higher degree means a much harder path to attaining or maintaining a middle-class life.

Those steps alone suggest that at the bottom rung of society, poverty begets poverty and inequality tends to beget more inequality.

Meanwhile, at the upper end of the economic ladder, the power of compound investment returns, reduced taxes on intergeneration wealth transfers and favorable tax rates on dividends and capital gains, tend to maintain the status quo among wealthy households.

Wealth begets wealth. I dont like the idea of stagnation at the top and bottom.

Conards book challenges some deeply held beliefs.

Traditional measurements of the lack of wealth for the bottom 50 percent of American households miss a key factor. Measuring consumption at the bottom half  due to social safety net programs including government transfers Medicare and Social Security  shows a strong reduction in poverty over the last 20 years. If we measure consumption instead of wealth, our society looks far less unequal.

Conard also makes some disturbing counter-arguments about the usefulness of investing in education to overcome economic immobility. His skeptical arguments will make people on both the left and right of the political spectrum uncomfortable.

My fondest wish on this topic is not to bash capitalism, or socialism for that matter, but to ask: Can we talk about a middle ground?

Conard worries about killing, through redistribution and taxation, the golden goose that has raised billions out of poverty. I worry about that negative median net worth of the bottom 50 percent of households in America. A hollowed-out middle class affects the economy and broader society.

Im worried that the concentration of wealth in the U.S. at the very top is too high and getting higher. In developing that view, I look to Thomas Pikettys 2014 masterpiece Capital, in which he shows were on trend to return to 19th century Gilded Age levels of wealth-concentration in the U.S. I dont love the idea of an entrenched aristocracy in America.

While Conard celebrates the positive economic effects of that inequality  more pools of wealth encourage more innovation, which leads to economic growth  Im worried about the moral problem of an entrenched aristocracy permanently separated from the other 99 percent of society.

My view: Im OK with some inequality. Im a capitalist. To the extent that more hard work and more talent leads to more money for some people over others, Im fine with that. Thats great.

Im not OK with permanent inequality, or intergenerational inequality or inequality that suggests a fixed, rigged game. If being born into poverty is a life sentence to an underclass, then inequality is something Im less OK with.

I want people on my side of the debate, people who think inequality is a major problem, to read more smart people on the other side of the debate, folks like Edward Conard. Because if you dont know where your own assumptions are weak or wrong, its hard to enact change.

Of course, I also want folks worried about creeping socialism in America to consider the moral consequences of a system in which children dont get enough to eat, and the next generations children might not either.

Talk all you want about bootstraps, but are kids still in elementary school responsible for yanking up their own straps?

I really dont have an answer. While I disagree with Conard  more on moral than economic grounds  hes also done far more reading than me on the subject.

Before you write to tell me that Im either a greedy capitalist or a lefty socialist (I admit, Im giving evidence of both here), can you instead just read Conards book? And then Pikettys?

Sometimes I think the only solution to these arguments, at the individual level, is to consciously set out to read the things well probably disagree with.

Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and author of The Financial Rules For New College Graduates.

michael@michaelthesmartmoney.com

twitter.com/michael_taylor
Texas, the land of wide open spaces, has long been known for its abundant supply of cheap land.

That might be changing.

Economic growth and an influx of new residents are pushing up the price of land in the Lone Star State, according to research published this week by the Texas A&M Real Estate Center. As a result, land costs now account for an increasingly larger share of the price of a home here, while remaining low compared to the U.S. as a whole.

Statewide, 20.4 percent of the cost of a typical single-family home went to the land in 2016, up from 5 percent in 2011, the research shows. In Houston, the share rose to 25.1 percent in 2016 from 7.1 percent in 2011, the steepest incline among other large Texas markets.

The median price of a home in Texas rose from $138,000 at the beginning of 2011 to $230,500 in April, while in the Houston metro area it increased from $136,950 to $240,000, according to the real estate center.

In many parts of the state, a tight supply of homes on the market and a shortage of construction workers  problems that plague large parts of the U.S.  are causing home prices to surge.

Economic growth is drawing thousands of new residents to Texas, but there is a limited supply of land that is available to be developed, with access to all the required infrastructure, said Jim Gaines, the real estate centers chief economist. He noted that municipal fees, such as impact fees intended to cover the cost of water infrastructure, are also on the rise.

Its a common-sense, obvious thing  as you grow the number of people and households, theyre going to need housing somewhere, Gaines said. The supply of the land is fairly plentiful, but supply is always relative.

At 20.4 percent of the cost of a home, Texas land prices are still relatively cheap compared to elsewhere in the U.S., according to Texas A&Ms research. In 2016, the cost of land accounted for 33.5 percent of the price of a typical home nationwide, up from 24.8 percent in 2011.

But Texas has lost some of its edge in home affordability, which has historically helped the state attract residents from elsewhere, according to the research. In 2016, the median price of a home in Texas was 78.8 percent of the nationwide median, while in 2005 it was 61.6 percent.

Land prices are likely to continue their rise while Texass economy grows, Gaines said.

In San Antonio, land prices contributed to 15.2 percent of the cost of a home in 2016. In the Dallas metro area, land costs accounted for 29.4 percent of the cost and in Fort Worth, 22.4 percent.

Until we figure out how to develop and convert that raw developable land into developed land, and to it at a cost-efficient ratio, Gaines said, were going to have this continuing thing.

Nancy Sarnoff contributed to this report.

rwebner@express-news.net

twitter.com/rwebner
In the beginning, there will be no lights.

The sanctuary of St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring  shuttered since the waters of Harvey poured through its doors  will be cloaked in darkness.

As a procession makes its way through the refurbished church, past the freshly painted walls and over just-installed travertine and carpet flooring, past the restored frescoes and along the rows of gleaming new pews, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo will sprinkle holy water on the walls and the gathered faithful.

The leader of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will offer a prayer of dedication, asking for Gods blessing, and anoint the altar with sacred chrism, a reminder of Christs role as the anointed one.

Finally, candles will illuminate the altar  followed by the lighting of the church.

The parish flock of St. Ignatius, who have spent nine months worshipping in school gyms, neighboring churches, and a parking lot tent, will at last be home.

But the rededication ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, will not erase the long journey from ruin to resurrection. As with so many churches, synagogues and mosques across Houston, the damage inflicted by the storm changed not only the buildings, but the people as well.

They are marked by the memories of the flood and everything they lost, by the months spent displaced from their spiritual home, and by faith that grew stronger after it was shaken.

***

In videos broadcast on Facebook Live the day after Harveys record rainfall drenched Houston last August, Father Norbert Maduzia makes no effort to hide his shock and pain. His face and hair are dripping wet. His eyes wide with disbelief. His voice tremulous.

The camera pans to show the interior of St. Ignatius engulfed by flood water. The pews, the potted plants, the church organ. All, soaked and sodden.

Im speechless, says Maduzia, 63, who has been pastor of St. Ignatius for 12 years. Everything is lost.

It is a line he repeats again and again. Everything is lost.

He sloshes through the church in rubber wading boots. Through the Lady Chapel, where a reflection of the stained glass window glints red and blue in the swirling eddies. Past the baptismal font, where flood water has displaced the holy water. In the entrance, where a processional cross floats face-down.

One arm of the Christ figure has snapped off. Its just broken, Maduzia laments, as he fishes the icon out. Everything is broken.

In the sacristy, Maduzia and a cadre of volunteers scramble to store vestments on top of cabinets and high shelves. Then he heaves a heavy sigh.

At that moment, Maduzia recalled recently, his heart was crushed. He thought of the familiar faces in the pews every Sunday, the work that went into the building, which always seemed suffused with natural light. He thought of all that had taken place under that roof: the weddings and funerals, the joyous times and the sad ones.

Friends, right now, we dont have a building, the pastor tells his parishioners watching the livestream on Aug. 28. We are the church.

***

Just two days earlier, Elaine Bertero had attended Saturday night service at St. Ignatius, where she has been a member for 30 years, where her children received their sacraments, and where she teaches adult Bible study. During that Mass, the readings emphasized the belief that the people  not the building  are the body of the church.

As Bertero watched Maduzias video, saw the pain in her pastors face and caught glimpses of her beloved place of worship submerged in water, she began to cry. It felt like a blow to the stomach.

How, she asked herself, do we even begin to rebuild?

The same questions flashed through the mind of Susan Heim, who was also watching the Facebook Live broadcast. Although the water had started to rise in her subdivision, somehow, miraculously, her house  just two miles away from St. Ignatius  was safe.

But her church of 25 years, she could see in the video, was not. In Maduzias glazed expression, she recognized her own emotions: devastation, sorrow, fear.

Heims children had been raised up in St. Ignatius, received their Holy Communion and confirmation there. For the last four years, she has served in the wedding ministry, helping couples getting married in the church.

Like Bertero, she wondered: What do we do now?

Yet, even as Heim stared in disbelief at the images of the flooded church, a flicker of hope rose up.

There was Maduzia, who had hitched a ride on a boat, wearing his forest green rain slicker, to get to the 14-acre St. Ignatius campus. Trudging through the downpour. Splashing through water that was waist-high in spots. Keeping his flock informed.

In the midst of the storm, she said, Maduzia was a beacon of calm, a shepherd for his parish.

He made it feel like we were all holding hands in a circle, Heim said, trying to figure it out and walking through it together.

At weeks end, on Sept. 1, Maduzia celebrated a BYOC (bring your own chair) Mass on the steps of St. Ignatius.

Hundreds of parishioners, toting lawn chairs and folding chairs, turned out for the service on a hot Friday morning. Bertero was delighted to see so many familiar faces in the crowd. Heim felt uplifted.

It was a joyful moment, a sign that the 4,000-family parish would be resilient enough to recover. No matter how long that took.

***

Nine months.

Nine months of wandering. Of Masses held in the Klein High School gym, which felt more like going to a school play than to a place of worship, and in the parking lot of St. Ignatius, inside a massive white tent, where the sound of traffic filtered through the flaps.

Nine months of makeshift Bible studies and Sunday school in borrowed offices and neighboring churches. Of mucking out the dank buildings, of ripping through sheetrock, of tossing moldy Nativity decorations and sheet music, soggy chairs and the waterlogged organ.

Nine months of mourning what had been washed away and forging a new foundation.

The attendance for weekend services, normally about 1,100, dropped to 400. Some parishioners said the tent revived too much of the trauma from Harvey. Others were still dealing with the loss of their own homes. For many, the temporary worship facilities simply did not feel right.

They needed a sacred space, said Maduzia. People want to go to a holy place where they see statues and candles, and smell the church.

Still, the months of reconstruction have also brought blessings.

After St. Ignatius added Spanish Masses to accommodate new arrivals from Venezuela and Mexico, the parish community had often been split between us and them, Maduzia noted. After Harvey, there is only an us.

The church, whose motto is a people for each other, became a more united congregation  a people for each other. When lectors were chosen for the rededication Mass, the first question was Which one will be in Spanish?  an indication, Maduzia said, of greater inclusivity.

For some parishioners, including Heim, the lack of a physical building actually deepened their faith.

It doesnt matter if its in an open field, or a shack. God is always there, she said. Its our responsibility to recognize that.

That conviction was crystalized on Feb. 10, the day Heims daughter was married. She wanted the ceremony at St. Ignatius, her home parish. But the only space available was the outdoor tent, which other couples had eschewed.

It didnt matter to Heims daughter whether the service took place in the tent, as long as it was on the St. Ignatius campus. God would be present.

***

A week before the rededication ceremony, a new video was posted on the St. Ignatius Facebook page.

Hello, everyone, its Father Norbert. Last time we came live this place was full of water  says the pastor, accompanied by Father Khoi Le. Now you can see behind me, we have pews. Now wait until you see whats in front of me.

The camera whirls around.

They are assembling the altar, Maduzia says, as the screen fills with the image of workers putting together the wooden base adorned by angels. Look at that.

He takes the viewers on a tour of the renovated sanctuary, his voice filled with wonder and awe: The rows of wooden pews, which will seat 1,700. The blue-gray terrazzo tiles. The statues, hand carved in Italy, perched in the four corners: St. Ignatius, St. Joseph, St. Katharine Drexel and the Virgin Mary who, for nine months, wore a crown placed on her head just before Harvey.

One week away. Can you believe that? he marvels. One week away, and well be back in here.

So, too, will the processional cross, which had been disfigured in the flood, and will be used in the ceremony marking the rebirth of the church.

The arm of the Christ figure is now repaired and replaced, but in the foot, a hairline crack is still visible. Like the parish of St. Ignatius, it is stronger in the broken places.

monica.rhor@chron.com

twitter.com/monicarhor
Cheryl Darling sat behind the counter of Easy Cash Pawn & Jewelry off of Texas 6 about three miles south of Santa Fe High School, a rack of rifles and handguns on display for sale to her right.

She reminisced about a time when no one thought twice about showing off Winchester rifles on gun racks in the back window of their pickup trucks.

Everybody had gun racks. Everybody had a rifle, Darling said. Wed come back from Christmas holidays, and wed say, Oh, look at my new .270 [Winchester rifle]. Nobody ever thought about shooting anybody. We got into fights all the time, but its just a different mindset today I think, you know? Because we were all armed and nobody thought once about shooting their classmate.

The closest thing to gun control back then was when a teenage Darling and her boyfriend were denied entry to a nearby drive-in theater on Interstate 45 because he had a gun on the rack in his truck.

I remember him being so furious about it, No way, Im not going to leave my gun here, Darling recalled with a chuckle. At the time it was kind of shocking  Now it just seems normal. It was just a different time.

In the wake of the May 18 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, in which 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis is accused of killing 10 people and injuring 13, American gun culture is once again under the microscope. But the fervent gun control activism that emerged after a similar mass shooting in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., has largely bypassed Santa Fe, a community of about 13,000 in Galveston County.

While the surviving Parkland students have become national icons of the gun control movement, pleading publicly with state and federal elected officials to enact an assault weapons band and other legislation, many in the Santa Fe community are dismissive of gun control efforts in the aftermath of the shooting.

The solutions they offered are in keeping with a community that values its Second Amendment rights and proud tradition of gun ownership.

Personally, I think taking rights away from people isnt helping the good guy, its helping the bad guy, said Kyle Smith, a mechanic who joined his wife, Stephanie Guss, and his 7-year old daughter at a local playground recently off of Texas 6 in Santa Fe. I personally believe if a teacher wants to conceal-carry or (we) put more school cops out there, then I believe that would probably help more than to try and take guns from people.

Though Smith and Guss said they are sympathetic to Parkland students desire for change, they said shooters like Pagourtzis and Nikolas Cruz in Parkland would have benefited from a stronger focus by their parents on mental health  a sentiment echoed by many Texas politicians.

If you think something is wrong with your child, he might be bullied or kind of segregated, talk to your child, Guss said. Ask them whats going on. Do you want me to get you help? Do you want to go talk to somebody?

Not about what laws are in place

Santa Fe High School junior Lauren Severin doesnt have a strong position on gun control. But she doesnt want the death of eight classmates and two teachers to be politicized, as she saw after the Florida shooting.

My biggest fear is that our school is going to become what happened with the Parkland shooting, she said. The best thing that we can do is just be there for each other. It really is about humanity, at this point. Its not about what laws are in place or anything like that.

Some in Santa Fe turned to activism in the wake of the shooting, however, with social media posts about gun control. The 17-year-old said the posts have unnecessarily divided a reeling community where students recognize each other in the hallways. She wants the conversation to focus on mental health.

Gun laws or no gun laws, she said, those thoughts arent going to be taken out of peoples minds, the people who do that.

Other differences set the Parkland and Santa Fe incidents apart as well. Galveston County is a heavily Republican area in deep red Texas, while Broward County in Florida is not. And the type of weapon that authorities say was used  not an AR-15 rifle as in Florida but the more common shotgun and pistol  mean policy solutions can be more divisive.

A large number of Santa Fe area residents look at the tragedy, and they dont immediately associate it with insufficient gun control, said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones. And what kind of gun control would have stopped it?  Realistically in the U.S., were not going to ban shotguns and pistols, let alone in the Lone Star State.

Jay Kumar Aiyer, a Texas Southern University political science professor, said the level of activism from Santa Fe students has been markedly quieter than from Parkland.

We just cant  we cannot  minimize the impact of the activism from the Parkland students themselves, he said. You just dont have that here.

Taking guns from citizens

Greg Bell, who owns the R&G Guns in Alvin about nine miles northwest of Santa Fe, said that beefing up gun laws in Texas will only punish law-abiding citizens.

The sign on the wall of his store, Gun control is not about guns, its about control, makes clear his views on the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right of Americans to keep and bear arms.

Theres only one reason to take guns away from citizens  thats to rule them, Bell said. Its about the government having power.

Bell said that he believes metal detectors and reinforced fencing around public schools would be more than enough to deter a future mass shooting incident.

I understand [the students] fear. But laws arent going to change a criminals behavior, he said.

Others believe the root cause of mass shooting incidents is more philosophical than practical. Ernest Roberts owns a T-shirt print shop called Patriot Ts, right on the border of Santa Fe and La Marque. His shop, off FM 1764, is hard to miss, with big American, Texas, Confederate and Thin Blue Line flags planted at the entrance of the shops driveway.

Roberts, a former Army sergeant, believes that millennials suffer from lack of a moral compass.

Honestly, from my point of view, were turning Godless, Roberts said. They do what feels good instead of whats right.

Roberts said that public education is partly to blame for teaching a largely secular curriculum and that more private or home schooling would be a welcome remedy. He also believes that public schools should have metal detectors and more armed guards.

A public school system should have at least the same type of entry points that our airports do, that our banks do, he said. Our natural resource, and the only one we have, is our children.

United in grief

Some children in Santa Fe are determined to not sit back and watch another American city share in Santa Fes and Parklands tragic experiences.

Brianna Huston is a sophomore at Santa Fe High School. Her familys home is less than half a mile away from the school, and her best friend, Sarah Salazar, was among those injured during the shooting.

Hustons family owns guns, and she has been out hunting before and enjoyed it. Huston also doesnt understand why any American would want to own a gun used primarily by the military, nor can she comprehend why background checks for gun purchases arent more stringent.

Huston said she and some of her classmates were involved in a local March for our Lives event after the shooting in Parkland and are committed to making their voices heard in the aftermath of the shooting in Santa Fe.

Change needs to happen now because its going to take years down the road, Huston said. I may be dead by the time action is taken, but Id rather take action now just to save generations down the road from the same thing happening.

Four other Santa Fe students joined Friday with students from March for Our Lives Houston  which was formed in response to the Parkland shooting  to push for a bipartisan response for mental health services, better campus security and gun safety laws. The students stressed they were not trying to take away anyones guns.

Inaction is not an option, student Megan MGuire, a 17-year-old junior at Santa Fe High School, said Friday. We must do something, and we must get it right. School safety is a complex issue.

But plenty of Santa Fe residents are satisfied with the status quo.

Darling, the pawn broker from Santa Fe, says that tools and guns are our big business and insists that the background check procedure for purchasing guns at her shop are more than strong enough and done in compliance with federal regulations.

Yet Darling is still stunned that her hometown, with its proud tradition of responsible gun ownership, has joined the communities united by the grief of a mass shooting.

Were just so familiar with guns, I cant even imagine it happening here, I guess. Im really not sure why, Darling said. Now were part of that group, which is unfortunate.

nick.powell@chron.com
Do we really need to spend more taxpayer money making new types of nuclear bombs?

The United States already has 6,800 nuclear weapons, according to the latest figures from the Federation of Atomic Scientists. But frankly the published data on Americas atomic arsenal varies so wildly it seems nobody knows how to count all of our nukes. Suffice to say the United States already has enough atomic firepower to blow the world to kingdom come.

Nonetheless, the House Armed Services Committee recently authorized $65 million for development of a new type of nuclear weapon, a low-yield warhead that would be attached to a long-range submarine-launched ballistic missile. During this Memorial Day weekend, a time when we honor those whove lost their lives in service of our country, spending that money on veteran services makes a lot more sense than buying more bombs that will be detonated only in the unlikely event of an atomic cataclysm. This proposal is now wending its way around Capitol Hill, and Congress needs to shoot it out of the sky.

OPINION: Five myths about nuclear missiles

Pentagon officials reportedly used some cockamamie logic to justify the expenditure, arguing that if the Russians use tactical nukes on the battlefield, the United States needs the capability to respond with a limited nuclear strike instead of a full-scale attack involving hundreds of warheads. If our planes are rendered incapable of delivering any of the 200 low-yield weapons already in Europe, they reasoned, we need to be able to launch them toward Russia from submarines.

As Walter Pincus, a respected former national security reporter for the Washington Post, pointed out, the problem is that the Russians wont know the missiles launched from those submarines are carrying low-yield nukes. Theyll probably assume theyre under attack from the more powerful nuclear weapons typically carried by submarines as part of a first-strike intended to destroy their capacity to launch a full-scale response against the United States.

RELATED: The U.S. must accept a nuclear North Korea

MORE: A nuclear slap in China's face

Pentagon officials argued the new bombs would deter the Russians from using tactical nukes, because theyd know the United States could respond with similar low-yield weapons. But the idea that the superpowers can fire smaller nuclear bombs at each other without escalating the conflict to Armageddon stretches credulity.

Adding even more nuclear weapons to the nations atomic arsenal wont enhance deterrence. The United States already spends more on defense than the next eight top defense spending nations combined. Its noteworthy that Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats recently warned lawmakers the spiraling federal debt could jeopardize national security. Wasting money deploying more nuclear weapons would be a step in the wrong direction.
Cost of war

Regarding Trump calls off N. Korea summit,(Page A1, Friday), President Trump again mixed into his warnings to North Korea the fact that we have immeasurable military superiority over that country.

My question is whether Trump knows we had immeasurable military superiority over Vietnam, spent six years there and lost 58,000 Americans.

We had immeasurable superiority over Iraq yet have had 4,500 Americans killed there. We have had total military superiority over Afghanistan for 17 years yet have had 2,254 Americans killed there  12 this year  17 years after 9/11.

We can eventually defeat these countries militarily, but it is totally unethical to discuss attacking them without including the real and gigantic cost. I fear that his total lack of military experience leaves him thinking amount of money spent, technical advantage and bigger bomb payloads equal quick and easy victory.

Any American war will cost American lives. Ignoring that is dishonest and immoral.

Bart Busker, Houston

Crossing lines

Regarding Lawmakers get briefing on Russia probe (Page A8, Friday), people say we are approaching a constitutional crisis because of the limits on our government President Trump is stretching. This confidential briefing is an example why those concerns are valid. The president forced this meeting by using his powers over the Department of Justice to look into the internal findings of an ongoing investigation that coincidentally the president himself is involved in.

Adding insult to injury, he lets his attorney and his chief of staff come to the meeting. Another presidential attorney, Rudy Giuliani, publicly says he wants to see how much they learned from the briefing.

This president is crossing boundaries created to ensure independence of the DOJ that were established after the Nixon Watergate investigation. Current actions now threaten whether we have learned anything from history. Congressional moral fortitude is the only thing that can correct what is happening.

Ron Curtis, Houston

Proper study

Regarding Santa Fe shooting should be tipping point for action by Abbott (Page A3, Wednesday), we have security checkpoints in locations such as airports and government buildings where we believe violent behavior is likely to occur. Whether we like it or not, it seems our public schools need to be added to that list. Immediate and wide-spread enactment of meaningful and effective security measures is needed.

But thats only half the solution. As firefighters say, the first priority is to extinguish the fire. Then comes the investigation to determine why and how it started. We need to implement immediate security measures for our schools, then embark on a comprehensive investigation of what prompts such violent behavior. Notice my focus is on the behavior, not the method or means used.

To blame guns for this violence is like blaming the automobile for a drunk-driving fatality. We must deal with the factors that led to that violent behavior. Otherwise, we can look forward to more of the same.

Barry Boswell, Fulshear
Fort Bliss, established at the historic El Paso del Norte in 1854, is among our largest military bases  a place where troops regularly conduct live fire exercises, where drones take off and land at an enormous airfield and where experts monitor missile launches.

And soon, if the Trump administration has its way, the base also could host a daycare center for hundreds of Central American children.

These children need adult supervision because they were forced from their mothers or fathers under a new U.S. government initiative that primarily targets people fleeing from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. The launch of that program late in 2017 was first reported by the Chronicles Lomi Kriel.

OPINION: Why Houston is siding with a dictatorship in Venezuela

Previously most parents with children werent prosecuted for illegally crossing the border, a misdemeanor for first offenders. Instead, families were deported, or freed while they pursued asylum or other claims in U.S. civil immigration courts under a practice called catch and release.

The initiative to prosecute all parents already has forced hundreds of kids into federal foster care. And U.S. officials assigned to house these children have reported their facilities are filling up  hence the consideration of military bases. The process risks a human rights tragedy, and it may already be too late.

An official from the Department of Health and Human Services told members of Congress in April that the agency had lost track of nearly 1,500 migrant children placed with U.S. sponsors. Where are they? Maybe in the hands of human traffickers or used as laborers by people posing as relatives.

EDITORIAL: We're a nation of immigrants, whether Trump likes it or not

MORE: Trump shows little interest in fixing the immigration problem

We dont know. This is appalling and unacceptable. Now some parents who request to be reunited with children find themselves living a nightmare  being told that U.S. agencies have lost their kids.

Thats what happened to 28-year-old Esteban Pastor as reported by Kriel. Last summer, Pastor crossed the border with his 18-month old and was arrested for illegally crossing. He had mortgaged his land in Guatemala to fund his toddlers emergency medical bills and hoped to work here to repay a loan. Instead, his tiny child was taken away and placed in a shelter. Three months later, the father was deported without his son  though hed presented proof of paternity. Agents told him the boy was still somewhere in Texas.

Its bad enough that so many desperate Central American children arrive here alone. Many are fleeing gang violence  murder, rape, torture  and seek to be reunified with relatives already living here. But the Trump administration is making a humanitarian crisis worse by ripping families apart.

In response to an earlier influx of unaccompanied minors and families, the Obama administration paid to construct special family immigration detention. Those centers ultimately failed to meet constitutional requirements or even Texas standards.

Our laws and court rulings havent changed. Its impossible for Fort Bliss or other bases to instantly accommodate the needs of so many unaccompanied minors. But neither respect for laws nor compassion for children seem to matter to the Trump administration.

There are obvious, humane alternatives to prosecuting parents and warehousing children. Parents accused of no more than the misdemeanor of crossing the border illegally should not be prosecuted or forced apart from children. If the government really wants to address this problem, it could instead:

Staff up immigration courts and expedite review of cases. If immigration cases are reviewed quickly enough, families entering with children could be legally housed in family detention centers. If not, the government should increase the size of existing alternative community-based programs or use electronic monitoring for mothers or fathers whose cases are pending.

Work with other governments to develop policies and fund programs to stabilize Central American nations and discourage families from leaving home in the first place.

The Trump administration declared that previous catch-and-release policies failed because too many immigrants later skipped court appearances. But prosecuting so many parents for illegal re-entry and taking away children is inhumane. The program also diverts Department of Justice resources away from its true mission: Prosecuting the real criminals.
Govt to award three personalities on Everest Day

Government has decided to award three personalities for their contribution on mountain tourism on the occasion of Everest Day on Tuesday.
As you grill out this holiday, you may want to consider the high cost of your steaks, hamburgers and sausages.

On April 5, at a beef slaughterhouse in Bean Station, Tenn., U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement used helicopters, armed federal agents and road blocks to round up nearly 100 workers. It was the largest immigration raid in more than a decade.

After the raids, terrified families tried to find loved ones. The next day, more than 500 children missed school. Civil rights advocates and religious groups protested the forcible separation of mothers, fathers and children, then raised $60,000 to help.

OPINION: They slaughter horses, don't they?

Theoretically, a public crackdown on undocumented workers, overwhelmingly Latino, deters illegal immigration, but many people are hurt in the process. The plants go idle as the chaos ripples through towns sustained by worker spending power. Workers flee to other slaughterhouses, where managers are happy to hire people for the most dangerous manufacturing job in America,

The cycle is familiar. Americans want cheap meat. That requires low wages. So plants hire undocumented workers. ICE raids the plants. Latino families cry. Schoolteachers are put in the untenable position of either supervising children after hours or sending them home, knowing their parents are missing. People are appalled by the human cost, momentarily. Then, the cycle begins again.

At one time, labor unions made sure that workers were paid well and protected from injury. Then, beginning in the 1960s, meatpackers shut down the old unionized urban plants and moved into right-to-work rural states, breaking the backs of the unions. In the 1990s, the North American Free Trade Agreement helped propel thousands of Latinos  many undocumented  into meatpacking, lowering wages even further. Employers welcomed them. Undocumented workers were easier to control and much harder to unionize than U.S.-born workers. The speed of production lines increased. Injuries increased. Union representation decreased further, along with wages and working conditions.

RELATED: Proposed dietary guidelines wrong about beef

Then came the backlash under President George W. Bush. On a single day in 2006, ICE raided six Swift & Co. meatpacking plants in six states arresting 1,300 workers  including 300 in Cactus, Texas  about 10 percent of Swifts workforce. Most were deported. Operation Wagon Train remains the largest worksite enforcement action in U.S. history. Nearly a quarter of Swifts workers at the time were undocumented, and Swift had to raise wages by about 8 percent to stay open.

But do surprise raids really work? Only temporarily, because they do not address the underlying issue of the markets demand for cheap meat and the cheap labor to supply it.

Within months of the Swift raids, ICE raided the worlds largest slaughterhouse, owned by Smithfield Foods, in Tar Heel, N.C. They arrested 21 workers, surreptitiously pulling Latino workers off the line. Workers quietly put down their knives, took off their protective gear and headed to HR, where they were put in handcuffs.

Word spreads when la migra  Spanish slang for the immigration service  is on the way. In Tar Heel, within weeks of the raid, nearly half of the plants workforce  more than 2,000 employees and their families  simply left the region. The loss of workers forced Smithfield to increase wages, which attracted more African Americans, who were far more likely to vote for union representation. By 2008, workers had organized under the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. It was an unusual victory in the South, where right-to-work, anti-union views flourish.

EDITORIAL: Feral hogs and food for the hungry

The Bush administration focused on rounding up workers rather than punishing business owners. Now, it appears President Trump has rediscovered that playbook. In December, Trump commuted the 27-year prison sentence of the former chief executive of the Postville plant. In Tennessee, no charges were filed against the owners of Southern Provision, near Knoxville. Usually, large employers are slapped with fines  the cost of doing business  and they lie low, then go back to business as usual.

Meanwhile, agents have been ordered to quadruple worksite inspections. Will a slaughterhouse in Texas  which processes more meat than any state but Nebraska  be next?

Its an open secret. Americans want cheap meat. We consume more meat per capita than any other country. We want our holiday hams and roasts. We also demand, or at least tolerate, the occasional public display of immigration enforcement, despite the human suffering.

Waltz is a journalist and author of Hog Wild: The Battle for Workers Rights at the Worlds Largest Slaughterhouse, released May 15 by the University of Iowa Press. She is an assistant professor of journalism at Hampton University.
He added that this requires a two-level approach ensuring clarity around long term direction and the actions required to get there.

Simultaneously, the business must position itself to respond to short-term factors. I think thats called a strategy and HR has a critical role to play in both.

Holly Barnes, head of people and culture, Moodle added that the world of work moves quickly and organisations need to be agile.

Gone are the days of executing a rigid 3+ year HR strategy that aligns to the implementation of a business plan, she said.

Instead HR must support the business in shifting its focus to team and culture. She added that putting energy into building a great team rather than a structured plan, makes adapting at a moments notice easier.
Imperial Valley News Center

Long Overdue Freedom for Joshua Holt in Venezuela

Washington, DC - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "The United States welcomes the release of Joshua Holt and his wife Thamara, who were unjustly imprisoned in Venezuela. We extend our special thanks to Senator Bob Corker, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Mike Lee, Representative Mia Love, and all the other members of Congress who have worked on behalf of the Holt family over the past two years and helped to make this day a reality.

"U.S. policy toward Venezuela remains unchanged. The United States stands steadfast in support of the Venezuelan people and their efforts to return to democracy.

"The safety and welfare of U.S. citizens overseas is among the Department of States highest priorities. On behalf of the State Department and the entire United States government, we wish Joshua Holt and his family the best after this difficult period."
Highway collision kills two men

Two people died and two others were injured when a bus and a motorcycle collided at Byas Municipality-12 in Tanahun district on Saturday evening. Police said Rajaraj Raya and Dhiraj Chaudhary of Parsa district died in the incident that occurred at Prithvi Highway.
Imperial Valley News Center

Justice Department Recognizes California Man for Role in Safe Recovery of Abducted Baby

Washington, DC - The Department of Justice Wednesday honored Colin Blevin, a Santa Clara, California, resident, for his actions that led to the recovery of an abducted one-year-old girl and the apprehension of the childs kidnapper.

Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio presented Blevin with the Missing Childrens Citizen Award during the Justice Departments National Missing Childrens Day ceremony. This award recognizes private citizens for extraordinary acts that lead to the safe recovery of missing or abducted children.

Blevin received his award for preventing a suspect from escaping with a one-year-old girl in a stolen car and keeping the child safe until police arrived. The offender was sentenced to more than five years in prison for felony child abuse and theft of a vehicle.

Blevins quick actions epitomize courage, selflessness, and vigilance, and brought an innocent child home to safety, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. The Department of Justice commends Blevin for making his community safer, through his successful rescue of the child and assist to law enforcement.

In addition to Blevin, the Department also honored several law enforcement officers for their investigative efforts in sexual exploitation cases involving children and youth. Panuccio also recognized Eden Hoffmann, a fifth grader at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, Michigan, as the 19th winner of the National Missing Childrens Day poster contest.
Imperial Valley News Center

Justice Department Announces Actions to Disrupt Advanced Persistent Threat 28 Botnet of Infected Routers and Network Storage Devices

Washington, DC - The Justice Department announced an effort to disrupt a global botnet of hundreds of thousands of infected home and office (SOHO) routers and other networked devices under the control of a group of actors known as the Sofacy Group (also known as apt28, sandworm, x-agent, pawn storm, fancy bear and sednit). The group, which has been operating since at least in or about 2007, targets government, military, security organizations, and other targets of perceived intelligence value.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Assistant Director Scott Smith for the FBIs Cyber Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Johnson of the Pittsburgh Division and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley of the Atlanta Division made the announcement.

The Department of Justice is committed to disrupting, not just watching, national security cyber threats using every tool at our disposal, and todays effort is another example of our commitment to do that, said Assistant Attorney General Demers. This operation is the first step in the disruption of a botnet that provides the Sofacy actors with an array of capabilities that could be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including intelligence gathering, theft of valuable information, destructive or disruptive attacks, and the misattribution of such activities.

The United States Attorneys Office will continue to aggressively fight against threats to our national security by criminals, no matter who they work for said U.S. Attorney Brady. This court-ordered seizure will assist in the identification of victim devices and disrupts the ability of these hackers to steal personal and other sensitive information and carry out disruptive cyber attacks. We will be relentless in protecting the people of Western Pennsylvania - from international corporations to local businesses to the elderly - from these threats.

Today's announcement highlights the FBI's ability to take swift action in the fight against cybercrime and our commitment to protecting the American people and their devices, said Assistant Director Scott Smith. By seizing a domain used by malicious cyber actors in their botnet campaign, the FBI has taken a critical step in minimizing the impact of the malware attack. While this is an important first step, the FBI's work is not done. The FBI, along with our domestic and international partners, will continue our efforts to identify and expose those responsible for this wave of malware.

The FBI will not allow malicious cyber actors, regardless of whether they are state-sponsored, to operate freely, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Johnson. These hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities and putting every Americans privacy and network security at risk. Although there is still much to be learned about how this particular threat initially compromises infected routers and other devices, we encourage citizens and businesses to keep their network equipment updated and to change default passwords.

This action by the FBI, DOJ, and our partners should send a clear message to our adversaries that the U.S. Government will take action to mitigate the threats posed by them and to protect our citizens and our allies even when the possibility of arrest and prosecution may not be readily available, said FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley. As our adversaries technical capabilities evolve, the FBI and its partners will continue to rise to the challenge, placing themselves between the adversaries and their intended victims.

The botnet, referred to by the FBI and cyber security researchers as VPNFilter, targets SOHO routers and network-access storage (NAS) devices, which are hardware devices made up of several hard drives used to store data in a single location that can be accessed by multiple users. The VPNFilter botnet uses several stages of malware. Although the second stage of malware, which has the malicious capabilities described above, can be cleared from a device by rebooting it, the first stage of malware persists through a reboot, making it difficult to prevent reinfection by the second stage.

In order to identify infected devices and facilitate their remediation, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania applied for and obtained court orders, authorizing the FBI to seize a domain that is part of the malwares command-and-control infrastructure. This will redirect attempts by stage one of the malware to reinfect the device to an FBI-controlled server, which will capture the Internet Protocol (IP) address of infected devices, pursuant to legal process. A non-profit partner organization, The Shadowserver Foundation, will disseminate the IP addresses to those who can assist with remediating the VPNFilter botnet, including foreign CERTs and internet service providers (ISPs).

Owners of SOHO and NAS devices that may be infected should reboot their devices as soon as possible, temporarily eliminating the second stage malware and causing the first stage malware on their device to call out for instructions. Although devices will remain vulnerable to reinfection with the second stage malware while connected to the Internet, these efforts maximize opportunities to identify and remediate the infection worldwide in the time available before Sofacy actors learn of the vulnerability in their command-and-control infrastructure.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have also jointly notified trusted ISPs. The Department and the FBI also encourage users and administrators to review the Cisco blog post on VPNFilter, available HERE, for recommendations and to ensure that their devices are updated with the latest patches.

The efforts to disrupt the VPNFilter botnet were led by the FBIs Pittsburgh and Atlanta Offices; FBI Cyber Division; Trial Attorney Matthew Chang of the National Security Divisions Counter intelligence and Export Control Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Eberle and Soo C. Song of the Western District Pennsylvania. Critical assistance was also provided by Richard Green of the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and The Shadowserver Foundation.
Imperial Valley News Center

Drug Maker Pfizer Agrees to Pay $23.85 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Paying Kickbacks

Washington, DC - Pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer), based in New York, NY, has agreed to pay $23.85 million to resolve claims that it used a foundation as a conduit to pay the copays of Medicare patients taking three Pfizer drugs, in violation of the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare Part B or Part D, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible (collectively copays). Congress included copay requirements in the Medicare program, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs. Under the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical company is prohibited from offering, directly or indirectly, any remunerationwhich includes paying patients copay obligationsto induce Medicare patients to purchase the companys drugs.

As part of todays settlement, the government alleged that Pfizer used a foundation as a conduit to pay the copay obligations of Medicare patients taking three Pfizer drugs: Sutent and Inlyta, which both treat renal cell carcinoma, and Tikosyn, which treats arrhythmia in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The government alleged that, in order to generate revenue, and instead of giving Sutent and Inlyta to Medicare patients who met the financial qualifications of Pfizers existing free drug program, Pfizer used a third-party specialty pharmacy to transition certain patients to the foundation, which covered the patients Medicare copays. Pfizer allegedly made donations to the foundation to enable it to cover the copays of these patients and received confirmation from the foundation, via the specialty pharmacy, that the foundation funded the copays.

With respect to Tikosyn, Pfizer raised the wholesale acquisition cost of a package of forty .125 mg capsules of the drug by over 40 percent in the last three months of 2015. Pfizer allegedly knew that the price increase would also increase Medicare beneficiaries copay obligations for Tikosyn, and potentially prevent some patients from being able to afford the drug. Pfizer allegedly worked with the foundation to create and finance a fund for Medicare patients suffering from the condition treated by Tikosyn, coordinated the opening of the fund with the implementation of its price increase for the drug, and referred patients to the fund. For the next nine months, Tikosyn patients accounted for virtually all of the beneficiaries whose copayments were paid by the fund.

Kickbacks undermine the independence of physician and patient decision-making, and raise healthcare costs, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Departments Civil Division. As todays settlement makes clear, the Department will hold accountable drug companies that pay illegal kickbackswhether directly or indirectlyto undermine taxpayer funded healthcare programs, including Medicare.

Pfizer used a third party to saddle Medicare with extra costs, said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. According to the allegations in todays settlement agreement, Pfizer knew that the third-party foundation was using Pfizers money to cover the co-pays of patients taking Pfizer drugs, thus generating more revenue for Pfizer and masking the effect of Pfizers price increases. The Anti-Kickback Statute exists to protect Medicare, and the taxpayers who fund it, from schemes like these. At the same time, we commend Pfizer for stepping forward to resolve these issues in a responsible manner.

Todays settlement demonstrates the FBIs commitment to making sure patients receive, and the government pays for, health care that is not compromised by kickbacks, said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. What Pfizer is accused of doing in this casemasking charitable contributions to increase company profitsviolates the basic trust patients extend to the healthcare system and threatens the financial integrity of the Medicare program.

Pfizer has also entered into a corporate integrity agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The five-year CIA requires, among other things, that Pfizer implement measures designed to ensure that arrangements and interactions with third-party patient assistance programs are compliant with the law. In addition, the CIA requires reviews by an independent review organization, compliance-related certifications from company executives and Board members, and the implementation of a risk assessment and mitigation process.

Our corporate integrity agreement promotes independence between Pfizer and any patient assistance programs to which it may donate, said Gregory E. Demske, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and human Services. Without true independence, as we have seen in this case, drug companies may use patient assistance programs as conduits for improper payments that harm Medicare.

The governments resolution of this matter illustrates the governments emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The investigation was conducted by the Justice Departments Civil Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation: the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Imperial Valley News Center

Indiana Man Charged With Laundering Proceeds of $7 Million International Investment Scam Through Used Car Dealership

Washington, DC - An Indiana man was arrested Friday in Indianapolis in connection with allegations that he laundered the proceeds of an international advance-fee scheme through a used-car dealership he owned and operated. The scam allegedly involved false promises of investment funding by individuals impersonating U.S. bank officials to victims around the world, who were told they had to make certain payments before they could supposedly receive their funding. In some cases, the perpetrators allegedly met with the victims at local U.S. embassies or consulates and fabricated U.S. government documents to make the victims believe the U.S. government was sponsoring the investment agreements.

Proceeds of the scheme were allegedly laundered through U.S. bank accounts and diverted back to the schemes perpetrators in Nigeria.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBIs Houston Field Office and Inspector General Steve A. Linick of the U.S. Department of State made the announcement.

Tochukwu Nwosisi, 47, of Indianapolis, was charged in a superseding indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and one count of concealment money laundering. The superseding indictment includes charges against five other individuals who were previously charged in an indictment filed in February 2018 in connection with the same scheme. Nwosisi made his initial appearance yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis.

According to the superseding indictment, Nwosisi owned and operated a used car dealership in Indianapolis called Indyrides LLC. As part of his alleged involvement in the conspiracy, Nwosisi received international and domestic wire transfers from victims of the advance-fee scheme into his business bank accounts. The victims were under the impression that such payments were necessary to receive their investment funding. Nwosisi allegedly used the victims payments to, among other things, pay himself a portion of the funds and purchase vehicles that he then shipped to the schemes perpetrators in Nigeria. As banks closed his accounts for suspicious activity, Nwosisi continued to open new bank accounts to receive payments from victims.

The charges in the superseding indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Department of State Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney William E. Johnston of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady of the Southern District of Texas. Forfeiture is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Rollinson of the Southern District of Texas.
Imperial Valley News Center

How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids

Rochester, Minnesota - Signs of opioid abuse may be hard to see clearly, especially in someone you love.

Evidence of opioid abuse can be very difficult to determine, especially early on in the disease," says Dr. Holly Geyer, a Mayo Clinic addiction medicine specialist. "Some things that might be warning signs to friends and family members include change in behaviors, change in interest level of normal everyday activities, and perhaps starting to let go of some of the activities they used to engage in on a regular basis.

Even if you can't put your finger on anything specific, Dr. Geyer says it's worth taking stock of your concerns. Ask yourself some questions about your loved one's personal risk of addiction and the changes you may have noticed. If your answers point toward a possible addiction, reach out to your loved one's health care provider. He or she is a critical partner if you determine it's time to take action. If your instincts are right, speaking up could save the life of someone dear to you.

What are the chances my loved one could be addicted?

People who take potentially addictive drugs as prescribed rarely abuse them or become addicted. But not taking them as prescribed or for an extended period of time increases the risk of misuse and addiction. Studies suggest that up to one-third of people who take opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and more than 10 percent become addicted over time.

"Everyone is technically at risk, and when we select for the right populations to provide these medications, the risk is low  well under 10 percent," says Dr. Geyer. "If you have the right risk factors, meaning the right age, the right predisposition, the right personal or family history, the risk goes up. And, so, its imperative that health care provider work with the patient to make sure the dose is correct for the right time length and for the right diagnosis.

Common signs include a patients disinterest in normal everyday activities, changes in behavior. And frequently individuals will try to hide evidence of this early on in the course. "Inevitably, it will start to manifest in other ways," says Dr. Geyer. "Many times, family members find their loved ones unwilling to participate in things they used to do before. Sometimes, they find them hoarding drugs. Sometimes, they find them 'doctor shopping.' And if youre seeing signs and symptoms like that, notify your loved one's health care provider.

Your loved one is at increased risk of addiction if he or she obtains opioids without a prescription. And using opioids illegally increases the risk of drug-related death. Drugs that pass hands illegally, such as fentanyl, may be laced with life-threatening contaminants or much more powerful opioids. And people who use opioids illegally often turn to heroin, a cheap replacement with similar effects.

As this disease progresses, what we might see is more desperate behavior related to individuals seeking out medications from other sources and/or drugs off the street," says Dr. Geyer. "If you find evidence of them using other substances on top of previously prescribed medications, if you see evidence of individuals going to excessive measures to obtain new opioids and/or other drugs, and, ultimately, if youre seeing secondary effects from law enforcement getting engaged, all of these can be major warning signs and should be addressed.

Your loved one is at increased risk of opioid addiction if he or she:

Is a younger age, specifically teens or early 20s

Is living in stressful circumstances, including being unemployed or living below the poverty line

Has a personal or family history of substance abuse

Has a history of problems with work, family and friends

Has had legal problems in the past, including charges of driving under the influence

Is in regular contact with high-risk people or environments where there's drug use

Has struggled with severe depression or anxiety

Tends to engage in risk-taking or thrill-seeking behavior

Uses tobacco heavily

A number of additional factors  genetic, psychological and environmental  play a role in addiction, which can happen quickly or after many years of opioid use. Anyone who takes opioids is at risk of becoming addicted, regardless of age, social status or ethnic background.
Former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribe While Serving in Afghanistan

Sacramento, California - A former U.S. Air Force staff sergeant pleaded guilty today to seeking and receiving a bribe from an Afghan contractor while serving in Afghanistan. The sergeant worked at the Humanitarian Aid Yard (HA Yard) at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and was involved in the issuance of contracts to replenish supplies at the HA Yard under the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP). The sergeant is the eighth defendant to plead guilty in the investigation of this matter.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott of the Eastern District of California, Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the FBIs Washington Field Offices Criminal Division, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko, Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Commands (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU) and Colonel Kirk B. Stabler, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) made the announcement.

David A. Turcios, 41, currently of San Jose, California, was charged in an indictment filed in July 2017 in the Eastern District of California with two counts of seeking and receiving bribes. The indictment charges him with seeking and receiving $8,500 in bribes from two Afghan contractors who sought contracts for companies with which they were associated. Turcios pleaded guilty to count two of the indictment before U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez of the Eastern District of California, in Sacramento. Turcios is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Mendez on Aug. 28.

Turcios admitted at the time of the guilty plea that, from November 2010 until November 2011, he worked as a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant at the HA Yard. He was the yard supervisor responsible for replenishing supplies such as rice, beans and clothing at the HA Yard and overseeing the loading of trucks that took the supplies off the base. During Turcioss tenure, approximately nine contracts in which Turcios was involved were awarded to Afghan vendors with a value of over $2 million.

Turcios admitted that as part of his duties at the HA Yard, Turcios worked closely with, among others, an Afghan vendor (the Vendor) who sought to obtain contracts to replenish supplies in the HA Yard for companies with which he was associated. In September 2011, Turcios agreed to allow the Vendor to provide the names of the three companies to be selected on each of the replenishment contracts he oversaw, effectively allowing the Vendor to select the company awarded the respective contract. Because Turcios was nearing the end of his deployment in Afghanistan, he only had time to prepare approximately two contracts with the Vendor and, in October 2011, two contracts in which Turcios was involved were awarded to companies owned by individuals associated with the Vendor.

In late October or early November 2011, just prior to Turcioss re-deployment to the United States, the Vendor offered Turcios $3,500 in return for Turcioss actions on behalf of the Vendor as to HA Yard replenishment contracts, Turcios admitted. Turcios thereafter sent several emails urging U.S. Army officials to approve payments to the Vendor in connection with the Vendors HA Yard contracts and obtained from the U.S. Army a voucher authorizing payment to the Vendor. In February 2013, the Vendor wire transferred to Turcios wifes bank account $500 of the $3,500 promised.

This matter was investigated by the FBI, SIGAR, DCIS, Army CID-MPFU and Air Force OSI. Trial Attorney Daniel Butler of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section is prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Yelovich of the Eastern District of California.
Honduran Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Life in Prison

Washington, DC - Honduran national Sergio Neftali Mejia-Duarte was sentenced Monday to life in prison for his involvement in a large-scale international narcotics transportation organization.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Adolphus P. Wright of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.

On Jan. 9, a Miami jury found Mejia-Duarte, 41, guilty of conspiring to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine with the knowledge that the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States. The evidence at trial, which included the testimony of multiple co-conspirators and pictures from a seizure of over 2,000 kilograms of cocaine, showed that defendant Mejia-Duarte led a large-scale international narcotics transportation organization based in Honduras and Guatemala that was part of a distribution chain spanning from Colombia to Mexico and the United States. In that role, Mejia-Duarte and his workers secretly received multi-hundred kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Panama, temporarily stored the narcotics in Honduras or Guatemala, and then transported the narcotics onward, typically northward, including into Mexico.

Mejia-Duarte used go-fast boats, helicopters, and airplanes to operate his shipping route and, as witnesses detailed at trial, much of the cocaine was supplied to the Sinaloa Cartel led by Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as Chapo, and Ismael Zambada, also known as Mayo. Based on the witnesses trial testimony and documents submitted in the case, Mejia-Duarte is responsible for trafficking at least an estimated 20,000 kilograms of cocaine. In operating his criminal network, the witnesses described how Mejia-Duarte carried guns, employed bodyguards and assassins, and engaged in a bloody war with a rival trafficker. During Mejia-Duartes arrest, Honduran law enforcement officers found a Glock pistol and an automatic rifle in the closet of the bedroom where he was residing.

Until his arrest, Sergio Neftali Mejia-Duarte was a violent and prolific drug trafficker whose criminal organization supplied cocaine to the Sinaloa Cartel, knowing full well that the poison would make its way to our streets, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. Todays sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of the Department of Justice to prosecute those who fuel our drug crisis by sending illegal narcotics across our borders. I especially thank our law enforcement partners in Honduras and Colombia for their assistance in bringing Mejia-Duarte to justice.

The life sentence imposed upon Mejia-Duarte ends the reign of a ruthless drug trafficker, said U.S. Attorney Greenberg. Backed by the united front of our international allies, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida will continue to strip the drug traffickers of their power and dismantle the trafficking organizations that cross our borders and infect our communities with illicit narcotics.

The DEA Miami Field Division is very pleased with the deserving sentence given to Mejia-Duarte today, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Wright. This adjudication is evidence of the strong partnership with our international law enforcement partners who also sacrifice much to strike down and bring to justice all those who willingly engage in dangerous and criminal acts against the United States which threatens the welfare of its citizens.

The prosecution was part of Operation Hollow Point, which is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Assistant Deputy Chief Michael Lang of the Criminal Divisions Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Walter M. Norkin and Joseph Schuster of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

The governments of Honduras and Colombia, the Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs and DEA Division Offices in Honduras and Colombia assisted in obtaining the conviction against Mejia-Duarte.
California Man Claiming to be a Billionaire Financier Convicted in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme

Denver, Colorado - Following a two-week trial, a federal jury in Denver, Colorado, has convicted a California man of multiple charges for his role in an investment scheme in which he falsely told investors that he was a billionaire who could access certain financing, including hundreds of millions in cash in an overseas bank account, in exchange for up-front fees.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, Inspector in Charge Craig Goldberg of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services Denver Division and Acting Inspector in Charge Bill Hedrick of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services Chicago Division, made the announcement.



Kenneth Brewington, 55, of Corona, California, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of laundering monetary instruments, and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.



Kenneth Brewington and his coconspirators deceived investors by falsely claiming to have hundreds of millions of dollars in cash in an overseas bank account as part of a criminal scheme to steal the investors hard earned money, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. The Department of Justice is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute people who are involved in fraudulent investment schemes, and to pursuing justice for the victims of those crimes.



Fraudsters believe they can maintain this lifestyle on the backs of unsuspecting victims, but this arrest should be a warning to all that law enforcement will not stand for these schemes, said Acting Inspector in Charge Nicole Davis of U.S. Postal Inspection Services Criminal Investigations Group. Postal Inspectors have made it our mission to protect our customers from exploitation and fraud and we will continue to actively investigate these schemes and pursue convictions of these fraudsters.



According to evidence presented by the government at trial, beginning in approximately 2009, the defendant told victims that he required millions of dollars in supposed fees in order to access his extraordinary wealth abroad, which in turn could be used for financing. During the scheme, the defendant and his coconspirators sold promissory notes to victims, including through a financial-services marketing company based in Denver called Compass Financial Solutions (CFS). The defendant and his coconspirators falsely represented to their victims that their money would be used to pay for, among other things, bank transaction fees and tax penalties to the IRS. To conceal the nature of their scheme, the defendant and his coconspirators told victims to wire their funds into an attorney-trust account. The funds from that account, however, were then sent to the defendant and his coconspirators and spent on, among other things, repayments to other investors and personal expenses. The evidence presented at trial showed that the defendant was not, in fact, wealthy and instead struggling to pay his personal debts. The defendants victims lost over $3 million to his fraud scheme.



The defendants sentencing is set for Aug. 17, before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer, who presided over the trial of the case.



The former corporate counsel for CFS, William E. Dawn, 80, of Denver, Colorado, and the former CEO of CFS, Brian G. Elrod, 61, of Lakewood, Colorado, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for June 19 and June 20, respectively.



The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado and the Securities and Exchange Commission also provided substantial assistance in this matter. Trial Attorneys Anna G. Kaminska, Kyle C. Hankey, and Jennifer G. Ballantyne and Assistant Chief Henry P. Van Dyck of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Former Armenian Ambassador and a Russian National Charged in Foreign Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

Washington, DC - Two employees of an international engineering consulting firm were charged in a superseding indictment filed Thursday for their alleged participation in a scheme to launder bribe payments to foreign government officials for the benefit of a Columbus, Ohio-based subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc, to secure a contract to supply equipment and services to power a gas pipeline from Kazakhstan to China.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman of the Southern District of Ohio, Acting Inspector in Charge Nicole Davis of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services Criminal Investigations Group, Assistant Director Christopher Hacker of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the FBIs Washington Field Office Criminal Division made the announcement.

Azat Martirossian, 62, a citizen of Armenia, and Vitaly Leshkov, 50, a citizen of Russia, were charged by a superseding indictment filed in the Southern District of Ohio with one count of conspiracy to launder money and 10 counts of money laundering. Petros Contoguris, 70, a citizen of Greece, was also charged on these counts, as well as one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and seven counts of violating the FCPA. Contoguris previously had been charged on all of these counts in an indictment that was filed on Oct. 12, 2017 and unsealed on Nov. 7, 2017. Martirossian, Leshkov, and Contoguris are believed to be residing outside the United States.

The charges announced today against Azat Martirossian and Vitaly Leshkov further demonstrate the Criminal Divisions unwavering resolve to prosecute those who facilitate corruption and launder illicit proceeds, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. Thanks to the coordinated efforts by our prosecutors and agentsworking closely with their counterparts throughout the worldthese defendants will face prosecution for their allegedly corrupt schemes.

The charges filed today reflect the continued determination of the United States to prosecute those who engage in foreign corrupt business practices, said U.S. Attorney Glassman. International actors should think twice before executing bribery schemes because the United States can and will discover and prosecute such schemes and their perpetrators.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long history of successfully investigating complex fraud and corruption cases, said Acting Inspector in Charge Davis. Corruption and bribery schemes such as this involving international corporations and conspirators are not victimless crimes. This type of conduct can damage competitive domestic and international markets, and cause immeasurable economic losses both here in the United States and around the world. Anyone who engages in deceptive practices like this should know they will not go undetected and will be held accountable, regardless of where they are. The collaborative investigative work on this case conducted by Postal Inspectors and our domestic and international law enforcement partners illustrates our efforts to protect the United States and the international marketplace.

The allegations outlined today exemplify how a small group of individuals, who knowingly engage in illegal payments in an attempt to advance businesses dealings, create an uneven global marketplace, said Acting Assistant Director Hacker. The FBI with our partners continues to work these important cases in order to remove the notion that bribery, through backroom deals, is an acceptable way of doing business. This investigation demonstrates the importance of international cooperation amongst law enforcement in combatting fraud and money laundering on a global basis.

Todays charges serve as a reminder of the important role the FBI plays in rooting out international corruption, said FBI Special Agent in Charge DeSarno. No one is above the law, so let todays announcement be a warning to those who may try to perpetrate a similar scheme that the FBI will work with global partners in its mission to detect and prevent corrupt business practices, and we will continue to hold those who attempt to take advantage of international markets accountable.

According to the superseding indictment, Contoguris, the founder and chief executive officer of Gravitas & CIE. International Ltd. (Gravitas), former Rolls-Royce employees and executives, and others, allegedly conspired to pay bribes to foreign officials in exchange for directing business to Rolls-Royce Energy Systems Inc. (RRESI). RRESI was a U.S.-based subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc, the United Kingdom-based global manufacturer and distributor of power systems for the aerospace, defense, marine and energy sectors.

The superseding indictment alleges that Contoguris, working with employees of an international engineering consulting firm (Technical Advisor), including Martirossian and Leshkov, devised and executed a scheme with Rolls-Royce executives and employees, whereby Rolls-Royce would pay kickbacks to the Technical Advisor employees and bribes to at least one foreign official in Kazakhstan, and disguise these payments as commissions to Contoguriss company, Gravitas, in exchange for helping Rolls-Royce win contracts with Asia Gas Pipeline LLP (AGP).

According to the superseding indictment, AGP was created to build and connect a gas pipeline between Central Asia and China, and the Technical Advisor purported to provide independent engineering consulting advice and other services to AGP. The superseding indictment further alleges that after AGP awarded Rolls-Royce a contract in November 2009, worth approximately $145 million, Rolls-Royce made commission payments to Gravitas, and Contoguris then passed a portion of those commission payments onto the Technical Advisor employees, including Leshkov and Martirossian, knowing that a portion of that money would be shared with a foreign official consistent with their corrupt agreement.

The charges announced today follow the Jan. 17, 2017 announcement of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with Rolls-Royce plc and a more than $800 million total penalty as part of a global resolution to investigations by the Department of Justice, U.K., and Brazilian authorities related to the corrupt conduct. The charges also follow upon the Nov. 7, 2017 announcement, concerning Rolls-Royce former executives and employees James Finley, Keith Barnett and Louis Zuurhout, and Technical Advisor employee Andreas Kohler, each of whom have entered guilty pleas in connection with their respective roles in the bribery scheme. The DPA acknowledged Rolls-Royces cooperation in this case, including with the Departments investigation into individuals, and significant remedial measures.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBIs International Corruption Squad in Washington, D.C., investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Kevin R. Gingras and Vanessa Snyder of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Michael Marous and Jessica Kim of the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

The Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. The United Kingdoms Serious Fraud Office provided assistance in this matter, as did law enforcement colleagues in Brazil, which both coordinated with the Department to reach simultaneous resolutions with Rolls-Royce. The Department also thanks its law enforcement colleagues in Austria, the Bahamas, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey.

The Criminal Divisions Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters.
The biggest surprise of the Golden Man Booker shortlist, which was announced on Saturday evening at the Hay Festival and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the prestigious literary award, has to be the fact that Penelope Livelys Moon Tiger beat Salman Rushdies Midnights Children to win the nomination for the 1980s.

The five shortlisted books each represent one decade of Britains most famous literary prize. Their critical acclaim unquestioned; the emphasis this time round was on which of the winning books had best stood the test of time, remaining relevant to readers today.

Chosen by a panel of judges  one responsible for each decade, the 1970s through to today  its the public who now decide which title wins the overall accolade. Voting is open for the next month on the Man Booker website  until midnight on 25 June  and the winner will be announced at the Man Booker 50 Festival at Londons Southbank Centre on 8 July.

Some of the nominated works, but which has best stood the test of time?

As well as its initial win in 1981, Midnights Children also won the Best of the Booker, which was awarded 10 years ago to celebrate the prizes 40th anniversary. As such, few would have put money on 1987 winner Moon Tiger, Livelys haunting story of her dying protagonists memories of Egypt during the war, coming out on top. Especially since she was also up against such heavy hitters as Kingsley Amis, Anita Brookner, Peter Carey, William Golding, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Thomas Keneally.

But poet Lemn Sissay, the judge for the 1980s, was captivated by what he described as Livelys sublime writing and exquisite details.

Novelist Kamila Shamsie had a similarly hard decision in front of her when it came to the 1990s, a decade that produced just as formidable a list of winners as the previous. From Pat Barkers concluding volume in her Regeneration trilogy, The Ghost Road, through Arundhati Roys astonishing debut The God of Small Things, the ever-popular Ian McEwans Amsterdam, and JM Coetzees tour de force, Disgrace.

Judge Lemn Sissay chose Penelope Livelys Moon Tiger for its sublime writing (Man Booker Prize)

The book that stood out from the crowd, however, was Michael Ondaatjes The English Patient, the winner from 1992; a no brainer as far as Shamsie was concerned, describing it as a miracle of a novel.

Writer and editor Robert McCrum, the judge for the 1970s, had a seemingly less arduous task ahead of him. The further back we reach, the less memorable the winning books are, not least because the prize simply didnt have the kind of profile it has today until it began being televised in the early 1980s. Describing it as a masterclass in contemporary fiction by somebody whos at the top of his game, McCrum picked the 1971 winner In a Free State, VS Naipauls story of a Heart of Darkness-like road trip through an unnamed African country.

The least surprising of the Golden Five, as Man Booker is calling the shortlist, has to be Hilary Mantels Wolf Hall, which was picked by broadcaster and novelist Simon Mayo. Given Mantels won the prize twice  for Wolf Hall in 2009, and shortly thereafter for its follow-up Bring Up the Bodies in 2012  it seems only fair shes acknowledged here. That said, neither JM Coetzee nor Peter Carey, the only other authors to have won the prize twice, made the final cut.

The question on everyones lips is whether Mantel will score a hat trick with the much-anticipated final volume in her Tudor-set trilogy, thus becoming the only writer to win the prize three times.

Judge Hollie McNish said George Saunders Lincoln in the Bardo invented a new literary level (Man Booker Prize)

All the same, Hollie McNish, the judge for the current decade, overlooked Bring Up the Bodies in favour of the current trophy holder, George Saunders Lincoln in the Bardo, which is set in a cemetery over the course of a single night, during which Abraham Lincoln keeps watch over his recently deceased sons grave. The first novel by the lauded American short story writer, some considered it stretched the remit of the prize since its more verse than prose.

This, however, is exactly what attracted poet McNish, who was impressed that Saunders had, as she put it, invented a new kind of literary level with novels.

Saunders win was preceded by another US success, Paul Beattys The Sellout in 2016.

In 2014 the prize expanded to recognise authors from anywhere in the world writing in English and published in the UK, which ostensibly meant American entires, something that some critics argue has been at the cost of rewarding homegrown talent.

But in the course of the half a century since the prize was first awarded, back in 1969, its weathered various storms. The 1972 winner John Berger memorably used his acceptance speech to attack the prizes sponsor Booker McConnells dirty trading history in the Caribbean, saying he was going to donate half his winnings to the London arm of the Black Panthers.

Elizabeth Jane Howard, a judge in 1974, apparently lobbied hard for her then husband Kingsley Amiss Ending Up to make that years shortlist  and succeeded. Meanwhile, in 2001, AL Kennedy, who had been a judge in 1996, famously declared the entire thing a pile of crooked nonsense, claiming that winning was based on who knows who, whos sleeping with who, whos selling drugs to who, whos married to who, whose turn it is.

So we might consider todays resistance to the Americans as only the latest in a series of controversies.

Michael Ondaatje won the Booker for The English Patient in 1992  a miracle of a novel, says one judge

The creation of this Golden Man Booker suggests an institution that wants to celebrate its past while also trying to reaffirm the importance of its position in our increasingly global modern world. Its certainly an interesting Golden Five, one that suggests good writing has won out over the obvious allure of some of the more famous names. Now its up to the rest of us.

A public vote makes sense  both in terms of apparent fairness, and as a publicity stunt  but it does mean popularity becomes paramount. If I had to place a bet, Id say Mantel or, at a push, Ondaatje will come out on top. Not because theyre necessarily the best of the bunch, but because theyre the best known.

Im more than prepared to be proved wrong though  especially since Ive already cast my own vote for Moon Tiger.

Voting is open on the Man Booker website until midnight on 25 June. The winner will be announced at the Southbank Centre in London on 8 July
House passes policies and programmes

The House of Representatives on Sunday endorsed the governments policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2017-18 unanimously.
A manhunt has been launched for a driver who ploughed a car into a group of people outside a club in Stockport, leaving one man dead.

Greater Manchester Police said a murder investigation has been launched following the incident at the Salisbury Club in Brinnington.

Witnesses said a car had collided with a number of people but by the time officers arrived at around 10.45pm on Sunday night, the vehicle had been driven away from the scene.

A man, believed to be in his 30s, was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

The black Audi A4 was later found abandoned on the M60 motorway and seized by investigators.

Investigators were still confirming the total number of people injured in the incident and their condition. The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.

My thoughts go out to the mans family who sadly have to deal with the tragic news that their loved one has died," said Detective Inspector Kris Williams. Weve already spoken to a number of witnesses in the area and will continue to do so to build a fuller picture of what has exactly happened but from what we know so far, we believe the driver of the car scaled the fence next to the M60 and ran away.

Whatever information people have, Id encourage them to contact us as a matter of urgency.

The Salisbury Club was cordoned off as forensic investigations continued, while tributes were being left outside.

Sorry, I tried my hardest, read a card left with a bunch of flowers.

The incident was one of several alleged murders in the UK over the bank holiday weekend.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA 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

A man has been arrested after the bodies of a woman and an 11-year-old girl were found at a house in Gloucester.

A 29-year-old woman was found dead in Crawley after failing to arrive at her own birthday celebrations. Zahid Naseem, 47, of Amersham, appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Monday accused of murdering Christina Abbotts.

Earlier on Friday, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Northampton.

Police in London are appealing for information on three separate stabbings over recent days. A man in his 40s was stabbed in Carshalton and is in hospital.

A 35-year-old man was attacked with a knife following a disturbance near a KFC in the north western borough of Hillingdon, while earlier that day a man in his 30s was stabbed in Islington.

Anyone with information on the Stockport incident is asked to call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 9790, quoting reference number 2575 of 27 May, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A 100-year-old woman was left with a broken neck after being robbed of her handbag in the street.

The centenarian was approached from behind and knocked over at 8.30am on Monday morning in Normanton, Derby.

Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening but she was unable to give police a description of her attackers.

The stolen handbag, which is made of fake green leather and has gold clasps, was found discarded a few hundred metres away.

Derbyshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident close to the junction of St Chad's Road and Empress Road.

The robbery took place in Empress Road, Derby (Derbyshire Police/Google)

Detective Sergeant Laura Kershaw said: The victim has been unable to give us a description of the person or persons responsible for this robbery  that is why we need your help to find who did this.

This is a particularly nasty incident that has targeted a very vulnerable elderly woman who was unable to defend herself.

Police issued a picture of the ripped handbag, which was found at the junction of Moore Street and Normanton Road

We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anyone with a bag matching the one pictured in any suspicious circumstances," said DS Kershaw.

If you were in or around the junction of Empress Road and St Chads Road at around 8.30am  and to anyone who may have been in the area of Moore Street and Normanton Road between 8.30am and 9.15am."

In particular if you have CCTV or dash cam footage that may have picked up footage of the offence or of the offenders carrying the bag in the nearby area

"We need your help to find and stop those responsible."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA 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

The victim is still in hospital receiving treatment for a broken neck and bruising to her face.
Members of the armed forces must be given a pay rise to protect recruitment, the defence minister has said.

Tobias Ellwood said an increase for the UKs 137,000 full-time service personnel, costing an estimated 200m a year, could be funded by raising defence spending above 2.5 per cent of GDP.

The figure currently stands at 2.14 per cent and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is already facing a shortage of up to 21bn for its equipment budget alone over the next decade.

Nobody joins the armed forces for the money as such, but we must avoid pay being an issue as to why they would be deterred from it, Mr Ellwood, a former army captain, told The Times.

There needs to be a pay rise. We have still got to conclude the defence modernisation programme, but you would need to move north of 2.5 per cent to make any of this work, if you want to retain the same defence posture given the dangers, the complexities of the world that we face.

A study commissioned by Downing Street last year warned that all three branches of the military were running to a standstill as they struggle to recruit enough personnel to replace those leaving.

The governments decision to outsource army recruitment to contracting giant Capita has drawn fire, with a wider crisis blamed on a flawed austerity drive launched in 2012.

The armed forces pay review body has already submitted its 2018 recommendations to the government, which are said to include a 3 per cent pay increase.

A MoD spokesperson said the independent bodys findings were still being considered and an announcement would be made in due course.

Military pay rises have been frozen or capped at 1 per cent a year since 2010 and while the government lifted the public sector pay cap in September, an announcement on the armed forces was delayed.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA 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

Mr Ellwood has previously suggested the armed forces should receive funding on a par with the NHS, although the latest official statistics show the UK spent 9.8 per cent of GDP on healthcare in 2016.

Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, has warned that Britain must continue to invest in its conventional armed forces if it is to deter aggressors such as a resurgent Russia.

Its sometimes difficult to explain to people that actually investing in our armed forces is all about making sure that things do not happen, he said at a speech in London.

If we do not have that conventional deterrence, and the ability to deter from conventional forces, then what well find ourselves in is a place that none of us wish to be in, and having to turn to the greatest deterrence of them all.

The MoD is one of numerous departments competing for more money from the Treasury, with Philip Hammond expected to present his next budget in November at the earliest.

Sajid Javid, the new home secretary, has also vowed to make his case for increased police funding in the upcoming government spending review as forces struggle with falling officer numbers and shortages of detectives while battling rising crime and the terror threat.

MPs have recently accused the MoD of a lack of rigour in its financial affairs over an ongoing modernisation programme and wider strategy.

The Public Accounts Committee said it was highly sceptical that the modernising defence programme would solve affordability issues and secure Britains capabilities against cyber, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks.

The committee accused the MoD of relying on ever increasing and optimistic savings targets and controversial efficiency programmes, with the department so far saving 7.9bn out of a 16bn target to be reached over the next nine years.

The MoD has also been lambasted for costing the taxpayer billions of pounds by selling off tens of thousands of military families homes to a private company and then leasing them back.
The family of a woman found bludgeoned to death in bed have said the "light in our life" is now "extinguished".

Christina Abbotts, 29, was found by police at the flat where she was living in Crawley after friends raised the alarm when she failed to turn up to her own birthday party on Friday.

Zahid Naseem, 47, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on Monday morning charged with her murder.

The scene in Highams Hill, Gossops Green, Crawley, West Sussex on Saturday after a woman in her 20s was found dead in a bed in a flat (PA)

In a tribute released by Sussex Police, Ms Abbotts family described her as "sweet" and "loving".

They said: "Christina, our sweet loving daughter and best friend, educated at Cirencester and Oxford, will be sorely missed.

This independent lady, a much-travelled person, was taken from us far too early. Her friends in London and parts of the UK will also be grieving.

"The light in our life is now extinguished."

Neighbours in the Gossops Green area of the town told how police arrived in numbers shortly after 10.30pm on Friday.

Naseem  who knew Ms Abbotts  was arrested at the flat suffering minor injuries.

Appearing before magistrates, he spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. He wore a grey tracksuit, reports PA.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA 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

Maria Slater, prosecuting, asked for the case to be sent straight to a crown court because the nature of the allegation was so serious.

Naseem, of Elm Close, Amersham, nodded as he was told he would be remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater said: "We are supporting Christina's family and they have asked for privacy at this time.
The mother of a teenage girl who died after "taking two pills" at a music festival, has warned people against "taking anything ever".

Georgia Jones, 18, died after being taken to hospital from the Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth. Another man, Tommy Cowan, 20, known locally as Tommy Bakeer, also died in hospital.

They were among 15 revellers who were rushed to hospital, with the organisers warning of a "high strength or bad batch" of drugs. The second day of the festival, which Craig David and Sean Paul were due to headline, was cancelled as a "safety precaution."

Writing on Facebook, Ms Jones's mother, Janine Milburn, pleaded with people not to take drugs.

"Georgia died yesterday due to complications after taking two pills at Mutiny," she wrote. "If nothing else I hope what has happened to her will deter you from taking anything ever. The pills had caused her temperature to rise so high it made her fit for 45 minutes."

Her daughter, she said, was "full of life", adding: "I just hope this stops at least some of you from ending up the same."

Mr Cowan meanwhile, was described as a caring young father.

Organisers said they were 'devastated' by the deaths (Mutiny Festivals) (Mutiny Festival)

"He was funny. He loved life and he loved his little boy," his father, Damian Cowan, 43, told Portsmouth's local newspaper, The News. "He was everything. He was a good lad - unfortunately he made a bad choice."

Mr Cowan was a "brilliant" friend, according to 19-year-old Jack Ford, who said they met at college studying uniformed services.

"He is such a caring guy who would do anything for any one. He loved going out with his mates but most importantly loved spending time with his girlfriend and son," said Mr Ford. "It was a big shock to lose such a great guy like him."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA 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

A further 12 pepole were taken to the hospital, but their cases were "not necessarily all drugs-related," a spokeswoman for Queen Alexandra Hospital said.

Three more attended on Sunday morning to be treated for injuries sustained in assaults or because of alcohol-related intoxication, the spokeswoman added.

Police said the deaths were separate incidents and were not suspicious.
Jeremy Hunt has launched an independent review of the NHSs gender pay gap after it emerged male doctors are paid an average 10,000 more than female colleagues.

The health secretary wants to tackle discrepancies in the health system that see male doctors receive an average of 15 per cent more than female doctors, with basic pay of 67,788 and 57,569 respectively.

At 23 per cent, the overall pay gap for all NHS staff is still greater, despite the health service employing considerably more women than men.

Recommended Labour demands government apology for controversial NHS restructuring

The independent review will be led by Professor Jane Dacre, an honorary consultant rheumatologist and president of the Royal College of Physicians.

Mr Hunt said: The NHS holds a unique position in both British and global society as a shining beacon of equality among all, and so it is unacceptable that 70 years from its creation its own staff still face gender inequality.

Even today, there remains a 15 per cent gap between the pay of our male and female doctors. This has no place in a modern employer or the NHS and Im determined to eliminate this gap.

Im delighted Jane Dacre  one of the most highly respected female medics in the NHS  has agreed to lead this important review and is perfectly placed to examine the barriers that stop our talented female doctors climbing to the top rung in the NHS career ladder.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the discrepancy was a result of male doctors constituting a much higher proportion of all male staff than female doctors do of total female staff.

The top medical jobs in the NHS are dominated by men, with 31,290 men holding the title of consultant, compared with 17,317 women.

More than six times as many male consultants as female consultants currently receive the top platinum bonus, worth 77,000 a year.

NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Show all 25 1 /25 NHS in Crisis march: in pictures NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protesters call on the government to reverse cuts to the NHS. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators dressed as an undertaker and carrying a fake coffin. Getty Images NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators gather on Gover Street in central London ahead of a march towards Downing Street to protest against underfunding and privatisation of the NHS and demand an end to the winter crisis in the health service. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Health workers and NHS campaigners march through London to a rally outside Downing Street. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Thousands of protesters marched during the demonstration organised by 'The People's Assembly Against Austerity' campaign group that called for better funding for the National Health Service (NHS) to end the 'winter crisis' in the national health care system. EPA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A Boris Johnson impersonator lies in a makeshift hospital bed next to an effigy of Theresa May during a People's Assembly demonstration against the Conservative government's health policy. Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A demonstrator in a mobility scooter carries a placard. Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators take part in a emergency NHS 'Fix It Now' protest demanding an end to the funding crisis in the Health Service. Rex NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators take part in pro-NHS march and protest towards Downing Street in Central London. EPA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A protestor carries a placard featuring Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures The demonstration is focused on the current crisis in the National Health Service. Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators hold placards and set off flares . Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A demonstrator carries a cardboard skeleton wearing an ambulance uniform . Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators hold placards during a People's Assembly demonstration against the Conservative government's health policy Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures The Government will be urged to provide more beds, staff and funds to ease the problems facing the service. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protestors gather calling for an end to the "crisis" in the NHS. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth M joins people taking part in the march. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures A placard reading 'Nurses with fight for the NHS'. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protestors carry placards and shout slogans. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People march through central London. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People take part in a march in London in support of the National Health Service. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People hold up a sign in support of the National Health Service to demand an end to the "crisis" in the NHS. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Protestors carry placards featuring Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt. AFP/Getty NHS in Crisis march: in pictures People take part in a march in London in support of the National Health Service. PA NHS in Crisis march: in pictures Demonstrators carry placards . Getty

The review, which is due to conclude by the end of the year, will look at some of the barriers that stop women reaching higher pay levels, including the impact of taking time out to have and look after children. It will consider how practices, such as flexible working and shared parental leave, could be used to help level the playing field.

Professor Dacre said: I am delighted to have been asked to lead on this important review into the gender pay gap of 15 per cent in the medical workforce.

Previous reports and initiatives have identified many of the root causes, so there is no shortage of evidence about this unacceptable situation.

She added: I am grateful for the governments commitment to act on the recommendations of the review, not just for women doctors now, but for our future workforce.

Over 50 per cent of medical school entrants are women, and we owe it to them and their future commitment to the NHS to ensure they are treated fairly.

The NHS records gender pay details using mean averages, whereas many organisations use median averages.
Arlington National Cemetery, Americas most celebrated and hallowed military resting place is rapidly running out of space, forcing a controversial rethink on which veterans should be eligible to be buried there.

The Virginia cemetery, founded at the time of the US Civil War, currently contains the remains of 420,000 former servicemen and women, among them assassinated US president John F Kennedy. It is also the location of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the focus of official remembrance events such as those of Memorial Day.

Rules concerning who is eligible to be buried there are reasonably relaxed. The cemetery says while eligibility regulations for burial at Arlington are the most stringent of all US national cemeteries, most veterans who have at least one day of active service and an honourable discharge, are at least eligible for the internment of their ashes.

Recommended Female WWII pilot finally laid to rest in Arlington after ban lifted

Yet officials say at the current rate  there are currently between 27-30 funeral services each week day  the cemetery will run out of space in approximately 23 years. The army has been asked by congress to consider what can be done to extend the site as an active cemetery beyond 2041.

Officials have started a public discussion, asking for opinions and suggestions on how best to extend the cemeterys use.

It is an intensely sensitive topic. While officials have sought to try to buy more space to extend the cemeterys 624 acres, another proposal would be to tighten the rules regarding who can be buried there.

The New York Times reported the strictest proposal being considered by the army would allow burials only for service members killed in action or awarded the militarys highest decoration for heroism, the Medal of Honour. It said under those restrictions, Arlington might conduct fewer burials in a year than it does right now in a single week.

Last year, it was reported a deal had been done between the military and officials in Arlington County that would allow the cemetery to expand onto adjoining land and create room for an additional 50,000 spaces. That would extend the life of the cemetery by 10 to 15 years beyond 2050. Yet officials realise this in only a medium term solution.

The army said it is determined the public, and veterans and their families, have a say on the cemeterys future. Your opinion matters  not only to us, but to our military and civilian leaders as they face a difficult future for our hallowed national shrine, Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries, said last month.

 Donald Trump addresses the nation following military strikes in Syria

Katharine Kelley, Arlington National Cemetery superintendent, said: We continue our promise to publicly discuss this challenge in order to make the correct decision, but we cannot expand our way out of this problem.

Officials point out that Arlington is not the only place for military burials. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 135 national cemeteries across the country, but Arlington is by far the most popular. Even as President Donald Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Monday, officials also recognise that if burials came to an end, the site would probably serve more as a museum than an active cemetery.

The idea of limiting eligibility is controversial. John Towles, a legislative deputy director for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), who represents 1.7 million veterans, has testified before congress that it would be wrong to go back on a promise made to all veterans that they could be buried at Arlington.

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

He believes burials should continue at Arlington at the current rate, and then a new cemetery established that would eventually become just as significant. His organisation has already identified other potential sites.

In testimony in March before a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, he said the only eligibility restriction proposal the VFW supported was to require a veteran buried there to have completed two years of active-duty service. That did not include those veterans killed in action.

He said: The VFW has an obligation to advocate for and preserve the integrity of the option best suited to do the most good for the most number of veterans. Restricting eligibility to a very small category of veterans is not feasible if the true goal is to provide those who deserve to be laid to rest in Americas most hallowed grounds the ability to do so.

Arlington National Cemetery and the Department of Defence have been contacted for comment.
Race and class were factors in the authorities slow and allegedly dishonest response to Flints water crisis, the Michigan citys mayor has claimed.

Karen Weaver, who was elected mayor in November 2015, 18 months after the fateful decision had been made to switch the source of Flints water supply, said had the city not been either predominately African American and poor, the crisis may not have happened, or else the response would have been different.

I sure do. And I was not the only person who thought this, Ms Weaver told The Independent in an interview in her office.

One of the things we cant forget is, the facts are the facts. This is a majority minority city. Not only did race play a factor, but class played a role, because of our high unemployment rate.

Thousands of people suffered lead poisoning as a result of the decision to switch the source of the citys water, a move that was taken while Flint was under state supervision. Officials then allegedly sought to hide that the water was too dangerous for people to drink.

At least 12 people died after more than 80 people were infected with Legionnaires disease, which was also linked to the contaminated water. A total of 15 current and former local and state officials have been charged with crimes ranging from willful neglect of duty to manslaughter.

Ms Weaver said her views were supported by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which in February published the results of year-long investigation into the implications of the crisis from a human rights perspective.

 Flint water crisis: How ordinary people are still fighting to secure clean drinking water

The group concluded that a mix of historical, structural and systemic racism combined with implicit bias led to decisions, actions and consequences in Flint that would not have been allowed to happen in primarily white communities such as Ann Arbor or East Grand Rapids.

We strongly believe that the actions that led to the poisoning of Flints water and the slow response resulted in the abridgement of civil rights for the people of Flint, said Arthur Horwitz, co-chair of the commission during the time of the investigation.

We are not suggesting that those making decisions related to this crisis were racists, or meant to treat Flint any differently because it is a community of colour. Rather, the response is the result of implicit bias and the history of systemic racism that was built into the foundation of Flint.

The most recent census found the city of Flint, which has a population of around 100,000, is 57 per cent black, 37 per cent white, 4 per cent Latino and 4 per cent mixed-race. At least 41 per cent of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In pictures: Flint water crisis Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Flint water crisis In pictures: Flint water crisis Anthony Fordham picks up bottled water from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to deliver to a school after elevated lead levels were found in the city's water in Flint Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Michigan National Guard Staff Sergeant William Phillips (L) assists a Flint resident with bottled water at a fire station in Flint Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Flint residents Arthur Woodson, left, and Tony Palladino Jr. protest the arrival of Flint native and filmmaker Michael Moore as Moore accuses Gov.Rick Snyder of poisoning Flint water during a rally outside of city hall in Flint AP In pictures: Flint water crisis Flint residents pick up bottled water and water filters at a fire station in Flint. Michigan National Guard members were set to arrive in Flint to join door-to-door efforts to distribute bottled water and other supplies to residents coping with the city's crisis over lead-contaminated drinking water Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard Flint prepare to give Flint residents bottled water at a fire station in Flint Getty Images In pictures: Flint water crisis Justin Roberson (L), age 6, of Flint, Michigan and Mychal Adams, age 1, of Flint wait on a stack of bottled water at a rally where the Rev. Jesse Jackson was speaking about about the water crises at the Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint Getty Images In pictures: Flint water crisis A man sits next to a stack of bottled water at the Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint 2016 Getty Images In pictures: Flint water crisis The top of a water tower is seen at the Flint Water Plant. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Michigan and ordered federal aid to be used to help state and local response efforts to an area affected by contaminated water Reuters In pictures: Flint water crisis Rosie Wright, center, rallies with the crowd over Flint's water crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan AP In pictures: Flint water crisis Rick Catherman participates in a rally around Flint's water crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan AP

Many in the city, which has lost around 2,000 residents since the water crisis struck four years ago, believe race was a factor in the way the authorities responded.

Tom Norman, a workman who was filling his pickup truck at a petrol station in the North End, likened the official response to the widely criticised way George W Bushs administration failed to deal properly with Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans and the Gulf coast in 2005, killing more than 1,800 people.

If it had been Bloomfield Hills [a small town 50 miles to the southeast that is 87 per cent white], it would not have taken this much time, or any other white city, he said. You would have had all the help needed.

But not everybody feels that way. Indeed, several people said the lead poisoning discriminated against everyone.

Robert Person, who was recently collecting free bottled water at the citys First Baptist Church  water that had been made available by donations from across the country  said he did not believe race was a factor. In the view of him and his friends in his vehicle, it was simply the result of the decision to switch the source of Flints water.

The vast majority of people in Flint say they will never again drink tap water (Andrew Buncombe)

I think its just people in general, said Mr Person. It doesnt have anything to do with black or white.

Ms Weaver, who is African American, said the Michigan Civil Rights Commissions report had concluded that systematic racism had played a factor.

Had this community been made up differently, if it had happened, it would have been addressed much quicker. We should not have to wait a year-and-a-half for people to say that brown water is bad, because kids know brown water is bad, and thats not what you drink, she said.

And for us to have to be validated by scientists a year-and-a-half year later is just sad. So yes, I believe it, the community believes it. I think it was about race, and I think it was about class.

Ms Weaver also said she was considering suing Michigans Republican governor Rick Snyder, who in April said the citys water had been tested as safe and announced the state was halting the provision of free bottled water. Ms Weaver said when she complained, Mr Snyder told her in a private meeting to get over it, an accusation denied by the governors office.

Asked about the mayors claim that race played a role in the way the authorities had responded, a spokesperson for Mr Snyder said all levels of government bear some responsibility for the crisis  local, state and federal. The spokesperson added: Rather than focus on blame or cause, Mr Snyder is focused on moving the city of Flint forward and ensuring it is a great place to live and a prosperous community that draws new investment, jobs and residents.

Ms Weaver is determined that the water crisis will not become the citys defining moment. Rather, she pointed to several successful efforts to attract investment.

Last October, Lear Corporation opened a new site to manufacture car seats. The company anticipates hiring more than 430 people at facility supplying General Motors Flint Truck Assembly plant and employ 600 workers at full production mode by 2019.

When ground was broke last October, it marked construction of the first major automotive supplier manufacturing facility constructed in the city for more than 30 years.
A man is missing after "once in 1,000-year" flash flooding has ripped through parts of Maryland for the second time in two years

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said the priorities are finding the missing man - identified as Edison Hermond, 39 - and assessing the condition of buildings that house shops, restaurants and families.

We're certainly making every effort to locate that individual, he said. Mr Hermond was reported missing somewhere in downtown Ellicott City, Maryland at 12.30am on Monday. But the Maryland National Guardsman was last seen at around 5pm on Sunday in the Baltimore suburb. According to a friends post on Facebook, Mr Hermondwas helping rescue people at the height of the flooding

Its going to be a long road again, Mr Kittleman told CNN about the second flood to hit the area in 22 months. More than eight inches (20 cm) of rain fell on the town in just five hours on Sunday.

In the July 2016 storm, Ellicott City received 6.6 inches (17 centimetres) of rain over a two-to three-hour period.

Mr Kittleman said this years flooding is worse than the July 2016 waters that caused millions of dollars in damage.

"If you look at the devastation and the damage, I would certainly say it's worse than 2016," he said. "We've had areas that were not even damaged at all two years ago terribly damaged this time."

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

Dramatic video showed incredibly fast-moving water through the historic main streets, some of them dating back to the 1700s. Cars were swept up in the flow and then deposited on top of one another, on sidewalks, all covered and stuck in mud. Buildings also flooded.

Governor Larry Hogan said that "every bit of assistance" would be provided to the area, but that nobody expected another storm of this magnitude".

Mr Hogan added: They say this is a once every 1,000-year flood and we've had two of them in two years.

Emergency workers have reported no fatalities so far, but they are still working their way through all the damaged areas. Nearly two years ago two people died as a result of the flooding.

The fire department had reported that some buildings were collapsing after the ground floors were demolished by the water.

Jessica Ur, a server at a cafe on the city's Main Street, told The Baltimore Sun she saw three or four parked cars being lifted and carried away by the flood waters. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency for the city.

The latest flood will no doubt raise questions about whether enoug was done to protect the area after the flooding of 2016. Mr Hogan said temporary improvements were in place and more things were in the works to reduce the community's vulnerabilities. But he said big changes take time, and no one could expect such a huge flood so soon after the last one.

After the last flood, the state gave Ellicott City $1m for repairs and future flood prevention. "It took two years to get the money and it's ironic that we just got it this month," Mr Hogan said.
A state of emergency has been declared in Maryland after heavy rain caused floods which ripped buildings from their foundations and hurled cars downs streets that were turned into roiling torrents.

Scenes of devastation were posted online from social media users in Ellicott City, where a river brown water crashed through the streets.

Buildings collapsed due to the weight of the water, CNN reported.

Maryland governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in the community over the flash floods. Ellicott City is about 13 miles west of Baltimore.

Authorities had no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, but said their information was preliminary.

A witness says she watched cars being swept by flash flooding through a downtown street in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Jessica Ur, a server at a cafe on the citys Main Street, told The Baltimore Sun she saw the gushing brown waters carry three or four parked cars down the street.

The newspaper reports that the swirling waters reached the second floor of one building at its height.

But by about 7.30 pm on Sunday, the newspaper reported, much of the water had subsided and rescue officials were walking around the downtown area while making sure people evacuated.

The National Weather Service said a flash flood warning has been issued for the area for the rest of Sunday evening, calling it an extremely dangerous situation and urging motorists not to attempt to navigate flooded roads.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services tweeted that multiple rescues were carried out, and rescue swimmers were called in to help.

The department also said swift water units from as far away as northern Virginia were coming to help.

Local authorities, speaking to CNN, compared the inundation with a 2016 flash flood that killed two people. Ms Ur told The Baltimore Sun the waters were significantly higher this time.

Meanwhile, some roads were also flooded in neighboring Baltimore County. A spokeswoman in Baltimore County said the fire department has received dozens of calls about cars stuck in high water and flooded basements.
If you promise heaven on earth, you will not get anywhere

On May 24, the President presented the governments annual policies and programmes for the coming fiscal year 2018/19. It has accorded priority to National Pride Projects and priority projects, while giving equal importance to metro, flyover, tunnel way construction, among other infrastructure.
A vigilante deportation attempt in which a pilot allegedly kidnapped a foreign student, took him to an airport and tried to send him "back to China" was thwarted last week, California police say.

Jonathan McConkey, a pilot and certified flight instructor, is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping with his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, a ground instructor. Both reportedly worked at the IASCO flight training school in Redding, California.

Among IASCO's students were dozens of Chinese nationals with student visas, according to court records. KRCR News 7 reported that the school contracted with China's civil aviation authority to train its new pilots, one of whom was apparently Tianshu Shi.

Mr Shi told reporters that he had been in the United States for about seven months - living with several other IASCO trainees at an apartment in Redding. It was there, police said, that McConkey and Hoser came for the student.

The pair first showed up at the apartment on Thursday night, according to a police statement. They allegedly informed Mr Shi that they were sending him back to China and would return in the morning.

Police have not explained why anyone would want Mr Shi gone from the country. An unrelated lawsuit, filed last year by a former instructor, alleges that some of IASCO's Chinese students spoke so little English that they could not safely fly - that one had nearly crashed into another plane because he had misunderstood his teacher's instructions.

Recommended Pilot jailed for killing estranged wife with saucepan

Those allegations predate Mr Shi's training, however. And the lawsuit does not mention Hoser or McConkey, who is reportedly a 48-year-old manager at the school.

Police say the two returned to Mr Shi's apartment around dawn on Friday to carry out their would-be deportation.

When Mr Shi refused to go with them, police said, McConkey "battered" him and threatened physical violence.

McConkey grabbed Mr Shi roughly by the arm, the student told the Record Searchlight, and said he needed to get on a plane now or face worse violence.

"He's very rude," a visibly shaken Mr Shi recalled to the newspaper. "Used too much dirty words."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

But before Mr Shi was taken from his home, he managed to call his brother in Shanghai and ask for help.

His brother tried to call Mr Shi back but couldn't reach him. Mr Shi was by then being driven several miles to the municipal airport, where the flight school kept its planes.

So Mr Shi's brother phoned Redding police, who scrambled to the airport and rescued the student before his accused abductors could put him on a plane.

The pair's plan, Mr Shi told the Searchlight, had been to fly him to the Bay Area, then put him on another plane to China.

Recommended Female easyJet pilot reveals sexist encounter with two male passengers

McConkey and Hoser were arrested and charged with conspiracy and kidnapping. They were being held on $100,000 (75,000) bail each, according to KRCR News 7, and could not be immediately reached.

The incident has left Mr Shi distraught, the Searchlight reported, and grappling to convey the trauma of the event in his limited English.

But he conveyed gratitude plainly enough. "The police officer is the best American," Mr Shi told the newspaper.

Washington Post
An Alabama student has been given the gift of a car after pictures of him walking to catch a bus to his high school graduation went viral.

Thousands of messages praising the determination of Corey Patrick came in from across the US after a local bus driver DeJuanna Beasely posted photos of the teenager to Facebook.

Patrick, a graduate of Tarrant High School, had been making the same 90-minute journey all the way through his final year after his family - who do not own a car - moved out of the area.

But Patrick was adamant that he wanted to graduate with his friends. I had to do what was necessary for me to walk this year, he told local news outlet WBRC.

His mother Felicia White said the rest of his family managed to get to the school in time for his graduation and that she was proud of her son.

Corey was getting up at 4.30 in the morning and had to be at the bus stop at 5.41 in the morning for the last year, Ms White said. She added that the outpouring of support for her son and herself was beyond the familys wildest expectations and that she wanted to say thank you to those who had sent messages.

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

Radio host Rickey Smiley, who has a show broadcast on Birmingham, Alabama station 95.7 Jamz, heard Patricks story and invited him into studio. I need you to go and get your driver's license. We're going to buy you a car, Smiley told Patrick, before handing over the new car the next day.

Patrick has also received a number of university scholarship opportunities in the wake of viral success of the pictures.

It means everything to me, a clearly-overwhelmed Patrick told TV station CBS 42 while sitting in his car, adding that he had no idea his story would prove so popular.
Ivanka Trump has won 13 new trademarks in China in the last three months around the same time her father, US president Donald Trump, vowed to save a Chinese telecommunications giant from shutting down.

The trademarks range across her several collection of businesses involving fashion, housewares, and books. The approvals raise more conflict-of-interest concerns in an administration riddled with them given the Trump family and other appointed government officials business ties. Ms Trump won seven of those trademarks the same in the last month. On 14 May, Mr Trump said he would get ZTE back into business, fast after being blacklisted by the US Department of Commerce.

The agency found ZTE lied about, but later admitted, to selling products containing US parts to North Korea and Iran, a clear violation of US sanctions law. Mr Trump tweeted that the Commerce department had been instructed to get it done so jobs at the telecommunications company could be saved.

Though Ms Trump stepped away from the businesses when she took her unpaid position as a White House adviser and placed them to be run by a blind trust, she still personally profits from them since she did not completely divest from them.

As the New York Times reported: Even as Mr. Trump contends with Beijing on issues like security and trade, his family and the company that bears his name are trying to make money off their brand in Chinas flush and potentially promising market.

Over the same period, the Chinese government has also granted Ms Trump's company provisional approval for another eight trademarks, which can be finalised if no objections are raised during a three-month comment period. This is all during negotiations on a new "more reciprocal" trade deal between the US and China, as Mr Trump has characterised it.

 Chelsea Clinton: Ivanka Trump 'should expect to be scrutinized'

Taken together, the trademarks could allow her brand to market a products in China like baby blankets, coffins, perfumes, makeup, bowls, mirrors, furniture, books, coffee, chocolate. and honey, to name a few.

Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Washington DC-based watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, told the Associated Press that the latest approval "raises significant questions about corruption, as it invites the possibility that she could be benefiting financially from her position and her father's presidency or that she could be influenced in her policy work by countries' treatment of her business".

In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home Show all 13 1 /13 In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The front of the house Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The lobby Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The house exterior Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The patio Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The bedroom Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living area Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The Living Room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The kitchen Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The bathroom Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The hall Zillow

More approvals are likely to come. Online records from China's trademark office indicate that Ms Trump's company last applied for trademarks - 17 of them to be exact - on 28 March 2017. That was just one day before she took on her White House position. Records indicate that Ms Trump's business have at least 25 trademarks pending review, 36 active marks, and eight with provisional approval.

Companies register for trademarks for a variety of reasons. They can be a sign of corporate ambition, but in many countries like China, it can be a defensive move since stealing trademarks is common. Companies will file to block copycats from grabbing legal rights to a brand's name. Some trademark lawyers also advise clients to register trademarks for merchandise that is manufactured in China, even if it's not sold there, as may be the case for Ms Trump's company which does not have a huge presence there but gets the majority of US imports from China.

Meanwhile, US-China relations may be experiencing another set ups and downs. Mr Trump called Chinese president Xi Jinping a "world-class poker player" for meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in China without telling the US. North Korea has been reliant on a handful of allies, China among them, for basic trade in goods and services. Mr Trump is still working to meet Mr Kim in Singapore on 12 June to discuss de-nuclearisation on the Korean peninsula.
Former president Barack Obama has issued a Memorial Day message - saying America can never truly repay the debt to the fallen  in remarks many contrasted with those of Donald Trump.

In a tweet posted on Monday morning while Mr Trump was attending a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Mr Obama wrote: We can never truly repay the debt we owe our fallen heroes.

He added: But we can remember them, honour their sacrifice, and affirm in our own lives those enduring ideals of justice, equality, and opportunity for which generations of Americans have given that last full measure of devotion.

Many compared the former presidents tweet with one from Mr Trump a few hours earlier, in which he inserted politics into the day, and sought to suggest those who died fighting would be very happy and proud with his performance as president.

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today, wrote Mr Trump.

Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for blacks and hispanics EVER (& women in 18 years), rebuilding our military and so much more. Nice!

 Barack Obama unveils official portrait at National Portrait Gallery in DC

The comments by Mr Trump on a day used to honour those who have died while serving in the countrys armed forces, triggered immediate criticism. Many commentators said it was inappropriate for the president to try and score political points on such an occasion.

Former Army Gen Martin Dempsey, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the administrations of Mr Obama, said on Twitter: This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us.

John Kirby, a State Department spokesman in the Obama administration, called Mr Trumps tweet one of the most inappropriate, ignorant and tone-deaf things our Commander-in-Chief could have said on a day like today.

Nate Bell, a conservative Arkansas politician also known for controversial remarks, said Mr Trumps comment represented perhaps the most disgusting Trump tweet ever.

Memorial Day is a solemn day to reflect on the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, liberty & justice for all, he said.

Its NOT a Happy day nor is it a day to tout your draft dodging bone spurs self.

VoteVets.org, a veterans rights which says it has 500,000 supporters across the country, also condemned the remark.

This is the most inappropriate #MemorialDay comment that a @POTUS has ever made. Self-promotion on a day to remember the fallen, and wishing those remembering their deceased loved ones a happy holiday is appalling.
Comedian Michelle Wolf has defended the controversial jokes she made about Donald Trumps press secretary, saying they were not about her looks but about her ugly personality.

In a performance at the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) annual dinner in April, Ms Wolf made headlines and divided opinion in a routine that took aim the president, the media that covers him and the woman paid to speak on his behalf - Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Every time Sarah steps up to the podium, I get excited, the comedian said. Im not really sure what were going to get, you know? A press briefing, a bunch of lies or divided into softball teams. Its shirts and skins, and this time dont be such a little bitch, Jim Acosta.

Later, she continued: I actually really like Sarah. I think shes very resourceful. But she burns facts and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smokey eye. Like maybe shes born with it, maybe its lies. Its probably lies.

Ms Wolfs barbed attack on Mr Trumps press secretary, who was seated just feet away from her in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, led a number of journalists to issue apologies to Ms Sanders, saying they believed the comedian had gone too far.

 Michelle Wolf destroys Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the White House Correspondents Dinner

Mr Trump said the dinner, which he had boycotted for the second year in succession had been an embarrassment to everyone associated with it, while the WHCA president, Margaret Talev, said there had been dismay among some members.

Last nights programme was meant to offer a unifying message about our common commitment to a vigorous and free press, Ms Talev said. Unfortunately, the entertainers monologue was not in the spirit of that mission.

A number of others, including Ms Wolf, defended her performance and her decision to poke fun at Ms Sanders.

Now, during the premiere of her new Netflix show, The Break, the 32-year-old once again defended her performance at the journalists dinner and insisted her routine had nothing to do with Ms Sanders physical appearance.

That was not a looks-based joke, that was about her ugly personality, she said.

She then added another jab at Ms Sanders, saying she had the the Mario Batali of personalities. Mr Batali, a celebrity chef, is the subject of a number of accusations from women who he assaulted them. He is being investigated by the New York Police Department.

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

Earlier this month, Mr Batali denied the allegations, saying: I vehemently deny any allegations of sexual assault. My past behaviour has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions.

Ms Wolf also poked fun of Gina Haspel, who was recently confirmed as Ms Trumps new head of the Central Intelligence Energy, having faced questions after her role overseeing torture and at so-called black sites during George W Bushs so-called war terror.

Who knew you could waterboard a glass ceiling until it broke, she said.

After Gina was nominated, my best friend Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted that any Democrat who claims to support womens empowerment and our national security but opposes her nomination is a total hypocrite.

She added: Well if anyones an expert on hypocrites, its Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy by using his nations Memorial Day to suggest those who died fighting for the country would be very happy and proud with his his performance as president.

Just hours before travelling to Arlington National Cemetery to speak at a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony, the president used Twitter to seek credit for the state of the economy and the low unemployment rate among people of colour.

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today, he wrote.

Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for blacks and hispanics EVER (& women in 18 years), rebuilding our military and so much more. Nice!

The comments by Mr Trump on a day that has been marked since 1868 to honour those who died while serving in the countrys armed forces, triggered immediate criticism. Many commentators said it was inappropriate for the president to try and score political points on such a day.

Former Army Gen Martin Dempsey, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the administrations of Barack Obama, said on Twitter: This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us.

John Kirby, a State Department spokesman in the Obama administration, called Mr Trumps tweet one of the most inappropriate, ignorant and tone-deaf things our Commander-in-Chief could have said on a day like today.

 Donald Trump says North Korea summit 'could still happen'

Nate Bell, a conservative Arkansas politician also known for controversial remarks, said Mr Trumps comment represented perhaps the most disgusting Trump tweet ever.

Memorial Day is a solemn day to reflect on the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, liberty & justice for all, he said.

Its NOT a Happy day nor is it a day to tout your draft dodging bone spurs self.

VoteVets.org, a veterans rights which says it has 500,000 supporters across the country, also condemned the remark.

This is the most inappropriate #MemorialDay comment that a @POTUS has ever made. Self-promotion on a day to remember the fallen, and wishing those remembering their deceased loved ones a happy holiday is appalling, the group wrote on Twitter.

Neither Mr Trump or any members of his immediate family served in the US military. The president received five draft deferrals for Vietnam, some of which were for purportedly having bone spurs.

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

Col Cedric Leighton, a retired officer with the US Air Force, told CNN Mr Trumps ought not to have made his comment on such a day. He said Mr Trump also had no right to claim he knew what fallen veterans would have made of his presidency.

There has to be a separation of what you do on Memorial Day and what you do as part of your political behaviour, he told CNN.

Later on Monday morning, Mr Trump attended a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery, which is home to an estimated 420,000 fallen soldiers.

We mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice, he told cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families assembled in the marble amphitheatre near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Associated Press said Mr Trump said he came to the sacred soil of Arlington, to honour the lives and deeds of Americas greatest heroes.

Mr Trump also laid a wreath at the tomb during his second Memorial Day visit as president.

At Arlington, Mr Trump said those who died for America, rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far, and are drawn from the full tapestry of American life.

He said they came from every generation, from towering cities and wind-swept prairies, from privilege and from poverty. They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, colour and of every creed, but they were all brothers and sisters in arms.

He added: And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country.
Police arrested a man accused of holding his girlfriend prisoner at gunpoint after the quick-thinking woman was able to slip a message to staff at a veterinary clinic.

Jeremy Floyd is alleged to have trapped his 28-year-old partner at their home in DeLand, Florida, for more than two days, physically preventing her from leaving the house.

The victim said her boyfriend had beaten her on Wednesday night and was wielding a handgun, which had later discharged inside the property as they struggled over it.

After spending all day on Thursday in bed due to a head injury, Volusia County Sheriff's Office said the woman convinced Floyd, 39, to let her take their dog to the vet on Friday.

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

He insisted on accompanying the victim to DeLand Animal Hospital, allegedly pointing a loaded firearm at her during the journey and threatening to kill her and her family.

At the clinic, the woman alerted employees to the situation by passing them a note that read: Call the cops. My boyfriend is threatening me. He has a gun. Please don't let him know.

Staff called law enforcement and police responded first, detaining convicted felon Floyd and seizing a handgun, before the sheriffs deputies arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect.

Jeremy Floyd was arrested at the clinic (Volusia County Sheriff)

The victim was taken to hospital, where she was treated for a head injury, a black eye and bruised arms.

She was later taken back to her home, where deputies said they found two bullet holes in the propertys hallway.

Floyd was charged with domestic violence, aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and simple battery.

He remains in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail after he was refused bail.
South Koreas president could attend a historic meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, officials have said.

Moon Jae-in could travel to Singapore for the summit depending on the outcome of discussions between the US and North Korean leaders, Seouls presidential Blue House said.

Mr Moon and Mr Kim agreed a summit between North Korea and the US must be held as they held a surprise meeting on Saturday at the border village of Panmunjom.

Last week, Mr Trump pulled out of the meeting with Mr Kim, which had been scheduled for 12 June.

He later announced he was reconsidering, and said US and North Korean officials were meeting to work out the details.

A South Korean official told the Yonhap news agency: We are still waiting to see how they come out, but depending on their outcome, the president could join President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore.

Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting Show all 25 1 /25 Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in raise their hands after signing on a joint statement Korea Summit Press Pool via AP Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting Kim Jong-un heads towards Moon Jae-in to shake his hand between the military demarcation line, at the Joint Security Area on the Demilitarized Zone in the border village of Panmunjom in Paju EPA Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hold hands as they cross the military demarcation line EPA Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Koreans react while watching a screen reporting the Inter Korean Summit Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un chat as they arrive at the Peace House Reuters Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un was escorted by bodyguards from the North to the Military Demarcation Line that divides the two Koreas to meet with his South Korean counterpart at the truce village AFP/Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un crosses the military demarcation line to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in AP Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in shake hands Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shake hands after Kim crossing the military demarcation line Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Joint Security Area EPA Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un speak with two South Korean children who presented Kim Jong-un with a bouquet of flowers EPA Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting Moon Jae-in Kim Jong-un pose for photographers at the Joint Security Area (JSA) EPA Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signs the guest book as South Korean President Moon Jae-in looks on Getty Images Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns entry in the guestbook. The writing reads A new history starts now. An age of peace, from the starting point of history Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-In and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talk during their summit meeting at the Peace House EPA Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un smiles AFP/Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un poses with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a photo inside the Peace House AP Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un talks with South Koreas President Moon Jae-in AFP/Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in prepare to plant a pine tree near the military demarcation line AP Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un applaud after planting a tree at the truce village Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un and South Koreas President Moon Jae-in take a walk after they planted a tree AFP/Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un talks with South Koreas President Moon Jae-in at a bench on a bridge next to the military demarcation line at the truce village of Panmunjom AFP/Getty Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in sign on a joint statement Korea Broadcasting System via AP Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in embrace each other after signing on a joint statement Korea Summit Press Pool via AP Korea Summit: Kim Jong-un crosses border for historic meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shake hands after their joint announcement AP

On Sunday, US and North Korean officials met in the border town of Panmunjom, the US State Department said.

Mr Trump tweeted about the developments, saying: Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong-un and myself.

I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong-un agrees with me on this. It will happen!

A pre-advance team of US officials was also travelling to Singapore to meet with North Koreans there, the White House said.

 Donald Trump says North Korea summit 'could still happen'

It comes as Michael Hayden, the former director of the CIA, said he was unsure Mr Trump has done the homework needed to negotiate with North Korea about its nuclear programme.

Kim Jong-un knows his [nuclear] programme in and out, Mr Hayden told ABC News. I think he knows what he can concede and what it means and what he cannot concede.

I dont know that the president has done the kind of homework to give him a similar level of knowledge, he added.

In a statement published by the Norths state-run news service on Sunday, Mr Kim expressed his fixed will on the historic [North Korea]-US summit talks.

It added that during the inter-Korean meeting on Saturday, both Korean leaders had agreed to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve [North Korea]-US relations and establish [a] mechanism for permanent and durable peace.
More than 120 child refugees believed to have been trafficked to the UK from northern France have gone missing, a new report has revealed.

The NSPCC has called on the government to bolster cross-border arrangements on child trafficking after it emerged children as young as 11 had been sexually abused and forced to take drugs by traffickers promising to take them to the UK.

The report, by the charitys Child Trafficking Advice Centre (Ctac), reveals the number of child refugees trafficked to the UK from France who are missing has increased by 22 per cent since last July, when The Independent reported that the figure stood at 104.

Ctac worked with the Refugee Youth Service (RYS), a Calais-based charity, to locate and safeguard children who were believed to have been trafficked from northern France to the UK. So far, 68 have been located, while 128 are still missing.

Charity workers on the ground condemned the lack of a functioning reporting mechanism for authorities on both sides of the channel to keep track of children who are being moved under the radar.

Case files from 196 referrals to Ctac between August 2016 and November last year show children as young as nine have been moved thousands of miles across borders without their parents, and disappeared from camps with limited attempts from officials to find them.

In one particularly concerning case, the report describes how a child was forced to take heroin and was criminally exploited by adults with him in the now-disbanded Calais Jungle.

The case files also revealed children had been sexually abused, subjected to violence from adult smugglers or traffickers and from police and forced to sleep alongside unrelated adults or in rat-infested or waterlogged tents.

The children are among hundreds of displaced people who continue to live without adequate emergency shelter or proper access to drinking water in Calais and Dunkirk, in what the UN recently described as an inhumane situation.

Amanda Regan, of the RYS, told The Independent there was a vacuum of accurate information regarding formal processes of child protection services in France and legal transfer to the UK.

A lack of shelter, restricted access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and lack of access to education create a catalyst for desperation within minors whereby they seek to leave France and reach the UK through informal means, she continued.

Where possible, the relationship with Ctac has enabled us to locate minors we know to have left the area. However, there is still a large proportion of minors who have come into contact with RYS in northern France who are no longer visible nor contactable via their given phone number.

Recommended More than 100 child refugees missing in UK

For these unlocatable minors, there is no functioning reporting mechanism. Much work needs to be done with authorities on both sides of the channel, and indeed across Europe, to create a system of reporting children who are being moved under the radar.

Almudena Lara, head of policy at the NSPCC, said existing European mechanisms such as Europol, Eurojust and the European Arrest Warrant were vital for finding missing children and bringing child traffickers to justice.

Countries have a legal duty to protect child victims, so the protections currently offered by cross-border arrangements must be guaranteed after Brexit, she said.

Additional arrangements between France and the UK to share information about their child protection concerns and specific health needs would allow us to offer better help to children once theyre located.

The same resolve and persistence shown by authorities when tracking down criminals who have crossed borders must be matched in searches for vulnerable missing children.

In light of the findings, Josie Naughton, chief executive and co-founder of charity Help Refugees, said there was a hostile environment towards refugees in the UK, Calais and across Europe, and warned this was destroying childrens lives.

This report confirms what we already knew; in the absence of safe and legal routes, children go missing and are at risk of being exploited by traffickers, she continued.

State-provided child protection programmes in Calais are practically non-existent. This has to change.

As this report suggests, the UK, French and European governments have to develop thorough referral systems immediately to prevent more children from being lost.

Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features

It comes a year-and-a-half after the demolition of the Jungle camp in Calais, which was home to about 8,000 refugees before it was destroyed and more than 10,000 at its peak.

Following its closure, people were transported away from the region to reception centres across France, but the number of migrants re-entering the region has been gradually rising in recent months.

The Home Office has been approached for comment.
Italy will not be welcoming a populist government for now, but that is likely to turn out to be good news for the populists.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has clashed with both the League party and the 5-Star Movement (M5S) because of his refusal to appoint a eurosceptic economist, Paolo Savona, as finance minister amid concerns from investors at home and abroad. The spat led to the collapse of talks to form a M5S/League coalition government.

Mr Mattarella has asked former International Monetary Fund (IMF) official Carlo Cottarelli to form a new technocrat government. The economist, 64, is known as Mr Scissors for his cuts to Italys public spending.

Mr Cottarelli will look to present a programme to parliament, including a budget, and aim for elections early next year. However, it is unlikely he will gain the support of the parliament, meaning elections would be pushed forward to August this year.

Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League, which was part of the right-wing coalition that gained 37 per cent of the vote in the March elections, and the M5Ss Luigi Di Maio, whose party won the single biggest individual share of the vote, have both switched to campaign mode and have called for protests against the decision by Mr Mattarella.

Early elections would suit both parties, with Mr Salvini and Mr Di Maio, having made much of the narrative that the Italian and wider European establishment are getting in the way of the will of the Italian people.

There were reports on Monday that M5S may even consider campaigning with the League in any new vote. However, as a matter of fact, it is the League that can take advantage from a fresh election seemingly better than anyone else.

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

Surveys suggest that Matteo Salvini is the one who benefited the most from this long stalemate: support for him grew from 17 per cent to 25 per cent, says Ilvo Diamanti, a professor of political science at the University of Urbino. Luigi Di Maio didnt profit so much from the impasse: [although] his anti-establishment 5-Star Movement is still the leading party and remains stable at about 30 per cent.

Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia, which was part of the right-wing bloc with Mr Salvini, has seen support drop to around 10 per cent, according to Mr Diamanti. A tax fraud conviction prevented Mr Berlusconi, who served multiple terms as Italian prime minister, from running for office in March. A Milan court ruled this month that he is now eligible, and he suggested on Monday he is open to running for office in new elections.

However, Mr Diamanti says that the X-factor of the League, which was a regional, Northern Italy secessionist party, is having turned into a nationalist, anti-immigrant and eurosceptic party. Now that the League is the Italian version of French Front National (FN), Mr Salvini is the one that capitalises on peoples rage the most, Mr Diamanti said.

And Mr Salvini seems to be aware of that: Im very angry, he wrote on Facebook a few days ago, referring to the decisions from Mr Mattarella, before blaming Paris, Brussels and the financial system.

As Italy prepares for new elections, whenever they come, Mr Mattarellas move of rejecting the eurosceptic economist Mr Savona might end up opening up a route for the populists to gain even more votes than before.
The man who climbed four storeys to save a child dangling from an apartment balcony has been invited to meet French president Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

Mamoudou Gassama  nicknamed the Spiderman of Paris  scaled the front of the apartment block to reach the helpless four-year-old.

The Mali migrant, who only arrived in the city a few months ago, has also been told authorities will support his efforts to settle there following his heroics.

Recommended Hero climbs up Paris building to save child dangling from balcony

Video of Mr Gassama, 22, went viral after his rescue over the weekend. As a gathering crowd looks on, he climbed four floors in less than a minute to pull the child to safety.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo lauded him and said she had called him to personally say thanks.

Nicknaming him the "Spiderman of the 18th"  a reference to the Paris district where the incident unfolded  she said: Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his act of bravery that saved the life of a child.

"He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here. I replied that his heroic gesture was an example for all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France."

Mr Gassama told Le Parisien newspaper he had been walking past the building when he saw a crowd gathered and the boy dangling.

"I did it because it was a child. Thank God I saved him, he said.

The Parisian fire service said crews had arrived to find the rescue already completed.

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

"Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a spokesman said.

Local authorities said the child's parents were not at home at the time. The father has been questioned by police on suspicion of leaving his child unattended. The mother was not in Paris at the time, it is understood.
Former president George HW Bush has been hospitalised for apparently partying "too hard" according to an email sent out by his chief of staff.

The 93-year-old was taken to hospital in Maine for low blood pressure and fatigue on Sunday.

CNN reported that a tongue-in-cheek email sent out by Jean Becker, the former president's chief of staff, to family and friends read: "I guess he partied too hard with the American Legion yesterday. Darn it."

She added that President Bush was "taken to Southern Maine Health Care today after experiencing low blood pressure and fatigue".

"He likely will remain there for a few days for observation. The former president is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort."

The former president's wife, Barbara Bush, died in April aged 92. The pair had been married for 73 years, and had six children, including eldest son George W Bush who would go on to become the president eight years after his father's term ended.

Concern grew for President Bush's health after he was hospitalised the day after his late wife's funeral, however he was then released after 13 days.

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

He has been confined to a wheelchair in recent years due to being diagnosed with vascular Parkinsonism, a rare condition that mimics Parkinsons disease.

Despite his advanced age and health conditions, the former president continues to make public appearances, including a visit to The American Legion last week in which in met with former soldiers.
The leader of Spains far-left Podemos party has retained his position despite a wave of criticism following his purchasing of a luxury house.

Pablo Iglesias and his partner Irene Montero, who is the partys parliamentary spokeswoman, were accused of hypocrisy after purchasing the 600,000 (525,000) home with a swimming pool and a guest house.

A confidence vote was called for the pair after the purchase. However, they survived after winning 68.4 per cent of nearly 190,000 votes cast.

Recommended Spanish leftists Podemos boosted by new electoral alliance

Voters were asked: Do you think Pablo Iglesias and Irene Montero should continue as party leader and party spokesperson?

Mr Iglesias, a 39-year-old former political sciences lecturer, has previously said the pair lived in a modest apartment in a working-class neighbourhood of Madrid, a long way from their new home on the outskirts of the city.

However, the couple, who are expecting twins, have defended the purchase, saying they were simply moving house and had not bought the property as an investment.

In the past Mr Iglesias has criticised politicians who live in villas and accused them of failing to know the price of basic goods.

In 2012 he condemned former economy minister Luis de Guindos for buying a luxury home.

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

Would you hand over the nations economic policy to someone who spends 600,000 on a luxury penthouse? he asked.

However, those words have now been used against him following the recent purchase. Despite winning the confidence vote, analysts suggest the scandal will tarnish the partys reputation as fighters for working-class Spaniards.

The Podemos (We Can) party, which Iglesias formed in 2014, often refers to Spains political and business elite as the caste, and claims it represents the people.

The party, which won around a fifth of the vote in the countrys 2016 general election, has quickly grown and has become one of Spains four main political parties. Opinion polls show the party occasionally beating PSOE, Spains traditional left-wing party.
The end of the long weekend signalled long delays for thousands of travellers attempting to return home.

More than 30 flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled because of weather issues. Low visibility reduced the arrivals rate, with Eurocontrol warning: High delays all morning & early afternoon.

As delays built up, cancellations increased. Most were British Airways short-haul services, but Aer Lingus, Eurowings and SAS also cancelled flights.

Recommended Thousands left stranded at Stansted as lightning strikes spark chaos

A spokesperson for British Airways said: On one of the busiest weekends of the year, our teams have been working tirelessly to get tens of thousands of customers away on their half-term breaks, despite being challenged by bad weather and thunderstorms across Europe.

We have done everything we can to minimise the disruption, and we have rebooked or refunded a handful of customers whose flights were cancelled.

Passengers using Stansted Airport faced problems for a second day. Around 100 flights were cancelled on Sunday because of damage to the fuelling system, and the disruption continued into Monday.

Ryanair, the biggest airline at the Essex airport, cancelled further flights to Hamburg and Jerez in Spain, as well as their return legs.

Jet2 passengers on flights from Larnaca in Cyprus and the Greek island of Rhodes both experienced 19-hour delays returning to Stansted, with Fuerteventura and Paphos flights 17 hours behind schedule.

Thomas Cook Airlines flights from Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey were around 20 hours late arriving at Stansted.

It follows a weekend when Thomas Cook passengers flying from Gatwick to Dalaman in Turkey, Hurghada in Egypt and Bourgas in Bulgaria experienced delays of around 24 hours.

At Luton Airport, almost all easyJet flights in the afternoon and evening were late.

Recommended French air traffic control strike grounds 500 flights

Further disruption lies ahead, with two air-traffic control strikes in Europe anticipated in the next 10 days.

On Wednesday 30 May, Greek controllers are expected to walk out.

More seriously, Italian air-traffic controllers have called a day of action for Friday 8 June. Although the action lasts only from 1pm to 5pm local time, it is likely to disrupt hundreds of flights on the busiest day of the air-travel week. A strike earlier in May led to more than 100 flights to and from the UK being cancelled.

Thousands of UK rail passengers faced unexpected problems in addition to the rail routes closed throughout the weekend due to pre-planned engineering work.

Sections of the West Coast main line between London, Birmingham, northwest England and Scotland were off-limits, with trains running on alternative routes.

But the discovery of an unexploded Second World War bomb close to the tracks between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby caused even more disruption to Virgin Trains and London Northwestern services.

Travellers were warned that some services might be diverted via the slower Northampton line.

The one-hour journey from Stoke-on-Trent to Milton Keynes Central took some trains twice as long.

A points failure outside Manchester Piccadilly station added to the mayhem.

Many trains linking Manchester with Sheffield, Leeds and London Euston were cancelled or heavily delayed.

Airline passengers using the rail link to Manchester Airport were forced to use alternative transport: no trains ran on the line from Manchester Piccadilly for 90 minutes from noon, and many services after that were either cancelled or delayed.

In Scotland, signalling problems between Glasgow and Paisley caused serious disruption, while the track to Lanark was temporarily closed for inspection.
On Friday, the Republic of Ireland overwhelmingly voted to repeal the eighth amendment to its constitution, which prevented abortion in almost all cases, meaning that women in Ireland were forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, often to the detriment of their health and even threatening their lives. There is no doubt this is a huge success for pro-choice activists the world over.

But before the dust had settled, the focus had shifted to Northern Ireland as now within Europe only Malta, San Marino and the Vatican have more draconian laws than part of the United Kingdom.

The 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion and offered it to women on the NHS, was never extended to Northern Ireland, where abortion is only allowed when the pregnant persons life is at risk, or there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health. If this sounds vague, its because it is. Fatal foetal abnormalities, rape and incest, for example, do not qualify as circumstances in which abortions can be legally obtained in Northern Ireland.

And it gets worse. In 2013, new guidelines threatened to criminalise medical professionals who were found to be performing terminations that did not meet these murky standards. Before these guidelines were introduced, there were more than 100 abortions performed in Northern Ireland every year but in 2017 there just 13. One wonders to what fate the rest of these women, unable to obtain the medical treatment they needed, succumbed.

A 2016 survey on the issue shows that more than 70 per cent of people are opposed to the current laws, and the High Court recently ruled that abortion laws were in breach of womens human rights  yet nothing has changed. Much of the rhetoric has been around the idea that Northern Ireland should hold a similar referendum  after all, if the public is broadly in favour of it, we pro-choice feminists will surely get the result were hoping for, right?

A number of politicians, including former women and equalities minister Maria Miller, have backed this suggestion, and encouraged Theresa May to allow such a vote  yet this completely misses the point. Womens rights to control their own bodies should not be something everyone is entitled to an opinion on; it should be considered the most basic of human rights that no one should be able to strip us of.

Those who oppose abortions on the basis of moral or religious ideals are entitled to their beliefs, but not to impose them upon the rest of us and our wombs. And the current ban doesnt actually stop women from accessing abortions anyway; it just makes it so much harder, more expensive and more dangerous, and it does so intentionally  something we would balk at when it comes to any other form of medical treatment.

Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Show all 20 1 /20 Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Women in Dublin celebrate the result of yesterday's referendum on abortion law Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman in Dublin celebrates the result of yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Co-Director of Together For Yes Ailbhe Smyth speaking to the media at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters react, as the results of the votes begin to come in PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Long time campaigner Annette Forde, from Drumcondra, at the count centre in Dublin's RDS as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris (centre) with Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy (left) speaks to the media on arrival at the count centre PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters celebrate at the count centre in Dublin as official results for constituencies are announced PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman writes a message on a mural to Savita Halappanava, a woman who died of pregnancy complications AFP/Getty Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald reacts with a member of the Yes campaign PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Senator David Norris at the count centre in Dublin as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman sits in front of the Dublin mural of Savita Halappanavar, a woman who died of pregnancy complications PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Repeal supporters at Dublin's RDS await the start of the count last night PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris is greeted by retired Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in AP Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A Yes voter poses with a badge as votes are counted AFP/Getty

To suggest abortions dont happen in Northern Ireland is absurd. Last year the government amended the budget to cover the cost of abortions for women travelling from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK. While that may ease the burden somewhat, Westminster needs to do more to ensure all British women  including those in Northern Ireland  have equal access to the medical care theyre entitled to.

Theresa May is a self-proclaimed feminist, yet she is the one who got into bed with the DUP  which is vocal about its opposition to women accessing abortions  in order to keep hold of her job as prime minister.

As a woman living in Northern Ireland I feel let down by the government and the British public. It is unacceptable that women are forced into life-threatening situations just because our prime minister cannot stand up to the reactionary, misogynistic ideology represented by the DUP, which thinks women should be seen and treated first and foremost as vessels for their progeny.

A feminist prime minister would do everything she could to stop failing the women of Northern Ireland and not criminalise them for accessing healthcare, and not via a referendum which suggests womens rights are up for debate. We must ensure she realises that the publics support depends on it.
By what democratic mechanism is the Home Office able to act in the way that seems to be autonomous and without accountability, treating asylum seekers in ways that are inhumane, heartless and cruel, creating a nasty stain on the quality of our humanity, unlawfully holding people in removal centres for months despite courts ruling they can be released?

We are a prosperous nation, can make choices and have no excuse for treating people in this way, unless that is what we want to do, and I certainly do not. Who are those who want to treat other human being is in this way? Should not someone be called before a parliamentary committee to explain and justify their actions? This is supposed to be a democracy, so how should I exercise my democratic influence in this respect? It is not good when so many of us are ashamed to be British.

Dennis Leachman

Kingston upon Thames

Boris Johnson seems to know little about our current trade agreements

You report that Boris Johnson believes that the UK must leave the EU customs union in order to develop trade agreements with South American countries.

Is he unaware that the EU, and therefore Britain as an EU member, has had a cooperation agreement with the Mercosur countries, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, plus latterly Venezuela, since 1999, and negotiations between the two blocs for a free trade agreement are well advanced; that the EU has a free trade agreement with the Andean Community, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia, plus preferential treatment for Bolivia; and that there has been a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and Chile since 2003?

One assumes he has been told, but either he wasnt listening, or the facts dont support his agenda.

David Humphrey

London W5

The UK is in crisis, and our elected officials are doing nothing to change it

Have the papers ever been so full of bad news? Leaving aside for a moment the deteriorating state of international relations, and looking just at our own affairs, we read that morbid obesity in Britain is due to double by 2035, that we are becoming the biggest consumer of cocaine in Europe, that we are devising Orwellian methods of keeping asylum seekers in detention centres rather than releasing them as the law requires, that thousands of young migrants who have the right to enjoy the benefits of British citizenship are denied that right by the unreasonable cost of making a series of applications.

Meanwhile, our health service, our schools, our police and our prisons are in crisis. Millions of our citizens are living in poverty, depending on charity and food banks to survive, and the UK economy has just posted the worst quarterly GDP figures for five years.

So what is the government doing about all this? Answer: getting its knickers in a twist about Brexit, and uttering official platitudes that convince nobody. We simply cannot go on like this: we are becoming the laughing stock of Europe, and we seem to have no idea how to resolve the problems which the disastrous decision to leave the EU has created.

So, please, lets call the whole thing off. Im not entirely confident that the present lot are actually capable of governing the country, but at least if they were able to stop haggling over Brexit, they might have time to try. And perhaps we might start to look forward to a time when the poor, the sick, the homeless and the dispossessed live in a caring society, rather than one that turns its back, and we could be proud again.

Jeremy Lawford

Exeter

Despite the majority wanting to stay in the EU, Brexiteers are determined to go through with their disastrous plan

So a recent poll suggests a marginal lead for the UK to abandon Brexit, and that in itself is largely to do with a changing demographic. This is not as a result of a change of heart by a few Brexiteers in the face of the plain facts that Brexit is a disaster in the making.

The EU has made it clearly obvious from the outset. Leaving the EU will have negative consequences for our relationship with them. Thats our choice. Unfortunately Brexiteers are blinkered by their own rhetoric. You only have to watch Question Time audiences to observe aggressive proceed at any cost attitudes. Why? Leading Brexiteers have done a very good job at galvanising their supporters, but who will shoulder the blame when it all goes wrong?

Simon Watson

Worcester

Trumps North Korea strategy is becoming increasingly terrifying

What are we supposed to make of the quite extraordinary on/off tactics of Kim Jong-un and President Trump over the ill-fated summit talks?

If it werent for the overwhelming need to lower the political temperature in the region, we could dismiss it as a farce of some magnitude. Both leaders are attention-seeking eccentrics who warn glibly about the nuclear option apparently without any sane notion of what the outcome would be.

If it is true that todays nuclear bombs are a hundred times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima, then even speculating on it makes one shiver. Kim Jong-un needs the summit because the punitive sanctions threatened by Trump would impoverish his economically dependent country even further.

It is in trying to make sense of Trumps strategies that one could become too cynical for comfort. Could it possibly be that he will restart the talks, arrive at some fix that results in a peace agreement, collect his much mooted Nobel Peace Prize, win valuable points at the midterm elections, and then with a characteristic flourish, renege on the whole deal? Surely not?

Name supplied

Address supplied

Things are not looking good for the prime minister

Theresa May must be delighted. A dispute about abortion in Northern Ireland is just what she needs. Like a hole in the head. Well, theres not much else going on at the moment. Can we sniff an election in the offing?

Barry Tighe

Woodford
Irelands children have been asked to help create a special set of vestments to present to Pope Francis when he visits this summer.

Youngsters have been invited to enter a competition to design the garment, organised by the Catholic charity World Missions Ireland.

The pontiff will spend two days in Ireland during the World Meeting of Families from August 21-26.

Julieann Moran, national secretary for World Missions Ireland, said: Pope Francis is a person who truly embraces creativity.

Weve seen this time and time again, especially when he invites young people to dream big and not to be afraid.

Such beautiful encouragement to offer young people.

She said art was a universal way for all children to express their uniqueness and creativity.

This is why the vestments will be such a meaningful gift.

Theyll celebrate not only his time in Ireland, but also the creativity and uniqueness of girls and boys across our country.
Specialist SME lender Bibby Financial Services has applied for an Irish licence to operate a foreign exchange (FX) service, with a view to passporting from here into the rest of the European Union.

Bibby is best known here as an invoice finance provider - a service that allows its client businesses to in effect borrow against the cash flow from issued but unpaid invoices.

Operationally, an Irish-regulated FX business would be relatively small, but could point the way to other elements of the group's activities using Ireland as a base for future growth.

Bibby Financial has operated in Ireland since 2006. Its UK-based parent originally emerged from Britain's Bibby Line shipping group, and much of its focus in the 16 countries where it operates includes import/export services.

The financial services arm is based in the UK but is now looking to tap its Irish unit to counteract the potential impact of Brexit.

Bibby Financial Services group chief executive David Postings told the Irish Independent that the business is currently going through a process with the Central Bank of Ireland to become an FX provider.

"The idea is we can then passport that into the rest of the EU after Brexit," he said.

Bibby's European operations include France, Germany and Poland, where being on the ground makes it easier to collect on client invoices.

It operates in 16 countries in all, including the US and Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Bibby launched its FX business three years ago, initially from the UK and only offering services to the lender's own clients.

The foreign exchange service was developed as an additional tool for businesses exposed to cross-border invoices - by allowing them to convert future invoiced income into their preferred currency at current rates.

Mr Postings said Bibby's promise is to make international sales as smooth as possible.

"If you are selling to Dublin, Doncaster or Dusseldorf, it makes no difference."

In Ireland, Bibby's clients include domestic firms that export to the UK, as well as to other non-euro EU member states and increasingly to Asia.

In some cases, billing in euros masks the currency implications of a deal, he said. "If a client trades in euro from Ireland and there is an FX element to the transaction somebody is carrying that risk, often in the price," he said.

Bibby Financial's CEO for Europe and North America, Richard Carter, said the discussion around establishing a regulated FX business in Ireland was part of a wider examination of the services offered here.

Bibby's UK operation has a broader mix of products such as import/export finance, construction finance, full asset-based lending and leasing.

"We are looking to expand that range here [in Ireland]," he said.

This year, Bibby will hope to have trade finance business and asset-backed lending up and running.

That's likely to include a limited equipment leasing business, but executives are wary of financing high-cost, brand new machinery in the current market, where business-focused leasing and hire purchase have heated up considerably in recent years.

"Fundamentally, we are a bit dull.

"If we advance too much credit, we have a problem and they [clients] have a problem.

"We saw what happened the last time," Mr Postings said.

In the UK, Bibby's leasing business has increased from just 400,000 six years ago to a still modest 6.6m (7.5m).

"The Irish market is a great opportunity to expand, our issue is how do we do it? How do we execute?" asked Mr Carter.
A new report, launched today by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has identified 15 markets by sector that are likely to present growth opportunities for Irish agri-food exporters.

Prioritising Markets: Opportunities for Growth, commissioned by the Department of Agriculture offers overviews of 75 in-depth studies conducted across a range of priority markets, representing the most detailed and broad ranging study of international opportunity ever undertaken on behalf of the Irish food and drink industry.

Over 180 markets were screened using macro-economic and sector specific criteria weighted and assessed for each category. Initial screening included factors such as size of middle class, urbanisation, rate of growth in food market, imports, prices and tariffs, population projections, income per capita, market access and ease of doing business.

Based on the report outputs, Bord Bia, on behalf of the Irish meat industry, will now move to conducting further deep dive analysis on five markets across Asia and Mexico.

Countries including Australia, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Iran Mexico and Japan are earmarked for meat exports, while China, Japan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are some of the countries dairy exports will be targetting.

Launching the reports, Minister Creed said: The publication of todays reports represent the most detailed and broad ranging study of international opportunity ever undertaken on behalf of the Irish food and drink sector.

"Over the last six years, the value of Irish dairy exports has increased by 11pc, the value of our beef exports by almost 50pc, cereals and cereal preparations by 59%, seafood and seafood exports by 50pc, forestry exports doubled from 112million to 226 million and sheepmeat exports increased by 70pc."

He also said that in light of Brexit, Ireland must intensity its efforts further to diversify those international markets that offer the best potential for growth.

Total agri-food exports from Ireland exceeded 13 billion last year. Although the UK and European markets remain vitally important for Irish food and drink manufacturers, half of this growth came from markets outside of Europe, led by a six-fold increase in exports to China, a doubling to the rest of Asia and North America and a rise of 40pc in trade to the Middle East and Africa.

Today China is the second biggest market for Irish dairy while the US absorbs almost 45pc of Irish whiskey exports.

Speaking today Bord Bia CEO, Tara McCarthy, said Although the UK will continue to be the most important market for Irish food and drink manufacturers, changing global circumstances move the diversification opportunity centre stage."

The market prioritisation analysis will be reviewed annually.
Sligo County Council is counting the cost of a spate of gorse fires last year

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed face more questions in the Dail last week relating to the delay in payments to farmers who are part of a commonage at Killerry in Ballintogher, County Sligo.

It's just over a year since three gorse fires ravaged Killery Mountain, Geevagh and Lough Easkey/Ox Mountains at a cost to Sligo County Council of approximately 125,000.

Hundreds of acres of land were destroyed and a section of the Sligo Way boardwalk was damaged.

The Department of Rural and Community Development funded repairs to the boardwalk last summer.

However 33 farmers were notified by the Department of Agriculture that their Basic Payment would be reduced. They are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against this.

Farmers have withdrawn access to several walkways on rural mountains in South East Sligo in protest

Expand Close One of the signs erected by farmers at Crossboy crossroads. / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp One of the signs erected by farmers at Crossboy crossroads.

Raising the issue in the Dail again last week, Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin said one farmer effected told him that he is at the loss of about 40,000 and while others are at the loss of about 140pc.

I ask that this would be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Thirty farmers are involved in that commonage on which a fire occurred last year. It is time this matter was resolved in the interest of those farmers.

I have met them and they are certainly out of pocket, he said.

Minister Creed responded that he was not familiar with the detail of the commonage can have the matter investigated.

A Cloonacool based farmer says that the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, is in denial about issues that are affecting farmers in the region.

Eddie Davitt, Rural Development Chairman for the IFA in Sligo, has been left angered by what he calls the Ministers refusal to address the issues in Sligo and surrounding areas.

Davitt criticised the minister after farmers were fined following the fires in the Killery mountain last year.

"The way the Minister has dealt with this has been disgusting," Mr. Davitt told The Sligo Champion.

He continued: "Over 30 farmers are suffering because of this, and their livelihoods have been impacted.

"It has been raised a few times in the Dail and last week he basically said he knew nothing about it. That's insulting to us," he continued.

The impact of the fodder crisis continues to be felt by many farmers in the region, he said.

"The fodder crisis has been tough for everyone financially, physically and emotionally. It was a devastating year for farmers in the region.

"Costs have quadrupled for people. We had two high profile meetings in Sligo about the fodder crisis and nothing came out of that.

"They almost denied that there was a fodder crisis even happening.

"He doesn't live in the west of Ireland, he doesn't see the problems that we face on a daily basis here. The Minister has not acknowledged that this has been going on," he said.
Police arrest Gores accomplice

Police have arrested Rewanta Kumar Acharya, an accomplice of Chudamani Upreti aka Gore, the alleged mastermind of the 33kg gold smuggling case and subsequent murder of a carrier with electric shock.
Farmers will be allowed to kill badgers across England after an expansion of the culling program, which previously only allowed the animals to be killed in areas deemed to be at high risk of bovine TB.

Shooters are rewarded with a payment of up to 50 for each kill as part of the scheme, which has seen new guidance published that permits the killing of badgers in areas where cows are believed to be at a low risk of contracting bovine TB.

Bovine TB is thought to be spread by badgers and culling trials were introduced in the UK as a way of controlling the disease in 2013.

The trials were expanded to a larger area in 2016 and 2017.

Currently, badger culling is permitted in 21 areas of England where the disease is common.

The expansion means that culling will be permitted across most of the country, wherever there is an outbreak of bovine TB.

Implementation of the expansion could take place this autumn if applications for badger control licenses are approved by the Defra executive agency and culling licensee Natural England.

Decisions to allow badger culling in areas that are deemed low risk will be taken by ministers under a case-by-case basis, according to the plan.

Last year more than 19,200 badgers were killed through the badger culling scheme, down from the 39,364 that were killed in 2016.

Expansion of the culling programme has been opposed by animal rights organisations.

The RSPCA has urged a vaccination scheme and increased testing of cattle as an alternative to the cull, which it says is inhumane.

Natural England is facing two legal challenges in July connected to the badger cull programme.

The legal action is being led by Tom Langton, an ecology consultant, and is being funded by several animal rights groups including the Badger Trust and the Born Free Foundation.

The first legal challenge relates to a consultation that was carried out in 2016 and 2017 in relation to culling policy.

The second challenge relates to badger culling licenses for 2017 and argues that the ecological impact assessments were not done correctly.

Mr Langton told Farmers Weekly: There are a lot of animals in decline or rare species in the countryside and it doesnt take much to change their habitats before their fate is changed.

Both challenges will be heard in a are due to be heard at the High Court in London from 9 to 11 of July.

Most of the farming community support extending the badger cull into low-risk areas of England to tackle bovine TB, according to the results of a government consultation that ran from 16 February to 15 April.

Groups that support the expansion of the cull include the National Farmers Union, the British Cattle Veterinary Association, and the British Veterinary Association.

They say it will help stop the spread of TB in low-risk counties.

These included the NFU, the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), and the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

The number of cows that have succumbed to the disease has risen significantly over the last four years.

More than 42,000 cows were slaughtered prematurely in 2017 because they tested positively from bovine TB, up from 27,474 in 2014.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Calls have been made for meat factories to up the weight limit for payment on spring lamb.

ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks claimed the current weight limit is "ridiculously low at 20.5kg when it really should be a minimum of 22kg".

He said the weight limits being imposed by processors also means that farmers are having to sell lambs too early.

ICSA understands the butcher trade, which has traditionally underpinned the spring lamb trade, have been frustrated with lambs being marketed too light through the marts.

"Ideally, they are looking for carcass weights of 22+kg but with meat factories conditioning farmers into dubious lower weight limits, lambs at this optimum weight are scarce.

Brooks said these weight limits are also beginning to really hit hard now that we have seen factories imposing an unjustifiable 10 /head price drop this week.

"Factories have been far too quick to talk down the trade and indeed there are signals of a further unjustifiable price drop next week.

Mr Brooks has also called on Minister Creed to pay out the balance owed to farmers through the Sheep Welfare Scheme as a matter of urgency.

Balancing payments have been promised but so far have failed to materialise for many. ICSA understands that delays of up until the end of June are possible which is totally unacceptable.

In addition, Minister Creed needs to make an allowance for culling non-productive ewes at this time. This would require flexibility within the scheme but it is absolutely necessary to prevent a crash in ewe prices later in the year.

"With fodder and cashflow problems plaguing farmers this year, having to hold on to unproductive ewes makes no sense at all.

"Farmers should be allowed to sell theses ewes now with the provision to get their numbers back up by mid-September and still remain compliant with the scheme and avoid penalties.
Bombardier has landed a deal for up to 60 of its Irish-made aircraft  worth up to 5.15bn (4.5bn).

The aerospace giant, which employs around 4,000 workers in Northern Ireland, secured a firm order from airBaltic for 30 of its CS300 passenger jets, and the option for a further 30.

Based on book price, the deal could be worth as much as 4.5bn.

Meanwhile, Bombardier has unveiled two new luxury business jets which will be part-made in Belfast.

It will build two new private planes, the Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft.

The plane-maker already makes the forward fuselage, engine nacelles and other components for the Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets.

Earlier this year, Bombardier landed a contract American Airlines worth a potential 1bn for 30 regional jets, which are part-made in Belfast.

And in January, Bombardiers Northern Ireland workforce breathed a sigh of relief when the US International Trade Commission last month ruled in its favour after a challenge by American rival Boeing.

The firm had been facing a 292pc tariff on the sale of its planes to the US.
A top Deloitte executive has described his surprise at the casual reaction of Michael Fingleton to a litany of control lapses and governance failings within the organisation presented to the former head of the now obsolete Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) in 2006.

Colm McDonnell, who led the accountancy firms internal assessment of INBS before the crash and again in 2008, told the Central Banks ongoing inquiry into alleged regulatory breaches at the lender, that if he had brought this type of report to other management in a different organisation they would have had a completely different response

He claimed other clients would be somewhat embarrassed and would certainly make assertions to fix this problem rather than be more relaxed."

Pressed by Brian OMoore SC, of the legal team assisting the inquiry, for the right adjective to charactise Mr Fingletons attitude back then to the damning Deloitte report, Mr McDonnell said comfortable.

So he wasnt perturbed Mr OMoore asked. No Mr McDonnell replied and emphasised that Mr Fingletons view was: This is the way we do things.

INBS was nationalised in 2010 at a cost of 5.4bn.

Deloittes initial report of July 2006 focussed on the Society's commercial lending practices - a draft version was prepared in February of that year - and detailed four critical risk control and governance measures that required urgent attention by management.

He also identified that the credit committees terms of reference were not being fully adhered to, with insufficient attendance at meetings while loans were approved beyond the committees 1m ceiling. The inquiry has heard evidence over the past few weeks that loans over this threshold needed approval by the board.

Mr McDonnell said he had a vivid memory of the meeting with Mr Fingleton in early 2006 as it was in the Societys board room and he was sitting in the full glare of the sun, which he claimed was shining straight into my eyes.

A bad seat to pick, Mr OMoore chuckled. Unless it was given to you?

In his role as a witness to the inquiry Mr McDonnell told the three member panel, headed by solicitor Marian Shanley, that Deloitte had not been made aware of recommendations by KPMG or the regulator in 2006 nor later in 2008, when the global financial crisis was unfurling.

Deloitte was called in by the Society to examine INBSs books again following the 2006 assessment. According to Mr McDonnell Deloitte had also been asked by the regulator to broaden the scope of the audit expanding it to cover residential lending and certain other matters including the the credit committee.

In December 2007 the regulator had conducted an investigation of INBS top exposures, as part of a sweep of over half a dozen lenders, and in February 2008 again raised serious concerns with the Societys board about the organisations governance and controls procedures.

But Mr McDonnell claimed his team was not made aware of this and said it would have been helpful if he had been informed about these discussions.

This first phase of the Central Banks inquiry is focussed on alleged governance lapses by the Societys credit committee. The investigation centres on four former senior managers and executives, including Mr Fingleon. Next week Tom McMenamim, the former head of commercial lending at INBS will become the first of the four to give evidence and will be followed by the former head of finance, Stan Purcell as well as Mr Fingleton.
Virgin Media boss Richard Branson in Dublin in 2015 for the announcement that UPC Ireland was becoming Virgin Media

Virgin Media Ireland has acquired Waterford based Casey Cablevision for an undisclosed price.

Established in 1979, the family-owned Casey Cablevision provides pay-TV, high speed broadband and phone services to over 2,000 customers in Dungarvan and the surrounding areas.

"The Casey family were true pioneers of the cable industry in Ireland, they were the first to invest in fibre optic cabling which allowed them to offer high speed broadband to customers in the South East when the provision of such services was a distant dream for Irish consumers and businesses," Paul Farrell, vice president of commercial at Virgin Media Ireland, said.

"We look forward to working with our new colleagues in Casey Cablevision and delivering new opportunities for growth and expansion in the region."

Virgin Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Global. The acquisition will be subject to competition and regulatory approval.

In 2016 Virgin Media posted pre-tax losses of almost 11.28m on the back of falling customers. The company said that results were in line with management expectations.
Bombardier is beefing up its range of Global business jets as the Canadian aerospace giant bets on a sustained recovery in high-end business travel.

The company, which employs around 4,000 in Northern Ireland, yesterday said it expects to generate increased revenues from the two new longer-range variants of its existing large-cabin Global corporate jets.

The Global 5500 and 6500 jets are expected to offer a 13pc improvement on fuel and longer ranges compared with the plane- and train-maker's existing Global 5000 and 6000 aircraft. The jets will also have new wings, interiors and Rolls Royce engines among other upgrades, Bombardier spokesman Mark Masluch said.

The 5500 and 6500, which have the same bodies as Bombardier's current Globals, will be manufactured at the company's existing Canadian production lines.

The new jets are expected to receive certification in 2019, ahead of delivery by the end of next year and will drive a "premium price", Mr Masluch said.

The Global 5500, which lists for $46m (39.5m), has a range of 5,700 nautical miles and can connect Sao Paolo and Paris. The Global 6500, which lists for $56m (48m), has a range of 6,600 nautical miles and can connect Hong Kong and London, Bombardier said. (Reuters)
French President Emmanuel Macron and US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross are among the speakers at the 2018 OECD Forum taking place tomorrow and Wednesday in Paris. Key themes at the forum will be international co-operation, inclusive growth, and digitalisation.

Staying in Europe, and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is due to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the 'Future of Europe' tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, in the US Starbucks is due to shut 8,000 company-run stores for the afternoon to hold racial-bias training following the wrongful arrest of two black men in a Philadelphia store. On Thursday, G7 Finance and Development Ministers and Central Bank governors will meet in British Columbia where they are expected to discuss the topic 'Investing in Growth that Works for Everyone.'

Domestically, as AGM season continues, tomorrow Irish Residential Properties Reit will hold its AGM, followed by Total Produce on Thursday, and Gan on Friday.

The CSO will today release earnings and labour costs for the first quarter of 2018, as well as the retail sales index for April. On Wednesday, the CSO will release the aviation statistics for the first three months of the year.
From left, Pauline in her pram; Pauline's mother Alice (known to all as Harry); Gerald Massie-Taylor; his first wife-to-be; and his best friend

The idea bubbled up, unbidden, from the recesses of Pauline Bewick's subconscious and onto the canvas: A man holding a baby. An image of fatherhood. Simple, beautiful, quietly moving and so different from her usual motifs of motherhood, she says. She wondered if it was in some way "predictive".

"It sounds fanciful but I have had a habit of doing paintings that anticipated events, great and small," she explains from her home in the bucolic beauty of Caragh Lake in Co Kerry.

"For instance, just before the plane flew into the Hudson in New York in 2009 I painted an image of it. Many years before I painted an image of my two girls Irish dancing and they came running in and said 'we're doing Irish dancing in school!' It might sound odd, but I paint something before, and then it happens. This painting, of the father and child, which I did in the spring of last year, seemed very much like that. I normally do women with babies but fatherhood was at the forefront of my mind."

Tapping into the imagery of the subconscious has been partly what has sustained Pauline's long and successful career as one of Ireland's most prominent and iconic living artists - now in her 80s, she still paints every day. And on Thursday a major exhibition of her work entitled Painting Life Now opens at Listowel Writers' Week.

The subject of fatherhood had been very much on her mind. Earlier last year she and her daughters, Poppy and Holly, had made something of a pilgrimage to Northumberland to visit relatives of Pauline's. One of the main purposes of that trip was to put a beautiful headstone, with a Bewick Swan they had designed, on the unmarked grave of the man Pauline had thought was her father, Corbett Bewick.

Pauline had felt "sorry" that her father did not have a more beautiful gravestone. He was her father, she thought - and the evidence for this Englishman's paternity seemed more or less a settled fact.

Her mother Harry's husband Corbett had been an alcoholic, the marriage broken down, and Harry fled - moving from Northumberland to Ireland, where Pauline was mostly raised.

Corbett Bewick died at the age of 38 in a sanatorium, by which time Pauline was just three years old. She grew up in Co Kerry, thinking he had been her father. Members of the wider family had confidently assured her that she was a Bewick to her bones. The work on the headstone seemed to all of them - Poppy, Holly and Pauline - to "close the chapter" on fatherhood.

There was however just a tincture of doubt that niggled - and it emanated from what was presumed to be an apocryphal story her mother had once told.

"When I was a teenager, Harry, my mother, wrote that she was walking across a field near her house, and, towards her walked a young man", Pauline explains. "She wrote that as soon as she saw him she knew deep inside herself that something was going to happen.

Video of the Day

"She invited him to her house for tea and he accepted. When they got back she put her tired little girl, Hazel, my elder sister, to bed - and there and then they made love on the kitchen floor.

"The man's name was Gerald Massie-Taylor. At the time of this liaison he was 19 and my mother was 33."

The suggestion that this man might in fact have been Pauline's real father was always taken with a large grain of salt. The Bewicks came from a family of many wood engravers, and were descendants of Thomas Bewick, a famous wood engraver, who loved nature.

"I thought this must be where my artistic genes came from," explains Pauline. "And a Bewick relative had told me that this man, Gerald Massie-Taylor, had liked the dress my mother wore more than the body that was in it - implying that he had been gay!"

In her autobiography, released just a few years ago, Pauline had come to the final conclusion that Corbett, not Massie-Taylor, was her real father.

Pauline and her daughters discussed the likelihood and last year Poppy decided to investigate some online sites, settling on one called 23andme.com. The test involved Pauline spitting into a test tube and rubbing a cotton bud around in her mouth so that it picked up cells from her. Pauline undertook the test, along with her niece, whom they knew for a fact to be a Bewick.

"Nothing conclusive came up," Poppy explains. "Just that Mum was related to her niece, Hazel's daughter, which of course we knew.

"In the first months I looked into the site every now and then, but there was nothing but a long list of very, very distant relations. We gave up on it."

Every so often the list of DNA connections on this website would be updated as others, in different parts of the world, attempted to research their own geneologies. At one point a very distant relationship with the actress Meryl Streep emerged, but nothing that would solve the paternity riddle.

Poppy explains, "After about a year or so, I did look again and there was a new relative, an anonymous male relative, as closely related as a grandson. I sent a message to this relative, but nothing. Again I thought this was just a useless site and gave up.

"But on July 4, early in the morning before I got up, I idly thought I would look at Mummy's countries of origin, and there before my eyes was a photograph of a young man, who, I thought, looked a bit like us. His surname was Massie-Taylor, the surname of the young man my grandmother wrote about... I couldn't believe it. I raced down to Mum. "You aren't a Bewick after all! You are a Massie-Taylor!"

Poppy and Pauline composed a message to this relation who, they deduced from his age, must be Pauline's nephew. Initially there was no reply. Days passed with both women waiting on tenterhooks.

"Mum said we really should wait at least two weeks before we contacted him again," Poppy explains. "So I did and after two weeks I tried again. This time he got my message.

"I told him our story, saying a G Massie-Taylor was the person we were inquiring about. He checked, and asked us which G Massie-Taylor? I said that we thought it was Gerald. He would have been born around 1916."

"This is extraordinary", the man replied. "Believe it or not, Gerald is my father!"

And so it turned out that the man was Pauline's half-brother, not her nephew. Not only that but she has a total of eight new half-siblings, all living and dotted all over the world.

Gerald, it turned out, had been married three times after his kitchen floor tryst with Harry. Four half-sisters and four half -brothers, ranging from aged 75 down to 33, were the results of these unions. "And now Mum was a ninth sibling and the oldest of the Massie-Taylor siblings." Poppy explains. The revelation was all the more seismic because Pauline had hitherto had such a tiny family; her only known sibling was elder sister Hazel, who had died in her 50s. Her family had suddenly expanded hugely and initially it was somewhat overwhelming.

"It was a lot to take in but I really welcomed the news," she said. "I was thrilled at the prospect of these new people in my life. But of course it was so momentous to find out the truth after all these years, it took a while to sink in."

I wonder if Pauline felt she had been deprived of her birth father.

"Honestly, no, because I don't think there is that kind of responsibility on the parent's part; I think once you're born it is sort of up to you. I also never felt I had been deprived of anything because my mother had always made me feel so secure. According to my late sister, Hazel, Massie-Taylor used to come around to the house and bounce me on his knee."

Pauline has come to the conclusion that her mother was "very much in love with this younger man", but that she decided it was time to leave England. "She upped sticks and left for Kerry and that was it. She didn't like to look back, I think I may have inherited that from her.

"Looking to him for support would not have been her at all and it wouldn't have been me either. Why should this 19-year-old be responsible - she found him attractive, and that's all to do with her, basically."

After the initial DNA discovery, Poppy and Pauline were able to source pictures of Massie-Taylor and what struck Pauline most forcibly was how dashing and handsome Massie-Taylor had been. "He is absolutely amazing looking and if I wasn't his daughter I would have thought 'phwoar!'"

I wonder if she was surprised that her mother was seduced by this much younger man - had she been something of what Americans call a cougar?

"What's a cougar?" Pauline wonders, and when I explain its meaning - an attractive older woman with a taste in younger men - she laughs heartily and responds. "Well, yes, goodness me, I took after her then, didn't I?" Pauline quips, in reference to the relationship she had with a much younger man, a Tahitian, with whom she took up when she visited the South Seas in the 1980s.

Massie-Taylor had a singular life. He was in the British army and travelled to Bengal where his regiment all got typhoid - he was the only one to survive. He was in India when World War II broke out but instead travelled to Africa, and worked there as a game park ranger.

"He created a kind of zoo there and wrote a book called Joan's Arc, named after his second wife," Poppy explains. A relative of theirs wrote a note to Pauline, saying: "He was very attractive to women always but not a womaniser. He was a great listener, a very attractive trait to a woman in trouble. I'm so sorry that you will never get to meet your father."

While they never did meet, there were a number of strange coincidences that connected the lives of Gerald Massie-Taylor and Pauline.

"I was interviewed once by the author Jilly Cooper and, not long before, she had been in Africa and met Massie-Taylor," she explains. "Then, when I lived in London as an adult I lived quite near to him, just around the corner in fact. It was weird. We could have been standing beside him in the shops."

For Pauline, the knowledge that she suddenly had a large extended family made her excited to meet them.

"I had this tiny family, just my mother and my sister, and now I have this huge group of people. Poppy and Holly seem to understand all of the connections perfectly but I'm still learning. We want to have them all over at the same time time - to an island on Caragh Lake - but perhaps we'll have them in little batches instead. I would be the oldest sister of them all, so I can rule the roost, as it were," she says laughingly.

Pauline's creative fire burns as brightly as ever. "These ideas come up out of me and I'm not sure where they come from but I paint them and I enjoy it as much as I always did. I have three paintings on the go now, and they're all absolute beauties."

Her piece Philosopher in the Desert has recently found a new and permanent home in Belgium, at the heart of the European quarter in Brussels. It was unveiled last summer in the VIP room of the European Commission's Charlemagne building, which houses the Commission's visitor centre.

Pauline had a stroke a few years ago and says she now feels wonderful, "except when it comes to the business end of things, which is the only thing that really stresses me".

Pauline has kept the painting of the father and child - it has now assumed a special significance. And, in recognition of her new family, her signature, which adorns all her famous pieces, has changed.

"Now when I complete a painting I sign it Bewick as usual and then add a little M-T to indicate Massie-Taylor. This is to acknowledge that this is a very important part of my story. I have had the gift of another family, and it is the best gift of all."

Painting Life Now opens at Listowel Writers' Week on Thursday. On Saturday, June 2, at 5pm, Pauline Bewick will be in conversation with Niall MacMonagle at the Plaza Centre, Listowel. Tickets 12/15 from www.writersweek.ie
It was mid-way through 2017 when reports of trouble on the set of Solo: A Star Wars Story started to emerge. Much of the footage had already been shot when the ocean liner-sized film production based in Pinewood Studios in England ran aground after weeks rocked by stormy waters.

The project, the original story of the beloved Star Wars hero Han Solo, was thrown into crisis and the two directors at the helm, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, were fired. In the scramble that ensued to hire a new captain, the producers at Lucasfilm must have been looking for a safe pair of hands.

They then turned to veteran film director Ron Howard, director of The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixon and Apollo 13. Here was a man with a long illustrious career and two Oscars (Best Director and Best Picture for A Beautiful Mind) to his name. But while his track record in storytelling is assured, he'd never taken on a mega-budget franchise film of this scale.

Howard came to Star Wars as an admirer, rather than a die-hard fan - which was helpful, he says now, in his quiet hotel room, tucked away from the noise of the Solo promo circus going on outside. It meant he wasn't overly reverent. He could bring "a little bit of objectivity to it".

The problem with Lord and Miller, his predecessors, he explains, came down to "creative differences" between them and the company who hired them. The pair have built their reputation turning out family-friendly crowd-pleasing comedies with an identifiably tongue-in-cheek tone. The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street and Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, placed them among the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. But their signature approach proved to be ill-suited for a Star Wars movie. "It's like a culture. If you are making a movie that takes place in Paris, you want to get to the right street corners. And recognise which side of the river you are on and things like that," says Howard, adding that despite this, he found the existing team extremely receptive to new ideas.

Directing a Star Wars movie represented a whole new proposition for Howard, who has become best known for producing films that deal in psychological complexity. "It hasn't been a specific ambition," he says, to take on a blockbuster. "And yet, of course I've always had a little creative curiosity around the ways these movies transport an audience and can entertain you."

He agonised for a little bit about whether to do it. When the "opportunity appeared, I was very very cautious about it. But I didn't have a lot of time to react, which was maybe a good thing. And I really liked the story. And I liked the cast. Smart, young, charismatic cast. And I felt strongly that Alden (Ehrenreich, the break-out star who takes on the role of Solo) could pull this off."

The deciding vote was cast by his beloved wife Cheryl. She "knows me better than I know myself", he says. And she told him: "I think if you pass on this, you might wind up having regrets."

He can handle pressure and professional risk much more than "regrets" which he says are "something I never want to live with. I'd rather take a chance and be disappointed by an outcome, than feel like I didn't try. It was a bit of a leap but an interesting one."

Cheryl was his high-school sweetheart, has known him since the iconic family comedy of the 1970s Happy Days and she remains, after almost 43 years together, his most important sounding board. "She's amazing. And creatively adventurous herself, she's a novelist and has always been kind of a creative secret weapon that I've been able to lean on, too." The pair have four children together, and though two of their daughters, (Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard) have followed their dad into showbiz, they appear to be as close to the mythical, happy-go-lucky all-American family as it's possible to be.

Video of the Day

Perhaps it's this grounding which has allowed Howard to thrive and to survive, optimism intact, in an industry populated by sharks. Since his earliest days playing Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, Howard has been loved by the public and within his industry for his upbeat equanimity. It's not an easy task, to take on a semi-completed film as a rescue job, especially for a director who is used to finding projects and nurturing them from inception. How did he handle it? "I think the range of my experience has put me in a position to be able to come in quickly and not be intimidated by the logistics of it."

He gives a gracious nod to all the work that Lord and Miller had already put in. "I was very grateful for many of the aesthetic choices, certainly the cast, and a lot of the scene work, certainly the humour, that Chris and Phil had already brought to the project."

Does the pressure of a doing a job like this take its toll?

"I don't think it takes much of a toll," he says cheerfully. "I'm managing to stay healthy and happy. But I work hard and I try to be as prepared as I can be. I try to create as much structure around what can be a very chaotic process as possible."

Ultimately, he copes well in the filmmaking world because it's what he's always known. He first started out as a child actor while still in short trousers. "I've been in the business, doing this work, on these sets since I was four years old. So for me, it's a very comfortable environment. Sometimes it can be stressful, but it's familiar. And I sort of trust a process of collaboration and that kind of creative problem solving. And I'm always eager to share it with audiences. And in my career, more often than not, audiences have connected with the work. Sometimes they don't. That's part of the high-wire act and the thrill of the adventure. And at the end of the day that's what I think of all of these projects as - creative expeditions and personal adventures. I'm a pretty timid guy out in the real world. So I wouldn't be jumping out of airplanes or deep-sea diving or flying aerobatics or anything like that. The movies kind of provide an impetus to have these sorts of experiences."

If he's risk averse in his private life, it's at work that he feels it's "imperative" to let rip a little bit. "If you want to stay vibrant.

"I think it's a really interesting time in narrative movie making. And when I say movie making, motion pictures, I'm including television now. Because to me it's all blending together in really interesting ways. If this is your career, your life's work, it's a pretty fascinating moment. If you love a story, you can find the way to tell it. That's an exciting time."

Solo: A Star Wars Story is out now.
You know a story has gone global when Kay Burley sweeps into town to cover it. Sky's doyenne of live news has come to Ireland to ascertain the mood in the hours before the referendum vote and, as she travels from Co Clare to Dublin, sees "a divide between the city and country" and reckons the vote is "going to be incredibly tight" - predictions loudly contradicted by the exit polls a few hours later.

But being right is much less important than being entertaining and Burley's brilliant bluntness and plain-spoken questions make our own national broadcaster's referendum coverage seem almost stuffily British by comparison.

More than any other news anchor, she has the ability to make rolling live news interesting; in talking up the divide she is also drum-rolling the story.

She has happy memories of Ireland. It was here, a quarter of a century ago, that her former husband proposed to her.

"He did it in Stephen's Green and we went to Grafton Street afterward and bought the ring," she tells me.

"He was an A&E guy in the music business and there was lots of work here for him. I came along with him and wasn't expecting it, it was a lovely surprise. I fell pregnant quite soon after and had a boy, Alexander, who is 25 now."

Expand Close Sky News anchor Kay Burley at Dublin Castle on Saturday. Picture: Mark Condren / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Sky News anchor Kay Burley at Dublin Castle on Saturday. Picture: Mark Condren

Burley has long been one of the more controversial news journalists in British broadcasting, earning a reputation as a fearsome interrogator and what The Spectator called "the living embodiment of Sky, a cheeky, eye-rolling icon of populist telly".

Those eye-rolling moments have come thick and fast over the years. She once asked the girlfriend of serial killer Steve Wright if he would have committed the crimes had they had a better sex life.

She deliciously needled newly elected Labour leader Ed Miliband about his ousting of his brother David for the leadership of the party ("your poor mother!"). And her flaying of CEO Nick Varney in the aftermath of an accident on one of the Alton Towers theme park rides was riveting and cringeworthy in equal measure.

Does she ever come off air and think she went too hard?

Video of the Day

"I'm sure I must have some regrets, we all have regrets all the time, but generally when I go to do a tough interview I'm very aware beforehand what I want to ask," she says.

"Take, for example, the Alton Towers interview - the chief executive there did a very good job, he managed to tiptoe through the raindrops. Those children went to a theme park to relax after having done their exams and left there in an ambulance, with some missing some limbs.

"If I'd been the mother of those children I would have wanted someone to have been tough on him. The company subsequently lost a court case for 5m so I think I did quite a good job there."

She says people still bring up her interview with Peter Andre "all the time". "We were both very surprised when he cried [about Katie Price's new husband potentially adopting Andre's children]," she says.

"He was on to promote his book. I rarely go through my questions with anyone beforehand, but he knew what was coming and I was surprised he was so overwhelmed, and I'm sorry about that."

Since we are speaking in the days after Harvey Weinstein has turned himself in, I wonder if Kay herself as ever had to deal with sexual harassment or her own MeToo moments.

"I've worked in newsrooms for 40 years and the atmosphere has changed significantly in that time. Over that time, men have changed all through society, not just in media.

"One time I was at a party and there was a man who ran his finger up and down my spine and I turned around to him and said, 'If you do that again I'm going to punch your f***ing lights out'.

"Not all women feel that they can approach the situation in that way but I'm a tough Wigan streetfighter and I'm never going to be bowed."

So is it British classism - a distaste with a working-class girl rising above her station - that has made her such a lightning rod for controversy?

"I'm not sure it's class so much as I think there is a different view of women asking tough questions in our society," she says. "But hopefully I've gone some way toward breaking that prejudice since I've done more live telly than anyone else in the world, and I'm flying the flag for older women."

Part of that has been putting her best face forward. She's been open about the cosmetic surgery she's had done - she has admitted treating herself to a 10,000 facelift for her 50th birthday and now she has topped it up with Botox.

She explains: "I did my research, as I do with everything in my career, and saw a number of different people before I decided on the person who would do it [the facelift], who is the best person in the world at it, and I actually counsel a lot of the women whom he looks after."

If her taste in surgeons is impeccable, she has an unerring instinct for a good line. Burley recently won Broadcaster of the Year in London, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Laura Kuenssberg, and quips: "I've never actually won anything except for being second in a colouring competition in school. That was for keeping between the lines," - she pauses for a beat - "which I have never really done as a journalist."
Police arrest two armed robbers

Police have arrested two men in an armed robbery incident in which a remittance centre employee was shot at and robbed of Rs 900,000 cash in Dhangadhi, Kailali, on Sunday.
A few weeks ago on TG4 there was the very fine documentary about the concertina player Noel Hill, called Aisling Ghear (Broken Dream), and last week there was another very fine documentary on TG4, Biafra - Misean Dearmadta (Forgotten Mission).

I translate the two titles, as a public service, and I write about the programmes also as a public service, in the knowledge that very fine though they are, very few people will have seen them, because they were on TG4.

By now the world knows that I lament the death of public service broadcasting in its superior form, whereby these outpourings of excellence might be seen by accident, as it were, by viewers expecting to consume just the usual fare - such happy accidents have transformed the lives of many, whereas now these programmes of which I speak tend to be ghettoised, cordoned off into the "safe space", as it were, of a BBC4 or a TG4.

And, in Ireland, there is the extra complication that you probably have a better chance of getting your documentary made if it's got the bit of Irish in it, for TG4, but if it happens to be very good, it will not get the kind of viewing figures that a very good documentary deserves.

But I'll tell you about this Biafra programme anyway, because it really was high class. Indeed I may be dwelling on this "high class" theme because as I was watching this film about the work of the Irish missionaries in providing aid to the people of Biafra during the late 1960s, I would keep thinking about the subtleties of the Irish class system.

Which was part of the power of the film really, the fact that it was about this appalling civil war in Nigeria, and yet it was also about Ireland. These Holy Ghost Missionary chaps were clearly coming from quite privileged backgrounds back in the old country, and had gone out to rule over this "spiritual empire" of ours.

But by the end you were seeing them as the ruling class that Ireland never had, this elite corps of people of extraordinary ability, too much in fact, for this corrupt little country in which they'd been raised.

Here they were in Africa, on the side of the oppressed. Here they were, understanding enough about the modern world to turn this squalid civil war in an obscure region of Nigeria, into the first humanitarian disaster to be seen on global TV. Here they were with the logistical nous to organise night flights of aid supplies in such a way that it captured the imagination not just of everyone in Ireland, who donated millions to the cause, but of the international media.

These guys were good. Too good, you sensed, to be bringing their priestly gifts to bear on the leadership of their own land, in which their Church and others who had been to the same schools as them, would have taken a poor view of their progressive attitudes.

The nuns too, of the Holy Rosary Missionaries, were women whose abilities would have been largely wasted in the Ireland of that time, some of whom, indeed, were in Africa mainly because it wasn't Ireland, and because it enabled them to have some kind of an interesting life.

Video of the Day

So here we had a kind of an Irish Catholic ruling class, in exile from Catholic Ireland. Interestingly they were also up against the Brits in this conflict, the Brits who were protecting the plundered resources of their own empire.

On the whole, it is not a good idea to have our posh chaps going up against their posh chaps - a Varadkar or a Coveney will tend to have this attitude of besting their Etonian counterparts, with unhappy consequences for all the little people.

But then the Holy Ghost chaps were up against so many other bad actors in this situation, they didn't really have time for such games of elitist one-upmanship.

So we were left with the impression that what was happening here was obviously a tragedy for Biafra, but a kind of a tragedy for Ireland too. I do hope you get to see it some time.
Members of the public celebrate at Dublin Castle after the results of the referendum on the 8th Amendment. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Abortion will be legal in Ireland before the Budget in October, Independent.ie understands.

The Government is to bring forward the target date for implementing legislation on the back of the referendum landslide.

A substantial number of Fianna Fail TDs who campaigned against the introduction of terminations up to 12 weeks are now prepared to facilitate the proposal.

Health Minister Simon Harris will meet with officials today to discuss the fastest way of regulating the abortion pill and establishing clinical guidelines for GPs.

There is even an outside chance that legislation will be introduced before the Dail breaks for the summer in mid-July.

However, sources familiar with the process said it was more likely that the legislation would be published during the break with a view to having it debated in the Dail and Seanad in September.

The new deadline will ensure that peoples vote is acted upon in advance of the final Budget under the confidence and supply arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

All the signals were last night that TDs on the No side will not make any attempt to obstruct the legislation, raising hopes that it will be passed within weeks. Among the Fianna Fail TDs to tell the Irish Independent that they will either abstain or back the bill were Pat Casey, Kevin OKeeffe, Bobby Alyward, Declan Breathnach, John McGuinness, Charlie McConalogue, Willie ODea, Marc MacSharry, Eugene Murphy and deputy leader Dara Calleary.

How Did Your Constituency Vote? Final Results Ireland

Dublin Map Key Yes 55% 50% 55% No

Thomas Byrne, Anne Rabbitte and Mary Butler have also previously indicated they will not attempt to delay the new laws.

Eamon O Cuiv, who was among the most vocal opponents of the referendum, refused to state a position.

But Independent TD for Kerry Danny Healy-Rae, who is currently at the centre of a row filibustering on tougher drink-driving laws, said: There was an overwhelming majority in favour.

I still have reservations about the 12 weeks but in case anyone is worried, I will not be holding it up.

The Department of Health is to immediately begin work on putting the infrastructure in place to facilitate abortions in the health service.

Clinical guidelines will have to be drawn up by the medical colleges for the GP-led regime. These will include a 72-hour pause period before a doctor can prescribe the abortion pill.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority will also be asked to devise a system for the administration of the tablet, which is currently illegal here.

And Mr Harris will be under pressure to tighten up parts of the draft bill produced before the referendum. In particular, it is expected that the final version will give a much clearer definition of viability than is currently the case.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Harris confirmed: Ill be meeting with senior officials today to identify and plan the next steps.

I will go to Government tomorrow asking for formal permission to draft legislation. We will make sure this is an absolute priority.

The minister said he also hoped to reach out to opposition parties later this week because we are all united with the same goal here.

Meanwhile, the National Association of General Practitioners is to call an emergency meeting of its 2,000 members in the coming days to discuss what impact the decision might have.

The body said it wanted to engage with the department to establish a respectful, safe and supportive pathway for women in crisis pregnancies, but that family doctors had some concerns over resources.

Meanwhile, it has emerged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau phoned the Taoiseach on Saturday to congratulate him on the referendum result.

Mr Trudeau urged Leo Varadkar to liberalise Irelands abortion laws when he visited Dublin last year, saying choice was a fundamental human right.

Mr Trudeau also tweeted: What a moment for democracy and womens rights. Tonight, I spoke with Taoiseach [Varadkar] and his team and congratulated them on the Yes sides referendum victory legalising abortion in Ireland.

Mr Varadkar also received messages from UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Estonian Premier Juri Rattas. Mrs May tweeted: The Irish referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result.
Yes campaigners at Dublin Castle hold signs calling for change in Northern Ireland. Photo: Getty

The pro-life contingent in Dublin Castle on Saturday morning was conspicuous by its absence.

Or, at least, by its much-reduced presence.

Two women arrived early in the afternoon and shouted something about baby murderers.

You should be ashamed of yourselves, one of the ladies said to a group who had gathered around Health Minister Simon Harris.

Imagine if you had been aborted, she continued. And you call yourselves Catholic?

The crowd looked at each other stupefied. No, actually, a man in his 20s told them. We dont.

The confidence to shrug off the threat of Catholic shame  never mind the prospect of eternal condemnation  reflected the scale of the seismic social shift in Ireland, and the attitudes of our future generation of voters, the under 25s. While the campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment has been fought for decades, the push from younger voters gave it a new found momentum, and energy.

An astonishing figure of almost 88pc of young people voted in favour of repeal, with 200,000 joining the register in the past three years. Perhaps that explains why people including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy referred to the result as a youthquake. First coined by iconic Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland in 1956, youthquake became the Oxford English Dictionarys word of the year in 2017.

It is defined as cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people. The number of first-time and young voters in Dublin Castle was immediately apparent. Fresh faced and dressed in black, purple and blue repeal sweatshirts, they joked about their thirst for Simon Harris.

Sixth-year student Emma Jones (18), from Holy Faith secondary school in Dublin, was a first-time voter.

I think everything about this referendum has been ground-breaking, she said.

The turnout, the number of people registering for the first time, seeing the difference you can make.

I think, for people my age, it shows how important it is to speak out and voice your opinion.

She was joined by friend Daniel Bisset (16), who was covered in brightly coloured badges. While it will be another two years before Daniel can vote, seeing the impact the under-25s had on constitutional history has invigorated him.

I am running on about three hours sleep. I couldnt vote, but I wanted to be here today to show that I support women and body autonomy.

This demographic group is better educated and more liberated now than it was 35 years ago.

Back then, merely talking about abortion came with fear. Information about it was scarce  whispered conversations, hushed answers, and stories swept aside.

For law graduate Rebecca Lalor (23), from Co Westmeath, reading about past traumas encouraged her to vote Yes.

When you study the X Case, and you learn the facts, you want to be on the right side of constitutional history.

There are so many stories that have not been told and will never be told. Women who took their stories to the grave. Were here today for them.

No screens had been erected in Dublin Castle for the result. Politicians were keen the outcome wouldnt result in scenes of jubilation; the Taoiseach had stressed Fine Gael had no celebratory plans in place.

The final announcement would be made on a faint PA system. Regardless of that, thousands had still gathered in Dublin Castle.

Repeal royalty such as Ailbhe Smyth and Tara Flynn were met with huge cheers.

Voices for Choice choir sang Dont Stop Repealin to the tune of Journeys Dont Stop Believin, Prosecco was poured into paper cups, and a lady went around handing out After Eight mints.

Some commentators had expressed discomfort in groups celebrating the result. They believed celebrating a win was ultimately celebrating abortion. But for Andrea Horan, founder of repeal-focused womens platform The HunReal Issues, this was simply untrue.

This referendum has never been just about abortion. Its been about how we treat, respect and value Irish women, she said.

Meghan Holyland (23), shared this sentiment: Im so happy that my generation  who will raise the next generation  have ensured they will be taken care of.

Repeal means another woman will not have to go through what Savita Halappanavar did  that in itself is reason to celebrate.

Saturday was as much catharsis as celebration.

After the marriage referendum, the mood had been pure and unadulterated elation  parties, balloons, and street-side knees-ups.

Things were different this time. Liberation is always grounds for celebration, but here the subject matter was caught up with memories of traumatic journeys, lost lives, and years of stigmatised shame. As a result, the crowd went through a gamut of emotions during the day  moments of sheer happiness mixed with heartache.

After hours of waiting, we heard of the 1,429,981 Yes votes.

Then a low chant began to build. Initially, it was hard to figure out what was being said. But as the volume started to rise, it became clear. Theyre saying Savita, theyre saying her name, one woman gasped.

Some applauded, some locked in deep embrace, and others wept to think of what had been and, thankfully, what will never be again.
After the definitive Yes vote, a number of important questions remain, including when new legislation will be passed and how abortion services will be delivered in the future.

1. When will Government start work on legislation for termination of pregnancy in Ireland?

Health Minister Simon Harris will bring a request to Cabinet tomorrow to begin the drafting of the legislation. He will then set about turning the heads of bill in to full legislation.

2. The Taoiseach said he hopes to have the legislation enacted by the end of the year. Will we have to wait until then before women can access legal termination?

Theres a strong possibility that it could happen even sooner. This follows calls by pro-repeal groups for TDs to sit through the summer to debate and pass the legislation. The aim would be for this to be done by October.

Until then, the present law  the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act  which was introduced based on the constitutional provision of the Eighth Amendment, will continue to apply.

3. We saw quite a bit of acrimony and there was even fear of filibustering by some deputies during the initial debates. Also, the majority of Fianna Fail

TDs voted against the referendum bill. Could new abortion legislation be held up?

How Did Your Constituency Vote? Final Results Ireland

Dublin Map Key Yes 55% 50% 55% No

Given the absolute and overwhelming majority in favour of repeal, almost no TDs will try to block legislation.

Mr Harris is due to meet with opposition parties early this week to discuss facilitating the passage of the proposed legislation.

Ironically for such a divisive issue, this legislation should therefore pass through the Oireachtas quite seamlessly. Although never say never.

4. What other obstacles remain?

Quite a lot of engagement and consultation with the various medical professional bodies has to take place before a workable system regulating terminations can be implemented.

This could take some time. The Irish College of General Practitioners  the professional body for GPs  and the Irish Institute of Obstetricians will have a joint task group, and the IMO (Irish Medical Organisation), which represents doctors in Ireland, will be consulted about important practical considerations.

In particular, not all GPs or doctors will participate in providing abortion pills, so there will have to be a defined list of those doctors who intend to provide abortion services.

Other medical centres, such as the Well Woman Clinics, will likely also be authorised to dispense abortion pills.

The cost of the pill for women will also have to be decided.

It will likely be introduced as a normal part of the health service where it will be free for those who have a medical card.

However, ensuring it is affordable to everyone will be key to getting the service rolled out.

Meanwhile, training requirements for GPs in prescribing abortion pills will be needed for those who opt to provide the service to their patients.

Some bleeding disorders, medications and previous illnesses will mean it will be unsafe for some women to take the abortion pill.

GPs will need to be trained about such precautions.

Clinical guidelines for doctors in relation to the restrictions and limitations for when abortion is permissible will also be drawn up.
CHEERS: Repeal the Eighth campaigners celebrate the return of a Yes vote in the courtyard of Dublin Castle. Photo: Gerry Mooney

IN a way, its a wonder that we were surprised at all.

The image reflected back to us in the looking glass provided by the sweeping referendum results proved to be as familiar to us as that of our own faces.

It was a portrait of a wiser, more careworn Ireland that has learned the hard way how things can go  but has learned its lesson well.

Instead of becoming bitter and hard-hearted, we have emerged as gentle, compassionate and even more determined to shape a better future.

Expand Close A woman breaks down in tears as the results in the Irish referendum on the 8th amendment Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A woman breaks down in tears as the results in the Irish referendum on the 8th amendment Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The change in attitudes had happened so long ago there was no longer anything truly radical about it  and therefore the laboured translations of this surprising result from conservative Ireland by foreign pundits were slightly exasperating. They could have run this referendum 10 years ago and gotten the same result, an onlooker declared fiercely on Saturday.

Many who had returned in the Home to Vote wave had done so because they feared how elections have gone lately, citing both Trump and Brexit as examples.

But such toxic influences were powerless in the face of the truth which emerged in the form of personal, heartbreaking stories that were insistent and impossible to ignore.

We still feared how it might go, thinking that, perhaps, we knew only our own little bubbles.

So we wondered right up until the end, even in the face of two exit polls of crystal-like clarity.

Because you never know, people in the count centres warned each other.

In the end, though, there were no bubbles at all, and when all the dots were joined, the picture proved a true likeness of modern Ireland. With all its flaws yes, but, overall, an image we are happy to come face to face with in the mirror. An image we can improve upon.

There was neither an urban/rural divide nor a male/female divide. There was no class divide.

There was not even an age divide really worth mentioning.

In fact, the only divide that emerged was that between the electorate and the political class, which had been far too fearful to handle such a hot potato as the referendum and which had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the polling stations.

But as it proved, the people were relieved to finally be given an opportunity to grapple with their consciences and make hard decisions, having chosen to listen to courageous women and to their powerful personal stories.

From each and every one, we learned something new that moved us deeply and educated us further.

The requirement for balance in the media skewed the true picture on the ground, declared Dr Peter Boylan, at the RDS, saying he had known how women felt about the issue after working with them for more than 40 years. But I have to say this is not about doctors, this is about women, he said.

Even as the results were still unspooling, the last shreds of secrecy and shame were melting further away.

Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone and Dr Boylan were each met and thanked by a tearful woman who shared her own story of having to travel for a termination, young, frightened and alone.

To this day, 21 years later, one woman has never even told her own family for fear of what they might say.

Theyre a very traditional Catholic family, she said.

What had this result meant for her personally?

Im not ashamed any more, she said. The stigma is gone.

Amid the emotion and the unravelling narrative of the count results at the RDS in Dublin, the chairperson of the National Womens Council of Ireland, Ellen OMalley Dunlop, shared an intriguing story of being at the UN where she was hailed by two nuns who had given her a surprising thumbs up.

I met them afterwards and in low tones they had said we understand the complexity of pregnancy and we trust women, she said.

Then they added that if Jesus had been alive today, he would have been a repealer and would have used his vote for compassion, she added.

She said she wouldnt reveal the nationality of the nuns because it wouldnt be fair.

As more and more people squeezed into the courtyard at Dublin Castle prior to the official announcement of the final vote, it became clear that this rapturous, though still quite resolutely low-key, celebration was not merely about repealing the Eighth Amendment.

It was a powerful, deeply symbolic moment to stand in tribute to Irish women down the ages who had suffered so much at the hands of poverty, the Church, the government and society as a whole.

They all seemed to have a presence here  Ann Lovett, the 15-year-old schoolgirl who had died at a grotto while giving birth; Joanne Hayes, who only last January finally received an apology from gardai after the hounding she had received in the Kerry Babies saga.

Then, in the corner of the courtyard, a chant went up of Savita that brought a lump to the throat.

No wonder so many tears were shed.

But, already, you could feel the anger evaporating in the warm afternoon sunshine.

It was the start of the process of moving on  and it was truly a moment to savour. It felt healing.

The women who will actually benefit from this most wont have known any different, remarked Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley in the crowd.

So many women over the decades had been helpless and unable to share what they had suffered, shipped away under the cover of darkness when they should have been treated by their own doctor at home, he said.

Ruth Coppinger, the Solidarity TD, said this was a victory delivered primarily by young people, the generation often disparaged as snowflakes.

They were the ones who said enough was enough and made this an issue, particularly after the tragic and unnecessary death of Savita Halappanavar, she added.

Thats it now  there are no big landmark ones left, declared a civil servant as he stood on the steps of the media centre, recalling the marriage equality moment.

Sometimes to live in interesting times turns out not to be a curse after all.
Anti-Repeal campaigners have vowed to continue their opposition to the Government's planned legislation on abortion as well as any prospect that abortion clinics could open in Ireland.

The Save the Eighth campaign described the referendum result as a "tragedy of historic proportions" while pro-life campaigner Cora Sherlock said it was "an extremely bad day for Ireland".

Senator Ronan Mullen meanwhile, said he would work "to try and curb the worst excesses of what the Government is proposing".

He said that there was a new generation of young people in the pro-life movement who would work on rebuilding a culture in Ireland "where the need to protect the unborn becomes the most popular, widely-held view again".

Save the Eighth said: "A wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it," and added: "The unborn child no longer has a right to life recognised by the Irish State. Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation."

And it warned: "If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the Government to keep their promise about a GP-led service, we will oppose that as well. Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known. Abortion was wrong yesterday. It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not."

Ms Sherlock said that the result amounted to voting for "the ending of human life" and she said she is personally "very, very upset" at the outcome.

She said the pro-life movement will continue its pursuit of keeping Ireland abortion-free.

How Did Your Constituency Vote? Final Results Ireland

Dublin Map Key Yes 55% 50% 55% No

She said they will "regroup and find out what our next move is".

Ms Sherlock said they will discuss whether they will now focus on pushing anti-repeal TDs in the Dail to block legislation.

She claimed that "scaremongering and frightening women" went on "wholesale" during the campaign by pro-repeal activists who created doubt about healthcare provisions for pregnant women in hospitals.

Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath said he hopes the Government will only legislate for abortion in "limited cases" and he will examine and debate the proposed legislation when it is put forward. He said he will not be doing this "obstructively" because the people have voted. But he said he hoped any law that is passed will reflect the views of No voters as well.
Crowds at Dublin Castle yesterday at the announcement of the referendum result. Picture: Mark Condren

Ireland has decided by a massive majority to repeal the Eighth Amendment, at once ending a long divisive debate about the availability of abortion services and ushering in a new era of a woman's right to choose.

In a seismic outcome to a contentious referendum, people across the country have voted in record numbers and at an unforeseen scale to remove the controversial constitutional amendment which recognises the equal right to life of the mother and the unborn.

The Government will now introduce legislation which will, among other measures, allow for abortion without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy without specific indication.

As the scale of the referendum result - Yes 66.4pc to No 33.6pc - became apparent several politicians who opposed the proposal immediately announced they would not oppose the will of the people and would now support the new Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described the astonishing poll result a "quiet revolution" and promised the new legislation would be enacted before the end of the year.

The Taoiseach described the result as: "The day Ireland stepped out from under the last of our shadows and into the light.

"Today, we have a modern Constitution for a modern people."

The emotional victory for women's rights was celebrated the length and breadth of the country as it became clear voters were strongly influenced by the personal stories of those affected by the Eighth Amendment.

An RTE exit poll confirmed the powerful personal testimonies of women who bravely spoke out during the campaign was one of the most influential factors in securing a Yes vote.

Minister for Health Simon Harris, who spearheaded the Government's campaign, said he would seek permission at this Tuesday's Cabinet meeting to immediately begin legislating for abortion.

During emotional scenes at the referendum count centre in Dublin's RDS, Mr Harris said: "Under the Eighth Amendment, women in crisis pregnancy have been told take the plane, take the boat... today we tell them, take our hand."

The father of the late Savita Halappanavar, who died after being refused a termination, said Irish voters had done justice to his family, and said the new abortion legislation should be called after his daughter.

"We are really, really happy. We have one last request, that the new law, that it is called 'Savita's law'. It should be named for her," Andanappa Yalagi said.

By yesterday afternoon, thousands of Yes voters had gathered in Dublin Castle to celebrate a resounding victory where supporters openly wept with joy and hugged as the official results were announced.

The revolution was evident from the moment the ballot boxes were opened in urban areas such as Dublin where more than 70pc voted Yes, to traditionally so-called more conservative constituencies in Connacht/Ulster and Munster, who also supported repeal by a comfortable majority.

The stunning scale of the decision was evident among women first and foremost, but also men and across the generational divide, with majorities aged in their 50s and 60s also saying Yes in overwhelming numbers.

Only those over the age of 65 voted against repealing the Eighth Amendment, and Donegal was the only constituency in the country to vote No, where 51.9pc voted against the referendum.

Even Roscommon, which was the only county to oppose gay marriage, backed the national trend this time - some 57pc supported repealing the Eighth.

The predicted rural-urban divide in the run-up to the referendum, which led to fears that a strong majority in the East would be counterbalanced by opposition from the West, did not happen.

Not only did the major towns and cities vote emphatically Yes but mainly rural constituencies also voted to repeal by significant majorities.

While support was strongest in key urban areas, especially Dublin, it was clear from early yesterday morning that rural voters were happy to bring about a sea-change to Ireland's abortion laws.

The result in constituencies in Connacht/Ulster was the big surprise.

Galway East, where many predicted a No vote, was the first constituency to return a result, a resounding 60.2pc Yes win.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the referendum result showed "there isn't two Irelands - Dublin and the rest" when it comes to giving women the choice to decide.

"What we have seen, particularly in the last 10 days, is a huge amount of undecided people wanting reassurance and who could no longer accept the status quo."

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said the huge margin for Yes in the referendum means Mr Harris will be "immeasurably strengthened" when it comes to putting enabling legislation through the Dail and Seanad.

"He displayed extraordinary leadership on this issue. He set targets and a timetable - and every single aspect of it was met," Ms Zappone said.

Ms Zappone also welcomed signals from Fianna Fail TDs who backed the No side in the referendum that they will not now oppose the upcoming legislation.

"I am really pleased to see my Fianna Fail colleagues respecting the will of the people,'' she said.

Earlier in the day, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he had been assured by pro-life TDs in his party that they would not seek to block the new abortion legislation.

Senior Fianna Fail TDs, including deputy leader Dara Calleary and prominent No campaigner Mary Butler, committed to allow the new law pass through the Dail.

However, other No campaigners said they would seek to prevent the "worst excesses" of the Government's proposed abortion regime.

The Save the Eighth campaign described the referendum result as a "tragedy of historic proportions" while pro-life campaigner Cora Sherlock said it was "an extremely bad day for Ireland".

Senator Ronan Mullen said he would work "to try and curb the worst excesses of what the government is proposing".

He said that there was a new generation of young people in the pro-life movement who would work on rebuilding a culture in Ireland "where the need to protect the unborn becomes the most popular, widely-held view again".
Power to the party

It is widely known that the politicisation of the civil service has been a major reason for its underperformance, especially since the democratic transition of 1990. There are trade unions affiliated to all major parties in the bureaucracy, and this has led to factionalism and service delivery. The current government has now come up with a draft bill to address this problem. The bill proposes abolishing unions affiliated to parties and creating in its place a single union, which is supposed to be apolitical in nature, to represent all civil servants.
Senior Catholic bishops acknowledged that the Church must "ruthlessly" examine its place in a society that has changed hugely in recent years.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin referred to an exit poll finding just 12pc of voters cited religion as a factor in their referendum choice.

In notes for a homily delivered at Maynooth, Dr Martin said the Church is seen by many as somehow lacking in compassion.

Dr Martin admitted many people would see the referendum result as an indication the Catholic Church in Ireland is regarded with indifference today by many and has a marginal role in the formation of Irish culture.

Ordaining four new deacons yesterday, he said: "These deacons will go out into a world where a lot of people think that the message of the Gospel is irrelevant or where people interpret the Gospel for themselves," he told the Irish Independent.

However, he rejected headlines describing the result as a hammering for the Church.

"One has to ask 'what is the place of religion in Irish society and what is the place of the Church in Irish society?' We have to be ruthless in looking at the reality. The question is 'how do we reach out into society?' We have to be very careful that we don't end up talking to ourselves."

He also expressed disappointment over the scenes of jubilation at Dublin Castle when the result was announced. "This isn't something that you rejoice over - abortion is always a tragic thing for everybody."

Meanwhile, Archbishop Eamon Martin said in his homily in Knock that the result confirmed the Church was living in "a new time and a changed culture for Ireland".

"Like many others who advocated a No vote in the referendum, I am deeply saddened that we appear to have obliterated the right to life of all unborn children from our Constitution and that this country is now on the brink of legislating for a liberal abortion regime. We have elevated the right to personal choice above the fundamental right to life itself."

Dr Diarmuid Martin urged the Irish Church to renew its commitment to support life. "The Church is called to be pro-life in deeds."

Both archbishops underlined that as women will continue to face crisis pregnancies, new ways must be found of supporting them and their unborn children. "What new supports, apart from the option of abortion, will be in place for mothers and fathers at the point of crisis?" Archbishop Eamon Martin asked in Knock.

In Co Limerick, Bishop Brendan Leahy acknowledged there were mixed emotions among those at Mass, with congregations including people who voted both Yes and No.

"Those who voted No did so with compassion particularly for the unborn child. Those who voted Yes did so with an eye particularly on the mother carrying that child."

Reiterating the Church's teaching on life, he said the referendum result was "deeply regrettable and chilling for those of us who voted No".
British journalist Rachel Johnson is facing a backlash after praising Sky News for covering the referendum in "clear English, not Gaelic".

Ms Johnson, who is the sister of British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, gave "huge praise" to Beth Rigby and Kay Burley for "world-class award-winning reporting every step of the way of this powerful and moving and divisive story".

She said they "helped comprehension in mainland UK by speaking in clear English, not Gaelic, throughout".

The comments were met with derision on social media by users criticising her use of the phrase "mainland UK" and apparent unhappiness with Gaelic.

However, last night Ms Johnson tweeted an apology: "I made a moronic reference to 'Gaelic' in my tweet...and Twitter has rightly pointed out in how many ways I fecked up in using that word. Sorry."

The Sky News team was among more than 300 journalists accredited for Dublin Castle, ensuring the story of the referendum travelled the globe.

Photographs from the castle featured prominently in international newspapers, including on the front of the 'New York Times' and the 'Daily Telegraph'.

Several media outlets remarked how the vote was a blow to the already weakened authority of the Catholic Church.

The 'New York Times' said the "surprising landslide, reflected in the results announced on Saturday, cemented the nation's liberal shift at a time when right-wing populism is on the rise in Europe and the Trump administration is imposing curbs on abortion rights."
A FAIR City star who punched and bit his former partner has been spared a jail sentence.

Actor Patrick Fitzpatrick, 33, who played Carrigstown villain Zumo Bishop for six years in the RTE television soap, appeared at Dublin District Court today for sentencing. He received a 12-month probation bond for the attack.

He pleaded guilty earlier to assault causing harm to Theresa Gannon at his home at Hollytree Terrace, Ballymun, on Sept. 4, 2015. The charge was under Section Three of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The offence, at district court level, can carry a sentence of up to one year.

Judge John Lindsay noted Fitzpatrick had complied with his order, made at an earlier stage, to pay 2,000 to his former partner. He was also furnished with an updated probation report on the accused as well as a reference from an employer.

Defence counsel Simon Donagh asked the judge to note his client had engaged positively with the Move organisation which helps address domestic violence. He said Fitzpatrick was going to AA, however, the judge pointed out the probation report stated he had not been attending.

Mr Donagh explained there had been a gap but Fitzpatrick was now going again, three times a week.

Expand Close Theresa Gannon / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Theresa Gannon

Judge Lindsay remarked that a good probation report on Fitzpatrick had been furnished to the court and told him, Well done, adding that he was imposing a 12-month probation bond.

He said Fitzpatrick must continue attending and complete a 26-week course at Move. Fitzpatrick told the judge he was already in the third module of the course.

He said I am, yes when asked to confirm he had gone back to AA. He also explained he has been attending addiction counselling.

Asked how long he expected that to last, he told the court, Theres no time or date on it.

Finalising the case, Judge Lindsay said he must continue attending these services as a condition of his probation bond.

At an earlier hearing, Garda Niall Carolan had told Judge Lindsay that Fitzpatrick bit the womans upper arm but did not break skin. He has also said the actor then punched her twice on the side of her jaw.

Photos of her injuries were shown to the court.

She suffered bruising and a medical report on her was furnished to the court.

Garda Carolan has told the court the victim has made a full recovery.

In February last year, Judge Lindsay had suggested the sum of 2,000 should be paid to Ms Gannon. The defence had asked for the actor to be given time to come up with all the money which was fully paid in instalments.

Fitzpatrick played Fair City gangster Zumo Bishop for six years, from 2007-2013 and briefly reprised the role last year.

His fictional on-screen hard-man alter ego was at the centre of some of programme's biggest stories in recent years. Fitzpatricks other acting roles included a part in horror film City of Hate.
The latest move to reduce Catholic Church control of primary education is under way, with parents of pre-school children being surveyed about school choice.

Parents in 16 areas or towns are being asked whether they want control of a local Catholic school to transfer to a non-religious patron.

These are locations where there are deemed to be enough schools, but an absence of diversity in patron type.

The surveys will be completed within a fortnight and where there is demand for change, the local bishop will be asked to engage in discussions about a handover.

Assessing support for a change of ethos is not the only focus - the surveys will also elicit views on whether parents want one of their local schools to become a Gaelscoil.

This is the second attempt to act on the recommendation of a 2012 report for change of patronage of some of the 90pc of Catholic-controlled primary schools. The previous initiative saw only about 10 schools changing hands.

Education Minister Richard Bruton said the new process would draw on the lessons from the previous model, such as the importance of live transfers and the downsides of having to await school closures or amalgamations.

At this stage, parents are not being asked to identify or vote for an alternative patron of choice - only whether they want a multi-denominational/non-denominational school and, if so, whether it should also be Irish-medium.

The process, known as Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity, is being led by local education and training boards (ETB), although the surveys are being conducted by city and county childcare committees, which operate under the Department of Children.

Each ETB selected a town or area within its region where it felt there was a desire for greater school choice. Surveys in other areas will follow.

All parents/guardians of children in the Early Childhood Care and Education programme - approximately 95pc of three to five year olds in each of the areas - will be offered the opportunity to participate.

The 16 areas are: Athlone, Co Westmeath; parts of Dublin 1; Tullow, Co Carlow; Kinsale, Co Cork; Laytown/Bettystown/Mornington/Donacarney, Co Meath; Athenry, Co Galway; Kenmare/Sneem, Co Kerry; Skerries, Co Dublin; Claremorris, Co Mayo; Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Co Donegal; Ennis, Co Clare; Roscrea, Co Tipperary; Waterford city; Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; Bray, Co Wicklow; Edenderry, Co Offaly.

The surveys represent the identification phase. The next stage will be the implementation phase, involving, initially, an analysis of the results by each ETB and a report for the Department of Education, which will be published.

Where demand for change exists, the survey results will form the basis of discussions with the most prevalent patron/landowner in the area - the Catholic bishop in most cases - concerning the transfer of a school, followed by a public meeting of parents to consider the choices.

The department has also confirmed that, independent of the process, there are three to four primary schools currently under Catholic patronage which have set moves in train for a direct transfer to another patron, an option open to any school community.
Burglary gangs are targeting new homeowners the week they move into their dream houses, stealing expensive kitchen appliances worth thousands of euro.

A family whose new house was broken into along with four others in the same estate on the same night is now warning others to be vigilant of organised burglary gangs stripping out pristine kitchen appliances.

Ciaran O'Donoghue and his partner and baby had only signed for their house in the Cois na Mara estate in Bettystown, Co Meath, on May 1 when it was burgled that night.

Their cooker and hob, which had never been used, were stolen after the burglars popped the lock on the back door.

"Four other houses were done on the same night.

"It's obviously an organised group who know exactly what they are looking for," Mr O'Donoghue told the Irish Independent.

Gardai have confirmed five houses were broken into between 5.30pm on May 1 and 7.30am on May 2.

They are looking at the possibility that an organised group is targeting new estates because many of the homes are empty, there are few witnesses, and the appliances and white goods they steal are brand new and easily sold on.

"It wasn't the ideal way to move into your brand new home. It's a stressful enough thing without that trouble," said Mr O'Donoghue.

It comes as new research shows burglary rates increased by more than the national average in 18 counties, with eight counties showing increases in excess of 30pc.

The Phonewatch Burglary Report also shows the commuter belt was particularly badly hit, with the highest increase in the country recorded in Westmeath (44pc), while there were also significant increases in Kildare, Wicklow and Meath.
Gardai  who have asked the public for help in finding his missing phone  search the area. Picture: Ciara Wilkinson

The entrance to the field where the body of Cameron Reilly was found. Picture: Caroline Quinn

The body of the 18-year-old was found in a field near Dunleer, Co Louth, at around 8.30am on Saturday

Gardai are investigating if a young person known to Cameron Reilly murdered the teenager in front of a number of youths.

The body of the 18-year-old was found in a field near Dunleer, Co Louth, at around 8.30am on Saturday.

The teenager had been socialising with up to 20 young males and females in the field near the Rivervale area in the hours before his murder.

A senior source last night said gardai were appealing for the people who were with Cameron before his murder to come forward.

Expand Close Cameron Reilly / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Cameron Reilly

"At this stage, it appears that a row occurred which led to his death, but the motive has not yet been established.

"Gardai believe a number of people may have been present when Cameron was murdered, and would urge them to come forward," the source told Independent.ie.

Gardai are investigating if he was killed by a person known to him, and if a number of young people may have been present when the killing occurred.

No arrests have yet been made, but gardai have spoken to a number of Cameron's friends to gather information on his movements prior to his killing.

Expand Close The entrance to the field where the body of Cameron Reilly was found. Picture: Caroline Quinn / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The entrance to the field where the body of Cameron Reilly was found. Picture: Caroline Quinn

A missing mobile phone, which belonged to Cameron, is also being searched for and may prove crucial to the investigation.

Last night, investigators appealed for people in the locality to check their bins, as the phone may have been dumped by the killer. Inspector John O'Flaherty said: "We are particularly appealing for assistance from the public to locate Cameron's phone, an Apple iPhone 8 (64GB) with a green hard back cover, grey in colour.

Expand Close Gardai  who have asked the public for help in finding his missing phone  search the area. Picture: Ciara Wilkinson / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Gardai  who have asked the public for help in finding his missing phone  search the area. Picture: Ciara Wilkinson

"We would ask home and business owners in Dunleer to check their property, including wheelie bins and waste skips. We would also ask anyone offered a phone for sale as described to contact us."

In a heart-breaking Facebook post, Cameron's mother Tracy Glass thanked the local community and paid tribute to her son.

"Thank you to each and everyone of you, our hearts are broken in a million pieces. My beautiful son love u to the moon and back," Ms Glass wrote.

A post-mortem examination, carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan, confirmed Cameron died in "violent circumstances".

A source told Independent.ie the cause of death had been established as strangulation.

CCTV footage from a local takeaway, not far from where the teenager's body was discovered, shows his last known movements.

Cameron was in Enzio's takeaway and pizzeria in Dunleer at around 12.30am on Saturday.

"He was in here with a group of friends, young men and women around his own age, but everything seemed normal," said one staff member. "Cameron would be in here quite often with his friends. He was a quiet type of guy and never any trouble. It's hard to believe what happened. We were all shocked when the gardai came in to take away the CCTV footage," he added.

It is believed the footage showed Cameron walking in the direction of his grandparents' house in the Beechwood estate, just off the Ardee Road, but he never arrived.

The field where the young Dundalk Institute of Technology student's body was found is beyond the entrance to the estate.

Local parish priest Fr Michael Murtagh said he had known Cameron for 12 years through national and secondary school and was a "delightful kid to watch growing up".

"Because he lived locally, I would have met him almost daily in the park," Fr Murtagh said.

"He was a very shy, quiet, respectful kid, always out playing with lots of friends.

"His family are very quiet, and are a family who set very high standards for themselves, and Cameron is not the kind of young man who you would expect to get into any trouble.

"He would be in the green area between where I live and the church. He would greet you, smile at you with a very shy kind of smile."
Gardai at the scene in Cherrywood, Co Dublin, where Mark Hennessy (above right) was shot dead. Jastine Valdez (inset left). Photo: Arthur Carron

JASTINE Valdez will live on through her heartbroken parents, who will bring her remains back to the Philippines tomorrow, a memorial for the murdered student has heard.

Ms Valdez (24) was murdered by Mark Hennessy after he kidnapped her from near her home in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow on May 19.

Gardai found him at the Cherrywood Business Park on May 20 and he was shot dead, Jastine's remains were discovered last Monday, May 21, following an extensive search.

Mark Christopher Congdon, Honorary Consul for the Philippines in Ireland, said that he will travel with her devastated parents Teresita and Danilo to the Philippines tomorrow for her funeral service.

He thanked the public for their support and commended Terresita and Danilo for their "sincere compassion" towards the Hennessy family.

Mr Congdon this afternoon released a statement that he read at a memorial held for Ms Valdez on Saturday: "There is sincere compassion - compassion for the Hennessy family left behind as innocent victims of a cruel fate.

Expand Close Mark Hennessy / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Mark Hennessy

"Tess and Dani understand this horrific pain and have shown incredible strength, understanding and sympathy for their plight while in the midst of the worst calamity imaginable.

"Their depth of strength and empathy is both formidable and understanding."

Mr Congdon continued to say that the accountancy student will live on through those who knew her.

"Filipino and Irish, hand in hand, in solidarity, compassion and grief.

"That spirit has been expressed in many forms, in words and deep regret, in silent tears, in families coming together in a single home to pray for Jastine, Tess and Dani, in attending the many prayer vigils across communities scattered across Ireland, in the 4,458 kind people who have made silent donations to the Jastine Valdez Memorial Fund, in the many amazing friends who have supported Terresita and Danilo in the last few horrendous days," he noted.

"Let me turn to the spirit of love and compassion, this spirit has shone from the Valdez home like a beacon of light in a dark tunnel of torment.

"The obvious un-abounding light of love for Jastine, unconditional, pure and absolute.

"Jastine will be greatly missed but never forgotten, always in the hearts of her mum and dad and the hearts of the Filipino and Irish nations, bound together forever in grief in Jastine's name...

"Jastine Jeryle Valdez will always be loved and remembered as the cherished, beautiful, fun loving, hard working, devoted daughter and grand-daughter of the Philippines who has been adopted into the hearts of the people of Ireland as one of our own forever more."

The Valdez and Hennessy families said in a joint statement released through gardai on Sunday evening that they met last week to extend their respects to each other.

Expand Close Gardai at the scene in Cherrywood, Co Dublin, where Mark Hennessy (above right) was shot dead. Jastine Valdez (inset left). Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Gardai at the scene in Cherrywood, Co Dublin, where Mark Hennessy (above right) was shot dead. Jastine Valdez (inset left). Photo: Arthur Carron

"In the midst of our grief, both the Valdez and Hennessy families met on Friday morning where we exchanged sympathies with each other on the tragic circumstances that resulted in the loss of our respective love ones.

"Both families request privacy at this very difficult time," said the statement.

Hennessy's father told mourners at a private funeral for his son in Harold's Cross on Saturday that his family was "broken".

Expand Close Last Journey: More than 100 people attended the funeral of murderer Mark Hennessy in Dublin yesterday. Picture: Fergal Phillips / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Last Journey: More than 100 people attended the funeral of murderer Mark Hennessy in Dublin yesterday. Picture: Fergal Phillips

"For the past week, I have been waking every morning to see my darling sweetheart wife broken, broken," he said.

"I look at my sons and my daughters and they're broken. I look at Mark's uncles and auntie, cousins, nephews, nieces and his beautiful, beautiful daughters and they're broken and I can't fix them.

"To all the people who have come here today and to all of the people who have come through home, offering the shake of a hand, a cuddle, a peck on the cheek, words of encouragement - thank you for coming into this nightmare to help us, because you have helped us so much more.

"To every single person on this planet who has had a kind thought for us, thank you - thank you," he added.
Digital evidence could be manipulated and used to stage crimes or affect trials, cyber-psychologist Mary Aiken has warned.

Dr Aiken, who is an adjunct associate professor at UCD, spoke at a Bar of Ireland conference about the dangers she fears could be posed to the criminal justice system by maliciously manufactured evidence.

"I get very worried when I see convictions based on cell tower pings and mobile phone text messages, when both of these are eminently hackable," she said.

Such forms of evidence have proved crucial in a number of high-profile cases, such as those of convicted murderers Graham Dwyer and Joe O'Reilly.

But Dr Aiken said the world was moving towards a place where more and more people have the skill sets to manipulate such evidence.

"We all know about the staging of real world crime scenes. What we have got to factor in is the potential for cyber staging, the cyber manipulation of evidence," she said.

"I think going forward reasonable doubt can be introduced around the digital evidence.

"I would hate to see prosecutions that were solely reliant on that form of evidence, particularly as you have this exponential curve in terms of technology and skills."

The Bar of Ireland's 'Defamation Nation' conference was held in Malaga, Spain at the weekend.

The legal conference also heard warnings that jury trials are being put in jeopardy by the internet and social media.

A number of speakers raised the difficulties posed for the criminal courts by social media commentary and other online material, as seen during the Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding rape trial in Belfast and the Jobstown water protest trial in Dublin.

Jeopardy

Vincent Crowley, chairman of national newspaper body NewsBrands, warned that the Belfast and Jobstown trials were put "in jeopardy" by "unchecked social media comment".

Both trials attracted unprecedented levels of potentially prejudicial commentary online and frequent warnings had to be issued by the judges involved that jurors stay away from social media. In the Belfast case, after the defendants were acquitted, defence lawyers complained that several days of the trial were lost due to problems thrown up by social media material.

That trial also prompted calls for measures to be taken on both sides of the Border to curb the threat of social media to criminal cases.

Former attorney general Michael McDowell, a senator and barrister, described jury trials as "one of our lasting civil liberties" and said he didn't trust the judiciary "over time to be fair triers of criminal law in the main".

But he added: "Jury trial is imperilled by the internet. Nobody should be under any illusions about that."

However, Liam McCollum QC, chairman of the Bar of Northern Ireland, told the conference that people could have confidence in the North's legal system.

He said that the Belfast rape case was decided on the evidence put before the jury and nothing else.

"The truth of the matter is, and this is something we can all take comfort in and have confidence in, the legal system actually dealt with it," said Mr McCollum, a highly experienced prosecutor.

"The case was not decided about text messages, it wasn't decided about WhatApps, it wasn't decided about what was on the internet. It was decided upon the evidence that was given in the court.

"We have to hope that will remain the case going forward because that is what the legal system is all about."
Pre-labour permits for Malaysia halted

The process of sending workers to Malaysia, one of the most popular labour destinations for Nepalis, has been halted temporarily with the government closing pre-labour permissions, the first step in migrant worker recruitment.
Last Journey: More than 100 people attended the funeral of murderer Mark Hennessy in Dublin yesterday. Picture: Fergal Phillips

THE family of murdered student Jastine Valdez has met with the family of her killer Mark Hennessy, it has emerged.

Hennessy murdered Ms Valdez (24) after kidnapping her from near her home in Enniskerry in Wicklow on the evening of Saturday, 19 May.

He was located by gardai at 8pm on the following day in the Cherrywood Business Park and he was shot dead. The young student's body was found last Monday.

Now, the families have released a joint statement confirming that they have met.

Expand Close Mark Hennessy / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Mark Hennessy

"In the midst of our grief both the Valdez and Hennessy families met on Friday morning where we exchanged sympathies with each other on the tragic circumstances that resulted in the loss of our respective loved ones," it read.

"Both families request privacy at this very difficult time

News of the meeting comes after it emerged over the weekend that the Hennessy family had held a private funeral for their son.

The father of Mark Hennessy has described his family as "broken".

The Hennessy family held a private funeral for their son, who was killed by Gardai during the search for Ms Valdez, at Mount Jerome Chapel in Dublin's Harold's Cross.

"For the past week, I have been waking every morning to see my darling sweetheart wife broken, broken," he told mourners.

Expand Close Jastine Valdez / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Jastine Valdez

"I look at my sons and my daughters and they're broken. I look at Mark's uncles and auntie, cousins, nephews, nieces and his beautiful, beautiful daughters and they're broken and I can't fix them," he told the congregation at the funeral service on Saturday.

"To all the people who have come here today and to all of the people who have come through home, offering the shake of a hand, a cuddle, a peck on the cheek, words of encouragement...Thank you for coming into this nightmare to help us, because you have helped us so much more.

"To every single person on this planet who has had a kind thought for us, thank you - thank you."

More than 100 relatives and friends of the Hennessy family attended the funeral, after which Mr Hennessy was cremated.

There was a low-key presence of plainclothes detectives at Mount Jerome crematorium where immediate family arrived in two limousines.

A single wreath was placed on the coffin which had been brought directly from a funeral home in Bray.

While Hennessy's heartbroken family is said to be struggling to come to terms with his shocking actions, a massive garda investigation continues.

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman (GSOC) released details about the fatal shooting of Hennessy by a south Dublin-based detective last Sunday night.

It said Hennessy was shot dead in his car and had wounds consistent with self-harming.

The incident was caught on camera footage from a garda traffic car at the scene.

"A garda service weapon was recovered from the scene. The remaining ammunition and one spent cartridge was located in the firearm," a GSOC spokesperson said.

"A Stanley knife was subsequently recovered from the vehicle, the Nissan Qashqai, which had been the subject of a garda alert."

The spokesperson confirmed that a post-mortem examination showed Hennessy was shot in the shoulder.
A man remains in a critical condition after he sustained a serious head injury in an incident outside a nightclub at the weekend.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an altercation on Davitts Quay, Dungarvan shortly after 2am on Sunday morning.

A man, aged in his thirties, sustained a head injury during the incident and was rushed to University Hospital Waterford, before being transferred to University Hospital Cork.

A technical examination of the scene was carried out by local crime gardai.

Gardai in Dungarvan released a man, aged in his twenties, without charge this morning.

A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai are renewing an appeal for witnesses to contact Dungarvan Garda Station on 058-48600 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Their investigation continues.
GardaI have launched two separate investigations following the sudden deaths of two men in Donegal and Mayo.

The body of a man was found in a house at Cappry, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, on Saturday.

He has been named locally as James Devlin (35), originally from Glasgow, but who had been living in the area for a number of years.

It is understood Mr Devlin had been at a party at the house.

His body was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where a post-mortem is expected to take place today. A Garda spokesman said the results will determine the direction their investigation will take.

Gardai are also investigating the death of a man in his 50s in Charlestown, Co Mayo.

His body was found in a flat at Main Street shortly after 1.40pm yesterday. A post-mortem will take place today.

It is understood that the dead man is a Polish national who had been living in the area for some time. The alarm was raised by locals who became concerned after they hadn't seen him in recent days.

Gardai have confirmed that they are not treating the incident as suspicious.
A MAN in his fifties drowned on Monday evening after he fell into the water while fishing.

It's understood that the deceased man was fishing for salmon on the River Moy close to Foxford in Co. Mayo when he apparently lost his footing on the river bank and fell in.

His body has since been recovered and was brought to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar, where a post mortem will be carried out tomorrow.

Other anglers in the area were unable to save the fisherman, who was to be from the area.

The tragedy occurred close to Foxford Bridge.

A source said that locals there are shocked after hearing the tragic news.

He said: "The whole area is just numb with grief, it's terrible.

"He had four children and both himself and his wife are from well-respected families.

"He was a keen and experienced fisherman."

Local councillor Gerry Ginty said there have been a number of tragedies involving the river in recent times.

He told Independent.ie: "I saw the rescue helicopter flying towards the river at around 5pm and that's usually a very bad sign.

"Unfortunately there have been a number of tragic incidents at the River Moy in recent times, it's becoming all too common.

"The river is Ballina's pride and joy but it can also be at the centre of devastation.

"Of course my sympathies would go out to the man's family and friends as you would never want anyone to het this kind of news."

Cllr Annie May Reape said that the area is popular at this time of year for salmon fishing.

"It's tragic to hear that someone was out doing what they enjoy on a beautiful day like today and then something like this happened.

"I would like to extend my condolences to the people who knew him," Cllr Reape said.
Rank and file Gardai are seeking an assurance that the new commissioner has a background in policing.

Leaders of the Garda Representative Association said they would be very concerned if their new boss was somebody with no working knowledge of the justice system.

Association president Ciaran O'Neill said he agreed that if the job was given to somebody from outside the State, the security and intelligence section would have to hived off from the Garda force.

He was speaking at the association's annual conference in Wexford this evening.

Mr O'Neill said the Garda was the envy of most police forces in the world because the policing and security sections were within a single force.

"You go back to 9/11 and one of the biggest issues was the breakdown of communications and they had to set up a body specifically for it".

The issue of hiving off security and intelligence from the Garda and setting up a separate agency has been under consideration by the independent policing commission.

But at the commission's initial press conference, chairwoman Kathleen O'Toole acknowledged that opinion was divided over Homeland Security which was set up after the 9/11 attacks.

Senior US and European police officers have also stated that Ireland was "very lucky" to have security included under the Garda umbrella in one organisation.

Last night Mr O'Neill said the Garda had a good record of dealing with terrorism, dating back to the 1960s.

"Just to show how good we are, we have had a second special criminal court set up. It's because we're able to deal with terrorism.

"There's no point in losing that. I don't think it would be best for An Garda Siochana", he added.

Mr O'Neill also defended the gardai against social media critics in the wake of some comments about the shooting of Mark Hennessy following the abduction and murder of Jastine Valdez over a week ago, although he did not refer specifically to that incident.

"It is quite easy for someone sitting in an armchair with a keyboard to be critical.

"Walk a mile in my shoes and then you will realise just how difficult the job can be and how stressful it is when you do have to make decisions because every garda on the street has to make spur of the moment decisions".

He added: "That gets lost a bit in the media, and particularly with social media these days, These are split second decisions and it comes down to a judgment call".
Campaigners who led the successful Together For Yes group plan to turn their attention to Northern Ireland in the wake of the landslide referendum victory.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is now under pressure to legislate in the North, which is the only part of the UK where terminations are banned.

Senior figures within her Conservative Party and in Labour have said Northern Ireland can no longer be an outlier.

But the sudden shift in focus across the Border prompted a quick response from DUP leader Arlene Foster, who said it was a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It is almost 18 months since the Assembly collapsed and scores of MPs across the House of Commons in London have indicated they are prepared to rewrite the current legislation given the absence of a devolved administration.

Ms Foster, whose party underpins the UK government, reaffirmed the DUP as a "pro-life party" and accused political opponents of trying "circumvent the Assembly's role".

Grainne Griffin, a co-director of Together for Yes, said the North had "a need for clear, comprehensive abortion legislation to be introduced".

"We have received huge support and solidarity from the women of Northern Ireland and I know that everybody in Together for Yes will say that we stand with you now."

Ireland could be a "beacon of hope" for other countries where campaigns were under way for similar change, she said.

However, Ms Foster criticised the scenes in Dublin Castle over the weekend, saying abortion was "an extremely sensitive issue and not one that should have people taking to the streets in celebration".

Setting out the British Labour Party's position, shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler said: "Fifty years ago, abortion was decriminalised under a Labour government but women in Northern Ireland are still denied this fundamental right, having to travel to mainland UK or faced with potential prosecution and imprisonment at home.

"This is an injustice. No woman in the UK should be denied access to a safe, legal abortion."

In formulating legislation and funding options for an abortion regime, the Irish Government will have to take account of the likelihood that women from the North will now travel to the Republic for a termination.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has called for a referendum on a united Ireland following the abortion poll.
Vines damaged and without leaves in a vineyard in Macau, near Bordeaux following a violent storm in the region. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Hailstorms have devastated thousands of acres of prime Bordeaux vineyards, prompting the French government to promise support for winegrowers, some of whom have lost their entire crop.

Cyril Giresse, a winegrower, said hailstones "the size of pigeons' eggs" destroyed grape buds and left vines bare on Saturday.

"The storm lasted only about 15 minutes, but in some places, there's nothing left at all," said Mr Giresse, who runs the Chateau Gravettes Samonac, in Bordeaux's Cotes de Bourg appellation. "No leaves, no grapes, just the vines stripped as if the grapes had all been picked."

Jean-Dominique Chateau, another claret producer, said: "I've got nothing left. I've been growing grapes for 33 years and this is the worst storm I've ever seen.

"Last year we lost 40pc of our crop to hail but this year it's going to be an even worse disaster."

Stephane Travert, the agriculture minister, said the government was assessing the extent of losses and would aid wine producers. "We'll take the necessary measures and we're ready to meet Bordeaux winemakers," he said.

Franck Jullion, the head of the producers' association in the Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux appellation, said: "It's a desolate vista, as if the vines had gone back to winter. Estates hit by frost last year will not recover. We're going to need a lot of support and solidarity."

Saint-Emilion, one of the most prestigious Bordeaux appellations, was spared, but parts of Medoc were badly hit, as were Cognac brandy producers in the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments.

Didier Gontier, director of the Cotes de Bourg appellation, said: "Winegrowers say they've got no vines left for next year so this is going to affect two years of production."

Bordeaux is France's largest wine-growing area, with about 300,000 acres of vineyards producing more than 700 million bottles of claret a year. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
When Katriona Morley Smith greets you at her home in Swords, Co Dublin, be prepared to be swept off your feet by her warm, jovial welcome. You may also notice that she is beautifully turned out, in spite of the fact that she's living on "borrowed time".

Katriona, who was born in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, over 40 years ago, attended catering college. Soon after, she did another course, in beauty therapy. Then she opened her own salon and that, unbeknown to her, set her on a downhill spiral to devastating ill-health. She explains that one of the main draws of many salons in Ireland in the 1990s was the sunbed, and hers was no exception. "I was a frequent user, much to my own detriment," she says.

As the years rolled on, Katriona's working life reflected her innate personality: full of change, energy and innovation. "I've had lots of jobs throughout the years," she says. "But I don't think I've ever missed a day - for many years, I didn't even have a doctor."

In 1998, her son, Joshua Morley, was born. "He's one of the two great loves of my life," she says. "He's the reason I get out of bed in the morning. We both adore good food, going out for nice meals, and now we are writing our own cookbook."

Some 17 years ago, Katriona met David Smith, and he's the other love of her life. An added bonus is the fact that he and Joshua get on really well together, and are very close.

So, things were going well until September 2014, when Katriona noticed that a freckle on her foot had changed colour and become raised. Unfortunately, she ignored those classic tell-tale signs of danger. However, not long after, she stubbed the same foot, causing the mole to bleed copiously. This time, she did have it checked.

"I was referred to Beaumont Hospital," she says. "They did a biopsy and sometime later, I was told it was a melanoma - in other words, I had skin cancer in my foot. I asked how we were going to get rid of it, and was told there were a number of options."

The Irish Cancer Society says about 12,000 people in Ireland each year are diagnosed with skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma). About 1,000 of these are malignant melanomas.

Shortly after Katriona's diagnosis, a biopsy was done. Of the 12 samples taken from lymph nodes in her groin, 10 were found to be cancerous. It was deemed to be a Stage 4 cancer, which had already spread (metastasised). "When that happens, it's like being in the Mafia," she quips. "Once you're in, you're in; there's no getting out and no escape."

Throughout her illness, Katriona has been treated at Beaumont Hospital, and has nothing but praise for the care and attention she gets from the oncology team. "I have been on 10 different cancer drugs," she explains. "Generally speaking, I would spend 10 hours, once a week, having treatment in the oncology ward. But some of those drugs had to be stopped, because they had some horrible side-effects for me. But other people wouldn't necessarily have the same reactions," she explains, while adding that she has also had two cycles of radiation therapy.

In March 2017, Katriona realised that even though she'd been having treatment for two-and-a-half years, she wasn't getting better. So she asked how much time she had left, and was devastated to learn that, unless some miracle drug was found, she only had about a year.

"I'm now living on borrowed time," she says. "This is a rotten and horrible disease. One day, I counted 127 lesions growing on my leg. It's scary watching them grow."

But, unbelievably, a new drug did show up, and it seems to be having a positive effect on Katriona's condition. However, her most serious problem right now is a large tumour, the size of a grapefruit, which has, over the last 12 months, erupted at the top of her left leg.

"This drug I'm on, which is new on the market, is working well," explains Katriona, "but I think my tumour is just too big for it to handle. The original mole on my foot has now metastasised into an absolute beast on my thigh."

Katriona is absolutely certain that her overuse of the sunbeds in the 1990s was the catalyst for her now-dire circumstances. At that time, there was little information about the inherent dangers of these artificial tanning machines. She also avoids the sun at all costs, which, like sunbeds, emits dangerous UV rays. "When I see kids getting burned on the beach, I get really angry," she volunteers. "Why don't their parents cover them up and use strong sunscreen? Do they want to see their son or daughter looking like me [medically speaking] when they are 40? Even when it's cloudy in summer, harmful rays are still coming through. It's so scary."

What's so astonishing about Katriona is that in spite of her immensely challenging circumstances, she manages to retain a vibrant sense of humour and a positive outlook. "I wake up in the morning glad to be alive," she says. "I'm glad for the gift of this day, and hope I'll have many more. Then it could take me 20 minutes to get downstairs for my first painkillers.

"After that, I put on my make-up and do some chores, or if I'm feeling really miserable, I might go back to bed. I do miss going to work, though; I especially miss the social aspects and having an income."

As to clinical trials, Katriona says there are none in Ireland that relate to her specific situation. She did hear about one in eastern Europe, but it would have been expensive, and she didn't feel she could ask her friends to crowdfund it, as she wasn't convinced it would work.

But she does have a bucket list. Naturally, above all else, she prays and hopes for a cure; if only she could live long enough to see her grandchildren.

She was certainly thrilled to be able to tick the 'marry David' box two years ago. And somewhere, further down the list, is a long-held wish to visit magical Italy.

In the meantime, Katriona will soldier on in her own lively and inimitable way, with the help of Joshua, David, her "best buddy" Michelle Madigan, and family and friends.

Her mission right now is to support the Irish Cancer Society's SunSmart campaign, which urges every single one of us to cover up, seek shade, wear sunscreen, and to check the UV index all through the summer.

For more information on skin cancer and how to be SunSmart, see cancer.ie/reduce-your-risk/sunsmart

See gofundme.com/katriona039s-bucket-list
Profits of state-owned cos swell 18.5pc to Rs42.67b

Public enterprises (PEs) earned net profits totalling Rs42.67 billion in 2016-17, a growth of 18.5 percent compared to the previous fiscal year which has been attributed to an increase in the number of state-owned companies along with an improvement in their financial position.
Aisling Moore was pregnant when she discovered she had melanoma.

Aisling was a happy, busy working mum who was pregnant with her second child when she went on a team building session with her colleagues.

While in her more casual clothes, a colleague noticed a strange-looking mole at the top of her back. They told her it looked suspicious and that she should get it checked out.

Aisling had never noticed the mole as it was on her back and she had never checked her skin before. It was only when her colleague pointed it out that she realised how big it was.

She decided she would get her GP to look at it.

Aisling says: "I have pale skin with lots of moles but was wasn't aware of skin cancer or the importance of checking my skin regularly.

"As a child I definitely didn't have sun cream put on me as, back then, we just did not know about the dangers."

When Aisling's GP saw the mole, he thought it looked suspicious and referred her to a consultant dermatologist.

When the consultant performed tests on the mole and diagnosed her with melanoma - the most serious type of skin cancer - she said that she had absolutely no idea what it was.

"When the consultant told me I had melanoma, I asked him, 'Is that serious?'," recalls Aisling.

The mum of two had no idea that melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, that it can spread incredibly fast, and claims over 150 Irish lives each year.

"After I realised how serious it was, I felt sick to my stomach," says Aisling. "My world fell apart. I couldn't believe that I had the dreaded 'C' word. It didn't seem real that I actually had cancer.

"Because I was pregnant at the time, I had to wait a few months to find out if the cancer had spread. That was the hardest part. It was absolute torture.

"I cried every time I looked at my daughter because I was so scared that I would not see her grow up. I was also petrified for my son, who had not even been born yet.

"It is now six months later, and my son is here and happy and healthy.

"I had a wide local excision to remove the mole and the surrounding tissue to make sure that all affected cells are gone. Thankfully the cancer had not spread but I am still terrified of the sun. I am hoping that this fear will fade with time."

Read more: 15 ways to be sun smart

Aisling notes that as an adult, she was careful to use SPF 50 all the time.

However, many people do not realise that just one bad sunburn before you're 18 could increase your chances of skin cancer by half.

That is why it is important to always protect your skin, no matter what age you are. The damage you do to your skin as a young person can affect you later in life.

Aisling is now helping the Marie Keating Foundation to launch a Skintervention, reminding Irish people to look after their skin by being SunSmart.

She also hopes that people will check their skin regularly to look for the ABCDE signs of melanoma.

'I'm so lucky my brother noticed the mole on my ear'

Expand Close John Kelly had a piece of his ear removed. Photo: Michael O'Rourke. / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp John Kelly had a piece of his ear removed. Photo: Michael O'Rourke.

John had heard of melanoma before he was diagnosed with the disease, but was not overly concerned that it might affect him.

He didn't think he would be prone to the disease since his complexion wasn't too pale. Furthermore, he didn't like sunbathing, and he had never used sunbeds.

John says: "I feel really lucky that my brother saw the mole on my ear as I would not have been able to see it myself in the mirror.

"He made me aware of it and said it looked funny and that I should have it looked at by the GP. I went straight away and the GP agreed that the mole did not look right and so I had it removed.

"Even while having the mole removed, I did not realise how serious things were. It was not until the mole was tested in the lab and the doctor told me that I had melanoma that I began to realise that my health was going to be seriously affected by this."

John had to have an operation to remove a piece of his ear to ensure all of the melanoma was removed.

The medical team was keeping him under close supervision and in follow-up checks, it was discovered that John had a benign tumour on his hip, which led to him having a hip replacement.

If John had not had the melanoma discovered on his ear, this hip tumour would never have been discovered and his prognosis could have been more serious.

The teacher, from Co Carlow, says he considers himself very lucky.

John is helping the Marie Keating Foundation with its #Skintervention campaign as he wants people to know the importance of checking their skin regularly.

* For more information on the ABCDE signs of melanoma and how to be sun smart, see our 15 Ways to be Sun Smart

To get involved in the SunSmart campaign, see mariekeating.ie/spotthedifference/
The highlights of Legoland really depend on your age - and while the children love the theme park rides and activities, parents tend to prefer the joys of an on-site hotel

You might hate Monday, but you'll love our weekly pick of Ireland's top travel offers...

73pp: Lovely little Liverpool

Holidayguru.ie trawls the internet for cheap travel offers, and this week it's pieced together return Ryanair flights from Dublin and a Trivago hotel deal to create a city break in Liverpool from just 73pp. See holidayguru.ie.

227pp: Let's go to Legoland

Irish Ferries has a new short break partnership with Legoland Windsor, and is bundling ferry crossings, two full day park tickets and a three-night family stay at the four-star Grovefield House Hotel for two adults and two children under 11 from 227pp. The deal is valid for departures until June 25. Contact 0818 300 400 or irishferries.com/legoland.

349pp: The Italian Job

Topflight is running its biggest ever sale, a five-day special (to May 31) offering up to 450 off holidays in high season. Deals include a week at Lake Garda in June from 349pp (down from 649pp) and a week's self-catering in Tuscany from 399pp (reduced from 699pp). 01 240-1700; topflight.ie.

503pp: Five-star Algarve

Celebrating its eighth birthday, ClickAndGo.com is offering 10pc off all 2018 European holidays. Deals include return flights plus a week at the five-star Real Marina Hotel & Spa in Olhao (in Portugal's Algarve) from 503pp, departing October 20. 01 960-9214; clickandgo.com.

1,099pp: Do the Dominican Republic

Tropical Sky has savings of up to 400pp on seven-night stays at the five-star Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. Book by July 15 for travel before December 21, from 1,099pp. 01 664-9999; tropicalsky.ie.

PS. Exclusive holiday discounts

Have you seen Independent Discounts? The new site has a host of special offers and discount codes, with travel brands ranging from Aer Lingus to ClickAndGo.com, Irish Ferries and Expedia.ie. See discountcode.independent.ie/travel-accommodation.

NB: All travel deals subject to availability/change.
Shadow, the Weimaraner, pictured enjoying an ice cream this afternoon in the Phoenix Park Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Temperatures will soar to a whopping 26 degrees Celsius this week, making Ireland warmer than some of Europe's top hotspots.

People country-wide will savour the summer temperatures, with the mantra being 'west is best' for sun-seekers.

Met Eireann have predicted warm weather for the week with plenty of sunshine, and heavy showers at times.

On Tuesday, sizzling temperatures by Irish standards mean the country will be warmer than Portugal, Spain and parts of France.

Forecaster Gerry Murphy told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland that the country can also expect "dense fog patches" overnight.

"It will be warm with good spells of sunshine," he said.

"Temperatures will be in the twenties in many areas. Some areas will get heavy showers at times.

"It will be dry in most places today but there will be a risk of showers in parts of the midlands and the south and west.

"Highest temperatures today will hit 20-24 degrees and breezes will be a little cooler along the coasts."

He continued; "Tomorrow [Tuesday] will be warm with temperatures between 20 and 26 degrees.

"It will be warmer across the western half of the country.

"Tuesday night will be dry. Wednesday will be mainly dry with sunny spells.

"A few showers may develop in the afternoon and highest temperatures will reach 19 to 23 degrees."

Temperatures will dip slightly to 23 degrees on Thursday and Friday.
Supporters of the Anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) protest in Berlin, Germany. Photo: REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

About 5,000 supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) marched through Berlin, but they were heavily outnumbered by anti-AfD demonstrations.

The AfD's anti-immigration, anti-European Union and anti-Muslim messages helped it become the third-largest party in the German Bundestag in last September's vote but it has had little impact on parliamentary debate since then.

The AfD demonstrators, bussed in from around Germany, marched from Berlin's main station, down the banks of the Spree river to the Brandenburg Gate near parliament.

But there were around 20,000 anti-AfD protesters - according to police estimates - most of them younger people, highlighting the divisions that have emerged in Germany since the 2015 refugee crisis.

The party, founded as an anti-EU party in 2013, reinvented itself with an anti-immigration stance after Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to more than a million refugees in 2015.

The AfD supporters, mostly older, waved German and AfD flags and carried placards demanding "Democracy, not Merkelatorship".
Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Martin Kelly as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of a missing pregnant mother, Krystal Gibbs, and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Jayden and his sister Sienna as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of a missing pregnant mother, Krystal Gibbs, and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Krystal Gibbs, 25, her daughter Sienna as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of the missing pregnant mother and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

A pregnant woman and her two young children have gone missing from their home in north London.

Police say they are increasingly concerned for the safety of Krystal Gibbs, 25, her three-year-old daughter Sienna and four-year-old son Jayden.

The family are believed to be with Ms Gibbss boyfriend Martin Kelly.

They were last seen at their home in Northumberland Park, Tottenham, on 20 May.

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Jayden and his sister Sienna as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of a missing pregnant mother, Krystal Gibbs, and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Jayden and his sister Sienna as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of a missing pregnant mother, Krystal Gibbs, and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Concerns were raised after Ms Gibbs did not turn up for a maternity appointment and Jayden failed to attend school.

Many of the childrens clothes and belongings were still at the address when police visited.

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Martin Kelly as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of a missing pregnant mother, Krystal Gibbs, and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Martin Kelly as police are "increasingly concerned" for the safety of a missing pregnant mother, Krystal Gibbs, and her two young children. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Ms Gibbs, who is six-months pregnant, is described as white female with dark hair.

Sienna is described as mixed race with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Jayden is described as mixed race with brown eyes and short brown hair.

They are believed to be travelling in Ms Gibbss silver Nissan Micra , registration KB53 DZF, which was last traced in Hampshire.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: Officers are increasingly concerned for their wellbeing and would urge anyone with information on their whereabouts or sightings of their car to call police.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has been warned by Brexiteers she must take a tougher line with Brussels after making "errors" in her EU negotiation strategy.

Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is tipped as a potential future Tory leader, insisted there was "no menace in me at all" over his actions.

But he claimed the British government had proposed "over-complicated" solutions to the customs problem and must be prepared to tell Brussels it will walk away without paying the almost 45bn Brexit divorce bill - potentially leaving the bloc in the red.

Mr Rees-Mogg claimed Mrs May had made a mistake over her approach to the Border issue, one of the most contentious aspects of the negotiations, by ruling out the prospect of unilaterally keeping an open frontier after Brexit.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: "The prime minister said in her Mansion House speech that she wasn't going to do this, I think that is a mistake.

"I think it is the obvious negotiating position to have. Bear in mind the Irish economy is heavily dependent on its trade with the United Kingdom, it is overwhelmingly in the interests of the Republic of Ireland to maintain an open border with the United Kingdom.

"I think, if you are going into a negotiation, you should use your strongest cards and just to tear one of them up and set hares running on other issues is, I think, an error."

He said the British government's plans for a "backstop" which would leave the whole UK potentially tied to EU rules in order to avoid a hard Border was "a real problem" and could leave the UK a "vassal state for an indeterminate period". Mr Rees-Mogg added: "Basically, the deal is very simple - we are paying a very large amount of money, 40bn, and in return we want a trade deal. Everything else is essentially incidental."

Money

He said the UK should make clear to the EU that "if we don't get the trade deal we want, you don't get the money".

Without the UK's money, the EU "faces a real crisis next March" - when the political situation in Italy meant it was already facing other problems.

Playing down his own ambitions, Mr Rees-Mogg insisted he believed Mrs May - "the most impressive and dutiful leader this country has had" - was "crucial to the Brexit project".

"Of course, I wouldn't challenge Theresa May, that's a ridiculous idea," he said.

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said anyone plotting to overthrow Mrs May should "shut up" and get on with delivering Brexit.
Italy's Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte speaks to the media after a meeting with the Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy. Photo: REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

Italy's populist parties reacted with fury last night when attempts to form a government dramatically broke down after the country's president vetoed their choice of economy minister, a harsh critic of the euro.

Nearly three months after a general election on March 4, hopes that the country would have a government formed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the hard-right League were dashed.

Instead, Italy looked likely to be heading for fresh elections.

The two parties, who were set to form Western Europe's first populist government, wanted Paolo Savona, an economist and banker who has been highly critical of the euro, as their economy minister.

The parties won 50pc of the vote at the election and insisted that their choice of cabinet ministers was an essential part of their democratic mandate. But Sergio Mattarella, Italy's president, saw otherwise, blocking Mr Savona for the economy portfolio.

The president said he approved all of the other cabinet picks but rejected the coalition partners' choice for the economy portfolio out of concern it would have a negative effect on financial markets and the Italian economy.

Expand Close Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Photo: REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Photo: REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

As a result, Giuseppe Conte, a law professor who had been named as the coalition's prime minister, resigned after a day of tense talks with the president at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.

"Giuseppe Conte has given up the mandate to form a government, given to him on May 23," an official from the palace said.

In a terse statement, Professor Conte said he "gave the maximum effort, attention, to carry out this task with the full collaboration" of the Five Star Movement and League.

Luigi Di Maio, the youthful head of Five Star, took to Facebook to vent his fury over the collapse of the nascent government. He told his supporters that he and Matteo Salvini, the leader of League, had been ready to form a government today.

Expand Close Paolo Savona. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Paolo Savona. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

He even read out the full list of ministerial appointments that the two leaders had put forward.

"I am very angry. You can imagine how much time we spent trying to form a government over the last 80 days," he said.

"We worked day and night to give a government to this country."

He said the coalition had been torpedoed before it got off the ground by "the credit rating agencies" and "the financial lobbies" - a reference to the concern in Brussels and elsewhere over the appointment of Mr Savona.

He said the president's veto was "unacceptable", describing it as "an institutional clash without precedent".

Mr Salvini was also left furious.

"We will not be blackmailed by anyone," he said in an angry speech from the city of Terni, in Umbria. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
SC to hear Dhungels case today

Justice Hari Krishna Karki on Sunday refused to hear on Bal Krishna Dhungel clemency case citing that he was previously involved in the case as a private lawyer.
Sergio Mattarella said he had repeatedly asked for a minister who would not be perceived as entertaining Italys exit from the euro (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)

Italys president has come under fire after he vetoed the proposed economy minister of what would have been Western Europes first populist government, ushering in the likelihood of a new election within months.

News reports said Sergio Mattarella would convene the former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli to the presidential palace later on Monday and ask him to form a technical government that can lead Italy until a new election.

Mr Mattarellas office declined to reveal his plans.

Markets have largely welcomed his decision to put an end to the proposed government of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and right-wing nationalist League, which had insisted on Paolo Savona as economy minister.

Expand Close Mr Mattarella's veto on Sunday enraged League leader Matteo Salvini, pictured (Flavio Lo Scalzo/ANSA via AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Mr Mattarella's veto on Sunday enraged League leader Matteo Salvini, pictured (Flavio Lo Scalzo/ANSA via AP)

Mr Savona, a former industry minister, has questioned whether Italy should ditch the euro as its currency.

The Milan stock exchange opened higher on Monday and the spread of points between Italys bonds and benchmark German bonds, which had grown alarmingly last week, fell slightly.

Mr Mattarellas veto on Sunday enraged both League leader Matteo Salvini and Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio, who threatened to start impeachment proceedings against him.

The president, however, took pains to explain that he was fully in his constitutional right and duty to reject Mr Savona as economy minister, saying he had repeatedly asked for a minister who would not be perceived as entertaining Italys exit from the euro.

Sticking with the euro is a fundamentally important choice for our country and our young people, Mr Mattarella said in a late-night statement at the Quirinale Palace.

Expand Close Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio threatened to start impeachment proceedings against the president (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio threatened to start impeachment proceedings against the president (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

If you want to discuss it, it should have been done openly and with a serious debate, which he noted had not been part of the electoral campaign.

Mr Cottarelli, for his part, is an economist who assisted a former centre-left government in slashing public spending.

A technical government will still be subject to votes of confidence in both houses of Parliament, and the Five Star Movement and League made clear Mr Cottarelli would not have their support.

In an interview with Radio Capital on Monday, Mr Salvini wondered aloud who would vote for him.

Mr Mattarella didnt give the centre-right the chance to form a government because we didnt have the votes, and now Mr Cottarelli arrives without any votes? It seems a stretch, Mr Salvini said.

Expand Close Paolo Savona, pictured here in 2005, was the League-favoured candidate for economy minister (Luca Bruno/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Paolo Savona, pictured here in 2005, was the League-favoured candidate for economy minister (Luca Bruno/AP)

He also warned ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi against voting for Mr Cottarellis government.

In a statement late on Sunday, the three-time premier took a much more measured tone about the collapse of the Five Star-League experiment, refusing to criticise Mr Mattarella.

Mr Berlusconi had never endorsed the populist attempt at government, but had not impeded it either.

He has as much to gain from a new election as the League, which has seen its popularity only rise in the weeks since the March 4 election resulted in a hung parliament.

The vote gave the centre-right alliance of the League, Mr Berlusconis Forza Italia and a smaller party 37%, while the Five Star Movement took 32%.

However, Mr Salvini warned Mr Berlusconi that the alliance would collapse if Forza Italia voted for Mr Cottarelli.
Lava from the Kilauea volcano shoots out of a fissure near Pahoa, Hawaii. Photo: REUTERS/Marco Garcia

Residents in Hawaii fear a massive explosion as a fiery new lava flow headed for a geothermal power station at the weekend.

Molten rock from the erupting Kilauea volcano continued to relentlessly bulldoze through homes and backyards almost a month after it began.

The lava crossed onto the land occupied by Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), according to the US Geological Survey, having destroyed dozens of nearby houses in the past few days.

Since Hawaii's Kilauea volcano began a once-in-a-century-scale eruption on May 3, authorities have shut down the plant, removed 60,000 gallons of flammable liquid and deactivated wells that tap into steam and gas deep in the Earth's core.

Magma has drained from Kilauea's summit lava lake and flowed 40km east underground, bursting out of about two dozen giant cracks or fissures near the plant.

"The flow from fissures 21 and seven was widening and advancing," said Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for the County of Hawaii.

Hawaii Governor David Ige has insisted wells are stable.

But lava has never engulfed a geothermal plant anywhere in the world and the potential threat is untested, according to the head of the state's emergency management agency.

Local residents fear an explosive emission of deadly hydrogen sulfide and other gases should wells be ruptured.

Residents have complained of health hazards from emissions from the plant since it went online in 1989 and PGV has been the target of lawsuits challenging its location on the flank of one of the world's most active volcanoes.

The Israeli-owned 38-megawatt plant typically provides around 25pc of electricity on the Big Island.

Operator Ormat Technologies Inc last week said there was no above-ground damage to the plant but it would have to wait until the situation stabilised to assess the impact of earthquakes and lava flows.

In 24 hours at the weekend, there were up to 270 earthquakes at Kilauea's summit, with four explosions sending ash to altitudes as high as 12,000-15,000 feet.
Donald Trump thinks he's a great negotiator, a brilliant bluffer whose gut instincts are so stellar that ignorance of history and refusal to deal with substantive complexities are irrelevant.

That's why he bragged he'd win the Nobel Peace Prize for his genius in getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Except, of course, it didn't. It's good his Singapore summit with Kim Jong-un was cancelled. The larger picture is how the American president is remarkably ill-prepared and uninformed.

Incredibly, he might have been outmatched in the June 12 face-off with the "little Rocket Man", the untested North Korean tyrant. Analysts suggest Kim "has done his homework", according to Jung Pak, a Brookings Institution scholar who was the North Korea expert at the CIA. "He's apparently well read on the issue and pretty comfortable with the technology," she said.

Pak wasn't surprised when Trump, after cancelling the summit, said the next day it might be back on. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held a surprise weekend meeting. A subsequent session now seems likely.

But there's little reason to believe a US president who governs by bluster and is interested only in whether he gets credit and looks good would be better prepared for any next round. That's unsettling.

Clearly, the North Koreans played games and were duplicitous; they always do and always are. It's a brutal, corrupt regime.

Trump and his sycophants claim it was his toughness that scared Kim and forced him to consider negotiations; they say the president showed resolve and guts in walking away.

More likely, this has been Kim's long-range plan for several years, as Robert Carlin, a former diplomat and intelligence official who has been to North Korea dozens of times, told the 'Washington Post' writer David Ignatius. Kim effectively built up his nuclear arsenal, ignoring threats from Trump and others, and giving himself enough leverage to start to backtrack a bit.

Without question, the economic sanctions, begun under President Barack Obama and toughened by Trump, pressured this economic basket case of a country. And more important than Trump's "fire and fury" rhetoric was a new South Korean administration willing to deal with its enemy; a war on the peninsula would topple Kim but at a cataclysmic price.

Trump, being Trump, didn't have the decency to give the South Koreans advance notice of his plans to cancel the summit.

His hawkish national security adviser John Bolton - eager to sabotage any deal - raised the analogy of Libya, which gave up its nuclear weapons and later was toppled. Vice President Mike Pence weighed in similarly.

Trump's clamour about de-nuclearisation was a misnomer. Kim might make important concessions, but he's never going to totally give up his most powerful chip; put yourself in his shoes.

Early last year Trump acknowledged, after China's Xi Jinping had explained it, that the Korean situation was more complicated than he had thought.

Unfortunately, the president didn't seem to learn much, alternately crediting and blaming China for North Korea's behaviour. There is mutual contempt between these two neighbours but they need each other, a reality reinforced by Trump's bumbling.

History bores Trump - he seems not to know or care much - and he doesn't read briefing books. A few months ago in the 'New Yorker', top aides to former national security adviser HR McMaster attested to the president's shallowness. National security briefings, one former staffer said, had to be boiled down to two or three bullet points.

The great deal maker has yet to make even a decent deal as president; he hasn't negotiated anything on health care, immigration or infrastructure, and the trade negotiations with China may be a bust.

In Korea, here's what his gut instincts produced: North Korea is a greater nuclear threat than it was 17 months earlier. Kim, depicted then as an irrational roly-poly comic-book figure with weird hair, is seen more as shrewd operative. China's influence on the Korean peninsula and the region has grown.

And as South Korea has painfully learned, Washington is not reliable. ( Washington Post Service)
US President Donald Trump has warned Congress that he will never sign another foot-tall, $1trillion-plus government spending bill like the one he did in March.

His message to US politicians is: get your act together before the next budget lands on my desk.

After a brief government shutdown earlier this year, Democrats and Republicans now agree on the need for budgeting day-to-day operations of government by the old-fashioned way. That means weeks of open debate and amendments that empower rank-and-file lawmakers, rather than concentrating power in the hands of a few leaders meeting in secret.

But Capitol Hill's dysfunction is so pervasive that even the most optimistic predictions are for only a handful of the 12 annual spending bills to make it into law by October 1, the start of the new budget year. The rest may get bundled together into a single, massive measure yet again.

The worst-case scenario? A government shutdown just a month before election day, on November 6, as Republicans and Democrats fight for control of the House and possibly the Senate.

Mr Trump is agitating for more money for his long-promised border wall with Mexico. So far, he has been frustrated by limited success on that front.

"We need the wall. We're going to have it all. And again, that wall has started. We got $1.6bn (1.4bn). We come up again (in) September," Mr Trump said in a campaign-style event in Michigan last month.

"If we don't get border security, we'll have no choice. We'll close down the country because we need border security."

At stake is the funding for daily operations of government. A budget deal this year reversed spending cuts that affected military readiness and put a crimp on domestic agencies. A $1.3 trillion spending bill swept through Congress in March, though Mr Trump entertained last-minute second thoughts about the measure and promised he would not sign a repeat.

The demise of the annual appropriations process took root after Republicans took over the House in 2011 and is part of a broader breakdown on Capitol Hill.

The yearly bills need bipartisan support to advance, which has grated on Tea Party lawmakers. GOP leaders such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and his predecessor as speaker, John Boehner, have preferred to focus on other priorities.

Mr Ryan did throw his weight behind a two-year budget agreement this year that set an overall spending limit of $1.3 trillion for both 2018 and 2019, citing a need to boost the Pentagon.

That, in theory, makes it easier to get the appropriations process back on track.

But in the GOP-controlled House, where Democratic votes are generally needed to pass the bills, Democrats are complaining that Republicans have shortchanged domestic agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency.

That's not the case in the Senate, where the new chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Republican Richard Shelby, is determined to get the system working again. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is on board, as is Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, himself a decades-long veteran of that powerful committee.
American officials crossed into North Korea yesterday to press ahead with preparations for an on-off summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the latest twist in a frantic round of diplomatic manoeuvring to salvage the meeting.

It came after the South Korean president declared Mr Kim had reaffirmed his commitment to meet the US president and to "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

Hours earlier, Mr Trump said he believed the summit could still take place on June 12 despite his abrupt decision to cancel it late last week.

It left analysts warning that the result could be little more than a hurriedly arranged photo opportunity between Mr Trump and Mr Kim, rather than a historic opportunity to usher in a new era of peace and stability. Even so, planning continued.

American and South Korean media reported that Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea who has taken part in past nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, had arrived for talks with Choe Son Hui, the North Korean vice foreign minister.

'The Washington Post', citing an official familiar with the plans, said he was accompanied by Allison Hooker, the Korea specialist on the National Security Council.

Expand Close South Korea President Moon Jae-in signs a guest book as North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un looks on before their second summit in the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone. Photo: AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp South Korea President Moon Jae-in signs a guest book as North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un looks on before their second summit in the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

It said the meetings were expected to continue until tomorrow at Tongilgak, or "Unification House", the building in the DMZ where Mr Kim met Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, on Saturday night for impromptu talks.

Mr Moon told reporters he and Mr Kim agreed the summit should take place and said the North Korean leader "again made clear his commitment" to denuclearisation.

But he added that Pyongyang had doubts that Washington would guarantee its stability and security.

"What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations and provide a security guarantee," Mr Moon said.

He has emerged as an optimistic go-between, repeatedly talking up Mr Kim's commitment to progress despite doubts elsewhere that the regime would ever give up weapons it has long insisted were key to its survival.

Victor Cha, former director of Asian affairs on the National Security Council and who was expected to become Mr Trump's ambassador to Seoul until he disagreed with White House policy, said the focus on summit logistics overshadowed the real stumbling block.

"We're all focused on the roller coaster but in terms of substance, the key issue is: are they going to give up their nuclear weapons? And I think unfortunately the answer is no," he told NBC.

In their Saturday meeting, Mr Kim reaffirmed his commitment to "complete" denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and to a planned meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Moon said.

"Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean Peninsula's denuclearisation and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted," Mr Moon said. He acknowledged Pyongyang and Washington may have differing expectations of what denuclearisation means and he urged both sides to hold working-level talks to resolve their differences.

The US has demanded the "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and has always couched its language in terms of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

In previous, failed talks, North Korea said it could consider giving up its arsenal if Washington removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Thunderbolts are reflected near Premnitz, eastern Germany (Julian Staehle/dpa via AP)

Two young women have suffered serious injuries after lightning struck them while they were taking selfies in western Germany, officials have said.

A spokesman for Bochum police said first responders found the women, aged 23 and 21, lying on the ground with their clothing torn in the citys Wattenscheid district on Sunday evening.

Paramedics had to resuscitate the 23-year-old and she remains in intensive care with life-threatening injuries, Bochum police spokesman Volker Schuette said.

The younger woman told police the last thing she remembered was walking with her friend on a footpath and recording each other with their smartphones, Mr Schuette said.

Clearly they were surprised by the storm, he said.

The 21-year-old was also taken to hospital but her life is not thought to be endangered.

Expand Close A thunderbolt goes down behind the banking district in Frankfurt (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A thunderbolt goes down behind the banking district in Frankfurt (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

Western Europe has experienced heavy storms in recent days, following an unusually long stretch of very warm weather this month.

Flash floods as high as 1.6 metres (5.3 feet) submerged roads and basements on Sunday in parts of central Germany.

Firefighters in the state of Hesse rescued two women who were trapped in their car by a mudslide.

Dozens of flights were cancelled at Frankfurt Airport, Germanys busiest, because of storms.

Meteorologists predict temperatures in Germany will hit 33C (91.4F) this week, with high humidity raising the prospect of further summer storms.
The wife of one of Mexico's most feared drug lords has been arrested.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said that marines took into custody Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the leader of Jalisco New Generation.

She was detained in the city of Zapopan, setting the western state of Jalisco on high-alert for possible reprisals. Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances.

At the same location, the marines also captured Gerardo Botello Rosales, known as El Cachas, who is believed to run the cartel's operations in the states of Guanajuato and Michoacan.

Botello is accused of murder, kidnapping and extortion. He has an outstanding order for extradition from the state of Oregon for a 2002 homicide, Mr Navarrete said.

Saturday's arrests are part of the "siege" on El Mencho, said Alejandro Hope, a Mexican security expert. "They have been hunting him with greater intensity since the end of last year."

Mr Navarrete declined to speculate on whether government agents were close to detaining the cartel leader.

"I once heard that they arrived at a place and that he had just left because the coffee was still steaming," said Mr Navarrete.

Jalisco New Generation has a reputation for battling with government agents. Mr Navarrete said he anticipates a "violent reaction" from the cartel, adding that government officials have taken precautions to prevent or respond to possible attacks.

The cartel brazenly shot down a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket launcher in 2015, prompting Mexican officials to declare an all-out offensive against the criminal group.

Tensions spiked again in February after the cartel allegedly abducted and murdered two federal agents in the Pacific state of Nayarit.

Jalisco state governor Aristoteles Sandoval said earlier on Sunday that the state is "calm" amid stepped-up security.

Jalisco New Generation is believed to primarily traffic methamphetamine while also selling cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency said in its October 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment report that the organisation has distribution hubs for illicit substances in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta.
Kohima (Nagaland) /Ampati (Meghalaya), May 28 (IBNS) : An average 42 percent of the electorate have voted till 11 am as polling is underway for byelectios to Nagaland Lok Sabha and Ampati assembly (Meghalaya) seats on Monday.

According to reports, 44 percent polling has been recorded in Nagaland Lok Sabha constituency and 40 percent in Ampati in the first four hours.

The polling started at 7 am.

Voters and polling officials have a tough time fighting the scorching sun.

Nothing untwoard has been reported so far from either of the two constituencies.

Over 11.97 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha byelection in Nagaland.

The LS bypoll was necessitated after NDPP leader and present Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio resigned an MP on February 16.

The People's Democratic Alliance (PDA). led by Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi as its candidate while NPF has nominated C Apok Jamir.

In Ampati, more than 28,000 voters are expected to exercise their franchise.

The bypoll was necessitated after sitting MLA Mukul Sangma vacated the seat and and Congresss strength in the state Assembly came down to 20.

The Congress has fielded Mukul Sangmas daughter Miani D Shira, who is contesting her maiden election, while G Momin is the candidate for the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP).



( Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Kolkata, May 28 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister and Trianamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has hit out at the Centre over fuel price hike.

Banerjee has asked the central government to 'act'.

She has also questioned the lack of steps taken by the government to curb the rising prices.

"Fuel prices are increasing again and again. All are being badly affected: agriculture, transport and common people are being forced to bear burden. In spite of the grim situation, why isn't the Central Govt taking any serious steps to find a solution ? They need to act," her post on Twitter read.

The prices of petrol and diesel continued to rise for the 15th consecutive day, creating problems for people in major cities of the country.

Petrol prices were hiked by 15 paise a litre in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.

Diesel prices were increased by 11-12 paise per litre in the four major cities.

The fuel prices in the country has already crossed Rs. 80 per litre, creating discomfort for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The government is likely to call a meeting to find a solution to the price hike.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Rajya Sabha MP, Amit Shah, on last Tuesday, assured that the government will come up with a solution within two to three days.
Bhubaneswar, May 27 (IBNS): Suspended Odisha Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Jay Panda, on Monday announced his resignation from the ruling Biju Janata Dal.

In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on twitter, he said, It's with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the politics into which our BJD has descended.

With "deep anguish, hurt and sorrow" @PandaJay quits BJD, will separately formally write to Hon' Speaker to resign from the Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/eR24xbDGS3  Office of Jay Panda (@mp_office) May 28, 2018

He said he was shocked as none from the party had turned up to pay their last respects to his father Bansidhar Panda, "a very close friend and associate" of Biju Patnaik, the late father of Naveen Patnaik and former Chief Minister of the state.

Recalling his long association, loyalty and service to the cause of the BJD, Panda said the column that he had written in a newspaper calling for introspection within the party only followed a similar call given by the Chief Minister himself.

Panda alleged that as a result, he was "viciously targeted including being physically assaulted with stones, bricks and eggs."

He said he has been suffering "increasing humiliation" since 2014 and now that the BJD and the CM " having made it absolutely clear that I am unwanted, it is only right for me to disassociate."

Image: facebook.com
Senior police officers, political leaders involved in gold racket

Chudamani Upreti aka Gore, the alleged mastermind behind 33 kg gold smuggling case, told Morang District Court on Sunday that high-ranking officers of Nepal Police and political leaders were tied to the international gold smuggling racket.
Bengaluru, May 28 (IBNS): Karnataka Congress MLA and senior politician Siddu B Nyamagouda has passed away in a road accident near Tulasigeri of the state, media reports said.

Nyamagouda was on his way to his constituency Jamkhandi from Goa when his car had hit a parapet wall while trying to avoid a lorry.

Police told media that the MLA had died instantly after receiving serious injuries.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted to express condolences. He said: "I am shocked to hear about the demise of Karnataka MLA, Shri Siddu Nyamagouda in a tragic accident. A popular leader, he played a major role in erecting a farmers barrage across the Krishna River at Padasalagi. My thoughts & prayers are with his family in their time of grief."

I am shocked to hear about the demise of Karnataka MLA, Shri Siddu Nyamagouda in a tragic accident. A popular leader, he played a major role in erecting a farmers barrage across the Krishna River at Padasalagi.



My thoughts & prayers are with his family in their time of grief.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 28, 2018

Nayamagouda became the MLA by defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recently concluded Karnataka polls.

After the polls, the Congress had tied up with the Janata Dal (Secular) to form the government.
Tuticorin, May 28 (IBNS): Prioritising Tamil Nadu people's demands after over a dozen deaths of protesters in police firing, the state government has issued an order to close the Sterlite copper plant permanently in Tuticorin on Monday, media reports said.

Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswamy has ordered a permanent closure of the plant, which is run by Vedanta Goup.

Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam has been quoted by The Times of India, "Today, the main demand of the people is that the copper plant should be permanently closed. In keeping with their demand, it is shut now. I would like to make it clear that Sterlite plant will be permanently shut."

"The government will do its duty for permanently closing down the plant" he added.

The plant was closed by former CM J Jayalalithaa in 2013 but Vedanta Group had approached the National Green Tribunal and got orders to resume operations.

Thirteen people were killed in police firing during the protest which turned violent in the last week.

The violence during the protest left at least 100 people injured.

The violence erupted surrounding protests about the plant's expansion.

The Supreme Court on Monday is likely to hear the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on Thursday regarding the death of protesters in the Tuticorin Sterlite Copper plant violence case, according to media reports.

The PIL, among other things has appealed for a court-monitored CBI probe into the death of protesters allegedly in police firing after violence erupted in Tuticorin surrounding the Sterlite Copper plant, media reported.

The Centre has also sought a report on the violence from the Tamil Nadu government, media reported.




Image: twitter.com/PMOIndia

New Delhi, May 28 (IBNS): For the first time after swearing-in as the Karnataka Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Monday.

The meeting took place four days after Kumaraswamy took oath as the CM in a complete show of opposition unity.

Kumaraswamy's party Janata Dal (Secular) had tied up with the Congress to form the Karnataka government.

The Congress and the JD(S) formed the government after a week-long political drama, which occurred after the Karnataka polls results.

While the Karnataka people gave a fractured mandate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which emerged as a single largest party with 104 seats, was invited to form the government by Governor Vajubhai Vala amid controversy.

However, the Congress and the JD(S) combine claimed to have the simple majority (113) with the support of 117 lawmakers.

The political tussle reached the judiciary with the Congress-JD(S) moving the Supreme Court to stall BJP's strongman BS Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as the CM.

Though the swearing-in ceremony could not be stopped, the top court slashed the 15-day period, which was given by the Governor to the BJP to prove majority, to little more than 24 hours.

Even before the floor test began, Yeddyurappa resigned as the BJP failed to secure a simple majority. With two seats yet to be polled, BJP would have required the support of 111 MLAs for the time being to form the state government.




New Delhi, May 28 (IBNS): While submitting charge sheet against Shashi Tharoor, the Delhi Police on Monday told court that his wife Sunanda Pushkar had e-mailed the Congress leader a week before her death stating that she had "lost her will to live."

"I have no desire to live... all I pray for is death," Sunanda Pushkar wrote in the email on January 8, nine days before, media reports said.

According to police, Sunanda's death was a result of poisoning.

Some 27 tablets of Alprax were recovered from her room but the police is not certain how many she consumed, the charge sheet claimed.

The charge-sheet quotes a special investigation team as stating that Shashi Tharoor "as a husband ignored Sunanda when she was sliding or slipping into depression and she had Alprax," NDTV reported.

Causing trouble for Tharoor, the Delhi police earlier this month filed the chargesheet in connection with the mysterious death of his wife, naming him as an abetter.

The chargesheet was submitted before Metropolitan Magistrate Dharmender Singh more than four years after Pushkar was found dead in a five star hospital in Delhi.

The chargesheet under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code implicated Tharoor for abetment.

Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel room on January 17, 2014, days after being embroiled in a Twitter war with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over the latters alleged closeness with Tharoor.

The initial post mortem said her death was due to poisoning. While traces of Alzolam was found in he body and a strip of the sleeping pills found in her room, the actual poison couldn't be confirmed.
New Delhi, May 28 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from May 29 to June 2.

"I will be visiting Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore on 29 May  2 June 2018. India has a robust strategic partnership with all the three countries," Modi said prior to his departure to these three nations.

On 29 May, Modi will be in Jakarta on the invitation of Indonesian Presiden Joko Widodo.

"This is my first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister. I am looking forward to my discussions with President Widodo on 30 May, as also to our joint interaction with the India-Indonesia CEOs Forum. I will also address the Indian Community in Indonesia," said he.

The PM said, "India and Indonesia enjoy strong and friendly ties and share deep historical and civilizational linkages. Both countries are multi ethnic, multi religious, plural and open societies. I am confident that my visit to Indonesia will create greater synergy between Asias two largest democracies and further elevate our bilateral ties."

On 31 May, on his way to Singapore, Modi will make a brief halt in Malaysia to congratulate the new Malaysian leadership.

"I look forward to meet Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad," said he.

In Singapore Modi said he will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of Fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence.

"Singapore entities have become major partners with India in areas like urban development, planning, smart cities and infrastructure development. My visit in Singapore presents an opportunity for both countries to engage further," said the PM.

On 31 May, PM Modi will visit the India-Singapore enterprise and innovation exhibition.

"I will also address a business and community event followed by a roundtable meeting with select top CEOs of Singapore to discuss business and investment opportunities," said he.

On June 1, he will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob.

"I will also hold delegation level talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee, and am looking forward to my visit to the Nanyang Technological University where I would interact with young students," said he.

That evening, he will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue.

This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address.

"It would be an opportunity to articulate Indias point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region," the PM noted.

On June 2, Modi will unveil a plaque at Clifford Pier, where Gandhijis ashes were immersed in sea on 27 March 1948.

"I would also visit some places of worship that have civilizational linkages with India," said he.

"The last element of my programme would be a visit to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore where I will visit the Indian Naval Ship INS Satpura and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy," said Modi.

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will provide a further boost to our Act East Policy and enhance our relations and engagements with all the three countries," he added.




Mumbai, May 28 (IBNS): Alia Bhatt's spy thriller Raazi entered the Rs 100 crore club on Sunday, giving the actress her third film which surpassed three figures (in crores) in collection.

The movie collected Rs 4.42 crore on its third Sunday to take its toll to Rs 102.50 crore.

According to film critics and business analysts, Raazi, which reached the mark in 17 days, will surpass the lifetime collections of 2 States and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, which collected Rs 102.13 crore and Rs 116.68 crore respectively.

"Alia Bhatt and a 100 cr Club...

Note: Lifetime biz #2States a 102.13 cr #BKD a 116.68 cr #Raazi a 102.50 cr [17 days; still running] #Raazi is expected to emerge the highest grosser of Alia Bhatt, surpassing *lifetime biz* of #2States and #BKD. India biz." Adarsh said.

Alia Bhatt and a 100 cr Club...

Note: Lifetime biz#2States a 102.13 cr#BKD a 116.68 cr#Raazi a 102.50 cr [17 days; still running]#Raazi is expected to emerge the highest grosser of Alia Bhatt, surpassing *lifetime biz* of #2States and #BKD.

India biz.  taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 28, 2018

Adarsh also said that it is the second woman centric Bollywood film, after Tanu Weds Manu Returns, to break into Rs 100 crore club.

"#Raazi is the second heroine-centric film to cross a 100 cr mark, after #TanuWedsManuReturns... However, #TWMR was a franchise, so it had a huge advantage... #Raazi is the first one to achieve the milestone without the tag of a franchise or commercial trappings... India biz." his tweet read.

The film is directed by Meghna Gulzar and stars Alia Bhatt, Rajit Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Soni Razdan, Jaideep Ahlawat among others.

This is also the first collaboration between real life mother daughter Alia and Soni.
Kabul, May 28 (IBNS): At least one police officer has been killed in an attack launched by the Taliban militants in Afghanistan's Paktia province, local reports said.

The incident took place on Monday morning.

The victim has been identified as Major Qadir, the deputy head of PD1 in Gardez city in Pakita province.

He was gunned down while patrolling the area, Sardar Wali Tabasam, the provincial governors spokesman said.

One other policeman sustained injuries during the attack, Tabasam added.

The Taliban has owned the ambush.
Kabul, May 28 (IBNS): At least six Taliban militants have been killed in airstrikes conducted by foreign forces in Afghanistan's Paktia province, local media reports stated on Monday.

The attack was carried out on Sunday, which also injured five other militants.

It took place in Kohsin area of Sayed Karam district of the province.

The Taliban is yet to comment on the report.





Image: Wallpaper
Whether you dread doing your legs or dont care as much for them as favoured body parts, like your arms, chest or your abs, working on your legs has a whole host of benefits; considering your things and glutes are the biggest muscle groups in your body.

The most recent study revealed that leg exercises have a direct impact on the brain and the nervous system.

customkinetics.com

Weight-bearing exercises, using your legs in particular, sends signals directly to the brain and are a vital for the production of healthy neural cells.

The results of the study gave doctors new insights as to why patients with motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy and other neurological diseases often rapidly decline when their movement becomes limited.

Reducing the amount of exercise you do makes it difficult for the body to produce new nerve cellsthe very building blocks that allows you to adapt to the stresses and challenges in life.

Fit Approach/Flickr.com

The health of you brain directly depends on the signals sent to it by the largest muscles in the body, the legs.

"Our study supports the notion that people who are unable to do load-bearing exercisessuch as patients who are bed-ridden, or even astronauts on extended travel not only lose muscle mass, but their body chemistry is altered at the cellular level and even their nervous system is adversely impacted," said Raffaella Adami from the University of Milan, in Italy.

This research reveals the critical role of movement and has a range of potential implications. "It is no accident that we are meant to be active: to walk, run, crouch to sit, and use our leg muscles to lift things," Adami said.

anews.com

In fact, decreasing the activity of your legs could decrease the number neural stem cells by 70 percent, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.

"Neurological health is not a one-way street with the brain telling the muscles "lift, walk, and so on", Adami said.
Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade.
A top aide of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed has claimed that Pakistans intelligence agency ISI had stage-managed every move during Kulbhushan Jadhavs meeting with his mother and wife in Islamabad earlier this week. Addressing at a crowd in Rawalpindi, LeT founder Maulana Ameer revealed an ugly nexus between the ISI and the Pakistan government.

ISI and Pakistan government humiliated Jadhavs family during their visit to Islamabad. They also made Jadhav face his family across a glass wall, said Ameer. India had requested Pakistan to allow Jadhavs mother and wife to meet him. Pakistan showed mercy and invited them. India thought that they would meet Jadhav face to face on a sofa but the ISI didnt allow it, added Ameer.

He also claimed the ISI had suspected that something was being hidden by Jadhavs wife in her shoes and the authorities had made her remove it. She was also forced to change her clothes, remove her sindoor and mangalsutra and her hair pin.

There was a glass screen between Jadhav and his family during the entire meeting and they spoke through an intercom device. Jadhavs mother Avanti was also not allowed to speak in their mother tongue.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Pakistan disregarded the cultural and religious sensibilities of Jadhavs family. Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan, Pakistan, over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for Indias intelligence agency  the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was former Indian Naval Officer and was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy. On April 10, 2017, Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan.
In a bizarre incident, teachers of a Katihar school took the students on an excursion to Biratnagar in Nepal instead of the scheduled visit to Vikramshila in Bhagalpur just to consume liquor, which is banned in Bihar.

The Bawanganj Middle School is in Korha block of Katihar district, approximately 300km from Patna.

WealthyGorilla/Representational Image

The students complained to their parents after returning home that the teachers had consumed liquor in Nepal and vomited inside the bus throughout the journey back home, Bawanganj panchayat mukhiya Balram Mahauli told TOI over the phone on Sunday.

Forty students, including 27 girls, were taken on one-day excursion under the Mukhya Mantri Bihar Darshan Yojana on May 24 and returned after midnight, Mahauli said. He said the parents protested on school premises on May 25 after which senior district administration officials, including district education officer (DEO) Dinesh Chandradeo, reached the school. Police were also called to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

The permission for excursion was for Vikramshila, but the teachers diverted the route midway to Biratnagar. The letter for excursion was shown to us after our protest at the school, he said.

TOI/Representational Image

Headmaster Ravindra Kumar, Korha block teacher Radheshaym Singh, tola sevaks Noor Alam, Amit Kumar Rajak, Vikash Kumar Rajak and Ashok Rajak and a woman cook were with the students on the tour. The students complained that while returning, the teachers and tola sevaks made them sit inside the bus somewhere near Jogbani in Araria district and went somewhere. After an hour or so, the teachers and four tola sevaks returned in an inebriated state, the mukhiya said.

The teachers and sevaks twice vomited in the bus which was cleaned by the cook and the students, he said.

When asked, DEO Chandradeo said he had written to their employer unit for action against the teachers. They were contractual teachers, he said.

When contacted, Katihar DM Punam said she was not aware about any such incident. Let me talk to the DEO. Action will definitely be taken against the guilty, she said.
Every year, students wait with bated breath for their results - whether it's board exams or IIT-JEE or medical. Every year, they work hard to score enough marks to land in a college of their choosing. But sometimes, the 'enough marks' fall short of their expectations, shattering their dreams.

Parents and counsellors work equally hard at making their wards believe in the power of passion. Students who want to follow a particular line of interest - whether it's music or designing - should be allowed to do so lest they fall victim to a lifetime of misplaced identity.

This is why students everywhere must read this story.

humans of india

Also read: Indians Are Trying Hard To Cope With CBSE Class 12 Results & These Reactions Are Pure Gold

Chitraang Murdia topped All-India JEE (Advanced) in 2014 and took up B.Tech in Computer Science at IIT-Bombay. However, he soon chose to quit and pursue his passion for physics.

In a Humans of India post, he said,

"I realized that 'Computer science is interesting to me, but my passion lies in physics. I wanted to do research, probably in quantum theory'. Don't know how, but I developed my keen interest in Physics and decided to quit IIT. Everybody was shocked by this decision and that included even my friends."

He added,

"I got admission in one of the world most prestigious institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and that too with a scholarship. I have seen the students who are good in physics and maths are following the herd to seek admission to courses such as computer science and electrical engineering. It will definitely boost up the moral of those students who wish to pursue their interest in pure science but couldn't do that because of the family pressure or money."

bccl

Murdia's story is one of inspiration for students who want to follow their dreams and not the ones other people force them to embrace as their own. While some assistance and help are required from those more experienced, that doesn't mean you have to follow their rule book.

Also read: CBSE Class 12 Results Announced, Noida Girl Meghna Srivastava Tops With A Smashing 99.8%

With results pouring in this season, here's wishing every one of you good luck!
Pakistan has prohibited collection of donations by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) as well as several such organisations named in a list of banned outfits by the UN Security Council.

The decision was taken by Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the financial regulatory agency under the finance ministry, on December 19, sources said. It warned that non-compliance with the ruling could result in a heavy penalty.

Also Read: Pro-Pakistan Slogans Allegedly Raised In A UP Town To Celebrate LeT Chief Hafiz Saeed's Release

"SECP prohibits all companies from donating cash to entities/individuals listed under the UNSC sanctions committee's consolidated list," reads the notification. In addition to JuD, LeT and FIF, other organizations barred from collecting donations include the Paasban-i-Ahle-Hadith and Pasban-i-Kashmir. Several other lesser known outfits too have been named in the notification.

afp

"Non-compliance with SECP ruling could result in a hefty monetary fine. The government has already prescribed a penalty of up to Rs 10 million for non-compliance on the sanctions regime being implemented," it said.

Sources said Pakistan's civilian government plans to seize control of charities and financial assets linked to Saeed. Reuters quoted an official saying, "Pakistan's civilian government detailed its plans in a secret order to various provincial and federal government departments on December 19."

Also Read: 26/11 Mastermind Hafiz Saeed Who Is Now Free In Pakistan Wants UN To Remove His Name From Global Terrorists List

The implementation of the plan would mark the first time Pakistan has made a major move against Saeed's network, which includes 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services. According to counter-terrorism officials, the JuD and FIF alone have about 50,000 volunteers and hundreds of other paid workers.

reuters

The official was present during one of several high-level meetings called to discuss the crackdown on outfits controlled by Saeed, the news agency said.

Sources said a December 19 document marked secret from the finance ministry directed law enforcement and governments in Pakistan's five provinces to submit an action plan by December 28 for a "takeover" of JuD and FIF.

Also Read: Amid Criticism, Terrorist & 26/11 Mastermind Hafiz Saeed Opens Political Party Office In Lahore

The US has declared JuD and FIF as terrorist fronts for LeT, the militant organisation that Washington and New Delhi blame for the 2008 attacks in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that combats money laundering and terror financing, too has warned Pakistan that it faces inclusion on a watch list for failing to crack down on financing terrorism.

afp

"I have ordered authorities to choke the fundraising of all proscribed outfits in Pakistan," home minister Ahsan Iqbal said when asked about a crackdown on JuD and FIF.

Officials at the meeting had also raised the possibility that the government's failure to act against the charities could lead to UN sanctions. A Security Council team is due to visit Pakistan in late January to review progress against UN-designated "terrorist" groups.

"Any adverse comments or action suggested by the team can have far-reaching implications for Pakistan," said an official who had attended the Dec 19 meeting.

reuters

"The Dec 19th document gave few details about how the state would take over Saeed's charities, pending the plans submitted by the provincial governments. It did say it would involve government entities taking over ambulance services and accounting for other vehicles used by the charities," the report said.

The document also directs that the name of JuD's 200-acre headquarters, Markaz-e-Taiba, near the eastern city of Lahore, be changed "to make it known that the Government of Punjab solely manages and operates the markaz (headquarters).
Google has quite a lucrative bug bounty program -- where the company gives away millions of dollars in reward to ethical hackers and security experts for reporting security holes.

And the search engine giant recently awarded a Uruguayan teenager $36,000 for reporting a serious security hole.

Google Sites

The security bug that 17-year-old Ezequiel Pereira uncovered would have allowed hackers to make changes to Google's internal systems.

Pereira got his first computer at age 10 and he pretty much has been programming and writing code ever since the age of 11. From a young age, fuelled by his interest of computers, Pereira taught himself different programming languages and regularly participated in coding and programming contests. In fact, one such coding event actually earned the Uruguayan teenager a trip to Google's headquarters in California, back in 2016.

reuters

While Ezequiel Pereira has submitted his reports to Googles bug bounty program four times in the past -- once when he won $10,000 -- this fifth time is undoubtedly the most valuable windfall he's won as reward from Google, worth $36,000.

It's when you come across impressive personalities like Ezequiel Pereira, people who have achieved so much fame and fortune at such a young age, that you start questioning your life choices. Oh well.
Famous yoga guru, Baba Ramdev is now a household name -- thanks to his Patanjali branded products, one of India's most trusted FMCG brand.

Not quite resting on his laurels, Baba Ramdev forayed into the telecom sector yesterday, by launching 'Swadeshi Samriddhi' SIM card in partnership with BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited).

baba ramdev looking at things // Reuters

Speaking on the occasion, Baba Ramdev said government-owned BSNL is a "Swadeshi network" and the motive of both Patanjali and BSNL is same, which is the welfare of the country.

"There are five lakh counters of BSNL and from there people can soon get Patanjali Swadeshi Samriddhi card," Ramdev said.

With the recharge of Rs 144, you can make unlimited calls across the country, get 2 GB data and send 100 SMSes.

In the beginning, only Patanjali employees will be able to avail the benefits of the SIM card. After its full-fledged launch, over the coming months, ordinary citizens will be able to get discount of 10 per cent on Patanjali products with the Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM card, claim reports.

reuters

Not just telecom service and Patanjali product discounts, but people will also get health, accidental and life insurance on the Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM card. Baba Ramdev said that in addition to attractive data and call package, the card also comes with Rs 2.5 lakh medical and Rs 5 lakh life insurance cover -- only to be availed in the case of road accident.

So, are you looking forward to getting your hands on the Baba Ramdev Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM card?
There are close to 30 lakh shipwrecks resting at the bottom of the world's seas and oceans. And less than one percent of it has been explored or found. That means there's plenty of opportunity to become a very rich person, if you happen to find a sunken ship full of hidden treasure.

That's exactly what the Remus 6000, a 13-feet robot submarine, did back in 2015. It discovered not just any shipwreck, but the most valued and sought after sunken treasure in the history of sea-faring.

Youtube screenshot

A state-of-the-art Spanish ship that ruled the seas over 300 years ago, the San Jose sank carrying a huge fortune of gold, silver, and emeralds. It was sunk by the British ship Expedition, after a long battle at sea -- involving cannon fire.

The sunken San Jose is valued to have a treasure worth some $17 billion in todays dollars, and it was carrying all that to fund the war effort led by France against England.

Although the discovery of the Spanish ship was made in 2015, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) -- who found the ship through the Remus 6000 robot submarine -- just received clearance to go public with the details of the discovery.

Screenshot

The Remus 6000 is a 892 kilo, 13 feet fully automatic underwater vehicle built for deep sea exploration. It can dive down to a depth of 6 km underwater, and can operate up to 22 hours without rest. It has modern digital equipment like a modem, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a dual-frequency side-scan sonar -- its eyes on the floor of the seabed. The Remus 6000 had also explored the Titanic back in 2010, before moving on to hunting down famous historical shipwrecks.

This video below sheds some light on just how the Remus 6000 was able to locate the final resting place of the San Jose off the coast of Colombia.

Time to build your own robot submarine and become a billionaire? Why not?
Swiss Re AG said it would continue to welcome an anchor investor after Masayoshi Sons SoftBank Group Corp. ended its pursuit of a stake in the worlds second-largest reinsurer.

The collapsed talks mark the end of nearly four months of deliberations about how SoftBank would invest in Swiss Re, though the two companies may yet agree to collaborate on some businesses. A purchase of a stake would have given the Japanese technology and investment company access to steady cash flows and help diversify its sources of income.

We are still on very friendly terms  it wasnt a sour end to the talks, Swiss Re spokesman Willy-Andreas Heckmann said by phone. The Zurich-based reinsurer is still open to interesting anchor shareholders, Heckmann said. He declined to say whether Swiss Re is in discussions with other potential investors.

The two sides had disagreed over the price and size of the stake and over how much management control would be handed to Son, people with knowledge of the matter said earlier this month. Swiss Res reluctance to issue new shares means SoftBank would have been forced to buy its stake on the open market.

The Swiss company will also further explore business ideas between Swiss Res operative entities and the portfolio companies of SoftBank, according to a statement on Monday. Swiss Re was up 0.5 percent at 91.06 Swiss francs at 12:36 p.m. in Zurich, leaving the shares little changed since the start of the year. The reinsurer has a market value of about 31.9 billion Swiss francs ($32.1 billion).

New Focus

Issues within SoftBank, such as the pending merger of its Sprint Corp. business with T-Mobile US Inc. and the initial public offering of SoftBanks mobile unit, had shifted Sons focus, the people had said.

The termination of discussions about a potential minority stake are not really surprising, but still somehow disappointing, Bank Vontobel AG analyst Stefan Schuermann said in a note to investors. Now, not much can be expected from SoftBank.

Though it was initially reported in February that SoftBank was interested in as much as a third of the insurer, Swiss Re later said the stake under discussion was 10 percent or less. Earlier this month Swiss Re could shed little light on deal progress after reports that the deal had stalled. Asked about the talks on May 4, Chief Financial Offer John Dacey told reporters that talks were continuing and the company had nothing further to add.

Still, Swiss Re Chief Executive Officer Christian Mumenthaler said in February that he would welcome an anchor investor in a business where results can change radically from one year to the next. Its not a bad thing, he said at a conference in Zurich. If you ask me, just high level, is it attractive? I would say yes.

The traditional reinsurance model has come under pressure in recent years as hedge funds piled into the industry. In addition to such new money, known as alternative investors within reinsurance, competition is rising from the likes of emerging-market rivals such as Indias GIC Re and Qatar Re.

Softbanks Son has a net worth of about $13 billion and is Japans third-richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Reinsurance Swiss Re
PG&E Corp.s equipment was responsible for causing four of the smaller wildfires that tore through Northern California last year, according to the first report issued by state investigators.

The fires in Butte and Nevada counties, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, were sparked by trees or branches hitting PG&E power lines, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, said in a statement. The causes of the larger blazes in wine country, including the Tubbs Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, remain under investigation.

Cal Fire found evidence that PG&E violated state laws in three of the smaller blazes, including not leaving adequate clearance between trees and power lines. In the La Porte Fire, which burned 8,417 acres and destroyed 74 structures in Butte County, investigators said PG&E hadnt broken state rules. No injuries or deaths were tied to the four fires.

PG&E is reviewing the reports and believes its fire-prevention programs met the states high standards, according to a statement Friday.

Shares of the San Francisco-based company fell 2.6 percent in after-hours trading. They closed at $44.66, up 1.9 percent.

The fact that investigators found evidence indicating the investor-owned utilitys wires sparked the blazes isnt surprising  given how frequently electrical equipment is responsible for wildfires, said Paul Patterson, a utility analyst at Glenrock Associates.

The key question will be if any of the fires resulted in negligence or imprudence on the part of the utility, he said.

The California Public Utilities Commission said in a statement it would incorporate Cal Fires findings into its own probes.

PG&E has lost more than $12 billion in market value since the wildfires broke out. It suspended its dividend and withheld its 2018 profit guidance because of uncertainty about how much it might have to pay for damages. The fires  some of the worst in state history  destroyed thousands of structures and killed 44 people.

Inverse Condemnation

Under California law, utilities can be held liable for costs if their equipment is found to have caused a fire  even if they followed safety rules  based on a legal principle known as inverse condemnation. PG&E Chief Executive Officer Geisha Williams has called the policy deeply flawed. The company, along with Californias other investor-owned utilities, has been lobbying the states lawmakers and regulators to change it.

California Governor Jerry Brown said in March that he will work with state leaders to develop policies this year to update wildfire liability rules and regulations for utilities. Brown has said the state is at higher risk for more severe and frequent fires due to climate change.

Insured losses claimed from the Northern California wildfires totaled $9.55 billion as of the end of January, the state insurance agency said.

As we have suspected since October of 2017, these reports confirm that PG&E equipment was involved, and that PG&E has once again failed to safely operate its system, said Steve Campora, a lawyer representing fire victims suing PG&E.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe California Natural Disasters Wildfire
An exchange rate is how much it costs to exchange one currency for another. Exchange rates fluctuate constantly throughout the week as currencies are actively traded. This pushes the price up and down, similar to other assets such as gold or stocks. The market price of a currency  how many U.S. dollars it takes to buy a Canadian dollar for example  is different than the rate you will receive from your bank when you exchange currency. It is often a key element of financial trilemmas. Here's how exchange rates work, and how to figure out if you are getting a good deal.

Finding Market Exchange Rates

Traders and institutions buy and sell currencies 24 hours a day during the week. For a trade to occur, one currency must be exchanged for another. To buy British Pounds (GBP), another currency must be used to buy it. Whatever currency is used will create a currency pair. If U.S. dollars (USD) are used to buy GBP, the exchange rate is for the GBP/USD pair. Access to these forex markets can be found through any of the major forex brokers.

2:02 How To Calculate An Exchange Rate

Reading an Exchange Rate

If the USD/CAD currency pair is 1.33, that means it costs 1.33 Canadian dollars for 1 U.S. dollar. In USD/CAD, the first currency listed (USD) always stands for one unit of that currency; the exchange rate shows how much of the second currency (CAD) is needed to purchase that one unit of the first (USD).

This rate tells you how much it costs to buy one U.S. dollar using Canadian dollars. To find out how much it costs to buy one Canadian dollar using U.S. dollars use the following formula: 1/exchange rate.

In this case, 1 / 1.33 = 0.7518. It costs 0.7518 U.S. dollars to buy one Canadian dollar. This price would be reflected by the CAD/USD pair; notice the position of the currencies has switched.

Some of the most popular currencies that trade against the greenback are the Euro (EUR/USD), the Japanese Yen (USD/JPY), the British Pound (GBP/USD), the Swiss Franc (USD/CHF), the Australian Dollar (USD/AUD), the New Zealand Dollar (USD/NZD), and the Canadian dollar (USD/CAD). Incidentally, the ordering in each set of parentheses reflects the customary direct quote scheme for each pairing.

Conversion Spreads

When you go to the bank to convert currencies, you most likely won't get the market price that traders get. The bank or currency exchange house will markup the price so they make a profit, as will credit cards and payment services providers such as PayPal, when a currency conversion occurs. 

If the USD/CAD price is 1.33, the market is saying it costs 1.33 Canadian dollars to buy 1 U.S. dollar. At the bank though, it may cost 1.37 Canadian dollars. The difference between the market exchange rate and the exchange rate they charge is their profit. To calculate the percentage discrepancy, take the difference between the two exchange rates, and divide it by the market exchange rate: 1.37 - 1.33 = 0.04/1.33 = 0.03. Multiply by 100 to get the percentage markup: 0.03 x 100 = 3%.

A markup will also be present if converting U.S. dollars to Canadian dollars. If the CAD/USD exchange rate is 0.75 (see the section above), then the bank may charge 0.7725. They are charging you more U.S. dollars than the market rate. 0.7725 - 0.75 = 0.0225/0.75 = 0.03 x 100 = 3% markup.

Banks and currency exchanges compensate themselves for this service. The bank gives you cash, whereas traders in the market do not deal in cash. In order to get cash, wire fees and processing or withdrawal fees would be applied to a forex account in case the investor needs the money physically. For most people looking for currency conversion, getting cash instantly and without fees, but paying a markup, is a worthwhile compromise.

Shop around for an exchange rate that is closer to the market exchange rate; it can save you money. Some banks have ATM network alliances worldwide, offering customers a more favorable exchange rate when they withdraw funds from allied banks.

Calculate Your Requirements

Need a foreign currency? Use exchange rates to determine how much foreign currency you want, and how much of your local currency you'll need to buy it.

If heading to Europe you'll need euros (EUR), and will need to check the EUR/USD exchange rate at your bank. The market rate may be 1.113, but an exchange might charge you 1.146 or more.

Assume you have $1,000 USD to buy Euros with. Divide $1,000 by 1.146 (what a bank may charge) to get 872.60 euros. That is how many Euros you get for your $1,000. Since Euros are more expensive, we know we have to divide, so that we end up with fewer units of EUR than units of USD.

Now assume you want 1,500 euros, and want to know what it costs in USD. Multiply 1,500 by 1.146 to get 1,719 USD. Since we know Euros are more expensive, one euro will cost more than one US dollar, that is why we multiply in this case.

The Bottom Line

Exchange rates always apply to the cost of one currency relative to another. The order in which the pair are listed (USD/CAD versus CAD/USD) matters. Remember the first currency is always equal to one unit and the second currency is how much of that second currency it takes to buy one unit of the first currency. From there you can calculate your conversion requirements. Banks will markup the price of currencies to compensate themselves for the service. Shopping around may save you some money as some companies will have a smaller markup, relative to the market exchange rate, than others.
Investopedia and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Investopedia.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors)
What Is Intermodal Freight?

Intermodal freight consists of products and raw materials that are transported in a container by a variety of vehicles, such as container ships, semi-trailer trucks, and trains. Containers designed for intermodal freight often adhere to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) dimension guidelines, which allow the freight to remain in the same container when transferred between modes of transportation rather than having to be moved into a new container of a different size.

Key Takeaways Intermodal freight consists of products and raw materials that are transported by container by a variety of vehicles.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets out the standards required for the containers used in intermodal freight.

Intermodal freight is different from multimodal transportation, which is conducted under a single contract, whereas intermodal transportation is conducted according to multiple contracts with different carriers.

Intermodal freight reduces the amount of handling on cargo during a trip and reduces costs and is also more eco-friendly.

One drawback to intermodal freight is that it requires a significant outlay of infrastructure costs to operate.

The use of intermodal freight is expected to grow in the next few years due to the cost advantages for shippers.

Understanding Intermodal Freight

The emergence of standardized shipping containers has allowed products and raw materials to travel faster and at a reduced cost. The United States military is often credited with the containerization of shipping during the 1950s when the Department of Defense's standards were adopted by the ISO.

Intermodal transportation should not be confused with multimodal transportation. Multimodal transportation is conducted under a single contract, whereas intermodal transportation is conducted according to multiple contracts with different carriers. In addition, multimodal uses different modes of transport, but under one bill of lading, and the same carrier is responsible for moving shipments in all of the modes.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Intermodal Freight

Advantages

Businesses use intermodal freight shipping both domestically and internationally because it lessens the amount of handling performed with the cargo during the trip and can reduce costs. Intermodal freight transportation is also a safe and secure method because it eliminates the handling of the freight itself during transportation, which reduces damage and loss, drivers can handle more loads in a shorter period, and additional security is provided at terminals, rail tracks, and ramps, which prevents theft.

Intermodal transportation is eco-friendly. Rail transportation is more efficient. According to Inbound Logistics, rail can move one ton of freight almost 450 miles on one gallon of fuel. This fuel efficiency creates less greenhouse gas and carbon pollution as goods are shipped from coast to coast.

Disadvantages

Intermodal freight transportation requires a substantial outlay in infrastructure costs. Heavy-duty cranes are necessary to lift containers at different ports when changing the mode of transport. For example, when a container arrives at a seaport, it must be transferred to a flatbed, rail, or truck. In addition, investments in rail and road access are required. Seaports need rail and road access so that railways and trucks can transport goods to and from the port.

The Intermodal Shipping Process

A typical import shipping process entails that after arriving from overseas, containerized cargo is moved from a container port to a rail yard for domestic shipment. The cargo is moved onto the rail and is transported to the next location, which could be hundreds of miles inland. Once the cargo arrives at its destination, it is placed on a truck to be driven to its final destination dictated by the original order.

Growth in Intermodal Freight

According to Freightquote.com, there are approximately 25 million containers moved each year by intermodal shipping. A market research report by Technavio predicts that intermodal freight transportation will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7% from 2020 to 2024, growing by $49.8 billion in that time frame. The report cites cost advantages for shippers as the reason for its expected growth. In addition, the cost of the road as a single mode of transportation is increasing. However, multimodal transportation, where convenience is a significant factor because a single company is responsible for the movement of cargo across all modes, is expected to impede the growth of the intermodal freight transportation market in the future.
What Does OAPEC Mean?

Organization Of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) is an inter-governmental organization based in Kuwait. OAPEC fosters cooperation among its 11-member Arab oil-exporting nations.

Understanding OAPEC

OAPEC was established in 1968 by Kuwait, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. Its other members include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Although they have several members in common, OAPEC is a separate and distinct entity from OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), the 13-nation cartel that plays a pivotal role in determining global petroleum prices. OAPEC sponsors joint ventures for its member countries to promote the effective use of resources and the economic integration of Arab countries.

The History of OAPEC

Kuwait, Libya and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement in Beirut on January 9, 1968, establishing OAPEC, and agreeing that the organization would be located in the State of Kuwait. By 1982, the number of members had increased to 11. In 1986, Tunisia submitted a request for withdrawal and it was accepted by the Ministerial Council.

The Structure of OAPEC

OAPEC's structure is composed of the Ministerial Council, General Secretariat, and a Judicial Tribunal. The Ministerial Council is managed by a Council of Ministers, which is responsible for general policy, activities, and governance. The Council grants membership to applying countries and approves invitations to meetings that are extended to petroleum exporting countries. The Council also adopts resolutions and advises on issues, approves the draft annual budgets of the General Secretariat and the Judicial Tribunal, validates the end-of-year accounts and appoints the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretaries.

The Executive Bureau supervises the organization in conjunction with the Ministerial Council. The Executive Bureau prepares the Councils agenda, amends the regulations applicable to the staff of the General Secretariat, reviews the organization's budget and comments on Council issues that are related to the Articles of Agreement. The Executive Bureau has one representative from each member country.

The General Secretariat manages the organizations activities according to the objectives outlined in the stated in the original OAPEC agreement and the directives of the Ministerial Council. The Secretary-General heads the Secretariat and is the organization's official spokesman and legal representative.

The Judicial Tribunal was established by a special Protocol signed on May 9, 1978, in Kuwait. The Protocol was added to the organizations Agreement and became effective on April 20, 1980. The first Judges of the Tribunal were elected on May 6, 1981. The protocol mandates that there must be an uneven number of judges of Arab citizenship - a minimum of seven and a maximum of eleven.

The Influence of OAPEC

According to Gulf News, although momentum is not at the pace it was 30 years ago, OAPEC has had a substantial positive influence on the Arab oil and gas industry since its inception. Arab energy and oil consumption has increased 15-fold and 10-fold, respectively, and oil reserves have increased to 710 billion barrels in 2016 from less than half that number in 1980. In addition, gas reserves grew from 15 to 53 trillion cubic meters, and Arab petrochemicals production has now exceeded 150 million tons a year.
By Irish Examiner digital staff

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

GET INFORMED ...

IRELAND: Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran has said he believes people who voted yes in Friday's referendum committed a sin and should attend confession.

IRELAND: A woman who fought a long legal battle to liberalise abortion law in Northern Ireland has urged Theresa May to step in.

IRELAND: Concern about plans to reform the state pension has been raised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

IRELAND: A fundraising campaign is underway for the parents of 18-year-old Cameron Reilly, who was found dead in a field in Dunleer, Co Louth over the weekend.

WORLD: A migrant from Mali lauded as a hero for scaling an apartment building in Paris to save a young child dangling from a balcony will be rewarded for his exceptional act with papers to legalise his stay, French president Emmanuel Macron said.

SPORT: Jared Payne has been forced to retire from his rugby playing career due to a head injury sustained while playing for the Lions.

BUSINESS: Over 50,000 passengers are expected to travel through Cork Airport across the June Bank Holiday weekend, a 4% increase on the same period last year.

... SOME DISTRACTION

VIRAL: A Donegal man has explained the reasons why his county voted No

SHOWBIZ: Linda Martin will swap the stage for the sofa this week to guest present TV3 The Six OClock Show on TV3 from Monday-Thursday, alongside co-host Martin King.

LIFESTYLE: Katie Wright chats to pro barber Brent Pankhurst, to discover the dos and donts of body shaving for men.
The Miniser for Health Simon Harris has confirmed he will bring legislation on abortion before the Dail before the summer break.

There had been question marks about whether there was enough time to draft the bill, in the wake of the Yes result in Friday's referendum.

The Minister will be meeting with opposition politicians and stakeholders to discuss the legislation this week.

The news comes as the Irish Family Planning Association called on the government to immediately introduce a moratorium on any prosecutions against women who buy abortion pills over the internet.

Some measures to make it easier for women to procure abortions before the law comes in have been suggested - including de-criminalising the abortion pill.

Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association, Niall Behan, said women will continue to order pills "and will still be in fear of prosecution".

At the weekend Mr Behan also said the IFPA would continue to support women who experience crisis pregnancies and suggested the IFPA hoped to be proivider of abortion services.

"We now look forward to the time when we can offer them the care they need here in Ireland."

"The Yes vote places the imperative squarely on the government to ensure that the legislation is enacted and services put in place without delay. The IFPA stands ready to provide high-quality abortion services In Ireland," he said.

Niall Behan IFPA CEO on @rtenews: critical that abortion services are integrated into reproductive healthcare. We're committed to providing this care as soon as the legislation and guidelines are in place #RepealedThe8th  IFPA (@IrishFPA) May 28, 2018

There has never been a prosecution against a woman for using abortion pills.

- Digital Desk
A range of fashion experts aged over 50 have gone online to help silver-haired ladies step out in style, writes Paula Burns.

C.S. Lewis said, You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

Instagram maybe an improbable version of Narnia but isnt there something fantastical about delving into the new dreams of others? It turns out social media isnt wasted on the young.

A whole new generation of silver haired women have entered unchartered territory, trekking the feed of Instagram to make it their own.

It seems a little ironic to say that its the over 50s style bloggers that have rejuvenated Instagram, bringing freshness to the platform but its true. Maybe its down to the fact that their images feel less contrived then the younger models.

With age comes an inner confidence that inevitably radiates from an image. A huge factor in their appeal is that these women dont give a damn.

They are genuine in what they portray on their feeds leaving us with a collection of images that are brimming with personality. They dont take it too seriously, letting them and us enjoy the moment.

The lesson to be learnt here is that age really is all in the mind. Why should style end once you hit middle age?

These women refuse to let age define them and so we stylishly salute them.

Sarah Jane Adams of Saramaijewels

Within a year of entering the Instagram world, Australian sixty-something-year-old Sarah Jane had landed a modelling contract with IMG. But for Sarah Jane, style goes deeper then the runway.

"I use my clothing to question relationships between identities, to play with expectations, context and rules, she explains.

Her 30 years spent as an antique jewellery dealer and adaptation within different ways of life, sub-groups and tribes has influenced her personal sense of dress, and adornment.

The vibrancy of her feed is a mouth-watering joy to the senses. Her love of Adidas may come as a surprise.

Though few of us could pull of a full red retro Adidas tracksuit yet Sarah Jane does so effortlessly with the Sydney Opera house as a back drop.

Mel Kobayashi of Bag and Beret

If your looking to the escape the bog standard blogger poses of Instagram then scroll no further than Bag and a Beret.

Vancouver based, Mel Kobayashi is the Madonna of striking a pose.

Her vivacious poses are captivating, bringing you right into the moment of the image. If Bag and a Beret were a novel it would surely be character driven.

When thinking about her own style the words cinematic, aristocrat, rebel, and sprite are words Mel would use.

For her, style magnifies who she is, she views fashion as a creative process free of rules and so age doesnt factor into her style choices.

Instead Mel is unlearning the rules of art and style in order to extend her range of expression, leaving us lucky enough to have a front row seat.

Dayle of Artfulcitystyle

Pic: @dentontaylor

New York has lent itself to being the backdrop of many a fashion story.

This time round it plays a co-starring role along with the art that invigorates the soul of the city and fashion statements made by blogger Dayle.

Having the Manhattan streets as an instant accessory isnt enough for this fashion magpie.

Building an outfit one accessory at a time is the secret to her creating an overall masterpiece.

With a background in musical theatre, dramatic style risks are exactly what captivate the audience to Dayles stylish feed. Just like the Big Apple, Dayles style is bold yet endearing.

This is the drama of costume brought through to the intimacy of street style.

Alyson Walsh of Thats not my age

Pic: Penny Wincer

Alyson Walsh is the UK blogger who is bringing paired back chic to Instagram. Her fresh approach to fashion is what makes her style so effortlessly cool.

Thats not my age is a beautifully curated Insta feed of not just outfit shots but also art, architecture and culture  all of which are inspirational to Alysons style.

As a former fashion editor and current freelance journalist with FTs How to Spend It and the Guardian, Alyson is a fashion voice not to be reckoned with.

Theres a Gallic element to Alysons wardrobe where a navy jumpsuit is layered with the Breton stripe, creating an uncomplicated stylish look.

This comes as no surprise as her style advice is to find what makes you feel chic and comfortable.

If Alysons feed and blog leave you wanting more then check out her latest book Know Your Style for more tips.

Suzi Grant of Alternative Ageing

Pic: Zachary Innes-Mulraine of IMA Photography

Its four years since Suzi Grant took to the blogging world to share her style and lifestyle tips with the world.

A lover of vintage, Suzi defines her style as not following fashion too much but finding quirky, unusual and often vintage pieces that suit her shape, colouring and, to a certain extent her age.

Not that age really matters to her when it comes to style, just dont expect to see her in hot pants and heels any time soon.

Thanks to it now being fashionable to be grey, Suzi says that sharing her most fashionable life has made her no longer feel invisible.

Brightly coloured headscarfs play centre stage in Suzis look, matched with an array of sixties style shades theres a hint of twiggy to her style.

Its hard to believe scrolling through her feed that Suzi is just 2 years shy of 70, proving that style is certainly ageless.
TP OMahony charts the decline of the power of the Catholic Church, but cautions against a dangerous moral vacuum that may be left in its wake.

The long era of Catholic absolutism, dating all the way back to Catholic Emancipation in 1829, is now well and truly over.

Historians in the future will cite May 25, 2018, as the date on which the crozier was rendered obsolete, taking its place alongside the shillelagh as a cultural artefact.

What we witnessed this weekend was yet another phase in the slow but inexorable process of what Professor Brendan OLeary of the University of Pennsylvania has called the de-Catholicising of Ireland.

There are, inevitably, losses as well as gains in any such historical process, but it bespeaks a new maturity and

independence of thinking among the young in particular, especially in the sphere of human sexuality.

The Church, and not just in Ireland, has struggled to come to terms with this, and instead of attempting to fashion a new ethic of sexuality, has continued with a rearguard action, unmindful (it seems) of the widespread rejection by millions of Catholic couples of the traditional teachings on contraception and divorce.

Abortion had become the new battleground, and in a society like the USA  where abortion has been legal since the landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Roe v Wade case in 1973  the Catholic right (which acquired a new boldness during the long and ultra-conservative pontificate of John Paul II) has been to the fore in the ongoing campaign to have that decision repealed.

Thats why the outcome of the Irish referendum was being keenly watched from afar, because a defeat for the

Repeal the Eighth campaign here would have been trumpeted as a significant victory, and would undoubtedly have been cited in the States and elsewhere as a justification for redoubling efforts to reverse reform.

What will surprise observers about the Irish situation is the scale of the opposition to the adamantine abortion regime put in place by the insertion of the Eighth Amendment into the Constitution in the 1983 referendum.

It is true that this bitterly divisive campaign (initiated by men), which I covered as religious affairs correspondent of the Irish Press, took place in a very different Ireland.

Members of the quartet Voices For Appeal embrace, as they wait at Dublin Castle for the result of the referendum. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

For one thing, it was an Ireland where what the late Irish Times columnist John Healy memorably called halo politics at the time still worked.

If you were a TD you could burnish your halo by kow-towing to the bishops and the Catholic right, a pattern of

behaviour that was fed by the feverish electoral atmosphere of a society that had to face an extraordinary three

general elections in 18 months in 1981 and 1982.

The uncertainties, nervousness and fear created by these elections meant that politicians were more susceptible to lobbying and pressure, so that from the time when a referendum to insert the Eighth Amendment was mooted they were ready to outdo each other in indulging in halo politics.

Thirty-five years on, it is a very different Ireland.

The 1983 referendum took place in the afterglow of the historic visit to Ireland of Pope John Paul II in 1979, where he used his final address in Limerick to urge the Irish people to reject divorce and abortion.

That worked very effectively in the 1983 abortion referendum, and again in the divorce referendum of 1986 when 63.48% of the voters rejected the introduction of divorce in Ireland.

But the winds of change were already discernible in the area of contraception when the Health (Family Planning) Act 1979 was passed in June of that year.

And of course in June 1996 the Constitution was amended to provide for the dissolution of marriage, following a second divorce referendum.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin

This time the opposition to the Repeal the Eighth movement was led by the countrys two senior Catholic clerics, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin.

A chorus of clerical voices joined them, but whereas this would have proved decisive in 1983, in this referendum it proved futile.

There is not, or ought not to be, any resort to triumphalism here.

While this referendum vote displays further evidence of a willingness on the part of Irish Catholics to reclaim the right to think for themselves as far as sexual morality is concerned, and additional evidence that the power and prestige of the Catholic Church in Ireland has been severely shaken (to quote from Tom Inglis book Moral Monopoly), it is also true that the demise of the Catholic Church as a moral force in Irish society creates a dangerous vacuum.

This is especially worrying in the wider socio-economic sphere where materialism is rampant, and a green variety of Thatcherism holds sway within the political establishment.

The time could hardly be more opportune for a rediscovery of the Social Gospel.
It has been agreed that terminations here should be fully integrated into the health system, says Alison OConnor.

Surgical abortion could be carried out in the States 19 maternity units under proposals being considered by obstetricians, although the overwhelming majority of abortions would be medical, using the abortion pill.

No firm plans were drawn up in advance of Fridays vote, but serious consideration has been given to how an abortion regime might operate in Ireland.

It is agreed, medically and politically, that unlike the situation in England and Wales, where there are standalone private clinics, funded by the NHS, pregnancy terminations here should be fully integrated into the Irish health system.

Adopting that type of model would also ensure there would not be stigmatisation of women seeking abortions, or the prospect of protests at individual clinics.

Women would attend their GPs and in some, anticipated to be a small number of cases, may have to be referred to a maternity unit for a scan.

There are a number of early pregnancy units in our 19 maternity units with ultrasound scanners and most of these are open in the morning, not being used during the rest of the day.

It is being considered that these units could be used by GPs to refer patients seeking an abortion if the GP feels a scan is necessary to accurately date the pregnancy, or there are fears of a complication such as an ectopic pregnancy.

It is difficult to estimate how many abortions there will be in Ireland annually, but one assumption could see a total of 6,000 abortions a year  based on the numbers of women ordering the abortion pill over the internet and travelling to the UK  with numbers expected to increase initially and then reducing when the ancillary recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on the 8th such as sex education and free contraception are up and running.

There may be a higher number of surgical abortions initially, performed in hospitals, but these would also be expected to decrease as time went on.

It could be anticipated that 10% of the overall number of abortions might be surgical, and these would be spread between the 19 maternity units.

One senior Irish obstetrician speculated that given the law will state a 12-week limit doctors will need, in some cases, to have access to ultrasound to date a pregnancy accurately.

According to the obstetrician they and colleagues are used to dealing with missed miscarriages where they need to use surgical methods, commonly known as a D&C.

Not all women are suited to medical abortion using drugs, and it is expected there will also be particular cases where a medical abortion will be deemed unsuitable and the surgical option will be used.

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists last month agreed they would establish principles of safe practice that would underpin care for women in the event of repeal.

The Irish College of General Practitioners had said that if the referendum was passed, and legislation enacted, it would draw up clinical guidelines where the legislation impacted on GPs.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left), Minister for Health Simon Harris (right) and Senator Catherine Noone at Dublin Castle for the results of the referendum on the 8th Amendment. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has given assurances that if the referendum was passed the Department of Health would consult with representative bodies of all relevant medical practitioners on the details of legislation to be drawn up.

There will be a right by doctors to conscientiously object if they do not agree with abortion.

This could cause difficulties in our smaller maternity units, with just two or three obstetricians, if there were objections or individual obstetricians did not want to become known as the abortion doctor.

A new contract between GPs and the Government is currently being negotiated.

Another question for the Government and doctors is whether to allow Irish women take abortion pills at home.

Last year Scotland became the first part of the UK to do so. Pro-life campaigners are set to challenge that move in court.

There were 12,063 terminations of pregnancy in Scotland in 2016 and almost three-quarters were carried out at less than nine weeks gestation.

The vast majority of these (89.4%) were medical rather than surgical procedures.

It has been the case that women in Scotland had to take the pills, two sets of medication 24 to 48 hours apart  issued with the consent of two doctors  inside a hospital or licensed clinic.

The change to at home brings Scotland in line with the US, France and Sweden.

In the overwhelming majority of cases women take the abortion medication and it simply works.

According to a Scottish study around 2% of women needed to return to the clinic due to pain and bleeding and about 13% called the clinic to seek reassurance.

The abortion pill is very effective. For people who are eight weeks pregnant or less, it works about 98 out of 100 times.

From 8-9 weeks pregnant, it works about 96 out of 100 times. From 9-10 weeks, it works 93 out of 100 times.
Long after the chants of Simon, Simon have faded, the referendums political fallout will be far-reaching, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

Late on Saturday afternoon, the Taoiseach arrived to warm cheers from the huge crowd at Dublin Castle.

But within a few steps of beginning his journey to the podium, he must have been miffed.

Flanked by several members of his Cabinet, including Health Minister Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar and his entourage could hear a name being chanted by the thousands around them.

The chant was not Leo, Leo, Leo but rather one of Simon, Simon, Simon. One sign, seen held above the heads of the crowd, read: I fancy Simon Harris.

Yes campaigner holds up sign reading 'I fancy Simon Harris' during the referendum vote count at Dublin Castle. Pic: Gareth Chaney Collins

Buoyed by the realisation that Ireland had voted overwhelmingly by 66.4% to 33.6% to back his proposal to repeal the Eighth Amendment, this was Harris moment.

He made his own Taoiseach his side man.

Earlier in the day, queues of women were forming around him to simply come up and thank him. Some got teary-eyed when they spoke.

Many said his strong performance in the final Prime Time debate, up against Peadar Toibin of Sinn Fein, cemented his status as a key driver of reform.

Having had doubt cast upon his continuance in Cabinet under Varadkar a year ago, given that he supported Simon Coveneys leadership bid, Harris has now made himself undroppable.

But the good cheers were not limited to Fine Gael in the sun at Dublin Castle.

It was clearly a day when party politics took a back seat.

Micheal Martin, when he took the podium, got a huge cheer. So did Mary Lou McDonald, so did Ivana Bacik and others.

But as much as Harris has earned his acclaim, Varadkar is also due a sizeable amount of credit.

He committed to the referendum amid some doubt within his own party ranks, and backed it all the way, including the proposal to permit abortions largely without restriction up to 12 weeks. He promised to deliver a referendum within one year of taking office, and he did so.

Varadkar described the vote as a quiet revolution, a great act of democracy.

Today, we as a people have spoken. And we say that we trust women and we respect women and their decisions. For me it is also the day when we said no more. No more doctors telling their patients there is nothing that can be done for them in their own country.

No more lonely journeys across the Irish Sea. No more stigma. The veil of secrecy is lifted. No more isolation. The burden of shame is gone, he said.

As the day wore on, the most remarkable thing for me was the huge vote of confidence the people have given to our beleaguered political system.

Amid many perverse arguments from many TDs (especially within Fianna Fail) during the campaign, that politicians could not be trusted to handle such a crucial issue, the public thumbed their noses at that.

They have overwhelmingly endorsed the right of our elected leaders to set the laws of the land, on complex issues as well as straightforward ones.

Given all the scandals to have engulfed Irish politics in my lifetime, the willingness of the people to grant the powers to set the laws to TDs and senators is remarkable, but justified.

But just what was behind the huge yes vote, and what are the political ramifications of it?

Firstly, it was startling to read from the exit poll data how many people had their minds made up years ago.

In both the yes and no camps, up to three quarters of people told pollsters they had their minds made up as long as five years ago.

Without question though, the fallout from the scandalous death of Savita Halappanavar in a Galway hospital in 2012 was a major influence on how people voted.

The mural of Savita Halappanavar in Dublin. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

As reflected in the strength of the yes vote in counties such as Kerry, Roscommon, Galway, and Tipperary, where the loudest political voices for no hail from, the desire for change was immense.

While many may not be fully comfortable with the proposed legislation, they did not wish to be an impediment to what they saw was necessary change.

Speaking in terms of political tactics during the campaign, several leading yes campaigners were shocked at the failure of the no campaign to make the unease over the 12-week proposal their main line of attack.

Without doubt, this was the most controversial aspect of the proposal for change and should have been exploited to a much greater extent.

Had they done so, that would have helped swing some of the dont-knows their way, but instead, they all seemed to break for the yes side.

Instead in the last few days, they reverted back to their base arguments of politicians cant be trusted, and life is precious.

Another fascinating aspect of the campaign was the stark absence of the Catholic Church in the debate.

This was the clearest illustration of how marginalised it has become when compared with the role it played in 1983 when the hypocrites Eamonn Casey and Michael Cleary were leading voices for the introduction of the Eighth Amendment.

Certainly, the vote shows that for many, the suffocating choker of Catholic clericalism has been banished to the past. That is where it should stay.

Read all about the historic results of #Referendum2018 in this Sundays papers #journalismmatters pic.twitter.com/N0oBqm5pV8  NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) May 27, 2018

And interestingly, while the Church was all-but ignored by the domestic media during the campaign, its demise in influence was a key theme for the visiting foreign journalists covering this global story.

Politically, the unforeseen scale of the victory for the yes side undoubtedly gives Harris a strong mandate for change, and to move the legislation as quickly as possible.

This is where the battleground moves to now.

Those TDs and senators who opposed the move to change, it could be argued, have no mandate to block progress now, given the scale of the public vote.

This was reflected by the likes of Fianna Fails Dara Calleary and Michael McGrath, who advocated no but who have said they will not block the legislation and may even support it when it is brought forward.

Martin, speaking to reporters on Saturday, made it clear that he expects his troops to now fall into line and ensure swift passage of the new laws.

But the result means Fianna Fail, as a party, is now caught on the horns of a dilemma.

Just what sort of party is it, and what sort of party does it want to be? Conservative or liberal? Pro-business or pro-worker? Urban or rural?

It seems it has no clue what kind of party it is.

Martin, along with a small handful of his TDs, such as Billy Kelleher and Timmy Dooley, got the public mood right, but those who didnt have serious questions to answer.

Those questions need to be answered quickly or Fianna Fails relevance as a dominant national political force may be consigned, like the Church, to the past.
There were, according to Focus Ireland, 9,681 people homeless at the end of March.

The agency pointed out that the number of families becoming homeless has increased by 37% since March 2017 and that more than one in three of those in emergency accommodation is a child.

Even if that figure pales into insignificance when compared to Californias Los Angles county, where there are an estimated 58,000 homeless people, it represents a crisis and every effort must be made to resolve it.

To that end, Cork County Council hopes to complete 2,376 social housing units before the end of 2020.

Most of those houses will be under the control of the council.

Some will be bought from developers while others will be private houses which the authority will buy.

Adding to that momentum, developer Michael OFlynn hopes to build around 1,300 homes in a Cork suburb within a decade.

Other developers have other plans.

The impact those developments will have on the regions housing implosion remains to be seen but it does seem that our response to this well-flagged crisis is not as immediate or urgent as seems necessary.

Maybe a new Citizens Assembly should be called to consider all elements of this crisis, everything from the price of development land, to the role the market plays, conflict-of-interest financing and our planing laws too.

Surely we cant tolerate a situation where there might be 10,000 homeless people in this rich country?
Following Fridays historic vote, wherein 66.4% of people voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment, Mr Varadkar has appeared to rule out special sittings of the Dail to fast-track the legislation.

Speaking exclusively to the Irish Examiner, he said time will be needed during the summer to properly prepare the new legal framework, including allowing for largely unrestricted access to abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy.

The Government has said it will be quite challenging to get the legislation to introduce abortion, into the Dail before the summer recess, despite wanting to do so.

Mr Varadkar said that it is his intention to have all stages of the bill passed by the end of the year, but said it will take the summer to ready the bill. He added that Health Minister Simon Harris will seek Government permission to draft the new law this week.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (centre), Minister for Health Simon Harris (second left) and Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan arrive at Dublin Castle. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

The Government wants to legislate to give effect to the will of the people as quickly as possible, he said.

Minister Harris will seek Cabinet approval for priority detailed drafting of the bill to start immediately. That will take the summer. We would then intend to have it through the Dail and Seanad perhaps as soon as September and October, but certainly completing all stages before the end of year.

The Together4Yes campaign group urged TDs and senators to hold special sittings over the summer break to ensure the passage of the legislation.

Group co-ordinator Orla OConnor said: I certainly think that all of our TDs and senators should really consider a special sitting so that it could be progressed through the summer.

The health minister is extremely eager to enact the legislation, his spokeswoman told the Irish Examiner. He will today meet senior officials to discuss the next steps and to prepare a memorandum for Government tomorrow.

He will also brief the Opposition and members of the all-party Oireachtas Committee who worked on this issue, on the next steps.

However, a number of other items need to be advanced, including the development of clinical guidance by medical colleges and institutes, and the regulation of certain medication for termination. Mr Harris said he hopes, with the support of the Oireachtas, to be able to pass legislation in the autumn, a spokeswoman for Mr Harris said.

Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone said she would wish to seek to have the legislation passed as quickly as possible, but that challenges exist.

Leo Varadkar greets Minster for Children Katherine Zappone as he arrives at Dublin Castle. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

We have to wait and see how long that will take. All of us would love to see Second Stage before we rise for the summer, she said. I have spoken to the Attorney General, who said it would be quite challenging to complete that bill.

It is really important that we have a deep sense of urgency as public representatives to ensure we move as quickly as possible to implement the will of the people.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty described the calls for special sittings as not a bad idea.

The clear mandate we got from the people is to do this and do it quickly, and the sooner we do it, the better, she said.

The mural of Savita Halappanavar in Dublin as votes are counted in the referendum on the 8th Amendment. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Responding to the calls for extra sittings, Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley said: Ive certainly no issue with that. If the Government are prepared to arrange time, I certainly think it would be the right thing to do to get it done.

Mr Dooley, speaking to RTE radio, said that many of his party colleagues who opposed the referendum proposal will not block the legislation, saying they will respect the will of the people.

They will have their own discussions, but I think quite a few will vote in favour of the legislation, he said. I certainly think there will be a majority in the Dail and the Seanad to get this legislation through. I think some will vote for it and some will abstain.

Both Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and Labour leader Brendan Howlin called on the Government to bring forward, without delay, the necessary legislation.
The Government is proposing that 40 years of social insurance contributions will be required to qualify for a full pension.

Congress social policy officer, Dr Laura Bambrick, said a 40-year target failed to take into account the impact of legacy issues still evident in the contribution records of workers nearing pension age.

Comprehensive social insurance coverage is less than 30 years in place which will negatively impact on the potential of older workers to accumulate the number of contributions proposed to receive the full payment, said Dr Bambrick.

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, will launch a public consultation on state pension reform today. It will help inform the design of Irelands total contributions approach to pensions that will come into effect in 2020.

Ms Doherty confirmed that the interim option of a total contributions approach for people who reached pension age after September 1, 2012, would be legislated for later this year and shortly afterwards her department would be writing to pensioners who might benefit from the reform, informing them of the steps they need to take.

As well as seeking a reassessment of their pension, they can claim the new HomeCaring Credits that are part of the new system. The credits will allow people to count up to 20 years spent taking care of their family as part of the 40 years pensionable service they will need for a full state pension.

To mark the launch of the consultation that runs until September 3, the department is holding a seminar for interested parties, including ICTU.

Earlier this year, Mr Doherty announced that post-2012 pensioners adversely affected by rate band changes could have their pension entitlement calculated by yearly averaging or total contributions and be awarded the higher pension of either method.

Dr Bambrick said the option to calculate pension entitlement under either averaging or total contributions must remain in place after 2020 for people at a stage of their life where they could do very little to improve their contributions record and who had a reasonable expectation that their future state pension entitlement would not change significantly.
It voted no by a majority of 51.9% to 48.1%.

The constituency has an electorate of 118,901, 67,839 of whom turned out to cast their vote. With a tiny percentage of spoiled votes, just 154, 35,091 people voted against repealing the Eighth Amendment and 32,559 voted in favour of repealing.

Like Roscommon-Leitrim in the 2015 marriage equality referendum, Donegal was the only constituency to buck the trend as votes were counted on Saturday.

However, in that referendum, Donegal South-West voted yes by just 33 votes.

While the constituency make-up has changed since 2015, with Roscommon- Leitrim now forming parts of Roscommon-Galway and Sligo-Leitrim, no other electorate came close to Donegals no percentage on Saturday.

Of the 39 other constituencies, the next largest proportion of no votes were found in Cavan-Monaghan, with 44.54% of their electorate voting to retain the Eighth Amendment. Following that constituency was Mayo, which voted 42.93% no.

Donegal Together for Yes, the volunteer group that campaigned for a yes vote, said it would celebrate the 32,559 yes votes in the constituency, considering that in 1983 just 15% of the county voted against the Eighth Amendment.

Michael Barron, a former director of BelonGTo said: Only 15% Donegal voted against the 8th in 1983. In 2018, 48.5% voted to repeal it  thats a 33.5% swing which is one of the biggest in the country.

Meanwhile, Noel Sharkey a junior doctor who co- directed the Donegal Yes Equality group, defended his constituency with a lengthy thread on Twitter. He said that many people originally from the county are now living and working elsewhere and so would have cast their vote near their new homes.

Donegal is the most deprived county in Ireland, with the highest unemployment rate and not even a train service to connect us with the capital, he said. Donegal people are forced to live and work elsewhere. Many of our Yes voters cast their vote in Dublin, Galway, etc, where they also canvassed and leafleted.

He said that, because of the new constituency boundaries, the countys vote was dispersed.

More than 2,500 of our Yes votes in South Donegal were added to the Sligo-Leitrim total because of redrawing of constituency boundaries, said Dr Barron.

He asked the rest of the country not to sneer at Donegal because it was the sole outlier, and pointed out that the geography of the county made it a difficult place to canvass.

A lot of canvasses involved going up back roads and boreens, he said. The scenery was beautiful but it took hours to get small numbers covered. Despite this, the team never gave up.

Meanwhile, Independent senator Mary Alice Higgins, congratulated the yes campaigners in the constituency.

Well done to all in the Abortion Rights Campaign Donegal whose commitment, campaigning, conversations and compassion brought 49% of the people of Donegal to cast their vote for Yes, said Ms Higgins.

Government chief whip and Fine Gael TD for Donegal Joe McHugh said he would bring his constituencys view to Government.

When this legislation comes before the Dail, I certainly will be reflecting a very strong point of view, even from those who were marginally on the yes side that they dont want a liberal regime in this country, and I certainly will be reflecting that, he said.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle said his constituency was becoming more progressive, but said he was disappointed.

Donegal is gradually becoming more progressive, he said. Obviously, Im disappointed it wasnt an overall yes, but, I will take a 49% yes, given where Donegal is coming from, because thats vitally important, and its important in the context of the national figures as well. In reality, Donegal is not an independent state so it ties in with the overall national figure.

On the other side of the debate and welcoming the no vote, Tim Jackson, the anti-abortion activist who went on partial hunger strike over the issue in September 2017, said he was glad of the result.

I am glad that the people of Donegal have seen sense today and voted against killing their own children but for the rest of the country to vote en masse for killing human beings for generations to come, long after they are gone, to me makes this the darkest day in Irish history, said Mr Jackson.

Overall, it was a close vote in the constituency, with one ballot box containing 122 Yes votes to 122 No votes.
Public safety concerns have prompted Cork County Council to prioritise the construction of pedestrian amenities in Castlemartyr village.

The proposed bridges will cross the River Kiltha on the Cork-Waterford-Rosslare N25 road at an intersection with the Mogeely/ Ladysbridge local road.

Over 15,000 vehicles daily pass through the village where existing footpaths are less than 1m-wide.

The proposed footbridges across the River Kiltha have completed the public consultation process and the council said it hopes to complete ground investigations throughout June.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland will provide funding, which has yet to be fully determined.

The finished works are expected to be incorporated into current 3m road and footpath restoration works under way in Castlemartyr. The small village handles over 15,000 vehicles per day.

With increased traffic lane requirements completed, council officials fear pedestrians are at risk of being struck by the mirrors of passing cars or HGVs.

Pedestrians are forced to step onto the carriageway when other pedestrians approach while there are also reported difficulties negotiating wheelchairs or prams.

Furthermore, most of the villages population live on the eastern side of the bridge and have to cross the river to access shops and amenities.

The proposed installations include a bank-to-bank clear span of 10m at each location and a 1.4m-high railing for cyclists.

A deck width of 2m will allow shared pedestrian and cycle space, while vertical guard rails will prevent climbing.

Councillor at an East Cork Municipal District meeting unanimously welcomed the development, with Cllr Danielle Twomey saying the footbridge scheme would mean so much to many people.

Meanwhile, the council has also commenced the design process for a footbridge spanning the Dissour river at the eastern approach to the neighbouring village of Killeagh, also on the Rosslare euro-route.

The road spanning the river has no footpath on one side, compelling pedestrians either to cross the N25 and an adjoining road or remain vulnerable to heavy traffic.
Almost 250 students from three Cork primary schools became the first graduates yesterday of a novel six-week programme called My Big Friendly Guide to the European Union  the BFGtoEU.

Devised by Dr Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan, a lecturer in European politics at UCCs Department of Government and Politics, the programme was designed not to sell the EU, but to develop awareness and critical thinking about the EU, about Irelands role in it, and about the advantages and disadvantages of being part of the club.

And fruit smoothies were used to explain the concept of the EU  with each country represented by a single piece of fruit which when blended together makes something different and tasty  but sometimes not to everyones taste.

The concept also helped explain the complexities of Brexit and the difficulties involved in leaving the club.

Quoting Hannah Arendt at the graduation ceremony at UCC yesterday, Dr Schon-Quinlivan said schools cant prepare children for the adult political world unless children are ready to fully understand such a world and make informed decisions.

We are part of the EU. Whether you, children, decide to become a Nigel Farage, who was at the helm of the Brexit campaign, or an Emmanuel Macron, who believes we need an even more integrated Europe, is irrelevant, she said.

BFGtoEU is about starting a conversation on Irelands role in the EU.

You like the way the club works? Great!

You would like to change the club? Brilliant! But to do that you need to understand the rules.

You want to leave the club? Thats fine but you need to make sure you understand what the club does and doesnt do.

This programme is about empowering you to make informed decisions to improve the world you live in.

Violet Tiernan with Ryan Tubridy in Clonakilty for the Ryan Tubridy Show. Picture: Valerie OSullivan

Dr Schon-Quinlivan won a European Commission grant in 2017, and began to develop the programme with the help of Trish Collier, a teacher in Kilmurry National School.

With the help of further financial support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cork City Council, the programme was delivered to classes in Kilmurry NS, Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers in Cork City, and Gaelscoil de hIde in Fermoy.

RTE broadcaster, and more importantly for the young graduates, the Late Late Toy Show host Ryan Tubridy  who broadcast his RTE Radio One morning radio show from Clonakilty yesterday  took a detour from his Wild Atlantic Way tour to attend the graduation ceremony.

Adults have to come down to the level of children and look you in the eye to understand what youre thinking and what you need, he said.

Children from around Cork are here today because that happened, and because youve been learning that life is all about difference and the key is sharing and being kind to one another.

Dr Dr Schon-Quinlivan also pointed out that the EU is far from perfect and faces many challenges, such as the migration crisis.

The point is that while we work together, argue and compromise, we can celebrate our differences, she said.

Seeing the children on the BFGtoEU programme trying to reach agreement as 28 distinct individuals was fascinating.

The deeper point, and one that BFGtoEU promotes, is that Europe is not just political and economic  it is also cultural and it is about different nations living and working together.

Yesterdays graduation marks the end of phase one of the programme.

Dr Schon-Quinlivan now plans to develop a website with games, before establishing a Continuing Professional Development course for up to 100 teachers to participate in July 2019.

Meanwhile, after visiting Inchydoney beach and Garnish Island, and discussing the incredible opportunities for whale and dolphin watching off the Cork coast for his radio show yesterday, Tubs is due to broadcast from Kenmare today, Roundstone tomorrow and Ballina on Thursday as part of the shows fifth Failte Ireland-supported tour of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Michael OFlynn said he welcomed news that the Fernwood Residents Association had decided not to seek a judicial review against An Bord Pleanalas decision to grant permission for around 600 homes at Ballinglanna, Glanmire. He said this would enable him to shortly proceed with one of two major projects he has planned for the Glanmire area.

The residents were concerned that part of the plan involved opening a through-road between that development and their estate.

Mr OFlynn said he hoped to start construction on that project within the next couple of months and depending on market demand would take between five and seven years to complete.

He is also on the verge of lodging another planning permission for Dunkettle House for a further 700-plus houses.

The land is zoned for housing but on two previous attempts Mr OFlynn was refused planning permission for houses there because the Jack Lynch Tunnel/Dunkettle Interchange was at capacity and local roads could not handle the volume of traffic generated by the proposed development.

Cork County Council recently unveiled a 14m plan to upgrade the road network in Glanmire and Transport Infrastructure Ireland is preparing to start work on a 100m upgrade of the Jack Lynch Tunnel/Dunkettle interchange.

It is expected that An Bord Pleanala will now grant Mr OFlynn planning permission for his Dunkettle project. He said that as national guidelines on housing density had changed, there would be more homes built on the site than his previous plans envisaged.

Mr OFlynn said he would lodge the planning application when he has a definite timeline for completion of the interchange works.

I would envisage both projects could be completed within 10 years, he said.

Fernwood Residents Association spokesman Gary Coughlan confirmed they would not be proceeding with a judicial review of the Ballinglanna project.

Mr Coughlan said Bord Pleanala had ignored their concerns that the creation of a through-road into their estate from Ballinglanna would open the area up as a rat-run which could endanger the approximately 400 children who live there.
Health Minister Simon Harris, who will draft the wording of the bill, described the outcome of the referendum to repeal the Eighth as a reflection of the innately decent and compassionate country we live in.

Under the Eighth Amendment women in crisis pregnancy have been told to take a plane or take the boat, today we tell them take our hand, Mr Harris said.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald and Labours Brendan Howlin were among the politicians who came out to support Mr Harris to press ahead with the legislation now needed.

Mr Harris is to bring a memo to Cabinet tomorrow to seek permission to draw up the bill. He hopes drafting can take place over the summer months with a view to trying to introduce legislation in the Oireachtas in the autumn session.

The people of Ireland have clearly thought about this issue at great lengths and for a significant period of time and now they have answered that question and they have answered it in a resounding manner.

Across the political spectrum, across the societal spectrum people have voted to say yes and I believe that gives me a mandate now to introduce the legislation, which I published in advance of this referendum.

Prior to the vote, Government put forward proposals on unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks, after that terminations will be allowed in certain circumstances, such as where the health of the mother is at serious risk. The only instance where abortions can be carried out after 24 weeks will be where there is a diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality.

Mr Harris said: Its not government legislation, its legislation that a huge amount of people, including my colleague Kate OConnell put a huge amount of work into on a cross-party basis.

Its one that has had legal and medical input and we have had a campaign where civil society and Together4- Yes have been to the fore.

Even before the official result had been announced on Saturday evening, opposition TDs rowed in behind the Government to commit to implement the legislation.

Mr Howlin, who voted against the introduction of the Eighth Amendment as a senator in 1983, said he didnt believe that he would see such a resounding change in this lifetime.

Everybody voted with a very clear view of what was going to be enacted, we now have an obligation as speedily as we can to make sure it is enacted.

While Mr Martin, who had initially grappled with the 12 weeks before coming out in full support of it, said the outcome of the referendum was the right decision by the Irish people. He said had spoken to a number of pro-life Fianna Fail TDs, including deputy leader Dara Calleary who will not stand in the way of the democratic will of the people.

Speaking after the vote Ms McDonald said she hopes the result will be another step in building a better Ireland for women, a sign that draft legislation must now be brought forward as a matter of urgency.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also said his party looked forward to supporting the progression of the Governments draft legislation on the regulation of terminations in the Dail.
Education Minister Richard Bruton is today announcing 16 areas  one in each Education and Training Board (ETB) area  where parents of pre-school children are to be first surveyed. Although the ETBs themselves may be vying to become patron if there is sufficient demand for multi-denominational schools, they have been given responsibility for analysing and reporting the survey results to Mr Brutons department.

This report will include responses by the prevalent patron or landowner in the area, which will be the local Catholic bishop in most cases. While the parents and staff of local schools will be further consulted on accommodating demand for diversity by transferring patronage of one of the existing schools in an area to a new multi-denominational or non-denominational patron, the final decision rests with the existing patron.

Despite the key decision-making factor being rested with the Catholic hierarchy as the minister seeks to reverse the slow progress of past attempts at divestment, Mr Bruton said identification of a new patron must reflect the wishes of parents and the school community.

In each case, I believe that the best way to achieve this will be to hold a public meeting where each prospective patron can make their case to the school community, followed by a vote of all parents within that school community, whether they attended the meeting or not, he said.

A spokesperson for his department said it is clear from initial discussions that all parties, including church authorities, want the process of selecting a new patron to reflect the wishes of the parents and school community.

After the 2012 report of a forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector, former minister Ruairi Quinn had parents surveyed in 38 areas where there was little or no choice other than faith-based, mostly Catholic, schools. However, most of the 23 areas where demand for alternatives was identified have still not seen one of the existing schools transfer to the chosen patron of local families, which in most cases was the Educate Together multi-denominational schools group.

Under plans announced by Mr Bruton early last year, rather than legally transfer a school property to a new patron, a bishop or landowner would lease it to a new patron. Rather than closing one of several local Catholic schools and sending its pupils and staff to another site where two or more schools would amalgamate, efforts will be made to facilitate live transfers. This would involve staff, pupils and most of the board of an existing school remaining in place, but the patronage moving from one individual or organisation to another.

The areas to be surveyed in the coming weeks on behalf of the local ETBs are in 15 counties, including: two in Dublin; Kinsale, Co Cork; Athenry, Co Galway; Claremorris, Co Mayo; Kenmare/Sneem, Co Kerry; Ennis, Co Clare; Roscrea, Co Tipperary; and Waterford City.

Separately, Mr Bruton is encouraging more school communities to follow the example taken in Co Kerry where locals asked the Catholic bishop to transfer his patronage of Two Mile National School near Killarney to Kerry ETB.

However, this has left the town still waiting for a school for the children whose parents expressed a preference for an Educate Together school in Killarney in the Department of Educations 2013 survey.
The removal of abortion restrictions would be campaigned against, said groups, despite the decisive yes vote in Fridays referendum.

Speaking at the count centre in the RDS at the weekend, Love Both spokeswoman Cora Sherlock said she was disappointed with the landslide victory for the yes side.

Im disappointed and I feel its a sad day a devastating day for us. The Eighth has done a fantastic job protecting mothers.

Katie Ascough of the same group said this was not the end.

To everyone who voted no, there is plenty of reason for hope. This campaign has uncovered a dynamic grassroots and a new generation of Irish people prepared to stand up and fight for the right to life, she said.

She thanked those who had campaigned.

We are immensely proud and grateful to all our volunteers throughout the country who have worked tirelessly over recent months, some who have been canvassing for years.

Save the 8th spokesman John McGuirk said he did not think there would be many people in the no campaign who do not accept the referendum outcome, but they are entitled to continue to think abortion is wrong.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the referendum results show that Ireland is not divided but united. But some pro-life groups disagree. Liam Gibson, spokesman for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said the outcome is a mark of shame.

Today unborn Irish children have been stripped of their dignity and protections by a majority of the adult voting population.

This is a mark of shame for every Irish voter who, with knowledge of what has happened elsewhere, has chosen to dishonour new human life.
One of the options being considered is staggering the introduction of elements of the bill.

It is believed that while legislating for access to abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy is the most complex element of what is proposed and will require some time, other items being proposed, such as the decriminalisation of women who access abortions, are less so and could be brought into law before the end of the year.

Mr Harris committed to introducing the legislation into the Dail by the summer recess, despite misgivings being expressed within Government about that deadline.

Having met senior officials yesterday, Mr Harris will tell Cabinet today that he expects the legislation to be published within six weeks. He intends to also meet Opposition and other stakeholders this week.

Along with the legislation, there are important things that need to progress at the same time, such as the regulation of abortion pills and development of clinical guidelines.

The Department of Health has already requested a meeting with relevant medical colleges tomorrow.

Mr Harris is determined to move quickly but also to get the legislation right and have a safe service for women.

He intends to bring the legislation into the Oireachtas before the summer recess and is confident we can complete all the necessary steps this year, said Mr Harriss spokeswoman.

Introduction of a new abortion regime is not contingent on the agreement of a new GP deal, the Government has also insisted.

The curent act retains the criminalisation of abortion in Ireland and permits abortion only where there is a risk to the life of a pregnant woman.

Employment Minister Regina Doherty confirmed that repealing the 1995 law on doctors sharing information could be an interim measure. This measure would be discussed by Cabinet today, she said.

Ms Doherty also said that she backed proposals to give out free contraception for people from the age of 18 in order to prevent crisis pregnancies

The Fine Gael minister told RTE that while doctors would be entitled to a conscientious objection on treating women seeking abortion, it would be unkind if medical professionals did not help a woman in a crisis situation.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail is to engage in a troubled internal debate as a party after claims it lacked leadership during the abortion referendum which saw significant numbers of senators and TDs oppose proposed reforms.

The bruising result for pro-life parliamentary party members will be debated today when leader Micheal Martin meets his frontbench.

Limerick County TD Niall Collins lashed out at his own party yesterday, saying the no position during the campaign was a huge concern and elected officials lacked leadership.

You dont win elections approaching big issues in the manner that has played out, he told RTEs Drivetime.

Some 31 Fianna Fail TDs and senators backed a no vote in the referendum.
Group co-ordinator Orla OConnor said the scale of Fridays landslide referendum result means there is no reason to delay the law any further, joining a growing chorus of calls for the Government to speed up its end-of-year timeline plan.

I think given the scale of the vote, this vote has been phenomenal and people were voting on this legislation as well, so we want to see this progressed as quickly as possible, said Ms OConnor.

Asked if she agreed with the call for the legislation to be passed by the summer she added: I certainly think that all of our TDs and senators should really consider a special sitting so that it could be progressed through the summer.

Ms OConnor was at an end-of- campaign press conference in which Together For Yes members said the result was a beacon of light for women facing difficult situations across the globe. Campaign co-ordinator Ailbhe Smyth thanked voters and took a swipe at claims young people are snowflakes by saying they changed the nation and there was no snowflaking going on, adding a terrible, obnoxious, odious horror has been removed from the Constitution.

Together For Yes official Grainne Griffin said the next step for campaigners is to help change abortion laws in Northern Ireland in the same way women in the province helped the campaign in the Republic.

It came after were emotional scenes on Saturday as the leaders of the yes side entered the count centre of the RDS arms raised as initial tallies showed a landslide backing for repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

The shouts, claps and cheers were even louder when Together for Yes organisers entered Dublin Castle as the overall results from constituencies across the country began to filter through. Campaigner and Together For Yes co-director Ailbhe Smyth described the outcome as a vote for dignity and decency.

Its an extraordinary day for women, its an extraordinary day for men, it is a remarkable day for the country as a whole and I think we have in Ireland done ourselves proud, we have actually rewritten history and we are creating an Ireland which is new, which is fresh, which is honest, which is frank and which values women, she said.
As the National Wildlife and Parkland Services battle to control the rhododendron in Killarneys National Park, communities around the Knockmealdown Mountains are planning a Rhododendron Walking Festival.

The festival centres around the villages of Newcastle, Clogheen, and Goatenbridge.

Introduced to Ireland in the 18th century, the rhododendron arrived in the Knockmealdown Mountains in the 1960s. It immediately took a shine to the acidic sandstone soils and settled.

The plant has since expanded its conquest to an extensive area of mountainside around the famous Vee Gap and, in recent years, this has become a tourist attraction. In May and June, people travel from far and wide to gaze upon the photogenic vista.

Now the canny denizens of the surrounding foothills have come to realise the value of this great annual blooming.

Similar to the successful tulip festivals of Holland, cherry blossom festivals of Japan, and the foliage festivals of New England, they have created a unique celebration. Built around exploring the Knockmealdowns, the first Rhododendron Walking Festival takes place at a time the mountainsides are in fullest bloom.

Liam Fleming, founder of Siul Eile walking club, is a member of the festival committee and believes the event will become an annual fixture and put the Knockmealdowns firmly on the tourism map.

The Vee is black with people at this time of year coming to see the mountains in full bloom, but most just see them from the road.

The guided walks, which are part of the festival, will allow people get much better perspective on the stunning beauty of the area, he said.

Committee secretary Catherine McCraith says the festival is not only as a celebration of the beautiful displays provided by the rhododendrons, but an opportunity to build awareness of the superb walking opportunities the Knockmealdowns have to offer.

The mountains here allow easy access to superb scenery and this is undoubtedly the best place in Ireland for viewing the rhododendron display, she said. I am confident visitors will come to sample the physical, social and mindfulness benefits of walking since this is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

For information on festival events, visit vee.ie
While the outcome was inevitable the minute the first boxes opened began to confirm Friday nights exit poll results, hundreds of campaigners filled Cork City Hall to see the evidence of how people voted in the two mainly-city constituencies.

There were 69% and 64% Yes votes in Cork South Central and North Central, based on valid polls of 58,209 and 52,547 voters respectively. The size of the majority told some pro-repeal campaigners that many people who declared themselves undecided at the doorsteps were silent yes voters, rather than the other way around, as some had feared.

They didnt feel, for whatever reason, comfortable vocalising their yes vote. Theres been so much secrecey and shame about this issue, said Together for Yes campaigner Donna Rose.

Ms Rose had been campaigning since starting college around the time the 2013 Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act became law, and knowing friends who had been affected by the issues.

While it was after 6pm before all of Corks five constituencies had declared, the three non-city constituencies also strongly backed the referendum proposal. It was 64% among the Cork East and Cork South West electorates, while Cork North West voted 60% yes.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin congratulates Luke Field and Kathy DArcy, deputy chair and chair of Cork Together for Yes, at the count at City Hall yesterday. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Although the lowest backing for repeal of the Eighth Amendment in the city and county, it was stronger than Cork North Wests 58% support for marriage equality in 2015.

At City Hall, it was just before 1pm when official declarations for the two city constituencies confirmed the story already told by the piles of ballot paper. As cheers and applause subsided, the (mostly) women in a sea of green of Together For Yes t-shirts and black Repeal jumpers turned to one another; not so much in celebratory hugs, but in long, tight embraces like those of friends marking the end of a long struggle shared.

Among them was Anne Mulcahy, who spent six weeks knocking on doors around Cork suburbs.

Its just such a wonderful win for the women of Ireland to ensure they are taken care of in the State and that were not exporting women for the healthcare they deserve and have a right to in this State, she said.

The Irish people who voted yes were aware of what was being proposed, there was a clear proposal of a 12-week limit and they voted for that, they werent under any delusions.

Elsewhere in the hall, the no campaigners were more sombre since the mornings tallies showed Cork had voted no differently than suggested in the exit polls.

LoveBoth spokeswoman Maeve OHanlon said campaign debates focused too much on women who have been raped or get a diagnosis of a life-limiting fetal condition, and not enough on awareness of support services for women who have abortions for other reasons.

The legislation allows for abortion on demand, but the debate was about restrictive abortion and I believe thats what people voted for, she said.

But, as decisions now move from voters to politicians, no campaigner Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath said he would not stand in the way of the legislation being passed.

He had opposed the constitutional amendment because of his concerns about the 12-week limit being proposed, but acknowledged that people voted with the facts of what they were being asked.

I dont think people voted blindly, he said. I think the people voted in the full knowledge of the way the Government intended to legislate in this area.

I think its indirectly an endorsement of the Government bill by way of a popular vote of the people. I think it would be very difficult to dispute that.

Cork Together For Yes chairwoman Kathy DArcy said the people have given an unmistakable mandate and that the Government needs to move immediately to enact legislation to give women the right to safe abortion care in this country.

Today is a beautiful day for the people of Ireland. We got there at last, said Ms DArcy.

We stepped away from shame and judgement and towards care, and we made this country better for everyone.
Burma President Pardons Scores of Rohingya Detained While Returning from Bangladesh

Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar are reflected in a paddy field in Palang Khali, near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh on Nov. 2, 2017. / Reuters

YANGON  President U Win Myint has pardoned 58 displaced Rohingya who were detained while attempting to re-enter the country from Bangladesh.

According to a brief statement released by the State Counsellors Office on Sunday, 62 returnees were arrested by local authorities for illegally crossing the border. The group was attempting to return to strife-torn northern Rakhine States Maungdaw Township from a refugee camp in Bangladesh. They were traveling independently, and not according to procedures outlined in an official refugee repatriation agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh signed on Nov. 23, 2017.

Cases against four of the detainees were later dropped. The statement did not specify how many were ultimately imprisoned, or under which articles of the criminal code. It did not name the home villages of those arrested.

According to the statement, the group was returning from a camp in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazaar. This is the first time any refugees have attempted to return from Bangladesh, it said.

Despite the bilateral agreement, not a single person had been officially repatriated as of Monday. In April, a five-member family led by Alphata Arlon  an administrative official from Taungpyo Let Yar  who spent several months camped on the Myanmar side of the border voluntarily re-entered the Taungpyo Let Wei refugee reception center.

According to Sundays statement, authorities released the detained returnees to Nga Khu Ya reception camp from Buthidaung Prison in order to fill out the necessary forms as specified under the bilateral agreement. Next they will be temporarily settled in Hla Phoe Khaung transit camp, a separate location in northern Maungdaw. The statement avoided applying the contentious terms Rohingya or Bengali and simply referred to them as displaced persons.

The statement adds that authorities will not take action against any of the returnees unless they were involved in attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on government security outposts in August 2017. In response to the attacks, the Myanmar Army launched a counter-terrorism campaign that drove nearly 700,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh, creating what is currently the biggest refugee camp in the world. The Army has been accused of causing mass devastation and committing rights violations and arbitrary killings.

The United Nations Security Council, which sent a team to visit Bangladesh and northern Rakhine in early May, has described the military campaign as ethnic cleansing and urged Myanmar to cooperate in a credible independent investigation into alleged abuses by security forces and to allow the U.N.s special rapporteur on human rights to return to Myanmar. The E.U. and the U.S. have imposed targeted sanctions against top military generals responsible for the violence in Maungdaw, while international human rights groups have called on the U.N. to bring high-ranking military officials before the International Criminal Court.
News Govt Orders Fix of Buddha Statues With 'Disgraceful' Hand Gestures

A Buddha statue with an unauthorized mudra is displayed at the Seindamuni Monastery in Pyinmana, Naypyitaw. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture has ordered monasteries in Naypyitaw and Mandalay to correct statues of the Buddha with mudras, or ritual hand gestures, that go against Theravada Buddhist scripture or face legal action.

Monasteries in Mandalay have agreed to correct their Buddha statues after the ministry asked them to do so through its Sangha Maha Nayaka township committees, said U Zarni Win, the ministrys deputy permanent secretary.

As the township Sangha Maha Nayaka committees have advised, Buddha statues with those mudras are being fixed in Mandalay. And were also asking that they be corrected in Naypyitaw, he said.

Buddha images with unusual hand gestures had to be corrected at the Waibunla Rama Makhara Monastery in Mandalays Chanayethazan Township.

Weve warned the sculptors who sculpted those statues, and also asked the concerned township Sangha Maha Nayaka committees to give advice to monasteries that accept such Buddha statues. If they ignore the order, well take legal action under Section 295 (a) for insulting the religion, he added.

Article 295 (a) of the Penal Code says that anyone who deliberately insults someones religion or religious belief with words or visible representation will be punished with up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.

Ashin Sandimarsara, the abbot of Seindamuni Monastery on Mt. Min Wun in Pyinmana, Naypyitaw, who has created Buddha statues with unusual mudras, told The Irrawaddy that the gestures date back to the Pagan Kingdom, which lasted from the 9th to the 13th century, and that people were criticizing him because they have not seen such gestures before.

They criticize me because they have no knowledge. I am fine with their criticism. They say there are no such gestures and that such statues are not Buddha images. They criticize for the position of the hand being put behind the back. I am not angry. Pyinmana residents have also filed complaints, the abbot said.

There are over 200 Buddha statues and stupas on the mountain. Many of them were donated by senior military officials including Thura U Shwe Mann, a former general who is now chairman of Parliaments Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues. Other donors include military commanders, high-ranking government officials and large companies.

The abbot said some officials from the ruling National League for Democracy also visit him.

Officials from the Religious Affairs Department have come and checked here. They are young and they havent seen the world, Ashin Sandimarsara said.

According to the ministry, there are 108 mudras on Buddha statues and that 57 of them are commonly used. Of the 57, 24 are in line with Theravada Buddhist scripture.

U Zarni Win said the other mudras were disgraceful.

Burmese traditional artists and historians said the function of the mudras was to help depict the life of the Buddha.

For example, the bhumiphasa mudra, a common mudra seen on many Buddha images in the country, represents the Lord Buddha asking the goddess of the earth to witness his enlightenment when he was threatened by the evil king, said Tampawaddy U Win Maung, a Burmese traditional artist and historian.

In the bhumiphasa mudra, the fingers of the right hand of the Buddha touch the ground while the left palm faces up on the Buddhas lap.

The hand gestures seen in Naypyitaw and Mandalay are mixed up with Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism and Yoga hand positions, which are not at all related to our Theravada Buddhism, Tampawaddy U Win Maung said.

He said Buddha images with the unauthorized mudras were created by bogus monks in the 17th century in Shan State and were later destroyed on the kings orders.

I think the sculptors or the donors or the people who accepted these Buddha images do not understand the use of mudras and just want to use them as idols to change their karma, he added.

The Buddha images in Naypyitaw and Mandalay commonly have one hand behind the back and the other in front with the palm facing outward.

The position means the Buddha image is protecting from misfortune from both behind and the front, and donating to it or worshiping it will protect the devotee in same way, Tampawaddy U Win Maung said. But what the Buddha has taught us is to follow his way, not to build such idols to fulfill our desires by worshiping them.

If the authorities plan to take legal action, they should do it seriously to stop the disgrace of Theravada Buddhism and the countrys culture, not just issue the order, he said.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
News Mandalay Police Seek 2 Men in 6 Million Kyat Gold Shop Heist

A display case with missing gold bangles is seen at Shwesin Myintmo Gold Shop in Mandalays Chanmya Tharsi Township. Robbers stole more than 6 million kyats worth of bangles from the shop on Monday. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAY  Police in Mandalay are searching for two men who robbed a gold shop in Chanmya Tharsi Township on Monday.

A man wielding a knife made off with gold bangles worth more than 6 million kyats from the Shwesin Myintmo Gold Shop with the help of a partner driving a motorcycle.

A man came in and said he wanted to buy a gold bangle for his wife. I asked him whether his wife was large or small, and how much she wanted to spend. He didnt reply, said shop owner Ma Marlar.

After he didnt reply, I started talking to another customer. [The first man] suddenly took out a knife and pointed it at me. He smashed the display case, grabbed a handful of gold bangles and ran out, she said.

The shop owner said that her mother and brother and started yelling out that the shop had been robbed. Some passersby tried to stop the thieves, but they were able to escape on the motorcycle.

That man who robbed me was waving his knife around so that no one could approach them. Some men tried to follow them but they drove so fast that no one could catch them, Ma Marlar said.

According to Chanmya Tharsi Township police, the gold shops CCTV system was not working at the time due to a power outage. However, local and divisional police are coordinating their efforts to arrest the culprits.

Although we do not know the faces of the robbers, the victim and other witnesses said that the man wielding the knife is thin and one of his legs is a bit weak, a duty officer at Chanmya Tharsi Township police station said.

According to police, the men stole gold bangles weighing about 116.242 grams. The case was registered as a robbery at Regional Police Station No. 10.

We are combing all of Mandalay with cooperation from divisional police to find the culprits, said the duty officer.
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
News NLD Confirms Anti-Graft Agency Has No Power to Take Legal Action Against Lawmakers

Only parties can punish wayward elected officials, due to lack of specific laws

NaypyitawThe Anti-Corruption Commission is not authorized to take direct legal action against elected lawmakers under the anti-corruption law, said Dr Myo Nyunt, spokesperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

The recent resignation of Planning and Finance Minister U Kyaw Win, who was elected to the Lower House from Yangons Dagon Seikkan Township in the 2015 general election, due to a corrpution scandal, suggests that the commission has a limited mandate when it comes to prosecuting corrupt government officials, with punishment left up to the party that appointed them.

The Presidents Office approved the resignation of U Kyaw Win days after the commission confirmed that it had been investigating the case.

When the commission receives complaints against lawmakers, they hand over the cases to us as they are not authorized by the law to take action against them, Dr Myo Nyunt said in Naypyitaw on Sunday.

We can take action if a particular lawmaker negatively affects the partys image or there are hints of a scandal, he added.

U Han Nyunt, the commissions spokesperson, acknowledged that the agencys hands were tied in many cases involving elected officials, but added that it was better that lawmakers are disciplined according to parliamentary laws.

We can take certain legal action. But frankly speaking, lawmakers should be disciplined by the parliament, he said.

U Nay Myo Tun, a lawmaker representing Htantabin Township in the Lower House, said no law existed to allow action to be taken against lawmakers. Though the anti-corruption law says action can be taken against anyone, it is not the case for lawmakers even if they do commit an offence, he said.

The commission needs to seek the approval of the concerned parliamentary speaker before it can investigate lawmakers, and in the case of political position holders from deputy ministers and above, it might need to seek cabinet approval, he said.

It is easy to take action against officials at the director-general and lower levels. But it is fairly difficult to take action against political position holders, U Nay Myo Tun said.

There have also been criticisms over delays in enacting the right to recall law. Section 396 of the 2008 Constitution states that a representative can be recalled for a number of reasons including high treason, breaching any provision of the Constitution, misconduct as prescribed in the Constitution, and inefficient discharge of their duties.

The NLD has disciplined nearly 40 lawmakers for breach of party rules and regulations since the 2015 elections, according to party officials. However, the punishments have been limited to a warning and suspension from party duties.

After the 2020 election, the ruling party may however dismiss law-breaking lawmakers from the party depending on the number and extent of their offences, said a Yangon Region lawmaker on condition of anonymity. It doesnt expel them now perhaps because it doesnt want to lose its power in the parliament, he said.
News President Nominates New Finance Minister Following Resignation

U Soe Win

YANGON  President U Win Myint has nominated a new minister of planning and finance following last weeks resignation of U Kyaw Win, who is under investigation for corruption.

The president has nominated U Soe Win, a member of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), to replace the outgoing minister in a submission to the Union Parliament on Monday.

It is the most senior government post to be vacated since the NLD came to power in early 2016.

The governments Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) began investigating U Kyaw Win days after receiving a complaint against him on May 3.

Before the probe was eventually confirmed, news reports had been circulating for weeks that the minister and his son were being investigated for corruption by both the ACC and the Home Affairs Ministrys Bureau of Special Investigation.

Their home in Yangon was searched and U Kyaw Win has been banned from leaving the country, according to reports.

U Soe Win, 80, is currently the country managing director of Deloitte Touche Myanmar Vigour Advisory Ltd. He has over 30 years of professional experience in international banking with the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) and has been an advisor to Myanmars taxation, investment law and banking sectors.

He is also a senior member of the NLD Central Economic Committee. According to the independent Renaissance Institute Myanmar, U Soe Win joined the Foreign Exchange Department of MFTB as deputy manager in 1961.

He was sent to the UK for training with National Westminster Bank and the Bank of England in 1976. He was appointed deputy controller of foreign exchange at MFTB in 1990 and general manager in 1993.

He left MFTB to join Pricewaterhouse Associates Ltd in 1996. In 2003 he founded Myanmar Vigour Co., Ltd, which became a member firm of Deloitte in June 2015.

U Soe Win is also a member of the Bar Council in Yangon. He was extensively involved in drafting banking laws and regulations and fiscal policies during his tenure with the state bank.
News Rohingya Insurgents Reject Amnesty Report on Hindu Villagers Killed in Myanmar

A Hindu villager reacts while identifying the bodies of relatives found by government forces in a mass grave near Maungdaw in northern Rakhine State on Sept. 27. Authorities suspected they were killed by insurgents in August. / Reuters

YANGON  A Rohingya Muslim armed group denied on Friday a report by human rights group Amnesty International that its members had killed scores of Hindu civilians last August, amid a surge in violence in Myanmars troubled Rakhine State.

In its report, published last week, Amnesty documented in detail atrocities it said had been committed by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) near a remote village in Rakhine State.

The report, citing witnesses, including Hindu women who said they were abducted by ARSA insurgents, said fighters from the group killed as many as 99 Hindus near Kha Maung Seik after launching the raids on security posts on August 25.

We categorically deny all of these unjustifiable and careless serious criminal accusations mentioned in the said report, ARSA said in a statement signed by its leader, Ata Ullah, and posted on social media network Twitter late on Friday.

Myanmars military response to the Rohingya insurgent attacks have driven nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee from northern Rakhine to neighboring Bangladesh, in what the United Nations and aid agencies have called a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar has rejected the accusations of ethnic cleansing, as well as most of the accounts of killings and rape recounted by many of the refugees arriving in Bangladesh.

Tirana Hassan, Amnesty Internationals crisis response director, said the group absolutely stands by the findings of its investigation and urged Myanmar authorities to allow unfettered access to northern Rakhine for UN and other independent investigators.
News US Team in North Korea For Talks on Summit, Trump Says

South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he leaves after their summit at the truce village of Panmunjom, North Korea, on Saturday. / The Presidential Blue House / Handout via Reuters

SEOUL/WASHINGTON  US President Donald Trump said on Sunday a US team had arrived in North Korea to prepare for a proposed summit between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which Trump pulled out of last week before reconsidering.

Earlier, the US State Department said US and North Korean officials had met at Panmunjom, a village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that runs along the heavily armed border between North and South Korea.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, Trump wrote on Twitter, in Washingtons first confirmation that US officials had entered North Korea for the talks.

I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen! Trump added.

In addition to those talks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said a pre-advance team left for Singapore  where the summit has been expected to take place  on Sunday morning to work on logistics.

Earlier on Sunday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he and North Koreas Kim had agreed during a surprise meeting on Saturday that the North Korea-US summit must be held.

The weekend talks were the latest twist in a week of diplomatic ups and downs over the prospects for an unprecedented US-North Korea summit, and the strongest sign yet that the two Koreas leaders are trying to keep the meeting on track.

North Korea has faced years of economic sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006.

The United States has struggled to slow the isolated countrys weapons programs, which have become a security priority for Washington given Pyongyangs promise to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

A US official told Reuters that Sung Kim, the former US ambassador to South Korea, would lead an American delegation to meet North Korean officials at the border. Pentagon official Randall Schriver was part of the US team, the official said.

The Washington Post first reported that the team, which also included Allison Hooker, the Korea expert on the White House National Security Council, met with Choe Son Hui, the North Korean vice foreign minister.

The Post said the talks at the border would continue on Monday and Tuesday at Tongilgak, the Norths building in Panmunjom, where the truce suspending the 1950-53 Korean War was signed.

In their meeting on Saturday, Kim reaffirmed his commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to a planned summit with Trump, Moon told reporters in Seoul.

Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean Peninsulas denuclearization and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted, Moon said.

Moon acknowledged Pyongyang and Washington may have differing expectations of what denuclearization means and he urged both sides to hold working-level talks to resolve their differences.

The United States has demanded the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and has always couched its language in terms of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

In previous, failed talks, North Korea said it could consider giving up its arsenal if Washington removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.

North Korea has tested dozens of missiles of various types in the past two years, including one launch of its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile, which is theoretically capable of hitting anywhere in the United States, on Nov. 29.Mistrust on both sides

American officials are skeptical that Kim will ever fully abandon his nuclear arsenal. Moon said North Korea was not convinced it could trust security guarantees from the United States.

However, during the US-South Korea summit, President Trump clearly emphasized that we may see not only the end of hostile relations but also economic cooperation if North Korea denuclearizes, Moon said.

Moon met Trump in Washington on Tuesday in an effort to keep the US-North Korea summit on track.

A senior South Korean official said later the two Koreas were discussing a possible non-aggression pledge and the start of peace treaty talks as a way of addressing Pyongyangs security concerns before US-North Korean negotiations.

A statement from North Koreas state news agency, KCNA, said Kim expressed his fixed will on the possibility of meeting Trump as previously planned.

Trump on Thursday scrapped the summit after repeated threats by North Korea to pull out over what it saw as confrontational remarks by US officials demanding unilateral disarmament.

On May 16, North Korea criticized US national security adviser John Bolton, who had called for North Korea to quickly give up its nuclear arsenal in a deal that would mirror Libyas abandonment of its program for weapons of mass destruction.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed by NATO-backed militants in 2011 after halting his nascent nuclear program.

Trump dismissed the so-called Libya model. Sanders, his spokeswoman, told Fox News on May 15: This is the President Trump model. Hes going to run this the way he sees fit.

Kim had requested a meeting with Moon to clarify what the Trump model meant, Yonhap news agency of South Korea reported, citing an unidentified foreign affairs source.

Kim and Trumps initial decision to meet followed months of war threats and insults between the leaders over the Norths nuclear program.

Trump said on Saturday he was still looking at a June 12 summit in Singapore and that talks were going well.
Commentary Rohingya Crisis is Just the Tip of a Dark Iceberg

Villagers fleeing fighting between the Tatmadaw and Kachin Independence Army arrive in Namti town, Kachin State, in April. / Kachin Baptist Convention

During a recent trip to the United States, an American told me how she used to have a good relationship with her Burmese neighbors, who had lived in New York for a long time. However, the family stopped talking to her after she tried to raise the Rohingya issue with them, she said.

This was a story of a divided neighborhood overseas. But, there are many more such divided neighborhoods in Myanmar.

The international community has been well informed about the human rights abuses committed by the Myanmar Army against the Rohingya in the state of Rakhine. There is much sympathy for the the Rohingya, which fled en masse to Bangladesh after the Myanmar Army launched a massive military sweep in the west of the state last year.

The international community is considering how it can help the Rohingya regain their human dignity as equals based on human rights. It cannot accept how the Tatmadaw has treated them, burned their houses, tortured, arrested and put many of them in prison. All human beings should be treated equally  that is the view of the international community.

During my one-week visit, I gave some public talks about the decline of press freedom in Myanmar. I met US State Department officials and some members of Congress to brief them about how press freedoms in the country have been curtailed.

U.S. government officials and members of Congress are generally well informed about the political situation in Myanmar, and were happy to listen to our stories about how press freedom is increasingly being restricted. They even asked what they could do to help boost media freedoms in the country. They said the U.S. government was not happy to see the political situation in Myanmar deteriorating and expressed a desire to see it move forward under the government of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who gained international recognition and a Nobel Peace prize for her long pro-democracy struggle.

But people asked me most about the Rohingya.

I was surprised to meet one member of Congress who just seemed to want us to listen to him talk about the Rohingya, instead of listening to our accounts of the state of press freedom. He seemed to think that if the Myanmar government gave full citizenship to the Rohingya, then all their problems would be solved.

I told him about a case I came across at a refugee camp in Myae Pone Township in Rakhine State. There were some Rohingya there who had been granted full citizenship cards, but they still could not leave the camp. It did not matter what cards they possessed. The more important thing, I told him, was that they had the freedom to travel and work. We spent about 40 minutes talking about the Rohingya, and did not get the chance to bring up the issue of media rights with him.

There are ongoing investigations by different U.S. government departments about rights abuses committed by the Myanmar Army against the Rohingya. Washington has vowed to target certain Army and government officials with sanctions, based on the recommendations of the different government departments.

The Rohingya crisis is one of the biggest international issues today. Yet, there are other issues in Myanmar, especially in Kachin State, where fighting has been raging for almost two months. There are 150,000 Kachin IDPs who have had to flee their homes due to the fighting and amid widespread reports of human rights abuses by the Myanmar Army.

The Myanmar Armys actions against the ethnic Kachin are not much different to what it has done to the Rohingya. But most normal civilians from the international community know very little about the six-decade long civil war between the Myanmar Army and the ethnic rebel groups in the country.

The ethnic groups have suffered many different types of abuses at the hands of the Myanmar Army, and they want the international community to know their situation is not dissimilar to that of the Rohingya. It is time is to bring the two issues together. Both the Rohingya and the ethnic groups have been targets of human rights abuses. But while the international community talks about one, it seems to ignore the other.
India's largest digital wallet firm Paytm has been accused of sharing the personal data of users from the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir, after residents threw stones at armed forces there, a common occurrence.

The Indian investigative news agency Cobrapost released a video (in Hindi) on Friday, showing the vice-president of Paytm, Ajay Shekhar Sharma, describing how the company had handed over the data, BuzzFeed News reported.

Sharma said in the recording that the data had been handed over after he received a call from the office of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said in the video: "They told us to give them data, saying maybe some of the stone-pelters are Paytm users."

Jammu and Kashmir is the part of Kashmir state that belongs to India. A Muslim-majority state, its ruler decided to join India at the time of partition in 1947. Soon after the country's independence, Pakistan invaded and then occupied a part of the state which it calls Azad Kashmir.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir and the issue is an emotive one in a country where more than 80% of the 1.3 billion population are Hindus.

Modi is from the Hindu fundamentalist party, the BJP, or Bharatiya Janata Party. It has an ideological wing, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. In the video, Sharma also spoke about his ties to the RSS.

In a blog post released in response to the video, Paytm denied that any user details had been handed over.

"There is a video going around on social media and it falsely claims that we shared some data with 3rd parties. Nothing can be further from the truth," it said, without saying in whose name it had been issued. Neither did it address the fact that Sharma himself had made the statement about data being handed over.

"We never share your data with anyone: any company/ any government or any country. At Paytm, your data is yours. Not ours, or of a third party, or of the government," it added.

"Our policy allows only legally compliant data requests from the law of the land to get access to data for necessary investigations.

"To further clarify, in the past, we have neither received requests nor shared any data without a legally compliant request from a bonafide agency and through proper process and channels. You can be sure that no data is shared with anyone whom you would not have given us permission to share it with. This is the holy grail of trust between us."

Paytm is valued at US$8 billion and among its investors are SoftBank and Alibaba Group. It was set up in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the elder brother of Ajay.

It has grown spectacularly, especially after the banning of higher-denomination currency notes by Modi in November 2016.
Aerial imagery specialist company Spookfish has announced the expansion of its capture program into South Australia, with more than 4100km 2 of imagery covering Adelaides metropolitan area, and the local government areas of Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker.

The expansion marks a major milestone for the Perth-based company, which is embarking on a national rollout this year. It says that with full capture of Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth metropolitan areas under its belt, the future is looking bright. It has also begun expanding into Sydney and Brisbane, as well as other Australian capitals.

Spookfish, which also covers a total area of around 6300km2 in Melbourne, says the expansion of coverage will allow businesses and government agencies across Adelaide and Melbourne access to very high resolution aerial imagery and save thousands of dollars by slashing the time spent on site.

The company says with the addition of Perths entire metropolitan area, which spans 7260km2, it has now published more than 50 trillion pixels of imagery, offering customers a crystal-clear view on any device, with absolutely no data caps.

Spookfish chief executive Jason Waller said, At a time when cities are growing faster than ever, we are delighted to offer our customers very high resolution imagery in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. We are excited to be building our national footprint and will offer an extended coverage area across Australia within the next 12 months.

From governments to enterprises and SMEs, Spookfish helps organisations save time and money by providing precise aerial imagery with the timeliness and convenience of cloud delivery. We offer our customers a service like no other, where they can access extremely high resolution images of up to 5cm at an affordable price across very large areas, with no data caps.

Spookfish utilises a fleet of specialised planes to capture imagery for its platform and says, with quarterly updates in capital cities across Australia, customers have an up-to-date and evolving view of their world.
The NBN Co pays its staff handsomely, figures revealed ahead of Senate estimates hearings last week show, with 8% of its 6044 staff taking home more than $200,000.

The Australian reported that 2% of NBN Co employees pocket about $300,000 per annum, while the chief executive Bill Morrow has to make do on $3.56 million.

By comparison, Australia Post told Senate estimates that 0.8% of its employees were paid more than $200,000 per annum.

In terms of numbers, that means more than 480 NBN Co employees get pay packets of more than $200,000 each year while 120 earn packages of more than $300,000.

Another six senior NBN Co executives were earning more than $1 million a year.

On its website, the NBN Co has a long list of comments made by Morrow to the Sanate estimates. However, there is no mention of the salaries paid to staff.

In its latest results, the company announced a loss of $3.3 billion for the nine months to March 2018.

This was up by $1.2 billion, with the loss in the nine months for the previous financial year being $2.7 billion.

The report cited an NBN Co spokesman as defending the salaries paid out, saying: "To meet our operational goals, NBN Co has recruited highly experienced engineers, project managers, IT engineers, business managers, lawyers, marketers, human resources, and account executives."
Reddit Email 28 Shares

Istanbul (OpenDemocracy)  The rise of authoritarianism in Turkey has gone hand in hand with a de-institutionalization, in favour of what many call the one man regime. How long can that last?

On Sunday, May 20, 2018, Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the Bosnian capital to address supporters living in Europe, ahead of snap elections in his country. The idea that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will certainly win the countrys snap general elections on June 24 seems widely prevalent both inside and outside the country. Until recently, even the opposition groups in Turkish society predominantly shared this presupposition on the grounds that given the very high stakes Mr. Erdogan cannot afford the risk of losing.

It makes sense for Mr. Erdogans opponents to despair, considering the obvious unfair playing field during the November 1 re-vote in 2015 and the April 16 referendum last year. The referendum, in particular, is broadly accepted as the first vote since the beginning of free and fair competitive elections in 1950, where electoral fraud, practiced not only on the spot but also at the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK), is widely believed to have changed the results of the vote. Despite all, elections in Turkey are not like the ones in fully-fledged authoritarian systems, where the results are known beforehand. Political scientists agree that in competitive authoritarian systems, elections might turn into a show for incumbents since the playing field is heavily skewed in their favor to stay in power.

However, it does not necessarily mean that the opposition has no chance whatsoever. In fact, depending on their ability to go through hoops, the opposition might have a real shot at winning. For reasons associated with both Mr. Erdogans leadership and the strategies of the opposition, I believe that this may be the case in Turkeys snap vote on June 24.

***

To begin with, the opposition parties of Turkey seem to be overcoming at last two fundamental diseases that have so far prevented them from making a breakthrough to posing a real alternative to Mr. Erdogan and his party. First and foremost, they have got over the inability to co-operate and managed to form a strategic alliance against Mr. Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ultra-nationalist ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The weak and fragmented structure of the opposition in Turkey has always been criticized and, just as in Hungary recently, held out as the main reason behind the success of the incumbent government. Mr. Erdogan, himself, often complained about the inefficacy of the opposition parties to challenge his government and said more than once that his partys main luck lay at the lack of a real opposition.

This time, however, being aware of the power of the leviathan that they are up against, the opposition parties have so far succeeded in acting in unison at critical moments. Even bringing the vote forward by 18 months failed to catch the opposition parties off guard  these strategic moves seem to have stirred a degree of determination among Mr. Erdogans previously hopeless dissidents in Turkish society.

Under the conditions of the current social polarization in Turkey, which is unprecedented in many ways, and lack of trust between different social sections, this togetherness is of course not without its flaws. The exclusion of the pro-Kurdish HDP from the opposition election alliance is certainly the most obvious one.

But, as some analysts argue, this exclusion might strategically work for the opposition as a whole, as it would hinder Mr. Erdogan from building his entire election strategy on accusing the opposition of allying with terrorists, which would certainly consolidate the base of the AKP  MHP alliance as people could easily buy into this.

Therefore, the exclusion of HDP, however problematic it might be, may result in a vote maximization of the opposition alliance as well as the HDP that automatically avoids the risk of losing a part of the Kurdish base potentially repugnant to the nationalist members of the alliance.

Moreover, the success of the opposition in general hinges on that of all opposition parties. In particular, the common project of the opposition to stop and reverse authoritarianism in Turkey is contingent on a post-election parliamentary majority and the continuation of cooperation.

Hence, without HDP surpassing the 10% nationwide electoral threshold to enter parliament, the opposition has no chance to set forth its agenda. For this very reason, a certain part of the voters for the [secularist Republican Peoples Party, the] CHP, will very likely choose to vote for [the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, the] HDP, as they did in the June 7 vote in 2015, to make sure it surpasses the record-high electoral threshold.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, for the first time for over a decade, the politics of opposition seems to be able to go beyond the limits set by Mr. Erdogan and his party. The nativist and identitarian populism of the AKP  MHP alliance that easily polarizes the society along religious and ethnic fault lines, namely those between Turkish  Kurdish, Alevi  Sunni and secular  religious sections of the society, forces people to stay within these boundaries but also to protect them against potential violations and, thus, helps consolidate its base.

In fact, identity politics is a game that falls in Mr. Erdogans area of expertise and if the opposition plays along, he will certainly end up winning. Therefore, in order to beat this strategy, the opposition has always had to come up with and concretize its own vision of future that would be found attractive across different identity groups and not engage in the Kulturkampf launched by Mr. Erdogan.

The opposition has indeed begun to achieve this since the referendum campaign last year. With very limited means, the no camp set aside Erdogan antagonism and managed to base their campaign on what is good for the future of Turkey. Despite all the election irregularities, the yes camp of AKP and MHP won by 51%, which is a low percentage compared to 62%  the vote shares of AKP and MHP combined in the November 1 elections in 2015.

The Justice March was initiated by the main opposition CHP leader Kemal Klcdaroglu in June 2017, when he embarked on a march from Ankara to Istanbul, a distance of 450 km, and was joined by tens of thousands of people. The only slogan permitted on the march was adalet (justice) to show that the demand was made for all and not only for the supporters of a political party. When the march ended in Istanbul with a rally joined by more than a million people from the entire opposition, a new slogan to attract people across identities and to go beyond all the limits set by Mr. Erdogan was born: adalet!

***

Nevertheless, the potential of the June 24 snap vote to turn everything upside down in Turkey does not only arise from the rising capacity of the opposition to become an alternative but also from the undeniable fact that Mr. Erdogans government also has its problems. The sustainability of authoritarian regimes heavily relies on their capability to adapt and regenerate. But Mr. Erdogans leadership has surprisingly begun signaling that it may have reached its limits. The rise of authoritarianism in Turkey has gone hand in hand with a de-institutionalization and the subsequent construction of what many call the one man regime embodied exclusively by Mr. Erdogans leadership. The new regimes failure to institutionalize and desperate dependency on the leader undermine its capacity to deal with new challenges, putting too much burden on his shoulders. It is only he who can enthuse the masses and motivate the party organization.

Erdogan, for his part, has long been dissatisfied with the performance of AKPs local organizations, warning them often against what he calls metal fatigue. Although no one within the party has so far dared to discuss it, Mr. Erdogan is not immune to this fatigue either. Expecting to catch the opposition parties unprepared, he brought forward the elections by 18 months but seems no more prepared than the other candidates do. Relying solely on the entire state apparatus and media that he controls, Mr. Erdogan gives two or three speeches a day, in which he mostly repeats himself and has trouble offering something new to the public.

In previous elections, his self-confidence was so great that it worked even when he was repeating himself. This time, however, for the first time Mr. Erdogan himself has been heard to admit that he could really lose the elections, giving the opposition the uniting slogan: Tamam! (Enough!)

***

This may have caused Erdogan some alarm. His recent gaffes that gave uniting mottos to the opposition have been seen as an expression of this panic. As opposed to what many in the opposition believe, the race will be too tight to rely on election irregularities.

Let us not forget that Mr. Erdogan came to and stayed in power by claiming to imagine the unimaginable for Turkey. His government has not only launched mega or what he calls crazy projects but also initiated the peace process that many depicted as historic to end the 30-year conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This was how the AKP developed the discourse of New Turkey.

Nevertheless, ever since the stumbling following the June 7 elections in 2015, the center of Mr. Erdogans political activity has been to stay in power. Considering what has happened in Turkey since then, among other things Mr. Erdogans project to stay in power has cost it dear with the loss of tranquility in the country. Main opposition CHP presidential candidate Muharrem Ince has summed this up well enough: His (Mr Erdogans) project is to construct new bridges, my crazy project is to build peace. Maybe this time the opposition can capture hegemony over the New Turkey perspective, prising it away from Mr. Erdogan.

Via OpenDemocracy.net

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.

-

Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

Euronews: Erdogan calls on Turks to defend their currency
Reddit 2 Email 549 Shares

The Afghanistan government controls only about half of Afghanistan, 229 of 407 districts.

Maybe because it is a bad news story, our Afghanistan War, the longest in our history, keeps slipping our minds, along with thoughts of the Americans still fighting there.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, has issued a report concluding that after 17 years, US stabilization efforts in Afghanistan have failed. It is a sad conclusion but not surprising if you have been reading SIGARs regular reports of misspent money and corruption.

SIGAR writes,

 Between 2001 and 2017, U.S. government efforts to stabilize insecure and contested areas in Afghanistan mostly failed. The U.S. government overestimated its ability to build and reform government institutions in Afghanistan as part of the stabilization strategy. During the 2009 Afghanistan strategy reviews, President Obama and his civilian and military advisors set in motion a series of events that fostered unrealistic expectations of what could be achieved. They also ensured the U.S. governments stabilization strategy would not succeed, first with the rapid surge and then the rapid transition. Under immense pressure to quickly stabilize insecure districts, U.S. government agencies spent far too much money, far too quickly, in a country woefully unprepared to absorb it. Money spent was often the metric of success. As a result, programming sometimes exacerbated conflicts, enabled corruption, and bolstered support for insurgents. Every organization and agency that worked on stabilization in Afghanistan suffered from personnel and programming deficits borne from rapid scaling, short tours, and the pressure to make quick progress. Even harder than finding available civilians and soldiers was finding qualified and experienced candidates who were trained and equipped to understand and navigate local political economies. Stabilization is inherently political, but given DODs size and resources the military consistently determined priorities and chose to focus on the most insecure districts first. These areas were often perpetually insecure and had to be cleared of insurgents again and again. Civilian agencies, particularly USAID, were compelled to establish stabilization programs in fiercely contested areas that were not ready for them.

Elsewhere the report indicates that to the extent efforts were successful, it was the civilian US AID agency that accounted for the successes.

US troops, however, are still dying there. Fifteen US troops were killed in Afghanistan in 2017, and two from our international allies. This year so far, 2 US soldiers have fallen.

On April 30, Spc. Gabriel Conde, 22, was killed while providing security support to a US special operations unit cooperating with the Afghanistan National Army in an action against the Taliban. He was killed by enemy small arms fire in Tagab district, in Afghanistans Kapisa province. Another US soldier was wounded, and 8 Romanians were killed on the same day.

On January 1, Army Sgt. 1st Class Mihail Golin, 34, had been killed in Nangarhar Province. Part of a Special Operations unit stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, Golin was an immigrant from Riga, Latvia.

In fact, both of the US military men killed this year reflect the rainbow of America, not the narrow white nationalism of a Steve Bannon.

Last fall, there were a flurry of broadcast news reports about the increase of the number of US troops in Afghanistan to about 14,000. NBC evening news asked on its Saturday broadcast, for November 25, 2017, whether having so many in country meant they were more at risk from Taliban and ISIL attacks.

Since then, Afghanistan hasnt been completely absent from broadcast television news, but the pickings have been slim. Lexis misses things, so lets go straight to the cable news web sites.

MSNBC appears to have only done 8 video segments on Afghanistan all year, and several were historical (interviews with Stephen Coll, etc.).

CNN doesnt appear to have a page that disaggregates its video segments on Afghanistan, and searching for broadcast segments is complicated by its print wire service. A keyword search at the CNN YouTube channel for Afghanistan turns up very little, mostly segments on terrorist strikes.

Probably the cable news channel most interested in the subject is Fox Cable News. According to their web site, they have done a short Afghanistan-related segment roughly once every 4 days in May. In April there were 6 reports. But not all of these segments were about todays war. Some were historical, treating the 2001 invasion of the country by the US. Some were human interest, about bomb-sniffing dogs or students at the American University in Afghanistan. Of the breaking news reports, most covered bombings by the Taliban or ISIL. Reports about US troops in Afghanistan today, their missions and triumphs or defeats, were rare. Fox, unlike the others, did segments on the deaths of Conde and Golin. At least theres that. I mind that such news, when it comes, isnt on the front page of every newspaper in the country.

I dont think Afghanistan stays on our minds, despite the fact that we are still war-fighting there and it is our longest war in history. The end of the draft and the rise of a professional standing military, which the Founding Fathers worried would kill democracy, have at least damaged the national spirit. George W. Bush helped that demise along with his advice that to support the war effort, the public should go shopping. Of course, after 2008s crash, which Bush helped along with deregulation, many no longer can afford to.

The least our troops should expect if they are going to go on fighting this Forever War is that the public back in the US should mobilize to pressure the US government to tell us when and how they will win. Because no one should have to fight and die for a failure.

Al Jazeera English: Trumps Top General in Afghanistan | People and Power
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a public service broadcaster, is headquartered at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London and it is the world's oldest national broadcasting organisation and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees (20,950 staff). Its principal funding is from an annual television licensing fee.
TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Victoria Gold Corp. (the Company or Victoria) (TSX-V:VIT-V) is pleased to present a suite of pictures from the Companys Dublin Gulch property. The Dublin Gulch property hosts the Eagle Gold deposit which is fully financed and under construction. The Eagle Gold Mines first gold pour is scheduled for the second half of 2019, is expected to produce over 200,000 ozs of gold per year and will be Yukons next and largest ever gold mine.

The Board of Directors has granted 6,040,000 options to employees, consultants, directors and officers of the Company. The option grant is the result of the Companys annual compensation review and the issuance is made under the stock option plan of the Company. This plan was approved by shareholders on September 11, 2017 and allows the Company to issue a number of options up to 10% of its rolling issued and outstanding common shares. Including this issuance, outstanding options represent less than 4% of issued common shares. The options have an exercise price of $0.50 and are exercisable for a period of 3 years from the date of the grant thereof with a vesting period of 12 months.

About the Dublin Gulch Property

Victoria Gold's 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property is situated in the central Yukon Territory, Canada, approximately 375 kilometres north of the capital city of Whitehorse, and approximately 85 kilometres from the village of Mayo. The Property is accessible by road year-round and is located within Yukon Energy's electrical grid.

The Property covers an area of approximately 555 square kilometres and is the site of the Company's Eagle Gold Deposit. The Eagle Gold Mine is expected to be Yukon's next operating gold mine and, between the Eagle and Olive deposits, include Proven and Probable Reserves of 2.7 million ounces of gold from 123 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 0.67 grams of gold per tonne, as outlined in a National Instrument 43-101 feasibility study. The NI 43-101 Mineral Resource for the Eagle and Olive deposits has been estimated to host 191 million tonnes averaging 0.65 grams of gold per tonne, containing 4.0 million ounces of gold in the "Measured and Indicated" category, inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves, and a further 24 million tonnes averaging 0.61 grams of gold per tonne, containing 0.5 million ounces of gold in the "Inferred" category.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Tony George, P.Eng., as the Qualified Person. For additional information relating to the Property, refer to the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Feasibility Study Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Project, Yukon Territory, Canada", with an effective date of September 12, 2016, which is available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this discussion, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities, anticipated metal production, internal rate of return, estimated ore grades, commencement of production estimates and projected exploration and capital expenditures (including costs and other estimates upon which such projections are based) and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include metal prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For Further Information Contact:

John McConnell

President & CEO

Victoria Gold Corp

Tel: 416-866-8800

Fax: 416-866-8801

www.vitgoldcorp.com

Eagle Gold Mine
TORONTO, May 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardinal Resources Limited (ASX:CDV) (TSX:CDV) (Cardinal or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has received encouraging results from its first pass shallow RC drilling designed to test one of the six coincident gold-in-soil and geophysical targets on the Ndongo License within the Bolgatanga Project, which is located ~15 km north of the Companys Namdini Gold Project with an Indicated Mineral Resource of 6.5 Moz Au (Figure 2).

Highlights

RC drilling has returned several shallow gold intersections from the first of six targets to be drilled including: NDRC130: 24m at 1.2 g/t Au from 2m , and 14m at 1.4 g/t Au from 46m NDRC131: 9m at 11.5 g/t Au from surface (includes 3m at 29.8 g/t Au) NDRC134 : 4m at 1.2 g/t Au from 20m NDRC137: 8m at 1.4 g/t Au from 1m

The results highlight the potential for discovery of gold mineralisation within the Ndongo License, located approximately 15 km north of Cardinals Namdini Gold deposit which currently contains 6.5 Moz Au Indicated and 0.5 Moz Inferred Mineral Resources.

Prospectivity of the area is enhanced due to its proximity to the prolific Nangodi Shear Zone which is known to host major economic gold mineralisation in northeast Ghana and Burkina Faso

Field crews are currently undertaking geological mapping, surface rock sampling, trenching and geophysical surveys to help identify new targets and refine existing targets

Cardinals Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director, Archie Koimtsidis stated:

We are highly encouraged with these early promising results at Target A  Prospect Zupeliga South (Figures 3, 4 and 5) particularly given the strong grades we are seeing near surface. These results strengthen our resolve that the Ndongo License is highly prospective with several untested drill targets which could deliver another significant gold discovery.

We are planning infill and extensional drilling with both RC and DD rigs to target the strike and dip extensions of the mineralisation which remains open.

Gold mineralisation has initially been located within an area of ~200m strike length by ~100m width within the larger Target A area which has a strike length of ~12km and a width of ~1.5km. At this early stage, mineralisation appears to be open along strike and at depth with further drilling planned.

Drill rigs will also be mobilised across the Ndongo License to test other target areas (Figures 3, 4 and 5).

The target area was originally highlighted following a soil sampling programme by AfricWest in 1997 and Etruscan Resources in 2007. A number of shallow high-grade gold intersections were returned from RAB drilling completed by Etruscan Resources in 2008. The results from the historical Etruscan Resources RAB drilling include:

NRB-08-399: 7.5m at 1.8 g/t Au from 33m

from 33m NRB-08-400: 19.5m at 1.2 g/t Au from 6m

from 6m NRB-08-404: 21.0m at 2.3 g/t Au from 6m

from 6m NRB-08-409: 18.0m at 3.4 g/t Au from surface Note: All the historical RAB drill data was collected by

Etruscan Resources Ghana Limited, now part of Endeavour

Mining Corporation (For details, refer to TSX announcement

by ABZU Gold on 23 January, 2013 entitled ABZU Gold

Announces Drilling Mobilisation For 2013, Targets Additional

Satellite Gold Mineralisation at Zupeliga).



Figure 1: Major Gold Discoveries in Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana

Ndongo Prospecting License

The Ndongo Prospecting License covers an area of 295 km2, having been recently expanded by the purchase of two exploration licence areas from Kinross Gold in August 2017 (Figure 2).

The license area is considered highly prospective for the discovery of economic gold mineralisation associated with the prolific Nangodi Shear Zone, a splay fault off the main regional-scale Bole-Bolgatanga Shear. Elsewhere, the Nangodi Shear Zone is spatially related to no fewer than four major gold discoveries, including the Companys Namdini Gold Project with 6.5 Moz Au Indicated and 0.5 Moz Au Inferred Mineral Resources, the Shaanxi Mine, the historic Nangodi Gold Mine and the 2.1 Moz Youga Gold Mine in Burkina Faso, adjacent to the Ghana border (Figures 1, 2 and 3). In addition, there are numerous historic shallow artisanal workings along many parts of this shear zone ~15 km north of the Namdini Gold Project (Figure 3).

Six exploration target areas totalling 70 km in strike length ~15 km north of the Namdini Gold Project have been initially identified for more detailed investigations through assessing geophysical, geochemical and geological data relevant to this Prospecting License (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 2: Cardinals Three Large Scale Tenements comprising the Bolgatanga Project and the Namdini Project

Ndongo Prospecting License - Target A  Prospect Zupeliga South

Target A was previously named Ndongo West prior to the acquisition of the surrounding Kinross ground. Numerous gold-in-soil anomalies, RAB drilling, shallow artisanal diggings and several deeper artisanal shafts all indicated the gold-bearing potential of this recently acquired area (Figures 3 and 4).

At Ndongo West, Gradient Array IP (GAIP) and ground magnetic surveys identified a very well-developed contact zone between conductive and resistive units, along which the artisanal shafts are located.

Once the former Kinross ground was added to Ndongo West, this extended the Target A strike length to 12 km and 1.5 km width and is now called Zupeliga South Prospect (Figure 5).

The prospect is underlain by weak to strongly magnetic mafic-ultramafic volcanic units which are intruded locally by granodiorite. The volcanic units are altered containing pyrite, minor pyrrhotite, magnetite, minor arsenopyrite and silica.

The geology of this prospect is more complex as folding has been identified with the fold axis orientated ~020, and the rock units striking ~300 and dipping north at ~60. The structures imply open anticlinal folds although plunges have yet to be determined.

Gold of variable grades is found within highly magnetised mafic volcanic horizons with disseminated sulphides and cross-cutting pyrite and smoky quartz veinlets. Higher gold grades occur within a sheared, less magnetic and siliceous altered inner zone within the magnetic corridor which also has cross-cutting pyrite and quartz veinlets.

Gold mineralisation has initially been located within an area of ~200 m strike length by ~100 m width within the larger Target A area which has a strike length of ~12 km and a width of ~1.5 km. At this early stage, mineralisation appears to be open along strike, especially along the fold axes, and at depth with further drilling planned to evaluate the two limbs of the anticlines.

Figure 3: Ndongo Prospecting License - Target Areas Over Geology

Figure 4: Ndongo Prospecting License - Target Areas Over Magnetics

Figure 5: Ndongo Prospecting License showing local prospects

Figure 6: Prospect Zupeliga South - Plan View - Interpretive Geology and Location of Cross Section Lines (Yellow Histograms are Historical values drilled by Etruscan Resources Ghana Ltd)

Figure 7: Prospect Zupeliga South - Cross Section (Section Line A-A)

Figure 8: Prospect Zupeliga South - Cross Section (Section Line B - B)

ABOUT CARDINAL

Cardinal Resources Limited (ASX:CDV) (TSX:CDV) is a gold-focused exploration and development Company which holds interests in tenements within Ghana, West Africa.

The Companys Namdini Project has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 6.5 Moz of gold contained in 180 Mt at 1.1 g/t Au at a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 0.5 Moz of gold contained in 13 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au at a cut-off of 0.5g/t Au.

The Company is focused on the development of the Namdini Project through advancing its PFS studies, supported by additional multi-disciplinary engineering and metallurgical activities.

Exploration programmes are also continuing at the Companys Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana) and Subranum (Southern Ghana) Projects.

For further information contact:

Archie Koimtsidis

CEO / MD

Cardinal Resources Limited

P: +61 8 6558 0573

Bettina Filippone

Renmark Financial Communications Inc

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

P: +1 416 644 2020 or +1 514 939 3989

Alec Rowlands

IR / Corp Dev

Cardinal Resources Limited

P: +1 647 256 1922

Competent Persons / Qualified Persons Statement

The information in this press release is based on information prepared by Mr. Paul Abbott, a full-time employee of Cardinal Resources, who is a member of the Geological Society of South Africa. Mr. Abbott has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.

The information in this press release has been compiled and reviewed by Mr. Richard Bray, a Registered Professional Geologist with the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Mr. Ekow Taylor, a Chartered Professional Geologist with the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Bray and Mr. Taylor have more than five years experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which is being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and as a Qualified Person as defined by the NI43-101 instrument. Mr. Bray and Mr. Taylor are full-time employees of Cardinal and hold equity securities in the Company. Mr. Bray and Mr. Taylor have consented to the inclusion of the matters in this report based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.

Disclaimer

This ASX / TSX press release has been prepared by Cardinal Resources Limited (ABN: 56 147 325 620) (Cardinal or the Company). Neither the ASX or the TSX, nor their regulation service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release contains summary information about Cardinal, its subsidiaries and their activities, which is current as at the date of this press release. The information in this press release is of a general nature and does not purport to be complete nor does it contain all the information, which a prospective investor may require in evaluating a possible investment in Cardinal.

By its very nature exploration for minerals is a highrisk business and is not suitable for certain investors. Cardinals securities are speculative. Potential investors should consult their stockbroker or financial advisor. There are a number of risks, both specific to Cardinal and of a general nature which may affect the future operating and financial performance of Cardinal and the value of an investment in Cardinal including but not limited to economic conditions, stock market fluctuations, gold price movements, regional infrastructure constraints, timing of approvals from relevant authorities, regulatory risks, operational risks and reliance on key personnel and foreign currency fluctuations.

Except for statutory liability which cannot be excluded and subject to applicable law, each of Cardinals officers, employees and advisors expressly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the material contained in this press release and excludes all liability whatsoever (including in negligence) for any loss or damage which may be suffered by any person as a consequence of any information in this Announcement or any error or omission here from. Except as required by applicable law, the Company is under no obligation to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in this press release or any other information made available to a person nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information. Recipients of this press release should make their own independent assessment and determination as to the Companys prospects, its business, assets and liabilities as well as the matters covered in this press release.

Forwardlooking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including information as to the future financial or operating performance of Cardinal and its projects may also include statements which are forwardlooking statements that may include, amongst other things, statements regarding targets, anticipated timing of the PEA on the Namdini project, estimates and assumptions in respect of mineral resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates, production and prices, recovery costs and results, capital expenditures and are or may be based on assumptions and estimates related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions. These forward  looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cardinal, are inherently subject to significant technical, business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results reflected in such forwardlooking statements.

Cardinal disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, circumstances or results or otherwise after todays date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than required by the Corporations Act and ASX and TSX Listing Rules. The words believe, expect, anticipate, indicate, contemplate, target, plan, intends, continue, budget, estimate, may, will, schedule and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

All forwardlooking statements made in this press release are qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Investors are cautioned that forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forwardlooking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SCHEDULE 1

NDONGO LICENSE AREA DRILL RESULTS

Hole ID Depth (m) Dip Azimuth Grid_ID mEast mNorth mRL NDRC129 60 -61.4 201.6 WGS84_30N 746789.8 1195184.3 247.6 NDRC130 120 -59.9 202.0 WGS84_30N 746815.1 1195237.1 247.0 NDRC131 120 -62.6 202.1 WGS84_30N 746886.8 1195153.4 249.4 NDRC132 120 -61.3 202.2 WGS84_30N 746899.2 1195207.1 247.8 NDRC133 186 -60.8 200.5 WGS84_30N 746829.3 1195289.2 246.2 NDRC145 108 -60.4 200.0 WGS84_30N 746930.5 1195133.3 250.6 NDRC146 120 -59.1 196.3 WGS84_30N 746945.5 1195178.7 249.7 NDRC148 180 -61.1 203.2 WGS84_30N 746845.3 1195333.8 245.0 NDRC149 120 -59.9 199.8 WGS84_30N 746960.1 1195225.8 247.3 NDRC151 108 -61.0 203.9 WGS84_30N 746755.9 1195239.9 246.3 NDRC152 132 -59.3 200.8 WGS84_30N 746912.8 1195249.9 247.1 NDRC153 66 -60.0 203.0 WGS84_30N 746805.6 1195210.0 247.3 NDRC154 108 -60.0 205.1 WGS84_30N 746822.7 1195260.0 246.6 NDRC155 78 -59.5 198.8 WGS84_30N 746837.8 1195228.2 247.3 NDRC156 106 -60.9 201.3 WGS84_30N 746788.3 1195248.0 246.3 NDRC159 50 -59.5 200.8 WGS84_30N 746890.8 1195180.2 248.0 NDRC160 210 -60.2 202.2 WGS84_30N 746787.2 1195329.2 244.6 NDRC162 50 -60.5 199.7 WGS84_30N 746904.7 1195153.0 249.7 NDRC163 50 -59.7 199.6 WGS84_30N 746858.7 1195162.7 248.4 NDRC164 174 -59.4 199.6 WGS84_30N 746773.5 1195289.4 245.0

Table 1: Meta-Data Listing of Drill Holes

Hole_ID mFrom mTo mWidth Aug/t NDRC130 23 24 1 0.9 NDRC130 28 33 5 0.6 NDRC130 41 42 1 0.6 NDRC130 46 60 14 1.4 NDRC130 102 105 3 1.7 NDRC131 0 9 9 11.5 NDRC132 43 44 1 0.6 NDRC132 53 54 1 1.1 NDRC133 88 89 1 1.0 NDRC133 93 100 7 0.7 NDRC133 110 111 1 0.7 NDRC146 35 36 1 2.2 NDRC148 152 157 5 0.6 NDRC148 162 168 6 1.1 NDRC149 77 78 1 0.9 NDRC151 24 27 3 0.8 NDRC152 90 92 2 1.3 NDRC153 12 14 2 1.0 NDRC153 23 24 1 1.0 NDRC154 62 66 4 0.5 NDRC154 73 80 7 1.9 NDRC155 25 35 10 0.8 NDRC155 39 60 21 0.8 NDRC156 33 34 1 0.5 NDRC156 51 54 3 1.0 NDRC159 19 24 5 2.3 NDRC162 0 11 11 1.5 NDRC162 0 11 11 1.5 NDRC163 0 2 2 1.2 NDRC163 9 14 5 0.8 NDRC163 33 34 1 5.7 NDRC164 23 24 1 0.6 NDRC164 40 41 1 0.8 NDRC164 84 85 1 0.7

Table 2 Summary of Individual Intercepts

Notes:

Cut-off grade for reporting of each individual intercept is  0.5g/t Au with a maximum of 3m of consecutive internal dilution included within the intercept; only intercepts  1m are reported.

Intervals are RC chips which are sampled every 1m.

Samples are analysed for Au (SGS Lab FAA505 method) which is a 50g fire assay fusion with AAS instrument finish.

Grid coordinates are in WGS84 Zone 30 North.

The intercepts were calculated, using a 0.5g/t cut-off, which approximates the cut-off for Reasonable Prospects of Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE) as per the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code) 2012 and the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) 2010 guidelines and internal dilution of no more than 3m at <0.5g/t Au.
Vancouver, British Columbia / May 28, 2018 / JMN Wire / New Tech Lithium Corp. (CSE: NTM) has signed an arm's-length definitive option agreement dated May 15, 2018, to lease the mineral rights for the Buena Vista Hills (BVH) cobalt property located in Pershing county (Nevada), which contains known significant cobalt mineralization. New Tech Lithium had previously signed a letter of intent (LOI) with an arm's-length vendor to lease the mineral rights beneath a privately owned, approximately 640-acre section in Pershing county. Deal terms are defined as follows.

Cobalt mineralization and provenance

The BVH cobalt project is in northern Pershing County, central Nevada, southeast of Lovelock Nevada. Cobalt mineralization at the BVH Cobalt Project is considered part of an Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) mineralization occurrence located within and associated with the Jurassic-aged Humboldt Mafic Magmatic Complex (T. DeMatties, Ore Geology Reviews, 2017; DeMatties, unpublished pre-print; Johnson and Barton, EG Guidebook, 2000). Cobalt mineralization occurs temporally with copper-gold mineralization as part of a sulfide mineralization event that post-dates and in places partially overprints earlier oxide, magnetite iron-ore metasomatic replacement mineralization. Cobalt is associated with disseminated to massive pyrite and stockwork-pyrite veining sulfide mineralization that is temporally associated with but spatially separated from copper-gold sulfide mineralization. IOCG iron ore mineralization has been mined in the past at several locations in the Humboldt Mafic Complex, as evidenced by several existing historic open pits and associated waste piles ("dumps"). Strongly oxidized ("gossanous") cobalt-bearing pyrite is exposed in an historic, approximately 150-foot (45.5 m) deep X 660 (200 m) X 600 (180 m) open pit iron-ore mine at the area of interest. IOCG associated copper-gold exploration has occurred at several locations in the Humboldt Mafic Complex as well (T. DeMatties, unpublished pre-print; T. DeMatties Ore Geology Reviews, 2017).

Cobalt mineralization occurs as disseminations and stock-work veins of cobalt-bearing ("cobaltoan") pyrite associated with strong sodium-calcium (Na-Ca) hydrothermal alteration in gabbroic intrusive rocks, co-magmatic basalt-andesite volcanic flow rocks and replacements of disseminated to massive magnetite bodies. The igneous host rocks are all part of the Jurassic-aged Humboldt IOCG Mafic Magmatic Complex. Very low levels of nickel-sulfide mineralization represent the only other base metal associated with the cobaltoan-pyrite sulfide mineralization, and the prospect can be characterized as an Iron-Cobalt deposit. Cobaltoan-pyrite sulfide mineralization is associated with albite-actinolite and late chlorite-sericite alteration that occur outside of or variably overprint earlier scapolite-hornblende alteration in gabbro intrusive rocks, basalt-andesite volcanic flow rocks and early disseminated to massive magnetite replacement bodies which are genetically and spatially related to high-temperature, intrusive-proximal scapolite-hornblende alteration.

Cobalt Geochemical Results

Due diligence rock chip geochemical results for samples collected by New Tech Lithium from the top of the northeast margin of an historic iron-ore open pit mine on the property range from 0.048% to 0.113% cobalt and confirm previously reported rock chip sample cobalt data collected from around the existing open pit (T. DeMatties, pre-print unpublished data; average un-cut grade = 0.23% Co) and historic drill data from a single vertical 580-foot total depth (TD) reverse circulation (RC) exploration drill hole completed by the owners in 2008. The drill hole is located approximately 330-feet (100-meters) northeast of the northeast pit wall and contains a 40-foot (12-meter) interval with average grade = 0.12% CoO occuring within a 60-foot (18.2-meters) interval of 0.10% CoO and a 90-foot (27-meters) interval of 0.09% CoO. Complete NewTech Lithium due diligence and comparative historic rock chip and drill hole sample results are reported below.

Complete Historic and Recent (NTM due diligence sampling) Cobalt Geochemical Results

New Tech Lithium due diligence geochemical results:

4 rock chip samples from exposed mineralization at top/upper bench of open pit and northeast development pit outside the pit range from 0.048% to 0.113% Co, average grade = 0.0723% Co.

Includes 1 sample from small development pit located approximately 1000-feet (303-meters) northeast of main exposed mineralized zone = 0.048% Co.

2 dump samples average grade = 0.013% Co.

1 sample from development pit approximately 800 feet southwest of the main exposed mineralized zone and outside the pit = 0.047% Co. Unpublished geochemical data (T. DeMatties, unpublished pre-print): 15 pit wall (top of upper bench only) rock chip and dump samples range from 0.009% to 1.2% Co with an average grade of 0.23% Co.



If the anomalously low (0.009% Co) and high (1.2% Co) cobalt concentration samples are cut from the sample population, the range becomes 0.023% to 0.82% Co and average grade = 0.18% Co.

Historic RC Drill Hole Data (1 vertical RCDH w/ 10-foot sample intervals, TD = 580 feet); located approximately 330 feet (100-meters) northeast of main exposed cobalt mineralized zone in the open pit:

20 feet to 110 feet (90 feet/27 meters) @ 0.09% CoO Includes: 20 feet to 80 feet (60 feet/18.2 meters) @ 0.10% CoO Includes: 40 feet to 80 feet (40 feet/12 meters) @ 0.12% CoO



Please note that selected grab samples collected by NTM and reported in the Ted DeMatties pre-print paper are not necessarily representative of the deposit.

The final terms of the Definitive Option Agreement are as follows (all dollars are in the currency of the United States):

Cash and Shares

Item Cash $ Shares(1) Date 1 3,000 Paid on Mach 5, 2018 2 22,000 250,000 Closing Date- May 25, 2018,

(ten business days after the Execution Date) 3 25,000 250,000 May 25, 2019 4 25,000 250,000 May 25, 2020

(1) After the Closing Date, the number of Shares to be issued will be subject to any subdivision or consolidation of the Shares.

Exploration expenditures: $700,000.

Year 1 $100,000 Completed by the first anniversary of the Execution Date, May 15, 2019

$100,000 Completed by the first anniversary of the Execution Date, May 15, 2019 Year 2 $200,000 Completed by the second anniversary of the Execution Date, May 15, 2020

$200,000 Completed by the second anniversary of the Execution Date, May 15, 2020 Year 3 $400,000 Completed by the third anniversary of the Execution Date, May 15, 2021

Royalty

The Lessor retains a 1% Net Smelter Return, one-half of which can be purchased for $500,000. If magnetite and hematite are comingled within the ore or concentrates shipped from site, a royalty of $1.00 per metric ton of Fe shall be paid to Lessor in addition to the other royalties for the metals of interest.

There is a minimum annual royalty of $50,000 to be paid for ten years, commencing on the 3rd anniversary of the execution date which would be May 15, 2021.

There is an existing, underlying NSR of 5% on the property owned by Nevada Lands and Resources of Reno, Nevada.

Option to Purchase

The Company has the option to purchase the Property for a price of $2,000,000 for a period of 3 years, expiring May 13, 2021.

Exploration Program

New Tech Lithium plan to immediately initiate design of a Phase 1 Exploration Program now that the lease-option deal has been completed. The proposed Phase 1 Exploration Program is expected to include early-stage test drilling around the known cobalt-mineralized zone(s) in and around the existing open pit and along presumed structural controls.

About New Tech Lithium Corporation

New Tech Minerals (NTM) is a CSE-listed public company located in Vancouver, B.C. New Tech Minerals are focused on exploring for and developing modern battery-metals Lithium and Cobalt in the USA. NTM currently control a large Lithium + Bromine + Potassium brine project (~13,840 acres of Federal lithium claims and Utah and Colorado State Leases) in the Paradox Basin of Utah and Colorado. New Tech Minerals also control ~27,000 acres of Potash Permit Applications in the Paradox Basin of Utah. In addition to the 640-acre cobalt option agreement announced herein UTM has also recently completed another cobalt option agreement for US Federal cobalt exploration leases in Southeast Missouri. A detailed News Release announcing the Southeast Missouri cobalt acquisition is forthcoming.

The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was prepared and reviewed by Kent Ausburn, PhD, P.Geo., a non-independent qualified person to the Company. Dr. Ausburn is responsible for ensuring that the geologic information provided in this news release is accurate and acts as a qualified person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
CAPITALIZATION

TSX Symbol: STGO

Total Basic Shares O/S (M): 42.9

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MATTHEW WOOD

Chairman, President and CEO

BATAA TUMUR-OCHIR

Director and Vice President Mongolia

ANEEL WARAICH

Director and Executive Vice President

JEREMY SOUTH

Director

PATRICK MICHAELS

Director

DR. ZAMBA BATJARGAL

Director

TORONTO, May 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steppe Gold Limited (TSX:STGO) (the Company or Steppe Gold) is very pleased to announce that the Company has commenced an extensive infill and extensional resource drilling program at its 100% owned Altan Tsagaan Ovoo Project (the ATO Project), located in Mongolia.

HIGHLIGHTS

Stage 2 drilling program commenced with three drilling rigs currently operating on site.

Drilling currently focused on resource infill and extension drilling at the ATO4 Deposit.

Upon completion of drilling at the ATO4 Deposit, Drilling rigs will move onto infill and extension drilling at the ATO2 deposit followed by drilling at the Mungu Deposit and the Mungu Gap and Mungu Extended prospects.

Since taking control of the ATO Project the Company has completed a highly successful Stage 1 drilling program totaling 66 holes at the Mungu Deposit, three drill holes at the ATO4 Deposit, four drill holes at the Tsagaan Temeet prospect, one drill hole at the Bayanmunkh prospect and sixteen shallow drill holes at the Bayangol prospect for a total of 8,821.6 meters.

Results from the Stage 1 drilling program included:

MUNGU DEPOSIT

 MG-49 46 metres at 14.98gt gold and 82.02gt silver from 218.5 metres  MG-51 152 metres at 3.28gt gold and 29.79gt silver from 258 metres

ATO4

 ATO-295 90.6 metres at 2.57gt gold and 10.6gt silver from 39 metres

ATO 4 Deposit drilling

STAGE 2 DRILLING PROGRAM

The Company has now commenced its Stage 2 drilling program at its 100% owned ATO Project. A total of three diamond core drilling rigs are currently operating on site and conducting infill and resource extension drilling at the ATO4 Deposit. All drilling is HQ diamond drill core.

Upon completion of the drilling at the ATO4 Deposit, drilling rigs will move onto infill and extension drilling at the ATO2 deposit, followed by drilling at the Mungu Deposit, Mungu Gap and the Mungu Extended prospects.

The Company will have an active drilling program throughout 2018 with updated resource calculations for the ATO Deposits and Mungu Deposit by the end of 2018. The Company expects to have regular drilling updates covering the Stage 2 drilling program in the coming months.

STAGE 1 DRILLING PROGRAM

Since taking control of the ATO Project the Company has completed a highly successful Stage 1 drilling program totalling 66 holes at the Mungu Deposit, three drill holes at the ATO4 Deposit, four drill holes at Tsagaan Temeet prospect, one drill hole at the Bayanmunkh prospect and sixteen drill holes at the Bayangol prospect for a total of 8,821.6 metres.

Table 1. Stage 1 Drill hole summary

Deposit Prospect Drill holes number Total (m) Mungu 66 6333.4 ATO4 3 816.4 Bayangol 16 928.5 Bayanmunkh 1 449 TOTAL ALL 90 8821.6

Stage 1 Drilling Program

MUNGU DEPOSIT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The drilling program was successful in outlining and extending known gold and silver mineralization. In addition to this, new high grade zones in deeper parts of the deposit were discovered that increased the understanding on the controls of mineralized structures and associated feeder zones.

Table 2. Significant intersects from the Mungu Deposit.

Drill Hole DH depth, m From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) MG-49 380.4 218.5 264.5 46 14.98 82.02 Includes 218.5 241.5 23 26.18 68.8 MG-50 434.4 250 290.4 40.4 0.84 140.95 312.5 331.6 19.1 1.37 1.62 Includes 326.5 329.5 3 4.05 2.46 MG-51 458 190 204.4 14.4 0.8 11.57 229.1 236 6.9 0.81 17.2 258 320.5 62.5 3.28 29.79 340.5 345.5 5 1.02 42.12 Includes 269 271 2 75.7 298.8 Includes 312 319.5 7.5 3.27 111.87 MG-52 485 190 342 152 2.06 72.64 Includes 300 342 42 5.75 16.97 MG-53 476 341 357.7 16.7 0.77 28.05 433 443 10 1.82 7.21

Information provided is not a true thickness (or width).

Table 3. Significant drill results from oxide drilling program, Mungu deposit

ID Drill Hole DH_depth (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) MG-54 68 12 15 3 0.6 22.76 1 19 37.3 18.3 1.84 130.21 27 33 6 3.3 333.4 2 MG-63 80 35.95 54 18.05 0.7 49.72 3 MG-66 113 25.8 48.5 22.7 1.13 67.5 83.5 102 18.5 0.79 42 4 MG-67 137 0 56 56 1.03 35.15 5 MG-68 110 13.6 24.25 10.65 1.59 87.1 27.5 31.5 4 0.15 133 6 MG-70 116 39 116 77 0.41 48.7 7 MG-71 95 14 95 81 1 45.46 8 MG-72 57 2 57 55 0.92 46.25 9 MG-74 104 27 104 77 0.63 34.57 10 MG-75 90 14 67 53 0.85 22.54 78 88 10 0.75 24.64 11 MG-78 65 18 32 14 1.3 77.49 12 MG-79 44 1 12 11 0.78 25.41 17 21 4 0.57 15.75

Information provided is not a true thickness (or width).

ATO4 DEPOSIT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

Steppe Gold drilled a total of three diamond drill holes at ATO4 (ATO-295, ATO-296) and one scout drill hole (ATO-294) to the south of the deposit. The scout drill hole failed to intersect mineralization. Significant intersections were made in both the other two drill holes.

Table 4. Significant intersects from drilling at ATO4 Deposit.

Drill Hole DH_depth (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (ppm) ATO-295 224 13.4 22.6 9.2 1.32 16.71 39 129.6 90.6 2.71 10.6 includes 69 80 11 10.82 11.24 includes 96 102 6 7.07 9.6 ATO-296 299 includes 29.3 35.5 6.2 1.20 12.95 81.5 122.5 41 0.89 4.68 includes 88.5 91.5 3 3.90 7.5

Information provided is not a true thickness (or width).

BAYANGOL PROSPECT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The Bayangol prospect is located approximately 3 km north east of the ATO Deposit and just over 1 km from the Mungu Deposit. The Company completed a program of 16 shallow diamond core drill holes in for a total of 928.3 metres. A significant result was achieved from drill hole BG-15 which intersected weak gold mineralization from 31m to the end of drill hole at 80 metres.

BG-15 49 metres at 0.26gt gold and 9gt silver from 31 metres.

Importantly, the mineralization and alteration intercepted in hole BG-15 is identical to that seen at the Mungu Deposit. Additional drilling will be completed at the Bayangol Prospect when priorities allow.

BAYANMUNKH PROJECT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The Bayan Munkh prospect is located approximately 25 km north east of the ATO and Mungu Deposits. A recently completed deep IP dipole-dipole survey has identified up to 500 m in diameter coincident chargeability and resistivity anomaly. The anomaly is located within a magnetic low and copper geochemical anomaly which is interpreted to be a possible gold copper porphyry system.

To test the large oval shape IP anomaly one single scout drill hole BM-13 was drilled to a depth of 449m. No significant results were achieved for this drill hole, although native copper was observed along late stage fractures in the drill core between 87 to 95 metres. Subsequent 3D modelling of the IP result identified a promising high chargeability anomaly on Bayanmunkh porphyry target which will be drilled when priorities allow.

TSAGAAN TEMEET PROJECT  STAGE 1 PROGRAM

The Tsagaan Temeet project is located 17 km to north of the ATO and Mungu Deposits. A total of four holes were drilled for 294.3 metres with no significant results being intercepted.

SAMPLING and QA-QC

At the Mungu Deposit drill holes were sampled at continuous 1 meter intervals, regardless of lithological and mineralogical variations. No selective sampling was undertaken. A total of 3,237 core samples were collected and analyzed.

Samples were processed and analyzed by ALS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. At the prep facility, all rock samples are logged in the tracking system, weighed, dried and finely crushed to better than 70% passing a 2 mm (Tyler 9 mesh, US Std. No.10) screen. This procedure coded as CRU-31 for all ALS Labs.

A split of up to 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing a 75 micron (Tyler 200 mesh, US Std. No. 200) screen (Figure 24). Drill core samples up to 3kg. This procedure coded as PREP-31 for all ALS Labs.

A 50-gram sample from all pulverized samples were analyzed for multi elements analysis by 35-element (ME-ICP41). Another 50-gram sample from remaining pulps were analyzed for gold assay using a fire assay analytical method with finish of AAS (Au-AA26, 50gr FA AA finish, instrument AAS). During ICP analysis, a 0.5g sample within 10 ml of solution was submitted for analysis. All samples were analyzed by 35-element ICP to test for abundances of Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, and Zn.

A high core recovery of more than 97% was achieved for the 2017 drilling program.

All holes were diamond drilled using a HQ core size. Down-hole orientation surveys were carried out at 50 metre intervals and/or at the bottom of each hole. Down-hole readings included both dip and azimuth of the hole at the recorded depths. Down hole surveys were completed for all drill holes.

QAQC for ALS internal and external check-ups for Mungu and other projects assays were conducted by insertion of SRM, duplicates and blanks for 2017. Inserted Industry CRMs and the results have, in the main, accurately reflected the original assays and expected values. Blank standards were all reported below <5ppb Au, which is shows that Lab is clear. Analysis of the internal repeat results for Au, Zn, Pb and As, show an acceptable correlation (most results within the 10 % error limits) with the original sample results. This indicates the sample pulps were reasonably homogenous after sample preparation resulting in high precision and repeatable sample assays.

Oyungerel Bayanjargal

Independent Qualified Person

MAusIMM (CP)

Ms. Oyungerel (Gerlee) Bayanjargal has 25 years of experience in the Mongolian geology and mining environment and has also worked as a resource consultant at Snowden in Australia. Gerlee has specialized on gold and polymetallic deposits both hard rock and placer and estimated several gold deposits resources and reserves in Mongolia. Most recently she was the Chief Mine Geologist at Boroo Gold Mine where she had worked since 2004 for Centerra Gold Inc, a Canadian company. Gerlee has been involved with project reviews, exploration and mining for hard rock and alluvial gold deposits in Mongolia, Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan.

The exploration activities and their related results included in this announcement were reviewed by Gerlee. According to Gerlee, all exploration and drilling work carried out to date on the Companys projects mentioned in this release follow clear mining industry standards.

Gerlee is a Principal Consultant for GSTATS Consulting LL. She is Deputy Chair of the MRC for the Mongolian Professional Institute of Geosciences and Mining. Gerlee is a Member of the Australian Institute Mining and Metallurgy and accredited as a Chartered Professional under the Discipline of Geology. She is also a Professional Engineer of Mongolia in discipline of Geology. Gerlee holds a Master of Science degree in Mineral Resource Exploration from The Netherlands and the Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Mathematics both from Mongolia.

CONTACT INFORMATION

THE COMPANYS HEAD OFFICE:

Shangri-La office, Suite 1201, Olympic street 19A, Sukhbaatar District 1,

Ulaanbaatar 14241, Mongolia

Tel: +976 7732 1914

TORONTO OFFICE:

90 Adelaide Street. W, Suite 400 Toronto, ON

M5H 3V9,

Canada

Tel: +1 647 697 0577

TRANSFER AGENT:

Lori Winchester

Senior Relationship Manager, Client Management

Phone: +1 416 607-7898

Cell: +1 416 671-4558

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Colombians voted Sunday to choose a new president in a divisive election that is likely to weigh heavily on the future of the governments fragile peace deal with the former rebel movement FARC.

Polling closed on schedule at 4:00 pm (2100 GMT) after eight hours of totally normal voting, said electoral authority chairman Juan Carlos Galindo. Bogota and other major cities reported a high turnout in a country where voter abstention is traditionally around 50 percent.

It was the first presidential poll in half a century free of the threat of the FARC, an achievement celebrated by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos after casting his ballot in Bogota.

So far not a single voting station has had to be moved for security reasons, he said in a televised speech. Its been many decades since that has happened. In other words, these elections are going to be the most secure, the calmest.

Ironically, the peace Santos made with the FARC, which is now a political party, has opened sharp divisions, reflected in the leading candidates to succeed him.

Conservative front-runner Ivan Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror in Colombia before transforming itself into a political party.

Polling a week before the election showed Duque with a 12-point lead over his main challenger Gustavo Petro, a leftist former Bogota mayor who backs the peace deal.

I want a country of legality, a full-on fight against corruption, a country where peace can breathe throughout the land, said Duque after casting his ballot in Bogota.

Outside one Bogota polling station, Paula Rubio, 38, said she voted for Duque to maintain order in the country.

Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, has defied expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right.

Petro said he wanted a Colombia present and future without hatred or vengeance and to leave behind the machinery of corruption.

The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption, making him the countrys first leftist candidate with a chance of going to the second round of a presidential poll.

I voted for Petro who has helped the poor people, said domestic worker Gladys Cortes, 60.

Neither candidate is expected to win outright in Sundays first round, making a runoff likely on June 17.

 Santos stepping down 

Santos  who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the 2016 deal with the FARC  steps down in August.

Duque, a gray-haired senator and former economist, is backed by the Democratic Center party of former president Alvaro Uribe, which swept legislative elections in March. If successful, he can count on the support of Congress.

Uribe fell out with onetime ally Santos over his drive for peace with FARC, setting up his own party in 2013.

Many voters see Uribes guiding hand behind the inexperienced Duques campaign. Like Santos, the 65-year-old Uribe is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term.

Colombia, ravaged by corruption and glaring inequality, is still struggling to emerge from the longest armed conflict in the Americas.

The worlds leading producer of cocaine, the country continues to battle armed groups vying for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes in areas FARC once dominated.

 No impunity 

The peace deal, in effect for little more than a year, remains fragile.

The FARC, now in the form of a political party, did not win much support in March legislative elections, failing to add to the 10 parliamentary seats it was awarded in the peace deal.

What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity, Duque recently told AFP.

The senator has pledged to eradicate the cancer of corruption and to revive a sluggish economy, while vowing to defend traditional family values.

Petros crowds grew steadily as his campaign went on, in what some analysts see as public support for the peace deal and the rehabilitation of FARC as a political party.

Society has overcome the fear of violence and terror, and what we are seeing today is the political expression of that, filling public places and drawing crowds, Petro told AFP in the final days of his campaign.

Analysts say the men are at opposite ends of the political spectrum and are likely to prevail over the four other candidates, who include former vice president German Vargas Lleras.

The countrys last active rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), has announced a ceasefire for the polls. Nevertheless, security has been tightened, with 150,000 troops deployed.
Conservative candidate Ivan Duque won the first round of Colombias presidential election but fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff next month.

The 41-year-old senator will face former guerrilla Gustavo Petro on June 17, the first leftist candidate to contest a runoff in Colombia.

Duque won 39.2 percent of the votes, compared to Petros 25 percent, in the Sunday poll which showed deep divisions over a peace deal with former rebel movement FARC.

It was the first presidential election in half a century free of the threat of the FARC, however Duque has campaigned strongly on a pledge to rewrite a peace agreement with the group.

Polling was totally normal, said electoral authority chairman Juan Carlos Galindo. Turnout was a higher-than-usual 53.2 percent in a country traditionally plagued by voter apathy.

The peaceful election was an achievement praised by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos after casting his ballot in Bogota.

Ironically, the peace Santos made with the FARC has opened sharp divisions, reflected in the two candidates to succeed him.

 Vow to revise accord 

Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror in Colombia before transforming itself into a political party.

Duques pledges to defend private enterprise and introduce tax cuts also won him support.

Duque called for a Colombia where peace coincides with justice after the results were announced, reiterating his desire to revise  without shredding  the pact with FARC.

Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, defied expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right.

His total of more than 4.8 million votes is almost double the previous best showing for the left in a presidential election, in 2006.

Its obviously going to be very polarized in the second round, said analyst Andres Macais, with both sides scrambling to form alliances with defeated candidates.

Conservatives backing Duque have a majority in the Congress after sweeping legislative elections in March.

Leftist candidates Sergio Fajardo, a former Medellin mayor who polled 23.7 percent of the vote, and peace negotiator Humberto De la Calle, have previously refused to ally with Petro.

Petro expressed confidence after his second-place finish. You can be certain that we will win, that the history of Colombia can be changed, he told supporters.

The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption.

I voted for Petro who has helped the poor people, said domestic worker Gladys Cortes, 60.

Analysts said turnout could be a key factor in the second round.

There is an increase in participation, but abstention is still high, we will have to see if it is still possible to move that absentee vote towards Petro. The second round is going to be very close, said analyst Medofilo Medina.

 Santos stepping down 

Santos  who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the 2016 deal with the FARC  steps down in August.

Duque, a gray-haired senator and former economist, is backed by the Democratic Center party of former president Alvaro Uribe, which swept legislative elections in March. If successful, he can count on the support of Congress.

Uribe fell out with onetime ally Santos over his drive for peace with FARC, setting up his own party in 2013.

Many voters see Uribes guiding hand behind the inexperienced Duques campaign. Like Santos, the 65-year-old Uribe is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term.

Colombia, ravaged by corruption and glaring inequality, is still struggling to emerge from the longest armed conflict in the Americas.

The worlds leading producer of cocaine, the country continues to battle armed groups vying for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes in areas FARC once dominated.

 No impunity 

The peace deal, in effect for little more than a year, remains fragile.

The FARCs political party did not win much support in Marchs legislative elections, failing to add to the 10 parliamentary seats it was awarded in the peace deal.

What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity, Duque recently told AFP.

The senator has pledged to eradicate the cancer of corruption and to revive a sluggish economy, while vowing to defend traditional family values.

Petros crowds grew steadily as his campaign went on, in what some analysts see as public support for the peace deal and the rehabilitation of FARC as a political party.

Society has overcome the fear of violence and terror, and what we are seeing today is the political expression of that, filling public places and drawing crowds, Petro told AFP in the final days of his campaign.
105 Shares Share

The third year of medical school is met with a newfound sense of freedom. Freedom to rediscover yourself and rekindle your love for all things forgotten. Its about the thrill of seeing your textbook knowledge come to life or connecting deeply with a stranger. Its about the humbling moments in medicine that force you to hide tears in the exam room. Allergies, you say.

You can tackle anyones drug list now, immediately scanning suffixes to clue you into the drug class. This year, when your extended family asks you what is wrong with them, your differential is more plausible. Once or twice, you may have even been right. Another stroke to your ego.

You have mastered the art of small talk and office charm. You have learned to lay low on rotations until you have figured out whos who in the office. And your preceptors? They are not so bad. They are human beings, just like you, who simply value a combination of hard work and good character. The latter more important, by the way.

You have been wrong so many times that it does not phase you anymore. Your classmates, once your competition and greatest source of anxiety, are now your biggest allies. The most distant colleague on campus becomes your best friend in the hospital. Everyone else? Just one text away from the help you need, when you need it.

Shelf exams become reunion parties, opportunities to reconnect and exchange tips about your next rotation. You walk away secretly defeated about each exam but have never doubted the curve. A few weeks later, another pleasant surprise. My preceptor actually liked me? You caught yourself cheesing as you read their comments. I really needed that, Dr. so-and-so  thank you.

Alas, just when your life has proven itself stable, you are struck with adversity. Perhaps you had to retake boards. Perhaps your parents became ill. Perhaps you lost a friend, a family member, a loved one. Something precious was stripped from you at a moments notice, leaving you stranded in a new and unfamiliar landscape where you find yourself questioning what once was 

Life goes on.

You keep your head down and work quietly, steadfast in pursuit of a greater goal in life. You find support from the people you least expect. And somehow, in your most sorrowful days, you find moments of great joy and relief.

You teeter between great hope and crumbling insecurity. You are burdened with a sense of guilt for all the things you could have done to change the course of things. The most important months of your professional career lie ahead yet you struggle to answer a simple question: Who are you? An overwhelmed medical student, daunted by the tasks of fourth year and frustrated at everything between you and Step 2 studying.

No deadlines exist anymore except for what you decide. You channel everything you have into recreating yourself. Soon enough, your personal statement is complete. Your CV polished, just like your headshot. With a little persistence, your visiting student applications pull through and slowly your fourth-year schedule comes together. You have branded yourself for residency, boasted in ways you never thought you would and somehow  learned to love yourself in the process.

Half the battle for residency is believing in yourself as a strong candidate. It is about saying with conviction this is your specialty of choice because to say otherwise would be a lie. It is about realizing that every step youve taken has led you to this path all along. And it is about trusting that youll stand taller and smile brighter in the years that lie ahead.

Heres to becoming the best version of ourselves yet. May we cherish every moment and embrace the journey. Best of luck my colleagues as we part ways  and greetings to my new pediatric family.

Sahar Rahim is a medical student. This article originally appeared in The D.O. Directive.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
The Herald reports:

More than 150,000 cattle will be culled in a world-first bid to eradicate cattle disease Mycloplasma bovis (M. Bovis). The Government says it has reached an agreement with farming sector leaders to attempt to eradicate the disease from New Zealand. The cull, of around 126,000 in addition to the 26,000 already underway, will take place over one to two years.

Hopefully the cull will work. Sadly there is a real possibility that 150,000 cattle will be killed and the disease will not be eradicated.

The Government will meet 68 per cent of the cost and Dairy NZ and Beef and Lamb New Zealand will meet 32 per cent.

Im not against some Government assistance but I do wonder whether something like this was insurable against.

Ardern said to put the cull into context, there were one million animals in the national dairy herd.

Thats 15% of the national herd to be killed. Not insignificant.

UPDATE: The quoted figure is wrong. The dairy herd is 6.5 million.

Share this: Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

More

Reddit

Pinterest



Print

Tumblr




These are the musings, ramblings, rantings and observations of Houston DWI Attorney Paul B. Kennedy on DWI defense, general criminal defense, philosophy and whatever else tickles his fancy.
A performance at last year's Seoul World DJ Festival/ Courtesy of organizers



By Kim Ji-soo



Music festivals  rock, jazz and electronic dance music (EDM) festivals  are increasingly calling Seoul its host city as young Koreans annually trek to them.



In particular, EDM festivals are gaining traction as the genre enters the mainstream globally as well as in Korea. Many a Korean celebrity, such as top comedians Park Myung-soo and Park Na-rae, has professed love for EDM and DJing, further familiarizing the art to the public. Younger Koreans in their 20s and 30s are the main festival-goers of these festivals, festival industry insiders note.



One of the first EDM festivals to cut the tape is the Seoul World DJ Festival, which takes place May 26-27 at Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southern Seoul.



The festival, which marks its 11th edition this year, announced that top British talent Mura Masa will take part.





Top British music producer Mura Masa will take part in 2018 Seoul World DJ Festival. / Courtesy of organizers
By Yi Whan-woo

The quadrennial local elections on June 13 are getting insufficient attention from voters compared to previous ones amid rapid changes in security and foreign affairs on the Korean Peninsula.

The official campaign for the elections will begin on May 31, followed by early voting from June 8 to 9.

The elections are for more than 4,000 positions, including 17 mayors and provincial governors, 226 chiefs of smaller administrative units, 824 seats on provincial and metropolitan assemblies, 2,927 lower-level local councilors and 17 superintendents of education.

The elections will be concurrent with parliamentary by-elections in 12 districts nationwide.

It will be the first time that local and parliamentary by-elections will take place on the same day.

However, the elections are overshadowed by the unpredictable course of geopolitics on the peninsula in recent months.

They include the two summits between President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un on April 27 and May 26, North Korea's "demolition" of its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri on May 24, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump's flip-flop on his decision to hold and cancel a summit with Kim before he re-confirmed on May 27 that he would meet Kim.

Moreover, the elections will be held a day after Trump and Kim meet in Singapore.

"The international politics concerning the peninsula have been so dramatic that there has been little chance for voters to pay attention to domestic political issues," said Myongji University political science professor Shin Yul.

A political commentator, who asked not to be named, said, "The elections, backed by popularity of President Moon, are already in favor of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and this may be making voters lose interest in the elections."

Meanwhile, the candidates will be able to run street campaigning, put up election posters and send campaign material to voters in their constituencies from May 31 to June 12.

Voters aged 19 or older can elect up to seven officials including mayors, district office chiefs and local council members.

Ballots collected during the June 8-9 early voting period will be kept by the National Election Commission until after the regular election ends and voting counting begins.

The ruling party is enjoying a high approval rate amid optimism for peace on the peninsula thanks to the two summits between Moon and Kim.












Kakapora (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 28 (ANI): One soldier was killed as a group of terrorists launched a stand-off attack on Kakapora Army Camp in Pulwama on Sunday midnight.

Retaliatory actions are underway.

The identities of the terrorists have not been yet ascertained. (ANI)

(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 28 (ANI): Days after Netherlands Prime Minister visited India, the Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived here for a four-day visit, as per the Ministry of External Affairs.

On the first day of her visit, the Queen will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Queen is scheduled to take part in a meeting with development partners at the United Nations house followed by a meeting with Co-Founder and Governing Council Member of iSpirit Sharad Sharma.

She will then meet Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar and Amitabh Kant respectively at the NITI Aayog at noon.

During Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte's visit to India, the former became an official partner of the International Solar Alliance.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed multiple agreements in various fields including the Clean Ganga mission and providing assistance to Kanpur and Unnao-based leather industries to help to adopt eco-friendly technologies and promote water conservation by following efficient agriculture practices in the sugarcane industry of Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier Prime Minister Rutt attended the Indo-Dutch CEOs forum that was held here.

As per a release by the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Netherlands have a bilateral trade worth USD 5.39 billion.

Netherlands is the 5th largest investor in India with a cumulative investment of USD 23 billion for the period 2000 to December 2017.

Further, the country is home to around 2, 35,000 Indians, the highest in Europe's mainland. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today apologised for saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed lakhs of "Indians" in Nepal's Janakpur recently.

She posted a tweeted an apology after people on Twitter, including a Parliamentarian from Nepal, pointed out that Modi addressed Nepali people in Janakpur earlier this month and not Indians.

"This was a mistake on my part. I sincerely apologise for this," Swaraj tweeted tonight along with a video of her comments about Modi's efforts to reach out to Indian dispora abroad, including in Nepal.

Earlier addressing a press conference on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the NDA government, Swaraj said no prime minister before Modi had tried to reach out to the Indian diaspora at such a large scale.

"Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of the country who has from America's Madison Square to Janakpur (in Nepal) addressed lakhs of Indians and reached out to them," Swaraj had said.

Nepali Congress leader and Parliamentarian Gagan Thapa criticised Swaraj for the comments and wondered whether it was a "casual undermining of Nepal's sovereignty".

"Regrettable that India's External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj described Janakpur's population that @narendramodi greeted as Indians. One wonders what the confusion was, or if this was casual undermining of Nepal's sovereignty," he tweeted.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
As the Bangladesh government has begun cracking down on drug dealers and suppliers in the country, at least 91 people have died in less than two weeks, sparking fears of a Philippines-style drug war marked by extrajudicial killings.

Since the operation began May 15, the death toll has risen every day, the names and whereabouts of those killed filling newspaper columns but with few details of the evidence against them. Odhikar, a human rights advocacy group, said Sunday that it had counted 91 people killed in 13 days.

Bangladesh launched the crackdown in response to what it said was a surging trade in illegal drugs particularly cheap methamphetamine pills known as yaba. The Guardian reports that the stimulant usually enters the country through neighbouring Myanmar and authorities estimate the supply surged to 300million pills last year, blaming the influx on Rohingya refugees fleeing military violence and the fishermen who ferried them over.

On May 3, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had launched the anti-drug campaign. According to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) 3,300 people have been arrested during the campaign that was launched at the beginning of May and 2,795 drug dealers and users have been handed fines or jail terms in trials in mobile courts.

Human Rights activists in Bangladesh called the anti-drug campaign "illegal". Human Rights Watch said the killings needed to be investigated. Considering that one minister has proposed shooting addicts and the prime minister has compared this effort to ending Islamic militancy, there is concern that security forces will once again operate without proper accountability and oversight, said Meenakshi Ganguly, the organisations South Asia director. Bangladeshi security forces, particularly the RAB, have been repeatedly accused by local and international human rights groups of carrying out extra-judicial killings in alleged encounters with criminals and terrorists.

According to the non-profit Odhikar, 3,060 people were killed in extrajudicial killings by the security forces between 2001 and April 30, 2018, with 91 of the killings taking place in the first four months of this year.

More than 7,000 people are said to have been killed in Philippines since Robert Duterte launched a war on the drugs trade in July 2016. Duterte has said that his campaign to kill tens of thousands of people would not only target traffickers but that he also aimed to "slaughter addicts".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2018 09:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Porsche recreates its first car

May 27, 2018, 5:01pm ET

The 356 roadster celebrates 70 years of Porsche.

Seventy years ago, in 1948, the first Porsche, a 356 Roadster was created. Now, the company has painstakingly rebuilt a replica of that very car.

Restoration experts at the Porsche Museum began with a 3D scan of the original No. 1 356 Roadster. However, the car has been damaged, modified and updated with modern parts many times in its seven decades, so they matched the 3D scans with photos and drawings of the original car to make as authentic a replica as possible.

The life-sized model was then sculpted out of a foam block, a common technique used in the early stages of car design, where fine adjustments to the form could be made. Once the dimensions were set, a hand-formed aluminum body was shaped using the original wooden bucks. The color was matched using a paint sample from under the original's dash, which subsequent repaints over the years did not cover up.

Though the replica has a full interior, including floor mats recreated using the same techniques as the original's, it won't have running gear. Steering components and a front axle from a Beetle will be used to roll the car to displays. All in all, it took the team eight months to complete the project.

The replica will now go on a world tour, with stops at the Porsche Museum ceremony in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany on June 8; the Goodwood Festival of Speed July 12-15, Porsche Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca September 27-30, and the Guangzhou International Motor Show in China on November 15-25, among others.
Between 15,000 and 20,000 thunder strikes were reported around Britain at the weekend which brought thunder and lightning across Munster and Leinster on Sunday morning.

RTE Weather forecaster, Siobhan Ryan, has said we are looking at a 'good news story' with warm, humid weather for the week ahead.

Over the next number of days there will be warm, humid continental air continuing to feed in above average temperatures for the next several days. However, this brings the ongoing risk of thunderstorm activity.

Temperatures will reach up to 24C in places on Monday with showers breaking out throughout the afternoon and early evening in some places but mostly dry.

Tuesday is set to be a sunnier day, dry everywhere, with temperatures reaching up to 25C. The warmest conditions will be in the midlands and west of the country.

Similar sunny day on Wednesday but with the threat of thundery cloud impacting southern coastlines.

Temperatures falling back a small bit but still remaining above average with sunshine but a greater threat of widespread showers on Thursday and Friday.

The nights this week are set to be 'close' with temperatures staying up around 12C on Monday night.

Temperatures are around 4C above average.

Dense patches of mist & fog for a time this morn. These will clear to give a warm day w/ sunny spells & a good deal of dry weather. A few showers will dev. in the aft&eve, these most likely in the midlands, S&W. Highs 20 to 24C w/ light var breezes, a little cooler along coasts pic.twitter.com/IsNOpL8DZk  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) May 28,
A number of roads in Laois need to be completed as a matter of urgency according to a county councillor.

Cllr James Kelly tabled a notice of motion at a recent council meeting asking that Laois County Council carry out works at Canon Delaney Bridge, Rushin Road, Mountrath and Trumera Cross as soon as possible.

He said funding had already been secured for the work and that it needed to happen very quickly.

Details on the works for Trumera Cross are expected in the coming weeks, 3,000 has been allocated to carry out road works at the location with additional funds from a safety scheme.

Cllr Kelly said that there is a GAA pitch and school near Delaney Bridge and said it is another accident waiting to happen.

Senior Executive Engineer at Laois County Council, Mr Paul McLoughlin, said that the local authority have commenced preparatory works on both of these road project with a view of completing them as part of the 2018 programme.

WEATHER: Sunshine and warm humid weather to continue with showers.
Laois County Council has repossessed 43 houses as a result of mortgage arrears between 2010 and September 2017, according to an analysis revealed by Laois TD Sean Fleming.

The Fianna Fail TD obtained the figures in his capacity as Chairman of the high-powered Dail Public Accounts Committee.

With the council embarking on a new low interest mortage scheme, Deputy Fleming's figures reveal that the council has gone to court to force previous borrowers to hand over the keys.

Figures in a report reveals that 16 of the houses repossessed were forced on foot of a Court order and the other 27 repossessions were by voluntarily surrender or abandonment.

Repossession on foot of a Court order by Laois County Council is the second highest of all counties in the country (excluding cities Cork, Dublin and Galway). The figures in Kildare are higher.

When it comes to repossessions which are achieved on a voluntarily/surrender basis Laois is again near top of the list in the country.

Overall, outside of the main cities, Laois County Council ranks 4th highest for local authority repossessions.

The figures show that, per capita, the repossessions in Laois by the local authority is at least three times the national average.

The TD said answers are needed.

This needs to be explained. Everybody accepts that mortgages have to be sustainable and the Council as a mortgage provider/lender must take action when mortgages are not being repaid.

Over the years people in Laois have been in contact with me about legal proceedings by financial institutions against them in respect of their mortgage arrears. When investigating these matters it became clear to me that Laois County Council was also very active in seeking repossessions, he said.

Deputy Fleming said he has asked the Department and Laois County Council in the past why the Laois figures are so high. He said there should be a consistent approach across all Local Authorities.

There has been no clear answer as to why the repossessions are so high in Laois relative to other counties.

The public needs to know is there a different approach being taken by Laois County Council compared with other Local Authorities.

Deputy Fleming said he raised the issue of local authority mortgage arrears at the Public Accounts Committee in April and received the document from the Department in recent days.

County hall's busiest year in the courts was 2015 when seven properties were repossessed without the householder's agreement.

The busiest year for voluntary handovers was 2012

The figures vary dramaticlly from county to county which could be due to how active some local authorities were in the sale of social and affordable homes during the Celtic Tiger.

In Offaly just four homes were repossessed but none forcibly. Four forcibly repossessed homes was Carlow's total.

This contrasts with Kildare where 48 homes were forcibly repossessed by the council between 2011-2015.

In the other midland counties, Longford had 51 reposessions while Westmeath had 45.

The figures do not detail how many homeowners who agreed to hand over the keys in the absence of a court order had already been subject to legal proceedings.

Laois County Council said it 'noted' Deputy Fleming's statement and that it deals with all those in difficulty with their mortgagees in a very sympathetic and compassionate way way.

It said repossession is not straightforward.

There are many steps prior to repossession and legal proceedings only issue as a last resort and whenever all other options have been explored, it said.
The overwhelming yes vote in the Eighth Amendment referendum has challenged a Portlaoise priest to reflect, be more sensitive and to listen more.

Portlaoise Parish curate Fr Paddy Byrne, who actively campaigned for a no vote in the Eighth Amendment referendum, has said that the church should not dictate how people think, but it holds its own views and co-exists with a more secular Ireland.

WATCH: Laois votes convincingly for Yes in abortion referendum.

On Friday, May 25 just over 60 per cent of 39,602 Laois voters voted yes in the abortion referendum. This was reflected in the national vote where 66 per cent of over two million people voted yes.

Speaking to the Leinster Express, Fr Paddy said this shows a seismic shift in Irish culture.

"We have to move beyond Yes and No. We need to really embrace compassion here I think particularly I suggest as church, we continue very much to be a pro-life stance it is fundamental to who we are, but I think as well there will be lots of opportunities after this to continue to engage with the whole question of pro-life and what that means.

Ultimately I certainly dont see this as the end of the world, I see this as an opportunity in a more secular world and a more secular Ireland where we live comfortably as church and where we dialogue with compassion but also uphold the values that we hold dear to our heart, he said.

Fr Paddy said that the church must change if it is going to grow but this begins with personal change.

I think in order for us to grow we also need to change. I think ultimately change happens from within, it is a personal thing.

"For me, I need to reflect, speaking personally, as a priest, very happy in a wonderful parish and a place where there is vibrancy and life it challenges me to be more sensitive to everybody and maybe to listen more. I still hold firm my personal conviction but that doesnt give me the right to dictate to another individual either.

We must be respectful of this referendum and the people who both voted no and voted yes, there is a mix there, there is a broad mix of people who also come to church and I think we need to take stock of that too, he said.

Going forward, he says the church needs to listen and engage more while still defending the fundamental values of humanity.

Well I think it [the church] should maybe ask where are we? We are in a challenging zone but also I see a zone of opportunity. I am a priest in Portlaoise, I am very happy here, it is a very vibrant place, not everybody comes to us every Sunday, but the vast majority of people do connect with us at different times during the year and at key moments in their life.

Are we going to just close the door and say we want a very small group of elite members or are we going to be more pragmatic and say this is who we are and that we try to embrace where people find themselves to be?

One of the core values of the Catholic Church and being a Christian is life itself. It is a very scared gift but I really think we need to be far more out in the marketplace than just in the temple. We need to engage more, to listen more, to be robust in our voice particularly to defend the fundamental values of humanity that we will continue to do in terms of the poor, the sick the vulnerable, that is where we are called to be, he said.

The All Will Be Well author said that in his opinion the church has not lost touch with people but it must question why it is losing people and why the Catholic Church is often branded as toxic.

I dont necessarily think the church has lost touch with people here on the ground in Portlaoise but I do think we are losing people and we need to be honest in our reflection.

Why are we losing so many people? Why particularly our outfit at times it almost seems to be a toxic brand to a certain group in society, that we belong to the past, we are part of an institution that caused and inflicted pain on people and is anti-woman and its historical tradition is viewed very much on the negative as opposed to the positive things we did?

Fr Paddy said that he personally was not surprised that a yes vote was in the majority.

We are not handing in our resignation cards because of this referendum has come, its Monday we are all alive, we are back to work, I have already been up in the hospital with a family, I am on my way to a school, life continues and that is the nature of a democracy and I think the church should function well in a republic.

Maybe it is no harm that we at times are counter-cultured but that we co-exist and I dont think we should dictate necessarily how people think, but we hold our own views. In a balanced society that is very healthy, that is what is apparent across the western world at the moment, he said.

Referendum result is 'a sad day for Ireland' says No campaigner.

Yes campaigners proud of Laois for voting to trust women in abortion referendum.
Politicians must face up their responsponsibilities and legislate for abortion following the Eight Amendment repeal yes vote, according to Laois TD Brian Stanley.

The Sinn Fein TD said that the outcome of the referendum is a vote for dealing with the reality of the thousands of women who have found themselves with crisis pregnancies over the past 30 years or so.

"This included the thousands from Laois /Offaly have had to either go to England for an abortion or take pills that were illegally imported and without medical supervision.

"While this issue is very difficult, the majority of voters concluded that we have to take responsibility here in our country. The vote on Friday was a vote for a more compassionate Ireland and a vote to trust women

"I would like to thank all the women across Laois/Offaly who shared their stories with us over the past 4 weeks on the doorsteps," he said.

He said this Referendum gave the people of Ireland an opportunity to have their say on the future of this country. Now that they have, he said all TDs must face their responsiblity.

"Efforts by some TDs in the Dail to prevent a referendum were wrong. There is now a clear mandate to legislate for terminations in certain cases, and as TDs we now have to face up to our responsibilities.This should be done quickly to enable women in crisis pregnancies to be able to access safe terminations in Irish hospitals," he said.

He said it has been Sinn Fein policy for over 25 years that termination should be allowed in certain circumstances. He added that successive Sinn Fein election manifestos over the past number of years.

Deputy Stanley advocated a Yes vote.
A newly-formed womens rights lobby group will stage two demonstrations in Laois this week, in solidarity with the hundreds of women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal.

This follows Vicky Phelans 2.5m High Court settlement with a US laboratory last month, exposing the scandal in which 209 women in Ireland were not informed of smear test reviews.

The Standing 4 Women Laois demonstration will take place on Wednesday, May 30, at 5pm at the Square in Portarlington and the outside the library, Lyster Square, Portlaoise.

A nationwide group called Standing4Women has launched the Cervical Check campaign and will be demonstrating at Dail Eireann and around the country.

Standing4Women is asking the Irish public to wear red and to attend their local demonstration if they cannot make it to Dublin.

The campaign aims to show the women and families affected by the Cervical Check scandal that there is solidarity behind them, they are supported and to call for immediate action by government and the HSE.

Kim Tully who lives in Portarlington took the initiative to set up the Laois branch of the Standing4Women group.

The Portarlington protest will take place at 5pm in the Square in the town centre on Wednesday, May 30. Ms Cuddy is asking women and men from all over Laois to join in the march.

We are doing it for friends and family. We feel angry for women, there is no accountability. I knew there would be local support from women and men, husbands, fathers and brothers are affected as well, she said.

A walk out will also be held at 5pm on Wednesday at the library in Lyster Square, Portlaoise. All are asked to attend and wear red in solidarity.

A post on the Portlaoise Facebook event invites all members of the public to join.

"At 5pm on Wednesday, May 30 we will #Assemble4Action wearing red, protesting all over Ireland, including outside the Dail, while our government is sitting. We implore you to show your support for the families and women affected and demand change with us. Wear red on the day, post your support on social media. Help us make as much noise so that the Dail cannot refuse to listen to us anymore."

Rosie Condra is one of the women impacted by the Cervical Check failures.

"I feel deeply let down by the Irish health service. I feel not only have I been mistreated and ignored but also my pain and hurt is being trivialised as though I truly were just a number. 209 women each and every one has a name, has a family and have a life. We need disclosure, support and most of all to be listened to. I am calling on the minister of Health and involved bodies to stop talking about me and talk to me instead," she said.

Anne Corkery is the national Group Founder.

"In light of the cervical check scandal, I started this group to say that after decades of mistreatment of women in this country that we will not be lied to anymore, that we are strong and we are able to demand better.

"We want to stand together, to ask for improvements in healthcare and we will not give up until those requests are granted," she said.

The group aims to ask for relevant policy for the upcoming Bill on Mandatory Disclosure to be implemented in conjunction with an agreed timeline and an active and independent support for those affected by the scandal, including and not limited to, an immediate point of contact for those affected, and a multidisciplinary support team.

This has come about after scores of women with cervical cancer were not told that smear test results showing them to be in the clear were in fact inaccurate and the revised test results were kept from them for years.

The controversy arose after Vicky Phelan, a 43-year-old mother of two from Annacotty, Co Limerick, who has cervical cancer, settled a High Court case against a US laboratory that was subcontracted by CervicalCheck, the national cervical screening programme, to assess the tests. She received a settlement of 2.5 million recently without an admission of liability. Her case against the Health Service Executive was struck out.

Ms Phelan had a smear test in 2011 after the birth of her second child and it initially showed no abnormalities. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. That same year an audit of her 2011 test showed that it was not accurate. She is now suffering from terminal cancer and was told in January that she has between six and 12 months to live.

Health Minister, Simon Harris has said that women who are worried can undergo a repeat smear test at no cost. Thousands of women have contacted a CervicalCheck helpline that was set up to deal with the fallout.

If anyone in Laois has been affected by the CervicalCheck scandal and would like to share their story with us you can contact Leinster Express at news@leinsterexpress.ie
Kildare's young David McDonough, winner of Specsavers Kids Spectacle Wearer of the Year Award, has just returned from his prize trip to Legoland where he celebrated his big win with his family.

The Maynooth youngster beat off stiff competition from hundreds of entries following Specsavers nationwide search to find Irelands most deserving winner. As his prize, David won a memorable and exciting trip to Legoland Windsor, staying for two nights in the renowned Legoland Hotel, for himself and his family.

Speaking about their recent adventure, Davids mum Jenni said: We had an absolutely fantastic family trip where we were able to create memories which we will all cherish forever. We are still so proud of David for how he loves his glasses and continuously encourages his little sister to do so too. It is great that a company like Specsavers created an award like this in order to champion kids and remove the unnecessary stigmas associated with wearing frames .

Late last year, Specsavers introduced the Kids Spectacle Wearer of the Year Award in order to celebrate young Irish kids who wear their glasses with pride, to help remove any stigma to needing specs. The award was launched by Irish international and Connacht rugby player Kieran Marmion.

The title of Specsavers Kids Spectacle Wearer of the Year Award 2017 was awarded to five-year-old David. Davids entry resonated with the judges, as he encourages his younger sister Robyn to love and wear her frames, since being prescribed them earlier in the year. Davids genuine love for his specs, describing them as his windows through which he sees his adventures, embodies the competitions ethos perfectly.
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.
LIMERICK homeless childrens health is being compromised as families forced into emergency B&B accommodation are relying on take-away food for months.

That is according to Novas homeless services, which has launched a fundraising campaign to provide nutritious and healthy meals to dozens of families every day.

There are now more than 70 families experiencing homelessness in Limerick city, and many more hidden homeless or at risk.

Novas said it needs support to continue its daily community cafe, where an evening meal in costs 4 per child and 4.50 per adult.

People are asked to text NOVAS to 50300 to donate 4, or to visit the Novas website to contribute more.

People can also provide a monthly direct debit of 28, which will provide a hearty meal for a child for a week.

The traumas of being homeless are multi-faceted and enduring. For those living in commercial B&B's, access to basic nutritious food is a challenge. Families often rely on take-away food for weeks and months on end. It is eaten on laps, sitting on beds, in one room.

Parents report that their children are putting on weight, they lack concentration in school and their physical wellbeing is being compromised. Due to the expensive nature of this food provision, families are finding it impossible to save for the expense of moving to a long-term home, thus protracting the length of time they are homeless, Novas said this Monday.

Una Burns, Novas head of policy and communications, said that the campaign is a vital intervention to support families enduring homelessness in Limerick.

It affords families the opportunity to save in preparation of a move to more permanent accommodation, a home of their own. Some 80% of families are homeless due to economic factors, this is one burden we can help with. However, we need the support of the public to do this, she said.
JASON Corbett raised 38,000 for the Asthma Society after his beloved first wife passed away suddenly due to an asthma attack, a new book has revealed.

After Margaret Mags Fitzpatrick died suddenly at the age of 31, Jason was left a widower with two young children to take care of, according to his sister, Tracey Corbett Lynch, who has written a memoir about the Janesboro man and his brutal murder in 2015 at the hands of his second-wife Molly Martens and her father Tom Martens, a retired FBI agent.

He just tried to do things for other people. He was always like that, always altruistic and just a really good guy. Jack and Sarah were everything to him.

Although he was heartbroken, he brought their two young children to see Santa Claus three weeks after losing his wife, Ms Corbett Lynch added.

He just kept going. He threw himself into raising money for the Asthma Society, he raised 38,000.

Mr Corbetts first wife was his soul mate, she believes. After she passed away, he would visit her grave every day and read the newspaper to her, she added.

They used to finish each other's sentences. They just suited each other so well. They were like anam cara; they were soul mates.

They really wanted to be parents. Their aspirations were to be a family, to have children and live that dream. That happily ever after. Their aspirations were to be happy and live a good life.

Jack and Sarah are adjusting. They are doing as well as can be expected. They are a little piece of Mags and Jason. Everyday we see a little mannerism or a joke or a giggle that just seems like they are in the room.

Theyll never be gone as long as Sarah and Jack are here.

It later emerged at Mr Corbetts wedding to Molly Martens that his second wife had fabricated a friendship with Mags Fitzpatrick, despite never having met the late Limerick woman.

Ms Martens arrived in Ireland in 2008, two years after the death of Ms Fitzpatrick. Ms Martens told one friend that Ms Fitzpatrick had asked her to take care of Jack and Sarah as her dying wish.

Ms Martens had also told a friend that she was the childrens biological mother, it emerged at the wedding.
THE TRAGIC true story of the rise and fall of one of Hollywoods shining female stars of the 1950s, Limerick actress Constance Smith, will be broadcast on TG4 this week.

The documentary Constance SmithTragoid Hollywood will air on TG4 on Wednesday, May 30 at 9.30pm.

Constance Smith, born in Ardnacrusha in 1928 and raised in 46 Wolfe Tone Street, was one of Hollywoods leading actresses in the early- to mid-1950s. Headhunted by world-famous producer Darryl Zanuck after featuring in low-budget films in the UK, Smith had quickly forged a career in the United States by her early 20s.

But she was her own worst enemy in a way. They wanted her to change her name because they thought Smith was too common; she wouldnt do it. They wanted her to lose her Irish accent; she wouldnt do it, said documentary director, Brian Reddin.

And after being refused desired leading roles in Zanucks films and being forced to have an abortion by the studio, the cards started to tumble for the young actress.

Zanuck, who was known to have a reputation for abusing women in the studio, made numerous advances towards young Smith.

She wouldnt have any of that either. With all thats happening now with Harvey Weinstein, thats nothing new in Hollywood, that was happening from day one in Hollywood. And it was certainly very prevalent in the 50s, and women like Constance Smith stood up to themand probably to the detriment of their career, he told the Limerick Leader.

In 1958, Smith attempted suicide before being to rushed to hospital in Italy, where she was living with her partner.

In 1960, she and her partner and director Paul Rotha visited Limerick, and did exclusive interviews with both the Limerick Leader and the Limerick Chronicle. However, one year later, Smith was charged in connection with stabbing Rotha in the leg. On a later date, she was arrested in connection with an attempted murder.

Mr Reddin said when the inactive actress returned to England, she fell into a tumbling cascade of disaster, suffering from a drink and drug addiction.

Constance Smith died in Islington, England, in 2003, aged 75.

Mr Reddin said he was able to interview Smiths half-sister and niece, thanks to the assistance of Limerick Chronicle historian Sharon Slater and archivist Declan McLoughlin, who both feature in the documentary.

We spend a lot of time documenting the success stories, and I thought it would be interesting to look at a story that wasnt a success, and thats where it came from, he said.

Brian Reddin says Limerick features quite significantly in the documentary. Mr Reddin hosted the well-known The Last Picture Show on RTE and is a regular director of documentaries.
A NEWCASTLE West woman who stole over 500 worth of cosmetics was sentenced to three months in jail at the local court.

Mary Ryan, aged 36, of Sharwood Estate pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.

The court heard she stole 320 worth of cosmetics from Dooleys Pharmacy, Newcastle West on February 10, 2018; 147 from Tesco on March 18, 2018 and 89 from Tesco on March 19, 2018.

Inspector Alan Cullen said Ryan was identified after the incidents were viewed on CCTV.

There was no recovery of the goods, said Insp Cullen, who added that Ryan has 181 previous convictions.

Kate Cussen, solicitor for Ryan, said her client was in custody for a period of time so was not in a position to make restitution.

The solicitor handed in a letter from the Bedford Row Family Project to Judge Mary Larkin that outlined Ryans circumstances.

Judge Larkin said Ryan has 181 previous convictions going back 15 years.

Her situation is extremely distressing but businesses have suffered losses. She continues to reoffend.

Her situation is terrible but when she gets out the door she will do the same again [commit more crimes]. I hope she proves me wrong, said Judge Larkin.

The judge said that cosmetics are not essential.

Judge Larkin handed down a three month prison sentence which she backdated to March 27.

I hope when she gets out she understands that if she continues to reoffend there will be a response, said Judge Larkin.
TWO separate bids are being made in Limerick to stop goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements from being sold on these shores.

The Limerick Council of Trade Unions has unanimously passed a motion calling for the cessation of import and sale of goods from the Israeli-occupied areas of Palestinian territories which are disputed.

And later this Monday, Solidarity councillor Cian Prendiville will also bid to gain the support of his fellow members on the matter. 

It comes ahead of a Seanad vote which could pave the way for new laws which could see the process outlawed.

President of the Trades Council Mike McNamara said: The main aim of this is to help put international pressure on Israel to comply with international law.

In internationally condemned moves, Israel currently occupies huge swathes of land considered to belong to Palestinian people.

Israeli forces, many claim, have been persecuting native Palestinians on many of these settlements.

The Trades Councils move comes as part of a wider trade union campaign to help bring the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 to law.

Mr McNamara added the backing of the motion shows the commitment of the people here in Limerick that notwithstanding the fact this is an issue miles away from home, and not affecting the city specifically, that we care. Its our small contribution to the worldwide pressure being applied to Israel.

Speaking after the Trades Council meeting, held in the Mechanics Institute at Hartstonge Street, Mr McNamara said he hopes Limericks political community rallies behind Cllr Prendivilles motion.

This is a humanitarian issue and we shouldnt be bringing party politics into it, he outlined.

I believe the politicians in Limerick are big-hearted when it comes to matters like this, and I would call on them to support it.

Cllr Prendiville said: The recent murder of innocent protestors in Palestine highlights just how brutal the Israeli occupation is.

These settlements have been condemned by the government in the past, yet we are still allowing goods produced on these settlements to be imported, he added.
A widespread interest in technical instruction began in 1853 with the foundation of the Limerick Athenaeum.

The Athenaeum was founded by the Limerick Literary and Scientific Society to promote an interest in literature, science, agriculture, art and music.

The Athenaeum along with representatives from the Limerick County Council, the Athenaeum, the Congregated Trades, the Educational Bodies the Irish Industries Association, the Limerick Industrial Association and the Gaelic League set up the Limerick Technical Instruction Committee.

In 1907, the Limerick Technical Instruction Committee launched an architectural competition to erect a purpose built technical school. Local architect William Patrick Ryan won the competition. The official name for the school was the Municipal Technical Institute, on OConnell Avenue, which is known locally as the Red Tech was opened in 1911.

The building works started after the turning the first sod on January 20, 1910. The Mayor, Thomas Donnellan, was presented with the ceremonial silver spade to mark the occasion, which read, Presented to the Right Worshipful Alderman Thomas Donnellan, Mayor of Limerick, 1908 and 1909, on the occasion of turning the first sod of the Limerick Municipal Technical Institute. January 20th, 1910  John Kenny Builder; William P Ryan, F.S.I. Architect.

Others who were in attendance on that day were the Mayors sergeants P. OMeara, P. Conlon, Tim Moran and Denny ODywer, William Nolan, town clerk, P. Forrester, city high constable and members of the Corporation Stephen OMara and J. Flattery.

Before this building was completed there were 738 students on the roll. These students were educated in seven different buildings in the city. Student began to move into the new school before work was completed on it.

In September 1911, the school reopened for new students with subjects including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering. mathematics, physics, chemistry, dressmaking, millinery and tailors work. Not all subjects were based in the school. Those taking art and trade classes attended the Athenaeum, Cecil Street. Those attending cookery and housewifery attended a variety of schools throughout the city.

After the building of the Red Tech the architect, William Patrick Ryan moved to London where he passed away in 1921. The Chronicle published his obituary on June 4, 1921.

We regret to observe the announcement of the death, which has occurred at his residence, Hampstead, London, of Mr W. P. Ryan, a well-known architect and surveyor, and Vice-President of the Irish Literary Society. He was son-in-law of the late Mr John Bernal, of this city, and many years ago was connected with the civil staff of the Royal Engineers in Limerick. While in Limerick he was very popular, and equally so across the Channel.

The building was expanded in 1926 under the guidance of Brian Edward Fitzgerald Sheehy a local engineer and architect. His death was noted in the Chronicle on January 7, 1930.

Very sincere regret is felt in the city and county at the unexpected demise of Mr B. E. F Sheehy, C. E., which took place yesterday morning at his residence, 57 OConnell St, in the 56th year of his age. He had been ailing only for a couple of weeks past, and his demise has come as a great shock to all who had the pleasure of the acquaintance of a genial and kindly gentleman.

"Mr Sheehy was a member of an old West Limerick family, being a son of the late Mr George Lake Sheehy, of Moviddy, Newcastle West, and for many years past he was resident in Limerick city. He was a member of the Council of Civil Engineers in Ireland, and during the course of his career, he carried out a large number of engineering schemes, water, sewerage, and building in Munster.

"He was engineer to the old District Council and Board of Guardians of Croom, and he frequently figured as expert witness in the courts, where he was on many occasions complimented by the judges. He was consulting Engineer to the Co, Limerick Health Board. Mr Sheehy was brother-in-law of the late Mr Richard J Sheehy, B.L., Dublin. He leaves a wife and young family to mourn his loss, and with whom the deepest sympathy is expressed on their keen sorrow.

In 1938, the gymnasium was added to the building. It was designed by Patrick Joseph Sheehan. Sheehan was a civil engineer and architect based who was appointed as the architect to the County Home in 1924.

The Technical Instruction Committee was taken over by the City of Limerick Vocational Educational Committee in 1927 and this was taken over by the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board in 2013.
LIMERICK Together For Yes has thanked the the many brave individuals and couples who shared their personal stories with the public in the run up to the Referendum.

The Limerick group knocked on more than 25,000 doors across the city and county over the course of its canvassing campaign.

The vote to repeal the eighth amendment of the Irish Constitution would not have carried if it were not for activists in Limerick, across the country and around the world, according to Limerick Together For Yes chairperson Yvie Murphy.

We stand on the shoulders of women and activists who have come before us and sacrificed so much, Ms Murphy said.

They spoke when nobody else would speak. They spoke when nobody would listen, she added.

Limerick Together For Yes, which began as Repeal LK, has created a movement in Limerick, according to Ms Murphy.

Since our first meeting in a little cafe on Denmark we have grown into something amazing.

We have grown into a movement.

And that movement, from day one, was respectful, inclusive, and informed.

People from all backgrounds and walks of life joined us in our fight for full reproductive rights, Ms Murphy added.

We would like to take the time to thank the many brave individuals and couples who have had to share their harrowing stories with the public, again and again, to prevent future generations from ever having to do the same.

We would also like to remember the voices that could not be heard.

We did this in their honour and in their memory. We bore witness to their stories and we heard them. And they made Ireland listen.

Ms Murphy also thanked political parties for their support on behalf of the campaign group.

In particular the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Social Democrats and Sinn Fein, Ms Murphy said.

Maurice Quinlivan, Paul Gavan, Sarah Jane Hennelly, and Jan OSullivan all came out canvassing with us and supported Limerick Together for Yes from day one.
HERMITAGE Green are on countdown to their second appearance at King Johns Castle this June, a venue they have hailed as incredible.

For the hometown group, it is particularly satisfying to be returning to a venue that they sold out last summer and are likely to do so again, with bookers Dolans reporting that the June 3 gig, held in association with Shannon Heritage, is expected to be a sell-out.

Having conquered the Big Top at the Milk Market, the Castle was the next rung on a ladder that Hermitage Green are quickly scaling and they seem at home among a bill of shows that has included Bell X1 and will also feature top Irish group Walking on Cars.

Barry Murphy of Hermitage Green says: King Johns Castle is an incredible venue, easily one of the finest this country has to offer and we are counting the days until the show, adding that the band would never forget the feeling of walking out on that stage and looking up at the castle walls against a backdrop of the river Shannon and Limerick city last year.

Dolans said feedback from the public was for round two and the venue has consistently backed the group since their early days plugging away on the pub scene, mostly in the Curragower Bar, which lies just across the water from King John's Castle.

As a venue, King Johns Castle, is proving to be extremely popular for music lovers. We are delighted to be welcoming Hermitage Green back to the stage with what is sure to be another incredible gig, said Mick Dolan.

Dolans have been proud to have been associated with Hermitage Green since their early days. Their growth and development as a band has been inspirational to watch, he added.

A trio of acts will play support at Sunday's show, with a local lineup of Nile St James, Shane Davis and Siomha Brock all playing at the Castle.

This is our hometown gig and we want to showcase some of our favorite local acts. This is gonna be some party lads, Hermitage Green said.

Tickets on www.dolans.ie.
Apr 28, 2021, 9 PM

New Caledonia commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center on this 110-franc stamp issued May 7. Architect Renzo Piano designed the center.

New Stamps of the World  By Denise McCarty

On May 7, New Caledonia issued a 110-franc stamp commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center.

Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the center is located on 20 acres on a peninsula near Noumea, New Caledonias capital, and attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Pianos unique design for the site is described as stunning in the review on Fodors website.

The review continues: A row of 10 large, conical pavilions shaped like shells stand on a 250-meter (820-foot) ridge on Point Tinu, about 8 km (5 miles) northeast of Noumea. Each pavilion is a different size and dimension, and each contains either a permanent or temporary exhibition, such as The Spirit of Oceania in one, and a selection of Kanak art dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries in another. The center celebrates the culture of the Kanak people, Melanesian natives of New Caledonia, who were the inhabitants of the country when France annexed it in 1853.

Connect with Linns Stamp News:

Sign up for our newsletter

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

The center is named after a leader of the Kanak independence movement who was assassinated in 1989.

Marc Le Chelard designed the stamp. Philaposte printed it by offset in sheets of 10.
The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations

By John McCain and Mark Salter

Simon & Schuster. 402 pp. $30

---

In his closing chapter, the man who has spent a lifetime playing the maverick has gone full Bulworth. "I'm freer than colleagues who will face the voters again," writes Sen. John McCain, 81, in "The Restless Wave," co-authored with Mark Salter, his former chief of staff. "I can speak my mind without fearing the consequences much." In this thoughtful valedictory, he delivers.

Unlike the previous six books McCain and Salter have composed together, this one wasn't written for voters. It was written for history. In an era of all-caps tweets and angry denunciations of supposed "witch hunts," the Arizona Republican's final book, published Tuesday, casts him as a profile in courage. McCain highlights his advocacy for the Iraq troop "surge" when it was toxically unpopular in 2007 and his decisive vote against repealing Obamacare in 2017. He finally tells his side of his 2008 Sarah Palin partnership. With what time he has left, the "maverick" - an appellation he has worn throughout his career, at some times more comfortably than at others - is going to put country first and tell the truth.

He expresses regret that he did not pick Joe Lieberman to be his running mate 10 years ago. His best friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., "enthusiastically endorsed the idea" of bringing their colleague, who had been the 2000 Democratic vice-presidential nominee, onto "a national unity ticket." But everyone else in McCain's circle told him it would fatally divide the GOP. "It was sound advice that I could reason for myself," McCain writes. "But my gut told me to ignore it, and I wish I had."

McCain attributes the insufficient vetting of Palin, 44 and two years into her first term as Alaska's governor, to his sulking about not being able to tap Lieberman. Taking the blame for her stumbles, he writes, "She was a skilled amateur performer asked to appear on Broadway twice a day." I wish he had grappled more fully with the mayhem Palin's selection created inside the GOP. It laid the groundwork for the ascent of Donald Trump a few years later.

Trump emerges as a bete noire in the book. When McCain after the 2016 elections received a copy of the "dossier," detailing unverified allegations about the president compiled by an opposition researcher, he immediately turned it over to James Comey so the FBI could explore whether Trump was compromised by the Russians. "Anyone who doesn't like it can go to hell," writes McCain.

But he also portrays the president as an outgrowth of tectonic shifts in a party for which, just 10 years ago, he was the standard-bearer. Now he sometimes struggles to recognize it. "Trump seems to vary from refusing to believe what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is doing to just not caring about it," he frets. "And some House Republicans investigating Russian interference seem more preoccupied with their own conspiracy theories than with a real conspiracy by a foreign enemy to defraud the United States."

McCain repeatedly criticizes conservative "talk radio blowhards." He calls the House Freedom Caucus "the say-no-to-everything crowd." He says nativists "need to be confronted, not ignored or winked at or quietly dismissed as kooks." He mocks his 2016 primary challenger, Kelli Ward, for attacking him as "a champion of compromise." "You're damn right," he responds. Former Trump aides Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka are "self-proclaimed nationalist radicals." "Bigger misfits haven't been seen inside a White House since William Taft got stuck in his bathtub," he writes.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is another punching bag. The hawkish McCain faults the libertarian for falling prey to a conspiracy theory that he met with representatives of the Islamic State and for putting a hold on a vote to let Montenegro join NATO. Last year, he accused Paul of "working for Vladimir Putin" by opposing the expansion of the alliance. It was "an intemperate thing to say," McCain now writes. "But it wasn't incorrect."

All politicians self-mythologize. This book is an effort to codify McCain's maverick brand. He puts extra emphasis on his work across the aisle, including a 38-page chapter about working with Sen. Ted Kennedy, the liberal lion from Massachusetts, on health care and immigration. He has kind words for other leading Democrats, too, including Hillary Clinton.

Critics say McCain has always been more "straight talk" than action, but sometimes these skeptics, especially on the left, want him to be someone he's not. McCain admits entertaining the idea of switching parties in 2001, when the Senate was split 50-50 and he still harbored "some hard feelings" about his bitter primary battles with George W. Bush. The Democrats offered him the chance to chair the Armed Services Committee. "I listened and was flattered, but insisted in every conversation that my differences with Democrats were more numerous than those I had with current Republican orthodoxy," he writes. "After a while they relented."

McCain says he's a proud Reagan Republican. "Not a Tea Party Republican," he writes. "Not a Breitbart Republican. Not a talk radio or Fox News Republican. Not an isolationist, protectionist, immigrant-bashing, scapegoating, get-nothing-useful-done Republican. Not, as I am often dismissed by self-declared 'real' conservatives, a RINO, Republican in Name Only."

Really, though, he's always been a John McCain Republican. Even Reagan, who he says he "revered," didn't always get it right. In the book, McCain touts his 1983 opposition to the deployment of Marines to Beirut and his 1986 vote to override Reagan's veto of sanctions on the apartheid government in South Africa.

Still, the senator does not really acknowledge that he's tended to lurch right, including on some signature issues, to win primaries and get re-elected. He opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001 - but supported extending them in 2006. In 2016, he promised to repeal and replace Obamacare. In 2017, he cast the vote that saved the law.

In other words, McCain's maverick-iness has ebbed and flowed. He's mostly been a reliable party-line vote since getting elected to Congress in 1982, but he's broken with Republicans on a few key issues. He earned the enmity of appropriators in both parties by battling earmarks before that was in vogue, and he clashed with his own party leaders by agitating for campaign finance reform. (His embrace of that cause was a result of his ensnarement in the Keating Five scandal, which almost ended his career and turned him into a reformer.)

He admits to some big mistakes: "The principal reason for invading Iraq, that Saddam (Hussein) had WMD, was wrong," McCain writes. "The war, with its cost in lives and treasure and security, can't be judged as anything other than a mistake, a very serious one, and I have to accept my share of the blame for it."

As in any memoir, there is score settling - and lots of I-told-you-so's. McCain faults Barack Obama, his 2008 opponent, for not keeping a residual force in Iraq, for not bombing Syria after Bashar al-Assad crossed the "red line" on chemical weapons and for announcing a timetable to start withdrawing forces from Afghanistan.

But the senator's critique of the current president is more sustained than any other. "For all our disagreements I never doubted President Obama shared the seventy-five-year bipartisan consensus that American leadership of the free world was a moral obligation and a practical necessity," he writes. "I'm not sure what to make of President Trump's convictions."

There are enough strong shots at Trump to get headlines, which sell books, but they're sprinkled somewhat sparingly throughout. "He seems uninterested in the moral character of world leaders and their regimes," McCain writes. "The appearance of toughness or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems to matter more than any of our values. Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity."

McCain does not want to be defined by opposition to Trump, who got elected despite declaring in 2015 that McCain was not a war hero because he was captured by the North Vietnamese. He would, however, like to be remembered for his long crusade against torture. He devotes a meaty chapter to the topic and recounts apologizing personally to someone who suffered at the hands of his American captors while in Libya, over the objection of the CIA station chief. He sided with Democrats on the issue after the 9/11 attacks and recently declined to endorse the nomination of Gina Haspel for CIA director, amid concerns about her past role in the agency's interrogations.

McCain wants to hold that moral high ground, and he's peeved by any suggestion that he's not worthy of claiming it. The senator tried to run an honorable campaign in 2008. He forbade his staff from mentioning Jeremiah Wright, Obama's controversial former pastor. In many ways, this gesture seems much more impressive now - after Trump spent years insisting that Obama was born in Kenya and demanding to see his birth certificate.

With that in mind, McCain reveals some of the charges against him that have rankled most. He still resents insinuations that Obama's skin color was darkened in one of his campaign ads. "Silly s--- like that was tossed at us regularly," he writes. And his feelings remain hurt that Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a civil rights icon whom he calls "a personal hero," invoked George Wallace and said McCain's campaign was creating the kind of charged political atmosphere that led to the Birmingham, Alabama, church bombing in 1963. "I couldn't believe it, and I couldn't forgive it," McCain writes. "I still can't."

At times, the book reads like the travelogue of a globetrotting grandee. McCain devotes more ink to foreign affairs than any other topic, recounting so many sit-downs with heads of state that they're hard to keep straight. But his book will be remembered for its genuine concern about the future of our republic and the West.

"I worry that we are at a turning point, a hinge of history, and the decisions made in the last 10 years and the decisions made tomorrow might be closing the door to the era of the American-led world order," McCain writes. "I hope not, and it certainly isn't too late to reverse that direction. But my time in that fight has concluded."

---

Hohmann is a national political correspondent for The Washington Post and the author of The Daily 202. He has covered John McCain on the campaign trail and in the Capitol.
Two Cigarroa High School seniors died and several people, including another student, were seriously hurt in a two-vehicle crash that occurred Thursday afternoon along U.S. 59 in Webb County.

The Department of Public Safety said Alexis Raygoza, 18, died at the scene. She was a passenger in a 2007 Mini Cooper, which was occupied by the students. Laredo ISD confirmed that Jocelyn Arredondo died Friday at a San Antonio hospital.

"Words cannot express the sadness that our entire school community is experiencing today. The Cigarroa High School students who died in the accident, Alexis Raygoza and Jocelyn Arredondo, and their families are in our thoughts and prayers," the district said in a statement.

READ ALSO: Laredo group 'outraged' by immigrant woman's death

District officials also offered support and prayers for the student who was injured and her family.

"The LISD Crisis Counseling Team spent the day offering their assistance to students and staff at (Cigarroa) and will continue to do so next week," the district said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the Mini Cooper was traveling east on U.S. 59 while a Ford F-150 occupied by three people was traveling west.

"The driver of the Mini Cooper attempted to turn northbound onto Las Pilas Road failing to yield the right of way to the on-coming traffic," DPS said in a statement.

RELATED: Authorities identify person killed in crash on Mines Road

The driver, Arredondo, was transported in critical condition to a San Antonio hospital, where she would die Friday. Another passenger of the Mini Cooper is also listed in serious condition at a Laredo hospital, according to DPS. LISD said the student were on their way to a ranch.

Authorities said the driver and two passengers in the F-150 were also taken to a local hospital with injuries. DPS continues to investigate the case.

'Amazing person'

Paloma Villanueva, 19, told LMTonline.com that she met Raygoza at McDonald's, where they worked together for nearly nine months. Villanueva remembered Raygoza as an "amazing person."

"Alexis was my best friend. She was like a sister to me. We always had each (other's) back," Villanueva said. "I am never going to forget about her."

LMT web producer JeriLynn Thorpe contributed to this report.
Retired Army Lt. Col. John Brownrigg of Sand Lake, who was part of a 101st Airborne Division effort that helped defend and recapture Hue from the North Vietnam Army during Tet Offensive in 1968, received a Rev. Francis A. Kelley 2018 Home Town Hero Award.

Marines and 101st Airborne Division soldiers defeated and drove NVA out of the South Vietnamese city.

Susan Hare of the Gen. Peter Ganesvoort Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented the award May 19 during a ceremony at the East Greenbush branch of the Capital Region YMCA.

A committee of the Rev. Francis A. Kelley Society of St. Joseph's Church of Troy selected Brownrigg, 73, on the basis of his military and community service, according to John Mullen, committee chairman.

The award commemorates Kelley, a World War I veteran and recipient of a Distinguished Service Cross, who advocated for veterans upon his return to the Troy area.

Brownrigg began his career in 1963 as a cadet. He was commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant upon graduation from Cornell University, Ithaca, and completion of a Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1967.

He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as a rifle platoon leader with the division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry (Geronimo) as advanced party commander to secure the unit's base camp at Chu Chi, South Vietnam. His battalion later moved to Camp Eagle in Quang Tri Provence in Northern I Corps. The battalion was heavily involved in the defense and recapturing of Hue City. The battalion lost more than 60 percent of its soldiers, either as killed in action or wounded in action.

Upon his return to the U.S., Brownrigg attended Advisors School and Military Language School in Monterey, Calif. He was promoted to captain and returned to Vietnam in 1969 as a multinational advisory team leader with Military Area Command Vietnam-Special Operations Group.

He assisted Army of the Republic of Vietnam Army units with training and gave guidance during military operations against the NVA and Viet Cong.

During one mission, he led a platoon of 27 Vietnamese Army soldiers, who became entrapped by a large enemy force. Brownrigg directed two helicopter gunships to provide suppressing to the enemy and a transport helicopter to drop him off in the middle of the engagement. Although severely wounded, Brownrigg was able to continue to direct the gunships and fighter jets to fire at enemy positions. After the enemy attack was successfully ended, helicopters extracted the South Vietnamese soldiers and Brownrigg.

Brownrigg went back to Vietnam for a third and special tour in 1970 with MACV-SOG to look for prisoners of war. He spent four months looking for missing patriots and an Air Force pilot who had been shot down flying an observation mission for him. During his combat tours, Brownrigg earned a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, three Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Infantry Badge, a Parachute Badge, five Unit Citation Medals, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry and a New York State Conspicuous Service Medal.

After five years of active duty, he continued his military career in the Army National Guard and the Army reserve for a total of 22 years.

As a civilian, he was a national petroleum sales manager for the major oil companies for 39 years and six years as a distributor sales manager. He retired in 2015. He is an environmental and real estate consultant.

Brownrigg has been with the Sand Lake Kiwanis for more than 30 years as a member, club president, distinguished lieutenant governor, and three-time district chairman.

New airman

Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony D. Wallace of Albany has graduated from basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio.

News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com.
Above all else, a companys success depends on its people, which is why hiring the right employees is the most important endeavor for any business. It also makes attracting them one of the greatest challenges.

Since the financial crisis a decade ago, the U.S. unemployment rate has been cut in half, and private sector employment has seen an uptick of more than 18 million jobs since 2010, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Those figures are evidence that the job market today is candidate-driven. Companies are updating their methods for finding candidates to get their name out to a wider range of applicants, even seeking international talent.

But while locating prospective employees is one thing, attracting the right talent to your company is another thing altogether. Not many companies have caught up to what todays top talent wants, and if they have kept up, they may not be letting candidates know. For instance, a 2017 Gallup study found that the most important factors in work satisfaction for millennial employees are growth opportunities and work culture. Yet some companies still struggle to show they can provide that.

You may have what job applicants seek, but unless you pay close attention to how you present your business during the recruitment process, you wont attract the top talent youre hoping for. Here are four reasons you may be having trouble luring -- and landing -- the people you need:

Related: When Recruiting Millennials Your Company Culture Is What Matters

1. Youre casting too narrow a net.

Todays marketplace is more diverse than ever, and even small to midsize companies do business with other companies and consumers across the world. In such a marketplace, international employees offer numerous benefits. When looking for employees, keep in mind that location is important to all potential prospects, but even more so to international candidates. Highlighting ways your city welcomes foreign-born talent can raise your company above the rest.

For instance, business and political leaders in St. Louis partner with the St. Louis Mosaic Project and International Institute of St. Louis to help immigrants, ethnic minorities and refugees settle into the community, while GlobalSTL attracts international startups to the area. Ohio, too, has recognized the advantages of recruiting foreign-born talent, as evidenced by Ohio Welcoming Initiatives, a collaboration that aims to identify best practices for attracting and welcoming immigrants. If your company can tout resources like these, youll be much better positioned to attract the best candidates for your job, whatever their country of origin.

Related: Recruiting and Hiring Top-Quality Employees

2. Your job description has no personality.

Many companies use the same threadbare descriptions to promote every job opening. To stand apart, create descriptions that serve as an introduction and a teaser, generating interest while providing all the information a candidate needs to know about the job. In many cases, the job description is a candidates first impression of a company, and a stale one can instantly quash the companys appeal.

Today more companies are finding ways to make everything from job titles to application processes more interesting and inviting. For example, Zapiers job ads first focus on the culture fit and what the company is looking for in a person before describing the responsibilities of the role. Thats an attractive approach for applicants and says a lot about the work environment they can expect. When searching for developers and engineers, companies like Apple and Google hide job listings in code, where only qualified candidates will find them.

3. You leave people hanging.

Once your job descriptions sing, focus on creating an application process that emphasizes clear communication. Rather than keeping good candidates in the dark, unsure if theyve made it to the next round, make certain your HR team gives qualified applicants insight into what to expect next. Including a timeline of the application process, offering candidates some feedback along the way and sounding human in your communications rather than like an email bot can all help you develop a positive relationship with potential employees.

Andre Lavoie, CEO of talent-management solution vendor ClearCompany, observes that 36 percent of todays applicants expect updates from companies theyve applied to, while 41 percent expect to be told if they werent chosen. Yet only 26 percent of employers say they provide this information. Even if companies cant reach out to every single applicant individually, they can still close that gap in communication without exhausting their HR resources, Lavoie says.

4. Your interview questions dont reveal how candidates think.

As with the job description, you should never underestimate the power of interview questions. Obviously, an interview is supposed to help you determine whether the candidate is a good fit for your company and help the applicant decide whether your business is a good fit for him or her. To accomplish this, however, you need to ask interview questions that elicit more than just sparkling conversation.

Related: 5 Creative Interview Questions to Ask Job Applicants

Matt Sunshine, managing partner for The Center for Sales Strategy, emphasizes that the best interview questions arent about getting the most interesting answers. Theyre about getting the best glimpse into the candidates thought process, such as by asking uncomfortable questions that force them out of their comfort zone. Tailor your interview questions appropriately, Sunshine says, but dont be afraid to dig a little deeper for specific examples. With the right questions, you can discover how candidates solve problems, what theyre passionate about and how they react to conflict or uncomfortable situations.

Business leaders well know that their companys success relies on recruiting and retaining the best employees. To attract the right candidates, begin by avoiding these four hiring missteps.

Keep in mind that in todays global marketplace, your goal is to be the company that stands out the most in a sea of possibilities.

Related:

4 Things That Are Keeping You From Hiring the Best Talent

Get The Best To Come To You: Overcoming The Fight For Top Talent With Employer Branding

How to Find, Hire and Train a Sales-Development Rep



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
As custom decreed, fallen war heroes and their sacrifice were foremost in the thoughts of a Jacksonville preacher who delivered a Decoration Day address.

But it is little that we can do to praise the deeds of the dead, said the Rev. W.H. Savage, pastor of the Congregational Church. The nation is their monument. Its future shall be their eulogy. Let us here, by their graves, seek to catch the inspiration of their spirit, and from this high place, cast our own future and face our own duty.

Savage spoke those eloquent words at the 1870 Decoration Day ceremonies in Jacksonville East Cemetery, where many of the early rituals of that patriotic occasion took place.

The first Decoration Day  now known as Memorial Day  observed in Jacksonville is believed to have been held May 30, 1868, two years after residents of Waterloo, New York, began honoring the dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers.

Yet, while Waterloo is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day observances, they did not start there or in any other city in the United States. Memorial days, when the graves of communities heroes were decorated with flowers and garlands, are ancient customs originating in Greece 2,500 years ago.

The local arrangements in 1868 were somewhat unorganized. No one was present to lead the procession to East Cemetery, there was no formal program, and no featured speaker was scheduled.

The ceremonies centered on the grave of Col. John J. Hardin, a Mexican War hero, in the eastern part of the cemetery.

One of Jacksonvilles leading citizens, Murray McConnel, presided. Following a hymn and a prayer, Judge H.G. Whitlock recited the Gettysburg Address and read the names of soldiers buried in the Jacksonville area. After Whitlock spoke, a committee of ladies decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and evergreens.

The 1868 commemoration seems to be atypical among those that immediately followed it. For example, the next year the Decoration Day committee was much more organized, inviting many local luminaries to participate.

Jacksonvilles very own U.S. Sen. Richard Yates delivered a lengthy address, Illinois College President Julian Sturtevant opened the ceremonies with a prayer, and professor Jonathan B. Turner read President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

After ceremonies at East Cemetery in 1869, the procession re-formed and made its way to the Illinois College and Diamond Grove cemeteries, where flowers were placed on soldiers graves.

Elaborate public proceedings carried over to 1870, when the Morgan County Courthouse bell tolled, martial music was played and an estimated 100 vehicles formed a procession that traveled from the square to East Cemetery.

Jacksonvilles recognition of Decoration Day was not always so public, however. In 1876, residents held no formal observance.

The graves of those who gave their lives pro bono publico were not neglected yesterday, but loving hands quietly decorated and eyes wept over the flag-marked mounds, wrote a Jacksonville reporter.

Since 1971, when President Richard Nixon declared it a national holiday, Memorial Day has been observed by most states on the last Monday in May.

This Way We Were story was first published May 30, 2005.
President Donald Trump is merging his national security and trade goals in a blur of tactical improvisation that risks alienating U.S. allies and opening American businesses to costly retaliation, according to several Republican lawmakers, business executives and former U.S. officials.

The president last week initiated a Commerce Department investigation that could lead to tariffs of up to 25 percent on foreign cars, arguing that a flood of imports had eroded the nation's manufacturing base and threatened the nation's security.

The potential auto tariffs - which would hit Mexico, Canada, Japan and Germany hardest - are the latest sign of the president's fluid approach to national and economic security that has left allies and adversaries baffled over U.S. intentions, according to foreign diplomats.

The proposal has irritated close allies like Germany and the United Kingdom while inviting demands for similar protection from an ever-expanding list of U.S. industries.

The president holds an expansive view of national security, describing imported products like steel or passenger sedans as worrisome threats to the United States. Yet he also engages in freewheeling bargaining that treats vital strategic considerations as the equivalent of commercial factors, leaving negotiating partners unsure of his true priorities.

"Past presidents generally tried to keep national security issues in one lane and trade policy in another lane," said Peter Harrell, a former official in the State Department's bureau of economic and business affairs. "Trump is just more willing to make trade-offs between the two."

The auto tariffs are the second time in less than three months that the president has cited national security as a justification for protectionism. Yet his recent call for leniency for ZTE, a Chinese telecom company crippled by its punishment for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran and North Korea, showed that he would bend on a genuine security threat, analysts said.

Chinese leaders had demanded an easing of ZTE's punishment in return for progress in trade talks that are scheduled to continue June 2 in Beijing with the arrival of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

On Friday, Trump announced on Twitter that he was allowing ZTE to "reopen" in return for management changes, payment of a $1.3 billion fine and a promise to buy American parts. The reversal on U.S. policy toward a company that had equipped two avowed U.S. enemies prompted bipartisan opposition in Congress.

"The striking feature of Trump's use of national security is the inconsistent and haphazard use of the term, so as to render it meaningless," said George Magnus, an associate at Oxford University's China Center. "... What I see is Trump using national security as a blanket to obfuscate simple trade protectionism."

Given Trump's dealmaker persona, many analysts saw the proposed auto tariffs as a bargaining chip in talks aimed at a new North American trade deal. Higher import levies on foreign cars could push Mexico to accept U.S. proposals to require more auto content from American factories, they said.

But the experience from an earlier round of tariffs on steel and aluminum has dulled the threat. The metals tariffs were also billed as an essential measure to cope with a national security threat, only for Trump days later to grant waivers affecting almost two-thirds of imported steel.

The autos proposal reflected Trump's "America First" philosophy, which cheers heartland voters with promises to reclaim lost manufacturing jobs and represents a sharp break from the party's Reaganite orthodoxy on trade.

Administration officials believe a flood of foreign auto imports has crushed the U.S. manufacturing sector, leaving the U.S. unable to produce material needed for national defense.

"National security is broadly defined to include the economy, to include the impact on employment, to include a very big variety of things," Ross told CNBC on Thursday. "Economic security is military security. And without economic security, you can't have military security."

Ross said the low 2.5 percent tariff on automobiles entering the United States is a primary reason so many foreign cars are imported.

Trump's attempt to stretch a 1962 trade law - which permits higher tariffs when imports "threaten to impair the national security" - to cover routine sales of foreign-made cars drew strong opposition from within his own party.

"Raising taxes on Americans who choose to buy imported cars or trucks is a bad idea. Doing it under the false pretense of national security - Section 232 - is an even worse idea, as it invites retaliation and weakens our credibility on actual trade disputes," said Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa.

Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the proposal "dangerous and destabilizing" and said it should be withdrawn.

Republican allies in the business community also objected. "This isn't about national security," said Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "The administration has already signaled its true objective is to leverage this tariff threat in trade negotiations with Mexico, Canada, Japan, the European Union and South Korea."

The opposition may have little practical effect, since Trump doesn't need congressional approval. The authority to impose tariffs in the name of national security without congressional interference has made these Section 232 reviews a favorite tool for the Trump administration.

Even if the tariffs are challenged in court or at the World Trade Organization, that process can take months or years, providing ample short-term leverage to seek unrelated concessions from trading partners like the European Union, Mexico, and Japan.

The autos proposal highlights two noteworthy aspects of Trump's attempt to use national security concerns as a trade war weapon. He is threatening to hurt close U.S. allies as much, if not more so, as countries like China. The U.S. imports roughly 98 percent of its cars from the countries Donohue cited.

The aggressive approach to trade risks alienating potential partners the U.S. will need in confronting Iran or North Korea. "In the process of damaging our economy, they're alienating all our allies," said Phil Levy, a former White House economist under George W. Bush.

Plus, if the U.S. uses national security as a rationale for protectionism, other countries are sure to follow suit. In 1975, Sweden cited a national security exemption under global trading rules to justify its imposition of limits on footwear imports, which it said posed "a critical threat" to defense planning.

The auto tariffs would mark a dramatic escalation in Trump's war-against-all on trade. The U.S. last year imported $335 billion in automobiles and auto parts, 11 times the value of total steel imports, according to the Commerce Department.

"This widens the trade war tenfold. It's a major mistake," said Rufus Yerxa, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, an association of multinational corporations.

Trump's latest tariff bid would promote "retaliation against American-made products that will undermine manufacturing and jeopardize the jobs of manufacturing workers in the United States," said Jay Timmons, chief executive of the National Association of Manufacturers.

"While US trading partners have been fairly measured in responding to the steel and aluminum tariffs, they will have no choice but to exhaust every option in opposing tariffs on autos," John Veroneau, a trade official in the George W. Bush administration, wrote in an email."Also, unlike steel and aluminum tariffs which hit US consumers indirectly, tariffs on cars will be right there on the window sticker."

From the outset of his presidency, Trump's dealmaker mentality has been especially visible in his dealings with China. In April 2017, the president offered to go easy on China in trade talks in return for diplomatic help with North Korea, a striking contrast to his repeated campaign promises to put the needs of American workers first.

"I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump tweeted.

Likewise, Trump's decision to direct the Commerce Department to review its order banning ZTE from buying American parts for seven years, after violating the terms of its settlement of U.S. charges, sparked an uprising among fellow Republicans outraged at what they saw as cavalier treatment of a national security danger.

In 2017, ZTE pleaded guilty to charges related to illegally trading with Iran and North Korea and obstructing justice, was fined $1.2 billion and promised to punish several executives.

On Sunday, following Trump's announcement that he was softening ZTE's penalty, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., predicted that Congress would pass by a veto-proof majority legislation prohibiting any Chinese telecom company from operating in the U.S.

"It's not just ZTE. It's Huawei, all of them depend on the U.S. semiconductors," Rubio said on "Face the Nation" on CBS. "None of these companies should be operating in this country. None of them.

Dan DiMicco, former chief executive of the steel company Nucor and a former trade adviser to Trump during the 2016 campaign, said the Section 232 automotive review is one of several that the White House is planning in the coming months. Others, he said, are likely to include imports of semiconductors and technology related to artificial intelligence.

"The overall strategy is not going to happen overnight," said DiMicco. "It's being implemented. That's what you see. You see all these moving parts because we have that many moving parts to deal with."
Starbucks will close more than 8,000 stores on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct racial-bias training. The company-wide training comes after inappropriate management conduct led to the arrest of two black men waiting for a friend April 19 at a Philadelphia location. The arrests triggered public relations and media crises but, more importantly, it challenged Starbucks core values.

Starbucks met the challenge aggressively. As support for its decision to close its stores on May 29, executive chairman Howard Schultz said, The companys values are based on diversity and inclusion. We will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer.

The companys motivation and training approach have been questioned. One commentator said, However moral companies may appear, at the bottom theyre always responding to the market. This statement is flat-out wrong. It implies that all businesses reactively respond to the market. Starbucks made a strategic decision to lead with a defined and nonnegotiable set of values. There are two types of businesses: those that live by their values and those that do not. Those with a nonnegotiable set of values are better prepared to deal with market demands and crises.

The Los Angeles Times reported: Some research suggests that anti-bias training can backfire.  Employees can become resentful that they are being forced to do something. This comment misses the point. Lets trust that Starbucks will define the best possible training for its employees. Lets also agree that any training module that Starbucks selects will be imperfect. Its less about the specific training module and more about leadership in times of crisis.

A crisis in your company may look different from the one at Starbucks. However, Starbucks masterful handing of its crisis provides powerful leadership lessons.

Related: Machine Learning Needs Bias Training to Overcome Stereotypes

Shock the system.

Living our values is easy in normal times. A crisis tests us. Leaders must know when unconventional action is required. Sometimes, shocking the system is necessary. The shock is a quick, aggressive hit. In Starbucks case, the mere gesture of shutting down operations is a bold statement that leaves no doubt management is serious about diversity as a core value. That unconventional act will speak louder than the training itself.

Related: Why All-Hands Meetings Are Worth Every Penny

Put your money where your mouth is.

Estimates are that Starbucks will lose $12 million in sales as a result of the shutdown. While that is a small number relative to Starbucks size, it is a meaningful amount of money by any other measure. The real message is that some things are more important than short-term revenue. By taking these steps, Starbucks is also paving the way for an even brighter future by building stronger relationships with employees and customers.

Related: Good Company Culture Removes Barriers Hindering Success

Seize the opportunity to make permanent change.

During times of crises, people are more willing to listen and change. Starbucks will have the attention of every employees during the shutdown. This is the time to drive change forcefully to make sure everyone knows that there is no turning back. Misaligned behavior must have consequences.

Related: 5 Signs Your Corporate Culture is Doomed

Prove you give a damn!

When a crisis hits, leadership cannot be delegated. Leaders do not cast blame, and they must be forthcoming. Its easy to spot leaders who rely on smokescreens or carefully staged replies. Honest dialogue and authenticity work much better. To support this point, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson traveled to Philadelphia almost immediately. Mr. Johnson could easily have blamed a rogue employee, conducted a few meetings, and flown home. Instead, he committed to learning what we did wrong and taking the steps we need to fix it."

Contrast this to United Airlines initial handling of a public relations mess last year when a passenger was forcibly dragged from an airplane.

Related: How Companies in Crisis, Like Uber and United Airlines, Can Change Culture

Avoid the flavor of the day phenomenon.

When you execute on an unconventional action, having a reinforcement plan is critical. In a short time frame, the Starbucks shutdown will fade from memory. New employees will join after May 29. Existing employees will depart. Because of growth and turnover, a companys culture is always in a state of flux. Lessons from crises must be institutionalized and shared with all new employees. Without a plan to institutionalize, the best-intentioned plans risk drifting away.

Related: Company Culture Is Key for Long-Term Success

Dig deep.

When a crisis hits, understanding why is critical. Otherwise, we could be throwing solutions at the wrong problem. Most crises have their roots in the following problems: Leadership deficienciesin particular, a lack of accountability for those who operate outside the companys defined value system; Hiring, orientation or training problems; and an unclear understanding of, or disregard for, company values and processes. As an example, Starbucks encourages customers to spend time in its stores. For many, the store is remote office or a meeting place. At what point does a customer overstay his or her welcome? Who will decide what constitutes loitering? Without clarity, different store managers will arrive at different interpretations of company policy.

We can learn from Starbucks remarkable handling of the April 19 incident. We must lead from a nonnegotiable set of values. Crises may test our values, but they may not compromise our values. When a crisis hits, or our values are challenged, our leadership is tested. We must be ready to take unconventional action as warranted. We must demonstrate accountability and resist the urge to cast blame. We must understand the root of the problem. This allows for a thoughtful and tailored solution. Starbucks handling of the April 19 incident provides a powerful leadership lesson.

Related:

What Business Leaders Should Learn From Starbucks' Shut Down Day

Co-Working Spaces-Making '9-5' the New Happy Hours in India

3 Bold Predictions for Women in Corporate America This Year



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
After a nine-month-long sting, the Georgetown Police Department in Georgetown, Texas have arrested 13 people for alleged prostitution.

According to a press conference given by Georgetown Police Captain Roland Waits, the investigation began in August 2016 when the police received reports of potential illegal activity at a massage parlor in the area.

MORE BUSTS: Houston Police Department made 34 sex trade arrests last month

Nearly a year later in August 2017, police heard more complaints of suspicious behavior such as customers coming and going outside of business hours and customers parking across the street when there was parking available in front, so a subsequent investigation was initiated.

According to the press conference, that investigation led officials to believe the massage parlor's operations were part of a much larger prostitution ring that included other cities like Round Rock, Bryan, Houston, Killeen, Harker Heights, and Temple.

On May 16 multiple agencies teamed up to execute 13 warrants and as a result were able to make 13 arrests as well as seize evidence, assets, and money pertaining to the case.

Three of the 13 arrested included Janhong Li, Xiaqin Yang, Yingbo Xu  who were charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution, a felony charge.

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli.
A meme posted on Instagram on May 22 claims a young Texas rapper charged with capital crimes faces the death penalty but the suspect in the Santa Fe, Texas, massacre faces prison and then parole after 40 years.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling states that it is unconsitutional to impose the death penalty for crimes committed while younger than 18. Because of that, capital punishment is off the table for 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who, according to court documents, admitted to the May 18, 2018, mass shooting at Santa Fe High School that killed 10 and wounded at least 10 others.

Still, a meme brought to our attention by readers suggests he's getting a special lift up.

The meme shows an African-American 17-year-old Texas rapper, Taymore "Tay-K 47" McIntyre, and says that he faces the death penalty if convicted of capital charges pending against him. Meantime, the meme says, Pagourtzis faces no death penalty plus parole in 40 years.

RELATED: Texas school shooting victim family sues attacker's parents

Rapper T.I. recently shared the meme on his Instagram, saying, So the question is how is the D.A. seeking the death penalty for Tay K & not the other guy? T.I. went on to note that McIntyre is a minor, like Pagourtzis. Theyre the same age!!!!!! T.I. wrote.

According to a May 10 Fort Worth Star-Telegram news story, McIntyre has been charged in two capital murders  one in Mansfield and one in San Antonio  as well as in an aggravated robbery that left an Arlington, Texas, man seriously injured. The story said he remained in jail.

After the Santa Fe shootings, the Houston Chronicle , a Houston TV station and the Star-Telegram each declared that the disparity for capital crime convictions suggested by the meme lacks factual footing because of the 2005 Supreme Court ruling.

To get our fix on the memes accuracy, we turned first to the court decision.

On March 1, 2005, the court held by 5-4 that the Constitutions bar on cruel and unusual punishment means the death penalty could no longer be imposed on juvenile offenders under 18. The Eighth Amendment provides: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

The ruling, in Roper vs. Simmons, stemmed in part, the majority wrote, from 30 states already prohibiting the juvenile death penalty. The ruling removed 72 people from death rows in a dozen states, according to a March 2005 news story in the New York Times, and represented an about-face for a court that only 16 years ago rejected the argument that the execution of those who kill at the age of 16 or 17 violated the constitutional bar on cruel and unusual punishments.

By phone, Sarah Guidry, who directs the Earl Call Institute for Legal and Social Policy at Texas Southern Universitys Thurgood Marshall School of Law, said that after the high court acted, Texas lawmakers amended state law. Section 8.07(c) of the states penal code states: No person may, in any case, be punished by death for an offense committed while the person was younger than 18 years.

Before the Supreme Court ruled, Texas was among 12 states with juveniles on death row, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit that compiles information and statistics about the death penalty.

From 1976 until the court acted, the center says, 22 defendants were executed for crimes committed as juveniles. By phone, the centers Robert Dunham told us 13 of the death penalties were carried out in Texas. Dunham, calling the meme false, said the Roper ruling left no room for states to sentence to death any individuals younger than 18 at the time of their crimes.

Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, said state law otherwise backs up the memes indication that Pagourtzis could be imprisoned yet paroled after 40 years. That's so, she said, thanks to legislative action in the wake of a June 2012 Supreme Court ruling.

The majority opinion in Miller v. Alabama states: By requiring that all children convicted of homicide receive lifetime incarceration without possibility of parole, regardless of their age and age-related characteristics and the nature of their crimes, the mandatory sentencing schemes before us violate this principle of proportionality, and so the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

In 2013, Texas lawmakers reacted to the ruling by passing into law a measure mandating that all juveniles convicted of capital offenses be sentenced to prison for 40 calendar years before qualifying for consideration for parole. Previously, juveniles 17 to 18 convicted of capital offenses faced life-without-parole sentences.

We asked Dunham to speak to the parole part of the meme. He cautioned that Texas law solely permits juveniles sentenced to life in prison to apply for parole after 40 years; the law doesnt say anyone automatically gets paroled.

Summing up, Dunham said: If you are age 17, the most you can get for capital murder in Texas is life with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

Our ruling

A meme suggests a Texas rapper charged with capital offenses faces the death penalty while the alleged shooter in the Santa Fe school faces prison only and then parole after 40 years  even though both are 17.

That disparity isnt backed up by state laws which, in compliance with Supreme Court rulings, potentially subject both the rapper and the alleged school shooter to sentences of life in prison with parole possible after 40 years. U.S. juveniles havent been subject to death sentences since the high court ruled out that prospect in 2005.

We rate this meme False: the statement is not accurate
Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman is calling the regional fuel tax unfair on Auckland farmers and growers and would like toll roads as an alternative.

The regional fuel tax bill is currently being put through Parliament, with a second reading in June, but will likely include a rebate system for fuel used off-road.

Both Federated Farmers and Mr Chapman say with one rebate system already in place, another would become complex and costly.

Its unnecessary to tax fuel for vehicles that will barely, if at all, use the roads, Mr Chapman says.

A large vegetable growing operation, for example, could have 100 tractors, so even with a rebate system its not fair, because of the administration costs to manage it.

Ahuroa farmer Nicky Berger says that a rebate system would definitely cost farmers.

Any extra administration just means less time being spent actually out on the farm where the money is made, Ms Berger says.

Because the buyer sets the cost of beef and lamb and not us, we would also wear any additional administration expenses ourselves.

Mr Chapman has proposed more toll roads as the most accurate way to charge those using the infrastructure. This would avoid any extra costs for off-road fuel users.

Two thirds of travel done by trucks that fill up in Auckland is outside of the region, and a lot of trucks travelling through the area fill up in places like Hamilton. An Auckland regional fuel tax just doesnt make sense.

But Transport Minister Phil Twyford says that Auckland Council approached the Government specifically about a fuel tax as they felt it fairer than tolling certain roads.

Mr Chapman is also concerned that trucking companies may increase their charges because of the tax.

Because the buyer covers delivery costs, this would make getting produce to Auckland more expensive putting farmers in the regions at a disadvantage.

Although, Mr Twyford says in the long-term, the tax will benefit truck companies and, therefore, farmers.

Any marginal increase is likely to be offset by the additional deliveries distributors will be able to do because of reduced congestion, Mr Twyford says.

However, Ms Berger says because farmers dont pay for delivery they are unlikely to reap any benefits if roads become more efficient.
A damning report released by the Ministry of the Environment and Stats NZ last month says that New Zealands land use is contributing directly to soil and water degradation, soil erosion and is reducing the health and diversity of our plants, animals and habitats.

The report, Our Land 2018, shows more than 48 per cent of tested sites were outside the target range for two key indicators of soil quality. These were phosphorous content (an indicator of soil fertility) and macroporosity (a measure of soil compactness).

Excess phosphorous can travel into waterways through erosion and run off. It can trigger growth of unwanted plants and reduce water quality.

Soil that is too compacted restricts plant growth and reduces soil diversity. It also impedes soil drainage, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions from urine on soils and an increased amount of phosphorous and eroded soils reaching waterways.

The report says sites under more intensive land uses, such as dairying, cropping, horticulture and dry stock, were more frequently outside the range for these soil quality indicators.

In particular, 51 per cent of tested dairy sites had excess soil phosphorus and 65 per cent were below the range for macroporosity.

Some horticultural and cropping sites also had high phosphorous levels (37 per cent) and low macroporosity levels (39 per cent). Dry stock sites had low macroporosity levels (41 per cent).

The report says New Zealand already has naturally high rates of erosion due to a combination of steep terrain, rock and soil types and climate. New Zealand contributes about 1.7 per cent to global sediment loss, even though it makes up only 0.2 per cent of global land area.

The report says the problem is exacerbated by the removal of trees. New Zealand loses 192 million tonnes of soil each year from erosion and 44 per cent of this comes from pasture land.

The reports findings come as no surprise to Ahuroa sheep and beef farmer Bev Trowbridge, who has long advocated for regenerative farming practices, which aim to protect the soil.

She says farmers are often extremely concerned about soil degradation but says pressure from banks, suppliers, market buyers and industry representatives all conspire to reinforce destructive farming practices.

Farmers do not get to choose to go it alone, to market their own produce, or change to a high-value, low impact model. This is the travesty of our farming system, she says.

Ms Trowbridge says the irony is that the solutions to the problems are not difficult. For example, farmers could make greater use of natural, organic fertilizers, especially compost, which has an abundance of living creatures within it that break up compacted soil.

Meanwhile, the report itself declines to make recommendations on how to redress problems with land use, but it says it is vital that New Zealand pays attention to the harm it is doing to the soil, noting that the quality of the soil underpins the New Zealand economy.

This report provides an opportunity for us to recognise that soil and biodiversity are taonga (treasure), that our stewardship depends on earnestly building our knowledge base, and that it is our responsibility to take action to restore the health of the whenua (land), for today and tomorrows generations, it says.
Former Mahurangi College student Chris Yorke is making his mark as on one of Australias top professional motorsport mechanics.

The 30-year-old, who did his apprenticeship at Cameron Auto Services in Warkworth, is a mechanic, fabricator and pit stop crew member for the Shell V-Power Racing Team, whose driver Scott McLaughlin currently leads the Supercar Championship.

Chris is one of four people in the pit assigned to tyre changing. Each is responsible for just one tyre to ensure speedy changes.

It was a dream for me to become one of the pit crew and even though it doesnt sound like a big deal, I was stoked to be given a tyre on the car, Chris says.

He practises tyre changes for half-an-hour each day and does gym work to maintain his strength. He can change a 23kg tyre in just under four seconds.

Half a second can be the difference in racing so its an intense job. We have to signal electronically when weve done the tyre change so the car can go again as quickly as possible.

Chris other job, as one of three mechanics in the team, involves replacing worn components.

We put in a new transmission every race, replace the engine at least every 2000 kilometres and repair the suspension if any small cracks are found in it using ultraviolet light.

We also do pre-race set-up to adjust the ride height, tyre camber, dampers and wheel alignment to suit the conditions.

Chris job also involves making custom parts for the cars, such as exhausts and radiator tanks, which are drawn up by the teams two engineers.

Its a special feeling to see the car doing well on the track when you know that youve put together a lot

of its componentry.

The atmosphere around the circuit is a real buzz because of everyones intensity and focus.

The Shell team has won seven of its 16 races this season and driver McLaughlin is number one, with 1775 points in his Ford Falcon.

Chris says he has been interested in motoring from his early teenage years. His first car was a Subaru Legacy, followed by a Mark II Ford Cortina and a Nissan Skyline.

I was always doing drifts in a paddock or dirt biking growing up. Later, I used to do track days at Pukekohe.

After leaving Mahurangi College, he did his apprenticeship at Cameron Auto after doing work experience there and was with the company for 10 years.

I started out cleaning the workshop and by the end I was working on all vehicles from a Model A Ford to the latest Holden Commodore.

He encourages anyone keen on getting into the motorsport industry to start with a mechanical apprenticeship.

It gives you a broad knowledge of vehicles and something to fall back on if you cant make it in the sport side of motoring.

He also recommends checking out jobstop.com.au, where motorsport jobs are listed.
Principals in Rodney say the current teaching shortage in Auckland is the worst in their careers and the education sector is reaching a crisis point.

Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association president James Thomas believes that if major reforms arent implemented quickly, there could be a shortage of between 2000 and 3000 teachers across Auckland sometime within the next five years.

This could mean class sizes double to between 40 and 50 students and a number of specialist subjects cut from school curriculums, which has already occurred at some schools.

Its a problem thats gradually worsening, Mr Thomas says. Were facing an ageing teaching population and fewer graduates.

In recent years, nearly half of all graduates have left the profession within the first five years and the average age of a secondary school teacher is now 58.

Rodney College principal Irene Symes says this is a problem that has been more than 20 years in the making. She says a lack of affordable living in Auckland, coupled with poor pay and increased workloads, has made the issue inevitable.

Initially, cheaper house prices made Wellsford desirable for teachers, but I lost one staff member last year who went to live in Martin because, as the only earner in the family, he couldnt afford to live locally, she says.

The starting pay for a teacher with a four-year Bachelor of Education degree is $51,200 and the maximum pay cheque for a specialist teacher is $78,000.

The pay increase in teaching has fallen a long way behind other professions and is now grossly below what is required to attract new teachers.

Roll growth means Rodney College will need more teachers next year and I am worried about where Im going to find them.

Mahurangi College principal David Macleod has also felt the pinch. He says teacher recruitment is the hardest its been in his 22 years experience.

For only the second time ever, I have had to use a recruiting agency to hire three staff members, Mr Macleod says.

Of the 13 new teachers at the school this year, seven are from overseas and one has returned from an international school. To try to avoid another desperate scramble for staff next year, two teachers have been hired already, both from overseas.

We have a serious problem getting suitable teachers, particularly for specialist subjects like science and maths.

A job six years ago would have attracted around 80 applicants, whereas now we get around 10, and of those, two are likely to be from NZ and many do not have the required skill set.

There is also a shortage of relief teachers and teacher aides. As a result, Wellsford School principal Dave Bradley has been forced to combine classes and utilise teachers during time set aside for administrative tasks.

In the last 12 months, Ive had multiple times where there was no reliever to fill the gap, Mr Bradley says.

An increase in the cost of staying registered has unintentionally deterred a number of relief staff from remaining in the profession.

Auckland Primary Principals Association president Helen Varney says teacher aides are required more than ever to help teachers cope with increasing workloads.

Teaching involves so much more than it used to, with staff having to deal with the health and wellbeing of students now, and other personal needs, Ms Varney says.

Ten years ago, her own school, Target Road on the North Shore, identified just two per cent of students with special needs or behavioural problems. That figure is now around 25 per cent. Plus, about 20 per cent of students spoke English as a second language. That figure is now closer to 50 per cent.

What teachers are required to do has increased enormously, but their pay doesnt reflect that.

Both the secondary and primary school associations have met with Ministry of Education staff and say they are working towards a solution on the shortage.

The budget hasnt solved the problem, Mr Thomas says. The future of the profession will be hugely influenced by the teacher pay increase to be announced later this year.

The Government last year announced it would spend $9.5 million to address teacher shortages and committed a further $2 million to fund 35 extra places in the Teach First NZ programme.

The Teacher Education Refresher Programme will also assist 500 teachers to renew their practising certificates and the budget recognised $370 million to fund 1500 new teacher places by 2021.

New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft says the Government has acknowledged the budget is a good start, rather than a final solution.

The Education Minister is committed to increasing pay for teachers and funding has been set aside for bargaining, Ms Marcroft says.
Former Rodney District Council chief executive Rodger Kerr-Newell, who is under investigation by the West Australian Corruption and Crime Commission, has been sacked as chief executive of Halls Creek Shire Council.

The termination comes in the wake of the commissions investigation into allegations relating to the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest, the misuse of leave entitlements and the mismanagement of procurement processes.

Shire president Malcolm Edwards did not respond to calls or emails from Mahurangi Matters, but the broadcaster ABC Kimberley understands that the council refused to accept Mr Kerr-Newells resignation, instead opting to terminate his contract.

Mr Kerr-Newell faced a day-and-a-half of questioning by the commission in late April, which was live-streamed online. During the examination, he was asked about the appointment of his NZ girlfriend,

Bronwyn Little, to a strategic planning position he created, the procedure for letting a council tender for six new vehicles and his accrual of more than 600 hours of annual leave after claiming time-in-lieu that he was not entitled to in his contract.

The commission also examined his use of council time and resources to carry out work for NZ Windfarms, a company that he chairs.

Before moving to Australia, Mr Kerr-Newell worked for Hutt City, New Plymouth District Council and finally, Rodney. He ran a private consultancy company before taking up the position of chief executive at Halls Creek Shire four years ago.

During his tenure at Halls Creek, he recruited a number of former colleagues from NZ, including Lloyd Barton from Rodney. The commission is now preparing a report for Parliament.
A woman who appeared before Longford District Court last week charged under the Theft & Fraud Offences Act was sentenced to three months in prison following a hearing into the matter.

Helen Doyle, 24 Chapel Lane Apartments, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes charged with the theft of 800 cash and a quantity of tablets at 24 Canal Court, Longford on December 31, 2015.

She was also further charged with burglary at GameStop, Longford on January 1, 2016.

Outlining the evidence to the court, Sergeant Mark Mahon said there was a burglary at GameStop on New Years Day 2016 and the front window of the property had been smashed in during the incident.

She removed goods from the store; some of the goods were recovered, but the value of the damage caused was 300.

Sgt Mahon went on to say that the charges before the court also included the theft of 800 in cash and a quantity of tablets.

They were taken from the home of an elderly man, added the Sergeant.

The man had asked the defendant back to the house on the night and during the night they got friendly, but the defendant decided to help herself before she left the property.

Meanwhile, the court heard that the defendant also assaulted a security guard at Tesco on November 3, 2015.

The incident involved the theft of groceries and a DVD player, the Sergeant added.

The security guard said he was headbutted, spat onto the face and kneed into the groin.

In mitigation, the defendants solicitor Frank Gearty said that his client was suffering from a brain injury and had been the victim of very severe domestic violence in the past.

Commenting, the Judge said that she had the brain power to get up in the middle of the night, search the mans pockets and steal 800.

Mr Gearty also told the court that his client had two children, the oldest of whom was 17-years-old.

She is receiving treatment for psychosis and there is moderate damage to her brain, the solicitor continued.

She was in a very bad place when these incidents occurred.

Meanwhile, following his deliberations on the matter Judge Hughes sentenced the defendant to two months in prison for the theft offence and a further one month consecutive sentence was imposed for the burglary at GameStop. All other matters were taken into consideration.
A man who appeared before Longford District Court last week charged with assault was ordered to pay 750 in compensation to the victim following a hearing into the matter.

Patrick McLoughlin, Torboy, Moydow, Longford appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes charged with assaulting James Farrell at Skellys Bar, Ballymahon, Co Longford on July 16, 2017.

Outlining the evidence to the court, Sergeant Mark Mahon said that on the date in question Mr Farrell was in the company of his wife at the bar when he and Mr McLoughlin engaged with one another in the smoking area.

Patrick McLoughlin did strike Sean Farrell - who was 40 years older than Mr McLoughlin - in the side of the head, the Sergeant added.

Mr McLoughlin admitted his part in the incident from the beginning.

In mitigation, the defendants solicitor Owen Carthy said his client had admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity.

On the night words were spoken and Mr McLoughlin took umbrage with what was said.

He suffered an accident recently and works as a agri contractor.

Meanwhile, Mr Farrell addressed Judge Hughes.

I got a good belt to the head, he told the court.

I am attending the doctor for headaches and Im taking sleeping tablets too.

Mr Farrell went on to say that his wife had asked Mr McLoughlin if he would apologise to me on the night and he said he wouldnt.

He came at me four times that night.

Following his deliberations on the matter Judge Hughes ordered the defendant to pay 750 in compensation to Mr Farrell by June 26 next.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until that date.
The local community in Killashee where the development of a wind farm has been proposed has expressed serious concerns this week over wind energy guidelines in respect of such developments.

Fianna Fail General Election candidate for Longford/Westmeath, Cllr Joe Flaherty has called on the Government to publish the new wind energy guidelines and ensure that the concerns of communities that he respresents are reflected in the terms.

Concerns

The local area representative in Longford town made the calls after meeting representatives of the No to Derryadd Windfarm campaign alongside Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Communications, Climate Action and Environment Timmy Dooley TD.

Its clear after meeting with representatives of this campaign that they have reasonable concerns that will have to be taken on board, added Cllr Flaherty before pointing out that he felt the concerns raised had not been adequately addressed by the developers, particularly in relation to genuine fears that the development could exacerbate the flooding problems in the area.

Read Also: New guidelines hold key to Derryadd wind farm proposal

Local people are also disappointed by the lack of engagement undertaken by Bord na Mona in relation to the project and this is something that both Timmy Dooley and I will be raising with the company.

Its important that the concerns raised by the local community are taken on board and dealt with in a comprehensive manner.

Guidelines

Meanwhile, the current Wind Energy Development Guidelines were published in 2006 and offer advice to planning authorities on the planning for wind turbines.

They do not, however, take into account developments that have taken place in the industry in recent years, Cllr Flaherty added.

There are serious issues with the current wind energy guidelines, he continued.

Read Also: Derryadd residents say Bord na Mona will not 'divide and conquer' them

They simply do not take on board many concerns that local communities have regarding proposals that have been put forward to build wind farms.

The proposed Derryadd project is no different in this regard. The Government promised new guidelines to address these issues but no timeline has been given for their publication.

The issue has been put on the backburner by Fine Gael.

Confusion

Cllr Flaherty went on to say that the situation had become very serious because the delay in publishing the new guidelines meant that communities across the country were stuck with the old ones for the foreseeable future.

Wind farm development proposals will continue to be considered under guidelines which are obsolete and are no longer fit for purpose, especially in view of the height of some of the new turbines which was never contemplated by the original 2006 guidelines, the general election candidate continued.

The Government needs to get its act together and publish new guidelines.

We cannot continue to have situations where windfarms are built in close proximity to peoples homes, schools and community centres.

Read Also: Longford Councillor Joe Flaherty calls for review of Versatis restrictions
A firefighter is pleading with adults not to give their car keys to young children after a toddler got trapped in a car in Bray.

Crews from Maidenhead Fire Station were called to the car park at The Crown at Bray at about 2.30pm after a two-year-old accidentally locked themselves inside an Audi.

Firefighters had to smash a window to free the youngster who had been trapped for about 10 minutes during the midday sun.

Watch manager Chris Havers said: I cannot stress it enough, do not let your children have your car keys.

Your keys are not comforters or rattles, its a big no-no.

It may have only been ten minutes but Ive never seen a child sweat like that.
This Memorial Day I wanted to re-share three stories of current and former service members and military spouses. This beautiful interview with Felicia Elizondo, originally published in August 2017, is just as relevant and touching today.  Nora Taylor

An increasing number of young people are identifying as activists, but to call this a new trend would not only be naive  it would also be a missed opportunity. Older generations offer an important perspective on what it means to be politically and socially active. In an effort to soak up their knowledge, were speaking to activists who have been doing this work for decades. First up was 74-year-old Sally Roesch Wagner; then 66-year-old Jackie Warren-Moore. Today is 71-year-old Felicia Elizondo.

When I called 71-year-old Felicia Elizondo on her San Francisco landline to ask about her lifes work in transgender activism, she told me shed give me a roller coaster ride Id never forget. As she shared her experiences over the next hour, weaving through timelines and memories, I knew she was right.

Although she still feels young every once in a while, the San Jose native and Vietnam War veteran has lived through forgotten events, dramatic life changes and hard-to-imagine struggles. Shes witnessed the transgender community grow and change throughout the decades and has worked to preserve the efforts of those first activists during her time.

Below, a conversation with Elizondo, transgender rights pioneer, war veteran and self-described Mexican spitfire who believes that anyone, regardless of gender or sexual identity, should have the right to fight for their country in uniform.

What was it like growing up in an era when there was little awareness or acceptance of transgender people?

I knew I was different from four or five years old  but I thought I was gay, because I didnt know about transgender people. I knew I was feminine; I wanted to play with girls and with dolls. They called me sissy and all kinds of names when I was little, but I didnt know the meaning.

When I was 14 or 15, a guy walking down the street told me [unsolicited] where young kids like me hung around in the park. I started hanging out there and found out there were a lot of people like me. Thats when I learned about drag. Drag wasnt really common until the 80s, but on Halloween we could pretend to be girls.

My friends from San Jose and I played hooky from school to go to the Tenderloin [a neighborhood in downtown San Francisco]. It was the gay mecca in the 1960s, but it wasnt advertised in the media or television or newspapers; it was known by word-of-mouth. It was a place we could go and act the way we wanted to. Gene Comptons Cafeteria [in the Tenderloin] was the center of the universe for a whole bunch of the queens, the sissies, the hustlers, the kids who were thrown away by their families like trash.

Why did you decide to join the military when you were 18?

They were asking for volunteers to go to Vietnam, and I decided to volunteer in 1966. I was hoping that the military could change me. I wanted to be the man that I was drilled to be since I was little. I enlisted in the Navy and did all the manly things I was supposed to do. I lowered my voice so nobody could tell that I was gay. I totally changed my ways.

Eventually I understood that, no matter how hard I tried, I was always attracted to men. One day I decided: If the military couldnt make me a man, nothing would. I went to my priest and told him, You know something? I tried to change. I tried to do what men do, and I just cant seem to get it. We went to the commanding officer and told him I was gay. The FBI and CIA interrogated me because it was happening during the time of war. They cleared me and undesirably discharged me at Treasure Island in San Francisco.

Were you initially afraid to talk to your priest about it?

Ive always been Catholic. I did my baptism, my communion when I was a little boy, my confirmation, all that stuff. At the time, being Catholic was all I knew. I was 20 when the FBI interrogated me for being homosexual, but I never thought [being gay] was that bad. I knew it was against the law, but that was who I was. My religion doesnt accept me, but God does. I dont go to church, but I pray when theres a need to pray, here in my house. My God is here at home.

On July 26, Donald Trump tweeted that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.* How did you react to his words?

I am proud to have served in the military. I am American. I was taught that people should fight for their country and for freedom. No matter who I was, I had to do what I had to do in my heart. In a way, I had to prove to myself that I could do something that was so important.

[Donald Trump] promised the LGBT community that he would fight for us, and where is he? He wants to ban us from the military? I was appalled. Im sad for him because he thinks that, just because were different, because of who we are, we dont belong and we dont deserve the honor of serving our military. I knew I was different, but I wanted to serve. Hes not my president.

What was your experience like when you came home from the military?

Things had changed. Before my service, cops were taking us to jail or harassing us because we dressed feminine  it was against the law to wear feminine clothes.

The hippie generation had evolved. In the 70s, people started to wear long hair and feminine styles. Still, no one would hire feminine boys. The only thing we could do was sell drugs or pursue prostitution. I started as a prostitute. I wanted to be myself. I was tired of hiding.

In 1971, low-income Latinos were being recruited to start professional work. It was then that I was hired as a long-distance telephone operator. I was still dressing as a girl at nighttime, but my coworkers didnt know.

At what point did gender confirmation enter your purview?

I found out through the grapevine about a gender dysphoria clinic in San Mateo, and I applied for gender reassignment. I talked to the psychiatrist, and he approved me for surgery. The conditions were that I would have to work as a female for two years and dress as a female for two years prior to the surgery. But two years was too long for me to wait to be who I wanted to be. I had waited a lifetime to find out who I was. I had to go for it. I heard about a doctor in Mexico and went there.

I transitioned from male to female in 1973. When the telephone company I worked for got the letter from the gender dysphoria clinic that said I was psychologically ready to be a female, they accepted me. Still, after I got breast implants and a nose job and came back as female, I drove around the block three or four times before facing my co-workers because my nerves were shot.

Six months after my transition, the supervisors took everyone out and, when I needed to go to the bathroom, they had somebody wait outside the door so nobody could go in and disturb me. They took care of me. In the 70s, that was something I never expected.

Youre featured in a 2005 documentary about the 1966 Gene Comptons Cafeteria riot, a protest by transgender people against police brutality that happened three years before the Stonewall protests. Why is it important to you to spread word about the riot?

I was in the service until 1967, a year after the riot had already happened. A lot of the things [after the riot] did not change. Nobody talked about it because it wasnt in the newspapers. The riot was forgotten for 40 years until Susan Stryker, the documentary director, found a document about it at the San Francisco GLBT History Museum. She started interviewing people who were there in the 60s. I told her how life was for us then, how I became a prostitute and how Gene Comptons Cafeteria was the center of the universe for us.

I may not have been there for the riot, but I knew all the girls who were there in the 60s. I am going to carry the torch for those girls, who did so much, so our transgender history will never be forgotten. Last year, we added a Gene Comptons Cafeteria Way street sign on the 100 block of Taylor Street. Since 2005, Ive held an anniversary every year in August to make sure the girls of the Tenderloin will never be forgotten for their bravery and stamina to be who they were. Last August, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the riot.

Sometimes I want to walk away and let it go and hope the youth of today will take over, but its hard because they dont know. A lot of the people in San Francisco are not from here. Most of the people taking over today dont know anything about our history. Theyre making their own way  theyre not worried about the past or what we went through. Thats why its imperative for me to tell people how I perceived it in 1967 at Comptons, because Comptons didnt stop after the riot. If it werent for us in the 60s, the trans youth wouldnt be [where] they are today.

Other than learning about your history, what advice do you have for the young transgender community today?

Unite. That is so important, in any community. In the 60s, we were a gay community, all together, all colors, fighting for the same thing. We were standing up. Nowadays, I think the trouble with our trans community is that there are too many disparate leaders and not enough united followers. They arent worried about the collective history. Theyre reclaiming the word queer. I was appalled and sad when I first heard that. We were killed because of that word; its painful to me. After a while, I gave up and learned to endure it, but the people out there using it should know what a horrible word it was to us before the 70s.

What other forms of activism have you participated in?

The AIDS epidemic came out in the 80s, and I found out I was HIV-positive. I didnt know what to do or how long I would live. I started giving back to my community. I gave emotional and practical support for people with AIDS, going to peoples houses and taking care of them. I sewed an AIDS Memorial Quilt and sewed everything by hand with love. Now Ive made 80 of them. In 1987, I became a trans drag queen [with the name Felicia Flames] to raise money for AIDS. I started volunteering and holding office jobs for organizations: Shanti Project, Project Open Hand, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. I think Ive raised money for every LGBT-related or AIDS-related organization in San Francisco.

Is there anything else youd like to share?

Ive been here in this apartment for 25 years. I have two dogs, a Cocker Spaniel mix and a Pomeranian mix, and I walk them three times a day. Theyre my life and my support. They keep me going.

Yes, Im alone. I havent had sex in over 20 years, but Ive had enough sex to last me a lifetime. Now, if someone doesnt love me for who I am, I dont need a man in my life. I am happy. I am the woman I was meant to be. Where I am today is exactly where Im supposed to be, and nobody can take that away.

The simplest thing I can think of is to know that were not all bad people. Were human beings like everybody else. I would just like more education and more people out there doing good for everybody.

*
By Scott J. Croteau | scroteau@masslive.com

For decades, the family of 15-year-old Tracy Gilpin searched for answers in order to find her killer. The teen left a party in Kingston, Massachusetts in October 1986 and disappeared.

She was eventually found dead in Myles Standish State Park in Plymouth. Tracy died from a massive head fracture.

In March 2018, a suspect in Tracy's killing was found.

The night she disappeared

Tracy's family, including her sister - the colonel of the Massachusetts State Police - lived in the Rocky Nook neighborhood of Kingston, Massachusetts.

On the night of Oct. 1, 1986, Tracy went to a house party after babysitting. The party was at a house a couple streets away in the close-knit neighborhood.

Tracy left the party around 10:30 p.m. with a couple of friends. She walked alone to the Cumberland Farms on Route 3A, bought a pack of cigarettes and used the payphone.

Tracy called the woman throwing the party. She asked for a ride, but the woman couldn't leave.

"That is the last time anyone saw her," Kerry Gilpin told MassLive in a previous interview.

Don't Edit

Google Maps

Tracy's body is discovered

A woman picking flowers in Myles Standish State Forest on the Plymouth side discovered Tracy's body.

She was found three weeks after disappearing.

The location was almost 11 miles away from where Tracy was last seen.

Investigators used dental records to confirm the body was Tracy. The medical examiner determined she died from blunt force trauma to the head. She had a massive skull fracture.

Don't Edit

No witnesses, but Tracy had to have known her killer, family said

To move Tracy from Kingston to Plymouth, a car had to be involved, Kerry Gilpin told MassLive in a previous interview

Tracy would never let a stranger grab her off the streets, Kerry Gilpin said.

"You only go down there (Rocky Nook) if you lived there or were going to a party. You knew everybody. That's why it is tough to think it didn't happen by somebody she knew," Kerry Gilpin said. "She was a fighter. She wasn't going to get into a car with someone she didn't know. She wasn't like that."

Hand, who was indicted in May 2018 on murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to rape a child charges, admitted to knowing Tracy from the neighborhood, the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office said.

Don't Edit

A trip to North Carolina to interview a "potential witness"

State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office learned Hand may have been a witness in Tracy's killing.

Investigators headed to North Carolina in March and interviewed Hand over several days.

"During the interviews, Hand, formerly a Kingston resident, made statements to investigators that could be construed as admissions to the crime," authorities said.

Hand, according to investigators, also made statements that placed him in the park around the time of Gilpin's killing.

Authorities say Hand told police "he picked up a 73-pound boulder and dropped it on Gilpin." Hand identified the rock to investigators in evidence photos, the district attorney's office said.

Don't Edit

Hand tried to blame another man for Tracy's killing

Authorities say Hand tried to blame Henry Meinholz, the man convicted in the unrelated killing of 13-year-old Melissa Benoit. Meinholz died in 2000.

Prosecutors said DNA testing excluded Meinholz as a suspect. Investigators also believed he was not in Massachusetts at the time of Tracy's death.

Hand told investigators he saw Tracy and Meinholz drive away on Route 3 around the time of her killing. He claimed he spotted Meinholz on the side of the road, carrying a shovel and tarp, Sprague told the judge.

State Police arrested Hand on March 9, 2018 for the killing.

Don't Edit
Chewing gum. Whether you munch on it because youre bored or restless, because you simply enjoy the taste, or as a quick fix after a very umami meal, youve probably had a fair share of it in your life. But does chewing gum bring surprising benefits that we hadnt considered?

Share on Pinterest If you want to increase heart rate and energy expenditure, you may want to try chewing gum while walking, a new study suggests.

According to recent data, in 2017 alone, 174.74 million people in the United States declared that they habitually use bubblegum or chewing gum.

But whether, and to what extent, chewing gum may aid or endanger health has been a matter of dispute.

Research demonstrates that sugar-free gum, specifically, is actually good for your teeth, because it can prevent decay and plaque formation .

One paper also found that munching on gum can help to alleviate stress , which, the study authors hypothesized, may be due to increased blood flow to the brain.

But other studies, including one published in the journal Eating Behaviors, concluded that a gum-chewing habit reduced individuals appetite for healthful snacks, such as fruit, but did nothing to curb their preference for junk foods, such as chips.

Now, however, scientists at the Waseda University Graduate School of Sport Sciences in Tokyo, Japan, have turned their attention in a different direction, asking whether chewing gum while walking could in any way influence a persons physiological functions.

The study, which was conducted by Yuka Hamada and colleagues from Waseda University, has yielded interesting results for those looking to understand how even one of their smallest daily habits could impact their body and its use of energy.

Hamada and team reported their results last week at the European Congress on Obesity, held in Vienna, Austria.
Font : A- A+



General Information on Lofexidine Generic Name : Lofexidine Pronunciation : loe-FEX-i-deen Latest prescription information about Lofexidine. Learn how to pronounce the drug's name, its indications, dosage, how to take, when to take, when not to take, side effects, special precautions, warnings and its storage instructions . Also listed are the Indian trade name(s) of the drug and its price list. Therapeutic Classification : Opioid Dependance Agents Latest prescription information about Lofexidine. Learn how to pronounce the drug's name, its indications, dosage, how to take, when to take, when not to take, side effects, special precautions, warnings and its storage instructions . Also listed are the Indian trade name(s) of the drug and its price list.

Trade Names/Brand Names of Lofexidine Lucemyra, BritLoflex, Kai Er Ding

Overview of Lofexidine Lofexidine tablets for oral use were approved by FDA in May 2018, for reducing the intensity of opioid withdrawal symptoms. It was earlier approved in the UK in 1992.



Why is Lofexidine Prescribed? (Indications) Lofexidine is a centrally acting -2 adrenergic receptor agonist, prescribed for reducing the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults, with the focus to facilitate the abrupt discontinuation of opioids or following the completion of opioid therapy.



Lofexidine is the first non-opioid drug approved for the symptomatic management of opioid withdrawal.



Lofexidine is also used for treating women suffering from postmenopausal hot flashes.

When should Lofexidine not to be taken? (Contraindications) Lofexidine should not be used in patients with-



 Allergy to lofexidine

 Heart disease

 History of opioid use disorder (opioid addiction)

 Severe kidney failure

 Decreased heart rhythm

 Electrolyte abnormalities (low levels of magnesium and potassium)

 Children below 12 years of age



Caution is required in treating pregnant and breastfeeding women due to lack of sufficient data; lofexidine should only be considered if the benefit outweighs the risk.

What is the dosage of Lofexidine?  Lofexidine tablets are available at a strength of 0.18 mg per tablet.



 The recommended initial adult dose is three 0.18 mg tablets at a time and should not exceed four tablets (0.72 mg).



 Tablets are generally taken for the first 5 to 7 days after the last dose of opioids and can be continued over a period of 2 weeks based on the severity of withdrawal symptoms.



 The total daily dose of lofexidine should not exceed 16 tablets (2.88 mg).



 Dose adjustments are required in patients with severe kidney or liver dysfunction with one 0.18 mg tablet taken four times a day that adds to a maximum of 0.72mg per day.

How should Lofexidine be taken?  Lofexidine tablets should be taken by mouth four times daily, either with or without food.



 Swallow the tablet as a whole with sufficient quantity of water.



 Patients are advised to take a part of lofexidine dose after evening meal to reduce the effect of insomnia or sleeping difficulty induced by opioid withdrawal.

What are the warnings and precautions for Lofexidine?  Lofexidine affects mental alertness, and hence driving vehicles, operating heavy machinery or handling hazardous chemicals should be strictly avoided.



 Patients with electrolyte abnormalities such as hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia should be treated first before starting treatment with lofexidine.



 Alcohol consumption should be avoided as lofexidine increases the depressive effects on the brain.



 Do not discontinue taking lofexidine tablets abruptly as it could result in a sudden rise in blood pressure. It usually requires a gradual dose reduction supervised by the prescriber.



 Blood pressure, pulse rate, and ECG should be monitored regularly before, during and after the treatment. Observe patients for at least 72 hours after dose initiation, or until a stable dose is achieved.



 Patients should be advised not to stand immediately from a sitting or a lying position to avoid accidental falls or injuries.



What are the side effects of Lofexidine?  Decreased heart rate

 Low blood pressure

 Dizziness or lightheadedness

 Drowsiness

 Weakness

 Abnormalities in heart rhythm

 Dryness of mucous membranes (mouth, throat, and nose)



What are the other precautions for Lofexidine?  Patients taking lofexidine tablets should drink sufficient quantity of water to keep hydrated, so as to avoid dehydration or getting overheated, as it may result in a sudden drop in heart rate or in low blood pressure.



 Scheduling counseling with a health counselor will help to overcome the craving of taking opioids after withdrawal of opioid therapy.



What are the Drug Interactions of Lofexidine? Avoid taking lofexidine tablets along with the following drugs that increase the QT interval or heart rhythm abnormalities

 Citalopram

 Amiodarone

 Fluconazole



Drugs that result in a severe loss of potassium should also be avoided with lofexidine as it may also result in prolongation of QT interval.

 Diuretics (e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide)

 Theophylline

 Dexamethasone



Lofexidine can increase the effects of antihypertensive drugs (e.g., metoprolol, losartan) leading to low blood pressure or decreased cardiac rhythm and hence should be avoided taken together.



The effects of depression caused on the central nervous system are increased if lofexidine is taken with the following drugs and hence they should not be taken together.

 Benzodiazepines (e.g., Diazepam, Alprazolam)

 Barbiturates (e.g. Phenobarbitone, Secobarbital)

 Other sedative drugs



The effect of oral naltrexone can be reduced if it is taken within 2 hours of lofexidine; this can be overcome by taking naltrexone by non-oral routes.

What are the storage conditions for Lofexidine?  Store lofexidine tablets at room temperature, between 15 C and 25 C.



 Protect lofexidine tablets from excess heat and moisture.



 Do not remove the desiccant from the bottle which helps to keep the tablets dry.



 Keep lofexidine tablets out of reach of children.



Last Updated : 5/28/2018

Pharma Services and Drug Enquiries

(This service is provided from Medwonders Pvt Ltd)

View feedback from our existing customers. Please note for the minimum order for Exports is of US$ 100. All orders will be subject to courier charges and supplies are normally dispatched through internationally accredited courier services. India is the world's capital for quality medicines, be it pharmaceutical formulations, herbal medicines or nutraceuticals. Our Pharma Division deals only with the best, GMP certified generics and branded medication for the export market. All our products are supported by strict adherence to quality and analysis certification. Complete the form below to receive the no-obligation price quote. Enquiry Name * Email * Telephone / Mobile Number * Country Code +91 (IN) +1 (US) +44 (GB) +1 (CA) +238 (CV) +599 (BQ) +1345 (KY) +236 (CF) +235 (TD) +56 (CL) +86 (CN) +6189 (CX) +57 (CO) +269 (KM) +242 (CG) +243 (CD) +682 (CK) +506 (CR) +385 (HR) +53 (CU) +5999 (CW) +357 (CY) +420 (CZ) +225 (CI) +45 (DK) +253 (DJ) +1767 (DM) +1 (DO) +593 (EC) +20 (EG) +503 (SV) +240 (GQ) +291 (ER) +372 (EE) +251 (ET) +500 (FK) +298 (FO) +679 (FJ) +358 (FI) +33 (FR) +594 (GF) +689 (PF) +241 (GA) +220 (GM) +995 (GE) +49 (DE) +233 (GH) +350 (GI) +30 (GR) +299 (GL) +1473 (GD) +590 (GP) +1671 (GU) +502 (GT) +224 (GN) +245 (GW) +592 (GY) +509 (HT) +504 (HN) +852 (HK) +36 (HU) +354 (IS) +93 (AF) +355 (AL) +213 (DZ) +1684 (AS) +376 (AD) +244 (AO) +1264 (AI) +672 (AQ) +1268 (AG) +54 (AR) +374 (AM) +297 (AW) +61 (AU) +43 (AT) +994 (AZ) +1242 (BS) +973 (BH) +880 (BD) +1246 (BB) +375 (BY) +32 (BE) +501 (BZ) +229 (BJ) +1441 (BM) +975 (BT) +591 (BO) +387 (BA) +267 (BW) +55 (BR) +246 (IO) +673 (BN) +359 (BG) +226 (BF) +257 (BI) +855 (KH) +237 (CM) +598 (UY) +998 (UZ) +678 (VU) +379 (VA) +58 (VE) +84 (VN) +1284 (VG) +1340 (VI) +681 (WF) +967 (YE) +260 (ZM) +263 (ZW) +62 (ID) +98 (IR) +964 (IQ) +353 (IE) +972 (IL) +39 (IT) +1876 (JM) +81 (JP) +962 (JO) +7 (KZ) +254 (KE) +686 (KI) +965 (KW) +996 (KG) +856 (LA) +371 (LV) +961 (LB) +266 (LS) +231 (LR) +218 (LY) +423 (LI) +370 (LT) +352 (LU) +853 (MO) +389 (MK) +261 (MG) +265 (MW) +60 (MY) +960 (MV) +223 (ML) +356 (MT) +692 (MH) +596 (MQ) +222 (MR) +230 (MU) +52 (MX) +691 (FM) +373 (MD) +377 (MC) +976 (MN) +382 (ME) +1664 (MS) +212 (MA) +258 (MZ) +95 (MM) +264 (NA) +674 (NR) +977 (NP) +31 (NL) +687 (NC) +64 (NZ) +505 (NI) +227 (NE) +234 (NG) +683 (NU) +6723 (NF) +850 (KP) +1670 (MP) +47 (NO) +968 (OM) +92 (PK) +680 (PW) +970 (PS) +507 (PA) +675 (PG) +595 (PY) +51 (PE) +63 (PH) +872 (PN) +48 (PL) +351 (PT) +1 (PR) +974 (QA) +262 (RE) +40 (RO) +7 (RU) +250 (RW) +590 (BL) +290 (SH) +1869 (KN) +1758 (LC) +1784 (VC) +590 (MF) +685 (WS) +378 (SM) +239 (ST) +966 (SA) +221 (SN) +381 (RS) +248 (SC) +232 (SL) +65 (SG) +1721 (SX) +421 (SK) +386 (SI) +677 (SB) +252 (SO) +27 (ZA) +82 (KR) +211 (SS) +34 (ES) +94 (LK) +508 (PM) +249 (SD) +597 (SR) +4779 (SJ) +268 (SZ) +46 (SE) +41 (CH) +963 (SY) +886 (TW) +992 (TJ) +255 (TZ) +66 (TH) +670 (TL) +228 (TG) +690 (TK) +676 (TO) +1868 (TT) +216 (TN) +90 (TR) +993 (TM) +1649 (TC) +688 (TV) +256 (UG) +380 (UA) +971 (AE) Country * Country India USA Great Britain Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Dem. Republic Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Rep. Ivory Coast Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana Polynesia (French) Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe (French) Guam (USA) Guatemala Guinea Guinea Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia-Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (USA) Wallis and Futuna Islands Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique (French) Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia (French) New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Korea-North Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Island Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion (French) Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts & Nevis Anguilla Saint Lucia Saint Vincent & Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Korea-South South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Saint Pierre and Miquelon Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Products Product Name * Product Composition & Strength Quantity * Add More Products > Consult a Doctor for your problem Remove Product 2 Add More Products > Consult a Doctor for your problem Remove Product 3 Add More Products > Consult a Doctor for your problem Remove Product 4 Note : We do not supply schedule-H (Example - narcotic drug or psychotropic drugs or anabolic steroids) and Anti- Abortion Drugs.

All orders will be subject to courier charges and supplies are normally dispatched through internationally accredited courier services. Submit
OTTAWA

May 28, 2018

Canada

Canada

Canada

$30 million

Theresa Tam

Canada

Eligible activities under the Harm Reduction Fund include front-line prevention activities and capacity-building of individuals, providers and systems.

Additional calls for project proposals are planned for spring 2019 and 2020.

People who share drug-use equipment continue to be disproportionately represented among those acquiring HIV and hepatitis C infections in Canada .

. In 2014, 10.5% of new HIV infections were among people who injected drugs.

68% of people who inject drugs and who were surveyed between 2010 and 2012 indicated that they had at one point been infected with hepatitis C.

Canada

/CNW/ - Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, including HIV and hepatitis C, are largely preventable but remain a significant public health concern in. The Government ofis taking action to reduce transmission of these diseases, including measures to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C through the sharing of drug-use equipment, such as needles and pipes.Through its Harm Reduction Fund, the Public Health Agency ofis investingover five years to support community initiatives to address the risk of infection among people who share drug-use equipment.Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, launched an open call for proposals to support community projects that will reduce the rate of infections of HIV and hepatitis C among people who share injection and other drug-use equipment. Successful projects will implement evidence-based, time-limited interventions such as the development of educational resources for people who use drugs, peer outreach initiatives and training for health service providers.The open call for proposals will allow applicants to apply for up to three years of funding for time-limited projects."The Harm Reduction Fund will help organizations implement response activities in communities where there are high rates of infections among people who share drug-use equipment, with the goal of reducing the rates of diseases, like HIV and hepatitis C, across our country.""Evidence shows that harm reduction is a vital part of a comprehensive, compassionate and collaborative public health approach to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases that result from the sharing of drug-use equipment. The Harm Reduction Fund will help Canadians who use drugs to adopt safer behaviours, and will reduce the rate of preventable diseases like HIV and hepatitis C."Harm Reduction Fund Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy HIV and AIDSSOURCE Public Health Agency of
Advertisement

While IMA demanded a complete end to the violent episodes against the health care providers, Baijal said aggression and impatience, along with anger and agitation, among the young generation is solely responsible for the declining doctor-patient relationship.Baijal said the profession is still noble, but the basic trust on doctors needs to be restored. "More proactive compliance to a strong code of ethics will ensure that justice is done," he said.Citing a recent global study, he said doctors' consultation in India on an average is less than two minutes for diagnosis and prescription."Such a short duration cannot establish any meaningful relationship between the doctor and the patient," he observed.IMA has resolved zero tolerance to any sort of violence against the fraternity and has expressed serious concern about savage attacks on doctors, nurses and hospital staff."The healthcare professionals in India are the worst sufferers because of healthcare violence. Doctors are living in a fearful environment in their workplaces. Refusal of serious patients in hospitals will be ultimate result all across and which will not be good for the health of the country," said IMA National President Ravi Wankhedkar.The violence against medical fraternity has complex causes that need to be addressed by all concerned wherein government needs to play an important role, he said.IMA past National President Vinay Aggarwal said: "The situation in India has reached a critical stage and warrants immediate intervention from the government by bringing in a strong and effective Central Medicare Act."Seventeen states have legislation against violence on doctors and hospitals, but poor implementation, inadequate knowledge of police personnel and weak clauses makes these state Medicare acts completely ineffective, he said."The poor and ineffective state of Medicare acts make it mandatory to bring in a central act immediately," he stressed.Source: IANS
Advertisement

Dr Pawar and colleagues studied data of awareness about obesity over the last twelve years worldwide. They used Google Trends which is based on the number of times worldwide the terms 'Obesity', 'Weight loss 'and 'Obese' were searched for using Google between 1st January 2006 and 31st December 2017.The program assigns a reference value of 100 for the point of maximum popularity among the search terms, and provides relative monthly scores for all terms, which were termed relative interest scores (RIS).The results found that the for the search term 'obesity', the mean RIS consistently decreased with each quartile. While the search term 'weight loss' RIS consistently increased with time.The term 'weight loss' appeared to be especially popular during the month of January and its median RIS for January (n=12months) as compared to other months (n=122 months) was higher during the entire study period (88 vs 72), a result which was statistically significant. The RIS for term 'obese' did not change significantly over the study period.Dr Pawar concludes: "Despite an increase in the prevalence of obesity, its popularity on the internet continues to decrease with time as reflected by the RIS score, which may suggest 'normalization' of obesity in our society. Reassuringly however, the frequency of the search term 'weight loss' has increased significantly overtime, with significant interest in January every year.""While this may be secondary to New Year's resolutions centered around a healthy lifestyle, the specific reasons for the increased interest in certain months should be explored and applied to awareness campaigns for better effectiveness. While formal studies are required to best characterize these phenomenon, the use of Google trends certainly provides valuable data to assess the public awareness and possibly health related campaigns, which are vital to the success of managing obesity at the global level."Source: Eurekalert
Ask a tourist about beer in Thailand and chances are they will tell you about the best places where you can find cheap beer. But, ask a local and they might take you to this incredible architectural masterpiece, Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew.

Located in the north-east of Thailand, this Buddhist temple is made from not 10, 1000 or 10,000 but 1.5 million recycled beer bottles. Honestly, this architectural beauty will compel you to not throw those beer bottles in litter and instead use them to come up with something half as creative as this temple.

 Twitter

Once upon a time, there lived a monkdid you expect me to start the back story this way?

Well, it all started in 1984, when a monk and his assistants grew tired of people throwing litter in Thailand's Sisaket area near the Cambodian border. They took the situation in their hands and came up with this situation. The monks asked people to bring them recycled beer bottles and they will use them to build a temple. As the number of bottles increased, the world got this one of its kind beautiful temple, which is also known as Wat Lan Kuad or Temple of a Million Bottles.

 Twitter

Well, one look at the picture and you can tell that Thai people not only love beer but they prefer green Heineken over anything else. And sometimes their local beer brown Chang. At least that's what the bottles hint at. From crematorium, toilets to sleeping quarters, you will find these recycled bottles stacked into the concrete of the walls. In fact, the bottle caps are used to create mosaics.

Although drinking is considered to be a sin in Buddhism, this innovative idea seems to be a great and exemplary way to use beer to build a structure.
Unless you were too busy checking and tagging your friends in memes, you must have watched this video that made its way into our social media feeds over the weekend. The video we are talking about is of a man, who climbed up five floors without any support in less than 30 seconds, to save a child dangling from a balcony in Paris.

BCCL

While, the onlookers were busy filming the thrilling development, 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama didn't think twice before risking his life and immediately scaled the building. Nicknamed as Spider-Man, Gassama is now the internet's hero and he totally deserves all the praise and love he is getting from across the world.

 Undocumented migrant from Mali, Mamoudou Gassama, risked his life and his future in France to rescue a child he did not know.



French president Macron, just offered himthe French citizenship and a job with the fire brigade. pic.twitter.com/KUVbB7kAOy  Xavi Ruiz  (@xruiztru) May 28, 2018

His quick thinking, bravery and impressive speed soon came to the notice of French President Emmanuel Macron, who then invited him to the Elysee Palace and awarded him with a medal for bravery. Gassama has also been awarded with a French citizenship and a job in the fire department. Macron mentioned in his tweet, that the Paris fire brigade would be keen to welcome him.

Avec M. GASSAMA qui a sauve samedi la vie d'un enfant en escaladant 4 etages a mains nues. Je lui ai annonce qu'en reconnaissance de cet acte heroique il allait etre regularise dans les plus brefs delais, et que la brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris etait prete a l'accueillir. pic.twitter.com/xMpFlP1UFe  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 28, 2018

Gassama is an immigrant from Mali, who came to Italy in 2014 after staying in Libya for more than a year, where he was arrested and beaten up. While talking about this unbelievable and heroic incident, Gassama said I felt afraid when I saved the child(when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down.

Reportedly, the supposed 4-year-old child was home alone when this incident happened. Gassama heard people shouting and then he saw the child hanging from the balcony. He ran immediately and crossed the street to save the child. He further told Macron, When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing.

Twitter

President Macron told Gassama, You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him. You need courage and the capability to do that. He further added, You have become an example because millions have seen you.

We need more people like Gassama, who don't think twice before taking such drastic steps to help save someone. We also hope it's a lesson for those who stood there conveniently doing nothing but filming the whole thing.
Muhajer says one of the battles he saw was the 2011 shootdown of Extortion 17, the deadliest single moment of the 20-year war...
BELLEAU, France -- As U.S. Marines marched off the field on Sunday, the French who had gathered at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery for the Memorial Day ceremony broke out in applause.

The clapping continued as the Marines marched along the lane that leads to the cemetery gates.

The ceremony, observed by a standing-room-only crowd, took place on a grassy knoll beneath the chapel, flanked by the cemetery's 2,289 graves.

The event also marked the centennial of the Battle of Belleau Wood, where Marines and Army troops fought a bloody battle against German forces during World War I.

Now, 100 years later, former foes have become allies, something that was stressed by the ceremony's three main speakers, French Maj. Gen. Vincent Guionie, German army Lt. Gen. Carsten Jacobsen and Marine Corps commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller.

The ceremony also featured military bands from all three countries and poetry readings by students from a local high school.

The generals and other dignitaries laid wreaths at the steps of the chapel, while Marines fired a salute and a bugler, dressed in a World War I-era uniform, played taps.

Led by a Marine band playing the "Marines' Hymn," attendees walked to the Belleau Chateau for a reception.

Once there, the Marines drank water from the Bulldog fountain, a ritual for all Marines who visit what was once the battlefield of Belleau Wood.
Commodity List

Mineral List

Regional Geology

The Misima mine worked on an epithermal gold(-silver) deposit.It was opened in 1990 and officially closed in 2004. The mine was a joint venture by Placer Dome Inc (owning 80%) and the state-owned Orogen Minerals Ltd.In March 2012 Barrick closed its post closure monitoring office in Bwagaoia having successfully rehabilitated the mine and mill sites.2 valid minerals.

This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys. This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found.

Click on geological units on the map for more information. Click here to view full-screen map on Macrostrat.org

Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks Age: Phanerozoic (0 - 252.17 Ma) Lithology: Low/high grade unclassified metamorphic rock Reference: Chorlton, L.B. Generalized geology of the world: bedrock domains and major faults in GIS format: a small-scale world geology map with an extended geological attribute database. doi: 10.4095/223767. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 5529. [154]

Data and map coding provided by Macrostrat.org, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

External Links
How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image)

Controls - all media types

Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device.

Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen.

< and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys.

< and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys.

> in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys.

? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key.

Other keyboard shortcuts:

1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons

Scalebar

If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular.

Controls - Video

Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key.

Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation)

Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys.

The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types.

The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
Henry Taylor

Louis Berta, flanked by his wife, Nancy.

Berta served in World War II in the Pacific as a B-25 tail gunner in the 38th bomber group.

"Some of my buddies never made it; the good Lord gave me 93 years," he said. "I enjoy being around the people that know and honor what it [Memorial Day] means.

"Everybody asks what I did. I tell them the same thing: I did what I was told."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Gary McPhee served in the Coast Guard for four years at multiple stations across the United States

"To me, it's [Memorial Day] about the people that have given their lives and died."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Bob Cuthbert served in the Air Force early on in the Vietnam War.

Cuthbert has been a member of the Bay City Honor Guard for four years and is 25 events short of 600 burials and memorials in total.

"[Memorial Day] is about honoring the fellas that never made it. That's why I do Honor Guard."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Dolores Maillette served in the Navy as a yeoman in Washington, D.C., recording meetings

"I'm proud that our country does the day for the deceased, for fallen veterans that gave their lives to the country."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Van Digby served in the Air Force in Vietnam.

"[Memorial Day] is here for honoring the troops that have departed or are still in service in harms way."

Digby is a member of the Bay County Honor Guard and will attend anywhere between 100-120 military funerals each year.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Robert Flores served in the Army during World War II and was a part of the Korean invasion

"I came up here because I've got a brother and seven relatives in the cemetery. I came up here to place flags and honor those that fought for peace."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Carl Frenzke served in the Army infantry during World War II in France and Germany, spending four months on the frontline where he was shot in the arm and lost his thumb.

"I was discharged two weeks before the Battle of the Bulge. My whole squad was wiped out at that battle. To me, it's [Memorial Day] to honor the ones that never made it home. They are the ones ultimately dying for our country and let us live our lives. I'm 93 years old and I still remember those men I fought alongside."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Keith Markstrom served in the Army in counter intelligence in Vietnam.

"My family goes back to the formation of this country and I've had a family member in every war since the 1770's. Memorial Day is special because it's here to honor all of those that made the ultimate sacrifice. I had an uncle that died in France in World War II -- I come here for him."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

David A. Lambert served two years in the Army in Vietnam as a part of a hit-and-run unit that was mechanized, armored and infantry.

"Memorial Day to me is a way of not forgetting the price others have paid for the freedom we enjoy today."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Jeff Godi served in the Navy on the USS Enterprise between 1985 and 1991 in the West Pacific

"I think of how lucky I am. A lot of people gave it all to make it easier for us. They did their job right."

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Arthur Camirand served in the Navy on the USS Gatling during World War II

"[Memorial Day] is about showing the respect for those in each branch of the military currently in service and to honor those that have passed serving."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Jim Reha served in the Army between 1969 and 1972 in Vietnam and four years in the reserves after coming home

"I think about the friends I lost, the number of names on the wall in Washington, my sister who served in the Army until 1966, and my father who served in World War II."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Jim Tostevin served for 21 months in the Army during the Korean War.

"Memorial Day means to me that we lost a lot of soldiers, a lot of manpower, those we lost in the wars, it hurts the young people... not the old people. It hurts the young people."

Don't Edit

Henry Taylor

Eugene Netkowski served in the Navy on the USS Shangrila, CVA-38 between 1961 and 1965 in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

"I'm here for the veterans that died, I'm proud to be here for all that died in the past and are still in harms way."
Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or administration of LunaticOutPost.Com. The owners or administration of this website can't be hold responsible for content hosted on sites that posters link to in; including, but not limited to, posts, signatures, private messages and such. This site may contain content not suitable for minors and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/
Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 1 Average

1

2

3

4

5

Page: 1 2 Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported RiskyRob

( Lop V.I.P.)

User ID: 443244

05-28-2018 07:59 PM



Posts: 8,137









Post: #1 Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

Advertisement



Karsten Nordal Hauken, from As, Akershus, was raped in his home and the perpetrator was subsequently caught and jailed for 4.5 years.



However, when Nordal Hauken found out that the man was to be deported back to Somalia after serving his time, he reveals he felt guilt that the man would possibly face hardship in his old country.







Read more:

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook  Ascended Master A Norwegian politician has spoken of how how he felt guilty that the Somali asylum seeker who raped him was deported.Karsten Nordal Hauken, from As, Akershus, was raped in his home and the perpetrator was subsequently caught and jailed for 4.5 years.However, when Nordal Hauken found out that the man was to be deported back to Somalia after serving his time, he reveals he felt guilt that the man would possibly face hardship in his old country.Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z5GovH4ucF Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Ascended Master Spectre 34

Never give up

User ID: 443171

05-28-2018 08:03 PM



Posts: 5,158









Post: #2 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported





https://imgur.com/a/YlgqroD INSANE, self guilt or something... I was the perfect warrior, cold and ruthless. I lived by my strength alone, uninhibited by foolish emotion



I do not fear this new challenge! Rather, like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it! RiskyRob

( Lop V.I.P.)

User ID: 443244

05-28-2018 08:05 PM



Posts: 8,137









Post: #3 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

Mitternacht Wrote: (05-28-2018 08:03 PM) INSANE, self guilt or something...



A crazy Socialist. He probably hates himself and his country. A crazy Socialist. He probably hates himself and his country.  Ascended Master (This post was last modified: 05-28-2018 08:07 PM by RiskyRob .) LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 175654

05-28-2018 09:44 PM











Post: #4 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

Why doesn't he move to Somalia in solidarity with the perp?



Maybe they could be roommates. RiskyRob

( Lop V.I.P.)

User ID: 443244

05-28-2018 09:54 PM



Posts: 8,137









Post: #5 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

LoP Guest Wrote: (05-28-2018 09:44 PM) Why doesn't he move to Somalia in solidarity with the perp?



Maybe they could be roommates.

All joking aside, it's exactly these nutcases that run the EU. All joking aside, it's exactly these nutcases that run the EU.  Ascended Master He Man

Subscriber

User ID: 426188

05-28-2018 10:01 PM



Posts: 39,158









Post: #6 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

RiskyRob Wrote: (05-28-2018 08:05 PM) Mitternacht Wrote: (05-28-2018 08:03 PM) INSANE, self guilt or something...



A crazy Socialist. He probably hates himself and his country.

Immigration has a long history in Europe. Immigration is not invasion, never has been.



Stop with the stupid crusader worship they were war criminals out for treasure and spoils. Just stop with the stupid over all. All modern countries have some form of immigration even countries in Asia, Africa, the mid east etc. Immigration policies are far different than war. Grow up and get educated.



England's medieval immigrants revealed by universities



In medieval England one person in every hundred was an immigrant, new research has shown.



About 65,000 people came to the country between 1330 and 1550.



The England's Immigrants project by the universities of York and Sheffield details the names and occupations of those arriving from other parts of the British Isles and mainland Europe.



Project director Prof Mark Ormrod said the influx was largely a result of the Black Death creating a labour shortage.



He said: "We must remember that for a century or more after the Black Death the population of England was very low and there was plenty of work available.



"So people were coming from all across north-west Europe and also from further a field as well in search of that work.



"England was a magnet for immigrants in this period because the conditions and the wages were relatively good in comparison with back home."



http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-...e-31462885 Immigration has a long history in Europe. Immigration is not invasion, never has been.Stop with the stupid crusader worship they were war criminals out for treasure and spoils. Just stop with the stupid over all. All modern countries have some form of immigration even countries in Asia, Africa, the mid east etc. Immigration policies are far different than war. Grow up and get educated.In medieval England one person in every hundred was an immigrant, new research has shown.About 65,000 people came to the country between 1330 and 1550.The England's Immigrants project by the universities of York and Sheffield details the names and occupations of those arriving from other parts of the British Isles and mainland Europe.Project director Prof Mark Ormrod said the influx was largely a result of the Black Death creating a labour shortage.He said: "We must remember that for a century or more after the Black Death the population of England was very low and there was plenty of work available."So people were coming from all across north-west Europe and also from further a field as well in search of that work."England was a magnet for immigrants in this period because the conditions and the wages were relatively good in comparison with back home." Making LOP Great again since 06-07-2013!





Robert Reich @RBReich



"News flash: If you ban mask mandates, outlaw abortions, dictate what educators can teach in schools, and stop people from voting, you're not the party of "limited government."" Looky

lop guest

User ID: 441568

05-28-2018 10:06 PM











Post: #7 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

He Man Wrote: (05-28-2018 10:01 PM) RiskyRob Wrote: (05-28-2018 08:05 PM) A crazy Socialist. He probably hates himself and his country.

Immigration has a long history in Europe. Immigration is not invasion, never has been.

Please post responsibly.



The Moorish Invasion of Spain and



the Christian Reconquest

http://staff.esuhsd.org/balochie/student...christian/ Please post responsibly. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 388129

05-28-2018 11:10 PM











Post: #8 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

I don't usually like to use the word nice person but this time it fits so well. Ralph Batman

lop guest

User ID: 442574

05-28-2018 11:31 PM











Post: #9 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported





liberals are insane LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 443227

05-29-2018 03:21 AM











Post: #10 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

I wonder if if someone robbed him of his wealth he would still the say the same. Clucker

Water? Like from the toilet?

User ID: 442087

05-29-2018 03:32 AM



Posts: 1,804









Post: #11 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

If you are sympathizing with your own rapist I would suggest taking your own life because the world doesn't need people with brains that are that defective. Bawk LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 443285

05-29-2018 04:15 AM











Post: #12 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

Article only 2 years old



Nice find!!! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 441793

05-29-2018 04:21 AM











Post: #13 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

He Man Wrote: (05-28-2018 10:01 PM) RiskyRob Wrote: (05-28-2018 08:05 PM) A crazy Socialist. He probably hates himself and his country. About 65,000 people came to the country between 1330 and 1550 .

If only so few people immigrated to Britain at a similar rate now. If only so few people immigrated to Britain at a similar rate now. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 443356

05-29-2018 10:06 AM











Post: #14 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

it was the jews who aided and helped the moors to invade spain, abit like today. 77

Theofacist Deluxe edition

User ID: 438700

05-29-2018 10:10 AM



Posts: 4,000









Post: #15 RE: Raped Norwegian Male Politician Sad That Attacker Is Deported

BWAHAHAAAA MEN EXIST TO BE RAPED!! HAIL CTHULU! Advertisement


















Representative Image.

live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

State-owned lender Bank of India Monday reported a net loss of Rs 3,969.27 crore for the March quarter, as asset quality worsened and provisions increased. The bank had posted a loss of Rs 1,045.52 crore in the same quarter last year.

Analysts polled by Reuters had estimated the bank's loss to come in at Rs 1,187 crore.

Net interest income or NII (the difference between interest earned and paid) fell 26 percent to Rs 2,563.85 crore from Rs 3,469 crore in the year-ago period. A Reuters poll estimated an NII decline of 22 percent to Rs 2,699 crore.

Other income declined 21.5 percent to Rs 1,375.23 crore in Q4 from Rs 1,754 crore in Q4 FY17. It was projected to fall by 67 percent to Rs 1,052 crore.

Bank of India's loss has taken the total loss posted by the public sector banking system so far this quarter to Rs 54,000 crore. The Reserve Bank of Indias revised bad loan resolution framework on February 12 have magnified the losses.

Provisions and NPAs

During the quarter under review, total provisions jumped 41 percent to Rs 6,674.12 crore from Rs 4,736.21 crore a year ago. The poll estimated it to decline by nearly 50 percent to Rs 3,175 crore.

Out of the total provisions, the share for non-performing assets (NPAs) was Rs 6,699.23 crore in Q4 which was a 49.4 percent jump YoY.

Gross non-performing asset (GNPAs) ratio to the total loans worsened to 16.58 percent in Q4 from 13.22 percent a year ago. It improved marginally from 16.93 percent as on December quarter.

Net NPAs stood at 8.26 percent from 10.29 percent as on December end 2017 and 6.90 percent as on March-end 2017.

A Motilal Oswal report expected the gross NPA ratio to be at 15.7 percent while net NPAs to be at 7.8 percent.

The bank disclosed that the divergences in gross NPA were Rs 14,057 crore in FY17 while divergences in net NPA was Rs 9,707 crore

In its April circular, RBI permitted banks to spread provisioning for mark-to-market losses (depreciation) on investments held in the available for sale (AFS) and held for trading (HFT) categories for the quarters ended December 31, 2017, and March 31, 2018. The losses can be spread over four quarters, commencing from the quarter in which the loss has been incurred.

The bank has opted to avail this dispensation only in respect of depreciation provision arising in the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Accordingly, depreciation of Rs 347.55 crore has been charged to Profit and Loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

The bank said the remaining depreciation of Rs 1,042.65 crore will be charged to profit & loss account in the subsequent quarters of ensuing fiscal year.

Full year performance

The loss for the year stood at Rs 6,043.71 crore compared to Rs 1,558.33 crore in FY17. The poll expected the loss to be at Rs 3,473 crore.

The results were announced post market hours. Shares of the bank ended at Rs 107.85 a share, up by 4.71 percent compared to the previous days close on BSE.

"Recovery is the USP of this quarter. We are the only bank to reduce both gross and net NPAs," said Dinabandhu Mohapatra, MD and CEO of Bank of India at the conference post the results announcement. The bank made a strong growth in bad loan recoveries to the tune of over Rs 11,000 crore. We expect further Rs 500 crore recoveries in the first quarter, he added.

The bank is targeting a credit growth of 8-10 percent and for the net NPA target, Mohapatra added, they will try to achieve lower than 6 percent for this fiscal. Their corporate-retail mix is 48:52. He said they want to bring corporate down to 40 percent in the mix.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Akash Jain

Ashoka Buildcon is one of our top picks in the infrastructure space owing to its strong execution capabilities (witnessed strong execution in EPC model) and recent order wins in the EPC segment.

The company is one of the major beneficiaries of Bharatmala project of Government of India. Around 40,000 kms of road construction projects to be awarded in 4 years under Bharatmala, which comes to around 10,000 kms per year. Awarding of projects has shifted from build operate and transfer (BOT) to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and hybrid annuity model (HAM). Toll operate and transfer model (TOT) is another opportunity for the company.

We expect a target of Rs 290 by FY19 end. In Q3FY18, the company witnessed strong EPC revenue growth of 25 percent and adjusted toll revenue growth of 18 percent. The growth in toll collection was led by low base effect, GST implementation, pick up in mining activity, Haldia port witnessing higher business activity. There was no tariff hike on toll in Q3FY18.

In Q3FY18, Ashoka Buildcons revenue from operations witnessed YoY growth of 25.8 percent to Rs 658.92 crore as against Rs 524 crore in Q3FY17, beating the consensus estimate of Rs 619.5 crore. The companys EBITDA margin has increased by 24bps YoY to 12.1 percent as against 11.8 percent. The company reported EBITDA at Rs 79.56 crore, in-line with consensus estimate of Rs 79.8 crore. The companys PAT increased by 21.5 percent YoY to Rs 51.99 crore as against Rs 42.77 crore, beating the consensus estimate of Rs 48.13 crore.

Out of the total order backlog of around Rs 7,000 crore, BOT accounts for 33 percent, EPC accounts for 43 percent and Power T&D accounts for 25 percent.

Recently, Ashoka Buildcons wholly owned subsidiary Ashoka Infrastructure Limited, which had executed Pune Shirur Road Project in Maharastra, has received an Arbitral Award of Rs 383.80 crore, against various claims filed by the SPV.

Pune Shirur Road Project was awarded by Government of Maharashtra for Four Laning and Strengthening of Pune Ahmednagar Road SH 60 in km 10/600 to 64/00. The toll collection at the said project had been stopped since August 8, 2014.

Earlier this month, another wholly owned subsidiary Ashoka Infraways Limited, which executed Dewas Bypass Road Project in Madhya Pradesh was awarded 1384 additional toll days and an Arbitral Award of Rs 37.71 crore along with 18 percent interest towards the compensation for loss of toll on account of closure of two Toll Plazas.

Recently, the company has emerged as the lowest bidder for electrification works projects in Uttar Pradesh under Dakshinachal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL) under Saubhagya Yojana (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana). For the electrification work in Ethan and Kashiram Nagar (Kasgani) District  Rs 320.92 crore. For the electrification work in Kannoj, Farrukhabad and Etawa District  Rs 438.92 crore.

The company quoted an aggregate cost of Rs 759.84 crore for above 2 projects. Ashoka Buildcon's subsidiary Ashoka Concessions has emerged as the lowest bidder for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) HAM road project. The project entails six lane of Khairatunda to Barwa Adda section of NH-2 in Jharkhand on Hybrid Annuity Mode.

The company quoted a bid project cost of Rs 860 crores. Ashoka Buildcon is the preferred Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Partner and also has won the EPC orders for the projects in which Macquarie Asia Infrastructure Fund  II (MAIF-II) has emerged highest bidder for Toll operate Transfer (TOT) mode for projects comprising of nine National Highway Stretches (Bid value worth Rs 9,681 crore, concession period  30 years) worth Rs 1,025 crore which is to be executed over two years. There is no equity to be committed by Ashoka Buildcon in these TOT projects.

: The author is Vice President - Equity Research, Ajcon Global. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Fortis Healthcare | In the September quarter, Rakesh Junjhunwala held a 2.65 percent holding in the stock, and FIIs have increased its stake to 41.04 percent from 40.98 percent in the June quarter. In FY21 so far the stock price has risen 0 percent to Rs 125.70 as on October 26.

live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Indicating their will to take control of Fortis Healthcare, the Munjal-Burman team on Monday wrote to the company saying that it was open to rebidding if the board calls for fresh offers.

The team comprises Sunil Munjal of Hero Enterprise and the Burman family of Dabur group.

The move comes ahead of the meeting of Fortis board scheduled on May 30 to approve Q4 results, and work on modalities of laying out fresh bid process.

The Fortis board had earlier approved the Munjal-Burman offer but its chances of getting shareholders nod dimmed after four directors who backed the duo's offer exited last week under pressure from minority shareholders.

In addition, the shareholders also ratified three nominees who voted against the offer as independent directors.

Large sections of Fortis shareholders were unhappy over the bid process laid out by the earlier board that was packed with members close to the erstwhile promoters. The boards decision not to give bidders an opportunity to do due-diligence and accept only binding offers were alleged to be impediments in getting the right sale price for Fortis.

. . .we provide our consent for the company to re-open a bidding process in order to facilitate the company expeditiously finalise and close its fund-raising so that the company's business does not suffer any further, thus ensuring that the larger interests of the company served, the Munjal-Burman letter said.

Munjal-Burmans said they continue to have belief in the company and will be keenly interested in evaluating their participation in any such process.

Manipal-TPG consortium and Malaysia-based IHH Healthcare have already said they are participating in the fresh bid process and have extended their deadlines for Fortis to accept their offers.

Shares of Fortis rose 1.17 percent and were trading at Rs 146.50 on BSE at 1.18 pm, the benchmark Sensex gained 0.71 percent to 35,171.81 points.
Indian Premier League came to a conclusion on Sunday when Chennai Super Kings won the trophy for the third time in 11 years. Australian Andrew Tye, who played for Kings XI Punjab, bagged the Purple Cap by picking most wickets in IPL 2018. Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kane Williamson scored most numbers of runs in the tournament, claiming the Orange Cap.

From a financial perspective, the question that arises is which player provided the most 'returns' on investment? The IPLT20 website provides a list of most valuable players though it does not divulge what parameters were used.

The list seems to be led by impact players, which includes the likes of Sunil Narine, Shane Watson and Rashid Khan, who undeniably have been instrumental in the campaign of their respective teams. However, they certainly are not the best value for money players. To deduce whether a player is 'value for money', one has to analyse the player's contribution.

Calculating players contribution

In order to calculate the monetary value of the contribution of players in IPL 2018, their cumulative contribution was calculated.

Taking 10 random matches in IPL, which included some low scoring and high scoring ones as well as matches which were decided on the basis of D/L method, a run equivalent of a wicket was calculated. This involved adding total runs scored in the match and dividing that by the total number of wickets which fell in those 10 matches. The value for one wicket in the IPL 2018 was calculated equivalent to 34.29 runs.

Also read: 5 uncapped Indians who impressed the most in IPL 2018

Wickets taken by a player was multiplied by the run equivalent and the result was then added to the runs scored by the same player. This gave the total contribution of a particular player in the IPL.

For example, West Indian all-rounder Sunil Narine picked 17 wickets. His run equivalent for the wickets taken would be 582.93. Adding this to the runs he scored (357), his contribution in terms of runs was 939.93. Now dividing his contribution by the amount he was purchased for, his contribution per lakh rupees comes out to be 1.11 run equivalent.

For the sake of calculation, it does not take into account if a particular player actually played the match or was sitting in the dugout - as a franchise will have to pay the salary in any case. However, the injured players who pulled out of the tournament were not considered .

On the other hand, the fact that English players Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who were not able to play Rajasthan Royals' last fixture due to their national duties, was taken into account and their salary for 13 matches was used for the calculation.

The calculations, hence, throw some surprising results.

'Value for money' players

Going purely by the contribution in terms of runs or wickets by players who got a chance to play, leg-spinner Mayank Markande emerges as the best bet in IPL 2018. Playing for Mumbai Indians, Markande picked 15 wickets from 14 games. Interestingly, he was bought at his base price of mere Rs 20 lakh.

Rajasthan Royals' Shreyas Gopal emerged second best value for money player. Medium pacer Prasidh Krishna, Nepali spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and South African Lungi Ngidi complete the top five list.

Players Cost (in Rs lakh) Wickets taken Wicket-Run equivalent* Runs scored Contribution (Wicket run equivalent + Runs scored) Runs scored per lakh rupees* Monetary value of wickets (in thousand rupees) Mayank Markande 20 15 514.35 21 535.35 26.77 75 Shreyas Gopal 20 11 377.19 50 427.19 21.36 55 Prasidh Krishna 20 10 342.9 0 342.9 17.15 50 Sandeep Lamichhane 20 5 171.45 0 171.45 8.57 25 Lungisani Ngidi 50 11 377.19 0 377.19 7.54 22

In the top five, apart from Lungi Ngidi, who was bought by Chennai at Rs 50 lakh, all other players were bought at a paltry Rs 20 lakh.

Scoring runs are vital but the above graph outlines the importance of quality bowlers in T20 format.

Among the most expensive players, Manish Pandey (Rs 11 crore), Virat Kohli (Rs 17 crore), Jaydev Unadkat (Rs 11.5 crore) and Glenn Maxwell (Rs 9 crore) provided least 'returns on investments'. The biggest financial disappointments were the most expensive player auctioned this year - Ben Stokes (Rs 12.5 crore) and KXIP captain Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 7.6 crore).

Players Cost (in Rs lakh) Wickets taken Wicket-Run equivalent* Runs scored Contribution (Wicket run equivalent + Runs scored)* Runs scored per lakh rupees Ben Stokes 1250 8 274.32 196 470.32 0.40 Jaydev Unadkat 1150 11 377.19 49 426.19 0.37 KL Rahul 1100 0 0 659 659 0.60 Manish Pandey 1100 0 0 284 284 0.26 Chris Lynn 960 0 0 491 491 0.51 Rashid Khan 900 21 720.09 59 779.09 0.87 Glenn Maxwell 900 5 171.45 169 340.45 0.38 Krunal Pandya 880 12 411.48 228 639.48 0.73 Sanju Samson 800 0 0 441 441 0.55 R Ashwin 760 10 342.9 102 444.9 0.59 Dinesh Kartik 740 0 0 498 498 0.67 Chris Woakes 740 8 274.32 17 291.32 0.39 Andrew Tye 720 24 822.96 32 854.96 1.19 Jofra Archer 720 15 514.35 8 522.35 0.73 Dwayne Bravo 640 14 480.06 141 621.06 0.97

The following table shows contributions from the 15 most expensive players in IPL 2018 auctions.

Special mentions

There were some outstanding players who neither feature in the most expensive players' list nor in the least expensive players' list. Nonetheless, they proved their worth for their respective franchises. They include Kane Williamson, Siddarth Kaul, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur and Ambati Rayudu.

Note: The players' performance data is taken from the IPL website . As the website did not provide data on players who scored less than 13 runs in the tournament, there is a probability of slight errors in resultant data for some players. IPL auction data sourced from ESPNcricinfo
As climate change makes itself more and more felt, fossil fuels are being looked at as something that needs to be changed. In an effort to move towards something more sustainable auto companies have no doubt started moving towards the electric path. And while the road will be long and hard, it is not undoable. Here are the electric cars that are already on sale in India.

India will have to wait some time before having a stable ecosystem for electric mobility in the country as government think tank NITI Aayog and various ministries are having a tough time building consensus regarding future roadmap.

Officials in the know told Moneycontrol that fostering a proper environment for electric vehicles will take some time as there is no final plan for incentives to be provided.

Having a proper EV environment will take time We still have to decide how (and how much) the incentives will reach the citizens, said a government official.

The Centre had launched Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme in 2015 for two years, to provide subsidy on purchase on electric vehicles. The scheme, which was first extended till March 2018, has, now, been extended till September 2018.

Under the scheme, government provides subsidy up to Rs 22,000 on two wheelers, Rs 61,000 on three wheelers and Rs 1,87,000 on four wheelers.

Also read: Cabinet may soon consider FAME-II scheme with Rs 9,381 cr outlay

It has been learnt that that the government will take time before finalising the second phase of the policy. Another official said that ministries and NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog have suggested different plans to build environment for EVs in the country and consensus building is a problem right now.

There are multiple issues NITI Aayog says that we should start by pushing electricity based public transport system in two or three citiesThey dont agree with giving incentives on few two wheelers or few cars at hand, he said, adding that ministries, on the other hand, want to push electric mobility pan-India by subsidising the vehicles.

One of the clauses under the proposed FAME-II scheme has also been a point of contention as it says that subsidy on four wheelers will be given at the rate of Rs 10,000 per kilowatt.

Also read: Heres why Road min took U-turn on Electric Vehicles' policy

The way FAME-II has been structured its not going to benefit anybody, said the official. Apart from scooters, nothing will be sold.

He said that the scheme talks about 20 percent subsidy or a subsidy of Rs 10,000 per kilowatt for car which is futile.

An electric car, for example by Mahindra, has 14 kilowatt power which equals to a maximum subsidy of Rs 1,40,000. A car costing Rs 13 lakh with a subsidy of only Rs 1.4 lakh is not an attractive bid, he explained.

Road to electric mobility has been bumpy ever since union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, aborted the plan to have a separate policy for EVs earlier this year. The policy was said to be in the offing for almost a year. While the minister first said that India will have an all-electric fleet by 2030, this deadline was later retracted by Centre saying that it expects to have 30-40 percent electric fleet in a decade.

Centre, however, has been trying to steadily build an environment for electric fleet in India.

Also read: Auto-makers relax! 2030 isnt final for roll out of electric cars in India

Recently, government said that 30,000 slow charging stations and 15,000 fast charging stations will be set up over the next 3-5 years to improve electric infrastructure. It has also been reported that Rs 9,381 crore will be spent between 2018-19 and 2022-23 under FAME-II scheme, after cabinet nod is received. Government has also apportioned Rs 260 crore for FAME scheme in union budget for 2018-19.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) on two wheeled electric vehicles is levied at the rate of 12 percent, while it is 28 percent for three wheeled electric vehicle.

In December last year, cabinet approved electric mode for public transportation system in 11 Indian cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Jammu and Guwahati.
Representataive Image

live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) feels a merger with MTNL will be positive for both the companies, but there are a few impediments like the latters huge debt and the difference between pay scales which need to be sorted out, a top official has said.

However, there is no specific plan on the merger in the works at present, beyond the appointment of a consultant by the government.

The state-run telco has inked a pact with Softbank to co-work on "interest areas" and is also in talks with the Japanese telecom companys investee company Paytm for a tie-up, the official said.

"Merger between the two (MTNL and BSNL) is going to be good for both the companies. Lets take the argument that it is going to be good, but there are various issues that need to be sorted out," its chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava told PTI recently.

The impediments include MTNLs debt of over Rs 16,000 crore as of December 2017 and the difference between the pay scales for employees of both the companies, he said.

Another difficult factor will be MTNL being a widely-owned listed entity, he added.

In the comments that come after telecom minister Manoj Sinha has denied any plan to merge the two state-run loss making telcos, Shrivastava said there is no specific plan in the works.

"Not at this point of time. The government has appointed a consultant to frame the timeline and roadmap for the merger of BSNL and MTNL," he said, when asked if there is a plan to merge the two.

The CMD, however, declined to elaborate both on the tie-up with Softbank and proposed joining hands with payments bank Paytm.

"At this point of time, an agreement has been signed (with Softbank) and we are working on various interest areas...Lets see what happens," he said, making it clear that it does not involve equity changing hands.

He said while the company, which has a reach into all the corners of the country, has no plans to venture into the payments bank space as has been done by many other telcos, he said.

BSNL has launched a mobile wallet in association with largest lender SBI and will be working to promote that as well, he said.

He said FY19 will be a year of transition, where it hopes to increase revenue on greater volumes and expanding market share, even as it continues to shed average revenue per user (ARPUs).

After the arrival of the deep-pocketed Reliance Jio, BSNL has actually seen its market share increase and hopes to continue this, he said.

The state-run player wants to take competition "head-on" and is working on a strategy that involves "meeting tariff by tariff," Shrivastava said.
Let us start with a brief history of India's hospitality Industry before World War 11 because this business family expanded a hospitality empire in a country where the idea of luxury in select locations was appropriated largely by the British.

We have already spoken to you in one of our previous podcasts about how JRD Tata pioneered the idea of Indian hospitality. But post independence in 1947, there was no movement or spurt of growth in the hospitality sector. In 1956, when the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, returned from the Non-Aligned Movement Conference, he saw the urgent requirement for world class hospitality to host visiting dignitaries.

What resulted was the building of the first-ever government funded Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi.

An agreement between India Tourism with Sheraton/ Holiday Inn also franchised a project in Bombay. The ideal of "Be Indian, Buy Indian" saw three Welcome Group Hotels being commissioned between 1975 and 1977.

By now, there were three leading Indian hotel companies in India. The Taj, and the Welcome Group, the Oberoi hotels, and this is where our big Indian family story of the day begins. Ladies and gentleman, we bring you the story of the Oberois.

Poverty drove him to Simla in 1922 with his young wife. In Simla, he approached one Mr. Grove, the manager of the upscale hotel Cecil where the British often congregated to escape the summer heat and was hired as a clerk. It is said his demeanour, perfectly knotted tie and smart shoes impressed Grove.

The story of the Oberois begins with the irrepressible Mohan Singh Oberoi who was born on August 15, 1898, in Bhaun, a small village in undivided Punjab.

His father Attar Singh Oberoi was a humble contractor in Peshawar and died early as victim of a deadly cholera epidemic when Mohan was just a few months old.

Battling great odds, Mohan first completed his basic education in the village school, matriculated from DAV School in Rawalpindi and passed his intermediate examinations from Lahore.

Circumstances were such that he needed a job as soon as possible and became a supervisor at the age of 18 in a relative's shoe factory but the factory shut down because of communal unrest and riots.

In 1927, Clarke, who had by then been managing Cecil Hotel for a while, was offered a 1 year contract to manage a property called Delhi Club. He invited his most promising employee to help him in this new venture. Their first joint venture was a catering contract for Delhi Club.

This was a 50-room property and soon, Mohan pressed upon Clarke to buy out the hotel. A Delhi based contractor Sardar Bahadur Narain Singh lent the duo Rs 135,000 for the deal. Interestingly, the contractor went on to build the Imperial in Delhi. The shadow of debt, however, was beginning to loom.

But before we talk about that, we must share with you, an interesting anecdote involving Sardar Bahadur Narain Singh and Mohan Singh.

He took over the Grand in 1937, which had been shut down for over five years over fears of contamination in its water supply. To his first guests, he promised that both water and food would be brought from outside. With his by now polished to perfection business acumen and passion for details, he turned this struggling property into a runaway success.

World War II was on and this was a time for austerity and a different brand of hospitality. Calcutta was packed with soldiers and to accommodate them, Mohan Singh refurbished the hotel from top to bottom and added 1500 beds which were offered for just Rs 10.

Business was so brisk that cashiers could not keep up and were pushing cash under the carpet to count it the next morning.

New beginnings and expansion

And soon the Oberoi empire began to expand.

Mohan began to buy shares in what was then India's leading hotel collective, Associated Hotels of India Ltd. What followed next was straight from a Salim Javed script for Yash Chopra. In 1944, he arrived uninvited at the annual meeting of Associated Hotels of India Ltd. With him was a canvas bag stuffed with controlling shares which he presented with a flourish to the directors. With this move, he gained control over hotels located in Delhi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

In 1949, Mohan floated The East India Hotels Ltd (EIHL), named after the East India Company. Associated Hotels of India then merged with EIHL.

Mohan's skill in updating and reviving failing properties held him in good stead and his acquisitions included the Soaltee Hotel in Katmandu, Mena House close to the Egyptian pyramids; and Hotel Windsor in Melbourne that he renovated back to life and profit.

Personal and professional setbacks

Mohan was on cordial terms with General Ayub Khan, and on his advice" had invested in and developed four hotels in Pakistan -- Faletti's in Lahore, Flashmans in Rawalpindi, the Cecil in Murree and Deans in Peshawar. In 1965, when a war between India and Pakistan broke out, it cost Mohan the four hotels and all the passion he had invested went to waste.

The war put an end with finality to his dreams of doing business in Pakistan. To add insult to injury, they received a measly sum of just Rs 800,000 at a postwar sale of properties in the 1970s.

The Oberoi legacy continues

Prithviraj Singh "Biki" Oberoi remained as the Executive Chairman of EIH Limited (formerly East India Hotels) till 2013, a post that he acquired after the death of his father. He continues to successfully guide The Oberoi Group, which runs a chain of luxury hotels, The Trident hotels and Oberoi Hotels & Resorts.

His son Vikarm is now the CEO and Managing Director of EIH and his nephew Arjun Oberoi (the son of Tilak Oberoi) currently looks after the Project Development and is designated as Managing Director- Development.

Even though in his eighties, the venerable Biki continues to live, breathe, talk and ideate hospitality at the Oberoi Farms farmhouse -cum-office on the outskirts of Delhi.

In his years of active stewardship, he enhanced the growth of the Oberoi brand and learnt from his father to make the best of the worst. In an interview, he recalled once how in 1942, after Calcutta had been bombed, Mohan took him, a very young Biki in his car to the docks to show him the devastation caused by Japanese bombing. These visuals would prepare him to face the destruction that the Trident suffered during the terror attack in 2008 when gunmen spent two days hiding in the hotel, killing about 20 guests and 11 staff members.

The interiors of the hotel were in shambles and Biki and his team spent over 18 months and almost $40m rupees rebuilding everything from a scratch.

The pristine interiors are now guarded like never before. Guests have to go through airport security protocol and no chances are taken.

Though Mohan was prepared by destiny for inevitable success, Biki was prepared by his father to succeed in more ways than one. Biki was educated in St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, India, and later the United Kingdom and Switzerland. He graduated in Hotel Management from Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2010, he was recognised as the Corporate Hotelier of the World by Hotels magazine.

Till he hit his forties, he had never lived in a house and hopped from one hotel to another all across India.

Mohan also sent his son on a trip around the world to let him savour the different dimensions of international hospitality.

In 1954, Biki was given a modest little enterprise to run, and his first  it was Maidens in New Delhi. The shortage of adequate accommodation in Delhi in those days saw many diplomats making a beeline for Maidens including an Egyptian ambassador who stayed there for over eight years.

Father and son also collaborated in building a truly industrial-scale hotel in Delhi in 1965 and it had swimming pools, multiple restaurants and 320 rooms even though it was tough, considering foreign exchange was scarce in the years before the liberalisation of economy.

Things have changed since them and hotels have also become business centres and need all the attendant paraphernalia to facilitate conferences, meetings and more. Hotels are now also fitness and wellness destinations as also event hubs and the Oberois have kept up with the trends but what Biki has distilled from his years in the business is that the true capital of any business is people. In this case, the staff and the guests.

Biki knows that in any industry but most importantly in the hospitality industry, training the staff to serve in the highest traditions of service and to keep them inspired is key to lasting growth and success.

As of 2011, the group's total revenue worth was Rs 1142.95 crores and the Oberois were now operating 29 luxury hotels and 2 river cruise ships in five countries under the luxury Oberoi and five-star Trident & Maidens brands.

Oberois also became one of the most decorated hotel chains and diversified successfully into areas like flight catering, airport eateries, travel, car rentals, project management and corporate air charters.

In the domestic arena, Oberois directly competes with Hilton hotels, Hyatt hotels, Marriott international & Taj Hotels.

Even in his eighties, Biki remains as feisty as ever and lives at the Oberoi Farms farmhouse -cum-office on the outskirts of Delhi.

In 2016, he approved the decision to shut down Oberoi's historic and one of its most profitable properties in Delhi to renovate it at the cost of over Rs 325 crore.

Having inherited his father's eye for fine detailing and aesthetics, he hired Adam Tihany, a New York-based designer and architect to give the hotel a fresh, contemporary uplift while retaining its classicism.

It is important to acknowledge here that this was a hugely risky preposition but then the son of Mohan Singh Oberoi has learnt from the best to turn adversity into opportunity, having navigated the challenges of doing business in colonised India to working in an increasingly liberal economy that has brought with it international competitors like Four Seasons, Hyatt, and Marriott.

The present

Even though, Biki has today passed the baton of running EIH to his son Vikram and nephew Arjun (the son of Bikis brother Tilak Raj Tikki Oberoi), he remains the captain of the Oberoi enterprise. Mr Hospitality himself has the final word, always.

Biki knows that he cannot compete with his rivals on the back of numbers but he can offer what they cannot. Nostalgia and old world values that have stood the test of time.

As he said once in an interview to Fortune India, We want to be the best, not the biggest.

So the race was never with anyone else and there was never an itch to turn hospitality into a commodity. The promise was always to offer a premium service experience and that has never been diluted even if its costs the brand some additional revenue.

The values of exemplary service have trickled down to the next generation and a story goes that once Anand Mahindra, the head of the Mahindra Group asked for a glass of water during a gym session at an Oberoi property and was quickly served by a well turned out gentleman who later turned out to be Vikram Oberoi, Bikis son.

One thing the Oberois have never done is to overreach the brief. They have invested in their strengths and recognised their failures well in time. Biki is aware that today in a market teeming with hotel promotions, inviting home stays and the influx of new players, smart marketing strategies are a must.

One of his favourite go to corporate bibles is a study on tech disruption by Mark Woodbridge that advocates disruptive change over obsolete ideas whose time has passed.

He has also ensured that EIH doesnt own the rights to the Oberoi brand and those remain within the family.

Vikram, his son and Arjun, his nephew supposedly work as a coherent unit under his guidance and there is no obvious tussle for oneupmanship.

Because perhaps even they know that though they can add new dimensions to the Oberoi brand, its primary energy and vision comes from a grand old man who refuses to stop learning or to hang up his boots.
NCR-based real estate developer Gaurs Group plans to venture into the hospitality segment by the end of the year with an overall investment of approximately Rs 65 crore. The plan includes three hospitality properties across Ghaziabad and Greater Noida West having a total capacity of over 200 rooms to be developed in three properties, a company release said.

Ghaziabad will see a 40-room property being offered at Gaur Central Mall in RDC with an investment of Rs 15 crore along with the remaining two properties in Greater Noida West at Gaur City Club and Gaur City Mall with a setup of 70 rooms at Rs 30 crore and 100 rooms at Rs 20 crore respectively. The properties in Greater Noida West are to be launched by the end of this year, it said.

The properties to be developed would be of different genres and follow the pattern of business boutique resorts offering 4-star luxury. Currently, the group plans to develop a chain of properties which would later be offered on a franchise model.

Regions like Ghaziabad and Greater Noida West lack good hospitality properties. We always have had the knack to deliver quality products at the right place and these three projects would prove to be on the same lines. We are very confident that with this venture into the hospitality industry, we would set new benchmarks for ourselves and the industry together that would be possible through continuous investments in technology and service innovations, says Manoj Gaur, MD, Gaurs Group.
Moneycontrol News

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group is tying up with Mumbai-based IL&FS to develop solar power in India, according to a report in The Economic Times.

SB Energy and IL&FS will jointly develop more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in India by 2025, the report adds.

SB Energy is SoftBank's power and energy investment division.

SB Energy executive chairman Manoj Kohli confirmed the plan to the paper. The deal support's the government's push to develop renewable energy.

The formal announcement of the agreement is expected early this week, the report adds.

Last month, SoftBank joined hands with Chinese company GCL System Integration Technology Co for a solar power venture in India worth $930 million.

The Japanese company had in 2015 said it would invest $20 billion, along with Foxconn Technology and Bharti Enterprises, in solar power projects in India.

SB Energy has already won bids to set up 1.4 GW of solar power projects in India, the report says.

India plans to achieve solar capacity of 100 GW by 2022.
May 28, 2018 / 09:00 PM IST

Congress to hold state-wide protest on May 31 against the rising fuel prices

Punjab Congress today announced a state-wide protest on May 31 against the rising fuel prices and sought Rs 100 per quintal as bonus for paddy growers, claiming high diesel prices had put additional financial burden of crores of rupees on growers during the last one year. Taking a dig at the BJP leaders, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar sought to know whether they will now again resort to 'Bharat Bandh' and 'Jail Bharo Andolan' which he said, they had announced on May 31, 2012 (during UPA regime) against the high fuel prices.


There cannot be any comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan as talks and terror cannot go together, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today, but asserted that engagements such as track-two diplomacy and NSA-level meetings will keep taking place.

"We had separated NSA talks from comprehensive bilateral talks as we said terror and talks cannot go together but talks on terror should be held. Under NSA-level mechanism, there are discussions on terror," she told a press conference while ruling out softening of India's position towards Pakistan.

Swaraj also emphasised that there cannot be talks with Pakistan when the country was pushing terrorists to India and when funeral processions were taking place on the border. "We are always ready for talks with Pakistan but with a caveat that terror and talks cannot go together. This is our position and there is no change in it," she said when asked about possibility of talks with Pakistan ahead of general elections in the country in July.

She further said India was ready for talks even before elections and elections there had nothing to do with it. "We are ready for talks before elections if Pakistan shuns terrorism."

After the terror attack on Pathankot airbase in January 2016, India had announced that it will not engage in talks with Islamabad until it stops cross-border terrorism.

"Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon, to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti (when there are funeral processions taking place on the border, talk of dialogue is not appropriate)," Swaraj said.

Swaraj said she herself had gone to Pakistan to start the process of comprehensive bilateral dialogue, but after a few days, the terror attack on Pathankot air base took place.

The external affairs minister said talks under various mechanisms, including between the NSAs of the two countries, as well as BSF and Pakistan rangers keep happening.

Swaraj also mentioned about last month's track II (Neemrana dialogue) under which a delegation of former Indian diplomats and experts had travelled to Pakistan to find ways to improve ties."When official dialogue stops, these mechanisms work."

Asked whether a SAARC without Pakistan was possible, she said it was not a solution.

"That grouping will not remain a grouping if a country goes out of it," Swaraj said.

Swaraj also rejected Congress' criticism that there was a flip flop on government's Pakistan policy.

"It was because of our consistent policy, Pakistan has been isolated and the international community has been putting pressure on Pakistan to take action against terrorism. Because of this pressure, they are now wanting to talk to us," she said.

The minister also hit out at Pakistan over its "Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018" relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying Pakistan always "distorts history".

"Pakistan tries to teach us history and geography. It is one country which does not believe in rule of law and I would just say one thing to their answer 'look who's talking', Swaraj asserted.

Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly of the region. The order is being seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.

India yesterday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis.

Swaraj's remarks came hours after Pakistan termed India's claim over Jammu and Kashmir as "spurious" and said it contradicts everything from history to the situation on the ground.
In an interview to a TV news channel, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was ready to hold talks with separatists in the Valley led by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Singh told the TV channel, If Hurriyat is ready to come to the table for talks, we are ready for it." However, he added, there had been no such indication from them to this effect till date.

The Union Home Minister also told a newspaper in another interview that he was even prepared to hold talks with Islamabad if they were ready for it. To not welcome anyone who wants to talk is not the right thing, he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti welcomed this statement of Singh, saying it would pave the way for peaceful dialogue with all stakeholders in the Valley. She said this was indeed an encouraging step given the positive outcome of Ramzan ceasefire on the ground. Mufti also hoped that the Hurriyat would respond affirmatively to Singhs statement and would use this opportunity to engage in a dialogue with the Centre, The Times of India reported.

The Hurriyat has not yet reacted to the Home Ministers statement. However, its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had mentioned that the party was intent on resolving the issue of Kashmir so that bloodshed stops in the Valley and peace prevails.
On the eve of his visit to Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that India had a robust strategic partnership with all the three countries and his visit would provide a further boost to the country's Act East Policy. In Singapore, he will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security meet, on June 1.

"This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address. It would be an opportunity to articulate India's point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region," he said.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the prime minister said he would be in Jakarta tomorrow on the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

"This is my first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister. I am looking forward to my discussions with President Widodo on 30 May, as also to our joint interaction with the India-Indonesia CEOs Forum. I will also address the Indian community in Indonesia," he said.

He said India and Indonesia enjoyed strong and friendly ties and shared deep historical and civilisational linkages.

"Both countries are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, plural and open societies. I am confident that my visit to Indonesia will create greater synergy between Asia's two largest democracies and further elevate our bilateral ties," he said.

He said, on May 31, on his way to Singapore, he will make a brief halt in Malaysia to congratulate the new Malaysian leadership and looks forward to meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"In Singapore, I will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of Fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence. Singapore entities have become major partners with India in areas like urban development, planning, smart cities and infrastructure development. My visit in Singapore presents an opportunity for both countries to engage further," he said.

On 31 May, Modi will visit the India-Singapore enterprise and innovation exhibition and will also address a business and community event followed by a roundtable meeting with select top CEOs of Singapore to discuss business and investment opportunities.

On June 1, the prime minister will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob and hold delegation level talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee (Hsien Loong).

"(I) am looking forward to my visit to the Nanyang Technological University where I would interact with young students," he said.

Later in the evening, he will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue.

"This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address. It would be an opportunity to articulate India's point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region," he said.

On June 2, he will unveil a plaque at Clifford Pier, where Gandhiji's ashes were immersed in sea on March 27, 1948. He would also visit some places of worship that have civilisational linkages with India.

"The last element of my programme would be a visit to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore where I will visit the Indian Naval Ship INS Satpura and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy.

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will provide a further boost to our Act East Policy and enhance our relations and engagements with all the three countries," he said.

India's Act East Policy, that was introduced by the Modi government, focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka cheif minister HD Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said he was at the 'mercy' of Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka as his government had not received the full mandate which his party had sought in the assembly elections.

Ahead of his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfill it.

However, he reminded people that JD(S) did not get an absolute majority, which meant he and his party were rejected by the electorate. "The people of the state rejected me and our party.

I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farm leaders too and how much they supported me," he said "Mine is not an independent government.

I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state," Kumaraswamy said.

The Chief Minister said he has certain compulsions as a politician. However, he has absolutely clarity on the issue of farm loan waivers, he said. Slamming BJP and other farmers' leaders, he said there was no need for any farmers' association to pressurise him (on farm loan waiver). "I am one step ahead of you to work for the farmers. You need not have to ask me for my resignation over farm loan waiver.

"If I fail to do that then I myself will resign from the post. Farm loan waiver is my priority. Can't you wait for a week? Even the cabinet has not been formed yet," he added.

Kumaraswamy urged farmers not to take the extreme step of committing suicide and to wait for a week as he was in the process of finding a way out to waive loans, not just of cooperative societies,but also nationalised banks. His remarks came in the wake of BJP's call for a state-wide bandh tomorrow, demanding immediate waiver of farm loans, as promised by the JD(S) in their manifesto.

BJP state president had on May 25 announced a state-wide bandh on May 28 if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore were not waived by then. JD(S) leadership has been saying they have to seek the consent of its coalition partner Congress before taking any decision.

To a question on the Congress demand that the finance portfolio be given to it, he said it was quite natural for them to ask it as some in the party believed they could deliver better.

He brushed aside talk of a tussle between the two coalition partners over distribution of portfolios.
Buoyed by the formation of its alliance government in Karnataka, a Congress leader has hinted the party would be inclined to align with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, where the Assembly polls are due later this year.

MP Congress chief Kamal Nath and state assembly election committee campaign chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia would be in favour of tying-up with the BSP to sweep the Assembly polls, said a senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be named.

However, the leader also said the party high command would take a final call on stitching any alliance with the BSP.

Earlier, when reporters asked Nath about his party's strategy for the elections in the central Indian state, he had said the party had not started talks of alliance with anyone.

"I will take everyone's opinion on this and the modalities of a tie-up," he had said.

Nath said the BJP had pocketed just 31 per cent votes in the 2014 general elections, while 69 per cent of the ballots were cast against the saffron party.

"The BJP then claimed that it got majority but what sort of a mandate it secured?" he asked.

The Congress does not want fragmentation of votes and keeping this in perspective, talks were going to be initiated at the national and the state-level, he had said.

A senior BSP leader, who is considered close to Mayawati, said they cannot comment on a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. "Behenji (Mayawati) deals with such issues," he added.

In the 2013 MP Assembly elections, the Congress and the BSP polled 36.38 per cent and 6.29 per cent respectively, of the total votes, whereas the BJP secured 44.88 per cent ballots.

The BJP won 165 seats, the Congress 58, the BSP four while independents won three seats in the 230-member Assembly in the last Assembly polls.

In the 2008 Assembly polls, the Congress and the BSP secured 32.85 and 8.97 per cent votes respectively, which was collectively four per cent more than the 37.64 per cent of the votes garnered by the BJP.

Since January last year, five Assembly by-elections were held in MP where the Congress won four and the BJP one. The BSP had not been in the fray in these bypolls.

Political analyst Rasheed Kidwai said if the Congress and the BSP enter into a pre-poll alliance, the combine might topple the BJP.

"Anti-incumbency against the BJP would also help the opposition if it unites against the ruling party," he said.

Kidwai said he strongly feels that the Congress and the BSP would form an alliance in MP in the wake of the much evident "camaraderie" between UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and BSP chief Mayawati during the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka chief minister.

Right now, the Congress's aim would be to wrest power from the BJP and it has already manifested that in Karnataka, he said, adding that "in the wake of this, the MP Assembly elections are going to be all the more interesting.
May 28, 2018 / 09:20 PM IST

Election Commission: No abnormality in EVMs at all. Malfunction was in VVPATs. Factors responsible may include:

1. First-time use by polling staff; whereas they have developed expertise in managing EVMs

2. Extreme heat

3. Placement of VVPAT under direct light and mishandling during use.

EC conducts root cause analyses in such cases to improve for future, CNN-News 18 reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah

With the NDA dispensation completing four years in office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with beneficiaries of central schemes while BJP chief Amit Shah will lead a mass outreach programme on the government's achievements, the party said.

Modi will interact with the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojna and the Mudra Yojna through video conference today and the day after, a statement, issued by the BJP's media head Anil Baluni, said.

As part of the 'Sampark for Samarthan' (contact for support) drive, right from Shah downwards, every member of the BJP will contact at least 10 people, it said.

Shah would contact at least 50 people, the statement said.

On the occasion of his government's fourth anniversary, the prime minister had yesterday launched a survey on his app, asking people to rate the performance of the BJP-led dispensation at the Centre and MPs and MLAs in their constituencies.

"It is your voice that counts! Tell me what you feel about the working of the central government, its initiatives and the development work in your constituency. Take part in this survey on the NaMo app," Modi had tweeted.

This was being done to gauge the people's views about the government, respective states and constituencies, according to official sources.

The survey assumes significance as the BJP prepares for the Lok Sabha polls, which are due in less than a year.

The Narendra Modi App has been a connectivity platform of choice for the prime minister who has often interacted with the people as well as his party's functionaries through it, the sources said.
Andhra Pradesh minister Kalava Srinivasulu said today that the TDP would not accept Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate of a "united front" in case it comes into being before the 2019 polls.

Srinivasulu said the TDP never had any equation with the Congress and the two parties would never join hands.

"We are 100 percent clear that the prime minister will not be from the BJP or the Congress. Rahul Gandhi will not be the prime ministerial face of a united front in case such an alternative comes into being with the support of the Congress," he said.

The remarks came days after TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu shared stage with leaders of several regional parties at the swearing-in of H D Kumaraswamy as the CM of the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka.

"After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, regional parties will play a major role at the Centre. The TDP will decide who will be the next prime minister," he said in response to a question from reporters on the sidelines of Mahanadu, a three-day annual conclave of the Telugu Desam Party.

The Congress "indiscriminately" divided the Telugu state, the minister for information and public relations minister said. "It did injustice to Andhra Pradesh. The same thing is happening under the BJP government."

Andhra Pradesh has been seeking special category status from the Centra on the grounds that it is at a disadvantage, especially after the loss of capital Hyderabad to Telangana.

In March, the TDP withdrew from the NDA government over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to the state.

Asked why the TDP did not pull out of the NDA government for four years, he said: "We did not withdraw the support earlier because we were dependent on the Centre. The state would have suffered a lot had we done that. We waited for fours years for the central government to make good on its promises to Andhra Pradesh."

Asked if Naidu could be projected as the prime ministerial candidate of the "third front", which a few regional parties have been mooting for some time as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP, the minister said: "Chandrababu Naidu has ruled himself out of the prime ministerial race, but the TDP will play the kingmaker.
Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia said that he would launch a new party on June 24.

Speaking to reporters here, Togadia flayed the Narendra Modi government and accused it of going back on its promises and failing to meet people's aspirations.

He rated the Modi government's performance as "minus 25 percent" and called the PM's foreign policy as "poor".

Togadia said that "selling big dreams was not enough", adding that nation-building was based on "truth of work that has to be seen on the ground".

He said that a huge number of people, associated with the RSS and the BJP, are "baffled" and "upset" as the Modi government is not seen doing anything in "ideological, socio-political and economic issues and was also making U-turns in some instances".

"It had hurt those people who are following the Hindutva ideology," Togadia claimed.

He demanded that the government pass a law in the Parliament to pave the way for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

He also demanded a ban on cow slaughter, repeal of Article 370 that conferred special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and implementation of a Uniform Civil Code.

Speaking about farmers, he said that the government should give them a minimum support price which is 50 percent more than the cost of production.

He said that the government's crop insurance scheme had failed as compensation was given to just eight percent farmers who had filed claims.

He criticised the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor project and said that the money to be invested in it should be used to upgrade the safety aspects of the railways so as to benefit 25 crore passengers.

Togadia had quit the VHP on April 14 this year after former Himachal Pradesh governor V S Kokje defeated his nominee Raghav Reddy in an election in Gurgaon for the post of VHP International president.
Joining the ranks of its peers Facebook and Google, Microsoft has said it is working to create a tool to detect algorithmic bias in artificial intelligence. The tool will alert the people that AI algorithm may be treating them unfairly based on their race or gender.

There have been reports in the past which have revealed that some AI systems tend to be biased against people of colour. For example, a ProPublica investigation in 2016 found that COMPAS used in the US judicial systems to decide if a criminal could be a future offender is biased against blacks.

As a lot of important judgements and decisions are being made based on AI systems, detection of unfair bias becomes important.

Quoting a senior researcher working at Microsoft, MIT Technology Review reported, things like transparency, intelligibility, and explanation are new enough to the field and not many have the experience or knowledge of leakages from where bias can creep into a system.

The tool by the software giant will be able to catch instances of unfairness but it wont be perfect. Of course, we cant expect perfectiontheres always going to be some bias undetected or that cant be eliminatedthe goal is to do as well as we can, Rich Caruna says.

Facebook in it F8 developer conference on May 2 announced its tool which could detect bias in an AI algorithm. The tool named Fairness Flow is designed to warn if an algorithm is making an unfair judgement about someone based on his or her race, gender, or age.

According to Facebook the need for such a tool arises as employees at the company HQ are increasingly getting dependent on AI-based systems to make important decisions.
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 28, 2018. Mamoudou Gassama living illegally in France is being honored by Macron for scaling an apartment building over the weekend to save a 4-year-old child dangling from a fifth-floor balcony. Thibault Camus/Pool via Reuters - RC1CBB2EE560

In a scene that can easily fit into one of those your neighbourhood superhero movies, a Malian immigrant in France was hailed a hero after he reportedly climbed four storeys from the ground in less than a minute to save a four-year-old girl boy hanging from the fourth-floor balcony.

Mamoudou Gassama, a 22-year-old Malian immigrant in France, became the darling of social media after a video of him climbing the four storeys amid cheers from the crowd present on the spot went viral.

Here's the video:

Gassama, who came to Paris a few months back dreaming to building a life there, has been named an honorary French citizen after meeting Frances president Emmanuel Macron.



Avec M. GASSAMA qui a sauve samedi la vie dun enfant en escaladant 4 etages a mains nues. Je lui ai annonce quen reconnaissance de cet acte heroique il allait etre regularise dans les plus brefs delais, et que la brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris etait prete a laccueillir. pic.twitter.com/xMpFlP1UFe

 Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 28, 2018

The footage was recorded last Saturday and the authorities assured Gassama for assistance in settling in the country, however, after meeting Macron, Gassama was made a naturalised citizen straight away.

Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo praised Gassama on Twitter for his act of bravery and phoned him personally for his deed.

Reporters from multiple news outlets in France tracked him down 24 hours after the video became viral where Gassama told him that he acted without thinking too much.

"I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child. I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down," he said in a report by France24.

The report states that the boys father had left him alone in the house. The boys father was arrested by the police for questioning and the mother was out of Paris.
Panmunjom : North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, poses with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a photo inside the Peace House at the border village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone Friday, April 27, 2018. Their discussions will be expected to focus on whether the North can be persuaded to give up its nuclear bombs. AP/ PTI(AP4_27_2018_000026B)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed in their surprise meeting to sitting down with President Donald Trump and to a "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula."

The Korean leaders' second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles, but their quickly arranged meeting on Saturday appears to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border.

At the White House, Trump said negotiations over a potential June 12 summit with Kim that he had earlier canceled were "going along very well." Trump told reporters that they are still considering Singapore as the venue for their talks. He said there is a "lot of good will," and that denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula would be "a great thing." The Koreas' talks, which Moon said Kim requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back-and-forth.

They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see the sit-down with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters on Sunday that Kim "again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," and that he told the South Korean leader he's willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful North Korea-US summit.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a "firm resolve" to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements "complete denuclearisation."

"What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearisation," Moon said.

"During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the U.S. and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearisation," he said.

Moon said North Korea and the United States will soon start working-level talks to prepare for the Kim-Trump summit. He said he expects the talks to go smoothly because Pyongyang and Washington both know what they want from each other.

Kim, in a telling line from a dispatch issued by the North's state-run news service earlier on Sunday, "expressed his fixed will on the historic (North Korea)-U.S. summit talks."

During Saturday's inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to "positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-U.S. relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace." They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1.

Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Saturday's Korean summit came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a Trump-Kim meeting.

Despite repeated references to "denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula" by the North, it remains unclear whether Kim will ever agree to fully abandon his nuclear arsenal.

The North has previously used the term to demand the United States pull out its 28,500 troops in South Korea and withdraw its so-called "nuclear umbrella" security commitment to South Korea and Japan. The North hasn't openly repeated those same demands after Kim's sudden outreach to Seoul and Washington.

Moon has insisted Kim can be persuaded to abandon his nuclear facilities, materials and bombs in a verifiable and irreversible way in exchange for credible security and economic guarantees.

Moon said on Sunday that the North's disarmament could be still be a difficult process even if Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul don't differ over what "complete denuclearisation" of the peninsula means.

Moon, who brokered the summit between Washington and Pyongyang, likely used Saturday's meeting to confirm Kim's willingness to enter nuclear negotiations with Trump and clarify what steps Kim has in mind in the process of denuclearisation, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at Seoul's Korea Institute for National Unification.

"While Washington and Pyongyang have expressed their hopes for a summit through published statements, Moon has to step up as the mediator because the surest way to set the meeting in stone would be an official confirmation of intent between heads of states," Hong said.

Some US officials have talked about a comprehensive one-shot deal in which North Korea fully eliminates its nukes first and receives rewards later.

But Kim, through two summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping in March and May, has called for a phased and synchronised process in which every action he takes is met with a reciprocal reward from the United States.
President Donald Trump drew gasps at the United Nations General Assembly last September when he threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea.

Eight months later, he said "everyone" thought he should get the Nobel Peace Prize for a new approach that aimed to put him at a table with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, to negotiate denuclearisation.

Now that planned meeting, scheduled for June 12 in Singapore, is off, capping a months-long back-and-forth with nuclear-armed Pyongyang and denying Trump the foreign policy victory he craved.

Speaking at a White House event, the president said the cancellation was a setback for North Korea and the world.

It was also a setback for Trump, who prides himself on his ability to make deals.

After pulling the United States out of the Iran nuclear agreement and aggravating allies with trade tariffs on steel and aluminum, a potential success with Kim would have created an opportunity for the former New York businessman and his supporters to tout his unconventional style as beneficial to the world.

"It's obviously a setback (for Trump.) Whether it's a blow is another matter altogether," said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a political analyst.

Galston said Americans were unlikely to blame Trump for the summit cancellation, even as they would have credited him had it proceeded with success.

"It would have been a tremendous coup if the summit had gone forward and it had produced something significant," he said.

Trump had raised expectations especially high for the get-together. He abandoned the heated rhetoric that had spurred concerns about war and adopted a conciliatory tone toward Kim, whom he referred to as open and honorable.

As late as Tuesday, during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Trump said the summit would be positive for the world and could happen in the future if not next month.

"It has a chance to be a great, great meeting for North Korea and a great meeting for the world," he said.

Two days later, Trump canceled.

"I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me," the president wrote in a letter to Kim, making clear how badly he wanted the meeting to take place.

"If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write."

A senior administration official said Trump himself dictated the letter, which also warned North Korea that U.S. nuclear power was vastly superior to Pyongyang's.

Optimistic rhetoric aside, the White House said Trump was ready to cancel the talks at any time.

"The president was always clear that he was prepared to walk away from this meeting, and he has kept his word," the official said.

LEVERAGE

But now, at least for the time being, Trump is in the same position as his predecessors, whom he has criticized repeatedly - even mocked - for failing to deal adequately with North Korea's nuclear threat.

It also leaves the administration's diplomatic initiatives in a weakened state.

Seeking a denuclearisation deal with North Korea was a top priority for a leader who came to the White House on a political promise of putting "America first" while withdrawing from international agreements on climate change and Iran.

The summit's demise also removes a factor that may have been helping Trump's political prospects domestically.

The president, who has been raging against a special counsel's probe of his 2016 presidential campaign and potential collusion with Russia, has seen his favourability rise in some polls in recent weeks, with some pointing to his movement with North Korea as a factor in his rising popularity.

It is too early to tell whether the cancellation will hurt him politically, but Whit Ayres, a political consultant, said it could have been worse if the summit had taken place and failed.

"Canceling an unproductive summit is better than having an unproductive summit," Ayres said.

Critics said Trump accomplished little with his efforts, leaving North Korea a nuclear power and handing away U.S. leverage by agreeing to meet with Kim in the first place.

"By agreeing to a leadership summit with Kim, Donald Trump gave away a good deal of America's leverage in exchange for nothing in return from the North Koreans," wrote Jamie Metzl, senior fellow in Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

The diplomatic push did provide at least one diplomatic success: the safe return of three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea. Trump welcomed the men home at Joint Base Andrews near Washington earlier this month.

North Korea also followed through on a pledge to blow up tunnels used for nuclear testing, though the White House said it was possible they could still be used in the future.

With congressional elections coming in November, Trump could have used a broader success with North Korea to bolster fellow Republicans' argument that they should hold on to control of Congress.

Barring another turnaround on the Korean Peninsula, such a success is now unlikely to be connected to a nuclear deal with Kim Jong Un.
Auto

With disposable income in India growing, self-drive holidays are gaining popularity and are expected to grow 35 percent annually, giving people freedom to explore offbeat destinations, say experts.

"The liberty to stop anywhere for meals or sightseeing empowers travellers," FCM Travel Solutions - Indian subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group, Australia, Managing Director Rakshit Desai told PTI here.

It also adds a new perspective to the whole self-exploration experience, which is overlooked in group tours with fixed itineraries. Besides, it gives travellers freedom to explore off-beat locations as per their interest, he added.

He said, his company has witnessed 35 percent year-on-year growth in the self-drive segment. "We are confident this trend going to increase from here."

Most travellers prefer picturesque or adventurous routes in the country like the coastal belts in the Konkan and hill stations such as Shimla and Manali in the north, especially during summers, he said.

"Internationally, most of our Indian travellers prefer the US, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Ireland," he added.

Young travellers, in age group of 25-35 years age group, are keen to opt for flexible travel lifestyle and have desire for experiential travel, he said.

"We see huge opportunity in this and expect a potential of double-digit growth in this segment," he added.

Echoing a similar view, Head of Self-Drive 365 at Cox and Kings, Debolin Sen, said, this segment is likely to grow by 15-20 percent till 2022, as new highways and expressways have given people an avenue to drive around in their cars and experience the local flavour and enjoy the landscape.

"Self-drive holidays is very popular overseas. In fact, Indians who travel to overseas destinations opt for self-drive vacations in New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland among others. In India, it is still in its infancy," he added.

Initially, a lot of youngsters opt self-drive within the country and then graduate to longer holidays overseas.

So, 25-30 year-old travellers are the main target segment in the domestic market, while 30-50 year-old travellers opt for self-drive overseas with a bit of experience, he added.

Expedia India Marketing Head, Brand, Manmeet Ahluwalia said the increased preference for road trips is due to decent GPS navigation systems, proliferation of internet connectivity and good roads.

"It is also gaining popularity in the metro cities as the best weekend gateway option," he added.

Experiential travellers, mostly professionally qualified ones who have already explored India, move to exploring international destinations in Europe, Australia and the US through self-drive, he said.

"People look for destinations which allow left side driving- which is the same as India like New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland, Maldives, Scotland and South Africa," he added.
A US delegation was holding talks with North Korean officials at a border truce village amid preparations for a summit between the two countries' leaders, the State Department said.

"A US delegation is in ongoing talks with North Korean officials at Panmunjom," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"We continue to prepare for a meeting between the President and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In a fresh study, real estate portal Point2 Homes found that Canadas 10 most expensive homes for sale right now are available starting at a bank-breaking $25,000,000.

The crown jewel of 2018s luxury market so far is situated at PH02 1011 W Cordova Street in Vancouver, which is selling for $38,000,000. Indeed, Vancouver remains the top luxury home destination in the country, Point2 Homes said.

If acquiring a piece of luxury real estate is on your mind, you might do well to focus your attention on Vancouver and its surrounding area. To the surprise of no one, British Columbia has the biggest number of high-end homes for sale of all the provinces included in this ranking: 6, the Point2 Homes report stated.
While multiple quarters have previously expressed fears that the Ontario Fair Housing Plans provisions might lead to a crippling slowdown in the red-hot Toronto real estate market, the citys land-transfer tax managed to surpass expected earnings in Q1 2018 by approximately $30 million.

Despite a noticeable decline in residential property price growth and sales volume, the latest report from interim chief financial officer Joe Farag attributed the revenue to robustness stemming from higher-than-anticipated non-residential market activity.

Toronto collected $156 million from the tax in the first three months of the year, around 24% higher than the prediction of $126 million.
QUINCY (AP)  The difficulty of raising two sons with autism into adulthood proves worthwhile for Otis and Gwendolyn Pleasant when live music fills their home.

Forced to choose only one song to play, Jason, 23, makes a quick decision. Drowning, he says to his brother, Christopher, 24, as he plugs in the black electric guitar he named Axl. Jason names all of his guitars.

Christopher, who is seated in front of the familys grand piano, wordlessly launches into the boy bands ballad. The way he seamlessly picks up with his younger brother is the result of hours of practice, a natural proficiency for the instrument or some combination of the two.

As Jason adds in the lyrics, Gwendolyn steps up and starts dancing and singing along with her two sons. Otis falls back to the far corner to admire his familys impromptu performance.

There were hard times when the boys were growing up  there are still moments when the couple has to teach their sons social cues that seem to be instinctual for most adults  but in the Pleasant household, there is never a dull moment, and performances like this are more the norm than the exception.

Christopher was in the third grade and Jason was in the first grade when they were both diagnosed with mild forms of autism. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 1 in 59 American children  1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls  is born with an autism spectrum disorder.

Jason, who wears a black Rugrats T-shirt with a jacket pulled over it, perks up at the first mention of acting, singing, playing instruments  any kind of performance interests him. He wants to be an entertainer and has started to amass a social media and YouTube following through his musical parody and dance videos. His YouTube channel, MyJazzyMac (Jukebox James), has more than 7,000 followers, he says with pride.

Im probably on the verge of 8,000, he says, but Im getting ahead of myself.

Jason can break into song and dance or recite monologues  his best is an impression of Whoopi Goldbergs hyena character in the Lion King  on the spot. He and Gwendolyn both volunteer at the Quincy Public Library  Jason as a childrens entertainer.

At the moment, he is focused on an upcoming Genevieve Goings show in Iowa. He has interacted with the Grammy-nominated songwriter and star of Disney Juniors Choo Choo Soul online in the past, and he reached out to her on social media to tell her he was attending. She said she will make sure he gets up on stage with her.

A 2014 John Wood Community College graduate, Christopher is the stats guy in the family. He can recall the name, band, album and release date of his extensive music library. A huge Price is Right fan, he can quickly conjure the year Bob Barker started hosting the show  at the time it was known as the New Price is Right  the year Bob Barker resigned and the year Drew Carey took over.

A large silver cross hangs from a chain around Christophers neck, and many of his conversations work their way back around to God. He comes by it naturally. There is a long line of preachers in the Pleasant family tree, and several of his cousins are preachers. Otis followed his father into the profession, and that could be what drew Christopher to it.

Ive learned over the years that I need to trust God, he says, that everyone has a purpose.

A favorite story in the Pleasant household, Christopher delivered his first sermon at 2 years old. Gwendolyn still laughs when remembering the way her toddler made his way up to the pulpit and threw his hands in the air in exultation.

He was saved at 9 when he made a confession of faith at the Cathedral of Worship. After that, he began reading scripture from the Bible to his parents every night and discussing with them what was said. He has delivered sermons over the years at First Baptist Church and Bethel AME, making him the fourth generation in the family to become a preacher.

I ask God what he wants me to talk about, Christopher says, and what God says goes.
Spring turkey season has wrapped up in Illinois and hunters had a rather chaotic go of it.

Overall, the 2018 harvest of 13,500 wild turkeys was 14 percent less than those taken during the 2017 season, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This includes the youth season that ran from the end of March into April. Five seasons were held in two zones in the state; beginning April 9 in the South Zone and continuing through May 17 in the North Zone.

Last year, hunters were approaching the 2006 state record of 16,569 turkeys harvested when they bagged 15,720.

Multiple factors likely contributed to the reduction in harvest totals this season, IDNR said.

We anticipated some declines as a result of the poor production of young turkeys noted during our 2017 Brood Survey last summer, said Luke Garver, IDNR wild turkey program manager. Youth-season hunters experienced cold and wet weather during both weekends in much of the state, and winter-like conditions continued into the early season segments in both the North and South zones. It is not often Illinois turkey hunters can say theyve had the opportunity to experience both snowfall and 90-degree weather in one season.

Morgan County hunters had one of the better success rates in the state. During the 2018 season, Morgan County hunters, including youths, harvested 123 gobblers. Thats just three fewer  a 2.4 percent decrease  than last year. The county was one of just 15 in the state to be within 5 percent of last years harvest.

Cass County was the only county in the region to harvest more turkeys than last year  217 in 2018 compared to 211 in 2017. Throughout the state, counties averaged about 7 percent fewer turkeys than last year, although the actual numbers varied significantly.

Other counties in the area did fair in comparison with the rest of the state. Their 2018 numbers are: Adams, 331 (compared to 395); Brown, 246 (compared to 299); Calhoun 194 (compared to 239); Fulton, 336 (compared to 378); Greene County, 137 (compared to 147); Hancock, 296 (compared to 325); Jersey, 163 (compared to 187); Macoupin, 275 (compared to 224); Pike, 310 (compared to 404), Sangamon, 111 (compared to 133), Schuyler, 256 (compared to 277); and Scott, 57, (compared to 98).

Overall, just more than 80 percent of the 100 counties in the state that allow turkey hunting saw a decreased harvest compared to last year.

The top counties for spring wild turkey harvest in the South Zone in 2018 were Jefferson (362), Randolph (303), Jackson (287), Marion (269) and Pope (261). The top five North Zone counties for spring turkey harvest this year were Jo Daviess (584), Fulton (336), Adams (331), Pike (310) and Hancock (296).

The statewide preliminary total includes the Youth Turkey Season harvest of 1,139 birds, compared with the record youth harvest of 1,539 turkeys in 2017. The statewide total record was set in 2006, when 16,569 turkeys were harvested. This was the second year the youth turkey season was open for two weekends statewide.
'Akufo-Addo is not in support of ...
President Donald Trump View Photos

President Donald Trump issued a Memorial Day proclamation for all Americans to remember military heroes who lost their lives in the defense of freedom.

Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here is the proclamation:

On Memorial Day, we pause in solemn gratitude to pay tribute to the brave patriots who laid down their lives defending peace and freedom while in military service to our great Nation. We set aside this day to honor their sacrifice and to remind all Americans of the tremendous price of our precious liberty.

Throughout the history of our Republic, courageous Americans have purchased our cherished freedom with their lives. Our 151 national cemeteries serve as the final resting place for millions of people, including veterans from every war and conflict, many of whom died while serving our country. We remain duty bound to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf and to remember them with thankfulness and unwavering pride. The fallen  our treasured loved ones, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens  deserve nothing less from a grateful Nation.

We must safeguard the legacies of our service members so that our children and our grandchildren will understand the sacrifices of our Armed Forces. As a part of this effort, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to keep the memories of our fallen heroes from ever fading away. The National Cemetery Administrations Veterans Legacy Program challenges our youth, from elementary school through college, to research and share the stories and sacrifice of their hometown veterans, who are forever honored at VA National, State, and tribal veterans cemeteries. To further ensure that our veterans legacies are remembered and celebrated, this program is developing an online memorialization platform that will amplify the voices of families, survivors, and Gold Star parents and spouses as they honor our beloved veterans and fallen service members.

Today, and every day, we revere those who have died in noble service to our country. I call upon all Americans to remember the selfless service members who have been laid to rest in flag-draped coffins and their families who have suffered the greatest loss. The sacrifices of our hallowed dead demand our Nations highest honor and deepest gratitude. On this day, let us also unite in prayer for lasting peace in our troubled world so that future generations will enjoy the blessings of liberty and independence.

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer.

I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I also request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

The KVML Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Sacramento, CA  Californians are asked to participate in a national moment of remembrance later today in honor of fallen military heroes.

Governor Jerry Brown has issued an official Memorial Day proclamation. You can read it below:

On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to Americans who have suffered and died in war.

The custom of marking this day originated just after the Civil War. To help heal the wounds of war, Americans in all parts of the country began decorating the graves of the dead with flowers, a universal symbol of the renewal of life. As a small step in the lengthy task of reuniting a nation divided, we chose to honor all the dead, Union and Confederate, regardless of our own allegiances during that terrible struggle. After the First World War, we expanded our observance to honor all Americans who have fought and died in any of our nations wars. In 1971, the United States Congress declared Memorial Day to be a national holiday observed on the last Monday in May.

Today, I ask all Californians to pay tribute to our fallen military heroes. In their memory, I have ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds throughout the state. In addition, I would ask you to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, and pause at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day for a moment of silence to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 28, 2018, as Memorial Day.
Saudi Arabia will partner with Houston-based Halliburton as it hopes to unlock a natural gas revolution similar to the shale boom that began in the U.S. more than a decade ago.

State oil company Saudi Aramco signed a three-year contract Sunday with the North American fracking leader to handle the hydraulic fracturing and completions of its unconventional gas wells. Saudi Arabia hopes to rely much more on its domestic gas to power the Kingdom's electric grid.

HIGH-PROFILE VISITOR: Saudi crown prince wraps up U.S. tour in Houston

Whiles Saudi Arabia is known as the world's largest oil exporter, it has vast supplies of gas as well, but much of it is difficult to recover from shale rock and tight sand. The goal is to use the unconventional drilling and fracking technologies developed in the U.S., especially in Texas, to tap into those gas resources.

The effort also is part of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" modernization plans to open Saudi's energy sector to foreign investors, including taking Aramco public eventually, while diversifying globally, especially along the Texas Gulf Coast. Saudi Arabia is increasingly investing in Texas petrochemical plants and refineries from Corpus Christi to Port Arthur.

The deal comes just a month after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the Saudi throne, capped a three-week U.S. tour in Houston, where he underscored the Kingdom's long-standing energy ties to the region.

Now, Halliburton is a bigger part of those overall plans.

"We believe Halliburton will work best with Saudi Aramco to help in our pursuit of unconventional gas to serve domestic needs, offset local crude burning, provide feedstock for chemical industry development, and spur regional economic development in line with Vision 2030, the Kingdom's national transformation program," said Mohammed Qahtani, Saudi Aramco's senior vice president of upstream.

The contract includes a guaranteed two years with the option for a one-year extension. The companies declined to dollar figures or additional details about the deal for now.

"We are excited to apply our broad knowledge, efficiency and experience in unconventionals from Halliburton's leadership position in North America to Saudi Arabia," said Halliburton Chief Executive Jeff Miller, who traveled to Saudi Arabia for a signing ceremony. "This is a great opportunity to provide a tailored application of Halliburton technology, logistics management and operational excellence to maximize Saudi Aramco's asset value and deliver optimal recovery."
Electronics permeate American life. And if the electricity that powers those devices was lost, so would many Americans.

Today, electricity is the third most important thing for sustaining life, behind only air and water, said State Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood. If the U.S. were to lose all electricity for 11 to 18 months, he told members of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, studies show 90 percent of the population would be lost.

Wed go back to the 1800s. No one knows how to plant tomatoes or potatoes anymore, he said.

He explained that the loss of electricity would eliminate everything from transportation and the ability to deliver food, water and medical supplies to communications.

Hall is discussing the subject because he sees a rising threat to electric grids around the world from electromagnetic pulses.

Whats concerning today is the geopolitical atmosphere, and our reliance on electronic technology, he said.

Hall, an Air Force veteran, began his active career as a systems engineer helping develop the Minuteman Missile System. He said the damage EMPs can cause to electric grids was discovered in the 1960s when both the United States and Russia conducted nuclear bomb tests in the atmosphere.

He told his audience that Russia and China both possess electromagnetic pulse technology and that the technology has been leased to Iran and North Korea. All four nations have the use of EMPs to wipe out Americas electric grids as part of their military protocol, he said.

Natural causes, primarily in the form of coronal mass ejections, better known as sun spots, he said. He said Earth narrowly missed a massive event in July 2012 and NASA puts the odds of a future threat at 12 percent.

And yet, he said, few steps have been taken to protect the commercial electric grid from such attacks. The nations military has taken steps, but he pointed out that the military relies on the commercial grid for 95 percent of its electricity.

The technology to protect against such pulses already exists, he said: Neutral grounding, surge protectors and shielding of computers.

Hall authored legislation requiring the states power companies to install technology to protect the grid from such threats. It failed in the last session and he plans to reintroduce it next year.

Id like the power companies to say they recognize the problem and fix it, the way they realized reliability was a problem and stepped up, he said. Its irresponsible of the leaders of the power companies to not address the seriousness of the issue.

Texas electric grid is virtually isolated, with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas covering 85 percent of the state.

If the federal government wont do it, its up to Texas to step up. The cost to Texans is extraordinary, he said

He added, Were always talking about Texas being the place to do business. I cant think of a better situation, if the lights go out, than to say But theyll be back on in Texas. I think businesses would move here if that were the case.
Ten years after equipment manufacturer Oliver began marketing its first mechanical cotton harvester, a Floyd County farmer in 1951 took the next step and transformed the drag-type unit into a self-propelled machine, forerunner of the cotton strippers used today.

An article in the Oct. 12, 1952, edition of the Plainview Sunday Herald chronicled the development of Arlon E. Millers cotton harvester after the Sandhill community farmer brought it to the Hale County Fair Grounds.

According to that article, Oliver began marketing a popular single-row cotton harvester about 1942 after it was developed by N.L. Thorp of Muleshoe. By 1952 there were about 2,000 of the machines  which had to be pulled behind a tractor  in use across the Texas Plains.

The original unit weighs 2,100 pounds, the Herald explained. The self-propelled set-up weighs 5,000 pounds.

Prior to the introduction of mechanical harvesters, cotton had to be gathered by hand, a slow backbreaking process where field hands had to walk stooped-over picking the bolls of fiber and sticking it into massive cotton stacks they pulled along. The sharp burrs often left their fingers scarred and bloody.

Seeing the obvious benefit of the mechanical harvester, Miller took two of the units and mounted them on either side of a tricyle-wheeled power unit.

Millers contribution to the mechanical age is of such practical simplicity, the paper noted, that even the least mechanically-minded might ask, Why hadnt somebody thought of that a long time ago? 

Thanks to its design which placed the harvesting heads forward for easy observation, Millers machine reduced waste. No only was it better than the previous drag configuration, he says there is less waste with the harvester than there is in hand harvesting, the paper explained.

The Miller Cotton Master puts the cotton gathering mechanism in front of the machine. The fingers that strip the stalks are the first part of the machine that touch the cotton, leading the wheels on which the unit rolls, and no cotton is knocked out on the ground.

The fingers are so constructed that they will move an inch under the surface of the ground, picking up everything. The beaters remove a big percent of the leaves, dirt and burrs, cleaning the cotton to hand-pulled, or better, condition by the time it goes through the elevator into the trailer that follows the unit.

To build the self-propelled harvester, Miller used an Oliver motor and steering mechanism. The drivers seat is installed almost on top of the two-row stripping mechanism, the paper noted. When the trailer is attached and the gas tank filled, its ready for the job.

Much like todays cotton strippers, Millers unit could gather cotton to the end of the rows, and then turn on ground that already had been harvested. With drag-type units, stalks at the end of the rows were missed and then run over by the turning tractor as it pulled both a harvester and cotton trailer.

Just 35 years old, Miller built his first cotton harvester in 1951. That November he gathered 300 bales of cotton, and he anticipated harvesting about 400 bales in 1952 with the same unit. The paper explained that the machine could harvest 30 bales of cotton a day in a bale-to-the-acre crop.

As part of his farming operation, Miller had a small machine shop and enjoyed building original farming equipment. I dont care anything about building something somebody else has already built, he told the Herald.

A 1934 Floydada High School graduate, he and his family lived on their farm in the Sandhill community south of Lockney before moving to Floydada so his three children could attend school there.

According to the Herald, Miller had applied for a patent on his self-propelled harvester and the C.P. Machine Shop in Plainview already was busy converting the original Oliver harvesters into self-propelled units. Their goal for the first year of production was 20, all marketed through the local Oliver Bourland dealership.

D.D. Bourland, Plainview Oliver dealer, is sold on the harvester, as are the Oliver executives and block men who think they could sell them by the hundreds this fall, the Herald explained.

Machine shop owner, C.P. Seipp also is impressed by the machine, and had his employees devoting almost full-time on the project, sometimes working into the night.

Seipp, who has witnessed use of every type of mechanical cotton harvester since the slide days is convinced that Millers improvement is going to be the answer to big scale, fast cotton gathering.

Miller said his unit could be adjusted to the height of the cotton, and could be used on any width rows up to 44 inches. He envisioned contracting out parts for the unit and establishing an assembly site on the Plains as the harvester grew in popularity.

Incidentally, all 20 units that were scheduled to be built that fall had been pre-sold.

Both Miller and his wife Glenna are deceased.

To comment:

dmcdonough@hearstnp.com

806.296.1353
At 23, Jamie Michalsky had already worked as a police officer in Texas, become a Russian-language expert and served her country in Afghanistan.

"She would jump out of airplanes. She lived every minute of her life," said her mother, Lissa Michalsky.

Jamie Michalsky, a translator from Cokato, Minn., was killed Saturday in a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, her family said.

The blast happened on Kabul's Chicken Street, a bustling shopping street popular with foreigners. Officials said the suicide attacker set off grenades, killing himself and wounding several others, including three NATO soldiers.

"The bomber was targeting a peacekeeping truck," Lissa Michalsky said. "Jamie was standing by it. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the assault.

Michalsky was working in Uzbekistan, but was in Afghanistan to see a doctor about a hand injury, according to her stepfather, Dan Everson.

Everson said the family learned of Michalsky's death Saturday morning from the company she worked for, Worldwide Language Resources, a Maine-based company that provides translators. A NATO spokesman said only that a foreign woman was injured, and police had no word on any foreign woman being among the injured.

No one from the translating company returned phone messages left by The Associated Press.

Michalsky, who was raised by her grandmother, attended college, then joined the Army Reserves. She was working as a police officer in Texas before being called up for active duty, and served for about a year in Afghanistan, until late last year, Everson said. Michalsky was with the Harker Heights Police Department. Harker Heights just outside Killeen about about 60 miles north of Austin.

Michalsky, who learned Russian in the Army, got the translating job after leaving active duty, Everson said.

"Yes, she was enthusiastic when it came to serving her country, but she definitely had doubts about whether it was the right place to be," Everson said of Michalsky's time in Uzbekistan. "She was a very strong-willed young lady with a mind of her own."

He said Michalsky, who had injured her hand in a car accident, went to a doctor she knew in Kandahar because she was unhappy with her medical care in Uzbekistan. There, she met some friends from the service and they decided to go on a shopping trip in Kabul, he said.
Former President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized Sunday in Maine with low blood pressure and symptoms of fatigue, just weeks after fighting off a blood infection during a Houston hospital stay.

The 93-year-old is awake and only expected to stay a few days for treatment, according to family spokesman Jim McGrath.

"President @GeorgeHWBush was taken to Southern Maine Health Care today after experiencing low blood pressure and fatigue," McGrath tweeted. "He will likely remain there for a few days for observation. The former president is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort."

Mayor Sylvester Turner voiced his best wishes from Houston, Tweeting: "On behalf of the city, I am sending prayers and positive vibes for a swift recovery. @GeorgeHWBush we know you love summers in Maine, but Houston will always be your home. Get well soon and hurry back."

The Bush patriarch, who has Parkinson's disease and uses a wheelchair, flew to Maine on May 20 as part of a long-time family tradition. Except for his years in the military, he's spent every summer since childhood at the family compound.

Last month, just a day after his wife was buried, Bush spent a little under two weeks in the hospital in Houston as he battled a blood infection.

"The 41st president wants to go to Maine," McGrath said at the time. "He's the most goal-oriented person on the planet and I would not bet against him."

He responded well to treatment and was released a few days later, despite his history of pneumonia and repeated hospitalizations in recent years.

In January 2017, one of his bouts with pneumonia forced him to miss out on President Donald Trump's inauguration.

"My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under," he wrote in a note to Trump at the time.

Though he was out of the hospital in time to oversee the coin toss at the Super Bowl in NRG Stadium, he landed back in Houston Methodist for a couple weeks that April.

READ MORE: President George H.W. Bush gets special performance from the cast of 'Hamilton'

Yet, Bush has a long history of defying the odds, dating to when he survived his torpedo bomber being shot down over the Pacific Ocean by the Japanese during World War II.

As McGrath said last year, "There's no one more resilient."

After getting cleared to leave Methodist after his most recent stay, Bush got a visit in Houston from the cast of hit Broadway show "Hamilton."

"A complete joy to welcome the 'HamFam'  the cast and crew of @HamiltonMusical  to our Houston office for a special performance I will never forget," Bush tweeted on May 15, along with photos. "History never sounded so powerful."

Alyson Ward contributed to this report.
With all the train tracks that criss cross through San Antonio, the area has had its share of train wrecks and derailments. In fact, the 1980s were fraught with accidents.

RELATED: Large train derailment closes southbound 281 in Pleasanton

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of a devastating Union Pacific train derailment that displaced more than 2,000 San Antonians. Seven tank cars carrying hazardous chemicals ignited a series of explosions when 32 cars derailed from an 80-car train as it crossed a bridge over Salado Creek near the San Antonio International Airport on Sunday, June 8, 1986. The fires were left to burn out themselves, while near-by residents were relocated to shelters at places like Garner Middle School and the Marriott North. The burned bodies of two hobos were found in the wreckage, the Associated Press reported.

Just the year before, a Southern Pacific train derailed south of San Antonio, spilling 300,000 gallons of sulphuric acid in the Medina River.

San Antonio was the last major city to get railroad access, according to the Texas Transportation Museum, but Union Pacific is heavily invested in the area. It recently doubed its tracks in Kirby and is expanding its South Texas operations to capitalize on the shale boom and shipping to Mexico. The Union Pacific derailment on Friday involved a freight train from Chicago headed to San Miguel.

The gallery above features photographs from the San Antonio Express-News archives that document train derailments and accidents through the years. It's a cautionary look at how these massive shipping lines are capable of tremendous destruction.

RELATED: Even in 1985, San Antonio had big problems with traffic accidents

jmscott@myscott.com





Editor's note: This story is one in a continuing series celebrating the 150th anniversary of the San Antonio Express-News. To commemorate the milestone, mySA.com is looking back at the city's rich history with stories, photos, video and graphics, remembering some of the most noteworthy events that have taken place or were covered by this publication during those 150 years. To read more stories like this, visit the 150th anniversary section of mySA.com or the 150th anniversary section of ExpressNews.com.
OFALLON, Mo.  In a windowless bunker here, a wall of monitors tracked incoming attacks  267,322 in the last 24 hours, according to one hovering dial, or about three every second  as a dozen analysts stared at screens filled with snippets of computer code.

Pacing around, overseeing the stream of warnings, was a former Delta Force soldier who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan before shifting to a new enemy: cyberthieves.

This is not that different from terrorists and drug cartels, Matt Nyman, the command centers creator, said as he surveyed his squadron of Mastercard employees. Fundamentally, threat networks operate in similar ways.

Cybercrime is one of the worlds fastest-growing and most lucrative industries. At least $445 billion was lost last year, up around 30 percent from just three years earlier, a global economic study found, and the Treasury Department recently designated cyberattacks as one of the greatest risks to the U.S. financial sector. For banks and payment companies, the fight feels like a war  and they are responding with an increasingly militarized approach.

Former government cyberspies, soldiers and counterintelligence officials now dominate the top ranks of banks security teams. They have brought to their new jobs the tools and techniques used for national defense: combat exercises, intelligence hubs modeled on those used in counterterrorism work and threat analysts who monitor the internets shadowy corners.

At Mastercard, Nyman oversees the companys new fusion center, a term borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the agency set up scores of fusion centers to coordinate federal, state and local intelligence-gathering. The approach spread throughout the government, with the centers used to fight disease outbreaks, wildfires and sex trafficking.

Then banks grabbed the playbook. At least a dozen of them, from giants like Citigroup and Wells Fargo to regional players such as Bank of the West, have opened fusion centers in recent years, and more are in the works. Fifth Third Bank is building one in its Cincinnati headquarters, and Visa, which created its first two years ago in Virginia, is developing two more, in Britain and Singapore. Having their own intelligence hives, the banks hope, will help them better detect patterns in all the data they amass.

The centers also have a symbolic purpose. Having a literal war room reinforces the new reality. Fending off thieves has always been a priority  it is why banks build vaults  but the arms race has escalated rapidly.

Cybersecurity has, for many financial company chiefs, become their biggest fear, eclipsing issues like regulation and the economy.

Alfred F. Kelly Jr., Visas chief executive, is completely paranoid about the subject, he told investors at a conference in March. Bank of Americas Brian T. Moynihan said his cybersecurity team is the only place in the company that doesnt have a budget constraint. (The banks chief operations and technology officer said it is spending about $600 million this year.)

The military sharpens soldiers skills with large-scale combat drills like Jade Helm and Foal Eagle, which send troops into the field to test their tactics and weaponry. The financial sector created its own version: Quantum Dawn, a biennial simulation of a catastrophic cyberstrike.

In the latest exercise in November, 900 participants from 50 banks, regulators and law enforcement agencies role-played their response to an industrywide infestation of malicious malware that first corrupted, and then entirely blocked, all outgoing payments from the banks. Throughout the two-day test, the organizers lobbed in new threats every few hours, like denial-of-service attacks that knocked the banks websites offline.

The first Quantum Dawn, back in 2011, was a lower-key gathering. Participants huddled in a conference room to talk through a mock attack that shut down stock trading. Now, it is a live-fire drill. Each bank spends months in advance re-creating its internal technology on an isolated test network, a so-called cyber range, so that its employees can fight with their actual tools and software. The company that runs their virtual battlefield, SimSpace, is a Defense Department contractor.

Sometimes, the tests expose important gaps.

A series of smaller cyber drills coordinated by the Treasury Department, called the Hamilton Series, raised an alarm three years ago. An attack on Sony, attributed to North Korea, had recently exposed sensitive company emails and data, and, in its wake, demolished huge swaths of Sonys internet network.

If something similar happened at a bank, especially a smaller one, regulators asked, would it be able to recover? Those in the room for the drill came away uneasy.

There was a recognition that we needed to add an additional layer of resilience, said John Carlson, the chief of staff for the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the industrys main cybersecurity coordination group.

Soon after, the group began building a new fail-safe, called Sheltered Harbor, which went into operation last year. If one member of the network has its data compromised or destroyed, others can step in, retrieve its archived records and restore basic customer account access within a day or two. It has not yet been needed, but nearly 70 percent of Americas deposit accounts are now covered by it.

The largest banks run dozens of their own, internal attack simulations each year, to smoke out their vulnerabilities and keep their first responders sharp.

Its the idea of muscle memory, said Thomas J. Harrington, Citigroups chief information security officer, who spent 28 years with the FBI.

Growing interest among its corporate customers in cybersecurity war games inspired IBM to build a digital range in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it stages data breaches for customers and prospects to practice on.

One recent morning, a fictional bank called Bane & Ox was under attack on IBMs range, and two dozen real-life executives from a variety of financial companies gathered to defend it. In the training scenario, an unidentified attacker had dumped 6 million customer records on Pastebin, a site often used by hackers to publish stolen data caches.

As the hours ticked by, the assault grew worse. The lost data included financial records and personally identifying details. One of the customers was Colin Powell, the former secretary of state. Phones in the room kept ringing with calls from reporters, irate executives and, eventually, regulators, wanting details about what had occurred.

When the group figured out what computer system had been used in the leak, a heated argument broke out: Should they cut off its network access immediately? Or set up surveillance and monitor any further transmissions?

At the urging of a Navy veteran who runs the cyberattack response group at a large New York bank, the group left the system connected.

Those are the decisions you dont want to be making for the first time during a real attack, said Bob Stasio, IBMs cyber range operations manager and a former operations chief for the National Security Agencys cyber center. One financial companys executive team did such a poor job of talking to its technical team during a past IBM training drill, Stasio said, that he went home and canceled his credit card with them.

Like many cybersecurity bunkers, IBMs foxhole has deliberately theatrical touches. Whiteboards and giant monitors fill nearly every wall, with graphics that can be manipulated by touch.

You cant have a fusion center unless you have really cool TVs, quipped Lawrence Zelvin, a former Homeland Security official who is now Citigroups global cybersecurity head, at a recent cybercrime conference. Its even better if they do something when you touch them. It doesnt matter what they do. Just something.

Security pros mockingly refer to such eye candy as pew pew maps, an onomatopoeia for the noise of laser guns in 1980s movies and video arcades. They are especially useful, executives concede, to put on display when VIPs or board members stop by for a tour. Two popular pew pew maps are from FireEye and the defunct security vendor Norse, whose video game-like maps show laser beams zapping across the globe. Norse went out of business two years ago, and no one is sure what data the map is based on, but everyone agrees that it looks cool.

Jason Witty, the chief information security officer at U.S. Bank, admits that the blinking map he breaks out for customer briefings is mostly for show. But it serves a serious purpose, he said: making the command centers high-stakes work more tangible.

If you show customers the scripts youre actually running, its just digits on a screen, Witty said. A big, colorful map is easier to grasp.

What everyone in the finance industry is afraid of is a repeat  on an even larger scale  of the data breach that hit Equifax last year.

Hackers stole personal information, including Social Security numbers, of more than 146 million people. The attack cost the companys chief executive and four other top managers their jobs. Who stole the data, and what they did with it, is still not publicly known. The credit bureau has spent $243 million so far cleaning up the mess.

It is Nymans job to make sure that does not happen at Mastercard. Walking around the companys fusion center, he describes the teams work using military slang. Its focus is left of boom, he said  referring to the moments before a bomb explodes. By detecting vulnerabilities and attempted hacks, the analysts aim to head off an Equifax-like explosion.

But the attacks keep coming. As he spoke, the dial displayed over his shoulder registered another few assaults on Mastercards systems. The total so far this year exceeds 20 million.
NEW HAVEN  The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search Monday at 10:30 p.m., for two people in the water after a 14-foot white and blue sailboat with no mast was found on Truman Beach, near Greenport, N.Y.

Spencer Mugford, 21, and Sophia McKenna, 20, were last seen aboard a white tandem kayak via social media at 2 a.m., Sunday morning.
The van pulled up to John F. Kennedy International Airport on a recent Thursday evening. Around it, passengers poured out of taxis and headed toward their gates. Inside the van, Prince Gbohoutou gripped his seat belt in fear.

The government was about to put the 26-year-old tattoo artist from Maryland on a flight to his native country in Africa.

A month earlier, Gbohoutou, a recently married asylum seeker from the Central African Republic, had gone to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement appointment in Baltimore hoping to get a work permit. Instead, the New Carrollton, Maryland, resident was detained in front of his American wife and told he was being deported.

Now, ICE agents opened the van's door and ordered him out. But Gbohoutou, with shackled hands, said he held fast to the seat. He was afraid to return to the Central African Republic, where he said his mother had been killed.

As suitcase-toting bystanders looked on, Gbohoutou said, an ICE agent struck him on the legs with a baton while others tried to yank him out of the van.

Eventually, the ICE agents cut the seat belt with a knife - nicking Gbohoutou's hand - before handcuffing him to a wheelchair and taking him to his flight, he claimed. But the airline refused to take an unwilling passenger, Gbohoutou said, and ICE was forced to return him - at least temporarily - to his cell.

Justine Whelan, an ICE spokeswoman, said in a statement that "all allegations of physical abuse and mistreatment by ICE officers in this case are patently false." She said an immigration judge ordered Gbohoutou deported seven years ago, his appeal was denied and it was the agency's "duty to execute that final order."

But Gbohoutou's story, including the dramatic airport scene on May 24, has sparked a new campaign to allow him to remain in the United States, where he came legally as a child and spent much of his life.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., has become an advocate for Gbohoutou, saying he is "part of our community" and could be in "imminent danger" if deported. Van Hollen said he has contacted officials at ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, warning them that his removal would be "unjust."

"I'll be killed if I go back," Gbohoutou said Saturday in a telephone interview from an ICE detention center in Frederick, Maryland. "I'm just hoping some people find it in their hearts to [let me stay]."

Similar, if less dramatic, encounters have played out with increasing frequency across the country as the Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration. Undocumented immigrants without criminal records, like Gbohoutou, who were generally off limits under the Obama administration, are now fair game, officials say.

Gbohoutou came to the United States legally in 2006, when he was 14, to join his father, who worked for their country's ambassador in Washington. His mother stayed behind in the Central African Republic, one of the world's poorest countries long wracked by religious and civil conflict.

When the situation there worsened, his father applied for asylum, including his son as a dependent. But the application was rejected. When their appeal was also denied, his father thought it better to remain in the United States illegally than return.

"The fact that he was brought here as a kid means he's really blameless," said Adam Crandell, Gbohoutou's immigration attorney, noting that he graduated from High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland, and was eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an Obama-era program to protect undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children.

Gbohoutou was still in high school when he met the woman who would become his wife. He was on a Washington, D.C., bus when on stepped Shaniece.

"He was cute; I was cute," she said. "We exchanged words, and then we exchanged numbers."

For their first date, he took her to her favorite restaurant, TGI Friday's. For their second, she went to his senior prom.

But as they dated, Gbohoutou's life began to fall apart. Shortly after his family's asylum application was denied, his mother was kidnapped in the Central African Republic by political rivals, he said.

"I guess they wanted my dad to go back," Gbohoutou said. "They tortured her. And they beat her to death."

His father died a few weeks later - a "physical manifestation of grief," Crandell said - leaving Gbohoutou to navigate life in the United States as an undocumented immigrant.

That life was not without incident. Gbohoutou was arrested in 2011, when he was 19, accused of shoplifting from a mall, Crandell said, but the charges were dropped. His only other criminal charge, for failure to present identification to police during a traffic stop in 2016, was also dropped.

In 2014, Gbohoutou was detained by ICE for about six months. Crandell said it was unclear why his client was held, but it might have been connected with the shoplifting charge.

Since then, Gbohoutou has been required to check in with ICE periodically. Despite worries over the new administration, his first few check-ins under President Trump went without a hitch.

The last one, on Shaniece's birthday, seemed to be a sign that his hard luck had ended. The couple wed last May and had recently begun the process to get him a green card. This spring they vacationed in Florida.

When they returned, there was an envelope from ICE waiting. The agency asked Gbohoutou to come in on April 19 but didn't say why. The couple hoped it was so he could receive a work permit.

"We didn't have any fear," Shaniece said. "We thought, what could go wrong?"

At the Baltimore office, Gbohoutou's name was called while Shaniece was in the bathroom. When an ICE agent asked him if he had a relative to take his things, his stomach dropped.

When his wife returned, Gbohoutou told her to be strong.

"I put my head down and started crying," she said. When she looked up, he was gone.

With the help of immigrants rights group Sanctuary DMV, Shaniece hired Crandell and began a campaign to free her husband. On May 16, Crandell filed a motion to reopen Gbohoutou's case.

But on Thursday, after missing a call from Gbohoutou, Shaniece rang his detention center only to be told he was being transferred to New York to be deported.

Crandell says he thinks his client was spared Thursday only because no ICE agent was scheduled to accompany him to Africa. But he hopes the airport incident has bought him enough time to persuade the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen Gbohoutou's case.

Crandell said that ICE was within its rights but that sending his client back to the Central African Republic would be "hamfisted and cruel."

Gbohoutou said he hopes to remain in the United States, become an architect and start a family.

"I'm not a bad person," he said, but added that if ICE tries to deport him again, "I'm still not going to get on the plane."
A man is in the hospital after San Antonio police say his vehicle collided with another on the East Side on Sunday evening, causing his car to roll over onto its side and eject him in the process.

SAPD Sgt. Manuel Perez said that the man was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center by EMS and is possibly in critical condition.

According to Perez, two men inside a Toyota Corolla were headed west on Sterling Drive around 6:45 p.m. when the driver failed to heed a stop sign at Lone Oak Street.

Thats when the Corolla struck a Dodge Durango that was being driven by a 22-year-old woman who was traveling south on Lone Oak Street, Perez said.

The impact of the collision, Perez said, is what caused the Toyota to roll over into its side.

Police said that all airbags deployed in both vehicles and that they believe the driver of the Toyota was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, causing his ejection.

The woman in the Dodge was treated by paramedics at the scene and is said to have sustained only minor injuries.

Perez said there were no witnesses to the crash and that they were given testimony from the female and the male passenger who was still at the scene being questioned by police.

Officials do not know at what speeds the two vehicles were traveling at the time of the crash.

Perez said the driver of the Toyota may face charges pending the investigation.

aluna@express-news.net
A 23-year-old San Antonio woman shot by her estranged uncle in Cedar Park was pronounced dead Monday, according to police.

Hailey Reyes, a graduate from Our Lady of the Lake University, succumbed to the wound she sustained on May 12 in an incident police are now calling a double murder-suicide.
We stand to lose 685,000 workers and $460 billion over the next decade.

This is what the United States economy would lose by ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which currently offers temporary work permits and protection for nearly 700,000 individuals who were brought to this country through no fault of their own, as long as they meet specific work, school and background check requirements. Texas alone would lose an estimated $6.3 billion in GDP annually.

Youve likely heard these  and many other  statistics before and wondered why Congress hasnt acted. After all, over 70 percent of Americans support a permanent legislative fix that allows these young people to stay and continue contributing to our history, culture and economy.

But, the truth is, we have acted but have been repeatedly shut down. In January, I introduced the bipartisan Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act in the House which pairs a DACA fix with smart border security measures so we can finally achieve operational control of our southern border by 2020. Unlike other proposals, the USA Act incorporates the Smart Wall concept as its border component, which scraps a contiguous, physical wall in favor of modern technology like sensors, radar, LIDAR, fiber optics, drones and cameras - all of which are available commercially  to detect and track cross-border incursions until they can be safety interdicted.

The bill has the support of 60 total co-sponsors, half Republican and half Democrat, and would likely achieve a majority in the House. But just like all alternative bills that address DACA, the USA Act has not been brought to the floor for a vote. Meanwhile, at least 113,000 families in Texas wait in limbo for DACA certainty and drug trafficking continues to generate an estimated $64 billion in annual sales in the United States due to unsecure borders.

After several attempts to solve these problems  its time for a new strategy.

Thats why I have been working with my colleagues to bypass legislative obstacles with a parliamentary procedure called a discharge petition which would force a debate on the House floor in front of the American people. If the discharge petition receives 218 signatures, it will trigger a vote on HR 774, which if adopted, will allow a series of floor votes on four DACA, immigration and border security bills under the Queen of the Hill rule. According to the rule, whichever proposal receives the most votes and meets the mandatory majority-vote threshold would be adopted.

Queen of the Hill would include Rep. Bob Goodlattes Securing Americas Future Act, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allards Dream Act of 2017, my bipartisan USA Act and an immigration bill of Speaker Paul Ryans choosing. Each bill offers a DACA fix with some or no varying degrees of border security and immigration components attached.

Ninety-seven percent of DACA recipients are in school or working. They are your classmates and your co-workers. They are starting new businesses at a rate almost double than the American public. Not only are these folks paying taxes, but they are purchasing first homes, cars and services from American businesses. They are creating jobs and contributing to our economy.

The discharge petition has been endorsed nationally by a variety of organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Leadership Fund, the Cato Institute, FWD.us, Coalition for the American Dream, the National Immigration Forum, New American Economy, Year Up and the National School Boards Association. Locally, it is supported by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Independent School District and more organizations each day.

But even with widespread support, a successful discharge petition can only be brought to the floor on specific legislative days, dramatically limiting the available days left to solve this issue during this calendar year.

The clock is ticking and we must force House Leadership to take up these important pieces of legislation.

Rep. Will Hurd, a Republican, represents the 23rd Congressional District.
President Trumps critics were apoplectic last week when the president referred to MS-13 gang members as animals. Of course, no one should be dehumanized. Yet many of the same people expressing outrage that Trump would dehumanize vicious gang members have no problem dehumanizing innocent, unborn children.

Trump has stood up for the humanity of the unborn child like no president in recent memory. And this is why so many Christian conservatives stick with him. Witness the foot-stomping standing ovation the president received Tuesday night at the annual Campaign for Life gala of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. Not only was Trump reportedly the first president to address this incredible organization in its 26-year history, he used the occasion to deliver on yet another pro-life promise, one that his Republican predecessors could not, or would not, fulfill: He announced a new rule to stop indirect taxpayer funding of abortion through the Title X family planning program.

When I ran for office, I pledged to stand for life, and as president, thats exactly what I have done, Trump declared.

Any organization receiving Title X funds will be required to establish a bright line of both physical and financial separation between its family planning activities and any program or facility that performs or refers women for abortions. Since 1976, federal law has prohibited use of federal funds for abortion. But today, Planned Parenthood clinics that receive federal family planning funds often essentially refer women for on-site abortions. Under Trumps Protect Life Rule, this will no longer be permitted.

The Protect Life Rule is a victory pro-life Americans have been awaiting for three decades. President Ronald Reagan first issued a version of the rule in 1988, but pro-abortion groups challenged it in court. The George H.W. Bush administration fought them all the way to the Supreme Court and won: In 1991, the court upheld the Reagan rule in Rust v. Sullivan. But the ruling came too late; Bill Clinton soon took office and withdrew the rule.

When George W. Bush was elected, he failed to reinstate the rule during his eight years in office. My former White House colleague Yuval Levin recently wrote that the reinstatement effort was abandoned in the spring of 2006, in a deputies-level policy gathering that was one of the most contentious meetings I ever witnessed in government.

In the Trump administration, there were apparently no contentious meetings or hand-wringing over the impact on Capitol Hill. He just did it. This fearlessness when it comes to the cause of life is what warms the hearts of Christian conservatives and makes them loyal to the president.

The left is, of course, outraged. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called Trumps action despicable, and the New York Times editorial page complained that the rule could devastate groups like Planned Parenthood. That is, unfortunately, a gross overstatement, as Planned Parenthood gets three-quarters of its federal funds through Medicaid, which would not be impacted. And despite Democrats anger, the new rule should have broad public support. A Marist poll released in January found that 60 percent of Americans oppose using tax dollars for abortion, while only 36 percent approve.

Since taking office, Trump has taken many steps to ensure our tax dollars are not used to subsidize the taking of innocent human life. He got a record number of conservative judges confirmed during his first year; allowed states to defund Planned Parenthood; defunded the pro-abortion United Nations Population Fund; restored and expanded the Mexico City policy banning taxpayer funds for groups that perform abortions overseas; and exempted organizations with moral objections against providing abortifacient drugs from the Obamacare Health and Human Services mandate.

Every life is sacred, and ... every child is a precious gift from God, Trump declared Tuesday night. We know that every life has meaning and that every life is totally worth protecting. Trump is doing everything in his power to protect those lives. That is why pro-life conservatives stick with him.

Marc A. Thiessen writes a column for the New York Times.
Now that the fire unions three proposed city charter amendments have qualified for the November ballot, the hard work begins for community and business leaders to educate voters about their consequences.

This will have to be a million-dollar education campaign. Make no mistake, the proposed charter amendments would take a wrecking ball to city government.

They sound populist and democratic, but they would limit the citys ability to attract top talent and undermine elected representation, giving immense leverage to outside groups just like the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, which, not coincidentally, has managed to put this on the ballot.

Turnout will likely be high for the November midterms, but many voters will probably be more educated about federal and statewide races, not arcane city charter changes. Adding to the challenge is the populist appeal of the changes. They sound good, but they are the policy equivalent to scud missiles.

One proposal would lengthen the amount of time to collect signatures for referenda, and reduce the number of signatures needed from about 75,000 to 20,000. It would also allow for referenda over City Council decisions for taxes and utility rates.

While this has the appearance of giving the public more influence, its really about giving the union or another powerful outside entity more influence over council decisions. It would be very easy for the fire union to threaten City Council with a referendum over a budget decision as a way to extract concessions in, say, a contract dispute. And the fire union is very much in a contract dispute with the city.

Another proposal would cap the city managers salary to 10 times that of the lowest-paid full-time city employee. Again, this could sound appealing to many voters. After all, City Manager Sheryl Sculleys compensation is a constant flash point in the community. But its a nonsensical and arbitrary proposal.

Compensation for the citys top executive has nothing to do with compensation for the citys lowest-paid employee. This proposal would also term-limit the city manager to eight years and require contracts to be approved by a supermajority of council.

This would significantly inhibit the citys ability to attract talent. What dynamic executive  say someone who maintains a AAA bond rating, saving taxpayers millions every year  would work in San Antonio knowing his or her pay would be arbitrarily capped? Why would it be in the citys best interest to arbitrarily term-limit a dynamic and capable leader? It makes no sense.

Besides, there is already plenty of accountability in the system. If City Council is unhappy with the city manager, it can fire that person. If the voters are unhappy with Councils decisions, they can vote those people out of office.

It does happen.

Lastly, a third proposal would require the city to enter binding arbitration with the fire union over contract disputes. This would not remotely be in taxpayers interests.

These proposals are not the product of some altruistic desire for good governance. These proposals are the product of a prolonged contract dispute between the city and the fire union, which has never come to the table to negotiate with the city.

Its worth noting, the San Antonio Police Officers Association negotiated a very favorable contract with the city that included a 3 percent lump sum bonus, a wage increase of 14 percent over four years and minor, but necessary, cost shifts on health care.

Should these proposals pass, they would be detrimental to the functioning of city government. For whatever reason, the fire union believes that will help its cause.

Voters need to soundly reject these proposals.
Re: Grief goes on as more about shooting is learned; Officers found suspect inside of 4 minutes, front page, May 22:

School shootings will continue. The news media have made sure they will happen again. Dimitrios Pagourtzis studied reports of the Columbine shooting and incorporated what he learned into his plan. Media reports stated he also had explosive devices that, while they did not detonate, will probably give the next shooters the idea to try.

Every day, since the Santa Fe shooting, the TV and newspapers have gone on and on and on about the event, which is just what Pagourtzis wanted  fame. He stated he spared some would-be victims some because he wanted them alive to tell his story. If the media quit their daily rehash of what everyone already knows, potential shooters would not learn from this event and maybe not be inclined to copy.

Dan Dreher

School safety

Guns  and shootings  have become an addiction, much like drugs.

Parents should refuse to send their kids to school until they are made safe.

Brian Kelly

Lack of inclusion

Re: S.A. more diverse than it appears, Shannon Deason, Another View, May 22:

When I read the column, it crossed my mind to ask why the folks who practically established the City of San Antonio get no mention at all. I am an immigrant from Germany (more than 50 years ago) and found many contributions made by German settlers to the city. Is that all really forgotten?

He said it eloquently, and I am glad you printed it.

Christel Villarreal

Tone deaf

Re: S.A. more diverse than it appears, Shannon Deason, Another View, May 22:

The author claims to feel like a foreigner in the city. That may be true given his tone deafness and racial undertones in his response to the San Pedro Creek Project and the lack of representation of the diversity that made this city great. As he himself points out, European immigrant legacy in the form of entire neighborhoods, street names and architecture marks San Antonio. His complaint that there are no statues or murals  [for European immigrants] because they are a quiet, humble people, implying that indigenous people are aggrandizing, is absolutely ridiculous. There seems to be a historical tone deafness here, yet the Alamo is brought up in ironic fashion, claiming a citywide ambivalence. Are you kidding me!?

Kyle Sherman

Dem finger-pointing

Re: Rising premiums sure to put nail in Obamacares coffin, Catherine Rampell, Other Views, May 18:

In the first seven paragraphs, her opinion train is going down an informative track. She is writing factually about the rising cost of Obamacare. Then, a catastrophic derailment hit when she took a sharp curve to the left in the remaining paragraphs, 8 through 20.

In the latter paragraphs, she puts all the blame for rising costs on Republican efforts to eliminate Obamacare. Never mind that costs have been going up, in many cases dramatically, each of the six years since passage of the Affordable Care Act. Hmmm  those were Democratic years, were they not?

Democrats claim credit for an improving economy by saying improvements are an extension of the Obama years. By that logic, they must assume most responsibility for the rising costs of the current ACA premiums.

Frank O. Holder, Jr.

Thwart Trump

President Donald Trump is starting to decimate the rule of law by asking the DOJ to investigate the FBIs actions during his campaign. The Republican-led Congress is part of this plan to besmirch the Mueller investigation, aiding and abetting the president.

This is uncharted territory. Why is this happening?

President Trump admires autocrats and dictators around the world and, according to experts, this type of behavior has led to loss of freedoms in democratically elected governments.

Since Congress is complicit, we citizens must be observant and vote for Democrats in November. He needs to be stopped before all is lost.

Barbara Moschner

Asking for trouble

It should be obvious to everyone that we must pass a law so we have the ability to indict presidents and put them in prison if they break the law like anyone else. The only other places where leaders of nations can escape the law is dictatorships. The American people are not for and will not accept a dictatorship in this nation.

Politicians who do not agree should be fired by the people.

We also need to stop presidents and governors from being able to pardon convicted criminals. A system should be created, like the Supreme Court, where several judges decide if a person can be pardoned. Allowing politicians to pardon criminals is only asking for more trouble.

Jim Denton, Gatesville

A dose of spanking

Re: NRAs North ties shootings, violence to Ritalin, Nation, May 21:

He tells Fox News that perpetrators of school violence have been drugged in many cases, and many of these young boys have been on Ritalin since they were in kindergarten. Back in my kindergarten years, there was no evidence of us being on any kind of medications. If there were behavioral problems, what awaited us at home was far more lethal than Ritalin! A good whooping to set us straight! Thats all!

Cristina Guzman Flores,

Crystal City
RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya says more individuals and companies continue to heed Governments call to repatriate funds salted away in prior years.

The RBZ is next week expected to release an update on the funds brought back since the end of a moratorium that took effect from December 1 last year.

Government is working on recovering $826,5 million; which remains outstanding, almost two-and-half months after the March 16 deadline to bring back the money.

By March 19, externalisers had returned US$591,1 million out of the US$1,3 billion estimated to have been siphoned through payment of imports not received in Zimbabwe, non-repatriation of export proceeds and funds banked in foreign banks in cash or under unclear circumstances.

Last week, Dr Mangudya told The Sunday Mail Business that more firms and individuals are coming forward with funds previously stashed in offshore accounts.

We are pleased by the response as a number of entities are clearing their overdue obligations, said Dr Mangudya.

We have also received support from business organisations, especially CZI (the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries), in ensuring that their members comply with rules and regulations.

We have seen a significant move on compliance.

Asked if more companies and individuals were keen to bring the funds, Dr Mangudya said, Yes indeed.

Returned US$591 million a drop in ocean

When the RBZ announced in March that US$591,1 million had been brought back, ordinary citizens said they expected a major improvement in the cash situation in the country.

However, cash shortages persists and on a good day, depositors get coins from banks.

Productive sectors also say they have not realised a significant rise in approvals for foreign payments since March.

UK-based strategic analyst Mr Hopewell Mauwa, says citizens wanted to see a boost in the money in circulation following the return of the US$591,1 million.

The inflow of funds would have boosted national foreign currency reserves. That would have allowed the Reserve Bank to stabilise the cash situation in tandem with the Afreximbank revolving facility.

Once the bond notes in circulation are backed by sufficient hard currency reserves, the US$/bond arbitrage would then be addressed. That would have given ordinary citizens confidence to hold savings in the official banking system, which is the ultimate goal, said Mr Mauwa.

But CZI president, Mr Sifelani Jabangwe said he did not expect the returned loot to have significant impact in the economy given the many competing demands.

The biggest challenge is that the money was inadequate in the first place. This is worsened by the fact that the performance of industry has also gone up by 20 percent.

However, we have managed to maintain our production levels and we are encouraging our members to increase exports to generate foreign currency, said Mr Jabangwe.

Indeed, the industry has upped production in recent months with new firms also being established, pushing up the demand for foreign currency.

Giant beverages manufacturer, Delta Corporation, reported in its results for the year to March 31, 2018 that total volumes, excluding associates, had risen by 14 percent. Lager and sorghum beer volumes grew 27 percent and 9 percent respectively compared to the prior year while the sparkling beverage volumes rose 15 percent. Last week, packaging material maker, Nampak Zimbabwe Limited, announced in its interim results for the six months to March 31, 2018, that its revenue was 23 percent ahead of the prior year due to improved demand.

Similarly, horticulture firm Ariston Holdings reported last week that its revenue for the half year ended March 31, 2018 had surged to US$5,31 million, representing a 53 percent jump due to the combined effect of significant volume and pricing improvements.

Apex bank boss Dr Mangudya conceded it was impossible for the returned funds to have a significant impact in the economy.

The impact of returned funds on the economy is neutralised by the current high demand for foreign exchange within the national economy, more so, given that the repatriation of funds is a process and not an event, said Dr Mangudya.

A number of new companies such as Varun Beverages, which is bottling the Pepsi beverage under contract, have also started producing locally.

This means instead of approving foreign currency payments for Delta alone, the RBZ has to also budget for Varun Beverages.

Citizens have right to know

A director at UK-based Multi-Asset Strategies, Dr Brian Mangwiro, believes Zimbabweans have every right to know how the US$591,1 million repatriated so far was used.

Dr Mangwiro said for the ordinary person, the money should have been re-deployed transparently.

But he also admits that the amount brought back is too small to improve the deeply entrenched liquidity crisis.

On one hand, the public is right to insist on transparency, and this is not to suggest that there was a misuse of funds. However, expectations on how much these funds will transform monetary conditions and improve cash availability look unrealistic.

On transparency, the Government should have disclosed what the funds were used for in the fiscus; whether its paying salaries, settling arrears in foreign currency or importing critical needs such as medicines, said Dr Mangwiro.

He believes that would have gone a long way in improving public perception.

Dr Mangwiro said transparency has the ultimate impact of encouraging depositors to use the formal banking system.

 ZimPapers

Breaking News via Email

Loading...

Related Zimbabwe Latest News
- An APC chieftain Osita Okechukwu has described the southeast as the shoreline of President Muhammadu Buhari

- Okechukwu is optimistic that the APC would get more than one million votes in the southeast

- He said the votes would balance whichever tendency they would miss in the north and the southwest in the 2019 electoral vote

Ahead of the 2019 general election, Osita Okechukwu, the director general of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), has assured that President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party by extension, would get more than one million votes in the southeast.

Okechukwu said the votes would balance whichever tendency they would miss in the north and the southwest in the 2019 electoral vote distributive curve, Leadership reports

Legit.ng gathered that the VON DG gave the assurance on Saturday, May 26, while interacting with journalists at his hometown, Eke, Udi local government area of Enugu state during the flag-off of the towns annual Igwa Nshi cultural festival.

The party chieftain speaking on how the APC and by extension the president will survive the parallel congresses across the country, and the threat of nPDP, Okechukwu assured that the southeast is the shoreline of President Buhari and by extension the APC.

READ ALSO: Why Buhari led Nigeria through difficult changes - Presidency

He said: My happiness is that the South East come 2019 will be the shoreline of our dear president and by extension our great party, the APC. Buhari will get more than a million votes in the South East. The so called parallel congress members under close scrutiny are not truly APC people. To be exact, the mainstream APC in the South East will balance whichever tendency we miss in the North and South West in the electoral vote distributive curve of 2019 presidential election. Be it the nPDP or ADC.

We got less than 200,000 in the South East in 2015, but with rapid infrastructural development going on in the South East, we will leverage for Ndigbo are not ingrates. We will cover the missing gap envisaged from the South West and nPDP in the North.

Dont forget that those who enlarged the APC South East mainstream today were loyalists of His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Today they are in league with President Buhari, they are passionate to re-elect him. Am excited with the rate their campaign for Mr. President is going and the response of the electorate.

Explaining how Buhari would garner over a million votes with the crises here and there and in their party, APC, Okechukwu described Buharis Roads, Rails, Agriculture and Power (RRAP) Projects as the development resurgimento, which would reinforce the private sector and attract more Foreign Direct Investment.

According to him, when you have 5,000 kilometers of federal roads, 5,000 kilometers standard gauge rail lines and 5,000 additional megawatts and self-sufficiency in food production in the next five years, there would be peace, progress and prosperity.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

In a previous report by Legit.ng, the director general of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, appealed to Ohaneze Ndigbo to work towards plucking the low hanging fruit; which is president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023, than chase elusive theorems.

Okechukwu made the appeal while reacting to the communique of the Ohaneze Restructuring Summit held at Awka, Anambra, on Monday, May 21.

While commending the organisers of the summit, Okechukwu called for pragmatism, if truly they were working for the collective interest of Ndigbo.

President Buhari on 2019 presidential election: will you vote for him? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has advised Nigerian youths to refrain from violence and crime especially as the 2019 elections approach

- Precious Akingbade, the national young adults and youths pastor, said that Nigerians should not be used by politicians to thwart a free flow of electoral activities

- Akingbade urged the federal government to come up with key programmes that will educate and empower youths in the country for self-development

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has called on Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be used as thugs or for violence by politicians during the 2019 elections.

Precious Akingbade, the national young adults and youths pastor made the call at the Masters Place, FCT Province 1 Headquarters on Sunday, May 27, in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

READ ALSO: Southeast will give President Buhari over 1 million votes - Osita Okechukwu

The annual church program was tagged SHIFT with the theme: The Passion to Profit. Akingbade said that election should not be a place where the youths would exhibit unwanted attitudes but love and peace.

He said: No young people should be a tool or weapon in the hands of political weep to cause confusion. They use them and they dump them so awareness for peace should be the order of the day.

The pastor explained that the essence of SHIFT was to curb the youths from bad habits of addiction in different categories, adding that addiction must not necessarily be in form of hard substances.

He, however, called on the federal government to key into training and empowering the Nigerian youths as the church was already practicing that.

Pastor Jacob Obaro, the assistant national youth pastor, SHIFT, said that the programme was salvation based and it was an initiative of young people in the RCCG to be on the right path with God.

Obaro said that the programme was in different categories that the youths would come together to perform, exhibit inventions and innovations. He informed that there were so many passions that do not bring positive profits to the youths and so they are called to come and experience SHIFT.

Obaro, however, called on the federal government to educate and empower the young generation to have some ability and the opportunity to explore. The youths should given a chance and opportunity so that they will not be hovering in obscurity.

He said: We have too many unemployed youths in this country and so, I am calling on the government to train and empower the youths."

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

The annual event was to bring unemployed youths together to be able to showcase their talents in various ways. Then, successful youths would be empowered following the SHIFT programme.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that as the 2019 general elections approached, Most Reverend Asefila Abidoye, the spiritual father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church worldwide, had said that the elders had failed Nigeria, and urged the nations youths to take over the mantle of leadership.

The 98-year-old spiritual father made the comment on Tuesday, April 24, during a chat with journalists at his churchs international headquarters, Galilee Land, Orile Igbon, along Ogbomoso/Ilorin expressway.

The next President of Nigeria. Who will win the 2019 elections? On Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
Dr Akinola Olaolu, the acting rector, Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo, Osun state, has come under attack following claims that his doctorate is being called into question. This is coming after workers of the institution claimed that there was nothing to suggest that he had a PhD, The Punch reports.

Legit.ng gathered that Olaolu had claimed that he obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Economics at the University of Ibadan, Oyo state, but not a few people at the school had faulted the claim.

Olaolu, who took over the helms of affair at the school in 2016, allegedly said he was awarded the PhD in 2003 by the Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan.

A notification of the higher degree result, which he reportedly submitted to get the job, showed his matriculation number as SI. 39561 and was signed by one Mrs T.F. Oladiti for the deputy registrar/secretary of the institution.

The notification read: I have the pleasure of informing you that on the recommendation of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Postgraduate Committee and the Board of the Postgraduate School, the Senate has approved the recommendation of the examiners that the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) of this university be conferred on you. The effective date of the award is November 26, 2003. On behalf of the vice-chancellor, I congratulate you on your success in the examination.

READ ALSO: Why Buhari led Nigeria through difficult changes - Presidency

The document which was confirmed as Olaolus document by a former registrar of the polytechnic, Bisi Odebunmi, was the only evidence that the acting rector, presented, as he explained that he had not been issued a certificate by the University of Ibadan more than 13 years after he graduated.

A copy was sent to UI for verification and after about two weeks, Olatunji Oladejo, the director, public communications, University of Ibadan, disclaimed the result, saying there was no record of it at the varsity.

He said:The university has thoroughly investigated the matter and our findings are presented as follows: that the name, Mr. Olaolu Akinola Olugbenga, which you sent to me to work on, does not exist in the database of the university.

The matriculation number, 39561, purportedly allocated to Mr Olaolu Akinola Olugbenga, could not be verified. The signature in the notification of result presented to the university for verification was misrepresented. The name, Olaolu Akinola Olugbenga, could not be found in the thesis bank of the Department of Economics, formerly under the Faculty of Social Sciences, now under the Faculty of Economics.

Students of the university have registration files opened for them after being offered provisional admission. There is no record of his studentship with the university. In order words, he did not obtain his PhD from the university; there were a lot of discrepancies.

Olaolu was employed in Igbajo Polytechnic in December 2015 as a deputy rector to the former rector, Tanimowo Oke. His appointment letter, dated December 17, 2015, was signed by the chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Olu Odeyemi, mandated Olaolu to present his original certificate. However, Olaolu was reported to have resumed without presenting the certificate.

On August 23, 2016, more than eight months after he was issued the offer letter, the school management reportedly wrote him a reminder on the subject.

The letter, signed by the then registrar, Odebunmi, stated: Kindly present the originals and photocopies of your credentials as directed in your appointment letter of December 17, 2015, by the governing council. This process is necessary to update your records.

Odebunmi, said Olaolu did not reply the letter till he left the system.

He said: When he resumed, he presented just the notification of result. Later, I wrote a letter to him to present his certificates. He did not respond till I left the system.

READ ALSO: Catholic priest reportedly shot, students injured as gunmen attack seminary

The school governing body was alleged to have rebuffed calls to investigate the issue until in 2017. The school management was said to have set up a four man committee, headed by one E. O. Ojekunle, in September 2017.

Records showed that the panel was asked to investigate the contention over Olaolus doctorate and alleged sexual harassment, among others. The records showed that he was cleared of the sexual harassment allegation.

However, on the certificate, the committee said the rector claimed not to have any original certificates of both his first and second degrees.

At the second meeting of the committee on October 30, 2017, Olaolu was reported to have come up with more excuses on why he could not produce his evidence of payment for processing of his PhD certificate, including the claim that his scripts had been moved to UIs librarys archive.

When also asked to present his first and second certificates for sighting, he was said to have presented only notification of results.

A source at the University of Ibadan said the institution received a letter of enquiry on the matter from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

She said the enquiries had been formally replied to, adding that the UI denied Olaolus certificate.

It was learnt that Prof. Oyejide, whom the rector claimed supervised his thesis, had retired from the school.

The second alleged supervisor, Prof. Ariyo, said checks of files of PhD students in the department did not show the rectors name.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

He said: We have searched our records; we cant find the matriculation number or the name. And I dont know anybody by that name in the department. It cannot be correct that I co-supervised a thesis with Prof. Ademola Oyejide in 2003; the last time I was on the same committee with Prof. Oyejide was in 1998.

In a previous report by Legit.ng, the congress of university academics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun state, and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have called for a thorough investigation into the case of Professor Richard Akindele, the lecturer who allegedly demanded gratification from his student for marks.

The congress remarked that Akindele, if found guilty of the claims against him, will be unfit to remain in the academic space, the Punch reports.

Parents advice government over ASUU strike - On Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
By Don Quijones, of Spain, UK, and Mexico, and an editor at Wolf Street. Originally published at Wolf Street.

Risk. Exposure. Contagion. These are three words were likely to hear more and more in relation to Europe, as the Eurozones debt crisis returns.

On Friday, Italys 10-year risk premium  the spread between Italian ten-year bond yields and their German counterparts  surged almost 20 basis points to 212 basis points. This was the highest level since May 2017, when a number of Italys banks, including third biggest bank Monte dei Pacshi di Siena (MPS), were on the brink of collapse and were either resolved or bailed out. Now, theyre all beginning to wobble again.

Shares of bailed-out and now majority-state-owned MPS, whose management the new government says it would like to change, are down 20% in the last two weeks trading. The shares of Unicredit and Intesa, Italys two biggest banks, have respectively shed 10% and 18% during the same period.

One of the big questions investors are asking themselves is which banks are most exposed to Italian debt.

A recent study by the Bank for International Settlements shows Italian government debt represents nearly 20% of Italian banks assets  one of the highest levels in the world. In total there are ten banks with Italian sovereign-debt holdings that represent over 100% of their tier-1 capital (which is used to measure bank solvency), according to research by Eric Dor, the director of Economic Studies at IESEG School of Management.

The list includes Italys two largest lenders, Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, whose exposure to Italian government bonds represent the equivalent of 145% of their tier-1 capital. Also listed are Italys third largest bank, Banco BPM (327%), Monte dei Paschi di Siena (206%), BPER Banca (176%) and Banca Carige (151%).

In other words, despite years of the ECBs multi-trillion euro QE program, which is scheduled to come to an end soon, the so-called Doom Loop is still very much alive and kicking in Italy. The doom loop is when weakening government bonds threaten to topple the banks that own the bonds, and in turn, the banks start offloading them, which causes these bonds to fall further, thus pushing the government to the brink. The doom loop is a particular problem in the Eurozone since a member state doesnt control its own currency, and cannot print itself out of trouble, which leaves it exposed to credit risk.

But its not just Italian banks that are heavily exposed to Italian debt. So, too, are French lenders, which last year had combined holdings of Italian bonds worth 44 billion, according to data from the European Banking Authoritys 2017 transparency exercise. Spanish banks had 29 billion.

Which three non-Italian lenders of consequence are most exposed, in absolute terms, to Italian debt, based on Dors research?

BNP Paribas, Frances largest bank, with 16 billion of Italian sovereign debt holdings.

Dexia, the French-Belgian lender that collapsed twice and was bailed out twice between 2008 and 2011. It holds 15 billion of Italian debt.

And, drum-roll please: Banco Sabadell, the mid-sized Spanish lender that already has a gargantuan self-inflicted IT crisis on its hands at its UK subsidiary TSB. It has 10.5 billion invested in Italian bonds  the equivalent of almost 40% of its entire fixed asset portfolio, worth 26.3 billion, and 110% of its tier-1 capital.

With the data from the European Banking Authority, we estimate that the lenders that would suffer the greatest impact [of a new Italian debt crisis] are Unicredit, Sabadell and Intesa Sanpaolo, analysts from RBC Capital Management recently warned. According to their calculations, with every 10 basis-point rise of Italys risk premium, Sabadell will suffer a 28 million hit to its tier-1 capital. Since the coalition between Italys Five Star Movement and Lega was first unveiled, on May 15, Italys risk premium has surged by 81 basis points.

To make matters worse, another third of Sabadells fixed asset portfolio is invested in Spanish bonds. They are also losing value, partly as a result of the contagion effect from Italy but also due to rising domestic political instability, and the approaching end of the ECBs QE. In the last two weeks, yields on 10-year Spanish bonds have risen from 1.27% to 1.47% while the 10-year risk premium has surged from 72 to 110.

When yields rise, prices fall by definition, and the more prices of Italian and Spanish bonds fall, the bigger the hit the banks capital buffers. The more the banks suffer, the more they will shy away from their respective domestic governments debt, resulting in further falls in bond prices. Such is the fragile relationship of co-dependence between Eurozone banks and the governments whose debt they buy in such abundance.

When banks invest heavily in government debt, they become dependent on the governments good performance, which is clearly not a given, especially in the Eurozone. Meanwhile, the governments depend on the banks to continue purchasing their debt, which also is no longer a given. This is the doom loop. Its circular. It gets kicked off when either one falters, and the consequences can be dire for both.

In the case of Sabadell, it already has enough on its plate trying to clean up the mess it has created with the botched IT upgrade at its UK subsidiary, TSB, where customers are now leaving in droves. Given that TSB represents roughly a quarter of Banco Sabadells total assets, the impact on the Spanish banks own financial health could be considerable. If the sell-off in Italian sovereign debt escalates, Sabadell will have even bigger problems on its hands. By Don Quijones.

Blackstone Group, Cerberus Capital Management, and others face a problem. Read Wall Street Mega-Landlords Piled into Spains Rental Property Boom, and Now it Hits a Wall?
A Clonmel school has been honoured for its efforts to promote the Irish language.

Among the schools recently awarded the Gaelbhratach flag was Meanscoil Loreto, Clonmel.

At a special awards ceremony in the Pavillion at Leopardstown, students Lizzie Ryan and Maeve Ryan proudly accepted the flag on behalf of their school. The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, May 22.

The Gaelbhratach scheme, funded by Foras na Gaeilge, and organised by Gael Linn, with the support of Conradh na Gaeilge and Glor na nGael, recognises the promotion of the Irish language in both secondary and primary schools around the country.

The two Gael Linn officials in charge of the Gaelbhratach scheme, Andrea Ni Fhaolain and Mairead Ni

Thiomanaigh were very proud of all the schools and what they had achieved during the year. They

explained that it takes a lot of hard work for a school to be awarded the Gaelbhratach, that they have many targets to reach and that all of this work must be verified through various means, including postings on the Gaelbhratach blog and keeping a journal which is forwarded to Gael Linn at the end of the year.

The Gaelbhratach scheme, initiated in 2013, has gone from strength to strength. In fact, there is a long waiting list of schools throughout the country wishing to be accepted into the scheme
(As delivered)

President Alli, Members of Parliament, Excellencies, dear friends, it is really a great pleasure to see you all here this morning, so good morning to all of you, and for me it is a great pleasure to be here for many reasons.

First of all to be able to thank you President Alli for your hard work and to thank you and your team for organising and hosting this event. I know that you have worked for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, you have been the President and you have really done tremendous work for many, many years for this organisation, so I thank you so much for that.

Second, I would like to thank all of you, the members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly because the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is important for NATO. NATO is an alliance of 29 democracies and at the core of any democracy we have parliaments. And NATO is a value-based alliance based on the rule of law, individual liberty and democracy, and there for the fact that you are presenting the 29 democracies parliaments and, in addition, many of you also representing our partner nations, that makes NATO the alliance which you want to be an alliance that represents democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty.

Ive been a parliamentarian myself for 20 years, so I really understand the importance of parliaments in our democracies and also the importance of parliaments for defence and security policies because parliaments decide the guidelines, the framework for any government when it comes to conducting defence and foreign policy, but perhaps most important you decide the budget. So I am totally and NATO is totally dependent on you making the right decisions in the different parliaments, and therefore it is a great value that you gather in an assembly like this where you can exchange views, where you can learn from each other and then go back to your national parliaments and make sure that the NATO agenda is high on the national agenda and that you are implementing the different NATO decisions back home in your national parliaments.

The third reason why it is a great pleasure for me to be here today is that I would like to thank Poland for hosting us all today and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; I understand it started on Friday, providing this beautiful hall and also of course the parliament of Poland hosting all of us here today. Warsaw is an historic city for many reasons, but also because Warsaw hosted the 2016 NATO Summit and that was a very important summit at that summit we made decisions which really have transformed and changed NATO. The main deliverable was perhaps the decision to increase our presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance with the four battle groups in the Baltic countries and Poland and with a tailored forward presence in Romania and the Black Sea region.

And now we are looking into how we must continue to adapt and change NATO because NATO is the most successful alliance in history because we have been able to change and adapt when the world is changing. And the Warsaw Summit made important decisions to change NATO to a more demanding security environment. The security environment is more demanding for several reasons: we see more a more assertive Russia meddling in domestic, democratic processes, being responsible for cyber attacks, heavily investing in more modern military capabilities, blurring the line between conventional forces and nuclear forces; and, as we saw back in 2014, being willing to use military force against their neighbour illegally annexing Crimea and destabilising Eastern Ukraine. And as a direct consequence of that aggression against Ukraine we saw the downing of the MH17. And I agree with the Dutch Government which has called upon Russia to take responsibility, its part of the responsibility for the downing, and for fully cooperating, in a transparent way, to make sure that those who are responsible are to be held accountable.

As you also know, we dont only see a more assertive Russia, we see all the instability, the violence to the south of our Alliance: Iraq, Syria, the Middle East, North Africa. And then we see cyber and we see proliferation of nuclear weapons - North Korea - and many other challenges evolving at the same time. And thats the reason why NATO is adapting and thats the reason why the summit in Warsaw was so important. Now we are moving towards our next summit, which will be the summit in Brussels in just a few weeks in July this year and I believe that that summit also will be of great importance. I will briefly mention the main topics, the main issues, which we will address at the summit in July in Brussels. There are many issues and topics I will not go into, at least not in detail, but I promise to stay on after my speech and be available for Q&As, so then you can ask the questions about all the issues I dont have time to address in my introduction.

At the Brussels Summit we foresee five main topics: Topic number one is Deterrence and Defence and while the Warsaw Summit was mainly focussed on how to increase presence  military presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance with the battle groups and the tailored forward presence, I believe that the main focus of the Brussels Summit in July will be about how to be able to reinforce because our deterrence and defence is not only dependent on the forces we have deployed, but it also very much depends on our ability to move forces  to reinforce quickly if needed. And therefore we are discussing what we call a readiness initiative to increase the readiness and to identify specific forces that can be available on short notice. We are discussing reinforcements and we are discussing a military mobility, how to move forces across the Atlantic, because NATO is a transatlantic alliance and of course then we have to make absolutely sure that we are able to move the forces across the Atlantic, if needed.

But also across Europe and I expect Heads of State and Government, when they meet in July, to make decisions on reinforcement, readiness and military mobility. I also expect them to reiterate NATOs strong message on Russia, which is what we call the dual-track approach, which is about deterrence, defence combined with political dialogue, and I strongly believe that we have to understand that Russia is our neighbour, Russia is there to stay, so we need to find this combination of having a strong and firm message and being very clear when they violate international law, international rules, and when they are responsible, for instance, for cyber-attacks and we also have to see the Salisbury use of nerve agent against the background of a more reckless behaviour of Russia. But we have to combine that strong and firm message with an openness for dialogue, partly because we need to continue to strive for a better relationship with Russia, but even if we dont believe in a better relationship with Russia in the near future, we need to manage our relationship with Russia because Russia is there, we see more military activity, we see more exercises, so at least we need to manage a difficult relationship, because we have to make sure that we dont have incidents, accidents, miscalculations that can lead into really dangerous situations.

So I believe its possible to get the better relationship, but even without that we need to manage a relationship to our biggest neighbour, and a neighbour which has significantly increased its military presence along our borders. So thats the first issue, thats deterrence, defence including our relationship with Russia. The second issue is what we call in the tribal language of NATO projecting stability, and thats about projecting stability into our neighbourhood because we believe strongly that when our neighbours are more stable we are more secure, and NATO has... we have many neighbours so we speak about many different partnerships and many different ways of projecting stability. Partly it is about fighting terrorism, thats about our partnerships especially in the south. We strongly believe that the best tool we have in the fight against terrorism is to train local forces. I think that one of the lessons we have learned from Afghanistan, from Iraq, but also from Libya, is that in the long run it is better to train local forces, enable them to stabilise their own countries, instead of NATO deploying a large number of combat troops in big combat operations.

And therefore NATO has to be ready. So we have to be able to deploy forces in big combat operations again, if needed, but of course its obvious that its better that local forces, national forces stabilise their own country, and thats the reason why we have completely changed the character of our presence in Afghanistan from a big combat operation with a lot of NATO Allies and partner nations - many of you sitting here today - deploying combat troops in Afghanistan, more than 100,000 troops, many casualties, into what we have now which is a much more downsized presence, around 16,000 troops in that train, assist and advise mission. There are many problems in Afghanistan, but at least we have achieved at least one thing and that is that we have been able to train the Afghans to build local capacity so they are now responsible for security in their own country themselves. So when Taliban attacks, or there are terrorist attacks in Kabul or in other places, then its the Afghan forces that move out and repel and respond. And that is a big improvement and therefore we need to continue to train, to help, to support, to fund the Afghan national army security forces, and thats also what we are aiming at in Iraq. We have NATO and the Coalition to Defeat ISIS where NATO is a member and all NATO Allies and many partners.

We have made enormous progress and ISIS is on the run in Iraq and in Syria. But we have to make sure that ISIS is not coming back and therefore we need to build local capacity, train local forces and thats the reason why we are working for the heads of state and government in July to launch a training mission in Iraq to scale up our present training activities in Iraq to make sure that ISIS doesn't come back and therefore make sure that we train local forces. Thats also the reason why we work with countries like Tunisia and Jordan. We believe that prevention is better than intervention. Tunisia and Jordan are two islands of stability in a region with a lot of instability and we have to help them now so they remain stable and they can help us and contribute to the fight against terrorism. So thats projecting stability, but then there are other aspects of our effort to project stability, and that is to project stability to the Western Balkans together with our partners there. Or to countries like Ukraine, Georgia, close partners, and we will continue to provide practical and political support to Ukraine, to Georgia. We will work with our partners in the Western Balkans, and I would like to highlight that NATOs door remains open; we proved that last year when Montenegro became the 29th member of the Alliance, and we are supporting also other aspirants on the path towards membership and towards Euro Atlantic integration and Im certain I will get questions about that later on, so I will go more into details during the discussion on the open-door policy.

The third main topic of the summit will be NATO-EU cooperation, and the good news is that we have really stepped up and we have been able to strengthen and establish a total new level of cooperation between NATO and the European Union. Thats good for NATO, its good for the European Union and we will continue to work for that also at the summit. In Warsaw in 2016 I signed a joint declaration with the Presidents Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker. We are planning to sign a new declaration in Brussels where we take the NATO-EU cooperation further with the declaration by the President Juncker, President Tusk and me. We have 74 concrete measures we have agreed on related to cooperation when it comes to cyber, hybrid, terrorism. We work together in the Mediterranean, in the Aegean Sea. We work together with the European Union on many different areas and this is something we would like to do more of in the months and years to come. I have also welcomed the efforts of the European Union to strengthen defence cooperation because I strongly believe - as many European leaders have stressed many times - that stronger Europe means stronger NATO. We have to remember that more than 90% of the people living in the European Union, they live in a NATO country, so theres no way we can strengthen Europe without at the same time strengthening NATO. But what we have to make sure is that the efforts of the European Union do not compete or duplicate but that they complement the NATO efforts. Meaning that we need coherence on development of capabilities. We need EU forces and capabilities available also for NATO missions and operations and we need non-EU NATO Allies fully engaged and as much included as possible in the efforts of the European Union.

The fourth item, or issue, is what we call modernisation, continuing modernisation and adaptation of NATO. We are now as you know in the middle of a big adaptation of the NATO command structure. It was downsized and very much changed after the end of the Cold War. Then we had more than 20,000 personnel in the NATO command structure at 33 different headquarters. Now we have reduced it to less than 7,000 personnel in the command structure at, I think its seven headquarters, so its a significant reduction. Much leaner than before which reflects the fact that tensions went down and NATO could downsize our command structure. But now we are faced with a more challenging security environment. NATO is stepping up, doing more both when it comes to collective defence in Europe, but also projecting stability, fighting terrorism and therefore we need to adapt the command structure once again and thats what we are going to do. And also step up, for instance, the capabilities within the command structure to address cyber threats.

I expect the Heads of State and Government to then agree on the new command structure, both the manning level, but also to establish two new commands: a command for the Atlantic which will be the main tool to make sure that we can secure the links between America - North America, US and Canada and Europe, sea lines of communications and all the vital links between Europe and North America which is where the North Atlantic is so important. And the US has offered to host that command in Norfolk, Virginia. And then one new command for what we call support or logistics. Germany has offered to host that one in Europe which will then focus on how to reinforce and have the logistics in place for movement of forces across Europe. There are also other changes in the NATO command structure which are now proposed by strategic commanders and I hope that the Heads of State and Government will be able to make the final decisions at the summit in July. We are also implementing a reform of our headquarters: we are modernising and making sure that NATO is transparent, agile, effective and a well-functioning Alliance.

The fifth and final theme for the summit will be burden-sharing, and thats about cash capabilities and contributions. Burden-sharing within the Alliance is not only about spending, it is also about contributions to NATO missions and operations and providing the necessary capabilities to the Alliance. Since we are an alliance of 29 nations and we have promised to defend each other, its also fair that we have fair burden-sharing, and therefore I welcome the fact that we are moving in the right direction when it comes to burden-sharing, both on contributions, more and more Allies are stepping up with troops to different NATO missions and operations, in Afghanistan, in Iraq but also in forward presence and other missions and operations in the Mediterranean. More and more Allies are delivering on the capability targets we have agreed as part of the NATO planning process, and more and more Allies are also stepping up when it comes to defence spending.

And as you all know, back in Wales in 2014 we agreed the defence investment pledge and the good news is that since then all Allies have stopped the cuts, and thats actually a big achievement because for many years Allies reduced defence spending. Now all Allies have stopped cutting defence budgets. Second, all Allies have started to increase defence spending in real terms, some increased a lot, others have hardly but at least theres a plus, and plus is better than minus. And more and more Allies spend 2% of GDP on defence. Poland is one example. Poland spends 2% of GDP on defence. Back in 2014 three Allies spent 2% of GDP on defence. Now this year we expect eight Allies to spend 2% of GDP on defence. And the majority of Allies have put forward plans, national plans, on how to reach the 2% within a decade. So we still have a long way to go, but the reality is we have a very good start. All Allies are increasing. More Allies reached the 2% and the majority of Allies have put forward plans on how to reach the 2% within a decade.

The last thing I will say is that I am aware, as you all are aware of, that we are an alliance of 29 different nations and over the last months we have seen disagreements on important issues. Because we are 29 Allies from both sides of the Atlantic with different history, different geography and sometimes also different political views on serious issues ranging from climate change, the Paris Accord, trade issues, tariffs, to the Iran nuclear deal, and these are serious issues where there are serious disagreements between NATO Allies. Having said that I think we have to recognise that we have seen differences between NATO Allies before, its nothing new. Dating all the way back to the Suez Crisis in 1956 when some Allies invaded Egypt and some Allies were heavily against. I wasnt present there because it was 1956, but I guess the mood was not the best one at the NATO meetings. And back in 1966 when France decided to leave the NATO command structure and NATO had its headquarters in Paris and we had to leave, and again I think it was interesting meetings.

Or in 2003 when some Allies supported the Iraq War and others were heavily against. I'm not saying that these were not serious disagreements on important issues, but what Im telling you is that its nothing new that there are disagreements. The strength of NATO is that we have been able to manage those disagreements without weakening the core responsibility of NATO and that is that we are standing united around our core task: that we defend and protect each other. And just to highlight that is that yes there are different views and of course the best thing would be if we were able to solve those disagreements, be it trade issues, trade tariffs, Iran nuclear deal, whatever, but as long as were not able to solve those issues we should at least minimise the negative consequences for NATO. To be honest its not for NATO to solve disagreements on climate change or on trade issues, but it is for NATO to make sure that those disagreements dont weaken NATO, and therefore I am actually inspired by the fact that despite these differences which we all see, we have been able to strengthen the transatlantic bond within NATO.

The US and Canada are now increasing their military presence in Europe. The US has this European deterrence initiative more than tripling the funding for US presence in Europe, with more troops, more exercises, more prepositioned equipment. So yes there are differences between Europe, or at least between European Allies and United States on some issues, but the US is increasing their presence in Europe. Canada is coming back and European Allies are stepping up. So what Im telling you is that as a former national politician Im aware that trade, climate, and also the Iran nuclear deal - which is also relevant of course for NATO - are important issues, but Im inspired by the fact that despite those differences, NATO has been able to adapt, to respond and actually deliver strengthened transatlantic unity with more presence, the new command structure, more defence spending and more contributions to our missions and operations. So NATO is the most successful and the strongest alliance in history for two reasons: reason number one is that we have been able to adapt; reason number two is that we have been able to be united, despite the fact that we are representing 29 different nations. Thank you so much and Im ready to take your questions.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you Jens, thank you for your excellent speech and now we come to the questions. You will have two minutes, I'm sorry, because we have a lot of questions, we already have 22 requests for the floor, so I think we can take one or two more, but then we have to stop the list. And I follow the usual procedure. I will announce those called to ask questions in groups of three, so that you can be prepared. So, the first three are Mike Turner, Ricardo Tarno and Karl Lamers. So, the floor is to Mike Turner, former President of the Assembly, my predecessor and Head of the US Delegation. Mike, the floor is yours.

QUESTION [Mike Turner - Head of US Delegation]: Thank you, Mr President. Mr Secretary General, thank you for your great address and thank you for your commitment to a strong relationship between NATO and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. I know our President will be speaking before your Summit and I appreciate that you can continue to have a strong role for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in NATO and NATO debates.

You gave us a pretty aggressive agenda and your fifth item, burden sharing, I know is going to be a significant topic for you at the Summit, certainly President Trump has made that a big issue. I was hoping that you might be able to help us because, as a body, we have the debate on this issue as to what was the commitment in Wales. As you know, and you

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you, Mike. Now, Ricardo Tarno, the Head of the Spanish Delegation. Ricardo?

QUESTION [Ricardo Tarno - Head of Spanish Delegation]: Thank you, Mr President. I will speak in Spanish. [Interpreted] - The Secretary General has spoken to us about how our countries overcome our differences and problems, but now in Europe essentially there are certain political parties, populist political parties that are non-traditionally gaining weight in our

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: [Vice] President of the Assembly, Head of the German Delegation and Chairman of the Working Group on Education in our Assembly.

QUESTION [Karl Lamers - Head of German Delegation]: Thank you, Mr President. The Secretary General, first of all thank you very much for your great speech and for your very impressive work and dedication to peace and stability worldwide in very turbulent times. I think we all agree to what you say, that NATO and EU must work closer together, strengthen their cooperation in order to defend us and defend our values against external threats. What is your view of PESCO, Permanent Structured Cooperation? Where do you see the most tangible value added to NATO-EU cooperation? Thank you.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much.

First to Mike Turner; thank you for your commitment because I know that you have been President of this Assembly, but I also know that what you do in Washington and in the Congress is of great importance for the whole Alliance, so thank you for your commitment and for your strong support to our Alliance in the United States, in addition to being part of this Assembly. Then, burden sharing; well, you can all read the text and the text in the Wales declaration goes approximately like this, "That all Allies agree to stop the cuts, gradually increase defence spending as their economies grow, and then move towards spending 2% of GDP on defence within a decade". There is some more language, but that is the essence of the pledge.

And then of course you can ask ten lawyers to provide a legal interpretation of that document and then you will have I guess ten different interpretations. And then we can pay ten more lawyers even more to provide you with a new interpretation. And that

Then on Ricardo Tarno; yes, there are

I'm not talking on behalf of the European Union, but I saw recently an opinion poll which shows that actually it's increased support for the European Union all over. When it comes to NATO, the opinion poll shows strong support. It varies a bit, but it is strong and it has increased. I think that one of the challenges we have is that we have to explain that it is in the interest of NATO Allies and the people, close to one billion people living in NATO-Allied countries, to have a strong NATO. And a strong NATO is good for Europe and good for the United States and Canada.

Two world wars and a cold war taught us that we are stronger together than alone. And I think we have to remember that we are, for instance in Afghanistan or in Iraq, not only to help the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, but we are there because it is in our interest to fight terrorism in these countries. Because we have seen that if Afghanistan or Iraq or other countries become safe havens for international terrorists, then they will launch attacks against us. So, we are there to protect us and to make our citizens more safe. Because sometimes I think that people in our countries, they believe that we send soldiers to Afghanistan or we spend money training Iraqi officers just to be nice to those countries. No, we are there also because it's in our interest to make sure that these countries are not launching pads or platforms for organising terrorist attacks against ourselves. And it's also a way to address the migrant and refugee crisis. If our neighbours are more stable, there will also be less migrants and refugees being forced to flee their own countries.

Then Karl Lamers; it's great to see you again. You asked me about NATO-EU and PESCO. Well, I'm in favour of PESCO because it has been so clearly stated that the purpose of PESCO is to develop European military capabilities, drones, planes, different military formations and so on. And those capabilities are going to be developed based on that the EU's efforts should be complementary to NATO efforts, meaning that we need to have coherence between EU efforts and NATO efforts. We cannot end up in the situation where the European Union defines the list of capabilities and then NATO has another list and then they are conflicting. That will be impossible for especially those Allies who are members both of the European Union and NATO at the same time. And that those capabilities, if it is a new plane or a new drone or whatever it is, is available, are available to also NATO missions and operations. This is important because we have to understand that even though I welcome stronger European or EU efforts on defence, the European Union can never replace or be an alternative to NATO, for many reasons, partly because of economy, partly because of size. We have to remember that, especially after Brexit 80% of NATO's defence expenditure will come from non-EU Allies and this will mean that most of our military capabilities will come from non-EU Allies. Meaning that non-EU Allies will be essential for the security of also EU countries. It's partly about money, but also partly about geography. I think it's hard to imagine

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. The next three speakers will be Philippe Folliot, Lord Jopling and Mira Kovich. Philippe Folliot, the Head of the French Delegation.

QUESTION [Philippe Folliot - Head of French Delegation]: [Interpreted] Thank you very much, Secretary General, President. First of all, on behalf of the French delegation, I want to tell you how much we appreciated your speech and the commitment, your commitment to the Alliance. And just a few days ago we received in Paris, at our national assembly, and there I think youth 2017 that China, and this is a quote, "China is the country that is the most influence as regards the world supply of these rare

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Lord Jopling, our former Vice President from the United Kingdom. Michael?

QUESTION [Lord Jopling - Former Vice President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: First of all, I'm most grateful to the leader of the British delegation for allowing me to come in. Secretary General, you started your address by talking about the importance of parliamentary oversight and I want to draw your attention to concerns which some of us have at the internal management of NATO. Thanks to the work of the previous assembly, President Hugh Bailey, we now have access to the reports of the International Board of Auditors for NATO and the recent unclassified report gives rise to what I believe are most serious concerns. I quote to you just four of them. First of all, "There is no common internal control network". Second, "Recurrent and persistent weaknesses in the current internal control systems in most entities". Third, "Difficulties in accepting and developing the identification and accounting of tangible and intangible assets, like property, plants and equipment". And finally and perhaps more seriously, "Lack of support and even opposition to both internally and externally to study the financial consolidation and the creation of a chief finance officer". Secretary General, these are devastating criticisms and quite honestly if criticism of this nature had been directed at a publically quoted company, heads would roll. I'm sure in your response you will tell us that you are responding to these reservations, but the real question is how have we got into this situation which is most alarming and should not this not be the sixth topic for the NATO Summit in Brussels?

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. My good friend Mira Kovich from Croatia, he speaks excellent Italian, so

QUESTION [Mira Kovich - Croatia]: Dear Secretary General, weWe I would like to ask you about your evaluation of the prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the membership action plan. Thank you so much.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much.

First to France; well, we are aware that technology equipment is essential for any military force or defence and therefore one of the issues we have been very strongly focused on over the last years, especially since the Warsaw Summit, is what we call resilience. And that is the importance of having both military, but also civilian infrastructure, equipment, which is strong and which is not vulnerable to potential adversaries. So, part of our focus on resilience is also how to, for instance, work together with industry. And that

Then to Lord Jopling; well, first of all, in one way we don

Second, we have already done a lot to make sure that we have good economic oversight, that we have transparency and that numbers and figures are available. And all nations, all the 29 Allies have access to all the facts and figures and numbers, so one possibility is actually to ask your government to provide you with facts and numbers if you want more details about how we spend and financial management in NATO, because we are transparent to the nations. They are present in Brussels and they can share with you facts and figures, which they get access to in NATO. But of course we can always be better and therefore part of the functional review or the modernisation reform of the headquarters can also address any potential improvements in the way we do financial oversight.

Then the Western Balkans; so, NATO has a history in the Western Balkans, we have a presence in the Western Balkans, we have many members there. The latest member is Montenegro, and we have partners. Bosnia and Herzegovina, well we support the reform efforts, we support the efforts for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move towards membership, but we have clear conditions, we have what we call the Tallinn Conditions, which requires that Bosnia and Herzegovina should be able to register all immovable defence property. This may sound a bit like a bureaucratic requirement, but it's actually about whether the state has full control over the armed forces, which is then reflected by

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. The next three speakers will be Carlos Costa Neves, Ausrine Armonaite, Irakli Beraia. Carlos, the Head of the Portuguese Delegation, please?

QUESTION [Carlos Costa Neves - Head of Portuguese Delegation]: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Secretary General also, for your excellent introduction, but mainly and of course for your

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you, Carlos. I also add my personal question for

QUESTION [Ausrine Armonaite - Lithuania]: Well, thank you very much, Mr Chairman. Dear Secretary General, first of all thank you very much for your speech and for this comprehensive presentation and your efforts making NATO stronger. My question is regarding energy. So, energy is not only a phenomena of economics, but also more and more a case of defence and security. So, first of all, as the control of the resources gets smarter, systems may become vulnerable for cyber-attacks. And second, critical infrastructure may be used to place listening and monitoring technology, used by foreign intelligence. And for instance, these concerns were raised regarding Nord Stream 2 project in the Baltic Sea. So, what is your view regarding these energy security challenges and what NATO could do

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: I'm sorry. Irakli Beraia, the Acting Head of the Georgian Delegation, please?

QUESTION [Irakli Beraia - Acting Head of Georgian Delegation]: Thank you, Mr President. Thank you, Secretary General, for your great address. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your support to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration process and, as we all well know, NATO has underlined on numerous occasions that Georgia has registered significant progress in demonstrative performance expected from an aspirant nation. With its sizeable contribution to NATO operations, Georgia has proved that it can be a valuable and effective security provider and take the responsibility of collective security. And against this background, what will be the deliverable at the upcoming Brussels Summit with regards to Georgia and what shall the Georgian people expect? Will the next Summit take our country one step closer to our ultimate goal, which is NATO membership? Thank you.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much. First to the question

When it comes to what more we can do in the MENA region, so first of all we are doing a lot in the MENA region, we have many partners there, we are working closely with them. Second, I think that we have the potential to do much more, but to be able to do so we need full support from all 29 Allies and to be transparent with you, there are different views within the Alliance among NATO Allies to what extent NATO should do more. So, the first

Then, to Lithuania, energy; well, that

Then on Georgia; well, first of all we will continue to provide support to Georgia. Georgia has all the tools its need to become a member of NATO with the national annual plans, with the NATO-Georgia Commission and, at the same time, membership action plan is an integral part of Georgia's membership process. We haven

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: OK, thank you. The next three will be Leona Alleslev, Ertan Aydin and Andreas Loverdos. Leona Alleslev, the Head of the Canadian Delegation which will host our next session in Halifax. Please, Leona?

QUESTION [Leona Alleslev - Head of Canadian Delegation]: Well, thank you very much for an outstanding presentation. As a parliamentarian, you know how important it is to be able to communicate with our citizens, and our citizens support and advocate for things they understand. In my country, we had a survey that says the 70% of our youth, 70% of our women and 64% of our entire population do not know what NATO is. If they don

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Ertan Aydin from Turkey, please?

QUESTION [Ertan Aydin - Turkey]: First of all, let me thank to your quality of presentation, Mr Secretary General, that deal with serious topics in a comprehensive manner. Thank you. Actually, my question partly ask and partly you have given the question

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. Andreas Loverdos from Greece?

QUESTION [Andreas Loverdos - Greece]: Thank you, Mr President. Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Secretary General for his excellent address. And then I will make a comment on the illegal detention of two Greek soldiers by the Turkish authorities for three months now. On this issue, there are two important statements, declarations or resolutions, coming from the European Parliament and from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The detention, these detention is completely illegal because it violates the human rights and the rule of law. Dear colleagues, actually asked the Greek delegation here, we don

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: First to Leona Alleslev; thank you so much for the work you are doing in Canada because we were together there for not so many weeks ago and I know that you are doing very important work there to make NATO more known. I will try and NATO will try to help you, and all other NATO Allies, as much as possible, to provide information and to provide background and facts and figures about NATO. And we have also plans on how to step up our efforts to do exactly that. We have, as you know, a campaign now called We are NATO, which is a campaign that we are developing in stages, and the aim of that campaign is to reach out to more people and to inform them about NATO. So, we also have an excellent homepage, or webpage, where you can get a lot of access, you can follow me on Twitter, then you get access to excellent statements I make all over the world, and speeches, and you can read them aloud if you want, for your spouses and then you can see how they react. And so, through social media and through the homepage of NATO you can get access to a lot of information. So

But of course, we will try to help you, but you have to help us. Because at the end of the day, national politicians are most

Then Turkey, Mr Aydin; well, my main message is the same as I gave in my speech. Yes, there are serious disagreements and I think it's important not to in any way try to deny that, because everyone sees it. And trade issues, Iran Nuclear Deal and so on, are serious issues. And of course, the best thing would be if we were able to solve those disagreements or those differences, and I think many Allies, many friends of NATO, are working on how to try to solve those issues. But then, as long as they're not solved, we have to make sure that we are able to deliver transatlantic unity and the good thing is that that

Then, on the situation for the Greek soldiers and the relationship between Greece and Turkey; so, Greece and Turkey are two highly-valued Allies and I appreciate very much their contribution, so both Turkey and Greece, to our shared security, to our collective defence and I visited both countries several times. There are some disagreements. I have discussed this both in Athens and in Ankara and I continue to try to support all efforts to solve the disagreements or differences between two highly- valued Allies, Greece and Turkey. And I think if I was more into the details now, I think it would not help to solve those differences. Thank you.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. Next three will be Eva Kaili, Njall Fridbertsson and Bastiaan van Apeldoorn. Eva Kaili, the Head of the Delegation for the European Parliament. Please, Eva.

QUESTION [Eva Kaili - European Parliament Head of Delegation]: Thank you. Dear Secretary General, it was indeed an excellent speech and thank you for your continuous efforts to enhance EU-NATO defence cooperation. Besides the increase of spendings for NATO that we usually address in these meetings, I would like to ask you what are the further steps you believe we need to take to enhance trust to our alliance? Coming from a country that actually fulfils its economic obligations besides the severe economic crisis that we have faced, I believe that building trust is essential between Allies since we face common hybrid threats and we need to exchange sensitive information, it could be crucial not to be able to do that. What actions do you believe we should take to achieve equal respect to international law, but also between us? So, as my colleague mentioned, several months ago in Northern Greece, Macedonia where I'm from, at the EU-Turkey borders, indeed soldiers were arrested and without a fair trial. My father actually is a Turkish citizen, he has a second citizenship, born

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you, Eva. Njall Fridbertsson, the Head of the Delegation from Iceland, who invited me to visit the Reykjavik next week. Thank you for the invitation.

QUESTION [Njall Fridbertsson - Head of Icelandic Delegation]: OK, thank you President and thank you, Mr General Secretary for an excellent speech. I would like to start with we talked about in the education and communication working group this weekend and I want to emphasise what the Head of the Delegation from Canada was talking about, the importance of the people of the countries know what NATO is, just to emphasise on that point. But I would like to address the important issue of gender equality and balance within NATO concerning that matter. The landmark resolution of United Nations Security Council 1325 on women, peace and security, has brought an increased attention on gender equality and the importance of mainstreaming gender in activities and policies related to security and defence. One of the objectives of 1325 Resolution is to promote the fair representation of both men and women in defence institutions and peace processes, where parliaments and governments are key players. Therefore, we must aim at equal representation of both men and women in all our work, also within NATO. Concerning also your excellent speech before, when you were talking about the strength of NATO

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. Bastiaan van Apeldoorn from the Netherlands.

QUESTION [Bastiaan van Apeldoorn - Netherlands]: Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr Secretary General, we will later this morning discuss the NATO-PA draft resolution in which it is proposed to reiterate support for the prospective NATO membership for Georgia and the aspiration of Ukraine. In this context, I would like to invite you, Mr Secretary General, to reflect upon remarks made by your predecessor, Mr Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. De Hoop Scheffer, in an interview with Dutch media earlier this year, said it was a mistake to promise NATO membership to Ukraine and Georgia. The Former Secretary General argued that this unnecessarily radicalised Russia and made it pursue a more aggressive foreign policy. He also added that he had underestimated the Russian reaction in this regard, but that he could understand this reaction. In other words, it was a counterproductive move. Now, I think it is remarkable that the admission of this mistake came from a Former Secretary General of NATO and I wondered to what extent you, Mr Secretary General, agree with your predecessor. And if not, why not? Some people argue that we cannot come back to the words of 2008, but surely also NATO can learn from its mistakes and at least not go on repeating a promise that it should never have made and that will only bring us further down the dangerous path of further escalation and confrontation with Russia standing in the way of necessary dialogue and de-escalation. Thank you, Mr Chairman.

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much.

First to Eva Kaili; well, what can we do to enhance the trust in the Alliance? I think we can do many things. First, we should be very proud of what NATO is and how NATO has been able to respond and adapt. I am actually quite impressed by the fact that since 2014, we have implemented the biggest reinforcement to our collective defence since the end of the Cold War We are delivering both in the fight against terrorism, we are delivering deterrence and defence in Europe, and we are seeing that more and more Allies are contributing more, both when it comes to defence investments, but also for instance in the fight against terrorism. So, NATO has proven to be very agile and able to adapt to change when the world is changing, so we should be proud of what we have achieved so far. Second, we should

Then I strongly believe that we need to meet and talk when there are differences. Again, I am aware of the differences between two highly-valued NATO Allies, Turkey and Greece. I am confident that Greece and Turkey will be able to discuss and address these differences in the spirit of mutual trust and Allied solidarity, and I welcome the fact that both the Greek Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Turkey have agreed to resolve their differences through dialogue. And as I said, I am also talking with them, when I meet them addressing these issues.

You mentioned migration. Well, migration is an excellent example of why NATO has to work together with NATO Allies, like Greece and Turkey. NATO's presence in the Aegean Sea has been important to make sure to implement the agreement between the European Union and Turkey on the handling of the migrant and refugee crisis and the high number of illegal crossings we saw over the Aegean not so many years ago. So, NATO has been important, partly with our presence in the Aegean Sea, but also NATO presence has been a platform for strengthening the dialogue between a non-EU member, but a NATO member, Turkey, and the European Union. So, NATO is important also when it comes to, for instance, managing the migrant and refugee crisis.

Then, Fridbertsson of Iceland; women, peace and security, that

And then the Netherlands, van Apeldoorn; well, I haven

And I say this also because the whole idea that this kind of provocation that the Baltic countries, Poland has joined NATO, no it's not a provocation, it's a decision by sovereign nations through democratic processes that they wanted to become members of NATO. I accept that. But of course, Sweden, Finland, they are also close neighbours of Russia, at least Finland, and Sweden is almost, they have decided not to become members of NATO. I respect that too. But so, I will finish in a moment, but the thing is that whether a country is going to become a member of NATO or not, it's up to that country and the 29 Allies to decide. No-one else has a say. Because we can never, never, never give any other country a kind of veto to decide over other countries. That will be to reintroduce sphere of influence and that

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. That

QUESTION [Franco Panizza - Italy]: I prefer to speak in Italian. [Interpreted] Thank you, President Alli, for your very authoritative commitment. Thank you, Secretary General, for your very clear analysis, but particularly for having outlined positive development prospects for NATO, particularly in terms of efficacy and operational capability. I'd like to come to my question: We said that NATO is a community based on shared common values. The threats which we have to face today from instability on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, which we have talked about, and the terrorist threat, together with the growth of global ambitions of China, particularly in Africa, call on all of us to strengthen the common commitment for security of our citizens. International missions are the highest example of cooperation, coordination and responsibility sharing in NATO and therefore, when we speak of burden sharing, commitments in international missions should be taken into account. These are missions which demonstrate a common commitment, whereas simply increasing expenditure might just mean an improvement of national forces, without necessarily being in line with a common person.. I'd like to ask your opinion on that.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: The Head of the Armenian Delegation.

QUESTION [Koryun Nahapetyan - Head of Armenian Delegation]: Thank you, Honourable President Alli. Your Excellency, Secretary General, today's session has coincided with historical event in my country. Armenia celebrates 100th anniversary of the first republic, a date that symbolises first expression of Armenian sovereignty and became turning point for our nation, for history of our nation and statehood. Please let me turn to my question. Armenia attach high importance to partnership with NATO and has rich experience in peacekeeping in NATO operations. Armenia and European Union comprehensive and enhanced partnership agreement initiates participation of my country in European Union-led civilian and military crisis management operations. We know that NATO and European Union closely cooperate in the field of peacekeeping in the Balkans and Afghanistan. In this regard, my question is following: has NATO experience in assisting, preparing associate member states in participating in European Union-led operations? Thank you.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. Iryna Friz, the Head of the Ukrainian Delegation.

QUESTION [Iryna Friz - Head of Ukrainian Delegation]: Thank you. Secretary

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much.

First, to Mr Franco Panizza; I agree that burden sharing is not only about spending, it's also about contributions to NATO missions and operations, and therefore we have highlighted many times that this is about what we call the three Cs, cash spending, capabilities and contributions. But I think what we have seen is that in the long run it is hard to get more out of less, so to be able to provide the necessary contributions we also need more defence spending. So, the way to understand what we agreed in Wales is not that we can choose between either capabilities or contributions or spending, we need to deliver all three of them, so that

Then on Armenia; first of all, I would like to thank Armenia for providing troops and contributions and also for the partnership we have with Armenia and the valuable contributions you are making to NATO missions and operations, for instance in Afghanistan and in Kosovo. Then I would like to congratulate Armenia on a peaceful transition and election of a new Prime Minister and I look forward to working with the new Prime Minister and his administration. Then, I am not

Then it was one more, that was Ukraine; first of all, actually today, later on today, this afternoon, there will be a NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting at Ambassadorial- level in Brussels. So, we of course have close contact with Ukraine, we have a Commission meeting this afternoon, and I am in regular contact with President Poroshenko and also Foreign Minister Klimkin and other Ukrainian officials. And Ukraine is a highly-valued partner of NATO and NATO will continue to provide

Then we are aware of the problems, or the disagreements regarding the language law and I have been talking both with Prime Minister, Viktor Orb

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Thank you. Well, I'm sorry to say that we will not have the chance to give the floor to everybody because we have still a long list. We'll take six more questions. Next three, Richard Benyon, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff and Borys Wrzesnewskyj. Richard, the Head of the UK Delegation?

QUESTION [Richard Benyon - Head of UK Delegation]: Thank you, President. Secretary General, firstly thank you for your robust comments following the Novichok attack in Salisbury. Your robust comments were echoed by a unanimous vote at our standing committee meeting in Vilnius, where every delegation of parliamentarians supporting the response of the British government and called on all our Allies to show a resolute response to Russia in the face of that evil act. 100 years ago saw the formation of the Royal Air Force. This was in response to technological advances that resulted in a new theatre of war. There are similarities today with cyber now the new battlefield. Clearly this demands a new doctrine, backed crucially by structural reforms that address this new threat. Can you assure us that as part of the modernisation programme you

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Alexander Graf Lambsdorff from Germany?

QUESTION [Alexander Graf Lambsdorff - Germany]: Thank you very much, Mr President. Two questions briefly, one the Iraq training mission. How and in which way do you believe the election result will affect the mission? How do you make sure that the relationship to the popular mobilisation forces which have been integrated in the regular Iraqi standing forces will not be beneficiaries of this training mission? Are there provisions taken to this end? And it's, I believe, a very difficult issue considering the relation of the PMF with Iran. Second question, what do you expect to come out of the NATO-Russia Council meeting that I'm very happy you have called? And on a broader level, do you find this a useful format, one versus 29? Sometimes one hears that for the Russian side it's a bit difficult, so I'd like to hear your view on that.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Borys Wrzesnewskyj from Canada, please?

QUESTION [Borys Wrzesnewskyj - Canada]: Thank you. Secretary General, I'd just like to use this opportunity to restate that Canada unequivocally supports Ukraine's and Georgia's North Atlantic integration and I'd like to thank you for acknowledging Canada's increasing role in Europe. Although we find ourselves on the other side of the Atlantic, we understand that NATO's greatest military challenge these days is on its eastern front, a hard military frontline that stretches from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In that context, Canada, as everyone is aware of here, has our mission in Latvia, we're involved in Romania with air defence, and although not a NATO mission per se, since December of 2014, along with our British and American Allies, we've been involved in Operation Unifier, to train Ukrainian soldiers. We've trained over 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers and officers and would you consider encouraging our Allied members to take part in this Operation Unifier, as it's proven to be invaluable on that part of the eastern front?

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much.

First to Richard Benyon and cyber; well, I agree with you that in one way it's comparable with air force because for many years battles were only fought, wars were only fought or conductedThird, we are stepping up our efforts when it comes to protecting our own cyber networks and we are doing more to exchange best practices to learn from each other, not least by using the Centre of Excellence in Tallinn on [inaudible ] national cyber effects and they share them or integrate them into NATO missions and operations. That

Then, Mr Lambsdorff, Iraq training efforts; first, NATO is doing some training in Iraq today, but what we are going to do is to, as you know, to establish a mission which then provides a much better platform, framework, for scaling up training in Iraq. Second, I strongly believe that training is the key because we have to make sure that we're not forced to come back in a combat operation and to be able to combat ISIS once again. So, in one way or another, we have to build some local forces to enable them to keep ISIS or anything similar down and the prevent them from coming back. Third, we are only going to train Iraqi government forces and of course there will be a vetting process and well, of course we will only be there if we are wanted by the Iraqi government, but so far we have not got any indications that the new

Then a new question from Canada; first of all, you are a very strong voice when it comes to Ukraine and Georgia, I know that that they appreciate that very much. Thank you for your contributions to our Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia and being a framework or a lead nation there. And thank you also for what you do in Ukraine. And I think that when I say that NATO provides political and practical support to Ukraine, it's partly what we provide in a NATO framework, but also what NATO Allies provide bilaterally. And to be honest, and it's not that big difference for those who receive the aid, whether it's the NATO Ally Canada, or NATO Allied Canada through NATO framework providing help. The important thing is that we, as a NATO family, provide help to Ukraine. And Canada is really leading by example through all the help you provide. Thank you.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: OK, last four questions. I ask you to be telegraphic because we are running out of time. Anna Fotyga from the European Parliament, Madeleine Moon, Malahat Ibrahimgizi and Christian Tybring-Gjedde. Anna Fotyga, please?

QUESTION [Anna Fotyga - European Parliament]: Thank you, Chair. Secretary General, thank you for this broad overview, in particular for stressing the importance of the transatlantic bond, both with the United States and Canada, that I also find crucial for successful EU-NATO cooperation. Please raise the issue of targeting killings, abductions of both Georgian and Ukrainian citizens while talking to Russia. In close future, I hope that we'll find the format during NATO Summit in Brussels to speak properly to both

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Madeleine Moon?

QUESTION [Madeleine Moon - Deputy Head of UK Delegation]: Thank you, Chairman. Can I personally thank the Secretary General for his personal demonstration of resilience and adaptation in the light of the interference he was experiencing during his presentation. As a parliamentary assembly, we welcome the creation of the strategic direction hub south, to contact, consult and coordinate with partners to find solutions to the challenges, particularly of terrorism, trafficking and unemployment and crime. It would be helpful to have further clarification of its role and tasks and perhaps, if appropriate, suggest adding responsibility for the assessment development and use of NATO space assets and the threats they face. I wonder if you could provide some comments. Thank you.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Mrs Ibrahimgizi from Azerbaijan?

QUESTION [Malahat Ibrahimgizi - Azerbaijan]: Thank you very much, Mr Chairman. Your Excellency, in your statement you mentioned about main items to be debated at the Brussels Summit. One of the items is projecting stability. In this framework, what can you

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: Christian Tybring-Gjedde from the Head of the Norwegian Delegation?

QUESTION [Christian Tybring-Gjedde - Head of Norwegian Delegation]: Thank you very much, Mr Chair. And thank you to Mr Stoltenberg for an excellent speech. As I said before, we

JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you so much.

First to Anna Fotyga from the European Parliament. You asked me a specific question on Georgia and the NATO training centre. So, I have visited the NATO training centre and it shows that it's an excellent training centre, not so far away from Tbilisi, and I was there when the training centre was inaugurated. And it shows that we are working together. We provide support to Georgia with the training centre, but also Georgia provides a lot of support to NATO missions and operations. So, this goes both ways. It is extremely important that the training centre continues and I urge therefore, when I travel around, NATO Allies and partners to provide trainers and I am grateful for Norway that has played a key role in providing trainers to the centre, but of course we also need other Allies. So, you can go back to your parliaments and ask your governments to make sure that they send some trainers, not only to Afghanistan, we need them there, to Iraq, but also to Georgia and other countries, so we can make sure that we continue the training centre in Georgia.

Then, Madeleine Moon; you asked me about space assets. Well, more and more Allies are developing some space assets, but at the same time it's very important that whatever we do is fully in line with international law and this is also an area where of course not so many Allies are able to operate, but some Allies are working on and addressing the challenges we see in space. And also NATO has some work where we coordinate and address these as a NATO Alliance.

Then on Azerbaijan; well, we

Then to Christian Tybring-Gjedde; well, I have been strongly in favour in the enlargement of NATO and of course, I also strongly believe that the enlargement of NATO and the European Union, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, has contributed to stability, to peace and prosperity across Europe. So, it has been a great historic success. The fact that we had leaders that actually showed the courage to formulate open-door policy and then enabling NATO to go from 16 members, as we were in 80

Then you asked me whether there's a limit. Yes, there is a limit in a way because you have to be a European country and therefore, to become a member there is actually three conditions. You need to meet the NATO standards, when it comes to, you know, your institutions, democracy, rule of law and individual liberty. Second, you need to be a European country, and most European countries are now members of NATO, so there are not that many potential more members. And thirdly, the membership has to contribute to transatlantic peace and security. So, there are some aspirant countries, but the number of potential members are in no way as many as there were in the 1990s where we really had a big, big increase that you witnessed when you worked in NATO, because then the Warsaw Pact was dissolved and there were eight members of the Warsaw Pact, seven are now members of NATO and also some of the former republics of the Soviet Union are now also NATO members, and that has been a great success.

Thank you so much. The problem is not the length of the questions, the problem is the length of the answers.

PAOLO ALLI [President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly]: No, you were excellent. Thank you, Mr Secretary Genera. I think this was a great exchange of view, great questions and answers, thank you.
Belgrade  Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Shepro, Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee attended the 12th Balkan Countries Chiefs of Defence (CHoDs) Conference from 22 & 23 May in Belgrade, Serbia. The Lieutenant General discussed with the participating Chiefs of Defence and high ranking military officials ways of strengthening peace and security as well as military cooperation.

Since its creation in 2007, the Balkan CHODs Conference has been an important military regional forum where the promotion of cooperation, stability, and confidence amongst the Balkan countries has been paramount. Through practical and visible results, it has confirmed the commitment of all members to provide timely and the most efficient response to diverse security challenges and threats in the region.

This years conference, hosted by General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, focused on "Security and Defence in Cyberspace - risks and opportunities for a successful regional cooperation", amongst other topics. Participants included the Chiefs of General Staffs/Chiefs of Defence of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Macedonia, Romania, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Turkey and Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia as well as the Chairman of the ED Military Committee, and the Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

During the course of the two day conference, Lt Gen Shepro highlighted the strategic importance of the Balkans and stressed that NATO would maintain its presence, focus and engagement in the Western Balkans because stability and security in this region benefits the stability and security in Europe. He added that NATO sees the regions future in Euro-Atlantic cooperation and is determined to continue to help the countries of the region to implement reforms. This will benefit their citizens, their countries and the entire Euro-Atlantic family.

The Deputy Chairman also commended the organizers for choosing Cyber as the central theme for the Conference, this proves once more that cyber is a transregional interest and an essential domain for our security. Cyber defence is part of NATOs core task of collective defence. We consider it an operational domain, in which NATO must be prepared to defend itself as effectively as we do in the air, on land or at sea.

Concluding the visit, Lt Gen Shepro emphasised the benefits and need for continued military cooperation between Allied and Partner countries. Partners are part of many of NATOs core activities, from shaping policy to building defence capacity, developing interoperability and managing crises. Dialogue and cooperation with partners can make a concrete contribution to enhance international security, to defend the values on which the Alliance is based, to NATOs operations, and to prepare interested nations for membership. NATOs programmes also help partner nations to develop their own defence and security institutions and forces, concluded Lt Gen Shepro.
(Natural News) Imagine being told by the federal government that youre not allowed to purchase a house based on your behavior and your societal status. While this thankfully has yet to happen in the United States, across the world in China, it is a reality that the countrys 1.4 billion citizens have to live with.

When Chinese journalist Liu Hu tried to book a flight recently, he was informed that he was on a list of untrustworthy people and was therefore banned from flying. The news came not long after Liu received a court order to apologize for a series of comments that he made on social media.

However, this apology was not enough for Chinese authorities, who deemed it insincere. For Liu, the consequences have been severe. I cant buy property. My child cant go to a private school, he explained, adding, You feel youre being controlled by the list all the time.

The case of Liu Hu serves as a stark reminder that China, despite having adopted some aspects of western civilization in recent years, is continuously expanding their surveillance. Citizens are being routinely monitored, and virtually everything that they do is assessed, judged and potentially used against them. (Related: People with bad social credit in China are now banned from using trains and airplanes.)

Worse still, many people feel that this social credit score system will be used to further punish those who do not support the Chinese government. For example, what would happen to a citizen that spoke out against the governments censorship and regulation of the Internet? Would they be considered to have a low social credit score for thinking this way and be unable to rent an apartment or purchase a home as a result? Would their employment status be impacted in some way? Would their childs education be affected? Obviously, China has started itself out on a slippery slope that will surely lead to even fewer rights and less freedom than the nations citizens already have. (Related: China attacked a U.S. pet food company for not using China-based ingredients.)

Are similar tactics beginning to surface in America?

Even though the United States is a much more liberty-oriented country than China, that doesnt mean that Americans rights havent been violated in similar ways based on their beliefs and behaviors. A perfect example of this is how Google treats its conservative-minded employees, which former Google engineer describes as unfair and discriminatory.

In his official lawsuit against the company, James Damore explains that Google employees routinely talk about purging the company of workers that align more with conservatism than the liberal ideology. Additionally, workers that hold conservative beliefs are blacklisted by people at companies outside of Google, meaning that whether somebody is employed or unemployed is at times strictly dependent upon their political views.

In 2015, Google manager Adam Fletcher wrote that he would never hire conservatives that he believed held hostile viewpoints. I will never, ever hire/transfer you onto my team, Fletcher wrote according to the lawsuit. Ever. I dont care if you are perfect fit or technically excellent or whatever. I will actively not work with you, even to the point where your team or product is impacted by this decision. Ill communicate why to your manager if it comes up.

Fletcher added, Youre being blacklisted by people at companies outside of Google. You might not have been aware of this, but people know, people talk. There are always social consequences.

So, in other words, unless you believe in and support social justice and liberalism, your employment status at Google could be in jeopardy. Doesnt this sound similar to a certain social credit score system in China? Read more at Obey.news.

Sources include:

IntelliHub.com

TheFederalist.com
(Natural News) Students with fair skin were told that they couldnt attend a recent community dialogue session about racism that was held on the campus of Georgetown University because the racist campus group that organized it wanted it to be a safe space accessible only by browns and blacks.

Known as Georgetown United Against Police Aggression (GUAPA), this anti-white cohort of radical racists basically converged a gathering of non-whites to fuss and moan about police aggression, which apparently only affects people who arent white. In an announcement on Facebook, GUAPA wrote in no uncertain terms:

Its time to talk. All of us have a story about GUPD (Georgetown University Police Department). All of us know someone who has been targeted. Lets do something about it. Come this Tuesday for community and discussion. This space will center the voices and experiences of students of color, allies for the safety of students of color, allies are not welcome to attend this preliminary dialogue.

In other words, white people have never been victims of police abuse, according to GUAPA, which means that only non-whites are allowed to talk about police abuse in a public forum. Even white people who GUAPA considers to be allies in support of its racist mission are relegated to third-class status, simply because of the color of their skin.

Heres a small sampling of some of the MANY incidents in which white people have endured abuse by police officers

That GUAPA even exists at all at Georgetown says a lot about the dismal state of higher education in America today, which has been all but completely obliterated as a result of affirmative action. The racist members of GUAPA are clearly of such low intelligence that they fail to recognize that white people are victims of police abuse, too.

Here are a few prominent examples from recent headlines that didnt make the cut in national news, seeing as how they dont quite fit the narrative that people of color are the only victims of police abuse:

 In 2016, a now-28-year-old police officer by the name of Philip Brailsford opened fire on an unarmed white man by the name of Daniel Shaver, murdering him in cold blood. Brailsford was later acquitted for murdering Shaver, even though the whole incident was captured on tape.

 Justine Damond, a white woman from Minnesota, was shot and killed by a black police officer named Mohamed Noor after calling 911 about a possible assault in the alley behind her home. Noor later turned himself in for murder and manslaughter of an innocent woman, but the story never gained national attention because Damond was white instead of black.

 A white man from Iowa was shot and killed by police during a routine traffic stop. Like the other aforementioned incidents, there was no nationwide call for change or any White Lives Matter protests in response.

Even the left-leaning Newsweek media outlet reported back in late 2017 that far more white people than black people are killed by police officers, which makes them prime candidates for discussions about police abuse like the one that recently took place at Georgetown.

According to actual statistics, only about one-quarter of all police shootings involve black people. The other 75 percent are white victims, almost none of whom are given a voice on the national stage to rally-cry for justice. Racist blacks and browns, as well as their brainwashed white allies, simply dont allow for this type of equality.

For more insane news on the prolific racism of black and brown people on college and university campuses, visit CampusInsanity.com.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

Facebook.com

Vox.com

NaturalNews.com

Breitbart.com

StarTribune.com

KCCI.com
There's a hepatitis A outbreak in Nashville where health officials confirm that 14 people are already diagnosed with acute hepatitis A.

Metro and state officials are already moving to keep the outbreak contained with vaccinations.

Nashville's Hepatitis A Outbreak

According to a report from NewsChannel5, all 14 cases occurred in the span of five months, since Dec. 1, 2017.

Nashville usually has an average of two cases of hepatitis A per year.

In response to the outbreak, MPHD is reportedly joining forces with the Tennessee Department of Health.

Vaccination Operations

As part of the efforts, free hepatitis A vaccinations will be offered to at-risk groups at the three Health Centers. The free service will start on Tuesday, May 8.

Three at-risk groups specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include: illicit drug users (not limited to injected drug use), men who engage in sexual contact with other men, and homeless individuals. The first two will be top priority for the Nashville vaccinations.

Brian Haile, CEO of community health clinic Neighborhood Health, tells WSMV that the outbreak can be contained if vaccination is done immediately, especially in at-risk communities.

However, he's concerned about the doses of the vaccine that are available for a large number of at-risk citizens.

"There are over 18,000 men who have sex with men in Nashville. There are over 5,000 homeless individuals in Nashville, and there are an unknown number of drug users," Haile says in a separate interview with NewsChannel5. "We want to work closely with the Metro Public Health Department, to ensure that Nashville immediately gets an adequate supply of vaccine."

About Hepatitis A

CDC describes hepatitis A as highly contagious liver infection that's usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or by the exposure to contaminated food or water. Symptoms include low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, which is similar to hepatitis B and C.

Hepatitis A usually ranges from a mild sickness that lasts a few weeks to a more severe illness that stretches for several months. It doesn't become chronic. While fatal cases are rare, the disease can cause liver failure and death.

In 2016, there were an estimated 4,000 cases of hepatitis A in the United States.

Aside from the previously mentioned at-risk , CDC says other individuals prone to the disease include travelers who have recently been to countries where hepatitis A is more common, those living with an adoptee from these countries, patients with clotting factor disorders (e.g. hemophilia), and people who work with nonhuman primates.

For anyone, the best way of preventing the infection is through vaccination.
A San Diego flight bound for Tulsa was diverted to Phoenix due to what was described by passengers as an odor that came through the plane and was then gone, Phoenix Fire said.

Frontier Flight 1764 left San Diego at 6:50 a.m. Sunday and landed in Phoenix around 11:25 a.m. local time.

The plane landed safely, and the passengers were able to deplane in Phoenix. Seventeen passengers requested to be evaluated by Phoenix Fire, and a 62-year-old man was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The cause of the odor will be investigated by Frontier, Phoenix Fire said.

Frontier told NBC 7 in a statement:

Frontier Airlines flight [1764] from San Diego to Tulsa landed in Phoenix this morning after an odor was detected by a member of our crew. Safety is the priority at Frontier and the decision to land in Phoenix was made out of an abundance of caution. As is standard procedure, anyone requesting a medical evaluation receives one. Arrangements are being made to allow passengers to continue to their destinations.



This is the second time in a week a Frontier flight on the San Diego-Tulsa route has been diverted because of an in-cabin odor.

On May 20, Flight 1839 from Tulsa to San Diego had to be diverted to Albuquerque because of a chemical smell.
Two men on a ship at San Francisco's Pier 80 suffered non-life threatening injuries Sunday afternoon, according to fire officials.

It is not clear how the men were injured or what types of injuries they sustained.

Both victims have been removed from the ship and transported to a trauma center, according to the fire department.

Further information was not available.
With boisterous parades and reflective ceremonies, Californians are paying their respects on Memorial Day to those who died serving their country.

In San Francisco, residents marked the day with a cemetery walk and community picnic at the Presidio, a park and former military fort. Monday's ceremony marked the 150th anniversary of the Presidio's participation, dating back to the National Day of Remembrance in 1868.

Across the Golden Gate Bridge, participants celebrated with an annual parade through downtown Mill Valley.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke during an observance at the city's National Cemetery, where family members placed flowers on loved ones' graves.

East of Los Angeles, hundreds of motorcyclists roared through the streets of Riverside County for the annual West Coast Thunder ride in honor of lost service men and women.
Flash floods ripped through Ellicott City, Maryland, Sunday as more than 8 inches of rain dumped down in the span of about five hours.

Powerful flood waters turned the city's Main Street into a river and swept away cars like they were toys. The same street was devastated by deadly floods nearly two years ago.

Parts of Howard County remained under a flood warning early Monday, but Storm Team4 says the threat for more heavy rain has passed, and the likelihood of more flash flooding is decreasing.



Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and visited Ellicott City late Sunday. Hogan told the news media the city had recently received $1 million for flood control as a result of the 2016 floods.

[NATL-DC] Dramatic Images: Floods Crush Cars, Destroy Streets in Ellicott City

"It took two years to get the money and it's ironic that we just got it this month," Hogan said. "Nobody expected another storm of this magnitude to come two years later because, as I said, they're only supposed to happen every 1,000 years."

Howard County Fire & EMS responded to multiple water rescues and fire officials told residents at one point not to call 911 if they were in a safe place.

"If you are trapped, we are coming," Howard County Fire & EMS tweeted. Crews as far away as Northern Virginia helped with rescues.

The fire department said it also responded to reports of buildings collapsing.



Dangerous flash floods pounded Ellicott City, Maryland, on Sunday. News4's Darcy Spencer reports.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said authorities aren't aware of any fatalities or missing people.

Kittleman said at an outdoor news conference he toured the historic county seat after the flash flood receded and was "heartbroken" it was so severely damaged again. As he spoke, Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford put a comforting hand on Kittleman's back.

Kittleman says he considers the damage worse than the flooding two summers ago that claimed two lives.

Hayden Brown scored 14 points with 14 rebounds and his driving layup down the middle of the lane with 0.8 seconds led The Citadel past VMI 75-74

Of the city's residents and business owners, Kittleman says "they are faced with the same daunting task again.'' But he says: "We will be there for them as we were in 2016."

A flash flood warning is in effect for parts of Howard, Frederick, Carroll, Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland. Flood warnings are also in effect for that region. See the list of all weather alerts here.

Fire officials advised not to try to drive through or cross roads with standing water.

People who need shelter can go to the Roger Carter Community Center at 3000 Milltowne Drive, Howard County Recreation and Parks tweeted.

Walking through downtown Ellicott City surveying the damage with Lt. Governor @BoydKRutherford, County Executive Kittleman, and emergency management personnel from the county and state. We stand in solidarity with Ellicott City and Howard County. We are #EllicottCityStrong. pic.twitter.com/tlbU5b3wYQ  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 28, 2018

Videos posted to Twitter show massive floods sweeping through Main Street in Ellicott City, which was closed for months after the floods on July 30, 2016.

Jessica Ur, a server at a cafe on the city's Main Street, told The Baltimore Sun she saw the gushing brown waters carry three or four parked cars down the street.

The newspaper reports that the swirling waters reached the second floor of one building at its height. But by about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the newspaper reports, much of the water had subsided and rescue officials were walking around the downtown area while making sure people evacuated.

Storm Team4's Somara Theodore has the evening forecast as heavy rains and floods struck Ellicott City, Maryland.

Spokeswoman Karen Spicer in Howard County says she has no immediate information of any deaths after the flash floods. Information still is preliminary, however, and authorities say they are still checking flooded buildings and streets.



Storm Team4 declared Sunday a Weather Alert Day.

A flash flood watch has expired for the entire D.C. metro area.

Residents should take extra precautions and remember to never drive through a flooded road.

A man described how raging flood waters trapped him and his coworkers at a restaurant in Ellicott City, Maryland, on Sunday. News4's Erika Gonzalez reports.
Several Gold Star families from Vermont were honored at Fenway Park in Boston in a Memorial Day service held before Mondays game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Heather Sheehan of Milton, Vermont lost her husband, Sgt. Kevin Sheehan, in a 2004 mortar attack in Iraq.

Its really great to be with this group of people, Sheehan said of the Gold Star families that traveled together from Vermont to the ballpark. We have that common bond.

Sheehan was one of 29 Gold Star family members from the Green Mountains whose sacrifices were honored on the field before the Memorial Day game.

Kevin McLaughlin of West Bolton, Vermont, whose son, Sgt. Scott McLaughlin, died from enemy fire in Iraq in 2005, had the high-pressure job of throwing out the first pitch.

We were always afraid Scott would get forgotten, along with the rest of the soldiers, McLaughlin told necn. But I dont think thats going to happen.

The Vermont National Guard Fallen Heroes Memorial Committee organized the tour, with donations from businesses, individuals, and the Red Sox making it all possible.

We need to do whatever we can do to take care of the families and show the respect thats due for everything theyve been through and continue to go through, said Lt. Col. Dave Leonard of the Vermont National Guard.

For Kim Bean of Bridport, whose son, Spec. Alan Bean, was killed 14 years ago in Iraq in the same attack that claimed Kevin Sheehans life, Memorial Day brought a mix of profound sadness, followed by deep pride in the respect shown for her sons service.

Im so happy for the people who made it happen for me, Bean said of the trip to Fenway.

The Gold Star families got player escorts onto the field and loud applause from the Fenway fans before the singing of the National Anthem.

I would say youd find a very patriotic crowd here, for sure, Heather Sheehan said.

The Vermont Guard pledged to remember and revere these families not just on Memorial Day, but year-round.
It was the outcome millions of Colombians had hoped to avoid: A bitter runoff between two presidential candidates whose polarizing viewpoints once again leave the nation divided.

In order to win in June, both conservative former senator Ivan Duque and one-time guerrilla leftist Gustavo Petro will need to sway many of the more than 6 million voters who lie somewhere in the middle and are appalled at the idea of voting for either contender.

The vast majority of those centrist votes went to ex-Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo, who has yet to endorse either candidate, and it remains to be seen where the largely urban, middle class voters who flocked toward his campaign might gravitate.

Some vowed Monday to leave their vote blank when they enter the ballot box in three weeks for the June runoff. Others said they would hold their noses and vote for Duque, too fearful Petro will transform Colombia into another Venezuela. Still others quickly shifted their allegiances left, vowing to support Petro in order to ensure the nation's peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by the Spanish acronym FARC, remains intact.

"Do we really have to choose between Gustavito and Ivancito?" an incredulous Paola Ochoa asked in her El Tiempo newspaper column Monday as the dust from a nail-biting election day began to settle. "Between a future with the FARC in the senate or the FARC firing rounds again in the Colombian countryside?"

The vote is the first presidential contest since the signing of the 2016 accord to end more than five decades of conflict between the state, leftist rebels and paramilitary groups. The rebels have disarmed and begun transitioning to civilian life, but the accord remains polemic and polls show most Colombians think its implementation is going poorly. Despite the deal, more than 1,000 FARC dissidents are still waging war in remote territories where the state has little presence. Eleven were killed in a clash with the military Monday.

Many Colombians believe the generous terms of the peace accord allowing most guerrillas to avoid any jail time should be changed.

Duque is promising to do just that, telling supporters in his victory speech Sunday night that Colombia needs "peace with justice." He's pledging to introduce a measure in congress that would ensure drug trafficking is not an amnestied crime. He also doesn't believe FARC leaders should be allowed to hold political office without having confessed their crimes and made reparations.

"If we don't have that, the peace will never be lasting," he said.

His criticism of the peace process echoes the refrains of his mentor, powerful former President Alvaro Uribe, who singlehandedly buoyed Duque into frontrunner status with his support. Though still incredibly popular in Colombia, Uribe is polemic. He presided over the government during a time in which the Colombian military committed grave human rights violations.

Some Fajardo supporters said they feared a vote for Duque would be little more than an illegal third term for Uribe.

Petro supports the peace accord, just one of an array of hot-button topics that the two disagree on, and perhaps among the least discussed in the run-up to the first round of the election. Instead, Petro has galvanized supporters with an anti-establishment message pledging to root out corruption and lift millions into the middle class. He wants to overhaul the nation's economic model and drastically increase taxes on unproductive lands. Owners would sell the property to the state, which would then distribute the land to peasants.

His polarizing rhetoric  frequently pitting the Colombian "oligarchy" against the working class  has frightened some voters who worry he'll move the nation toward a socialist model. Critics also highlight his early ties and admiration for the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Petro says those accusations are unfounded.

"He's Chavez a la Colombian," said Andres Felipe Rojas, adding that he will be voting for Duque. "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

With 39 percent of the more than 19 million votes cast, Duque has the numerical advantage going forward. Petro won 25 percent, edging out Fajardo by less than two points.

Delegates with the Fajardo campaign were keeping their cards close to their chests Monday, refusing to reveal who they might endorse, though speculation ran rampant.

Antonio Navarro Wolff, a politician and former rebel with the M-19 movement Petro joined as a teen, himself supported Fajardo in the first-round, saying at the time that he'd chosen the former mayor because he was "moderate, serious and has experience."

"There's less resistance against him," he said of Fajardo.

Now that his first pick it out of the running, he declined to say whether his vote would go toward Petro, as many expect. But he said he would definitely be casting a ballot.

"If you don't win, you still have to participate," he said.

Fajardo, a mathematician credited with transforming Medellin from a hotbed of crime to a growing tourist destination, himself dodged questions Monday on which candidate he might endorse. He told the host of a local radio show that while he'd won nearly 4.6 million votes that could prove consequential in the runoff election, he doesn't consider himself Colombia's new kingmaker.

"It would be disrespectful to say I'm the owner of those votes," he said.
A man remained missing Monday after flash flooding tore down a historic main street in a picturesque Maryland town and left a community heartbroken at seeing more devastation less than two years after rebuilding from another massive flood.

The missing man  39-year-old Eddison Hermond of Severn, Maryland  was last seen trying to help a woman and her cat behind a restaurant while churning, brown waters ripped through Ellicott City's flood-prone downtown.

Howard County Police Chief Gary Gardner said the missing National Guard member and U.S. Air Force veteran had been with a group at the La Palapa Grill & Cantina. He said Hermond was trying to help others by holding a door open as brown floodwaters coursed through the restaurant when a woman approached, needing help.

"He, along with some other folks, went back to assist her and unfortunately during that effort they saw him go under and water and not surface," Gardner told reporters, adding that the others made it out of the area safely.

Simon Cortes, who owns the restaurant, described Hermond as "a super nice guy," who was frequently out in the community showing support when it worked to rebuild from the devastating flooding that ravaged the former mill town in July 2016.

Officials shared a photo of Hermond on social media Monday morning.

More than 8 inches of rain dumped down on Ellicott City in about five hours Sunday, causing powerful flood waters to turn Main Street into a river and sweeping away cars like they were toys.

Parts of Howard County remained under a flood warning Monday morning, but Storm Team4 says the threat for more heavy rain has passed, and the likelihood of more flash flooding is decreasing. However, residents and business owners will still have to deal with the damage left behind.

Howard County has opened a hotline at 410-313-2900 to help provide assistance for people affected by the flooding in Ellicott City. Officials also shared a hotline for those struggling with mental health or the emotional toll of the floods. Those in crisis or needing to talk to someone should call Grassroots Hotline at 410-531-6677, officials said. For emergencies, people should call still 911. The county also created a flood recovery website. People who need shelter, food or other necessities can call the Maryland United Way Helpline at 211.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said that his immediate priorities are finding the missing man and assessing the condition of damaged buildings that housed shops, restaurants and families.

For now, the Main Street area remained blocked off Monday, even to residents and business owners, as teams of authorities and engineers surveyed the heartbreaking mess.

"If you look at the devastation and the damage, I would certainly say it's worse than 2016," Kittleman said. "We've had areas that were not even damaged at all two years ago terribly damaged this time."

Ellicott City certainly got the worst of it. But torrential rains led to such bad flooding in Baltimore County, Baltimore City and the capital of Annapolis that Gov. Larry Hogan on Sunday declared a state of emergency statewide in order to better coordinate support and assistance.

With floodwaters receded Monday, revealing the damage in Ellicott City, residents and business owners could see the scope of the next challenge ahead of them: They face another mammoth cleanup and another daunting comeback.

Local resident Nathan Sowers, owner of the River House Pizza Co., an outdoor eatery in the old mill town's business district, said that after all the hard work rebuilding from the destructive 2016 flood he's feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling yet another revival.

Asked whether he's committed to building back anew he said: "We'll see. It takes a lot of money and a lot of time."

But Sowers also said he saw other hard-hit locals laughing and joking about their troubles Monday morning  a good sign the Maryland town will launch yet another rebirth from raging floodwaters.

Sunday's dramatic flooding tore up streets and swept away dozens of parked cars in the city, which sits in a ravine on the west bank of the Patapsco River, about 13 miles west of Baltimore.

Mike Muccilli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia, has said it was too early to make comparisons between the two floods. But he said both were devastating. In the July 2016 storm, Ellicott City received 6.6 inches of rain over a two- to three-hour period. On Sunday, the community received some 8 inches of rain over a six-hour period, but most of it fell during an intense, three-hour period, Muccilli said.

"In a normal heavy rain event, you wouldn't see this amount of flooding, where you see cars floating down the road," Muccilli said. "This was a true flash flood."

During the flood a handmade, white flag hung from an upper story of a Main Street building bearing the letters SOS.

"If you are trapped, we are coming," the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services tweeted at one point.

Ellicott City has been methodically rebuilding since the 2016 flooding damaged and destroyed businesses. Local officials recently said 96 percent of the businesses were back in operation and more than 20 new businesses had again opened in the Main Street area. Just two weeks ago, Hogan announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had awarded the state and county more than $1 million to pay for projects aimed at reducing the flood risk in areas around Main Street.

Some are already asking whether enough was done after the last flood to prevent a similar catastrophe. Hogan said temporary improvements were in place and more things were in the works to reduce the community's vulnerabilities. But he said big changes take time, and no one expected such a huge flood so soon after 2016.

People who need shelter can go to the Roger Carter Community Center at 3000 Milltowne Drive, Howard County Recreation and Parks tweeted.

United Way of Central Maryland reestablished the ECStrong Fund to raise money. The fund originally was created after the 2016 flood. To help, text "ECStrong" to 71777 or go to the fund's website.

Business owners are not yet permitted to claim property or assess damages at this time, Howard County officials said about 10:15 a.m. Monday. Business owners are asked instead to monitor social media for updates. The official Howard County government Twitter account is available here.
A 6-week-old baby girl who was brought to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center with severe injuries last week died Monday morning, according to police.

Police identified the baby as Emily Babilonia. Her injuries included cranial bleeding, bruising to the brain, bruising on both sides of her jaw and rib fractures, according to police and court paperwork. She had been placed on life support, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

She was pronounced dead at 9:40 a.m. Monday, according to police, and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy.

Police arrested the parents, 23-year-old Edwin Babilonia and 20-year-old Ashley Perez, of Hartford, on Friday and prosecutors called the case "heinous."

The investigation started when police responded to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center on Thursday to investigate and officers spoke with Perez, who said the baby was unusual throughout the night.

The court paperwork is redacted but it says Perez told them she woke up around 3 a.m. and the baby would not stop crying, so she and Babilonia took turns passing the baby back and forth to try to calm her down and the baby fell back to sleep around 4 a.m.

Then the baby woke up again at 6 a.m., so Perez tried to reach the pediatrician, but no appointments were available until 12:30 p.m., so they brought her to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center.

Because of the severity of the babys injuries, police brought the parents to the police station to interview them.

Perez told police that the baby was crying and she thought she was hungry. After several attempts to calm the infant down, Edwin Babilonia told Perez to give him the baby, but he was holding her awkwardly and dropped her, according to police paperwork.

As the baby cried and screamed, Edwin Babilonia grabbed her and took her to the bathroom and turned on the faucet, Perez said, according to police. Then she heard choking and gargling and Babilonia said to keep calm and shut up. Then, Perez said, she heard a thud and crying.

When Edwin Babilonia came out of the bathroom, he handed the baby to Perez and went to sleep, the court paperwork says.

The baby was limp and wheezing and Perez said she put her in the crib, watched her for a few minutes and then went to sleep. When she woke up again, they called the pediatrician, then got into the car to bring the baby to the hospital, according to court records.

On the ride over, they discussed what they were going to tell the doctors and police and she claimed Edwin Babilonia told her to lie and not blame him, according to Perezs account in the incident report.

Edwin Babilonia initially said Perez had abused the baby on several occasions, but police confronted him about inconsistencies in the statements and he confessed to accidentally dropping the baby and washing her face, according to police.

Then he said he woke Perez, told her the baby was not right and they needed to go to the hospital and she told him to wait for the pediatrician, but then they brought her to the hospital, according to police.

In an interview on Friday morning, police said the babys injuries appeared to have happened over several days.

The baby is a twin and the twin is in custody of the state Department of Children and Families after being evaluated.

Edwin Babilonia and Perez were initially charged with risk of injury to a minor and cruelty to persons. Officials said neither parent had a prior record and that officials from DCF said they had no prior involvement with the family.

Police have also charged Edwin Babilonia and Perez with first-degree assault and protective orders have been issued. They are due back in court on June 8.

The Hartford Police Department is working with the Connecticut State's Attorney's Office to determine appropriate charges following the child's death.

Edwin Babilonia's attorney said his client claims the kids were having trouble sleeping and the injuries were accidental.
A small neighborhood in Hamden known as Honor Hill has streets that act as memorials every day of the year for some of the towns sons who were killed in Vietnam.

The streets were named for fallen soldiers starting in the early 1980s, and then a pair of residents who live in the neighborhood found it fitting to install another memorial in the mens honor.

We thought it was a wonderful opportunity and this is a wonderful opportunity to let people know, who these streets are named for and to maybe inspire other neighborhoods in Hamden to name streets for the fallen in other wars, Dave Johnson said.

The new monument, which sits at the base of a flagpole with an American flag atop, has the names of the Honor Hill soldiers inscribed on it.

Maj. Pierce Irving Roberston died in a helicopter crash in October 1966. Capt. Oscar Biehl Jr was killed by small arms fire in May 1966. Spc. 4th Class Ralph Paul Costanzo was fatally wounded in October 1967. Cpl. Donald Porter Ferguson was killed in hostile action in January 1968, and Cpl. Robert Berton Read was killed by small arms fire in February 1969.

Extended family of several of the soldiers were in attendance Monday for the unveiling.

Derek Dunn was two years old when his uncle Pierce Robertson was killed in Vietnam. He said he has no memories of him. He accompanied his mother Bernadette, Pierces sister, to the event on Costanzo Court.

Sometime in the near future there isnt going to be anyone left who remembers him or remembers his story, or to tell his story, Dunn said. so to think that the residents of Honor Hill, took it up themselves to honor him and his other four comrades that gave the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam, just really means the world to us.

Dick Ferguson made the trip to Hamden on short-notice. Dave Johnson, one of the organizers of the ceremony, got in touch with Ferguson through his elementary school, and eventually made contact just weeks before the event.

Ferguson said his brothers name is on monuments at Yale in the New Haven harbor, but said the one with the names of the other Hamden fallen soldiers will mean the most to him.

He said he plans to take his family to see the marker in the near future.

I have two other kids, they dont live at home right now. Probably not on Memorial Day but the first opportunity, Ill bring them up here, Ferguson said.
For the many families whose loved ones disappeared during war, Memorial Day is another reminder of the questions that still linger.

A North Texas woman is among them, but as she waits for answers to what happened to her dad, a stranger wants to bring comfort that their loved one may be lost, but he'll never be forgotten.

Louann Pike is still haunted by her darkest day.

"I saw the car coming and I knew and I wouldn't open the door. Finally opened it and they said Louann, plane went down but he's only missing. Okay, I can live with that," Pike said.

Her husband, Lieutenant Commander Dennis Pike, was forced to eject during a bombing run over Laos on March 23, 1972. 46 years later, his family still lives in limbo.

"You always believe that eventually one day he would be released or he would find his way home," said Shannon Spake, who was just two and a half when her father disappeared.

Spake now travels the country to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action. She rides a motorcycle with Run For The Wall, an organization with the motto "we ride for those who can't". The group makes annual trips to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

NBC 5 talked to Spake about Lieutenant Commander Pike from her home in Haslet two years ago. That story just reached Marianne Horn in Connecticut Sunday night.

"It was an amazing feeling to see the family of somebody's name that I had cherished and grown up with," Horn said.

She's been holding onto an original POW bracelet with the navy pilot's name for decades. The bracelets were sold during the war, letting strangers show support for captured and missing troops.

Horn sent us a picture of it to show the Pike family, with plans to give it to Spake.

We connected the two women by phone on Monday.

"It means the world to us as a family," Spake told her.

"He's meant something to me since I was 7 years old. I held onto that bracelet and I'm not even sure why," Horn replied.

Both were just kids during the 70's, but now share the legacy of a man, lost during Vietnam.

In the hours following their phone conversation, Horn and Spake made plans to meet in Washington D.C. this June. Spake is attending the National League of POW/MIA families there and hopes to leave the bracelet at the Vietnam Memorial.

So far, LCDR. Pike's family has recovered 22 artifacts, including his U.S. Navy helmet and flight suit, but not his body. He's been labeled "Presumed killed in action," but the family never gave up hope that he may have survived.
The search has been suspended for two friends who went missing after sailing off the coast of Connecticut Sunday and Coast Guard officials found the boat the two were traveling near Greenport, New York.

Spencer Mugford, 21, and Sofia McKenna, 20, were last seen off the coast of Avery Point in Groton on Snapchat at 2 a.m. Sunday, state police Trooper Kelly Grant said, and the search began after the two were overdue to return.

They were in a boat that had been donated to the UConn campus at Avery Point, Andrew Ely, of the U.S. Coast Guard, said during a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Spencer is a UConn student, according to Keith Williams, of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Environmental Conservation Police.

The Coast Guard, along with state and local agencies, searched 2,025 square-miles for 71 hours before suspending the search.

U.S. Coast Guard Commander Andrew Ely said search crews found a 14-foot white and blue sailboat with no mast on Truman Beach, near Greenport, New York on Monday afternoon. Ely said officials believe this is the vessel the pair was on when they went missing. The boat was empty when it was found.

So the waters here are in the low 50s, and if a persons immersed in waters like this they probably have less than 20 hours of what we would consider survival time if they dont have a life jacket with them, Cmdr. Andrew Ely, chief of response, Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound said.

Suspending a search for missing or overdue boaters is never an easy decision to make after an extensive search, Ely said. We search for every person as if we are searching for one of our own. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Spencer Mugford and Sophia McKenna.

Officials initially believed Mugford and McKenna were on a two-person paddleboard because of a Snapchat Sofias mother, Michelle McKenna, received. It was only after officials saw another image that they were able to determine it was a small sailing hull.

Im praying theyre still alive, Michelle McKenna, said.

Miracles do happen, maybe somebodys already found them. I dont know. But we got to keep faith, she said.

Mugford was reported to be wearing a blue tank top and salmon colored shorts.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Massachusetts and a 45-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station New London launched and were part of the search. The Coast Guard brought in a fixed-wing plane to search. State police and DEEP also had boats in the water assisting with the search.

Anyone with information is requested to please contact the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center at 203-468-4401.

Coast Guard officials encourage everyone to wear a lifejacket when on the water. Ely also suggested bringing a marine radio rather than a cell phone because cell service is not guaranteed out on the water and phones might not work properly when wet.

Editors note: Officials initially thought the missing boaters were on a two-person paddleboard, but later determined their vessel was actually a small sailboat. The story above has been updated to reflect that information.
There was an emotional family reunion Sunday night as a migrant woman and her children arrived in North Texas.

They are part of a caravan of migrants who arrived at the U.S./Mexico border in April, seeking asylum from violence in their native Honduras.

The mother and her two young children were among the late night arrivals at the Dallas Greyhound bus station.

Gracias a Dios [Thank God], said Irma Rivera.

The undocumented immigrant says she and her kids, 5 and 6-years-old, fled their home in Honduras in February.

The trio then learned of a caravan of mostly Central Americans making its way through Mexico, bound for the U.S. and joined the movement.

The caravan wound its way through Mexico, arriving at the Tijuana  San Diego border in April.

Some migrants have been processed by immigration officials and have been allowed in the U.S. for now.

There were nights where we slept outside on the ground, she said in Spanish.

She said the scariest part of her odyssey was riding on the infamous freight train known as The Beast.

Rivera says she and her children spent four days together in a detention center in Tijuana, Mexico before being released in the U.S. on a temporary basis, as her plea for asylum is heard.

Asked why risk her life and her childrens lives crossing illegally into the U.S., Rivera responded Por la violencia que hay en Honduras [because of the violence in Honduras.

Rivera says she only opted to flee after her husband was murdered by unknown assailants and for an unknown reason.

Rivera was seated speaking with Telemundo 39 when she looked at a man approaching her and quickly realized it was her brother, Marco.

She let out a scream and the two siblings hugged for several seconds, her children and other passengers looking on.

Let me see you, she finally told him.

The two had not seen each other in 14 years.

Marco Rivera has lived in North Texas for more than a decade.

The reunion proved to be too overwhelming for Riveras little girl who began to weep.

Before leaving, Rivera said she had new found hope.

[I plan to] work, give my children a better life and start fresh, she said in Spanish.

Rivera is not familiar with her current legal status, but intends to find an attorney in order to make her case to an immigration judge that she fears for her life, should she be returned to Honduras.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has called the caravan that made it to the CaliforniaMexico border in April a deliberate attempt to undermine our laws and overwhelm our system.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said the migrants should have settled in Mexico.
A North Texas man has made it his mission to piece together the military history of a Texan, killed in World War I.

Chris Manning, of The Colony, said he was also interested in learning more about a man in his family named Esca McCord. McCord was killed in action on the front lines in France in 1918. He was the uncle of Mannings grandmother and though his story lived in family photographs and old letters, his death was a bit of a mystery.

I started really trying to find out as much as I could, not knowing if I could find anything out, said Manning.

He wrote to the National Archives in St. Louis, unsure if McCords records were still intact after a devastating fire in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Facility in St. Louis. Recently, Manning received a reply that included McCords detailed burial and regimental history. They explained McCords time and date of death, his burial in France and reburial in the U.S.

I was able to find out he died at 7 a.m., I have the field message sent by the commander at 8:30 am. I have four eye witness accounts of his death, I know what his last words were, said Manning of the records.

Manning also supplemented the records with his own research. Manning says McCord had a gold watch on him when he died. Manning later learned it was a pocket watch, given to McCord by a girlfriend. Through his own research, Manning could pinpoint who the girl was and more of the McCords story before he went away to Army boot camp.

The military history is punctuated by reminders of the familys sacrifice during World War I.

When his body was brought back to Texas, his mother wanted to open the casket and we never knew why, said Manning. Well, I got his burial files and I know why.

In the files is a letter from McCords mother to the War Department, insisting her son is not cremated.

There is also a record of the delivery of McCords remains to McCords father.

Thats a very shaky signature in the heat of Texas summer and that had to be a very hard moment, noted Manning.

Manning is the father of a Marine who served in Afghanistan. Mannings son returned home, but Manning can imagine the McCord familys anguish.

I know what they may have felt like, you know, he said.

Manning plans to hold a special ceremony for McCord this September, which will be the 100th anniversary of his death. It will be a way to honor the young solider from Texas who gave his life on the battlefields of France.

He was a good man and his sacrifice ripples through history.
The Texas heat packed a dangerous punch this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The soaring temperatures have landed people of all ages in emergency rooms across North Texas.

A man is fighting for his life at a local hospital after suffering a heat-related emergency on Sunday afternoon, according MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Tarrant County.

A total of 11 people were transported to area hospitals on Sunday.

Barbara Littierre ended up in an ambulance outside of her assisted living facility in Fort Worth.

The soon-to-be 83-year-old said she had been sitting outside in the shade watching her grandsons swimming for about an hour and a half this afternoon.

She then took a 10 minute walk around her building trying to get inside the locked doors when she began to feel sick.

I walked back down to the lobby to open the doors so they could come in and then I went and sat down because I was getting kinda loopy, she said. I wasnt feeling anything, I was just hot. It felt like water was just pouring off of me.

Her daughter watched as Littierre sat down and passed out.

Her eyes were open and they were rolled back in her head and I was talking to her and she was she just wasnt there, said Cindy Hefner.

Medstar Mobile Healthcare has responded to 22 heat related emergency calls between Friday and Sunday, according to operations supervisor John Hamilton.

On Sunday, the agency implemented its extreme weather policy to get to patients who are out in the elements quicker.

When the real feel is 105 outside, we upgrade our responses to any type of heat-related emergency from non-lights response and sirens to lights and sirens response, said Hamilton.

A heat stroke can be deadly, according to the CDC.

Victims can feel like they have hot, dry skin. They can also feel nauseous, confused and lose consciousness.

MedStars service area includes Forth Worth as well as most Tarrant County cities west of Arlington.

Out of 15 total calls for heat-related illnesses, the vast majority occurred between Noon and 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Police are investigating a viral video of an officer punching a woman while arresting her at the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey.

Emily Weinman, 20, of Philadelphia, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by spitting bodily fluids at/on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction and minor in possession of alcohol.

Video of the arrest shows three officers holding Weinman down on the sand. One officer punches her on the back of the head as they restrain her. A woman in the background repeatedly yells stop resisting.

Wildwood Commissioner of Public Safety Tony Leonetti told NBC10 Weinman assaulted one of the officers first by kicking him in the groin and then running away, which the video does not show. Wildwood Police also say at one point Weinman spat at one of the officers.

In a Facebook post, which by Monday morning was apparently taken down, Weinman stated she and her friend were first confronted by two officers. While she admitted to being in possession of alcohol while underage, Weinman claims she wasnt drinking at the time and that the alcohol was closed. She also said she took a breathalyzer test which came back negative. After the test, Weinman says the officers still stayed with her and one officer followed her as she walked away to make a phone call.

Therefore I asked them dont they have something better to do as cops than to stop people for underage drinking on the beach, saying to that theres so much more serious stuff going on, Weinman wrote. The cop said, I was gonna let you go but now Ill write you up and he asked my name.

Weinman said she didnt give the officer her name because she didnt do anything wrong. Weinman claims the officer then announced he was going to arrest her and walked toward her to place her in handcuffs.



I tripped and fell and the cop tackled me to the ground and smashed my head into the sand, Weinman wrote. At that point I blacked out and fought any way possible trying to get up and push him off me.

Weinman wrote that she was "partly wrong in a way" for not giving the officer her name but that she didnt want to do it because she was scared.

Like I said I didnt do anything wrong and anything couldve been written on that paper, the whole situation was iffy and I didnt trust it, she wrote. Especially being aware of the fact of how grimy law enforcement can be now a days.

Weinman has faced charges prior to Saturday's incident, including simple assault and criminal mischief, according to court records.



Since being posted on social media, the video has sparked debate, with some supporting the officers actions, others insisting that people wait for the entire story to emerge before passing judgment and others condemning what they believe to be excessive force from the officers.

Wildwood Police say an internal affairs investigation was immediately initiated on the incident and the officers involved were reassigned to administrative duty pending the outcome.

Chief Regalbuto stated that while he finds this video to be alarming, he does not want to rush to any judgment until having the final results of the investigation, a Wildwood Police spokesman wrote.

Leonetti also told NBC10 theyre waiting to see the body camera footage of the officer involved. The Cape May County Prosecutor's Office would not comment on the incident outside of saying it's under review and that the body camera footage will only be released once Wildwood police complete an internal affairs investigation.

Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. told NBC10 the incident was not a reflection of the Jersey Shore town.

"It's really a shame that one minuscule incident happened that ruined it for the whole entire weekend which has been a great weekend," he said.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has more video to contact Detective Lieutenant Kenneth Gallagher at 609-522-0222.
Memorial Day observances in Los Angeles County will include a parade in Canoga Park, a ceremony at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood and a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez in Mission Hills.

The 29th annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Sherman Way and Owensmouth Avenue and head east on Sherman Way to Cozycroft Avenue. An opening ceremony at 10 a.m. will precede the parade.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Randy C. Reeves, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs undersecretary for memorial affairs, are set to speak at a ceremony at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood beginning at 10 a.m.

Gomez will celebrate an outdoor Memorial Day Mass at 10 a.m. at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills. The Mass will include a moment of silence, a bugler playing "Taps," and the release of white doves.

The names of the 6,904 members of the armed forces who gave their lives in service since the 9/11 attacks will be read at the Honoring Our Fallen Memorial Wall remembrance gathering at Rosie the Riveter Park in Long Beach.

The gathering will begin at 5:45 a.m., one minute after sunrise, with the presentation of colors, national anthem and a moment of silence.

The names will be read in order of death as inscribed on the wall by active duty military members, police officers, veterans and relatives of the fallen troops.

The wall is the only memorial listing all of the nation's fallen military members since the 9/11 attacks as confirmed by U.S. Central Command and the only post-9/11 memorial in Los Angeles County, according to Laura Herzog, founder and executive director of Honoring Our Fallen, which built the wall and provides support for families of fallen military members, specifically during the transfer of remains.

What is billed as the South Bay's largest annual Memorial Day observance will begin at 10 a.m. at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The 33rd annual observance will include flyovers by a U.S. Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft and vintage SNJ-5 and CJ-6A trainer aircraft; a performance by the 21st Century skydiving team; a parade of colors presented by members of the armed forces, veterans groups, police officers, firefighters, K-9 teams and Junior ROTC units; a display of a World War II ambulance and Vietnam War-era military jeep; wreath-laying with a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps"; several musical performances; and the release of 100 doves.

The keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Wissler.

Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier will begin its 98th annual Memorial Day Observance at 11 a.m. It will include musical performances, a vintage plane flyover, displays of military vehicles and remembrance trees.

The 71st annual 24-hour Memorial Day Vigil at the war memorial in Cinco Puntos on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights will conclude at 10 a.m. At least one person will be standing guard throughout the vigil.

A Memorial Day Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will begin at noon with the lighting of the Coliseum torch and conclude with a wreath laying and a bugler playing "Taps."

Inglewood's 70th annual Memorial Day Service will begin at 11 a.m. in front of the Memorial Obelisk Monument at Inglewood City Hall. Pico Rivera's Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the city's Veterans Memorial and Eternal Flame. Veterans attending the ceremony are asked to bring a copy of their military photo -- no larger than 4 inches by 6 inches -- to display on the Veterans Wall.

Montebello's Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Monument at Montebello City Park.

Danny Hernandez will be the keynote speaker. He was a Marine Corps sergeant during the Vietnam War, awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart and shot in the head and back during Operation Utah in 1966 that left 98 Marines dead and 278 wounded.

The 103rd annual Forest Lawn Memorial Day event at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills will include a keynote address by retired U.S. Army Capt. Dr. Jon Williams, a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division. During his second tour in Vietnam in 1968, Williams was wounded and spent six months in an Army hospital, undergoing surgery 23 times. He received three Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat.

Guests are encouraged to arrive by 9 a.m. to allow ample time to find parking. The event will begin at 10 a.m.

Memorial Day remembrances are also planned for the Forest Lawn memorial parks in the Covina Hills, Glendale and Long Beach.

El Monte's Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. at Arceo Park and include a tribute prisoners of war and troops who are missing in action.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Ralph Roy Ramirez, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

In his Memorial Day proclamation, President Donald Trump proclaimed Monday as a day of prayer for permanent peace, designating 11 a.m. in each time zone as a time during which people may unite in prayer, citing a 1950 joint resolution by Congress.

Trump also asked all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3 p.m. in each time zone under a bill signed into law in 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton.

The Moment of Remembrance is a "way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day," its founder Carmella LaSpada said.

Trump's proclamation also requested governors of all U.S. states and territories and the appropriate officials of all units of government to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout nation and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control.

Trump also requested the American public to display the flag at half-staff from their homes until noon Monday.

"On Memorial Day, we pause in solemn gratitude to pay tribute to the brave patriots who laid down their lives defending peace and freedom while in military service to our great nation,'' Trump declared in his proclamation.

"We set aside this day to honor their sacrifice and to remind all Americans of the tremendous price of our precious liberty. Throughout the history of our republic, courageous Americans have purchased our cherished freedom with their lives. Our 151 national cemeteries serve as the final resting place for millions of people, including veterans from every war and conflict, many of whom died while serving our country."

"We remain duty bound to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf and to remember them with thankfulness and unwavering pride. The fallen -- our treasured loved ones, friends, neighbors and fellow citizens -- deserve nothing less from a grateful nation."

What became Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day, a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead with flowers.

It was established 25 days earlier by Maj. Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of veterans who fought for the Union in the Civil War. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the nation.

By the end of the 19th century, Decoration Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. After World War I, the holiday was changed to honor Americans who died fighting in all wars.

The term Memorial Day was first used in 1882, became more common after World War II and declared the official name by federal law in 1967.

Memorial Day had been observed on May 30, until being moved to the last Monday in May in 1971 under terms of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which became law in 1968.
Former President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized Sunday in Maine after he experienced low blood pressure and fatigue, a spokesman said.

Just after 2 p.m., Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the 93-year-old Bush, said he was awake, alert and not in any discomfort. He said Bush would spend at least a few days in the hospital for observation.

Bush was taken to Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford. A spokeswoman said Sunday all information would be released by the Bush family.

Bush arrived in Maine for the summer May 20. Coming about a month after the death of his wife, Barbara, of 73 years, the family said the 41st president was eager to return to the family compound on Walker's Point. He has visited every summer since childhood, the only exception being the years of his World War II service.

The former president was hospitalized in April, shortly after the death of his wife Barbara. Following his release from a Houston hospital, Former President Bush was welcomed one week ago to his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine by well-wishers who lined the dock square for his arrival.

Delighted to join the veterans, including my dear friend Gen. Brent Scowcroft, at the @AmericanLegion Post 159 monthly pancake breakfast in Kennebunkport today. This weekend we remember, and thank, all who have given their lives for our great country. pic.twitter.com/VQgfPmt5rw  George Bush (@GeorgeHWBush) May 26, 2018

Bush was seen in photos Saturday joining veterans at an American Legion Post in Kennebunkport. He was joined at the event by his friend and former national security advisor General Brent Scowcroft.

He had been scheduled to attend a Memorial Day parade in the town Monday.

Bush, who has a form of Parkinson's disease and a history of pneumonia and other infections, was hospitalized in Houston on April 22, the day after his wife's funeral, for an infection. He remained hospitalized for 13 days.

Bush uses a wheelchair and an electric scooter for mobility. He has been hospitalized several times in recent years for respiratory problems.
Forecasters warn Alberto, a still-menacing depression after its Memorial Day landfall on the Gulf Coast, is scattering heavy rains around the South amid heightened risks of flash flooding.

The first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Subtropical Storm Alberto lumbered ashore Monday afternoon in the Florida Panhandle and then weakened to a depression overnight as it trekked inland. The storm that sprang from warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico was now a vast, soggy system as it headed inland, dumping heavy rains in bursts all around the region.

Though the storm had weakened, forecasters, warned, it was capable of potentially life-threatening flash floods in the coming hours or days as the vast system spreads over Alabama and large areas of Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.

Authorities did not directly attribute any deaths or injuries immediately to Alberto. But in North Carolina, the state's governor noted a television news anchor and a photojournalist were killed Monday while covering the fringes of the large system. A tree that became uprooted from rain-soaked ground toppled on their SUV, killing them instantly, authorities said.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper urged residents to take all precautions.

"Two journalists working to keep the public informed about this storm have tragically lost their lives, and we mourn with their families, friends and colleagues," Cooper said in a statement. "North Carolina needs to take Alberto seriously. I urge everyone to keep a close eye on forecasts, warnings and road conditions, especially in western North Carolina where even heavier rain is predicted."

Between four and eight inches (10-25 centimeters) of rain could soak the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and western Georgia before the storm moves on. Isolated deluges of 12 inches (30 centimeters) also are possible in spots as the system heads toward the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and later this week into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region.

Earlier Monday, Alberto rolled up big waves and tides along beaches of the northern Gulf Coast. Lifeguards posted red flags along the white sands of Pensacola Beach, where swimming and wading were banned as Alberto disrupted long holiday weekend plans for millions.

The storm forced some Memorial Day tributes to be cancelled across Florida's Panhandle. Safety was the priority, but the decision was still a "heartbreaker," said Tom Rice, a 29-year-old Army veteran who had helped with planning for a ceremony at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach.

Some stragglers still defied rain to pay tribute at the cemetery's Veterans Tribute Tower, however. Rice said American flags had been placed Saturday on the graves of all 1,700 veterans buried in the cemetery.

"We got the flags out," Rice told the Northwest Florida Daily News as wind whipped a massive U.S. flag flying at half-staff. "That's what's important."

Along the Florida Panhandle, tourists vowed Alberto wouldn't dampen their spirits.

Jason Powell sought to keep his children entertained with movies and TV, adding he hoped the sun would come out again after Alberto blew over. "So far we've seen a lot of wind and the ocean is really high, covering up the entire beach," Powell remarked.

Janet Rhumes said her group of friends from Kansas had been planning their Memorial Day weekend on Navarre Beach since October. They stocked up on groceries and settled in for card games. "We've never seen one before and we're here celebrating a friend's 20th birthday," Rhumes said. "So how often can you say you rode a storm out?"

As Alberto's weakening center headed inland it was deprived of the warm Gulf waters that fuel tropical weather systems. As a subtropical storm, Alberto had a less defined and cooler center than a tropical storm, and its strongest winds were found farther from its center.

Some of the rain bands spread hundreds of miles (kilometers) from its center.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said a large tree toppled on a TV news vehicle Monday afternoon near Tryon, North Carolina. WYFF-TV of Greenville, South Carolina, said a news anchor, Mike McCormick, and photojournalist, Aaron Smeltzer, with that station were both killed.

McCormick and Smeltzer had just interviewed Tryon Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant as they covered storms in North Carolina.

"Ten minutes later we get the call and it was them," Tennant said at a news conference, his voice cracking.

Tennant did not directly blame rain that fell Monday from the fringes of Alberto for the deaths. He said the roots of the large tree tore loose from ground saturated by a week's worth of rain. The men died instantly, their vehicle's engine still running, Tennant added.

Associated Press writer Kate Brumback and Jeffrey S. Collins contributed to this report.
What to Know An Amber Alert was issued Friday for Owen Hidalgo-Calderon, who was abducted from Sodus, New York, nine days ago

He was taken "under circumstances that lead police to believe that he is in imminent danger of serious physical harm and or death"

The boy's mother, who had been missing a week, was found dead on an NY farm Thursday where she is thought to have worked

The western New York search for a 14-month-old boy whose mother's body was found entered its sixth day Monday.

The search for Owen Hidalgo-Calderon has been a daily quest by authorities since the body of his 18-year-old mother, Selena Hidalgo-Calderon, was found Wednesday.

An Amber Alert Friday described the search for the missing boy after the child last seen May 16 was taken under circumstances leading police to believe he was in danger of serious harm or death.

The mother's body was found at a farm in the Wayne County town of Sodus where she and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Edward Reyes, worked.

Reyes was arrested Wednesday night on charges of tampering with evidence. Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts says he admitted burying the woman but not killing her.
Three suspects were in custody Sunday after a string of commercial burglaries in the Rancho Bernardo/4S Ranch areas, authorities said.

Sarah Dean, the manager of Tony Pepperoni Pizzeria, which was broken into Sunday morning, was relieved to hear that the suspects had been caught.

"We got a call this morning that we were broken into," she said. "Broken in, took our safe and we're just trying to figure it out from there."

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) received a call around 5 a.m. from someone who heard banging near the Boys and Girls Club in the 16,100 block of 4S Ranch Parkway, Lt. Amber Baggs said.

When deputies arrived, they detained three men and upon searching them, deputies found items stolen from nearby businesses in Rancho Bernardo, she said.

One of the items recovered was a safe from her business with an undisclosed amount of cash, Dean said.

"(It's) a big relief," she said.

The safe was found thrown down an embankment close to where the three men were detained.

Deputies then contacted the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) since the businesses were located in SDPD's jurisdiction, Baggs said.

Police then arrived at the location on 12000 Alta Carmel Court and found, in addition to Tony Pepperoni, Pattaya Thai Restaurant was also broken into, San Diego police Officer Sarah Foster said.

The break-in happened around 3 a.m. and San Diego police were notified around 6 p.m.

The suspects shattered the glass side door to Tony Pepperoni and accessed the business that way. The alarm for the building didn't go off because the suspects didn't try to force open the door, another manager for the business told NBC 7.

Dean was so grateful that authorities were able to apprehend the suspects and recovered the safe that she handed out free pizzas to the officers who were on the scene.

"I've heard there's been tons of break-ins for the area so I mean I'm super relieved someone's in custody," she said."(I) hope that they get him for all the other restaurants and stores and mom and pops theyve broken into."

"I've heard there's been tons of break-ins for the area so I mean I'm super relieved someone's in custody," she said."(I) hope that they get him for all the other restaurants and stores and mom and pops theyve broken into."

Da'Shon Morales, 20, of Moreno Valley, 19-year-old Jesus Ruiz Arias Jr. of Escondido and Fernando Vazquez Cruz, 20, of Escondido were booked on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and several related felonies.

The suspects are linked to the other recent break-ins around San Diego County, sheriff's Lt. Chris Collier said.

Tony Pepperoni replaced the shattered glass Sunday afternoon. Pattaya Thai, which usually closes on Monday, was closed Sunday and the sign on the door says it won't open again until Tuesday. Its door has not been fixed Sunday afternoon.

As for Tony Pepperoni, the pizzeria was still open for business Sunday, because "we won't let it rain on our parade," Dean said.
A Maryland home became engulfed in flames after a possible explosion Monday morning.

Firefighters arrived to find a house in the 4100 block of Sparkleberry Court in Prince Frederick fully engulfed about 11 a.m., the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department said. The two residents were found outside at a neighbors home.

Firefighters only extinguished the fire from outside. Sixty firefighters responded, including units from inside and outside of Calvert County, and the fire was controlled in about 15 minutes, according to the fire department.

[[483881951, C]]

The house and cars on the properly were completely destroyed, but other structures were saved, the fire department said.

The residents of the house were conscious, alert and breathing when they were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

There were initial reports that an explosion was heard, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the fire department said.

The loss is estimated at $350,000. The home had smoke alarms but it is unknown if they were working.

[[483881911, C]]
U.S. officials worked with North Korea over the weekend on plans for the on-off-on meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as Trump signaled increasing optimism for the sit-down.

Trump tweeted Sunday that a U.S. team was in North Korea to work on the possible summit. Another delegation was in Singapore to discuss logistics. On Monday, the White House said Trump had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the North Korea efforts, adding that the two planned to get together to coordinate strategy for the "expected meeting" with Kim.

Trump withdrew from the planned June 12 summit in Singapore last Thursday, but quickly announced it could still happen. The president's Sunday tweet offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, another signal that his concerns about the North's stance toward the summit had been allayed.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!," Trump tweeted.

The White House did not say when Trump would meet with Abe. Both leaders are expected to attend the Group of Seven summit in Quebec, Canada, on June 8-9.

Both the State Department and South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The border can be crossed simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for U.S. officials.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in Panmunjom, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

The Korean leaders' second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border.

The talks, which Moon said Kim requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit, which he sees as the best way to ease the animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim said he's willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a "firm resolve" to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements "complete denuclearization."

"What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization," Moon said.

"During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the U.S. and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization," he said.

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the North's state-run news service earlier Sunday, "expressed his fixed will" on a North Korea-U.S. summit.

During Saturday's inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to "positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-U.S. relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace."

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
President Donald Trump is again playing loose with the facts, claiming a drop in illegal border crossings that no longer exists while blasting a source in a news story who does.

He is also assailing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election, falsely suggesting the probes have failed to yield any meaningful results and distorting reality in asserting they are simply intended to justify why Democrat Hillary Clinton did not win the presidency.

Among other questionable claims in the past week, he also said he's provided the first big military pay increase in a decade and had "finally" delivered on improved care for veterans.

Here's a look:

TRUMP, on a possible summit with North Korea: "The Failing @nytimes quotes 'a senior White House official,' who doesn't exist, as saying 'even if the meeting were reinstated, holding it on June 12 would be impossible, given the lack of time and the amount of planning needed.' WRONG AGAIN! Use real people, not phony sources."  tweet Saturday.

THE FACTS: Actually, the source does exist. The White House official addressed a group of reporters as part of a background briefing arranged by the White House press office.

While Trump has criticized the use of unidentified sources and labeled information related by anonymous officials "fake news," his White House regularly arranges briefings with officials who demand anonymity before relaying information. An Associated Press reporter in attendance at last week's briefing questioned why it was not on the record  meaning that the official's name could be used. The official said Trump had been talking publicly that day and so the briefing was intended to provide "background context."

TRUMP: "This whole Russia Probe is Rigged. Just an excuse as to why the Dems and Crooked Hillary lost the Election and States that haven't been lost in decades. 13 Angry Democrats, and all Dems if you include the people who worked for Obama for 8 years. #SPYGATE & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST!"  tweet Saturday.

TRUMP: "Who's going to give back the young and beautiful lives (and others) that have been devastated and destroyed by the phony Russia Collusion Witch Hunt? ..." tweet Saturday.

TRUMP: "Why didn't the 13 Angry Democrats investigate the campaign of Crooked Hillary Clinton, many crimes, much Collusion with Russia? Why didn't the FBI take the Server from the DNC? Rigged Investigation!"  tweet Sunday.

THE FACTS: Trump's suggestion that the investigations into Russia meddling are "phony" and have yielded nothing is incorrect. So far, four Trump associates have been charged in Mueller's investigation, of whom three have pleaded guilty to lying to the authorities. Among them are Michael Flynn, former White House national security adviser, and Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign aide. Overall, 19 people, including 13 Russians, have been charged.

Trump's claim of "rigged" investigations that are biased and intended simply to justify "why the Dems and Crooked Hillary lost the Election" also falls short.

He refers to Mueller's team as "13 angry Democrats," but Mueller is a Republican and some others on his team owe their jobs largely to Republican presidents. Some have indeed given money to Democratic candidates over the years. But Mueller could not have barred them from serving on that basis because regulations prohibit the consideration of political affiliation for personnel actions involving career attorneys. Mueller reports to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Trump appointee.

Mueller did not work for President Barack Obama for eight years, as Trump states, but was FBI chief for less than six years under Obama, leaving in September 2013. He was nominated to be FBI director by Republican President George W. Bush in 2001.

In addition to the special counsel, several congressional committees have been investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. The Republican-led Senate intelligence committee has made clear a key goal in its review is to improve security in future U.S. elections.

TRUMP: "We've done a lot of work on the wall. We're doing a lot of work on security, generally speaking, security and border  border security. The border's down over 40 percent, and don't forget, we have a great economy, probably the best economy the country's ever had. So people come across, but we're going to get the rest."  interview broadcast Thursday with "Fox & Friends."

TRUMP: "We're down on immigration crossing the border  more than 40 percent."  forum Wednesday in Bethpage, New York.

THE FACTS: Illegal crossings actually are up 20 percent since he became president, according to the yardstick he uses to measure them  the number of Border Patrol arrests.

There is no precise measure of illegal crossings because some people don't get caught. The Trump administration uses arrests as the best gauge of whether crossings are going up or down. The Obama administration did likewise.

Border Patrol arrests did fall last year to the lowest level since 1971. But since April of last year, arrests have climbed steadily. One factor in that increase may be that people are now taking their chances to cross into the U.S. illegally after an initial wait-and-see attitude about Trump's tough-talking approach to people sneaking into the country.

Last month, there were more than 50,000 overall border arrests, which are made up of people who are stopped at land crossings and other official points of entry, according to federal data. That was more than triple the number from April 2017, which was the lowest tally on record since the Homeland Security Department was created in 2003.

Overall, border arrests have increased 20 percent since January 2017, from 42,463 in January 2017 to 50,924 in April.

TRUMP: "This week, we passed a new landmark legislation to give more choice and better care to our great veterans. We're going to take care of our veterans. We're doing a great job with them. We are taking care, finally after decades, we're taking care of our veterans."  speech Friday.

THE FACTS: Not so fast. Congress passed a wide-ranging plan last week to expand private care for veterans as an alternative to the Veterans Affairs health system, but it'll take at least a year to implement and its actual scope in expanding choice to veterans will depend on the next VA secretary, who has yet to be confirmed. A successful expansion of private care will also depend on an overhaul of electronic health records at VA to allow for a seamless sharing of records with private physicians. That overhaul will take at least 10 years to be fully complete.

The legislation would also expand a VA caregivers program to cover families of veterans of all eras, not just the families of veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Implementation of that program won't begin until after the VA secretary can provide assurances to Congress that the department's IT systems can handle a surge in new applicants. A phased rollout of benefits won't be fully finished until more than two years afterward.

TRUMP, to U.S. Naval Academy graduates: "Going to have new equipment and well-deserved pay raises. We just got you a big pay raise. First time in 10 years. We got you a big pay increase. First time in over 10 years. I fought for you. That was the hardest one to get, but you never had a chance of losing."  speech Friday.

THE FACTS: That's not right. U.S. military members have gotten a pay raise every year for the past 10 years and several have been larger than this year's 2.6 percent increase. Pay increases in 2008, 2009 and 2010, for example, were all 3.4 percent or more.

TRUMP: "We have now the lowest number of ships that we've had since World War I, and very soon you're going to get to 355 beautiful ships. 355. That's almost a couple of hundred more ships."  speech to academy graduates Friday.

THE FACTS: No it isn't. The Navy now has 283 ships.

TRUMP on former CIA Director John Brennan: "Brennan started this entire debacle about President Trump. We now know that Brennan had detailed knowledge of the (phony) Dossier...he knows about the Dossier, he denies knowledge of the Dossier, he briefs the Gang of 8 on the Hill about the Dossier, which.......they then used to start an investigation about Trump..."  tweets May 21.

THE FACTS: Trump quotes conservative commentator Dan Bongino to falsely claim the Russia probe is based on a "phony dossier." In fact, the FBI's investigation began months before it received a dossier of anti-Trump research financed by the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign. The FBI probe's origins were based on other evidence  not the existence of the dossier.

The Republican-controlled House intelligence committee found the Russia probe was initiated after the FBI received information related to Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, not the dossier. The committee's final report released in March was praised by Trump, who pointed to it as evidence that the investigation was nothing but a "witch hunt."

RICHARD GRENELL, Trump's ambassador to Germany, on German Chancellor Angela Merkel never getting a tour of the private residence floor of the White House: "The president took the chancellor up to the residence with the vice president and myself and gave a personal tour of the vice president  of the residence, the presidential residence at the White House. That was the first time that the chancellor had been up there. It was shocking to hear that she had never been able to see the Lincoln Bedroom. Never been able to see the Gettysburg Address. And President Trump took her there."  to Fox News, April 30.

THE FACTS: Actually, Merkel's office told AP this past week that she was given a tour of the private residence, including the Lincoln Bedroom, when she visited Washington in 2011 to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to her by Obama.

TRUMP, on Obama's national intelligence director, James Clapper: "Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign. Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE - a terrible thing!"  tweet Thursday.

THE FACTS: That's a distortion of Clapper's statements on ABC's "The View" on Tuesday when he was asked about recent reports that an FBI informant spoke with several members of the Trump campaign.

"They were spying on  a term I don't particularly like but  what the Russians were doing," Clapper said. "Trying to understand, were the Russians infiltrating? Trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage and influence? Which is what they do."

He did not say a spy was implanted "in" the campaign and he denied the FBI was spying "on" the campaign. The effort was focused on Russians, he said, and was meant to "protect the campaign" and the U.S. political system.

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Jill Colvin, Lolita C. Baldor, Robert Burns and Frank Jordans contributed to this report.
The Poor Peoples campaign began with Martin Luther King in 1968 as a way of bringing economic justice to poor people living in the US. On Monday, the campaign joined forces with Veterans For Peace on Boston Common, with a message for Memorial Day that is also a call to action.

It was a festive atmosphere amid a sea of tents and tourists laid out on Boston Common, but upon closer look, it was clear it was not a party.

Savina Martin, with the Massachusetts Poor People's campaign, called it a sad day, not a celebration, which brought Veterans, clergy and peace advocates together for nonviolent action to challenge the war economy and gun violence - on a day memorializing those sent off to war.

Especially the young children who are going into the military from high school thinking that theyre going to live a better life and they come home in body bags, Martin added.

Fifty-three percent of the federal discretionary budget is going to war and meanwhile a lot of programs for people who need help are being cut, said Michael Mclaughlin, a volunteer with the Massachusetts Poor Peoples campaign:

Other goals include protecting veterans rights  like the right to hospitalization.

Al Johnson, with Veterans for Peace, is not happy the US has canceled peace talks with North Korea, pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement and opened a US Embassy in Jerusalem.

This is well beyond Donald Trump. Look it... Weve been out here for Barack Obama, George Bush a whole lot of them and the question of war, we might as well have been on two different planets," Johnson said.

Tuesday, the protesters will rally at the State House followed by a sit in where protesters say they are prepared to be arrested to have their message heard.
Illinois officials are now considering the use of medical marijuana to combat the rising menace of opioid abuse and dependence. A Senate bill that allows people who qualify to fill opioid prescriptions to be able to apply for medical marijuan program of the state has been placed.

Medical Marijuana - Image Credit: Atomazul / Shutterstock

This was supposed to be a pilot program wherein patients can get a certification from the attending physician to obtain medical marijuana from the dispensaries.

The dispensaries would be verifying the certification before dispensing medical cannabis in fixed amounts during the period of the opioid prescription. The bill was passed overwhelmingly at the end of last month in the Senate.

Democratic Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park, the bills sponsor had said that medical marijuana could help patients move from opioids for pain relief or pain treatment without using them at all. Harmon said, We know that medical marijuan is a safe alternative treatment for the same conditions for which opioids are prescribed This legislation aims to stop dependence before it begins by providing an immediate alternative.

This was a response to the increasing problem of opioid dependence in the state. Overdoses of opioids have killed over 10,000 residents over that last decade said Republican Sen. Dale Fowler of Harrisburg. He said, By supporting the implementation of a pilot program, lawmakers are seeking realistic solutions to a very concerning public health crisis while also ensuring that we are providing medical relief to patients who are in pain and suffering. The Senate Bill 336 passed the Illinois Senate on 26th of April on a 44-6 vote. By end of this week, whole of the House is set to vote for this bill.

In a recent development, the Illinois General Assembly could now be considering expanding the number of people who would qualify for the earlier pilot program. The Senate Bill 336 now would include people who could have been prescribed the opioids too along with those who already have been prescribed these drugs.

Despite this experts in the field are not convinced. They argue that the therapeutic benefits of marijuana in preventing opioid abuse are not conclusive. The benefits of opioids as pain relievers too are being down played. Many have stated that there are no rigorous studies that show that marijuan can help prevent opioid dependence. They believe that this public policy is way earlier than science can actually prove the worth of medical marijuana.

The legislation however has reviewed bipartisan support. Sen. Don Harmon says, The science is generally supportive of the concept People don't die from cannabis. I don't feel like we're doing much harm. Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, House sponsor of SB 336 said she was not aware of the studies that have been quoted by the opponents of the bill and called them prohibitionists. She said, They're against alcohol, tobacco, gambling. I will say that most of the studies I've seen show the benefit of cannabis as ... an alternative for pain treatment that is non-addictive or less addictive.

As of now science remains inconclusive on the justification of medical marijuana use in opioid dependence. The bill at present would allow medical marijuana use among this population for a three of six month period only. Some chronic pain patients are likely to qualify for longer periods of time. Expanding the scope of the pilot program to include more users and people with need for opioid prescriptions would increase employment in the legal marijuana industry.
Scientists have managed to identify certain neurons in the brain that could evoke sense of aggressiveness. This could mean that problems associated with aggression could not be understood better and perhaps prevented they hope.

Image Credit: AFPics / Shutterstock

The results of this study titled, A neural network for intermale aggression to establish social hierarchy, appeared in the latest issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The researchers were studying aggressive behavior in animal kingdom that translates into humans as well. This aggressive behavior begins as school yard conflicts and occurs in large scales in global warfare. They delved into the brains of animals to seek out centres that control such aggression.

The team of researchers found that there was a group of neurons in the ventral premammillary nucleus (PMv) of the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus is one of the key zones in the brain that controls several basic functions of the body. These groups of neurons in the hypothalamus are found to play an important role in initiating as well as organizing aggressive behavior.

Lead author Christian Broberger from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden explained that aggression and violence can lead to long term injury as well as mental trauma in people. It has financial connotations for the society and community as well he added. This study, he explained, adds to the knowledge about the origins of such aggression.

For this study the team looked at ventral premammillary nucleus neurons in mice models in the labs. The aggressive behavior of the mice could be controlled using stimulation and inhibition of the neurons in this region of the brain they find.

They activated these neurons in some mice. When a new male mouse was introduced into the cage, the activated mice showed aggression. The stimulation of these neurons was done using optogenetics  or use of light to control their switches.

By switching off these PMv using lights, the team could successfully abort an ongoing attack. They experimented by inhibiting these cells in a dominant male and switching them on in a submissive male.

The hierarchical status of the two mice were reversed, they noted. Broberger explained that this was a role switch that could be seen with the PMv cell manipulation.

The team noted that these neurons could specifically activate other regions of the brain as well. This included the reward and pleasure centres.

Stefanos Stagkourakis from the Karolinska Institutet explained that after these neurons were stimulated, the effects seemed to last. This can be explained in real life as well, he said. After a quarrel, people tend to feel resentful and antagonistic for a long period of time.

The effects of stimulation of the PMv cells in these mice seemed to last for up to two weeks said Broberger.
Researchers from the Karolinska Insitutet in Sweden have made a new discovery about the biological mechanism underlying aggressive behavior.

Credit: Shutterstock / whitehoune

In a study of mice, they identified a group of brain cells that can be linked to aggressive behavior and manipulated to control the aggression response.

As reported in Nature Neuroscience, the team was able to control aggressive behaviour in the animals by inhibiting or activating the neurons.

Like all behaviour, aggression originates in the brain, but the neurons involved and how their properties contribute to the expression of aggression is poorly understood.

Now, a study of male mice has shown that neurons in the ventral premammillary nucleus (PMv) of the hypothalamus  a part of the brain that controls many fundamental drives  play an important role in initiating aggressive behavior.

When a new male was introduced to a cage where other males were living, the animals that responded by expressing aggressive behaviour had more active PMv neurons.

Using a technique called optogenetics, where light is used to control neurons, the researchers found that activating the PMv neurons induced aggressive behavior in situations where the animals do not usually attack. They also found that by inhibiting the neurons, they were able to interrupt an attack.

Mapping of these neurons also showed that they can activate other regions of the brain including reward centers.

Lead author Stefanos Stagkourakis says this could explain why mice naturally gravitate towards places where they have previously experienced an aggressive situation.

We also found that the brief activation of the PMv cells could trigger a protracted outburst, which may explain something we all recognise - how after a quarrel has ended, the feeling of antagonism can persist for a long time" Stefanos Stagkourakis

Stagkourakis and team hope that the findings can contribute to new approaches to managing aggressive behaviour.

Aggressive behaviour and violence cause injury and lasting mental trauma for many people, with costly structural and economic consequences for society. Our study adds fundamental biological knowledge about its origins." Christian Broberger, Study leader.

Source: EurekAlert
Girls who survive cancer have a higher risk of developing a deadly heart disease when pregnant later in life, according to a study presented today at Heart Failure 2018 and the World Congress on Acute Heart Failure, a European Society of Cardiology congress.

Researchers say young cancer survivors should be warned of this pregnancy-associated heart failure called peripartum cardiomyopathy so that they can be closely monitored. Separately, the researchers found that women with existing peripartum cardiomyopathy are at increased risk of developing cancer.

"Our finding that cancer and peripartum cardiomyopathy share some biological markers in the blood suggests that there is a physiological connection between these diseases," said Professor Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner, author of the study and Dean of Research in Molecular Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a life-threatening type of heart failure where the heart becomes enlarged and weak in late pregnancy or after childbirth. It occurs in about one in 1,000 pregnant women worldwide. "Without treatment, up to 30% of women die and less than half of patients fully recover," said Professor Johann Bauersachs, Director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School.

"It has been suspected, without having real data, that cardiotoxic anticancer treatment injures the heart and years later a second stress on the heart like pregnancy induces cardiomyopathy," said Professor Hilfiker-Kleiner. "Our study provides evidence for links between the two diseases."

The two-part study was conducted using German registry data. In part one, Stella Schlothauer, a young medical student in Professor Hilfiker-Kleiner's lab, compared the ten-year prevalence of cancer, which occurred before or after peripartum cardiomyopathy in 207 women to the ten-year cancer prevalence in the general population of women aged 0-49 years in Germany.

Thirteen of the 207 women with peripartum cardiomyopathy had cancer during the ten-year period - a prevalence of 6.3%. One woman had two cancers. Of the 14 cancer diagnoses, nine occurred before peripartum cardiomyopathy and five occurred after peripartum cardiomyopathy. The ten-year cancer prevalence in the general population of women in Germany aged 0-49 years was 0.59%.

Professor Hilfiker-Kleiner said: "Women with peripartum cardiomyopathy had ten times more cancer, either before or after their heart failure, than the general population of women. About two-thirds of cancers occurred in children or young adults who then developed peripartum cardiomyopathy, while one-third were diagnosed two to three years after peripartum cardiomyopathy. We think there may be genetic or epigenetic factors which make women more prone to both diseases. This is on top of the long-term cardiotoxic effects of anticancer therapies."

In part two, the researchers analyzed the blood of 47 women with peripartum cardiomyopathy and 29 healthy women of the same age and time since pregnancy to look for peptides and proteins associated with cancer. Levels of several of these cancer markers were higher in the peripartum cardiomyopathy group - for example human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a protein which is elevated in around one in five breast cancers. Compared to healthy women, cancer markers were elevated in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy regardless of whether or not they had previous or subsequent cancer during the study.

"Cancer survivors should be warned that they are at increased risk of pregnancy-associated heart failure," said Professor Hilfiker-Kleiner. "These are high-risk pregnancies and women need close monitoring of their hearts for any sign of heart failure. We need more data so that we can tell pregnant women with a history of cancer how high their risk of developing a second deadly disease is."

"Women who develop peripartum cardiomyopathy are at higher risk of subsequent cancer and should make sure they attend routine cancer screening," she said.
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd has opened a new semi-knockdown assembly plant in the coastal South African city of Durban which is expected to give a boost of more than R95 million (USD 7.7 million) to the economy of the KwaZulu-Natal province, authorities have said.

The Indian automaker's plant in the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ), next to the airport, which was officially opened on Friday by provincial Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala and Indian High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj, has a capacity to produce 4,000 of Mahindra's two models of its Pik-Up range, known as 'bakkies' locally.

Also Read: Install Tesla Inspired 10.4-Inch Infotainment System in 2018 Hyundai Creta for Rs 46,000 [Video]

Besides sales in South Africa, where Mahindra bakkies have been gaining ground, the assembly line will also turn out vehicles for export into the rest of Africa. Speaking at the launch, provincial Economic Development head Zikalala said Mahindra's decision to establish the assembly plant in KwaZulu-Natal was an indicator of the province's "rising star in terms of investor confidence." He added that the issue of unemployment in the region would also be addressed by Mahindra.

"Of the 24 staffers to be hired in the new assembly plant we have been assured 80 percent would be locals that had not been employed before and hopefully this would fit the youth profile" Zikalala said. He also commended Mahindra for its skills development initiatives, which have already seen scores of South Africans being skilled in India in various fields before returning to jobs at home.

"We also acknowledged that the company would be extensively investing in skills development, including sending staff to India to gain more capacities, which would contribute in the expansion of skills base in the province," Zikalala said.

Don't Forget to Subscribe to the 'Tech And Auto Show' YouTube Channel

Small and medium enterprises would also receive a boost as Mahindra plans to source 40 percent of components locally. Confirming this, Mahindra South Africa CEO Rajesh Gupta said it was part of Mahindra's long-term plan to increase employment and help develop local companies through local sourcing. Gupta explained how Mahindra's market share in South Africa had grown exponentially since it first entered the country over a decade ago.

"In the last five years alone it has grown its market share by a compound annual growth rate of over 4.6 percent a year which puts us in the league of the five fastest growing company in the same period. "Much of this growth was achieved in a declining market (for motor vehicles) which indicates our increased acceptance and popularity in the South Africa market," he added.
New Delhi: Citizens want the government to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel to be cut by at least 20%. According to a survey conducted by LocalCircles, which received over 15,000 votes, 41% of respondents said that the government should cut the excise duty by 30% and 26% said it should be cut by 20%.

As of Monday, the price of petrol was Rs 78.27 per litre and diesel was Rs 69.17 per litre. Cities like Mumbai paid a staggering Rs 86.08 per litre of petrol.

In the survey, 22% said that the excise duty should be made a flat Rs 5 on both petrol and diesel an 11% of the respondents didnt have a view on the price rise.

Many citizens on LocalCircles had suggested that once petroleum products are brought under GST, the states could be allowed to add a cess to it to cover up some of their revenue losses and the centre could reimburse them yearly to balance their ledgers.

The platform conducted a second poll asking the citizens what was the best way to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel. Forty two percent said they should levy an absolute value of tax instead of percentage of base price, while 36% said that states should reduce the VAT rate itself. There were about 16% respondents who said that the states should do nothing and let higher fuel prices reduce consumption and pollution. A small 6% were unsure about what should be done.
Dubai: Qatar said it was banning products originating from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, almost a year after those states imposed an embargo on Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

"Products originating from the blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the Gulf Cooperation Council Customs Territory, have to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures," a government statement said late on Saturday.

"To protect the safety of consumers in the State of Qatar and to combat improper trafficking of goods, the government issued a directive to find new suppliers of the variety of goods impacted."

The national Al Watan newspaper quoted a circular from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce telling traders and shops to stop dealing in products imported from the four countries. It said inspectors would monitor compliance with the policy.

The four states cut diplomatic and transport ties last June. Qatar, which had many of its imports trans-shipped from the UAE and received the bulk of its fresh food across the Saudi border, denied the accusations against it.

Imports into Qatar plunged about 40 percent from a year earlier in the initial weeks of the boycott, but they have since mostly returned to normal as Doha has found new sources of products in countries such as Turkey, and developed new shipping routes through places such as Oman. Qatar has also launched a drive to produce more things locally, including foods.

Since last June, some foods and other products from the embargo states have continued to find their way into Qatar through third countries.

A spokesman for Qatar's government declined to give details but said any imports coming to the country must go through proper import inspections.

He was not immediately able to give the value of the goods affected by the new measures, and whether the ban would cover all products trans-shipped through the embargo states in addition to goods produced there.

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa told Alsharq Alawsat newspaper on Sunday he saw no resolution to the diplomatic row in sight.
New Delhi: IT bellwether Tata Consultancy Services' market valuation briefly crossed the Rs 7-lakh crore mark today, making it the first company to achieve this milestone.

The market valuation of TCS jumped to Rs 7,03,309 crore during the intra-day session on the BSE today.

The m-cap was calculated at the stock's 52-week high price of Rs 3,674 hit today on the exchange.

At the close of trade, however, the m-cap of TCS slipped below the Rs 7-lakh crore mark and stood at Rs 6,87,123.96 crore.

TCS shares slipped 0.43 per cent to settle at Rs 3,589.45 apiece on the BSE. During the day, it had gained 1.91 per cent to hit a one-year high of Rs 3,674.

The IT major's shares have surged nearly 33 per cent so far this year.

TCS market valuation had earlier this year went past the Rs 6 lakh crore level, making it the second company to achieve the milestone after Reliance Industries.

The Mumbai-headquartered TCS had last month became the first Indian company to close the trading session with over USD 100 billion market valuation.

TCS is the country's most valued firm, followed by Reliance Industries with a market capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 5,83,972.22 crore, HDFC Bank (Rs 5,22,420.61 crore), HUL (Rs 3,41,064.80 crore) and ITC (Rs 3,31,895.80 crore) in the top five list.

The nation's largest software exporter TCS on April 19 reported a 4.4 per cent rise in its March quarter net profit at Rs 6,904 crore.
It is not often that one sues the President of the United States and wins. But Rebecca Pilar Buckwalter-Poza did just that.

But why did Buckwalter-Poza sue the President? Upon being asked, the journalist indignantly quipped,

He blocked me on Twitter!

Buckwalter-Poza was one of the seven plaintiffs, who, together with the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Donald Trump in July 2017, accusing him of infringing upon rights which are constitutionally guaranteed to all American citizens under the First Amendment.

The other plaintiffs include a sociology professor, a comedian, a Texan cop, a doctor, a song-writer and political organizer-- all of whom had at some point been blocked from Trumps official Twitter account @realDonaldTrump after they criticised the POTUS in some way or the other.

So what had Buckwalter-Poza, who is a Judicial Affairs Editor working with Daily Kos and an LGBTQ activist, tweeted that got her on the Presidents block list?

I made a comment about how the Russians helped win the election for Trump. It was a sure shot way to get blocked, now that I think of it, the journalist told News18 over a Skype interview.

Sorry folks, but if I would have relied on the Fake News of CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, washpost or nytimes, I would have had ZERO chance winning WH  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017

To be fair you didn't win the WH: Russia won it for you. pic.twitter.com/iPUXKopd9B  RPBP (@rpbp) June 6, 2017

I dont exactly know when he blocked me but after a while I realised that I was not able to access a lot of content on Twitter that other people could. These items would just appear as tiny grey boxes to me with no name. It was then that I realised that those were tweets and mentions of the President that I was blocked from, Buckwalter-Poza said.

She added that at first, she couldnt believe it.

It was surreal to have been blocked personally by the President! And quite unfair since he uses his account to make a lot of public announcements, the journalist and lawyer said.

This is exactly what the U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald who heard the case in Manhattan said.

We hold that portions of the @realDonaldTrump account  the interactive space where Twitter users may directly engage with the content of the Presidents tweets  are properly analyzed under the public forum doctrines set forth by the Supreme Court.. That such space is a designated public forum, and that the blocking of the plaintiffs based on their political speech constitutes viewpoint discrimination that violates the First Amendment, the judge opined.

The Presidents Twitter account is used by him to make several official announcements. Trump broke the news of firing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as Secretary of Veteran Affairs David Shulkin on Twitter. He also uses it to announce appointments such as the appointment of Gina Haspel as the Director of CIA and mike Pompeo as the Secretary of State.

He also tweets about international relations and changes in his administration and foreign policy.

By this definition, his account has to be seen as part of the Presidents office and thus is public property.

Twitter today has come very close to the traditional Town Hall session in which American citizens interact with their administrators and government. By blocking people, especially his detractors, he is just silencing dissent and denying us our right to speech and to communicate with our President, Buckwalter-Poza told CNN News18.

The ruling does not just apply to the President's handle but to Twitter handles of all public officials. The message is clear. If the public servants are doling out government speak or official information on social media, it ceases to be private communication as no particular group or person can be denied from receiving the said information.

The Manhattan judge does, however, suggest the President to use the Mute option to avoid looking at unsavoury comments.

Post the victory, is Rebecca expecting to be unblocked by the President anytime soon?

Only time will tell.
Hyderabad: A 10-year-old girl was crushed under a giant Ferris wheel at a fun fair in Andhra Pradeshs Anantapur district on Sunday night. Six others, including three children, were also injured in the freak accident in Junior College grounds.

The horrific accident, which was caught on camera, was caused when a bolt in the floor of the trolley they were sitting in came loose. The floor gave away and all its occupants fell to the ground. The girl identified as Amrutha was caught between the ground and one of the trolleys.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital and undergoing treatment.

Media reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying that some people had alerted the operator to the loose bolt, but he failed to act quickly. Reports added that after the accident, an angry mob thrashed him and handed him over to the police.

The district administration ordered an inquiry into the accident.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister EK Palaniswami announced on Monday that a government order has been issued, directing the state pollution control board to seal Vedanta group's copper plant in Thoothukudi, or Tuticorin, and close it down "permanently" following last week's violent protests during which 13 people were killed in police firing.

The Government Order (GO) said it endorsed the recent closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and also asked the TNPCB to "seal the unit and close the plant permanently".

The document cited the Constitution's directive principles of state policy (Article 48-A) enjoining protection of environment and provisions of the Water Act, 1974, to order the permanent closure of the copper factory "in the larger public interest".

The chief minister said the government has issued the order in deference to the sentiments of the people. "This government follows the footsteps of Amma (late chief minister Jayalalithaa). This government is for the people," he said.

The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days. Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.

The move is being seen as a damage control move as the AIADMK government had come under fire from opposition parties, activists and human rights bodies over the police action.

The Vedanta Group issued a statement, calling the closure order unfortunate. The company said it will study the order and decide on the future course of action. Closure of Sterlite Copper plant is an unfortunate development, especially since, we have operated the plant for over 22 years in most transparent and sustainable way, contributing to the Tuticorin and States socio-economic development, the statement read.

The plant has already been shut since the last week of March after the state pollution control board refused to renew its consent to operate in the face of protests.

The decision to shut the plant permanently has been taken just a before the Tamil Nadu Assembly session starts. The opposition had lambasted the government for its failure to control the protests and dubbed the police action as murder and state-sponsored terrorism.

While opposition leaders like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth welcomed the closure order, DMKs working president MK Stalin called it an eyewash and drama.

Had this Government Order ben passed before the death of 13 people, we would have welcomed it. But now, it looks like it has a hidden agenda. This move by the state Government is mere eyewash. If victims of Tuticorin dont get justice, we will approach the court, he said.

Haasan, on the other hand, took to Twitter to say that the order is a victory of the might of the people. All political parties should humble themselves before this victory of the people; salute the martyrs and learn from them. The Government should have been sensitive to the protests of local people for over 100 days and acted swiftly, which would have avoided the needless and unfortunate loss of lives last week, he said.

Any legal challenge to this order by the Company should be defended appropriately by the state government to ensure that the present order is permanently implemented, he added.

Rajinikanth posted an audio message on Twitter. He said: The victory should be dedicated to the people who lost their lives during the protests. I pray to the almighty that protests of this nature should not happen again in Tamil Nadu.

However, it remains to be seen how effective the government order is as the company is likely to challenge it. Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, who had earlier in the day hinted that the government would pass the order, said that Jayalalithaa had also ordered that the plant be shut in 2013, but the National Green Tribunal had reversed the order and allowed the company to resume operations.

The case is still pending before the Supreme Court. Panneerselvam said that even if their order gets challenged legally, it will be faced strongly and the government will take resolute steps to permanently close down the copper unit.

Describing the deaths of 13 people in the police firing as an "incident of grief which melted the hearts of everyone," Panneerselvam expressed his condolences to the kin of the dead and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Panneerselvam said he met 47 injured persons and consoled them, and received representations from them which will be fulfilled. He said compensation has already been provided to all the injured he met. The visit of the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the top leader of the ruling AIADMK, comes at a time when the city has just got back on its feet.

Sterlite Copper is a unit of Vedanta Ltd which operated a 400,000-tonne per annum capacity plant here. With the return of normalcy, prohibitory orders were relaxed and the internet services have also been restored fully.
New Delhi: Urging a Delhi court to take cognizance of the chargesheet filed in the Sunanda Pushkar death case, the Delhi Police cited a poem written by the deceased while levelling charges of abetment to suicide and cruelty against her husband and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

Heading a special court to try lawmakers, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal reserved his order on whether it would take cognizance of the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police. The order would be delivered on June 5.

Atul Kumar Srivastava, the Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for Delhi Police, submitted that Sunanda had e-mailed a poem to Tharoor on January 5, just a few weeks before she was found dead in the room of a 5-star hotel in the national capital.

"I don't care about test, I don't have will to live, All I pray for is death is the mail that Sunanda wrote to Shashi Tharoor," said the Delhi Police counsel.

The poem, mentioned in page 270 of the chargesheet, is the first direct evidence from Sunanda presented by the Delhi Police against Tharoor.

The Additional Public Prosecutor also submitted that "Sunanda Pushkar had ante mortem injuries on her body which is reflected on her post mortem too. When she was hospitalized, she had high fever and cannula."

The Delhi Police have based the chargesheet on abetment to suicide and cruelty.

The 3,000-page chargesheet has key sections like Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act, Sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

Tharoor has termed the chargesheet as preposterous and said that he intended to contest it vigorously.

"No one who knew Sunanda believes she would ever have committed suicide, let alone abetment on my part. If this is conclusion arrived at after 4+ years of investigation it does not speak well of the methods or motivations of the Delhi Police, he said.
New Delhi: For the last fourteen months, a bizarre reason is holding up the finalisation for the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) - the guidebook to appoint judges in the Supreme Court and high courts.

While the central government claims the MoP is pending at the end of the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium, the latter believes it has nothing more to do after having sent its finalised proposal on March 13, 2017.

And in between the two arguments lies a letter written by the government in July 2017 - not to the CJI but to the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.

Interestingly, the government wrote to the CJI twice about the proposed changes in the MoP but its last communication was sent to the Registrar General.

While the reasons remain unknown why the government chose to write to the Registrar General and not to the CJI like it always did in the past, the CJI, according to the sources, has not felt the need to respond to a letter addressed to an official in the Court registry.

And this stalemate prolongs the uncertainty over finalising the procedure on appointments.

The government had written to the CJI in in March 2016 and in August 2016 when it wanted certain modifications in the draft MoP. The CJI finally sent the draft MoP on March 13, 2017, and clarified this was the final version but the government kept sitting on it.

Meanwhile, in its judgment convicting CS Karnan, then a sitting high court judge, of contempt charges, two judges on the seven-judge bench pressed the need to revisit the system to appoint judges.

Making this judgment of July 2017 the basis of its new letter, the government asked for further modifications in the draft MoP sent by the CJIs office in March that year.

But this new letter dated July 11, 2017 was not sent to the CJI or the CJIs office. It was shot to the Registrar General.

Sources in the Supreme Court tell CNN-News18 that CJI Dipak Misra has been of the opinion that the MoP has already been finalised at the end of the judiciary.

The CJI has been of the view that he or his office does not need to reply to a letter written to an official of the registry.

"According to the CJI, there is nothing that he or the other judges in the Collegium need to do anything about the government's letter since the CJIs office is not supposed to respond to every letter by the government to the registry officials," sources said.

Therefore, while the government keeps claiming at every forum, including the Parliament, that the Supreme Court and the CJI need to reply to its latest communication, the CJIs office has not even considered this letter to be worthy of a reply because it has been sent to a non-competent and improper official.

And the MoP seems to have lost its way between the addresses of the correspondence.
New Delhi: Meghna Srivastava, who has topped the CBSE Class 12 examination, is a fan of thriller series, loves baking cakes to beat stress and looks up to Meghan Markle.

She topped the CBSE Class 12 examination by getting 99.8%. She secured 499 marks out of 500.

Srivastava hails from Noida and studied at the Step By Step School there.

She scored 99 in English (Core), while in other subjects  Psychology, History, Geography and Economics  she scored 100.

Srivastava said that the pre-boards helped her prepare for the exams well and she solved a lot of question papers of the previous years to prepare for the exams.

"I have been very consistent and I would plan my revisions. I did not over pressurise myself. I always focussed on my timelines and never indulged in studying at the last moment," she told PTI.

Srivastava's mother, who works as an HR head for a Gurgaon-based MNC, said that they never forced her to study hard.

"I was always worried that she should eat well. We did not pressurise her and I always insisted that she take breaks in between studying," her mother said.

Srivastava enjoyed watching shows on Amazon Prime and Netflix.

She watched Suits, The Royals, The Crown during breaks and would bake cakes to beat exam stress. While she was not active on Facebook, she liked posting pictures on Instagram.

Her mother said that she loved listening to music and reading non-fiction books.

Srivastava said that she intends to pursue psychology and has plans to pursue her further studies at The University of British Columbia.

She was one of the students who was affected after the paper leak and had to appear for a retest, which she said was "quite frustrating".

"I was very frustrated after the news about paper leak had emerged and a retest was announced. Despite studying so hard, we had to suffer. But gradually I settled down and decided to study four-five days before the retest," she said.

Srivastava believes in feminism and looks up to Meghan Markle, the newly-married Duchess of Sussex, who has been an advocate of women empowerment.

She said that she was one of the leaders in a community service project of her school.

"My school had adopted a village in Uttarakhand as part of a community service project. We took a trip of two-three days where we set up a 'gaushala' in the village and also taught students, which was quite an enriching experience," she said.

She is the only child of her parents and her father works with a private university.

Srivastava is the niece of former CBI director Anil Sinha, who said that she has always been a bright student.

"She has always been a very bright and studious girl. She has brought laurels to our family and we are proud of her," Sinha said.
BeijingIrans president will attend a summit with his Chinese and Russian counterparts next month, officials in Beijing said Monday, as they try to salvage the nuclear deal thrown into upheaval by Donald Trump. China, Russia, and the European powers, all of which signed the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, are scrambling to save the pact following the US presidents decision to quit the agreement and reinstate sanctions. Chinas President Xi Jinping will meet Irans Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on June 9-10 in Qingdao, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also attend the summit, he added. Wang did not include the nuclear deal in a readout of the summits formal agenda. But Beijing, which is Irans top trade partner and one of the biggest buyers of its oil, has signaled that it intends to keep working with the Islamic regime despite the US move. Chinese businesses are expected to step up activities in Iran to fill the void left by the exit of US companies and the possible withdrawal of European rivals for fear of punitive measures enforced by the US.Iran is currently an observer member of the SCO, though it has long sought full membership. The regional bloc focusing on security and trade also includes four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics and two new members, Pakistan and India. The summit will discuss a three-year action plan to fight the three evil forcesterrorism, separatism and extremismand strengthen cooperation on tackling cybersecurity breaches and drug trafficking, Wang said. China will also push for reforms to the multilateral trading regime connecting the markets of SCO members, which account for nearly 40 percent of the global population, he said. China floated the idea of an SCO free trade area in 2016, according to state-run Xinhua agency, but Wang did not say whether it would be part of the agenda. AFP
New Delhi: Delhis Aam Aadmi Party on Monday announced plans to crack down on private hospitals in the city that include capping prices for all drugs and consumables not on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).

Delhis health minister Satyendra Jain invited public comments for draft rules to not only cap prices but also curb a host of issues private hospitals have been accused of - medical negligence, not releasing bodies on time, overcharging and forcing patients to buy drugs from in-house pharmacies.

The draft rules propose a mechanism to make sure that private establishments prescribe only drugs and consumables on the NLEM when possible, and that all chemists, pharmacies, nursing homes and hospitals make sure these drugs are available.

The rules cap the price of the non-NLEM drugs at 50 per cent over the procurement price. Thus clinical establishments are to bill patients these drugs at their MRP or at procurement price plus 50 per cent, whichever is less. The same cap applies to disposables and consumables like syringes, needles and gloves. The price cap for implants has been proposed at 35 per cent.

A sub-committee has been constituted to monitor prices in private establishments, stated the draft rules, adding that no patient can be forced to buy only from the in-house pharmacies of hospitals.

The rules were announced a day after a citizens group launched a campaign against unethical medical practices in private hospitals and nursing homes. The Campaign for Dignified and Affordable Healthcare has at its forefront Jayant Singh, whose seven year old daughter Adya died of dengue in Gurugrams Fortis hospital in November last year, and Gopinder Singh Parmar, whose seven-year-old son Shaurya Pratap died of dengue in Medanta MediCity, Gurgaon, in October kast year.

Singhs family was charged Rs 16 lakh by Fortis, as was Parmars by Medanta. Their cases were two of a series of cases of negligence and gross overcharging by private hospitals that sent shockwaves through Delhi last year.

In February, 2018, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority examined the bills or four major private hospitals in the National Capital Region, without naming them. Their investigation found that private hospitals in Delhi-NCR routinely prescribe expensive branded drugs instead of NLEM ones and also earn profits up to 1737 per cent on drugs, consumables and diagnosis.

NLEM drugs, said the NPPA report, were only 4.10 per cent of the billing amounts while expensive non-scheduled drugs that have no price caps make up for 25.67 per cent.

In the days after Singhs and Parmars cases came to light, the Delhi government was chastised by the central health ministry for not ratifying the Clinical Establishments Act, the only legislation that regulates the private health sector, nor having their own version of the law.

The rules proposed on Monday mandate that there can be no hidden charges in packages for operative procedures and any additional procedure performed on a patient shall be charged at 50 per cent of its price. If a patients dies in the emergency room or casualty department of a hospital, within six hours of their arrival, the hospital shall waive 50 per cent of the total bill. If a patient dies within six to 24 hours of their arrival, the hospital shall waive 20 per cent of the total bill.

No dead body can be detained by a hospital due to non-payment of dues, and any disrespect to the body, including detainments, will count as an offense.

The rules also proposed setting a mechanism to eradicate cuts and commissions in medical practice. That no such cuts and commissions have been made to any individuals, including doctors of allopathy, or any of the AYUSH practices, or organisations, must be declared on a patients bill.

No hospital employee will be given their salary or consultation charges in cash. All payments made by a hospital, of Rs20000 and above shall be done by cheque or banking channels, said the rules.
New Delhi: Prince Kumar, the son of a DTC bus driver, topped the CBSE Class 12 examination in the science stream.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia congratulated Kumar and said that it was a "very proud moment" for him.

"Very proud moment, just congratulated Prince Kumar, topper of Delhi Govt school, Science stream in Class 12, Son of a DTC bus driver has got 97% with 100/100 in Maths, 99/100 Eco, 98/100 in Chemistry (sic)," Sisodia tweeted.

He also congratulated Prachi Prakash, who topped the commerce stream in Delhi government schools.

"It was also touching moment to speak to Prachi Prakash and her family, topper of Delhi Govt school, Commerce stream in Class 12. Daughter of a small private company executive, Prachi got 96.2% with 100/100 in Eco, 99/100 in Math," Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said in another tweet.

He also interacted with Chitra Kaushik, Delhi Police assistant sub-inspector's daughter, who topped Delhi government schools in arts stream.

Sisodia also highlighted the performance of Delhi students in Class 12 results and pointed that 168 government schools achieved 100 percent results, against 112 of last year.

The CBSE Class 12 results were announced on Saturday. The overall pass percentage was 83.01 percent as against last year's 82.02 percent.

A total of 638 government schools achieved 90 percent and above results, against 554 schools last year, he said in a series of tweets.
The GSEB Result 2018, Gujarat SSC Result 2018, GSEB SSC Result 2018 declared by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board on 28th May (today) at 8:00 AM. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board hosted the GSEB 10th Result 2018, Gujarat 10th Result 2018, Gujarat SSC Result 2018 on its official website gseb.org. The pass percentage for GSEB SSC Result 2018 is 67.50%. Savani Hil Ishwarbhai Tops with 99%

The GSEB officially conducts the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Class 10 exams during the month of March. This year, the Gujarat Class 10 final exams commenced from March 12 - March 23. Students can check their GSEB Result 2018, Gujarat Result 2018, Gujarat 10th Result 2018 or GSEB SSC Result 2018 on these websites as well examresults.net/gujarat/gseb-ssc-10th-result, gujarat.indiaresults.com

How to check Gujarat 10th Result 2018, GSEB SSC Result 2018, Gujarat SSC Result 2018:

Step 1: Click on the official website www.gseb.org

Step 2: Look for - Gujarat 10th Result 2018, GSEB SSC Result 2018 tab

Step 3: Click on the tab which says GSEB Result 2018, Gujarat SSC Result 2018, GSEB 10th Result 2018

Step 4: Enter your Roll Number

Step 5: Download the Gujarat Result 2018 and save for future reference

Last year, around 7 lakh students sat for the GSEB SSC exam. The state recorded a passing percentage of 68.24 %, with girls outperforming the boys yet again. A total of 11,03,674 students appeared for the exams this year.
How to Check GSEB 10th Result 2018 | The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board released today (May 28) at 8:00 am the GSEB Result 2018, Gujarat Result 2018, Gujarat SSC Result 2018, GSEB 10th Result 2018. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board hosted the Gujarat Board Result 2018, Gujarat 10th Result 2018, GSEB SSC Result 2018 will be out on official website gseb.org. The pass percentage for GSEB SSC Result 2018 is 67.50%. Savani Hil Ishwarbhai Tops with 99%

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board organised Gujarat Class examination for 201-18 from March 12 - March 23. Candidates can check the GSEB SSC 10th Result 2018, Gujarat SSC Result 2018, Gujarat 10th Result 2018, GSEB 10th Result 2018 on these websites as well examresults.net/gujarat, gujarat.indiaresults.com.

FACTS Students waiting for GSEB SSC Result 2018 can't miss:

*GSEB SSC Result 2018: This year, 11,03,674 students appeared for GSEB SSC Examination.

*Gujarat Board 10th Result 2018: In 2017, around 7 lakh students sat for the GSEB SSC exam 2017. The Gujarat Board recorded a passing percentage of 68.24 %.

*Gujarat SSC Result 2018: According to last year;s statistics, the girls outperforming the boys yet again.

examresults.net/gujarat, gujarat.indiaresults.com *GSEB 10th Result 2018: The Gujarat SSC Result 2018, Gujarat Result for Class 10 can be checked on these websites gseb.org

*Gujarat 10th Result 2018: The GSEB Result 2018 for class 10 will be announced by the board at May 28 at 8 am.

Steps to check GSEB 10th Result 2018, Gujarat 10th Result 2018:

Step 1. Go to gseb.org

Step 2: Look for the link which says Gujarat 10th Result 2018, GSEB 10th Result 2018

Step 3: Click on the link which says GSEB Result 2018, Gujarat Result 2018

Step 4: Enter your roll number

Step 5: Download the Gujarat Board Class 10 Result 2018 and take a printout for future reference
New Delhi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj reached out to Iran on Monday, saying India abides by only United Nations sanctions and not those imposed by individual countries, in an apparent rebuff to the United States.

US President Donald Trump had earlier this month ruffled feathers with his announcement to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and ordered sanctions to be reimposed on Iran. Indian interests in the Iran nuclear deal revolve around the sanctions that would slow down the development of the Chabahar port once again. The port is Indias gateway to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia. India is also wary of US sanctions affecting its oil imports from Iran, one of its closest sources.

Swaraj said that Indias position on Iran will remain independent of any other countrys decision. "India follows only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any country," she said while addressing a press conference at the completion of four years in power of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Her statement came hours before she held extensive talks with Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif, who is in India to seek support for Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers in the wake of Washington's withdrawal from it.

After the meeting, a government official said India wants nations that are party to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to engage constructively with Tehran after the withdrawal of the United States from the pact.

The statement said parties involved in the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, "should engage constructively for peaceful resolution of the issues that have arisen with respect to the agreement".

Zarif's day-long visit here is part of Tehran's efforts to reach out to major world powers after the US pulled out from the landmark nuclear deal of 2015 under which Tehran had agreed to stop its sensitive nuclear activities in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

The Chabahar port project also figured in the meeting.

Iran is India's third largest oil supplier and there were apprehensions about possible impact of the US decision on India's oil import. However, the officials said the US decision to reinstate financial sanctions on Iran would not impact India's oil imports as long as European countries did not follow suit.

The Iranian Foreign Minister visited China, Russia and some European countries in the last three weeks after President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the deal which was signed by the Obama administration.

The issue is understood to have figured during an "informal summit" between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian city of Sochi last week.

China, Russia and several European nations have been trying to salvage the deal. Iran had struck the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) with the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany after years of negotiations.

In its reaction to Trump's decision, India had said all the parties concerned should engage constructively to resolve the issue peacefully and that Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy must be ensured.

The US President's decision to abandon the agreement has shocked the world, with America's closest allies such as France, Germany and the UK expressing concern over it.

Indo-Iran ties have been on a upswing in the last three years. Prime Minister Modi visited Tehran in May 2016 with an aim to craft a strategic relationship with Iran and expand India's ties with West Asia.

During the visit, India and Iran signed nearly a dozen pacts, centrepiece of which was an agreement on development of Chabahar port. Later, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed a trilateral pact providing for transport of goods among the three countries through the port.

In February, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited India during which both sides agreed to further expand their cooperation in a number of key sectors. During Rouhani's visit, both sides signed nine agreements including one on handing over Chabahar port's operation to India for 18 months.

India and Iran have robust economic and commercial ties covering many sectors though it has traditionally been dominated by the import of Iranian crude oil by India.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, India-Iran bilateral trade during the 2016-17 fiscal was USD 12.89 billion. India imported USD 10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exported commodities worth USD 2.4 billion.

(With agency inputs)
Srinagar: An Army jawan and a civilian were killed last night when terrorists attacked an Army camp in militant-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir, police said.

This is the first terror strike by militants after the Centre announced cessation of operations during the holy month of Ramzan.

Police said the militants attacked the camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles at Kakapora in Pulwama district leaving a jawan seriously injured.

A civilian identified as Bilal Ahmed was also caught in the crossfire leaving him seriously injured.

Both were rushed to a hospital where the duo succumbed to their injuries.

Authorities have clamped prohibitory orders in parts of Pulwama district.

They said the fire was retaliated by the Army personnel.
Malappuram: A Hindu temple in Kerala organised an iftar party for the Muslim community as part of the annual prathishta (idol installation) ceremony in the temple thus giving a boost to communal harmony.

Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy Vishnu temple near Vettichira in Malappuram district hosted an iftar party for the Muslims who were observing fast in the holy month of Ramzan last week. The iftar was attended by more than 400 people from both the communities.

The event held on May 24 is the second edition of such iftar party being arranged by the temple committee.

We used to distribute food for the residents every year during the prathishta, since the Ramzan falls during this time we decided to host iftar so that we can accommodate all people irrespective of their faiths, says KP Baiju, the treasurer for the temple committee.

The iftar was noted with the presence of not just Muslims, but even Hindus living in the locality participated in the event, says Baiju, who was at the forefront of organising the iftar.

Since the iftar party was hosted by the temple, only vegetarian food was being distributed.

The vishnu temple which was in a critical stage was renovated and the idol was reinstalled during Ramzan last year with the help of native people and a lot of Muslims contributed to the cause.
Kottayam: In a suspected case of honour killing in Kerala, a newly-married Dalit man, allegedly kidnapped by bride's brother, was found dead on Monday morning, on the day of crucial by-poll at Chengannur.

Kevin P Joseph, a resident of Nattassery in Kottayam, a Dalit Christian, was allegedly abducted by a 10-member armed gang sent by the family of his wife Neenu Chacko from Thenmala in Kollam district.

Incidentally, the bride's father Chacko John is a Roman Catholic while mother Rehna is a Muslim. The police took almost 30 hours to register a complaint even as the woman approached the local police station.

Neenu, who collapsed on hearing the news of the death of her husband, has been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.

The body of the 23-year-old Kevin was found by locals at Chaliyakkara stream, 20 km away from Thenmala.

On Sunday, Neenu had approached Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam when she arrived at the police station along with her husband's friend and relatives seeking action against the gang. However, the police refused to register a complaint or take any action. The 20-year-old alleged in her complaint that the police cited lack of personnel due to the visit of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Neenu, in her complaint, said that her husband was abducted by her brother Shanu Chacko, as a revenge of the marriage.

Kevin and 31-year-old Anish, his relative, were abducted early on Sunday morning. The abductors left Anish on the way after thrashing him severely. Anish has been admitted to the Kottayam medical college hospital with serious injuries.

Kevin met Neenu while she was a student of a college in Kottayam. Both of them registered their marriage on Friday at a sub-registrar office as the family of the girl had objected to their marriage and threatened them against it. Later, Neenu's family registered a complaint with the police stating that she had gone missing. Though the police summoned the couple and the girl had confirmed her intention to go with Kevin. Kevin left the girl back at her hostel.

Later, the armed gang, which arrived in three vehicles, reached Kottayam nearly 112 kilometres away from Neenus house, and vandalised Kevin's house and forcibly took him away.

Kerala Human Rights Commission said it was suspected to be a case of honour killing and ordered the state police chief to submit a report in three weeks if there was any negligence.

A case has been registered against 10 unidentified persons in connection with the incident.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that he has directed the DGP to form a special team.

"Two teams have been deployed, one each at Kottayam and Kollam. Hopefully the culprits will be nabbed soon. The investigation will be coordinated by special team," said Vijayan.

The Chief Minister added that this should not have happened and said every complaint against police department will be dealt seriously. He said there will be strict action against the officers who fail to discharge their duties.

Heads started to roll soon after the incident with Sub Inspector M S Shibu and Grade ASI Sunnymon of the Gandhinagar police station suspended by Ernakulam Range IG Vijay Sahkare for their laxity.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, attacked Vijayan, who is also holding the Home portfolio, over the incident.

He urged Vijayan to quit the Home portfolio in view of such incidents in the state due to "inefficient policing".

The opposition, both BJP and the UDF were quick to announce a dawn to dusk hartal in Kottayam on Tuesday.

This is the third such incident from the state as the CBI Court in Kochi on May 18 had awarded life imprisonment to two relatives of a Muslim woman from Kasaragod, including her father who was found guilty in killing Balakrishnan, a Youth Congress leader for marrying her in 2001.

In another in March, a 42-year-old man from Malappuram was arrested for stabbing his daughter on the eve of her marriage with a Dalit. While other members of the family which belonged to backward Ezhava, agreed to their marriage, the bride's father objected to the caste of the bridegroom.

Curiously, in 2016 LDF government had a State-wide celebration on the hundredth anniversary Namukku Jathiyilla (I have no caste) declaration by Sree Narayana Guru, one of the greatest social reformers from the state.
Panaji: The state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has kept under observation a patient, who arrived here from Kerala and was found having symptoms of the Nipah virus.

State health minister Vishwajit Rane said the man was under observation at GMCH, located near here in North Goa district, and it was not yet confirmed if he was infected with the deadly virus.

The blood samples of the patient were sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, Rane said,adding that there was no need to panic.

The patient's identity was not disclosed by GMCH. A senior GMCH official said the man arrived in Goa

from Kerala yesterday and complained of having symptoms similar to the Nipah viral infection.

"The patient himself suspected that he might be infected with the virus. So, adequate precaution has been taken by the hospital, as per the protocol drawn by the state government," he said.

The virus has so far claimed 13 lives in Kerala. The outbreak of the Nipah virus infection, a newly

emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, is suspected to be from an unused well at Perambra in Kerala's Kozhikode district which was infested with bats.

The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.

So far there is no vaccine against the virus which was first identified in 1998 in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday on his way back from Indonesia during which he will meet his newly elected Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohammad.

Modi will leave for a two-nation tour of Indonesia and Singapore tomorrow with an aim to boost ties in several key sectors, including defence and trade.

His first destination will be Indonesia from where he will travel to Singapore on Thursday.

"He will also make a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 31 to meet the newly elected Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohammad," the External Affairs Ministry said.

Ninety-two-year-old Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia's prime minister on May 10 after leading the opposition alliance to a stunning election victory over the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had ruled Malaysia since 1957.

During their meeting, Modi and Mahathir are expected to deliberate on ways to deepen bilateral relationship in a range of areas, including trade and investment.

The prime minister's official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership of the two countries, delegation level talks, and meetings with the business and Indian communities.

In Singapore, Modi will deliver the key-note address at the 17th Shangri-la Dialogue.

"Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries in ASEAN, are strategic Partners of India. Government of India attaches high importance to its relations with the ASEAN region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual ASEAN member states, within the framework of Government's Act East Policy," the ministry said.

It said the visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Morocco will deploy, at the orders of King Mohammed VI, a field hospital of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces in Gaza to help treat the hundreds of Palestinian civilians, injured by the Israeli occupying forces.

The medico-surgical field hospital will allow the Royal Armed Forces to provide medical treatment to the civilians wounded during recent events in the Gaza Strip, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday.

Israeli troops have been using excessive force against Palestinians who have started demonstrations along the border fence between Gaza and Israel on March 30, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes in 1948 to set up Israel.

The repression climaxed on May 14 when Israeli troops fired on thousands of demonstrators protesting the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Al Quds, killing at least 62 Palestinians and injuring hundreds.

The Kings move that falls in line with Moroccos steadfast commitment to the Palestinian people comes two weeks after the Monarch reiterated to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas his full support for the Palestinian peoples cause and legitimate rights.

King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, sent on May 14 a message to President Abbas reiterating his rejection of the Trump Administrations decision to transfer the US Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Al-Quds.

King Mohammed VI who described this decision as an unfortunate development in the process of the Palestinian cause and our first cause, Al Quds, reiterated his refusal of this unilateral act that runs counter to the will continuously expressed by the international community.

King Mohammed VI vowed in his message to President Abbas that he will spare no effort to mobilize the international community to ensure the triumph of the Palestinians legitimate rights to the establishment of an independent state with eastern Al Quds as its capital, part of a two-state solution that will contribute to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Following the May 14 events in the occupied Gaza Strip, Morocco had strongly condemned the use of excessive force by the Israeli occupying forces against unarmed Palestinians and voiced its total rejection of such unacceptable acts that violate international laws and fan tension in the whole region.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the 'Ujjwala Yojna', a flagship welfare scheme of his government aimed at increasing LPG cylinder coverage among poor families, has led to a social transformation with over 45 per cent of its four crore beneficiaries being Dalits and tribals.

Speaking at an interaction with the scheme's beneficiaries, he underlined the role the scheme played in alleviating the lives of the poor by providing them with gas cylinders and even invited himself to a meal of idlis and dosas at the home of one of the beneficiaries present at the event.

In a bid to demonstrate the relief the flagship program had brought to its beneficiaries, the PM asked the woman whether she could make idlis and dosas before the gas cylinder to which she replied that it was very difficult indeed. She added that now she could cook anything with ease.

Will you make me some dosas when I come over? the PM was quoted saying so by Times of India.

The LPG reach is now 100 per cent in 70 per cent villages and more than 75 per cent in 81 per cent villages, he said.

The clean fuel is leading to healthy India, Modi said, citing benefits of LPG fuel.

"Till 2014, 13 crore families got LPG connection. This means, for over six decades the figure stood at 13 crore. It was mostly the rich people who got LPG connections. In the last 4 years, 10 crore new connections have been added and the poor benefited," he said.

The PM also outlined the ways in which the Ujjwal Yojana was bringing upon a transformation in the lives of the marginalised communities in India, including Dalits and tribals.

"Since people started to get benefits under the Ujjwala Yojna, a big social transformation is visible. I am happy to tell you that out of its four crore beneficiaries 45 percent are Dalits and tribals," he said.

He emphasised his government's pro-Dalit credentials by comparing benefits given to the community under it against what they received under the Congress-led UPA government.

While Dalits got 445 petrol pumps under 2010-14 during the UPA rule, more than 1200 of them got it during 2014-18 in his government's rule, he said, adding the corresponding figures for LPG distribution centres for the community are over 900 and 1300.

During the recent 'Gram Swaraj Yojna', 11 lakh people received LPG connection in one day, he said, adding more and more people are joining the list of its beneficiaries.

"Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, Dalits, tribal communities. This initiative is playing a central role in social empowerment," Modi said.

In his speech, Modi also recalled that when he was young he had many Muslim neighbours.

"Many of my friends were Muslims. I remember during Ramzan, women woke up particularly early but the coming of the Ujjwala Yojana would have changed that too," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)
Chennai: After a week of unrest and 13 deaths in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu Police has lodged an FIR stating tehsildars Shekar and Kannan gave the orders to open fire at the mob of protesters on May 22 and May 23.

The FIR copy accessed by News18 reveals that the tehsildars, acting as executive magistrates, issued the orders when the mob turned violent and the situation went out of control.

It may be noted here that the protesters witnessed two rounds of firing, one at the Collector's Office and the other at Threshpuram area in Tuticorin.

The locals were protesting in demand of the closure of the Sterlite copper factory for 99 days when the protests turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of the stir, and 13 people were killed in police action.

The FIR states: "More than 500 protesters tried to enter the Sterlite office even after Section 144 was imposed. After three warnings to the protesters, the demonstrators did not budge and tried to destroy the property and torched vehicles. So, police officials had to take this crucial step as the lives of Sterlite employees were at stake and so were the lives of residents near the plant site."

While the Tamil Nadu government was initially seen justifying police action at the Tuticorin protests, opposition parties, including DMK and Kamal Haasan, probed the government, asking who had issued the orders to open fire at the protesters.

DMK even demanded the Tamil Nadu to step down following the May 22 incident that led to the deaths of 13 persons.

Meanwhile, Haasan has written to Governor Banwarilal Purohit on the anti-Sterlite protests and posed a few questions his party Makkal Needhi Maiam had raised over the last week, asking who issued the firing orders.

DMK has so far questioned the Chief Ministers role asking if Edapadi K Palaniswami was not kept in the loop before the firing orders were issued.

So, does a tehsildar have the power to issue orders? According to Section 21 of the CrPC, the state government may appoint, for such term as they may think fit to be known as Special Executive Magistrates for particular areas or for performance of particular functions and confer on such Special Executive Magistrates the powers that are conferrable under the code.

Generally, deputy collectors, tehsildars and deputy tehsildars are appointed Special Executive Magistrates to handle urgent law and order problems on the special occasions.
New Delhi: Negotiating the deportation of liquor baron Vijay Mallya to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his British counterpart Theresa May that jails in India were the same ones where the British jailed Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made the revelation on Monday during the ministrys annual press conference.

There have been reports of May expressing doubts to Modi about the condition of jails in India.

UK courts wanting to check the conditions of jails in India is not correct. Modi told May that these are the same jails where they jailed Gandhi and Nehru, Swaraj said.

The question arose after Vijay Mallya's defence fielded a UK-based prison service expert to claim that jails in India are over-crowded with poor hygiene as the defence and prosecution completed submission of all the evidence in the extradition trial of the liquor baron at a UK court.

The extradition trial seeks to prove that there are no "bars to extradition" and that Mallya is assured a fair trial in India over his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines's alleged default of over Rs 9,000-crore in loans from Indian banks.

Mallya's barrister, Clare Montgomery, deposed Dr Alan Mitchell before the Westminster Magistrates' Court in an attempt to highlight that conditions in Barrack 12 of Mumbai Central Prison on Arthur Road, where the 61-year-old businessman is to be held, were "far from satisfactory".

Dr Mitchell, former head of healthcare at the Scottish Prison Service and an elected member of the European Council's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, said the assurances given by the Indian government were "general in nature" to state that jail conditions would be "adequate" for Mallya.

"But adequate in the eyes of whom," Mitchell questioned.

His evidence relied heavily upon his past inspection visit to Alipore Jail in Kolkata and also on an account of the prison conditions in Puzhal Jail in Chennai, from six former British soldiers referred to as the Chennai Six have recently been released.
New Delhi: As the Trump administration plans to scrap a rule allowing spouses of H1-B visa holders to work in the US with H-4 visas, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday assured Indians settled abroad that the government would make all efforts to persuade the US against the move and has taken up the matter with the White House and also US Congressmen.

In 2015, after the Obama administration gave a go ahead, H-4 visa holders or spouses of H1-B non-immigrants were allowed to apply for employment authorisation.

The Trump administration is now all set to reverse the order that could affect about 70,000 such visa holders.

The argument  much like the one made to tighten the H1-B visa rules  is that it hurts American job seekers.

However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services states on its website: (H-4 rule), effective on May 26, 2015, seeks to support the goals of attracting and retaining highly skilled foreign workers.

Sushma Swaraj said at the annual press conference, The spouses visa work permit was done during our tenure. When PM Modi had met Barak Obama in 2015 then he had pointed out that if he allowed the spouses of our professionals to work then even they could contribute to American growth with their capability.

She added that, however, it was true that work permit for spouses was now under scrutiny and news of its possible revocation has also come in.

Swaraj further claimed that it was due to the effort of the government that 130 American lawmakers had written to President Donald Trump that its revocation would hurt the American economy.

She added, This is not just for H-4, I am also talking of H1-B visa as well. We are making a three-pronged effort to save these visas. We are talking to the White House, we are talking to state administration, and we are also talking to Congressmen and Senators.
New Delhi: A 19-year-old woman alleged that the driver of a cab in which she was returning home, asked for her phone number, following which she jumped off the vehicle in order to save herself, the police said on Sunday.

The incident was reported from southwest Delhi's Cantonment area, they said.

The woman complained that after she boarded the cab from Mandi House, where she is associated with a theatre group, to return home in Kapashera, the driver asked for her phone number and wanted to be friends with her, the police said.

When the cab reached near Dhaula Kuan bus stop, she jump off the vehicle to save herself, they said, adding the accused is yet to be arrested.
After giving a stunning performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat, Deepika Padukone will reportedly star in India's first female superhero film, to be inspired by Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman. Although an official announcement is still awaited, a report in Mumbai Mirror states that the movie is said to cost a whopping Rs 300 crore and is expected to go on floors sometime next year.

"Deepika's avatar is being fashioned after Gal Gadot's in Wonder Woman. The developments have been kept under wraps with a creative team holding discreet meetings with Deepika on a regular basis. Presently, a running bid is on for Rs 300 crore among multiple investors," a source was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror.

The source also revealed that the actor would go through an extensive training process to prepare for her role.

"The 32-year-old-actress will begin training extensively in mixed martial arts and different styles of hand-to-hand combat. Since this is a first-of-its-kind mega project, the timelines for pre-production will be long and the project will go on the floors next year," the source added.

Earlier there had been a couple of reports doing the rounds that the actress had not signed any new project after Padmaavat "because of the lack of quality roles coming her way."
When Daljit Sean Singh, 48, showed up to audition for Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat, he was hung over.

Are you Baba? Sanjay Sir wants to meet you, the lady on the phone had said the day before.

At first, Daljit had refused to go to the audition, because he was told hed have to pay his own flight ticket. What if I dont get selected huh? Im not paying for my disappointment, I told her, he recalls.

Daljit, son of Delhi-based real estate tycoon Mohinderjit Singh, builder of massive constructions like the Nike Town in Boston and Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, then decided partying the night before his audition seemed like a good idea. It was a friends birthday, he shrugs.

Since Bhansali Productions had sent him a roundtrip flight ticket, he arrived in Mumbai the next day.

Bollywoods Favourite Beard

(Photo: News18.com)

Daljit became a fitness model in his forties, but not before he had been to rehab for alcoholism thrice, been sent to a lockup in Atlanta and also lived as a homeless man on the streets of that city, as well as Washington DC. His iconic silver-grey hipster beard, an accessory he admits has led to his success in the modelling world, gave him roles in Kill Dil, Omerta and Padmaavat.

I was Sharif Pasha in Padmaavat, the guy that Ranveer (Singh) stabs and kills on his wedding day, he says. Despite Daljits reluctance to be part of the project, the casting director had wanted him to be on board and acquiesced to his demands.

They couldnt find a better beard.

For Daljit, celebrities were hardly out of reach growing up. His house on Jantar Mantar Road, smack in the middle of New Delhis posh central district had played host to a slew of celebrities, especially in the 70s and 80s.

Javed Jaffrey has been to the house, so has Shatrughan Sinha, he recounts.

Daljits great-grandfather, Sardar Bahadur Dharam Singh (his beard idol), was a builder from Punjab who along with Sobha Singh, father of Khushwant Singh, had built Connaught Place and large parts of Lutyens Delhi. Dharam Singhs beard would inspire his great grandson to rediscover his Sikh roots and lead to modelling assignments.

(Photo: News18.com)

Daljits mother Pauline, born to a British father and Irish mother had fallen in love with and married Mohinderjit Singh in the '60s and Daljit Sean Singh was born on October 20, 1969. The marriage broke up in the 80s, leaving a young Daljit with a taste for alcohol and an even greater appetite for adventure and an itinerant life.

His newest film Torbaaz, slated to release this year, offered him an opportunity to indulge both these interests.

Sanju (Sanjay Dutt), I and two other people finished off 6 bottles of Vodka in Kyrgyzstan after the shoot. Id wanted to go to Central Asia, ever since I watched Netflixs Marco Polo, he says.

From Vagabond Alcoholic to Entrepreneur

(Photo: News18.com)

You touch my f***ing drink, Ill kick your ass is what Daljit Sean Singhs charge sheet says, when he was arrested for assaulting a police officer at a bar in Atlanta.

It was 15 minutes to closing time and he just walked up to me and took my drink. That was my downer, one last drink before I could forget the world. Those were the times when Id drink a bottle just to get over my hangover and feel normal. He provoked me, I punched him, he recalls.

Since moving to England with his mother after his parents' split in 1986, Daljit led a tumultuous life. At 18, he was arrested for stealing the hood ornament from a Mercedes in London. At 21, he became a father, only to leave his son and girlfriend 4 years later and catch a bus away from commitments. Subsequently, he moved to the US in the late 90s and married in 2002, when alcohol pushed him to contemplate suicide and breal up his marriage four years later.

It was at this juncture that Daljit had gone out for a drink and got arrested for assaulting the police officer at the bar.

A string of rehabs in Washington DC, Virginia and Mumbai changed Daljit and gave him a new lease on life. Starting out as a waiter in Chef Ritu Dalmias Diva restaurant, Daljit worked his way into the wedding planning business and started a funeral service called Antim Yatra, where people can book packages for funeral services for a fixed price and dont have to worry about last rite arrangements while grieving the loss of a near and dear one.

My experience with death opened my eyes. Why should you even have to worry about where the firewood will come from etc. when someone dies?," he notes.

Monsoon Wedding

In 2008, Daljit Sean Singh married Namrata Mamak in a traditional Punjabi wedding at Kapoor Solar Farms, a farmhouse in Delhi.

I had watched Monsoon Wedding when I was homeless in Atlanta, just to get some shelter. I thought its a desi cinema hall so Ill find other desis. I didnt know Id get married in the same mandap they showed in the film," he marvels.

Today, Namrata and Daljit live in Delhi with their eight-year-old daughter Keihana and their dog Khichdi.
New Delhi: Thirteen crucial bypolls ahead of the 2019 General Elections saw BJP and opposition parties across states saw the ruling parties and opposition trade barbs at each other as allegations of EVM malfunctioning marred elections in a number of seats on Monday.

Four Lok Sabha seats and nine assembly constituencies went for bypolls on Monday across 10 states and this time, too, the Election Commission was not spared of charges of EVM malfunctioning.

Moderate to heavy voting was recorded in most seats as most constituencies turned out to be a prestige battle for both BJP and other parties ahead of 2019.

The EC said reports of 'large-scale' failure of EVMs were "exaggerated projection of reality" even as complaints mounted about problems with machines, including in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana, where BJP is trying to retain the Lok Sabha seat against a united Opposition in a communally-charged election.

Sources in the poll panel, which has in the past also faced allegations about EVMs, blamed inapt handling of the paper-trail machines for votes by the ground staff, especially when the temperature is high, for malfunctioning in some areas.

Counting for all seats will take place on May 31.

The EVM-related complaints also came from UP's Noorpur assembly seat, which has become another high-stake election in the state after a shock defeat suffered by the BJP during the earlier by-elections for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats -- the first vacated by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Polling for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia LS seats in Maharashtra -- the BJP is fighting its estranged ally Shiv Sena at one is pitted against Congress-supported NCP in the another -- was also marred by instances of alleged malfunctioning of EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs).

Congress' Vishwajeet Kadam got elected unopposed from Palus Kadegaon assembly seat in Maharashtra, after all parties including BJP opted out from the contest. The bypoll was necessitated because of the death of sitting Congress MLA and former minister Patangrao Kadam, Vishwajeet's father.

In Punjab, nearly 73 per cent voting was recorded for the Shahkot in a largely peaceful bypoll.

Voting was peaceful in the eastern and north-eastern states as well with 70 per cent votes being cast in the lone Parliamentary seat in Nagaland, while the polling was 53-90.42 per cent in five assembly seats across four other states -- Ampati in Meghalaya, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Maheshtala in West Bengal and Jokikhat in Bihar.

In South, tight security and a changed political equation post Congress-JD(S) alliance marked voting for the Rajarajeshwarinagar bypoll in the state. The election for the seat was deferred earlier due to seizure of 9,564 Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) from an apartment.

In Kerala, people braved heavy rains to vote for Chengannur assembly bypoll, where a fierce contest was expected between the three fronts of the Left, the BJP and the Congress.

About 74.60 per cent voting was recorded in the bypoll, necessitated due to death of sitting MLA K K Ramachandran Nair of CPI(M). Barring reports of technical problems with electronic voting machines in some booths, the polling was reported to be "incident-free".

In Maharashtra, technical glitches prompted Shiv Sena and NCP to question EVMs, while similar was the case for parties in UP.

Even when the voting was underway, opposition parties and the ruling BJP moved the EC in the national capital claiming that "hundreds" of EVMs and paper trail machines deployed for Kairana and Noorpur bypolls developed snags and were not replaced for hours.

The EC sources said that failure on part of the ground staff led to heating of the machines. They alleged that officials who skipped training programmes and "spent time on their phones during training" placed the machines at places where 'heat sensitive' nature of the device created problems.

Kairana is being seen as a popularity test for the ruling BJP in the electorally crucial state of UP. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh and his daughter Mriganka is the party's candidate -- pitted against Rashtriya Lok Dal's Tabassum Hasan supported by the Congress, SP and BSP.

The Noorpur bypoll was necessitated by death of sitting BJP MLA Lokendra Singh Chauhan. The BJP has fielded his wife Avani Singh, while SP has given ticket to Naeemul Hasan.

The Shahkot bypoll in Punjab was necessitated by demise of Akali MLA Ajit Singh Kohar. His son Naib Singh Kohar is the Akali candidate, while Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Laddi and AAP candidate is Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan.

The Nagaland LS bypoll was necessitated as Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio resigned days before the assembly polls.

Meghalaya's Ampati by-election, where polling was the highest at 90.42 per cent, was necessitated as the state's Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma resigned from the seat after winning from Songsak seat as well. His daughter Miani D Shira is in a triangular contest there.

In Jharkhand, voting in Gomia was 62.61 per cent and 75.5 per cent in Silli, where polling ended at 3 pm as they fall in LWE area. These bypolls are happening following conviction of their respective JMM MLAs, Yogendra Mahto and Amit Mahto.

In West Bengal, Maheshtala bypoll was held following death of TMC MLA Kasturi Das. The party has fielded her husband Dulal Das, while BJP has fielded Sujit Ghosh, a former CBI joint director.

The Left candidate Prabhat Chowdhury is backed by Congress.

The Jokikhat bypoll was held after resignation of sitting MLA Sarfaraz Alam and is being viewed as a test of strength between Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Lalu Prasad's RJD.
New Delhi: Political parties are out of the purview of the RTI Act, the Election Commission has said in an order which is contrary to the Central Information Commission's directive bringing six national parties under the transparency law.

The poll panel statement, which may prove to be controversial, came while deciding the appeal of an RTI applicant seeking to know donations collected by six national parties who were brought under the ambit of the transparency law by the CIC in June 2013.

"Requisite information is not available in the Commission. This is related to political parties and they are out of purview of the RTI. They may submit information of donation/amount collected through by Electoral bonds in their contribution report for the financial year 2017-18 in the ECI for which the due date is September 30, 2018," the appeal order citing comment of the Central Public Information Officer has said.

Pune-based Vihar Dhurve had sought to know through RTI the details of donations collected by the six national parties  the BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI and CPM  and the Samajwadi Party through newly introduced electoral bonds.

The First Appellate Authority in the Election Commission K F Wilfred, the Senior Principal Secretary in poll panel, wrote in the order that he agrees with the view taken by the CPIO.

Six out of seven political parties  the BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI and CPM  for which information was sought by the applicant were brought under the ambit of the RTI Act by a full bench of the commission on June 3, 2013.

The order has not been challenged in the higher courts but the political parties have refused to entertain the RTI applications directed at them. Several activists have approached the Supreme Court on the grounds of non-compliance of the CIC order and the matter is pending.

When it comes to the RTI Act, the Central Information Commission is the only appellate authority which may declare a body as public authority if it is convinced that the organisation fits into the criteria for being under the Right to Information Act.

"When the Central Information Commission has declared six national political parties as public authority, the Election Commission cannot take a position contrary to that unless the order of the CIC has been overturned by the Supreme Court or High Courts. The order of EC has no merit," former Chief Information Commissioner AN Tiwari told PTI.

Venkatesh Nayak, a noted activist on RTI matters, said the public information officer of the election commission has exceeded his limits in giving this order.

"The June 2013 order of the CIC bringing six national political parties under the RTI Act remains in force even if the political parties do not obey it. It has not been stayed or set aside by any court. Therefore, as far as national political parties are concerned they are squarely covered under the RTI Act," Nayak said.

He added that all the information about state and national parties fall under the RTI Act which is held by the Election Commission of India and the CPIO is bound to make disclosure about them rather than taking position that these political parties are out of purview of the RTI Act.

When contacted over phone about the controversial statement in the order, Wilfred said he meant that not all political parties are covered under the RTI Act.

But when asked that the RTI appeal pertained to the six political parties which are under the RTI Act, as per the CIC order, he did not give any explanation except to say that the DoPT has issued an order that when an RTI plea pertains to multiple public authorities, it is not compulsory to transfer the question to them.

However, the order signed by him does not mention this.

He had, however, transferred a question related to meeting held with political parties on the issue of electoral bonds to the Finance Ministry.
South African politician and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, Julius Malema this weekend called on the King Mswati of eSwatini to leave politicians in the country to thrive.

According to Malema the King of eSwatini could go ahead to marry as many women as possible but his interference in the freedoms of citizens was unacceptable.

Malema praised Mswati for opting to remove the colonial name Swaziland and to replace it with eSwatini.

Malema said that when the EFF takes over in South Africa, they would rename the streets after struggle heroes such as Muammar Gaddafi and Thomas Sankara.

Swazilands King Mswati III has changed the name of the country to the Kingdom of eSwatini last month.

The kingdom is known to be one of the worlds last remaining absolute monarchies. The king who has been in charge for 32 years took over at the age 18.

The absolute monarchy has a reputation for obstructing access to information and actively preventing journalists from doing their jobs. The media is subject to strict laws and reporters are often taken to court over their coverage.

Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Reporters without Borders and other rights groups accuse the King of policies that trample human rights and democracy.

King Mswati III rules by decree over his subjects and presides over the annual Reed Dance ceremony during which he chooses a new bride. The king currently has over a dozen wives.
Shamli/Noida: On May 21, a week before the Kairana bypoll, Samajwadi Partys Kairana MLA Nahid Hassan drove to Gangoh in Saharanpur district to sit down with UP Congress vice-president Imran Masood. A source privy to the discussion said Masood and Hassan, who do not see eye-to-eye, were brought together by Gujjar-Muslim activists from Saharanpur who were worried that a divide between Gujjar and Sheikh Muslims in Kairana would end up helping the BJP.

Imran is a Sheikh and Nahid is a Gujjar. They have been rivals for a long time. It is an open secret that in 2017, when Imran was the Congress candidate from Nakur Assembly seat, Nahid had asked his supporters to sabotage his chances in the election. This helped the BJPs Dharam Singh Saini win. This was creating a Sheikh-Gujjar divide among Muslims, a source said.

Imran Masood holds sway over Muslim voters in two of Kairanas Assembly segments  Nakur and Gangoh  which fall within Saharanpur district. For the SP and the RLD, the Congress strongman is a valuable asset.

While Masood was initially reluctant to support Nahids mother Tabassum Hassan, who is the joint opposition candidate for the Kairana bypoll, he eventually agreed after the UPCC leadership insisted that he fall in line.

Tabassum, a SP leader, is contesting on a Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket. She is the only major partys Muslim candidate. While this should have given her an edge in the election, sources said it wont be a cakewalk for her to keep all the 5.26 lakh Muslim votes together.

The Nahid-Imran conflict has been sorted after the Congress state leadership intervened. But a complication arose after Kanwar Hassan, Tabassums brother-in-law, filed the nomination from Kairana. We suspect that his campaign was being funded by the BJP to divide the Muslim votes. While he has now agreed to join the RLD and withdraw nominations, he may still sabotage her chances. We have to keep an eye on him, said a senior Samajwadi Party leader.

The SP leader added that Nahid and Tabassum mostly campaigned in Muslim and Gujjar dominated areas while (RLD chief) Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary went to Jats and Rajputs to appeal for votes.

Before supporting his sister-in-law's bid, Kanwar Hassan had insisted that Muslims in Kairana would not support Tabassum in this election. During the Muzaffarnagar riots, people saw that there was no difference between BJP and these people (Tabassum and Nahid Hassan). People will never forgive someone who abandons them like this.

Nahid Hassan had hit back at his uncles and alleged that they had already struck a deal with the BJP. Earlier this year Anwar Hassan, my elder uncle, became the Chairman of the Kairana municipality. BJP workers had helped him in the election. This time, they have struck a deal with BJP leaders in Lucknow. If they can defeat my mother, they will be given cabinet berths. But the people will not let it happen.

Despite the caste and community calculations, parties are maintaining that the election is not about caste.

RLD national general secretary Trilok Tyagi said, This is an election about farmers. Every community has farmers and right now Rs. 13,000 crore are yet to be paid in sugarcane dues to farmers in UP. This vote will be against an anti-farmer BJP government at the Centre and the state.
Shamli: In the early 1990s, when this rivalry first began, it was just a local fight for dominance over a small, sleepy town in Western Uttar Pradesh. Hukum Singh and Munawwar Hassan have since remained locked in a see-saw tussle for Kairana, even after their deaths.

While they battled against each other for at least two decades, their political legacies have now been handed over to members of their respective clans, who are eager to appropriate the inheritance.

The battle for Kairana is as much a BJP versus united opposition battle as it is a battle between the 'Singhs' and 'Hassans'. For Kairanas political gharanas (households), there are challenges galore both within and outside the family fold.

The Kairana Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the death of sitting BJP MP Hukum Singh in February. Singh, a political veteran, represented Kairana in the UP Assembly and Lok Sabha on three different party tickets Janata Party (Secular), Congress and BJP. He first became the MLA from Kairana in 1980 on a JP(S) ticket and then again in 1985 on a Congress ticket. In 1991, he was upstaged in his own backyard by Munawwar Hassan, who fought on a Janata Dal ticket.

That was when the political rivalry between the two families began. Between the two of them, they have represented Kairana eight times in the Assembly and two times in the Lok Sabha, spanning six different political parties (Hassan, at different points, was in the SP, BSP and RLD).

Since 1991, every Kairana MLA has been from either of these two families. Hassan passed away in a road accident in Haryanas Palwal in 2008. Singh passed away ten years later of a prolonged illness. But the rivalry didnt die with them.

In 2012, four years after Munawwars death, his brother Anwar Hassan fought the assembly polls on a BSP ticket against Hukum Singh and lost.

In 2014, Hukum Singh resigned as the BJP MLA from Kairana to fight the Lok Sabha election, which he won. In the ensuing Vidhan Sabha bypoll battle, the baton was passed on to the next generation. Munawwar Hassans son Nahid contested against Hukum Singhs nephew Anil Chauhan. Nahid won the election narrowly but this sowed the seeds of discord in Hukum Singhs family.

Chauhan quit the BJP ahead of the 2017 UP polls when Hukum Singh chose to favour his daughter Mriganka for the BJP ticket.

It is an open secret that Hukum Singh has wanted the seat for his daughter. He has been lobbying for it since he fought the Lok Sabha polls. He was let down when I got the ticket so he sabotaged my chances so that his daughter would get the ticket in 2017. I can assure you that far from winning the seat, she will not even be second. I knew about this sabotage for a while and that is why I decided to quit the party and contest from the RLD. I am the son of a farmer so my views are consistent with those of the RLD, Chauhan had told News18 then.

However, after his uncles death, Chauhan chose to bury the hatchet with his cousin and returned to the BJP and the family fold. He has decided to support Mriganka Singh, who is now the BJP candidate for the Kairana bypoll.

All seemed well with the Singhs. But the same could not be said of the Hassans. Munawwars brothers, Anwar and Kanwar, went from RLD to BSP to SP and finally to the Lok Dal. This year, Kanwar, the youngest of three brothers, is contesting the Kairana bypoll election on a Lok Dal ticket against his sister-in-law and Munawwars widow Tabassum Hassan, who is the joint opposition candidate. His differences, Kanwar insisted, were political and not familial.

While on Thursday, Kanwar, like Anil, returned to the family fold and decided to throw his weight behind Tabassum, it wasn't before some mud had already been flung on both sides. Besides, it took a political heavyweight, RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary, to convince Kanwar to join the party and withdraw from the race.

I have no family grudge against anyone. Our politics are completely separate. The Muslims of the area will never forgive her (Tabassum) and her son for standing silently during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. They use religion to their advantage when it suits them when the fact is, they forgot the community during the riots. Our differences are political, he told News18 before rejoining RLD.

Nahid Hassan had hit back at his uncles and alleged that they had struck a deal with the BJP. Earlier this year Anwar Hassan, my elder uncle, became the Chairman of the Kairana municipality. BJP workers had helped him in the election. This time, they have struck a deal with BJP leaders in Lucknow. If they can defeat my mother, they will be given cabinet berths. But the people will not let it happen.

When asked why he quit the Samajwadi Party, Kanwar said, When I was in the SP, there were camps in the Yadav family. Since I was loyal to Shivpal Yadav, I didnt think it was appropriate for me to stay on.

However, a senior Samajwadi Party leader had a different story to tell. The brothers (Anwar and Kanwar) wanted tickets from Kairana and Budhana. They almost got them too. But then the partys reign went from Mulayam Singh Yadav to Akhilesh, who chose to trust the younger Nahid Hassan. Akhileshs gamble paid off and Nahid won.

What started as a fight between Hukum Singh and Munawwar Hassan in the 1990s has now become a full blown family Mahabharata with multiple characters and fickle, ever-changing loyalties.
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy met Prime Minister Narendra on Monday, the same day as Congress President Rahul Gandhi went abroad with Sonia Gandhi.

This was Kumaraswamy's first meeting with PM Modi since he took oath as the Karnataka CM after forming the government in alliance with the Congress on May 23.

"It is customary for the new Chief Minister of any state to call on the Prime Minister, soon after assuming office, in our federal set up," the Chief Minister told reporters on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi left for the latters medical check-up abroad. The trip has further delayed portfolio allocation in Karnataka as leaders of both parties are yet to strike a deal amid hectic discussions and frequent trips to Delhi.

"Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don't get too worked up...I'll be back soon! (sic)," the Congress president wrote on Twitter before leaving.

While Rahul Gandhi will return within a week, Sonia Gandhi will stay abroad for a longer period, sources told PTI. Former CM Siddaramaiah assured on Sunday that the ministry distribution will be finalised within three-four days.

The Congress chief held deliberations with party leaders on Saturday to decide on the portfolios, but the meeting remained inconclusive.

A dejected Kumaraswamy, when asked about the promised farm loan waiver on Sunday, said he is at the mercy of Congress.

Kumaraswamy said, The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farm leaders too and how much they supported me.

"Mine is not an independent government. I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday as Rahul and Sonia left the country.

Before his meeting with the prime minister, Kumaraswamy also met top Congress leaders in the national capital to work out power-sharing arrangement with the ally.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said 10 crore LPG connections, including 4 crore free of cost to poor women, were given in last four years, compared to 13 crore in six decades since Independence.

Interacting through video-conference with some of the women beneficiaries who received free cooking gas connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Modi recounted his own childhood when his mother struggled with smoke emitting from cooking on firewood or cow dung, to say his government will increase coverage of clean fuel to 100 per cent households in the near future.

"Till 2014, only 13 crore LPG connections were given. These were mostly to rich and affluent class. In the past four years, we have given 10 crore new LPG connections, mostly to poor," he said. "Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, Dalits, tribal communities. This initiative is playing a central role in social empowerment."

Launched in May 2016, the scheme aims to provide in next three years as many as 5 crore free cooking gas connections to women from extremely poor households, aimed at reducing the use of polluting fuels such as wood and dried cow dung that, according to the World Health Organization, cause 1.3 million premature deaths in India every year.

The target was raised to 8 crore this year by adding two additional years.

Modi said LPG is the cleanest and easily available source of energy that is giving women a healthier lifestyle, saving them time, helping them financially and saving the environment.

As many as 45 per cent of the four crore free LPG connections given under Ujwalla are to dalits, he said. Stating that his government stood for empowerment of the dalits, the Prime Minister said more than 1,200 petrol pumps have been given to dalit families since 2014 as compared to 445 retail outlets given to such families during 2010-2014 period of the previous UPA regime.

Apart from those included under socio-economic caste census (SECC) to avail the scheme, the extended Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana would now cover all SC/ST households, most backward classes, beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), Antyoday Anna Yojana, forest dwellers, people residing in river and river islands.

Modi said the government is targeting one lakh LPG Panchayats (peer learning platforms to support behaviour change in Ujjwala beneficiaries) this year to boost the LPG refill consumption and provide a window for the benefits of cleaner fuel to become visible.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the government provides a subsidy of Rs 1,600 to state-owned fuel retailers for every free LPG gas connection that they install in poor rural households without one.

In his interaction with women beneficiaries from different states, he asked them if they were getting LPG refills on time and if any middlemen were asking for money. He asked them about their experience of using LPG and how it saved them time, which they can utilise for supporting the family financially by starting schemes like tiffin service.

He asked women to give healthy and nutritious food to their kids and not just rely on junk food.

Modi said he will never forget one of Premchand's stories, Idgah. "The story is about young Hamid, who does not buy sweets or gifts during Id but buys a 'Chimta' so that his grandmother does not burn her hands while cooking. This story is extremely emotional."
Mumbai: The by-elections to Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra began this morning for which all major parties have gone all out as the outcome is likely to have a bearing on their future course.

In Palghar, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP's Chintaman Wanaga. The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena has fielded the late MP's son Srinivas in a bid to garner the sympathy vote. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) is the third party in the contest.

This is the first time that national and State political allies BJP and Shiv Sena will lock horns in a Lok Sabha by-election. Shiv Sena is a part of the ruling NDA at the Centre. Also, the BJP has formed government in Maharashtra in alliance with the Shiv Sena.

The last one week saw an acrimonious and bitter political campaigning between the two parties.

The Sena has accused the BJP of distributing cash to voters. During a rally, Uddhav played an audio clip wherein Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis purportedly exhorted party cadre to win the elections "by all means possible". Claiming the audio recording to be doctored, Fadnavis rubbished Sena's allegations as "nervous steps due to fear of failure". While the Sena has complained to the Election Commission, the CM too said he had sent the whole clip to the Election Commission.

An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana today said its nominee will win the Palghar seat, despite the BJP roping in UP CM Yogi Adityanath in the poll campaign.

The Congress, on the other hand, termed the Palghar bypolls as gang war.

There are total seven candidates in the fray for the polls. Congress has fielded Damodar Shingda, BJP's candidate is Congress turncoat Rajendra Gavit. Baliram Jadhav is Bahujan Vikas Aghadi's candidate.

While the seat is reserved for an ST candidate, the BJP is banking on the changed demographic structure of the constituency. Vasai, Virar, Nalasopara have a substantial migrant North Indian population now. The BJP brought campaigners like Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, to woo them. This belt is traditionally considered to be a stronghold of BVA.

The key factor which will decide the fate of the parties is the voting percentage in the constituency. Generally, public holiday is declared in the constituency which goes to vote. But in this case, many residents of Palghar constituency, primarily from Vasai, Virar, Nalasopara, come to Mumbai for work. No public holiday has been declared in Mumbai.

Of the 2097 polling centres in Palghar, 14 have been declared sensitive. Over 4000 personnel of different security agencies have been deployed in Palghar.

As many as 18 candidates are in fray in Bhandara-Gondia.

In Bhandara-Gondia, out of 2,149 polling booths, 71 are situated in Naxal-hit areas and 113 are listed as critical.

In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP and the NCP have locked horns in the bypoll, being held after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole. Patole, a leader of the powerful OBC Kunbi community, had switched side from the Congress to the BJP and was elected as an MP from the constituency in Vidarbha in 2014 by defeating former union minister and NCP heavyweight Praful Patel.

The NCP, which has allied with the Congress, has fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde, against BJP's Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.

The votes will be counted on May 31.
Vadodara: Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia today said that he would launch a new party on June 24.

Speaking to reporters here, Togadia flayed the Narendra Modi government and accused it of going back on its promises and failing to meet people's aspirations.

He rated the Modi government's performance as "minus 25 per cent" and called the PM's foreign policy as "poor".

Togadia said that "selling big dreams was not enough", adding that nation-building was based on "truth of work that

has to be seen on the ground".

He said that a huge number of people, associated with the RSS and the BJP, are "baffled" and "upset" as the Modi government is not seen doing anything in "ideological, socio-political and economic issues and was also making U-turns in some instances".

"It had hurt those people who are following the Hindutva ideology," Togadia claimed.

He demanded that the government pass a law in the Parliament to pave the way for the construction of a Ram

Temple in Ayodhya.

He also demanded a ban on cow slaughter, repeal of Article 370 that conferred special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and implementation of a Uniform Civil Code.

Speaking about farmers, he said that the government should give them a minimum support price which is 50 per cent

more than the cost of production.

He said that the government's crop insurance scheme had failed as compensation was given to just eight per cent farmers who had filed claims.

He criticised the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor project and said that the money to be invested in it should be used to upgrade the safety aspects of the railways so as to benefit 25 crore passengers.

Togadia had quit the VHP on April 14 this year after former Himachal Pradesh governor V S Kokje defeated his nominee Raghav Reddy in an election in Gurgaon for the post of VHP International president.
Qualcomm is expecting to meet this week in Beijing with China's antitrust regulators in a final push to secure clearance for its proposed $44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors NV, three sources told Reuters. The acquisition has been caught in the crosshairs of rising U.S.-China trade tensions, with sources saying an approval would depend on the progress of broader bilateral talks. The deal has got a nod from eight of the nine required global regulators, with Chinese clearance the only one pending. Qualcomm is likely to meet Chinese regulators before U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross arrives in China on Saturday, the sources briefed on Qualcomm's discussions said.

Also Read: Ex Google CEO Eric Schmidt Says Elon Musk is Wrong on AI

A Qualcomm team and officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) met in Beijing on Friday and had "productive" talks, the sources said. The San Diego-based firm is now "cautiously optimistic" the deal will go forward, one of the sources said, amid recent indications of a thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions that has seen both sides propose tens of billions of dollars in tariffs. On Friday, the Trump administration said it had reached a deal that would put ZTE Corp back in business after the Chinese telecommunications company pays a $1.3 billion fine and makes management changes.

Resolving the ZTE sales ban has been of chief importance to China's leadership. The firm was banned in April from buying U.S. technology components for seven years after breaking an agreement it reached for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran and North Korea. "It feels as though it's getting close to the end," said the source quoted above. Qualcomm did not immediately reply to an email from Reuters seeking comment on Sunday, while calls to NXP went unanswered outside regular business hours.

Also Read: Egypts Top Court Orders Temporary Suspension of YouTube Over 2012 Prophet Muhammad Video

NEW SUBMISSION

Qualcomm is now preparing a new submission to SAMR aimed at providing final guarantees and assurances, the sources said. China's market regulator did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment outside of business hours. While there are no explicit ties between ZTE's problems, Sino-U.S. trade tensions and Qualcomm-NXP merger clearance, there are "perceived linkages" and the timing of current discussions is "not coincidental", two of the sources said. "The degree to which the two sides are moving to resolve trade tensions clearly has an impact," one source said.

Qualcomm in recent weeks has moved to restart discussions that have stalled since the end of last year. The company in April was forced to refile its China anti-trust application to clear the NXP deal, after talks reached a dead end. Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm's president, was in China last week, attending a big data industry expo in the southwest province of Guizhou. Earlier this month, China's anti-trust regulator approved Qualcomm's investment with a unit of state-owned Datang Telecom Technology Co. to design, package and test smartphone chipsets, one year after the joint venture was announced.

Also Watch: Karbonn Titanium Frames S7 Review: A Decent Budget Deal
As photographs of NASA's "melted camera" spread like wildfire on the Internet, triggering assumptions of many kinds, the space agency has explained that a grass fire started by the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this week toasted the camera. SpaceX launched two new Earth-observing satellites for NASA and five commercial communications satellites for Iridium on a used Falcon 9 rocket in a ride-share mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday. The launch went off without a glitch, but a fire sparked by the launch destroyed a camera which belonged to NASA photographer Bill Ingalls.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Might Come With an 8GB RAM, 512GB Storage

The camera captured its own demise and people got a chance to view the images captured by it as the memory card was found to be intact. Many people assumed that the camera was too close to the launchpad and got burned by the power of the Falcon 9 rocket, CNET reported on Friday. NASA said that only part of the camera's story has been exposed so far, stressing that Ingalls, who has been shooting for the agency for 30 years, knows where to set up his cameras.

"I had six remotes, two outside the launch pad safety perimeter and four inside," said Ingalls. "Unfortunately, the launch started a grass fire that toasted one of the cameras outside the perimeter," Ingalls added. Ironically, the four cameras set up inside the perimeter were undamaged, as was the other remote, NASA said. The damaged camera was one of the furthest from the pad, a quarter of a mile away.

Also Read: Honor 7S With 13-Megapixel Camera, 5.45-inch HD+ Display Launched: Price, Specifications And More

Once the fire reached the camera, it was quickly engulfed. The body started to melt. When Ingalls returned to the site, firefighters were waiting to greet him.

Recognising the camera was destroyed, Ingalls forced open the body to see if its memory card could be salvaged. It could, which is why people could see the fire approaching the camera.

The "toasty" camera, as Ingalls calls it, is likely headed for display somewhere at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC, NASA said. Meanwhile, Ingalls himself will soon travel to Kazakhstan to photograph the June 3 landing of the International Space Station's Expedition 55 crew. He expects that will be a completely normal assignment.

Also Watch: Karbonn Titanium Frames S7 Review: A Decent Budget Deal
Ethiopia will soon allow all Africans to visit the country without visas, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The announcement follows Rwandas decision allowing Africans to enter the country without visas. The issuance of visa-on-arrival for all countries was widely applauded by many across the continent.

Speaking during a state banquet for Paul Kagame last Friday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia will follow Rwandas example very soon. Kagame was in Ethiopia for a three-day official visit.

The two leaders held bilateral talks at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, and made a commitment to strengthen relationships in key sectors, which include defense and air services.

Although the Prime Minister did not provide specific details of the visa-free plan, the move will open up Ethiopia to African visitors, and ease the free movement of African nationals.

Ethiopia hosts the continents biggest national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, which has made Addis Ababa, a global aviation hub.

Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe have already started to consider the suggestions of AU to implement 30-day visa-on-arrival policy.

In 2016, the African Union launched a continent-wide passport to make visa-free travel a reality and to facilitate the growth of tourism and trade between African countries.

Currently, Africans need visas to travel to 55 percent of other African countries on an average, according to African Development Bank (AfDB).
Beijing: China will host Iranian President Hassan Rouhani next month at a regional summit aimed at avoiding disruption of joint projects, its foreign ministry said on Monday, as major powers scramble to save Iran's nuclear deal after the United States pulled out.

Rouhani will pay a working visit to China and attend the summit of the China and Russia-led security bloc the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the ministry said.

It did not give exact dates for his visit, but the summit is scheduled to be held on the second weekend of June in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao.

Iran is currently an observer member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, though it has long sought full membership.

"Our hope is that China and Iran will have close consultation on the basis of observing the deal and push forward development of bilateral cooperation," Chinese deputy foreign minister Zhang Hanhui said at a briefing.

"We should together look into how to avoid major disruption of joint projects between the two sides," he added.

Russia has previously argued that with Western sanctions against Tehran lifted, it could finally become a member of the bloc which also includes four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, Pakistan and India.

The 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions on Tehran. In return, Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities, increasing the time it would need to produce an atom bomb if it chose to do so.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States this month, calling the agreement deeply flawed, European states have been scrambling to ensure Iran gets enough economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal.

China has also strongly supported the deal and is one of its signatories.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday appointed former chief justice Nasir Ul Mulk as interim prime minister until general elections are held on July 25, premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.

"No Pakistani can lift a finger (against) such a name," Abbasi told reporters, seated next to opposition leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah.

The announcement ends weeks of wrangling between Abbasi's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Shah's Pakistan People's Party.

Mulk, who also served as the interim chief of the Election Commission of Pakistan, will head a technocratic government until elections as the current government and parliament will be dissolved on Thursday.

The interim administration usually does not make any major decisions until the new government is elected, though it may be forced to act to shore up the economy amid a worsening macro-economic outlook.
Washington: Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting what one critic called a "tone deaf" photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her son on Sunday, with the caption: "My <3! #SundayMorning."

Critics were quick to point to a "zero tolerance" policy announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that authorizes border security agents to take away the children of people who enter the United States unlawfully.

The government places such children in foster homes, but Steven Wagner, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services told a congressional committee last month the government was "unable to determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,475" minors after attempting to contact their sponsors in the last three months of 2017.

"Isn't it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? It's the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right?" tweeted comedian Patton Oswalt.

"This is so unbelievably tone deaf, given that public outrage is growing over young kids being forcibly ripped from the arms of their parents at the border  a barbaric policy that Ivanka Trump is complicit in supporting," added Brian Klaas, a political scientist at the London School of Economics.

Many others tweeted using the #WhereAreTheChildren hashtag.

Donald Trump, for his part, blamed opposition Democrats for the "horrible law" in a tweet on Saturday -- though there is no law mandating the policy and it was not immediately clear what he may have meant.
Paris: One of France's richest men, Serge Dassault, has died in his office after suffering a suspected heart attack, his family announced on Monday. He was 93.

Dassault, head of aviation, media and software giant Dassault Group, was a titan of the French business world who served as a right-wing senator and a scandal-plagued mayor of a town south of Paris.

France's third wealthiest person -- with a net worth estimated by Forbes magazine of $14.8 billion (12.7 billion euros) -- died in his office on the Champs-Elysees on Monday afternoon, his family said.

"The family and the Dassault group will communicate shortly about the modalities for paying homage to Mr Serge Dassault," said the statement from the family sent by his company's press office.

Dassault is best known for his controlling stake in Dassault Aviation, which has made a series of famed planes in France, including the Falcon business jet, the Mirage fighter and the country's most cutting-edge military jet, the Rafale.

The father-of-four also owned France's biggest-selling right-wing newspaper, Le Figaro.

The Dassault family's business empire was founded by his father Marcel, an aeronautical engineer and celebrated inventor who developed a propeller used in French planes during the World War I.

Marcel Dassault survived the Buchenwald death camp during World War II after being sent there by occupying Nazi forces because he refused to put his skills at the disposal of the invaders.

Arrested along with the rest of his family by the Gestapo as a teenager, Serge Dassault narrowly avoided deportation and would go on to pursue studies at elite French universities before entering the family business in his twenties.

He finally succeeded his father after his death in 1986 and took the helm of the family group at the age of 61 -- when most people are thinking of retiring.

Defying opposition from the French government, which doubted that he was able to run a high-technology business, he developed Dassault at a time of consolidation in the European aerospace industry and severe competition from US manufacturers.

The Rafale plane, in use in the skies above Iraq and most recently during French strikes on chemical weapons installations in Syria, is considered one of the world's most advanced fighter jets.

One of the first tributes to Dassault came from former French prime minister Manuel Valls who wrote that "his name, and his father's, has shone for decades in France and in the entire world."

Scandals and corruption

As well as his business interests, Dassault pursued a political career like his father -- leading to scandal.

In February this year, Dassault was only spared jail because of his age after being convicted of tax fraud for hiding millions of euros in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and the Virgin Islands.

He was instead fined two million euros and barred from holding elected office for five years.

In April 2014, he was also charged with vote-buying, complicity in illegal election campaign financing and exceeding campaign spending limits over his terms as mayor in the Parisian suburb of Corbeil-Essonnes.

The case revealed a shocking series of allegations including extortion, cash circulating in plastic bags and even shootings.

Dassault was mayor of the town from 1995 to 2009.

In 1998, Dassault received a two-year suspended prison sentence in Belgium for bribing members of the country's Socialist Party to win an army helicopter contract in what became known as the Agusta scandal.

He and his Le Figaro newspaper were staunch supporters of former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy and Dassault was a social conservative, once calling gay marriage "an enormous danger to the country."

Dassault is survived by four children including his son Olivier, who is a right-wing lawmaker in parliament.
President Donald Trump said Sunday a U.S. team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jon Un, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place.

The State Department said earlier that a team was in Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, separating the North and South Korea. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for U.S. officials.

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced that it could get back on track. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the North's stance toward the summit had been allayed.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," he tweeted. "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"

South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in the Panmunjom truce village, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, also served as ambassador to South Korea and was part of the U.S. negotiating team that last held substantive denuclearization talks with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration in 2005.

The Korean leaders' second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting Saturday appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world's most heavily armed border.

The talks, which Moon said Kim Jong Un requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim "again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Moon added that Kim said he's willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a "firm resolve" to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements "complete denuclearization."

"What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization," Moon said.

"During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the U.S. and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization," he said.

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the North's state-run news service earlier Sunday, "expressed his fixed will on the historic (North Korea)-U.S. summit talks." During Saturday's inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to "positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-U.S. relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace."

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Saturday's Korean summit came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a Trump-Kim meeting.

Despite repeated references to "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" by the North, it remains unclear whether Kim will ever agree to fully abandon his nuclear arsenal.

The North has previously used the term to demand the United States pull out its 28,500 troops in South Korea and withdraw its so-called nuclear umbrella security commitment to South Korea and Japan. The North hasn't openly repeated those same demands after Kim's sudden outreach to Seoul and Washington.

Moon has insisted Kim can be persuaded to abandon his nuclear facilities, materials and bombs in a verifiable and irreversible way in exchange for credible security and economic guarantees. Moon said Sunday that the North's disarmament could still be a difficult process even if Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul don't differ over what "complete denuclearization" of the peninsula means.

Before he canceled the summit, Trump did not rule out an incremental approach that would provide incentives along the way to the North.

Following an unusually provocative 2017 in which Kim's engineers tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and three long-range missiles theoretically capable of striking mainland U.S. cities, the North Korean leader has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months. He has had the summits with Moon and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as well as two meetings with Pompeo.
India not mediating between US and North Korea, says Sushma Swaraj

New Delhi : India is not mediating between the US and North Korea for talks between those two countries, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.

Answering a question at her annual press conference, Sushma Swaraj said that ongoing negotiations with North Korea started with a summit level meeting between North Korea and South Korea.

"After that there was talk of a meeting with the US," she said.

"Then US felt that China can play some role in this. Nobody has asked us to play any role and nor are we playing a role here."

A summit-level meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader was scheduled to be held in Singapore next month.

Last week, Trump sent a letter to Kim cancelling the historic meeting, but over the weekend he said in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office that his administration was continuing to work to ensure that the summit occurs as originally planned on June 12 in Singapore.

Regarding Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh's visit to North Korea earlier this month, Sushma Swaraj said that when she went to Baku, Azerbaijan, last month to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting, the North Korean Foreign Minister told her that the India-North Korea Joint Commission Meeting has not been held for over a year and the foreign office consultations have also not been held.

"He told me that if I cannot come to North Korea, at least I should send the Minister of State, but the visit should take place," she said. "V.K. Singh's visit came out of that."
HAMDEN  On the countrys day of remembrance, a local World War II veteran was honored during a special Memorial Day ceremony.

Following the towns 82nd Memorial Day Parade Monday, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., presented 101-year-old Hamden resident Fred Baselice with three long awaited medals in recognition of his service while stationed in France in 1944 just after the invasion of Normandy.

Memorial day is when we remember those that did not come back, that lost their lives standing up for all of us and all of our values, Murphy said. Today is at its heart a very solemn day. I am in awe of those that serve. Im here to provide recognition that is long overdue to one of Hamdens best. Freds story is at the same time unique and also familiar. You will recognize his story in thousands of other people who came back to Hamden, came back to Greater New Haven after fighting in World War II and made great lives for themselves.

Baselice was honored with the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. He was also presented with a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Congress for his service.

I think if I had to do it over again, I would gladly do it all over again, he said. I give all my support to the veterans. What they did, those that came back and those that didnt come back were all one family and appreciated everything everybody did...For my buddies who gave up their lives, Id go back to try to correct everything that wasnt right.

Baselice grew up in The Bronx, New York, and at only 6 years old, went to work picking up scrap metal with a horse drawn cart to help support his family. He said he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1938 because he enjoyed everything (the country) did for me and my family and I wanted to give back whatever I could. He was originally stationed in the Pacific Northwest as a medic, but was sent to France shortly after the D-Day invasion in 1944, when about 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on beaches along a stretch of the heavily fortified coast in the Normandy Region of France.

He served in some of the most dangerous combat of World War II saving lives, going out into the battlefield to identify the wounded, Murphy said.

I remember the ones that got killed before me, Baselice said. When the bombings came in, you could see the bodies going up into the air and coming to the ground. It was like they dug their own grave. During his service he was hit with shrapnel and spend 10 days in a field hospital. Baselice said he still doesnt remember where the hospital was and what was going on while he was there.

This is an American story, Murphy said. Fred faced hardship, went to protect his nation overseas, was injured, then went back again to protect his nation and when he came back to the U.S. he did great things to make sure this country lifted up others who had served when they returned.

After the war when Baselice returned to the U.S., he married and settled in West Haven with his wife, where Murphy said he helped establish the West Haven VA. Baselice went to work for the U.S. Post Office and has been a member of the American Legion for 60 years.

I didnt mind waiting so long for the medal, Baselice said. I was more interested in raising a family and having three great children and I appreciate the life I lived and I didnt expect to be 101 years old. I appreciate everybodys thinking of us... I appreciate it but there are a lot of soldiers out there that should get their medals too.

Murphy said it is not surprising is that it took so long to get these medals to Fred, because like so many that had served this country, they didnt do it for the medals. They didnt do it for the recognition or for the certificates. They did it because it was the right thing to do for their country. I know that there are, frankly, thousands of others who served in either World War II or Korea or Vietnam that have not received their medals because thats not why they did it.

Only 558,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2017, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics.

I cannot even imagine trying to express in words what I feel for people who laid down their lives, their families and to everyone that served, so I would like you to say thank you, Mayor Curt B. Leng said during the ceremony.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
King Mohammed VI has once again translated his solidarity with Palestine into acts as he gave on Sunday his orders to deploy a medical-surgical field hospital of the royal armed forces (FAR) in Gaza, following the recent tragic events that took place in the Palestinian territory, leaving hundreds of injured.

This royal solicitude is meant to provide the necessary medical care to the Palestinian civilians wounded during the recent events in Gaza, said the Moroccan Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday.

The Monarchs initiative in this holy month of Ramadan is in line with his unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause and shows his active and effective solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people, the statement said.

This initiative falls in line with Moroccos steadfast commitment to the Palestinian people and comes just days after King Mohammed VI reiterated to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas his full support for the Palestinian peoples cause and legitimate rights.

King Mohammed VI, chairperson of Al Quds Committee, an offshoot of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, had sent a message of solidarity and support to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as Trumps administration implemented on May 14 its decision to relocate the US embassy in the Holy city.

The King had reiterated his rejection of the US administrations unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer its embassy to the holy city, and renewed Moroccos strong and unwavering solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people in defending their just cause.

King Mohammed VI who described this decision as an unfortunate development in the process of the Palestinian cause and our first cause, Al Quds, reiterated his rejection of this unilateral act that runs counter to the will continuously expressed by the international community.

King Mohammed VI vowed in his message to President Abbas that he will spare no effort to mobilize the international community to ensure the triumph of the Palestinians legitimate rights to the establishment of an independent state with eastern Al Quds as its capital, part of a two-state solution that will contribute to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Since March 30 when Palestinians started a cycle of demonstrations along the border fence between Gaza and Israel in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba (catastrophe), when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homes in 1948 to seize their territory and set up Israel, Israeli forces have been using excessive force to quell the protests.

Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured, with the highest Palestinian death toll in a single day scored on May 14 as 62 Palestinians were killed and hundreds were wounded among the demonstrators protesting the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Morocco had vehemently condemned the use of deadly excessive force by Israeli soldiers against unarmed Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip and voiced its total rejection of such acts that violate international laws and jeopardize peace and stability in the Middle East.
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
WEST HAVEN  Three families were affected by a fire on Maple Street and the American Red Cross is helping seven adults and four children, according to a release.

The Red Cross provided assistance to meet the immediate needs of the families and agency responders included:Patricia Breen and Keith Shields, the release said.


Viewed of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
BOSTON  Few star fund managers have shone brighter than Steven S. Wymer, who runs a portfolio of stocks at Fidelity Investments, the mutual-fund giant.

His $42 billion fund, Fidelity Growth Company, has outpaced 97 percent of its rivals since 2008, making it one of the best performers in what is arguably the most competitive category for mutual funds.

But here is the curious thing: Over that same period, investors have pulled $17 billion from the fund, taking out more money every year than they put in.

In each of the last 10 years, Fidelitys fabled mutual funds have leaked money, no matter how well they have performed. It is one of the longest stretches of outflows in the companys 72-year history, the result of investors moving more heavily into cheaper index-tracking funds.
Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times.

I stared at the two boys in the photograph because I have two boys. But it was the little girls who commanded attention. They were tiny and big eyed, like fawns. Their red veils were trimmed with gold. Each seemed to be holding a flower.

My colleague, Muktita Suhartono, and I had come to Surabaya, an Indonesian city with alleyways of terra cotta roofed homes, largely on the basis of a single photo. It was a normal family portrait of a father, mother, two sons and two daughters.

On May 13, the entire family of six blew themselves up in coordinated suicide attacks on three Christian churches in Surabaya, killing a dozen bystanders and injuring at least 40 more. The boys were 15 and 17 when they died, the girls 8 and 12.
In West Virginia, Richard Ojeda, a former paratrooper running for the House, talks about taxing natural-gas companies to raise teacher pay. In Ohio, another candidate, Aftab Pureval, has challenged his Republican opponent to stop avoiding town halls and debate the tax law. In Kentucky, Amy McGrath became a sensation with a rousing introductory video about how she had overcome sexism to fly military jets. But why was McGrath running for Congress? Because, she explained in the video, Andy Barr, the incumbent, said he would vote enthusiastically to take health care away from over a quarter-million Kentuckians.

The political scientist Theda Skocpol is among the sharpest observers of modern American politics, having studied the Obama presidency, the Tea Party reaction and now the Trump resistance. Skocpol and her colleagues are tracking Trump-leaning areas in four swing states, and she too has been struck by the Democrats relative unity. Media pundits and even social scientists want to look for some kind of ideological divide, she told me. I just dont see a huge set of divisions in the Democratic Party. Theyre all talking about economic issues.

Doing so is smart, because it helps Democrats send the most powerful message in politics: Im on your side  and my opponent isnt. Americans really are divided on abortion, guns, race and other cultural issues, but theyre remarkably progressive on economics. When Democrats talk about health care, education and jobs, they can focus the white working class on the working-class part of its identity rather than the white part. And Democrats can fire up their base at the same time.

Abrams is a particularly good case study. In the primary, she argued that Democrats should stop chasing conservatives who were lost to the party and instead work to lift progressive turnout. But Abramss universal, populist message shows that she hasnt given up on swing voters. Her message resembles the one that helped Barack Obama win over enough white voters in his 2012 re-election campaign.

None of this means that Abrams will win in November  shes an underdog  or that the Democrats will take back the House. Trumps approval numbers, while weak, have risen slightly, and the midterm campaign has a long way to go.

So far, though, the Democrats are defying the cliches about their division and disarray. Theyre giving themselves a good chance to win.
In the wealthy, all-white towns along the Connecticut Gold Coast, where blacks were effectively excluded from living by racist housing policies, local officials kept public spaces segregated by narrowing the definition of who constituted the public. While nearby urban black populations swelled and the demand for access to public places of recreation spiked, towns like Greenwich, Westport and Fairfield restricted their beaches to residents. It was obvious whom these laws were meant to exclude.

These wealthy enclaves were also among the first to use privatization as a means of segregation, a practice that would proliferate in the decades following the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The Harlem Renaissance novelist Ann Petry once wrote that her most humiliating Jim Crow experience took place in Connecticut, where she grew up. She had gone on a trip to a beach with her Sunday school class. The beach was technically private, but that had never mattered  until Petry, the only colored girl in the group, came along. On this occasion, the children and their teacher were deemed trespassers and told by a guard, If you dont get off the beach, Ill call up the sheriff. The children were forced to have their picnic on the church lawn. We ate, Petry later wrote, in a clammy silence.

The civil rights icon Constance Baker Motley, who grew up in New Haven, Conn., in the 1930s, recalled accompanying two white teenage friends to a private beach in the neighboring town of Milford. Although Motleys white friends were not members, they went there often. But with an African-American joining them, there was suddenly a membership requirement. The three returned to New Haven, Motley dripping in sweat and stewing in indignation, her white friends having learned an important Jim Crow lesson.

Most white Americans prefer to consign such naked acts of discrimination to a shameful past that we have supposedly overcome. But in light of these recent incidents, it would be more accurate to call the forms of Jim Crow that prevailed in the Northeast in the early- to mid-20th century the cutting edge in technologies of exclusion, a sign of things that were to come.

It will take more than sensitivity-training sessions and the public shaming of racist, hypervigilant white women to dismantle todays system of segregation. Limiting the power of white people to use the law to act out their vision of a quality life that excludes black people is a place to start.
And then lets also be honest about what we can expect from the veterans we do elect. I personally look forward to seeing more veterans in Congress. There are now 96 veterans serving in the House and Senate, and reports indicate that more than 300 veterans are running for Congress this year. Some are definitely the kinds of leaders our country desperately needs. But they alone cannot heal a nation that is more divided than at any time since the Civil War.

Its time for every American to sacrifice for the sake of the country, just like those who went to war. Not everyone will wear a military uniform or join AmeriCorps, but each of us can find ways to make the country a more perfect union.

Use your vote to demand strength of character, not just loyalty to ideology or party. Rather than complaining about divisiveness, start talking to people you disagree with. Learn to get along with those who are different from you, just as the Army expects from its soldier battle buddies. And be willing to sideline your own special interests for the sake of whats in our entire countrys best interest.

Every day is Memorial Day for me, as it is for many combat veterans. I wear the name of a fellow platoon leader killed in action in Iraq on my wrist. My crew and I were often the lead gun truck on the same stretch of road from Taji to Camp Anaconda in Balad from which he never returned. Its impossible to delete the memory of packing up his personal belongings to ship home to his young family not long after he died. I was then, and remain, humbled by what he and so many others sacrificed.

This Memorial Day, lets pledge to honor the sacrifice of the fallen by no longer taking for granted how we maintain our rights, whether they be the right to protest or the right to bear arms. Lets prove that our troops who never made it home from war didnt die in vain. Lets think about what each of us can do for our country, instead of hoping that a veteran will do it for us.
Every year, for about the last three decades, residents of Glen Carbon on the western edge of Illinois have been able to spend their Memorial Day honoring the fallen at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates cemetery, where more than 1,400 veterans are buried.

For the community of about 13,000, the annual celebration is a significant undertaking: There is a balloon release, wounded warriors speak and the cemetery displays hundreds of flags.

On Saturday, groundskeepers made a shocking discovery: More than 200 monuments and headstones had been vandalized, each spray-painted with a swastika.

Officials said volunteers swarmed the cemetery and quickly got to work scrubbing. Restaurants and businesses donated food and products, and people showed up asking what they could do to help.
BOGOTA, Colombia  The two candidates of Colombias far-right and left wing parties came out ahead in a first-round vote on Sunday to choose the countrys next leader, setting the stage for a divisive presidential election, the first since the country signed a peace deal with its rebels.

Ivan Duque, 41, a conservative former senator, won about 39 percent of the vote, election officials said Sunday night. Gustavo Petro, 58, a former leftist rebel who rose to become mayor of Bogota, the capital, won about 25 percent.

The two, who came in ahead of three other major candidates, will face each other in a second and final vote on June 17.

Regardless of the winner, the election is expected to mark a big shift from the administration of Juan Manuel Santos, a centrist whom Colombians sent twice to the presidency and who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for negotiating a peace deal with the countrys main guerrilla group.
When Mr. Neiland graduated from high school, he said, every classmate, including him, left for the United States, Canada or Australia.

I would never think of leaving this place for America now, he said.

While the landslide result of the abortion referendum may have surprised much of the world, many Irish were less shocked. They have seen the changes in the country building over time.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is half Indian, spoke of a quiet revolution that has been taking place in Ireland over the last couple of decades.

Irelands impoverished past, as well as the outsize role of the Catholic Church, had set it apart from much of the rest of Europe. Many saw the referendum as the final step in aligning the country with the rest of the continent.

The vote, said Mr. Tyrrell, cements us as a progressive nation.

Its going to change the optics of how people view us after these two landslide victories, he said. Im so proud of Ireland.

Alan Barrett, director of the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin, said the results of the abortion referendum indicated a convergence with European norms.
The Chinese Exclusion Act, appearing Tuesday as part of PBSs American Experience, was in the works well before the election of Donald Trump. But it feels as if it were made for a moment when border walls and immigration controls are topics of daily conversation.

Directed by the PBS stalwart Ric Burns and his longtime collaborator Li-Shin Yu (who was an editor on the 2003 PBS series Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, which covered some of the same ground), the documentary is centered on the 1882 act of the title, the first American law to restrict the immigration of a particular ethnic group and ban its members from citizenship.

But the films scope is far larger. Tracing the story of Chinese immigration from 1840 (when the United States census showed a total of four Chinese among a population of 17 million) to the present, it provides a well-documented but not well-known alternate history  a corrective to the national myth of the melting pot.

The filmmakers and their cast of mostly Asian-American historians frame the Exclusion Act as part of a long national narrative of racism, xenophobia, predatory capitalism and political calculation. The China trade and the Opium Wars, the Civil War and the collapse of Reconstruction, and cycles of economic depression and labor unrest all figure into a story that doesnt begin to turn until well after World War II. Its also a cautionary tale, reminding us that open ideas about immigration and citizenship that are now under attack have only had currency since the 1960s.
Season 2, Episode 6: Phase Space

Did you shut off the killer robots?

That line from Coughlin, the grizzled Irishman leading a team of Delos henchmen to scoop up Peter Abernathy, arrives near the end of Phase Space like a splash of cold water. Poor Ashley Stubbs, the put-upon head of security at Westworld, is trying to explain some fussy technical detail to Coughlin, but the no-nonsense mercenary doesnt have any interest in such nuances. The hosts are malfunctioning machines to him, not the evolving consciences weve spent a season and a half observing, and the reminder is disconcerting, especially during an episode thats so concerned with their emotional impulses. This is the time when Maeve finally goes home to the prairie after many years and many builds away from her daughter. Is she a killer robot? Do we see her as fully human or some hybridization? And for the purposes of this show, is her quest affecting?

Phase Space is the type of episode that has us asking these questions, because it moves each of its main characters toward consequential goals. One consistent feature of Westworld is that the hosts have always been more human than the mortals  more vulnerable and more passionate, and bound to a fate of tragic repetition. But now that theyre out of the loops, its become paradoxically harder to care about them. Keep in mind, the show itself warned us of this: Much like Memento, which the co-creator Jonathan Nolan scripted with his brother, the director Christopher Nolan, Westworld is built on the idea that human consciousness organizes itself around not just memories, but traumatic memories. Now that hosts like Dolores and Maeve are liberated from those traumas  and have the power to inflict trauma on others  theyre harder to accept as human. Theyre more human-adjacent.

Take Maeve, for example. The sequence where Felix led her through the facility where she and other hosts are created was one of the most powerful last season, revealing the great lie at the center of her existence. This season, she has been on a mission to find her daughter from a previous story line, but when she finally gets there in Phase Space, the moment is curiously anticlimactic. Its less than real to witness the reunion of mother and daughter, because were keenly aware of the story lines inauthenticity, and its less than wrenching when Maeve discovers that the girl recognizes a mother that isnt Maeve. The same holds true of the entire drama with Akane at Shogun World, carrying her daughters heart to a shrine for some ritualistic burning. Maeve sees Akane as a kindred spirit, another mother whos wholly devoted to her daughter, even in death. Yet it feels like a kind of playacting, some abstract approximation of human emotion.

(It doesnt help that the show marinates in the exoticism of Shogun World. Tempting as it must have been to have two samurai, Musashi and Tanaka, duel to the death, its not particularly integral to the story. Surely Im not the only Monty Python fan to see Tanaka lose an arm and think, Its just a flesh wound!)
Morgan Stanleys coal loans, though well below their 2014 levels, more than doubled from 2015 to 2017. And though their loans to coal companies havent quite reached earlier levels, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America each added new coal loans last year, the analysis shows. Citigroup made more such loans in 2016 and 2017 than it did in 2015, though well below its 2014 figure.

Combined, the five banks issued about $1.5 billion in new coal-related loans last year, according to Rainforest Action Network.

The analysis includes loans to companies like Glencore and BHP Billiton, which produce commodities like copper and oil in addition to coal. It weights each loan based on the percentage of the companys business that comes from coal. Fifteen percent of Glencores assets are in coal, for example, so a $229 million loan that Bank of America made to Glencore last year was given a value of $34 million.

The analysis looked only at new loans, not at the banks overall exposure to the coal industry.

The banks made their pledges around the time that world leaders negotiated the Paris agreement to reduce carbon emissions. Some of the banks vowed to curb lending to new coal-fired power plants in wealthy countries and to plants that did not use pollution-mitigating technology.

In November 2015, for example, Morgan Stanley said it would reduce financing for projects using mountaintop removal, in which mountains are dynamited to reveal coal seams. In March 2016, JPMorgan said it would eliminate such financing, as well as stop lending to new coal mines.
In a sign that the American shale gas revolution is spreading to the Middle East, Saudi Aramco reached a deal with Halliburton over the weekend to lift its production program in three Saudi Arabian shale fields.

The companies did not reveal many details of their three-year contract, but it represented an expansion of Saudi Aramcos efforts to produce more natural gas to support its growing chemical industry. Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, also hopes to reduce the practice of burning oil for domestic power to increase its crude exports.

Over the last year, Saudi Aramco has awarded $4.5 billion in contracts to international oil service companies to increase its gas production. But a number of European companies have failed in their efforts to recover gas at an economical price.

Halliburton probably has more experience in drilling and completing oil and gas shale wells than any other company, having been a central player in the past decades shale drilling frenzy across Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
As it is, it looks like a corral, Mr. Ostrander said.

Mary French, the founder of the New York City Cemetery Project, a blog that tracks old burial grounds, said that was typical.

These old family burial grounds tend to look like vacant lots or green spaces tucked in the surrounding developments, she said. They all follow the same story  forgotten, abandoned and neglected as descendants moved away from the area, and often in ownership limbo because they technically belong to the heirs of the families that established them. Many of these ended up under the control of the city during the early 20th century and are often managed by the Parks Department.

A couple of gravestones lie against an old stone house that was George Washingtons headquarters after his troops lost the Battle of Long Island in 1776. Augustus Van Cortlandt, the city clerk at the time, hid municipal records on the familys plantation  in the Van Cortlandts own burial vault, almost a mile away.

Parks forgot them, and now you cant read them because the inscriptions have disappeared as the gravestones became weathered, Mr. Ostrander said.

Mr. Dembowski said the Kingsbridge burial ground was the final resting place of Samuel Berrian, a farmer who settled in the area in the mid-18th century. The area was called Tippetts Neck after Berrians neighbors, the Tippetts. He married a Tippett daughter, Dorcas.

In the American Revolution, the Tippetts were loyal to the British, but Berrian was on the side of the colonists. The Tippetts fled to Nova Scotia after Washington went from being a general to being a president. Tippetts Neck, where Spuyten Duyvil met the Hudson River, became known as Berrians Neck.
Not too long ago, classes at Public School 124 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, were routinely interrupted by the sounds of speeding cars  drivers gunning their engines to try to make the green lights along Fourth Avenue. Then in 2015 came the first speed camera mounted in front of the elementary school.

Today, most of the cars pass by quietly  and slowly.

P.S. 124 is one of 140 schools across New York City that are part of a program to use cameras to catch drivers who exceed the typically 25-mile-per-hour speed limit on city streets. City officials say the cameras have been effective in slowing down traffic around schools, and along with advocates they are mounting a campaign for the state, which controls traffic enforcement rules, to expand the program significantly.

But it is not even clear that the Legislature will vote to continue the existing program, which lawmakers must approve by the end the legislative session next month, let alone approve broadening the enforcement. Proponents argue that more measures need to be taken to make the citys streets safer  in the first five months of this year, 37 pedestrians were killed by vehicles.

The effectiveness of speed cameras is as clear as one plus one equaling two, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in an emailed statement. Theres no room for debate and theres no time to waste. With a little over a month left in session, its time for Albany to do what they know works and renew and expand protection of N.Y.C. students.
WILDWOOD, N.J.  It is about a third of a mile from the boardwalk, across the sand, to the oceans edge, an intimidating journey for anyone lugging young children, ample beach gear or when the hot summer sun sends sand temperatures scalding.

Dealt an abundance of space and sand, officials in Wildwood, N.J., have done what many towns up and down the Jersey Shore would consider unfathomable: turning part of its sizable beach space into sandy parking spots, even constructing a tunnel under the boardwalk to help cars reach the beach.

This area could potentially park, I mean, thousands of cars, Tom Miceli, supervisor of beach services for the City of Wildwood, said. This is bigger than a mall parking lot, dont you think?

With the Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of the beach season, it also kicks off the perpetual battle over beach access in New Jersey, where towns along the 127-mile coast regulate parking spaces, meter rates, beach access points and, most contentiously, beach tag prices.
Is Italian democracy about to collapse, then? Of course not. Right or wrong, the financial markets and the rest of Europe were convinced that the proposed government was a fundamental threat; now that it has been sidetracked, they will do what they can to prevent its return.

But even left to their own devices, Italians are not going to rise up. We saw what happened in Catalonia, after the Spanish government blocked Catalan efforts at independence: violent clashes in the streets and a true constitutional crisis. Matteo Salvini, the Leagues rowdy leader, on Sunday night threatened to rally his voters and march toward Rome, evoking the Marcia su Roma, fascisms founding moment in 1922. But Italians  including League voters  are wiser than that, and we have rarely taken our discontent to the streets. And Mr. Salvini is no Benito Mussolini.

Whenever the next elections are held, they will be under a new electoral law, a huge improvement over the current bizarre, ineffective mix of proportional and first-past-the-post representation. Combine that with voter moodiness, and the results, regardless of where the League and the Five Star Movement stand today, are anyones guess.

For sure, the summer is going to be hot, even by Italian climatic and political standards. The Five Star Movement  the winner on March 4, with 33 percent of the vote  feels betrayed by the League, which refused to replace Mr. Savona with one of its own, Giancarlo Giorgetti, a solution President Mattarella would have accepted.

Their agendas are also quite different. The League is firmly on the right and is strong in the wealthy northern half of the country, where people fret about taxation and immigration. The Five Star Movement appeals more to the left, and it got most of its votes in the poorer Italian south, where voters are worried about unemployment and sloppy local government. The two parties are unlikely to stand together at the next election.

It remains to be seen whether Silvio Berlusconi, the aging, weakened but unshakable leader of the center-right Forza Italia party, will hold his nose and seek a coalition with the League. They teamed up in the last election, where the parties won 14 percent and 17 percent, respectively, only to have Mr. Salvini drop Mr. Berlusconi to try to form a government with Five Star. Mr. Salvini could woo him back, though, with a renewed promise to give Forza Italia control of the telecommunications and justice agencies, which Mr. Berlusconi deems crucial for his business and personal interests.

What about the Democratic Party, which was in power from 2013 to 2018 but was the big loser on March 4, when it polled only 19 percent? Much of its success will depend on its leader, Matteo Renzi, at 43 years old already a spent force in Italian politics. He has promised to resign to make room for the departing prime minister, Paolo Gentiloni; if he does, the party stands a chance of a comeback.

It sounds naive to say it, but the real winners here are Italys voters. Thanks to their coolheaded president, they have a chance to rethink their answers to a very important question. By voting for the League and Five Star, they set Italy on a collision course with the European Union. British voters made a similarly emotional decision to leave the union, and they dont get a second chance. Italy should consider itself lucky: A solid Constitution is better than a rushed referendum.
Thanks largely to antipathy toward President Trump, energy in the district this year is on the Democratic side, with several strong candidates vying to replace Mr. Frelinghuysen. Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, is considered the heavy favorite, and has the backing of local party leaders and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Tamara Harris, a social worker with a background in finance, is another impressive candidate with substantial support. She was also endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. Mitchell Cobert, a former assistant United States attorney, is also a serious candidate. Mark Washburne and Alison Heslin are also in the race on the Democratic side.

Several Republican candidates are competing for their partys nomination. Among Republicans, State Assemblyman Jay Webber has a fund-raising advantage over Antony Ghee, an investment banker and major in the Army Reserve who also has support. And one Libertarian candidate is also making a bid for the seat.

While we have made no judgments about who would be the better candidate in the November general election, the most competitive primary race is among Democrats.

Voters will find little significant policy differences between Ms. Sherrill and Ms. Harris, who are the leading candidates and hold traditional liberal views, including support for stricter gun control measures and Roe v. Wade.

The primary race has been marked by insinuations from some of Ms. Harriss backers that local and national Democratic Party leaders rejected her in favor of Ms. Sherrill because Ms. Harris is African-American. We suspect it is Ms. Sherrills military background and strong showing early in the race, drumming up support for months while Mr. Frelinghuysen was still expected to run, that made her so attractive to party leaders. But leaders of both parties should do far more to recruit and support black and Latino candidates, and pursue black and Latino votes with vigor. Democrats rely heavily on African-American voters, and even more so on black women, yet have done far too little to earn their votes.
But, as is so often the case with Republican public health policies, both the lawsuit and TN Together are invariably too little too late. The $25 million that TN Together earmarks for treatment, for example, will treat 6,000 to 10,000 addicted Tennesseans, according to state estimates, while the number of Tennesseans who actually abused opioids in 2016 was 317,647. And approximately 82,000 of them were already addicted.

In 2015, Gov. Haslam tried to persuade the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly to expand Medicaid in the state through a federally approved, budget-neutral compromise to the Affordable Care Act. In keeping with a long tradition of defying common sense, statehouse legislators said no. If they had said yes, Tennessee would likely be enjoying addiction news similar to Kentuckys: After expanding Medicaid, notes the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Kentucky experienced a 700 percent increase in Medicaid beneficiaries using substance-use treatment services. That number coincides with a 90 percent drop in overdose hospitalizations of uninsured Kentuckians.

My senior English course in high school was a survey of British literature. Somewhere toward the middle of the unit on Romantic poets, a boy in my class raised his hand and asked our teacher why so many of the writers we studied were drug addicts and alcoholics. More to the point, he wondered, why should we be reading the work of people who were clearly moral failures?

I dont remember that students exact words, but I remember our teachers response. When someone is struggling with addiction, she said, remember that you dont know how many times he resisted that temptation before he finally gave in. A person who resists 99 times, even if he gives in the 100th, is a stronger person than someone whos never been tempted at all.

I have thought of the beloved teachers words countless times over the past 38 years. Its such decent, human advice: Before judging another person, consider all the kinder ways there are to interpret what might seem at first like a terrible moral failing. And the way to do that is to imagine what it feels like to be fighting their battles.

Here in Tennessee, our struggling neighbors wont benefit from federal dollars through Medicaid expansion for the same reason Tennesseans wont benefit from so many other things that citizens of other states can take for granted. Why? Because Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly are consistently more committed to defying what they see as federal overreach than to helping their own vulnerable citizens.
Remember The Manchurian Candidate? The 1959 novel, made into a classic 1962 film (never mind the remake), involved a plot to install a Communist agent as president of the United States. One major irony was that the politician in question was modeled on Senator Joe McCarthy  that is, he posed as a superpatriot even while planning to betray America.

It all feels horribly relevant these days. But dont worry: This isnt going to be another piece on Donald Trumps collusion with Russia, which is being ably covered by other people. What I want to talk about instead are Trumps actions on international trade  which are starting to have a remarkably similar feel.

On one side, the Make America Great Again president is pursuing protectionist policies, supposedly in the name of national security, that will alienate many of our democratic allies. On the other side, he seems weirdly determined to prevent action against genuine national security threats posed by foreign dictatorships  in this case China. Whats going on?

Some background: International trade is governed by a system of multinational agreements that countries are not supposed to break unilaterally. But when that system was created (under U.S. leadership) in 1947, its framers realized that it had to have a bit of flexibility, a few escape valves to let off political pressure. So nations were allowed to impose tariffs and other trade barriers under certain limited conditions, like sudden import surges.
The United States and North Korea held a behind-the-scenes meeting to resurrect the summit meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. President Trump speaking at the White House Saturday evening, said plans for the summit were going along very well.
The Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has been setting off small earthquakes, creating gas-emitting fissures and releasing flows of lava this month that have destroyed dozens of homes and forced the evacuation of at least 2,000 people.

But some scientists look at the basalt-rich lava fields around Kilauea, which could yet produce more explosions in coming days, and see something else: a portal to Mars, whose surface is mostly composed of basaltic rocks.

A team of biologists, volcanologists, astronauts and other specialists has periodically conducted fieldwork in the Kilauea fields since 2015 as part of a four-year, NASA-led research project. Among the questions they are investigating is how any life on ancient Mars, if it did exist, may have developed.

Basaltic terrain can host a diverse range of microorganisms, leading scientists in Hawaii to focus on the bacteria and other organisms living there, and the factors that enable them to survive.
Uber, which is based in San Francisco, is also facing the consequences of its past behavior in overseas markets like London, its most profitable city. In September, regulators refused to renew Ubers license to operate in the city, saying the company was not fit and proper to run a passenger transport service. Mr. Khosrowshahi publicly apologized, and the company has since made several changes sought by the city in the hope that the decision will be overturned on appeal as soon as next month.

Uber was much less accommodating in Southeast Asia.

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore says Uber and Grab reneged on a promise to brief it fully on the details of the transaction before the deal was announced. (Uber says its lawyers provided an informal briefing a few days earlier.) The commission forced Uber to keep its app going until May 7, several weeks after the app was set to shut down, and barred Grab from raising prices for consumers or cutting payments to drivers while it considered whether to reverse or modify the transaction.

When antitrust regulators in the Philippines ordered the companies to maintain independent operations while they reviewed the deal, a top Uber executive in the region, Brooks Entwistle, responded at a public hearing: Uber exited eight markets, including the Philippines, as of Monday. Now, I look after 10 markets, instead of 18. Our funding is gone. Our people are gone. We dont intend to come back to these markets.

That attitude did not impress Arsenio Balisacan, the chairman of the Philippine Competition Commission. The acquisition results in a virtual monopoly of the ride-sharing market, he said in an email. The commission has already seen prices rise and more driver cancellations of rides, resulting in poorer service, he said, adding that the agency was reviewing its options.

Malaysia and Vietnam are conducting their own antitrust inquiries.

In an interview, Ubers No. 2 executive, Barney Harford, said the antitrust reviews in Southeast Asia were Grabs problem.

We are now a 27.5 percent shareholder in the combined entity, Mr. Harford, the companys chief operating officer, said in Mumbai last month. Thats obviously not a controlling position, so the management team of the controlling entity are now on point for handling the regulatory questions.
Mr. Gotos business has been greatly impacted by the closure of parts of the national park nearest to her. The eruptions activated a code red warning from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and most of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park  the park that is home to Kilauea, and the states biggest attraction  has been closed to visitors since May 11. Theres no way to tell how long the park will be closed, said Jessica Ferracane, a public affairs specialist for the park, but we will remain closed until its safe to reopen.

The shutdown of the park alone is likely to cost the local economy millions of dollars. The National Park Service reported that by driving visitor spending on hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and rental cars the Volcanoes park contributed $166 million to the local economy in 2017.

Lynne Koontz, an economist with the National Park System, believes that the most precise way to measure the impact that the parks closure will have on the local economy is by breaking down the annual figure into a daily average  $455,000 a day  and multiplying that by the number of days the park has been closed. The park has now been closed for 10 weeks, adding up to nearly $32 million.

Meanwhile, the eruptions have continued. Ms. Ferracane added by email that every 24-36 hours theres a significant collapse at the summit because of a lava lake draining away, and that the draining triggers earthquakes in the magnitude 5 range and higher, which continue to damage park infrastructure on a daily basis.

But to Hawaii residents, tourists fears and their resulting booking cancellations are a source of deep frustration, owing to what they say is a fundamental misunderstanding of the geography of the state and overly alarmist reporting: The eruption is occurring in a rural, 10-square mile area in the southeastern corner of the most southeastern island of the states eight main islands. Honolulu, for example, is more than 200 miles from the erupting volcano.

I believe we will lose customers, said Joel Genavia, the assistant general manager of the Fishhopper restaurant in Kona, on the western side of the Big Island. The restaurant serves 500 to 800 people a day, 75 percent of whom are tourists, Mr. Genavia estimates. Im worried that this will mean that my workers, and other workers at tourism businesses around the island, are going to end up getting laid off, he said.

Tourism provides 30 percent of the private sector jobs on the Big Island, causing concern to grow over the potential of a long-term hit on the islands economy.
This century, Americans continue to attack the same problems, achieving some additional improvements. We introduced new vaccines, like those for HPV, and improved others, like those for influenza. We made strides in preventing and treating infectious diseases like H.I.V./AIDS and tuberculosis. Tobacco use has declined further. Maternal and infant mortality rates have continued to drop, although were well behind many other advanced nations.

We screen more for cancer and heart disease, though we could do better here and in the provision of other preventive services. Studies find that half of recommended preventive services are not delivered, and public health programs can increase awareness of the value of those services. We continue to focus on reducing lead exposure in children, with significant success.

Why Is Funding So Low?

For all its benefits, spending on public health is surprisingly low. The private sector cant make money on it. That leaves the public sector, which is subject to political forces on spending and taxes, and is more focused on projects that might have more obvious and immediate benefits like, say, job creation through building a highway.

Also, some public health investments effectively tell people what to do (avoid sugar, for example). Thats often viewed as paternalistic or bossy.

Of course, its hard to pin down total public health spending. In 2017, the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  which almost all agree is public health spending  was about $12 billion.

The budget for the Health Resources and Services Administration  some of which is devoted to public health  was $10.7 billion. (The agency helps people who are uninsured or medically vulnerable gain access to health care.)

The Agriculture Department spends more than $100 billion on nutrition assistance and about $1 billion on food safety, both of which arguably contribute to public health.
Its one of the darkest arts of electoral politics. And its perfectly legal. This is like original sin. Both sides are infected with it. Gerrymandering. It has a surprising history and an uncertain future, as the nation awaits a ruling by the Supreme Court. What it has become to mean is districts that I dont like because somebody else drew them. The former steel town of Tarentum in western Pennsylvania is a mix of working-class Republicans and Democrats. Former Congressman Jason Altmire says thats given him a close-up view of how gerrymandering works. When I was in office, if you lived in this house you were my constituent. But if you lived on this side, your congressman was 60 miles away in Johnstown, Pa. Its a small town. Theyre in the same school district. Theyre one community, except for the fact they were represented by two different members of Congress. In the decade after each new census, states redraw their congressional and legislative districts. The party in power, whether Republican or Democrat typically draws maps to protect its own members. Well, if youre right there on that line, and that border, and if its a crazy district, it can become very confusing. But gerrymandering isnt a partisan problem. We see this in other states like Maryland where its been the Democrats in power and the Democrats drawing the map to essentially marginalize Republican power. Gerrymandering doesnt just determine how many Democrats and Republicans will serve. It determines what kind of Democrats and Republicans. It contributes to polarization. It makes the more liberal Democrats more likely to win. It makes the more conservative Republicans more likely to win. And they are less likely to cooperate with each other, and that gets us to the politics we have now. If youre a member of Congress representing that type of district, you dont hear different points of view. You hold a town hall meeting and all you ever hear is, Right on, keep doing what youre doing, and dont you dare compromise. Both parties have long played the redistricting game. But todays hard-fought battles have their origins 30 years ago, when the Supreme Court rendered a decision that upended the political landscape. And in one unanimous decision today, the court said that North Carolinas redistricting plan violated the 1982 Voting Rights Act by reducing black voting power. The court ruled that under the Voting Rights Act, minority groups should have the opportunity to elect their preferred candidates to Congress. Need your help! The remedy? New majority-minority districts, where minority residents of voting age made up more than 50 percent of the population. In several states, new snake-like district lines were drawn, linking together small pockets of black voters. I feel like things are changing in the right direction. Just want to say hello to you. Im running for Congress. In the 1992 elections, the new majority-minority districts achieved their goal, and 17 new black representatives were elected to Congress. The new Congress looks more like America than any other Congress in history. Hello, America! One of them was a North Carolina lawyer and activist named Eva Clayton. From 1901 to 1992, no Afro-American had ever represented North Carolina. So that was a beautiful, historical moment. We too sing America. I felt privileged, I felt honored, and I felt humbled and blessed. But for the Democrats, who still controlled the redistricting process, there was a price to pay. By packing black voters into a limited number of districts, there were fewer Democrats everywhere else. And Republicans saw an opportunity to divide and conquer. Let me tell you that the Voting Rights Act has the potential to really shake things up and frankly it is frightening to the Democrats. Very quickly, the Republican politicos figured out that if you drew three minority-majority districts, it meant that there were three incredibly Democrat districts, which meant there were more Republicans in the other eight or 10 districts. So the Republicans went to the African-American community, largely Democratic, and said, Lets make a deal. In South Carolina, blacks and Republicans are already talking about a crescent-shaped district through the southern part of the state. The alliance, when it comes to redistricting, between the Republicans, mostly in the South, and the African-Americans, mostly in the South, has been called The unholy alliance. Certainly, the Republicans knew what they were doing. The first sign of what a big deal the unholy alliance was was the 1994 elections. We will keep our commitment to keep our half of the contract with the help of the American people. Theres a new wind blowing, and it is a majority for Republicans. You saw the white Democrats in the South losing seat after seat. Voters sweep Democrats from power in midterm elections and give Republicans control of the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. So its an irony. More African-American districts meant less Democrats were elected. I dont think the African-American community was out to destroy the Democratic Party, but they were out to get the representation they thought they were entitled to. What happened was, it led to complete Republican dominance of virtually every state south of the Mason-Dixon line. So its sort of like taking our fight against racism, and the advancements weve made and the laws weve used and literally turning them around on their head and saying, These are the laws you want and you fought for? Fine. Were going to implement them 150 percent and see if you like that. Let me hold the map. Angela Bryant served in the North Carolina legislature from one of the carefully drawn majority-minority districts. Whats on the left side is in my district. Its one of the few trailer parks thats still in the city. The lines can get complicated, even for a seasoned legislator. So Im going to stop here and get my bearing. This road is sort of the boundary. And this is what I cant tell, if these are in or out. It always bothered me, in terms of gerrymandering, that there was what I call a finger that scooped down into what was otherwise my district that interrupted the compactness and scooped out the wealthier households, which are more white and Republican. In a micro sense, both me and my community benefited from the racial gerrymander, in that I got to represent them. However, in the big sense, it rendered us powerless in that the surrounding white communities and representatives didnt need us, and they could label our party as the black party. Having lost their voting strength, Democrats are now running up against the reality that Republicans are firmly in control of mapmaking in a majority of states. The map drawers create a map which is perhaps likely to elect 10 Republicans and three Democrats. I acknowledge freely that this would be a political gerrymander, which is not against the law. Come up with something different. It could be five Democratic seats. Democrats dont like the fact that Republicans took over a lot of state legislatures, and what weve seen with Democrats across the country is to look for bogeymen under every rock they can to explain their electoral failures. And, of course, it is my opinion that Democrats want to use the courts to do what they cant win at the ballot box, and that is elections. Across the country, gerrymandering is facing challenges in court. In North Carolina in 2018, the courts ruled that Republicans had packed too many African-American voters into too few districts. North Carolina is really ground zero for gerrymandering. It was a victory for Democrats, but Angela Bryants district was a casualty. It was more compact now, but also much more Republican. Bryant decided not to run for re-election. People say, Oh, they pushed her out. They didnt push me out. Its a shift we helped design and we pushed for. The Republicans, they said, You realize if you fight this you lose your district. And Im saying, somehow youre missing the point. I say, its not my district thats important to me. Im against racism. Were insulted to have a district based on racial discriminatory practices. Black people are overwhelmingly Democrats. So the question is, is it in the interest of African-Americans to have African-American legislators elected? Or is it in the interest of African-Americans to have the party they belong to have power? You may not be able to have both. Regardless of election outcomes or court decisions, Americas political divisions are unlikely to go away anytime soon. It has to do with where Americans live. The problem that Democrats have is they have sorted themselves into like-minded communities, and it makes it very easy to draw lines that advantage the Republican Party because you can put all the Democrats into one single area. And thats not something thats going to change. Thats a social trend that is greater and more impactful than just gerrymandering. Heres what the Democrats need to do to fix their problem. They need to go win people back over in areas theyve lost, or they need to get the ones they have to move to other places. A Democrat would draw it differently. They would probably come here to Cumberland, divide it up and do something like this, and try to find a district by combining all over the state. I mean, they have lost voters and they dont have voters in the right areas. I mean, thats just what it is. In a democracy, what we have as a final tool are our votes. Thats how people express themselves. Fifty years ago, before the days of majority-minority districts, Eva Clayton ran for Congress and lost. When you find people who are in tears because you lost, then you know that you have not only stirred the emotions, but also the hope. Today, Clayton feels that a minority candidate like herself can appeal to everyone. I have hope that America has moved far enough that a Eva Clayton could get elected. Now I dont know why Eva Clayton would want to run right now. But anyhow, I think I can make my case to anyone. I just need the opportunity to do that.
How far any of the three veterans go in politics will be another test of the power of generational change, which propelled John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Bill Clinton in 1992. Millennials have now passed baby boomers as the nations largest bloc of voters, but they have few representatives in government.

One of them, and I dont know which one, is going to light a spark and get further than any of us can think, Ms. Dunn said.

Part of the journey is coming up with ideas that separate them from Democratic orthodoxy. Mr. Moulton, for instance, said Democrats had to do more than simply oppose President Trump.

I think there will be a reckoning that America goes through after Trump, Mr. Moulton said. He added: A lot of Democrats will self-righteously claim victory and try to lord it over the Republicans and say, See, we were right all along, and that will be bad for the country. What we really need is Democrats who can be leaders and also uniters who can help the country heal after Trump.

Each of the men frames an appeal that they believe will play to party strengths on the coasts and in urban areas, but also in the traditional Midwestern battleground states.

The Republicans have actually done a good job of tapping into the anxiety people are feeling, Mr. Moulton said. But it also shows that Democrats have tremendous potential in places that people are hurting by showing a real path forward.

Mr. Kander, who lives near Kansas City, raised a common worry in the Midwest, that its young people do not return to their hometowns because they see so little opportunity.
WASHINGTON  On Aug. 30, the Food and Drug Administration approved a radical new cancer treatment that harnesses a patients immune system to attack tumor cells. The drug, known as Kymriah, grew out of research conducted and supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Seven weeks later, the F.D.A. approved a second cancer therapy that uses similar technology. This treatment, Yescarta, got its start right here at N.I.H., said Dr. Francis S. Collins, the director of the health institutes. It was developed by Kite Pharma using technology licensed from the N.I.H.

Kymriah costs $475,000 for a one-time treatment, and Yescarta goes for $373,000.

As President Trump vows to lower prescription drug prices, consumer advocates and health policy experts are increasingly saying that the government should insist on reasonable prices for drugs developed with taxpayer funds. New pharmaceuticals can seem miraculous  Kymriah and Yescarta are made from souped-up versions of a patients own immune cells  but they are useless if unaffordable, patient advocates say.

Weve heard from thousands of patients who tell us devastating stories of skipping doses, cutting pills in half, going without food and even declaring bankruptcy because of the prices of their drugs, said Ben Wakana, the executive director of Patients for Affordable Drugs, a consumer group. In the absence of N.I.H. action to address this issue, patients and families will be hurt, and our system will buckle under the weight of amazing drugs we cannot afford.
WASHINGTON  As a candidate, Donald J. Trump claimed that the United States government had known in advance about the Sept. 11 attacks. He hinted that Antonin Scalia, a Supreme Court justice who died in his sleep two years ago, had been murdered. And for years, Mr. Trump pushed the notion that President Barack Obama had been born in Kenya rather than Honolulu, making him ineligible for the presidency.

None of that was true.

Last week, President Trump promoted new, unconfirmed accusations to suit his political narrative: that a criminal deep state element within Mr. Obamas government planted a spy deep inside his presidential campaign to help his rival, Hillary Clinton, win  a scheme he branded Spygate. It was the latest indication that a president who has for decades trafficked in conspiracy theories has brought them from the fringes of public discourse to the Oval Office.

Now that he is president, Mr. Trumps baseless stories of secret plots by powerful interests appear to be having a distinct effect. Among critics, they have fanned fears that he is eroding public trust in institutions, undermining the idea of objective truth and sowing widespread suspicions about the government and news media that mirror his own.

The effect on the life of the nation of a president inventing conspiracy theories in order to distract attention from legitimate investigations or other things he dislikes is corrosive, said Jon Meacham, a presidential historian and biographer. The diabolical brilliance of the Trump strategy of disinformation is that many people are simply going to hear the charges and countercharges, and decide that there must be something to them because the president of the United States is saying them.
WASHINGTON  President Trump paid tribute to and mourned the loss of fallen soldiers on Monday with a traditional Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, vowing that we will never forget our heroes.

After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on a gray and unseasonably cool day, Mr. Trump addressed a cheering crowd that included Gold Star families, honoring the men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom.

Mr. Trump spoke of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors who came from every generation, from towering cities and windswept prairies, from privilege and from poverty, but were united in arms and in their sacrifice.

And he singled out several of them for praise. He recognized former Senator Bob Dole, Republican of Kansas, who was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in January, and Ray Chavez, a Navy veteran and the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
President Trump over the weekend falsely blamed Democrats for a horrible law separating immigrant children from their parents. In fact, his own administration had just announced this policy earlier this month.

His comments followed days of growing alarm that federal authorities have lost track of more than 1,000 immigrant children, mostly from Central America, giving rise to hashtags like #WhereAreTheChildren and claims that children are being ripped from their parents arms at the border and then being lost.

But the president is not the only one spreading wrong information. Across social media, there have been confusing reports of what happened to these immigrant children. Here are some answers.

Did the Trump administration separate nearly 1,500 immigrant children from their parents at the border, and then lose track of them?

No. The government did realize last year that it lost track of 1,475 migrant children it had placed with sponsors in the United States, according to testimony before a Senate subcommittee last month. But those children had arrived alone at the Southwest border  without their parents. Most of them are from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and were fleeing drug cartels, gang violence and domestic abuse, according to government data.
This wasnt the way Christian Bales planned to leave high school.

Mr. Bales, an 18-year-old with a passion for conservation science, worked hard at Holy Cross, a Catholic school in Covington, Ky., earning the honor of valedictorian. He looked forward to delivering a commencement speech at the graduation on Friday.

Then something happened that left him kind of shocked, he said.

The principal and other officials told him on Friday that the Diocese of Covington had deemed his speech too angry and confrontational, Mr. Bales said.

I did not think the speech was polarizing at all, he said. He was told that it was political and personal and that there was no time to revise it.

Mr. Bales is gay and describes himself as gender nonconforming. His speech, which can be read in full here, makes no mention of either.
KABUL, Afghanistan  Flattery of the American president may work in North Korea and Washington, but in Afghanistan it is proving dangerous and even fatal.

An Afghan man who admired the president so much that he legally named his son Donald Trump has now said he no longer feels safe and has fled Afghanistan.

That came three days after another Afghan who helped organize the minting of a gold medal thanking President Trump for his support of Afghanistan was killed by the Taliban, according to police officials in Logar Province and to the insurgents themselves. A third Afghan, also involved in making the medal, said he, too, would flee the country because he no longer felt safe.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban, said in a statement on WhatsApp that the insurgents were responsible for the killing of Gul Nabi in Pul-e-Alam, the capital of Logar Province, in revenge for his criminal role in making the medal. Shapoor Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the Logar Provincial Police, said Mr. Nabi, a prominent tribal elder in the province, had been killed by a bomb attached to the underside of his car last Friday.
TOKYO  With efforts being made to reinstate the planned summit meeting between President Trump and North Koreas leader, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is not taking any chances.

After speaking with Mr. Trump by telephone on Monday, Mr. Abe told reporters in Tokyo that he and the American president had agreed to meet before the U.S.-North Korea summit.

Mr. Abe has been concerned that Mr. Trump might make a nuclear disarmament deal with North Korea that protects the United States but does not address Tokyos worries about the Norths short-range missiles that could hit Japan.

By offering to meet with the American president before he heads to Singapore, Mr. Abe hopes to be one of the last advisers to have his ear before he meets with North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un.
The municipal police commander, Chief Inspector Sunny Leoncito, said the government forces had been seeking to arrest two men in a drug case, both of whom were believed to have been killed in the raid. But what was to have been a routine antidrug operation turned into an hourlong gun battle on the outskirts of the town of Matalam.

The militants who survived later surrendered and gave up their firearms, including two sniper rifles, several assault rifles and handguns, as well as a rocket-propelled grenade. However, the government operatives did not find drugs on the fighters.

A MILF spokesman, Vol Al-Haq, said the group would file a strong protest with the government over the killings. He said he believed that a brief firefight occurred with the government agents before the MILF fighters identified themselves, and that they might have believed they were being attacked by another armed group.

After they surrendered, they were massacred, the spokesman said, adding that the group was demanding an impartial investigation jointly carried out with a third party or a nongovernmental organization.

We dont deal in drugs and never have, he said. Even before the assumption of Duterte as president, we already had our own program that discourages illegal activities, including drugs.
Ms. Christie, 61, said by telephone that receiving Lieutenant Kellys remains would provide even more closure for her family. She has now read all of the letters he wrote home during the war, she said, and his grave in Livermore, Calif., has recently taken on new significance for her.

To honor Lieutenant Kelly and the other crew members, a B-24 bomber flew over the cemetery three times on Sunday. A 21-gun salute and flag-presentation ceremony were also held.

It was wonderful, Ms. Christie said.

In his correspondence, the young bombardiers tone is often optimistic, even as he acknowledges the hardships and dangers of his assignment. In one letter, he digresses to say he took a break from writing to eat a quart of ice cream.

Ms. Christie said she was struck by how very young her uncle had been, and by his constant concern for how his family was dealing with his absence.

If we are lucky we might get home by next Christmas, but its hard to say for sure, Lieutenant Kelly wrote on Feb. 1, 1944, shortly after his 21st birthday.

How are Mom and Dad? he wrote on Feb. 29, less than two weeks before he died aboard Heaven Can Wait. Are they doing a lot of needless worrying?
SYDNEY, Australia  For hundreds of Muslim asylum seekers being held in Australian detention facilities, Ramadan this year has been extra difficult.

During the holy month, which began in Australia on May 17, Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. For years, members of the countrys Muslim community have prepared home-cooked meals to share with the detainees after sunset, but a recent change to federal rules has barred visitors from bringing unpackaged foods into the detention centers.

Most of the people here are depressed, said Sayed Akbar Jaffarie, 31, an Afghanistan-born asylum seeker who arrived in Australia in 2008 and has been detained since 2013 at the Villawood Immigration Detention Center in Sydney.

The government insists the rules are necessary to maintain the detainees health and safety, but activists say the measures are dehumanizing and are part of an attempt to keep the detainees further out of the public eye.
ROME  Hes been called gray, invisible and gentle to the point of seeming fragile. Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister, once compared him to a monk.

But on Monday, Italys quiet, white-haired president, Sergio Mattarella, emerged as the most contentious figure in Italian and European politics. His refusal to confirm a euroskeptic economist as a government minister set off the collapse of a populist coalition hours before it was expected to take control of the European Unions fourth largest economy.

Mr. Mattarellas defenders hailed him as the courageous protector of Italys democracy, institutions and financial health, while fuming populists sought to make the usually revered figure of the Italian head of state the countrys public enemy No. 1. They called for his impeachment, saying he had overstepped his constitutional bounds with delusions of grandeur, blocked the will of the people and destroyed Italian democracy.

In response, Mr. Mattarella privately plugged along.

On Monday morning, as markets rose and fell with the whiplashing events in Italy, Mr. Mattarella gave a new mandate to form a government to Carlo Cottarelli, a respected economist, former International Monetary Fund official and Italian government appointee, who told reporters that he would form a caretaker government only with the goal of passing a budget and guiding Italy to new elections.
BELFAST, Northern Ireland  Tyler McNally was surprised when he answered a knock on the door of his Belfast house one evening to find two police officers standing there, and shocked when they presented a warrant to search the premises. They had reason to believe, Mr. McNally was told, that he had ordered abortion pills online for a vulnerable woman.

The case was eventually dropped for lack of evidence. But Mr. McNally said in an interview that there was no mistaking the intimidating nature of the raid, and wondered if that wasnt the point of it all.

Having two police officers sit in my living room and tell me that I may face life imprisonment only to then toy with the idea of bringing me in for questioning in cuffs or just invite me in to try and get me to talk was quite a harrowing experience, he said, and Im not someone depending on access to abortion services.

Irelands vote on Friday to end its near ban on abortion, overwhelmingly supporting change in what used to be a bastion of Roman Catholic influence, has inspired many calls in Belfast, London and elsewhere for similar liberalization in British-ruled Northern Ireland, whose draconian laws governing the termination of pregnancy date to the 19th century.
PARIS  The 4-year-old boy seemed to be suspended from a balcony. An adult standing on a nearby balcony seemed powerless to help. Disaster seemed the only possible outcome.

Then, to the nimble rescue on the streets of Paris on Saturday evening, came a young man whom some French people have started to call the Spider-Man of the 18th, referring to the arrondissement of Paris where the episode unfolded.

With a combination of grit, agility and muscle, the man hauled himself hand over hand from one balcony to another, springing from one parapet to grasp the next one up. A crowd that had gathered before he began his daring exploit urged him ever upward, according to onlookers video that was shared widely on social media.

Finally, after scaling four balconies, the man reached the child and pulled him to safety. And suddenly, an act of individual courage and resourcefulness began to play into Europes fraught and polarized debate about outsiders, immigrants and refugees.
The government has created destitution, says Barry Kushner, a Labour Party councilman in Liverpool and the cabinet member for childrens services. Austerity has had nothing to do with economics. It was about getting out from under welfare. Its about politics abandoning vulnerable people.

Conservative Party leaders say that austerity has been driven by nothing more grandiose than arithmetic.

Its the ideology of two plus two equals four, says Daniel Finkelstein, a Conservative member of the upper chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords, and a columnist for The Times of London. It wasnt driven by a desire to reduce spending on public services. It was driven by the fact that we had a vast deficit problem, and the debt was going to keep growing.

Whatever the operative thinking, austeritys manifestations are palpable and omnipresent. It has refashioned British society, making it less like the rest of Western Europe, with its generous social safety nets and egalitarian ethos, and more like the United States, where millions lack health care and job loss can set off a precipitous plunge in fortunes.

Much as the United States took the Great Depression of the 1930s as impetus to construct a national pension system while eventually delivering health care for the elderly and the poor, Britain reacted to the trauma of World War II by forging its own welfare state. The United States has steadily reduced benefits since the Reagan Revolution of the 1980s. Britain rolled back its programs in the same era, under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. Still, its safety net remained robust by world standards.

Then came the global financial panic of 2008  the most crippling economic downturn since the Great Depression. Britains turn from its welfare state in the face of yawning budget deficits is a conspicuous indicator that the world has been refashioned by the crisis.

As the global economy now negotiates a wrenching transition  with itinerant jobs replacing full-time positions and robots substituting for human labor  Britains experience provokes doubts about the durability of the traditional welfare model. As Western-style capitalism confronts profound questions about economic justice, vulnerable people appear to be growing more so.
Matthew Rowland, the British ambassador to the organization, said it deplores the fact that Syria will assume the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament, given the regimes consistent and flagrant disregard of international nonproliferation and disarmament norms and agreements.

The conference was created in 1979, and one of the most significant treaties it negotiated was the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the production, stockpiling or use of chemical weapons.

Syria formally submitted to the convention in September 2013, less than a month after a sarin attack in Ghouta killed 1,400 people. Under a deal brokered by the United States and Russia, it surrendered stocks of chemical agents used in the production of sarin gas and other weapons, but subsequent attacks by the Syrian military hardened suspicions that it had not handed over its entire arsenal.

United Nations investigators said they had documented more than 30 chemical weapons attacks by the Syrian government since the start of the civil war, including an attack with sarin-like agents in April 2017 that killed at least 83 people.
The staff and pupils of an Offaly school have rallied behind one of the school's pupils who is facing deportation to Nigeria despite the fact that he and his family have lived in Ireland for 11 years.

14-year-old Nonso Muojeke along with his mother and older brother are facing deportation back to Nigeria but the community in Tullamore has rallied behind the family with a petition urging Minister Charlie Flanagan to let them stay in Ireland having garnered over 12,500 signatures in the last week alone. You can view and sign the petition by clicking here

Now the entire staff and student body of Tullamore College have come out to show their unwavering support for Nonso.

Tullamore College Principal Edward McEvoy has described Nonso as 'a model student'. Nonso's brother is also a past pupil of Tullamore College and is now studying in the University of Limerick. (story continues below the picture)

The staff of Tullamore College showing their support for Nonso

Mr McEvoy stated that the staff, the students and the clergy of Tullamore are all supporting the plea for clemency which would prevent the deportation of the family.

"Minister Charlie Flanagan has the final say and we are pleading with the Minister to show compassion and allow Nonso to stay," Mr McEvoy concluded.

Minister Flanagan is currently a TD for Laois but it is likely that he will once again be running in a combined Laois/Offaly constituency at the next General Election.

The 'Save Nonso from Deportation' petition page outlines the family's history and their difficult journey to the point where they now face deportation from Ireland.

Mr. Muojeke, the boys father, died in 2006. Mrs. Muojeke, as a widow, became the property of her husbands brother, as is the custom. She was seriously mistreated by that brother and the rest of the family.

Mrs. Muojeke fled to Ireland in 2007 with her two boys, one 2 year old and one 7 year old. Vulnerable and very afraid, they lived in a hostel in the Direct Provision System in Dublin before being moved to Co. Laois.

The family applied for asylum based on the horrific treatment of Mrs. Muojeke and her two children. This was turned down in 2009. Mrs. Muojeke requested the solicitor on the case to file an appeal within the 15 days allowed. He did not do so.

A Deportation Order was then issued and the family moved to Tullamore where Mrs. Muojeke continued to engage by trying to get her file back from the original solicitor. After a very long time she succeeded and, finally, Mr. John Gerard Cullen took up her case and appealed to the Minister of Justice in 2015. The Minister did not reply at first for more than a year. The Minister then refused Humanitarian Leave to remain in 2017. The reasons given included that the older boy will settle well if returned to Nigeria as he settled well, aged 7, when he came to Ireland. Also, it was stated that the severe mental trauma suffered by the children is not a ground for granting Humanitarian Leave to remain. The issue of the best interests of the children was not considered a relevant matter.

The family has never received welfare payments and none of them has ever had a medical card. They have not even received Childrens Allowance. Both boys identify totally with being Irish, neither speaks any Nigerian dialect and has no cultural awareness of that country whatsoever.

Why is this case unique?:

* The boys have been here since they were very young children and have been brought up as active Irish members of their community

* Their mother has always sought to engage with the Authorities

* They are excellent young persons (one is still a fourteen year old child) who are making, and want to make, a positive contribution to this society

* The Irish Constitutional guarantee on the best interests and rights of children is not empty rhetoric; and it must be honoured.

What next?

Minister Charles Flanagan has the power to grant Leave to Remain to these boys. Please go to the following: savenonso@outlook.com and add your email address to the petition.

Please email the Minister and the Taoiseach (charles.flanagan@oir.ie and leo.varadkar@oir.ie pledging support to the childrens right to life and education here in their country
The iftaar that never happened: BSF jawans were killed while buying bread

Ramadan 2021: When does it begin? Know Shehri and iftar timings, check moon sighting in India

Bihar: Man breaks Ramzan fast to save Hindu boys life

Feature

oi-Madhuri

The holy month of Ramzan is a time for fasting for believers. Muslims around the world adhere strictly to the rules, which includes no food or even a drop of water from sunrise to sunset.

However, this man broke the rules - but for a noble cause!

As reported by ANI, a Muslim man from Darbhanga district in Bihar, Mohammad Ashfaq, broke his roza (fast observed during Ramzan) on Monday to donate blood to a two-day-old Hindu boy of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan Ramesh Kumar Singh.

The man, Mohammad Ashfaq, recently came across a Facebook post, where the infant's family had posted a message urging users to donate blood for the child.

Speaking to ANI, Mohammad Ashfaq who broke his 'roza' said, 'I thought saving a life is more important, knowing that she is daughter of a security personnel motivated me more.'

On Friday, the wife of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) soldier Ramesh Kumar Singh, gave birth to a boy at a private nursing home in Darbhanga. After this, the condition of the child started to get worse day by day. The doctors, on checking the infant's condition said that they would require O negative blood to save him.

The grandparents of the infant later said that Ashfaq did not feel perturbed in donating his blood to others despite being a Muslim. They added that he chose humanity over his religious duty and thanked him for saving the life of their granddaughter.
More bomb blasts, less fidayeen hits: Lashkars new mantra in Kashmir

Feature

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

There was a terror attack in Shopian earlier today in which three Army personnel were injured. The explosion took place between the Sugan and Chillapora area in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir.

It has now been ascertained that this was the handiwork of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and what is even more worrying is that the outfit which was looking for an IED expert has found one.

The bomb maker has been identified as Umar Hanzulla, a local operative who was roped in by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba to prepare bombs. The outfit has been on the lookout for a bomb expert in the wake of the group suffering several casualties in the recent past. The keen interest in finding a bomb maker is also an indication, that the group would reduce fedayeen strikes for now and concentrate on explosions at Army installations.

In today's attack, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba operatives triggered an IED blast at 7.50 am. The target was the Casper vehicle of the Indian Army's 44 RR. The bomb was timed to explode at the time the vehicle was passing through the area.

Hanzulla according to sources is an expert at preparing bombs. Intelligence Bureau officials say that he hails from Shopian district and was trained in Pakistan about a year back. He uses ordinary items such as cans, pressure cookers etc to prepare the bombs.

He has been placed on the wanted list and nabbing him is of primary importance for the security forces. Currently is the only expert that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba has in the Valley and the agencies would look to nab him before he imparts training to others.

The Lashkar-e-Tayiba according to the Intelligence Bureau would increase bomb attacks. This is a turn away from the fedayeen strikes and bomb attacks involve an element of surprise. Moreover the casualty rate in bomb attacks for the terrorists is lower as they just plant the bomb and flee. Such attacks also keep the security forces on tenter-hooks all the time.
21 banks lost Rs 25,775 crore thanks to bank frauds: RTI

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Twenty-one public sector banks (PSBs) have incurred losses totalling Rs 25,775 crore due to banking frauds in the financial year 2017-18, a Right to Information reply has stated.

The Punjab National Bank (PNB) had incurred the highest loss of Rs 6461.13 crore due to different cases of fraud during the fiscal that ended on March 31 this year, Chandrasekhar Gaud, who had filed the RTI with the Reserve Bank of India, told PTI on Sunday.

He added that the reply, which was sent to him on May 15, did not specify details of any particular case of banking fraud.

One of the biggest banking frauds, allegedly involving diamond merchants Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi and PNB officials, is being currently investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The investigating agency has filed two charge sheets in the special CBI court in Mumbai in connection with the Rs 12,636 crore PNB scam.

The RTI reply stated that the State Bank of India had, during this period, incurred losses of Rs 2390.75 crore due to various cases of banking fraud.

In the given period, the Bank of India had incurred a loss of Rs 2,224.86 crore, Bank of Baroda's losses stood at Rs 1,928.25 crore, Allahabad Bank at Rs 1,520.37 crore, Andhra Bank at Rs 1,303.30 crore and Uco Bank at Rs 1,224.64 crore.

The RTI reply informed that the IDBI Bank incurred losses of Rs 1,116.53 crore, Union Bank of India had losses of Rs 1,095.84 crore, Central Bank of India of Rs 1,084.50 crore, Bank of Maharashtra of Rs 1,029.23 crore and Indian Overseas Bank had incurred a loss of Rs 1,015.79 crore.

The RBI has clarified in the RTI that only those cases of fraud, involving a sum of over Rs 1 lakh, were included in the list.

It, however, did not disclose the numbers of cases or the nature of fraud. Other banks, as per the RTI, that faced losses due to fraud during this period were Corporation Bank with a loss of Rs 970.89 crore, United Bank of India with Rs 880.53 crore, Oriental Bank of Commerce with Rs 650.28 crore and Syndicate Bank with Rs 455.05 crore.

Canara Bank at Rs 190.77 crore, Punjab and Sind Bank at Rs 90.01 crore, Dena Bank at Rs 89.25 crore, Vijaya Bank at Rs 28.58 crore and Indian Bank at Rs 24.23-crore made up the rest of the list provided by RBI as part of its RTI reply.

Economist Jayantilal Bhandari, commenting on the RTI, said that the condition of 21 PSBs of the country was "extremely worrisome" due to banking fraud.

Bhandari said, "With regard to fraud cases, the banks are not only facing huge economic losses, but the prospects of giving new loans by them in the future are also affected adversely. This situation is obviously not good for the economy."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 7:57 [IST]
Les lunettes de marque ne sont pas ce qui manque dans les commerces. Il y en a de toutes les sortes dont les lunettes de []
Never imagined I would reach here: PM Narendra Modi on completing 20 years in public office

Advantage Congress, if BJP-Shiv Sena break up

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

If the BJP breaks up with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra it would be advantage Congress, a BJP leader has said.

"The BJP is compelled to have an alliance with the Shiv Sena. If the alliance is broken, then the Congress could come to power (after the next Assembly elections)," state PWD minister and senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil told reporters in Kolhapur district.

He said in the case of Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll, which is scheduled for Monday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray did "wrong politics", and blamed him for the "bitter" relations between the two parties.

"In the last four years, the BJP and the Shiv Sena hardly contested any major election together," Patil noted.

The bypoll in Palghar Lok Sabha constituency was necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga in January this year.

Much to the BJP's dislike, the Shiv Sena fielded the late parliamentarian's son, Shriniwas Wanaga, for the bypoll.

"The BJP had decided to nominate someone from late MP Chintaman Wanaga's family for the Lok Sabha bypoll. But without finding out the BJP's plans, Uddhav Thackeray picked him (Shriniwas Wanaga) up and announced his candidature as the Shiv Sena candidate. This style (of functioning) has led to a controversy," Patil claimed.

Meanwhile, reacting to the crashing sugar prices, Patil, who is also the state revenue minister, said a meeting to discuss the issue is proposed to be held in Mumbai tomorrow.

"Union minister Nitin Gadkari, state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and I am going to attend it. We will try to find out some solution to the issues, including import-export of sugar and FRP (fair and remunerative price) to farmers," he said.

Various political parties have accused the BJP government of importing sugar from Pakistan at a time when the prices of the commodity in domestic market are already under pressure due to bumper production of sugarcane in the country.

Parties like the NCP, the Congress, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had earlier held protests in the state against the import.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 8:19 [IST]
Akhilesh Yadav speaks to NCP over faulty EVMs

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

United Opposition parties have raised the issue of faulty EVMs in the bypolls held to four Lok Saba and 10 assembly constituencies on Monday. Samajwadi Party and NCP leaders are in touch with each other over the issue.

Praful Patel, NCP leader said, "EVMs malfunctioning in Bhandara-Gondiya poll. In many big European nations, election commissions have rejected the EVMs and gone back to ballot paper system. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav ji just called me up, he also said 300 EVMs not working in Kairana bypoll."

Earlier, Abhimanyu Kale, District Magistrate confirmed that voting temporarily suspended at 35 polling booths in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha bypolls due to faulty Electronic Voting Machines.

The BJP had won Bhandara-Gondiya seat in 2014. Nana Patole had defeated NCP leader Praful Patel. The by-election was necessitated in Bhandara-Gondia due to Patole's resignation after a standoff with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Bhandara-Gondia, out of 2,149 polling booths, 71 are situated in Naxal-hit areas and 113 are listed as critical.
BJP suffers from a 'malady', its called trolling Rahul Gandhi 24X7; Congress 'migraine' is Modi

Feature

oi-Maitreyee

New Delhi, May 28: What does Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) do best? It trolls Congress president Rahul Gandhi 24X7 without any break. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not attacking the "dynast" in his speeches, BJP social media warriors make it a point to lambast the 47-year-old scion of the Gandhi family on various online platforms with unparliamentary language and memes.

If trolling is a virtue, the Congress too has learnt the art well, courtesy the BJP. On any social media platform, both the Congress and the BJP talk less about issues plaguing the nation, more about each other's "dear" leaders (read Rahul and Modi).

The entire narrative is built around who can throw more muck on each other's supreme leaders and based on that they want voters to decide the fate of the BJP and the Congress during elections.

Well, as the Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly polls in various states are scheduled in the coming months, expect more such random, unsolicited and controversial comments on internet forums.

On Sunday, Rahul, before leaving the country with his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the latter's treatment, had left a message for the "BJP social media troll army". The Congress president asked them not to "get too worked up" as he would be "back soon".

"Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don't get too worked up...I'll be back soon!" Rahul tweeted.

Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up.



To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: dont get too worked up...I'll be back soon!  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 27, 2018

Within hours Rahul's cheeky tweet against his detractors got around thousands of replies and equal numbers of retweets. The BJP bhakts (as the supporters of saffron party are known as) attacked Rahul for his decision to take his mother to a foreign land for medical treatment instead of availing the same in his "motherland" and questioned him about the Congress' failure to build state-of-the-art hospitals in the country during its decades-long regime.

Rahul (seemed to be little worked up about his critics) attempted to silence his detractors in advance by doling out harmless and humourous advice to them before leaving the country. But it proved counterproductive. He got more trolled than he would have been had he left the country unannounced.

It is also true, once his "absence" would have been caught by the discerning eye of the media (which they would in any case by missing him on public space for two-three days), Rahul would have been equally slammed for "going for a vacation" one more time.

Rahul's plight is best described as "catch-22 situation" as he simply can't escape the "haters". And why should he, after all a politician should be always ready to face the onslaught of the opposition camp. It is a different matter that the BJP labels its critics as "anti-nationals" and asks them to "go to Pakistan".

In the past too, the Congress leader had to face the wrath of his opponents for taking long vacations when his party needed him the most. The repeated assault on him has ensured that he has reduced the numbers of breaks he used to take earlier. Even if he goes for a holiday, he makes it a point to keep it short, these days.

Rahul's love for enjoying time alone or with his near and dear ones in a beautiful tourist hub has also been compared with Modi's zeal to work 24X7 and who has not gone for a holiday in decades. It is another thing that every month PM Modi visits at least one foreign country. But that is work and not holidaying, right?

Like the random trolls, the BJP's official IT cell also could not stop replying to Rahul's latest tweet. Wishing "well for Sonia ji's health", the BJP tweeted to ask Rahul when the cabinet formation process in Karnataka will get over. The BJP hoped that Rahul would keep everyone "entertained from there too". The BJP signed off the tweet with a smiley-face emoji.

"We wish well for Sonia ji's health. Women of Karnataka also await Cabinet formation so that the state Govt can start serving them. Can you ensure Karnataka gets a working Govt before you leave? Everyone on social media hopes that you will keep us entertained from there too :-)," BJP tweeted.

We wish well for Sonia jis health.



Women of Karnataka also await Cabinet formation so that the state Govt can start serving them. Can you ensure Karnataka gets a working Govt before you leave?



Everyone on social media hopes that you will keep us entertained from there too :-) https://t.co/doxO36Xva8  BJP (@BJP4India) May 28, 2018

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya stated that Rahul's "presence doesn't make a difference".

"Your presence doesn't make a difference, let alone your absence! BTW new CM of Karnataka, who your party propped up, has put the aspirations of people of the state on the back burner. Is he doing so because you want to teach the people of Karnataka a lesson for voting you out?" he tweeted.

Your presence doesnt make a difference, let alone your absence! BTW new CM of Karnataka, who your party propped up, has put the aspirations of people of the state on the back burner. Is he doing so because you want to teach the people of Karnataka a lesson for voting you out? https://t.co/bSilk7ttbh  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 27, 2018

Recently, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) formed the new alliance government in Karnataka after BJP's former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa resigned minutes before the floor test.

Last week, JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy and Congress' G Parameshwara took oath as the chief minister and the deputy CM respectively in a mega event in Bengaluru. The coalition government is yet to decide on the names of other ministers in the Kumaraswamy cabinet.

The announcement of names of the rest of ministers in the southern state is unlikely to take place before Rahul's return to the country. Anticipating a delay in the cabinet formation, the BJP decided to slam Rahul for going abroad without giving the state a "working" government.

On the Congress' part, on Monday, it once again trolled Modi for allegedly making some "tall claims on the Ujjawala Yojana".

"PM Modi made some tall claims on the Ujjwala Yojana today. What he didn't tell you is that the program is failing," the Congress tweeted.

PM Modi made some tall claims on the Ujjwala Yojana today. What he didn't tell you is that the program is failing. pic.twitter.com/oW0maiF2OZ  Congress (@INCIndia) May 28, 2018

What we wrote is just a glimpse of the "Tom and Jerry" chase between the Congress and the BJP on a daily basis. It's just a trailer as the "picture abhi baaki hai mere dost" (the picture is yet to start, my friend, as Shahrukh Khan loves to say).

Just go to social media accounts of the BJP and the Congress and don't blame us if you end up getting traumatised by their language and conversations. We go through it daily (after all, it is a professional hazard). Normal mortals should smell the lovely air (if they are not in Delhi) and pray (not just as a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, but as an Indian) that the country gets cured of the rot at the earliest.
Congress likely to hold CWC meet next week, ambiguity over party polls to end

Congress-BSP may come together to fight polls in MP

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The Congress has hinted that the party would align with the Bahujan Samaj Party to snatch power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh where assembly polls are due later this year.

MP Congress chief Kamal Nath and state assembly election committee campaign chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia would be in favour of tying-up with the BSP to sweep the Assembly polls, said a senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be named.

However, the leader also said the party high command would take a final call on stitching any alliance with the BSP.

Earlier, when reporters asked Nath about his party's strategy for the elections in the central Indian state, he had said the party had not started talks of alliance with anyone.

"I will take everyone's opinion on this and the modalities of a tie-up," he had said.

Nath said the BJP had pocketed just 31 per cent votes in the 2014 general elections, while 69 per cent of the ballots were cast against the saffron party.

"The BJP then claimed that it got majority but what sort of a mandate it secured?" he asked.

The Congress does not want fragmentation of votes and keeping this in perspective, talks were going to be initiated at the national and the state-level, he had said.

A senior BSP leader, who is considered close to Mayawati, said they cannot comment on a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. "Behenji (Mayawati) deals with such issues," he added.

In the 2013 MP Assembly elections, the Congress and the BSP polled 36.38 per cent and 6.29 per cent respectively, of the total votes, whereas the BJP secured 44.88 per cent ballots.

The BJP won 165 seats, the Congress 58, the BSP four while independents won three seats in the 230-member Assembly in the last Assembly polls.

In the 2008 Assembly polls, the Congress and the BSP secured 32.85 and 8.97 per cent votes respectively, which was collectively four per cent more than the 37.64 per cent of the votes garnered by the BJP.

Since January last year, five Assembly by-elections were held in MP where the Congress won four and the BJP one. The BSP had not been in the fray in these bypolls.

Political analyst Rasheed Kidwai said if the Congress and the BSP enter into a pre-poll alliance, the combine might topple the BJP.

"Anti-incumbency against the BJP would also help the opposition if it unites against the ruling party," he said.

Kidwai said he strongly feels that the Congress and the BSP would form an alliance in MP in the wake of the much evident "camaraderie" between UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and BSP chief Mayawati during the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka chief minister.

Right now, the Congress's aim would be to wrest power from the BJP and it has already manifested that in Karnataka, he said, adding that "in the wake of this, the MP Assembly elections are going to be all the more interesting."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 7:18 [IST]
Congress holding onto 'tail' of regional parties: Sushil Modi

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Taking a jibe at the Congress for giving Chief Minister's post to its ally JD (S) despite having won more seats in Karnataka elections, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said that the opposition parties were scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi said that Congress is celebrating in Karnataka as if they have won the elections, when the fact is that the grand old party came down from 120 odd seats to 78 from 2013 to 2018 assembly elections.

"Congress can't live without power. It once ruled the nation but is now confined to three to four states. They want to reach the Centre by holding onto the tail of regional parties," the Deputy CM said in Patna on Sunday, as reported by ANI.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party in the Karnataka Assembly elections, held on May 12, by winning 104 seats. But the saffron party could not form the government as it fell short of the required 112 seats majority mark in the House of 224 seats (Polling on May 12 was held in 222 assembly constituencies).

The Congress, which won 78 seats, and the JD (S), which won 38 seats, cobbled up an alliance and formed a government after almost a week political turmoil in the southern state. Despite having won 78 seats, the Congress conceded chief minister's post to JD (S)' HD Kumaraswamy. Out of the 34 ministries in Karnataka, it was decided that Congress would keep 22 and JD (S), including the CM's post, would keep 12 ministries.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 11:03 [IST]
Mansarovar Yatra: Pilgrims accuse China of not allowing them to take holy dip

India

oi-Madhuri

Devotees at Kailash Mansarovar on Monday have alleged that Chinese authorities are not allowing them to take holy dip in the Mansarovar Lake.

The allegations come some 20 days after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had announced that the Nathu La pass has been reopened for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

China had shut down the Nathu La pass in Sikkim and denied entry to the Kailash Mansoravar (located in Tibet) pilgrims last year due to the 73-day-long standoff in Doklam between troops of India and China at the border on account of security reasons.

The four-month travel period of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra starts in June. Thousands of Indian pilgrims take part in the Yatra every year via Nepal in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China ahead of the monsoon season.

Kailash is a mountain peak located near Manasarovar lake in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and is considered holy by the Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva. It also holds religious significance for Jains and Buddhists. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra, one of the toughest pilgrimages in the world, draws hundreds of pilgrims every year.
Court sets girl who was held captive by mother free

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

A woman from Thrissur in Kerala, who was allegedly kept in the custody of a person in the city by her mother to end her relationship with a Muslim man back home, has been set free by a court here.

The 24-year-old woman had uploaded a video on social media on May 1, alleging that she had been kept under house arrest by her mother for the last two years and locked up in a house belonging to a Sangh Parivar leader.

She was freed and allowed to reunite with the relatives of her deceased father in Thrissur by the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court here on May 25.

The court said it was pertinent to note that there was no dispute that the victim was an adult and that she could not be detained in any counselling centre, as provided under law.

"As per the settled principle of law, any woman who has attained adulthood is at liberty to go anywhere, and she cannot be detained under the care and custody of anybody including their parents," the order said.

On the request of the police and the victim, the court also agreed to transfer the case to Kerala as she was abducted from there.

"It is clear that earlier several incidents took place within the jurisdiction of the Guruvayoor police station (in Thrissur) and later the victim and her boyfriend came to Mangaluru and a case was registered.

"Therefore, if the entire case is transferred to the Guruvayoor police station, no hardship will be caused to the accused, as she is also a resident of Guruvayoor jurisdiction," said the order.

With the woman's video explaining her plight of having allegedly been locked up in the house of an RSS leader here as her mother objected to her relationship with the Muslim man going viral, police had registered an FIR at the city women's police station here and arrested the accused.

Both the woman and her mother were then produced before the court.

The court had granted bail to the accused and sent the woman to a counselling centre here after her mother submitted medical certificates to prove that she was mentally challenged.

The woman has now sought appointment with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and DGP Loknath Behra this week, A Rajasimhan, the lawyer who appeared for the woman, said.

A fresh complaint would be filed there against her mother and the other accused in the case, including the mother's paramour, the abductors, members of RSS and VHP, the doctor and the hospital in Kerala, which allegedly colluded with the mother to prove the woman was mentally challenged, he said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 8:29 [IST]
UP government changes its earlier stand, allows Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi to visit Lakhimpur Kheri

Sonia ji unwell, Rahul Gandhi should take over as Congress chief: Siddaramaiah as party preps up for CWC meet

Dont get worked up, Rahul tells trolls before leaving for abroad

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

For those who troll him every time he goes out of the country, Rahul Gandhi has this message.

"Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don't get too worked up...I'll be back soon!" This is the tweet Rahul put up before leaving for abroad.

According to reports, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi will be travelling abroad for her annual medical examination. She had undergone a surgery in the US in 2011. According to news agency PTI, while Rahul will return within a week, Sonia is expected to stay back for a longer period.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:39 [IST]
Hari Prabhakaran expelled from AIADMK for 'dog' comment

India

oi-Madhuri

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Monday sacked Hari Prabhakaran from all party posts following his tweet disrespecting journalists. Hari Prabhakaran who is an AIADMK, IT wing secretary has allegedly compared Journalists to street dogs. However, the leader of Tamil Nadu's ruling party later deleted the tweet and apologised.

In a statement, the party said, "For behaving in a manner against the party's principles and goals, for putting a black mark on the party's dignity, for not following party discipline and for giving a bad name for the party, C Hari Prabhakaran (Joint Secretary, District Information Technology Cell), who belongs to the Kanchipuram East division of the party, is being expelled from all party posts, including as a member of the party. We request all party members to not have any contact with him any longer."

Earlier in the day, Hari Prabhakaran, a computer science engineer, said that journalists are not allowed inside a government hospital while deputy CM O Panneerselvam was visiting the injured protesters.

'Street dogs who shout for biscuits will be tied on the gate rather than allowing them inside', tweets Hari Prabhakaran.

Moments later, Prabhakaran deleted his tweet and rather wrote an apology: "All opinions expressed by me are personal and it is not official party view. I'm not authorised to express party views. I heard few people got hurt due to one of my tweet this morning .I don't have any animosity towards any group of people. My apologies to those who r hurt."
Karnataka bandh today: BJP seeks support of farmers, traders

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The BJP has urged people, traders and farmers to spontaneously observe a Karnataka bandh on May 28 against Karnataka government's 'failure' to fulfill its poll promise of waiving farm loan within 24 hours of assuming office.

The party said the people of Karnataka, especially farmers, had relied on the government to fulfill its election promise, which did not happen. "People, traders and farmers to spontaneously observe a bandh tomorrow,' it said on Sunday. "This is not the first time the government has failed to keep up its words. Earlier, during the coalition government, JD(S) did not transfer power to BJP as promised after being in power for 20 months," the party said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy slammed BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa for building pressure on him by announcing a statewide bandh by the party today. I know how you (Yeddyurappa) served the state twice as chief minister. Give us your suggestion. I will implement it. I don't need your politics of agitation," he said.

Security has been tightened across Karnataka in the wake of bandh call given by the BJP. Police said instructions have been given to top officials in all districts to deal firmly with people forcibly closing shops, schools, colleges, government offices and other commercial establishments.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:12 [IST]
Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire []
PM Modi at G20 extraordinary summit: Need to ensure Afghan territory not used for terrorism

Committed to farm loan waiver, else will retire, says Kumaraswamy

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said he is committed to waive farm loans or else he will retire from politics.

The JD(S) leader, who was sworn-in as Karnataka chief minister last week after the Congress extended unconditional support to his party, said he is ready with the guidelines on farm loan waiver, details of which will be disclosed on Wednesday.

Kumaraswamy was talking to reporters in the national capital today after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I have clearly said that I will waive farm loans. I had promised during election that I will do it in 24 hours. That is true. At least you should give time to breathe. Today, I have limitations."

"If I don't do it, have clearly said that I will retire from politics and I will resign as chief minister. Why cannot you wait for some time?," Kumaraswamy told reporters.

"The guidelines to waive farm loans have been kept ready. They will be shared before the public on Wednesday in Bengaluru," he told reporters.

Kumaraswamy also discussed the issue of shortage of coal for the state's thermal power plants. He said he had sought cooperation of the Centre for the development of the state.

"I discussed current problems especially shortage of coal for three thermal plants at Raichur, Yaramaras and Bellari in the state. I requested him to ensure sufficient coal supply to these thermal power plants. The current availability of coal in the state is sufficient to operate the plants for 15 days," he told reporters after the meeting.

He said, besides coal, several other matters were also discussed. "The Prime Minister gave suggestions from his political experience as CM and PM on how to run the government," Kumaraswamy said.

"It is customary for the new Chief Minister of any state to call on the Prime Minister, soon after assuming office, in our federal set up," the Chief Minister told reporters on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi left for the latter's medical check-up abroad. The trip has further delayed portfolio allocation in Karnataka on hold as leaders of both parties are yet to strike a deal.

"Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don't get too worked up...I'll be back soon! (sic)," the Congress president wrote on Twitter before leaving.

The Congress and the JD(S) are at loggerheads over the allocation of key portfolios such as Finance, Home, Public Works Department (PWD) and Power, Irrigation and Urban Development.

The Congress is waiting for the JD(S) to come out with its list of portfolios. Yesterday, JD(S) leader and chief minister HD Kumaraswamy admitted that there were some "issues" over the allocation of portfolios with the coalition partner.

On May 23, Kumaraswamy and G Parameshwara of the Congress took oath and chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively. In addition, it has already been decided that Congress would have 21 ministers and JD(S) 11 in the new council of ministers.

The sources said that the Congress demanded finance as in the previous coalition government in the state in 2004-06 (JDS-Congress) as well as in 2006-08 (JDS-BJP), the portfolio had gone to those who held the deputy chief minister's post.

There is also discussion and demand that the party should induct new faces in the cabinet.

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah who was in the national capital held talks with ministerial aspirants here. Yesterday, the Congress president held the first round of discussion on portfolio allocation with senior party leaders of the state, but the meeting remained inconclusive.

Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara, senior leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge and DK Shivakumar as well as state party in charge KC Venugopal were present at the meeting.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)
A day before its debut in stock market, Zomato's app and website crashed

Why we browse Facebook when we want to take a break

Karnataka: Kuvempu University's official website hacked, reads, 'Pakistan Zindabad'

India

oi-Madhuri

The official website of Kuvempu University was on Monday reportedly hacked by a well-known Pak-based hacker, Hunter Bajwa. The Website defaced with messages such as - 'Pakistan Zindabad'.

However, Varsity Vice-Chancellor Professor Jogan Shankar confirmed the incident. However, it was later restored.

Bajwa's team is suspected to have hacked hundreds of Indian website over the years. On its Facebook page, the group has claimed to have hacked 530 websites.

Indian and Pakistani hackers have been engaging in this kind of 'cyber war' for more than two years now, for the most part as small groups or working solo. The attacks of choice usually involve breaking into and defacing government websites of the other country, though they also occasionally target those of colleges and NGOs as well.

This cyber war came to a head in September 2015, when a Kerala government website was hacked. In retaliation, Indian hackers banded together to begin #OpPak, where at least 227 Pakistani websites were breached and defaced.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 16:18 [IST]
Karnataka: Portfolio allocation delayed as Rahul, Sonia travel abroad

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Allocation of portfolios for the newly sworn-in JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka will be delayed further as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is travelling abroad with her son and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

The meeting to decide on the portfolio allocation has been postponed for a week as Sonia Gandhi is travelling abroad with her son tonight for health check-up.

"The meeting is most likely to be held on June 4-5," sources said.

The Congress and the JD(S) are at loggerheads over the allocation of key portfolios such as Finance, Home, Public Works Department (PWD) and Power, Irrigation and Urban Development.

The Congress is waiting for the JD(S) to come out with its list of portfolios.

Yesterday, JD(S) leader and chief minister HD Kumaraswamy admitted that there were some "issues" over the allocation of portfolios with the coalition partner.

On May 23, Kumaraswamy and G Parameshwara of the Congress took oath and chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively.

In addition, it has already been decided that Congress would have 21 ministers and JD(S) 11 in the new council of ministers.

The sources said that the Congress demanded finance as in the previous coalition government in the state in 2004-06 (JDS-Congress) as well as in 2006-08 (JDS-BJP), the portfolio had gone to those who held the deputy chief minister's post.

There is also discussion and demand that the party should induct new faces in the cabinet.

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah who was in the national capital held talks with ministerial aspirants here.

Yesterday, the Congress president held the first round of discussion on portfolio allocation with senior party leaders of the state, but the meeting remained inconclusive.

Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara, senior leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge and DK Shivakumar as well as state party in charge KC Venugopal were present at the meeting.

Responding to questions on "cracks" in the Congress-JD(S) coalition, AICC spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohail said that when there is internal democracy, partners have a right to raise issues and these cannot be termed as "cracks".

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 7:24 [IST]
Mansarovar Yatra: Swaraj rubbishes allegation that Chinese prevented pilgrims from taking 'holy dip'

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday rubbished the allegation that Chinese authorities prevented pilgrims from taking a dip in the Mansarovar Lake, which is considered holy by the Hindus.

It was earlier reported that devotees at Kailash Mansarovar alleged that Chinese authorities are not allowing them to take holy dip in the Mansarovar Lake. When asked to comment on this, Swaraj said that there is a designated place to take the holy dip, adding, "You cannot take the dip just anywhere in the river."

"I got a tweet from someone who was visiting Mansarovar that they were not being allowed to take holy dip in the Mansarovar jheel. This wasn't the situation. There is always a designated place where you can take a bath, you cannot take dip just anywhere in the river," she said.

China had shut down the Nathu La pass in Sikkim and denied entry to the Kailash Mansoravar (located in Tibet) pilgrims last year due to the 73-day-long standoff in Doklam between the Indian and Chinese over the construction of a road.

When asked about the the situation in Doklam near Sikkim, the Minister said, "I am repeating again, at the Doklam faceoff site there is no change in the situation, status quo is continuing."

Kailash is a mountain peak located near Manasarovar lake in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and is considered holy by the Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva. It also holds religious significance for Jains and Buddhists. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra, one of the toughest pilgrimages in the world, draws hundreds of pilgrims every year.

[Mansarovar Yatra: Pilgrims accuse China of not allowing them to take holy dip]

The tour is organised by the MEA each year between June and September in cooperation with the government of People's Republic of China through two different routes - Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim). After crossing over the Nathu La pass, Indian pilgrims are ferried by Chinese transport to Kailash.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 16:37 [IST]
Meet Punes Doctor for Beggar, who treats poor, homeless for free

Feature

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

Mumbai, May 28: Here we have one more real-life "hero", a doctor from Maharashtra's Pune who has been treating beggars and homeless for several years now.

Six days a week, Abhijeet Sonawane, hit the roads of the bustling city and treats poor and ill who have no roof over their heads. The medico has also built a mini-clinic on his motorcycle which he rides while on duty to treat the needy, disadvantaged patients in the city.

The mini-clinic is equipped with basic medicine and equipment to help him deliver his duty. In case a patient has a serious malady, he takes him/her to a hospital and bears the cost of treatment too.

If you are interested to find Sonawane, who is a messiah for the poor and beggars, you can find him treating patients on the streets of the city wearing his ubiquitous white apron "Doctor for Beggar".

Talking to ANI about his mission to bring healthcare facilities to the abandoned people, Sonawane said, "This is my way of giving back to society."

"While treating these people, I build a rapport with them and then I try to convince them to quit begging and do some kind of work. I also assure them of my support in all forms," he added.

#Maharashtra: Pune based doctor treats beggers for free, says, 'this is my way of giving back to the society. While treating these people I build a rapport with them & then try to convince them to quit begging & do some kind of work. I also assure them of my support in all forms' pic.twitter.com/kijFz0OFm5  ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2018

Based on his experience of treating beggars for so many years, Sonawane said, "These elderly people are generally the ones who have been abandoned by their families and they have no option but to beg. I not only do their check-up but also give them free medicines which I carry with me. I do this from 10am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday."

These elderly people are generally the ones who have been abandoned by their families & have no option but to beg. I not only do their check up but also give them free medicines which I carry with me. I do this from 10am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday: Dr.Abhijeet Sonawane pic.twitter.com/qoriWgCxLk  ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2018

While his poor patients hail him as "godsend", the doctor says helping beggars helped him to find a purpose in life.

Sonawane, who started his medical career by treating patients in a village, told ANI. "I didn't have any money. I wasn't employed at any hospital. So I knocked on doors and asked them if they had any sick person at home. I was soon losing my sense of purpose. I was going off track, and then I met a beggar family who helped me find an aim. Later, when I became financially stable, I thought of helping beggars so that they too find an aim in life."

He also has an advice to end the practice of begging across the country and bring dignity and purpose to the lives of poor and deprived.

"I urge everybody to treat these people as human beings and not to give them money as that way they are making them dependent on them. They should instead help them find work," he said.
Mulayam Singh Yadav seeks more time to vacate govt bungalow

India

oi-Madhuri

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav has sought a two-year extension from the UP government to vacate his bungalow. He cited age and ill health in his letter.

The development comes days after the department served notice on him and five other former chief ministers, asking them to vacate their government bungalows within 15 days following a Supreme Court order.

On May 7, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 (3) of the UP Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2016, that allowed former chief ministers to stay in government bungalows. The top court said that such a legislation was "arbitrary, discriminatory and unsupported by the Indian Constitution".

As many as six UP CMs were served eviction notice by the state government on May 18 after the apex court annulled a state law that allowed former UP CMs to occupy government accommodations.

On May 17, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government had issued notices to at least six former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers, including those from the BJP, to vacate their official bungalows in Lucknow within 15 days. They are Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Rajnath Singh.

On May 21, former chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Maywati appeared to have defied the Supreme Court's order after a signboard declaring the government bungalow allotted to her as a memorial was seen. The sign said the building was now the Sri Kanshiram ji Yadgar Vishram Sthal (Sri Kanshi Ramji Memorial Rest House).

(with PTI inputs)

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 12:59 [IST]
Nipah Virus: Will get a report on possible impact and take action to control- Karnataka CM

Nipah virus: 25-year-old suspected patient in Mangaluru, samples sent to Pune for test

Nipah virus: Death toll rises to 14 in Kerala, sales of fruits plummet

India

oi-Madhuri

The death toll of the Nipah Virus outbreak that has put Kerala on high alert over the last two weeks has reached 14. One more death was reported in Kerala's Calicut due to Nipah Virus on Sunday.

Nine people suspected of carrying the virus have been admitted to Kozhikode Medical College, reported Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi.

State Minister of Health and Social Welfare K K Shailaja said on Sunday that the health department has put at least 175 people, including family members of those infected by the virus, under observation.

Most cases have been reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram and fresh instances of Nipah virus have come down.

Last week, following the rising cases of the virus, the state's health department issued an advisory for people traveling to the state and urged travelers to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.

Meanwhile, the fruit sellers are severely affected by the outbreak of the virus. Their sales have gone down as people are avoiding buying fruits fearing they may be infected.

For those unversed, Nipah virus, spread by fruit bats, causes communicable disease and is fatal for both animals and humans. The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory illness, disorientation and mental confusion. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 11:44 [IST]
Opposition unity against Modi govt: Are anti-BJP forces building castles in the air?

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

New Delhi, May 28: Last week, during the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru, the Opposition sent a strong message to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

In a show of strength and unity, top leaders of almost all the major opposition parties (mostly the regional ones) came together in the IT hub and formally kick-started their joint campaign against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime at the Centre for the all-important 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The unity of a motley group of political parties, a few of which were with the BJP till recently but had bitter breakup over disagreements, has got mixed responses. While those who support the idea that the joint Opposition can only defeat the BJP in the General elections (likely to take place in April-May next year) welcomed the coming together of all the "anti-BJP forces", the BJP has mostly mocked at its rivals by calling their attempts "unholy" and "opportunistic".

As the BJP has been on a winning spree, capturing one state after another in a series of elections held in the last four years, the Opposition, especially the Congress, has been pushed to the margins. Under such circumstances, some of the top leaders of the opposition parties in an attempt to save their future have no other option but to stitch an alliance, despite their own contradictions and ideologies.

The formula that a joint Opposition can defeat the BJP first took shape in a concrete manner in Uttar Pradesh in March when the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) joined hands during the Lok Sabha bypolls. The coming together of the former political rivals paid rich dividends as two important Lok Sabha seats--Gorakhpur and Phulpur--earlier held by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Maurya-- were won by SP candidates supported by the BSP.

Then in Karnataka recently, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) alliance managed to thwart the BJP's attempts to form the new government after the state Assembly elections, which saw a series of dramatic events.

These two major political developments have given hope to the opposition parties that if they stay together they could manage to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Now, the question is that whether or not the unity among the "anti-BJP forces" will last till the next year.

The comment made by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) minister Kalava Srinivasulu on Sunday that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is not acceptable to the party as the prime ministerial candidate of a "united front" in case it comes into being before the 2019 polls showcases that a lot of differences need to be ironed out if the opposition parties want to fight the BJP.

Senior BJP leader and Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday said that the Opposition unity during the swearing-in ceremony of Kumaraswamy was nothing but attempts on the part of the "anti-BJP forces" to build castles on sand.

"Karnataka mein shapath grahan ke dauran jin logon ne ekta ka pradarshan karne ka prayas kiya tha wo bhurbhuri zameen par ret ka mahal banane jaisa prayaas hai (During the swearing-in ceremony in Karnataka recently, those who showcased unity simply attempted to build castles on sand)," Bihar deputy CM said at an event in Patna, indicating that the Opposition unity has a very weak foundation and won't last for long.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Modi added that the grand old party can't live without power. "It once ruled the nation but is now confined to three-four states. Wo kshetriya dalon ki poonch pakadkar satta tak pahuchna chahti hai (The Congress wants to grab power by holding the tail of the regional parties). The Congress is scared of Narendra Modi and went down to 78 from 122 seats in Karnataka and is celebrating as if they have won," Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.

"The DMK, the AIADMK, the TDP and others who were in power with the BJP at some point of time...when they came with the BJP they said they were forming the government with the BJP in the interest of the nation. When they have to oppose the BJP they said they were opposing in the name of secularism," he added.

Prime Minister Modi in Cuttack, Odisha on Saturday said that the Opposition unity was a drama to save corrupt leaders.

Only time will tell what kind of role the opposition parties will play in the coming days. Till then, the unity among them looks intact and the BJP seems to be little nervous about it.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 9:20 [IST]
Pakistan intruder with medicines and cash nabbed at border

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

BSF sleuths today nabbed a Pakistani intruder from an area close to Jalloke border outpost along the International Border in Ferozepur Sector. The intruder was identified as 32-year-old Mohammed Asif, BSF sources said.

An amount of Rs 1200 in Pakistani currency and some medicine was recovered from his possession, they said.

BSF sources say that it is unclear why he had strayed into the Indian side. He is being questioned and the truth would come out post that, the source also added.

The BSF has been on a state of very high alert following intelligence inputs suggesting that there could be large scale infiltrations. The IB has warned of a major influx by terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad who are trying to increase their numbers in Kashmir.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 14:40 [IST]
Relief for AIADMK: Madras HC dismisses DMK plea to disqualify OPS and 10 other MLAs

Cyclone Gaja: 'Will seek financial aid from Union Govt, says TN CM Palaniswami

Panneerselvam in Thoothukudi to meet people injured in anti-Sterlite protest

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam arrived at the government hospital in Thoothukudi on Monday to meet those injured in anti-Sterlite protest a week after the incident claimed 13 lives.

Panneerselvam and state minister D Jayakumar visited Collector's office where vehicles were torched by protesters during the protest.

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam and state minister D Jayakumar visit Collector's office where vehicles were torched by protesters during anti #SterliteProtests in #Thoothukudi pic.twitter.com/omxsT2xhpe  ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

A day before Chief Minister K Palaniswami doubled the aid to families of the 13 people killed in police firing from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, Tamil Nadu DGP TK Rajendran said internet services would also be restored from Sunday night in Thoothukudi, the nerve centre of the protests.

The government also increased aid for those seriously injured to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh and for those with minor injuries to Rs 1.50 lakh from Rs one lakh. According to PTI, the decision was taken after due consultation with retired Madras High Court Judge Aruna Jagadeesan, who is heading the Commission of Inquiry set up by the government to probe the violence.

The same day Tamil Nadu authorities lifted prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.

The months-long protest demanding the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi took a violent turn on Tuesday, 22 May, with agitators allegedly pelting stones and toppling police vehicles after they were prevented from marching towards the plant.

(With PTI inputs)
Tamil Nadu govt orders closure of Sterlite Plant in Thoothukudi

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

By Chennabasaveshwar

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Monday announced that a government order has been issued to permanently shut down Sterlite Plant at Thoothukudi.

A day before Chief Minister K Palaniswami doubled the aid to families of the 13 people killed in police firing from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, Tamil Nadu DGP TK Rajendran said internet services would also be restored from Sunday night in Thoothukudi, the nerve centre of the protests.

The government also increased aid for those seriously injured to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh and for those with minor injuries to Rs 1.50 lakh from Rs one lakh. According to PTI, the decision was taken after due consultation with retired Madras High Court Judge Aruna Jagadeesan, who is heading the Commission of Inquiry set up by the government to probe the violence.

The Chief Minister had announced on May 24 that the state government had been taking steps to close down Sterlite plant, through legal means.

State government has been taking steps to close down Sterlite plant, through legal means. #SterliteProtest  Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) May 24, 2018

Last week, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta group condoled the death of protestors in Thoothukudi in a statement issued from London.

In a video posted on Twitter, Vedanta Group Chairman, Anil Agarwal said, "Sad about what happened in Thoothukudi. The plant is closed because of annual shut down and we are waiting for clearance from the court and the government to restart the plant. We are strictly following the orders of the court and the government."
'Terror and talks cannot go together,' says Sushma Swaraj

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said India has held covered ministerial-level talks with 186 countries out of all the 192 countries present at the United Nations. Sushma Swaraj was speaking after releasing a book on MEA achievements in the last four years. Union Minister of State VK Singh and MJ Akbar were present at Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhawan, New Delhi.

Sushma Swaraj said, "I was surprised to hear that there were so many countries that our leaders didn't go to. When we formed our government, we thought that we will cover all the 192 countries present at the UN, for ministerial-level talks. And, we have covered 186 countries already."

[READ MORE: 4 years of Modi: Going beyond borders on rescue ops]

About talks with Pakistan, Swaraj said, "We never said we are not ready for talks, but there is a caveat. Terror and talks cannot go together, be it post elections (Pakistan general elections scheduled for July 25) or even before. Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon,to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti."

"90,000 people from Indian community have been rescued from various places. In his visits to many countries, PM has saved many people from severe punishments. Today, Indians living overseas are living peacefully," said Swaraj on being asked about the success of rescue operations abroad.

She further said that diplomacy for development and we have made this happen, adding till February 2018, 14 lakh crore investment has come to India.
Tracking the keypad jihadis of Kashmir

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

They are known as keypad jihadis and their job is to spew venom on the internet in a bid to provoke the people of Kashmir.

The police have registered cases against five Twitter handles and filed complaints with service providers against such misleading posts on Facebook and WhatsApp so that necessary action is taken at the earliest, officials have said.

The officials said a communication had been sent to the micro-blogging site for providing details of the Twitter handles so that punitive action could be initiated at the earliest as it would help in reining in what is called 'keypad jihadis'.

Police have laid special emphasis on monitoring the social networking websites and also various groups created on messaging services like WhatsApp, Telegram and similar such tools available on the Internet, they said.

The idea behind the crack down on 'keypad jihadis' was to ensure that police could concentrate more on nabbing or eliminating terrorists with real guns rather than those who wage war against the state machinery using keypads.

The officials said that post-2016, the misinformation campaign from some groups in Kashmir as well as in Jammu was at its peak with each party trying to project an incident for their political goals which had a potential of pushing the state to communal clashes.

They said the new battleground and a new battle is far removed from the conventional weaponry and the conventional fighting zones of the narrow streets and forests where new age jihadis use computers and smartphones to wage war from just about anywhere in the valley or outside, well entrenched inside their homes or out on the streets, from a nearby cafe or even just a convenient roadside.

"We have passed on several complaints to the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-IN) for blocking several pages on Facebook and Twitter," said officials, adding that many SIM cards which were used to spread canards on messaging services like WhatsApp have been blocked with the help of the service provider.

The immediate worry for security agencies is the forthcoming two-month long Amarnath Yatra, beginning last week of next month, and they fear that anyone, while just sitting from the confines of a home, can plant fake news in one of the thousand chat groups and the entire state can plunge into communal violence, the officials said.

They claimed there have been instances when fake pictures of desecration of shrines are circulated by a particular community and all of sudden there is an outrage when no such incident had taken place.

Similarly, in the valley, false news about firing and subsequent killing of civilians was circulated in an attempt to create unrest in other parts of Kashmir. However, timely action saved the day for the police and it was ensured that the culprits were booked.

There have also been instances of circulation of photo-shopped pictures of ordinary civilians as militants whereas the unknown victim would have been attending his daily duties. "We had many such cases including the one in Ganderbal where picture of a shopkeeper was circulated with an assault rifle as having joined a militant group."

"On inquiry we found that he was selling his groceries and one of his business rivals had played the mischief. A case was registered under relevant sections of Information and Technology act and the accused was arrested," a senior police official said.

"It is a virtual battleground where a bloody war is fought, but with words. However, this has an impact on the young minds," the officer said.

The social chat groups are active not just in Jammu and Kashmir. They are seeing participation from youngsters in the national capital, rest of the country and abroad as well.

In the valley, social media access had been controlled to a large extent after authorities clamped down on over two dozen websites but the problem in Jammu and other parts of the country continues.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:51 [IST]
From Yakub Memon to Afzal Guru: Here is what their last wish was before they were hanged

Why the ghost of Afzal Guru is set to return to the Valley

Feature

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The horrific Nagrota attack which was carried out on November 29 2016 was the handiwork of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the National Investigation Agency has said. The attack was significant in a lot of ways.

The Valley had been infested with the terrorists from the Hizbul Mujahideen. With the agencies getting wind of their operations, Pakistan had decided that it would need to launch both the Jaish and Lashkar-e-Tayiba in a big way.

Attacks in Uri and Pathankot had made it clear that Pakistan wanted its terror groups to focus entirely on Army installations in India. The brief was to avoid targeting civilians and go after the Indian Army. The attack at Pathankot was in fact the start of a major proxy war against India.

Through these attacks, the Jaish in particular wanted to immortalise Afzal Guru as well. Following the attack a note hailing Afzal Guru was found at the spot. A similar occurrence was noticed in a Kabul attack and also the one at Uri. The note that mentioned the name of Afzal Guru at the attack site was indication that the Jaish wants to rake up this issue yet again.

Sources say that this was an intentional effort to immortalise Afzal Guru as Burhan Wani following his death had gained immensely in terms of popularity. Seniors in the Jaish or Hizbul Mujahideen would like to immortalise Afzal Guru instead of Wani. They feel that Afzal Guru was a real champion of the Kashmir cause when compared to Wani who was nothing but a social media star.

The terrorist attack at the Army camp at Nagrota occurred on the 29th of November 2016 in which seven army personnel were martyred and three others were injured. Three Pakistani terrorists were killed in the operation and a huge quantity of fire arms, ammunition, explosives and other articles were recovered from the slain terrorists.

Preliminary interrogation of the arrested accused Syed Muneer revealed that the attack was carried out by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, a banned terror group, in furtherance of a well planned conspiracy from Pakistan.

The accused revealed that he along with other valley based JeM operatives were in touch with the JeM leadership in Pakistan and had received a freshly infiltrated group of three Pakistani terrorists from the Samba sector a day before the attack. They subsequently stayed at a hotel in Jammu and then left the attackers at Nagrota outside the Army camp late at night and proceeded to the Kashmir valley.

Intelligence Bureau sources say that the efforts to rake up Afzal Guru would not stop. The Jaish in particular would continue to raise this issue as he was part of their team which carried out the attack on Parliament. In the days to come the Jaish would also try and carry out recruitments in the name of Afzal Guru, the IB officer also said.
PM to interact with beneficiaries of SVAMITVA scheme in MP

Wife has right to know husbands salary says MP High Court

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

In an interesting order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has observed that a wife has the right to know her husband's salary.

A Bench of Justices S K Seth and Nandita Dubey made the observation while hearing the petition of Sunita Jain who had sought a higher maintenance amount from her estranged husband claiming that he was a senior officer with state-run BSNL.

Counsel for the petitioner, K C Ghildiyal, said Sunita Jain had pleaded that her estranged husband, Pawan Kumar Jain was drawing a high salary while she was being given a monthly maintenance of just Rs 7,000 per month. After a trial court rejected Sunita's plea that her husband produces his pay slip, she had filed a Right to Information plea to get his salary details.

The issue reached the Central Information Commission, which, in an order dated July 27, 2007, asked the Central Public Information Officer of BSNL to furnish the details of Pawan Kumar Jain's monthly remuneration, Ghildiyal said.

The husband, however, challenged the CIC order before a single bench of the high court which set aside the CIC order in March 2015.

Ghildiyal said that Sunita Jain then moved the double bench of the high court which observed that a wife was entitled to know the remuneration of her husband.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:19 [IST]
Sri Lanka won't be allowed to be used for 'any activity' against India: President Rajapaksa

Britain destroyed nearly 200 files on LTTE; spy agency role in Sri Lanka: Report

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

Great Britain's Foreign Office destroyed nearly 200 files on the rise of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the role of British spy agency MI5 and the Special Air Service (SAS) in the island-nation, the Guardian reported on Wednesday, May 23.

The destruction of the files means there is now almost no proof of the British government's work with that of Sri Lanka at the beginning of the infamous civil war, the report added.

The revelations raised more question marks over the British Foreign Office's approach towards handling sensitive files. In 2012, an official review found that the same department had allowed several documents related to British counter-insurgency operations in Kenya and other former colonies towards the end of the empire, the Guardian report added.

The Guardian report said while the government departments are obliged to preserve historic documents under the Public Records Act of 1958, when it sought information over the destruction of the files under the Freedom of Information request, the foreign office said it was not necessary to preserve the documents.

"It said the files' content "may be of a policy nature but might also be administrative or ephemeral," the report added.

The foreign office confirmed that it destroyed 195 files on Sri Lanka dating from 1978 to 1980 though it did not divulge the details. The civil war in Sri Lanka began in 1983 and went till 2009 when the LTTE was decimated and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran shot dead.

Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) received its independence from British rule in February 1948.

"Files not selected for permanent preservation would have been destroyed offsite by the company contracted by the FCO for this purpose," it said, the Guardian report added.

Experts were not pleased with this act. Rachel Seoighe, a criminologist and an expert on Sri Lanka at Middlesex University said the revelation was worrying for there is little public information available about Britain's involvement in the island-nation's security practices when the civil war started, the Guardian report said, adding that she even filed a complaint with Unesco, the international body that takes care of world heritage, over the matter.

The loss of these records is a bad news for Tamil historians, who found it tough to protect the documents throughout the civil war, the Guardian report added. It also mentioned about the burning down of the famous Jaffna library in 1981 by anti-Tamil groups which destroyed almost 1,00,000 documents including valuable ancient texts.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 8:38 [IST]
A change of guard in the ISI and what it would mean

Will come back to haunt you: Jaishankar in veiled reference to Pakistan

Forced to test nukes due to hostile posturing by India says Pakistan

International

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Pakistan claimed it was forced to test nuclear weapons two decades ago due to hostile posturing by India.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal issued a statement on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the May 28, 1998 nuclear tests, while insisting that the testing of atomic bombs by India eliminated chances of a nuclear weapons-free South Asia.

Pakistan was forced to take that decision as a response, in self-defence, to the nuclear tests and accompanying hostile posturing by its neighbour. These developments unfortunately put an end to the prospect for keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons - an objective which Pakistan had actively pursued, he said, hinting at India.

India conducted a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions at the Pokhran in May, 1998, which was soon followed by Pakistan's tests.

The spokesman said that despite the nuclear testing, Pakistan remained steadfast in its commitment to non-proliferation and global peace and strategic stability and demonstrated utmost restraint and responsibility in the stewardship of its nuclear capability since 1998.

It is committed to the principle of credible minimum deterrence and has persistently sought deterrence stability in the region, he said.

Faisal also said that this objective has driven Pakistan to offer and conclude several confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the nuclear and conventional domains, including the 2004 Pakistan-India Joint Statement which recognised the respective nuclear capabilities of the two countries as a factor for stability.

He said that as one of the most affected countries due to the impact of climate change, Pakistan plans to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 40,000 MW by 2050, as a clean and cost-effective alternative to fossil fuel.

Pakistan has consistently signaled its willingness to consider further measures for risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the region, according to the spokesman.

He also said that Pakistan was confident of its ability to deny space for any misadventure against the backdrop of rapidly expanding nuclear and conventional forces in its neighbourhood and pursuit of aggressive security doctrines and developing force postures.

The nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean and canesterisation of ballistic missiles in our neighbourhood should be a matter of concern for the international community as well, since these developments have extra-regional ramifications, he said.

He said Pakistan while recognising its responsibilities, had developed over the years a robust command and control system led by the National Command Authority, and effective nuclear safety and security regimes and export controls.

He said Pakistan looked forward to expanding the scope of its international collaboration in nuclear power generation for meeting the legitimate socio-economic development needs of its people.

As a country with advanced nuclear technology, Pakistan seeks to play its role as a mainstream partner in the global non-proliferation regime, he said.

He said Pakistan had expressed desire to join the multilateral export control regimes and already applied for participation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) based on non-discriminatory criteria applicable in a fair manner to all non-NPT states.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 7:50 [IST]
A change of guard in the ISI and what it would mean

Will come back to haunt you: Jaishankar in veiled reference to Pakistan

Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk to be the caretaker prime minister

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Ahead of the general elections in July, former Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk was on Monday named as the caretaker prime minister of the Islamic nation.

The term of the current government will expire on May 31 and the new government will be formed within 60 days. During this period a neutral government having bipartisan support is set up, according to the law.

The announcement was made after a meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah in Islamabad. Abbasi said that Mulk is a candidate for for caretaker PM as he is someone "who no one can object to", reported The Dawn.

"All the names under consideration were credible..Every name was discussed, and this name was decided upon," Dawn report quoted Abbasi as saying.

Last week, Khursheed Shah, who belongs to Pakistan Peoples Party, had said that he held five rounds of talks with Abbasi to form a consensus, but they could not agree on a single name.

The job of the caretaker PM is to keep the country running between the dissolution of parliament and the new government being sworn in.

Pakistan's Election Commission on May 21 proposed July 25-27 as possible dates for holding the general elections in the country.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 14:37 [IST]
India, US have 'one mind, one approach: US Deputy State Secretary on Afghanistan

Hope India, US will be able to resolve differences over S-400 deal: Sherman

Former US president George H W Bush, 93, hospitalised again, says spokesperson

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

Former US president George H W Bush was re-admitted in hospital on Sunday, May 27, with blood infection and fatigue, his spokesperson Jim McGrath informed on Twitter, saying he would remain under observation at Southern Maine Health Care, Maine, for a few days now. Bush, who will turn 94 on June 12, has been getting admitted often due to illness and his latest release from hospital was just three weeks ago.

"The former president is awake and alert, and not in any discomfort," McGrath posted on Twitter.

Bush, who served as the 41st president of the US, was at a hospital in Houston, Texas in late April and early May, immediately after his spouse Barbara Bush passed away on April 17 at 92. They were married for 73 years. Their eldest son George W Bush also went on to become the president of the US in 2001.

Bush was down with an infection at that time which spread to his blood and left him in the intensive care. The former president is a patient of Parkinson's and wheelchair-bound.

George H W Bush served only one term as the president (1989-1992) and it was during his tenure that the US had gone to the Gulf War of 1990-91 against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for invading Kuwait.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 13:20 [IST]
A change of guard in the ISI and what it would mean

Gilgit-Baltistan Order: Pak rejects Indias objection but faces domestic protests

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

Pakistan on Sunday, May 28, rejected India's protests against its Gilgit-Baltistan Oder 2018, saying the latter's "baseless propaganda" about the area could not cover up "atrocities being perpetrated by Indian forces against innocent and unarmed Kashmiris", Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported.

"The government of Pakistan categorically rejects India's protest against the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and its claim over the Indian occupied state of Jammu and Kashmir as an 'integral part' of India," the Dawn report quoted a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Faisal as saying on Sunday.

Saying the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir was a "disputed" territory, the spokesman added the disputed status was enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that stipulated that the final status of the state would be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite administered by the UN. Dawn added.

He said the resolutions standing for the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir were accepted by India, Pakistan and the international community and asked India to take steps to "vacate its illegal occupation and create conditions for faithful implementation of the UNSC resolutions" and not indulge in "frivolous protests" and issue "legally untenable and uncalled for statements", the report said.

What is Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018?

On May 21, the government of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) government formally promulgated the Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018 replacing the GB Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009, paving way for devolution of more administrative authority and financial powers to the area. The order, approved by the Pakistani cabinet, shifted powers of the Gilgit Baltistan Council to the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly, entrusting it with authority to enact law on mineral, hydro power and tourism sectors.

Pak faces heat at home

Though the Pakistani establishment was criticising India over its objection to the order, protests broke out in 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday against the order as the angry opposition called it anti-people, Pakistani media reported.

The local residents boycotted economic activities and staged protests while the opposition members raised a storm in the Gilgit Baltistan assembly. Lawyers, students and other people took to the streets to protest over the last three days.

According to the protesters, the new order was silent over the political and constitutional status of the area and called it a sham. People were also injured in clashes with the police while advancing towards the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly for a sit-in protest against the order. A couple of opposition lawmakers were also injured in police firing.

India protests

New Delhi called the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner to India Syed Haider Shah on Sunday to protest against the Pakistani government's order on Gilgit-Baltistan which also said that the area will enjoy the same rights as the country's four other provinces do.

The Ministry of External Affairs said any move to alter the status of any part of a territory which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan is illegal. It is being said that Pakistan is eyeing integration of the disputed territory with its land area to facilitate the passing of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 12:49 [IST]
Kim Jong-un is still committed to Trump summit: South Korean President

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday, May 27, said North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his commitment to "complete" denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and also the meeting with US President Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

The meeting was called off by Trump recently in the face of North Korea's "tremendous anger and open hostility".

Trump also hinted in Washington that preparations for the summit with Kim were under progress. The meeting is scheduled to be held in Singapore on June 12.

Moon and Kim had a surprise meeting, their second in a month, at the same Punmunjeom border village on Saturday, May 25, to work towards reinstating the scuttled meeting.

Moon said in a news conference in Seoul that he and Kim had agreed during their surprise meeting that a possible North Korea-US summit must be held successfully, the Reuters report added.

The two leaders had come up with a joint declaration after their historic April 27 summit pledging their commitment to end the Korean War which is technically on and also denuclearise the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyang thereafter was upset with the Americans issuing harsh words on its denuclearisation and also leading an air combat drill in the Korean Peninsula and pulled out of an official-level meeting with Seoul on May 16.

On May 24, as North Korea upped its angry tone, Trump cancelled the meeting. However, a day before he took the call, North Korea dismantled its only nuclear test site in Punggye-ri in front of international media representatives.

The South Korean leadership, however, did not lose hope even after the North slammed it and the latest instance of the two Korean leaders meeting again to reinstate the prospects of the summit says how serious the Moon government is to give peace a chance in the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said Kim expressed "his fixed will" over the possibility of the summit with Trump as it was previously planned, the Reuters report added.

North Korea did not retaliate after Trump cancelled the meeting and said it regretted the decision but still wanted to see the meeting taking place anywhere and in any form.

Moon returned from the US on Thursday, May 24, after meeting Trump where they spoke over keeping the summits on track.

He also conveyed the message of Trump's "firm will" to end the hostile relationship with Pyongyang and focus on bilateral economic cooperation, the report added.

He also urged both the US and North Korea to hold working-level meetings to resolve their differences, it added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:23 [IST]
A secret trip to an ISIS medical camp in Syria changed the course for this Bengaluru doctor

Bengaluru youth who joined ISIS suspected to have been killed in Syria

Syria: 26 regime forces; 9 Russian fighters killed in IS attack, says report

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

At least 26 Syrian troops and nine Russian fighters lost their lives in an attack conducted by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria's eastern desert earlier this week, a monitor said on Sunday, May 27, AFP reported.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attackers targeted a group of Syrian and Russian soldiers near Mayadeen town in Deir Ezzor province in eastern Syria on Wednesday, May 23, the report added. It also said that not all of the slain Russian fighters were government troops.

"There were 35 pro-government forces killed, including at least nine Russians. Some of those Russian nationals were government troops, but not all of them," AFP quoted Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman as saying.

Russia has backed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in the conflict which involves rebels and Western countries but there are reports that besides the Russian military, private Russian mercenaries are also operating on the ground as aides to the Syrian regime, the report added.

The Russian defence ministry also said on Sunday that four Russian servicemen were killed in clashes with militants in Deir Ezzor though it did not mention the precise date and location but according to the Observatory, it was the same attack which it mentioned, said the AFP report.

The defence ministry said two Russian military advisers "commanding the Syrian artillery" were killed on the spot while two other soldiers died later in a Russian military hospital, AFP added.

The ministry also said that 43 militants were killed in the fighting that lasted around an hour, the report added.

The AFP also cited the Russian defence ministry's statement which said 92 Russian soldiers have been killed in Syria since Moscow entered the country's unending civil war in September 2015.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:43 [IST]
UK must 'fully' leave EU customs union: Boris Johnson

International

pti-PTI

London, May 28: Piling further pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that Britain must be "fully out" of the EU customs union after Brexit in order to be a global trading nation.

"Now is our moment not to be less European -- we can do a great trade deal with the EU that will benefit both sides -- but to be truly global again," Johnson wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

Speaking after a long tour of South America, Johnson said countries in the region had been "emphatic" and told him: "If this is to work, we must come fully out of the EU customs union".

For Britain to be a "valid trading partner, then we must take back control -- as the PM has said -- of our tariff schedules, and do deals that are unhindered and uncomplicated," he said. With just one month to go until a critical European Union summit, the British government is deeply divided over its plans for future trade ties with the bloc after Britain's withdrawal.

Johnson and some other ministers have advocated a clean cut with what is currently Britain's biggest trading partner that would enable it to sign free trade deals with third countries.

But moderates have put forward a plan whereby Britain would collect tariffs on behalf of the EU for goods heading to the bloc and setting its own, separate tariffs for goods that do not.

The EU has instead proposed a "backstop" solution to avoid a border in Ireland under which Northern Ireland would remain aligned with and de facto still under the bloc's rules, but Britain says that would effectively create a border between the province and the rest of the UK.

A senior EU official last week said: "We have to do away with the fantasy that there is an all-UK solution". EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Saturday urged Britain to stop playing "hide and seek" in Brexit negotiations.

PTI
China distracted the world from Ladakh by opening up three fronts in South China Sea

US sends two warships near S China Sea islands claimed by Beijing: Report

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

In a move that could annoy China, two warships of the US Navy sailed near the islands in South China Sea claimed by China on Sunday, May 27, Reuters added. Two US officials told Reuters about the development at a time when Washington is trying to take credit for the peace initiative in North Korea.

The report said the latest entry of the American warships was to counter what the US perceives as Beijing's attempt to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic region.

The US officials, refusing to identify themselves, said the two vessels - Higgings guided-missile destroyer and the Antietam guided-missile cruiser came within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and other geographical features over which China has territorial brawl with its maritime neighbours, the Reuters report added.

The US warships' entry took place in the wake of Washington's withdrawal of an invitation to China to attend a major naval drill called Rim of the Pacific exercise or RIMPAC as a response to China's militarisation of islands in the South China Sea and Beijing regretted the move, saying shutting doors did not promote mutual trust and cooperation, Reuters reported on Thursday, May 24.

The US and China are already in the middle of a trade war and now, the fresh escalation of tension over the South China Sea is suspected to add more to it.

Satellite photographs taken on May 12 showed China appeared to have deployed truck-mounted surface-to-air missiles or anti-ship cruise missiles at Woody Island in South China Sea. Its air force also sent bombers on the disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea as part of a training exercise, causing worry in the Philippines and Vietnam, the Reuters report added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 6:27 [IST]
A change of guard in the ISI and what it would mean

Why Pak needs a caretaker govt during elections?

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

Pakistan on Monday, May 28, picked a former chief justice Nasirul Mulk as the country's caretaker prime minister after a lot of tussle. Mulk will oversee the governance after the current parliament is dissolved after May 31 and till a new government is formed after the July 25 elections.

This arrangement of having a caretaker government in place during the transition period between two full-fledged governments is still practised in Pakistan. It was also prevalent in Bangladesh since the mid-1990s to ensure fair elections but was done away with in 2011 by the country's parliament. Pakistan has also seen six caretaker prime minister since 1990 till the last elections in 2013 when Mir Hazar Khan Khoso served in the post between the transition of the elected governments of the Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim league (Nawaz).

But what is the need for this caretaker government which comprises unelected people and who can manipulate things to hurt democratic practices to benefit influential quarters? Does the exercise of a caretaker government make Pakistan's democracy successful?

Democracy Reporting International - a non-profit organisation which works on promoting citizens' political participation, accountability of state bodies and development of democratic institutions across the globe - Pakistan is the only country in the world which follows the caretaker system while preparing for elections.

The reason for this system is to ensure an environment fit for fair elections in the country and to ensure that the day-to-day functioning of the government doesn't get hit in the absence of a full-fledged government. The caretaker government is expected to act neutrally and not try to interfere in the electoral process.

Caretaker govt is against the spirit of democracy

In reality, however, the arrangement of having a caretaker government can defeat the very purpose of democracy.

First, a caretaker government is not a government of elected people and yet holds all the powers that an elected one has since there is no regulatory guideline on this matter in Pakistan at the moment. It is against the spirit of democracy.

Secondly, the caretaker government's decisions can prove to be inconvenient for the next elected government set to come in as it has to resort to legal route to reverse decisions taken by the caretaker government. In 2013, the Pakistan Supreme Court gave a verdict whereby all appointments, transfers and postings made by the caretaker government were invalidated, the Dawn reported.

The verdict came after PML-N's Khawaja Muhammad Asif filed a petition seeking reversal of various appointments and postings that the caretaker government of the year had put in place, the report added.

However, despite the country's 1973 constitution stressing and the top court's ruling that only elected representatives can run the state's affairs in Pakistan, no move has been made so far to put the caretaker government's functioning under a proper framework.

Thirdly, caretaker governments can also be manipulated by powerful actors who want to derail the democratic procedure and use the transition period to create problems for the state's functioning.

In India, there is no such official system of caretaker government as the departing government continues to look after the state of affairs under certain election codes of conduct and the incumbent chief executive resigns only after the election results come out. An acting prime minister might take over in case there is a sudden death of the incumbent.

However, in the past there have been confusions over caretaker governments of sort under Charan Singh, IK Gujral and Atal Behari Vajpayee since the Indian Constitution doesn't speak about caretaker governments but they were cases of exceptions in coalition rule and not the law in Indian democracy (even the Indian president KR Narayanan said in 1997 that the then government of Gujral was not a caretaker government and could use full authority with discretion), unlike in Pakistan where it is a ritual.

Pakistan needs to find a better alternative to its system of caretaker government if it wants its democratic functioning to have continuity and less risk of getting rigged by evil forces. At the moment, it has a vulnerable practice in place.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, May 28, 2018, 20:24 [IST]
Lightning Box Receives Green Light for Portugal

Published May 28, 2018 by Florin P

Servico de Regulacao e Inspecao de Jogos grants Lightning Box the necessary license to provide Portuguese players with access to their games.

Lightning Box was granted a license by the Servico de Regulacao e Inspecao de Jogos to provide Portuguese players with access to their games. The software developer is specialized in the creation of slots and will bring nine of its best titles to Portugal. Silver Lion, Stellar Jackpots-Chilli Gold x2, Stellar Jackpots-Serengeti Lions, Stellar Jackpots-More Monkeys, Respin Rhino, Dolphin Gold, Redroo, Mild Rockers and Blazing Goddess are on the list.

This could be just the beginning and local players could soon be able to enjoy their entire portfolio of games. This represents an important milestone for the leading multi-channel supplier of video slots. The company has the headquarters in Sydney and offers its popular games to players from all over the world. It has an impressive track record that spans over 14 years and an impressive portfolio of games.

Nine Popular Lightning Box Slots for Portuguese Players

In the wake of SIRJ granting Lightning Box the license needed to cater for Portuguese players, the latter can play some of these games. They will be offering access to their best slots the SG Digital platform and plan on expanding their footprint in Portugal. Peter Causley, Lightning Box Managing Director and Co-Founder was the one to break the news. He expressed his enthusiasm for getting the SIRJ license and the desire to release more games for Portuguese players.

SG Digital is a major games aggregator and one of Lightning Boxs partners. Through their platform, players from Portugal will be able to experience the thrills of the new slots. By acquiring the necessary license from Servico de Regulacao e Inspecao de Jogos, the software developer offers Portuguese players a legal way to play. While being in complete accord with the law, they also have their games checked for fairness by independent auditors so players can have a lot of fun risk free.
Disclaimer: If youre not prepared to swallow bitter truths, desist from playing the video you are about to see.

As you are already fully aware, we are in a crisis. It is looting season in Kenya as another wave of stinking corruption rot unfolds right before our very eyes.

Like ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi perfectly described it on Saturday, it is not corruption but well-planned looting of public resources.

And as Kenyans continue to come to terms and demand accountability for the massive looting in various government institutions, comedian Njugush has created a skit to remind the Kenyan voter that choices have consequences.

In a viral clip titled Kasirikeni Mpasuke, Njugush taunts us with some real talk, albeit in hilarious fashion- because only Njugush is capable of making someone sad and laugh at the same time.

Watch below.
American television talk show host Ellen Lee DeGeneres is the latest high profile tv star to visit Magical Kenya.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show host was spotted in Nairobi on Sunday, accompanied by her lovely wife, Australian and American actress Portia de Rossi.

The lovebirds were at the Giraffe Manor hotel -almost every tourists first destination in the safari of an adventure that is Kenya. Located in the heart of the capital city, Giraffe Manor together with its associated Giraffe Centre, serves as a sanctuary to a number of delightful but endangered Rothschild giraffes.

It also operates a breeding programme to reintroduce breeding pairs back into the wild to secure the future of the subspecies. This must have appealed to DeGeneres, a renowned animal lover and advocate, who was gifted The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund by Portia on her 60th birthday in January.

I love animals, and I want to protect them, especially when theyre endangered. We need these incredible creatures and they need our love and compassion to help save them, says DeGeneres on the wildlife funds website.

True to her words, the comedian showed her love and compassion by sharing her breakfast with a couple of gentle giants in Nairobi. Taking to social media on Sunday, DeGeneres shared with her over 78Million followers on Twitter and 53Million on Instagram, some moments of her enviable breakfast date with the famous treats-loving giraffes of the Giraffe Manor.

Just ordering breakfast on our vacation, she captioned a video of Portia making an order of pancakes and coffee. The video further shows two giraffes already snacking on their breakfast snacks fed by some of Ellens friends.

In another video, captioned Flirting with a giraffe, DeGeneres is seen feeding a beautiful giraffe as she gushes, your eyes are so pretty.

Here are some of those moments

Flirting with a giraffe. #giraffemanor #discoverthesafaricollection A post shared by Ellen (@theellenshow) on May 26, 2018 at 1:36pm PDT




Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.

From The Nation

Tom Perez has been a member of the Democratic Party's inner circle for a long time, as an elected official, a candidate, a gubernatorial and presidential appointee and the chair of the Democratic National Committee. He was one of the ablest members of Barack Obama's cabinet, developing a reputation as a secretary of labor who actually cared about laborers. He has a history of taking reasonably progressive stands on issues, and he has highlighted them as part of his work with the DNC.

Following the disastrous 2016 election, Perez campaigned to become the chair of a party that needed to change. In a contentious race, he was seen as the candidate of an embattled establishment, while Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison was viewed as the insurgent challenger. After narrowly winning, Perez tried to patch things up by making Ellison the deputy chair of the DNC and touring the country with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. More importantly, Perez signaled that he would reverse the reputation of the DNC as a tool of party insiders who were invariably biased in favor of establishment candidates and major donors.

At the heart of this effort was a commitment to remain neutral in primary contests that have now taken on an edge as a "battle for the soul" of the party. For years, grassroots activists have griped that the DNC put its finger on the scale in big-ticket contests -- to the advantage of predictable centrists and to the disadvantage of populists who proposed to expand the party's appeal by exciting the base. The frustration peaked in 2016, during the primary campaign between Hillary Clinton and Sanders, with Sanders backers complaining about everything from the scheduling of debates to the DNC's approach to resolving disputes over caucuses.

Perez said he was very serious about taking the DNC's thumb off the primary scale in 2018 and beyond. Acknowledging lingering concerns from 2016 -- some of which are being addressed by a Unity-Reform Commission process -- the chairman said in March: "We've got to make sure the process is fair in fact and fair in perception, so everyone feels like they got a fair shake." The vital thing is that people have confidence in the Democratic Party" and its nominating processes as "open to everyone."

Click Here to Read Whole Article
Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.



Julian Lin at the POLITICO podium before her arrest for fraud

(Image by Taiwan Civil Government) Details DMCA



The bond between international media house POLITICO and Taiwan Civil Government formed at the Inauguration Hub top-floor party where TCG picked up the tab was renewed in May 2017. TCG again sponsored a party for POLITICO, a reception to roll out POLITICO's Powerlist of movers and shakers in Washington.

Julian Lin, wife of TCG founder Roger Lin, stepped to the podium wearing a flashy necklace, since seized by Republic of China police in Taiwan. A charming and gracious Lin welcomed attendees to the POLITICO event.

Taiwan Civil Government has recently been accused by prosecutors of the Republic of China in-exile of being a fraud ring and running a financial scam based on political ideology. The ROC occupation government has governed Taiwan since it was installed as a caretaker by the United States after World War II. Roger Lin, one of Taiwan's more vocal proponents of Taiwanese independence, formed TCG modeled after the US military civil affairs manual. Lin's advocacy group is a government in waiting.

TCG issues identification cards, vanity license plates, has its own flag, has a paramilitary unit, marches in parades, and conducts training sessions. Said to number 60,000 members, TCG has been strategically spending money in Washington in an effort to influence prominent news organizations in favor of Taiwan independence.

ROC prosecutors claim the Lins were keeping money for themselves and have confiscated Julian Lin's jewelry. Prosecutors also claim the Lins were deceiving people by making them think Taiwan Civil Government had some special inside connection to the United States. However, the hefty sponsor bills TCG has picked up from POLITICO and other big-name media houses suggests ROC prosecutors should be paying more attention to events in Washington.

Perhaps Julian Lin should have been added to the Powerlist given her active advocacy for Taiwan which includes federal litigation in the District of Columbia and sponsoring media events. ROC prosecutors, if they attack TCG's assertions of US responsibility for the fate of Taiwan, would call into play the seventy year-old question of Taiwan's sovereignty. If the prosecution is based on TCG as a fraud then what of the TCG assertion of US responsibility for Taiwan? Were media houses like POLITICO aiding a fraud or were they duped? Or were they accepting TCG as a legitimate voice of Taiwanese independence?

POLITICO's silence leaves many questions unanswered including the key question, are the Lins fraudsters or political prisoners for their pro-US stance? While the answer is not in, the TCG spending in Washington is more suggestive of pursuit of a political agenda than a scam operation.


From archive.defense.gov: Rolling Thunder Roars Through Nations

(Image by archive.defense.gov) Details DMCA



Every Memorial Day weekend, thousands of Rolling Thunder members from Massachusetts and all over the country meet in Washington, DC for their annual Ride For Freedom.



The roar of the Harley-Davidsons past the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, WWII and Vietnam Veterans Memorials, and National Mall is a powerful reminder of the thousands of American POW and MIA service members who never made it home.



And for me, it's also a reminder of just how much one person can do to fight for something they believe in.



One of the first people who came to see me in Washington after I got elected to the Senate was a Boston locksmith named Joe, who was the former President of the Massachusetts chapter of Rolling Thunder. Joe had an idea to place an honorary chair on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol that would remain empty -- a constant reminder of America's prisoners of war and service members who remain missing.




Quicklink Not Found

Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them.



To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here.
Progressive Content Not Found

Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing.



To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here.
Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.

From Robert Reich Blog

I spent last week at a conference in South Korea, during which time Trump went from seeking a meeting with Kim Jong Un to cancelling it, then suggesting it might be back on.

"What does Trump want?" South Korean officials at the conference kept asking me. Notably, no one asked what the United States wants. They knew it was all about Trump.

Trump's goal has nothing to do with peace on the Korean peninsula, or even with making America great again. It's all about making Trump feel great.

"They are respecting us again," Trump exulted to graduating cadets at the Naval Academy last Friday. "Winning is such a great feeling, isn't it? Nothing like winning. You got to win."

In truth, the United States hasn't won anything, in Korea or anywhere else. After 15 months of Trump at the helm, America is far less respected around the world than it was before.

The only thing that's happened is Trump is now making foreign policy on his own -- without America's allies, without Congress, even without the State Department. Trump may consider this a personal win but it hardly makes America safer.

Some earnest foreign policy experts are seeking to discover some bargaining strategy behind Trump's moves on North Korea. Hint: There's no strategy. Only a thin-skinned narcissist needing flattery and fearing ridicule.

Trump got excited about a summit with Kim when he thought it might win him praise, even possibly a Nobel Peace Prize. He got cold feet when he feared Kim might be setting Trump up for humiliating failure. Now he's back to dreaming about the Prize.

The delicate balance in Trump's brain between glorification and mortification can tip either way at any moment, depending on his hunches. All international relations become contests of personal dominance.

He rejected the 2015 Iran treaty for no apparent reason other than Obama had entered into it. Trump couldn't care less that by doing so he has harmed relations with our traditional allies, who pleaded with him to stay in. And he's undermined America's future credibility. Why would any nation (including North Korea) enter into a treaty with the United States if it can break it on the whim of a president who wants to one-up his predecessor?

Ditto with the Paris climate accord. Obama got credit for it, so Trump wants credit for unilaterally sinking it.

Trump has demanded that America's nuclear arsenal be upgraded. Why? Since 1970, the United States has been committed to nuclear nonproliferation. What changed? Trump. A more powerful arsenal makes him feel more powerful -- "respected again."

It's not about American interests in the world. It's about Trump's interests.

Wonder why Trump promised to lift trade sanctions on ZTE, China's giant telecom company? ZTE has been trading with North Korea and Iran, in violation of American policy. Everyone around Trump advised against lifting the sanctions.

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 Smirking Chimp



LAUSD Names Philanthropist, Former Investment Banker Austin Beutner Superintendent Despite concerns regarding his lack of experience.

(Image by YouTube, Channel: CBS Los Angeles) Details DMCA



The Los Angeles Unified School District faces big problems. Magnet schools and second language programs have failed to slow declining enrollment; each of the 12,000 kids who pulls out this year means less state funding. The sprawling bureaucracy seems unable or unwilling to respond to chronic bullying centered in the elementary schools. L.A. United is in the peculiar position of raising its budget -- most recently to $7.5 billion -- while still having to cut back support personnel.

L.A. Unified requires strong, decisive leadership by an education expert in it for the long haul. The last thing the district and its 640,000 students need is a narcissist dilettante with one agenda: prettying up his resume. But that's what it's getting in the form of Austin Buetner.

The shadowy 58-year-old hedge fund billionaire and philanthropist, a self-declared political nonpartisan (but Bill Clinton ally) who began accruing his fortune making shady investments amid the ashes of the collapsed Soviet Union under Boris Yeltsin and co-founded the shady boutique investment and consulting company Evercore Partners, recently got the nod from the school board to take charge of L.A. United's nearly one thousand schools as superintendent. Scratch the thin surface of Beutner's resume, however, and what you find is a Hillary Clinton-like predilection for failing upward.

"Cynics might look at Beutner's conquest of Los Angeles -- the fastest takeover of a major global city since the Visigoths sacked Rome -- and suggest that Southern California's institutions must be awfully weak to keep seeking the services of the same finance guy," Joe Mathews sardonically observed in The San Francisco Chronicle. "They might question why he keeps getting jobs while only staying in previous ones for a short time (a year or so) and without producing a record of sustained success."

Beutner's first major foray into public service was as deputy mayor, but he only lasted a year at City Hall. He quit to run for mayor, but gave that up when it became clear that his candidacy had fewer takers than New Coke.

In 2014 Beutner, who had no journalistic experience and as far as we know has never even delivered a newspaper, was named publisher of The Los Angeles Times, following more than a decade of brutal budget cuts, declining circulation and diminishing relevancy. No one but the man himself knows why he wanted the job; Southland political observers theorized that he wanted to leverage the editorial page to run for mayor again or perhaps for California governor. To be fair, no one man could have fixed what ailed the Times after its long gutting -- but if such a miraculous creature existed, it wasn't Austin Beutner.

The problem as always for Beutner is that while he knows how to slap backs and twist arms in the toniest corridors of power, he has no natural political constituency amid the electorate. He "lacks" name recognition," the Times drily reported during Beutner's aborted 2011 mayoral run.

Disclosure: Violating journalism's traditional wall between the editorial and business sides of the operation, Beutner fired me as the newspaper's editorial cartoonist as a favor to his biggest political ally, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, because I had made fun of the cops. Overeager to please the fuzz, he even published a pair of articles about me that pretty much defined the word libel. I'm suing him and the Times for defamation and wrongful termination.

Beutner's dealings with the LAPD, whose pension fund purchased substantial shares of the Times' parent company during the short Beutner era, may be one of many moving parts of what school board member Scott Schmerelson, who voted against Beutner for the superintendent post, was referencing when he complained that the board majority failed "to exercise due diligence regarding Mr. Beutner's lengthy and tangled business affairs." Quoting Schmerelson, the Times lazily allowed: "Schmerelson did not cite an example, but Beutner, who is wealthy, has wide-ranging investments and a complex business background."

To say the least.

Just over a year after taking the helm at Times Mirror Square, Beutner brazenly attempted a failed boardroom coup to seize both the Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune from the clutches of the Chicago-based Tribune Publishing (now known as Tronc). The Tribbies were so appalled that they ordered him unceremoniously removed with his banker's box full of office supplies, turning off his Times email account so he had to send his farewell via Facebook.

Now this creepy dude is running the schools. Which prompts a few questions.

Beutner is loaded. He doesn't need the job. Why does he want it? (Although he's apparently not so much of a billionaire that he turned down the job's $350,000-a-year paycheck.)

Will he last more than a year this time?

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.

"We need to democratize our schools, not privatize them, giving educators, parents, and students more of a say in their school's decisions." - Alison Hartson

In 2001, Dianne Feinstein voted against the majority of Democrats in approving the Bush tax cuts. The state's senior Senator also voted "to grant President Bush the power to attack Iraq unilaterally." She "opposed the 1996 ballot measure that legalized medical marijuana" and Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill. Feinstein has also expressed "strong support" for the California Charter School Association (CCSA) and their efforts to privatize education.



(Image by Dianne Feinstein) Details DMCA



In the time since Feinstein uttered those words, the CCSA has spent millions on LAUSD School Board elections so that charters can now write their own rules. The CCSA opposed SB-808, which would have ensured that charters are accountable to the school district in which they operate, and SB-1362, a bill that would ensure that charters accepted similar numbers of students with special education needs as neighboring public schools. When the LAUSD School Board declined to renew the charter for some of the Celerity charters, the CCSA attacked. The LAUSD's concerns were proven correct when the FBI later raided Celerity's offices. How exactly does the CCSA differ from Betsy DeVos?

In her appearance before the CCSA, Feinstein bragged that she has "watched public education for the 40 years that [she] has been in public life." To gain an understanding of some of what she has learned during this period of time, I sent her campaign the following three questions related to federal education policy:

No Child Left Behind and the Every Student Succeeds Act both increased reliance on standardized testing within our classrooms. Do you support the rights of parents to opt their children out of this testing? Will you support efforts to end programs which encourage teachers to teach to a test? Federal legislation authorizes "Congress to contribute up to 40% of the average per-pupil expenditure" for mandated special education services. Unfortunately, this funding has never materialized. Will you lead efforts to adequately fund programs and services for those with special education needs? Do you support the NAACP's call for a moratorium on charter schools?

Unfortunately, no response was received from Feinstein. These same questions were also sent to Kevin De Leon, but he also did not answer. I did receive a response from Justice Democrat Alison Hartson. As someone who formerly taught in a classroom for ten years, it should not be surprising that her answers were very detailed:

Parents should have the right to opt their children out of this testing, and they need more of a say on the decisions that our schools are making. I began teaching shortly after No Child Left Behind was implemented. Veteran teachers warned me about how these tests were diminishing the rigor of classroom learning and removing teacher autonomy to determine what's best for their students. Still, I worked hard to remain open-minded about these requirements. Over the course of teaching for 10 years, I saw the pros and cons of standardized testing. Accountability is very important, but there are far better methods than the quarterly scantron tests our students currently take, such as the Montessori-style that includes the "whole child." Currently, though, in our public schools, we don't have time for a holistic test because our classrooms are overcrowded. Even still, the testing replaces several hours of teaching and counseling time for students due to the amount of time put into administering and taking the tests. More importantly, these standardized tests are not solving the problems our schools

face because the lack of rigor is not due to lack of testing or poor teaching; it's largely due to lack of funding and unequal funding, lack of localized decision-making for schools, and large class sizes. We are spending billions of dollars on this testing rather than on hiring more teachers, building more schools, and hiring more counselors. It is imperative that we put a focus on fully funding our special needs programs. One of our most misunderstood, underrepresented, and struggling group of students are those with special education needs. This group of students includes a wide-range. People tend to think of our most severely challenged students, but it also includes, for example, those with dyslexia or mild autism or hearing problems. I designed and taught an intervention program that was intended for students who have social or personal challenges (aggression, depression, etc). Often, students with special education needs were

enrolled in my class, even though they weren't supposed to be because they were undiagnosed or the school's hands were tied with where to put them. Those kids needed different support, and they deserve it. This lack of understanding from the state and federal government leads to a lack understanding at the school level, and it is very problematic. When the community (educators, parents, students) is not fully trained and supported in regards to the varying needs of our students, bullying significantly increases on our campuses. This is dangerous for everyone. Fully funding our special education community will translate into a more compassionate, safe culture on our campuses and on our streets. I do support a moratorium on charter schools, but it would have to be done very carefully now that these schools exist and there are mixed results. What is most problematic with the charter school movement is that our solution-based efforts to address challenges with our public schools are misguided by misdiagnosing the problem, which means we greatly risk making the problem even worse. The charter school movement has largely advertised itself as a movement to provide competition for public schools, to provide choice for parents and students, and autonomy for communities. The problem is that the challenges faced by public schools is not that they need competition, for this implies that they are simply lazy. That is not even close to what is happening in our schools. It also cannot be about parents and students needing a choice because this leaves many families out of that option when there are not enough charter schools for parents to choose from. This is one of a few ways that charter schools can lead to segregation. The autonomy that communities have for their charter schools is indeed appealing but can be problematic when considering what this may mean for the quality of teachers, curriculum, and employee bargaining power, to name a few. In some ways, charter schools have more accountability in that they have to re-apply for their license every five years and can be shut down if they don't meet qualifications, but studies are mixed on whether charters are helping or hurting our communities, or whether the results simply cancel each other out. Regardless of what the testing results show, my biggest concerns are segregation, pulling resources from our public schools, allowing private funding of the charters, and distracting us from being able to really focus on what our public schools truly need in order to improve. Our priority must be to provide quality public education for all children, stamping out discrimination, propaganda, and social stratification that is produced by economic disparities in our schools. Abandoning our public schools is not the answer because the problem is not the schools themselves. We must take a look at the underlying reasons for the challenges we face, such as teacher to student ratio and autonomy needed for local decision making.

She also added the following:

Of course, federal elections are about a multitude of issues and Hartson approaches many of these with a progressive viewpoint. As the National Director of Wolf-PAC, she has helped lead the effort to end corporate financing of our elections. She supports a Medicare-for-All Single-Payer program and an end to corporate welfare. It has been argued that her hard-hitting ad on Feinstein's position on marijuana pushed the Senator to the left on the issue.

Under California's jungle primary system the two top vote-getters will compete in November's general election. Feinstein is all but guaranteed to secure one of those spots. In one of the bluest states in the country, an actual progressive deserves the other.

____________________________________________

Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate, elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. During the campaign, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.

From Consortium News

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was on the stomp in San Francisco last weekend to promote his new memoir, My Country, My Life. He was met by a group of highly organized young protesters who were interested in a few facts that the former Israeli PM did not include in his new memoir.

"Ehud Barak gave the order to kill 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza, with 344 children dead," called out Lauren Holtzman, a member for Jewish Voice for Peace and one of those arrested at the event. "He declared the siege on Gaza, limiting food, medicine and water." Holtzman was referencing Barak's responsibility as Israeli Defense Minister for Operation Cast Lead, the Jewish State's bloody 2008-09 assault on Gaza.

In 2010, as prime minister, Barak launched a deadly attack against a group of international human rights activists heading to Gaza on a Freedom Flotilla that was meant to punch a hole in the punishing Israeli maritime blockade, and to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The flotilla was attacked by Israeli Security Forces and 10 of the unarmed human rights advocates were murdered by Israeli military gunfire.

The protest was intensified by the recent slaughters in Gaza of unarmed Palestinians. Barak's San Francisco book promo also came only one day after Nakba Day, the annual commemoration by Palestinians around the world of the violent displacement of 750,000 Palestinians immediately following Israel's formation on May 15, 1948. The word Nakba means "catastrophe" in Arabic.

Dennis Bernstein spoke with Lauren Holtzman on KPFA radio on May 17 in Berkeley, Ca.

Dennis Bernstein: As former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak promoted his new memoir at an event at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center (JCC) on Wednesday night. Members of Bay Area Arab, Jewish, LGBTQ and student communities repeatedly stood up to protest, condemning Barak for war crimes committed against the Palestinians. Joining us is one of those young protesters who had the courage to stand up and step forward, Lauren Holtzman. Could you tell us a little bit about what got you there last night?

Lauren Holtzman: Together with the Palestine Action Network, we wanted to make it clear that war criminals are not welcome in the Bay Area. Ehud Barak oversaw the massacre of thousands of Palestinians and the killing of unarmed human rights activists, which has led us to the terrible atrocities that Palestinians are facing today. He called Israel "a great success," but just on [May 14] alone Israeli forces murdered 62 people for marching, for making their voices heard, for their right to live in dignity and freedom, and for their right to return to their land.

DB: Could you describe what happened last night [May 16]?

LH: There were hundreds of people protesting outside the JCC. We brought 25 members of Arab, Jewish, LGBT and student communities with us inside the JCC to state that we do not believe that Ehud Barak should be here and that we do not welcome him. Palestinians should be free and should have the right to return.

Israel has turned Gaza into the world's largest open-air prison. They are unable to travel freely, to pursue an education or get medical treatment. Israel controls virtually all entry and exit. The war on the Palestinian people has been widely condemned as a war crime by numerous organizations, in particular Operation Cast Lead under Ehud Barak in 2008-2009. We want to make sure that he is recognized as a war criminal.

DB: Eighteen of you were arrested after you shouted down the former Israeli prime minister. Could you describe how that went down? Also, I am very interested to know what went on inside you as you took that very courageous action.

LH: Our courage in no way equals the courage of the people in Gaza who stand up for their rights and every day continue to be shot down for peacefully demonstrating. Inside we were met with violent reactions by some for exposing the war crimes that Ehud Barak is responsible for.

This could not happen in our name, for those of us who are Jewish, who are Arab, who are queer, for all of us who are part of the Bay Area. It is time for our communities to take a stand for justice, for equality, and for freedom for all people.

DB: What was the prime minister's reaction when you stood up and called him out?

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.

Article originally published in the Des Moines Register

By Robert Weiner and Ben Lasky

The "Comey vote" will not be repeated in November's midterm elections. Those who were undecided or only slightly leaning and then changed in the last weeks of the 2016 election -- after FBI Director James Comey announced a renewed Hillary Clinton email investigation, but not the Trump-Russia investigation also underway -- will not go Republican this time.

Iowa, where 48 percent of respondents of the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll in February said they will "definitely" vote for somebody other than Donald Trump in the next election, will be sharply watched as both a national bellwether, and of course as the nation's first presidential caucus state.

If there is any doubt that a "blue wave" is coming in the November congressional elections, the lack of the "Comey vote" might be the nail in the coffin.

Comey, whose wife, father-in-law, and brother-in-law are from Iowa, says it's "painful" to think that his decision to write a letter saying that the FBI was re-opening the Clinton investigation, 11 days before the 2016 presidential election, might have affected the race.

Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said on "Meet the Press" on Feb. 2, 2017, that the campaign polling showed Clinton ahead by 10 points in Michigan before Comey's letter, and that the lead evaporated the day after. He used it as an example to show it had a similar impact in other states key to the Electoral College that President Donald Trump won by close votes.

There is no midterm electoral college. Republicans will not be able to bank on a Comey letter to save them, while an uptick in the women, minority and youth vote could make the difference for Democrats.

A CNN presidential exit poll found that 25 percent of 2016 voters decided who they were voting for in October or in the final week of the campaign, with 48 percent voting for Trump and 40 percent voting for Clinton.

Trump supporters had already been chanting, "Lock her up" throughout the campaign. Those shouts got even louder after the letter. Comey gave those screams validity for voters who were still undecided. By the time Comey sent a second letter (two days before the election) to Congress saying the FBI had "not changed our conclusions" on the Clinton email investigation because the emails were not new and duplicated earlier ones, it was too late. The damage was done.

Democrats have been re-energized since November 2016. There have been 93 seats up for grabs in special elections, both at the state and federal level, since Trump took office. Republicans previously held 65 of those seats. Republicans now hold 47 and the Democrats hold 46.

Even when Democrats have lost special elections, there has been a 15 point swing from 2016. Trump won Arizona's Eighth Congressional District by over 20 points, whereas Republican Debbie Lesko recently won the seat by 5 points over her Democratic challenger.

Democrats have won in places that voted for Trump by a wide margin. Democrat Conor Lamb won Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, which had favored Trump by 20 points over Clinton.

Legislative seats are flipping. Democrat Philip Spagnuolo won in New Hampshire by seven points in a district that voted for Trump by 12 points.

The playbook from Doug Jones' U.S. Senate victory over Roy Moore, who was also hampered by accusations of sexual misconduct, is the one Democrats must and likely will use in November: getting people to vote Democratic who went Republican in 2016, and making sure people show up who skipped voting in 2016 altogether.

A January Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 51 percent of Democratic-leaning voters think it's "more important to vote" than in past elections, whereas only 34 percent of Republican-leaning voters feel the same way.

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.

Not that long ago on May 18, 10 students were killed and 13 wounded at Santa Fe High school just south of Houston, within its metropolitan area. The shooter was a student who, as can now be expected, had been bullied.

Of note in the data is the fact that Duwe's annual rate of mass shootings calculated per 100 million people was minuscule prior to 1965. For example, only three were recorded from 1950 to 1965. The rate rose to 0.52 from 1970 to 1979 , then skywards to about 1.44 per 100 million people annually from 2010. What has caused this rise? Well, everybody knows and nobody knows, meaning there is much anecdotal opinion but no serious research.

In a school shooting, a common narrative is the perpetrator was bullied but thousands of kids are bullied; what makes one into a mass killer? Psychiatric problems are another frequent component of a shooter's make up. Again there are millions with such problems but a microscopic few taking to the extreme of a killing spree.

While a trigger has yet to be found, opportunity is a clearer aspect. A putative mass shooter can only realize his hate into action if he has opportunity, namely, access to firearms.

While there may not be definitive research on such access and mass shootings in the US, we have conclusive evidence from Australia. After a mass shooting killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania, there was shock and disbelief in the country. Strict gun control laws soon followed. A mandatory buy-back of existing firearms led to the surrender and destruction of 650,000 weapons. The results are incontrovertible: From1978 to 1996, Australia had 13 mass shootings; since 1997, it has had none.

If quick action by a majority party can be an advantage in a parliamentary form of government, as in Australia, the US constitution takes the opposite view. Deathly afraid of tyranny, the founding fathers designed it to preclude hasty decisions. They also ensured the office of President is weak. And adding to his troubles, this officeholder is sometimes faced with opposition majorities in the House and the Senate.

Restriction on gun ownership can quickly hit the roadblock of the Second Amendment, buttressed as it is by the political muscle of the gun lobby. Ratified on December 15, 1791, this Amendment states in no uncertain terms, "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."

Some might argue a militia in the 21st century is outdated; the other side responds, it would constitute a powerful guerilla force. Should the Second Amendment be revisited? It's a tough question for politicians fighting elections. For the time being, Americans must live with the tragedy of over 36,000 gun-related deaths annually ... including a visiting foreign student named Sabika Sheikh, who along with the dreams of her modest Karachi (Pakistan) family, perished at the hands of the Santa Fe High School shooter.



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.

If one in five American parents couldn't figure out where their kids were, most people would rightly see the phenomenon as a crisis and a national scandal. Grandstanding prosecutors with visions of gubernatorial campaigns dancing in their heads would conduct mass parental perp walks. Legislators would boost their presidential aspirations by co-sponsoring legislation requiring universal implantation of GPS trackers at birth.

But when the same US government that postures as a better parent than real parents, crows over "extreme vetting" of immigrants, and announces separation of undocumented families as policy, loses track of 19% of unaccompanied refugee children placed in homes by the Office of Refugee resettlement, ORR is "not legally responsible." So says Steven Wagner, acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.

That's par for the course when it comes to government and responsibility.

For example, if I find myself in fear of a police officer and shoot him, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be held "legally responsible." But if that same police officer shoots me and then claims he was afraid because he thought my cell phone was a gun, the chances of any "legal responsibility" attaching are slim. If he doesn't just get a paid vacation ("administrative leave") before being "cleared" as having "acted in accordance with department policy," a court will likely find him not responsible under the theory of sovereign immunity (the idea that when a government employee is on the job, no personal liability attaches to that employee's actions).

Even when a government official DOES "accept responsibility," it usually reads as "OK, I've said I accept responsibility, now let's forget about it and move on as if nothing happened, and don't you dare mention it next time I'm up for promotion or re-election."

In 2002, US Secretary of State Colin Powell allegedly invoked "the Pottery Barn rule" -- "you break it, you bought it" -- by way of trying to get President George W. Bush to rethink the ill-fated invasion of Iraq.

Pottery Barn actually has no such rule, but when I was a kid a lot of stores sported signs saying exactly that.

Government doesn't have such a rule either, but it should.

A government employee who loses track of 1,475 children placed in his charge needs to to be fired -- at least. An investigation of possible criminal negligence doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Nor does a home visit by the area's Department of Children's Services or equivalent to make sure his or her kids haven't gone missing.

Even better, we could stop handing over so much power to government on the silly supposition that government jobs magically make the people who hold them smarter, more competent, or more responsible than us regular folks.
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.

Memorial Day any year in this country is a disgusting celebration of slaughter and torture for U.S. world dominance and empire. It is a weekend of propaganda and ceremonies to instill patriotism and train millions of people in blind support for whatever the U.S. military does.

This year it comes as the Trump/Pence regime is making serious moves toward war and consolidating a fascist regime: Mafia-like threats against North Korea, sanctions on Iran, enforced patriotism in the NFL, and horrific demonization and violence against immigrants, including children.

In the midst of all this, in Chicago there was an intervention that broke through like a breath of fresh air. On Saturday, May 26, the official "wreath-laying ceremony" that kicks off the biggest Memorial Day parade in the country was disrupted right as it began, with the Revolution Club Chicago chanting "1, 2, 3, 4, Slavery, Genocide and War; 5, 6, 7, 8, America was NEVER great!"

They kneeled on an American flag on the ground and handed the mic to an Army veteran of the Vietnam War who rebelled against the Army while he was in it, joining a movement of soldiers who were recognizing the crimes they were carrying out and refusing to fight.

He yelled out, and could be heard over the voice of the person opening the ceremony: "People you are being lied to! We [America] have never been the good guys. Look up My Lai massacre, 300 people murdered... torture, massacre again and again.... Carrying out torture and atrocities is not heroism." He pointed to the importance of soldiers who rebelled and refused to fight in America's wars, and said, "Humanity first, not America first."

The disruption got on the evening news and a short video was tweeted out by the Revolution Club. The next day the Revolution Club held a press conference about the disruption and announced the "America Was Never Great--We Need Revolution, American Crimes Memorial Day BBQ" in Chicago that is part of Revolution Club picnics across the country.

All of this is an application of what is in the working document for how to make revolution--HOW WE CAN WIN, How We Can Really Make Revolution. Taking up the tasks of what we need to do now to hasten the necessary conditions to go all-out for revolution, including "protest and resist the injustices and atrocities of this system, and win people to defy and repudiate this putrid system and its ways of thinking, and to take up the outlook and values, and the strategy and program of the revolution...."



Chicago, Memorial Day ceremony, May 25, 2018

(Image by RCP Publications) Details DMCA



(Article changed on May 28, 2018 at 16:22)

(Article changed on May 29, 2018 at 01:29)
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 National Memo

The year's first primaries and special elections for Congress and state legislature have shown 2018 is shaping up as a historic blue voter turnout, a cycle where a wave of new Democratic women could be elected, and a year where progressives will move from the sidelines into state and federal office.

But beyond these top-line trends, there appear to be deeper common threads among Democrats who are winning primaries and special elections. On top of communication skills, endorsements, funding, and other essential campaign ingredients, many share track records and careers helping others -- especially on personal health and household issues. Their campaign platforms typically begin there, starting with personal struggles and unfolding in concentric circles centered on people, while emphasizing the need for improved healthcare, educational opportunity, jobs, and economic stability.

It's incomplete to say the winners so far are pragmatic centrists or passionate progressives. There appears to be a big slice of first-person centered priorities in their biographies and current campaign agendas. Call it an empathy factor, which contrasts to loftier or more ideological rhetoric emanating from their local opponents, state capitals, and Washington. Although admittedly impressionistic, this observation is based on the statements of candidates running in 2018's primaries and special elections, both winners and losers.

A good example can be seen in last January's upset by Democrat Patty Schachtner in Wisconsin's 10th state senate district. The district is in the westernmost part of the state, closer to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, than to Wisconsin's major cities. Schachtner, the St. Croix County medical examiner, ran for a seat held for the past 17 years by a Republican. In her party's primary, she faced the statewide director of a non-profit group seeking to end the corrupting influence of money in politics, and a farmer/small businessman dismayed by cuts to education and environmental protection. Schachtner emphasized her work with law enforcement and community leaders on mental health and addiction, countering rising health costs, and the need for local job training options.

Her Republican opponents, in their primary, were an attorney/businessman and the owner of a large manufacturing plant. The attorney, who won the primary, emphasized that state government was never the answer and wastes money; he sought tax cuts, stronger gun and property rights. His opponent, the manufacturer, wanted to eliminate the state income tax, help retirees keep more money, and pledged to combat the ravages of opioid addiction.

Schachtner won the special election 55-to-44 percent, compared to her Republican predecessor's 63-to-37 percent victory in 2016, the same year that President Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the district 55-to-38 percent. That turnaround is typical of the blue wave many forecasters are predicting for 2018. However, this race's deeper contours can be seen in other contests around the U.S. with similar dynamics, positioning and outcomes.
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 Share Blue

Trump's latest attempt to sink the Russia investigation completely collapsed, even with his own party -- and he's very unhappy about it.



From pixabay.com: Trump loses it

(Image by pixabay.com) Details DMCA



Somebody forgot to tell Trump than the GOP's bigger-than-Watergate "spy" scandal flopped spectacularly on Thursday. Because on Friday he was still flailing around on Twitter, pushing the dopey narrative.

He's ranting and raving while his own Republican Party has gone quiet regarding its latest failed attempt to cover up for Trump.

Even the GOP's bumbling Inspector Clouseau, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), who's running interference for the White House on the Russia scandal, has gone strangely quiet in the last 24 hours. (Nunes has a long history of Russia-related flops.)

So instead of quoting Republicans on Friday about the supposed "spy" blockbuster, Trump was reduced to a three-tweet rant in the span of one minute, citing dishonest right-wing writers, still loyally clinging to the hollow tale.

"'Everyone knows there was a Spy, and in fact the people who were involved in the Spying are admitting that there was a Spy...Widespread Spying involving multiple people.' Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist Senior Editor But the corrupt Mainstream Media hates this monster story!" Trump exploded.

He's desperately pushing the notion that there was "Deep State" plot to undo his campaign in 2016, and subsequently one to undo his presidency. Republicans still can't produce any evidence to support the wild and reckless claim. Nor can they explain how, if such a conspiracy to sink his campaign existed, he managed to win the election.

On Thursday, Trump and the GOP were hoping for a breakthrough when the the Department of Justice held a pair of classified briefings in response to Trump's demand for an investigation.

But Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) both came out of that meeting with bad news for Trump.

"Nothing we heard today has changed our view that there is no evidence to support any allegation that the FBI or any intelligence agency placed a 'spy' in the Trump Campaign, or otherwise failed to follow appropriate procedures and protocols," Schiff announced.

Click Here to Read Whole Article
09:16

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he was at the 'mercy' of the Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka as his government had not received the full mandate which his party had sought in the assembly elections.

Ahead of his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfill it.

However, he reminded people that Janata Dal-Secular did not get an absolute majority, which meant he and his party were rejected by the electorate.

"The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farm leaders too and how much they supported me," he said

"Mine is not an independent government. I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state," Kumaraswamy said.

The chief minister said he has certain compulsions as a politician. However, he has absolutely clarity on the issue of farm loan waivers, he said.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party and other farmers' leaders, he said there was no need for any farmers' association to pressurise him (on farm loan waiver).

"I am one step ahead of you to work for the farmers. You need not have to ask me for my resignation over farm loan waiver.

"If I fail to do that then I myself will resign from the post. Farm loan waiver is my priority. Can't you wait for a week? Even the cabinet has not been formed yet," he added.

Kumaraswamy urged farmers not to take the extreme step of committing suicide and to wait for a week as he was in the process of finding a way out to waive loans, not just of cooperative societies,but also nationalised banks.

His remarks came in the wake of BJP's call for a state-wide bandh today, demanding immediate waiver of farm loans, as promised by the JD-S in their manifesto.





BJP state president had on May 25 announced a state-wide bandh on May 28 if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore were not waived by then. -- PTI
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.



Yebnah Refugee Camp

(Image by amillionwaystobe) Details DMCA



The split-screen TV image on May 14 was bizarre and horrific. On one side Palestinian flags flying against black clouds from burning tires, and tens of thousands of unarmed protesters, including women and children. Many were falling down dead or wounded from high-velocity live ammunition fired by Israeli snipers lined up along the border with Gaza. Fifty-eight were killed and upwards of 1350 were wounded by gunfire. There were no Israeli casualties.

On the other half of the screen: the opening ceremony of the relocated U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. This ghoulish scene included Jared and Ivanka Kushner making nice with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. Outside the embassy, according to Middle East Eye, "dozens of unarmed Palestinians [were] beaten and arrested by Israeli security forces. . ., eliciting cheers from Israeli demonstrators who came out to support the embassy's opening. 'Burn them', 'shoot them', 'kill them', the Israelis chanted."

The Palestinian multitude at the border fence between Gaza and Israel had two demands. The first was freedom from the world's largest open-air prison. Since 2007, when the militant Islamist party Hamas came to power, Israel has imposed an air, sea and land blockade on the narrow strip of shoreline that is Gaza. Its 1.9 million residents are rarely permitted to leave. The World Health Organization reports that "54 Palestinians died last year waiting for Israeli visas to allow them to leave Gaza for medical treatment." According to the European Council on Foreign Relations,

"Palestinians in Gaza receive as little as four hours of electricity per day, a reality that makes the operation of vital machinery, be they life-saving medical equipment or sewage treatment plants, a luxury. Medicine supplies are running dangerously low and food continues to be managed by Israeli "civil administrators" to allow a minimum amount in while averting starvation."

The unemployment rate is nearly 44%. Almost all of Gaza's drinking water is contaminated by sewage and salt. In 2012 the UN Country Team for Palestine predicted that Gaza will become "unliveable" by 2020.

The demonstrators' second demand was recognition of the 'right of return' of Palestinian refugees--descendants of the 700,000 Arabs forced out of their towns and homes in Israel during the violence accompanying the proclamation of the Israeli state on May 14, 1948. Palestinians call this event the Nakba (the "catastrophe"). It's as if the Trump administration wanted to maximize the insult to Palestinians by opening the American embassy in Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of their "catastrophe." There are 1.3 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, and millions of others in refugee camps in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

A bit of history will help explain the moral calamity that is Gaza. Since the 4th century C.E., Jews were a minority in Palestine (the area including present-day Israel, the Gaza strip and the West Bank). In 1878, according to the Ottoman Empire census, Palestine was 86% Muslim, 9% Christian and 3% Jewish. With financial support from the world Zionist movement in the late 19th century, Jewish immigration to Israel steadily increased in response to rising anti-Semitism in Europe.

As persecution of Jews intensified in the Nazi era, Jewish immigration into Palestine greatly accelerated. From 1932 to 1939 the Jewish population there went from 175,000 to 445,000 (from 17% to 30% of the total population of Palestine) with the encouragement of the British Mandate authorities. By 1948, when the Jewish state was proclaimed, the total population of Palestine had risen to 1,900,000, of whom 67% were Arabs, and 33% Jews.

With the end of the British Mandate the United Nations on Nov. 29, 1947 adopted a partition plan for Palestine. The Jews accepted the plan, while the Arabs rejected it, and war broke out between them. Jewish forces managed to secure their assigned area and successfully repelled invading armies of nearby Arab states.

These Arab states rejected the UN partition as one more example of European colonialism. In their 1944 Alexandria Protocol, they recognized the terrible wrongs inflicted on European Jews, but they argued that "there can be no greater injustice and aggression than solving the problem of the Jews of Europe by another injustice, i.e., by inflicting injustice on the Arabs of Palestine." Perhaps they remembered the promise of Theodor Herzl, the first president of the Zionist Organization, that the future Jewish state would be "a part of the wall of European civilization against Asiatic barbarism."

In the 1949 armistice the Gaza strip came under Egyptian administration, while the West Bank and East Jerusalem were incorporated into Jordan. In the Six Days War of 1967 Israel captured these territories. It annexed East Jerusalem and started introducing Israeli "settlements" into occupied Gaza and the West Bank in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the 1949 Security Council Resolution 242. In 2005 Israel dismantled its settlements in the Gaza strip and converted it into its present concentration camp status.

The current Israeli government seems to have no plan other than to let Gaza rot while swamping the West Bank with Israeli settlers. It doesn't try to hide its contempt and hatred of Palestinians. Ayelet Shaked, Netanyahu's 'Justice' Minister since 2015, published on her Facebook page this genocidal rant: "Who is the enemy? The Palestinian people. . .including its elderly and its women, its cities and its villages, its property and its infrastructure."

Netanyahu's policies will perpetuate Israeli insecurity and injustice to the Palestinians. We must stop enabling him.
Nevada Gun Owner Rights and Prison Reform Policies Issued By Nevada Governor Democratic Candidate John Bonaventura

Nevada Governor Democratic Candidate John Bonaventura

http://www.BonaventuraForNevada.com

https://www.reviewjournal.com/voter-guide-2018/#/candidate/john-bonaventura--438

https://www.facebook.com/John-Bonaventura-2007714286149542

http://www.BonaventuraForNevada.com

Nevada Governor democratic candidate, John Bonaventura, releases platform policies including gun owner rights, marijuana offender pardons and Nevada prison, criminal law and criminal justice reform issues.Las Vegas, Nevada  In Nevada prison reform news, Governor candidate, John Bonaventura outlines his campaign policies and platform issues including regarding criminal justice reform and prisoner rights on his official website. The John Bonaventura for Nevada Governor information and fund raising site can be seen at:Vowing to protect the constitutional rights of all Nevada citizens and make sure others follow both the US and State Constitution, Nevada Governor candidate, John Bonaventura, campaign addresses multiple issues including criminal justice reform and prisoner rights. This includes addressing how to stop filling up jails and prisons with people that don't belong there, how the system steals from people, starves them and makes them pay exorbitant rates for phone calls and food. In addition the issues that arise from private companies running prisons making money from incarcerating people and creating a need to unjustly fill prisons to remain profitable. Mr. Bonaventura aims to create laws and policies to stop enslaving the American people for profit, release people on a case by case basis and redo our current justice system to provide equal access to justice for all Nevada citizens.Marijuana Offender Pardons - The candidate will also pardon non-violent marijuana offenders that are still in prison under old laws to get them back to their families and reduce prison overcrowding and operation costs.Gun Ownership Rights - Mr. Bonaventura aims to protect the Second Amendment from abridgment. The Nevada Firearms Coalition Political Action Committee has given John Bonaventura an A rating.The John Bonaventura for Nevada Governor campaign also focuses Tax Reform to help Nevadans keep their hard earned money and foster a good economy. Stopping the corruption of Nevada elected special interest officials, in particular County Commissioners who circumvent the voters and violate our constitution and their oath of office are also addressed. Mr. Bonaventura has had direct exposure to the negative effects of allegedly corrupt County Commissioners who are accused of circumventing the voters and violating the Constitution. As Nevada Governor, John Bonaventura pledges to protect Nevada citizens by holding our elected officials accountable for violations of the Nevada Constitution and their oaths of office.Family court and family law reform are also part of the issues addressed by the campaign. As a 70 billion dollar ($70,000,000,000) a year industry, more money goes through family court than all the courts combined. The current family court system represents an adversarial process in which two parents/former spouses fight for their own children and assets. Many family court judges are not following the law, nor are they following the constitution.Other platform issues can be seen on the Bonaventura for Nevada website. In addition, The Las Vegas Review Journal has posted a information page at:About John Bonaventura for Nevada GovernorThe most conservative Democratic candidate in the governors race, John Bonaventura has lived in Nevada almost his whole life and most of his family was born in Nevada. He went toLas Vegas Western High School and attended the Community College of Southern Nevada. John earned a Bachelors degree from UNLV.Mr. Bonaventura was elected to the Nevada Assembly in the early 1990s. He also was elected and served as Constable of Las Vegas. John stands for upholding the constitution and the protection of Nevada and US citizens constitutional rights. John pledges to serve the people and not the demands of self interest groups. He will work to unite the party and Nevada, fighting to keep Nevada moving in the right direction.For more information contact:Bonaventura For Nevada GovenorJohn Bonaventura5604 Eugene Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada 89108 USAFacebook:Phone: 702-250-9532e-mail: johnbona@cox.netVisit:
Healthcare Contract Research Outsourcing Market to Grow at 6.8% CAGR through 2025, Asia Pacific to Present Lucrative Opportunities

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/4650

https://www.mrrse.com/hcro-market

https://www.mrrse.com/

According to a new business intelligence study on healthcare contract research outsourcing market added to the vast repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). According to the research study titled Healthcare Contract Research Outsourcing Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017  2025, the global market is likely to grow at 6.8% CAGR through 2025.Get Free Sample Copy of Report @Highlighting the key drivers in the market, the report opines that increasing demand for cost optimization, combined with reduction in drug development timelines are the key factors driving demand for healthcare contract research outsourcing. Increasing focusing on offering highly effective drugs is likely to provide an impetus to the growth of healthcare contract research outsourcing market during the assessment period.Increase in the complexity of regulatory procedures, combined with intervention of healthcare providers in drug approval process is also likely to fuel demand during the assessment period. The contract research organizations have been instrumental in providing a range of services to end-users, on account of which, adoption has witnessed an increase during the assessment period. Healthcare contract research outsourcing companies are forging long-term strategic alliances with end-users to consolidate their position in the market.According to the study, clinical trials continue to be one of the leading outsourced services offered by healthcare companies. Ever-evolving regulatory procedures and guidelines continue to influence healthcare companies in choosing outsourcing solutions. Pharmaceutical companies continue to be one of the leading end-users for pharmaceutical companies globally. According to the research study, the pharmaceutical companies are likely to grow at 6% CAGR during the assessment period. Cost-effectiveness, combined with increasing complexity in drug development are some of the key factors that are likely to fuel the growth of the market during the assessment period. In addition to these factors, demand is also influenced by broader developments in genetics and growing requirement for elaborate and comprehensive laboratory requirements.Access Complete Report with Table of Content @According to the study, North America and Europe will continue to be the leading markets for healthcare contract research organizations around the globe. The adoption of these services in North America and Europe will remain concentrated in the US and EU5 respectively. In addition to these regions, adoption of healthcare contract research outsourcing solutions is likely to witness steady growth in Asia Pacific. According to the study, adoption of healthcare contract research outsourcing in Asia Pacific is likely to grow at a CAGR of over 8% during the assessment period.The research study also offers product and business strategy analysis on the key players in the market. According to the study, the key players in the market include IQVIA, Syneos Health, PRA Health Sciences, Inc., ICON PLC, and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings etc.About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State Street Suite 700Albany, NY  12207 (United States)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market to Grow at 14% CAGR through 2020

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1479

https://www.mrrse.com/remote-patient-monitoring-devices-market

https://www.mrrse.com/

The global remote patient monitoring devices market is likely to grow at a robust CAGR of over 14% through 2020. Demand for home based healthcare, combined with advancement in the efficacy of remote patient monitoring devices is likely to influence the market during the forecast period. A new research report titled Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market (By Types: Heart Monitors, Breath Monitors, Physical Activity Monitors, Hematology Monitors, Body Temperature Monitors, Multi-sign Monitors and Others & By End Users: Home Healthcare and Ambulatory Care Centers) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014  2020 offers insights and analysis on the future of remote patient monitoring devices market during the assessment period. The report has been added to the comprehensive database of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE).Get Free Sample Report @According to the report, the broader trends in the healthcare sector are creating opportunities for remote patient monitoring devices. There has been an increase in the number of geriatric patients who require constant care. There is an increasing preference among geriatric population to receive care in the comfort of their own homes. Owing to this, there has been a steady demand for remote patient monitoring devices among healthcare providers.Another key development that is likely to fuel the demand for remote patient monitoring devices globally is the constant advancement in the efficiency of remote patient monitoring devices. For a long time, remote patient monitoring devices has limited applications, however, due to wider integration with EHR and other healthcare technologies, they are now playing an important role in administering care remotely.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The report has segmented the global remote patient monitoring devices on the basis of type into heart monitors, breath monitors, physical activity monitors, hematology monitors, body temperature monitors, and multi-sign monitors. The key end use segments have been broadly segmented into home healthcare and ambulatory care centers. The report also offers detailed region-wise analysis and projects North America to be one of the leading markets for remote patient monitoring devices globally. Demand for remote patient monitoring devices in North America is on account of rising awareness of the benefits of home based care. Also, the US has a large baby boomer population on account of which demand for remote patient monitoring devices is likely to witness an increase. In addition to North America, Asia Pacific is also likely to provide growth opportunities to manufacturers during the forecast period. Increasing emphasis on healthcare services in emerging economies of Asia Pacific is likely to fuel demand during the forecast period.Some of the leading players profiled in the report include Abbott Laboratories, AMD Global Telemedicine, Covidien plc, Honeywell HomMed LLC, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., and Omron Healthcare IncAbout MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State Street Suite 700Albany, NY  12207 (United States)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Global Ginger Market to Grow at 6.5% CAGR through 2022

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3795

https://www.mrrse.com/ginger-market

https://www.mrrse.com/

The global ginger market is likely to witness steady growth on account of wide ranging applications of ginger in various end use industries. In addition to its traditional use as a spice in many Asia Pacific countries, demand for ginger is also growing on account of its use in tea, alcoholic beverages, and confectionary products. On account of these factors, the global ginger market is likely to grow at a CAGR of over 6.5% through 2022. The report titled Ginger Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017  2022 offers valuable insights and analysis on the key factors that are likely to boost the market growth over the assessment period.Get Free Sample Report @The medicinal uses of ginger are also likely to boost its demand among end-users as Asia Pacific region becomes a hub of medical tourism across the globe. Many countries in the region are promoting their traditional medicinal system to cater to a growing section of patients. The medicinal uses of ginger, in conjunction with its uses as spice and flavoring agent. These factors will create market opportunities for players engaged in the production, distribution, and sales of ginger, with global revenues likely to surpass US$ 4 Bn by the end of 2022.In a bid to give readers detailed insights on the global ginger market, the report offers segment-wise analysis on the basis of form, distribution channel, and application. On the basis of form, the key segments include fresh, pickled, preserved, dried, powdered, crystallized, and others. Among these, demand for fresh ginger remains dominant, as it is used in many households across Asia Pacific. In addition to Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa is another lucrative market for ginger, and is likely to boost its performance over the forecast period. Exports of ginger from these regions to markets in North America and Europe are likely to create growth opportunities for manufacturers.Browse Complete Report with TOC @On the basis of application, the market has been segmented into culinary, snacks & convenience foods, bakery products, alcoholic beverages, chocolate confectionary and non-alcoholic beverages. Among these segments, culinary segment is likely to remain most lucrative during the forecast period. The leading distribution channels of the global ginger market include modern grocery retail, non-grocery retail, traditional grocery, and other channels. Among these, traditional and modern grocery, along with non-grocery retail stores remain the prime distribution channels for manufacturers globally.Some of the leading companies profiled in the report include Monterey Bay Spice Co. Inc., Yummy Food Industrial Group, Indian Organic Farmers Producer Co. Ltd., Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Sun Impex International Foods L.L.C., Sino-Nature International Co. Ltd., Atmiya International, Buderim Group Ltd., Food Market Management Inc., and SA Rawther Spices Pvt. Ltd.About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State Street Suite 700Albany, NY  12207 (United States)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Egg White Peptide Market Set to Witness an Uptick during 2018 to 2028

https://www.xploremr.com/report/1225/egg-white-peptide-market

https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/1225

https://www.xploremr.com/cart/reports/buynow/1225

https://www.xploremr.com/

Fact.MRs recently collated report offers actionable insights and accurate forecasts on the global egg white peptide market for the period of forecast, 2018 to 2028. Key parameters such as impact of current and future growth determinants & deterrents, expected developments & regulatory scenario, demand statistics, and global raw material procurement & supply are elucidated and analyzed. Influence of these parameters on the egg white peptide markets growth has been quantified for deriving a market growth rate estimate.Report overview @Global Egg White Peptide Market Taxonomy & Segmentation AnalysisThis report also offers a scrutinized study on the global market for egg white peptide in terms of a segmentation analysis. The market has been divided into four key segments, namely, product type, application, primary function, and region. These segments have been analyzed in detail, engulfing market forecasts and estimates at a country and regional level.The segmentation analysis offered can be useful for the report readers in understanding probable opportunities and potential markets for the target product  egg white peptide. A taxonomy table incorporated in the report illustrates all the market segments in a systematic manner as depicted below.Competitive Landscape Assessment on Global Egg White Peptide MarketIn its concluding chapter, the report quantifies revenues share of prominent companies in the global egg white peptide market, and offers an in-depth overview of the markets competitive scenario. A detailed description has been delivered on all the market players profiled in the report, which includes intelligence in terms of their company overview, key financials, product overview, past as well as latest developments.A SWOT analysis is offered on every market player incorporated in the report, along with information on their new product developments, and market expansion strategies such as collaborations and partnerships. The scope of the report is offer its readers with authentic information and insights on the global egg white peptide market, to enable them in making better future decisions for growth of the businesses.Get a free sample request @Robust Research Methodology to Provide Authentic Market IntelligenceA tested & proven research approach is employed by analysts at Fact.MR for evaluating key industry dynamics and offering precise and authentic market intelligence. A blend of primary & secondary research has been implemented for offering estimates and forecasts on the global egg white peptide market.Secondary research forms initial phase of our research, wherein the analysts conduct extensive information mining by referring to up-to-date and verified data resources that include technical journals, regulatory and government published material, and independent studies, which forms the basis of the market estimates.All the market estimates and forecast offered are further verified via an exhaustive primary research, wherein interviews are conducted with leading market participants, and industry experts. These comprehensive primary interviews aid in validating the information procured and gain significant industry insights, estimations and key developments.Buy Now Full Report @About UsXploreMR is one of the worlds leading resellers of high-quality market research reports. We feature in-depth reports from some of the worlds most reputed market research companies and international organizations. We serve across a broad spectrum  from Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses. Our clients trust us for our unwavering focus onquality and affordability. We believe high price should not be a bottleneck for organizations looking to gain access to quality information.Contact UsXploreMR111 North Market Street, Suite 300San Jose, CA 95113, United StatesTel: +1-669-284-0108Email: sales@xploremr.comWebsite:
Market Survey: Global Semiconductor Photolithography Equipment Market to grow at a CAGR of 9.18 % during 2017-2021

https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1107507

https://www.researchmoz.us/global-semiconductor-photolithography-equipment-market-2017-2021-report.html/toc

Semiconductor lithography also called semiconductor photolithography is a method of fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and microprocessors. It transfers a circuit image to a silicon wafer by exposing both silicon wafer and photomask to ultraviolet light. It then projects the circuit image on the wafer. It is also called UV or optical lithography. It is a microfabrication technique in which semiconductor circuitry is patterned from the photomask onto a silicon wafer using a light source, especially UV light. The light source is passed through an ultra-high precision lens in order to obtain fine patterning design.The global semiconductor photolithography equipment market to grow at a CAGR of 9.18 % during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global semiconductor photolithography equipment market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the new sales of photolithography equipment.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- APAC- EMEA- North AmericaClick to get Sample PDF:Technavio's report, Global Semiconductor Photolithography Equipment Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Applied Materials- ASML- Canon- Tokyo ElectronOther prominent vendors- NuFlare Technology- SUSS MicroTec- Ultratech- Vistec Electron BeamMarket driver- Emergence of advanced consumer products- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Miniaturization of electronic devices- For a full, detailed list, view our reportView Complete TOC with Tables and Figures at:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Mr. NachiketAlbany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.us
Global Automotive Bearings Market Analysis and Growth Trends during 2017-2022

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3884

https://www.mrrse.com/automotive-bearings-market

https://www.mrrse.com/

Automotive bearings have become a vital component vehicles, and enable smooth and efficient running of automobiles. Primary function of automobile bearings is to offer a rotational or linear movement, while handling high stress. Along with maintaining balance of vehicles, automotive bearings enhance their efficiency and speed. Automotive bearings comprise a ball with frictionless internal and external metal surfaces. The ball handles the loads exerted on the bearing, further transmuting it into a rotational motion.Get Free Sample Report @Low-Friction Torque  An Essential Requirement in Automotive BearingsMarket Research Reports Search Engine has recently added a report, titled Automotive Bearings Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2022) to its vast repository. The report projects a steady rise for the global automotive bearings market during the assessment period. Revenues from global sales of automotive bearings are expected to surpass US$ 180 Mn by 2022-end, up from nearly US$ 145 Mn in 2017. Taking preventative measures for environmental response has become imperative in all industrial sectors, and the automotive industry is no exception. With stringent environmental regulations imposed on the automotive sector, lower friction torque in automotive bearings are becoming an essential requirement as it is expected to reduce the CO2 emissions by improving the vehicle efficiency.On the basis of bearing type, ball bearings will continue to be sought-after among automobile manufacturers for large scale use in various applications on the back of their overall performance, wear resistance, strength, and load bearing capacity. Sales of ball bearings are projected to register a steady expansion in the market to account for approximately US$ 40 Mn revenues by 2022-end.Compact Passenger Cars to Remain Dominant among Vehicles in Automotive Bearings MarketAccording to the report, compact passenger cars are expected to remain dominant among vehicles in the automotive bearings market in 2017. Exhibiting a CAFR of 5%, sales of automotive bearings in compact passenger cars will continue to account for the largest market revenue share during the forecast period.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Asia-Pacific excluding Japan is anticipated to remain the most lucrative market for automotive bearings. The region has potential opportunities for new market entrants as well as established players in automotive bearings in the foreseeable future. Sales of automotive bearings in APEJ will register the fastest expansion through 2022. Revenues from automotive bearings sales in APEJ will account for over one-third share of the market throughout the forecast period.Competitive LandscapeThe report has offered information about the competition landscape of the global automotive bearings market, wherein key market participants have been profiled in detail. These market players have been studied on the basis of their product overview, company overview, key developments, key financials and SWOT analysis. Active market players contributing to expansion of the global automotive bearings market include ILJIN Bearing Co., Ltd., MinebeaMitsumi Inc., NTN Corporation, Schaeffler AG, JTEKT Corporation, NRB Bearings Ltd., The Timken Company, and RKB Bearing Industries.About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State Street Suite 700Albany, NY  12207 (United States)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
India Power Inverter Market By Key Players, Applications, Types, Investment Opportunities, Forecast 2023

http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2130342

http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2130342

http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2130342

India Power Inverter Market Overview 2018-2023 provides a comprehensive analysis of the power inverter products in India. The report offers a complete guide to the size and share of the market at a national level. Along with historic data, it also provides the latest sales data - thus allowing you to identify the market segments driving growth. The report also identifies leading companies and brands, along with examining competition among them. Forecasts through four years demonstrate how the market is set to change in coming years. Bonafide Research employs comprehensive and iterative research methodology focused on minimizing errors in order to provide the most accurate estimates and forecast possible.Browse Full Report with TOC:Key Major companies operating in the power inverter market of India are key players operating in the Power inverter market of India are Swelect Energy Systems Limited, Luminous Power Technologies Private Limited, Microtek International private limited, Su-Kam Power Systems Limited, Genus innovation Limited, Consul neowatt Power Solutions Private Limited, Tritronics India Private Limited, True Power international Limited, uniline energy systems private limited, Arise India Limited.India Power Inverter Market Overview, 2018-2023Indian Power inverter market is currently growing with a CAGR of more than 8 % from 2012-2017, maximum market is captured by organised players. Unorganised players contributing more than 15% market share in Power inverter market. Square wave power inverters dominate the market in value as well as volume terms. A detailed segmentation of all these product categories has been showcased in the report. The market has been boosted by presence of several international and domestic players like Luminous, Su-kam and many others. Also, there are host of online platforms in the country that sell Power inverter products; acting as one of the major drivers for the industry from last two years. Leading players are even introducing their own online platform for direct selling from online platform, for example 'Luminous, Su-kam etc'. Other small players operating in the industry usually import the products and then sell under their respective brands/ labels. Demand of power inverter is high from North and South region.Considered for the Report:Geography: IndiaBase Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year: 2023Objective of the study:To present an overview on power inverter industry of India.To analyze and forecast the market size of Power inverter market, Square wave, Modified/quasi wave, pure sine wave, in terms of value as well as volume.To define, classify and forecast Power inverter market on the basis of segments (Square wave, Modified/quasi wave, and pure sine wave) and low (0.6kVA to 1.5kVA), mid (2kVA to 4kVA), and high (more than 5kVA) market segment.To further classify and forecast all the product types into various sub-segments (organised/ unorganised).To strategically profile leading players, which are operating in the power inverter industry in India.Enquire more details of the report at:Intended Audience:This report can be useful to Industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Power Inverter industry or Power back up OEMs, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.Approach for the Report:Bonafide Research performed primary as well as secondary research for this study. Initially, a list of manufacturers and suppliers operating in the Power inverter market of India were sourced through secondary sources. With the identified companies and consumers, primary research was carried out which included conducting online surveys, competitor analysis and exhaustive personal interviews - both face to face as well as telephonic basis, to extract maximum information from participants like industry executives/ distributors or consumers. Primary research gave us an idea of company revenues, export, pricing, geographical presence, channel partner model, USP etc. and also helped us to identify various small organized players who otherwise have very less presence on the web.Bonafide Research seeks secondary data from third-party sources such as published articles, company websites, magazine articles, associations, trade journals, annual reports, government official websites and other paid database sources. In addition, data is also mined from a host of reports in our repository, as well as a number of paid databases of Indian government. Using both primary and secondary information, Bonafide Research calculated the market size through a bottom-up approach, where manufacturers value sales data for different types of power inverter products were recorded and subsequently forecasted for the future years.Scope of the reports:"India Power inverter Market Overview, 2018-2023" discusses the following aspects of power inverter in India.- Global Power inverter Market Size By value & Forecast- Global Power inverter Market Size By volume & Forecast- India Power inverter Market size By Value & forecast- India Power inverter Market Size By Volume & forecast- Square wave power inverter Market Size By Value & Forecast- Square wave power inverter Market Size By Volume & Forecast- Modified/quasi wave power inverter Market Size By Value & Forecast- Modified/quasi wave power inverter Market Size By Volume & Forecast- Pure Sine wave Power inverter Market Size By Value & Forecast- Pure sine wave power inverter Market Size By Volume & Forecast- Key Vendors in this market spaceEnquire before Buying atCustomization of the ReportThe report could be customized according to the clients specific research requirements.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Email: sales@orbisresearch.com
Automated Border Control Market will Reach Revenues Worth US$ 1,800 Mn by 2026

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/21205

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/21205

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

Automated border control systems are essential to ensure safety of a country and avoid border laws prohibition. The system is gaining popularity with the increasing safety concerns and risks globally. A new research report by Persistence Market Research (PMR) highlights the global automated border control market in its new research report titled Automated Border Control Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2026. According to the market forecast by PMR, the recent adoption of automated border control system, which is taking place at a fast pace, is helping its global market to grow at a skyrocketing CAGR of 18.4% during the forecast period 2018-2026. The growth is expected to help the global automated border control market reach at a value of over US$ 2,900 Mn by the end of 2026.Request Sample Report @Global Automated Border Control Market: OverviewThe border control systems are deployed at airports, seaports and land borders, where a large number of passengers cross borders every day. The kiosk and eGates system stores each passengers information in their database. Increase in corporate travel and simplification & flexibility in border crossing process are some of the primary factors which are fueling the growth of the automated border control market. Among various application areas of automated border control systems, airports are expected lead with the highest market share and exceptional CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period. However, other application areas are also progressing at a significant rate due to increase in the application of systems.The regional forecast depicts that Europe is expected to hold the highest market value by the end of forecast period. The growth in Europe is driven majorly with the help of government initiatives taken in the region. The European Union noticed that more than 85% of all international travel to the EU comes from within the region. This has led to the launch a new projects that could enhance the customer experience by simplifying the process of border crossing, immigration, and biometrics, while maintaining security and increasing the use of automated border control systems. The European region is expected to reach a market value of over US$ 1,000 Mn by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 20.9%. However, in terms of growth rate SEA and APAC is also expected to witness a stellar CAGR of 18.7% during the forecast period. The growth is also a result of rising efforts by the region to provide efficient travel systems. Many initiatives are being taken by the governments to reduce security breaches at airports and Land Borders, so as to provide a seamless and secured travel experience to customers. With an increase in the number of passengers traveling nationally and internationally, new systems are being installed or integrated with existing systems to enhance security at border crossings.Global Automated Border Control Market Strategy and CompetitionProduct launches and innovations help increase business revenue by increasing customer base and providing automated border control systems to border authorities, and creates a strong market presence. Collaborations and partnerships are expected to remain as the key strategies of key players in this market to increase their sales growth. The leading companies in the market areRequest to View TOC@Indra Sistemas, S.A., Atos SE, SITA SA, IDEMIA Group (OT-Morpho), Secunet Security Networks AG, Vision-Box, DERMALOG Identification Systems GmbH, Veridos GmbH, Gunnebo Group and Vancouver Airport Authority.ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
23:22

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with a top North Korean general in New York this week, as preparations for a historic summit meeting in Singapore between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in full swing, the White House said today.





White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, however, did not confirm if the Singapore summit would be on June 12, as was scheduled earlier.





She gave an insight into the preparations that the Trump Administration is having with the North Koreans and the other countries in the region, Japan, Singapore and South Korea in particular.





"Since the President's May 24th letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the North Koreans have been engaging. The United States continues to actively prepare for President Trump's expected summit with leader Kim in Singapore," Sanders said in an update on the 'expected' Singapore summit.





On Thursday, Trump abruptly cancelled the proposed summit meeting with the North Korean leader on June 12 in Singapore and blamed Pyongyang's 'tremendous anger' and 'open hostility' for his dramatic decision.





His move resulted in flurry of activities by the North Koreans, who then said that Pyongyang was willing to hold the meeting anytime in any form.





But within 24 hours, Trump said the meeting could still go ahead after productive talks were held with North Korean officials.





A day later, Kim had an unscheduled meeting with North Korean president Moon Jae-in.





A team of US officials had a meeting with the North Koreans in the demilitarized zone, while another team travelled to Singapore for preparations.





Sanders today said President Trump will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan on June 7 at the White House.





She said North Korean Vice Chairman of the Central Committee, General Kim Yong Chol, is traveling to New York and will meet with Secretary of State Pompeo later this week.





Kim Yong Chol was expected to arrive tomorrow in New York.





"We also have a US delegation meeting with a North Korean delegation in the DMZ," she said.





The United States delegation consists of Sung Kim, US Ambassador to the Philippines; Allison Hooker, Director for Korea for the National Security Council; and Randy Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs at the Department of Defence.





"They plan to have additional meetings this week," Sanders said.





"Separately, Joe Hagin, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and the US pre-advance team are in Singapore coordinating the logistics of the expected summit," she said.





Lastly, the National Security Advisor John Bolton is in touch with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, Sanders said.





Washington has made it clear it wants to see the 'complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation' of the North. But Pyongyang has vowed it will never give up its nuclear deterrence until it feels safe from what it terms US aggression.





In April, Trump had stunned the world by accepting an invitation to meet Kim in an unprecedented sit-down. -- PTI


Air Freshener Market Size, Share, Trends, and Opportunity Analysis by Future Market Insights 2014 - 2020

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-42

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-42

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Air fresheners are products used to release fragrances in order to eliminate foul smell or odour from the environment. These products are only applicable for use in indoor environments such as homes, offices, hotel rooms, cars and others. In recent years, this functional commodity has evolved to be used as a decorative product. Air fresheners comprise chemical agents such as artificial or original essence, aerosol propellants, solvents such as mineral oil, 2-butoxyethanol and other glycol ethers, which help in neutralizing odours and freshens the air.On the basis of types, these products can be broadly segmented into room sprays and diffusers. Room sprays fall under the category of aerosol sprays, which are mostly available in cans or glass bottles with attached spray nozzles. Room sprays are highly functional and instead of simply masking foul odours, they release a pleasant fragrance. On the other hand, diffusers disperse fragrance into the air. Furthermore, these are widely classified into active and passive diffusers. Active diffusers require an external energy source of energy to release fragrance. These products are designed to function on a plugged power source or with batteries. Passive diffusers do not require any external energy source and diffuse fragrance from various forms of underlying substances or layers. The various types of passive diffusers include adjustable solids, reed diffusers and gel products.Request for sample Report:Besides room sprays and diffusers, the air freshener market is further segmented into specialty products. These types of air fresheners comprise a variety of products designed to add fragrance to a room or space, and are available in various forms such as potpourri. This type of air freshener comprises forms of dried botanical and other natural ingredient such as flowers, fruits, wood chips and spices that may have fragrance oils added to them. Another is sachets, small pouches or bags filled with scented powder. Another type is incense, which is produced from a mixture of fragrant gums, resins, woods and spices and is available in varied forms such as sticks, cones, rods, coils, small blocks, wands and powders. Furthermore, fragrance oil burning lamp is another type of air freshener. This type acts as a catalytic diffusion lamp, purifying the air while releasing fragrance. Yet another type is the non-electric or evaporative air freshener. This type releases fragrance when scented oil is added to an oil warmer, which is heated using a tea light candle.Globally, the demand for air fresheners registered stable growth during the last five years, and is expected to witness favourable growth during the forecast period. This is attributed to product innovations, increased adaption of enhanced products and rising affluence. Changing and improving lifestyle and demographic factors, as well as increasing population in developing countries is driving demand for air freshener products in Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.The key drivers in the air freshener market includes product innovation and launch of new product ranges capable of delivering freshness as well as enhanced ability to eliminate offensive odours. These properties serve to enhance consumer preference for such products and offers value for money. In addition, rise in disposable income and purchasing power parity has shifted the demand of consumers towards enhanced products, which is further expected to fuel market growth.Visit For Table of Contents:The key players in the global air freshener market include Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser, Henkel, Church & Dwight, California Scents, ST Corporation, Scotts Liquid Gold, Inc., Amway, Kobayashi, Liby, Houdy, Farcent, Jiali, Ludao, Mengjiaolan and others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature.CONTACT:FUTURE MARKET INSIGHTS616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
North America is Expected to Be the Largest Data Center Rack Server-Market

https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/data-center-rack-server-market

https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/data-center-rack-server-market/report-sample

https://www.psmarketresearch.com

The rapid technological changes taking place globally, are increasingly adopting data centre rack server approach to move beyond the concept of tower servers for data centres. Significant importance has been gained by data centre rack server solutions among organizations in past few years due to highly scalability, reliability and easy migration from traditional technologies. Data Center Rack Server-is a dedicated computer to be used as a server, which gets deployed on an independent hardware platform and virtual operating systems to eliminate the need of traditional hardware systems.Explore Full Report Description At:Moreover, Data Center Rack Server is a major and important component of business technology architecture, which centralizes the network resources and enable multiple virtual servers run in an isolated environment to serve large & heavy applications, cloud based solutions and big data flow.Businesses moving towards green IT are focusing on less power consumption systems. Data Center Rack Server-solution minimises the use to high energy resources for operations, generating huge opportunity for market growth from sectors such as telecommunication, retail, cloud providers, big data analytics, government organisations and defence services.Increasing number of businesses looking for low cost, scalable data centre solutions is majorly driving the growth of the global Data Center Rack Server-market. Some other factors driving the growth of the global market-include increasing need for highly dense and large storage servers, seamless migration from traditional technologies, minimum space requirements and supportive data centre management.North America region, with more advanced technology ecosystem and greater user expertise, is expected to be the largest Data Center Rack Server-market. Rapid growth in data traffic, increasing adoption of new business technologies and requirement of low cost server solutions by fast growing economies of APAC such as India and China also have potential growth opportunities in the region.Download Free Report Sample At:Technology providers with large spending are increasing their investments in data centre related technologies due to increased demand of such solutions globally. Some of the major players in the global rack server and data centre market are Cisco Systems, Inc., NEC Corporation, Lenovo Group Limited, Iron Systems, Inc. and Fujitsu Ltd.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide market research reports, industry reports, business intelligence and research based consulting services across a range of industries.With the help of our professional corporate relations with various companies, our market research offers the most accurate market forecasting. Our analysts and consultants interact with leading companies of the concerned domain to substantiate every single data presented in our publication. Our research assists our client in identifying new and different windows of opportunity and frame informed and customized strategies for expansion in different regions.Contact:P&S Market Research347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY  10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:
India Solar Water Heater Market By Key Players, Applications, Types, Investment Opportunities, Forecast 2022

http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2130389

http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2130389

http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2130389

India Solar Water Heaters Market Outlook, 2021, the market for solar water heaters in India is expected to reach more than INR 1300 crore till 2021. ETC type solar water heaters are expected to have the largest share in the solar water heater market. Karnataka and Bangalore are having maximum share in India. The report reveals that Emmvee, TATA BP Solar and Anu Solar are the leading players in Indian solar water heater market and their revenue share is expected to grow over the forecasted period, owing to their expansion plans and widening of dealership networks.Browse Full Report with TOC:Solar Water Heaters (SWH) is a system that uses solar thermal collectors to convert and capture the heat from the sun to renewable resource such as solar energy to heat water for domestic and industrial purposes. The Indian Government plays a very important role to drive SWH market in the country. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) was launched in 11th January, 2010 by our former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh which is one of the eight missions under NAPCC. This report is about the market size of the solar water heater market in India and how because of the increasing purchasing power of the consumers and the awareness about the government subsidies people are taking solar water heaters as an option. The report also reveals the trend in this industry is shifting to hybrid water heater as people are becoming aware of the cost saving features of the renewables and the long time sustainability than the electric ones.In India the SWH market has been through many ups and downs. The market changes drastically in some year, remains stable for a while and then again decreases as shown in the below graph. The total SWH market accounted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) was 65 crore in 2011. The market of solar water heater has been on an increasing trend since 2012 as India is participating in the UNDPs programme to increase the solar water heater market globally. In solar water heaters the residential sector is driving the market. Residential sector has penetrated almost 80% in the market. Industries and other commercial institutes are also picking up solar water heater as a better option. Electric water heaters are still dominating the market, but solar water heater is also growing rapidly to make a considerate share in the water heater market.India Solar Water Heaters Market Outlook, 2021 discusses the following aspects of water heaters in India:The report gives an in-depth understanding of solar Water Heater market in India- To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years- To anticipate the market size in 2021 and the growth rate by then- Key Category1. Global Solar Water Heater Market Outlook2. India Solar Water Heater Market OutlookEnquire more details of the report at:India Solar Water Heater Market Outlook discusses the following aspects of solar water heater market in India:- Global Solar Water Heater Market Outlook - Market Size By value & Volume- Segmental Analysis - By Region, By technology- India Solar Water Heater Market Outlook - Market Size By value, By technology, By Application in ETC, By Application In FPC- India Solar Water Heater Market Outlook - Market Size By Volume- Segmental Analysis - By Company, By State, By industry/Users, By technology, ETC in Residential use by SWH liters, ETC in Industrial use By SWH Liters, FPC in Residential use by SWH liters, FPC in Industrial use by SWH liters, Market penetration By industrial Application, Market share By industrial Application in 2014 and 2021 SWH- Pricing Analysis- SWH Trade dynamics- - The key vendors in this market space- Competitive Landscape & Strategic RecommendationThis report can be useful to Industry consultants, manufacturers and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.Report MethodologyThe information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary research. Primary research included interviews with various channel partners of SWH Market in India. Secondary research included an exhaustive search of relevant publications like company annual reports, financial reports and proprietary databases.Enquire before Buying atCustomization of the ReportThe report could be customized according to the clients specific research requirements.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Email: sales@orbisresearch.com
Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Attorney Cares About His Clients

https://www.loewlaw.com/

Colorado Springs, Co- May 2018- Jeremy Lowe is an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado Springs who cares deeply about his clients. He puts their needs first and works diligently to ensure that they receive the best possible legal outcome. He represents clients in various areas of criminal defense law and personal injury law. His major areas of defense are drug crimes, domestic violence defense, juvenile offenses, wrongful death, car and motorcycle accidents, sexual assault, traffic violations, and dog bites.While its true that victims of Domestic Violenceand Sexual Assault literally have part of their life stolen from them, those falsely accused of these crimes have a right to quality legal defense. With the focus on protecting the victim, it is becoming more difficult for the innocent to prove their innocence. People get falsely accused of these crimes, and its beginning to feel like this is an automatic guilty plea until proven innocent type of arrangement. Jeremy Loew has the experience and tenacity needed to assist in proving your innocence if youve been falsely accused.After a car or motorcycle accident, it is difficult to get back on your feet. You may have missed work, lost income, had extensive medical bills, and even lost your means of transportation. The Law Office of Jeremy Loew in Colorado Springs brings the experience needed to navigate the legal system. He will fight to ensure that you get the help needed to get your life back on track, and he has the experience to know the significant impact this type of accident can have on your life.Wrongful death cases can be emotionally difficult. It is almost impossible to navigate through the legal system when you dont have a clear mind. When you add grief of loss into the mix, it is virtually impossible. You need someone who you can trust on your side to help bring closure during this difficult time of your life. Jeremy Loew treats all clients with respect and will show compassion and empathy as he assists you through the legal processes.Jeremy Loew has the best interest of his clients at heart. Here is a quote from Mr. Loew:If you have been accused of a crime in Colorado Springs you need a criminal defense attorney who will aggressively fight for your rights and be there every step of the way for the very best possible outcome. I have the experience and the track record you need for a vigorous defense. Call me today at (719) 387-4111 to discuss your case.Drug addiction is a disease. Many individuals that struggle with addiction have their rights violated every day. Jeremy Loew has a thorough understanding of how the laws work and what is illegal and what is not legal. Being convicted of a felony drug charge can have a devastating impact on the rest of your life. Jeremy Loew can help ensure that you receive a fair and just trial and will take charge in working your case through the legal system for the best possible outcome.Traffic violations, juvenile offenses, and dog bites may seem like minor issues to many. However, these seemingly minor issues can have significant consequences if you do not have the right lawyer pleading your case. The Law office of Jeremy Loew can help ensure that you are not being unduly punished for something outside your control, or suffering undue consequences if you are injured.If you dont believe that Jeremy Loew has your best interest at heart, read the following review of Jeremy Loew from Mike B. in Colorado Springs:Jeremy Loew is by far the best attorney in Colorado Springs! I would highly recommend Jeremy for any legal need. He does what he says and does not give you a run around. Jeremy will be my first call for help!To ensure that youre receiving the best possible legal care in Colorado Springs, make your appointment for a no-cost consultation with Jeremy Loew now by calling (719) 387-4111.Jeremy Lowe is an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado Springs who cares deeply about his clients. He puts their needs first and works diligently to ensure that they receive the best possible legal outcome.Contact: Jeremy Loew306 E. Cucharras St Suite 100Colorado Springs, Co 80903(719) 387-4111 | jeremy@loewlaw.com
Solar Backsheet Market Overview with Detailed Analysis, Competitive landscape Forecast to 2022

ReportsWeb

http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012010926/sample

http://www.reportsweb.com/solar-backsheet-global-market-report-2018-2022

http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012010926/buying

With the slowdown in world economic growth, the Solar Backsheet industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Solar Backsheet market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 7.17% from 1300 million $ in 2014 to 1600 million $ in 2017, Publisher analysts believe that in the next few years, Solar Backsheet market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2022, The market size of the Solar Backsheet will reach 2250 million $.This Report covers the manufacturers' data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturersGet Sample Copy @Manufacturer DetailBenchmarkingAgfaDupontJolywoodCovemeIsovoltaic3MHangzhou FirstHoneywellTorayCybridDunmoreKrempelMitsubishi Polyester FilmTargrayRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Product Type Segmentation (Fluoropolymer, Non-Fluoropolymer)Industry Segmentation (Utility, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Military)Channel (Direct Sales, Distributor) SegmentationFor more information @Table of ContentsSection 1 Solar Backsheet Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Solar Backsheet Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Solar Backsheet Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Solar Backsheet Business Revenue2.3 Global Solar Backsheet Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Solar Backsheet Business Introduction3.1 Benchmarking Solar Backsheet Business Introduction3.1.1 Benchmarking Solar Backsheet Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.1.2 Benchmarking Solar Backsheet Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Benchmarking Interview Record3.1.4 Benchmarking Solar Backsheet Business Profile3.1.5 Benchmarking Solar Backsheet Product Specification3.2 Agfa Solar Backsheet Business Introduction3.2.1 Agfa Solar Backsheet Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.2.2 Agfa Solar Backsheet Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Agfa Solar Backsheet Business Overview3.2.5 Agfa Solar Backsheet Product Specification3.3 Dupont Solar Backsheet Business Introduction3.3.1 Dupont Solar Backsheet Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.3.2 Dupont Solar Backsheet Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 Dupont Solar Backsheet Business Overview3.3.5 Dupont Solar Backsheet Product Specification3.4 Jolywood Solar Backsheet Business Introduction3.5 Coveme Solar Backsheet Business Introduction3.6 Isovoltaic Solar Backsheet Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.1.2 Canada Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.2 Japan Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.3 India Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.4 Korea Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.2 UK Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.3 France Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.4 Italy Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.5 Europe Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.2 Africa Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.3 GCC Solar Backsheet Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.6 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20174.7 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20175.2 Different Solar Backsheet Product Type Price 2014-20175.3 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20176.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20176.3 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20177.2 Global Solar Backsheet Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisSection 8 Solar Backsheet Market Forecast 2018-20228.1 Solar Backsheet Segmentation Market Forecast (Region Level)8.2 Solar Backsheet Segmentation Market Forecast (Product Type Level)8.3 Solar Backsheet Segmentation Market Forecast (Industry Level)8.4 Solar Backsheet Segmentation Market Forecast (Channel Level)Section 9 Solar Backsheet Segmentation Product Type9.1 Fluoropolymer Product Introduction9.2 Non-Fluoropolymer Product IntroductionSection 10 Solar Backsheet Segmentation Industry10.1 Utility Clients10.2 Residential Clients10.3 Commercial Clients10.4 Industrial Clients10.5 Military ClientsSection 11 Solar Backsheet Cost of Production Analysis11.1 Raw Material Cost Analysis11.2 Technology Cost Analysis11.3 Labor Cost Analysis11.4 Cost OverviewSection 12 ConclusionMake an enquiry:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Market : Popular Trends & Technological advancements- Altera, Xilinx, Microsemi, QuickLogic

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1798007&type=S

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-field-programmable-gate-arrays-fpga-market-professional-survey-report-2018.htm/toc

http://www.qyresearchreports.com

Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Market Professional Survey Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.The global Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx.x % between 2018 and 2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportAlteraXilinxMicrosemiLattice SemiconductorAchronix Semiconductor CorpQuickLogicAtmelSiliconBlue TechnologieIntelTabulaTexas InstrumentsSilegoCypress SemiconductorAeroflexGet PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @According to generalized categories such as applications, product type, end-users, and region, the market has been segmented in detail in the report. Every segment been closely examined on the basis of market shares, production rate, growth rate, revenue generated, and several other vital factors. This is done from the perspective of segmentation being an important blueprint for players to indentify relevant trends, thus ultimately making them cash on any associated opportunities.Table of ContentsGlobal Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)1.1 Definition and Specifications of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)1.1.1 Definition of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)1.1.2 Specifications of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)1.2 Classification of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)1.2.1 Low Density FPGA1.2.2 High Density FPGA1.3 Applications of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)1.3.1 Medical Electronics1.3.2 Aerospace and Defense2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)4 Global Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2013-2018E Global Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Sales and Growth Rate AnalysisView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Nuclear Power in Mexico, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017-Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles

Reportsweb

http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011454614/sample

http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011454614/buying

"Nuclear Power in Mexico, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017-Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles", is the latest report from Publisher, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the nuclear power market in Mexico.The report provides in depth analysis on global nuclear power market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Mexico (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro, pumped storage and renewables) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details nuclear power market outlook in the country and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in Mexico nuclear power market. A detailed coverage of nuclear energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to nuclear is provided in the report. The research also provides details of active nuclear reactors in the country, market size of major equipment and company snapshot of some of the major market participants.Complete report is available@The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by Publisher's team of industry experts.Scope:-A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.-Historical period is during 2006-2016 (unless specified) and forecast period is for 2017-2030.-Overview on the global nuclear power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by region in 2016, installed capacity split by major nuclear power countries in 2016 and investment trends.-Power market scenario in Mexico provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewables) with forecasts up to 2030.-Details of Mexico nuclear power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity by reactor type, installed capacity share by contractor/owner and information on major active and upcoming projects.-Key policies and regulatory framework supporting nuclear power development.-Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Reasons to buy:-The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.-Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Mexico nuclear power market.-Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for nuclear power market.-Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industry's growth potential.-Identify key partners and business development avenues.-Understand and respond to your competitors' business structure, strategy and prospects.Companies Mentioned:GE Power & WaterComision Federal de ElectricidadInquire before Buying@Table of Content:1 Table of Contents 22 Executive Summary 63 Introduction 94 Nuclear Power Market, Global, 2006-2030 155 Power Market, Mexico, 2006-2030 286 Nuclear Power Market, Mexico, 2006-2030 417 Power Market, Regulatory Scenario, Mexico 498 Nuclear Power Market, Mexico, Company Profiles 628.1 Company Snapshot: GE Power & Water 628.1.1 GE Power & Water-Company Overview 628.1.2 GE Power & Water-Business Description 628.1.3 GE Power & Water-SWOT Analysis 628.1.4 GE Power & Water-Major Products and Services 668.1.5 GE Power & Water-Head Office 678.2 Company Snapshot: Comision Federal de Electricidad 688.2.1 Comision Federal de Electricidad-Company Overview 688.2.2 Comision Federal de Electricidad-Business Description 688.2.3 Comision Federal de Electricidad-SWOT Analysis 688.2.4 Comision Federal de Electricidad-Major Products and Services 718.2.5 Comision Federal de Electricidad-Head Office 719 Appendix 72About ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queriesPune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Home Wind Turbine Market Report (2018-2025) -Bergey Windpower, Digimax, XZERES, Ampair

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1798123&type=S

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-home-wind-turbine-market-professional-survey-report-2018.htm/toc

http://www.qyresearchreports.com

Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Home Wind Turbine Market Professional Survey Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.The global Home Wind Turbine market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx.x % between 2018 and 2025.The Home Wind Turbine market from a global perspective has been highly explained in a detailed manner in the report, in association with its most important factors.The major manufacturers covered in this reportFortis Wind EnergyBergey WindpowerDigimaxXZERESAmpairEvance Wind TurbinesEndurance Wind PowerPolaris AmericaWindspire EnergyGaia-WindKestrel Wind TurbinesUrban Green EnergyElectroVentGet PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Home Wind Turbine capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Home Wind Turbine 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.In case of segmentation, most of the criteria are based on product or service type, application type, end users, and others. However, a lot of focus has been imparted on regional segmentation, wherein every micro-factor has been significantly explained in the report. Every segment has been evaluated on the basis of growth opportunities.Table of ContentsGlobal Home Wind Turbine Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Home Wind Turbine1.1 Definition and Specifications of Home Wind Turbine1.1.1 Definition of Home Wind Turbine1.1.2 Specifications of Home Wind Turbine1.2 Classification of Home Wind Turbine1.2.1 Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine1.2.2 Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine1.3 Applications of Home Wind Turbine2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Home Wind Turbine2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Home Wind Turbine2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Home Wind Turbine2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Home Wind Turbine3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Home Wind Turbine4 Global Home Wind Turbine Overall Market OverviewComplete table of content is available at:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market Forecast 2018-2025 Hukseflux, Netzsch, Dazhan, Linseis

Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market

https://bit.ly/2KU26gS

http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-thermal-conductivity-measuring-apparatus-market-9249

www.qymarketstudy.com/

A comprehensive market study on "Global Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market 2018-2025" examines the performance of the Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus market. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Leading Manufacturers Analysis such as - Netzsch, TA Instruments, Linseis, Taurus Instruments, Hot Disk, Hukseflux, C-Therm Technologies, Kyoto Electronics, EKO Instruments, Stroypribor, Ziwei Electromechanical, Dazhan, Xiatech, Xiangke Yiqi.The Global Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market 2018 report includes Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus market Revenue, market Share, Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus industry volume, market Trends, Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2025.Request Sample Copy of Report:Firstly, the report covers the top Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market Segmented Based on Application - Academic, Industrial, Others.Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market Segmented Based on Type - Heat Flow Apparatus, Hot Plate Apparatus, Hot Wire Apparatus, Flash Apparatus, Others.Further, the Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus industry, Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus market revenue worldwide.Finally, Thermal Conductivity Measuring Apparatus market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:QYMarketStudy.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:3626 North Hall Street (Two Oak Lawn),Suite 610,Dallas, TX 75219, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com
Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Market : Detailed Analysis By QYResearchReports

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1794032&type=S

https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-semiconductoric-test-solutions-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc

http://www.qyresearchreports.com

Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Market Research Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingChroma ATEBall SystemsFocused TestMentorMechanical DevicesNatronixEnplas CorporationFabrinetMPIMJCAmfaxAmkorReliability System Test SOLUTIONSDELTAGet PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The study of market segmentations that has been offered with the publication that explores some of the most significant categories of the world Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions market is deemed significant for the growth of industry participants. Segments that have been analyzed in the publication could be related to product, end use, application, and geography.A group of experienced analysts who have prepared the said report delves deep into the various factors that hinder or fuel the world market for Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions. It also discovers and mentions the important trends that are emerging in the said market. Cashing in on all of these market data and statistics that have been garnered so far, it has come up with the best course of action for all the stake holders of the market.Table of ContentsGlobal Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Market Research Report 20181 Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions1.2 Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Double Sides Wafer Inspection System1.2.4 VLSI Test Systems1.2.5 SoC/Analog Test Systems1.2.6 RF Solution Integrated Handler1.2.7 Final Test Handler2 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Production and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.2 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.3 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Price by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Global Semiconductor/IC Test Solutions Production Growth by Type (2013-2018)View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Turbo Expander Market Forecast 2018-2025 Turbogaz, Cryostar, Samsung, Atlas Copco, Hangyang Group

Turbo Expander Market

https://bit.ly/2kr180q

http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-turbo-expander-market-9242

www.qymarketstudy.com/

A comprehensive market study on "Global Turbo Expander Market 2018-2025" examines the performance of the Turbo Expander market. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Turbo Expander market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Turbo Expander market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Leading Manufacturers Analysis such as - Cryostar, Atlas Copco, GE oil &gas, Air Products, ACD, L.A. Turbine, Turbogaz, Samsung, RMG, Hangyang Group, SASPG, HNEC, Suzhou Xida, Beifang Asp, Jianyang Ruite, Huayu.The Global Turbo Expander Market 2018 report includes Turbo Expander market Revenue, market Share, Turbo Expander industry volume, market Trends, Turbo Expander Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Turbo Expander Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2025.Request Sample Copy of Report:Firstly, the report covers the top Turbo Expander manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Turbo Expander Market Segmented Based on Application - Air Separation, Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG), Petrochemical Processing, Waste Heat or Other Power Recovery, Others.Turbo Expander Market Segmented Based on Type - Radial-Axial Turbo Expander, Radial Turbo Expander, Axial Turbo Expander.Further, the Turbo Expander report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Turbo Expander industry, Turbo Expander industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Turbo Expander Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Turbo Expander research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Turbo Expander market revenue worldwide.Finally, Turbo Expander market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:QYMarketStudy.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:3626 North Hall Street (Two Oak Lawn),Suite 610,Dallas, TX 75219, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com
Global Wireless Smart Thermostat Market Forecast 2018-2025 Control4, Nest Labs, Tado, Ecobee, Ingersoll Rand

Wireless Smart Thermostat Market

https://bit.ly/2LtPkXA

http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-wireless-smart-thermostat-market-9264

www.qymarketstudy.com/

A comprehensive market study on "Global Wireless Smart Thermostat Market 2018-2025" examines the performance of the Wireless Smart Thermostat market. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Wireless Smart Thermostat market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Wireless Smart Thermostat market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Leading Manufacturers Analysis such as - Nest Labs (U.S.), Honeywell international (U.S.), Ecobee (Canada), Schneider Electric SE (France), Emerson Electric Co. (U.S.), Tado (Germany), Control4 Corporation (U.S.), Ingersoll Rand (Ireland), Carrier Corporation (U.S.), Nortek, Inc. (France).The Global Wireless Smart Thermostat Market 2018 report includes Wireless Smart Thermostat market Revenue, market Share, Wireless Smart Thermostat industry volume, market Trends, Wireless Smart Thermostat Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Wireless Smart Thermostat Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2025.Request Sample Copy of Report:Firstly, the report covers the top Wireless Smart Thermostat manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Wireless Smart Thermostat Market Segmented Based on Application - Residential, Office Building, Educational Institution, Industrial Building, Retail, Hospitality, Healthcare.Wireless Smart Thermostat Market Segmented Based on Type - Display, Temperature Sensor, Humidity Sensor, Motion Sensor, Others.Further, the Wireless Smart Thermostat report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Wireless Smart Thermostat industry, Wireless Smart Thermostat industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Wireless Smart Thermostat Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Wireless Smart Thermostat research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Wireless Smart Thermostat market revenue worldwide.Finally, Wireless Smart Thermostat market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:QYMarketStudy.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:3626 North Hall Street (Two Oak Lawn),Suite 610,Dallas, TX 75219, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com
South East Asia Gas Detection Device Market key Insights Based on Product Type, End-use and Regional Demand till 2025

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/2567

https://www.mrrse.com/south-east-asia-gas-detection-equipment-market

https://www.mrrse.com/

https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/

The market for Gas Detection Device Market growing with the expansion of this Industry Sector Worldwide. Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE) has added a new report titled Gas Detection Device Market  South East Asia Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017  2025which offer details about the current trends as well as scope for the near future. This research study also covers information about the production and market share based on different active regions. Furthermore, an anticipated growth at a double-digit CAGR for the concerned Gas Detection Device Market is highlighted in the report which indicates a prosperous future.Obtain Brochure for Latest Technology Advancements @The intake of gas detection devices across a number of industries has significantly increased in countries across the South East Asia region in the past few years. The higher emphasis of companies on health and safety aspects of human resources working in areas that are highly vulnerable to hazardous reactions during manufacturing and industrial processes is fueling the rate of installation of a variety of safety measures. Of the variety of measures undertaken in this regards, installation of gas detection devices has emerged as one of the most essential safety measure in industries such as mining, petrochemical, marine, security, and government.The demand for gas detection devices has also increased in South East Asian countries owing to the rising number and stringency of safety regulations and acts. Governments in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia have imposed stringent regulations with regards to occupational health and safety across industries. The increased need for facility downtime in South East Asian countries has also significantly boosted the demand for smoke detection devices in the past few years.Transparency Market Research estimates that the demand will continue to be strong in the next few years as well. The market for gas detection devices in South East Asia is expected to exhibit a promising 9.2% CAGR from 2017 to 2025, rising from a valuation of US$155.6 mn in 2016 to US$337.6 mn by 2025.Demand for Gas Detection Devices in Petrochemicals Industry to Remain StrongIn terms of the key areas of application, the report segments the South East Asia gas detection device market into mining, steel mill, petrochemical, construction, automobile, material, food and beverage making and processing, electronics, marine, utility services, government, security, medical, and environment detection. Applications across the materials segment have been examined for materials such as fiber, glass, rubber, and pulp.Access Complete Report With TOC and Company Profiles @Of these, the petrochemical segment contributed the dominant share in the revenue of the global market in 2017. The segment is expected to account for a significant 20.5% of the overall market in the said year. The petrochemical segment was followed by marine, utility services and mining segment. In 2017, the marine, utility, and mining segment collectively contributed nearly 39% of overall gas detection device market in South East Asia. In addition, the automobile and materials segments are expected to exhibit a healthy CAGR during the forecast period.Singapore to Remain at Forefront of GrowthOf the key country-level markets for gas detection devices in South East Asia examined in the report, Singapore dominated, accounting for over 51% of the overall market in 2016. The strong growth of the Singapore market is primarily attributed to the thriving petrochemical and marine industries in the country. Large companies have established different manufacturing businesses in the country to exploit the vast growth opportunities offered when its economy was emerging. In the largely mature and developed economy in the present times, boasting well-established industrial and manufacturing segments, Singapore will continue to remain one of the key regional markets for gas detection devices over the forecast period.The market in Malaysia is anticipated to exhibit a significant CAGR of 9.8% over the forecast period. In Malaysia, the detector segment is expected to contribute to the largest market share in 2017 and it is anticipated to expand at a healthy CAGR over the forecast period. Strong presence of oil refinery and crude oil industry is one of the primary reasons for the growth of gas detection devices market in Malaysia. Indonesia also shows positive growth opportunities over the forecast period. Rising investments and projects developed across oil and gas industry is expected to be one of the primary reasons for the growth of gas detection device market in Indonesia.Some of the key players engaged in gas detection device market in South East Asia are Honeywell International, Inc., MSA Safety Incorporated, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Industrial Scientific Corporation, Riken Keiki Co., Ltd., New Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd., and Gastron Co., Ltd.About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Green Coatings Market by Regional Analysis, Key Players and Forecast | 2024

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/green-coatings-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=33761

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Green coatings are eco-friendly coatings employed for a wide range of applications including OEM, industrial manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, construction, etc. The manufacture of green coatings involves environmentally friendly base materials including vegetable oil, soy bean, castor oil, milk, clay, etc. Vegetable oil acts as a corrosion inhibitor, thus proving to be of great use in applications involving exposure to extreme environmental conditions, temperatures, acids and highly reactive substances. Furthermore, castor oil-based green coatings prove to be highly effective against the harshest of chemicals and acids, thus making it suitable for applications in the oil & gas industry and water & wastewater industries.Read Report Overview @Green coatings help improve the overall efficiency of the equipment it is applied to, by minimizing the suns harmful infrared and UV radiations, thus reducing radiant heat transfer within a property, which allows the property to remain cool. This minimizes the need for cooling systems and the additional fossil fuel costs associated with them. Green coatings do not emit harmful chemicals in the environment unlike their counterpart, traditional chemical coatings that are generally employed in industrial applications.Chemical coatings are made of volatile organic compounds (VOC), which release toxins into the air at room temperature, thus leading to several environmental and health hazards. The typical impact of the usage of VOC coatings on the health include headache, dizziness, and may even lead to damage of the kidneys. It also negatively impact the ozone layer, leading to its depletion and global warming. Furthermore, chemical coatings are added with toxic fungicides and biocides in order to increase their shelf-life and prevent mildew growth. The fungicides and biocides further add to the hazardous effects on the air and environment. Therefore, several governments in North America and Europe have formulated stringent regulations for the usage and production of VOC coatings. These restrictions on the usage of VOC coatings and the stringent rules & regulations are anticipated to drive the green coatings market in the near future.In terms of application, the green coatings market can be segmented into architectural, aerospace, automotive, defense, industrial, wood finishes, and construction. The architectural segment currently dominates the green coatings market followed by automotive and industrial segments. The anticipated expansion of these end-user industries is estimated to drive the green coatings market during the forecast period. The architectural application segment is anticipated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Moreover, the automotive and industrial segments are anticipated to expand at a steady pace during the forecast period.In terms of geography, the market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. North America, followed by Europe, dominates the green coatings market. This is majorly due to the stringent regulations enacted by the respective governments on the usage of chemical coatings and rising environmental hazards due to usage of chemical coatings. However, Asia Pacific is likely to expand significantly due to the anticipated expansion of the end-user industries such as aerospace, architectural, and automotive in the region, during the forecast period.Key players operating in the global green coatings market include AkzoNobel, PPG Industries, Henkel, Sherwin-Williams, Axalta, Valspar, BASF, and Kansai.Request to view Sample Report:Companies are adopting aggressive marketing tactics and merger & acquisition strategies to expand their market share. They are also shifting their production facilities to emerging economies such as China and India, in Asia Pacific due to the easy availability of land, inexpensive labor, and government subsidies. Major drivers driving the green coatings market are rising environmental hazards, increasing awareness of health and environmental impacts due to volatile organic compounds, and stringent government norms related to the usage of volatile organic compounds.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Market Projected to Discern Stable Expansion During 2026

CA 95113

https://www.xploremr.com/report/230/advanced-semiconductor-packaging-market

https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/230

https://www.xploremr.com/cart/reports/buynow/230

Global Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Market- OverviewSemiconductor packaging prevents physical damage and corrosion of the chips that are to be connected to the circuit boards. In the recent years, semiconductor packaging has evolved giving rise to advanced semiconductor packaging technologies. Manufacturers are moving towards new packaging options such as 2.5D integrated circuits and 3D integrated circuits. Meanwhile, manufacturers are also focusing on developing an alternative to the 2.5D packaging.Internet of Things (IoT) is also expected to have a significant impact on the advanced semiconductor packaging market. Hence, new packaging technologies supporting IoT driven semiconductor industry are being introduced. Miniaturization of devices and thermal dissipation are leading towards the growth of the advanced semiconductor packaging market. Meanwhile, the requirement for less power consumption, improved efficiency is driving the adoption of 3D semiconductor packaging in the advanced semiconductor packaging market.Report Overview @Global Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Market- Research MethodologyThe report on the global advanced semiconductor packaging market offers key insights on the market with help of the data obtained from primary and secondary research. The report has used top-down and bottom-up approach to provide expected market size. The report also offers insights on all the major factors playing an important role in the market growth. The report also includes key trends, market opportunities, factors driving the global market and factors hampering the growth of the market.During the primary research interview of industry experts was conducted and information provided by them was crosschecked with various data sources. Both micro-economic and macro-economic factors were also taken into account to provide important information on the global as well as regional advanced semiconductor packaging market.The report also offers segment-wise analysis and region-wise analysis of the global advanced semiconductor packaging market. The secondary research was done to gather data on the market. Sources used in the secondary research included investor presentations, annual reports and financial reports of the major companies. Absolute dollar opportunity is also provided in the report to identify various market opportunities.The report comprises vital information on the key companies operating in the global advanced semiconductor packaging market. The report enlightens on the key business strategies, developments, new product launch by the key market players. The report also includes details on the regulations in the market across the globe. The report also focuses on the technological advancements in the market and how new technologies will impact the growth of the market in future.Global Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Market- SegmentationThe global advanced semiconductor packaging market is segmented based on packaging type, application, end user, and region. On the basis of packaging type, the advanced semiconductor packaging market is divided into Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging (FO WLP), Fan-In Wafer-Level Packaging (FI WLP), Flip Chip (FC), and 2.5D/3D.Get a free sample request @On the basis of application, the market is divided into application processor/ baseband, central processing units/graphical processing units, dynamic random access memory, NAND, image sensor, and other applications.Based on the end user, the market is divided into telecommunications, automotive, aerospace and defense, medical devices, consumer electronics, and other end users.Region-wise the global market for advanced semiconductor packaging is segmented into Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).Competitive LandscapeSome of the key players in the global advanced semiconductor packaging market are Intel Corp, AMD, Amkor Technology, Hitachi Chemical, STMicroelectronics, Infineon, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Avery Dennison, Kyocera, and ASE Group.Buy Now Full Report @About UsXploreMR is one of the worlds leading resellers of high-quality market research reports. We feature in-depth reports from some of the worlds most reputed market research companies and international organizations. We serve across a broad spectrum  from Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses. Our clients trust us for our unwavering focus onquality and affordability. We believe high price should not be a bottleneck for organizations looking to gain access to quality information.XploreMR111 North Market Street, Suite 300,San Jose, CA 95113, United States
Global Vibration Isolators Market Forecast 2018-2025 Flexico, IAC Acoustics, VibraSystems, Mackay Consolidated

Vibration Isolators Market

https://bit.ly/2GP6niV

http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-vibration-isolators-market-9285

www.qymarketstudy.com/

A comprehensive market study on "Global Vibration Isolators Market 2018-2025" examines the performance of the Vibration Isolators market. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Vibration Isolators market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Vibration Isolators market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Leading Manufacturers Analysis such as - Minus K Technology, Newport Corporation, Mackay Consolidated, E&B RUBBER METAL PRODUCTS PVT, LTD, IAC Acoustics, Trelleborg, AV Industrial Products Ltd, Fibet Rubber Bonding (UK) Ltd, Flexico, Anti-Vibration Methods (Rubber) Co Ltd, Karman Rubber Company, GMT Rubber, VibraSystems Inc.The Global Vibration Isolators Market 2018 report includes Vibration Isolators market Revenue, market Share, Vibration Isolators industry volume, market Trends, Vibration Isolators Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Vibration Isolators Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2025.Request Sample Copy of Report:Firstly, the report covers the top Vibration Isolators manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Vibration Isolators Market Segmented Based on Application - Architecture, Transportation, Aerospace and Defense, Electronics, Industrial, Manufacturing, Medical, Miscellaneous.Vibration Isolators Market Segmented Based on Type - Elastomeric Isolators, Mechanical Isolators, Air Isolators Mounts, Compact Pneumatic Isolator, Others.Further, the Vibration Isolators report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Vibration Isolators industry, Vibration Isolators industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Vibration Isolators Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Vibration Isolators research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Vibration Isolators market revenue worldwide.Finally, Vibration Isolators market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:QYMarketStudy.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:3626 North Hall Street (Two Oak Lawn),Suite 610,Dallas, TX 75219, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com
Computer Carrying Case Market to witness exponential Growth rate in the coming years

https://www.statsandreports.com/request-sample/15230-2018-2025-computer-carrying-case-report-on-global-and-united-states-market-status-and-forecast-by-players-types-and-applications

https://www.statsandreports.com/report/15230-2018-2025-computer-carrying-case-report-on-global-and-united-states-market-status-and-forecast-by-players-types-and-applications

https://www.statsandreports.com/placeorder?report=15230-2018-2025-computer-carrying-case-report-on-global-and-united-states-market-status-and-forecast-by-players-types-and-applications&type=SingleUser

www.statsnadnreports.com

A recent published report on Global and United States Computer Carrying Case Market highlights the major details and provides in-depth analysis of the market along with the future growth and prospects. The reports also offer important insights which helps the industry experts, product managers, CEOs, and business executives to draft their policies on various parameters including expansion, acquisition, new product launch as well as analysing and understanding the market trends and demands. The research report also identifies the key factors and challenges in the market.Get a free sample or customize the report @The Global and United States Computer Carrying Case Market offers deep qualitative as well as qualitative insights from last five years to next five years along with the year-on-year market growth analysis. The study does not only offer insight about the global market but also provides deep analysis with respect to the market segments. The segments included in the report are- type, application and region. The type Backpack computer laptop carrying cases, Shoulder/sling PC computer laptop carrying cases application Long Journey, Daily Travelling, Others includes market size and forecast from 2013 to 2025 along with year-on-year growth analysis.Furthermore, the report also contains the qualitative analysis of the market through several chapters. Company profile, competitive product portfolio analysis, market share analysis along with the revenue and SWOT analysis are some of the major insights available in the study. Currently, the market is being driven by the major companies such as Targus, Sumdex, Inc. , Belkin International, Inc., DICOTA, Elecom, Best Buy, Wenger NA, Kensington Computer Products Group, Tucano USA, Inc. whereas new innovations and technology advancement is playing important role in bringing the small companies into the industry. There is also a huge competition between the vendors and suppliers of Global and United States Computer Carrying Case Market which is playing crucial role in the final pricing.The report also provides key insights by geography where the major region includes United States, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. Geographically, the report offers market size (USD million) and volume, market share, production, consumption along with import, export and supply. The historic year considered for this report is 2013 where it provides information all the way to 2025 considering the base year as 2018.Read detailed research report @Scope of Global and United States Computer Carrying Case MarketThe report provides historic data from year 2013 through 2018 and forecast till 2025.The report offers competitive landscape of the market which includes key player analysis, market share of key players and product portfolio analysis.The Global and United States Computer Carrying Case Market also offers quantitative and qualitative analysis of the different segment such as Type which includes Backpack computer laptop carrying cases, Shoulder/sling PC computer laptop carrying cases, Application Long Journey, Daily Travelling, Others and Regions.The report also offers advice from the key industry people on how the market is growing and how companies can overcome from various challengesTable of Content of Global and United States Computer Carrying Case MarketThe Global and United States Computer Carrying Case Market Research Report offers deep insights about the market trends and forecast in more than 12 chapters which provides qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of the report.Chapter 1, 2 and 3 includes methodology & data sources, market overview and market analysis by application. The market overview chapter provides segment information by type including the revenue (million USD) and sales volume (K Units) along with market share and year-on-year growth analysis. Market analysis by application provides insights on the different application/end users of the Global and United States Computer Carrying Case Market including the sales volume by sub application types.Chapter 4, 5 and 6 includes global market sales, revenue, price and growth rate analysis by regions, Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers which includes global market share, price by manufactures as well as sales and revenue by individual market players.ContinuedResearch MethodologyThe research report has been prepared by conducting various rounds of primary interviews with key management of several Tier-I and II companies. The primary research percentage of all of reports are above ~80% whereas ~20% of secondary research includes data from hoovers, factiva, one source avention and other government published records. Both top-down approach has been applied for the calculation of market size, volume, import and export and has been validated thoroughly.Buy this report @Thanks for reading the article. You can also get individual chapters or any particular segments.About Author:Stats and Reports is an India based research and consulting service provider specialized in offering wide range of business solutions to their clients including market research reports, primary and secondary research, demand forecasting services, focus group analysis and other services. We understand that how data is important in todays competitive environment and thus, we have collaborated with industrys leading research providers who works continuously to meet the ever growing demand for market research reports throughout the year.For more info log on toContact PersonStats and ReportsMangaram Chamber, Office No - 16, Paud RoadSankalp Society, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411038Phone: +1 650-646-3808 or drop an email @ sales@statsandreports.com
Global Banana Powder Market: Growth, Share, Trends Report and Forecast 2018 to 2023

https://www.imarcgroup.com/request?type=report&id=542&flag=B

https://www.imarcgroup.com/banana-powder-manufacturing-plant

https://www.imarcgroup.com/lactose-powder-market

https://www.imarcgroup.com/whole-milk-powder-market

www.imarcgroup.com

The global banana powder market has witnessed a moderate growth over the past few years. This can be attributed to the diverse applications of banana powder in the food, healthcare, animal feed and cosmetic industries.Banana is one of the most widely consumed fruits and is grown across various countries. The majority of the bananas produced worldwide are consumed directly, while a small part is processed into banana powder, which helps in expanding its shelf-life. Banana powder is mainly used for producing milkshakes, protein powder, baby food, etc. Further, it finds applications in various food products such as cakes, instant foods, beverages, seasonings, etc. A new research report by IMARC Group, titled Banana Powder Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023, estimates that the market reached a volume of around 234,000 Tons in 2017. The report further anticipates the market to reach a volume of 310,000 Tons by 2023, at a projected CAGR of nearly 5% over the forecast period.Request a free report sample:Market Drivers/Constraints:The several health benefits associated with banana powder stimulate its demand across the globe. Banana powder strengthens bones, enables quicker digestion and nutrition absorption, improves vision, prevents dehydration, regulates blood pressure, treats depression and relaxes muscles.Banana powder finds numerous applications in the food as well as non-food industries. Moreover, it is employed in the skincare and cosmetic sector, owing to its several skin benefits; and in the feed industry, for feeding animals such as pig, fish, shrimp, etc.Some of the other factors that proliferate the demand for banana powder include its longer shelf-life, convenience and portability. Moreover, increasing global population and inflating income levels are proactive in maintaining the growth of the market.However, there are several factors that hamper the market growth. Bananas are endowed with extra calories that may gradually lead to unwanted weight gain. Apart from this, fluctuations in the prices of the raw material acts as another major deterrent.Read full report with TOC:End-Use Insights:Based on end-use, the food industry currently represents the largest end-use segment of banana powder. It is majorly used in the production of cakes, instant food products, solid beverages, etc. Food industry is followed by feed industry, wherein it is used in pet food and cattle feed.Regional Insights:On a geographical front, North America enjoys a leading position in the global banana powder market. The flourishing food and beverage industry has stimulated the demand for banana powder in the region. North America is followed by Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa.Competitive Landscape:The market is fragmented with the presence of numerous small manufacturers who compete in terms of quality and prices. There is a strong competition in the market which makes it difficult for small players to survive. Some of the leading players operating in the market are:ChiquitaDel MoteDoleFyffesNoboaBrowse related reports:Lactose Powder Market Research Report:Whole Milk Powder Market Research Report:About UsIMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.Contact usIMARC Group309 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USAWebsite:Email: sales@imarcgroup.comUSA: +1-631-791-1145Follow us on twitter: @imarcglobal
OSoft Labs and Nour Global announce strategic partnership to accelerate cloud transformations

http://www.osoftlabs.com

http://www.nourglobal.com/

28 May 2018, Hyderabad (Press Release) - OSoft Labs () a Hyderabad based IT products & cloud solutions company and Nour Global () is Middle Easts fastest growing data network operator & managed services provider which announced a strategic partnership to help businesses build, scale and monetize cloud and digital services.The cloud market is reaching the tipping point and businesses started to understand the advantage of cloud and the long-term results they get by moving to cloud infrastructure and utilizing the services. Companies are seeking simple, secure solutions on the cloud which have less maintenance overhead and at the same time easy to scale. OSoft Labs and Nour Global partnership will bring exceptional value to client's and partners to accelerate their business.Today, technology is growing at a rapid pace where companies are struggling to identify the right technology to use for their business. Moving from CapEx to OpEx model is the need of the hour for companies. With so many options available in the market, choosing the right technology, skilled resources to manage applications, scaling infrastructure, implementing security best practices etc add to the cost of maintenance. Cost is a major factor for businesses to take decisions on upgrading the technology apart from the apprehension of existing team to upgrade skills or getting the right skilled people to manage these applications. This is where a strategic IT partner can help to fill the gap and reduce the overhead of maintenance which helps management to focus on core business development activities.The partnership will transform the way applications are designed which enhances the user experience. OSoft Labs and Nour Global work closely with clients to understand the business challenges and provide customized solutions on a cost-effective model."Our partnership will surely help businesses to get one stop solution for infrastructure and application cloud migration expertise with the right set of tools and techniques. We do technology consulting for our clients and understand business goals to enable clients to maximize their investments in the cloud to grow their business multi-fold", Srikanth Gudipudi, CEO of OSoft LabsAbout OSoft LabsOSoft Labs is a software development and services provider with competencies in architecting scalable and highly available cloud based applications. OSoft Labs has AWS Certified Solutions Architects and have built multiple products including eCommerce platform, media transcoding and streaming, database monitoring and intelligent cloud based document management system which use AWS services extensively. The products have been designed using microservices architecture, the serverless architecture using lambda etc. OSoft Labs is an ISO 9001:2008 certified and technology partner of Amazon AWS.About Nour GlobalNour Global is Middle Easts fastest growing data network operator & managed services provider. With the footprint in 3 continents & 16 years of experience serving thousands of customers. Nour Global for Telecom & Managed IT Services is best-fit connectivity & managed services partner in the Middle East, Africa & beyond. Nour Global is a fully owned subsidiary of the Astra Group which has a history of over 45 years of successful business operations across the Middle East. ASTRA has grown from its humble beginnings to a multi-national organization with more than 6,000 employees in 11 countries. The Astra Group is today Saudi Arabias second-largest privately owned business group with business interests in IT, agriculture, trading, manufacturing, contracting & serving, healthcare and telecom.We believe that selecting the right technology for the business requirement has a significant impact on the business growth to help transform and make business functions simpler, faster and better. Our current focus is more on Cloud Computing, Collaboration, Service Oriented Architecture, Mobility Applications, Information Management, Data Warehousing and Security.Srikanth Gudipudi (9642411011)Address:302, 3rd Floor,Sri Durga Tulasi Towers,Dwarakapuri Colony, PunjaguttaBeside Saibaba temple, Hyderabad - 500082
GoodFirms Revealed Zealous System as one of Top Web Design Companies in Australia

As a globally recognised full-fledged research and review platform, GoodFirms helps buyers of professional services connect with best design and development companies. GoodFirms also helps design and development firms like Zealous System to multiply their market share, improve their brand reputation, credibility, and solidify the visibility spectrum.GoodFirms makes persistent efforts in identifying and recognising the companies that provide extraordinary services  companies that take every project as a novel challenge, approach it like a fruitful opportunity, and deliver the best solutions to their clients.Capitalising on quality, efficiency, creativity, and reliability, GoodFirms was extremely quick to gauge that Zealous System didnt only meet its clients expectations, but also surpassed what they had envisioned by giving them more. GoodFirms thoroughly assessed Zealouss resourcefulness, responsiveness, industry expertise, technology expertise, market and media presence, and client satisfactory rate; eventually it resulting in the Top Web Design Companies in Australia list.Zealouss clients, in fact, also quoted it to be backed by patient and persistent developers, very professional and skilled in dealing with challenges, and highly dedicated in delivering projects on or before the scheduled delivery timeframe.Overall, the capabilities, beliefs, professional ethics, and dedication is what made GoodFirms spot them as a Top Web Design Company in Australia.About Zealous SystemZealous System is a team of passionately curious believers, thinkers, and creators, committed to building unparalleled Web and Mobile Applications for budding startups, medium-to-large businesses, and enterprises. With 8+ years of experience in Web and Mobile Ecosystem encompassing a huge team of experienced and dedicated Sales Executives, IT Business Analysts, UI/UX Designers, Web Developers, Mobile App Developers, Testers, and Marketing Experts, Zealous System has successfully etched its impression across the globe.Zealous System offers a full-suite of Custom Web and Mobile Application Design as well as Development Services, along with in-depth consultation for the desired results. The process that Zealous System follows hasnt just got acknowledgement from GoodFirms, but also from the clientele belonging to industries such as Government, Ecommerce, and Healthcare among many others.Zealous System is a widely-recognized web & mobile application development company. Were basically development pros with almost a decade of experience in shipping super-fantastic products for every forward-thinking business. We basically specialize in all aspects of software, web, and mobile application development. From ERP and eCommerce solutions to web and mobile apps, we take pride in the products weve built. Some of it won awards, while others got featured in many publications. But in a nutshell, our vast technology as well as industry expertise has helped us in partnering with clients to deliver modern and user-friendly solutions rapidly and most importantly, in budget.Zealous SystemA-805, Mondeal HeightsNear Novotel Hotel, S.G.HighwayAhmedabad, Gujarat 380015+91 79-6544-4048
Global Cloud Access Security Brokers Market expected to reach US$ 13,218.5 Mn by 2024

MRRSE

https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1664

https://www.mrrse.com/cloud-access-security-brokers-market

https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/1664

https://www.mrrse.com/

An insightful study, titled Cloud Access Security Brokers Market has been freshly broadcasted to the vast research repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). This research study provides detailed comprehensions and forecasts future growth of the global market with an in-depth study of the factors impacting revenue growth throughout the mentioned forecast period. Further, a deep analysis on the major players from diverse regions is also present in the report.Get Sample Report for more Professional and Technical insights @Cloud Access Security Brokers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, the cloud access security brokers (CASB) market was worth US$ 3,371.4 Mn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$ 13,218.5 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2016 to 2024. North America was the largest market for cloud access security brokers in 2015. The growth in this region is being driven by the presence of a large number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), start-ups, and large corporate enterprises.CASB services provide a security platform for cloud silos. A large number of SMBs and large corporates currently rely on cloud computing technologies to store their information and extract it whenever required. Security over the cloud is one of the major concerns facilitating the growth of cloud security solutions. CASB services play a significant role in providing solutions encompassing control & monitoring, risk & compliance management, tokenization, data leakage prevention, and cloud data encryption. These solutions are capable enough to provide complete cloud security, avoiding data leakage and the risk of security breaches at access points and nodes.The report provides cross-segment analysis of the CASB market, based on cloud deployment type and components comprising software and services. Segmentation on the basis of deployment type includes SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. IaaS platforms are expected to emerge as the fastest-growing platforms, owing to their augmented IT delivery capabilities, increased scalability, and flexibility. However, the SaaS platform held the dominant position in terms of CASB cloud deployment type in 2015.Software solutions that are particularly used for data leakage prevention and control & monitoring held the largest market shares in 2015. Furthermore, these segments are growing at a significant pace owing to rising threat of security breaches. Frequently changing cloud regulations by governing bodies are making it difficult for cloud storage vendors to ensure compliance. This has enabled cloud storage vendors to outsource the security platform to the CASB providers, empowering the CASB risk & management compliance market to expand at an expected CAGR of 18% from 2016 to 2024. However, cloud data encryption is expected to be the fastest-growing software solution segment, expected to advance at the rate of 20.2% over the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.Visit for Complete Report with TOC @The research report provides a comprehensive assessment of stakeholder strategies, and the imperatives for success in the CASB market. The report also includes competitive analysis of various market segments based on deployment type, components encompassing software and services of CASB, and in-depth cross-sectional scrutiny across different geographical segments of the cloud security systems market. In order to aid in strategic decision-making, the report includes the winning strategies adopted by key players. The report segregates the CASB market geographically into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.For a detailed understanding of the CASB market, all these segments have also been estimated in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for the geographies mentioned above. The market research study analyzes the CASB market worldwide, and provides historical revenue estimates in terms of US$ Mn for 2014 and 2015, along with the market forecast for the period 2016 to 2024. Market forecasts have been analyzed considering the impact of various economic, political, social, legal, operational, and technological factors influencing market growth.The CASB market is segmented as follows:Cloud Access Security Brokers Market, by Cloud Deployment TypeSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Platform as a Service (PaaS)Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Cloud Access Security Brokers Market, by ComponentsSoftwareCloud-basedControl and MonitoringRisk & Compliance ManagementCloud Data EncryptionData Leakage PreventionTokenizationOn-premiseControl and MonitoringRisk & Compliance ManagementCloud Data EncryptionData Leakage PreventionTokenizationServicesConsultingSystem IntegrationOperation and MaintenanceTo Know More Enquire @About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Is Vaser Liposuction A Smart Solution For Body Contouring Procedure?

https://www.harleybodyclinic.co.uk/

However, before opting for this surgical procedure, one has to clear out all the queries and doubts related to the aesthetic surgery such as the surgical procedures, safety methods, risk factors., after care measures, recovery span and so on.What Questions Does One Need To Ask The Aesthetic Surgeon?First and foremost, one has to know whether the candidate is able to go under the knife or not since every cosmetic surgery, including vaser liposuction comes up with an ideal candidacy. After ensuring the candidacy, a candidate has to initiate a pre-op consultation session with the concerned surgeon who will be performing the entire surgical course. The team of surgical experts decided the place and date of the cosmetic procedure. Usually, in most of the cases available options are surgical center, physicians clinic or hospital. A candidate must always ensure about how much adipose contents need to be aspirated out during a single session of r the surgery. One also has to ask if multiple areas can be treated with the help of the surgical procedure.Along with all these, one also has to know what will be the impact of the aesthetic surgery and how will be the healing procedure. Usually, after any kind of aesthetic surgery usual complications such as swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and soreness take place and vaser liposuction is also no exception. All these, complicacies can be minimized with the help of proper medications prescribed by the aesthetic surgeon.During the initial consultation session, an aesthetic surgeon has to let the candidate know what kind of realistic expectations a candidate should have from the surgical procedure. One has to realize the fact that final outcome varies from one candidate to another and therefore having pragmatic approach towards the surgical procedure is a must for each and every candidate. One can also enquire about the estimated time span of the recovery span and most of the candidates remain concerned about witnessing the final outcome of the fat reduction surgery but one has to be patience till the time comes since the recovery span also varies from one candidate to another.How To Choose A Good Surgical Clinic?Final outcome of the surgery majorly depends on the potentiality and skills of an aesthetic surgeon who is performing the entire surgical course. The expert must work under an accredited and renowned surgical clinic which has gained huge popularity because of the happy candidates who have undergone the successful surgeries. A candidate also has to check the schedule of the surgery in order to know whether it is worth availing or not. Usually, vaser technique promotes less downtime in comparison with the traditional fat removal procedure which is more invasive in nature.If you are looking forward to get the best help of a well-experienced and board-certified aesthetic surgeon who have been performing vaser liposuction over an extensive period of time, contact the surgeons of Harley Body Clinic who have gained huge fame among the clients across the globe. In order to know more about our surgeries and facilities, log in to the below mention linkand read about us.Harley Body Clinic10 Harley StreetLondon W1G 9PF
Southeast Asia Industrial Automation And Process Control Market Worth 4,443.8 Million USD By 2023

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/?cp_id=3989

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/southeast-asia-industrial-automation-process-control-market/

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/?cp_id=3989

Meticulous Research  leading global market research company published a research report titled Southeast Asia Industrial Automation and Process Control Market by Product Type (DCS, PLC, SCADA, PLM), Industry Vertical (Textile, Oil & Gas, Food & Beverages, Life Sciences, Automotive, Packaging)  Opportunity Analysis & Industry Forecast to 2023Download Free Sample PDF @According to this latest publication from Meticulous Research, the Southeast Asian industrial automation and process control market will grow at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2018 to 2023 to reach USD 4,443.8 million by 2023, driven by increasing government funding to promote the adoption of automated systems in various industrial verticals, flourishing demand for automation from various manufacturing sectors, growing innovations in industrial robotics, increasing technological advancements in manufacturing, and demand for mass production and associated supply chain to cater to the growing population. In addition, growing digitalization and accelerating pace of change, industry 4.0 revolution, increasing demand for safety compliance of automation products, and growing manufacturing sector in emerging economies further provides significant opportunities for the various stakeholders in this market. However, factors such as rising unemployment, high capital investments, decreasing oil and gas prices affecting infrastructure related investments are expected to hinder the growth of the market to some extent.Key Market Segments to WatchThe Southeast Asia industrial automation and process control market is mainly segmented by product type (product lifecycle management, distributed control system, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, variable frequency drive, general motion controls, programmable logic controller, sensors and transmitters, manufacturing execution system, flowmeters, machine safety system, enterprise asset management, human machine interface, process safety system, and operator training simulator), industry vertical (process and discrete industry), and geography (Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and others).On the basis of type, the product lifecycle management system held the largest share in the global market and helps drive top-line revenue through repeatable process, maximizes the life-time value of the business process, and sets up single system of record for diverse data needs.Browse in-depth Report onBased on industry vertical, the Southeast Asia industrial automation and process control market is categorized into process and discrete industry. The process industries include oil and gas, energy and power system, chemical and petrochemical, metals and mining, lifesciences, food and beverage, water and wastewater, pulp and paper, cement and glass, textile, rubber and plastic, and metal fabrication. On the other hand, the discrete industry is sub-segmented into automotive, machine manufacturing, semiconductor and electronics, aerospace and defense, medical devices, printing, and packaging. The discrete industry is currently the largest adopter of automation and process control solutions, mainly attributed to increasing investments in the automotive, electrical, and semiconductor sector. However, the process industry is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.Geographically, the Southeast Asia industrial automation and process control market is segmented into Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and others. Singapore is the largest market for industrial automation and process control solutions in the Southeast Asia. The government initiatives such as the National Robotics Programme bring together public agencies and companies to develop a vibrant robotics and automation ecosystem in the country. Moreover, the advanced technical education which includes secondary and post-secondary levels further attracts strong multinational corporations, thus providing skilled workforce to handle technical and digital equipment in the Singapore.The key players operating in the Southeast Asia industrial automation and process control market are Siemens AG (Germany), ABB Group (Switzerland), Fanuc Corporation (Japan), Rockwell Automation Inc. (U.S.), Emerson Electric Corporation (U.S.), Universal Robots (Denmark), Schneider Electric SE (France), Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Eaton Corporation (Ireland), and Scott Automation and Robotics (Australia).Download Free Sample PDF @About Meticulous ResearchMeticulous Research is founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.Contact us :Viren ShrivastavaAVP- Global Sales and MarketingMeticulous ResearchEmail: viren@meticulousresearch.comDirect Lines: +1-646-781-8004 (North America)+44-203-868-8738 (Europe)+91 744-7780008 (Asia-Pacific)Office No-402, 4th Floor, Pushpak Business Hub, Wakad, Pune-411057
Analytical Standards Market: Global Industry Growth Analysis and Threats Faced By Key Vendors (Merck, Agilent, Waters, Restek, Spex Certiprep, LGC Standards, Perkinelmer) | Foreseen till 2025

Analytical Standards Market

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/80761

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/80761/single

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/80761

Global Analytical Standards Market Research Report 2018 report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Analytical Standards Market Overview:The report spread across 114 pages is an overview of the Global Analytical Standards Market Research Report 2018. The Global Analytical Standards Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. The thorough analysis in this report enables investors, CEOs, traders and suppliers to understand the market in a better way and based on that knowledge make well-informed decisions.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @The Global Analytical Standards Market is expected to grow at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2025. Factors such as stringent regulatory scenario in pharmaceutical industry, rising public concern related to food safety and quality, and increasing number of research activities are driving the growth of the market.The Global Analytical Standards Market is segmented on the basis of Category, Technique, Application and Region. On the basis of category, the analytical standard market is categorized into organic analytical standards and inorganic analytical standards. In 2016, the organic analytical standards segment accounted for the largest share. It is also expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This can be attributed to increasing public-private investment for various research studies and increasing drug development activities & clinical trials.Regionally, the Analytical Standards Market in North America is primarily driven by the availability of government funding for research and stringent regulations for pharmaceutical & biotechnology products.Purchase this report online with 114 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on Global Analytical Standards Market Research Report 2018 @A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Global Analytical Standards Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost. This report investigates new project feasibility with a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market. In this report, thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Analytical Standards Market players.Major Key Players:1 Merck2 Agilent Technologies3 Waters4 Restek5 Spex Certiprep6 Accustandard7 LGC Standards8 Perkinelmer9 Thermo Fisher Scientific and More.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into -1 Organic Standards2 Inorganic StandardsGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Analytical Standards in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), covering: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @This study answers to the below key questions:1 What will the market size be in 2025 and what will the growth rate be?2 What are the key market trends?3 What are the challenges to market growth?4 Who are the key players in this market?5 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Analytical Standards Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Analytical Standards Market Report 20181 Analytical Standards Market Overview2 Global Analytical Standards Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Analytical Standards Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Analytical Standards Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Analytical Standards Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Analytical Standards Market Analysis by Application7 Global Analytical Standards Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Analytical Standards Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Analytical Standards Market Forecast (2018-2025)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixAbout 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 Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Spandex Industry 2018 Global Market Growth, Trends, Revenue, Share and Demands Research Report

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/80402

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/enquiry/80402

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/80402/single

Global Spandex Market 2018 Industry Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Global Spandex industry. This report studies Global Spandex 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 Spandex market 2018 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Spandex 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 Spandex 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 Spandex market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including Invista Hyosung Corporation Asahi Kasei Corporation Taekwang Industrial Co. Ltd. Zhejiang Huafon Spandex Co. Ltd. Yantai Tayho Advanced materials Co. Ltd. TK Chemical Corporation The report also focuses on global major leading industry players of Global Spandex 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 Spandex 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 Spandex 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 Spandex 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 intoSolution Dry SpinningSolution Wet SpinningOthersOn 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, includingApparel & ClothingMedical & HealthcareOthersMajor Points from Table of Contents:1 Global Spandex Market Overview2 Global Spandex Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Spandex Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Spandex Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2013-2018)5 Global Spandex Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Spandex Market Analysis by Application7 Global Spandex Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Global Spandex Market Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Spandex 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
Colin Murphey/Daily Astorian via AP

ASTORIA  The Wildlife Center of the North Coast has already cared for several starving young California brown pelicans this spring.

Brown pelicans, which migrate north in the spring from nesting colonies off Southern California and Mexico, spent several decades on the federal endangered species list because of exposure to pesticides like DDT and other contaminants. Their delisting in 2009 was a success story, but concerns remain about the birds' continued survival.

Chief among these concerns is the availability of food.

Anchovy and sardine stocks  important sources of food for brown pelicans  have collapsed in portions of the birds' range. At nesting colonies in the south, researchers are concerned that lack of food is affecting the pelicans' productivity. Some researchers theorize shifting ocean conditions could drive both prey and predators northward. In the meantime, a northern stock of anchovies remains an important source of food in the birds' nonbreeding range, which includes roosts in Clatsop County.

"That's a major concern and threat for this species," said Michelle McDowell, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Don't Edit

Colin Murphey/Daily Astorian via AP

Brown pelicans have long lives  with a maximum documented life span of 43 years.

"They don't have to breed every year, but making sure they have those food resources, that's the big story of making sure this species is going to do well into the future," she said.

It isn't uncommon for wildlife center workers to have starving pelicans on their hands while the birds are up here. Sometimes pelicans stay north for too long, into late fall and early winter, and get stuck when food runs out.

But researchers say to have young pelicans arriving in Clatsop County in this condition points to issues that began earlier in the migration. The birds are also showing up later than they have in the past, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. But so are other bird species.

Don't Edit

Colin Murphey/Daily Astorian via AP

SURVEY WORK

Six to seven California brown pelicans circled Castle Rock in the last seconds before 5 p.m. on a recent Saturday. But they flew over to the far side of the large offshore rock near Arch Cape and disappeared from view so Nadia Gardner, an environmental advocate and Arch Cape resident, didn't count them. She and other volunteers  citizen scientists  were keeping an eye out for brown pelicans as they returned to historic roost sites for the evening, participating in a survey up and down the West Coast.

The survey is a collaboration between the Fish and Wildlife Service, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, state agencies, Audubon Society groups along the West Coast and Conservacion de Islas. It occurs once in the spring and once in the fall in an effort to count and observe the birds across their range. The next survey is scheduled for September.

Biologist Deborah Jaques, who has studied the birds on and off for decades, wants to pay more attention to the pelicans' nonbreeding range, which includes historic nighttime roosts like Castle Rock and East Sand Island in the Columbia River estuary. She has created an organization that she hopes will be able to monitor roost sites on a monthly basis.

Researchers with Oregon State University study the tern colony that nests on East Sand Island. They spend some time monitoring the pelicans, too, but Jaques believes more monitoring is necessary to understand how the pelicans use the area, what they eat and what pressures they face during the time they spend here.

Don't Edit

Colin Murphey/Daily Astorian via AP

ISLAND HOME

East Sand Island isn't just a home away from home for pelicans or a honeymoon spot for amorous terns. It also hosts a massive double-crested cormorant colony that has come under fire  literally  in recent years.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has management plans in place for the terns and the cormorants and has restricted their nesting habitat, hazed both species and spent several seasons shooting adult double-crested cormorants in an effort to control their growing numbers and protect young salmon from predation.

The agency will not shoot cormorants this year, but will haze the birds and destroy nests.

"They've come all this way, they're relying on this northern (anchovy) stock, they need somewhere to rest," Jaques said. "Can they rest there and what does salmon restoration and hazing of other birds (mean), how does that affect them?"

East Sand Island is ideal for pelicans in many ways, McDowell said. It is located in a food-rich environment, it provides a relatively safe place to gather in large numbers and it hosts other sea and water bird species.

Don't Edit

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, file

Several years ago, researchers reported that brown pelicans were building nests on East Sand Island. None of the nests were successful, but it marked the northernmost brown pelican nesting activity ever recorded.

"It provides a potential northern breeding habitat if southern regions become less suitable for nesting," said Tim Lawes, an Oregon State wildlife biologist and senior faculty research assistant.

Lawes echoed theories also expressed by Dan Roby, a seabird ecologist with the university, several years earlier.

In 2014, Roby told reporters with Oregon Public Broadcasting the birds' migratory patterns had been shifting northward for three decades, mirroring a shift by similar pelican species on the East Coast. The East Coast birds were also expanding their breeding range. All were changes Roby attributed to climate change.

There are an estimated 70,700 breeding pairs of California brown pelicans. Of the thousands that flock to East Sand Island, only three to 15 pairs have ever been seen attempting to build nests or breed there, McDowell noted.

Don't Edit
Doctors are always recommending exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now, veterans and first responders have another opportunity for recreation with the onset of Heroes on the Water-Central Michigan (HOW).

This is for veterans and first responders along with service animals, said Natasha Galvin, coordinator of the local chapter. Families are always welcome and it will be free for them.

Each HOW chapter helps veterans relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate through kayak fishing and the outdoors. The Central Michigan chapter is part of the non-profit Heroes on the Water organization based in Denton, Texas.

Galvin served in the U.S. Marines from 2007-2012 and got out in 2013. Then she moved from California to Michigan. However, upon completion of her military service, Galvin was no different than many other veterans.

I came back and was having a hard time transitioning. You go from being surrounded by people and come home to find that your friends and family have moved all over the place, she said.

During the transition, Galvin experienced more trauma when notified that one of her friends from the Marines committed suicide. Realizing her own struggles and the amount of suicides by veterans, Galvin saw the need for recreational opportunities for all veterans.

"I really want people to understand that you don't have to be experienced. If there are different types of needs that assist people, we will figure that out. We're finding locations with universal accessible launches," Galvin said.

Having experienced the calming influence of kayaking, Galvin continued the exercise in Michigan.

"It was exciting and relaxing. When I came here, I wasn't sure I would enjoy kayaking as much. It's a little different than the ocean, said Galvin with a laugh.

But, Galvin was brave enough to kayak the chilly rivers of the Midland area.

One of the coolest things I've ever experienced was kayaking down the Chippewa River and an eagle just soared over top of me. I saw all sorts of animals on that trip, she said.

Attempting to find local, recreational opportunities for veterans, Galvin came up empty. Instead of giving up, she began organizing her own recreational opportunities.

I organized a fly fishing event with Little Forks Conservancy, Little Forks Outfitters, Heart of the Lakes and Stone Heart Studios, Galvin said.

During the event, a mini-documentary, "Getting Out, Getting Through," was produced by Heart of the Lakes/Stone Hut and entered in the 2017 Fresh Coast Film Festival.

Then I started receiving all sorts of email and people expressing to me that what I was doing was really important to them and wanted to participate, Galvin said.

A grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation provided funds to purchase 20 kayaks, 20 paddles, 20 life jackets, rods, reels, tackle, tackle boxes and fishing gear. And from GrindStone Lures came a full box of lures.

This years first event will be Saturday, June 2, at Sanford Lake Park. From 9 a.m. to noon, there will be free kayak fishing for veterans, first responders and their families, followed by a free lunch. To RSVP and for more information, consult the Heroes on the Water Facebook page: https://bit.ly/2s9v4l8

Our plans are to have an event each month until about October, Galvin said. On June 2, the leadership team will meet up and evaluate the first event. Then we will figure out the next dates.

Anyone wishing to participate, volunteer or help sponsor, may contact Galvin on the chapters Facebook page.
To the editor:

To my friends and family, 100 years ago, my grandpa was in World War I. He was in an the Army infantry unit known as the Polar Bears. This unit was mostly made up of guys from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. (History buffs, google Polar Bears. There was a PBS documentary made where my grandpa, Oscar Holstrom, was interviewed.)

Fifty years ago I was in the jungles of Vietnam serving in the 25th Infantry. The month of May 1968 was the deadliest month of the war. We were in contact or firefights for 23 consecutive days. We had 155 men at the end of April and by the end of May we were down to 88 men. They pulled my company out of the field to get new recruits and have memorial services for our fallen. They had new replacements coming in and I remember thinking I do not want to know their names, because at that time of the war, new recruits only lasted a month and then they'd be killed or wounded.

The second day back at base camp, the F4 pilots came to our company to meet the guys that survived the 23 days. They helicoptered in 65 miles to meet us. They said they had to come and meet the men who survived this. We had never met these men face to face, but we felt like we knew them. Three days prior to this, they had dropped bombs into our perimeter. They said that they were doing what they were ordered to do and did not understand how we would survive.

They treated us like heroes and we treated them like Gods.

They spent a couple of hours with us having lunch and then they were off.

The next day, they flew in at 45 degrees right at our base camp and lifted up and kicked in the afterburners. Everyone in the place was shaking, but we knew it was our pilots.

My oldest grandson is 53 years younger than me. I am 53 years younger than my grandpa. Hoping and praying that history does not repeat itself.

I have a brother-in-law that served in Vietnam.

On the day before I left Vietnam, my brother Tee arrived. The happiest day of my life and the saddest day of my life. I was going home and my brother was going into what I had just come out of. I struggled with being able to forgive myself for decades following that day. If I would have stayed longer, he would not have had to come and be wounded multiple times a few weeks after arriving. (They would not allow two brothers to be in combat at the same time.)

Out of my platoon in Vietnam there are four of us left. I had a phone call from my good friend, Donny McMann (one of the four) on a recent Saturday, telling me he had a heart attack Friday. He is having open heart surgery; I am waiting for a call from his wife on how surgery went.

All in all, still feeling blessed, still able to ride my bicycle most every day.

Forty-nine years ago, I came home from Vietnam. This war was different than any other war. I flew into Detroit airport in the middle of the night, the only GI in the place. My family came to pick me up and finally found me sleeping in a seating area.

Life goes on. Thanks for listening.

VAUGHN MURRAY

Coleman
Currently Reading

Top 10 landmarks in the World, according to TripAdvisor
The Cupp family from Elizabethtown, North Caroline, loves the popular chocolate brand Reese's so much that they decided to name their daughter after the chocolate and peanut butter candy.

Reese Cupp

Renee Cupp and her husband both love Reese's cups so when she was pregnant with their daughter, the couple agreed to name her after the candy.

Renee says that they initially chose Lily for the baby's name. However, they took advantage of their surname and opted for Reese. They registered their daughter's name as Reese Eve Cupp on her birth certificate.

In an interview, Cupp says their daughter's name has its history. The idea behind the name came from her older sister, Erica, who the mother says used to go around asking for Reese's chocolate candies as a child.

Likewise, her husband's surname also added to the idea. Cupp says that growing up, he was also teased for the spelling of his last name. This is when the couple decided to just "take the humor and run with it."

Thankfully, their daughter, now eight, does not mind being named after the famous candy brand. Cupp says that Reese "loves her name."

"She always says 'oh, little Reese Cup. I'm a little Reese Cup.' She loves everything chocolate," Cupp tells People.

Aside from the Cupp family, Shannon Dorchak also named her daughter Reese. The nurse from Michigan says her husband has always liked the name Reese.

She reveals that personally, she has been "obsessed" with the candy for as long as she can remember. She is an outrageous Reese's fan. She even owns Reese's-themed coffee cups, planners, and notebooks, and her family always makes sure to gift her Reese's memorabilia. Dorchak says everyone now calls her baby little nicknames like Reese's pieces or Reese Cup.

Reese's Outrageous Bars

Cupp and Dorchak are among the hopeful participants of Reese's Outrageous Bars contest on social media. The mothers each shared a photo of their daughter on Twitter to join the contest.

The contest determines who among the biggest Reese's fans is entitled to win a free box of Outrageous Bars, a milk chocolate bar full of creamy peanut butter, Reese's pieces, and caramel. Participants added the hashtags #ReesesOutrageous and #Contest in their entries. The contest runs until June 1. Surprisingly, Cupp is in the running to win a year's supply of Reese's and the grand prize of $10,000.
A family from East Nashville, Tennessee, is mourning the death of their 1-year-old daughter after the father unintentionally left her in the back of a pickup truck all day.

Tragic Day

The family's worst nightmare happened on Wednesday, May 23, after the father, Matt Baker, mistakenly left his youngest child, Katera, in a hot truck. According to Nashville police, he left his home on Virginia Avenue at around 7:30 a.m. He brought Katera and her older sister and intended to drop them off at a daycare center on Chapel Avenue.

He returned home at around 8:00 a.m. and shortly after parking, left in a hurry using a shared ride service. Mr. Baker then left for the airport and the city on a business trip. According to the authorities, the children's mother, Jenny Barker, entrusted her husband to take the kids to the daycare facility while she left for work in a separate vehicle.

It was not until late in the afternoon that Mrs. Baker found out that her husband had not dropped both of their kids at the facility. Only their 5-year-old daughter was there when she came to pick them up. She called her husband and realized that Katera was still in the back of the pickup truck.

Mrs. Baker called 911 at 5:42 p.m. just as she pulled into her driveway. She saw the 1-year-old still strapped to her car seat. She immediately got her out of the hot car and performed CPR until the paramedics arrived.

Ongoing Investigation

Paramedics rushed Katera to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. However, they pronounced her dead on arrival. The young child had been in the truck for so long when the temperature in Nashville reportedly reached 89 degrees on that tragic day.

Mr. Baker immediately flew back home to Nashville and arrived late in the evening. Investigations regarding the incident are still ongoing and that "no charges are being placed at present." According to detectives, both parents "have been fully cooperative" on the investigation. The police said that the District Attorney's Office is receiving updates as the investigation continues.

It is not rare to hear of heat-related deaths among children. According to kidsandcars.org, an average of 37 children dies from heat stroke each year. The scenarios that lead to the child's death differ. It is either the parents or a relative forget that they have a small child in the back seat. At times, kids accidentally trap themselves when they sneak inside a parked car during playtime and accidentally hit the lock button. It is imperative that parents discuss this hazard with their kids to avoid casualties.
The summer months mean fun times spent on the beach or in the pool. For parents, this is when they should be on guard for accidental drowning. While the water is always fun for both parents and kids, you can't turn a blind eye to the possible dangers that it poses. Even children who know how to swim can go through water accidents, what more those that can't. Particularly if you've got young kids, it's always a must to prioritize safety beyond fun.

Below are tips to ensure children's safety this summer swimming season.

Safety First

Nothing can be more relaxing and enjoyable than spending time on the beach or in the pool with family. This is a special time for parents to bond with their children.

However, this does not mean that they should let their guard down for any untoward incidents on the water. On the contrary, parents need to be extra mindful of their kids when they are having too much fun since it could lead to accidental drowning.

Safety should come first when it comes to swimming, so parents should take note of numerous tips before they let their kids hit the water. Carol Barnett, swim head at Shibley Day Camp in Nassau County, emphasized the importance of knowing the child's ability to swim, which is not dependent on the kid's age or size.

Parents should be confident in their kids' ability to swim. This is why it is also important that children learn how to swim at an early age. Barnett also advised a swimming buddy, as no one, regardless of age, should swim alone in case of incidents.

"[Children] should always swim with a buddy. Also, they should be taught what to do if an emergency occurs," Barnett tells Popsugar.

Adult Supervision At All Times

It is also imperative that young children must have adult supervision and that the designated adult remains undistracted or not engaged in any other activity. Kids should never be left unattended even for a second to avoid accidental drowning. Even if your kids are complete with foam toys or air-filled floatation devices, never put your kids' full trust on these. Remember that these devices can also work as well as the person using them, and if your kids don't know how to use them properly, these may only do more harm than good.

Moreover, adult supervision also means that whoever is supervising the swimming children should stay away from alcohol. If you can avoid it altogether, then don't bring alcoholic beverages with you as you swim or when you're boating. You can't risk losing your mental and physical faculties, even if it's only temporary, as there's a huge responsibility on you to make sure all kids will stay safe while in the water.

The adult should always maintain "touch supervision swimming," which means he or she can assist the child at any moment when needed.

It is also important that adults learn to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. Knowing how to administer the emergency procedure can save a life.

Enroll In Swimming Classes

Generally, toddlers around the age of four can engage in swimming classes. In this age group, most of these students are already enrolled in Nursery or Kindergarten, hence they can already listen and understand basic instructions. Enrolling them in a swim class will also be effective in the long term.

However, just because your kids have enrolled in a learn-to-swim program, this doesn't mean that they're already safe from danger. Since even adult swimmers can drown, all the more that this danger is still very much present for your young kids.

You'll still have to keep a close watch on your children, but at least you've got a bit of confidence that your kids know the basics of floating, thus having lesser chances of drowning.

These swimming classes aren't just great for your kids' safety, but it's also a good form of cardio exercise for them as well. How many calories does swimming burn? On average, a 150-pound person burns around 400 calories per hour of swimming. That's quite a lot, especially when you first intended for swimming just to be a fun activity with your family.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for infants and children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. According to the health institute's records, 70 percent of drowning cases in pre-schoolers happen in the care of one or both parents at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, 75 percent go missing for five minutes or less.
Portions of Ellicott City and suburban Baltimore are underwater after flash flooding and thunderstorms hit the area on Sunday afternoon, according to a report from The Baltimore Sun.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency.

"This is an extremely dangerous situation similar to the catastrophic Ellicott City flash flood of 7/30/16," according to the National Weather Service.

In case its not clear yet, stay away from Main Street. Please. pic.twitter.com/FO1HFpYqMo  Libby Solomon  (@libsolomon) May 27, 2018

"Some residents said Sunday's barrage seemed worse than the storm in July 2016, which killed two people and destroyed local businesses," according to The Baltimore Sun report.

More than 5 inches of rain fell on the Ellicott City and areas of western Baltimore between 3 and 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Numerous water rescues have been reported after heavy rain sent raging brown water surging down Main Street in Ellicott City. Authorities say Ellicott City, on the west bank of Maryland's Patapsco River, is prone to periodic flooding.

Authorities have no immediate report of any injuries or fatalities, though information is still preliminary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Health department announces updated list of COVID-19 clinics, testing sites

Health department announces updated list of COVID-19 testing sites and available clinics in the four-county region.
Russias Defense Ministry announced four servicemen were killed by terrorist shelling in Syrias eastern Deir Ezzor province, Russian media reported on May 27.

However, independent observers and media contradict the official casualty figures. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the French news agency AFP that at least nine Russian troops were killed in the attack, which it said took place on May 23 in the town of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor province.

On May 23, the same day the attack reportedly took place, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman General Sergey Rudskoy held a briefing in Moscow on the situation in Syria.

Rodskoy said that the Russian military, together with Syrian government army, had gained significant success in freeing the key regions of Syria from the remnants of terrorist groups, listing several provinces now under total control of the government forces. Rudskoy did not cite any Russian or Syrian government troop losses on either that same day or any time in the past.

Over the years, the Russian Defense Ministry and the Kremlin have denied or downplayed casualties in Syria. However, in February, leaks of audio recordings revealed that Russian troops and mercenaries in Syria had suffered heavy losses during an attack they launched against U.S. forces there.

Maxim Borodin, the investigative journalist who first reported on the deaths of Russian troops in Syria, died in April as a result of falling out a window, after telling his lawyer over the phone that his apartment was surrounded by masked men equipped like commandos.

The Syrian government has called Mayadeen the Islamic States last bastion in the country. Regime forces entered Mayadeen on October 6, 2017, following overnight Russian airstrikes that reportedly killed 14 people, including three children.

Last December 11, President Vladimir Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to start the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. Government media presented Putins move as a success of Russian diplomacy and the creation of conditions for real de-escalation.

Polygraph.info was unable to confirm whether or not the shelling incident in Mayadeen last week killed four Russian servicemen, as the Russian Defense Ministry claimed, or at least nine Russian servicemen, as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed. That is why the statement by the Russian Defense Ministry is given an unclear verdict. If other details surrounding the incident emerge, that verdict may be updated.
There are those special movies that change your life after youve seen them. Then there are the almost miraculous movies that stay inside you and then change your life again every time you return to them. Critically acclaimed upon its initial release in 1971, but long considered the ultimate cult classic, Nicolas Roegs Walkabout is receiving the well-warranted Criterion Collection treatment.

That it comes unreservedly recommended is certain; the new special edition DVD obliges the inevitable question: what makes this one of the landmark films of the last half-century? Answer: as a near perfect amalgamation of image, story and sound, Walkabout remains vital  and provocative  for its ability to present complicated questions that cannot (and need not) readily be answered. Like any memorable work of art, this movie manages to convey certain elusive insights that, upon reflection, are so obvious they seem revelatory.

Considered on its most basic terms as a deeply moving and occasionally disturbing drama that features consistently astonishing cinematography, Walkabout is entirely successful. As a subtly, almost casually polemic work, it is certain to compel just about any viewer to consider the world, and their preconceptions, in a slightly (or radically) different way. On deeper levels, the films refreshing lack of calculated profundity allows the arresting vistas of the Australian Outback  at once gorgeous and grim  to serve as both setting and a wordless commentary that speaks volumes.

Roeg, in his directorial debut, was the ideal champion for this material, taken from a novel by James Vance Marshall. Already an accomplished cinematographer, Roeg creates a continuous loop of scenes that pulsates with uncontrived symbolism, capturing some of the most audacious images ever to appear in a motion picture. Roeg, by trusting his eye and his environment, captures what Werner Herzog has described based on his experiences filming in the jungle: the so-called natural world is teeming with colors and humming with life, but the closer you look the more dangerous it appears.

Where Herzog uses long tracking shots (particularly the famous opening scene of Aguirre: The Wrath of God or multiple sequences in Fitzcarraldo) as an almost disarming strategy to illustrate the grandeur, Roeg pans in on the battles being waged in the wide open spaces of the desert. In either case, one quickly understands that the resplendent birds are actually shrieking in warning, not song, and that those colorful lizards are running toward prey or away from a predator. Despite our tendency to romanticize (or our historical obsession to tame) the wilderness, an unblinking assessment reveals an arena where every inch of space is occupied by an unending struggle for the inhabitants  no matter how large or small  to stay alive.

The plot of Walkabout, allegedly requiring the most succinct of screenplays (by British playwright Edward Bond, who provided what Roeg described as a fourteen-page prose poem), is more or less a variation on the classic coming of age parable. The action  and conflict  gets underway quickly when a teenager and her younger brother are stranded in the desert after their father abandons them in a most unsettling fashion. This scene is as surprising as it is appalling, but Roeg deftly orchestrates the turn of events so that they occur almost matter-of-factly. This would be impossible if not for the capable and perfectly cast actors, as well as an obvious comfort with and confidence in the material.

Standing in the overwhelming nowhere of the Australian Outback, the sister (Jenny Agutter) quickly comprehends that she somehow must protect her little brother (Roegs son Luc, credited as Lucien John) and find a way back to civilization. The camera languidly tracks their uncertain march, with scorching brightness succumbing to the moonlit chill of night. The slow panning shots of the endless landscape emphasize how helpless these children are, with neither dialogue nor sentiment. The sister encourages and cajoles her brother, careful not to acknowledge their lack of food and whether they are moving closer to safety or further into the desert.

An unexpected salvation arrives when the children encounter a native (David Gulpilil) who is undertaking his walkabout, a solitary excursion Aborigine males embark upon as the symbolic entrance into adulthood. The young man, roughly the same age as the sister, is unable to speak their language but eventually comprehends their distress. In a matter of moments we see him find water and hunt his food, an almost offhand commentary on the way he thrives in an environment that would have killed the children.

In the days that follow the children are taught  and begin imitating  techniques for survival, and a gentle, mutual bond is established. Stripped of her cultural ascendancy, the girl is at once grateful for and humbled by the Aborigines presence. The younger brother, less guarded and more innocent, is able to communicate without speaking, using gestures and sounds. The sister becomes increasingly cognizant of her surroundings, and a connection to the land that is much less tenuous than she could ever have imagined while ensconced in the secure routine of an urban existence.

During the course of what is presented as a typical day we see kangaroo skulls bashed in, large lizards impaled with sticks, sun-blistered skin, and amphibians devouring each other. Yet, the most disturbing sight by far  not surprisingly  is the short, sickening scene of a white man exploiting cheap labor from some natives. This ostensibly unconnected fragment functions like several similar moments where Roeg crosscuts images and action. In another, the Aborigine prepares his kill before a fire while (simultaneously) the scene is cut with a white-aproned butcher cleaving meat in a kitchen. These skillfully presented touches convey all that needs to be said without pretense or bathos.

Eventually the group finds an abandoned farmhouse, positive indication that they are in proximity to civilization. The tables subtly shift and now it is the Aborigine who seems slightly confused and out of place. In a poignant, quietly devastating scene, he observes a couple of hunters casually tracking their quarry from the safe distance of an off-road vehicle, then pumping it full of shotgun shells. The absurd juxtaposition of these camouflage-clad sportsmen and the almost-naked native is an entire commentary delivered in a sequence that lasts seconds. The lack of comprehension and the look of disenchantment etched on his face as the men drive off is an image that will stay with the viewer for a very long time.

The films most surreal, and strangely wonderful sequence occurs when the Aborigine, misconstruing the girls gratitude for love, performs a ritualistic courting dance for her. It is a scene that ends almost as quickly  and silently  as it begins, but the subsequent events will forever change both peoples lives. As the film concludes, everything is brought full circle, with a twist.

Years later, reintegrated into the city routine, the girls husband, back from another day at the corporate grind, enters their apartment. As he relays the office politics du jour, she is distracted by what appears to be a recurring daydream. In an alternate vision of how her life may have played out, she recalls the Aborigine who saved her life and offered his love, and envisions herself back in that world  a world that suddenly seems tranquil and inviting. It is a vision signifying the serenity  and soul  that her high-rise ocean view, and the life her choices have brought her is very obviously bereft of.

Walkabout, then, is sufficiently convincing, and satisfying, the first time one sees it, but it demands repeated viewings. The first experience offers enough twists to rivet and disorient; subsequent screenings will enable greater scrutiny (and appreciation) of the visuals, the colors and the sublime soundtrack. It requires more than one viewing to process  and register  the innumerable moments that illuminate Roegs genius for detail, whether its that awkward look the father and daughter exchange in their car, or the brother licking salt out of his sisters hand, or a lizard scurrying out of a soda can. These moments add up to an experience that only accrues significance and resonance the more one engages with the world. Mostly, it remains an enriching example of the opportunities great art affords us in our collective quest to understand who we are and why were here.

As you should expect from a Criterion reissue, this latest incarnation looks and sounds spectacular: if you have never owned Walkabout on DVD, this is the type of film that justifies the expense and epitomizes the positive aspects of newer and better technology. To be certain, one does not need a big flat panel with surround-sound to fully enjoy the many charms of this particular film, but lets face it, its the next best thing to seeing it in a theater.

The bonus disc contains brief and fascinating interviews with two of the stars. Agutter reminisces about her experience on the set and has nothing but positive things to say about the cast and crew. The other interview, with Luc Roeg  an industry veteran who produces films  is equally worthwhile. He discusses the unique opportunity of working with his father, and how his role was presented as an adventure in order to acquaint him with the process of acting (particularly for such a challenging on-location set).

Finally, and most intriguing, is the hour-long feature on David Gulpilil, who has enjoyed a long acting career while (literally) remaining true to his roots, balancing a life between movie sets and his family home in the bush. This documentary could easily be sold and marketed as an immensely worthwhile addition to any movie fans collection; that it comes packaged with the movie that introduced him to the world should elevate this edition of Walkabout to the top of your must-have list for 2010.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 15:22:14

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 390 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Alchemist Mining Incorporated--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - Alchemist Mining Incorporated (CSE:AMS). has issued a press release with the following headline:Alchemist Signs Non-Binding Letter of Intent to Increase Its Equity Stake to 100% in Cannabis Data Science Inc. and Patent Pending Cannametrics ApplicationTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Alchemist Mining Incorporated, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Alchemist Mining IncorporatedSource: Alchemist Mining Incorporated (CSE: AMS)Date: May 28, 2018Time: 9:20 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Alchemist Mining Incorporated and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Branded Generics Market Projected To Grow With Significant CAGR Over The Forecast Period

Branded Generics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 12:11:12

Press Information

Precision Business Insights

Kemp House,



152  160 City Road,



London EC1V 2NX



Satya

Lead Marketing

+1-866-598-1553

email

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com





# 613 Words

Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553

Branded Generics Market Projected To Grow With Significant CAGR Over The Forecast PeriodThis report studies branded generics market dynamics in emerging markets and developed markets elaborately to identify the current trends, future opportunities, historic market and possible challenges to the key stakeholders operating in the market. In addition, branded generics market report includes new product introductions, regulatory scenario, and competition analysis to analyze the market competition.Branded generics market report deals with detailed market outlook in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, China, India, and other Eastern Europe, Latin American countries. Moreover, PBI analyzed branded generics market to better equip clients with possible investment opportunities across the emerging markets. The market for branded generics projected to reach US$ 350.0 billion by 2023. Owing to the widespread prevalence of lifestyle and chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases especially in the emerging market countries, the growth of the branded generics is inevitable.Free sample of this report is available upon request @The global branded generics market is categorized as-1. Diseases Indication Cardiovascular Diseases Diabetes Cancer Neurological Disorders Gastrointestinal Diseases Dermatology Diseases Others2. Route of Administration Oral Parenteral Topical Others3. End-users Hospital, retail and online Pharmacies, and drug stores.Free TOC of this report is available upon request @And lastly, on the basis of geographical regions, the global market for branded generics is divided into five regions- North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.Developed pharmaceutical markets like North America, Europe, and Japan has been witnessing relatively stagnant market growth in comparing with developing markets owing to fewer new product approvals from the regulatory bodies. This has been led to shift the focus by several multinational pharmaceutical companies from matured markets to developing markets to tap unreached and budding market opportunities.Asia-Pacific accounts for larger market revenue share in global branded generics market. The Asia-pacific region is leading the global Branded Generics market in terms of revenue owing to higher allowance for healthcare expenditure and lack of universal health coverage. Moreover, countries like India, China, and ASEAN countries have better growth opportunities for the existing and new players in the market. Regions such as Asia Latin America and Eastern Europe projected to grow at significant rate. Some of the key market players in the developing market regions are Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Apotex Inc. (Canada), AstraZeneca (U.K), Reddys Laboratories Ltd. (India), GlaxoSmithKline plc (U.K), Mylan N.V. (U.S.), Pfizer Inc. (U.S), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Sanofi (France), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (India), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (Israel), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Canada).Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @Market players are focusing on mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, and product diversification to increase the geographic presence in global Branded Generics market. Moreover, players are entering into a distribution agreement with local pharmaceutical companies to overcome the market access barrier in developing regions.Get access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com Toll Free (US):+1-866-598-1553Website @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com
Chagas Disease Management Market Projected To Grow With Significant CAGR Over The Forecast Period

Chagas Disease Management Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 12:13:00

Press Information

Precision Business Insights

Kemp House,



152  160 City Road,



London EC1V 2NX



Satya

Lead Marketing

+1-866-598-1553

email

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com





# 671 Words

Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553

Chagas Disease Management Market Projected To Grow With Significant CAGR Over The Forecast PeriodGlobal chagas disease management market: Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted by kissing bugs or triatomine bugs. It can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, in pregnancy, and organ transplantation. In early stage of the Chagas disease, the symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, and local swelling at the site of the bite. The chronic symptoms will appear after 8-12 weeks that may include expansion of ventricles leading to heart failure, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in swallowing, and abdominal or colon pain.Rise in the prevalence of Chagas disease due to unhygienic conditions are factors leading to the growth of market. In addition, increase in the R & D of new products are one of the main factors for the market growth. However, lack of awareness regarding the Chagas disease treatment, a limited number of approved products in the current market, and supply chain issues with Chagas disease drugs will hamper the market growth.Free sample of this report is available upon request @The Chagas disease management market is categorized as under-1. Type of treatment Anti-parasitic treatment Symptomatic treatment2. Drug type Benznidazole Nifurtimox3. End-usersHospital, Online and retail pharmaciesFree TOC of this report is available upon request @And lastly, on the basis of geographical regions, the Chagas disease management market have five major regions- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Latin America is the major center for Chagas disease and gradually developing in the rest of world owing to the population mobility from Latin America. Less number of products available in the market for treatment, and poor diagnostic methods to detect in the Latin America region are the major challenges for the Chagas disease management market in this region. North America and Europe are the key regions for Chagas disease management market owing to increase in the prevalence of Chagas disease.Some of the key players in Chagas disease management market are AstraZeneca (U.K), Bayer AG (Germany), Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd (Japan), Eisai Co Ltd (Japan), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (U.K), Grupo Praxis Pharmaceutical SA (Spain), Kancera AB (Sweden), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Laboratorio Elea S.A.C.I.F. y A (Argentina), Oblita Therapeutics BVBA (Belgium), and Sanofi Aventis (France) to name a few. In 2017, Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) are collaborated to form a joint research with regard to a new research program, the hit-to-lead project to develop the drugs for Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis.Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @Chagas disease management market is still in the budding stage. Currently, very few players are actively involved in the development of new products for the treatment. Several products are in pipeline that may enter the market near future. Increase in R & D for new products, acquisitions & mergers, collaborations and providing funds to various organizations can fuel the market growth for Chagas disease. For instance, in 2012, Japans Astellas Pharma signed an agreement with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to collaborate on drug discovery research for three neglected tropical diseases: leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness.Get access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com Toll Free (US):+1-866-598-1553Website @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 15:00:17

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 387 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Georox Resources Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Kelowna, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Georox Resources Inc. (TSX Venture:GXR). has issued a press release with the following headline:Georox Closes Private PlacementTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Georox Resources Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Georox Resources Inc.Source: Georox Resources Inc. (TSX Venture: GXR, FWB: OF6A, WKN: A0Q8Q0 , ISIN: CA3736271089)Date: May 28, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Georox Resources Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Global Report of Cancer Biomarker Testing Market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024

Cancer Biomarker Testing Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 11:04:32

Press Information

Precision Business Insights

Kemp House,



152  160 City Road,



London EC1V 2NX



satya

Lead-Market

8665981553

email

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com





# 569 Words

Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead-Market8665981553

Global Report of Cancer Biomarker Testing Market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024Global Cancer Biomarker Testing Market:Biomarker testing also known as genetic testing or molecular testing are group of tests that look for these molecular signs of health so that doctors can plan best care. Biomarker is any of bodys molecules that can be measured to assess the health. Molecules can be obtained from, body fluids, tissue or blood. Cancer biomarker is a process or substance that indicates the presence of cancer in the body as abnormal growth of cells. Genetic, epigenetic, glycemic, proteomic, and imaging biomarkers are used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and epidemiology. These cancer biomarkers used as risk indicators for various types of cancer such as lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer among the others.The number of new cases is expected to rise about 70% over the coming 2 decades. In addition, increase in awareness in public and healthcare professionals regarding early diagnostic procedures, rise in government and NGOs funding for oncology are expected to grow the cancer biomarker testing market. However, high cost for biomarker tests, low detection rates and regulatory policies are expected to hamper the cancer biomarker test market.Free sample of this report is available upon request @The cancer biomarker testing market is categorized on the basis of-1. Type of cancer Cervical cancer Lung Cancer Collateral Cancer Liver Cancer Prostate Cancer Breast Cancer Others2. Applications Drug Discovery and Development Personalized Medicine Diagnosis Others3. End-usersHospitals, Cancer diagnostic centers, research institutes and others.Free TOC of this report is available upon request @And lastly on the basis of geographical regions, the global cancer biomarker testing market have five major regions- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is a major market due to increase in R & D activities for diagnosis and treating cancer and rise in prevalence of cancer. Asia-Pacific cancer biomarker test market is expected to be fastest growing market due to increase in demand for the non-invasive techniques in diagnosis and prevention of cancer, high prevalence of cancer conditions in the region.Some of the players in cancer biomarker test market are Thermo Fisher Scientific (Affymetrix Inc.) (U.S.), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), AbbVie Inc. (U.S.), Arquer Diagnostics Ltd. (U.K.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), Qiagen (Germany), Agilent Technologies (U.S.), Merck & Co. Inc. (U.S.), Becton Dickinson and Company (U.S.), and Hologic Inc. (U.S.) to name a few. In 2015, Abbot Laboratories acquired exclusive rights for FGFR3 gene mutations to detect bladder cancer. It is a gene mutation and useful for early detection, disease monitoring, and prognosis of bladder cancer through tissue and urine-based testing.Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @Market players are carrying out collaborations, partnerships, and acquisitions as key development strategies to enhance the market share. For instance, in March 2017, Foundation Medicine and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered collaboration to understand tumor profile and its microenvironment to predict patients response to cancer immunotherapy. Key cancer biomarkers include SCC, CEA, NSE Cyfra 21, PSA (prostate cancer), TPA (Lung cancer), CA15-3, EGF R, Cytokeratin 4 (breast cancer) and BRCA .Get access to full summary @
Global Report of Child vaccines market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024

Child vaccines market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 10:54:13

Press Information

Precision Business Insights

Kemp House,





152  160 City Road,





London EC1V 2NX



satya

Lead-Market

8665981553

email

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com





# 632 Words

Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead-Market8665981553

Global Report of Child vaccines market Size, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2016 and Forecast 2017-2024Child vaccines marketVaccines are the biological preparations which provide the active immunity to the particular disease. The vaccine contain a substance that resembles the disease causing agent, and is prepared from killed or weakened form of microbe, its toxin or its surface proteins. Agents present in the vaccines stimulate the immune system of the body for recognition of the agent as foreign so that the bodys immune system can easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters. Childhood vaccines are commonly administered to the age group of 3-8 years which may include DPT, Hepatitis, Influenza, and Measles vaccines, among others.The global childhood vaccines market is expanding at exponential rate due to increase in the birth rate, increased awareness, various initiative by government and non-governmental organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO), and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are fueling the market growth. Furthermore, government insurance and reimbursement policies, low cost of vaccines, development of new vaccines for various diseases, and an increase in the healthcare expenditure will also boost the global childhood vaccines market growth. However, adverse effects associated with the vaccines, and stringent regulatory policies regarding the diseases and vaccination in low-income countries might hamper the market growth.Free sample of this report is available upon request @The global childhood vaccines market is categorized as under-1. Type of vaccine Inactivated Vaccines Attenuated Vaccines Toxoid Vaccines Subunit Vaccines Conjugate Vaccines Others2. Route of administration Oral Intramuscular Intradermal Subcutaneous Intranasal3. Applications Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio Measles Hepatitis-B Others4. Composition Mono vaccines Combination vaccines5. End-usersHospitals, Clinics and vaccination centers.Free TOC of this report is available upon request @And lastly, on the basis of geographical regions, the global childhood vaccines market has five major regions- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America holds the largest share attributed to increase in the prevalence of various diseases such as DPT, etc. In addition, increase in the R&D of vaccines, rise in the healthcare expenditure, and favorable reimbursement scenario help the market grow. Europe childhood vaccines market holds a dominant share owing to increase in the awareness of vaccination regarding various diseases. Asia-Pacific is an emergent market for childhood vaccines due to increase in the birth rate, especially in India and China. Due to less cost of vaccines, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa also hold a significant share in childhood vaccination market.Some of the market players in childhood vaccines market are MedImmune (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., (U.S.), Merck & Co., Inc. (U.S.), Sanofi (France), Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (India), Bavarian Nordic (U.S.), Astellas Pharma (Japan), CSL Limited (Australia), Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (U.S.), GlaxoSmithKline plc, (U.K.), , Novartis AG (Switzerland), Organobalance GMBH (Germany), Biological E (India), and Mabvax Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (U.S.) to name a few. In early 2017, FDA approved Sanofi Pasteurs active immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, and pertussis in children 4 to 6 years of age.Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @Acquisitions & mergers, collaborations, launch of new products, and technological developments are some of the key strategies followed by various companies for increasing their share in the global childhood vaccines market. In addition to various other vaccines, GSK and Biological E partnered to produce a 6-in-1 vaccine to protect against polio and 5 other diseases. The innovation of single vaccine for multiple diseases might fuel the global childhood vaccines market growth.Get access to full summary @
PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 13:15:24

Press Information





Published by

ACN Newswire

+65 6304 8926

e-mail

https://www.acnnewswire.com/







# 285 Words

ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926

Essen, May 25, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The energy provider innogy and the startup Conjoule are focusing on digitization and are jointly launching the "Community Network" future project in Mulheim an der Ruhr.Conjoule's community network platform, designed specifically for this purpose, allows owners of private photovoltaic systems and neighborhood consumers to share renewable energy. The electricity from next door strengthens the local structures and leads to cost advantages due to the proximity.Consumers include non-self-powered neighbors, local businesses, supermarkets and schools. The blockchain technology allows the exchange of locally generated electricity between the neighbors and creates transparency about the source of each kilowatt-hour generated."We are excited to work on this future project "Community Network" in order to deepen our know-how on platform users and technology," says Sam Warburton, Managing Director of Conjoule GmbH.The prosumer households participating in the project will be equipped with modern measuring devices (smart meters) that measure energy flows in real time. If more electricity is generated within the Mulheim community than can be consumed, the excess green electricity is sold to environmentally conscious customers outside the community. Conversely, the participants are supplied with green electricity from innogy, if the weather does not allow sufficient generation of solar power. Conjoule.de : We are the peer-to-peer market place for locally produced energy.The Conjoule team includes leading tech, energy, and blockchain experts and engineers. To find out more about our unique approach and energy solutions, please email us at info@ conjoule.com Topic: Press release summarySectors: Environment, Alt. Energy, FinTech/ChainsFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright  2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 14:30:49

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 385 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for ProSmart Enterprises Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Kelowna, BC (FSCWire) - ProSmart Enterprises Inc. (TSX Venture:PROS). has issued a press release with the following headline:ProSmart Announces Changes to Its Board of DirectorsTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on ProSmart Enterprises Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/ProSmart Enterprises Inc.Source: ProSmart Enterprises Inc. (TSX Venture: PROS, FWB: 1R6, WKN: A143NS, ISIN: CA83581Q1054)Date: May 28, 2018Time: 8:30 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of ProSmart Enterprises Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-28 14:30:39

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 387 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Xebec Adsorption Inc--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Montreal, Quebec (FSCWire) - Xebec Adsorption Inc (TSX Venture:XBC). has issued a press release with the following headline:Xebec Adsorption to Host Investor Webcast on May 31, 2018To view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Xebec Adsorption Inc, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Xebec Adsorption IncSource: Xebec Adsorption Inc (TSX Venture: XBC, WKN: A0RPQ3, ISIN: CA9838911027, OTC Bulletin Board: XEBEF)Date: May 28, 2018Time: 8:30 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Xebec Adsorption Inc and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Temisan Omatseye, a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says Nigeria is losing about $300 million yearly from berthing five degrees east on Nigerian waters.

Mr Omotseye said this at the 3rd Annual Conference tagged: A Day with Nigeria Maritime Students 2018 organised by Platforms Communications in Lagos on Monday.

He urged the Federal Government to look into the issue to enable Nigerian ports to be cheaper and attractive for port users.

According to him, the foreign ship owners have taken over all the maritime business, while the ship-owners are left with nothing.

Nigerian shippers should be allowed to take charge of their goods as soon as they arrive the country because this is what is applicable all over the world.

All the foreign ship owners will not allow Nigerians to get near vessels as soon as they arrive the country, in spite of being the landlord of the ports.

We want the government to assist Nigerian ship owners to be in charge because by so doing, they will create more employment for teaming youths.

Nigeria will soon be competing with its foreign counterparts with the recent equipment government has provided for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which is presently having multiplier effect on their operations, Mr Omotseye said.

He commended NIMASA for the establishment of the National Seafarer Development Programme (NSDP), which had assisted in the training of some Nigerian youths to the level of Sea time training.

Mr Omotseye, however, advised youth that were yet to obtain acquire sea time training not to relent, adding that Nigeria needs their services because most of the seafarers were ageing and there was the need for replacement.

Also speaking, the President, Africa Women in Maritime (WIMA), Jean Chiazor-Anishere urged the Federal Government to collaborate with Platform Communications to obtain data of cadets with distinctions.

She said that if experienced cadets were employed, it would have positive effect on operations of the maritime industry as well as encourage the other students to work hard.

Ms Chiazor-Anishere said that many graduating cadets had been able to get employment as a result of this Annual programme organised by platform Communications.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Platform Communications, Sylvanus Obasi, said it was necessary for the government to reposition the Nigerian Maritime academies for new opportunities and technology in global maritime operations.

Mr Obasi said that there was also the need for government to know if the maritime institutions have what it takes to train professionals who could compete globally.

I feel that we need to reposition our institutions if our cadets still go to Ghana to upgrade their certification in other for them to be able to work onboard foreign vessels.

We need to reposition our maritime institutions if they do not have modern equipment as well as repositioning Nigerian universities to be offering shipping and admiralty laws.
Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Sunday responded to a former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan who accused him of demonstrating a lack of strong ethical values by jumping from one politician to another.

Mr Shehu acknowledged his former assignment as a long time aide of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, but added that his loyalty now lies absolutely with President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement circulated last week, Reno Omokri said Mr Shehu lacked the moral grounds to insult the PDP because he was brought into the limelight by the erstwhile ruling party.

The PDP brought Garba to limelight. The PDP is Garbas mother and father. When Garba Shehu indicts PDP for 16 years of alleged misrule he should accept responsibility for 12 of those years, Mr Omokri, who served Mr Jonathan as a new media aide, said.

He was responding to an earlier statement by Mr Shehu, in which the presidential spokesperson said the PDP should return its alleged loot rather than angling to return to power in 2019.

Mr Omokri said Mr Shehu was in PDP for 12 years and was the author of many scathing press statements against Muhammadu Buhari, who was then a major opposition figure.

Now he crafts press releases for the same man he once attacked against the same people he once praised! Mr Omokri, now based in the U.S., added. Garba is the epitome of AGIP-Any Government in Power. I am the epitome of loyalty. There is no basis to compare myself with him. I follow my conscience. Garba follows his stomach.

He went on to task Mr Shehu to counter his statement if he was lying, a challenge the spokesperson apparently accepted with his statement Sunday, although reluctantly.

Pastor Reno Omokri is forcing me to do what I dont do. I dont react to published criticisms. I have spent my entire career in the media and as one who criticises others; you must be ready to take criticism, Mr Shehu said.

After questioning Mr Omokris status as a pastor, Mr Shehu brushed aside the criticism and said his detractor was a nonentity at the time he worked at the State House in the 2000s.

Mr Shehu, who served for many years as an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also explained the circumstances that took him out of the presidency at the time.

This is about exposing a liar masquerading as a pastor. By the way, I have known and worked with exemplary pastors who are decent and from whom you learned more of the etiquette of truth telling.

Take for example Pastor Emeka Izeze and his brother, Pastor Ifeanyi, or his friend, Pastor Segun Babatope. And lately, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President and Pastor Femi Adesina.

For those Reno tried to mislead, yes it is a fact that I worked in the media office of a PDP administration. Not for five years as the new-day pastor published but only for six months at which point it was announced on NTA news, to my surprise, that my letter of resignation had been accepted when I hadnt written any.

Reno Omokri

I learned of course that I was fired because the head of the country at that time, who believed that every published criticism was sponsored by an insider, read the weekly magazine, The News, and didnt like what was written about him.

Another point the Pastor keeps making is that he was my colleague at that time. No, he wasnt. His boss was. The Reno I knew was a Personal Assistant (PA) to a Principal Officer like me. He didnt attend meetings and didnt receive official briefings as we did but ran errands for his boss.

Not being a principal officer by status, he could not have had an office opposite my own. He may, however, have perched on a stool in one of those offices but I didnt take particular notice of which one. He was, however, very personable at that time.

Pastor Reno lied by calling me an AGIP  meaning an unprincipled person ready to serve any government in power. The period he was referring to was one in which my boss ran into bad political weather and some of us around him were scapegoated. I was locked in DSS detention many times, my houses in Kano and Abuja broken into and valuables, including cash some of which were never returned were seized.

I was going to court for two years and for the most part of which I didnt have a passport. In the course of that trial, the judge presiding called back my lawyers, Niyi Akintola, SAN and Rickey Tarfa, SAN, after an adjournment to say that I didnt mean that he should be kept in DSS detention. I said he should be taken to Kuje Prison, and thats where I was kept. Under detention in the DSS I was stripped down to the pants and photographed head to toe. All that didnt make one to capitulate, Mr Shehu explained.

Mr Shehu also rendered details of how he switched from Mr Abubakar to Mr Buhari in 2015.

When they lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the party primaries, the candidates in that race, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Waziri Atiku Abubakar, Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah surrendered their media assets to the winner who had the grace to ask me to lead the media team. When we won, he (then President-elect Buhari) invited me to serve as one of his two spokespersons and I pledged 100 per cent loyalty to him and thats where I am. This cannot be AGIP by any standards.

Reno should stop lying, if only to help the pastoral calling to retain its good name. Otherwise he should quit the ministry, he said.

Mr Abubakar is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP. If the party nominates him as its 2019 flag-bearer, he would square off with Mr Buhari at the presidential elections.

With Mr Shehu clearly reasserting his absolutely loyalty to Mr Buhari, he could be expected to attack Mr Abubakar on the campaign trail, said political analyst, Sola Olubanjo.

Mr Shehu does not want to keep anyone guessing about his preparations for 2019, Mr Olubanjo said. But we shall see to what extremes he would go at distancing himself from his former principal.
Four people have been killed and seven others injured in the latest Boko Haram attack in the restive town of Konduga in Borno, the police confirmed on Monday.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Damian Chukwu, told reporters in Maiduguri that the jihadists detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a village, known as Mashimari in the Konduga Local Government Area on May 27, killing the four people.

Mr Chukwu said two of the dead were civilians. He, however, did not explain the identities of the other victims.

According to him, the bombers managed to sneak into Mashimari, a community near an Internally Displaced Persons Camp and detonated their IED.

He said the Police Explosive Ordinance Device Corps had been deployed to the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Konduga has seen countless bloody attacks by insurgents since insurgency hit Nigerias expansive northeast almost a decade ago.

On Feb. 17 this year, 22 people were killed in a bomb attack at a fish market in Konduga, one of the deadliest incidents in the recurring bloodbath in the town.

The jihadists, who are fighting to enthrone a strict Islamic state, have killed thousands of people, ruining the economy of the northeast and displacing millions of people.

But federal troops have decimated the fighters, making the insurgents to resort to attacking soft targets in various communities from time to time. (NAN)
Former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed former Ogun state governor, Gbenga Daniel, as the Director-General of his campaign for 2019 presidency.

In a release personally signed by him, Atiku said Mr. Daniel would see to the day-to-day running of his campaign while he focuses on his nationwide consultation.

The statement reads in part: I am pleased to officially notify you of the appointment of His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD as he is popularly known), as the Director-General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation.

OGD is a former two-term governor of Ogun State, and a foremost engineer, businessman and astute politician. He has vast knowledge of the Nigerian political terrain and has a wide network of contacts and friends all over Nigeria, and these are a few of the assets he will be bringing to our campaign organisation.

I am in no doubt OGD is a very positive and welcome addition to our campaign and I look forward to working with him as he leads over campaign to victory come February 2019.

Otunba Daniel, a businessman, listed as one of 50 most promising Nigerians in a national newspaper in the 1990s, who started his political career as a young member of the Committee of Friends in the Unity Party of Nigeria, a political party founded by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the late 1970s was one of the major financiers of the Agbalajobis aspiration to become the governor of Lagos State in the 1990s. His Kresta Laurel office in Maryland in Ikeja also served as the campaign headquarters of the Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999 where he also played key roles.

The former Governor of Ogun State was involved so much in the politics of the South west Nigeria, supporting the socio-cultural associations like Afenifere and Yoruba Council of Elders (Y.C.E.) as well as various associations and groups.

He surprised the political landscape of Ogun State in 2003 when he defeated an incumbent, Chief Olusegun Osoba, a feat described by many as almost impossible.

As Governor of Ogun State, Daniel supervised and conducted various elections which returned all Peoples Democratic Party candidates which include 3 senators, 9 House of Representatives and 26 House of Assembly members.

In 2011, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was the Southwest Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign which returned the President in almost a landslide victory in the region.

He was also one of the Chairmanship aspirants at the last Peoples Democratic Partys National Convention which was held in December 2017, during which he was reputed to have visited virtually all the states of the country campaigning and encouraging Party members, Leaders and critical stakeholders of the Party preaching hope and unity. He later stepped down to ensure the partys unity and cohesion.
The Nigerian government has filed a notice before a Court of Appeal seeking to overturn a Federal High Court judgment acquitting Emirates Airlines and 10 others of complicity in the loss of some items aboard the airline.

The Notice of Appeal dated May 16 gives 14 grounds for appealing the judgement including the fact that the judge erred in law by not attaching any evidential value to one of the exhibits used to arrive at judgment.

Mohammed Idris, a judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, in April discharged and acquitted Emirates Airlines and 10 others of complicity in an alleged loss of four bags containing $1.6 million dollars belonging to a businessman, Chu Ikem Orji.

Delivering his judgement, Mr Mohammed said, The only issue for determination is whether or not the prosecution has proved its case against the accused persons beyond reasonable doubts. The burden of proof is on the prosecution because the defendants are presumed innocent until the contrary is proved.

The prosecution cannot go below the level of proof beyond reasonable doubt to achieve conviction of the accused persons. It is only when an accused person has admitted guilt that the burden of proof on the prosecution may be lighter. The reasonable doubt should be real, not imaginative and sentimental.

In my view, taking a hard look at this case, I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove any of the counts against each of the defendants. I therefore sustain a verdict of not guilty as charged and the defendants are all discharged and acquitted.

But in their appeal notice, the Nigeria government argued that the judge erred in law by deliberately ignoring or overruling the decision of the Court of Appeal in Yusuf. v. State (2012) ALL FWLR, Pt. 641, P.1478, @P.1478, @P. 1503, Paras A-B, E-G.

Also, Justice Idris erred in law when he held that by virtue of exhibit A contradicting exhibits A3, A5, E, E1 and E1, the missing bags containing the sum of $1,630,000, samples of goods and valuable documents belonging to the PW3, left Nigeria as against the charge before the court, the Notice of Appeal read.

The judge erred in law by holding that ownership of the money, an essential ingredient of the offence of stealing, was not proved by failure to call other contributors and the business partner of PW3 thereby leaving the issue of the missing luggage unattended to.

The learned trial judge erred in law by holding that the PW3 ought to disclose that he had the sum of $1, 630, 000 on him at the earliest opportunity in exhibit F1. The learned judge also erred in law when he held that the counts on the offences of willful destruction of evidence were inelegantly drafted and as such not proved.

Although no date has been fixed for the appeal, the federal government is seeking an order not only to allow and uphold the appeal but invalidate the discharge and acquittal granted by the lower court in favour of Emirates.

Also, it is asking the appellate court to convict Emirates Airlines alongside Pathfinder International Limited, Nigeria Aviation Handling Co. Plc., Abayomi Adekanbi Abiola, Isiaka Adegoke Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi and George Ikpekhia.

The federal government alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to swindle Mr Orji of his $1.6 million under the false pretence that they would help him to keep the money and deliver same to him at Guangzhou, China.

The money was said to have been kept in one of the four bags, tagged, EK 428682 , EK 428683 , E 650165 and EK 650161, which Mr Orji kept with the defendants on the promise that they would help him to keep the bags intact for onward delivery to him in China.

The Attorney General Federation claimed that the defendants committed the offence on December 19 , 2007 at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Former Minister of Education, and now leader of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, Oby Ezekwesili, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of murdering the naira.

She also accused the president of delayed decision making particulary in matters regarding the nations economy.

She made this statement while speaking on a programme on Channels Television on Monday.

Ms Ezekwesili, who is also leads the Red Card Movement, was analysing the economic achievements of the Buhari-led administration over the last three years.

The assessment of the nations economy is in commemoration of Nigerias Democracy Day, May 29.

The Buhari-led administration will be three years old tomorrow.

Last Friday, the presidency, in a document made available to PREMIUM TIMES scored Mr Buharis government high on economy, infrastructure, investment in people, among others.

Timing is everything in economic management, Mrs Ezekwesili said.

A decision making that is timely determines what all the other participants in the economy will do. If you lost time, you cannot in anyway, say it didnt matter. If the bureaucracy is all you need in order to run the economy, then why have political change through election? You dont need that.

She said the Buhari-led government took Nigerians to the dark ages of foreign exchange policy regime.

The exchange policy regime that we have become accustomed to is transparent at all ends because it allows the market to do the adjustments. The president decided to do an exchange policy that took us to the era of import license, a market policy based on command and control.

By doing so, the president, who said he didnt want to murder the Naira, ended up murdering the Naira by becoming almost the CBN governor, she said.

If you had allowed the market to work, the supply side would have responded. What this government did is to manage the demand side issues with many administrative rules that therefore gave opportunity for the massive corruption that happened in this economy. The exchange policy entrenched corruption and that is not good for productivity.

Mrs Ezekwesilis statement was sequel to what Mr Buharis campaign spokesman, Festus Keyamo, said about recession.

Mr Keyamo earlier said that in 2008, recession was averted because Nigeria had a strong foreign reserve when former President, Olusegun Obasanjo left office.

We couldnt avert it now because at that point, our foreign reserve was (depleted), he said.

He had also defended the presidents delayed appointments of ministers by saying the ministries function without ministers. Thats the truth. I have not seen anywhere in the world where you say the pertinent (programmes) of government do not function with the normal bureaucratic setup.

Buharis failure to appoint ministers on time did not in any way affect the economy of the country. Ministers are political heads of bureaucracies and the facts that you dont appoint the heads of the bureaucracies doesnt mean they dont function, he claimed.

He further made reference to a World Bank report in 2017 which said Nigeria was one of the best 10 performing economies in the world.

At the end of the day, what matters is the result you get from the monetary policy, he said.

Mrs Ezekwesili, however, blamed the president for not averting recession when it was inevitable.

At the time that they could have averted, recession was not inevitable. But if you did the right economic policy at that time, you would have averted the recession. Many other oil producing and exporting countries managed to avert recession.

We might be out of it now but it had a huge effect on populace. When you have the kind of shock that the combination of oil price collapse and poor economic response to it occasioned, you would have dropped manhy more of your citizens into poverty. The last data of poverty rate from NBS is about 60 per cent.

What the problem is, is that usually when you have such kind of collapse, you adjust, you adjust as an economic policy approach, in order not to get you to the deep end that we eventually found ourselves, she said.
The police have evacuated an all-boys Catholic seminary in Taraba State following an invasion of the premises by suspected herdsmen.

Taraba police commissioner, David Akinremi, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday afternoon that the attack occurred in Jalingo, the state capital, at about 12:30 a.m. Monday.

He blamed suspected herdsmen who had previously had a dispute with the management of the seminary over their grazing activities in and around the premises.

A Catholic priest, Cornelius Pobah, was rushed to the hospital after a bullet hit him in the leg, Mr Akinremi said. The gunmen were said to have specifically requested to see the priest when they stormed the seminary at midnight.

The police chief explained that all students have been evacuated from the school and all threats have also been neutralised. No one was killed in the attack.

Police officers and soldiers arrived at the seminary shortly after the incident was reported through a distress call and immediately combed the area.

No suspect was arrested, but Mr Akinremi said detectives are already on an elaborate manhunt for those responsible for the attack.

Some shepherds had been coming to the premises to graze their cattle and the priest had challenged them about that in the past, Mr Akinremi said. We confirmed that the attackers were speaking Fulani and a little bit of pidgin English.

Our men had evacuated the students from the school and fortified the area to ensure that no remnants of the gunmen remained, the police chief said. After which we will return the students back to the school.

The official said the gunmen fled the scene as security officers approached.

The attack comes weeks after suspected herdsmen attacked a Catholic Church parish in Benue State, killing two priests and 17 other worshipers.

Civil society groups on Monday commenced a week-long mourning for the more than 1,000 Nigerians killed by suspected herdsmen this year alone.
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on Monday accused the federal government of condoning unbridled impunity by hundreds of public institutions that have refused to implement the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), 2011 or comply with their obligations under the law, saying the situation makes a mockery of the administrations claim that it is committed to transparency and accountability.

Announcing the release of a publication to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the signing of the FOI Bill into Law by then President Goodluck Jonathan on May 28, 2011, Ridwan Sulaimon, MRAs Programme Manager for Freedom of Information, noted that the scale of non-compliance with the provisions of the FOI Act by public institutions under the authority and direct control of the federal government is mind-boggling adding that the failure of the government to sanction such institutions or their chief executives can only be interpreted as evidence of its lack of interest in seeing the Law enforced.

Titled Unbridled Impunity: An Analysis of the 2011  2017 Annual Reports on the Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 Submitted to the National Assembly by the Attorney General of the Federation, the publication highlights massive violations of the FOI Act by public institutions, especially the provisions of section 29 of the Act, which requires all public institutions to submit annual reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation detailing the level of implementation of the Law by the respective agencies.

The publication notes that While the impunity in the non-submission of annual reports over the last seven years by more than 90 per cent of federal public institutions remained unrestrained, the inadequacies contained even in most of the reports submitted by those institutions that have bothered to do so are very alarming.

Mr. Sulaimon contended that it is inconceivable that if the federal government takes the implementation of the FOI Act seriously and accordingly instructs all public institutions to comply with and fully implement the provisions of the Act, any public institution would dare to disobey such a directive. If public institutions are ignoring their duties and obligations under the Act and are refusing to implement its provisions, it can only be because they are confident that there will be no negative consequences for them.

The publication examines seven annual reports for 2011 to 2017 submitted by the Attorney-General of the Federation to the National Assembly on the Implementation of the Act, pursuant to Section 29 of the Law. It notes that the reports submitted by the Attorney-General have evolved over the years from the scanty reports produced for 2011 and 2012 to the reports in recent years which have been fairly detailed, although gaps remain.

Following a detailed analysis of the reports, MRA observed in the publication that For the seven years that the Attorney-General of the Federation has compiled FOI implementation reports, 141 public institutions have submitted a total of 323 reports. Most of the public institutions submitted reports just once during the seven years under review while some submitted twice. Some submitted three times, some four, five and six times. Only the Federal Ministry of Justice/Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has submitted reports for all the seven years.

Providing further details, the publication said based on the reports issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation, only 16 public institutions out of over 700 federal public institutions submitted their annual reports for 2011; 29 submitted their reports for 2012; while 47 submitted for 2013, although the Attorney-Generals report put the number at 51 because the late reports submitted for 2012 by four public institutions were added to those for 2013.

For the year 2014, 60 public institutions submitted annual reports, although only 33 of this number submitted their reports before the February 1 deadline stipulated by the Act while 27 submitted their reports late; 44 public institutions submitted for 2015; 54 for 2016; and 73 for 2017.

MRA criticised the Attorney-General of the Federation for not doing enough to discharge his oversight responsibility under Section 29(6) of the FOI Act to ensure that all public institutions to which the Act applies comply with its provisions.

Mr. Sulaimon said: It is ironic that although the FOI Act imposes a duty on the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act, in dozens of cases where citizens and organisations have sued public institutions before various courts across the country, it is the office of the same Attorney-General of the Federation that comes to court to defend those public institutions for their unjustifiable violation of the clear provisions of the Law, sometimes proffering ridiculous arguments in their defence.

He cited cases such as MRAs suit against the Nigerian Police; another suit by Enough is Enough against the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the case of F.O.C. Uzoegwu Esq. against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), arguing that it would better suit the responsibility of the Attorney-General of the Federation under the FOI Act for him to offer free legal services to members of the public who might want to enforce their right to information or other provisions of the Act against public institution as that is consistent with his statutory role under the Act.

MRA urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to explore the possibility of imposing administrative sanctions against public institutions that are not complying with their duties and obligations under the FOI Act, such as withholding legal assistance or representation by the Federal Ministry of Justice to such public institutions that are not submitting annual reports or are in breach of the provisions of the Act in any other way.
The National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh, has said he believes the bill to establish Nigerian Peace Corps is not dead.

Mr Akoh stated this on Monday while reacting to the decision of the members of the House of Representatives to reject the second reading of the bill, thereby failing to override President Muhammadu Buharis rejection of the earlier passed bill.

Mr Akoh said he believes news reports that the bill was dead is mischievous, highly misleading and a misrepresentation of facts.

Any discerning mind will know too that it is not the bill itself that suffered a temporary setback via rejection, rather, it is the overriding process initiated by the House of Representatives.

Therefore, without any fear of contradiction, let me say it loud and clear that the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bil is not dead as widely publicised, but still alive and on course.

However, while Mr Akoh said he believes the bill is not dead, the decision by the House of Representatives means they can no longer override the presidents decision; meaning unless Mr Buhari recalls the bill, it can no longer become law.

The Peace Corps chief said the bill has a lot of merits; reason, he said, both chambers of the National Assembly overwhelmingly supported and passed the Bill in the first place.

He said there was, a deliberate gangup against the bill and its good intentions were highly misrepresented by those who have access to Mr President. He added that it was on that premise that the president withheld his assent.

He expressed disappointment over the lawmakers decision.

He said it was a clear case of approbate and reprobate, which he said was caused by subtle threats anchored on political interests.

The youth now know their enemies as the members who spoke against the overriding only succeeded in trading this all-important youth friendly Bill on the altar of securing re-election tickets, Mr Akoh said.

Mr Akoh however said the organisation would remain grateful to the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and the leadership of the House of Representatives for standing by the bill.

Mr Akoh expressed hope that the politically-motivated challenge currently facing the corps would still be resolved.

He called on personnel of the corps to remain calm and law abiding. The commandant assured the public that, like the Freedom of Information Act, the Peace Corps Bill, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, would be assented to, sooner than later.

An attempt to override President Muhammad Buharis veto on the bill was rejected by members of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

President Buhari had on February 27 declined assent on a Bill for an Act to establish Nigerian Peace Corps, citing paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies as main reasons.

With the setback suffered on Thursday, the bill is now left at the mercy of the executive arm of government, which reserves the right to recall it and take a second look.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday commended a former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, and the administration of Barack Obama, ex-president of the United States for their roles in ensuring 2015 election was not jeopardised.

Mr Jega was chairman of INEC in 2015 when Mr Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The president gave the commendation while speaking at the 2018 Democracy Day lecture under the theme Peace Building and Good Governance For Sustainable Development in Nigeria at the International Conference Centre Abuja.

Mr Buhari recalled that on the eve of the election, Mr Jega briefed all concerned about his activities at INEC from 2011 to 2015.

He said Mr Jega spoke about the recruitment, equipping and training of INEC officials.

He said the report gave those of them in the opposition at the time the courage to insist that nothing outside the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be accepted by them.

2019 should be better than 2015

Earlier, Mr Jega, who delivered the Democracy Day lecture spoke about what the country should do to make the 2019 election better than that of 2015.

The professor decried the inability of political parties to curb violence in the conduct of their affairs.

He referred to the recent congresses of the APC which witnessed a lot of violence in many states.

If political parties cannot organise their internal elections peacefully, how can they engage the other parties with civility in the general elections?

It is very very important that this is addressed because if there is crises in the elections, some of these issues (are) outside the scope of the electoral commission, but in the end it is the electoral commission that gets blamed.

So, it is very very important that we improve our systemic mechanisms of addressing violence and conflicts related to elections and in particular improve the scope of internal democracy within political parties. We may be running out of time, we must try harder and do everything possible within the shortest time, he said.

Mr Jega also advised the government to address the recent spate of hate speeches by political actors and religious leaders.

Former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega announcing results in the 2015 election.

He said it is this unbridled utterances by opinion leaders, religious and political leaders that facilitate electoral violence in general elections.

He also advised that serious measures must be taken to ensure that the rule of law is complied with.

Effective prosecution is very very important to mitigate against this challenge, otherwise, with the intensity, it is going right now it will undermine the integrity of the 2019 elections.

So more and more patriotic, democratic, well-meaning Nigerians need to speak against hate speech while the government puts its mechanisms in place by identifying and prosecuting those who constitute a nuisance, he said.

Electoral Act

Mr Jega also advised the government to ensure that the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act is not delayed.

He said there should be a much better electoral legal framework in place for 2019 general elections.

He said presently, there are some aspects of the existing legal framework which could have created a Constitutional crisis if not for Gods intervention in 2015.

He cited a constitutional provision that requires the electoral commission to conduct a runoff election within seven days. He said although it is practically impossible, but that is what the constitution says.

He said it is impossible because it takes two days to formally announce the results of the election.

So, in 2015, we had very serious apprehensions in the electoral commission because of that constitutional provision, because if a runoff became necessary, we cannot do it within the constitutional provision, he said.

Mr Jega also spoke about a provision in section 87 of the Electoral Act which says that a party primary should be conducted democratically, and section 31 that says whatever name the party submits to the electoral commission cannot be rejected for any reason whatsoever.

He said political parties have a penchant of hiding under section 31 to send to INEC people who have not even participated in party primaries.

We wanted to reject it but we were advised by lawyers that if we did that, the electoral commission will now be interpreted to being partisan and in Nigeria, people are often ready to drag the electoral commission into politics and once that is done the entire integrity of the commission is undermined, he said.

The former INEC boss also spoke about conducting by-elections in the case of death or in cross carpeting by National Assembly members.

He said INEC by law has to be notified even if it reads it in the newspapers, even if it knows that it has happened, unless the National Assembly has written to it to declare a vacancy, INEC will not conduct a by-election.

And there were many cases that we knew before 2015 general elections, people who had cross carpeted, who should had lost their seats by virtue of cross-carpeting but the leadership of the National Assembly, advertently, vehemently refused to write to INEC.

I appeared before the ethics committee, provided evidence that a senator had actually cross carpeted and by the provisions of the law, should lose his seat and that we wanted to be written so that we can conduct a by-election to replace him. That letter never came until I left office.

That provision is still there and if we dont address it, we will continue to carry the baggage of laws that can undermine the integrity of an election, Mr Jega said.
Members of the nPDP bloc in the All Progressives Congress (APC), have said they will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari before deciding whether to leave or stay in the party.

The group met with the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, behind closed doors on Monday inside his Akinola Aguda residence, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The nPDP had requested a meeting with President Buhari after cataloguing the groups grievances against the APC administration.

In a brief remarks with State House correspondents after the meeting, one of the leaders of the group, Kawu Baraje, said the meeting with Mr Osinbajo went well, but they expect to meet with Mr Buhari as well.

Members of the nPDP had written a letter to the party copying the president and the vice president. So the party had invited us earlier on and now it is the turn of the vice president, probably the next one will be the President, he said.

Asked if they were satisfied with the discussions so far? Mr Baraje said, So far so good. We are looking forward to some of the promises. There will be other meetings because we have been put into subcommittees and then we will now identify specific and general problems and then we will proceed to see Mr. President. But it was a very good meeting.

Also asked if they will no longer quit APC? He simply replied, It is too early to say.

Daily Trust earlier reported that while Mr Osinbajo led the government delegation, senate president, Bukola Saraki led the nPDP delegation.

The newspaper also reported that others in the government delegation were APC Deputy National Chairman (North) Lawal Shuaib, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, deputy Chief of Staff to the president, Ade Ipaye, and the National Security Adviser, Babaguno Monguno.

On nPDP team were the house speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal, former PDP national chairman, Kawu Baraje, governor Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara State, Rabiu Kwakwanso, former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, Barnabas Gemade, Danjuma Goje and some members of the House of Representatives.
A Federal High Court in Calabar presided over by I.E .Ekwo on Monday granted bail to an ex-bursar of the University of Calabar, Peter Agi.

He was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.

The bail condition also includes providing a civil servant on level 14 and above as surety. The surety is expected to present a certified Certificate of Occupancy for landed property worth N20 million and with evidence of tax clearance.

The judge, while ordering Mr Agi to surrender his travelling documents to the court, also issued a bench warrant for the arrest and arraignment in court of his co-accused (his wife) who is alleged to be at large.

The former bursar is to remain in prison custody pending when the bail conditions are met.

Mr Agi, who was arraigned on seven count charge in suit No FHC/CA/CR/03 2018 is alleged to have used his official position as bursar to defraud the university of various sums by transferring same to his wife, Isioma Agi, and other fictitious persons account thereby committing an offence punishable under Section (1)(2)(b) of Miscellaneous Offences Act

He is alleged to have defrauded the university to the tune of N7 million by transferring same to his wifes account.

According to the charge sheet obtained by our reporter, between August 2014 and July 2016, he allegedly transferred N7.3 million through account number 3080827987 domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria to Isioma Sarah Agi (his wife) thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(b) of Miscellaneous Offences Acts

He was also alleged to have unlawfully transferred N17.5 million to various fictitious accounts which contravene the 2011 Money Laundering Act.

That you, Peter Amama Agi, between January 2014 and November 2016 built a house at 8 Miles valued at over N200 million which is in excess of your total emoluments from January 2011 to November 2016 earned from your employment from the University of Calabar and when confronted with it, you claimed it belonged to your 11 year old child thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15(11) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act, the charge sheet noted.

He is accused of building a house in Calabar and his village worth N200 million and N100 million naira respectively, which is said to be above his verifiable sources of income.

The matter was adjourned to October 6,7 and 8 for continuation.
The police in Abia on Monday led detachments of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a show of strength in Umuahia, ahead of the IPOB sit-at-home order for Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise took off from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, at about 9 a.m. and moved round the major streets up to Ubakala and Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area back to CPS, via Bende Road.

The convoy included one Armoured Personnel Carrier and about 15 patrol vans, loaded with heavily armed men.

Speaking with reporters at the end of the show, the Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, said the joint exercise was designed to reassure residents of the readiness of the security agencies to continue to protect their lives and property.

The show of strength included men of the Police Command, the army and Civil Defence and the essence is to demonstrate our resolve to ensure that Abia residents continue to enjoy uninterrupted peace.

We are poised to continue to sustain the prevailing peace and wish to send a signal to trouble makers, especially members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been proscribed as a terrorist group.

We want them to know that the law will not spare them should they go ahead to disrupt the prevailing peace, which residents of the state are presently enjoying.

So we used this opportunity to instill confidence in the people that security agencies are alive to their primary duties of protecting their lives and property.

The police boss therefore urged the people to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation.

Sitting at home for fear of any possible attack by IPOB members will give them a sense of victory.

Mr Ogbizi further charged security operatives to be alert and vigilant to be able to checkmate the activities of IPOB.

He alleged that the group now indulged in producing Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

If we do not respond now to nip the activities of the group in the bud, especially in producing IED, then we may be heading for doom.

He said that some policemen were recently attacked in Aba with IED, allegedly made by IPOB, adding that the incident was currently being investigated.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem has said that Udeme Odibi who allegedly stabbed her husband to death and severed his genital in Lekki, Lagos, would soon be tried at a State High Court for murder.

Mr Kazeem disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Alausa, Lagos.

Mrs Udeme, a female lawyer is being accused of murdering her 50-year-old husband, Otike Odibi, at Diamond Estate, Sango-Tedo, Lekki, Lagos in a gruesome manner in May.

According to him, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advice on the matter, stating that the available facts established a prima facie case of murder contrary to section 223 punishable by death and misconduct with regard to a corpse.

Section 165 (b) particularly creates an offence of felony for cutting up or mutilating a human corpse just as we have in the deceased person. Facts available in file reveal that the suspect, subsequent to her stabbing her husband, mutilated his corpse by cutting his genitals.

The suspect is therefore to stand trial before the High Court of Lagos for the murder of her husband and mutilation of his corpse. The trial of Udeme Odibi will commence as soon as the Chief Judge assigns the case to a court. This office will ensure expeditious trial of this matter, he said.

Mr Kazeem also expressed dismay at the rising rate of domestic violence in the state. He cited the case of a Dane who allegedly killed his wife and child in Lagos.

The good citizens of Lagos are enjoined to fulfill their role as compulsory reporters by ensuring that any case of domestic violence is immediately reported to the police, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, or any other relevant authority to avoid unnecessary loss of lives, he said.

The Attorney General also disclosed that the DSVRT commissioned a research on May 15 on domestic violence and mortality among intimate partners.

We hope that the data received from the research will help us understand the pattern of incidents of domestic violence, the link between domestic violence and fatalities and how domestic violence can be curbed.

He also warned citizens engaged in any form of domestic violence to henceforth desist from such acts.

Anyone found guilty will face the weight of the law, as government would not tolerate such behaviour and offenders are hereby warned accordingly, he added.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




Endurance Horse Riding and Life-Changing Experience in Mongolia

By: Gobi Desert Cup

Media Contact

Media Contact: Heather Wallace

heather@bridleandbone.com

7327847195 Media Contact: Heather Wallace7327847195

End

-- Riders from the four corners of the world compete in The Gobi Desert Cup this August, and we are currently seeking riders to join famed endurance rider Christoph Schork for Team USA.Christoph Schork has ridden over 32,500+ life-time miles and has had more than 320 1st place finishes. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride with a world champion in a challenge designed to test you mentally as well as physically.Secluded from the rest of the world for 10 days, riders willl be living with nomadic people; riding endurance-trained Mongolian horses; and travelling almost 300 miles to test their endurance and challenge their horsemanship through anFollowing a marked course riders will be starting every morning at 7AM and must complete the course before 7 PM. Two vet checks by FEI-qualified veterinarians are held each day; one at 25 miles and one at the end of the 50 miles.Riders will be camping each night in a traditional Mongolian camp and experience the nomadic lifestyle. A starting and closing ceremony will include presentation for the first three riders and the first three teams (of 4 riders) with the most points will be decorated.Visit https://www.gobidesertcup.com/ Co-founded in 2017 by FEI 3* Endurance Rider, Camille Champange and Mongolian FEI-qualified veterinarian Naranbataar Adiya, the Gobi Desert Cup is a 480 kilometre multi-stage endurance race through the Gobi Desert, riding Mongolian horses everyday for 6 days over 80 kilometers (apporximately 50 miles). This challenge is the only one of its kind to combine endurance while positively supporting Mongolian culture and their horses.
GENEVA, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) [NYSE:BA] have won four new orders in 2018 as elite customers continue to favor Boeing's portfolio of ultra-large-cabin, long-range airplanes, the company announced today at the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE).

The new orders this year follow an impressive 2017 in which customers purchased 16 Boeing Business Jets.

"We continue to see a lot of customer interest in Boeing's family of business jets and that is translating into new orders and a growing backlog," said Greg Laxton, leader of Boeing Business Jets. "Customers seek more space and greater range, which is driving significant growth in the large cabin segment."

Two of the new orders this year are for the BBJ MAX airplane, adding to a backlog of 19 airplanes and making the BBJ MAX one of the selling business jetliners in history.

Based on the new 737 MAX airplane, the BBJ MAX delivers 14 percent better fuel efficiency thanks to advanced engines and improved aerodynamics. The model also features 787-style flight deck displays and multiple advanced new systems.

The BBJ MAX family offers customers more range, comfort, and space than any business jet in its class. The jet is capable of flying 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km) and features a lower cabin altitude, and bespoke interiors to match any preference.

"The performance advantage of the BBJ MAX is a big sales driver," said Laxton. "The airplane is perfectly suited for discerning customers who want to fly further without stopping."

Boeing celebrated the first BBJ MAX 8 flyaway in April 2018. Additional deliveries of BBJ MAX airplanes are expected in the coming months.

About Boeing Business Jets

Boeing Business Jets offers a portfolio of ultra-large-cabin, long-range airplanes that are perfectly suited for private, charter, corporate and head-of-state operations. The product line includes the BBJ MAX family and high performance versions of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, 777, and 747-8. Since its launch in 1996, Boeing Business Jets has delivered 233 jets on 259 orders.

The BBJ Demonstrator, Boeing's Next-Generation 737-700 based business jet, is a winner of the industry leading 2018 International Yacht and Aviation Award in a prestigious Interior Design and Completion category.

For more information, visit: www.boeing.com/bbj

Contact:

Keelan Morris

Boeing Business Jets Communication

[email protected]

+44 77 9882 8790

Dmitry Krol

Boeing Business Jets Communications

[email protected]

+1206 661 2903

SOURCE Boeing

Related Links

http://www.boeing.com


DENVER, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ClinOne, a mobile clinical trial management solution, was named one of CIO Applications magazine's Top 25 Life Sciences Technology Vendors for 2018 in its Life Science issue.

The magazine selected companies for consideration from hundreds of nominees through two methods by magazine subscribers and the magazine's market research team. A shortlist of 25 vendors was then created by a panel of experts assembled by CIO Applications.

ClinOne Cover Story

As part of the honor, ClinOne was selected as the featured cover story. The article details how ClinOne offers multiple features to help research institutions better manage clinical trials by centralizing clinical trial information into a mobile, patient-first environment.

To date, ClinOne is working with institutions in 53 countries 2,600 active clinical trials, and makes real time information readily accessible and to increase the efficiency of the researchers' workflow with the goal of enhancing the patient experience.

CEO Rob Bohacs, tells CIO Applications, "ClinOne serves as the optimal tool to provide the right content to principal investigators, sub investigators, and research teams 24-7 on their mobile devices. Distributed access to clinical trial information and workflow tools are an absolute must given the size of many research institutions, ranging from a few city blocks to a dozen square miles."

The article describes several features of the solution, including mobile/web optimized clinical trial binders, video capabilities and online resources through ClinOne, which all benefit providers and clinical trial sites. For patients, there is an online Knowledge base and a Digital Concierge to assist with transportation, appointment reminders and trial updates.

Bohacs plans for more updates and new features to be released in the coming months, including consent management and electronic health record integration.

To read the full article, visit https://www.cioapplications.com/.

About ClinOne

The ClinOne solution and its suite of products were created to improve clinical trial enrollment, retention and research site compliance. The company's sole mission is to allow important trial details to be at the fingertips of participating researchers and patients. Currently, 2,600 active clinical trials in 53 countries rely on ClinOne's suite of technologies. Visit www.clinone.com for more information.

SOURCE ClinOne, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.clinone.com


PUNE, India, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the new market research report "Emission Monitoring Systems Market by System Type (CEMS, PEMS), Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Industry (Power Plants & Combustion, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Refineries, & Fertilizers), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to reach USD 4.44 Billion by 2025 from USD 2.39 Billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 9.3% between 2018 and 2025. Factors that are driving the emission monitoring systems market include stringent legal and environmental regulations, increased awareness about environmental protection, increasing health and safety issues, and growing use of oil & gas and petrochemicals.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg )

Browse 81 market data Tables and 67 Figures spread through 156 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Emission Monitoring Systems Market - Global Forecast to 2025"

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/emission-monitoring-systems-market-72002872.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report

"CEMS expected to lead the emission monitoring systems market between 2018 and 2025"

Standards related to emissions set by various government organizations, such as United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), enforced companies to adopt emission monitoring systems to track levels of emissions. CEMS is used in industries where continuous monitoring of emissions is mandatory. CEMSs consist of gas analyzers, gas sampling systems, temperature, flow, and opacity monitors, and data acquisition systems. CEMS demonstrates the environmental regulatory compliance of air pollutants that are emitted from industrial sources.

"Hardware expected to lead the emission monitoring systems market"

Hardware plays a vital role in an emission monitoring system for collecting data. The importance of hardware is determined by the type of emission monitoring system. For instance, CEMS has more dependency on hardware for operations, whereas PEMS is a software-based system and uses hardware components for analyzing pressure, temperature, and other parameters. Primary hardware components include gas analyzer, gas sampling system, flow and opacity monitor, sample probe, sample line, data controller, and filter.

Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=72002872

"Oil & gas industry expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2025 in the emission monitoring systems market"

Various gases emitted during the extraction of oil & gas are hazardous and dangerous to the environment. Emission monitoring systems are used in the oil & gas industry to minimize emissions and measure them continuously. In the oil & gas industry, emission monitoring systems are used to gather data required for reporting emissions to government authorities. The authorities have issued guidelines and regulations to estimate and control emissions.

"APAC expected to be the largest market for emission monitoring systems during the forecast period"

APAC is expected to lead the emission monitoring systems market between 2018 and 2025. The growth is attributed to the rapid industrialization in China and India is expected to fuel the emission monitoring systems market in APAC. The rising concerns related to the air quality in China is also a major factor driving the adoption of emission monitoring systems. The growth of manufacturing and processing industries under the "Make in India" program is expected to fuel the adoption of emission monitoring systems in India.

Major players involved in the emission monitoring systems market include ABB (Switzerland), AMETEK (US), Emerson (US), General Electric (US), Siemens (Germany), Parker Hannifin (US), Rockwell Automation (US), SICK (Germany), Teledyne Technologies (US), and Thermo Fisher (US).

Know more about the Emission Monitoring Systems Market:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/emission-monitoring-systems-market-72002872.html



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

Mr. Salgarkar

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors

Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets



SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
Mr. Li noted that high tech clean energy technology such as thin-film solar is rapidly becoming an important trend in the global movement for energy reform, with regions such as the European Union already planning to prohibit gasoline powered cars and coal in the near future. He emphasized that as solar is completely carbon-free, when deployed on a large scale it can displace large quantities of carbon dioxide generated by traditional energy sources.

Hanergy's thin film solar technology is already mature and its core equipment is being produced domestically. Hanergy's thin film solar batteries have also improved dramatically in terms of conversion efficiency over the past few years. As of the end of 2017, Hanergy's technology had set three world records, with gallium arsenide modules reaching a conversion efficiency of 25.1%; CIGS modules reaching 18.72%; and flexible sputtering modules reaching 17.44%, as recognized by international testing organizations.

Hanergy's mobile energy solutions are also being integrated into China's national energy strategy. China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) have all emphasized thin-film solar technology in national energy planning documents.

Mr. Li concluded with his view that the global new era of mobile energy has already arrived. With thin film solar usage increasing at a rate of up to 20 times year-on-year, the technology has enormous potential for the wider market, especially in areas such as automobiles and construction materials, of which Hanergy's signature Hantile product represents a major innovation.

Hanergy's mobile energy solutions have helped make the travel experience greener and more efficient, and its lightweight and shock-resistant thin-film solar panels make it possible for vehicles to generate electricity on-the-go. The company has recently cooperated with Mobike and SF Express to install thin-film solar panels for bicycles and delivery vehicles for GPS and mobile battery charging applications. Hanergy has also joined hands with Audi and FAW group to install thin-film solar panels in the roofs of automobiles.

Today's advanced mobile energy applications allows people to use electricity freely no matter where they are. Hanergy has developed a series of thin-film based consumer products including backpacks, clothes, tents and mobile phone cases, which provide an eco-friendly solution to the problem of battery charging in the era of mobile Internet.

In addition, Hanergy has actively applied thin-film solar technology to urban construction and launched an "eco-city" solution to provide new energy infrastructure to boost green urban development. Hanergy has cooperated with many cities, including Guizhou, Shanxi, Hebei and other provinces to develop and implement eco-city solutions.

About Hanergy

Hanergy, the world's largest clean energy company, has a comprehensive clean energy solution, covering hydro-power, wind-power, and solar power. Since 2009, Hanergy has focused on thin-film solar power research and development, and is launching a series of products including solar roof tiles, foldable thin-film power bank, solar backpack, Building Integrated Photovoltaics, solar roads and many others. With a worldwide staff of more than 16,000, Hanergy is devoted to providing the world a clean energy solution for a better life and sustainable world.

SOURCE Hanergy
Advances in home automation have revolutionized the overall approach towards physical security. Electronic keyless entry systems such as remote control locks, electric door strikes, and keyless locks enable users to lock and unlock their homes remotely, thereby providing enhanced flexibility and convenience. Technological advancements have broadened the horizon for product development, leading to the introduction of IoT integrated devices such as keyless entry systems. In a new study by Persistence Market Research, the global keyless entry system market is projected to witness a growth rate of 10.2% during the eight year period 2018 to 2026.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661339/Persistence_Market_Research.jpg )



Keyless Entry System Market Research Report Overview @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/keyless-entry-system-market.asp

Leading tech giants are working on automating home entry systems through the incorporation of cloud systems and Artificial Intelligence. For instance, Amazon launched Amazon Key in the U.S., which is still in the testing phase. It relies on the Cloud Cam (also a product of Amazon) along with a compatible smart lock. The camera is the center of this entire process and is connected to the Internet through the Wi-Fi of the concerned home. The camera is empowered to communicate with the lock via Zigbee, which facilitates keyless entry for Amazon delivery executives to deliver shipments. Some of the other companies working on innovative home automation systems include ASSA ABLOY AB, Safran Group, Gemalto NV, NEC Corporation, Suprema, Inc., and Aware, Inc. Structured research and development along with product differentiation continues to drive the growth strategies of these companies, given the fact that the scope for innovation in home automation is peaking with every passing day.

Request Sample Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/22960

Burgeoning Demand from Education and Healthcare Industries to Boost Growth in Revenue

Owing to the enhanced features associated with keyless entry systems, an increasing demand is being witnessed from various industries, especially from the education and healthcare sector. Biometric entry systems enable educational institutions to monitor student entry and manage daily attendance. Keyless entry systems are widely used in hospitals to keep a close tab on the entry of individuals in restricted areas. As the security aspect continues to gain more relevance across diverse industry sectors, the adoption of keyless entry systems is expected to surge in the coming years.

Download and View Report TOC, Figures and Tables @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/keyless-entry-system-market/toc

High CAPEX May Inhibit Adoption Rate

One of the chief dynamics that may adversely impact the early adoption of keyless entry systems is the high initial investment required in installing remote accessible entry access systems, NFC/proximity card-enabled access systems, smart card-enabled access systems, and biometric devices. This cost complexity is tipping the scales in favor of traditional door entry systems, thereby hindering the global sales of keyless entry systems.

Get full Report Now https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/22960

Persistence Market Research Overview

Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.

To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Contact

Persistence Market Research

U.S. Sales Office:

305 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York City, NY 10007

+1-646-568-7751

United States

USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353

Email: [email protected]



PMR Latest News:https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/news

SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
PARIS, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

If you're an SME, it's time to showcase your commitment to delivering safe food to consumers everywhere

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is pleased to announce the launch of its Global Markets Awards 2019. For this third edition, the Awards will recognise companies from across the globe that have leveraged GFSI's Global Markets Programme in an exemplary way on their journey towards a world-class food safety management system.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/697527/Global_Food_Safety_Initiative_Logo.jpg )



Award recipients will travel to the GFSI Conference in Nice, France from 25th-28th February 2019, where they will benefit from networking opportunities and be recognised for their excellence throughout the conference week.

The Journey towards Safe Food for Consumers Everywhere

The Global Markets Awards are a unique opportunity to highlight the efforts of food business operators to scale up their capabilities to produce safe food, in line with the GFSI vision of safe food for consumers everywhere.

The Global Markets Programme, building a pathway to certification, was created seven years ago providing an unaccredited entry point for companies with a step-by-step programme designed to build capacity within production and manufacturing operations, setting out how companies with less sophisticated food safety management systems can meet the challenge of food safety, while simultaneously reducing hazards in global food supply chains and improving market access through certification to one of the GFSI-recognised certification programme owners.

Recognising Food and Beverage Companies from Around the World

Food companies, farms or facilities can apply by demonstrating their food safety journey and illustrating their use of the Global Markets Programme to create an enabling environment for safer food.

The Awards intend to reflect the geographic diversity of the Global Markets Programme's implementation, with categories for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the rest of the world, as well as an honourary award for France, as the host country of the GFSI Conference 2019.

A Selection Committee Made Up of Notable Food Safety Experts and Academics

A Selection Committee was formed for the 2018 edition of the Awards, composed of experts from diverse backgrounds, with representatives from both the public and private sector and spanning four continents (Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, Ukraine, USA and Japan). The Selection Committee is chaired by Mike Taylor, former Deputy Commissioner to the US Food and Drug Administration.

The Selection Committee will be paying special attention to food safety culture and market access.

GFSI is pleased to partner with greenfence, who is generously sponsoring these significant awards for the third year running.

"Greenfence was honoured to be part of the celebratory awards ceremony at the 2018 conference in Tokyo, in which four companies were recognised for their application of the GFSI Global Markets Programme. These exemplary companies, all from different regions across the world, showed how small companies can provide safe food, reduce risk in the supply chain and become trusted trading partners. The second edition of the awards already received many excellent applications and we are confident that the 2019 edition will attract even more exceptional applications. We are therefore delighted to continue to sponsor this prestigious award, which is fully aligned with greenfence's objective to provide the food industry with a trusted, effective way to identify and authenticate suppliers of products and services," said Mitch Chait, CEO and founder, greenfence.



Awards applications close on 26th September 2018 at 6.00pm Central European time. To learn more and apply, visit http://awards.mygfsi.com/

About the Global Food Safety Initiative

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) brings together key actors of the food industry to collaboratively drive continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. With a vision of Safe food for consumers everywhere, food industry leaders created GFSI in 2000 to find collaborative solutions to collective concerns, notably to reduce food safety risks, audit duplication and costs while building trust throughout the supply chain. The GFSI community works on a volunteer basis and is composed of the world's leading food safety experts from retail, manufacturing and food service companies, as well as international organisations, governments, academia and service providers to the global food industry. GFSI is powered by The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global industry network working to support Better Lives Through Better Business. http://www.mygfsi.com

SOURCE Global Food Safety Initiative
Strategic portfolio of 5 granted mining leases and 1 granted exploration license (31.36 km 2 ).

and (31.36 km ). Mining leases provide the potential for immediate large scale bulk sampling of mineralization, with existing on site infrastructure including operational camp facility.

including operational camp facility. Alluvial, eluvial and bedrock mining historical gold workings extend over a 10 km strike .

. Directly adjacent to key exploration properties controlled by Novo Resources Corp. and Kairos Minerals Ltd.

and Access to the extensive regional knowledge and technical expertise provided by the Gardner Mining Team. Gardner is comprised of corporate finance executives, geologists, prospectors, and mining executives with strategic relationships to the local communities in which it operates.

"The acquisition of the Friendly Creek Project, with granted mining leases, clearly places Pacton with a strategic advantage ahead of our peers in creating the opportunity to rapidly conduct large scale bulk sampling programs. The historical discovery of large gold nuggets at Friendly Creek in Western Australia, and an identified mineralised strike length of 10 km, is compelling to justify an upcoming intensive exploration program," commented Alec Pismiris, Interim President and CEO of Pacton Gold. "We look forward to working closely with the Gardner team, as we continue to focus on understanding the true potential of our strategic portfolio holdings and as we look to complete additional accretive acquisitions."

About Gardner Mining Team

The director, management and associated consultants of Gardner Mining have extensive local operating history within the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The team is comprised of corporate finance executives, geologists, prospectors and mining executives, and has extensive ties to the local communities where it operates. Gardner Mining will work closely with Pacton as required to maximize the ongoing development of their existing project portfolio and to identify further value accretionary opportunities.

For location map of the Property, please see: http://www.pactongold.com/Pacton-Location-Map.jpg.

Initial exploration activities planned to be undertaken include:

Comprehensive review of historical mining and exploration activities conducted on the Property.

Acquisition and interpretation of high resolution airborne imagery to refine the palao drainage interpretation.

Mapping of regolith, project geology and structural controls relating to mineralization.

Infill and extensional geochemical sampling targeting gold.

Metal detecting and small scale dry blowing to identify the presence of surficial gold nuggets.

LOI Terms

Under the terms of the LOI, which will be formalized by a definitive agreement among the parties, the Company will purchase a 100% ownership interest in Friendly Creek by paying the Vendors a total of CDN$25,000 and issuing to the Vendors 2,500,000 common shares of Pacton.

This transaction is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Pacton Gold

Pacton Gold (PAC: TSXV; PACXF: US) is a well-financed Canadian junior with key strategic partners focused on the exploration and development of conglomerate-hosted gold properties located in the district-scale Pilbara gold rush in Western Australia. The Company recently raised approximately $5.5 million, currently controls the third largest conglomerate-hosted gold property portfolio totaling 2,227 km2, and continues to aggressively review additional accretive acquisitions.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Caldbick, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The qualified person has not visited the Friendly Creek site and therefore has not verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in the written disclosure.

On Behalf of the Board of Pacton Gold Inc.

Alec Pismiris

Interim President & CEO

This news release may contain or refer to forward-looking information based on current expectations, including, but not limited to the Company acquiring an interest in properties/licenses controlled by Gardner Mining and Darren White completion of the proposed transaction described herein, the prospect of the Company achieving success in exploring the Property and the impact on the Company of these events, including the effect on its share price. Forward-looking information is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, as actual results may differ materially from forecasted results. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. References to other issuers with nearby projects (Novo Resources Corp. and Kairos Minerals Ltd.) is for information purposes only and there are no assurances the Company will achieve similar results.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Pacton Gold Inc.
EAST HANOVER, N.J., May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis announced today new real world evidence from the CHAMP-HF registry comparing Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) patients to patients not taking Entresto.1 This pre-specified analysis of an interim data cut from the CHAMP-HF registry showed that chronic heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) taking Entresto reported early, statistically significant improvement in health status, as measured by the KCCQ-12 overall summary score (KCCQ-OS).1 This finding was driven by statistically significant improvements in symptom frequency and quality of life domains of the KCCQ-12.1 The study findings were presented today by lead investigator Yevgeniy Khariton, MD, MSc, Saint Luke's Hospital, Mid-America Heart Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City, as a part of a late-breaking session at the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure (ESC-HF) Congress in Vienna, Austria.

"Key goals in managing chronic heart failure are to improve patients' symptoms and quality of life," said CHAMP-HF Chair Gregg C. Fonarow, MD and Director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, Co-Chief of UCLA's Division of Cardiology, and Co-director of UCLA's Preventative Cardiology Program. "These findings in a real world setting are important because they suggest that taking sacubitril/valsartan may help patients achieve these goals."

"In addition to the already reported reduction in risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in HFrEF patients treated with Entresto, we now show its potential to improve patient-reported health status," said Shreeram Aradhye, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Global Head, Medical Affairs, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.1,2 "What we find most encouraging is that both our Entresto clinical program and now this real world analysis have shown health status benefits as measured by KCCQ."

About KCCQ-12

KCCQ-12 is a self-administered, health status tool for patients with heart failure.3 There are four domains: physical limitation (showering/bathing, walking one block on level ground, hurrying or jogging), symptom frequency (shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling of the feet, ankles and legs), social limitation (hobbies/recreational activities, working/doing household chores, visiting family/friends out of the home) and quality of life (impact on lifestyle and satisfaction of spending rest of life with current HF status).3 Each domain is scored separately, and the overall summary score is equal to the mean of the four domain scores.3 Higher KCCQ-12 scores from baseline represent better health status.3 An intra-individual change in a patient's score of 3 to 5 points, or a 5 point mean group difference, is defined as a minimal clinically important difference for the KCCQ-12 summary score.3

About the CHAMP-HF Registry

CHAnge the Management of Patients with Heart Failure (CHAMP-HF) is an ongoing, prospective, observational outpatient disease registry in patients with chronic HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction 40%).4 CHAMP-HF has enrolled approximately 5,000 patients from 150 geographically diverse US sites, following these patients, including those who have been hospitalized, for a maximum duration of 24 months.4 Participating sites are collecting data from providers (HF history, examination findings, and results of diagnostic studies, pharmacotherapy treatment patterns, decision-making factors, and clinical outcomes) and patients (medication adherence and patient-reported outcomes such as KCCQ-12).4 The primary endpoint of CHAMP-HF is to examine the rationale for HF treatment changes.4 Secondary outcomes include examining patient and provider decisions and perceptions of treatments, as well as HF related health care resource utilization.4 Quality of life measures, such as KCCQ-12 and European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) Questionnaire, and depression screening (PHQ-2), are also being examined as exploratory outcomes.4 This real world contemporary registry provides a unique opportunity to study practice patterns, patient-reported outcomes and the adoption of new HF therapies across a diverse mix of health care providers and practices in the US that care for HFrEF patients.4

About the Real World Evidence Analysis

Presented today was a pre-specified analysis of an interim data cut from CHAMP-HF.1 The aim of this analysis was to assess short-term, health status benefits of Entresto in real world US clinical practice.1 Propensity score matching was conducted using 365 Entresto patients and 730 patients not receiving Entresto (1:2 match).1

Patients taking Entresto had statistically significant improvement in health status as measured by the mean group difference in KCCQ overall summary score (KCCQ-OS) compared to those not taking Entresto (6.0119 vs. 3.5517, p=0.014).1 This improvement in the KCCQ score was seen early with a median follow up of 32 days reported (interquartile range 26, 53).1 Patients on Entresto scored numerically higher on all domains compared to patients not taking Entresto, but the improvement in the KCCQ-OS score was driven by statistically significant improvements in two domains: symptom frequency (5.07 vs. 1.60, p=0.007) and quality of life (7.53 vs. 4.09, p=0.021).1 The proportion of patients with a large improvement in overall score (defined as a greater than 20-point improvement from baseline) was 21.4% (78 out of 365 patients) for those taking Entresto vs. 12.5% (91 out of 730 patients) for those not taking Entresto, suggesting a number needed to treat (NNT) of 11.1

The overall findings of this real world matched analysis are in line with the KCCQ findings in the PARADIGM-HF study, which showed that Entresto had a positive impact on the health status of patients with chronic heart failure.5,6

Methods

Study Design1

This is a comparative real world effectiveness analysis in which Entresto and non-Entresto groups were propensity matched based on 6 sociodemographic characteristics, 25 clinical characteristics and most recent KCCQ

Study sample: Patients in the CHAMP-HF registry, who were not previously taking Entresto prior to enrollment, had 1 KCCQ assessment before their Entresto start and no contraindications to Entresto

Cohort definition:

Entresto use: New Entresto starts (any report of use after enrollment)



No Entresto use: Patients with no report of any use of Entresto after enrollment

Outcome evaluated:

KCCQ-12 overall summary scores (primary) and 4 domain scores (secondary) at first assessment after Entresto initiation

It is important to note that the nature of this real world evidence has some limitations:

50% of patients in the comparison arm did not receive an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) during matching, which may impact the findings

Observational analyses have the potential for residual confounding and can only test for associations as opposed to causality (tested via randomized clinical trials)

It was not possible to exclude patient bias resulting from open-label Entresto use, which could cause a placebo effect on the Entresto arm

About Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic and progressive condition, which impacts 6.5 million Americans and is the leading cause of hospitalization among Americans over the age of 65.7,8 About half of people with HF have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), also known as systolic HF.9,10 Reduced ejection fraction means the heart does not contract with enough force, so less blood is pumped out.11 HF presents a major and growing health-economic burden that currently exceeds $30 billion in the United States, which accounts for both direct and indirect costs.12

Novartis has established the largest global clinical program in the HF disease area across the pharma industry to date. Known as FortiHFy, it is comprised of more than 40 active or planned clinical studies designed to generate an array of additional data on symptom reduction, efficacy, quality of life benefits and real world evidence with Entresto, as well as to extend understanding of heart failure.

About Entresto

Entresto is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in people with certain types of long-lasting (chronic) heart failure.2 Entresto is usually used with other heart failure therapies, in place of an ACE inhibitor or other ARB therapy.2 Entresto is a twice-a-day prescription medicine that reduces the strain on the failing heart.2 It does this by enhancing the protective neurohormonal systems (natriuretic peptide system) while simultaneously inhibiting the harmful effects of the overactive renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).2,13 Other heart failure medicines only block the harmful effects of the overactive RAAS.10 Entresto contains the neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan.2 Entresto film-coated tablets are available in three dosage strengths: 24/26 mg, 49/51 mg, and 97/103 mg (sacubitril/valsartan).2 These doses are referred to as 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg in the clinical trial literature including The New England Journal of Medicine publication of the results of PARADIGM-HF. The target maintenance dose of Entresto is 97/103 mg twice daily.2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Entresto can harm or cause death to an unborn baby. Patients should talk to their doctor about other ways to treat heart failure if they plan to become pregnant. If a patient gets pregnant while taking Entresto, she should tell her doctor right away.

Patients are not to take Entresto if they are allergic to sacubitril or valsartan or any of the ingredients in Entresto; have had an allergic reaction including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or trouble breathing while taking a type of medicine called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB); or take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Patients are not to take Entresto for at least 36 hours before or after they take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Patients should talk with their doctor or pharmacist before taking Entresto if they are not sure if they take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Patients are not to take Entresto if they have diabetes and take a medicine that contains aliskiren.

Before they take Entresto, patients should tell their doctor about all of their medical conditions, including if they have kidney or liver problems; or a history of hereditary angioedema; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Patients should either take Entresto or breastfeed. They should not do both.

Patients should tell their doctor about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. They should especially tell their doctor if they take potassium supplements or a salt substitute; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); lithium; or other medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems such as an ACE inhibitor, ARB, or aliskiren.

Entresto may cause serious side effects including serious allergic reactions causing swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat (angioedema) that may cause trouble breathing and death. Patients are to get emergency medical help right away if they have symptoms of angioedema or trouble breathing. Patients are not to take Entresto again if they have had angioedema while taking Entresto. People who are black or who have had angioedema may have a higher risk of having angioedema if they take Entresto. Entresto may cause low blood pressure (hypotension). Patients are to call their doctor if they become dizzy or lightheaded, or they develop extreme fatigue. Entresto may cause kidney problems or an increased amount of potassium in the blood.

The most common side effects were low blood pressure, high potassium, cough, dizziness, and kidney problems.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING available at http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/entresto.pdf.

Patients are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Novartis is committed to providing patients with affordable access and resources through Entresto Central. For more information, please call 1-888-ENTRESTO or visit www.entresto.com.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political and economic conditions; safety, quality or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 124,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact [email protected]

References

1. Khariton, Y, Fonarow, GC, et al. Association Between Sacubitril/Valsartan Initiation and Health Status Outcomes in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Findings from the CHAMP-HF Registry. Data presented at the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure (ESC-HF); 2018 May 26-29; Vienna, Austria.

2. ENTRESTO [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; November 2017.

3. Spertus, JA, Jones, PG. Development and Validation of a Short Version of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 2015;8:469-476. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.115.001958.

4. DeVore, AD, Thomas, L, et al. Change the management of patients with heart failure: Rationale and design of the CHAMP-HF registry. Am Heart J 2017;189:177-183.

5. Chandra, A, Lewis AF, et al. Effects of Sacubitrill/Valsartan on Physical and Social Activity Limitations in Patients with Heart Failure A Secondary Analysis of the PARADIGM-HF Trial. JAMA Cardiology. 2018;3(5):1-8. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2018.0398. 2014;371(11):993-1004.

6. Lewis, EF, Claggett , BL, et al. Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in PARADIGM-HF. Circulation: Heart Failure. 2017;10:e003430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.116.003430.

7. Benjamin EJ, Virani SS, Callaway CW, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics-2018 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018;137(12):e67-e492.

8. Weir LM, Pfuntner A, Maeda J, et al. HCUP Facts and Figures: Statistics on Hospital-based Care in the United States, 2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011;1-3.

9. Owan TE, Hodge DO, Herges RM, et al. Trends in prevalence and outcome of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:251-259.

10. Yancy CW, Jessup M, Bozkurt B, et al. 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of heart failure: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association task force on practice guidelines. Circulation. 2013;128:e240-e327.

11. Ejection Fraction Heart Failure Measurement. American Heart Association Website. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/SymptomsDiagnosisofHeartFailure/Ejection-Fraction-Heart-Failure-Measurement_UCM_306339_Article.jsp (link is external). Published March 24, 2015. Accessed April 13, 2018.

12. Heidenreich PA, Albert NM, Allen LA, et al. Forecasting the impact of heart failure in the United States: a policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circ Heart Fail. 2013;6:606-619.

13. Langenickel T, Dole W. Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibition with LCZ696: a novel approach for the treatment of heart failure. Drug Discov Today. 2012:4: e131-139.

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: [email protected]

Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) [email protected] Phil McNamara Novartis US Pharma Communications +1 862 778 0218 (direct) +1 862 274 5255 (mobile) [email protected]

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: [email protected]

Central

North America

Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Richard Pulik +1 212 830 2448 Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Cory Twining +1 212 830 2417 Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425



Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188





SOURCE Novartis

Related Links

http://www.novartis.com


SINGAPORE, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoplewave has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with QUOINE to launch its upcoming Initial Coin Offering (ICO) on QUOINE's ICO Mission Control platform from 31 May to 6 June 2018. Peoplewave will list its PWV token on QUOINE's QRYPTOS exchange after the ICO.

"We are very excited to partner with QUOINE in bringing our ICO to market. QUOINE's expertise provides us the confidence of launching a safe, secure ICO with a fast track to listing on the QRYPTOS exchange for immediate liquidity post-ICO. The partnership also gives us access to hundreds of thousands of crypto enthusiasts who have already cleared 'Know Your Customer (KYC)' and are ready to learn more about Peoplewave's ICO," said Damien Cummings, CEO of Peoplewave.

Having successfully achieved its US$2 million softcap, Peoplewave plans to launch its ICO from 31 May, 17:00 (UTC+08:00) to 6 June 2018 on QUOINE's ICO Mission Control platform. Peoplewave will be offering US$5 million of PWV tokens for sale. The tokens will be priced at 1 Ethereum = 6,888 PWV tokens, which is approximately US$0.08 equivalent in Ethereum (as of 28 May 2018). A highly attractive 95% bonus will be offered only on the first US$1 million of PWV tokens and for the first 24 hours, whichever comes earlier.

"Our goal is to kickstart our next phase of development to bring us one step closer to our vision of making work fair. In order to obtain the resources to make Wavebase a reality, we have decided to maximise the benefit to our contributors at our own cost as a win-win solution for everyone," said Cummings.

Peoplewave is embarking on an ICO with the objective of reinventing people management through blockchain technology. The company will establish a decentralised database of accurate, verified performance and employment information on its blockchain platform, Wavebase. As a result, employers will possess an unprecedented ability to evaluate a potential candidate based on actual credentials and past performance, or even utilise the information right from the start for targeted searches of suitable candidates. For the first time, employees will also get to own and take control of their performance data across all past employers.

"Talent acquisition and management are important topics in a company's growth process. Peoplewave's solution of providing accurate, verified employment and performance data on blockchain is highly relevant to the future of work. Having learned first-hand the challenges of running a large scale ICO, we aim to assist HR-based blockchain projects such as Peoplewave in navigating the new crypto economy," said Seth Melamed, QUOINE Senior Vice President and Head of Operations.

Contributors interested in Peoplewave's ICO will have to sign up and obtain KYC-verification on QUOINE's QRYPTOS exchange at qryptos.com. It is highly recommended that contributors complete KYC verification in advance to maximise the limited 95% bonus period on 31 May 2018. Details on the Peoplewave ICO and how to participate can be found at peoplewaveico.io.

About Peoplewave

Peoplewave is Asia's leading blockchain-ready HR software company. It is revolutionising hiring and people management with data-driven, transparent feedback and verified performance data on its blockchain platform, Wavebase. Peoplewave offers 3 key products - the "First 100 Days": a new hire onboarding tool; "Performance Wave": continuous 360-degree performance appraisals; and the "HR Command Centre" analytics suite, which unlocks employee data and insights.

Peoplewave successfully raised US$500,000 seed funding from a series of angels and aligned companies in the HR field in December 2017. The company has been named "Top 50 Most Promising Enterprise Start-ups in Asia Pacific" by CIO Outlook Magazine and "Top 20 Hottest Startups 2018" by Singapore Business Review.

About QUOINE

QUOINE is a leading global fintech company that provides trading, exchange, and next generation financial services powered by blockchain technology. With offices in Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, QUOINE combines a strong network of local partners with extensive team experience in banking and financial products to deliver best in class financial services for its customers. More information is available at www.quoine.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/696890/Peoplewave_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Peoplewave Pte. Ltd.
LONDON, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Scope:

The scope of the report covers the overview of the global market for polymer derived ceramics and analyses of global market trends, with data from 2015, considering the base year of 2016, and providing estimates for 2017 to 2022 with projection of CAGR in the forecast duration.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5402935



The report includes discussion of technological, regulatory and economic trends that are affecting the market. Further, it explains the major drivers and regional dynamics of the global polymer derived ceramics market and current trends within the industry.



The report includes discussion of end-use industries such as aerospace, industrial, energy, microelectronics and others.



The report concludes with a special focus on the detailed profiles of the major vendors in the global polymer derived ceramics market.



Report Includes:

- 58 data tables and 14 additional tables

- An overview of the global market for polymer-derived ceramics within the industry

- Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2016 and 2017, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022

- Segmentation of the global polymer-derived ceramics market by type, end-user industry and region, in value and volume terms

- Assess market trends, issues and forecasts impacting the global polymer derived ceramics market

- Discussion of technological, regulatory and economic trends that are affecting the market

- Detailed profiles of the major vendors in the global polymer derived ceramics market including CeramTec, COI Ceramics, Inc., Japan Fine Ceramics Co., Kyocera and Plasma Processes, LLC



Summary

The polymer derived ceramics market is projected to have high growth with a CAGR of REDACTED, in terms of value, during the forecast period.Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing and largest region.



In 2016, Asia-Pacific was a substantial contributor of polymer derived ceramics in the global market.This is mainly due to the high growth in aerospace, industrial, energy, and semiconductor and electronics industries in the region.



The increasing demand for industrial and aerospace OEMs industry coupled with developments in the semiconductor and electronics industry are likely to favor the regional PDCs growth. North America is the second largest region, in terms of value and volume. It

comprises three major countries, namely the United States, Canada and Mexico, with high consumption of polymer derived ceramics. These polymer derived ceramics are used in applications such as aerospace, energy, industrial, and semiconductor and electronics. Europe, being a mature market, has moderate growth in polymer derived ceramics. Germany is the leading market in Europe, due to the increasing demand of PDCs in the aerospace, consumer goods, automotive, and construction industries. The presence of a large number of manufacturers and formulators in this region is likely to promote the growth of the polymer derived ceramics market.



The global polymer derived ceramics market is segmented based on its types and end-use.The major types of PDCs considered in this study are SiC and Si3N4.



These types can be used in end-use industries such as aerospace, energy, industrial, and semiconductor and electronics. Polymer derived ceramics have excellent strength compared to other traditional ceramics such as steel, alumina and alloys.



As shown in Summary Table A the global market for polymer derived ceramics has increased from REDACTED in 2016 to REDACTED by 2022, at a CAGR of REDACTED during the forecast period.Demand for these types of materials is increasing in all the industry sectors analyzed in this study.



Medical, automotive, and aerospace end-use industries accounted for a share of REDACTED in 2016 and are the largest and fastest-growing markets for polymer derived ceramics, with energy & power and electronics & semiconductors also having a significant share at REDACTED in 2016.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5402935



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

http://www.reportbuyer.com


CALGARY, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion", "We" or "Our") (TSX,NYSE: VET) is pleased to announce that we have closed the acquisition of Spartan Energy Corp. ("Spartan") for total consideration of $1.40 billion, comprised of $1.23 billion in Vermilion shares (valued at closing price prior to announcement) plus the assumption of approximately $175 million in debt, pursuant to the terms of the previously announced arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement").

Under the terms of the Arrangement, Vermilion acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Spartan on the basis of 0.1476 of a Vermilion share for each Spartan common share, resulting in the issuance of 27.9 million Vermilion common shares (the "Acquisition").

The Spartan common shares will be delisted from the TSX in approximately 2 or 3 trading days. The Vermilion shares issued to the former holders of Spartan common shares pursuant to the Arrangement will be listed on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "VET".

The Spartan assets are comprised of high-netback, light oil producing properties covering approximately 480,000 net acres of land (80% average working interest), including 400,000 net acres in southeast Saskatchewan with multi-zone potential. In addition, the Acquisition includes approximately 80,000 net acres of land in other areas of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Production from the assets is projected to be approximately 23,000 boe/d (91% oil) during 2018. The Acquisition also includes ownership and control of producing infrastructure that are synergistic with our existing assets, as well as significant 2D and 3D seismic data. Under the current commodity strip, we expect the assets to generate cash flow in excess of capital requirements for continued growth plus the incremental gross dividends associated with the new shares issued.

We look forward to integrating Spartan employees into our organization, and believe our combined enterprise will have the operating, technical and financial capability to maximize the value of our combined southeast Saskatchewan assets.

Credit Facility Extension and Increase

We have negotiated an extension of our revolving credit facility with our syndicate of lenders to May 31, 2022. We elected to increase the total facility amount to $1.6 billion from $1.4 billion, maintaining roughly the same unutilized capacity as before the Acquisition.

About Vermilion

Vermilion is an international energy producer that seeks to create value through the acquisition, exploration, development and optimization of producing properties in North America, Europe and Australia. Our business model emphasizes organic production growth augmented with value-adding acquisitions, along with providing reliable and increasing dividends to investors. Vermilion is targeting growth in production primarily through the exploitation of light oil and liquids-rich natural gas conventional resource plays in Canada and the United States, the exploration and development of high impact natural gas opportunities in the Netherlands and Germany, and through oil drilling and workover programs in France and Australia. Vermilion currently holds an 18.5% working interest in the Corrib gas field in Ireland. Vermilion pays a monthly dividend of Canadian $0.23 per share, which provides a current yield of approximately 6.0%.

Vermilion's priorities are health and safety, the environment, and profitability, in that order. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the public and those who work with us, and the protection of our natural surroundings. We have been recognized as a top decile performer amongst Canadian publicly listed companies in governance practices, as a Climate Leadership level (A-) performer by the CDP, and a Best Workplace in the Great Place to Work Institute's annual rankings in Canada, the Netherlands and Germany. In addition, Vermilion emphasizes strategic community investment in each of our operating areas.

Employees and directors hold approximately 6.5% of our fully diluted shares, are committed to consistently delivering superior rewards for all stakeholders, and have delivered over 20 years of market outperformance. Vermilion trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VET.

Disclaimer

Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements or information typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward looking statements or information in this press release may include, but are not limited to:

the estimate of 2018 annualized production per day from the Spartan assets;

expectations regarding the cash flow generation from the Spartan assets;

development plans and strategic objectives;

expectations regarding the operating, technical and financial capability of our combined southeast Saskatchewan asset; and

asset; and projected liquidity requirements.

Although Vermilion believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements because Vermilion can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Vermilion and described in the forward looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to:

the ability of management to execute its business plan or realize anticipated synergies or cost savings from the Acquisition;

the risks of the oil and gas industry, both domestically and internationally, such as operational risks in exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas and market demand;

risks and uncertainties involving geology of oil and natural gas deposits;

risks inherent in Vermilion's marketing operations, including credit risk;

the uncertainty of reserves estimates and reserves life;

the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses;

potential delays or changes in plans with respect to proposed acquisitions (including the Acquisition), exploration or development projects or capital expenditures;

Vermilion's ability to enter into or renew leases;

fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates;

health, safety and environmental risks;

uncertainties as to the availability and cost of financing;

the ability of Vermilion to add production and reserves through development and exploration activities;

general economic and business conditions;

the possibility that government policies or laws may change or governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld;

uncertainty in amounts and timing of royalty payments;

risks associated with existing and potential future law suits and regulatory actions against Vermilion; and

other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this document or in Vermilion's other filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The forward-looking statements or information contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and Vermilion undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Vermilion Energy Inc.

Related Links

http://www.vermilionenergy.com


NEW YORK, May 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It all changed for Chelle and Taylor Pokorney on March 23, 2003. That is the day Chelle's beloved gentle giant of a husband Fred, a Marines Marine, and father to 2-year-old Taylor was killed along with other brave servicemembers in Al Nasiriyah, Iraq. Chelle was now faced with continuing on in life without her true love and her best friend. So many stories have surfaced from this horrible story filled with loss sadness and great fear. Fred was 6'6'', and, on the day he died he ran into machine gun fire to save two young Marines' lives. Recently I was witness to those two Marines meeting with Chelle to tell her how brave, loving, caring and heroic her Fred was to both of them and others. Fifteen years later, Chelle and Taylor live in Oregon proudly and live life to the fullest, while honoring Fred and his memory, along with the memories of all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, and for our freedoms we hold so dear. Her father Fred would be so proud as Taylor begins college this fall.

This Memorial Day I asked my dear friends Wayne Newton and Mark Wahlberg to join me in writing this where we call for two important things. Wayne and Mark have taken time from their busy lives to go to Iraq and Afghanistan respectively to visit with and thank our troops. They go to bases here at home to say thank you for the service of our brave men and women who volunteer to give of themselves serving the USA. I salute Mark and Wayne and other celebrities who care enough to make these important trips, which help raise awareness and hopefully affect policy and fundraising for the unmet needs facing our military and veteran's population.

This Memorial Day we call upon our fellow Americans to consider two things on this day: to take a few moments of silence with loved ones to honor, remember, and pay tribute to those who have died giving their life for our nation. And, secondly, to find a way to do something positive and meaningful in support of and for our servicemembers and veterans. The first can simply be a moment of silence, lighting a candle and honoring Fred and his family or another family you might know that has made the ultimate sacrifice. The second would be to consider volunteering for or making a contribution to one of the great organizations out there and getting more involved. We recommend the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, The Fisher House, the Wounded Warrior Project, the DAV, the USO or the American Legion. Doing both of these acts of kindness and humility will put the adage "saying thank you isn't enough" into proper context. We need to do more for our Veterans and we applaud you for considering both of these important constructs.

We want to encourage President Trump, Secretary of Defense Mattis and Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob Wilkie and our Congress to continue to do all they can to support our troops.

We say a most heartfelt thank you to our nation's fallen heroes and their treasured families today. We owe them our eternal gratitude love and respect. Thank you and God Bless the Unites States of America.

Bill White is CEO of Constellations Group NYC and a national advocate for Military and Veteran families. Mark Wahlberg is a famed actor, producer, businessman and father of four. Wayne Newton is a celebrated entertainer, businessman and patriot.

SOURCE Bill White
Islamabad, May 28 : Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for talks with senior civil and military leaders on security issues, Pakistani and Afghan officials said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi invited the Afghan security adviser for further discussions on issues he had talked about with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul last month, Xinhua reported.

Atmar is scheduled to hold official talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Janjua and will also meet Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

This is the first high level visit by a senior Afghan official after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on a comprehensive bilateral mechanism for dialogue on key areas.

Both sides have operationalised five working groups under the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Solidarity and efforts are underway to implement its seven key principles that also include their commitments to take action against fugitive and irreconcilable elements.
Washington, May 28 : US President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that a US official team had arrived in North Korea to talk about the preparation for a summit between him and Kim Jong Un.

"Our US team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," he tweeted, Xinhua reported.

The Trump-Kim meeting is scheduled to be held in Singapore on June 12.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" said the White House host.

The Washington Post reported earlier on Sunday that former US Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim on Sunday crossed into North Korea to prepare for a summit with Choe Son Hui.

The Washington Post quoted State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert as saying that the meetings are expected to continue Monday and Tuesday in the northern part of the demilitarized zone where Kim Jong Un met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Saturday.
Beijing, May 28 : China on Sunday voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to two US warships trespassing into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement released on Sunday night that the US warships trespassed into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands on Sunday without permission of the Chinese government, and the Chinese navy identified the US warships, warned and expelled them, Xinhua reported.

The Xisha Islands are China's inherent territory, Lu said, noting that in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government promulgated the baseline of the territorial sea off the Xisha Islands in 1996.

The relevant Chinese law has explicit provisions on foreign military vessels' entry into the territorial sea of China, Lu said.

The US side once again sent warships to trespass into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands, an act which violated the Chinese and relevant international laws, seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty, disrupted peace, security and good order of the relevant waters.

"The Chinese side strongly urges the US side to immediately stop such kind of provocative operations that violate China's sovereignty and threaten China's security," Lu said, noting that the Chinese side will continue to take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and security.
Srinagar, May 28 : A civilian was killed and a soldier injured late on Sunday evening, when militants attacked an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

Militants fired at a camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles in Kakapor area which was returned, triggering a brief encounter. An army soldier and a civilian were injured in the firing exchanges, police said.

The civilian identified as Bilal Ahmad Ganai, taxi driver by profession, later succumbed to critical injuries, it added. Taking advantage of darkness, the militants escaped.
Rome, May 28 : Italian Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte has failed to form a coalition government and resigned after President Sergio Mattarella vetoed his choice of economy minister.

Conte and Mattarella had met on Sunday to discuss officials selected by the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement and the rightist League to comprise the new government cabinet for Italy, which has been without a government for 84 days, reports Efe news.

The coalition had wanted to place 81-year-old economist Paolo Savona in charge of Italy's economy, although the former industry minister has been a key figure in questioning Italy's participation in the eurozone and the budgetary restrictions the European Union requires of its members.

Mattarella expressed his doubts about Savona although the 5 Star Movement and the League refused to back down from their choice, thus creating a standoff, given that Italy's president must approve a government's ministerial picks.

Mattarella ultimately refused to back the so-called "euroskeptic" for the economy portfolio.

In response, the 5 Star Movement chief Luigi di Maio announced that the party will launch within Parliament a move to oust Mattarella for having impeded the formation of the government by vetoing Savona and refusing to sign the list of ministers presented by the coalition.

Mattarella's decision sparked an unprecedented institutional crisis, with strong opposition being mounted by the 5 Star Movement and the League, which garnered more than 50 per cent of the votes in the March 4 national elections.

Other political forces, however, citing his constitutional presidential prerogatives to protect Italian markets and savers, have rallied to Mattarella's defence.

Conte, a law professor who had been named as the coalition's prime minister, resigned, telling reporters that he "gave the maximum effort, attention, to carry out this task with the full collaboration" of both the 5 Star Movement and League.
Washington, May 28 : Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has defended the US President's political attacks against special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible Russian collusion, suggesting that the origins of the probe were illegitimate, the media reported.

Asked during a CNN interview on Sunday whether there was a larger strategy to undermine the investigation at play, Giuliani said he "couldn't do it if they didn't have the material".

"They're giving us the material to do it. Of course, we have to do it in defending the President. To a large extent, what we're doing here, it is the public opinion, because eventually the decision here is going to be impeach or not impeach," Giuliani said.

The lawyer also suggested that the start of the Mueller probe was illegitimate, citing fired FBI Director James Comey's leaked memos and a lack of evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia.

"You get the Comey thing, which is the leak of a confidential memo, which is illegal for an FBI official to do. I'm not saying Mueller is illegitimate. I'm saying the basis on which he was appointed was illegitimate," Giuliani remarked.

Asked whether the Mueller probe was legitimate now, Giuliani told CNN "not anymore", citing reports of an FBI informant within the Trump campaign as one of the reasons for its discrediting.

The former New York City mayor also said the President was "adamant" about doing a sit-down interview with Mueller.

Giuliani said two topics were likely to be addressed during the interview: collusion and obstruction of justice.

Mueller has been pursuing his investigation since May 2017 to determine if - as US intelligence agencies say - the Kremlin interfered with the 2016 presidential vote to favour Trump and whether or not members of Trump's campaign colluded with that effort.
Brasilia, May 28 : Brazilian President Michel Temer has announced a new reduction in diesel prices to end the transport strike that has paralyzed the country for the past one week.

Temer's administration on Sunday decided to cut the diesel price by 0.46 reais (about $0.13) per liter and freeze it for 60 days, after the truckers' refusal to accept the 30-day diesel price freeze that had been agreed on May 24, reports Efe news.

In the first agreement, the price had been reduced by 0.23 reais.

The new diesel price will be valid for 60 days without any change. After that, monthly adjustments will be made so that each truck driver can better plan their freight costs.

In order to lower the diesel price, the government will waive one of the taxes imposed on fuel, which will eventually decrease the price by almost 20 per cent.

In addition, truckers will also be exempted from paying road tolls for trucks that travel empty and with some of their their axles lifted, and the government will also establish a minimum price for road freight.

The new measures were announced late Sunday night by Temer himself via a national radio and television network after a full day of negotiations at the Planalto presidential palace.
Patna, May 28 : In another such case within a week or so, a young Muslim man in Bihar broke his Ramadan fast to donate blood to save the life of a newborn, officials said on Monday.

"I broke my fast to save a child because human life is more important than fast. I will keep the fast later to compensate but human life can't be compensated," remarked Mohammad Ashfaque who donated blood on Sunday to save the two-day-old child of Ramesh Kumar Singh and Aarti Devi in Darbhanga district.

Aarti had given birth to a boy after a caesarean operation at a private clinic in Darbhanga but the condition of the child deteriorated soon after birth.

After doctors asked Ramesh to procure O Negative group blood for the child, he posted an SOS message on social media, following which Ashfaque contacted them.

"When I came across the message for help, I simply approached the family and rushed to the hospital to donate blood. But doctors refused my offer since I was fasting. So, I broke my fast and consumed fruit juice and some solids," said Ashfaque, who is in his late 20s.

Last week, Jawed Alam donated blood to an eight-year-old thalassemic boy Rajesh to save his life in Gopalganj district.
Mumbai, May 28 : Amid Opposition's allegations of nearly 25 per cent EVMs being used in the bypoll in the Bhandara-Gondiya parliamentary constituency on Monday were malfunctioning, the Election Commission said all defective machines have been replaced and polling has resumed.

Election Commission (EC) officer in-charge Abhimanyu Kale told the media that around 156 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) or Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were replaced or spares deployed.

Dismissing Assistant EC officer Anant Walaskar's earlier statement that after complaints were received from 64 polling stations, voting was cancelled in 35, Kale said: "Nobody has the authority to decide this except the EC and no such orders have been issued."

Walaskar had told the media in the morning that voting has been stopped in 35 polling stations and would be conducted at a later date owing to serious glitches in the EVMs.

The EVMs malfunctioned in polling booths at Khapa, Mandhal, Hingna and Kharbi in Bhandara-Gondiya, besides Tarapur, Shelvali, Kamare, Satpati, Maikhop, Dhuktan, Chinchan and other polling stations in Palghar.

Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel alleged that "nearly 25 per cent of all the EVMs in Bhandara-Gondiya are defective or malfunctioning".

"I have come to know that around 60 machines are defective in each Assembly segment of this Lok Sabha constituency. The EC must take serious note of this. What is the security of the votes that have already been case in the malfunctioning EVMs?" Patel told media persons.

Hundreds of voters patiently waited to cast their votes in the blistering heat as the EVMs were replaced.

However, the defective machines hit polling severely, with barely 25 per cent of the electorate casting their votes by 2 p.m. in both constituencies.

Ruling ally Shiv Sena leaders also strongly criticized the EC and the government for the glitches and claimed that these were reported mostly from the party's strongholds.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the glitch is nothing but a manifestation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent controversial statement on 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed'.

"The EC is under pressures not to even register complaints... the defective machines are mostly in the Sena strongholds," he said.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) President Prakash Ambedkar demanded cancellation of the elections in Bhandara-Gondiya.

"I have received reports of problems in some 450 polling stations. It's clear that the EVMs have been tampered as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is losing the elections. The entire elections must be cancelled and held afresh," said Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar.

Congress state spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged large-scale irregularities as the BJP was attempting to make the Lok Sabha bypolls 'My-polls' in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya.

All the opposition parties demanded that since the voting process was halted upto several hours in some areas, the voting timings should be extended to enable the people cast their votes.
New Delhi, May 28 : In an email sent to Congress Lok Sabha member and her husband Shashi Tharoor, Sunanda Pushkar had expressed her desire to die, Delhi Police told a court here on Monday, justifying its charges of abetment to suicide and cruelty against the parliamentarian.

Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal that there was sufficient evidence to proceed against Tharoor and requested the court to accept the charge-sheet and issue summons to the Lok Sabha member as an accused in the case.

The prosecutor informed the court that Pushkar was depressed and, in an email, written on January 8, 2014 to Tharoor, she had expressed her desire to die.

"I have no will to live. All I pray for is death," prosecutor Shrivastava read out the relevant line of the email written by Pushkar to Tharoor.

He told the court that Pushkar's mail and messages in social media had been taken as dying declaration.

He told the court that the cause of her death was poisoning. Some 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room but it is not clear how many she had consumed. The prosecutor cited the post-mortem report which stated that there were injury marks on her body.

Shrivastava also informed the court that Tharoor as a husband ignored Sunanda when she was taking pills to overcome depression. Instead they had frequent fights, the prosecutor said citing witnesses' statement to substantiate allegations levelled against the Congress leader.

The police also disclosed that Tharoor ignored her calls and disconnected them.

He told the court the Tharoors married in October 2010. Two days prior to Pushkar's death, heated arguments were exchanged between them on a flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi. The fight continued at the Delhi airport, the police said.

After hearing the submission, the court set June 5 to deliver its order on accepting the charge-sheet against Tharoor.

On May 14, the Delhi Police charge-sheeted Tharoor under Sections 306 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to abetment to suicide and cruelty to wife, which entails a jail term that could extend up to 10 years.

Pushkar, 51, was found dead in her suite at Leela Hotel in south Delhi on January 17, 2014, days after she alleged that her husband was having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.
Brussels, May 28 : The Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday decided to extend sanctions against Syria by one year.

The sanctions will be extended till June 1, 2019. They were put in place in 2011 and included an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments as well as a freeze on the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU.

At least 259 persons and 67 entities were also subjected to a travel ban and an asset freeze, Efe news reported.

The Council reiterated the EU's commitment to "finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria".

The ongoing Syrian civil war broke out in 2011 between the government forces, along with its allies, and various forces opposing the government, including the Islamic State militants.

During the seven-year turmoil and military confrontations, Syria has witnessed large-scale devastation in various parts of its territories, with many foreign countries intervening in the crisis.

The Syrian government's troops have liberated most of the cities, towns and villages captured by rebels and Islamist terrorists.

Since its eruption in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has claimed the lives of about half a million people and displaced and wounded over 14 million.
Dublin, May 28 : The Irish government on Monday started consultations on the legislation of the new abortion laws after a Friday referendum decided to abolish the present constitutional ban on abortions in the country.

Irish Health Minister Simon Harris, authorized by the government to head the drafting of the new abortion laws, told the media that he will first consult the officials within his department and then seek advice from the Cabinet on Tuesday and the opposition party leaders later this week, Xinhua news agency reported.

Indian-origin Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who championed the referendum, said that the new abortion legislation was expected to be enacted by the end of this year due to legal procedures and other technical issues.

However, many groups which campaigned for a Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish constitution that virtually bans abortions in the country, urged the government to speed up the steps in the enaction of the new abortion laws.

Micheal Martin, leader of Fianna Fail, the largest opposition party in Ireland, said he was in favour of holding a special sitting of the lower house of the Irish Parliament and would like to see the legislation to repeal the Eighth Amendment published before the summer recess of the Parliament.

Earlier on Saturday when the official results of the referendum were announced, Mary Lou McDonald, president of the country's third largest party Sinn Fein, also called for a quick passage of the new abortion laws so as to address the problems still faced by Irish women who want abortions.

Abortion is still illegal in Ireland before the enaction of the new laws to replace the Eighth Amendment.

Ireland held a referendum last Friday on whether or not the Eighth Amendment should be repealed. Nearly two-thirds of the voters voted to repeal it which was inserted into the country's Constitution after a 1983 vote.

Varadkar hailed the referendum as a victory of "a quiet revolution" that has taken place in Ireland over the last few decades.

An exit poll released on Friday night immediately after the referendum indicated that the young Irish were the decisive force in changing the current anti-abortion laws in the country.
Patna, May 28 : Hundreds of Bihar farmers on Monday protested against falling pulses and wheat prices and failure of the BJP-led Central government to provide them Minimum Support Price (MSP) as promised four years ago.

Protesting farmers in Barahia of Lakhisarai district, and Mokama, Barh and Bakhtiarpur of Patna district disrupted train services and roads traffic and demanded MSP for their produce, police said.

Farmers of low-lying areas spread over nearly 2,000 acre -- locally known as "Taal" which remains submerged during most part of the year -- farmers only manage to grow rabi crops, mainly pulses and wheat.

Angry over falling prices of their produce and no hope for MSP, the farmers took to streets and threatened to intensify their agitation if the government failed to provide them the minimum prices.

"We are forced to sell pulses like 'masur' at Rs 3,000 per quintal and gram at Rs 3,500, which are below the MSP. Similarly, we are selling wheat at Rs 1,400 per quintal, but government is doing nothing to help us," said Munna Singh, a protesting farmer in Mokama -- about 100km from Patna.
Bengaluru, May 28 : Wipro Infrastructure Engineering's additive manufacturing unit Wipro 3D signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay racing team to fabricate parts for Formula Student electric race car, the company said on Monday.

"As per the agreement, our 3D arm will provide expertise on additive manufacturing, equipment and material while IIT racing team will design the parts to be made," said the city-based company in a statement here.

As Europe's educational motorsport competition, the four-day Formula Students will be hosted at Silverstone Circuit in Britain from July 11-15 by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in which teams from 110 European universities and 8,000 students and 2,000 professors from the world over will participate.

Held annually, the student engineering contest draws teams from the world over to design, build, test and drive a small-scale Formula 1 style racing car.

"Critical components of the race car will be fabricated and printed in our 3D unit," said Wipro 3D Vice President Ajay Parikh in the statement.

The IIT racing team has built the additively manufactured Titanium alloy automotive component in collaboration with Wipro 3D.

"We have achieved 40 per cent weight reduction in the wheel component of our new electric race car EVoX by using Titanium and improved its ergonomics," said IIT Bombay Racing mechanical officer Kanishka Panda on the occasion.

The four-year-old Wipro subsidiary offers additive manufacturing solutions, products and services to diverse industries, spanning aerospace, space, industrial, automotive, healthcare, oil & gas and heavy engineering.
Bengaluru, May 28 : Liquor baron Vijay Mallya's United Breweries Ltd has launched Dutch beer Amstel in this tech hub, a company official said on Monday.

"The premium strong beer is brewed and bottled at our brewery here in collaboration with the Dutch brewing firm Heineken," the UB official told IANS here.

Named after the Amstel river in Amsterdam, the water of which was first used by the brewery in the Netherlands, the beer is brewed slowly for extra lager and ease to sip.

"We have unveiled Amstel to meet the growing demand for the premium strong beer in the Indian market wherein other international brands like Desperados, Dos Equis, Affligem, Edelweiss and Sol were recently launched," said UB Chief Marketing Officer Samar Singh Sheikhawat in a statement here.

Priced at Rs 140 per bottle of 650 ml and Rs 105 for a can of 500 ml in Karnataka, the beer will be marketed across the country in the coming months.

Sold in 100 countries as one of the oldest Dutch beers, Amstel will be marketed by the company in the premium strong segment, where competition is limited to a few brands.
Bengaluru, May 28 : Around 53 per cent voting was recorded in the Raja Rajeshwari (R.R.) Nagar Assembly constituency here when polling ended formally, an official said on Monday.

"Over 53 per cent voting has been registered in all 471 polling stations by 6 p.m. The polling percentage is likely to go up as there were many voters still in queues in the booths after gates were closed," Joint Chief Electoral Officer K.N. Ramesh told IANS here.

He said polling was peaceful.

The constituency has 4,71,459 voters - 2,46,803 men and 2,27,965 women "Polling began at 7 a.m. on a brisk note and gained momentum as the day progressed, with 34 per cent voting till 1 p.m. and 41 per cent by 3 p.m.," Returning Officer S. Shailaja told IANS earlier.

The election in the Assembly segment was postponed from May 12 due to electoral malpractices, including detection of 9,564 voter ID cards at a residential apartment in the area.

"Polling in the constituency was deferred to maintain the sanctity of the election process as keeping the voter cards in a flat was illegal," said Ramesh.

In all, 14 candidates, including Congress' Munirathna and four Independents are in the fray. The votes will be counted on May 31.
Chennai/New Delhi, May 28 : The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued orders closing the copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi owned by the Vedanta Group, a week after 13 people were killed in police firing during protests against the continued functioning of the unit.

The government order said it has been brought to the notice of the government that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) did not renew the 'Consent to Operate' to the copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi by its order of April 9 this year and subsequently on May 23, the PCB has also issued directions for closure and disconnection of power supply.

"Under Sections 18(1)(B) of the Water Act, 1974 in the larger public interest, the Government endorse the closure direction of the TNPCB and also direct the TNPCB to seal the unit and close the plant permanently," said the Order.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy said in a separate statement that the 'Consent to Operate' permission for the copper smelter plant ended in March this year and it was not renewed by the TNPCB. The electricity and water connections to the plant have been disconnected from May 24, he said.

The Chief Minister said the demand of the people of Thoothukudi to the government for closure of the plant has been accepted by the government and orders have been issued to this effect.

The order is also significant because the protesters against the functioning of the copper smelter have been demanding that the government should issue formal orders as they would not be satisfied with verbal promises.

Reacting to the development, global diversified natural resource major Vedanta said that it will study the closure order and then decide on the future course of action.

"Closure of Sterlite Copper plant is an unfortunate development, especially since, we have operated the plant for over 22 years in most transparent and sustainable way, contributing to the Tuticorin and state's socio-economic development," the company said in a statement.

"We will study the order and decide on the future course of action."

On the other hand, the protesters welcomed the order and said they needed a Cabinet decision on this as otherwise the company would approach the courts and get a stay order. They also wanted the Central government to take a similar stand.

Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday visited Thoothukudi, the first senior political representative to go to the violence-hit town, and announced that the government will take necessary steps to permanently shut down the copper smelter plant.

Pannerselvam visited the hospital here and enquired about the health of those injured in the police firing on anti-Sterlite Copper protesters on May 22.

Speaking to reporters, the Deputy Chief Minister said that compensation to the injured was being paid.

Normalcy was slowly returning in the town with shops and other establishments opening their doors for customers.

Internet connectivity has also resumed since Sunday midnight after it was suspended on May 23.

"Shops are open now. Normalcy is returning. But till the copper smelter plant is permanently closed there will not be total peace in the city," S. Raja of Thoothukudi Traders Association told IANS.

Raja also said a murder charge should be registered against the police officials who shot the protesters.

According to Raja, post mortem has been done on seven bodies out of the 13 who were killed in the police firing. However, the relatives have not claimed the bodies yet.
Rome, May 28 : Italy's President Sergio Mattarella on Monday asked economist and former International Monetary Fund director Carlo Cottarelli to form a government after populist nominee premier Giuseppe Conte give up his bid.

Cottarelli, 63, a former IMF executive director known as "Mr Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in Italy, will try to form a cabinet of unelected technocrats. He will however struggle to get approval for his government from the parliament where populist forces have a majority in both houses.

The pro-austerity economist pledged to "do my utmost" to form a technocrat government after accepting Sergio Mattarella's invitation.

"I will do my utmost. The President has asked me to present to parliament a programme that will lead the country to elections," Cottarelli told reporters, adding he planned to "rapidly" put forward a list of ministers for Mattarella's endorsement.

"I will submit to parliament a programme that - if it wins a confidence vote - will include the 2019 budget. In this case the parliament will be dissolved and elections will take place in early 2019," he said.

If it doesn't, "the government will resign immediately and its chief task will be to administer fresh polls straight after the month of August," he said.

Cottarelli's planned government will be "wholly neutral" and he will not stand as a candidate in the next elections, he said.

"I will demand the same pledge from all ministers in the government," he added.

Cottarelli's government will manage Italy's public accounts prudently, he vowed.

"Despite the increased market tensions in recent days, the Italian economy is still growing and state finances are under control," he said.

Cottarelli was tapped by the pro-European Mattarella on Monday after Conte gave up his bid to form a cabinet when Mattarella rejected his choice of a prominent Eurosceptic as Economy Minister.

Mattarella said he could not appoint 81-year-old Paolo Savona to the post, citing concern from investors at home and abroad.

Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the anti-migrant League - the biggest winners from Italy's inconclusive March 4 vote - are furious at Mattarella's veto of Savona and say they will block Cottarelli's nomination in parliament.

Conte, a law professor and political novice was their pick for Premier and the far-right League party's leader Matteo Salvini insisted on Savona's appointment.

Mattarella's move could trigger constitutional crisis, according to some observers. Italy is now expected to go to the polls again in autumn.

Meanwhile, Cottarelli also underlined the importance of dialogue between the European Union and Italy - a founder member - and of Italy's continued membership of the euro.

"Dialogue with the European Union to defend our interests is essential and we can do better than in the past.

"But there must constructive dialogue that fully recognises that as a founder of the EU, our role remains essential as does our participation in the euro," he told reporters after meeting Matterella.
New Delhi, May 28 : As part of the BJP's efforts to reach out to people for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, party President Amit Shah will on Tuesday kick start a personal contact campaign 'Contact for Support' to generate awareness about the Narendra Modi government's achievements so far.

"Shah would start his grand public outreach campaign from the house of former Army chief, Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag at Sector 46 in Gurgaon at 11 am," said BJP national media head Anil Baluni in a statement.

Thereafter, Shah would go to the house of constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap and discuss with him about the Central government's welfare programmes, he said, adding that Shah would meet at least 50 individuals personally to enlighten them about the achievements of the Modi government.

Under the 'Contact for Support' campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday through the NaMo App interacted with the beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana, a scheme to provide LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL).

Baluni said about 4,000 senior party workers would carry out this personal contact campaign to meet more than one lakh well-known people to discuss with them about the government's achievements in the last four years.

These 4,000 party workers include Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of states where the party is in power, MPs, MLAs, District Panchayat members and senior office bearers.
New Delhi, May 28 : Ahead of his five-day three-nation tour of southeast Asia starting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed the hope that the visit will further boost India's Act East policy.

In a pre-departure statement, Modi said that he will reach Jakarta on May 29 on the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, in his first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister.

"I am looking forward to my discussions with President Widodo on May 30 as also to our joint interaction with the India-Indonesia CEOs Forum."

Stating that he will also address the Indian community in Indonesia, he said that India and Indonesia enjoy strong and friendly ties and share deep historical and civilizational linkages, being "multi-ethnic, multi-religious, plural and open societies".

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia will create greater synergy between Asia's two largest democracies and further elevate our bilateral ties."

The Prime Minister said that on May 31, on his way to Singapore from Indonesia he will briefly halt at in Malaysia to congratulate the new Malaysian leadership.

"I look forward to meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad," he said.

Mahathir, who governed for more than two decades became, at the age of 92, the world's oldest elected leader earlier this month.

Modi said that in Singapore he will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence.

"Singapore entities have become major partners with India in areas like urban development, planning, smart cities and infrastructure development," he said.

"My visit in Singapore presents an opportunity for both countries to engage further."

He said that on May 31, he will visit an India-Singapore enterprise and innovation exhibition and also address a business and community event followed by a roundtable meeting with select top CEOs of Singapore to discuss business and investment opportunities.

On June 1, Modi said he will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob and also hold delegation-level talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon.

He also said that he looked forward to his visit to the Nanyang Technological University where he would interact with young students.

"That evening, I will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue.

"This will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would deliver this address. It would be an opportunity to articulate India's point of view on regional security issues and maintenance of peace and stability in the region."

Shangri-La Dialogue is a premier Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.

Modi said that on June 2, he will unveil a plaque at Clifford Pier in Singapore, where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in sea on March 27, 1948.

"I would also visit some places of worship that have civilizational linkages with India," he said.

He said that before leaving for India he will go to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore where he will visit the Indian Naval Ship INS Satpura and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy.

"I am confident that my visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will provide a further boost to our Act East Policy and enhance our relations and engagements with all the three countries," Modi said.
New Delhi, May 28 : Towards the goal of adequate menstrual hygiene to young girls,the National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked Union Human Resource Minister Prakash Javadekar to install sanitary napkin vending machines within the premises of all schools and universities across India.

"In its letter (to Javedekar), the Commission highlighted the fact that about 23 per cent of girls miss school or drop out of school amongst others due to non-availability of hygienic sanitary products inside educational institutions," the NCW said in a statement on Monday.

According to the women rights body, the letter also stated that female students face great difficulty when it comes to sanitation and hygiene especially as many educational institutions fail to meet even the bare minimum standards.

In an effort to promote safe disposal of menstrual waste, the NCW further requested Javadekar to consider installation of eco-friendly incinerators in all schools and universities as improper disposal of soiled sanitary napkins adversely affect the environment and public health.
Panaji, May 28 : The National Institute of Oceanography here will train oceanographers from Bangladesh in the lead-up to a joint exploration of the Bay of Bengal by marine scientists from both countries, its director Sunil Kumar Singh said on Monday.

"Scientists from Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute will be visiting NIO for short and long term durations to train in oceanographic research and to have understanding of the subject. Similarly, NIO scientists will be visiting BORI to impart training in various fields of oceanography.

"It will not be limited to the training, but we will be doing joint oceanographic research. There is huge potential for research in the waters of Bay of Bengal," Singh told reporters at a press conference at the Centre for Scientific and Research-run Centre located near here.

"BORI is a new institute established three months back. They are going to start their research activity very soon... Our Prime Minister has said that India is going to help all the Commonwealth nations and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) nations," Singh said, adding that the exchange programme and the joint oceanic research initiative was worked out following a memorandum of understanding signed by the two national institutes.
Rome, May 28 : Italy's anti-establishment Five-Star Movement and the far-right League party could campaign together in fresh national polls and their platform would be based on the joint anti-austerity agenda they drafted this month, said Five-Star sources on Monday.

While Five-Star sources told AKI of the proposal, League leader Matteo Salvini however dodged reporters' questions on a possible electoral alliance with Five-Star.

"I'll have to think that through with a clear head," he said, while praising the Five-Star politicians he worked with this month to hammer out a common programme of government.

"I found them to be serious, sensible people, who kept their word," he added.

An electoral alliance with the League would mark a total reversal of policy for Five-Star, which has previously shunned alliances with other parties.

Five Star and the conservative alliance led by the League were the biggest winners in Italy's March 4 national election in which no party or bloc gained an outright majority.

On Monday, Italy's President Sergio Mattarella invited a pro-austerity economist, Carlo Cottarelli, to form a caretaker technocrat government after populist premier designate Giuseppe Conte resigned when Mattarella vetoed his choice a eurosceptic economist as Finance Minister.

If Cottarelli's proposed cabinet line-up fails to pass a parliamentary confidence vote, fresh elections will take place as soon as September, Cottarelli said on Monday. If he wins a confidence vote, his caretaker cabinet will oversee the 2019 budget and fresh polls will be held early next year, he added.

Five-Star and the League - which together have a parliamentary majority in both houses - have vowed not to back Cottarelli and his proposed government's confidence vote.
Jerusalem, May 29 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will urge German and French leaders next week to back Israel's position that Iran should have no military presence in Syria, according to a statement released by the PM's Office.

Netanyahu is scheduled to head to Europe on Monday for a three-day trip, during which he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Xinhua reported.

He said he might also meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Addressing a meeting of his Likud party at the parliament on Monday, Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, said his talks will focus on the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the Iranian presence in Syria.

"We believe that there is no room for any Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria," he said.

"Of course, this reflects not only our position; I can say with certainty that it also reflects the positions of others in the Middle East and outside it. This will be the main focus of discussions," he added.

Over the past year, Israel has been pledging Russia and the U.S. to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria, where Iranian forces are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army.

In the past weeks, Israel has struck what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, raising fears of a large-scale confrontation.
Skanskas commercial development unit CEE has appointed Alexandra Tomaskova as Managing Director for Skanska Property Czech Republic. She will begin in her new role from June 1st 2018, and will also become a member of Skanska CEEs commercial development unit Management Team. Tomaskova will be replacing Marie Passburg, who is

Photos: C.Jan Pribylsky



[]
Alpha Tower, an office building in Amsterdam, is now fully let thanks to the conclusion of a string of new rental agreements. Real I.S. has secured CGI and Participatie Maatschappij Graafschap Holland N.V. (Generali) as new tenants to join the building and two existing tenants, 20th Century Fox and Ystrategists,

Photos: Savills Nederland Holding BV



[]
Elizabeth Island, the island off Western Port Bay in Victoria, has been given an official $6.95 million asking price.

The 26 hectare private island has been on and off the market since 2014, with prices ranging from $5 million to $10 million.

Its listing last year through RT Edgar suggested a sale would occur with a $4 million bid. Former IT and management consultant and psychologist Anne Tillig has owned the island since 1996.

Century21 Home Port agent Phil Bock is now marketing the property as having the potential to "offer the lot to one million tourists already passing by".

Near French Island off the coast of the Mornington Peninsula, the private owned island has little more than a three bedroom fully off-grid home and a jetty.

It is now zoned for tourism, which means up to 20 villas can be built, subject to planning approval.
RateMyAgent, which was formed four years ago, is set to float on the ASX.

Its new share issue at 25 per share values the company at $92 million.

The RateMyAgent business charges estate agents, who market their services to prospective vendors, a monthly subscription plus one-off fees.

It is one of numerous property agent matching websites including LocalAgentFinder and OpenAgent, which claims to be the number 1 agent comparison site.

Its prospectus warms if an existing, well established online residential real estate services provider, were to offer an agent review and rating feature, it could materially affect RMAs ability to grow its revenues and profitability.

It has a current annual revenue run rate of $5.6 million with costs at $6.6 million, according to the prospectus.

It made a first half net profit after tax of $220,000 in 2018, after research and development income of $1.3 million.

The prospectus states its future revenue growth was expected from increased market penetration in Australia and New Zealand and the United States.



Rate My Agent says 27,000 agents have signed up to the service.

It says it covers 77 per cent of active agents in Australia with 30 per cent of those paying monthly subscriptions that start at $39 a month.

It notes a property downturn resulting in lower agent advertising on the site could hit the business bottom line.

During the year to March 2018, RMAs database showed that vendors and buyers posted over 173,000 reviews (14,000 reviews a month) on 121,000 properties sold.

This equates to a review for around one in every three residential properties sold in Australia, RMA said.

Of the vendors who posted an agent review, 24% said they used RMA to help select their agent.

Nine months after its 2014 launch, the site advised it had some 8000 agents as members, with 500 paying to advertise their businesses on the site which at the time had more than 25,000 client reviews, with 1100 new reviews being posted each week.

Its existing shareholders, which include chief executive Mark Armstrong, will own 87.4 per cent of the company after the Bell Potter float.

The main shareholders are only letting go of 12.6 per cent of the company.

Its largest shareholder, David Williams' boutique advisory Kidder Williams will get a success fee valued, with cash and shares, at around $800,000 for the planned listing on June 29.
Marching from Sacher Park to the Old City "I stand with Israel and the God of Israel and the Jewish people." -- Afshin Shamsianpur, Christian Iranian citizen

On Tuesday, May 15, 2018, the March of the Nations took place with 6000 participants from Israel and more than 50 other nations in honor of the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel. The March ended with a Festival of Life, where the nations proclaimed their solidarity with Israel and their determination to raise their voices against anti-Semitism in their respective countries.

The international March of Life movement initiated by Jobst and Charlotte Bittner in Germany had invited Christians from all over the world to Jerusalem on this special date. During the two days prior to the March, there was an international conference with 2000 participants, which provided the opportunity to personally confront the issues of the Holocaust and learn about the historic anti-Judaic stance of Christian churches over the past 2000 years.

At the kick-off event of the March in Sacher Park, Christians from different nations related the involvement of their countries and families in the Holocaust; they expressed their resolve to resist anti-Semitism and to stand with Israel. Among them was Barbel Pfeiffer, whose grandfather had helped build the Auschwitz extermination camp. Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, and Yehuda Glick, a renowned Knesset (Israeli Parliament) member, enthusiastically welcomed the March of the Nations.

The March set out with a display of international flags. Israeli passers-by were visibly moved by the wave of friendship and solidarity as the March made its way to Sultan's Pool for the closing ceremony. Fifteen hundred Holocaust survivors attended the closing event as guests of honor. The "Festival of Life" celebrated the 70 years of Israel with Israeli and international artists. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin thanked the participants via video for a "sign of true friendship." The Israeli Minister for Communication, Ayoob Kara and Josh Reinstein of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus both spoke about the significance of the March. As a symbol of the Israeli saying mi shoa le tkuma  from the Holocaust to new life, Holocaust survivor Yechiel Aleksander came to the stage with his entire family  children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On April 22,1500 people marched in pouring rain in Bogota, Colombia, in the Marcha de la Vida (March of Life/March of Remembrance) to demonstrate their commitment never to remain silent in the face of persecution, prejudice, and indifference. In the Dominican Republic, 2000 people took part in that nation's first March of Remembrance to take a stand against signs of impending genocide.

On Sunday, April 15, Houstonians rallied for the seventh year in a row for the Holocaust March of Remembrance. Still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey-related floods, hundreds gathered at Rice University to remember the Holocaust, honor survivors and their families, listen to personal testimonies of suffering and triumph, remember those who served as liberators, upstanders, and rescuers, and march as a sign of their commitment never to forget the price of remaining silent in the face of injustice. The March of Remembrance opening service welcomed pastors, rabbis, government officials, and community leaders, as well as professors from the Texas A&M System and Rice University. The Texas A&M Galveston Corps of Cadets contributed to the pageantry and solemnity of the memorial walk portion of the event.

Prior to the service, Ashley Stringer and Sheena Doorn provided worship music, and Dramatic Truth Ballet Dance Theater from Kansas City performed a Holocaust-themed ballet. Local Hillel students read names of Holocaust victims. Prior to the blowing of the shofars, a choir from The Church at Bethel's Family sang. Doug Stringer welcomed all the participants before Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commissioner, Rabbi Brian Strauss of Congregation Beth Yeshurun pronounced a rabbinic blessing over a stone ceremony with survivor Ruth Steinfeld and her daughter; the ceremony symbolized the passing of the torch of telling the lessons of the Holocaust to the younger generations. Rabbi Strauss also invited everyone in the audience to stand to demonstrate their commitment to be upstanders in confronting injustice. Paul Sarvadi, CEO of Insperity, and Dr. Victoria Sarvadi read poignant proclamations written by government leaders, and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo encouraged the crowd to respond to unrighteous behavior with integrity. Israeli Consul General Gilad Katz also addressed the assembly, followed by German Consul General Thomas Meister. Survivor and descendant testimonies followed, featuring Ruth Steinfeld, as well as Steve Finkelman, child of survivor Wolf Finkelman. Other speakers were Luisa Lupprich and Desiree Syring, both repentant Nazi descendants; they shared stories of their families history as perpetrators and expressed their remorse for their ancestors' role in the Holocaust. Many attendees streamed forward to embrace these courageous young women!

There have been marches in over 300 cities worldwide. This year in the USA, marches were held in Arkansas , Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.

Visit our website for event videos and additional information: http://marchofremembrancehouston.org
If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity.

PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move.
Weather Group and Tribune Content Agency (TCA) are partnering to bring local news content to Local Now users nationwide.





Powered by The Weather Channel television network and content partners, Local Now delivers real-time, localised information about current events, weather, lifestyle, sports, business and traffic to hundreds of markets across the US. The deal means it will incorporate content from TCA for viewers; TCA works with more than 2,000 media and digital information publishers in nearly 100 countries, including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, Miami Herald, Baltimore Sun and more.Were excited to partner with Tribune Content Agency as one of the leading news services in the country, said Shimika Wilder Jones, vice president of strategy and business operations at Weather Group . With this partnership, viewers will be able to receive quality, community-focused content from some of the countrys leading news outlets in a visual and digestible format.By partnering with Local Now, were able to further amplify Tribune Content Agencys unique syndication service to even more consumers, added Wayne Lown, GM, TCA. Were proud to work with an innovative service such as Local Now to deliver important, up-to-the-minute information to modern audiences.
The ratings war as to who won the battle for eyes within the US Spanish-language TV community for the Royal Wedding continues with the countrys Hispanic broadcaster Telemundo claiming ratings dominance in key demographics.





Telemundo asserted that a lot more people from all age groups watched the Royal Wedding on Telemundo than on any other Spanish-language network. It said that according to Nielsen its coverage from 9am to 1pm in the US on 19 May 2018 delivered 862,000 total viewers and 317,000 adults 18 to 49. For other age demographics at this time slot it attracted 115,000 P1834 impressions and 862,000 P2+ impressions.That it added was substantially higher than who it described as the competition did with the Royal Wedding at any other time slot of the day, i n particular arch rival Univision.
Trump lashed out at undocumented immigrants during a White House meeting, calling those trying to breach the country's borders 'animals,' tweeted the New York Times. The echo chamber picked up the line and
Finally Home Collection Drive

Northwest Connecticuts Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with United Way of Northwest Connecticut, is pleased to present the first ever Finally Home collection dive on Saturday, June 2 at 150 Price Road, Winsted.

Students with the Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program are broken up into teams to plan and complete a self-directed, community oriented service project. This year Team 3 created the project Finally Home in a community effort to provide new/gently used household items including furniture, small appliance, linens, non-perishable food donations, etc. to assist those individuals and families in need that are transitioning from the shelter environment to permanent housing.

In 2017 FISH/ Friends in Service to Humanity Homeless Shelter of Torrington, CT placed over 70 families from shelter into permanent housing. There is a significant demand for items that need to be collected for individuals to get back on their feet in the Northwest CT area. Many local residents may have gently used furniture, kitchen items, linens, or non-perishable food items taking up space in your homes. Please consider donating your gently used items to Finally Home to help those in need.

*Tax receipts can be provided upon request.

Additional details can be found at https://www.northwestunitedway.org, or on Facebook by searching Finally Home under Events. Finally Home will continue long after this years Leadership program is completed. Please contact the United Way of Northwest CT for donation requests or volunteer opportunities located at 333 Kennedy Drive, Suite R101, P.O. Box 59, Torrington, CT 06790, 860-489-4131, or Owen@northwestunitedway.org



Check out our website at www.nwctchamberofcommerce.org for more Chamber happenings. *This institution is an equal opportunity provider*
BARKHAMSTED  As part of the 2018 Connecticut Trails Weekend, state Rep. Bill Simanski (R-62) urges residents to join him, the Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forests and the Barkhamsted Historical Society for a 3 mile educational walk. The hike will take place on Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The meeting place will be the Nature Museum off Greenwood Road in Peoples State Forest, about 1 mile north of Pleasant Valley on East River Road. The event is free and open to the public.

45th Annual Gallery on the Green June 9

LITCHFIELD  For the 45th year, The Junior Womens Club of Litchfield Hills will host Gallery on the Green Art and Crafts Show on race weekend in historic Litchfield, SAturday, June 9, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

The combination of the Gallery on the Green and the world famous Litchfield Hills Road Race, which attracts many of the best runners in the world, has made the second weekend of June truly an event weekend! This weekend is just one of the many reasons that Litchfield is the one of the most visited towns in the State of Connecticut. All proceeds from Gallery on the Green go to local charities and families in need.

Wisdom House holding womens retreat

LITCHFIELD  Practicing These Principles: A Retreat for Women in AA and ALANON will be presented at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center on Friday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3. Shane Phelan, CMA will present the weekend.

Participants in the program will gain a better understanding of the 12th Step and how these principles may expand their possibilities in their lives. During the retreat there will be meeting time and time for silent reflection and journaling as well as private conversation with the presenter.

Shane Phelan, CMA is Co-founder of the Companions of Mary the Apostle, a new ecumenical religious community. She has been involved in recovery work for 30 years. A former professor of political science and women studies, she is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, and spiritual director, with particular focus on recovery work.

For more information or to register for the program visit: www.wisdomhouse.org; call: e-mail: programs@wisdomhouse.org or call: 860-567-3163.

Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center is an interfaith center which presents programs in spirituality, education, and the arts and offers hospitality to the not-for-profit community. The center is rooted in the Judaeo-Christian Wisdom tradition which supports the centers commitment to sustainability and concern for contemporary issues. The center is a ministry of the Daughters of Wisdom.

Colebrook holding annual chicken barbecue

COLEBROOK  The annual Chicken BBQ dinner is being held at the Colebrook Senior and Community Center in the center of historic Colebrook on Saturday, June 23, 5-7 p.m. 5 Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children, and may be reserved by calling 860-738-9521. Dine in or takeout meals include a half of a BBQ chicken, baked potato, homemade coleslaw, fresh baked roll, watermelon slice and a beverage.

The Kenn Morr Band will be performing at a free concert outdoors during the BBQ. Bring a chair, get your dinner to go and eat while you enjoy the music.

Colebrook Senior and Community Center is located at 2 School House Road. For information call 860-738-9521.

Library hosting photographer June 26

NEW HARTFORD  Photographer Paul Cryan, Hartford Magazines #1 photographer, will be at the Beekley library to take your childs photograph on June 26. All proceeds will be donated to the library.

Each child will be given one five-minute appointment. Cryan will take about 30 shots of each child, and his staff will select the three best shots and make up a 5 x 7 photo of each one.

Parents may buy the package of three photos for $68, package of two photos for $60, or individual photos for $30 each.

A digital package of three images in high definition is available on disc for $100.00, or you may have the disc and three photos for $135. Families will also be able to order extra copies in different sizes: 11x14, $56; 8x10, $42.00; 5x7, $30; 8 wallets, $32; 16 wallets, $49.

Specifics: Photos will be black & white. Children must be at least 6 months old and no older than 21. No group shots, only individual portraits. The library has a sign-up sheet. To make an appointment, stop by or call 860-379-7235. This is always a very popular event; call as soon as possible if interested.

Flanders to hold annual 5K run

WOODBURY  Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust will hold the fourth annual Field & Forest 5 K trail run on Friday, June 8, 6 p.m. at the Flanders Van Vleck sanctuary.

All ages and skill levels of runners, joggers and walkers are welcome to register for the 3.1 mile run/walk through the trails and rolling hills of the nature center. After the race participants will enjoy a celebration with food trucks and stations which include La Tavola pizza truck, pulled pork sliders from Bantams Woods Pit BBQ, a burger station, the Comfort Zone truck which offers an array of specialty toppings on pretzels, and beer from Woodbury Brewing Company. Live music will be provided by the popular local rock band, Root Six.

A registration fee of $35 for 13 years or older includes the run or walk, two food truck items and for those over age 21, a complimentary craft beer. This fee goes up to $40 between June 1 and June 7 and to $45 on race day.

For younger walkers and runners age 12 and under, the fee is $30 through June 7 or $35 the day of the race which also includes the vouchers for food items. Online fees are extra. Additional food and drinks will be available for purchase by spectators and participants.

Awards will be given to top male and female finishers overall as well as in 8 age categories ranging from age under 10 to over 60.

For full information and to register online go to flandersnaturecenter.org and click on the trail run box on the homepage.

The race will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and will be held rain or shine; however, Flanders reserves the right to cancel in the case of lightening. The event cannot accommodate strollers or pets on the course.

Race organizers thank their major event sponsors which include: Aquarian Water Company, Bank Of America, Crossfit Strongtown, Michael Friedman Orthodontics, Dr. William Filchak, Homes by Heather, Ion Bank, Main Street Financial Group, Quassy, Thule, Webster Bank, Westover School, and Woodbury Brewing Company, the beer sponsor, all whom have lent generous support to this Flanders event.
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.
Unidentified gunmen have killed an employee of a voter-registration center and a police officer in the western Afghan province of Herat, officials say.

A spokesman for the provincial police chief said the attack took place in the Chishti Sharif district late on May 27.

The two were taken out of their homes and killed, the spokesman said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which came as the Taliban has ramped up attacks across Afghanistan since the start of their annual spring offensive.

Voter-registration centers have also been targeted ahead of long-delayed parliamentary elections scheduled for October.

In April, at least 60 people were killed in a suicide bombing outside such a center in the capital, Kabul, that was claimed by the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

The Western-backed government in Kabul has been struggling to fend off the Taliban, IS, and other militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014.
Amid heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, senior military and intelligence officials from the two neighbors have agreed to enhance joint efforts to fight against terrorism, the Pakistani military says.

A Pakistani Army statement early on May 28 said the two sides reached the understanding at talks the previous day at Pakistani Army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

"The two sides agreed to fast-track the formulation of working groups, especially on bilateral security cooperation, and to undertake measures that would assist both sides in reduction of violence at the hands of terrorists," the statement said.

"We must begin with the trust that neither covets an inch of the other's territory nor is letting its land being used against the other," it quoted Pakistan's army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, as telling the Afghan delegation.

"Suspicions will only fuel negativity and facilitate detractors," Bajwa added.

The Afghan delegation was led by Hanif Atmar, the Afghan president's national security adviser, and also included intelligence chief Masoom Stanekzai and Interior Minister Wais Barmak.

Atmar said that with mutual help, Afghanistan and Pakistan "can allay each other's concerns and apply our energies to bring about enduring peace and stability," according to the Pakistani statement.

The talks came as Afghanistan and the United States have been increasing pressure on Pakistan to take action against militants operating in the country.

Pakistan is accused of harboring militant groups, including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, which carry out attacks in Afghanistan. Islamabad denies the charge.

Afghan and Pakistani officials were also expected to discuss a series of deadly clashes in recent months along their disputed border.

In April, fighting broke out between Pakistani paramilitary troops and Afghan border police in three locations along the border, leaving several dead on both sides.

The two countries share a 2,500-kilometer border known as the Durand Line, which Pakistan considers to be an international border. Afghanistan rejects the colonial-era border that was created in 1893.

With reporting by AP
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says his country plans to intensify efforts to find a solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.



"We hope that in the coming months we will work more actively to search for the ways of settling the Karabakh conflict," Le Drian said on May 27 during a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart in Baku.

He said the current situation was "not an option" and added that "France seeks peace and stability in the region."

Azerbaijan's foreign minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, told reporters that he and Le Drian held substantive discussions on the issue.

"We adhere to the strategy of resolving the conflict peacefully, and I am sure that France as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group will continue to help resolve this situation," Mammadyarov said.

Le Drian is on a tour of the South Caucasus and is scheduled to hold talks in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, on May 28.

Bridget Brink, the U.S.deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, was scheduled to be in Yerevan on May 27, although it was not immediately known how long she would stay in the Armenian capital or if talks would involve the disputed region.

Yerevan has long insisted that any talks on solving the dispute include the ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, something Baku has opposed.

In a statement marking Azerbaijans National Day on May 28, the U.S. State Department said it remained "committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and urge the parties to resume intensive negotiations as soon as possible."

Nagorno-Karabakh, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan during a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

A cease-fire was called in 1994, but decades of internationally mediated negotiations with the involvement of the OSCE's Minsk Group have failed to result in a resolution. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States.

Le Drian also met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with Aliyev's press service saying that along with the Karabakh issue, energy cooperation between Paris and Baku was discussed.

Aliyev is scheduled to visit Paris in July, and Le Drian said French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Azerbaijan by the end of the year, although he did not provide details.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, Interfax, France Diplomatie, and Azeri News
Croatia's Supreme Court has denied the extradition of a Bosnian citizen sought by Tunisia for his alleged involvement in the murder of a Tunisian who the Palestinian group Hamas said was one of its members.

The court said on May 28 that Tunisia failed to provide guarantees that the arrested Bosnian, Alem Camdzic*, if handed over, would not be exposed to a possible death penalty.

"There is no doubt that the suspect is charged with one of the worst crimes, but when there is a risk of a conviction with the death penalty, the extradition cannot be allowed," the court said.

Earlier in May, Bosnia-Herzegovina also refused to extradite another suspect in the same case. Mohammed al-Zawari, an aerospace engineer and drone expert, was shot dead in December 2016 near the Tunisian city of Sfax.

Tunisian authorities said they arrested 10 Tunisians. But they said two Bosnian citizens suspected of plotting the killing escaped. Hamas blamed Israel for Zawaris death, saying that Zawari had been a member of Hamas for 10 years.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, Reuters, and Al-Jazeera

*CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story identified the suspect as Elvir Sarac, not Alem Camdzic.
A former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency has been barred from leaving the country in connection with a recent memoir he co-authored with a former Indian intelligence-agency head.

The Pakistani Army on May 28 summoned retired Lieutenant General Asad Durrani for questioning at its headquarters in Islamabad, after which it announced Durrani had been placed on the Exit Control List of people banned from leaving Pakistan.

Durrani headed the ISI from 1990 until 1992.

Durrani's memoir, The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI, And The Illusion Of Peace, was co-written with A.S. Dulat, a former head of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence agency. Published last week, it documents the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan and their use of proxy fighters in Afghanistan and the disputed region of Kashmir.

The United States has long accused Pakistan of aiding militants -- including the Taliban -- in Afghanistan, charges that Islamabad rejects.

The military did not say which parts of the book it viewed as "violating military discipline."

The book also speculates that the Pakistani authorities may have informed the United States of the whereabouts of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden shortly before the 2011 U.S. raid in which bin Laden was killed. Pakistan has always maintained it only knew about the U.S. raid after it occurred.

"The ISI probably learned about [Osama bin Laden] and he was handed over to the United States according to a mutually agreed process," Durrani wrote.

"The denial of any [Pakistani] role was because cooperating with the United States to eliminate a person regarded by many in Pakistan as a 'hero' could have embarrassed the government," Durrani said in the book.

Durani's co-author, Dulat, wrote that India's "assessment is the same" -- "that Osama bin Laden was handed over to the United States by Pakistan."

The book also discusses the Pakistani military's alleged interference in domestic politics and its support for militants fighting against India in Kashmir.

Pakistan and India have fought three wars since they won independence from British rule in 1947. They now both have nuclear weapons.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has met in Yerevan with Armenian Foreign Minister Zograb Mnatsakanian, a day after Le Drian announced French plans to intensify efforts to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Speaking at a joint press conference after their talks in Yerevan on May 28, Mnatsakanian announced that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to visit Yerevan during the autumn of 2018 for talks with Armenias leadership.

Mnatsakanian said he and Le Drian discussed the agenda of Macrons visit during their May 28 meeting.

Le Drian, who is on a tour of South Caucasus nations, said Paris "will be near Yerevan to help build democracy."

On May 27, during a visit to Baku, Le Drian said France hopes that in the coming months we will work more actively to search for the ways of settling Yerevans dispute with Baku over Azerbaijans breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Le Drian said the current situation is not an option" and added that "France seeks peace and stability in the region."

Azerbaijan's foreign minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, told reporters that he and Le Drian held substantive discussions on the issue.

We adhere to the strategy of resolving the conflict peacefully, and I am sure that France as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group will continue to help resolve this situation, Mammadyarov said.

Yerevan has long insisted that any talks on solving the dispute include the ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, something Baku has opposed.

Le Drian also met in Baku with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with the Azeri press service saying that along with the Karabakh issue, energy cooperation between Paris and Baku was discussed.

Aliyev is scheduled to visit Paris in July, and Le Drian said Macron will visit Azerbaijan by the end of the year, although he did not provide details.

Nagorno-Karabakh, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan during a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

A cease-fire was called in 1994, but decades of internationally mediated negotiations with the involvement of the OSCE's Minsk Group have failed to result in a resolution. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States.

In a statement marking Azerbaijans centennial Republic Day and the 100th anniversary of the short-lived First Armenian Republic, the U.S. State Department said on May 28 that it remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and urges the parties to resume intensive negotiations as soon as possible.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, Interfax, France Diplomatie, and Azeri News
The director of Russias state-run Tretyakov Gallery says Ilya Repin's painting of Ivan the Terrible will be displayed in a special protective glass case after it was damaged by a vandal.

Tretyakov Gallery Director Zelfira Tregulova announced the special protection for the painting -- titled Ivan The Terrible And His Son Ivan On November 16th, 1581 -- after it was seriously damaged on May 25 by a man who used a metal fence post to smash the painting's previous protective glass and rip the canvas.

Russias Sberbank said on May 28 that it would fund restoration efforts that could cost up to $160,000.

Police from Russias Interior Ministry detained the man and brought a criminal case against him.

Russias TASS news agency quoted an unnamed law enforcement official as saying the perpetrator was a 37-year-old man from Voronezh who attacked the painting because of the "falsehood of the historical facts depicted on the canvas."

The painting, from 1885, depicts Ivan the Terrible holding his son after mortally wounding him in a fit of rage.

It is considered the most psychologically intense of Repins paintings -- an expression of the artist's revolt against violence and bloodshed.

Based on reporting by Current Time TV, TASS, and Interfax
A Kazakh court has ordered the closing of the news site Ratel.kz in a case criticized by media watchdogs as part of a campaign of official harassment against independent outlets.

Almaty's Medeu district court on May 28 ordered a one-year ban on Ratel.kz and decreed that the site's registration be canceled. Judge Gulmira Beysenova also prohibited the use of the domain name Ratel.kz and Balborsyk.kz -- an alternative site on which Ratel.kz published its content.

Ratel's editor in chief, Marat Asipov, and other employees at the site were also banned from publishing content in other media under the name Ratel.kz.

Asipov said he would appeal the court decision.

In a motion filed in late March, prosecutors accused the media outlet of violating reregistration rules by using the Ratel.kz domain after the death of its owner, Gennady Benditsky, and transferring Ratel.kz's rights to Balborsyk.kz.

They also said Ratel.kz illegally based its servers outside of Kazakhstan and published content in Russian, Kazakh, and English, although its registration only indicates Russian as a language of publication.

The Medeu district court later ruled to suspend the publication of Ratel.kz.

Separately, journalists at Ratel.kz and Balborsyk.kz are being prosecuted on charges of "disseminating knowingly false information" following a claim filed by businessman and former Finance Minister Zeinulla Kakimzhanov.

Kakimzhanov claimed that the outlets published false information that damaged his reputation and that of his son.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says Ratel.kz has reported on alleged corrupt business practices by the Kakimzhanovs between May and December 2016.

Earlier this month, CPJ and 25 other international press-freedom organizations expressed concern that "the growing pattern of disproportionate and, in some cases, illegal actions taken by the prosecutor's office and the judiciary against Ratel.kz and a number of other media suggests misuse of Kazakhstan's legal system to silence normal criticism crucial to the functioning of a well-ordered democracy."

In April, Human Rights Watch issued a statement on the cases against Ratel.kz and another popular independent media outlet, Forbes.kz, urging Kazakh authorities to stop using libel laws "to harass journalists who are doing their jobs."
Former Pakistani chief justice Nasir-ul Mulk has been chosen to act as the interim prime minister until parliamentary elections are held in two months.

The ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and the opposition announced on May 28 that Mulk will serve until elections are held on July 25.

Mulk, 67, is due to be sworn in as prime minister on June 1, one day after parliament is dissolved and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's mandate expires.

It's only the third time in Pakistan's 70-year history that a parliament completed its five-year term without being dismissed by the military or due to a political uprising.

Abbasi, Syed Khursheed Shah, opposition leader in the lower house of the bicameral parliament, and Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly, made the announcement in a joint press conference in Islamabad.

Shah said the decision was made jointly with the ruling party and others, and that Mulk had played "a historic role" in Pakistan. "I hope that God will give him courage and passion and he will succeed in conducting elections to be held on July 25."

Pakistan's prime minister is elected by the National Assembly, the country's lower house of parliament, and at the end of the government's five-year term a caretaker prime minister is selected whose main duty is to oversee the Election Commission in holding free and fair elections.

Mulk served as chief justice in 2014-15 and before that was a senior judge on the Supreme Court. He was previously chief justice of the Peshawar High Court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
Two police officers and two militants have been killed in a shoot-out in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials say.

The incident, which occurred around sunset on May 27, took place on Sarki Road when two assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire, killing two traffic police, according to the authorities.

Police officers on patrol nearby rushed to the scene after hearing the shooting and opened fire on the gunmen.

"They engaged the attackers in firing and killed them on the spot," Abdul Razaq Cheema, a senior police official in the city, told the AFP news agency.

One other attacker on a separate motorcycle fled the scene, although police said they believed he had been wounded in the shooting.

The home secretary of Balochistan Province, of which Quetta is capital, announced a reward of 1 million rupees ($8,644) for any information on the militants.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Geo News
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on May 28 that he has had talks with U.S. officials about permanently stationing U.S. troops in Poland as a deterrent against Russian aggression.

Blaszczak said he had the talks recently in Washington that were prompted by security concerns following Russias illegal annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and its support for pro-Russia separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine.

"The result of our efforts is that the U.S. Senate has contacted the Pentagon about an assessment of...[the] permanent presence of U.S. troops in Poland," Blaszczak said on state Radio 1. "Such presence is of great importance because it deters the adversary."

A report by the Onet.pl news portal says Warsaw is offering up to $2 billion to help build the infrastructure for a permanent U.S. base in Poland.

Poland currently hosts a contingent of U.S. troops on a rotational, temporary, but open-ended mission.

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that an increase in NATOs military presence near Russia's borders "certainly does not contribute to security and stability on the continent in any way."

"These expansionist steps, certainly, result in counteractions of the Russian side to balance the parity which is violated every time this way," Peskov told Russias state-run TASS news agency on May 28.

Based on reporting by AP, BBC, Onet.pl, and TASS
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says Russia's planned natural-gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, is a weapon of hybrid warfare that Moscow wants to use to undermine European energy security and the solidarity of the European Union and NATO.

Morawiecki said at a NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Warsaw on May 28 that Nord Stream 2 is "a poison pill for European security, which can have far-reaching consequences."

Nord Stream 2 is a controversial project that would expand the current Nord Stream pipeline, which passes along the bottom of the Baltic Sea to deliver Russian gas to Germany.

The United States, Poland, the Baltic states, and several other EU countries have expressed concern about Nord Stream 2 -- which avoids existing gas pipelines through Ukraine -- and the added leverage on energy security it could give Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Washington's opposition to Nord Stream 2 stems from President Donald Trump's desire to encourage exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas.

Earlier at the assembly, Polish President Andrzej Duda also issued a warning about Russian intentions in Europe.

"With regret, it must be said that Moscow has never come to terms with the collapse of the imperial Soviet Union. The invasion of Georgia and the unlawful annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine illustrate the real intentions of Russia," Duda said, in reference to the Russia-Georgia war of 2008, Russia's illegal 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region, and Moscow's support for pro-Russia separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine.

Based on reporting by AP, CTK, and EuroZpravy.cz
The head of Russia's Far Eastern Sakha Republic has announced his resignation.

Yegor Borisov said on May 28 on Instagram that he was resigning "at his own request" and that he tendered his resignation because "staff rotation should take place at any level."

Borisov, 63, said the region "needs a new leader" following Russian President Vladimir Putin's reelection to a new six-year term in March.

Borisov -- an ethnic Yakut -- was elected head of the Sakha Republic (formerly Yakutia) in 2014. His term was due to expire in 2019.

Putin was reelected by a landslide on March 18 in a vote that he has called a demonstration of public trust but critics say was marred by fraud and what international observers said was the lack of a genuine choice.

Observers have said the Kremlin was dissatisfied with Borisov, including because of the relatively low number of votes received by Putin in the Sakha region.

The sparsely populated Sakha is the largest of Russia's 85 federal subjects and is rich in diamonds and other natural resources.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin press service said on May 28 that Putin had accepted the resignation of Magadan Oblast Governor Vladimir Pechyony. It added that Sergei Nosov would be acting governor of the Far East region until a permanent replacement is found.

With reporting by Interfax
DIMITROVGRAD, Russia -- A journalist in Russia's Ulyanovsk region has accused the mayor of the region's second-largest city of physically striking him two times after the journalist failed to stand for the playing of the national anthem.

Dimitrovgrad Mayor Aleksei Koshayev has denied striking journalist Kyaman Kichemaikin, although he admitted calling the reporter a "traitor" for not rising at the May 23 event celebrating Russia's border-guard forces.

After Kichemaikin complained to police about the alleged incident, the mayor asked his legal team to consider filing a criminal-libel complaint in response.

Kichemaikin told RFE/RL that he was busy working on his story and didn't notice that the anthem was playing. He was surprised when Koshayev stood up to address the gathering and pointed out Kichemaikin, calling him a "traitor."

Afterward, Kichemaikin said he approached Koshayev, who began berating him and cursing him. The mayor then struck him twice in the head, the journalist said.

The local edition of the tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda published a photograph showing what appeared to be a small wound on Kichemaikin's head.

Koshayev declined to comment for this story. However, on Facebook he gave his take on what happened:

"After the national anthem, it was my turn to speak and in my presentation, I pointed to this person's unworthy behavior and called him a traitor. In my opinion, he is a traitor to our ideals, a traitor to the memory of those who died for our motherland, and a traitor to the fatherland. After the event, this journalist wanted a comment from me. But I, upset over his blatant disrespect to everyone, did not consider it necessary to speak with him. I brushed past him, got into my car, and left. What else might have happened, I did not see."

"The accusation that I struck this person is groundless and unfounded. As you know, I am an officer of the paratroops. I am in excellent physical shape. If I struck this man at even half-strength, it is unlikely he would then get up and go off somewhere to write about it. Does anyone really have any doubts about the physical preparedness of Russian paratroopers?"

He concluded that he regarded the incident as a "provocation" and that he had asked administration lawyers to look into filing a libel complaint.

'Absolutely Unacceptable'

The following day, Koshayev posted a video report by a local Internet television project called DimTV73 in which the head of the local nongovernmental organization of the families of servicemen, Zinaida Zubareva, said she twice asked Kichemaikin to stand during the ceremony and he responded with a look that, she said, made her want to "give him one."

The same video report quoted the head of a local veterans organization, Vitaly Krainov, as condemning such behavior, "especially for a journalist, who should be teaching people to respect their country and its flag and anthem." He added his personal opinion that Kichemaikin's behavior brought shame to the publication he works for, DimGrad 24, and that its editor should be fired.

DimGrad 24 Editor in Chief Natalya Vasileva told RFE/RL that even if Kichemaikin failed to stand for the anthem, the mayor's behavior was unacceptable.

"As I understand it, the correspondent did absolutely nothing to provoke such a response," she said. "From a legal and an ethical point of view, it is absolute nonsense and we've never had anything like it before in Dimitrovgrad. When you are working as a journalist, it would be insane to imagine that some bureaucrat is going to punch you. This is absolutely unacceptable. It isn't about the anthem, but in what happened. The law prohibits people from beating other people."

"We are a media outlet that is not under the control of the city administration," Vasileva added. "We have no contracts and no personal relations with the administration. If the mayor screws up, we say he screwed up. If he does something good, we say that too. We criticize the mayor and the governor and bureaucrats. But that is all normal. The mayor's behavior indicates there is something wrong with the way he views the world."

Koshayev, 42, is a member of the ruling United Russia party and has been mayor of Dimitrovgrad since 2016. Konstantin Dolgov, chairman of the regional party committee, told RFE/RL he had discussed the situation with the mayor and the journalist.

"Koshayev denies everything," Dolgov said. "So we have decided to wait for the results of the investigation by police. If it is established that Koshayev struck someone, regardless of whether it is seen as a criminal or an administrative violation, we will adopt the strictest possible decision from the party's point of view."

Written by Robert Coalson on the basis of reporting by RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service correspondent Sergei Gogin
Russian prosecutors are seeking a 14-year prison term for Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who is on trial in Moscow on espionage charges in a case viewed by Kyiv and rights activists as politically motivated.

"The prosecution asked 14 years [in prison] for Roman Sushchenko," his lawyer, Mark Feigin wrote on Twitter on May 28, saying in a separate tweet that the Moscow City Court will announce its verdict in the case on June 4.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted a source at Sushchenko's closed-door trial at the Moscow City Court as saying that the prosecutor asked for 14 years of imprisonment for the reporter in a maximum-security correctional facility.

Ukraine reiterated its call for Sushchenko to be freed, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maryana Betsa calling him a hostage to Russia's aggression."

The maximum sentence prosecutors could seek for the Ukrainian journalist was 20 years. Russian judges do not have to follow prosecutors' guidance on sentencing but rarely impose higher sentences than requested by the prosecution.

Sushchenko, a Paris-based correspondent for the Ukrinform news agency, was detained in Moscow in 2016 on suspicion of collecting classified information.

He pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial in March.

Kyiv and rights activists say Russia has jailed several Ukrainians on trumped-up, politically motivated charges since Moscow seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and threw its support behind armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Feigin told the 112 Ukraine TV channel he did not rule out the possibility of Moscow wanting to exchange Sushchenko for the head of RIA Novosti's branch in Ukraine, Kirill Vyshinsky, who is accused by Ukrainian authorities of high treason.

That case has drawn harsh criticism from Moscow and expressions of concern from media watchdogs.

With reporting by TASS and AFP
Click the photo to write a caption and have a chance to win a free subscription to the Norfolk Daily News.


U.S. President Donald Trump says he sees "brilliant potential" in North Korea as he confirmed that a team from the United States had arrived in the North "to make arrangements for the summit."

His Twitter statement on May 27 continued the upbeat tone he has used about a potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, days after the U.S. president called off the meeting, only to reverse himself the next day.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!" Trump wrote.

"Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself," Trump also wrote.

Earlier on May 27, the U.S. State Department issued a statement confirming that "a U.S. delegation is in ongoing talks with North Korean officials" in the border settlement of Panmunjom.

According to media reports, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim was leading the delegation.

The talks came one day after Trump signaled that preparations for a June 12 summit with Kim in Singapore were going ahead.

Days earlier the U.S. leader sent Kim a letter stating that he was canceling the proposed meeting.

Trump said at the White House on May 26 that the date "hasn't changed" and that things were "moving along very nicely."

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said a "pre-advance team" had left for Singapore early on May 27 to work on logistics for the summit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who met with the North Korean leader in a surprise summit on May 26, said he and Kim had agreed that the North Korea-U.S. summit must be held.

"Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted," Moon said.

The South Korean leader acknowledged that Washington and Pyongyang likely still had differing expectations of what "denuclearization" actually means, but he urged both sides to work to resolve any differences.

U.S. officials have demanded the "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear-weapons program, while Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament.

The North Korea has said it could consider giving up its nuclear weapons if Washington removed its troops from the South and ended its nuclear guarantees for its allies South Korea and Japan.

U.S. officials have also suggested that Washington would provide financial aid and security guarantees if Pyongyang gave up its nuclear arms.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa
Russia has relocated up to 1 million people to the annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea, according to Mustafa Dzhemilev, the longtime leader of the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's envoy for Crimean Tatar affairs.

Dzhemilev told Ukrinform on May 27 that Moscow was bringing "large numbers" of people from various regions of Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

"But this is held as a military secret because they know perfectly well that it is a crime," Dzhemilev said.

He estimated that the total number of Russians brought into the disputed region was between 850,000 and 1 million.

Dzhemilev, a dissident during Soviet times and longtime activist for Crimean Tatar causes, did not say what sources he had used to make his estimate.

Crimea had a population of some 2.24 million people in 2014, the year that Russia illegally occupied the Ukrainian peninsula.

"Russia is now roughly repeating the same strategy that was used during the first occupation [of Crimea] under [Empress] Catherine [the Great]," he said. "At that time it wasn't possible to deport people since there were no railroads. So they simply created impossible living conditions for people in order to force them to migrate. As a result, Crimean Tatars very quickly became a minority people."

Russia has announced steps increasing the number of military personnel in Crimea but exact numbers on the amount of personnel moved to Crimea have not been made public by Moscow.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 in an action that was overwhelmingly condemned by the international community and the UN General Assembly.

The annexation as well as Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine prompted the United States, the European Union, and several other countries to impose targeted sanctions against selected Russian individuals and companies.
The fire started early on Saturday evening. 50ft flames were leaping into the air. Rehearsals for a popular show Immer Wieder Sundays were taking place in the grounds at the time. Clouds of smoke were seen from miles around. Flames destroyed the The Pirates of Batavia attraction and the Scandinavia area at the theme park was evacuated. Emergency services rushed to the scene. Initial reports suggest no-one has been hurt. A police spokesman reportedly said several rides as well as a warehouse were burning. Thousands of people were evacuated. It was said more than 25,000 people ran for their lives.



Big fire at Europa Park in Germany

Some 250 firefighters tackled the blaze, finally managing to extinguish it on Sunday morning. Some firefighters had been lightly injured but all had been able to leave hospital. Most of the park has reopened Sunday. Parts of the Dutch and Scandinavian-themed areas have been extensively damaged and remain closed. Europa-Parks chief executive Michael Mack said on Twitter that it had been a sad day for the park. The police said that they will now investigate the cause of the fire as part of a criminal investigation.The park attracted around 5.7 million visitors last year.
BJP bandh in Karnataka evokes dull response

The opposition BJP's appeal to farmers and the public to "voluntarily observe a bandh" across. Karnataka today to protest the alleged failure of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to keep up his farm loan waiver promise, got off to a dull start. Reports from across the state said normal life has not been affected, with schools and colleges, as also public transport services functioning normally.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy

Advertisement

Most of the farmers' and pro-Kannada organisations have not supported the bandh call, citing politics behind it. BJP activists held demonstrations in different parts of the state; during one such event Mysuru Member of Parliament Pratap Simha along with some party workers were detained by the police. In a fierce attack on the coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy, BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa during the trust vote on May 25 had termed it "unholy" and announced a state-wide bandh for today, if farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore were not waived immediately as promised.

However, on May 26 Yeddyurappa, who is also the leader of the opposition in the assembly, had said that BJP had not called for a bandh, but was only supporting a call given by farmers. BJP state General Secretary N Ravi Kumar in a statement released yesterday hit out at the Chief Minister for not keeping up his promise and had called on farmers and the public to observe a bandh "voluntarily" today.

BJP state General Secretary N Ravi Kumar

Advertisement

On his part, Kumaraswamy who had promised farm loan waiver immediately after coming to power has sought time, as he was heading a coalition government with the Congress and will have to consult them before taking any decision. He has said that he will also have to understand the financial condition of the state. The BJP has stated that bandh will not be observed in Bengaluru where the election is being held for Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency today.

Ahead of assembly election across the state on May 12, polling in Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency was deferred, following the voter ID controversy and various other irregularities. The Kumaraswamy government had on May 25 won the vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly amid a walkout by BJP MLAs.
Disclaimer  The manufacturer (TVS Motor Company) has blacklisted Rushlane from its events/rides as a consequence of decisions based on restrictive practices. This blog is reliant on available customers and sources.

If the TVS Zeppelin cruiser concept showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this year is anything to go by, the Bajaj Avenger familys monopoly in the segment is not likely to last for long. Our rendering artist has made some tweaks to the concept to envision how the production ready TVS Apache 200 cruiser motorcycle would look like.

Since the concept already looks production ready, the rendering is limited to adding minor items like rear view mirrors and pillion backrest in addition to replacing the flashy golden finish for the front forks with chrome.

The TVS Apache 200 power cruiser, when launched, would easily become the sportiest offering in the segment with its LED headlamp, unique fuel tank, and thick tyres. Provided that TVS retains all the salient styling features, the production-spec Zeppelin would have a futuristic appeal that would certainly attract young audience.

The concept is equipped with a 220 cc single-cylinder engine which is supported by a patented Integrated Starter Generator (ISG). The ISG is claimed to give the cruiser enhanced performance and fuel efficiency. It remains to be seen whether TVS will implement the mild hybrid system in the commercially available version or not.

TVS hasnt revealed any production plans for the Zeppelin yet but given the very positive response from the public for the concept, its safe to assume that a production version is on the anvil.
Prominent Algerian politicians and intellectuals expressed outcry as the Algerian regime prepares a fifth term for ailing Algerian President Bouteflika who is confined to a wheelchair for years and is unable to speak intelligibly.

A letter has been issued calling on Bouteflika to refrain from running for a fifth term in order to enable Algeria to open a new chapter.

The call was signed by renowned politicians including Ahmed Benbitour, former prime minister, Soufiane Djilali, head of opposition party Jil Jadid and Amira Bouraoui, civil society activist.

The results of your policies were far from meeting the expectations of Algerians and your long reign created a political regime that has nothing to do with the modern standards of the rule of law, the letter signatories told Bouteflika.

Your old age and your dramatic health conditions require that you abstain from holding heavy state responsibilities. There is no doubt that another term will cause you and the country more hardship, says the call, which was also endorsed by intellectuals such as Yasmina Khadra.

At the age of 81, Bouteflikas public appearances have become a thing of the past with the president canceling meetings with foreign leaders visiting the country.

The President is seriously ill and his voice is barely intelligible. Prior to canceling a meeting with Venezuelan President Maduro, Bouteflikas health condition did not enable him to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel who had to call off her visit to Algeria last year due to the failing health of Bouteflika. Few weeks later, Iranian President Hassan Rohanis visit was also postponed sine die.

Despite these facts, his henchmen continue to campaign for his fifth term. FLN wants the president to continue his mission he started in 1999, as head of the state, said FLN Secretary General Djamel Ould Abbes last April.

Analysts deem that maintaining a sick President whose physical and mental capacities are shrouded in uncertainty is indicative of a power struggle within the countrys regime.

The contending clans within the regime seem not in agreement over Bouteflikas successor. Therefore, they maintain the ailing 80-year old President as a time buying measure in a sign that bodes ill for the countrys future.

Bouteflikas health also casts a shadow on the opacity of a regime, where power is generally presumed to reside among groups of military leaders, intelligence officials, businessmen, and politicians collectively known as Le Pouvoir.

Regime opacity and the secrecy shrouding the successor to Bouteflika have also been hampering Algeria from carrying out economic reforms to wean their economy from dependence on hydrocarbons.

Uncertainty over Bouteflikas succession adds to Algerias explosive mix: ailing economy, dwindling oil revenues, widespread corruption, fragile social cohesion and lingering terrorist threat, which make the country a powder keg waiting to explode.
Researchers at Portland State University have developed methods for measuring levels of free-base nicotine in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) liquids and vapor, the levels of which are associated with harshness upon inhalation of e-cigarette vapors and tobacco smoke.

The study presents the results of analyses of 11 commercially available flavors of e-cigarette liquids from brands including Element, The Mad Alchemist, Adirondack Vapor, and an industry leader, JUUL. Among the samples tested, the free-base proportions for JUUL's "Fruit Medley" and "Creme Brulee" flavors were among the lowest. The JUUL fluids are also set apart by their very high total nicotine levels. The JUUL products are low free-base with high total nicotine, the perfect combination for tolerating inhalation of a vape aerosol in which the particles have a high nicotine concentration. As the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology put it in a tweet, "Nicotine state in e-cigarette liquids by NMR. JUUL: high nicotine+low fraction free base = high dose inhalable aerosol."

According to David Peyton, a Portland State University professor and co-author of the study, in many e-cigarette liquids on the market nicotine is often predominately in its free-base form, which can provide a harsh and unpleasant vaping experience at high nicotine levels. But, JUUL adds benzoic acid to its e-cigarette liquids, which reduces free-base nicotine proportion while maintaining the total nicotine delivery.

While JUUL markets its e-cigarette as an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes for adults, some say the product's sleek, easily-concealable design, and novel flavors contribute greatly to its growing popularity among youth. The PSU study shows how the high-dose inhalable aerosol is almost certainly critically important.

With more youth reporting using e-cigarettes, products like JUUL are coming under increasing scrutiny. To slow an impending public health crisis related to e-cigarette use, state and federal lawmakers are pushing for regulations. In San Francisco, the public will soon vote on whether to ban the sale of candy-flavored e-cigarette liquids within city limits. However, as Peyton noted, the inclusion of smoothing agents like acids in certain e-cigarette liquids should also be of great concern to community health experts and policymakers.
A landmark international study of the Great Barrier Reef has shown that in the past 30,000 years the world's largest reef system has suffered five death events, largely driven by changes in sea level and associated environmental change.

Over millennia, the reef has adapted to sudden changes in environment by migrating across the sea floor as the oceans rose and fell.

The study published today in Nature Geoscience, led by University of Sydney's Associate Professor Jody Webster, is the first of its kind to reconstruct the evolution of the reef over the past 30 millennia in response to major, abrupt environmental change.

The 10-year, multinational effort has shown the reef is more resilient to major environmental changes such as sea-level rise and sea-temperature change than previously thought but also showed a high sensitivity to increased sediment input and poor water quality.

Associate Professor Webster from the University's School of Geosciences and Geocoastal Research Group said it remains an open question as to whether its resilience will be enough for it to survive the current worldwide decline of coral reefs.

"Our study shows the reef has been able to bounce back from past death events during the last glaciation and deglaciation," he said. "However, we found it is also highly sensitive to increased sediment input, which is of concern given current land-use practices."

The study used data from geomorphic, sedimentological, biological and dating information from fossil reef cores at 16 sites at Cairns and Mackay.

advertisement

The study covers the period from before the "Last Glacial Maximum" about 20,000 years ago when sea levels were 118 metres below current levels.

History of death events

As sea levels dropped in the millennia before that time, there were two widespread death events (at about 30,000 years and 22,000 years ago) caused by exposure of the reef to air, known as subaerial exposure. During this period, the reef moved seaward to try to keep pace with the falling sea levels.

During the deglaciation period after the Last Glacial Maximum, there were a further two reef-death events at about 17,000 and 13,000 years ago caused by rapid sea level rise. These were accompanied by the reef moving landward, trying to keep pace with rising seas.

Analysis of the core samples and data on sediment flux show these reef-death events from sea-level rise were likely associated with high increases in sediment.

advertisement

The final reef-death event about 10,000 years ago, from before the emergence of the modern reef about 9000 years ago, was not associated with any known abrupt sea-level rise or "meltwater pulse" during the deglaciation. Rather it appears to be associated with a massive sediment increase and reduced water quality alongside a general rise in sea level.

The authors propose that the reef has been able to re-establish itself over time due to continuity of reef habitats with corals and coralline-algae and the reef's ability to migrate laterally at between 0.2 and 1.5 metres a year.

Future survival

However, Associate Professor Webster said it was unlikely that this rate would be enough to survive current rates of sea surface temperature rises, sharp declines in coral coverage, year-on-year coral bleaching or decreases in water quality and increased sediment flux since European settlement.

"I have grave concerns about the ability of the reef in its current form to survive the pace of change caused by the many current stresses and those projected into the near future," he said.

Associate Professor Webster said previous studies have established a past sea surface temperature rise of a couple of degrees over a timescale of 10,000 years. However, current forecasts of sea surface temperature change are around 0.7 degrees in a century.

"Our study shows that as well as responding to sea-level changes, the reef has been particularly sensitive to sediment fluxes in the past and that means, in the current period, we need to understand how practices from primary industry are affecting sediment input and water quality on the reef," he said.
King Mohammed VI gave his instructions to set up a medical-surgical field hospital of the royal armed forces (FAR) in Gaza, following the recent tragic events that took place in the Palestinian territory, leaving hundreds of injured.

This royal solicitude is meant to provide the necessary medical care to the Palestinian civilians wounded during the recent events in Gaza, said the Moroccan Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday.

At least 62 Palestinians were killed and hundreds were wounded on May 14 when Israeli troops fired on demonstrators protesting the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Al Quds.

It was the highest Palestinian death toll in a single day since the demonstrations began along the border fence between Gaza and Israel on March 30, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes in 1948 to set up Israel.

The Moroccan Monarchs initiative in this holy month of Ramadan is in line with his unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause and shows his active and effective solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people, the statement said.

Following the implementation of the US administrations decision to relocate its embassy to the Holy city on May 14, King Mohammed VI, chairperson of Al Quds Committee, an offshoot of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, had sent a message of solidarity and support to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The King had reiterated his rejection of the US administrations unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer its embassy to the holy city, and renewed Moroccos strong and unwavering solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people in defending their just cause.

Morocco had also strongly condemned the use of deadly excessive force by Israeli soldiers against unarmed Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip and voiced its total rejection of such acts that violate international laws and add more fuel to the fire in the region.

Morocco, which deplored these tragic events, had decried as unacceptable the Israeli military escalation that threatens the Middle East stability at large.
This is part of the say something nice about an SEO/SEM series - feel free to nominate someone over here.

Josh Bachynski is 43 years old, lives in Victoria BC, Canada with his beautiful wife Melissa who is also a social media guru. Josh has one of the more vocal SEOs on the darker side of the SEO community. While Josh and I have not always seen eye to eye on specific topics, there is no doubt in my mind, that Josh deeply cares and believes in what he is pushing for.

Josh spends a tremendous amount of his time, resources and money pushing out content to help those in the SEO community. He publishes content and video constantly, he is always on social media sharing and is very active trying to get answers to questions that some might not be even thinking about.

He is a very big Google skeptic and has honestly rubbed some folks in the community the wrong way - but again, this is important, I honestly believe he does it because he cares and wants the industry to see things like they do not see them today. If you agree with Josh or not, that is not the point, no one can argue that he isn't passionate and caring about the community and industry.

Simon Kensington-Fellows nominated Josh and wrote:

I have been following Josh Bachynski for over a year now and have found his no nonsense data driven approach to SEO so refreshing. Whilst many other industry specialists follow Google's mantra, Josh is actually testing it, scientifically proving or disproving many SEO myths. Josh's weekly SEO Show 'Whitw Hat vs Black Hat' is the most informative, interesting and interactive show on the web. He gives so freely of his time and expertise that he really deserves a 'pat on the back'.

Josh Bachynski Bio: Josh Bachynski is an expert marketer and SEO with over 20 years business branding, marketing and SEO experience. Josh is an industry leader with encyclopedic, intimate "insider secret" level knowledge of Google's search algorithms with numerous personal Google contacts, SEO experiments, and thousands of pages ranking page 1. Josh has spoken on Google search for over 20 years, including a TEDx talk "The Future of Google, Search and Ethics" http://j.mp/joshtedx, a soon to be released documentary film on Google called "Don't Be Evil: Google's Secret War" and his own SEO related podcast with 12k subscribers "The White Hat Vs Black Hat SEO Show" http://youtube.com/jbachyns. Josh has PhD (ABD) and Master's Degree in Ethics and Decision Theory and a book coming out on our global political scenario and the collapse of culture entitled "The Zombies." (And, as if that wasn't enough) in his spare time, Josh practices and teaches martial arts with 3 black belts, and lives in the beautiful city of Victoria BC Canada with his darling wife. He can be contacted for any questions at: joshbachynski@gmail.com

Favorite thing about the SEM community? At the end of the day we can all drink a beer and hash it out.

One piece of advice to the SEMs out there? SEO is getting harder! Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't do the research.

I strongly recommend SEOs get on to a scientific SEO testing community like my White Hat vs Black Hat SEO Testing group to find the REAL ranking factors.

The results might shock you!

Favorite things in general? Test Google. Rank sites. Practice martial arts.

What you want to be known for in the SEM space? I already am.

To learn more about Josh, check him out on Twitter or connect with him on LinkedIn.

This is part of the say something nice about an SEO/SEM series - feel free to nominate someone over here.
When Berkeley voters established the citys Police Review Commission in 1973, it was radical and far-reaching, supported by activists who saw the police force as repressive and draconian.

That was 45 years ago. Today Berkeleys commission is less powerful than its counterparts in Oakland and San Francisco, as well as at BART. Its become the focus of a tense debate in the progressive East Bay city, where commissioners and their City Council allies are racing to get a dramatic reform measure on the November ballot.

Their proposed Charter amendment  which is up for a City Council discussion Tuesday  would give the commission full independence from the city manager, along with broad powers to access city records, influence the budget and help select future chiefs.

The commissioners say such changes are necessary to get Berkeley in sync with other Bay Area cities and with an Obama-era push for greater scrutiny of police forces. Opponents in City Hall say the measure is being rammed through the legislative process with no input from the Police Department or its union, which is currently in contract negotiations with the city.

Look, were not Oakland, were not Detroit, were not Baltimore, said City Councilwoman Susan Wengraf, referring to other cities that have struggled with police shootings and community mistrust. So, my question is, What is the problem that they are trying to solve?

To Police Commissioner George Perezvelez, who helped write the Charter amendment, the measure isnt so much about fixing problems that exist now as it is about preventing them in the future.

We just want Berkeleys Police Department to be the best it can be and serve the community well, he said.

The Charter amendment has emerged at a moment of crisis for the Berkeley Police Department. The force is understaffed: Its authorized to have 181 officers, but has 156; five officers have left this year to join other departments. That shortage has frustrated members of the Berkeley Police Association, the police union that launched a Wheres My Berkeley Cop? web page last year to draw attention to the problem.

Members of the association did not return phone calls seeking comment. But some city officials privately expressed fears that a major overhaul of the police commission would sink morale in the department, making it more difficult to retain officers and attract new ones.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle 2017

Meanwhile, the issue of police accountability has become increasingly polarizing in Berkeley. Two other police commission reform proposals have emerged this year, both more sweeping than the Charter amendment thats going before the council.

One, written by a group called Berkeley Community United for Police Oversight, would give the commission final decision-making powers over Police Department policies and discipline of officers.

The other, pitched by an activist named Russ Tilleman, would replace the commission with an elected Police Accountability Board, empowering it to set department rules, fire officers and appoint a new chief.

Both of them would need to get 12,000 certified voter signatures before July 31 in order to go on the ballot. Tilleman said hes gathered 500 signatures so far, and is now aiming for the June 2020 ballot. His measure has support from former Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale.

In comparison, the Charter amendment is a mild compromise, said City Councilman Kriss Worthington, who will sponsor the legislation when it goes before the council on Tuesday.

Worthington hopes that if the Charter amendment moves forward, then the other two proposals will recede. He may be right. George Lippman, a member of Berkeley Community United for Police Oversight, said he would back the commissions measure if it gets approved in its current form by the council.

Yet, in a city where even the moderate politicians are liberal, mild compromise is a relative term.

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.

Wengraf sees the proposal as overreach, in that it scraps the councils ability to appoint police commissioners, entitles each member of the body to a monthly stipend of up to $500, allows the commission to hire outside attorneys and creates a new executive director position that the city would have to fund.

She and three other councilwomen  Linda Maio, Lori Droste and Sophie Hahn  have tried to defend the Police Department against what they view as a hostile environment. On May 15, the four councilwomen sponsored a legislative item that called for a more positive and constructive tone as the city moves forward to further advance fairness and accountability in policing.

Perezvelez, the police commissioner, said he shares the council members respect for the police.

Im on the moderate side, said the commissioner, who was appointed by Droste and considers Wengraf to be a mentor. He agreed that Berkeley police perform at a much higher level than any other police department in the Bay Area.

Even so, Perezvelez said that Berkeley cant wait for a misconduct scandal to trigger police reform.

Oversight cannot be reactionary, he said. Thats the wrong approach.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
For the first time since the Reagan era, Alameda County is seeing a serious contest for district attorney. And thanks to internationally known billionaire and progressive George Soros, its turning into a real barn-burner.

The Alameda County D.A.s job has been basically handed off from the outgoing district attorney to his or her top deputy for decades.

In 1981, when President Ronald Reagan chose District Attorney D. Lowell Jensen for a post in the U.S. Department of Justice, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors promptly named his chief assistant, John J. Meehan, to the job. When Meehan retired, he was succeeded by his chief assistant, Thomas Orloff.

And when Orloff retired in 2009, the supervisors picked his chief assistant, Nancy OMalley, to fill the job.

Under normal circumstances OMalley, who was elected on her own in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, would be a shoo-in for re-election. Shes liberal, shes scandal-free, and she has the backing of labor unions, political clubs and just about every elected official in the county. Her supporters include U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor in the Alameda County office.

OMalley has amassed a $977,000 war chest, no small thing in Alameda County politics.

But thanks to progressive crusader Soros and his California Justice & Public Safety Political Action Committee, the Alameda Countys D.A.s race is turning out to be anything but normal.

The goal of the California Justice PAC is to elect reform-reminded district attorneys across the country, and during this election cycle the committee is active in three Northern California races  Sacramento, Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

The PACs candidate in the Alameda County race is Pamela Price, a civil rights lawyer with no experience as a prosecutor who is running against OMalley on a platform emphasizing bail reform and fairer treatment of blacks and Latinos in the criminal justice system.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

So far, the Soros PAC has spent more than $559,000 to help Price and attack OMalley.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

Prices campaign has also benefited from an $80,000 Facebook ad campaign paid for by the Real Justice PAC, a group created by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders to fight structural racism and defend our communities from abuse by state power.

As a result, county voters are seeing mailers and TV ads with messages proclaiming that Stop and frisk is racist  Pamela Price will fight to end it and D.A. Nancy OMalley never prosecuted an officer for murder. But she has taken their money.

One anti-OMalley piece shows a blurred photo of a man who died while being pinned to the ground by police, with the caption: D.A. Nancy OMalley did nothing.

OMalley has responded with her own mail barrage, calling attention to Prices comments that she would not prosecute misdemeanors. One OMalley mailer declares in boldface: She wont prosecute domestic violence cases, drunk driving or theft.

For her part, Price insisted to us, I would prosecute domestic violence cases and some DUI cases, seemingly contradicting her recorded comments during a recent debate before an East Bay lawyers group in which she flatly declared she would stop prosecuting misdemeanors in Alameda County.

Price, who briefly represented Celeste Guap, the teen caught up in an East Bay sexual misconduct scandal involving Oakland Police and other departments, said she was drawn into the race by what she sees as the absolutely outrageous over-prosecution of young blacks and other minorities in Alameda County.

Matier & Ross / The Chronicle

Price defended the attacks on OMalley as both fact-based and fair  citing, for example, a $10,000 contribution that the D.A. received from the Fremont police union just three months before she cleared the police union president and a second officer of wrongdoing in the shooting of an unarmed, pregnant, 16-year-old girl.

My issue is a lack of accountability, said Price, noting that she got into the race because it was a matter of whether I was going to stand here and throw rocks, or am I going to go and do something about it.

OMalley has said her decision to clear the officers in the Fremont shooting wasnt influenced in any way by any politics  and that she had asked for an independent review by the state attorney general to avoid the slightest appearance of impropriety.

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.

As she sees it, one the biggest ironies in the campaign is the involvement of billionaire Soros, noting that progressives complain about Wall Street billionaires controlling the system, and here we have a Wall Street billionaire funding her campaign.

OMalleys take: I love the campaigning and meeting people, but I am disappointed that this has become a smear campaign on me and my office.

Welcome to the campaign trail  it can be a bumpy ride.

Scoot: One of the conditions the city is setting for the rental scooter companies to go legit in San Francisco is for them to keep the two-wheelers off the streets and sidewalks until they receive official permits.

Since the scooters started showing up on St. Patricks Day, City Hall has received 1,873 calls complaining about parked scooters blocking sidewalks. The Department of Public Works responded by sending out crews daily and impounding scooters.

To date, they have impounded 503 scooters  208 from LimeBike, 193 from Bird and 102 from Spin  and levied $46,520 in fines, most yet to be paid. But theyll have to pony up if they want a permit.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@ sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
Its easy to think the Trump team is chaotic, impulsive and undirected just like the president himself. But when it comes to abortion rights, the White House has an unswerving purpose: curb reproductive rights at every turn.

The chief victim is Planned Parenthood, which Trump has pledged to put out of business. Stopped short in Congress last year, hes moving on a different tack by reviving a Reagan-era game plan that would bar family planning agencies from even talking about abortion. Its a gag order that matches a like-minded ban on foreign aid money going anywhere near a taboo topic.

The push to limit womens rights plays well with pro-life evangelicals and social conservatives who remain a bedrock base for the president. His messy personal life, multiple marriages and sybaritic lifestyle dont trouble these voters with a single issue litmus test. This week he was saluted as the most pro-life President in history at a Washington gathering of a prominent antiabortion group He responded by encouraging the audience to turn out for his political allies.

As president Trump has a powerful role in this fight. Hes tapping Title X federal regulations to create rules that will hamper, if not shut down, the work of Planned Parenthood and other health care groups. These clinics would be barred from bringing up the subject of abortion in dispensing advice to women patients. The procedures couldnt be done on existing premises, meaning a separate facility would need to be built.

These contrived, obstructionist mandates match previous efforts at the state level that aimed at shutting down clinics via extra design rules and staffing requirements. The courts have stalled many of those plans, but the Trump action takes the fight to another level.

Trump once noted a truth he no longer accepts. During his run for the White House, he opposed public funds for Planned Parenthood, though he noted it gives medical care to millions of women who are helped greatly. In fact, only a small slice of the organizations work involves abortion, and the money for those procedures comes from elsewhere, not Washington.

Health care such as cancer screenings and birth control advice are the mainstay work at such clinics, which are often the only such resource in scattered parts of the country. Antiabortion groups  and now the White House  want to demolish this essential service because of small part of it goes against their personal beliefs.

There are other parts to the pattern. Trump sits atop the federal judiciary through his appointment power, which hes pledging to use to limit abortion rights. The White House is leaning on abstinence-only counseling to please conservatives. Overseas aid cant be spent on abortion or related counseling.

Voters who value a womans right to choose should remember all of these strategies. Trump is playing to his friendly audience in pushing abortion restrictions, but a much larger group should take note and demand a change in direction come November.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
Every day, 20 military veterans commit suicide. We know this because of research done by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and its comprehensive examination of more than 55 million service records from 1979 to 2014. The VA is there to focus on and meet the unique needs of veterans. We should keep it that way.

I was an Army first lieutenant combat platoon leader in the Vietnam War. After delaying seeking help for 41 years, I found the courage to go to see a VA psychiatrist and discovered I was a poster boy for post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA saved my life, and the lives of millions like me.

Im able to lead a less troubled, happier life with a community of trusted medical staff and friends. Veterans like me need managed, culturally competent medical care, in a safe community that respects them. Private doctors do not understand the complexity of service-related health problems. My experience supports the view that veteran health care should not be privatized.

Im a recipient of two Bronze Stars. These honors, however, havent helped assuage my constant postwar anxiety, and obsession with potential danger. Jarring daily flashbacks and nightly violent nightmares are relentless companions. The hostile, non-welcome-back home experienced by those who served in Vietnam condemned me as morally corrupt for fighting in the wrong war. I felt like we soldiers were getting all the blame instead of the politicians, adding to my trauma, anxiety, confusion and shame.

I suspected something was really out-of-whack when, during a visit to San Francisco after my discharge from the Army in 1970, I found myself walking down Market Street looking for trip-wires and snipers. I didnt understand the new me.

Decades of struggling with this trauma led me to close my law firm of 34 years. I was scared, but I found I was not alone. I discovered a path forward after the VA prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-nightmare medication, veteran group therapy and more.

I think about how my life could have been different if, at discharge in 1970, I received immediate medical and psychological evaluation and treatment for PTSD to aid my transition back to civilian life. In all my years of visiting private doctors, none picked up my symptoms of PTSD, or knew how to ask me if I had problems. I didnt know how to be my own advocate, so I did my best to man-up, not complain and accept my anxiety.

Its the VAs mission to know what to look for, and to treat the whole patient. What veterans need, and what we ask the president, Congress and citizens to support, is:

A new secretary of veterans affairs with the experience of former VA chief Dr. David J. Shulkin. He achieved, with bipartisan approval, tremendous success in improving the VAs critical services and led the effort to speed up claim processing.

Eight weeks of discharge training to transition soldiers back into civilian life to balance the eight-week basic training required when a soldier enlists.

Prior to discharge, culturally relevant psychological evaluation, a medical physical, vocational testing, job interview training and a clothing allowance. After discharge, job training, assistance in job placement or aid in enrolling in college.

Mandatory six-month group therapy to educate, validate and encourage veterans to talk openly about the cognitive and behavioral warning signs of PTSD, and how to work with anxiety and depression. Talking and bonding with other veterans is key to healing.

Awarding the equivalent of an associate or higher degree based on military achievements.

On Memorial Day, we need to remember the needs of the living who served as well as honoring the memory of those who gave their lives so we could be free. Our veterans deserve managed health care with sensitivity to cultural heritage to help prevent suicides. When a soldier says I do to answer the call to protect and serve  we, as a nation, promise to take care of our veterans.

Protect them  they protected you.

Howard L. Hibbard of Daly City is the author of Curse of the Coloring Book: A Novel Inspired by a True Story. Marcela Davison Aviles of Alamo is a cultural consultant.
A survey of the careers of local theater artists Evan Johnson and Teddy Hulsker doesnt suggest a lack of autonomy. Far from it.

Johnson specializes in the sole genres where stage actors have much creative control: solo performance and character work. Hes appeared at New Conservatory Theatre Center, Shotgun Players, Z Space and elsewhere. Hulsker, whos primarily a sound designer but also a projections designer, has made noise at a number of the Bay Areas top theater companies  San Francisco Playhouse and Cutting Ball, Marin Theatre Company and Aurora, among many others.

Yet, the pair report that desire for more say in their work is precisely what drove Barn Owl, their collaboration with director Libby King, which runs Thursday-Saturday, May 31-June 2, at CounterPulse.

The show weaves together disparate threads to tell, as Johnson says, a queer story of finding your tribe. One character, Uncle Al, dreams of starting his own bowling alley: Youll be able to see it from the interstate, he gushes. Another, Sis/Mommy, has an unquenchable spiritual thirst that leads her to Heavens Gate, the UFO cult most famous for a mass suicide near San Diego in 1997. A third, Harmony, forges a new gender identity en route to Mount Shasta. Johnson and Hulsker switch off playing all the lead roles over the course of the show, with the aid of actors Beth Wilmurt and Kevin Clarke. Hovering over it all is a certain nocturnal bird of prey, whose beady eyes and camouflaged beak bear some resemblance, not coincidentally, to a cartoon of an alien.

Now Playing: The show runs at CounterPulse May 31-June 2, 2018. Video: SFChronicle

Johnson, who wrote the script, says that after exploring sexuality in his last two pieces, Pansy and Dont Feel: The Death of Dahmer, he felt compelled to take on gender. Its the thing that Ive been, my whole life, feeling in my body: ... Oh, Im not like other boys or All my friends are girls, he says.

After growing up in rural Pollock Pines (El Dorado County), Johnson, 32, studied physical theater at DellArte International, where the roles he performed brought his conflicted feelings about gender into sharp relief.

Playing boyfriends and brothers and husbands and dads, and having to put on or assume a maleness onstage  just literally performing gender for me as a male actor who has this mental thing going on  its been a struggle, he says. Ive always felt like Ive had to stiffen and puff out and be big. Harmony, in this new piece, was just a character I wanted to give myself permission to play ... and feel like I have permission to not have to deal with peoples assumptions of what I should be performing as or how.

Johnson and Hulsker met while collaborating on Pansy at New Conservatory Theatre Center in 2013, shortly after Hulsker, a 28-year-old Mill Valley native, graduated from San Francisco State Universitys theater program. There, Hulsker focused on sound design, not because that was his single burning passion but because that was a way that I could do a ton of work, because there werent a ton of sound designers, he says. I think Ive always thought of myself as more of a theater artist. I just want to do everything.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Johnson saw that quality in Hulsker immediately. With Pansy, when (Hulsker) was in the room as a designer, that quality of total theater, a total theater artist  I was aware of that right away, Johnson says. The questions Hulsker asked bespoke a concern for the big picture, a real looking out for the audience.

Though his name pops up in playbills constantly, Hulsker was getting tired of doing art on a contract-to-contract basis, he says. Its hard when your art becomes your job, especially when youre doing design, and a lot of time what youre doing is facilitating others visions.

In 2015, he created the monthly gathering Klanghaus with fellow sound designer Matt Stines to stretch himself artistically. Hes written and performed work there, collaborating with artists outside of theater.

But if Klanghaus has afforded him some opportunities for creative authorship, the scale of Barn Owl, part of CounterPulses Coproductions Presenting Program, is bigger. In addition to a symphonic soundscape and celestial projection design, the show has ensemble roles for students in Johnsons improv class for seniors, as well as one from his junior acting class for youth (both through the citys Recreation and Park department).

Everybodys giving the amount of time that they can, says Johnson. This is a city where artists are strapped in so many ways. So were just trying to be ambitious and bold with the resources we have. Hes interested in reversing the idea that (artists) are starving for anything. In fact, we live with abundance. ... All around us are things to work with and play with.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

Barn Owl: Created by Evan Johnson and Teddy Hulsker with Libby King. Thursday-Saturday, May 31-June 2. $20-$35. CounterPulse, 80 Turk St., S.F. 415-626-2060. www.counterpulse.org
As the 2018 James Beard Foundation awards ceremony unfolded this month, it quickly became clear that this years edition of the annual event  a formal affair likened to the Oscars of the food world  would be very different from those of the previous 28 years.

Dolester Miles, the black pastry chef at Highlands in Birmingham, Ala., was named the countrys best pastry chef.

Nina Compton of New Orleans, also black, took home the award for best chef in the southern region.

Rodney Scott, a black Charleston chef who specializes in barbecue, was named the best chef in the southeast region.

Edouardo Jordan, a black chef in Seattle, reached rarefied air by taking home not one but two of the coveted medals. He was named best chef in the northwest region for his modern restaurant, Salare, and then capped his evening by becoming the first black chef to win best new restaurant for his other Seattle spot, JuneBaby, an ode to Southern food.

And though she didnt win, Mashama Bailey, the black chef of the Grey in Savannah, Ga., was the first African American woman to be nominated for the foundations highest individual honor: outstanding chef.

In all, the 2018 results were a dramatic pivot for the awards that have long favored European-centric chefs and restaurants, especially those of French or Italian inspiration. As recently as 2010, only 5 percent of the total nominees were chefs of color, according to an analysis by the online news site Mic. In both 2017 and 2018, more than 21 percent of the nominees were minorities.

As a byproduct, winners over the last 28 years have rarely been people of color. This year, that changed. The historic night spurred a wave of self-congratulatory behavior within the industry, as many applauded the foundations progressive view of black culinary talent, Southern food and the potential for minorities to excel on a national stage.

In the Bay Area, however, the response from black chefs has been more nuanced. Cautious, even. Since San Francisco, widely recognized as a global food mecca, has a notable dearth of black-owned restaurants, many black industry leaders said that while this years recognition is a positive step, its still difficult to imagine such national awards results having a direct impact on the Bay Area food landscape.

If the topic of the James Beard awards appeared to dominate food circles that first week of May, you wouldnt know it at Alamar Kitchen in Oakland.

On most nights, the Oakland restaurant seems more trendy nightclub than traditional dining establishment: Hip-hop pours from the speakers as young, impeccably dressed black and brown people socialize over vibrant drinks at the crowded bar. The air around the restaurant often smells sweet with citrus and peppers, and the glass-lined dining room fills to near-capacity. The majority of the rooms light comes from the kitchen, where chef-owner Nelson German, an industry veteran of African American and Dominican descent, performs the yeoman task of feeding the late-night masses.

Michael Macor / The Chronicle 2018

The raucous weekend atmosphere at Alamar is reminiscent of the vibe across town on 14th Street at Smellys Authentic Creole and Soul Food. Led by a black chef  East Oakland native Edward Wooley  the Creole pop-up has become perhaps the most popular restaurant in Oakland, a frequent hangout for famous musicians, athletes, actors and Oakland community leaders. The atmosphere is electric, and the lines are long.

Awards may be one benchmark for success in the food world, not to mention a springboard to fame, but black-owned restaurants like these have thrived despite a lack of mainstream recognition. These businesses have loyal followings, and the diners who are filling the space with energy share their flavorful escapades across multiple social media platforms. Their customers are not influenced by accolades hanging on walls.

Places like mine, were adapting to what our diners want on a daily basis. That has nothing to do with awards, Alamars German said. What I tell every chef like me is to keep doing what youre doing  keep pleasing your people  because theyre the ones who care about you at the end of the day.

The sentiment is echoed by Nigel Jones, the chef who runs two popular Caribbean restaurants in the Bay Area: Kingston 11 in Oakland and Kaya in San Francisco.

I think because black chefs are finding their own avenues to success, and determining their own popularity through things like social media, the old guard, the establishment, is starting to recognize that, said Jones. We dont need awards to know our popularity.

A common refrain from Bay Area chefs of color is that the 2018 James Beard awards were reminiscent of last years Academy Awards. While prior Oscar shows were widely criticized for a lack of diversity, a public outcry for better representation spurred change and in 2017, a record number of black winners went home with hardware.

If, like the Oscars, the James Beard awards were a reactionary reflection of an industry pivoting to be more inclusive, especially for black chefs, it would be easy to assume that a forward-thinking city like San Francisco, a global food mecca, would be leading the way.

And yet.

Peter Prato / Special to The Chronicle

In nearly three decades of the awards existence, a black chef in the Bay Area has never even been nominated for a James Beard award. With such a long history, many black culinary leaders wonder whether real change can come so quickly.

Im inherently skeptical, if Im totally honest, because theres nothing that we can go on that shows this industry is capable of sustained equitable opportunities, said Stephen Satterfield, a food writer and the founder of Whetstone, a quarterly print publication on food origins, culture and anthropology.

He said the data do not bode well for the future of black chefs, especially in the Bay Area.

As a city, San Franciscos black population has become almost nonexistent. In the 1970s, 1 in 7 people living in the city were black. As of 2016, the number was 1 in 20, according to census numbers.

The restaurant industry also struggles for diverse representation in management positions: According to 2016 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 60 percent of head chefs and cooks in restaurants across the country are white, while blacks make up 11.6 percent of the countrywide total for the industry.

The total is much lower in San Francisco and Oakland. Here, black people make up only 4.3 percent of the restaurant workforce and, more often than not, are relegated to back-of-the-house positions like line cooks and dishwashers, according to recent restaurant industry data from the national worker advocacy group Restaurant Opportunities Center United.

I think this year there was just an increased awareness on behalf of the people who are making these decisions, as well as the judges, Satterfield said.

Peter Prato / Special to The Chronicle

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Satterfield was one of several prominent black industry leaders who attended a conference on May 19 organized by Bryant Terry, an activist, author and the Museum of the African Diasporas chef-in-residence. Other African American industry members at the conference on Art, Media and Social Justice were writer/activist Tunde Wey, Bay Area community leader Shakirah Simley and Adrionna Fike of Mandela Market in Oakland.

Panels during the event discussed a litany of topics relevant to minorities in the food world: creating art and media to tell stories of people of color, addressing white supremacist patriarchal violence and establishing tools for empowerment for people of color who are trying to grow a food business.

Wey, who co-hosted a seminar on cultural appropriation with Soleil Ho of the Racist Sandwich podcast, responded to the idea that the awards could lead to black chefs being propelled to prominence in San Francisco.

Why would that happen? he asked, rhetorically. Theres nothing showing it will be a trend. Theres no track record. I think we have to be honest about what the wins mean long term, which isnt much at this point.

Yet amid the honest assessments and skepticism, hope remains for a more progressive future.

I think the foundation is making structural changes, said Terry, who also works on the James Beard Foundations Impact Programs Advisory Committee. Ideologically, he added, the foundations view of black talent is moving in the right direction.

More important, new levels of recognition may be the spark needed for new avenues of opportunity, said Shani Jones, the proprietor of Peaches Patties in San Francisco.

Since the James Beard awards is more than just a state or regional thing, Im hoping investors here will see black chefs can have viable businesses, said Jones. Hopefully it starts a trend.

Jones said her Caribbean business has tripled over the last year or so, but like many of her peers, she has struggled to find investors. Rents in San Francisco, without assistance from financial backers, are an extreme burden for chefs and restaurateurs.

There may be signs that real change is coming: Tanya Holland, Oaklands soul food maven who made her name at Brown Sugar Kitchen, is finally opening an outpost in San Francisco. Yet it wasnt easy. Even though shes an industry leader, it took more than a decade of cooking in Oakland before she could secure proper financing.

Now, thanks to a group of new investors, shes opening a new Ferry Building project, and another in Uptown Oakland. Shes also in talks to open future Brown Sugar Kitchen spin-offs in Bay Area airports and stadiums, including the Warriors new Chase Center arena.

The industry is finally recognizing the talent of black chefs, Jones said. Weve been the backbone of cooking in America, yet just never got the respect for it.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
Slowly dipping a silver ladle into a jar filled with plums swirling around in amber-colored shochu and sugar, Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik carefully draws out a plum and pours it into a glass goblet containing seltzer water and a twist of lemon peel. Slightly swiveling the glass in her hand, she takes a sip from her afternoon drink and smiles while considering the flavor of the Japanese liqueur made by steeping ume plums.

A couple of years back, a collaborator had given her some of the plums. I never knew you could actually make (umeshu) at home, says Bhaumik, 36. I always assumed you bought it at the store.

Once she began making her own umeboshi and umeshu from the plums, it completely changed my love relationship to food, she said.

Bhaumik is a first-generation American who uses food to tell the stories of migration. As an artist, writer and educator, she cooks with the Peoples Kitchen Collective, which she helped establish with Saqib Keval and Jocelyn Jackson. Through this nonprofit, Bhaumik and the collective have been creating multisensory dining experiences that educate while creating accessible, healthful, loving food spaces for the community since 2007.

Bhaumik and the Peoples Kitchen Collective recently completed Farm, Kitchen, Table, Streets, a four-part meal series that started last spring. Each event explored a specific topic through food. Farm delved into the complexities around agriculture and its history of plantations and enslavement. Kitchen looked at healing properties and remedies through food. Table was a meal of remembrance of the day President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which forcibly removed Japanese Americans from their homes and sent them to internment camps. Streets, which fed 800 people, was held May 20 in Oakland near where Black Panther Bobby Hutton was killed by police 50 years ago. The meal also celebrated the friendship and solidarity between Malcolm X and Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese American activist whose family had been in internment camps.

These dining experiences go beyond food and toward education through poetry, performance and presentation by members of each community represented. There are so few opportunities to be in intergenerational spaces outside of family, Bhaumik says. In the community, its always so separate, and I think that its something we really want, to be in these intersectional and intergenerational spaces.

Bhaumiks parents grew up oceans apart and met in the United States. Her mother is Japanese Colombian, and her father is from West Bengal, India. Though her parents grew up in very different parts of the world, they had one thing in common  farming, which resulted in an obsession with fruits and vegetables.

They both grew up having mango fights, which could be won only by being able to pick the juiciest overripe mangoes, she laughingly recounts. When you smashed it in someones face, it would sting.

Growing up in a home environment that was rich in two dissimilar cultures, she found herself surrounded by delicious foods and the stories infused in them.

Bhaumik remembers being told that when her mothers family members migrated from Japan to Colombia in the 1920s to farm, they brought seeds so they could grow produce that would let them cook the flavors were familiar to them.

When we think about eating the foods of home, especially for immigrants that are so far from places they know as home, its about what sauce you can buy that substitutes this taste, she says. Its about what you can grow.

Being drawn to the journey that food takes and the people involved in growing, cooking and sharing the food, Bhaumik recognizes that this journey never starts and ends with the same person.

I love food for its baggage, for how much it packs along with it, she says. Im fascinated by this question of how far food travels to find home.

Manjula Varghese / The Chronicle

A perfect example of this miraculous journey is found in the chile plant, Bhaumik says.

Chile, which she describes as delicious, addictive and adaptable, and which originated in Mesoamerica, was one of the first plants of globalization, which literally caught like wildfire around the world, she says.

The worlds cultures have specific descriptions of how they would grow it, use it and eat with it, and theres nothing quite like that heat that you get from chile, she says.

Bhaumik is taken by the journey of the spicy plant because of what it represents.

I think that for me, as somebody who is a child of immigrants or is diasporic, thats such an incredible metaphor, thinking about how far we all travel to call places home, she says.

As the next generation evolves and adapts, often people dont speak the languages their parents or grandparents spoke, but the foods carry on, she says.

For Bhaumik, recipes hold the missing chapters in a communitys journey.

I love those recipes (where) something really random like ketchup is (found) in a Japanese recipe and youre like, Oh, OK! Those are clues to me, she says. In a way, a recipe is a map that reveals how and where people have been and how they got to where they are.

Bhaumik isnt interested in the authentic ways to do things, because I dont actually think that exists. Its constantly changed over centuries. I think thats one way that you know culture survives.

Bhaumik and the Peoples Kitchen Collective are gearing up for their next event, a free breakfast program at Oaklands Life is Living Festival on Oct. 13. To learn more about the group, visit http://peopleskitchencollective.com.

The Regulars is a photo and video column that offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in the Bay Area, caught in routine activities of modern urban life.
Inside a tiny canister of undeveloped film is a history. It may be small  significant to but a few people  or it may be big. But first, one must process the roll.

This can be a minor feat in the 21st century. On a recent visit to the Costco Photo Center, I was scandalized when the technician told me, "We don't do film here." The story was the same at Walgreens and CVS  pharmacies I'd frequented as a child, touting a roll of film I'd shot on my mom's hand-me-down Olympus.

These photos, taken by a child's undiscerning eye with the monotonous backdrop of an East Bay suburb, looked similar. My photographic range extended only as wide as the backyard. A typical roll contained multiple angles of dad's barbecue, a handful of grass closeups and some hand selfies.

Fast forward some 20 years to my Costco dilemma: It's not always easy finding an affordable place to develop your film (I eventually took mine to Photoworks in the Castro District). This can lead to a sight most of us have witnessed in our older compatriots' junk drawers  an abundance of film rolls and little motivation to develop them.

Ron Haviv had this issue, and then some. He discovered 200 rolls of unprocessed exposed film in his studio, some more than two decades old. So Haviv, an Emmy-nominated photojournalist and co-founder of the photo agency VII, developed them.

Haviv compiled the images into his book "The Lost Rolls," which he calls a "meditation on photography, remembrance and forgetting." The past, he says, "can sometimes be returned through once-lost images."

The pet project grew into something more during his book tour. "I always asked the audience, 'Does anyone have their own lost rolls of film?'" Haviv said over email. Many people did, though they lacked an impetus to develop them.

Haviv provided one. He founded Lost Rolls America, a national archive of images created from the public's undeveloped film. The archive (viewable here) is hosted by PhotoShelter and sponsored by PhotoWings.

A selection photographs, many of which were taken in or around San Francisco, is viewable in the above gallery.

Lost Rolls is collaborative in nature. Members of the public send in one or two rolls, and FujiFilm develops them free-of0charge. Participants then pick an image or two to submit to the archive, and write a few paragraphs about their memories of the images.

A street scene taken from inside a San Francisco cobbler shop brought Leta Ward back to that day in the early 2000s. "I can smell the leather and tools in the shop. I can hear the street sounds of people passing and the 71-Haight bus line," she writes in the text accompanying her photo.

Keith Munger sent in a roll from 1969. It returned a striking photo of his future wife posing in front of a fountain in San Francisco. What would others think when they saw the photo? "Probably 'shrugged shoulders,'" he wrote, "for it is my wife and means nothing to anybody else." The couple have been married for about five decades.

Though many of the photographs convey times and places significant only to the photographer, they transcend the realm of the personal.

"Personal histories can teach us much about the past," said Dr. Lauren Walsh, the director of Lost Rolls America and a professor at The New School and New York University, where she is the director of NYU Gallatin's Photojournalism Lab.

Echoed Haviv: "It is the quieter moments that make up all of our lives."

My parents tossed out most of the photos I took in my tenure as the National Geographic photographer of our backyard. But those they kept remain treasures, despite their slanted compositions and insignificant subject matter.

That's the magic of film. It captures a moment, keeps it secret and then takes your breath away when finally brought into existence as a photograph. The process is alchemical  where once was a teeny canister just bigger than my thumb now is a glossy image. It's almost like rubbing a genie's magic lamp.

Lost Rolls America is currently accepting film submissions. Learn how to submit at the Lost Rolls America website.

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.
As France braces for hosting on Tuesday an international conference on Libya to overcome the political stalemate in the North African country, some powerful Libyan military factions oppose the French initiative.

The UN-sponsored meeting will bring together key Libyan players and representatives of several countries and international organizations. The Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, General Khalifa Haftar, Aguila Salah Issa and Khaled al-Mishri will be among the attendees.

The Libyan rival leaders are expected to adopt a statement pledging to hold presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of this year. Press reports say the leaked draft statement calls for the immediate unification of the central bank and a commitment to support the creation of a national army.

The Libyan warring groups would also agree to hold a politically inclusive national conference either inside or outside Libya in a bid to foster reconciliation after what has been constant chaos since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

According to the French Presidents office, the objective of this conference is to engage in the implementation of an inclusive political roadmap for a way out of the crisis that has affected the country and the region for many years.

But 13 brigades and military councils in western Libya called for a real dialogue inside the country that achieves Libyans aspirations. They sent a letter to the Presidential Council, the High Council of State and the House of Representatives, expressing commitment to the countrys sovereignty and unity, rejecting foreign interference in Libyas internal affairs.

Last year, President Emmanuel Macron hosted a conference in an effort to reunify the fractured nation, but as the powerful local forces were not consulted, the conference failed to achieve much.

At a recent UN Security Council session, UN special envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame admitted he had been unable to convince key stakeholders to reach an agreement or amend the stalled 2015 peace deal.

The UN official said Libya had to address the flow of trafficked people and goods through its borders as well as the issues of subsidies and the severe mismatch between the official and black-market exchange rate.

These facets provide opportunities for those few who sit at the heart of Libyas political stalemate, plundering the nations coffers, resisting any actions which might challenge their predatory economy, underlined Mr. Salame.

It is this perverse economic model which must be shattered if the political process is to meaningfully progress, he added.

Seven years after the fall of the Gaddafi regime, Libya remains battered by infighting between heavily armed militias and a political crisis that has divided the country into two parts: the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and a rival administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar in the east.

The international community is urging all Libyans to unify and end the political crisis that threatens to split their country wherein Islamist extremist groups expanded their powers, undermining the whole regions peace and stability.
SAN DIEGO  At a time when World War II seemed unending, a dozen Navy men training in Southern California to continue the fight were killed suddenly in an aircraft collision.

News of the midair crash atop Palomar Mountain in San Diego County on May 30, 1944, largely escaped notice with the war raging overseas. A group of PB4Y-1 Liberator bombers were flying low and interacting with FM-2 Wildcat fighter aircraft that were performing mock intercepts. One of the fighter planes collided with one of the bombers.

Now, more than 70 years later, these men are at last being honored with their own memorial.

A group of dedicated researchers last month paid tribute to the fallen Navy fliers with a bronze memorial near the crash site atop Palomar Mountain, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. The commemoration includes a 2-foot-tall family crucifix one of the men had been given when he went off to war.

The crucifix hung for decades in the Rhode Island home of Paul Cimbron, whose uncle, Navy Aviation Radioman Raymond L. Shovelton, died in the crash. It was a gift to Shovelton by his parish priest and returned to his relatives after he was killed.

Cimbron said last week that he was thrilled that the family heirloom made its way to where his uncle died.

Im beyond pleased; its a fantastic thing, he told the Times.

The crucifix was not the only personal item related to the crash that helped complete a family story decades later, the newspaper said.

In 1988, a San Diego County man, Rob Young, was hiking in the area and exploring the crash site when he found a high school graduation ring beneath a log. The ring, it was later determined, had belonged to Aviation Machinists Mate Clinton Baker of St. Cloud, Minn., another member of the doomed bombers crew.

Youngs stepfather, Ray Wilson, would later travel to Minnesota and present the ring to Bakers younger brother, who in turn gave it to his son, Clinton, whom he had named after his long-lost brother.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md.  Roaring flash floods struck a Maryland city that had been swamped by similar devastation two years ago, its main street turned into a raging river that reached the first floor of some buildings and swept away cars.

News outlets showed photos and video of sudden, violent floodwaters surging down Main Street in Ellicott City, about 13 miles west of Baltimore. The community, set along the west bank of Marylands Patapsco River, also was struck by deadly flash flooding in July 2016.

After the floodwaters receded Sunday, emergency officials had no immediate reports of fatalities or injuries. But by nightfall first responders and rescue officials were still going through the muddied, damaged downtown, conducting safety checks and ensuring people evacuated.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who declared a state of emergency for the flooded community, traveled there late Sunday for a firsthand look at the destruction.

Footage showed heaving floodwaters engulfing cars and pickup trucks. Howard County authorities tweeted that water was above the first floor of some buildings at the height of the disaster.

Some residents of Ellicott City told the Baltimore Sun the flooding appeared to be worse than the 2016 flooding that killed two people and destroyed local businesses.

Jessica Ur, a server at Pure Wine Cafe on the citys Main Street, told the newspaper she watched as gushing waters swept three or four parked cars down the street. She witnessed the 2016 flooding, but said Sundays appeared worse.

Its significantly higher than it was before, she said.

In July 2016, Ellicott City received 6.6 inches of rain over a two- to three-hour period. On Sunday, the community received nearly 8 inches of rain over a 6-hour period, but most of it fell during an intense, three-hour period, said Mike Muccilli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

In a normal heavy rain event, you wouldnt see this amount of flooding, where you see cars floating down the road, Muccilli said. This was a true flash flood.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said he toured the historic county seat after the flash flood receded and was heartbroken by seeing it so severely damaged again. As he spoke at a news conference, Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford put a comforting hand on Kittlemans back.

Kittleman said he considers the damage worse than the flooding two summers ago. Of the citys residents and business owners, Kittleman says they are faced with the same daunting task again.

We will be there for them as we were in 2016, he said.

Hogan also toured the area and promised every bit of assistance we possibly can.

They say this is a once every 1,000-year flood and weve had two of them in two years, Hogan said.

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services said multiple rescues were carried out, and rescue swimmers were called in. Swift water units from as far away as Northern Virginia also were summoned.

Ellicott City has been rebuilding since the 2016 flooding damaged and destroyed businesses.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md.  Rescuers searched Monday for a man who was swept away as flash flooding tore through a picturesque Maryland town less than two years after the community rebuilt from another massive flood.

The missing man  Eddison Hermond, 39, of Severn  was last seen Sunday trying to help a woman save her cat while churning waters ripped through Ellicott Citys flood-prone downtown.

Howard County Police Chief Gary Gardner said the missing National Guard member and U.S. Air Force veteran had been with a group at a restaurant. He said Hermond was trying to help others by holding a door open as floodwaters coursed through the restaurant when a woman approached, desperately trying to rescue her pet just outside.

He, along with some other folks, went back to assist her and unfortunately during that effort they saw him go under ... and not surface, Gardner said, adding that the others made it out of the area safely.

Simon Cortes, who owns the restaurant, described Hermond as a super nice guy who was frequently out in the community showing support when it worked to rebuild from the devastating flooding that ravaged the former mill town in July 2016.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said his immediate priorities are finding the missing man and assessing the condition of damaged buildings that housed shops, restaurants and families.

The Main Street area remained blocked off Monday, even to residents and business owners, as teams of authorities and engineers surveyed the heartbreaking mess.

If you look at the devastation and the damage, I would certainly say its worse than 2016, Kittleman said. Weve had areas that were not even damaged at all two years ago terribly damaged this time.

Ellicott City certainly got the worst of it. But torrential rains led to such bad flooding in Baltimore County, Baltimore City and the capital of Annapolis that Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency statewide to better coordinate support and assistance.

With floodwaters receded Monday, residents and business owners could see the scope of the challenge ahead of them: They face another mammoth cleanup and daunting comeback.

Sundays flooding tore up streets and swept away dozens of cars in the city, which sits in a ravine on the west bank of the Patapsco River, about 13 miles west of Baltimore.

On Sunday, Ellicot City recorded recorded 8 inches of rain over a six-hour period, with most of it falling during an intense, three-hour period.

David McFadden is an Associated Press writer.
1 School shooting: The condition of a 13-year-old Indiana student who was critically wounded during a shooting at her middle school has improved, school officials said Monday. Ella Whistler was shot Friday at Noblesville West Middle School when an armed student walked into her seventh-grade classroom in suburban Indianapolis. Science teacher Jason Seaman tackled the armed student and is being credited with stopping the shooting. Seaman was also shot but not seriously injured. Speaking publicly for the first time since the shooting, the teacher said Ellas courage is nothing short of remarkable.

2 Beach clash: Police officers have been reassigned to administrative duty amid an investigation into a video posted online showing an officer punching a woman on a beach in New Jersey. Wildwood police said on their Facebook page that Emily Weinman, 20, of Philadelphia faces several charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. NJ.com reports video of Saturdays incident shows an officer striking the womans head twice as shes down on the sand. Voices are heard yelling stop resisting, though its unclear who was talking. The video doesnt show what led to the confrontation. Police Chief Robert Regalbuto said he finds the video alarming but doesnt want to rush to any judgment until the investigation is complete.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  Dry pine needles and dead wood snapped under fire prevention officer Matt Engbrings boots as he hiked into the woods in search of a makeshift campsite that had served as one mans home until last week when the area was closed because of the escalating threat of huge wildfires.

Engbring walked past ravines where winds could carry embers and by the charred remains of a campfire, finally reaching the spot where John Dobson had been living among Ponderosa pines in Arizonas Coconino National Forest.

He spotted Dobson earlier as he was leaving the forest and issued a warning ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend, when tourists flock to Arizonas cooler mountainous areas to hike, bike, camp and fish.

The area is closed now, and I cant allow you to go back in, he said.

Many parts of the West are dealing with drought, but in no other region has as much state and federal land been closed to recreation as in Arizona where conditions are ripe for large-scale wildfires. Portions of the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Kaibab and Tonto national forests are closed because the dry vegetation quickly can go up in flames, firefighters would struggle stopping it, and homes and water resources are at risk.

In neighboring New Mexico, fire restrictions are in place, but no forests have closed. Forests in southern Colorado and southern Utah are open but officials are limiting campfires to developed areas.

Weather over the next six weeks is expected to be in line with the typical onset of fire season: increasingly hot, breezy and dry. Then its hoped that the monsoonal system that carries heavy rain will kick in.

The bottom line is its going to get worse before it gets better, said Rich Naden, fire weather meteorologist with the Southwest Coordination Center. But this time of year is always like that. Its almost like clockwork.

Widespread forest closures in Arizona are rare. The 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest shut down completely because of fire danger in 2006 for nine days. A 2002 shutdown lasted nine weeks, encompassing the Memorial Day and July 4 holidays. Other national forests had closures in 2002 as well.

Beyond inconveniencing campers and hikers, the droughts effects and forest closures are being felt by ranchers who cant graze cattle in the forest and researchers who cant conduct studies. Forest thinning projects also are delayed.

Felicia Fonseca is an Associated Press writer.
Wildlife biologists are stumped by a bizarre furry creature that was fatally shot on a ranch in Denton, Montana.

Is it Big Foot? A werewolf? A new species of dog?

Experts are working with DNA samples from the animal killed on May 16 to determine the species.

"The strongest suspicion is that it's a wolf dog hybrid," said a Fish and Wildlife spokesperson in a video released May 25.

The creature has long grayish-brown fur, an enormous head and a long snout.

"We have no idea what this was until we get a DNA report back," Bruce Auchly, information manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, told the Great Falls Tribune. "It was near a rancher's place, it was shot, and our game wardens went to investigate. The whole animal was sent to our lab in Bozeman. That's the last I ever heard of it."

A statement from Fish and Wildlife adds: "The animal originally was reported as a wolf, but several Fish, Wildlife and Parks' wolf specialists looked at photos of the animal and collectively doubted it was a purebred wolf: The canine teeth were too short, the front paws too small and the claws on the front paw were too long."

The animal was seen within several yards of livestock, domestic dogs and children and the rancher was within his rights to kill it.

The carcass was sent to a lab in Bozeman where tissue samples were collected and shipped to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Laboratory in Ashland, Ore.
Nationally, gasoline prices are up 60 cents a gallon since last Memorial Day. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Memorial Day is generally considered the beginning of the summer peak driving season, which usually means relatively high gasoline prices. In years when prices at the pump have been increasing anyway, peak prices can drift over the line that separates a minor annoyance from a perceived blow to family budgets and a potential political issue.

In 2018 a variety of factors, including a long-term oil supply/demand imbalance, a robust economy, production cuts from OPEC and Russia, the collapse of the Venezuelan oil industry, and the Trump administrations destabilizing Middle East policies, have combined to boost both crude oil and gasoline prices significantly. On average pump prices are up 60 cents a gallon since last Memorial Day  from $2.37 to $2.97, impinging on the psychologically significant $3-per-gallon benchmark.

Gasoline prices usually begin falling by the end of summer, and some of the factors producing more general upward pressure on prices could abate or even reverse. A June 22 meeting between OPEC and Russian energy authorities could lead to a boost in global crude-oil production, for example.

But in the meantime, unhappiness about the price of gasoline is already beginning to creep into Democratic political messages, dangling another anvil above vulnerable Republicans facing an already difficult midterm election, as Politico notes:

Theres a straight line between Trumps policies and the price of gasoline, Rep. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said in a brief interview, echoing a growing chorus of Democrats.

Voters are already feeling spooked: Forty-two percent of Americans wont take a road trip for summer vacation this year, a much higher percentage of people than last year, and many of them cited higher gas prices as the reason, according to a survey by gas station data company GasBuddy.

Democrats are also using gasoline prices as part of their attack on the 2017 GOP tax bill, which showered many benefits on the very oil companies that harvest high profits from high pump prices, as a report from Senate Finance Committee Democrats led by Ron Wyden argued:

Wydens panel released a report highlighting the fact that the nations four largest oil companies are poised to reap some $15 billion in tax benefits over the next decade from the GOPs tax law, while gas prices reach their highest levels in years. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) released his own staff report using the same tactic, blaming higher prices on President Trumps incoherent foreign policy.

It all makes good political sense, and Republicans who deployed exactly the same attacks on Barack Obama for an earlier gasoline-price spike are not in a great position to cry Unfair!

But there is one problem with this tactic that could become more obvious as the midterm general election approaches: In one state with especially high gasoline prices, California, voter unhappiness with being gouged at the pump could be deflected onto the states Democrats. Early in 2017, the Democratic-dominated California legislature, at the urging of Democratic governor Jerry Brown, approved an increase of nearly 20 cents per gallon in gasoline taxes (plus some higher vehicle fees)  fully phased in by January of 2019  to begin dealing with about a decade of backlogged road- and bridge-repair projects. It is not official yet, but it appears an initiative heavily backed by the California GOP and major Republican candidates will be certified for the November ballot, revoking the current increase and creating new barriers to excise tax hikes in the future.

California Republicans hope this ballot initiative will be a major base-turnout generator in November, partially blocking any Democratic wave that might otherwise be building. And if that happens, it could be a problem not just for California Democrats, but for the Donkey Party nationally, which is counting on picking up Republican-controlled seats in the Golden State (as many as seven are currently deemed quite vulnerable by the Cook Political Report) in its drive to reclaim control of the U.S. House.

It is already clear that the pending initiative could be popular. A PPIC poll back in January showed 47 percent of likely voters supporting a gas-tax repeal with 48 percent opposed. More recently, an April/May Los Angeles Times/USC survey of registered voters showed the repeal initiative favored by a 51/38 margin.

So far, most of the noise on this subject has come from the anti-tax agitators, who never lack for a constituency. But thats beginning to change, as Dan Walters notes:

[Jerry] Browns Department of Transportation and the state Transportation Commission are moving at warp speed to pump out as many new projects as possible, and those are being heavily publicized by state and local officials, including Brown.

Earlier this month, for instance, Brown and Southern California officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, staged an event at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to puff $1.2 billion for fixing Californias crumbling transportation infrastructure.

Unions and businesses benefitting from all the dozers springing to life will fight to defend the gas-tax increase, and as Walters reports, Brown himself has some leftover millions in campaign money (he is finally retiring this year) that he might decide to deploy against the repeal drive.

But the fact remains that to the extent a gasoline-price spike benefits Democrats nationally in November, it could hurt them in California. And thats something Democrats east of the Sierra Nevadas might want to keep in mind before making pump prices a big national issue.
San Francisco honored veterans who gave their lives in Americas wars in a sunny Memorial Day celebration that mixed solemn remembrance with pomp and patriotism, and just a touch of politics, at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio.

Under clear skies, in uncommonly warm weather, and surrounded by an abundance of stars and stripes, more than a thousand people gathered in the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio Monday for its 150th Memorial Day commemoration.

American flags lined the cemetery gates and wound their way through the white headstones on the lush green hillsides overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field and Alcatraz Island. A small flag, along with a single red rose, was placed in front of each of the 26,425 graves.

The citys official remembrance began with the raising of a huge American flag over Pershing Square at the Presidios main post. A march from the Officers Club to the main gate of the cemetery followed, with a marching band leading the way and veterans groups and a collection of brightly colored classic cars behind.

A bright orange Coast Guard helicopter flew overheard to open the official commemoration ceremony. Soon after, a four-gun salute boomed, and the speeches began.

While some people strolled through the headstones, most sat or stood somberly in front of a stage where dignitaries, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Mark Farrell, honored members of the American military who gave their lives in war.

The event was described as apolitical, and no names or titles were mentioned. But the current climate in Washington drew at least some commentary.

Feinstein spoke of the difficulty of working in Washington these days, calling it a place of unpredictability, and questioning the nations direction.

As she looked out on the nearby graves, only hundreds of feet away, she said, she couldnt help but get emotional and wonder about the relatives of those who died fighting for their country.

What are their families doing now? she said. How would they regard this country now? Are we a country that stands for the rights of everybody? That fights for the rights that we believe in, hallowed into our Constitution, which in my view is the most important document that makes this the great democracy that it is?

Newsom spoke of the diversity of San Francisco, California and the nation, thanking those who gave their lives to protect democratic values.

He also talked about the importance of honoring veterans who come back and will never be the same, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or physical injuries.

The mostly quiet commemoration concluded with a loud 21-gun salute from three howitzers at the Presidios main post. The citys annual ceremony dates back to 1868, the year the national day of remembrance, originally known as Decoration Day, started.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Luigi Di Maio, head of the Five Star Movement. Photo: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

When Italy went to the polls in March, much of the country endorsed the sort of right-wing populism that has swept across Europe. Two anti-establishment, anti-immigrant parties performed particularly well, with Five Star capturing 33 percent of the vote and the League 17 percent. In a pattern that has become familiar across the continent, Italys center-left forces  including the incumbent prime minister, Matteo Renzi  lost support all over the country.

But on Sunday, the grinding attempt to form a governing coalition between Five Star and the League came to an abrupt end when Italian president Sergio Mattarella blocked the appointment of the groups favored finance minister because of his overt skepticism toward the euro. The move further muddies the countrys never-exactly-pristine political landscape.

Mattarella, the Italian president, nixed the appointment of Paolo Savona, an 81-year-old economist who has expressed considerable skepticism about keeping Italy in the single currency, a stance that had rattled markets.

The uncertainty over our position in the euro alarmed Italian and foreign investors who invested in shares and companies, Mattarella said.

Because Five Star and the League would not part with Savona, the designated prime minister in charge of forging a coalition between the two parties gave up on his efforts.

Mattarella then appointed Carlo Cottarelli, a former executive at the International Monetary Fund, and exactly the kind of establishment figure loathed by so much of the Italian populace, to form a new, interim government. (Italy has now been without a government for 83 days, the longest stretch since World War II.)

The response to these maneuvers was predictable and understandable: Five Star and the League attacked them as abuses of power that thwarted the will of the people.

Italy is not a colony, we are not slaves of the Germans, the French  or finance, League leader Matteo Salvini said, referring to the two most powerful European Union countries.

I call on citizens to mobilize, make yourselves heard, its important that you do it now, said Five Star head Luigi Di Maio, who is planning for a major June 2 protest in Rome. Di Maio has also called for Mattarellas impeachment.

With the entire political system at an impasse, Five Star and the League are taking the opportunity not only to stir up public anger, but to push for a new general election in the fall. If such a contest happens, it may well end up as a de facto referendum on the euro  a prospect that would spook markets much more than the appointment of any minister, given the odds that Euroskeptic forces would likely perform even better than they did in March. In the end, Mattarellas effort to calm European allies may only embolden an even more adversarial approach toward the continent.

With the U.K. set to leave the European Union and Poland and Hungary transformed into illiberal states, the E.U. is already facing plenty of existential challenges. The political chaos in the blocs fourth-largest economy may just be the most urgent one yet.
Four men were arrested Sunday in connection with a stabbing and fight at San Franciscos Dolores Park, police said.

The melee erupted sometime before 7:20 p.m. when officers got a call about a fight at the popular Mission District hangout, said Officer Robert Rueca, a San Francisco Police spokesman.
North Koreas soldiers stand guard outside the Unification House in Panmunjom on the South and North Korean border. Photo: Handout/Getty Images

U.S. officials traveled to North Korea on Sunday to discuss the upcoming summit which President Trump abruptly canceled on Thursday. Trump, who has since teased that the summit might still happen, tweeted about the diplomatic efforts in North Korea late Sunday afternoon, expressing his optimism that the U.S. teams arrangements will pan out. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day, Trump tweeted. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!

The new preliminary talks are set to continue through Tuesday, and are being led by Sung Kim, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea who has held nuclear program negotiations with North Korea in the past.

Trumps optimism that the June 12 summit in Singapore will still happen does not mean that it will, however, and even if all sides agreed to whatever it is they need to agree to, there might not be enough time left to get ready. At least thats what the senior East Asia director on the White House National Security Council, Matt Pottinger, told reporters during a press briefing last week. The president later surprisingly claimed that the media had invented Pottinger, which presumably means that he did not agree with his aides assessment that the meeting may not be logistically possible for much longer.

On Saturday, there was another, earlier surprise meeting across the border between North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in, who did so in the hope of salvaging the summit with the U.S. Moon later claimed that Kim was still committed to complete denuclearization, though he did not define what that meant  which has always been a sticking point between the Washington and Pyongyang.

But some analysts, like nuclear nonproliferation expert Vipin Narang, are cautiously optimistic about the new talks, since the two sides are more likely to find some common ground now that a seasoned diplomat, Sung, is representing the country, and doing so behind the scenes.

This is how progress is made, and the best chance to have a summit, and one that yields meaningful outcomes, Narang told the Washington Post  though he and many other experts continue to point out that if the Trump administration expects North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons as part of any deal, they are going to be disappointed.
Employers are actively working to make the cliche another cog in the machine a thing of the past. Their priorities have shifted from treating employees like drones to understanding who they are as people. To achieve this, leaders are focusing on ways to make the workplace more human.

Related: What Happened to the Workplace? How to Make It More Human.

In fact, a January study of 738 HR professionals by the Society for Human Resource Management and Globoforce found that 75 percent of companies examined were actively trying to create positive relationships and teamwork in the office. Seventy-five percent said they were working to create a compassionate culture; 73 percent were focusing on employee appreciation.

While these are all good goals, as with any company change, there are bound to be hiccups. To smoothly transition to a more human workplace, you need to understand the road ahead. Here are some suggestions:

Differentiate between 'supporting' and 'fixing.'

Part of creating a more human workplace is getting to know employees as complete people with goals, families and interests. When leaders take the time to learn this information, a deeper bond is forged in the workplace.

For example, Murray Nossel, the New York-based founder and director of the storytelling-based business communications solution Narativ, said he encourages employees to share their story, in order to improve company communications. However, he found that when employees talked about past traumas, he felt a knee-jerk reaction to help. Meetings became about sharing and processing emotions, which bled into the rest of the workday, Nossel said in an email.

Thankfully, Nossel showed some wisdom about the underside of getting to know employees -- getting overly involved.

Nossel said he had to realize it was not his or his team members job to fix the underlying issues of these stories. They could listen to the facts, but their task ended at offering external resources rather than trying directly to help.

When you, as a leader, find yourself in an emotional conversation, prioritize listening. Let the employee share what he or she is facing, and that trauma's personal impact. Often, listening is all such a person needs from a leader. Should employees need more help, its better to direct them to a professional.

Have the right infrastructure in place.

Many employee benefits sound great in theory, but there needs to be a solid foundation and support system to make them effective. Leaders need to make sure the proper procedures, communication channels and guidelines are set up. Otherwise, benefits aimed at creating a more human workplace will fail.

For example, Susan Matejka, director of leadership development at the Chicago-based HR consulting firm Cognos HR, had a client who wanted to institute an unlimited PTO policy. At first, that benefit seemed like a great move and helped attract talent. But it quickly took its toll on business outcomes.

What they discovered is that many employees were taking full advantage (some up to 40 days per year) of this benefit, Matejka said in an email.

Related: 4 Ways Innovative Companies are Celebrating Their Employees

When introducing new benefits, make sure they have a slow rollout period. This will allow you to collect data and see what unforeseen obstacles pop up. Through trial and error, employers can refine benefits and avoid major backfires.

Create a two-way street.

Many leaders think that creating a human workplace is just about giving. The more benefits and perks, the better the employee experience, right? Wrong, because this this attitude misses the point.

Human relationships are two-way. This isnt about organizations just giving more to their people; its about a reciprocal, adult relationship that creates a platform for mutual success, Lori Ames, said via email. She's founder and president of the Babylon, N.Y-based company ThePRFreelancer, Inc., for nonfiction authors.

If a company is built on benefits, employees wont be truly invested in team success. Instead, leaders shold focus on finding employees who align with the organizations mission, vision and values. Their priority needs to be contributing to a working relationship rather than receiving great perks.

Stop thinking like a tech company.

The relationship between technology and the human workplace is interesting. Its only been since automation and AI tools started taking over repetitive jobs that employers have begun prioritizing the deeper needs of employees. Yet, as a company begins to rely more heavily on tech, it may also start behaving more like a tech company -- no matter what the industry.

As [technology] reshapes the world of work, companies are going to need to start thinking like learning companies, Jeremy Auger, chief strategy officer of Ontario-based online education platform D2L, said by email.

Focus on all the ways employees can grow and evolve while they're working at your organization. Curiosity is a part of human nature, and its up to you as leader to provide learning opportunities. For example, schedule a day once a month when employees can shadow co-workers in other departments. This will give them a chance to learn and to see the company from a new perspective.

Related: Seven Employee Warning Signs

Just continue to recognize that fine but all-important line between getting to know employees and getting overly involved.

Related:

Want to Make Your Workplace More Human? Here Are 4 Foolproof Ways.

Common Bad Habits Millennials Need to Stop Making at Workplace

5 Habits Millennial Workers Should Start Right Now



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Petaluma police are asking people to avoid the area of E. Washington Street from Adobe Road to Executive Drive due to "emergency activity."



Police said in an alert at 4:32 p.m. that the roadway is closed and there is heavy traffic congestion in the surrounding area, which is near the Petaluma Municipal Airport.



No further information is currently available.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



The families of two men shot to death by San Francisco police are holding a press conference Tuesday regarding the city's district attorney's decision not to seek charges against the officers involved.



San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon announced his decision Thursday. The men died in separate officer-involved shootings; Luis Gongora Pat was killed April 7, 2016, and Mario Woods was killed Dec. 5, 2015.



"The black and brown communities of San Francisco are coming together to protest the district attorney's decision and the legacy of police brutality and police impunity in the city," said Adriana Camarena, speaking on behalf of advocacy group Justice For Luis Gongora Pat.



Camarena's group is partnering with the group Justice for Mario Woods to put on the press conference from noon to 2 p.m. on the steps of San Francisco's Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St.



Gwen Woods, the mother of Mario Woods, is scheduled to speak at the press conference. Jose Gongora Pat, brother of Luis Gongora Pat, and his cousin Luis Poot Pat are slated to deliver a message from the widow of Luis Gongora Pat, organizers said.



Gongora Pat, 45, was killed during a confrontation with police in which he was allegedly armed with a knife near the corner of Shotwell and 18th streets, police said. Police identified the two officers who shot Gongora Pat as Sgt. Nate Steger and Officer Michael Mellone.



Woods, 26, was killed when five officers fired their weapons at him near Keith Street and Fitzgerald Avenue after he allegedly refused to put down a knife, police said. The officers were identified by police as Winson Seto, Antonio Santos, Charles August, Nicholas Cuevas and Scott Phillips.



Following Gascon's Thursday announcement that he would not press charges, several community members and city officials denounced the decision.



"A hail of bullets is not an appropriate police response to people suffering mental health crises," Public Defender Jeff Adachi said in a statement.



"In both the Woods and Gongora killings, officers were not in immediate danger when they fired their weapons. The San Francisco District Attorney's decision not to prosecute any officer on any charge is mind-boggling and fails to hold police to the same laws we, as citizens, are expected to abide," Adachi said.



"To date, not a single officer in San Francisco has ever been criminally charged as the result of shooting a citizen, yet citizens are charged with crimes every day despite prosecutors being unable to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It is clear prosecutors are using a different standard in judging police officers' conduct," Adachi said.



According to Gascon's office, it could not prove without a reasonable doubt that the involved officers' actions were unjustified.



"Use of force cases can only be charged if we can prove that it was unreasonable for the officer to be in fear for their life or someone else's," Gascon said in a statement.



"Whether or not the officer could have used another tactic such as non-lethal force, or simply waiting, is not a factor we can even consider under current law," he said.



"Any time we lose a life on our streets, it is a tragedy. This holds true for Mario Woods and Luis Gongora Pat. I continue to offer my condolences to families and friends who continue to mourn," Mayor Mark Farrell said in a statement.



"I respect the District Attorney's decision, and also acknowledge the pain it will cause in communities that have for so long been disproportionately impacted by violence," Farrell said.









Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
DUBLIN (BCN)



Firefighters extinguished a car fire in a Dublin garage in five minutes Sunday, fire officials said.



The firefighters responded to a fire at 7201 Dougherty Road around 8:04 p.m., the Alameda County Fire Department posted on social media. A fire sprinkler in the garage held the blaze in check as firefighters attacked the fire.



The car was parked in a single-car garage, and the fire flared up in the car's engine, according to fire officials. The fire caused significant damage to the car and minor smoke and water damage to the townhouse, fire officials said.



Paramedics Plus, Dublin Police Services and Pacific Gas and Electric also responded to the fire, according to fire officials.



The cause of the fire is undetermined.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Selfridges department store on Oxford Street in London. Photo: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images

London is always dressed to impress. A fashion hot spot that produced names as renowned as Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, while home to Savile Row, has everything the fashion-minded visitor could need. But where to begin in such a huge city? We asked four fashion insiders to give us the inside track.

Where to go for ladieswear and home goods 

According to Grace Joel, stylist and costume designer whose work includes projects for Nicki Minaj, Madonna, and Beyonce

Take a walk down Mount Street, where old grandeur meets Londons new guard of designers in 18th-century red brick and terracotta town houses. Simone Rocha, Christopher Kane, and Roksanda all have stores amongst the international luxuries like Balenciaga and Celine. These are flagships where you really get to see the designers unfettered vision: Simone Rochas dilapidated car bursting with blooms and Roksandas pink mirrored changing rooms are a beautiful experience.

Selfridges. Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Apple

On the other end of Bond Street, you cant beat Selfridges. The department store is constantly raising the bar with innovative displays and concepts like the Body Studio, its recent in-store charity shop curated by Miranda July, or their current Radical Luxury campaign, which champions young designers like Charles Jeffrey and Dilara Findikoglu.

Dover Street Market. Photo: Courtesy of Dover Street Market

Dover Street Market, now just down from Piccadilly, is fun to explore from the basement bookshop to Rose Bakery at the top via Gosha Rubchinskiy, Hussein Chalayan, Jacquemus, and everything in between. Alex Eagle on Lexington Street is a discovery for new and established brands amongst beautiful curated homewares.

Portobello Road Market. Photo: Jimmy Anderson/Getty Images

For designer vintage, at the foot of the brutalist architectural triumph Trellick Tower, is Rellik and adjacent Found & Vision. They stock an amazing selection of collectible pieces from Westwood to 80s Yves Saint Laurent. A rummage through Portobello Road Market on a Friday is rewarding for military, 70s bohemian dresses, millinery, and Victoriana.

Market Cartel. Photo: Courtesy of the Market Cartel

Lots of interesting new shops are popping up around Hackney, too, including Paper Dress Vintage and Market Cartel, with a beautiful selection of 50s to 80s pieces. Mare Street Market is a new addition with a revolving fashion pop-up, and the appointment-only LN-CC on Shacklewell Lane is a well-curated fashion paradise.

General Eyewear. Photo: Courtesy of General Eyewear

Although Camden Market is now a tourist trap, there is the odd bit of weird and wonderful within the mass-produced chaos. One of my favorite stores in London is General Eyewear, which houses vintage eyewear and creates bespoke frames. Cyberdog, a few stables down, is like stepping into a UV-lit 90s time warp, but I have never come across anything else like it!

If you love the thrill of the chase (and getting up early on a weekend), London has some wonderful car boot sales  our version of a flea market: The Princess May Car Bootsale in Dalston, Pimlico, and Battersea never fail to impress.

Where to go for mens suiting 

According to Marcus Jaye, a.k.a. The Chic Geek, the thinking mans blogger

Anderson & Sheppard. Photo: Christopher Sykes/Courtesy of Anderson & Sheppard

Just off Savile Row, is Clifford Street. It has the best in understated menswear and accessories. Visit Drakes for London-made ties and accessories, Anderson & Sheppards haberdashery for the best of British knitwear and other handsome pieces, and Connolly for the finest leather goods. While expensive, youre paying for the quality rather than the name.

One of the most exciting names in the tailoring space is Nicholas Daley. He uses his mixed heritage to play around with traditional British fabrics while taking influence from the British Empire. If you want fitted suit, head to Edward Sexton in Knightsbridge. Youre buying history here and, oh, does it look good. This is a direct link to the greatest mens tailoring from the 60s and 70s. Were talking Mick Jagger to Harry Styles, and everybody in between.

For vintage-lovers, head east and visit any of the secondhand shops around Brick Lane, such as Beyond Retro or the Old Spitalfields Antiques Market on a Thursday.

Where to go for streetwear 

According to Per Gotesson, menswear designer

Theres something about London that allows for freedom of creativity, which comes from its diversity. It really is a mix of everything, especially for fashion. My favorite shop is Machine-A, a tiny concept shop in Soho doing something special. Its run by Anna Trevelyan and Stavros Karelis and has a mix of high and low, having established brands like Calvin Klein and Raf Simons next to younger London designers such as Craig Green.

For great secondhand clothes, the wealthy residents of South Kensington send their cast-offs to Fara, a charity shop which often has great labels due to its location. There are also two smaller, secondhand shops next to it which are equally good, and a bit of a secret as theyre not listed online.

I also like the army store in Walthamstow, Eastman Army Camp. They have army garments from all over the world, plus an archive. You can get some unique hats, plus its great for boots, bags, jackets, and outerwear, utilitywear, even underwear! Nothing is really priced, so you have to ask how much things cost, but its worth it.

Where to go for shoes 

According to Kira Goodey, a shoe designer whose footwear has been worn by Britney Spears, Kylie Jenner, and Jhene Aiko

A post shared by Nicholas Kirkwood (@nicholaskirkwood) on May 14, 2018 at 2:50pm PDT

Britain has a rich history of shoe craftsmanship. Were talking about hundreds of years of high-quality manufacture nurtured through guilds. That tradition has stood the test of time, and you can still find shoemakers creating handmade, or expertly manufactured shoes today. But, you can also find new expressions and takes on these traditions, in a truly British way  eccentric, colorful, not taking itself too seriously but still high quality. That is the British shoe design I love.

The superstar of British footwear design is Nicholas Kirkwood. He perfectly exemplifies the collision of old and new, and is often using the latest technologies to express his work. He is the next Manolo Blahnik, so visiting his Mayfair flagship store should be top of everyones list. JW Anderson is another great British designer, so Id recommend a visit to his stand-alone store in Shoreditch.

Of all Londons great department stores, Harvey Nichols is the best for shoes, with something to suit most price points, including limited-edition trainers.

Sebastian Tarek. Photo: Sebastian Tarek

And if youre willing to spend more on bespoke footwear, there is plenty of choice. I recommend Carreducker in Bloomsbury for men. They do fully bespoke, traditional shoes but they also have a more affordable retail store. Sebastian Tarek is another name to look for in the bespoke space. His Shoreditch studio makes traditional handmade mens footwear but with a youthful, contemporary twist.

For something truly bold for women, visit Natacha Marro in Holloway. She started designing for the fetish-club scene but her handmade, bespoke designs quickly transcended that world and she has since dressed Daphne Guinness, Lady Gaga, and more. She is known for her iconic heel-less shoe which has been much copied but hers was the original.
BERKELEY (BCN)



A housing symposium, "Envision the Possibilities in Alameda County," is slated to take place in Berkeley Tuesday as the Bay Area and the state face a worsening housing crisis.



The free all-day Northern Alameda County Housing and Urban Development Symposium is slated to take place at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St., starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.



The aim of the event is to showcase Alameda County housing resources and safety net programs that faith institutions and community organizations can use to help county residents get affordable housing and avoid being displaced.



Alameda County Supervisors Nate Miley and Keith Carson will join Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, and others in a discussion of efforts to preserve existing housing, create new affordable housing and explore "wrap-around" homeless services, organizers said.



Faith institutions and community organizations in Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont and Oakland are expected to attend.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Two people died after a plane crashed due to unknown reasons near Petaluma Municipal Airport Sunday afternoon, Petaluma fire officials reported.



The crash happened just east of the airport shortly after 4 p.m. in the area of East Washington Street between Adobe Road and Executive Drive, fire officials said.



The small single-engine plane had two people on board and both suffered fatal injuries, according to fire officials. The victim's identities have not yet been released.



The cause of the crash is currently unknown, according to Petaluma fire officials. The Federal Aviation Administration conducting an investigation.



The roadway was closed at 4:32 p.m. and reopened at 9:43 p.m., authorities said.







A man was taken to the hospital Sunday evening after a stabbing at San Francisco's Dolores Park.



Officers responded to the park at 7:20 p.m. to reports of a fight and found a man with stab wounds, according to police.



The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, police said. Officers detained several people in connection to the stabbing but haven't yet arrested any suspects.







Alameda County firefighters are investigating a "suspicious" fire that broke out at a preschool center in Newark Saturday afternoon.



The fire was reported at 1:28 p.m. in Safari Kid Preschool at 34899 Newark Boulevard. The center was closed and no one was there because it was the weekend, Alameda County fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.



Firefighters arrived and found a "cold smoke environment" and the odor of gasoline, fire officials said in a social media post. Fire officials described the fire as "suspicious" in the post.



The fire remained at one alarm and firefighters were able to extinguish it in five minutes, fire officials said.



There was fire and water damage to several rooms, but no one was injured, fire officials said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.







Firefighters contained a fire in a San Francisco neighborhood Sunday with no injuries, fire officials said.



The fire at 1805 Sunnydale Ave., which broke out around 1:30 p.m., was contained, and two dogs associated with the building were unhurt, fire officials said on social media.



The cause of the fire is under investigation.







A man reported unconscious in a parked, running vehicle in Petaluma was arrested on suspicion of DUI and possession of a concealed firearm Tuesday, police said.



Joel Barrera, 34, of Sonoma, was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail Tuesday on suspicion of DUI, firearm possession, driving on a suspended license and probation violation, according to police.



The case began around 6:30 p.m. when officers went to the Petaluma Wetlands Preservation Park parking lot in the 3800 block of Cypress Drive on a report of a person unconscious in a parked, running vehicle, police said.



Barrera allegedly showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and admitted to driving the vehicle, according to police. He displayed signs of impairment when the officers administered a field sobriety test, police said.



After the officers arrested Barrera, he was determined to have a blood alcohol content that was almost twice the legal limit, according to police. A records search allegedly revealed that he had a suspended license due to a previous DUI and was on probation in Marin County for that offense, police said.



The officers searched Barrera's car and found an unsecured semi-automatic Glock handgun and a loaded magazine, according to police.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Black Mountain Resources Limited is to spend much of the month of May trying to convince its shareholders to participate in a $3.2 million rights issue, the substantial amount of which is planned to be invested in the Busumbu phosphate project in eastern Uganda.

The launch of the rights issue comes less than three months after Black Mountain Resources, an Australian mining company, agreed to relinquish its license over the Namekara vermiculite mine for a debt relief.

Mining activity in Namekara vermiculite mine

According to some of the terms of the rights issue, $1.7 million of the proceeds will be booked as exploration funding for the Busumbu project and other existing copper and rare earth targets identified in the Bukusu complex.

For the Busumbu project, Black Mountain Resources has planned to spend $500,000 for drilling; $200,000 for preliminary mine planning and optimization studies; $150,000 for broad sampling and metallurgical test work; and $150,000 for preliminary processing plant optimization studies.

In a statement, Black Mountain Resources said: Previous exploration on the Busumbu Phosphate Project identified up to a 3km of strike extent of phosphate mineralization likely between Busumbu and the Namekara Vermiculite Mine. The results also indicated a substantial phosphate mineralization footprint for future exploration.

For the Bukusu project, the Australian mining company intends to spend $150,000 for ground survey geophysics and sampling and $250,000 for drilling in some areas.

A recent baseline study estimated that there are about 50 million tonnes of phosphate at Bukusu.

Black Mountain says it is preparing an exploration programme for the Bukusu carbonatite complex, which hosts the Busumbu phosphate mine. The company says it is engaged in advanced negotiations with a strategic partner to progress the Busumbu phosphate project.
Medical researchers are looking at ongoing trials on a number of potential vaccines in the hope that by 2021 an inoculation against the virus may be within sight.

Dr Francis Kiweewa, head of research and scientific affairs, Makerere University Water Reed Project, told The Observer that despite the antiretroviral drugs and preventive methods currently available, a vaccine is key to stopping the growing pandemic.

Dr Francis Kiweewa (L) explains the HIV vaccine phases

With all epidemic diseases we have had in the past such as polio, measles, smallpox and others, none of these outbreaks or infections have been controlled or eradicated without a vaccine. So, is it possible to eliminate HIV without a vaccine? We strongly need it and efforts are going on by researchers to get it, he said.

Kiweewa said new infections globally are increasing every year with about 1.8 million new infections being recorded in 2016, of which 1.5 million were from sub-Saharan Africa. A vaccine would work by training the body to produce antibodies to attack, kill or prevent HIV infection from multiplying in the body.

Kiweewa said only five HIV vaccine concepts in the last 35 years have reached phase three. This is the stage when they test to see if the vaccine works.

In phase one, we test and see if the vaccine is safe in humans by testing it on health volunteers. In phase two, we learn more about the side effects of the vaccine and confirm if it has potential to prevent HIV infection, he said.

He said by 2020 or 2021, they expect results from the clinical trials.

But even if the trials dont give us the vaccine, they will give us a lot of information about how to get a vaccine that works in few years after 2021, he says.

Challenges to get HIV vaccine

For now, Kiweewa said, the greatest challenge researchers are still facing in the search for an HIV vaccine is the virus ability to mutate or change which means any vaccine will have to work against all the available HIV types.

As we are about to get a vaccine, we find that it has changed its shape and the vaccine cant work on that one. A vaccine that will help us eradicate HIV must be able to respond to all different types of HIV. The mosaic concept uses different combinations that are able to target all HIV types that are available, he said.

HIV vaccine research is very expensive, costing billions of dollars to reach phase three, but many fail in labs because there are no funds to move them forward and yet they are developed by poor scientists.

Another challenge is that Africas community involvement in HIV vaccine participation is still very low, which makes the study is expensive too.

In Uganda, the governments financial contribution to research is still very low. This is why most studies are done in South Africa where government invests in research and many people are willing to participate, Kiweewa said.

Moses Nsubuga, commonly known as Supercharger, an HIV activist who has been living with HIV since 1994, says a vaccine will not only benefit HIV-negative persons since the researchers are also developing a therapeutic vaccine for HIV-positive people to boost their immunity and bring an end to the taking of daily antiretroviral medication.

There are two types of HIV vaccine under trial. These are preventative and therapeutic. The therapeutic vaccine is for people who are already infected to help boost their immunity and fight the infection without using antiretroviral therapy. However, preventative vaccine is given to HIV negatives to train the body to be able to recognise and fight HIV whenever encountered, he says.

I have also learnt of the Elite or HIV controllers who have been infected with HIV since 1980s but they dont fall sick; their CD4 counts are high, their viral load is very low but dont use ART. Researchers worldwide are identifying elite controllers to get some of their antibodies, and make a vaccine out of them which they can give to other infected people, he says.

He says a vaccine will be given once in a lifetime, and it will highly reduce cases of drug resistance due to failure of taking drugs on time.

Ultimately, according to Nsubuga, a vaccine is cheaper to invest in than buying ARVs daily and it will also save the nation from issues of HIV drug stockouts.

For example, the government spends Shs 250,000 for my ARVs every month since I am on second-line treatment but we are very many patients. And those who are on first line, they use drugs worth Shs 50,000 per month and they are over one million people, Nsubuga says.

zuraneetah2015@gmail.com
PARIS  The 4-year-old boy seemed to be suspended from a balcony. An adult standing nearby seemed powerless to help. Disaster seemed the only possible outcome.

Then, to the nimble rescue on the streets of Paris on Saturday evening came a young man whom some French people have started to call the Spider-Man of the 18th, referring to the area of Paris where the episode unfolded.

With a combination of grit, agility and muscle, the man hauled himself hand over hand from one balcony to another, springing from one parapet to grasp the next one up. A crowd that had gathered before he began his daring exploit urged him ever upward, according to onlookers video that was shared widely on social media.

Finally, after scaling four balconies, the man reached the child and pulled him to safety. And suddenly, an act of individual courage and resourcefulness began to play into Europes fraught and polarized debate about outsiders, immigrants and refugees.

The man, identified as Mamoudou Gassama, 22, is a migrant from Mali, a troubled former French colony in northwest Africa, who said he had journeyed through Burkina Faso, Niger and Libya before making the dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossing to Italy and arriving in France in September.

Gassama had yearned to secure the requisite documentation to live legally in France, and his dream came true Monday after a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.

I told him that in recognition of his heroic act he would have his papers in order as quickly as possible, Macron said in a statement after meeting with Gassama at the Elysee Palace.

Gassama will be one of a lucky few. In 2017, only five people were granted residency papers for exceptional talent or services rendered to the community, according to statistics from the French Interior Ministry. In 2016, there were six.

Sitting across from Macron in one of the palaces many gilded rooms, Gassama told the French president about the rescue. Bravo, Macron said.

Macron said in his statement that Paris firefighters were eager to welcome Gassama into their ranks, and that he added that he had invited Gassama to apply for French citizenship.

Still, the rescue came amid a tightening of Frances immigration policy, and the French president was quick to clarify that Gassama was an exception, not the rule. Macron defeated anti-immigration far-right leader Marine Le Pen in presidential elections last year, but immigration is still a deeply divisive issue.

Parliament has been discussing a draft law put forward by the French government that restricts the rights of asylum-seekers, a measure that has drawn fierce criticism from human rights groups.

Macron has said repeatedly that France could welcome only those with legitimate grounds for asylum.

Aurelien Breeden and Alan Cowell are New York Times writers.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand  New Zealand plans to slaughter about 150,000 cows as it tries to eradicate a strain of disease-causing bacteria from the national herd.

Politicians and industry leaders announced the ambitious plan Monday. They say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and, if successful, would be the first time an infected country has eliminated Mycoplasma bovis.

Farming is vital to the economy in New Zealand, whose isolation has helped protect it from some diseases that affect herds elsewhere.

Last July, Mycoplasma bovis was found in the country for the first time. Found in Europe and the U.S., the bacteria can cause cows to develop mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis and other diseases. They are not considered a threat to food safety, but do cause production losses.

Officials say they plan to kill all cows on any farms where the bacteria are found, even if some of the animals are healthy. They say many of the cows will be slaughtered at processing plants and used for beef, but some cows will have to be killed and buried on the farms or dumped in approved landfills.

Officials have the legal authority to forcibly enter farms and kill animals even in cases where a farmer might resist.

Katie Milne, the national president of the advocacy group Federated Farmers, said it was important to try to get rid of Mycoplasma bovis while there was still a chance. She said they would try to make sure affected farmers had all the support they needed, including adequate compensation.

This is a tough time, and the pain and anguish theyre going to go through is really hideous, she said of the farmers.

New Zealand is home to some 10 million cows, about double its human population. About two-thirds are dairy cows and the rest beef cattle. Milk products represent the countrys largest single export, and much of it is sold to China and used in infant formula.

Mycoplasma bovis has so far been found on 38 farms throughout New Zealand, officials say, a number they expect to rise to at least 142 farms based on computer modeling. Officials are still trying to figure out how the bacteria got into the country despite strict biosecurity controls.

The cost of the eradication program is estimated at 886 million New Zealand dollars ($616 million) over ten years.

Nick Perry is an Associated Press writer.
RIO DE JANEIRO  Brazilian cabinet ministers on Monday implored truckers to end a crippling eight-day strike that has led to major shortages and disruptions in Latin Americas largest nation, saying the government had gone as far as it could to meet their demands.

The ministers spoke in Brasilia hours after President Michel Temer announced a series of measures aimed at getting truckers back to work. Late Sunday, Temer said the government would subsidize a 10 percent drop in diesel prices for 60 days. He also said measures were being crafted to cut tolls for truckers and establish minimum freight rates, both key demands.

We are at the limit of what we can do to normalize the situation, said Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia.

It wasnt immediately clear how many truckers would accept the governments stance. Several unions said Monday they would start demobilizing their blockades but needed a few days to talk to members. Other unions remained did not comment.

A supposed agreement reached between several unions and the government last week was ignored by thousands of truckers, who continued striking through the weekend. On Monday, thousands of schools remained shuttered, many flights were canceled and many supermarket shelves were empty.

Wendel Campos, a trucker in Rio de Janeiro who vowed to keep protesting, said he would not accept the measures because he believed prices would go back up in a few months. We will stay here as long as necessary, he said.

At the heart of the impasse is a fight over the future of the economy, particularly as it relates to state oil company Petrobas.

Temers predecessor, President Dilma Rousseff, implemented price controls that worked as de facto subsidies, keeping prices relatively low regardless of what was happening in the world oil markets.

However, beginning in 2014, the so-called Car Wash investigation uncovered a massive kickback scheme for construction contracts coming from Petrobras. The probe, which continues, has led to the jailing of several of the countrys elite.

In 2016, Temer, then vice president, took over for Rousseff when she was impeached and removed from office. As part of a series of reforms aimed at pulling Brazil from a deep recession, Temers administration said there would no longer be interference in Petrobras pricing.

Peter Prengaman and Marcelo Silva De Sousa are Associated Press writers.
1 Plastics ban: The European Union has proposed banning plastic products such as straws, stirs and balloon sticks when alternatives are easily available in an attempt to reduce litter spoiling beaches and oceans. The European Commission in Brussels said its proposal would seek to cut marine litter in half for the 10 most prominent items and avoid environmental damage estimated at over $250 billion over the next dozen years. EU Vice President Frans Timmermans said Monday that plastic utensils would not be banned completely, but steps would be taken to have them made out of sustainable materials when possible. The proposal will next be assessed by the EU Parliament and member states.

2 Syria fighting: A state-run newspaper said Monday that the government will keep fighting terrorists despite U.S. warnings against a new offensive against rebels in southern Daraa province, while Russia said Syrian troops should deploy in the countrys southwest, near Israel. The Al-Baath daily said in an editorial that the U.S. threat underscores the dirty American role in the terrorist war against Syria. It stressed that the Syrian army is determined to retake all parts of Syria. The United States, Russia and Jordan agreed last year to include Daraa in a de-escalation zone and freeze the lines of conflict there. But the area has been tense after a series of recent Israeli strikes on Syrian and Iranian forces. Iran is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Gaagaa Bus Service company has paid Shs 60 million in compensation to victims of the tragic bus accident that occurred in Kiryandongo district last Friday.



The accident claimed 22 lives and 15 others nursing injuries. The 22 were killed when a Kampala bound bus registration number UAK 562L hit the rear of a tractor before colliding with an oncoming truck in Nanda village, 12 kilometres from Karuma township in Mutunda sub-county.



Gaagaa manager Umar Babu told URN today, Monday that the families of the deceased have been given Shs 3 million each to cater for burial arrangements. He said the money has already been handed to the families.



He made the revelation as Christians gathered at Akii Bua stadium in Lira town for a requiem mass organized by Lira Elders Fellowship, an association that brings together all the religious leaders in the region. The company also mobilised about Shs 17 million to support the families of the injured thereafter. Babu says they are closely monitoring those admitted at Nsambya and Mulago hospitals. Gaagaa Bus Service company has paid Shs 60 million in compensation to victims of the tragic bus accident that occurred in Kiryandongo district last Friday.The accident claimed 22 lives and 15 others nursing injuries. The 22 were killed when a Kampala bound bus registration number UAK 562L hit the rear of a tractor before colliding with an oncoming truck in Nanda village, 12 kilometres from Karuma township in Mutunda sub-county.Gaagaa manager Umar Babu told URN today, Monday that the families of the deceased have been given Shs 3 million each to cater for burial arrangements. He said the money has already been handed to the families.He made the revelation as Christians gathered at Akii Bua stadium in Lira town for a requiem mass organized by Lira Elders Fellowship, an association that brings together all the religious leaders in the region. The company also mobilised about Shs 17 million to support the families of the injured thereafter. Babu says they are closely monitoring those admitted at Nsambya and Mulago hospitals.

"We contribute normally when such an incident happens. We contribute some bit of money for burial and then afterwards we sit with them when they are settled. Most people [families] have picked the money. We're giving to 20 [families] the other two [also killed in the accident] were not with us. The other two, one was trailer driver and the other one was a truck driver," Babu said.



Lira Municipality member of parliament, Jimmy Akena, welcomed the decision by the Gaagaa describing it as a positive gesture. He, however, cautioned them against making a return journey and presenting mechanically dangerous buses.



Earlier in the day, President Yoweri Museveni on Monday also delivered his pledge to the families of the 22 people who were killed in the accident. The president promised each of the 15 survivors Shs 3 million and Shs 5 million to the families of the dead, a promise he delivered on today.



The president, through his State House comptroller Lucy Nakyobe, visited the injured, six in Mulago hospital, and seven in Nsambya hospital to deliver the cash.
ROME  Italian populists vowed Monday to convert voter anger over their thwarted bid to govern for the first time into a referendum on the European Union, financial markets and eurozone membership as the country found itself propelled to fresh elections as soon as late summer.

Amid the political turmoil, Carlo Cottarelli, an economist with International Monetary Fund experience, was asked by the Italian president to assemble a technocrat government to take the country to elections.

With weeks of political uncertainty taking a toll on Italys bond and stock markets, Premier-designate Cottarelli said the return to the polls could come as early as after the August vacation break.

Only five days ago, another premier-designate, political novice Giuseppe Conte, stood in the same spot in the Quirinal presidential palace and declared he would work to create a government of change in what would have been Italys  and western Europes  first populist government.

That dream deflated dramatically Sunday night when President Sergio Mattarella refused to submit to populist demands that he approve their proposed economy minister, who in the past has recommended having a Plan B to exit the eurozone if EU strictures become too tight for Italy.

This isnt democracy, this isnt respect for the popular vote, railed Matteo Salvini, a firebrand populist whose right-wing League was one of the anti-EU parties foiled by Mattarella. Its just the last gasp of the strong powers who want Italy as a frightened, precarious slave.

The next elections will be a plebiscite: the people and real life versus the old castes and the Lords of the Spread, Salvini said, referring to financial speculators.

Milan-based economist Nicola Nobile said it appeared that the upcoming election could shape up as a de facto referendum on Italian membership in the eurozone.

Sharing Salvinis anger was 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio, the populist who had hoped to govern with Salvini. Di Maio repeatedly called for Mattarellas impeachment for vetoing their pick for economy minister.

He also urged those angry like him to rally in Rome on Saturday. The gathering, likely to double as a campaign event, coincides with a national holiday celebrating the Republic and features a military parade and VIP reviewing stands in the heart of the capital.

Opposition Democrats contended that the populists, by calling the rally, want to stage the equivalent of the 1922 March on Rome that paved the way for Benito Mussolinis ascension to power and his Fascist regime.

The campaign thats being prepared will be frightening, wrote La Stampa political commentator Marcello Sorgi.

When Italians voted March 4, the result was a Parliament with no clear-cut majority. As weeks passed without a government, Mattarella warned he would reluctantly appoint a nonpolitical Cabinet to take the country to fresh elections if a viable coalition could not be forged.

Frances DEmilio is an Associated Press writer.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.

A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Royal Enfield will launch its latest motorcycle the Classic Pegasus edition in India on May 30. The limited edition bike will have only 1000 units globally, out of which India will get 250. The Classic 500 has been inspired by the Royal Enfield RE/WD 125 used during WWII.

A lightweight motorcycle, the 125cc two-stroke bike was known as the 'Flying Flea' and was deployed behind enemy lines via parachutes onboard the Hirsa Gilder to provide communications support. It also acted as a platform for quick mobility for the forward units of the Airborne Pegasus. It was the only proper motorcycle that was used by airborne troops during D-Day and over 4,000 were deployed across various sites of war like Normandy and Arnhem.















Royal Enfield has been long associated with military motorcycles and military in general. The bike making company's team made their best efforts to not only create this new motorcycle but also recreate an old glory. The makers took inspiration from the 'Flying Flea' and put them in the Classic 500. They spent a lot of time making colour swatches and ultimately came up with two colour options for the Pegasus Edition - Service Brown and Olive Dab Green. Indian customers will only get the Brown colour as civilians are not allowed to have vehicles that have the Army colour. Another specialty about the Classic 500 is that the bike will come with stenciled unique serial numbers on the tank to give it the military motorcycle feel.















The placing and positioning of the Pegasus logo on the fuel tank was also given a lot of emphasis by the makers to recreate the RE roundel. The Pegasus Classic 500 will also come with a yellow stripe on the side of the engine cover. This may not mean anything now but the makers gave that attention to detail to ensure the bike had the essence of the original Flying Flea. The yellow stripe was originally used to define the center of gravity of the motorcycle. The bike fancies a bespoke set of military-style canvas panniers, the Pegasus motif on the tank and panniers and period correct RE badging. Each bike will also have brown handlebar grips, blacked out silencers, rims, a leather strap with brass buckles across the air filte, kickstart lever, pedals and headlight bezel to highlight the functional, period look.













The Royal Enfield Pegasus Classic 500 will be priced at Rs 2.5 lakh ex-showroom Delhi.





The classic 500 will be powered by a 499cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that will produce a maximum power of 27.2Bhp at 5250rpm and a torque of 41.3 Nm at 4000rpm. Other features like chassis, brakes and handlebar remain same like the regular model.
So much, then, for Elon Musk solving climate change or everything else he has promised to do, like building cities on Mars or (much more preposterously) solving LA traffic. At this point, it would be enough for Musk to save his company and the jobs of its 37,000 or so employees. For them and their families, saving the world first requires that Musk turn a profit on his existing business, not spin tales about his future ones.

I'll leave it to market analysts to figure out whether that can happen (some actually think it can), though the solution will not come from finding the next John Sculley to discipline Musk's Steve Jobs. The Apple of the 1980s was a brilliant idea with a terrible leader.

Elon Musk's Tesla has had its share of struggles. Credit:AP

Tesla, by contrast, today is a terrible idea with a brilliant leader. The terrible idea is that electric cars are the wave of the future, at least for the mass market. Gasoline has advantages in energy density, cost, infrastructure and transportability that electricity doesn't and won't for decades. The brilliance is Musk's Trumplike ability to get people to believe in him and his preposterous promises. Tesla without Musk would be Oz without the Wizard.

Much of the blame for the Tesla fiasco goes to government, which, in the name of green virtue, decided to subsidise the hobbies of millionaires to the tune of a $US7,500 federal tax credit per car sold, along with additional state-based rebates. Would Tesla be a viable company without the subsidies? Doubtful. When Hong Kong got rid of subsidies last year, Tesla sales fell from 2,939  to zero. It may be unfair to describe Tesla as Solyndra on wheels, but only slightly.
The Australian sharemarket is expected to open weaker after European stocks fell on a quiet night of trade with US and UK markets closed for public holidays.

1. ASX: The local sharemarket started the week with a 29-point loss, with oil's retreat hitting energy companies hard. Futures are pointing to a 9-point drop at the open, setting up the local index to fall again after declining on Monday.

2. US-China: China told the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement body on Monday that US accusations that Beijing forced companies to hand over technology as a cost of doing business in China were groundless.

Under WTO rules, if disputes are not settled amicably after 60 days, the complainant can ask for a panel of experts to adjudicate, escalating the dispute and triggering a legal case that takes years to settle.
People who rely on legal aid will find it even harder to access help because lawyers who work for the service have not had a pay rise in more than 10 years, the profession has warned.

NSW Law Society president Doug Humphreys said if private practitioners are not adequately paid "more will walk away from legal aid work".

The law society is calling for an increase in the hourly rate which has been frozen at $150 since 2007.

"Without a substantial increase in funding for legal aid, including for private practitioners doing legal aid work, we risk access to justice becoming a privilege rather than an entitlement," Mr Humphreys said.
While Nine tried to lure viewers to its lesser-watched channel with bikinis and rippling abs, Seven went down a similar  but very different  path.

On Sunday evening, Melissa Doyle presented her network's answer to Love Island  a fly-on-the-wall look at former Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie hunting for the perfect man.

While the ex-politician is renowned for not being afraid to talk about men's, um, assets, not even the the show's "adult themes" warning could prepare some viewers for what came next.

After Lambie told Sunday Night viewers she was going to drive around Australia looking for her first serious relationship in 15 years  in a yellow "Putting Tasmania First" van, of course  the cameras followed her into what could have been mistaken for a suburban tupperware party.
Its in the back of my mind as something I need to fix but its never become an apparent problem that I need to do instantaneously, which means it never gets done, Ms Vaughan-Taylor said.

Ms Vaughan-Taylor, a university student from Gladesville in Sydney, has held part-time jobs paying superannuation for four years, first as a bartender at a local pub and now nearby in a bottle shop.

Like most young people, Ms Vaughan-Taylor was automatically enrolled in her employers default super funds. As a result she has one account with Rest Super and one with HostPlus.

Loading

Both industry funds are consistently among the top 10 performers, but it leaves Ms Vaughan-Taylor paying two sets of fixed administration costs and possibly double sets of default insurance premiums on a low balance.

My brother had problems with this, Ms Vaughan-Taylor said. Im trying to find out if I have [insurance] too - its not something I need at my young age as I dont have children or anyone relying on me.
The man who died in a head-on crash on a notorious road near the NSW Riverina town of Tumut on Sunday was a 67-year-old from Canberra.

NSW Police confirmed an Aranda man, who was driving a Toyota RAV4, died at the scene of the smash, which happened on Gocup Road about 8.40am.

Gocup Road, on which the NSW government has completed $65.9 million worth of safety upgrades since 2012. Credit:NSW government

His passenger, a 48-year-old Dickson man, was airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a serious condition.

The sole occupant of the other car, a dual cab ute, was taken by ambulance to Wagga Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
An international freight plane flying for Qantas was stuck with a $67,000 bill after making an unexpected landing at Canberra Airport.

Invoices showed the freight company had to pay the bill by credit card in three instalments because it was so large, before the plane could continue to Sydney.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who last week likened Canberra Airport's behaviour to a crew of Somali pirates. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The diversion, in February 2017, happened a month before a controversial incident in which an escort car was parked behind a diverted Qantas plane after another unexpected landing.

An invoice and credit card receipts showed the 747 freight plane was billed a $19,000 landing charge, a $14,000 aircraft parking charge, and a $28,000 alternate operation fee, plus $6,000 in GST.
As we wind down into June and the dry Canberra cold creeps even further under our doors and ices up our windscreens, I've taken it upon myself to find the hottest, crispiest, creamiest and most memorable slice of deep-fried vegetable in Canberra.

Yes, I'm on the hunt for the ACT's best potato scallop. (I know, I know, it's kind of unbelievable how I always write the news that matters most for The Canberra Times.)

Anthony Ferraro from Little Theo's Takeaway in Kambah says we have to reimagine how we think about the humble potato scallop. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

But it's not as dreamy as it sounds. Canberrans are fiercely loyal to their local/favourite takeaways and my search has aleady started some pretty narky fights between the north and south on Facebook.

Using social media, I've crowdsourced the city's top four scallops and I'm going to have to travel deep into suburbia as part of my important quest. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be biting into deep-fried potato at Charnwood Regal Charcoal Chicken, Hughes Takeaway and Snapper on the Lake underneath the yacht club.
Im as stereotypically left as the next inner-city uni student. But as much as it breaks my heart to see the climbing statistics of children and young people killed in American shootings, gathering around a few hundred latte-sipping hipsters outside State Library in Melbourne or Sydney Town Hall will do nothing to change that. And this is just one symptom of the trend there seems to be in recent years of young Australians jumping on the bandwagon of international political issues, no matter the degree of separation they have from our own lives.

This wasnt the first time I had seen posters that focused on political issues far from home. A year and a half earlier, the same walls had been plastered with plans for an anti-Trump rally  one of the many that took place across Australias capital cities and, no doubt, the world. And, like the March For Our Lives posters, they had frustrated me immensely.

A few weeks ago, I was dawdling around my university campus when I stumbled upon a string of familiar posters. They were familiar because I had seen the same image and slogan posted, shared and re-tweeted by almost every left-wing American celebrity I follow on social media: March For Our Lives.

More recently, my Facebook newsfeed flooded with support for the Irish referendum on abortion. Profile picture changes, impassioned statuses about bodily autonomy, celebratory posts as the landslide victory came through. But while we can pat each other on the back and be happy for the Irish women who can now exercise the right to choose, we overlook the fact that, in parts of Australia, namely Queensland and NSW, abortion is still a criminal offence.

While medical exceptions apply, and prosecutions are rare (although that didnt stop a 12-year-old Queensland girl from being taken to court in 2016), the laws say a lot about the rigidity of the Australian state governments in issues that have semi-religious implications.

When even countries like the Roman Catholic Ireland can beat us to the post on issues of same-sex marriage and abortion rights, the place of the church in contemporary Australian politics needs to be questioned. And for a group of people so vocal about the rights of people in countries on the other side of the world from us, young Australians have remained comparatively  and depressingly  silent on the issue at home.

Trump and the Republican party wont switch on the global news, catch wind of a Hyde Park rally, and suddenly decide to drastically reform gun control. Neither will the Irish government make a policy decision based on what the young people Down Under are saying. But our state premiers might. If we want to make a real difference to the lives and liberties of women, or any vulnerable people, there are things we can do, and should be doing, closer to home. Because as nice as a March For Our Lives or Vote Yes Ireland profile picture may be, it doesnt change a damn thing here, or anywhere else in the world.

Eleanor Kirk is a university student.
Determined Australians anxious to get a flu vaccination can still get their hands on remaining stock, but it may take some effort.

Government vaccine supplies have been almost exhausted by unprecedented demand spurred by last years deadly influenza season.

However doctors and pharmacists say its not impossible to get a vaccine, especially if youre willing to shop around.

Some pharmacies are even offering paid flu vaccines for healthy people, despite state health authorities requesting that doses be rationed for the most vulnerable.
Bestselling Australian author Colleen McCullough told police she feared for her safety because her husband became aggressive after she denied him money, the NSW Supreme Court has heard.

McCullough's widower Ric Robinson is embroiled in a bitter and costly NSW Supreme Court feud with his late wife's executor and a US university over her estate, ranging from her art collection to royalties from her 25 books, including the 1977 hit The Thorn Birds.

Author Colleen McCullough, in 2008. Credit:Danielle Smith

The late author's close friend and executor of her will, Selwa Anthony, has accused Mr Robinson of taking advantage of his late wife's ill health to change McCullough's will in the days before her death on Norfolk Island on January 29, 2015. Mr Robinson vehemently denies the claims.

Ms Anthony is pursing the matter in court and has given evidence she believes McCullough intended to leave her entire estate to the University of Oklahoma Foundation, as per a will drawn up in July 2014.
Biometrics and artificial intelligence will be harnessed to make the new Western Sydney Airport the country's first digital airport and challenge Sydney Airport's near-monopoly, the chairman of the corporation overseeing the $5.3 billion project says.

Paul O'Sullivan, the head of WSA Co and a former chief executive of Optus, said the use of advanced technologies at the curfew-free airport would cut processing times for passengers significantly and the length of time it took to turnaround aircraft at terminal gates.

You're going to see a real wake-up call for the incumbent airport in Sydney. We can streamline the flow of this airport in a way a legacy airport will have to spend a fortune to retrofit, he said.

Digital technology will ensure the airport not only offers a better airline and passenger experience, but that we can get the economics right so that we can make it cost effective for airlines.
The sister of Manly Sea Eagles player Dylan Walker has been freed on bail after she was charged with killing her partner in Sydney's south.

Jade Walker, 31, was arrested after police found Gilbert Caetano unconscious inside the Brighton-Le-Sands home he shared with his parents in the early hours of Sunday, May 20.

Manly Sea Eagles player Dylan Walker with his sister Jade Walker.

Officers were called to the home on General Holmes Drive after reports of a domestic violence incident about 1.10am.

They tried to resuscitate Mr Caetano, 51, but he died at the scene.
A man has been charged after a truck carrying a load of horses crashed near Dubbo at the weekend, killing a local harness racing identity.

Ken Smith was killed in a truck crash near Dubbo on the weekend. Credit:Facebook

The truck carrying 17 horses was driving along Mogriguy Road, north of Dubbo, about 10.40am on Saturday when it rolled into a culvert.

A 64-year-old man, named as respected harness racing identity Ken Smith, died at the scene. A 16-year-old boy suffered head injuries and was flown to Westmead Hospital in Sydney.

The 32-year-old driver was taken to Dubbo Hospital with minor injuries.
All subjects under 18th Constitution Amendment shifted to GB govt: Shahid Khaqan

GILGIT: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the newly promulgated Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 has transferred all the powers to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination.



All subjects under the 18th Constitution Amendment have been shifted to the Gilgit-Baltistan government, yet if the GB representatives have some more demands, we can include [them] in the order, [as] our government is still left some days, vowed PM Abbasi while addressing a joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and GB Council on Sunday.



From today I as the prime minster and Barjees Tahir as federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan have become powerless as far as the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned. All the powers have been shifted to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and no one can abolish the powers which we have transferred to them.



Now onwards the governor as well as all GB High Court judges, including chief justice, will be appointed from Gilgit-Baltistan, Mr Abbasi said, adding that the GB Council would function as an advisory body.



He said it was amazing that some opposition parties were protesting against the law. If they had listened, they would have noticed that all powers had already been transferred to local representatives under the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, which did not need legislation through the parliament. If legislation through the parliament was needed, we could have done it as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz enjoys majority in the house, said Mr Abbasi.



Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier expressed the hope that GB would be the most prosperous and developed area of the country under the project. He suggested locals to become aware of CPEC benefits and start working to reap maximum benefits of the project.



He said the international issues related to the region might go on, but it was a proud moment for the government as GB people would have same rights which the people of other parts of the country enjoyed.



Governor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mohammad Barjees Tahir, members of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and GB council attended the session.



Earlier during his address, Chief Minister Hafeez-ur-Rehman thanked PM Abbasi and termed his visit a milestone in the history of GB. While he had just started his speech, Leader of the Opposition in GB Assembly Mohammad Shafi Khan stood up from his seat and interrupted the CM to say GB people had principally rejected the order.



How can GB be governed through orders? he asked, arguing that the GB should be granted the status of the AJK-like set-up if there was any complication to declare GB as constitutional part of Pakistan. However, he questioned, why the people of GB had been deprived from their constitutional and fundamental rights in the name of Kashmir.



Mr Khan announced that the opposition parties had decided principally not to accept any order without constitutional protection. He said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the India-held Kashmir had dual citizenship and enjoyed all basic rights.



Other opposition members Javed Hussain of Pakistan Peoples Party, Raja Jahanzeb of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Nawaz Naji of Balawaristan National Front stood up and shouted the slogan orders not accepted. The opposition lawmakers also tore apart the copies of the agenda.



During the protest, a scuffle erupted between opposition and ruling party members. PML-N lawmaker retired Major Mohammad Amin and PTI legislator Raja Jahanzeb, who had arrived on crutches to attend the session, came to blows before the opposition staged a walkout.



Following the walkout by the opposition, the prime minister began his speech.
Police are investigating after a woman's body was found at a construction site in Sydney's north-west on Tuesday morning.

Emergency services were called to the multi-storey building site on Jordan Street in Gladesville about 7am, after the woman's body was found.

Officers from Ryde Police Area Command established a crime scene and detectives began examining the area.

On Tuesday morning a police spokeswoman said it was unclear whether the woman's death was suspicious or caused by possible misadventure.
Cindy Palmer says she still believes she made the right decision to put her daughter Tiahleigh into foster care, despite being blamed for the schoolgirls death.

The 12-year-old was killed by her foster father Rick Thorburn in 2015, five years after she had been put in foster care.

On Friday, Thorburn was sentenced to life behind bars for the murder of the girl in October 2015.

Ms Palmer said she received death threats when her daughter's body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River, with people blaming her for Tiahleigh's death.
Three people charged with the murder of Nambour man Bruce Saunders, 54, faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

61-year-old Gympie man Peter John Koenig, 59-year-old Deception Bay man Gregory Lee Roser and 57-year-old Sunshine Coast woman Sharon Graham were all remanded in custody.

All three were charged with one count each of murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The trio will face Maroochydore Magistrates Court again on August 3.

Mr Saunders died in November after reportedly falling into a woodchipper while clearing a driveway at Goomboorian near Gympie, north of Brisbane.
He is the artist you dont know you know.

Christopher Trotters prominent mechanical kangaroos on George Street have been turning heads for more than 19 years.

One of Trotter's famous Kangaroos, on George Street in Brisbane. Credit:Michelle Smith

Now, the 49-year-old public artist has unveiled a new exhibition to promote his latest whimsical creations.

The Foreign Bodies exhibition displays 17 new metal sculptures designed by Trotter, which can be viewed at the Ipswich Art Gallery until July 22.
Regardless, Regina wanted to make sure Darling had settled into her forever home. She messaged Ms Reynell and asked her to let her know how Darling settled into her new paddock, and if she handled the journey well. "I didnt hear back, so in the morning I texted again and asked if she settled in alright. She said 'shes settling in great, I got home half an hour ago and will send photos tomorrow'," Regina said. When Regina messaged again about a photo, Ms Reynell said she was away for work and she would send a photo as soon as she could. Regina never received a photo of Darling, and said she was becoming worried.

"At this point, Im going hang on, somethings not quite right," she said. And soon, she became even more suspicious. One night on Facebook, Regina was scrolling through her news feed when she stopped to look at a photo a local dogger's yard had posted on their page. Regina began her search for Darling, who was recognisable by her white markings, earlier this year. She's since returned home. Credit:Regina Pandurovic "The dogger has a Facebook page where he advertises horses for re-sale to private homes," she said. "I saw a photo, and in the background, I saw a horse that I thought was Darling.

"I ended up messaging him and asked if she had come through." A dogger is a colloquial term for a person who sells horses on to a knackery. The horses are then slaughtered and processed, often for pet food. They are also known as "last chance dealers" - meaning if no one picks up a horse in their care and they are unable to fetch a reasonable price for it, they will sell the animal on to a knackery. After some back and forth, Regina eventually had her answer. "[The dogger's yard owner] rang me, he goes 'yes, I bought the mare'."

Darling was not with a new companion as Regina says she was promised, and had in fact been sold to a dogger's yard based out of a Queensland town. At the time Darling was at the dogger's yard, Regina was told there were "several horse kills in the time she was there". The yard she was sold to is also very clear about its role: "many of these horses listed... are what one would call "Doggers or Project" Horses", the company website reads. "We do indeed send horses to the meatworks and many of the ones we have advertised here may well deserve another chance. "Not all the horses advertised here are Doggers - the horses destined for meatworks will have a "D Day" on their ad."

Later, Regina also found out Ms Reynell had allegedly hired the dogger's yard's truck in order to transport her horse. When Regina picked up Darling after paying $550 for her safe return, she found she had suffered a significant laceration to her face. "I got the money together somehow  my children gave me money from their savings to buy her back," Regina said. "She is slowly recovering but is still not her old self." The dogger's yard Ms Reynell sold the mare to said the mare had suffered the laceration and eye infection prior to coming into their care, but offered to put $100 towards the vet bill of the animal.

The injury and infection Darling allegedly received at some point during her time away from Regina. Ms Reynell has also denied the mare became injured while she was in her care. "Once I had composed myself, I put a post on Facebook telling Darling's story," Regina said. "Never in my wildest dreams I could have imagined to hear from so many other horse owners." Regina's story has racked up hundreds of shares, and her story has recently made its way into the Western Australia horse community.

A post stating Ms Reynell was operating in Chidlow, a small town about an hour outside of Perth, was shared more than 3000 times accompanied by a screenshot from her Facebook page detailing her transport routes. A screenshot from Sarah Reynell's Facebook page from last year, suggesting which dates she will be in WA. It's understood Ms Reynell agreed to transport horses on a route between Seymour in Victoria to Chidlow between December 4 and 8 last year. When the post regarding her transport business was shared, stories regarding Ms Reynell began to flood social media. Fairfax Media has spoken to five other horse owners who say they gave up their horses to Ms Reynell and had not recieved communication past the point of handing over their animals.

Tracey Whitney, who lives about two-and-a-half hours west of Gympie, said she also had dealings with Ms Reynell. She had replied to an advertisement previously regarding someone from the Gold Coast looking for a companion horse. Her gelding, 19-year-old King, was a happy and gentle animal who loved children. Tracey's own children had outgrown King so he was looking for a new family - on a free lease of course, so she wouldn't have to say goodbye completely. When the sale fell through, Tracey forgot about her Facebook comment until she recieved a private message.

"Sarah messaged me asking if I still had a companion horse. I said 'well, hes sort of with other horses at the moment'," she said. "But then Sarah said she had a 10-year-old [girl] whos looking for a really, really quiet horse. So I said okay - because hes really good for kids, and he loves kids. "I told her the story that I bred his mum, I bred him, and when her child was done with him, he was to come back to me, so he could just retire and live out his days. "I thought this would be a great move as he could go to Pony Club  he loves all that, feeling important. "She came with a black truck. It was silly of me but I just took her word, because when Ive given my word, Ive stuck by them. Other people Ive given horses to have stuck by theirs ... but theres always one.

"Two days later I texted her and said 'hey wheres the photo, how is he?' "And it was 'Oh sorry, I broke my phone, Ill get a photo to you within the next couple of days'. "There was no word from her, so I messaged her again and tried to call her. She wouldnt answer the phone call, so I thought maybe she didnt want to be harassed all the time by the ex-owner. "I let it lie, and Id try again in a month. She then didnt reply again." Tracey is still attempting to locate King. Credit:Tracey Whitney

Deirdre Steb was also looking to find a permanent home for her 20-year-old mare Rosepark Lady she was unable to keep due to issues with her property, and was contacted on Facebook by Ms Reynell. Deirdre said she would only be giving away the animal if Ms Reynell could confirm she would not be sold onto doggers, and she would have a forever home. In a text message, Ms Reynell "guaranteed" the horse would have a permanent home. The horse was picked up on January 3, and Ms Steb asked for photos of the animal settling into its new home. Ms Reynell said the mare was "going really well", and the horse was "in a large paddock running with other mares".

Deirdre again asked for a photo but never recieved pictures. After repeatedly following up about a photo of the horse, Ms Reynell said she could not send Deirdre a photo as her horse had died in the paddock due to natural causes about three weeks earlier. Deirdre was unable to keep of 20-year-old Rosepark Lady due to issues with her paddock flooding and an inability to grow grazing grass. She said she hadn't wanted to tell Deirdre about the development because of her "threatening" messages asking about the horse. In another instance, Ms Reynell told Queensland woman Emily Uebergang she was unable to provide a photo of their horse Sprite in his new home as the animal had died in a paddock after a truck had driven through the property and struck it. Sprite was used mainly for riding.

Ms Reynell declined to comment about the specifics of each allegation, but said she strongly refuted them all. Both Deirdre and Tracey have contacted their local knackeries and last-chance dealers following further information about Ms Reynell becoming public, but have run into trouble as there is little regulation around recording horses that come through knackery doors. In some cases, knackeries accept horses from trusted last-chance dealers with no record. The Australian Equine Unification Scheme, a collection of volunteers and members dedicated to promoting regulation change in the horse industry, said they had received three individual reports from horse owners who have previously had contact with Ms Reynell. AEUS report coordinator Justine Curatolo said there needed to be a change in the way the Australian horse industry keeps track of its animals.

"Currently there appears to be a... widespread systematic industry which profits significantly... from unwanted horses," she said. "This is occurring Australia-wide with many well publicized examples of horses being intentionally put through livestock horse sales. "These horses are being accepted by the saleyard manager and then sold on to either a private buyer or a kill buyer with money changing hand... horses are repeatedly being sold." A spokesperson for AEUS agreed with Ms Curatolo's assessment, and said there continued to be issues with horse identification nationwide. "The major issue is the lack of traceability of horses here in Australia," she said.
One of the state's biggest unions has called on the McGowan government to follow a Victorian Labor party commitment and introduce 20-year jail sentences and multi-million-dollar fines for employers who fail to prevent workplace deaths.

On Saturday Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced they would introduce industrial manslaughter legislation if relected in November.

Gerard "Gerry" Bradley and Joe McDermott, from Northern Ireland, were killed in a workplace accident in East Perth in 2015. Credit:Facebook

The legislation would create criminal offences for workplace deaths, allowing employers to be fined almost $16 million for a death under their watch or jailed for up to 20 years.

Queensland introduced similar laws earlier this year.
The ACT government will announce funding on Tuesday for 50 new electric vehicle charging stations in Canberra, tripling the number of public charging stations currently available.

Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said the upcoming budget will include $456,000 for installation of the standard dual electric vehicle charging stations over the next year.

The charging stations will be installed on government property, with exact sites yet to be confirmed.

PlugShare.com, a website that shows the location of public electric vehicle charging points, reveals about 23 charging points across the territory's current network, which includes several ActewAGL charging stations.

Mr Rattenbury is due to make the funding announcement during a trip Bathurst, NSW, on Tuesday, where he will speak at the Bathurst E-1000 Cities Power Partnership roundtable.
The Turnbull government has hardened its stance on two mammoth tax reforms that cost $175 billion over 10 years, putting company and personal tax cuts to a vote within weeks and refusing to split either package.

The all or nothing strategy will force a decision in the Senate amid conflicting signals from crossbenchers including Pauline Hanson, while setting a test for Labor on whether to block tax cuts for 10 million workers.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann also declared the government would take the company tax cuts to the July 28 super Saturday byelections as government policy whether the Senate approved them or not.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann is taking a hardline approach to company and income tax cuts. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The statements counter the open display of nerves within the Coalition backbench over the past week as Nationals MP suggested the company tax cuts could be redrafted if they are rejected in the Senate, while Liberal MPs privately warned the help for big companies could cost them votes.
Former Labor Foreign Minister Bob Carr is using ALP senator Kristina Keneally to quiz the prime minister and senior officials about Malcolm Turnbulls key former adviser on Beijings espionage and interference operations in Australia.

Fairfax Media has confirmed that Mr Carr, who heads a think tank created by a Chinese businessman closely connected to Beijing, has asked Senator Keneally to use parliament to find out details of the employment, job title, and contract of government adviser John Garnaut.

Ex-Foreign minister Bob Carr. Credit:Andrew Meares

Mr Garnaut is a China expert and former Fairfax Media China correspondent who was tasked by the prime minister in August 2016 to conduct a highly classified inquiry with ASIO into Beijings clandestine activities in Australia.

The inquiry, which has never been released, is understood to have examined the activities of Huang Xiangmo, the same Chinese businessman who created Mr Carrs Australian China Relations Institute, and who separately headed a Sydney lobbying organisation aligned with the Chinese Communist Party.
The Turnbull government has set a June 28 deadline to decide its two major tax reform packages in a hard line on negotiations in the Senate, raising the risk of its personal and company tax cuts being vetoed within weeks.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the government most definitely wanted a decision on the bills before the Senate rose for the winter break, escalating pressure for a decision before the five byelections at the end of July.

Amid talk on the Coalition backbench of redrafting the company tax plan, Senator Cormann also insisted the government would take the policy to the July 28 byelections regardless of the outcome in the Senate.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The government continues to work hard to secure the successful package of what is a very important economic reform for working families around Australia, Senator Cormann said.
Maryam Nawaz again distanced herself from Avenfield properties

Maryam Nawaz, while recording her statement in the accountability court in Islamabad on Monday, once again distanced herself from Avenfield properties as well as the British Virgin Islands offshore companies Nielsen and Nescoll that were linked to the former premier's daughter in the Panama Papers.



The Panama Papers released in April 2016 by law firm Mossack Fonseca described Maryam as "the owner of British Virgin Islands-based firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, incorporated in 1994 and 1993".



While recording her testimony under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Maryam said: I am not and I have never been the beneficial owner of Nescoll, Nielsen companies or the Avenfield properties, nor have I derived any financial benefit from either company or the said property in any way whatsoever.



She challenged the authenticity of a Mossack Fonseca letter dated June 22, 2012, and the financial investigation agencies' claim that she was the beneficial owner of the offshore companies that owned London properties.



Maryam testified before the court that the Panamagate joint investigation team did not produce the original letter, in response to which Mossack Fonseca had stated that Maryam was the beneficial owner of the contentious offshore accounts.



"These documents were not certified as required by the applicable law nor were they subjected to cross-examination by me so that I could test the veracity of the contents of these documents," she said.



Therefore, she stated that the said document could not be used as evidence against her since it would be tantamount to denying her the right to fair trial.



Maryam also denied any involvement "in any transaction of the sale of 25 per cent of Gulf Steel Mills in 1980 and with the subsequent investment."



She further said that the response to the request for mutual legal assistance was not a credible document and hence "not admissible evidence".

Election 2018 code of conduct targets PML-N: Nawaz



Former PM Nawaz, during an informal chat with reporters at the court, claimed that by barring political parties from projecting their governments' work in the upcoming general elections, his party had been targeted.



He termed the code of conduct for the upcoming polls as "unfair" and said that the PML-N would officially express its displeasure against it.



Nawaz recalled the projects initiated during his tenure and indicated that his party stood to gain the most by projecting progress.



He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and claimed that the Imran Khan-led party could not deliver anything worthwhile in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.



"Their five-year performance was disappointing," he said. "Imran Khan can hardly point out any single project in the public sector, social sector, communications or related to energy that the KP government has delivered in their five years."



Nawaz also questioned the nomination of Manzoor Afridi as the caretaker chief minister of KP.



"He is the brother of an incumbent senator belonging to the PTI," he said, adding that it appeared to be a case of "billi ko doodh ki rakhwali pe bitha dia hai (a person with vested interest being put in charge)" and "andha bantay rewrian (A blind person distributing sweet treats)".



Nawaz claimed that his current legal battle is identical to the 1999 hijacking case in which he was convicted and awarded 27 years of imprisonment.
Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson has stood by the association with Mr Chau, saying the donations had done good things and noting the controversial figure has not been convicted of any crime.

Chinese-Australian businessman Chau Chak Wing has donated $560,000 to the War Memorial over the past five years, with the building's education and music centre bearing his company's name.

The Turnbull government has sought a "detailed briefing" from the Australian War Memorial after the iconic national institution was forced to defend its close links to a billionaire benefactor now accused of involvement in a major international bribery scandal.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie last week used parliamentary priviledge to accuse Mr Chau of funding the bribery of former United Nations president John Ashe in 2013. Mr Chau, who has donated millions to Australia's political parties and tens of millions to two Sydney universities, has vigorously denied the allegations, and there is no suggestion he has committed any offence.

However his association with the War Memorial has raised eyebrows in Canberra, and prompted Veterans' Affairs Minister Darren Chester to ask questions.

In a statement to Fairfax Media, Mr Chester said cultural institutions rely on philanthropy and the War Memorial has received donations from a range of benefactors, "all of whom want to give something back to Australia and support the War Memorial educate our children and the wider Australian community about the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women over the past century".

"I am sure you will appreciate that these are matters for the independent board of the Australian War Memorial," Mr Chester said.

"Notwithstanding this I will be asking the director for a detailed briefing on all fundraising activities they undertake and how the monies raised are spent."
Revenue and Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer has repeatedly refused to concede that industry superannuation funds outperform retail funds, a key finding of the Productivity Commission's report into the sector.

The report found that, overall, not-for-profit industry have super funds "systemically" outperformed retail funds  but were also among the underperforming funds.

Asked on on Sky News if she agreed with the finding that industry funds were beating out their for-profit rivals, O'Dwyer said said there was no question the were high-performing industry funds.

Pressed specifically on whether they were systemically beating retail funds, she observed both varieties were found in the underperforming category.

Pushed again, O'Dwyer said the Productivity Commission found problems across the board.

"They have said that industry funds on the whole have performed very well," she said.

"I agree that there are many very well-performing funds."

Asked again whether she agrees with the commission's conclusion, she said: "I absolutely take on face value what the Productivity Commission have recommended."

She then said there were a lot of elements to the report and dismissed a focus on one chapter.

The minister was also asked the recommendation that people are presented with a "best in show" top ten list of options when taking on a new job rather than a default fund stipulated by their employer.

"I think it's a really interesting idea but I've got to go through my own processes within government to give you a definitive government response on it," she said.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley. Credit:Cole Bennetts

Luke Foley might feel himself hard done by for the opprobrium that has been heaped upon him for his comments about Anglo families and white flight. But the Labor leader has neither time nor justification to wallow in self-pity. In linking the growing pains of Sydney to sensitive issues of race, Foley has engaged a duty of care faced by all politicians. Does he want to breach that duty by dividing the community against itself? Or does he want to meet it by helping to bond communities through cords of common interest, activity and sentiment. To meet that duty, Foley must do a better job as opposition leader.

A note first on context. Foleys concerns emerged in a discussion with The Daily Telegraph about Sydneys middle to outer suburbs. These suburbs, such as Fairfield, were not expanding as fast as the citys north and south growth centres, but were accommodating a large migration program. What about those middle-ring of suburbs that have experienced if anything just a slow decline in terms of employment, white flight, where many Anglo families have moved out, Foley said. Im not prepared to see the people of those suburbs denied opportunities that are taken for granted elsewhere, he continued.

It is here that Foley might feel himself unfairly under attack; he was not foregrounding the troubles of any particular ethnicity, rather arguing that no community should be left behind. But theres context and theres context. The broader background against which Foley chose to highlight the demographic patterns of Anglo families is the concern across the city about the inability of its health, education and transport infrastructure to meet its growing needs, and the possible contribution of migration levels to that mismatch.

It is here that Foley must have known the risks with which he was engaging. He has already associated himself with the proposition that state governments should have some say in the determination of national migration levels. Fair enough on its face. But even if it is accepted that his comments did not represent an overt attempt to register with nativist political antennae, he well knows that there are no shortage of politicians and commentators seeking to do exactly that. Foley knows the community is alert to attempts at racial division. He was, after all, talking to the Murdoch press. Hes not skilled enough a communicator to safely play with such loaded language.
After giving up politics 19 months ago, former NSW premier Mike Baird returned to Macquarie Street to face the Upper House committee critical of his government's decision to shut down the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo and shift it to Parramatta.

Under questioning, Mr Baird said he took "full responsibility" for kick-starting plans to build a new dedicated museum with a domed planetarium on the Parramatta River, a project estimated by government to cost $1.17 billion, or $647 million once the revenue it is expected to generate is taken into account.

Mike Baird giving evidence. Credit:Jessica Hromas

He denied Greens MP's David Shoebridge's assertion that the relocation was about unlocking the "dollar value" of the Ultimo site or "privatising and flogging off the site".

His "100 per cent" motivation was about building a new cultural institution for western Sydney, the former premier said, in the face of chortles from the public gallery.
I will happily grant Joyce the privacy he has requested: I wont watch the program. - Coral Button, North Epping Land clearing insane with reef already under threat Your front-page report of the massive land clearing approved near the Great Barrier Reef catchment area was devastating news ("Massive land clearing near reef", May 28). It is insane to even contemplate such an act when the reef is already under such a serious threat, but the fact that the regulatory bodies failed to protect us and the reef is almost worse. How can this happen? If Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg does not act immediately to prevent this environmental vandalism his credentials will be destroyed. - Rob Bower, Peregian Beach The millions of dollars, the millions of pious words expended on saving the reef, and yet we plan to bulldoze thousands of hectares of forest in the reef water catchment. If there's short-term gain in either dollars or votes or both, those dollars and words will be wasted; mere wallpaper pasted over the inexorable preventable destruction of our reef and more broadly our environment and ultimately us. Will our grandchildren proudly point at photographs of grandparents in front of grand homes or in front of Parliament houses and say "that's my ancestor who failed us"? - Don Smith, Ashfield

I have just returned from north Queensland. It was hot, despite this being the so-called cool season. We passed kilometre after kilometre of recently cleared grazing country. At the borders you could see what vegetation existed before. In the cleared areas  nothing. No attempt to leave a mosaic of vegetation for cattle to shelter from the elements or for wildlife to traverse. Nothing. This I fear will be the fate of the 36,000 hectares of land approved for clearing by the open-slather approach of the federal and Queensland governments. Animal welfare issues alone should ensure a stringent approach to the operation, but from governments who lose no sleep over the odious live animal trade, one expects little. - Rod Hughes, Epping After we've destroyed the (once Great) Barrier Reef with more land clearing, runoff from sugar farming (isn't sugar bad for you?) climate change and coastal development, what will Cairns and such towns have for tourists, their main source of income? Not much, really. - Norman Carter, Roseville Chase What is the point of the Turnbull government spending $500 million Great Barrier Reef protection but allowing such large areas of land clearing that will affect the environment and the reef waters? It is a pity that Labor will not commit to preventing this wholesale destruction. The reef already has to contend with climate change; it should not have to cope with environmental vandalism such as that taking place on land. - Nola Tucker, Kiama It's pointless spending money to determine a baseline on the reef before Adani gets to it. Money won't do anything after the reef's obliterated. Better to build a few hospitals for those of us who'll be struck insensate after it happens. - Ted Bush, Ermington

Why do we continue to waste taxpayer money to the reef ("Charity fundraising record casts doubt on $444m grant", May 28)? We give them fuel subsidies as well? - James Doughty, Bowral US integrity key to Korea peace The brief cancellation of the June 12 summit by President Trump was a hasty overreaction to a legitimate complaint from North Korea about remarks made by John Bolton that were repeated by Mike Pence (Embrace thy neighbour, May 28).

For some time now, the momentum has favoured North Korea. It seeks peace and security on the Korean peninsula  as does the whole world. It is prepared to trade its nuclear capability in return for a guarantee of its security and removal of the US military threat. Kim Jong-un regards it as imperative for the prosperity of his country that the US agree to end the state of war that has existed for almost 70 years. China and South Korea desire the same objective.

The problem is Washington. But contrary to what some commentators have suggested, there is no disagreement on what denuclearisation means. It means  freeze, disable and dismantle.

The core issue is actually whether the US will agree to a peace treaty and a non-aggression pact. If it is prepared to do so, denuclearisation will occur. Talk of unilateral denuclearisation is delusional.

Trumps readiness to reverse his cancellation suggests that he just might understand the dynamics, even if Bolton and Pence do not. Certainly Presidents Moon Jae-in of South Korea and Xi Jinping of China do understand. - Michael Pembroke, Woollahra (author of Korea  Where the American Century Began, Hardie Grant Books, 2018) North Korea has finally woken up that Japans former enemy the US helped rebuild them into a wealthy country, they helped impoverished South Korea to become an industrial nation and did the same with US technology and trade for China. China knows it will lose heavily if the US stops trading with it. Obviously this history is what the Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Kim Jong-un. So he will meet all the US requirements for the benefit of his countrymen and turn North Korea into a strong industrialised wealthy nation too. - Gil May, Forestdale Foley not in the mix

I agree with Kathryn Lai (Letters, May 28). Luke Foley doesnt have the inclusive, progressive, global outlook NSW requires to make it a truly fantastic place to live and work for all citizens. I live in the inner west and have worked in western Sydney for 25 years and continue to feel energised and exhilarated by the mix of people and cultures and the projects we collaborate on. That diversity is one of the best things about NSW.

NSW Labor needs to reinvigorate itself with people who have brilliant and productive ideas, are genuinely consultative and with the guts to stand up to the developers and their small-minded, money-making-obsessed ilk who control the current state government and too many powerful NSW institutions. - Pia Larsen, Stanmore As the Anglo wife of a non-Anglo, I think Foley has a nasty case of the us and them mentality. The them group being Australians of non-Anglo or not white or maybe even perhaps not white enough for the burbs of Sydney. I spent my first few years in Cabramatta in the 1950s and early 60s and was surrounded by non-Anglos. The neighbourhood was made up of a large proportion of migrants. I dont recall my family remembering it with any grief and from what Ive been told it was quite the opposite to Foleys comments. It was a kind and welcoming place where its citizens were, like most people, proud and grateful to have a home and community to be part of. I find his comments sad and ignorant. - Lee Wu, Kentlyn There is a certain cadre of white Australians that will always regard me as Chinese. Im half Anglo, was born here and can speak only English. It doesnt matter how assimilated or integrated non-white Australians and their children are, to some Australians white skin is a prerequisite to being a real Aussie. - Samantha Chung, Newtown Tick for density Nano Passmore (Letters, May 28) challenges pro-density politicians to live in an apartment with small children. Well, Im a pro-density town planner and we lived in a 60s two-bedroom walk-up with our three children under six, and lived in apartments for years before that. We now live in a dual-occupancy, but far from public transport. While we did eventually need an extra room, I liked living in the apartment much better because it was a five-minute walk to shops and the trains. We made good use of our balcony space; and the apartments being built now are much better. - Matthew Benson, Hornsby

13 good reasons I am a teenager and a fan of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. This series is an important step in our culture (Reasons why 13 Reasons Why should be pulled, May 25). The series allows for the discussion of serious issues that teenagers face daily. While the series can be extremely graphic, at times confronting and even heartbreaking, its important to understand that it allows for the discussion of the issues that teenagers regularly face worldwide.

While I have not personally struggled with any mental health issues or sexual assault I have connections with many people who have, and will continue to struggle because of it. The main reason 13 Reasons Why is so important is its main idea is to start the conversation. Its about breaking the social stigma surrounding mental health problems and sexual assault.

Another issue raised in your article is that people are involuntarily being exposed to this series. There are settings on Netflix that enable parents to restrict what their children are viewing. In every episode of Season 2 there is a trigger warning, where the creators warn of graphic scenes and advise that people struggling with these issues should not watch. At the end of each episode, they show their web address where viewers can access crisis helplines in areas near them.

I cannot stress enough just how important this is to me and should be to everyone.

Australia has an issue with sweeping under the rug problems that so many face. Its time to allow the conversation to start and demolish the social stigma surrounding these major issues that have such a huge impact on young people across the world. - Caitlin Munday, Kempsey Banjo 2.0: a bard for modern Sydney

No need to appropriate Banjo Paterson, Rex Merten (Letters, May 28). The poet had an apocalyptic vision in the original poem anyway: And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me, as they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste. Welcome to the Sydney of the future. - Robert Hickey, North Avoca With the greatest respect to both Banjo and Rex, might I offer an amended last line to his adaptation: And he sees a vision splendid / Of developers towers extended / And at night, the wondrous twinkling of the brothels and the bars. - Peter Paige, Woolwich To continue the apologies to Banjo: There WAS no movement at the station / For the word had passed around / that the 7.05 was 50 minutes late. / And with rising indignation / and intensified irritation / There arose the cynical cry, "oh great". - James Prior, Sylvania Waters Getting twitchy on birders
The approach of keeping some of Sony's iconic visual identity while also bowing to current trends follows through to the software, as Sony's take on Android 8.0 Oreo gives the user a lot more freedom to customise the home screens compared to its previous software. By flicking a few switches you can either have a very Sony experience (with the big button on the dock to take you to apps, a weird new ring animation around the clock, personalised app recommendations in the drawer, randomised slow-mo bubbles for a wallpaper), a very Google experience or bits of both. I turned on the Google feed that appears to the left of Home, turned off the apps icon and changed the homescreen grid to 5x6 and suddenly the phone was navigating very much like pure Android, complete with swiping up to open the drawer. You can get a familiar home screen regardless of whether you're coming from a Sony phone or other Android. Credit:Tim Biggs The phone ships with a mixture of Google apps and Sony's own, and while I love the 3D Creator app (scan the faces or whole heads of your friends and turn them into horrifyingly accurate 3D GIFs, or scan objects to export detailed 3D models to other applications), in most cases I would have preferred Google. Sony's apps go the extra mile to make it easy to grab media off an SD card or from your local network, which some people will love, but for most having to deal with the stock Album app plus a cloud storage solution like Google Photos will be annoying. And speaking of photos, Sony has stuck with the same familiar 19MP main shooter it used on last year's phone but, while that means you don't get the optical image stabilisation or dual lens wizardry of other new phones, the XZ2 has some new tricks under the hood.

A new RAM chip solution means the sensor can push out full resolution images much faster than before, enabling a ranch of new features. For example when the camera detects fast movement it automatically shoots a burst in the background, and if you press the shutter just afterwards it presents you with the lot to choose from, potentially saving you from missing the shot. I've already made use of this feature a dozen times while trying to take shots of a very fast-moving toddler. Focus and motion-tracking in auto mode is extremely competent, although there is the Cybershot-style manual mode too if you want more control. In light conditions, shots are sharp and the colour accuracy is phenomenal. Low-light photography has traditionally been a weak point for Sony phones, but it's much improved here with significantly less noise. Still, the lack of OIS means you'll need steady hands in the dark. I love that Sony's maintained a physical shutter button for the camera. Hold it in and the camera app will launch, ready to shoot in less than a second, even from a totally locked state. It's a two-stage button, like on a camera, so for landscape shots you can hold partially in to lock focus and push fully to snap. On the video side, you can push things to the limit of mobile film-making and get very cinematic footage from a 4K HDR mode that shoots in 24fps. You can also do regular 4K in 30fps, but for most purposes (and to save your battery and storage space), 1080p in 60fps or 30fps will be fine. Sony has improved its slow-mo performance, with the XZ2 able to record in full HD at an outlandish 960fps. However, while this is a technical achievement above other phones, actually using it is really difficult. At full HD the XZ2 can only record a fifth of a second of 960fps video. If you do it right this can make for a lengthy and very dramatic video, but it can also make for a very boring and disappointing one if you miss the moment. Once you start a video, you can hit the slow-mo button at any time to mark the spot you want to capture. The phone will turn the previous 0.18 seconds of footage into super slow mo.

If you reduce the resolution to 720p you can get twice the length of 960fps footage, which makes the sweet spot a bit easier to nail. Aside from 4K HDR video recording, the main focus of Sony's marketing for the XZ2 has been something called "Dynamic Vibration System". This analyses sound output and subtly vibrates the phone, with the aim of letting you "feel" music, films and games. In practice this works great in some applications but is merely annoying in others. For example in some action-focused games it feels like the rumble you'd get on a console controller, which is neat. In bass-heavy party music, too, it adds a certain something. But for films I found the vibration triggered too often during dialogue or as a result of the score, and not often enough to punctuate impactful crashes or punches (it is pretty good at explosions though). Thankfully it's easy to adjust or disable the system, as a slider appears alongside the volume control. And speaking of volume, it must be noted that Sony has joined the ranks of smartphone manufacturers who have rejected the old 3.5mm headphone jack, instead including a USB-C adapter in the box. On the plus side, it does have baked-in support for the LDAC hi-res Bluetooth standard, if you have compatible cans. Overall the XZ2 is a lovably quirky phone that does a lot to differentiate itself from the pack, but that isn't always a good thing. Where Sony has opted for beautiful colour and superior HDR, Samsung's Galaxy S9+ has a bigger, crisper Super AMOLED display. While the XZ2 is filled with forward-thinking and somewhat artsy ideas, something like the Google Pixel 2 XL is streamlined nonsense-free. And while the Xperia has a super-fast camera, there's no dual-lens for authentic bokeh or optical zoom.
Moon and the governing Democratic Party have sought to guarantee that the agreement becomes law and can be enforced regardless of a change in government. But conservative lawmakers accuse the governing party of using the three-page agreement, which they note is short on details, for political gain ahead of local elections in June. In a briefing Sunday, Moon said he hopes for an eventual trilateral summit. He described the US-North Korea summit as a key first step in achieving his goal of a formal declaration ending the Korean War. "Every effort I am making now is on one hand to improve inter-Korean relations, and on the other hand, to ensure the success of the North Korea-US summit, which is essential to improving inter-Korean relations," Moon said. "I hope that if the North Korea-US summit is successful, the declaration of the Korean War will be pursued through the trilateral summit." The son of North Korean refugees who fled to the South during the war, Moon forged his political career under progressive president Roh Moo-hyun, who led the country from 2003 to 2008. Roh and his predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, advocated the so-called 'Sunshine Policy' of engaging with North Korea.

Moon, the first progressive president to take office since Roh, has vowed to continue those leaders' efforts to pursue peace on the Korean Peninsula. Allies say the mild-mannered, soft-spoken Moon is willing to play the long game without taking credit, recognising that both Trump and Kim need to walk away with a win. Moon's spokesman declined to comment on the President's diplomatic efforts. "Leading up to the summit, I anticipate his role will be an extension of the work he is doing now," said Wi Sung-lac, former South Korean nuclear negotiator with the North, "persuading both sides to remain at the table as they negotiate in advance of the summit, and helping them see points they can agree on." Last week, however, Moon faced a setback. He was blindsided by Trump's decision to cancel the summit, less than a day after the South Korean leader returned from a meeting in the Oval Office. Trump's action was discouraging and hurtful, Moon's advisers said. But recognising the US President holds the key to resuming negotiations, Moon remained committed to salvaging the summit, they said.

After Saturday's inter-Korean summit, Moon appeared poised once again to serve as mediator. Moon announced that the North Korean leader was still committed to "complete denuclearisation" but declined to define what Kim meant, suggesting fundamental differences remain between North Korea and the United States. Washington wants North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons program and allow outside experts to verify it has been abolished. North Korea insists on guarantees that Kim's regime would remain in power if it abandoned its nuclear program. Its demands could include a reduced US military role in South Korea or an end to the American nuclear "umbrella" over South Korea and Japan. It is unclear to what degree the two sides are willing to compromise. The issue is central in determining whether the US-North Korea meeting succeeds, and whether Moon is an effective facilitator, said Chun Yung-woo, a former South Korean national security adviser and nuclear negotiator with the North.

"The inter-Korean summit was important to give political momentum in convening the Trump-Kim summit, and energising US-North Korea expert-level meetings," Chun said. "That (summit) will help, but I don't think that President Moon and Kim Jong-un can talk about the detailed technical issues that are vital." The US and North Korean governments will need to negotiate the terms and conditions of denuclearisation and the scope of verification of the program's destruction, Chun said. "President Moon wants the two leaders together in Singapore. He wants to ensure the success of the summit," Chun said. "But success depends on how far North Korea is willing to go in denuclearisation, what kind of terms and conditions North Korea will demand, and to what extent Trump is going to accommodate North Korean demands." Kim Sung-han, dean of Korea University's Graduate School of International Studies and a former vice foreign minister under conservative president Lee Myung-bak, added that Moon should also be zeroing in on implications for South Korea.

A deal could involve a change in the South Korea-US alliance to meet North Korea's expectations of regime security, and these issues should be discussed ahead of the summit, he said. "You have to talk about US military presence (in South Korea). You have to talk about Republic of Korea-US alliance, the nuclear umbrella provided for South Korea," he said. Yoon Young-kwan, former foreign minister under Roh, said Moon's role is not to get in the weeds on technical details but to create an environment that would lead to a summit. Moon has played a critical role in delivering the positions of each side to the other while encouraging them to speak to each other, Yoon said. "The Korean government standing in the middle is not going to close the gap directly" between North Korea and the US government, Yoon said. South Korea's "role is to more aggressively push both sides to talk to each other." To conservative critics, however, Moon's desire to facilitate rather than advocate for one side is a sign that he is siding with North Korea. They say he is neglecting the US-South Korea alliance.
Human rights advocates are optimistic that the search for justice will not stop there. Another figure likely to come under scrutiny is the former inspector general of police, Khalid Abu Bakar, who helped block inquiries into the missing government funds and oversaw the investigation of Koh's kidnapping, among other abduction cases. Khalid, who retired from the police force last year, has pledged to cooperate with any inquiry. Koh was abducted on February 13, 2017, as he was driving in broad daylight in the Kelana Jaya neighborhood near Kuala Lumpur, the capital. Loading

His case has received considerable attention because his children, who conducted their own investigation, recovered video of the kidnapping that had been captured by residents' security cameras. While visibility is somewhat obscured, the video shows Koh's car hemmed in and halted by the three SUVs. Men, some with their faces covered, get out of the vehicles and approach his car. Two men on motorcycles order approaching vehicles to keep their distance. There is a crash as Koh apparently tries unsuccessfully to escape. Then all the vehicles drive off quickly together. One witness reported the abduction to police. A piece of Koh's licence plate was later found on the street. But police have made no progress in solving the case. The motive remains unclear, but Koh had been threatened several years earlier for preaching in settings where Muslims could be swayed. It is illegal in Malaysia to try to convert Muslims to Christianity.

Three other disappearances since late 2016 also involve victims who challenged the prevalent Malaysian view of Islam. Pastor Joshua Hilmy, a convert to Christianity from Islam who was known to preach his new religion freely, disappeared around November 30, 2016, along with his wife, Ruth Sitepu. They packed no belongings and their car is missing. A week earlier, Amri Che Mat, who was said to promote a Shiite interpretation of Islam in this predominantly Sunni nation, disappeared as he was driving near his home in Perlis, Malaysia's northernmost state. Just before midnight on November 24, 2016, four-wheel-drive vehicles surrounded his car, a witness said. His car was later found abandoned. Amri, the founder of a charity group called Perlis Hope, has not been heard from since. This month, a police officer came forward and told Amri's wife, Norhayati Mohamed Ariffin, that a team of police officers had kidnapped her husband and Koh.

He identified the officers in charge and indicated that the abductions were motivated by the victims' religious activities, Norhayati said. She provided the information to police, including the name of the informant. "I urge the police to investigate these serious allegations with urgency and to find my husband Amri Che Mat and also Pastor Raymond Koh and return them to their loved ones immediately," she said. Thomas Fann, chairman of Engage, a Malaysian human rights group, said there have been at least nine other cases of forced disappearances, often targeting criminal gang suspects. He expects more victims' families to come forward and he urged the government to investigate the role of police in these cases. "The police are supposed to uphold law and order and human rights," said Susanna Liew, Koh's wife. "They are not supposed to engage in these clandestine operations."

Human rights activists are also seeking an investigation into deaths of detainees in jails, prisons and immigration centres. Some advocates estimate there were more than 1000 wrongful deaths in custody during the Najib years. Some were victims of police abuse and torture, they say. Many were victims of neglect. Most were unauthorised immigrants or suspected criminals. Medical examiners have been known to cover up abuse in cases where evidence shows that the police were responsible, said Paulsen of Lawyers for Liberty. During his first week in office, Mahathir called for an end to torture and for inquests to determine how detainees died. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, centre, chairs his first cabinet meeting last week. Credit:AP

"This is a good start," said Sevan Doraisamy, executive director of Suara Rakyat Malaysia, a human rights group that focuses on justice issues. "This was never mentioned by the former prime minister." Cynthia Gabriel, executive director of the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism in Kuala Lumpur, called for new investigations into two high-profile killings connected to corruption cases involving Najib. One is the 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, who helped negotiate Malaysia's purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines from France while Najib was defence minister. The French government is investigating whether Najib and his associates received more than $US130 million in kickbacks. Shaariibuu, who complained that she had not received a promised $US500,000 share, was killed by two of Najib's bodyguards, who then blew up her corpse using military explosives. The bodyguards were convicted, but no motive was ever established. Some suspect they blew up the body to hide something. In a letter to Mahathir last week, Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, asked him to bring about justice in the case, which he said had harmed relations between the two countries.

Gabriel also urged the government to investigate the 2015 kidnapping and murder of Kevin Morais, a prosecutor who was investigating Najib over the money missing from the state investment fund. Police say Morais was murdered because of his role in a different case, but his brother, Charles Morais, has long maintained that he was killed because he knew too much about Najib and the money. "There are many murders unsolved and linked to one scandal or another," Gabriel said. "There should be a thorough clean-up of the system. There is so much that has gone wrong over 60 years." In recent days, in the anti-corruption investigation, police have raided residences associated with Najib and confiscated more than 350 boxes and pieces of luggage containing cash, jewelry, expensive watches and luxury handbags. On Friday, police said the seized cash amounted to $US28.6 million, and that the various luxury goods had yet to be appraised. Najib has denied any wrongdoing. He told members of his party on Sunday, "I'm not a person who steals what belongs to the people." But he was called in for questioning last Tuesday by Malaysia's reinvigorated anti-corruption commission.
Manila: Nine militants from a group that helped the Philippine army hunt down Islamic State-linked fighters in the country's south have been killed in a firefight with police, their colleagues said on Monday.

The victims, members of military wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, were rounded up on Friday by government agents taking part in President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

Protesters stage die-in during a rally near the Presidential Palace to denounce the Martial Law declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte after Muslim militants laid a siege of Marawi city in southern Philippines for three weeks in June 2017 in Manila, Philippines. Credit:AP

The men had identified themselves as MILF fighters in their encounter with government forces but were still stripped of their firearms and killed, according to a complaint that the group filed to a committee monitoring a cease-fire between MILF fighters and the government.

After the men were disarmed, "they were deliberately shot by the operatives, which resulted to their instant death," the MILF complaint read, adding that at least three others, including a woman, were also wounded.
Warsaw: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has criticised Russia during a visit to Poland, repeating his call for Moscow to accept responsibility for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine

"I agree with the Dutch government, which calls on Russia to take responsibility for the crash," Stoltenberg said, describing the incident which killed all 298 passengers, including 38 Australians, as a "direct consequence" of Russian aggression towards Ukraine.

The Netherlands and Australia accused Russia of downing flight MH17 after a team of international investigators found that the Buk anti-aircraft system used to bring down the jet belonged to Russia.

Stoltenberg, citing Russian interference in elections, cyber attacks, and their use of military force against neighbouring countries, went on to say that this "more assertive" Russia is one of the biggest security challenges for NATO states.
US and North Korean officials met at border truce village

US and North Korean officials met Sunday at a border truce village as preparations resumed for a high-stakes, high-drama summit that President Donald Trump suggests could help the North realize its brilliant potential.



I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day, Trump said on Twitter.

Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!, the president said, confirming that a US team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit between himself and North Korean leader Kim.



His upbeat language contrasted sharply to that of only three days earlier, when Trump canceled the planned summit, citing open hostility from the North. An extraordinary flurry of diplomacy since then  much of it led by South Korea  appears to have put the meeting back on track.



Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met Saturday at the Panmunjom border truce village, in a surprise bid to salvage the June 12 summit planned for Singapore.



Announcing the lower-level talks held Sunday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, We continue to prepare for a meeting between the President and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.



The Washington Post reported that the US delegation to the Panmunjom meeting  in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea  was led by Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with the North. It said the Americans met with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.



Tokyo stocks opened higher Monday on the news, although trading was thin.



Excessive worries receded as efforts resumed for a summit between the US and North Korea, Okasan Online Securities strategist Yoshihiro Ito said in a commentary, which added that uncertainty remains.



The United States currently has no ambassador to South Korea, even as it takes up one of the most delicate diplomatic challenges in years.



It remains far from clear how Trump and Kim might be able to bridge what appear to be vast differences in their expectations for what would be a historic meeting. But analysts on Sunday expressed increasing confidence that it will take place.



The apparent progress in the on-again-off-again talks followed a tense and turbulent few days of diplomatic brinkmanship.



Within 24 hours of cancelling the summit Trump reversed course, saying it could still go ahead after productive talks were held with North Korean officials.



Its moving along very nicely, Trump said at the White House on Saturday. Were looking at June 12 in Singapore. That hasnt changed.



His abrupt decision to pull out of the meeting had blindsided South Korea and Moon, who had been brokering a remarkable detente between Washington and Pyongyang in a bid to avoid a devastating conflict.



But Trump accompanied the cancellation with a letter to Kim that mixed tough language with an almost beseeching plea to get things back on track. Some critics mocked the letters tone, but it may have achieved the desired result.



James Clapper, director of US national intelligence under former president Barack Obama, told CNN: I support the letter that President Trump sent In some ways, Kim Jong Un may have met his match here with our very unconventional president.



Victor Cha, who was President George W. Bushs top advisor on North Korea and was briefly expected to get Trumps nod as ambassador to South Korea, said Sunday he was now confident the summit will take place.



The Moon and Trump administrations very much want the meeting, he said, and Kim says he wants a summit, so its going to happen.



There are still stark differences between what the two sides hope to achieve.



Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief.



Pyongyang has a different view of denuclearization and remains deeply worried that abandoning its deterrent would leave the country  and its leader  vulnerable, especially while the United States maintains a robust military presence in South Korea.



Kim has almost an emotional attachment and a personal psychological attachment to these nuclear weapons, US Senator Marco Rubio said Sunday on ABCs This Week. They make him feel prestigious, they make him feel powerful.
Baltimore: A close friend and colleague of Chelsea Manning says the convicted leaker of government secrets and longshot candidate for the US Senate is safe after a photo on her Twitter account apparently showed the 30-year-old standing on the edge of an upper-storey window ledge.

The photo was posted to her Twitter account late on Sunday with the words: "I'm sorry." It was sent shortly after a separate tweet that said: "im not really cut out for this world." The tweets did not make clear where the photo was taken, and Manning's friends declined to say.

Chelsea Manning Credit:AP

The alarming tweets were deleted after about 10 minutes, followed by a message on her account saying Manning was OK and asked people to "please give her some space".

Kelly Wright, a friend of Manning who also is the communications director for her Senate bid, told The Associated Press on Monday that the 30-year-old transgender woman now needs the "space to heal". She did not reply when asked if Manning was seeking professional help.
Amid growing outrage over the Trump administration's policy of separating children from their parents when families arrive at the border, many are asking how the administration can be so cruel as to literally tear children from their mothers' arms. There's a clear answer, one that runs through all of the administration's policies on immigration: cruelty is the whole point.

The Trump White House has made immigration a cornerstone of policy. Credit:AP

It's both a reflection of President Donald Trump's beliefs and those of his key advisers on immigration, and a practical tool they are using to reduce the number of immigrants coming to the United States. There won't be a more humane set of policies coming out of this administration because they have no interest in being humane.

Loading

In December, The Washington Post reported that the administration was considering a set of policy changes that would both separate families arriving at the border and crack down on undocumented parents already in the United States who send for their children.
'Our United States team has arrived': President Trump on Twitter. Credit:AP

Washington: US President Donald Trump says his team has arrived in North Korea to arrange for his possible meeting with leader Kim Jong-un.

In a message on Twitter on Sunday, Trump said: "Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"

Both Pyongyang and Washington are pressing ahead with plans for a meeting between the two leaders after Trump pulled out of the scheduled June 12 summit on Thursday, only to reconsider the decision the next day.

The Washington Post, citing a person familiar with the arrangements, said Sung Kim, a former US ambassador to South Korea and former nuclear negotiator with the North, was leading the preparations on the US side.
Among IASCO's students were dozens of Chinese nationals with student visas, according to court records. KRCR News 7 reported that the school contracted with China's civil aviation authority to train its new pilots, one of whom was apparently Tianshu Shi.

The pair's plan allegedly had been to fly the student to the Bay Area, then put him on another plane to China. Credit:AP

Jonathan McConkey, a pilot and certified flight instructor, is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping with his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, a ground instructor. Both reportedly worked at the IASCO flight training school in Redding, California.

California: Police say they thwarted a vigilante deportation attempt last week - in which a pilot allegedly kidnapped a foreign student, took him to an airport and tried to send him "back to China".

Shi told reporters that he had been in the United States for about seven months - living with several other IASCO trainees at an apartment in Redding. It was there, police said, that McConkey and Hoser came for the student.

The pair first showed up at the apartment on Thursday night, according to a police statement. They allegedly informed Shi that they were sending him back to China and would return in the morning.

Police have not explained why anyone would want Shi gone from the country. An unrelated lawsuit, filed last year by a former instructor, alleges that some of IASCO's Chinese students spoke so little English that they could not safely fly - that one had nearly crashed into another plane because he had misunderstood his teacher's instructions.

Those allegations predate Shi's training, however. And the lawsuit does not mention Hoser or McConkey, who is reportedly a 48-year-old manager at the school.

Police say the two returned to Shi's apartment around dawn on Friday to carry out their would-be deportation.
Priorities. Priorities

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of digital payments company Square, was recently in Melbourne talking up his business. That Dorsey says Square wants to lead the burgeoning digital payments sector in Australia is not surprising. That he talks about the trust gap in the banking sector is somewhat understandable, too, given the need for a banking royal commission.

Jack Dorsey with Code Like a Girl co-founder Ally Watson, in Melbourne. Credit:Simon Schiff

As Dorsey explained: The banking industry was invented in the 1600s in Florence and there has been corruption ever since. Dorsey believes Bitcoin will one day become a global currency. All of this is understandable, given his role as a CEO who preaches the benefits of his companys technology.

But its all somewhat mystifying when you consider Dorseys track record with his other company that you may have heard of: Twitter.
EnWave Announces Commercial Launch of iogo Protein Crunchy Yogurt Bites

Posted by Publisher Internet

EnWave Corporation (TSX-V:ENW | FSE:E4U) (?EnWave?, or the \Company\  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyKTfx_H0Tk&t=64s) announced today that Agropur Dairy Co-operative d.b.a. Ultima Foods (?Agropur?), a royalty-partner of the Company, has successfully developed a new, innovative way of enjoying yogurt on-the-go and will be soft launching its iogo Protein Crunch snack products in Quebec and Alberta this Spring.

Using EnWave?s patented Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) dehydration technology, Agropur has developed several shelf-stable formulations that maintain active yogurt cultures in the finished snack product.? There is nothing likeiogoProtein Crunch on the market today, as it offers a crunchy, nutritious, unique yogurt snacking option. iogo Protein Crunch will be available in 35g packaging in the following flavours: sour cream and green onion, cheddar, salted caramel and applewood smoked BBQ.

The project to transform yogurt into snack bites has been ongoing for two years. ?Reinventing the

dairy experience is one of our organization\-\-s priorities,? explains Martin Parent, General Manager, Yogurt at Agropur ?We had an idea and we needed a unique technology to transform it into an opportunity,? he adds. Martin Parent has been supervising the evolution of the iogo\-\-s brand strategy since July 2014.

Agropur currently holds an exclusive license to use REV? machinery for the production of yogurt-based products in Canada and is the first royalty partner of EnWave?s to successfully commercialize a yogurt product.

About Agropur

Agropur Cooperative is a North American dairy industry leader founded in 1938. With sales of $6.4 billion in 2017, the Cooperative is a source of pride to the 3,290 members and 8,300 employees who work together in pursuit of a shared goal: Better Dairy. Better World. Agropur processes more than 6.1 billion litres of milk per year at its 39 plants across North America and boasts an impressive roster of respected brands and products, including Natrel, OKA, iogo, BiPro, Agropur Grand Cheddar, Olympic, Farmers, Island Farms and Quebon. Agropur?s head office is certified LEED Silver. For more information on Agropur please visit ?www.agropur.com.

About EnWave

EnWave Corporation, a Vancouver-based advanced technology company, has developed Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) ? an innovative, proprietary method for the precise dehydration of organic materials. EnWave has further developed patent-pending methods for uniformly drying and decontaminating cannabis through the use of REV? technology, shortening the time from harvest to marketable cannabis products.

REV? technology?s commercial viability has been demonstrated and is growing rapidly across several market verticals in the food, and pharmaceutical sectors including legal cannabis. EnWave?s strategy is to sign royalty-bearing commercial licenses with industry leaders in multiple verticals for the use of REV? technology. The company has signed over twenty royalty-bearing licenses to date, opening eight distinct market sectors for commercialization of new and innovative products. In addition to these licenses, EnWave?s wholly-owned subsidiary, NutraDried Food Company LLC, was formed to develop, manufacture, market and sell all-natural cheese snack products in the United States under the Moon Cheese? brand.

EnWave has introduced REV? as the new dehydration standard in the food and biological material sectors: faster and cheaper than freeze drying, with better end product quality than air drying or spray drying. EnWave currently has three commercial REV? platforms:

1. nutraREV? which is used in the food industry to dry food products quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour;

2. powderREV? which is used for the bulk dehydration of food cultures, probiotics and fine biochemicals such as enzymes below the freezing point, and

3. quantaREV? which is used for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying.

An additional platform, freezeREV?, is being developed as a new method to stabilize and dehydrate biopharmaceuticals such as vaccines and antibodies. More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.?

EnWave Corporation

Dr. Tim Durance

President & CEO

For further information:

John P.A. Budreski, Executive Chairman at +1 (416) 930-0914

E-mail: jbudreski@enwave.net

Brent Charleton, CFA, Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development at +1 (778) 378-9616

E-mail: bcharleton@enwave.net ???

Deborah Honig, Corporate Development, Adelaide Capital Markets at +1 (604) 755-1348

E-mail: dhonig@enwave.net

Forward-Looking Information: This press release may contain forward-looking information based on management\-\-s expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company\-\-s strategy for growth, product development and market position are forward-looking statements. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those relating to the expectation of commercially successful integration of the EnWave technology to the dehydration of cannabis, the outcome of EnWave?s patent application, the ability of the Company to expand into the cannabis industry and successfully market its technology and patents, that the Company will be able to meet all applicable legal regulatory requirements in order to commercially exploit its patent, if and when its application is approved, or otherwise market its technology to cannabis industry participants, and other risks applicable to the Company as disclosed in its public filings. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. EnWave does not undertake to update its forward-looking information unless required by applicable securities law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
How would you like to head back to the future in a DeLorean car? Or travel with the crew of the USS Enterprise to save the whales? These two examples (from "Back to the Future" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home") show a very common trope in science fiction  time travel. But is time travel possible?

We all have things we regret in life, so the concept of turning back time (or in the case of one "Superman" movie, reversing Earth's rotation) is an inviting one. Who wouldn't want to fix the past, or erase a regrettable historical event that negatively impacted humanity? Or for people who are more focused on the future, how about turning time forward to see a neat event  such as the first human landing on Mars?

Time travel is the focus of Episode 6 of "AMC Visionaries: James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction," which airs during a two-hour finale tonight (May 25) at 9 p.m. EDT/PDT (8 p.m. CDT) as part of the show's 2-hour season finale. [How Time Travel Works in Science Fiction (Infographic)]

As one scientist points out, we all constantly time travel  but it's in only one direction. We're inevitably moving 1 second at a time into the future, and we could go faster if we wanted.

"Indeed, we can jump forward into the future as much as we want. It's only a matter of going really, really fast," Paul Sutter, an astrophysicist at Ohio State University, told Space.com in an email. He began by citing evidence from Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity, which shows that time is relative depending on how fast you are moving.

"The faster you move through space, the slower you move through time. We've been able to measure this with ultra-precise atomic clocks in jet airplanes, and the precision offered by the GPS system needs to take this into account. Sci-fi always seem to require complicated contraptions to jump in time, when all you need is a very large rocket," Sutter wrote.

This means that astronauts, for example, are already time travelers of a sort. That's because they go into space and live on the International Space Station, sometimes for months at a time. At a speed of about 5 miles (8 kilometers) a second, astronauts on the space station are moving faster than we are on Earth. This means that on the station, astronauts age just a tiny bit slower than they would on the planet's surface. (And that when astronaut Scott Kelly came back from a year in space, the age gap with his slightly older identical twin, Mark, widened by just a little bit.)

Jumping into the past

But many sci-fi franchises focus on time travel to the past. Such travel raises neat questions, such as whether you can go back in time and kill your own grandparent (a puzzle sometimes referred to as "the grandfather paradox").

Sutter pointed out that the physics of our universe appear to forbid this situation, at least as far as we can see. But surprisingly, some of Einstein's equations from the theory of general relativity may allow time travel into the past. (That theory basically discusses how huge objects distort space-time, which we feel as gravity.)

So how could Einstein's theory make time travel possible? Well, one way would be to break the cosmic speed limit and go faster than the speed of light  but that likely wouldn't work, because an object going at that speed would have infinite mass. Another possibility would be to form "wormholes" between points in space-time, although this would likely work for only small particles. There are even more exotic possibilities out there, such as using black holes, huge cylinders or cosmic strings to play with the fabric of space-time.

"When it comes to the past," Sutter said, "the mathematics of general relativity does allow a few strange scenarios where you can end up in your own past. But all of these scenarios end up violating other known physics, like requiring negative mass or infinitely long rotating cylinders. Why does general relativity allow past time travel, but other physics always jump in to spoil the fun? We honestly don't know."

But that doesn't mean that scientists are giving up. In 2015, Ali Ovgun of Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus said wormholes might be possible in zones with dark matter. (This is a theoretical form of matter that cannot be seen or otherwise sensed with telescopes, but does show itself in its gravitational effects on other bodies.) While his equations show wormholes could occur in these regions, Ovgun said he is still searching for proof. "It is only mathematical proof," he said. "I hope one day it will be possible to also find direct experimental evidence."

Even the world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking was entranced by the idea of time travel before his death this year, when he discussed in the Daily Mail how a black hole could make it possible. "Around and around they'd go, experiencing just half the time of everyone far away from the black hole. The ship and its crew would be traveling through time," he wrote in 2010. However, physicist Amos Iron at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, said a machine circling a black hole would probably disintegrate before moving that quickly.

A Look Back at This Series:

This story was inspired by Episode 6 of "AMC Visionaries: James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction," which airs during a two-hour finale tonight at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT (9 p.m. CDT). A companion book is available on Amazon.com.

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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
El-Aaiun (Occupied Territories), May 28, 2018 (SPS) - Moroccan forces on Sunday night intervened violently against peaceful Sahrawi demonstrators in the occupied city of El-Aaiun, as they took to the streets to denounce the cowardly assassination of Sahrawi student Abdel-Rahman Badri at the University of Agadir.



The Moroccan forces besieged alleys and streets leading to Smara Street before carrying out their violent attack against a group of demonstrators, including unemployed and women. This intervention resulted in casualties who were transferred to the hospital in the occupied city.



Sahrawi student Abdel-Rahim Badri was subject to cowardly assassination on May 19, at the University of Agadir, it should be recalled. (SPS)



062/SPS/TRA
Where there is light, there is often shadow. It is a dynamic that has captivated artists for centuries, from the high-contrast work of Caravaggio during the late 16th century, to modern installations of James Turrell, where light itself becomes the medium.

For the Impressionists, the changes in natural light was something to capture, and in doing so, they changed the concept of color and light in art. A group of 19th century American painters ushered in a style that would become known as luminism, which was a more realistic, clear rendering of light.

In a studio in Bridgeport, an artist is looking at light beyond the brushstroke. Why not just put light directly into the canvas?

I had this idea of combining painting with light and figuring out how it casts shadows, and plays with each other, says Cristobal Cris Dam, a Westport artist whose had his studio and storefront in the Arcade Mall in Bridgeport for about a year. I cant leave painting, because I am a painter. I cant just drop that part of me and just go to light. The combination was what I was interested in.

Hes not talking about a string of LED fairy lights, but bulb after bulb of incandescent marquee lights that illuminate the abstract visions that flow from his mind, including fun-house circuitry forms, a swirling mass of cones he likens to those that hold ice cream and one-eyed sprouts.

Most of the lights are store-bought, which he installed after consultation with his uncle, who is an electrician. Hes even put most of his works on dimmers. You can adjust it to whatever you want, he says, lowering the brightness of a diptych on his studios wall.

His first foray into light art was a public- art project in Berlin that incorporated his painting, lights, collage and found objects. That work largely kept his painting and the bulbs separate. There was no canvas in which to sink a bulb, no painted element that required illumination to achieve its full potential. Its only been in the past year that this work has appeared.

Dam walks toward a corner of his workspace, where two frames hang side by side. Two of his signature swirling circles of oil paint resemble Beetlejuices peepers, with two large bulbs where his irises should be. It was his first foray into embedded lights. He points to a nearby painting inspired by Picassos Constellations drawings. There is no illumination, but it got Dam thinking about circuits and marquee lighting. He went on from there.

Most light artists, such as (Dan) Flavin, or Turrell or (Robert) Irwin, are minimal ... and have this seriousness to them, Dam says of artists who have inspired him. When I incorporate the lighting with my art and use the marquee lighting, I feel I am making something more playful, fun, practical and colorful. The work I want to do, in a way, is to make people happy and see something they have never seen before. I hope it brings a sense of joy.

Dam grew up in Alaska and Spain, taking to paint as a child. His fathers medical career brought the family to the lower 48 in the early 1990s, when they settled in Shelton while his father worked at St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport. Dam finished high school in Shelton and headed off to Parsons in New York City and then the State University of New York Empire State College.

In 1998, he co-founded Dam, Stuhltrager Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y., with a partner, Leah Stuhltrager. They crossed the Atlantic to Germany to open the WYE, a 20,000-square-foot cultural space in Berlins former Central Post Office. Recently, the duo downsized, but still operate out of a shop and host art events at venues across Berlin.

After living in Brooklyn, Stamford and Norwalk, Dam lives in Westport with his family. His art is rooted in organic abstraction  one can see sprouts, flowers, stars, universal shapes and landscapes, but the imagery is exotic. Colorful and modern, there are influences of his Alaskan upbringing and the Inuit art that surrounded him. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, light was a commodity that was coveted and cherished. When you went to school it was dark, and when you came out of school it was dark, he says.

The most public viewing of his art in this area (sans the lights) are the murals he painted on the walls of his sister Leyla Dams coffee shop, Lorca, in Stamford. Hes been involved in other public art projects in this country and abroad, and hopes to do more. Hes created an 8- by 8-foot mural with lights in his studio that is an ode to Bridgeport, its maritime history and city skyline. Dam hopes to make it on a larger scale somewhere in the city.

Like a proverbial bulb above his head, Dam considers these works a breakthrough  some 20 years into his career.

I can paint all the abstract paintings I want, he says. And, even though the imagery is mine, and no one else paints like this, I feel (the lights are) unique. There is something about having that light come in and working with the light and playing with the light. It has a force beyond, a life beyond an oil painting.

When I put the bulb in  I will play with the colors and the shape. The light and I are trying to work together.  It is like having a partner that you dont know what exactly is going to happen when you put it together. The paint and light are playing with each other  and its all making some sort of sense in my abstract head. I hope they make sense to other people, too, he says, laughing. And I feel as if they do.

chennessy@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @xtinahennessy
STAMFORD  For those living on the citys West Side, there are few neighborhood options to find healthy, farm-fresh produce.

That will change this week when a farmers market launches on Stillwater Avenue.

Fairgate Farm will host the market, offering fresh organic produce twice a week through October. Funded through the U.S. Department of Agricultures Farmers Market Program grant, the market will be open starting this week from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

Vin Tufo, CEO of Charter Oak Communities, which owns Fairgate Farm, said the goal of the market is to support the efforts to improve the access to and increase consumption of fresh, local food to the Stamford community.

Tufo said the grant money will support the administrative costs of running the market, including wages for five high school students who will help staff the market.

Tufo said the citys West Side is comprised of many low-income residents and a diverse immigrant population. He said the neighborhood is mostly serviced by small bodega-type stores and corner markets that only have a limited supply of fresh produce.

Over the years, weve had a lot of people come and ask if they could buy produce from the farm, but we were not in a position to do so, Tufo said.

But Tufo said now they can with the help of the federal grant and partnerships with Gilberties Herb Farm and Sport Hill Farm in Easton, Ryder Farm in Brewster, N.Y., and The Hickories in Ridgefield.

Gilberties Herb Farm has the largest certified, organic greenhouse system in New England, where blends of micro greens, lettuces, arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, field vegetables and herbs are grown.

Ryder Farm has been family owned since 1795 and grows organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and plants. It also serves as a retreat center for artists.

Established in 2000, Sport Hill Farm grows non-GMO, sustainable produce and has fresh-baked goods, free-range eggs, fruits, honey and grass-fed dairy and meat products.

The Hickories has been growing organic fruits and vegetables, from seedlings to harvested crops, for more than 250 years. It also offers humanely-raised, free range, pastured meat options.

By partnering with these other farms, we will be able to provide a wide variety of fresh organic produce for many more people, Tufo said.

Fairgate Farm was established as an urban farm about seven years ago. Farm manager Pete Novajosky said about 6,000 pounds of produce was grown last year. Most of the produce was provided to the farms volunteers and donated to local soup kitchens and shelters.

Our mission is to grow and harvest organic fruits, vegetables and herbs and share those things with the community, Tufo said.

But we are also trying to educate the community about healthy living and growing healthy, fresh food. This market is just another opportunity to do those things. Not only will it help us extend our reach into the community, but it will also hopefully bring more people to the farm, as volunteers or as people interested in learning more about agriculture and healthy living.

kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
STAMFORD  Marco Pensiero is known for his charity work with children by helping to raise money for Cerebral Palsy research.

The Stamford native also made a name for himself in the U.S. Army.

Pensiero, who will be the grand marshal for Stamfords annual Memorial Day parade on Sunday, served in the 7th Infantry Division and was involved in some of the most violent fighting in the Korean War. He returned to the U.S. in December 1953 after a yearlong tour with various medals, including the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and three Bronze Service Stars.

Pensiero, who also owned a Stamford painting business for 20 years and worked for the city for 33 years before he retired, is an active member of the Springdale VFW. He has served as chaplin for 13 years.

The 1948 Stamford High grad will lead the parade, which steps off at noon Sunday from the corner of Hoyt and Summer streets.

All of the local veterans associations will participate in the parade, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Catholic War Veterans and the American Legion.

The parade, which is expected to last about an hour, will be followed by a short memorial service at Veterans Memorial Park.

In addition to honoring Stamfords veterans, Archie Elam, commander of Fairfield Countys branch of Connecticut Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the ceremony will feature a short update on the upcoming renovation of Veterans Memorial Park.

Elam, a Stamford resident and former U.S. Army soldier, has been a strong advocate for the project and has worked closely with the citys Downtown Special Services District during its renovation planning process.

nnaughton@stamfordadvocate.com; @noranaughton
STAMFORD  On Sunday, Tommy Denice, a Stamford native and Marine Corps veteran, and his longtime friend, Army veteran David Corpolongo, watched veterans and bands pass by in the annual Memorial Day parade. The two Vietnam War veterans applauded a parade float and waved to a group of elderly veterans riding on a flatbed truck.

Denice, who served on the U.S.S. Monticello in the Philippines from 1968 to 1971, and Corpolongo, who was stationed in Da Nang in central Vietnam, overseeing soldiers payroll, said they feel putting too much emphasis on Memorial Day as a time for relaxation and fun takes attention away from honoring fallen veterans.

Im here every year, 66-year-old Denice said. People talk about the beginning of summer, and there is advertising for sales and selling products. But I come here to honor the people who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Denice and Corpolongo were among hundreds of spectators and veterans who joined together on a sunny afternoon to take part in the citys annual Memorial Day parade. Groups of veterans appearing among the more than 40 parade units included those from the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the Springdale Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9617 and Jewish War Veterans. The parade is organized by the citys Patriotic and Special Events Commission.

The parade route ran south on Summer Street from Hoyt Street, east on Broad street and south on Atlantic Street to Veterans Park. The procession also included marching bands from local elementary schools, and the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, a group of Civil War re-enactors.

This years parade honored Marco Pensiero, a Korean War veteran who fought as a private first class in the Armys Seventh Infantry Division. The division participated in some of the wars bloodiest battles including the battles of Pork Chop Hill and Old Baldy.

The 87-year-old owned a painting business in Stamford for 20 years, and has been known for his charitable efforts, particularly for cerebral palsy, and has regularly spoken to local school children about his war time experiences.

Pensiero rode the route in a 1942 Army jeep.

There are so many men who I was friends with who didnt come back, Pensiero said before the parade. I think about them all the time.

After the march, about 120 people, including veterans and their families, attended a ceremony in Veterans Park, where Mayor David Martin and other veterans recognized Pensiero and honored the fallen by placing a wreath by the parks doughboy statue..

During a short speech, Martin read the stories of war service of three of Stamfords World War II casualties, who typified the valor of Americas war dead.

Vincent Horan, was killed by a Japanese bomb fragment during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, where he was an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Corp.

He was supposed to come to the Stamford area for the third year in the Army but he was kept in Hawaii much to his and his familys disappointment, Martin said.

Lt. Col. Douglas Northrop, a B-29 pilot who died when his plane crashed around the Marianas Islands in April 1945. Northrop is the namesake of Northrop Field, a Little League field in Glenbrook.

He also located a group of Americans stranded on an island who were subsequently rescued because of his intelligence, Martin said.

On April 27, 1945, while on a mission over Kyushu, Japan, his B-29 developed engine trouble and caught fire. Over the island of Agriltan in the Marianas chain, the plane went out of control and the crew bailed out.

Winston Satewhite was killed at the age of 39 by an explosion of 200 cases of dynamite, while serving in the China-Burma-Indian theater of the war as part of the U.S. Army Engineering Corps, Martin said.

They served with distinction, honor selfless commitment and great sacrifice for which well be forever grateful, Martin said. It is through their service that we enjoy great freedoms and democracy and the way of life we have here. As we well know, there are people around the world who would take that way from us, either from their hatred or jealousy. Which it is doesnt matter.
T he family of a woman found dead in a bed after failing to turn up to her own birthday celebrations have said the "light in our life" is now "extinguished".

Christina Abbotts, 29, was found bludgeoned to death in Crawley on Friday night.

Her family described her as "sweet" and "loving" in a tribute released on their behalf by Sussex Police.

They said of Ms Abbotts: "Christina, our sweet loving daughter and best friend, educated at Cirencester and Oxford, will be sorely missed.

This independent lady, a much travelled person was taken from us far too early.

The scene in Highams Hill, Gossops Green, Crawley, West Sussex on Saturday after Christina Abbotts was found dead in a bed in a flat / PA

"Her friends in London and parts of the UK will also be grieving.

"The light in our life is now extinguished. Love forever from our family."

Zahid Naseem appeared in court on Monday morning charged with her murder.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit, the dark-haired 47-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, age and address at Brighton Magistrates' Court.

Naseem, who knew Ms Abbotts, was arrested at the property, police said.

She had been living at the flat in the Gossops Green area of the West Sussex town.

The preliminary cause of death from a post-mortem examination is blunt force trauma to the head, a force spokesman said.

Neighbours told how police "flooded" into the street shortly after 10.30pm on Friday after friends, who were worried when she failed to turn up to meet them in London, raised the alarm.

Maria Slater, prosecuting, asked for the case to be sent straight to a crown court because the nature of the allegation was so serious.

Naseem, of Elm Close, Amersham in Buckinghamshire, nodded as magistrates told him he would be remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday before being led away from the dock.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Heater said: "We are supporting Christina's family and they have asked for privacy at this time.

"We are investigating the circumstances of her death and are keen to hear anyone who might have seen or heard anything which might help with our investigation."
M eghan Markles estranged half-sister has blasted her siblings new coat of arms and said it looks like it was drawn by someone in a kindergarten classroom.

In yet another Twitter rant, Samantha Grant criticised her sister, the new Duchess of Sussex, for leaving their father Thomas, who did not attend the royal wedding, off the coat of arms which was unveiled by Kensington Palace on Friday.

Ms Grant, who has not spoken to Meghan since 2015, said the design of the arms was silly because neither the UN, womens rights nor anything of substance was represented there.

Coat of Arms: the Duchess of Sussex / Kensington Palace

It added that three quills on the shield were meant to represent communication and the power of words.

Duchess of Sussex receives a Coat of Arms

But in a series of angry tweets, Ms Grant said: Quills for communication?

She does not communicate with people she cuts people out of her life including a best friend of 30 years and two speeches in her whole life time does not make her a public speaker.

Her degrees are in drama and foreign affairs and only a bachelor degree.

She went on: Her motto is say nothing and she cut everyone off.

It just seems like the coat of arms was thrown together hes [sic] silly because neither the UN, nor womens rights, nor anything of substance.. but especially our dad and even her mom are not represented there. It is an empty coat of arms so it makes no sense.

Ms Grant added: Our father should be named on the coat of arms and for the Royals to deprive him of that is classless.

Earlier, she had written: Extremely improper that my father was not named on the coat of arms and quite frankly looks like it was drawn by someone in a kindergarten classroom.

The design of the Arms was agreed and approved by Her Majesty The Queen and Mr Thomas Woodcock (Garter King of Arms and Senior Herald in England), who is based at the College of Arms in London.

Meghan Markle's estranged half-sister Samantha Grant

Meghan worked closely with the College of Arms throughout the design process to create a Coat of Arms that was both personal and representative, Kensington Palace said.

The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of The Duchess's home state.

Official Royal Wedding Photography 1 /3 Official Royal Wedding Photography Alexi Lubomirski Alexi Lubomirski Alexi Lubomirski

The three quills represent communication and the power of words, while beneath the shield on the grass sits a collection of golden poppies, California's state flower, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace.

Ms Grant has repeatedly criticised Meghan for not inviting members of their family to the royal wedding last Saturday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their wedding vows and exchange rings
T he second person who died after falling ill at Mutiny Festival has been named as a caring father who would do anything for anyone.

Tommy Cowan, 20, was named locally as one of those who died after being rushed to hospital on Saturday night.

They were among 15 revellers taken to hospital from Mutiny that night as organisers issuing a warning of a "high strength or bad batch" of drugs. One person remains in a critical condition.

Georgia Jones died after taking "two pills" at Mutiny Festival / Facebook

The second day of the festival, which Craig David and Sean Paul were due to headline, was cancelled as a "safety precaution".

Mr Cowan, also known as Tommy Bakeer, was described as a caring young father.

According to Portsmouth local paper The News, his father, Damian Cowan, 43, said: "He was funny. He loved life and he loved his little boy.

"He was everything. He was a good lad  unfortunately he made a bad choice."

Mr Cowan was a "brilliant" friend, according to 19-year-old Jack Ford, who said they met at college studying uniformed services.

"He is such a caring guy who would do anything for any one. He loved going out with his mates but most importantly loved spending time with his girlfriend and son," said Mr Ford, who lives near Portsmouth.

"It was a big shock to lose such a great guy like him."

Both of those named as victims were from Havant, Hampshire.

A spokeswoman for Queen Alexandra Hospital said it was believed they were admitted after falling ill from the effects of drugs.

The other concertgoers went to the hospital on Saturday, but their cases were "not necessarily all drugs-related", the hospital spokeswoman said.

Police said the woman was taken ill at the festival in King George V Playing Fields at 7.10pm before the man was found collapsed 20 minutes later.

Hampshire Constabulary is investigating but said the deaths were separate incidents and were not suspicious.

Mutiny warned at around 9.30pm on Saturday, after the pair were taken ill, that it was "aware of a dangerous high-strength or bad-batch substance on site", and that no drugs should be taken.

The festival announced the deaths, before adding: "Following the terrible news from earlier today, the team behind Mutiny Festival are incredibly sad to announce that the Sunday of the festival has been cancelled as a safety precaution."

The organisers of the festival, which was headlined by Dizzee Rascal on Saturday, also urged customers to "responsibly dispose" of any substances.
T orrential rain and thunderstorms are expected to cause travel chaos during the morning rush hour in parts of the UK, amid warnings that more severe weather is on the way.

A yellow weather warning is in force across the south of England until 9am.

Another is in force for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the west of England between 9am and 10pm.

Flooding has resulted in delays and cancellations to trains across swathes of the country while roads have also been closed.

After an overnight amber weather warning for the south-west of England and south Wales, Great Western Railway is running emergency speed restrictions, while severe disruption is being reported on parts of the Northern rail network.

Train passengers in the Midlands could find their journeys affected after lightning strikes damaged equipment between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.

Didcot Parkway railway station floods as torrential rain hits the UK

Network Rail said disruption there was expected until about 9am.

It comes after storms and heavy downpours caused problems in some parts on Thursday afternoon and overnight.

Flights from Gatwick Airport were cancelled due to the severe weather conditions, with 48 easyJet services affected.

Ryanair cancelled a "small number" of flights. Delays and cancellations were also reported at Heathrow.

Rosemary Powell, 58, said her journey from Heathrow to Newcastle was delayed by seven hours after her flight was cancelled.

She told the Standard: "I arrived at the airport to find that the plane was cancelled.

"I never had an email to say it was cancelled or to explain. I was put on a flight seven hours later.

"I had to queue again to ask about compensation and was given a desultory 10 voucher for food and drink."

Passengers have reported being left stranded at airports across Europe because of the extreme weather.

On Thursday evening, Didcot Parkway railway station in Oxfordshire flooded, leaving passengers to wade through deep waters or be helped by firefighters.

Travellers posted to social media to report raw sewage flowing from drains, while one commuter said she had been given a piggy back through a flooded underpass.

Met Office meteorologist John West said a "lively" day was in store on Friday, despite a bright start for some.

He said: "It will be a warm and humid day, with some decent spells of sunshine. But with the temperatures rising and an awful lot of moisture in the air, we'll see more heavy showers and thunderstorms returning by early afternoon.

"This will affect Northern Ireland, Scotland and western parts of England and Wales.

"With some torrential downpours, it is likely that we will see some localised flooding."

'Mother of all thunderstorms' 1 /11 'Mother of all thunderstorms' Lightning over the Suleymaniye Mosque in Dalston as the mother of all thunderstorms swept over London Andrew Lanxon Hoyle/@Batteryhq/P The thunderstorm illuminates the night sky over the Thames in this picture from Tower RNLI TowerRNLI/PA A lightning bolt arcs over London's skyscrapers Reuters The display of lightning in a Twitter picture that passed near Reigate @robinpeyton Lightning in south-west London @NitaiLevi/Twitter This time-lapse image shows lightning striking behind Big Ben in central London James Brewin/PA Lightning above Wembley Stadium REUTERS Londoners run for cover as a lightning bolt darts across the sky over Kings Cross @pamelsaurusrex/PA Lightning over the Shard @samueltwilkinson /PA Lightning seen from a bedroom window as it strikes above a street in south London REUTERS There were between 15,000 and 20,000 lightning strikes over the UK last night REUTERS

Forecasters predict up to 1.8 inches of rain could fall in the space of an hour in some parts, rising to 3.6 inches over three hours.

South-west parts of England were worst-affected overnight, with Gloucestershire County Council reporting multiple calls to the fire service over flash flooding.

The Environment Agency has urged people to check their flood risk and warned people not to drive through flood water.

Kate Marks, Environment Agency flood duty manager, said teams would work "24/7" to operate flood defences, clear blockages in rivers and streams and support partners at any incidents of surface water flooding.

"With heavy rain forecast during rush hour, drivers should stay up to date with the latest weather forecast and travel information before making their journey," she said.
T his is the heart-stopping moment a Malian immigrant dubbed "Spider-Man" scaled four storeys in a matter of seconds to rescue a child dangling from a balcony.

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, was filmed scaling the facade of the apartment building in the north of Paris in just 30 seconds to save a child who was hanging from a ledge.

Astonishing video footage showed Mr Gassama quickly climbing to reach the four-year-old child as he is cheered on by terrified onlookers.

The clip was shared and watched hundreds of thousands of times online and he was invited to the Elysee presidential palace to meet with Mr Macron on Monday morning.

Mr Gassama was pictured speaking with Mr Macron at about 10am (UK time). The BBC reported that Mr Macron told him he would be made a French citizen and that he was given a medal for courage.

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

Le Parisien newspaper reported that Mr Gassama was walking by on Saturday evening when he saw a gathering in front of the building and leapt into action.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets 'spiderman' migrant Mamoudou Gassama who rescued child in Paris

Mr Gassama, who has been in Paris for a few months, told the newspaper: I saw a lot of people shouting and cars honking.

Courageous actions: Mamoudou Gassama

"I climbed like this and thank God I saved the child.

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, displays a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech as he leaves the Elysee Palace / REUTERS

I did it because it was a child. I like children very much.

The child is helped to safety by Malian immigrant Mamoudou Gassama and another unidentified man / @FredBC77

He said that once he had helped the child to safety, he went into the living room and began to shake.

I started to shake, I could not hold on my feet, I had to sit down, he added.

He told French broadcaster BFMTV that when he took the child in his arms, he asked why he was on the ledge but he did not answer.

A spokesman for the fire service told the AFP news agency: "Luckily there was someone who was physically fit and had the courage to go and get the child."

Political leaders have praised his courage and bravery and vowed to support him in his efforts to settle in France.

Mamoudou Gassama was able to scale the building in just 30 seconds / @FredBC77

"Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his act of bravery that saved the life of a child," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on her official Twitter account, adding that she spoke with him by phone to thank him.

Ms Hidalgo said Mr Gassama told her that he arrived from Mali a few months ago and wished to stay in France.

"I replied that his heroic gesture was an example for all citizens and that the City of Paris will obviously be keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France," Ms Hidalgo said.
I taly's president is facing calls for his impeachment after he blocked the appointment of a key minister during attempts by the country to form a new government.

Sergio Mattarella refused to endorse the proposed economy minister of what would have been Western Europe's first populist government, meaning a new election is likely within months.

He formally asked the former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli to the presidential palace on Monday to ask him to form an interim administration until a new election.

Markets have largely welcomed his decision to put an end to the proposed government of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and right-wing nationalist League, which had insisted on Paolo Savona as economy minister.

Mr Savona, a former industry minister, has questioned whether Italy should ditch the euro as its currency.

Italian economist Paolo Savona, the populist leaders' choice of an economy minister / EPA

Mr Mattarella's veto on Sunday enraged both League leader Matteo Salvini and Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio, who threatened to start impeachment proceedings against him.

The president, however, took pains to explain that he was fully in his constitutional right and duty to reject Mr Savona as economy minister, saying he had repeatedly asked for a minister who would not be perceived as entertaining Italy's exit from the euro.

"Sticking with the euro is a fundamentally important choice for our country and our young people," Mr Mattarella said in a statement at the Quirinale Palace.

"If you want to discuss it, it should have been done openly and with a serious debate," which he noted had not been part of the electoral campaign.

Mr Cottarelli, for his part, is an economist who assisted a former centre-left government in slashing public spending.

Interim Italian prime minister Carlo Cottarelli addresses the media on Monday / EPA

A technical government will still be subject to votes of confidence in both houses of Parliament, and the Five Star Movement and League made clear Mr Cottarelli would not have their support.

In an interview with Radio Capital on Monday, Mr Salvini wondered aloud who would vote for him.

Mr Mattarella "didn't give the centre-right the chance to form a government because we didn't have the votes, and now Mr Cottarelli arrives without any votes? It seems a stretch," Mr Salvini said.

He also warned ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi against voting for Mr Cottarelli's government.

In a statement late on Sunday, Mr Berlusconi took a much more measured tone about the collapse of the Five Star-League experiment, refusing to criticise Mr Mattarella.

The former prime minister never endorsed the populist attempt at government, but had not impeded it either.
A Mali immigrant who scaled a Paris apartment building to save a child dangling from a balcony will be awarded for his bravery with papers to legalise his stay and a job as a firefighter.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama will be awarded for his exceptional act with legal papers, citizenship if he wants it and a job with the fire service.

"Bravo," Mr Macron said to Mr Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with the awarding of a medal from the prefecture for "courage and devotion".

The astonishing footage of Mr Gassama scaling the building and rescuing the child in just 30 seconds has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.

The young man said he has papers to legally stay in Italy, where he arrived in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean after a long, rough stay in Libya.

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

However, he wants to join his older brother, who has lived in France for decades.

Mr Gassama, dressed in blue jeans and white shirt, recounted his experience which took place at around 8pm on Saturday when he and friends saw a young child hanging from a fifth-floor balcony. He and his friends had been on the way to watch the Champions League final.

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, displays a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech as he leaves the Elysee Palace / REUTERS

"I ran. I crossed the street to save him," he told Mr Macron during a filmed portion of the meeting.

He said he did not think twice, adding: "When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing."

God "helped me" too, he said. "Thank God I saved him."

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

Mr Gassama felt fear when he took the child into the apartment.

"I was trembling," he told Mr Macron.

The child is helped to safety by Malian immigrant Mamoudou Gassama and another unidentified man / @FredBC77

"Because this is an exceptional act... we are obviously, today, going to regularise all your papers," Mr Macron told him, "and if you wish we will start nationalisation procedures so you can become French."

Mr Gassama told Mr Macron that he arrived in Italy in 2014 after more than a year in Libya, where he was arrested and beaten, "but I wasn't discouraged".

The French president is toughening the nation's approach to immigration, and stressed that not all who make the treacherous journey to Europe can be welcomed, but that Mr Gassama's actions were admirable.

Mamoudou Gassama was able to scale the building in just 30 seconds / @FredBC77

"You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him," the president said.

"You need courage and the capability to do that."

Working as a firefighter corresponds with his skills, Mr Macron said, and opened the door for him to join.

"You have become an example because millions have seen you" on social media, the president said.
C helsea's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has been deemed eligible for Israeli citizenship.

Abramovich flew to Tel Aviv on Monday following an interview at the Israeli embassy in Moscow last week, the BBC reported.

A spokesman would not confirm whether or not Mr Abramovich was granted citizenship.

If he does move to Israel he would be the richest person in the country.

The Russian oligarch, 51, has had to apply for a new investor visa after his previous one expired while he was out of the country.

New rules introduced in 2015 mean he will have to pass a tougher visa test than before, which includes proving that he made his money lawfully.

It comes as the Government is examining investor visas issued to Russians in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack and the deterioration in relations with Moscow.

Downing Street would not be drawn on the circumstances surrounding Mr Abramovich, stressing: "We don't discuss individual cases."

There is nothing to say Mr Abramovich's visa situation, where his renewal application is taking longer than usual, is linked to the strain in relations between Moscow and the West.

The Home Office is examining its approach to the Tier 1 investor route - which requires applicants to be prepared to invest 2 million in the UK - following the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.

Visas can currently be rejected if officials believe the applicant obtained money unlawfully or is not in control of funds.

There has been an 84 per cent drop in the number of investor visa applications since the rules were updated, the Guardian reported.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Work is under way in terms of reviewing Tier 1 investor visas.

"In 2014-15 we took action to tighten up the Tier 1 investor route, including the introduction of new powers to refuse applications where there are reasonable grounds to believe funds have been obtained unlawfully.

"As a result of these reforms applications reduced by 84 per cent.

"We are currently taking another look at how the route operates and are undertaking further checks on investors who came to the UK through this route before the reforms were introduced."

Israeli media reported that Mr Abramovich was given an identity card in Israel under the Law of Return which allows Jewish people to become Israeli citizens.
F orecasters have reported that the centre of Subtropical Storm Alberto has made landfall at Laguna Beach on the Florida Panhandle.

The storm is expected to wallop parts of the US with drenching rains, blasting winds and possible tornadoes.

Lives are said to be at risk with the storm set to strike Southern coastal states on Monday.

"It's maintained its strength and wind speeds overnight, and it looks like it's headed for landfall at Panama City, Florida," said National Weather Service meteorologist David Roth.

Beachgoers walk on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, as Subtropical Storm Alberto approaches the Gulf Coast / AP

"It'll probably hit land either mid or late afternoon," he added.

"It has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, which is about 10 miles shy of being a hurricane. This is definitely a dangerous storm."

The storm is set to hit the Florida panhandle mid or late afternoon on Monday local time / EPA

Thousands of Florida residents evacuated homes on Sunday as the storm headed north through the Gulf of Mexico.

Alberto, the first named Atlantic storm of 2018, spun up days before the formal June 1 start of the hurricane season.

There were a number of deadly hurricanes in the United States and Caribbean last year that struck places including Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage, massive power outages and devastation to hundreds of thousands of structures.

A man rides a bicycle down a flooded road in Cuba during as Alberto passed through / REUTERS

Alberto was expected to drop as much as 12 inches (30 cm) of rain, slamming an area from Mississippi to western Georgia, the US National Hurricane Center, based in the Miami, said.

The centre said it will then bring powerful winds and heavy rains as it moves into the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The storm comes during the Memorial Day weekend, marks the unofficial start of the summer tourist season along Americas Gulf coast beaches.

Alberto was also forecast to bring storm swells of about 2 to 4 feet (60-120 cm) to low-lying areas that were "likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions".

Franklin County, in the Florida Panhandle, has issued a mandatory evacuation for its barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico affecting some 4,200 housing units, while Taylor County, to the east, has a voluntary evacuation order in place for its coastal areas.

Florida Governor Rick Scott, who issued a state of emergency on Saturday in all of the state's 67 counties, said on Sunday that the Florida National Guard had 5,500 guard members ready to be deployed if needed.

"If evacuations have been ordered in your community, do not ignore them," Scott said on Twitter.

Governors in Alabama and Mississippi also declared states of emergency on Saturday.
E d Sheeran, Rita Ora and Taylor Swift were among the huge stars to perform at the BBC's Biggest Weekend festival in Swansea.

Thousands of revellers let their hair down in Singleton Park in the sweltering bank holiday heat as they enjoyed the star-studded line-up.

Ora, 27, paid tribute to DJ Avicii as she performed their song Lonely Together at the event on Sunday.

The Swedish DJ, known for his club anthems including Wake Me Up and Levels, died at the age of 28 in Oman in April.

Rita Ora paid tribute to DJ Avicii in her set / PA

As Ora performed in a stunning monochrome outfit, the words "Avicii 1989 - 2018" flashed on the screen behind her.

"Thank you," she told the audience as the track ended.

"Thank you for singing that with me.

"It's always hard for me to sing that, so thank you so much for singing along."

Crowds enjoyed the sun at the event in Swansea / PA

Meanwhile, Swift raced thorough a short set of just six songs including smash-hits Gorgeous and Blank Space.

"You're not just singing along but you're screaming along... which is the best," she told the crowd at one point.

"It kind of took my breath away a little bit when I first came out here."

Ed Sheeran was one of the stars of the first day of the festival / PA

Camilla Cabello, Demi Lovato, Craig David and Jason Derulo were among the other stars to perform at the festival over the weekend.

The event also took place at three other locations in the UK, with different acts performing at each site.

Taylor Swift played just six songs in her set before departing / PA

Liam Gallagher topped the bill in Coventry on Saturday, while his brother Noel performed in Perth on Sunday.
National Defence Minister Mihai Fifor will pay an official visit to the French Republic starting Monday, at the invitation of his counterpart Florence Parly, to discuss aspects regarding the security situation in the Black Sea region and the prospects of developing the bilateral relations in the defence area, including in the technical-military area, the National Defence Ministry (MApN) informs.

Furthermore, according to the source, they will also approach the means of strengthening the collaboration among European states in the defence area.

"In a NATO context, the discussion agenda will refer to the allied demarches aimed at ensuring stability and security in the Black Sea region and keeping this topic on the agenda of the upcoming summit of July, highlighting the importance of continuing the French military presence in allied exercises carried out on national territory. The visit of the Defence Minister also includes a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic advisor Philippe Etienne, former ambassador of the French Republic to Romania. The agenda also includes visits to MBDA and Airbus Helicopter companies," MApN points out.Minister Fifor's visit to France takes place 28 - 30 May. He will be accompanied by Secretary of State for defence policy, planning and international relations Mircea Dusa, and Secretary of State for armaments Andrei Ignat.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced on May 25 that his country had formally become a global partner of NATO  the first Latin American state to obtain an official status in the organization, which is to be formalized this week. Colombia joins Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Pakistan  other nations also listed as "partners across the globe" or "global partners," but none of them in Latin America. The areas for cooperation include improvements to the combat capabilities of the Colombian military, good governance, military education and training, the security of sea lanes, cyber security, and ways to combat terrorism and organized crime. A partnership agreement with NATO was reached a year ago (May 2017) after the Colombian government concluded a peace accord with FARC, a former terrorist group that has since become a respectable political party. The presidents statement came on the same day that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said that Bogota would be officially invited to join  their reward for steering a pro-Western course.

Cooperation between Colombia and NATO has been on the rise since 2013. In 2016, Bogota signed a military cooperation agreement with the bloc. A 2009 bilateral deal allows the US to maintain bases on Colombian territory. In its move to become a NATO partner, Bogota is violating an essential principle of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which specifies that its member states cannot join military alliances.

In practice, the partnership indicates that NATO is expanding its traditional zone of responsibility to encompass another continent across the ocean. This is yet another confirmation that the alliance has ceased to be a European group. It has conducted a ground operation in Afghanistan and a naval operation in the Indian Ocean fighting Somali pirates. Many member states have joined the US forces in Iraq as members of this coalition of the willing.

It is true that Colombia is the first South American nation to be granted a NATO status, but it does not mean that the organizations presence on that continents soil is something absolutely new. The US has special operations forces deployed under the pretext of fighting drug traffickers. UK forces are on duty on the Falkland Islands. The bloc members have military facilities in the Caribbean, which is not exactly part of South America but rather a suboceanic basin of the western Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the coasts of two South American nations: Venezuela and Colombia (Panama is part of Central America). The report NATO 2020: Assured Security, Dynamic Engagement mentions the possibility of military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Colombia is an essential country for NATOs global expansion, because its the only one in South America with coasts on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Status in NATO paves the way for the blocs bases on Colombian soil to be added to the US facilities already in place.

The South American Defense Council (SADC) created in 2009 is a 12-country-strong defense arm of UNASUR, which does not include the United States and operates outside its influence. Its emergence demonstrates the growing trend of solving regional security issues independently of the United States. Washington is not even an observer, although the possibility of becoming one has not been ruled out if it changes its policy toward Cuba. Moreover, the group includes Venezuela and Bolivia, states openly unfriendly toward the US. Argentina is to host the 2018 South American Defense Conference in August. Colombias new status will influence those proceedings. Bogota may become a connecting link between NATO and South America, in an attempt to sideline the SADC as the entity that defines the continents defense policy.

There is a backstory to the announcement about Bogota being granted official NATO status. Last month, six South American states, including Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, suspended their memberships in UNASUR, the anti-US bloc, to express their dissatisfaction with Bolivias leadership, thus rendering the SADC irrelevant. UNASUR sought to bypass the US-influenced Organization of American States (OAS). Colombias NATO status is part of a trend  the US is making efforts to boost its influence in Latin America while the continent is becoming increasingly divided.

It should be noted that the six countries that have left UNASUR are members of the Lima Group that was set up last August by twelve North and South American nations, including Canada, which are by and large friendly to the United States, especially after the left-wing leaders lost power in Argentina and Brazil. The group opposes the governments of Bolivia and Venezuela, which call for the continents independence from Washington.

Syria, Iran, and the unpredictable foreign policy of the US, which includes canceling summits previously agreed to, as well as many other surprises for the world community, are on the radar screen, undeservedly eclipsing other events of great importance. Colombias new NATO status is one such example. The North Atlantic Alliance has moved to the South American continent. The blocs privileged partner has access to the Pacific. The organization has acquired a new geographical scope. Its not the end, its the beginning. The military presence that will emerge there will be followed by political meddling in South Americas politics and attempts to bring more South American states into the NATO orbit.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday once again reiterated that he had been ousted [from premiership) over not withdrawing salary from his son.

The supremo was addressing a ceremony here in Lahore today held to commemorate the historic day [28th of May, 1998] when country conducted nuclear tests.

Giving staunch reply over treason allegations, Sharif stated he would have amassed USD 5 billion in his pocket if he had been a traitor. [I] replied to Indian leaders that Pakistan was as powerful as was India. Had we not conducted nuclear tests, Indian premier would not have travelled to Pakistan on bus, asserted Nawaz.

I directed Dr. AQ Khan and Dr. Samar Mubarak to prepare the ground for nuclear tests. [I] pushed the button soon after arrangements had been finalized and made country a nuclear power. This task was not accomplished by a dictator, rather by an elected prime minister, Nawaz apprised attendants.

Sharif went on to say that it was Pakistans right to carry out the nuclear tests after Indias nuclear tests.
Tauranga MP and National Party leader Simon Bridges will be open to questions from constituents at a public meeting being held tonight.

Secretary Maree Brookes says Simon hosts these meetings twice a year at different venues around his electorate.

Simon will talk for around 10 minutes about what hes been up to, and then it will be open to the floor for questions, says Maree.

Its his fourth year of doing these. We usually get around 50-60 people from all walks of life in attendance.

Tonights meeting will be held at 6pm the Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club Rooms on Cliff Road.

It will be an important opportunity for Simon to connect with voters, after a recent Newshub-Reid Research poll put him on just nine per cent in the preferred Prime Minister rating, after being in the job of Leader of the Opposition for three months.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on 40 per cent in the same poll.

However, National has increased its share of the party vote marginally to 45.1 per cent, and is still more popular than Labour  but not more popular than the three government parties combined.

Speaking to RNZs Morning Report, Simon says hes actually buoyed by the result.

Under my leadership the National Party is more popular than it has been, and this government hasnt got a bounce out of being new or splurging money in the Budget. Its very early days.
Government and farming sector leaders have agreed to attempt the eradication of cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis from New Zealand to protect the national herd and the long-term productivity of the farming sector.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien OConnor say we have one shot at eradicating a disease that causes painful, untreatable illness in cattle.

The decision was taken collectively by Government and farming sector bodies after months of intense modelling and analysis to understand the likely impacts of the disease, the potential spread and the costs and benefits of eradication versus other actions.

Todays decision to eradicate is driven by the Governments desire to protect the national herd from the disease and protect the base of our economy  the farming sector, says Jacinda Ardern.

Weve worked hard to get the information to make this call and I know the past ten months have been hugely uncertain for our beef and dairy farmers.

Speaking with affected farmers in recent weeks it is obvious that this has taken a toll, but standing back and allowing the disease to spread would simply create more anxiety for all farmers.

This is a tough call  no-one ever wants to see mass culls. But the alternative is to risk the spread of the disease across our national herd. We have a real chance of eradication to protect our more than 20,000 dairy and beef farms, but only if we act now.

Todays decision will provide some certainty, but at the same time will be terribly painful for those farmers who are directly affected. Both Government and our industry partners want those farmers to know support is there for them.

We are committed to working in partnership with the farming sector to ensure its long-term success. Todays move reflects how important the success of the dairy and beef industries is to the prosperity of all New Zealanders, says Jacinda.

All decision-makers acknowledge that eradication of Mycoplasma bovis  which is possible because it is not widespread, infected properties are all connected through animal movements and there is just one strain of the disease out there  will be challenging and require collaboration.

Damien OConnor says it is important all farmers show a collective responsibility for the sake of the wider sector and get on-board with the eradication operation.

We all agree that while there remains a chance to get rid of this disease, we should take it. Its the only chance well get.

It wont work without farmer support. In particular farmers need to be meticulous with animal movement records and the way they use NAIT. We have already begun improvements to make it easier to use.

Ive also asked MPI to revisit the compensation process and theyve developed a new streamlined approach for those whose animals are culled to enable a substantial payment within a matter of days.

Farmer welfare is crucial and Id like to thank the Rural Support Trusts for the work theyre doing. With this decision we know more help is needed and the Government and industry groups are committed to helping farmers through this stressful time.

Mycoplasma bovis is a difficult disease to diagnose and to control. For this reason, it is possible that at some stage we may have to let the fight go and learn to manage it in our herds.

We have a set of reassessment measures that, if met, would prompt us to re-evaluate the plan. These include finding the disease is more widespread than our surveillance and modelling anticipates or a property is found that pre-dates the earliest known infection of December 2015.

Spring testing this year will give us the opportunity to reassess the feasibility of eradication when results are in come February, as Mycoplasma bovis is at its most detectable after calving, says Damien.

Eradication will involve:

 Culling all cattle on all infected properties along with cattle on most restricted properties

 All infected farms found in future will also be depopulated

 Following depopulation, farms are disinfected and will lie fallow for 60 days after which they can be restocked

 Intensive active surveillance, including testing and tracing, will continue to detect infected herds

 There will be some flexibility for farmers in the timing of culling to offset production losses

 An improved compensation claim process. MPI says a substantial part of a farmers claim for culled cows should now take 4-10 days, with a fully verified claim taking 2-3 weeks.

The full cost of phased eradication over 10 years is projected at $886 million. Of this, $16 million is loss of production and is borne by farmers and $870 million is the cost of the response (including compensation to farmers most of the eradication work is expected over one to two years.

TheGovernment will meet 68 per cent of this cost and DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb New Zealand will meet 32 per cent.

The alternative option is for long-term management. This is projected at $1.2 billion. Of this, $698 million is the loss of production borne by farmers and $520 million of response costs.

To not act at all is estimated to cost the industry $1.3 billion in lost production over 10 years, with ongoing productivity losses across our farming sector.
Tauranga has been announced as the host region for the Trustpower National Community Awards, which will be held in March 2019.

The Trustpower Community Awards is one of New Zealands largest recognition programmes for voluntary groups and organisations.

The Trustpower National Community Awards, the highlight of the Trustpower Community Awards calendar, is a three-day event which will see around 150 people come together in Tauranga for the 19th annual awards event.

The Trustpower Community Awards programme, which recognises voluntary groups and organisations, is run in 26 regions around New Zealand in conjunction with local city and district councils. Supreme Winners from each regional Trustpower Community Awards attend the Trustpower National Community Awards, together with their local mayors and invited guests.

Trustpower community and communications advisor Abbie Siely says in addition to recognising and promoting the work of volunteers, the Trustpower National Community Awards offers an opportunity to showcase the host region.

We are so excited to be hosting this prestigious event in Tauranga. Its the home of Trustpowers head office and were thrilled to share the venues, facilities, activities, scenery and hospitality that make our hometown so spectacular with this group of inspirational and deserving visitors from all corners of New Zealand, says Abbie.

Tauranga City Mayor Greg Brownless says he is looking forward to hosting the Trustpower National Community Awards in his city.

Community groups and their volunteers are crucial to our Tauranga lifestyle. We are excited about the national awards coming to the Bay of Plenty and showcasing our district and all we have to offer. Our council supports awards such as this and encourage the community to nominate deserving groups.

We look forward to having the best voluntary organisations in New Zealand uniting here in Tauranga and sharing their stories with us.

The hosting region for the Trustpower National Community Awards alternates each year between the North and South Islands, with Trustpower preferring to hold the event in provincial New Zealand or where the company has a strong customer base. This years Trustpower National Community Awards took place last month in Queenstown.

For more information on the Trustpower Community Awards, visit www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards.
Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has expressed dissatisfaction with the governments decision not to go ahead with the much-needed Waikeria Prison just over the hill in the Waikato.

He also says the government intends to reverse Nationals tougher bail laws and repeal the Three Strikes legislation.

This means more serious offenders will be released on our streets, making the people of the Bay of Plenty less safe on the streets and in their homes.

Nationals priority has always been to keep our communities safe. Thats why we tightened up bail laws and implemented the Three Strikes legislation.

He says the government is blaming these laws for the rise in the prison population, but believes it is the actions of serious criminals that is at fault.

Its already very hard for someone to be sent to prison. You dont end up there for shoplifting a packet of chips. In fact, 98 per cent of people in our prisons are there for the most serious and violent crimes, like aggravated assault, sexual violence and murder.

These are the people that the government will be letting loose on our streets.

Just this month we saw a Tauranga dairy robbed by two youths with weapons demanding money and cigarettes  a story we hear far too often.

And were just going see more of this kind of thing happening if the government goes ahead with its plans to soften our bail, parole and sentencing laws.

However, Justice Minister Andrew Little says such talk is just good old-fashioned scaremongering.

We have a rising prison population and rising serious crime. We have one of the highest incarceration rates in the developed world. The current regime isnt working and its not making communities any safer.

The so-called tough on crime approach is not a deterrent to offending and is diverting attention from real measures to reduce crime.

He says a criminal justice system doing its job would focus on reducing offending and re-offending.

We are putting together a reform package aimed at better community safety, a stronger voice for victims and genuinely addressing the problems of the prisoners who can be reformed.

We will start with a public conversation, starting with a criminal justice summit in August, with evidence of what is happening now and what we could do to improve things. We wont be indulging in the sort of mindless rhetoric Todd Muller engages in.
Former prime minister Helen Clark says abortion should be "simply a decision made between a woman and her doctor".

Clark, who is also a former health minister and director of gender advocacy group Women Deliver, told The Project abortion laws need liberalising, and the provision should be removed from the Crimes Act.

During the election campaign, now-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said abortion should be taken out of the Crimes Act.

Some of that opposition was from the doctors profiting from the provision in the law.

The provision makes abortion a crime, unless there are certain grounds and the foetus is under 20 weeks' gestation, including if the pregnancy poses serious danger to the pregnant person's life, health, and mental health; if there is substantial risk that the child would be "seriously handicapped"; the pregnancy is the result of any form of incest; or the pregnant person is "severely subnormal".

Abortion is legal if two certifying doctors agree continuing the pregnancy would result in serious danger to a woman's mental or physical health.

"We have complicated law, because the Crimes Act says abortion is an offence, but then we have the Contraception and Sterilisation Act, which gives grounds on which you can get an abortion," says Helen.

And while that was often liberally interpreted by doctors, and Kiwi women were able to access abortions, Clark told The Project it should be "simply a decision made between a woman and her doctor".

The comments come after Ireland voted to liberalise its restrictive abortion laws last week.

The vote means the Irish Government will legislate by the end of the year to make it relatively easy for a woman to obtain the procedure in early pregnancy. Previously, Ireland had restrictive abortion laws.

Ministers have promised to allow terminations within the first 12 weeks, subject to medical advice and a cooling-off period, and between 12 and 24 weeks in exceptional circumstances.

That means Ireland, a deeply Catholic conservative nation, will be more liberal than New Zealand when it comes to abortion laws.

Following Ardern's comments on the election trail, where she said women should be able to access abortion as a right, Justice Minister Andrew Little asked the Law Commission to review New Zealand's law.

It had been tasked with considering changes, including removing abortion from the Crimes Act and making it a health issue.

Andrew says the Law Commission is due to report back to him by the end of this year and, providing the Government can agree on the recommendations, he says it's possible there could be legislation before Parliament next year.

However, National leader Simon Bridges says he would be "loathe to" remove abortion from the Crimes Act.

Speaking to RNZ on Monday, he says: "I have not seen the case for change in this area. Overall, I think the regime we have for abortions is working well."

Bridges is a socially conservative Christian, similar to his Catholic predecessor Bill English, who also opposed liberalisation to abortion law.

Ahead of the election, English said current set-up was "broadly acceptable".

However, in the past decade, close to 1500 women have been refused an abortion by the state.

-Stuff.co.nz
Australia Planning June Vote On Corporate Tax Cut Package

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

28 May 2018

The Australian Government will put its company tax reforms before the Senate in June, with the aim of securing a vote by the 28th.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told reporters that it is "definitely" the Government's intention to again place the package before the Senate, and to do so when the Senate returns from recess. He said that the Government "never give[s] up" and "stand[s] for the economic national interest," and is "totally committed to the reform."

Cormann explained that it is the Government's intention to deal with both its proposed company tax reforms and personal income tax reforms by the end of June.

The Government wants to increase the turnover threshold for access to the lower, small business rate each year to 2023-24 and to reduce the headline rate to 25 percent for all businesses by 2026-27. The Government has 30 seats in the Senate but needs 39 votes to pass legislation.

Last week, Pauline Hanson said that her One Nation party will no longer support the legislation. The party controls three Senate seats and had previously reached an agreement with the Government on the conditions under which the scheme could pass.

Cormann, who has been leading the negotiations in the Senate, said that the Government will "continue to work with all crossbench Senators" and that "the door is open to all non-government Senators, including Labor and Green Senators."

Cormann said that the Government will not consider a ceiling threshold for the lower, 25 percent rate because this would "be a barrier to growth." The Government is committed to securing the passage of its business tax cuts in full.

Cormann said: "Countries around the world who are focused on the best interest of working families in their respective economies are making sure that their businesses are not put at a competitive disadvantage. In Australia we must do the same. We cannot put Australian businesses, businesses here in Australia, at a deliberate, ongoing disadvantage and think that this is not going to have negative consequences for the nine out of ten working Australians who work for those businesses."
Fears that smart speakers surreptitiously record users have been around since the devices inception. While manufacturers claim this never happens, it looked as if the paranoia was justified when an Amazon Echo sent a couples conversation to a friend without their knowledge. But according to the tech giant, this was the result of a series of misinterpretations by Alexa.

The Portland, Oregon, couple that owns the Echo in question only found out what was happening when an employee of the husband rang to say, unplug your Alexa devices right now. Youre being hacked.

"We unplugged all of them and he proceeded to tell us that he had received audio files of recordings from inside our house," said wife Danielle. "At first, my husband was, like, 'no you didn't!' And the (recipient of the message) 'You sat there talking about hardwood floors.' And we said, 'oh gosh, you really did hear us," she told KIRO-TV in Seattle.

After investigating the incident, Amazon found it came about through digital assistant Alexa mishearing words from the couples conversation. The always-listening device was initially activated when it heard a word that sounded like Alexa. It then interpreted part of the conversation as send message, at which point it asked, to whom? The AI thought it heard one of the names from the couples contact list. It asked for confirmation and heard right in the background conversation.

Amazon said this was an extremely rare occurrence, and that unlikely as this string of events is, we are evaluating options to make this case even less likely.

Danielle said she was hoping to receive a refund for her Alexa devices, but added that representatives were unwilling to do so.

Back in April, an Amazon patent was discovered that would allow Alexa to listen in on conversations to help identify owners tastes.
Why it matters: Worlds richest man Jeff Bezos has already spoken about his ambition for humanity to return to the moon. Now, hes elaborated on these plans, which includes Blue Origin working with NASA and the European Space Agency to create a permanent settlement on the surface.

Speaking at the Space Development Conference in Los Angeles on Friday, Bezos said that even if the space agencies arent open to a partnership, he is willing to do what needs to be done to make the dream of a moon settlement a reality.

Bezos said one of the first goals is to reduce the costs associated with space travel. Blue Origin hopes this will be the case with the New Glenn rocket, which has a reusable first-stage booster and should provide commercial launch services for satellites in the 2020s. Providing theres enough support, the company hopes to launch its Blue Moon lander (below) by the middle of the next decade. It's capable of delivering five tons of payload to the lunar surface.

A moon colony might sound like the stuff of science fiction, but Bezos says all the elements are there, such as 24/7 sunlight for solar power and deposits of water ice that could be turned into drinkable water, air, and rocket propellant. Its almost like somebody set this up for us, Bezos said.

The CEO added that moving heavy industries to the moon will help our planet cope with rising power demands and a growing population. The idea is for Earth to be reserved for residential and light industrial purposes. He also suggested that some people might live and work in hollowed asteroids.

The Earth is not a very good place to do heavy industry. Its convenient for us right now, Bezos said. But in the not-too-distant future  Im talking decades, maybe 100 years  itll start to be easier to do a lot of the things that we currently do on Earth in space, because well have so much energy.

Bezos is funding Blue Origin with his own money. While the chances of him ever going broke are pretty slim, he told GeekWire that if such an unlikely scenario does come to pass, other people will take over the vision.
Since Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019, he has been directly responsible for the loss of nearly 4,000 square kilometers of Amazon rainforest per year. | Read More
AGL is working with Japanese firm Idemitsu to transform a Hunter Valley coal mine into a pumped hydro storage power plant to replace the energy lost when AGL closes the Liddell power station in 2022.

"AGL is investigating the feasibility of establishing a pumped hydro project in the Upper-Hunter," the company told Fairfax Media.

The Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley will close in 2022. Credit:Janie Barrett

"Bringing energy storage of this kind to the market puts downward pressure on power prices."

The construction of a pumped hydro storage facility, using the Japanese firm's Idemitsu's soon to be closed Muswellbrook coal mine, is understood to potentially cost around $400 million. AGL and Idemitsu will carry out a feasibility study into its viability.
US private equity firm Harbour Energys $14.5 billion takeover bid for Australian oil and gas company Santos never came close to success, Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher says.

"At the end of the day, the value wasnt good enough and the offer wasnt clean. Unfortunately for Harbour, they didnt get it right," Mr Gallagher told Fairfax Media.

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said it was always business as usual for the oil and gas company. Credit:Ben Searcy

He said even during the height of negotiations the company remained focused on its growth and will continue to do so now.

We cant allow this to act as a distraction for us."
SunRice, the Australian rice company that started life as a grower-owned cooperative about 70 years ago, has unveiled plans to list on the ASX as it seeks to capitalise on the rising international demand for Australian grown rice.

If the companys push for an ASX listing wins enough support from its existing shareholders, SunRice plans to conduct a capital raising of $20 millio to $30 million to fund current and new opportunities.

SunRice chief executive Rob Gordon. Credit:Louie Douvis

Chief executive Rob Gordon told Fairfax Media the money raised would be used to invest in milling facilities in Vietnam, processing and value-adding investments in NSW's Riverina district, rice research and development initiatives and a snacking facility in Vietnam that would manufacture rice chips and possibly rice cakes.

Investing in a snacking facility in Vietnam would enable SunRice to make products to be sold around the world and continue the development of a very profitable growth agenda for the business, Mr Gordon said.
The commission heard of a system that appeared to prioritise banks over applicants. The FOS is funded by the banks and while banks are familiar with the FOS' processes, most applicants are not. Mr Field told the commission the majority of applicants didn't have a lawyer and had very limited resources. The limitations of the FOS Once the FOS has made its determination there is no further appeal or review available within the FOS. The only appeal channel for applicants to the FOS is through the courts but Mr Field said this happened "very rarely" and the applicant and bank have to negotiate the outcome.

"We decide what their liability is but they still maintain that banker-customer relationship," Mr Field said. "We basically say we have resolved our dispute you go back and negotiate with your bank about how that ought to be repaid." Lead ombudsman of the Financial Ombudsman Service Philip Field leaves the royal commission. Credit:Tracey Nearmy Rowena Orr, counsel assisting the commission, put it to Mr Field that it was not easy for customers to negotiate with banks. "Why can't FOS work out what a reasonable outcome is for the payment of the debts?" she asked. "It's not readily apparent at that stage that there is going to be a dispute," Mr Field said. "If ultimately that arrangement falls over or if they don't come to an arrangement then there will be another dispute about their financial difficulty."

Ms Orr put to Mr Field that the FOS processes were difficult for applicants. "What do you say to the proposition that if applicants knew that success in FOS looked like what Mrs Low experienced, they would be deterred from making a complaint to FOS?" she asked. Mr Field said Mrs Low's case was "an unusual case". "You know, we do try very hard to ensure that the outcome that the customer gets is fair in all the circumstances," he said to laughter from the gallery. "And I would encourage them still to - to come and use our service, which as you said at the start is free of charge to them, and, you know, we have staff that try very, very hard to ensure that we get the right outcome." Mr Field disputed some of the testimony of David Carter, chief executive for banking and wealth at Suncorp.

Mr Field said he was not aware of an "industry-wide practice" where the FOS determined a small business loan was affected by maladministration and the applicant needed to pay it back in a short period of time. Nationals senator John Williams says wrongs have to be righted. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The FOS to be replaced by AFCA The FOS is to be replaced by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in November this year and Mr Field told the commission he expects the AFCA to take a similar approach to resolving small business disputes as the FOS. "I believe the FOS approach is one that we've given a lot of thought to, and it seems to me that it would form an appropriate basis for AFCA, subject to you know, any modification and evolution of that approach over time," he said.

But Mr Williams told Fairfax Media AFCA needs to provide a better alternative to FOS. Loading "I hope AFCA sorts out any gremlins in the system which are found out through the royal commission," he said. "If FOS has things going wrong and there are going to the same benchmark criteria for AFCA, what's the point of that?" Mr Williams said AFCA will have a wider scope to look at loans and will be able award compensation of up to $1 million while at the FOS compensation is capped at $323,500. "The one-stop shop is going to be a very good thing because people can seek justice when they don't have money to do it," said Mr Williams. "You go to the FOS and feel you have been hard done by your next alternative is the court room which is a hell of a lot of money and probably five years off your life."
Australias minimum wage system is unique in the world. In reality, Australia has no single minimum wage, but thousands of minimum wages, set through the awards system. These can range in value from $18.29 an hour to as high as $165 an hour. One in five Australian workers have their pay set directly through the award system, which stipulates a multiplier to the minimum wage, depending on workers age, skill level, industry and location. Minimum award wages can range from as little as $18.29 an hour to as high as $165 an hour. Credit:Tanya Lake A further two in five workers have their pay set through a collective agreement with their employer, and the remaining two in five through an individual agreement with their employer.

What is not commonly appreciated is that minimum wage decisions ripple through all parts of the wage system, with many of these agreements made with reference to award rates. In reality, about 40 per cent of Australian workers see their pay move in near lockstep with changes to the minimum wage. Loading Economics textbooks, which assume a perfectly competitive market, have long preached the perils of setting a minimum wage too far above the market-clearing rate. Make labour too expensive, and employers will be less inclined to buy it. Increase the minimum wage too far, and employment will suffer.

However, if you  as many economists increasingly do  assume a market with features of monopsony  where one purchaser of labour has market power, such as a steel maker in a one steel plant town  then studies have found that increases in the minimum wage do not decease employment. A paper published this month by the Reserve Bank concludes that the international literature on impact of minimum wage on employment remains contentious. Despite a vast research effort, economists remain divided on the issue, James Bishop, a research economist at the Reserve, writes. In the US, which has a very different wage system to ours, the weight of evidence suggests the minimum wage has a small  or no - negative effect on employment, Bishop notes. Indeed, the US Congressional Budget Office adopts a central estimate that a 10 per cent increase in minimum wages decreases employment among affected workers by up to 1 per cent.

Evidence in Australia is harder to come by, given the complexity of our minimum wage structure. But Bishops research  the first of its kind in Australia  exploits this complexity in a novel way to produce some surprising insights. Every quarter, the Bureau of Statistics conducts a survey of wage changes in 18,000 jobs in around 3000 firms. Bishop lines this data up against decisions by Australias industrial empire during the decade from 1998 to 2008. Crucially - and unlike today  the umpire awarded flat dollar increases to all workers during this period. This delivered bigger percentage rises to workers on already lower rates. This was actually a deliberate move by the Howard government to encourage high-paid workers to get off awards and onto individual agreements.

The Rudd and Gillard governments shifted the system to reward all workers with the same percentage increase. This leaves a unique decade in which its possible to compare the impact on jobs of bigger and smaller percentage increases in minimum wages. Bishops conclusion? In a nutshell: I find no evidence that these small, incremental increases in award wages have an adverse effect on hours worked or the job destruction rate. If anything, he found the impact on hours worked and job longevity was slightly positive. Ring the bell! Round one for the unions!

But Bishop urges caution in interpreting his findings. First, his analysis excludes juniors, including trainees and apprentices, for statistical reasons. Young workers are often found to be most vulnerable to the adverse employment effects of minimum wage increases. Second, the study doesnt tell you the impact unanticipated and large minimum wage increases: There will always be some point at which a minimum wage adjustment will begin to reduce employment, Bishop warns. Third, the employer responses to wage changes were only captured in a six month window after increases. Longer term effects are not captured. And fourth, the study says little about the impact on the number of people in jobs. All it says is that minimum wage increases do not result in job positions which existed one day disappearing shortly after.
Brothers Wreck faces down a cycle of mourning and remorse. The play begins as a group of young people wake to find their housemate has taken his own life. The best friend left behind, Ruben, struggles with the loss. He's part of an at-risk generation. A family, already on edge, tries to bring him back from the brink, refusing to lose another loved one.

In Australia, the story is arguably the same. Yet distinctive Australian stories are emerging in the hands of confident writers.

The Hollywood blockbuster, with its African kingdom of Wakanda, was a political act writ large and clearly tapped into a global appetite for change. As actor Ian McKellen noted, Hollywood "only recently discovered that there were black people in the world".

"We have a lot of catching up to do," Alberts says of the span of styles. "Indigenous artists need to have that freedom to explore what they want to tell  There's a movement in America called afro-futurism, it's very much like Black Panther [the movie], about these bigger worlds and the presence of our history."

Audiences in recent years have seen varied, provocative, ribald and moving theatre from artists such as Jack Charles, Jimi Bani, the Ilbijerri company and many more performers in works of fantasy, cabaret and straight drama.

Set in the oppressive tropical climate of the Top End, Alberts' story hovers between grief and the ways people cope  the humour and joy that were as much part of her childhood as the suicides.

"I find Indigenous people make jokes about everything, they laugh through everything  the characters are like my family members and they're all very funny The play's really about someone becoming comfortable living with trauma, who has ways in which to cope but that trauma begins to build and coping starts to deteriorate and a family become more frustrated so something has to give."

What drove her to write was the silence surrounding loss, employed by adults to cover up or "protect the children" from the truth.

"I lost a friend when I was 15 and there was a very noticeable silence around it," Alberts says. "She killed herself in exactly the way she said she would and the adults continued to not speak about it with the rest of us, so that had a huge impact on me. Then my mum lost someone in a very similar manner."

She suggests the veil of silence "comes out of a desire to protect yourself, a natural instinct that's been corrupted and stretched to a point where we don't like to look at dead people  it's a false premise that we're safer. These things don't go away if we don't speak about them or look at them.
The Great Barrier Reef suffered five "death events" over the past 30,000 years as sea levels rose and fell, forcing corals to migrate land or seaward to survive, according to decade-long work by a team of international scientists.

Researchers extracted samples from as deep as 50 metres below the seabed at sites near Mackay and Cairns off the Queensland coast to reveal how the reef has fared during abrupt changes in climate since before the last ice age.

Drilling deep into the history of the Great Barrier Reef. Credit:European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling/International Ocean Drilling Program.

The drilling sites identified similar patterns and timing of this "natural experiment" despite being about 600 kilometres apart, said Jody Webster, an associate professor at Sydney University's School of Geosciences and lead author of a paper published in Nature Geoscience on Tuesday.

The corals shifted laterally with each sea-level change, becoming "not a barrier but a fringing reef attached to the edge of the continental shelf" during the "Last Glacial Maximum" about 20,000 years ago, he said.
But the real Taco Bill, the place you know for cheesy enchiladas and possibly some of your finest hangovers, didn't start until '74, when partners Stan Teschke and Graham Knight helped Chilcote open the 50-seater on Russell Street, Melbourne.

The story starts in 1967 in Mermaid Beach, Queensland, where Californian-Mexican Bill Chilcote landed with the equipment to make tortillas. Only problem: in a taco-less country, demand wasn't high. So, Chilcote opened a little shop out front, what would become the prototype for the takeaway-only store launched in Armadale, Melbourne, in 1972.

And so today we're here to celebrate Taco Bill, not Australia's most authentically Mexican experience, but certainly many Australians' first experience of south-of-the-border cuisine  albeit in cheesy Tex-Mex form and served with fishbowl-sized frozen margaritas. Ole!

I'd like to dedicate this story of Taco Bill to Attica's Ben Shewry. Two years ago, the Kiwi chef whose restaurant's fame is owed to the way he tells an Australian story via plate, encouraged us to ditch our cultural cringe by embracing not just the Indigenous ingredients restaurants like his have been championing, but our ocker food identity, too. Our meat pies and Vegemite. It was a message: stop being so bloody up yourselves.

Taco Bill in South Melbourne, one of 33 restaurants in Victoria. Credit:Simon Schluter

Back then, according to Teschke, rent was $50 a week, yet six failed businesses had previously occupied the space. Still, they were confident. Right up until they left the fryer on, a day before opening, and burnt the place down, and discovered Chilcote (a former firefighter), had no fire insurance. The rebuild was tough, and by hand, but Teschke reckons they "must have exorcised the demons, because when we opened, it took off".

If you thought Mamasita's queue up the stairs for tacos in 2010 was a phenomenon, you should have seen Taco Bill's in the '70s. Teschke says "people queued from 5pm on Fridays, drinking from their flagons". It was BYO then, no corkage charged, and competition for tables was so fierce, couples made friends with strangers to get a four-top quicker.

The good times only got looser when Australia's first slushie margarita was poured in 1981. It was the drink that solidified Taco Bill in Australian forklore. From '81 to today, if you finish the comic fishbowl size, you get a sombrero. Kylie Minogue has worn one. As has AFL player Warren "Wow" Jones. If you still doubt its resonance, Teschke was once contacted by the family of a Perth man who was "taken by a shark, and had such treasured memories of Taco Bill they requested sombreros the pallbearers".

The original menu was shorter. Flour tortillas weren't reliably available and hard to make, so there were no burritos, only enchiladas (filled corn tortillas baked in salsa and cheese); frijole dip (refried beans, made to a recipe from the mother of Chilcote's Mexican wife), Mexican chilli and king of kings: guacamole. If you think we're smashed-avo-obsessed now, back then they had a special sign to indicate whether guacamole was in the house (out-of-towners called to check), depending on whether they could get hold of the exotic fruit.
"Is anyone else out there who fed up with being told to gamble responsibly?" writes James Bailie of Engadine. "I have tried and have never won anything. I have had to go back to gambling irresponsibly."

More on political semaphore (C8), this time from Doug McLaughlin of Bonnet Bay: "Overacting Malcolm's 1812 Overture is closer to grabbing insects from the air or knitting without wool. In his taunts across the dispatch box it resembles more the catching and squashing of insects with facial pain apparent. He has had intensive training. In recent times all TV networks across the world are insisting on colour and movement, the most vivid being journalists. One of the silliest was a lonesome mike wielding journo in the Antarctic, on his own, trying to attract attention if the words don't. Even citizens participating in TV forums are told to comply, threatened, it would seem, with a big rap on the knuckles. Q&A is part of it but the most painful apparitions appear on ABC's The Drum. There I can envisage someone just off-camera with a threatening whip for the indolent non-participants, itching to bring them into line."

Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach writes: "Following smashed avocado and other Sydney foodie fads, an astounding report on TV announced the new protein fad is cockroach milk with kale juice. Begs the question of why, and then, how does one milk a roach? Advice and direction definitely needed."

Nothing to see here, according to Stephen Ramshaw of Turramurra: "Maybe the 50 per cent of men aged 33 who have a run-in with the law (C8), are simply going on a jog with police officers. All very healthy." The possibility, voiced on Friday, that the statistic is a typo and actually a reference to mothers-in-law, got the attention of Vicky Marquis of Glebe who says: "As a seasoned mother-in-law, I never see jokes about fathers-in-law. Surely they are not above the law."

"Most of us are aware of the expression 'eye candy'," writes Barb Taylor of Wollstonecraft. "During the Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs match, I heard the expression 'foot candy'! I wonder, which body part will come next?"
Parents in Brisbane's North Lakes area have been warned about threatening internet posts that named schools in the area.

Education Queensland has written to parents saying police are investigating the posts, which used threatening language and referenced schools in the area but did not name any.

Police were patrolling North Lakes State School on Monday after non-specific threats were made to schools in the area. Credit:Nine News Queensland/Sam Cucchiara

Fairfax Media has seen the threatening posts but has chosen not to report on the specifics, to avoid giving the posters the notoriety they were seeking.

Police said the investigation was ongoing, but the department has advised all schools would be open on Monday.
Loading

A mystery man who was admitted into a Melbourne hospital weeks ago has been identified following a public appeal for help.

The man did not have a wallet or any identifying documents with him when he arrived at hospital.

Hospital staff were unable to communicate with him to establish his identity or access his medical history to ensure he received appropriate care, police said.

But following a public appeal on Friday, it is understood somebody known to the man contacted police to help identify him.
Hundreds of high school students clamber onto buses every morning to exit the City of Knox in Melbournes outer-east.

They are ferried to the schools of their choice in the neighbouring City of Monash, which is closer to the CBD and includes the hyped education enclaves of Glen Waverley and Mount Waverley.

But new Education Department rules could halt this long-running student exodus, forcing principals to reject enrolments outside their area.

The Age revealed on Monday that from next year, schools will not be entitled to extra portable classrooms if 50 per cent or more of their students do not live locally.
In 2016, dairy farmers Bec and Glen Casey heard from milk producer Murray Goulburn that they would be cutting the price of milk. Worse, Murray Goulburn told them that it had been overpaying its producers, and would have to claw back some of the money they had been paid. The decision cost the Caseys 320-head operation a full two years of profit. Bec said that Glen "feels like someone's come in and taken half the herd from underneath him".

Whether you buy branded milk or supermarket label, the farmer gets approximately the same amount per litre.

In one sense, milk is big business. The average Australian drinks over 100 litres of milk a year. Add in butter, cheese and exports, and dairy farming turns out to be the fourth-largest agricultural sector.

But in another sense, its small business. Many dairy farms are family operations, and theyre feeling the squeeze. In the late 1990s, there were more than 12,000 dairy farms. Now, there are less than 6000. They sell to a handful of major processors  Murray Goulburn, Fonterra, Lion, Parmalat, WCB and Bega  who in turn sell to a heavily concentrated supermarket sector.

Last month, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission produced a major report on competition in the dairy sector. Using its compulsory information gathering powers, it obtained over 25,000 documents, held public hearings, and met with stakeholders. The resulting report is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the industry today.
[We commit] to relentlessly seek to identify and deal with any person in our organisation whose standard of integrity or behaviour falls beneath that required of an ABF officer, which damages the 99 per cent plus of our people who are dedicated to their work in protecting our community and live by a set of values that most of us here share today. - Sally Whyte Decentralisation: next steps explained While the government's decentralisation agenda seems to have slowed down, we have had an update on where it's at. Acting deputy secretary Marie Taylor told senators there are seven agencies that are still going through the process of having their business cases for decentralisation analysed. Ms Taylor wouldnt confirm which agencies or functions there were. More light was also shed on just how many jobs will be moving as part of the changes announced in this year's budget. Just 98 positions will be "decentralised," 50 of which are from Canberra. The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations will move 10 jobs from Canberra to Darwin. The Indigenous Affairs Group Regional Network will move seven positions from Melbourne to Shepparton, and 25 from Sydney's CBD to Parramatta. The Unique Student Identifier Register will move 40 positions from Canberra to Adelaide and the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner will create four positions in Adelaide. The Department of Infrastructure is moving three positions from Canberra to Perth, and nine jobs related to the Inland Rail project will be in Toowoomba, Dubbo and Wodonga. - Sally Whyte John Lloyd's emails to the IPA interrogated

Is he or isn't he? The second day of estimates was devoted to finding out just what was happening with the possibility of an investigation into Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd. If you need to catch up, here are the steps we went through, to eventually find out that the Merit Protection Commissioner may still choose to open an inquiry. John Lloyd refuses to say whether he is under investigation John Lloyd not under investigation after PM&C received allegations John Lloyd still faces possible investigation over allegation APVMA: some unparliamentary language in tense hearing

Its a long saga, and the story is nowhere close to ending. The Coalitions flagship decentralisation project, the pesticides authoritys move to Armidale, is under way. Its chief executive Chris Parker fronted estimates with a glowing report of how staff up there were finding it. Dr Parkers exchanges with senators were at times terse, and at most other times cordial. But a dose of unparliamentary language woke up anyone struggling to stay interested, when Dr Parker challenged some figures Labor senator Anthony Chisholm presented to him from Grain Producers Australia, about the cost of a delay to a new agriculture chemical product. I reckon thats bullshit, Dr Parker said flatly. You show me that figure, and you show me that product, and Ill start assessing it tomorrow. The witness is channelling Bill Heffernan, committee chair Barry OSullivan replied.
Myki, Victoria's controversial public transport ticketing system, will trial a new app for 1000 specially selected users who will be able to touch on and off and pay for their travel via their mobile phone.

The "mobile myki" app would allow people with Android devices to use their phones rather than a card at existing ticket barriers and card readers across trains, trams and buses in Melbourne and beyond.

Myki cards could be a thing of the past if the trial is successful. Credit:Rebecca Hallas

The trial will cost taxpayers as much as $3 million on top of the existing $700 million myki contract, which began last year.

"There is a small additional cost for this of between $2 [million] to $3 million to run the whole trial," Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said.
Tokyo: With efforts being made to reinstate the planned summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is not taking any chances.

After speaking with Trump by telephone on Monday, Abe told reporters in Tokyo that he and the US President had "agreed to meet before the US-North Korea summit."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Credit:AP

Abe has been concerned that Trump might make a nuclear disarmament deal with North Korea that protects the United States but does not address Tokyo's worries about the North's short-range missiles that could hit Japan.

By offering to meet with Trump before he heads to Singapore, Abe hopes to be one of the last advisers to have his ear before Trump meets with Kim.
Paris: A former French intelligence agent facing treason charges was reportedly ensnared by a Chinese "honeytrap" when he began an affair with an interpreter in Beijing, it emerged on Sunday.

The retired spy, named as Henri M, 71, and another former operative, Pierre-Marie H, 66, are accused of passing "information detrimental to fundamental national interests" to a foreign power.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly Credit:AP

According to a report in Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, Henri M fell for a woman who worked as an interpreter for the French ambassador in Beijing after he was posted there in 1997 as station chief for France's DGSE foreign intelligence service. Security sources confirmed the report.

The interpreter, who has not been named, was reportedly suspected of being an informant. Pierre Morel, the ambassador, became concerned about the relationship and asked for Henri M to be recalled to France in 1998.
Memorial Day History

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans  the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)  established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers and Sailors Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

Local Observances Claim To Be First Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well.

Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried.

Official Birthplace Declared In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the birthplace of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloos claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events.

By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities.

It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

Some States Have Confederate Observances Many Southern states also have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day January 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day.

Gen. Logans order for his posts to decorate graves in 1868 with the choicest flowers of springtime urged: We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. ... Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

The crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery was approximately the same size as those that attend todays observance, about 5,000 people. Then, as now, small American flags were placed on each grave  a tradition followed at many national cemeteries today. In recent years, the custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.

The origins of special services to honor those who die in war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles offered a tribute to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago that could be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in the nations wars: Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.

To ensure the sacrifices of America s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law The National Moment of Remembrance Act, P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commissions charter is to encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: Its a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, as a Day of Prayer for Permanent Peace







Washington DC May 2018; On Memorial Day, we pause in solemn gratitude to pay tribute to the brave patriots who laid down their lives defending peace and freedom while in military service to our great Nation. We set aside this day to honor their sacrifice and to remind all Americans of the tremendous price of our precious liberty.

Throughout the history of our Republic, courageous Americans have purchased our cherished freedom with their lives. Our 151 national cemeteries serve as the final resting place for millions of people, including veterans from every war and conflict, many of whom died while serving our country. We remain duty bound to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf and to remember them with thankfulness and unwavering pride. The fallen  our treasured loved ones, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens  deserve nothing less from a grateful Nation.

We must safeguard the legacies of our service members so that our children and our grandchildren will understand the sacrifices of our Armed Forces. As a part of this effort, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to keep the memories of our fallen heroes from ever fading away. The National Cemetery Administrations Veterans Legacy Program challenges our youth, from elementary school through college, to research and share the stories and sacrifice of their hometown veterans, who are forever honored at VA National, State, and tribal veterans cemeteries. To further ensure that our veterans legacies are remembered and celebrated, this program is developing an online memorialization platform that will amplify the voices of families, survivors, and Gold Star parents and spouses as they honor our beloved veterans and fallen service members.

Today, and every day, we revere those who have died in noble service to our country. I call upon all Americans to remember the selfless service members who have been laid to rest in flag-draped coffins and their families who have suffered the greatest loss. The sacrifices of our hallowed dead demand our Nations highest honor and deepest gratitude. On this day, let us also unite in prayer for lasting peace in our troubled world so that future generations will enjoy the blessings of liberty and independence.

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer.

I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I also request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth 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
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/5/2018 (1233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk may be planning a great Canadian road trip.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Musk, who helms SpaceX and Tesla Motors, may one day pull his bright red electric Roadster into Prawda, as plans for one of many proposed electric vehicle recharging stations along the Trans-Canada Highway cleared RM of Reynolds council this week.

Reeve David Turchyn said last Tuesdays hearing drew no comments from the public, nor any representation from applicant Stantec Consulting Ltd., who sought a conditional use permit on behalf of a numbered Manitoba company.

A Stantec public relations manager did not provide additional information or images by press time, but drawings accompanying the hearing notice show a proposed six-stall, self-serve rapid recharging station with Tesla branding located on the east side of Prawdas Shell fuel station property.

Under the municipalitys zoning bylaw, the proposal also required a special accessory use for a recharging station, which Turchyn said council issued to support the small but growing electric vehicle market and to give environmentally-conscious travellers another transportation option in Reynolds.

A map on Teslas website indicates the Prawda project is one link in a national network of "supercharger" stations the company expects to open "by end of 2018" along the Trans-Canada corridor. The network also includes stations in Brandon, Portage la Prairie, and Kenora.

The City of Winnipeg currently offers standard electric vehicle charging stations at FortWhyte Alive, the Forks, and the Winnipeg Square Parkade.
Steinbach RCMP executed a search warrant around 5 a.m. on Sunday morning at a residence on Penner Street in Steinbach.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/5/2018 (1232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach RCMP executed a search warrant around 5 a.m. on Sunday morning at a residence on Penner Street in Steinbach.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Several special police units assisted in the search including the RCMP's Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, along with Steinbach General Investigation Section. Police could be heard through a loudspeaker early Sunday morning attempting to communicate with occupants of the home.

Two imitation handguns, an edged weapon, drugs, drug paraphernalia and stolen property were seized in the search.

Arrest warrants have now been issued for two Steinbach residents, 36-year-old Paul Claeys and 32-year-old Steven James Lathlin. Two other men who were taken into custody at the residence during the search have been released without charge.

Claeys and Lathlin both face multiple charges related to court breaches. Lathlin also has been charged with two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a weapon contrary to a court order.

Another man was also arrested for impaired driving while attending the residence. He was found in possession of four grams of crystal meth, police said.

Update: Story updated to add detail about charges laid against two men. (May 29, 9:40 a.m.)
I Think About This a Lot is a series dedicated to private memes: images, videos, and other random trivia we are doomed to play forever on loop in our minds.

The first time I went to see a Broadway show was on my eighth birthday, in the spring of 1977. I was obsessed with magic acts and magicians because Id seen a lot of them on the prime-time comedy variety shows that were hugely popular at the time, and the performer I had seen most often was Doug Henning. He didnt wear a top hat and tails; instead, he was a shaggy hippie with a big mustache, rainbow suspenders, and leotard tops, and he was effervescent and smiley and super-earnest. Only in the 70s would he have been put on TV. In interviews and onstage, he avoided the word tricks in favor of a drawn-out illuuuuusions, and it was such a distinctive tic that the phrase turned him into a Saturday Night Live character. Most of all, he was (and still is) widely credited with bringing magic out of the dusty vaudeville trunk and back into the TV mainstream.

A couple of years before that, Stephen Schwartz  whod had big hits with Godspell and Pippin and later would have an immense one with Wicked  had co-created a musical called The Magic Show. It was a vehicle to get Henning, who could not sing, onto a Broadway stage, and it was built like the jukebox musicals we see now: The illusions were stitched together with dialogue, as the songs in Mamma Mia! are, to construct a plot. (The show received mediocre reviews but it was a commercial hit, running for more than four years and going on tour.) By the time my birthday came around in 1977, I had never been so excited to see anything in a theater, and I was only mildly disappointed when I learned from the posters outside the Cort that Henning had left the show months before. Didnt matter. His replacement, a young guy named Joseph Abaldo, was more than good enough. After the show, I coaxed my parents into buying me the cast album as a souvenir.

I remember barely anything about the day itself. What I do know is that I played the LP a thousand times thereafter, on my little yellow-and-orange plastic Radio Shack phonograph, and one particular song embedded itself in my head. Its called West End Avenue, sung by Dale Soules  you know her now as Frieda Berlin on Orange Is the New Black  and you should listen to it here before we proceed.

I have no blessed idea why this song got to me. It has nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with a small childs life. Its about Cal, an Upper West Side native in her 20s who struck out on her own, couldnt quite make it, and moved back in with her parents. That line you subway to school with kids whose folks all live in 20 blocks / In a high-rise rented carton or a co-op brownstone box? I had never been on a subway. I had never heard of a co-op. I had no idea what a brownstone was. Delis and laundries and gay bars is rhymed with Only a block away from Zabars, two references that, as far as my comprehension went, may as well have been in Bengali. Theres a joke in the lyrics about alternate-side-of-the-street parking, for gods sake. The only faint idea I can come up with for why I kept listening is that the song has a great propulsive piano line, and I had just started taking piano lessons myself. Maybe I liked that part. Still doesnt explain why I knew all the words.

But listening now, what strikes me is that the song is so weird about New York City. Youd never hear it in a musical today, because it is so out of whack with the way we perceive urban life. In that era, West End Avenue may have been a somewhat privileged place to grow up, but it was also in a slightly seedy neighborhood where you stood a decent chance of being mugged or burgled. (In the song, brownstone box is rhymed with double locks.) The idea that you would grow up in the West 80s and be desperate to get the hell out of there, to make it somewhere else less provincial, is all but alien now. The Richistan New York in which I live is a place where people turn themselves inside-out to hang onto a little sliver of rented real estate. Youre a lot likelier to get defeated by New York and leave than you are to be defeated by the larger world and land back in Manhattan. The idea that it would be crushing for someone to move to West End Avenue sounds a little far-fetched.

The more I thought about this, the more I wanted to hear it from the source, so I called up Stephen Schwartz. He himself lived on West 81st Street as a young man, but now hes in Connecticut. He was clearly tickled to be discussing a show that is neither Pippin nor Wicked, and he explained where the song originated. There was a character that [book writer] Bob Randall created, he recalls, who was the streety wannabe girlfriend of Doug  who was his assistant but whom he never noticed as a girl, just kind of as a buddy. Her frustration at this was the romantic core of the little plot that was devised. And at a certain point in the show, shes so exasperated at the attention hes paying to a pretty girl that she stalks out, and she has a song, and that became West End Avenue.

I remarked to him about what I hear in the song now  that you wouldnt expect such a worldview from a native New Yorker today  and although he didnt entirely disagree, he seemed slightly surprised. I have to say, I havent really thought about it in those terms, Schwartz told me. But I knew a lot of people who grew up in the same sort of circumstances as this girl, a somewhat privileged life on the Upper West Side, upper-middle-class, and kind of ran off to join the circus. And dont forget that the bougie West Side was a little different then: Particularly in those days, that was a very homogeneous area. If you grew up there, youd feel like trying something else. But the comfort and safety of it is seductive. And, he added, there is a certain universality to the longing for something else, no matter where you grow up.

The funny thing is, I internalized the song, but I didnt accept its message. A decade or so later, as a young adult, I was driven to move to New York, and I did. Although gay bars arent my thing, I would have been entirely happy a block from Zabars. I did not, in fact, end up like Cal  I have never felt trapped by New York City. Instead, what Ive become is, I guess, her dad.

I have a son of my own now, and he is growing up in the middle of everything, much as this character did. I occasionally wonder whether a New York apartment existence will wind up seeming dull and overly familiar to him as well. Will he eventually seek out some magic circus life of his own? When hes grown, will he crave a standalone house with a lawn, one where the washer and dryer arent coin-op? That I cannot know. But I do know one thing: A couple of months ago, four decades after my birthday trip to The Magic Show, my wife and I took our 8-year-old to see his first Broadway show. He is still talking about it.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have changed their honeymoon plans multiple times, according to TMZ, the royal couple has finally landed on an unexpected spot: Canada.

TMZ reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are heading to the royal-favorite Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, Canada, where they have plans to stay in the aptly named Royal Retreat cabin. Nearly 80 years ago, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother stayed at the lodge, and in 2005, the current queen and Prince Philip took a trip of their own to the lodging.

For long, British tabloid and royal experts have speculated that the couple would honeymoon in Africa, where Prince Harry apparently feels like he can be himself, so this news does come as a bit of a surprise. Given the lodges history with other royals, as well as Meghans love of the country, though, the TMZ report isnt totally unconvincing.

But now that media has caught word of the couples reported plans, will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry keep them? Earlier this week, Royal expert Omid Scobie told Elle that if their honeymoon spot leaks prior to travel, it compromises their safety on the trip, and theyll be advised by their protection team to change plans.

Hope were not ruining the romantic getaway!
Illustration: James Gallagher

New Yorks Sex Diaries series asks anonymous city dwellers to record a week in their sex lives  with comic, tragic, often sexy, and always revealing results. This week, a newly single woman, mixing business with pleasure at her tech job: 29, straight, UES.

Day One

7 a.m. Ugh, Monday. I wake up and go to the gym in an attempt to burn off the mistakes of the weekend.

9:30 a.m. I listen to my morning podcasts and arrive at work, exhausted. Luckily for me, my company is based on the West Coast, so mornings are typically slow. I grab some cold brew and start working on a presentation I have to give to the entire company in a few weeks. My job is changing, which is super exciting, but Im also kind of making my new role up and hoping it works.

Matt isnt in sight. Hes three years younger than me, 26, and weve been hooking up here and there for a few months now. I have to admit, I never thought twice about him, and our first encounter happened by total chance. But it was SO fucking good that I couldnt let it be the only time. Its his birthday today, so maybe hes off.

3 p.m. Ugh, there he is. I start going through Hinge to distract myself  but none of these guys seem appealing.

3:30 p.m. Andrew texts me, confirming plans for tomorrow. We met on the League and then had an amazing eight-hour first date. Hes so hot and Im obsessed with basically everything about him, but I think Im way too into him for it to work. Since I just got out of a very long, serious relationship, I know I should keep things casual. But I would basically marry this dude if I could.

4 p.m. I run into Matt in the kitchen and wish him a happy birthday. Why does every non-sexual encounter feel so awkward?

9 p.m. Im home and bored. I tell Matt I have a birthday present for him. He is intrigued. I tell him that I cant tell him what it is, I can only show him. He suggests Thursday. I cant wait to see him/his dick.

Meanwhile, I have to come up with a gift that is both exciting but also casual enough for our fuck-buddy relationship.

10 p.m. Until pretty recently, I lived with my ex, Sam, and sometimes I feel like Im still adjusting to living alone. We met at a bar and were together about four years  probably moved in together way too soon. We had a ton of issues (he was kind of a controlling dick), yet he was totally blindsided by the breakup. Im pretty happy with my newfound freedom and independence, which is what I think about before reading a few pages of The Sun Also Rises (I have a thing for Hemingway) and fall asleep.

Day Two

10 a.m. At work, drinking cold brew, and staring at Matts ass. Im so obsessed with sex now that Im single.

1 p.m. Eating lunch, and Andrew texts me to tell me how busy he is. Is he trying to blow me off? I remind myself to re-fucking-lax and that hes probably just making conversation.

Ever since I ended my relationship with Sam, I find myself going back into my 24-year-old selfs habits: overthinking and overanalyzing every single thing a guy says or does. The only difference is that, now, Im (usually) able to talk myself out of these irrational and obsessive thoughts.

Andrew suggests meeting at a place downtown at 7:30 tonight. Crisis averted.

3 p.m. Matt is sitting at the desk across from me, chatting with one of his friends. Stop torturing me, guy!

7:30 p.m. I arrive to my date and feel super nervous. What happened to the cool girl I was on our first date? Why do I psych myself out like this? Every. Single. Time.

8 p.m. We are on our second drink when we start getting handsy and making out.

9 p.m. At the next bar, we continue making out, joking about future plans. It couldnt be going better. Then, he asks about my tattoo. I should just brush it off and give some surface-level explanation, but I tell him the meaning behind it. Its for my mom, who passed away five years ago. I guess my nervousness got the best of me, and I continue to ramble on about my life story.

Theres a shift in the mood and I cant help myself from feeling awkward, and he can totally feel it. The date is going to shit.

10:30 p.m. We end the night. He kisses me good-bye and asks me to text him when I get home.

Day Three

8:30 a.m. I am so tired. Andrew still hasnt texted me back from last night  my heart sinks. I just know hes not into it anymore.

11 a.m. My friends want to murder me. I cant stop word-vomiting about my date last night. I need to get over it.

1 p.m. Andrew finally texts me back but I just have a feeling that something aint right. Oh well, at least I have Matt to look forward to.

4 p.m. I have an afternoon coffee and prepare for the networking event that I am reluctantly attending tonight. I really want to put myself out there, make connections, and excel in my career  but this shit is exhausting.

8 p.m. Im just about to leave the event when I see a super hot guy across the room. I tell my friend that I want to chat with him, and coincidentally, he is friends with her boyfriend and theyre getting drinks after this. She invites me, and I gladly accept.

10 p.m. Drinks turned into dinner that turned into more drinks. I am small-talking with this New Hottie and feeling much better about myself and the disaster of last night. If Andrew isnt into me, who cares? Its New York, and there are a million other guys at my disposal.

Everybody decides to go home, and I ask New Hottie if he wants to grab another drink elsewhere. Hes down.

Midnight I am back at the New Hotties apartment and we are making out  clothes come off. I didnt plan on having sex with a random stranger tonight, but here I am!

He has a tattoo that looks like a tribute to his dad. Weird coincidence, given last nights sitch. I decide not to bring it up.

He starts going down on me and sticking his fingers in my mouth. Oh my God, he is so fucking good. I come really hard. I give him head, he comes, then he tells me that he can get hard again and fuck me right away. Where has this guy been all my life?!

4 a.m. Fuck, fuck, fuck! We wake up after falling asleep post-sex. He was letting his starving-artist friend stay the night, but we slept through all 16 of his calls. Oops. In a total daze, I get up, get dressed, and order an Uber. His friend shows up before I can make my escape, and apologizes profusely, encouraging me to stay. Hard pass. I kiss New Hottie good-bye and bolt the fuck out of there.

Day Four

8:30 a.m. What a night. That sex was so good. I get ready, head to the office, and put my head down in work.

3 p.m. Getting an afternoon drink with my friend Nikitha (its Thursday, after all), and I tell her about my rendezvous with Matt tonight. She suggests we go to a sex store and buy something.

Ive never used handcuffs, but Ive always been curious. Matt and I have had some kinky sex  a little hair pulling, choking. Hell probably be into it. I buy a pair.

9 p.m. Im out for drinks and I text Matt. He asks if Im going out with other people from work, but I tell him I dont feel like raging tonight. He cabs it to my place.

9:30 p.m. We start hooking up. I can feel his hard-on through his sweatpants. Its been a few weeks since we last hooked up. God, I missed his dick. SATC is playing, and Charlotte and Trey start fighting about Charlottes infertility  kind of a mood killer, so I throw on some music instead.

Im wearing a super-sexy corset and he takes notice. Wow, he says. I assure him I didnt buy it for him  I mean, I really didnt.

I ask if hes ever used handcuffs and he says no, but hes down. I handcuff him and start riding him. He loves being submissive. Ive never been the dominant one in bed, but Im into it. I eventually let him get on top, and we continue having sex. He stops as soon as he is about to come, he goes down on me, waits until I come  then he fucks me again.

10:30 p.m. Were cuddling, pillow-talking and making out post-sex. I dont know why we always do this. Is he actually into me, or does he just not know to fuck and bounce? We dont really go there in our conversations, though, and Im totally fine with this. I want the casual sex, and am down for avoiding the serious talks  but nobody wants to feel completely used.

He reluctantly leaves because we both have early meetings. I welcome the sleep and pass out in a buzzed, sex-induced coma.

Day Five

7 a.m. I am exhausted, but not hung-over. I wake up, head to the gym, and take my morning meetings from home.

10:45 a.m. Matt makes eye contact with me when I walk in. Less than 12 hours ago, he was handcuffed in my bed. And now here we are, co-existing in this office, like nothing happened.

12 p.m. Headache starts to creep in. I am SO tired now. My friend Sarah is in town from our California office, though, and were having fun BSing back and forth.



6 p.m. Im wrapping up my work for the day and Sarah is drinking beer. Ugh, I really dont want any, but its so nice out, so I decide to go for it anyway. Sarah comes to see my apartment, and then we head to the park.

We sit at my favorite secret park spot by the lake, chatting about life and laughing away. I love Sarah! I wish she lived in NYC.

8:30 p.m. Sarah goes out with friends, but I decide to go home. I order in some Greek food and eat while reading The New Yorker. Eventually, I make some detox tea (I really need to flush out all of this alcohol), watch some SATC, reply to my boring Bumble and Hinge matches, and pass out.

Day Six

9 a.m. I love waking up not hung-over! Its a gorgeous day.

I throw on my running shoes and do the Central Park loop. I really love runners high and having productive weekend mornings. Im feeling good about myself.

11 a.m. I shower, get a cold brew, head to the nail salon to get a mani/pedi/massage.

2 p.m. I walk to an art studio near my apartment. Im trying to cultivate new hobbies so I feel less shitty about this partying lifestyle Ive picked up post-breakup. Ive always liked to draw, but Im not really good at it, so I decide Ill spontaneously take a drawing class. Its fun! Ill never be Monet or Van Gogh, but Im improving.

5 p.m. Im getting ready for a date I have with this guy, Dave. I met Dave on Hinge and weve been texting back and forth. He seems interesting and attractive. Im excited, but as with all app dates, a bit apprehensive. I typically wouldnt do a Saturday-night first date, but I am still feeling a little bummed about Andrew, so I want to put myself out there.

8:30 p.m. I grab a pre-date drink and apps with Nikitha, and meet Dave at a wine bar. I walk in, and there he is. Except, he doesnt look like his pictures at all. Hes about 150 pounds heavier. This cannot be real.

I reluctantly sit down. Listen, to each his own, but this dude straight-up DUPED me. He casually tells me hes gained weight since his last breakup, where he lost all motivation from a broken heart.

I dont know if this guy thought he would win me over with his sob story, but Im not interested. I ran a 10K this morning and this guy is having an emotional meltdown over his ex, eating God knows what.

I still have a glass of wine, politely decline a second, and leave.

10:30 p.m. I meet my friend Jon and another friend for drinks near Union Square, where I quickly down two dirty martinis. We walk downtown, through Washington Square Park, randomly stop for some gelato before heading to another friends party.

1 a.m. We left the party and are now making our way to some speakeasy. Im pretty drunk at this point. I meet a guy who tells me hes from Paris, visiting NY for the first time. I love Paris. My only connection is the multiple trips I took there with my ex, but I still love it. And now Id have a new connection!

The Parisian and I dance the rest of the night and make out a bit, but Im not really DTF. I already had sex with two people this week, including a one night stand with a stranger. I am definitely feeling more uninhibited than ever these days, but I, for whatever reason, am not feeling it. I guess, deep down, I do have some morals left.



3:30 a.m. The Parisian and I get pizza and he comes back to my place, even though I tell him sex is off the table. He recites a poem to me that he wrote, in French. We watch TV, giggle over nonsense, and pass out.

Day Seven

6:45 a.m. Im woken up by a practically naked French stranger kissing me. I am so nauseous I could throw up everywhere.

Apparently I promised him we could go to Central Park before he left in the morning. I throw my sweatpants on, chug some water, and we head out.

7:15 a.m. Here I am, walking through the Park with this Parisian stranger. He is SO French. Think long curly hair, bomber jacket, chain-smoking cigs. Hes making fun of all the morning runners and bikers, when just yesterday I was one of them myself. Now, here I am, so hung-over I could die, makeup running down my face, alcohol coming out of my pores.

The Parisian is actually hilarious though, and Im enjoying our time together. We head to the spot I took Sarah to two days ago. Somehow the fresh air and French humor has done wonders for my hangover.

9 a.m. We exchange numbers and he kisses me good-bye, on both cheeks. I need to go back to bed.

11:30 a.m. I wake back up and finish what remains of the pizza from last night. I am disgusting, but its really gross out today, so I dont feel that bad about just staying in. I need to do chores, anyway.

5:30 p.m. I make it to the gym for a Barre class. Every minute feels like an hour and I feel like absolute garbage by the end of it.

8:30 p.m. My physical hangover turns into a moral hangover over. I constantly go back and forth between Treat yourself, live your life to What are you doing?! I start feeling upset about Sam. I know we werent right for one another, but sometimes I just really miss him and the stability that came along with our relationship. I wish I could just hug him sometimes.

But thats the thing, I just want to hug him  I dont want to fuck him. And, clearly, my sex drive is out of control. So I know for that reason, amongst others, he definitely aint the one.

I know Ill find him, the one, one day. Until then, I just have to focus on developing my career, and having good, casual sex with different guys  until one of them sticks for good.

Want to submit a sex diary? Email sexdiaries@nymag.com and tell us a little about yourself.
Theres a full moon in Sagittarius tomorrow. Your heart might be full, and the sky might be blue and deep. If you feel spontaneous and suddenly free, let yourself act on it. If you feel curious and wide awake, let this broad energy move you.

Aries

This is a week for asking questions, both the ones you dont know the answers to and the ones whose answers youre afraid of hearing. This isnt just about finding the courage to ask  that is a courage you already have. The important piece right now is that youll be brave enough to really listen to the answers, brave enough to really hear the worlds fearsome golden song, brave enough to take what you learn and let it guide you forward.

Taurus

You always carry some spirit of generosity with you, but sometimes it stays hidden away so that it cant fully grab you, cant surprise you, cant rattle your world. This week, your generous heart might expand and grow wild. What you know already is that generosity isnt some soft, easy feeling, but a power that can shake whole cities. This week, though, it wont destroy you. Instead, it might clear a path, or light up the sky. It might break you out of every way youve ever known to confine yourself.

Gemini

This week, your impulse might be to follow the trail of some fresh new feeling, to follow the scent of a future sweet enough that it might change everything. The faraway stars call to you at night, and the sky glows pink in the morning, and the air smells like flowers and new green growth. Its easy to take all this as a sign of magic on the horizon  and maybe there really is magic on the horizon  but dont let the dream of magic stop you from seeing the colors in front of you, from loving whats already here.

Cancer

Its easy to tell yourself a story about the ways you imagine you arent enough, or the ways you imagine your pieces were put together incorrectly, or the ways you imagine your feelings are bent and incorrect. Its easy to tell yourself this story so many times that it solidifies, that it seems to harden around your skin in a suit of armor, in a shell. This week, though, youll have the power to stop telling yourself the old story.

Leo

Whatever youre doing this week, you dont have to do it on your own. This is a week for leaning on the people who love you, or for letting them lean on you. There are chemical reactions only possible in connection with other people, and ideas that can only take root in the space between people who are all trying their best. Its not possible to do everything alone, so dont ask this of yourself. Let your plans grow tall and strong and strange in the light of other peoples love.

Virgo

Optimism doesnt always feel quite right on you  the world is too tangled, our bodies too fragile, the oceans too warm. Still, this week, try to notice the times you feel your arms reaching out for some kind of warm, good feeling. Notice the times you feel yourself flickering and glowing with belief in an unknown future. You dont need to believe that everything will be okay, but you can still let yourself believe in something  the possibility for growth, or for change, or for love in a world that keeps getting stranger.

Libra

Maybe, after a long period of clouds and fog, your skies will turn clear and blue again. Or maybe, after a long period of dry cracked earth, your skies will open up with sweet cool rain. This week can offer you the chance for brightness again, the chance to live in a world that sparkles and glows in your eyes. The task this week is to let yourself believe in the possibility of change. The task is to keep your heart soft enough to accept tenderness and change when it arrives.

Scorpio

This week might offer you some kind of different lens. This week might offer you the chance to see your world as though from a rooftop, from a mountain, from an airplane. From this height, you cant see every detail and texture on the ground, and thats okay. Dont drive yourself wild trying to make out every face, every leaf, every street sign. They arent going away. For now, allow yourself the sweetness of this other distant view. What can you see from here that you couldnt before?

Sagittarius

Its possible youll find yourself in some kind of weird time loop; its possible youll feel like youve been in this exact place before. The sounds on the street might echo sounds youve heard before. The feelings that fill up your days might call back to feelings youve known in the past, or feelings youve known in dreams. This isnt a curse or a burden, but a strange kind of gift. This is the world wordlessly offering you another chance  an opportunity to quietly make something right again.

Capricorn

It can be easy to judge your own thoughts based on how closely they align with thoughts youve heard spoken by others. It can be easy to judge your own opinions based on how closely they follow the worlds imagined rules. But this week, try not to downplay the creativity that shoots electric through your mind. Dont imagine the wildness in your thoughts to be something that must be tamed and corralled. Your discipline is valuable and can keep you from losing touch with the world, but sometimes your secret wildness can set you free.

Aquarius

Youre accustomed to seeing your way clearly through the world, and this makes it difficult when the boundaries go blurry or the trail goes cold. There are kinds of power that dont always announce themselves as power, and kinds of love that dont always speak with words like flowers. There are kinds of joy that dont sparkle or sing but live inside you all the same, a small green life form drinking in the sun. This is a time of change, and it requires new ways of seeing.

Pisces

Youve traveled a long way through darkness, a long way through a world that is not your own. And it might be the heavy moon, or it might be some ripening energy inside you, but this week you might finally push your way back onto the path you were meant to travel. It wont happen instantly, and it wont happen without work, but this will be the kind of work that feels sweet and natural in your muscles, the kind of work that makes you feel tired and whole again.

Read last weeks horoscope here. Next weeks will be here.
6-Year-Old Attacked by Family DogFamily Friend Gives a Sad Update

A 6-year-old boy has died as a result of an attack by the family dog.

Family friend Rick Vaughan said that the boy died after the pit bull attacked him on May 24. Vaughan told Altoona Mirror that the boys father was cutting grass at the time, but rushed inside after the mother screamed. He then saw the dog on the boy.

It was already too late, Vaughan said, referring to the fathers efforts to free his boy from the dog, via the Mirror.

The dog that mauled the boy is now dead, although reports did not specify when or how it died. The family also gave their other dog to police after the tragedy.

His mother is taking it very, very hard, the 32-year-old Vaughan said, via the Mirror. He passed away in her arms.

The Blair County Coroner said the boy died of blunt-force trauma. The police are still investigating, according to WTAJ. Counselors were called in to assist students and staff at Baker Elementary School, the school the boy attended.

Watch Next:

Emotional Footage Shows Overjoyed Family After Being Reunited With Missing Dog
A woman stands next to a logo of Takata Corp at a showroom for vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 6, 2015. (Reuters/Toru Hanai/File Photo)

Australia Increases Takata Air Bags Recall to Just Under 4 Million Cars

SYDNEYAustralia said on Monday it was recalling an additional 1.1 million cars fitted with Takata Corp air bags, increasing the size of the countrys biggest ever compulsory recall to just under four million cars.

The Takata airbags have been linked to at least 18 deaths and 180 injuries globally because the inflators can rupture and shoot metal fragments into vehicles, leading to mass recalls around the world.

Australia has already ordered that manufacturers, including Audi, Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota, replace almost three million airbags by Dec. 31, 2020, or face fines of A$1.1 million ($830,834) per breach.

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) said on Monday the additional 1.1 million vehicle models would be recalled at a later, unspecified date.

Michael Sukkar, assistant minister to the Treasurer, said drivers of the vehicles added to the list would be informed of the timetable for replacement directly.

Pressure is growing on manufacturers globally to meet recall timetables.

The U.S. auto safety agency said earlier this month it wanted to meet with 12 major automakers that failed to fulfil a December 2017 target deadline for completing repairs on the highest-priority vehicles.

Takata has been hit hard by the scandal, filing for bankruptcy a year ago as it sought court protection from creditors after almost a decade of recalls and lawsuits.

How state capitalism in hurting both the Chinese people and the communist states trade partners

WATCH: Death by ChinaHow America lost its Manufacturing Base
Journalists wait outside the Director of Criminal Investigation headquarters, following the arrest of the head of the National Youth Service Richard Ndubai along with an unspecified number of officials over corruption, in Nairobi, Kenya May 28, 2018. (REUTERS/Baz Ratner)

Kenya Charges 54 People in Graft Investigation, Plans to Probe Banks

NAIROBKenyan authorities charged 54 people, mainly civil servants, on Monday in an investigation into the theft of nearly $100 million of public funds, a rare move to hold officials to account for graft in a nation where it is widespread.

Among the civil servants and businesspeople charged was the head of the National Youth Service, where the corruption allegedly took place, senior accountants at the government agency, and the chief internal auditor at the national treasury, chief prosecutor Noordin Mohamed Haji told a news conference.

President Uhuru Kenyattas pledged to stamp out graft when he was first elected in 2013, but critics say he has been slow to pursue top officials. No high profile convictions have occurred since he took office.

Reuters could not immediately contact any of the people named in a televised news conference by Haji, who said 20 of the individuals had been taken into custody. He called on the rest to hand themselves in and said the suspects would be charged in court on Tuesday with crimes including abuse of office.

The government ministry responsible for the National Youth Service and a spokesman for the treasury did not immediately respond for requests for comment.

The effort by Haji, a former deputy director of Kenyas National Intelligence Service, differs from past graft investigations in that he has said he will examine the role of local banks.

In phase two of investigations, the director of criminal investigations will focus on additional areas including companies or entities that benefited from the fraudulent payments and banks that were complicit, he said, adding that he will appoint four special prosecutors to assist in the investigation.

He said that the investigation by his office and the police had revealed that funds were stolen through fictitious invoices and multiple payments on one supplier invoice.

Investigations reveal that there was no procurement whatsoever, he said, adding that several bank accounts that the funds were channeled through had been frozen.

The arrests came after more than a week of front-page stories in Kenyan newspapers and numerous hashtags on Twitter.

The case  first reported earlier this month by the newspaper Daily Nation  has touched a nerve, particularly on social media, where some Kenyans are mocking the Kenyatta administration for paying just lip service to corruption.

Government critics say only big-name convictions will break what they call a culture of impunity. There have been none on Kenyattas watch, they say.

Many Kenyans say they believe that the amount allegedly looted by youth service officials is a fraction of the overall amount of money stolen annually by government officials.

The state organization trains young people and deploys them to projects ranging from construction to traffic control.

The current scandal follows one three years ago at the same agency. Earlier this year, a court acquitted nearly two dozen officials at the agency after a trial over the alleged theft of 48 million shillings in 2015.

In 2016, the then-head of Kenyas anti-graft agency said Kenya was losing a third of its state budget  the equivalent of about $6 billion  to corruption every year.

While the finance ministry disputed the losses were that large and instead blamed poor paperwork, Kenyatta acknowledged then that corruption had reached levels that threatened national security.

By George Obulutsa and John Ndiso

Watch Now:

Business is War
Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak arrives to give a statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Putrajaya, Malaysia May 24, 2018. (Reuters/Lai Seng Sin)

Malaysian Police Probing 1MDB Seized Over $28 Million in Cash, 400-Plus Handbags

KUALA LUMPURMalaysian police said on Friday that cash worth 114 million ringgit (21.4 million pounds) and over 400 luxury handbags were seized from several apartments as part of an anti-graft probe into a state fund founded by former prime minister Najib Razak.

Najibs home, and the apartments of a son, and a daughter were among a dozen properties searched since May 18, Amar Singh, the head of commercial crime division, told a news conference.

Since his defeat in an election on May 9, Najib has been barred from leaving the country by the new government, which has reopened an investigation into billions of dollars missing from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

At one empty apartment, officers found 35 bags stuffed with cash valued at 114 million ringgit. The banknotes were in 26 currencies, though the largest amounts were in ringgit and Singapore dollars.

We have sat together with bank officials to tally and estimate the total cash seized, Singh said.

Singh said the empty apartment in Pavillion Residences, in the Bukit Bintang neighbourhood of Kuala Lumpur, did not belong to any of Najibs family members. He declined to name the owner.

Police also found 284 boxes of handbags in the apartment, and a further 150 handbags were seized from the home of Najibs daughter, Nooryana Najwa, along with various shoes, including baby shoes.

Singh said most of the bags appeared to be a Hermes brand.

We have had discussions with Hermes, and we will take pictures and send them to Paris to verify their authenticity and their value, Singh said.

Nooryana, better known as Gina, married a nephew of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayevs three years ago.

Singh did not say what was found at the home of Najibs son Ashman.

Experts were being brought in to value the jewellery, watches and other luxury items seized during the raid.

Singh said half a million ringgit, excluding foreign currency, was found at Najibs home.

Najib concluded giving a statement to anti-graft agents on Thursday that was related to transactions of $10.6 million into his bank account that investigators had traced to a former unit of 1MDB.

Najib, who led the country for almost a decade, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, having explained three years ago that $680 million transferred into his account had been a donation from an unnamed Saudi royal.

In a separate development, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a tweet that he had asked tax authorities to investigate financier Low Taek Jho and his family as part of the 1MDB probe.

Commonly referred to as Jho Low, the high-living 36-year-old was close to Najibs family. His whereabouts are unknown.

He has previously denied any wrongdoing, but the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to seize his assets, including a $250 million superyacht that the department says was purchased with funds stolen and embezzled from 1MDB.

Malaysias new government pledged on Friday to honour all payments on debt arising from 1MDB. It has estimated that government guarantees covered 38 billion ringgit ($9.54 billion) of 1MDBs debt at the end of 2017.

We will honour those even though we are not happy with 1MDB, but we have to honour our international obligations, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said. I think this will reassure the markets that this government knows what it is doing.

Party Wants Its Money Back

Late on Thursday, Najibs defeated United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) asked police to return to the party money seized during the raids, describing it as campaign contributions and party funding left over after the election.

UMNO said the funds were in the process of being transferred to the partys new leadership when they were seized.

As such, UMNO seeks to recover these funds and requests the police to release these funds and return them to the party after completion of all due process and investigations by the relevant authorities, the party said.

Out of power for the first time since independence six decades ago, UMNO said it needed the money to recover from its defeat.

UMNO is in the process of rebuilding and the return of our party funds will help in this process, the statement said.

Najib quit as president of UMNO a day after the election, and was replaced by his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The new government is led by 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, a former prime minister and UMNO leader who joined the opposition to defeat his erstwhile protege after becoming convinced of his corruption.

UMNO has long been known for its money politics, as the party has built its support among ethnic Malays through a system of patronage.

The UMNO statement noted that Mahathir had handed back 1.2 billion ringgit ($301 million) to the party and its 3 million members when he stepped down as party president in 2003.

By Rozanna Latiff

Watch Next:

Father Punishes Bully Son by Forcing Him to Run to School
Obama Didnt Act on Russian Meddling to Help Clinton Win, Says Trump

President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that President Barack Obama took no action to thwart Russian interference in the 2016 election in order to secure a victory for Hillary Clinton.

Why didnt President Obama do something about the so-called Russian Meddling when he was told about it by the FBI before the Election? Trump wrote on Twitter. Because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win, and he didnt want to upset the apple cart! He was in charge, not me, and did nothing.

Text messages between senior FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page suggest that the Obama White House colluded with the CIA, FBI, and Senate Democrats in the early stages of the probe into the Trump campaigns alleged ties to Russia.mInvestigations into how the probe was handled revealed that the Obama administration employed wiretapping, unmasking, secret subpoenas, and at least one spy to monitor and infiltrate the Trump campaign.

Amid the wide-ranging counterintelligence operation, the Obama administration never alerted candidate Trump that his campaign was the target of foreign interference.

The Department of Justice announced last week that it investigating whether anyone in the Obama administration engaged in infiltrating Trumps campaign for inappropriate purposes.

The investigation into how the probe into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server is likewise under scrutiny. Page-Strzok texts show that Obama wanted to know everything about the investigation. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice watchdog, Michael Horowitz, submitted an extremely long and thorough draft report on the handling of the Clinton-email probe. The report is expected to lead to at least one referral for criminal prosecution, a source familiar with the findings told national security correspondent Sara Carter.

The origins of the Russia investigation are now under scrutiny since at least one FBI spy infiltrated the Trump campaign much earlier than the official start of the Russia investigation on July 31, 2016. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has stonewalled Congressional and White House requests to learn more about the spy and the origins of the investigation.

The DOJ presented at least some documents pertaining to the spy to members of Congress and officials from the Justice Department and the FBI on May 24.

The presidents attorney, Rudy Giuliani told Fox News on Sunday that the president will refuse a subpoena from Special Counsel Robert Mueller unless details about the spy and the origins of the Russia probe are revealed to Trumps team.

If they dont show us these documents, well, we are just going to have to say no, Giuliani told Fox.

We are more convinced, as we see it, that this is a rigged investigation, the attorney told CNN in a separate appearance. Now we have this whole new Spygate thing thrown on top of it, on top of already very legitimate questions.

To date, seven Obama administration officials who played a role in the surveillance operation on the Trump campaign have been referred for criminal investigation.

WATCH NEXT: Trump Greets Americans Freed From North Korea
One of the Richest Men in the World Found Dead in His Office

French billionaire industrialist Serge Dassault, who was also a conservative politician, died in Paris on Monday, a spokesman for Dassault Group said.

The Dassault group, which his father had created, controls Dassault Aviation national newspaper Le Figaro as well as holding major stakes in Dassault Systemes and Thales and smaller stakes in several other listed French businesses.

Bloomberg and Forbes reported that he was worth between $26 billion and $27 billion.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid tribute to him: France has lost a great industrialist, and I a friend, the BBC reported.

French president Emmanuel Macron said about the death, In Serge Dassault, France lost a man who devoted his life to developing a flagship of French industry, according to the Financial Times.

The Dassault group is best known abroad for its Rafale warplanes.

Its first and foremost a great industrialist who is gone, said Manuel Valls, former prime minister, in a statement told Bloomberg. He profoundly modernized the Dassault company.

Dassault, who had passed on leadership of his group a few years ago, died in his Paris office.

In a short statement, the Dassault family said that the 93-year-old died at his office on the Champs Elysees, following a heart attack, CNN reported.

We wont see any more big bosses like him: determined, very endearing, a little cunning, patriotic, Laurence Parisot, who is the former head of business lobby Medef, said, Bloomberg News reported. He not only made his fathers work prosperous but opened his group to modernity.

Watch Next:

I Was a Communist Slave

A story of tragedy, faith, and resistance in the face of brutal totalitarianism, Memoir of a Communist Slave is one mans journey to uncover what he believes has held him and his people hostage for too long.
Potbellied Pig Rescued in the Bronx Gets Forever Home

When New York City police got a call about a vicious animal roaming the streets in the south Bronx the day after Mothers Day, they were not sure what to expect.

But the 70-pound pot-bellied pig they found rummaging through some garbage was as friendly as could be.

You could tell this piggy was used to people. He let me pet his head and he was pretty calm, officer Luther Bynum said, according to NYPD News.

He was so friendly that hed tried to play with the officers who came to rescue him.

He was having such a good time that he did not want to get into the cage, Bynum said.

Police eventually coaxed him into the cage and brought him to the station where an animal rescue organization came to collect him. According to NYPD News, when reps from Animal Care and Control (ACC) saw him, they were so charmed, they named him Kalamazoo on the spot.

Kalamazoos history is still a mystery but staffers at ACC estimate that he is about two years old and might have been wandering the streets for months because he was malnourished.

Pigs are not allowed as pets in New York City, but Kalamazoo might have been someones pet that got too big, ACCs director of marketing, Katy Hansen, speculates.

Its pretty peculiar, she said, according to the New York Daily News. Pigs are considered wild animals. It is illegal to have a potbellied pig as a pet. If you see them when they are babies they are so cute.

Even as an adult though, Kalamazoo is a charmer.

Hes a staff favorite, Hansen said.

And his story has a happy ending. A place called Pets Alive in Middletown, New York, has taken him to their upstate sanctuary where he will live out the rest of his days.

Watch Next:

How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers

Former Chinese surgeon Enver Tohti said he was turned into a killing robot while thinking he was working for a great cause.
With Sonic Weapon Attack, China Demonstrates Experimental Program

An employee at the U.S. Embassy in Guangzhou, China, allegedly suffered mild traumatic brain injury after hearing a vague and abnormal sound, as revealed in a May 23 health alert released by the embassy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was quick to draw similarities between the incident and a 2016 incident in Havana, Cuba, in which U.S. Embassy personnel were sickened from an alleged sonic attack.

Pompeo told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, The medical indications are very similar, and entirely consistent with, the medical indications that were taking place to Americans working in Cuba. He said the United States has sent medical teams and is working to figure out what took place, both in Havana and now in China as well.

The incident elicited all forms of reactions from news outlets. Yet the common narrative now floating around is an attempt to write the attack off as being not a sonic attack, but instead a slip-up with electronic monitoring technology, framing the U.S. government response as a hasty conclusion and overreaction.

What this prevailing narrative fails to note, however, is the long history of such weapons in the Chinese military arsenal. Sonic and ultrasonic weapons (USW) fall under the broader category of directed energy weapons (DEW), which also include a range of weapons on the electromagnetic spectrum. These can be used for many purposes, including destroying electronic equipment, making a targeted person feel ill, or even damaging a targeted persons internal organs.

Like gun, missile, and bomb technologies, DEW can be utilized against people, material, and infrastructure, said Robert J. Bunker, adjunct research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute at U.S. Army War College, in an email.

As late as the early 1990s, information concerning non-lethal weapons (NLW) and their human bio-effectsat least the advanced DEW forms of themwas discussed primarily within the classified world, he said.

There are various weapons within this category on the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which includes visible light, and on the sonic spectrum, which includes audible sound.

When directed against humans, different bio-effects will result, Bunker said. As an example, high-powered microwaves (HPM) targeted at humans can raise their brain temperatures, resulting in seizures and damage, while infrasound can create vibrations in the human body, causing disorientation and incapacitation or potentially even causing organ failure.

A 2005 secret report from the National Ground Intelligence Center, declassified in 2011, describes experiments the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was conducting with high-powered microwaves and electromagnetic frequency radiation weapons on animal test subjects.

According to the report, the CCP scientists made it clear in a series of seminars that the real purpose was to investigate potential human effects of exposure to these specific radiations.

It states the CCP scientists were using the technologies to cause eye injury, brain injury, and organ injury. Many details on the tests are redacted in the report, but it notes there was a high mortality rate among the animal test subjects, and the analysis states that due to gradual effects of such weapons, it was possible that the CCP scientists were developing the technologies for torturing prisoners.

It also notes that the Chinese scientists had connections to the CCPs military, the Peoples Liberation Army. It states they were affiliated with the Institute of Radiation Medicine of the Academy of Military Medical Scientists. It states the CCP conducted similar studies in 2001 under its Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its National University of Defense Technology.

Psychotronic Weapons

On the sonic level, humans can generally hear anything from 20Hz to 20,000Hz. Above this range is ultrasound, and below this range is infrasound.

On the electromagnetic spectrum, meanwhile, humans can generally see only an extremely narrow range of light known as ROYGBIV (referring to the color spectrum), between infrared and ultraviolet. Beyond ultraviolet are x-rays and then gamma rays. Below infrared are microwaves and then radio waves, followed by very low frequencies, then extremely low frequencies.

Technologies using these spectrums are not limited to China; and other countries, including the United States, have developed weapons within these categories.

According to Bunker, a number of these weapons technologies may have originated with Soviet-era programs, but have since proliferated to (or were appropriated by) other national defense programs.

Documents recently released by the Washington State Fusion Center, obtained through a FOIA request by MuckRock, detail the uses of electromagnetic frequency weapons, the technologies to carry out such attacks, and their impacts on the human body and human consciousness.

Among the stated effects, according to the documents, are forced memory blanking and induced erroneous actions, various forms of intense pain on different parts of the human body, wildly racing heart without cause, induced changes to hearing, controlled dreams, and many others.

Another document shows how such attacks can be carried out by mobile phone networks, vehicles, helicopters, and emitters. It also lists the resonance frequencies of various parts of the human brain, and states the technologies can be used for sound which bypasses the ears, images in the brain bypassing the eyes, imposed subconscious thoughts, and other purposes.

A third document details the bio-electromagnetic field of the human body and the different frequencies of human brain waves.

According to Bunker, weapons such as these are becoming a greater focus in military development around the world. Twenty-first century warfare is gradually shifting from conventional gun, missile, and bomb technologies which are mechanically derived into exotic and advanced DEW technologies that literally weaponize bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and then direct them at opposing forces, he said.

China is well aware of the military value of DEWas well as artificial intelligence (AI), armed robots/drones, facial recognition, anti-satellite, and swarming technologiesand is actively experimenting with them in field tests and, even now apparently, in clandestine operations, he said.

Future Wars

The declassified military report notes that some of the technologies are related to the CCPs Assassins Mace (Sha Shou Jian, or Trump Card) program, which uses a blend of asymmetrical and unconventional weapons designed to launch surprise attacks and rapidly win a war.

An Assassins Mace attack from the CCP would likely take the form of rapid attacks on GPS satellites to disable key military equipment, the use of EMP from a nuclear blast to destroy electronics in wide areas, rapid strikes on airstrips to disable military planes, and various other forms of attack.

The report states the CCPs Assassins Mace weapons will permit Chinas low-technology forces to prevail over U.S. high-technology forces in a localized conflict, according to these political pronouncements. It notes the CCP has experimented with EMP warheads and the use of nuclear weapons for high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) attacks to destroy electronic infrastructure.

Both the CCP and the United States have also developed technologies using microwave and EMP weapons to destroy technology in targeted locations. According to an article published by Popular Science in January 2017, the CCPs Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology has been working on such technologies for over six years.

In the United States, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate, have developed similar weapons that can destroy electronic targets with enough precision to target individual buildings.

According to Bunker, the recent alleged attack on a U.S. government employee in China should be viewed in the context of similar attacks on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Havana, Cuba. He said the sonic technology allegedly used in both incidents shines the spotlight on potential Chinese security services involvement in these incidents, given their medically similar bio-effects.

He said that in the context of trade and defense tensions between the United States and China, its possible that the CCP may be sporadically engaging U.S. military and governmental personnel covertly on the margins as a component of an active engagement program following the tenets of Unrestricted Warfare-type thinking.

How state capitalism in hurting both the Chinese people and the communist states trade partners

WATCH: Death by ChinaHow America lost its Manufacturing Base
GLEN CARBON - As they do each Memorial Day, hundreds drove the flag-covered grounds of Sunset Hill Cemetery in Glen Carbon to pay their respects to lost loved ones.

This year, however, they did so just two days after more than 200 headstones had been vandalized with spray-painted swastikas.

Now 34-year-old Timothy V.A. Mclean of Glen Carbon is being held in custody in the Madison County Jail awaiting formal charges.

As it stands, he is expected to be charged with a hate crime and institutional vandalism, according to a press release from the Glen Carbon Police Department.

The Sunset Hills Estates subdivision, just across Route 157 in Edwardsville, was also vandalized as dozens of swastikas were spray painted on homes, vehicles, mailboxes and the subdivisions entrance sign.

The headstones, old office building and other fixtures at the cemetery were also spray painted with swastikas during the act, which took place late Friday/early Saturday.

Sunset Hill Funeral Home Directory Lyle Hill said Monday he has never encountered such an act.

Its the first time since Ive been around here. Ive been around 27 years. First time Ive seen any damage like that, Hill said.

More than 26,000 individuals are buried at Sunset Hills, which is known for, among other things, placing hundreds of flags across its grounds for its annual Memorial Day service, which includes a balloon launch, singing of the national anthem and presentation of colors.

Hill first heard about the vandalism Saturday morning and said he and his crew had to wait until police officers had secured the site and gathered evidence before cleanup could begin.

I first heard about it Saturday morning. I was down in Collinsville and my brother called me, he lives across the street there, and he said apparently they got the cemetery, Hill said. It was about 10 or 10:30 before the police released it before we could start cleaning.

Hill said power washers were the primary cleaning tool used to remove the spray paint and 10 men were involved in getting the cemetery ready for Mondays service.

We pretty much got it all done Saturday, Hill said. It pretty much came clean. The old office got hit pretty badly and it all came off.

What didnt come off with the initial cleaning will be addressed later and Hill said a new solution will be used.

Apparently theres some different stuff we just found out about called Elephant Snot and its supposed to work real well. Theres a couple of marks we didnt quite get and were going to try this, Hill said.

The incident has drawn national attention and one reason might be that Glen Carbon and Edwardsville are such quiet communities.

Glen Carbon Mayor Rob Jackstadt said, after speaking Mondays Memorial Day Service at the Glen Carbon Veterans Memorial, that such incidents dont really speak to who the residents of the community are.

What happened in Sunset Hill is not reflective at all of Glen Carbon residents. Glen Carbon was a mining town that acted as sort of a melting pot, including immigrants that care for each other and still do today, Jackstadt said. Were known for being a town that has a strong community interest and its certainly a repugnant act that doesnt reflect our Glen Carbon residents at all.

The Edwardsville Police Department and Illinois State Police were also involved in the investigation.
DowDuPont Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in agriculture, materials science, and specialty products businesses in the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company's Agriculture segment produces, and sells hybrid corn seed and soybean seed varieties; sunflowers, wheat, alfalfa, canola, cotton, rice, and sorghum; silage inoculants; and crop protection products that include weed control, disease control, and insect control. Its Performance Materials & Coatings segment manufactures and sells architectural paints and coatings, and industrial coatings; performance monomers and silicones; standalone silicones; and home and personal care solutions. The company's Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment offers ethylene oxides, propylene oxide derivatives, cellulose ethers, redispersible latex powders, and acrylic emulsions; sustainable solutions; and chlorine and caustic soda. Its Packaging & Specialty Plastics segment provides ethylene, and propylene and aromatic products; and polyolefin elastomers and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubbers. The company's Electronics & Imaging segment offers materials and systems for mobile devices, television monitors, personal computers, and electronics. Its Nutrition & Biosciences segment provides specialty ingredients, as well as cellulosic- and alginates-based pharma excipients; and enzymes, biomaterials, biocides, and antimicrobial solutions and process technologies. The company's Transportation & Advanced Polymers segment offers engineering resins, adhesives, lubricants, and parts for transportation, electronics, healthcare, industrial, and consumer end-markets. Its Safety & Construction segment provides engineered products and integrated systems for construction, worker safety, energy, oil and gas, transportation, medical device, and water purification and separation industries. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Midland, Michigan.

Read More
8 hours ago

Inflation Playbook: 3 Stocks to Consider Buying Now

Inflation and transitory are probably two words that investors are getting tired of hearing, yet its important to understand that this is what is moving markets following the pandemic. Every Consumer

Read Article
BOSTONFew star fund managers have shone brighter than Steven Wymer, who runs a portfolio of stocks at Fidelity Investments, the mutual-fund giant.

His $42-billion (U.S.) fund, Fidelity Growth Co., has outpaced 97 per cent of its rivals since 2008, making it one of the best performers in what is arguably the most competitive category for mutual funds.

But here is the curious thing: Over that same period, investors have pulled $17 billion from the fund, taking out more money every year than they put in.

In each of the last 10 years, Fidelitys fabled mutual funds have leaked money, no matter how well they have performed. It is one of the longest stretches of outflows in the companys 72-year history, the result of investors moving more heavily into cheaper index-tracking funds.

And now, Fidelity finds itself contending not just with market forces but social forces. Two portfolio managers were forced to leave the company after accusations of sexual harassment and other misconduct, shaking the mutual-fund division and the company as a whole.

Cleaning up the mess falls to one of the few women leading a major American financial institution: Abigail Johnson. As chairwoman and chief executive, Johnson must weigh whether Fidelitys once-dominant stock pickers are stuck in the past, in more ways than one.

The granddaughter of Fidelitys founder, Edward Johnson II, Johnson joined the company in 1988 as an analyst in the mutual-fund division. The job was similar to the one her father, also named Edward, took in 1957, when he started on his own path to run the family firm.

In those days, Fidelitys portfolio managers were the root of the firms success. Men like Peter Lynch, the revered manager of Fidelitys Magellan fund, often became minor celebrities, popularizing the view that shrewd stock picking was the key to a comfortable retirement.

Although Fidelity has been better than most financial institutions at offering prominent management roles to women  Kathleen Murphy heads the firms personal investing unit, Nancy Prior is president of fixed income and Pam Holding was recently appointed co-chief of Fidelitys trillion-dollar stock division  roughly 90 per cent of the companys portfolio managers are men. That included Gavin Baker, a technology expert whom Fidelity fired late last year after harassment complaints from female employees. Baker has denied the accusations.

Top executives have played down the severity of the harassment that reportedly took place. A couple of people did stupid things, Murphy said.

Nonetheless, Johnson has started a broad review of the firms culture. A sexual-harassment response committee has been set up. The 800 men and women with investment roles  traders, analysts and portfolio managers  all have taken diversity training classes run by an outside consultant.

Fidelity is also considering a move to a team-based system for picking stocks, instead of todays prevailing model: star fund managers, who are mostly male, supported by junior analysts, many of them female. The hope is that such an approach would encourage a more collaborative  and equitable  style of financial brainstorming.

Then there is the challenge facing Fidelitys traditional funds business.

Since 2010, investors have pulled $181 billion from Fidelitys actively managed mutual funds, according to Morningstar. Such funds have become less popular, especially among younger investors, who have flocked to lower-cost index funds.

Peter Lynch captured the imagination of the American investing public in the late 1980s  and that was an incredibly powerful thing for us, Johnson said. Today, you are looking at a generation that is debt-heavy and wary of equities.

Johnsons goal is to persuade clients that Fidelity can administer assets as well as it can manage them. The company can no longer rely on baby boomers dialing an 800 number after seeing a newspaper ad featuring Lynch, she said.

Assets under administration is a catchall term for money held in custody for brokers and hedge funds, the running of corporate retirement plans, savings overseen by investment advisers and the operation of a vast financial supermarket for independent financial institutions, large and small.

It is dull but profitable. And once the money comes into Fidelitys possession, it tends to stay there, unlike the assets that flow in and out of its mutual funds.

Since 2011, the nonmanaged money that Fidelity administers has doubled to $4.4 trillion. By comparison, the wealth in its mutual funds and other investment vehicles is up 58 per cent to $2.4 trillion.

At 56, Johnson is ranked by Forbes as the eighth-richest woman in the world, with a net worth of $14 billion. But like her father before her, she keeps a low public profile. In a 40-minute interview at Fidelitys headquarters here, held in the presence of two watchful public relations executives, she spoke cautiously, measuring every word.

But she is unequivocal that the firms identity is no longer shaped by the mutual-fund managers so exalted in an earlier era.

We need to figure out how to capture the imagination and attention of the next generation of investor, she said.

Much of that attention remains focused on the 14th floor of the companys headquarters, where the stock-pickers work.

On a recent day, corporate entourages from around the world clutched their briefing books and suitcases, waiting to enter one of 26 conference rooms. Inside, they would face questioning from Fidelity analysts and fund managers about every aspect of their businesses.

Read more:

Women could be better investors than men, financial service finds

These days, though, these Fidelity managers are mostly anonymous.

Take Wymer. His ability to sniff out technology winners such as the chipmaker Nvidia, where he was an early investor, has given him one of the industrys best track records.

Yet in mutual-fund circles he is virtually unknown, seldom seen on CNBC or in the financial media.

In his small, cluttered office, Wymer had little interest in talking about himself or his successes.

Asked how he felt about winning Morningstars fund manager of the year award for 2017, the mutual-fund equivalent of an Oscar, he grumbled that the award was nice but backward looking.

As for the eight years of outflows, he said they reflected aging customers cashing out and the fact that the fund had been closed to new investors since 2006. (Existing investors can continue to put money in.)

But even Fidelity funds that are open to new investors, such as its largest actively managed offering, the $124-billion Contrafund, are experiencing consistent outflows  $26.2 billion in the Contrafund alone since 2011, according to Morningstar.

Fidelity is going through an existential crisis, said Jim Lowell, who has tracked Fidelity for years in his newsletter. And it is a problem of their own making. They have some of the best-performing funds in the business, yet they rarely beat the drum about their outperforming products.

But Fidelitys growth no longer hinges on people buying mutual funds. Instead, it comes from corporations hiring Fidelity to oversee their 401(k) plans, wealthy investors handing their savings to one of its financial advisers or fast-growing investment firms selecting it as their custodian.

Fidelity is a private company, and it doesnt disclose much financial data. The limited information it does reveal makes clear that the boom in assets under administration has been driving the firms profitability in recent years.

Since 2014, Fidelitys revenue has increased to $18 billion from $14.9 billion and its operating profit to $5.3 billion from $3.4 billion. That profit is slightly more than BlackRock, the worlds largest money manager, made last year.

The goal has always been to grow the business beyond the success of the active equity funds, Johnson said. These businesses started small and we worked at them, and now they arent so small anymore.
OTTAWAForeign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is headed to Washington for a two-day visit beginning Tuesday as talks to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement hang in the balance.

Freeland has been a fixture in the U.S. capital in recent weeks, taking part in high-level NAFTA negotiations with U.S. trade czar Robert Lighthizer and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo.

It wasnt immediately clear if those talks are the main purpose of her visit, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been talking by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexicos Enrique Pena Nieto in recent days despite dwindling hope of reaching a deal.

Time is of the essence: Canadas latest reprieve from potentially crippling U.S. tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum expires June 1, and there are fears they could go into effect without a NAFTA deal in place.

The three countries have been working around the clock in hopes of getting a deal in time for the current iteration of the U.S. Congress, and ahead of whats expected to be a consequential election in Mexico July 1.

Read more:

Donald Trumps auto tariff threats could loom over NAFTA talks

Trump says Canada is very spoiled and very difficult on trade

Trumps trade chief, rejecting Trudeaus public optimism, says NAFTA deal is nowhere near close

Read more about:
Serge Dassault, the billionaire businessman and politician who inherited an aviation empire from his World War I aircraft-designer father, died. He was 93.

He succumbed Monday to heart failure in his company office just off the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, said a spokesperson for Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault. He was chairman.

One of two sons born to aviation legend Marcel Dassault and his wife, Madeleine Minckes, Serge forged a name as a fierce guardian of the familys businesses and an outspoken conservative politician.

Though Dassault expanded the familys business interests into real estate, auction houses and media, he had to contend with critical comparisons to his powerful father. Marcel founded the familys main company, Paris-based aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation, maker of the Rafale military plane and the Falcon corporate jet.

France has lost a man who dedicated his life to developing a jewel of French industry, President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.

Political fights

The Dassaults successfully rebuffed attempts by French President Francois Mitterrand to nationalize the company in the 1980s. Similarly, Serge had to battle restructuring attempts by then-President Jacques Chirac in the mid-1990s.

Dassault was born Serge Bloch in Paris on April 4, 1925. His father invented a type of propeller used by the French army during World War I. After starting his own eponymous aircraft manufacturer in 1936, Marcel was well-positioned to supply aircraft to the military after the outbreak of World War II.

During the war, the Bloch family, which was of Jewish heritage, was arrested by the Gestapo and stripped of its property. In 1944, Marcel was deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp and held as a political hostage. He was released in April 1945 when the camp was liberated.

After his release, he changed the family name to Dassault. Derived from the word for assault in French, it was also the alias used by Marcels brother, General Paul Bloch, who fought in the French resistance. In 1950, Marcel converted to Catholicism.

Good student

Serge joined the family business in 1951 after graduating from Frances prestigious engineering school, Ecole Polytechnique and the Institut Superieur de lAeronautique et de lEspace.

Even though Serge distinguished himself as a student, his father had no interest in sharing power. He distanced Serge by making him head of Dassault Electronique, a branch of the family business. Only after Marcels death in 1986, at the age of 94, did Serge take over as chief executive of Dassault Groupe.

Its first and foremost a great industrialist who is gone, said Manuel Valls, former prime minister, in a statement. He profoundly modernized the Dassault company.

Newspaper buy

In March 2004, Dassault bought Le Groupe Figaro, publisher of one of Frances most widely-read newspapers. The company also owns the Paris-based auction house Artcurial and wine estates in Bordeaux. Serges fortune is worth $27.3 billion (U.S.), making him the worlds 28th-wealthiest man, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

We wont see any more big bosses like him: determined, very endearing, a little cunning, patriotic, Laurence Parisot, former head of business lobby Medef, said in a tweet. He not only made his fathers work prosperous but opened his group to modernity.

Dassault also followed his fathers lead into politics, though Marcel, who twice served on Frances National Assembly, never campaigned and rarely attended Assembly sessions.

A member of the conservative Union for a Popular Movement party, he was elected mayor of the Paris suburb of Corbeil-Essonne in 1995, finally ousting the towns communist mayor after three failed attempts. In 2004, he became a UMP senator. A champion of conservative economic policies, he attacked the French tax system as punishing to entrepreneurs.

Graft allegations

In November 2012 he raised ire among many French citizens when he declared President Francois Hollandes bill to allow gay marriage an enormous danger to the nation.

Both his business and political careers were tainted by graft allegations.

In 1998, a Belgian court gave him a two-year suspended prison sentence for bribing politicians to win defence contracts. In June 2009, he was stripped of his mayoral position when a civil court found him guilty of making cash payments to voters. In an interview with news website Lepoint.fr, Dassault called the ruling scandalous and politically motivated.

Dassault was married to Nicole Raffel. They had three sons, Laurent, Thierry and Olivier, and a daughter, Marie-Helene.
Credit card companies in the U.S. are taking the next step in using their points programs to influence what millions of customers buy, going as far as influencing what colour blender you might purchase.

American Express is piloting a program that will allow merchants to reward customers for purchasing specific items at their stores, starting with online merchant Boxed.

AmEx is starting small: giving bonus rewards points to Boxed customers who buy Dove soap, Planters nuts, Cheerios cereal and a handful of other items. But AmEx expects to open the program to nearly all their merchants in the coming months.

Customers will benefit by expanding the number of ways they can earn points. The program also helps Amex, by giving merchants another reason to keep accepting American Express cards, which tend to be the most expensive for merchants to process.

Credit card companies have long been able to reward spending at particular types of merchants, using what are known as merchant codes. Thats how credit cards are able to give extra points or cash back on gasoline, travel, hotels and other broad categories.

But targeting individual items on a stores shelf was a tough barrier to break. Merchants inventory systems are different from company to company. AmEx says they were able to solve the problem using blockchain technology developed by Hyperledger. It enables AmEx and merchants to generate product-targeted offers while allowing merchants to keep their own inventory management systems.

Beyond promoting specific items, the change will also let American Express and its merchant customers target promotions to very specific customers. Merchants could use the program as an inventory management system, creating promotions for certain items they need to sell or want to clear off their shelves  like an odd coloured blender, for instance.

They can create programs based on a time of day, day of the week, by incentivizing a customer to download their app. The number of ways merchants can reward customers with Membership Reward points will be exponentially increased, said Chris Cracchiolo, who heads up the Membership Rewards program for AmEx.

The new program differs from another that American Express has run for several years known as Amex Offers. That program offers coupons or additional reward points to customers who spend money at a particular merchant. While American Express customers are targeted for a particular offer based on their spending behaviour, AmEx Offers were never able to target specific products.

Credit card companies also want to influence how customers spend their points. HSBC started a pilot program earlier this year that sent marketing emails to 75,000 customers using algorithms developed by St. Louis-based company Maritz. A portion of customers received an artificial intelligence-recommended category of credit card reward  travel, merchandise, gift cards or cash back  while the rest received standard marketing emails. Roughly 70 per cent of the targeted customers who ended up redeeming their points chose the recommendation generated by the computer.

While AmEx will largely leave it up to merchants to decide what products to promote, certain categories like tobacco, liquor and firearms will be banned.
CALGARYTom Bennett had always struggled with wireworms. But four years ago, the Southern Alberta farmers troubles with the pest took a rapid turn for the worse.

Big, bald patches started appearing in his fields. His crop yields were half their normal size. Losses mounted, hitting $100,000 per year at worst and $50,000 at best. And the wireworms kept spreading.

What I would normally take home ... Im losing that right off the top, said Bennett, a fourth-generation farmer near Spring Coulee, Alta., two and a half hours south of Calgary.

My concern is that the populations are going to get big enough that Im not sure what Ill do, he said.

Though wireworms arent the most important pest affecting Canadian agriculture right now, they are the one were most powerless to fight. And we likely dont know the true extent of the problem, said Neil Whatley, crop specialist at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

Its probably the tip of the iceberg, Whatley said.

The only known pesticide that worked on wireworms was banned in 2004. According to Health Canada, the chemical, Lindane, could cause cancer in humans. Since then, the pests have multiplied mostly unfettered, devastating the crops of farmers like Bennett.

We always had trouble with them, but we could deal with them, Bennett said. Now that we dont have (Lindane) weve lost control and its starting to be a real economic problem for us.

Its not just farmers wholl feel the effects if we dont figure out a way to control wireworms, said Haley Catton, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The widespread destruction of crops could raise food prices for consumers and drag down the entire economy.

Since experts dont know the full extent of the problem yet, they also dont know exactly how high the economic cost could be.

Theres nothing we can do, Catton said. Theyre like supervillains.

Wireworms are the larvae stage of a group of bugs called click beetles. Theyre incredibly resilient  the bugs can survive a year without eating, fly as adults and burrow deeper into the soil when conditions dont suit them.

They also have diverse appetites. Though wireworms mainly like to devour wheat, theyll also chew on potatoes, sugar beets, corn, lettuce, sunflower, canola, carrots and onions.

There are also roughly 30 different species of wireworm in Canada, and solutions that work for one may not work on the others.

Adding to the problem, Catton said, much of the basic research about wireworms essentially halted in the post-Second World War era, when many pesticides were developed. Experts are now playing catch-up.

Catton, whos based in Lethbridge, Alta., said her main task is now to figure out a solution. Shes two years into a three-year research project funded by the Alberta Wheat Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation.

Im like a private detective, Catton said. You have to know your enemy to know where theyre vulnerable.

Farmers can also use a temporary solution for now, a chemical that makes wireworms drowsy and seems to slow their appetites. It doesnt kill them and doesnt stop the damage completely.

However, Bennett said he fears hell lose that option as well. The same pesticide is harmful to honeybees, and has been banned in other jurisdictions.

If we lose those chemicals out of concern for honeybees, were going to have even more of a problem than we have right now, he said. We can feel fairly helpless about it.

Bennett has also pushed for emergency access to Lindane for farmers who are struggling, to no avail. He says some of his neighbours have started tripling the number of seeds they plant, in the hopes the wireworms will leave leftovers behind.

Catton, however, isnt without hope  in Prince Edward Island, where potato farmers have struggled to control wireworms, experts have had some success with rotating mustard, which the pests dislike, into their fields. Shes now trying to see if canola, a relative of mustard, could have a similar effect.

Bennetts fields are among those Catton and her team are currently sampling every week. Theyll spend the winter processing their findings.

The more farmers become aware of wireworms, Catton said, the more she will be able to sample and learn about them.

Bennett said he believes Catton and her team will figure out how to solve the problem. He just hopes he can pull through.

Hope springs eternal in farmers, he said. We plant seeds every year against all sorts of odds. This is another challenge, but I think well have a solution.

Emma McIntosh is an environment, justice and investigative reporter based in Calgary. Follow her on Twitter at @EmmaMci

Read more about:
EDMONTONA former leader of the Alberta Liberal Party says the debate about Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain Expansion Project has escaped the bounds of political good sense and become its own debate.

In a panel discussion on Sunday at St. Pauls United Church, Kevin Taft spoke about whether Alberta is on track toward a sustainable energy future. But he added that the pipeline debate is getting swept away in hype.

I think there has been a whole lot of over-hype about its importance. Its not connected to an economic basis anymore. Its not necessarily connected to an environmental basis anymore, said Taft, who led the Liberals from 2004 to 2008.

Kinder Morgan Inc.s proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline to Canadas Pacific Coast has been a topic of debate and controversy, especially due to a heated dispute between the NDP premiers of Alberta and British Columbia.

In April, Kinder Morgan threatened to walk away from the $7.4-billion project, setting a May 31 deadline for the federal government to neutralize opposition from the B.C. government.

In early May, Alberta passed a bill giving Premier Rachel Notley the authority to shut off the oil flow to B.C. In retaliation, the B.C. government sued Alberta, calling the bill unconstitutional.

Tensions continue to rise as the deadline looms closer.

Taft admits that the oil industry is centrally important to Albertas economy, but he said the province needs to remember former Alberta premier Peter Lougheeds words that the interests of the oil industry are not the same as the interests of the people of Alberta.

Unfortunately I think the government sees itself as an agent of the oil industry more than it sees itself as an agent of the ordinary people of Alberta, Taft said.

The issue is that the oil industry has a lot of money to get their message across, he said.

The oil industry has a staggering amount of money, he said. They are very sophisticated in having many different voices giving the same message. They spend a lot of time with members of the legislature, members of Parliament, the civil servants, at universities, so they get their voice through very loud and clear.

Taft said speaking from experience, he understands this is a tough political issue.

Ive been in this political position, he said. Ive been in private meetings with senior executives of the oil industry yelling at me.

The province, he said, needs to realize that the pipeline will not solve Albertas economic problems.

Billions of dollars all around the world are being invested to make fossil fuels and oils obsolete, and that over the next couple of decades, thats going to happen, Taft said. And we need to start honestly preparing for that.

The Trans Mountain pipeline project has federal approval to expand capacity, tripling the amount of bitumen moving from Alberta to B.C., where it will be shipped overseas by tanker.

Taft said the shipment of bitumen overseas will not benefit Albertans.

They are stripping raw bitumen out of our forests to be upgraded in foreign markets, creating jobs in foreign destinations  leaving behind tens, maybe hundreds of billions of dollars of environmental liabilities that they are not going to pay for, he said. So Im not sold on it.

Read more about:
HALIFAXEspousing anti-immigration views at the Apple Blossom Festival parade resulted in a lifetime ban from the festival for a new Canadian political party, but the group says their nationalist railings dont count as hate speech.

Members of the National Citizens Alliance (NCA)  a political party that says theyll run candidates in the 2019 federal election  marched in the Apple Blossom Festival parade in Kentville, N.S. on Saturday and called out to parade goers about protecting Canadas identity, heritage, and culture.

On Sunday, the group appeared in Halifaxs Victoria Park sharing similar messages. On their Facebook page they called that event a peaceful information session.

We need to stand up to being Canadian in this country. We dont want to become a globalist village, said NCA leader Stephen Garvey Sunday in Halifax.

Though slightly abashed with their statements at the parade in Kentville and the gathering in Halifax, the NCA is more explicit with their beliefs on their website.

The platform on the NCA website describes their wish to limit immigration into Canada.

One of their platform tenets reads: Implement strong no nonsense immigration policy that puts the well-being and safety of the Canadian people first and implementing a temporary pause and substantial reduction in immigration.

And in a video posted to the NCA website titled Extreme Multiculturalism, Garvey says immigration into Canada is turning into a fast death to the host culture.

The board of directors of the Apple Blossom Festival apologized in a news release Sunday for allowing an unnamed group to march in the parade and spread inappropriate political messages in the realm of what the Festival Board of Directors and many public attendees consider hate speech.

They said that the festival doesnt support any one political party, but they regularly welcome parties to join the parade. Their only caveat is that the party shouldnt use the parade as a platform to announce their political views.

It added that the group didnt indicate their political views when it applied to march in this years parade.

Garvey responded to the ban Monday in a Facebook video, defending the nationalist views he shared at the parade and decrying an alleged infringement on his right to free speech.

The NCA believes that the Apple Blossom Parades boards false and apparently politically-charged accusations and ban are rooted in a politically correct culture that is suffocating Canadians basic freedoms and civil rights, and ultimately harming our country and our peoples prosperity.

Read more about:
Welcome to a tale of two extraordinary senior female justices. Theyve not only reached the pinnacle in distinguished judicial careers, but theyre rocking it in popular culture as well.

Beverley McLachlin, 74, the longest serving and first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, with a list of groundbreaking achievements to her name, began her retirement recently by publishing Full Disclosure, a titillating crime novel that is now climbing Canadian bestseller lists.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, is not only still serving as an associate justice  and much needed liberal voice  on the U.S. Supreme Court, but shes also an internet meme, known as Notorious R.B.G. (after the late rapper B.I.G.) and a cultural icon revered for being a badass supreme court justice.

You can see her face with her trademark huge glasses on coffee mugs and tee shirts along with such declarations as You cant spell Truth without Ruth and I dissent.

Ginsburg is now the star of RBG, an entertaining and inspiring documentary that showcases everything from her fearless legal career laying the groundwork for gender equality in the U.S, to her vigorous workout sessions with a personal trainer. (Im sorry, shes 85 and she does how many planks?)

RBG, directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, also tells the moving story of Ginsburgs 56 years of devoted marriage to Marty Ginsburg, a respected tax lawyer who supported his wifes career in a way few men did in that era. (He also did most of the cooking because Justice Ginsburgs cooking was terrible.)

McLachlin and Ginsburg are clearly role models for young female lawyers, but theyre also inspirations for anyone who wants to know how to play the long game  although most peoples long games are not quite so spectacular.

I saw McLachlin at her crowded book launch at the University of Torontos Massey College in early May and I was struck by how vibrant she is  fit, elegant and approachable. Above all, self-confident.

She had always wanted to write a book, she said. So while she was still on the bench she began getting up early to craft the juicy story of Jilly Truitt, a thirty-something criminal defence lawyer in Vancouver who defends a powerful rich man accused of murdering his young wife. Truitt uncovers a few secrets about herself along the way.

The fun of the book  which will no doubt beget a sequel  is reading McLachlins insights about criminal justice  Sometimes the law doesnt matter a damn  along with her depictions of the life of a female lawyer  brutally long hours, all consuming cases, and lonely glasses of white wine along with takeout dinner at the end of the day.

McLachlin grew up in a log house with no electricity or running water in Pincher Creek, Alberta, the child of evangelical Lutherans. It was a childhood that bred fierce independence, as Sean Fine wrote in a comprehensive profile in the Globe and Mail. She was so determined to achieve she ended up studying law and doing a masters degree in philosophy at the same time, winning the University of Alberta law schools gold medal.

She became a law professor, and then began a judicial career that eventually took her to the top, where, as Chief Justice, she reshaped Indigenous rights, strengthened the rights of those accused of crime, and was personally criticized by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Through it all shes remained unflappable, and as far as the public is concerned discreet and unknowable. (No coffee mugs bearing her visage. But theres still time.)

Ginsburg, a decade older than McLachlin, was one of only nine women admitted to Harvard Law School in her year. She aced her first year, even with a baby daughter to attend to, and nursed her young husband through a bout with cancer all the while getting top grades. When she graduated, no law firm in New York would hire her, a Jewish woman, mother, and outstanding law student.

She too became a law professor and was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by former president Bill Clinton. At 60, some deemed her too old.

Apart from each woman having made it to the top courts of their countries, what else do these two trailblazers have in common?

They were both profoundly influenced by mothers who didnt have the opportunities they did. McLachlins mother had always wanted to write a childrens book. Her daughter seized the moment and wrote her novel partly because she didnt want to not have tried.

Ginsberg has said her mother taught her two things: Be a lady. Which meant not to let yourself be overpowered by useless emotions like anger. And Be independent. Both women are that in spades.

They work monumentally hard and dont seem to mind it. Ginsbergs husband used to have to show up at the court to remind his wife to come home for dinner.

They are liberal without being radical (although thats radical to some) more interested in getting to the result than in grandstanding along the way.

They can put personal feelings aside. Both women showed up for work right after losing their husbands because thats what you did.

Id love to see them get together now in a public forum and talk candidly together about their lives and careers.

But when would they find the time?

McLachlins got a bestseller to promote. Ginsburg is busy issuing fierce dissents and says that with no mandatory retirement she will work as long as she can do the job.

Maybe we could entice them with a coffee mug with both their faces on it.
WASHINGTON  Enough of this pasteurization without representation, protested Rep. Thomas Massie.

The Kentucky Republican wants to make it easier for small-scale farmers to sell raw milk, and his outrage spilled onto the House floor.

Massie, who has also tried to make it easier for small-scale farmers to sell beef, pork and lamb, got a chance May 18 to change federal law he considers too oppressive when it comes to what Americans eat and drink.

His bid failed, 79 to 331.

Massie conceded he knew big milk was opposed. The lactose lobby, he charged, is very intolerant of freedom.

The dairy industry hailed the plans defeat, saying it would have led to an increased risk in food-borne illnesses. The federal government considers raw milk a threat to public health, and only gives approval to the processed variety.

Read more:

New Zealand to slaughter 150,000 cows to end strain of disease-causing bacteria

PC Organics, Love Child Organics baby food recalled due to spoilage

A supervillain pest is destroying crops across the Prairies, and no one knows how to stop it

The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had bashed Massies provision as an unnecessary risk to consumer safety and public health.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated pasteurization of all milk products since 1987 and prevents the sale or transport of unpasteurized milk between states.

Due to its increasing popularity, however, more than two dozen states now allow the sale of raw, or unpasteurized, milk. Massies plan would have allowed the trade of unpasteurized milk or milk products between states where distribution is already legal.

He suggested that would prevent situations such as the armed 2010 raid of a Pennsylvania farm by FDA agents looking for raw milk products.

What crime could they possibly be going after? Massie asked. Is it a human trafficking ring? Is it a drug bust? No, theyre after an Amish farmer for selling milk straight from the cow.

Fellow lawmakers were not convinced there are any benefits to bypassing pasteurization, a heat-treatment process that kills microbes.

Indeed, Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), who cited warnings from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against drinking raw milk, likened it to drinking water out of a cow hoof print in the dirt.

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Florida), a veterinarian, said raw milk can carry a host of nasty germs, including Campylobacter, E. coli and listeria, and cause a variety of life-threatening maladies including tuberculosis, cow pox, diphtheria and typhoid fever.

Im not against raw milk, but if its your cow, you ought to drink it at your house, Yoho said.

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon), crossed the aisle to side with his fellow veterinarian: Milk, which is high in protein, starch and fat is an ideal medium for bacterial growth, he argued.

Massie did get backing from a dairy state lawmaker, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin), who said there were a number of raw milk enthusiasts in his district.

Chiropractors, nurses, veterinarians are the ones who feel strongly about drinking raw milk, Grothman said.

He was surprised to hear a complaint from a visiting European diplomat who told him that the worst thing about the United States was the scarcity of raw milk and cheese.

I thought it was a shame that America, the land of the free, we dont have those freedoms, Grothman said.

Though his amendment was soundly defeated, Massie savoured a drop of victory, saying he believed it was the first time a debate on raw milk had caused a splash on the House floor.

Win or lose, Im happy to have Congress weigh in on this, Massie said.
OTTAWAA bail hearing for former Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle, who faces several assault charges, will stretch into a second day.

The Ontario court proceedings  likely to conclude Tuesday  are subject to a publication ban.

As a result, Boyle's lawyers declined to comment as they filed out of the provincial courthouse Monday.

Boyle was arrested by Ottawa police in December and charged with various offences including assault, sexual assault, unlawful confinement and causing someone to take a noxious substance.

The charges against Boyle relate to two alleged victims, but a court order prohibits the publication of any details that might identify them or any witnesses.

Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were taken hostage in 2012 by a Taliban-linked group while on a backpacking trip in Afghanistan.

Read more:

A timeline of the captivity and release of Joshua Boyle and his family

Psychiatric assessment of former Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle to take 2 more weeks

Former hostage Joshua Boyle remanded again, returns to court Jan. 26

The couple, along with the three children they had during their five years in captivity, were freed by Pakistani forces last October. None of the charges, which relate to incidents that allegedly occurred between Oct. 14 and Dec. 30  after Boyle returned to Canada  have been tested in court.

The family had been living in an Ottawa apartment for about a month when Boyle was arrested.

Lawrence Greenspon, a lawyer for Boyle, told the court in January that an initial evaluation found his client fit to stand trial, but added that he would benefit from a fuller assessment at a mental health centre in Brockville, Ont.

The psychiatric evaluation was completed earlier this spring.

Read more about:
CALGARY  One of the keys to Jenna Pickerings return to work at the Suncor Energy Inc. head office in downtown Calgary was making sure her son Luke had a place at the affiliated daycare in the same office tower  even before he was born.

I think I was about six months along and I put Baby Pickering on the wait list, the 33-year-old recalled with a laugh.

When her husband Shea, 34, got a job at the Suncor building two years ago and their 18-month-old daughter, Hannah, started going to daycare last year, the daily grind truly became a family affair.

Each day, they drop Luke, now 4, and Hannah off at the daycare on the third floor before mom and dad head up to their respective floors.

The Pickerings know they are among the lucky few in Canada to have childcare at the office.

Despite the rising number of women in the workforce and a federal government push to help even more join  an effort it says will add billions of dollars to the countrys economy  few Canadian employers offer childcare in the workplace.

Read more:

Universal child care key to closing gender gap, advocate says

Calgarys daycares near capacity as parents struggle to find spots for tots

Money Makeover: Hefty daycare costs weigh on couples ability to plan for the future

In 2000, a federal government study found 338 work-related childcare centres operating in the country. The survey counted on- and off-site daycares supported by an employer, a group of employers, a union or an employee group, that sought to meet the needs of employees.

Employment and Social Development Canada said it could not find more recent figures, while advocacy group Childcare Resources, whose 1992 study identified fewer than 200 employer-related daycares, stopped collecting data on employer centres years ago because of their rarity.

Even when offered financial incentives by government, employer apathy persisted.

In last years otherwise childcare-friendly budget, the Liberals quietly axed a Harper government initiative that provided employers a 25 per cent tax credit to a maximum of $10,000 per space on costs incurred to build or expand licensed childcare facilities.

The goal of the program implemented in 2006 was to create 5,000 new workplace daycare spaces annually, but fewer than 100 individuals and 20 corporations were claiming the credit each year, according to Finance Canada.

Employers lack of interest in childcare in Canada is disappointing, said Tanya van Biesen, executive director for Catalyst Canada, whose mission is advancing womens progress in the workplace.

Many parents have no choice but stay home to watch their children because they would be breaking even or falling behind financially if they had to pay full fare for daycare, she said.

For many years, people didnt really think about or care about the fact that women were exiting stage right because they didnt have any other options, she said.

Employers recognize childcare is a major factor in attracting and retaining female employees, but balancing the costs and matching needs with resources is difficult, said Peter Dugandzic, CEO of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Alberta.

I think thats the issue for most companies. One, theres the cost, and secondly, the physical layout, he said.

While some employers advertise daycare access to attract staff, most  if not all  refer to third-party services. Some subsidize certain costs or provide the space to daycare operators for free in return for preferred access.

For example, when Mediacorp named BASF Canada as one of its Top Family-Friendly Employers for 2018, it cited the chemical companys programs including salary top-ups and extended leave for new mothers and fathers  and mentioned the private onsite daycare at its Mississauga, Ont., head office.

But the company has no formal relationship and doesnt financially support the daycare on the ground floor, said Terri Howard, director of human resources.

Among the few employers that do provide childcare services, many of them are public institutions, such as universities and even Parliament Hill.

At Simon Fraser Universitys Burnaby, B.C., campus, a daycare centre that has operated for at least 50 years is run by a non-profit operator with preference for its 315 spaces given to employees and students.

The university provides space on its grounds rent-free and subsidizes the salaries of two employees, at an annual cost of about $500,000, said Sandi de Domenico, associate vice-president of human resources.

The benefits in recruiting and retention of staff justifies the cost, she said. However, the universitys two other campuses in the area dont offer childcare and de Domenico couldnt say why.

Canada could add $150 billion to its economy by 2026 by employing more women in technology and taking steps like providing better access to childcare to boost womens participation in the workforce, McKinsey Global Institute estimated last year.

In the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields  areas that Canada is focused on strengthening due their potential contributions to economic growth  women represent just 20 per cent of jobs in the field.

Tech doesnt traditionally support parents, said Amanda Munday, an advocate for women-identified rights who works at technology startup HiMama in Toronto.

When you think about evening workshops, beer and ping-pong night-time activities, long hours, those things are not conducive to the parent lifestyle.

Munday estimates it costs $3,400 per month for good-quality daycare for her two kids, a bill she recognizes is unaffordable for her startup employer.

Her return to work after having her daughter four years ago, therefore, involved compromises. She negotiated a flexible schedule, including sometimes working from home, and unlimited sick days for her and her children. Her daughter attends preschool three days a week and Mundays mother watches her son to save on daycare costs.

Daycare at work is a major perk of working at Suncor for the Pickerings. The company doesnt subsidize their daycare costs, but the fees are competitive.

Jenna Pickering said the children thrive there, excited by fire drills and enjoying regular walks through downtown.

I went into having children knowing I wanted to go back to work, she said.

Its still a hard choice, but I like having them close by and this is the best of both worlds.

Read more about:
Two guards at a London, Ont., jail will have to stand trial for their alleged role in an inmates death, Ontarios top court ruled Monday, reversing an earlier decision to stay charges against the pair due to delayed proceedings.

Corrections officers Leslie Lonsbary and Stephen Jurkus were charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life after 29-year-old Adam Kargus was beaten to death by his cellmate at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre in October 2013.

A lower court stayed the charges against the two officers in February 2017, ruling that the case against them had eclipsed the 30-month time limit for trials set out by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Crown prosecutors appealed that decision, arguing the judge made errors in her analysis of the time-frame rules, which allow certain types of delays to occur without counting toward the 30-month limit.

In a decision released Monday, the Ontario Court of Appeal found in favour of the Crown, saying the lower court judge had miscalculated the total delay in the case.

There was no unreasonable delay, Justice Michal Fairburn wrote in a decision agreed to by fellow justices Sarah Pepall and Robert Sharpe. I would  lift the stays of proceedings and remit the matter to the Superior Court of Justice for trial.

Lonsbary and Jurkus were on duty at Elgin Middlesex the night that inmate Anthony George beat Kargus to death in a jailhouse shower stall.

The beating lasted about an hour and was so loud that an inmate on the floor below could hear excessive banging, Fairburn said in her decision.

Kargus screamed for help, but guards did not respond until his body was found the next morning, the justice added.

George pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year in connection with Kargus death, and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.

The appeal courts decision focused largely on evaluating delays in the case.

Delays that were caused by the defence, and delays that were caused by exceptional circumstances  which can include specific incidents or the general complexity of the case  do not count toward the 30-month ceiling for criminal proceedings, Fairburn said in her decision.

Among the time not properly taken into account by the lower court judge was a three-month delay generated by the need for an additional day to complete the preliminary inquiry, Fairburn said.

Two critical events occurred that necessitated the extra day of inquiry: the Crown dropped their charge against a third Elgin Middlesex guard who was then added to the prosecutors list of witnesses, and Lonsbarys lawyers decided to add their own new witness to the defence list.

Courts must be prepared to respond promptly and effectively to unexpected or unavoidable delays in criminal trials, Fairburn said. However, I am not satisfied that the court was responsible for the three-month delay in this case.

Once the relevant delays are properly subtracted from the total time elapsed, the case against Lonsbary lasted just below 30 months and, although the case against Jurkus lasted three weeks longer than the limit, the difference can be excused because of the complexity of the case, Fairburn said.

Jurkus lawyer voiced his disappointment with the ruling.

I believe that there was ample evidence before the Court of Appeal to uphold the decision of the trial judge that the case was unreasonably delayed  through no fault of the defence, Patrick Ducharme said.

I will seek instructions from my client as to whether or not we should seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, or, proceed to trial.

Lonsbarys lawyer, Jill Presser, said she would review the decision and carefully consider all of his legal options.

Lonsbary and Jurkus are no longer employed by Ontarios Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, which oversees provincial detention centres and jails, said ministry spokesman Brent Ross.
CALGARYVast geographic distances and high staff turnover have made it more difficult for justice officials to help Indigenous women and girls in the North, a national inquiry was told Monday.

A weeklong hearing of the missing and murdered Indigenous women inquiry began in Calgary with a look at the role of prosecution and victim services. The hearing is the first of two to delve into how systemic issues can contribute to the vulnerability of Indigenous women

Mental-health care and housing are scheduled to be discussed later in the week. A session on policing is to take place in Regina next month.

This is going to provide us with a foundation for our recommendations ultimately and our final report, inquiry chief commissioner Marion Buller said.

Leanne Gardiner with the Northwest Territories Justice Department told the hearing the biggest challenge is building trust with victims and their families. When there is only one victims services provider in a community, staff turnover can be disruptive.

At some points, it has to start from scratch, she said.

Read more:

B.C. inquest jury makes 10 recommendations after 2016 death of Saskatchewan woman

Advocate for Vancouver women calls for end to violence in final MMIW public hearing

Some people in remote areas have no way to quickly get face-to-face services, Gardiner said.

The reality is that we dont have victims services providers in every single community, in person ready to support someone. And crime and victimization happens in every single community.

The Northwest Territories has 11 victims services providers who work through eight community organizations. Gardiner said those providers have been creative helping people by phone or teleconference, but she said that in person interaction is always preferable.

Poor weather and spotty internet connections can also pose a challenge, she added.

As northerners are apt to do, you adjust to the circumstances that youre in.

John Phelps, Yukons chief federal prosecutor, said his office deals with a hefty caseload.

We deal with a significant percentage of violent and sexualized violent crime within the territories compared to the national averages, he said.

Crown witness co-ordinators have made things run more smoothly by helping victims navigate the justice system and by acting as a liaison with lawyers and judges, Phelps said.

But not enough co-ordinators are Indigenous, given how many people from those communities are victims of crime, he said. All of the Crown witness co-ordinators in Nunavut are Indigenous, but in the Northwest Territories only one of seven is. In Yukon, its one of five.

Keeping in contact with victims has also been a challenge.

Either we dont have adequate information coming from the investigative agency or, because of the lapse in time, victims have moved on.

Northern prosecution offices also have a tough time recruiting and retaining staff, he added.

The inquiry has already heard from 1,200 people across the country whose loved ones have been killed or have disappeared.

Families and survivors have told us about a lack of information coming from service providers and families have also told us about lack of timely response, said Buller, who added that a lack of cultural understanding is also a problem.

Families and survivors have told us time and time again that there werent translators available, that elders werent consulted, that there was also a lack of understanding that in some communities women certainly cannot talk about domestic violence, for example.

Read more about:
MONTREALThe City of Montreal made Saudi blogger Raif Badawi an honorary citizen on Monday, voting unanimously to award the distinction to the father of three who has been languishing in jail for nearly six years.

A ceremony attended by Mayor Valerie Plante took place without the bloggers wife present.

Plante explained a scheduling snafu prevented Ensaf Haidar from attending the brief ceremony, but Haidar was in the spectators gallery later when councillors voted to grant the citizenship.

Coun. Marvin Rotrand, who had presented the motion alongside the opposition Ensemble Montreal, said he is hopeful the vote will carry the weight necessary to get other cities to add their support and keep up pressure to get Badawi freed.

Rotrand said he has also received assurances the provincial and federal governments would ratchet up the pressure.

We want Saudi Arabia to know we are not going away, that there will be a political cost and an ongoing cost and the movement is not going to die out but grow larger over time, Rotrand told a news conference.

Read more:

Jailed Saudi blogger could get pardon, wife told

Backers of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi warn flogging may resume

Montreal rally takes place in support of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi

Montreal wouldnt be the first Quebec jurisdiction to grant Badawi the distinction  Sherbrooke, where his wife Ensaf Haidar and children have lived for the past few years, and the Montreal suburb of Hampstead have done the same.

Badawi, who is not a Canadian citizen, was jailed in 2012 and sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and fined the equivalent of $300,000 for criticizing Saudi Arabian clerics.

He received 50 of them in January 2015 during a public flogging but is not believed to have received any since then.

Badawis sentence has drawn widespread international condemnation, and Amnesty International has called on successive federal governments to do more to free him.

Former federal justice minister Irwin Cotler, on hand for Mondays announcement, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the matter directly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and sought clemency and a pardon for Badawi in April.

He more than just asked, he called for the release of Raif Badawi and his right to be reunited with his family in Quebec, said Cotler, an international human rights lawyer who has pushed for Badawis release.

When the Saudi royal was in Washington, Cotler presented him with a legal brief about Badawi based on Islamic law and Saudi law.

He said the crown prince told him he would consider the brief.

Haidar said it has been difficult getting information out of Saudi Arabia. A few months ago, she received word her husband was on a list for a potential pardon.

She believed it might come before Ramadan, but it didnt materialize and she says Badawis morale is quite low as he awaits news.

Meanwhile, she says she is still holding out hope.

Every year I start with hope: I hope hell be with us at Christmas, I hope hell be with us on holiday, Haidar said. But until now, I havent received good news.

June 17 will mark six years in jail for Badawi.

This year, its enough, Haidar said. Six years, its enough for us, enough for Raif too.

Haidar is to get her Canadian citizenship in the coming days and Cotler says thats a positive thing.

Any action of that kind would signify the importance the country attaches to Raifs freedom, he said.

Read more about:
OTTAWAThe federal Liberal government is reportedly nearing an agreement that could see Ottawa buy the troubled Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from Kinder Morgan to ensure the controversial Alberta-B.C. project gets built.

The deal, designed to kick-start construction that was suspended last month by Kinder Morgans jittery investors, could be announced as early as Tuesday morning, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has scheduled an urgent cabinet meeting.

Ottawa first offered to indemnify the expansion project but is now likely instead to buy it in full, Bloomberg reported Monday night, citing sources familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The federal government plans to sell the project  the existing line and its expansion  as soon as is reasonable once its guaranteed that it will be built, Bloomberg reported.

A spokesperson for Finance Minister Bill Morneau told Bloomberg he wouldnt comment on speculation.

CBC reported that an agreement in principle with Kinder Morgan would allow construction on the pipeline to begin this summer.

Trudeau has declared the pipeline expansion is a vital strategic interest for the country  one that will create tens of thousands of jobs in B.C. and Alberta, and ensure Albertas landlocked oilsands exports are no longer sold at a discount mainly to U.S. refineries. On Monday, he pegged that as a $15-billion annual hit to the Canadian economy.

But just as important to Trudeaus government is the fact that a guarantee of the pipelines expansion is key to the Alberta governments participation in Trudeaus plans for a national carbon tax to fight climate change.

Still, the notion of Trudeau  the Liberal leader who said pipeline projects need social licence to proceed and who championed consultation with Indigenous people  now buying a pipeline is as incongruous as it was for former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, a longtime opponent of corporate welfare, to bail out two auto giants during the 2009 global financial crisis.

Trudeau summoned his cabinet to a rare 7:30 a.m. meeting Tuesday, two days before his government faces a crucial deadline on the Trans Mountain project.

Trudeau and Morneau had already offered to cover or insure Kinder Morgan, a company with headquarters in Houston, against costs due to delays caused by B.C.s NDP government, which promised to use every tool it has to stop the project.

Kinder Morgan had said while it appreciated the offer, the two sides were not in alignment.

In the end, it appears not to have been enough to secure the project.

Trudeaus other options included buying an equity stake, taking over the project outright or taking it over on an interim basis while it seeks other private sector owners.

Morneau has insisted the twinning of the pipeline, despite opposition from B.C., is a commercially viable project and that there are plenty of other investors interested in it.

The controversial pipeline expansion would triple the capacity to ship Albertas heavy bitumen to the west coast  and on to Asian markets  by twinning an existing pipeline along a 1,150-kilometre route, adding about 980 kilometres of new pipeline underground.

Opposition Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said earlier this month: I think everyone can agree, regardless of their political stripes, that the federal government investing tax dollars in an energy project is not the optimal solution.

But Scheer did not completely rule out backing government investment in the pipeline. Well wait and see, he told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

The federal NDP, meanwhile, opened a new front in the pipeline wars Monday by painting Kinder Morgan as a Canadian corporate tax dodger.

The New Democrats challenged the Liberal government, saying the company has declared net income for the past three years of more than $340 million. Do you know how many taxes were paid? $1.1 million in three years. Can the prime minister explain why it would be in the national interest to give a blank cheque  for how much? $5 billion? $1 billion?  to a company like Kinder Morgan that finds a way, and has an interest in not paying its fair share of taxes?

The NDP made the charge in the Commons, where its MPs statements are protected from the application of libel laws.

Trudeau offered no direct answer about the companys tax obligations to Canada but defended his governments approach, chastising the NDP for trying to block the pipeline at any price.

It is in the national interest to go ahead with it and thats why the pipeline will be built, Trudeau said.

Companies use many complex  and legal  accounting procedures to defer or reduce taxes owing.

Read more about:
One man is dead and three people were injured following four separate shootings late Sunday night in Toronto.

Police said that gunshots were heard at about 11:55 p.m. in Scarborough near Washburn Way and Tapscott Rd., at Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute.

Venojan Suthesan, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said Monday morning.

The Toronto District School Board tweeted that both Pearson Collegiate and Dr. Marion Hilliard Senior Public School will be closed for the day due to the ongoing police investigation.

Classes at Pearson are being relocated to Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute, while classes at Marion Hilliard will take place at Berner Trail Junior Public School.

Classes for students who are bussed to Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute for special education programs are cancelled for today due to special circumstances and are not being relocated, TDSB tweeted.

The citys latest homicide happened as police were investigating three other shootings across Toronto in the span of 45 minutes.

First, police responded to a shooting at around 10:45 p.m. near Kensington Market, in the area of Dundas St. and Spadina Ave., after reports of gunshots.

When emergency services arrived, a man was found with a gunshot wound. Paramedics rushed the victim to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

About 15 minutes later, police responded to a shooting in St. James Town near Sherbourne and Earl Sts., just north of Wellesley St. E., around 11 p.m. Sunday. Two men were rushed to hospital with minor injuries.

Police were called to a reported shooting at 11:30 p.m. in Scarborough near Chester Le Blvd. and Morecambe Gate, not far from Victoria Park Ave. and Finch Ave. E. No victims were found, police said, but there were shell casings at the scene.

No suspect information has been released for any of the shootings.

Read more about:
The family behind a bombed-out Mississauga restaurant at the centre of a police manhunt is speaking out with relief and gratitude over the speedy treatment and release of all 15 victims, saying it has been deeply moved by a global outpouring of love and solidarity.

After a lengthy interview Saturday with investigators with Peel Police 12 Division, Bombay Bhel owner Mohan Nagpal continued to decline all contact with the media. His son-in-law, Ilija Vasic, told the Star the family is extremely reluctant to stand in the limelight  they dont in any way want to be seen as exploiting this situation at the expense of the victims who suffered personal injury.

Instead, Nagpals family took to the restaurants Facebook page to break their silence, writing how relieved we are that all 15 people injured in this awful act of crime have been released from the hospital. Words cannot express how our hearts go out to those families.

The Bombay Bhel message continued with gratitude for the outpouring of love and solidarity, not only from Mississauga and the GTA, but from all over the world. We have been serving our customers for over 30 years and will do so for another 30 years.

We are co-operating with the police during their investigation at this time as we have no knowledge of motivation for this terrible incident, the family said.

Police say there is as yet no evidence suggesting the blast could be categorized either as a hate crime or terrorism, and they remain on the hunt for two suspects who fled the scene after igniting what police describe as an improvised-explosive device.

Officials said a news conference will likely be held later this week.

As the investigation continued, Peel police issued a rebuke on Sunday, reminding anyone with information about Thursdays bomb attack on a Mississauga restaurant that they  and not the Indian Consulate of Toronto  are the ones to call.

Although we appreciate the assistance of any outside agencies and community partners, we would prefer than any information in relation to this incident be provided directly to investigators through a dedicated tip line at 1-800-966-0616, Peel police said in a written statement to the Star.

Read more:

Tensions rise in South Asian community in wake of Mississauga restaurant bombing

What we know and dont know about the Mississauga bombing

Mississauga restaurant bombing left a scene of chaos, witnesses say

The police reminder comes in the wake of a warning over the weekend from the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC), a major Sikh organization, that the Indian Consulate of Toronto was overstepping its diplomatic reach by establishing a hotline to gather information about the attack.

Indian Consular officials have insisted the emergency line was established to offer support to Indian nationals and Indo-Canadian families impacted by Thursdays attack on the Bombay Bhel restaurant on Hurontario Street near Eglinton Ave.

Peel police say there is no indication an explosion which injured 15 people at a Mississauga restaurant was an act of terrorism or a hate crime. (The Canadian Press)

Earlier Sunday, a Peel police source, speaking on background, reacted sharply when told of the OGCs warning about the hotline in operation at the Indian Consulate.

Anyone contacting the Consulate with information, we would expect to hear about that immediately. We are handling this. Period, the source said.

The more diplomatic formal statement came hours later.

Its not the first time Indian diplomats have faced accusations of overstepping their bounds in Toronto. In March, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freelands office rebuked local Indian officials for inappropriate interference in domestic affairs after the Globe And Mail exposed the details of a 2017 controversy involving a Brampton cultural festival.

The Globe report alleged that Indian diplomats attempted to dissuade the organizers of the Carabram festival from having separate Punjab and India pavilions. Punjab is the only state in India with a Sikh majority.

Read more about:
Friends are searching for 33-year-old Dominic Kardasiewicz, who was last seen Friday evening near Bloor Street West and Lansdowne Ave, and say his sudden disappearance is totally out of character.

His girlfriend Rossi Gifford said he was out with several friends at The Emerson Restaurant on Friday. The group parted ways around 11:30 p.m. and left him walking east towards Dufferin St.

Gifford wasnt with him that evening, she said, and the last text she got from him was from around 11:30 p.m. saying Everyones dispersing. I assume youre already asleep.

No one has heard from him since.

Then just coming back to the apartment later that day, he has a cat and the food dishes were empty, and just there was no sign that he even returned, she said.

That was the very unsettling part. Hes not even been back.

Kardasiewicz is described in a Toronto Police release as 6-foot-2 and unshaven, with a medium build, blue eyes and short brown hair.

He was wearing a red zip-up Adidas hooded sweatshirt, a light blue/grey shirt, grey shorts and cream Adidas running shoes. He has a tattoo of a revolver on the back of his left leg. Police say in the release they are concerned for this safety.

Gifford said its super out of character for Kardasiewicz to just disappear, describing him as a really relaxed chill guy, who works as animator and loves music.

With a group of concerned friends, Gifford is planning to make flyers and put posters all over the area where he was last seen and his neighbourhood.

Its been really amazing so far, just already people responding, just the more the better, Gifford said of the support.

Constable Caroline de Kloet of the Toronto Police said they are still searching for Kardasiewicz. The Marine Unit was out Monday checking the area along the waterfront, which is standard for missing persons investigations.

Anyone with information can call police at 416-808-1400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), report online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and a message to CRIMES (274637).

One of the last people to see Kardasiewicz on Friday was Georgina Walker, who was out with him in the west end that night.

Its possible that he may have stopped in somewhere on his way home but we dont have any concrete evidence that thats the case, she said.

At this point it seems like a very suspicious situation, Walker added.

Its been radio silence, she said.

If anybody has any information, we just want to know that hes OK.
The Toronto police are looking for help identifying and locating a man involved in a sexual assault investigation that occurred last Friday.

Around 3:45 p.m. on Fri., May 25, a 17-year-old girl was walking in the Kennedy Rd. and Glamorgan Ave. area, when she was approached from behind.

A man sexually assaulted her and robbed her of some of her personal items, Toronto police said.

The girl screamed and was able to attract witnesses, causing the man to run away.

Toronto police say the man is described as about 5'10", about 20-years-old, medium build, with short dreadlocks, and wearing all dark clothing.

Police are asking for anyone with information to contact 416-808-7474, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
Peel police said they have cleared the scene of a Mississauga restaurant that was the site of an explosion last Thursday, and will be giving an update on the incident at a press conference Tuesday morning.

Police on Monday said they have wrapped their investigation at Bombay Bhel on Hurontario St. near Eglinton Ave. as of Sunday evening. The search for the suspects continues.

Last Thursday around 10:30 p.m., an explosion rocked the popular Indian restaurant while two birthday parties were being celebrated inside. Police said about 40 people were in the restaurant at the time; 15 were injured. All of those injured have since been released from hospital.

The investigation now turns to finding two male suspects police allege brought an improvised explosive device into the restaurant.

The two men can be seen on surveillance footage entering the restaurant wearing dark hoodies pulled over their heads.

Witnesses described one of the men as carrying what appeared to be a paint can or pail. The pair later fled eastbound, police said.

Bombay Bhels website says the Hurontario St. location will be closed until further notice.

Read more about:
Ontarios most volatile election campaign has produced one of its most vituperative leaders debates.

Doug Ford went after Andrea Horwath, who went after Kathleen Wynne.

And then?

The Liberal leader counterattacked against the NDP leader, who pushed back against the Progressive Conservative leader.

Read more:

Final Ontario election debate turns nasty

Four parties are making big promises on transit. Whats a commuter to do?

Here are the four candidates wanting to be Ontarios next premier, and what theyre promising

Unsurprisingly, Sundays televised confrontation didnt produce the climactic moment many were waiting for  the so-called knockout punch or catastrophic gaffe that campaigns supposedly turn on. But it gave voters previously unseen glimpses, under fire, of the usually scripted politicians who aspire to be premier.

For all the heat under the television lights, there was remarkably little illumination on policies. Yet that doesnt mean voters were left in the dark on the personalities at play.

As unbearable and unwatchable as the debate could be, it produced some surprising winners and losers as voters wrestle with their decision:

Vote now

Best opposition leader: Doug Ford, who attacked his NDP rival with such single-minded determination and repetition that he seemed to be auditioning for the job of heading Her Majestys Loyal Opposition. Rightly or wrongly, his underlying assumption seemed to be that Horwath is headed for the premiers office.

Best debating captain: Andrea Horwath, who talked over her opponents so reflexively that she had to be reined in repeatedly by the moderators (Ms. Horwath, let her finish, please.) True to form, she squeezed in her attack lines persuasively.

Best supporting performer: Kathleen Wynne, who carried on as if she were destined to be re-elected premier for another four years  if only she could explain away the last four  and not like a leader fighting for her political life as the other two fight it out for first place in public opinion polls.

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne are criticizing Doug Fords Tories for not releasing a full platform ahead of Junes provincial election. The leaders spoke to reporters after Sundays debate. (The Canadian Press)

In every leaders debate, reporters reflexively look for punches, counterpunches and punch lines. Indeed, that journalistic scorecard will dominate the media narrative over the next few days as video clips keep looping on newscasts and the three rivals claim total victory in their press releases.

But thats not how most viewers watch debates, nor how they absorb them at home. They are not as interested in the crossfire as how the leaders come across.

By that measure, this debate  like most such encounters  probably solidified the subjective viewpoints of many core voters. But among undecided and swing voters  some of whom are always hired by the rival campaign operations to watch the debates while moving a dial to indicate thumbs up or down in real time  this debate may have given pause and generated second thoughts.

First, despite the attempts by both the Tories and Liberals to paint the NDP as dangerously radical, Horwath held her own. She not only gave no ground, she gave up precious little air time to Ford and Wynne any time they attacked  interrupting, denying or making her point by laughing out loud.

Second, Ford often looked and sounded ill at ease at times. He seemed short of breath during his opening statement, reverted to frozen smiles under attack, and lapsed into verbal clumsiness at times. But for all the anticipation that he would implode on live TV, he committed no blunders and never lost his cool despite coming under attack from both sides.

Third, Wynne made no breakthroughs in a debate where she needed a miracle to recover lost ground. She had an easier time of it, as the other two leaders went at each other. But she may have made some progress in re-introducing herself to voters who have given up on her these last few years.

All that said, it doesnt matter so much what the politicians say. Television has a way of highlighting body language and amplifying platitudes.

Ford kept proclaiming My friends with evangelistic ardour as he looked into the camera and promised a new day will dawn when the people have their say. And, he warned, God forbid the NDP takes power, for the province will be 10 times worse under the NDP  a phrase he repeated perhaps 10 times.

Horwath, for her part, kept referring to folks with similarly earnest expressions, bemoaning the cynicism in politics that arises when politicians attack one another  conveniently overlooking her attack lines of recent years.

While her rivals tried to convey to voters their direct connection, Wynne opted for contrition  a way to counter her consistently low popularity ratings in public opinion polls.

Sorry, not sorry, she began in her unconventional opening statement, looking directly into the camera. Im really, genuinely sorry, that more people dont like me.

And then she listed off the achievements about which shes not sorry  protecting the environment, boosting the minimum wage, bolstering the economy and providing free college tuition.

Who scored the most points? Thats the wrong question, one most journalists cant answer. The verdict from voters is usually not about points, but overall and underlying impressions.

Read more about:
It was the liveliest  and, at times, the nastiest  Ontario election debate in decades.

The three major party leaders faced off Sunday night in Toronto for the final time in the June 7 election campaign.

And things got personal almost right away.

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, whose party has slipped behind the surging New Democrats in public-opinion polls after weeks in front, warned NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is not ready to govern.

I travel around, Ive talked to hundreds and hundreds of companies  they are terrified of the NDP coming in, Ford told viewers during the raucous 90-minute televised debate.

Theyve told me personally, We will pack up and we will go down south in half a second. God forbid the NDP ever get in, they will destroy our province, he said, predicting Horwath would annihilate the middle class and bankrupt this province.

Following the debate, Ford repeatedly refused to say whether he would move Deco Labels and Tags, the successful business he inherited from his father, stateside if the New Democrats win.

After weathering a barrage of hyperbole from Ford, Horwath reminded him he has yet to share his full plan for governing Ontario.

Have your say

People started voting yesterday Mr. Ford. Where is your platform? Where is your respect for the people now when they are already at the polls and you havent provided them any information at all? the New Democrat said.

You wouldnt buy a used car without looking under the hood, she chided Ford, who became PC leader on March 10 after the resignation of Patrick Brown.

Have your say

Read more:

Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Final Ontario election debate lacks singular, defining moment

Here are the four candidates wanting to be Ontarios next premier, and what theyre promising

Four parties are making big promises on transit. Whats a commuter to do?

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, premier since 2013, acknowledged from the outset that she is trailing in the polls.

Heres what I want to say about the last five years: Sorry, not sorry. Im really genuinely sorry that more people dont like me, but I am not sorry about all the things that were doing in Ontario to make life better, Wynne said.

Im not sorry that were covering tuition for 235,000 students. Im not sorry that were protecting the environment, and Im really not sorry that were no longer asking single moms to raise a family on $11.40 an hour, she said.

Im not sorry that were making an economy that works for everyone, not just a few.

That was a reference to the Liberals increasing the minimum wage to $14 an hour in January. Under the Grits or the NDP it would rise to $15 next year, a planned hike the Conservatives would cancel to help businesses.

Ford, who broke with political tradition and did not wear a necktie to appear more relaxed, moved to reassure voters that he would not slash and burn public services.

Not one single person will lose their job, he said, noting he is convinced the Ontario government wastes 4 per cent of every dollar so finding endless efficiencies should be painless.

Who do you trust with your money? The NDP cant do math and the Liberals are cooking the books.

The PC leader also warned that the NDP has radical activists as candidates.

They get their inspiration from Adolf Hitler, said Ford, referring to Scarborough-Agincourt NDP candidate Tasleem Riaz, whose Facebook page once had a post with a meme of the Nazi dictator with the quote, If you dont like a rule  change the rule.

Horwath said any meme to do with Hitler is absolutely abhorrent and is something that I absolutely reject, completely.

Vote now

But Mr. Fords tabloid mudslinging against my candidates only foments divisiveness and hatred, and it has to stop  its the wrong thing to do, she said, reminding Ford there are criminal probes linked to controversial Tory nominations.

Mr. Ford, of all people, you have police investigations by three different police forces into candidates. Not from things that were dug up 10 years ago on Facebook, but right now, from data that was stolen from (Highway) 407 records. Thats you and your candidates and your party.

The NDP leader, who repeatedly interrupted Ford despite the efforts of moderators Steve Paikin of TVO and Global News Farah Nasser, charged: You cant make up stuff, Mr. Ford. Youre not being truthful. Youre being dishonest.

Confronted by the ghost of former NDP premier Bob Rae, who Ford blamed for the global recession in the early 1990s, Horwath said: This is not 1990 and Im certainly not Bob Rae  in fact hes a Liberal now, but thats another story.

Prior to the debate, Green Leader Mike Schreiner, who was not invited to participate because his party does not have seat in the Legislature, blasted the broadcasters for excluding him.

I am confident this will be the last unfair leaders debate because we are poised to send the first Green MPPs to the Legislature, said Schreiner, who is running in Guelph.

Next time around, media executives will have a much harder time justifying our exclusion.

Read more about:
Doug Ford says a fully costed platform is coming  but no ones saying exactly when.

The Progressive Conservative leader spoke to reporters during a round table Monday morning in Newmarket, alongside a number of who he called his star candidates  a change in strategy for Ford in the final week and a half of the election campaign.

Highlighting his team is something Ford hasnt done since his unity rally in March after being elected PC leader.

In recent days, Ford has been hammering at the NDP, saying the party is not ready to govern, and lauded his team as ready, right out of the gates on June 8  the day after the election.

However, when asked when a platform would be released  the PCs are the only party without one  the message was that one is on the way and that his campaign announcements are all a part of it.

However, while Ford has provided the costs for his pledges, he has not said how a PC government would pay for them.

Doug was pretty clear (a costed platform) will be coming out, PC candidate Lisa MacLeod, who is running in Nepean, told reporters in the lobby of the Best Western hotel where Ford held the round table.

We are rolling out announcements, day in and day out, they have a price tag attached to them. They are modest and we have made the commitment that we will go back to balance  so there is a plan there, she said, referring to running a deficit in the first couple of years.

So when that costing comes out in the next several days, then well be able to answer more of your questions.

Ford appearing with the group of candidates is a good sign, and that the contrast today, however, is a number of people who dont need on-the-job training, MacLeod said, referring to what NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has said was a lighthearted comment on providing her team with training programs for cabinet.

Campaigning in Etobicoke North, where Ford is running, Horwath said she has an excellent roster of cabinet-calibre candidates.

I am not going to insult the people of Ontario by pretending that they have already made their decision. Im going to be respectful and wait for the people of Ontario to decide who is going to form government, said Horwath.

I can tell you with confidence that I have a slate of candidates that is stellar in terms of their experience. We have a number of MPPs that are going to get re-elected that have a great deal of in the legislature, she said.

Read more:

Wynne promises to recall legislature to end York U. strike if re-elected June 7

Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Populism versus contrition in final Ontario election leaders debate

NDPs Horwath goes to Etobicoke North to warn Ontarians cant afford Ford

Mr. Ford may want to be measuring the drapes at Queens Park, but what I want to do is stay focused on families. Im not so arrogant as to say Im going to be measuring drapes and assigning people to cabinet.

Sean Speer, of the University of Torontos school of public policy and governance, called Fords strategy of showcasing strong candidates a good one  especially in the home stretch of the campaign.

A big test in the final week is demonstrating that the PC party is ready to govern after more than decade out of office  especially since Mr. Ford doesnt have provincial experience, said Speer, who is directer of the Ontario 360 project, a website that looks in-depth at provincial election issues.

Vote now:

One way to meet this threshold is to promote the strong candidates ... who would have major roles in translating a high-level change mandate into a concrete, governing agenda.

The NDP released its platform prior to the election period, and the Liberals have largely been campaigning on their spring budget, although on the weekend officially released its platform.

Along with MacLeod, candidates at Fords round table included Christine Elliott (Newmarket-Aurora), Caroline Mulroney (York-Simcoe), Vic Fedeli (Nipissing) and Peter Bethlenfalvy (Pickering-Uxbridge).

Elliott said of course a platform would be released before the end of the election campaign, and Mulroney also said prior to the June 7 election. But neither would provide a specific date.

With files from Robert Benzie

Read more about:
Fighting for her political life, Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne painted her rivals for the premiers job as dangerous and asked voters to set aside their personal dislike of her during a meeting with the Stars editorial board Monday.

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford would undo years of efforts to combat greenhouse gases and NDP Leader Andrea Horwaths tax hikes risk undermining an economy that has left Ontario with its lowest unemployment rate in 20 years, said Wynne, who became premier in 2013.

I know Im in third, she acknowledged, referring to public opinion polls that show Horwath and Ford see-sawing for the lead as the June 7 election draws closer.

There will be people who dont vote for us just because they dont like me.

But with Fords promise of $6 billion in government spending cuts likely to result in cuts to education and health care, voters should ask themselves, Who are you going to trust your children with? Who are you going to trust your parents with? Wynne said.

Share your thoughts

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne held an hour-long live-streamed session with editors and reporters at the Toronto Star editorial board on Monday.





Read more:

Final Ontario election debate turns nasty

Opinion | Cohn: Populism versus contrition in final Ontario election leaders debate

How the Star is making its political endorsements more transparent

She took further aim at Fords plan to scrap her cap-and-trade program and 4.3 cent per litre carbon tax, reducing gas prices at the pump by a dime after adding a cut of 5.7 cents from the provincial excise tax on fuel.

I think it does people who live in this province a disservice to say, You know what? We dont have to fight climate change. We dont have to deal with that, we can just bring gas prices down just by snapping our fingers and there will be no ramifications. Its not true, she said during the hour-long live-streamed session with editors and reporters.

Why dont I talk more like Doug Ford? Well, I cant because I have to tell people the truth about whats happening, Wynne added, accusing him of electioneering by slogans.

Maybe I have to find fewer words, but I have to find a way to say, You know, if we dont fight climate change today, youre going to see more flooding, youre going to see more fires, youre going to see degradation. Youre going to see your lifestyle change beyond recognition  and if not yours, then your children and your grandchildren.

Ford has been invited to meet with the editorial board but has not yet agreed to attend. Horwath appeared last Tuesday.

With the campaign in its final phase following Sunday nights televised leadership debate, Wynne made a pitch for anti-Ford voters to reconsider the Liberals because of their overlap with the NDPs progressive values.

I recognize that, at this moment, its very important for me to distinguish the difference  the fact is, there are some pretty significant differences, Wynne said, claiming we are, I believe, running the most progressive government in North America.

The NDP plan to raise corporate taxes will curb business and job growth while Horwaths refusal to consider back-to-work legislation to end lingering strikes in the public service, such as in schools, shows the party is beholden to unions, Wynne charged.

That just makes no sense to me, she said. I do not believe it is in the best interest of our society to have these rigid belief systems.

Earlier in the day, Wynne promised to recall the legislature swiftly, if she is re-elected next week, to force 3,000 striking York University contract faculty and teaching assistants back to work after three months on the picket lines.

Introducing legislation to end a strike isnt something I do lightly. But it is clear in the case of York University that the two sides are not close to reaching a deal and students are suffering, Wynne said.

The NDP need to stop putting their ideology ahead of students and their future.

Vote now:

Horwath has said her party opposes back-to-work legislation as a heavy-handed hammer that takes away the constitutional rights of unionized workers to free collective bargaining.

Turning the tables on Wynne, Horwath blamed the Liberals for strikes at York this spring and community colleges last fall. She said the government squeezed post-secondary funding and forced the schools to resort to more part-time and casual instructors, and this led to labour strife.

The Liberal government tried to end the York strike before the legislature dissolved for the election early this month, but the New Democrats blocked the attempt.

Last fall, the Conservatives supported Liberal legislation to end a weeks-long strike at community colleges as the students term was in jeopardy. New Democrats voted against the bill.

With the polls showing a tight race between Horwath and Ford, Wynne said that in the event of a minority government, the party that has won the most seats should have the right to attempt to form a government.

She wouldnt comment on any possible scenarios. There are just too many ifs and just too many moving parts, she said.

On electricity prices, which have become a major issue in the campaign despite attempts by the Liberal government to quell dissent by lowering prices 25 per cent a year ago, Wynne said maybe not when asked if she moved quickly enough.

She defended the decision to sell a 53 per cent stake in transmission utility Hydro One to raise $9 billion for debt repayment in the electricity sector and to build transit and other infrastructure to help the economy grow.

I did not see how else we were going to find the funding to actually do the building thats necessary, Wynne said.

Read more about:
PARISFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Monday lauded as a hero a migrant who scaled an apartment building to save a young child dangling from a balcony, and rewarded him with French nationality and a job as a firefighter.

Bravo, Macron said to 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with Gassama receiving a gold medal from the French state for courage and devotion.

Gassamas feat went viral on social media, where he was dubbed Spiderman for climbing up five floors, from balcony to balcony, and whisking a 4-year-old boy to safety Saturday night as a crowd screamed at the foot of the building in Paris northern 18th district.

The young man said he has papers to legally stay in Italy, where he arrived in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean, ending a long, rough stay in Libya. But he came to France last September to join his older brother, who has lived in France for decades.

Gassama, dressed in tattered blue jeans and white shirt, recounted his experience which took place at around 8 p.m. Saturday when he and friends saw a young child hanging from a fifth-floor balcony.

I ran. I crossed the street to save him, he told Macron. He said he didnt think twice. When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing.

God helped me, too, he said. Thank God I saved him.

Gassama said he began to tremble with fear only when he took the child into the apartment.

Because this is an exceptional act ... we are obviously, today, going to regularize all your papers, Macron told him, also offering to begin naturalization procedures so he can become French.

Macron is behind a bill toughening French immigration law, and he stressed there is no contradiction between rewarding Gassama for his act of bravery and holding firm on immigration, which the president wants to stop at its source.

An exceptional act does not make policy, he later told reporters, vowing to maintain a policy that is exigent, respectful of our principles on asylum and rigorous regarding the migratory flux.

The special treatment for Gassama comes as authorities prepare to evacuate some 2,400 migrants in makeshift encampments in the French capital, the subject of a heated debate between the Paris mayor, who wants to ensure the uprooted will be sheltered, and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, who was present at the Elysee.

Gassama told Macron that he arrived in Italy in 2014 after more than a year in Libya, where he was arrested and beaten, but I wasnt discouraged.

The father of the child was detained overnight for alleged parental neglect, and is to appear in court in September. He left the child alone while he shopped, then lingered to play Pokemon Go, Prosecutor Francois Molins told BFM-TV. The whereabouts of the childs mother were unclear.

The French president said Gassamas actions made him deserving of special treatment.

You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him, the president said. You need courage and the capability to do that.

Working as a firefighter corresponds with his skills, Macron said, and opened the door for him to join.

You have become an example because millions have seen you on social media, the president said.

Another Malien, Lassana Bathily, was given French citizenship in January 2015, shortly after saving lives during a terror attack on a Jewish grocery where he worked, hiding people in the freezer and then alerting police.

Read more about:
The Prohibition era has almost totally ended at the Magic Kingdom.

Much to its founders dismay, every sit-down restaurant in Orlando, Fla.s original Disney World park is now serving booze.

Actually, we dont know for sure how Walt Disney would feel. He was very concerned about rowdies boozing it up at his park, but his views might have changed were he still with us at age 116.

Maybe he would order the $9.50 (U.S.) Beso del Sol Sangria at Cinderellas Royal Table. Until a few days ago, that was one of three alcohol-free restaurants left at the Magic Kingdom.

Then Disney announced The Plaza Restaurant, The Crystal Palace and Cinderellas Royal Table would start offering beer and wine. They were the last restaurants where teetotaler families could dine in a booze-free atmosphere.

Somewhere (perhaps under Cinderella Castle) the man who started it all is doing 360s.

No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element. That brings people that we dont want and I feel they dont need it.

Share your thoughts

Thats what he told the Saturday Evening Post in 1956, a year after Disneyland opened.

Times have changed, of course. When Disneyland opened, an admission ticket cost $1 and the most expensive ride required a 30-cent ticket.

Now it costs $129 to get into Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom for a day.

Walt Disney might have changed with the times and raised a toast to the latest booze news. Its really a symbolic retreat from his original vision.

Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., still does not offer alcohol to the general public. But Orlandos Walt Disney World parks such as Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot have long offered booze.

The Magic Kingdom, however, was Walts baby. When it opened in 1971, there was a strict no-alcohol policy.

It remained that way until 2012, when the Be Our Guest restaurant opened. For the first time, guests could open a menu and order some hooch.

Four more Magic Kingdom restaurants started serving alcohol in 2016. Disney said it was responding to the requests of guests, none of whom were named Walt Disney.

Quick-service restaurants in the Magic Kingdom still do not serve alcohol. But the final three restaurants that adhered to Disneys 1956-era vision are gone.

Now the Magic Kingdom is indeed a place where dreams come true. At least if you dream of having a mimosa with any meal.
Standing outside Dorchester Penitentiary, N.B., we are about to meet our client, Abdoul Abdi, for the first time. Abdi, 24, has lived in Canada most of his life, but now faces deportation.

We spent weeks preparing for the meeting, reading through hundreds of government documents detailing Abdis life. Born in Saudi Arabia to a Somali mother, he later migrated with his mother and sister to a refugee camp in Djibouti. Returning to Somalia was not an option because of the brutal civil war, which continues to this day. Abdis biological mother died in the refugee camp and his aunts assumed custody.

In 2000, when Abdi was 6, the family came to Canada as refugees. A year later, child welfare services apprehended him. He spent the rest of his childhood in care in Nova Scotia where he was abused and neglected. Separated from his sister, he was not educated beyond Grade 6. He had 31 different placements.

Though eligible for Canadian citizenship, child welfare services  his only legal guardian  failed to apply on his behalf. Now, after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and serving a five-year federal sentence, Abdi faces the possibility of deportation to Somalia, a country in which he has never set foot.

We began working on Abdis case in September 2017 as law students in the University of Torontos International Human Rights Program (IHRP). We assisted Benjamin Perryman, Abdis lawyer, by researching how international human rights law applies in these types of cases and by drafting a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee as a measure of last-resort.

The deportation proceedings against him, as well as the extensive media coverage of his difficult childhood, and the advocacy of groups, such as Black Lives Matter, have led to a national debate about the gaps in refugee protection. This debate has largely focused on our domestic legal system. Our interaction with the case, however, has highlighted a broader concern about Canadas commitment to international human rights law.

Abdis story isnt unique. In 2010, IHRP clinic students filed a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee on a case with a striking resemblance to Abdis. Jama Warsame arrived in Canada as a young child, after fleeing Somalia with his family.

After 20 years in Canada, the government issued Warsame a deportation order due to his criminal record. Siding with Warsame, the Human Rights Committee determined that deportation to Somalia would be a violation of Canadas human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Though the UN Committee found that Warsames deportation would violate his right to freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, nevertheless, in 2012, under then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada deported Warsame.

His case gave us hope that the current government  which purports to be a champion of international human rights law  would respect Canadas international obligations.

Abdi has never lived in Somalia, does not speak any Somali languages, or have any clan ties or cultural connections. His appearance and demeanour are recognizably Western. He faces grave risks if deported.

At Dorchester Penitentiary, Abdi told us he is remorseful for his crime. A caring father, he wants to give his daughter a better childhood than he had. Abdi does not represent such a serious threat that would justify Canadas ongoing efforts to deport him to one of the most dangerous countries in the world. This would be a clear violation of international law.

I would do anything for my daughter to not go through the experience I had growing up, says Abdi and I want to be there for her and support her.

Given the states failure of Abdi, this enforced separation is an arbitrary interference with the right to family life, protected under international law.

I thought I was Canadian like everyone else, he said. I had no reason to believe otherwise.

If he had remained with his aunts, he would have become a citizen when they did. As a Crown ward, however, only child welfare services could apply for his citizenship. The governments failure to do so is at the crux of this case.

This case represents an opportunity for Canada to commit to a more faithful adherence to international human rights law. We urge Ottawa to do the right thing and allow Abdi to stay.
Its bad enough that the Senate has been mulling over Bill C-46 at a snails pace, if not an obstructionist one, since last November.

But now the Senates legal affairs committee has watered down this important legislation, which would tighten rules on impaired driving, just as the government is set to legalize cannabis consumption.

It did so by passing an amendment last week to delete an important provision in the bill that would allow police to conduct random roadside breathalyzer tests when they suspect a driver may be impaired by alcohol.

This is a potentially deadly move for two reasons.

First, it puts the lives of people across the country at risk from drunk drivers who remain convinced they wont be caught. In fact, the Senate committee passed the amendment in the face of evidence that random testing has caused impaired driving rates to drop in countries that employ it, such as Australia and Ireland.

Second, the amendment sets up the very real possibility that the bill, which enhances police authority to arrest all drug-impaired drivers, wont be in place before legislation which governs the legal sale and distribution of cannabis is passed.

Thats because Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has made it clear she will insist on putting random testing back into Bill C-46 before the government will pass it into law. Any back-and-forth fight between the Senate and the House of Commons on the issue of random testing will only delay the bills passing.

Further, the government has warned it wont hold up the companion cannabis act, Bill C-45, leading to the possibility that consuming weed will be legal before authorities have tougher impaired driving regulations in place.

Its hard to know what the senators who passed the amendment were thinking.

The charge was led by Conservatives, even though that party has been a cheerleader for random testing for alcohol impairment in the past. Indeed, Conservative MP and former minister Steven Blaney once introduced a private members bill to introduce random testing.

Still, Sen. Denise Batters, who moved the amendment, argued the provision is likely to cause further delays in the courts as drivers launch Charter challenges against it.

That may well happen, but the government has already considered the possibility and was right to make a policy choice to reduce the harm caused by drunk driving.

As Marc Gold, an Independent senator and former law professor, argued, many legal authorities believe, as the government does, that mandatory alcohol testing is justified under the Charter of Rights.

In any event, random testing is long overdue.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), this country is an outlier among most democratic countries, which it says allow random testing.

At the same time, Canada has a big problem with drunk driving. According to a 2016 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Canada ranks highest among 19 wealthy countries for drunk-driving deaths, with alcohol impairment a factor in 34 per cent of motor fatalities.

The tests are further needed because police officers, who now must have reasonable grounds to administer a breathalyzer, have difficulty assessing drivers behaviour to decide whether they have the legal right to administer tests.

Indeed, without the tests, American studies indicate that police miss almost 90 per cent of drivers with blood-alcohol levels of 0.05 per cent and 50 per cent over 0.08 per cent, MADD CEO Andrew Murie told the Star.

As a result, too many Canadians continue to drink and drive believing theres little chance they will be caught.

Murie said his group is appalled by the Senates action. The section the Senate committee scuttled is the major thing in the bill that would save peoples lives.

Senators still have a chance to change direction when the amended bill goes before the Red Chamber next month. At that time the government leader in the Senate, Peter Harder, says he will ask members to reject the committees amendment before the final vote takes place.

They should do so. This bill is too important to be delayed any longer.
European anti-Semitism, in both its theological and racist versions, was essentially alien to Islamic traditions, culture, and modes of thought. But to an astonishing degree, the ideas, the literature, even the crudest inventions of the Nazis and their predecessors have been internalized and Islamized.

So wrote Bernard Lewis, a professor emeritus at Princeton and arguably the most influential expert on Islam in the Western world, some 20 years ago. He died last week at age 101. Since then, largely due to the influx of immigrants from the Middle East, Muslim anti-Semitism has become not only a threat to Jewish communities in Europe and beyond but also to the stability of many Western states.

Scandalous Muslim anti-Semitic distortions include describing the Bible as a version corrupted by the Jews to show that theyre the chosen people. The century-old Russian forgery, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, is viewed by Muslim anti-Semites as proof that the Jews aspire to run the world.

Many Muslims have also embraced Holocaust denial, saying that it never happened and, if it did, the Zionists were the collaborators of, and are now the successors to, the Nazis. The latest false and offensive statement to that effect was made earlier this month by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.

Radical militant Islamists lap up these blatant lies. They see them as justifications for attacks on Jews whove been particularly exposed in France where theyre said to be 25 times more likely to be attacked than Muslims. Some 50,000 of the half-million Jews living in France have been forced to move. Many have left the country.

Eleven French Jews have been assassinated in recent years, among them an 85-year-old wheelchair-bound Holocaust survivor. She was stabbed and set alight by a Muslim neighbour.

However, of late, efforts have been made to stem this tide of hatred. Last month, some 250 French public figures signed a manifesto denouncing Muslim anti-Semitism. In support, 30 Muslim religious leaders in the country have called upon their colleagues to help stem anti-Semitism among their flocks. The imams are reported to have deplored that their faith has fallen into the hands of an ignorant, disrupted, and idle youth.

Germany, which after the Holocaust tried very hard to welcome back Jews, has in recent years seen many manifestations of anti-Semitism, not only by neo-Nazis but also by Muslims immigrants.

Recently a 19-year-old Syrian refugee in Berlin attacked two men wearing skullcaps in the manner of many religious Jew. Ironically, one of the victims was a Palestinian Muslim who wanted to find out if it was really dangerous to be identified as a Jew in Berlin.

Here too the response by the non-Jewish public, including some Muslims, has been heartwarming. For example, as manifestations of solidarity thousands of Berliners have donned skullcaps. A mass rally in support of the Jewish community was attended by the mayor of Berlin.

Perhaps the most significant efforts have been made by Muslim and Jewish leaders in joint public actions. For example, 20 per cent of the population of Malmo, Swedens third largest city, is Muslim. As a result, the small Jewish community there has been subjected to many attacks. Their synagogue was torched.

In response, one of the local imams, together with the rabbi of the Jewish community, have formed an organization dedicated to Muslim-Jewish co-operation. Theyve attracted supporters among local residents. Together they hope to help turn the tide.

While vehemently deploring the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and other countries, including Canada, it behooves us to acknowledge the efforts not only by the civic authorities but also by Muslim leaders determined to celebrate coexistence and co-operation.
U.S. President Donald Trump may have cancelled his planned summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un (although even that is unclear). But it seems that plans for bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula will carry on anyway  with or without America.

Both North and South Korea have gone too far along this path to turn back now.

As South Korean President Moon Jae-in put it Friday: Denuclearization and lasting peace on Korean Peninsula cannot be abandoned or delayed. Rather, he said, they are historical imperatives.

In the U.S. and Canada, the Korean dilemma tends to be viewed through an American lens: Was Trump wise or stupid to agree to a summit in the first place? Are talks the best way to persuade Kim to abandon a nuclear arsenal that threatens the continental U.S.? Or is the threat of war better?

In Korea, however, the issue is far more personal. The 1950-53 Korean War killed millions. A new war would kill more.

Yet for decades, neither side could be persuaded to trust the other. The South feared another invasion from the North. The North feared that the South, backed by U.S. forces, would invade it.

Both sides claimed sovereignty over the entire peninsula. Even today, neither country officially recognizes the other.

Which is why the attempts to encourage peace between the two Koreas that have been going on intermittently since 1998 are so important.

Currently, the Koreas face a unique opportunity to settle their differences. In the South, Moon was elected president in 2017 on a platform to seek better relations with the North. He has only four years left in his term.

In the North, Kim has ruled since 2011. He has pledged to dramatically improve the countrys economy, a task that would best be accomplished through co-operation with Seoul.

And while the youthful leader has been ruthless in killing off rivals at the top, he faces an entrenched national security bureaucracy that has done well from the state of near-war between North and South and may not appreciate his attempts at rapprochement.

In North America and Japan, Kims successful pursuit of nuclear weapons technology is seen as an act of belligerence. In North Korea, however, it is viewed as a necessary precondition to easing relations with the countrys former enemies  a security guarantee that allows the regime to focus on improving the economic welfare of its citizens.

For that reason, a decision by the North to immediately and unequivocally abandon its nuclear ambitions  what U.S. national security advisor John Bolton has called the Libyan option  was never in the cards.

When the North Koreans made that point last week, they werent being obstreperous. They were merely stating the obvious.

And when Trump responded by cancelling the June 12 summit, he showed that Washington didnt fully understand what was going on.

Kims response to the Trump cancellation has been cleverly temperate. A senior regime official said in a statement that the North was disappointed by Trumps decision but is still open to the idea of a summit.

The first meeting would not solve all, the statement read.  But solving even one at a time in a phased way would make the relations go better rather than making them worse. The U.S. should ponder over it.

Indeed it should. With or without Washington, the North-South talks are bound to continue. Both sides want an official peace treaty to end the Korean War. The North wants southern economic assistance. The South wants to give that assistance and is looking for a way that will not violate the United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang.

As for those sanctions, they were easy for the world to support when Kim was threatening his adversaries with nuclear war. Some countries, including China, may find them less compelling now that Kim is presenting himself as the voice of sweet reason.

As I write this column Trump is musing that maybe hell change his mind and meet Kim after all. Who knows? But in the long run, it may not much matter. North and South Korea seem determined to sort out their affairs. America could find itself bypassed.

Thomas Walkom is a Toronto-based columnist covering politics. Follow him on Twitter: @tomwalkom is a Toronto-based columnist covering politics. Follow him on Twitter:

Read more about:
Harvey Weinstein, the face of modern sexual predation, left a New York police station in handcuffs on Friday after being charged with raping two women in 2013 and 2004. He surrendered his passport, had $1 million in cash for bail, and will wear an electronic monitoring device. One of the cops guiding him out of the building was female, a nice touch.

It doesnt necessarily mean more than further legal and other torments for the two women, which Weinstein mutely made clear with one of the books he was carrying. It was a biography of the late Elia Kazan, famous for snitching to the House Un-American Activities Committee, directing movies and, as was revealed after his death, getting away with attacking young women.

The book, by a third-rate critic, isnt even the best one available on Kazan. But it is the one with the cover that best displays Kazans name which is why the odious Weinstein had it in his hands.

She hasnt got the sang-froid for Hollywood, Kazan, 67, told a producer about one actress in her 20s. Ill prove it to you. He then sexually assaulted Carol Drinkwater just before her screen test, leaving her rigid like a wooden spoon, in shock and unable to act.

When Drinkwater told the producer what had happened, he was unmoved. I suppose he had seen this a million times, she told the Guardian, still scarred by what Kazan had done 40 years before. She still cannot bear to say his name aloud. I know the feeling.

The #MeToo onslaught continues in the U.S. and Britain, but less so in Canada and even less around the world. NDP MP Christine Moore bravely spoke up about a colleagues repeated behaviour and then suffered cruel backlash. Canada is ahead internationally but at home, were behind the times.

Read more:

Harvey Weinstein arraigned on rape and other charges

Jason Bateman incredibly embarrassed after mansplaining to Arrested Development co-star Jessica Walter

Filmmaker Roman Polanski calls #MeToo total hypocrisy

Admired men come crashing down. Voice-over king Morgan Freeman, 80, is facing numerous claims of bizarre sexual mistreatment of women, including his employees, even in front of other employees.

The male cast of Netflixs Arrested Development, seeking publicity for a new season, turned on Jessica Walter, 77, during a New York Times interview, gaslighting her for having complained of Jeffrey Tambors on-set brutality toward her. Her only defender was young actress Alia Shawkat.

After the appalled public reaction to this, two of the actors apologized, another hid, and a fourth attacked Walter all over again, even going on a talk show to mock her tears.

If anyone had thought #MeToo was generational, confined to men who had decades of practice at treating women like dirt, it appears that younger generations have learned from the best. You can hear the Men of Arrested Development talk  clubbish, patronizing, building that male consensus  and there goes the whole Bluth family. Theyre dead to me, as Tony Soprano would say.

Never underestimate how much you are hated, I always warned women. But even I hadnt realized how wide and deep the damage goes. In real life, the only way to escape sexual harassment in the workplace is to quit the workplace.

And if you do that, you have your financial and moral power taken away, leaving you alone in a world that largely disregards you.

Always be wary of workplaces that label themselves as family. This always scares me because of my birth family, which puts the dys in dysfunctional.

#MeToo refers to monsters and their enablers too. There are many women enablers  Weinstein and Bill Cosby have theirs still  and some of them become sexual predators themselves when they get that promotion. I recall one senior woman, freshly promoted, saying blithely that sleeping with a junior member of staff wouldnt cause her work problems at all.

Where did she get that idea? From the men who preceded her who regarded the office as a sex farm.

I would like enablers to take a hard look at themselves. Do I speak up? Or do I go along to get along? Young women and men in the workplace have to decide what moral meat they are made of.

Lucia Evans decided. She will face Weinstein in court.
No one will accuse Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer of stepping in his Ontario counterparts limelight since the June 7 provincial election was called. Indeed, since Doug Ford was elected leader last March, Scheer has stuck to his federal knitting. If they are going to share a campaign stage it will have to happen soon.

His Ontario MPs have been lending a hand to the local Tory candidates with whom they share some electoral acreage or some political history but when it comes to Fords provincial campaign, they too have been keeping a relatively low profile.

The federal Conservatives discreet approach to the ongoing Ontario battle stands in contrast with the combative one once favoured by some key Ontario members of Stephen Harpers cabinet team

From his pulpit as federal finance minister for instance, the late Jim Flaherty was not averse to lambasting the ruling Ontario Liberals. In the immediate lead-up to the 2011 provincial vote he opined that the province could not afford four more Liberal years.

At the time Harper himself mused about an Ontario trifecta, with the Conservatives ruling on Parliament Hill, at Queens Park and at Toronto City Hall. It was not the former prime ministers best chess move. His statement probably did the Ontario Tories more harm than good on the campaign trail.

In the past, Ontarians have not put their federal and provincial eggs in the same basket.

Read more:

Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: In an either-or campaign, Kathleen Wynne rebrands Liberals as the third way

Doug Ford says a fully costed PC platform is coming  but wont say when

Kathleen Wynne says you may not like her but she can protect against the danger her rivals would pose

If anything, Fords leadership victory has given Scheer an additional incentive to keep the bulk of his powder dry for his own upcoming election battle in 2019.

Ford was anything but a leadership favourite of the federal caucus. Most Ontario MPs  starting with the members of Scheers shadow cabinet  endorsed either Christine Elliott or Caroline Mulroney. Keeping some distance from Ford comes easily to many of them.

In this case discretion may be the better part of valour.

Regardless of the outcome of the June 7 vote, chances are a collection of selfies starring Scheer arm-in-arm with Ford would not be a big asset for the federal Conservatives in next years battle.

By then, Ford will either have joined the list of Ontario Tory leaders who have managed to turn pre-campaign gold into election night lead or else he will be overshadowing Scheer from the heights of the office of the premier of Canadas most-populous province.

From the federal Conservatives perspective the latter might be worse than the former.

The last thing Scheer probably needs next year is for the federal election in Ontario to turn into a plebiscite on a potentially polarizing Ford-led provincial government.

Meanwhile, the turn of the campaign  from projected Tory cakewalk to tight race against the NDP  has provided Scheer and his brain trust with plenty to chew on as they look to their own first campaign.

Here are some highlights:

The Conservatives forget at their own peril that their base is not large enough to alone carry the party to victory. Nor is that base always a reliable sounding board for what will resonate positively with mainstream voters. The opposite is more often true.

For all the talk about a return to so-called Rae days under the Ontario NDP, memories of the more recent Mike Harris tenure at Queens Park are more vivid  in the negative sense of the word for the Tories  in many centrist quarters. (That stands to be even truer of Harper in the federal campaign.)

A majority of Canadians hail from the progressive side of the spectrum. Most of the time they disagree about which party best represents their ideals and split their vote accordingly. But given enough reasons to see a Conservative victory as a threat to their core values, they will tend to coalesce behind the strongest non-conservative option on offer. Trudeaus Liberals are counting on that in 2019.

In Ontario, a lot of voters who twice gave Andrea Horwath a pass in the past may support the NDP on June 7. If they do, some of the credit for that will belong to Ford just as Harper was at least in part responsible for the NDPs 2011 orange wave in Quebec.

It has by now become conventional wisdom that the Tories would likely have the June 7 election in the bag by now had they opted for a leader who raised fewer red flags outside the party base than Ford does. I dont know about that but chances are that pounding the pavement on behalf of his Ontario cousins would have come to Scheer and many of his MPs more easily.

Chantal Hebert is a columnist based in Ottawa covering politics. Follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

Share your thoughts:

Read more about:
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau is coming to Calgary this week and never has an appearance by a Liberal politician garnered so much attention.

The Chamber of Commerce was notified only a few days in advance but the tickets for the luncheon sold out in a matter of hours.

Thats because Morneau is booked to speak on Wednesday, which also happens to be the day before Kinder Morgans self-imposed deadline for deciding whether to continue with the controversial $7.4 billion (and climbing) Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

I cant think of any other single issue that was as tense, watched as closely and probably as important as what we are in the middle of over the next six days, Tim McMillan, president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, told the Financial Post last week.

Theres no question that Alberta politicians, oilpatch heavies and ordinary Albertans have worked themselves into a lather about the future of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

It was given the green light by the federal cabinet 18-months ago and would carry three times the amount of diluted bitumen than it does now to the B.C. lower mainland for loading onto tankers destined for the U.S and Asia.

But its future is now shaky because of the legal gymnastics of John Horgans NDP government, which contends the heavy, sticky bitumen is perilous to the land and coastal waters should there be a spill. Protesters at Kinder Morgan sites have also slowed things down.

The Trans Mountain isnt just a pipeline anymore; its become a powerful symbol of economic versus environmental rights.

So what news is Morneau likely to deliver when he comes to Calgary this week?

Kinder Morgan has already made it clear that shareholders are edgy about the pipeline expansion because the delaying tactics of the Horgan government and the targeting of Kinder Morgan facilities by protesters are costing the company too much money.

In the midst of negotiations with Kinder Morgan, Morneau announced the federal government is willing to compensate the U. S-based pipeline giant, for any losses it may incur due to delaying tactics or the eventual abandonment of the project.

The feds and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley have also suggested buying the pipeline, turning it into some sort of Crown corporation and pushing ahead with construction if Kinder Morgan decides to bail out.

That seems far-fetched because they would have to buy the existing pipeline, as well as the added capacity and all the tank farms and other infrastructure that go with it.

But governments in Canada have long inserted themselves into the welfare of the private sector. The oilsands industry likely wouldnt be as key to the Alberta and Canadian economy if it werent for all the taxpayer money invested in it by Premier Peter Lougheed.

But federal economic power has usually been wielded in favour of central Canada.

One of the reasons westerners became so enraged with Brian Mulroneys government and turned to the Reform Party was Mulroneys decision to award a $100 million 20-year contract for maintenance of Canadas CF-18 fighter jets to Quebec-based Canadair (later swallowed by Bombardier, which has also benefitted from government largesse) rather than the lower-priced bid of Bristol Aerospace of Winnipeg.

Even Stephen Harper, who rose through the ranks of the Reform Party to become prime minister, didnt flinch much when he agreed to bail out General Motors and Chrysler in Ontario to the tune of $9 billion during the 2009 recession.

Morneau wouldnt be coming to Calgary to talk to the Chamber of Commerce on such short notice and so close to the Kinder Morgans decision deadline if he was bringing really bad news.

So some sort of deal that favours Albertas interests has likely been worked out.

Kinder Morgan isnt talking at this point but they hold all the cards. If they pull out because the federal offer isnt good enough, the Trudeau and Notley governments will have lost a crucial political battle.

But if Kinder Morgan has agreed to some sort of backup plan that depends on billions of public money taxpayers may lose out.

Because in the end there is no guarantee the opposition in B.C. will stand down and let the pipeline through.

GS Gillian Steward is a Calgary writer and former managing editor of the Calgary Herald. Her column appears every other week. gsteward@telus.net is a Calgary writer and former managing editor of the Calgary Herald. Her column appears every other week.

Read more about:
VANCOUVER  The City of Vancouver has filed a federal court claim against the owners of the MV Marathassa, the ship that spilled 2,700 litres of toxic bunker fuel into English Bay three years ago, the mayor said Sunday.

At Sunset Beach on the bays shores, Mayor Gregor Robertson said he hopes to recover the $550,000 the city spent cleaning up the April 2015 spill.

It is ridiculous that its taken over three years and we are still fighting for our costs to be covered, Robertson told reporters. This really speaks to the greater concern we have with Kinder Morgan pipeline oil tankers.

The cargo ship involved in the spill, the MV Marathassa, and Greek shipping firm Alassia NewShips Management Inc. faced 10 environment-related charges in 2017.

But the Alassia denied it actually owned the ship, then claimed it was not properly served a legal summons, leading a Court of Appeal judge to rule in Alassias favour in March  meaning that the trial for the shipping company is over, unless another summons is served.

That trial is ongoing, with the charges being pursued against the MV Marathassa ship itself.

The city could not confirm which parties it had named in its civil claim, but according to an earlier Business in Vancouver report the claim is against MV Marathassa, Marathassa Shipping Corp., Alassia NewShips Management, and Standard Club Europe.

James Straith, who specializes in maritime law, told StarMetro he is skeptical about federal response capabilities and noted the current case is one way for the courts to signal to the federal government to do better.

Straith encouraged the judges decision to focus on the ship, not the company, because laying charges for ownership is murky.

The citys claim against the ships owners seeks damages, interest and court costs related to the spill. Both the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Canadian Coast Guard have issued separate claims to recover damages.

Robertson said the string of lawsuits points to larger problems with spill response systems across Canada.

Robertson said that the federal governments Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund offered to reimburse only 27 per cent of the citys cleanup costs. But according to the city, that fund disputed some of the reported spending, for instance opening an emergency response centre after the incident.

Robertson called that unacceptable.

The fund, which is meant to recover costs from the shipowners themselves on behalf of affected parties, is governed by the Marine Liability Act. It is available for compensation if all reasonable steps have been taken to recover cleanup costs from a shipowner, according to the federal website.

But according to Robertson, the federal compensation measures are clearly not working he said, warning that reforms are needed in light of Kinder Morgans plans to increase tanker traffic through the Burrard Inlet sevenfold if its Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is complete.

Vancouvers needs have been ignored with respect to oil tankers, Robertson said.

He criticized proposals that the federal government step in to provide the Texas energy company with financial backing to allow its pipeline to proceed.

It all speaks to supporting an industry that is limping along  and requires these kinds of outs to prevent covering its costs.

Robertson expressed concern about what he described as difficulties identifying who actually owns ships that access Vancouvers port, and what that means for local governments hoping to recover environmental costs in the future.

He cited the disastrous 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, which cost governments billions of dollars in costs that were never recovered from that tankers owners, he said.

We are talking about oil tankers in an industry that has never taken responsibility effectively for the costs and impacts of oil spills in the ocean, Robertson alleged.

But theres cause for concern as ship travel and traffic is expanding in Vancouvers waters, said Christianne Wilhelmson, executive director of the Georgia Strait Alliance.

Our environment is expected to take the brunt of anything spilled, she said. The industry has an unimaginable amount of influence in the process (of spill response) and communities are left out.

Stuart Mackinnon, chair of the Vancouver park board, said if there is another spill, it could be worse than bunker fuel, for instance diluted bitumen that is less easily observed or recovered.

The federal government needs to step up and take responsibility for their jurisdictions, he said. We cannot wait for a major oil spill to harm our beaches, to harm our parks and to harm our environment.

Correction - May 28, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated the name of Georgia Strait Alliance.

Read more about:
VANCOUVERResidents of Vancouvers Point Grey neighbourhood gave B.C. Attorney General David Eby an earful on Sunday at a meeting he hosted on his governments proposed tax increase on multimillion-dollar homes.

Well over 200 people crowded into a packed Jericho Hill Centre gymnasium, and tempers were running hot as Eby  also the MLA for the Vancouver-Point Grey riding  was introduced to a chorus of boos that had the moderator threatening to shut down the event before it even began.

Ebys opening statement pointed the finger at what he called spin from the real estate industry and B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, saying both had misrepresented the tax in order to undermine the NDP governments efforts to cool the housing market.

Mr. Wilkinson, hes here today, the B.C. Liberal Party leader joined the agents at Sutton West Coast, writing an open letter to people and dropping it on their doorsteps to encourage them to crash (our reception), Eby said, referring to an earlier town hall meeting on the same surtax that was cancelled. Eby alleged that both Wilkinson and real estate workers encouraged angry Vancouver-Point Grey constituents to disrupt that event by entering without tickets.

Ebys speech was overwhelmed several times by shouts from the raucous crowd, who took issue with his characterizations of the NDPs tax increase as sensible and necessary, given the severity of Vancouvers housing crisis.

The increase to property tax and property transfer tax on homes worth more than $3 million was announced by B.C. finance minister Carole James as part of the NDPs February budget.

The increase would see B.C. homeowners pay 0.2 per cent more on the assessed value of homes that exceeds $3 million, and 0.4 per cent on the value that exceeds $4 million.

Eby has long been an advocate for measures to rein in Metro Vancouvers runaway home prices. His riding saw some of the most extreme increases in the 2015-2016 price run-up, with many single-family homes now worth in excess of $4 million.

Wilkinson took the microphone soon after Eby to take his own shot at the attorney general, although he did not deny he had been involved in stirring up constituents to disrupt Ebys original town hall.

What's this all about? Its about creating divisions amongst us. Its about tearing our society up to create winners and losers, Wilkinson said, to cheers of applause. What this is about is asking David Eby for fewer insults and more accountability.

After an hour of remarks from municipal politicians and academics, it was the constituents turn to ask questions of Eby.

Several dozen people lined up behind a pair of microphones to air their grievances with their MLA.

Gail Gavin, a Point Grey resident, said funding governmental expenditures should not be done on the backs of property owners like herself.

The problem of affordable housing is not about taxation, she said. It is about permits that are given for commodity condos so that the development industry can make a lot of money at the expense of (middle-class homeowners).

Aaron Beatty, also a Point Grey resident, said the NDPs claim that it would use higher taxation to fund the hiring of teachers was just a decoy.

Once the NDP gets that money, it will squander the funds in any way the party wishes, and its wishes will multiply each year, provoking the party progressively to raise the property surtax, he said. From the NDPs perspective, homeowners are property-surtax suckers.

But despite this fierce opposition from Point Grey residents, Eby said his government has no plans to change the tax proposal as it waits in the legislature for a vote.

With files from Jen St. Denis

Read more about:
ALTON  Two Madison County housing development projects were among 26 statewide awarded federal tax credits by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

The Community of Sunnybrook, a new development in Alton located east of downtown Alton; and Edison Avenue Lofts, a rehabilitation of the former YWCA in downtown Granite City into mixed-income, mixed use apartments, were among those approved, according to a press release from the IHDA.

The IHDA recently awarded $26.4 million in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to help fund 26 developments in 15 counties throughout Illinois.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is instrumental in helping IHDA achieve our mission of financing safe, quality and affordable housing in Illinois, IHDA Executive Director Audra Hamernik said. This program is a proven public-private partnership that allows us to leverage the resources and expertise of the private sector to create jobs, generate tax revenue, and most importantly, ensure working families, seniors, and people with special needs have a place to call home.

Once sold to investors, the tax credits will generate an estimated $241.4 million in private capital to finance the creation or preservation of 1,327 affordable apartments for low- to moderate-income families, seniors, veterans, and persons with special needs. The construction is expected to support 2,379 full-time construction jobs and 524 permanent jobs after completion.

The Community of Sunnybrook is a project by EEJJ LLC, with Ed Hightower listed as the company contact. The project is expected to include 38 affordable apartments and two market-rate units for non-elderly families just east of downtown Alton. The property is now a vacant field, but a total of 20 buildings containing a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units are planned.

After 15 years the units will be available for sale rather than rental.

Hightower could not be reached for comment.

The Edison Avenue Lofts project, by St. Louis-based Rise Community Development, a nonprofit which builds market rate and affordable housing, plans 37 non-elderly mixed-income, mixed use apartments in the historic building.

The building is owned by Granite City. Mayor Ed Hagnauer said they had limited options and it would have taken approximately $500,000 to demolish the structure.

He said Rise came to them some time ago, but were unable to get enough points to qualify last year. Hagnauer said the plan is to put artists lofts into the building, which would be given to Rise.

The city has a long-standing plan to redevelop its downtown by encouraging artists to move there and open studios. He also said the increased foot traffic in the area will also help spur additional development.

Other Metro East projects include:

 Lofts on the Square (Belleville): Renovation of the historic Hotel Belleville/Meredith Home into 47 affordable senior apartments and retail space on the Public Square in downtown Belleville. The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority will oversee the adaptive reuse of the building, which will convert the second through sixth floors into apartments for residents over 55 who earn less than 60 percent of the area median income.

 Flax Meadow Townhomes (Highland): A new construction development of eight one- and two-story townhomes. When complete, Flax Meadow will offer 32 affordable units of family housing with on-site management offices, as well as a playground and open green space.

 Highland Villas (Highland): The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority will build 48 affordable villa-style units for income eligible seniors. Each unit will be designed to incorporate the highest level of accessibility and a variety of in-unit amenities. The development will also include the construction of a community building.

 Gillespie Senior Residences (Gillespie): New construction of 20 single-family rental homes for seniors in Macoupin County. Every unit will receive rental assistance from the Macoupin County Housing Authority, who will manage the development.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program allows the allocation of a certain number of tax credits annually to each state based on population. IHDA awards the credits in a competitive application process, and once developers receive the credits, they sell them to investors and use the equity generated to reduce construction and operating costs. The savings in underwriting are passed on to the renter in the form of below-market rents, which must remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years. IHDA has administered the LIHTC program in Illinois since it began in 1986. Since its inception, the program has financed more than 90,975 units of affordable housing in the state, generating $4.9 billion in private capital for affordable housing.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
Rich Roth didnt think his story would go viral. But a Facebook post with his photo and a quote from the longtime Clinton, Illinois, resident has reached more than 800,000 people since May 21, with more than 10,000 reactions and 8,000 shares.

Ive lived in Clinton since I was two years old, Roth begins.

The moving company is coming June 1. I sold my business as of this morning.

Roths story  hes moving his family to Arizona and sold his home for a six-figure loss  resonated. And thats because too much of the state is in the same boat.

Clinton sits between Bloomington and Decatur, and its lost 5 percent of its population since 2010, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Illinois population has been shrinking for the last four years consecutively, driven by losing more people to other states than we gain.

The new Census data show 39 of Illinois 50 most populous cities shrank from July 2016 to July 2017. Half have shed population since 2010. And the states titan, Chicago, was the only major city in the country to lose population over the year. Its seen fewer residents for the last three years running.

Among the Land of Lincolns largest cities, there should be particular concern for Rockford. Twenty miles from the Wisconsin border, its been shrinking every year this decade, and has fallen to the fifth-largest city in the state this year from the third largest in 2015.

Peoria is another pain point. It saw the largest decline in population over the year among the top 50 cities, losing 1.3 percent of its population in a matter of months. One of Peorias largest employers, Caterpillar Inc., announced in January 2017 that it was moving its headquarters to the Chicago suburbs.

Mid-sized cities like Belleville and Decatur are seeing severe declines, both losing more than 5 percent of their populations since 2010.

So how does Illinois flip the trend?

Heres something that isnt helping: Proposed solutions to Illinois fiscal problems appear completely detached from reality.

First there was Chicago Democratic state Rep. Robert Martwicks FRIENDLY Act, which outlined progressive tax rates that would hike income taxes on Illinoisans making as little as $17,300. More recently, the Chicago Federal Reserve proposed a property-tax-for-pensions plan where every homeowner would pay an additional 1 percent property tax to the state to pay down unfunded pension liabilities.

Under the proposal, the typical Illinois homeowner would pay more than $1,700 in additional property taxes to the state for the next 30 years to pay down the pension debt.

Who wouldnt want to stick around for that killer deal?

I saw the [Federal Reserve Bank of Chicagos proposed] 1 percent tax. I shared it and tagged all my friends and said my suggestion to you is just get the hell out of the state, Roth said.

Jobs and housing are the key to making any state more attractive. But the Land of Lincoln punishes small businesses and taxes homes at among the highest rates in the country. Illinois ranked 42 out of 50 states for jobs growth in 2017, and last among all its neighboring states.

When people cant find good job opportunities in Illinois, they are too often forced to leave. And to take their place, too few have enough confidence in the state to move in from elsewhere and build a future.

Growing Illinois requires growing confidence. For state and local leaders, that means spending restraint, aggressive reform and renewed respect for taxpayers.

Austin Berg is a writer for the Illinois Policy Institute. He wrote this column for the Illinois News Network. Austin can be reached at aberg@illinoispolicy.org.
All suitablyqualified and interested candidates should send one merged PDF with a coverletter, academic documents and CV (not more than 6 pages, less than 20MB) aPastors recommendation letterto careers@watotochurch.com (SubjectLine: Secondary Teacher -First Name, Last Name)
Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace, their first royal engagement as a married couple, in London, May 22, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters

Britain's newlyweds Harry and Meghan will reportedly honeymoon in Canada.

The royal couple - who got married at St George's Chapel in Windsor on May 19 - decided to delay their post-wedding vacation so that they could attend Harry's father Prince Charles' 70th birthday bash last week, but it looks like they will be jetting across the pond any day now to spend time together alone as a married pair.

Expand Close Meghan attends a garden party at Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain May 22, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Meghan attends a garden party at Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain May 22, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters

According to TMZ, the 33-year-old prince and his new wife will stay in Alberta, Canada's Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, at a 6,000 sq. ft. Outlook Cabin.

A source told the gossip website: "The resort ordered some gear and goodies it doesn't normally keep on hand for Meghan and Harry.

"It's unclear exactly when they'll be arriving, but we're told both British and Canadian security will be involved when they do.

It's also thought the Duke and the Duchess - who was known as Meghan Markle before she got married - will stop over in Los Angeles to visit her sick father.

Expand Close Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace, their first royal engagement as a married couple, in London, May 22, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace, their first royal engagement as a married couple, in London, May 22, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters

Her dad Thomas Markle was meant to walk the 36-year-old actress down the aisle but he was forced to pull out of the royal event so that he could undergo a life-saving heart operation in the US and was then deemed unfit to fly across the UK.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl said recently: "I hear one of the things they want to do sooner than later -- and now that they're married -- is to go and see Thomas Markle, who is recovering from a heart operation. We don't know when this trip might happen.

Expand Close Harry and his wife Meghan turn to watch Doria Ragland, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as they walk down the west steps of St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle (Ben Stansall/PA) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Harry and his wife Meghan turn to watch Doria Ragland, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as they walk down the west steps of St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle (Ben Stansall/PA)

"...I'm hearing from people close to Meghan and Harry that they're very keen to do it."

If the loved-up pair do manage to squeeze the trip in, it'll be the first time Harry has met Thomas but he's very keen to get to know him and build a relationship with him.

Video of the Day

Katie explained: "He feels it's very important that he gets to meet Thomas. Of course, Meghan is keen to go see him as soon as possible."
Fatehgarh Sahibthis town of sacred pilgrimage in Punjab has been witness to one of the most tragic, painful and violent chapters of Sikh-Mughal history going back three centuries. Despite that, a 350-year-old mosque not only stands in complete harmony with a recently completed gurdwara but is looked after by the Sikh priest.

Chittian Masjidan (White Mosque), with its three white-washed domes, can be seen from a distance amidst the agricultural fields of Mahadian village. A few Mughal-era structures still dot the countryside here even as the area is dominated by Sikh shrines, the largest one being the main Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara to which Sikh pilgrims come from all over the world.

What is unique about the mosque is that it stands just a kilometre away from the spot where the two young sons of the tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind SinghFateh Singh (7) and Zorawar Singh (9), were buried alive in 1705 by the Mughal commander Wazir Khan, who was the Nawab of Sirhind, a town five km away, because they refused to convert to Islam as per the diktat of the Mughals under the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb.

The name of Fatehgarh Sahib comes from the name of the youngest son, Fateh, of the guru. The town, around 45 km from Chandigarh, is a great draw especially during the annual Jor Mela fair to commemorate the martyrdom of the young 'sahibzadas' (sons of the guru).

The tragic and violent history, however, has not stopped Jeet Singh, a granthi (Sikh cleric) of the Mastgarh Sahib Chittian gurdwara from maintaining the mosque's ancient structure.

"I have been maintaining the (mosque) building for the past four years. It was in a very bad shape when I came here. I clean it from inside daily even though no Muslims (who live in nearby villages) come here for prayers," said Jeet Singh, standing in front of the partially dilapidated structure.

Jeet Singh said that the mosque, which is believed to be over 350 years old, was abandoned for a number of years till a Sikh religious leader of the area, Arjun Singh Sodhi, got the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, kept inside. For nearly a century, the mosque building was used as a gurdwara.

"The Sangat (Sikh community) then decided to build a new gurdwara in the same complex as this (mosque) building was getting old and cracks were appearing on its walls and domes. The gurdwara is now complete and Guru Granth Sahib has been kept there. With whatever means, we try to maintain the mosque building and keep it clean," Jeet Singh, 43, who shifted here four years back, said.

The mosque and gurdwara stand side by side in perfect communal harmony within the four walls of the complex. The mosque building gets a periodic whitewash and minor repairs, if required. There is nothing kept inside the structure.

"I have researched the history of this place, talking to old people (Muslims, Sikhs and others) of the area. The qazi (Muslim cleric) of this masjid (mosque) is said to have issued the fatwa (a religious edict) condemning the young sahibzadas to death. However, he is believed to have opposed the move initially saying that the children were too young for the ruthless punishment," said Jeet Singh, who is in charge of the complex along with Hakam Singh (senior in-charge).

He says that the Muslims of the nearby area of Bassi Pathana had objected when the mosque was initially used as a gurdwara in the beginning of the 20th century. However, the then Maharaja of Patiala came to the place and resolved the matter and the gurdwara continued in the old structure for a number of years.

"A number of Muslims live in nearby villages but they have their own mosques. No one comes here for prayers but we don't stop anyone. We have respect for all religions," Jeet Singh, a soft-spoken man who lives in the complex with his wife and two children, said with a smile.

Historians believe that the mosque dates back to the period of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and was built between 1628 and 1658.

The mosque structure survived the fury of the Sikh-Mughal battles. Even though the Sikhs defeated Wazir Khan in 1710 and re-claimed the area, the mosque survived the onslaught and today stands as silent testimony to communal fraternity in troubled times.

-IANS
The highly awaited Kaala trailer dropped on Monday. While Rajinikanth displays his trademark swagger in abundance, the film is also laced with overarching political themes.

Directed by Pa Ranjith, the Rajinikanth-starrer film is one of the most anticipated releases in Tamil this year. Rajinikanth is said to play a Mumbai-based gangster. Produced by Dhanushs Wunderbar Films, Kaala also stars Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Nana Patekar, Samuthirakani and Anjali Patil. Ranjith's favourite musician, Santosh Narayanan has once again teamed up with the filmmaker to compose the musical score for the film.

The teaser of Kaala was released on March 2. The near two-minute teaser starts off with veteran star Nana Patekar asking what kind of a name Kaala was, with a voiceover in the next scene saying it means not only the colour black, but also someone who fights and defends. Later, Rajinikanth himself is shown explaining that black is the colour of hard work. The actor is seen speaking in the Tirunelveli slang of the Tamil language.

The audio of Kaala was earlier released by producer Dhanush. The album, packed with eight upbeat and melody songs, has made Rajinikanth fans go gaga. With a mix of different genres, the songs lyrics are politically loaded, too.

The audio, though released online, will be launched formally in the evening by Dhanush's Wunderbar films which is producing the film. On May 1, a single track from the filmSemma weightuwas released. It was an instant hot online and has garnered over three million views.

Like his earlier works like Madras and Kabali, Kaala, too, reflects Pa Ranjith's style as the lyrics talk about caste hegemony. Lines like Pathingi adangi vaazha naanga innum slave ah [Are we still slaves to hide and live in subjugation?], and Ezhayoda vaithula adichi bank balance ah yethatha [Dont hit the poor and then raise our bank balance], talk volumes about how Kaala will strike down heavily on the ruling class and those in power.

(Inputs from Lakshmi Subramanian)
The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite...
The AIADMK government headed by Edapadi K Palaniswamy announced on Monday that it had ordered the permanent shutdown of the controversial Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi.



On May 22, 12 people were killed and dozens injured after police opened fire and cracked down on protesters who were demanding the plant's closure. One more person succumbed to his injuries on May 23. Protests to close the plant started nearly 20 years ago as local residents complained of pollution.

In a government ordered issued on Monday, the government cited the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board's action against Sterlite, recommending the plant's closure late last week. The government cited the need to protect the environment as per Article 48-A of the Constitution and the larger public interest in issuing the closure order.

The TN Government's order | Supplied

Earlier on Monday, deputy chief minister O. Panneerselvam assured people in Thoothukudi the AIADMK government would work to permanently close the plant. He visited the district hospital in Thoothukudi.
Haryana is the land of milk and honey, boasting of its indigenous Murrah buffaloes that yield milk in huge quantities, and are always the winners in cattle shows in the state. But this breed of buffalos never had a separate board to oversee their growth, though the animal husbandry department did all it could to protect the breed.

Now, however, the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana is officially going to protect the cowand hopefully all cattle including the Murrahin many ways, under the guise of animal welfare.

A state animal welfare board, under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary of the animal husbandry and dairy development departments, was constituted on Monday in the state that is notorious for cow vigilantism.

The board is mandated to ensure proper implementation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960, the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (Haryana Amendment) Act, 1980, and the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871.

A government notification said the board will also ensure implementation of other Acts or Regulations for animal welfare, applicable to the state of Haryana.

Interestingly, the board will organise and coordinate the activities of public cattle sheltersgaushalas and prinjrapolesand salvage dry cattle, round up and rehabilitate stray cattle.

Preservation and development of cattle for increasing the production of milk, coordination and reviewing of various schemes relating to increasing production of feed and fodder, and rearing of calves will also be part of the activities of the board.

The board will periodically review the progress of schemes relating to preservation and development of cattle in the light of programme and policy laid down for the country.
In an email sent to Congress Lok Sabha member and her husband Shashi Tharoor, Sunanda Pushkar had expressed her desire to die, Delhi Police told a court in New Delhi on Monday, justifying its charges of abetment to suicide and cruelty against the parliamentarian.

Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal that there was sufficient evidence to proceed against Shashi Tharoor and requested the court to accept the charge-sheet and issue summons to the Lok Sabha member as an accused in the case.

The prosecutor informed the court that Sunanda Pushkar was depressed and, in an email, written on January 8, 2014 to Tharoor, she had expressed her desire to die.

"I have no will to live. All I pray for is death," prosecutor Shrivastava read out the relevant line of the email written by Sunanda Pushkar to Shashi Tharoor.

He told the court that Sunanda Pushkar's mail and messages in social media had been taken as dying declaration.

He told the court that the cause of her death was poisoning. Some 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room but it is not clear how many she had consumed. The prosecutor cited the post-mortem report which stated that there were injury marks on her body.

Shrivastava also informed the court that Shashi Tharoor as a husband ignored her when she was taking pills to overcome depression. Instead, they had frequent fights, the prosecutor said citing witnesses' statement to substantiate allegations levelled against the Congress leader.

The police also disclosed that Shashi Tharoor ignored her calls and disconnected them.

He told the court the Tharoors married in October 2010. Two days prior to Sunanda Pushkar's death, heated arguments were exchanged between them on a flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi. The fight continued at the Delhi airport, the police said.

After hearing the submission, the court set June 5 to deliver its order on accepting the charge-sheet against Shashi Tharoor.

On May 14, the Delhi Police charge-sheeted Shashi Tharoor under Sections 306 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to abetment to suicide and cruelty to wife, which entails a jail term that could extend up to 10 years.

Pushkar, 51, was found dead in her suite at Leela Hotel in south Delhi on January 17, 2014, days after she alleged that her husband was having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.
Honour killings are here in Kerala too and are not just phenomena confined to Haryana or any lawless tract in Northern India. In a shocking incident, a newly wed youth, who was abducted by his wife's family from Kottayam, was found dead further south in Kollam on Monday morning.

Kevin P. Joseph, a resident of SH Mount in Kottayam, was allegedly abducted by an armed gang led by his wife's brother. His body was found in a stream near Thenmala in Kollam district. The body of the 23-year-old man was found by locals early Monday morning at Chaliyakkara stream, 20 km away from Thenmala.

On Sunday, Kevin's bride Neenu Chacko had approached Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam seeking action against the gang, which she said had abducted her husband.

Kevin had married Neenu, a resident of Thenmala, against the will of the latter's family.

The woman, who arrived at the police station along with her husband's friend and relatives, alleged in her complaint that the police didn't act promptly citing lack of personnel owing to the visit of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The complaint said that the bridegroom was abducted by the brother of the bride as a revenge for his affair with his sister and marrying her secretly. The bridegroom Kevin and his relative Anish, 31, were abducted early morning on Sunday. The abductors thrashed Anish severely and left him on the way. Anish, who suffered severe injuries on his face in the attack, has been admitted to the medical college hospital.

Kevin had met Neenu as she pursued a course in a Kottayam college. The two of them registered their marriage on Friday at a sub-registrar office as the family of the girl had fiercely objected to their marriage and threatened them against it. Neenu's family later registered a complaint with the police stating that she had gone missing. Though the police summoned the two, Kevin and Anish left the girl back at her hostel as she confirmed that she likes to go with Kevin.

Thereafter, the armed gang, which arrived in three vehicles, reached Kottayam and vandalised Kevin's house and forcibly took away the bridegroom and Anish, a native of Kalambukattuchira at Mannanam,

Though the police contacted the gang over phone, they got the reply that Kevin had jumped out of the car and escaped at Pathanapuram. Meanwhile, the police commenced the search for Kevin as well as the gang, until the tragic news was reported on Monday morning.

This article was originally published in Onmanorama


The Kerala Police once again came under fire for failing to acknowledge the seriousness of the Kevin abduction case, and take quick action. The inaction of the officers at the Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam district has been blamed for the subsequent murder of the 23-year-old man.

The body of Kevin P. Joseph, who wed Neenu Chacko against the will of the latter's family, was found by locals early Monday morning at Chaliyakkara stream, 20 km away from Thenmala in Kollam.

His body was found lying face down. It is suspected that the body was dumped here after he was killed elsewhere. Footprints were found on the banks of the stream.

Kevin, a resident of SH Mount in Kottayam, was allegedly abducted by an armed gang led by his wife's brother on Sunday. He was forcibly taken along with his relative Anish. The abductors thrashed Anish severely and left him on the way. Anish, who suffered severe injuries on his face in the attack, has been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.

Immediately after the incident, Kevin's wife Neenu had approached Gandhinagar police station seeking action against the gang, which she said had abducted her husband. However, the officers had refused to take quick measures to save the youth allegedly citing lack of personnel owing to the visit of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

A Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader was reportedly among the abductors of Kevin Joseph who was apparently killed after being taken away by an armed gang on Sunday morning.

Police sources said one of the cars used by the gang was driven by Niyaz, unit secretary of the DYFI at Edamon in Punalur.

The top officials of Kerala police, in a bid to save face, has suspended Gandhinagar sub-inspector M.S. Shibu for failing to take action on time. The family of Kevin has also alleged that the SI received a bribe from the abductors. They have lodged a complaint in this regard with the district police chief.

Meanwhile, Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare will conduct a probe into the death of Kevin.

The situation around the Gandhinagar police station is tense as Congress workers led by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan are staging a protest.

Kottayam SP Mohd Rafique, who has been transferred over the issue, was assaulted amid a scuffle between Congress activists and police.

AIG Harishankar will be the new Kottayam SP as the incumbent Rafique has been shunted out as the row over police inaction escalated.

Meanwhile, the state police chief Loknath Behera has also sought a report from inspector general of Kochi Range.

The police have filed a case against 10 people, including Shanu Chacko, brother of Kevin's wife Neenu Chacko. They have taken one person, Ishan, into custody in connection with the case so far.

On Monday, the family and friends of Kevin protested outside the police station demanding strict action against the police officers and abductors.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the UDF have called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kottayam district on

Tuesday.
Senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal and Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Jai Panda on Monday announced that he was leaving the party and resigning from Parliament. Panda represented the Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency.

Panda has been regarded as the 'face of BJD' in Delhi, where he was a Rajya Sabha MP for several years before winning from Kendrapara for the first time in 2009. He was the spokesperson of the BJD's parliamentary party till he was removed last year for allegedly criticising the party's performance in panchayat polls in which the BJP made substantial gains. Supporters of the BJD criticised Panda for his alleged proximity to BJP leaders, whom he has often praised.

In his resignation letter to Odisha Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, Panda wrote he was quitting the kind of politics to which BJD had descended.

Panda expressed his disappointment at the fact that no major leader of the BJD, including Patnaik, had paid respects to his father, Bansidhar Panda, who died last week. His father was an associate of Naveen's father, Biju Patnaik. In a tweet from his personal account, Panda noted leaders of the BJP and Congress had paid respects to his father.

In the letter, Panda also reminded Patnaik about his commitment to the party and warnings that the party was deviating from its principles of humility and transparency.

.@PandaJay pays homage to the great freedom fighter Shri #VeerSavarkar on #VeerSavarkarJayanti. His nationalist and reformist convictions are commendable  pic.twitter.com/PRLzwKog6q  Office of Jay Panda (@mp_office) May 28, 2018

However, shortly before the Twitter handle of his team released Panda's resignation letter, it also put out a tweet marking the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar. The tweetin which the Twitter handles of the BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are taggedpraises Savarkar for his nationalist and reformist convictions.

While Panda has yet to comment on his political future after leaving the BJD, the tribute to Savarkar is likely to set off speculation on a possible move to the BJP. Panda will be closely watched as Odisha is scheduled to see both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls next year.
Comprehensive security arrangements have been made for byelections in Kairana parliamentary seat and Noorpur assembly seat, both of which go to polls on Monday.

Both the constituencies are situated in sensitive western Uttar Pradesh, which in the past has seen many communal riots. Kairana is more sensitive as it is close to Muzaffarnagar, which has seen the worst ever communal riots in 2013 in which around 80 people lost their lives.

In Kairana over 16 lakh voters will exercise their franchise while in Noorpur over three lakh voters will cast their vote.

Apart from 10 companies of PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary), 53 companies of Central security forces have been deployed in these areas. Around 184 sensitive polling booths have been identified which will be kept under special vigil.

A total of 2,651 EVM control units, 2,651 ballot units and 2,596 VVPAT's are being used in the polling process

The bypolls, especially in Kairana, is a prestige issue for the ruling BJP as prior to this it had lost important parliamentary seats of Phoolpur and Gorakhpur. The bypoll will see a joint oppositionBSP, SP and Congresstaking on the ruling BJP.
Over the past two weeks, Elon Musk has been at war with the media. Musk, who usually manages to get an optimistic coverage from the media, was unhappy with the recent media coverage of some of Tesla's shortcomings. This led him to launch a tirade against media outlets calling them "misleading".

Elon Musk criticised the press and said that journalists were "under pressure to get maximum clicks and earn advertising dollar" so that they do not get fired. He pointed out that Tesla does not advertise.

The Tesla CEO even engaged in a Twitter spat with mediapersons like NBC News reporter Ben Collins and veteran tech editor and founder of The Outline, Joshua Topolsky.

You're very smart so I want you to think about this for a second. Do you think it's in the interest of powerful people to A: support a free press that exposes their lies, or B: tear it down so their lies are easier to tell? Now ask yourself why the polls would look bad.  Joshua Topolsky (@joshuatopolsky) May 27, 2018

Elon Musk went on to tweet: "The holier-than-thou hypocrisy of big media companies who lay claim to the truth, but publish only enough to sugarcoat the lie, is why the public no longer respects them".

I really, really want you to spend some time in a newsroom, dude. Wed love to have you in some time. Youd learn a ton, just like Id learn a ton about rocketships at your shop.  Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) May 27, 2018

But Elon Musk embarrassed himself when he retweeted a link to an article written by The Knife, a website that is associated with NXIVM, a self-help organisation founded by Keith Raniere who was arrested in March for forcing followers to have sex with him. The article was meant to back his claims that the press had become unreliable. The article itself gave 'objectivity ratings' to various news articles that covered Elon Musk's recent campaign against the press.

When one of his followers alerted him of the link to NXIVM, he promptly deleted the tweet.

But the highlight of the Twitter rant was when Elon Musk announced that he is "going to create a site where the public can rate the core truth of any article & track the credibility score over time of each journalist, editor & publication. Thinking of calling it Pravda "

Pravda, meaning truth, was the name of the propaganda newspaper brought out by the defunct Soviet Union. While many hailed the idea and joined Elon Musk in criticising the media, others said the idea needed more thought.

He went on to create a Twitter poll for people to vote on the media credibility rating site.

Create a media credibility rating site (that also flags propaganda botnets)  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2018

Elon Musk also promoted the poll by asking journalists who did not want Pravda to exist to write an article telling their readers to vote against it.

He then tweeted that he had tried to buy Pravda.com, but could not as it was already owned by Ukraine. He then tweeted that he bought Pravduh.com, a play on words for Pravda.

Problem solved, was able to buy https://t.co/ivSUwPqsDT! Game on   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 25, 2018

The world now awaits his next move.
The following companies are subsidiares of AMETEK: AMETEK CTS GmbH, AMETEK Germany GmbH, AMETEK Hong Kong Private Limited, AMETEK Instruments Group UK Limited, AMETEK Italia S.r.l., Amekai Singapore Private Ltd., Amekai Taiwan Co. Ltd., Haydon Linear Motors (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., SPECTRO Analytical Instruments Inc., Tubes Holdco Limited, AEM Limited, AIP/MPM Funding Inc., AIP/MPM Holdings Inc., AMESP USVI LLC, AMETEK (Barbados) SRL, AMETEK (Bermuda) Ltd., AMETEK (GB) Limited, AMETEK (Thailand) Co. Ltd., AMETEK Aegis Inc., AMETEK Aerospace & Defense Group UK Ltd, AMETEK Aerospace & Power Holdings Inc., AMETEK Aerospace LLC, AMETEK Aircraft Parts & Accessories Inc., AMETEK Airtechnology Group Limited., AMETEK Ameron LLC, AMETEK Arizona Instrument LLC, AMETEK B.V., AMETEK CTS Europe GmbH, AMETEK CTS US Inc., AMETEK Canada 2 ULC, AMETEK Canada 3 ULC., AMETEK Canada Limited Partnership, AMETEK Co. Ltd., AMETEK Commercial Enterprise Shanghai, AMETEK Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, AMETEK Customer Service S. de R. L. de C.v., AMETEK DE LLC, AMETEK DELCO Inc., AMETEK Denmark A/S, AMETEK Do Brasil Ltda., AMETEK EMG Holdings Inc., AMETEK Elektromotory s.r.o, AMETEK Engineered Materials Sdn. Bhd., AMETEK Europe L.L.C., AMETEK European Holdings GmbH, AMETEK European Holdings Limited, AMETEK Finland Oy, AMETEK Global Tubes LLC, AMETEK Grundbesitz GmbH, AMETEK HSA Inc., AMETEK Haydon Kerk Inc., AMETEK Holdings B.V. also registered as AMETEK Holdings B.V. Delaware Inc.1, AMETEK Holdings SARL, AMETEK Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L., AMETEK Hughes-Treitler, AMETEK Industrial Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., AMETEK Instrumentos S.L., AMETEK Instruments India Private Limited, AMETEK Korea Co. Ltd., AMETEK Lamb Motores de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., AMETEK Land Inc., AMETEK Latin America Holding Company S.a r.l., AMETEK MRO Florida Inc., AMETEK Material Analysis Holdings GmbH, AMETEK Mexico Holding Company LLC, AMETEK Motors Asia Pte. Ltd., AMETEK Nordic AB, AMETEK PIP Holdings Inc., AMETEK Precitech Inc., AMETEK Programmable Power Inc., AMETEK S.A.S., AMETEK S.r.l., AMETEK SCP (Barrow) Limited, AMETEK SCP Inc., AMETEK Singapore Private Ltd., AMETEK Taiwan Co. Ltd., AMETEK Technical & Industrial Products Inc., AMETEK Thermal Systems Inc., AMETEK d.o.o. Subotica., Abaco Systems, Advanced Industries, Advanced Measurement Technology Inc., Aero Components International Corp., Airtechnology Pension Trustees Limited, Akron Standard Bestry (Guangzhou) Measurement Equipment Co. Ltd., Amekai (BVI) Ltd., Amekai Meter (Xiamen) Co. Ltd., Ameron Global Inc, Ametek Advanced Industries Inc., Ametek-Reading Alloys Inc., Amptek Inc., Antavia SAS, Atlas Material Holdings Corporation, Atlas Material Testing Technology (India) Private Limited, Atlas Material Testing Technology BV, Atlas Material Testing Technology GmbH, Atlas Material Testing Technology L.L.C., Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC, Atlas Netherlands AcquisitionCo Cooperatief U.A., Avicenna Technology Inc., Avtech Avionics & Instruments LLC, B&S Aircraft, Brookfield Engineering, CAMECA Instruments Inc., CAMECA SAS, Cameca, Chandler Instruments Company L.L.C., Chandler Instruments Company LLC, Cognex - Surface Inspection Systems Division, Coining Holding Company, Coining Inc., Controls Southeast Inc., Crank, Creaform, Creaform Inc., Creaform Shanghai Ltd., Creaform Software Inc., Creaform U.S.A. Inc., Crystal Engineering Corp, Crystal Engineering Corporation, Direl GmbH, Direl Holding GmbH, Drake Air, Drake Air Inc., Drexelbrook Engineering Company, Dunkermotoren GmbH, Dunkermotoren Taicang Co. Ltd., Dunkermotoren USA Inc., EDAX Inc., EDAX LLC, EGS Automation, EMA Corp., EMA Finance 1 LLC, EMA Finance 2 LLC, EMA Holdings LLC, EMA Holdings UK Limited, EMA MX LLC, EMtest, ESP Holdco Inc., ESP/SurgeX, Electronic Systems Protection Inc., FMH Aerospace Corp., FMH Holdings Corp., FMH Intermediate LLC, Fine Tubes Limited, Forza Silicon Corporation, Frameflair Limited, GS Electric, Gatan, Gatan Inc., Gatan Service Corporation, Gatan U.K. Limited, Glasseal Products Inc., Global Tubes, Grabner Instruments Messtechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H., HCC Industries Inc., HDR Power Systems LLC, HS Foils Oy, Hamilton Precision Metals Inc., Hamilton Precision Metals of Delaware Inc., Haydon Kerk Motion, Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions Inc., Hermetic Seal Corporation, High Standard Aviation, Imago Scientific Instruments, IntelliPower Inc., Land Instruments International Ltd., Laserage Technology Corp, Luphos GmbH, MCG Acquisition Corporation, MOCON Europe A/S, MOCON Inc., Magnetrol International, Micro-Poise Industrial Equipment (Beijing) Ltd., Micro-Poise Measurement Systems LLC, Micro-Poise Measurement Systems LLC, Milmega Limited, Mocon, Motec GmbH, Motec GmbH, Motion Control Group, Muirhead Aerospace Limited, NSI-MI Technologies, Newage Testing Instruments Inc., Nu Instruments Asia Ltd., Nu Instruments Limited, Nu Instruments Ltd, O'Brien Corp, OBCORP LLC., OOO AMETEK, Pacific Design Technologies Inc., Patriot Sensors & Controls Corporation, PennEngineering Motion Technologies, Petrolab L.L.C., Powervar, Powervar Deutschland GmbH, Powervar Inc., Powervar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Precitech, Quizix Inc., RETE Holding GmbH, Rauland-Borg, Rauland-Borg Corporation, Rauland-Borg Corporation of Florida, Reichert Inc., Reichert Technologies, Responder Systems Corporation, Rotron Inc., Rotron Incorporated, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments (Pty) Ltd, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH, SSH Non-Destructive Testing Inc., Sealtron Inc., Six Brookside Drive Corporation., SkyBitz Inc., SkyBitz Petroleum Logistics LLC, SkyBitz Tank Monitoring Corporation, Solartron Group Ltd., Solartron Metrology Limited, Solidstate Controls Inc. de Argentina S.R.L., Solidstate Controls LLC, Solidstate Controls LLC, Solidstate Controls Mexico S.A. de C.V., Sound Com Corporation, Southern Aero Partners Inc., Southern Aeroparts Inc, Spectro Analytical Instruments Inc., Spectro Holdings Inc., Spectro Inc., Spectro International Holdings Inc., Spectro Scientific, Spectro Scientific (Beijing) Inc., Spectro Scientific Inc., Sterling Ultra Precision Inc., Sunpower, Sunpower Inc., Superior Tube Company Inc., TPM Russia Inc., Taylor Hobson Holdings Limited, Taylor Hobson Inc., Taylor Hobson Limited, Taylor Hobson Trustees Limited, Technical Manufacturing Corp, Technical Manufacturing Corporation, Technical Services for Electronics Inc., Telular Corporation, Telular Corporation, Teseq AG, Thelsha Technical Services, Tritex Corporation, Unispec Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Universal Analyzers Inc., VTI Instruments Corporation, VTI Instruments Private Limited, VTI Integrated Systems Private Limited, Vision Research Europe B.V., Vision Research Inc., Vision Research srl, Zemetrics Inc., Zygo Corporation, Zygo Pte Ltd., Zygo Richmond Corporation, and ZygoLamda Metrology Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd..
Resolute Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploitation, exploration for, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States. Its principal project area is located in the Delaware Basin portion of the Permian Basin, Reeves County. As of December 31, 2017, it had interests in approximately 27,100 gross acres located in the Permian Basin of Texas; and its estimated net proved reserves were approximately 53.4 million barrels of oil equivalent. Resolute Energy Corporation was founded in 2004 and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Read More
Albany

Critics agree: The Downtown Albany Greyhound bus station doesn't make a very good first impression. On Monday, Memorial Day, the station was busy, with a line of passengers waiting to board a New York City-bound bus and the cafeteria bustling.

But the building itself, which opened around 1973, is showing its age. Paint has chipped from a canopy over the entrance, and ceiling tiles in the station are damaged or missing.

Online reviews are harsh, with one on Yelp calling it the "most outdated, disgusting bus station in the country."

And passengers arriving at Albany walk out the front door to a sea of parking lots. In the distance are the buildings that once housed the former Greyhound and Trailways depots, both boarded up.

A downtown convention center once was envisioned for the vacant land surrounding the bus station, but a scaled-down version has since opened up the hill on Eagle Street. City officials are scrambling to figure out what to do with all the property.

The bus station would have served as a multimodal center bringing together intercity and local buses.

"This is a complicated matter," said Carm Basile, CEO of the Capital District Transportation Authority. "What is the plan for a relatively large parcel of property? All of that has to be compatible and it also has to be done in the right order," he said on Friday.

In a way, the current Greyhound station already serves as a multimodal center. Intercity buses from Greyhound, Trailways and Peter Pan offer service in all directions. Outside, a station for CDTA's bus rapid transit system, which it calls BusPlus, connects downtown Albany to downtown Schenectady.

Other local CDTA buses also queue here, and an assortment of taxis is lined up next to the station entrance.

A Greyhound spokeswoman wasn't immediately able to comment on what plans the bus company may have for the station.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Basile said the station remains part of CDTA's long-term plans, and that it continues to talk with Capitalize Albany, which is assembling more than 50 parcels for development. Sarah Reginelli, president of Capitalize Albany, wasn't available over the weekend for comment.

The customer experience can be improved, Basile believes, citing the latest iteration of the Rensselaer train station across the Hudson River from Albany.

The station, the third at the site as Amtrak traffic quickly outgrew the two earlier versions, features a spacious waiting area with soaring ceilings and large windows looking out on the Albany skyline.

A newsstand and coffee shop are open throughout the day, and taxis and CDTA buses are just outside the door.

"The customer experience (at the Greyhound station) is what we had 20 years ago at the train station," Basile said. "What we want to do is make those experiences compatible. They're (both) gateways" to the Capital Region.
ALBANY  The A&E network debuts its new series "Cults and Extreme Belief" at 10 p.m. Monday with an episode devoted to the case of NXIVM, the Capital Region-based organization whose leader, Keith Raniere, is facing federal sex-trafficking charges.

Here's a preview:

The report, hosted by Elizabeth Vargas, features an interview with Sarah Edmondson, who describes how she was recruited for a secret master-slave group within NXIVM in which members were branded with a symbol that they later learned included the initials of Raniere and Allison Mack, a former actress in the TV series "Smallville" who is currently facing charges as well.

READ THE TIMES UNION'S NXIVM COVERAGE.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Raniere was arrested in late March in a luxury Mexican resort before being returned to the U.S. He is currently in federal custody downstate, while Mack remains free on a $5 million bond.

Attorneys for Raniere and Mack insist the branding and membership in the group was voluntary, though prosecutors allege its members were required to provide compromising material, referred to as "collateral," as a control mechanism.
Washington

President Donald Trump has warned Congress that he will never sign another foot-tall, $1 trillion-plus government-wide spending bill like the one he did in March. His message to lawmakers in both parties: Get your act together before the next budget lands on my desk.

But Capitol Hill's dysfunction is so pervasive that even the most optimistic predictions are for only a handful of the 12 annual spending bills to make it into law by Oct. 1, the start of the new budget year. The rest may get bundled together into a single, massive measure yet again.

The demise of the annual appropriations process took root after Republicans took over the House in 2011 and is part of a broader breakdown on Capitol Hill. At stake is the funding for daily operations of government agencies. The worst-case scenario? A government shutdown just a month before Election Day, Nov. 6, as Republicans and Democrats fight for control of the House and possibly the Senate.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Trump is agitating for more money for his border wall with Mexico. So far, he has been frustrated by limited success on that front.

"We need the wall. We're going to have it all," Trump said in a campaign-style event in Michigan last month. "If we don't get border security, we'll have no choice. We'll close down the country because we need border security."
Verdicts draw out emotions  especially when the case at issue concerns a deceased child.

Exonerated defendants cry and hug their lawyers. Tearful victims embrace and thank prosecutors.

And while lawyers on either side tend to say that there are no winners in cases in which a life has been lost, the simple fact is there are clear victories and defeats in court.

On Friday, Malcolm O'Hara, an attorney representing the South Glens Falls school district in a civil case, seemed to acknowledge that reality when he turned and offered a vigorous nod after a verdict was delivered in state Supreme Court in Saratoga County. To some observers in the courtroom, it appeared to be the equivalent of a triumphant fist-pump.

The people O'Hara was signaling to were current or former officials and employees for the South Glens Falls school district, as well as their insurance adjusters.

There were smiles, handshakes and hugs. They were not subtle about it.

No one had been cleared of a terrible crime here. This demonstration took place following a verdict that meant the school district would not have to pay a cent for what the jury concluded was its negligence in a case that involved the suicide by shotgun of a child who left behind a note describing his despair at being bullied at Oliver W. Winch Middle School.

On April 13, 2015, 13-year-old Jacobe Taras wrote that he could not deal with "bullies" anymore. The note to his parents ended with the words, "I'm sorry for all that I put you through. I love you."

Jacobe's parents, Christine and Richard Taras, sued the South Glens Falls school district and alleged it was negligent when it failed to take action to stop the bullying. They said the district was legally responsible for the child's pain and suffering, and ultimately for his death.

After two hours of deliberation, the jury determined that the district was indeed negligent. But the panel found the district did not cause Jacobe's pain and suffering, and did not cause his death.

The parents had asked the jury to award least $9.25 million in damages. But the verdict meant the school district was not liable, and was therefore off the hook financially.

Jacobe's parents, who embraced on the side of the courtroom after the verdict, were clearly not pleased to see the school officials engaged in what they saw as a celebration.

"No remorse," Jacobe's father, said just outside the courtroom.

"There shouldn't have been a smile in that courtroom," said Christine Taras.

It had never been about the money, they said. They lost a child.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

When asked about the defendants' reactions in the courtroom by reporters, O'Hara declined comment.

"All I'm going to say is that we're pleased that the jury reached the correct result," he said.

Some moments later, O'Hara's co-counsel John D. Wright was more talkative in front of TV news cameras. He echoed O'Hara's sentiments and noted that the day before the verdict, the Taras family had agreed to drop four individuals at the school as defendants  Principal Mark Fish, school counselor Terri Brown, gym teacher Jason Spector and teacher Susan Lieberman  leaving the district as the sole defendant.

"We've got four individuals that got involved in this case that feel vindicated," Wright said.

When asked about the reaction from the district's representatives, Wright's response was familiar.

"I don't think that anybody here thinks there's a winner in this case," Wright said. "I think what you saw was a sense of relief."

"And certainly, our hearts continue to go out to the Taras family," he said. "These are educators who care for children. Jacobe's passing was a loss for the district. You saw some relief there. Nobody's happy at the end of this case. It's very sad."

Ryan Finn, a lawyer for the boy's parents, noted the school district's corner should have recognized at least one compelling reason to keep their emotions in check  and not just because they seemed to be celebrating in front of bereaved parents.

"Before the school district pats themselves on the back too hard," Finn said, "I think it's worth noting that the jury found that the way they supervised their children and tried to protect them was negligent as a matter of law."
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Andrea DeAngelis always found inspiration in the Spirit of Life, the historic bronze sculpture that overlooks Congress Park.

The figure of Hygieia, the goddess of health and hygiene, holds aloft a bowl continuously overflowing with water and a white pine bough, symbols of the city's healing waters and prevalence of its towering pines. The winged woman was especially encouraging to DeAngelis after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"The Spirit of Life has always had meaning for me, especially during particularly difficult times," DeAngelis said.

Still, DeAngelis was distressed that the tunic-clad figure was not lit at night. She frequently lamented that problem to her son, Anthony Potter, as they strolled through the park on evenings. Potter decided it would be his mission to light his mother's inspiration. And he wanted to do it before his wedding on May 5.

"He called here in January and asked if it was possible to light the Spirit of Life as a wedding present to his mom," Samantha Bosshart, executive director of the Preservation Foundation said. "I reached out to (Commissioner of Public Works) Skip Scirocco, Skip was on board. He said he always wanted to do it too."

With a city donation of $500 from Potter, city electrician Dan Rancour installed the lighting by Thursday, May 3. That night, with 24 guests at his parents' home, Potter asked his mother to take a walk with him through the park.

"What? I have a house full of guests, I can't leave," she told him.

He said, "I think Dad can handle it for 20 minutes." DeAngelis was not convinced, but agreed to go. As they walked from her home on Union Avenue and down to the Canfield Casino, she spotted it.

"I was so shocked," DeAngelis said. "It was so perfect and beautiful."

Bosshart agreed saying, "It's quite spectacular."

The sculpture is a favorite among Saratogians and considered the unofficial symbol of the city. The Spirit of Life is part of the memorial to philanthropist Spencer Trask, who worked to preserve the spring waters that made the city famous. His wife Katrina Trask, who founded Yaddo, and his business partner George Foster Peabody commissioned the sculpture from Daniel Chester French, best known for his design of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. French collaborated with architect Henry Bacon and landscape architect Charles Leavitt, Jr. on the surrounding memorial, which also features a reflecting pool lined with flowers.

The memorial was unveiled as a gift to the city on June 26, 1915, the same year the city was incorporated.

The illumination of the sculpture at dusk follows a nearly $650,000 restoration of the Spirit of Life that was completed 100 years later. Bosshart said the 2015 restoration was initiated after residents came to the Preservation Foundation with concerns over the white pines behind the sculpture's balustrade.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

"The project was focused on the northwest landscaping," Bosshart said. "Then it became the memorial as a whole."

In addition to removing the declining pines, the project included repairing the masonry, paving the once stone pathways, which had become narrow footpaths, and returning benches that were previously removed. The restoration also returned the sculpture to French's original color  a glowing golden bronze.

"That was the finishing touch," Bosshart said. "That is how French envisioned it and what Katrina wanted. The only thing I'd like to see is more signage, explaining what the sculpture is, who commissioned, who designed it."

Now that it is lit, Bosshart said, she feels gratified.

"It was an incredibly special moment to see it for the first time," Bosshart said. "I know many others in the community will feel the same way when they see her for the first time lit at night. We are so grateful for this gift that will benefit the residents of Saratoga Springs and its many visitors for many years to come. The Spirit of Life is out of the shadows."

Potter said it was all for his mom.

"It is a little cheesy, but my mom is one of my best friends and I love her immensely," Potter said. "She lights up my life in many ways, and it's about time I lit something for her."
The late Margaret Burke (nee Carey)

The death has occurred of Margaret Burke (nee Carey), Sheehy Terrace and Willow Park, Clonmel, Tipperary. Peacefully in the tender care of the staff at the Cottage Nursing Home, Clonmel, in her 95th year. Pre-deceased by her husband Billy and nephew Philip Carey. Margaret will be sadly missed by her brothers Liam and John, Bethanne and Eamonn, sister-in-law Peggy, niece Suzanne, nephew Thomas, extended family and friends. Reposing at Condons Funeral Parlour, Clonmel, on Tuesday from 5pm, with removal at 7.30pm to SS Peter & Pauls Church. Funeral Mass on Wednesday at 1pm followed by burial in St Patricks Cemetery. Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis

The late Nellie O'Halloran

The death has occurred of Nellie O'Halloran, Main Street, Bansha, Tipperary, May 27th, 2018, Nellie (Nellie's Bar), predeceased by her sisters Breda and Peggy. Sadly missed by her loving family; brothers Patsy and Johnny, his partner Bridget, sister Mary (O'Brien), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, staff, relatives, neighbours, cousins and many friends. Reposing at her residence (Nellie's Bar), Bansha, on Tuesday, from 4pm to 8pm. Requiem Mass on Wednesday in the Church of the Annunciation, Bansha, at 11.30am and burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

The late John O'Dwyer

The death has occurred of John O'Dwyer, St. Patricks Avenue, Tipperary Town, Tipperary. Sadly missed by his loving family; brother Michael, sisters Camille and Joan, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. Reposing at Whelan's Funeral Home, Bansha Road, Tipperary, on Wednesday from 6pm with removal at 7.30pm to St. Michael's Church, Tipperary. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 10.30am and funeral afterwards to St. Michael's Cemetery, Tipperary.

The late Tommy Maher

The death has occurred of Tommy Maher, Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, Tipperary. In residence for 62 years. Deeply regretted by his sister Joan Conroy, cousin Mary Kenehan, staff and fellow residents of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends. Reposing in the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles from Monday onwards. Arriving at Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles on Wednesday, 30th May, at 10.15am for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in St Patrick's Cemetery, Thurles. No flowers please, donations if desired to the Community Hospital of the Assumption.

The late Larry McCormack

The death has occurred of Larry McCormack, The Mall, Templemore, Tipperary / Loughmore, Tipperary / Drumcondra, Dublin. Beloved son of the late Paddy and Brigid. Predeceased by his sisters Mary, Peggy, Bridie and Pauline, brothers Tommy and Tony. Deeply regretted by his sister Kathleen, brothers Neily and Pat, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnephews, great-grandnieces, relatives and many friends. Reposing in Greys Funeral Home, Templemore, this Monday from 5pm with removal at 8pm to The Church of the Nativity, Loughmore, to arrive at 8.45pm. Funeral Mass on Tuesday at 11.30am, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to Friends of Portlaoise Hospital.

The late Patricia Barry

The death has occurred of Patricia Barry, Magoury, Drangan, Tipperary. Peacefully at Willowbrook Lodge Nursing Home, Fethard May 27th 2018. Predeceased by her loving husband Frank. Missed by her many friends. Requiem Mass on Tuesday, May 29th, at 2:15pm in The Church Of The Immaculate Conception, Drangan, followed by burial afterwards in Killusty Cemetery.

To read more Tipperary deaths click here.
[May 27, 2018] CES Asia 2018 Announces Innovation Award Honorees

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) today announced its Innovation Awards Honorees for CES (News - Alert) Asia 2018. Now in its second year, the CES Asia Innovation Awards Program celebrates outstanding product design and engineering in brand-new consumer technology products from CES Asia exhibitors. The program recognizes groundbreaking technologies across 20 product categories, including first-time category artificial intelligence (AI) located primarily in SNIEC, Hall N3 at CES Asia 2018. Additional areas of recognition include augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), content, mobile, vehicle tech, smart home, digital health, wearables and more. CES Asia is a global show with exhibiting companies originating from 23 countries, regions and territories. An elite panel of judges with industry expertise in product design and engineering deliberated on the honorees for this prestigious awards program. The honored products excelled in five criteria: engineering, aesthetics, function and user value, unique features and level of innovation. See the complete list of CES Asia 2018 Innovation Award Honorees. The Innovation Awards Display will be housed just steps away from the more than 100 start-ups located in Startup Park in SNIEC, Hall N4. CES Asia 2018 will showcase technology spanning 20 product categories improving lives around the world. It is expected to draw more than 40,000 in attendance, including more than 1,200 members of the global media. A curated show for global brands and cutting edge startups, some 500companies with the latest in AI, augmented and virtual reality, audio/video, 5G/connectivity, digital health, vehicle tech and more will exhibit on the show floor.



Registration for CES Asia 2018 is open. Visit CESAsia.com for more information. Owned and produced by International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. and co-produced by Shanghai Intex, CES Asia 2018 will run from June 13-15, in Shanghai, China. The premier event for the consumer technology industry in Asia, CES Asia showcases major brands and innovative companies across several vertical markets in the Asian marketplace.

For the latest show news, information, photos, b-roll and more, visit CESAsia.com. Note to Editors: High-definition video b-roll from CES Asia 2017 is available for easy download on CESAsia.com.

Journalists traveling from outside of China will require a J-1 or J-2 visa. For questions about exhibiting at CES Asia, contact Brian Moon at bmoon@CTA.tech or +1 703-907-4351. About CES Asia: Owned and produced by the International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. and co-produced by Shanghai Intex Exhibition Co., Ltd (Shanghai Intex), CES Asia is the premier event for the consumer technology industry, showcasing the full breadth and depth of the innovation value-chain in the Asian marketplace. Key global businesses come to this new event to grow and reinforce their brand by showcasing the latest products and technologies to consumer tech industry executives, foreign buyers, international media and a limited number of consumers from China. Attendees have exclusive access to some of the largest brands from China and around the world, while celebrating the innovation that defines the consumer technology sector. About International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. and CTA: International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd. is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a trade association representing the $351 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies - 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world's best known brands - enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES - the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA's industry services. About Shanghai Intex: Shanghai Intex Exhibition Co., Ltd was originally the exhibition organizing business of Shanghai Intex, a pioneering exhibition organizer established in 1995. Shanghai Intex is jointly overseen by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shanghai and PNO Exhibition Investment (Dubai) Limited. Starting in 1998, Shanghai Intex has organized over 100 trade shows and conferences with a sum total exhibition space in excess of 2 million sqm. Shanghai Intex is comprised of professional teams with a wealth of experience in organizing major international events, covering the creative industry, healthcare, lifestyle, advanced manufacturing and consumer electronics. UPCOMING EVENTS CES Asia 2018 - Register

June 13-15, Shanghai, China CEO Summit

June 24-27, Barcelona, Spain CES Unveiled Amsterdam

September 27, Amsterdam, Netherlands CES Unveiled Paris

October 3, Paris, France CES 2019

January 8-11, Las Vegas, NV View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180527005013/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 27, 2018] Jebsen Motors Tops Porsche China's Dealership Ranking for the Third Consecutive Year

SHANGHAI, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jebsen Motors announced that it has topped Porsche China's Dealership Ranking for the third consecutive year at the 2018 Porsche China Dealer Conference on May 23 and May 24. Porsche Centre Shenzhen Longgang and Futian was awarded the prestigious Dealer of the Year award for the second time in a row. This award is in recognition of Jebsen Motors' exceptional achievement in delivering superior customer experience through outstanding services and breakthrough innovation throughout the year. All Porsche Centres operating under Jebsen Motors made it into the top ten of Porsche China's dealership ranking list this year, achieving the best positions in company history. Porsche Centre Hangzhou Westlake and Porsche Centre Shanghai Puxi received second and third places respectively, while Porsche Centre Shanghai Minhang, Porsche Centre Guangzhou Tianhe and Porsche Centre Hong Kong & Macau were ranked fourth, sixth and tenth respectively on the list. This record-breaking pe rformance is a result of the company's strategic vision and unceasing commitment as one of the largest dealer group partners of Porsche in the world, representing the brand in the Greater China region for 63 years. Jebsen Motors has built a solid reputation for delivering a premium customer experience based on a total holistic service approach. "We greatly appreciate Porsche China for their deep trust and long-term support. We are thrilled to receive the Dealer of the Year award for three consecutive years and setting another record in company history," said Joachim Eberlein, Managing Director of Jebsen Motors. "This recognition from Porsche China reflects the success of our strategy, investments and commitment to the 'one brand focus' in Greater China. It will propel us to race even faster moving forward and bring more innovative and world-class experiences to meet the increasingly discerning demands of Chinese customers. My special thanks to each and every member of Jebsen Mtors who built the strong foundation of our success."



Dr.-Ing. Jens Puttfarcken, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche China congratulated Jebsen Motors at the conference and stated, "All the Porsche Centres operated by Jebsen Motors performed extraordinary well in many criteria in 2017, and I am very pleased to present them this well-deserved award. Their continuous support and commitment to the Porsche brand has been instrumental to our long-term development in the Greater China region." For Jebsen Motors, 2017 proved to be yet another remarkably successful year. With Centres in major cities across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, Jebsen Motors served more than 80,000 customers and successfully delivered nearly 9,000 Porsche automobiles last year in Greater China.

To provide better customer experience through an integrated online-to-offline approach, Jebsen Motors also invested heavily in digital with a dedicated digital and social media team in every Porsche Centre. Through online initiatives such as partnering with leading auto portals for sales promotions, implementing location-based marketing and engaging customers on social media, Jebsen Motors received more than 60,000 online enquiries in 2017 and almost 20% of its sales were initiated through online channels, up from 12% in 2016. Jebsen Motors has continuously invested in infrastructure, people, innovation and services, demonstrate its unceasing dedication to Porsche and the Greater China market. In 2017, Jebsen Motors opened a new Body & Paint Centre in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong in April and a new Service Centre in Chai Wan, Hong Kong in September. In November, it launched Porsche Studio Guangzhou, which is the first of its kind in Asia with a fully integrated and highly interactive digital experience echoing Porsche's new retail strategy. Earlier this year, Jebsen Motors opened Porsche City Service Centre Shenzhen Luohu, the first such centre featuring design elements drawing on the iconic racing culture of Le Mans Race. To further expand its presence in China, the opening of a new Porsche Centre in Nanjing is also in the pipeline for 2020. As top-quality customer experience comes from top-quality staffs and professional experts, Jebsen Motors places high value on talent development, investing over HKD 8 million in talent development every year for the past two years. Jebsen Motors' 1,000-member strong workforce includes 30 Gold and Silver Certified Porsche Technicians, which ensures the team maintains the highest levels of professional knowledge and service capabilities. With the impressive performance in 2017 and the recognition from Porsche China, Jebsen Motors is confident to scale even greater heights in Greater China and continue to deliver superior experiences to Chinese customers by working closely with Porsche in the future. About Jebsen Group Founded in 1895, Jebsen Group is a focused marketing and distribution organisation. With a long, unique established presence and deep understanding of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the Jebsen Group is committed to supporting our partners' needs in building market demand, generating and supporting sales, and serving as an important link to customers throughout the region. Under the unified master brand of Jebsen, the Group has six business lines including Beverage, Consumer, Industrial, Motors, Logistics and Jebsen Capital. Jebsen offers some 200 of the world's leading products extensive local market access with a high degree of specialisation. Outside the region, the Jebsen Group enjoys close ties with sister companies in Australia, South East Asia, Denmark, Germany, Middle East and the United States. For more information, visit www.jebsen.com, or follow us on Sina Weibo (weibo.com/jebsengroup), WeChat (id:jebsen1895) and LinkedIn (id:jebsen group). CONTACTS: Jebsen Group

Mandy Duan

mandyduan@jebsen.com

+86-010-8519-8649 FleishmanHillard

Jena Qian

Jena.qian@fleishman.com

+852-2586-7822 Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180525/2143476-1 SOURCE Jebsen Group

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 27, 2018] John Wu and Jane Sun Attend Official Opening of Long Bin Building at Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute

SHANGHAI, China, May 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 24, the Long Bin Building of the University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU Joint Institute) officially opened in Shanghai. The Long Bin Building was made possible through a donation by Mr. John Wu, a Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) / University of Michigan (UM) alumnus and the chairman of Fenghe Investment Management Co., Ltd. and his wife Ms. Jane Sun, CEO of Ctrip. In 2015, Mr. Wu and Ms. Sun donated US$10 million to set up the SJTU John Wu and Jane Sun Endowment Fund to fully support the construction and development of the UM-SJTU Joint Institute. Mr. John Wu (forth from left), Ms. Jane Sun (third from left)



Located at SJTUs Minhang Campus with a total construction area of about 32,000 square meters, the Long Bin Building provides a space for students to conduct free and open discussions and research.



The UM-SJTU Joint Institute was founded as a collaboration between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and University of Michigan, Mr. Wus two alma maters. In their speech, Mr. Wu and Ms. Sun highlighted the strong and long-standing connection between two generations of their family and SJTU. With the school motto of "Gratitude and Responsibility" in mind, Mr. Wu and Ms. Sun are committed to supporting the development of SJTU and hope to inspire SJTU students to seize opportunities and to strive for early success in life. Located at SJTUs Minhang Campus with a total construction area of about 32,000 square meters, the Long Bin Building provides a space for students to conduct free and open discussions and research. SJTU and UM also took the lead in initiating cross-border double-degree programs in Cina and have been committed to jointly establishing a world-class institution for scientific research and education as well as the cultivation of top talent with a global vision.





Road to charity

As representatives of Chinese overseas students at the early stage of China's reform and opening-up, Mr. Wu and Ms. Sun grasped the opportunity to go to the US for further education. After successful careers in the US, they both decided to return to China to contribute to society. Ms. Sun has said that her education experiences in both China and the US were of great benefit to her career and life, and she hopes to support more students to have equal access to education resources. Mr. Wu and Ms. Sun have been actively devoted to charity over the past years and have made generous donations in China and the US, especially in promoting international exchanges among universities. In 2010, Ms. Sun established the Sunshine International Exchange Scholarship at Peking University Law School. The scholarship aims to encourage students to actively engage in international exchanges and develop a global vision, especially outstanding students who lack financial support. This project counts top global universities such as Stanford University and Columbia University among its partners. In 2017, Ms. Sun set up a scholarship at the University of Florida, a top US public university, to deepen understanding and cross-border exchanges between the young generations of both countries. The scholarship funds Chinese students for further education in the US and also provides training and internship opportunities for American students to learn more about China. Ms. Sun mentioned that patronage she received from her American teachers in her early years inspired her to help support more international students. In recognition of her efforts, Ms. Sun was awarded the University of Floridas first ever International Philanthropist Award. World peace: Ctrips mission and responsibility Fostering international education is a key driver for cultivation of innovative talent. Over the past years, Ms. Suns charity efforts have focused on the development of international talent and cross-cultural exchanges, showcasing her focus on social responsibility. This is aligned with Ctrips globalization strategy, both sharing the same cultural foundation and spiritual heritage. Ctrip Group has helped a great number of Chinese people travel abroad and broaden their vision since its founding 19 years ago. As a widely recognized market player, Ctrip has grown into Asia's largest - and world's second largest - online tourism agency by market capitalization. Today, under Ms. Suns leadership, globalization has emerged as an important strategic objective for Ctrip. In the process of accelerating its global expansion, Ctrip is working to develop global talent through both internal training and external recruitment. By constantly improving its leading international travel platform, Ctrip strives to provide excellent service for Chinese tourists while allow overseas visitors to China to experience the same high-quality user experience. "Tourism is the simplest and most direct form of people-to-people diplomacy, said Ms. Sun. It serves as a bridge connecting China to countries around the world, and helps to increase understanding, which is the basis for creating global harmony." Ms. Sun has presented her views at many major international events, including the EU-China Business Summit, the BRICS Business Forum and the World Economic Forum. According to Ms. Sun, the mission of Ctrip is more than just providing air tickets or hotel accommodations  Ctrips vision is ultimately about promoting cultural exchange and world peace. This is not just the responsibility of one generation but requires continuous and sustainable contributions and education from generation to generation. About Ctrip.com International, Ltd.

Ctrip.com International, Ltd. is a leading travel service provider of accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and corporate travel management in China. It is the largest online consolidator of accommodations and transportation tickets in China in terms of transaction volume. Ctrip enables business and leisure travelers to make informed and cost-effective bookings by aggregating comprehensive travel related information and offering its services through an advanced transaction and service platform consisting of its mobile apps, Internet websites and centralized, toll-free, 24-hour customer service center. Ctrip also helps customers book vacation packages and guided tours. In addition, through its corporate travel management services, Ctrip helps corporate clients effectively manage their travel requirements. Since its inception in 1999, Ctrip has experienced substantial growth and become one of the best-known travel brands in China. For further information, please contact: International PR

Ctrip.com International, ltd.

Tel: (+86) 21 3406 4880 ext 196455

Email: Pr@ctrip.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b7303cad-0b24-41e2-b509-1337e5a80900 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/35aa5bb4-d466-4042-a60e-dd4829692f04

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 27, 2018] OPEC Secretary General: Cooperation is the Key Ingredient to Addressing Future Energy Challenges

VIENNA, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- His Excellency, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, stresses the importance of dialogue and cooperation between oil industry stakeholders in order to achieve a stable and sustainable energy future. Through its theme 'Petroleum - Cooperation for a Sustainable Future', the 7th OPEC International Seminar provides a high-level forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives, while confronting the major issues facing the global oil and gas industry. In the run-up to the 7th OPEC International Seminar from 20-21 June 2018 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, OPEC Secretary General, HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, emphasizes the need for cooperation between relevant stakeholders in view of the so-called 'new energy era': "We chose this year's theme 'Petroleum - Cooperation for a Sustainable Future' because it confronts one of the key questions of our time: While it is clear that all forms of energy will be needed in the future, it is also evident that fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in meeting the ever-rising demand for energy. Thus, we will gather energy ministers from OPEC Member Countries, non-OPEC producing and consuming nations as well as high-ranking representatives from international companies and organizations, leading scientists and energy experts at the Seminar in order to discuss the contribution of petroleum to a stable and sustainable global energy future," states HE Barkindo. The Seminar's two-day programme will provide a unique, high-level forum in which the major issues of the day will be discussed, including industryinvestment, the role of technology and innovation, as well as sustainability and the future of oil.



'Declaration of Cooperation' as a model process Enhanced dialogue and cooperation between oil industry stakeholders constitute the key ingredients to a successful future and characterize the landmark 'Declaration of Cooperation' between 24 OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries as a model process.

"In an increasingly interdependent and complex world, we all need to work towards a more integrated industry. We need to continually break down barriers, as we cannot work in silos. This has become reality in the 'Declaration of Cooperation', which is a historic achievement that has helped to accelerate market rebalancing and enhance stability," says the Secretary General. "I am confident that this year's Seminar, with its many highly distinguished speakers and panelists, will bring to the forefront potential solutions to some of the industry's most pressing challenges, while also enhancing and expanding avenues of dialogue and cooperation," concluded HE Barkindo. 7th OPEC International Seminar 20-21 June 2018 Hofburg Palace Vienna, Austria Registration for the event is now open at: https://www.opecseminar.org/opec-seminar-ticket-registration.htm to secure limited seats to this event. Students are eligible for special ticket rates. For more information and updates, visit http://www.opecseminar.org . About the OPEC International Seminar The OPEC International Seminar is one of the premier events on the world energy calendar. The first OPEC Seminar was held in Vienna in 1969, with the Seminars increasing in size and scope over the years, not only embracing petroleum-related topics, but other issues such as global finance, sustainable development and the environment. The current OPEC International Seminar series began in 2001 and has provided fresh impetus to key industry issues and developed existing and new avenues of dialogue and cooperation. About OPEC The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental organization that was founded in 1960. OPEC currently has 14 Member Countries (Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, IR Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela) and is headquartered in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Media Accreditation 7th OPEC International Seminar Ms. Franziska Peterlik

Administration & Coordination

Email: opecseminar2018@eventplan.at

Tel: +43-660-200-3071 OPEC Seminar Contact

Ms. Hind Zaher

PR Specialist

Email: seminar@opec.org

Tel: +43-211-123-312



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 27, 2018] Accenture and Save the Children Expand Partnership; 31,500 Indonesian Youth to be Equipped with Skills for Future Jobs

JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- An expanded partnership between Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and global humanitarian organization Save the Children will arm 31,500 young people in Indonesia, half of which will be women, with skills to make them more employable in the future. This collaboration will impact more marginalized populations including women and persons with disabilities. To help Save the Children achieve this, Accenture will enable the organization to ramp up its use of digital technology, using a human-centered design approach to build web-based and mobile platforms that connect more youth to e-learning modules and job matching services. Users will receive a combination of employment, entrepreneurship, digital and vocational skills training for future careers in industries such as ICT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). In Indonesia, the youth unemployment rate is approximately 23 percent, and rising. The partnership also will help Save the Children access at-risk young people that are increasingly hard to reach, including women and those with disabilities -- an extremely marginalized population, 20 percent of which live in extreme poverty and face heightened barriers to education and training. "Underprivileged youth are often excluded from opportunities to gain the critical skills they need to achieve economic independence," said Jill Huntley, Accenture's global head of corporate citizenship. "But there is hope -- digital technologies can help ridge the gap and connect more of these individuals with the training and education they need for a brighter future."



"This partnership will help Save the Children achieve our mission of helping break the cycle of poverty for the most marginalized populations," said Carolyn Miles, Save the Children president & CEO. "Our partnership with Accenture will help identify and empower more of these young people, forging pathways to employment that lift them, their families and their communities, out of poverty." Accenture and Save the Children have partnered together since 2011 as part of the company's Skills to Succeed initiative. To date, more than 70,000 young men and women in 11 countries received training to better equip them for the future; subsequently more than 20,000 reported securing new or better jobs or self-employment. In Indonesia, Save the Children's program is implemented through a national foundation, Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik as the implementation partner in delivering programs and advocating for children's right.

About Accenture

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions -- underpinned by the world's largest delivery network -- Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 435,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com. About Save the Children

Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood -- every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Save the Children International has been operating in Indonesia since 1976 and Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik was established in 2014 with the aim of growing an independent, self-sustaining and self-advocating child rights and child focused organization. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Contact: Accenture Indonesia

Nia Sarinastiti

Marketing & Communication Director

Wisma 46 - Kota BNI - Lantai 18

Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav.1, Jakarta 10220

Tel : +6221 574 6575

Email: nia.sarinastiti@accenture.com SOURCE Accenture

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] VIMO: Vietnam recently strikes on illegal WeChat Pay and Alipay payments. How to stay safe?

HANOI, Vietnam, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- To differentiate itself from the unauthorized Cross-Border Electronic Payments (CBEP) activities reported recently, the State Bank licensed Payment Intermediary VIMO.vn has released a public statement to clarify its legal CBEP service in partnership with WeChat Pay and Alipay. Stories of certain Chinese-owned shops in Vietnam using unauthorized Chinese-issued payment POS (point-of-sale) machines to accept Chinese card and QR-code payment from Chinese tourists travelling to Vietnam have been highlighted by Vietnamese media recently, raising concerns about unauthorized foreign currency payment and tax losses involving visiting Chinese tourists. Specifically, by mid-May in Ha Long city on the shores of famed Ha Long Bay, local authorities have discovered over 200,000 RMB paid through Chinese-issued POS payment machines without going through local banking system or payment intermediaries in Vietnam. Mister Do Cong Dien, VIMO CEO, stated: "Recently, there have been a number of Chinese-owned businesses using POS payment machines or e-wallets issued in China to receive RMB payment from Chinese tourists while trading in the territory of Vietnam. This is a serious breach of Vietnam Laws. prices listed and payment accepted in foreign currency in the territory of Vietnam, it has caused direct money flows from buyers' bank cards or e-wallets to that of the sellers in the China territory only without flowing into Vietnam, and has resulted in unmanageable transactions as well as tax losses."



VIMO is now the first and only licensed Payment Intermediary in partnership with both WeChat Pay and Alipay without equity capital involved. This has grown acceptance of legal Cross-Border Electronic Payments through e-wallets for Chinese and South Korean tourists when they travel to and make payments at local stores in Vietnam, for which VIMO has reported and submitted dossier to the State Bank of Vietnam. Accordingly, when a tourist uses a foreign e-wallet application to pay at local Vietnamese stores, VIMO requests the foreign e-wallet company to deduct the payment amount from tourist's account, then credit into VIMO e-wallet of the Vietnamese vendor in Vietnam Dong (VND), in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. When the reconciliation period comes around, the foreign e-wallet company will transfer the outstanding balance to VIMO's bank in Vietnam, bringing about significant source of foreign currency to the country. By explaining and distinguishing obviously between the legal Cross-Border E-Payment method being provided by VIMO in combination with WeChat Pay, with the unauthorized ones performed by Chinese businessmen operating in the territory of Vietnam, VIMO has officially proposed the State Bank of Vietnam, the relevant competent authorities and local media to support and advocate VIMO to push back the urgent problem of unauthorized Cross-Border E-Payment, so as to create a shakeout in the market, promote non-cash payment and Vietnam tourism industry as a whole.

According to figures from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, tourists from China totalled nearly 1.8 million in the first four months of 2018 and South Korea nearly 1.2 million, increases of 39.7 per cent and 67.3 per cent year-on-year, and accounting for nearly 60 per cent of all inbound tourists. Similar to other types of bank cards such as Visa, MasterCard or CUP, the acceptance of the popular e-payment methods in tourist's home countries when they travel to Vietnam helps stimulate consumption of foreign tourists and turnover for Vietnamese enterprises, meanwhile bring about foreign currencies for the country and support the government to well-manage the spending flow of tourists and turnover of local businesses. Emphasizing the need for Cross-Border E-Payment, Mister Dien highlighted that VIMO has been contributing 30-50 per cent increase in turnover for Vietnamese businesses thanks to its convenient e-payment methods, which also stimulate consumption among foreign tourists as they no longer need to carry so much cash, but just the handy mobile phone. He also advised Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam to only pay at local stores accepting legal WeChat Pay and Alipay issued by VIMO to stay safe and avoid unnecessary trouble with local authorities similar to recent cases in Ha Long Bay. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180528/2144328-1 SOURCE VIMO Technology Joint Stock Company

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] Ascend Money Selects Red Hat Solutions to Accelerate Electronic Payment Systems Across Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced that Ascend Money, one of ASEAN's leading fintech companies, has selected Red Hat technologies to help enable and accelerate electronic payments across the region. Forming the foundation for the company's growing financial solutions will be Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, Red Hat Ansible Automation and Red Hat Satellite, which help to provide a consistent, open standards-based platform to better enable the rapid delivery of application services across the countries served by Ascend Money. Ascend Money's TrueMoney payment platform serves more than 30 million people through its e-wallet app and 50,000 agent networks. TrueMoney supports bill payments, mobile top-ups, money transfers, and online and offline payments. As its user base expanded, Ascend Money faced challenges integrating its systems and scaling across new and growing markets. With customer service a key factor in the payment platform's success, Ascend Money began to search for a more flexible and scalable open source platform that could support its current and future business goals, including bringing the app to unbanked and underbanked users in more countries and expanded functionality. As the company rolls out its new application foundation, Ascend Money plans to use Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform to more rapidly create, host, and scale applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Built on open innovation and industry standards, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform helps Ascend Money unite its developers and IT operations teams on a single platform for modern and traditional applications with shorter development cycles and increased efficiencies. Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform unites developers and IT operations on a single platform to build, deploy, and manage applications consistently across hybrid cloud infrastructures. This helps businesses achieve greater value by delivering modern and traditional applications with shorter development cycles and increased efficiencies. The platform is built on open source innovation and industry standards, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Kubernetes, and is trusted by many companies around the world. Ascend Money has also selected Red Hat Ansible Automation and Red Hat Satellite to provide effective management and automated provisioning of infrastructure across all environments. Supporting Quotes Jason Jackson, group chief technology officer, Ascend Money "At Ascend Money, we strongly believe in providing innovative financial services to better serve the underserved and digital consumers' in Southeast Asia. On our road to digital transformation, it was critical for us to move to open source and take advantage of innovative technologies like Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and Red Hat Ansible Automation to host and scale applications across hybrid and multicloud environments. We hope to ride on the growth of mobile payments in Southeast Asia y scaling our business footprint in the region in a cost-effective and efficient manner with Red Hat's technologies."



Damien Wong, vice president and general manager, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong (SEATH), Red Hat "Today's digital-first customers frequently expect applications to be agile, easy-to-use, and highly localized - capabilities that open source can deliver. With Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, Red Hat Ansible Automation and Red Hat Satellite as its flexible, scalable foundation, Ascend Money can achieve enhanced business value by offering new features to customers more quickly while also maintaining a more secure and stable environment. We look forward to working with Ascend Money as it seeks to improve access to financial services in Southeast Asia."

Additional Resources Read more Red Hat customer success stories

Learn more about Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform

Learn more about Red Hat Ansible Automation

Learn more about Red Hat Satellite Connect with Red Hat Learn more about Red Hat

Get more news in the Red Hat newsroom

Read the Red Hat blog

Follow Red Hat on Twitter

Join Red Hat on Facebook

Watch Red Hat videos on YouTube

Join Red Hat on Google+

Follow Red Hat on LinkedIn About Red Hat, Inc. Red Hat is the world's leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to provide reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As a connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; delays or reductions in information technology spending; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; risks related to errors or defects in our offerings and third-party products upon which our offerings depend; risks related to the security of our offerings and other data security vulnerabilities; fluctuations in exchange rates; the effects of industry consolidation; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; changes in and a dependence on key personnel; the ability to meet financial and operational challenges encountered in our international operations; and ineffective management of, and control over, the Company's growth and international operations, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Red Hat, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the Shadowman logo, Ansible, CloudForms and OpenShift are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Linux is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170713/1898465-1LOGO SOURCE Red Hat, Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] Octapharma Share Promising Preclinical Data for SubQ-8, a Novel Subcutaneous Recombinant FVIII, at WFH 2018

Octapharma announced today that pre-clinical data for SubQ-8 were presented during a symposium at the recent World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) 2018 World Congress in Glasgow, UK. SubQ-8, currently under development, is a recombinant FVIII from a human cell line for subcutaneous administration. SubQ-8 is based on Octapharma's human cell line-derived rFVIII product simoctocog alpha combined with a fragment of the von Willebrand Factor (VWF) protein, and harnesses the protective power of VWF in an innovative approach to facilitate transportation of FVIII into the circulation. Regular intravenous administration of FVIII poses a considerable burden to people with haemophilia A and their families. Alternative routes of administration may help to alleviate some of this burden and improve adherence to prophylaxis therapy. This symposium, entitled 'Taking FVIII into the future: The development of subcutaneous recombinant human FVIII for the treatment of haemophilia A', reviewed the challenges that intravenous administration poses to people with haemophilia A on a daily basis, and presented data on the uptake of SubQ-8 into the vasculature following subcutaneous administration in animal models. David Lillicrap (Queens University, Ontario, Canada) chaired the symposium and introduced the relevance of SubQ-8 within the rapidly advancing haemophilia treatment field. Cedric Hermans (Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium) discussed the important role of FVIII, and the use of FVIII therapy as a natural approach to restoring blood clotting in haemophilia A. The proven benefits of FVIII prophylaxis include protecting from devastating intracranial bleeds and reducing the risks of long term joint damage. Dr Hermans also presented the challenges and burdens of intravenous infusion of FVIII, which may present a hurdle to initiating and adhering to prophylaxis. As a result, there is demand for a simpler FVIII administration method. Christoph Kannicht (Octapharma Research & Development, Berlin, Germany) explained the rationale for the development of SubQ-8 and addressed the challenge of achieving sufficient FVIII bioavailability after subcutaneous infusion. Pre-clinical data in the animal models showed 45.5% bioavailability of FVIII after subcutaneous administration of SubQ-8, and a 3.6-fold prolongation of FVIII half-life compared with FVIII intravenous infusion. Andreas Tiede (Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany) addressed the immunogenicity risk of protein therapeutics administered subcutaneously or intravenously, concluding that there is no evidence for a difference in risk. The immunogenicity of SubQ-8 has been studied in mice and subcutaneous administration of SubQ-8 resulted in a slower development of anti-FVIII antibodies than intravenous administration of FVIII.



The data presented represent a promising basis for future clinical studies of SubQ-8. Larisa Belyanskaya, Head of Octapharma's IBU Haematology, said "WFH was a fantastic platform to share the most recent data on the development of our new subcutaneous FVIII product, SubQ-8. We at Octapharma believe that SubQ-8 could play an important role in ensuring patients receive optimal treatment for haemophilia A". Olaf Walter, Board Member of Octapharma, added that "Octapharma is committed to improving patients' lives and we are proud to be developing a product with such potential for the haemophilia field. Presenting our preclinical data at WFH is an important step in realising our goal". About SubQ-8

SubQ-8 is Octapharma's developmental rFVIII product for subcutaneous administration, currently in the preclinical stage. About Haemophilia A Haemophilia A is an X-linked hereditary disorder caused by FVIII deficiency which, if left untreated, leads to haemorrhages in muscles and joints and consequently to arthropathy and severe morbidity. FVIII replacement prophylactic treatment reduces the number of bleeding episodes and the risk of permanent joint damage. This disorder affects one in every 5,000 to 10,000 men worldwide. Globally, 75% of haemophilia cases are left undiagnosed or untreated. The development of neutralising FVIII antibodies (FVIII inhibitors) against infused FVIII represents the most serious treatment complication. The cumulative risk of FVIII inhibitor development is reported to be currently up to 39%. About Octapharma The vision of Octapharma is "Our passion drives us to provide new health solutions advancing human life". Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines. As a family-owned company, Octapharma believes in investing to make a difference in people's lives and has been doing so since 1983; because it's in our blood. Our company values are Ownership, Integrity, Leadership, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. In 2017, the Group achieved 1.72 billion in revenue, an operating income of 349 million and invested 287 million to ensure future prosperity. Octapharma employs around 7,700 people worldwide to support the treatment of patients in 113 countries with products across three therapeutic areas:  Haematology (coagulation disorders)  Immunotherapy (immune disorders)  Critical care Octapharma has seven R&D sites and six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Austria, France, Germany, Mexico and Sweden. For more information visit www.octapharma.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180528005047/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] Servier Canada, in collaboration with Hypertension Canada, launches the GETDOWNBP Hypertension Management mobile App

MONTREAL, May 28, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Servier Canada, in collaboration with Hypertension Canada, is proud to launch the GETDOWNBP Hypertension Management mobile app. The launch of the GETDOWNBP mobile app will offer members of the GETDOWNBP online social network, as well as new members who wish to join, a new way to engage and help them prevent or control their high blood pressure (hypertension). The arrival of the app is a key step that completes a series of launch initiatives of the GETDOWNBP awareness campaign (http://www.getdownbp.ca/ and https://www.facebook.com/GETDOWNBP/), which have recently been rolled-out across Canada. The objective of the GETDOWNBP campaign is to raise awareness about hypertension and build a community that will be able to discuss and share success stories about controlling or preventing this condition. This app also features a series of easy, fun and rewarding activities that are done every day, and provides positive communication and recognition for the efforts made to achieve these goals. The tagline for this campaign is "Lowering your blood pressure has never felt so good!" "The GETDOWNBP campaign, including the launch of the app, represents an opportunity to increase awareness around hypertension and support patients in the management of their condition and GETDOWNBP is directly in line with Servier's commitment to place the patient at the heart of all its actions. "We are especially proud of our collaboration with Hypertension Canada, the producer of Canada's clinical practice guidelines for hypertension management," stated Frederic Fasano, CEO of Servier Canada. The launch of the GETDOWNBP app correlates well with the timing of the Hypertension Month (May). Canadians are encouraed to measure their blood pressure at participating pharmacies across Canada and to know their numbers as the first step in hypertension prevention and control. "When not controlled, hypertension can lead to serious chronic and deadly conditions like dementia, heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease," says Angelique Berg, CEO of Hypertension Canada. "Hypertension is highly sensitive to lifestyle changes and medications but it takes work, and that is why we are thrilled to support the GETDOWNBP campaign that shares the know-how and provides encouragement for Canadians to get high blood pressure down for lifelong health."



Canadians can join the community by visiting www.getdownbp.ca where they can also access more information concerning hypertension, learn about associated risks and ways to help manage it. About Hypertension

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects more than 7 million Canadians1 and is the leading preventable cause of cardiovascular death and disability around the world2. When not controlled, hypertension can lead to serious chronic and deadly conditions like heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Although hypertension is highly preventable and treatable, 1 in 3 people living with hypertension have uncontrolled blood pressure and nearly 1 in 5 are not even aware of their condition3.

About Servier Canada

Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a non-profit foundation with its headquarters in France. It was established in 1978 in Laval (Quebec) and employs over 320 people across Canada. With a strong international presence in 148 countries, Servier employs 21 000 people worldwide. Corporate growth is driven by Servier's constant search for innovation in five areas of excellence: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, immune-inflammatory diseases, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Being completely independent, the Group reinvests 25% of its turnover in research and development and uses all its profits for growth. For additional information please visit our website at www.servier.ca. About Hypertension Canada

Hypertension Canada is the only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to the prevention and control of hypertension and its complications in Canada. Powered by a professional volunteer network of the leading multidisciplinary experts in hypertension, Hypertension Canada produces the nation's clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension and pursues its mission through the advancement of research, professional and public education, and advocacy for healthy environments. hypertension.ca. _______________________________________ 1 Padwal RS, Bienek A, McAlister FA, Campbell NR, Outcomes Research Task Force of the Canadian Hypertension Education P. Epidemiology of Hypertension in Canada: An Update. Can J Cardiol. 2016;32:687-694. 2 Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380:2224-2260. 3 McAlister FA, Wilkins K, Joffres M, et al. Changes in the rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Canada over the past two decades. CMAJ. 2011;183:1007-1013. SOURCE Servier Canada Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] China Telecom Named "Most Honored Company" by FinanceAsia

HONG KONG, May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Telecom Corporation Limited ("China Telecom" or "the Company"; HKEx: 00728; NYSE: CHA) was named "Most Honored Company (2009-2018)", at the "Asia's Best Managed Companies Poll 2018" by FinanceAsia. "Most Honored Company (2009-2018)" is a special accolade by FinanceAsia in recognition of China Telecom's remarkable award-winning track record in previous "Asia's Best Managed Companies Polls", as well as the Company's unflagging pursuit and outstanding achievements in overall corporate governance, investor relations and corporate social responsibility, during the past decade since 2009.



In addition, the Company also snatched five No. 2 China awards: Best Managed Company

Most Committed to Corporate Governance

Best at Investor Relations

Best CEO

Best CFO In its 18th year, "Asia's Best Managed Companies Poll" invited 140 individuals, including portfolio managers and analysts, to cast votes on companies' overall management, corporate governance, investor relations, corporate social responsibility and other areas, to elect the best managed companies in the region.

China Telecom's numerous awards given by FinanceAsia and other similar top competitions over the years not only testify to the steadfast recognition from investors and analysts of the Company's excellence in management team, corporate governance and other aspects, but are also demonstrative of capital market's acknowledgement to the Company's leading position in consistently strong execution and high transparency. China Telecom would like to sincerely thank the capital market and investors for their support and trust all along. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180528/2144545-1 SOURCE China Telecom Corporation Limited

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] Parcel Port receives first shipment of lockers in what will become the largest Smart Parcel Locker network in Canada.

Parcel Port has announced delivery of the first in a series of orders of Smart Parcel Lockers at their Kitchener - Waterloo warehouse. TORONTO, May 28, 2018 /CNW/ - "Our first shipment of our Smart Parcel Lockers are here and as part of our initial roll out have been earmarked for pilot tests with our existing partners. They will be up and running at various locations in the GTA and giving us some great insights in the upcoming weeks," stated Michael Trueman, President and CEO of Parcel Port. "We continue to fine tune the experience and we're working hard on delivering Canada's first national parcel locker network designed to initially serve express couriers, consumers and multi-unit commercial and residential property managers," said Mr. Trueman. Prcel Port has a growing list of diverse customers that recognize the need for alternative and innovative smart parcel drop off and pickup options."Given that overall parcel delivery volumes have increased dramatically and are expected to double again in the next five years, all of the organizations we've spoken to recognize the imperative to develop last mile delivery alternatives that lower shipping costs while offering the consumer a secure and private way to receive their on-line orders. Our solution squarely addresses this while being open and courier neutral, which means our parcel locker solution works with all express couriers," stated Mr. Trueman.



Parcel Port has attracted major interest with some of the largest courier companies and property management firms in Canada and has been consigned to do pilot projects with some household names in both spaces. "Our ultimate goal and vision is to build the largest network of Smart Parcel Lockers in Canada and the US and these first lockers will go a long way in helping us set the blueprint and standard for a process that will become commonplace in the coming years." About Parcel Port

Founded in 2017 and located in Toronto, Ontario, Parcel Port Solutions Inc. is working hard to develop Canada's largest intelligent parcel locker network. These versatile and secure lockers are built through an exclusive manufacturing partnership and offered as a turn-key solution that will be installed in convenient community locations as well as multi-unit residential and commercial buildings. Collectively this network will serve express couriers, consumers and property managers all looking at alternative and innovative ways to deal with the growing last mile delivery challenges that are being driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce. Parcel Port's vision is to revolutionize last and first mile parcel delivery by building the largest parcel locker network in North America.

SOURCE Parcel Port

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] Leclerc Group launches its new website

SAINT-AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, QC, May 28, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Leclerc Group Ltd. is delighted to announce the launch of its brand new website in collaboration with innovation studio Cortexan important player in Quebec City's technological product and mobile app industry. A NEW WINDOW INTO THE COMPANY

The new website features an intuitive platform and inspiring design, so fans of Leclerc are sure of a delicious online experience. With a redesigned sitemap and information architectur, the site delivers a premium user experience, allowing visitors to share beautiful, dynamic content with ease.





"The site is both a remarkable showcase for our company and a wonderful way to meet our goals in terms of business and innovation, allowing us to meet our customers wherever they are," says Marie-Josee Massicotte, Director of Marketing and Communications for Leclerc Group,

Visitors can discover over a hundred Leclerc productscookies, snack bars, and crackers, each more delicious than the lastin a single go. The site also gives users the chance to sign up for Leclerc's newsletter and hear about all the latest innovations, contests, and news. ABOUT LECLERC GROUP

Leclerc Group was founded in 1905 by Francois Leclerc. The company has grown remarkably over the last 30 years and now boasts more than 1,000 employees and seven ultramodern factories in Canada and the U.S., with locations in Quebec City, Quebec (two plants); Hawkesbury, Ontario; Montgomery, Pennsylvania; Kingsport, Tennessee; and Phoenix, Arizona. With sales of close to $530 million, the company's head office is in Francois Leclerc industrial park in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, near Quebec City. Leclerc Group specializes in cookies and snack bars, and exports to more than 20 countries. Leclerc is known as an innovative company attuned to the tastes and needs of informed customers who care about the food they eat and like to treat themselves to life's pleasures. SOURCE Groupe Biscuits Leclerc

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[May 28, 2018] Investment project of more than $1.5M - Crypto4A Technologies builds on innovation to access the international cybersecurity market

GATINEAU, QC, May 28, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The governments of Canada and Quebec have confirmed that they are awarding a total of $513,525 in financial assistance to Crypto4A Technologies to support its project, which involves intellectual property protection, technology demonstration, certifications, equipment purchases and commercialization. The Government of Canada has granted a repayable contribution of $322,625 from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) through its Quebec Economic Development Program. The Government of Quebec has awarded a total of $190,900 in financial assistance. Of that amount, $25,000 comes from the Premier brevet program, $50,000 from Programme Exportation (PEX) and $115,900 from the Creativite Quebec program. Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer, acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, and Maryse Gaudreault, Member for Hull, acting on behalf of Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, made the announcement today. Crypto4A Technologies is a cybersecurity enterprise. It is developing the next generation of computer security products using cryptographic techniques that can resist modern cyber attacks, while ensuring quantum-computing readiness. Quotes "I am very pleased that Canada Economic Development can support the start-up and commercialization of Crypto4A Technologies. This new company is a great example of a forward-thinking SME, with a team of experts and dynamic entrepreneurs who embrace innovation." Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer "Crypto4A Technologies has plenty of ideas when it comes to innovating. For over five years now, it has been capitalizing on its expertise and creativity in designing a new generation of innovative cybersecurity platforms that will improve the security of data centres, among other things. The Governent of Quebec is therefore very eager to help promote this technology on foreign markets."



Maryse Gaudreault, Member for Hull "The Government of Canada is determined to support Canadian companies that build on innovation. As a true economic driver, innovation is the key to success because it generates growth that benefits businesses and communities. By supporting Crypto4A's project, our goal is to work together to deliver on our commitments and get results for Canadians."

Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED "Competitiveness and exports by innovative businesses are vital to the prosperity of the Outaouais region and Quebec as a whole and to the establishment of a sound economy that is open to the world. We are therefore proud to support the activities of Crypto4A Technologies because we want it to become even more productive and competitive, thus further strengthening regional economic vitality." Stephanie Vallee, Member for Gatineau, Minister of Justice and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region "Crypto4A Technologies is among the promising Quebec enterprises that we are happy to guide in their efforts to protect their intellectual property assets and demonstrate and commercialize their innovations. One of our government's priorities is to raise awareness among businesses like this one about the growth potential associated with technological innovation and exports." Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy Quick facts: CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

This year marks the 50 th anniversary of federal regional economic development in Quebec : half a century of concrete action dedicated to the development of the regions and local businesses. For more information on CED and its priorities, consult the 201819 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.

anniversary of federal regional economic development in : half a century of concrete action dedicated to the development of the regions and local businesses. For more information on CED and its priorities, consult the 201819 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca. The main goal of the Premier brevet program (website in French only) is to help more businesses protect their intellectual property assets.

The goals of the PEX (website in French only) include raising awareness among Quebec businesses of the growth potential associated with exports and subsequently helping them develop and diversify their foreign markets.

businesses of the growth potential associated with exports and subsequently helping them develop and diversify their foreign markets. The Creativite Quebec program (website in French only) helps enterprises meet milestones in developing or improving products or processes. Related link: To receive real-time news releases from the ministere de l'Economie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, subscribe to the appropriate RSS news feed at www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/rss. Ministere de l'Economie, de la Science et de l'Innovation on social networks: Twitter: twitter.com/economie_quebec

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EconomieQc

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/362721

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MDEIEQuebec CED on social networks:

Follow CED on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Close to 500 units of the M9 are in U.S. service today and are prominently used by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps.

The M9s track record in service has proven to be a boon for the U.S. Military. Its still in service today, thanks in large part to a long history of effectiveness in the battlefield where its versatility in performing a wide variety of missions helped immensely in keeping pace with the operations.

The M9 is neither an attack vehicle nor a defensive one. But it is capable of supporting forces in both operations by performing such jobs as digging hull defilade fighting positions for guns, tanks, and other battlefield systems to increase their effectiveness and ultimate survivability. Its also capable of preparing anti-dank ditches, combat roads, access routes on bodies of water, and remove roadblocks in the event of such predicaments.

Perhaps the name Earthmover is a sign of what this highly mobile armored tracked vehicle can do. Officially called the U.S. M9 Armored Combat Earthmover, the M9 is a highly mobile, armored, amphibious tractor, dozer, and scraper that took the field for the first time in 1986, serving in a number of important battles for the U.S. Army, including the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

Exterior

The first thing people notice about it is its size. Its almost 21 feet long, nine feet wide, and has a height of about 10 feet above the cupola. It also weighs 37,000 pounds. Depending on who you ask, the M9 ACE could be classified as a big vehicle or a small one, but for the U.S. Military, the ACE is considered a lightweight vehicle that can be easily transported in a Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane or swallowed inside the larger Lockheed planes, including the C-141 Starlifter and the C-5 Galaxy."

The boxy nature of the M9 ACE may make some wonder of its versatile field capabilities, but rest assured, this vehicle is well-suited for the rigors of war. For one, it has an armor made up of an aluminum structure with applique steel panels and aramid-laminated plates that are resistant to shell splinters and small arms fire, NBC protection & smoke screen generator. The front section is characterized by an 8.7 cubic yard bowl, apron and dozer blade. The hull is welded and bolted aluminum while the driver compartment is covered by an armored cupola that includes eight vision blocks.

The M9 ACE does have a few things going against it, the most important of which is the lack of any weapons that can help protect it from attack.

The M9 ACE does have a few things going against it, the most important of which is the lack of any weapons that can help protect it from attack. The only thing it has in that regard are eight smoke grenades, which really doesnt do much in the way of neutralizing attacks directed towards it. This nature of the M9 ACE has resulted in the vehicle being accompanied by Armored Fighting Vehicles in breaching operations. Its a tactic that isnt ideal, but has been deemed necessary at one point or another to help the M9 ACE accomplish its objectives. Recent calls from the military have suggested the addition of protective weapons for the ACE, particularly a machine gun of some sort or an automatic grenade launcher to help thwart off its enemies.

Interior

The M9 ACE is a single operator vehicle so the interior really is just made up of a small pod for the operator thats about as spartan as its going to get. The cabin is pretty much made up of just one seat and an array of switches and levers that control its primary functions. A single steering wheel can be found in the middle and just behind it, the dashboard  if you can even call it that  prominently features numerous dials and meters that show the vitals of the vehicle. To the right of the seat is the gear shifter.

The interior is located at the rear of the vehicle as the apron and dozer blade comprise a significant area up front. The location of the compartment has been the source of criticism in the past in relation to where the apron and dozer blade are. That said, there have been calls for a front-mounted telescope or a side-mounted periscope to be added in order to give the operator more visibility.

Drivetrain

Powering the M9 is a Cummins V903C eight-cylinder diesel engine that produces 295 horsepower at 2,600 rpm and mated to a Clark 13.5 HR 3610-2 six-speed transmission. Top speed only comes up to about 30 mph on account of its size and weight, but it is good for an operational range of 200 miles. The M9 can even swim at a speed of three mph under ideal conditions. Power and performance may not be the M9s strong suit. That falls on its ability to perform its primary function of clearing obstacles for the maneuver units.

One of the more important features of the M9 is its hydro-pneumatic suspension system, which is made up of eight high-pressure hydraulic rotary actuators

One of the more important features of the M9 is its hydro-pneumatic suspension system, which is made up of eight high-pressure hydraulic rotary actuators  four on each side  that are connected to the roadwheel stations. The suspension system is primarily responsible for the M9 ACEs main functions. It allows the front of the vehicle to be raised, lowered, or tilted for a variety of purposes, including dozing, exciting, rough grading or ditching. The vehicles system also features a two-speed winch thats capable of pulling objects by as much as 25,000 pounds.

Shock-absorbing accumulators are also included to help provide a smooth ride during travel and when the M9 ACE begins its primary purpose of moving and clearing dirt out of the way, the actuators are rotated so as to lower the apron and blade for digging.

Conclusion

The M9 Armored Combat Earthmover isnt the type of military vehicle that youll find on posters or recruitment brochures. Those are reserved for the M1 Abrams tanks or the Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The M9 isnt even the type of vehicle that can turn the tide in a war. But to discount its importance in the grand scheme of war is to not understand the many layers that go on in combat. The M9 ACE literally does the dirty work by clearing obstacles and creating fighting positions for the U.S. Military.

Its one of the few military vehicles that can literally lead the way into enemy territory as it did in breaching the border berm between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It may not have any weapons, but its function is just as important considering that without the M9 ACE, the U.S. Military would have a far more difficult time engaging its enemies in the open field.
So what exactly is an LVSR and how does it help the troops? Well, well talk about that a little bit in our review below. So grab yourself a beverage and lets learn a little about it.

When the first LVSR was deployed to Afghanistan, Andy Hove  President and Executive Vice President of Oshkosh Defense  said, The fielding of this vehicle in Afghanistan is a significant milestone for both the U.S. Marine Corps and Oshkosh Defense. The LVSR expands on the capabilities of the LVS, which has been an integral part of the Marine Corps fleet for nearly 25 years, to negotiate and overcome the most challenging environments, including those found in Afghanistan.

The LVSR has been in service in the Middle East since late 2009 when Oshkosh sent the first example to Afghanistan to assist the U.S. Marine Corps in early October. It is designed to haul cargo, trailers, and even act as a wrecker when properly equipped. Whats more, Oshkosh sends out Field Service Representatives, who work side-by-side with our troops to offer training and support for these vehicles when needed. With a payload capacity of 22.5 tons (45,000 pounds) on-road and 16.5 tons off-road, the LVSR is a pretty mean machine.

Lets face it; the U.S. Military gets involved anywhere it is needed, and the unfortunate reality is that a lot of the time those enlisted are putting their lives on the line. The soldiers on deployment often deal with some of the harshest environments and circumstances imaginable, as does the equipment they use. One such piece of equipment is the Oshkosh Defense Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR,) that has somewhat recently replaced the original Logistics Vehicle System.

Exterior

Alright, lets not beat around the bush  the LVSR isnt exactly the prettiest vehicle rolling around the desert in the middle east. But, this monster is designed to do a job, well several, so its beauty really comes in the form of the support it offers to our troops on the other side of the world. The LVSR is offered as a wrecker, a tractor trailer, and a cargo hauler, but more importantly, it is also equipped with armor straight from the factory. So, regardless of what model our soldiers are in, they are offered the best protection possible out in the field.

The LVSR is extremely versatile, with all adapters and lifting hardware stored on the vehicle. As you can see from the images, the body of the LVSR is built from cold hard steel. All models carry the same general design with rear-wheel steering and that huge armor plate up front. The headlights and signal lights are mounted under that massive plate. When setup as a wrecker, the vehicle features a front-mounted self-recovery winch with a 20,000-pound straight pull rating. Out back, there are two winches that have a combined, straight-pull rate of 78,000 pounds.

When setup as a tractor, the rear tail of the LVSR looks rather bare with just three wheels on each side and a fifth-wheel hitch on top. It is equipped with a 60,000-pound winch to winch equipment onto the trailer. It has the ability to haul semi-trailers, heavy engineer equipment, and even combat vehicles. As with all LVSR models, the front of the tractor has integrated armor to protect the troops inside.

Moving over to the LVSR Cargo, and the rear end changes significantly. The basic setup is a flatbed, but that flatbed can be equipped with sides and a top for hauling troops, ammunition, flatracks, ISO containers up to 20 feet in length, tactical bridging, support equipment, and fuel containers, among other things. The Cargo is can also be equipped with a hydraulic system that helps to tilt the flatbed  like the rear of a dump truck, for instance  or to help load cargo onto the rear, making life a lot easier for those tasked with the job at hand. As with all models, it can haul up to 22.5 tons of cargo on-road or 16.5 ton off-road. Like I said, versatile.

Interior

As with a lot of military and defense vehicles, the interior of the LVSR is a pretty big mystery. Dont expect too many luxuries or comforts, as this baby is all about business. The dash is likely littered with gauges and controls that are used to operate the hydraulics and other various equipment. It is also likely that there is some kind of climate control system, but that is just an educated guess considering we have been granted the luxury of looking inside one.

We do know that all models of the LVSR come equipped with the Command Zone integrated control and diagnostics system. This system comes equipped directly from the factory and provides monitoring and monitoring of critical components from within the cab to provide the best safety possible for our deployed troops.

Drivetrain

Despite the fact that the LVSR has been in continuous service since 2009, we know very little about its drivetrain configuration. We do know that it is a 10-by-10 all-wheel-drive vehicle that is powered by a special CAT C15 diesel engine that delivers 600 horsepower. With a Maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVRW,) the LVSR can push through five feet of water and travel at up to 65 mph on smoothish pavement. It has an on-road cruising range of 300 miles between pit stops.

Needless to say, the LVSR is the ultimate support vehicle for our troops, and it has the ability to go just about anywhere and haul just about anything they might need. With a 600-horsepower diesel engine, and the ability to haul 22.5 tons of anything you can fit on it or attach to it, its safe to say its probably got plenty of torque as well. I wouldnt expect it to get up to speed all that fast, but at least the troops inside are protected by the built-in body armor.

Weapons Systems

Since the LVSR isnt designed specifically for combat functions, there arent any weapons systems installed from the factory. That said, the military has some rather capable engineers that have surely devised a way to afford the troops some on-board weapons if needed. Needless to say, the military keeps a pretty tight lid on any weapon systems the vehicle may have.

But we do know that back in September of 2012, the military placed an order that included 186 weapons mount kits (among other things) which tells us for sure that there are at least some weapons in use on the LVSR  we just dont know specifically what they are. I would expect that the weapon mounts would at least support heavy machine guns of the .50 caliber type. Surely the LVSR could be modified to support some minor ground-to-air missiles or the like as well.

Conclusion

Its fun to take a look at some of the equipment our troops are relying on to get around, complete missions and keep themselves safe. With it being Memorial Day, I think its only right to take a moment to thank the troops currently deploy on active duty, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

With that said, remember that Memorial Day isnt about a three-day weekend or barbecuing and getting tipsy  its about remembering those who left home and sacrificed themselves for the freedom that you and I enjoy every day. So, now that weve talked about the LVSR and how it helps our troops, click play on the video above to take a look at it in action. Just imagine how hard these troops would have had to work without the LVSR there to help them.
The African Union Commission (AUC), Sweden, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined efforts to boost the number of African countries signing up to and adopting into national law continental agreements to help accelerate development.

Since its establishment as the Organisation of African Unity, the African Union has adopted 49 treaties, protocols and conventions. However, as of 2015 only 28 of these treaties have been ratified and enshrined by the 54 Member States.

The low rate of ratification and implementation of AU treaties is a missed opportunity for the African continent to advance the continental agenda, negatively impacting the effectiveness of the AUs efforts to foster peace and stabilization and further economic development in Africa, said Lamin Momodou Manneh, Director of UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa.

The three-year USD 15 million regional initiative Acceleration and Domestication of African Union Treaties will focus on increasing AUC technical expertise to assist countries to enhance capacity to speed up ratification and domestication, and foster greater knowledge and awareness amongst African populations to ensure greater levels of demand and advocacy for the effective domestication of all treaties.

The Government of Sweden has contributed USD 7 million towards this programme.

The challenge of the AU is not the norm setting but the implementation of those norms in different areas  and this is why it is so important to support the acceleration of ratification and domestication of AU legal instruments by Member States, said H.E. Mr. Torbjorn Pettersson, Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia, and Swedens Special Representative to the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Some of the challenges to ratification include a lack of capacity within the AUC to support treaty ratification; lack of harmonized approach amongst regional entities such as Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC); and diverse legal systems and mixed level of capacity for domestication at national levels. Low levels of awareness amongst Africas civil society of multilateral treaty processes and their benefits also inhibits their ability to advocate for these continental legal frameworks.

In its first phase the AUC-UNDP programme will focus on providing assistance on the ratification and domestication of six key treaties to boost progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), related to human and peoples rights, womens rights, childrens rights, and youth, as well as on democracy, elections and governance, and preventing and combating corruption.

In this phase efforts will focus on Senegal, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Rwanda.

The initiative is part of the UNDPs Regional Programme for Africa that seeks to support the AU and RECS to deliver on their mandate, especially cross cutting issues related to structural transformation and building resilience.
Kenya is likely to miss the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) deadline for liberalising the sugar industry due to wrangles between governors and the Privatisation Commission over sale of mills.

The Council of Governors (CoG) has rejected the sale in its entirety, saying it will not solve problems facing farmers, instead demanding the assets revert to the counties.

Previously, the governors were only opposed to the sale formula saying it was not in the interest of the growers.

Chair of the agriculture committee at the CoG Okoth Obado says counties are able to run the mills efficiently on behalf of farmers.

We are not allowing the sale of these factories, we want them to be given to counties, which can operate them efficiently, he said.

In March, the Commission said it was targeting to complete the sale to private millers by August before the safeguards come to an end.

Kenya was given up to February next year to privatise State-owned millers, among other requirements, before the safeguards that have been in place for over one-and-a-half decade are lifted. This implies that Kenyas sugar will have to compete with cheaper commodity from Comesa states.

Privatisation is not the solution to problems facing sugar millers; Mumias was privatised many years ago but look at the problems that it is facing, said the Migori governor.

The government plans to sell a 51 per cent stake in the companies to strategic investors and reserve another 24 per cent for farmers and employees.

It will then sell the remaining 25 per cent in the milling companies through an initial public offering once the factories are profitable.

Farmers and political leaders in Sony, Nzoia and Chemelil have also opposed the sale of factories.

This implies that the commission will in the meantime only be able to sell highly indebted factories that are not active in production such as Miwani (owes creditors $276.6 million) and Muhoroni ($266.7 million), which are in receivership.
Labour force, Employment and Unemployment  Year 2017

The ninth issue of the Economic and Social Indicators of Statistics Mauritius, based on the results of the Continuous Multi-Purpose Household Survey, indicates that the unemployment rate has decreased from 7.3% to 7.1% in 2017.

With regards to the change from 2016 to 2017, the Mauritian labour force has increased by 5,900 from 581,000 to 586,900 while the employment rate went up by 6,500 from 538,600 to 545,100. Accordingly, unemployment decreased by 600 from 42,400 to 41,800 and the overall activity rate remained unchanged at 59.6%.

Furthermore, youth employment decreased by 1,800 from 60,100 to 58,300 and unemployment increased by 400 from 18,900 to 19,300. Youth unemployment rate therefore, increased by 1.0 percentage point from 23.9% to 24.9%.

As for male labour force, it increased by 3,000 from 353,600 to 356,600 and the number of those outside the labour force increased by 700 from 122,600 to 123,300. Male employment increased by 2,700 from 336,700 to 339,400 and unemployment by 300 from 16,900 to 17,200. Male activity rate and unemployment rate remain unchanged at 74.3% and 4.8% respectively.

Moreover, female labour force increased by 2,900 from 227,400 to 230,300 and the number of those outside the labour force increased by 1,900 from 271,900 to 273,800. Female employment increased by 3,800 from 201,900 to 205,700 while unemployment decreased by 900 from 25,500 to 24,600. Hence, female activity rate increased from 45.5% to 45.7% while unemployment rate decreased from 11.2% to 10.7%.

In 2017, men comprised 61% of the labour force and most of the workers, that is, 79% were employees. Among the unemployed, women outnumbered men, 24,600 compared to 17,200 though they were generally more qualified. Unemployment rate was highest in the lowest age groups and decreased progressively with increasing age. The unemployment rate for youth aged between 16 to 24 years stood at 24.9%, with 19.5% for male and 31.9% for female.

Regarding the evolution from 2007 to 2017, it has been observed that men are more economically active than women but the gap is decreasing over time. Female employment is increasing faster than male employment. In addition, the tertiary sector is becoming increasingly important in terms of employment. From a high rate of 8.5% recorded in 2007, the unemployment rate was at its lowest in 2017. Accordingly, from a rate of 24.7% in 2007, youth unemployment rose to 24.9% in 2017.

Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators (2007-2017)

This issue of the Economic and Social Indicators presents Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators for the years 2007 to 2017 for the total economy, the manufacturing sector and Export Oriented Enterprises (EOE).

Output (Gross Value Added)

Output, as measured by the Gross Value Added (GVA), is the total value of goods and services (exclusive of taxes) produced within a country. From 2007 to 2017, GVA at basic prices, in real terms, grew on average by 3.8% per annum. The growth rate for 2017 was 3.5%, lower than the growth of 3.6% registered in 2016. GDP per capita at market prices is an indicator of the standard of living of the population. With an annual growth of 0.2% in the population and 3.9% in GDP at market prices, GDP per capita grew by 3.7% per annum during the period 2007 to 2017.

Productivity trends

Labour productivity

Labour productivity for the whole economy is a measure of real output (GVA) per worker. The index of labour productivity improved from 100.0 in 2007 to 127.5 in 2017, giving an average annual growth of 2.5%. In 2017, labour productivity grew at a lower rate of 2.4% compared to 3.4% in 2016. This was the result of a lower GVA growth of 3.5% compared to 3.6% in 2016 while labour input grew by a higher rate of 1.1% in 2017 compared to 0.1% in 2016.

Capital productivity

Capital productivity is a measure of real GVA per unit of capital. During the period 2007 to 2017, the index of capital productivity declined from 100.0 in 2007 to 99.2 in 2017. The average annual rate of change worked out to -0.1%. Capital productivity registered an increase of 0.9% in 2017 compared to 1.1% in 2016 (Table 1.2). The 0.9% increase in 2017 is explained by a lower growth in capital input (2.6%) compared to that of GVA (3.5%).

Multifactor productivity (MFP)

The MFP index shows the rate of change in productive efficiency. In addition to labour and capital inputs, it takes into account qualitative factors such as better management and improved quality of inputs through training and technology. The average annual change in MFP during the period 2007 to 2017 worked out to 0.9%. MFP growth in 2017 (1.4%) was lower than in 2016 (1.9%)

Growth accounting

The contribution of different factors to economic growth is determined by the growth accounting technique. From 2007 to 2017, the contribution of labour to the 3.8% average annual growth in GVA worked out to 13% and that of capital to 61%. The remaining 26% represents qualitative factors such as training, management and technology.

To compare changes in competitiveness across economies, the impact of exchange rate fluctuations has to be taken into account. When a national currency appreciates against the US Dollar, more dollars are paid in exchange for each national currency unit. On the other hand, when a national currency depreciates against the US Dollar, fewer dollars are paid in exchange for each national currency unit. From 2007 to 2017, ULC in Mauritian Rupees grew at an average annual rate of 2.8%. In Dollar terms, it increased by 1.8% as a result of an average annual depreciation of 1.0% of the Mauritian Rupee vis-a-vis the US Dollar. In 2017, ULC in Dollar terms increased by 4.9% compared to 0.2% in 2016.

International Travel and Tourism  1st Quarter 2018

This issue of the Economic and Social Indicators presents data on International Travel and Tourism for the first quarter of 2018.

International travel

In the first quarter 2018, 18 cruise ships arrived in the country and carried some 24,058 cruise travellers which include 11,313 tourists, 4,980 excursionists, 117 Mauritian residents and 7,648 crew members.

Arrivals

Compared to 1st Quarter 2017:

total arrivals increased by 5.4% from 450,799 to 475,175, of which arrivals in Rodrigues direct from Reunion Island amounted to 119;

tourist arrivals increased by 4.9% from 339,682 to 356,415; and

the number of excursionists (arriving and leaving on the same day) increased by 30.2% from 10,171 to 13,246.

Departures

Compared to 1st Quarter 2017:

total departures increased by 3.9% from 485,010 to 503,879, of which departures from Rodrigues direct to Reunion Island amounted to 176; and

departures of Mauritian residents increased by 3.3% from 66,373 to 68,576.

In the 1st Quarter of 2018, the main countries of disembarkation (country of final destination or transit country) for Mauritian residents were United Arab Emirates (15,401 or 22.5%), Reunion Island (8,947 or 13.0%), India (8,062 or 11.8%), South Africa, Rep. of (7,271 or 10.6%), France (5,555 or 8.1%) and United Kingdom (4,344 or 6.3%).

Tourism

Tourist arrivals

Compared to 1 st Quarter 2017, tourist arrivals increased by 16,733 or 4.9% to reach 356,415 in 1 st Quarter 2018.

In the first quarter of 2018, France, our top tourist generating country, registered an increase of 3.3% while Reunion Island decreased by 5.0%. It is worth noting that compared to 1 st Quarter 2017, tourist arrivals from Netherlands increased by 55.2% as a result of direct flights. Among the emerging markets, India, Russian Federation and Peoples Republic of China posted decreases of 0.2%, 3.0% and 17.3% respectively.

Tourist arrivals by air  Main port of last embarkation

During the 1st Quarter 2018, a high proportion of tourists arrived mainly by direct flights from their own country of residence except for Russian Federation, where there were no direct flights. Tourists from Russian Federation travelled mainly through United Arab Emirates which is the most used transiting port.

For the 1st Quarter 2018, the proportion of tourists who travelled to Mauritius through United Arab Emirates from Russian Federation was 54.4%. It is also worth noting that during the period under review, 24.6% of tourists from Italy travelled on direct flights. The remaining used mainly United Arab Emirates as transiting port.

Tourist arrivals: Selected tourist destinations

During the 1st Quarter 2018 while tourist arrivals in Mauritius increased by 4.9%, higher growths were observed for Maldives (+17.0%), Sri Lanka (+17.0%) and Seychelles (+6.1%).
AGENTatHOME Magazine

A version of this article appears in print in the May 2018 issue of AGENTatHOME Magazine. Subscribe
Treehugger and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors)
THE nine men who are currently serving life sentences for the murder and beheading in 1997 o
We didnt meet many people from the U.K. when we stayed there. In fact we were the only people on our flight staying in the royal suites section. Only Tui offer it on a package from the U.K.

Food is ok but not as good as it is at home. Its more than adequate but we certainly didnt find it anything special or worth writing home about.

Its generally a quiet hotel although we did experience some very rude guests who were in the pool outside their room messing around and being extremely noisy at 2pm on more than one occasion. I guess you can get inconsiderate people anywhere though.

When we stayed we found probably 80% of people were around their 40s with a few younger and a few older.

Edited: 3 years ago
Hello and help!

I'm struggling to plan a last minute trip to Australia and I am hopeful for some direction. Wife and I are taking 3 and 5 year old boys to Australia for 3 weeks in mid- to late-June (that's 2 weeks from now). The only thing we've booked is a flight into Brisbane and out of Sydney. We are adventurous and outgoing travel-wise, but not necessarily super outdoorsy (we enjoy hiking short distances, and our kids do as well, but the best part of the hike to my kids is usually the snack break). We are experienced travelers and my kids have been to Japan, Switzerland, England, Israel, and Hawaii - but we need stability (i.e. 3 nights per location feels like it should be the minimum, otherwise kids get cranky) AND a variety of things to do in each place (i.e. nature, animals, culture, experiences, etc. - if it is 100% outdoorsy, it probably isn't for us unless it is an awesome beach holiday).

My initial idea was to do 3 days Brisbane, 4 days Sunshine Coast, 5 days Port Douglas/Cairns, and 7 days Sydney and Blue Mountains. However, spending 4 days on the Sunshine Coast doesn't sound too appealing to us since the temperature is on average low-70's F (right?). We are from LA, so low-70's just doesn't sound like beach weather. It would probably be enjoyable for a day, but not for an extended beach holiday.

I thought about replacing Sunshine Coast with something warmer, but I haven't found anything easy to get to that checks all the requirements above. Fraser Island looks nice, but it isn't warmer, doesn't look easy to get to (and back), doesn't have non-outdoorsy things to do, and the wild dingoes have me a little spooked; the Whitsunday Islands look beautiful, but again, they don't appear to be much warmer than Sunshine Coast and don't seem to have as much to do as the SC.

Next, I considered redistributing the Sunshine Coast time to the other places (i.e. 4 days Brisbane, 6 days Cairns, 9 days Sydney and Blue Mountains), but I could really use some advice!

1. Is my assessment of the Sunshine Coast in June correct? Would you go or not go?

2. What do you consider an ideal amount of time with kids in June to spend in each of Brisbane (including the fun day trips), PD/Cairns, and Syndey/BM?

3. Does it make sense to spend that much time in Sydney if the beaches are cold?

4. I keep thinking about Uluru, but I think my kids will whine about all the hiking. Any thoughts?

5. Knowing what you know about me from reading above, what kind of itinerary would you recommend?

I am super grateful for your help!
Last month I did an easy rider trip from Hue to Dong Ha to visit the Mine Advisory Group Visitor Center. It is a few miles west of Highway 1 and can be easily incorporated into a DMZ visit. As the name says, it concerns the mines and un-exploded bombs all along the DMZ and throughout Quang Tri Province and the Tri-border area. Something like 800,000 tons of unexploded munitions remain in the area.

When we arrived they were finishing a presentation to a group of school kids about the dangers of various bombs. Obviously, no doubt who dropped the bombs and I did get a little uncomfortable as the presentation concluded. As the kids left the meeting room I did get some rather evil eye from some of the kids, but others quickly became friendly. One of the presenters was a young man who lost a leg and some fingers from touching a small bomblet from a cluster bomb.

Very professional exhibits with photos from the B-52 raids over Quang Tri and the efforts being made to educate the local population and assist the victims. No charge for admission but donations are welcome. Some of the staff speak very good English and are very cordial and welcoming. Well worth visiting if you are doing a DMZ tour.
Hello everybody, in two months, I will be traveling to Japan with a friend. (we are both 17yo)

My country has Visa exception (Mexico) and I've already asked the embassy if there would be any problems entering Japan as a minor and they said no.

My main problem is that we want to keep everything as low budget as we can, so we were planning on staying mainly in capsule hotels but most of them say that minors such as our age need parental permission in order to be accommodated, so I was wondering if it would be OK if we brought letters from our parents giving us such permission? (in English)

Also, in the main website of some capsule hotels says  (high school students) will need permission instead of "minors", but we will be finishing high school by the time we travel to Japan.
Hi,

I just returned from Japan with lovely memories & experience. I had done some shopping at multiple centres, but main junk was at Tokyu Hands for which I got the tax refund of around 5000 Yen.

Upon return I got a bit delayed lugging all the luggage to the train station and could catch the Narita Exp reservation only half hour later. As a result I reached the airport rather late and furthermore my Sri Lankan Airlines flight was prepond by 15 min. Hence it was quite a rush and finally managed to catch the flight.

Amidst this chaos I missed the customs check counter to show the goods. Now what do I do for the same. I have the snaps & Video of all the sealed items intact here in India.

Should I leave this issue as it is or do I need to notify the authorities ? If so to whom ?

Thanks in advance
Re: Road to Navala: can you go on your own?

4. Re: Road to Navala: can you go on your own?

-:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
I'll be travelling to Japan with my family for 8 days in August. Very much looking forward to it.

I'll arrive at Haneda on Aug 14th, mid-afternoon, and the rest of my family (wife and two teens) will arrive at Kansai from Taiwan, and we'll begin our stay in Kyoto. I now realize that we'll arrive in the middle of the Obon festivals, which I understand is a very busy travel time. Given other plans and school schedules, we don't have much flexibility on travel dates.

So my question is: Will I need to reserve a train ticket to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo (Shinagawa station) to Kyoto? Similarly, will it be difficult for the rest of my family to catch a train to Kyoto from KIX? Should/can they reserve tickets? (I'll also post this particular query on the Kansai forum).

I appreciate any help!!
-:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
- Ellen and her wife spent time playing and feeding giraffes at Giraffe Manor hotel

- The 60-year-old comedian shared the pictures of their vacation on social media

- Ellen and Potia jetted out to Rwanda after their trip to Kenya ended

Popular US stand up comedian Ellen DeGeneres stunned Kenyans when she revealed she was in Kenya for a mini-vacation.

The 60-year-old talk show host shared a variety of photos of her and her gorgeous wife living it up at popular hotel, Giraffe Manor.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO:Controversial socialite Huddah Monroe parades underwear in latest photo and team mafisi can't keep calm

Scrolling through her Instagram on Monday, May 28, TUKO.co.ke couldn't help but notice her wife Portia De Rossi's deep love for the beautiful giraffes.

"Portia has never met a giraffe she didn't like," Ellen joked as she watched her lady feed the beautiful animals.

READ ALSO:Seductive DJ Pierra Makena flaunts flat tummy after intense workout and she looks hot AF

The two sneaked into the country quietly and spent a full weekend wining and dining in the company of the heavenly creatures.

Of course their fans were beyond overwhelmed by their presence and couldn't help but flood Ellen's comment section with sweet welcome messages.

Our very own Grace Msalame couldn't hold back her excitement and she slid into the comedian's comment section.

The two jetted out to Rwanda after their shortlived trip to Kenya came to an end.

READ ALSO:Do you love me because I'm ugly? - singer Nyota Ndogo asks mzungu hubby in hilarious video

Ellen and Portia walked down the aisle in 2008 at their home in the US in the presence of their mothers and 17 other guests.

The talk show host's beautiful wife doubles as an actress and a model.

If you've watched Scandal, then you definitely spotted Portia shutting it down on the popular show!

Portia acted as Elizabeth North, President's Chief of Staff but her character was killed in April 2018.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Socialite Bridget Achieng wants to be Kenya's next president. Tuko / Tuco - Kenya

Source: Kenya Breaking News Today
- Ngunyi admits there is corruption but says situation has been carefully tuned to create anger, and depict Uhuru as incompetent; and it is working

- He argues that though Uhuru inherited a highly-corrupt government structure, the buck stops with him as the appointing authority

-The analyst calls on the president to overhaul the civil service if he is to win the war against corruption

President Uhuru Kenyatta is being steered right into a political trap with the many corruption scandals rapidly unfolding under his watch, political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has warned.

According to the analyst, the government is naked because its anti-corruption strategy is naive, a situation that has seen mega graft become the main talking point quite early into Uhurus second term.

READ ALSO: 17 super crazy things Kenyans would do if they switched places with Uhuru for a day

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens.

Ngunyi warned that this situation was being puffed up to create anger that could see the president impeached.

READ ALSO: 30-year-old lady who pocketed KSh 59 million NYS loot nabbed in Naivasha

Six months into Uhurus second term, corruption is the main legacy item; and it will not go away. Corruption has taken over from the Big Four as the main legacy project, he argued through one of the presenters in Fifth Estate, a weekly YouTube political analysis channel.

In our view, this is a carefully engineered project to create anger, and depict Uhuru as incompetent; and it is working, went on Nyunyi in the Monday May 28, episode.

READ ALSO: Raila Junior ashambulia wanaomtaka babake kuzungumzia ufisadi nchini

The analyst cautioned that the ongoing corruption wave could be capped by a terror attack to trigger even more national anger against Uhuru, a crisis he said would attract him little sympathy given the prevalent post-handshake political dynamics.

Even Kikuyus who supported him will begin to see him as incompetent. Yet all these will have been engineered to create a justification for impeachment,

READ ALSO: William Ruto calls for swift action on NYS, NCPB scandals

"We repeat our warning for Uhuru. There is a trap ahead, if you do not manage politics, politics will manage you; and the Maraga ruling is our painful reminder, Mutahi added in reference to the nullification of Uhurus August 8 presidential win in 2017.

The political analyst personally noted that while the president inherited a highly corrupt government, all the buck in regard to the ongoing looting stopped at his door.

READ ALSO: 40 suspects lined up for grilling over alleged theft of Ksh 9 billion at NYS

we dont elect the NYS director. We dont elect the NCPB director or the Kenya Pipeline director. The person we elected is Uhuru Kenyatta. If public funds are stolen, the man accountable to the public is the president and not his appointees, he argued.

Ngunyi however stated the president executed all his intentions through the civil service and squarely shifted the blame to Joseph Kinyua, the head of Public Service.

READ ALSO: Stolen NCPB KSh 1.9 billion meant for 2022 presidential campaigns - ODM

if Uhurus government is currently naked, it is because the civil service has failed him. It is that simple, Ngunyi averred.

In my view, impeachment is a far-fetched conversation, but the president should not push the opponent to the point of desperation because of an incompetent civil service. He needs to change the civil service for corruption to become history in this country, he concluded.

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.

Peter Pepe Interview: From a Conductor to 13.5 Million Business Owner - On Tuko TV

Source: Kenyan Breaking News
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health reported that the country had recorded seven more cases of
The Opposition Leader says there is no need for anyone to boycott the Maha Sabha's Indian Arrival Day event on Wednesday...
U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker does not see any great differences of views between Europe and European allies on the supply of lethal weapons from the United States to Ukraine.

He said this to international journalists in London, when asked about alleged disagreements between the US and the EU in the matter of providing Ukraine with the American lethal weapons, in particular, the Javelin anti-tank missiles, the U.S. Department of State reports.

"Ive had multiple consultations across Europe, France and Germany as the leaders in the Normandy process with the P5 members including the UK, other Security Council members temporarily on, the European Union, NATO. And I dont detect a great deal about the vision to helping Ukraine with its self-defense capabilities," Volker said.

The UK, Canada, Poland, Lithuania, all in their own ways actively support Ukraines defense capabilities, the diplomat noted.

He reminded that Ukraine was facing a conflict on its own territory. I would just ask you to imagine for a minute you are at home in your own country. Your soldiers are fighting to defend the territory of your country within your own territory. And soldiers in your military are being killed at the rate of a couple a week on your own territory, trying to defend your territory against a foreign aggressor. That is an intolerable situation for any country to be in, to face that kind of pressure. And it is only reasonable for Ukraine to defend itself and for others to help them, the U.S. special representative added.

ol
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz believes that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg may intervene in the situation with Hungary's attempt to block Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.

He called the situation with Hungary and Ukraine a "family quarrel", 112.ua reports with reference to olsatnews.

"I think it is a family quarrel. It is necessary to examine this issue and propose a solution that would dispel any doubts. Perhaps, the third party is needed, for example, NATO Secretary General. I think he has some tools for solving this issue," Czaputowicz said.

He added that he had discussed this problem with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto a few days ago.

As reported, Hungary initiated a review of NATO support programs for Ukraine. In particular, the Hungarian government sent a document to the NATO allies, claiming that "the reforms in Ukraine have failed."

In such a way the Hungarian government protests against the language clause of the Ukrainian education law, which entered into force on September 28, 2017. Hungary believes the law violates the rights of the Hungarian minority.

ol
Visits of the president and the foreign minister of Germany to Ukraine prove the fact that Ukraine remains one of the priorities of the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andriy Melnyk said this in a commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"A double visit to Kyiv of the head of state and the chief diplomat of Germany within just a week is the clearest sign of support for President Petro Poroshenko personally and the reform efforts of the leadership of the state and the government. At the same time, it is a kind of yellow card to those who mistakenly believe that Europe on the whole and Germany in particular have got tired of or disappointed in Ukraine," the ambassador said.

In his opinion, the upcoming visits have a very deep symbolic meaning: Ukraine remains a priority of Germany's foreign policy, being an integral part of the coalition agreement of the newly created federal government.

ol
Russia should accept responsibility for MH17 crash over the occupied Donbas.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Warsaw on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I agree with the Government of the Netherlands, which called on Russia to accept responsibility for the crash," the NATO Secretary General stressed.

He noted that Russia interfered in the democratic processes, was responsible for cyber attacks, invested in modern types of weapons, blurred the boundaries between ordinary and nuclear conflicts by annexing Crimea and destabilizing Ukraine.

"MH17 crash was the result of this aggression," the NATO Secretary General stressed.

ol
Russia should take its responsibilities for crash of MH17 passenger flight and cooperate with the investigation.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced this on Monday, a Brussels-based Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We call upon Russia to take its responsibilities and contribute to the efforts to establish accountability," Mogherini said.

The European Union has always been fully supportive of the investigation exercise and we, together at 28, reaffirmed our full support to the outcome of this investigation and to the efforts to bring accountability, she noted.

As reported, the Boeing-777 passenger airplane owned by Malaysia Airlines, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down by Russian-backed militants in Donbas in July 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crewmembers on board the plane, and all of them died.

May 24, the Joint Investigative Team reported that MH17 flight had been shot down over the occupied territory of Donbas on July 17, 2014 by the Buk anti-aircraft missile system originated from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade stationed in Kursk, the Russian Federation.

ol
Dzhemilev estimated that the total number of Russians brought into the disputed region was between 850,000 and 1 million.

Russia has relocated up to 1 million people to the annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea, according to Mustafa Dzhemilev, the long-time leader of the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's envoy for Crimean Tatar affairs.

Dzhemilev told Ukrinform on May 27 that Moscow is bringing "large numbers" of people from various regions of Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, RFE/RL reported.

Read alsoCrimean Tatar leader Dzhemilev: At least 250,000 people from Russia brought to occupied Crimea

"But this is held as a military secret because they know perfectly well that it is a crime," Dzhemilev said.

He estimated that the total number of Russians brought into the disputed region was between 850,000 and 1 million.

"Russia is now roughly repeating the same strategy that was used during the first occupation [of Crimea] under [Empress] Catherine [the Great]," he said. "At that time it wasn't possible to deport people since there were no railroads. So they simply created impossible living conditions for people in order to force them to migrate. As a result, Crimean Tatars very quickly became a minority people."

The Russian annexation of Crimea and Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine prompted the United States, the European Union, and others to impose targeted sanctions against selected Russian individuals and companies.
On March 25, Ukrainian border guards detained a fishing vessel called the Nord in the Sea of Azov that flew a Russian flag.

Russia has put Ukrainian border guards who detained the Russian-flagged, Crimean-registered fishing vessel Nord in the Sea of Azov on March 25 on an international wanted list.

Read alsoFSB says Ukrainian fishing vessel YAMK-0041 seized

"Of course, they are in Ukraine, but as soon as they cross the border, we will imprison them for acting the way Somali pirates do," Head of the "FSB branch in Crimea" Viktor Palagin said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on March 25, Ukrainian border guards detained a fishing vessel called the Nord in the Sea of Azov that flew a Russian flag. The Prosecutor's office of Crimea opened a criminal case because the vessel came from annexed city of Kerch, a port officially closed by the Ukrainian government.

In response, the Department of the FSB of Russia in Crimea opened a criminal case against employees of the State Border Service of Ukraine that detained the ship. Ukrainian border guards have called it "the pressure on the State Border Service of Ukraine." On May 3, the State Border Service of Ukraine reported that "the Russians began a policy of detention and inspection of ships" through the Kerch Strait.
The appeal was presented at a May 28 news conference in Warsaw by the two former Polish presidents, Aleksander Kwasniewski and Bronislaw Komorowski.

Five ex-presidents from Poland and Ukraine have issued a joint appeal for reconciliation between their countries amid growing nationalism and provocations from Russia that have strained their relations.

The ex-presidents expressed concerned about the strains, saying that unity is now needed given "the challenge of Russian aggression to Ukraine," as reported by RFE/RL.

Read alsoForeign Ministry: No increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Ukraine

The appeal was presented at a May 28 news conference in Warsaw by the two former Polish presidents, Aleksander Kwasniewski and Bronislaw Komorowski.

It also was signed by former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko.

Poland for years was one of the strongest advocates in the European Union and NATO for bringing Ukraine into the Western fold. That position infuriated Moscow.

But Polish-Ukrainian ties have been strained recently over disagreements rooted in historical grievances.
The investigators are deciding whether to initiate criminal proceedings for illegal purchase, as well as the transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons and ammunition.

Officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation have detained a Ukrainian citizen in occupied Crimea allegedly while trying to sell weapons.

Read alsoUkraine charges Moscow has brought up to 1 million Russians into Crimea  media

"A Ukrainian born in 1986 and a Russian born in 1992 have been detained while trying to sell a TT pistol," Russian Federal News Agency has reported with reference to the Crimean Office of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.

The investigators are deciding whether to initiate criminal proceedings for illegal purchase, as well as the transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons and ammunition.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on August 12, 2017, the FSB announced the detention of a citizen of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied Crimea, calling him an "agent" of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine and accusing of preparing "sabotage" at infrastructure facilities.

The Security Service of Ukraine called the report of the Russian FSB on the detention of the "SBU agent" in Crimea another provocation and fake news.
According to the updated data, three occupiers were killed and three others were wounded.

Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 22 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA).

Read alsoTwo troops of SBU's Alpha unit killed in Donbas shelling

"In the Horlivka sector, hostilities continued near the town of Svitlodarsk, and the villages of Zaitseve and Novhorodske, as well as near Butivka coal mine, and the towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, which are in the Donetsk sector," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on May 28, 2018.

The situation escalated in the Mariupol sector. In particular, near the villages of Pavlopil, Vodiane and Shyrokyne.

"Yesterday, at about 19:00, the enemy suffered losses during a short firefight near Pavlopil. According to the updated data, three occupiers were killed and three others were wounded. At the same time, the fate of one JFO soldier is still unknown. The circumstances of his disappearance are being clarified, measures are being taken to find him," the report says.
Researchers in UK and India claim that a "significant" lack of "editing" in microRNAs in the brain tissue of a person is a potential cause of cancer. What were the findings and how to prevent the disease from spreading? Read on to find out.

The scientists describe their finding as "small but important". For one, it will help doctors understand brain cancer progression. Eventually, it will also increase the possibility of using genome engineering techniques to slow down or reverse the effects of the disease.

To better illustrate, Science Daily reported that microRNAs are special types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) that do not code for proteins but participate in crucial regulatory functions. RNAs can introduce beset variations in the organization of their building blocks known as ribonucleotides. This process, therefore, is called "editing".

In return, "editing" will enable RNA molecules to grow their functional selection, a process that maintains cell diversity and helps the human body to adapt dynamically.

Dr. Arjit Mukhopadhyay, a human genetics and genomics researcher in the School of Environment and Life Sciences, said in earlier interviews that these certain "variations" are decreased in patients with brain cancer which potentially drive the development of the disease. Mukhopadhyay and his team also examined the normal microRNA editing spectrum in 13 human tissue types.

Per Science Alert, they found out that healthy brains tend to have the highest amount of "editing". This alludes to the importance of the observed drop in cases of brain cancers. Mukhopadhyay admitted that while they do not know what is happening precisely, they believe that cellular output can be significantly altered.

The findings of this research pose one vital question for medical practitioners worldwide. That question is: Can science biochemically re-establish the "editing"? If proven to be true, there are ways to accomplish it using genome engineering techniques like CRISPR. It targets specific cells to revert the biological outcome.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reveals the Top 10 findings of its MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission). On June 17, NASA MAVEN celebrated its 1,000 Earth days in orbit around the Red Planet.

Foremost, NASA launched the mission in November 2013. It reached the Martian orbit in September 2014. Here are the Top 10 MAVEN discoveries on Mars:

1. The Martian atmosphere has been stripped away by the sun. Over time, the solar wind caused the early warmer and wetter environment on Mars. It eventually turned into the cold, dry planet that we know today.

2. MAVEN successfully measured the rate of atmosphere deterioration due to the solar wind. The removal process is now better understood as well. Stronger solar wind and the ultraviolet light indicate that large amounts of gas have been lost to space through time.

3. According to Science Daily, isotopes in the upper atmosphere were used to measure the loss of gas. Isotopes are atoms of the same composition but having different mass. Findings show that more than 2/3 or more of the atmosphere in Mars have vanished.

4. Scientists were able to observe the full seasonal variation of hydrogen in the upper atmosphere. It varies by a factor of 10 throughout the year. The source of the hydrogen is water in the lower atmosphere, split into hydrogen and oxygen by sunlight.

5. On the other hand, the interactions between the solar wind and the planet are due to the lack of a Martian magnetic field. The magnetosphere that results from the interactions varies on short timescales. As a result, it is quite "lumpy".

6. Per Astrobiology, MAVEN discovered two new types of aurora: the "diffuse" and the "proton". However, they are different from humans see aurora on Earth. the variations on Mars are unrelated to either a global or local magnetic field.

7. These aurorae are caused by an influx of particles from the sun ejected through solar storms. They then hit the atmosphere in Mars. Thus, they increase the rate of loss of gas to space.

8. First direct observations of a layer of metal ions in the Mars were made. Experts found that this layer is always present. Nevertheless, it was enhanced dramatically by the close passage of Comet Siding Spring in October 2014.

9. It is now known that part of the particles from solar winds could penetrate "unexpectedly" into the upper atmosphere. Before, it was believed that they are being diverted around the Martian ionosphere. The penetration is allowed by chemical reactions that turn the charged particles of the solar wind into neutral atoms.

10. Brilliant Imaging of the distribution of gaseous nitric oxide and ozone in the atmosphere reveals another complex behavior. Apparently, there are dynamical processes of exchange of gas between the lower and upper atmosphere. These are not yet understood at the moment.
A typical two-year MBA program costs $200K, which is already boring holes in students' pockets. However, more and more schools are raising the cost of their MBA programs. In fact, nine schools are already part of this threshold with many more joining in the 'club.'

Here are the nine business schools whose MBAs are worth more than $200K:

Stanford - $225,594

New York University (Stern) - $220,948

Pennsylvania (Wharton) - $218,900

Harvard - $213,600

Columbia - $209,424

Dartmouth (Tuck) - $208,300

Chicago (Booth) - $207,518

MIT (Sloan) - $201,028

Northwester (Kellogg) - $200,434

Most of the most expensive MBA programs are private schools. But further down the list are public schools as well. In fact, the 10th spot for the list of MBAs worth $200K more belongs to UCLA's Anderson School, which is a public school. Although it is not more than $200K, it is getting to that threshold at $194,220.

Why did the cost of an MBA program balloon to such big heights?

Stanford was transparent enough to break down where the $225,594 is going. A whole lot of that, of course, goes to tuition which is $68,868. The next biggest slice goes to living allowance which is $34,653. The other slices include medical insurance, books, materials and program fee, and transportation.

With the rising cost, one can't help but wonder if pursuing an MBA program is really worth it. Will the return of investment pay for the cost that a person will spend for a two year masters program?

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, the median salary of a recent MBA graduate is at $110,000. That's 83 percent more than someone with a bachelors degree who could expect a median salary of $60,000.

Those who finish their MBA programs from prime schools can even expect to receive more. Stanford, for example, said that their MBA graduates can expect a median salary of $140,553.
China's loans to Pakistan essentially aim to drive Pakistan's economic development, and thus the loans should be offered in a way that aligns with the local economy and helps restructure the South Asian economy and boost its manufacturing and exports.

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :China's loans to Pakistan essentially aim to drive Pakistan's economic development, and thus the loans should be offered in a way that aligns with the local economy and helps restructure the South Asian economy and boost its manufacturing and exports.

Pakistan expects to obtain $1 billion to $2 billion of fresh Chinese loans to help it avoid a balance-of-payments crisis. Some observers hope China's economic assistance will help the country avoid having to go to the IMF for a bailout, but the key issue is the sustainability of China's financial help, according to an article published by China's leading newspaper Global Times on Monday.

China will not be stingy in offering help to Pakistan to strengthen its infrastructure, but China's bank loan is a market-driven commercial decision in line with international practices. The main point is Pakistan's debt repayment ability.

China-based financial organizations stick to a principle of not imposing additional political conditions when providing loans to other countries, distinguishing them from most Western financial institutions like the IMF.

This might be one reason why Chinese loans are welcomed in Pakistan. China is likely to continue to finance new projects in the country but will also assess their debt repayment ability to avert the risk of bad debt.

The multi-billion Dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has begun to bring tangible benefits to Pakistan's economy, which is likely to boost Pakistan's debt repayment ability.

It's possible that we're entering a virtuous cycle in which Chinese loans promote the development of the CPEC, and this then improves Pakistan's debt repayment ability.

However, the South Asian country may need to propel economic reforms to ensure the effectiveness of the loans and allow the local economy to benefit more from CPEC projects. It is hoped that people will learn a lesson from the IMF's operations.

In 2013, the IMF approved a loan plan for Pakistan to support its program to stabilize and rebuild the economy, but the multilateral lender failed to strictly monitor the use of the loans, and in the end they did little for Pakistan's economic development.

Now Pakistan's economy is on an upswing with the help of Chinese loans. Nadeem Javaid, who advises the prime minister and works closely on the CPEC program, was quoted by media as saying last year that debt repayments and profit repatriation from CPEC projects will reach $1.5 billion to $1.9 billion in 2019, rising to $3 billion to $3.5 billion by the following year.

China is likely to strengthen economic collaboration with Pakistan under the CPEC program, in a bid to ensure the effectiveness of the loans. The key to stronger cooperation between the two countries lies in how to improve Pakistan's economic innovation capability and allow the country to develop its own capacity for long-term economic sustainability.
The Opposition group of the FPCCI, Businessmen Panel (BMP) said that today Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry are losing its identity in the public sector as well as in international bodies due to lack of business plan.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :The Opposition group of the FPCCI, Businessmen Panel (BMP) said that today Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry are losing its identity in the public sector as well as in international bodies due to lack of business plan. BMP Vice Chairman Sheikh Aslam, Chairman KPK Adnan Jalil and Secretary General (Punjab) Mian M Usman Zulfiqar in a joint statement said from the last almost four years, FPCCI converted into public relations company, the federation is least interested to play its viable role for the formulation of policies through the government.; that's why we don't seen Federation Chambers anywhere which is a matter of great concern for the business community of this country. "The leaders of the Businessmen Panel said since the start of 2018 the FPCCI closed its Quetta Regional Office, similarly the Regional Office of Peshawar facing acute shortage of staff and even no alternative of the electricity in time of load shedding.

The Vice President FPCCI KPK doesn't even bother to come in its Regional Office Peshawar so how he can solve the problems of KPK traders and industrialists". Similarly FPCCI has no liason with the newly established KP industrial estates which shows non seriousness of the body. On the other hand the Research and Development (R&D) department of the FPCCI is lacking with the professional expertise.

Today Head of R&D of the FPCCI was before the PSO of the President, so you can imagine the quality work of its R&D.

Yet we don't see any research papers and any comparative study on any subject which is linked with the economy of Pakistan. Parallel there is no effective international desk in the FPCCI who can even brief the Government on any recommendation regarding bilateral trade.

As well as there is no Steering Committee of FPCCI who may meet from time to time to deliberate on major government policies of concern to Pakistani business and also advises the Executive Committee of FPCCI on the issues to be taken up with the Government, which can also discusses major global and domestic trends and debates fresh ideas and perspectives on business and economy which must comprises National Experts from different fields and includes all Past Presidents of FPCCI. They also highlighted that the FPCCI Secretary General Office is a like a post office for the Parton In Chief of the United Business Group and Former CEO TDAP. They told the TDAP has failed to deliver on its mandate mainly because of wrong priorities and changing export patterns over the years and "once again the SM Muneer closed friend Gulzar Firoz who was also the spokesperson of the ruling group UBG of FPCCI has succeeded as a member of Board of Director of the TDAP through effective lobbying.

This shows that Muneer has still eye on the whelm of the affairs of the TDAP".
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

AJK President Sardar Masood Khan Monday emphasized the need to establish lasting peace in South Asia, without any preconditions and resolving all outstanding issues, especially the issue of Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue, negotiations and mediation all within the framework of the United Nations

MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :AJK President Sardar Masood Khan Monday emphasized the need to establish lasting peace in South Asia, without any preconditions and resolving all outstanding issues, especially the issue of Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue, negotiations and mediation all within the framework of the United Nations.

The AJK President made these remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the International Peace Studies Conference 2018 organized by the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) held at the Diplomatic academy in Vienna, Austria, says a message received here on Monday.

President Masood Khan while speaking to his audience said that even though, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has been deployed in the region to help monitor the situation along the Line of Control yet there was a dire need to make it more functional and effective.

Underlining the need to resolve the issue of Kashmir - the core conflict in South Asia - the President said that this dispute must be resolved through engagements and dialogues between the two neighboring countries while giving unqualified prominence to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and safeguarding their human rights.

"The use of force and violence is not a solution to this dispute", he said. President AJK that chronic conflicts must never be dispatched to the back burner of history but instead due to their sensitivity and volatility they must figure prominently on the UN Security Council's horizon.

The President urged that the UN's Primary role in maintaining peace cannot be ignored especially in the areas with long-standing conflicts and for this, he proposed: Firstly, the Security Council should proactively encourage and guide parties to the dispute to engage in negotiations, mediations and arbitrations as well as other legal means, as provided in Article 33 of the UN Charter; but if the parties fail to settle the dispute by such means, they should refer it to the Security Council in accordance with Article 37 Secondly, the Council should uphold international law, especially international humanitarian law and human rights law to maintain international peace and security.

Thirdly, the Council should proceed, unhampered by selectivity and realpolitik, against instances of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity; and in this regard constitute commissions of enquiry and fact-finding missions.

Lastly, a method should be devised to ensure implementation of and compliance with the Security Council resolutions. Members should be obligated not to act unilaterally and violate or erode the Council's solemn pledges and resolutions.

President Masood Khan highlighting the importance of multilateral organizations like the UN, said that peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace building are part of a continuum of preventive diplomacy and amongst the three, peacemaking in accordance with Chapter VI of the UN Charter is the most important element because to keep and build peace, there must be some semblance of peace in the first place.

The UN, he said, has had considerable successes in many strife-torn zones and regions, like Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cte d'Ivoire, Burundi, Kosovo and Haiti despite the fact, that there is no guarantee of success due to the challenging and volatile environments in which peacekeeping missions operate.

The President explained that despite these successes the UN has not succeeded in bringing stability and security to many regions and countries like Somalia, Rwanda, Libya, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Central African Republic and chronic conflicts like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine and Kashmir, have not yielded to any solution.

The pressing need, said the President, is to approach issues of global impact with absolute impartiality, aloof of any political and strategic interests and to not fall a victim to real politic.

He said reformations in the UN strengthening it through democratizing decision-making processes in the UNSC is needed. He added that the Permanent Five should distance itself from monopolizing and dominating the action on long-standing persistent issues like Kashmir, Palestine, Korean Peninsula, Syria, Ukraine which have a graver and wider implication on global peace and security.

The session was also addressed by Michael Spindelegger former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Austria; Emil Brix, Director, Vienna school of International Studies; Kishore Mandhyan, Director for Peacekeeping, UN; Mike Hardy, Director Coventry University Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations; Walter Feichtinger, Austrian National Defence Academy; Farid Zarif former UN Under-Secretary General and Coordinator UN Operation Liberia-UNMIL; Mohammad Nizamuddin, Chairperson, Punjab Higher education Commission; Lucia Mokra, Dean Social and Economic Sciences Comenius University of Bratislava; Mauro Miedico, Chief Terrorism Prevention, UN Office on Drugs and Crime; Goran Bozicevic , Center for Peace Studies Croatia; Walter Kemp, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; Heinz Grtner, International Institute for Peace; University of Vienna and Afsar Rathore, former Programme Coordinator UN, the message added.
Islamabad, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018) : Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Maryam Nawaz on Monday denied being the beneficial owner of London flats and offshore companies Nielsen and Nescoll while recording her statement in Avenfield reference.

The Avenfield reference, pertaining to the Sharif family's London properties, is among three filed against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year on the Supreme Court's directives.

Maryam remarked that she never took any financial advantage from these companies. Moreover, she shared that she has nothing to do with 25% shares of Gulf Steel Mills, Al-Taufiq case, and settlement worth Rs12 million.

Maryam said that the Capital FZE documents don't concern her, adding that the documents were submitted with 'despicable purposes'. During court proceedings, Maryam remarked that the letters which were used as evidence against Sharif family cannot be made part of court records.

The two letters she mentioned include one which was submitted by Joint Investigation Team Head Wajid Zia on July 3, 2017, and other by Mossack Fonseca dated June 22, 2012. While further blaming JIT head Wajid Zia of his ill-intent, she said "All the accusations of Wajid Zia against my family are based on his prejudice.

" While referring to the JIT letter, she explained that the way letter was sent to JIT was quite suspicious and not according to the law.

"There is no truth in letter attained from the private firm." Moreover, with regards to the Mossack Fonseca letter, she shared that she was denied the right to cross-examine the witness who penned down the letter.

"I was denied cross-examination so the contents of the letter can't be verified," she said, adding that the court cannot depend on the letter in a transparent trial. "There were no supporting documents attached to the letter." Over this, the NAB prosecutor remarked that Maryam is free to summon the author of the letter before the court for cross-examination.

To this, her legal counsel responded that they will have to see if the witness can be summoned or not. "The documents presented by the prosecution cannot be accepted as evidence. These documents are unrelated to indictment." Maryam, who started recording her statement on Thursday, has recorded her statement in 82 of the 128 questions asked by the court.

Maryam, along with husband Captain (retd) Safdar and father Nawaz Sharif, is appearing before accountability judge Muhammad Bashir.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s National Human Development Report (NHDR) has underscored that out of the millions of youth who never went to school or dropped out many aspire for a second chance at education

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s National Human Development Report (NHDR) has underscored that out of the millions of youth who never went to school or dropped out many aspire for a second chance at education.

According to the report, "the government policy and finance focus on increasing enrollment rates but neglect the school dropouts and youth who want to re-enter the education space. A few non-formal education models that allow children to return are miniscule and lack substantial government support".

It was observed that a successful model in this area is the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) that provides government support and scholarships to students who do well in at the matriculation/intermediate level but do not have the resources to continue their education.

Assistant professor of political science at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Dr Taimur Rehman opined that such programmes were required to be expanded and replicated in other provinces to help the uneducated youth break out of the vicious circle of unemployment and low paying jobs.

In addition, Pakistan needs to harness the potential of internet to increase access to education. The government should also increase resource allocation for education spending, and utilize money more effectively.

It must also increase spending on Primary and secondary education to improve equity, and introduce targeted scholarships at the tertiary level, the report added. With the rapidly developing and dynamic labour market, it was necessary to integrate technical and vocational education at secondary level, add subjects that equip students with more employable skills providing more opportunities for better employment withstanding cut-throat competition.

The government programmes targeting education should be inclusive rather than isolated and integrate various forms of education, including technical, at the secondary level. It would enable youth who feel alienated from formal education to enter a ready stream of skills training.

The educational vocational training institutions and programmes working in the country must also find ways to cater to this category of youth.

The report suggested that government and civil society must also work to change the negative perceptions about technical and vocational education, particularly for the youth.

Changing the culture about how society perceives the value of technical and vocational education was necessary to draw more youth into these programmes, as a feasible means of acquiring labour market skills.

The study revealed that the poor quality of government schools coupled with the increasing demand for education has led to a spike in private education in the country. The student enrollment in private schools across the country increased from 20 to 24 percent between 2013 and 2014.

Many of these schools charge relatively low fees but may not be registered with the government and remain unregulated. In the absence of a strong state-led and state-implemented regulatory framework for private schools, this may even backfire by churning out more "educated illiterates".

The Annual Status of Education Report showed that children in low-cost private schools on average do not learn any better than their public school counterparts. Director of programmes at Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, Dr Baela Jamil Raza said improving access to education through public-private partnerships based on the Punjab Education Foundation model would be a viable option to improve enrollments.

However, to reach and maintain the goal of quality education, it is essential for the state to be involved in regulation and monitoring education. Overall, it was all too evident that while recognising and tackling Pakistan's poor education system, the focus had been disproportionately on the quantity of education at the expense of quantity.

At present, with the number of educational institutes on the rise and an almost universal acceptance of the need for at least basic education, including for girls even in the most traditional communities, there was an urgency to improve the quality of education.

Moving towards the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, which include quality as a key theme (Target 4), Pakistan must boost efforts to improve education quality. This was necessary not just for individual self-fulfillment but ties in critically to better quality employment.
(@rukhshanmir)

Minister for Interior, Ahsan Iqbal and Saudi Minister of Interior, Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef on Monday vowed to further promote economic cooperation for strengthening the existing bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :Minister for Interior, Ahsan Iqbal and Saudi Minister of Interior, Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef on Monday vowed to further promote economic cooperation for strengthening the existing bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

According to a message received here on Monday, Saudi Interior Minister welcomed Ahsan Iqbal to the Kingdom. He also showed concern over the assassination attempt on Ahsan Iqbal and inquired after his health.

Ahsan Iqbal extended greetings and felicitations from the government and people of Pakistan. He thanked the Saudi Government for the strong expression of condemnation of assassination attempt incident on him.

He also thanked the Saudi Interior minister for enquiring about his health while in hospital.

During the meeting, both the leaders discussed the ways of coordinating the bilateral cooperation between the Ministries of Interior of the two countries.

Ahsan Iqbal appreciated the amnesty scheme 2017 under which a large number of Pakistani expatriates returned to Pakistan. Other matters relating to Pakistani community living in Kingdom and those visiting Kingdom including the immigration matters, transfer of prisoners.

Umrah and Hajj facilitation were also discussed in the meeting. The Saudi Minister promised to look into all issues and matters. The Interior Minister was accompanied by Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia Khan Hasham Bin Saddique, Consul General Shahryar Akbar Khan and Deputy Consul General Shaiq Ahmed Bhutto.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Beijing, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018) : Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday announced that the regional security will dominate the summit's meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) scheduled to meet in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province on June 9 and 10.

Pakistan will be represented at the meeting by President Mamnoon Hussain, who is likely to highlight the country's efforts to improve the security situation in the region. Wang Yi said that the membercountries will get the support from the SCO summit to address the challenges like terrorism and drug trafficking.

He also announced that President Xi Jinping will preside over the summit. Wang told the reporters at a news briefing that SCO member countries will formulate new measures to deal with shared security concerns, such as the so-called "Three Evil Forces"  referring toseparatism, extremism and terrorism as well as drug trafficking and cybercrimes. In addition, the leaders will also look into internationalsecurity challenges and seek a global solution to address the risks, he added. Meanwhile, foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Monday that Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China from June 6 to 10, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He added that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will pay a working visit to China. They will also attend the 18th Meeting of Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

It may be mention here that the representatives from Pakistan and other countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at a meeting held here agreed to institutionalize their forum of political parties to facilitate exchanges for better development of the organization.

They also pledged to uphold the "Shanghai spirit" for regional peace and development, to exercise leadership for the shared future of SCO and to step up actions to increase the development momentum in their countries, said Guo Yezhou, deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Political parties are the leaders in the development of countries, and closer exchanges between parties in SCO countries will play an important role in deepening the development of the organization, said Song Tao, head of the International Department.
(@FahadShabbir)

The provincial authorities have confirmed and started initial process to install surveillance cameras at around 20,000 sensitive polling stations in the country for upcoming general election

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :The provincial authorities have confirmed and started initial process to install surveillance cameras at around 20,000 sensitive polling stations in the country for upcoming general election.

Of the total around 85,000 polling stations for next general election, some 20,000 were likely to be declared sensitive, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad Monday said.

He gave a detailed briefing to Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control about measures being taken to ensure external and internal security of the polling stations during election 2018.

Senator Rahman Malik chaired the meeting which was also attended by members of the committee including Senators Kalsoom Parveen, Javed Abbasi, Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Azam Khan Swati, Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh, Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel, Secretary Interior, Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and other senior officials of Ministry of Interior and its departments.

Under the plan, three security cameras will be installed at each polling booth. Two cameras will be installed in the area where the polling staff issue ballot papers and verifies the voters, while another will be at the entrance of each booth.

The secretary said installation of cameras at sensitive polling stations is requirement of law. The basic objective of monitoring through cameras is to ensure free and fair election, he added. Answering a question, Babar Yaqoob said the law also permits footage of these cameras can be used as witness in courts.

Moreover, he informed that training of returning officers is expected to be completed by May 31, while training of other relevant staff would be completed next month. With regard to deployment of army at polling stations, he said, meetings for the purpose have already been convened.

He also highlighted other steps being taken regarding compilation of results. The committee is ready for all possible help to election commission, Rehman Malik said. He said security is very important during elections and there is need to provide fool-proof security to politicians during coming days.

The committee condemned terrorist attacks on security forces in Quetta and expressed grief over martyrdom of army and police officers. Rahman Malik said the government should submit details to committee on recent incidents of terrorism in Quetta.

The committee also condemned attacked on interior minister Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal. The committee was informed that five accused persons have been arrested in Ahsan Iqbal's attack case. The action would be taken as per Joint Investigation Team's findings.

The chairman also took notice of absence of IGP and Home Secretary of KP and said such a negligence would not be tolerated in next meeting in June. The committee also directed the Ministry of Interior to provide security to former deputy chairman of Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri whose security has been completely withdrawn.

Rahman Malik formed a sub-committee to prepare recommendations and security mechanisms of politicians and key figures.
Google has rewarded a Uruguayan teenager a "bug bounty" of more than USD36,000 for disclosing a severe security flaw.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :Google has rewarded a Uruguayan teenager a "bug bounty" of more than USD36,000 for disclosing a severe security flaw. Ezequiel Pereira's sporadic poking around has finally paid off in a big way.

Google just awarded the Uruguayan teenager USD36,337 for finding a vulnerability that would have allowed him to make changes to internal company systems, CNBC reported. "I found something almost immediately that was worth USD500 and it just felt so amazing.

So I decided to just keep trying ever since then," Pereira was quoted as saying by CNBC. "It feels really good - I'm glad that I found something that was so important," he added.

Although, Pereira found the bug earlier this year, he only just got permission to write about how he discovered it this week, after Google confirmed that it had fixed the issue, the report said.

It marks Pereira's fifth accepted bug, but it's by far his most lucrative. Pereira was about a month shy of 17 when he first got paid for exposing a Google security flaw through its bug bounty programme.

Pereira got his first computer when he was 10, took an initial programming class when he was 11 and then spent years teaching himself different coding languages and techniques. In 2016, Google flew him to its California headquarters after he won a coding contest.
(@Aneesah05582539)

A Nicaraguan government employee was killed and three other people injured over the weekend, officials said Sunday, the latest casualties of deadly political unrest that has wracked the Central American nation for more than a month.

Managua, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2018 ) :A Nicaraguan government employee was killed and three other people injured over the weekend, officials said Sunday, the latest casualties of deadly political unrest that has wracked the Central American nation for more than a month.

The deceased, one Jorge Gaston, died in hospital after being shot Friday, police spokeswoman Vilma Gonzalez said, attributing the killing to "criminal acts committed by vandalism groups." The opposition meanwhile said he was a victim of the government forces that had attacked protesters the same day.

The fatality brings to 84 the number of people killed since protests began on April 28, while more than 860 have been wounded, according to humanitarian groups, police, and relatives of victims.

Initially triggered by now-aborted reforms to the near-bankrupt social security system, the unrest broadened into a rejection by many Nicaraguans of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, a former Sandinista guerrilla who first ruled between 1979 and 1990 before returning as president 11 years ago, had kept power by maintaining leftist rhetoric while ensuring an accommodation with powerful private industry and keeping up trade with the United States.

Demonstrators have voiced frustrations over corruption, the autocratic style of Ortega and Murillo, limited options to change the country's politics in elections, and the president's control over Congress, the courts, the military and the electoral authority.
Representatives of the German Bishops Conference and those of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) have ended their joint meeting in Antananarivo, the sprawling capital of the Republic of Madagascar.

Vatican News Africa Service Staff  Vatican city.

German and African Bishops hail relationship

Speaking to Vatican News in separate interviews, Archbishop Ludwig Schick, the German Bishop of Bamberg who is also President of the Commission for International Church Affairs together with Angolan Archbishop, Gabriel Mbilingi, the current President of SECAM said they were meeting for the eighth time in a formal relationship spanning three decades.

Solidarity based on mutual respect

SECAM and the German Bishops told Vatican News correspondent, Faustina Angmor, that the joint meetings take place every four years and have a threefold purpose: Through the encounters, both sides seek to foster knowledge about Africa in Germany and to Africans about life in Europe. The meetings also offer an occasion for Bishops to pray together in pursuit of Gospel values as well as growing solidarity that is based on mutual respect.

According to Archbishop Schick, German missionaries who came to Africa have contributed to the evangelisation of Africa. However, the German Church is aware that the relationship between Africa and Europe has had its challenges and setbacks especially with the legacy of colonial rule.

The relationship with Europe and Africa is a long relationship -since many centuries. Now, we as a Church (in Germany), want to help Africas development. We wish for Africans to develop themselves because in the past the relationship was not always good. It was sometimes a relationship (based on) the exploitation of Africa for Europe and even for Germany. We want to change that and contribute to the development of Africa here (on the continent), Archbishop Schick said.

Integral development is part of the Churchs calling

For his part, Angolan Archbishop of Lubango who is also SECAM President, Gabriel Mbilingi, said the Church in Africa, through SECAM, appreciates the three-decades-long formal relationship with the German Bishops.

We thank God that through this pastoral cooperation, the Church in Africa continues to grow and promote the Biblical Apostolate as well as various pastoral, cultural and peace initiatives. We are both convinced that the integral development of the human person (either in Europe or Africa) forms part of the Churchs mission and should be vigorously promoted by the Church, the Angolan Archbishop said.

Speaking up for a more just global order

At the end of the eighth German-African Bishops encounter, a communique jointly issued called for a more just global order especially regarding international trade.

We speak up for a more just global order especially regarding the international trade that offers the same opportunities to all countries and peoples. The communique adds, Integral development can only be successful when discrimination of people, especially of women is eradicated.

The communique further affirms that As the Church in Africa and Europe, we commit ourselves to ensure that our evangelisation mission and work are inseparably tied to the demands of integral human development.

Integral human development should resonate in the Church

The Bishops say, The aims of integral human development should resonate within all aspects of Church life  in liturgical issues, in our catechism, education, welfare and social work. In our universities, faculties of theology and philosophy, seminaries and Catholic schools, we will promote the teaching of Catholic Social Doctrine in order to enable the priests, religious and lay people promote the integral human development of all persons, always and everywhere, reads the communique in part.
Talks and preparations continue for a Trump-Kim summit. China aims for the far side of the moon. Athletes turn refugees in Australia. Rolling Thunder returns to Washington. Noise pollution pervades Karachi, and a Memorial Day story.
Space X recently launched another rocket from California carrying satellites into space - accelerating interest by more businesses and research facilities that now view space as an opportunity. At this year's Milken Institute Global Conference, those in the space business describe why orbiting the Earth is so exciting. VOA's Elizabeth Lee has details from Los Angeles.
In a digital age, overloaded with smartphones, social media and the web, one California man is encouraging face-to-face interaction by trekking with strangers. It started as a crazy business idea but has really taken off in the past few years. VOAs Jesusemen Oni introduces you to Los Angeless first "people walker."
The United Nations reports Central African Republics five-year-old civil war is intensifying and has now spread to practically all parts of the country, even to those areas in northern and central CAR that have been relatively stable.

The U.N. says once safe areas, such as the capital Bangui and the countrys second city and commercial hub, Bambari, have become war zones.

Aid agencies note the countrys critical situation has dramatically worsened during the past year. They say an upsurge in violence has driven up the number of internally displaced people by 70 percent, to nearly 690,000 in less than a year. Refugee numbers also have gone up 25 percent to more than 575,000.

U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in the CAR Najat Rochdi says an upsurge of violence in April and May has sent many returning refugees fleeing to neighboring Cameroon and Chad. She says one in four people in the country is now displaced.

Meaning that a quarter of the population in Central Africa are not in a position, actually to have a normal life, are not in a position to send their kids to school and are not in a position to have access to their land, are not in a position even to participate in the rebuilding and reconstruction and the recovery of their own country.

Rochdi says more than half of the population, around 2.5 million people, needs humanitarian assistance. Unfortunately, she says the United Nations is only able to provide them with a fraction of what they need because of a shortage of funds.

She says the year is almost half over and the United Nations has received only 15 percent of its $515 million appeal for 2018. She says the meager response is forcing U.N. agencies to drastically cut aid programs. For example, she says the World Food Program has been forced to cut food rations by two-thirds.

The U.N. official is appealing to international donors to be more generous. She says humanitarian assistance in the CARs hot spots makes the difference between life and death.
China told the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement body on Monday that U.S. accusations that Beijing forced companies to hand over technology as a cost of doing business in China were groundless.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused China of stealing American ideas and announced a plan for a $50 billion tariff penalty against Chinese goods.

Both sides launched legal complaints at the WTO over the issue earlier this year.

"There is no forced technology transfer in China," Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xiangchen told the meeting, according to a copy of his remarks provided to Reuters.

"According to the U.S.'s view, China forces the U.S. companies to transfer technologies by imposing joint venture requirements, foreign equity limitations and administrative licensing procedures," Zhang said.

"But the fact is, nothing in these regulatory measures requires technology transfer from foreign companies."

Zhang said the U.S. argument involved a "presumption of guilt." The U.S. Trade Representative believed U.S. firms in China faced an obligation to hand over technology, while failing to produce a single piece of evidence.

Some of its claims were "pure speculation," he said, adding that the USTR saw Chinese M&A activity as a Chinese government conspiracy.

'Diligence and entrepreneurship'

Technology transfer was a normal commercial activity that benefited the United States most of all, he said, while Chinese innovation was driven by "the diligence and entrepreneurship of the Chinese people, investment in education and research, and efforts to improve the protection of intellectual property."

Legal experts say Washington needs WTO backing to implement its tariffs as far as they relate to WTO rules, while China has rejected the tariff plan wholesale and resorted to WTO action to stop it.

Under WTO rules, if disputes are not settled amicably after 60 days, the complainant can ask for a panel of experts to adjudicate, escalating the dispute and triggering a legal case that takes years to settle.

The United States, which launched its complaint on March 23, could have used the dispute meeting on Monday to take that step. China could do so at next month's meeting.

But since the dispute erupted, U.S.-China trade policy has been the subject of high-level bilateral talks. Trump tweeted cryptically that "our trade deal with China is moving along nicely" but that it probably needed a "different structure."

The United States put China's technology transfer policies on the agenda of Monday's meeting, without elaborating. A copy of the U.S. remarks was not immediately available.
The European Union is seeking to shield the bloc's strategic and economic interests in Iran in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the international nuclear deal, as the EU foreign policy chief insisted Monday that the unity of the member states was unquestioned.



Federica Mogherini said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers that the member states were intensely coordinating their efforts "to protect the economic investments of European businesses that have legitimately invested and engaged in Iran" over the past three years since the nuclear deal was agreed.



Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, however, said that Poland opposes any EU actions that would weaken U.S. sanctions.



The U.S. pulled out of the pact earlier this month, and wants to impose tough sanctions on Iran, which also might also have an impact on some European companies doing business with Tehran.



European powers say they are committed to keep working together to save the deal because they believe it is the best way to keep Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.



Mogherini insisted the EU was not motivated by business profits in trying to keep the deal alive.



"For us, this is not about an economic interest. It is about a security interest," she said.



Mogherini also downplayed reports of friction between Poland and the rest of the EU over how to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump and his hard-line stance toward Tehran.



Mogherini contended that the EU as a whole also shared some of Trump's concerns when it comes to Iran's role in the Middle East and its ballistic missile program.



Overall though, she said, "the first concern we share is one related to the possibility for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon" and sticking to the nuclear deal was the best way to prevent that.



Poland's Czaputowicz said that if European companies operating in Iran were to suffer losses, a mechanism needed to be found to compensate them. He also said encouraging the continued operation of European companies in Iran could weaken U.S. sanctions, and this could become be a big problem.



He said that those "states that tie their security to United States security" shared views similar to Poland's given their interest in preserving their trans-Atlantic relationship.



Last week, the EU's executive Commission announced that it will start revising a so-called blocking regulation that was drawn up in 1996 in response to the fallout from U.S. sanctions on Cuba, and on Libya and Iran.



The measure has never been used, but in essence it bans companies from respecting American sanctions where those sanctions might damage EU interests, notably trade and the movement of capital.



For the blocking regulation to be used now, it would have to be updated to include U.S. nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. This would take time and runs the risk that any one of the 28 EU member countries could block the move.



The EU is also ready to allow the European Investment Bank to help companies invest in Iran. On top of that, the EU's energy commissioner is heading to Tehran for talks on boosting energy cooperation.
Guinea President Alpha Conde appointed several new officials to his cabinet overnight, including finance and security ministers, amid civil unrest brought about by elections last February.

Conde replaced 13 of 33 ministers, with the changes announced Sunday on state TV. He gave no official reason for the changes.

The capital Conakry and other cities were the sites of riots and protests following local elections in February that opposition leaders alleged were fraudulent and unfair. About a dozen people were killed there in violence in February and March.

Earlier this month, Conde appointed a new prime minister, Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, to replace former prime minister Mamady Youla, who resigned on May 17.

In naming Fofana, Conde had promised a "great ministerial reshuffle" to quell the civil unrest rocking the country.

Among the appointments in the reshuffle, Conde named Mamady Camara, Guinea's former ambassador to South Africa, as the new finance minister. Alpha Ibrahima Keira, a loyalist from the regime of dictator Lansana Conte, was named security minister.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for September.
Iranian security forces will "resolutely confront" unrest that could be exploited by the United States and other enemies, a judiciary spokesman said on Sunday, after a wave of protests across the country mainly about economic issues.

The likely return of U.S. economic sanctions after Washington withdrew from an Iranian nuclear deal with world powers has triggered labour unrest and protests in Iran in the past few weeks by various groups, including teachers and truckers.

Earlier in May, at least two people were killed in the southern city of Kazeroon when protesters set fire to a police station.

Iran's ruling elite are anxious to prevent any repeat of unrest in late December, when people staged demonstrations in 80 cities and towns over poor living standards, some calling on Shiite Muslim clerical leaders to step down.

"Judicial and security bodies ... will resolutely confront any group or individual that want to compromise the country's security," said Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the judiciary's news website Mizanonline reported.

"I urges families not to let their children be fooled by psychological warfare ... launched by the enemy, especially Zionists (Israel) and Americans, and not let counter-revolutionaries infiltrate crowds of protesters with legitimate demands," he said. "These days, Americans and Zionists have become so desperate that they are reaching out to the most despicable individuals and terrorists."

President Hassan Rouhani has assured Iranians that their oil-reliant economy can withstand new sanctions, after the United States walked out of Iran's nuclear deal with major powers on May 8

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will impose "the highest level of economic sanctions" on Tehran.

The European signatories of the deal are scrambling to keep it alive and protect their Iranian trade.

European powers have until May 31 to present Iran with a plan to offset the U.S. pullout from its nuclear deal and Washington's renewed sanctions, a senior Iranian official said, with Tehran "weeks" away from deciding whether to quit the pact.
Italys president was accused Sunday of pandering to the European Union and kowtowing to the financial markets after he withheld his approval of a euro-skeptic becoming the countrys economy minister, thwarting in the process the formation of Europes first all-populist government.

President Sergio Mattarellas move plunged Italy deeper into a dramatic full-blown constitutional crisis  dangerous even by the countrys own chaotic political standards  with angry populists calling for the head of states impeachment. Mattarella turned Monday to a former International Monetary Fund economist, Carlo Cottarelli, to see if he can head a caretaker government of technocrats.

His rejection of 81-year-old Paolo Savona, an opponent of the euro, as economy minister appears likely to have increased the chances of a fresh parliamentary election this year which, unlike Marchs inconclusive polls, will probably have the European Union and euro membership as central campaigning issues, raising the stakes for Brussels and threatening a fracture with the bloc.

Luigi Di Maio, the youthful head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), vented his fury at the collapse of talks that would have seen his party form a coalition government with the Matteo Salvinis far-right anti-immigrant League. On Facebook, he said he and Salvini had been ready to form the government. I am very angry. You can imagine how much time we spent trying to form a government over the last 80 days, he wrote.

He blamed the credit rating agencies and the financial lobbies for torpedoing the nascent government, adding that Mattarellas veto was unacceptable and had thrust Italy into an institutional clash without precedent. He argued the president, a former judge and veteran politician who has served in several Christian Democrat governments, should be impeached. On Italian television the M5S leader said: First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls.

An equally enraged Salvini pointed the finger of blame for the deepening crisis at European Union officials and warned darkly, We will not be blackmailed by anyone. The only option now, he said, is for Italy to hold yet another election. If we are in a democracy, there is only one thing to do: give the choice back to the Italians.

Italys Prime Minister-designate, Giuseppe Conte, a political novice who was plucked from academic obscurity by Di Maio and Salvini to act as premier for their coalition government, tendered his resignation Sunday. He had been putting the finishing touches to his Cabinet line-up last week but the reaction from financial markets was far from approving with Italian government bond prices slumping and the countrys ailing banks seeing their stock prices hit an 11-month low.

Mattarella said he had vetoed the appointment of Savona as economy minister as it was his constitutional duty to protect Italys financial interests. Mattarella said he had accepted every proposed minister except Savona, who has called the euro a German cage and in the past has compared Germanys post-World War II rulers to Nazis.

Mattarella said he had done everything possible to assist the populist parties strike a deal that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority. But he added that a minister like Savona could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro.

Under the Italian constitution, ministers are appointed by the president in consultation with a prime minister-designate. It is not the first time that an Italian head of state has vetoed a minister proposed by an incoming government. It has happened at least three times before, most recently when Silvio Berlusconi  after winning the 1994 elections  wanted his personal lawyer to become the justice minister.

Investors were not the only ones alarmed about the prospects of an incoming M5S-League coalition government, which for the EU represented the biggest challenge for Brussels since Brexit with the populist threats to break the blocs budgetary rules and to deport summarily half-a-million migrants.

All of last week a series of senior European and EU officials warned of catastrophe with Slovakias finance minister, Peter Kazimir, urging Italy against a suicide mission that could trigger another eurozone debt crisis.

The cautions drew sharp retorts from the populists of both parties, with M5S politician Roberta Lombardi saying, We wont take lectures from Brussels. They should shut up. She added: If Europe fights us on our spending plans, we might be forced to let the people have their say in a referendum. I think that about 80% would vote to get rid of the euro.

M5S and League officials say that Mattarellas veto and Italys relationship with Brussels will inevitably frame any election. They calculate the head of state will have to call elections for September or October. Marchs election was one of the most bad-tempered and violent since the 1980s and some analysts fear fresh elections could turn even nastier.
Residents of Ellicott City, in the eastern U.S. state of Maryland, are surveying the damage from flash flooding Sunday that raged down the town's main street.

Its a deja vu for the historic town as it is the second time in as many years that an intense rainstorm triggered catastrophic flooding in it.

People were seen climbing to upper floors of their shops and homes for safety, with emergency workers urging them to wait for rescue personnel.

Ellicott City is located in a valley that collects rainfall from the surrounding countryside.

Local resident Ken Kessler said that following the floods in 2016 many business owners chose to clean up and reopen. This time, he said, hes not sure how many will do it again.

"It was incredible, so many of the businesses did come back and some did not. Now, with this happening so close again, we are going to have to watch that all over again," Kessler said.

Officials say the property damage may be more extensive than from the flood two years ago.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said its heartbreaking to witness the town going through this again.

"It is just devastating because people have their lives tied up in this. They went through a heck of a lot and now they are starting all over again. It is pretty devastating and it is emotional," Hogan said.

The governor promised to provide all possible assistance to residents and business owners affected by the latest flood.
Myanmar's anti-corruption commission has in recent weeks sued a senior bureaucrat and begun investigating a disgraced minister, indicating a crackdown on corruption promised by the government is finally happening. Often criticized as weak and unambitious, the commission's stepped-up efforts suggest the Southeast Asian country is joining a regional trend.

On May 25, the Myanmar Presidents Office confirmed the resignation of Planning and Finance Minister Kyaw Win, after the Anti-Corruption Commission revealed he was being investigated for bribery. The commission is also pursuing a criminal case against Food and Drug Administration Director-General Than Htut for allegedly demanding more than $11,000 in bribes from a construction company.

Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Aung Kyi told VOA that, at this stage in the probe against Kyaw Win, I do not have any obligation to reveal what type of corruption he committed. The commission has announced they delivered the investigation report to the President's Office on May 25, but its findings aren't yet public.

Last week, Myanmars upper house of parliament passed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Law that would grant the commission powers to investigate conspicuously wealthy office-holders on their own initiative. Currently, the commission, which was reconstituted in November, must wait for complaints to be submitted to it with strong evidence.

Political will

The commission had previously only pursued cases against low-ranking officials, and was noticeably absent in large scandals. One example was the multi-million-dollar misappropriation of development funds by the former chief minister of Magwe Region, who was merely ordered to return a portion of the money last year.

Ko Ye, national coordinator for the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability, told VOA the recent moves seemed to signal genuine political will, which he considered the most important ingredient in any anti-corruption fight.

Marie Cauchois Pegie, advisor to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime  which is helping Myanmar meet its commitments under the U.N. Convention against Corruption it ratified in 2012  told VOA the amendment was clearly a step forward.

However, the inadequate protection of whistle-blowers remains a critical shortcoming. Complainants risk counter-suits in a court system that many see as beholden to powerful interests.

With the amendment, the commission sought a reduction in maximum prison sentences for complainants providing false information from five years to six months. However, the upper house only approved a reduction to three years.

The corruption law mandates that necessary protection be provided to those supplying evidence. But, as Pegie notes, implementation is not really foreseen, and the country lacks a witness protection program.

Going after tigers

At the start of his tenure as finance minister in 2016, Kyaw Win earned a reputation for dishonesty by listing a Ph.D. on his resume from a made-up university. He has since presided over a slowdown in the economy and growing frustration among businessmen and investors, making him a politically expedient target.

Myanmars new president Win Myint, at his inauguration in March, declared fighting corruption a top priority. His first public meeting was with the Anti-Corruption Commission, in which he commanded them to be bolder in the face of interference from powerful figures.

Ahead of the 2020 election, the National League for Democracy government is anxious to deflect widespread criticism over the slowing pace of reform.

Myanmar political analyst Yan Myo Thein told VOA pervasive corruption in everyday life could turn an anti-graft drive into a vote winner. Yet, he said this would require the government to keep going after tigers, not just flies.

However, Hunter Marston, analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington, told VOA it was possibly too late for such a drive to pay electoral dividends by 2020. Given Myanmars sluggish court system, this is plausible. He suggested a winning strategy might better focus on rural poverty-alleviation measures.

A regional mix

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the regions mix of one-party states, multi-party democracies and military regimes make it hard to draw clear lines between the aims or approaches of governments conducting anti-graft drives.

In Vietnam, a crackdown since 2016 has seen ex members of the Communist Party Politburo and Central Committee sentenced, and dozens tried in single cases.

Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, told VOA this has addressed a genuine spiraling of graft over the previous ten years, mostly linked to giant state-owned enterprises and associated banks.

However, he said a desire by the Communist Party to reassert control of the state has been a key impetus, and he downplayed the role of public opinion. Any recent popular dividend, he said, may have been cancelled out by a crackdown on free expression and Internet communication.

Aung Tun, a Myanmar independent researcher on corruption, said this authoritarianism made Vietnam an inappropriate model. He suggested Indonesia, a multi-party democracy with a strongly empowered anti-corruption commission and robust civil society, could point the way ahead.

However, Indonesias commission has pursued high-level targets since 2003, while corruption remains endemic. Its example suggests that clean government requires a degree of societal change that could take a generation, or more.




New Zealand will slaughter more than 100,000 cows in an effort to eradicate a bacterial disease.

The government and agricultural leaders announced Monday that it will spend over $600 million over the next decade to rid the country of Mycoplasma bovis, which causes udder infections, pneumonia, arthritis and other illnesses. The bacteria is not a threat to humans, but can cause production delays on farms.

"This is a tough call," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. "But the alternative is to risk the spread of the disease across our national herd."

Mycoplasma bovis has been detected on more than three dozen farms since it was first detected in New Zealand last year, leading to the slaughter of about 26,000 cattle. The country is the world's largest exporter of milk and dairy products.
The Buni Yadi government high school in northeastern Nigeria sits on an abandoned plot of land. Birds have built nests in the neglected classrooms. Dusty breezes blow through burned-out window frames. Ashes pile up in the corners of the dorm rooms.

In February 2014, just two months before the now-infamous abduction of schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, members of the armed terrorist group Boko Haram invaded the school in Yobe state.

What happened at Buni Yadi was called a massacre. Fifty-nine students were murdered. Some were shot; others burned to death.

Life is slowly returning to the campus. VOA met an engineer overseeing carpenters reinforcing collapsed ceiling tiles in one classroom. The government has ordered renovations to the school, but getting building contractors to work here is a challenge.

"Contractors will not readily go to these areas. This, at the end of the day, will add to the cost of ensuring these projects are implemented in these areas because the risks are huge," said Alkasim Abdulkadir, communications chief for the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative, which supervises the Safe Schools Initiative, or SSI.

Thirty million dollars reportedly was raised for the initiative  started in 2014 with support from the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown  to help secure schools and coordinate humanitarian aid in the region where Boko Haram continues to operate.

Frustrated by the ongoing attacks, activists are demanding to know how that money is being spent.

Nigerian lawmakers have suggested a probe amid allegations of mismanagement.

Even educators have been critical of the initiative, which is backed by private businesses and foreign governments, including Germany and Norway.

"It is unfortunate [that], up until now, they have not done anything for us in terms of providing some security measures to be taken in our schools," said Mohammed Lamin, commissioner for Yobe's Ministry of Education. "Maybe they may come in the near future to start fencing some of the schools or providing some security equipment to us, but up until this moment, nothing has been done. It is only the state government that has been providing all these things to our schools."

SSI officials told VOA that most of the money has been used to transfer more than 2,000 students to safer schools. That includes students from Buni Yadi, who now attend another school 160 kilometers from home.

Attacking schools is at the heart of Boko Harams manifesto.

Boko Haram literally means "Western education is sinful." The group largely ignores Islamic schools but has destroyed nearly 1,400 Western-styled ones, killing more than 2,000 teachers. Although the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction has garnered the most attention, Boko Haram actually has kidnapped more than 1,000 schoolchildren, according to the United Nations.

Thousands of children are now being schooled at internally displaced camps managed by UNICEF. These IDP schools, established as another component of SSI, have also had to adjust to the ongoing violence, which is entering its 10th year.

"The original idea of a temporary learning space was exactly that, temporary, with the expectation that after a couple of months, they would go back home. But now theyre staying," said Geoffrey Ijumba, head of the UNICEF office in Maiduguri, the capital of neighboring Borno state.

Bamboo-roofed school structures are being converted into more permanent sites.

More than 2 million people have been forced to flee their home communities. Most have ended up in the city were Boko Haram was started: Maiduguri. Officials say the city is filled beyond capacity.

UNICEF has directed $9 million toward SSI, using funds to renovate more than 200 classrooms and train thousands of teachers on security protocols. However, many educators remain fearful.

At Zajiri Primary School in Maiduguri, principal Ishaku Hassan stands before students for the morning assembly. Alerting them to be on the lookout for suicide bombers who are known to quietly walk up to schools, he tells them, "If you see something, say something. Anyone who looks suspicious, tell your teacher."

At least five teachers left Zajiri Primary School and headed to the southeastern part of Nigeria, beyond Boko Harams reach.

Hassan told VOA, "Boko Haram is still a threat to schools in Maiduguri. Its a threat to teachers and even the community. Apart from the teachers, the parents dont want to send their wards to school because of the situation on the ground and there is no mark for Boko Haram. You cannot trace if this person is Boko Haram."

Educators are demanding more from the Safe Schools Initiative, though UNICEF is not positioned to fix all the security challenges.

"Look, we cannot stop an invasion, an armed invasion of a school. This is not our mandate," Ijumba said. We can train the teachers to provide psycho-social support. We can provide uniforms, we can provide school materials, we can provide water at the school, but protection of the school itself, its important that the security agents in the country, they take over that."

The Nigerian army says it is conducting mop-up operations to rid the country of what it says is a severally weakened force. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Boko Haram is technically defeated. Yet, some towns are still under control of the insurgents.

After Boko Haram fighters kidnapped more than 100 students from the town of Dapchi in February, more security personnel have been dispatched in the region.

"Some are in plainclothes, but not all of them are actually at schools, but they have been dispatched to key locations around schools. We dont have enough police officers to man every school. That is our challenge, said the Borno State police commissioner, Damian Chukwu.

Security lapses continue. Several Boko Haram attacks have happened this year alone. Trained by UNICEF, educators are teaching their students how to conduct safety drills.

At the sound of a whistle, students abruptly leave their classrooms, hold hands and cover their heads while walking to a safe space.

The training seems to be effective.

"Very close to one school, there was an attack. Students, they heard the bomb blast and they practiced exactly what we taught them and thereby, quickly, all the students were in a safer place and they moved out," said Babagana Goni Ali. He works with the Borno State Universal Basic Education Board, which has been tasked with working with UNICEF to carry out SSI.

He acknowledges that the SSI money could be managed much better. Educators have had to pay out of pocket for neighborhood vigilante members to guard school gates.

Northeastern Nigeria's oldest elementary school, Yerwa Central Primary School, was established in 1915. Boko Haram insurgents have struck it at least three times, including in 2010, when they set 36 classrooms on fire, although a police station is next door to the school. Guards said they recognized the insurgents as current and former students. The principal and school secretary were among those killed. However, there still are no security guards posted at the front gate, and only two elderly volunteers watch the back gate to protect against attacks.

At Gamboru Primary School, students duck and run down a staircase in a safety drill. Boko Haram once reigned in the community. Now, students are back in school, hoping the drills protect them.



WATCH: The Effort to Keep Nigerian Schoolchildren Safe
In the wake of the Dapchi kidnapping, Nigerian activists are calling on lawmakers to investigate the multimillion dollar Safe Schools Initiative and how the funds have been used. Organizers tell VOA the bulk of the funding has gone to transferring 2,000 students to schools in safer zones and creating schools within Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Chika Oduah visited IDP camps in Maiduguri.
Four years after Nigeria launched the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), schools in Maiduguri are holding emergency safety drills for students. Much of the multi-million dollar for the program has gone towards building higher school walls and other preventive measures aimed at stopping the insurgency group known as Boko Haram. Despite the measures, many children are still risking their lives to get the education they need. Chika Oduah reports from Maiduguri.
President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plan to hold face-to-face discussions before a planned summit between Trump and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un.

We agreed to meet before the U.S.-North Korea summit, Abe told reporters in Tokyo following his Monday telephone call with Trump.

In the call, Trump and Abe also affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and ballistic missile programs, according to a White House statement.

Both Trump and Abe are set to attend the Group of Seven economic summit June 8-9 in Canada, but the two may meet at the White House prior to that, according to officials in Washington and Tokyo.

The two leaders spoke Monday as American officials were in North Korea and Singapore to discuss arrangements for the prospective talks.

The phone conversation took place before Trump went to Arlington National Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony. There, the president made no reference to the situation on the Korean peninsula in his 22-minute scripted remarks.

Nearly 34,000 Americans died as a result of hostile action in the three-year war on the peninsula. Hostilities ceased in 1953 with an armistice but no peace treaty has ever been signed.

It is unclear when or where Trump and Abe will meet before the anticipated Singapore summit, which the U.S. president has said in recent days is likely to occur on June 12 after he declared last Thursday that the summit would not be held on that day.

Both Trump and Abe are set to attend the Group of Seven economic summit June 8-9 in Canada.

U.S. and North Korean officials met again Monday at the Korean demilitarized zone.

Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines and former envoy to South Korea, is leading the U.S. delegation at the preparation talks.Reports say the meetings are expected to last until Tuesday.

Meanwhile, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin and others from theadministration took a flight Sunday to Singapore.

They traveled to Singapore to focus on logistics preparations, a White House official confirmed to VOA News on Monday.



South Korean President Moon Jae-in could also be going to Singapore next month for a three-way summit with his U.S. and North Korean counterparts next month, a government official in Seoul said on Monday.

After a surprise meeting Saturday between Kim and Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president said the North Korean leader is still committed to the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. has called for "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantling of the Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. North Korea has rejected unilateral disarmament and called for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula without defining what that entails.



For Kim denuclearization cant be a one-sided event that hes giving some stuff up and not getting some comparable U.S. action, according to Bruce Bennett senior defense analyst at the Rand Corporation research group.

There could be division under Kim within North Koreas hierarchy about the diplomatic approach to the Americans, according to Bennet.



Kim Jong Un has been anxious for a long time, and his father before him, to meet with the U.S. president and develop the appearance for internal political purposes that hes the peer of the American president.The nuclear weapons give him the feeling that he should be able to do that now, Bennett tells VOA.

Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on CBS News said Sunday he is not very optimistic that Kim will agree to abandon his atomic arsenal. These nuclear weapons are something he's psychologically attached to.They are what gives him his prestige and importance.

WATCH: Trump Holds Washington in Suspense Over North Korean Summit

A former U.S. director of national intelligence, James Clapper, also on CBS, expressed concern Pyongyang may demand the removal or scaling back of American troops in South Korea in exchange for denuclearization.

The North Koreans, after expressing initial enthusiasm about diplomacy with the United States, earlier this month did not show up for a preparatory meeting in Singapore, threatened to use nuclear force, and referred to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as a political dummy.



Pence had remarked that North Korea could wind up like Libya - a country mired in chaos since it gave up its nuclear ambitions and saw its longtime dictator killed years later by U.S.-backed rebels.

But North Korean state media subsequently reported on Kim's fixed will that a summit with Trump should go ahead.

During Moon and Kims second border meeting Saturday the two leaders exchanged views on how to prepare for the North's possible summit with Trump.

It was like an ordinary encounter between friends, Moon told reporters.What's uncertain for Kim is not his intention to denuclearize, but the U.S. stance in hostile relations with North Korea and whether the U.S. can really secure and guarantee his regime.

VOA's Ira Mellman contributed to this report.
A high-level Afghan delegation visited neighboring Pakistan Sunday and discussed security as well as counterterrorism cooperation.

The national security adviser of Afghanistan, Haneef Atmar, led a team of top security officials, including the countrys interior minister and the intelligence agency chief, in meetings with Pakistani civilian and military leaders.

The visitors met with Pakistani National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua before holding crucial talks with the country's military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The Pakistan army's media wing in a statement issued after the meeting said the talks focused on the operationalization of the recently concluded Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability or APAPPS.

The two sides agreed to undertake measures that would assist Pakistan and Afghanistan in reducing violence at the hands of terrorists, it added.

We must begin with the trust that neither covets an inch of the others territory nor is letting its land being used against the other. Suspicions will only fuel negativity and facilitate detractors, the statement quoted General Bajwa as telling the Afghan delegation.

Mutual allegations of supporting militant attacks against each other have long dogged relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The army statement quoted the head of the Afghan delegation as saying that his country has "very positive expectations" from Pakistan and with mutual help, we can allay each others concerns and apply our energies to bring about enduring peace and stability.

Gen. Bajwa also accepted an invitation the Afghan delegation extended on behalf of President Ashraf Ghani to visit Kabul, the statement noted but mentioned no dates.

Frequent high-level interactions between the two countries in recent weeks, say officials in both the countries, have helped ease mutual tensions.

Afghan and American officials allege the Taliban insurgency uses sanctuaries on Pakistani soil for attacks against local and U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan.

Islamabad rejects the charges and in turn maintains anti-state militants and loyalists of Islamic State sheltering in "ungoverned spaces" on the Afghan side of the border plot terrorist attacks against Pakistan from there.

The nearly 2,600 kilometer border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is largely porous, though Pakistani officials say recently security has been beefed up and a robust fence is being constructed to deter terrorist infiltration in either direction.
In an unprecedented move, Pakistans military has barred an ex-spy chief from leaving the country, after ordering a probe into a book he co-authored with a former counterpart from rival India.

An army statement said Monday the former head of Inter-Services Intelligence, Asad Durrani, was summoned to the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi for an explanation over the recently launched book attributed to him.

A formal court of inquiry headed by a serving Lt. General has been ordered to probe the matter in detail, the army announced, and added competent authority has been instructed to place Durranis name on an Exit Control List.

The list contains names of people facing legal proceedings and probes in Pakistan to prevent them from fleeing the country.

Durrani, who headed ISI from 1990 to 1992, authored the book along with Amarjit Singh Dulat, former head of Indias Research and Analysis Wing, and Indian journalist Aditya Sinha.

The book titled The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace was launched earlier this month in New Delhi where Durrani was also invited, but Indian authorities refused him a travel visa.

The Pakistan army maintained Durranis role in the book was being taken as a violation of Military Code of Conduct applicable on all serving and retired military personnel.

Durrani has been under fire at home, particularly from ex-military officials for teaming up with the former Indian spy chief to write the book at a time when relations between the two countries are at a low and deadly clashes in the disputed Kashmir region have raised regional military tensions.

The book in question is a series of debates between Durrani and Dulat, along with Sinha, on a wide range of issues, including the Kashmir territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. The authors maintained they have attempted to explore ways to bring the two nuclear-armed countries together to defuse regional tensions.

Pakistani army officials reportedly have objected to some of the comments in the book, dismissing them as baseless and contrary to facts, but they gave no further explanation for Mondays actions against Durrani.

It is widely perceived in Pakistan that politicians and activists campaigning for a peaceful relationship with India are declared traitors and maligned allegedly at the behest of the military and ISI to discourage peace efforts, but retired as well as serving army officers are not held accountable for undertaking similar activities.

The controversial book discusses ISI's alleged links to Muslim rebels in Indian portion of Kashmir. Durrani has also suggested the Pakistani military leadership at the time covertly assisted the United States in conducting the famous 2011 raid in the city of Abbottabad that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.

U.S. leaders maintain the raid was conducted without Pakistan's knowledge and they have found no evidence Pakistan officials were aware of bin Laden's presence in the country.
The Philippine foreign secretary said Monday that China has been notified of "red lines," or actions Manila would find unacceptable, in the South China Sea, including construction activities at a disputed shoal and extraction of oil and gas in the long-contested waters.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano explained what President Rodrigo Duterte's administration has been doing to defend the country's sovereignty in the disputed region amid criticism that it has been far too soft on China.

Critics and left-wing groups have slammed Duterte for not publicly raising alarm over recent Chinese actions, including the reported installation of missile defense systems on its newly constructed islands, and for not demanding immediate Chinese compliance with a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims in the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines' sovereign rights to exploit resources in vast stretches of waters off its western coast.

"For those who keep saying, `File a protest, file a protest,' what do we mean when we said, `We are taking all diplomatic actions'?" Cayetano said in a flag-raising ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"At the right time, we will prove you wrong because nothing is secret forever," Cayetano said. "When we declassify all of these, once we have achieved our purposes in the future, you will see that the DFA has not fallen short in filing whatever diplomatic action, note verbale, verbal protest."

After Duterte appointed him as the country's top diplomat last year, Cayetano said the Philippines and China had discussed the thorny territorial issues, including actions that each deemed unacceptable. For the Philippines, these included any Chinese construction at disputed Scarborough Shoal or Chinese effort to remove a rusty Philippine navy ship used by Filipino marines as a detachment in another contested outcrop, Second Thomas Shoal.

"Filipino troops should not be harassed while on resupply missions or when repairing [facilities] like a runway," he said. "Another red line for us: Nobody can extract natural resources there on their own."

"The president has declared that. If anyone gets the natural resources in the West Philippine Sea-South China Sea, he will go to war," Cayetano said.

China has told the Philippines that there should be no new occupation of uninhabited areas under a 2002 accord and "we should not embarrass each other in front of all, in all multilaterals and bilaterals," he said.

After taking power nearly two years ago, Duterte declared he would chart a foreign policy not highly oriented toward the United States, the country's treaty ally. He took steps to revive frosty ties with Beijing while seeking to boost Chinese trade, investment and infrastructure funds.

Cayetano has staunchly defended the tough-talking president, including his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs.

"It is not the policy of this administration to engage in megaphone or microphone diplomacy, and announce each and every action, unless announcing it is beneficial to us," Cayetano said.

Filipino fishermen have been accosted by China in the past but have been allowed back to Scarborough Shoal's area to fish. The shoal's vast lagoon has been declared off limits to all fishermen to nurture fishery stocks, and a coast guard agreement now allows vessels to enter the lagoon for safety in stormy weather, Cayetano said.

Critics say Duterte's approach has emboldened China, which has been increasingly assertive in the potentially oil- and gas-rich waterway that's also claimed entirely or in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
Poland's prime minister on Monday called a planned Russian gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, a "new hybrid weapon'' and says Moscow wants to use it to undermine NATO and the European Union. Mateusz Morawiecki called Nord Stream 2 "a poisoned pill of European security'' as he addressed a NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Warsaw.

The Nord Stream 2 project would double the amount of natural gas Russia can funnel directly to energy-hungry Germany from newly tapped reserves in Siberia, intentionally skirting Eastern European nations like Poland and Ukraine.

The United States and some other EU members share Poland's opposition to the project, warning it could give Moscow greater leverage over Western Europe. The debates have created divisions within the EU, for example between Poland and Germany, neighbors and important trade partners.



Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the U.S. opposition to the Nord Stream 2 stems from President Donald Trump's desire to encourage exports of the U.S. liquefied natural gas, which is supplied by ship and is considerably more expensive than Russian supplies.

Polish President Andrzej Duda also gave his own warning of Russian intentions in Eastern Europe."With regret it must be said that Moscow has never come to terms with the collapse of the imperial Soviet Union. The invasion of Georgia and the unlawful annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine illustrate the real intentions of Russia,'' Duda said.

He was referring to the Russia-Georgia war of 2008, as well as to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and support for pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's east, where a war is still ongoing.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the assembly that a decisive stance is needed toward Russia while leaving open the chance for dialogue.

He said Russia is interfering in democratic processes in other countries, for instance by carrying out cyberattacks.

He also called on Russia to accept responsibility for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine in 2014  an appeal he also made on Friday.
Poland's defense minister said Monday that he has held talks with U.S. officials about having thousands of American troops permanently stationed as a deterrent in Poland.

Poland is concerned for its own and the region's security following Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and other steps seen as hostile.



Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said he recently held talks in Washington about having a permanent presence of U.S. troops in Poland, where they are currently on a rotational, temporary, though open-ended mission.

The result of our efforts is that the U.S. Senate has contacted the Pentagon about an assessment of ... [the] permanent presence of U.S. troops in Poland, Blaszczak said on state Radio 1. Such presence is of great importance because it deters the adversary.

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that an increase in the West's military presence near Russia's borders certainly does not contribute to security and stability on the continent in any way.



On the contrary, these expansionist steps, certainly, result in counteractions of the Russian side to balance the parity which is violated every time this way, Peskov said, according to Russian news agency Tass.

The Onet.pl news portal says Poland is seeking the permanent deployment of a U.S. armored division and is offering up to $2 billion to help build the infrastructure. It says the Defense Ministry has written to U.S. politicians and the U.S. Congress with details of the proposal.

The ministry's press office confirmed to The Associated Press that such a document has been forwarded but declined to give more details.



Other countries in the region would also like to see U.S. land forces stationed permanently in their area, Blaszczak said last week.

U.S. and NATO troops were deployed to Poland and the region last year as a security assurance.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will urge U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid protesters in central London during his UK visit in July and instead meet her at her country residence, the Sun newspaper reported on Sunday.

The details of the plan will be given to the White House by Kim Darroch, British ambassador to the United States, the report said.

There are two proposals that will be made to the White House by Darroch upon May's approval - one for a Downing Street visit or one based at Chequers, a 16th-century manor house 60 km (40 miles) northwest of London - the report said, citing a source, who added it would be made clear that May prefers the meeting take place at Chequers.

Trump will also be asked to have tea with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, a royal residence west of London and not at Buckingham Palace, according to the report.

Darroch will suggest to the White House that Trump does not visit Britain's houses of parliament, the Sun reported.

May's office was not immediately available for comment. Trump will travel to Britain in July for a working visit with May, after months of back-and-forth over when the U.S. president would visit what traditionally has been the United States' closest ally.

Many Britons have vowed to stage protests if Trump visits, with several politicians having previously voiced their opposition to Trump being granted a state visit.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said earlier in the year Trump was not welcome in London because of what he called Trump's "divisive agenda".

Trump cancelled a trip to London to open a new embassy earlier in the year. May was the first international leader to visit Trump in Washington after his inauguration last year.




The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is urging engagement with Venezuela's socialist government after he traveled to the South American nation to bring home a Utah man jailed for two years without a trial.

Joshua Holt is scheduled to return to Salt Lake City on Monday night after receiving medical care and visiting President Donald Trump in Washington. He was released over the weekend following secret, backchannel negotiations between members of the U.S. Congress and Venezuelan officials.

Corker meets with Maduro

Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee traveled to Caracas on Friday to seal the deal with President Nicolas Maduro that would bring Holt home.

Corker stressed in an interview Monday with The Associated Press that nothing was asked, and nothing was given in exchange for Holts freedom. But he said the 26-year-olds release as a goodwill gesture by Maduro shows what can be achieved through dialogue with the United States adversaries.

In my conversations privately, I could not be more strident in my criticisms of the way the Venezuela government has handled itself. Ive seen in Venezuela people lined up outside grocery stores just to buy toilet paper, Corker said.

But he contrasted the hardliner approach toward Venezuela favored by many in Washington with the Trump administrations willingness to talk with North Korea's leader.

If we are engaging with Kim Jong Un, who executes his relatives with high-power artillery at close range, then it would seem to me that engaging with Venezuela, while keeping on all the pressure that we have, would also make some sense, said the retiring Corker, who has feuded in the past with the Trump.

Jailed since June 2016

Holt was arrested in June 2016 on weapons charges that he and his family say were bogus.

Holt had a tearful reunion with his parents in Washington on Saturday but has yet to see his three siblings, who are organizing a big homecoming for Holt and his wife, Thamara Caleno, for Monday night. The couple has been receiving medical treatment in Washington from a team with experience helping people return from captivity.

Corker previously traveled to Venezuela in 2015 only to be snubbed by Maduro. He said he was received more warmly this time thanks to the dogged mediation efforts of his staffer Caleb McCarry, who has known Maduro for 15 years. He also thinks the Venezuelan president is feeling somewhat confident after he was re-elected a little over a week ago, and may now be looking to reconcile with his critics by freeing political prisoners and modernizing the fast-collapsing socialist economy.

The Trump administration considered the election a sham after several of Maduros top opponents were barred from running. It said Holts release will have no change on U.S. policy.

Don't discount dialogue

Corker said hes not sure where U.S.-Venezuelan relations are heading and declined to comment on bipartisan legislation before his committee that aims to further isolate Venezuelas government. He said its important for the U.S. to continue to speak out against the many, many bad things the Maduro government has done.

Still, he thinks dialogue should never be discarded.

Im no softy on Venezuela. Im not some person who thinks we ought to change our posture as far as punishing them for all the things that have occurred, he said. But at the same time, I know we engage with some of our most difficult adversaries and certainly was more than glad to engage on behalf of getting Americans home.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef, under severe stress in a warmer, more acidic ocean, has returned from near-extinction five times in the past 30,000 years, researchers said Monday.



And while this suggests the reef may be more resilient than once thought, it has likely never faced an onslaught quite as severe as today, they added.



"I have grave concerns about the ability of the reef in its current form to survive the pace of change caused by the many current stresses and those projected into the near future," said Jody Webster of the University of Sydney, who co-authored a paper in the journal Nature Geoscience.



In the past, the reef shifted along the sea floor to deal with changes in its environment  either seaward or landward depending on whether the level of the ocean was rising or falling, the research team found.



Based on fossil data from cores drilled into the ocean floor at 16 sites, they determined the Great Barrier Reef, or GBR for short, was able to migrate between 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) and 1.5 meters per year.



This rate may not be enough to withstand the current barrage of environmental challenges.



The reef "probably has not faced changes in SST (sea surface temperature) and acidification at such a rate," Webster told AFP. Rates of change "are likely much faster now  and in future projections."



The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists, is reeling from successive bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change.



Webster and an international team wanted to view the reef's current plight within a longer-term context.



Over 10 years, they studied how it had responded to changes caused by continental ice sheets expanding and waning over 30 millennia.



Fish nurseries



Their research covers a period from before the "Last Glacial Maximum" or LGM  the peak freeze about 21,000 years ago during the last Ice Age.



The average sea level at the time was some 120 meters (394 feet) lower than today.



As sea levels dropped leading up to the LGM, there were two massive "death events"  about 30,000 and 22,000 years ago, the team found.



These were caused by the reef being exposed to air. What remained of it inched seaward to rebound later.



As ice sheets melted after the LGM, two die-offs  17,000 and 13,000 years ago  were due to sea level rise, the team found. In these cases, the reef moved itself landward.



The fifth death event took place about 10,000 years ago, apparently due to a massive sediment dump amidst a higher sea level.



Webster said the GBR "will probably die again in the next few thousand years anyway if it follows its past geological pattern" as Earth is believed to be due for another ice age.



"But whether human-induced climate change will hasten that death remains to be seen."



In April, a study said nearly a third of the reef's coral was killed in a "catastrophic die-off" during a violent heatwave in 2016.



Changes in sea temperature and acidity can cause corals to "bleach"  ejecting the algae that live in their tissue and provide them with food.



Bleached corals are more susceptible to disease, and without enough time to recover, may disappear for good.



Coral reefs are home to about a quarter of ocean life, and act as nurseries for many species of fish.
A Syrian state-run newspaper said Monday that the government will keep fighting terrorists despite U.S. warnings against a new offensive against rebels in southern Daraa province, while Russia said Syrian troops should deploy in the country's southwest, near Israel.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Syrian troops should be positioned on the border with the Golan Heights, which have been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Mideast war. The area between Daraa and the Golan Heights has emerged as a flashpoint in a wider standoff between Israel and Iran, and the United States has warned it will take action to protect a cease-fire there.

The Al-Baath daily said in an editorial published Monday that the U.S. threat underscores the dirty American role in the terrorist war against Syria. It stressed that the Syrian army was determined to retake all parts of Syria.

The United States, Russia, and Jordan agreed last year to include Daraa in a de-escalation zone and freeze the lines of conflict there. But the area has been tense following a series of recent Israeli strikes on Syrian and Iranian forces. Iran is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and its advisers are embedded with his troops.

Israel has warned it will not tolerate a permanent Iranian military presence in Syria. Earlier this month, it carried out a wave of airstrikes in response to what it said was an Iranian rocket attack on its positions in the Golan. It was the most serious confrontation between the regional archrivals to date.

Lavrov told reporters in Moscow that the agreement on forming a de-escalation area in southwestern Syria envisaged the eventual withdrawal of all non-Syrian forces from this part of Syria.

He added that the Russian and U.S. militaries have maintained regular contacts on the issue.

The result of the ongoing work should be a situation in which troops of the Syrian Armed Forces will be stationed alongside the Syrian border with Israel, he said.

Syrian government forces recently dropped leaflets on rebel-held areas in Daraa, warning of an imminent offensive and urging the insurgents to lay down their arms.

The Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV, which has reporters embedded with Syrian troops, said the army is sending reinforcements to southern Syrian in an apparent preparation for an offensive.
An Afghan man, who awarded a Medal of Bravery to U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year, has been killed by Taliban.

Zabihullah Mujahid a Taliban spokesperson in a tweet Sunday took responsibility for the attack. One of those criminals who had taken a medal to U.S. President Trump is killed in the blast in Logar. His name is Gul Nabi who had designed the medal.

Afghan officials criticized the targeted killing of civilians who support the policy of peace.

Taliban cannot justify this act of terror under Islamic or any other laws. They target whoever serves humanity, General Mohammad Radmanish, a spokesperson for Afghan Defense Ministry, told VOA.

The man they killed was not alone. All of the people of Logar were with him when they decided to award Donald Trump with the Medal of Bravery, he added.

According to Afghan officials, Nabi was killed after a bomb in his car exploded Thursday.

With the help of some other tribal elders, Gul Nabi had prepared the gold medal and awarded it to President Trump for what they said was his strict policy against Pakistan.

According to a tribal elder, on Jan. 13, in a community gathering, more than 300 participants agreed to award the medal to the U.S. president. The text on the medal inscribed in gold reads: Bravery medal, on behalf of the people of Afghanistan to Donald Trump, the President of the U.S.

The medal was reportedly sent to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul on Jan. 13.

Trumps Pakistan policy

In his first tweet of 2018, Trump said: The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!

Donald Trump also accused Pakistan of being a safe haven for extremists and threatened to cut off billions of dollars in aid to the country.

Pakistan denies these charges.

Pakistan is the one country in the region that has done the most against terrorism, and no country can accuse Pakistan of not doing enough against terrorism and extremism, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistans outgoing ambassador to the United States, told VOA.

Weve said time and again that there are no safe havens in Pakistan, Chaudhry, said.

Afghan officials, however, blame Pakistan for providing safe heavens to the militants and link most of the violence in Afghanistan to Pakistan-based militant groups.

The reason that terrorism still exists in Afghanistan, although Afghan forces have killed thousands of them, is that they have safe havens in Pakistan, Radmanish told VOA.

Pakistan is also recruiting foreign terrorists, training and equipping them in seminaries and then sends them to Afghanistan with specific targets, he added.

But Chaudhry says to hold Pakistan responsible for a lack of success in Afghanistan is not fair treatment.

Threats of death

A tribal elder Sayed Farhad Akbari who also helped Nabi in creating the medal told VOA that he and other tribal elders regularly receive death threats from the Taliban.

We all awarded the gold medal to Trump for his strict policy against Pakistan, Akbari added. Taliban did this [attack] at the behest of Pakistan.

Pakistan is likely to reward any punitive action in Afghanistan, says Walter Dorn, professor at Royal Military College of Canada & Canadian Forces College.

Pakistan might have encouraged the Taliban to take action against those who produced the medal, Dorn told VOA.

Ibrahim Rahimi and Madeeha Anwar contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump paid tribute Monday  Memorial Day in the United States  to generations of the countrys fallen warriors.

Theirs was a love more deep and more pure than most will ever know, Trump said at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. They marched into hell so that Americans could know the blessings of peace. They died so that freedom could live.

He said the pride of family members in their loved ones is shared by one really and truly grateful nation. Today, our whole country thanks you, embraces you and pledges to you, we will never forget our heroes.

To every family member of the fallen, I want you to know that the legacy of those you lost does not fade with time, but grows only more powerful, he said. Their legacy does not, like a voice in the distance, become a faint echo, but instead their legacy grows deeper, spreading further, touching more lives, reaching down through time and out across many generations. Through their sacrifice, your loved ones have achieved something very, very special  immortality.

In Photos: Memorial Day

The U.S. leader saluted the memory of several of the fallen buried at Arlington as their family members listened to his address, and to two veterans of World War II who attended the ceremony  former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and 106-year-old Navy veteran Ray Chavez, the oldest U.S. survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Ahead of his speech, Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the cemetery. Many of the people at the annual commemoration also walked to nearby grave sites to pause and reflect on the lost lives of their loved ones.

Earlier, Trump wished Americans Happy Memorial Day, saying those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18 years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!

Many Americans have the day off from work and school. The three-day weekend is seen as the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. Many families have picnics or take trips to beaches, parks or campgrounds.

Officially, Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, has been set aside to honor all who died during military service throughout U.S. history. Congress declared Memorial Day a national federal holiday in 1971. Observances around the country and in Washington are planned for the day.

Memorial Day began in 1865, just after the end of the Civil War, when a group of former slaves held what was seen as the first commemoration of the nation's war dead.

The group exhumed the bodies of more that 250 Union soldiers from a mass grave at a Confederate prison camp in Charleston, South Carolina, and gave them a proper burial.

For more than 50 years, the holiday only remembered those killed in the Civil War. It was not until America's entry into World War I that the tradition was expanded to include those killed in all wars.

On Sunday, the annual event known as Rolling Thunder, involving thousands of war veterans and others on motorcycles, rolled into Washington, passing the monuments on the National Mall, to honor U.S. soldiers missing in action in foreign wars. Their motorcycles can be heard, long before they are seen.

According to the website of Rolling Thunders Washington chapter, the ride is an actual demonstration/protest to bring awareness and accountability to the prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action who have been left behind.

Rolling Thunder's motto is: We will not forget.
Turkey will relocate polling stations in some areas with a high Kurdish population, a move officials said would stop voter intimidation, but which the main pro-Kurdish party called a maneuver to keep it out of parliament in elections next month.

Announcing the measure on Monday, the High Electoral Board (YSK) did not specify how many ballot boxes would be moved but said 144,000 voters lived in the affected districts in eastern provinces.



The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said the polling stations were being moved from villages where the party has a strong backing to nearby villages with more support for President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party.



It said the move was designed to keep the HDP below a 10 percent threshold of votes needed to enter parliament.

The move was made possible by legislation passed in parliament two months ago authorizing the YSK to merge electoral districts and move ballot boxes to other districts.



The government said the law was changed to address concerns that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) could intimidate voters in the mainly Kurdish southeast to vote for the HDP.

"Security is important but going to the polls with free will is also very important," YSK Chairman Sadi Guven was quoted as saying by state-run Anadolu news agency.

The electoral law, which triggered a brawl on the floor of parliament when it was passed in March, will also admit ballots that are not stamped by the local electoral board and allows security force members into polling stations when invited by a voter.

Opposition parties say the changes will make the vote counting process less transparent.

"We see that the decision (to move the ballot boxes) was made for villages where the HDP gets a large share of the votes, around 75-80 percent," HDP spokesman Ayhan Bilgen said.

"In the villages to which the ballot boxes will be moved, on the contrary, it is seen that the AKP gets 75-80 percent of votes."



The government accuses the HDP of being a political extension of the PKK and says it benefits from voter intimidation. The HDP denies this. The PKK, considered a terrorist group by the United States and Europe, has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state.

Polls have shown the HDP's share of the vote at around 10 percent and the total opposition share roughly 50 percent  making it a tight contest to get control of parliament.

Should the HDP fail to reach the threshold, its votes would be split between other parties, which would strongly boost AKP's numbers and likely guarantee it a majority.

"144,000 voters constitute a serious numeric quantity that could determine the outcome of the election," the HDP's Bilgen said.
Looking to attract more tourists, the government of Uganda plans to unveil a war museum showcasing colonial-era wars and more recent conflicts. It will feature a figure many Ugandans would rather not remember  the late president Idi Amin.



Gifted by Nature is a slogan Uganda uses to promote its tourism, especially wildlife, primates, and freshwater lakes. The tourist trade brings in more than $1.3 billion per year.



Now, Uganda plans to join countries such as Germany, Cambodia, Japan and Rwanda as destinations for what is known as dark tourism.



A planned war museum will showcase Uganda's long history of conflict. Exhibits will focus on the colonial era, the Lord's Resistance Army war, and President Idi Amin's bloody eight-year rule, when as many as 500,000 people were killed in political or ethnic persecution.



The topics are unpleasant. But for Kiwanda Godfrey, Uganda's state minister for tourism, they are an opportunity to show that the country has moved on.

"Can you imagine, if you go to some countries, some people still believe that this country is still governed by Amin and some people still fear our country because of Amin?" he said. "You cannot be in leadership and you leave that. So we are coming up with a package, what we call dark tourism. We should have a record. What are the massacre memorial sites? How many are they in Northern Uganda?"



John Sempebwa, the deputy executive director of the board, disagrees with Godfrey when it comes to dark tourism. He says Ugandans are not ready to revisit the Idi Amin era.



"Which Ugandan is going to put up a museum and say you guys come here? And this is Amin's museum," he said. "It's not ready because society is divided. There are people who are still around who don't have good memories of Amin. Now, not only won't they come, they might burn this place down."



The war museum is championed by some army generals in the ruling National Resistance Movement who fought in the Luwero Triangle guerrilla war that saw President Yoweri Museveni come to power in 1986.

Kaps Fungaroo, a legislator from Northern Uganda  a region that has borne the brunt of war in Uganda's conflict history  says dark tourism will not help heal the wounds of people who have never obtained justice.



He says if dark tourism is encouraged, it should cover all massacres that have happened around the country, including those involving the ruling party army wing, then-known as the National Resistance Army.



"You must also make tourists go to Teso, where the NRA war resulted to massacres of people, for example in Mukura where the NRA soldiers roasted people alive in a train wagon ... So, when you want to take that direction of the dark history of the past, be ready to carry the cross of the NRM."



Uganda tourism officials say they have earmarked a two-hectare piece of land for construction of the war museum, but no launch date has been set.
As they fight allegations that Connecticut FBI agents retaliated against employees for whistleblowing, federal government officials are refusing to release details of a legal settlement with a special agent and asking a judge to throw out another employee's lawsuit.

Special Agent Kurt Siuzdak's lawsuit, filed in 2014, exposed allegations of internal strife and dysfunction within the FBI's main Connecticut office in New Haven. It also disclosed a 2013 visit to the New Haven office by then-Director James Comey, who apologized to employees for "the failure of the FBI's executive management to correct the leadership failures" in Connecticut.

Siuzdak's lawsuit was reported settled in court documents filed in March, but the FBI and Justice Department have declined to release the details and rejected recent requests under public records laws by The Associated Press for a copy of the deal. Officials would say only that there was no admission of wrongdoing in the settlement.



Federal officials are now battling another lawsuit by a second New Haven FBI employee, electronics technician Omar Montoya, according to court documents obtained by the AP. Montoya alleges the retaliation against him included his supervisors falsely labeling him an "insider threat" to the FBI, which sparked an investigation, and authorizing unwarranted surveillance of him.

Siuzdak and Montoya have declined to comment on the lawsuits, which were filed in federal court.

Officials at FBI headquarters in Washington and Patricia Ferrick, the special agent in charge of the New Haven office since 2013, also declined to comment on the lawsuits.

Thomas Spina, an assistant U.S. attorney representing the New Haven FBI office, said Justice Department policy prevented him from commenting on pending litigation and releasing details of settlements with employees. In court documents, federal officials denied the allegations in both lawsuits.

"We take the allegations seriously," Spina said.

Montoya sued the FBI, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Christopher Wray in September. He said Ferrick and other supervisors began a campaign of retaliation against him after he began helping Siuzdak with Siuzdak's internal complaint against Ferrick and other officials for alleged discrimination and retaliation. Montoya was Siuzdak's volunteer equal employment opportunity affairs counselor.

Siuzdak, a 21-year FBI veteran, sued the Justice Department on allegations that Ferrick and her predecessor, Kimberly Mertz, blocked his pursuit of several management positions and started baseless internal investigations against him after he reported alleged workplace time and attendance fraud.

Montoya, an Army veteran hired by the FBI in 2010, said the retaliation and harassment against him began shortly after he interviewed Ferrick and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kline in April 2015 as part of Siuzdak's internal complaint, according to his lawsuit.

Montoya also had reported alleged abuse of power in the New Haven office to national FBI officials, which he said upset New Haven FBI leaders.

He said FBI New Haven officials authorized unnecessary surveillance of him, gave him bogus bad performance reviews and threatened to fire him on false allegations of attendance policy violations.

His lawsuit also said officials caused a "fraudulent and frivolous `insider threat' investigation" to be started against him, by labeling him as someone who posed a "physical, terrorist, intelligence, or other security risk to the FBI."

He said the stress from the retaliation and harassment caused health problems that made him miss work.

"He was discriminated and/or retaliated against and subjected to a hostile work environment because of his participation in civil rights," Montoya's lawsuit says.

In court documents, federal prosecutors denied Montoya's allegations and asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
U.S. and North Korean officials met again Monday at the demilitarized zone to talk about a possible summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un.

After calling off the talks Thursday, Trump said the June 12 summit in Singapore may very well take place as scheduled.

"I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial nation one day," Trump said Sunday on Twitter. "Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen."



Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines and former envoy to South Korea, is leading the U.S. delegation at the preparation talks. Reports say the meetings are expected to last until Tuesday.



"We can be successful in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, that would be a great thing for North Korea, it would be a great thing for South Korea, it would be great for Japan, it would be great for the world, it would be great for the United States, it would be great for China. A lot of people are working on it. It's moving along very nicely," Trump said.

After a surprise meeting Saturday between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the Seoul leader said Kim is still committed to the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula, but he declined to define the phrase, suggesting that difficult negotiations lie ahead between the U.S. and North Korea.

The U.S. has called for "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" dismantling of the Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, but North Korea has rejected unilateral disarmament and called for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Some U.S. officials remain skeptical that the U.S.-North Korean talks would lead to the end of the North's nuclear program.



Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, contended on CBS News on Sunday that North Korea is "playing a game. Kim Jong Un  these nuclear weapons are something he's psychologically attached to. They are what gives him his prestige and importance. ... I'd love to see them denuclearize. I just, I'm not very optimistic about that."



James Clapper, a former U.S. director of national intelligence, also on CBS, said he worries that the North may demand the removal or scaling back of the U.S. contingent of 28,500 troops in South Korea in exchange for denuclearization, although U.S. officials have ruled out a troop withdrawal.



It is not exactly clear what made Trump change his mind about wanting to meet with Kim just a day after he called off their talks.

WATCH: For Trump, There's Always a 'New Deal' on the Horizon





Trump was angered over the North's insult of Vice President Mike Pence  calling him a "political dummy"  and its threat to use nuclear force. Pence remarked last week that North Korea could wind up like Libya  a country mired in chaos since it gave up its nuclear ambitions and saw its longtime dictator killed years later by U.S.-backed rebels.



But Trump said Friday "everybody plays games," and noted North Korea's "warm and productive" reaction to his letter to Kim, canceling their talks.



North Korean state media has reported on Kim's "fixed will" that a summit with Trump should go ahead.



Moon and Kim met near the two Koreas' heavily militarized border.



The leaders exchanged views on how to prepare for the North's possible summit with Trump, the South Korean presidential office said.



After the meeting, South Korea's President Moon was upbeat.

"It was like an ordinary encounter between friends," he said. "What's uncertain for Kim is not his intention to denuclearize, but the U.S. stance in hostile relations with North Korea and whether the U.S. can really secure and guarantee his regime."



Kim thanked Moon "for much effort made by him" towards the summit, and said he hoped to improve relations with Washington and "establish mechanism for permanent and durable peace."



Leaders of North and South Korea also agreed to "meet frequently," the North's KCNA agency added.



Moon said Monday, "What's more important than anything from the latest inter-Korean summit was that the leaders easily got in contact, easily made an appointment and easily met to discuss urgent matters, without complicated procedures and formalities, just like a casual meeting."
Gurkha soldiers. Photo: Tim I Gurung

After conquering India and fighting two wars against the Gorkhali Army, the victorious British did not colonize what's now Nepal, for good reason

By Tim I Gurung

When the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, defeated the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies in the war of Plassey in 1757, it consolidated its position in Bengal and subsequently expanded to all over India during the next 100 years.





At the same time, an ambitious king of Gorkha, a princely state only a few miles from the outskirts of Kathmandu valley, was also on the rise and busy expanding his kingdom. His name was Prithvi Narayan Shah and he later became known as the father of modern Nepal. He created Nepal by conquering all the small states in the surrounding areas, including the Kathmandu valleys.





The Indian subcontinent had only two major powers by then: The Honorable British East India Company and the Gorkhali Army of Nepal. The two powers were to eventually lock horns as they crossed each others paths and fought a decisive battle known as the Anglo-Gorkha War of 1814-16.





Defeat for the Gorkhali side did not only stop its ongoing expansion, but also clipped its wings once and for all. The war had crippled the losing nation and it never recovered its former glory.





However, the 1814-16 war was not the first time the two sides had clashed  they fought a brief war in 1767. The king of the Kathmandu valley and the British had already established a trade relationship and the British sent troops to aid the troubled valley king when he was attacked by the Gorkhali army.

The British, led by Captain Kinloch, suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Gorkhali force, losing more than 1,000 men. They fled, leaving behind weapons and munitions. The incident became known as The Kinloch Expedition.





In its heyday, the borders of Nepal extended to Kangra, including Simla and Dehradoon, to the west to the River Tista, including Darjeeling and Sikkim, to the east. After their previous defeat, the British avoided confrontation.

But the Gorkhali army had its own problems. It was founded on an ill-thought out plan called the Jagir system, which meant that the army was paid through taxes raised from newly acquired lands. Since the troops were not paid from the national treasury, they needed to conquer more lands to pay their expanding ranks.





Greed also played a role in defining the course of history. When the Gorkhali army attacked the British Protectorate state of Oudh, the British had no choice but to go to war.





Initially, the war did not go well for the British. Four of six generals had to be reprimanded and eventually relieved of duty, one died and the last remaining general, David Ochterlony, was the final senior ranking man left standing.





Defeated by deception

Despite being outgunned and outnumbered, the Gorkhali army fought bravely and held on. However, they were finally defeated by deception and their own system of recruitment. The men fighting for the Gorkhali army were not all from the hills  they were men of different tribes from the newly conquered lands and their allegiances were not to the Gorkhali commanders, but to their tribal leaders.

The British knew the situation and exploited it. As a result, soldiers deserted in large numbers, forcing the Gorkhali army to accept defeat. The defeat in the Anglo-Gorkha War was the end of the Gorkhali army, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.





Nepal was nothing more than a remote, mosquito-infested and mysterious place for the British, run by a beast-like tribe, and they had no stomach for taming that beast. Still, they had some expectations for the place and hatched a brilliant plan on how to achieve them.





First, they needed an open route to Tibet via Kathmandu for trade and it was imperative to have a friendly regime in Kathmandu, which they achieved once Nepal was brought under the nations of its influence.





Secondly, the British needed someone in Kathmandu to check on the Nepali regime on a regular basis. Having a British resident at the heart of Kathmandu did that job perfectly and the regime in Nepal came under the group of British Protectorate nations without even realizing it.





Thirdly and most importantly, the British had to make sure Nepal would never be allowed to raise a military force and become a powerful nation again. The British had seen the bravery of these men in battle and a plan was hatched to bring them into the British army. The policy of recruiting them into the British Indian Army was, in fact, a masterstroke, and it was so tactfully done that it wasnt even anointed at the Segauli Treaty that both the British and Nepal were to sign at the end of the war.



Treaty of Sugauli

By signing the Treaty of Sugauli, the British did get what they had hoped for and needed nothing more. The question of colonizing Nepal must have never occurred as it would have further complicated the situation.

Besides, colonization entails responsibility. The British had a free hand with the resources of a whole nation without having to bear any responsibilities. And the British were smart  the resources of the nation were at their disposal and they did not even have to ask for it. History can attest that the rulers of Nepal did their best to help make it even easier for the British for their personal gain, and the ulterior motives of the British side were never questioned. Had the British colonized Nepal, it would have become a member of the Commonwealth later on and the British would have had to treat the Gurkhas on an equal basis like the forces of other member nations.





But if you can get something for free, why bother to pay for it? That was the main reason the British did not colonize Nepal.
Vietnam is imitating China in its efforts to grow economically and lags its larger neighbor only by about a decade, experts say.

The two communist countries, though political rivals, have built up their state-controlled economies on job creation through factory work for export.

China opened that effort to foreign investment in 1978 and Vietnam got started 10 years later. Now Vietnam is grappling with corruption, traffic gridlock and the sinking performance of state-run companies as its middle class grows, all hallmarks of Chinas development.

In the latest sign of similarity, Vietnam's National Assembly is examining a bill to let the country run three special economic zones. It has a chance of passing next month. The zones would offer foreign factory investors tariff exemptions and long land leases, Vietnamese news website VnExpress International says. China created its first four zones in 1979 to attract foreign investment. It now has 32.

I dont know whether its deliberate or otherwise, but it seems there is that hint of taking that page from the CPC playbook -- Chinese Communist Party, said Song Seng Wun, economist in the private banking unit of CIMB.

Vietnam has a Communist Party, so I suppose there is that kind of if China is doing it, we can also perhaps adapt it to Vietnamese conditions.

Controlled economy and factory work

Governments in both countries turned to factory work to employ large, uneducated populations, said Ralf Matthaes, founder of the Infocus Mekong Research consultancy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Reliance on factory work, especially for export, drove Chinese economic growth of about 10 percent per year over the decade to 2010. Vietnams economy has expanded at more than 6 percent annually since 2015.

Vietnam, like China a decade ago, depends largely on production of low-tech exports such as garments, furniture and car parts. China is moving up the value chain into high tech, and leaning more on services.

Companies from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the West often offshore factory work to China as well as Vietnam to save on labor costs. China has been dubbed the worlds factory and Vietnam a China+1 destination for investors looking to expand production to a cheaper country.

How do you employ a bunch of unskilled workers? Matthaes said. Obviously mass manufacturing is one way. I think even though Vietnam holds Singapore in high regards in terms of Singapores our greatest model, its China.

Five years ago Vietnams ambassador to Singapore called relations with the fellow Southeast Asian country a model as trade links were growing then. Vietnam, though dependent on China for trade, regards China as a political rival. They fought a border war in the 1970s and now dispute sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea.

Managing outcomes of fast growth

Outcomes of factory-driven economic growth that China saw a decade ago are showing now in Vietnam, analysts note.

The number of Vietnamese who are middle class and higher will double between 2014 and 2020 to about one-third of the countrys population of 93 million, the Boston Consulting Group says. China says just 3.1 of its 1.38 billion people lived in poverty last year.

In other signs of following China, Vietnamese workers are known for job hopping within a few months for higher pay and showing it off with expensive smartphones, new cars and meals at expensive restaurants. Traffic is starting to thicken in the financial center Ho Chi Minh City as it has in Chinas major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai since 2000.

Vietnams crackdown on corruption that went public in 2017 also followed the Chinese anti-graft campaign that experts say became more rigorous in 2012.

Its Vietnams turn now to make its state-owned firms perform well or be sold off, analysts say. State-owned enterprises, another feature of communist countries, dominated the Vietnamese stock exchange from its inception in 2000 through 2005 as those assets were sold, said Kevin Snowball, chief executive officer with PXP Vietnam Asset Management in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thousands of Vietnams state firms have been all or partly privatized. China began reforming its state firms about 20 years ago and is still pressing them to change following a decline in profits in 2015 due to issues with corporate governance and labor productivity.

Vietnam established the stock market in order to sell state assets basically, because when it started, essentially everything that was listed was state owned up until the end of 2005, Snowball said.

The government needs to spend probably 25 billion dollars a year on infrastructure development in order to keep encouraging (foreign direct investment) to come in, and sale of state assets is partially funding that," he said.
Groups in western Libya have cast doubt on talks in Paris on Tuesday that aim to pave the way for elections in the divided country, fearing the meeting could play into the hands of their rival, eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar.



Libya splintered following the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, and since 2014 has been divided into competing political and military factions based in Tripoli and the east. The United Nations is leading an effort to reunify the oil-rich nation and to organize national elections.



The Paris meeting is due to include Haftar, Tripoli Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, and the leaders of rival parliamentary assemblies, and urge them to agree to general principles for ending Libya's crisis, a French official said.



"There will be a collective commitment to do everything to ensure that the elections are held by the end of the year," the official said. France is also seeking agreement on unifying financial and security institutions.



Tripoli's State Council, one of Libya's two rival assemblies, voted to send a delegation to the talks, but also issued a series of demands including an immediate ceasefire in the eastern city of Derna and the lifting of a siege there by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA).



The LNA stepped up its campaign in Derna earlier this month and clashes continued there on Monday.



The State Council also said a U.N.-brokered political deal from 2015, which eastern factions have rejected, must remain in place, and that military institutions must operate under civilian authority.



Haftar has appointed military governors to replace elected mayors in much of eastern Libya. Opponents suspect him of seeking national power and fear he will return the country to authoritarian rule.



A group of 13 military councils and brigades in western Libya issued a statement saying the Paris initiative did not represent them. "We call for real dialogue focused on the aspirations of Libyan society in its aspects," the statement said.



It also declared its opposition to "foreign interference" and to "any initiative aimed at normalizing military rule."



Over the weekend, Tripoli armed groups displaced the Presidential Guard  a force formed by Seraj's Government of National Accord with international backing  from strategic positions at the capital's shuttered international airport and the prime minister's office. Diplomatic sources linked the move at least in part to unease over the Paris meeting.



Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has tried to expand its role in coaxing Libya's factions to end the turmoil. Last year Macron convened rare talks between Haftar and Seraj in Paris.



But critics have questioned the need for this week's talks, given an existing "action plan" launched last year by U.N. Libya envoy Ghassan Salame, which is also aimed at paving the way for elections.



"The steps that need to be taken were already pretty much known and identified by the action plan," said one diplomatic source. "So we don't need another plan, and my fear is that this new initiative if anything engenders extra confusion."



France says there will be broad international participation at Tuesday's talks and that they are in accordance with Salame's plans.



Given continuing divisions in Libya, the Paris meeting should not impose too rigid a framework on participants, to avoid "creating unrealistic expectations that, when dashed, can only harden existing narratives and further inflame tensions," the nongovernmental International Crisis Group said in a briefing.
Yemeni government forces are only around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Hodeida as they advance on the key rebel-held port city, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Monday.

The Red Sea port has been a point of contention in Yemen's war since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against Iran-allied Huthi rebels.

"The Yemeni army backed by the coalition is at a distance of around 20 kilometres from Hodeida," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh.

"The purpose is to return the city back to the legitimate government of Yemen. Our operations are ongoing," he added.

Hodeida is the main conduit for humanitarian aid on which millions depend, as Yemen teeters on the brink of famine.

But for neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Hodeida is seen as the entry point for rebel weaponry -- which it accuses regional rival Tehran of supplying.

"Our goal is to cut the vein that the Huthis are benefiting from" in their war effort, Maliki said.

There was no immediate comment from the rebels on Maliki's claim.

The United Arab Emirates -- a key member of the Saudi-led alliance -- has taken the initiative to ramp up the coastal offensive, with the stated goal of taking Hodeida.

In November 2017, the coalition announced a total blockade on Hodeida in response to a rebel ballistic missile attack that targeted the Saudi capital Riyadh.

That embargo was eased under international pressure, but the coalition has meanwhile set its sights on retaking Hodeida by land -- especially as rebel missile attacks have increased.

The United Nations has warned that any operation aimed at seizing Hodeida itself would disrupt the entry of aid shipments to Yemen, 70 percent of which flow through the rebel-held port.

The fighting in western Yemen has been fierce, slowed by landmines that Yemeni military sources say have been laid by the insurgents.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led alliance launched its intervention in Yemen in March 2015, contributing to what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Zimbabwe's parliament said Monday former president Robert Mugabe faces jail time if he fails to appear before a committee investigating the alleged embezzlement of $15 billion in diamond revenues.

Members of the parliament's Mines and Energy Committee waited in vain for more than an hour for Mugabe to appear. This is the second time the 94-year-old former Zimbabwean leader has failed to show up for a committee hearing.

Committee chairman Temba Mliswa said lawmakers are running out of patience. They are writing him a final letter to remind him that he will be summoned.

"And we hope we are not getting to that stage of summoning a former president," he said. "We hope this last letter will be something he will appreciate. If he does not attend, he will be in contempt, and being in contempt, there [are] many results. Let me remind you that the former and late MP Roy Bennett was sent to prison by parliament. So, let's be mindful of the powers the parliament has."



The committee is investigating alleged corruption in the country's diamond mining industry.In 2016, Mugabe said Zimbabwe had lost $15 billion from embezzlement.



Diamonds were discovered in eastern Zimbabwe in 2006 and initially raised hopes they would help turn around the country's ailing economy. But little diamond revenue found its way into the average citizen's pocket or the government's treasury.

While Mugabe's government accused mining companies of not declaring their actual profits, Global Witness and other corruption watchdogs expressed concern over abuses and mismanagement in the diamond sector.



Global Witness accused state security agencies and Mugabe's political allies of siphoning off the profits from diamond mining  and of selling the precious stones themselves and keeping all the proceeds.



Mugabe resigned in November 2017 after giving in to military-led pressure and has not been in public since then. He only addressed a few journalists earlier this year, accusing his former deputy and successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, of deposing him through a coup.
If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

Satellite image of Langila volcano (image by Google Earth View)

Langila volcano stratovolcano 1330 m / 4,363 ft

New Britain, Papua New Guinea, -5.53S / 148.42E

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5) Langila volcano eruptions:

2009-2013, 2002-08, 1973-2000, 1971-72, 1970, 1969, 1967-68, 1964-66, 1962-63, 1960-61, 1958, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1942 (?), 1907, 1900, 1890, 1884, 1878

Typical eruption style:

explosive

Last nearby quakes Latest satellite images stratovolcano 1330 m / 4,363 ftNew Britain, Papua New Guinea, -5.53S / 148.42E(3 out of 5)2009-2013, 2002-08, 1973-2000, 1971-72, 1970, 1969, 1967-68, 1964-66, 1962-63, 1960-61, 1958, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1942 (?), 1907, 1900, 1890, 1884, 1878explosive

Background

Langila volcano, whose activity record goes back to the 19th century only, is one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Langila's frequent activity consists typically of mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, that are sometimes accompanied by lava flows.

The volcano consists of four small overlapping cones on the lower eastern flank of the extinct Talawe volcano,- the highest volcano in NW New Britain. The rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater of Talawe has a large gap to the SE; the younger Langila volcano formed NE of Talawe's breached crater.

Extensive lava flows have reached the sea from the N and NE flanks of the volcano. Since observations have begun, 3 summit craters have been active. The youngest and smallest of these, with a diameter of 150 m, was formed in 1960.

NASA Earth Observatory

Explosion of Langila volcano 1985
Portrait of Marchesa Casati by Giovanni Boldini at Rome's Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna.

Between 1911 and 1913, the Ferrara artist Giovanni Boldini worked on this exquisite portrait of Marchesa Luisa Casati (1881-1957), the eccentric Italian heiress, femme fatale, muse and renowned patron of the arts. Casati was feted by European high society and had her portrait painted numerous times during the first three decades of the 20th century by the greatest artists of the era, famously declaring: I want to be a living work of art.

In addition to captivating  and commissioning  leading artists, Casati seduced a succession of literary figures, including Gabriele DAnnunzio, and inspired numerous characters in print and film. Everywhere she went she was followed by an entourage of starry-eyed poets, sculptors, designers and occultists. Boldini came to know the spectacularly rich socialite in Venice, where she later acquired a Grand Canal residence, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni  now the home of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Here Casati threw lavish, hedonistic parties, her guests attended by nude servants gilded in gold leaf.

Boldini captured Casatis likeness several times, including his 1908 classical portrait with black hat and costume and matching sleek greyhound. However by the time he painted her again a few years later in Paris, the portrait was anything but traditional. He depicted the Marchesa with a spectacular headdress of peacock feathers, accentuating the birdlike poise of Casati who is perched amid a sea of swirling water, or rumpled sheets, with the suggestion of a ballgown and high heels. Half siren, half bird, she is an exotic creature ready to take flight into the silvery night sky.

It is clear the artist had much fun painting this refreshingly experimental image, so different to his other portraits which  although created using his trademark swishy brushstrokes  were more academic in their poses. No doubt Boldini was encouraged to be daring by the feather-loving Marchesa who relished appearing at society events wearing live snakes as jewellery, accompanied by her pair of jewel-collared cheetahs.

In 1931 Boldini died in Paris, aged 88, two years after the life-long bachelor and womaniser married for the first time. He left behind a glittering legacy, a Legion dhonneur medal and a large fortune.

The Marchesa, on the other hand, had by this stage amassed a debt of $25 million, leading to an auction of her personal belongings and treasures. Now almost penniless, she moved to a flat in the Knightsbridge area of London where, so the legend goes, she could be seen rummaging in bins for feathers to decorate her hair.

Casati died of a stroke in London in 1957, aged 76, and was buried in her leopard-skin finery complete with false eyelashes, alongside one of her beloved stuffed pekinese dogs. Among the tiny handful of mourners at the funeral was a man from Venice who, half a century earlier, had been her personal gondolier, ferrying the Marchesa and her pet monkeys across the lagoon.

Casatis urn-like tombstone at Brompton Cemetery has her first name misspelt as Louisa and carries the Shakespearian inscription: Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.

Boldinis portrait of the colourful but ultimately tragic Casati was gifted to the Galleria Nazionale dArte Moderna (GNAM) by the paintings owner Franco Palma in 1960.

Andy Devane

Photo: Roma, Galleria Nazionale dArte Moderna e Contemporanea. Su concessione del Ministero dei Beni e delle Attivita Culturali e del Turismo.
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.




Kohima (Nagaland) /Ampati (Meghalaya), May 28 : Voting is under way at polling stations for Nagaland Lok Sabha and Ampati assembly constituency by polls.





44 percent polling is recorded in Nagaland Lok Sabha seat and 40 percent recorded in Ampati assembly seat till 11 am as polling starts from 7 am.





Voters and polling officials have a tough time fighting the scorching sun in Ampati and some parts of Nagaland.





Meanwhile, there is no report of any untoward situation create in Nagaland and Ampati.





Over 11.97 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha by election in Nagaland.





The by-election for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland was necessitated after NDPP leader and present Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had resigned as a Lok Sabha member on February 16 last.





The People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) led by Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi as the candidate while NPF fielded C Apok Jamir.





On the other hand, over 28,000 voters will exercise their franchise in the Ampati assembly seat by poll.





The by poll to Ampati was necessitated after Mukul Sangma had decided to leave the Ampati seat and Congresss number came down to 20.





In this by poll, Congress has fielded Mukul Sangmas daughter Miani D Shira as the candidate, who is contesting her first ever elections.





On the other hand, ruling National Peoples Party (NPP) has fielded Clement G Momin as the candidate.








Guwahati: At least eight people were injured as two groups clashed over a land dispute in central Assams Nagaon district.





According to the reports, the incident was took place at Roumari village under Dhing police station in the central Assam district where two groups clashed over a land dispute on Saturday.





In the clash, at least eight people were injured and they were immediately admitted at Dhing civil hospital.





Local people alleged that, one group had fired another group by using handmade gun.





Meanwhile, police had seized a handmade gun.





Officer-in-Charge of Dhing police station Arpan Saikia said that, following the incident a police team had rushed to the area and seized a handmade gun.





Dhing police had registered two different cases (no 212/2018 and 213/2018) in connection with the incident and arrested four persons.





We have already registered two cases and arrested four people in connection with it, Arpan Saikia said.








Guwahati : The Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs led by senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor will visit Arunachal Pradesh today to take stock of the ground situation on the Indo-China border.





According to the reports, the Committee will reach Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow.





The Committee will also visit Sikkim and examine the whole gamut of India-China relations including Doklam.





Congress MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said in Guwahati that, the Committee will visit Nathula in Sikkim on Tuesday.





We are doing both of the parliament on India-China relations. We held number of hearings with the Foreign ministry, Defence ministry, experts of India-China relations including some former ambassadors, scholars. We are now competing studies by having of look at the border ourselves, engaging briefing on the ground. We will go to Tawang tomorrow, border from the Arunachal side and the following day will go to Gangtok, Nathula and also briefing of the Doklam situation, Shashi Tharoor said.





The senior Congress leader further said that, all the programmes are six days.





The senior Congress leader said on the India-Pakistan relations that, it is governments duty to improve relations with Pakistan.




In this photo provided on May 27, 2018 by South Korea Presidential Blue House, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, walk after their meeting at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea on May 26, 2018. Photo: AP





President Donald Trump said Sunday a US team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place.





The State Department said earlier that a team was in Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, separating the North and South Korea. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for US officials.





Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced that it could get back on track. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the longtime US adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the Norths stance toward the summit had been allayed.





Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, he tweeted. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!





South Koreas president, Moon Jae-in, gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in the Panmunjom truce village, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.





Talks with North Korea on a summit with Kim Jong Un were going very well, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday. (May 26)





US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.





Kim, the US ambassador to the Philippines, also served as ambassador to South Korea and was part of the US negotiating team that last held substantive denuclearization talks with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration in 2005.





The Korean leaders second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting Saturday appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the worlds most heavily armed border.





The talks, which Moon said Kim Jong Un requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a US-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war last year.





Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.





Moon told reporters that Kim again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Moon added that Kim said hes willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.





Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a firm resolve to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements complete denuclearization.





What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization, Moon said.





During the South Korea-US summit, President Trump said the US is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the US and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization, he said.





Kim, in a dispatch issued by the Norths state-run news service earlier Sunday, expressed his fixed will on the historic (North Korea)-US summit talks. During Saturdays inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-US relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace.





They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.





Saturdays Korean summit came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a Trump-Kim meeting.





Despite repeated references to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by the North, it remains unclear whether Kim will ever agree to fully abandon his nuclear arsenal.





The North has previously used the term to demand the United States pull out its 28,500 troops in South Korea and withdraw its so-called nuclear umbrella security commitment to South Korea and Japan. The North hasnt openly repeated those same demands after Kims sudden outreach to Seoul and Washington.





Moon has insisted Kim can be persuaded to abandon his nuclear facilities, materials and bombs in a verifiable and irreversible way in exchange for credible security and economic guarantees. Moon said Sunday that the Norths disarmament could still be a difficult process even if Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul dont differ over what complete denuclearization of the peninsula means.





Before he canceled the summit, Trump did not rule out an incremental approach that would provide incentives along the way to the North.




The ex-boyfriend of Cecilia Haddad will reportedly return to Australia in a bid to clear his name.

Mario Marcelo Santoro was named by NSW Police as a person of interest, but not a suspect, over Ms Haddads suspicious death.

Cecilia Haddad was found in the Lane Cove River near Angelo St, Woolwich, on April 29. Credit:NSW Police/Street View

The body of the 38-year-old Brazilian citizen, who lived in Ryde, was found floating in the Lane Cove River on the morning of Sunday, April 29. The following Wednesday, police announced they were treating her death as a homicide.

Mr Santoro, who had recently separated from Ms Haddad, travelled from Sydney to Brazil around the time of Ms Haddads death.
When Natalie Walker found out she felt like she had been physically gutted, with an intense pressure in her chest. It was shock.

A friend had taken Walker aside and told her what theyd found on her then-partners computer while servicing it.

Natalie Walker, PartnerSPEAK Credit:Simon Schluter

He said Natalie everybody knows that theres always lots of porn on his computer but this time I found something else, its children.

It was the ultimate betrayal from her gregarious, generous, professional partner.
Controversial 'alt-right' political commentator Lauren Southern is headed for Australia in July, on a speaking tour that will include Perth.

Controversial Canadian blogger Lauren Southern is heading to Australia, with dates booked in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland.

The Canadian anti-Islamic immigration firebrand, who boasts more than a million social media followers, will be accompanied on speaking engagements in Australia by fellow countryman Stephan Molyneux, a podcaster who was described by the Washington Post as "one of the alt-right's biggest YouTube stars".

Described by some as a peddler of online hate, Ms Southern was denied re-entry to the United Kingdom in March after she distributed flyers near London in February which said, "Allah is a gay god".

UK border authorities determined her political activites were "a serious threat to the fundamental interests of society and are likely to incite tensions between local communities in the United Kingdom".
The WA Police's Tactical Response Group stormed a home in Canning Vale to arrest a "dangerous" man in the early hours on Tuesday.

Police had issued a warning over the weekend about 30-year-old Malcolm Stirling Blurton, saying he was carrying a gun and was considered unpredictable and "very dangerous".

Police have arrested Malcolm Stirling Blurton at a Canning Vale home. Credit: WA Police

Inspector Mal Anderson said officers negotiated with Malcolm Stirling Blurton for a while before forcing their entry at 1.15am.

Nobody else was in the home at the time but officers recovered a shotgun and ammunition after the arrest.
Senior Defence Department official Kim Gillis is leaving in September. Credit:Lyn Mills

Senior Defence Department leader Kim Gillis will leave the agency in another change to its top ranks since its former secretary Dennis Richardson retired.

Mr Gillis, a former Boeing Defence Australia executive, will depart Defence in September after being asked to stay on last year.

Defence said the outgoing deputy secretary, overseeing Australia's multibillion dollar spend purchasing and maintaining military equipment and supplies, is leaving to pursue personal interests.

His departure follows a series of others at the department's highest civilian ranks since Mr Richardson drew his long public service career to a close in 2017.
Moscow: One of Russia's most famous paintings, which depicts Tsar Ivan the Terrible cradling his dying son, has been badly damaged after a man attacked it with a metal pole after drinking vodka.

The canvas, Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581, was completed by renowned Russian realist Ilya Repin in 1885 and portrays a grief- stricken tsar holding his own son in his arms after dealing him a mortal blow, a historical incident whose veracity some Russian nationalists dispute.

Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16th, 1581. Credit:Public domain via Wikipedia Commons

The gallery in central Moscow where the painting was displayed, the State Tretyakov Gallery, said a man had attacked the canvas just before closing time on Friday evening.

It said he had somehow got past a group of gallery employees, picked up one of the metal security poles used to keep the public back from the painting, and struck its protective glass covering several times.
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has met with a migrant from Mali lauded as a hero for scaling an apartment building to save a young child dangling from a balcony.

Macron said 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama would be rewarded for his "exceptional act" with papers to legalise his stay, citizenship if he wants it and a job as a firefighter.

'Bravo': French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Mamoudou Gassama at the presidential Elysee Palace. Credit:AP

"Bravo," Macron said to Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with the awarding of a medal from the prefecture for "courage and devotion."

Gassama's feat went viral on social media, where he has been dubbed "Spiderman" for climbing up five floors, from balcony to balcony, and whisking a four-year-old boy to safety on Saturday night as a crowd screamed at the foot of the building in Paris' northern 18th district.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has highlighted the achievements made by his led government during 100 days, the honeymoon period of the government.





Prime Minister Oli made the highlights through a visual report on Monday. Prime Minister Oli himself presented the report of achievement through the video for the first time in Nepal.





According to the Prime Minister Oli, the main achievement of the government made during the period were ending of the syndicate system in transportation sector and talking the action against the gold smuggler.





The government has taken bold steps for corruption free society, state coffer is tightened, public holidays are slashed to add the working days, load-shedding free country is declared and admission campaign is launched for the deprived children, Prime Minister Oli has sated highlighting as his achievement during these 100 days.





Strong measures have taken against of the contractors who delays in completing the big projects of the country and penalizing the foreign employment recruitment service owners for cheating the public, Prime Minister Oli has stated in the video message as the achievements of the government.





Prime Minister Oli has also stated that bilateral relation between India and other foreign countries is improved during the period, Prime Minister Oli has said adding that the Indian government has agreed to complete of Kathmandu-Birgunj railway within a year.




Washington: Donald Trump's regular attacks on the US Justice Department, including accusations that the FBI spied on his campaign, strike some critics as "boiling the frog" - seeing how far he can push his fight against a federal investigation ensnaring his administration.

Trump's taken a series of provocative steps since Special Counsel Robert Mueller began a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election a year ago, from accusing the investigators of being politically motivated, to declaring that a spy was embedded in his campaign for political reasons and demanding an investigation.

Sally Yates brought details of Flynn's calls with Russia to the attention of the President. Credit:AP

He keeps up the pressure almost daily, tweeting on Sunday, for example, about "13 Angry Democrats" working on Mueller's team, and a "Rigged Investigation!"

Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who's been at odds with Trump for months, and compared the president with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in a Senate floor speech, said there's "a lot of alarm" about the president's tactics, even among members of his own party, and that Republicans in Congress must do more to stand up to him.
Bogota: The two candidates of Colombia's far-right and left wing parties came out ahead in a first-round vote on Sunday, setting the stage for a divisive election, the first since the country signed a peace deal with its rebels.

Ivan Duque, 41, a conservative former senator, won about 39 per cent of the vote, election officials said on Sunday night. Gustavo Petro, 58, a former leftist rebel who rose to become mayor of Bogota, the capital, won about 25 per cent.

Supporters of Ivan Duque, presidential candidate for the Democratic Centre, celebrate finishing first in the first round, in Bogota. Credit:AP

The two, who came in ahead of three other major candidates, will face each other in a second and final vote on June 17.

Regardless of the winner, the election is expected to mark a big shift from the administration of Juan Manuel Santos, a centrist whom Colombians sent twice to the presidency and who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for negotiating a peace deal with the country's main guerrilla group.
TOKYO: Former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, a World War Two naval officer and one of Japans longest-serving premiers, marked his 100th birthday on Sunday with a call to revise the nations post-war, pacifist constitution.





Nakasone, who trod the world stage with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher during his 1982-1987 tenure, has long advocated amending the US-drafted charter to clarify the ambiguous status of the military  a goal shared by incumbent premier Shinzo Abe.

He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public.





To resolutely open the path to the nations future  is the essence of politics, Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media.





Known for his Ron and Yasu friendship with Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable aircraft carrier for US forces and bottle up the Soviet navy.





Nakasone also broke an unwritten rule on limiting the annual defense budget to 1 percent of gross national product.





A former lieutenant in the Imperial Navy who lost his younger brother in World War Two, Nakasone outraged Asian countries when he made an official visit to Tokyos Yasukuni shrine, where convicted war criminals are honored along with Japans war dead, on the 40th anniversary of Japans surrender.





He decided not to repeat the pilgrimage after it sparked riots in China.





Nakasone was forced to retire in 2003 when he was 85, along with other elder statesmen, by then-premier Junichiro Koizumi, who was keen to rejuvenate the Liberal Democratic Partys image as a party of staid, elderly politicians.




Richard Joseph Catcheway suffered a miscarriage of justice that could have been avoided by anyone in the system making a simple check of his records, New Democrat MLA Nahanni Fontaine says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/5/2018 (1232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Richard Joseph Catcheway suffered a miscarriage of justice that could have been avoided by anyone in the system making a simple check of his records, New Democrat MLA Nahanni Fontaine says.

"The legal system failed Mr. Catcheway," Fontaine told the house Monday.

The 32-year-old spent six months in jail after pleading guilty last year to breaking into a south Winnipeg home in March 2017  even though he was incarcerated in Brandon at the time of the break-in.

According to his pre-sentence report, Catcheway  an admitted methamphetamine user who has been diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder  initially said he couldn't remember the night he was alleged to have broken into the house to steal electronics. Court documents said he was "pleading out" because he didn't want to go to trial and because there was a video statement saying he was there at the time of the offence.

Wrongful conviction inquiries across Canada have made recommendations about how to avoid such incidents happening, Fontaine said Monday. She said a simple check of Catcheway's records would have shown he was in jail when the crime he was alleged to have committed occurred.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"This is a very unfortunate incident," said Justice Minister Heather Stefanson, who did not specifically address whether she agreed a miscarriage of justice had occurred.

Stefanson said she is working to prevent a recurrence. The province has a review under way, the minister said, citing a heavy backlog of cases in the court system.

"We will put the proper mechanisms and communications in place to prevent these things happening in future," Stefanson said.

Fontaine said that will be difficult, given the Tory government's funding of the justice system.

"An overloaded and underfunded Legal Aid system opens the door to miscarriages of justice," the NDP MLA said.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
There has been a great deal of discussion about social division and polarization in recent times, but those terms are inadequate. What besets the United States is much worse.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/5/2018 (1233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

There has been a great deal of discussion about social division and polarization in recent times, but those terms are inadequate. What besets the United States is much worse.

Both the right and the left are increasingly defined by a form of Manichaeism, in which the forces of light are taken to be in a death struggle with the forces of darkness. We are in a Manichaean moment.

Manichaeism was a religion founded in the third century by the prophet Mani, born in what is now Iraq. Seeking to synthesize all existing religions and offering its own elaborations, Manichaeism claimed that the principles of Good and Evil are in constant battle.

Known as the Apostle of Light, Mani regarded himself as the final successor to the most important prophets, including Buddha and Jesus. Between the third and seventh centuries, Manichaeism had a great deal of influence. It lost its popularity in the 14th century, but in different forms it has endured; it speaks to something in the human soul.

Political Manichaeism, as I am understanding it here, can be found whenever disagreements about political issues are seen not as reasonable disputes among fellow citizens, but instead as pitting decent people with decent character against horrible people with horrible character.

Heres a quick way to identify those with a Manichaean sensibility: they hate what they hate more than they like what they like.

To be sure, Manichaeans have their preferred policies. They might be pro-life or supportive of tax cuts. They might favour gun control or increases in the minimum wage. But what most animates them  what makes them feel energized and alive  is what, or who, they despise.

George Orwell offered an unforgettable portrayal of Manichaeism in Nineteen Eighty-Four in the form of the Two Minutes Hate, directed against Emmanuel Goldstein, opponent of the Party: "A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledgehammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one even against ones will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic."

Thats a caricature, of course. But Republicans have become able practitioners of their own Two Minutes Hate, frequently directed against Hillary Clinton ("Lock her up!"), and also against James Comey, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. U.S. President Donald Trump serves as the Manichaean-in-Chief. But within some parts of the Republican Party, Manichaeism has become the coin of the realm.

Left-wing Manichaeism can be found in efforts to demonize an economic class that is said to be responsible for the misfortunes and struggles of the rest of us. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a committed Manichaean, calls for "a moral and political war against the billionaires and corporate leaders, on Wall Street and elsewhere, whose policies and greed are destroying the middle class of America." Those who focus on what they see as the villainy of the top one per cent, rather than the needs of the bottom 10 per cent, tend to be Manichaean.

The rise of "partyism"  defined as strong, immediate revulsion toward people of an opposing political party  is best understood as a reflection of political Manichaeism. Consider the fact that in polls, nearly half of Republicans, and about a third of Democrats, have said they would be "displeased" if their child married a member of the opposing party. Just a few decades ago, the corresponding percentages were close to zero.

On some university campuses, left-wing Manichaeism is running rampant. An example is the prohibition on "microaggressions"  which are defined, absurdly, to include a commitment to meritocracy ("I believe the most qualified person should get the job" or "America is the land of opportunity"); a commitment to colour blindness ("There is only one race, the human race"); or a denial, by a white person, that he is a racist.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

One of the most corrosive features of Manichaeism is that it breeds more of itself. If people accuse you of being aligned with the forces of darkness, you might well respond in kind. That makes self-government far more difficult. It leads people to focus not on substantive issues on which progress might be made, but instead to attribute terrible motivations to their fellow citizens, and to see themselves as engaged in holy wars against both individuals and abstractions (such as "liberalism").

Aware of these risks, some of the nations greatest leaders refused to speak in Manichaean terms. With the Civil War near its end, Abraham Lincoln asked, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds." In the midst of the struggle for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. declared, "There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us."

In a similar spirit, Joe Biden frequently quotes Mike Mansfield, his late Senate colleague, as saying, "Its always appropriate to question another mans judgment, but never appropriate to question his motives."

These comments reflect a commitment to the best antidotes to the temptations of Manichaeism: charity and grace. In American political life, both of these are endangered species. They urgently need a recovery plan.

Cass Sunstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the editor of Can It Happen Here? Authoritarianism in America and a co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.

 Bloomberg
Western Canadas premiers last week passed up an opportunity to help Alberta expand the oil pipeline to Vancouver, by essentially turning a blind eye to the raging Alberta-British Columbia pipeline dispute.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/5/2018 (1233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Editorial

Western Canadas premiers last week passed up an opportunity to help Alberta expand the oil pipeline to Vancouver, by essentially turning a blind eye to the raging Alberta-British Columbia pipeline dispute.

As exercises of interprovincial statesmanship go, it was less than impressive.

The western premiers, including leaders of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, held their annual meeting last Wednesday in Yellowknife to discuss matters of interest in the region. The main thing happening in Western Canada this year is that the Kinder Morgan pipeline company is trying to expand its pipeline from Edmonton to Vancouver in order to ship Alberta bitumen to export customers. Albertas New Democratic Premier Rachel Notley supports the pipeline project. B.C. Premier John Horgan is obstructing the project as best he can in hopes of discouraging Kinder Morgan and inducing them to abandon it.

Ms. Notley learned ahead of the meeting that her colleagues would not support a joint statement along the lines that Mr. Horgan should let the pipeline be built. She stayed home and sent her deputy premier in her place. In her absence, the premiers talked about other things, including marijuana and pharmacare funding. On the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, they had nothing to say.

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 Trans Mountain issue clearly has the magnifying glass over it, but we also have other issues that affect our Canadian economic future," Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister told the closing news conference. His Saskatchewan counterpart, Scott Moe, said the federal government should solve the pipeline problem.

Employment and income are inevitable benefits of the Trans Mountain project. Expansion of oilsands production will offer opportunities for construction workers and other tradespeople from all parts of Canada, especially the Prairie region and the North. If there ever was a moment for the western premiers to stand up and be counted, this was it.

The federal government has to gauge sentiment in the region and in the country in deciding how much vigour to put into support of Trans Mountain expansion. If they accept guidance from the Yellowknife meeting, they might conclude that no one east of Alberta cares one way or the other. They could justifiably turn their backs and let the thing die.

By boycotting the meeting, Ms. Notley made it easy for her colleagues to evade the pipeline question. With more adroit diplomacy, she could have been able to lead the Yellowknife meeting into an expression of Western Canadas eagerness for the benefits the project can bring. Even without her leadership, the others should have spoken up.

At the moment, Ms. Notleys plan is to shut off shipment of the petroleum products that drive cars, trucks and airplanes in B.C. This is a sly way of showing Mr. Horgans hypocrisy in running an oil-based economy while refusing shipment of oil across his province for other customers. For his part, Mr. Horgan has insisted that domestic oil consumption and export oil-pipeline expansion are separate issues.

Mr. Horgan may succeed in killing the Trans Mountain expansion project through administrative obstruction. If he does, he should thank the western premiers for sitting on their hands when the time came to push the project forward.
Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Singapore 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 Singapore ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
Blog Archive June (1) May (16) April (23) March (20) February (17) January (13) December (22) November (40) October (57) September (45) August (55) July (52) June (165) May (121) April (141) March (32) February (76) January (141) December (85) November (130) October (146) September (96) August (89) July (82) June (64) May (99) April (41) March (98) February (61) January (64) December (67) November (51) October (70) September (75) August (52) July (66) June (76) May (104) April (93) March (151) February (168) January (107) December (42) November (56) October (69) September (103) August (75) July (191) June (171) May (207) April (302) March (490) February (155) January (138) December (135) November (226) October (146) September (107) August (160) July (292) June (316) May (361) April (460) March (327) February (49) January (2) November (13) October (3) September (37) August (43) July (6) June (12) May (1) April (29) March (30) February (58) January (27) December (11) November (16) October (34) September (81) August (81) July (93) June (12) May (1) February (1) November (3) October (2) September (6) August (1) July (2) June (14) May (10) April (8) March (13) February (1) January (5)
Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a marine fuel logistics company that markets and supplies refined marine fuel and lubricants to vessels in port, at sea, and on rivers worldwide. The company offers fueling services to ocean-going and a range of coastal vessels, including oil tankers, container ships, drybulk carriers, cruise ships, reefers, LNG/LPG carriers, car carriers, and ferries, as well as to marine fuel traders, brokers, and other end-users of marine fuel and lubricants. It also markets and distributes marine lubricants under the Alfa Marine Lubricants brand; and provides a range of shipping services, such as technical support and maintenance, insurance arrangement and handling, financial administration, and accounting services. As of December 31, 2016, the company owned and operated a fleet of 46 bunkering vessels, including 45 double hulls and 1 single hull special purpose vehicle; 15 double hull bunkering vessels with an aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 292,400 deadweight ton (dwt); operated 10 land-based storage facilities with an aggregate storage capacity of approximately 1,075,000 cubic meters; and operated 2 vessels as floating storage facility with a cargo carrying capacity of approximately 86,800 dwt. Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece.

Read More
In a chilling display of the growing assertiveness of the military-intelligence apparatus, the director-general of security laid down the law to Australias parliament last Thursday.

Testifying at a Senate estimates hearing, Duncan Lewis, who heads the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the domestic surveillance agency, insisted that senators must pass the governments foreign interference bills.

Lewis said ASIO saw the bills as providing integral and urgently required tools to help combat the current threat of foreign interference on an unprecedented scale.

ASIOs intervention came amid an unexplained delay in a parliamentary committee report on the legislation, which was initially tabled in parliament last December. Nearly six months on, the bills have yet to be put to a vote, despite ongoing in principle bipartisan Labor Party backing for them.

Lewis spoke out in the context of mounting US-China tensions that could have vast economic and politically destabilising implications for Australian capitalism, which depends on both China and the US economically, while relying on the US militarily.

Without providing a skerrick of evidence, Lewis said there are more foreign spies operating in Australia than during the Cold War. Espionage, interference, sabotage and malicious insider activities can inflict catastrophic harm on our countrys interests, he declared.

The ASIO chief painted an alarming picture of a country in danger of being overtaken by a foreign power.

Foreign actors covertly attempt to influence and shape the views of members of the Australian public, the Australian media and officials in the Australian government, as well as members of the diaspora communities here in Australia, Lewis testified. It undermines potentially our sovereignty, our security and our prosperity.

Lewis did not mention China by name but his reference to diaspora communities made the foreign target explicit. For the past two years, media outlets have promoted sensational claims, fed by unsubstantiated intelligence briefings, of Chinese-Australian business figures and Chinese students operating as agents of Beijing, exerting insidious influence in partnership with local fifth columnists in the political and corporate elite.

Lewis highlighted the threat to Australias alliancesthat is, the post-World War II military and strategic alliance with the US.

He declared: Foreign actors from a range of countries are seeking to access privileged and-or classified information on Australias alliances and our partnerships, our position on international diplomatic, economic, and military issues, on our energy, on our mineral resources and our innovations in science and technology.

At a media conference the next day, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull vowed that his government remains absolutely committed to the legislation. Turnbull was asked by a journalist whether the government should back away from the bills, given Chinas criticism of the claims being made of its interference.

The prime minister vowed to ensure that it is Australians who decide who will sit in our parliaments and what the policies of our governments will be.

When Turnbull personally introduced the bills last December, he literally accused China of plotting to dominate Australia. He referred to a classified report by ASIO, as well as media reports suggesting that the Chinese Communist Party has been working to covertly interfere with our media, our universities and even the decisions of elected representatives right here in this building.

These bills not only target China and Chinese Australians in preparation for wartime conditions. They constitute a far-reaching attack on freedom of speech, especially anti-war opposition, including by outlawing political activity in cooperation with foreign or international organisations.

Director-General Lewis, a former military general, is a key figure in Australias security apparatus, which operates as a deep state within ruling circles. He was elevated into prominence by the last Labor government, which appointed him as Australias inaugural National Security Adviser in 2008. Before that, he commanded the SAS regiment and was Special Operations Commander for Australia in the US-led occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In last Thursdays testimony, Lewis pointedly defended Andrew Hastie, the chairman of parliaments joint security and intelligence committee. The previous night, Hastie had exploited parliamentary privilege to release secret US FBI information accusing a prominent Chinese-Australian businessman, Chau Chak Wing, of conspiring to bribe a UN official.

Hastie, a government member of parliament, was given the information during recent briefings in Washington, and used the unproven allegation to again accuse Beijing of plotting to undermine Australias political system.

As if to reinforce Hasties message, Lewis told the hearing that Hasties disclosure of FBI files has had no impact on intelligence relationships with Australias Five Eyes partnersthe US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

Moreover, Lewis revealed that Hastie had cleared his release of the FBI material with ASIO before making his dramatic charge against Chau. Lewis disclosed that he immediately tasked ASIOs Washington office to confirm that Hastie had been briefed on the allegation in the US.

Yet Hastie had not informed Turnbull of his planned speech, a fact that Turnbull was forced to admit in parliament last Thursday. In other words, Hastie, also a former SAS officer, sought permission from ASIO, not the prime minister, before issuing his political bombshell.

Hasties speech cut across efforts by the government to repair chilled relations with Beijing after signs of Chinese retaliation against Australian imports because of the interference witch hunt.

Hasties speech and the ASIO chiefs testimony signal a drive by the US military-intelligence establishment, with which Australias agencies are closely linked, to reinforce its insistence that there must be no wavering by Australia from lining up against China, the countrys biggest export market.

Significantly, the US embassy also intervened, issuing a statement that Hasties release of FBI information was no threat to US-Australian relations, and our embassies work hard to ensure we are in lock step as we work together to address common challenges.

The US charge daffaires in Canberra, James Caruso, even visited parliament on Wednesday to make it clear that Washington was comfortable with Hasties actions.

Exactly why Hasties security and intelligence committee has not yet released its overdue report on the foreign interference bills remains unclear. Because of the delay, the bills may not be able to proceed to a vote until mid-August, after parliaments six-week winter recess.

Major media companies, including Rupert Murdochs News Corp, have called for the bills to be withdrawn and re-cast because of their sweeping implications for media coverage, including the capacity of the media owners to operate globally and selectively publish information for their own political purposes.

There are also rifts within the ruling class over the prospect of war with China, given the immense profits at stake. And there are concerns that despite two years of whipping up anti-Chinese chauvinism, any participation in a US-led war would trigger widespread popular opposition.

Over the past year, with Labors support, Turnbulls Liberal-National government has launched the most extensive revamping of the countrys security and intelligence apparatus since the political convulsions of the 1960s and 1970s.

Since 2001, ASIO and other political surveillance agencies already have been handed vast repressive powers, and trebled their size, under the cover of the war on terrorism. Now their powers and resources are being centralised via a new Office of National Intelligence and a Home Affairs super-ministry.

That restructuring is based on an intelligence report handed to the government last July, which warned that the global strategic influence of the United States has declined in relative terms and that trajectory is set to continue. It also pointed to deepening political disaffection, saying that heightened tensions and instabilities were exacerbating a growing sense of insecurity and alienation.

The foreign interference bills are designed to give the intelligence and police apparatus enormous powers to harass, intimidate and jail opponents of the drive to war and austerity.
Ireland voted by a wide margin on Friday to repeal the reactionary Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution and legalise abortion on demand. The unexpectedly decisive outcome is a blow to the authority of the Catholic Church. It will strengthen demands for anti-abortion laws to be relaxed or repealed in Northern Ireland.

The vote immediately triggered a crisis in British ruling circles. The Democratic Unionist Party, which holds the most seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and props up Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative government with its 10 MPs at Westminster, opposes any change in Northern Irelands anti-abortion laws.

The vote took place only after repeated twists and turns by both the ruling Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, the largest opposition party. The Oireachtas, the Irish parliament, is expected to legislate based on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment before the end of the year.

At that point, women in Ireland within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy will finally be able to exercise the basic democratic right to abortion. Between 12 and 24 weeks, abortions will be allowed only in cases involving serious risk to the woman.

Currently, women face up to 14 years in jail for having an abortion, and thousands every year make the emotionally gruelling trip to Britain for termination.

In all, 2,153,613 votes were cast with, 1,429,981 (66.4 percent) in favour of repeal and 723,632 (33.6 percent) against. Turnout was 64.1 percent.

Of the 40 constituencies, 39 voted for repeal. Constituencies around Dublin recorded yes margins of well over 70 percent. The highest repeal vote was in Dublin Bay South (78.5 percent). Only rural Donegal voted against repealing the amendment, and then only by 51.9 to 48.1 percent. The next closest vote was in Cavan-Monaghan, where 44.5 percent opposed repeal against 55.5 percent in favour.

Support for repeal appears to have been particularly pronounced amongst young people. One exit poll reported up to 87 percent of 18-24 year olds in favour. Among women under the age of 25, 90 percent voted in favour.

The number of young people registering to vote was reported by the National Youth Council of Ireland to be unprecedented. Most of the 125,000 new registrations are thought to have been youthful voters. The referendum itself only emerged after years of intense campaigns, protests and strikes demanding abortion rights, in which young people were heavily involved.

The result signals a shift to the left among broad sections of the Irish population. It is connected to protests internationally, involving millions of workers and young people, against intolerable conditions of life and in opposition to the right-wing, anti-democratic trajectory of the official political set-up.

In the United States, over one million students demonstrated against gun violence and mass shootings in March of this year. Student protests erupted in France last month against anti-democratic higher education reforms and in support of rail workers who are striking against French President Emmanuel Macrons policy of social attacks and privatisation.

While support for repeal was highest amongst youth, according to exit polls, it was supported by all age groups apart from those over 65. It is a significantly more decisive result than a 2015 referendum in which 62 percent of voters on a 60 percent turnout supported the right to same-sex marriage.

Among the powerful interventions leading to the repeal vote was the stance taken by the parents of Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 because she was denied an abortion. Halappanavar died in a Galway hospital of septicaemia from complications arising from her pregnancy. She had repeatedly requested an abortion, which could have saved her life. The 31-year-old Indian woman was told by staff at University Hospital Galway that to procure an abortion was impossible as this was a Catholic country.

Following Fridays vote, Halappanavars father, Andanappa Yalagi, speaking from India, told the Guardian, Weve got justice for Savita and what happened to her will not happen to any other family now. I have no words to express my gratitude to the people of Ireland at this historic moment.

The result is a disaster for the Church. Support for the Church in a country scarred by generations of abusive treatment at the hands of priests and bishops is in sharp decline. Such is the collapse that Catholic organisations, which played a decisive role in the right-wing campaign that led to the Eighth Amendment in 1983, declined this time around to comment at all for fear of increasing the sentiment against them.

According to the Sunday Business Post, the Catholic Communications Office was not even invited to provide a bishop or priest for one of national TV channel RTEs debates.

Commentary on the result was characteristically vindictive. The Catholic primate of all-Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, complained, We have elevated the right to personal choice above the fundamental right to life itself. He bemoaned the fact that "this country is now on the brink of legislating for a liberal abortion regime.

The bishop of Limerick, Dr. Brendan Leahy, called the outcome deeply regrettable and chilling for those of us who voted no. He continued, It is a vote, of course, that does not change our position. The pope has thus far declined to comment.

The so-called Brexit effect did not materialise in the vote. A number of recent polls had suggested that although the repeal side was always ahead, distrust of the Dublin political establishment was leading, particularly in rural areas, to a right-wing populist groundswell of opposition to repeal. Writing in the Spectator, journalist Padraig Belton suggested that a fiercely-fought referendum battle has instead weaponised every single divide that was lurking latent in Irish society: rural versus urban, young versus old, rich against poor. But rural Ireland also voted for repeal.

The clear outcome portends major class conflicts. The Irish bourgeoisie is attempting to manage the decline of the Church, an institution on which it has relied for the entire existence of the Irish state, and which has served for many decades to suppress the class struggle.

By selecting openly gay Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach last year to replace Enda Kenny, the ruling Fine Gael signaled that it was turning away from the Church toward a strategy of relying instead on layers of the wealthy, socially liberal, pro-capitalist upper-middle class as a social prop.

Prior to taking office, Varadkar supported the last four tax-cutting government budgets. As acting minister for health, he cut 12 million from mental health spending. As minister for social protection, Varadkar attacked the most vulnerable in society under the guise of clamping down on welfare fraud. In office, he has championed the role of Ireland as a low-tax investment haven within the European Union amid the turmoil and instability triggered by the British decision to quit the bloc.

The author also recommends:

Irish government calls abortion referendum

[23 April 2018]

Irelands reactionary abortion laws largely upheld

[9 July 2013]
Elementary school teachers are to strike May 30 in the southern provinces of the Netherlands, as part of a wave of working class struggles that brought the number of strike actions in the small country to 32 in 2017, the highest number since 1989.

According to the Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS), a record number of 147,000 workers participated in the strikes in 2017. A year before, there were 25 strike actions but these involved only 11,000 workers, far fewer.

The number of working days lost to strikes soared from 19,000 in 2016 to 306,000 for 2017. Significantly, strike actions have become more frequent each year since 2011, except for a small decline in 2016. CBS states on its web site that in 8 out of 10 cases the strikes were initiated and ended by the central trade unions, mostly over conflicts about the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO). Almost 20 percent of the strikes were initiated solely over wage issues.

The role of the central trade unions FNV and CNV has been very much the same as in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and elsewhere, which is always one of suppressing workers unrest and toning down of strike actions. The unions consider nationwide strikes too disruptive, and argue strongly for regional, one-day strikes and sometimes for protest marches, which are little more than street parades.

The political influence of the unions, represented by the social-democratic labour party PvdA, is all but depleted, as PvdA saw its parliamentary seat-count drop dramatically in last years national election. The Dutch Polder Model, which consists of continuous negotiations between government, employers and trade unions, has been very successful in suppressing popular unrest, but as CBS statistics show, the Dutch working class is beginning to resist.

Teachers in Dutch elementary schools held several national strike actions in 2017, demanding improved school funding, which has been cut drastically over recent years, and for higher wages and a reduction in workload. Specifically, elementary school teachers demand equal pay compared to their colleagues teaching in high school and the creation of more support jobs such as classroom assistants and administrative workers.

Full tuition funding for college students is being converted into student loans, so graduates start their adult professional lives already carrying enormous debts.

The teachers union tries to dampen down strike action and argues for regional strikes, and the government says there is not enough money to meet the demands. In reality, school funding has been cut dramatically for the past decade due to austerity measures, funneling the money to large banks and corporations through bail-outs and tax cuts. The abolition of the dividend tax in the Netherlands is one of the most recent examples of government hand-outs to the already rich and to international finance capital.

According to Dutch labour law, a trade union can be set up by as few as two people. They have to be co-workers and have their statutes validated by a solicitor. Dutch elementary school teachers have made use of this and founded their own, single-use trade union, taking matters into their own hands and organising the strike actions via social media.

It is because of this action alone that the government was forced to raise the education budget by approximately 700 million. But this is not nearly enough to repair the damage caused by austerity measures and does little to nothing to relieve the pressure on educators. In contrast, the Dutch military saw its budget increase by 1.5 billion to build up towards the military spending level of 2 percent of GDP demanded by NATO.

The teachers strikes are still ongoing. Regional strikes resemble a relay race, with the southern provinces taking their turn to strike on May 30. During the national strikes, the national media reported on the standpoints of both the employers and the trade union. It also mentioned some responses from teachers explaining how badly they need proper education funding. Public support was hardly given a voice in the media, while hostile statements from parents could be read in any newspaper article on the subject. During the regional strike actions the national media turned deafeningly silent.

Bus and train drivers working for privatised public transport companies have been negotiating with employers via the unions for equal pay compared to their colleagues working for the national railway company NS. A train driver working for NS earns up to 10 percent more than his or her colleague working for the private company Arriva.

More importantly, workers also demand loosening of the tight duty rosters. In some cases, bus drivers work nine-hour shifts, driving for four hours straight until they have a 15-minute break. If drivers fall behind schedule due to heavy traffic, they see their break-time reduced and in some cases there is not enough time left to even go to the toilet.

In order to gain public transport concessions, private companies have to compete ever more aggressively, squeezing every last drop of labour power and money out of their workers. In 2017, regional bus drivers held public-friendly actions, allowing people to travel for free. A court ruling prohibited this, characterizing the refusal to collect fares as stealing from the company.

In early January 2018, in a stunt to generate attention to their plight, bus drivers had cars with trailers carrying portable toilets driving behind the bus. When negotiations and the publicity stunts failed, and public-friendly actions were prohibited, workers went on national strike on April 30 and May 1.

More than 80 percent of regional public transport (bus and train routes in the provinces) was shut down with only some bus routes operating to keep airports and hospitals accessible. An article on the web site of Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad stated that the employers organisation VWOV filed a lawsuit demanding strike action be prohibited, accusing the unions of making unjust use of the right to strike, but the judge ruled in favour of the workers. According to the court, the workers right to strike in this case was more important than the damage and hindrance a national strike would cause.

Again the trade unions cowardly backed down from national strikes, considering it too disruptive and turned towards regional relay-strikes. FNV negotiator Paula Verhoef said on the television programme Nieuwsuur: We do realise [the strikes] are inconvenient for passengers, so there will not be another national strike, but we will pressure regionally.

Media reports concentrated on unsupportive reactions: Students have trouble attending college or exams, people cant go to work, and grandparents cant visit their grandchildren. The comments section of the popular Dutch news site NU.nl shows a good number of such reactions, but there are also many comments of solidarity. Some bus drivers commented with their personal experiences. One of them stated that if hes 10 or maybe 12 minutes delayed due to heavy traffic, he only has 3 to 5 minutes left for a quick sandwich, coffee, cigarette perhaps and/or restroom visit.
President Donald Trumps offer to ease restrictions on the Chinese telecom company ZTE has provoked a storm of bipartisan opposition from the US Congress. A Commerce Department ban last month on sales of US components to ZTE effectively had put it out of business.

Trump announced last week he had reached a deal with China to allow ZTE to resume operations. This was ahead of a planned visit to China later this week by a trade team led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to negotiate measures to increase US exports and reduce the US-China trade deficit.

Following the direct intervention of President Xi Jinping, China insisted that easing the restrictions on ZTE had to be part of any negotiations to open up Chinese markets to US exports. The ban was previously imposed on ZTE as punishment for trading with Iran and North Korea in defiance of US sanctions.

Under Trumps proposed deal, the ban would be lifted in return for ZTE paying a $1.3 billion fine, changing its management and providing high-level security guarantees. The latter proviso was reported to include hiring American compliance officers to monitor its operations.

Moves are underway in the Congress, supported by leading Republicans and Democrats, to block any deal with ZTE and to extend bans on Chinese telecom firms regarded as a threat to US national security.

Last Thursday the Senate passed a defence policy bill containing a provision to compel Trump to certify to Congress that ZTE had not violated US law for the past year and was cooperating with US investigations. The House of Representatives has passed legislation to ban government agencies from using any technology made by ZTE and prohibit the Defense Department from renewing contracts with vendors that worked with it.

Yesterday, leading Florida Republican senator Marco Rubio denounced any deal with ZTE, claiming legislation against it in Congress would obtain a supermajority, thereby preventing any presidential veto.

Most members of Congress have come to understand the threat that China poses, Rubio told CBSs program Face the Nation, declaring: Theres a growing commitment in Congress to do something about what China is trying to do to the United States. And this is a good place to start.

After the proposed deal was announced, Rubio tweeted: Yes they have a deal in mind. It is a great deal ... for ZTE and China. China crushes US companies with no mercy and they use these telecom companies to spy and steal from us. Many hoped this time it would be different. Now Congress will need to act.

The moves in Congress go beyond ZTE. In his remarks yesterday, Rubio said he expected Congress to move against other Chinese firms, such as Huawei, on the grounds that their equipment could be used to steal US technology.

None of these companies should be operating in this country, he said. None of them. They are used for espionage.

According to Rubio, the issue is not just about punishing ZTE for its breaches of US sanctions on North Korea and Iran. It is about the supposed Chinese theft of intellectual property, and forced technology transfers from US companies engaged in joint ventures with Chinese firms.

Putting it out of business, a company like ZTE, is the kind of significant consequence that China would respond to, to understand that were serious, he told ABCs This Week program.

Rubios hostility to Chinese companies is part of a broader anti-China agenda. Earlier this year, he warned of the counter-intelligence posed to US national security from Chinese students, particularly those in advanced programs in the sciences and mathematics.

He also wrote a letter to five educational institutions in Florida, calling on them to cut ties with Chinese government-backed bodies that he alleged were trying to present half-truths to covertly influence public opinion and portray Chinese history, government or official policy in the most favourable light.

The Democratic Party is calling for bipartisan moves in Congress to prevent any move that would allow ZTE to get back into business, citing national security considerations.

If the administration goes through with this reported deal, President Trump would be helping make China great again, the Democrat Senate minority leader Charles Schumer said on Friday.

Simply a fine and changing board members would not protect Americas economic or national security, and would be a huge victory for President Xi, and a dramatic retreat by President Trump, Schumer stated. Both parties in Congress should come together to stop this deal in its tracks.

The House Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted that Trump was using US government resources to enrich ZTE (a foreign company designated as a national cybersecurity risk).

Senator Mark Warner, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said any deal on ZTE would be a big mistake. He said Trump should heed the advice of intelligence agencies who have continuously said that ZTE poses a national security threat.

The Democrats articulate the views of the military and intelligence agencies, which view Chinas move to advance its technological capacities under its Made in China 2025 plan as a threat to the economic and military dominance of the US. Secondly, they are seeking to try to outflank Trump from the right in the November congressional elections by whipping up nationalist, America First anti-China sentiment, adding to their ongoing anti-Russia campaign.

The Ross-led team will meet with Chinese counterparts on June 2-4. They hope to secure agreements for increased US exports of agricultural products and energy.

China has made some concessions ahead of the talks by cutting tariffs on imported vehicles and indicating it is ready to drop opposition to the proposed takeover by Qualcomm of the Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors. While no Chinese firms are directly involved, Beijings approval, which has been held up on anti-competitive grounds, is considered necessary for the deal because China is a large market for Qualcomm products.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the US delegation will also press China to make structural changes in its economic model, especially reducing subsidies to state-owned companies that benefit them in global competition.

Little movement is likely on this score, however, nor on the broader US agenda, set out in a series of demands issued at the beginning of this month, for China to all but abandon its efforts to increase its technology-based industries.
National Guardsman missing after flash flooding devastates Ellicott City, Maryland: 'I'm hopeful that he'll be OK'

Rescue workers are searching for a National Guardsman who went missing after flash floods swept through Ellicott City, Maryland, on Sunday.

The missing man, 39-year-old Eddison Hermond of Severn, Maryland, was last seen at about 5:20 p.m. Sunday, Howard County police said.

PHOTO: Eddison Hermond, who was reported missing after the Ellicott City, Maryland, flood is pictured in this undated photo. (Courtesy Joseph Lopez)

PHOTO: An undated photo of Eddison Hermond who was reported missing after the Ellicott City, Maryland, flood. (Courtesy Joseph Lopez)

Hermond, a member of the Maryland National Guard, was at an Ellicott City restaurant with Joseph Lopez, his friend from the Air Force, when they noticed the parking lot starting to flood because of the heavy rain.

It happened so fast," Lopez told ABC News. The main street became a river in less than 20 minutes."

The friends were helping to block the restaurant doors to prevent flooding when one woman with a cat carrier wanted to leave, Lopez said.

PHOTO: Water moves past a car swept into the riverbank and smashed by a fallen tree just off Main Street in flood-ravaged Ellicott City, Md., May 28, 2018. (David McFadden/AP)

PHOTO: A parked car is flooded in a lot near Main Street and Ellicott Mills Road as a heavy storm caused flash floods in Ellicott City, Md., May 27, 2018. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP)

PHOTO: Water rushes through Main Street in Ellicott City, Md., May 27, 2018. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP)

Hermond was helping her when he lost his balance and was swept away into a river and under a bridge, Lopez said.

Hermond, who was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts, hasn't been seen since, Lopez said.

Eddison is a great swimmer so I'm hopeful that he will be OK," Lopez said.

PHOTO: Damage is seen on Main Street after a flash flood rushed through the historic town of Ellicott City, Md., May 27, 2018. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE via REX/Shutterstock)

PHOTO: Damage is seen on Main Street after a flash flood rushed through the historic town of Ellicott City, Md., May 27, 2018. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE via REX/Shutterstock)

First responders stressed this afternoon that the search to find Hermond is still a rescue mission, not a recovery mission.

His aunt, Deborah Nina Cooper, asked for privacy on behalf of the family but thanked well-wishers for their support.

"We are still working with government agencies as we remain hopeful that he will be found safe," Cooper said. "Please continue to keep Eddison in your prayers."

The governor of Maryland declared a state of emergency in the wake of the flash flooding in the historic mill town and other areas Sunday. Ellicott City saw 8.4 inches of rain in just a few hours. Nearby Catonsville, Maryland, saw over 10 inches of rain.

Howard County County Executive Allan Kittleman this morning called the flooding worse than the one that hit Ellicott City in 2016, killing two people and causing millions of dollars of damage.

My heart's broken when I walk through the town and see it, Kittleman told "Good Morning America." "All I'm thinking about is the folks whose lives have been devastated for a second time in two years."

Story continues

Ellicott City is underwater A post shared by Culture Lab (@culturelabstore) on May 27, 2018 at 2:02pm PDT

Ellicott City is getting hammered with a flash flood again today #ellicottcity #flood2018 pic.twitter.com/83oBxbBLg2  NatstownFan (@NatstownFan) May 27, 2018

(MORE: Flash floods turn Maryland town's Main Street into raging muddy river)

We are heartbroken to see the devastation that occurred yesterday," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement today. State agencies have been working around the clock to coordinate resources, begin assessing damages, and clean up debris, mud, and damaged infrastructure.

There were about 30 water rescues and 250 to 300 people were helped out of buildings amid the flash flooding, officials said.

Cheryl Nitz came to Ellicott City for a trip with her family Sunday when "it started raining ... and all of a sudden it just started raining harder and harder," she told ABC News. "Then we noticed the water was coming up over the curbs. Then all of a sudden the water was actually running down the middle of the street."

Nitz and her family raced up to higher ground to their car.

PHOTO: Damage is seen on Main Street after a flash flood rushed through the historic town of Ellicott City, Md., May 27, 2018. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE via REX/Shutterstock)

"We were able to get the car out of the parking spot and we moved toward Main Street," she said, but "there were other cars stuck in the way. We couldn't move."

The water rose so rapidly that her family had to be rescued from their car, she added.

"It rose so quickly probably within 5 or 10 minutes it just started to kind of cover the road... it was rushing," she said. "It was unbelievable."

Walking through downtown Ellicott City surveying the damage with Lt. Governor @BoydKRutherford, County Executive Kittleman, and emergency management personnel from the county and state. We stand in solidarity with Ellicott City and Howard County. We are #EllicottCityStrong. pic.twitter.com/tlbU5b3wYQ  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 28, 2018

Andrew Kolozsvary of New Hampshire was also visiting Ellicott City, enjoying a Sunday drive, when it started "raining pretty hard, so we decided to park the truck in front of the county welcome center," he told ABC News. "The water came and it came fast."

While in the truck, the quickly rising water was "inching the car along," he said.

After his rescue, the truck ended up washed down the street.

"I was glad to get out of it," he said. "The second deluge was the really bad one -- that took the truck."

Amber Twait was in Ellicott City as a band member for her friend's wedding Sunday when the venue flooded.

The couple ended up getting married at a nearby Mexican restaurant that was on higher ground, she told ABC News.

Eventually, Twait added, the restaurant started to flood as well, but not before they finished the ceremony.

"Obviously not ideal, but they were still able to say they're married at the end of the day," she said.

"It was a little scary, just because the lights were flickering but it was just really sweet and they both had such a good attitude about it," Twait added. "Hell or high water, they still were going to get married."

ABC News' Elizabeth McLaughlin, Fergal Gallagher and Sarah Shales contributed to this report.
Alberto, the first named subtropical storm of the 2018 season, has made landfall on the Florida panhandle, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and flash flooding to the area.

The storm, which began to weaken as it approached the Gulf Coast, was about 15 miles west-northwest of Panama City, Florida, as of 5 p.m. ET, with the center moving onshore near Laguna Beach, Florida.

PHOTO: The center of Alberto is located 15 miles west-northwest of Panama City, Florida (ABC)

Alberto's winds are reaching up to 50 mph in the heaviest rain bands. A wind gust of 56 mph was reported near Panama City, Florida, with sustained wind gusts of 45 mph Monday afternoon.

Hello #Alberto #keywest #cheflife A post shared by Ryan Spayd (@rspayd87) on May 26, 2018 at 11:20pm PDT

It has turned into a damp and breezy early evening in #KeyWest. A wind gust of 47 mph was recorded recently atop the Weather Forecast Office. #flwx #FLKeys pic.twitter.com/CP2zL2HO5X  NWS Key West (@NWSKeyWest) May 26, 2018

(MORE: 'Gulf Coast prepares for Alberto as heavy rain, gusty winds hit Florida)

(MORE: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama declare emergency ahead of storm Alberto)

Alberto remains a subtropical storm. States of emergency were declared in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, and tropical storm warning remains in effect along portions of the Florida gulf coast and along the Florida and Alabama state line.

A Flash Flood warning was issued Monday afternoon in Okaloosa County on Florida's panhandle as a very heavy rain band moves through the area.

PHOTO: Rangers with the the National Park Service close off the Highway 399 through Gulf Islands National Seashore as a subtropical storm makes landfall, May 28, 2018 in Pensacola, Fla. (Dan Anderson/AP)

The biggest threat from Alberto will be possible flash flooding near the western panhandle of Florida as well as Montgomery and parts of southern Alabama. Some areas could see more than 6 inches of rain.

Story continues

PHOTO: @michaelscig72 shared video on Instagram showing tropical storm Alberto, May 27, 2018 in Miami. (@michaelscig72/Instagram)

Isolated tornadoes are also expected for most of Florida, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.

After making landfall in Florida, the storm will begin to significantly weaken.

The heavy rain will reach Atlanta, the Carolinas, and Birmingham, Alabama, and move into Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday.

PHOTO: Forecast track for Alberto. (ABC)

Rainfall totals will be highest in the Southeast, but areas of the Midwest could also see over 3 inches. (ABC News)

Midwest tornadoes possible

There were 140 reports of storms, including eight tornadoes, on Sunday from the Midwest into the Rockies.

Severe weather is expected in the Plains today. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail are the biggest threats. Flash flooding is also possible.

Strong winds, hail and tornadoes are possible in the Great Plains on Monday. (ABC News)

Record heat hits central US

The Midwest and the Great Lakes experienced record temperatures over the weekend.

The hottest temp recorded was in Madison, Minnesota, where it reached 102 degrees on Sunday.

More record temperatures could fall in the Midwest and Great Lakes on Monday. (ABC News)

Chicago hit 97, the hottest it's been in the city in the last five years.

The mercury in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, touched 95 degrees, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, hit a high of 97 degrees.

Even hotter temperatures are forecast for some areas Monday with more records possible.
More military veterans running for office at a time when fewer are in Congress

Memorial Day is typically left untarnished by politics but the presidents tweet Monday morning, which suggested that fallen U.S. troops would be very happy with his administration's performance, quickly brought Washington into the mix.

Twitter backlash aside, and in some cases because of it, this Memorial Day brings more service members seeking office in the nations capital than in years past. Over 400 former service members are running or have run for Congress in this years midterms, according to With Honor, a cross-partisan organization that supports veterans.

And the surge comes at a critical juncture for veterans on Capitol Hill.

Fewer veterans served in Congress last year than previous years, making up just 20 percent of the Senate and 19 percent of the House in 2017, according to the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Comparatively, veterans made up 81 percent of the Senate and 75 percent of the House roughly 45 years ago, according to Pew.

Today, veterans like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a former Navy commander and prisoner of war, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who lost both legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was downed in Iraq, and Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who also lost limbs in combat while serving in Afghanistan, are among the over 100 veterans across both chambers whove entered a different kind of service to the nation, on Capitol Hill.

Today we honor the Americans who sacrificed everything to secure the blessings of liberty. Family and friends to some, heroes to all - who lived, fought and died for the safety and future of a great and good nation. God bless them and grant them perpetual peace. #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/OtdTAd3DS5  John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) May 28, 2018

Americans remain confident in the military, according to a Gallup poll released the Friday before Memorial Day, and are more confident in the military than any other institution. The reasoning, the poll said, is partly because of the professionality of the military and the importance of what military does for the country.

Story continues

Lt. Col. Amy McGrath  one of the 400 veterans seeking office in 2018  hopes to benefit from that connection come November. A Democrat running in Kentuckys 6th Congressional District, McGrath was the first woman to fly an F/A-18 fighter jet in a combat mission for the Marine Corp.

In a March interview with ABC News, McGrath said she thinks voters are looking for people who served their country, not their political party.

Thats really resonating, she said.

McGrath was inspired after the 2016 election but her training as a Marine led to her decision to run, she said. As someone who has been a Marine, how do you change things? You step up to the plate. And you are the one who says, Put me in, she said.

PHOTO: Lt. Colonel Amy McGrath stands beside an F/A-18 in Virginia Beach, Va., where she was part of a squadron in 2007. McGrath, running as a Democrat for a House seat in Kentucky, was the first woman to fly an F/A-18 in combat for the Marine Corps. (Amy McGrath)

Richard Ojeda is also a military veteran running as a Democrat for a House seat, but in West Virginia. The former state senator and Iraq war veteran frequently describes his anger upon returning from war in campaign speeches.

I found kids in my backyard that have it worse than the kids that I saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ojeda said days before the West Virginia primaries in May at an event with voters. And that's unacceptable. I cannot accept that. And then when I ask myself, what did my brothers die for? They didn't die for this.

Veterans running across the country also frequently bring up leadership in their campaigns, a perceived skill Ojeda and others attribute to their time in the military.

I've led men in combat, he said. I'm not going to let somebody claim to be a leader when they don't even have no sense of what that word means. And that's why I got into this.
Photo: Getty Images

The newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been married for over a week and it hasnt seemed like there were any plans for a honeymoon. That may have changed, however, in light of TMZ reporting that the couple will spend their honeymoon at the Royal Retreat in Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, Canada.

The lodge has had quite a history of royal visitors. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Harrys great-grandparents) stayed there in 1939, and the current queen and Prince Philip enjoyed the Canadian wilderness in 2005.

And, of course, as the palaces website notes in her bio, the Duchess of Sussex feels very connected to Canada. The country became a second home to her, as she lived in Toronto for seven years while acting on the show Suits.

Set in Albertas stunning Jasper National Park, the iconic resort is surrounded by nature and abundant wildlife.

Photo: Getty Images

The Royal Retreat refers to the Outlook Cabin, a 6,000-square-foot private residence with six bedrooms, six full en-suite bathrooms. According to the Fairmonts website, the estate cabins start at at least $900 a night. The newlyweds can enjoy canoeing on pristine lakes, hiking forest trails, flying above ancient glaciers, and watching wildlife.

The couples current schedule is light, although an announcement of social engagements could come any day, with only charity polo matches for Harry on the official docket at the moment. They initially delayed their honeymoon to attend their first official royal engagement as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  the 70th birthday patronage celebration for Prince Charles. Of course, if they do have plans to honeymoon, the details would not be officially released.



Travel & Leisure reported a month ago that the couple had planned to visit Namibia for their honeymoon, but that plan changed as reports emerged. Royal correspondent Omid Scobie told Elle.com that any location mentioned in the press would be off the post-wedding reception table because of safety concerns. Were not sure if this will apply to any plans to travel to Canada.

Story continues

The Irish Independent is reporting that in lieu of a proper honeymoon, the duke and duchess may take a one-night mini-moon to Ireland this summer.

The marriage of Prince Harry, 33, a former royal wild child and the sixth in line to the British throne, and 36-year-old Meghan, a biracial divorcee, was unlike any the royal family has ever experienced.

Meghan has already broken royal protocol (the rebel!) by giving a speech at her reception, thanking her mother and speaking about how much she loved her new husband.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.




 Interesting accounting of clemency's continued decline in New Mexico | Main | "Cell Phones and 'Excessive Contact': The Contradictory Imperatives Facing Californias Parole-Eligible Lifers" 

The New York Times has this new article, headlined "Why Some Senators Who Want a Criminal Justice Overhaul Oppose a Prisons Bill," reporting on the latest state of debate over federal statutory criminal justice reforms. The report is a bit encouraging, though also a bit worrisome. Here are highlights:

In a private huddle on Wednesday on the Senate floor, a group of senators corralled Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, and asked for time for a last-ditch negotiation to try to find an acceptable compromise. Quite rightly, backers of changes in mandatory minimum laws fear that this may be the only chance for years to push a major criminal justice measure through Congress and that sentencing revisions  a more politically difficult lift  will languish if legislation aimed at reducing prison recidivism becomes law on its own.

You dont get many opportunities around here to do anything meaningful or substantive, said Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and a chief author of the sentencing provisions. Lets not waste this one. Lets get this right.

Mr. Durbin has a powerful ally in Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Grassley came around slowly to sentencing changes, but once he got on board, he has been committed. He warned again last week that no criminal justice measure can pass the Senate without new flexibility in mandatory minimum sentences. Its the right thing to do, Mr. Grassley said in a speech.

Mr. McConnell could try to go around Mr. Grassley and advance the House measure, which passed 360 to 59. It allocates $50 million a year over five years for job training, education and mental health and drug treatment, and provides incentives for prisoners to take part in the programs. But Mr. Grassley has been Mr. McConnells dedicated partner in pushing judicial nominations through the Senate  and in blocking President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nomination of Merrick B. Garland in 2016. His opposition would be an embarrassing obstacle. Not to mention that Mr. McConnell is not that keen on criminal justice legislation in general, and he would probably be reluctant to provoke a midterm election season battle over a measure for which he has little personal enthusiasm. He refused to put the broad prison and sentencing bill to a vote in the last Congress despite bipartisan support because of objections from conservatives, including Senator Jeff Sessions, who is now the attorney general.

In his meeting on the floor with senators including Mr. Durbin, Mr. Grassley and John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Senate Republican and a chief sponsor of the prison bill, Mr. McConnell was noncommittal but left open the prospect of moving ahead with a bill if an agreement could be reached. I said, Look, guys, if you all can get your act together and come up with something that youre comfortable with, that the president will sign, Id be willing to take a look at it,  Mr. McConnell said in an interview with The New York Times. But he said he was not interested in wasting the Senates time.

What Im not willing to do, just to refresh your memory from a couple of months ago, is have a freewheeling debate like we did on immigration for a whole week, Mr. McConnell said. We squandered a week and nothing happened. So Im in the business of trying to make a law, not make a point.

Mr. Durbin and other Senate backers of the sentencing changes believe they can make some relatively modest additions to the prison legislation to achieve some but not all of their goals. They are focused on narrowing the definition of crimes that can prompt long mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug crimes and on cutting the length of some of the required sentences. They say that such changes would have a much more consequential effect on easing the United States mass incarceration than solely focusing on recidivism. We might not get everything we want, but there is some sentencing reform we can achieve with this bill, said Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah.

But others believe that throwing sentencing provisions into the mix will kill the prison bill, particularly with the midterm elections looming. The sentencing changes have previously proved an impossible sell to conservative Republicans who believe the reductions in mandatory minimums make them look soft on crime. It was that previous divide that kept Mr. McConnell from moving ahead with the more comprehensive version.

Backers of the prison bill, which is titled the First Step Act, say that Congress should take what it can get immediately and continue to press ahead on the more challenging sentencing changes. The First Step Act is not the end, said Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and an author of the measure. Its not even the beginning of the end. Its simply the end of the beginning on a journey undertaken to eradicate our mass incarceration epidemic in America.

Those pursuing a more comprehensive approach say that the consideration of the prison bill alone could doom their efforts because it will allow lawmakers and the White House to claim they acted on criminal justice without getting at the real issue. It is one thing to say we are going to open the door an inch wider for those wanting to leave prison while ignoring the fact that they are flooding in through the front door, Mr. Durbin said.

Senators now have what appears to be a slight opening to fashion a compromise they can try to sell to skeptical and resistant colleagues. If they fail, proponents of the prison legislation will no doubt begin clamoring for action on their measure, setting up a showdown with the originators of the criminal justice system proposal over what constitutes true reform.
Bogota (AFP) - Eleven dissidents of the disbanded FARC guerrilla group were killed in a Colombian military operation in the south of the country, Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said Monday.

The operation took place on Sunday in Montanita in the southern department of Caqueta.

There were "11 dead and two wounded, including a minor who had been recruited by force," the minister told local media.

The 13 were part of a faction commanded by a former FARC rebel leader, Rodrigo Cadete, who rejected the 2016 peace agreement with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos.

The minister said the faction had been making threats against the mayor of the Caqueta capital of Florencia as well an energy company in the region.

"The criminals had been demanding extortion payments from businesses" in Florencia and its surrounding area, the army said in a statement.

Under the peace accord, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) disarmed its 7,000 fighters in order to join the political process. It is now a political party.

However, remnants of the rebel force said by the army to number about 1,200 are still active in drug-trafficking in the southern border areas.
Bogota (AFP) - Colombian troops killed 11 dissidents of the disbanded FARC guerrilla group, officials said Monday, as a fight looms over the future of a 2016 peace agreement in runoff presidential elections.

The military operation took place Sunday in the south of the country as Colombians voted in the first round of presidential elections that left a hardline conservative and a former leftist guerrilla vying for the presidency.

Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said the operation in Montanita in the southern department of Caqueta left "11 dead and two wounded, including a minor who had been recruited by force."

The 13 were part of an armed faction commanded by a former FARC rebel leader, Rodrigo Cadete, who rejected the 2016 peace agreement with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos.

The minister said the groups had been making threats against the mayor of the Caqueta capital of Florencia as well as an energy company in the region.

"The criminals had been demanding extortion payments from businesses" in Florencia and its surrounding area, the army said in a statement.

Under the peace accord, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) disarmed its 7,000 fighters in order to join the political process. It is now a political party.

However, remnants of the rebel force -- estimated by the army to number about 1,200 -- are still active in the southern border areas, financing their operations through drug trafficking and extortion rackets.

"We will not drop our guard against residual groups. We will continue fighting them with the utmost forcefulness," Santos said on Twitter.

Sunday's military action was a jarring reminder that embers of Colombia's 50-year-old conflict are still burning despite the peace accord with the FARC, once Latin America's largest guerrilla group.

Besides contending with remnants of the FARC, Santos's government has yet to conclude a peace accord with the smaller National Liberation Army, or ELN.

Story continues

Negotiations with the ELN resumed in Havana earlier this month, and its rebel forces observed a five-day ceasefire during the elections.

- Divisive elections -

But the future of the peace accord has emerged as a key and divisive issue in the elections, which go to a runoff June 17.

The top vote-getter in Sunday's round of balloting was conservative Ivan Duque, who has vowed to rewrite the accord with the FARC if elected.

Duque, who argues that FARC leaders got off too lightly, called for a "Colombia where peace coincides with justice" after the results were announced, reiterating his desire to revise -- without "shredding" -- the pact with FARC.

He faces off against Gustavo Petro, a former Bogota mayor who received 25 percent of the vote to Duque's 39.7.

A past member of the now disbanded M-19 guerrilla group, Petro is the first leftist to contest a runoff in Colombia.

Promising "change" and to fight corruption and inequality, Petro gained momentum as the campaign progressed, outdistancing two other candidates -- former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo and Santos's peace negotiator, Humberto de la Calle.

"It's obviously going to be very polarized in the second round," said analyst Andres Macais.
London (AFP) - Ireland on Saturday voted to erase the stigma and burden of shame from hundreds of thousands of women who secretly had abortions, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.

Speaking after a landslide referendum in favour of repealing the republic's ban on abortions, Varadkar said Ireland had emerged from the shadows and come of age.

"Today is an historic day for Ireland. A quiet revolution has taken place," he said in a speech at Dublin Castle, where the referendum result was declared, showing 66 percent had voted to repeal the constitutional ban on abortions.

"We as a people have spoken. And we say that we trust women and we respect women and their decisions.

"No more doctors telling their patients there is nothing that can be done for them in their own country. No more lonely journeys across the Irish Sea.

"No more stigma. The veil of secrecy is lifted. No more isolation. The burden of shame is gone."

Varadkar, 39, was given a rock star welcome by cheering crowds packed into the castle forecourt to hear the final result of the referendum.

He said Ireland would now provide compassion and medical care for women in crisis pregnancies instead of turning a blind eye.

He told No voters feeling cut adrift that Ireland was the same country they knew, "just a little more tolerant, open and respectful".

- 'Wrenching pain' of mistreatment -

Ireland's constitution was amended in 1983 to ban abortions. Saturday's referendum result will likely see the amendment repealed before the year is out.

"For 35 years we have hidden the reality of crisis pregnancies behind our laws. We have hidden our conscience behind the constitution," said Varadkar.

"This majority decision changes all that."

He said Saturday would be remembered as the day that historically deeply socially conservative Ireland "stepped out from under the last of our shadows and into the light.

"The day we came of age as a country. The day we took our place among the nations of the world."

Story continues

He ended his speech saying: "The wrenching pain of decades of mistreatment of Irish women cannot be unlived. However, today we have ensured that it does not have to be lived again."

Varadkar, Ireland's first gay prime minister, came to power last year in what was seen as another major milestone for diversity in Ireland. He took over as leader of the centre-right Fine Gael party, leading a minority government.

Born to an Indian father and an Irish mother, Varadkar was a hospital doctor before becoming a family doctor in 2010.

He changed his position on abortion after hearing of two particular cases during his time as health minister from 2014 to 2016, which convinced him terminations should not be banned in the Irish constitution.

As he left Dublin Castle, he stopped for selfies and chatted with the handful of Yes-supporters still in the forecourt.
Johannesburg (AFP) - A South African court on Monday ruled that assets seized in a multi-million-dollar fraud and money-laundering investigation into allies of ex-president Jacob Zuma should be returned.

The Gupta business family are at the centre of fraud allegations against Zuma, who was ousted from office in February, after being accused of receiving favourable government deals from him.

Property, including several houses, offices, farms, luxury cars and a private jet, were seized during the case against the Gupta family and other South African suspects.

Judge Philip Loubser reversed the order.

He ruled there were no "reasonable" grounds to hold onto the assets ahead of a hearing expected in August.

"The provisional restraint order... is discharged," Loubser ruled.

The National Prosecution Authority said it was surprised by the decision.

"It's a serious setback in the fight against organised crimes and corruption," prosecution spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku told AFP.

Thirteen people are facing charges linked to allegations that $20 million (17.2 million euros) of public money meant for dozens of poor dairy farmers was siphoned off by the Guptas.

Zuma was forced to step down three months ago as criticism grew from within the ruling ANC party over multiple corruption scandals.
Bogota (AFP) - Ivan Duque was on course Sunday to become Colombia's youngest president after winning the first round of an election fought largely over the future of the peace deal with former rebel group FARC.

A 41-year-old senator, Duque will face his leftist rival Gustavo Petro in a run-off election on June 17.

He campaigned on a ticket to rewrite the peace deal signed with former rebel movement FARC by the outgoing president Juan Manual Santos.

A lawyer with a degree in economics, Duque represents many Colombian voters left outraged by concessions given to the former rebels.

If elected, he has promised to make "structural changes" to the 2016 agreement that led to FARC's disarmament and conversion into a political party.

"What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity," Duque told AFP during the campaign.

Latin America's longest-running conflict left more than 260,000 people dead, nearly 83,000 missing and some 7.4 million forced from their homes.

- Uribe puppet? -

Duque has railed against the Colombian left, voicing fears that they would drag the country into the same economic quagmire as neighboring Venezuela.

The left in turn accuse him of being a puppet of Uribe, the former two-term president who took a hard line against the left when he was last in power eight years ago.

"Nobody knows if he has his own criteria or if he will obey orders," said Fabian Acuna, a political analyst at Cali's Javeriana University

Although a newcomer to politics -- he has been a senator since 2014 -- politics is in his blood.

Born in Bogota on August 1, 1976, his father was a liberal politician.

But it was Juan Manuel Santos, the incumbent president, who took him under his wing in the 1990s as a financial advisor. Later he worked for 13 years for the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank.

Story continues

Today he finds himself in opposition to Santos over the peace deal.

"He is very dynamic when it comes to public relations, very clever," said a source who worked with him at the IDB.

While working in the United States, he met Uribe who persuaded him to run for the senate in 2014.

"Ivan is very intelligent and I'm sure he has a bright future ahead of him," wrote Uribe in his 2012 book "No Lost Causes".

But, "a president must have experience, autonomy, political capacity, all missing with Ivan, who is, as everyone admits, a good little guy," said Roy Barreras, a senator for Santos' party.

A father of three, he used to play bass in a rock band, but his relaxed image contrasts sharply with his conservative ideals -- a staunch opponent of gay marriage, euthanasia and the decriminalization of drugs.

He is strongly supported by the far-right as well as an increasingly influential evangelical Christian bloc.
Many say the Starbucks incident exposed discrimination that people of color and black people in particular face every day

Starbucks will close more than 8,000 on Tuesday May to conduct racial-bias education following the arrest of two black men in one of its cafes. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

When two black men were arrested in a Starbucks store in Philadelphia in April, it prompted a national debate. The coffee chain swiftly announced it would close 8,000 of its US stores on Tuesday 29 May, so staff can undergo racial bias training.

Many believe such incidents do not only happen at Starbucks. Businesses across the US, some say, are guilty of a behavior so commonplace it is starting to be given its own term: coffee shop racism.

Alfredo Weeks, an instructor at the Columbus College of Art and Design and co-owner of a graphic design studio, was moved to write about the phenomenon.

I open the door to a coffee shop, and as soon as I get inside I feel the stares, he wrote. From colleges to coffee shops there is an undertone of Jim Crow era discrimination deeply embedded in todays culture.

According to Weeks, the video of the men being arrested in Starbucks exposed discrimination that people of colour and black people in particular face every day. While such behaviour is clearly not restricted to coffee shops, in recent months a number of high-profile examples have been seen in cafes.

In May, Starbucks was in the news again after an employee wrote a racial slur on a customers cup. In October last year, two community board members in Brooklyn complained after they saw a coffee shop employee give Halloween candy to white children, but not black children

This month, a video emerged showing a white man verbally abusing a woman who was wearing a niqab at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store in Riverside, California. Staff refused to serve the man.

Why have coffee shops become a place where Americas racial divisions and biases are being exposed?

Rashad Robinson, executive director at Color of Change, said changing neighborhood demographics may be partly to blame. Cities across the US are experiencing gentrification, typically as white people move into black or hispanic neighborhoods, leading to rent increases and different business dynamics.

Story continues

A lot of these coffee shops where were seeing these problems are opening up [in] gentrifying neighborhoods Rashad Robinson, Color of Change

A lot of these coffee shops where were seeing these problems are opening up [in] gentrifying neighborhoods, Robinson said. Starbucks is a perfect example. You know when the Starbucks shows up theres all the stories of, like: Oh there goes the neighborhood.

In such gentrifying neighborhoods, he said, there is often not much interaction between newcomers and people who have lived there for decades. But one place where people from different races and economic backgrounds do encounter each other is the local coffee shop.

They are definitely spaces where people are congregating in a country thats increasingly segregated in so many other ways, Robinson said.

People dont go to school together. They dont worship in the same places. They have moments where theyre living in the same neighborhood but oftentimes people are being pushed out and people are coming in, and that represents the neighborhood changing. So theyre not in harmony, oftentimes.

So these things are happening and people dont always have the expertise of relating to one another.

Away from chains like Starbucks, the world of third wave coffee  shops where coffee is treated as an artisan or craft beverage not unlike wine  is predominantly white, said Keba Konte, owner of Red Bay Coffee, a roastery and coffee shop in Oakland, California.

Konte wasnt sure if racist incidents could be said to occur more frequently in coffee shops than anywhere else  he pointed to a recent incident in a Waffle House restaurant in Alabama where employees called 911 on a black woman, who was then arrested  but said a euro-centered environment in some coffee shops could lead to discrimination.

Specialty shops are very white-centered in terms of the culture, the aesthetic, the music, the flavors, the employees Keba Konte, Red Bay Coffee

Coffee shops, especially the specialty coffee shop, theyre very white-centered in terms of the culture, the aesthetic, the music, the flavors, the employees, Konte said. So if youre in an environment that is really built around, you know, white culture, then I think these things tend to happen.

On the day Starbucks closes its stores, Konte, whose staff is entirely made up of women, people of color and the formerly incarcerated, will be hosting a live-streamed round table discussion, featuring black business owners. As a black man, he said, he was all too familiar with what the men in the Philadelphia Starbucks experienced.

There are a lot of these videos that are documenting this kind of abuse, he said. Some of them end in arrest, some of them end in the police killing someone. We understand that for every video that captures these incidents there are dozens and dozens of these events that are not captured on video.

TEXT BOOK racism

If the incidents captured in coffee shops reflect society at large, they can also be indicative of substandard treatment elsewhere. The Starbucks arrests prompted Junaid Nabi, a medical doctor and fellow in Bioethics at Harvard Medical School, to write a blog on How coffee shop racism harms black patients.



This reprehensible incident is an important reminder of how implicit racial bias  or in this case coffee shop racism  works, Nabi wrote. [But] the service industry is not the only sector where this is a problem. Implicit racial biases are in fact important indicators of the broader negative perception of black people  which in clinical practice often leads to low-quality care and harm.

Nabi said the same implicit bias that led to the Starbucks manager calling the police can lead to black patients being undertreated for pain compared to white patients. He cited a study by psychologists from the University of Virginia that found a significant number of white medical students believed in false biological differences between white and black patients, such as black peoples skin is thicker and that black peoples blood coagulates more quickly.

Kamau Bell, a comedian who hosts the show United Shades of America on CNN, spoke about his own brush with coffee shop racism. Staff at a shop in Berkeley, California, he said, ordered him to leave after he arrived and began chatting with a group of white women, one of whom was his wife.

Bell said staff accused him of harassing the women. When Bells wife pointed out the mistake, he said, a staff member insisted it had not been race related.

Actually a black man being told to leave a restaurant because the restaurant believes that his presence is harassing four white women and their kids, even though there is literally no evidence to support that, is TEXT BOOK racism, Bell wrote in a blogpost soon after the event.

It is so old school it has a wing in the racism museum, right between the sit-ins at lunch counters and a southern redneck telling a black man on a business trip, You aint from around here, are ya, boy?

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle after the video of the arrests in Philadelphia emerged, Bell said the incident was bigger than two black men kicked out of a coffee shop.

The same racism that gets the black men kicked out of the coffee shop, he said, is the same racism that gets that black teenager shot at when hes asking for directions.
In Covington, Ky., both the graduating valedictorian and student council president at Holy Cross High School learned hours before their graduation ceremony on Friday night that they would not be allowed to deliver their planned speeches at the ceremony, ABC reports.

So they found a pair of megaphones and delivered them outside. The young people will win, valedictorian Christian Bales said, because were finished being complacent.

In his speech, Bales praised the fight for stronger gun laws by school-shooting survivors in Florida, and applauded his classmates for participating in an anti-abortion march, saying students should continue to utilize our voices.

Officials with the local Catholic diocese said parts of his speech were too political and not in keeping with church teachings. A spokesman for the Diocese of Covington, Tim Fitzgerald, said, When the proposed speeches were received, they were found to contain elements that were political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church, Fitzgerald said in a statement to ABC.

The [student council] president [Katherine Frantz] is my best friend, and we have been two huge advocates for social reform in our community, which has likely put us on the radar for the diocese, Bales told WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.

We are dynamic, we are intelligent, we have a voice, and were capable of using it in all communities, he said in his speech, which he has posted online. We must take what weve learned in this community and apply it to the world we are about to encounter.

Video of Baless speech went viral, with the Twitterverse cheering on the valedictorian.

Principals like this could really use a remedial civics class. Forbidden from delivering speeches praising the value of youth activism, valedictorian and student council president take up megaphones outside their own graduation. https://t.co/OniwYSE7Kf  Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) May 27, 2018

"Rather than allowing opposition to silence us, we must utilize it as empowerment. As long as we nurture our minds as youth, we'll be able to be equally impactful as we encounter the world," Bales said.#TheYoungPeopleWillWin https://t.co/fzREE5BYfB via @ABC  Agent Carter (@AgentCarter_SSR) May 28, 2018

I predict a bright future for Christian Bales. We need more impassioned voices in the sciences. Congrats on your full ride to @UofL. Denied permission to speak at his own graduation, Holy Cross valedictorian delivers speech outside https://t.co/FcmsL90GEJ  Roxanne Prichard (@RoxannePrichard) May 27, 2018

I just read Christian Bales speech, can somebody point out the part that was against traditional Catholic beliefs? I didnt see it. https://t.co/wBKFJmoa5Z  Keme (@dj_keme) May 28, 2018

Eighteen-year-old Bales is an openly gay student who says he plans to major in biology at the University of Louisville, where he has an academic scholarship.

Story continues

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Beijing (AFP) - China has voiced "strong dissatisfaction" after two US warships sailed by an island claimed by Beijing in the disputed South China Sea, adding to simmering tensions in the strategic waterway.

The foreign ministry issued a statement expressing "resolute opposition" to the US sail-by of the territory in the disputed Paracel Island chain on Sunday.

The US military conducts what it calls "freedom of navigation" voyages in the South China Sea to contest Beijing's assertion of territorial rights in the area, although the US has no claims of its own in the disputed region.

The US Navy's Higgins and Antietam warships, a destroyer and cruiser respectively, entered China's territorial waters without permission and were met by the Chinese Navy, which "conducted verification and identification of US ships according to law and warned them to leave," the ministry said.

State-run news agency Xinhua said the two vessels were "expelled" from the waters.

The operation was conducted just over a week after Beijing flew nuclear-capable bombers to a disputed island in a bold powerplay to show its military might and boost its territorial claims in the area.

The move prompted immediate criticism from the US, which last week pulled its invitation to China to join maritime exercises in the Pacific because of Beijing's "continued militarisation" of the South China Sea.

Beijing has been building artificial islands to reinforce its claim over most of the resource-rich South China Sea despite protests from Southeast Asian countries.

Its neighbours, particularly some of those involved in maritime disputes over the waters, have expressed fears China could eventually restrict freedom of navigation and overflight.
 An (encouraging?) update on the state of federal criminal justice reform in US Senate | Main | Sad uncertain realities behind ugly headline about child rape sentencing 

May 28, 2018

"Cell Phones and 'Excessive Contact': The Contradictory Imperatives Facing Californias Parole-Eligible Lifers"

The title of this post is the title of this new article authored by Nazgol Ghandnoosh now available on-line. Here is its abstract:

A growing literature emphasizes that U.S. correctional systems have remained committed to rehabilitative goals despite their turn toward incapacitation and punishment. Although past research has documented this commitment in prisons and parole supervision agencies, less is understood about how it is manifested in the discretionary parole release process. This article explores whether and how parole boards encourage people serving parole-eligible life sentences (lifers) to maintain ties to friends and family outside of prison, and the results of such encouragement. Interviews, ethnographic fieldwork, and parole-hearing transcripts reveal that Californias parole board encourages such rehabilitative ties through comments at parole hearings and through its parole-eligibility criteria. But to sustain these relationships, some lifers engage in misconduct to bypass restrictive prison policies by using contraband cell phones or engaging in physical contact with visitors that is deemed excessive. When detected, these disciplinary infractions become a stated cause of parole denials.

May 28, 2018 at 11:58 AM | Permalink

Comments

A third of prisoners have a serious mental illness, that is not addiction. It gets treated in most prisons. They improve. One feature of paranoia is to not believe there is anything wrong with oneself. Discharge would immediately result in the stopping of medication, 100% of the time by this group. Around the world, 10% of murders are committed by these psychotic people, untreated. Almost all mass shootings involve paranoid schizophrenia. Except for their psychosis, they are high functioning, when treated. They are working, supporting families, and acting like normal people. Keeping them in prison could thus prevent 80,000 murders around the world. Forcing them into treatment, imprisoning them for non-adherence, would end 90% of mass shootings.

A third of prisoners are goofy knuckleheads. They thrive in the structured setting of prison. They take advantage of programs, social skills training, of anger management, and of educational opportunities. Taking prison away would be like taking insulin away from a diabetic doing very well. When released, these prisoners immediately relapse into crime, as a diabetic would off insulin. These are the people with telephone book length rap sheets, and the legal system just puts them in revolving doors. Rehab could work if their addiction is controlled, and they have continual supervision, as diabetic needs continual insulin. Any successful rehab programs contain these people, but at 50. Old age is the real active ingredient of rehabilitation.

The rest are career criminals. They make a lot of money and wield a lot power from criminality. Yes, train a drug kingpin and serial killer of many competitors and apostates, making $ millions, to do maintenance work. This is how we clean a room properly.

Posted by: David Behar | May 28, 2018 1:28:35 PM

Post a comment
Brussels (AFP) - Britain risks a shortage of electric cars after Brexit as carmakers will lose an incentive to sell low-emission vehicles there, a Brussels-based think-tank warned.

Because British sales will no longer count towards carmakers' EU carbon dioxide targets, they may choose to sell to other European countries instead, the Transport and Environment (T&E) group warned.

Britain was the third largest market for zero emission vehicles in the EU last year and the largest for plug-in hybrids, the group said in the report obtained by AFP.

"Carmakers may simply opt to dump their less efficient models in the UK market," said Cecile Toubeau of T&E.

A shortage of electric and hybrid cars would be a blow to the British government's claims that it is aiming for a so-called "Green Brexit" with environmental standards equal to or higher than those in the remaining 27 EU nations, the group said.

Brexit also risks hitting the wider British car industry, the group warned.

Up to 6,700 British auto sector jobs -- one tenth of the current workforce -- could be lost if Britain leaves the EU without a full divorce deal, T&E said.

A so-called "Hard Brexit" would see cars manufactured in Britain becoming 10 percent more expensive if they had to be traded under World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariffs, it said.

Vehicle components would be 4.5 percent more expensive.

"This loss of competitiveness, along with the administrative burden and delays linked to increased customs checks, could be a strong incentive for relocating to the EU," it said.

The fate of British auto production after Brexit has been a major concern for Prime Minister Theresa May, who has pleaded for certain economic sectors to be allowed to keep seamless trade links to Europe.

In March the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said that Britain's biggest manufacturing sector -- most of which is foreign owned -- was at a serious risk of disruption with Brexit.
Nairobi (AFP) - Burundi's agriculture ministry has ordered the quarantine of 10 donkeys that were donated to a central village through French funding, sparking a debate over the subliminal message behind the gift.

The donkeys, bought in Tanzania, were given to residents of a village in Gitega province, as part of a project by a local NGO to help women and children transport agricultural products, water or wood.

However a presidential advisor described the project as "an insult to the nation".

Meanwhile Gabby Bugaga, spokesman for the Senate president, wrote on Twitter that the French were "taking us for donkeys".

"Be honest, is the donkey a symbol of a quality or a flaw," he wrote.

Donkeys are not indigenous to Burundi.

On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Deo Guide Rurema asked a local administrator to "facilitate the immediate withdrawal of all donkeys that have been distributed ... without respecting the technical procedure of the distribution of exotic animals."

On Thursday, the day the project was inaugurated, French Ambassador Laurent Delahousse praised "the introduction of the Land Cruiser of the animal kingdom to Burundi".

After the controversy he said that to his knowledge "all procedures were respected".

A European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Burundi was hitting back at France over a statement criticising a referendum earlier this month which reformed the constitution, allowing President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek another two terms in office and remain in power until 2034.

The diplomat said a similar project in Ruyigi province financed by Belgium, had not met any problems.

Burundi was plunged into crisis in 2015 when Nkurunziza sought a third term in office, sparking protests and violence that left least 1,200 dead and 400,000 displaced.
One of the country's bluest states could cost Democrats their chance at reclaiming control of the House in Novemberand this Tuesday's primaries could be an indicator of just how worried the party should be.

National Democrats are targeting seven Republican-held House seats in California, all of them in districts that went to Hillary Clinton in 2016. But even in a climate favorable to Democratic challengers, a crowded field of candidates, a "top two" open primary system and divisions within the party threaten their chances of pulling off critical wins in races that have already cost millions of dollars.

According to a New York Times report, local Democrats are growing uneasy as Democratic candidates head into the June 5 primary elections with the hopes of making it into the state's runoff and, eventually, flipping their district's seat.

Trending: Russia Warns More U.S. Troops in Poland Could 'Lead to Counteraction' From Kremlin

I get anxious just thinking about it, Tara Steele, a member of Newport Beach Democratic Womens Club, told the outlet of the possibility of Republican incumbent Dana Rohrabacher winning in November. "If the disorganization of the Democratic Party is the reason he gets reelected, it will be incredibly disheartening. (Just this week, Rohrabacher said it was OK for people to refuse to sell houses to members of the LGBTQ community.)

Because of the high stakes in this year's midterms, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has been heavily involved in California'sand the nation'sHouse primaries, which, some argue, is the cause of the party's disorganization and splintering.

The committee has had an especially large influence in California's 39th congressional district, where a crowded field of Democrats are clamoring for a seat left open after Republican Ed Royce announced he wouldn't be seeking reelection. The DCCC named veteran, first-timer and former Republican Gil Cisneros to its Red to Blue program, in a snub to, among others, Mai Khanh Tran, a Vietnamese refugee and first-time female candidate backed by EMILY's List, during a cycle forecasted to bring about another "Year of the Woman."

Story continues

Don't miss: Trump Has Not Visited Middle East Soldiers and Bashes Obama, Who Did, on Memorial Day

"I said to them, frankly, let the voters decide, Tran told national Democrats when they reportedly showed her polling that suggested she couldn't win the seat. She called herself the only qualified woman, the only immigrant and the only physician in the race.

Meanwhile, in California's 48th district, where Democrats are vying for the opportunity to unseat Rohrabacher, the Democratic establishment is divided against itself: The DCCC announced it would be backing Harley Rouda, going against state Democratic officials' decision to support Hans Keirstad, a stem cell researcher and CEO.

Most popular: Captive Dolphins 'Look Forward' to Play With Humans, Like Pavlov's Dogs

"The DCCC should tread carefully in openly supporting a different candidate, Eric Bauman, the state party chairman, told the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this month of the committee's decision to pit itself against California Democrats. Decisions that undercut the independence of our endorsed candidates have the potential to be extraordinarily counterproductive.

If Democrats put their money, resources and institutional support behind the wrong candidate, they risk getting shut out of the general election entirelyunder the state's "top two" system, the two candidates who receive the most votes make it to the general, and they can be members of the same party. In races with several Democratic candidates, it's possible no one candidate could earn enough votes to make it to the next round, thereby handing the seat to Republicans.

Democrats need to flip 23 seats to win back the House, and some say they are rightfully worried about making it much harder for themselves by blowing it in California.

"Winning back the House without California is not impossible but will be very, very difficult, California Representative Raul Ruiz, a Democrat, told The New York Times.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
Asia Times

Security,

We have the latest.

China's Only Serving Aircraft Carrier Is Close to "Full Combat Readiness"

Chinas only serving aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has moved closer to full combat readiness after its naval pilots apparently completed their first nighttime take-offs and landings, joining a small group of fliers whose countries have this capability.

State broadcaster China Central Television has aired footage that seems to show J-15 fighters taking off and landing on the carrier, which China purchased from the Ukraine and commissioned in 2012.

Beijing-based military analyst Li Jie told the Peoples Daily that just a few navies have acquired the ability to conduct nighttime operations, which are considered more technically challenging. The United States, Russia, Britain and France are the other countries able to do so.

The difficulty with nighttime flying is that most of the carriers lights are dimmed after sunset so the vessel can avoid detection, leaving a pilot with few guiding or alignment references, other than his own avionics and some scattered dots of illumination on the flight deck. The only bright light often is the glowing afterburners of a fighter jet.

Recommended: Why an F-22 Raptor Would Crush an F-35 in a 'Dogfight'

Recommended: Air War: Stealth F-22 Raptor vs. F-14 Tomcat (That Iran Still Flies)

Recommended: A New Report Reveals Why There Won't Be Any 'New' F-22 Raptors

Li said a pilot had to be psychologically strong and calm to maneuver and align his jet for landing in almost zero visibility.

The CCTV report suggests that in grooming an elite team of fighter pilots, the Peoples Liberation Army may be edging closer to having a carrier strike force that can launch offensives at any time, though Chinese naval aviators, flight controllers and ground crew still need to hone their skills, particularly with the ability to operate in inclement weather conditions at night.

Story continues

The nighttime training was likely held in the East China Sea last week as part of the Liaonings months-long cruise and wargames that also extended into the South China Sea. Other exercises included mock sea-air coordinated patrols with carrier-borne assault helicopters.

The Liaoning is now back to its home port at Dalian Shipyard in the northeastern province of the same name, moored alongside its lookalike sister ship, now only referred to as Carrier Type 001A.

Chinas domestically built carrier, 001A is now undergoing dry-dock checks after its five-day maiden sea trial earlier this month.

This first appeared in AsiaTimes here.

Image: Reuters.

Read full article
(Photo: Amir Cohen / Reuters)

Ivanka Trumps business has won approval from the Chinese government for at least five new trademarks. The approval came just days before President Donald Trump announced he was working on a controversial deal to drop U.S. prohibitions against China cellphone manufacturer ZTE.

Another trademark was given trial approval. The trademarks grant Ivanka Trump operations exclusive rights to market a variety of products in China that could potentially amount to millions of dollars in profits. Ivanka Trump Marks LLC received approval last year for several other trademarks after she began working in the White House. Three of them were granted the same day she dined with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago.

The applications for the trademarks were submitted over a year ago, and the trademark registrations were accepted May 7. Just five days later Trump announced he was working on a deal to lift U.S. business barriers against ZTE in order to save Chinese jobs.

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018

Meanwhile, some 72 hours before his tweet about ZTE, China quietly agreed to loan $500 million to an Indonesian theme park project in which the president is a partner. Chinese banks agreed to loan an additional $500 million to the project.

The non-profit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, D.C., said the trademark deal again raises concerns about the Trump familys international businesses and potential conflicts of interest.

As a White House adviser, Ivanka has represented the United States at multiple diplomatic events despite the potential conflicts her business interests present, CREW said in a statement.

Story continues

From @CREWcrew's Caroline Zhang: Ivanka Trump's business has received six additional valuable trademarks from China. More conflicts of interest and more potential for using the White House for self-enrichment. https://t.co/ws15NfEvLj  Noah Bookbinder (@NoahBookbinder) May 25, 2018

Trump settled on a ZTE deal Friday that will require the nation to pay a $1.3 billion fine. ZTE, one of the worlds largest telecom equipment makers, suspended its main operations after it was barred in 2016 from doing business in the U.S. for violating sanctions against Iran and North Korea.

The deal is unpopular with both Democrats and Republicans.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) said Friday that ZTE will crush U.S. companies and spy and steal from us.

Yes they have a deal in mind. It is a great deal... for #ZTE & China. #China crushes U.S. companies with no mercy & they use these telecomm companies to spy & steal from us. Many hoped this time would be different. Now congress will need to act. https://t.co/ETMUCe9ia6  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 25, 2018

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-New York) said in a statement Friday: We all know that China is involved in stealing our intellectual property. There is no better way to do it than through ZTE, and were going to let them be here, and slap them on the wrist with a fine? Thats a dereliction of our duty here in the Congress, and its the presidents duty to protect us.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

Also on HuffPost

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
After famously gutting NASA's budget for earth science and climate change-related missions in 2017, is President Donald Trump having a change of heart on space?

It kind of looks like he is. The president raised his "ask" for NASA's space budget in February, requesting that Congress fund the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to the tune of $19.9 billion in fiscal 2019 -- giving the agency $300 million more than its medium-term forecast had counted on. And the news gets better from there.

Just a couple of miles away from the Oval Office, on Capitol Hill, Congress is working on an appropriations bill that would lift NASA's budget into a higher orbit. On May 8, the House Committee on Appropriations released its Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill. As it regards NASA in particular, this proposed budget contains $21.5 billion in planned funding -- a number Politico says is $810 million more than NASA is receiving currently, and $1.6 billion more than the President requested.

Put down your calculators: That's a cool 8% bump into higher orbit, compared to what NASA thought it might be getting after seeing the president's proposal earlier this year.

Astronauts walking on the moon near moon base.

NASA's new budget includes nearly $1 billion in funding for lunar projects. Image source: Getty Images.

Which companies will win more money?

So who will get the loot? Believe it or not, more than half the House's increase in funding (a $459 million increase compared to fiscal 2018) is going to science programs -- $6.7 billion in total. And while the bill is short of specifics, this is money investors can probably expect will be going to satellite makers such as Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: OA), and Maxar Technologies (NYSE: MAXR), also to satellite launchers such as SpaceX, and Boeing and Lockheed's United Launch Alliance.

In fact, Boeing and Lockheed Martin look to be two-time winners, as the second largest bump in funding is going to help pay for deep space missions, and to NASA's Orion crew vehicle and Space Launch System (SLS), which are designed to carry them. Orbital ATK (soon to be absorbed into Northrop Grumman) and Aerojet Rocketdyne (NYSE: AJRD) are other key players on the SLS project. Congress wants to pour an additional $294 million into this program, funding it with $5.1 billion next year.

Story continues

To the Moon, Alice!

It's harder to predict the winners in a separate category of space spending that may surprise you: Lunar exploration and development.

The House Appropriations budget contains nearly $1 billion in funds for projects tied to the moon:

$504.2 million to build a lunar orbital platform that can serve both as a gateway to lunar landings, and potentially as a hub for missions that will reach past the moon -- perhaps as far as Mars.

$116.5 million for advanced lunar and surface capabilities, which might include anything from housing modules to mining the moon.

$218 million for planetary science, including rovers and science instruments that will be used to explore the lunar surface.

And $150 million for commercial low-earth orbit development -- the much ballyhooed transition of the International Space Station to private ownership, freeing up NASA funding for missions farther away from Earth.

Who will help NASA with all of the above? It's a safe bet that Boeing, Lockheed, and all the other "usual suspects" will bid for moon-related space work. But they'll have to contend with a rising tide of "new space" companies that hope to return us to the moon "smaller, better, faster, and cheaper" (so to speak).

To name just a few of these unlikelier suspects, tiny Moon Express recently won government approval to land robots on the moon to begin (initially small scale) moon-mining missions. Rocket Lab is another U.S. company that hopes to play a role, by providing the rockets that will deliver Moon Express's landers to the moon. And Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin has been particularly vocal about his company's desire to help NASA out with moon missions.

For that matter, even SpaceX's Elon Musk has been making noises about how SpaceX wouldn't be averse to assisting with a moon mission (in addition to his ultimate objective -- a mission to Mars).

The upshot for investors

The bad news of course is that most of these new space companies mulling moon plans -- everyone from small up-and-comers like Moon Express and Rocket Lab to household names like SpaceX -- are currently not available for investment. All of these companies are privately held.

The good news, though, is that now that Congress seems intent on pouring money into space, the chances of these companies living long enough to go public so that we can invest in them just got significantly better.

More From The Motley Fool

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends Orbital ATK. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Zagreb (AFP) - Croatia's top court on Monday blocked the extradition of a Bosnian man to Tunisia over the alleged murder of an aerospace engineer, described by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas as one of its members.

Mohamed Zaouari, 49, was killed in a hail of bullets outside his house in the Tunisian city of Sfax in December 2016.

"The Supreme court accepted the appeal of the suspect... and rejected the request for extradition from the Republic of Tunisia," the court said in a statement.

At a hearing on May 8, the lower court said it had established that "legal preconditions" had been met for the extradition of Alen Camdzic, 46, who has been named by local media.

The final decision will be made by the justice minister.

The suspect was arrested in Croatia on March 13 on an international warrant and has been held in custody since, the court in Velika Gorica, near Zagreb, said in a statement.

Camdzic's arrest was announced by Tunisian prosecutors who said they believed that two people with Bosnian passports had carried out the assassination.

The second suspect, Elvir Sarac, was briefly detained in Sarajevo earlier this week but released when a court refused to hand him over to Tunisia, saying there was no extradition deal between the countries.

- 'Foreign elements' -

Camdzic served in the police during Bosnia's 1990s war and became a professional soldier after the conflict, media reports said.

Tunisia earlier confirmed that "foreign elements" had been involved in the killing of a Tunisian-Belgian citizen.

Shortly after his death, Hamas said he was a drone expert who had worked for the "resistance" for a decade for a decade before being killed by "Zionist treachery".

Israel has not responded to accusations it was behind the killing.

Israel has fought several wars with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and has assassinated several of the Islamist movement's members in the past.

Story continues

In November 2017, Zaouari's family denounced "silence" on the part of authorities and called on them to provide more details on the investigation into his killing.

Israel was also accused of being behind the assassination last month in Malaysia of Fadi al-Batsh, a Hamas scientist who was said to be a rocket-making expert.

Family and friends of Batsh accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of carrying out the killing in Kuala Lumpur on April 21.
Havana (AFP) - Cuba will seek to amend its constitution to further open up the economy but without modifying the "irrevocable character of socialism," authorities there said Monday.

Former president Raul Castro, who stepped down last month, introduced reforms in 2011 to open the top-heavy, centralized economy to small private businesses and foreign investment.

The changes resulted in a burst of activity in the first years, as Cubans opened restaurants and other small service-oriented businesses.

But the changes did not unleash the hoped-for economic takeoff.

A special commission will be formed during an extraordinary session of parliament on Saturday to present the constitutional changes, which deputies will discuss before putting them to a referendum.

The details of the proposed changes were not revealed, but they are expected to continue the reforms launched by Raul Castro, who transformed the Cuba he inherited from brother Fidel in 2006.

The changes will also provide a legal underpinning for those already made.

When Raul Castro handed over the presidency on April 19 to Miguel Diaz-Canel, a 58-year-old civilian, he underlined that his reforms "are not intended to modify the irrevocable character of socialism" in Cuba.

Castro is slated to remain as secretary general of the island's Communist Party until 2021.

Cuba's constitution has been updated three times since it was promulgated in 1976.
GENEVA (Reuters) - The Syrian government has submitted a list of names to the United Nations as candidates for inclusion in a constitutional committee, U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura told Reuters on Monday. Formation of the committee, which will rewrite the Syrian constitution, was agreed at a Syrian peace conference in the Russian ski resort of Sochi in January. It is up to de Mistura to decide whom to pick. De Mistura's spokeswoman Reem Ismail said the U.N. was carefully studying the list of names but declined to comment further. De Mistura has said he will select about 50 people, including supporters of the government, the opposition and independents. The main opposition negotiating group has agreed to cooperate as long as the committee is formed under U.N. auspices. The government at first agreed to the plan, but later rejected it. Its submission of a list of names to the U.N. follows a meeting earlier this month between President Bashar al-Assad and his main backer, Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Russia has held the balance of power in Syria, both on the battlefield and in the U.N.-led peace talks, for the past two years. It has helped Assad recover huge amounts of lost territory in Syria without persuading him to agree to any political reforms. The U.N. Security Council, which includes Russia and the United States, has mandated de Mistura to get a deal on a new constitution, new elections and a reform of Syria's governance. But nine rounds of talks, most of them in Geneva, have failed to bring the warring sides together to end a seven-year-old conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes. Assads government announced in 2012 that voters had overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in a referendum, conducted amid civil war, that was derided as a sham by his critics at home and abroad. The new basic law maintained real power in the presidency but dropped a clause that in effect granted Assads Baath Party a monopoly on power. (Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Andrew Roche)
Kinshasa (AFP) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reacted angrily on Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron met the head of the African Union (AU), apparently suspecting closed-door dealings on the crisis-riddled country's future.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende blasted Macron for "dog-whistle remarks" that he made last Wednesday in Paris after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also the AU's current chair.

The comments caused "discomfort, not to say anger" in Kinshasa, Mende told a press conference.

Macron had said, "France supports the initiative taken by the president of the African Union, in strict concertation with the president of Angola," but did not elaborate. Angola President Joao Lourenco was visiting Paris on Monday.

The verbal broadside from the DRC comes in a context of mounting tensions ahead of presidential elections scheduled for December 23.

Countries in central Africa are casting a worried eye, amid fears that the sprawling, volatile state could spiral once more into war, possibly drawing them into it.

DRC President Joseph Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001 and should have stepped down at the end of 2016 after he reached his two-term constitutional limit -- a constitutional clause has allowed him to remain in office until his successor is elected.

Kabila's presidency has been stained by a reputation for corruption, oppression of free speech and poor governance. The DRC's armed forces are struggling to repress conflict in the vast, lawless east, which is under the sway of multiple rebel groups.

Mende said, "We do not accuse the French president of anything. The question is about knowing what may have been said between him -- because he spoke about it -- and the president of Rwanda concerning the DRC without us knowing about."

"When the answer comes, if it is unsatisfactory, you can be sure that we will draw all the consequences," Mende said.

Story continues

"No-one has the right to envisage solutions to our problems without us," he said, condemning "people who are nostalgic for the colonial order" and "closed-door meetings and open plotting against our country's sovereignty."

The representatives of France, Rwanda and Angola were called to the foreign ministry in Kinshasa on Saturday after Macron's remarks.

Previous conflicts in the DRC -- from 1996-97 and from 1998-2003 -- sucked in countries around central Africa, including its neighbours, Angola and Rwanda.

Mende on Monday did not address speculation about whether Kabila would run again in the elections, which are at the legislative and local level as well as presidential.

But he made it clear Kabila planned to remain a key figure in national politics through his role as party chief.

Kabila "is head of the presidential majority," Mende said, referring to the majority of pro-Kabila MPs in parliament.

"When we hold the elections, he will be the head of the presidential majority. And since we intend to win, Kabila will be the head of the presidential majority after the elections," he said. "There's nothing unconstitutional about this."
(KINSHASA, Congo)  Another person has died in Congo of a confirmed case of Ebola, bringing the number of fatalities from the latest outbreak to 12, the countrys health ministry said Sunday.

The death happened in Iboko, a rural area in northwestern Equateur province, the health ministry said in a statement. There are also four new suspected cases in the province, the statement reported.

Congo now has 35 confirmed Ebola cases.

Health workers have identified people who have been in contact with the patients in the confirmed Ebola cases in three areas in Equateur province, Iboko, rural Bikoro and Mbandaka, the provincial capital of 1.2 million that is a transport hub on the Congo River.

Congolese Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga flew by helicopter to Bikoro and Iboko on Saturday to see the deployment of health workers who will be tracing people who have been in contact with Ebola cases and inoculating them with a new experimental vaccine. The vaccination campaign in the two rural areas is set to begin Monday.

Representatives of the World Health Organization and UNICEF accompanied the health minister.

The vaccination campaign is already underway in Mbandaka, where four Ebola cases have been confirmed. About 100 health workers have been vaccinated there as front-line workers face high risk from the virus, which is spread via contact with the bodily fluids of those infected, including the dead.

The next few weeks are crucial in determining whether the outbreak announced in May can be brought under control, according to the World Health Organization. Complicating factors include its spread to a major city, that health workers are among those infected and the existence of three or four separate epicenters, making finding and monitoring the contacts of infected people more difficult.

WHO is using a ring vaccination approach, targeting the contacts of people infected or suspected of infection and then the contacts of those people. More than 600 contacts have been identified.

Story continues

WHO also is accelerating efforts with nine neighboring countries to try to prevent the Ebola outbreak from spreading there, saying the regional risk is high. It has warned against international travel and trade restrictions.

I am personally committed to ensuring that we do everything we can to stop this outbreak as soon as possible, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a meeting in Geneva on Saturday.

This is Congos ninth Ebola outbreak since 1976, when the hemorrhagic fever was first identified.

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.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's state security prosecutors ordered on Sunday that a prominent opposition leader, Hazim Abdelazim, be detained for 15 days pending investigation over joining an illegal organization and publishing false news, a judicial source said. Egypt has in recent weeks arrested several prominent activists in a crackdown on critics that followed small protests against hikes to metro fares. Abdelazim was arrested at his home in Cairo late on Saturday night, a security source had said earlier. Once a deputy telecoms minister under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, Abdelazim was later heavily involved with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's 2014 election campaign where he chaired the youth committee. Abdelazim later described the experience on his Twitter profile as his "biggest sin." The interior ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. Last week, Egyptian authorities arrested award-winning blogger and journalist Wael Abbas, also accusing him of involvement with an illegal organization and publishing false news. Abbas's arrest followed those of at least three other prominent opposition figures. Rights groups say Egypt's human and civil rights record has deteriorated under Sisi, but his 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. Sisi won a second term in office in a March election that featured only one other candidate, himself an ardent Sisi supporter, after all serious opposition contenders halted their campaigns citing intimidation and several arrests. (Reporting by Cairo Bureau; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Daniel Wallis)
Paris (AFP) - French magazine Le Point said it had suffered harassment and intimidation by supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after it labelled him "The Dictator" on its front cover.

Police were deployed in the southern city of Avignon over the weekend after a group of pro-Erdogan activists attempted to remove, then cover up advertisements for the magazine at newsstands.

Another poster of the front cover -- a portrait of Erdogan above the headline "The Dictator. How far will Erdogan go?" -- was targeted at a newspaper kiosk in the town of Valence on Sunday, Le Point said.

"After a week of harassment, insults, intimidation and anti-Semitic slurs and threats towards us on social media, now has come the moment when supporters of the AKP (Erdogan's party) are attacking symbols of freedom of expression and diversity in the press," Le Point said on its website.

President Emmanuel Macron rallied behind the magazine Monday calling the harassment "totally unacceptable".

"You cannot put a price on freedom of the press, without it, it's dictatorship," he tweeted.

The left-leaning weekly, one of France's most popular news magazines, published an investigation into the Turkish strongman in its latest edition which also included an editorial asking: "Is Erdogan a new Hitler?".

Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which he co-founded in 2001, are seeking another mandate ahead of snap parliamentary and presidential polls on June 24.

The Turkish president imposed a state of emergency following an attempted coup in July 2016 which has sparked a crackdown affecting "hundreds of thousands of people", including killings and torture, according to the UN rights office.

The report in March this year also warned about "a continued erosion of the rule of law and deterioration of the human rights situation", including the arrests of hundreds of journalists and opposition members.

Story continues

Ankara slammed the findings as "biased" and "unacceptable".

- 'Unacceptable breach' -

Christophe Deloire, the head of media freedom group Reporters without Borders, said that the incidents in France were "isolated but have a strong symbolic resonance."

One of the leading figures in France's ruling Republic on the Move party, Richard Ferrand, called the protests in southern France an "unacceptable breach of the freedom of expression."

"We are not going to tolerate in France that the front cover of a magazine be somehow censored under pressure," he told the France 3 channel on Sunday.

Many European countries are home to large Turkish-origin or migrant communities, but Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have barred Turkish politicians from electioneering in their countries.

Around three million expatriate Turks are allowed to vote in the elections next month, including 1.4 million in Germany, and they are seen as a valuable source of support by Erdogan's party.

A year ago Germany and other European countries also banned a series of planned Turkish campaign events for a referendum that extended Erdogan's powers.

Erdogan at the time denounced Germany's "Nazi practices" and accused it of harbouring Kurdish "terrorists" and plotters of the failed coup against him.
(Photo: amesy via Getty Images)

When Mel Neve founded her Facebook group Women with PTSD United four years ago, she couldnt imagine it would swell to 17,000 members. She said its become a tight sisterhood, in which members share jokes and memes  and offer each other advice about their most painful private struggles.

Weve laughed and cried with each other and bared our souls and done so much deep bonding, Neve said.

She credits her peers for helping her understand how her lingering anxiety and depression are connected to her past traumas, including domestic violence, kidnapping and burglary.

When Neve heard about Facebooks privacy violations, she wasnt so concerned about her own data. But with Facebook users threatening to delete their accounts en masse over recently exposed privacy violations, she worried what would happen to her beloved community. Would the group start to lose members in the #deleteFacebook campaign?

That concern is shared by many administrators of Facebooks wildly popular groups feature, launched in 2004, which offers support forums for many people struggling with health conditions  from infertility to depression to cancer.

Even if Neves most loyal members stayed put, she feared that potential new members wouldnt be on Facebook to discover her group, or that existing users would spend less time there and contribute fewer posts and encouraging comments. Earlier this year, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook usage had dipped by 5 percent even before the Facebook backlash began.

Facebook is a safe place for us, said Neve, a speech therapist in Concord, Michigan. I dont even know what other kind of forum could reach this many people worldwide.

So far, the exodus Neve feared hasnt happened: New data this week shows that the social media giants membership has reached nearly 2.2 billion  up 13 percent from the previous year, according to the latest earnings report.

But Facebook group administrators have noticed that their members are increasingly worried about the privacy of their personal information and soul-baring posts. So while usage doesnt currently seem to be at risk, Facebook users behavior might be changing.

Story continues

Chrissi Kenkel, founder of the 33,000-strong Mental Health Awareness and Support group, said shes noticed more members asking Can my friends or family see what Im writing?

And Katharina Sucita, who runs the Weight Loss Support Group, which has more than 55,000 members, said members privacy concerns recently prompted her to make the group closed  a designation that requires administrators to approve members and limits visibility to those inside the group.

That way members would feel more comfortable sharing their personal stories and weight loss pictures without fearing their neighbor or boss might see them, Sucita said.

Its impossible to expect a true sense of privacy among 55,000 people, but users and bioethicists alike have lingering questions about Facebooks use of data.

How much of Facebook is truly closed? asked Glenn Cohen director of Harvards Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law, Biotechnology and Bioethics. How visible are your posts? Could someone take a screenshot of something you said and repost it?

These new questions may be a good thing. Our deep desire to connect can lull us into a false sense of security, according to Matthew DeCamp, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.

Over time, people become more comfortable sharing, and what could happen to their data isnt at the forefront of their minds, he said.

Although Facebook denies sharing the content of users posts or comments in closed groups, some people are wondering whether other kinds of health information could be at risk.

Last month, news broke that Facebook had approached several U.S. health organizations, including Stanford Medical School and the American College of Cardiology, about sharing anonymized patient data on illnesses and prescriptions to match it with data it had collected.

Facebook responded in a statement: This work has not progressed past the planning phase, and we have not received, shared, or analyzed anyones data.

The company separately told HuffPost, We take protecting peoples privacy very seriously. We do not sell peoples data. Nor do we allow advertisers to target people based on health conditions or conversations on Facebook, including in Groups.

Yet the social media network is constantly gathering other kinds of health information thats valuable to advertisers, said Kirsten Ostherr, a digital health technology researcher at Rice University and author of a recent Washington Post op-ed on the topic. Examples include products or links that you like, your search history (like breast augmentation surgery) or where youre logging on from, such as a cancer treatment center.

You can start to see theres plenty of information for a company to figure out whether you would be a good target for ads about their drugs and health products, she said. Earlier this month, Facebook announced it was launching a feature to help users control the release of their info to third parties.

Cohen is also concerned about the possibility of so-called anonymized data being used for commercial reasons. Imagine what kind of connections future data miners could make based on your social media posts, fitness trackers, voting record, purchasing history and perhaps even genetic data.

Whatever the risks are now, if there are no policy changes as more and more data about you becomes known, the risk of re-identifying you is only going to go up, Cohen said, noting that this could affect your ability to get a job, health insurance or life insurance.

The European Union has been leading the way in changing the way companies collect data. Under a new law that goes into effect May 25, companies must ask if they can collect data and disclose any breaches within 72 hours.

Administrators say they hope future protections are in the works, because their groups serve a valuable function. Although mental health experts caution that online support networks are not a substitute for professional counseling, Dartmouth College researchers found they provided important peer support by creating a sense of belonging in a forum thats free of social stigma. Not only do you learn youre not alone, you learn how other people are coping, said Kelly Aschbrenner, assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouths Geisel School of Medicine.

Kathie Underwood, who lives in rural northwest Georgia and cares for her elderly mother-in-law who has Alzheimers disease, said she depends on the 13,000-member group Alzheimers Caregiver Support on Facebook.

My mother-in-law might have a bad fall and be agitated or hallucinating, and theres always someone who can tell me how to calm her down, said Underwood, who is comforted by the fact that she can find a sympathetic ear, day or night, in any part of the world because of the Facebook group.

Such groups have become an even more critical lifeline for smaller communities, such as Sandra Sermones 200-member group for parents of children with the rare disease ADNP. All that unites them is a diagnosis: The group is restricted to parents who recently discovered through genetic sequencing that their children suffer the neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by delayed growth and hearing, vision and digestive problems.

At ADNPKids, parents trade tips on where to find specialists, how to thicken water to prevent aspiration and how to advocate for their kids at school. They also strategize on how to get their childrens disease on researchers radars.

Having a child with a rare disease is the most isolating thing in the world, said Sermone, of Vancouver, Washington. I cant tell you what its meant to talk to other parents who are going through what I am. We found each other on Facebook.

But Cohen notes that Facebook isnt the only game in town, and predicts that other platforms run by members will grow in popularity over time. For example, PatientsLikeMe, a well-known patient support website, has more than 600,000 participants. And theres no telling what other social media networks will develop their own groups.

Sermone said several U.S. foundations have approached her to start support groups, though she believes they wont attract the same global audience.

These health groups fill such an emotional need that some members might not even care about their privacy, said Gail Weatherill, an administrator at Alzheimers and Dementia Caregiver Support.

My thinking is that if these folks had to choose between giving up the group and printing their personal data on the front of The New York Times, theyd be hoping the Times uses a flattering photo of them, she said.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated which Facebook group Kathie Underwood said she turns to for support.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Ivan the Terrible killing his son by Ilya Repin - www.alamy.com

A vandal enraged by what he claimed is a misleading portrayal of Ivan the Terrible has badly damaged one of the most iconic paintings of the infamous Tsar.

The attacker, who has not been named, used a metal pole to break the glass protecting Ilya Repin's Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16th, 1581, just before closing time at Moscow's Treyakov gallery on Friday.

"The painting is badly damaged, the canvas is ripped in three places in the central part.... The falling glass also damaged the frame," the gallery said in a statement.

"Luckily, the most valuable images, those of the faces and hands of the tsar and prince were not damaged," the statement said.

A 37-year old man from the town of Voronezh was arrested at the scene, police said in a statement.

The suspect told officers that he had acted because of what he called the "falsehood of the historical facts depicted on the canvas."

Ilya Repin was one of the greatest Russian artists of the 19th century Credit: GL Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

I came to see the painting. I wanted to leave, but then dropped into the buffet and drank 100 grams of vodka. I dont drink vodka, and became overwhelmed by something, he said in a video released by police.

Repin's painting, which was completed in 1885, depicts the moment of deranged grief when the aging Ivan the Terrible realizes he has murdered his son and heir apparent in a rage.

It is considered one of Repin's most emotionally intense paintings, and it has been said that Ivan the Terrible's eyes can drive viewers mad.

Tsar Alexander III disliked the painting so much he banned its display for several months after it was unveiled - making it the first painting subject to censorship in Russia.

The painting after the 1913 knife attack Credit: Wikipedia Commons

In 1913 a mentally ill man called Abram Balashov cut it with a knife in three places, shouting "enough death, enough blood!"

Gregory Khruslov, the curator responsible for the painting, threw himself under a train when he heard about it.

Repin, who is widely considered the greatest Russian painter of the 19th century, was still alive to help restore the painting after that attack.

Story continues

The painting has been held by the Tretyakov since the 19th century. In 2011 Repin's A Parisian Cafe fetched 4.5 million at auction.

Ivan the Terrible ruled Russia from 1547 to 1584.

Putin last year defending Ivan the Terrible (not that bad, look at all the other leaders back then!)



"Take the famous legend about how [in English, here] Ivan the Terrible, Ivan Grozny, killed his son. That's known yet, whether he killed his son or not"https://t.co/Ko0tyZZSG2  Scott Rose (@rprose) May 26, 2018

Most sources agree he killed his son Ivan in a quarrel over the Tsar's handling of a war with Poland and his treatment of the Tsarevich's wife, who had miscarried after being beaten by her father-in-law.

But some Russian nationalists argue that his reputation for brutality, including the story that he murdered Ivan, is actually a product of Western propaganda.

Vladimir Putin said last year that "its is not known yet" whether Ivan the Terrible killed his son, and that the whole story may have been made up by envoys from the Vatican who wanted to convert Russia from Orthodoxy to Catholicism.

In 2013, a nationalist group called Holy Rus sent an open letter the Tretyakov's director and Russia's minister of culture demanding Repin's painting be removed on the grounds that there was no evidence for the murder and that the painting was thus "a libel against the Russian people."

In October 2016 the Russian town of Oryol courted controversy by erecting the first public statue of Ivan the Terrible.
Bogota (AFP) - Conservative former president Alvaro Uribe, who opposed the FARC peace deal, exerts a powerful influence on voters in Colombia, but the left was still able to achieve a record score in Sunday's first round of the presidential election, in which turnout was sharply higher than usual.

Here are five factors that could influence the June 17 runoff between Uribe-backed conservative Ivan Duque and leftist Gustavo Petro. The winner succeeds Juan Manuel Santos, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who leaves office in August.

1. The power of Uribe

Duque garnered 39.14 percent of the vote on Sunday, making him the top vote-getter but still short of an outright win.

His success is based in part on the popularity of his mentor, the former president and now senator Alvaro Uribe.

The vote "again shows the importance of Uribismo," said analyst Andres Macias of the Externado University.

It was the third time that Uribe, who waged an all-out war against the FARC as president from 2002 to 2010, has found himself at the center of a presidential race.

In 2010, Uribe backed Santos, his former defense minister, to succeed him as president. After Santos won the presidency, the two men had a bitter falling out and in 2014 Uribe threw his support to Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who lost to Santos in a runoff.

Now, Uribe is championing Duque's presidential bid, and appears on the brink of reclaiming power through his new protege.

2. Alliances will be crucial

Alliances will play a key role in the second round.

Duque ran with conservative former minister Marta Lucia Ramirez as his vice presidential candidate, with the support of evangelical Christians as well as the far-right.

On Sunday night, he appeared to extend a hand to the former center-right vice president German Vargas Lleras, who came fourth with just 7.2 percent of the vote, and whose party is the third largest in Congress.

Petro, who came in second with 25.08 percent of the vote, hopes he can draw on support from divided centrists when he faces off against Duque.

Story continues

But neither the ex-mayor of Medellin, Sergio Fajardo (third with 23.7 percent), nor former peace negotiator Humberto de la Calle (2.06 percent) have come out to support him.

Petro may also be able to lure votes from the 47 percent of the electorate that did not turn out in the first round. Typically, participation increases in the second round. The turnout in the first round was an already high 53 percent.

"The alliance that Duque will very soon be seeking will be with Vargas Lleras, while Fajardo and De la Calle will be difficult to convince," said political analyst Sebastian Bitar of Andes University.

3. The peace factor

The future of the historic peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group turned political party, has emerged as a key and divisive issue in the elections.

Duque has vowed to rewrite the accord if elected, arguing that rebel leaders got off too lightly and calling for a "Colombia where peace coincides with justice."

For that, he would be able to count on the support of Uribe's Democratic Center party, which swept legislative elections in March and now enjoys a near majority in the Congress.

Key aspects of the peace accord, including a system to judge ex-guerrillas and military officers responsible for crimes during the conflict and agrarian reform, have yet to be implemented by the Congress.

Duque also wants to review the dialogue launched with the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas.

Petro has said he would honor the FARC accord and supports talks with the ELN but he lacks a base of support in Congress.

4. The success of the left

The left on Sunday scored its best ever performance in a Colombian presidential election, a significant achievement in a country traditionally governed by the right.

Petro, an ex-mayor of Bogota and a former member of the M-19 guerrilla group, picked up 4.8 million votes, enough to send him into the runoff with Duque.

That beat the previous best by a leftist presidential candidate, in 2006, when Carlos Gaviria received 2.6 million votes but was defeated in the first round by Uribe.

But Petro's sympathies for the leftist policies espoused by Hugo Chavez, the late Venezuelan leader, has hurt him with Colombian voters at a time when Venezuela is in deep turmoil.

5. Turnout at over 50 percent

Turnout rarely surpasses 50 percent in the country of 49 million people.

But on Sunday, 53.29 percent of eligible voters, or 19.6 million people, cast ballots.

In the first round in 2014, that figure was 13.2 million, then 15.7 million in the second.

"There was an increase in turnout, but the abstention rate was still high. It remains to be seen if that can work in Petro's favor," said Medofilo Medina of National University.
A Florida police officer is facing backlash over a Facebook comment in which he seemingly wished violence upon Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg and other young gun control activists. The now-deleted post was a response to the "die-in" protests held Friday in the parking lot of supermarket-chain giant Publix, which previously made large donations to the political campaigns of National Rifle Association (NRA) supporters.

"Hope some old lady loses control of her car in that lot. Jus saying.. Coconut Creek police officer Brian Valenti allegedly wrote on the Coral Springs/Parkland Facebook page, according to screenshots obtained by the Sun-Sentinel.

The comment was posted under a picture of Hogg and two other #NeverAgain activists standing in the parking area of a Coral Springs Publix store, where they had just finished painting body outlines in chalk to represent the 17 people killed in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, located only a few miles away.

Trending: Trump Slams Critics for Sharing Old Pictures of Children in Cages to Make Him 'Look Bad'

The demonstration was enacted in several locations across Florida on Friday. The Coral Springs iteration specifically targeted Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, a major NRA supporter who counted Publix as one of his top campaign contributors.

A representative from the Coral Springs Police Department told Newsweek that Valenti would be disciplined, although he did not go into detail. According to the Sun-Sentinel, the police officer has since apologized.

The officer admitted that it was in poor taste, and indicated that it was meant as a joke, but certainly didnt come off that way, wrote Police Chief Butch Arenal in an email to the newspaper. It is for that reason that he thought it better to remove the post. He will be offering an apology, as he has indicated that he wants to do whatever he has to do to make it right.

Story continues

Don't miss: Congressman Thomas Garrett to Step Down Amid Battle With Alcoholism

Rod Skirvin, a police union leader, said that Valenti, who has been with the department for 23 years, would face disciplinary consequences. He feels terrible and is very willing to apologize in person, Skirvin told the Sun-Sentinel. We are going to speak to the chief on Tuesday when he goes back to work. There will be disciplinary repercussions for him.

Meanwhile, Hogg's campaign seemed successful. Publix has halted donations to political campaigns, a decision that roiled NRA supporters.

"At Publix, we respect the students and members of the community who have chosen to express their voices on these issues," the grocery store said in a statement just prior to last week's demonstration. "We regret that our contributions have led to a divide in our community. We did not intend to put our associates and the customers they serve in the middle of a political debate. At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining a welcoming shopping environment for our customers."

Most popular: Missing 1,500 Undocumented Children Are Not Actually 'Lost,' HHS Official Says

The statement continued, "We would never knowingly disappoint our customers or the communities we serve. As a result, we decided earlier this week to suspend corporate-funded political contributions as we reevaluate our giving processes."

Valenti is hardly the first official to face backlash for insensitive remarks directed at school shooting survivors. A TV host at a local Missouri station tendered his resignation after launching into a tirade against Hogg on Twitter, telling his followers he was preparing to "ram a hot poker up David Hoggs ass tomorrow." Another officer in Florida was reassigned after alleging that the student activists were "paid actors." Several candidates for public office quit races or lost elections after making insensitive and offensive remarks about school shootings.

But some who slammed Hogg and fellow activists faced less serious consequences despite public outcry. National Rifle Association board member and former rock 'n' roller Ted Nugent continues to make controversial remarks about the students with seemingly no repercussions. Fox News host Laura Ingraham weathered an advertising boycott after she joked about Hogg not getting into his chosen college, returning to high ratings after a weeklong vacation. Similarly, several conservative lawmakers have come out relatively unscathed after criticizing the students, although most have issued apologies.

GettyImages-949097194

John Raedle/Getty Images

This article has been updated with a statement from the Coral Springs Police Department.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
PARIS (Reuters) - France's main far left party, the hardline CGT trade union and some 80 other organizations on Saturday led several thousand people in street protests across the country against President Emmanuel Macron's reforms of the public sector. Organizers hoped that the protests would grow further into a groundswell of opposition to Macron's reform of France's public service and some state enterprises such as the heavily indebted national railway company SNCF. Union officials and the police gave widely different figures for the turnout. CGT said 80,000 people participated in the protest in Paris, and 250,000 came out nationwide. The police, however, said the protest drew 21,000 in Paris. The turnout was lower than the 320,000 during a previous nationwide protest in March. "We are going to carry a message (and) this message must be heard by the strong-headed Emmanuel Macron," Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far left France Unbowed party, told a cheering crowd in the southern port city of Marseille. Melenchon listed a number of grievances including staff shortages at hospitals, limited admissions at universities, and lack of police in tough neighborhoods, because the government says it does not have the means to fund them. "We do not believe you because you are lying," Melenchon said, adding that Macron's government had given a 4.5 billion euros ($5.25 billion) tax break to the rich which could have been invested in hospitals. "The country is rich. The country must share," Melenchon said. Protesters are expected to hold rallies in at least 160 places across France, CGT Secretary General Philippe Martinez said, adding that Macron should listen to the growing anger. French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said that police intervened in Paris after a group of hooded protesters tried to destroy a bank. Seven police officials were injured during the intervention, Collomb told France BFM TV. The police said 35 demonstrators were detained for various offences. Unions have staged several nationwide strikes since the start of the year, while SNCF rail workers have been carrying out rolling strikes on two of every five days of the week since April over plans to reform the company and open it to competition. https://tmsnrt.rs/2JnAdwO Macron, 40, who came to power a year-ago promising to push through tough reforms, has shown no sign of surrender so far. $1 = 0.8584 euros) (Reporting by Bate Felix, Caroline Pailliez and Emmanuel Jarry; Editing by Stephen Powell)
Looming above Kilauea's glowing lava rivers and explosions of ash, is the most massive mountain on Earth. Measured from its deep ocean base, the Mauna Loa volcano is taller than Mount Everest. It takes up over half of the Big Island.

And it's an omen of what's to come for Kilauea.

Hawaii's currently erupting and youngest volcano, Kilauea, peers up at Mauna Loa from some 9,000 feet below. Its latest bursts of lava, which started in early May and have since rumbled through neighborhoods, remind us that Kilauea is next in line to become a dominant presence on the Big Island, like Mauna Loa.

SEE ALSO: Deep beneath the Pacific, another active Hawaiian volcano waits to emerge

In the next 1,000 years or so, lava will almost certainly flow over nearly every inch of road and in every neighborhood on the volcano, as it continues growing. There's good precedent for this. Today, 90 percent of the volcano, located on the southeastern corner of the Big Island, is covered in lava that's less than 1,000 years old.

Mauna Loa, though far more ancient, once behaved in much the same way. The volcano emerged from the ocean some 300,000 years ago, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) believes it has "grown rapidly upward since then."

"There's no reason to expect the events of Kilauea will be very much different than those that took place at Mauna Loa," Stanley Mertzman, a geoscientist at Franklin and Marshall College, said in an interview.

Kilauea sits to the right and below of Mauna Loa. Historic lava flows from both volcanoes are shown in light grey.

Image: National Park Service

"The only difference is there was no audience," said Mertzman of Mauna Loa, who has hiked to the snow-covered summit the volcano with his geology students.

How big will Kilauea get?

The first people landed on the Hawaiian islands some 1,500 years ago, when Mauna Loa was already the dominant Hawaiian mountain. Since then, however, Hawaiians have regularly witnessed Kilauea erupt and grow larger as molten rock poured into the sea.

Story continues

Since 1983 alone, Kilauea has added around 570 acres of new land to the Big Island, and geologists expect the volcano to continue adding layer upon layer, building out and up like Mauna Loa, which is Hawaiian for "Long Mountain."

"If you look at Kilauea today and look back at the rather imposing Mauna Loa structure  that, simply, is what Kilauea will look like," said Mertzman.

Snow-covered Mauna Loa looms over the Hawaiian countryside.

Image: Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

It will be quite similar in shape (Hawaiian volcanoes mature into gentle-sloping profiles) and quite big, but it's less certain if it will ever meet Mauna Loa's extraordinary height and girth.

The source of magma (underground lava) for Hawaiian volcanoes is a stationary "hot spot," a place underneath Earth's crust where rocks melt and then regularly ooze out, flowing up to the surface through subterranean channels. But exactly how that single hot spot ultimately feeds the Big Island's five volcanoes varies.

Of these five volcanoes, four will erupt again, said Jess Phoenix, a geologist that has sampled, hiked over, and studied the Big Island's volcanoes.

"That's a lot of demand on the hot spot," Phoenix, who is running for Congress in California, said. "So it would be interesting to see how Kilauea reacts."

An artist's conception of the Pacific tectonic plate traveling over the hot spot.

Image: usgs

Mauna Loa isn't the only giant presence on the Big Island. Its snow-capped neighbor, Mauna Kea, while not taking up as much mass or girth as Mauna Loa, is around 800 feet taller. Kilauea could become the third huge Big Island mountain.

"It's very possible that it could become the triplet," said Phoenix.

But, she noted that Mauna Loa is truly exceptional. It would be hard to top.

"It's extraordinary how big it is," she said. "It's the largest mountain on the planet."

Kilauea, though, is keeping up a good pace. In 1955, the volcano poured lava over 4,000 acres of the island, said Phoenix. And as the last few weeks specifically have shown, the activity hasn't relented.

Kilauea spraying lava out of the ground in 1955.

Image: usgs

"It's pretty active and there's no reason to see why that would change," said Phoenix, noting that molten rock will be brewing beneath its surface for hundreds of thousands of years. "It's going to take a while for that area to not be over the hot spot."

In the long geologic perspective, Kilauea's lava flows "are happening pretty quickly," said Mertzman, even though there may be 10, 15, or 30-year intervals between significant lava eruptions.

And during the periods when Kilauea stops erupting lava, that seems to be when Mauna Loa comes alive again. The large mountain may be ancient, but it's not nearly done.

"If one is erupting, the other isnt," said Phoenix.

Mertzman said it's likely Mauna Loa will awaken sooner rather than later.

"One of these days youll be writing about the eruptions on the summit of Mauna Loa," he said. "Itll surely happen in your lifetime."

Lava flows on Mauna Loa, both historic and ancient.

Image: usgs

And there's a good chance islanders will have to move out of the path of this creeping lava. According to the USGS, 90 percent of Mauna Loa's sprawling surface is covered in geologically young lava flows that have occurred in the last 4,000 years.

Locals living on or near these volcanoes are well-aware of the risks here, and the continuing story of lava flows, close calls, and engulfed homes, said Phoenix. This is especially the case for gushing Kilauea, which is acting just as it should if it ever wants to grow into something approximating its looming predecessor, Mauna Loa.

"That's why you dont make your house out of the finest Italian marble," said Phoenix.

Https%3a%2f%2fvdist.aws.mashable.com%2fcms%2f2018%2f5%2fe01785de de43 b9ec%2fthumb%2f00001

Related Video: New Evacuations in Hawaii as Lava Sparks

Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View.
(Fixes slug to match multi-media package)

BERLIN, May 27 (Reuters) - Some 5,000 supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) marched through the streets of Berlin on Sunday, but they were heavily outnumbered by anti-AfD demonstrations.

The AfD's anti-immigration, anti-European Union and anti-Muslim messages helped it become the third largest party in the German Bundestag in last September's vote but it has had little impact on parliamentary debate since then.

The AfD demonstrators, bussed in from around Germany, marched from Berlin's main station, down the banks of the Spree river to the Brandenburg Gate near the German parliament.

But there were around 20,000 anti-AfD protesters - according to police estimates - most of them younger people, highlighting the divisions that have emerged in Germany since the 2015 refugee crisis.

The AfD supporters, mostly older, waved German and AfD flags and carried placards demanding "Democracy not Merkelatorship."

Senior AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch, who addressed the supporters as they set off from the central station, said: "The rule of Islam in Germany is the rule of evil."

Berliners responded with at least 13 registered counter-demonstrations. These included one by the city's club scene, which put on a techno music party, aiming to "Bass the AfD away" with music blasting from speakers on 20 public address trucks.

"We want to be loud enough to drown out the racist speeches," an activist named Rosa told RBB public television. The thudding techno beat echoed across the city centre on Sunday afternoon.

Another group of anti-AfD protesters were on a boat on the Spree river holding up placards saying "You stink!"

The AfD is now the largest opposition party following the deal between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats to renew their grand coalition.

As a result, the AfD, founded as an anti-European Union party by a group of academics in 2013, has a host of powerful committee chairmanships, but has so far failed to capitalise on them.

Sunday's protests were broadly peaceful, with only one minor injury reported amid a heavy police presence. (Reporting by Thomas Escritt. Editing by Jane Merriman)
The historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge at dusk from across Lac Beauvert - All Canada Photos

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to spend their honeymoon at the Royal family's favourite Canadian cabin, according to US reports.

Harry and Meghan will travel to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, Canada, for their first holiday as a married couple, TMZ reported.

However, a spokeswoman for the lodge said they were "not currently booked for a stay".

Angela Moore, regional director of public relations, said: "We are declining further comment at this time, as our top priority is always the safety and privacy of all of our guests. We appreciate your understanding."

The lodge they were rumoured to be staying in is the 6,000 square foot Outlook Cabin, which has previously hosted the Queen and Prince Philip in 2005 as well as the Queen Mother, who visited in 1939 with King George VI.

The 2,000-a-night lodge comes with a conservatory and veranda, private parking, a terrace with a barbecue, six bedrooms and six bathrooms.

It was rebuilt following the exact floorplan of the original, after being destroyed in a fire in 2000.

The resort's brochure says the cabin "exudes the elegance and grandeur that has welcomed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939 as well as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 2005."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: The story of their relationship, in pictures

The cabin is nicknamed "the Royal retreat" and can cost from around 2,000 up to around 5,000 a night, according to online booking websites.

It adds: "Supreme comfort is present in every detail of the comfortable bedrooms, enclosed verandas and two majestic stone fireplaces that warms both the dining room and great room - the perfect place to entertain family & friends or celebrate a special occasion."

There had previously been suggestions that the couple would opt for an African destination for their honeymoon, given both Harry and Meghan's interest and experience in charity work on the continent.

Story continues

The entrance to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Credit: George Rose /Getty Images North America

They took a romantic holiday in Botswana shortly after they first met in the summer of 2016, before visiting southern Africa again the following year.

However, the Duchess has a longstanding connection with Canada, having lived in Toronto for several years while filming the series Suits.

A spokesman for the Royals declined to comment.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah urged supporters on Friday to stand firm in the face of U.S. sanctions targeting the Iran-backed Shi'ite movement and brace for more pressure. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also vowed to mount a campaign against corruption in the Lebanese state and warned it would face financial collapse if it did not tackle waste. In elections this month, Hezbollah along with parties and politicians that endorse its possession of arms gained sway in parliament. Western-backed Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri will now form Lebanon's next coalition government to contain the main parties including Hezbollah. Washington has sought to choke off Hezbollah funding, with sanctions among a slew of fresh measures against Tehran since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. The United States imposed sanctions last week on Hezbollah's representative to Iran, as well as a financier and five companies in Europe, West Africa and the Middle East. Washington and Gulf partners also announced more sanctions on Hezbollah leadership, including its top two officials, Nasrallah and Naim Qassem. Nasrallah called the sanctions "part of the battle" and said they would not impact its leadership but could harm its backers. "When they (sanction) Lebanese companies or organizations ... of course, this is very harmful, and so nobody should underestimate it," Nasrallah said in a televised speech marking the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from occupied parts of south Lebanon in 2000. He said the Lebanese government was responsible for citizens hit by the sanctions and must not turn its back on them. Nasrallah warned of the United States and its allies ramping up pressure in the future, but said such steps would yield no result. He described harm that supporters and financiers may face as "a sacrifice". He said the sanctions would not affect the formation of a new government set to start next week. After Lebanon's first legislative vote in nine years, the dire economic situation and unsustainable public debt levels are top priorities for the next government. Lebanon is the world's third-most indebted nation with a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 150 percent. Nasrallah pledged that Hezbollah would launch a "serious, strategic, and major" campaign to fight corruption. "We did not offer blood and liberate lands...for our country to go bankrupt and collapse." (Reporting by Ellen Francis and Laila Bassam; editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
An Indiana teacher, who potentially saved countless lives when he tackled a student gunman inside a middle school classroom Friday, says he did what he had to do.

Jason Seaman, a science teacher at Noblesville West Middle School, was in his classroom that morning when an unidentified student asked to be excused and later returned with two handguns and opened fire.

Seaman tackled the gunman and was shot in his stomach, hip and arm, according to reports. He was released from hospital Saturday.

At a press conference Monday morning, he said he acted because he cares deeply about his students.

"I want to make it clear that my actions on that day, in my mind, were the only acceptable actions I could have done given the circumstances," he told reporters. "I am still processing much of what has happened."

A 13-year-old student, Ella Whistler, was also shot during the attack and was in critical but stable condition as of Saturday, her family said. Seaman said Ella's courage is something to be admired.

"I can't say enough of how proud of Ella I am," Seaman said Monday. "Her courage and strength at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable and we should all continue to keep her in our minds as she continues to recover."

A GoFundMe account set up for Seaman had raised nearly $65,000 as of Monday morning.

RELATED STORIES

Indiana School Shooting: 13-Year-Old Girl Shot Is in Critical But Stable Condition

Hero Teacher Who Tackled Student Gunman at Indiana School Is Released From Hospital

Student in Custody After Allegedly Opening Fire at Indiana Middle School

Related Articles:
Police in New Jersey are investigating an a video appearing to show a police officer punching a woman in the head while trying to subdue her.

The incident involving 20-year-old Emily Weinman of Philadelphia, took place on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey and was filmed by another beachgoer.

The officers involved have been put on administrative leave as the police department investigates.

In a now-deleted post on Facebook about the incident, Ms Weinman wrote: I had alcohol, its Memorial Day weekend and 90 per cent of people are underage drinking on the beach, without a doubt.

Ms Weinman was with her daughter, her daughters father, and a friend according to her post. Two cops approach me on a their four wheelers and ask me and my friend how old we are, we gave them our ages, after which police administered a breathalyser test.

It came back negative. I told them I wasnt drinking and the alcohol was clearly closed/sealed, which the cops seen, Ms Weinman said.

On the video, she can be seen kicking one of the officers after which he attempted to subdue her. She can be heard saying: Youre not allowed to hit me like that choke me like that I didnt do anything wrong.

Other voices on the video can be heard telling Ms Weinman to stop resisting.

Ms Weinman said she had refused to give her name to the police to write her up, presumably for a citation, which is when the officer said he was going to arrest her.

He started coming towards me to put handcuffs on me. I cautiously was backing up from him (facing him) and yelled for my daughters father... I tripped and fell and the cop tackled me to the ground and smashed my head into the sand. At that point I blacked out and fought any way possible trying to get up and push him off me. Thats when he head locked me me by his arm around my neck, punched on me in my head and then he head locked me again but this time choking me, Ms Weinman said in the Facebook post.

Police claimed Ms Weinman was underage and inebriated at the time, refusing to show her ID, kicking a police officer in the genitals, and running away.

Story continues

Ms Weinman was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, for spitting on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction, and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

The officers in question have not been identified as yet. Wildwood Chief of Police Robert Regalbuto said in statement he finds this video to be alarming, he does not want to rush to any judgment until having the final results of the investigation.
Israel has carried out increasingly intense strikes against Iranian targets in Syria recently - REUTERS

Israel is increasingly optimistic that it may be coming close to its longheld goal of driving a wedge between Russia and Iran in Syria, a senior Israeli official said today.

Chagai Tzuriel, director general of the Israeli intelligence ministry, said he believed Russia was growing frustrated with Iran's presence in Syria and was worried that fighting between Israel and Iran would threaten Moscow's interests.

"My assessment is that the Russians are interested in stabilising their achievements in Syria," Mr Tzuriel said. "I think they understand that if the Iranians continue on the present course this will lead to escalation and will blow their plans out of the water.

Israels has long said it would not allow Iran to gain a permanent military foothold in Syria. Israeli forces have carried out increasingly intense strikes against Iranian targets in Syria in recent weeks and in the process have inflicted serious damage on the Assad regimes air defences.

Mr Tzuriel said he believed that the Israeli strikes - combined with Americas withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement and economic discontent within Iran - were fueling tensions between Iran and its Russian and Syrian allies.

I think this is a moment pregnant with opportunity. My assessment is that the situation were in is an opportune moment to try to change fundamentally the strategic situation, he said.

Israel hopes that Vladimir Putin (left) and Bashar al-Assad will lose patience with Iran Credit: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/Getty Images

Mr Tzuriel spoke as unconfirmed reports emerged that the Syrian regimes air force was trying to expel Iranian troops from its airbases because they were such a frequent target of Israeli attacks.

Zaman Al Wasl, a Syrian opposition media outlet, said Syrian air force commanders were trying to shut Iranian troops and Hizbollah fighters out of their air bases to try to shield the sites from Israeli strikes.

Potential cracks in the Russian-Iranian relationship have become increasingly visible in recent weeks.

Story continues

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said in mid-May that all foreign forces would leave Syria once the Assad regime was fully in control of the country. The comments appeared to anger Iran. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said in response: No one can make Iran do things; Iran has its own independent policies.

Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, also said Monday that only Syrian regime forces should be stationed on Syrias southern border - implying that neither Iran nor Hizbollah should be allowed near the Israeli border.

The comment appeared to be another small victory for Israel, which has long urged Russia in rein in Irans presence all across Syria but especially in the south near the Israeli border.

Syrian regime forces have captured significant territory from rebel forces in recent months Credit: LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images

Michael Horowitz, a senior analyst at the Le Beck geopolitical consultancy, said Israel had been trying for a long time to warn Russia about the dangers of Irans presence in Syria but had only recently gained traction.

The Israeli strategy was always to convince Russia that they had a lot to lose if they didnt do anything about Iran. Until a few weeks ago, I would have told you they were doing that in vain and that Russia didnt understand and didnt care. But its changed because the escalatory strategy of Israeli strikes in Syria is really threatening to trigger conflict, he said.

Video: Why Israel Is Attacking Iran in Syria

For more news videos visit Yahoo View.

Mr Horowitz cautioned that the recent shift did not mean Israel would necessarily achieve its goal of forcing Iran out of Syria. This doesnt mean Israel has won. But it means the dynamics are changing for the first time.

Even if Russia and the Syrian regime do believe that Irans presence is coming at too high a price, it is not clear how they could force Iranian troops and their Shia militias allies out of Syria.

Iran has invested heavily in propping up the Assad regime during years of fighting and is not likely to give up its presence easily. Assads battered forces are also still heavily dependent on Iranian-controlled militias as they try to conquer the remaining pockets of rebel-held territory in Syria.

Russia has provided the air power to help the Assad regime, while Iran has provided much of the ground forces Credit: Photo by Marina Lystseva\\TASS via Getty Images

Assad and the Russians still need the Shia militias to help them finish off what they have started Syria, said Mr Tzuriel, the Israeli official. That is part of the consideration and there is an issue of timing here. But that does not change my basic assessment that at the end of the day there is an opportunity now.

The US expressed alarm over the weekend that Syrian regime forces were massing for an assault on a rebel-held area in the southwest of the country, near the border with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The area is part of a de-escalation zone where both Assads forces and rebel fighters are supposed to be observing a ceasefire. The agreement on the de-escalation zones were made last year between the US, Russia and Jordan.

Regime forces have launched attacks in de-escalation zones in other parts of Syria and met little protest from the US. But the southwestern zone is acutely sensitive because of its proximity to Jordan and Israel, both US allies.

The US warned that it would take firm and appropriate measures if Assads forces moved forward with the offensive. The Syrian regime has so far signaled it intends to move forward with the assault, despite American warnings.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tank shelling killed three members of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, medical officials said, after weeks of border protests that have drawn lethal army fire.

Israel's military confirmed the strike, saying it targeted an observation post in response to a bomb that had been placed next to the border fence overnight. Video issued on the military's Twitter feed showed the bomb being detonated safely.

Islamic Jihad operates with a measure of independence from Hamas, the Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007 and fought three wars against Israel.

Hostilities over the frontier have soared since Palestinians began mass-demonstrations on March 30, which Israel deems to be cover for attempts to breach the border fence.

At least 115 Palestinians have been killed and thousands hurt by army gunfire in the protests, drawing foreign censure.

Organisers said they would ramp up demonstrations on Tuesday with a flotilla of boats that would set off from Gaza in an attempt to break Israel's maritime blockade of the enclave.

"Gaza has become a big, isolated prison, deprived of minimal rights, because of the unjust Israeli siege, they said in a statement, referring to clampdowns by Israel and neighbour Egypt.

Israel has blunted the military capabilities of Hama with a series of counter-measures: the Iron Dome air defence system against short-range rockets and a system for detecting and destroying cross-border guerrilla tunnels.

In the latest move, Israel's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that work had started on a maritime wall that would block infiltration by seaborne Palestinian fighters from north Gaza.

The sea wall, due to be complete by the end of the year, entails three layers below and above the Mediterranean surface, and will employ fortified rock as well as barbed wire, the ministry said.

There have been no Israeli casualties along the Gaza frontier, but Israel has reported extensive damage to farmland on its side of the border from firebomb-bearing kites flown over by Palestinians.

Story continues

To counter that threat, the Israeli military said it has mobilised private drone-racers as army reservists, who then try to ram into the kites with the remote-controlled aircraft.

"We'll deal with the kites, too," security cabinet minister Naftali Bennett told Israel Radio, when asked about the military's actions around Gaza.

In Israel, the military announced the death on Saturday of a soldier who was injured during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Thursday when Palestinians dropped a stone slab on his head from a building. Hundreds attended his funeral in Jerusalem on Sunday.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by David Goodman)
Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The Israeli army raided a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank Monday, AFP journalists said, in an apparent hunt for suspects in the killing of a soldier.

Dozens of Israeli troops entered the Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah in the early hours of Monday, closing off all the entrances, AFP journalists said.

At least 13 Palestinians were lightly or moderately injured during the raid as clashes broke out, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, with soldiers firing tear gas and bullets.

Residents said a number of Palestinians were arrested, though there was no immediate confirmation or statement from the army.

Israeli forces later withdrew from the camp.

It came days after an Israeli soldier was killed during a raid inside the camp.

Sergeant Ronen Lubarsky, 20, of the Duvdevan special forces unit, was struck on the head by a stone block thrown during an arrest raid Thursday and died early Saturday.

Israeli media said the block was a granite slab dropped from a third-floor window.

Those responsible were not arrested at the time.

Amari is located inside Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, in an area theoretically under the full control of the Palestinian government.

Israeli forces regularly carry out night raids in Palestinian-governed parts of the West Bank to arrest suspects they accuse of militant activities against Israel.

Amari, home to around 6,000 Palestinians according to the United Nations, is a regular flashpoint where Israeli raids have sparked fierce clashes in the past.
Ivanka Trump faces a storm of online criticism for tweeting a photo of her embracing her son, with critics denouncing her as tone deaf amid emerging reports of immigrant families being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a tweet captioned, My <3! #SundayMorning, the First Daughter shared a photo of herself with her two-year-old son on Sunday.

Twitter users pointed out that her father, President Donald Trump, has overseen a tightening of immigration policy that has split families apart. Reports emerged earlier this month that U.S. border agents have been authorized to separate children from parents who have crossed the border illegally and place them in protective custody as family members face prosecution.

This is so unbelievably tone deaf, Brian Klaas, a fellow at the London School of Economics and former Democratic strategist, said on Twitter, given that public outrage is growing over young kids being forcibly ripped from the arms of their parents at the border  a barbaric policy that Ivanka Trump is complicit in supporting.

This is so unbelievably tone deaf, given that public outrage is growing over young kids being forcibly ripped from the arms of their parents at the border  a barbaric policy that Ivanka Trump is complicit in supporting. https://t.co/Hy1FVjLoZV  Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) May 27, 2018

Until recently, families suspected of entering the U.S. illegally could remain intact until their cases were settled. But reports say family separations have been happening for months, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new zero tolerance policy in April, according to Reuters.

Story continues

Those apprehended will be sent directly to federal court under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, a Department of Homeland Security official told Reuters, and their children will be transferred to the custody of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement.

More than 700 children have been separated from their parents since October, more than 100 of them below the age of four, the New York Times reports. Another report found that the Department of Health and Human services lost track of more than 1,500 children after placing them with U.S. sponsors.

Social media users responded to Trumps tweet with outrage.

Isn't it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? It's the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right? https://t.co/X79r8aWInc  Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) May 27, 2018

As screaming children are being ripped from their horrified parents at the border because of daddys unconscionable cruelty...@IvankaTrump demonstrates a staggering measure of tone-deafness & insensitivity in her Sunday morning snugglefest with her kid. #Ivanka #Trump pic.twitter.com/B3BRrOyoEa  Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) May 28, 2018

President Trump tweeted on Saturday that the Democrats are to blame for the policy.
As the media reverberated with stories about the 1,500 missing immigrant children rounded up by the federal government, Ivanka Trump decided to tweet a photo of herself Sunday cuddling her young son.

Twitter wasnt having it.

Twitter users slammed Ivanka over her fathers policy enacted this month that separates undocumented immigrant children from their parents. They also reminded her of a Senate testimony last month that 1,500 migrant children placed in temporary homes by a federal refugee office are missing. The top federal official also testified that the government isnt legally responsible for finding them.

Heres a sampling of the responses to the first daughters tweet:

What an odd tweet in the middle of the horror going on with missing children ripped from their parents arms. How lucky you are to live in a bubble.  La Fourchette (@lafourchette) May 27, 2018

Too bad all mothers in America cant enjoy the same.  Jim Bell (@JimBell58) May 27, 2018

The administration you work for and support is separating thousands of children from their parents. Some of the children lost in the system and probably settling in with traffickers. How tone deaf can you be? #WhereAreTheChildren  justjo (@justjo1002) May 27, 2018

Must be nice to be with your  because there are parents of 1500 children who arent able to spend the rest of their Sunday mornings with their children in happiness instead theyll be spending it mourning their lost and wondering if theyll ever be able to see them again  rt  please  (@iamme_caro99) May 27, 2018

Is this supposed to be a picture of pristine, white motherhood, to contrast with the little brown babies of refugees we're supposed to hate? White supremacist twitter sites are full of these images. Given the breaking news, I'm gonna bet this is an intentional dog whistle.  New Colossus (@New_Colossus_) May 27, 2018

Hey! Maybe one of your most tone-deaf posts ever! And thats saying something.  (((Susan Campbell))) (@campbellsl) May 27, 2018

Why do you get to hold your baby while this woman's is ripped out of her arms? I would like to see your grandparents' immigration papers. How did they get here? What native American gave them permission to come to this land? #RomanoffFateComing pic.twitter.com/v7l4DL3Vgv  Just Mary (@BlueHenArt) May 27, 2018

And where is your  for other families? Children being ripped away from their parents? Children here who are homeless? Families who cannot afford healthcare? Elderly afraid of what happens when DT and his cohorts cut Medicare? So great for you to lead your privileged life.  GiGi Robin (@ladyathos) May 27, 2018

Also on HuffPost

Story continues

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan is confidant that Russia will not allow President Bashar al-Assad's government to wreck a ceasefire in southern Syria, a Jordanian official said on Monday, days after Washington said it feared that the Syrian government plans an offensive there. With Syrian government forces now in their strongest position since the early months of the seven-year civil war, the southwest is one of the few parts of the country still in the hands of enemies of President Bashar al-Assad. The area is covered by a ceasefire sponsored by the United States, Russia and Jordan, the result of the first Syrian peacemaking diplomatic effort of President Donald Trump's administration. The United States says it is concerned that Assad's government is planning to jettison the truce and launch a major offensive in the area to fulfill Assad's goal of re-asserting control over every inch of his country. Washington warned Syria on Friday it would take "firm and appropriate measures" in response to any ceasefire violations. But the senior Jordanian official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that Russia, Washington and Jordan all still saw "eye to eye" on the need to preserve the ceasefire. The de-escalation zone has produced the ceasefire that has held best in all of Syria. The parties to the agreement are all committed to preserving it, the official said. The three countries that sponsored the ceasefire were holding discussions to ensure it did not collapse, the Jordanian official said. Jordan has long been worried about the presence of Iranian-backed militias along its border, as has Israel. Both Israel and Jordan have been seeking understandings with Moscow to push these Shi'ite militias away from the area. Israel has stepped up its military strikes on suspected Iranian targets across Syria in recent weeks. "We are closely watching developments and will protect our national security," the Jordanian official said of the "fluid" situation in southern Syria. Assad's government has recaptured all rebel-held territory near the capital this year. Areas in the southwest and the northwest are the only large parts of the country still in control of rebels seeking to overthrow him. (This story has been refiled to correct typo in headline.) (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Catherine Evans and Peter Graff)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin expressed concern on Monday over media reports that Poland has requested a permanent U.S. military presence on its soil, saying NATO's expansion towards Russia's borders undermined stability in Europe. Warsaw could offer up to $2 billion in funding for such a military presence, according to a Polish Defense Ministry proposal reported by Polish media. A government source in Poland confirmed to Reuters such a proposal had been made. The Polish Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked about the move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was every country's sovereign right to take such decisions, but that it would harm the overall atmosphere on the continent. "When we see the gradual expansion of NATO military structures towards our borders..., this of course in no way creates security and stability on the continent," Peskov told reporters on a conference call on Monday. "On the contrary, these expansionist actions of course lead to counter-action from the Russian side in order to balance the parity which is violated every time in this way," Peskov said. Poland joined NATO in 1999 along with Hungary and the Czech Republic, and since then many other former communist states - including the three Baltic republics bordering Russia - have joined in successive waves, despite Moscow's strong opposition. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Pawel Sobczak; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Livestream video captured active lava from Hawaiis Kilauea volcano in lower Puna, Hawaii, on May 28. Lava fountains in the lower east rift zone are flowing up to 150 feet high, according to the USGS.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said residents should avoid the area due to the increase of volcanic gases and vog emissions in areas downwind of the vents. Credit: Honolulu Civil Beat via Storyful
London is introducing a contactless payment scheme for buskers in what organisers said would be a world first, Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Sunday as he unveiled a partnership with tech company iZettle.

Under the "Busk in London" programme, street musicians in the British capital will be able to accept non-cash payments with contactless cards, wearable technology and chip and pin.

"Now, more Londoners will be able to show their support to the capital's brilliant, talented street performers," Khan said at the launch of the scheme, calling the city "a powerhouse of music".

Charlotte Campbell, a full-time busker who has been trialling the technology for two weeks, said she had noticed a "significant" increase in contributions.

"I believe if street performers like myself don't adapt to the cashless society we are edging towards, we're at risk of becoming a dying art," she said.

The project allows performers to set a fixed amount of money to donate and accept contactless payments from passers-by.

iZettle and Busk in London have started rolling the feature out to performers across the city and the company said it would make it available to more charity organisations, NGOs and small businesses.
Arlington National Cemetery, Americas most celebrated and hallowed military resting place is rapidly running out of space, forcing a controversial rethink on which veterans should be eligible to be buried there.

The Virginia cemetery, founded at the time of the US Civil War, currently contains the remains of 420,000 former servicemen and women, among them assassinated US president John F Kennedy. It is also the location of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the focus of official remembrance events such as those of Memorial Day.

Rules concerning who is eligible to be buried there are reasonably relaxed. The cemetery says while eligibility regulations for burial at Arlington are the most stringent of all US national cemeteries, most veterans who have at least one day of active service and an honourable discharge, are at least eligible for the internment of their ashes.

Yet officials say at the current rate  there are currently between 27-30 funeral services each week day  the cemetery will run out of space in approximately 23 years. The army has been asked by congress to consider what can be done to extend the site as an active cemetery beyond 2041.

Officials have started a public discussion, asking for opinions and suggestions on how best to extend the cemeterys use.

It is an intensely sensitive topic. While officials have sought to try to buy more space to extend the cemeterys 624 acres, another proposal would be to tighten the rules regarding who can be buried there.

No matter how many years go by, I will always remember. pic.twitter.com/OtoMEAz5V7  John Towles (@J_Towles) May 28, 2018

The New York Times reported the strictest proposal being considered by the army would allow burials only for service members killed in action or awarded the militarys highest decoration for heroism, the Medal of Honour. It said under those restrictions, Arlington might conduct fewer burials in a year than it does right now in a single week.

Story continues

Last year, it was reported a deal had been done between the military and officials in Arlington County that would allow the cemetery to expand onto adjoining land and create room for an additional 50,000 spaces. That would extend the life of the cemetery by 10 to 15 years beyond 2050. Yet officials realise this in only a medium term solution.

The army said it is determined the public, and veterans and their families, have a say on the cemeterys future. Your opinion matters  not only to us, but to our military and civilian leaders as they face a difficult future for our hallowed national shrine, Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries, said last month.

Katharine Kelley, Arlington National Cemetery superintendent, said: We continue our promise to publicly discuss this challenge in order to make the correct decision, but we cannot expand our way out of this problem.

Officials point out that Arlington is not the only place for military burials. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 135 national cemeteries across the country, but Arlington is by far the most popular. Even as President Donald Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Monday, officials also recognise that if burials came to an end, the site would probably serve more as a museum than an active cemetery.

The idea of limiting eligibility is controversial. John Towles, a legislative deputy director for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), who represents 1.7 million veterans, has testified before congress that it would be wrong to go back on a promise made to all veterans that they could be buried at Arlington.

He believes burials should continue at Arlington at the current rate, and then a new cemetery established that would eventually become just as significant. His organisation has already identified other potential sites.

In testimony in March before a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, he said the only eligibility restriction proposal the VFW supported was to require a veteran buried there to have completed two years of active-duty service. That did not include those veterans killed in action.

He said: The VFW has an obligation to advocate for and preserve the integrity of the option best suited to do the most good for the most number of veterans. Restricting eligibility to a very small category of veterans is not feasible if the true goal is to provide those who deserve to be laid to rest in Americas most hallowed grounds the ability to do so.

Arlington National Cemetery and the Department of Defence have been contacted for comment.
More than 200 headstones in an Illinois cemetery were defaced with Nazi swastikas early Saturday.

The hate symbol was sprayed onto 200 headstones, two family mausoleums and another structure in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Glen Carbon, a cemetery official told the Huffington Post.

It came only days before the cemetery, where 1,600 veterans are buried, marks Memorial Day.

Trending: California Doctor Found Selling Homeopathic Ebola Cure On MP3 Files

GettyImages-460360288

Getty Images

Its just unfortunate that theyre doing it this time of year, because its Memorial Day. Thats a special day for us, the superintendent, Mark Johnson, told the News-Democrat, adding that events marking the day will go ahead.

Edwardsville Police Department announced Saturday via their Facebook page that they had arrested a 34-year-old white male in connection with their investigation into the incident.

Don't miss: President Trump's Memorial Day Tweets Offended Some Conservative Leaders

"Further information will be released after criminal charges are filed," the department said in a statement.

Police said the headstones had been defaced sometime early Saturday morning, before 7 a.m. Staff at the non-sectarian cemetery, which is about 20 miles east of St Louis, spent Saturday removing the swastikas from the gravestones, reported the KSD News network.

The incident comes as the U.S. experiences a surge in hate crime. According to a February report by the non-profit civil rights group the Southern Poverty Law Center, a 60 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents was recorded in the U.S. in 2016-2017.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government said on Sunday it had arrested the wife of top drug lord Nemesio Oseguera on charges of laundering funds for his powerful cartel that is blamed for driving heroin shipments to the United States. Known as "El Mencho," Oseguera has risen to become Mexico's most wanted drug lord after Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was extradited to the United States last year to face trial. His wife, Rosalinda Garcia, was detained by marines in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopon in the Western state of Jalisco, "without a shot fired" after a court ordered her arrest on organized crime and money laundering charges, Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete told reporters at a media conference. Navarrete said Garcia "allegedly administered resources" for her husband's Jalisco New Generation Cartel, considered by authorities to be the most powerful Mexican drug cartel, with operations in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia. In March, U.S. agents in Chicago named El Mencho public enemy No. 1 and blamed his gang for using "extreme violence" to expand their share of the heroin trade. The United States is offering $5 million for information leading to his capture. The Jalisco gang has challenged Guzman's Sinaloa cartel and other gangs in territories across Mexico over drug trafficking routes to the United States, fueling part of a surge in murder rates to the highest on records going back 20 years. The surge in murders, kidnappings and extortion has hobbled backing for President Enrique Pena Nieto's ruling party ahead of a July 1 presidential vote and helped fuel support for the leftist frontrunner, who is promising to curb violence by fighting corruption and poverty. Navarrete said nearly 1,800 criminals had been caught since late January with the launch of operation Titian Shield, a federal plan to reduce violence in hot spots around the country. He pointed to a drop in kidnapping rates in April and sharp decline in murder rates at the tourist resort of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula and Colima state on the Pacific coast. Yet, overall, murder investigations continued to climb in the first four months of 2018 to 8,900, up 17 percent from the same period last year, according to latest nationwide government data and Reuters calculations. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Michael O'Boyle; Editing by Alexander Smith and Richard Chang)
Actor Morgan Freeman spoke out again in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against him, saying Friday that he was devastated by the turn of events.

Several women accused the Oscar winner of inappropriate behavior, including lewd comments and unwanted touching, according to a CNN investigation.

I am devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye, by Thursdays media reports, Morgan said in a statement sent to media, according to outlets. All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard. And we need to listen to them. But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor.

Morgan Freeman has been accused of sexual harassment by several women. (Photo: Presley Ann via Getty Images)

Credit card company Visa and Vancouver transportation company TransLink (in a Visa promotion) suspended campaigns featuring Freeman after the accusations surfaced.

In the CNN report, one unidentified woman who worked on the film Going in Style in 2015 accused Freeman of repeatedly trying to lift up her skirt and asking her if she was wearing underwear.

Freeman initially apologized for unintentionally making anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected and reiterated those sentiments in part of his statement on Friday.

But, he added, I also want to be clear: I did not create unsafe work environments. I did not assault women. I did not offer employment or advancement in exchange for sex. Any suggestion that I did so is completely false.

A spokesman for Freeman told HuffPost on Saturday: We have no further comments to make at this time.

Also on HuffPost

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Keith Richards, Patti Hansen and Derek Blasberg pose at the launch of "Patti Hansen: A Portrait" hosted at the Gordon Bar at Sixty Soho on Nov. 12." (Photo by Yvonne Tnt/BFA)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 23: (L-R) Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis play ping pong at Clayton Kershaw's 6th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose on August 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Kershaw's Challenge )

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Former NY Giants player Victor Cruz and Kate Mara attend AT&T NFL Sunday Ticket 25th season kickoff party at The Blond at 11 Howard Hotel on August 23, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 23: (L-R) Sarah Hyland and Bryan Cranston attend Clayton Kershaw's 6th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose on August 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Kershaw's Challenge )

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 22: Simon Cowell and Kelly Clarkson attend the ceremony honoring Simon Cowell with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on August 22, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 22: Actress Regina Hall arrives at the premiere of Magnolia Pictures' 'Support The Girls' at the Arclight Theatre on August 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 21: Travis Scott (L) and Kylie Jenner are seen in SoHo on August 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 21: Rapper Iggy Azalea attends the Build Series to discuss 'Survive the Summer' at Build Studio on August 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Jennifer Lopez speaks onstage during the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Cardi B attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Camila Cabello accepts the award for Video of the Year from Madonna onstage during the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 20: Jennifer Garner Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on August 20, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Kylie Jenner on August 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Blake Lively poses outside the Crosby Hotel on August 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Janet Jackson and Daddy Yankee celebrate 'Made For Now' at the 44th annual Harlem Week on August 18, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS -- Episode 725 -- Pictured: Actress Jessica Biel arrives on August 16, 2018 -- (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 16: Zoe Kravitz is seen at 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on August 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 16: (L-R) Ruth Wilson, Lenny Abrahamson and Domhnall Gleeson attend 'The Little Stranger' New York Premiere at Metrograph on August 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 16: Oscar Isaac attends the 'Operation Finale' New York Premiere at Walter Reade Theater on August 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 15: Jordan Smith attends the Build Series to discuss his new album 'Only Love' at Build Studio on August 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 14: (L-R) Actors Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke attend the 'Juliet, Naked' New York premiere at Metrograph on August 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 14: (L-R) Actors Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Ken Jeong and Awkwafina visit Build Series to discuss the film 'Crazy Rich Asians' at Build Studio on August 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Desiree Navarro/WireImage)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 13: Katy Perry performs at Qudos Bank Arena on August 13, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/WireImage)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 13: Mandy Moore attends an Evening with 'This Is Us' at Paramount Studios on August 13, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: (L-R) Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jonathan Van Ness attend Netflix's Queer Eye and GLSEN event at NeueHouse Hollywood on August 12, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

INGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 12: (L-R) Vanessa Morgan, Madelaine Petsch, Camila Mendes, KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse and Mark Consuelos of 'Riverdale' accept the Choice Drama TV Show onstage during FOX's Teen Choice Awards at The Forum on August 12, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

INGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 12: Katherine Langford attends FOX's Teen Choice Awards at The Forum on August 12, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

INGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 12: Nick Cannon attends FOX's Teen Choice Awards at The Forum on August 12, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 12: Vanessa Hudgens attends The Celebrity Experience held at Universal Hilton Hotel on August 12, 2018 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 08: Actress Nina Dobrev is seen on August 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 06: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures and Gravity Pictures' 'The Meg' at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on August 6, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Singer Kelly Rowland arrives for the premiere of Focus Features' 'BlacKkKlansman' at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California on August 8, 2018. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 08: Executive Producer Amy Poehler of the television show 'I Feel Bad' speaks during the NBC segment of the Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 8, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 07: attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Crazy Rich Asiaans' at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on August 7, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 07: ETAF Ambassador and Co-Host Colin Farrell attends the House of Taylor dinner benefitting The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at House of Taylor on August 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for ETAF)

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Lava flow crossed onto the property of a Hawaii geothermal power station, posing a new hazard amid ongoing eruptions and lava flow in Puna on Sunday, May 27.

Residents were reassured that no release of hydrogen sulfide had been detected on the site of the plant.

According to the Hawaii Tribune Herald, lava has destroyed 41 homes and covered over 2,200 acres of land since the Kilauea volcano erupted on May 3.

This video, from Hawaiis National Guard, shows the lava flow in several areas, including where it entered the sea. Credit: DVIDS via Storyful
Warsaw (AFP) - NATO said Monday it will focus on five key areas from deterrence to modernisation and EU relations at its July summit, with measures to "manage" ties with an increasingly assertive Russia high on the agenda.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told lawmakers at the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Warsaw that the summit will also focus on projecting stability in border regions -- particularly in the south -- as well as burden-sharing.

Building on the alliance's 2016 decision to deploy battle groups on its eastern flank facing Russia, Stoltenberg said he expected leaders at the July 11-12 summit in Brussels to "make decisions on reinforcement, readiness and military mobility" of forces.

"Our deterrence and defence is not only dependent on the forces we have deployed, but it also very much depends on our ability to move forces quickly if needed," he said.

NATO member states have deployed around 4,000 troops to the Baltic states and Poland to counter the threat to the alliance's eastern flank, particularly since the Kremlin's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

With relations between Russia and the West at a post-Cold War low, the NATO chief also said he expected the alliance to reiterate its "dual-track" approach towards Moscow, "about deterrence and defence combined with political dialogue".

"Even if we don't believe in a better relationship with Russia in the near future, we need to manage our relationship with Russia," he added.

The 2018 summit comes against a backdrop of increasing concern about growing Russian assertiveness in the areas of cyber and so-called hybrid warfare.

- 'Hybrid warfare' -

NATO allies have accused Russia of using "hybrid warfare" techniques which include subversion, propaganda as well as cyber attacks, to undermine the West without triggering a full NATO military response.

Story continues

In a special report on countering Russia's hybrid threats, Britain's Lord Jopling told the assembly over the weekend that the alliance should consider a new collective "Article 5B" defence provision to trigger a collective response in the event of a hybrid warfare attack.

"The article would make clear that hybrid attacks would trigger a collective response from the alliance," the report said.

NATO's Article 5 collective defence commitment requires all member states to come to the rescue if any of their peers are attacked.

In March, US General Curtis Scaparrotti, the commander of NATO forces in Europe, said member states were working to determine when a cyber attack could be considered to have triggered Article 5.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday that Russia's planned Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline to alliance-member Germany "is a new hybrid weapon aimed at the European Union, the countries of the European Union and NATO.

Poland and Baltic state NATO members, as well as non-members like Ukraine, have warned that Moscow could use the pipeline to undermine their energy security.

Stoltenberg said that there was no consensus within the alliance on the issue and that it did not "have tools to do anything with that kind of energy project." 
Brussels (AFP) - NATO will on Thursday hold its first formal talks with Russia since the nerve agent attack on a former Kremlin double agent in Britain, as the alliance seeks to counter Moscow's increasing assertiveness.

Tensions between the transatlantic alliance and Russia have hit post-Cold War highs in recent years over Moscow's annexation of Crimea and more recently the attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury.

NATO vehemently criticised Moscow over the attack in March, the first hostile use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War Two, and expelled seven Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated international response.

"A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council will take place on 31 May 2018," a NATO official said.

"This is part of NATO's twin-track approach of strong defence and meaningful dialogue with Russia."

The meeting -- the seventh of the NATO-Russia council in the last two years -- will be held at the alliance's brand-new headquarters in Brussels and is expected to cover the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Moscow is accused of backing pro-Russian separatists in the restive east.

Transparency around military exercises is also expected to be discussed. At the last meeting in October, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members had challenged Russia over its controversial "Zapad" drills which caused concern in Poland and the Baltic states.

The meeting comes as NATO builds up to its summit in July, which Stoltenberg on Monday said would focus on five key areas from deterrence to modernisation and EU relations, with measures to "manage" ties with Russia a priority.

Last week NATO and the EU urged Moscow to take responsiblity for the 2014 downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine after international investigators concluded that a missile which destroyed the plane came from a Russian military brigade.

The NRC met regularly until the Ukraine crisis plunged relations between the West and Moscow into a deep freeze in 2014 but the meetings resumed in 2016 after months of debate within the alliance over whether it would send the wrong signal to Moscow.

US-led NATO has suspended all practical cooperation with Russia over its role in Ukraine but has kept political channels of communication open.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he will press German and French leaders next week to support his position that Iran should have no military presence in neighbouring Syria.

Netanyahu will travel to Germany and France for talks expected to focus on the US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal -- long sought by Israel -- and the Iranian presence in Syria.

He will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the June 4-6 trip. Netanyahu said he may also meet British Prime Minister Theresa May.

"We believe that there is absolutely no room for any Iranian military presence in any part of Syria," Netanyahu told senior officials from his Likud party, according to a statement from his office.

"These things, of course, reflect not only our position. I can safely say that they also reflect the views of others in the Middle East and beyond the Middle East. This will be the main focus of my discussions."

Israel has been pledging for months to prevent its main enemy Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where Tehran is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Earlier this month, Israel launched a large-scale attack on what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, raising fears of a major confrontation.

Those strikes followed a barrage of rockets that Israel said was fired toward its forces in the occupied Golan Heights by Iran from Syria.

Even before that, Israel had been blamed for a series of recent strikes inside Syria that killed Iranians, though it has not acknowledged them.

Israel argues the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear deal allowed Iran to expand its presence in the Middle East, both through its own forces and with proxy groups.

It also says the time limits on the accord do not guarantee Iran will not eventually obtain nuclear weapons, while it also wants to see restrictions on Iranian missile development.

Trump announced on May 8 that the United States was pulling out of the agreement, but all other parties to it -- Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia -- say the agreement is working as intended and want to stick by it.

Story continues

There have been concerns over the fallout from the White House decision and tensions in Syria.

Chagai Tzuriel, director general of Israel's intelligence ministry, told journalists on Monday he believed recent events were convincing countries such as Russia that allowing Iran to entrench itself militarily in Syria was not worth it.

Russia is also backing Assad's regime in Syria and Netanyahu has held a series of recent discussions with President Vladimir Putin on Iran's presence there.

Tzuriel said that if the opportunity is not seized on and Iran is not pushed back "we are on a collision course with Iran".
Madrid (AFP) - Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faces a no-confidence vote at the end of the week after a court ruled his governing Popular Party benefited for years from a large kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.

All major opposition parties are calling for Rajoy to step down after Spain's National Court last week ruled the Popular Party (PP) profited from funds obtained illegally through "an authentic and efficient system of institutional corruption" including a slush fund.

The court ordered the PP to pay back 245,000 euros ($290,000) and sentenced 29 people, including former top party members, to jail.

But the main opposition Socialist party which filed the no-confidence motion has yet to secure the 176 or more votes needed in Spain's fragmented parliament to oust Rajoy, who survived a no-confidence vote in June 2017 called by anti-establishment party Podemos.

The no-confidence vote is expected to take place on Friday after it is debated in parliament. Here are three possible scenarios following the vote:

- Deadlock -

The divisions among opposition parties offer Rajoy hope of survival but if he does remain in place he will be damaged politically and his grip on parliament will be even more shaky.

Rajoy's PP lost its absolute majority in parliament in the last general election in June 2016, and has relied on centrist party Ciudadanos, which has 32 seats in parliament, to pass legislation.

But while Ciudadanos, which is riding high in the polls, does not back the Socialists' no-confidence motion, it has said it would put forward its own no-confidence motion to trigger an election if Rajoy does not call an early vote -- an option the prime minister has already ruled out.

"Even if Rajoy survives this time, his government will no longer be able to pass any policies, and the second half of the year could see further attempts by opposition parties to oust him," said Teneo Intelligence analyst Antonio Barroso.

Story continues

"The country will effectively be in deadlock given that Ciudadanos is no longer willing to provide its support."

- Unstable Socialist government -

The Socialists plan to hold new elections if their motion succeeds but only after having governed for "several months", a party spokeswoman, former culture minister Carmen Calvo, said Saturday.

This would allow it to make "sufficient changes" in terms of "higher salaries and pensions, gender equality" and improvements to education, she added.

But the party has just 84 seats in the 350-seat parliament. Even if they are able to cobble together a "Frankenstein majority" to topple Rajoy that includes Podemos and several tiny regional parties, including Catalan separatists, they would be unable to govern because of their different priorities, said political consultant Ignacio Varela.

- Snap election -

Ciudadanos, which has come in first place in some recent polls thanks to its hardline on Catalan separatism, is pushing hard for early elections.

Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera repeated Monday that the corruption sentence against the PP has "liquidated" the current legislature.

Rivera added he was ready to discuss with Rajoy the legislature's "ordered end" by setting a date for new fresh elections, which he would prefer be held at the end of the year.

If this is not possible he would propose a new no-confidence motion that proposes an "independent candidate" to replace Rajoy instead of Sanchez who could secure final approval of Spain's 2018 budget and call fresh elections.

But parties need at least 35 seats in parliament to call their own no-confidence motion, and Ciudadanos has just 32 seats.

Fresh elections are opposed by the Basque nationalist party PNV, which opposes the arrival in power of Ciudadanos, which wants to reduce the privileges enjoyed by the northern Basque Country.

"We don't want elections...because that would be handing (power) on a platter to Ciudadanos," PNV president Andoni Ortuzar sand in an interview published Sunday in regional daily Diario Vasco.
Lagos (AFP) - Campaigners on Monday urged Nigeria to stop handing out millions of dollars to tackle unspecified security issues with no questions asked, arguing the practice fuels corruption and conflict.

Nigeria is facing widespread unrest, from Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency in the northeast to a resurgence of violence in a long-running dispute over land and resources in central states.

At the same time troops have been deployed to curb rising crime from cattle rustling and kidnapping gangs in the north, as well as to stop attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the south.

Nigeria's defence budget is estimated to be some $1.2 billion (1.03 billion euros) this year -- but Transparency International (TI) estimated more than $670 million extra is handed out annually without proper oversight.

Known as "security votes," the funds comprise cash payments made to designated federal, state and local government officials for discretionary spending.

They also dwarf recent and promised US and British security and counter-terrorism assistance, TI said in a report, "Camouflaged Cash: How 'Security Votes' Fuel Corruption in Nigeria".

"Nigeria would arguably not need such assistance if it curtailed the use of security votes and reprogrammed them into the country's formal defence and security budget," it said.

The group's head of defence and security, Katherine Dixon, called security votes "one of the most durable forms of corruption operating in Nigeria today".

Instead of helping to end conflict, they provided corrupt officials with "an easy-to-use and entirely hidden slush fund", she added.

"Corruption in the crucial sector of defence and security plays right into the hands of those who seek to sow the seeds of instability and terror," she said.

"It leaves armed forces under-resourced in the fight against Boko Haram and feeds groups who may destabilise the elections."

Story continues

- 'Siphoned off' -

President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler, came to power in 2015 after promising to end the Boko Haram conflict and stamp out endemic graft and impunity in government.

He argued that corruption had left troops without adequate arms and ammunition to fight the jihadists, who in 2014 had run rampage across the northeast capturing swathes of territory.

One of his first acts as president was to order a probe into the opaque practices of defence procurement, which led to the arrest of former national security advisor Sambo Dasuki.

Dasuki is accused of using some $2 billion in defence funds earmarked for the fight against Boko Haram to help bankroll Goodluck Jonathan's re-election campaign against Buhari in 2015.

TI has previously said that Nigerian former military chiefs have siphoned off more than $15 billion from the country's defence sector.

Last December, the government announced the withdrawal of $1 billion from Nigeria's Excess Crude Account -- the country's rainy-day savings fund of profits from oil sales.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said the money was not only meant to help end the Boko Haram conflict but also tackle other security challenges, without elaborating.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of planning to use the money to fund Buhari's bid for re-election next year.

TI said that the use of security votes had increased from 30 in the federal budget in 2016 to more than 190 this year, despite Buhari's promise of open government and anti-corruption.

"With the approach of the 2019 election, this abrupt increase should ring alarm bells for those overseeing Nigerian public spending," the report said.

TI said Buhari should curtail his government's use of the practice to demonstrate his seriousness about tackling graft.

It recommended that all candidates at next February's election should pledge to outlaw the practice and tighten legislative scrutiny of existing and planned expenditure.
MOSCOW/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday only Syrian army troops should be on the country's southern border with Jordan and Israel, after Washington warned of "firm measures" over truce violations in the region. Rebels control stretches of southwest Syria, bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while Syrian army troops and allied Iran-backed militias hold nearby territory. The United States has voiced concern about reports of an impending Syrian army offensive in a "de-escalation zone" in the southwest, warning Damascus it would respond to breaches. "Of course, the withdrawal of all non-Syrian forces must be carried out on a mutual basis, this should be a two-way street," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference in on Monday. "The result of this work which should continue and is continuing should be a situation when representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic's army stand at Syria's border with Israel," he said. Jordan said on Monday it was discussing south Syria with Washington and Moscow, and all three agreed on the need to preserve the ceasefire, which reduced violence since they brokered it last year. Israel has raised the alarm about Iran's expanding clout in the seven-year conflict, calling on Monday for its arch-foe to be denied any military presence in Syria. Washington has also demanded Tehran withdraw all forces under its command from Syria. "We believe that there is no place for any Iranian military presence, anywhere in Syria," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his parliamentary faction on Monday. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Thursday. This month, Israel said it launched intensive airstrikes in Syria after what it described as Iranian rocket fire from the south into the Golan. A senior Israeli official made clear that Netanyahu's government would not deem the exclusion of Iranian forces from the border region sufficient. "When you consider the advanced weapon systems - surface to surface missiles and anti aircraft systems - that the Iranians want to deploy in Syria, it becomes clear that they must be prevented from doing so in all of Syria and not only within a limited distance from the Israeli border," Chagai Tzuriel, director-general of the intelligence ministry, told Reuters. Moscow, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ally, brokered a string of de-escalation zones for insurgent enclaves last year, though fighting raged on in some. With the support of Russia and Iran, the Syrian army mounted an offensive on the eastern Ghouta enclave and seized it in April. The southwest region is home to tens of thousands of people and forms a center of the insurgency. Syrian state media has reported leaflet drops on rebel territory there urging fighters to accept government rule, and a UK-based monitor has reported army movements into the south - two signs of a potential military offensive. (Reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Maria Kiselyova and Tom Balmforth in Moscow, and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Ellen Francis; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - A Palestinian was killed by Israeli tank fire into northern Gaza on Monday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said.

It named the dead man as Mohammed al-Rudeia, 30, and said another man was wounded.

An army spokeswoman told AFP that two Palestinian men tried to breach the border fence "with the intention of carrying out an attack".

It said the pair were captured but other Palestinians on the Gaza side fired at Israeli soldiers, without causing injuries.

"In response we attacked with a tank a nearby lookout post," she said.

Eyewitnesses said the tank strike targeted an observation point belonging to an armed group.

A statement by Hamas's military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, hailed Rudeia as a "fighter", an accolade usually only given to its own members.

Separately Monday the health ministry announced the death of a Palestinian injured in clashes with Israeli forces.

Nasser al-Areenee, 28, was shot a "number of days ago" east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, the ministry said, without giving further details.

At least 121 Palestinians have been killed during weeks of unrest since March 30, when Palestinians began calling to be allowed to return to their historic homelands inside Israel.

The majority were killed during protests along the border, including at least 61 on May 14.

Others have been killed in air strikes, including on Sunday when three members of the Hamas-allied Islamic Jihad militant group were killed.

Israel says it is merely defending its borders and accuses Hamas of encouraging thousands of Palestinians to break through the border and attack Israelis.

The Jewish state has fought three wars with Hamas since 2008.
PARIS (AP)  President Emmanuel Macron on Monday lauded as a hero a migrant from Mali who scaled an apartment building to save a child dangling from a balcony, and rewarded the young man's bravery with an offer of French citizenship and a job as a firefighter.

"Bravo," Macron said to 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama during a meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace where Gassama also received a gold medal from the French state for "courage and devotion."

Gassama climbed five stories up the apartment building, moving from balcony to balcony, and whisked a 4-year-old boy to safety on Saturday night as a crowd below screamed. His actions went viral on social media, where he was dubbed "Spiderman"

Gassama said he has authorization to stay legally in Italy, which is where he landed in Europe in 2014 after a more than a year in Libya and a trip across the Mediterranean Sea. He came to France in September to join his older brother, who has lived in France for decades.

Dressed in tattered blue jeans and white shirt, the young man recounted for the president what took place after he and some friends saw a young child hanging from a fifth-floor balcony.

"I ran. I crossed the street to save him," Gassama told Macron. He said he didn't think twice. "When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing."

God "helped me," too, he said. "Thank God I saved him."

Gassama said he trembled with fear only after he had reached the boy, gotten him safely back over the balcony railing and taken him inside the apartment.

The father of the child was detained overnight for alleged parental neglect, and is to appear in court in September. He left the child alone while he shopped, then lingered to play Pokemon Go, Prosecutor Francois Molins told BFM-TV. The whereabouts of the child's mother were unclear.

"You saved a child. Without you, no one knows what would have become of him," the president said. "You need courage and the capability to do that."

Story continues

Macron offered to begin the naturalization process to make Gassama a French citizen and said, "Because this is an exceptional act ... we are obviously, today, going to regularize all your papers."

Macron is behind a bill toughening French immigration law, and he stressed there is no contradiction between rewarding Gassama for his act of bravery and working to prevent migrants from entering France illegally by stopping the stream of arrivals at its source.

"An exceptional act does not make policy," he told reporters later, vowing to maintain a policy that is "exigent, respectful of our principles" on asylum and "rigorous" regarding the migratory flux.

The special treatment for Gassama comes as authorities prepare to evacuate some 2,400 migrants from makeshift encampments in the French capital. The forced closure of the encampments is the subject of a heated debate between the Paris mayor, who wants to ensure the uprooted will be sheltered, and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, who was present Monday at the Elysee.

Gassama told Macron he was arrested and beaten during his long rough stay in Libya, "but I wasn't discouraged."

The French president said Gassama's actions made him deserving of special treatment. Working as a firefighter corresponds with his skills, said Macron, who opened the door for him to do just that.

"You have become an example because millions have seen you" on social media, the president said.

Another Malien, Lassana Bathily, was given French citizenship in January 2015, shortly after he saved lives by hiding people in a freezer and alerting police during a terror attack on a Jewish grocery where he worked.

___

An earlier version of this story corrected the 9th paragraph to use naturalization, instead of nationalization.
A U.S. team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to President Donald Trump, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place.

Both the State Department and South Koreas Foreign Ministry said the American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The border can be crossed simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for U.S. officials.

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced it could still happen. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the Norths stance toward the summit had been allayed.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, he tweeted Sunday. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!

South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in Panmunjom, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

The Korean leaders second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the worlds most heavily armed border.

Story continues

The talks, which Moon said Kim requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Korean summit, which he sees as the best way to ease the animosity that had some fearing a war last year.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim said hes willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a firm resolve to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements complete denuclearization.

What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization, Moon said.

During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the U.S. and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization, he said.

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the Norths state-run news service earlier Sunday, expressed his fixed will on a North Korea-U.S. summit.

During Saturdays inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-U.S. relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace.

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
Phil Hartman and his wife, Brynn, attend an L.A. event on Nov. 12, 1997. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Phil Hartman was known for making audiences laugh on Saturday Night Live, but his death 20 years ago, on May 28, 1998, was truly shocking, an incident that rattled Hollywood and devastated his fans.

Police determined that Hartman, 49, had been shot by his wife of 10 years, 41-year-old Brynn, as he slept in their $1.4 million Encino, Calif., home. Hours later, Brynn turned the gun on herself. They left behind two children  a son, Sean, 9, and a daughter, Birgen, 6  as well as many unanswered questions.

Hartman had left SNL after eight seasons in 1994 and was starring in his own show, cult-favorite NewsRadio. He also voiced the popular characters Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure on The Simpsons.

Phil Hartman, top left, poses with his Saturday Night Live co-stars on Oct. 4, 1993. (Photo: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

Brynn, a former model, was Hartmans third wife. She had struggled with addiction to alcohol and cocaine, having checked into rehab several times in the last few months of her life. Close friends told People magazine that she had begun to drink again days before the tragedy. Jeannie Petersen, identified as a lifelong friend of Brynn, said she had wanted a divorce for two years. Others say it was Hartman who wanted out, according to People.

On the night of May 27, Brynn visited a local Buca di Beppo with a producer friend, Christine Zander. She reportedly drank two cosmopolitans over two hours. She seemed content, Zander said. We made plans to see each other the following weekend. The bartender said Brynn promised to bring Phil to the restaurant with her next time.

Watch: Hartman as Bill Clinton on SNL:

But she and Phil argued when she arrived home.

He had made it very clear that if she started using drugs again, that would end the relationship, said his friend Steven Small.

Brynn shot her husband around 3 a.m. as he slept, once on his right side and twice in the head, with a .38-caliber handgun that he kept in a safe. She then went to a friends house in a panic and confessed. Brynn returned home with the friend, Ron Douglas, who called 911 at 6:20 a.m. As the responding officers were taking Birgen out of the home, they heard a gunshot. The police found Brynn, dead from a single shot in the head, in the bedroom with her husband.

Story continues

Friends of Hartmans, including SNL cohort Jon Lovitz, were understandably distraught. A visibly shaken Lovitz cried at a gathering hours after the news. I dont understand how this could happen, he said.

In the days that followed, Simpsons creator Matt Groening retired Hartmans characters from the show to honor his friends legacy. Saturday Night Live aired a tribute to Hartman, featuring his greatest sketches. Hartmans best bits included such characters as Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Frank Sinatra, Jack Nicholson, Ed McMahon, Frankensteins monster, and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. Hartman won an Emmy for his writing on the show, where he worked alongside Lovitz, Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller, Jan Hooks, Chris Rock, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, and Adam Sandler  who called consummate-pro Hartman the Glue, for holding the show together through multiple transitions.

Watch: Phil Hartmans SNL audition:

Gremlins director Joe Dante, who worked with Hartman on what would be his final movie, Small Soldiers, recalled that his friend was content before his death.

I have a plane. I have a boat. I have a great house. I have a great family. In fact, I have everything I ever wanted, Dante recounted Hartman telling him, per the Los Angeles Times. It feels great.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
A retired secondary school English teacher has corrected a letter she received from US president Donald Trump and sent it back to the White House.

Yvonne Mason, who lives in Atlanta and was a teacher for 17 years, said the letter would have barely passed and corrected its numerous grammatical errors.

This included 11 examples of incorrect capitalisation of words such as president and state.

If it had been written in middle school, Id give it a C or C-plus. If it had been written in high school, Id give it a D, Ms Mason told South Carolinas Greenville News.

She chose not to attach a grade to the corrected letter, which included Mr Trumps signature, and posted back to the White House.

Ms Mason argued the note  which was a reply to a note she had written about the Valentines Day school shooting in Florida which left 17 dead  was stylistically appalling.

She acknowledged the letter was likely to have been penned by a staff member rather than the president himself.

When you get letters from the highest level of government, you expect them to be at least mechanically correct, she said.

The teacher, who taught English at Hughes Middle School and Mauldin High School in Greenville for almost two decades before retiring last year, compared the billionaire property developers letter to those sent by the states Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

She said: Lindsey Graham, or his people, writes exquisite letters. I give him credit for that. They are far more on-topic. I understand the nature of form letters, but Grahams are written as if theyre addressing your particular concern.

Ms Mason said the White House response did not address her request specifically.

In her original letter, she urged Mr Trump to individually meet with the families who lost loved ones at the Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. The world leader previously held a listening session with student survivors of mass shootings, their parents and teachers in the State Dining Room at the White House.

Story continues

The Trump administration has been frequently mocked for its grammatical mistakes. The president has become famed for firing off rambling, inflammatory tweets  which include misspellings, typos and other linguistic errors  to his 52 million followers in the early hours.

Typos penned by Mr Trump on Twitter include the famous covfefe, misspelling President Obamas name as Barrack, rediculous and politicons.

The White House has also issued error-prone news releases despite Mr Trump bragging during his campaign for president that he has the best words.
Robert F. Kennedys son does not believe that Sirhan Sirhan fired the shots that killed his father and has demanded a new investigation into the assassination.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 64, told the Washington Post that he arrived at the conclusion after reviewing an autopsy and police reports, and spending three hours visiting Sirhan in a California prison, where he is serving a life sentence for the killing.

I got to a place where I had to see Sirhan, Kennedy Jr. said, but would not disclose the specific content of his discussions with Sirhan.

Trending: Russia Warns More U.S. Troops in Poland Could 'Lead to Counteraction' From Kremlin

I went [to the prison] because I was curious and disturbed by what I had seen in the evidence.

I was disturbed that the wrong person might have been convicted of killing my father. My father was the chief law-enforcement officer in this country. I think it would have disturbed him if somebody was put in jail for a crime they didnt commit.

Robert Kennedy was murdered in June 1968 as he was leaving a presidential campaign event in at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He had previously served as attorney general in the administration of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, who was killed by an assassin in 1963.

Don't miss: Trump Has Not Visited Middle East Soldiers and Bashes Obama, Who Did, on Memorial Day

Kennedy Jr. told the publication that he believes a second gunman was involved in his fathers assassination.

GettyImages-631414274

Getty Images

There were too many bullets, Kennedy Jr. told the Post. You cant fire 13 shots out of an eight-shot gun.

Most popular: Captive Dolphins 'Look Forward' to Play With Humans, Like Pavlov's Dogs

He said that several of the shots that struck his father were fired from behind him, but Sirhan was positioned in front of him.

In a 1969 Sirhan admitted to police murdering Kennedy, but said he had no recollection of the incident.

Story continues

In recent years Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism over his support for widely debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, and even met President -elect Donald Trump to discuss chairing a commission to assess vaccine safety.

However after Trump abandoned plans to review vaccines, in a move praised by experts, RFK Jr. blamed the shift on high level corruption tied to the pharmaceuticals industry.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
Rudy Giuliani is helping President Donald Trump push his latest FBI conspiracy theory, suggesting in a recent interview that former President Barack Obama and members of his administration knew about the informant Trump says was planted in his campaign to sabotage it.

As Giuliani sees it, if former National Intelligence director James Clapper and former CIA director John Brennan both knew about the alleged schemewhich he claims with absolute certainty that they didthey must have informed Obama too.

"Brennan and Clapper knew about it," Giuliani told radio host John Catsimatidis. "Brennan briefed him every day, Obama  well to the extent that he got briefed every day. You would have to have brought this up, wouldn't you? Gosh, I can't see how you would escape it."

Trending: Captive Dolphins 'Look Forward' to Play With Humans, Like Pavlov's Dogs

The president and those in his orbit began pushing "spygate" after the Washington Post reported that Stefan Halper, an FBI informant assisting with the Russia investigation, had contacted three members of Trump's campaign in the summer and fall of 2016, just before the presidential election. Though experts have said it's likely Halper reached out to Trump's campaign advisers as part of a nonpartisan probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, the revelations into Halper's activities gave rise to Trump's vehement belief of another FBI attempt to undermine him.

"Spygate could be one of the biggest political scandals in history!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday.

Don't miss: Ellicott City Flooding Pictures: Maryland Governor Declares State of Emergency After Severe Flash Floods

Trump went on to misquote Clapper in a tweet, falsely claiming that the former CIA director admitted that the intelligence community had been spying on his campaign.

Story continues

"Trump should be happy that the FBI was SPYING on his campaign," Trump mistakenly quoted. "No, James Clapper, I am not happy. Spying on a campaign would be illegal, and a scandal to boot!

The president was apparently twisting a quote from Clapper's appearane on The View, during which time he was asked point-blank if FBI officials were spying on the Trump campaign. "No, they were not," Clapper replied. "They were spying on, a term I don't particularly like, but on what the Russians were doing. Trying to understand were the Russians infiltrating, trying to gain access, trying to gain leverage or influence, which is what they do."

Most popular: California Doctor Found Selling Homeopathic Ebola Cure On MP3 Files

View host Joy Behar then asked, "So why doesn't he (Trump) like that?" adding that Trump "should be happy" that the FBI was investigating an attack on the country's democracy. He should be," Clapper said. "They are bent on undermining our system."

"Clapper has now admitted that there was Spying in my campaign," Trump later wrote on Twitter, falsely portraying Clapper's comments. "Large dollars were paid to the Spy, far beyond normal. Starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. SPYGATE - a terrible thing!"

Some top Republicans, however, don't agree. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham disagreed with the president in a Friday interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

A confidential informant is not a spy, Graham said, and Trump should "probably not" be using the term "spygate."

"I dont think its  I dont think hes a spy," Graham continued. "And I dont know who this person was."

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
Moscow (AFP) - Russia on Monday called for the harshest possible punishment after a visitor to Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery caused serious damage by attacking a famous 19th-century painting of Ivan the Terrible.

On Friday, Russian police arrested a 37-year-old man who used a metal pole to break the glass covering Ilya Repin's painting of the 16th-century tsar killing his son, damaging the work in three places.

Russia's deputy culture minister Vladimir Aristarkhov told a news conference the gallery on Monday that his ministry expects the man to receive "the most severe punishment possible".

Under current law, the man faces up to three years in prison.

"Three years is nothing compared to the value of this painting," Aristarkhov said.

"We would like to initiate a discussion on toughening up the punishment for the vandalism of art," Tretyakov Gallery director Zelfira Tregulova added, speaking in the Repin Room of the gallery where the crime took place.

Russian media said the man -- a builder named Igor Podporin -- vandalised the painting for "historical reasons" and later told police he acted under the influence of alcohol after drinking a shot of vodka.

The gallery's chief conservator, Tatyana Gorodkova, said the man did not appear intoxicated and bypassed four of the gallery's guards before throwing himself at the painting just before the museum closed.

She told journalists museum staff heard him "say something about how Ivan the Terrible did not kill his son."

She stressed that archival letters by Repin prove the painter did not intend for the work to be historical, but rather about "psychological drama."

- 'Unprecedented aggression' -

For her part Tregulova said she feared that Russians are increasingly "not differentiating artistic work from historical facts."

"The mixing of the two can mean that any artwork can be a victim (of an attack)," she warned.

Story continues

She called the act "a terrible crime against Russian and European culture" and said it exposed "unprecedented aggression" in Russian society.

"People think their point of view is the only one that is correct. They aggressively reject other points of view," she said.

Russia has seen several less serious attacks on art by ultra-patriotic groups in recent years, with many commentators blaming state media and officials for creating an atmosphere of intolerance.

The gallery showed photographs of the damage to the painting, which has been removed from the Repin Room for the first time since it was evacuated from Moscow during World War II.

The pictures showed three large marks on the tsar's dying son. Ivan the Terrible's face and hands, the most striking parts of the painting, were left untouched.

It was not the first time the painting has suffered such an attack.

In 1913, a man stabbed the work with a knife, ripping the canvas in three places. The artist Repin was then still alive and participated in the restoration of his painting.

Since then, the painting has been protected by glass.

Russian state officials have lobbied for the rehabilitation of Ivan the Terrible, who led Russia from 1547 to 1584 and earned the moniker "Terrible" because of his brutal policies including the creation of a secret police that spread mass terror and executed thousands of people.

He also killed his own son, most likely by accident during a violent rage.

In 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the story was a "legend" used by the West against Russia.

"Did he kill his son? Did he not? Many experts say he did not and that this was invented by the pope's nuncio who came to Russia for talks and tried to turn Orthodox Rus to a Catholic Rus," Putin said.

In 2016, Russia inaugurated a controversial monument to the 16th-century tyrant, the first of its kind, in the city of Oryol some 330 kilometres (200 miles) south of Moscow.
Moscow (AFP) - Russian police on Saturday said they arrested a man for vandalising one of the best known works of 19th century painter Ilya Repin, depicting Ivan the Terrible killing his son, at a gallery in Moscow.

Police said the man used a metal pole to break the glass covering Repin's world famous painting of the 16th century Russian Tsar, titled "Ivan the Terrible and his Son Ivan on November 16, 1581."

The Tretyakov Gallery said the work was "seriously damaged" as a result.

"The canvas has been ripped in three place in the central part of the Tsar's son. The original frame suffered from the breaking of the glass," the gallery said in a statement.

"Thankfully the most valuable part was not damaged," it added, referring to the face and hands of the Tsar and his son, the Tsarevich.

The statement added that the incident took place late on Friday, just before the museum closed.

"The man entered the already empty Ilya Repin room. He bypassed staff who were scanning the rooms before the closing, and hit the glass of the painting several times with a metal pole," the gallery said.

Russian state news agency TASS reported the man, a 37 year-old from the central city of Voronezh, did so for "historical reasons."

Police later released a video of the man, who said he acted under the influence of alcohol.

"I came to look at it (the painting). I went to the buffet in the evening, I wanted to leave. Then I drank 100 grams of vodka. I don't drink vodka and something hit me," the man said.

- Not the first attack -

Ultra patriotic groups have protested against the painting before, notably in 2013 when monarchists demanded for it to be removed from the gallery.

The gallery refused to remove it and reinforced security around the work.

It is not the first time the painting has suffered an attack. In 1913, a man stabbed the work with a knife, ripping the canvas in three places. Ilya Repin was then still alive and participated in the restoration of his painting.

Story continues

Since 1913, the painting has been protected by glass.

Russian state officials have lobbied for the rehabilitation of the medieval ruler's image, who led Russia from 1547 to 1583 and earned the moniker "Terrible" due to his brutal policy of oprichnina, which included the creation of a secret police that spread mass terror and executed thousands of people.

He also killed his own son, most likely by accident during a violent rage.

In June 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the story was a "legend" used by the West against Russia.

"Did he kill his son? Did he not? Many experts say he did not and that this was invented by the Pope's Nuncio who came to Russia for talks and tried to turn Orthodox Rus to a Catholic Rus," Putin said.

In October 2016, Russia inaugurated a controversial monument, the first of its kind, to the 16th century tyrant in Oryol, a city some 335 kilometres south of Moscow.
By Hyonhee Shin and Lesley Wroughton

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American and North Korean officials met at the border between North and South Korea on Sunday in preparation for a possible North Korea-U.S. summit, as North Korea's Kim Jong Un was cited as reaffirming his commitment to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Both Pyongyang and Washington are pressing ahead on plans for a summit after Trump pulled out of the proposed June 12 meeting on Thursday, only to reconsider the decision the next day.

"A U.S. delegation is in ongoing talks with North Korean officials at Panmunjom," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, referring to a village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that runs along the heavily armed border between North and South Korea.

"We continue to prepare for a meeting between the President and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un," she said in a statement.

In addition to the border talks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said a "pre-advance team" left for Singapore on Sunday morning to work on logistics for a possible summit.

Earlier on Sunday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he and North Korea's Kim had agreed during a surprise meeting on Saturday that the North Korea-U.S. summit must be held.

The weekend meetings were the latest dramatic turn in a week of diplomatic ups and downs over the prospects for an unprecedented summit between the United States and North Korea, and the strongest sign yet that the leaders of the two Koreas are trying to keep the meeting on track.

A U.S. official told Reuters that Sung Kim, the former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, would lead an American delegation to meet North Korean officials at the border. Pentagon official Randall Schriver was part of the U.S. team, the official said.

The Washington Post first reported that the team, which also included Allison Hooker, the Korea expert on the White House National Security Council, met with Choe Son Hui, the North Korean vice foreign minister.

Story continues

The Post said the meetings would continue Monday and Tuesday at Tongilgak, the North's building in Panmunjom, where the truce suspending the 1950-53 Korean War was signed.

In their Saturday meeting, Kim reaffirmed his commitment to "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to a planned meeting with Trump, Moon said.

"Chairman Kim and I have agreed that the June 12 summit should be held successfully, and that our quest for the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization and a perpetual peace regime should not be halted," Moon said.

Moon acknowledged Pyongyang and Washington may have differing expectations of what denuclearization means and he urged both sides to hold working-level talks to resolve their differences.

The United States has demanded the "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and has always couched its language in terms of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

In previous, failed talks, North Korea said it could consider giving up its arsenal if Washington removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Katanga Johnson, Doina Chiacu in Washington, Josh Smith, Soyoung Kim, Choonsik Yoo and Jeongmin Kim in Seoul, and Ben Blanchard and Elias Glenn in Beijing; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Frances Kerry)
A U.S. team has arrived in North Korea in order to prepare for the proposed summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, which the president recently pulled out of.

Both the State Department and South Korea's Foreign Ministry confirmed the team of officials had met at Panmunjom, a village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the Korean border, in order to discuss a potentially historic meeting.

Trump previously cancelled the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with Kim, focusing on the denuclearization of North Korea in a letter to Kim Jong Un. "Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," he wrote, but soon after suggested talks could still go ahead.

Trending: Fortnite Update 4.3 Delayed to Thursday, Week 5 Challenges Not Working

On Sunday (May 27), Trump confirmed in a tweet that the team of advisories are in the secretive state to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself.

He added: "I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!"

Among those in North Korea on behalf of the U.S. was Sung Kim, the veteran diplomat and current U.S. ambassador to the Philippines.

Kim, on-board to lead the pre-summit negotiations, was previously the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea between 2011 and 2014 and also served as the Special Representative for North Korea Policy in Washington.

Don't miss: NASA Reveals Unusual Reason Camera Melted 400 Yards Away From SpaceX Launch

GettyImages-853993044

NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images

His previous work as a U.S. diplomat has seen him work in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong. Having been born in Seoul, South Korea, he grew up in Los Angeles. He went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania as well as completing a law degree at Loyola University. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Korea.

Story continues

A former senior South Korean official told Reuters it is a good thing that Kim is part of the negotation team. Hes capable, level-headed, cautious, and has solid grasp of the issues and knows North Koreans well. But at the same time, he has healthy skepticism, the official added.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North Korean leader previously met on Saturday (May 26) to discuss Kims possible upcoming summit with Trump.

Most popular: Latest Photos of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Eruption: Residents Flee as Lava Advances Towards Homes

Discussing the Korean leaders' second summit in a month, Moon told reporters that he is willing to co-operate to end the hostility between the two nations.

"What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization," Moon said, reports the Associated Press.

"During the South Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the U.S. and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization.

The U.S. has frequently called for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
Ken Martin. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images (2), Jim Mone/AP, Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

After the contentious 2016 primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, Democrats at the national convention in Philadelphia voted to create a Unity Commission that would study the hot-button issue of the power superdelegates play in the nominating process. But with just five months to go before the party hopes to send a resounding message to President Trump in midterm elections, divisions on that crucial matter still remain.

Democrats will be best situated to defeat Trumps agenda if they have the trust of the voters and they have the trust of others who believe that this is a place for them to invest their time, energy and money, frankly, Ken Martin, vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told the Yahoo News podcast The Long Game. Thats why these reforms that are moving forward are important.  People need to have a sense that the parties that theyre working with are a place, and a good place, for that activity.

Like many Sanders supporters, Martin  who is also chairman of Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party  favors reducing the power of superdelegates. Though decreasing the number of unpledged superdelegates will decrease the partys institutional strength, Martin believes this gesture of good faith will increase the partys legitimacy in the eyes of voters.

About 16 percent of the 4,763 delegates to the 2016 Democratic convention were unpledged superdelegates; that is, delegates free to vote for whomever they choose at the partys nominating convention. Last December, the Unity Commission recommended that the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee vote to reduce the number of superdelegates from more than 700 to just over 300. That would cut the total percentage of superdelegates by more than half, from 15 percent to 7 percent.

The Rules & Bylaws Committee has held several meetings this year to deliberate over the Unity Commission recommendations and will hold one more meeting in June before making a final report to the DNC for a full debate at the partys summer meeting in Chicago in late August.

Story continues

Sanders and his supporters felt that Clintons establishment connections gave her an unfair advantage because they believed most superdelegates would vote for her regardless of what the primary result had been in their state. Thats despite the fact that in 2008, Clinton had a significant superdelegate lead over Barack Obama early in the primary process  until it became clear that a majority of Democratic primary voters preferred Obama, at which point superdelegates began moving toward him. The supers were helped along by a very deliberate and public campaign by the Obama campaign to highlight their role, which created more pressure on them to follow the will of the voters.

Nonetheless, Martin  who is a member of the Rules & Bylaws Committee  said he thinks the symbolism of reducing superdelegates is worthwhile. Unfortunately, its become a lightning rod, to the point that people feel like the process is rigged, people feel like the process is unfair, and that their voice wasnt heard in this process, he said.

Martin argued, in fact, that superdelegates were never even meant to reduce the voice of voters. The reality was actually to lessen [insider] influence and give more power to the grassroots, he said.

But Martins argument is at odds with the historical record. Elaine Kamarck, a fellow DNC member who is a veteran member of the Rules & Bylaws Committee, has written the definitive book on changes to the primary and nominating systems in the modern era, and her account directly contradicts Martins assertion.

The superdelegate category was created in part to counter the effect of binding public primaries, candidate right of approval, and the disappearance of unaffiliated delegates  a combination that has sapped the modern nominating convention of its ability to deliberate and perhaps save the party from a disastrous general election choice, Kamarck wrote in Primary Politics: How Presidential Candidates Have Shaped the Modern Nominating System.

Download or subscribe on iTunes: The Long Game by Yahoo News

Kamarck points out that Democratic reforms prior to the 1972 convention pushed most elected officials out of the convention delegate role and that Democrats were aghast at the results of the subsequent conventions and at the candidates the party nominated. George McGovern was crushed by Richard Nixon in 1972, and while Jimmy Carter won in 1976, by 1980 his presidency had so damaged the Democratic Partys brand that the party would not recapture the White House for more than a decade.

And so in 1981, the Hunt Commission created superdelegates to, in the words of commission chair Jim Hunt, return a measure of decision-making power and discretion to the organized party.

But most voters were unaware of superdelegates until the 2008 showdown between Clinton and Obama, and the sudden emergence of this feature of the Democratic primary system produced, in Kamarcks words, shock and anger.

Kamarck herself now supports the reduction of superdelegates, viewing the issue as a lost cause. You cant say to people who have grown up assuming that the voters make the decision on the nominee, Were not going to let you do that, she said on an earlier episode of The Long Game.

But Kamarck has not given up on attempting to rebalance the primary process to give party insiders more influence over the outcome. As Yahoo News has reported , while voters often see the parties as controlling politics, most reforms over the past half-century  with the Hunt Commission being one noteworthy exception  have reduced the power of the two political parties over and over. And many observers and experts believe the hollowing out of the parties and the suspicion of insiders and the establishment is a fundamental reason why American politics is so dysfunctional.

Kamarck proposed a year ago that the Democratic Party hold a convention before the primary voting begins to limit the number of candidates who can get on the ballot. That idea has not gained much traction inside the DNC, if any.

Despite the divisions that still remain, Martin is hopeful that Democrats can unite ahead of the midterm elections.

I believe that political parties matter, that they still matter. Theyre very important, and I would say, in a weird way, probably even more important now, as you start to think about the outlets for all of this energy out there, Martin said.

In fact, he said, if opponents of President Trump want to accomplish anything politically, they will have to move beyond simply resisting and begin investing time and effort into party organizing.

These resistance groups like Indivisible and Stand Up and Our Revolution and Swing Left, all these groups that have formed since Donald Trumps inauguration  theyve done a great job of resisting Trump and his policies and other Republicans who are following suit, Martin said.

But at some point, they need to channel that energy into really tangible electoral activity if theyre going to actually get power back from Trump and the Republicans, and to do that, the best place for that is two political parties and working in concert with our candidates up and down the ballot, he said.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
This dangerous and despicable action demonstrates yet again that the president is richly deserving of impeachment

Donald Trumps manoeuvres are no less odious for their shrewdness. Photograph: Czarek Sokoowski/AP

It is by now familiar that Donald Trump has turned organized lying into a first principle of governance. Michel de Montaignes observation that the reverse of truth has a thousand shapes and a boundless field could serve as the future epithet of the Trump presidency.

But this week the president has gone one step further. In forcing the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into whether Obamas FBI and DoJ infiltrated or surveilled our campaign for political purposes, Trump has demonstrated his power to create durable institutional realities out of politically charged falsehoods.

This is a disgraceful but not surprising assault on the independence and integrity of the justice department. The refusal or inability to tolerate the independence of law enforcement officials remains the source of Trumps most persistent problem. In firing James Comey for refusing to indulge Michael Flynns crimes and unwind the Russia investigation, Trump invited Robert Muellers appointment. Mueller, as we all know, has been looking into whether this firing constituted obstruction of justice. Now piling deflection on obstruction, Trump seeks to distract attention from his prior malfeasance by turning the tables on his investigators. They are the true criminals.

The strategy is not without its shrewdness. With his slanders parroted by the likes of Devin Nunes and Trey Gowdy and amplified by his satraps at Fox News and Breitbart, Trump has successfully eroded confidence in the neutrality of the independent counsel. A recent CBS News poll shows that a majority of Americans (53%) believed the Mueller investigation to be politically motivated. This most toxic and divisive of presidents has largely succeeded in turning justice into a partisan issue.

As a second matter, in demanding that the justice department investigate the bogus claim of campaign infiltration, Trump manoeuvred the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, into a perilous position. Rosenstein could have resigned out of protest, a result that certainly would have been agreeable to Trump, who despises Rosenstein precisely because he has largely refused to knuckle under to the president. As any possible future firing of Mueller would have to go through the deputys office, forcing Rosenstein to resign would perhaps pave the way for Trump to appoint an official more willing to do his dirty work.

Story continues

In point of fact, Rosenstein has not resigned. Rather, he referred the matter to the departments inspector general with the statement: If anyone did infiltrate or surveil participants in a presidential campaign for inappropriate purposes, we need to know about it and take appropriate action. This stopped short of launching a criminal investigation, still it handed Trump a victory. He has succeeded in investigating his investigators.

Trumps manoeuvres are no less odious for their shrewdness. His brazen attempt to discredit federal investigators by frontally attacking the Justice Departments independence is a dangerous and despicable attack on the rule of law that should be added to the ledger of the presidents impeachable offences.

Which does not make the attack criminal. Trumps firing of FBI director Comey arguably obstructed justice, a criminal act. Muellers investigation will shed light on this matter, though obviously not to the satisfaction of those who insist the president enjoys plenary control over all executive appointees and thus can fire whom he wants, when he wants and for whatever reason he wants  including to frustrate an ongoing criminal investigation of the presidents own activities.

But no such charge can be levied against the president here. In ordering the investigation of his investigators, Trump has committed no crime. No law bars the president from doing what he has done. Rather, we are in the world of norms, precepts essential to the functioning of a constitutional democracy.

In a recent article, the law professors Bruce Green and Rebecca Roiphe ask: Can the president control the Department of Justice? The question is a bit like asking: Can you drive 95 miles per hour? On one level the answer is clearly no. But on another, things are murkier; if there are no police around to stop you, you can drive as fast as you please.

In the presidents case, long-standing practice and long operative norms counsel that the president must respect the independence of the Department of Justice. A president who, for example, demanded that federal prosecutors file trumped up charges against a despised journalist would be guilty of a grave violation of these norms. But can he do it? We are back to our reckless driver. Who can stop him? Prosecutors might balk from following the directive; they could resign rather than do the presidents biding.

During the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon notoriously ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Both attorney general Elliot Richardson and deputy attorney general William Ruckelshaus resigned rather than execute Nixons directive. Cox was ultimately fired by then-solicitor general Robert Bork, but the fallout from what became known as the Saturday Night Massacre made impeachment all but inevitable, hastening Nixons resignation.

And so we are left with impeachment. We have grown accustomed to endless debates about the questions implicitly raised by the ongoing Mueller probe. Can the special prosecutor compel the testimony of the president by subpoena? Can a sitting president be indicted? Those who claim to offer unequivocal answers to these questions are simply making things up. The fact is, we dont know the answers because weve never had to deal with the issue directly. The idea that the constitution, in its lapidary formulations, offers clear instruction is utterly fatuous.

But all the talk about whether indictment can proceed or must follow impeachment creates the impression that a president can only be impeached for having committed crimes and not, say, for his relentless demagogic assaults on constitutional norms and on the rule of law. This is false.

Half a century ago, the great political thinker Hannah Arendt wrote: In constitutionally ruled countries, the political realm has recognized, even in the event of conflict, that it has a stake in the existence of men and institutions over which it has no power. This is a lesson entirely lost on our current president. And for that reason alone he has demonstrated himself richly deserving of impeachment.
Getty

Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy by using his nations Memorial Day to suggest those who died fighting for the country would be very happy and proud with his his performance as president.

Just hours before travelling to Arlington National Cemetery to speak at a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony, the president used Twitter to seek credit for the state of the economy and the low unemployment rate among people of colour.

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today, he wrote.

Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for blacks and hispanics EVER (& women in 18 years), rebuilding our military and so much more. Nice!

The comments by Mr Trump on a day that has been marked since 1868 to honour those who died while serving in the countrys armed forces, triggered immediate criticism. Many commentators said it was inappropriate for the president to try and score political points on such a day.

Former Army Gen Martin Dempsey, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the administrations of Barack Obama, said on Twitter: This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us.

John Kirby, a State Department spokesman in the Obama administration, called Mr Trumps tweet one of the most inappropriate, ignorant and tone-deaf things our Commander-in-Chief could have said on a day like today.

Nate Bell, a conservative Arkansas politician also known for controversial remarks, said Mr Trumps comment represented perhaps the most disgusting Trump tweet ever.

Memorial Day is a solemn day to reflect on the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, liberty & justice for all, he said.

Its NOT a Happy day nor is it a day to tout your draft dodging bone spurs self.

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

VoteVets.org, a veterans rights which says it has 500,000 supporters across the country, also condemned the remark.

Story continues

This is the most inappropriate #MemorialDay comment that a @POTUS has ever made. Self-promotion on a day to remember the fallen, and wishing those remembering their deceased loved ones a happy holiday is appalling, the group wrote on Twitter.

Neither Mr Trump or any members of his immediate family served in the US military. The president received five draft deferrals for Vietnam, some of which were for purportedly having bone spurs.

Col Cedric Leighton, a retired officer with the US Air Force, told CNN Mr Trumps ought not to have made his comment on such a day. He said Mr Trump also had no right to claim he knew what fallen veterans would have made of his presidency.

There has to be a separation of what you do on Memorial Day and what you do as part of your political behaviour, he told CNN.

Later on Monday morning, Mr Trump attended a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery, which is home to an estimated 420,000 fallen soldiers.

This is the most inappropriate #MemorialDay comment that a @POTUS has ever made. Self-promotion on a day to remember the fallen, and wishing those remembering their deceased loved ones a happy holiday is appalling. #CadetBoneSpurs pic.twitter.com/kRse4dnwiu  VoteVets (@votevets) May 28, 2018

We mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice, he told cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families assembled in the marble amphitheatre near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Associated Press said Mr Trump said he came to the sacred soil of Arlington, to honour the lives and deeds of Americas greatest heroes.

Mr Trump also laid a wreath at the tomb during his second Memorial Day visit as president.

At Arlington, Mr Trump said those who died for America, rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far, and are drawn from the full tapestry of American life.

He said they came from every generation, from towering cities and wind-swept prairies, from privilege and from poverty. They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, colour and of every creed, but they were all brothers and sisters in arms.

He added: And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country.
Its one step forward and two steps back as a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be back on track following last-ditch diplomatic efforts from southern counterpart Moon Jae-in. While the high-stakes meeting may proceed as planned, experts say its unlikely to live up to the hype as ambiguity remains about the definition of denuclearization and whether the U.S. can convince the Kim regime that it can remain in power after giving up its weapons.

South Korean President Moon met the North Korean leader Saturday for a second time at the border village of Panmunjom, a month after the pair convened there to proclaim a new era of peace on the peninsula. The meeting came after the two Korean leaders were blindsided by Trumps abrupt pullout Wednesday of a planned bilateral June 12 summit in Singapore, and was convened on Kims request, according to South Koreas Yonhap news agency. Moon told reporters Sunday that his friend Kim wants to make his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump a success, and had reaffirmed his commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Trump confirmed Sunday that a delegation of U.S. officials visited North Korea to make arrangements for the summit, after the State Department said that a team had been sent to the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, separating the North from the South. But experts are hardly optimistic about a breakthrough, even if the meeting goes ahead. Analysts tell TIME that Trumps volatile handling of the summit may have alienated U.S. allies and disrupted preparations.

Read more: Did President Trump Deliberately Sabotage the North Korea Summit to Save Face?

At this point, the chances of a Trump-Kim summit appear better than ever, said Adam Mount, a senior defense analyst at the Federation of American Scientists. But, he added, the parties have lost a crucial week of preparation in a schedule that was already rushed. There is little indication that the sides have agreed on an acceptable concept of denuclearization, which is necessary for the summit to make any progress.

Story continues

The U.S. defines denuclearization as North Korea giving up weapons in exchange for non-aggression assurances and economic aid. Whereas for Pyongyang it has always been about dismantling the U.S.East Asian alliance system, removing American troops from South Korea and Japan and dismantling the U.S. nuclear umbrella. The question of how the two leaders will reconcile this disparity remains unanswered, and Pyongyang watchers have long been skeptical Kim would relinquish his nuclear weapons.

A broad liberalization of the North Korean economy that involves the free movement of people and information is unlikely too, says Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy. However much Kim Jong Un wants to be a reformer, fundamental questions of survival outweigh that, Graham said, adding that Kims father Kim Jong Il faced the same predicament.

The best that can be hoped for from the South Korean perspective is that the North will agree to new bilateral projects, but I strongly suspect they will be subject to the same caveated zoned approach to development that Kaesong and Kumgang were Graham adds, referring to a joint NorthSouth Korea economic zone and tourism project developed under previous liberal South Korean governments.

But in forging ahead with direct diplomacy, Moon has brought South Korea and its interests into the middle of the frame after a year when much of the focus was on escalation between Washington and Pyongyang, says Stephen Power, U.S. Program Director at the International Crisis Group. He didnt give in to frustration, he gave Kim a platform to say some things about denuclearization that will play well in the U.S., and he again showed Trump the mesmerizing all-consuming media impact that a summit can have  something thats bound to appeal.

While resuming plans for the summit is no doubt a victory for Seoul, which has a lot at stake in the event of increased hostility, it may be that Kim has gained a big advantage from Trumps flip-flopping on their original plans. The North Korean leader could now continue to play nice in public but stall out the process behind closed doors, said Mount, ofFederation of American Scientists. Trump has ensured that he will take most of the blame for a failure of diplomacy.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday a U.S. delegation arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the summit with the countrys leader, Kim Jong Un.

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen! he tweeted.

The president cancelled the meeting, scheduled for June 12, on Thursday citing threats from Kim.

Based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting, Trump wrote in a letter to Kim on Thursday.

The decision came on the same day as Pyongyang reportedly blowing up tunnels used for nuclear testing. Just hours before Trump canceled the summit, North Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Son Hui issued a statement slamming Vice President Mike Pence over comments he made Monday, and threatened to cancel the meeting. Pence said the North Korean government could end up like Libya if Kim didnt make a deal on nuclear weapons.

Despite calling off the summit last week, the administration had left open the possibility of a meeting taking place  something one expert says the Hermit Kingdom desperately needs.

They need sanctions relief, Gordon Chang, author of Nuclear Showdown told Sunday Morning Futures. They certainly dont want the United States to take out their nuke and their missile facilities. And Kim wants legitimization, of course  meeting President Trump  and also, he needs a counterweight to the Chinese.

Related Articles
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump calls it "Spygate": the FBI, he alleges, infiltrated his 2016 presidential campaign at the direction of the then-ruling Democrats in an "illegal" operation he has now ordered the Justice Department to investigate.

There is no proof yet of Trump's allegation.

But the Federal Bureau of Investigation's long history of mixing in politics -- from the long reign of J. Edgar Hoover to Watergate and "Deep Throat" -- makes it a potent accusation that could carry weight with American voters.

Since its beginnings, the bureau has burrowed, stumbled and been pulled into US politics at the highest levels, facing perennial charges that it abuses its power.

- J. Edgar Hoover: ally and threat -

From the 1930s through the 1960s, legendary FBI director J. Edgar Hoover was a virtual nerve center of Washington politics, doing favors for some politicians -- and collecting dirt on others -- to ensure they worked with him.

Hoover operated as an ally of presidents and a threat to their enemies. Historical records show president Franklin D Roosevelt regularly asked him investigate rivals.

By 1960, he had files on more than 400,000 Americans, including much of the Washington elite.

"Politicians were terrified of Hoover," FBI historian Raymond Batvinis told AFP.

"He was often called on to obtain scuttlebutt on particular politicians. He did this routinely with presidents, all through his tenure."

Subsequent presidents reached accommodations. John F. Kennedy was wary, knowing Hoover had evidence of his affair with a woman with Mafia ties.

The FBI czar was closer to president Lyndon Johnson, who, according to Douglas Charles, a historian at Pennsylvania State University, got the FBI to spy on his own party during the Democratic National Convention in 1964.

- Watergate: FBI vs the president -

Hoover resisted when Richard Nixon sought to centralize intelligence collection in the White House after becoming president in 1969, Charles wrote in a recent essay for The Conversation.

Story continues

Hoover died in 1972, and Nixon's choice to replace him, L. Patrick Gray, promised a closer relationship. When the Watergate scandal erupted, Gray, as acting director, fed information on the FBI's investigation to White House aides.

But at the same time, the deputy FBI director Mark Felt, aka "Deep Throat", was surreptitiously leaking tips to Washington Post journalists, helping them break open the scandal.

Ultimately Gray's protection of the White House killed his nomination, after he admitted to destroying Watergate-related documents. Nixon, caught up in his own lies and coverups and threatened with impeachment, was forced to resign.

After Watergate, said Charles, FBI directors resolved to keep a greater distance from presidents, with the attorney general standing between them.

- Clinton's years in FBI spotlight -

That also made them a bigger threat. President Bill Clinton spent his scandal-plagued eight years as president under the microscope of a hostile FBI director, Louis Freeh. The tensions hit a peak in 1998 when the FBI had to take a blood sample from Clinton to see if the DNA matched semen on intern Monica Lewinsky's dress.

Ultimately, that led to Clinton's impeachment. But the FBI also emerged tattered.

In 2004, Clinton said Freeh attacked him to divert pressure over some serious bureau mistakes.

"I really do think he woke up one day and said, there's only one sure way I can get the Washington press and the Republicans off my back, and that's if I take a hostile position towards the White House, and he did," he said.

- 2016: Both presidential candidates investigated -

The 2016 election caught the bureau in its most politically charged situation of its entire history.

In a heated presidential race, it found itself investigating both candidates -- Democrat Hillary Clinton over the use of an unsecure private email server while she was secretary of state; and Trump, indirectly, over suspicious contacts between members of his campaign and Russians with links to the Kremlin.

Then-FBI director James Comey has been attacked from all sides for how he handled the parallel cases. The Clinton probe was made public in a way that she says doomed her campaign, and the Trump probe was kept secret, effectively helping him.

On becoming president, Trump appeared to seek the kind of FBI relationship presidents had in the Hoover days -- a transactional alliance. He asked Comey to pledge his loyalty, and end the Russia probe. When Comey refused, Trump fired him.

Comey was philosophical about it. "The statue of Justice has a blindfold on because you're not supposed to be peeking out to see whether your patron is pleased or not with what you're doing," he later told Congress. "It should be about the facts and the law."
The June 12 summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un is still officially off, but a U.S. delegation is on the border of South and North Korea working on preparations, a day after the president said his administration is looking for a way to salvage the event.

A U.S. delegation is in ongoing talks with North Korean officials at Panmunjom, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement, referring to the truce village in the demilitarized zone between the Koreas. We continue to prepare for a meeting between the president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Nauert provided no further details. The Washington Post reported that Sung Kim, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, is leading the delegation and met Sunday with North Koreas vice foreign minister, Choe Son Hui.

Trump told reporters on Saturday night that meetings were taking place as we speak in an location he didnt specify to advance preparations for the historic meeting he abruptly canceled last week  in a sharply-worded letter to Kim  due to open hostility from North Korea.

Were doing very well in terms of the summit with North Korea, Trump said Saturday night. Were looking at June 12 in Singapore. That hasnt changed, and its moving along pretty well. So well see what happens.

Kim, Moon Talk

Sung, a South Korean born diplomat, is a former nuclear negotiator and current U.S. ambassador to the Philippines. Allison Hooker, a Korea specialist on the National Security Council, is reportedly also part of the team. The meetings are expected to go through Monday and Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Trumps remarks came a day after South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a surprise two-hour meeting with Kim on the border in a bid to keep the Trump summit on track. Moon said on Sunday that Kim requested the meeting, only the fourth ever by leaders of the two countries since the Korean War.

Chairman Kim clearly appealed once again that his intent to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula is firm, Moon said. Whats unclear for Chairman Kim, in my opinion, is not his willingness for denuclearization but whether he can certainly trust the U.S. saying that itll end hostile relations and guarantee the security of his regime after his denuclearization.

Story continues

Separately, the White House said Saturday that an advance team will travel to Singapore, the planned site of the summit, to continue preparations  just in case.

South Korea is reviewing ways to address North Koreas security concerns, including turning the current armistice into a peace agreement, a senior Moon administration official said on Sunday. Moon reiterated a goal to hold a trilateral summit with both Trump and Kim to officially end the Korean War if their meeting is successful.

The second meeting between Kim and Moon in as many months reflects urgency among both men to maintain momentum for diplomacy. Since taking power last year, Moon has sought to facilitate dialogue between Trump and Kim to avoid the possibility of a devastating military conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

North Koreas state news agency, KCNA, said the Korean leaders had agreed to high-level talks between the two countries on June 1. They shared the opinion that they would meet frequently in the future to make dialogue brisk and pool wisdom and efforts, KCNA said.

Main Dispute

The main dispute between the U.S. and North Korea boils down to how fast Kim should give up his weapons, and what hell get in return.

North Korea rejected outright calls from U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton to follow the Libya model of quickly giving up its nuclear weapons before it gets anything in return. Libyan dictator Moammar Qaddafi was killed in an uprising several years later.

Moon on Sunday dodged a question on whether Kim clearly mentioned if he would agree to the U.S. demand for complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization.

If North Korea and the U.S. are to have a summit, then their summit is possible only after they confirm each others intention on that regard, Moon said. Id like to say that the fact that North Korea and the U.S. agreed to have a summit and working-level talks indicates that the U.S. has already confirmed the Norths intentions.

Keeping Nukes

Michael Hayden, who led the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency under Republican and Democratic presidents, said on ABCs This Week that a summit is more rather than less likely to happen. But he and Republican Senator Marco Rubio agreed its unrealistic to expect Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.

I remain convinced that he does not want to denuclearize, in fact he will not denuclearize, Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees. But he wants to give off this perception that hes this open leader, that hes peaceful, that hes reasonable.

Rubio called Kims willingness to release U.S. hostages and destroy a nuclear test site all a show.

Hayden said the most optimistic scenario for the summit is to reach an agreement to keep making the Korean peninsula more stable and less prone to war. He said Kim has already made great progress on nuclear and ballistic missile technology.

Hes kind of gotten where he needs to be, Hayden said. Hes willing to park the car for now and then go talk.

Denuclearization Flexibility

The White House has signaled flexibility over the details of denuclearization, with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying earlier this month that the administration will follow the President Trump model. North Korea seized on that in a statement on Friday calling for talks with the U.S.

North Korea inwardly highly appreciated Trump for agreeing to the summit, and hoped the Trump formula would help lead to a deal between the adversaries, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said in a statement Friday urging the resumption of talks.

Trumps letter to Kim canceling the planned June 12 summit didnt rule out a meeting in the future, said a person familiar with the administrations thinking. The person, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters, said the maximum pressure campaign to strangle North Koreas economy is working, and Kims regime will have to come to the table eventually.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Saturday to Stay Focused. Its about the outcome. Its about keeping Americans and the world safe.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States has asked the UN Security Council to add six South Sudanese officials including the defense minister to a sanctions blacklist for fueling the country's war and blocking aid, according to a draft resolution seen by AFP on Sunday.

The six would face a global travel ban and assets freeze if the draft resolution is adopted at a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The council will meet Tuesday to discuss the US sanctions proposal that comes as Washington has grown increasingly frustrated with President Salva Kiir's government.

South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, with critical backing from the United States, which remains Juba's biggest aid donor.

Countless efforts have failed to bring peace to a country now in its fifth year of a war where targeted ethnic killings, gang rapes and other atrocities have occurred.

The proposed sanctions blacklist would target Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juk for violating the latest ceasefire signed by the government last year and for leading attacks on the northeastern town of Pagak that was captured from rebel forces in 2017.

Also listed is cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro for threatening the press, obstructing humanitarian aid and impeding the work of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

Information Minister Michael Makuei is cited for his role in planning an attack in 2014 on a United Nations compound in Bor and overseeing a campaign to suppress the media.

Former military chief Paul Malong faces possible sanctions for ordering government forces to attack civilians, schools and hospitals and deputy army chief of staff Malek Reuben for overseeing an offensive in 2015.

The proposed sanctions list also includes Koang Rambang Chol for leading attacks in northern Bieh state and ordering his forces to impede the work of aid workers, according to the draft.

The draft resolution would also extend the sanctions imposed on South Sudan for another year and renew the mandate of a UN panel of experts.

Story continues

There are currently six names of senior generals and rebel commanders on the UN sanctions list.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013 when Kiir accused former vice president Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

In the years since, millions have been uprooted, triggering a regional refugee crisis, and millions more have been pushed to the brink of starvation, while tens of thousands have been killed.

The United States has repeatedly threatened to impose an arms embargo and sanctions against those blocking efforts to end the war.

In 2016, Washington failed to win enough votes at the Security Council for the arms embargo and targeted sanctions.

Ethiopia is leading a regional peace effort, hosting talks between the government and rebel groups but there has been no breakthrough.
Update | Presidential candidates Gustavo Petro and Ivan Duque have won the first round of elections in Colombia Sunday, according to local reports. With 99 percent of the vote in, Duque from the center-right-leaning party Democratic Center obtained 39.1 percent, or 7,5 million ballots; trailed by left-leaning Petro from the Colombia Humana Movement with 25.09 percent, or 4.8 million votes. This is the first time Colombians exercised their right to vote in a post-war period, after more than 50 years of internal conflict.

The official results slightly reflect the voters preference for weeks. Duque was leading the polls by 41.5 percent, while Petro had 29.5 percent. Coalicion Colombia party alliance candidate Sergio Fajardo ranked third with 16.3 percent; followed by Mejor Vargas Lleras Movement runner German Vargas Lleras in a distant fourth position with 6.6 percent; and Liberal Party hopeful Humberto de la Calle, with only 1.3 percent.

Claudia Lopez, Fajardos vice presidential running mate, believed her ticket had a pretty good chance at making it to the second round. Today we have reached this point trying to become the first alternative power in Colombia that doesnt belong to traditional families or political parties, Lopez said in an earlier conversation with Newsweek. We are sure that we can make it, our campaign is growing and we believe that Colombians will help us reach the second round where well defeat [Senator] Alvaro Uribes candidate, Ivan Duque, who is very likely to get to the runoff as well.

Trending: Russia Warns More U.S. Troops in Poland Could 'Lead to Counteraction' From Kremlin

The Colombian constitution stipulates that the next president should be elected by the so-called the half plus one, meaning that a candidate who surpasses the 50-percent threshold would assume power. If no candidate reaches this goal, only two candidates with the highest vote count are eligible to compete in a runoff, which will take place June 17. The president-elect will assume power on August 7.

Story continues

Sunday marked the end of the first round of a hotly contested race, in which all candidates have traded barbs in almost every presidential debate. Here are some of the challenges the top two winners will encounter.

ColombiaElections

LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

Corruption: Colombias Greatest Problem

Colombia has been mired in serious corruption cases in recent years. Corporate and government malfeasance have stalled progress in the construction, health care, energy and agriculture sectors. The most startling case comes from the so-called cartel of the gown, in which members of the judicial branch received bribes in order to influence the Supreme Court and Attorney Generals Office rulings. In light of these events, all presidential candidates have proposed a tighter control over campaign fundings, a merit-based process in the selection of judges and expand the bidding for a public contract so that other companies can participate.

After decades of an internal conflict, violence has been substantially reduced. On the other hand, corruption and inequality are on the rise, so the Sergio Fajardo Presidente campaign believes that corruption is Colombias greatest challenge, Lopez told Newsweek. Of course, corruption, violence and inequality are tied together, making Colombia one of the worlds most unequal countries.

Lopez added, Our best bet is to continue the path of violence reduction by improving security, justice and complying with the Colombian peace process [with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC]. More than 10 million Colombians are abandoned in border zones and forsaken regions, living under conditions of extreme poverty.

Colombias Peace Deal

Don't miss: Trump Has Not Visited Middle East Soldiers and Bashes Obama, Who Did, on Memorial Day

The fragile peace deal reached with FARC in September of 2016 has been one of the hot topics throughout the presidential race. With the arrest of demobilized guerrilla leader Jesus Santrich on accusations of drug trafficking, critics of the peace deal reached in Havana, Cuba, allege that the peace treaty needs modifications. Duque, for his part, believes that some changes on the pact need to be made, adding that guerrilla members who committed crimes against humanity should not aspire to congressional seats. Other candidates agree the peace accords must be respected.

The future of the peace accord hinges on whether Petro or Duque wins the elections.

Although the peace process is troubled and not widely supported in Colombia, it is likely that Petro or even Duque will stay within the parameters of the accord with the FARC, Michael Shifter, president of the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Inter-American Dialogue, told Newsweek. Petro, like Duque, will still have to face the mammoth task of effectively integrating FARC members into Colombian society and resettling the millions of displaced persons.

Other experts offer a slightly different view of what the accords would look like under the two leading candidates.

I would not trust that implementing the peace accord is Duques priority, and that is a big risk for Colombia. Weve come a long way and we cannot risk destabilizing the country in such ways, Andrea Saldarriaga, an independent analyst, told Newsweek. Gustavo Petro, on the other hand, has promised to implement the accord in full. But together with that, he has promised many other social and policy changes. It will be interesting to see how he will manage to implement all these campaign promises at a time of fiscal strain if he ends up being elected president.

SergioFajardo

JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP/Getty Images

A Divided Country

Colombias peace accord, which was rejected in an October 2016 plebiscite but ratified by Congress in November of the same year, even widened an existing political divide in the country. Hostility has increased among those who identify themselves as left-leaning or right-wing in recent weeks. If Petro wins, for instance, he will run into a political gridlock, given that the Congress is now controlled by right-wing forces, according to Reuters.

Most popular: Captive Dolphins 'Look Forward' to Play With Humans, Like Pavlov's Dogs

But if Duque clinches the presidency, experts believe that one of Colombias most polarizing figures will emerge as a significant player in Colombias destiny for the next four years: former president and current senator Alvaro Uribe Velez, who is also the leader of Duques party. A Duque presidency would probably have Alvaro Uribe playing a significant role in his administration, shaping key policy decisions and foreign policy stances and having a leadership role on legislative matters, Juan Felipe Celia, assistant director for the Washington, D.C.-based think tank Atlantic Councils Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, told Newsweek. If Petro wins, Uribe would continue to play a role he has excelled at for the last four years, that of opposition leader.

Roger Noriega, visiting fellow for the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute, told Newsweek that  there is a general recognition that the polarization in Colombia is unsustainable and most candidates will seek to address that in office. He also added, The question is, whether the losing candidates and the parties that are out of power will also be willing to work to address the polarization, or if they will exploit it as a means to regain power.

Venezuela

The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has spilled over Colombia, as 800,000 Venezuelans have crossed the porous border in the last two years. Many of them arrive penniless, hungry and in need or medical assistance, as Los Angeles Times recently reported. The recent victory of strongman Nicolas Maduro in a controversial election last week will likely represent an ongoing animosity from the regime toward Colombia, a country he accuses of destabilizing Caracas.

Venezuelas crisis has become a pivotal topic during Colombias elections. Many fear that left-leaning Petro will transform Colombia into a second Venezuela due to his affinity with the Chavista regime that has ruled Venezuela for over a decade since 1999. In a revelatory interview with Newsweek, Petro said that Chavez was not a dictator but Maduro is, and pledged to make Colombia more productive and supply Venezuela with more food. Duque, on the other hand, would assume a stronger position regarding Caracas.

It is notable that Petro has refused to recognize Maduros sham reelection last Sunday. Maduro is highly unpopular in Colombia, and any moves toward a Colombia/Venezuela alignment would deepen fissures in Colombian politics, risk continued cooperation with Washington, and put Petros domestic priorities in jeopardy, Shifter said. Duques rhetoric against Maduro will be much tougher than Petros, but he will also try to maintain a civil relationship with Venezuela and not let things get out of hand. Duque will not want to be a foil for Maduro as he pursues negotiations with the National Liberation Army [ELN], tries to live with a disarmed FARC, and deals with a flood of Venezuelan migrants/refugees. There is simply too much at stake.

Other experts believe that tensions with Venezuela will continue regardless of who wins. Now, every candidates approach to the issue is very different, and that will set the tone in the bilateral relationship moving forward, Saldarriaga said. The priority in my view will be that Colombia remains in solidarity with the people of Venezuela who are suffering the consequences of Maduros grip to power.

Colombia-Elections

JOHN VIZCAINO/AFP/Getty Images

Political Alliances

If Petro and Duque win the first round elections, as the polls predict, it remains to be seen who among the losing contenders will support the top two candidates. There has been some talk of coalition building that hasnt gone far because of ideological and political differences and I wouldnt be surprised if some of them do not explicitly endorse a candidate for the second round, Noriega said.

Shifter underscored that it is hard to imagine that any of these [losing] candidates would back Petro in a second round, especially if Duque can convincingly make the case that he represents a broad front.

Other analysts think that a coalition can be formed, depending on who wins. I would expect Fajardo and De la Calle to let their followers vote freely, rather than officially align with either Duque or Petro. They had already rejected an alliance with Petro during the first few months of the campaign, and it is hard to envision them campaigning for Petro in the second round, Celia said. On the other hand, Vargas [Lleras] would likely align with Duque in the second round. Uribe and Vargas [Lleras] already flirted with a possible alliance a few months back, and Vargass Cambio Radical party has enough seats in Congress for them to forge a Congressional alliance in a potential Duque administration in exchange for representation in several key ministries.

Finally, Saldarriaga summarizes what Colombias presidential elections look like today.  Sunday will tell how the chess players will reorganize. Colombia hadnt seen such a contested first round in quite a while.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
The note given to the vet - Volusia Co. Sheriff Office

A woman escaped from an allegedly abusive and armed boyfriend by passing a note to staff at a veterinary hospital, US police said.

Carolyn Reichle, 28, claimed she spent two days being held in a house in Florida and beaten by Jeremy Floyd, 39.

She eventually persuaded him there was something wrong with her dog, according to a police report.

The couple, and the dog, went to the DeLand Animal Hospital.

In a scribbled a message given to a worker Miss Reichle wrote: "Call the cops. My boyfriend is threatening me. He has a gun. Please don't let him know."

Officers arrived and Floyd was arrested and charged with domestic violence, aggravated assault with a firearm, and false imprisonment.

Jeremy Floyd, who was arrested at DeLand Animal Hospital Credit: Volusia Co. Sheriff Office

Miss Reichle later told police that Floyd had insisted on coming with her to the vet.

In the car on the way he pointed a loaded gun at her, threatening to kill her and her family, she claimed to police.

Police said she was treated in hospital for a head injury, black eye and bruised arms.

She told officers that while she was being held int he house they struggled over Floyd's gun

Officers late found two bullet holes in a wall at the house.

Police said Floyd was being held without bail.
Hodeida (Yemen) (AFP) - Yemeni government forces are closing in on the rebel-held port of Hodeida, the war-ravaged country's main conduit for humanitarian aid, the Saudi-led coalition has said, prompting the defiant militants to call for a "mass mobilisation" to thwart any offensive.

The Red Sea port has been a key point of contention since the coalition intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against Iran-allied Huthi rebels.

Hodeida is Yemen's largest entry point for aid on which millions depend, as the country teeters on the brink of famine.

But for the coalition, it is seen as the entry point for rebel weaponry, including ballistic missiles, which it accuses regional rival Iran of supplying although Tehran denies the claims.

"The Yemeni army backed by the coalition is around 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside Hodeida and military operations are ongoing," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said late Monday.

Speaking in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Maliki insisted the coalition's goal was to "cut the vein that the Huthis are benefiting from", while claiming a steady "collapse" of rebel positions.

His comments were met with defiance from Hamoud Abbad, the Huthi-appointed governor of the capital Sanaa, who called for "mass mobilisation" to defend the western front.

At a ceremony late Monday to commemorate the killing of a rebel leader in a Saudi air strike in April, Abbad called on tribesmen near Hodeida to "feel their religious and patriotic duty to protect their homeland".

On Sunday, rebel chief Abdul Malik al-Huthi said in a televised address that the Huthis were ready to thwart any military operation by the coalition on Hodeida.

- UN 'extremely concerned' -

The United Nations has warned that any operation aimed at seizing Hodeida itself would disrupt the entry of aid shipments to Yemen, 70 percent of which flow through the rebel-held port.

"We are extremely concerned about the situation around Hodeida," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Story continues

UN officials in Yemen and the region have "already started to take precautionary measures in terms of ramping up assistance and redefining contingency plans in case there is further escalation," he said.

More than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of aid, according to UN figures, and Dujarric warned increased fighting would leave more people displaced.

In November 2017, the coalition announced a total blockade on Hodeida in response to a rebel ballistic missile attack that targeted Riyadh.

That embargo was eased under international pressure, but the coalition has meanwhile set its sights on retaking Hodeida by land -- especially as rebel missile attacks have increased.

The United Arab Emirates, a key coalition member, has taken the initiative to ramp up the coastal offensive, leading a disparate collective of forces with the stated goal of taking Hodeida.

The forces include the "Giant Brigades" -- a former elite unit of the Yemeni army rebuilt by the UAE -- which has been at the vanguard of the offensive, reinforced by thousands of fighters from southern Yemen.

The second key force, the "National Resistance", are loyalists of Yemen's ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was assassinated by his former Huthi allies in December. The force is commanded by his nephew Tarek Saleh.

The third force, the "Tihama Resistance", is named for the Red Sea coastal region and made up of locals from the area loyal to Yemen's exiled president, Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The fighting in western Yemen has been fierce, slowed by landmines that Yemeni military sources say have been laid by the insurgents.

"With the battle for Hodeida, the conflict enters a new phase, but likely not an endgame," Peter Salisbury, a fellow at the think tank Chatham House, said on Twitter.

"The question for me is how long the battle for Hodeida will last and how much damage will be done to the most important port in the country. If fight runs into weeks/months and is extremely destructive... that's very bad news for ordinary Yemenis."

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led alliance launched its intervention in Yemen in March 2015.

In addition, more than 2,200 others have died from cholera and millions are on the verge of famine in what the United Nations says is the world's gravest humanitarian crisis.
IDF Spokesperson Ronen Manelis on Sunday warned the Palestinain Islamic Jihad not to "play with fire" after the terror organization threatened retaliation over the IDF's Saturday attack against Hamas posts in Gaza, which claimed the lives of three of its members.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



In a post he published on Facebook, Manelis reiterated that the strike targeted a Hamas military complex, and that it was carried out in retaliation to Palestinians infiltrating into Israel earlier in the day to plant an explosive charge along the border.

The controlled detonation of the explosive charge (:  ")

X

He concluded by stressing that the IDF takes every threat seriously, writing, "He who plays with fire puts himself in danger."

In a section in the post written in Arabic, the IDF Spokesperson added that the IDF sees Hamas as the sovereign organization in the Gaza Strip and as responsible for everything that happens in it, including along its border with Israel.

While not mentioned at the time of the attack, repeated attempts to damage Israeli security infrastructures near the border under cover of the protests Hamas organizes may have also served as backdrop for the strike.

The controlled detonation of the explosive charge (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

On Saturday, the army neutralized the explosive device placed on the border fencewhich it said was intended to harm Israeli forces operating in the areawith a controlled detonation, launching the attack just a few hours later.

Following the attack, an Islamic Jihad spokesperson said the terror organization "knows" how it will respond to "Israel's dangerous escalation" and stressed that they see such a response to be well within their right.
Insurgents excavated graves in a cemetery in a refugee camp in the Syrian capital Damascus in search of the remains of three Israeli soldiers who have been missing since Israel's invasion of Lebanon 36 years ago, a Syria-based Palestinian official said.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



Anwar Raja of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command said the bodies of the three Israeli soldiers, Zacharya Baumel, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz, who have been missing since a 1982 battle in Lebanon were transferred to Syria after the incident.

Feldman, Katz, Baumel (L-R)

Israel says that on June 11, 1982, five of its soldiers went missing in a battle near the Lebanese village of Sultan Yacoub close to the Syrian border. Several years later, two of the missing soldiers were returned alive to Israel in prisoner exchanges with Syria and the PFLP-GC. The fate of the remaining three is still unknown.

The Sultan Yacoub battle took place on the sixth day of the first Lebanon war, whose official name in Israel is Operation Peace for Galilee, in June 1982. Israel suffered 20 confirmed losses in the battle, as well as dozens of wounded. Six soldiers were unaccounted for, including Feldman, Baumel, and Katz.

Allegedly the tank from the battle

The fate of the other three were later uncovered: One of them turned out to have been killed in the battle and buried in Syria, with his body being returned to Israel after the war; another was captured by the Syrians and freed two years later; and the third was captured by a terrorist organization and freed via a prisoner exchange deal that took place three years later.

Last week, Syrian troops regained control of the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk from members of the Islamic State group after a month long battle. Before IS took the camp, several insurgent groups had a presence there including al-Qaida-linked gunmen.

Yarmouk Refugee Camp (: )

Raja said the insurgents' aim was to find the remains of the soldiers and transfer them to Israel. The refugee camp is home to the old Martyr's Cemetery where Palestinian fighters and commanders are buried. He said all tombs in the cemetery were excavated.

Raja added that Syrian security forces, while examining the belongings of gunmen being transported to northern Syria earlier this month, arrested a woman and confiscated two bags of soil she was carrying, apparently from the cemetery, and sent them to authorities for DNA analysis.

"This demonstrates that (the insurgents) are keen to determine whether the Israeli soldiers were buried in this cemetery," he said, denying reports that the bodies were ever buried in it.

The department in charge of Israelis missing in action, or MIA, in the Israeli prime minister's office refused to comment.

Rajas said IS and other insurgents dug up the past years' graves in search of the remains.
Palestinian media reports of several Palestinians injured in clashes with IDF forces operating in the al-Am'ari refugee camp on the outskirts of Ramallah.

In the camp, last week, a terrorist threw a marble slab at an Israeli soldier that critically wounded him.

The soldier, Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky, succumbed to his wounds on Saturday.

The man who killed him is still being sought by security forces.
The drone that infiltrated into Israeli airspace before being shot down by the IDF near the northern region of the Gaza border last week was carrying explosive materials, according to an examination of the device.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



In the latest violent incident between the Gaza Strip and Israel, IDF tanks fired at an observation post in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning. According to Palestinian sources, two peoplelikely members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihadwere killed in the strike, and one person was seriously wounded, who was later said to have succumbed to his wounds.

Exlposive device detonates on Gaza border, prompting IDF response (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The the incident, the IDF has issued a statement to Islamic Jihad warning it not to play with fire and is working to prevent any revenge attacks which have been promised by the group.

Since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Islamic Jihad has developed its own independent system within Gaza and made strides in its military capabilities. Moreover, the group has proven itself to be a bona fide threat to Israel, which was demonstrated by the fact that they were responsible for digging for the first time a terror tunnel from Gaza which succeeded in penetrating into Israeli territory.

Outpost struck by IDF after explosion (Photo: AFP)

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed last November that the Southern Command carried out a controlled detonation aimed at destroying the terror tunnel which was in the process of being built. The tunnel was located near the border fence with Gaza, near the South Gaza city of Khan Yunis.

In November last year, between 10 and 12 mortar shells were fired at an IDF outpost north of the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, prompting retaliation from the army

The shells followed earlier gunfire aimed at the outpost. The 10-12 shells that were fired fell in open areas nearby the outpost, and no one was hurt.

On Saturday, the army neutralized the explosive device placed on the border fencewhich it said was intended to harm Israeli forces operating in the areawith a controlled detonation, launching the attack just a few hours later.

Following the attack, an Islamic Jihad spokesperson said the terror organization "knows" how it will respond to "Israel's dangerous escalation" and stressed that they see such a response to be well within their right.
Thirteen Palestinians were injured at least five were arrested Monday in clashes with IDF forces in the al-Am'ari refugee camp on the outskirts of Ramallah during an operation to capture the terrorist who killed 20-year-old Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky last week.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The terrorist dropped a marble slab on Lubarsky's head, leaving him critically wounded. The soldier from the elite special operations force Duvdevan Unit succumbed to his wounds on Saturday.

He was laid to rest later the same day day as IDF forces intensified efforts to apprehend the terrorist who is still at large.

IDF forces in al-Am'ari refugee camp

Usually, the IDF encircles and besieges a camp after a terror incident occurs, sometimes partially, even if the terrorist has already been neutralized and arrested during the attack.

IDF forces in al-Am'ari refugee camp

This, the IDF says, is done to catch any potential accomplices the terrorist may have had, to prevent copycat attacks coming out of the village or camps by people who may have known the culprit, and to prepare for a raid on his home to gather evidence and testimonies against him.

The army refrained from doing so after Lubarsky was wounded because the attack did not seem deliberate. The IDF maintains that such protocols are used only out of operational necessity to catch terrorists on the run or potential terrorists, rather than as punishment for an attack.

Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky (Photo: Ronen Luvarsky's Facebook page)

Violent outbreaks by Palestinian residents of the West Bank during raids such as the one Lubarsky operated in are not uncommon, nor is it rare for them to throw heavy blunt objects at the soldiers in an attempt to drive them out of the village or to harm them.

In fact, soldiers are often peltedsometimes at close rangewith washing machines, refrigerators and heavy furniture when they operate in the West Bank's refugee camps.

Staff Sgt. Lubarsky's funeral (Photo: Amit Shabi)

Incidentally, Lubarsky's unit was in the camp to act as a covering force working in conjunction with another unit tasked with finding and arresting "several terrorists who carried out attacks in the past" by the Shin Bet.

While the operation had a specific purpose, it caused an uproar in the village which later deteriorated into a full-blown riot, with the army using crowd control measures to disperse rioters.

Lubarsky's family, friends grieving (Photo: Amit Shabi)

At the time, an IDF official announcing the incident remarked that "the terrorist who dropped the marble slab was not arrested. The force didn't open fire at the source because it didn't accurately identify it."
Syria's situation is improving. In fact, if we look back, its situation hasnt been better since 2011, when the civil war broke out.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



Last week, the regime managed to clear the pockets of resistance around Damascus, scored (neither with Iran nor with Russia) success in Daraa, where the revolt against the regime had begun, and most importantly, Syrian President Bashar Assad has learned how to maneuver between the Russians and the Iranians. He isnt bothering the Russians, and their army is helping him expand his rule inside Syria.

With the Iranians, who see themselves as part of the regime, things are more complicated. If Hezbollah does pull its forces out of Syria in the coming days or weeks, as reported, it could start a new story. For Israel too. According to sources in Syria, Hezbollah is already preparing to resettle in Lebanon.

Assad and Putin. As far as the Russians are concerned, there is no better president than him (Photo: Reuters)

Pay attention to Assad: Since the revolt against him broke out, his situation hasnt been this comfortable, although there is still a long way to go before he can declare sovereignty all over Syria. There are areas Russia has settled in, mainly the seaports, with no intention or plans to leave. And there are Syrian areas where the Iranian Gendarmerie has settled, directed primarily against Israel.

Its clear to Assad, just like its clear to the Russians, that Israels eyes are everywhere. As soon as it detects a movement of Iranian military forces, Israel does not hesitate to attack.

On the one hand, the Russians arent intervening and arent disrupting Israels aerial activity in Syria; on the other hand, they arent preventing the Iranians from operating inside Syria against Israel. But as long as Iran is in Syria, so is Israel.

In his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the main topic discussed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the Iranian involvement in Syria. Its unclear, however, if the Russians have any interest in informing the Iranians about Israels plans.

Its possible that Putin is keeping quiet, and its possible that hes relaying the comments as is, more or less, to the Iranian sideand you decide on your own what to do.

Assad and Rouhani. As long as Iran is in Syria, so is Israel (Photos: AP, EPA)

According to reports from Syria, the plan is to get the Iranian army to pull out. The idea is that Russia will remain in Syria alone. The question isnt just when, but also what form the Iranian presence in Syria will take in the future, and will this presence bother Israel.

Iran, for its part, has declared that it has no plans to leave Syria: Well remain as long as the regime asks us to. At the moment, they have 70,000 soldiers in uniform in Syria and others in plain clothes.

Assad doesnt need the foreign forces to pull out just yet. He understands the Russians are there to stay, and he has no interest in confronting the Iranians at this time. As far as hes concerned, the Iranians can continue their war against Israel from Syria. After all, he knows Russia is willing to do almost anything to keep him in power. As far as theyre concerned, there is no better president.

We should pay attention to the fact that for the first time since the civil war broke out, Assad has almost completely gotten rid of the Islamic State. The Turks are sitting on his tail here and there in the north, but not dramatically.

There are areas, mainly in the medium-sized cities, which still have forces from the Syrian opposition, but they are quiet these days. The Kurds are building a certain area for themselves in the north, but they might not survive, as the Syrian army could reach them too.

The United States, meanwhile, calling on the Iranians and Hezbollah to pull their forces out of Syria, and Assad isnt responding. Its not even on our agenda, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad stated.

Israel, until the next agenda, will remain a threat in Syria and continue its airstrikes. In the end, the assumption that Russia will broker the negotiations between Iran and Israel in the Syrian context may be fulfilled. After all, it has good relations with both sides.
The Be'eri Crater Reserve adjacent to the Gaza border is considered to be among the most picturesque tourist sites in the region, with its green landscape serving as a natural habitat for a variety of species of animals.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



During the winter, the nature reserve was covered by a blanket of multiple shades of green, interspersed with red roses in what was a symbolic testament to the success of making a desert bloom.

Drone footage of Be'eri Crater Reserve (: Droneimagebank )

X

In recent weeks, however, the greenery has been replaced by a blackened and charred landmass caused by incendiary kites flown over by Palestinian rioters from the Gaza Strip, whose latest weapon in their arsenal is wreaking havoc on southern residents and farmers.

On Sunday alone, 200 more dunams were incinerated by the kites which are affixed with Molotov Cocktails.

Since the kites were first used in April as part of what Gazans describe as the March of Return protests, the "aerial terror offensive" against the Israeli border communities has continued with greater vigor, including some 300 incendiary kites flown into Israel's territory, causing 100 fires and decimating more than 3,000 acres of wheatfields.

In addition, millions of shekels worth of damage has been caused to the farmers of the area.

Be'eri Crater Reserve in the winter (Photo: Yaakov Skolnick, KKL Archive )

With the new primitive but effective tactic employed by Gazas residents, Israeli firefighting services and security forces from surrounding communities are called to the area at least three times a week to extinguish the blazes intended to ravage southern agriculture.

In a video obtained by Ynet, the scorched remains of the once-blooming Be'eri Crater greenland70% of which has been consumed by the flamescan be seen more clearly from a birds-eye view.

Experts believe that the blazes have taken a significant toll on wildlife in the area, which could once hide between the grooves and rocks in the expanses, but have no refuge from the flames sweeping through.

Indeed, estimates say that thousands of lives of animals have been claimed, among them reptiles and turtles, which either burned to death or were suffocated.

It is clear to us that that time do its work, the rain will return and the blooming with be renewed, an optimistic Rafi Babiyan said, a security officer from the Sdot Negev Regional Council.

At the same time, to see the reserve burnt to such an extent, and to think that animals have been burned breaks one's heart, he added.

The crater lies between Kibbutz Alumim and Kibbutz Be'eri and all the residents are working to save it every time a fire breaks out. Residents from all the communities join the effort to stop fires from spreading, but the damage has already been done, he continued.

In light of the recent spate of incendiary Kite Terror attacks from Gaza plaguing their fields, Israeli farmers from the region announced Sunday that they intend to sue the Hamas leadership for war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
An Argentine woman leading Israeli tourists on a tour of marijuana-producing areas of southwestern Colombia has been kidnapped and then murdered by alleged FARC rebels, Colombian authorities announced Thursday.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The woman, 47 year old Berenice Blanco, and two Israeli tourists were kidnapped last Saturday while on a so-called "cannabis tour" the latter two took as part of their post-army backpacking trip.

They were travelling in the area of Cauca on Saturday, May 19, when they were abducted by armed men who identified themselves as dissidents from the Sixth Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an armed guerrilla movement funded by kidnappings and ransom, illegal mining, extortion and distribution of illegal narcotics.

Tour guide Berenice Blanco was kidnapped and subsequently murdered by FARC rebels

While FARC officially disbanded last year, offshoots of the movement are still active in the Latin American country's jungles.

The group released the Israelis three days later, but retained Blanco, demanding a $100,000 ransom from her family in Argentina.

Her body was recovered on Wednesday in the municipality of Corinto, Colombian authorities revealed.

After escaping captivity, the Israeli touristsOmer Yefet and Gal-El Yaakov, both 22expressed worries over the fate of Blanco, whom they called "Monica."

Israeli backpacker Omer Yefet

The two said she managed to save them by convincing the kidnappers that their families could not afford to pay their ransom. According to Yefet, the head of the gangreferred to as "el Patron" by Blancowanted 500 million pesos ($172,500) in exchange for their release, which he claimed was owed to him by the tour company that employed Blanco.

"Monica did everything she could to ensure that we were all right and to protect us in the process ... Unfortunately, I do not know what happened to her," Yefet said in an interview after his release. "It's not a situation where you can ask something, after you've been kidnapped for seven hours. When we left Monica, she told us with a smile, 'I know people who know how to get me out of this, everything is okay.'"

With "Monica"'s efforts, the two were released unharmed.

FARC members (Photo: AFP)

Blanco worked for "Colombia Cannabis Tour," a company offering visits to areas of narco crop cultivation in the Cauca area, which is frequented by FARC dissidents as well as members of the Gulf Clan drug trafficking operation, according to authorities.

Cannabis has been grown for medical purposes under state license in Colombia since 2015, but the marijuana fields in the Cauca region have traditionally been used to finance militant groups.

Cannabis farm in Colombia

Under a 2016 peace accord, FARC disarmed its 7,000 fighters and has now become a political party.

However, the government says some 1,200 fighters have rejected the peace process and are still active in drug trafficking and illegal mining.
The Israeli Hollywood actress Gal Gadot has been asked to host the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest set to be held next year in Israel, though the agency representing her said she cannot accept the offer due to a scheduling conflict.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



"Gal would be happy to host and take part in the Eurovision, but unfortunately, schedule constraints and previous commitments do not permit it," her agency, ADD, said in a statement.

Gal Gadot (Photo: Getty Images)

Israel is set to host the contest after Netta Barzilai won the 2018 competition earlier this month, netting the country its fourth ever Eurovision win.

It is expected to take place in Jerusalem but its official location will be announced by September by Public Broadcasting Corporationthe Kan 11 television networkwhich will produce and broadcast it.

Netta Barzilai (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Gadot had been a strong supporter of Barzilai during the competition, even urging her fans on social media to vote for her.

The Israeli movie star has seen a meteoric rise to fame recently as the star of the critically acclaimed box-office hit Wonder Woman.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that only Syrian government troops should have a presence on Syrias southern border, which is close to Jordan and Israel.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



Rebels hold stretches of that area and intensive Israeli airstrikes in Syria this month were prompted by what Jerusalem said was Iranian rocket fire from the area into the Golan Heights.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed Russia's assertion, though emphasized that Iran not only has no place in Syria's south, but in Syria in general.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (Photo: EPA)

"Our position on Syria is clear," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his parliamentary faction in broadcast remarks. "We believe that there is no place for any Iranian military presence, anywhere in Syria."

Russia and Iran are close allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Of course, the withdrawal of all non-Syrian forces must be carried out on a mutual basis, this should be a two-way street," Lavrov said at a joint news conference in Moscow with Jose Condungua Pacheco, his counterpart from Mozambique.

The result of this work which should continue and is continuing should be a situation when representatives of the Syrian Arab Republics army stand at Syrias border with Israel, Lavrov said.

Israeli Merkava Mark IV tanks on the border with Syria (Photo: AFP)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported Syrian army movements into the south and state media have reported leaflet drops on rebel-held areas there urging insurgents to accept government rule, two signs a military offensive may be coming.

Meanwhile, Jordan said on Monday it was discussing developments in southern Syria with Washington and Moscow and that all three parties agreed on the need to preserve a "de-escalation" zone they brokered last year and which has reduced violence.

A battle in Daraa, southern Syria (Photo: AFP)

A senior official who requested anonymity told Reuters the three countries that signed last year's deal to create the zone "saw eye to eye" on the need to preserve it as a key step to "accelerate efforts to reach a political solution" in Syria.

The trucethe first US peacekeeping effort in the war under Donald Trump's presidencyhas reduced violence in a particularly sensitive region that includes Syrian territory bordering Israel.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will leave for Russia Wednesday to meet with his counterpart Sergey Shoygu in Moscow on Thursday.

Lieberman will be accompanied by Military Intelligence Directorate's head Maj. Gen. Tamir Heiman, head of the Political-Military Bureau at Israel's Ministry of Defense Zohar Palti and other security system representatives.
An IDF force arrested two Palestinian terrorists Monday afternoon who attempted to cross the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip with the intention of carrying out an attack.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The Palestinians were found with knives, bolt cutters and an incendiary material on their person. The Israeli soldiers came under fire while the terrorists were being chased. No Israeli casualties were reported and the forces returned fire, killing at least one armed Palestinian.

File photo. Palestinians scaling the security fence (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

In retaliation for the infiltration, an IDF tank fired at a nearby observation post, with one person killed and another moderately wounded, as per Palestinian reports. It was initially unclear whether the post was manned by Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Monday's arrest marked an operational success for the IDF, after suffering several setbacks throughout the past week. In this instance, a force from the Golani Brigade and the Armored Corps's 7th Division captured the terrorists while they were physically on the fence, later pulling them into Israeli territory to detain them.

Border sector heating up

The border's sector has been something of a pressure cooker recently, with escalating Palestinian protests near the fence. It was reported Sunday that a drone, which infiltrated Israel about a week ago and landed near the fence in the northern strip, was examined by IDF forces and found to have been carrying explosives but the device failed to detonate.

In another incident, also from Sunday, the army fired tank shells towards an observation post in southern Gaza in retaliation to a charge placed near the fence and secreted away inside bolt cutters.

Neutralization of the drone's explosive device (:  ")

X

The IDF's strike killed three terrorists belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with the army girding itself for a possible revenge action.

Since the conclusion of Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the Gaza terror group developed an independent framework and considerable military capabilities, even succeeding in striking at Israel on occasion.

In one such instance, Islamic Jihad terrorists were the first to dig a terror tunnel crossing into Israeli territory.
IDF's Spokesperson's Unit said Monday two terrorists attempted to cross to northern Gaza border fence and execute a terror attack.

The terrorists were apprehended by the IDF with knives, cutters and incendiary material. During the chase the IDF's forces were shot at, there were no casualties.

An IDF tank retaliated by firing at an adjacent Palestinian observation post.
While many European companies suspended their business dealings with Iran amid concerns new sanctions will be imposed on the Islamic republic after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, the Asian juggernautitself a nuclear powermaintained its independent stance regarding any such sanctions.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



India only abides by sanctions imposed by the United Nations and not those imposed by any other country, such as ones announced by the United States against Iran, India's foreign minister said on Monday.

Iran's Hassan Rouhani with India's Narendra Modi (Photo: EPA)

US President Donald Trump this month withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and ordered the re-imposition of US sanctions against Iran that were suspended under the 2015 accord.

President Trump's statement on withdrawal from nuclear deal

X

But Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said New Delhi's position was independent of any other country.

"India follows only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any country," she said at a news conference in response at a question on India's response to the US decision.

India and Iran have long-standing political and economic ties, with Iran one of India's top oil suppliers. At the same time, India has a very warm relationship with Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (: ")

X

Later on Monday, Swaraj will meet Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who arrived in New Delhi to build support against the US rejection of the nuclear accord.

Since Trump's decision to abandon the nuclear deal, European states have been trying to ensure Tehran receives enough benefits to persuade it to maintain the accord. Iran is pressing Europe for a package of economic measures to offset the effects of the US pullout.

"It's better that European countries continue their current action to persuade America to keep its promises in the nuclear deal and for that country to effectively execute the deal in all its parts with good will and in a productive atmosphere," said Iran's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin said last week that the US's decision to pull out of the nuclear deal was unilateral and not useful. "American zigzagging on international accords following US elections creates distrust between countries," Putin said.

"We are prepared for a dialogue with Trump, but currently a meeting is not on the agenda," Russia's president added.
Human rights activist Jafar Farah criticized Monday the police and the commissioner's conduct on the backdrop of the police's announcement that the policer officer suspected of breaking Farah's leg is being made to take leave.

"I expect the police commissioner, the district commander, Haifa's police station commander and the Special Patrol Unit's commander to apologize to all the detainees who were beaten and humiliated," Farah said.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked on Monday introduced the "fair procedure" reform aimed at reducing false convictions and fair management of a criminal investigation, as well as amending a regulation that will allow suspects to record their interrogation and the prohibition of photographing suspects in the courtroom.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



"The significant disregard for the rights of suspects and defendants is a serious and ongoing failure," Shaked said at the 18th conference of the Israel Bar Association in Eilat.





Ayelet Shaked (Photo: Yair Sagi)

"The suspect's right to dignity and liberty is often trampled under the wheels of the criminal justice system," she added. "The serious disregard for the rights of suspects and defendants is a serious and ongoing failure, stemming from years of neglect that created a vacuum, and this vacuum can no longer exist."

"The right to dignity and liberty do not exist solely when a citizen is in his best of times, continued the justice minister. "The suspects, detainees and defendants are entitled to their rights particularly during their difficult moments, while the entire system is against them. They are entitled to their full rights even when they do not seem to be nice people and even when their innocence is questioned.

Panel session (Photo: Liav Peled)

"Prosecution and the police are committed to carrying out their work in the best possible manner and we will not harm their work. Both serious and petty crimes must be dealt with," the minister said. "At the end of criminal proceedings, it is quite possible that the system will find them innocent, but until then they are often treated as common criminals. It is time for the dignity and liberty of those who are in a criminal proceeding to receive concrete, detailed and enforceable legal expression within the specific arrangements that we legislators determine."

Shaked pledged to present the investigation procedures bill in the coming weeks, in an effort to standardize the rights of defendants and witnesses during an investigation. The bill will establish norms regarding the place, length and language used and the recording of an investigation. It will also include the right to sleep of someone undergoing an investigation.

Hayut, Effi Naveh, Shaked (Photo: Yair Sagi)

After the bill becomes law, Shaked intends to add clauses that would guarantee a defendants right to remain silenteven on non-self incriminating mattersas well as allow a defendant to record his investigation and to receive any recording, along with all the investigation materials.

The State Attorneys Office previously ordered such changes, but they have not been enforced for eight years, according to the minister.

The bill also intends to guarantee and extend the right to an attorney, which currently applies only to one who is under arrest, but not to someone under suspicion but not actually under arrest.

Mandelblit: Justice system under attack

In his own speech, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said that he wants to focus on moves that aim to harm various bodies of the justice system, primarily the Supreme Court and the law enforcement system and their independence. He warned against bills coming from the coalition, saying that they "block the search for truth."

AG Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Yair Sagi)

Regarding the investigation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said: We are working tirelessly on cases related to public figures. There are no shortcuts. We are dealing with human lives. The good of the investigation and of the truth trump all other considerations. When it is done, we will execute a thought out decision that will be made public.

The attorney general said that Israel faces grave legal challenges, referring to the initiative by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the deadly events on the Gaza border. Prosecution authorities and courts in various countries respect the Supreme Court's decisions in the State of Israel, and therefore harm to the standing of the Supreme Courtapart from significant difficulties on the domestic levelalso harms the state's ability to defend itself in international courts, he said.

Nitzan versus Shaked

State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan responded to Shaked's speech, saying, "I loved the speech, I loved the story In principle, most of what you say is acceptable to me. There is no doubt that the rights of defendants and of the accused must be upheld. We see this as our duty to protect the rights of victims of crime, of suspects and of defendants, but I think it is important to mention that there are victims of crime here.

Shai Nitzan (Photo: Meir Ohayon)

Nitzan also spoke about government corruption, mentioning the indictments submitted against ministers, the prime minister and heads of municipalities.

He expressed frustration that there is no public denunciation of convicted offenders and said that without such denunciation there cannot be change.

Nitzan compared the public attitude towards sex offenders versus corruption offenders and referred to former prime minister Ehud Olmert : "Even today, people convicted of serious public corruption are invited to television studios and conferences. Only recently, after his release from prison, an offender gave an interview while lashing out at justice authorities. Everybody was labeled with shameful epithets except for one personhe himself. Nobody stirred or made a fuss. This fact bothers me."

Esther Hayut (Photo: Meir Ohayon )

Hayut: Deteriorating public discourse

Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut referred to an episode in the "Uvda" television program, which dealt with the conduct of the judges at the conference: "This important conference may lead to embarrassing and inappropriate situations if we do not adhere to the rules applying to such meetings. As part of the lesson learning process, I emphasized that anyone who chooses to participate in these conferences must meet the required criteria in place. They must take proper care of our reputation as judges."

Hayut lamented the recent deterioration in public discourse in Israeli society, which she said had become crass. She blamed social networks for the trend. She said politicians are guilty, as well and many who do not exactly serve as good examples for respectful and practical discourse. She intends to have a committee examine the matter.

Miriam Naor (Photo: Yair Sagi)

Strong court a national interest

Chairman of the Israel Bar Association Effi Naveh referred to various attacks on the Supreme Court. "We are at a time when the court is under the most severe attacks. Knesset members turn to attacks on the court in order to get Facebook likes," he said. "You can criticize the court, but you cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater. A strong court is a national interest of the State of Israel."

He stressed that he is not referring to Minister Shaked, to whom he referred to as one of the best justice ministers in recent years. He also expressed satisfaction that the  override power " bill has not been advanced.

Other speakers also criticized the controversial bill including former Chief Justice Miriam Naor who said that the bill came into being as a political compromise.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will leave for a three-day visit to Germany and France starting next Monday, during which he will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the Iranian nuclear threat and the Islamic republic's entrenchment in Syria.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The premier is also said to be mulling continuing across the English Channel from Paris to London, to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

PM Netanyahu will meet with Germany's Merkel (L) and France's Macron (center), possibly also seeing UK's May (Photo: EPA, Reuters)

Before he does, however, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will leave for a working visit to Russia this coming Wednesday. Lieberman was invited by his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu after the two conversed this past weekend.

The meeting will take place Thursday, with the defense minister being joined by the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate Maj.-Gen. Tamir Hayman, head of the Defense Ministry's Political-Military Bureau Zohar Palti and other defense establishment officials.

Prime Minister Netanyahu outlined his upcoming trip at the commencement of his party's parliamentary group meeting, saying, "Next week I will leave for Europe. I will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with French President Emmanuel Macron and perhaps with British Prime Minister Theresa May as well."

"I will discuss with them blocking Iranian nuclear aspirations and Iranian expansion in the Middle East," the premier expounded. "I will present our positions as clearly as possible. We are already well experienced. For years we stood alone against these twin threats and I think that the situation has changed for the better. Of course I will present these matters as vital to the security of Israel."

On Syria, Netanyahu said, "We believe that there is no room for any Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria. And of course, this reflects not only our position; I can say with certainty that it also reflects the positions of others in the Middle East and outside it. This will be the main focus of discussions there."

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov seemed to support Israel's position on Syria (Photo: EPA)

Earlier Monday, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said that only Syrian soldiers should be stationed on the country's southern frontier, near Israel.

In so doing, the Russian diplomat may have been sending a message to Syrian rebels, still waging war against the Syrian army near the border, or it may have been a rare warning aimed at Hezbollah and Iran, whose presence near the border greatly perturbs Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu himself met Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, and expressed his concern at Iranian entrenchment in Syria.

"I have no reason to believe Russia will harm our interest," Netanyahu said after the meeting. "I told Putin it was our right to defend ourselves against Iranian aggression emanating from Syria."
PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed credit for solving a political crisis in Lebanon last year and stated publicly that Saudi Arabia had held Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri for several weeks.

Lebanon was plunged into crisis in November when Hariri resigned as prime minister while in Saudi Arabia, saying he feared assassination and criticising the Saudis' regional rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials accused the Saudis at the time of holding Hariri hostage. After international intervention, including by Macron, Hariri was able to leave the kingdom and eventually rescinded his resignation.

"If France wasn't listened to then there probably would be a war in Lebanon at this moment as we speak. It's French diplomacy, it's our action," Macron said in an interview with broadcaster BFM TV, visibly irritated after being asked if his foreign policy over the last year had achieved anything.
Several Sderot structures and vehicles were hit by machinegun fire from the Gaza Strip Monday evening, which triggered a Code Red alarm in Sderot and nearby communities in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. No casualties were reported.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The machinegun shooting came in the wake of several tense days in the border region, that saw several infiltration attempts by Palestinians followed by IDF retaliatory attacks.

A bullet casing fired from Gaza in Sderot

arrested two Palestinian terrorists attempting to cross the security fence in the northern strip.

The Palestinians were found with knives, bolt cutters and an incendiary material on their person. The Israeli soldiers came under fire while the terrorists were being chased. No Israeli casualties were reported and the forces returned fire, killing at least one member of Hamas's military wing while wounding another moderately.

The damage caused by the machinegun fire

It was reported Sunday that a drone, which infiltrated Israel about a week ago and landed near the fence in the northern strip, was examined by IDF forces and found to have been carrying explosives but the device failed to detonate.

In another incident, also from Sunday, the army fired tank shells towards an observation post in southern Gaza in retaliation to a charge placed near the fence and secreted away inside bolt cutters.

The IDF's strike killed three terrorists belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with the army girding itself for a possible revenge action.
The police have decided to put an officer suspected of attacking the head of an Arab human rights organization on compulsory leave Monday. The officer is suspected of breaking the leg of Jafar Farah, director of the Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel, during a Haifa protest surrounding events on the Gaza border.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The policeman was questioned several times by the Police Investigations Unit and was removed from his position for several days during the interrogation. A decision was then made to put him on compulsory leave while the investigation continues . Police said that when the results of the investigation are released, a decision will be made regarding further disciplinary steps.

Farah being arrested

It was also reported that the riot during the demonstration was being investigated. While twenty one suspects were arrested, among them Farah and his son, all the suspects have since been released.

In response to the decision, Farah said, "Three police officers attacked detainees in front of commanders and other policemen. Two of them threatened the medical staff at Bnei Zion Hospital.

"I expect police commanders and the political ranks to bear responsibility for the culture of lies and violence prevalent in the police force. I expect the police commissioner, the district chief, Haifa station's chief and the Yassam (anti-riot force) commander to apologize to all the detainees who were arrested, beaten and humiliated."

Jafar Farah (Photo: Ido Erez)

The policeman's family is furious at the latest decision. Attorneys Sami Ilia and Lior Binyamin, who represent the policeman, said, "Why was the officer placed on mandatory leave when the investigations findings were not yet issued?"

The officers associates added that they are stunned by the decision, saying they have proof that he was not involved in dispersing the demonstration and did not harm anybody.

After Farah's arrest, it took more than two days for the police to announce that his claims are being investigated. During his first remand hearing, to which he arrived on crutches, he told the judge, "On Friday morning we landed from abroad. I did not have time and plans to participate in the demonstration, but I educate my children to be involved. My son arrived there after 9pm, after videos had already been circulating from the area of the demonstration."

Haifa disturbance

I came looking for him because I realized that things were not going well. I saw that Yassam are surrounding the area. I tried to leave the area, and the Yassam men did not let me leave. They attacked the participants and arrested my son and my brother. I approached the patrol car and they shouted at me to get out of here, Farah said.

He continued, "I left the area and was arrested two blocks away I waited 20 minutes for the car while I was handcuffed. I got to the station and I saw 20 people sitting in one room on the floor. I asked where my son was, I was not even told to shut up, they just broke my foot. Everybody there saw, including the police present. It was hours before they took me with my swollen leg to the hospital.

"There too I heard the policemen threatening a doctor that they will summon him for interrogation. What would they interrogate him for, for declaring my leg being broken?"

The following day, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh commented on the affair and on the fact that prior to his arrest Farah appeared standing on his feet in a safe and sound manner.

"Have you never seen a person walk with a fracture?" he wondered. "We talk about chairs flying, a whole pedestrian street turned into a battlefield, throwing stones at policemen and blocking shoppers from entering shops. So obviously there was action and law enforcement activity or the use of force. Has anyone exceeded his powers? As it turns out, we know, as a police force, to deal with this matter and we will deal with it firmly."
Simcha Goldin, the father of slain IDF soldier Hadar whose body has been held by Hamas in Gaza since 2014, attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a rally Monday evening, saying Israel's soldiers and civilians will only be returned through actions, not words, and that "our government is short on actions."

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



"Oron (Shaul, a second IDF soldier whose body is held by Hamas), Hadar, Avera (Mengistu, an Israeli citizen held captive in Gaza since 2014) and Hisham (a-Sayed, another civilian held in Gaza) will not be returned with words. Draft agreements worth billions are currently circulating to rehabilitate and upgrade Gazaall of which serve Hamas and improve its weak position vis-a-vis its populace," the bereaved father accused.





Tzur Goldin (speaking) accused PM Netanyahu of conducting himself with cowardice and defeatism (Photo: Yuval Hen)

Goldin spoke before hundreds of supporters, who congregated in support of his cause in Petah Tikva while holding up signs bearing slogans such as "Waiting on Oron and Hadar."

Hadar's father then went on to say the agreement was making the rounds in Cairo's presidential palace, Washington's White House and the United Nations' New York Headquarters. Netanyahu and the Israeli government, however, never posited the fundamental demand of returning Israel's soldiers and civilians, he lamented.

Hadar Goldin's father Simcha said Gaza rehabilitation is not possible without an agreement on returning his son (Photo: Yuval Hen)

"It turns that out a ministerial team tasked with handling the issue of the hostages and missing personsthat included Netanyahu, (finance minister) Moshe Kahlon and (interior minister) Aryeh Derihas not convened since late 2016," Goldin revealed, adding the family intended to appeal to the High Court of Justice to demand the group resume operations.

Hadar's twin brother Tzur said no agreement in Gaza could proceed without Hadar's body being returned. "Everyone's talking about a solution to the Gaza problem. Returning Hadar is the solution to the Gaza problem. Hadar was barbarically kidnapped and has been held for four years in contravention of all international conventions and moral edicts."

"There can be no agreement without Hadar's return home. Humanitarianism for humanitarianism ," he concluded.

Goldin's mother Leah said soldiers should not be left behind (Photo: Yuval Hen)

Tzur Goldin also launched his own attack against the premier, saying, "The person leading this country is conducting himself with cowardice and defeatism. Humanitarian measures cannot be a one-way street. It's been four years, during which we've all been under threats and intimidation that insisting on soldiers' return will lead to terrorists being freed. Freeing terrorists is not the only way to return soldiers."

Goldin's mother, Leah, concluded by saying, "We are here to place values right back on the agenda. Soldiers are not left behind. Israelis look out for each other and we must bring soldiers to Jewish burial."
Expert Advice with John Lindeman:29/05/2018.

A long, long time ago (when animals could still talk), they held a competition to see whose babies were the most attractive. All the animals were proud of the way that their offspring looked, so each was confident of winning. They assembled in flocks and herds and made an enormous fuss as each parent showed off her baby.

Among them came a monkey, carrying her little baby in her arms. It was a hairless, pink, flat nosed, ugly little thing and when the other animals saw it, they burst into laughter. But, the mother monkey just hugged her baby even more tightly and said, You may award your prize to whoever you like, but I will always think that my baby is the most attractive of them all.

The moral of this story is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it offers a valuable tip for property investors. You may think that a certain suburb is unattractive, but thats not relevant. What matters is whether the people who live there think it is.

Risdon Vale is an outer suburb of Hobart and its also where Tasmanias maximum security male prison is located. Its not what most would call an attractive place. The area is dominated by massive walls skirting the jails perimeter, topped with coils of razor wire and the night sky is penetrated by floodlit guard towers and the howling of ferocious guard dogs.

Coupled with the constant threat of rampaging escapees running amok through the town, surely here is a place that could be called unattractive and deter any potential residents.

Yet, heres the thing, Risdon Vale has the highest housing rental yield in Hobart and its driven by genuine rental demand. The source of housing demand comes from the wives and partners of the inmates, who rent properties in Risdon Vale to be near their incarcerated loved ones for conjugal and family visits. The irony is that the higher the incidence of burglaries, murders and other serious crime in Tasmania, the greater will be the demand for rental properties in Risdon Vale.

Other examples are mining towns and ports such as Weipa, Roxby Downs, Mount Isa and Cobar which are located in regional outback areas. Even though they are typically hot, dry, dirty, dusty remote centres, they are extremely attractive to some people.

This is because they offer high wages for hard work. These towns give some people the opportunity to get a good financial start and others the chance to get back on their feet after a personal or financial set back. While many workers achieve their aim and leave after a few years, others find solid new friendships in the unique camaraderie of mining towns and never leave.

The importance for investors is not that you might find such places dirty or dangerous and that you wouldnt want to live there - what matters is whether they have attractions for others.

.................................................



John Lindeman is widely respected as one of Australia's leading property market analysts, authors and commentators.

Visit Lindeman Reports for more information.

He has well over fifteen years experience researching the nature and dynamics of the housing market at major data analysts.

Johns monthly column on housing market research featured in Australian Property Investor Magazine for over five years. He is a regular contributor to Your Investment Property Magazine and other property investment publications and e-newsletters such as Kevin Turners Real Estate Talk, Michael Yardneys Property Update and Alan Kohlers Eureka Report.

John also authored the landmark books for property investors, Mastering the Australian Housing Market, and Unlocking the Property Market, both published by Wileys.



To read more articles by John Lindeman, click here



Disclaimer: while due care is taken, the viewpoints expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Your Investment Property.
Short-term rental specialists MadeComfy has partnered with traditional real estate agencies Raine & Horne and Belle Property, that confirms short term renting is moving even more into the mainstream.

Short term letting through platforms such as Airbnb can be a profitable strategy for landlords, however, many homeowners are too busy or inexperienced to dive into this strategy.

MadeComfy, short-term rentals specialists who works across a range of booking platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Stayz to achieve returns up to 40% higher than the average, have signed exclusive property management partnerships with Raine & Hornes largest agency in Australia, Dee Why, and Belle Property agencies in Mosman and Neutral Bay.

Without changing their agency relationship, homeowners can now easily access short-term rental options while their homes continue to be managed by suburb specialists.

After carefully reviewing several emerging companies in the short-term rental space, we decided to partner with MadeComfy as we feel that both of our businesses are aligned in providing outstanding customer service and maximising the rental returns for our clients, said Peter Mosedale, Director of Raine & Horne Dee Why.

With Australias short-term rental market now contributing billions of dollars to the Australian economy, holiday letting is a trend that landlords are increasingly profiting from.

In addition to this new partnership, MadeComfy has also recently secured roughly $6 million in funding  the largest capital raising yet in the sector  with the latest round of investment coming from global investment bank, Investec, and existing investors.

MadeComfys growth and this new round of investment shows market confidence in a vital, growing industry, said MadeComfy co-founder Quirin Schwaighofer.

We are thrilled with this new investment from Investec. It shows confidence not only in our business model, but also the hard-working MadeComfy team who are committed to delivering customer excellence, he said.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, MadeComfy has helped many property owners, guests and communities maximise the benefits of the short-term rental industry. We are excited to expand this even further into new markets and with new products.

Related stories:

Three tax essentials for investors this EOFY

Sydney ranks among world's "contender" cities
News

Yuma, Arizona - Special Operations Detachment and Intelligence Border Patrol agents detected and apprehended 170 suspects near the Imperial Sand Dunes west of Yuma during a three-week Border Patrol operation between April and May.

Agents from Yuma Sectors Special Operations Detachment, Yuma and El Centro Sector Intelligence Units, with assistance from the CBP Air and Marine Operations apprehended a total of 145 foreign nationals who were being smuggled into the United States near the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Four of the subjects were Chinese nationals and three were Indian nationals. Twenty-five additional subjects, many of whom were United States citizens, were arrested for coordinating and facilitating human smuggling attempts. Fifteen vehicles involved were seized and three additional ones were returned to rental companies after the occupants were arrested.

Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony J. Porvaznik stated, The joint efforts between Yuma and El Centro Sectors and all personnel involved in this operation have made our country and communities safer for everyone. We are committed to enforcing the rule of law and dismantling the criminal organizations that victimize people throughout the world.

Yuma Sector SOD is comprised of certified special operations agents from the Special Operations Group; the Border Patrol Search Trauma & Rescue Unit; and the Border Patrol Tactical Unit. Agents assigned to this unit undergo an intense training regimen before being certified SOD agents.

Yuma and El Centro Sector intelligence units are responsible for prioritizing, analyzing and providing intelligence support through specialized teams and units that counteract terrorism and transnational crime. SIU enhances intelligence data collection processes ensuring U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Border Patrol objectives are achieved.
News

San Luis, Arizona - Border Patrol agents patrolling the area of San Luis, Arizona arrested a Mexican national with previous felony convictions of first-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree burglary early Thursday evening.

Yuma Station agents arrested the male subject at approximately 4:34 p.m. on Thursday after he illegally entered the United States two miles east of the San Luis Port of Entry.

During processing, agents identified the 50-year-old male from Jalisco, Mexico as Deonicio Torres-Salazar who has felony convictions of first-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree burglary out of La Grande, Oregon in 1993. He was previously removed from the United States through the Del Rio, Texas Port of Entry in September 2017. After further questioning, Salazar stated he was traveling to San Luis, Arizona.

Salazar has been charged with re-entry after deportation.
News

Kansas City, Kansas - Adam W. Purinton, of Olathe, Kansas, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to hate crime and firearm charges for shooting Indian nationals Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani and Kansas resident Ian Grillot at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe February 2017, announced Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio of the Department of Justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister of the District of Kansas. Purinton previously pleaded guilty to state charges for murder and attempted murder arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to life in state prison.

Purinton admitted in his plea agreement and testified in open court that the following is an accurate recitation of the facts supporting the crimes for which he pleaded guilty.

A few weeks before the shooting, Purinton was sitting by himself in the bar area at Austins Bar & Grill when, coincidentally, Kuchibhotla and Madasani happened to be having a drink on the patio. Noticing the two men, Purinton commented to a regular sitting at the bar, Did you see the terrorists on the patio?

On Feb. 22, 2017, Purinton drove to Austins Bar & Grill and sat by himself at a table on the enclosed front patio. Sitting at the table to his left were Ian Grillot and several other patrons. Sitting at the table to his right were Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani.

At approximately 6:40 p.m., Purinton approached Kuchibhotla and Madasani, and demanded to know where they were from and how they entered the country. Purinton poked Kuchibhotla in the chest, called him a terrorist and an epithet disparaging persons of Middle Eastern descent, and shouted, Get out of my country! Ian Grillot and another patron interceded, told Purinton that he needed to leave, and escorted him out of the bar.

Purinton drove home and retrieved one of his guns: a Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol with serial number TEW13121. To disguise his identity, Purinton changed into a different shirt and grabbed a blue-and-white scarf.

At approximately 7:12 p.m., Purinton returned to Austins Bar & Grill. He wrapped the scarf around his face to disguise his identity and exited his truck carrying his semi-automatic pistol. Purinton walked over to the enclosed front patio, opened the door, aimed his semi-automatic pistol at Kuchibhotla and Madasani, and fired eight roundsat least four of which struck Kuchibhotla, who died from his injuries, and one of which struck Madasani, who was injured, but survived. Hours after the shooting, Purinton stated over the phone to a friend, and later in person to a bartender, that he had just killed some Iranians.

Purinton admitted that he shot Kuchibhotla and Madasani, attempting to kill both men, because of their race, color, religion, and national origin.

After shooting Kuchibhotla and Madasani, Purinton ran out, and Ian Grillot chased after him. As Grillot caught up to him, Purinton turned around and shot Grillot, who was injured but survived.

Purinton faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, which is the sentence that the prosecution and defense are jointly requesting. Sentencing is scheduled for July 2.

Hate crimes are acts of evil, and the Department of Justice has prioritized their zealous prosecution, said Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. In this case, the defendant embarked on a murderous rampage with clear premeditation to kill on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin. It was a hate crime, and he is being brought to justice. While we cannot ameliorate the irreparable harm to the victims and their families, we hope that securing this guilty plea brings them some measure of closure. And this prosecution sends a message across the nation: hate crimes will not be tolerated.

Nothing we do can provide complete comfort and solace to the victims of this tragic crime and their families, said U.S. Attorney McAllister. But our office hopes that the federal life sentence which Mr. Purinton has agreed to request and accept will give them some measure of closure.

Although Purinton has already been convicted of murder in the State of Kansas, and sentenced to life in prison, todays plea in federal court speaks to his motive, said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones. By his agreement to todays plea, Purinton acknowledges that his actions were motived by his hatred of the victims race, religion, color and national origin. This type of hatred will never be tolerated. I think its important for the community to see and understand that the FBI is committed to aggressively protecting and preserving the civil rights of all of our communities.

This case was investigated jointly by the Olathe (KS) Police Department and the Kansas City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tris Hunt and David Zabel of the District of Kansas, and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Monday, Jose Manuel Lara, Jr., 20, of Camp Verde, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The original sentence of 45 months was reduced by nine months to reflect credit for time Lara Jr., served in tribal custody for the same offense. Lara, Jr. had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

On June 25, 2017, Lara, Jr., an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, assaulted the victim, also a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, by running him over with a vehicle. The victim suffered serious bodily injury and required multiple surgeries.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yavapai-Apache Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Border News

Wellton, Arizona - Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate-8 Immigration Checkpoint arrested a naturalized citizen, originally born in Mexico, for attempting to smuggle heroin early Tuesday.

At approximately 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Wellton Station agents sent a gold Chrysler PT Cruiser to the secondary inspection area after a positive K-9 alert in the primary lane. During a subsequent search, agents discovered a fake battery in the engine compartment that held nearly 8 pounds of heroin in three separate packages. The narcotics are worth more than $134,000.

During processing, agents identified the 60-year-old man as a Somerton, Arizona resident.

The heroin was seized and the subject was arrested.
Border News

Nogales, Arizona - Nogales Station Border Patrol agents apprehended a male Honduran national Wednesday morning after he re-entered the U.S. illegally west of Nogales.

After arresting 26-year-old Miguel Ayala-Escoto, agents transported him to the Nogales Station for processing, which included fingerprinting and a criminal records check. As a result, agents learned Ayala was convicted in 2017 for sexual battery in Robertson County, Tennessee, and removed from the country in early 2018.

Ayala now faces prosecution for immigration violations including re-entry as a felon.

All persons apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure illegal immigrants with criminal histories are positively identified.
Border News

Lukeville, California - Casa Grande Station Border Patrol agents apprehended a male Guatemalan national Tuesday evening after he re-entered the U.S. illegally east of Lukeville. Agents arrested 49-year-old Oscar Morales-Sosa and transported him to the Casa Grande Station for processing.

During a subsequent fingerprint and criminal records check, agents discovered he was convicted in 2010 for Lewd or Lascivious Acts with a child in Los Angeles, California, and sentenced to three years in prison. Later in 2013, Morales was convicted again for Lewd or Lascivious Acts with a child and sentenced to more than three years in prison.

Morales now faces prosecution for immigration violations including re-entry as a felon.

All persons apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure illegal immigrants with criminal histories are positively identified.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint arrest a lawful permanent resident alien, born in Mexico, for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine early Thursday.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Wellton Station agents sent a red 2012 Ford F-150 to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 gave a positive alert to an odor it is trained to detect. During a subsequent search, agents discovered seven vacuum-sealed packages filled with a crystalized substance amongst labor safety equipment under the backseat in an attempt to disguise the driver amongst local work traffic.

The total weight of the contraband was nearly 40 pounds and has a street value of almost $119,000.
Islamabad: The Federal Government of Pakistan has instructed Pakistan Railways to carry out scrutiny of the PC-1 prepared for the upgrade of Main Line (ML)-I, reported a news source. The instructions were given during a meeting held between Pakistanis and Chinese official yesterday. The project falls under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

According to details, the Ministry for Planning, Development and Reforms has instructed the Ministry of Railways to complete the scrutiny of this project in two months so that no aspect of it is ignored. The ML-1 upgrade project is estimated to cost PKR 8.2 billion, for which the Ministry of Railways earlier approved the PC-1.

Under this project, ML-1 running from Karachi to Hyderabad and heading all the way to Peshawar while passing through Nawabshah, Rohri, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rawalpindi will be upgraded. Along with the upgrade, the speed of the trains will also be increased to 168 kilometres per hour. In addition to that, freight traffic on ML-1 will also be increased by 5% to 25% by 2025 and it will greet 50 million new passengers each year.
Isnt love such a beautiful and wonderful thing? When we talk about love what come to the mind are happiness, care, protection, laughter and friendship among other qualities of a good life. The love story that is the talk of the town today is that of John Dumelo and his newly wedded wife. Well, before this wedding, very few people knew John Dumelo wife. It is clear that he is the type of guy who likes to keep his personal matters away from the public. This sensational actor, businessman and political enthusiasts wife goes by the name Gifty Mawunya Nkornu. She is a lawyer who is based in the UK.

John Dumelo is Ghanaian actor who is celebrated by many people. Obviously, his fans would like to know about his love life and other personal details. If you would like to know about John Dumelo marriage, continue reading this article. As always, we try our best to bring you everything that we know about your star.

John Dumelo wedding

John Dumelos wedding took place on the 12th of May this year at Spintex in Accra. This actor is celebrated such that several public figures were present at the wedding. Among the dignitaries present at this wedding include the former President of Ghana John Mahama. The presence of such a figure in such a social gathering is an honor and sign of respect. Other actors that are very popular on the screens who attended the wedding include Ramsey Nouah, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Okoro, Majid Michel, Sandra Ankobiah, Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson and Prince David Osei among others.

Source: Dailypost

Other people present in his wedding were his family members and friends. John Dumelo wedding was a traditional one and it was conducted in the home of Gifty Mawunya Nkornu, his wife. The two love birds were dressed in traditional attire and they looked stunning in it. Overall, the event was colorful and lively as is seen from John Dumelo wedding pictures.

John Dumelo and his wife

An interesting aspect about John Dumelo and his wife is how they have been in a position to keep their love life a secret. Considering that John Dumelo is a star, we expect to know even the tiniest bit of his life. However, this was not the case with his then fiancee Gifty Mawunya Nkornu. You would not tell who his love was even through social media platforms since none of them posted anything even on special days like birthdays. John Dumelos birthday was on February but a look into the instagram of his wife could not have revealed about their relationship.

Source: Ghanalive

News about John Dumelo married have intensified after his wife praised him for being handsome and also a gift from God. In an Instagram post she asserted that her husband is yummy dark hot chocolate. She also gave thanks to God for making things beautiful at his own time. Despite the love that is shred between two love birds, there are people who pride in spreading negative comments about the relationship. After the wedding took place, Afia Schwarzenegger, a TV host and actress asserted that John Dumelo has several girlfriends and that it will not be long before he cheats on his wife Gifty. This is definitely not the kind of attitude to spread being that John Dumelo and Gifty are assured of their love for each other.

READ ALSO: 5 interesting things about John Dumelo's wedding

Another interesting thing that happened before this wedding was about the controversial issue about who a good woman to marry should behave. One popular fashion designer and radio host took to Facebook to express how impressed and excited he was about being invited for John Dumelo and Giftys wedding. He praised the beauty and self-composed nature of John Dumelos wife. He further said that she admired the fact that she is not the type of girl who is everywhere. According to him, such characters are the ones that make a woman eligible for marriage. He urged women who desire to be married by celebrities to exhibit similar behaviors to that of Giftys. This statement did not go well with women and feminists who took the statement as an insult. Well, even though Gifty is not everywhere, she seems like a woman who loves to have fun. A look at her social media pictures indicates that she loves hanging out with her friends for enjoyment. In most of them, she is dressed fancily and therefore is not as quiet as this radio host purported.

John Dumelo biography

John Kofi Setor Dumelo is a celebrated Ghanaian actor. John Dumelo age is 34 years old being that he was born in 1984, February 3. His acting career is borne out of his passion and skills in acting. At the age of seven, he acted in a movie known as Baby Thief as Saka. This was after he was selected by the GAMA film company. After finishing high school, he continued seeking opportunities of growth in his career and was featured in local television films. The movie that made him known to the public was The king is Mine in 2008. He played the kings role. Later on, he has built on his career to a very impressive point. He has acted in several movies such as Men in Love, Ties that bind, heart of men, If God be for us and A Private Storm among others. Notably, he has acted with several actresses such as Yvonne Nelson, Tonto Dikeh and Majid Michel among others. Some time back, there was news that John Dumelo and Yvonne Nelson being were dating. This was because of the pictures that Yvonne Nelson and John Dumelo would take together in seemingly suggestive ways. However he clarified and said that they were just friends.

Source: Ghpage.com

READ ALSO: John Dumelos wife speaks for the first time about her husband

John Dumelo holds a degree in civil engineering from KNUST. Besides acting, he is an entrepreneur who owns a construction company. He is also engaged in charity activities. Notably, he is a political enthusiast and asserted that one day he would like to become the Ghanaian President. In 2016, he was in one of the countrys campaign team for the NDC party.

Based on the recent John Dumelo pictures, it is clear that he and his wife are very happy.

Source: Yen.com.gh
- The Eagle Prophet has announced that Ghana will enjoy prosperity in two years time

- He nevertheless advised President Akufo-Addo to allow God to lead him

The General Overseer of Gods Crown Chapel, Prophet Reindolph Oduro Gyebi, has prophesied that Ghana will experience prosperity two years from now.

According to a report by 3news.com, Prophet Gyebi, also known as Eagle Prophet, stated that he sees President Akufo-Addo adorned in a Kente cloth and receiving praises from African nations.

Speaking to Bright Akwasi Asempa on Onua FMs morning show, Yen Nsem Pa on Thursday, May 24, 2018, he however cautioned that Nana Addo needs to allow God to lead him through the journey.

Prophet Reindolph Oduro Gyebi

READ ALSO: Mzbel hosts her first radio show

This, he went on to say, will lead to development, because the foundations have been laid for growth in all sectors of the economy.

I saw African nations applauding the President, who was clad in Kente with gold ornaments attached to it, in their midst.

I saw the image of God behind him and God spoke to me that if the President allows Him to direct his path, he will never put the president to shame, but rather bless him and the nation, he revealed.

This message follows earlier prophecies attributed to him, such as the Kintampo Water Falls disaster, Ebony Reigns death, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumias illness, the death of radio host KABA and many others.

READ ALSO: Shatta Michy reads news on TV

Ghana Trends: Joy FM blasted over Royal Wedding, Mahama plans comeback in 2020 | Yen.com.gh:

Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos

Source: Yen.com.gh
- Ghanaian actor, Koo Fori, has bemoaned the use of spiritual help in movies

- According to him, this contributed to the challenges facing the industry

-He therefore advised upcoming actors to remain humble if they wish to excel in their careers

Veteran Ghanaian screen icon, Koo Fori, has disclosed that some players in the movie industry resort to spiritual powers.

According to a report by GHIssues.com, he added that together with the Pull Him Down syndrome, the use of spiritual help has caused the near collapse of the industry.

Speaking with Abeiku Santana on UTVs Atuu, he noted that Ghanas movie is not doing well, because upcoming actors are not humble, and use juju to stay relevant.

Koo Fori

READ ALSO: Another 'Atopa' tape involving a nurse leaks online?

He went on to say that those with talents are sidelined as a result of their political affiliations.

To him, that is unfair, as movie enthusiasts have their favourites, and for that reason, switch to others as soon as their idols are missing from movies.

Mr. Beautiful for instance was vilified for going public for a political party and therefore struggles to land roles, and I find that really unfair.

These things must stop if we indeed want the industry to progress, he asserted.

He therefore admonished upcoming actors to appreciate fans and stay humble if they want to go far in their career.

READ ALSO: Eagle Prophet finally talks about his latest prophecy and has a serious warning for Nana Addo

Ghana Trends: Joy FM blasted over Royal Wedding, Mahama plans comeback in 2020 | 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 or Instagram now!

Source: Yen.com.gh
- Kumawood actor, Kwaku Manu, has stated that movie stars may soon begin to sell coconuts

- This, he explained, is because the government has neglected the industry

- He added that the president is yet to meet and interact with industry players

Popular Kumawood actor, Kwaku Manu, has bemoaned the state of the Ghanaian movie industry, and has stated that movie stars may soon begin to sell coconuts.

According to a report by GHIssues.com, the actor said Ghanaian movies are not patronized, and if the trend continues, it may lead to serious consequences.

Speaking on the Delay Show on Sunday, May 27, 2018, he noted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is responsible for the downturn in the fortunes of the industry, as the current administration has totally left them to their fate.

Kwaku Manu has claimed that President Akufo-Addo's government has ignored the movie industry

READ ALSO: Eagle Prophet talks about his latest prophecy and has a serious warning for Nana Addo

Kwaku Manu went on to say that his colleague actors and actresses will soon hit the streets to sell coconuts, if the government does not treat the industry like their own property.

The president has met with the press twice since he came into government but he has never mentioned anything about the movie industry.

Trust me, if something is not done soon, in the next four years, actors will go into coconut selling business he stressed.

He revealed the president is yet to organize a meeting with movie producers to discuss the well-being of the industry.

Again, some attitudes exhibited by his colleagues, produces, directors hinder the progress of the industry.

Kwaku Manu further concluded by saying that unlike the Ghana movie industry, there is so much love and unity among Nollywood actors and actresses.

READ ALSO: Koo Fori finally 'reveals' the 'juju men' in Ghana's movie industry

Ghana Trends: Joy FM blasted over Royal Wedding, Mahama plans comeback in 2020 | Yen.com.gh:

Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram

Source: Yen
A mass failure in the Basic Fitness Test (BFT) organised by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has led to 17 recruits being sacked.

Accra-based Class FM reports that the recruits were sacked after failing to pass the test despite several chances given them to redeem themselves.

GAF sacks 17 recruits

READ ALSO: More photos of Patapaa's France adventure

On Saturday, May 26, 2018, GAF organised a fitness exercise for its recruits with the aim of testing their preparedness.

However, it turned out that most of the recruits were not quite ready, as they failed to pass the Basic Fitness Test (BFT).

Consequently, they were sent packing after being deemed not fit enough to join the armed forces.

The report further states that several others who were on the verge of being sacked eventually redeemed themselves and will part of those to pass out in about a week from now.

Physical, mental and academic soundness are three of the key things that are expected of recruits looking to break into the armed forces.

Ghana Trends: Joy FM blasted over Royal Wedding, Mahama plans comeback in 2020

READ ALSO: Patapaa having a good time in France

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
- A Malian migrant hailed as a hero after mounting a daring rescue to save a small boy dangling from a balcony in Paris is to be made a French citizen

- Mr. Mamoudou Gassama won widespread praise after saving the four-year-old

A Mali immigrant who scaled a Paris apartment building to save a child dangling from a balcony will be awarded for his bravery with papers to legalise his stay and a job as a firefighter.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama will be awarded for his exceptional act with legal papers, citizenship if he wants it and a job with the fire service.

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris (AFP/Getty Images)

"Bravo," Mr Macron said to Mr Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in a gilded room of the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with the awarding of a medal from the prefecture for "courage and devotion".

Mr Gassama's has been dubbed "Spider-Man" for climbing up five floors, from balcony to balcony, and whisking a four-year-old boy to safety on Saturday night as a crowd screamed at the foot of the building in Paris' northern 18th district.

The astonishing footage of Mr Gassama scaling the building and rescuing the child in just 30 seconds has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.

The young man said he has papers to legally stay in Italy, where he arrived in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean after a long, rough stay in Libya.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo, Bawumia special guest at lavish wedding of Duncan-Williams son

However, he wants to join his older brother, who has lived in France for decades.

Mr Gassama, dressed in blue jeans and white shirt, recounted his experience which took place at around 8pm on Saturday when he and friends saw a young child hanging from a fifth-floor balcony. He and his friends had been on the way to watch the Champions League final.

"I ran. I crossed the street to save him," he told Mr Macron during a filmed portion of the meeting.

He said he did not think twice, adding: "When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing."

God "helped me" too, he said. "Thank God I saved him."

Mr Gassama felt fear when he took the child into the apartment.

"I was trembling," he told Mr Macron.

"Because this is an exceptional act... we are obviously, today, going to regularise all your papers," Mr Macron told him, "and if you wish we will start nationalisation procedures so you can become French."

Mamoudou Gassama, 22, from Mali, displays a certificate of courage and dedication signed by Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech as he leaves the Elysee Palace (REUTERS)

Mr Gassama told Mr Macron that he arrived in Italy in 2014 after more than a year in Libya, where he was arrested and beaten, "but I wasn't discouraged".

The French president is toughening the nation's approach to immigration, and stressed that not all who make the treacherous journey to Europe can be welcomed, but that Mr Gassama's actions were admirable.

Ghana Trends: Joy FM blasted over Royal Wedding, Mahama plans comeback in 2020

READ ALSO: More photos of Patapaa's France adventure

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now.

Source: Yen.com.gh
-The deputy Education Minister has been honored by the fashion industry in Ghana for her immense contribution

-An award was given to the minister for her consistent show of African clothing during the Wear Ghana month

The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), Mrs. Barbara Asher Ayisi, has received an accolade for her constant promotion of African Wear during the Wear Ghana Month."

In line with an endorsement from the Presidency to showcase African Wear during the month of March, the Deputy Education minister stood tall and received an award for her commitment to promote the fashion industry in Ghana by wearing African-inspired clothing.

Hon. Barbara Asher Ayisi

READ ALSO: Anas will die on November 30 this year - Prophet drops bombshell

Mrs. Barbara Asher Ayisi, who also doubles as the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North received the award in her office at the Ministry of Education by a delegation from the Ghana Fashion Industry.

The Ghana Fashion Industry Awards, is an honor bestowed on individuals, institutions and corporate bodies who have contributed to the growth of Ghana's Fashion Industry and the minister happened to be one of such people.

Wear Ghana Month, a national campaign which was launched in Accra in March was aimed at promoting the countrys cloth cultural heritage and boost the local textile and fashion industries under the theme, Wear Ghana to promote the fashion industry.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo, Bawumia special guest at lavish wedding of Duncan-Williams son

The honor bestowed on the Deputy Education Minister by Ghana Fashion Industry in recognition of wear Ghana month was for her contribution to the fashion industry during the campaign

Hon. Mrs. Barbara Asher Ayisi is noted as lover of fashion due to the fact that her mother was a renowned fashion designer.

The deputy minister was a model in her early years and mostly seen in African-inspired outfits.

After receiving the award from the delegation, the deputy minister revealed that her support for the textile industry was in the right direction since she was proud to be associated with anything that was in the best interest of the industries in the country.

She added that as the minister in charge of Technical and Vocational Education Training, she was of the conviction that her support for the fashion industry would encourage others to do same and also promote vocation into fashion and dress-making.

READ ALSO: Mind your own business  Lady punished to carry cement in Obinims church speaks

Watch: Ghana Trends: Joy FM blasted over Royal Wedding, Mahama plans comeback in 2020 | Yen.com.gh

YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident?

Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page.

Source: Yen
Milano, May 28, 2018 (SPS) - Vice President of the European Parliament Fabio Massimo Castaldo affirmed that the European Parliament will stand against any decision contrary to international legality, which would allow EU countries exploit the resources of Western Sahara, still occupied by Morocco, and called European governments to comply the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declaring the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement not applicable to the territory of Western Sahara and its adjacent waters.



In a statement on the sidelines of his participation in a conference themed Western Sahara: From occupation to spoliation of natural resources held Friday in Milano, in the presence of key figures including militant of the 5 Starts Movement Sara Giampietro, who is in charge of monitoring natural resources in the world and Coordinator of the Observatory for the Protection of Natural Resources in Western Sahara (WSRW) Erik Hagen, Castaldo underlined the importance of preventing the exploitation of the Sahrawi peoples resources as the Sahrawi territory has not yet been decolonized.



In this connection, the European Parliament will spare no effort to avoid the promulgation of a decision contrary to the international legality that would allow the EU countries, notably the groups led by France and Spain, to exploit the wealth of a territory under occupation.



Any decision leading the promulgation of an iniquitous law will not be adopted at the European Parliament, affirmed the same official.



For his part, the UN's Special Representative for the Western Sahara, Italian Francisco Bastagli stressed in a speech that Morocco had impeded the application of international legality in Western Sahara since the signing of the ceasefire. (SPS)



062/SPS/APS
Grand River Raceway hosted more than 400 guests during its 10th annual backstretch open house on Sunday (May 27). Guests were treated to a rare glimpse of horse racing behind the scenes.

The full tour of the open houses seven stations included the unique opportunity to drive a racehorse.

Admission was free, but participants made donations totaling $300 at the door to support local organizations which aid in the retraining and placement of retired racehorses into new riding and driving careers.

Other interactive stations included a tour of the judges stand and announcers booth, a mare and foal, horse-themed crafts and face painting, and photos in the starting car.

Members of Racing Under Saddle Ontario were onsite to demonstrate the versatility of the Standardbred racehorse in different disciplines.

Representatives from the Youth Literary Derby chatted with kids and parents about their horse-themed writing contest designed to engage Ontario-resident youngsters in Grades 5 through 8.

The Grand River Raceway open house is presented in cooperation with the Hands On Horses Program and the Ontario Harness Horse Association.

Grand River Raceway extends it appreciation to all of the associations and volunteers who assisted with this event.

More than 3,500 people have attended Grand River Raceways open house events over the past ten years.

Grand River Raceways live racing season opens this Friday at 6:30 p.m. and continues most Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights all summer.



Driver Bruce Richardson and a guest pictured in a jog cart during the open house (Nicole Schnurr Photography)

(Grand River Raceway)
Just over 1,100 people pushed through the turnstiles at Dresden Raceway for the opening day card of racing today to kick off the 2018 meet Sunday, May 27.

Fans made Dresden Raceway the place to be this summer despite being slammed with several off season issues including a false accusation of race fixing, a shooting on the tracks grounds and news that Gateway Casinos were moving the slots from Dresden to Chatham in 2020.

We cant do anything about those things, we just have to focus on what we do and move forward. We were very happy with the crowd, everyone had a great day and lots of fun, said Dresden Agriculture Society President Lucille Laprise.

Laprise also noted that the crowd and the handle were up over last years Opening Day card of racing. The handle of $26,488 was up just over 23% from the $19,905 that was bet on the first day last year.

When you only have 11 days of racing, every day is important so you want to show an increase over last year, said track announcer and publicist Gary Patterson.

Lucille [Laprise] and our board are doing the little things right. Dresden Raceway has been posting increases over the last three seasons in an industry where most other tracks are showing declines," he also said. Dresden features promotions and giveaways every day to get people to the track and showcase our incredible product.

On the track Tyler Borth had the hot hands as he scored four winners on the day including Benvenuti, Lyons Delight, Made To Lead and Grand Bay.

Insincerity went the fastest mile of the day for Garrett Rooney in 1:56 flat while the seventh race triactor combination of 2-1-7 was the largest payout of the day at $367.30.

Dresden Raceway will be hosting B.I.A. Day at the races next week as well as Gateway Casino draws.

(With files from Dresden Raceway)

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Dresden Raceway.
It has become abundantly clear that nothing is going to stop paralyzed jockey Alyssa Selman from riding again.

Three years ago, Selman, who was based at Assiniboia Downs, was paralyzed from the chest down after having been involved in a racing accident. The determined Selman started to drive a car again in January of 2017. The fierce rider worked her way back into a saddle this past fall.

Now, according to an update by the Manitoba Post, Selman is stretching out her trips.

Writer Scott Taylor caught up with Selman for an update earlier this month. What he discovered is that the driven ex-jock isnt just riding on her farm near Carman.



Alyssa Selman, pictured leading her small group on an extended ride (Image courtesy Alyssa Selman / Manitoba Post)

The other day, we did a full country block  one mile by one mile by one mile by one mile, explained Selman, who goes on her journeys with her Paint-Belgian cross. Along with her sister, Selman also rides with her 10-year-old son, Amar.

For me, the best thing is that Ive started to gallop, Selman said. When I get bouncing around, its pretty tough because I dont have my legs to support me and my insides get bouncing up and down, but it was nice to be able to do it. Riding is just so much fun.

Even though she has made substantial progress and has overcome so much, Selman admits that its hard to watch races without wanting to be right there in the irons.

Its just really hard, she explained. Its hard to watch. Id so much rather be on the horses than watching them.

(With files from the Manitoba Post)
Hawks Red Chief, off back-to-back wins at Northfield Park, emerged victorious moving into the Rick Magee barn in the $11,000 Open Pace on Sunday, May 27 at Running Aces.

After a quick opening panel of :26.3, Bestinthebusiness yielded to the pocket as Hawks Red Chief cleared the lead. Longshot To The Limit gave the most chase to the leader, with a strong challenge down the backstretch to take over second, while local favourite Firedrake had been hopelessly blocked-in until the mid-stretch. Meanwhile Hawks Red chief continued to roll through a half of :55.1 and three quarters in 1:23.4 and maintained a one-length margin at the wire in 1:52.3.

To The Limit at 40-1 held second, and Firedrake closed strong to be third. The win tonight made it three in a row for Hawks Red Chief, who is owned by Burke Racing, LLC, Weaver-Bruscemi LLC and Michelle Yanek. This was career victory number 28 for the 7 year old son of I Scoot Hanover, who has now earned $297,437.

Also on the program, Frenchkissmebaby converted a pocket trip into a lifetime best with her victory in 2:01.2 in the $8,500 Minnesota-Sired three-year-old filly trot. The daughter of Money Talks is owned by Austin Staufer, trained by Brett Ballinger and was driven by Steve Wiseman. The $8,500 geldings split of the three-year-old trotters went to Bragginade, who was the two-year-old champion trotter in Minnesota last season. Bragginade is by Braggart, and he posted a sharp gate-to-wire tally from post five to take a new lifetime mark in 2:00.4. He is owned by Set The Pace Racing, LLC and was driven by Nick Roland.

Nick Roland led all drivers at Running Aces Sunday with a grand-slam on the card, becoming the first driver to achieve a grand slam so far this season. Steve Wiseman and Rick Magee both picked doubles as well.

The .20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot carryover now stands at $910.72, and there is a carryover in the Hi-5 wager of $1,874.00 for race 7 on Tuesday, May 29. First post on Tuesday is 7:00 p.m. (CDT).

(With files from Running Aces)
'I Hope You Can Help Me;' Daughter of Missing Lawyer Pleads with Merkel

Contact: ChinaAid, 432-689-6985 office, 432-553-1080 media, media@chinaaid.org



BEIJING, China, May 28, 2018 /Standard Newswire/ -- The daughter of a Christian human rights lawyer who has been missing in China since August of last year pled with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to use her current trip to China to help her locate her father.



Photo: Grace Geng (right) sits with lawyer He Junren at a press release during the launch of her father's book, Unwavering Convictions -- (Photo: ChinaAid)



In a letter published to ChinaAid President Bob Fu's Facebook page, Grace Geng, the daughter of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, described to Merkel how her father has suffered repeated kidnappings, torture, and imprisonment for his legal defense of Christians and practitioners of Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual practice encouraging "truth, compassion, and tolerance." Both faiths have been repeatedly targeted as threats to the government, even though most of their devotees live peacefully and abide by the law.



The government started targeting Gao in 2005, when they revoked his lawyer's license and ordered him to close his practice. In December 2006, authorities convicted him of "inciting subversion of state power" and handed him a three-year prison term with a five-year probation. For unknown reasons, he was released soon afterwards.



In 2007, Gao was arbitrarily held in police custody for 50 days. Afterwards, he published an article titled "Dark Night, Dark Hood, and Kidnapping by Dark Mafia," describing the various tortures he underwent.



Due to the immense threat to their family, Gao's wife and children fled to the United States in January 2009, but Gao remained in China. Less than a month later, police seized him in his home, and he didn't resurface until March 27, 2010, when he was allowed a brief stint out of prison. He spoke to family and friends and shared his story with international reporters. On his way home from his in-laws apartment in Xinjiang in mid-April, officials kidnapped him again, and no one knew his whereabouts until Chinese state mouthpiece Xinhua News Agency reported on Dec. 26, 2011, that he had supposedly violated the terms of his parole and would serve a three-year prison term in Xinjiang. After spending three excruciating years behind bars, Gao was released but subjected to strict surveillance in his home in Shaanxi province, where he had difficulty eating due to the condition of his teeth after the harsh period in prison. He was not allowed to see a dentist.



While under house arrest, he secretly penned a book, which ChinaAid helped out of the country and secured a publishing deal with the American Bar Association and the Carolina Academic Press. It is available for purchase here.



In mid-August, two sympathizers, Li Fawang and Shao Zhongguo, helped Gao escape his minders and hid him at a vacation spot in the neighboring Shanxi province. For just more than three weeks, they successfully evaded detection until police officers from Shaanxi organized a large number of officers to cross the border to find him. Once in police custody, Gao vanished, and both Li and Shao were criminally detained.



Weeks later, Beijing officials claimed they had Gao in the custody of secret agents within the city, but no one has seen him, and ChinaAid has been unable to verify their claims.



Geng's letter can be read in full below.



ChinaAid, which exposes abuses suffered by Chinese dissidents such as Gao, joins Geng in urging Chancellor Merkel and other leaders in the free world to pay urgent attention to his case and press their contacts in the Chinese government for his release in order to ensure the nation respects human rights and rule of law.
Nobody knows what has happened near Buenos Aires yet! But baffled officials are investigating why the first section of the Parana River Delta turned blood red overnight in Tigre, Argentina Saturday morning. Residents have been asked to stay away from the waters until analyses have been run.

First biologists suggested that the red color was due to an algae bloom, but this hypothesis has been rejected after no such organisms were found in the water samples.

Now, officials suspect a clandestine dumping of industrial waste upstream in the area of Don Torcuato and recommended inhabitants to stay away from the water until authorities have the final results of the sampled water. This will take approximately 48 hours.

Be careful guys!

Follow us: Facebook and Twitter

Rareza en las aguas del Tigre: el rio amanecio rojo e investigan las causas

Descubren por que el rio se volvio rojo en Tigre
A RENOWNED politician, author and youth at-risk leader from the Bahamas is in the Turks and Caicos Islands this week for an annual church event.





Cynthia Mother Pratt will speak to and meet with various groups during her time in the territory.





On Sunday, May 27, she will be the guest speaker at the Spring Affair at St Monicas Family Centre.





On Tuesday, May 29, she will visit Her Majestys Prison in Grand Turk and on Wednesday, May 30, she will attend a reception at St Monicas Family Centre.





The Anglican Church Women of St Monicas, a non-profit organisation, is hosting the Spring Affair.





Men and women who have shown a commitment to "reaching others will be recognised during the week. This years theme is Intentional discipleship.





"During this time, we salute men and women from around the world who resides in Turks and Caicos Islands and have demonstrated their commitment to reaching others, a letter from group president, the Rev Barbara Ambrister, read.





Cynthia Pratt was born on November 5, 1945, and her life began in poverty in an Over-the-Hill area of the Bahamas.





As an official recruiter for colleges abroad since 1980 she had the opportunity to provide hundreds of scholarships to deserving Bahamians.





In 1993 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters by St Augustines College in North Carolina.





In 2002 she was the first woman to hold the post of deputy prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and minister of urban renewal.





She was also the first woman to be the minister of national security and acting prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.





Pratt has dedicated her life to the development of marginalised and unrepresented people.





Community development and spreading the gospel are her two passions in life, which she ardently pursues.





Her objective as co-chairperson of the Urban Renewal Commission brought to the forefront the importance of a global, diverse economy.





She has also worked with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and other government agencies to tackle crime and socially deviant behaviour.





Cynthia Pratt is the author of the book No equal, to Gods chosen.




By Olivia Rose

PREMIER Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has charged the Caribbean Federation of Welfare Associations (CFWA) to ensure national security becomes a staple on Caricoms agenda.





She spoke at the opening of the CFWAs seventh annual general meeting which was held in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the first time from May 22 to May 25.





The CFWA seeks to advance the professional conduct of police officers and influence policy decision for crime reduction.





The premier she said the organisation has a responsibility to ensure Caricom keeps the conversation alive since the infiltration of weapons and unsavoury characters poses a serious threat to the regions stability.





One of the CFWAs main roles is to communicate with the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians, Caricom and any other stakeholders on matters brought to the attention of its executive and to make recommendations.





Cartwright Robinson said: "You are in this respect the caretakers of our tourism product.





She said the region must continue to pool its best resources - "our minds.





"And whilst we speak of enforcement even in our local context as a region, we must see the best strategy will and must always be to rehabilitate and prevent.





"Let this also be at the forefront of your minds in your local representation and regional representation at the highest level of Caricom.





She said a region moving together focused on the right things can be a powerful change.





"We must feel you in our individual countries and region. You are vital whether you accept it, feel it or not.





The CFWA meeting was held under the theme, Fusing ideas to promote standards and unity in regional law enforcement.





The premier acknowledged that policing is a difficult job, but one which is critical in maintaining law and order in society.





She said: "Policing is a noble profession and you may be right up there with politicians who are needed but are more abused by those they are charged to take care of than anyone else.





"Feelings of underappreciation, in a too often thankless job, frustrated sometimes by the same organisation we are a part of, but expected to solve problems without the people, the greatest partners we can both have.





"Too many are silent when things go right and whilst you do not work for praises, you think it would be good every now and then to hear thank you, thank you for the sacrifices you make and what you expose your family to.





She told the officials gathered at the conference, that while the profession is tainted with challenges, creating synergies with other law enforcement organisations will make it easier to achieve their collective goals.





She said: "But what ought to keep you motivated? Love of job, yes, but love of the same people...what a conundrum!





"Why? Because nothing is as satisfying as helping people, protecting people and doing your job well.





"Trust me, you are specially called to this field. Not any and everyone can be a police officer.





"But just as important as the love of job and love of people, you, the welfare association ought to keep your organisation motivated.





"You must have your hand on the pulse of the organisation: the members, they need your voice at the table you sit.





She said they must make it their business to know the collective as well as individual challenges and struggles.





"You must be allowed to do your job and you must meet with your members but also you must meet with your governments.





"No government wants or needs a policing body that is unhappy.





Turning her attention to the associations vision statement and objectives, she noted that although the organisations mission is noble. It must be more than that "it must be live and active.





She said: "You here have taken on a more noble role, that of helping your fellow man by representing their cause.





"You must be bold in your role and carry out your duties without fear and favour.





"The welfare of persons who are charged with keeping the peace is not a slight thing.





"We need healthy and happy officers and that is in your hands.




By Olivia Rose

FOUR senior managers from the TCIs partner hospital in the Bahamas met with members of the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB), TCI Hospitals and the Ministry of Health last week.





The two day visit from Doctors Hospital on May 14 and 15 was aimed at fostering a greater collaboration with the NHIB and the local healthcare sector.





It came a month after Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson pledged the Governments unwavering commitment to salvage the NHIB.





Doctors Hospital in Nassau is a key overseas healthcare provider under the Treatment Abroad Programme managed by the NHIB.





It gets about 15 percent of overseas referrals at a cost of $2 to $3 million per year from the territory.





The delegation was led by Dr Charles Diggiss, president and chief medical officer of Doctors Hospital.





He expressed his teams commitment to further deepening the partnership and fostering mutually beneficial objectives.





Dr Diggiss said Doctors Hospital plans to introduce new services to come on stream before the end of 2018.





They include long term rehabilitation, paediatric care and affordable accommodation options for family members to complement existing services.





During the visit, the visiting team paid a courtesy call to Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson and the Minister of Health Hon Edwin Astwood.





According to a statement from the Government, Premier Cartwright Robinson thanked them for the high quality care and good patient experience that is delivered at their facility.





She said that while the Government is committed to strengthening the local systems and programmes in primary healthcare, the territory is still dependent on the services provided at the Doctors Hospital.





"The Government is very appreciative of the partnership and look forward to greater collaboration in the future.





The premier reiterated that the NHIB is examining critical existing relationships and making considerations in relation to the increasing healthcare costs and complexity of cases to ensure that there is sustainable financing to respond to the needs of beneficiaries.





Hon Astwood stressed the importance of the Treatment Abroad Programme and spoke about the public scrutiny of the scheme.





He encouraged the team to look at areas that could provide greater value to National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) beneficiaries.





The visitors also gave a telemedicine presentation at TCI Hospitals which provided an opportunity for enhanced clinical management and communication between TCI Hospitals and physicians at Doctors Hospitals.





The visiting team from Doctors Hospital were Dr Charles Diggiss, medical director Dr Michael Darville, CEO Charles Sealy and IT manager Raymond Wright.




ESDS Software Solution Pvt Ltd today announced the launch of MTvScan 2.0, the latest version of its popular Malware Threats & Vulnerability Scanner already in use by Indias leading public-sector banks and other e-commerce websites. The new version is equipped with deep-scanning technology that is designed to prevent smartphone-based phishing scams, similar to the recent Jet Airways free tickets phishing scam.

The first-generation MTvScan from ESDS has been adopted by close to 10,000 high-traffic websites belonging to banks like State Bank of India, Canara Bank, UBI, SIDBI, and MUDRA Bank, government departments and enterprises like HCL and Tata group of companies.

Speaking at the launch, Piyush Somani, Founder and MD of ESDS said, Phishing and hacking attacks have evolved significantly over time, and have necessitated the invention of deep-scanning technologies that power the MTvScan 2.0. The new version makes the Enterprise websites hack-proof and is designed to assure full cyber-security to the digital presences of Indian banks, government departments and large enterprises, as it intelligently identifies vulnerabilities in applications or databases.

MTvScan 2.0 can reliably tackle modern phishing attacks. The recent JetAirways free tickets scam circulating on Whatsapp was first caught by MTvScan, which immediately notified all affected users to get their passwords changed if they had opened the spoof link. The tool detects more than 90 types of threats and vulnerabilities in popular online web applications. Nearly all of these vulnerabilities can be exploited by hackers to hack into a website or secure database remotely. Further, MTvScan also tracks new domain registrations and go-live of lookalike websites and notifies CISOs about any possible phishing attacks. The unique features of MTvScan include Content Monitoring, URL monitoring and Phishing attacks prediction.

Tarun Seth, Managing Director of Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic said, Cyber security is one of the biggest pain points for all Indian businesses with an online presence. It is also an ever-escalating battle with newer vulnerabilities and exploits releasing on a constant basis. This is why we are delighted to launch MTvScan 2.0 with ESDS; and are confident that this new tool will be an important asset in fighting cybercrimes. Our partnership with ESDS is built on a shared culture and we remain committed to nurturing it over a long term. Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic has a special focus on emerging IT security demands in India. Anuj Gupta, CEO of Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic and leader of the companys security practice said, Cyber criminals today focus almost exclusively on getting access to valuable data; knowing well that they can trade this data for cash or crypto currencies. This is why tools like MTvScan are hugely valuable as they can help Identify loopholes and vulnerabilities before these can be exploited.

Based in Nashik, Maharashtra, ESDS is one of Indias leading Managed Hybrid Cloud Service providers with annual revenues exceeding INR 100 crore. ESDS is the only company in India to host more than 282 Banks and NBFCs on its Banking Community Cloud, over 80+ government organizations on its Government Community Cloud and 70+ Indian Enterprises on its Enterprise Community Cloud. ESDS clients include large enterprises like Tata Metaliks, Tata Capital, Symphony, KFC, PizzaHut, Atos, Mastek, Zensar, and L&T among others.

@Technuter.com News Service
Universal Robots in collaboration with G+D is changing the face of banking in India by introducing cobots in the busy sector. Cobots which can easily interact with humans and share workplaces will help in bringing progress into the Indian banking sector as well as improve quality and save money.

After making great impacts in the industrial, hospitality and health sectors, the banking sector is now next in line to get the feel of having cobots work alongside humans to carry out several duties. The flexibility of the cobots will allow the streamlining of many activities in the bank. Some of the roles expected to change with the introduction of cobots in the banking sector are:

Save money and time

The installation of cobots for cash management in the banks will not only save the sector time but they will save money too. With manual operation, errors are surmountable. With cobots,errors such as pilferage will go down. Cobots can process over 10 notes per second as compared to humans whose output is much less than that. Per hour, this would amount to over 30,000 notes.

Helping hand

Unlike old traditional robots that worked for humans and not with humans, cobots will work alongside the banking staff members as helping tools. Cobots are portable and safe and can take up any roles programmed for them.

Flexibility

Flexibility in every workplace is very important for growth. Cobots are flexible and can work on repetitive duties which humans find boring and tiring. The move to have the cobots take over these repetitive jobs will enable the management to assign other duties to the staff members. This will improve creativity and any new challenges they encounter may be beneficial to the sector.

Increase efficiency and productivity

Efficiency in the banking sector will obviously improve with the introduction of cobots. Cobots are accurate and precise as compared to humans. With errors such as pilferage going down, then production will go up.

Improved Security

The introduction of Universal Robots UR3 also means that security in the banking sector will improve. The cobots will work in a constrained space and the programs enable them to keep everything safe and secure. Handling of cash is a very risky business everywhere and puts the lives of humans at risk. They are prone to attacks and other kinds of theft in their line of work. Cobots on the other hand are more secure to use in cash handling because it would be harder to destroy them to get to the cash.

Intelligence

Compared to the classic industrial robots, cobots are very intelligent. They have sensors linked to internet of things and other systems where they can easily monitor everything that is going on. The sensors help them detect errors and danger faster than humans do.

Better customer care services

Customer care services will changewith the introduction of cobots. Cobots of the future will be programmed to assist bank customers through their selections on things like investment and business portfolios and guide them to the correct places they need to be for assistance. Cobots will also act as support agents and help desks when the need arises. Bank call centres are other places that will benefit with the introduction of cobots. Other sectors that will benefit are the Public Relations and the Human Resources departments.

Gain peoples trust

Lack of trust brings about disconnection between the company and the customer. Many banks fall to fraud which sees many branches closing.With the introduction of cobots, customers may renew their trust because they will have an assurance that their investments are in safe hands.

Conclusion

The concept of cobots in the banking sector is very new but there is hope that in the next couple of years, things will change. The fear though is that cobots will take over the job market and deem many people jobless. This may look like the case, but it is far from the truth. Deploying cobots in the banking sector will not take away any jobs but may create more positions.
About me I'm Avi Green

From Jerusalem, Israel

I was born in Pennsylvania in 1974, and moved to Israel in 1983. I also enjoyed reading a lot of comics when I was young, the first being Fantastic Four. I maintain a strong belief in the public's right to knowledge and accuracy in facts. I like to think of myself as a conservative-style version of Clark Kent. I don't expect to be perfect at the job, but I do my best. My profile

Archives - Archives - July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021
Our peacekeepers in Mali

Noor Islam Habib :

Republic of Mali is a land locked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth largest country in Africa with an area of just over 12 lac 24 thousands square km. The population of Mali is 14.5 million. Its capital is Bamako.

Mali consists of eight regions and its border on the North reaches deep into middle of the Sahara. While the country's southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Senegal rivers. The country's economic structure centres on agriculture and fishing. Some of the Mali's prominent natural resources include gold and salt. About half of its population lives below the international poverty line. A majority of populations (90%) are Muslims.

During the golden age of Mali, there was a flourishing mathematics, astronomy, literature and art. At its peak in 13th century, the Mali Empire covered an area about twice the size of modern-day France. In the late 19th century France seized the control of Mali making it a part of French Sudan. In 1960 Mali got independence from France. After a long period of one party rule a 1991 coup led to the writing of a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as democratic multi-party state.

In January 2012 an armed conflict broke out in Northern Mali between Tuareg rebels and military. In April Tuareg rebels declared secession of new state, Azawad. They captured most of the Northern Mali and established control over there. In response to the Malian Government request, the French military launched an operation against Tuareg and Islamist rebels in January 2013. A month later, Malian and French forces recaptured most of the North. President election was held on July 2013 and Legislative election was held on 24 November and 15 December on the same year. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Modibo Keita were elected President and Prime Minister respectively.

Afterwards intra-conflict began among the rebel groups mentionablly the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), Ansar Dine and Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa. Ultimately the most powerful secular rebel group MNLA had lost control over Northern Mali's cities to the fundamental Islamist groups. But by 8 January 2013 the Islamist-held territory had been re-taken by joint forces of Mali and France. Though the MNLA has also been accused of carrying out sporadic attacks against Malian Military.

Bangladesh deployed peacekeepers to Mali first on April 2014 following official request by United Nations. A total of 1722 peacekeepers are working in Mali under United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Bangladeshi peacekeepers include Army 1310, Navy 133, Air Force 123, Police 140 and Staff Officer 16 (2015). Ten countries sent their troops in Mali including Bangladesh, USA, France, China, Netherlands, Niger, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Chad and Burkina Faso.

A 13-member goodwill delegation led by Major General Md. Salahuddin Miaji visited Mali from 6 May to 12 May 2015 to see the administrative and operational activities of Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

In the morning on that day we went Lamiti Hotel what is presently used as Forces Headquarters of MINUSMA. Here we met Forces Commander Major General Miceal Lollesgard (Denmark). The goodwill delegation also called on Mongi Hamdi, Under Secretary General of UN and Special Representative of UN Secretary General in Mali. Later we called on Chief of Staff Brigadier General Cristian Thewvolt. They all lauded the role of Bangladeshi Peacekeepers in MINUSMA. They appreciated discipline, sincerity, courage and professionalism of Bangladeshi soldiers.

On 7 May we traveled to Gao and Kidal, which are strategically most important cities of Mali. Kidal is 1600 km and Gao is 1300 km away from Bamako. 3400 peacekeepers of nine countries are deployed in Gao sector. A 133-member Bangladesh Naval contingent are working here since April 2014. They are providing security of 900 km long riverine route of the Niger flowing through Mali. Before they take over the water transportation was banned due to security threat. After taking over the responsibility they ensured the security of that water route and commercial and other water transportation resumed. Bangladesh Navy also deployed BNS Darshak and six speedboats in Mali (2015).

A 100-member Signal contingent of Bangladesh Army has been deployed in Gao. They are installing tele communication network between Sector East, Sector North And Sector Headquarters. Their main responsibility is installation, operation and maintenance of communication system. They are also providing IT training to the officials and personnel of the Gao city. BANBAT-2 is also deployed in Gao city . They are extending security to the vehicle and personnel carrying logistics and rations on the way to Kidal from Bamako. They are also providing security to the civilian people and Gao Airport.

Kidal is a part of great Sahara Desert. Some time its temperature reaches up to 50 degree Celsius. A 140-member BANENGR (Bangladesh Engineer) contingent is deployed here. They are discharging their duties within adverse weather condition and threat from rebel group of far beyond the hills. They are also facing scarcity of water. They get only 10 litre of water per person a day. Sending of rations and logistics to Kidal is very difficult because most of the roads towards kidal are sandy and rocky terrains. BANENGR members are providing security of bunker, supplying water, constructing roads and patrolling the streets.

Bangladesh Air Force has deployed a 123-member BANAIR contingent at Kidal, Mali. BANAIR contingent is providing required operational support for air traffic control and airfield management both in Kidal Airfield and UN camp. They are capable to provide services like air traffic control, ramp control, movecon, meteorological forecast, limited crash fire and rescue and flight following. BAF peacekeepers have already imprinted a positive impression on overall air operation management in the airfield and camp helipad area.

Chief Operations Officer of BANBAT- 1 Lt Colonel Kazi Mohammad Zakaria has presented us during our visit some success story of BANBAT - 1 in MINUSMA in Mali. Once an armed clash broke out between two factions of Arab Movement of Azawad at Lerneb, 80 km out of their area of operations, Diabaly. The nearest Burkina Faso Battalion was tasked to position themselves in between both the groups and ensure a negotiated truce is not violated. Unfortunately, the Burkina patrol did not comply and so BANBAT was tasked directly by Forces Headquarters to go and take over the responsibility. Bangladesh patrol proved extremely successful in working as a buffer force between the two warring factions by getting inside the Lerneb. Ultimately through patience and out reach activities the patrol could reduce tension and make peaceful solution.

A BANBAT patrol was assigned to collect information on the movement and intention of pro and anti-Azawad groups at a place called Tabankort. During their stay a full-blown clash broke out between the parties. The patrol leadership tried to defuse the situation by going from one group to others and negotiated. At one instance they were fired upon but they were not deterred. The BANBAT kept position between fighting groups. Bullets and shells were falling all around them but the patrol commander Major Sayadat refused to extricate knowingfully was that if they come out of the area a full-fledged attack on the village will take place and hundreds of civilians will be killed. Finally they could stop the fighting and the civilians remained unharmed. The operation lasted for 78 days and entire episode demonstrated the courage and determination of BANBAT members.

As the situation deteriorated Sector North could not perform responsibility due to unavailability of combat/protected vehicles. The Forces HQ finding no other alternatives asked BANBAT to escort convoys all the way to Kidal operating over 400 km roads. The route was basically barren and rocky desert terrain with innumerable difficulties such as laying of mines, no source of water en-route, no shelter natural or otherwise for setting up camps during night halt etc. The stretch of route between Anafis and Kidal was also mine prone but BANBAT patrols operated over it without the support of mine rollers. Thus BANBAT soldiers showed their readiness to accept personal risk for others and was appreciated.

On 27 January 2015 widespread protest were organized by anti Azawad groups in Gao that targeted MINUSMA installations. The protest quickly turned violent by pelting stones and molotove cocktails and attempting to break MINUSMA security perimeters. BANBAT dealt with the situation by using alternatives to physical force. The soldiers displayed extreme patience and did not react to any provocation while leadership chose negotiation and no-lethal means. As a result, the unrest was successfully handled without any damage or loss of life and property.

On 10 March 2015 a BANBAT escort protecting 34 civilian logistic vehicles during a night halt was attacked by approximately 20/25 miscreants. They used automatic fire, mortars and IEDs to cause damage to the vehicles. The patrol fought back effectively by readjusting their defence and applying direct and indirect fire on the attackers. At one stage five attackers were seen crawling towards the camp location and the patrol fired forcing them to back. Thus BANBAT saved the civilian vehicles as well as accompanying civilians.

For their outstanding performance and efficiency BANBAT was selected for Premium Award by UN. For the first ever in UN peacekeeping history only the Bangladesh received this prestigious award. All the 850 BANBAT members are getting this award.

A 120-member Bangladesh Transport Company ( BAN TPT ) are deployed in Bamako. They are tasked to dispatch rations, food items and logistics to Kidal from Bamako for UN peacekeepers operating 1600 km rocky terrain of Sahara desert. Through this route they have to face adverse weather and mine explosion threat.

Bangladeshi peacekeepers earned appreciations for extending helping hands to other peacekeepers also. We talked to Colonel Hamdi L Gamal of Egyptian Army in Bamako peacekeepers camp. He appreciated Bangladeshi peacekeepers for helping them when they arrived Bamako. Specially he mentioned the name of Major SM Habib Ibne Jahan for his kind cooperation. Col Gamal said, he supplied us rations, other food items and drinking water. They helped us for making accommodations. Bangladeshi peacekeepers are very much cooperative and helpful, he said. " I said from my heart that Bangladeshis are my brothers". " Once we did not have food, rations, water, accommodation and fuel. Bangladeshi brothers then supplied us all those things," he added.

Bangladeshi peacekeepers also are providing medical treatment and medicines to others country's peacekeepers as well as local civilians. It is surprising that overseas peacekeepers come to Bangladesh camp and receive medical treatment. Major Mizanoor Rahman of Bangladesh Army said, " We provide medical treatment to other country's peacekeepers and civilians also. Besides, we provide treatment anybody who come to us with emergency condition."

Major Julsrab of Norway Army said, " Bangladeshi doctors are very much sincere, professional and trustworthy. So not only ours peacekeepers but peacekeepers of other countries come to Bangladesh camp and receive treatment."

(Noor Islam Habib is Assistant Director, ISPR).


Student politics should be free from party politics

A PROPOSAL on two previous decisions regarding the banning of student and teacher politics at educational institutions was placed at the Cabinet meeting on Monday. However, it was later withdrawn without any reason. The decisions to ban student and teacher politics on campus in Bangladesh were taken during the Ershad regime at a Cabinet meeting on December 8, 1986. During that time, it was planned that educational institutions would be freed of politics to ensure an atmosphere conducive to healthy education.

More than three decades have passed yet attempts to free our education sector remains a delusion. Not that student politics is highly detrimental on all counts, but what's happening in the name of student politics in Bangladesh is a sheer display of muscle power, the grabbing of projects, tenders and businesses and most importantly deadly violence and anarchy. Nevertheless, during the 2007 caretaker government's tenure, the issue of banning student politics returned to the fore. But the move drew flak from different quarters. Understandably, its future is somewhat uncertain.

It is true during almost any national movement student organizations once used to play a vital role historically. Not only were they a deciding factor, but they were the pioneer in many occasions, especially during the 50s, 60s and 70s. Nevertheless, the core objective of student politics then was for the greater interest of the people.

The current nature of student politics is completely unprincipled which does not encourage us to have any satisfaction at all. Unfortunately, student politics, especially by the ruling party backed front - in these days - has become a 'tool' to practice unnecessary power on others, be it opposition student fronts or common students who have no political attachment. We did observe it from Bangladesh Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir during BNP-Jamaat regime and it remains the same for BCL now. In this process, the innocent get repressed and the troublemakers enjoy commendation and a sort of cover from their party high-ups. In fact, there is no student politics. All students' fronts implement the agenda of the political parties.

One has little doubt that all unsolicited events give heavy jolts to the smooth functioning of our educational institutions, making the atmosphere insecure for the common students who go there for study. We think that it's time to decide the procedure of student politics in the campus, and it must be kept free from the political parties' control.






Nobody has right to waste taxpayers' money in the black hole of loan scams

THE government is likely to set aside Tk 1500 crore in the upcoming national budget in a bailout fund for scam-hit state-owned banks. The Ministry had to keep the bailout fund on 'political consideration' despite opposition from experts, think-tanks and right groups. The government between 2012-2013 and 2016-17 has fed Tk 9,788 crore to the state-owned banks' vaults that have drained out to the ruling-party blessed loan defaulters. The money put aside in each national budget as bailout fund goes to the bottomless basket and has not improved the health of the banks as the fund is allocated to nurture political men.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) noted that allocating controversial bailout fund in the budget for 2018-19 would give incentives to loan defaulters and masterminds of loan scams. Instead of grilling the loan defaulters, the government entertains them which encourage many to become dishonest as dishonesty has an award. The octogenarian Finance Minister from time to time acts like a crusader against loan defaulters as like in March when he announced the government would not pour money to meet the capital shortfall of banks from national exchequer, but he has now put Tk 1500 crore for the suited criminals who are loan defaulters.

Sonali Bank after Hallmark scam in 2013 was given Tk 3,005 crore in three phases to overcome its severe capital shortfall. Once profitable BASIC Bank was given the highest Tk 3,390 crore in three financial years to meet its capital shortfall caused by shady loans of over Tk 6,000 crore during the tenure of its previous board led by its chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bachchu. Janata Bank, facing loan scam over Tk 5,000 funds extended to little known AnonTex Group, received bailout fund of Tk 814 crore. Most of the loan defaulters are directly or indirectly related to the ruling elite.

Why should people pay for the malpractices and blunders committed by the banks' managements appointed by the government on political consideration? The government should be made accountable for their inaction that encourages loan defaulting and should evade wasting money by pouring money to the banks rather than invest in education, health, and employment generation.

Nobody has the right to waste taxpayers' money in the black hole of loan scams.
TETRA wins Safe Water Challenge award

Campus Report :

A group of youths called 'TETRA' has won the maiden Safe Water Challenge award for their innovative solution to solve safe water problems in the coastal areas.

UNDP Bangladesh and Pureit of Unilever jointly organised the competition, according to a UNDP press release. The winner received Tk 500,000 for executing the idea.

The winning team, comprised mostly of BUET students, introduces a device named 'Atoshi' which simultaneously can desalinate and purify water. This device can produce 8-10 litres of drinking water per day on average, said the UNDP press release.

The device developed with the locally available materials is environment friendly, and can be produced at a low cost and thus can be sold at an affordable price in rural areas.

Earlier in February, UNDP and Pureit of Unilever made a partnership to provide pure water to commoners in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal-6 - access to clean water and sanitation.

As part of the initiative, UNDP and Pureit jointly launched the first ever 'Safe Water Challenge', asking youths to submit their proposed solutions to solve safe water challenges in the rural areas of Bangladesh.

Among 130 entries, 10 proposed ideas were primarily selected.

The top 10 finalists on Tuesday presented their ideas before a jury board comprised of experts from different sectors at the UNDP country office in Agargaon of the capital.

UNDP Bangladesh's acting country director Shaila Khan said, "At UNDP, we believe that the SDGs represent a unique opportunity for big corporate to look at new markets and new technologies. Safe Water Challenge is one such approach to generate ideas for entrepreneurs linked directly with the demand of big corporate bodies.

"This unique partnership with Unilever will encourage other private organisations to come forward and be a part of the journey of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Unilever marketing director of home care Tanzeen Ferdous Alam said, "We're committed to eradicate water-borne diseases for the people of Bangladesh by providing solutions for safe drinking water and help all the relevant stakeholders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."

The winner of the challenge will work closely with UNDP and Unilever to implement the plan and establish a business model for safe water.
Ex-Com summit held at EU

Campus Report :

IEEE Eastern University (EU) Student Branch successfully hosted and organized the IEEE Bangladesh Section Student Branch Executive-Committee (Ex-Com) Summit 2018 at Eastern University premises on Friday. IEEE creates an environment where members collaborate on all over the world changing technologies, by computing from sustainable energy systems to aerospace, communications, robotics, healthcare, and more. This is fully a volunteering activity. Representatives from 36 student branch of Bangladesh were presented in this meet-up summit.

Opening speech was delivered by Prof Dr Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Eastern University and Counselor, IEEE EU Student Branch. Dr Shaikh Anowarul Fattah, Chairman of Nominations and Appointments Section, IEEE BDS delivered his speech on 'Quality project proposal writing for possible funding'. Yeasir Arafat, Vice-Chair (Activity), IEEE BDS delivered his speech on 'IEEE VOLT'. Rakibul Islam Chowdhury, Humanitarian Activities Coordinator, IEEE BDS delivered his speech on 'Humanitarian Activity'. Raihan Ur Rashid, Publicity Coordinator, IEEE BDS delivered his speech on 'IEEE Design Standard and Norms'.

Speeches on 'IEEE CLE Topics', 'IEEE Event Reporting', 'IEEE Financial Reporting' and 'IEEE Student Branch Counselor Responsibilities' were delivered respectively by Shams Shad Islam Khan, Student Activity Coordinator, IEEE BDS and Abhijit Biswas, SSR, IEEE BDS, Mohammad Zakaria Haider, Secretary, IEEE BDS, Md. Romael Haque' Treasurer, IEEE BDS and Dr M Tanseer Ali, Professional Activity Coordinator, IEEE BDS.

Prof Dr Celia Shahnaz, Chair, IEEE BDS delivered her speech on 'IEEE BDS Vision 2018' and 'IEEE Award Nomination' and shared the year-long activities of IEEE Bangladesh Section in 2018. Engr Kh Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, Chairman, Board of Trustees, EU; Prof Dr Md. Nurul Islam, Vice Chancellor, EU; Prof Dr Md. Aminul Hoque, Advisor, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, EU delivered their motivational speeches regarding the core value of IEEE activities and Eastern University standing to lead it to a step ahead.

The summit was organized for the proper networking of the student members and the faculties from different universities. Prize giving ceremony and closing ceremony were held at the end of the summit.


Iran sanctions shadow falls on smaller German banks

AFP, Frankfurt :

Germany's biggest lenders have shied away from business with Iran after past penalties for breaching US sanctions, but smaller banks have leapt on opportunities afforded by the nuclear deal rejected by Donald Trump.

There are just months to go until a November deadline issued by Washington after the US president abandoned a hard-fought agreement that loosened business restrictions on the Islamic Republic in exchange for Tehran giving up its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

But some firms plan to press on in their dealings with Iran despite the looming threat of penalties.

"We will continue to serve our clients," for now, said Patrizia Melfi, a director at the "international competence centre" (KCI) founded by six cooperative savings banks in the small town of Tuttlingen in southwest Germany.

The centre, which supports companies operating in sensitive markets like Iran or Sudan, has seen demand "rising sharply in the last few years, from firms listed on the Dax (Germany's index of blue-chip firms), from all over Germany and from Switzerland," she added.

German exports to Iran have grown since the nuclear deal was signed in 2015, adding 15.5 percent last year to reach almost 2.6 billion euros ($3.0 billion) after 22-percent growth in 2016.
Serena should not get preferential seeding treatment, says Azarenka



Former world number one Victoria Azarenka said on Monday that any change in seeding rules for returning mothers at Grand Slam tournaments would have to be for all players and not just SerenaWilliams.

Roland Garros organisers have come under fire for not seeding 23-time major champion Williams for the French Open, as the American makes her Grand Slam comeback after stepping away from the Tour in February 2017 to have her first child.

Azarenka herself missed much of last season after giving birth and becoming embroiled in a custody battle and was not seeded on her return at Wimbledon."We are talking about one individual being seeded. So if we talk about the rule, then the rule should be for everybody," said the Belarusian after her shock first-round defeat by Katerina Siniakova at Roland Garros.




Ex-CJP Nasirul Mulk named as caretaker PM

Dawn.com :

Former chief justice Nasirul Mulk was named as the caretaker prime minister on Monday.

The announcement was made by Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah at a press conference in Islamabad following a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Shah was accompanied by Abbasi and National Assembly

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq at the press conference. PM Abbasi spoke first, describing the agreed-upon candidate for caretaker PM as someone "who no one can object to". "All the names under consideration were credible," PM Abbasi said. "Every name was discussed, and this name was decided upon." "His role as a caretaker PM will be in favour of the country and the democratic process." The premier thanked the NA speaker for facilitating the process "in a constitutional manner" and for playing a role in both parties reaching a consensus. "Congratulations to you all," PM Abbasi said, requesting Khursheed Shah to make the formal announcement. Shah began by clarifying that "no one's name was discarded". "We have chosen his name on the basis of merit. We took our parties into confidence and decided upon this name." "We are happy that the government was able to complete its five-year term," Shah said, adding that the NA speaker had played a major role in both parties reaching an agreement."We have made a democratic decision. I am thankful to the PM [and] to the speaker for making this decision with patience, setting aside emotion. The name of the person I would like to present is very respectable," the veteran PPP leader said.


Khaleda gets bail in 2 cases

Staff Reporter :

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Monday secured bail for six months from the High Court in two criminal cases filed in Cumilla. But she was denied bail in another case of Narail.

The High Court bench of Justice A K M Asaduzzaman and Justice J B M Hassan passed the order after concluding the hearing on the petitions.

Meanwhile, hours after she secured the bail, the government filed separate appeals with the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the High Court's order.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddique fixed Tuesday for hearing the petitions, Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque told the reporters.

Among the three cases, two were filed in Cumilla on charges of vandalising vehicles on January 25, 2015, killing seven persons and injuring 25-26 others by setting fire to a passenger bus in Chauddagram on February 2, 2015.

The third one was filed by one Raihan Faruki Imam with a Narail court on September 24, 2015, against Khaleda for making a statement about the number of freedom fighters and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The High Court denied bail in the case saying that "the petition was not properly moved".

Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Advocate A J Mohammad Ali, Advocate Zainul Abedin and Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan took part in the hearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the State.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan said, however, "Khaleda Zia was shown arrested in two cases of Cumilla and in Zia Charitable Trust case. She got bails in all the three cases. So, now there is no legal bar for her to get release from jail."

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said, "The High Court granted six months bail to Khaleda Zia in two Cumilla cases filed on charges of vandalising vehicles and killing seven persons and injuring 25-26 others by setting fire to a passenger bus. And the defendant omitted the third petition as 'not press rejected."

The AG said that it was not a proper decision to give her bail in two cases while the trial proceedings continues in the lower courts. "However, the High Court granted her bail. We are trying to file appeal petitions against the High Court order. Petitions are ready," AG said after the High Court order.

On May 20, Khaleda's lawyer M Masud Rana filed the petitions with the consent of the BNP chief.

Earlier, on May 16, the SC upheld a HC order that granted bail to Khaleda for four months in Zia Orphanage Trust case in which she was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

But, she is still in the jail as she has been shown arrested in seven other cases including the three.

According to media reports, the BNP chairperson is now facing a total of 36 cases.
3 UPDF men killed in Rangamati gunfight

Staff Reporter :

Unidentified miscreants gunned down three activists of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) over the dispute of establishing supremacy at Korolyachhari in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati early Monday.

The deceased were identified as Sunil Chakma Sonjit, 30, Atol Chkama, 30, and Smrity Chakma, 50.

Kanon Chakma, another activist of the party, was injured in the attack which took place around 5:00am, our Rangamati correspondent reports quoting the party leaders.

Niron Chakma, Secretary of UPDF's Publicity and Publication, claimed that gun trotting goons of PCJSS and UPDF

(Democratic) attacked the UPDF men at a house at Korolyachhari around 5:00am and shot the trio dead on the spot.

UPDF Baghaichhari upazila organizer Jewel Chakma blamed Neo-UPDF (Democratic) and MN Larma-led Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) for the killings.

Meanwhile, denying UPDF's claim, Shudhakar Tripura, Secretary of Central PCJSS's information and publicity, told the media that there is no connection with his party in regard to this incident.

Confirming the shooting incident, Nurul Anwar, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sajek Police Station, said that law enforcers recovered the bodies.
12 more killed in gunshots

Death toll crosses 100: 2 Rohingyas among 6 drug peddlers held in Dhaka

Staff Reporter :

Twelve more suspected drug traders were killed in reported gunfights with members of law enforcement agencies in nine districts early Monday as anti-narcotics crackdown continues across the country.

Of them, two each were killed in Cumilla and Pirojpur respectively and one each in Dhaka, Natore, Pabna and Chandpur.

Besides, two drug traders were killed in Satkhira and one each in Jhenaidah and Munshiganj in reported gunfights between two groups of drug traders.

According to media reports, a total of 105 people have been killed in 'gunfights' across the country since 12 May.

In Cumilla, two suspected drug traders were killed in separate incidents of gunfights in Sadar Dakhshin and Debidwar upazilas early in the morning.

Enamul Haque Dolon, 35, son of late Abdullah Bhuiyan alias Babul Miah of Bhinglabari area, and accused in 12 drug cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Bhinglabari Beribadh area of Debidwar upazila.

Police recovered 10 kg hemp, 100 yaba tablets, one pipe gun and a cartridge from the spot.

Besides, Nuru Miah, 55, son of late Abdul Ohab of Kalikapur area of Sadar Dakhshin upazila, and accused in 13 drug cases, was killed in another gunfight with police in Goliyarai area. Police recovered 40 kg hemp, one pistol and bullet from the spot. Three policemen were injured during the gunfight.

In Pirojpur, a suspected drug trader, Wahiduzzaman Ohid, 50, from Nesarabad upazila, accused in eight drug cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Kourikhara village of Sadar upazila around 2:00am.

GM Abul Kalam Azad, Aditional Sperintendent of Pirojpur police, said that police recovered one pipe gun, 175 yaba tablets, 50 gm hemp and four cartridges from the spot.

Besides, Mizanur Rahman, 35, an accused in six cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Gotichhara village of Mathbaria upazila around 1:30am.

Police recovered 2 kg hemp, 50 yaba tablets and four sharp weapons from the spot, said Mostafa Swapan, Aditional Sperintendent of Mathbaria Police.

In Dhaka, an unidentified drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Detective Branch (DB) of police in Mirpur area of the capital.

The DB team recovered a pistol and five thousand yaba tablets from the spot, said SI Mizan of Rupnagar.

In Natore, a suspected drug trader, Khalekuddin, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Baghnagarkandi in Singra upazila around 2:00am. Police recovered several drugs, one pistol and some bullets from the spot.

In Satkhira, police recovered bullet-ridden bodies of two suspected drug traders from Bankal-Agunpur area at Alipur union in Sadar upazila around 7:00am.

The deceased was identified as Khalilur Rahman Puti, 35, son of Azgar Ali, of Bhomra village.

Prabir Kumar Das, Sub-Inspector of Sadar Police Station, said that on information, a team of police recovered the bodies from the area.

They also recovered a one-shooter gun, one bullet, a bottle of liquor and 105 bottles of Phensidyl.

The SI said the drug traders might have been killed in a gunfight between two groups of drug traders over sharing drug money.

In Jhenaidah, Farid, 27, son of late Mohammad Ali of Paglakanai in the district town, and an accused in nine drug cases, was killed in a reported gunfight between two groups of drug traders at Jar village around 1:00am.

Emdadul Haque Sheikh, Oficer-in-Carge of Sadar Police Station, said on information about a gunfight between the groups, a petrol team reached the spot. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the drug traders fled the scene. Later, police recovered the bullet-hit body from the spot. Police recovered a foreign pistol and 20 bottles of Phensidyl.

In Pabna, Ejjat Ali Pramanik, 28, an accused in 14 cases, including that of murder, robbery, abduction and extortion, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Teghori Mahalla in Bera municipal area around 1:30am.

Zihadul Kabir, superintendent of Pabna Police, said law enforcers recovered a local shutter gun, four bullets and some drugs from the spot. Five policemen were injured in the incident. In Chandpur, a suspected drug trader, Abu Sayeed Badsha aka Lal Badsha, 45, son of Absur Rashid, of Purba Gobindopur village in Faridganj upazila was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Boichatoli around 2:00am.

Shah Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Faridganj Police Station, said police recovered 111 yaba tablets, a one-barrel pistol, three crude bombs and four bullets from the spot, adding that Badsha was an accused in 10 cases with different police stations. Four policemen were injured in the gunfight.

In Munshiganj, Sumon Biswas alias Kana Sumon, 36, son of Babul Biswas, an accused in 25 cases, was killed in a reported gunfight between two group of drug traders at Murma village in Sadar upazila around 2:30am, said Gazi Salauddin, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station.

The law enforcement's version of these events was, however, not verified independently as no version of the incident was available immediately either from any witnesses or from any members of the victim's family.

Meanwhile, detectives have arrested six persons, including two Rohingyas, on charge of supplying yaba tablets by ingesting them in capsule form. A team of Detective Branch of police (DB North) arrested them from Dakkhin Khan in the capital during an anti-narcotics raid on Sunday night, Devdas Bhattacharya, Additional Commissioner of DB, said at a press briefing at Dhaka Metropolitan Police Media Centre on Monday morning.

Of the detainees, Md Mamun Sheikh, Md Shariful, Md Fahim Sarker, Md Razib Hossein are Bangladeshi and Md Selim Molla and Md Afser alias Babul, a minor, are Rohingyas, the DB official said.

During a primary interrogation of the arrestees, it was found that they ingested yaba tablets after wrapping them with scotch tape to easily transfer them from one area to another.

Md Mamun Sheikh and his associate Rezwan, who is a fugitive, have been in the yaba trade for a long period of time. Rezwan collects the tablets in Cox's Bazar and sends them to Dhaka where Mamun collects them, the DB official said quoting Mamun.

The Rohingya detainees told police that Rezwan lured them into carrying yaba tablets in exchange of money, the official said.

They ingested the scotch tape wrapped yaba provided by Rezwan and came to Dhaka by train or bus three to four times every month to deliver them, he added
France to provide $490,000 for Rohingyas

France will provide euro 400,000 equivalent to more than $490,000 to support life-saving nutrition activities for Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar.

This contribution will help prevent and address moderate acute malnutrition among children under five and pregnant and nursing women living in refugee settlements in Cox's Bazar.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed the support on Sunday.

As part of this support, WFP provides Super Cereal, a fortified nutritious porridge, along with training on good nutrition practices. "We highly appreciate the positive impact on children and women refugees from the nutrition programme and training conducted by the World Food Programme, with our euro 300,000 contribution in 2017," said Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie-Annick Bourdin.

"France hopes that its 2018 support will further benefit both Rohingya refugees and local communities exposed to moderate acute malnutrition and warmly thanks WFP for its continuous efforts." More than 5,000 children under five and 1,100 pregnant and nursing women in the refugee settlements of Cox's Bazar will benefit from France's support for this nutrition programme, said a press release.

Welcoming France's contribution, WFP Bangladesh Country Director Christa Rader said, "The nutrition situation in the camps remains critical. This is of particular concern for young children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. France's contribution will help us address this situation."

Almost 700,000 refugees have fled violence in Myanmar since August 2017, resulting in about one million Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar district.

Surveys conducted in late 2017 showed that malnutrition rates in these refugee sites are above the emergency threshold of 15 percent. The surveys also indicated that nearly half of children suffer from anaemia.

In Cox's Bazar, WFP provides supplementary nutritious food to nearly 163,000 pregnant and nursing women and children under five.
Home they return but abused and empty handed

Forty more female workers returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday night being abused and tortured by their employers.

Anisul Islam Noor :

Forty female workers, mainly housemaids returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday leaving behind a terrible experience of sexual abuse, physical torture and payment irregularities of wages. They returned empty handed.

They landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the evening and were at a loss how to go home and show face to family members, relatives and neighbours. This batch of female workers returned after more than 100 returned home from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago in two batches with similar tales of torture and abuse by their employers who reportedly treated the women as sex slaves in many cases.

Many questions why the government is sending such unskilled female workers to the Gulf countries and particularly to Saudi Arabia ignoring call from civil society leaders and human rights organizations to ban sending such women where they lack due protection.

At a time other suppliers of housemaids such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Philippines have stopped sending their female workers on safety ground, why Bangladesh government is still sending women workers is not fairly understood at a time when the question of national dignity is at stake.

A BRAC functionary received the returnees at the Airport to raise question also as to why the concerned government officials of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare are not showing up at the Airport and arranging their reception and transportation to their families.

"Forty women have arrived in Dhaka safely and five others are scheduled to return home tomorrow," said Al Amin, spokesman of BRAC's Migration Program.

Almost all of the returnees claimed they had left Saudi Arabia after suffering physical abuse and inhumane torture at the hands of their employers in addition to payment-related irregularities in most cases. Many of these women had escaped from employers' houses without passport and returned home with support from the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh Embassy is maintaining two safe homes in Saudi Arabia and shelter and sends back home those who seek protection.

Priti Begum of Manikganj, who went to Saudi Arabia with a local broker's assistance, said she worked at the home of a wealthy Saudi man who abused her and used to beat her even over minor reasons.

"The workload in that house was huge and I had to take care of at least 16 people. I could not even get enough sleep. They did not care even if I was sick. There were no medical facilities for workers like me," she told journalists at the airport.

"My employer and his family members used to beat me so severely that I had lost consciousness several times during my stay in that house. One day, I escaped from that house and sought help from local police. They sent me to the Bangladesh Embassy and now I am here," said Priti as tears rolls her eyes.

Another worker named Sakina Begum from Brahmanbaria said she worked there for two months and has returned to Bangladesh without receiving any payment.

"I am a poor woman. I went to Saudi Arabia against my husband's wishes, to earn money and for a better life. But now, I have returned humiliated and empty-handed and I do not know how to show my face to my family," she said.

BRAC's Al Amin said most of these women experienced similar tortures at the hands of their employers.'

Many of them returned empty-handed and were so broke that they were even unable to go home to their families, he added, urging the government to consider these cases seriously and take legal actions against their employers.

Last week, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry's Secretary Dr Namita Halder had said: "Most of the Bangladeshi women workers in Saudi Arabia are working happily and those returning home were coming back after failing to cope up with the local environment and culture."

However, Sunday's 40 followed a number of women workers who have recently returned to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia in a similar manner and shared with the media their tales of woe under the employment of locals in Saudi Arabia.
France to provide $490,000 for Rohingyas

UNB, Dhaka :

France will provide euro 400,000 equivalent to more than $490,000 to support life-saving nutrition activities for Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar.

This contribution will help prevent and address moderate acute malnutrition among children under five and pregnant and nursing women living in refugee settlements in Cox's Bazar.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed the support on Sunday.

As part of this support, WFP provides Super Cereal, a fortified nutritious porridge, along with training on good nutrition practices. "We highly appreciate the positive impact on children and women refugees from the nutrition programme and training conducted by the World Food Programme, with our euro 300,000 contribution in 2017," said Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie-Annick Bourdin.

"France hopes that its 2018 support will further benefit both Rohingya refugees and local communities exposed to moderate acute malnutrition and warmly thanks WFP for its continuous efforts."

More than 5,000 children under five and 1,100 pregnant and nursing women in the refugee settlements of Cox's Bazar will benefit from France's support for this nutrition programme, said a press release.

Welcoming France's contribution, WFP Bangladesh Country Director Christa Rader said, "The nutrition situation in the camps remains critical. This is of particular concern for young children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. France's contribution will help us address this situation."

Almost 700,000 refugees have fled violence in Myanmar since August 2017, resulting in about one million Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar district.

Surveys conducted in late 2017 showed that malnutrition rates in these refugee sites are above the emergency threshold of 15 percent. The surveys also indicated that nearly half of children suffer from anaemia.

In Cox's Bazar, WFP provides supplementary nutritious food to nearly 163,000 pregnant and nursing women and children under five.
In the formerly United States at least, it's Memorial Day, the day on which we remember those who died in our country's wars in active service. It used to be May 30th; now it's the last Monday in May, which is today.

Traditionally, it's also considered to be the unofficial beginning of Summer in the U.S. Today's a genuinely hot day here, and the boats are on the lake, the trees are fully leafed out, and the robin in nest #1 has hatched her first brood. Cold April is a distant memory already.

On this day I try to remember that no one (or very few people, at least) wanted to give his or her life for their country. What they wanted to do was serve, then come home and grow old. Some of them didn't even want to serve, but got conscripted into it. Not only can they not speak for themselves, but no one can speak for them, eitherthis is what offends me about all the treacly, sentimental pap we tend to get bombarded with on days like this. Safe, live personages putting words into the mouths of the dead.

...Not the words I'd put there either. Personally, if I had realized I was about to lose the whole world and everything in it at age 19 in the hell of the Argonne Forest or the muck of Midway Atoll, I'd feel pretty ripped off. Who would choose to "pay the ultimate sacrifice"? Some live, some die, and who gets to survive and who must perish is a grim lottery, one that is mostly a matter of chance.

Along those lines, we can also be thankful that relatively few soldiers have died in recent decades, compared to costlier wars. Although that makes no difference at all to the men and women who were lost. Or their suffering families, who should also be in our thoughts today.

But here's the important thing: the war dead were called to serve, they answered, and then they paid the price. All honor to them. It's worth remembering that before the Battle of Midway, to name just one example, the U.S. mainland was distinctly threatened by the Japanese fleet; after Midway, that threat had effectively evaporated.

Whatever your opinions of war and service, we should save a few moments between beers, barbecue, family and fireworks today to contemplate the war dead.

It's their day, not ours.

Mike

ADDENDUM American wartime military casualties by war:

American Revolutionary War 4,435

War of 1812 2,260

Mexican War 13,283

American Civil War (estimated) 750,000

Spanish American War 2,446

World War I: 116,516

World War II: 405,399

Korea 36,576

Vietnam 58,200

Gulf War 382

Iraq and Afghanistan 6,831

[Source: Historical Statistics of the United States (Millennial Edition), quoted by Samuelson, Robert J., in "The horror and honor of the Civil War on Memorial Day," Newsweek magazine, May 25, 2014. Samuelson gives the figure for Iraq and Afghanistan at 6,809 as of May 2014, so I looked to Wikipedia for an updated figure.

Further investigation indicates that most of these figures are total military deaths from all causes rather than direct combat casualties alone. The 750,000 figure for the American Civil War appears to come from a study by historian J. David Hacker published in Civil War History Volume 57 No. 4, December 2011. An article about the study in BBC News magazine (online) describes it as "a paper that used demographic methods and sophisticated statistical software to study newly digitised US census records from 1850 to 1880." Ed.]



P.S. As I mentioned in the previous post, please be mindful of our Comment Guidelines. The brief version at the top is easy and quick to read. Thanks!

Original contents copyright 2018 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

B&H Photo  Amazon US  Amazon UK

Amazon Germany  Amazon Canada  Adorama

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Mike Plews: "Memorial Day is a tough holiday for me to process. I'm a veteran, Army Security Agency from '67 to '71 but never got close to Vietnam. My father was in from 1923 to 1955 and saw a lot of combat in the 4th Armored Division in Europe. He is buried in the military cemetery in San Diego.

"My only remaining uncle was an 18-year-old POW in the Battle of the Bulge.

"Last September I had the pleasure of getting a little pissed with my cousin's husband who flew Dust Off in Vietnam.

"We just buried a old friend who suffered the kind of cascading organ collapse associated with Agent Orange exposure. His family found military bits and pieces all over his condo and asked me to come over and explain their significance. They told in interesting story. He had been a specialist in the 11th Armored Cavalry. He had a Combat Infantryman's Badge and three Bronze Stars. He never spoke of this to us. We all knew he had bad case of PTSD but he never went to the VA about it. He was a high school teacher and still in the closet and perhaps he feared being outed. We'll never know now.

"I am sharing this not to brag up my family history. It is to let you know where I am coming from.

"I believe the best Memorial Day address yet was given by Lieutenant General Lucien Truscott in 1945 at a military cemetery in Sicily. No full record of his actual remarks remains, only fragments as it was not written down. Truscott stepped up, waited for silence, turned his back on the crowd to face the dead and apologized."
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.
This was meant to be a short post announcing some new papers of ours, but it grew. So what you get is a post announcing some new papers, wit...
The Abu Dhabi Business Centre of the Department of Economic Development (DED) has registered 2,935 licences during the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 26 per cent compared to the same quarter last year, which saw 2,328 new licenses, according to the report issued for the first quarter of 2018.



The report monitors commercial activities in Abu Dhabi, mainly new licence issuances, renewals, modifications, permits, announcements, violations, fees and other types of transaction activities, reported Emirates news agency Wam.



Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Business Centre, said that the DED has devised a clear strategy to develop the business sector, in order to turn Abu Dhabi into an attractive destination for investors and businessmen. This has been achieved by implementing the plans, programmes, regulations and laws that govern the job market and ensure the carrying out of the best practices, which in turn enables the emirate to secure advanced positions in international competitiveness reports.



The report mentioned that the total number of new commercial licences registered in the emirate reached 2,779 in the first quarter of 2018, compared to 2,220 licences in the same quarter of last year, indicating an increase of 25 per cent. On the other hand, there were a 49 craft licences registered in the first quarter of 2018, which is the same as last year.



Moreover, 43 new tourism licences have been recorded during the first quarter of 2018, compared to 29 licences in the same period last year, which was an increase of 48 per cent.



Regarding professional licences, 53 new licences were recorded in the first quarter of 2018, compared to 17 in the same period last year, an increase of 211 per cent, whereas the agricultural, fish and livestock and industrial licences recorded 7 and 4 licences, respectively, during the first quarter of 2018.



Al Mansouri emphasised that this data shows an increase in the demand on issuing commercial licences over the last years, which reflects the expansion of the commercial market in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in light of the urban expansion that it has witnessed.



The report mentioned that the total number of economic licences that were renewed during the first quarter of 2018 reached 7,750 licences, compared to 7,385 licenses in the same quarter last year, an increase of 4.9 per cent.


CBRE, a global real estate consulting firm, has announced four key appointments in the strategic advisory and valuations service line at its Dubai office.



As a leading provider of full-range real estate services to an array of businesses and government entities, CBREs new hires - Michael Heitmann, Daniel McCulloch, Emily Sturgis and Gabriella De La Torre - will further help expand expertise in its advisory function, supporting its growing footprint across the Middle East region, said a statement from CBRE.



The strategic advisory team covers a cross-section of asset classes and provides both retail leasing and consultancy capabilities along with a market research function to synergistically support development evaluations for CBREs clients, it added.



Heitmann, an industry veteran with 20 years of experience, has been named the senior director who will oversee operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.



He has considerable real estate experience across the commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, and industrial classes.



As a senior industry figure, regular panelist and moderator at industry conferences, Heitmann will help the firm strengthen its business contacts through his strong, well-established network in the region and beyond, said a statement from CBRE.



McCulloch also joins the strategic advisory team as a director and brings not only regional expertise, but also insights from working in the European and Asian markets.



He comes from Deloitte where he spent over a decade, most recently leading their Middle East valuation assurance function.



McCulloch specialises in valuations and development advisory and has undertaken transactional due diligence roles for major corporate transactions in the region.



His Middle East valuation expertise covers the vast majority of asset classes and ranges from single assets to city-scale master-planned schemes.



Sturgis, who brings with her more than six years of professional experience in commercial property, has been appointed as an associate director within the strategic advisory team.



Forming an integral part of the retail team, she will support the department in retail consultancy across the Middle East region.



Sturgis has significant experience working on exclusive loan security valuations on behalf of banks, investors, financial institutions, equity funds and developers.



La Torre too joins as an associate director in the strategic advisory team. Her experience advising government entities, developers and investors across the Middle East, will best position her to lead a wide range of consulting and advisory assignments.



Lauding the appointments, Nick Maclean, the managing director of CBRE Middle East, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Heitmann, McCulloch, Sturgis and La Torre to our team. Their combined wealth of knowledge and expertise will further strengthen our capabilities in the region and cement our position as the regions leading real estate advisor."



"These appointments will continue to enrich our service line offerings and enable us to drive exceptional results for our clients," he added.



CBRE operates in all the GCC countries, as well as Morocco, Egypt and Turkey with over 500 employees and supported by an international network of 75,000 colleagues and 92 associates.



The firm offers a wide range of services across research and consulting, advisory and transactions, residential, asset services, global corporate services and building consultancy.-TradeArabia News Service
Dubai-based global marine terminal operator DP World today (May 28) revealed its successful acquisition of Cosmos Agencia Maritima (CAM), a subsidiary of Andino Investment Holding, in Peru, for $315.7 million.



On March 18, DP World and Andino Investment Holding announced an agreement for the Dubai firm to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of CAM, a leading fully integrated logistics provider in Peru, said a statement from DP World.



The deal also includes 100 per cent of the shares in Triton Transports and Neptunia, and 50 per cent in Terminales Portuarios Euroandinos, in the Port of Paita, which is the second largest container terminal in Peru, it said.



This transaction expands DP Worlds footprint in Peru by adding another container terminal to the existing terminal at Callao as well as integrated logistics services including warehousing, distribution and cargo handling to provide tailor made solutions to a range of industrial sectors in the country, it added.



Further, it also complements the first smart logistics centre in Lurin which is connected through optical fibres to Callao and delivers information to the port and customs enabling customers to manage the movement of their cargo using their own electronic devices and smartphones, said a statement.



DP World group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: We are delighted to add Cosmos Agencia Maritima to our Americas region interests.



Latin America is a very important market for us and this move adds value for our customers in the region with logistics services to our existing container terminal in Callao and inland container terminal in Lurin, he said.



The acquisition underlines the confidence we have in Peru and the potential of its economy. As leaders of global trade, we believe the logistic sector in the country has great potential, he added.



Gerard van den Heuvel, CEO of DP World Peru, said: The acquisition diversifies the revenue of our business through a wider range of logistics services.



We already operate the largest container facility in the country in Callao which has rapidly become a leader for trade along the west coast of South America and this will enhance our services even further, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's dairy major Almarai Company board has approved the five-year business plan for the period 2019-2023, which envisages a capital investment of SR10.6 billion ($2.8 billion).

This investment programme will be financed through the increasing operating cash flow, and when appropriate through banks, SIDF, ADF and local and international Sukuk programmes, the company said.

The long-term investment plan of the company calls for less expansionary investments and a focus towards more efficiency and sustainability.

The investments will focus on replacement of existing assets; improvement of production capacities and capabilities in farms and manufacturing facilities; distribution and transportation facilities; extension of geographical footprint and the enhancement of innovation and product development capabilities, it said.

The board, during its meeting held on May 23, completed its first milestone review of Almarai 2025 plan initiated last year. This review confirmed that the company is on track with this long-term vision to reinforce its position as the consumers' preferred choice for superior, nutritious food and beverage products in the Arab world, it said.

The review confirmed that the infrastructure, in terms of processes, people and systems, is in place to enable the company to face the future challenges and meet its long-term ambition. Each of the seven business units will drive the company forward through growth and innovation across the traditional trade, modern trade and foodservice channels, with its operating model transformed by the implementation of automation, cyber-physical systems, cognitive computing and the growing digitalisation of the food & beverage industry, the company said.

Given the persistently challenging economic conditions across the region, the focus on efficiency and cost optimisation measures will continue throughout the plan period to ensure continuous competitive advantage, the company said. - TradeArabia News Service
The Dubai Free Zones (DFZ) Council discussed in its ninth meeting initiatives to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the emirates free zones, said a report.



Key items on the agenda included easing the business set-up and reducing fees in the free zones, the new e-commerce regulations, the assessment of the effectiveness of measures related to anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing, as well as Dubai Blink initiative, reported state news agency Wam.



Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chief executive of Emirates Group chairman of DFZ, who presided over the meeting, said that over the past decades, free zones have been instrumental in increasing Dubai's GDP and FDI inflows that are experiencing high annual growth despite the prevailing global economic climate.



He added that emirate's free zones are seen as more than just economic facilitators. Due to their legislative and investment incentives and through adopting strategic initiatives that shape the future of trade and economy to consolidate Dubai's status as an ideal business destination.



Sheikh Ahmed further noted that members of the DFZ Council place high importance on collaboration, innovation, and integration that are essential prerequisites for success and progress.



He pointed out that this approach has gone a long way towards enhancing the attractiveness of Dubai's free zones for investors and major international companies.



The DFZ Council reviewed the updates on an initiative to create a centralised electronic system to streamline registration and licensing procedures that will link all the free zones in Dubai to a data centre under the supervision of the council, and route orders to the concerned authorities for approval.



In this context, the DFZ Council established a permanent administrative and technical committee to oversee the project and set a timetable for its implementation.



The attendees also overviewed the latest developments in the free zone e-commerce initiative, presented in April to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, it said.



The effort seeks to stimulate the national economy through developing an ecosystem that boosts the quality of e-commerce services, added the report.
Aluminium Bahrains (Alba) chief executive officer, Tim Murray, paid a scheduled visit to Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali (AMA Group), one of the major Bahraini contractors for its Line 6 Expansion Project, to celebrate the successful fabrication of 427 pot shells.



Alba is one of the largest and modern aluminium smelters in the world.



AMA Group was awarded the contract to manufacture 427 pot shells (each weighing 44 metric tonnes) for Albas Line 6 Expansion Project wherein the progressive delivery is aligned with the construction schedule, said a statement from Alba.



Murray was accompanied by Line 6 Project director Shawqi Al Hashmi and a delegation of Line 6 owners team and managers from Bechtel, the project's engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contractor..



Murray said: AMA Group expertise was fundamental to complete the fabrication of pot shells safely and ahead of time.



This achievement is a milestone for us as we bring to close the construction and delivery of Line 6 Expansion Project, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Arabian Security & Safety Services Company (AMNCO) was honoured with the '2018 KSA Manned Guarding Company of the Year Award' at the recently held 2018 Frost & Sullivan Middle East Best Practices Awards Banquet in Dubai, UAE.



AMNCO is a leading provider of manned security for various financial institutions and precious metal dealers covering more than 250 cities across Saudi Arabia. AMNCO has also gained traction in diversifying its services into the Facilities Management sector with the acquisition of a FM company. This has created a unique value proposition wherein AMNCO offers bundled services to its esteemed clients.



In addition, AMNCO has partnerships with international security agencies such as West Sealand Digital, WSI International, Shield, etc., to provide quality training to the workforce and introduce high-tech safety equipment in the Middle East.



AMNCO CEO Fahad M Al Guthami said: "The Awards could not have been achieved without the hard work of AMNCO employees that led to customer satisfaction and to this recognition. The management team and myself consider each day an opportunity to serve and work with regulators, consultants, partners and clients to uplift the image, strengthen the position and create best in class environment for the security officers to grow in their career and be proud of being an integral part of this great industry."



Abhay Bhargava, business head-MEA, Industrial Practice, Frost & Sullivan said: "2017 has been a very successful year for AMNCO during which its year-on-year revenue growth rate has been over 14 per cent in the security services market. With its thorough personnel validation and exceptional training procedures, AMNCO has a unique competitive advantage over other manned security service providers in the region in terms of security technology integration and penetration into the Middle East."



Frost & Sullivan Awards recognise companies across regional and global markets for outstanding achievement and performance in a range of regional and global markets for superior leadership, technological innovation, customer service, strategic product development, etc.  TradeArabia News Service
Modhesh, the lovable mascot of Dubais summer season, has embarked on a citywide tour to spread the messages of fun, joy, caring and sharing, among children, teenagers and families at various locations including schools, hospitals and malls.



The goodwill journey will feature Meet-and-Greet sessions and shows for school children and children of determination, as well as visits to malls to entertain families, and is aimed at creating awareness of the 19th edition of Modhesh World, which opens on June 7 and runs until August 25 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

During his citywide interaction with fans of all ages, the ever smiling Modhesh will be busy posing for photographs and distributing complimentary tickets for visits to Modhesh World, one of the regions biggest indoor edutainment destinations, which is set to usher in a new season of immersive experiences this summer under the theme My Modhesh, My World.
Hakkasan Dubai, the Michelin starred Chinese restaurant, has appointed Rupesh Shetty as its new general manager.



Originating from India, Shetty brings a broad experience, impressive adaptability and deep passion for the F&B scene in the UAE.

Shetty's hospitality career started in 2002, when he moved to Dubai to be part of the One and Only Royal Mirage pre-opening team. This lead to an assistant manager role at Jambase restaurant in Souk Madinat, before he moved to Mina ASalams Al Muna restaurant.



He then joined the pre-opening team at Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel as assistant food and beverages manager, a role that gave him the opportunity to be part of every process from the concept creation to the implementation and operation. In two years, Shetty was promoted to food and beverages manager, leading a team of 216 employees of various cultures and nationalities, while also managing the hotels high-end beach club, West 14th Restaurant and Marina Bar on Palm Jumeirah.



In 2014, Shetty accepted the position of restaurant development manager at Purple Honey Group, owners of Biryani Pot, Coriander, Zaytinya, and Tamba, where he assisted in expansion plans, concept creations, feasibility studies, as well as being responsible for the suppliers, recruitment, training, marketing, communication and overall operations. When the group decided to create their own stand-alone Indian-inspired restaurant in Abu Dhabi, Tamba, Shetty was the brainchild behind what is now one of the Capitals hotspots.



In its first 12 months, Tamba won a plethora of F&B awards including Whats On Awards Best Restaurant & Bar of the Year 2017, Time Out Awards Best Indian Restaurant of the Year 2017, Fact Awards Favourite Restaurant of the Year 2017 and Fact Awards Chef of the Year 2016.



Now in 2018, Shetty joins Hakkasan Dubai and looks forward to his new role with the prestigious outlet. - TradeArabia News Service


On May 26, 1918, the National Council of Georgia - a multiparty legislative body elected as a result of the first multi-party elections - gathered in the center of Tbilisi, in the palace of the Russian governor of Transcaucasia on General Yevgeny Golovin Prospect. A hundred years later, on May 26, 2018, at 17:10 Tbilisi time, Georgian actors recreated the historic event - the declaration of Georgia's independence - in the same hall of the Governor's Palace.

Noe Zhordania, one of the leaders of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP), who was considered a close associate of the RSDLP founder Georgy Plekhanov, said this historical phrase: "One state died, but a new one was born!" Later, historians, based on papers, proved that the Georgian Social Democrats, unlike other parties represented in the National Assembly, were not dying to achieve independence from Russia, but the logic of confrontation with the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, pushed them to such a decision. Contrary to the sincere desire of Noe Zhordania and his fellow left-wing party members to see Georgia as part of Russian democracy, the Georgian Mensheviks played a historical role by establishing the first democratic state in the long history of Georgia - a parliamentary republic which abolished the death penalty and granted women the right to vote.

The Georgian Democratic Republic (GDR) was smashed by the Red Army led by the Bolsheviks Joseph Stalin and Sergo Ordzhonikidze as early as February 25, 1921. Nevertheless, it became the main symbol for modern Georgia, and the celebration of the centenary of the First Republic by the Georgian authorities has never been greater, who managed to turn an anniversary into an event of international significance. The presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Armenia, Slovakia, Poland and Finland, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attended the celebrations in Tbilisi.

The Independence Day military parade has not been held for several years in the country, but the oath-taking ceremony on Freedom Square was impressive. The square was surrounded by not just military equipment, but also by huge screens where attendees could observe several thousand servicemen taking oaths in the cities of Georgia.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite was received in Tbilisi with special honor. The day before the festivities, the Lithuanian State Language Commission made a decision to officially use Georgian word 'Sakartvelo' - the way the Georgians call their country. On the same day it became known that a similar decision was taken on Lithuania by the Georgian commission on state language - now the Baltic country will be called "Lietuva" in all official documents. During the broadcast of the celebrations, the Georgian television presenters tried diligently to pronounce this Lithuanian word.

Attention was also drawn to the unexpected meeting of Armenian President Armen Sarkisyan with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream Party. It is not known how the Armenian president was able to meet with the "mysterious billionaire" - Ivanishvili is an absolutely non-public politician, he does not hold meetings, and does not occupy any posts despite the readiness to head the Georgian Dream party again. Experts believe that having insisted on this meeting behind closed doors, Sarkisan made clear with whom Yerevan intends to solve the main issues of the Georgian-Armenian relations, including the problem of opening trade corridors from Russia to Transcaucasia.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, announced the allocation of 40 million euro to Georgia as financial assistance and made it clear that in the near future the European Commission does not plan to consider the issue of restoring the visa regime due to the growing number of Georgian illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in the EU.

But ordinary Tbilisi citizens were not interested in big politics that day: the capital's municipality turned Rustaveli Avenue (the former General Golovin Prospect) into a huge colorful promenade with a lot of playgrounds, exhibitions and concerts. Hundreds of thousands of people walked along the country's main avenue, luckily this bright holiday is celebrated in late May, when weather in the Georgian capital is sunny.
The nomination of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize was proposed. This idea was introduced by the representative of the ruling Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party, Olimzhon Tukhtanazarov. Experts called the deputy's initiative an attempt to create a new personality cult. At the same time, experts believe thatMirziyoyev has already entered the modern history of Uzbekistan as an authoritarian reformer.

The author of the initiative, Olimzhon Tukhtanazarov, a deputy of the Namangan regional council and director of one of the National Television and Radio Company channels, said thatMirziyoyev deserves prizes in different nominations, not just the peace prize: "He deserves this award in the literature nomination, because he pays much attention to the development of literature. He can be awarded a prize in the nomination for peace-building activities, since peace reigns in Uzbekistan. He can easily receive this award in the field of science. I feel that the Swiss themselves the empresses will come soon and give our esteemed Yurtbashi (leader) the Nobel Prize," Tukhtanazarov said. His idea was supported in the Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party party. And earlier, the Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party members advocated awarding President Mirziyoyev the title of Hero of Uzbekistan. They even submitted 10,000 collected signatures for this purpose.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev was nominated for the post of Uzbek president by the Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party and won the early elections after the death of President Islam Karimov, which took place on December 4, 2016. Under the new president, economic reforms were initiated in the country, the currency was converted, the situation with human rights was improved and the power structures were reorganized. Pressing transformations in the education system have been started.

By the way, there was no last call in Uzbek schools this year. The reason for the refusal of the traditional festive event, according to the Ministry of Education, was the transition to an 11-year education system, and this year there were no graduates in the country. Uzbekistan abandoned the system introduced in previous years, when children had the "nine years" system, and after completing their studies they continued their education in professional colleges (analogues of vocational schools) or lyceums. But today ninth-graders have a choice - two more years at school or a lyceum.

A member of the Buyuk Kelajak expert council ("Great Future"), which was created on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to deal with the development of a long-term model for the development of Uzbekistan until 2035, Daniil Kislov called an Uzbek MP who proposed to nominate Mirziyoyev for the Nobel Prize "a fool." "He does not even know where and how the Nobel Prize is awarded. He said that "the Swiss will come and give". There are many such people, they are the ones who create the personality cult," Daniil Kislov told Vestnik Kavkaza. At the same time, assessing the changes in Uzbekistan's economy and politics over the past two years, the expert noted that under President Islam Karimov, the country was stagnant.

"Even the minor changes made by Mirziyoyev are perceived in Uzbekistan as a revolution. No on says that Mirziyoyev should introduce a western-inspired liberal democracy. No one expects it and this will not happen. Let Uzbekistan have its own way. But the changes that already took place, for example, in the sphere of education, in the currency conversion, in opening borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan - these are revolutionary changes amidst the stagnation that prevailed under Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev deserves to be included in the new history of Uzbekistan as a reform president, probably an authoritarian reformer. But we understand that in conditions when 25 years of stagnation have erased any idea of normal life, he can be only authoritarian. This may also be justified by the fact that there are many figures opposing reforms. But the authoritarian reformer has already gone down in history," Kislov stressed.

According to him, the Uzbek society is discussing how far Mirziyoyev will go in reforming the country. The knowledgeable people say that Mirziyoyev says that he has two choices - either go all the way, carry out reforms and achieve greatness of Uzbekistan, or "hang himself". "But it won't happen, me rolling back, allowing the cult of personality and letting the officials do their misdeeds," they quote the president, emphasizing Mirziyoyev's conviction and determination.

Meanwhile, some Uzbek experts or, for example, the chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University S. Frederick Starr believe that the country's reform plan was drawn up under Karimov, and the new president has just started to implement it. "Today everyone talks about Uzbek reforms. And they perceive them as if they appeared at one time, out of nowhere. If analyzed, the process of reform began many years ago, and the most important reforms were carried out 10-15 years ago. The fact is that people thought about the implementation and implementation of reforms much earlier than today. Today it is important to correctly and reasonably implement them in life. It is impossible to perceive the numerous reforms taking place today in your country, as unexpected enthusiasm. Over each of them, a large team of highly qualified specialists has been working carefully for a long time," Starr said.

Director of the Ma'no Center for Research Initiatives Bakhtiyir Ergashev, speaking with the article's author, noted that the reforms implemented by Tashkent are not a revolutionary stage of the country's development, but an evolutionary transition from one model of the state's development to another. According to him, the economic policy of the Uzbek government is not some kind of conjuncture on the part of the new president, but systemic work to transfer the country's economy to the export-oriented development policy. "This work is based on an understanding of the internal laws of the development of the national economy. And it seems to me that the export-oriented policy, which is replacing the policy of import substitution, is solid, deep and lasting," Ergashev emphasizes.
Armenian President Armen Sarkisyan held talks with U.S.deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs Bridget Brink.

Welcoming the guests, President Sarkisyan underscored importance of close cooperation with the United States and high level of bilateral relations, noting Armenias interest in further deepening of ties.

President also noted the importance of the US efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and together with other co-chairs Russia and France.

Bridget Brink congratulated the President on taking office and on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the First Republic, News.am reported.

State Department official hailed partner relations between Armenia and the United States and commended President Sarkisyans important mediation efforts for the peaceful resolution of recent political crisis. U.S. will continue working with the government and the people of Armenia in fight against corruption, for the creation of an attractive business environment for investments, promotion of human rights and tourism development.
A 'spy blimp' found in an Armenian village of Nor Amasia, next to the Turkish border has turned out to be a childs toy rigged with cameras.

According to media reports, the device was a balloon rigged with video cameras. Locals on camera dutifully expressed their suspicion that the balloon could have been launched from Turkish territory and was being used for surveillance of the tiny impoverished border village of less than a thousand souls, RIA Novosti reported.

"The discovery has been handed to the National Security Service. It turned out that it is just a common children's toy with a remote control which can be found in Yerevan's shops. It poses no danger," the Armenian Security Service press release says.
Azerbaijan is celebrating the 100th anniversary of establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The 20th century became known in history not only as the age of science and technology, but also as the age of liberation from colonization and establishment of national states. The 1917 Russian Revolution put an end to the Russian Empire. On May 28, 1918, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was founded. The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was the first democratic republic in the East. It was a parliamentary state, had a flag, an anthem and an army. ADR existed only 23 months. On April 28, 1920 the Bolshevik 11th Red Army occupied Azerbaijan and the republic collapsed.

During the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the parliament held 155 meetings. 10 meetings were held by the Azerbaijan National Council (May 27-November 19, 1918) and 145  by the parliament of Azerbaijan (December 7, 1918  April 27, 1920).

More than 270 draft laws were discussed by the parliament and 230 of them were adopted. Members of the parliament represented in 11 factions and groups participated in the elaboration, discussion and approval of the legislation. 11 commissions were working at the parliament.

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic reached great achievements in the short period of its history. It was the first republic given voting right to the women and securing the equality between men and women. A great work has been done in the spheres of national army building, issuing national currency, establishing national bank, democratization, free elections, international relations and recognition of the independence of Azerbaijan by the international community, securing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, conducting economic reforms and other fields.

The founding day of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic is celebrated as the national holiday of Azerbaijan, it is non-working day in the country.

By order of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the monument was erected in honor of ADR in the center of Baku.

Ilham Aliyev has visited the memorial in honor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on the Istiglaliy
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which was established 100 years ago on May 28, 1918, was a true innovator in state building among the eastern countries, the Russian experts said, speaking with the correspondents of Vestnik Kavkaza about ADR's contribution to the region's history.

A political analyst, Candidate of Historical Sciences Oleg Kuznetsov, emphasized the importance of the secular status of the ADR authorities for that time. "The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was the first secular state in the Muslim world, it was originally built on democratic principles. It was also related to religious freedom, which was a fundamentally new step not only for the Near East and the Islamic world, but European countries as well, in many of which confessional affiliation determined the social status of a person for a long time (in Europe it mainly happened in the late 1920s-early 1930s)," he noted in the first place.

"A very important innovation of ADR was universal suffrage and equality of people before the law and court, regardless of their social status. It was also important for the republic to switch to Latin alphabet. All this created an alternative to the clerical ideology that at that time existed in all countries of the Near East and the Islamic world," Oleg Kuznetsov drew attention.

The experience of ADR was then used by key eastern countries. "The further development of the main countries of the Greater Middle East or of the Near East and Central Asia went along the Azerbaijani route designated by its first republic. The same principles proclaimed by Azerbaijan in 1918, then were repeated by Turkey in 1923 and Persia in 1924," the historian explained.

Modern Azerbaijan, in his estimation, is a full-fledged successor to the ADR democratic principles. "The principles that were proclaimed in the ADR has been the basis of Azerbaijan's political regime. Many Azeri scholars cover the legacy of the ADR, which is an important layer of the Azerbaijani historical and political science. Special attention is given to the history of ADR in the school education, not only for Russian or English, but also for the Azerbaijani sector of education. The ADR political heritage is decisive for modern Azerbaijan," Oleg Kuznetsov concluded.

The leading expert of the North-South Political Science Center, Alexander Karavaev, stressed the importance of work to consolidate social democratic values in a single national state in hangover of the state building experience in the ADR. "Social-Democratic values will subsequently correspond with the postulates of the Soviet Constitution. I mean the abolition of class property, an 8-hour working day, free education. Social-democratic values and rights were proclaimed before the formation of the republic at the Congress of Musavat Party and they became regulating norms and legal postulates for the ADR," he said.

"One of examples of preserving the ADR values in the minds of the Soviet elite in Azerbaijan was the re-establishment of the Azerbaijani language as state language in the 1978 Constitution. In the 1925 Constitution, the Azerbaijani language was listed as state language, but in 1978 the Central Committee of the CPSU wanted to change it, since the party leaders considered that the maximum implementation of national programs had been achieved. Heydar Aliyev then managed to keep the point about the state Azerbaijani language in the new Constitution by means of political maneuvering," Alexander Karavaev added.

"The combination of several values of the ADR, which relate to the freedom, equality of citizens and democratic principles of state building, also manifested themselves in those days, the possibility of including them in the Constitution was discussed. The aspects related to freedom of property appeared already in the 90s, and all this was revived within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1995," the leading expert of the North-South Political Science Center concluded.
The first Eastern secular democracy, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic established 100 years ago, formed a basis for building modern Azerbaijan statehood after the restoration of the country's independence and an example for the whole East, the politicians and political scientists said, speaking with the correspondents of Vestnik Kavkaza.

A Milli Majlis deputy, political scientist Rasim Musabekov stressed that the Republic of Azerbaijan is the direct heir of the ADR, which was proclaimed in 1918. "Even then, the modern statehood was formed in Azerbaijan, which served as a guiding light for the proclamation of the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. ADR was the first precedent of the republican form of government in the entire Muslim world, it was the first to switch to the Latin alphabet, the first Muslim country to grant women the vote and form a parliament. All it was a very important milestone for the development of Azerbaijan, but it also had a definite positive effect on the entire Muslim community in terms of choosing in favor of democratic, republican forms of government," he pointed out.

In this regard, the Republic of Azerbaijan seeks to preserve, use and develop the legacy of the ADR. "Therefore, in 1991, we again proclaimed a democratic republic. This way the state form of government was inherited, and the choice was made in favor of the development and enlightenment of society. And in this sense Azerbaijan is a secular state, although we are Muslims, but a choice for secular organization of the country's leadership was also inherited from the first republic's traditions," Rasim Musabekov explained.

A Milli Majlis deputy Asim Mollazade also pointed out the importance of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic for the whole East. "The establishment of the ADR played a huge role not only for the Azerbaijani people but also for the whole East as the first secular, democratic state with a republican system. Later, using this experience, the Republic of Turkey was established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and as a whole it paved the bright way for all the peoples of the East," the politician said.

Asim Mollazade added that modern Azerbaijan continues its development within the framework of the model of a secular and democratic state, developed in the ADR. "This is very difficult given the legacy of the totalitarian Soviet period, given the geographical proximity to countries with different fundamentalist factions. But Azerbaijan and the people of Azerbaijan are faithful to their path chosen a hundred years ago. I am absolutely sure that within the values of a secular, democratic state with the preservation of historical traditions of multiculturalism, the Azerbaijani model will be very important not only for our people and country, but for many others," he said.

Professor of the Western Caspian University, political scientist Fikret Sadykhov drew attention to the fact that a century ago, the ADR managed to get ahead of time. "The most advanced values for the time were laid in this first democratic, secular republic, which laid the foundation for Azerbaijan's further development. The short period of the republic's existence was marked by the adoption of important laws related to state sovereignty, the state language, and the protection of territorial integrity. Azerbaijan continues the achievements of the first republic, including the democratic power, secularism and the definition of foreign policy and internal political priorities," the professor said.

Fikret Sadikhov emphasized that the legacy of the ADR laid the foundation for the further formation and flourishing of the Azerbaijani people. "Today, being the successors of the ADR, using its values, relying on its principles, we strengthen our independence and create on their basis modern guidelines and directions of the state's work aimed at the prosperity of Azerbaijan, its independence and strengthening of relations with the leading states and regional countries. This is intended to achieve prosperity for Azerbaijan as an independent republic, to make its independence unshakable and eternal," he concluded.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev said that military service by the citizens of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is a violation of the norms of international law.

He commented on the information about the military service of Armenian prime ministers son in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Hajiyev noted that the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry considers the sending of the son of Armenian prime minister, whose euphoric period is already running out, to military service in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as populism.

According to Hajiyev, by taking this step, the leadership of Armenia once again confirmed that international legal responsibility for the occupation of Azerbaijani territories lies with Armenia.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also noted that Armenian citizens, especially young people, are forced to spend the most formative period of their life in the trenches in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and serve the occupation mission, instead of engaging in creative activity, Trend reported.
The Foreign Affairs Council will take place in Brussels today. The Council will start with a discussion on current affairs, allowing ministers to review pressing issues on the international agenda.

Foreign ministers will continue to discuss Iran and the nuclear deal (JCPOA) in light of the latest developments, in particular after the US decision to withdraw from the agreement.

"This follows the discussion by EU leaders at their meeting in Sofia on 16 May. At this meeting, they agreed unanimously that the EU will stay in the agreement as long as Iran remains fully committed to it," the EU Council press release says.

Foreign ministers will exchange views on the political situation in Venezuela, after the presidential election of 20 May. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on Venezuela.

The Council will discuss recent developments related to North Korea, the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the situation in Gaza.

In addition, the Council is expected to discuss the negotiating mandate for the future agreement between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
Two police officers and a security guard were injured when around 50 refugees attacked police after they attempted to stop a fight at a migrant reception center in Dresden, authorities said.

Police were called after security guards struggled to contain a dispute about food between two migrants from Georgia on Friday evening. "As a result, about 50 residents gathered and attacked officers by throwing lit cigarettes, then kicking and beating them," a statement from Dresden police said.

"One attacker tried to attack the officers with an iron bar from his bed," Deutsche Welle cited the statement as saying.

Four suspects  all of them Georgian nationals  were detained on Friday for breach of the peace. Police said one of them was due to be deported following the arrest, while three others were taken to prison.
The official reception on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was held today at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first vice president Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the reception.

The head of state made a speech at the reception.
French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive for an official visit to Armenia ahead of the Francophonie summit, French Minster for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Yerevan.

The visit will become a big event for both countries, and the sides are busy with preparations, News.am reported.

He added that the Francophonie summit is an important event for Armenia, given the number of visiting heads of states and guests.
Iran's private sector is capable of neutralizing US sanctions weapon and creating opportunities, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

"Of course, we must take advantage of the opportunities and if we act well, we can utilize these conditions today to the benefit of our country," IRNA cited Rouhani as saying.

The President added that the country needs an 8% economic growth and significant investments.

Rouhani also said that last year the government created around 800,000 net jobs.

"We must use each others experiences and help each other and if the private sector becomes active and vibrant, the US will lose its weapon," he stressed.

Rouhani added that the private sector should step towards an export-oriented national economy.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a letter of congratulations to Azerbaijani President llham Aliyev on the occasion of the Republic Day, according to the Azerbaijani presidential website.

"The successful outcomes of large-scale reforms and transformations confidently carried out under your leadership towards ensuring dynamic development of your country, primarily raising the living standard and quality of the populations life, creating modern industry and infrastructure are praiseworthy," Mirziyoyev said in a letter.

He noted with great pleasure Azerbaijan's "increasing influence and strengthening of its positions on the international scene".

"We, in Uzbekistan, are determined to further strengthen centuries-old ties of friendship and strategic partnership between our countries and expand the mutually beneficial practical cooperation in all areas of mutual interest," the letter says. "It is about speeding up relations, maintaining active exchanges, increasing the volume of trade, implementing promising projects in the field of industry, energy, transport and high technologies and realizing cultural and humanitarian programs," the Uzbek president noted.

"Our upcoming high-level meetings will enable us to bring Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan relations to a qualitatively new level and add a practical dimension to bilateral ties between our countries," Mirziyoyev expressed confidence.
Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said that a snap parliamentary election will be held in the country even if the formerly ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is against it.

"Our people is getting ready to hold a snap election, and it will take place despite the RPA wishes," RIA Novosti cited Avinyan as saying.

He recalled that there were constitutional mechanisms allowing to dissolve the current parliament.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly stressed that the snap election should be held as soon as possible. However, head of the RPA parliamentary group Vagram Bagdasaryan said Friday there was no need for it.
The Turkish Presidential Administration congratulated Azerbaijan on the 100th anniversary of establishment Democratic Republic.

The Administration noted that Turkey is proud of the success of fraternal Azerbaijan, stressing that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are at the highest level and are an example of regional cooperation.

They also stressed that Azerbaijan is one of the most reliable allies and partners for Turkey.
HCM CITY  With a market of 93 million people, Viet Nam has seen rapidly growing consumer demand for food and beverage (F&B) products, offering great opportunities for the sector to expand, experts have said.

Viet Nams annual consumption of food and drink products accounts for about 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and this rate will rise in the future, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The country is expected to enter the top three Asian countries posting the highest growth rate of the F&B industry by 2020.

Ly Kim Chi, president of the HCM City Food and Foodstuff Association, said that todays consumers were willing to pay more for healthy and natural products.

As a country with a strong agricultural sector, Viet Nam is able to provide a wide range of ingredients for the local food and drink industry, while the robust expansion of convenience store chains has been facilitating distribution and consumption, she said.

On Tuesday (May 29), the Vietnamese High Quality Business Association will, for the first time, take part in THAIFEX-World of Food Asia, the leading F&B trade fair in Asia, according to Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the association.

Around 60 of the countrys leading F&B companies, an increase of 16 over last year, will be on hand to promote their products at the fair, to be held in Bangkok from May 29-June 2.

Hanh said that participation in trade shows was one of many ways to promote Vietnamese products.

However, it takes time and effort for enterprises to get their products known by buyers worldwide, she said. If exporters want to expand their markets, they need to take note of food safety standards.

Ensuring food safety and hygiene will open up many opportunities in the local market, as well as in strict markets like the US, the EU, and Japan, she added.

Given that most countries are strengthening protection barriers, Vietnamese products will have access to huge markets if they meet international standards and regulations.

However, Vietnamese businesses must continue to learn more about regulations and improve product quality, according to Hanh.

Mathias Kuepper, managing director of Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, the trade fair organiser, said that With Viet Nams thriving economy and increasing incomes, we think the country has the potential to become one of the largest F&B markets in Southeast Asia.

The country has adopted policies to develop the F&B sector by improving the business climate for producers, reforming public administration, and offering soft loans and demand stimulus programmes.

PR and marketing campaigns have been launched in recent years to help local producers promote their brands and gain a stronger foothold in the local market, Chi said.

Viet Nams food service industry was worth $20.9 million in 2016 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4 per cent in the next five years, according to the HCM City Food and Foodstuff Association.

The ASEAN region is expected to grow 5.1 per cent this year and is projected to rank as the fourth largest economic area in the world by 2050.  VNS
HA NOI  Cross-ownership in banks has decreased sharply after the banks recently changed their top leaders at the 2018 annual general meetings of shareholders (AGMs) to meet the central banks new regulation.

The revised Law on Credit Institutions, which was passed by the National Assembly and came into effect on January 15, 2018, prohibits bank leaders from taking up senior positions in other businesses.

According to banking expert Can Van Luc, many bank leaders had to resign as chair of the Board of Directors (BoD) or CEO of business firms to manage banks. Meanwhile, some business owners also had to give up the chairmanship of banks to meet the requirement of the new law.

Prior to the central banks new regulation, it was a popular practice for a person to both own a bank and a business firm. However, at this years AGMs, many bank leaders, such as Duong Cong Minh (Sacombank), o Quang Hien (SHB) and o Minh Phu (TPBank), resigned as chair of the BoD in businesses to devote their time and expertise wholeheartedly to banks.

In contrast, Nguyen Thi Nga (SeA Bank), Vo Quoc Thang (Kienlongbank) and Vu Van Tien (ABBank) left the bankss top positions to manage businesses.

This is one of the most obvious examples of decreased cross-ownership, said Luc.

Besides, Luc said, cross-ownership in banks is also better controlled as many banks have recently listed on the stock markets. It means their information, especially those related to internal management and ownership rate of shareholders, must be made public and is closely monitored by the State Securities Commission.

However, banking expert Phan Minh Ngoc told tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn that the cross-ownership trend is just temporary and has not completely declined. The fact that SBV does not allow bank owners to concurrently own a business does not mean much to the reduction of cross-ownership because they can go around the rule if they want, Ngoc said. In fact, some owners, despite holding a key position in businesses, can still run a bank.

Finance and banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu said although the new law had good impact on the transparency of ownership, functional agencies still must supervise the activity closely. In fact, in some cases, some individuals, who do not take the bank leadership position still has the power to govern the bank.

Obviously, in the short term, cross-ownership cannot be eliminated. However, according to experts, after weak banks overcome the difficult time and the health of the entire banking system improves, SBV should supplement regulations to disassociate the cross-ownership thoroughly, particularly in the relationship between banks and subsidiaries.  VNS
HA NOI  Telecom provider Viettel has unveiled plans to officially inaugurate its mobile phone network in Myanmar under the trade name Mytel on June 9, 2018.

This would be Viettels 10th foreign market. At 53 million, Myanmar is set to become Viettels biggest foreign market in terms of population.

In its first year of official operations, Mytel plans to invest in telecommunications infrastructure with more than 7,000 4G base transceiver stations (BTSs) and over 3,000km of fibre cable.

By the time it launches operations, Mytel will be the first and only mobile network in Myanmar to provide 4G service nationwide.

Le ang Dung, Viettels deputy general director, said while Myanmar has experienced rapid economic growth, mobile phone density in the country has remained low, creating opportunities for the telecommunications sector in general and Viettel in particular.

We are targeting two to three million customers in Myanmar in 2018, Dung said.

Mytel is the brand name of Telecom International Myanmar  a joint venture between Viettel Global, a Viettel subsidiary, and its two partners in Myanmar, Star High Public Company and Myanmar National Telecom Holding Public (MNTH).

Mytel has a total investment capital of US$1.5 billion, accounting for up to 66 per cent of Vietnamese-registered capital into Myanmar. With the project, Viet Nam jumped from the 10th position to 7th among 49 countries and territories investing in Myanmar, and is the second largest ASEAN investor in the country.

Mytel is the 4th mobile phone network in Myanmar, along with State-owned MPT, which has a 42 per cent share of the market, Teleenor (Norway), which has 35 per cent, and Ooredoo (Qatar), with 23 per cent.

Myanmar has been Viettels foreign market with the highest economic growth rate, at 7 per cent so far. It also has high growth in the telecommunications and IT sector.

From having with the lowest mobile phone usage rate in the world, Myanmar has experienced a stunning mobile phone SIM usage per capita growth from 10 per cent to 90 per cent after only three years. The total number of subscribers has risen from 600,000 to over 16 million.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Myanmar could increase its economys scale four-fold to $200 billion by 2030. The IMF also said the finance, banking, energy, telecommunications, and IT sectors offer the most opportunities for foreign investors in terms of both market potential and human resources.  VNS
HA NOI  A group of sugar producers has asked for Government intervention as the industry struggles to compete with corn syrup imports.

The Viet Nam Sugarcane and Sugar Association (VSSA) asked the Government to intervene in adjusting tax incentive policies on imported High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), or liquid sugar extracted from corn, to create a fair playing ground with locally-produced sugarcane products.

The association also asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to consider investigating the possibility of applying special safeguard methods on HFCS.

The recommendations were released as sugarcane businesses face challenges in the level of consumption of local sugar products as well as pressure from competition posed by increasing imports of HFCS products into the country, which they say cause serious damage to the domestic sugar industry.

According to a report from the Viet Nam General Department of Customs, the volume of imported HFCS dramatically accelerated between 2015 and 2017, with imports in 2017 totalling 89,343 tonnes, up 31.7 per cent from 2015.

These were mainly imports from China and South Korea, representing more than 90 per cent of total output and import value.

HFCS is much cheaper than local sugar, and prices are expected to decline further due to improvements in production technology. In 2015, the price of white sugar was US$630 per tonne compared to $496 per tonne of HFCS. In 2017, it was $702 and $398 per tonne of sugar and HFCS, respectively.

The difference between the average selling price of HFCS and sugar has remained high through recent years, increasing by 21.26 per cent in 2015, 36.63 per cent in 2016 and 43.3 per cent in 2017.

VSSA Chairman Pham Quoc Doanh said given this difference in prices, HFCS poses a major challenge to the domestic sugarcane industry.

Doanh said HFCS enjoyed a preferential imfport tax rate of zero per cent and no quota impositions, while preferential tariffs on sugar under quota stood at 5 per cent, and tariffs on non-quota white sugar and raw sugar were 85 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively.

In addition to damaging sugar production in the country, he said the inconsistent application of tax policies between sugar and HFCS products has caused damage to the State budget.

If HFCS is seen as similar to sugar made from sugarcane, the import tax rate should be similar, not discriminatory, Doanh said. The level of incentive import duty imposed on HFCS must be at the level applied on sugar.  VNS
A NANG  The central city will host the third International Start-up Conference and Exhibition, or SURF 2018, on Tuesday, with the aim of attracting participants in technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.

The events organisers hosted a press conference on Monday, stating that more than 2,000 attendees including 20 investors and 30 speakers have registered to take part in the conference and exhibition at the citys administrative centre.

About 70 pavilions will be set up for the one-day conference and start-up exhibition with the theme linkthewaves, in the coastal city.

The start-up pitch competition this year, which is the largest in central Viet Nam, will offer a total cash-prize of US$6,000 for the winner.

Participants will take part in opportunities to share experience with start-up programmes from Israel, Canada, Ireland, the UK, Finland, Singapore and Viet Nam.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Israel Embassy in Viet Nam, Doron Lebovich said SURF 2018 will be an event to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Israel.

He said Israel and a Nang as well as the a Nang Entrepreneurship Support Centre has been in positive partnerships with start-up programmes, and the citys leadership has strongly committed to building a start-up programme and ecosystem.

An organic cosmetic shop in a Nang. The store is part of a successful start-up project. a Nang will host the third International Start-up Conference and Exhibition with the participation of 2,000 attendees.  VNS Photo Cong Thanh

He said experts from Israel will take part in sharing experiences and technology transfer at the exhibition and conference next month.

a Nang has launched its business start-up programme eco-system from now until 2020, with a vision to 2030.

The citys business start-up ecosystem debuted in 2014 as a base for a young generation beginning their business careers. Three hundred start-up projects, of which 10 received funding from investors, were born from the ecosystems co-working space.

In 2017, the Song Han Incubator Centre, which was seen as the first private sector incubator, was debuted as a consultancy for young people starting businesses.

It aims to develop a start-up ecosystem and popularise the spirit of business among other locals in Viet Nam.

a Nang has 18,000 businesses, 95 per cent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises.  VNS
HA NOI  Students and lecturers from five of Viet Nams traditional medicine universities developed communications strategies to combat the use of illegal wildlife products in traditional medicinal treatments.

This move was part of a two-day workshop in Cuc Phuong National Park last week.

Thirty students and lecturers from Tue Tinh Medical College, Thanh Tay University, Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University, Ha Noi Medical University and Ha Noi Medical College participated in the workshop, which was organised by TRAFFIC, Viet Nam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association (VOTMA) and Intelligentmedia, a behaviour change communication organisation, as part of their efforts to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products.

We are committed to ensuring that traditional medicine continues to be practised in Viet Nam in accordance with the law and sustainable principles. As the tide turns against the use of illegal fauna and flora as ingredients in traditional treatments, we are working to leave a positive legacy that will endure as part of our heritage, said Tran Xuan Nguyen, head of the Professionalism Department at VOTMA.

Traditional medicine practitioners and students have an important role to play as champions of best practices with their peers and associates, and this toolkit will help frame a zero-tolerance approach to endangered wildlife use in traditional medicine, said Sarah Ferguson, head of TRAFFICs Viet Nam office.

At the workshop, participants updated information on the state of illicit wildlife trade in Viet Nam, including a session by VOTMA debunking unscientific beliefs surrounding the medicinal properties of illegal wildlife, particularly rhino horns, tiger bones and pangolin scales.

The lecturers and students were given communication guidelines and suggested activities to help them formulate effective strategies to deter the use of illegal wildlife products in formal prescriptions by traditional medicine practitioners and dispensaries to customers. They worked together to develop action plans that could be implemented in their respective universities.

The workshop highlighted recent research findings that identified the traditional medicine sector as a priority sector in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. It is hoped that through such sessions, future traditional medicine practitioners can promote legal, sustainable and socially responsible practices for sourcing and prescriptions.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang expressed the belief in an interview granted to Japanese media, including the NHK broadcasting organisation, Kyodo News, Jiji Press and Nikkei newspaper in Ha Noi ahead of his State-level visit to Japan from May 29 to June 2. VNA/VNS Photo Lam Khanh

HA NOI  The strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan is expected to enter a new period of development, especially in the fields of trade, economy, defence-security, health, high technology, locality-to-locality co-operation, and people-to-people exchanges.

President Tran ai Quang expressed the belief in an interview granted to Japanese media, including the NHK broadcasting organisation, Kyodo News, Jiji Press and Nikkei newspaper in Ha Noi ahead of his State-level visit to Japan from May 29 to June 2.

The President said he was glad to lead a high-level Vietnamese delegation to Japan on the occasion of the 45th founding anniversary of the two countries diplomatic ties.

The visit is expected to take the bilateral extensive strategic partnership into a new period of development, contributing to prosperity in each country and to peace, co-operation and development in Asia and beyond, he said.

President Quang said during the visit, the first State-level trip to Japan made by Quang as President of Viet Nam, he is scheduled to meet the Japanese Emperor and Empress and hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He will also have meetings with top Japanese legislators, politicians, economists, scientists and cultural workers to discuss directions and major measures to increase political trust and boost co-operation in trade, investment, development co-operation, defence, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

He added that the two sides will talk about coordination at regional and international forums and issues of mutual concern, especially as Viet Nam will be the coordinating country for ASEAN-Japan relations in 2018-21.

The Vietnamese President highlighted Viet Nam and Japans long-standing connections in history, culture and trade, which date back to the 15th century when the trade port of Hoi An in Viet Nam welcomed the first Japanese merchant ships. The Japanese street in Hoi An was then a major trading hub connecting Japan with other countries in Southeast Asia.

After the establishment of diplomatic ties in September 1973, the bilateral friendship and cooperation have developed strongly in all realms, especially after the elevation of ties to an extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in March 2014, President Quang said.

Politically, the two countries have reached mutual trust through regular meetings of high-ranking officials. In 2017 alone there were five high-level visits between the two countries, including the first historical visit to Viet Nam by the Japanese Emperor and Empress. The same year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Viet Nam twice while Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori visited Viet Nam after 15 years. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also paid an official visit to Japan in June.

Economically, Japan is a leading partner of Viet Nam, the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA), and the fourth biggest trade partner of Viet Nam.

Last year, Japan became the top foreign investor in Viet Nam with record investment capital of over US$9.1 billion, four times the figure in 2016.

At present, more than 2,500 Japanese businesses, including most major corporations of Japan, are investing in Viet Nam.

Japans ODA capital has been effectively used in building infrastructure, developing high technology, clean agriculture, climate change adaptation, and poverty reduction, which makes significant contributions to Viet Nams socio-economic development.

Bilateral co-operation in other fields such as defence, security, culture, education-training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges has been continuously reinforced and expanded.

Thirty-seven pairs of localities of Viet Nam and Japan have signed co-operation agreements.

In 2017, Japan ranked third in the number of tourists to Viet Nam. The Vietnamese culture festival in Japan and the cherry blossom festival in Viet Nam have become much-awaited annual events for the two peoples.

Viet Nam and Japan also closely cooperate at regional and international forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN+, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Particularly, the two countries worked together for the success of the APEC Year 2017 in Viet Nam, the 25th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in a Nang, and jointly pushed ahead negotiations to reach the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

According to the President, the thriving economic ties between Viet Nam and Japan have brought about practical benefits to people of the two countries.

To better utilise the potential and strengths of each other, the two sides should enhance economic connectivity through promoting trade and investment, and work together to effectively implement the Viet Nam-Japan economic partnership agreement, he said.

The leader called for joint efforts to double trade and investment value in 2020 as compared with 2014, facilitate the market access of each others farm produce and seafood and effectively implement the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative in order to improve the investment environment and promote Japanese investment inflows in Viet Nam, especially in high-tech, infrastructure and energy sectors, thus maintaining Japans position as the No 1 foreign investor in Viet Nam.

He said the two countries should collaborate in realising action plans for the six key industries selected under Viet Nams industrialisation strategy within the Viet Nam-Japan co-operation framework by 2020 with a vision towards 2030, which are automobile and auto spare parts, farming machines, agro-fishery product processing, shipbuilding, electronics, environmental industry and energy saving.

Viet Nam also hopes for Japans active co-operation in developing the support industry in the country, President Quang said, calling on the country to maintain its official development assistance to Viet Nam, particularly in infrastructure construction, high-quality human resources development, climate change response, environmental protection, economic management capacity improvement, the implementation of large-scale projects, economic reform and sustainable development.

We hope that Japan considers Viet Nam a priority partner of the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure programme worth $200 billion and the Mekong-Japan Connectivity Initiative worth $6.8 billion, he said.

Viet Nam also looks for enhanced partnerships with Japan in the areas of the two countries demands and potential like high-tech agriculture, health care, culture, education and cooperation between localities.

President Quang said along with the sound development of the bilateral relationship, Viet Nam Japan co-operation at regional and international forums, especially in major cooperative mechanisms like the UN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and ASEAN Plus has been tightened, significantly contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world at large.

The two sides have actively promoted trade liberalisation, while closely coordinating with each other to push ahead the negotiations and signing of the CPTPP agreement, and negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Viet Nam supports Japan in playing an active role and contributing to regional peace, stability and development, he said.

He noted that the two sides have regularly discussed regional and international issues of shared concern and supported each others bids to run for seats at UN agencies and other international organisations.

The two countries have also shared viewpoints and coordinated to help address issues relating to co-operation, development and security in the region, including the East Sea issue, denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula and the Indo-Pacific initiative.

Both sides stressed the significance of ensuring peace, security, safety and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea, resolving disputes by peaceful measures and in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in 2002 and working towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

As the coordinating country for the ASEAN-Japan relationship from August 2018-August 2021, Viet Nam hopes that the two countries will continue to cooperate at regional and international forums, especially within the ASEAN-Japan co-operation framework, further contributing to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region and the world as well, the leader noted.

The CPTPP, signed by 11 countries in Santiago, Chile on March 8 this year, delivers a common message of the member states who support regional economic linkage, President Quang said, adding that free trade and economic integration will continue to be a mainstream trend in Asia-Pacific.

He said Viet Nams joining the CPTPP reflects the countrys strong and consistent commitment to continued renovation, deep economic integration, participation in forming cooperative mechanisms and economic linkages, and contributions to regional and global peace, cooperation and development. As a new-generation and comprehensive deal, the pact will provide a new driving force for Viet Nam in restructuring its economy, expanding exports and luring more high-tech investments, he noted.

The President said Viet Nam and other CPTPP members welcome other countries to join the CPTPP and the extension of the participation will be considered after the deal enters into force.

He added that Viet Nam needs technical support from Japan to fully and effectively carry out the deal.

On measures to foster bilateral co-operation in the fields of people-to-people exchanges, President Quang said that as the numbers of Vietnamese and Japanese visiting other countries are increasing rapidly, the two countries should pay due attention to communication activities on each others culture and regulations.

Currently, there are some 250,000 Vietnamese people in Japan, triple the number from five years ago. Of the figure, 200,000 are apprentices and students. Meanwhile, there are some 16,000 Japanese working and running businesses in Viet Nam.

Japan is the third largest source of tourists to Viet Nam with 800,000 arrivals in 2017. In addition, Japan also welcomed more than 300,000 Vietnamese during the year.

People-to-people exchanges have deepened mutual understanding and trust, laying a firm foundation for the Viet Nam-Japan friendship to grow in the future.

I believe that with concerted efforts from both nations, the Vietnamese community in Japan and the Japanese community in Viet Nam will continue to be a bridge for the Viet Nam-Japan friendship for benefits of the two peoples, and for regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, President Quang said at the end of the interview.  VNS
HA NOI  Many State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are not using their resources to the best of their abilities, according to a report discussed at the National Assembly Monday.

Lawmakers revealed a number of businesses are running at a loss, and are wasting state funds and not operating effectively.

The report looked at policies, management laws and the use of capital and assets of SOEs from 2011 to 2016.

Chairman of the NAs Economics Committee Vu Hong Thanh said SOEs contribute to regulating and stabilising the macro-economy, ensuring the major balances of the economy and promote economic and social development.

By the end of 2016, there were 583 enterprises with 100 per cent states capital and 273 joint-stock companies.

Most of these SOEs are making profits, and their profits are rising; there are those with high profit margin ratio such as the Viettel Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel) (43.5 per cent), Vietnam Rubber Group (30.4 per cent), and the Viet Nam Sugarcane and Sugar Corporation (29.9 per cent).

According to the report, the efficiency of SOEs is low compared to private enterprises and FDI enterprises.

There are still ministries that are in charge of SOEs that have not fulfilled their responsibilities.

The supervisory board of the NA pointed out a number of violations in the management and use of capital and property.

Some violations left serious and long-term consequences, which are often difficult to handle financially and forced the authority to hand out discipline measures to relevant individuals.

Figures from the report also revealed the total liabilities of SOEs are high, rising by 26 per cent compared to 2011 (from nearly VN1.3 trillion (US$56 million) to more than VN1.6 trillion).

By the end of 2016, SOEs overseas investment was more than US$7 billion, of which 25.5 per cent were reported loss.

Meanwhile, the Government was slow in detecting and preventing wrongdoings, the report said, adding that the Government is responsible for exercising the right to represent the owner, to exercise State management, to direct the use of State capital and assets at the enterprise and to equitise SOEs.

During the 2011-2016 period, the Government has made many efforts to set up a legal basis for the management of assets and capital in SOEs and to strengthen the management to contribute to the development of enterprises, increasing capital and assets, preserving capital, raising business efficiency and remittance into the State budget. But the effect was not high. There were cases of wrongdoings that were detected tardily, causing serious economic consequences.

But on the flip side, the restructuring of enterprises with focus on SOEs have had few positive results.

According to the report, there were 571 SOEs that had been equitised in the last six years. Business indicators in most of these enterprises increased after the sale of State capital, total assets increased by 39 per cent, the average income of workers increase by 33 per cent.

However, the report indicates that the equitisation process is not going well everywhere. The ratio of State capital held in joint stock companies is still high. The number of shares offered to the public was low compared to the plan of equitisation of enterprises, there were many corporations where the ratio of selling out was very small (only about 1 -2 per cent of charter capital).

According to the supervisory board, the main problem of SOEs in equitisation is wrongdoings in enterprise value determination.

When determining the value of an enterprise for equitisation, there are cases where the enterprise does not calculate or mistakenly calculate the value of the land use right, thus causing the land price to be determined to be lower than the market price. After the equitisation, the enterprise does not put the land into use but, instead, changes the purpose of land use and fails to fulfill its financial obligations to the State as prescribed, the report said.

On behalf of the supervisory board of the National Assembly, Thanh suggested the National Assembly strengthen the supervision and issue resolutions on raising the efficiency of the management and use of state capital and assets and the equitisation of State-owned enterprises.

The board also suggested the Government strictly ban wrong enterprises value determination and strictly deal with wrongdoing regarding this matter.

SOEs equitisation and land use right

Deputy Hoang Van Cuong, from Ha Noi, said there were three reasons for loss of State capital and property in SOEs: ineffective business; spending States capital for individual profits and low asset valuation.

No matter how bad the business is and how much loss it caused, nobody has to take responsibility or has to go to jail for poor management, Cuong said.

When many businesses make reports in order to ask for an increase in salary and capital, they immediately report that they were making profit. None of them report any losses.

"But when reporting on financial matters in order to pay tax, they would report they are not making profits, he said.

Deputy Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber for Commerce and Industry, said SOEs were going in the opposite direction of development.

Vietnamese SOEs Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR) was much higher than that of other economic entities. In 2016, SOEs only made $1 growth out of each $10 capital, while that number of FDI enterprises was $2, and of non-State enterprises, it was $1 of each $6.

Loc said the inefficiency of SOEs was also seen in many other countries. Overlapping regulations, management capacity, were only part of the reasons for such weakness. The major reason was a lack of motivation for development among these SOEs, he said.

If the State still holds too much of the enterprises capital, other reform efforts would not mean much, he said.

He said the right path is to foster SOEs equitisation process and State capital divestment.

Regarding land use among SOEs, deputy Nguyen Minh Son from the southern province of Tien Giang stressed the most concerning issue in enterprises equitisation process is the land use rights and land value, citing the NA reports finding that most SOEs that had been equitised during 2011-15 did not count their right in renting land into enterprises value.

Its necessary to take into account land use rights and land rental rights to determine correctly the value of enterprises during the equitisation process to avoid State capital loss, Son said.

Responding to such queries, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said the main reason for State asset loss was because enterprises values were not properly calculated before equitisation and land resources were not properly managed and calculated.

He said the ministry had suggested that the Government issue a decree in 2017, which requires enterprises, when being equitised, to have proper plans in place for the land they are in charge of. The minister said such solution would help revoke all the land resources that are used or managed inefficiently.  VNS

VNS
HA NOI  Visitors to the Spratly Islands are often welcomed by the calming colour of green trees.

Despite the scarcity of fresh water and harsh weather, its been a tradition for generations of marine soldiers on these islands to grow different types of trees.

It has been a rule on Son Ca Island that each soldier plants a tree on the island before ending their term and going back to the mainland. Thanks to this tradition, the sand island now has more than a thousand trees.

Soldiers on Spratly Island plant 400-500 new trees per year and provide seedlings for several other islands. Tree pruning teams have been formed to take care of the trees after every Lunar New Year holiday.

Nam Yet Island is one of the greenest, with thousands of trees, including a 350-year-old fish poison tree that was recognised as a Heritage Tree by the Viet Nam Heritage Tree Council in 2014.

The islands soldiers often exhaust their fresh water supply to take care of the trees, said ao Van Kha, deputy commander of Nam Yet Island.

"They keep the water after washing clothes and vegetables for the trees, and use livestocks manure as fertiliser, he said.

We are pretty pleased with what we have now, but we still want more trees so that there will be more shade to shield us from the harsh summer sun, he said.

Many of the trees were given to the island by people from the mainland, Kha added.

Young trees are often delivered to the islands by ships which depart from the Naval Zone 4 in the central province of Cam Ranh, he said.

As for people who want to hand deliver trees to the islands, the process is a little trickier.

Phan Van Bon, a veteran from Vinh Phuc Province in the Red River Delta, overcame much hassle to bring five young herbal plants to the Son Ca, a Lat and Spratly islands.

Not allowed to carry the trees on the plane during his flight to Cam Ranh Province, he had to put them in his checked baggage. Then on his cruise ship to the islands, being cautious, he kept the trees in his cabin to avoid direct sunlight and splashes of seawater.

I want to give the soldiers these herbal plants so that they have tea to drink every day, he said. They will also leave an endearing mark of the mainland on the islands.

There are also trees that travel back to the mainland from the islands. Spratly Island gave some 200-300 fish poison trees to its visitors at the beginning of each year.

A working group from the Peoples Police Academy received some fish poison trees during a recent trip to the Son Ca Island to bring back to their campus in Ha Noi.

The presence of the trees on campus helps remind military students to appreciate the countrys current peacetime, said Bui Quoc Tuan, head of the working group.

The fish poison tree is a symbol of the invincible spirit, bravery and vitality of the Spratly Islands, he said. They serve as a reminder of all the sacrifices that our late Spratly soldiers made to protect the country.  VNS
by Gia Loc & Au uc

HCM CITY Viet Nam has abundant labour resources but many enterprises in the country say they cannot recruit a sufficient number of skilled workers, and as a result, cannot expand production activities.

Nguyen Phuong Mai, managing director of Navigos Search, which offers consulting and aptitude tests, said there was a mismatch between the level of skills and demand from employers because of a shortage of quality candidates.

A report from the Navigos Group, which owns Navigos Search and VietnamWorks, an online recruitment portal, showed that 41 per cent of employers had not been able to recruit a sufficient number of qualified candidates.

In the first quarter of the year, the number of candidates seeking jobs rose by 40 per cent, compared to the same period last year.

One of the reasons was more foreign direct invested enterprises have been set up in Viet Nam in recent years, according to Mai.

The conversion trend towards the fourth industrial revolution in different fields, especially in manufacturing and IT, has created many new occupations in the job market, including engineers for data analysis and artificial intelligence and blockchain applications.

The appearance of new occupations has caused Vietnamese to lag behind employersdemands, Mai said.

Chris Harvey, CEO of ITviec.com, an IT recruiter in Viet Nam, said: "According to our latest surveys, many tech employers find it challenging to recruit IT staff who have an appropriate level of English as well as problem-solving skills. Meanwhile, a significant number of IT engineers have also mentioned that a low level of English proficiency and limited experience has caused them to be unqualified for the jobs."

Tran Van Hung of the Viet Nam National University of Forestry told the Viet Nam News Agency that many companies in HCM City still could not recruit enough qualified candidates.

Many experts are concerned about the labour-skills shortage because the city has poured a lot of money into high-tech industries.

Professor Vu inh Thanh, rector of HCM City University of Technology, said that many universities, colleges and vocational schools were offering the same training courses and not dividing them into different training levels to meet the employers different demands.

Dr Le Kim Dung, head of the Department of Employment under Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, said the database on the employment market was not complete, and remained unconnected between provinces and cities.

This has caused inadequate analysis and forecasts about the labour market, affecting socio-economic policies, he added.

Solutions

Dung said the Government should enhance public-private partnerships and carry out projects related to the labour market.

Mai of Navigos Search said the Government should regularly provide analysis and forecast of market trends and develop more policies to help enterprises improve their human resources.

On the other hand, companies should provide information about their demands to schools to improve the quality and effectiveness of training, she said, adding that they should also have better brandname strategies.

Universities, colleges and vocational schools should update training programmes toward enterprisesreal demands, Mai added.

They should also work with companies to offer their students soft skills and creative thinking skills, she said.

Harvey of ITviec.com said that students should spend time improving their English skills and gain practical experience even before graduation.  VNS
PHU THO  In the context of the fourth industrial revolution and expanding digital world, children have evermore opportunities to exploit and access endless sources of information and knowledge, however, they also face the risk of harm from unsafe information.

The statement was released yesterday at the launch ceremony for the Action Month for Children 2018, which was organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in co-ordination with the Phu Tho Peoples Committee in the northern province of Phu Tho.

Children also face the threat of exploitation and abuse, especially sexual abuse. Thus, the annual action month this year was launched across the country under the theme For a safe and healthy life for children.

The action month aims to better implement childrens rights, especially the right to participate in affairs relating to children, and the right of protection from abuse online.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Vice President ang Thi Ngoc Thinh emphasised that it had been 20 years since Viet Nam joined the world wide web and is now entering the fourth industrial revolution.

Information technology has changed our lives for the better, however, the internet also poses risks to children if the community does not take preventive measures against abuse, she said.

At the end of the school year, I congratulate all of you for your great efforts and achievements in your studies. I hope you will continue to gain knowledge and skills to protect yourselves, and together with your parents and teachers set up safe lives, said Thinh.

I strongly believe that all of you will become intelligent citizens of the fourth industrial revolution, she said.

Vice President Thinh asked all ministries, sectors, organisations, localities and individuals to work together to create a safe living environment so that children could develop with the best capacity.

Activities during the action month will focus on improving awareness and responsibility of organisations, enterprises, schools and families in upholding the good aspects while limiting the bad aspects of the digital world to childrens development.

Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, Representative of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Viet Nam, proposed to improve human resources for the work of protecting children.

Targets to protect children should be inserted into the socio-economic development of provinces and cities.

One more important issue was, he said, to have an effective system to receive reports on violence against children, and ensure that all cases of children being abused were dealt with promptly.

Nguyen Thi Ha, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that during the month, children across the country would receive education on skills to access the internet safely.

Skills to prevent abuse and sexual abuse will be delivered to parents and teachers.

Additionally, families, schools and local authorities will collaborate to set up safe summer vacations for children, to manage, supervise and give guidance to children to play safely, and prevent accidents, especially drowning.

During the month, the National Fund for Vietnamese Children will give gifts to nearly 5,000 poor children across the country with a total fund of more than VN14 billion (US$615,000).

Conferences and forums about setting up a national system to protect children on the internet will be organised all over the country.

The annual Action Month for Children has been organised based on the Law on Children issued in 2016. The action month is launched each June to urge the community to take care of and educate and protect children.  VNS
IEN BIEN  Nearly 900 irrigation systems in the northern mountainous province of ien Bien will be reinforced in preparation for the upcoming flood season.

Among those systems are 13 reservoirs, two electrical pumping stations and more than 880 spillways and temporary dams. Two other reservoirs are under construction, including Ang Cang in Muong Ang District and Nam Khau Hu in ien Bien District. Damaged constructions pose severe threats to people who live in downstream or riverside areas.

According to Nguyen Van inh, head of ien Bien Province Department of Water Management, the agency tasked reservoir owners to evaluate the constructions conditions to draw up plans of flood prevention and resilience. Forest protection and better communication between reservoir owners and local authorities were stressed as essential.

Nguyen Van Duyen, director of ien Bien Irrigation Management Company, told Vietnam News Agency that since April 2018, the company had inspected 12 reservoirs and dams that it reinforced for extreme weather events.

ien Bien Province has several irrigation systems located in isolated areas which pose difficulties for search and rescue operations. Moreover, some reservoirs such as Ban Ban, Na Huom and Sai Luong are inaccessible in the flood season due.

Meanwhile, the breakwater project along Quang Thai Beach in the central province of Thanh Hoa is being postponed, exposing locals to danger when the storm season approaches.

The project, which was invested with more than VN180 billion (US$7.9 million) and was expected to be completed this month, is currently halted due to slow disbursement.

At the same time, the casuarina forest playing the role of a natural breakwater was completely felled, letting waves directly hit the shore.

Pham Trung Tuan, deputy head of Quang Thai Commune Peoples Committee, said that if a powerful storm hit the area, 300 local families would face severe damage.

Because of the postponed project, the landscape is negatively affected, fishing boats have no place to be moored and local fishing is ruined, he said.  VNS
In 2004, a Nang became the first locality to pioneer a project offering free training courses, good working conditions and high salaries with the hope that the candidates would boost the citys development. Photo viettimes.vn

HA NOI  After receiving a scholarship from a Nang City authorities, DN (not her real name) left her hometown for France to study in 2005. Three years later, she returned home and began working at a department in the city.

N said the work was suitable with the subjects she learnt and the working environment was not boring.

However, she was very displeased with her salary.

My monthly salary stayed unchanged [about VN4 million (US$175] per month for seven years, she told Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

With such low pay, no one wants to do the job, she said adding that she kept at her work as she felt a responsibility to the city, having received a scholarship.

After fulfilling her seven years work commitment to the city, she quit her job and moved to work in another city.

MT, another scholarship recipient, has a similar story.

T finished information and technology studies at a foreign university and worked as an officer in a municipal department.

Asked why he decided not to stop working for the government agency, T said he wanted to take another opportunity.

An official from the citys Department of Home Affairs who knew about his case said wage was a matter of concern.

The official told the Voice of Viet Nam that in new position T could get paid as much as a dozen times higher than his previous role.

N and T were among 40 members of the citys talent training project who reportedly resigned or moved to other jobs after working for the local government.

In 2004, a Nang became the first locality to pioneer a project offering free training courses, good working conditions and high salaries with the hope that the candidates would boost the citys development.

Under the project, commonly known as Project 922, the city granted scholarship to a number of talented people to go abroad to study. Learners had to sign a contract that after the course they would return to work for city for at least seven years, otherwise they would have to pay compensation.

According to Nguyen Van Chien, deputy head of a Nangs Department of Home Affairs (DHA), despite great efforts, the city failed to provide the best working conditions for those in the project.

In the past, the city had a policy to support each learner with VN1 million (US$44) per month. But the policy was suspended as it was against other Government regulations, he said at a press conference on the matter.

According to Vu Ngoc ong, the head of the DHA, facing a human resource shortage, especially in the public sector, city authorities have issued many policies on human resource development including the one to attract employees with high intellectual standards for training since 1997.

The city has run Project 922 since 2004, using State capital to fund 647 talented people to study abroad. Of these, 460 have finished training, returned and began working for the city, he said.

Many of them are capable of holding important positions in government agencies, contributing to the development of the city.

However, he admitted there were a number of shortcomings in the implementation of human resource development and training work. He also acknowledged a lack of harmony between attracting, training and providing preferential treatment to talented people.

Incorrect forecasts have resulted in the fact that some learners could not find suitable jobs after finishing training or local authorities would not utilise them.

To solve these shortcomings, the city plans to adopt measures to ensure harmony between training works and attraction of talented people, ong told Viet Nam News.

Priority would be given to enhancing competence for existing public servants by offering them short-term training.

When there is a need to supplement high-quality human resources, students in the final year of university or postgraduate students will be chosen to continue training.

In addition, to ensure the effectiveness of human resource development, every year, the city Peoples Committee will aim to train for the following year based on the demand of agencies in the city. The pursuing of talents for long-term employment must be linked to assigned jobs and payroll norms, he said.

In the future, the city authority would review the arrangement of learners to make use of their talent.

The chairman of city Peoples Committee will soon hold a meeting with learners to understand their aspirations and help solve their problems so they can make more contributions to the city, he said.  VNS
HCM City  A fire broke out at a wet wipes manufacturing company in Quang Trung industrial cluster in HCM City early Monday morning.

It quickly spread to a nearby printing and packages company destroying more than half of both properties.

As firefighters battled the 4am blaze, locals desperately tried to remove flammable materials from the storage facilities.

At its height, 130 firefighters fought to control the flames and it was eventually extinguished after about three hours.

Although no one was injured during the blaze, the fire did destroy around 1,700sq.m of the total 2,600sq.m of factory.

The cause is currently under investigation.  VNS
HAI PHONG  Under 12-seater cars, under two-tonne trucks and city public buses will enjoy the fee exemption policy while passing through the Tien Cuu Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll booth in Tien Lang District.

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) recently sent an official document to the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam and Tasco Company, the projects investor, on fee reduction for vehicles driving through Tien Cuu BOT toll booth located on National Highway No.10 in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong, following the directorates earlier request.

The ministry sought the collaboration of related agencies, including the directorate, investor, peoples committees of Hai Phong City and Hai Duong Province as well as banks granting loans to reduce fee, ensure safety and prevent congestion at the toll booth.

Besides the mentioned vehicles, the fee will be cut to half for cars having 12-30 seats and trucks weighing two to four tonnes travelling within 5km around the toll booth, including the communes of Quang Trung, Quoc Tuan (An Lao District), ai Thang, Tien Cuong, Tu Cuong, Tien Tien, Quyet Tien, Khoi Nghia (Tien Lang District), Giang Bien and Dung Tien (Vinh Bao District).

Tien Cuu BOT toll booth is part of the project of reinforcing and upgrading a part of National Highway No.10 connecting Quan Toan bridge to Nghin bridge in Hai Phong city under the form of BOT.

According to MoT, there are 88 BOT toll booths in Viet Nam. Among them, 74 are managed by the ministry, while 14 are controlled by provincial Peoples Committees.  VNS
By The Associated Press May. 28, 2018 | 03:29 PM | ARLINGTON, VA

The commander in chief, speaking before an audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families assembled in the marble amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, said, "We mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice."





Trump's somber tone contrasted with a self-promotional tweet earlier Monday in which he said fallen soldiers would be "very proud and happy at how well our country is doing today," citing the economy and low unemployment.





During his second Memorial Day trip to Arlington as president, Trump laid a wreath at the tomb before making his remarks. He recognized military figures, including Bob Dole, the former senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, who served in World War II. And he spoke warmly about a number of military families in attendance, including a young boy named Christian Jacobs, whose father is buried at Arlington.

Trump said the boy showed him his father's grave last year, calling it "a moment I will always remember."





Before heading to the hallowed grounds across the Potomac River from the nation's capital, Trump tweeted that "those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today."









He was criticized for his tone by a number of people, including a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Obama administration, retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who wrote, "This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us."



Memorial Day messages from first lady Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, struck to a theme of remembrance and thanks.



"As we remember our fallen servicemen and women, our hearts are filled with gratitude for their sacrifice and awe of their courage," Ivanka Trump tweeted.



And Melania Trump thanked service members and their families for helping safeguard the country. "We honor the many Americans who laid down their lives for our great country. As one nation under God, we come together to remember that freedom isn't free," she tweeted.



At Arlington, Trump said the heroes who died for America "rest in these hallowed fields, in cemeteries, battlefields and burial grounds near and far, and are drawn from the full tapestry of American life."



He said they came from "every generation, from towering cities and wind-swept prairies, from privilege and from poverty. They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, color and of every creed, but they were all brothers and sisters in arms. And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country."



Gen. Joseph Dunford, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored the more than a million Americans he said "gave their last full measure so we could live in freedom and raise our children in peace."



He also honored the families "they left behind and for whom every day is Memorial Day."



Those who fought and died for America, he said, "shared a commitment to something greater than themselves and they were people who understand what we have in this country is worth fighting for."



Those who attended the Memorial Day tribute included Trump's chief of staff, John Kelly, whose son, Marine 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly, was killed in November 2010 after he stepped on a land mine while on patrol in southern Afghanistan. He is buried at Arlington.

But the president then veered from the somber to the self-congratulatory in the tweet, citing what he said was the "Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18 years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!" The president also posted quotes in line with his criticism of the Justice Department and investigations into ties between his winning campaign and Russia.

President Donald Trump paid a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, saying he came to "sacred soil" to "honor the lives and deeds of America's greatest heroes."
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 (6) Jul 16 (10) Jul 15 (13) Jul 12 (7) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (11) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (8) Jun 28 (7) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (8) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (9) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (9) Jun 18 (8) Jun 15 (9) Jun 13 (13) Jun 11 (11) Jun 09 (19) Jun 06 (10) Jun 04 (10) Jun 03 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (5) May 30 (5) May 29 (6) May 28 (7) May 27 (7) May 26 (6) May 25 (4) May 23 (6) May 22 (6) May 21 (4) May 20 (7) May 19 (9) May 18 (4) May 17 (6) May 16 (5) May 15 (7) May 14 (3) May 13 (3) May 12 (9) May 10 (3) May 09 (7) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (5) May 05 (8) May 03 (9) May 02 (1) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (8) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (7) Apr 26 (12) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (8) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (1) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (6) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (2) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (2) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (10) Apr 04 (2) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (9) Apr 01 (7) Mar 31 (10) Mar 30 (6) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (10) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (10) Mar 22 (6) Mar 21 (5) Mar 20 (11) Mar 19 (8) Mar 18 (5) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (7) Mar 13 (7) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (6) Mar 07 (8) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (12) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (8) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (8) Feb 28 (7) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (6) Feb 25 (7) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (6) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (1) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (2) Feb 15 (5) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (6) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (6) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (2) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (8) Jan 30 (2) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (1) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (4) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (2) Jan 20 (2) Jan 19 (3) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (2) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (6) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (1) Dec 31 (5) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (2) Dec 17 (1) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (2) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (7) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (2) Dec 08 (2) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (1) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (5) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (10) Nov 28 (6) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (6) Nov 19 (2) Nov 18 (5) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (2) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (5) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (9) Oct 30 (9) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (6) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (6) Oct 22 (4) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (5) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (7) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (10) Oct 07 (1) Oct 06 (10) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (8) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (1) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (6) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (5) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (6) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (8) Sep 05 (6) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (5) Aug 31 (8) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (6) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (1) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (7) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (7) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (8) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (4) Aug 08 (8) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (10) Aug 02 (9) Aug 01 (8) Jul 31 (1) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (11) Jul 27 (10) Jul 26 (10) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (8) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (1) Jul 16 (10) Jul 14 (7) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (11) Jul 11 (7) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (8) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (6) Jul 03 (7) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (2) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (5) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (8) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (3) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (7) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (8) Jun 08 (8) Jun 07 (8) Jun 06 (10) Jun 05 (14) Jun 04 (6) Jun 03 (6) Jun 02 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (7) May 30 (2) May 29 (7) May 28 (7) May 27 (2) May 26 (4) May 25 (5) May 24 (4) May 23 (5) May 22 (5) May 21 (5) May 20 (3) May 19 (10) May 18 (6) May 17 (3) May 16 (6) May 15 (2) May 14 (3) May 13 (5) May 11 (1) May 10 (5) May 09 (3) May 08 (4) May 07 (2) May 06 (4) May 05 (6) May 04 (5) May 03 (5) May 02 (1) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (7) Apr 28 (8) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (14) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (1) Apr 21 (8) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (1) Apr 15 (8) Apr 14 (1) Apr 13 (7) Apr 12 (10) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (2) Apr 09 (2) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (6) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (4) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (9) Mar 26 (4) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (11) Mar 23 (10) Mar 22 (9) Mar 21 (10) Mar 20 (11) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (7) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (6) Mar 13 (9) Mar 12 (6) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (6) Mar 07 (13) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (7) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (6) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (5) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (6) Feb 23 (9) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (8) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (5) Feb 14 (7) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (9) Feb 08 (8) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (10) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (2) Feb 03 (8) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (5) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (7) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (7) Jan 26 (8) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (6) Jan 23 (5) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (8) Jan 17 (12) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (8) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (6) Jan 10 (7) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (6) Jan 05 (9) Jan 04 (9) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (6) Jan 01 (8) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (8) Dec 26 (4) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (12) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (7) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (1) Dec 15 (7) Dec 14 (10) Dec 13 (7) Dec 12 (12) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (6) Dec 08 (7) Dec 07 (12) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (13) Dec 04 (6) Dec 02 (8) Dec 01 (8) Nov 30 (6) Nov 29 (7) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (8) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (11) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (6) Nov 16 (11) Nov 15 (10) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (5) Nov 11 (12) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (14) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (11) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (11) Nov 03 (9) Nov 02 (10) Nov 01 (8) Oct 31 (12) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (5) Oct 28 (5) Oct 27 (11) Oct 26 (13) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (10) Oct 23 (8) Oct 22 (5) Oct 21 (11) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (5) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (6) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (9) Oct 13 (10) Oct 12 (11) Oct 11 (9) Oct 10 (10) Oct 09 (7) Oct 08 (5) Oct 07 (10) Oct 06 (9) Oct 05 (14) Oct 04 (9) Oct 03 (12) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (9) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (7) Sep 28 (13) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (7) Sep 22 (10) Sep 21 (12) Sep 20 (12) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (11) Sep 15 (8) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (8) Sep 12 (8) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (10) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (9) Sep 07 (8) Sep 06 (11) Sep 05 (2) Sep 04 (8) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (9) Aug 31 (9) Aug 30 (7) Aug 29 (9) Aug 28 (4) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (5) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (2) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (6) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (6) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (4) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (7) Aug 06 (7) Aug 05 (7) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (11) Aug 02 (6) Aug 01 (9) Jul 31 (11) Jul 28 (7) Jul 27 (11) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (1) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (2) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (8) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (7) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (2) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (10) Jul 11 (11) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (5) Jul 06 (6) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (6) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (3) Jun 30 (8) Jun 29 (5) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (11) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (7) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (6) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (8) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (8) Jun 06 (7) Jun 05 (5) Jun 04 (7) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (9) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (8) May 30 (7) May 29 (5) May 28 (5) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (3) May 23 (5) May 22 (2) May 21 (3) May 20 (7) May 19 (11) May 18 (1) May 17 (7) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (4) May 11 (11) May 10 (2) May 09 (6) May 08 (6) May 07 (2) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (8) May 02 (4) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (13) Apr 28 (5) Apr 27 (7) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (2) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (9) Apr 21 (11) Apr 20 (2) Apr 19 (2) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (6) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (2) Apr 12 (9) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (6) Apr 09 (5) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (10) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (9) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (6) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (8) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (10) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (6) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (6) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (9) Mar 08 (10) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (2) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (8) Feb 26 (9) Feb 24 (11) Feb 23 (8) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (8) Feb 20 (7) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (6) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (11) Feb 13 (2) Feb 12 (5) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (10) Feb 08 (9) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (2) Feb 05 (9) Feb 03 (7) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (7) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (5) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (7) Jan 24 (8) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (14) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (10) Jan 18 (11) Jan 17 (9) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (10) Jan 06 (8) Jan 05 (7) Jan 04 (9) Jan 03 (8) Jan 02 (5) Jan 01 (14) Dec 30 (13) Dec 29 (13) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (5) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (7) Dec 24 (4) Dec 23 (5) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (8) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (8) Dec 18 (9) Dec 16 (8) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (8) Dec 12 (4) Dec 11 (17) Dec 09 (8) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (10) Dec 06 (12) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (8) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (7) Nov 30 (9) Nov 29 (6) Nov 28 (11) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (15) Nov 24 (7) Nov 23 (15) Nov 22 (9) Nov 21 (6) Nov 20 (11) Nov 18 (11) Nov 17 (13) Nov 16 (8) Nov 15 (13) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (7) Nov 12 (3) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (13) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (6) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (8) Nov 03 (9) Nov 02 (8) Nov 01 (6) Oct 31 (10) Oct 30 (8) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (8) Oct 27 (15) Oct 26 (10) Oct 25 (10) Oct 24 (13) Oct 23 (9) Oct 21 (8) Oct 20 (13) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (8) Oct 16 (14) Oct 14 (9) Oct 13 (11) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (13) Oct 10 (7) Oct 09 (15) Oct 07 (7) Oct 06 (11) Oct 05 (18) Oct 04 (14) Oct 03 (1) Oct 02 (10) Sep 30 (11) Sep 29 (11) Sep 28 (11) Sep 27 (15) Sep 26 (7) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (11) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (17) Sep 20 (20) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (11) Sep 16 (10) Sep 15 (12) Sep 14 (9) Sep 13 (12) Sep 12 (14) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (8) Sep 09 (9) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (13) Sep 06 (15) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (11) Sep 03 (10) Sep 02 (12) Sep 01 (12) Aug 31 (14) Aug 30 (14) Aug 29 (8) Aug 28 (8) Aug 27 (9) Aug 26 (12) Aug 25 (6) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (12) Aug 22 (6) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (6) Aug 19 (9) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (7) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (2) Aug 14 (12) Aug 12 (15) Aug 11 (11) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (7) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (7) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (5) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (9) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (8) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (6) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (6) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (15) Jul 15 (14) Jul 14 (5) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (12) Jul 11 (8) Jul 10 (3) Jul 09 (11) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (10) Jul 05 (4) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (10) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (7) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (7) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (11) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (14) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (8) Jun 09 (9) Jun 08 (11) Jun 07 (14) Jun 06 (16) Jun 03 (8) Jun 02 (12) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (7) May 30 (15) May 28 (7) May 27 (5) May 26 (21) May 25 (14) May 24 (10) May 23 (7) May 22 (8) May 21 (11) May 20 (5) May 19 (4) May 18 (10) May 17 (11) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (7) May 13 (12) May 12 (10) May 11 (7) May 10 (13) May 09 (4) May 08 (7) May 07 (3) May 06 (6) May 05 (9) May 04 (14) May 03 (7) May 02 (10) May 01 (10) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (9) Apr 28 (5) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (8) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (14) Apr 22 (16) Apr 21 (11) Apr 20 (7) Apr 19 (16) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (8) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (11) Apr 12 (10) Apr 11 (8) Apr 10 (12) Apr 09 (5) Apr 08 (13) Apr 07 (9) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (15) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (15) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (11) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (10) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (7) Mar 27 (12) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (8) Mar 24 (7) Mar 23 (15) Mar 22 (17) Mar 21 (9) Mar 20 (8) Mar 19 (4) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (8) Mar 16 (19) Mar 15 (13) Mar 14 (7) Mar 13 (20) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (11) Mar 09 (13) Mar 08 (13) Mar 07 (7) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (9) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (16) Mar 02 (16) Mar 01 (13) Feb 29 (8) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (16) Feb 26 (10) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (12) Feb 23 (14) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (8) Feb 19 (12) Feb 18 (12) Feb 17 (11) Feb 16 (8) Feb 15 (9) Feb 14 (7) Feb 13 (10) Feb 12 (11) Feb 11 (13) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (13) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (11) Feb 03 (7) Feb 02 (19) Jan 31 (21) Jan 29 (11) Jan 28 (10) Jan 27 (13) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (2) Jan 23 (8) Jan 22 (13) Jan 21 (11) Jan 20 (9) Jan 19 (13) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (11) Jan 15 (7) Jan 14 (13) Jan 13 (9) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (7) Jan 07 (6) Jan 06 (11) Jan 05 (7) Jan 04 (7) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (8) Jan 01 (5) Dec 31 (10) Dec 30 (9) Dec 29 (7) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (1) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (6) Dec 23 (6) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (6) Dec 20 (7) Dec 19 (13) Dec 18 (16) Dec 17 (10) Dec 16 (13) Dec 15 (11) Dec 14 (8) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (9) Dec 11 (10) Dec 10 (12) Dec 09 (10) Dec 08 (13) Dec 07 (7) Dec 06 (12) Dec 05 (8) Dec 04 (11) Dec 03 (12) Dec 02 (16) Dec 01 (14) Nov 30 (10) Nov 29 (11) Nov 28 (15) Nov 27 (16) Nov 26 (11) Nov 25 (9) Nov 24 (13) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (1) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (11) Nov 17 (11) Nov 16 (10) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (10) Nov 13 (14) Nov 12 (8) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (10) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (11) Nov 06 (12) Nov 05 (17) Nov 04 (12) Nov 03 (11) Nov 02 (5) Nov 01 (12) Oct 31 (11) Oct 30 (11) Oct 29 (10) Oct 28 (18) Oct 27 (16) Oct 26 (11) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (12) Oct 23 (11) Oct 22 (14) Oct 21 (12) Oct 20 (17) Oct 19 (12) Oct 18 (13) Oct 17 (15) Oct 16 (14) Oct 15 (10) Oct 14 (16) Oct 13 (12) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (8) Oct 10 (12) Oct 09 (21) Oct 08 (22) Oct 07 (19) Oct 06 (18) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (17) Oct 03 (13) Oct 02 (14) Oct 01 (13) Sep 30 (14) Sep 29 (15) Sep 28 (12) Sep 27 (11) Sep 26 (15) Sep 25 (13) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (10) Sep 22 (12) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (4) Sep 19 (12) Sep 18 (12) Sep 17 (16) Sep 16 (21) Sep 15 (14) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (10) Sep 11 (16) Sep 10 (7) Sep 09 (8) Sep 08 (10) Sep 07 (7) Sep 06 (5) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (9) Sep 03 (8) Sep 02 (11) Sep 01 (10) Aug 31 (4) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (1) Aug 28 (10) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (8) Aug 25 (14) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (13) Aug 20 (9) Aug 19 (13) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (8) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (12) Aug 11 (9) Aug 10 (8) Aug 09 (14) Aug 08 (6) Aug 07 (1) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (8) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (2) Aug 01 (6) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (6) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (6) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (9) Jul 14 (2) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (1) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (13) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (7) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (9) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (3) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (7) Jun 17 (7) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (11) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (10) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (2) Jun 05 (9) Jun 04 (8) Jun 03 (9) Jun 02 (6) Jun 01 (4) May 30 (7) May 29 (9) May 28 (13) May 26 (8) May 25 (5) May 24 (2) May 23 (8) May 22 (9) May 21 (7) May 20 (4) May 19 (6) May 18 (7) May 17 (8) May 15 (9) May 14 (5) May 13 (8) May 12 (6) May 11 (6) May 09 (7) May 08 (6) May 07 (11) May 06 (7) May 05 (4) May 04 (11) May 03 (5) May 02 (4) May 01 (9) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (9) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (10) Apr 22 (8) Apr 21 (9) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (4) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (6) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (6) Apr 10 (2) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (5) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (2) Apr 05 (2) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (7) Apr 02 (7) Apr 01 (12) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (2) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (2) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (4) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (6) Mar 20 (9) Mar 19 (9) Mar 18 (8) Mar 17 (9) Mar 16 (7) Mar 15 (11) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (12) Mar 11 (9) Mar 10 (12) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (5) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (11) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (8) Feb 27 (9) Feb 26 (9) Feb 25 (8) Feb 24 (6) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (10) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (7) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (2) Feb 14 (8) Feb 13 (12) Feb 12 (8) Feb 11 (10) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (2) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (11) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (8) Jan 29 (12) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (8) Jan 26 (13) Jan 24 (8) Jan 23 (12) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (10) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (11) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (6) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (6) Jan 06 (4) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (5) Dec 18 (8) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (9) Dec 15 (7) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (10) Dec 11 (9) Dec 10 (10) Dec 09 (11) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (9) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (8) Dec 02 (10) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (1) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (9) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (7) Nov 25 (12) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (8) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (6) Nov 18 (10) Nov 17 (12) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (12) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (8) Nov 10 (7) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (9) Nov 03 (6) Nov 02 (14) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (6) Oct 30 (7) Oct 29 (9) Oct 28 (9) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (8) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (2) Oct 19 (11) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (7) Oct 15 (7) Oct 14 (8) Oct 13 (5) Oct 12 (8) Oct 11 (6) Oct 10 (5) Oct 09 (11) Oct 08 (10) Oct 07 (8) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (8) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (10) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (7) Sep 29 (6) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (8) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (11) Sep 24 (15) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (9) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (9) Sep 18 (10) Sep 17 (10) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (8) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (7) Sep 04 (11) Sep 03 (7) Sep 02 (7) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (1) Aug 29 (10) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (10) Aug 25 (6) Aug 24 (9) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (8) Aug 20 (12) Aug 19 (8) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (4) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (8) Aug 11 (7) Aug 10 (12) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (6) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (8) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (4) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (12) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (8) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (8) Jul 20 (6) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (8) Jul 17 (2) Jul 16 (7) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (9) Jul 13 (10) Jul 11 (9) Jul 10 (8) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (7) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (7) Jul 05 (10) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (5) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (15) Jun 26 (10) Jun 25 (9) Jun 24 (16) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (12) Jun 20 (6) Jun 19 (8) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (13) Jun 12 (7) Jun 11 (14) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (7) Jun 06 (16) Jun 05 (7) Jun 04 (18) Jun 03 (12) Jun 02 (8) May 31 (3) May 30 (6) May 29 (6) May 28 (7) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (6) May 23 (4) May 22 (8) May 21 (5) May 20 (6) May 19 (2) May 18 (9) May 17 (1) May 16 (5) May 15 (5) May 14 (7) May 13 (7) May 12 (7) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (5) May 08 (10) May 07 (4) May 06 (13) May 05 (4) May 04 (10) May 02 (2) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (9) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (9) Apr 25 (9) Apr 24 (7) Apr 23 (11) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (10) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (6) Apr 15 (7) Apr 14 (11) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (9) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (6) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (10) Apr 03 (9) Apr 02 (9) Apr 01 (12) Mar 31 (4) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (10) Mar 28 (7) Mar 27 (8) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (15) Mar 24 (11) Mar 23 (8) Mar 22 (7) Mar 21 (14) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (11) Mar 18 (11) Mar 17 (12) Mar 16 (8) Mar 15 (8) Mar 14 (13) Mar 13 (8) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (8) Mar 10 (7) Mar 09 (3) Mar 08 (12) Mar 07 (15) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (9) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (12) Mar 02 (20) Feb 28 (11) Feb 27 (8) Feb 26 (11) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (14) Feb 23 (5) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (8) Feb 20 (11) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (8) Feb 16 (11) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (10) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (10) Feb 11 (7) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (6) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (5) Jan 29 (2) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (3) Jan 26 (2) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (7) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (5) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (7) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (4) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (3) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (1) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (6) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (5) Dec 27 (1) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (8) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (1) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (8) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (4) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (4) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (7) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (2) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (10) Dec 04 (9) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (2) Dec 01 (8) Nov 29 (5) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (9) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (5) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (12) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (8) Nov 15 (7) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (12) Nov 11 (6) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (9) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (10) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (11) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (7) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (7) Oct 23 (11) Oct 22 (2) Oct 21 (7) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (7) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (7) Oct 11 (20) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (21) Oct 07 (20) Oct 06 (34) Oct 04 (24) Oct 03 (21) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (7) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (5) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (5) Sep 26 (6) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (2) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (4) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (9) Sep 19 (11) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (6) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (8) Sep 12 (11) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (6) Sep 06 (10) Sep 05 (7) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (5) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (8) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (7) Aug 29 (10) Aug 28 (7) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (6) Aug 21 (8) Aug 20 (8) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (7) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (4) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (6) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (6) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (12) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (4) Aug 01 (10) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (6) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (7) Jul 23 (10) Jul 22 (8) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (7) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (10) Jul 16 (11) Jul 15 (5) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (9) Jul 11 (11) Jul 10 (12) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (8) Jul 06 (9) Jul 05 (10) Jul 04 (8) Jul 03 (10) Jul 02 (12) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (5) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (23) Jun 27 (18) Jun 26 (12) Jun 25 (14) Jun 24 (15) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (11) Jun 21 (15) Jun 20 (9) Jun 19 (8) Jun 18 (11) Jun 17 (7) Jun 16 (6) Jun 15 (6) Jun 14 (6) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (9) Jun 10 (10) Jun 09 (9) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (2) Jun 06 (6) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (3) May 30 (5) May 29 (8) May 28 (7) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (8) May 24 (7) May 23 (6) May 22 (9) May 21 (6) May 20 (5) May 19 (6) May 18 (9) May 17 (10) May 16 (11) May 15 (5) May 14 (11) May 13 (6) May 12 (7) May 11 (7) May 10 (5) May 09 (3) May 08 (10) May 07 (8) May 06 (11) May 05 (5) May 04 (9) May 03 (3) May 02 (2) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (5) Apr 29 (8) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (9) Apr 25 (11) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (11) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (7) Apr 19 (10) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (10) Apr 16 (8) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (7) Apr 12 (11) Apr 11 (6) Apr 10 (7) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (9) Apr 05 (10) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (2) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (4) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (4) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (10) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (6) Mar 21 (9) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (9) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (8) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (10) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (2) Mar 10 (1) Mar 09 (6) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (7) Mar 03 (6) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (9) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (7) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (2) Feb 17 (1) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (5) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (7) Feb 11 (2) Feb 10 (2) Feb 09 (5) Feb 08 (5) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (9) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (3) Feb 02 (10) Feb 01 (9) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (8) Jan 29 (5) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (7) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (8) Jan 15 (7) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (1) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (2) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (8) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (4) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (6) Dec 17 (4) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (8) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (8) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (4) Dec 07 (7) Dec 06 (7) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (6) Dec 03 (7) Dec 02 (1) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (8) Nov 28 (16) Nov 27 (7) Nov 26 (5) Nov 25 (2) Nov 24 (6) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (15) Nov 19 (8) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (7) Nov 14 (6) Nov 13 (9) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (8) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (5) Nov 08 (8) Nov 07 (9) Nov 06 (9) Nov 05 (1) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (8) Nov 02 (6) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (6) Oct 30 (7) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (8) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (1) Oct 22 (6) Oct 21 (1) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (10) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (15) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (7) Oct 10 (1) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (8) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (7) Oct 02 (6) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (8) Sep 29 (6) Sep 28 (13) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (8) Sep 25 (8) Sep 24 (8) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (9) Sep 20 (7) Sep 19 (8) Sep 18 (4) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (8) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (7) Sep 12 (7) Sep 11 (9) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (10) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (12) Sep 06 (13) Sep 05 (15) Sep 04 (5) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (9) Aug 31 (7) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (8) Aug 28 (11) Aug 27 (2) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (15) Aug 24 (6) Aug 23 (8) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (7) Aug 19 (2) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (9) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (7) Aug 07 (9) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (9) Aug 01 (10) Jul 31 (11) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (11) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (5) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (6) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (7) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (7) Jul 12 (8) Jul 11 (6) Jul 10 (14) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (9) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (8) Jun 25 (3) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (14) Jun 22 (11) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (8) Jun 19 (7) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (12) Jun 15 (12) Jun 14 (10) Jun 13 (10) Jun 12 (9) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (12) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (12) Jun 06 (6) Jun 05 (7) Jun 04 (6) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (8) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (8) May 28 (7) May 27 (4) May 26 (3) May 25 (5) May 24 (9) May 23 (16) May 22 (12) May 21 (11) May 20 (7) May 19 (10) May 18 (8) May 17 (8) May 16 (10) May 15 (8) May 14 (5) May 13 (1) May 12 (6) May 11 (9) May 10 (9) May 09 (10) May 08 (9) May 07 (6) May 06 (5) May 05 (7) May 04 (10) May 03 (7) May 02 (9) May 01 (10) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (9) Apr 28 (12) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (9) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (8) Apr 20 (9) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (2) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (10) Apr 14 (7) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (7) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (7) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (7) Apr 07 (10) Apr 06 (8) Apr 05 (8) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (4) Apr 01 (4) Mar 31 (11) Mar 30 (12) Mar 29 (16) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (10) Mar 26 (12) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (9) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (12) Mar 20 (14) Mar 19 (8) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (8) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (9) Mar 12 (6) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (8) Mar 08 (10) Mar 07 (12) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (2) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (12) Mar 01 (8) Feb 29 (11) Feb 28 (5) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (13) Feb 25 (10) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (10) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (18) Feb 20 (6) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (5) Feb 16 (9) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (8) Feb 09 (5) Feb 08 (8) Feb 07 (10) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (11) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (12) Jan 30 (7) Jan 29 (7) Jan 28 (7) Jan 27 (12) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (11) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (6) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (12) Jan 20 (11) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (6) Jan 17 (11) Jan 16 (9) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (9) Jan 10 (10) Jan 09 (5) Jan 08 (10) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (6) Jan 05 (8) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (8) Jan 02 (7) Jan 01 (7) Dec 31 (10) Dec 30 (11) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (10) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (7) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (9) Dec 21 (8) Dec 20 (8) Dec 19 (5) Dec 18 (1) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (6) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (13) Dec 13 (8) Dec 12 (7) Dec 11 (9) Dec 10 (12) Dec 09 (7) Dec 08 (11) Dec 07 (9) Dec 06 (11) Dec 05 (10) Dec 04 (6) Dec 03 (8) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (14) Nov 30 (7) Nov 29 (8) Nov 28 (8) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (9) Nov 25 (10) Nov 24 (12) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (10) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (8) Nov 17 (9) Nov 16 (9) Nov 15 (12) Nov 14 (6) Nov 13 (9) Nov 12 (3) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (10) Nov 09 (10) Nov 08 (7) Nov 07 (8) Nov 06 (10) Nov 05 (8) Nov 04 (7) Nov 03 (10) Nov 02 (11) Nov 01 (10) Oct 31 (5) Oct 30 (8) Oct 29 (8) Oct 28 (8) Oct 27 (11) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (10) Oct 23 (5) Oct 22 (14) Oct 21 (10) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (11) Oct 18 (13) Oct 17 (7) Oct 16 (6) Oct 15 (9) Oct 14 (7) Oct 13 (12) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (9) Oct 10 (8) Oct 09 (9) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (12) Oct 06 (8) Oct 05 (13) Oct 04 (11) Oct 03 (7) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (14) Sep 30 (12) Sep 29 (12) Sep 28 (11) Sep 27 (11) Sep 26 (7) Sep 25 (10) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (7) Sep 22 (8) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (7) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (14) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (11) Sep 14 (13) Sep 13 (11) Sep 12 (9) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (13) Sep 08 (11) Sep 07 (11) Sep 06 (16) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (8) Sep 02 (8) Sep 01 (7) Aug 31 (1) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (2) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (8) Aug 25 (5) Aug 24 (5) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (7) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (9) Aug 18 (7) Aug 17 (7) Aug 16 (10) Aug 15 (2) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (12) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (14) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (13) Jul 28 (10) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (12) Jul 22 (14) Jul 21 (6) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (12) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (6) Jul 15 (8) Jul 14 (15) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (10) Jul 11 (6) Jul 10 (6) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (6) Jul 07 (9) Jul 06 (15) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (10) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (11) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (11) Jun 24 (9) Jun 23 (10) Jun 22 (8) Jun 21 (8) Jun 20 (6) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (15) Jun 17 (8) Jun 16 (13) Jun 15 (15) Jun 14 (11) Jun 13 (6) Jun 12 (15) Jun 11 (7) Jun 10 (7) Jun 09 (18) Jun 08 (20) Jun 07 (17) Jun 06 (9) Jun 05 (9) Jun 04 (12) Jun 03 (13) Jun 02 (14) Jun 01 (8) May 31 (13) May 30 (8) May 29 (6) May 28 (8) May 27 (17) May 26 (8) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (9) May 22 (4) May 21 (4) May 20 (11) May 19 (14) May 18 (6) May 17 (10) May 16 (4) May 15 (5) May 14 (28) May 12 (9) May 11 (17) May 10 (15) May 09 (12) May 08 (5) May 07 (4) May 06 (10) May 05 (8) May 04 (10) May 03 (5) May 02 (6) May 01 (8) Apr 30 (8) Apr 29 (12) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (11) Apr 26 (12) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (10) Apr 21 (19) Apr 20 (13) Apr 19 (11) Apr 18 (11) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (12) Apr 15 (11) Apr 14 (17) Apr 13 (6) Apr 12 (16) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (18) Apr 08 (14) Apr 07 (6) Apr 06 (10) Apr 05 (21) Apr 04 (12) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (13) Apr 01 (8) Mar 31 (10) Mar 30 (11) Mar 29 (10) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (12) Mar 25 (15) Mar 24 (10) Mar 23 (12) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (8) Mar 20 (4) Mar 19 (11) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (9) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (2) Mar 12 (14) Mar 11 (13) Mar 10 (7) Mar 09 (9) Mar 08 (17) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (7) Mar 05 (13) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (14) Mar 02 (12) Mar 01 (18) Feb 28 (8) Feb 27 (2) Feb 26 (9) Feb 25 (13) Feb 24 (17) Feb 23 (13) Feb 22 (12) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (11) Feb 19 (16) Feb 18 (17) Feb 17 (15) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (15) Feb 14 (10) Feb 13 (8) Feb 12 (10) Feb 11 (15) Feb 10 (11) Feb 09 (13) Feb 08 (10) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (6) Feb 05 (15) Feb 04 (15) Feb 03 (11) Feb 02 (14) Feb 01 (15) Jan 31 (11) Jan 30 (9) Jan 29 (19) Jan 28 (9) Jan 27 (9) Jan 26 (16) Jan 25 (19) Jan 24 (17) Jan 23 (8) Jan 22 (15) Jan 21 (9) Jan 20 (11) Jan 19 (7) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (12) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (14) Jan 12 (11) Jan 11 (13) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (8) Jan 08 (20) Jan 07 (11) Jan 06 (11) Jan 05 (8) Jan 04 (14) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (7) Jan 01 (7) Dec 31 (14) Dec 30 (15) Dec 29 (7) Dec 28 (10) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (11) Dec 24 (9) Dec 23 (9) Dec 22 (15) Dec 21 (12) Dec 20 (11) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (16) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (12) Dec 15 (14) Dec 14 (11) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (10) Dec 10 (17) Dec 09 (11) Dec 08 (12) Dec 07 (16) Dec 06 (11) Dec 05 (5) Dec 04 (12) Dec 03 (15) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (12) Nov 30 (16) Nov 29 (7) Nov 28 (11) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (13) Nov 25 (16) Nov 24 (15) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (8) Nov 19 (9) Nov 18 (16) Nov 17 (11) Nov 16 (11) Nov 15 (10) Nov 14 (9) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (10) Nov 11 (12) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (6) Nov 06 (7) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (14) Nov 03 (10) Nov 02 (13) Nov 01 (9) Oct 31 (9) Oct 30 (11) Oct 29 (18) Oct 28 (13) Oct 27 (23) Oct 26 (12) Oct 25 (14) Oct 24 (20) Oct 22 (18) Oct 21 (18) Oct 20 (19) Oct 19 (12) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (18) Oct 15 (8) Oct 14 (11) Oct 13 (9) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (6) Oct 10 (7) Oct 09 (27) Oct 08 (14) Oct 07 (10) Oct 06 (9) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (10) Oct 03 (6) Oct 02 (9) Oct 01 (13) Sep 30 (12) Sep 29 (13) Sep 28 (8) Sep 27 (9) Sep 26 (8) Sep 25 (14) Sep 24 (4) Sep 23 (14) Sep 22 (20) Sep 21 (11) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (9) Sep 18 (14) Sep 17 (8) Sep 16 (17) Sep 15 (6) Sep 14 (11) Sep 13 (9) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (14) Sep 09 (12) Sep 08 (17) Sep 07 (12) Sep 06 (13) Sep 05 (9) Sep 04 (20) Sep 03 (16) Sep 02 (16) Sep 01 (10) Aug 31 (13) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (9) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (11) Aug 25 (10) Aug 24 (14) Aug 23 (12) Aug 22 (13) Aug 21 (10) Aug 20 (13) Aug 19 (15) Aug 18 (8) Aug 17 (10) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (11) Aug 13 (12) Aug 12 (15) Aug 11 (10) Aug 10 (17) Aug 09 (6) Aug 08 (13) Aug 07 (11) Aug 06 (13) Aug 05 (11) Aug 04 (11) Aug 03 (10) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (6) Jul 31 (10) Jul 30 (21) Jul 29 (14) Jul 28 (13) Jul 27 (16) Jul 26 (10) Jul 25 (15) Jul 24 (17) Jul 23 (15) Jul 22 (15) Jul 21 (19) Jul 20 (17) Jul 19 (9) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (26) Jul 16 (18) Jul 15 (20) Jul 14 (16) Jul 13 (19) Jul 12 (11) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (13) Jul 09 (11) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (12) Jul 06 (16) Jul 05 (9) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (15) Jul 02 (11) Jul 01 (14) Jun 30 (13) Jun 29 (19) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (9) Jun 26 (16) Jun 25 (22) Jun 24 (17) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (15) Jun 21 (14) Jun 20 (8) Jun 19 (17) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (10) Jun 16 (17) Jun 15 (13) Jun 14 (14) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (13) Jun 11 (15) Jun 10 (25) Jun 09 (10) Jun 08 (23) Jun 07 (14) Jun 06 (20) Jun 05 (10) Jun 04 (11) Jun 03 (12) Jun 02 (21) Jun 01 (14) May 31 (10) May 30 (14) May 29 (8) May 28 (23) May 27 (20) May 26 (16) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (10) May 22 (18) May 21 (14) May 20 (12) May 19 (18) May 18 (14) May 17 (13) May 16 (4) May 15 (7) May 14 (16) May 13 (13) May 12 (8) May 11 (18) May 10 (8) May 09 (7) May 08 (13) May 07 (11) May 06 (15) May 05 (18) May 04 (17) May 03 (7) May 02 (5) May 01 (11) Apr 30 (19) Apr 29 (21) Apr 28 (18) Apr 27 (16) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (11) Apr 24 (9) Apr 23 (20) Apr 22 (23) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (16) Apr 19 (13) Apr 18 (6) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (16) Apr 15 (18) Apr 14 (13) Apr 13 (14) Apr 12 (9) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (16) Apr 09 (14) Apr 08 (12) Apr 07 (18) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (11) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (19) Apr 02 (17) Apr 01 (16) Mar 31 (16) Mar 30 (22) Mar 29 (16) Mar 28 (16) Mar 27 (19) Mar 26 (31) Mar 25 (25) Mar 24 (26) Mar 23 (27) Mar 22 (22) Mar 21 (22) Mar 20 (13) Mar 19 (21) Mar 18 (20) Mar 17 (24) Mar 16 (18) Mar 15 (9) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (29) Mar 12 (15) Mar 11 (11) Mar 10 (11) Mar 09 (20) Mar 08 (12) Mar 07 (6) Mar 06 (21) Mar 05 (22) Mar 04 (19) Mar 03 (9) Mar 02 (20) Mar 01 (11) Feb 28 (11) Feb 27 (27) Feb 26 (15) Feb 25 (18) Feb 24 (17) Feb 23 (19) Feb 22 (24) Feb 21 (10) Feb 20 (14) Feb 19 (25) Feb 18 (16) Feb 17 (19) Feb 16 (23) Feb 15 (8) Feb 14 (11) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (16) Feb 11 (12) Feb 10 (18) Feb 09 (12) Feb 08 (14) Feb 07 (8) Feb 06 (27) Feb 05 (28) Feb 04 (24) Feb 03 (17) Feb 02 (20) Feb 01 (23) Jan 31 (16) Jan 30 (20) Jan 29 (26) Jan 28 (17) Jan 27 (21) Jan 26 (24) Jan 25 (16) Jan 24 (14) Jan 23 (16) Jan 22 (17) Jan 21 (19) Jan 20 (21) Jan 19 (17) Jan 18 (13) Jan 17 (14) Jan 16 (10) Jan 15 (21) Jan 14 (16) Jan 13 (19) Jan 12 (30) Jan 11 (14) Jan 10 (11) Jan 09 (8) Jan 08 (23) Jan 07 (13) Jan 06 (21) Jan 05 (15) Jan 04 (18) Jan 03 (9) Jan 02 (12) Jan 01 (15) Dec 31 (18) Dec 30 (7) Dec 29 (13) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (8) Dec 26 (6) Dec 25 (8) Dec 24 (28) Dec 23 (12) Dec 22 (12) Dec 21 (17) Dec 20 (19) Dec 19 (19) Dec 18 (22) Dec 17 (24) Dec 16 (17) Dec 15 (29) Dec 14 (22) Dec 13 (12) Dec 12 (22) Dec 11 (24) Dec 10 (25) Dec 09 (18) Dec 08 (15) Dec 07 (21) Dec 06 (24) Dec 05 (30) Dec 04 (28) Dec 03 (26) Dec 02 (22) Dec 01 (33) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (9) Nov 28 (18) Nov 27 (25) Nov 26 (17) Nov 25 (23) Nov 24 (27) Nov 23 (12) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (15) Nov 20 (23) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (24) Nov 17 (21) Nov 16 (20) Nov 15 (13) Nov 14 (15) Nov 13 (27) Nov 12 (23) Nov 11 (19) Nov 10 (21) Nov 09 (13) Nov 08 (16) Nov 07 (16) Nov 06 (32) Nov 05 (24) Nov 04 (20) Nov 03 (29) Nov 02 (12) Nov 01 (15) Oct 31 (20) Oct 30 (22) Oct 29 (27) Oct 28 (20) Oct 27 (23) Oct 26 (21) Oct 25 (15) Oct 24 (23) Oct 23 (26) Oct 22 (27) Oct 21 (28) Oct 20 (24) Oct 19 (13) Oct 18 (9) Oct 17 (30) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (20) Oct 14 (14) Oct 13 (17) Oct 12 (16) Oct 11 (8) Oct 10 (19) Oct 09 (22) Oct 08 (16) Oct 07 (18) Oct 06 (23) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (15) Oct 03 (21) Oct 02 (17) Oct 01 (22) Sep 30 (25) Sep 29 (20) Sep 28 (17) Sep 27 (13) Sep 26 (20) Sep 25 (15) Sep 24 (24) Sep 23 (23) Sep 22 (18) Sep 21 (20) Sep 20 (11) Sep 19 (24) Sep 18 (25) Sep 17 (25) Sep 16 (19) Sep 15 (21) Sep 14 (15) Sep 13 (10) Sep 12 (23) Sep 11 (23) Sep 10 (25) Sep 09 (25) Sep 08 (17) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (17) Sep 05 (14) Sep 04 (24) Sep 03 (16) Sep 02 (11) Sep 01 (19) Aug 31 (20) Aug 30 (11) Aug 29 (24) Aug 28 (24) Aug 27 (16) Aug 26 (26) Aug 25 (21) Aug 24 (15) Aug 23 (19) Aug 22 (15) Aug 21 (25) Aug 20 (27) Aug 19 (19) Aug 18 (24) Aug 17 (14) Aug 16 (10) Aug 15 (15) Aug 14 (16) Aug 13 (21) Aug 12 (30) Aug 11 (19) Aug 10 (8) Aug 09 (12) Aug 08 (17) Aug 07 (21) Aug 06 (26) Aug 05 (23) Aug 04 (21) Aug 03 (12) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (19) Jul 31 (21) Jul 30 (25) Jul 29 (29) Jul 28 (23) Jul 27 (17) Jul 26 (11) Jul 25 (21) Jul 24 (14) Jul 23 (15) Jul 22 (19) Jul 21 (15) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (10) Jul 18 (15) Jul 17 (22) Jul 16 (18) Jul 15 (21) Jul 14 (20) Jul 13 (7) Jul 12 (9) Jul 11 (29) Jul 10 (19) Jul 09 (17) Jul 08 (26) Jul 07 (21) Jul 06 (18) Jul 05 (14) Jul 04 (20) Jul 03 (17) Jul 02 (24) Jul 01 (23) Jun 30 (23) Jun 29 (18) Jun 28 (16) Jun 27 (16) Jun 26 (17) Jun 25 (23) Jun 24 (32) Jun 23 (29) Jun 22 (8) Jun 21 (17) Jun 20 (25) Jun 19 (28) Jun 18 (19) Jun 17 (25) Jun 16 (23) Jun 15 (9) Jun 14 (11) Jun 13 (14) Jun 12 (22) Jun 11 (19) Jun 10 (17) Jun 09 (15) Jun 08 (16) Jun 07 (7) Jun 06 (29) Jun 05 (27) Jun 04 (24) Jun 03 (22) Jun 02 (22) Jun 01 (13) May 31 (9) May 30 (26) May 29 (19) May 28 (15) May 27 (15) May 26 (23) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (24) May 22 (13) May 21 (21) May 20 (18) May 19 (16) May 18 (7) May 17 (12) May 16 (25) May 15 (24) May 14 (23) May 13 (19) May 12 (17) May 11 (8) May 10 (6) May 09 (14) May 08 (21) May 07 (26) May 06 (14) May 05 (14) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (24) May 01 (13) Apr 30 (15) Apr 29 (24) Apr 28 (24) Apr 27 (11) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (13) Apr 24 (27) Apr 23 (15) Apr 22 (21) Apr 21 (19) Apr 20 (17) Apr 19 (8) Apr 18 (20) Apr 17 (27) Apr 16 (27) Apr 15 (21) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (8) Apr 12 (7) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (22) Apr 09 (15) Apr 08 (15) Apr 07 (17) Apr 06 (14) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (12) Apr 03 (19) Apr 02 (17) Apr 01 (19) Mar 31 (25) Mar 30 (13) Mar 29 (9) Mar 28 (16) Mar 27 (23) Mar 26 (22) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (25) Mar 23 (16) Mar 22 (13) Mar 21 (24) Mar 20 (27) Mar 19 (20) Mar 18 (24) Mar 17 (17) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (20) Mar 13 (28) Mar 12 (30) Mar 11 (20) Mar 10 (21) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (8) Mar 07 (17) Mar 06 (20) Mar 05 (19) Mar 04 (15) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (12) Feb 28 (16) Feb 27 (17) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (23) Feb 24 (15) Feb 23 (8) Feb 22 (10) Feb 21 (24) Feb 20 (14) Feb 19 (24) Feb 18 (19) Feb 17 (27) Feb 16 (13) Feb 15 (11) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (13) Feb 12 (13) Feb 11 (21) Feb 10 (16) Feb 09 (15) Feb 08 (10) Feb 07 (17) Feb 06 (21) Feb 05 (17) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (23) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (8) Jan 31 (17) Jan 30 (22) Jan 29 (23) Jan 28 (10) Jan 27 (24) Jan 26 (12) Jan 25 (9) Jan 24 (12) Jan 23 (19) Jan 22 (19) Jan 21 (14) Jan 20 (21) Jan 19 (12) Jan 18 (8) Jan 17 (20) Jan 16 (14) Jan 15 (23) Jan 14 (8) Jan 13 (20) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (18) Jan 09 (11) Jan 08 (18) Jan 07 (13) Jan 06 (12) Jan 05 (12) Jan 04 (11) Jan 03 (10) Jan 02 (9) Jan 01 (9) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (11) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (13) Dec 26 (15) Dec 25 (8) Dec 24 (6) Dec 23 (8) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (6) Dec 20 (14) Dec 19 (17) Dec 18 (14) Dec 17 (14) Dec 16 (13) Dec 15 (9) Dec 14 (9) Dec 13 (11) Dec 12 (16) Dec 11 (18) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (24) Dec 08 (11) Dec 07 (19) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (26) Dec 04 (15) Dec 03 (20) Dec 02 (17) Dec 01 (11) Nov 30 (10) Nov 29 (18) Nov 28 (21) Nov 27 (10) Nov 26 (22) Nov 25 (16) Nov 24 (12) Nov 23 (8) Nov 22 (18) Nov 21 (9) Nov 20 (17) Nov 19 (16) Nov 18 (16) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (9) Nov 15 (21) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (20) Nov 12 (16) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (9) Nov 09 (10) Nov 08 (16) Nov 07 (15) Nov 06 (18) Nov 05 (19) Nov 04 (16) Nov 03 (11) Nov 02 (5) Nov 01 (17) Oct 31 (17) Oct 30 (21) Oct 29 (9) Oct 28 (16) Oct 27 (6) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (16) Oct 24 (18) Oct 23 (14) Oct 22 (17) Oct 21 (10) Oct 20 (6) Oct 19 (8) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (12) Oct 16 (14) Oct 15 (19) Oct 14 (15) Oct 13 (11) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (10) Oct 10 (23) Oct 09 (13) Oct 08 (15) Oct 07 (20) Oct 06 (13) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (16) Oct 03 (17) Oct 02 (17) Oct 01 (20) Sep 30 (17) Sep 29 (9) Sep 28 (8) Sep 27 (14) Sep 26 (20) Sep 25 (19) Sep 24 (13) Sep 23 (11) Sep 22 (9) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (21) Sep 18 (12) Sep 17 (20) Sep 16 (16) Sep 15 (10) Sep 14 (6) Sep 13 (18) Sep 12 (14) Sep 11 (24) Sep 10 (17) Sep 09 (16) Sep 08 (16) Sep 07 (10) Sep 06 (20) Sep 05 (13) Sep 04 (23) Sep 03 (14) Sep 02 (12) Sep 01 (11) Aug 31 (11) Aug 30 (13) Aug 29 (18) Aug 28 (14) Aug 27 (21) Aug 26 (10) Aug 25 (8) Aug 24 (10) Aug 23 (17) Aug 22 (15) Aug 21 (14) Aug 20 (20) Aug 19 (20) Aug 18 (7) Aug 17 (9) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (12) Aug 14 (14) Aug 13 (19) Aug 12 (14) Aug 11 (6) Aug 10 (12) Aug 09 (7) Aug 08 (18) Aug 07 (16) Aug 06 (16) Aug 05 (20) Aug 04 (12) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (12) Aug 01 (14) Jul 31 (16) Jul 30 (16) Jul 29 (11) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (9) Jul 26 (17) Jul 25 (20) Jul 24 (17) Jul 23 (11) Jul 22 (18) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (14) Jul 18 (11) Jul 17 (15) Jul 16 (12) Jul 15 (10) Jul 14 (8) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (17) Jul 11 (18) Jul 10 (16) Jul 09 (13) Jul 08 (10) Jul 07 (12) Jul 06 (8) Jul 05 (16) Jul 04 (14) Jul 03 (17) Jul 02 (13) Jul 01 (16) Jun 30 (19) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (19) Jun 27 (21) Jun 26 (27) Jun 25 (23) Jun 24 (23) Jun 23 (12) Jun 22 (9) Jun 21 (18) Jun 20 (15) Jun 19 (24) Jun 18 (21) Jun 17 (13) Jun 16 (9) Jun 15 (9) Jun 14 (18) Jun 13 (24) Jun 12 (18) Jun 11 (23) Jun 10 (25) Jun 09 (24) Jun 08 (27) Jun 07 (5) Jun 06 (25) Jun 05 (30) Jun 04 (23) Jun 03 (22) Jun 02 (16) Jun 01 (17) May 31 (18) May 30 (19) May 29 (17) May 28 (23) May 27 (15) May 26 (10) May 25 (19) May 24 (16) May 23 (16) May 22 (27) May 21 (20) May 20 (26) May 19 (6) May 18 (8) May 17 (20) May 16 (8) May 15 (18) May 14 (5) May 13 (21) May 12 (9) May 11 (8) May 10 (12) May 09 (18) May 08 (11) May 07 (27) May 06 (12) May 05 (16) May 04 (19) May 03 (14) May 02 (18) May 01 (18) Apr 30 (25) Apr 29 (27) Apr 28 (11) Apr 27 (10) Apr 26 (18) Apr 25 (10) Apr 24 (29) Apr 23 (29) Apr 22 (14) Apr 21 (15) Apr 20 (20) Apr 19 (22) Apr 18 (16) Apr 17 (32) Apr 16 (12) Apr 15 (21) Apr 14 (21) Apr 13 (15) Apr 12 (13) Apr 11 (14) Apr 10 (16) Apr 09 (20) Apr 08 (36) Apr 07 (22) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (28) Apr 04 (20) Apr 03 (29) Apr 02 (32) Apr 01 (18) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (15) Mar 28 (22) Mar 27 (24) Mar 26 (17) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (13) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (15) Mar 20 (18) Mar 19 (19) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (10) Mar 16 (6) Mar 15 (18) Mar 14 (24) Mar 13 (18) Mar 12 (18) Mar 11 (17) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (18) Mar 07 (25) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (16) Mar 04 (22) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (23) Feb 29 (19) Feb 28 (25) Feb 27 (26) Feb 26 (23) Feb 25 (12) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (15) Feb 22 (26) Feb 21 (31) Feb 20 (12) Feb 19 (21) Feb 18 (15) Feb 17 (10) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (19) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (20) Feb 11 (9) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (28) Feb 08 (20) Feb 07 (22) Feb 06 (20) Feb 05 (19) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (16) Feb 02 (28) Feb 01 (37) Jan 31 (27) Jan 30 (31) Jan 29 (18) Jan 28 (14) Jan 27 (10) Jan 26 (18) Jan 25 (26) Jan 24 (34) Jan 23 (21) Jan 22 (21) Jan 21 (18) Jan 20 (18) Jan 19 (18) Jan 18 (26) Jan 17 (24) Jan 16 (23) Jan 15 (30) Jan 14 (20) Jan 13 (18) Jan 12 (24) Jan 11 (11) Jan 10 (23) Jan 09 (22) Jan 08 (17) Jan 07 (17) Jan 06 (9) Jan 05 (18) Jan 04 (15) Jan 03 (19) Jan 02 (14) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (15) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (7) Dec 26 (10) Dec 25 (16) Dec 24 (13) Dec 23 (16) Dec 22 (11) Dec 21 (26) Dec 20 (28) Dec 19 (14) Dec 18 (25) Dec 17 (23) Dec 16 (19) Dec 15 (22) Dec 14 (38) Dec 13 (26) Dec 12 (25) Dec 11 (27) Dec 10 (31) Dec 09 (15) Dec 08 (30) Dec 07 (31) Dec 06 (27) Dec 05 (38) Dec 04 (25) Dec 03 (27) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (36) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (17) Nov 28 (23) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (16) Nov 25 (14) Nov 24 (18) Nov 23 (21) Nov 22 (21) Nov 21 (24) Nov 20 (20) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (17) Nov 17 (17) Nov 16 (34) Nov 15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1)
After a very long day of 7 hours of driving, 11 hours flying and then 9 hours more driving, we have arrived at our temporary home here in South Africa. This will act as our base for the next 20 days. The house is a four bedroom, four bath two story, with a deck running around three sides of the upper story, great for wildlife viewing. So far we have seen Impala, Duiker, Greater Kudu, Mongoose, Zebra and warthogs around the neighborhood, and yard. We got here and dropped our luggage, and headed straight for the Crocodile River Gate entrance to Kruger National Park. The house we are staying in is part of a gated community, so by the time we get out of our gate, and to the park entrance gate, it is about 20 minutes. Daily park fees are such that we opted for the annual Wild Card that is good not only for Kruger, but nearly every park in South Africa. Since we will be in Cape Town for a week after leaving here, we will be able to use it there at Table Mountain National Park as well. This pass cost us $3850.00 for two people, in SA Rand. With the conversion to US Dollars, that works out to $154.00 per person, or $8.10 per day per if we are in the park for all 19 days that are available to us.

Since we now had an unlimited pass, why not take a quick late afternoon spin thru the park. All I can say is WOW! In my mind, I had an idea of what I might get to see, especially as a kid growing up watching every outdoor show that came on TV. I way under sold this place in my mind. Just stepping away from the birds for a minute, because you cant really do any kind of story about Kruger National Park, and not at least mention the animals. In the first full day, we have seen dozens each of giraffes, zebra, warthogs, elephants, 12 rhinos, 30 hippos, 3 Cape Buffalo, crocodiles, jackals, monkeys, baboons, literally a thousand impala, and at least 10 different antelope type animals. The best I could do to mix both the birds and the animals was in the picture at the top of this story. The mighty rhino along with the Cattle Egret.

In the same first day plus a couple of hours, my Africa bird count is at 66 species. It is incredibly hard to pick a highlight, but the Lilac-breasted Rollers, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills, Green Wood Hoopoe and the Kori Bustard are all right up there. I am sure this will slow down, but I know there were dozens of birds that I got glimpse of, but never had any chance of identifying. In addition, I have so many images that I need to organize, name and get onto the hard drives, that I see down day every couple just to get caught up. I will leave you with a few of my early images, so I can get back out there and find some more birds, oh and we are still looking for the big cats!!

This Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill just couldnt stop posing for me.

These are Little Bee Eaters.

This Kori Bustard was one of my target birds.

This is the Giant Kingfisher, the largest kingfisher in the world!

So many of the birds here are beautiful, but so far our favorite is the Lilac-breasted Roller.

The first thing I noticed on this Green Wood Hoopoe was the bright white flash of its tail.

The African Fish Eagle was a great first day bird.

I did quite a bit of studying the bird species before getting here, unfortunately, the Arrow-marked Babbler was never on my study sheets.

The very first bird I saw when we entered Kruger was this Burchells Coucal.

After three months in countries without woodpeckers, it was nice to find these Bennetts Woodpeckers.


Successful completion of capital raising

Perth, May 28, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - WA-focused gold exploration and development company Classic Minerals Limited ( ASX:CLZ ) ("Classic", or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed the first stage of the Two Tranche Placement ("Placement") to raise $1.0 million before costs. The raising received significant demand from new domestic shareholders and was managed by leading Perth and Sydney-based stock broking firms.The Placement leaves Classic well positioned to commence an aggressive exploration and resource delineation drill program at its Forrestania Gold Project ("FGP").Highlights:- $1.0 million raised via a Two Tranche Placement to institutional and sophisticated investors located in Australia at $0.004 per share- Oversubscribed with strong demand from new major domestic investors- Funds will be used to progress upcoming drilling program at the Forrestania Gold Project1. INTRODUCTIONClassic CEO Dean Goodwin said:Following the fantastic results of our last drilling program, including a brand-new discovery at Van Uden West and multiple high grade gold hits at Kat Gap and Lady Lila, we are very excited to be heading back to the FGP to undertake an aggressive follow up drill program. I am also thrilled to be heading back to Lady Magdalene to hopefully unlock major high-grade lodes which will bolster the resource with quality oz.The sustained exploration work at FGP would not be possible without the support and belief of our new shareholders and existing shareholders. We are pleased to note the participation of three leading stockbroking firms from Perth and Sydney.2. PLACEMENTThe Placement comprises the issue of 250 million fully paid ordinary shares ("Placement Shares") at an issue price of $0.004 to institutional and sophisticated investors in Australia, raising $1.0 million (before costs).The Placement will be completed in two tranches as follows:- Tranche 1 of the Placement will raise approximately A$0.66m via the issue of approximately 165m New Shares pursuant to the Company's existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and Resolution 3 from the Company's General Meeting dated 9 April 2018 ("Tranche 1").- Tranche 2 of the Placement will raise approximately A$0.34m via the issue of approximately 85m New Shares subject to shareholder approval to be sought at a general meeting of the Company, expected to be held on or around Friday, 29 June 2018.The issue price of $0.004 represented a 20% discount to the last closing price of $0.005 on Wednesday, 23 May 2018 and a 20% discount to the 5 - day VWAP up to and including that date of $0.005.Placement Shares will rank equally with existing fully paid ordinary shares. Settlement of Tranche 1 of the Placement is expected to be completed before Friday, 1 June 2018.3. USE OF FUNDS - DRILLING PROGRAMFunds raised from the Placement will be used to fund exploration activities at the FGP and for general working capital.Following the encouraging results (see ASX announcement dated 15 May 2018) from its last program at Kat Gap, Van Uden West and Lady Lila, the Company will be targeting these areas again with additional drilling. In addition, Classic will also be returning to Lady Magdalene to continue efforts to locate high grade mineralisation that has been missed by previous explorers.The Company plans to undertake the following drilling activities (see link below) in early June 2018:Previous drilling results from Van Uden West confirms the discovery of a significant new zone of gold mineralisation. Preliminary interpretation suggests that the prospect is similar in geological characteristics to Kat Gap with gold mineralisation sitting adjacent to the granite/greenstone contact. Classic has planned 5 holes for 480m total to test strike/depth potential of the new discovery.Lady Lila is a BIF hosted gold deposit that is similar in geological characteristics to Bounty and Blue Vein (held by KDR) which are prolific, high grade gold deposits in the region. Previous drilling by Classic at Lady Lila confirmed the existence of a thick, steep east dipping ore zone warranting additional follow up. The upcoming drill program (5 RC holes for 360m total) will focus on extending the mineralisation along strike and at depth.Kat Gap contains a shallow unmined gold deposit discovered in the 1990s, which was the subject of resource estimations and scoping study by Sons of Gwalia in 2003. High grade RC drill intercepts include 15 m @ 15.1 g/t Au from 39 m depth and 6 m @ 19.1 g/t from 17 m depth. The open-ended deposit lies within a 5 km long geochemical gold anomaly that has seen very little drill testing, and after the previous drill program just completed, Classic sees great potential for the discovery of a substantial shallow high-grade gold deposit within the Kat Gap project area and the upcoming program will be testing for extensions of the high grade system. Classic has 12 holes planned at Kat Gap for a total of 1,100m.Lady Magdalene is a large, modestly graded deposit which appears to host high-grade, cross-cutting gold lodes within existing drill lines that are 100-200m apart (see announcement dated 22 March 2018). Previous diamond drilling successfully confirmed the existence of such lodes and the planned drilling will further test the extent of strike, dip and grade of these high grade cross-cutting lodes. Classic has 12 holes planned at Lady Magdalene for a total of 1,060m. The Placement comprises the issue of 250 million fully paid ordinary shares ("Placement Shares") at an issue price of $0.004 to institutional and sophisticated investors in Australia, raising $1.0 million (before costs).4. INDICATIVE TIMETABLETable 2 shows the proposed key dates for the Placement:Table 2: Indicative TimetableEvent: Announcement of the Results of the Placement and Trading Halt liftedDate / Time (AWST): Monday, 28 May 2018Event: Settlement of new shares issued under Tranche 1 of the PlacementDate / Time (AWST): Friday, 1 June 2018Event: Allotment and Trading of new shares issued under Trance 1 of the PlacementDate / Time (AWST): Monday, 4 June 2018Event: Notice of General Meeting DispatchedDate / Time (AWST): Friday, 1 June 2018Event: Anticipated General MeetingDate / Time (AWST): Friday, 29 June 2018Event: Settlement of new shares issued under Tranche 2 of the PlacementDate / Time (AWST): Friday, 6 July 2018Event: Allotment and Trading of new shares issued under Trance 2 of the PlacementDate / Time (AWST): Monday, 9 July 20181. The above timetable is indicative only and subject to change. Classic reserves the right to amend any or all of these events, dates and times subject to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the ASX Listing Rules and other applicable laws.5. ABOUT THE FORRESTANIA GOLD PROJECTThe FGP Tenements (excluding Kat Gap and Lady Lila) are registered in the name of Reed Exploration Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX listed Hannans Ltd ( ASX:HNR ). Classic has acquired 80% of the gold rights on the FGP Tenements from a third party, whilst Hannans has maintained its 20% interest in the gold rights. Hannans' 20% interest is free-carried, meaning Hannans is not required to fund any activities on the FGP until a decision to mine has been made.The FGP contains an existing Mineral Resource of 5.3 Mt at 1.39 g/t for 240,000 ounces of gold, classified and reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012), with a recent Scoping Study (see ASX Announcement released 2nd May 2017) suggesting both the technical and financial viability of the project. The current post-mining Mineral Resource for Lady Ada, Lady Magdalene and Lady Lila is tabulated below (see link below).Additional technical detail on the Mineral Resource estimation is provided, further in the text below (see link below) and in the JORC Table 1 as attached to ASX announcements dated 14th March 2017 and 21st March 2017.To view tables, please visit:About Classic Minerals Limited

Classic Minerals Limited (ASX:CLZ) is an exploration and development company focused on gold deposits in Western Australia's famous Goldfields region. In March 2017, Classic acquired the Forrestania Gold Project, with seven tenements stretching across 450km2. Strategically located in a very prospective region, the FGP is an underexplored package surrounded by multimillion ounce deposits such as Bounty (2Moz) and Yilgarn Star (1.5Moz).


Share Purchase Plan Offer Documents

Adelaide, May 28, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Your Director's are pleased to invite you to participate in the Mithril Resources Ltd ( ASX:MTH ) (Mithril or Company) Share Purchase Plan (SPP) that closes on 18 June 2018 (Closing Date). Under the SPP, you may subscribe for up to A$15,000 worth of fully paid ordinary shares in the Company without incurring brokerage or other transaction costs. As fellow shareholders, your Directors have indicated that they intend to take up their maximum entitlement under the SPP (subject to scale-back if oversubscribed).The SPP is intended to raise approximately $600,000 and is partly underwritten to $290,000 by Patersons Securities Ltd. The Company reserves the right to scale back the maximum participation amount per shareholder if the total demand exceeds $600,000 and notes that allocation of shares will be on a "first-come, first-served basis".The offer price of the shares under the SPP will be a 20% discount to the 5-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") up to and including the day before the issue of the shares.Funds raised will be used to drill priority nickel targets at the Kurnalpi Nickel Project (located 70 kms NNE of Kalgoorlie, WA), support ongoing target generation activities and for working capital purposes.Kurnalpi is highly prospective for nickel and cobalt mineralisation with the Company recently identifying a new off hole downhole EM conductor adjacent to existing nickel sulphide mineralisation. A historic drill hole (KURA50 - 20m @ 0.69% nickel, 0.07% cobalt from 32 metres including 8m @ 0.96% nickel, 0.09% cobalt from 36 metres) lying south of the EM conductor further strengthens the project's prospectivity. Both the EM conductor and the KURA50 intercept have not been followed up and will be drill tested with proceeds from the SPP.Pursuant to the SPP rules, existing shareholders who are recorded on the share register at 17 May 2018 with a registered address in Australia or New Zealand are eligible to participate.Mithril has also been successful in its application to participate in the Federal Government's Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive ("JMEI") scheme and has been allocated credits of up to $227,796 which can be distributed to eligible shareholders who participate in the SPP (see Mithril's ASX Announcement dated 18 May 2018).Details of the SPP are set out in the enclosed SPP Terms and Conditions (see link below). We encourage you to read these Terms and Conditions carefully and in their entirety before deciding whether or not to participate in the SPP.To view the release, please visit:About Mithril Resources Limited

Mithril Resources Limited (ASX:MTH) is an Australian resources company whose objective is the creation of shareholder wealth through the discovery of mineral deposits.

The Company and its exploration partners are actively exploring throughout the Kalgoorlie, West Kimberley and Murchison Districts of Western Australia for economic nickel, copper, zinc, and vanadium deposits.

In the Kalgoorlie District, Mithril is exploring for nickel on the Kurnalpi, Lignum Dam and North Scotia Projects which lie along strike from, or adjacent to previously mined high-grade nickel at the Silver Swan and Scotia Nickel Deposits.

In the West Kimberley, Mithril is exploring for zinc on the Billy Hills Project which lies adjacent to the previously mined Pillara Zinc Deposit.

In the Murchison, Mithril is exploring for copper, nickel and zinc mineralisation on the Nanadie Well Project and for copper, silver, zinc and lead on the Bangemall Base Metal Project. Mithril's exploration partner  Monax Mining Ltd is also exploring for vanadium on the Limestone Well tenements.


Due Diligence Drilling Program Kicks off at Pickle Lake

Perth, May 28, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Canadian focused explorer and developer Ardiden Limited ("ADV" or "the Company") ( ASX:ADV ) is pleased to advise the diamond drill rig and geological teams are on site to commence the due diligence diamond drilling program at the highly-prospective Kasagiminnis Lake Property in Ontario, Canada.HIGHLIGHTS:- ~1,800m diamond drilling program has commenced at the Pickle Lake Gold Project, Canada (under Option)- Due diligence drilling to focus on the highly-prospective Kasagiminnis Lake Property- Program designed to verify substantial historic gold intercepts and to test extensions of key gold mineralisation zonesThe due diligence diamond drilling program forms the basis of the assessment and expenditure requirements for the 100% acquisition of the Pickle Lake Gold Project, which includes four separate gold properties offering both advanced development opportunities and early stage exploration, namely:- Dorothy-Dobie Lake Property- Kasagiminnis Lake Property- South Limb Property- Pickle Lake West PropertyThe Pickle Lake Gold Project has over 25,000m of historical diamond drilling completed across the Pickle Lake Gold Properties, confirming the potential for multiple extensive gold mineralised zones at both Dorothy-Dobie Lake and Kasagiminnis Lake, with gold mineralisation remaining open along strike and at depth.The drill program will focus on the Kasagiminnis Lake Property and has been designed to drill test and evaluate high grade historic gold intercepts and test mineralisation extensions of key gold mineralisation zones.Subject to results, the due diligence drill program may comprise up to approximately 1,800m of diamond drilling which is specifically focused on a number of highly-prospective, high priority drill targets defined at the Kasagiminnis Lake Property.Site conditions at the moment are favourable and the Company has successfully established the necessary drill pads at the site with the diamond drill program commencing swiftly.Once the drill core has been logged, cut and prepared, the drill samples will be sent to Activation Laboratories in Thunder Bay for assay and metallurgical testing.The Kasagiminnis Lake Property consists of three contiguous staked mining claims covering 752ha in the Little Ochig Lake area. The project is located in north-western Ontario, approximately 25km south-west of the town of Pickle Lake, and approximately 15km west of the Mishkeegogamang First Nation Community of New Osnaburgh. The Provincial Highway 599 is located approximately 9km east of the Kasagiminnis Lake Property.The Company also advises that Ardiden has now formally withdrawn from the Equity Placement Facility previously announced on 19 February 2018. The fully flexible funding facility for up to A$15 million was provided by Long State Investments Ltd (LSI). The Company confirms the withdrawal from the facility, with no penalty, was mutually agreed between the parties and Ardiden is appreciative of the ongoing support provided by LSI.To view figures, please visit:About Ardiden Ltd

Ardiden Limited (ASX:ADV) is an emerging international diversified exploration and development company possessing a mature multi-element asset portfolio, with a near term development pipeline, focused quality projects located in the established mining jurisdiction of Ontario, Canada.
loading.........

Sydney, May 28, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - American Pacific Borate and Lithium ( ASX:ABR ) ("ABR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into an earn in Agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire, on the incurrence of US$3m of Project expenditures, a 100% interest in the Salt Wells North and Salt Wells South borate and lithium exploration projects in Nevada, USA (the "Projects"), suitably located in close proximity to the Company's flagship Fort Cady project.- Consistent with ABR's strategy to become a globally significant producer of borates, the Company has agreed an "earn in" to acquire a 100% interest in the Salt Wells North and Salt Wells South borate and lithium exploration projects in Nevada, USA on the incurrence of US$3m of Project expenditures- Both projects are prospective for borates and lithium with surface salt sampling results received on 18 April 2018 from Salt Wells North delivering up to 810 ppm Lithium and over 1% Boron (over 5.2% boric acid equivalent)- Borates were previously produced from Salt Wells North from surface salts- No modern exploration activities have been completed on either project to test the salt horizon for borates and lithium and the brines for lithium- Modest early year expenditure ensures Company's focus remains on taking its flagship Fort Cady borate project into productionUnder the terms of the Agreement, ABR may spend US$3m on the Projects over a five year period, modest expenditure commitments are required in the first two years. In addition to the US$3m expenditure commitment, ABR is required to pay US$100k upfront to reimburse the vendor's Project costs. The Company is also required to pay all claim related expenditure which is estimated to be US$300k over the five year period. Once in commercial production, ABR will be required to make a one-off payment of US$1m and an ongoing royalty of 3% of gross revenues.ABR expects that it can run near term exploration activities on these two new project from its head-office in Apple Valley, California.American Pacific Borate and Lithium, CEO, Michael Schlumpberger commented:"We are very excited to be acquiring the rights to earn in to both the Salt Wells North and Salt Wells South borate and lithium exploration projects in Nevada. The elevated levels of lithium and boron in surface salts from recent sampling suggest an opportunity to establish either a borate project hosted in the sediments or a lithium and/or boron project hosted in the brines, or both.Importantly, under the earn in agreement, we only have modest expenditure commitments in the first two years. This ensures our focus will continue to be on advancing our Fort Cady borate project into production. The close proximity of the project to our office in Apple Valley also allows us to keep expenditure to a minimum. The acquisition is consistent with our stated objective to become a globally significant producer of borates."The ProjectsThe Salt Wells North and Salt Wells South projects are located in Churchill County, Nevada, USA. The Projects are within short proximity to major highways and within 25 kilometres of the town of Fallon that has a population of over 8,500 people.The Projects lie in what is believed to be an internally drained, fault bounded basin that appears similar to Clayton Valley, Nevada, where lithium is currently produced by Abermarle Corporation, the only current production source of lithium in the USA. The basin covers an area of around 110 square kilometres. Borates were produced from surface salts in the 1800's from the Salt Wells North site. With the exception of recent surface salt sampling from the Salt Wells North project, no modern exploration has been completed. The Projects are prospective for borates and lithium in the sediments (salt horizon) and lithium and boron brines within the structures of the basin.Salt Wells NorthThe Salt Wells North project includes 171 claims of 20 acres (8.1 hectares) for a total project size of 13.8 square kilometres. The project sits in the shallow north eastern section of the basin.On 18 April 2018, assays results were received from surface salt samples demonstrating elevated levels of lithium and borates. The highest recorded lithium reading was 810ppm with several other readings above 500ppm recorded over a wide area.Salt Wells SouthThe Salt Wells South project includes 105 claims of 20 acres (8.1 hectares) for a total project size of 8.5 square kilometres. The project sits in the deeper south eastern section of the basin.Earn In AgreementThe counterparty to the Agreement is Great Basin Resources Inc, ("GBR"), a company registered in Nevada, USA.ABR will "earn in" to acquire 100% of the Projects under the following terms:a. Upon signing the Agreement, ABR will pay US$74k to enable GBR to formally register the Projects' claims;b. ABR will make an upfront payment to GBR of US$100k as a reimbursement for some of the Project expenses to date payable within seven days of formal claim registration for both Projects;c. ABR will pay all direct claim expenses including initial registration fees and annual ongoing fees;d. In addition to the above fees, ABR will commit to spending, at its absolute discretion, the following amounts each year for the next five years subject to any over expenditure in a year being applied to expenditure requirements for following years:Progressive and Cumulative Projects' Expenditure RequirementsYear 1 - US$100k, cumulative - US$100kYear 2 - US$300k, cumulative - US$400kYear 3 - US$600k, cumulative - US$1,000kYear 4 - US$800k, cumulative - US$1,800kYear 5 - US$1,200k, cumulative - US$3,000ke. ABR may choose to complete the required US$3,000k expenditure earlier than the proposed 5 year term. In either case, GBR will immediately transfer the claims to ABR upon satisfaction ABR has expended at least US$3,000k on the Projects;f. ABR will pay GBR US$1m within 28 days of first production at commercial scale (a plant capable of producing sufficient product to derive annual revenues of at least US$60m); andg. ABR will pay GBR a net smelter royalty of 3% of gross revenues on an ongoing basis once commercial scale operations have been achieved.BudgetThe budget for the Projects is presented in the link below.Referral FeeThe Company has agreed to pay a project referral fee to a consultant totalling 250,000 ordinary shares.ProgramThe Company has formed a steering group consisting of the Company's CEO, Michael Schlumpberger and Strategic Advisor, Jerry Aiken to determine the work program. It is expected this program will be prepared over the coming weeks with the expectation of works on site commencing in the second half of this year.To view figures, please visit:To view the Video Audio, please visit:About American Pacific Borate and Lithium Ltd

American Pacific Borate and Lithium Limited (ASX:ABR) is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Fort Cady Boron and Lithium Project located in Southern California, USA. Fort Cady is a highly rare and large colemanite deposit with substantial lithium potential and is the largest known contained borate occurrence in the world not owned by the two major borate producers Rio Tinto and Eti Maden. The Project has a JORC mineral estimate of 120.4 Mt at 6.50% B2O3 (11.6% H3BO3, boric acid equivalent) & 340 ppm Li (5% B2O3 cut-off) including 58.59 Mt at 6.59% B2O3 (11.71% H3BO3) & 367 pmm Li in Indicated category and 61.85 Mt @ 6.73% B2O3 (11.42% H3BO3) & 315 ppm Li in Inferred category. The JORC Resource has 13.9 Mt of contained boric acid. In total, in excess of US$50m has historically been spent at Fort Cady, including resource drilling, metallurgical test works, well injection tests, permitting activities and substantial pilot-scale test works.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.
Julian Assange's nearly six-year refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London is in danger, opening the WikiLeaks founder to arrest by British authorities and potential extradition to the US, multiple sources with knowledge tell CNN.

While Assange has in the past claimed his position in the embassy was under threat, sources say his current situation is "unusually bad" and that he could leave the embassy "any day now," either because he will be forced out or made to feel so restricted that he might choose to leave on his own. His position there is "in jeopardy," one source familiar with the matter said.

Assange's exit from the embassy could open a new phase for US investigators eager to find out what he knows.

CNN reported in April 2017 that the US has prepared charges to seek the arrest of Assange, who US intelligence agencies believe Russia used as an intermediary to distribute hacked emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign during the 2016 presidential election.

Assange and his lawyers say he has been detained without charge for 2,720 days -- 53 of those "gagged" and isolated from visitors and outside communications -- and that there is "not a shred of evidence that Assange has done anything but publish material just as the establishment media do every day," according to a tweet by his lawyers on May 19.

"The concern from day one until the present is that if Julian Assange walks out of the Embassy, he will be extradited to face what the executive director of the ACLU described as an 'unprecedented and unconstitutional' prosecution under the US Espionage Act," his lawyer Melinda Taylor told CNN.

Ecuador's newly elected president, Len-n Moreno, is under increasing pressure from the US to expel Assange, sources say. Moreno described Assange as an "inherited problem" and "more than a nuisance" in a television interview in January.

Sources familiar also believe Spain exerted pressure on Ecuador after Assange tweeted support for the separatist movements in Catalonia, a northeast region of Spain seeking independence.

Recently, the Ecuadorian government cut off Assange's access to the internet, making it virtually impossible for him to manage WikiLeaks. He has also had his access to visitors severely restricted. Assange is now only allowed to see his lawyers, who say their mobile phones are jammed while they are inside the embassy. He is dealing with multiple lawsuits.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador declined to comment on Assange's case, it referred CNN to past statements made on the decision to cut his internet access. In statements, the ministry denied mistreatment and suggested Assange had not been abiding by his agreement with Ecuador by publicly discussing the internal affairs of other nations, presumably Spain and the US. The ministry "acts in the strictest adherence to the Constitution, laws and international law," according to the March 2018 press release.

British authorities have said that they would issue a warrant for Assange's arrest if he were to leave the embassy. He faces charges in the UK for breach of bail for failing to surrender for extradition to Sweden, a charge a British judge upheld in February despite the fact that Sweden stopped investigating an allegation of rape against Assange in 2017. Swedish prosecutors maintain the right to resume the investigation if Assange leaves the embassy, however.

In the US, Assange's fate is even more uncertain. Assange's lawyers claim that US officials have maintained a secret grand jury investigation into WikiLeaks for nearly eight years.

"For the last eight years, the UK has refused to either confirm or deny that they have received an extradition request from the US. At the same time, they have refused to provide assurances that Julian will not be extradited to the US if such a request were to be received, and maintained an ever-present vigil of the Embassy, notwithstanding a UN directive to take steps to ensure Julian's immediate liberty," Taylor told CNN. "Their silence speaks volumes, particularly in light of recent statements from US officials that Julian's arrest and extradition are a priority."

Taylor was referring to comments in April 2017 by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said that arresting Assange is a "priority." "We've already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said at a news conference in El Paso, Texas.

Representatives from the US government, including the White House, the Department of Justice, the State Department and the intelligence community either did not respond to request for comment or declined to discuss Assange's cases with CNN.

"Mr. Assange's presence in the Ecuadorian Embassy is a matter between the UK and Ecuador," one State Department official told CNN. "As a matter of policy, the Department of State neither confirms nor denies the U.S. government's intention to request extraditions."

CIA declined to provide additional comment about Assange and referred CNN to former Director Mike Pompeo's past statements on WikiLeaks, describing the group as a "hostile non-state intelligence service" rather than a media outlet. Pompeo, though he formerly tweeted his appreciation of WikiLeaks and the role it played in publishing Democratic National Committee emails during the election, told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in 2017 that the US can no longer give Assange a platform to speak freely and openly using information he's provided by leakers. "To give them the space to crush us with misappropriated secrets is a perversion of what our great Constitution stands for. It ends now," Pompeo said.

US authorities are also deeply interested in further investigating WikiLeaks' publication of a trove of source codes and documents revealing details about CIA hacking tools in March 2017. The FBI's prime suspect for the leak, revealed in recently unsealed court documents, is a CIA employee who developed some of those tools. The Department of Justice says that individual also managed an encrypted server that contained evidence of child pornography. Both the intelligence community and the Department of Justice continue to investigate the theft, one source familiar with the matter told CNN, though the two investigations are separate. Both would be interested in speaking with Assange about the disclosure if he were to leave the embassy.

Assange has had difficulties with his hosts in the past. The most memorable incident came in 2013 when several embassy employees were punished, one of whom was demoted, in part because of Assange's actions while there, according to two sources familiar with the matter, including one source at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the time, Assange was eager to get involved to help NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden find asylum in Ecuador, establishing WikiLeaks as the preeminent organization for whistleblower protection. He convinced a high-ranking embassy employee to help him. When top officials found out, several employees suffered the consequences, including at least one demotion. Assange has since said he encouraged Snowden to stay in Russia.

The Guardian reported last week that the embassy for years had spent millions on protecting Assange using expensive surveillance tools from cameras to spy software -- while Assange turned around and hacked into the embassy's communication systems. Ecuador has cut off Assange's internet access multiple times, the most recent instance in late March.
DELAND, Fla. (AP)  Florida authorities say a woman who was beaten and held captive for two days at gunpoint by her boyfriend escaped when she convinced him bring their dog to an animal hospital - and then slipped a note to a staff member.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal quotes the Volusia County Sheriffs Office as saying 39-year-old Jeremy Floyd was arrested at DeLand Animal Hospital. He is being held without bond on domestic violence and other charges.

The report says Floyd beat the woman Wednesday and refused to let her leave their home. Two days later, she convinced Floyd to let her take their dog to a veterinarian, although he wouldnt let her go alone.

Its unclear whether Floyd has retained an attorney.

___

Information from: Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal, http://www.news-journalonline.com
Palmdale, CALIF. - A California man has been accused of smuggling a Byzantine-era mosaic out of war-torn Syria and hiring artists to restore it in order to sell it.

On Wednesday, the US Attorney's office for the Central District of California filed an asset forfeiture complaint seeking to retain possession of the mosaic, which is already in the government's custody. The complaint names Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi of Palmdale, California, and says he illegally smuggled the mosaic into the US.

According to the complaint, the FBI has been investigating Alcharihi since 2015 for his alleged involvement in smuggling looted items from war-ravaged countries, including Syria. Alcharihi -- who has not been charged with a crime -- is a Syrian national who became a US citizen in early 2010, the complaint says.

When Alcharihi had a company import the mosaic, he misrepresented the contents of the shipment, the complaint alleges, and also lied about the country of origin of the items inside. He allegedly told the shipping company, two artists who were hired to restore the piece and federal agents that he had bought the mosaic in Turkey.

Federal agents seized the mosaic in March 2016, the complaint says, and an expert subsequently determined it was from the Byzantine Period "and was consistent with the iconography of mosaics found in Syria, in particular in and around the city of Idlib, Syria."

After reviewing pictures of the mosaic, prior to the FBI seizure, the expert determined the style of the mosaic was "similar to the style of the Roman Empire possibly from 3rd to 4th Century AD," the complaint states.

The 1-ton mosaic is 18 feet long and 8 feet high, according to the complaint, and depicts characters from Roman mythology.

During the investigation agents found evidence Alcharihi had illegally imported the mosaic using fraudulent documents and knowingly concealed it in his home. Both are violations of federal law.

CNN was unable to reach Alcharihi for comment.

For years the US has endeavored to work with foreign countries to reduce the illegal trafficking of artifacts and antiquities taken from states devastated by war, citing the potential strain on foreign relations and the concerns of the archaeological community.

The policy has become of increased import in recent years in regards to Syria, where archaeologists and scholars have struggled to preserve ancient works of art after the reign of ISIS.

In 2015, ISIS militants allegedly destroyed ancient cultural artifacts when it took control of the Syrian city of Palmyra, including one that dated back to the second century.

But experts don't believe ISIS is doing much of the reselling. It's likely gangs that are looting the artifacts to put them on the market, though Spanish police earlier this year arrested two men accused of smuggling art looted from Libya by ISIS-affiliated groups.

The-CNN-Wire
The article points out that the Times was preoccupied with covering the Republican Convention when it got the big Watergate tip. It just couldnt get its institutional mind around what it was hearing  it was an anomaly, a Six Sygma event, so large that it didnt track with the way their minds had been trained. The same kind of benighted small-minded misdirected perseveration is evident in press coverage these days  preoccupied with the deadly scourge of chickenpox, the failure of parents to submit and obey the CDC vaccine schedule starting with mercury-containing flu shots during pregnancy and Hep B at birth; the alleged inadequacies of the Homefirst medical practice in Chicago.

The latter was flung in the face of Autism One attendees last Friday and Saturday by the Chicago Tribune, which decided that roasting Mayer Eisenstein, Homefirsts leader, and the Geiers was the single most important use of The Midwests Largest Reporting Team, as it proclaims directly under its logo on the front page (a bit defensively, since it used to be the Midwests Much Larger Reporting Team until a shopping mall magnate drove it into bankruptcy). And talk about missing the story: Eisenstein proclaims that hes seen virtually no autism in his patient pool of thousands of unvaccinated kids, the paper reported. Period, end of discussion. Its clear from the sneering use of the word proclaim (when says would do just fine) that the reporter doesnt believe it, and clear from the rest of the story that discrediting anyone who would say (Im sorry, PROCLAIM!!!) such a thing is job one.

But hold on a second. No vaccines, no autism? As Mark Benjamin and I used to say to each other back at UPI when the media was in bed with Bush and oblivious to the administration's abuse of soldiers and vets, Theres your story right there.

And indeed, there is your story, right there  a medical doctor in good standing (the Trib grudgingly acknowledges) says theres virtually no autism among his thousands of unvaccinated patients.

Of course, journalists should take nothing at face value. So Ive got an idea  lets be journalists; lets realize the importance of that statement, if true, and check it out. As many of you will know, I wrote about this several years ago now, along with similar associations between low-or-no-vaccination and low-or-nonexistent-autism rates, including among the Amish and the homeschooled. The response is always the same  first, it cant be true (Google Olmsted, Amish, fraud); then, it cant be determined (Google Olmsted, Gerberding, Amish); then, OK, alright, its true but its meaningless (Google Olmsted, Wiznitzer, Amish).

By now there would have been plenty of time to not merely dismiss or discredit but actually disprove these anecdotal associations based on careful investigation, not ad hominem attacks, but all that happens is that they continue to hold up. Where are the autistic Amish? Where are the 1 in 150 never-vaccinated autistic homeschooled children? What about Homefirst? Instead, we get theories about how Im the point person between the Moonies and the Scientologists (yes, you can Google that too) in a conspiracy to destroy the vaccination program, or about what a cad Mayer Eisenstein is.

Thats why its important to keep stating what I think the story is, and to repeat it every time a mainstream outlet like The Trib tries to hijack it and turn it into something else. So one more time, this is the story: There appears to be a significantly lower rate of autism in never-vaccinated and less-vaccinated American children. No one in a position of authority seems to want to find out, though they could and should have done so several times over by now, and the failure to do so should be suspicious in the extreme to any reporter with a decent skepticism of government and entrenched interests. (You know theres a problem when the Trib dismisses vaccine-autism concerns as disproved by government-sanctioned studies, as if that is the mark of truth. Good Lord, even the government doesnt trust itself, which is why The Founders enshrined freedom of the press in Article 1 of the Bill of Rights.) Meanwhile, autism is a problem that demands our urgent attention, and the question of vaccine-preventable diseases and whether Lupron is an effective treatment for autism are separate issues that should not be allowed to silence or subordinate this important conversation.

On Sunday afternoon, I went to Mayers talk at Autism One. I dont know if the Trib reporter was there or not, but Im sure if she was she was rolling her eyes when Mayer talked, once again, about health outcomes in his practice. You see its not just autism  thats the leading edge, the defining disorder of the Age were in. Its many other things, including juvenile diabetes and asthma, too. And on the latter, you dont have to take Mayers word, even provisionally, for it  the larger HMO group that Homefirst belongs to picked up the virtual absence of asthma in his practice based on computerized records of emergency room visits and overnight hospitalizations of children for respiratory distress.

No one disputes asthma has dramatically increased. No one disputes one in 10 children has asthma  that one in 10 children sometimes struggle frantically for air, and sometimes die because they cant get enough, to put a human face on this clinical entity. No one disputes, as far as I know, that few if any children delivered at home by Homefirst doctors, treated by them as children and never vaccinated, have asthma. But no one realizes the credibility that fact gives Eisenstein when he talks about the virtual absence of autism in his practice. And, for sure, no one realizes the implications of that for the nature of autism and how to stop it and treat it  the focus of the allegedly anti-vaccine, pro-quackery Autism One Conference.

So, Im going to give Mayer the last word. Think of him as a whistleblower taking Big Media to lunch and telling them theyre missing the story of their generation  heres the evidence, heres where to look, heres what it means, heres why it matters. Of course, some journalists are going to go back to the office after being told about Watergate and write about the credentials fight in the Mississippi delegation at the 1972 Republican Convention, and some journalists are going to be told that there is a startling association between no vaccines and no autism, and heres where to look, and heres the evidence, and heres what it means, and heres why it matters, and they are going to go back to the office and write about what a bad guy Mayer Eisenstein is and about what a bad drug Lupron is. For them, theres no hope.

But Im going to keep putting pen to paper, so to speak, here at our Daily Newspaper of the Autism Epidemic, because first of all, what else can I do? And secondly, I figure that sooner or later somebody is going to decide to pay attention to the implications of a second-rate burglary attempt at the Democratic National Committee when it is handed them on a platter  I mean, to the apparent low incidence of autism in never-vaccinated American children when it is pointed out to them time and time and time again.

Anyway, heres Mayer, one more time, and folks, THIS is the story:

[Our practice] has virtually no autism. I dont know, there may be cases somewhere, but as youve seen this weekend, if you read the paper, Mayer Eisenstein does not have a low profile, and Ive made this statement for two and a half years now [actually, Mayer, I think its 3 and a half years now!]. I got all my partners together; we scoured the records. We looked at ICD codes for neurological disorders, and first of all, we didnt see it.



But its more than just no autism. Ive had three partners for more than 25 years, theyre closer to me than brothers  and we decided 25 years ago we werent going to take care of asthmatics, we werent going to take care of insulin-dependent diabetics, and every few years we kept saying, how many people are we referring away [to other practices that specialize in these disorders] because we see hundreds and hundreds of children. We were delivering at one time a hundred babies a year at home, and were still delivering hundreds of babies at home.



And it never came up. And I can tell you this would be a nightmare when you have to start referring one person a week, two people a week, three people a week, in a large practice, only because, you know, they would say, But Dr. Eisenstein, I want you to take care of me, [and I would have to say] No, there are people who are much better at taking care of asthma than me, theres people who are much better at diabetes than me.



It virtually doesnt exist. For years I thought it was because [mothers in the practice] had their babies at home, they nursed their babies as much as two years, they gave minimal pharmaceuticals.



Every year Id be invited a a conference of the LaLeche League, and every year it was the same. They had 40 or 50 children with severe asthma, and I was supposed to figure out what the problem was. You dont want to talk about home birth? [I would ask]. No, we want to talk about asthma.



Finally, one of my partners said, Mayer, its not the home birth, its not the breast-feeding [thats the key factor in developing or not developing asthma], its the vaccines.



There was an interesting little study  done in Australia, and they had four groups  breast-fed and vaccinated, breast-fed and unvaccinated, bottle-fed and vaccinated, and bottle-fed and unvaccinated. [This was not a big and conclusive study] but this was a very strong breast-feeding supporting organization. And they looked at respiratory illnesses.  The lowest instance of respiratory illness  was in what we expected  breast-fed and unvaccinated. What was interesting was what was in 2nd  bottle-fed and unvaccinated. That was shocking.  This said for them that breast-feeding wasnt as important as not vaccinating your child.

--

Dan Olmsted is Editor of Age of Autism.
















Gatineau has a lot to offer from great restos to cultural attractions. However, if you're looking for a pleasant drive on your way to experience what Gatineau has to offer, don't expect one. Having married someone from Gatineau, I have had to cross one of the bridges from Ottawa to family get togethers on the Quebec side. And let me tell you that Gatineau drivers are the exact opposite of drivers in places like Charlottetown, PEI and parts of New Brunswick.



Charlelottetown drivers are truly "chivalrous" as other parts of the Maritimes in allowing you into traffic or lending a helping hand if you seem to be having car troubles. On more than one occasion while driving on a Trans Canada highway transporter trucks sensing I was in a hurry actually pulled over the shoulder to allow me to pass. Having seen this multiple times, I was quite impressed. By sharp contrast, let's talk about Gatineau. Never have I seen such consistent "asshole" driving anywhere in Canada.



In the above video you can see just a very small sample of the commonplace asshole driving in Gatineau.



In the Ottawa side, if there's bad weather out, and your car seems to be in trouble, rest assured that there will be multiple people asking you if you're allright. However, if your cell phone is dead, you will probably be waiting quite a long time for a Gatineau driver to be giving a damn about you.



I would estimate that across Canada, the average population of truly rude and obnoxious "asshole" drivers might be hovering around 5%.



In a city like Toronto, I would estimate that you might expect to find around 15% of the drivers hardcore obnoxious. Montreal has earned somewhat of a bad reputation, but I would say outside of some "interesting" driver habits around rush hour of seeking to rudely cut in to any open space on its highways, Montrealers tend to be responsible highway drivers. Downtown Montreal's streets can be very intense though. Montreal's city drivers tend to be not so courteous but I would estimate that 30% of its drivers would be hardcore obnoxious in downtown Montreal.



But, in Gatineau's I would estimate that a whopping 80% of its drivers to have hardcore asshole tendencies and that's what I don't like about visiting my wife's relatives.



Gatineau's drivers for the most part seem to lack any basic respect for respect and courtesy with respect to the rules of the road; and especially on its main highways - the 5 and 50.



Let me give you an example of the kind of asshole driving that's common on the 5 and the 50 in Gatineau. I'm coming from one of my wife's relatives get togethers travelling at about 11 pm at night at about 110 km/h on the 50 which has at that time no other traffic than me in the slow lane and one other driver that I spot in the rear view mirror travelling at a high velocity.



I would estimate at just over 150 km/h. So, I'm thinking that any second now this guy is going to shift lanes and travel past me in the fast lane. Would you believe that this idiot showed no signs to changing any lanes until I gave loud beeps which eventually got his attention?



And if you're from Ottawa or somewhere else travelling to Gatineau, don't think that this is in any way an isolated incident. Every time I travel into Gatineau there seems to be multiple idiots like this one travelling like they are on "crack" cocaine coming right toward my back - veering in and out of traffic; and on the shoulder as part of their "bobbing and weaving".



There seems to be an apparent epidemic in Gatineau of drivers who have no concept of sharing the road and will drive right into from behind if you're not paying attention along with its ubiquitous tailgaters. One of my "favourite" Gatineau moves is the "Gatineau Cut" where one of the locals who thinks there's way too much space behind you will slide right into you from behind nearly touching your back bumper.



One especially unique driving habit in Gatineau that I have not seen anywhere so prevalent is the locals just revving up their engines for no apparent reason in supermarket parking lot or on a supposedly residential street other than apparently wanting to hear the constant loud noise that is made. This is often accompanied by hot rodding. When driving in Gatineau streets, always watch of for someone seeking to travel 100 km/h down a 60 or 70 km/h street in some spontaneous macho race with a fellow Gatineau driver.



As a result of this macho asshole driving, I have seen cars totalled in supposedly slow driving city streets in Gatineau far worse than what I have seen on the Ottawa's main expressway which is the Queensway. And please don't think this asshole driving is limited to "young punks". I have seen apparent grandmothers to families with their kids driving like their "psycho".



So, my advice to you if you're seeking to travel into Gatineau is to watch your back and to expect a rather shocking culture of "asshole driving" that rivals many parts of the Third World.
KRG Continues to Neglect Gravesite of Assyrian Massacre That Inspired the Term 'Genocide'

On August 7, 1933, a horrific event occurred in Duhok, Northern Iraq, which is now administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The Iraqi government of Baghdad sent Kurdish Iraqi Gen. Bakr Sidqi to Northern Iraq, buttressed with Kurdish militias, to squash a small force of British-trained Assyrian Christians. The Indigenous Assyrians had applied for independence in 1932 after Iraq had just become its own nation in 1920. General Sidqi and his men succeeded in eliminating the Assyrian fighters, but it wasn't enough. They continued to destroy 63 Assyrian villages between Zakho and Duhok, though some Assyrians in Northern Iraq today claim 125 villages. Sidqi's military force marched villagers to Simele by bayonet, and ruthlessly massacred approximately 5,000 innocent non-combatants, including pregnant women, infant children and helpless elderly. The Catholic Patriarch Mar Eshai Shimum XXIII recalled,

Girls were raped and women violated and made to march naked ... Holy books were used as fuel for burning girls. Children were run over by military cars. Pregnant women were bayoneted.

A Willfully Neglected Mass Grave Site

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

Taiyo Davis) Taiyo Davis)

KRG Discrimination Against Assyrians

Assyrians Genocide Deserves a Monument

British Colonel R.S. Stafford described , "A priest named Ismail who had taken refuge in the police post was driven out by the police, a rope was tied round his neck and he was kicked down the steps and dragged away by the troops, who shot him, afterwards throwing his body on the steadily growing heap of corpses."Shortly after, Arab and Kurdish neighbors began looting and expropriating abandoned Assyrian homes. General Sidqi returned to Baghdad to a hero's welcome. Forty-nine Kurdish tribes sent a letter of appreciation to the Iraqi government. And today, the once predominantly Assyrian town of Simele is mostly Kurdish. This massacre inspired lawyer Raphael Lemkin to coin the term "genocide," which we use today.The grave site of the 1933 Simele Massacre is marked today by a sign which reads: "Simmel Archeological Hill." There is no monument, no cemetery -- just a large dirt hill in the middle of the bustling city, with discarded trash and unwanted junk everywhere. To add insult, a communications tower was built on top of this fenced-in hill.Behind the hill, the cordoned-off back exposes a deeper tragedy. One can view an exposed femur, shoulder, vertebrae and other pieces of scattered human bones. The grave today is as if the skeletons from the catacombs of France are slowly being lifted into the main streets of Paris, for all to pass on their daily routines. The hairs on one's arm may also stand when experiencing an awful stench, eerie feeling and the nonchalance of residents. Viewing such a scenario raises queries, such as: How could so many of the 320,000 Christian expats in Kurdistan shrug with no knowledge about such neglect, or even the site's existence? How could anyone blink at it without shame?Some residents surrounding the grave will confirm that underneath this hill are Assyrian Christian skeletons from the Simele Massacre. Christians and Muslims repeat the same narrative: The dead in 1933 were callously buried with such hurry and negligence that human limbs were still protruding from the top. The relatives of those massacred were not allowed by the Iraqi government to dig up the bodies for proper Christian burial rites nor to honor them with a monument. Even today, according to some residents, the KRG will not allow a reburial or a monument. Those who perform research of the massacre online will discover Facebook videos , such as one with an Assyrian man crying beside an exposed skeleton on the back side of the hill. Others will also find YouTube videos of Assyrian survivors of this brutal massacre. An American expat who traveled to the gravesite with me, Fernando Espinaca Verde, expressed his own experience at the grave: "I was absolutely astounded by the blatant disrespect shown to the individuals murdered here by not giving them a proper burial after 85 years, in addition to the fact that there are residences, stores and food shops all within 100 feet of the mass grave."Today, media outlets are right to laud the KRG's fight against ISIS (also known as Daesh). However, as some bloggers and journalists have highlighted the tragic 2004 death of KRG Deputy Prime Minister Sami Abdul Rahman, and the innocent Kurds who died in Halabja on March 12, 1988 , in order to garnish public sympathy to legitimize the KRG, one is compelled to shake their head in disgust. One can only feel disgust because the stories don't acknowledge Christian discrimination in Kurdistan. The KRG built a beautiful cemetery and monument for the 5,000 victims of Saddam Hussein's chemical attack against Halabja, and a park and monument in Erbil for Sami Abdul Rahman. Yet the KRG has persistently refused to allow or help fund their Kurdish Christian citizens to build the same for the 5,000 Simele Massacre victims from 1933, or for the other many unmarked mass graves of innocent Assyrian victims from this and other massacres of Northern Iraq. Each successive government in Iraq has refused the Assyrians the right or refused to help them properly honor their mass graves with cemeteries or monuments. It is a gossamer act of denying the Assyrian Christians their symbolic legitimacy as the Indigenous residents of Northern Iraq. Consequently, past Iraqi governments have justified the occupation and theft of Assyrian lands throughout history. People I have interviewed in my travels claim that Kurdish groups related to top members of the KRG are currently stealing Christian lands today, as Saddam Hussein's and other Iraqi government did in the past in the villages of Nahla, Babelo, Kori Gavana, Barwa and others. This continuous occupation of Assyrian lands by the KRG, in addition to the neglect of the 1933 Simele grave, seriously compels one to wonder: Is the KRG also following the same historical pattern as prior governments?The 1933 Simele Massacre was the last attempt of Assyrians to fight back against millennia of persecution since 612 BC by Persians, Turks, Arabs and Kurds, which ended in equal tragedy. In the eyes of the Iraqi Arabs and Kurds, the Assyrians were traitors aligned with the British , just as Saddam viewed Kurds in Halabja as aligned with Iran. The lack of media attention on the Assyrian plight has resulted in UNESCO now listing the Assyrian language as endangered , and a once predominantly Assyrian population in Northern Iraq of millions prior to 2003, now numbers a few hundred thousand. One hopes that international funding materializes and KRG permission is granted to excavate the victims of the 1933 Simele Massacre and inter them in a cemetery and/or to construct a monument. The 1933 Simele grave in juxtaposition to Sami Abdul Rahman Park and Halabja monuments demonstrate clear inequality between the KRG's treatment of Kurds and Assyrian Christians.
https://www.aish.com/jw/me/Next-Year-in_Jerusalem.html

Next year in Jerusalem  Lshanah haba bYerushalayim!

I will never forget the way my father, of blessed memory, recited those words at the conclusion of every Yom Kippur. Born in a small shtetl in Poland, my fathers name was Ben Zion, which means Son of Zion. That was far from a common name for a boy born in the Diaspora, a child with little hope for ever seeing the holy land of Zion or witnessing the miracle of its rebirth as homeland once again for the Jewish people. But somehow my grandparents were spiritually moved to identify their son with a name that linked the glory of our past with the hope of our future.

I am a tenth generation Rabbi. My father, after succeeding in fleeing to America with us, his family, on the last boat out of Europe before the horrors of the Holocaust, assumed a position as spiritual leader of a small congregation in Brooklyn. It was here as a little boy that I would stand alongside of him as he prayed. And it was here that I witnessed holiness  the power of the human heart truly connecting with its creator.

Yom Kippur is a journey. Its climax comes at the conclusion. We shout the Shema. That is the highlight of our personal connection with God. But we do not forget our national dream and our spiritual destiny. We conclude with Next year in Jerusalem.

Every year when my father Ben Zion cried out these words he would, in a way I cannot explain, commingle joy and sadness, ecstasy and tears. The joy was the result of his certainty that the prophetic promise could not be denied forever. The tears were the recognition of reality. Jews and Jerusalem were not yet reunited.

But we are the generation of miracles. To us has been given not only the gift of return to our ancient homeland and the creation of the state of Israel, but the divine response to our supplication for the ability to serve God in the holy city of Jerusalem as well  not next year but this year. That part of the dream is but an El Al ticket away.

Of course the vision of next year in Jerusalem was always meant to suggest not just a physical reality; it expressed the hope for complete spiritual redemption, with a rebuilt Temple and a transformed world that recognizes the reality of God and his special relationship to the Jewish people. But the literal words themselves simply conveyed the dream of the first stage of that longed-for messianic anticipation.

And a few weeks ago marked yet another chapter in this remarkable story. At long last, the United States fulfilled its promise. After years of delaying a congressional mandate for fear of upsetting the Arab world, America moved its Israeli embassy to the capital city of Jerusalem. Israel is no longer the only country in the world denied the right to choose its own capital. A 3000 year old injustice has finally been rectified and King David must be rejoicing in the heavens above as the most powerful nation in the world today acknowledges the status of his designated holy city.

Now, more than ever, the message and meaning of next year in Jerusalem are profoundly needed  because we urgently must be reminded not to repeat an incomprehensible historic mistake.

It was in 1967 that Israel was attacked by its Arab neighbors. All of them together were no match for the God of Israel. To this day, military planners at West Point who study the Six-Day War simply cannot understand how Israel was able to achieve its victory. The miracle reached its pinnacle when the IDF re-conquered the old city as well as the site of the two ancient Temples. No one can forget the moment when Rabbi Goren hastily secured a shofar and blew it with the sound of the long blast which Jews identify with the arrival of Messiah.

The cry of paratroop commander Mordechai Gur into his field radio  The Temple Mount is in our hands!  was documented in detail around the world and entered the pantheon of national symbols of the state of Israel.

Indeed, the moment had come when it truly was time to say This year in Jerusalem.

And then everything changed. From the euphoria of liberation and the jubilation of world Jewry at reclaiming its holiest site, there was a proclamation which totally altered the moments spiritual meaning.

Only a few hours after IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren blew the shofar and gave the Shehecheyanu blessing beside the Western Wall, Gen. Moshe Dayan ordered his troops to immediately remove the Israeli flag that the paratroopers had raised on the mount. Dayans second act was to clear out the paratroop company that was supposed to remain permanently stationed in the northern part of the mount. An edict which elicited gleeful astonishment in the Muslim world and incomprehensible shock among the victorious Israelis went out, forbidding Jewish prayer and worship on that very spot to which Jews had physically, emotionally and mentally directed their prayers ever since their expulsion.

The triumphant shout of Mordecai Gur, The temple mount is in our hands, was true  but only for a short few hours. In giving religious sovereignty over the Temple Mount to the Muslims, Dayan believed he was defusing the site as a center of Palestinian nationalism. And now we know how mistaken he was.

Indeed, even as the Jewish state likes to boast that every citizen enjoys freedom of worship and free access to the holy places, that statement is not true for one group of people: Israeli security forces repeatedly curtail the exercise of that right specifically and only when it comes to Jews.

Freedom of worship is an ideal Americans treasure. How shocked they are to learn that when small groups of Jews are permitted on the site holiest to them, their lips are carefully watched to ensure that under threat of fine and/or imprisonment they do not commit the crime of prayer to the very God who made the miracle of Jewish return possible.

Could we be guilty of repeating this same mistake in future negotiations?

Unlike generations of the past, our longing for physical Jerusalem has been greatly fulfilled. However the ancient prayer still needs to be recited as written: Next year in Jerusalem.

We yearn for the complete spiritual rebuilding of Jerusalem. And we must realize that what we possess today may foolishly be forfeited tomorrow. Our prayer must be uttered  but with different meaning.

Not only this year  but next year and all the years to come in Jerusalem.

Neither we or our enemies can ever forget this.
In Brussels, 4,500 pairs of shoes in memory of Gaza victims NGO organises memorial during Foreign Affairs Council meeting

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MAY 28 - The Avaaz network organised a memorial in Brussels in which it collected and displayed 4,500 pairs of shoes in an effort "to bring the Gaza tragedy to the European Council's doorstep", the organisation said.



It said citizens from across the EU donated their own shoes for the memorial and that the number of shoes represented "one pair for every life lost in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the last decade".



Avaaz, which has collected online signatures for petitions from more than 47 million activists, conducted the initiative on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, where a discussion of the situation in Gaza is on the agenda.



"Over 425.000 EU citizens have signed a global petition calling on world leaders and foreign affairs ministers to sanction key Israeli industries," Avaaz said in a statement. Campaign organiser Christoph Schott said the petition represents "a clear message to our governments: Palestinian lives matter to us and they should matter to you".



He said Europe has a "moral responsibility to send a clear signal to the Netanyahu government that the violence must cease.



What's happening in Palestine is a modern-day apartheid".(ANSAmed).




ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROMA, MAY 28 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area for today: MODENA - Casa delle Culture, 6 PM. 'Project for a Social and Fair Trade Economy in Tunisia: Reflections on the Context in Movement'.



BRUSSELS - EU Commissioner Christos Stylianides will be receiving human rights advocate Vanessa Redgrave, British Labour politician and former MP Alfred Dubs, and actress Mimi Denissi to discuss the living conditions of refugees in Europe. BRUSSELS - EU Foreign Affairs Ministers Council (also 29/5). (ANSAmed).




Kurz says Frontex needs Africa operation to curb migration Austrian chancellor says Austria doesn't support migrant quotas

(ANSAmed) - BERLIN, MAY 28 - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told German Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag he wants EU border agency Frontex to send agents to African countries with Mediterranean coasts, to prevent migrants from undertaking the journey to Europe.



"The new political mandate should allow Frontex to become operational in third countries, with the permission of those governments, to put an end to the dirty business of human smugglers and to stop traffickers from carrying out dangerous journeys on the Mediterranean," Kurz said.



Kurz said he approves the European Commission's proposal to increase the standing Frontex border corps to 10,000 agents, but said "the 2027 objective is too far away".



"It must clearly be done faster in order to efficiently prevent illegal migration in the future," he said.



Kurz expressed skepticism as to whether Austria will accept the EU quota scheme.



"I don't think Austria can approve the quota scheme, above all if it doesn't take into account flows from past years," he said.(ANSAmed).




CAIRO - Thirteen Libyan militias have signed a statement rejecting the Paris Conference on Libya, reported the Libya Observer on Monday. The website published a copy of the statement, signed by some of the most important militias of western Libya. The refusal was expressed in a letter sent on Sunday to the three highest institutional bodies in Libya: the Presidential Council, the High Council of State and the House of Representatives. The letter said that the ''French initiative does not represent us''. The brigades and military council signatories - including those of Misurata, Zintan, Janzour and Gharyan - said that they were committed to the sovereignty and unity of Libya and that they rejected foreign interference. The militias, including the Sabrata Revolutionaries Brigade and the Zliten Brigades, said that the initiative aimed to reinsttate the military regime in Libya, with an implicit but clear reference to general Khalifa Haftar. The statement calls for a ''democratic civil state'' and a ''peaceful transfer of power''.



''We urge the UN mission to be impartial toward the Libyan file including protection of civilans,'' it added, stressing that ending the congflict is the top prioprity, according to the website. (ANSAmed).


PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron is once again featuring on the world political scene, moving from Trump, to Putin, and now Libya.

Following last July's summit, Macron has convened a "UN-sponsored conference" to enable the country to get out of crisis and open the way for elections within the year.

Libya continues to face chaos from the fallout of a crisis that began in 2011, after France launched an attack that then-President Nicolas Sarkozy announced at a summit at Elysee Palace.

Macron, in his ambitious attempt to resolve the situation all at once, has invited Libya's four main rival leaders - Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, General Khalifa Haftar, House of Representatives Chairman Aquila Salah Issa, and Council of State Chairman Khaled al-Mishri - to Elysee Palace for a summit on Tuesday.

The French government intends to push the four leaders to "take responsibility" and move the country out of the paralysis driven by divisions between them.

This would also open the way for a coordinated effort to manage migrant flows.

Elysee Palace said the four leaders convened to the summit have agreed to sign a statement that "sets the framework for a political process" aimed at organising legislative and presidential elections, to take place, if possible, by the end of the year.

If the parties sign the document, the signing will take place in the presence of representatives from 15 other countries: the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (USA, China, Russia, Great Britain and France); Italy; Libyan allies Egypt, Tunisia, and Chad; and regional powers United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Algeria, and Morocco.

Also scheduled to be present are the President of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who leads the African Union High Level Committee on Libya; and UN Head of Mission for Libya, Ghassan Salame.
ROME - The University of Siena is dedicating two days to Tunisia and its recent Constitution in a series of seminars on May 30 and 31.

The first, scheduled at 11:00 on Wednesday, is titled 'A Bridge on the Mediterranean: The Siena-Tunisia Erasmus Plus Programme', where Tunisian Ambassador to Italy Moez Sinaoui and University of Siena Rector Francesco Frati will take part.

The seminar will also serve as an opportunity to present the Erasmus Plus International Credit Mobility programme, financed by the European Union in 2017.

The programme allows for the movement of students, professors and technical-administrative personnel between the Siena university and the Tunisian universities of Tunis-Carthage and Sousse, for concrete cultural, research and didactic exchanges.

On the afternoon of May 30 and the morning of May 31, the event will continue its study of the new Tunisian Constitution, as part of the Galileo 2016/2017 project, financed in 2016 by the Italo-French University, with the participation of Italian and French experts.

The two-day event was organised by the University of Siena's Group for Research and Training on Public, European, and Comparative Law (DIPEC).


Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
The revolutionary HondaJet light jet is now to be available in the Middle East thanks to a deal between the automakers aviation arm and Jetex Flight Support with the Dubai-based company being names as the authorised sales representative.

Left: Honda Aircraft President and CEO Michimasa Fujino and Jetex CEO and President Adel Mardini at EBACE

Jetex will represent Honda Aircraft's sales in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Pakistan, Jordan, Turkey and Kuwait.

The agreement was signed by Honda Aircraft President and CEO Michimasa Fujino and Jetex CEO and President Adel Mardini at EBACE in Geneva where HondaJet had revealed a new upgraded HondaJet Elite model which was making its debut appearance.

The first of the Elite variants will be delivered in August with a 17% range increase, a shorter take-off roll and several avionics improvements, Fujino said.

The HondaJet Elite takes passengers farther, faster, higher and in greater comfort than any other business jet in its class, Fujino says.

The $5.2 million Elite is fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank that increases range by 231nm to 1,437nm. The North Carolina-based manufacturer also tweaked the design of the aircrafts elevator, increasing its authority to reduce the HondaJet Elites takeoff roll by 400 feet.

The HondaJet Elite also brings new upgrades for the cabin. Fujino talked proudly of a speakerless sound system  a first for business aviation  as well as a new noise-attenuating engine inlet which was added to reduce vibration and improve the sound levels inside the four-seat cabin. The light jet also features a full-service galley and a belted lavatory which can double as a fifth passenger seat.

Up front, the Garmin G3000 avionics suite has also been given an upgrade to include automated stability and angle of attack protection, as well as computed take-off distance.




Piaggio Aerospace, - the Italian aircraft manufacturer which is a subsidiary of Abu Dhabis Mubadala - outlined its growth strategy during the EBACE event in Geneva today.



The company was exhibiting its upgraded turboprop corporate aircraft  the Avanti EVO  at the show.

We secured four new orders of the Avanti EVO in the first few months of 2018, and the sales momentum is continuing, said Renato Vaghi, Piaggios CEO (pictured right). Reinforced by a new financial stability, we intend to focus on aircraft, leveraging our revamped production and a new commercialisation strategy for the P.180 Avanti EVO.

The company which is celebrating its centenary this year has been through a major restructuring and has targeted reaching break-even in 2019 and moving into profit by 2021.

The new strategic route is already leading to an increase in the production rate and new orders with 20 aircraft in the pipeline, of which 12 are Avanti EVOs. In the first quarter of 2018, Piaggio Aerospace secured additional orders for four units of the third generation of the legendary P.180, and expects to deliver in total eight aircraft by the end of 2018. The ambition of the company is to better position the Avanti EVO globally, to relaunch its special mission version, and to further invest in customer service, to support the fleet worldwide.


The announcement that the only business aviation show in Morocco, MEBAA Show Morocco, will return in 2019 has been given full support from the countrys government.

Taking place at Marrakech Menara Airport from 17-18 September 2019, the third edition of the MEBAA Show Morocco will bring the global aviation industry to this growing market.

The Moroccan government has identified the growth potential in the aerospace and business aviation industries and has focused on creating an attractive environment for manufacturers to establish themselves in for several years now. Moroccos 2020 aerospace goals include bringing in 100 new investors, creating 23,000 new jobs and generating $1.6 billion in new revenue.

In addition, the number of business aircraft movements in the MENA region is predicted to reach 175,000 by 2020, while the number of registered aircraft is expected to increase to 1200.

We are thrilled to see the MEBAA Show Morocco return in 2019, said HE Mr. Mohammed Sajid, Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Crafts and Social Economy. Morocco is a high traffic market for both business and leisure private aviation travel, which forms an integral part of our growing aerospace industry. The MEBAA Show Morocco plays an important part in giving the industry access to these opportunities and we look forward to welcoming the show again in 2019.

Ali Alnaqbi, Founding & Executive Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), is equally enthusiastic about the shows return. The feedback we received from both the government and our exhibitors on previous editions of the show has been fantastic, he said. MEBAA is looking forward to bringing the show back to 2019 for its third edition, as the business aviation industry continues to grow in Morocco.
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced on May 25, 2018, the contract calls for Raytheon to build Romania's first brand-new Patriot air defense missile fire unit Configuration 3+. In July 2017, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Romania for Patriot air defense systems, related support and equipment. The estimated cost is $3.9 billion.



Soldiers assigned to Battery D, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment test and validate the recent upgrades to a Patriot launching station Aug. 3 at Osan Air Base, South Korea. (Picture source U.S. MoD)

The Government of Romania has requested the possible sale of seven (7) Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units consisting of: seven (7) AN/MPQ-65 radar sets, seven (7) AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations, thirteen (13) antenna mast groups, twenty-eight (28) M903 launching stations, fifty-six (56) Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-TBM (GEM-T) missiles, one hundred and sixty-eight (168) Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, and seven (7) Electrical Power Plants (EPP) III. Also included with this request are communications equipment, tools and test equipment, support equipment, prime movers, generators, publications and technical documentation, training equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training, TAFT team, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, Systems Integration and Checkout (SICO), field office support, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

In January 2018, the government of Romania had signed an agreement to purchase Raytheons combat-proven Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense System from the U.S. Army.

"We are using what we have learned in building 220 fire units and to meet Romania's Patriot fielding schedule," said Tom Laliberty, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

According to Raytheon, Romania will receive the Patriot Configuration 3+, the most advanced configuration available, as well as an undisclosed quantity of GEM-T and PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles. These interceptors will enable Romanias military to defeat current and emerging threats.



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 latest generation of Patriot launcher uses the PAC-3 missile produced by the Company Lockheed Martin. The PAC-3 Missile is a high velocity interceptor that defeats incoming targets by direct, body-to-body impact. The PAC-3 can be used to intercept ballistic missiles with a range from 15 to 20 km.
Popular Bollywood celebrities have heaped praise on the Sikh police officer, who saved a Muslim man from allegedly being lynched.

Farhan Akhtar, Vidya Balan, Sidharth Malhotra and Aditi Rao Hydari were among those who tweeted about Gagandeep Singh.

Mumbai: Popular Bollywood celebrities like Farhan Akhtar, Vidya Balan and Chetan Bhagat have heaped praise on a Sikh police officer, who saved a Muslim man from allegedly being lynched.

A video of the cop, Gagandeep Singh is doing the rounds on social media, with people hailing his bravery.

While people on Twitter applauded Singh's act and his commitment towards his work, the Bollywood stars have called him the 'real hero.'

"We are quick to condemn those who take a life, but we must be quicker to commend those who save one. #hero #GagandeepSingh," Farhan tweeted.

We are quick to condemn those who take a life but we must be quicker to commend those who save one. #hero #GagandeepSingh https://t.co/OzS2rgy45z  Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) May 26, 2018

Actress Vidya Balan called Gagandeep a "true Indian".

Author Chetan Bhagat wrote: "The Sikh police officer who saved the Muslim man. I don't care who's in power. That's the India I want and ever will want. Even if I am the only one left wanting it."

The Sikh police officer who saved the Muslim man. I don't care who's in power or what is your politics. That's the India I want and ever will want. Even if I am the only one left wanting it.  Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) May 26, 2018

Talking to the micro-blogging site, actress Aditi Rao Hydari wrote: "So true... there is hope! #Hero #GagandeepSingh."

Actor Sidharth Malhotra tweeted: "Being a good example is the best form of service. #hero #Gagandeep."

Being a good example is the best form of service. #hero #GaganDeep  https://t.co/dUIepvvmOA  Sidharth Malhotra (@S1dharthM) May 26, 2018

In the video being circulated over social media, Singh was seen surrounded by the crowd, who were attacking the Muslim man, who was found with a Hindu girl at a temple in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar.
'The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority,' Kumaraswamy said.

Ahead of Kumaraswamy's Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfil it. (Photo: File)

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said on Sunday that he was at the mercy of Congress and not the 6.5 crore people of the state as his government had not received the full mandate which his party had sought in the assembly elections.

Ahead of his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union ministers, he reiterated that farm loan waiver was his priority as he had promised and he would resign if he failed to fulfil it.

However, he reminded people that JD(S) did not get an absolute majority, which meant he and his party were rejected by the electorate.

The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farmers leaders too and how much they supported me, he said.

Mine is not an independent government. I had requested people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today, I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state, Kumaraswamy said.

The CM said he has certain compulsions as a politician. However, he has absolutely clarity on the issue of farm loan waivers, he said.

Slamming the BJP and other farmers leaders, he said there was no need for any farmers association to pressurise him (on farm loan waiver).

I am one step ahead of you to work for the farmers. You need not have to ask me for my resignation over farm loan waiver. If I fail to do that then I myself will resign from the post. Farm loan waiver is my priority. Cant you wait for a week? Even the cabinet has not been formed yet, he said.

Kumaraswamy urged farmers not to take the extreme step of committing suicide and to wait for a week as he was in the process of finding a way out to waive loans, not just of cooperative societies, but also nationalised banks.

His remarks came in the wake of BJPs call for a statewide bandh on Monday, demanding immediate waiver of farm loans, as promised by the JD(S) in their manifesto.

The JD(S) leadership has been saying they have to seek the consent of its coalition partner Congress before taking any decision.

To a question on the Congress demand that the finance portfolio be given to it, he said it was quite natural for them to ask it as some in the party believed they could deliver better.
The Opposition bandying together at the swearing-in of JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy certainly did not seem to have fazed the BJP.

The BJP feels the coming together of Opposition parties will be of little consequence as it is mostly a grouping of regional parties that do not have any influence outside their state. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: Heading into the election year, the BJP is supremely confident of victory in 2019, and sees its tally going up in many states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and even Kerala.

The BJP feels the coming together of Opposition parties will be of little consequence as it is mostly a grouping of regional parties that do not have any influence outside their state.

Against this mood, the BJP made light of a recent survey by Lokniti-CSDS which said it was losing ground and popularity.

At an off-the-record interaction with non-Delhi-based newspapers at one of the gatherings to celebrate four years in power, a top leader in the BJP shrugged off the survey and said that it was impossible to predict the mood of the nation one year in advance of the elections. He said the BJP had set its mind on doing a lot more before the polls came around.

When it was pointed out that the three states going to polls later this year  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh  did not really have a year, he said he was confident that the BJP would retain the states.

He agreed that the party faced the anti-incumbency factor in MP. But it was predicted in the last elections as well that chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan would lose but he returned victorious, he said.

On the unity of the NDA, after the exit of the Telugu Desam, the BJP believes there is nothing to worry. The BJP believes that even the Shiv Sena, despite its open disagreement, will sail together. The two parties are pitted against each other in the upcoming Palghar Lok Sabha byelection which is crucial to the BJP given that it is two seats short of majority in the Lok Sabha. Even in 2014 we only had a post-poll alliance, he said.

The Opposition bandying together at the swearing-in of JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy certainly did not seem to have fazed the BJP. Few of those parties have been part of the NDA except for the TD.

How does it help to have Mamata or Mayawati campaign in Karnataka? What gains can be made if Kumaraswamy campaigns for Mamata, is the argument to drive home the point that the regional leaders are overreaching themselves and have no constituency outside their respective states.

As an aside, the BJP was not comfortable that Karnataka BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa had said he was not against the Congress but against the Gowda father-and-son pair. The leader laughed and responded, Yes without the father and son duo the Congress would not be in power!

With Karnataka out of its hands for now, the BJP will be focusing on Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state. The BJP is clear that there will be no pre-poll alliance in the two states.

BJP president Amit Shah is headed to the Telugu states and is confident of improving the BJP tally vastly in the Lok Sabha elections.

The party is dismissive of the charges laid against it by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The BJP does not believe that denying Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status will diminish its popularity. The party is clear that AP could get funds from the Centre only against spending. When drafts for Amaravati are still being drawn in Singapore and there is not a brick laid, the Centre could not release funds. The government will release the funds as and when work begins, he said.

Mr Naidus charge that `44,000 crore was going towards making Dholera in Gujarat a Smart City against `2,500 crore for Amaravati was dismissed outright. The government is not building any new city nor releasing funds for it in Gujarat, he said.

On the concerns of the southern states that the 15th Finance Commission was being unfair by alloting them lesser funds than the BIMARU states though their contribution in terms of taxes was higher, it was indicated that these would likely be addressed as the issues were before the Finance Commission.

The BJP seemed confident about the strides it was making in Kerala and West Bengal. The party is clear that it would win 22 seats in West Bengal and would spring a huge surprise in Kerala.

The troubling part is that the BJP does not believe that the campaign of threats and rapes against its critics is dangerous. It is dismissed lightly as something people in villages face routinely. In other words it will have no negative impact on the polls.
By-elections to 4 Lok Sabha seats and 10 assembly constituencies across 10 states are being held today.

Mumbai: By-elections to four Lok Sabha seats, including the politically significant Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, and 10 assembly constituencies across 10 states are being held today.

Besides Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh, other Lok Sabha seats that are voting are Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and the lone seat in Nagaland.

While the BJP held three of these seats, its former ally Naga People's Front (NPF) had won the Nagaland seat in 2014.

Bypoll to Kairana seat which fell vacant after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh is witnessing a direct contest between the BJP and the united opposition - Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - ahead of the 2019 general elections. The election has become crucial for the BJP as it comes against the backdrop of the party's losses in two Lok Sabha seats earlier this year - Gorakhpur and Phulpur that were considered its strongholds - after archrivals SP and BSP joined hands in a tactical electoral understanding.

The opposition hopes that by consolidating anti-BJP votes, they will repeat the success of the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha by-elections, where the ruling party suffered an unexpected defeat. The ruling BJP, on the other hand, has made an extra efforts to retain the seat to try and send a strong message to voters, party cadres as well as the opposition parties -- that the drubbing in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bye-elections was an aberration, and that it was still strong in western UP.

In Maharashtra, all four major parties - the Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP  have left no stone unturned to ensure a win as the outcome is likely to have a bearing on their future course.

Read: Maharashtra: Voting starts for Palghar, Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha bypolls

The Shiv Sena has fielded late BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga's son Shriniwas Wanaga in Palghar, much to the dislike of the BJP which has in-turn nominated Congress deserter Rajendra Gavit. The bypoll in Palghar was necessitated due to the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga in January this year.

In Bhandra-Gondia, Nana Patole quit as the BJP MP and resigned from the ruling party to return to the Congress earlier this year, necessitating the by-election. The BJP is confident of retaining the two seats while the opposition feels setbacks to the ruling party in the bypoll would boost the vigour of the 'anti-BJP camp' and lead to new alignments in state politics.

The ruling party has locked horns with the NCP for retaining the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat while in Palghar, it is in a direct fight with the ally Shiv Sena even though the contest is multi-cornered.

In Nagaland capital Kohima, bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of Neiphiu Rio, now chief minister of the state, from the Lok Sabha to contest the Nagaland Assembly election in February.

The election is a test of strength between the candidate of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) supported by Congress and the nominee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA). The PDA, which has the NDPP and the BJP as it major constituents, has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi in the seat.

Apart from these Lok Sabha bypolls, the assembly by-elections are being held in Maharashtra (Palus Kadegaon constituency), Uttar Pradesh (Noorpur), Bihar (Jokihat), Jharkhand (Gomia and Silli), Kerala (Chengannur), Meghalaya (Ampati), Punjab (Shahkot), Uttarakhand (Tharali) and West Bengal (Maheshtala).

Besides, these bypolls, two constituencies in Karnataka  Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Jayanagar  are also heading for the polling booths to elect their Members of Legislative Assemblies. Voting had not happened in these two seats during the May 12 assembly polls.

The counting of votes will take place on May 31.
More than 16,38,420 candidates registered for the Class 10 exam conducted at 4,453 centres across India and 78 centres abroad.

Students can check their result on the official websites of the board. (Representational Image)

Mumbai: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will declare the result of Class 10 board exam on May 29 by 4pm.

Anil Swarup, Secretary School Education, HRD Ministry, announced this in a tweet on Monday.

Students can check their result on the official websites of the board: www.cbse.nic.in and www.cbseresults.nic.in after the result is out.

Students will also be able to check their result on Google by searching for CBSE Class 10 result. They will have to fill in the required details to login and check their results.

Around 28 lakh students registered to appear for the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 examinations this year.

More than 16,38,420 candidates registered for the Class 10 exam conducted at 4,453 centres across India and 78 centres abroad.

Steps to check CBSE Class 10 exam results 2018:

1. Visit the official websites of CBSE - cbse.nic.in or cbseresults.nic.in

2. Click on the link for result 2018

3. Enter the required details correctly

4. Click on submit

5. Result will be displayed on screen

6. Take down a print of the result
RSS leader Rakesh Sinha said that Mukherjee's acceptance to attend the event reflects that there can be dialogue on vital issues.

Pranab Mukherjee (82) has worked closely as a Congressman with both former Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and served as finance minister in the UPA II government led by ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh. (Photo: File | PTI)

New Delhi: A top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) official has confirmed that former President Pranab Mukherjee will address 600 workers at the organisation's headquarters in Nagpur on June 7.

Mukherjee's office is however yet to issue a statement regarding the event, as reported by The Indian Express.

The addressal is planned for the Third Year Sangha Shiksha Varga and will see the participation of over 600 workers.

We had extended an invitation to the former president to address RSS workers at our headquarters in Nagpur. He has accepted our invitation and will be present at the event, the RSS official said.

RSS leader Rakesh Sinha said that Mukherjee's acceptance to attend the event reflects that there can be dialogue on vital issues and adversaries are not necessarily enemies.

"Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva is being answered by his acceptance of invitation," Sinha added.

Mukherjee (82) demitted office of president in July 2017. Prior to that, he worked closely as a Congressman with both former Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and served as finance minister in the UPA II government led by ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Farmers allege the government is completely ignoring the land acquisition law, while acquiring their land for lignite mining.

Since April 1, when the GPCL claimed possession of around 1,414 hectares of land in 12 villages of Ghogha and Bhavnagar talukas, protests are taking place in the area. (Photo: File | Representational)

New Delhi: After Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat may witness a "violent confrontation" between the state administration and villagers over the issue of lignite mining by the Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL) at Bhavnagar, warn farmer leaders.

Since April 1, when the GPCL claimed possession of around 1,414 hectares of land in 12 villages of Ghogha and Bhavnagar talukas, protests are taking place in the area.

"Gujarat is sitting on a live volcano. Not only the farmers, but the entire rural Gujarat is crying. We are part of the ongoing movement in Bhavnagar. The Kheru samaj of farmers is very strong. They are the ones spearheading the struggle and we are with them," All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Atul Anjan said.

"The state government should realise that the situation in Gujarat is not very different from the one in Tuticorin. If the government handles the situation like Tuticorin, then the state would have to face the fire," he added.

According to a state government notification, GPCL had acquired land in Badi, Hoidad, Malekvadar, Padva, Khadsaliya, Thalsar, Lakhanka, Thordi, Rampara, Surka and Aalampar villages of Ghogha and Bhavnagar rural talukas in 1997. But the villagers are yet to give up possession of the said land till date.

Farmers allege the government is completely ignoring the land acquisition law, while acquiring their land for lignite mining.

"According to the Land Acquisition Act-2013, if a land acquired for any purpose is not utilised within five years, then it has to be given back to the owner or farmers. No state government, including the one in Gujarat, is following the Act. Now the farmers of Bhavnagar are demanding that their land should remain with them as it was not utilised," AIKS leader Hannan Mollah said.

Even though the government claims to have given compensation to the farmers, the farmers allege that many of them were forced to part with their land.

"The compensation given by the government to farmers is not adequate and not all the farmers were given the compensation. The farmers have given in writing that those who took compensation were under pressure. The price of the land has gone up by 700 per cent," Anjan said.

The farmers' leaders also accused the BJP-led government at the centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being hand-in-gloves with corporates and ignoring the plight of the farming community.

The BJP government in the state and the Modi regime at the centre had given land belonging to farmers to corporates at throwaway prices and this was the reality of the Gujarat model, they alleged.

The leaders also pointed out that how the governments were ignoring the environmental hazards to "appease" the corporates in setting up plants.

"The environment ministry is just a rubber stamp. Those in the PMO make a proposal for the corporates and get the stamp of the ministry, ignoring the hazard the plant would cause to people and the environment," Mollah said.

The farmer leaders warn that taking a cue from the Tuticorin incident, the farmers will intensify their struggle in Gujarat too.

However, they also hope that the Tuticorin incident may force the state government to negotiate to calm down the "massive discontent" within the farming community.

In Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, a protest against a copper plant turned violent last week, resulting in the killing of 13 people in police firing.
The Opposition parties also cite the repeated incidents of crime against women and spate of killings to justify their claim.

Patna: The jungle raj has returned to haunt Bihar. Chief minister Nitish Kumar is being criticised by the Opposition parties for failing to check crime in the state.

Leader of the Opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav recently hit out at the chief minister saying, There is a maha jungle raj as criminals in the state seem to have lost the fear of law.

The crime graph has gone up because the police has been asked to focus more on the liquor prohibition. The main agenda for cops is to nab people involved in the liquor business and leave them after taking money, Tejashwi Yadav said.

Observers are of the view that there was fall in rates of murder and robberies between 2005 and 2013 but crime graph increased in later years.

Opposition leaders told this newspaper that the cognisable crime graph has gone up in recent times because the good governance policy of chief minister Nitish Kumar has failed and common people are being targeted by criminals.

The Opposition parties also cite the repeated incidents of crime against women and spate of killings to justify their claim.

Allegations levelled by the Opposition have been dismissed by the police as well as the JD(U)-led state government.

Police officials cited National Crime Records Bureau data to point out that Bihar has the lowest crime rate in the country and law and order situation improved after liquor prohibition was imposed in 2016.

After Nitish Kumar imposed a blanket ban on liquor consumption, Bihar police statistics showed a decline of 25.36 per cent in the crime rate. However, in 2017 the state witnessed a steep rise in cognizable offences in comparison to 2015 and 2016.

As per the state police statistics in 2015 - a year before prohibition was imposed - cognizable crimes stood at 1,95,397. In 2016, the statistics showed only a minimal decline but again in 2017, the cognizable crimes rose to 2,36,037. In 2018, till February, 35,522 cognizable crimes had been recorded. Other major crimes like murder, rape, kidnapping and rioting also increased during this period.

Speaking on the issue JD(U) spokesperson Niraj Kumar said, There are laws to deal with criminals. Police has been taking tough measures and criminals are being arrested so allegations that the state government is not performing is baseless. Policing, according to the Opposition parties, has lost its focus because of liquor prohibition as cops in the state are busy helping mafia and law and order is no more a priority for them.

According to the RJD, poor people have been sent to jail for various offenses under the prohibition law.

According to reports, around 1.29 lakh people were sent to jail for violating the prohibition law in Bihar and as many as 90,803 cases were registered in connection with the law.
Modi touched upon key issues affecting the area, including cane prices, special commission for dalits and law and order.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a roadshow in New Delhi during the inauguration of a 9-km section of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. (Photo: Pritam Bandyopadhyay)

Lucknow/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi ripped into the Congress for spreading canards on dilution of the SC/ST Act and farmers issues for narrow political gains as he inaugurated two highways connecting Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi and its satellite cities.

Speaking at a public rally on Sunday at Uttar Pradeshs Baghpat after inaugurating the Rs 11,000-crore Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), he said, The truth is the Congress and the parties with it block or make fun of any work being done for the poor, dalits or tribal people.

People who are used to worshipping one family cannot worship democracy. After losing elections, they are rattled and in opposing Modi, they have started opposing the nation, he said.

With an eye on Kairana, the adjoining Lok Sabha constituency where polling for a byelection will be held on Monday, the Prime Minister said, On that side are people for whom their family is the country but for me, the country is my family.

The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress for creating a crisis of confidence by pointing fingers at the Supreme Court, raising doubts on the Election Commission and EVMs, eyeing with suspicion the Reserve Bank and its policies and questioning every agency that investigates their acts of omissions and commissions.

The Congress negates the valour of the Army that conducted surgical strikes across the border and questions foreign dignitaries who praise India. And now they are accusing the media of being biased too, he added.

Mr Modi started the day by throwing open the first phase of the 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway that on completion will cut travel time between the two cities from 150 minutes to 45 minutes. The `7,500-crore expressway will do away with 31 traffic signals on the Delhi-Meerut road, the busiest highway in the region.

After the Delhi-Meerut roads inauguration, Mr Modi rode an open car and held a huge roadshow. While travelling on a 9-km stretch till UP Gate, Mr Modi had assembled along the road since 8 am. From there, he took a helicopter to Baghpat where he inaugurated the EPE that will reduce the volume of commercial traffic by 35 per cent in Delhi, allowing 52,000 vehicles to bypass the national capital every day.

The EPE, planned in 2006 following the Supreme Courts order to build a ring road outside the national capital to keep its air clean, will connect Sonipat to Palwal through Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Faridabad while serving as a bypass for vehicles entering Delhi.

At his rally in Baghpat, Mr Modi touched upon key issues affecting the area, including cane prices, special commission for dalits and law and order.

He said that the government was sensitive to the plight of sugarcane farmers and adequate steps are being taken to provide proper prices for their crop.

While talking about social justice, Mr Modi said his government is committed to protection of dalits and has constituted special courts for fast-track hearing of cases of atrocities against them.

Lauding Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, he said criminals in the state are now surrendering and pledging not to indulge in illegal acts.

Mr Modi highlighted his governments concern for women empowerment and said that toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission and LPG connections under Ujjwala Yojana are making lives of women easier. He said that out of 13 crore loans given under Mudra Yojana, more than 75 per cent have been given to women entrepreneurs.

About the Ganga cleaning programme, Mr Modi said more than 200 projects worth Rs 21,000 crores have been taken up.

Asserting that infrastructure was a key priority for his government, the Prime Minister said that construction of highways has reached 27-km a day from mere 12-km a day during the Congress period. He said that under the NDA government Rs 3 lakh crores had been spent on laying a network of 28,000 km of highways.

The EPE is Indias first highway to be lit by solar power besides provisions of rain water harvesting every 500 metre on both sides. It also showcases 36 national monuments and 40 fountains. The expressway has eight solar power plants with a capacity of 4000-kilo watt (4 MW). The foundation stone of the project was laid by Mr Modi on November 5, 2015.

Anticipating that the highway inauguration event may be converted by the PM into an indirect campaign speech on the eve of Kairana bypoll, the Opposition had complained to the EC about a possible violation of the model code of conduct, but it was turned down.

After the Prime Ministers rally, the Congress hit out at him saying that while he spoke of development at Baghpat, a farmer died protesting against the non-payment of sugarcane dues, not far from his events venue.

The Opposition party also alleged that the BJP-led NDA government was trying to project development and infrastructure schemes initiated by the previous UPA government as its own.

The effort was to portray its (NDA governments) failures as its achievements... A farmer, not far away, died protesting against the non-payment of cane dues. The Prime minister did not utter a word. He could have taken time out to visit his house, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said.

Sugarcane farmers have been protesting in Badaut, about 30 km from the venue of Mr Modis rally, for the past six days.
An Army jawan and a civilian were injured, he said adding that both were rushed to hospital.

The reinforcements from the Army along with J&K police and the CRPF launched a hunt for the assailants, the police said.

Srinagar: An Army jawan and a civilian were killed in a militant attack on an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's southern Pulwama district and troops' retaliatory fire late Sunday night.

This is first deadly attack carried out by militants against the Army after the government announced a conditional ceasefire halting counterinsurgency operations in the restive state for Muslim fasting month of Ramzan on May 16.

The Army and police officials said that a group of militants targetted a camp of Army's 50 Rashtriya Rifles in Kakapora area of Pulwama at around 10.30 pm. The Army returned the fire and the exchange continued for some time, Pulwama's SSP Muhammad Aslam Choudhary said.

An Army jawan and a civilian were injured, he said adding that both were rushed to hospital.

The reinforcements from the Army along with J&K police and the CRPF launched a hunt for the assailants, the police said. Latest reports from Pulwama said that both Army jawan and the civilian have succumbed to their injuries.

Defence spokesman Col N.N. Joshi said, "In a cowardly and provocative act of terror, terrorists carried out a stand-off attack on Kakapora Army Camp. One soldier has been martyred. Retaliatory action is going on".

The slain civilian has been identified as Bilal Ahmed Ganai, a Sumo cab driver. He was found critically injured in his vehicle near the site of encounter, the police said adding that he was rushed to hospital but he died soon.
Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order, and Pakistani media reports said that protests were taking place in the region.

New Delhi: The external affairs ministry on Sunday summoned Pakistans deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah to register a strong protest against the Pakistan government for issuing a so-called Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018. Pakistan was clearly told the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947, and that any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Pakistan was also asked to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

Reports from Islamabad indicated that through its order on Gilgit-Baltistan on May 21, Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has seized more authority from the local council to deal with the regions affairs. Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order, and Pakistani media reports said that protests were taking place in the region. Observers feel New Delhi is paying back Islamabad in its own coin, with Pakistan leaving no stone unturned lately to issue provocative statements over developments in J&K.

In a statement, the MEA said: The deputy high commissioner of Pakistan to India was summoned today and a strong protest was made against the Government of Pakistans so-called Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018. It was clearly conveyed that the entire state of J&K, which also includes the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

The MEA added: The government of Indias consistent position in the matter is reflected in the resolution passed by Parliament in 1994 by consensus.
Delhi court has reserved for June 5 its order on whether to summon Shashi Tharoor as an accused in Sunanda's death case.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has also been named one of the key witnesses in the case. (Photo: File/PTI)

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday reserved for June 5 its order on whether to summon Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as an accused in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said he would pass the order after the counsel for prosecution said there was enough evidence to summon Tharoor.

The Delhi Police had on May 14 accused Tharoor of abetting Pushkar's suicide and told the court that he should be summoned as an accused in the four-and-half year-old case. The police also claimed that there was sufficient evidence against him.

In a nearly 3,000-page charge sheet, the Delhi police has explained why the death case is a case of abetment to suicide and cruelty.

Quoting the chargesheet, prosecution on Monday told the court, "Her statements on social media can be treated as dying declaration. Sunanda's death is due to poisoning."

The chargesheet has named Tharoor as the only accused while also alleging that he had subjected his wife to cruelty and had urged the court to summon the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram.

The couple's domestic servant, Narayan Singh, has also been named one of the key witnesses in the case.

The 51-year-old was found dead at her suite in Leela Hotel in the national capital on the night of January 17, 2014, days after she publicly accused her husband of having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.

The Congress leader has been charged under sections 498 A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. Under section 498A, the maximum punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, while jail term up to 10 years is prescribed under section 306.

An FIR was registered by Delhi Police on January 1, 2015 against unknown persons under IPC section 302 (murder).

According to prosecution sources, the charge sheet has mentioned that Pushkar was allegedly subjected to mental as well as physical cruelty.

Tharoor has not been arrested in the case.

(With PTI inputs)
According to the sources, Sonia Gandhi will be travelling abroad for her annual medical examination.

While Rahul Gandhi will return within a week, Sonia Gandhi will stay abroad for a longer period, the sources told PTI. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, had to leave for abroad on Sunday night for a medical check-up, party sources said.

According to the sources, Sonia Gandhi will be travelling abroad for her annual medical examination. She had undergone a surgery in the US in 2011.

While Rahul Gandhi will return within a week, Sonia Gandhi will stay abroad for a longer period, the sources told PTI.

They said some key decisions, including the allocation of ministerial portfolios in Karnataka after a Congress-JD(S) government led by HD Kumaraswamy was formed in the southern state last week, have been put on hold.

Rahul Gandhi also had a message for his trolls, saying he will be back soon. He tweeted:

Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up.



To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: dont get too worked up...I'll be back soon!  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 27, 2018

Some fresh appointments in the Congress are also awaited as part of the party's rejig under Rahul Gandhi.

Congress chief held deliberations with party leaders since on Sunday to decide on the portfolios for the party's legislators in Karnataka, but the discussions remained inconclusive.

The sources said Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a rally at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh on June 6 to mark the first anniversary of police firing on farmers there.
Swaraj said that its not like India is not ready for the talks, but it is not possible to do so if the terror on the border continues.

On the occassion, Swaraj also released a book on the achievements of the Ministry of External Affairs over the course of her tenure. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Monday addressed the media on completion of 4 years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

On the occassion, Swaraj also released a book on the achievements of the Ministry of External Affairs over the course of her tenure.

"90,000 people from Indian community have been rescued from various places. In his visits to many countries, PM has saved many people from severe punishments. Today, Indians living overseas are living peacefully," Swaraj said, also pointing out that it was shocking how the previous government did not visit any countries.

"When we formed our govt, we thought that we will cover all the 192 countries present at the UN, for ministerial level talks. And, we have covered 186 countries already," she added.

On relations with Pakistan and possibilities of peace, she said that its not like India is not ready for the talks, but it is not possible to do so if the terror on the border continues.

"Terror and talks cannot go together, be it post elections(Pakistan general elections scheduled for July 25) or even before. Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon,to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti (When soldiers are dying at the border, voices calling for discussion do not seem fit)," she said.

Swaraj also responded to questions on Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018, which alters the status of the region.

Also Read: Pak PM rejects opposition protest over Gilgit-Baltistan control order

"The answer we got in response of what happened with Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018. was laughable. They tried to teach us history. Pakistan always distorts history & doesn't believe in law. Only thing thing I felt while reading their answer was, 'look who's talking'," she said.

The External Affairs Minister also spoke on relations with China, especially after the infamous Doklam faceoff.

"I am repeating again, at the Doklam faceoff site there is no change in the situation, status quo is continuing," she said.

Swaraj also addressed some grievances that she received over Twitter.

"I got a tweet from someone who was visiting Mansarovar that they were not being allowed to take holy dip in the Mansarovar jheel. This wasn't the situation. There is always a designated place where you can take a bath, you cannot take dip just anywhere in the river," she said.

The senior BJP leader also slammed Congress for alleging detoriation in relations between India and Russia.

"Only recently PM Modi and President Putin held a successful informal summit," she said.

While responding to a question on Vijay Mallya's extradition from the, Swaraj said that PM Modi has informed British Prime Minister Theresa May that these UK courts questioning condition of jails in India is not correct as "these are the same prisons where they had jailed our leaders like Gandhi and Nehru."
The results of all the byelections would be announced on May 31.

Congress leader R.P.N. Singh (from left), SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh leave after a meeting with the Election Commission at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi over the reports of malfunctioning of the EVMs. (Photo: G.N. Jha)

New Delhi: The crucial Lok Sabha seat of Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh saw over 54 per cent polling in the byelection held on Monday amid complaints of electronic voting machines (EVMs) malfunctioning even as voting was overall peaceful in the Jat-dominated region.

Apart from Kairana, byelections were held in three other Lok Sabha seats  Bhandara-Gondiya and Palghar in Maharashtra and the lone seat of Nagaland.

Byelections were also held in 10 Assembly seats  Noorpur in Uttar Pradesh, Shahkot in Punjab, Jokihat in Bihar, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Chengannur in Kerala, Palus Kadegaon in Maharashtra, Ampati in Meghalaya, Tharali in Uttarakhand and Maheshtala in West Bengal. The results of all the byelections would be announced on May 31.

Large-scale reports of EVMs malfunctioning in Kairana and Bhandara-Gondiya were also reported by the leaders of all parties. The Election Commission later in the day assured that repolling would be held wherever necessary.

The EC said reports of large-scale failure of EVMs were an exaggerated projection of reality even as complaints mounted about problems with electronic voting machines, including in Kairana. EC sources blamed the inept handling of the paper-trail machines for votes by the ground staff, specially when the temperature was running high, for malfunctioning in some areas.

All eyes were, however, on Kairana where the BJP is facing the combined might of the Opposition. The polls were necessitated for this seat after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh earlier this year, and the party fielded his daughter Mriganka Singh. Her main rival is Tabassum Hasan, the candidate of Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal, who is being supported by the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The BJP is keen to retain the seat specially in the aftermath of the drubbing it had got earlier this year in the bypolls held in two other Lok Sabha seats Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the seats held by chief minister Yogi Adityanath and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya respectively. It had lost both the seats to the Samajwadi Party.

Through its aggressive campaigning in Kairana, the BJP wants to convey the message that the twin defeats were an aberration. The late BJP MP, Hukum Singh, had in 2016 alleged that several Hindu families had left Kairana owing to the domination of people of a particular community. He had even sought a census count of the Hindu families leaving the region.

Also under focus are the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena has fielded late BJP MP Chintaman Wanagas son Shriniwas Wanaga in Palghar, a decision which has not gone down well with the BJP, which has nominated Congress deserter Rajendra Gavit as its candidate.

In Bhandara-Gondiya, there is a direct contest between the BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The BJP fielded Hemant Patle, a former MLA, while the NCP has fielded Madhukar Kukde. Mr Kukde is a joint candidate of the Congress, NCP, RPI and Piripa alliance.

The byelection was necessitated in Gondiya after the sitting BJP MP, Nana Patole, had resigned from the seat.

In Karnataka, tight security and a changed political equation following the Congress-JD(S) alliance marked voting for the Rajarajeshwarinagar election, which was deferred earlier due to the seizure of 9,564 Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) from an apartment during the recent Karnataka Assembly elections.

Even while voting was under way, the Opposition parties and the ruling BJP moved the EC in New Delhi claiming that hundreds of EVMs and paper trail machines deployed for the Kairana and Noorpur bypolls in UP had developed snags and were not replaced for hours. EC sources said that failure on part of the ground staff had led to heating of the machines. They alleged that officials who had skipped training programmes and spent time on their phones during training had placed the machines at places where heat sensitive nature of the device had created problems.
Sushma dismissed the Congress contention that there was a flip-flop by the government on its Pakistan policy.

New Delhi: Pakistan stands isolated on the issue of terrorism in the world today and that is why it is sending signals that it wants to talk to India, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday, adding that this was a success of Indias foreign policy. She also reiterated that talks and terror cannot go together and there cant be a dialogue with Pakistan when there are deaths in border firings. On the national security advisers of the two nations meeting in Bangkok a few months back, she said talks on terror could however be held.

Why does Pakistan want to talk to India? Pakistan has been isolated in the international community due to terrorism. This is a success of Indian foreign policy, Ms Swaraj said.

On the issue of talks, she said: There is no change in our stand. We are ready for talks but there is a caveat. Talks and terror cannot go together. This has nothing to do with elections. Pakistan has to stop terrorism (from its soil). When there are deaths on the border, the sounds of dialogue do not sound nice.

On the NSAs of the two countries meeting a few months ago in Bangkok, Ms Swaraj said: Talks and terror cant go together. But talks on terror can be held.

On India protesting against Pakistan issuing a recent Gilgit-Baltistan order and Pakistan rejecting Indias protests, Ms Swaraj said: They tried to teach us history, and added: Look whos talking.

Addressing a press conference to mark four years of the NDA government, Ms Swaraj said it had achieved unprecedented outreach and unparalleled outcomes in foreign policy in the past four years. She dismissed the Congress contention that there was a flip-flop by the government on its Pakistan policy.

The minister also lashed out at the Congress for trying to ridicule her about being left only with a Twitter handle in her ministry, saying Twitter had brought her ministry close to the people unlike the UPA governments days. Drawing attention to how many people had got instant help from the MEA because of Twitter, she said the Congress would understand its benefits only if any of their (Congress leaders) relatives were stuck abroad in a difficult situation.

Dismissing allegations that India had ceded ground to China in Doklam, Ms Swaraj said there had been no change in the status quo at the site (on Bhutanese soil) when Indian and Chinese armies had a more than two month-long standoff last year. She also said the Congress was obsessed with Doklam, saying India had resolved the standoff with China using diplomacy. Praising the outcomes of the recent informal summit at Wuhan between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese

President Xi Jinping, she said it had contributed to more understanding and trust between the two countries. Ms Swaraj also said both leaders had told the other that they could call each other directly if they wanted to discuss any issue at any time.

The minister also noted that in the NDA governments current tenure, India had gained membership of three out of four export control regimes. Ms Swaraj also said at the ministerial level, India had reached out to 186 out of 192 nations so far in the past four years.
In a letter to BJD president and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Panda said, 'He is deeply anguised'.

Jay Panda Panda, a Member of Parliament from Kendrapara, was on January 24 suspended by BJD president and Odisha CM Patnaik for indulging in 'anti-party activities'. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Mumbai: Baijayant Jay Panda, who was suspended from primary membership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in January, on Monday quit the party, news agency ANI reported.

In a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Panda said, "It's with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the politics into which our BJD has descended."

He also wrote that he will formally convey his decision to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Panda, a Member of Parliament from Kendrapara, was on January 24 suspended by BJD president and Odisha CM Patnaik for indulging in "anti-party activities".
The risk is 20 percent for fetuses with these types of aberrations.

New chromosome study can lead to personalized counseling of pregnant women, claims a team of researchers.

Fetuses with a so-called new balanced chromosomal aberration have a higher risk of developing brain disorders such as autism and mental retardation than previously anticipated. According to a study conducted by the University of Copenhagen, the risk is 20 percent for fetuses with these types of aberrations.

These chromosomal aberrations are seen in the fetus in one out of 2,000 pregnant women. Until now, when such an aberration has been found, the medical doctors have told the pregnant woman that the fetus' risk of developing congenital malformations is 6-9 percent.

"We have identified all the people who, as fetuses, were diagnosed with such a chromosomal aberration in Denmark, and we can see that they more often have developed a disease. The previous study, which found a risk of 6-9 percent, mainly looked at congenital malformations and did not include neurocognitive diseases such as autism and mental retardation, which often emerge at a later stage. We have therefore been unaware of the extent of the total risk", said one of the authors of the study, Iben Bache.

'We call these aberrations balanced chromosomal rearrangements because all the genetic material is still there. There is neither a loss nor a gain of genetic material. The problem is that parts of the genetic material have been exchanged, and that might have caused disruption of an important gene', said Bache.

The study was the largest systematic survey of these rare chromosomal aberrations in fetuses, and it also evaluated the methods that can be used for examining them. These chromosomal abnormalities are diagnosed through chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis by classical chromosomal analysis, where the genetic material is examined in a microscope.

This method has been used for the last 40 years, and it is still the method used in most pregnancies globally. However, in Danish hospitals, the method is increasingly being replaced with another method, chromosomal microarray, which exclusively tests for loss and gain of the genetic material.

Chromosomal microarray, therefore, cannot discover the rarely balanced aberrations studied here. In contrast, the study reveals that modern genome sequencing in most cases will be able not only to detect these balanced chromosomal aberrations but also show whether genes have been damaged.

The researchers carefully examined the Danish health records to find everyone born with a de novo balanced chromosomal aberration since 1975. Each time they found a person with the aberration, they established a control group of five individuals with normal chromosomes, who had been born more or less at the same time by a mother of the same age.

The researchers then visited the majority of the persons to do a health examination and collect blood samples for modern genetic analyses. By comparing the health data of the group with the chromosomal aberrations and the control group, the researchers found two-three times higher risk of developing a neurocognitive disorder in the group with the chromosomal aberrations.

In addition, the researchers found that the new whole-genome sequencing techniques are much better than any other techniques at assessing the health effect of a balanced chromosomal aberration. This is the conclusion after almost identical assessments made by two independent research groups, including a group from the Harvard Medical School.

"We have not known which analyses to use to discriminate the fetuses that will be healthy from those that will eventually develop disorders. Our study shows that by using the new sequencing technologies we can, in fact, discriminate in a number of cases. This may greatly affect the diagnosing and counseling of pregnant women carrying fetuses with this specific type of chromosomal aberration in the future," said Bache.

The study appears in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
The woman boarded the cab from Delhi's Mandi House area, where she is associated with a theatre group, to return home to Kapashera.

When the cab came near to Delhi's Dhaula Kuan bus stop, woman jumped off the vehicle to save herself, police said, adding that the accused is yet to be arrested. (Photo: Representational image)

New Delhi: A 19-year-old woman alleged that the driver of a cab in which she was returning home, asked for her phone number following which she jumped off the vehicle in order to save herself, the police said on Monday. The incident was reported from southwest Delhi's Cantonment area, they said.

The woman said that after she boarded the cab from Mandi House, where she is associated with a theatre group, to return home to Kapashera, the driver asked for her phone number and wanted to be friends with her, the police said.

When the cab came near to Delhi's Dhaula Kuan bus stop, she jumped off the vehicle to save herself, they said, adding that the accused is yet to be arrested.

Last month, a driver with a top taxi aggregation was arrested for allegedly masturbating while ferrying a woman passenger in his cab in Delhi.

The incident occurred on the night of April 15 in central Delhi. The accused, identified as Shokeen Khan, was arrested and was found to be having a fake driving licence, according to police.

The woman had booked the cab from the airport. She saw the driver masturbating at the wheel. When the cab reached near Janpath, she asked the driver to stop near a police vehicle. The driver fled from the spot but was later caught by the police.

In another incident, a 22-year-old cab driver was arrested for allegedly abducting and sexually harassing a woman after she boarded his cab in neighbouring Haryana. The woman had booked the cab from her workplace in Haryana's Kundli to her home in Delhi.
During investigation, it was found that one Sanjay Alwi, who was under the influence of alcohol, had come to Khadar Puliya with his son.

Local divers were arranged by police, fire brigade, rescue team, disaster team were called and operation to rescue the boy, but could not succeed since it was late night, police said.(Photo: File | Representational)

New Delhi: A 31-year-old man allegedly threw his son in the Agra Canal in an inebriated condition as he was crying and demanding for momos, police said on Sunday.

Police were informed about the incident on Sunday.

During investigation, it was found that one Sanjay Alwi, who was under the influence of alcohol, had come to Khadar Puliya with his six-year-old son. His son was crying for momos, they added.

Suddenly, he threw his son into the canal from the Khadar Puliya.Passersby saw him throwing the child and informed the police, police said.

Local divers were arranged by police, fire brigade, rescue team, disaster team were called and operation to rescue the boy, but could not succeed since it was late night, they said.

Rescue operations were underway since morning.

But in the afternoon, the body of the child was recovered from the canal. The accused, an e-rickshaw driver, was arrested, police said.
On May 22, a woman was admitted to the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital and gave birth to a girl, police said.

A case was registered and later the woman was nabbed. She said that she had sons but desired for a daughter, police said. (Photo: Representational image)

New Delhi: A woman was arrested for allegedly abducting a five-day-old girl from a hospital in north Delhi, police said on Monday.

On May 22, a woman was admitted to the Bara Hindu Rao Hospital and gave birth to a girl, they said.

In her ward, a woman named Firdos was also admitted.

On May 26, at 8 am, Firdos took the baby with her to the nursery on the pretext of a check-up, police added.

A case was registered and later the woman was nabbed. She said that she had sons but desired for a daughter, they said
Trio arrested includes two labour contractors.

MUMBAI: The Goregaon police has arrested three persons  the company owner and two labour contractors  allegedly responsible for the death of four persons in a major fire that broke out in Technic Plus One building, Goregaon, Sunday evening. The police made the arrest Monday morning.

The three arrested accused have been identified as Nitin Kothari, owner of Pranaam Enterprises; and two labour contractors - Ramzan Khan and Salim Maniyar. Sources said that the office space earlier belonged to a communications company, which was then confiscated by the Bombay high court.

Vikram Deshmane, deputy commissioner of police (zone 11), said, The contract for getting the space auctioned and repaired was given to Pranaam Enterprises and the contract stated that while repairs were underway, the building will bear no loss or damage. However, after fire broke out due to a suspected short circuit, there was loss of life as well as property.

According to police sources, the labourers were on the seventh floor of the building carrying out repair works when the fire broke out at 4.30pm on Sunday. The two accused contractors had allegedly sent in the labourers without giving them proper training, which ultimately led to their death.

Dhanaji Nalawade, senior police inspector of Goregaon police station, said, The arrests were made Monday morning, after fire brigade officials recovered the fourth body from the building. The accused have been booked under sections 304 and 34 which pertain to culpable homicide and common intention, respectively.

An officer added that prima facie investigation revealed that the deceased persons were contractual labourers deployed by Pranaam Enterprises for repairs, and a short circuit in an electric duct might have caused the fire that resulted in smoke, spreading to several floors of the twelve-storeyed building. However, since the three accused were primarily at fault, they were arrested. The three accused were produced in a local magistrate court on Monday and remanded to judicial custody.
Sena suspects conspiracy, EC says no to re-election demand.

Mumbai: The controversy surrounding the malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVM) thickened on Monday in course of the bypolls for Maharashtras Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituencies. Almost 250 EVMs in Bhandara-Gondia and 154 in Palghar seats experienced technical snags as the voting progressed during the day. Reacting to this, the Opposition parties cried foul and demanded a thorough probe. The Election Commission cited the increase in temperature for the mess, which disrupted the voting process temporarily, by 15 minutes to even 120 minutes.

The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Hitendra Thakur levelled the first allegation about the malfunctioning EVMs in Palghar. Early in the day, he stated that there were many booths where voting was yet to take place. I am getting reports from our workers. There are many locations where voting machines have developed some problem. This is suspicious. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to demoralise our early-morning voters by resorting to these tactics, said Mr Thakur.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant put up the list of booths where EVM snags were seen around 10 am. By that time, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders from Bhandara-Gondia too raised questions over EVM issues. EVMs used in Bhandara-Gondia are brought from Surat, Gujarat where they are manufactured on a large scale. We demand an immediate probe into the issue, said NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik.

Meanwhile, Palghar returning officer Prashant Narnavare clarified that snags were seen in less than 10 per cent of the total EVMs. Fifteen per cent of the machines are kept in reserve in every Assembly constituency. The Central Election Commission has deployed 96 engineers in Palghar. Fifteen officers have been given the responsibility of each of the six assembly seats (in the Lok Sabha constituency). All the people who have been standing in the queue will be given a chance to vote, said Mr Narnavare. Abhimanyu Kale, district collector, Bhandara, concurred with Mr Narnavare.

The BJPs alliance partner Sena, however, also termed the EVM issue a conspiracy by the BJP.
It is significant that Sheikh Hasina made the time to meet Mamata Banerjee separately and alone.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajeds two-day India visit  to Santiniketan, Asansol and Kolkata  was an exercise in exceptional courtesy. At no point were the hosts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, made uncomfortable by Bangladeshs disappointment that the promise of fair and equitable sharing of waters from the Teesta river, which is politically perhaps the most important unresolved bilateral problem between the two neighbours, is no nearer a solution.

For Bangladesh and for West Bengal, a solution for sharing the Teesta waters is as much an international issue as it is a regional and, above all, a domestic problem. The stakes for India, however, have changed. For as long as West Bengal was a state where past ruling parties at the Centre had no targets for ejecting the party in power, negotiating issues of concern with Bangladesh was a relatively easier task. Ever since the BJP has made taking over West Bengal from the Trinamul Congress a part of its pan-India domination plans, the water-sharing issue, Rohingya refugees, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, specially in Assam, have all become high-stakes issues of domestic political turf wars.

Intense as the pressure on Sheikh Hasina is to declare that a solution has been found on the sharing of Teesta waters, as a veteran at handling it over two terms in office, she was remarkably restrained during her visit. Evidently unfazed by the certainty that her principal opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, would start a huge furore over her failure and her proximity to India, Sheikh Hasina talked about many things, but not Teesta. This is a position that she adopted after 2011, when Bangladeshs interests had to yield place to Mamata Banerjees obduracy on the terms of the water-sharing deal.

The one thing that she did talk about was her overall vision for Bangladesh, which holds topmost priority, of driving the country to become a small but developed economy by 2041. The success of Bangladesh in moving rapidly up the Human Development Index rankings after starting out as one of the poorest countries in 1971, is a story that should make India squirm, if it chose to be sensitive about its lack of progress.

And Sheikh Hasina recalled the role of India and Indira Gandhi in Bangladeshs liberation movement, and after the assassination of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and much of her family. By separating bilateral relations from the immediate problems of water-sharing, she demonstrated that Bangladesh has other dreams and can afford to wait.

With elections coming up both in India and Bangladesh, the need to be seen working on finding a solution was important, but not urgent. Both sides appeared to have agreed that nothing could be done in haste, because whatever commitments are eventually arrived at, those would have to be implemented and that would have implications and consequences over a very long period. A water-sharing agreement would be a short-term solution, whereas it is being argued that a lasting fix should be on a management plan for shared waters between the two countries. In other words, India, meaning West Bengal, would need to propose a solution, which Bangladesh could then either accept or reject.

This alters the relationship between the two neighbours and the relative significance of the pending problems between them. It places the onus of finding a suitable formula for sharing the Teesta waters on India.

On its part, Bangladesh has delivered on most of the issues that were important for India, such as closing access to insurgents on the run from the Northeast and dealing with fundamentalist Islamist militants with cross-border links. In many ways, Bangladeshs efforts, at considerable political cost to Sheikh Hasina, on dealing with Islamist fundamentalists has been a relief for India; its troubles have been largely confined to the western front.

Of the remaining unfinished business with Bangladesh, almost all of it is a critical matter for Indias domestic politics. Besides water-sharing, the politics of illegal immigration in Assam is also a key issue for the BJP government in that state. Assam has initiated the process of identifying individuals who can stay and those whose claim to residence are being investigated under the amended National Register of Citizens. What happens in Assam is of concern for Bangladesh as the identity of the allegedly illegal migrants or non-citizens is described in political discourse as Muslims from across the border.

It is significant that Sheikh Hasina made the time to meet Mamata Banerjee separately and alone. On the face of it, Sheikh Hasina has effectively made West Bengal responsible for delivering the solution. While both the leaders did not reveal what had transpired at the meeting in Kolkata, it is understood that an exchange on political compulsions, including finding a solution on the sharing of Teesta waters and other matters, did take place.

The change in Mamata Banerjees status from a regional leader to a person of significance on the national political scene as a challenger to the BJP has clearly not been missed by Bangladesh. The time the two leaders spent together is an indication of the emerging political dynamics in India, where Mamata Banerjee has been busy spearheading the formation of a collective of regional parties, often described as a federal front, making her a frontrunner in the formation of a multi-party government at the Centre should the combined efforts of the emerging front succeed in ejecting the Narendra Modi-led BJP from power.
The Lok Sabha polls are due in around 12 months, but could be held later this year to suit the ruling partys convenience.

If the political events subsequent to the recent Karnataka elections made it clear that preparations for the next Lok Sabha polls was on in right earnest, Prime Minister Narendra Modis Cuttack speech on Saturday makes it pretty clear that Mr Modi intends to break the Oppositions unity efforts by sending the State apparatus after them.

The Lok Sabha polls are due in around 12 months, but could be held later this year to suit the ruling partys convenience. That would shrink the time window for the Opposition to devise a strategy to beat back the governments tactics. From the Oppositions perspective, the task would be to coordinate with one another, overcoming normal political rivalries to present a common face to the BJP.

From the governments side, of course, the PM has now given enough hints that the effort would be to open more cases against leading Opposition figures on grounds of criminality and corruption. At Cuttack, Mr Modi declared the Opposition parties had come together because various agencies of his government had launched thousands of raids and sent former chief ministers to jail, suggesting that a corrupt mafia are now standing in solidarity with one another to challenge him and prevent him from cleansing the system. The message is that the raids raj will continue, and the Opposition leaders beware.

While announcing demonetisation, the PM had said he would clean the system by getting the black money out and soaking the rich so that the poor might be helped. The poor meekly absorbed this explanation and backed his party massively in Uttar Pradesh. The picture looks very different now after the economic shocks suffered by the poor due to demonetisation.

Mr Modi has now modified his narrative and claims its the Opposition leaders who are responsible for corruption and black money. The subliminal message is that his own government and party are clean and are being obstructed by the unity of some corrupt parties.

It remains to be seen to what extent this is accepted by the electorate. But it is amusing that a government should accuse the Opposition of corruption in loud decibels in a bid to escape scrutiny of its own term in office, when examples of doubtful conduct are scattered all around. The most recent is the effort to bribe non-BJP MLAs in Karnataka to change sides.

The PMs implied threat of more raids on Opposition leaders and parties as the year progresses is worrying for its implications for democracy. People need to be even more vigilant.
The 50-year-old Microsoft chief of the tech major expressed optimism in the impact of technology on human lives if applied ethically.

"There is a certain amount of dignity to what is work so we need to have an incentive system," he said.

Microsoft's Indian-origin chief, Satya Nadella, does not believe in the "fallacy" that robots will overtake human labour and is confident that artificial intelligence (AI) will solve more problems than cause them. The 50-year-old chief of the tech major expressed optimism in the impact of technology on human lives if applied ethically, Nadella said in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.

"I don't believe in that lump of labour fallacy, we don't know all the jobs that are going to be there," he said in reference to robots versus human labour. If robots do replace humans, he says mechanisms such as universal basic income may be needed, drawing comparisons with the labour movement, but that humans will always need jobs.

"There is a certain amount of dignity to what is work so we need to have an incentive system," he said. "What I think needs to be done in 2018 is more dialogue around the ethics, the principles that we can use for the engineers and companies that are building AI, so that the choices we make do not cause us to create systems with bias that's the tangible thing we should be working on," he added. On Brexit, the Microsoft chief believes the UK has "great human capital, great industry, a great system" and therefore in the future it will continue to thrive, with some "turns".

The software giant, responsible for Windows, Office and Internet Explorer, has changed under Nadella's command, the newspaper notes. "What we have learned is to just be consistent in building trust and just making sure that you're not just measuring your success by your own success," Nadella says. On the current debate around privacy, he praised Microsoft's business model because it is based on customers being successful, and if they are successful they will pay. He said: "So we are not one of these transaction-driven or ad-driven or marketplace-driven economies."
The outrage is growing over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her infant son on Sunday, with the caption: "My

Washington: Ivanka Trump is facing an online backlash for tweeting a "tone deaf" photo of herself cuddling her son as outrage grows over a federal government policy to separate the children of undocumented migrants from their parents.

The eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, who serves as an advisor to her father, posted the picture of her with her infant son on Sunday, with the caption: "My <3! #SundayMorning."

Critics were quick to point to a "zero tolerance" policy announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that authorizes border security agents to take away the children of people who enter the United States unlawfully.

The government places such children in foster homes, but Steven Wagner, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services told a Congressional committee last month the government was "unable to determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,475" minors after attempting to contact their sponsors in the last three months of 2017.

(Photo: Twitter | @IvankaTrump)

"Isn't it the just the best to snuggle your little one -- knowing exactly where they are, safe in your arms? It's the best. The BEST. Right, Ivanka? Right?" tweeted comedian Patton Oswalt.

"If there were a Tone-Deaf Olympics, you would be its Michael Phelps," added John Pavlovitz, a writer.

Many others tweeted using the #WhereAreTheChildren hashtag.

Donald Trump, for his part, blamed opposition Democrats for the "horrible law" in a tweet on Saturday -- though there is no law mandating the policy and it was not immediately clear what he may have meant.
Trump withdrew from planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim Jong Un last Thursday, but quickly announced that it could get back on track.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies. (Photo | AP)

Washington: President Donald Trump said Sunday a US team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place.

The State Department said earlier that a team was in Panmunjom, which straddles the border inside the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, separating the North and South Korea. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond several footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for US officials.

Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced that it could get back on track. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the long-time US adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the Norths stance toward the summit had been allayed.

Read: Donald Trump cancels summit with North Korea, cites tremendous anger

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself, he tweeted. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!

Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2018

South Koreas President, Moon Jae-in, gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in the Panmunjom truce village, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Read: Trump seek complete, irreversible denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula: WH

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran American diplomat Sung Kim to handle pre-summit negotiations.

On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House logistical group sent to Singapore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations.

Kim, the US ambassador to the Philippines, also served as ambassador to South Korea and was part of the US negotiating team that last held substantive denuclearization talks with North Korea during the George W Bush administration in 2005.

The Korean leaders second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly arranged meeting Saturday appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the worlds most heavily armed border.

Read: North, South Korean leaders hold surprise meeting, talks for 2nd time

The talks, which Moon said Kim Jong Un requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a US-North Korean summit that he sees as the best way to ease animosity that had some fearing a war in 2017.

Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning security assurances in a region surrounded by enemies.

Moon told reporters that Kim again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Moon added that Kim said hes willing to cooperate to end confrontation and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump.

Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a firm resolve to end hostile relations with North Korea and initiate economic cooperation if Kim implements complete denuclearization.

What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations (with North Korea) and provide a security guarantee if they do denuclearization, Moon said.

During the South Korea-US summit, President Trump said the US is willing to clearly put an end to hostile relations (between the US and North Korea) and help (the North) achieve economic prosperity if North Korea conducts denuclearization, he said.

Kim, in a dispatch issued by the Norths state-run news service earlier Sunday, expressed his fixed will on the historic (North Korea)-US summit talks. During Saturdays inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to positively cooperate with each other as ever to improve (North Korea)-US relations and establish (a) mechanism for permanent and durable peace.

They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet separately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Saturdays Korean summit came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a Trump-Kim meeting.

Despite repeated references to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by the North, it remains unclear whether Kim will ever agree to fully abandon his nuclear arsenal.

The North has previously used the term to demand the United States pull out its 28,500 troops in South Korea and withdraw its so-called nuclear umbrella security commitment to South Korea and Japan. The North hasnt openly repeated those same demands after Kims sudden outreach to Seoul and Washington.

Moon has insisted Kim can be persuaded to abandon his nuclear facilities, materials and bombs in a verifiable and irreversible way in exchange for credible security and economic guarantees. Moon said Sunday that the Norths disarmament could still be a difficult process even if Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul dont differ over what complete denuclearization of the peninsula means.

Before he cancelled the summit, Trump did not rule out an incremental approach that would provide incentives along the way to the North.

Following an unusually provocative 2017 in which Kims engineers tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and three long-range missiles theoretically capable of striking mainland US cities, the North Korean leader has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months. He has had the summits with Moon and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as well as two meetings with Pompeo.
The announcement came after weeks of deadlock between PML-N, opposition over name of caretaker prime minister.

The job of the caretaker prime minister is to keep the country running between the dissolution of parliament and the new government being sworn in. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: Pakistan's former chief justice Nasirul Mulk was on May 28 named as the country's caretaker prime minister for an interim two-month period, ending the political wrangling between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) and the opposition ahead of the general elections on July 25.

The announcement was made by Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah at a press conference here following his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Shah expressed hope that Mulk, 67, will successfully conduct free, fair and impartial elections in Pakistan on July 25, 2018.

The job of the caretaker prime minister is to keep the country running between the dissolution of parliament and the new government being sworn in.

The announcement came after weeks of deadlock between the PML-N and the opposition over the name of the caretaker prime minister.
The MML is waiting for the final decision of the ECP on its pending application for registration as a political party.

Islamabad: Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed-sponsored Milli Muslim League plans to contest in the July 25 general elections across the country eve if the Election Commission of Pakistan denies its registration, a top MML leader said.

The MML is waiting for the final decision of the ECP on its pending application for registration as a political party as required under the Political Parties Order 2002 and the commission has now fixed May 28 as the hearing date to decide the matter.

MML President Saifullah Khalid said: We are well prepared for the next general election, we are in touch with the candidates and we will field our independent candidates on national and provincial assemblies seats even if the ECP does not entertain our application to register the MML as a political party.

Mr Khalid said that he had recently toured all the four provinces in a bid to organise the party and they were planning to hold big rallies in different cities in the next weeks as part of their electioneering campaign.

We will go into full gear after the month of Ramazan, he said and hoped that the ECP, this time around, would enlist the MML as a political party.
The Election Commission of Pakistan is likely to announce the election schedule within two or three days.

Islamabad: Pakistan will hold general elections on July 25, a notification issued by President Mamnoon Hussain said.

The notification said general elections 2018 on national and provincial assemblies seats will be held simultaneously. This would be only the second-ever democratic transfer of power in the country.

President Mamnoon signed a summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi regarding holding of general polls 2018 on July 25.

The President has approved July 25 as the date for holding general elections in the country, a spokesman from Mamnoon Hussains office said.

The date was also confirmed by the government of Pakistans Twitter account and was reported by state media outlets.

The announcement comes as the current government enters its final week in office. It is expected to hand over power to a caretaker administration in the coming days.

The Election Commission of Pakistan is likely to announce the election schedule within two or three days.

Earlier this week, the ECP had sent a summary to President proposing holding of the 2018 general elections on any date between July 25 and 27.

Under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017, the President holds the authority to announce the date for elections in consultation with the ECP.

The five-year constitutional term of the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly will end on May 31 while the Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan assemblies will complete their terms on May 28.

According to clause 224 of the Constitution, elections for the national and provincial assemblies are to be held within 60 days following the day the term of the assemblies expires.

The interim set-ups at federal and provincial level have to be put in place days within the dissolution of the assemblies as per Articles 224 and 224A of the Constitution dealing with holding of elections and its related mechanism.

Turmoil continues to rock the country after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted by the Supreme Court last July on corruption charges and later barred from politics for life.

Mr Sharif was the 15th Prime Minister in countrys 70-year history - roughly half of it under military rule - to be removed before completing a full term.
'Our families would be killed. We constantly fear that rain could trigger a landslide,' says 53-yr-old Rohingya Muslim refugee.

For the 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled to southeast Bangladesh in the past nine months, the approaching monsoon season poses the most serious threat since they were violently expelled from Myanmar. (Photo: File/AFP)

Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh): Marooned on a dusty slope in the worlds largest refugee camp, Osiur Rahman looked to the hill where a Rohingya girl was buried in a landslide just days earlier and contemplated his chances should the earth give way beneath his feet.

Our families would be killed. There are children everywhere around here. We constantly fear that rain could trigger a landslide, the 53-year-old told AFP on the steep embankment where he lives with nine family members in a bamboo shack.

For the 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled to southeast Bangladesh in the past nine months, the approaching monsoon season poses the most serious threat since they were violently expelled from Myanmar.

Close to one million of the stateless Muslim minority live in the Coxs Bazar district but the new arrivals, stranded on unstable hills in bamboo and plastic shacks, are especially vulnerable.

A massive operation to shore up the camps against disaster is in overdrive, with bulldozers levelling hills and refugees bunkering down however they can. But as the rains approach, the young girls death this month in a torrent of mud and rock has heightened fears of a much greater tragedy.

There is a dearth of safe land to relocate the estimated 200,000 refugees in direct danger of floods and landslides, and just 21,000 have been moved so far.

We could literally have lives lost as people slide down hillsides and valleys are flooded with water, Kevin J. Allen, head of the UNHCR refugee agencys operations in Coxs Bazar, told AFP.

They could face yet again another emergency, this time driven by mother nature. The camps makeshift homes are predicted to receive more than 2.5 metres of rainfall over three months starting June -- roughly triple what Britain gets in a year.

Coxs Bazar has been battered by cyclones for three years running, having already suffered astonishing devastation in the past.

Cyclones have killed tens of thousands along the Bangladesh coast in recent decades and countless more have been swept to their deaths in floods and landslides.

This time, nature is on a collision course with refugees who have nowhere to run -- no higher ground and no cyclone shelters.

The first storms underscored the fragility of the camps: the brief rains turned roads into quagmires, crumbled hillsides and flooded low-lying areas.

The huge endeavour to prevent disaster has seen slopes vulnerable to collapse flattened and extensive canal systems carved throughout the camps. Toilets are being fortified with sandbags to prevent a major disease outbreak should floodwater meet overflowing latrines.

But there are limits to how much can be done.

Bangladesh has restricted the use of sturdier materials for shelters because it may suggest the Rohingya plan to stay, contrary to Dhakas desire to return them to Myanmar.

The roof was blown clean off Noor Mohammads shack in a recent squall. He had gathered chunks of wood and rocks to weigh it down but was scared of what could pass when Bangladeshs wild weather barrels through.

The Rohingya are no strangers to the monsoon, he said. But in Myanmar, villages were built to withstand its ferocity and trees provided a bulwark against the elements.

Here, there is nothing to stop the wind, he said, gesturing to the deforested hills stretching for miles.

Bangladesh has freed up hundreds of hectares (acres) but most is hilly and was prone to landslides even before the Rohingya uprooted trees for shelters and firewood.

Mosques and community centres could shelter 150,000 people if needed, said Kazi Abdur Rahman, acting district administrator of Coxs Bazar.

But if there is a big cyclone, and all these people need relocating, there is not a system for that yet. It is not possible to shift one million people, he told AFP.

The Rohingya, who have fled persecution time and again, fear being on the run once more.

Everybody is afraid, wondering where well go if our houses are destroyed, Rohingya imam Muhammad Yusuf told AFP.

Aid groups say a cyclone or devastating storm could cut access to the camps for a week -- restricting food and supplies to a tent city with a population greater than San Francisco.

The World Food Programmes emergency coordinator Peter Guest said thousands of porters were being assembled to carry food on foot if access roads were cut.

Those left homeless or starving will have nowhere to run anyway: the Rohingya are encircled by military checkpoints and prohibited from leaving.

What else can we do? If Allah does not protect us, we will die, said 60-year-old refugee Dil Mohammad.
Mamoudou Gassama, a migrant from Mali, is being praised after he scaled a building to rescue a 4-yr-old dangling from a balcony.

'I did it because it was a child,' the paper quoted Gassama saying. 'I climbed... Thank God I saved him.' (Photo: Screengrab | YouTube video)

Paris: A young Malian man was hailed a hero on Sunday after he sprang into action to save a four-year-old child hanging from a fourth-floor balcony by single-handedly scaling the facade of the building and hauling the youngster to safety.

Without a thought for his own safety, Mamoudou Gassama took just seconds to reach the child in a spectacular rescue captured on film and viewed millions of times on social networks.

The incident took place at around 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Saturday in northern Paris.

Film of the rescue shows Gassama, 22, pulling himself up from balcony to balcony with his bare hands as a man on the fourth floor tries to hold on to the child by leaning across from a neighbouring balcony.

On reaching the fourth floor Gassama puts one leg over the balcony before reaching out with his right arm and grabbing the child.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child had already been rescued.

"Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a fire service spokesman told AFP.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo praised the young migrant on Twitter for his "act of bravery" as well as phoning him personally to "thank him warmly".

"He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago dreaming of building his life here. I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France," she added.

Cet homme aussi temeraire que courageux a sauve la vie dun enfant au peril de la sienne. Je souhaiterais, comme nombre de Parisiens, savoir qui est le Spiderman du 18eme pour le feliciter.

 https://t.co/nagKekpL9O  Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 27, 2018

The young Malian will next be honoured for his brave rescue by French President Emmanuel Macron who has invited him to the Elysee Palace on Monday, his office told AFP.

Tracked down by reporters 24 hours after the heroic rescue, Gassama said he had acted without thinking.

"I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child," he said.

"I felt afraid when I saved the child... (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down," he added.

According to initial inquiries by the authorities, the child's parents were not at home at the time.

The father was later held for questioning by police for having left his child unattended and was due in court later, a judicial source said. The child's mother was not in Paris at the time.
India conducted a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions at the Pokhran in May, 1998, which was soon followed by Pakistans tests.

Pakistan has consistently signalled its willingness to consider further measures for risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the region, according to the spokesman. (Photo: Representational image)

Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday claimed it was forced to test nuclear weapons two decades ago due to hostile posturing by India.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal issued a statement on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the May 28, 1998 nuclear tests, while insisting that the testing of atomic bombs by India eliminated chances of a nuclear weapons-free South Asia.

Pakistan was forced to take that decision as a response, in self-defence, to the nuclear tests and accompanying hostile posturing by its neighbour. These developments unfortunately put an end to the prospect for keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons - an objective which Pakistan had actively pursued, he said, hinting at India.

India conducted a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions at the Pokhran in May, 1998, which was soon followed by Pakistans tests.

The spokesman said that despite the nuclear testing, Pakistan remained steadfast in its commitment to non-proliferation and global peace and strategic stability and demonstrated utmost restraint and responsibility in the stewardship of its nuclear capability since 1998.

It is committed to the principle of credible minimum deterrence and has persistently sought deterrence stability in the region, he said.

Faisal also said that this objective has driven Pakistan to offer and conclude several confidence building measures (CBMs) in the nuclear and conventional domains, including the 2004 Pakistan-India Joint Statement which recognised the respective nuclear capabilities of the two countries as a factor for stability.

He said that as one of the most affected countries due to the impact of climate change, Pakistan plans to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 40,000 MW by 2050, as a clean and cost-effective alternative to fossil fuel.

Pakistan has consistently signalled its willingness to consider further measures for risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the region, according to the spokesman.

He also said that Pakistan was confident of its ability to deny space for any misadventure against the backdrop of rapidly expanding nuclear and conventional forces in its neighbourhood and pursuit of aggressive security doctrines and developing force postures.

The nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean and canesterisation of ballistic missiles in our neighbourhood should be a matter of concern for the international community as well, since these developments have extra-regional ramifications, he said.

He said Pakistan while recognising its responsibilities, had developed over the years a robust command and control system led by the National Command Authority, and effective nuclear safety and security regimes and export controls.

He said Pakistan looked forward to expanding the scope of its international collaboration in nuclear power generation for meeting the legitimate socio-economic development needs of its people.

As a country with advanced nuclear technology, Pakistan seeks to play its role as a mainstream partner in the global non-proliferation regime, he said.

He said Pakistan had expressed desire to join the multilateral export control regimes and already applied for participation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) based on non-discriminatory criteria applicable in a fair manner to all non-NPT states.
by Maddalena Tomassini

The occasion was his 80th birthday. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Eastern patriarchs sent congratulatory letters. At the centre of his studies were Islam and the Arab Christian heritage. For Mgr Mina, he taught us what brotherly love means, brotherly charity, humility, and a life truly worth living as a priest.

Rome (AsiaNews)  A symposium on the "Christian Arab Heritage and Muslim-Christian Dialogue" was held last Friday in Rome, at the Pontifical Oriental Institute (PIO), dedicated to Egyptian Jesuit Fr Samir Khalil Samir, one of the greatest specialists of Islam and a great contributor to AsiaNews, for his 80th birthday.

One of the many experts and prominent figures who intervened on this occasion was Benedict XVI who sent a message. In it, the Pope Emeritus writes, "I remember one occasion  it was at Castel Gandolfo  where he explained to us the problems of Islam, with great realism and giving us the right direction. It is clear that all you want to do is serve the truth, which alone can help us ".

Other experts and Church figures also spoke about the issues dearest to Fr Samir, such as dialogue with the slam and the Arab-Christian cultural heritage. In the morning, the conference focused on the Muslim-Christian dialogue, and on the urgent need to reform of Islam, so that it can shed its political aspect in favour of a spiritual one.

Card Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, also addressed the issue in a lecture titled Inter-religious dialogue: challenges and certainties. The prelate, who could not be present in person, was represented by Mgr Kkaled Akasheh, head of the Office for Relations with Islam.

The second part of the symposium focused on the Christian Arab heritage, and the third on the contribution made to it by the Jesuit order. The meeting ended with an academic act in honour of Fr Samir, an "act of love", as Jesuit and dean of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Fr Massimo Pampaloni, described it, as well as the presentation of book with the collected studies dedicated to Fr Samir, titled Between the Cross and the Crescent.

Card Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, who spoke in the morning and gave his blessing to Fr Samir (pictured), referred to him as abouna (father in Arabic).

In his message, he writes: "Among the many images that came to mind when I thought of my dear father Samir Khalil, I chose the one that came up during some of our private conversations in the Congregation: a now emeritus professor, recognised at the international level as one of the leading experts and specialists of Islam and of ancient and contemporary Arab Christianity, who gets down on his knees and asks to be blessed!"

"This should not sound as discordant note, nor should anyone feel upset and feel that the maximum of human wisdom cannot walk together with humility, but this is certainly one of the most beautiful and key traits of Abouna Samir".

The Chaldean Patriarch, the newly created Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, as did Maronite Patriarch, Card Bechara al-Rahi, also sent their best wishes.

After Mgr Sakos letter was read, Mgr Antonios Aziz Mina, Coptic bishop emeritus of Giza, added an emotional thanksgiving as one of the Jesuits "many students". The bishop emeritus recalled Fr Samirs "other work": the "army that follows him in thought" and the love for Arab Christian culture.

"You have been an example to us as a priest, he said, moved, a human example that shows us what brotherly love means, brotherly charity, humility, and a life truly worth living as a priest. [. . .] Today I tell you: thank you professor". Fr Samir responded with an affectionate hug.

At the symposium, Fr Samir himself thanked the Pope for the initiative in his honour. "I am very touched by such affection," he said, and then joked: "It encourages me to continue, who knows, even for decades".

"Thank you. Today you have moved me so many times. For your love, for your goodness, I have not given anything in particular. As the teacher Father taught me on the first day  he was very strict, and I thank him  as they teach me today, [I] pass on [. . .] only one line: live and practise the Gospel, asking humbly 'Lord help me live this, and pass this on'. Thank you. I am not deserving; the only one who deserves is the one who taught it to us."
Products from Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have been removed from the stores in the country. Inspections and checks to verify the norm is being applied. According to the government it is a matter of "consumer protection". Ties with Iran, Turkey and Morocco strengthened.

Doha (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Doha has ordered the removal of all products from the Gulf countries, with whom it is currently embroiled in an economic, diplomatic and commercial war that is affecting the entire region. A directive issued by the Ministry of Economy of Qatar at the weekend requires shops in the country to remove goods imported from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt from their shelves.

In the coming days inspectors will visit the shops, to make sure that the directive is applied with the utmost rigor. At the same time, the government will try to block entry of Saudi products from third countries at the border.

Government sources in Qatar say it is a matter of "protecting consumer safety". "Qatar - adds the ministerial note - conducts its commercial policies in accordance with all bilateral and multilateral agreements signed".

For almost a year, Qatar has been embroiled in a serious political, diplomatic and economic crisis with the other Gulf countries, led by Riyadh. Since 5 June, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have cut off all relations with Qatar, accused of financing terrorist groups active in the region.

According to some analysts and experts the clash between Qatar and Saudi Arabia is really over links between Doha and Teheran, which recently confirmed its economic and diplomatic support. There is also the opposition within the Sunni Islam between Doha and Abu Dhabi.

The conflict has isolated the small emirate in the Gulf area, bringing it closer to the Islamic Republic, Turkey and Morocco. Many goods and products - even those subject to the government ban - enter Qatar through Kuwait and Oman.
by Nguyen Hung

Through threats and pressures, the authorities have seized residents homes at low prices and sold them high to investors. The People's Committee intends to expropriate land belonging to the Catholic community. For Fr Vinh Sang, Redemptorist priest, "in the name of the process of dialogue between the Holy See and the State, some leading figures have asked the victims to remain silent. To defend justice, truth and human rights, Catholics must be messengers of the Gospel, says Mgr Micae Hoang uc Oanh.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews)  About 15,000 households are currently without a home due to an urban development plan Ho Chi Minh City intends to implement in Thu Thiem, in the citys District 2.

Finding themselves in a state of bankruptcy (sac nghiep) and homeless, former residents have been protesting the inadequate compensation given to them by the city government, which has been taking land and property from residents by virtue of agreements signed with real estate companies.

Through threats and pressures, the authorities have taken properties at low prices, selling hundreds of hectares of land to investors in exchange for huge amounts of money. Sometimes, they got 300 times the value of real estate and split the money with other "interest parties".

This month, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee asked the agencies involved in this project to expropriate the lands that belonged to the Catholic community.

Claiming that nine lots of land fall within the area included in the project, local officials want to seize land that belongs to Thu Thiem Parish, which includes the building the Community of Lovers of the Holy Cross and three elementary schools owned by the nuns.

In the afternoon of 9 May, a delegation of lawmakers from Ho Chi Minh City met with District 2 residents who asked the government to investigate the project as a whole.

Subsequently, state media published a series of articles slamming local authorities for violations and corruption in the planning of the new urban area. In fact, thousands of unfairly treated people (dan oan) live in the neighbourhood and have been unable to find accommodation.

"One of the most serious problems is that the government stole lands, houses and religious institutions from people by force, said Fr Vinh Sang, a Redemptorist priest, speaking to AsiaNews. Many people have been persecuted, injured or imprisoned by the authorities."

"People who lost their property have often been forgotten by everyone, added the clergyman. What is more, some communities, parishes, and faithful who have asked for help, but have not received any, nor have been encouraged. On the contrary, in the name of the process of dialogue between the Holy See and the State, some leading figures have asked the victims to remain silent in order to obtain 'greater things.

"When Catholic victims speak out, they are usually criticised by moralising voices, Fr Vinh added. People are used to asking: 'But are land ownership issues so important to cause such tensions? Is it worth expressing our opposition? What we must do is to follow the Gospel, the Kingdom of Heaven. Land disputes, protests over the loss of housing are not issues we need to voice.

We fully agree with this principle. However, justice, truth and human rights are things we need to be responsible for. These are issues worthy of our commitment, if we still want to be Christians, if we still want to be messengers of the Gospel ".

On 20 May, Mgr Micae (Michel) Hoang uc Oanh, bishop emeritus of Kontum (central Vietnam), visited the parish of Thu Thiem and its vicar, Fr Gioan Baotixita (Jean-Baptiste) Le ang Niem (pictured).

On the occasion of the Solemnity of Pentecost, the prelate invited the Catholic community to pray especially for the land of Thu Thiem, asking the Holy Spirit to support the Church in these difficult times.

In the homily, the bishop said, "When the Holy Spirit manifests himself, the disciples of Jesus are no longer afraid. They no longer remain locked in a room but find the courage to bear witness to love, truth and the eternal God."

Speaking about the dispute over the parish land, which the authorities want to seize, Mgr Micae Hoang uc Oanh said, "We are Christians. We do not fight to maintain ownership of this land, but we want to speak to our community about justice and truth, so that they can remain in our country.

"No single institution can exist forever, only God exists forever. Only God is the Lord of history, he is not a mechanism or a political party. We bear witness to our Eternal God; we must be brave to talk about truth. God is the Source of Truth; what is built on lies and fraud must be removed."

The bishop emeritus invited the faithful to remember that this year the Church in Vietnam celebrates 30 years since the canonisation of the 117 Vietnamese martyrs. "We must remember this traumatic story," he noted.

"Now the time has come for the brave moment to proclaim the faith of our ancestors. Our predecessors lived the values of the Gospel and shed their blood to bear witness to the faith."
The demonstration anticipates the June 4th vigil. It is the only event in the entire Chinese world to commemorate the victims of 1989. The activists call for the end of the single party rule and the release of human rights defenders.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - "Resisting the authoritarianism" of Beijing and remembering the victims of Tiananmen Square: this is why more than 1,000 demonstrators yesterday challenged the heat wave that has been covering Hong Kong for days, marching towards the Office for relations with China (Liason Office).

The event is organized every year by the Alliance to support the democratic patriotic movements of China, and precedes the vigil of June 4 in memory of the victims of Tiananmen Square by a few days.

29 years have passed since the Chinese army crackdown on students and workers who called for democracy in June 1989. The death toll is still unknown: some speak of hundreds of people, maybe thousands. Hong Kong is the only place in the Chinese world to host an event in memory of the massacre, in contrast to the widespread and severe censorship applied in China.

According to the organizers, about 1,100 people took part yesterday, a higher number than the 2017 march. The police estimate almost half of them, 610. Most of them are adults, for whom the bloody events of June 1989 are burnt in their memory. Yesterday, protesters called for the "end of the single party dictatorship", the release of human rights activists - including the widow of Liu Xiaobo, Liu Xia, and Wang Quanzhang -, and that Beijing admits its responsibilities over the dead of Tiananmen Square.

In Mainland China, " Human rights, freedom, democracy and justice have continued to deteriorate in mainland China, said Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, representing the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the march organiser. In Hong Kong, we have not yet reached the point where we have to put our lives aside. Yet under the shadow of authoritarianism, the price for saying one particular slogan is increasing". Tsoi refers to the chant of pro-democracy activists, according to whom " only with the end of one-party rule could a democratic China be realised". To those who pronounce it, the position can cost the disqualification from local elections of the territory. According to the director of the Alliance, Albert Ho Chun-yan, the activists are "ready to face any consequence".
The incident took place in a desert area in eastern Syria. For experts it is a proof that the Islamic State is still a threat. The soldiers of the "Caliphate" may be down, but they are not out; they just moved. Iraqi planes crossed into Syria to hit jihadi targets. The US opposes any Syrian military operations in Daraa.

Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies)  At least 26 Syrian and nine Russian soldiers were killed in an attack by Islamic State (IS) fighters in a desert area in eastern Syria, where pockets of jihadi resistance persist.

The incident took place in Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor province, last Wednesday, but was confirmed only yesterday by official sources in Moscow and Damascus. Russia and Syria are allies in the Syrian civil war.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that "several mobile terrorist groups attacked Syrian government artillery at night." The Ministry said the fighting lasted around an hour and left 43 militants dead.

UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights confirmed that Russians also died in the fighting.

For some analysts and experts, last week's attack shows that IS still a functioning military force and still poses a threat both in Syria and in neighbouring Iraq.

After it was expelled from Raqqa, which it held for many years, and from Yarmouk, on the outskirts of Damascus, the IS repositioned itself in other areas of the country, especially in the Euphrates valley and Deir Ezzor province from where the latest attack came.

This is why, according to some observers, the men of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi are still a threat. After simply moving, they remain an unknown factor for the future of Syria and the region.

In fact, the jihadi threat is still present, which is why Iraq is still pressing on the fight. On Thursday, Iraqi planned crossed into Syria for the third time in a month to hit IS targets. The target was Hajin (Deir Ezzor), where at least 65 senior IS leaders live.

Meanwhile, a Syria and the United States might be moving towards confrontation. After "liberating" the capital and the suburbs, the government army is moving towards Daraa, in the south-east, not far from the border with Jordan, Israel and Lebanon.

In recent days, Syrian planes have dropped leaflets in the area, warning people of an upcoming military action against jihadi targets.

This has greatly irritated the United States, which is threatening severe retaliation in the case of military operations in the area.

In Washington, sources are saying that such a move would violate the local ceasefire and de-escalation, following a long negotiation with Russia and president Vladimir Putin. The White House wants to shield Israel from possible spillover.

Damascus and its allies control about 30 per cent of Daraa. The remaining 70 is in the hands of anti-Assad rebel factions and jihadist groups, including small numbers of IS fighters.
by Shan Ren Shen Fu ()

The memory of the holy martyrs exalts the glory of Christ before the world. A blogger priest posted his thoughts urging the faithful not to forget the martyrs canonised during the Jubilee of 2000. In parallel, the authorities took down a statue dedicated to one of those martyrs, erected in front of a church in Yongnian (Hebei). The priests online post was also removed.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - "The Church in China must remember and exalt its Chinese saints," wrote Shanren, a priest, on his blog to all his faithful and fellow countrymen so that the Chinese Church might follow the example of its martyrs who, as simple and loyal people without superior gifts, "sacrificed their lives for the faith" and "glorified Jesus Christ" before the world.

Among the saints to remember, Fr Shanren did not forget the 120 Chinese martyrs, canonised by John Paul II in 2000, an action that the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association has always attacked as "colonialist interference" by the Holy See, but above all because the devotion to the martyrs was bringing closer together in the shared faith official and underground Catholics.

Fr Shanrens thoughts, posted on the feast day of Our Lady of Sheshan (24 May, Mary help of Christians), was topical. On 3 May, the statue (pictured) of one of the martyrs canonised in 2000, John Wu Wenyin, was unveiled in the parish of Yongnian, diocese of Handan (Hebei). He was tortured and killed during the Boxer Rebellion. However, a few days later local authorities ordered the statues removal. Fr Shanrens post was also blocked after a day.

In the New Testament, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews declares with great pride: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne. (Hebrews 12:1-2) This is a glorious proclamation by the author of the Hebrews with the testimonies of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.

For those witnesses of faith, the author of Hebrews exclaimed: (They) conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders. Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at swords point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, and tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth. Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:33-40)

Christian faith is so true and solid. One of the main reasons for it is that under His Cross surrounds the believers incessantly eager to live for faith, and saints ready to die for faith, from ancient times to the modern world, and from the beginning until the end. Many of them merely have a simple appearance of believers in front of the Cross. Their faith in the Lord on the Cross has transformed them to be courageous, steadfast and strong, and would die before surrender.

Therefore, the author of the Hebrews encouraged the Hebrew faithful: "Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. (Hebrews 12:3-4)

Since the Catholicism was introduced to China and subsequently in all phases of history, there were faithful who sacrificed themselves for faith. They had no extra limbs, like three heads and six arms, and certainly not steel or iron-made superman. They were not even sages or wise people. Being ordinary, timid, self-centered, coward is of human nature. However, because of their faith, they had not surrendered when they faced persecutions or threats, and they would never betray the Lord. They were forced to exile and even kept behind bars. They resisted all kinds of temptations even in fears and apprehensions, because they believed in the Lord Jesus great promise.

In the Jubilee of the Millennium, Saint Pope John Paul II canonized 120 saints of the Chinese Church. Among the 120 Chinese Saints, there were bishops, priests, seminarians, sisters, but more of them were laypeople, of whom the youngest was only a teenager. They have made the best testimony to the Christian faith in the land of China. The Church has rewarded them with the exemplary role of our faith!

The Korean Church has a pilgrimage site to commemorate beheaded believers; and the Church in Japan has a monument for the martyrs in Nagasaki. The martyrs commemorated by these two Churches were indeed the believers who sacrificed their lives for the faith. The martyr-saints should be exalted and glorified because "the blood of martyrs is the seed of the new Catholics. Only when the saints of their own Churches are not forgotten, the local Churches will then be flourished. Because the holy name of Jesus is exalted, as the saints are glorified in front of the world!

Today is the Feast Day of Mary Help of Christians. The universal Church, the saints in Heaven are praying especially for the Church in China on this day. Let us remember the saints in China and exalted the Chinese saints! Now let us entrust our prayers to them for their intercessions for the Church in China!
Herbert Adams use frozen pie relaunch to celebrate 109 years of business

Posted by Jack Cain on 28th May 2018





The 109-year-old Australian pie brand Herbert Adams has officially turned tradition on its head with prominent gourmands being supportive of its regionally-made gourmet wine pies campaign.

The Herbert Adams brand (owned by ASX listed Patties ltd) is drawing on regionally made ingredients and experience to deploy a national TV, print and outdoor campaign that launches June 2018.

Herbert Adams frozen pie relaunch roll-out begins with a wine infusions range of three pies with the liquor sourced from the Swan Hill region.

With winter here and the convenience of eating at home becoming stronger, we are seeing the premium quality pie category growing rapidly. Herbert Adams new pie flavours and packaging are a result of listening to our consumers about the simple at-home pleasures like a glass of red wine at dinner, said Patties Foods GM of Marketing & Innovation, Anand Surujpal.

The Herbert Adams rebrand includes a complete logo and packaging overhaul with an abundance of premium party and single-serve pie and pastry flavours  each exemplifying A Herbert Adams pie-oneering spirit.

The pie range leading the relaunch is Herbert Adams wine infusions range with wine sourced from the Swan Hill region. The new packaging includes tempting side-dish recipes including a warm potato salad with dill, and an apple, rocket and walnut salad.

The company said the chefs exercise was a real-life example of how the new Herbert Adams mission to redefine how Aussies consume pies at home, by encouraging consumers to bake differently with the challenge to craft inspiring yet simple side pairings that dont take too long.

The new pie choices consist of;

Slow-cooked beef with shiraz and cracked pepper (RRP: $6.50 x2 pack)

Slow-cooked beef with Portobello mushroom and merlot (RRP: $6.50 x2 pack)

Slow-cooked beef with caramelised onion cabernet sauvignon (RRP: $6.50 x2 pack)

Patties Foods Herbert Adams pastries and pies are found all across Australia. The pies are still made locally, baked fresh and snapped frozen with flour, eggs and meat all from regional Australia.

Herbert Adams new wine infusions range of three pies rolls-out across all major retail outlets including Coles, Woolworths and Independent Supermarkets.


(Markus Mainka/Bigstock.com) (Markus Mainka/Bigstock.com)

It is well known that people moving to Australia don't want to work in remote areas and prefer to live in the big cities, but a new solution could help rural towns.Some small towns across Australia have found a solution to their population decline and workforce shortages amid calls for the rest of the nation to follow their example.Local migrant strategies have been working in locations such as Nhill, Pyramid Hill, Mingoola, Biloel, Dalwillinu, Hamilton, Rupanyup and Nobby, placea that many people in Australia may never have heard from, never mind foreigners.According to a new report from the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) these projects have resulted in some towns increasing their population by up to 15%.Pyramid Hill, in Victoria has a population of just over 550 people and around 100 of those are Filipino. The biggest employer in town now has a strong workforce, schools have grown, and new homes are being built for the first time in many years. It even has a new Filipino grocery store.Tom Smith and his sons own Kia-Ora piggery in Pyramid Hill. Along with his family, he was instrumental in driving his town's migration strategy. The Smiths now employs 24 migrant staff originally from the Philippines. 'Staff are your biggest asset and without them, we didn't have the confidence or the capacity to expand when we needed to,' Smith explained.A new report from the RAI highlights an opportunity for a new national policy. 'A new national policy facilitating the establishment of a network of priority rural migration areas could enable many rural communities to meet their local labour market needs and provide support for local growth and community renewal,' said Jack Archer, RAI chief executive officer.He is calling for this kind of policy to be adopted nationwide. 'In many cases, these migration strategies have been locally-led, but carried out in isolation. Now we need to connect the dots and help other rural towns capitalise on the opportunities migrant settlement programmes can deliver,' he pointed out.'From a position of decline, these towns are now thriving. But collectively, we must take stock of what has worked and what will work in the future for other rural towns. We have a national opportunity here to alleviate some of the biggest issues affecting regional Australia,' he added.Migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia has welcomed the call. The organisations chief executive Cath Scarth said that done properly regional settlement of migrants and refugees could deliver benefits to both newly arrived migrants and refugees as well as the host communities.She pointed out that the programme in Nhill added more almost 100 jobs and more than $40 million to the local economy, according to an economic and social impact study. It also stopped population decline, revitalised local services and increased Government funding.
mattsv said: Good morning,

I know you can find a $5 a day electronic, I think, at the international melbourne backpacker. It's between Elizabeth Street and Franklin Street. Click to expand...

thanks for that. I ended up finding some lockers near Southern Cross station which were only $12 per week. I think the place is called Storage Gnome
Hi Everyone!



The last time i was here was when i first applied for my visitors visa to visit my fiance (now my husband) for the first time! A year after we are now married (we got married in the Philippines last February) and i am now a BVA holder!



I submitted my onshore visa application 820 last week and 15 minutes after my submission, i received my BVA grant! I compiled and organized all our evidences as how it was advised here in the forum! Thank you for continuously being helpful! Keep it up!



Now the waiting for 17-24months starts and hoping for the best outcome. I just have a few questions and hoping for your wise advice.



1. My BVA grant says : No condition. Does it mean that i can already work? I really want to start getting busy because waiting can sometimes cause anxiousness which i do not want to be. I am currently volunteering for Salvation Army.



2. I have not set my appointment for my medical and police check as i was told that it is better to have it done either few months after submission or at least 10 months after to make it still valid and updated before a CO gets assigned to us. Is that a good decision? I already submitted my Philippines National police check which is valid for 1 year.



3. We are still living with his parents 3 months after our wedding to help me settle here in AU but we plan to move already next month in our own home so we can start collecting joint bills, etc to update our evidences, is that alright? Im a Christian and as conservative as it may sound, we never live in together before our wedding so we do not have any joint utilities yet. I also used to have a job while we were dating and have my own bank account so i didn't really rely to him for money not until when we were planning our wedding that we have to share and transfer money for our shared wedding expenses. We have all our evidences when we were still dating like travel tickets, wedding expenses receipts, photos etc. My parents in law also were so kind to sign a Stat Dec for us that we are currently living with them. A friend suggested to get an updated Stat Dec with Superannuation since my husband is the only one who has a job at the moment, will that be something which will be considered?



4. Can i apply for learners/drivers card while I'm on BVA? I would like to be independent and learn how to drive while my husband is at work so i can run errands on my own. I don't have a PH drivers licence.



5. I uploaded at least 55 docs ( we both only have space for 60 docs each) in my evidence and 15 docs in my husbands part. In any case, we need to update documents, is it possible to upload it under his name if ever i dont have enough space in my online application? Cant seem to unattach the duplicate files i mistakenly uploaded twice. My bad.



Hope someone can answer a question or two that i have. Sorry for the long post! Thank you in advance!



Finally, i hope that we keep out hopes high and relentless faith as we continuously wait for the best outcome of all our applications. I know it wasnt always easy to wait but lets keep pushing til we get there.



God bless!
Hi to you all

My vietnamese wife's 820 partner visa will expire on June 20 2018.



On Visa Grant Notice in "Stay Period", it say, Until notified that subclass 801 has been decided or the application is withdrawn.

Also, the application say "You do not need to make a further application for the permanent visa, Generally, applicants become eligible two years after the date of the lodgement of the combined application. Shortly before that date, the department will write to you & invite to provide further information.



Question

Can we wait and do nothing until the department will contact us or do we have to notify the department before her visa 820 expire?



My friend also have a vietnamese wife and he advised that I will have to contact the department now otherwise my wife will have to go back once her visa expired.



That's confusing for me and I need to know before it's too late.

Thank you in advance.